FOXO3a in cancer drug resistance

TRIM6 promotes glioma malignant progression by enhancing FOXO3A ubiquitination and degradation

PURPOSE

TRIM6, an E3 ubiquitin ligase with tripartite motif, directly targets protein substrates for degradation through ubiquitination. Studies have shown that TRIM6 plays a significant role in tumor development in various human malignancies. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the importance of TRIM6 and its associated mechanism in promoting the progression of glioma.

METHODS

The expression of TRIM6 and its prognostic value in glioma patients were collected from the TCGA and CGGA databases. The effects of TRIM6 on glioma were investigated in vitro by CCK8, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. Co-IP and western blot analysis were used to detect the interaction between TRIM6 and FOXO3A. The effects of TRIM6 were verified in vivo in subcutaneously xenograft models, and tumor size, and immunohistochemical changes were observed.

RESULTS

Our analysis of TRIM6 expression in glioma tissues revealed a high level of expression, and the heightened expression of TRIM6 showed a positive correlation with the unfavorable prognosis among glioma/GBM patients. Through loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments, we observed a profound impact on the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo upon deletion of TRIM6. Conversely, the overexpression of TRIM6 intensified the malignant characteristics of glioma. Additionally, our findings revealed a significant interaction between TRIM6 and FOXO3A, wherein TRIM6 contributed to the destabilization of FOXO3A protein by promoting its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Experiments conducted in the rescue study affirmed that the promotion of glioma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration is facilitated by TRIM6 through the suppression of FOXO3A protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations imply that the TRIM6-FOXO3A axis could potentially serve as an innovative focus for intervening in glioma.

Crosstalk between ubiquitin ligases and ncRNAs drives cardiovascular disease progression

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are multifactorial chronic diseases and have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a crucial role in posttranslational modification and quality control of proteins, maintaining intracellular homeostasis via degradation of misfolded, short-lived, or nonfunctional regulatory proteins. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs, such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs and small interfering RNAs) serve as epigenetic factors and directly or indirectly participate in various physiological and pathological processes. NcRNAs that regulate ubiquitination or are regulated by the UPS are involved in the execution of target protein stability. The cross-linked relationship between the UPS, ncRNAs and CVDs has drawn researchers' attention. Herein, we provide an update on recent developments and perspectives on how the crosstalk of the UPS and ncRNAs affects the pathological mechanisms of CVDs, particularly myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and ischemic stroke. In addition, we further envision that RNA interference or ncRNA mimics or inhibitors targeting the UPS can potentially be used as therapeutic tools and strategies.

Role and regulation of FOXO3a: new insights into breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the world, particularly affecting female cancer patients. Enhancing the therapeutic strategies for breast cancer necessitates identifying molecular drug targets that effectively eliminate tumor cells. One of these prominent targets is the forkhead and O3a class (FOXO3a), a member of the forkhead transcription factor subfamily. FOXO3a plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes, including apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and drug resistance. It acts as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancer types, although its specific role in cancer remains unclear. Moreover, FOXO3a shows promise as a potential marker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis in breast cancer patients. In addition, it is actively influenced by common anti-breast cancer drugs like paclitaxel, simvastatin, and gefitinib. In breast cancer, the regulation of FOXO3a involves intricate networks, encompassing post-translational modification post-translational regulation by non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and protein-protein interaction. The specific mechanism of FOXO3a in breast cancer urgently requires further investigation. This review aims to systematically elucidate the role of FOXO3a in breast cancer. Additionally, it reviews the interaction of FOXO3a and its upstream and downstream signaling pathway-related molecules to uncover potential therapeutic drugs and related regulatory factors for breast cancer treatment by regulating FOXO3a.

Research progress on the regulatory mechanisms of FOXC1 expression in cancers and its role in drug resistance

The Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) transcription factor is an important member of the FOX family. After initially being identified in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with significant oncogenic function, FOXC1 was subsequently demonstrated to be involved in the development of more than 16 types of cancers. In recent years, increasing studies have focused on the deregulatory mechanisms of FOXC1 expression and revealed that FOXC1 expression was regulated at multiple levels including transcriptional regulation, post-transcription regulation and post-translational modification. Moreover, dysregulation of FOXC1 is also implicated in drug resistance in various types of cancer, especially in breast cancer, which further emphasizes the translational and clinical significance of FOXC1 as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. This review summarizes recent findings on mechanisms of FOXC1 dysregulation in cancers and its role in chemoresistance, which will help to better understand the oncogenic role of FOXC1, overcome FOXC1-mediated drug resistance and develop targeted therapy for FOXC1 in cancers.

