Smoking-Induced M2-TAMs, via circEML4 in EVs, Promote the Progression of NSCLC through ALKBH5-Regulated m6A Modification of SOCS2 in NSCLC Cells

STAT3-specific nanocarrier for shRNA/drug dual delivery and tumor synergistic therapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major disease with high incidence, low survival rate and prone to develop drug resistance to chemotherapy. The mechanism of secondary drug resistance in NSCLC chemotherapy is very complex, and studies have shown that the abnormal activation of STAT3 (Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) plays an important role in it. In this study, the pGPU6/GFP/Neo STAT3-shRNA recombinant plasmid was constructed with STAT3 as the precise target. By modifying hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks onto chitosan, a multifunctional vitamin E succinate-chitosan-polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether histidine (VES-CTS-mPEG-His) micelles were synthesized. The micelles could encapsulate hydrophobic drug doxorubicin through self-assembly, and load the recombinant pGPU6/GFP/Neo STAT3-shRNA (pDNA) through positive and negative charges to form dual-loaded nanoparticles DOX/VCPH/pDNA. The co-delivery and synergistic effect of DOX and pDNA could up-regulate the expression of PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog), down-regulate the expression of CD31, and induce apoptosis of tumor cells. The results of precision targeted therapy showed that DOX/VCPH/pDNA could significantly down-regulate the expression level of STAT3 protein, further enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy. Through this study, precision personalized treatment of NSCLC could be effectively achieved, reversing its resistance to chemotherapy drugs, and providing new strategies for the treatment of drug-resistant NSCLC.

Electrochemical sensing technology based on a ligation-initiated LAMP-assisted CRISPR/Cas12a system for high-specificity detection of EGFR E746-A750 deletion mutation

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status is pivotal in predicting the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments against tumors. Among EGFR mutations, the E746-A750 deletion is particularly common and accurately quantifying it can guide targeted therapies. This study introduces a novel visual sensing technology using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system guided by ligation-initiated loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect the del E746-A750 mutation in EGFR. Conventional LAMP primers were simplified by designing a pair of target-specific stem-loop DNA probes, enabling selective amplification of the target DNA. The CRISPR/Cas12a system was employed to identify the target nucleic acid and activate Cas12a trans-cleavage activity, thereby enhancing the specificity of the assay. Furthermore, the biosensor utilized high-performance nanomaterials such as triangular gold nanoparticles and graphdiyne, known for their large specific surface area, to enhance sensitivity effectively as a sensing platform. The proposed biosensor demonstrated outstanding specificity, achieving a low detection limit of 17 fM (S/N = 3). Consequently, this innovative strategy not only expands the application scope of CRISPR/Cas12a technology but also introduces a promising approach for clinical diagnostics in modern medicine.

Insights into the m6A demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 : structural, biological function, and inhibitor development

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is dynamically regulated by methyltransferases (termed "writers") and demethylases (referred to as "erasers"), facilitating a reversible modulation. Changes in m6A levels significantly influence cellular functions, such as RNA export from the nucleus, mRNA metabolism, protein synthesis, and RNA splicing. They are intricately associated with a spectrum of pathologies. Moreover, dysregulation of m6A modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic target across many diseases. m6A plays a pivotal role in controlling vital downstream molecules and critical biological pathways, contributing to the pathogenesis and evolution of numerous conditions. This review provides an overview of m6A demethylases, explicitly detailing the structural and functional characteristics of FTO and ALKBH5. Additionally, we explore their distinct involvement in various diseases, examine factors regulating their expression, and discuss the progress in inhibitor development.

Unraveling the Connection: Extracellular Vesicles and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid bilayer vesicles released during cell activation, cellular damage, or apoptosis. They carry nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids facilitating intercellular communication and activate signaling pathways in target cells. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), EVs may contribute to tumor growth and metastasis by modulating immune responses, facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and promoting angiogenesis, while potentially contributing to resistance to chemotherapy drugs. EVs in liquid biopsies serve as non-invasive biomarkers for early cancer detection and diagnosis. Due to their small size, inherent molecular transport properties, and excellent biocompatibility, EVs also act as natural drug delivery vehicles in NSCLC therapy.

