miR-196a-5p Correlates with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Progression to Gastric Cancer and Induces Malignant Biological Behaviors of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting ACER2

Current study of pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutics of chronic atrophic gastritis: a comprehensive review

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a prevalent digestive system disease characterized by atrophy of the gastric mucosa and the disappearance of inherent gastric glands. According to the theory of Correa's cascade, CAG is an important pathological stage in the transformation from normal condition to gastric carcinoma. In recent years, the global incidence of CAG has been increasing due to pathogenic factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection, bile reflux, and the consumption of processed meats. In this review, we comprehensively described the etiology and clinical diagnosis of CAG. We focused on elucidating the regulatory mechanisms and promising therapeutic targets in CAG, with the expectation of providing insights and theoretical support for future research on CAG.

The role of ACER2 in intestinal sphingolipid metabolism and gastrointestinal cancers

Sphingolipids, particularly sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), are bioactive lipids involved in regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and tumor progression. Alkaline ceramidase 2 (ACER2) plays a critical role in sphingolipid metabolism by catalyzing the hydrolysis of ceramide to sphingosine, which is subsequently converted to S1P. Dysregulation of ACER2 has been implicated in various gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. ACER2-mediated sphingolipid signaling, particularly through the SphK/S1P pathway, influences cancer development by modulating immune responses, inflammation, and the balance between cell survival and death. This review examines the physiological functions of ACER2, and its role in sphingolipid metabolism, and its contribution to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. Understanding the mechanisms by which ACER2 regulates tumor progression and immune modulation may open new avenues for targeted therapies in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Mechanistic insights into the ameliorative effects of Xianglianhuazhuo formula on chronic atrophic gastritis through ferroptosis mediated by YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signal pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xianglianhuazhuo formula (XLHZ) has a potential therapeutic effect on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, the specific molecular mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effect of XLHZ on CAG in vitro and in vivo and its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

A rat model of CAG was established using a composite modeling method, and the pathological changes and ultrastructure of gastric mucosa were observed. YY1/miR-320a/TFRC and ferroptosis-related molecules were detected. An MNNG-induced gastric epithelial cell model was established in vitro to evaluate the inhibitory effect of XLHZ on cell ferroptosis by observing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and molecules related to ferroptosis. The specific mechanism of action of XLHZ in treating CAG was elucidated by silencing or overexpression of targets.

RESULTS

In vivo experiments showed that XLHZ could improve the pathological status and ultrastructure of gastric mucosa and inhibit ferroptosis by regulating the YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signaling pathway. The results in vitro demonstrated that transfection of miR-320a mimics inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting cell apoptosis. MiR-320a targeted TFRC and inhibited ferroptosis. Overexpression of TFRC reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-320a overexpression on cell proliferation. The effect of XLHZ was consistent with that of miR-320a. YY1 targeted miR-320a, and its overexpression promoted ferroptosis.

CONCLUSION

XLHZ inhibited ferroptosis by regulating the YY1/miR-320a/TFRC signaling pathway, ultimately impeding the progression of CAG.

Gastric Cancer Signaling Pathways and Therapeutic Applications

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor and ranks as the second leading cause of death among cancer patients worldwide. Due to its hidden nature and difficulty in detection, GC has a high incidence and poor prognosis. Traditional treatment methods such as systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection are commonly used, but they often fail to achieve satisfactory curative effects, resulting in a very low 5-year survival rate for GC patients. Currently, targeted therapy and immunotherapy are prominent areas of research both domestically and internationally. These methods hold promise for the treatment of GC. This article focuses on the signaling pathways associated with the development of GC, as well as the recent advancements and applications of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The aim is to provide fresh insights for the clinical treatment of GC.

ACER2 forms a cold tumor microenvironment and predicts the molecular subtype in bladder cancer: Results from real-world cohorts

Background: ACER2 is a critical gene regulating cancer cell growth and migration, whereas the immunological role of ACER2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is scarcely reported. Thus, we lucubrate the potential performance of ACER2 in bladder cancer (BLCA). Methods: We initially compared ACER2 expressions in BLCA with normal urothelium tissues based on data gathered from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and our Xiangya cohort. Subsequently, we systematically explored correlations between ACER2 with immunomodulators, anti-cancer immune cycles, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints and the T-cell inflamed score (TIS) to further confirm its immunological role in BLCA TME. In addition, we performed ROC analysis to illustrate the accuracy of ACER2 in predicting BLCA molecular subtypes and explored the response to several cancer-related treatments. Finally, we validated results in an immunotherapy cohort and Xiangya cohort to ensure the stability of our study. Results: Compared with normal urinary epithelium, ACER2 was significantly overexpressed in several cell lines and the tumor tissue of BLCA. ACER2 can contribute to the formation of non-inflamed BLCA TME supported by its negative correlations with immunomodulators, anti-cancer immune cycles, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints and the TIS. Moreover, BLCA patients with high ACER2 expression were inclined to the luminal subtype, which were characterized by insensitivity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but not to immunotherapy. Results in the IMvigor210 and Xiangya cohort were consistent. Conclusion: ACER2 could accurately predict the TME and clinical outcomes for BLCA. It would be served as a promising target for precision treatment in the future.