HGF secreted by hUC-MSCs mitigates neuronal apoptosis to repair the injured spinal cord via phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO3a pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe and permanent neurological damage, and neuronal apoptosis could inhibit functional recovery of damaged spinal cord greatly. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) have great potential to repair SCI because of a series of advantages, including inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and multiple differentiation. The former may play an important role. However, the detailed regulatory mechanism associated with the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis after hUC-MSCs administration has not been elucidated. In this study, proteomics analysis of precious human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from SCI subjects receiving hUC-MSCs delivery indicated that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is largely involved in SCI repair. Furthermore, overexpression of HGF derived from hUC-MSCs could decrease reactive oxygen species to prevent neuron apoptosis to the maximum, and thus lead to significant recovery of spinal cord dysfunction. Moreover, HGF could promote phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO3a pathway to decrease reactive oxygen species to reduce neuron apoptosis. For the first time, our research revealed that HGF secreted by hUC-MSCs inhibits neuron apoptosis by phosphorylation of Akt/FoxO3a to repair SCI. This study provides important clues associated with drug selection for the effective treatment of SCI in humans.

Programmed cell death in tumor immunity: mechanistic insights and clinical implications

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of cell suicide that is controlled by various signaling pathways. PCD plays an important role in a multitude of biological processes, such as cell turnover, development, tissue homeostasis and immunity. Some forms of PCD, including apoptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and necroptosis, contribute to carcinogenesis and cancer development, and thus have attracted increasing attention in the field of oncology. Recently, increasing research-based evidence has demonstrated that PCD acts as a critical modulator of tumor immunity. PCD can affect the function of innate and adaptive immune cells, which leads to distinct immunological consequences, such as the priming of tumor-specific T cells, immunosuppression and immune evasion. Targeting PCD alone or in combination with conventional immunotherapy may provide new options to enhance the clinical efficacy of anticancer therapeutics. In this review, we introduce the characteristics and mechanisms of ubiquitous PCD pathways (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, pyroptosis and ferroptosis) and explore the complex interaction between these cell death mechanisms and tumor immunity based on currently available evidence. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of PCD-based approaches by outlining clinical trials targeting PCD in cancer treatment. Elucidating the immune-related effects of PCD on cancer pathogenesis will likely contribute to an improved understanding of oncoimmunology and allow PCD to be exploited for cancer treatment.

Histone methyltransferase SUV39H2 regulates apoptosis and chemosensitivity in prostate cancer through AKT/FOXO signaling pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant tumors that exhibit both chemoresistance and recurrence. SUV39H2 is highly expressed in many types of human tumors, but its role in the development and progression of PCa has never been clarified. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of SUV39H2 in the development and progression of PCa, its association with the AKT/FOXO signaling pathway, and its potential implications for PCa diagnosis and treatment. SUV39H2 expression was analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and genotype tissue expression pan-cancer data. The TCGA database was evaluated for SUV39H2 enrichment and its correlation to immune cell infiltration. SUV39H2 levels in PCa tissues and control tissues were determined in 30 patients using qPCR and IHC. Clinical relevance was assessed via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In vitro assessments including colony formation assays, Western Blot analysis, CCK-8 assays, and flow cytometry were utilized to establish SUV39H2's contribution to PCa cell growth. The influence of SUV39H2 on PC3 and DU145 cell proliferation was assessed through a cell line-derived xenograft model. Sphere formation assays and qPCR were employed to delineate SUV39H2's role in PCa stemness and chemosensitivity. In vitro macrophage polarization assays provided insights into SUV39H2's association with M2 macrophages, while enrichment analysis shed light on its role in FOXO signaling. PCa tissues expressed higher levels of SUV39H2 than normal tissues. By knocking down SUV39H2, PCa cells were made more chemosensitive to docetaxel and cell proliferation and stemness were inhibited. Additionally, SUV39H2 knockdown significantly inhibited in vivo PCa cell growth and inhibited the polarization of macrophages. Furthermore, SUV39H2 was found to regulate AKT/FOXO signaling by increasing Akt and FOXO3a phosphorylation. Our findings highlight SUV39H2's role in PCa cell apoptosis and chemosensitivity mainly by regulating the AKT/FOXO signaling pathway and suggest that SUV39H2 could be a potential target for PCa diagnosis and treatment.