SIRT5-Mediated Desuccinylation of RAB7A Protects Against Cadmium-Induced Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathology by Restoring Autophagic Flux

Cadmium (Cd) is a neurotoxic contaminant that induces cognitive decline similar to that observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Autophagic flux dysfunction is attributed to the pathogenesis of AD, and this study aimed to investigate the effect of autophagy on environmental Cd-induced AD progression and the underlying mechanism. Here, Cd exposure inhibited autophagosome-lysosome fusion and impaired lysosomal function, leading to defects in autophagic clearance and then to APP accumulation and nerve cell death. Proteomic analysis coupled with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) identified SIRT5 as an essential molecular target in Cd-impaired autophagic flux. Mechanistically, Cd exposure hampered the expression of SIRT5, thus increasing the succinylation of RAB7A at lysine 31 and inhibiting RAB7A activity, which contributed to autophagic flux blockade. Importantly, SIRT5 overexpression led to the restoration of autophagic flux blockade, the alleviation of Aβ deposition and memory deficits, and the desuccinylation of RAB7A in Cd-exposed FAD4T mice. Additionally, SIRT5 levels decrease mainly in neurons but not in other cell clusters in the brains of AD patients according to single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from the public dataset GSE188545. This study reveals that SIRT5-catalysed RAB7A desuccinylation is an essential adaptive mechanism for the amelioration of Cd-induced autophagic flux blockade and AD-like pathogenesis.

Downregulation of 4-HNE and FOXO4 collaboratively promotes NSCLC cell migration and tumor growth

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is among the most prevalent cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from NSCLC play a pivotal role in lung cancer progression. Our findings reveal a direct correlation between the abundance of EVs and the transfection efficiencies. Co-culturing two different lung cancer cell lines could enhance EVs formation, cell proliferation, migration and tumorigenicity. mRNA chip and metabolic analyses revealed significant alterations in the FOXO signaling pathway and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism within tumor tissues derived from co-cultured cells. Shotgun lipidomics studies and bioinformatics analyses guided our attention towards 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and FOXO4. Elevating 4-HNE or FOXO4 levels could reduce the formation of EVs and impede cell growth and migration. While silencing FOXO4 expression lead to an increase in cell cloning rate and enhanced migration. These findings suggest that regulating the production of 4-HNE and FOXO4 might provide an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of NSCLC.

Cross-talk between circRNAs and m6A modifications in solid tumors

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) possess unique biological properties and distribution characteristics that enable a variety of biological functions. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a prevalent epigenetic modification in organisms, is regulated by factors including methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (readers). These factors play critical roles in various pathophysiological processes. There is growing evidence that m6A modifications are common within circRNAs, affecting their synthesis, translation, translocation, degradation, and stability. Additionally, circRNAs regulate biological processes that influence m6A modifications. This review explores the metabolism and functions of m6A modifications and circRNAs, their interactions, and their specific regulatory mechanisms in different tumors, offering insights into m6A-circRNA interaction in cancer.

Roles and mechanisms of circular RNA in respiratory system cancers

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that lack a 5'-ended cap and 3'-ended poly (A) tail and form a closed ring structure with covalent bonds. Due to its special structure, circRNA is resistant to Exonuclease R (RNaseR), making its distribution in the cytoplasm quite rich. Advanced high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics methods have revealed that circRNA is highly conserved, stable, and disease- and tissue-specific. Furthermore, increasing research has confirmed that circRNA, as a driver or suppressor, regulates cancer onset and progression by modulating a series of pathophysiological mechanisms. As a result, circRNA has emerged as a clinical biomarker and therapeutic intervention target. This article reviews the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of circRNA in the context of respiratory cancer onset and progression.

