The lack of CD131 and the inhibition of Neuro-2a growth by carbamylated erythropoietin

The Role of PI3K/AKT and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Erythropoietin Signalization

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein cytokine known for its pleiotropic effects on various types of cells and tissues. EPO and its receptor EPOR trigger signaling cascades JAK2/STAT5, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT that are interconnected and irreplaceable for cell survival. In this article, we describe the role of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways during red blood cell formation as well as in non-hematopoietic tissues and tumor cells. Although the central framework of these pathways is similar for most of cell types, there are some stage-specific, tissue, and cell-lineage differences. We summarize the current state of research in this field, highlight the novel members of EPO-induced PI3K and MAPK signaling, and in this respect also the differences between erythroid and non-erythroid cells.

Silencing GTSE-1 expression inhibits proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

G2 and S phase-expressed-1 (GTSE1) was recently reported to upregulate in several types of human cancer, based on negatively regulate p53 expression. However, its expression and functional roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. In this study, GTSE1 was observed to be highly expressed in HCC specimens and cell lines both at messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. Furthermore, high GTSE1 expression was positively associated with tumor size, venous invasion, advanced tumor stage, and short overall survival. Moreover, we generated stable GTSE1 knockdown HCC cell lines to explore the effects of GTSE1 silencing on the growth and invasion of HCC in vitro. In determining the pathway through which GTSE1 regulated cell proliferation and invasion, GTSE1 silencing was found to inhibit AKT phosphorylation and downregulated cell cycle-related protein. In addition, GTSE1 downregulation decreased the growth of xenografts. In conclusion, these results indicated for the first time that overexpression of GTSE1 was involved in the progress of HCC, enhancing proliferation and promoting cell invasion in HCC cells.

Carbamylated Erythropoietin: A Prospective Drug Candidate for Neuroprotection

Carbamylated erythropoietin (cEpo), which is neuroprotective but lacks hematopoietic activity, has been attracting rising concerns. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the process of neuroprotection of cEpo are not well known. Based on several recent reports, the neuroprotective effects of cEpo are illustrated, and signaling pathways involved in the different effects of erythropoietin and cEpo are discussed. These newly reported researches may shed new light on the development and application of cEpo, a prospective drug candidate for neuroprotection.