Rac3, but not Rac1, promotes ox-LDL induced endothelial dysfunction by downregulating autophagy

Circular RNAs: Regulators of endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is associated with atherosclerosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed loops formed by back-splicing, are highly expressed in a tissue-specific or cell-specific manner, and regulate ECs mainly through miRNAs (mircoRNAs) or protein sponges. This review describes the regulatory mechanisms and physiological functions of circRNAs, as well as the differential expression of circRNAs in aberrant ECs. This review focuses on their roles in inflammation, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, senescence, and autophagy in ECs from the perspective of signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat family, pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). Finally, we address the issues and recent advances in circRNAs as well as circRNA-mediated regulation of ECs to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of atherosclerosis and provide a reference for studies on circRNAs that regulate EC dysfunction and thus affect atherosclerosis.

Orientin alleviates ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in human vascular endothelial cells by regulating Sestrin 1 (SESN1)-mediated autophagy

Endothelial cells are a crucial component of the vessel-tissue wall and exert an important role in atherosclerosis (AS). To explore the role of Orientin in AS, human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate the vascular endothelial injury during AS. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Oxidative stress and inflammation related markers were measured using kits, RT-qPCR or western blot. Besides, cell apoptosis was assessed with TUNEL staining and cell autophagy was evaluated by LC3 immunofluorescent staining. Additionally, western blot was utilized to evaluate the expression of Sestrin 1 (SESN1) and proteins in AMPK/mTOR signaling. Afterwards, SESN1 was silenced to determine the expression of autophagy-related proteins. The further application of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used to clarify the regulatory mechanism of Orientin on autophagy. Results showed that the decreased viability of HUVECs caused by ox-LDL induction was elevated by Orientin. Oxidative stress and inflammation were also attenuated after Orientin addition in HUVECs under ox-LDL condition. Moreover, Orientin suppressed apoptosis and induced autophagy of HUVECs stimulated by ox-LDL, accompanied by enhanced level of phospho (p)-AMPK and declined level of p-mTOR. Interestingly, SESN1 level was elevated by Orientin, and SESN1 depletion alleviated autophagy and reduced p-AMPK expression but enhanced p-mTOR expression. The further experiments indicated that SESN1 silencing or 3-MA addition reversed the inhibitory effects of Orientin on the oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of HUVECs. Collectively, Orientin could induce autophagy by activating SESN1 expression, thereby regulating AMPK/mTOR signaling in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs.

Pulsatilla saponin D regulates ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 3 (RAC3) to overcome resistance to paclitaxel in lung adenocarcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Paclitaxel, a tubulin-binding agent, is a Food and Drug Administration-approved first-line drug for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for both squamous and non-squamous cell lung carcinoma, with paclitaxel/carboplatin + bevacizumab a common chemotherapy regimen for stage IV non-squamous NSCLC; however, primary or acquired resistance to paclitaxel is gradually increasing, leading to treatment failure.

METHODS

Our results show that Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 3 (RAC3) is overexpressed in cultured paclitaxel-resistant cells and that RAC3 expression levels are negatively correlated with sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells to paclitaxel. Pulsatilla saponin D could inhibit RAC3 expression, and we hypothesize that it may block paclitaxel resistance. Further, we found that treatment with paclitaxel combined with Pulsatilla saponin D, can overcome lung adenocarcinoma cell resistance to paclitaxel alone in cell culture and mouse xenograft models.