Baizhu shaoyao decoction restores the intestinal barrier and brain-gut axis balance to alleviate diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome via FoxO1/FoxO3a

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a common functional gastrointestinal disease. Besides, baizhu shaoyao decoction (BSD) is an effective treatment for IBS-D; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aims to assess the ability of BSD to therapy IBS-D and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

First, comprehensive analyses, including ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) screening, Venn analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and network construction, were performed to characterize IBS-D-related pathways and explore the synergistic effects of BSD active compounds. Next, an IBS-D model was constructed using a three-factor superposition method of neonatal maternal separation, chronic immobilization stress stimulation, and Sennae folium aqueous extract lavage. Moreover, the impact of BSD was assessed based on the body weight, fecal water content, and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), and the results of the open field test, sucrose preference test, intestinal permeability assessment, transmission electron microscopy, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis. The factors that regulate the BSD effects on IBS-D were estimated using immunoblotting, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (q-RTPCR), immunohistochemistry, and transcriptome sequencing analyses.

RESULTS

We found that BSD improved depressive behavior, brain-gut peptide levels, and intestinal permeability induced by IBS-D by increasing the abundance of intestinal tight junctions. In addition, BSD reduced secretory immunoglobulin A levels and the number of intestinal mast cells in IBS-D rats. Network pharmacology and transcriptome sequencing analysis further revealed that the forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway contributed to the BSD-induced alleviation of IBS-D, as BSD regulated the protein and mRNA levels of FoxO1, glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and FoxO3a. Importantly, a FoxO1 inhibitor effectively alleviated IBS-D symptoms in rats, whereas a FoxO3a agonist had the opposite effects.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that BSD alleviates depression and intestinal symptoms by regulating brain-gut peptide expression and restoring the intestinal barrier function via the FoxO signaling pathway. Furthermore, our study uses serum pharmacochemistry technology to analyze the in vivo components of TCM formula under effective condition, solving the problem of the discovery of the effective components of TCM to some extent.

Promising role of protein arginine methyltransferases in overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance

Drug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer treatment, necessitating the development of novel strategies to overcome it. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are enzymes responsible for epigenetic arginine methylation, which regulates various biological and pathological processes, as a result, they are attractive therapeutic targets for overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance. The ongoing development of small molecules targeting PRMTs has resulted in the generation of chemical probes for modulating most PRMTs and facilitated clinical treatment for the most advanced oncology targets, including PRMT1 and PRMT5. In this review, we summarize various mechanisms underlying protein arginine methylation and the roles of specific PRMTs in driving cancer drug resistance. Furthermore, we highlight the potential clinical implications of PRMT inhibitors in decreasing cancer drug resistance. PRMTs promote the formation and maintenance of drug-tolerant cells via several mechanisms, including altered drug efflux transporters, autophagy, DNA damage repair, cancer stem cell-related function, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and disordered tumor microenvironment. Multiple preclinical and ongoing clinical trials have demonstrated that PRMT inhibitors, particularly PRMT5 inhibitors, can sensitize cancer cells to various anti-cancer drugs, including chemotherapeutic, targeted therapeutic, and immunotherapeutic agents. Combining PRMT inhibitors with existing anti-cancer strategies will be a promising approach for overcoming anti-cancer drug resistance. Furthermore, enhanced knowledge of the complex functions of arginine methylation and PRMTs in drug resistance will guide the future development of PRMT inhibitors and may help identify new clinical indications.

FoxO3a Drives the Metabolic Reprogramming in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells Restoring Tamoxifen Sensitivity

Tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells (TamR-BCCs) are characterized by an enhanced metabolic phenotype compared to tamoxifen-sensitive cells. FoxO3a is an important modulator of cell metabolism, and its deregulation has been involved in the acquisition of tamoxifen resistance. Therefore, tetracycline-inducible FoxO3a was overexpressed in TamR-BCCs (TamR/TetOn-AAA), which, together with their control cell line (TamR/TetOn-V), were subjected to seahorse metabolic assays and proteomic analysis. FoxO3a was able to counteract the increased oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) observed in TamR by reducing their energetic activity and glycolytic rate. FoxO3a caused glucose accumulation, very likely by reducing LDH activity and mitigated TamR biosynthetic needs by reducing G6PDH activity and hindering NADPH production via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Proteomic analysis revealed a FoxO3a-dependent marked decrease in the expression of LDH as well as of several enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism (e.g., Aldolase A, LDHA and phosphofructokinase) and the analysis of cBioPortal datasets of BC patients evidenced a significant inverse correlation of these proteins and FoxO3a. Interestingly, FoxO3a also increased mitochondrial biogenesis despite reducing mitochondrial functionality by triggering ROS production. Based on these findings, FoxO3a inducing/activating drugs could represent promising tools to be exploited in the management of patients who are refractory to antiestrogen therapy.

