WWOX activation by toosendanin suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through JAK2/Stat3 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Yu-Ping-Feng-San improve the immunosuppression of microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting the maturation of DCs through the JAK2-STAT3 pathway

Yu-Ping-Feng-San (YPF) is a famous classical Chinese medicine formula known for its ability to boost immunity. YPF has been applied to enhance the immune status of tumor patients in clinical practice. However, there is still a lack of research on its immune regulatory effects and mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. This study was designed to investigate the effects and mechanism of YPF on improving the immune suppression state of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) microenvironment. In an orthotopic mouse model of HCC, YPF improved the immune microenvironment of HCC immunosuppression, enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), promoted the release of IL-12, and decreased the presence of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 proteins in both tumor tissue and paracancerous tissues. YPF also could promote the maturation and reduce the activation of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 proteins of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs induced by culture medium or tumor supernatant in vitro. Transient transfection of siRNA-STAT3 with DCs resulted in an increase in its maturation and its secretion of IL-12. On the whole, these combined effects of YPF served to ameliorate the HCC immune suppression microenvironment, which conducive to immune cells play the role of immune surveillance and killing liver cancer cells. The mechanisms of these combined effects were, at least in part, related to its inhibition of the activated JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway in DCs within the HCC microenvironment.

WWOX tuning of oleic acid signaling orchestrates immunosuppressive macrophage polarization and sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are therapeutically effective for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but are individually selective. This study examined the role of specific common fragile sites (CFSs) related gene in HCC immunotherapy.

METHODS

We analyzed HCC tissues using next-generation sequencing and flow cytometry via time-of-flight technology. A humanized orthotopic HCC mouse model, an in vitro co-culture system, untargeted metabolomics and a DNA pulldown assay were used to examine the function and mechanism of WWOX in the tumor immune response.

RESULTS

WWOX was the most upregulated CFS-related gene in HCC patients responsive to ICIs. WWOX deficiency renders HCC resistant to PD-1 treatment in humanized orthotopic HCC mouse model. Macrophage infiltration is increased and CD8 T-cell subset infiltration is decreased in WWOX-deficient HCC patients. HCC-derived oleic acid (OA) promotes macrophage conversion to an immunosuppressive phenotype. Mechanistically, WWOX deficiency promoted OA synthesis primarily via competitive binding of NME2 with KAT1, which promoted acetylation of NME2 at site 31 and inhibited NME2 binding to the SCD5 promoter region. Pharmacological blockade of SCD5 enhanced the antitumor effects of anti-PD-1 therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

WWOX is a key factor for immune escape in HCC patients, which suggests its use as a biomarker for stratified treatment with ICIs in clinical HCC patients.

Phase separation in DNA damage response: New insights into cancer development and therapy

Phase separation, a process in which biomolecules segregate into distinct liquid-like compartments within cells, has recently been identified as a crucial regulator of various cellular functions, including the DNA damage response (DDR). Dysregulation of phase separation may contribute to genomic instability, oncogenesis, and tumor progression. However, the specific roles and mechanisms underlying phase separation remain largely elusive. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the complex relationship between phase separation and the DDR in the context of cancer biology. We focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying phase separation and its role in orchestrating DDR signaling and repair processes. Additionally, we discuss how the dysregulation of phase separation in cancer cells impacts genome stability, tumorigenesis, and therapeutic responses. By leveraging the unique properties of phase separation in the DDR, researchers can potentially advance basic research and develop personalized cancer therapies targeting the dysregulated biomolecular condensates that drive tumorigenesis.

Toosendanin: upgrade of an old agent in cancer treatment

Toosendanin (TSN), a tetracyclic triterpenoid derived from Melia toosendan and M. azedarach, demonstrates broad application prospects in cancer treatment. Although previously employed as a pesticide, recent studies have revealed its potential therapeutic value in treating various types of cancer. TSN exerts an anticancer effect via mechanisms including proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, migration suppression, and angiogenesis inhibition. However, TSN's toxicity, particularly its hepatotoxicity, significantly limits its therapeutic application. This review explored the dual nature of TSN, evaluating both its anticancer potential and toxicological risks, emphasizing the importance of balancing these aspects in therapeutic applications. Furthermore, we investigated the incorporation of TSN into novel therapeutic strategies, such as Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC) technology and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (DDS), which enhance treatment efficacy while mitigating toxicity in normal tissues.

