Nickel carcinogenesis mechanism: cell cycle dysregulation

Tl(I) and Tl(III)-induce genotoxicity, reticulum stress and autophagy in PC12 Adh cells

Thallium (Tl) and its two cationic species, Tl(I) and Tl(III), are toxic for most living beings. In this work, we investigated the effects of Tl (10-100 µM) on the viability and proliferation capacity of the adherent variant of PC12 cells (PC12 Adh cells). While both Tl(I) and Tl(III) halted cell proliferation from 24 h of incubation, their viability was ~ 90% even after 72 h of treatment. At 24 h, increased levels of γH2AX indicated the presence of DNA double-strand breaks. Simultaneously, increased expression of p53 and its phosphorylation at Ser15 were observed, which were associated with decreased levels of p-AKTSer473 and p-mTORSer2448. At 72 h, the presence of large cytoplasmic vacuoles together with increased autophagy predictor values suggested that Tl may induce autophagy in these cells. This hypothesis was corroborated by images obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and from the decreased expression at 72 h of incubation of SQSTM-1 and increased LC3β-II to LC3β-I ratio. TEM images also showed enlarged ER that, together with the increased expression of IRE1-α from 48 h of incubation, indicated that Tl-induced ER stress preceded autophagy. The inhibition of autophagy flux with chloroquine increased cell mortality, suggesting that autophagy played a cytoprotective role in Tl toxicity in these cells. Together, results indicate that Tl(I) or Tl(III) are genotoxic to PC12 Adh cells which respond to the cations inducing ER stress and cytoprotective autophagy.

DNA modifications: Biomarkers for the exposome?

The concept of the exposome is the encompassing of all the environmental exposures, both exogenous and endogenous, across the life course. Many, if not all, of these exposures can result in the generation of reactive species, and/or the modulation of cellular processes, that can lead to a breadth of modifications of DNA, the nature of which may be used to infer their origin. Because of their role in cell function, such modifications have been associated with various major human diseases, including cancer, and so their assessment is crucial. Historically, most methods have been able to only measure one or a few DNA modifications at a time, limiting the information available. With the development of DNA adductomics, which aims to determine the totality of DNA modifications, a far more comprehensive picture of the DNA adduct burden can be gained. Importantly, DNA adductomics can facilitate a "top-down" investigative approach whereby patterns of adducts may be used to trace and identify the originating exposure source. This, together with other 'omic approaches, represents a major tool for unraveling the complexities of the exposome and hence allow a better a understanding of the environmental origins of disease.

Nickel induces mitochondrial damage in renal cells in vitro and in vivo through its effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion, and fission

Nickel (Ni) and its compounds are common, widely distributed components of hazardous waste in the chemical industry. Excessive exposure to Ni can cause kidney damage in humans and animals. We investigated the impact of Ni on renal mitochondria using in vivo and in vitro models of Ni nephrotoxicity, and explored the Ni nephrotoxic mechanism. We showed that nickel chloride (NiCl2) damaged the renal mitochondria, causing mitochondrial swelling, breakage of the mitochondrial cristae, increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mt-ROS), and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The levels of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I-IV were reduced in the kidneys of mice treated with NiCl2. In addition, NiCl2 treatment inhibited mitochondrial biogenesis in renal cells by down-regulating mRNA and the protein expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, and NRF1. Moreover, NiCl2 reduced the levels of the proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion, including Mfn1 and Mfn2, while significantly augmenting the levels of the proteins Fis1 and Drip1 involved in mitochondrial fission in renal cells. Taken together, these results suggested that NiCl2 inhibited mitochondrial biogenesis, suppressed mitochondrial fusion, and promoted mitochondrial fission, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction in renal cells, ultimately causing renal injury. This study provided novel insights into the mechanisms of nephrotoxicity of Ni and new ideas for the development of targeted treatments for Ni-induced kidney injury.

