Multiparameter Cell Cycle Analysis

Expression patterns and a prognostic model of m6A-associated regulators in prostate adenocarcinoma

Aim: To study the expression patterns and prognostic value of the m⁶A-associated regulators in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). Materials & methods: The mRNA expression and clinical data were downloaded from 'The Cancer Genome Atlas database'. The m⁶A-associated variants were downloaded from m⁶AVar database, and combined with 14 common m⁶A regulators for subsequent analysis. One-way analysis of variance, univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm were successively applied to obtain the ultimate regulators and prognostic model. Finally, consensus clustering, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and enrichment analysis were performed. Result: Nine regulators were obtained. PRAD patients could be classified into two risk groups and subclasses with significant survival differences by the prognostic model and consensus clustering, respectively. Conclusion: All these nine regulators were related to prognosis in PRAD, and could be used as clinical biomarkers.

The Dichloromethane Fraction of Vernonia cinerea Impart Pro-Apoptotic, Genotoxic, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Drug Efflux Inhibitory Effects on Human Adenocarcinoma Cells

BACKGROUND

Vernonia cinerea (VC) is an important medicinal plant used in the indigenous system of therapy. In ethnomedicine, VC has demonstrated anticancer properties. However, the mechanisms of action VC is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the anticancer mechanisms of 'bioactive fractions of VC' on human adenocarcinoma cells.

METHODS

The IC50 values of characterized VC extract and fractions in human adenocarcinoma and normal epithelial cells were determined using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Acridine Orange- Ethidium Bromide (AO-EB) assay/Hoechst 33342 assay, Comet assay, and Cell cycle analysis were used to determine apoptosis, genotoxicity, and cell cycle-specific changes in cancer cells, respectively. Rhodamine 123 (Rho-123) efflux assay and Mitoxantrone (MX) efflux assay were used to assess the inhibition of Multidrug Resistance (MDR) transporters.

RESULTS

The dichloromethane fraction of VC (VC-DM) imparted dose-dependent cytotoxicity in human adenocarcinoma cells with fewer effects in human normal epithelial cells. This 'sesquiterpenoids' enriched fraction (VC-DM) induced apoptosis, DNA damage, genotoxicity, and G2/M phase arrest in human adenocarcinoma cells. Interestingly, VC-DM significantly inhibited the functional activity of MDR transporters (ABCB1 and ABCG2) and caused 'synergistic cytotoxic effects' with anticancer drugs in human adenocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSION

The bioactivity guided fractionation of VC revealed that the specific 'sesquiterpenoids enriched fraction' (VC-DM) imparted cytotoxicity in human adenocarcinoma cells with fewer effects on normal cells. Mechanistic studies have shown that VC-DM induced apoptosis, DNA damage, genotoxicity, cell cycle arrest (G2/M), inhibited the functional activity of MDR transporters (ABCB1 and ABCG2), and produced 'synergistic cytotoxic effects' (combinatorial treatments with anticancer drugs) in human adenocarcinoma cells. Taken together, the findings of this study emphasize and validates VC-DM as a promising 'anticancer agent' against human adenocarcinomas, including those with a multi-drug resistant phenotype.

Cumulative inactivation of Nell-1 in Wnt1 expressing cell lineages results in craniofacial skeletal hypoplasia and postnatal hydrocephalus

Upregulation of Nell-1 has been associated with craniosynostosis (CS) in humans, and validated in a mouse transgenic Nell-1 overexpression model. Global Nell-1 inactivation in mice by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis results in neonatal lethality with skeletal abnormalities including cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD)-like calvarial bone defects. This study further defines the role of Nell-1 in craniofacial skeletogenesis by investigating specific inactivation of Nell-1 in Wnt1 expressing cell lineages due to the importance of cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) in craniofacial tissue development. Nell-1^flox/flox; Wnt1-Cre (Nell-1^Wnt1 KO) mice were generated for comprehensive analysis, while the relevant reporter mice were created for CNCC lineage tracing. Nell-1^Wnt1 KO mice were born alive, but revealed significant frontonasal and mandibular bone defects with complete penetrance. Immunostaining demonstrated that the affected craniofacial bones exhibited decreased osteogenic and Wnt/β-catenin markers (Osteocalcin and active-β-catenin). Nell-1-deficient CNCCs demonstrated a significant reduction in cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Active-β-catenin levels were significantly low in Nell-1-deficient CNCCs, but were rescued along with osteogenic capacity to a level close to that of wild-type (WT) cells via exogenous Nell-1 protein. Surprisingly, 5.4% of young adult Nell-1^Wnt1 KO mice developed hydrocephalus with premature ossification of the intrasphenoidal synchondrosis and widened frontal, sagittal, and coronal sutures. Furthermore, the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and ependymal cells exhibited degenerative changes with misplaced expression of their respective markers, transthyretin and vimentin, as well as dysregulated Pit-2 expression in hydrocephalic Nell-1^Wnt1 KO mice. Nell-1^Wnt1 KO embryos at E9.5, 14.5, 17.5, and newborn mice did not exhibit hydrocephalic phenotypes grossly and/or histologically. Collectively, Nell-1 is a pivotal modulator of CNCCs that is essential for normal development and growth of the cranial vault and base, and mandibles partially via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Nell-1 may also be critically involved in regulating cerebrospinal fluid homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of postnatal hydrocephalus.