Rosmarinic acid alleviates toosendanin-induced liver injury through restoration of autophagic flux and lysosomal function by activating JAK2/STAT3/CTSC pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenol abundant in numerous herbal remedies, has been attracting growing interest owing to its exceptional ability to protect the liver. Toosendanin (TSN), a prominent bioactive compound derived from Melia toosendan Siebold & Zucc., boasts diverse pharmacological properties. Nevertheless, TSN possesses remarkable hepatotoxicity. Intriguingly, the potential of RA to counteract TSN-induced liver damage and its probable mechanisms remain unexplored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed at exploring whether RA can alleviate TSN-induced liver injury and the potential mechanisms involved autophagy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CCK-8 and LDH leakage rate assay were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Balb/c mice were intraperitoneally administered TSN (20 mg/kg) for 24 h after pretreatment with RA (0, 40, 80 mg/kg) by gavage for 5 days. The autophagic proteins P62 and LC3B expressions were detected using western blot and immunohistochemistry. RFP-GFP-LC3B and transmission electron microscopy were applied to observe the accumulation levels of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. LysoTracker Red and DQ-BSA staining were used to evaluate the lysosomal acidity and degradation ability respectively. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were employed to measure the expressions of JAK2/STAT3/CTSC pathway proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter gene was used to measure the transcriptional activity of CTSC and RT-PCR was used to detect its mRNA level. H&E staining and serum biochemical assay were employed to determine the degree of damage to the liver.

RESULTS

TSN-induced damage to hepatocytes and livers was significantly alleviated by RA. RA markedly diminished the autophagic flux blockade and lysosomal dysfunction caused by TSN. Mechanically, RA alleviated TSN-induced down-regulation of CTSC by activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

RA could protect against TSN-induced liver injury by activating the JAK2/STAT3/CTSC pathway-mediated autophagy and lysosomal function.

Preliminary study of identified novel susceptibility loci for HAPE risk in a Chinese male Han population

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In recent years, association studies have become the main method for identifying HAPE genetic loci. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of HAPE risk-associated loci was performed in Chinese male Han individuals (164 HAPE cases and 189 healthy controls) by the Precision Medicine Diversity Array Chip with 2,771,835 loci (Applied Biosystems Axiom™). Eight overlapping candidate loci in CCNG2, RP11-445O3.2, NUPL1 and WWOX were finally selected. In silico functional analyses displayed the PPI network, functional enrichment and signal pathways related to CCNG2, NUPL1, WWOX and NRXN1. This study provides data supplements for HAPE susceptibility gene loci and new insights into HAPE susceptibility.

The triangular relationship between traditional Chinese medicines, intestinal flora, and colorectal cancer

Over the past decade, colorectal cancer has reported a higher incidence in younger adults and a lower mortality rate. Recently, the influence of the intestinal flora in the initiation, progression, and treatment of colorectal cancer has been extensively studied, as well as their positive therapeutic impact on inflammation and the cancer microenvironment. Historically, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of colorectal cancer via promoted cancer cell apoptosis, inhibited cancer metastasis, and reduced drug resistance and side effects. The present research is more on the effect of either herbal medicine or intestinal flora on colorectal cancer. The interactions between TCM and intestinal flora are bidirectional and the combined impacts of TCM and gut microbiota in the treatment of colon cancer should not be neglected. Therefore, this review discusses the role of intestinal bacteria in the progression and treatment of colorectal cancer by inhibiting carcinogenesis, participating in therapy, and assisting in healing. Then the complex anticolon cancer effects of different kinds of TCM monomers, TCM drug pairs, and traditional Chinese prescriptions embodied in apoptosis, metastasis, immune suppression, and drug resistance are summarized separately. In addition, the interaction between TCM and intestinal flora and the combined effect on cancer treatment were analyzed. This review provides a mechanistic reference for the application of TCM and intestinal flora in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer and paves the way for the combined development and application of microbiome and TCM.

