NF-kappaB and epithelial to mesenchymal transition of cancer

Exploring the Mechanism of Canmei Formula in Preventing and Treating Recurrence of Colorectal Adenoma Based on Data Mining and Algorithm Prediction

BACKGROUND

The high incidence of recurrence and malignant transformation of colorectal adenoma (CRA) are current issues that need to be addressed in clinical practice. Canmei Formula (CMF) has shown promising results in the prevention and treatment, however, it lacks effective clinical data support and its mechanism of action is not fully elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of CMF in preventing and treating CRA, and to explore its effective chemical components and pharmacological mechanisms.

METHOD

A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted, with patients diagnosed with CRA within 6 months as the study subjects. After randomization, the patients were divided into a treatment group (receiving CMF granules) or a control group (receiving berberine hydrochloride tablets). The one-year recurrence rate of CRA was used as the key efficacy indicator to assess the effectiveness of CMF in preventing and treating CRA. The chemical components of CMF were identified using the UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined system. Data mining and the wSDTNBI algorithm were combined to construct a differential expression gene (DEG) - CMF prediction target interaction network for CRA. The core targets of CMF in CRA prevention and treatment were identified through topological analysis, and validated using molecular docking and in vitro experiments.

RESULT

During the period from October 1 2021 to December 31 2023, a total of 228 participants were included in the study. After block randomization, 114 patients were assigned to each group. In the treatment group, 98 patients completed follow-up examinations, with 16 patients (14.0%) exhibiting shedding, Adenoma recurrence was identified in 24 (24.5%) patients through colonoscopy. In the control group, 99 cases completed the follow-up examination, while 15 cases (13.2%) were lost to follow-up. There were 45 cases (45.5%) experienced recurrence of adenomas. During the follow-up period, no cases of colorectal cancer or severe adverse reactions were reported. UFLC-QTOF-MS/MS identification was combined with traditional Chinese medicine database mining to obtain 192 active chemical components of Canmei Formula. Using the wSDTNBI algorithm, 1044 prediction targets were predicted, and 3308 differentially expressed genes of CRA were extracted from the TCGA database. Network topology analysis and bioinformatics analysis were performed on 164 intersecting core targets. Molecular docking and qPCR analysis revealed that CMF downregulates angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and regulated interleukin-8 (CXCL8) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) within the REN/Ang II/AT1R axis of the renin-angiotensin signaling pathway, thereby preventing and treating CRA.

CONCLUSION

This small-scale randomized controlled clinical trial showed that CMF granules can safely and effectively reduce the risk of CRA recurrence. CMF prevents and treats colorectal adenomas by modulating the renin-angiotensin signaling pathway and the inflammatory response.

The Proapoptotic Effect of MB-653 Is Associated with the Modulation of Metastasis and Invasiveness-Related Signalling Pathways in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has a high mortality rate. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic, proapoptotic, and anti-invasive effects of the synthetic indole phytoalexin MB-653. The antiproliferative effect was determined using an MTT assay, showing IC50 values of 5.8 ± 0.3 μmol/L for HCT116 cells and 6.1 ± 2.1 μmol/L for Caco2 cells. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis were employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity, proapoptotic action, and anti-invasion effects. The proapoptotic activity was evidenced by the activation of caspases 3 and 7, mitochondrial dysfunction, and an increased number of apoptotic cells, confirmed by annexin V/PI and AO/PI staining. Additionally, MB-653 induces dose-dependent G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, the cause of which could be cyclin B1/CDC2 complex dysfunction and/or a decrease in α-tubulin protein expression. Another important observation was that MB-653 modulated several signalling pathways associated with various cellular activities, including survival, proliferation, tumour invasiveness, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We further demonstrated its safety for topical and parenteral application. To sum up, our results indicate the real potential of MB-653 in treating colorectal cancer.

Pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activities of cassane diterpenoids on squamous carcinoma cells: An in vitro and in silico study

Squamous carcinoma of the head and neck is characterized by aberrant apoptosis that prolongs the proliferative capacity of the cells and by uncontrolled cell growth. This study aimed to examine the pro-apoptotic and antiproliferative effects of Caesalpinia pulcherrima cassane diterpenoids on squamous carcinoma cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity of four (4) cassane diterpenoids {Six-cinnamoyl- 7-hydroxyvouacapen-5-ol(1), pulcherrimin A(2), C(3), and E(4)} isolated from C. pulcherrima was determined in squamous carcinoma cell lines (CAL33, FaDu, and Detroit 562) and in non tumorigenic fibroblast cells. The results showed that compounds 1 and 4 had the highest cytotoxic potential, significantly reducing cell viability in all squamous cell lines in a concentration dependent manner. Compounds 1 and 4 may inhibit the proliferation of CAL33 cells by reducing their ability to divide, decreasing PCNA expression, and suppressing migration. Additionally, treatment with compounds 1 and 4 led to an activation of Caspase 3 expression in FaDu cells. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinities of compounds 1 and 4 to the Caspase 3 receptor, with values of -8.5 and -8.8 kcal/mol, respectively. These results suggest that Pulcherrimin E and 6-cinnamoyl-7-hydroxylvouacapen-5-ol have potential antitumor effects based on their selective cytotoxic effect on squamous carcinoma cells in vitro.

MicroRNA-146 family: Molecular insights into their role in regulation of signaling pathways in glioma progression

Glioma is a highly lethal brain cancer in humans. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for patients remains unfavorable. Epigenetic factors, along with their interactions and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are crucial in glioma cells' development and aggressive characteristics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that modulate the expression of various genes by binding to target mRNA molecules. They play a critical role in regulating essential biological mechanisms such as cell proliferation and differentiation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. MiR-146a/miR-146b is a significant and prevalent miRNA whose expression alterations are linked to various pathological changes in cancer cells, as well as the modulation of several cellular signaling pathways, including NF-κB, TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, and Notch-1. Scientists may identify novel targets in clinical settings by studying the complicated link between Mir-146a/mir-146b, drug resistance, molecular pathways, and pharmacological intervention in gliomas. Additionally, its interactions with other ncRNAs, such as circular RNA and long non-coding RNA, contribute to the pathogenesis of glioma. As well as miR-146 holds potential as both a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for patients with this condition. In the current review, we investigate the significance of miRNAs in the context of glioma, with a particular focus on the critical role of Mir-146a/mir-146b in glioma tumors. Additionally, we examined the clinical relevance of this miRNA, highlighting its potential implications for diagnosis and treatment.

TLR3 activation mediates partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human keratinocytes

TLR3 is expressed in human skin and keratinocytes, and given its varied role in skin inflammation, development, and regeneration, we sought to determine the cellular response in normal human keratinocytes to TLR3 activation. We investigated this mechanism by treating primary human keratinocytes with both UVB, an endogenous and physiologic TLR3 activator, and poly(I:C), a synthetic and selective TLR3 ligand. TLR3 activation with either UVB or poly(I:C) altered keratinocyte morphology, coinciding with the key features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: increased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition gene expression, enhanced migration, and increased invasion properties. These results confirm and extend previous studies demonstrating that in addition to its classical role in the innate immune response, TLR3 signaling also regulates stem cell-like properties and developmental programs.

State-of-the-art review of theabrownins: from preparation, structural characterization to health-promoting benefits

As far as health benefit is concerned, dark tea is one of the best beverages in the world. Theabrownins are the major ingredient contributing to the health benefits of dark tea and known as "the soft gold in dark tea." A growing body of evidence indicated that theabrownins are macromolecular pigments with reddish-brown color and mellow taste, and mainly derived from the oxidative polymerization of tea polyphenols. Theabrownins are the main active ingredients in dark tea which brings multiple health-promoting effects in modulating lipid metabolism, reducing body weight gain, attenuating diabetes, mitigating NAFLD, scavenging ROS, and preventing tumors. More importantly, it's their substantial generation in microbial fermentation that endows dark tea with much stronger hypolipidemic effect compared with other types of tea. This review firstly summarizes the most recent findings on the preparation, structural characteristics, and health-promoting effects of theabrownins, emphasizing the underlying molecular mechanism, especially the different mechanisms behind the effect of theabrownins-mediated gut microbiota on the host's multiple health-promoting benefits. Furthermore, this review points out the main limitations of current research and potential future research directions, hoping to provide updated scientific evidence for their better theoretical research and industrial utilization.