The mechanism of nickel-induced autophagy and its role in nephrotoxicity

Nickel (Ni), an environmental health hazard, is nephrotoxic to humans, but the exact mechanism is unknown. This study aims to identify whether nephrotoxicity is associated with autophagy. Here, nickel chloride (NiCl2) increased autophagy in TCMK-1 cells. NiCl2 induces autophagy through Akt and AMPK/mTOR pathways. Next, oxidative stress was investigated in NiCl2-induced autophagy. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidant (NAC) or mitochondrial targeted antioxidant (Mito-TEMPO) attenuated NiCl2-induced autophagy, reversed the influence on AMPK-mTOR and Akt pathways. Additionally, our study examined the role of autophagy in NiCl2-induced nephrotoxicity. Autophagy inhibition with 3-MA could inhibit cell viability and increase apoptosis in the TCMK-1 cells, however, autophagy promotion with rapamycin relieved cytotoxicity and decreased apoptosis. Additionally, co-treatment with Z-VAD-FMK reduced cytotoxicity, but did not affect autophagy. Besides, NiCl2 can increase the level of mitophagy in vivo and vitro. Mitophagy inhibition could inhibit cell viability and increase apoptosis in the TCMK-1 cells, whereas, promotion of mitophagy could increase cell viability and decrease apoptosis. In summary, above-mentioned results showed that NiCl2 induces autophagy in TCMK-1 cells through oxidative stress-dependent AMPK/AKT-mTOR pathway, autophagy plays a role in reducing NiCl2-induced renal toxicity, and a major mechanism in autophagy's inhibitory effect on NiCl2-induced apoptosis may be mitophagy.

Identification of core carcinogenic elements based on the age-standardized mortality rate of lung cancer in Xuanwei Formation coal in China

In this study, the core carcinogenic elements in Xuanwei Formation coal were identified. Thirty-one samples were collected based on the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of lung cancer; Si, V, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Pb, and rare earth elements and yttrium (REYs) were analyzed and compared; multivariate statistical analyses (CA, PCA, and FDA) were performed; and comprehensive identification was carried out by combining multivariate statistical analyses with toxicology and mineralogy. The final results indicated that (1) the high-concentration Si, Ni, V, Cr, Co, and Cd in coal may have some potential carcinogenic risk. (2) The concentrations of Cr, Ni, As, Mo, Cd, and Pb meet the zoning characteristics of the ASMR, while the Si concentration is not completely consistent. (3) The REY distribution pattern in Longtan Formation coal is lower than that in Xuanwei Formation coal, indicating that the materials of these elements in coal are different. (5) The heatmap divides the sampling sites into two clusters and subtypes in accordance with carcinogenic zoning based on the ASMR. (6) PC1, PC2, and PC3 explain 62.629% of the total variance, identifying Co, Ni, As, Cd, Mo, Cr, and V. (7) Fisher discriminant analysis identifies Ni, Si, Cd, As, and Co based on the discriminant function. (8) Comprehensive identification reveals that Ni is the primary carcinogenic element, followed by Co, Cd, and Si in combination with toxicology. (9) The paragenesis of Si (nanoquartz), Ni, Co, and Cd is an interesting finding. In other words, carcinogenic elements Ni, Co, Cd, and Si and their paragenetic properties should receive more attention.

Association between metal(loid)s in serum and leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

Heavy metals and metalloids are recognized as environmental threats, which are considered highly toxic and carcinogenic. Epidemiologically, their association with leukemia is under debate. We aim to clarify the association between the heavy metal(loid)s in serum and leukemia via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases for all related articles. The standardized mean difference and its 95% confidence interval was used to evaluate the association of leukemia with heavy metal(loid)s in serum. The statistical heterogeneity among studies was assessed with the Q-test and I 2 statistics.

Results

Among 4,119 articles related to metal(loid)s and leukemia, 21 studies met our inclusion criteria, which are all cross-sectional studies. These 21 studies involved 1,316 cases and 1,310 controls, based on which we evaluate the association of heavy metals/metalloids in serum with leukemia. Our results indicated positive differences for serum chromium, nickel, and mercury in leukemia patients, while a negative difference for serum manganese in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Conclusion

Our results suggested an elevated trend of serum chromium, nickel, and mercury concentrations in leukemia patients while descending trend of serum manganese concentration in ALL patients. The result of sensitivity analysis between lead, cadmium, and leukemia and publication bias of association between chromium and leukemia also needed attention. Future research work may focus on the dose-response relationship between any of these elements and the leukemia risks, and further elucidation of how these elements are related to leukemia may shed light on the prevention and treatment of leukemia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-023-00853-2.