O-GlcNAcylation: cellular physiology and therapeutic target for human diseases

O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcylation) is a distinctive posttranslational protein modification involving the coordinated action of O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase, primarily targeting serine or threonine residues in various proteins. This modification impacts protein functionality, influencing stability, protein-protein interactions, and localization. Its interaction with other modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination is becoming increasingly evident. Dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation is associated with numerous human diseases, including diabetes, nervous system degeneration, and cancers. This review extensively explores the regulatory mechanisms of O-GlcNAcylation, its effects on cellular physiology, and its role in the pathogenesis of diseases. It examines the implications of aberrant O-GlcNAcylation in diabetes and tumorigenesis, highlighting novel insights into its potential role in cardiovascular diseases. The review also discusses the interplay of O-GlcNAcylation with other protein modifications and its impact on cell growth and metabolism. By synthesizing current research, this review elucidates the multifaceted roles of O-GlcNAcylation, providing a comprehensive reference for future studies. It underscores the potential of targeting the O-GlcNAcylation cycle in developing novel therapeutic strategies for various pathologies.

Copper and Diabetes: Current Research and Prospect

Copper is an essential trace metal for normal cellular functions; a lack of copper is reported to impair the function of important copper-binding enzymes, while excess copper could lead to cell death. Numerous studies have shown an association between dietary copper consumption or plasma copper levels and the incidence of diabetes/diabetes complications. And experimental studies have revealed multiple signaling pathways that are triggered by copper shortages or copper overload in diabetic conditions. Moreover, studies show that treated with copper chelators improve vascular function, maintain copper homeostasis, inhibit cuproptosis, and reduce cell toxicity, thereby alleviating diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiomyopathy. However, the mechanisms reported in these studies are inconsistent or even contradictory. This review summarizes the precise and tight regulation of copper homeostasis processes, and discusses the latest progress in the association of diabetes and dietary copper/plasma copper. Further, the study pays close attention to the therapeutic potential of copper chelators and copper in diabetes and its complications, and hopes to provide new insight for the treatment of diabetes.

Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.

Noncoding RNAs as an emerging resistance mechanism to immunotherapies in cancer: basic evidence and therapeutic implications

The increasing knowledge in the field of oncoimmunology has led to extensive research into tumor immune landscape and a plethora of clinical immunotherapy trials in cancer patients. Immunotherapy has become a clinically beneficial alternative to traditional treatments by enhancing the power of the host immune system against cancer. However, it only works for a minority of cancers. Drug resistance continues to be a major obstacle to the success of immunotherapy in cancer. A fundamental understanding of the detailed mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance in cancer patients will provide new potential directions for further investigations of cancer treatment. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are tightly linked with cancer initiation and development due to their critical roles in gene expression and epigenetic modulation. The clear appreciation of the role of ncRNAs in tumor immunity has opened new frontiers in cancer research and therapy. Furthermore, ncRNAs are increasingly acknowledged as a key factor influencing immunotherapeutic treatment outcomes. Here, we review the available evidence on the roles of ncRNAs in immunotherapy resistance, with an emphasis on the associated mechanisms behind ncRNA-mediated immune resistance. The clinical implications of immune-related ncRNAs are also discussed, shedding light on the potential ncRNA-based therapies to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy.

Non-coding RNAs in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications

Lung cancer (LC) is a heterogeneous disease with high malignant degree, rapid growth, and early metastasis. The clinical outcomes of LC patients are generally poor due to the insufficient elucidation of pathological mechanisms, low efficiency of detection and assessment methods, and lack of individualized therapeutic strategies. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA), are endogenous regulators that are widely involved in the modulation of almost all aspects of life activities, from organogenesis and aging to immunity and cancer. They commonly play vital roles in various biological processes by regulating gene expression via their interactions with DNA, RNA, or protein. An increasing amount of studies have demonstrated that ncRNAs are closely correlated with the initiation and development of LC. Their dysregulation promotes the progression of LC via distinct mechanisms, such as influencing protein activity, activating oncogenic signaling pathways, or altering specific gene expression. Furthermore, some ncRNAs present certain clinical values as biomarker candidates and therapeutic targets for LC patients. A complete understanding of their mechanisms in LC progression may be highly beneficial to developing ncRNA-based therapeutics for LC patients. This review mainly focuses on the intricate mechanisms of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA involved in LC progression and discuss their underlying applications in LC treatment.

