Estrogen receptor alpha regulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colon cancer by targeting the NOD-like receptors

MiR-378a-5p exerts a radiosensitizing effect on CRC through LRP8/β-catenin axis

BACKGROUND

MiRNAs are closely related to tumor radiosensitivity. MiR-378a-5p level is down-regulated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, this study intends to explore the role of miR-378a-5p in CRC, especially radiosensitivity.

METHODS

The expression of miR-378a-5p was analyzed in CRC samples. CRC cell lines were treated with different doses of X-rays. Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expressions and binding relationship of miR-378a-5p and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8). MiR-378a-5p inhibitor or/and siLRP8 were transfected into CRC cells with or without irradiation. Subsequently, clonogenic assay, flow cytometry and in vivo experiments including tumorigenesis assay, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to clarify the role of miR-378a-5p/LRP8 axis in the radiosensitivity of CRC.

RESULTS

The down-regulated expression of miR-378a-5p in CRC is related to histological differentiation and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. After irradiation, the survival fraction of CRC cells was decreased, while the apoptotic rate and the level of miR-378a-5p were increased. Restrained miR-378a-5p repressed apoptosis and apoptosis-related protein expressions, yet promoted the proliferation and the radioresistance of cells by regulating β-catenin in CRC cells. LRP8 was highly expressed in CRC, and targeted by miR-378a-5p. SiLRP8 improved radiosensitivity and reversed the effect of miR-378a-5p down-regulation on CRC cells. Overexpressed miR-378a-5p and irradiation enhanced the level of miR-378a-5p, yet suppressed the expressions of Ki67 and LRP8 as well as tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION

MiR-378a-5p may exert a radiosensitizing effect on CRC through the LRP8/β-catenin axis, which may be a new therapeutic target for CRC radioresistance.

Novel drug delivery systems in colorectal cancer: Advances and future prospects

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an abnormal proliferation of cells within the colon and rectum, leading to the formation of polyps and disruption of mucosal functions. The disease development is influenced by a combination of factors, including inflammation, exposure to environmental mutagens, genetic alterations, and impairment in signaling pathways. Traditional treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are often used but have limitations, including poor solubility and permeability, treatment resistance, side effects, and post-surgery issues. Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) have emerged as a superior alternative, offering enhanced drug solubility, precision in targeting cancer cells, and regulated drug release. Thereby addressing the shortcomings of conventional therapies and showing promise for more effective CRC management. The present review sheds light on the pathogenesis, signaling pathways, biomarkers, conventional treatments, need for NDDS, and application of NDDS against CRC. Additionally, clinical trials, ongoing clinical trials, marketed formulations, and patents on CRC are also covered in the present review.

NLRC5 exerts anti-endometriosis effects through inhibiting ERβ-mediated inflammatory response

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is well known as a chronic inflammatory disease. The development of endometriosis is heavily influenced by the estrogen receptor β (ERβ), while NOD-like receptors (NLRs) family CARD domain-containing 5 (NLRC5) exhibits anti-inflammatory properties during endometriosis. However, whether NLRC5-mediated anti-inflammation is involved in the ERβ-mediated endometriosis is still uncertain. This study aimed to assess that relation.

METHODS

Nine cases of eutopic endometrial tissue and ten cases of ectopic endometrial tissue were collected from patients with endometriosis, and endometrial samples from ten healthy fertile women were analyzed, and the expression levels of ERβ were quantified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Subsequently, we constructed mouse model of endometriosis by intraperitoneal injection. We detected the expression of ERβ, NLRC5, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 and measured the volume of ectopic lesions in mice with endometriosis. In vitro, human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) were transfected respectively with ERβ-overexpressing and NLRC5-overexpressing plasmids. We then assessed the expression of ERβ and NLRC5 using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis. Furthermore, we measured the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the cell culture supernatant through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, we evaluated the migration and invasion ability of hESCs using transwell and wound healing assays.

