Expression Of Cell Cycle-related Proteins Research Articles

A potent dual inhibitor targeting COX-2 and HDAC of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive cancer with complex issues of drug resistance and a poor prognosis; thus, effective therapeutics is urgently needed for AML. In this study, we designed and synthesized dual cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, IMC-HA and IMC-OPD, and applied them for the treatment of AML. IMC-HA comprised a COX-2 inhibitor skeleton of indomethacin (IMC) and an HDAC inhibitor moiety of the hydroxamic group and was found to exhibit potent antiproliferative activity against AML cells (THP-1 and U937) and low cytotoxicity toward normal cells. Molecular docking simulations suggested that IMC-HA had a high binding affinity for HDAC and COX-2, with binding energies of -6.8 and -9.0kcal/mol, respectively. Mechanistic studies revealed that IMC-HA induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest in AML cells, which were characterized by alterations in the expression of apoptotic and cell cycle-related proteins. Further study demonstrated that IMC-HA also inhibited the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in AML cells. Overall, we believe that IMC-HA could serve as a potent COX-2/HDAC dual inhibitor and improve the treatment of AML.

Study on the sensitizing effect of SM-1 combined with irradiation on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is globally prevalent with high recurrence, low survival rate, and poor quality of life for patients. Derived from PAC-1, SM-1 can activate procaspase-3 and induce apoptosis in cancer cells to exert anti-tumor effects. However, the inhibitory effect of SM-1 on HNSCC after combination with radiation are unclear. This study aims to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of SM-1 on HNSCC in vitro and in vivo. Methods MTT method was used to detect the effect of SM-1 on the viability of HNSCC cell lines (HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27). The effects of SM-1 combined with radiation on the survival index of HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27 cell lines were determined by colony formation assay. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of SM-1 and radiation combination on cell apoptosis and cell cycle, and western blot experiments were performed to detect the expression of apoptosis and cell cycle-related proteins. Finally, a xenograft tumor model of CAL27 was established to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of SM-1 combined with radiation in vivo. Results In vitro, SM-1 effectively inhibited the activity of HNSCC cell lines HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27 cells, and synergistically showed anti-proliferation activity during combined irradiation. Meanwhile, anti-tumor effect of SM-1 on HNSCC was higher than that of Debio1143, and the radiosensitivity of cells was greatly increased. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis showed that SM-1 induced G2/M phase arrest of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells via inhibiting the expression of CyclinB1 and CDC2. Moreover, SM-1 activated caspase-3 activity and up-regulated the cleaved form of PARP1 to induce cell apoptosis. In vivo, SM-1 combined irradiation showed a good anti-tumor effect. Conclusion SM-1 enhances HNSCC cell radiation sensitivity in vitro and in vivo, supporting its potential as a radiosensitizer for clinical trials in combination with radiotherapy.

Galectin-1-producing mesenchymal stem cells restrain the proliferation of T lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) transplantation is beneficial in treating Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study investigates the role of BMMSCs in regulating lymphocyte proliferation and cell cycle progression during SLE and delves into the contribution of BMMSC-produced galectin-1. Methods BMMSCs were co-cultured with T lymphocytes to assess their impact on suppressing CD4+ T cells in SLE patients. Proliferation and cell cycle distribution of CD4+ T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle-related proteins, including p21, p27, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), was investigated through western blotting. Extracellular and intracellular galectin-1 levels were determined via ELISA and flow cytometry. The role of galectin-1 in CD4+ T cell proliferation and cell cycle was evaluated through RNAi-mediated galectin-1 expression disruption in BMMSCs. Results and discussion BMMSCs effectively inhibited CD4+ T cell proliferation and impeded their cell cycle progression in SLE patients, concurrently resulting in a reduction in CDK2 levels and an increase in p21 and p27 expression. Moreover, BMMSCs expressed a high level of galectin-1 in the co-culture system. Galectin-1 was found to be critical in maintaining the suppressive activity of BMMSCs and restoring the cell cycle of CD4+ T cells. Conclusion This study demonstrates that BMMSCs suppress the proliferation and influence the cell cycle of CD4+ T cells in SLE patients, an effect mediated by the upregulation of galectin-1 in BMMSCs.