The critical roles of m6A RNA methylation in lung cancer: from mechanism to prognosis and therapy

Lung cancer, a highly malignant disease, greatly affects patients' quality of life. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common posttranscriptional modifications of various RNAs, including mRNAs and ncRNAs. Emerging studies have demonstrated that m6A participates in normal physiological processes and that its dysregulation is involved in many diseases, especially pulmonary tumorigenesis and progression. Among these, regulators including m6A writers, readers and erasers mediate m6A modification of lung cancer-related molecular RNAs to regulate their expression. Furthermore, the imbalance of this regulatory effect adversely affects signalling pathways related to lung cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and other biological behaviours. Based on the close association between m6A and lung cancer, various prognostic risk models have been established and novel drugs have been developed. Overall, this review comprehensively elaborates the mechanism of m6A regulation in the development of lung cancer, suggesting its potential for clinical application in the therapy and prognostic assessment of lung cancer.

The applications of nanozymes in cancer therapy: based on regulating pyroptosis, ferroptosis and autophagy of tumor cells

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with catalytic properties similar to those of natural enzymes, and they have recently been collectively identified as a class of innovative artificial enzymes. Nanozymes are widely used in various fields, such as biomedicine, due to their high catalytic activity and stability. Nanozymes can trigger changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cells and the activation of inflammasomes, leading to the programmed cell death (PCD), including the pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy, of tumor cells. In addition, some nanozymes consume glucose, starving cancer cells and thus accelerating tumor cell death. In addition, the electric charge of the structure and the catalytic activity of nanozymes are sensitive to external factors such as light and electric and magnetic fields. Therefore, nanozymes can be used with different therapeutic methods, such as chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT), to achieve highly efficient antitumor effects. Many cancer therapies induce tumor cell death via the pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy of tumor cells mediated by nanozymes. We review the mechanisms of pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy in tumor development, as well as the potential application of nanozymes to regulate pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy in tumor cells.

Non-coding RNA-mediated modulation of ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide and seriously threatens human health and life. Cardiomyocyte death is considered the pathological basis of various CVDs, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and aortic dissection. Multiple mechanisms, such as ferroptosis, necrosis, and apoptosis, contribute to cardiomyocyte death. Among them, ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death that plays a vital role in various physiological and pathological processes, from development and aging to immunity and CVD. The dysregulation of ferroptosis has been shown to be closely associated with CVD progression, yet its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In recent years, a growing amount of evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, are involved in the regulation of ferroptosis, thus affecting CVD progression. Some ncRNAs also exhibit potential value as biomarker and/or therapeutic target for patients with CVD. In this review, we systematically summarize recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in ferroptosis regulation and their role in CVD progression. We also focus on their clinical applications as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in CVD treatment. DATA AVAILABILITY: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Virtual screening of FOXO3a activators from natural product-like compound library

FOXO3a is an inevitable transcription factor, which is involved in the regulation of biological processes such as proliferation, DNA damage repair, cell cycle arrest and cell death. Previous studies confirmed that FOXO3a is an excellent tumor suppressor and in cancer cells, it gets phosphorylated followed by proteasomal degradation. FOXO3a is found to be inactivated in cancer cells, whereas in normal cells it gets activated and upregulates its downstream targets, which induces apoptotic pathways. Hence, activation of FOXO3a can be implicated in cancer prevention and treatment. A variety of commercially available FOXO3a activators such as doxorubicin and metformin possess undesirable adverse effects to normal cells and tissues, which are their major limitations. Natural bioactive compounds, eliminating the limitations of such compounds, become an excellent choice for the treatment and prevention of cancer. In this study, a library of natural product-like compounds was screened for their FOXO3a activation potential through in silico approach, which included the use of several bioinformatics tools and processes. Other molecular interaction studies as well as binding and specificity studies were carried out with the help of molecular dynamics simulation. Virtual screening of 7700 small molecules from the Natural Products-like Compound Library revealed the top three FOXO3a activators F3385-6269, F2183-0033 and F3351-0330. Further validation studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

CircRNA-miRNA-VEGFA: an important pathway to regulate cancer pathogenesis

Cancers, especially malignant tumors, contribute to high global mortality rates, resulting in great economic burden to society. Many factors are associated with cancer pathogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) and circular RNAs (circRNA). VEGFA is a pivotal regulator of vascular development such as angiogenesis, which is an important process in cancer development. CircRNAs have covalently closed structures, making them highly stable. CircRNAs are widely distributed and participate in many physiological and pathological processes, including modulating cancer pathogenesis. CircRNAs act as transcriptional regulators of parental genes, microRNA (miRNA)/RNA binding protein (RBP) sponges, protein templates. CircRNAs mainly function via binding to miRNAs. CircRNAs have been shown to influence different diseases such as coronary artery diseases and cancers by regulating VEGFA levels via binding to miRNAs. In this paper, we explored the origin and functional pathways of VEGFA, reviewed the current understanding of circRNA properties and action mechanisms, and summarized the role of circRNAs in regulating VEGFA during cancer pathogenesis.