Rac2 mediate foam cell formation and associated immune responses in THP-1 to promote the process of atherosclerotic plaques

Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) by mediating oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid metabolism, which can lead to the formation of vascular plaque. The Rac family isoforms of small molecules GTPase are active by binding to GTPase, but are inactivated by binding to GDP, and play a role in the switch of cell information conduction. This experiment adopts shRNA interference THP-1 cells respectively each subtype expression and inhibiting Rac1, Rac2, Rac3 activity, each subtype of Rac family on lipid metabolism, inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress. THP-1 cells were stimulated with Ox-LDL to establish AS cell models including lipid loading, adhesion, migration and chemotaxis. Oil Red O staining, cell immunofluorescence, scratching test, transwell, Western blot and other experiments were performed. To observe the different effects of three subtypes of Rac family on multiple links in the foaming process of THP-1 cells. ApoE-/- mice on a high-fat diet were used as animal models to examine the effects of Rac subtypes in vivo. The results showed that the activation of immune cells induced by ox-LDL was inhibited when Rac1, Rac2 and Rac3 in THP-1 were decreased, respectively. Thus, Rac1 and Rac3 act in combination with ox-LDL and are associated with cellular oxidative stress and inflammation. This study provides new means and ideas for finding potential intervention targets that have important regulatory effects on atherosclerosis, and provides a new direction for the development of clinical drugs.

Different stimuli induce endothelial dysfunction and promote atherosclerosis through the Piezo1/YAP signaling axis

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is the initial step in atherosclerosis (AS). AS tends to occur at vascular bifurcations and curves, and endothelial cells(ECs) are highly susceptible to injury due to mechanical forces induced by disturbed flow (DF) with inconsistent blood flow directions. However, the pathogenesis of endothelial cell dysfunction in AS remains unclear and needs further study. Here, we found that Piezo1 expression was significantly increased in DF- and oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)-treated HUVECs in vitro and a model of atherosclerotic plaque growth in ApoE-/- mice fed a Western diet. Furthermore, Piezo1 upregulated autophagy levels in the HUVECs model, which was reversed by Piezo1 knockdown with a lentivirus-mediated shRNA system. Mechanistically, the level of Yes-associated protein (YAP), a transcriptional coactivator in the Hippo pathway, was significantly elevated in the DF- and ox-LDL-induced HUVECs model, and this effect was further inhibited by Piezo1 knockdown. Moreover, the Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 inhibited the protein level of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II(LC3-II) and increased the protein level of sequestosome1(p62/SQSTM1) in a dose-dependent manner, while significantly promoting the protein expression and nuclear translocation of YAP. The YAP inhibitor CA3 weakened Yoda1-mediated inhibition of autophagy. Our results suggest that Piezo1 may regulate endothelial autophagy by promoting YAP activation and nuclear translocation, thereby contributing to vascular endothelial dysfunction.

The critical issue linking lipids and inflammation: Clinical utility of stopping oxidative stress

The formation of an atheroma begins when lipoproteins become trapped in the intima. Entrapped lipoproteins become oxidized and activate the innate immune system. This immunity represents the primary association between lipids and inflammation. When the trapping continues, the link between lipids and inflammation becomes chronic and detrimental, resulting in atherosclerosis. When entrapment ceases, the association between lipids and inflammation is temporary and healthy, and the atherogenic process halts. Therefore, the link between lipids and inflammation depends upon lipoprotein retention in the intima. The entrapment is due to electrostatic forces uniting apolipoprotein B to polysaccharide chains on intimal proteoglycans. The genetic transformation of contractile smooth muscle cells in the media into migratory secretory smooth muscle cells produces the intimal proteoglycans. The protein, platelet-derived growth factor produced by activated platelets, is the primary stimulus for this genetic change. Oxidative stress is the main stimulus to activate platelets. Therefore, minimizing oxidative stress would significantly reduce the retention of lipoproteins. Less entrapment decreases the association between lipids and inflammation. More importantly, it would halt atherogenesis. This review will analyze oxidative stress as the critical link between lipids, inflammation, and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Through this perspective, we will discuss stopping oxidative stress to disrupt a harmful association between lipids and inflammation. Numerous therapeutic options will be discussed to mitigate oxidative stress. This paper will add a new meaning to the Morse code distress signal SOS-stopping oxidative stress.