GAPVD1 Promotes the Proliferation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating the ERK/MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancers and approximately 50% of breast cancer deaths. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of systemic treatment due to the lack of effective therapy targets. Thus, more studies are urgently needed to identify new therapeutic targets in TNBC patients. GAPVD1 expression and prognosis value in breast cancer samples were explored in The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). GAPVD1 knockdown and overexpression TNBC cell lines were constructed. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed to detect cell viability. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect cell cycle variation. Western blotting was conducted to determine the levels of target genes. Finally, an enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed. GAPVD1 is overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and predicts poor prognosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that GAPVD1 is correlated with cell proliferation and the cell cycle of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, alteration in GAPVD1 expression was found to be associated with cell cycle-related proteins PCNA, Cyclin A, and the activity of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. Consistent with these findings, enrichment analysis of GAPVD1-involving partners and signaling pathways revealed that the cellular biosynthetic process, macromolecule biosynthetic process, and cell cycle signaling are related to GAPVD1. In vivo experiment demonstrated that GAPVD1 inhibition impedes tumor growth and expression of cell cyclerelated proteins. Taken together, our results indicate that GAPVD1 may participate in TNBC cell growth by regulating the cell cycle and ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

MicroR-1199-5p targeting SRD5A2 promotes the biological behavior and EMT of hypospadias cells.

Hypospadias, an oft-occurring penis anomaly, ranks among neonatal's foremost birth defects. The SRD5A2 can affect male reproductive system development and is abnormally expressed in its epithelial cells. This study exploration aimed at understanding the role of SRD5A2 in the development of hypospadias from a molecular perspective. SRD5A2 levels in hypospadias primary cells were analyzed by Western blot, while targeted interaction with miR-1199-5p was ascertained by dual-luciferase gene reporter assay. In vitro biological experiments were used to confirm the biological function of SRD5A2 in hypospadias. SRD5A2 expression was significantly upregulated, and miR-1199-5p expression was significantly downregulated in hypospadias primary cells. Intervention of SRD5A2 expression can affect cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, and the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. Additionally, we found that SRD5A2 is regulated by upstream miR-1199-5p and can enhance the effect of SRD5A2 on hypospadias cells. Conclusions Silencing SRD5A2 promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and migration blocks the cell cycle at the G1 phase, and simultaneously promotes EMT, cell cycle, and cell proliferation-related protein expression. The biological function of SRD5A2 in hypospadias cells is regulated by miR-1199-5p. SRD5A2 may be an effective therapeutic target for hypospadias.

Cell Cycle-Related Centromere Protein F Deficiency Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth by Inducing Ferroptosis

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the cell cycle-related protein centromere protein F (CENPF) in the development of ovarian cancer (OC) and explored its relationship with ferroptosis. Design: The databases were analysed to identify differential expression of cell cycle-related proteins between individuals with OC and normal individuals. Immunohistochemistry and statistical analysis were conducted on ovarian tissues obtained from 40 patients with epithelial OC and 20 normal individuals. In vitro experiments were performed using SKOV3 and HEY epithelial OC cell lines. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: The mRNA microarray dataset, consisting of GSE14001, GSE54388, GSE40595, and GSE14407, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to investigate the genes associated with cell cycle regulation in OC cells. CENPF was selected as the subject of study through differential analysis.Assessed the expression of CENPF in both OC patients and normal ovarian tissues using immunohistochemistry. Lentivirus infection was employed to downregulate CENPF expression, and subsequent experiments including Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, cell cycle analysis, transwell assay, and wound-healing assay were conducted to investigate the effects of CENPF on proliferation, invasion, migration, and cell cycle regulation in OC cells. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) assays were performed to assess the involvement of CENPF in cellular redox reactions. Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (GPX4, SLC7A11, DMT1, and protein 53 [p53]). Results: By querying and integrating cell cycle-related genes from the GEO database, in silico analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas database combined with immunohistochemical studies, we discovered that CENPF is upregulated in OC tissues and is related to survival. Downregulation of CENPF inhibited biological function of OC cells, increased intracellular ROS and MDA levels, and downregulated the GPX4 protein and the SLC7A11/xCT protein, but upregulated the DMT1 protein and the tumour p53 expression to induce ferroptosis. Limitations: This study did not investigate ferroptosis-related studies following CENPF overexpression, and the findings have not been validated in animal studies. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that the deficiency of CENPF played a crucial anti-oncogenic role in the progression of OC through the mechanism of ferroptosis.