Recent advances of novel targeted drug delivery systems based on natural medicine monomers against hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent type of liver cancer, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Surgical interventions are often ineffective, leading HCC patients to rely on systemic chemotherapy. Unfortunately, commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs have limited efficacy and can adversely affect vital organs, causing significant physical and psychological distress for patients. Natural medicine monomers (NMMs) have shown promising efficacy and safety profiles in HCC treatment, garnering attention from researchers. In recent years, the development of novel targeted drug delivery systems (TDDS) combining NMMs with nanocarriers has emerged. These TDDS aim to concentrate drugs effectively in HCC cells by manipulating the characteristics of nanomedicines, leveraging receptor and ligand interactions, and utilizing endogenous stimulatory responses to promote specific nanomedicines distribution. This comprehensive review presents recent research on TDDS for HCC treatment using NMMs from three perspectives: passive TDDS, active TDDS, and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (SDDS). It consolidates the current state of research on TDDS for HCC treatment with NMMs and highlights the potential of these innovative approaches in improving treatment outcomes. Moreover, the review also identifies research gaps in the related fields to provide references for future targeted therapy research in HCC.

Therapeutic potential of toosendanin: Novel applications of an old ascaris repellent as a drug candidate

Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the improvement of public health protection, the incidence of ascariasis has been reduced considerably, resulting in limited medical application of TSN. Therefore, it is questionable whether this old ascaris repellent can develop into a drug candidate. Modern studies have shown that TSN has strong pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-botulinum, anti-viral and anti-parasitic potentials. It also can regulate fat formation and improve inflammation. These researches indicate that TSN has great potential to be developed into a corresponding medical product. In order to better development and application of TSN, the availability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of TSN are summarized systematically. In addition, this review discusses shortcomings in the current researches and provides useful suggestions about how TSN developed into a drug candidate. Therefore, this paper illustrates the possibility of developing TSN as a medical product, aimed to provide directions for the clinical application and further research of TSN.

Targeting Wnt-β-Catenin Signaling Pathway for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Nanomedicine

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a high-fatality cancer with a 5-year survival of 22%. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway presents as one of the most upregulated pathways in HCC. However, it has so far not been targetable in the clinical setting. Therefore, studying new targets of this signaling cascade from a therapeutic aspect could enable reversal, delay, or prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis. Although enormous advancement has been achieved in HCC research and its therapeutic management, since HCC often occurs in the context of other liver diseases such as cirrhosis leading to liver dysfunction and/or impaired drug metabolism, the current therapies face the challenge of safely and effectively delivering drugs to the HCC tumor site. In this review, we discuss how a targeted nano drug delivery system could help minimize the off-target toxicities of conventional HCC therapies as well as enhance treatment efficacy. We also put forward the current challenges in HCC nanomedicine along with some potential therapeutic targets from the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway that could be used for HCC therapy. Overall, this review will provide an insight to the current advances, limitations and how HCC nanomedicine could change the landscape of some of the undruggable targets in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Regulatory network and targeted interventions for CCDC family in tumor pathogenesis

CCDC (coiled-coil domain-containing) is a coiled helix domain that exists in natural proteins. There are about 180 CCDC family genes, encoding proteins that are involved in intercellular transmembrane signal transduction and genetic signal transcription, among other functions. Alterations in expression, mutation, and DNA promoter methylation of CCDC family genes have been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, including primary ciliary dyskinesia, infertility, and tumors. In recent studies, CCDC family genes have been found to be involved in regulation of growth, invasion, metastasis, chemosensitivity, and other biological behaviors of malignant tumor cells in various cancer types, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and thyroid cancer. In this review, we summarize the involvement of CCDC family genes in tumor pathogenesis and the relevant upstream and downstream molecular mechanisms. In addition, we summarize the potential of CCDC family genes as tumor therapy targets. The findings discussed here help us to further understand the role and the therapeutic applications of CCDC family genes in tumors.