RAC3 Inhibition Induces Autophagy to Impair Metastasis in Bladder Cancer Cells via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Background

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors globally, with a significant morbidity and mortality rate. Gene expression dysregulation has been proven to play a critical role in tumorigenesis. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate3 (RAC3), which is overexpressed in several malignancies and promotes tumor progression, has been identified as an oncogene. However, RAC3 has important but not fully understood biological functions in cancer. Our research aims to reveal the new functions and potential mechanisms of RAC3 involved in BCa progression.

Methods

We explored the expression level of RAC3 and its relationship with prognosis by publicly accessible BCa datasets, while the correlation of RAC3 expression with clinicopathological variables of patients was analyzed. In vitro and in vivo proliferation, migration, autophagy, and other phenotypic changes were examined by constructing knockdown(KD)/overexpression(OE) RAC3 cells and their association with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was explored by adding autophagy-related compounds.

Results

Compared with non-tumor samples, RAC3 was highly expressed in BCa and negatively correlated with prognosis. KD/OE RAC3 inhibited/promoted the proliferation and migration of BCa cells. Knockdown RAC3 caused cell cycle arrest and decreased adhesion without affecting apoptosis. Inhibition of RAC3 activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR mediated autophagy and inhibits proliferation and migration of BCa cells in vivo and in vitro. Autophagy inhibitor 3MA can partially rescue the metastasis and proliferation inhibition effect caused by RAC3 inhibition. Inhibit/activate mTOR enhanced/impaired autophagy, resulting in shRAC3-mediated migration defect exacerbated/rescued.

Conclusion

RAC3 is highly expressed in BCa. It is associated with advanced clinicopathological variables and poor prognosis. Knockdown RAC3 exerts an antitumor effect by enhancing PI3K/AKT/mTOR mediated autophagy. Targeting RAC3 and autophagy simultaneously is a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting BCa progression and prolonging survival.

FAM201A, a long noncoding RNA potentially associated with atrial fibrillation identified by ceRNA network analyses and WGCNA

Background

Being the most common arrhythmia in clinic, atrial fibrillation (AF) causes various comorbidities to patients such as heart failure and stroke. LncRNAs were reported involved in pathogenesis of AF, yet, little is known about AF-associated lncRNAs. The present study aims to explore lncRNAs associated with AF susceptibility based on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).

Methods

GSE41177 and GSE79768 datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis was performed using GSE41177. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), mRNAs (DEmRNAs) between AF patients and patients with sinus rhythm (SR) were identified from GSE41177 using R software. Then, the ceRNA network was constructed based on DElncRNAs, the predicted target miRNAs and DEmRNAs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed using GSE79768 to validate the AF-related lncRNAs identified from GSE41177. LncRNA modules and crucial lncRNAs relevant to AF and were identified.

Results

In summary, 18 DElncRNAs and 350 DEmRNAs were found between AF patients and SR patients. A total of 5 lncRNAs, 10 miRNAs, and 21 mRNAs were contained in the final ceRNA network. Taking into consideration both the ceRNA theory and inference scores from the comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD) database, the ceRNA axis FAM201A-miR-33a-3p-RAC3 was identified as mostly relevant to AF susceptibility. FAM201A (Gene significance, GS = − 0.62; Module membership, MM = 0.75) was also proved in the blue module, which was identified most highly relevant with AF by WGCNA.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that decreased expression of FAM201A might be associated with susceptibility of AF. Working as the ceRNA to regulate RAC3 might be one function of FAM201A in AF susceptibility, which requires further exploration in future research.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01232-w.

The Induction of Endothelial Autophagy and Its Role in the Development of Atherosclerosis

Increasing attention is now being paid to the important role played by autophagic flux in maintaining normal blood vessel walls. Endothelial cell dysfunction initiates the development of atherosclerosis. In the endothelium, a variety of critical triggers ranging from shear stress to circulating blood lipids promote autophagy. Furthermore, emerging evidence links autophagy to a range of important physiological functions such as redox homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and the secretion of vasomodulatory substances that determine the life and death of endothelial cells. Thus, the promotion of autophagy in endothelial cells may have the potential for treating atherosclerosis. This paper reviews the role of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and explores the molecular mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis development.