The role of selenoprotein M in nickel-induced pyroptosis in mice spleen tissue via oxidative stress

Nickel (Ni) is a heavy metal element and a pollutant that threatens the organism's health. Melatonin (Mel) is an antioxidant substance that can be secreted by the organism and has a protective effect against heavy metals. Selenoprotein M (SelM) is a selenoprotein widely distributed of the body, and its role is to protect these tissues from oxidative damage. To study the mechanism of Ni, Mel, and SelM in mouse spleen, 80 SelM^+/+ wild-type and 80 SelM^-/- homozygous mice were divided into 8 groups with 20 mice in each group. The Ni group was intragastric at a concentration of 10 mg/kg, while the Mel group was intragastric at 2 mg/kg. Mice were injected with 0.1 mL/10 g body weight for 21 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural observations showed the changes in Ni, such as the destruction of white and red pulp and the appearance of pyroptosomes. SelM knockout showed more severe injury, while Mel could effectively interfere with Ni-induced spleen toxicity. The results of antioxidant capacity determination showed that Ni could cause oxidative stress in the spleen, and Mel could also effectively reduce oxidative stress. Finally, Ni exposure increased the expression levels of the pyroptotic genes, including apoptosis-associated speck protein (ASC), absent in melanoma-2 (AIM2), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, interleukin- (IL-) 18, and IL-1β (p < 0.05). Loss of SelM significantly increased these (p < 0.05), while Mel decreased the alleviated impact of Ni. In conclusion, the loss of SelM aggravated Ni-induced pyroptosis of the spleen via activating oxidative stress, which was alleviated by Mel, but the effect of Mel was not obvious in the absence of SelM, which reflected the important role of SelM in Ni-induced pyroptosis.

Pollution characteristics and probabilistic health risk of potentially hazardous elements in soils near a typical coal mine in Panzhihua City, Southwest China

This study first assessed the pollution characteristics and probabilistic health risks of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) in soils from the Dabaoding coal mining area in southwest China using Monte Carlo simulation. Experimental results showed that Cd was moderately enriched in soils, while Ni, Cr, and V were slightly enriched. However, the geoaccumulation index (I_geo) illustrated that the coal mining area had a low level of Cd pollution. PHEs produced a very high ecological risk to soils in the coal mining area, whereas Cd showed the highest contribution (82.56%). The mean hazard index of all soil PHEs was 7.45E - 02 and 4.18E - 01 for local adults and children, respectively, all of which were obviously lower than the maximum acceptable level of 1.0. However, Monte Carlo simulation analysis indicated that 1.08% of noncarcinogenic risk values for local children still exceeded the maximum acceptable level. Additionally, 10.84% and 18.40% of the total carcinogenic risk values for local adults and children, respectively, exceeded the threshold of 1E - 04. Indeed, Cr and Ni had the highest contributions to noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively. These findings suggest that Cd, Cr, and Ni should be identified as priority pollutants in coal mining areas. This study also provides valuable implications for policy-makers and environmental engineers, proposing efficient policies for better soil pollution control and remediation strategies in coal mining areas.

Bioaccumulation, genotoxicity, and risks to native fish species from inorganic contaminants in the Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense, Brazil

The Aquidauana River is one of the most important rivers in the Pantanal region, Brazil. However, its waters have been contaminated by nearby anthropogenic activities, threatening native fish species. In this study, our objectives were: 1) to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in water and sediment samples from the Aquidauana River and to assess the risks posed to aquatic biota; 2) to quantify the concentration of these elements in muscle and liver tissue samples from four native fish species; 3) to evaluate the potential bioaccumulation of inorganic elements in the muscles and liver; and 4) to investigate genotoxicity biomarkers and their association with the inorganic element concentrations present in the muscle tissue. Water and fish samples were collected in November 2020. The concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb in the water samples were in disagreement with the Brazilian legislation and presented risks to the aquatic biota. In terms of mixtures of inorganic elements, there was a great increase in the risk to biota. The As concentration did not meet the Brazilian standard for sediments in the sample collected at sampling site 6. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the muscle tissue of Hypostomus regani, Prochilodus lineatus, Brycon hilarii, and Mylossoma duriventre exceeded the Brazilian standards for human consumption. H. regani showed greater genotoxic damage, and the higher the Al and Fe concentrations in the muscle tissue, the higher the frequencies of lobulated nuclei and nuclear invaginations. Together, our results demonstrate the negative impacts on native fish species from the Aquidauana River contamination and indicate risks to Pantanal biodiversity.