Loss of Stat3 in Osterix+ cells impairs dental hard tissues development

BACKGROUND

Mutations in the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene result in hyper-IgE syndrome(HIES), a rare immunodeficiency that causes abnormalities in immune system, bones and teeth. However, the role of Stat3 in development of dental hard tissues was yet to investigate.

METHODS

In this study, a transgenic mouse of conditional knockout of Stat3 in dental mesenchymal cells (Osx-Cre; Stat3^fl/fl, Stat3 CKO) was made. The differences of postnatal tooth development between control and Stat3 CKO mice were compared by histology, µCT and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULT

Compared with the control, Stat3 CKO mice were presented with remarkable abnormal tooth phenotypes characterized by short root and thin dentin in molars and incisors. The enamel defects were also found on mandibular incisors. showed that Ki67-positive cells significantly decreased in dental mesenchymal of Stat3 CKO mice. In addition, β-catenin signaling was reduced in Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) and odontoblasts of Stat3 CKO mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that Stat3 played an important role in dental hard tissues development, and Stat3 may regulate dentin and tooth root development through the β-catenin signaling pathway.

Antineoplastic Nature of WWOX in Glioblastoma Is Mainly a Consequence of Reduced Cell Viability and Invasion

Following the discovery of WWOX, research has moved in many directions, including the role of this putative tumor suppressor in the central nervous system and related diseases. The task of determining the nature of WWOX in glioblastoma (GBM) is still considered to be at the initial stage; however, the influence of this gene on the GBM malignant phenotype has already been reported. Because most of the available in vitro research does not consider several cellular GBM models or a wide range of investigated biological assays, the present study aimed to determine the main processes by which WWOX exhibits anticancer properties in GBM, while taking into account the phenotypic heterogeneity between cell lines. Ectopic WWOX overexpression was studied in T98G, DBTRG-05MG, U251MG, and U87MG cell lines that were compared with the use of assays investigating cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, clonogenicity, three-dimensional and anchorage-independent growth, and invasiveness. Observations presenting the antineoplastic properties of WWOX were consistent for T98G, U251MG, and U87MG. Increased proliferation and tumor growth were noted in WWOX-overexpressing DBTRG-05MG cells. A possible explanation for this, arrived at via bioinformatics tools, was linked to the TARDBP transcription factor and expression differences of USP25 and CPNE2 that regulate EGFR surface abundance. Collectively, and despite various cell line-specific circumstances, WWOX exhibits its anticancer nature mainly via a reduction of cell viability and invasiveness of glioblastoma.

P2RX7 promotes osteosarcoma progression and glucose metabolism by enhancing c-Myc stabilization

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor in bone and its prognosis has reached a plateau in the past few decades. Recently, metabolic reprogramming has attracted increasing attention in the field of cancer research. In our previous study, P2RX7 has been identified as an oncogene in osteosarcoma. However, whether and how P2RX7 promotes osteosarcoma growth and metastasis through metabolic reprogramming remains unexplored.

METHODS

We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to establish P2RX7 knockout cell lines. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were performed to explore metabolic reprogramming in osteosarcoma. RT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were used to determine gene expression related to glucose metabolism. Cell cycle and apoptosis were examined by flowcytometry. The capacity of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation were assessed by seahorse experiments. PET/CT was carried out to assess glucose uptake in vivo.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that P2RX7 significantly promotes glucose metabolism in osteosarcoma via upregulating the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism. Inhibition of glucose metabolism largely abolishes the ability of P2RX7 to promote osteosarcoma progression. Mechanistically, P2RX7 enhances c-Myc stabilization by facilitating nuclear retention and reducing ubiquitination-dependent degradation. Furthermore, P2RX7 promotes osteosarcoma growth and metastasis through metabolic reprogramming in a predominantly c-Myc-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

P2RX7 plays a key role in metabolic reprogramming and osteosarcoma progression via increasing c-Myc stability. These findings provide new evidence that P2RX7 might be a potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for osteosarcoma. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic reprogramming appear to hold promise for a breakthrough in the treatment of osteosarcoma.