Body Composition and Senescence: Impact of Polyphenols on Aging-Associated Events

Aging is a dynamic and progressive process characterized by the gradual accumulation of cellular damage. The continuous functional decline in the intrinsic capacity of living organisms to precisely regulate homeostasis leads to an increased susceptibility and vulnerability to diseases. Among the factors contributing to these changes, body composition-comprised of fat mass and lean mass deposits-plays a crucial role in the trajectory of a disability. Particularly, visceral and intermuscular fat deposits increase with aging and are associated with adverse health outcomes, having been linked to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Adipose tissue is involved in the secretion of bioactive factors that can ultimately mediate inter-organ pathology, including skeletal muscle pathology, through the induction of a pro-inflammatory profile such as a SASP, cellular senescence, and immunosenescence, among other events. Extensive research has shown that natural compounds have the ability to modulate the mechanisms associated with cellular senescence, in addition to exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory potential, making them interesting strategies for promoting healthy aging. In this review, we will discuss how factors such as cellular senescence and the presence of a pro-inflammatory phenotype can negatively impact body composition and lead to the development of age-related diseases, as well as how the use of polyphenols can be a functional measure for restoring balance, maintaining tissue quality and composition, and promoting health.

The correlation between cancer stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition: molecular mechanisms and significance in cancer theragnosis

The connections between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance, making it a focal point in cancer theragnosis. This review provides a panorama of associations and regulation pathways between CSCs and EMT, highlighting their significance in cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlined EMT are thoroughly explored, including the involvement of key transcription factors and signaling pathways. In addition, the roles of CSCs and EMT in tumor biology and therapy resistance, is further examined in this review. The clinical implications of CSCs-EMT interplay are explored, including identifying mesenchymal-state CSC subpopulations using advanced research methods and developing targeted therapies such as inhibitors and combination treatments. Overall, understanding the reciprocal relationship between EMT and CSCs holds excellent potential for informing the development of personalized therapies and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

A Boolean model explains phenotypic plasticity changes underlying hepatic cancer stem cells emergence

In several carcinomas, including hepatocellular carcinoma, it has been demonstrated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) have enhanced invasiveness and therapy resistance compared to differentiated cancer cells. Mathematical-computational tools could be valuable for integrating experimental results and understanding the phenotypic plasticity mechanisms for CSCs emergence. Based on the literature review, we constructed a Boolean model that recovers eight stable states (attractors) corresponding to the gene expression profile of hepatocytes and mesenchymal cells in senescent, quiescent, proliferative, and stem-like states. The epigenetic landscape associated with the regulatory network was analyzed. We observed that the loss of p53, p16, RB, or the constitutive activation of β-catenin and YAP1 increases the robustness of the proliferative stem-like phenotypes. Additionally, we found that p53 inactivation facilitates the transition of proliferative hepatocytes into stem-like mesenchymal phenotype. Thus, phenotypic plasticity may be altered, and stem-like phenotypes related to CSCs may be easier to attain following the mutation acquisition.

Benzo[a]pyrene promotes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process in MCF10A cells and mammary tumor growth and brain metastasis in female mice

Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasia in developed countries and the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process through which epithelial cells decrease or lose their epithelial characteristics and gain mesenchymal properties. EMT mediates tumor progression, because tumor cells acquire the capacity to execute the multiple steps of invasion and metastasis. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is an environmental organic pollutant generated during the burning of fossil fuels, wood, and other organic materials. B[a]P exposition increases the incidence of breast cancer, and induces migration and/or invasion in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, the role of B[a]P in the induction of an EMT process and metastasis of mammary carcinoma cells has not been studied in detail. In this study, we demonstrate that B[a]P induces an EMT process in MCF10A mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells. In addition, B[a]P promotes the formation of larger tumors in Balb/cJ mice inoculated with 4T1 cells than in untreated mice and treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). B[a]P also increases the number of mice with metastasis to brain and the total number of brain metastatic nodules in Balb/cJ mice inoculated with 4T1 cells compared with untreated mice and treated with DMSO. In conclusion, B[a]P induces an EMT process in MCF10A cells and the growth of mammary tumors and metastasis to brain in Balb/cJ mice inoculated with 4T1 cells.

Engineering principles for rationally design therapeutic strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma

The search for new therapeutic strategies against cancer has favored the emergence of rationally designed treatments. These treatments have focused on attacking cell plasticity mechanisms to block the transformation of epithelial cells into cancerous cells. The aim of these approaches was to control particularly lethal cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma. However, they have not been able to control the progression of cancer for unknown reasons. Facing this scenario, emerging areas such as systems biology propose using engineering principles to design and optimize cancer treatments. Beyond the possibilities that this approach might offer, it is necessary to know whether its implementation at a clinical level is viable or not. Therefore, in this paper, we will review the engineering principles that could be applied to rationally design strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma, and discuss whether the necessary elements exist to implement them. In particular, we will emphasize whether these engineering principles could be applied to fight hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Role of Mesenchymal Reprogramming in Malignant Clonal Evolution and Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common yet uniformly fatal adult brain cancer. Intra-tumoral molecular and cellular heterogeneities are major contributory factors to therapeutic refractoriness and futility in GBM. Molecular heterogeneity is represented through molecular subtype clusters whereby the proneural (PN) subtype is associated with significantly increased long-term survival compared to the highly resistant mesenchymal (MES) subtype. Furthermore, it is universally recognized that a small subset of GBM cells known as GBM stem cells (GSCs) serve as reservoirs for tumor recurrence and progression. The clonal evolution of GSC molecular subtypes in response to therapy drives intra-tumoral heterogeneity and remains a critical determinant of GBM outcomes. In particular, the intra-tumoral MES reprogramming of GSCs using current GBM therapies has emerged as a leading hypothesis for therapeutic refractoriness. Preventing the intra-tumoral divergent evolution of GBM toward the MES subtype via new treatments would dramatically improve long-term survival for GBM patients and have a significant impact on GBM outcomes. In this review, we examine the challenges of the role of MES reprogramming in the malignant clonal evolution of glioblastoma and provide future perspectives for addressing the unmet therapeutic need to overcome resistance in GBM.

Effects of Red Sorghum-Derived Deoxyanthocyanidins and Their O-β-D-Glucosides on E-Cadherin Promoter Activity in PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

Although much less common than anthocyanins, 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) and their glucosides can be found in cereals such as red sorghum. It is speculated that their bioavailability is higher than that of anthocyanins. Thus far, little is known regarding the therapeutic effects of 3-DAs and their O-β-D-glucosides on cancer, including prostate cancer. Thus, we evaluated their potential to decrease cell viability, to modulate the activity of transcription factors such as NFκB, CREB, and SOX, and to regulate the expression of the gene CDH1, encoding E-Cadherin. We found that 4',7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and the natural apigeninidin can reduce cell viability, whereas 4',7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and 4'-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyflavylium chloride (P3) increase the activities of NFkB, CREB, and SOX transcription factors, leading to the upregulation of CDH1 promoter activity in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Thus, these compounds may contribute to the inhibition of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells and prevent the metastatic activity of more aggressive forms of androgen-resistant prostate cancer.

The NFκB Signaling Pathway Is Involved in the Pathophysiological Process of Preeclampsia

The high prevalence of preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal and fetal mortality and affects the long-term prognosis of both mother and baby. Termination of pregnancy is currently the only effective treatment for PE, so there is an urgent need for research into its pathogenesis and the development of new therapeutic approaches. The NFκB family of transcription factors has an essential role in inflammation and innate immunity. In this review, we summarize the role of NFκB in normal and preeclampsia pregnancies, the role of NFκB in existing treatment strategies, and potential NFκB treatment strategies.