Fungal metabolite altersolanol a exhibits potent cytotoxicity against human placental trophoblasts in vitro via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Altersolanol A, a fungus-derived tetrahydroanthraquinone, has shown cytotoxic effects on multiple cancer cells. However, its reproductive toxicity in humans has not been well-addressed. The present study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity of altersolanol A on human placental trophoblasts including choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 and normal trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo in vitro. The results showed that altersolanol A inhibited proliferation and colony formation of human trophoblasts, and the choriocarcinoma cells were more sensitive to the compound than the normal trophoblasts. Altersolanol A induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in JEG-3 cells and S phase in HTR-8/SVneo cells, downregulated the expression of cell cycle-related checkpoint proteins, and upregulated the p21 level. Altersolanol A also promoted apoptosis in human trophoblasts via elevating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and decreasing both caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels. Meanwhile, altersolanol A suppressed the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced ROS production and cytochrome c release, which activated the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. Moreover, migration and invasion were inhibited upon altersolanol A exposure with downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in JEG-3 cells and MMP-9 in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Mechanically, altersolanol A supplement decreased the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38, manifesting the inactivation of MAPK signaling pathway in the human trophoblasts. In conclusion, altersolanol A exhibited potential reproductive cytotoxicity against human trophoblasts via promoting mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway.

CCT6A Regulates Cervical Cancer Cell Glycolysis and Proliferation under Hypoxic Conditions via the Telomerase Cajal Body Protein 1/Telomerase Reverse Tranase.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common female malignancies worldwide, a hypoxic microenvironment usually causes enhanced viability and glycolytic capacity of cervical cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between chaperonin containing t-complex polypeptide 1 subunit 6A (CCT6A) and cell proliferation as well as hypoxic glycolysis. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore the association between cervical cancer and its partner protein under hypoxic conditions, namely, CCT6A. Subsequently, the expression of CCT6A was silenced, and the effects of CCT6A silencing on cervical cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle, glycolysis-related proteins, and telomerase activity were examined. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate the expression of CCT6A in cervical cancer under hypoxic conditions. The expression of CCT6A was silenced in cervical cancer cells, HeLa and SiHa, to study its effects on cell proliferation and hypoxic glycolysis. The localization of telomerase activity-related proteins, telomerase CTAB1 and TERT, was detected using immunofluorescence, and their interaction was assessed using immunoprecipitation. A cellular hypoxia model was established, and the products of the glycolysis reaction were detected. A nude mouse tumor model was constructed, and the changes in glycolysis-related proteins in tumor tissues were examined using Western blot, while Ki67 expression in tumor tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Telomerase activity was found to be enhanced in CCT6A-silenced cervical cancer cells, along with an increase in telomerase TCAB1 and TERT protein binding associated with telomerase activity. Additionally, the proportion of cells in the Gap 2/mitosis (G2/M) stage and the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) positivity rate were decreased in CCT6A-silenced cells, indicating a reduction in cell proliferation. The expression of cell cycle-related proteins, including cyclin E, CCNA2, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), was suppressed. Furthermore, under a hypoxic environment, silencing CCT6A led to a significant reduction in cell viability and downregulation of glycolysis-related proteins, such as lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and hexokinase 2 (HK2). Mechanistically, silencing CCT6A may reduce telomerase activity by inhibiting the TCAB1/TERT interaction. Additionally, TERT was found to activate the promoter region of the HK2 gene, and inhibition of TERT activity reduced the transcriptional level of HK2. The study primarily explored the involvement of CCT6A in cervical cancer, yet it did not account for the myriad of other elements potentially influencing cell proliferation and glycolysis. It is essential to recognize that cervical cancer's etiology is multifaceted, shaped by an array of genetic variations, environmental influences, and protein interactions. Silencing CCT6A could effectively attenuate the upregulation of cell proliferation and glycolytic function mediated by TCAB1/TERT in cervical cancer cells.