WWOX activates autophagy to alleviate lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by regulating mTOR

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by acute systemic inflammatory responses that may lead to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The clinical course of ALI/ARDS is variable; however, it has been reported that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) play a role in its development. The fragile chromosomal site gene WWOX is highly sensitive to genotoxic stress induced by environmental exposure and is an important candidate gene for exposure-related lung disease research. However, the expression of WWOX and its role in LPS-induced ALI still remain unidentified. This study investigated the expression of WWOX in mouse lung and epithelial cells and explored the role of WWOX in LPS-induced ALI model in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we explored one of the possible mechanisms by which WWOX alleviates ALI from the perspective of autophagy. Here, we observed that LPS stimulation reduced the expression of WWOX and the autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β-II (MAP1LC3B/LC3B) in mouse lung epithelial and human epithelial (H292) cells. Overexpression of WWOX led to the activation of autophagy and inhibited inflammatory responses in LPS-induced ALI cells and mouse model. More importantly, we found that WWOX interacts with mechanistic target of rapamycin [serine/threonine kinase] (mTOR) and regulates mTOR and ULK-1 signaling-mediated autophagy. Thus, reduced WWOX levels were associated with LPS-induced ALI. WWOX can activate autophagy in lung epithelial cells and protect against LPS-induced ALI, which is partly related to the mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway.

Toosendanin reduces cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer through modulating the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance is prevalent in ovarian cancer (OC) patients and contributes to the poor prognosis. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop new agent to intervene and even reverse DDP resistance in OC. Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid extracted from the bark or fruits of Melia toosendan Sieb et Zucc, has been proved to possess significant antitumor activities. However, the efficacy of TSN on DDP resistance in OC has not been reported yet.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of TSN on DDP resistance in OC and explore the molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Human OC cell line (SKOV3) and DDP-resistant cell line (SKOV3/DDP) were used. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. Annexin V/PI double staining and hoechst 33342 nuclear staining were employed to detect cell apoptosis. Transwell and wound-healing assay were used to determine the invasion and migration potential of cells respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting were performed to detect the expression of molecules related to miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway. The effects and mechanism of TSN on DDP resistance of OC in vivo was investigated using xenograft model, TUNEL staining assay and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

TSN improved the DDP sensitivity of SKOV3/DDP cells in vitro and in vivo, reflected in promoting inhibition of proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) as well as induction of apoptosis by DDP. TSN could modulate the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin axis by upregulating the miR-195-5p expression and then suppressing ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway which were activated in SKOV3/DDP cells. Moreover, co-treatment of β-catenin pathway activator LiCl or miR-195-5p silencing partially recovered the DDP resistance which was previously repressed by TSN.

CONCLUSION

Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that TSN could reduce DDP resistance in OC through regulating the miR-195/ERK/β-catenin pathway, highlighting the potential of TSN as an effective agent for favoring overcoming clinical DDP resistance in OC.

Toosendanin Induces Hepatocyte Damage by Inhibiting Autophagic Flux via TFEB-Mediated Lysosomal Dysfunction