NRG1 promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis and afatinib treatment efficiency is enhanced by NRG1 inhibition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly aggressive tumor with significant heterogeneity in incidence and outcomes. The role of Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) in ESCC and its contribution to aggressiveness remain unknown. This study aims to investigate the functions and molecular mechanisms of NRG1 in ESCC as well as the treatment strategy for ESCC with overexpression of NRG1. We firstly demonstrated the upregulation of NRG1 and a negative correlation trend between patients' overall survival (OS) and the expression level of NRG1 in esophageal cancer. And then we found NRG1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, inhibited apoptosis, and accelerated tumorigenesis and metastasis in ESCC using cell lines and xenograft models. Furthermore, we discovered that NRG1 activated the NF-κB/MMP9 signaling pathway, contributing to the metastatic phenotype in ESCC. Finally, we show that afatinib (FDA approved cancer growth blocker) could inhibit ESCC with overexpressed NRG1 and down-regulation of NRG1 along with afatinib treatment provides higher efficient strategy. This study uncovers the critical role and molecular mechanism of NRG1 in ESCC tumorigenesis and metastasis, suggesting its potential as a novel biomarker for ESCC treatment.

NF-κB signaling activation and roles in thyroid cancers: implication of MAP3K14/NIK

Among follicular-derived thyroid cancers (TC), those with aggressive behavior and resistance to current treatments display poor prognosis. NF-κB signaling pathways are involved in tumor progression of various cancers. Here, we finely characterize the NF-κB pathways and their involvement in TC. By using immunoblot and gel shift assays, we demonstrated that both classical and alternative NF-κB pathways are activated in ten TC-derived cell lines, leading to activated RelA/p50 and RelB/p50 NF-κB dimers. By analyzing the RNAseq data of the large papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, we identified a tumor progression-related NF-κB signature in BRAFV600E mutated-PTCs. That corroborated with the role of RelA and RelB in cell migration and invasion processes that we demonstrated specifically in BRAFV600E mutated-cell lines, together with their role in the control of expression of genes implicated in invasiveness (MMP1, PLAU, LCN2 and LGALS3). We also identified NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) as a novel actor of the constitutive activation of the NF-κB pathways in TC-derived cell lines. Finally, its implication in invasiveness and its overexpression in PTC samples make NIK a potential therapeutic target for advanced TC treatment.

Loss of EGF receptor polarity enables homeostatic imbalance in epithelial-cell models

The polarized distribution of membrane proteins into apical and basolateral domains provides the basis for specialized functions of epithelial tissues. The EGF receptor (EGFR) plays important roles in embryonic development, adult-epithelial tissue homeostasis, and growth and survival of many carcinomas. Typically targeted to basolateral domains, there is also considerable evidence of EGFR sorting plasticity but very limited knowledge regarding domain-specific EGFR substrates. Here we have investigated effects of selective EGFR mistargeting because of inactive-basolateral sorting signals on epithelial-cell homeostatic responses to growth-induced stress in MDCK cell models. Aberrant EGFR localization was associated with multilayer formation, anchorage-independent growth, and upregulated expression of the intermediate filament-protein vimentin characteristically seen in cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. EGFRs were selectively retained following their internalization from apical membranes, and a signaling pathway involving the signaling adaptor Gab1 protein and extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK5 had an essential role integrating multiple responses to growth-induced stress. Our studies highlight the potential importance of cellular machinery specifying EGFR polarity in epithelial pathologies associated with homeostatic imbalance.

MiR-196b-5p activates NF-κB signaling in non-small cell lung cancer by directly targeting NFKBIA

BACKGROUND

Our recent study found that QKI-5 regulated miRNA, miR-196b-5p, promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression by directly targeting GATA6, TSPAN12 and FAS. However, the biological functions of miR-196b-5p in NSCLC progression and metastasis still remain elusive.

METHODS

Cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, cell cycle assays were used to investigate cellular phenotypic changes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were used to measure expressions of relative gene and protein. Interaction between QKI-5 and miR-196b-5p was determined by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine direct binding between miR-196b-5p and NFKBIA 3'-UTR. ELISA assay was used to measure secreted IL6 proteins. Mice xenograft model was used to assess the functions of NFKBIA on in vivo tumor growth.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that the miR-196b-5p facilitates lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, and cell cycle by directly targeting NFKBIA, a negative regulator of NFκB signaling. Knocking down NFKBIA increases IL6 mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to promote lung cancer cell growth by activating NFκB signaling. The expression of NFKBIA was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissue samples, and was negatively correlated with the expression miR-196b-5p. In addition, we found that downregulated QKI-5 expression was associated with the elevated miR-224 expression in NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that the miR-224/QKI-5/miR-196b-5p/NFKBIA signaling pathway might play important functions in the progression of NSCLC, and suggested that targeting this pathway might be an effective therapeutic strategy in treating NSCLC.

Ubiquitin-proteasome system reveals clinical subtypes with distinct molecular characteristics and prognoses in gastric cancer

Modulators in ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in regulating cancer-related genes, immune responses, and oncogenesis. However, the global UPS expression pattern and its role in gastric cancer (GC) pathology remain elusive. Herein, we integrated the modulators in UPS and dissected their associations with tumor microenvironment (TME), therapeutic response and prognosis in GC. Ten eligible GC cohorts (n = 2161) were collected in this comprehensive analysis. Unsupervised clustering based on expression profile of ubiquitination regulators was performed to identify distinct expression pattern. Then, pathway activation, and TME characteristics and prognosis were explored for patients in each pattern. Finally, a UPS scoring system in GC, termed UPSGC, is developed for individualized quantification of UPS expression pattern. Two prognosis-distinctive UPS expression patterns were identified and validated. Multiple interdependent characteristics were found in each pattern. Patients in the pattern with poor prognosis were found with activation of EMT, TNFα/NF-κB and IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling, and more infiltration of immunosuppressive M2 macrophages and Th2 cells in TME. And another pattern was characterized by upregulation of angiogenesis, Notch and Wnt-β/catenin signaling, as well as enrichment of microvessels in TME. Based on the UPSGC system, two pattern-related clinical subtypes were identified. Finally, the UPSGC subtypes were validated as robust biomarker to predict patient's therapeutic responses and survival outcomes. In conclusion, this study proposes two previously unexplored UPS expression patterns in GC, in which patients have distinct survival outcomes and molecular characteristics. The findings provide new evidences to support the clinical relevance of ubiquitination with personalized therapy.

Knockdown of HMGB1 inhibits the crosstalk between oral squamous cell carcinoma cells and tumor-associated macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play distinctly different roles in different tumors. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nonhistone protein in the nucleus, can perform functions during inflammation and cancers. However, the role of HMGB1 in the crosstalk between oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and TAMs remains unclear. Here, we established a coculture system of TAMs and OSCC cells to explore the bidirectional effect and potential mechanism of HMGB1 in OSCC cell-TAM interactions. Our results showed that HMGB1 was significantly upregulated in OSCC tissues and positively associated with tumor progression, immune cell infiltration and macrophage polarization. Then, knocking down HMGB1 in OSCC cells inhibited the recruitment and polarization of cocultured TAMs. Moreover, the knockdown of HMGB1 in macrophages not only suppressed polarization, but also inhibited cocultured OSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, macrophages secreted higher levels of HMGB1 than OSCC cells, and dampening endogenous HMGB1 reduced HMGB1 secretion. Both OSCC cell-generated and macrophage-endogenous HMGB1 may regulate TAM polarization by promoting receptor TLR4 expression and NF-κB/p65 activation and enhancing IL-10/TGF-β expression. HMGB1 in OSCC cells may regulate macrophage recruitment via IL-6/STAT3. In addition, TAM-derived HMGB1 may affect aggressive phenotypes of cocultured OSCC cells by regulating the immunosuppressive microenvironment through the IL-6/STAT3/PD-L1 and IL-6/NF-κB/MMP-9 pathways. In conclusion, HMGB1 may regulate the crosstalk between OSCC cells and TAMs, including modulating macrophage polarization and attraction, enhancing cytokine secretion, and remodeling and creating an immunosuppressive TME to further affect OSCC progression.