Retinoic Acid Upregulates METTL14 Expression and the m6A Modification Level to Inhibit the Proliferation of Embryonic Palate Mesenchymal Cells in Cleft Palate Mice.

Cleft palate only (CPO) is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects. Environmental factors can induce cleft palate by affecting epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA. However, there are few reports focusing on the RNA modifications. In this study, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) was used to simulate environmental factors to induce a C57BL/6J fetal mouse cleft palate model. Techniques such as dot blotting and immunofluorescence were used to find the changes in m6A modification when cleft palate occurs. RNA-seq and KEGG analysis were used to screen for significantly differentially expressed pathways downstream. Primary mouse embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells were successfully isolated and used for in vitro experimental verification. We found that an increased m6A methylation level was correlated with suppressed cell proliferation in the palatine process mesenchyme of cleft palate mice. This change is due to the abnormally high expression of m6A methyltransferase METTL14. When using siRNAs and the m6A methyltransferase complex inhibitor SAH to interfere with the expression or function of METTL14, the teratogenic effect of atRA on primary cells was partially alleviated. In conclusion, METTL14 regulates palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation and cycle-related protein expression relies on m6A methylation modification, affecting the occurrence of cleft palate.

Azacitidine-Hesperetin Combination Induces S-phase Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells.

Chemotherapy drugs for leukemia, such as 5-azacytidine (Aza), have often various adverse effects. Hesperetin (Hes), a naturally occurring compound, is a potential adjuvant agent for anticancer therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an Aza-Hes combination on acute leukemia cell lines, which elucidates the role of combination treatment in leukemia progression. HL-60 and U937 cells were treated with Aza and Hes at various concentrations or their combination. Cell proliferation and apoptosis was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and annexin V/propidium iodide staining, respectively. Cell cycle analysis was conducted using flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related and cell cycle-related proteins in leukemia cells was analyzed through western blotting. The synergistic effect of the Aza and Hes agents was estimated using the Chou-Talalay method. We observed that Aza or Hes monotherapy engendered a dose-dependent reduction in HL-60 and U937 cell viability. However, treatment with the Aza-Hes combination for 24 h synergistically inhibited U937 cell proliferation by inducing both apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the Aza-Hes combination down-regulated p-ERK and p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase expression and up-regulated p-p38 expression. Overall, our findings indicate that the Aza-Hes combination induces apoptosis and S-phase cell-cycle arrest through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In conclusion, the Aza-Hes combination is a potential antileukemia treatment.

Cadmium disrupts spermatogenic cell cycle via piRNA-DQ717867/p53 pathway

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful environmental pollutant that disrupts public health, including respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. In this study, male rats were exposed to CdCl2 at a dose of 3 mg/kg by oral for 28 days to investigate the impact on spermatogenesis. Testis tissue samples were collected after sacrifice, and piRNA expression levels were measured using piRNA microarray and qPCR. PiRNAs, specialized molecules involved in spermatogenesis, were examined. CdCl2 exposure led to disrupted piRNA expression, particularly in piRNA-DQ759395 in rats. This piRNA was found to have a binding site with p53, and a similar piRNA-DQ717867 was discovered in mice. In GC-2spd cells, CdCl2 exposure increased piRNA-DQ717867 expression, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and abnormal expression of cell cycle-related proteins. The activation of p53-related pathways and disruptions in cell cycle regulation were also observed. Antagomir-717867 transfections and PFT-a pretreatment in GC-2spd cells supported the involvement of piRNA-DQ717867 in regulating cell cycle-related proteins. This study suggests that Cd exposure induces abnormal expression of piRNA-DQ759395 in rat testis and that piRNA-DQ717867 may regulate p53, causing cell cycle abnormalities in GC-2spd cells. These findings help understand the mechanisms of male reproductive toxicity caused by Cd exposure and emphasize the role of piRNAs in cell cycle regulation and male reproductive health.