Toosendanin (TSN) is a triterpenoid from the fruit or bark of Melia toosendan Sieb et Zucc, which has clear antitumor and insecticidal activities, but it possesses limiting hepatotoxicity in clinical application. Autophagy is a degradation and recycling mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis, and it also plays an essential role in TSN-induced hepatotoxicity. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism of TSN on autophagy-related hepatotoxicity is still unknown. The hepatotoxicity of TSN in vivo and in vitro was explored in this study. It was found that TSN induced the upregulation of the autophagy-marker microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) and P62, the accumulation of autolysosomes, and the inhibition of autophagic flux. The middle and late stages of autophagy were mainly studied. The data showed that TSN did not affect the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes but significantly inhibited the acidity, the degradation capacity of lysosomes, and the expression of hydrolase cathepsin B (CTSB). The activation of autophagy could alleviate TSN-induced hepatocyte damage. TSN inhibited the expression of transcription factor EB (TFEB), which is a key transcription factor for many genes of autophagy and lysosomes, such as CTSB, and overexpression of TFEB alleviated the autophagic flux blockade caused by TSN. In summary, TSN caused hepatotoxicity by inhibiting TFEB-lysosome-mediated autophagic flux and activating autophagy by rapamycin (Rapa), which could effectively alleviate TSN-induced hepatotoxicity, indicating that targeting autophagy is a new strategy to intervene in the hepatotoxicity of TSN.

WWOX-rs13338697 genotype predicts therapeutic efficacy of ADI-PEG 20 for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): GALNT14-rs9679162, WWOX-rs13338697 and rs6025211. Their genotypes are associated with therapeutic outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we examined whether these SNP genotypes could predict the clinical outcome of HCC patients treated with ADI-PEG 20.

METHODS

Totally 160 patients with advanced HCC, who had previously been enrolled in clinical trials, including 113 receiving ADI-PEG 20 monotherapy (cohort-1) and 47 receiving FOLFOX/ADI-PEG 20 combination treatment (cohort-2), were included retrospectively.

RESULTS

The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with favorable overall survival in cohort-1 patients (P = 0.025), whereas the rs6025211-TT genotype was associated with unfavorable time-to-tumor progression in cohort-1 (P = 0.021) and cohort-1 plus 2 patients (P = 0.008). As ADI-PEG 20 can reduce plasma arginine levels, we examined its pretreatment levels in relation to the WWOX-rs13338697 genotypes. Pretreatment plasma arginine levels were found to be significantly higher in patients carrying the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype (P = 0.006). We next examined the association of the WWOX-rs13338697 genotypes with WWOX tissue protein levels in 214 paired (cancerous/noncancerous) surgically resected HCC tissues (cohort-3). The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with decreased tissue levels of WWOX and ASS1. Mechanistic studies showed that WWOX and ASS1 levels were downregulated in hypoxic HCC cells. Silencing WWOX to mimic low WWOX protein expression in HCC in patients with the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype, enhanced HIF1A increment under hypoxia, further decreased ASS1, and increased cell susceptibility to ADI-PEG 20.

COMCLUSION

In summary, the WWOX-rs13338697 and rs6025211 genotypes predicted treatment outcomes in ADI-PEG 20-treated advanced HCC patients. The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with lower tissue WWOX and ASS1 levels and higher pretreatment plasma arginine levels, resembling an arginine auxotrophic phenotype requires excessive extracellular arginine supply. Silencing WWOX to mimic HCC with the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype further stimulated HCC cell response to hypoxia through increased HIF1A expression, leading to further reduction of ASS1 and thus increased cell susceptibility to ADI-PEG 20.

The therapeutic potential of natural products for treating pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant tumors of the digestive tract, with the poor prognosis and low 5-year survival rate less than 10%. Although surgical resection and chemotherapy as gemcitabine (first-line treatment) has been applied to the pancreatic cancer patients, the overall survival rates of pancreatic cancer are quite low due to drug resistance. Therefore, it is of urgent need to develop alternative strategies for its treatment. In this review, we summarized the major herbal drugs and metabolites, including curcumin, triptolide, Panax Notoginseng Saponins and their metabolites etc. These compounds with antioxidant, anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic activities can inhibit the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Expecting to provide comprehensive information of potential natural products, our review provides valuable information and strategies for pancreatic cancer treatment.