Baicalin alleviates silica-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting TLR4/NF-?B pathway in rats

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. The disease is characterized by early lung inflammation and late irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. Here we report the effect of Baicalin, a main flavonoid compound from the roots of Chinese herbal medicine Huang Qin on silicosis in a rat model. Results showed Baicalin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) can mitigate the silica-induced lung inflammation and reduce the harm of alveolar structure and the blue region of collagen fibers in rat lung at 28 days after administration. At the same time, Baicalin also diminished the level of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in lung tissues. The protein expression of collagen I (Col-1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and vimentin were down-regulated while E-cadherin (E-cad) was increased in Baicalin-treated rats. In addition, the Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)/ nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway was enabled at 28 days after silica infusion, and the treatment of Baicalin diminished the expression of TLR4 and NF-?B in the lungs of rat with silicosis. These results suggested that Baicalin inhibited the pulmonary inflammatory and fibrosis in a rat model of silicosis, which could be attributed to inhibition of the TLR4/NF-kappaB pathway.

Phenotype Switching and the Melanoma Microenvironment; Impact on Immunotherapy and Drug Resistance

Melanoma, a highly heterogeneous tumor, is comprised of a functionally diverse spectrum of cell phenotypes and subpopulations, including stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Melanoma has been shown to dynamically shift between different transcriptional states or phenotypes. This is referred to as phenotype switching in melanoma, and it involves switching between quiescent and proliferative cell cycle states, and dramatic shifts in invasiveness, as well as changes in signaling pathways in the melanoma cells, and immune cell composition in the TME. Melanoma cell plasticity is associated with altered gene expression in immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, as well as changes in extracellular matrix, which drive the metastatic cascade and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, resistance to therapy in melanoma is not only dependent on genetic evolution, but it has also been suggested to be driven by gene expression changes and adaptive phenotypic cell plasticity. This review discusses recent findings in melanoma phenotype switching, immunotherapy resistance, and the balancing of the homeostatic TME between the different melanoma cell subpopulations. We also discuss future perspectives of the biology of neural crest-like state(s) in melanoma.

Attenuation of Inflammatory Responses in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells by a Novel Chalcone Derivative and Its Increased Potency by Curcumin

Background

Breast and ovarian cancers are two common malignancies in women and a leading cause of death globally. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of a novel chalcone derivative 1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-3-(phenylthio)-3-(p-tolyl)propane-1-one (MPP) individually or combined with curcumin, a well-known herbal medicine with anticancer properties, as a new combination therapy on inflammatory pathways in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines.

Methods

LPS-induced NF-κB DNA-binding activity and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were measured in the MPP- and MPP-curcumin combination-treated MDA-MB-231 and SKOV3 cells by ELISA-based methods. The expression of COX2, INOS, and MMP9 genes and nitrite levels was also evaluated by real-time qRT-PCR and Griess method, respectively. IκB levels were evaluated by Western blotting.

Results

MPP significantly inhibited the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB in each cell line and subsequently suppressed the expression of downstream genes including COX2, MMP9, and INOS. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as NO, were also decreased in response to MPP. All the effects of MPP were enhanced by the addition of curcumin. MPP, especially when combined with curcumin, caused a remarkable increase in the concentration of IκB.

Conclusion

MPP and its coadministration with curcumin effectively reduced the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to a reduced inflammatory response in the environment of cancer cells. Thus, MPP, either alone or combined with curcumin, might be considered an effective remedy for the suppression of inflammatory processes in breast and ovarian cancer cells.

Antitumor effect of melatonin on breast cancer in experimental models: A systematic review

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasm in females. While conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are available, they are highly invasive and toxic to oncological patients. Melatonin is a promising molecule for the treatment of breast cancer with antitumor effects on tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize knowledge about the antitumor effect of melatonin on breast cancer in experimental models and propose the main mechanisms of action already described in relation to the processes regulated by melatonin. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were used. The inclusion criteria were in vitro and in vivo experimental studies that used different formulations of melatonin as a treatment for breast cancer, without year or language restrictions. Risk of bias for studies was assessed using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. Data from selected articles were presented as narrative descriptions and tables. Seventy-five articles on different breast cancer cell lines and experimental models treated with melatonin alone, or in combination with other compounds were included. Melatonin showed antitumor effects on proliferative pathways related to the cell cycle and tumorigenesis, tumor death, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis, as well as on oxidative stress and immune regulatory pathways. These effects were either dependent or independent of melatonin receptors. Herein, we clarify the antitumor action of melatonin on different tumorigenic processes in breast cancer in experimental models. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO database (CRD42022309822/https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022309822).

6-Shogaol Inhibits the Cell Migration of Colon Cancer by Suppressing the EMT Process Through the IKKβ/NF-κB/Snail Pathway

6-Shogaol from ginger has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-cancer effects. Aim of the Study: To study the effects and possible mechanisms of 6-Shogaol on inhibiting the migration of colon cancer cells Caco2 and HCT116 and prove the effects on proliferation and apoptosis. Materials and methods: The cells were treated with 6-Shogaol at the concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µM, the cytotoxicity was tested by Colony formation assays and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and the Western blot was used to evaluate IKKβ/NF-κB/Snail pathway and EMT-related proteins. In addition, in order to eliminate the interference of proliferation inhibition on the experiment, Caco2 cells were treated with 6-Shogaol at the concentrations of 0, 40, and 80 µM, HCT116 cells were treated with 6-Shogaol at the concentrations of 0, 20, and 40 µM, apoptosis was measured by Annex V/PI staining, and migration was measured by Wound healing assays and Transwell test. Results: 6-Shogaol significantly inhibited the growth of cells. The maximum inhibitory concentration of half of them was 86.63 µM in Caco2 cells and 45.25 µM in HCT116 cells. At 80 µM and 40 µM concentrations, 6-Shogaol significantly promoted apoptosis of colon cancer Caco2 cells and HCT116 cells, and also significantly inhibited cell migration (P < .05). In addition, Western blot analysis showed that at 80 µM dose of 6-Shogaol significantly reduced MMP-2, N-cadherin, IKKβ, P-NF-κB and Snail expression in Caco2 cells (P < .05). 40 µM dose of 6-Shogaol significantly reduced VEGF, IKKβ, and P-NF-κB expression, and MMP-2, N-cadherin and Snail was significantly decreased at 60 µM of 6-Shogaol in HCT116 cells(P < .05). However, there was no significant change in E-cadherin in Caco2 cells, and the expression of E-cadherin protein in HCT116 cells decreased. Conclusion: This study proposes and confirms that 6-Shogaol can significantly inhibit the migration of colon cancer cells Caco2 and HCT116, and its mechanism may be produced by inhibiting EMT through IKKβ/NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway. It was also confirmed that 6-Shogaol inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of Caco2 and HCT116 cells.

Extracellular vesicles from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells stimulated with insulin-like growth factor 1 mediate an epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in function and development of the mammary gland. However, high levels of IGF-1 has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer development. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process where epithelial cells lose their epithelial characteristics and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype, which is considered one of the most important mechanisms in cancer initiation and promotion of metastasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released into the extracellular space by different cell types, which mediate intercellular communication and play an important role in different physiological and pathological processes, such as cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that EVs from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells stimulated with IGF-1 (IGF-1 EVs) decrease the levels of E-cadherin, increase the expression of vimentin and N-cadherin and stimulate the secretion of metalloproteinase-9 in mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells MCF10A. IGF-1 EVs also induce the expression of Snail1, Twist1 and Sip1, which are transcription factors involved in EMT. Moreover, IGF-1 EVs induce activation of ERK1/2, Akt1 and Akt2, migration and invasion. In summary, we demonstrate, for the first time, that IGF-1 EVs induce an EMT process in mammary non-tumorigenic epithelial cells MCF10A.

Melatonin in Endometriosis: Mechanistic Understanding and Clinical Insight

Endometriosis is defined as the development of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Pathophysiology of this disease includes abnormal hormone profiles, cell survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, immunology, and inflammation. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone that is synthesized and released primarily at night from the mammalian pineal gland. Increasing evidence has revealed that melatonin can be synthesized and secreted from multiple extra-pineal tissues where it regulates immune response, inflammation, and angiogenesis locally. Melatonin receptors are expressed in the uterus, and the therapeutic effects of melatonin on endometriosis and other reproductive disorders have been reported. In this review, key information related to the metabolism of melatonin and its biological effects is summarized. Furthermore, the latest in vitro and in vivo findings are highlighted to evaluate the pleiotropic functions of melatonin, as well as to summarize its physiological and pathological effects and treatment potential in endometriosis. Moreover, the pharmacological and therapeutic benefits derived from the administration of exogenous melatonin on reproductive system-related disease are discussed to support the potential of melatonin supplements toward the development of endometriosis. More clinical trials are needed to confirm its therapeutic effects and safety.