Protein disulfide-isomerase A3 knockdown attenuates oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by downregulating activating transcription factor 2

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease implicated in oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3) has been reported to regulate oxidative stress and suppress inflammation. This study aimed to explore the function of PDIA3 in atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanisms. PDIA3 expression in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Following PDIA3 knockdown through transfection with small interfering RNA targeting PDIA3, cell viability, oxidative stress and inflammation in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs was examined using a Cell Counting Kit-8, corresponding kits and ELISA, respectively. The levels of CD31, α-smooth muscle, iNOS, p-eNOS, eNOS and NO were assessed using RT-qPCR, Western blotting and an NO kit to reflect endothelial dysfunction in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs. The relationship between PDIA3 and the activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) was confirmed using co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, ATF2 expression was examined following PDIA3 silencing. The results indicated that PDIA3 was highly expressed in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs. PDIA3 silencing increased cell viability, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, as evidenced by the decreased levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. In addition, PDIA3 deletion improved endothelial dysfunction. PDIA3 interacted with ATF2, and PDIA3 deletion downregulated ATF2 expression. Furthermore, ATF2 overexpression reversed the effects of PDIA3 knockdown on ox-LDL-induced damage of HUVECs. Collectively, PDIA3 knockdown was found to attenuate ox-LDL-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in HUVECs by downregulating ATF2 expression, showing promise for the future treatment of atherosclerosis.

LncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 enhances the proliferation and inflammatory response of chondrocytes in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis (OA), whereas the biological roles and mechanisms of the lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 (THUMPD3 antisense RNA 1) in OA remain still unclear. This study described the role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 in regulating OA biology.

METHOD

The knee normal and OA cartilage tissues from ten participants were sequenced to reveal the differentially expressed lncRNAs. The interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated C28/I2 cell served as OA cells. Flow cytometry assays, Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used for our experiments.

RESULTS

The results revealed that lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 was downregulated in OA cartilage tissues and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocyte cell line. Overexpression of lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 alleviated cell apoptosis and facilitated inflammatory responses, whereas knockdown had opposite effects. LncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 markedly increased the cyclin E2, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, B-cell lymphoma 2, tumor necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide, and IL-6 levels, and decreased the caspase-3 level. Furthermore, the target proteins of phosphorylation were identified as nuclear factor-κB p65 and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38, which could be indirectly suppressed by lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the different effects of lncRNA THUMPD3-AS1 on cell apoptosis and inflammatory response, which extend the multiple functions of lncRNA epigenetics in OA biology.

Self-eating and Heart: The Emerging Roles of Autophagy in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Autophagy is a self-degradative pathway by which subcellular elements are broken down intracellularly to maintain cellular homeostasis. Cardiac autophagy commonly decreases with aging and is accompanied by the accumulation of misfolded proteins and dysfunctional organelles, which are undesirable to the cell. Reduction of autophagy over time leads to aging-related cardiac dysfunction and is inversely related to longevity. However, despite the increasing interest in autophagy in cardiac diseases and aging, the process remains an undervalued and disregarded object in calcific valvular disease. Neither the nature through which autophagy is triggered nor the interplay between autophagic machinery and targeted molecules during aortic valve calcification are fully understood. Recently, the upregulation of autophagy has been shown to result in cardioprotective effects against cell death as well as its origin. Here, we review the evidence that shows how autophagy can be both beneficial and detrimental as it pertains to aortic valve calcification in the heart.