Assessment of Pb and Ni and potential health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown on the roadside soils in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Vegetables cultivated near roads absorb toxic metals from polluted soil, which enter the human body through the food chain and cause serious health problems to humans. The present study investigated the concentration of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in soils and vegetables grown along the roadside of District Swat, Pakistan, and the health risks associated with the consumption of the tested vegetables. In results, Pb concentration was higher in plants located at the distance between 0-10 m away from the roadside than the WHO permissible limit. In such plants, Pb concentration was higher than Ni. Rumex dentatus contained the highest concentration of Pb (75.63 mg kg^-1 DW) among the tested vegetables while Ni concentration (27.57 mg kg^-1 DW) was highest in Trachyspermum ammi as compared to other plants. Concentration and accumulation of both the metals decreased in soil and plants with increasing distance from the road. Similarly, target hazard quotient values noted for Pb (up to 3.37) were greater than unity, which shows that there is a potential risk associated with the consumption of tested vegetables near the road. Moreover, the values of target cancer risk (up to 0.8413) were greater than 0.0001, which shows that there is a risk of cancer with the consumption of tested vegetables. In conclusion, the consumption of tested vegetables was very dangerous as it may lead to higher risks of cancer. Strict regulatory control is recommended on the cultivation of these vegetables along the roadside to avoid any contamination due to roadside exhaust.

MTM1 displays a new function in the regulation of nickel resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Nickel (Ni) is an essential yet toxic trace element. Although a cofactor for many metalloenzymes, nickel function and metabolism is not fully explored in eukaryotes. Molecular biology and metallomic methods were utilized to explore the new physiological functions of nickel in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we showed that MTM1 knockout cells displayed much stronger nickel tolerance than wild-type cells and mitochondrial accumulations of Ni and Fe of mtm1Δ cells dramatically decreased compared to wild-type cells when exposed to excess nickel. Superoxide dismutase 2 (Sod2p) activity in mtm1Δ cells was severely attenuated and restored through Ni supplementation in media or total protein. SOD2 mRNA level of mtm1Δ cells was significantly higher than that in the wild-type strain but was decreased by Ni supplementation. MTM1 knockout afforded resistance to excess nickel mediated through reactive oxygen species levels. Meanwhile, additional Ni showed no significant effect on the localization of Mtm1p. Our study reveals the MTM1 gene plays an important role in nickel homeostasis and identifies a novel function of nickel in promoting Sod2p activity in yeast cells.

Research Progress on the Anticancer Activities and Mechanisms of Polysaccharides From Ganoderma

Cancer ranks as a primary reason for death worldwide. Conventional anticancer therapies can cause severe side effects, and thus natural products may be promising drug candidates for cancer therapy. Accumulating evidence has verified the prominent anticancer properties of Ganoderma polysaccharides, suggesting that Ganoderma polysaccharides may be effective chemopreventive agents of natural origin. Based on their abilities to prevent cancer development by regulating the DNA damage response, cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, host immunity, gut microbiota and therapeutic sensitivity, there has been increasing interest in elucidating the clinical implication of Ganoderma polysaccharides in cancer therapy. In this review, we summarize recent findings pertaining to the roles of bioactive polysaccharides from Ganoderma in cancer pathogenesis, discuss the multifarious mechanisms involved and propose future directions for research. A more sophisticated understanding of the anticancer benefits of Ganoderma polysaccharides will be helpful for improving current treatments and developing novel therapeutic interventions for human malignancies.

LncRNA RP3-326I13.1 promotes cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma by binding to HSP90B and upregulating MMP13

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance has become the major obstacle in the therapy of malignant tumors, including lung adenocarcinoma (LAD). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were confirmed to be related to DDP-resistance. Studies have shown that RP3-326I13.1 (also known as PINCR) could promote the progression of colorectal cancer, and RP3-326I13.1 knockdown could induce hypersensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. While the function of RP3-326I13.1 in LAD is unclear, therefore, this study aimed to research the biological function and related molecular mechanisms of RP3-326I13.1 in DDP-resistance of LAD. QPCR analysis found that RP3-326I13.1 was highly expressed in A549/DDP cells and LAD tissues. Cytological assays found that RP3-326I13.1 pro-moted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and DDP-resistance of LAD cell lines. Moreover, knock-down of RP3-326I13.1 could induce G1 phase arrest. Nude mouse xenograft assay confirmed that RP3-326I13.1 could promote tumor growth and DDP-resistance in vivo. Mechanically, RNA pull-down and mass spectrometry analysis indicated that heat shock protein HSP 90-beta (HSP90B) could be combined with RP3-326I13.1. HSP90B knockdown inhibited the effect of RP3-326I13.1 on proliferation, invasion, and promoted LAD cell lines apoptosis. Transcriptome sequencing analysis found that MMP13 was the downstream mRNA of RP3-326I13.1. In conclusion, RP3-326I13.1 could promote DDP-resistance of LAD by binding to HSP90B and upregulating human matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and may serve as a therapeutic target, as well as a biomarker for predicting DDP-resistance in LAD.Abbreviations:DDP: Cisplatin; LAD: Lung adenocarcinoma; LncRNAs: Long non-coding RNAs; qPCR: real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR; HSP90B: Heat shock protein HSP 90-beta; RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; RECIST: Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors; NC: Negative control; OE: overexpression; shRNA: short hairpin RNA; siRNA: small interfering RNA; CCK-8: Cell Counting Kit-8; IC50: The half maximal inhibitory concentration; PBS: Phosphate buffer saline; PI: propidium iodide; SDS-PAGE: sodiumdodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; ceRNA: Competing endogenous RNA; HE: hematoxylin-eosin; ns: no significance.