SAC3D1 activates Wnt/β‑catenin signalling in hepatocellular carcinoma

β‑catenin accumulates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); therefore, understanding the mechanism of Wnt/β‑catenin pathway activation is important for HCC therapy. SAC3 domain containing 1 (SAC3D1) is involved in numerous types of cancer, such as gastric cancer. To the best of our knowledge, however, the role of SAC3D1 in HCC has not yet been elucidated. Here, the expression of SAC3D in HCC was examined by quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The function of SAC3D1 in HCC were examined using Cell Counting Kit‑8 and anchorage‑independent growth assay. It was found that the levels of SAC3D1 mRNA and protein were upregulated in HCC. When SAC3D1 was overexpressed, the proliferation of HCC cells was promoted; when the expression of SAC3D1 was disrupted, HCC cell growth was inhibited. When the molecular mechanism was investigated using immunoprecipitation, it was found that SAC3D1 interacted with axin, inhibiting ubiquitination of β‑catenin and elevating protein levels of β‑catenin. In summary, the present study revealed the promoting function of SAC3D1 in the progression of HCC. SAC3D1 may be a promising target for HCC therapy.

CTPS cytoophidia formation affects cell cycle progression and promotes TSN‑induced apoptosis of MKN45 cells

Cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS) forms filamentous structures termed cytoophidia in numerous types of cell. Toosendanin (TSN) is a tetracyclic triterpenoid and induces CTPS to form cytoophidia in MKN45 cells. However, the effects of CTPS cytoophidia on the proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells remain poorly understood. In the present study, CTPS‑overexpression and R294D‑CTPS mutant vectors were generated to assess the effect of CTPS cytoophidia on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer MKN45 cells. Formation of CTPS cytoophidia significantly inhibited MKN45 cell proliferation (evaluated using EdU incorporation assay), significantly blocked the cell cycle in G₁ phase (assessed using flow cytometry) and significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of cyclin D1 (assessed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively). Furthermore, the number of apoptotic bodies and apoptosis rate were markedly elevated and mitochondrial membrane potential was markedly decreased. Moreover, mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax increased and Bcl‑2 decreased markedly in MKN45 cells following transfection with the CTPS‑overexpression vector. The proliferation rate increased, percentage of G₁/G₀‑phase cells decreased and apoptosis was attenuated in cells transfected with the R294D‑CTPS mutant vector and this mutation did not lead to formation of cytoophidia. The results of the present study suggested that formation of CTPS cytoophidia inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in MKN45 cells. These results may provide insights into the role of CTPS cytoophidia in cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.

KCTD9 inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by decreasing the level of β-catenin in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC progression remain to be further defined to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we found that KCTD9, a member of the potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing (KCTD) gene family, was commonly downregulated in CRC tissues and that KCTD9 expression was negatively correlated with the clinical CRC stage. Survival analysis showed that patients whose tumors expressed low KCTD9 levels had poorer outcomes. Functional analyses revealed that KCTD9 overexpression inhibited CRC cell proliferation and metastasis, whereas KCTD9 knockdown promoted CRC cell proliferation and metastasis in both in vitro and in vivo models. Manipulating KCTD9 levels in CRC cells via overexpression or knockdown showed KCTD9 expression positively influenced the degradation of β-catenin levels leading to inhibition of Wnt signaling and reductions in Wnt pathway target gene expression. Mechanistically, we found KCTD9 associated with ZNT9 (Zinc Transporter 9), a coactivator of β-catenin-mediated gene transcription. The overexpression of KCTD9 or knockdown of ZNT9 in CRC cells increased the polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. In turn, the KCTD9-ZNT9 interaction disrupted interactions between β-catenin and ZNT9, thereby leading to decreased β-catenin target gene expression and the inhibition of Wnt signaling. In conclusion, our findings propose that KCTD9 functions as a tumor suppressor that inhibits CRC cell proliferation and metastasis by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, its frequent downregulation in CRC suggests KCTD9 as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target in CRC.