Morroniside induces cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and promotes cardiac repair after myocardial infarction in adult rats.

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is characterized by the loss of cardiomyocytes, which impairs cardiac function and eventually leads to heart failure. The induction of cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity provides a new treatment strategy for the repair of heart damage. Our previous study demonstrated that morroniside exerts cardioprotective effects. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of morroniside on cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and cardiac repair following AMI. Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were isolated and exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro. A rat model of AMI was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect newly generated cardiomyocytes. Western blotting was performed to assess the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. Electrocardiography (ECG) was used to examine pathological Q waves. Masson's trichrome and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining assessed myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy. Results: The results showed that morroniside induced cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and increased the levels of cell cycle proteins, including cyclin D1, CDK4, cyclin A2, and cyclin B1, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, morroniside reduced myocardial fibrosis and remodeling. Discussion: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that morroniside stimulates cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and cardiac repair in adult rats, and that these effects may be related to the upregulation of cell cycle proteins.

Novel phenoxy-((phenylethynyl) selanyl) propan-2-ol derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Selenocompounds protect against damage to healthy cells and induce the death of tumor cells by apoptosis; for this reason, they are attractive compounds for cancer research. In the present study, two series of novel phenoxy-((phenylethynyl) selanyl) propan-2-ol derivatives were synthesized, and their anti-proliferation activities were evaluated. Of the 23 compounds synthesized, most showed potent anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. Specifically, compounds 3h, 3g, and 3h-2, which had a 2- or 4-position halogen substituent on 1-((phenylethynyl)selanyl)-3-phenoxypropan-2-ol, exhibited the best anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells. Flow cytometry demonstrated that 3h, 3g, and 3h-2 induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in A549 cells. Cellular studies demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis by 3h correlated with changes in the expression of cell cycle-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins. Xenograft tumor experiments in nude mice revealed that compound 3h has antitumor effects in vivo and no evident toxic effects in nude mice. In addition, compound 3h alleviated cisplatin-induced liver and kidney damage. These findings uncover the applicability of compound 3h as a novel lead compound for cancer treatment.

GPC3 Promotes Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and HLA-A2-Restricted GPC3 Antigenic Peptide-Modified Dendritic Cell-Induced Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes to Kill Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is associated with poor clinical prognosis and lacks available targeted agents. GPC3 is upregulated in LUSC. Our study aimed to explore the roles of GPC3 in LUSC and the antitumor effects of HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 antigenic peptide-sensitized dendritic cell (DC)-induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) on LUSC. LUSC cells with GPC3 knockdown and overexpression were built using lentivirus packaging, and cell viability, clone formation, apoptosis, cycle, migration, and invasion were determined. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of cell cycle-related proteins and PI3K-AKT pathway-associated proteins. Subsequently, HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 antigenic peptides were predicted and synthesized by bioinformatic databases, and DCs were induced and cultured in vitro. Finally, HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 antigenic peptide-modified DCs were co-cultured with T cells to generate specific CTLs, and the killing effects of different CTLs on LUSC cells were studied. A series of cell function experiments showed that GPC3 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUSC cells, inhibited their apoptosis, increased the number of cells in S phase, and reduced the cells in G2/M phase. GPC3 knockdown downregulated cyclin A, c-Myc, and PI3K, upregulated E2F1, and decreased the pAKT/AKT level. Three HLA-A2-restricted GPC3 antigenic peptides were synthesized, with GPC3522-530 FLAELAYDL and GPC3102-110 FLIIQNAAV antigenic peptide-modified DCs inducing CTL production, and exhibiting strong targeted killing ability in LUSC cells at 80 : 1 multiplicity of infection. GPC3 may advance the onset and progression of LUSC, and GPC3522-530 FLAELAYDL and GPC3102-110 FLIIQNAAV antigenic peptide-loaded DC-induced CTLs have a superior killing ability against LUSC cells.