Metformin alleviates nickel-refining fumes-induced aerobic glycolysis via AMPK/GOLPH3 pathway in vitro and in vivo

Nickel (Ni) compounds is recognized industrial carcinogen, which could increase the risk of lung cancer in Ni refineries workers. However, the underlying carcinogenic mechanism still remains to elucidate. Metformin has shown the anticancer properties through suppressing aerobic glycolysis. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of Ni-refining fumes exposure on aerobic glycolysis and the role of AMPK/GOLPH3, as well as how metformin alleviated nickel-induced aerobic glycolysis in vitro and vivo. Firstly, Beas-2B cells were exposed to different concentrations of Ni-refining fumes and pretreated with metformin (activation of AMPK), compound C (AMPK inhibitor) in vitro. Our findings indicated that Ni fumes expose evoked aerobic glycolysis by AMPK/GOLPH3, while metformin attenuated Ni particles-promoted GOLPH3-mediated aerobic glycolysis by p-AMPK expression increase. Then Mito-TEMPT (a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, ROS activator) were pretreated to affect ROS production in Beas-2B cells. Ni-induced ROS prevented AMPK activation. Moreover, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 2 mg/kg Ni by non-exposed endotracheal instillation and metformin (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) via oral gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of AMPK/GOLPH3 axis on Ni-induced aerobic glycolysis were assessed. The results indicated that metformin decreased the protein levels of GOLPH3, LDHA, HK2, MCT-4 and improved p-AMPK expression. Thus, our findings demonstrated metformin antagonized Ni-refining fumes-caused aerobic glycolysis via AMPK/GOLPH3.

Dithiocarbazate-FeIII, -CoIII, -NiII, and -ZnII Complexes: Design, Synthesis, Structure, and Anticancer Evaluation

Non-platinum-metal complexes show great potential as anticancer agents. Herein, a series of dithiocarbazate non-Pt-metal complexes, including [Fe^III(L)₂]·Cl·2H₂O 1, [Co^III(L)₂]·NO₃·2.5H₂O 2, [Ni^II(L)₂] 3, and [Zn^II(L)₂] 4, have been designed and evaluated for their efficacy as antineoplastic agents. Among them, complex 2 exhibited higher anticancer efficacy than complexes 1, 3, 4, and cisplatin against several cancer cell lines. Hemolysis assays revealed that complex 2 showed comparable hemolysis with cisplatin. In vivo anticancer evaluations showed that complex 2 could retard tumor xenograft growth effectively with low systemic toxicity. Further studies revealed that complex 2 suppressed cancer cells by triggering multiple mechanisms involving the simultaneous inhibition of mitochondria and glycolytic bioenergetics. Overall, our study provides new insights into the anticancer mechanism of Co complexes, which can be used as a good strategy to overcome the flexibility of cancer cells to chemotherapy adaptation.