Unique regulatory roles of ncRNAs changed by PM2.5 in human diseases

PM_2.5 is a type of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µm, and exposure to PM_2.5 can adversely damage human health. PM_2.5 may impair health through oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, immune function alterations and chromosome or DNA damage. Through increasing in-depth studies, researchers have found that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) as well as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), might play significant roles in PM_2.5-related human diseases via some of the abovementioned mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we mainly discuss the regulatory function of ncRNAs altered by PM_2.5 in human diseases and summarize the potential molecular mechanisms. The findings reveal that these ncRNAs might induce or promote diseases via inflammation, the oxidative stress response, cell autophagy, apoptosis, cell junction damage, altered cell proliferation, malignant cell transformation, disruption of synaptic function and abnormalities in the differentiation and status of immune cells. Moreover, according to a bioinformatics analysis, the altered expression of potential genes caused by these ncRNAs might be related to the development of some human diseases. Furthermore, some ncRNAs, including lncRNAs, miRNAs and circRNAs, or processes in which they are involved may be used as biomarkers for relevant diseases and potential targets to prevent these diseases. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis to identify more promising diagnostic ncRNAs as biomarkers for related diseases.

MicroRNAs as master regulators of FOXO transcription factors in cancer management

MicroRNAs are critical regulators of the plethora of genes, including FOXO "forkhead" dependent transcription factors, which are bonafide tumour suppressors. The FOXO family members modulate a hub of cellular processes like apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, ROS detoxification, and longevity. Aberrant expression of FOXOs in human cancers has been observed due to their down-regulation by diverse microRNAs, which are predominantly involved in tumour initiation, chemo-resistance and tumour progression. Chemo-resistance is a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Over 90% of casualties in cancer patients are reportedly associated with chemo-resistance. Here, we have primarily discussed the structure, functions of FOXO and also their post-translational modifications which influence the activities of these FOXO family members. Further, we have addressed the role of microRNAs in carcinogenesis by regulating the FOXOs at post-transcriptional level. Therefore, microRNAs-FOXO axis can be exploited as a novel cancer therapy. The administration of microRNA-based cancer therapy is likely to be beneficial to curb chemo-resistance in cancers.

The crosstalk between the gut microbiota and tumor immunity: Implications for cancer progression and treatment outcomes

The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of commensal microorganisms that constitute the gut microbiota. As a main metabolic organ, the gut microbiota has co-evolved in a symbiotic relationship with its host, contributing to physiological homeostasis. Recent advances have provided mechanistic insights into the dual role of the gut microbiota in cancer pathogenesis. Particularly, compelling evidence indicates that the gut microbiota exerts regulatory effects on the host immune system to fight against cancer development. Some microbiota-derived metabolites have been suggested as potential activators of antitumor immunity. On the contrary, the disequilibrium of intestinal microbial communities, a condition termed dysbiosis, can induce cancer development. The altered gut microbiota reprograms the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), thus allowing cancer cells to avoid immunosurvelliance. Furthermore, the gut microbiota has been associated with the effects and complications of cancer therapy given its prominent immunoregulatory properties. Therapeutic measures that aim to manipulate the interplay between the gut microbiota and tumor immunity may bring new breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Herein, we provide a comprehensive update on the evidence for the implication of the gut microbiota in immune-oncology and discuss the fundamental mechanisms underlying the influence of intestinal microbial communities on systemic cancer therapy, in order to provide important clues toward improving treatment outcomes in cancer patients.

Light Chain Amyloidosis–Induced Autophagy Is Mediated by the Foxo3a/Beclin-1 Pathway in Cardiomyocytes

Cardiac amyloidosis is a disease in which the extracellular space of the heart is deposited with and infiltrated by amyloid fibrillar material, and light chain (LC) amyloidosis (AL) is the most serious form of the disease. AL is caused by the overproduction and aggregation of monoclonal immunoglobulin LCs produced by bone marrow plasma cells. Studies have shown that the initial response at a subcellular level to the toxicity of AL is lysosomal dysfunction with impaired autophagy, elevated reactive oxygen species, cellular dysfunction, and cellular death. Therefore, we speculate that the multiple myeloma complicated by cardiac amyloidosis is due to the deposition of λ LC fibrils in cardiomyocytes, leading to dysregulation of autophagy and cell death. We constructed BACN1 siRNA or FOXO3A siRNA and transfected them into H9c2 cells. We detected changes in oxidative stress- and autophagy-related markers. Our results show that monoclonal immunoglobulin λ LCs can form amyloid aggregates, which are cytotoxic to cardiomyocytes. λ LC fibrils deposit on the cell surface, causing oxidative stress and excessive autophagy by increasing Beclin-1 expression and the LC3 II/LC3 I ratio and decreasing p62 expression, ultimately inducing cell death. Beclin-1 knockdown reversed the increase in the LC3 II/LC3 I ratio and the decrease in p62 induced by LC fibrils, while suppressing overactivated autophagy and oxidative stress. Furthermore, LCs reduce the expression of p-Foxo3a (Ser253) (inactive) and promote Foxo3a translocation into the nucleus to perform transcriptional activity, which induces autophagy-related gene overexpression. Silencing Foxo3a can suppress excessive autophagy induced by LC fibrils and protect cells from death. In summary, the results showed that the cytotoxicity of amyloid fibrils formed by λ LCs on cardiomyocytes is triggered by excessive autophagy and is mediated through the Foxo3a/Beclin-1 pathway.