Targeting MS4A4A: A novel pathway to improve immunotherapy responses in glioblastoma

INTRODUCTION

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenging brain tumor to treat, with limited response to PD-1 immunotherapy due to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), specifically the M2 phenotype. This study explores the potential of MS4A4A (membrane spanning four domains, subfamily A, member 4A) inhibition in driving M2 macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype via the ferroptosis pathway to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in GBM.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic analyses were employed to characterize M2 macrophages and MS4A4A expression in GBM. In vitro studies utilizing TAM cultures, flow cytometry, and western blot validations were conducted to assess the impact of MS4A4A on the tumor immune microenvironment and M2 macrophage polarization. In vivo models, including subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation in mice, were utilized to evaluate the effects of MS4A4A knockout and combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy on tumor growth and response to PD-1 immunotherapy.

RESULTS

Distinct subsets of GBM-associated macrophages were identified, with spatial distribution in tumor tissue elucidated. In vivo experiments demonstrated that inhibiting MS4A4A and combining ICB therapy effectively inhibited tumor growth, reshaped the tumor immune microenvironment by reducing M2 TAM infiltration and enhancing CD8+ T-cell infiltration, ultimately leading to complete tumor eradication.

CONCLUSION

MS4A4A inhibition shows promise in converting M2 macrophages to M1 phenotype via ferroptosis, decreasing M2-TAM infiltration, and enhancing GBM response to PD-1 immunotherapy. These findings offer a novel approach to developing more effective immunotherapeutic strategies for GBM.

Environmental pollutants exposure-derived extracellular vesicles: crucial players in respiratory disorders

BACKGROUND

Individual exposure to environmental pollutants, as one of the most influential drivers of respiratory disorders, has received considerable attention due to its preventability and controllability. Considering that the extracellular vesicle (EV) was an emerging intercellular communication medium, recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of environmental pollutants derived EVs (EPE-EVs) in respiratory disorders.

METHODS

PubMed and Web of Science were searched from January 2018 to December 2023 for publications with key words of environmental pollutants, respiratory disorders and EVs.

RESULTS

Environmental pollutants could disrupt airway intercellular communication by indirectly stimulating airway barrier cells to secrete endogenous EVs, or directly transmitting exogenous EVs, mainly by biological pollutants. Mechanistically, EPE-EVs transferred specific contents to modulate biological functions of recipient cells, to induce respiratory inflammation and impair tissue and immune function, which consequently contributed to the development of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer and infectious lung diseases. Clinically, EVs could emerged as promising biomarkers and biological agents for respiratory diseases attributed by their specificity, convenience, sensibility and stability.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies of EPE-EVs are helpful to understand the aetiology and pathology of respiratory diseases, and facilitate the precision respiratory medicine in risk screening, early diagnosis, clinical management and biotherapy.

Prognostic factors and predictive model construction in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study

Objective

The purpose of this study was to construct a nomogram model based on the general characteristics, histological features, pathological and immunohistochemical results, and inflammatory and nutritional indicators of patients so as to effectively predict the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery.

Methods

Patients with NSCLC who received surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2017 to June 2021 were selected as the study subjects. The predictors of OS and PFS were evaluated by univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis using the Cox proportional risk model. Based on the results of multi-factor Cox proportional risk regression analysis, a nomogram model was established using the R survival package. The bootstrap method (repeated sampling for 1 000 times) was used to internally verify the nomogram model, and C-index was used to represent the prediction performance of the nomogram model. The calibration graph method was used to visually represent its prediction compliance, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the application value of the model.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors and to construct a nomogram of postoperative survival and disease progression in operable NSCLC patients, with C-index values of 0.927 (907-0.947) and 0.944 (0.922-0.966), respectively. The results showed that the model had high predictive performance. Calibration curves for 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year OS and PFS show a high degree of agreement between the predicted probability and the actual observed probability. In addition, the results of the DCA curve show that the model has good clinical application value.

Conclusion

We established a predictive model of survival prognosis and disease progression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after surgery, which has good predictive performance and can guide clinicians to make the best clinical decision.