Nickel's Role in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Potential Involvement of microRNAs

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancer types with a limited overall survival rate due to the asymptomatic progression of symptoms in metastatic stages of the malignancy and the lack of an early reliable diagnostic biomarker. MicroRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) are small (~18–24 nucleotides), endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which are closely linked to the development of numerous malignancies comprising PDAC. Recent studies have described the role of environmental pollutants such as nickel (Ni) in PDAC, but the mechanisms of Ni-mediated toxicity in cancer are still not completely understood. Specifically, Ni has been found to alter the expression and function of miRs in several malignancies, leading to changes in target gene expression. In this study, we found that levels of Ni were significantly higher in cancerous tissue, thus implicating Ni in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Hence, in vitro studies followed by using both normal and pancreatic tumor cell lines and increasing Ni concentration increased lethality. Comparing LC50 values, Ni-acetate groups demonstrated lower values needed than in NiCl₂ groups, suggesting greater Ni-acetate. Panc-10.05 cell line appeared the most sensitive to Ni compounds. Exposure to Ni-acetate resulted in an increased phospho-AKT, and decreased FOXO1 expression in Panc-10.05 cells, while NiCl₂ also increased PTEN expression in Panc-10.05 cells. Specifically, following NiCl₂ exposure to PDAC cells, the expression levels of miR-221 and miR-155 were significantly upregulated, while the expression levels of miR-126 were significantly decreased. Hence, our study has suggested pilot insights to indicate that the environmental pollutant Ni plays an important role in the progression of PDAC by promoting an association between miRs and Ni exposure during PDAC pathogenesis.

DDX39B contributes to the proliferation of colorectal cancer through direct binding to CDK6/CCND1

DDX39B (also called UAP56 or BAT1) which is a kind of DEAD-box family helicase plays pivotal roles in mRNA binding, splicing, and export. It has been found upregulated in many kinds of tumors as an oncogene. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms of DDX39B in the proliferation of human colorectal cancer (CRC) remain fairly elusive. In our study, function experiments including the CCK8 and colony formation assay revealed that DDX39B facilitates CRC proliferation in vitro. DDX39B knockdown cells were administered for the orthotopic CRC tumor xenograft mouse model, after which tumor growth was monitored and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to prove that DDX39B can also facilitates CRC proliferation in vivo. Flow cytometry demonstrated that DDX39B promotes the proliferation of CRC cells by driving the cell cycle from G0/G1 phase to the S phase. Mechanistically, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation-sequencing (RIP-seq) confirmed that DDX39B binds directly to the first exon of the CDK6/CCND1 pre-mRNA and upregulates their expression. Splicing experiments in vitro using a RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis assay confirmed that DDX39B promotes CDK6/CCND1 pre-mRNA splicing. Rescue experiments indicated that CDK6/CCND1 is a downstream effector of DDX39B-mediated CRC cell proliferation. Collectively, our results demonstrated that DDX39B and CDK6/CCND1 direct interactions serve as a CRC proliferation promoter, which can accelerate the G1/S phase transition to enhance CRC proliferation, and can offer novel and emerging treatment strategies targeting this cell proliferation-promoting gene.

Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy involved in Ni-induced nephrotoxicity in the mice

As an extensively environmental pollution, Nickel (Ni) represents a serious hazard to human health. The present study focused on exploring the mechanism of Ni-mediated nephrotoxicity, such as apoptosis, autophagy and oxidative stress. In the current work, NiCl2 treatment could induce kidney damage. Meanwhile, NiCl2 treatment elevated ROS production and MDA content and suppressed the antioxidant activity, which was characterized by reducing T-AOC, CAT, SOD activity and GSH content. For investigating the role of oxidative stress on NiCl2-mediated nephrotoxicity, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger) was co-treated with NiCl2. The results showed that NAC significantly suppressed the NiCl2-mediated oxidative stress and mitigated NiCl2-induced the kidney damage. Then, whether oxidative stress-induced autophagy and apoptosis were involved in NiCl2-induced nephrotoxicity was explored. The findings demonstrated that NAC relieved NiCl2-induced autophagy and reversed the activation of Akt/AMPK/mTOR pathway. Concurrently, the results indicated that NAC attenuated NiCl2-induced apoptosis, as evidenced by reduction of apoptotic cells and cleaved-caspase-3/- 8/- 9 together with cleaved-PARP protein levels. To sum up, our findings suggested that NiCl2-mediated renal injury was associated with oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy. This study provides new theoretical basis for excess Ni exposure nephrotoxic researches.

Application of Mass Spectrometry in Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive tract worldwide, with increased morbidity and mortality. In recent years, with the development of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, and the change of the medical thinking model, remarkable progress has been made in researching comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of PC. However, the present situation of diagnostic and treatment of PC is still unsatisfactory. There is an urgent need for academia to fully integrate the basic research and clinical data from PC to form a research model conducive to clinical translation and promote the proper treatment of PC. This paper summarized the translation progress of mass spectrometry (MS) in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and PC treatment to promote the basic research results of PC into clinical diagnosis and treatment.