RESULTS

Inhibition of NLRC5 expression promotes the development of ectopic lesions in mice with endometriosis, upregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, and downregulates the expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. The high expression of NLRC5 in endometriosis depended on the ERβ overexpression. And ERβ promoted the migration of hESCs partially depend on inflammatory microenvironment. Lastly, NLRC5 overexpression inhibited ERβ-mediated development and inflammatory response of endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the innate immune molecule NLRC5-mediated anti-inflammation participates in ERβ-mediated endometriosis development, and partly clarifies the pathological mechanism of endometriosis, expanding our knowledge of the specific molecules related to the inflammatory response involved in endometriosis and potentially providing a new therapeutic target for endometriosis.

Sex differences in cancer and immunotherapy outcomes: the role of androgen receptor

Across the wide range of clinical conditions, there exists a sex imbalance where biological females are more prone to autoimmune diseases and males to some cancers. These discrepancies are the combinatory consequence of lifestyle and environmental factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and oncogenic viruses, as well as other intrinsic biological traits including sex chromosomes and sex hormones. While the emergence of immuno-oncology (I/O) has revolutionised cancer care, the efficacy across multiple cancers may be limited because of a complex, dynamic interplay between the tumour and its microenvironment (TME). Indeed, sex and gender can also influence the varying effectiveness of I/O. Androgen receptor (AR) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and in shaping the TME. Here, we lay out the epidemiological context of sex disparity in cancer and then review the current literature on how AR signalling contributes to such observation via altered tumour development and immunology. We offer insights into AR-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms, with the hope of translating preclinical and clinical evidence in gender oncology into improved outcomes in personalised, I/O-based cancer care.

WNT2B Deficiency Causes Enhanced Susceptibility to Colitis Due to Increased Inflammatory Cytokine Production

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Humans with WNT2B deficiency have severe intestinal disease, including significant inflammatory injury, highlighting a critical role for WNT2B. We sought to understand how WNT2B contributes to intestinal homeostasis.

METHODS

We investigated the intestinal health of Wnt2b knock out (KO) mice. We assessed the baseline histology and health of the small intestine and colon, and the impact of inflammatory challenge using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). We also evaluated human intestinal tissue.

RESULTS

Mice with WNT2B deficiency had normal baseline histology but enhanced susceptibility to DSS colitis because of an increased early injury response. Although intestinal stem cells markers were decreased, epithelial proliferation was similar to control subjects. Wnt2b KO mice showed an enhanced inflammatory signature after DSS treatment. Wnt2b KO colon and human WNT2B-deficient organoids had increased levels of CXCR4 and IL6, and biopsy tissue from humans showed increased neutrophils.

CONCLUSIONS

WNT2B is important for regulation of inflammation in the intestine. Absence of WNT2B leads to increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal inflammation, particularly in the colon.

The effect of GnRH-a on the angiogenesis of endometriosis

PURPOSE

Neoangiogenesis is necessary for adhesion and invasiveness of endometriotic lesions in women affected by endometriosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the main components of angiogenesis and is part of the major pathway tissue factor (TF)-protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2)-VEGF that leads to neoangiogenesis. Specificity protein 1 (SP1) is a transcriptional factor that has recently been studied for its crucial role in angiogenesis via a specific pathway. We hypothesize that by blocking angiogenetic pathways we can suppress endometriotic lesions. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-agonists (GnRH-a) are routinely used, especially preoperatively, in endometriosis. It would be of great interest to clarify which angiogenetic pathways are affected and, thereby, pave the way for further research into antiangiogenetic effects on endometriosis.

METHODS

We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to study mRNA expression levels of TF, PAR-2, VEGF, and SP1 in endometriotic tissues of women who underwent surgery for endometriosis and received GnRH-a (leuprolide acetate) preoperatively.

RESULTS

VEGF, TF, and PAR-2 expression is significantly lower in patients who received treatment (p < 0,001) compared to those who did not, whereas SP1 expression is not altered (p = 0.779).