Interplay between Gut Microbiota and NLRP3 Inflammasome in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The pathophysiological process of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is very complex, involving various mechanisms such as apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation. As one of the key factors, the inflammatory response is responsible for the pathological process of acute brain injury and is associated with the prognosis of patients. Abnormal or dysregulated inflammatory responses after ICH can aggravate cell damage in the injured brain tissue. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein complex distributed in the cytosol, which can be triggered by multiple signals. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated after ICH, thus promoting neuroinflammation and aggravating brain edema. In addition, there is evidence that the gut microbiota is crucial in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The gut microbiota plays a key role in a variety of CNS disorders. Changes in the diversity and species of the gut microbiota affect neuroinflammation through the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the release of inflammatory cytokines. In turn, the gut microbiota composition can be influenced by the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Thereby, the regulation of the microbe-gut-brain axis via the NLRP3 inflammasome may serve as a novel idea for protecting against secondary brain injury (SBI) in ICH patients. Here, we review the recent evidence on the functions of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the gut microbiota in ICH, as well as their interactions, during the pathological process of ICH.

Transcriptome analysis of FOXO-dependent hypoxia gene expression identifies Hipk as a regulator of low oxygen tolerance in Drosophila

When exposed to low oxygen or hypoxia, animals must alter their metabolism and physiology to ensure proper cell-, tissue-, and whole-body level adaptations to their hypoxic environment. These alterations often involve changes in gene expression. While extensive work has emphasized the importance of the HIF-1 alpha transcription factor on controlling hypoxia gene expression, less is known about other transcriptional mechanisms. We previously identified the transcription factor FOXO as a regulator of hypoxia tolerance in Drosophila larvae and adults. Here, we use an RNA-sequencing approach to identify FOXO-dependent changes in gene expression that are associated with these tolerance effects. We found that hypoxia altered the expression of over 2,000 genes and that ∼40% of these gene expression changes required FOXO. We discovered that hypoxia exposure led to a FOXO-dependent increase in genes involved in cell signaling, such as kinases, GTPase regulators, and regulators of the Hippo/Yorkie pathway. Among these, we identified homeodomain-interacting protein kinase as being required for hypoxia survival. We also found that hypoxia suppresses the expression of genes involved in ribosome synthesis and egg production, and we showed that hypoxia suppresses tRNA synthesis and mRNA translation and reduces female fecundity. Among the downregulated genes, we discovered that FOXO was required for the suppression of many ribosomal protein genes and genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, pointing to a role for FOXO in limiting energetically costly processes such as protein synthesis and mitochondrial activity upon hypoxic stress. This work uncovers a widespread role for FOXO in mediating hypoxia changes in gene expression.

FADD as a key molecular player in cancer progression

Cancer is a leading disease-related cause of death worldwide. Despite advances in therapeutic interventions, cancer remains a major global public health problem. Cancer pathogenesis is extremely intricate and largely unknown. Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) was initially identified as an adaptor protein for death receptor-mediated extrinsic apoptosis. Recent evidence suggests that FADD plays a vital role in non-apoptotic cellular processes, such as proliferation, autophagy, and necroptosis. FADD expression and activity of are modulated by a complicated network of processes, such as DNA methylation, non-coding RNA, and post-translational modification. FADD dysregulation has been shown to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of numerous types of cancer. However, the detailed mechanisms of FADD dysregulation involved in cancer progression are still not fully understood. This review mainly summarizes recent findings on the structure, functions, and regulatory mechanisms of FADD and focuses on its role in cancer progression. The clinical implications of FADD as a biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer patients are also discussed. The information reviewed herein may expand researchers’ understanding of FADD and contribute to the development of FADD-based therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.