Functional roles of circular RNAs in lung injury

Lung injury leads to respiratory dysfunction, low quality of life, and even life-threatening conditions. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous RNAs produced by selective RNA splicing. Studies have reported their involvement in the progression of lung injury. Understanding the roles of circRNAs in lung injury may aid in elucidating the underlying mechanisms and provide new therapeutic targets. Thus, in this review, we aimed to summarize and discuss the characteristics and biological functions of circRNAs, and their roles in lung injury from existing research, to provide a theoretical basis for the use of circRNAs as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for lung injury.

Exploring the interplay between methylation patterns and non-coding RNAs in non-small cell lung cancer: Implications for pathogenesis and therapeutic targets

Lung cancer is a global public health issue, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80-85 % of cases. With over two million new diagnoses annually, understanding the complex evolution of this disease is crucial. The development of lung cancer involves a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, leading the key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes to disorder, and activating the cancer related signaling pathway. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), and circular RNA (circRNAs) are unique RNA transcripts with diverse biological functions. These ncRNAs are generated through genome transcription and play essential roles in cellular processes. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and histone methylation have gained significant attention in NSCLC research. The complexity of the interactions among these methylation modifications and ncRNAs contribute to the precise regulation of NSCLC development. This review comprehensively summarizes the associations between ncRNAs and different methylation modifications and discusses their effects on NSCLC. By elucidating these relationships, we aim to advance our understanding of NSCLC pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets for this devastating disease.

The role of N6-methyladenosine methylation in PAHs-induced cancers

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are a wide range of environmental toxicants, may act on humans through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact, resulting in a range of toxic reactions. Epidemiological studies showed that long-term exposure to PAHs in the occupational and living environment results in a substantial rise in the incidence rate of many cancers in the population, so the prevention and treatment of these diseases have become a major worldwide public health problem. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification greatly affects the metabolism of RNA and is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of many kinds of diseases. In addition, m6A-binding proteins have an important role in disease development. The abnormal expression of these can cause the malignant proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancers. Furthermore, a growing number of studies revealed that environmental toxicants are one of the cancer risk factors and are related to m6A modifications. Exposure to environmental toxicants can alter the methylation level of m6A and the expression of the m6A-binding protein, thus promoting the occurrence and development of cancers through diverse mechanisms. m6A may serve as a biomarker for early environmental exposure. Through the study of m6A, we can find the health injury early, thus providing a new sight for preventing and curing environmental health-related diseases.

m6A-Modified circTET2 Interacting with HNRNPC Regulates Fatty Acid Oxidation to Promote the Proliferation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignancy with high metabolic heterogeneity. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays an important role in metabolism through regulating circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood in CLL. Herein, an m6A scoring system and an m6A-related circRNA prognostic signature are established, and circTET2 as a potential prognostic biomarker for CLL is identified. The level of m6A modification is found to affect the transport of circTET2 out of the nucleus. By interacting with the RNA-binding protein (RBP) heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), circTET2 regulates the stability of CPT1A and participates in the lipid metabolism and proliferation of CLL cells through mTORC1 signaling pathway. The mTOR inhibitor dactolisib and FAO inhibitor perhexiline exert a synergistic effect on CLL cells. In addition, the biogenesis of circTET2 can be affected by the splicing process and the RBPs RBMX and YTHDC1. CP028, a splicing inhibitor, modulates the expression of circTET2 and shows pronounced inhibitory effects. In summary, circTET2 plays an important role in the modulation of lipid metabolism and cell proliferation in CLL. This study demonstrates the clinical value of circTET2 as a prognostic indicator as well as provides novel insights in targeting treatment for CLL.

The DC-T cell axis is an effective target for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

The dendritic cell (DC)-T cell axis is a bridge that connects innate and adaptive immunities. The initial immune response against tumors is mainly induced by mature antigen-presenting DCs. Enhancing the crosstalk between DCs and T cells may be an effective approach to improve the immune response to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this article, a review was made of the interaction between DCs and T cells in the treatment of NSCLC and how this interaction affects the treatment outcome.