Propofol Ameliorates ox-LDL-Induced Endothelial Damage Through Enhancing Autophagy via PI3K/Akt/m-TOR Pathway: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Atherosclerosis

Objective: Atherosclerosis (AS) represents a common age-associated disease, which may be accelerated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Propofol on ox-LDL-induced endothelial damage and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to ox-LDL to induce endothelial damage. HUVECs were pretreated with 0, 5, 25 and 100°μM Propofol, followed by exposure to 100°μg/ml ox-LDL for 24°h. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expression of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins was detected via western blot. Autophagosome was investigated under a transmission electron microscope. After co-treatment with autophagy inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 or si-Beclin-1, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore, under cotreatment with PI3K activator 740Y-P, PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway- and autophagy-related proteins were examined by western blot.

Results: With a concentration-dependent manner, Propofol promoted the viability of HUVECs exposed to ox-LDL, and increased LC3-II/I ratio and Beclin-1 expression, and decreased P62 expression. The formation of autophagosome was enhanced by Propofol. Furthermore, Propofol treatment elevated Bcl-2/Bax ratio and lowered Caspase-3 expression. Bafilomycin A1 or si-Beclin-1 distinctly ameliorated the inhibitory effects of Propofol on apoptosis in ox-LDL-exposed HUVECs. Moreover, Propofol lowered the activation of PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway in HUVECs under exposure to ox-LDL. However, its inhibitory effects were weakened by 740Y-P.

Conclusion: Collectively, this study revealed that Propofol could ameliorate ox-LDL-induced endothelial damage through enhancing autophagy via PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway, which might offer a novel therapeutic strategy in AS.

The role of oxidation of low-density lipids in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis: A narrative review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder that causes degeneration of cartilage, synovial inflammation, and formation of osteophytes. Aging, obesity, and sex are considered the main risk factors of OA. Recent studies have suggested that metabolic syndrome (MetS) disorders, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of OA. MetS disorders are common diseases that also result in atherosclerosis. Researchers believe that OA and atherosclerosis have underlying similar molecular mechanisms because the prevalence of both diseases increases with age. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Recent reports have shown that ox-LDL and low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1) are involved in the pathogenesis of OA. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the current understanding of the role of the LOX-1/ox-LDL system in the pathogenesis of OA and to reveal common underlying molecular pathways that are shared by MetS in OA and the LOX-1/ox-LDL system.

T cell co-stimulator inducible co-stimulatory (ICOS) exerts potential anti-atherosclerotic roles through downregulation of vascular smooth muscle phagocytosis and proliferation

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease. The role of the immune system in the etiology of the disease, particularly T cells, has been widely studied and is well established. T cell activation directly regulates co-signaling molecules present in immune synapses. Targeting one or several of these co-signaling molecules can inhibit T cell-mediated inflammation and delay or reduce AS. In recent years, this strategy has increasingly become a research focus. As such, we explored the role and therapeutic potential of the T cell co-stimulatory molecule inducible co-stimulatory (ICOS) in AS.

Methods

We compared the expression of ICOS in early AS lesions occurring in ApoE-deficient (ApoE-KO) rats fed a fat-diet and wild type (WT) rats fed the same diet. Eight-week old ApoE-KO and WT rats [ApoE-KO(0) and WT(0)] were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks [ApoE-KO(16) and WT(16)]. ICOS expression in aortic tissues was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and confocal microscopy. The effect of ICOS overexpression in a transfected human T cell line on the phagocytosis and proliferation of co-cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) was studied in vitro.

Results

Compared with WT(0), ApoE-KO(0), and WT(16) rats, ICOS expression in ApoE-KO(16) rats was significantly down-regulated both at the mRNA and protein levels. In vitro experiments indicated that ICOS overexpression reduces phagocytosis and proliferation by HASMCs, and may therefore produce an anti-atherosclerotic effect.

Conclusions

The immune synaptic co-signaling molecule ICOS has an anti-atherosclerotic effect through inhibition of HASMC phagocytosis and proliferation, and can be used to delay plaque formation during the early stages of AS.