CDN1163 alleviates SERCA2 dysfunction-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling by inhibiting the phenotypic transition of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose Substitution of Cys674 (C674) in the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2 (SERCA2) causes SERCA2 dysfunction which leads to activated inositol requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α) and spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) pathway accelerating cell proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) followed by significant pulmonary vascular remodeling resembling human pulmonary hypertension. Based on this knowledge, we intend to investigate other potential mechanisms involved in SERCA2 dysfunction-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. Experimental Approach Heterozygous SERCA2 C674S knock-in (SKI) mice of which half of cysteine in 674 was substituted by serine to mimic the partial irreversible oxidation of C674 were used. The lungs of SKI mice and their littermate wild-type mice were collected for PASMC culture, protein expression, and pulmonary vascular remodeling analysis. Results SERCA2 dysfunction increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, which activated Ca2+-dependent calcineurin (CaN) and promoted the nuclear translocation and protein expression of the nuclear factor of activated T-lymphocytes 4 (NFAT4) in an IRE1α/XBP1s pathway-independent manner. In SKI PASMCs, the scavenge of intracellular Ca2+ by BAPTA-AM or inhibition of CaN by cyclosporin A can prevent PASMC phenotypic transition. CDN1163, a SERCA2 agonist, suppressed the activation of CaN/NFAT4 and IRE1α/XBP1s pathways, reversed the protein expression of PASMC phenotypic transition markers and cell cycle-related proteins, and inhibited cell proliferation and migration when given to SKI PASMCs. Furthermore, CDN1163 ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling in SKI mice. Conclusions and Implications SERCA2 dysfunction promotes PASMC phenotypic transition and pulmonary vascular remodeling by multiple mechanisms, which could be improved by SERCA2 agonist CDN1163.

Methamphetamine exposure drives cell cycle exit and aberrant differentiation in rat hippocampal-derived neurospheres.

Introduction: Methamphetamine (METH) abuse by pregnant drug addicts causes toxic effects on fetal neurodevelopment; however, the mechanism underlying such effect of METH is poorly understood. Methods: In the present study, we applied three-dimensional (3D) neurospheres derived from the embryonic rat hippocampal tissue to investigate the effect of METH on neurodevelopment. Through the combination of whole genome transcriptional analyses, the involved cell signalings were identified and investigated. Results: We found that METH treatment for 24h significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the size of neurospheres. Analyses of genome-wide transcriptomic profiles found that those down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upon METH exposure were remarkably enriched in the cell cycle progression. By measuring the cell cycle and the expression of cell cycle-related checkpoint proteins, we found that METH exposure significantly elevated the percentage of G0/G1 phase and decreased the levels of the proteins involved in the G1/S transition, indicating G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, during the early neurodevelopment stage of neurospheres, METH caused aberrant cell differentiation both in the neurons and astrocytes, and attenuated migration ability of neurospheres accompanied by increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that METH induces an aberrant cell cycle arrest and neuronal differentiation, impairing the coordination of migration and differentiation of neurospheres.

APE1 promotes embryonic stem cell proliferation and teratoma formation by regulating GDNF/GFRα1 axis

The teratomas formation has severely hindered the application of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in clinical trials. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is strongly involved in the development of tumors and differentiation process of stem cells. However, the role of APE1 in teratomas remains unknown. The expression of APE1 was examined in mouse ESCs (mESCs) by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. The role and mechanism of APE1 in the proliferation, pluripotency and differentiation of E14 cells were determined by cell counting, flow cytometry and western blot assays. Besides, the role of APE1 in teratomas was also probed in xenografted mice. The expression of APE1 was upregulated in mESCs with differentiation. Knockdown of APE1 reduced the cell numbers, induced the arrest of the G2/M phase, and decreased the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in E14 cells. Besides, loss- and gain-of-function assays revealed that APE1 enhanced the levels of proteins involved in pluripotency, reduced the protein expression of ectoderm markers, and increased the protein levels of endoderm markers in E14 cells. Mechanically, inhibition of APE1 downregulated the expression of GDNF and GFRα1 in E14 cells. GDNF reversed the role of APE1 in the proliferation, pluripotency and embryogenesis of E14 cells. Moreover, suppression of APE1 reduced the teratoma volume and the relative protein expression of endoderm markers, but increased the relative protein expression of ectoderm markers in xenografted mice. Collectively, knockdown of APE1 attenuated proliferation, pluripotency and embryogenesis of mESCs via GDNF/GFRα1 axis.