CONCLUSIONS

GnRH-a administration does affect some pathways of angiogenesis in endometriotic lesions, but not all of them. Therefore, supplementary treatments that affect the SP1 pathway of angiogenesis should be developed to enhance the antiangiogenetic effect of GnRH-a in patients with endometriosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrial.gov ID: NCT06106932.

Study of Therapeutic Mechanisms of Bupi Yichang Formula against Colon Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology, Machine Learning, and Experimental Verification

Bupi Yichang formula (BPYCF) has shown the anti-cancer potential; however, its effects on colon cancer and the mechanisms remain unknown. This study intended to explore the effects of BPYC on colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms. BPYCF-related and colon cancer-related targets were acquired from public databases, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEG) identification. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. CytoHubba and MCODE to screen the hub targets. A diagnostic model was built using random forest algorithm. Molecular docking was conducted using PyMOL and AutoDock. High-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis and in vitro validation were performed. Forty-six overlapping targets of BPYCF-related, colon cancer-related targets, and DEGs were obtained. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the targets were mainly enriched in response to lipopolysaccharide, neuronal cell body, protein serine/threonine/tyrosine, as well as C-type lectin receptor, NOD-like receptor, and TNF signaling pathways. Five targets were identified as the pivotal targets, among which, NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B were stably docked with the core active component, naringenin. Naringenin was also identified from the BPYCF sample through HPLC-MS analysis. In vitro experiments showed that BPYCF inhibited cell viability, reduced NOS3 expression, and elevated CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B expression in colon cancer cells. BPYCF might treat colon cancer mainly by regulating NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TN-FRSF10B. This study first revealed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BPYCF against colon cancer, paving the path for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for this cancer in the clinic.

Sex Differences in Colon Cancer: Genomic and Nongenomic Signalling of Oestrogen

Colon cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy that exhibits distinct differences in incidence, prognosis, and treatment responses between males and females. These disparities have long been attributed to hormonal differences, particularly the influence of oestrogen signalling. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in colon cancer and the protective role of membrane and nuclear oestrogen signalling in CRC development, progression, and therapeutic interventions. We discuss the epidemiological and molecular evidence supporting sex differences in colon cancer, followed by an exploration of the impact of oestrogen in CRC through various genomic and nongenomic signalling pathways involving membrane and nuclear oestrogen receptors. Furthermore, we examine the interplay between oestrogen receptors and other signalling pathways, in particular the Wnt/β-catenin proliferative pathway and hypoxia in shaping biological sex differences and oestrogen protective actions in colon cancer. Lastly, we highlight the potential therapeutic implications of targeting oestrogen signalling in the management of colon cancer and propose future research directions to address the current gaps in our understanding of this complex phenomenon.

Somatic Copy Number Alterations in Colorectal Cancer Lead to a Differentially Expressed ceRNA Network (ceRNet)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second deadliest malignancy worldwide. Around 75% of CRC patients exhibit high levels of chromosome instability that result in the accumulation of somatic copy number alterations. These alterations are associated with the amplification of oncogenes and deletion of tumor-ppressor genes and contribute to the tumoral phenotype in different malignancies. Even though this relationship is well known, much remains to be investigated regarding the effect of said alterations in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and, in turn, the impact these alterations have on the tumor phenotype. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of differentially expressed lncRNAs coded in regions with copy number alterations in colorectal cancer patient samples. We downloaded RNA-seq files of the Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Project from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository (285 sequenced tumor tissues and 41 non-tumor tissues), evaluated differential expression, and mapped them over genome sequencing data with regions presenting copy number alterations. We obtained 78 differentially expressed (LFC > 1|< -1, padj < 0.05) lncRNAs, 410 miRNAs, and 5028 mRNAs and constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, predicting significant lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Said network consisted of 30 lncRNAs, 19 miRNAs, and 77 mRNAs. To understand the role that our ceRNA network played, we performed KEGG and GO analysis and found several oncogenic and anti-oncogenic processes enriched by the molecular players in our network. Finally, to evaluate the clinical relevance of the lncRNA expression, we performed survival analysis and found that C5orf64, HOTAIR, and RRN3P3 correlated with overall patient survival. Our results showed that lncRNAs coded in regions affected by SCNAs form a complex gene regulatory network in CCR.