The Regulatory Role of Rho GTPases and their Substrates in Osteoclastogenesis

Pathological bone loss diseases (osteolysis, Paget's diseases) are commonly caused by the excessive differentiation and activity of osteoclasts. The Rho GTPases family members Rac1/2 (Rac1 and Rac2) have been reported for their special role in exerting multiple cellular functions during osteoclastic differentiation, which includes the most prominent function on dynamic actin cytoskeleton rearranging. Besides that, the increasing studies demonstrated that the regulating effects of Rac1/2 on the osteoclastic cytoskeletal organization are through the GEFs member Dock5. Although the amount of relevant studies on this topic is still limited, several excellent studies have been reported that extensively explored the molecular mechanisms involved in Rac1/2 and Dock5 during the osteoclastogenesis regulation, as well as their role as the therapeutic target in bone loss diseases. Herein, in this review, we aim to focus on recent advances studies for extensively understanding the role of Rho GTPases Rac1/2 and Dock5 in osteoclastogenesis, as well as their role as a potential therapeutic target in regulating osteoclastogenesis.

Genome-wide association study of cardiovascular disease in testicular cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

Genetic variation may mediate the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chemotherapy-treated testicular cancer (TC) patients compared to the general population. Involved single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) might differ from known CVD-associated SNPs in the general population. We performed an explorative genome-wide association study (GWAS) in TC patients. TC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between 1977 and 2011, age ≤55 years at diagnosis, and ≥3 years relapse-free follow-up were genotyped. Association between SNPs and CVD occurrence during treatment or follow-up was analyzed. Data-driven Expression Prioritized Integration for Complex Trait (DEPICT) provided insight into enriched gene sets, i.e., biological themes. During a median follow-up of 11 years (range 3–37), CVD occurred in 53 (14%) of 375 genotyped patients. Based on 179 SNPs associated at p ≤ 0.001, 141 independent genomic loci associated with CVD occurrence. Subsequent, DEPICT found ten biological themes, with the RAC2/RAC3 network (linked to endothelial activation) as the most prominent theme. Biology of this network was illustrated in a TC cohort (n = 60) by increased circulating endothelial cells during chemotherapy. In conclusion, the ten observed biological themes highlight possible pathways involved in CVD in chemotherapy-treated TC patients. Insight in the genetic susceptibility to CVD in TC patients can aid future intervention strategies.

Prognostic model of 10 immune-related genes and identification of small molecule drugs in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA)

Background

We aimed to establish an immune-related gene (IRG) based signature that could provide guidance for clinical bladder cancer (BC) prognostic surveillance.

Methods

Differentially expressed IRGs and transcription factors (TFs) between BCs and normal tissues were extracted from transcriptome data downloaded from the TCGA database. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were carried out to identify related pathways based on differently expressed IRGs. Then, univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate IRGs with prognostic values and LASSO penalized Cox regression analysis was utilized to develop the prognostic index (PI) model.

Results

A total of 411 BC tissue samples and 19 normal bladder tissues in the TCGA database were enrolled in this study and 259 differentially expressed IRGs were identified. Networks between TFs and IRGs were also provided to seek the upstream regulators of differentially expressed IRGs. By means of univariate Cox regression analysis, 57 IRGs were analyzed with prognostic values and 10 IRGs were finally identified by LASSO penalized Cox regression analysis to construct the PI model. This model could significantly classified BC patients into high-risk group and low-risk group in terms of OS (P=9.923e-07) and its AUC reached 0.711. By means of univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis, this PI was proven to be a valuable independent prognostic factor (HR =1.119, 95% CI =1.066-1.175, P<0.001). CMap database analysis was also utilized to screen out 10 small molecules drugs with the potential for the treatment of BC.

Conclusions

Our study successfully provided a novel PI based on IRGs with the potential to predict the prognosis of BC and screened out 10 small molecules drugs with the potential to treat BC. Besides, networks between TFs and IRGs were also displayed to seek its upstream regulators for future researches.