Toosendanin activates caspase-1 and induces maturation of IL-1β to inhibit type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication via an IFI16-dependent pathway

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a prevalent and endemic swine pathogen which causes significant economic losses in the global swine industry. Multiple vaccines have been developed to prevent PRRSV infection. However, they provide limited protection. Moreover, no effective therapeutic drugs are yet available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel antiviral strategies to prevent PRRSV infection and transmission. Here we report that Toosendanin (TSN), a tetracyclic triterpene found in the bark or fruits of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., strongly suppressed type 2 PRRSV replication in vitro in Marc-145 cells and ex vivo in primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) at sub-micromolar concentrations. The results of transcriptomics revealed that TSN up-regulated the expression of IFI16 in Marc-145 cells. Furthermore, we found that IFI16 silencing enhanced the replication of PRRSV in Marc-145 cells and that the anti-PRRSV activity of TSN was dampened by IFI16 silencing, suggesting that the inhibition of TSN against PRRSV replication is IFI16-dependent. In addition, we showed that TSN activated caspase-1 and induced maturation of IL-1β in an IFI16-dependent pathway. To verify the role of IL-1β in PRRSV infection, we analyzed the effect of exogenous rmIL-1β on PRRSV replication, and the results showed that exogenous IL-1β significantly inhibited PRRSV replication in Marc-145 cells and PAMs in a dose-dependent manner. Altogether, our findings indicate that TSN significantly inhibits PRRSV replication at very low concentrations (EC₅₀: 0.16–0.20 μM) and may provide opportunities for developing novel anti-PRRSV agents.

WWOX Controls Cell Survival, Immune Response and Disease Progression by pY33 to pS14 Transition to Alternate Signaling Partners

Tumor suppressor WWOX inhibits cancer growth and retards Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. Supporting evidence shows that the more strongly WWOX binds intracellular protein partners, the weaker is cancer cell growth in vivo. Whether this correlates with retardation of AD progression is unknown. Two functional forms of WWOX exhibit opposite functions. pY33-WWOX is proapoptotic and anticancer, and is essential for maintaining normal physiology. In contrast, pS14-WWOX is accumulated in the lesions of cancers and AD brains, and suppression of WWOX phosphorylation at S14 by a short peptide Zfra abolishes cancer growth and retardation of AD progression. In parallel, synthetic Zfra4-10 or WWOX7-21 peptide strengthens the binding of endogenous WWOX with intracellular protein partners leading to cancer suppression. Indeed, Zfra4-10 is potent in restoring memory loss in triple transgenic mice for AD (3xTg) by blocking the aggregation of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), enhancing degradation of aggregated proteins, and inhibiting activation of inflammatory NF-κB. In light of the findings, Zfra4-10-mediated suppression of cancer and AD is due, in part, to an enhanced binding of endogenous WWOX and its binding partners. In this perspective review article, we detail the molecular action of WWOX in the HYAL-2/WWOX/SMAD4 signaling for biological effects, and discuss WWOX phosphorylation forms in interacting with binding partners, leading to suppression of cancer growth and retardation of AD progression.

ACADL Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Inhibiting Matrix Metalloproteinase 14

High aggressiveness is the main reason for the poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, its molecular mechanisms still remain largely unexplored. ACADL, a mitochondrial enzyme that facilitates the primary regulated step in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, plays a role in HCC growth inhibition. However, the function of ACADL in tumor metastasis is not well elucidated. We found that the reduced expression of ACADL is closely associated with the loss of tumor encapsulation, extrahepatic metastasis, and poor prognosis in HCC patients. Upregulation of ACADL significantly inhibited HCC migration and invasion ability. Whereas knockdown of ACADL markedly enhanced cell invasive capability. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP14) was negatively associated with the content of ACADL in HCC specimens. MMP14-positive patients with a low expression of ACADL showed worse outcome. Treatment with MMP14 agonist reversed the inhibitory effect of ACADL on HCC metastasis. In addition, ACADL negatively regulated MMP14 expression by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway, as the sustained activation of STAT3 effectively restored the level of MMP14 in ACADL-overexpressed cells. Collectively, these findings disclose that ACADL represses HCC metastasis via STAT3-MMP14 pathway. This study may propose a promising strategy for the precise treatment of metastatic HCC patients.