PPy@Fe3O4 nanoparticles inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of CRC via suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway and promoting ferroptosis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers of the digestive tract, and patients with advanced-stage cancer have poor survival despite the use of multidrug conventional chemotherapy regimens. Intra-tumor heterogeneity of cancerous cells is the main obstacle in the way to effective cancer treatments. Therefore, we are looking for novel approaches to eliminate just cancer cells including nanoparticles (NPs). PPy@Fe3O4 NPs were successfully synthesized through a portable method. The characterization of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-Transformed infrared spectrometer, and X-ray powder diffraction have further proved successful preparation of PPy@Fe3O4 NPs. NIR irradiation was used to test the photothermal properties of NPs and an infrared camera was used to record their temperature. The direct effects of PPy@Fe3O4 NPs on colorectal cancer cell DLD1 were assessed using CCK8, plate clone, transwell, flow cytometry, and western blotting in CRC cell. The effect of PPy@Fe3O4 NPs on neoplasm growth in nude mice was evaluated in vivo. This study demonstrated that PPy@ Fe3O4 NPs significantly inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion and promote ferroptosis to the untreated controls in colorectal cancer cells. Mechanical exploration revealed that PPy@Fe3O4 NPs inhibit the multiplication, migration, and invasion of CRC cells in vitro by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Importantly, Ferroptosis inhibitors Fer-1 can reverse the changes in metastasis-associated proteins caused by NPs treatment. Collectively, our observations revealed that PPy@Fe3O4 NPs were blockers of tumor progression and metastasis in CRC. This study brought new insights into bioactive NPs, with application potential in curing CRC or other human disorders.

Expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis epithelial cells. A possible contribution of the epithelium to its pathogenesis

Background

Although the molecular mechanisms that cause the development of hereditary gingival fibromatosis are not fully understood, multiple theories have been suggested to clarify its pathogenesis. However, the overlying keratinocytes' function is poorly comprehended. This work aimed to investigate the expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 in hereditary gingival fibromatosis epithelial cells compared to the normal gingival epithelium to give an insight into the mechanism of the development of this condition.

Methods

Biopsies were obtained from 20 hereditary gingival fibromatosis patients and 20 healthy controls. Biopsies were stained immunohistochemically and statistically analyzed for MMP-2 and TGF-β expression.

Results

Regarding MMP-2, The hereditary gingival fibromatosis group recorded a higher mean value compared to the normal gingiva, with a mean difference of 3.29 ± 0.34. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00). Regarding TGF-β, a higher mean value was recorded in the HGF group compared to the normal gingiva, with a mean difference of 15.88 ± 1.05 The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00). A strong positive correlation was detected between MMP-2 and TGF-β (R = 0.534, p = 0.015).

Conclusions

In hereditary gingival fibromatosis, the epithelium expresses higher levels of TGF-β and MMP-2 than normal gingival tissue. There was an evident positive correlation between MMP-2 and TGF-β. Our data suggest that the expression of TGF-β and MMP2 by epithelial cells of HGF may play a role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathogenic pathway.

Recent nanotechnology advancements to treat multidrug-resistance pancreatic cancer: Pre-clinical and clinical overview

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the most lethal and incurable forms of cancer and has a poor prognosis. One of the significant therapeutic challenges in PC is multidrug resistance (MDR), a phenomenon in which cancer cells develop resistance toward administered therapy. Development of novel therapeutic platforms that could overcome MDR in PC is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes. Nanotechnology is emerging as a promising tool to enhance drug efficacy and minimize off-target responses via passive and/or active targeting mechanisms. Over the past decade, tremendous efforts have been made to utilize nanocarriers capable of targeting PC cells while minimizing off-target effects. In this review article, we first give an overview of PC and the major molecular mechanisms of MDR, and then we discuss recent advancements in the development of nanocarriers used to overcome PC drug resistance. In doing so, we explore the developmental stages of this research in both pre-clinical and clinical settings. Lastly, we discuss current challenges and gaps in the literature as well as potential future directions in the field.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition: The history, regulatory mechanism, and cancer therapeutic opportunities

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a program wherein epithelial cells lose their junctions and polarity while acquiring mesenchymal properties and invasive ability. Originally defined as an embryogenesis event, EMT has been recognized as a crucial process in tumor progression. During EMT, cell–cell junctions and cell–matrix attachments are disrupted, and the cytoskeleton is remodeled to enhance mobility of cells. This transition of phenotype is largely driven by a group of key transcription factors, typically Snail, Twist, and ZEB, through epigenetic repression of epithelial markers, transcriptional activation of matrix metalloproteinases, and reorganization of cytoskeleton. Mechanistically, EMT is orchestrated by multiple pathways, especially those involved in embryogenesis such as TGFβ, Wnt, Hedgehog, and Hippo, suggesting EMT as an intrinsic link between embryonic development and cancer progression. In addition, redox signaling has also emerged as critical EMT modulator. EMT confers cancer cells with increased metastatic potential and drug resistant capacity, which accounts for tumor recurrence in most clinic cases. Thus, targeting EMT can be a therapeutic option providing a chance of cure for cancer patients. Here, we introduce a brief history of EMT and summarize recent advances in understanding EMT mechanisms, as well as highlighting the therapeutic opportunities by targeting EMT in cancer treatment.

Proapoptotic Effect of Icariin on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells via the NF-[Formula: see text]B/PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway: A Network Pharmacology-Directed Experimental Investigation

Based on network pharmacology tools and public bioinformatics databases, the pharmacodynamic target and key mechanism of icariin (ICA) in the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) were identified and experimentally verified. Our previous research showed that TNF, MMP9, STAT3, PIK3CA, ERBB2, MTOR, IL2, PTGS2, KDR and F2 are important targets of ICA in the treatment of OC. TNF, as a hub gene in tumor tissues, was associated with poor prognosis. ICA acted on OC mainly through the biological functions of various kinases, and the pathway with the highest accuracy ([Formula: see text]-value) was PI3K. Meanwhile, we observed a close upstream and downstream relationship between NF-[Formula: see text]B and the Pl3K-AKT pathway. This study further verified the mechanism of ICA in promoting apoptosis of SKOV3 cells through the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway and the tandem relationship between NF-[Formula: see text]B and the Pl3K-AKT pathway. The assay results demonstrated that ICA can promote the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells as indicated by the proapoptotic markers Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspase-3 and the key factors of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway (NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65, p-I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]. ICA can block the classical NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway by inhibiting I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] phosphorylation and consequently blocking the activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway in SKOV3 cells. ICA can also promote apoptosis by blocking the activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway in SKOV3 cells via inhibition of NF-[Formula: see text]Bp65 nuclear translocation. After using a PI3K pathway inhibitor, we further discovered that ICA may reduce AKT signal transduction by inhibiting the level of Akt phosphorylation, resulting in a loss of PI3K/Akt-dependent activation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway.

UBAP2L promotes gastric cancer metastasis by activating NF-κB through PI3K/AKT pathway

Ubiquitin-associated protein 2-like (UBAP2L) is highly expressed in various types of tumors and has been shown to participate in tumor growth and metastasis; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. In this study, we observed that UBAP2L expression was markedly elevated in GC tissues and five GC cell lines. Higher expression of UBAP2L was associated with poor prognosis as revealed by bioinformatics analysis on online websites and laboratory experiments. Knockdown of UBAP2L impeded the migration and invasion abilities of GC cell lines. In contrast, its overexpression enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of GC cell lines. Overexpression of UBAP2L also increased the number and size of lung metastatic nodules in vivo. According to the results of mass spectrometry and pathway annotation of the identified proteins, the PI3K/AKT pathway was found to be related to UBAP2L regulation. Further exploration and rescue experiments revealed that UBAP2L stimulates the expression and nuclear aggregation of p65 and promotes the expression of SP1 by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. In summary, our findings indicate that UBAP2L regulates GC metastasis through the PI3K/AKT/SP1/NF-κB axis. Thus, targeting UBAP2L may be a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.