Exosomal noncoding RNAs in central nervous system diseases: biological functions and potential clinical applications

Central nervous system (CNS) disease is a general term for a series of complex and diverse diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), CNS tumors, stroke, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Interneuron and neuron-glia cells communicate with each other through their homeostatic microenvironment. Exosomes in the microenvironment have crucial impacts on interneuron and neuron-glia cells by transferring their contents, such as proteins, lipids, and ncRNAs, constituting a novel form of cell-to-cell interaction and communication. Exosomal noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), regulate physiological functions and maintain CNS homeostasis. Exosomes are regarded as extracellular messengers that transfer ncRNAs between neurons and body fluids due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of exosomal ncRNAs in CNS diseases, including prospective diagnostic biomarkers, pathological regulators, therapeutic strategies and clinical applications. We also provide an all-sided discussion of the comparison with some similar CNS diseases and the main limitations and challenges for exosomal ncRNAs in clinical applications.

Underlying mechanisms of epithelial splicing regulatory proteins in cancer progression

Cancer is the second-leading disease-related cause of global mortality after cardiovascular disease. Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutic strategies, cancer remains one of the major obstacles to human life extension. Cancer pathogenesis is extremely complicated and not fully understood. Epithelial splicing regulatory proteins (ESRPs), including ESRP1 and ESRP2, belong to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family of RNA-binding proteins and are crucial regulators of the alternative splicing of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The expression and activity of ESRPs are modulated by various mechanisms, including post-translational modifications and non-coding RNAs. Although a growing body of evidence suggests that ESRP dysregulation is closely associated with cancer progression, the detailed mechanisms remain inconclusive. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the structures, functions, and regulatory mechanisms of ESRPs and focus on their underlying mechanisms in cancer progression. We also highlight the clinical implications of ESRPs as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. The information reviewed herein could be extremely beneficial to the development of individualized therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.

Noncoding RNA-mediated regulation of pyroptotic cell death in cancer

Pyroptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, which is manifested by DNA fragmentation, cell swelling, cell membrane rupture and leakage of cell contents. Previous studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis is tightly associated with the initiation and development of various cancers, whereas the molecular mechanisms underlying pyroptosis remain obscure. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a type of heterogeneous transcripts that are broadly expressed in mammalian cells. Owing to their potency of regulating gene expression, ncRNAs play essential roles in physiological and pathological processes. NcRNAs are increasingly acknowledged as important regulators of the pyroptosis process. Importantly, the crosstalk between ncRNAs and pyroptosis affects various hallmarks of cancer, including cell growth, survival, metastasis and therapeutic resistance. The study of the involvement of pyroptosis-associated ncRNAs in cancer pathobiology has become a hot area in recent years, while there are limited reviews on this topic. Herein, we provide an overview of the complicated roles of ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in modulating pyroptosis, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms of the ncRNA-pyroptosis axis in cancer pathogenesis. Finally, we discuss the potential applications and challenges of exploiting pyroptosis-regulating ncRNAs as molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Aortic Dissection

Aortic dissection (AD) is a fatal cardiovascular acute disease with high incidence and mortality, and it seriously threatens patients’ lives and health. The pathogenesis of AD mainly includes vascular inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and phenotypic conversion as well as apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); however, its detailed mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are an emerging class of RNA molecules without protein-coding ability, and they play crucial roles in the progression of many diseases, including AD. A growing number of studies have shown that the dysregulation of ncRNAs contributes to the occurrence and development of AD by modulating the expression of specific target genes or the activity of related proteins. In addition, some ncRNAs exhibit great potential as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in AD treatment. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent findings on the underlying mechanism of ncRNA involved in AD regulation and highlight their clinical application as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in AD treatment. The information reviewed here will be of great benefit to the development of ncRNA-based therapeutic strategies for AD patients.

Non-coding RNA in cancer drug resistance: Underlying mechanisms and clinical applications

Cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant diseases worldwide, posing a serious, long-term threat to patients’ health and life. Systemic chemotherapy remains the first-line therapeutic approach for recurrent or metastatic cancer patients after surgery, with the potential to effectively extend patient survival. However, the development of drug resistance seriously limits the clinical efficiency of chemotherapy and ultimately results in treatment failure and patient death. A large number of studies have shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, are widely involved in the regulation of cancer drug resistance. Their dysregulation contributes to the development of cancer drug resistance by modulating the expression of specific target genes involved in cellular apoptosis, autophagy, drug efflux, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, some ncRNAs also possess great potential as efficient, specific biomarkers in diagnosis and prognosis as well as therapeutic targets in cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the emerging role and underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in cancer drug resistance and focus on their clinical applications as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. This information will be of great benefit to early diagnosis and prognostic assessments of cancer as well as the development of ncRNA-based therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.