A Pegylated Liposome Loaded with Raddeanin A for Prostate Cancer Therapy.

Raddeanin A (RA), a potent triterpenoid extracted from Anemone raddeana Regel, has a moderate therapeutic effect on prostate cancer (PCa), correlating with serious biological toxicity. Therefore, a RA-loaded PEGylated liposome drug delivery system was devised in this study. Hydrogenated soybean phospholipids (HSPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-Polyethyleneglycol-2000 (sodium salt) (DSPE-PEG2k), cholesterol (CHO), and RA were utilised to prepare a RA-loaded liposome (LRA) drug delivery system via the thin film hydration technique., The drug loading content was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography. Dynamic light scattering was employed to evaluate the drug's particle size and stability. Methyl tetrazolium, colony formation, and Western blot (WB) were used in vitro to elucidate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of LRA on prostate cancer cells. Finally, xenograft model was used to confirm the tumor-inhibiting efficacy, clarify the mechanism, and determine the biosafety in mice. LRA has stable physicochemical properties and a diameter of 173.5 15.3 nm. LRA inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. LRA can substantially reduce the expression of AR and HMGB1, induce apoptosis, regulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in vitro and in vivo. The results of the biosafety tests demonstrated that LRA effectively reduced the adverse effects of RA. As a drug delivery system, LRA could effectively and safely inhibit the progression of prostate cancer.

DMU-212 against EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer via AMPK/PI3K/Erk signaling pathway

Although some important advances have been achieved in clinical and diagnosis in the past few years, the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is ultimately dissatisfactory due to the low overall cure and survival rates. Epidermal growth factor (EGFR) has been recognized as a carcinogenic driver and is a crucial pharmacological target for NSCLC. DMU-212, an analog of resveratrol, has been reported to have significant inhibitory effects on several types of cancer. However, the effect of DMU-212 on lung cancer remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effects and underlying mechanism of DMU-212 on EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells. The data found that the cytotoxicity of DMU-212 on three EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines was significantly higher than that of normal lung epithelial cell. Further study showed that DMU-212 can regulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins including p21 and cyclin B1 to induce G2/M phase arrest in both H1975 and PC9 cells. Moreover, treatment with DMU-212 significantly promoted the activation of AMPK and simultaneously down-regulated the expression of EGFR and the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt and ERK. In conclusion, our study suggested that DMU-212 inhibited the growth of NSCLCs via targeting of AMPK and EGFR.

Phosphofructokinase Platelet Overexpression Accelerated Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth and Motility.

Background: Glycolysis is a glucose metabolism pathway that generates the high-energy compound adenosine triphosphate, which supports cancer cell growth. Phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP) plays a crucial role in glycolysis regulation and is involved in human cancer progression. However, the biological function of PFKP remains unclear in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: We analyzed the expression levels of PFKF in colon cancer cells and clinical samples using real-time PCR and western blot techniques. To determine the clinical significance of PFKP expression in colorectal cancer (CRC), we analyzed public databases. In addition, we conducted in vitro assays to investigate the effects of PFKP on cell growth, cell cycle, and motility. Results: An analysis by the Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed that PFKP was significantly overexpressed in CRC. We examined the levels of PFKP mRNA and protein, revealing that PFKP expression was significantly increased in CRC. The results of the univariate Cox regression analysis showed that high PFKP expression was linked to worse disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) [DSS: crude hazard ratio (CHR) = 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-3.36, p = 0.047; OS: CHR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.06-3.43, p = 0.031]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high PFKP expression was an independent prognostic biomarker for the DSS and OS of patients with CRC (DSS: adjusted HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.13-3.79, p = 0.018; AHR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.29-4.25, p = 0.005). PFKP knockdown reduced the proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of CRC cells. In addition, the knockdown induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase by impairing cell cycle-related protein expression. Conclusion: Overexpression of PFKP contributes to the growth and invasion of CRC by regulating cell cycle progression. PFKP expression can serve as a valuable molecular biomarker for cancer prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for treating CRC.