ANKRD37 inhibits trophoblast migration and invasion by regulating NF-κB pathway in preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Inadequate trophoblast invasion is associated with preeclampsia (PE). Ankyrin repeat domain protein 37 (ANKRD37) has been reported to be abnormally expressed in PE placentas. However, the role of ANKRD37 in trophoblasts has not been investigated. We aimed to determine the functions of ANKRD37 in PE and to explore the molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Here, fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect protein and mRNA expression levels. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, Transwell assay and RNA sequencing were performed to study the role of ANKRD37 and the underlying mechanism in HTR8/SVneo and JEG-3 cells, and extravillous explant cultures were used to evaluate the migration and invasion abilities of extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVTs).

RESULTS

We found that ANKRD37 expression was upregulated in PE placentas compared to normal pregnancy placentas. ANKRD37 knockdown enhanced trophoblast migration and invasion, promoted extravillous explant outgrowth, and regulated the expression of key invasion proteins, while ANKRD37 overexpression exerted the opposite effects. RNA sequencing indicated that NF-κB was the potential downstream pathway of ANKRD37, which was confirmed by the change in p-p65 and p-IκBα expression in JEG-3 and HTR8/SVneo cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that high expression of ANKRD37 inhibits trophoblast cell migration and invasion possibly via NF-κB pathway, and may be related to the development of PE.

Paternal effect does not affect in vitro embryo morphokinetics but modulates molecular profile

The use of different sires influences in vitro embryo production (IVP) outcome. Paternal effects are observed from the first cleavages until after embryonic genome activation (EGA). Little is known about the mechanisms that promote in vitro fertility differences, even less about the consequences on embryo development. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the paternal effect at fertilization, embryo developmental kinetics, gene expression and quality from high and low in vitro fertility bulls. A retrospective analysis for bull selection was performed using the In vitro Brazil company database from 2012 to 2015. The dataset was edited employing cleavage and blastocyst rates ranking a total of 140 bulls. Subsequently, the dataset was restricted by embryo development rate (blastocyst/cleaved rate) and ten bulls were selected as high (HF; n = 5) and low (LF; n = 5) in vitro fertility groups. IVP embryos derived from high and low fertility bulls were classified according to their stage of development (2 cells, 3-4 cells, 6 cells, 8-16 cells), at 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 hpi, respectively, to evaluate embryo kinetics. Pronuclei formation (24 hpi), cleavage rate (Day 3), development rate, and blastocyst morphology (Grade I and II - Day 7) were also assessed, as well as the abundance of 96 transcripts at 8-16 cell stage and blastocysts. There was no difference in early embryo kinetics (P > 0.05), and cleavage rate (HF = 86.7%; LF = 84.9%; P = 0.25). Nevertheless, the fertilization rate was higher on HF (72%) than LF (62%) and the polyspermy rate was lower on HF compared to LF (HF:16.2% LF:29.2%). As expected, blastocyst rate (HF = 29.4%; LF = 16.0%; P < 0.0001) and development rate (HF = 33.9% LF = 18.9%; P < 0.0001) were higher in HF than LF. At the 8-16 cell stage, 22 transcripts were differentially represented (P ≤ 0.05) between the two groups. Only PGK1 and TFAM levels were higher in HF while transcripts related to stress (6/22, ∼27%), cell proliferation (6/22, ∼27%), lipid metabolism genes (5/22, ∼23%), and other cellular functions (5/22, ∼23%) were higher on LF embryos. Blastocysts had 9 differentially represented transcripts (P ≤ 0.05); being only ACSL3 and ELOV1 higher in the HF group. Lipid metabolism genes (3/9, 33%) and other cellular functions (6/9, 67%) were higher in the LF group. In conclusion, the timing of the first cleavages is not affected by in vitro bull fertility. However, low in vitro fertility bulls presented higher polyspermy rates and produced 8-16 cells embryos with higher levels of transcripts related to apoptosis and cell damage pathways compared to high in vitro fertility ones. Evidence such as polyspermy and increase in apoptotic and oxidative stress genes at the EGA stage suggest that embryo development is impaired in the LF group leading to the reduction of blastocyst rate.

MALT1 is a Targetable Driver of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Claudin-low, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

MALT1 is the effector protein of the CARMA/Bcl10/MALT1 (CBM) signalosome, a multi-protein complex that drives pro-inflammatory signaling pathways downstream of a diverse set of receptors. While CBM activity is best known for its role in immune cells, emerging evidence suggests that it plays a key role in the pathogenesis of solid tumors, where it can be activated by selected G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here, we demonstrated that overexpression of GPCRs implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis, specifically the receptors for Angiotensin II and thrombin (AT1R and PAR1), drove a strong epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in breast cancer cells that is characteristic of claudin-low, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In concert, MALT1 was activated in these cells and contributed to the dramatic EMT phenotypic changes through regulation of master EMT transcription factors including Snail and ZEB1. Importantly, blocking MALT1 signaling, through either siRNA-mediated depletion of MALT1 protein or pharmacologic inhibition of its activity, was effective at partially reversing the molecular and phenotypic indicators of EMT. Treatment of mice with mepazine, a pharmacologic MALT1 inhibitor, reduced growth of PAR1+, MDA-MB-231 xenografts and had an even more dramatic effect in reducing the burden of metastatic disease. These findings highlight MALT1 as an attractive therapeutic target for claudin-low TNBCs harboring overexpression of one or more selected GPCRs. Implications: This study nominates a GPCR/MALT1 signaling axis as a pathway that can be pharmaceutically targeted to abrogate EMT and metastatic progression in TNBC, an aggressive form of breast cancer that currently lacks targeted therapies.

ISL1 promotes enzalutamide resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) through epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Abnormal expression of insulin gene enhancer-binding protein 1 (ISL1) has been demonstrated to be closely associated with cancer development and progression in several cancers. However, little is known about ISL1 expression in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). ISL1 has also been recognized as a positive modulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we focused on ISL1 which showed maximum upregulation at the mRNA level in the enzalutamide-resistant cell line. Accordingly, we found that ISL1 was overexpressed in enzalutamide-resistant C4-2B cells and its expression was significantly related to EMT. Our findings reveal the important role of ISL1 in androgen receptor (AR)-dependent prostate cancer cell growth; ISL1 knockdown reduced the AR activity and cell growth. ISL1 knockdown using small-interfering RNA inhibited AR, PSA, and EMT-related protein expression in C4-2B ENZR cells. In addition, knock-down ISL1 reduced the levels of AKT and p65 phosphorylation in C4-2B ENZR cells and these suggest that knock-down ISL1 suppresses EMT in part by targeting the AKT/NF-κB pathway. Further, ISL1 downregulation could effectively inhibit tumor growth in a human CRPC xenograft model. Together, the present study shows that downregulation of ISL1 expression is necessary for overcoming enzalutamide resistance and improving the survival of CRPC patients.

Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) in NSCLC: From Prognosis to Therapy Design

Designing optimal (neo)adjuvant therapy is a crucial aspect of the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Standard methods of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy represent effective strategies for treatment. However, in some cases with high metastatic activity and high levels of circulating tumour cells (CTCs), the efficacy of standard treatment methods is insufficient and results in treatment failure and reduced patient survival. CTCs are seen not only as an isolated phenomenon but also a key inherent part of the formation of metastasis and a key factor in cancer death. This review discusses the impact of NSCLC therapy strategies based on a meta-analysis of clinical studies. In addition, possible therapeutic strategies for repression when standard methods fail, such as the administration of low-toxicity natural anticancer agents targeting these phenomena (curcumin and flavonoids), are also discussed. These strategies are presented in the context of key mechanisms of tumour biology with a strong influence on CTC spread and metastasis (mechanisms related to tumour-associated and -infiltrating cells, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and migration of cancer cells).

Total Flavonoids of Litchi Seed Attenuate Prostate Cancer Progression Via Inhibiting AKT/mTOR and NF-kB Signaling Pathways

Litchi seeds have been traditionally used in Chinese herbal formula for urologic neoplasms including prostate cancer (PCa). However, the effective components of Litchi seeds and the mechanisms of their actions on PCa cell growth and metastasis remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of the Total Flavonoid of Litchi Seed (TFLS) in PCa PC3 and DU145 cell lines. We found that TFLS significantly inhibited the PCa cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and prevented cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, we observed that TFLS upregulated the expression of epithelial biomarker E-cadherin and downregulated mesenchymal biomarker Vimentin. TFLS also increased the expression of cleaved-PRAP and Bax, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 in both PC3 and DU145 cells. Besides, TFLS inhibited AKT signaling pathway by reducing the phosphorylation of AKT and activities of downstream signal transducers including mTOR, IκBα and NF-kB. Finally, TFLS treated mice exhibited a significant decrease in tumor size without toxicity in major organs in vivo. These results indicated that TFLS could suppress PCa cell growth in vivo and inhibit PCa cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro through induction of apoptosis and phenotypic reversal of EMT, which may be achieved by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathways. Taken together, our data provide new insights into the role of TFLS as a novel potent anti-cancer agent for the treatment of PCa.

TREM-1 amplifies trophoblastic inflammation via activating NF-κB pathway during preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

Excessive activation of maternal systemic inflammation is one of the underlying causes of pathology during the disease course of preeclampsia (PE). The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) participates in the development and persistence of inflammation. We hypothesized that dysregulated TREM-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE by promoting the secretion of trophoblastic pro-inflammatory cytokines that augment inflammation.

METHODS

The localization of TREM-1 in placenta and the extravillous trophoblast cell line (TEV-1) was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The expression level of TREM-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in placentas were compared between normal pregnancies and PE. We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate trophoblastic inflammation. TEV-1 cells were transfected with TREM-1 plasmid and si-TREM-1 respectively, and then were incubated with LPS. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and key molecules featured in nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway were detected. Transwell assays were used to detect the effects of TREM-1 on cell migration and invasion.

RESULTS

TREM-1 was localized on both villous trophoblasts (VTs) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). TREM-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines were up-regulated in preeclamptic placenta. Overexpression of TREM-1 promoted the activation of NF-κB pathway and the release of pro-inflammatory factors induced by LPS, and enhanced migration and invasion of TEV-1 cells. Inhibition of TREM-1 significantly attenuated LPS-induced effects and suppressed migration and invasion.

DISCUSSION

This study suggested that TREM-1 was up-regulated in PE, and may promote the production of downstream inflammatory factors by activating NF-κB pathway in trophoblastic cells, thus exerting pro-inflammatory effects in the pathogenesis of PE.

RUFY3 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through activating NF-κB-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition

RUFY3 (RUN and FYVE domain-containing protein 3) has been demonstrated to exhibit carcinogenic effect in multiple malignancies. However, the exact role of RUFY3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains elusive. Herein, we aimed to identify the role and the underlying mechanism of RUFY3 in HCC progression. The RUFY3 levels in HCC specimens were detected by qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry, and its clinical significance in HCC patients was assessed. The effect of RUFY3 on HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion was explored by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, and transwell migration and invasion assays in vitro. The effect of RUFY3 on HCC cell growth and metastasis was also conducted in vivo through establishing xenograft tumor and lung metastatic mice model. The underlying mechanism responsible for RUFY3-induced HCC cell behavior was also investigated. Our results indicated that high levels of RUFY3 significantly correlated with tumor size, microvascular invasion, clinical stage, and poor prognosis for HCC patients. In addition, RUFY3 facilitated HCC cell growth, invasion, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo through activating nuclear factor-κ-gene binding (NF-κB)-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our results revealed that RUFY3 accelerated HCC progression via driving NF-κB-mediated EMT, suggesting a novel target for HCC treatment.

Canonical NF-κB Promotes Lung Epithelial Cell Tumour Growth by Downregulating the Metastasis Suppressor CD82 and Enhancing Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Cell Transition

Simple Summary

Canonical NF-κB signalling pathway acts as a tumour promoter in several types of cancer including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the mechanism(s) by which it contributes to NSCLC is still under investigation. We show here that NF-κB RelA/p65 is required for the tumour growth of human NSCLC cells grown in vivo as xenografts in immune-compromised mice. RNA-seq transcriptome profile analysis identified the metastasis suppressor CD82/KAI1/TSPAN27 as a canonical NF-κB target. Loss of CD82 correlated with malignancy. RelA/p65 stimulates cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition (EMT), mediated, in part, by CD82/KAI1, through integrin-mediated signalling, thus, identifying a mechanism mediating NF-κB RelA/p65 lung tumour promoting function.

Abstract

Background: The development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involves the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes. These include somatic oncogenic KRAS and EGFR mutations and inactivating TP53 tumour suppressor mutations, leading to activation of canonical NF-κB. However, the mechanism(s) by which canonical NF-κB contributes to NSCLC is still under investigation. Methods: Human NSCLC cells were used to knock-down RelA/p65 (RelA/p65^KD) and investigate its impact on cell growth, and its mechanism of action by employing RNA-seq analysis, qPCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and functional assays. Results: RelA/p65^KD reduced the proliferation and tumour growth of human NSCLC cells grown in vivo as xenografts in immune-compromised mice. RNA-seq analysis identified canonical NF-κB targets mediating its tumour promoting function. RelA/p65^KD resulted in the upregulation of the metastasis suppressor CD82/KAI1/TSPAN27 and downregulation of the proto-oncogene ROS1, and LGR6 involved in Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Immunohistochemical and bioinformatics analysis of human NSCLC samples showed that CD82 loss correlated with malignancy. RelA/p65^KD suppressed cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition (EMT), mediated, in part, by CD82/KAI1, through integrin-mediated signalling involving the mitogenic ERK, Akt1 and Rac1 proteins. Conclusions: Canonical NF-κB signalling promotes NSCLC, in part, by downregulating the metastasis suppressor CD82/KAI1 which inhibits cell migration, EMT and tumour growth.

Silver Nanoparticles Modulate the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Estrogen-Dependent Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are frequently detected in many convenience goods, such as cosmetics, that are applied directly to the skin. AgNPs accumulated in cells can modulate a wide range of molecular pathways, causing direct changes in cells. The aim of this study is to assess the capability of AgNPs to modulate the metastasis of breast cancer cells through the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The effect of the AgNPs on MCF-7 cells was investigated via the sulforhodamine B method, the wound healing test, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the standard cytofluorimetric method of measuring the cell cycle, and the expression of EMT marker proteins and the MTA3 protein via Western blot. To fulfill the results, calcium flux and HDAC activity were measured. Additionally, mitochondrial membrane potential was measured to assess the direct impact of AgNPs on mitochondria. The results indicated that the MCF-7 cells are resistant to the cytotoxic effect of AgNPs and have higher mobility than the control cells. Treatment with AgNPs induced a generation of ROS; however, it did not affect the cell cycle but modulated the expression of EMT marker proteins and the MTA3 protein. Mitochondrial membrane potential and calcium flux were not altered; however, the AgNPs did modulate the total HDAC activity. The presented data support our hypothesis that AgNPs modulate the metastasis of MCF-7 cells through the EMT pathway. These results suggest that AgNPs, by inducing reactive oxygen species generation, alter the metabolism of breast cancer cells and trigger several pathways related to metastasis.

Disruption of Cytosolic Folate Integrity Aggravates Resistance to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Modulates Metastatic Properties in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Patients with advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are susceptible to malnutrition and develop folate deficiency (FD). We previously found that folate deprivation induces drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma; here, we assessed whether disrupted cytoplasmic folate metabolism could mimic FD-induced metastasis and affect the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). We examined whether cytosolic folate metabolism in NSCLC cells was disrupted by FD or the folate metabolism blocker pemetrexed for 1–4 weeks. Our results revealed an increase in NF-κB overexpression–mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarkers: N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), SOX9, and SLUG. This finding suggests that the disruption of folate metabolism can drastically enhance the metastatic properties of NSCLC cells. Cytosolic FD also affected EGFR-TKI cytotoxicity toward NSCLC cells. Because SLUG and N-cadherin are resistance effectors against gefitinib, the effects of SLUG knockdown in folate antagonist–treated CL1-0 cells were evaluated. SLUG knockdown prevented SLUG/NF-κB/SOX9-mediated invasiveness and erlotinib resistance acquisition and significantly reduced pemetrexed-induced gelatinase activity and MMP gene expression. To summarize, our data reveal two unprecedented adverse effects of folate metabolism disruption in NSCLC cells. Thus, the folic acid status of patients with NSCLC under treatment can considerably influence their prognosis.

Beta-carotene and its protective effect on gastric cancer

Beta-carotene is an important natural pigment that is very beneficial to human health. It is widely found in vegetables and fruits. The three main functions are antioxidant effects, cell gap junction-related functions and immune-related functions. Because of its diverse functions, beta-carotene is believed to prevent and treat many chronic diseases. Gastric cancer is one of the most important diseases it can treat. Gastric cancer is a type of cancer with a high incidence. Its etiology varies, and the pathogenesis is complex. Gastric cancer seriously affects human health. The role of beta-carotene, a natural nutrient, in gastric cancer has been explored by many researchers, including molecular mechanisms and epidemiological studies. Molecular studies have mainly focused on oxidative stress, cell cycle, signal transduction pathways and immune-related mechanisms of beta-carotene in gastric cancer. Many epidemiological surveys and cohort studies of patients with gastric cancer have been conducted, and the results of these epidemiological studies vary due to the use of different research methods and analysis of different regions. This paper will summarize the results of these studies, mainly in terms of molecular mechanisms and epidemiological research results, which will provide a systematic basis for future studies of the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer. This paper will help researchers identify new research directions.

Insulin Sensitivity Is Retained in Mice with Endothelial Loss of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Cell Adhesion Molecule 1

CEACAM1 regulates endothelial barrier integrity. Because insulin signaling in extrahepatic target tissues is regulated by insulin transport through the endothelium, we aimed at investigating the metabolic role of endothelial CEACAM1. To this end, we generated endothelial cell-specific Ceacam1 null mice (VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl) and carried out their metabolic phenotyping and mechanistic analysis by comparison to littermate controls. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp analysis showed intact insulin sensitivity in VECadCre+Cc1fl/fl mice. This was associated with the absence of visceral obesity and lipolysis and normal levels of circulating non-esterified fatty acids, leptin, and adiponectin. Whereas the loss of endothelial Ceacam1 did not affect insulin-stimulated receptor phosphorylation, it reduced IRS-1/Akt/eNOS activation to lower nitric oxide production resulting from limited SHP2 sequestration. It also reduced Shc sequestration to activate NF-κB and increase the transcription of matrix metalloproteases, ultimately inducing plasma IL-6 and TNFα levels. Loss of endothelial Ceacam1 also induced the expression of the anti-inflammatory CEACAM1-4L variant in M2 macrophages in white adipose tissue. Together, this could cause endothelial barrier dysfunction and facilitate insulin transport, sustaining normal glucose homeostasis and retaining fat accumulation in adipocytes. The data assign a significant role for endothelial cell CEACAM1 in maintaining insulin sensitivity in peripheral extrahepatic target tissues.

NF-κB and Human Cancer: What Have We Learned over the Past 35 Years?

Transcription factor NF-κB has been extensively studied for its varied roles in cancer development since its initial characterization as a potent retroviral oncogene. It is now clear that NF-κB also plays a major role in a large variety of human cancers, including especially ones of immune cell origin. NF-κB is generally constitutively or aberrantly activated in human cancers where it is involved. These activations can occur due to mutations in the NF-κB transcription factors themselves, in upstream regulators of NF-κB, or in pathways that impact NF-κB. In addition, NF-κB can be activated by tumor-assisting processes such as inflammation, stromal effects, and genetic or epigenetic changes in chromatin. Aberrant NF-κB activity can affect many tumor-associated processes, including cell survival, cell cycle progression, inflammation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and regulatory T cell function. As such, inhibition of NF-κB has often been investigated as an anticancer strategy. Nevertheless, with a few exceptions, NF-κB inhibition has had limited success in human cancer treatment. This review covers general themes that have emerged regarding the biological roles and mechanisms by which NF-κB contributes to human cancers and new thoughts on how NF-κB may be targeted for cancer prognosis or therapy.

MicroRNA-495/TGF-β/FOXC1 axis regulates multidrug resistance in metaplastic breast cancer cells

Triple-negative metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) poses a significant treatment challenge due to lack of targeted therapies and chemotherapy resistance. We isolated a novel MBC cell line, BAS, which showed a molecular and phenotypic profile different from the only other metaplastic cell model, HS578T cells. To gain insight behind chemotherapeutic resistance, we generated doxorubicin (HS-DOX, BAS-DOX) and paclitaxel (HS-TX, BAS-TX) resistant derivatives of both cell lines. Drug sensitivity assays indicated a truly multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype. Both BAS-DOX and BAS-TX showed up-regulation of FOXC1 and its experimental down-regulation re-sensitized cells to doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Experimental modulation of FOXC1 expression in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells corroborated its role in MDR. Genome-wide expression analyses identified gene expression signatures characterized by up-regulation of TGFB2, which encodes cytokine TGF-β2, in both BAS-DOX and BAS-TX cells. Pharmacological inhibition of the TGF-β pathway with galunisertib led to down-regulation of FOXC1 and increase in drug sensitivity in both BAS-DOX and BAS-TX cells. MicroRNA (miR) expression analyses identified high endogenous miR-495-3p levels in BAS cells that were downregulated in both BAS MDR cells. Transient expression of miR-495-3p mimic in BAS-DOX and BAS-TX cells caused downregulation of TGFB2 and FOXC1 and re-sensitized cells to doxorubicin and paclitaxel, whereas miR-495-3p inhibition in BAS cells led to increase in resistance to both drugs and up-regulation of TGFB2 and FOXC1. Together, these data suggest interplay between miR-495-3p, TGF-β2 and FOXC1 regulating MDR in MBC and open the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies.

The Engaged Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Metabolism: Focusing on Cancer-Associated Fibroblast and Exosome Mediators

Metabolic reprogramming is a significant property of various cancer cells, which most commonly arises from the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). The events of metabolic pathways include the Warburg effect, shifting in Krebs cycle metabolites, and the rate of oxidative phosphorylation, potentially providing energy and structural requirements for the development and invasiveness of cancer cells. TME and tumor metabolism shifting have a close relationship through bidirectional signaling pathways between stromal and tumor cells. Cancer- Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs), as the most dominant cells of TME, play a crucial role in the aberrant metabolism of cancer. Furthermore, the stated relationship can affect survival, progression, and metastasis in cancer development. Recently, exosomes are considered one of the most prominent factors in cellular communications considering effective content and bidirectional mediatory effect between tumor and stromal cells. In this regard, CAF-Derived Exosomes (CDE) exhibit an efficient obligation to induce metabolic reprogramming for promoting growth and metastasis of cancer cells. The understanding of cancer metabolism, including factors related to TME, could lead to the discovery of a potential biomarker for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer management. This review focuses on the association between metabolic reprogramming and engaged microenvironmental, factors such as CAFs, and the associated derived exosomes.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition events in melanoma

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process through which epithelial tumor cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypic properties, contributes to both metastatic dissemination and therapy resistance in cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that nonepithelial tumors, including melanoma, can also gain mesenchymal-like properties that increase their metastatic propensity and decrease their sensitivity to therapy. In this review, we discuss recent findings, illustrating the striking similarities-but also knowledge gaps-between the biology of mesenchymal-like state(s) in melanoma and mesenchymal state(s) from epithelial cancers. Based on this comparative analysis, we suggest hypothesis-driven experimental approaches to further deepen our understanding of the EMT-like process in melanoma and how such investigations may pave the way towards the identification of clinically relevant biomarkers for prognosis and new therapeutic strategies.