Estrogen plays an important role by influencing the NLRP3 inflammasome

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important part of the natural immune system that plays an important role in many diseases. Estrogen is a sex hormone that plays an important role in controlling reproduction and regulates many physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have indicated that estrogen is associated with disease progression. Estrogen can ameliorate some diseases (e. g, sepsis, mood disturbances, cerebral ischemia, some hepatopathy, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, osteoarthritis, and renal fibrosis) by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. Estrogen can also promote the development of diseases (e.g., ovarian endometriosis, dry eye disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus) by upregulating the NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, estrogen has a dual effect on the development of cancers and asthma. However, the mechanism of these effects is not summarized. This article reviewed the progress in understanding the effects of estrogen on the NLRP3 inflammasome and its mechanisms in recent years to provide a theoretical basis for an in-depth study.

NOD-like Receptor Signaling Pathway in Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers

Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are intracellular proteins with a central role in innate and adaptive immunity. As a member of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), NLRs sense specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns, trigger numerous signaling pathways and lead to the secretion of various cytokines. In recent years, cumulative studies have revealed the significant impacts of NLRs in gastrointestinal (GI) inflammatory diseases and cancers. Deciphering the role and molecular mechanism of the NLR signaling pathways may provide new opportunities for the development of therapeutic strategies related to GI inflammatory diseases and GI cancers. This review presents the structures and signaling pathways of NLRs, summarizes the recent advances regarding NLR signaling in GI inflammatory diseases and GI cancers and describes comprehensive therapeutic strategies based on this signaling pathway.

Activation of the NLRP3/IL-1β/MMP-9 pathway and intracranial aneurysm rupture associated with the depletion of ERα and Sirt1 in oophorectomized rats

OBJECTIVE

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture is often a devastating event. Since the incidence of SAH increases especially in menopause, it is crucial to clarify the detailed pathogenesis of these events. The activation of vascular nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes has been studied in ischemic stroke and cardiovascular disease. However, the role of NLRP3 in IA rupture still needs to be explained. The authors sought to test their hypothesis that, under estrogen-deficient conditions, activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes via downregulation of the estrogen receptor (ER) facilitates IA rupture.

METHODS

Ten-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats with and without oophorectomy were subjected to hemodynamic changes and hypertension (OVX+/HT and OVX-/HT, respectively) and fed a high-salt diet. Separately, using human brain endothelial cells (HBECs) and human brain smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs), the authors tested the effect of NLRP3 under estrogen-free conditions and in the presence of estradiol or of ER agonists.

RESULTS

In OVX+/HT rats, the frequency of IA rupture was significantly higher than in OVX-/HT rats (p = 0.03). In the left posterior cerebral artery prone to rupture in OVX+/HT rats, the levels of the mRNAs encoding ERα and Sirt1, but not of that encoding ERβ, were decreased, and the levels of the mRNAs encoding NLRP3, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were elevated. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the expression profiles of these proteins correlated with their mRNA levels. Treatment with an ER modulator, bazedoxifene, normalized the expression profiles of these proteins and improved SAH-free survival. In HBECs and HBSMCs under estrogen-free conditions, the depletion of ERα and Sirt1 and the accumulation of NLRP3 were counteracted by exposure to estradiol or to an ERα agonist but not to an ERβ agonist.

CONCLUSIONS

To the authors' knowledge, this work represents the first demonstration that, in an aneurysm model under estrogen-deficient conditions, the depletion of ERα and Sirt1 may contribute to activation of the NLRP3/IL-1β/MMP-9 pathway, facilitating the rupture of IAs in the estrogen-deficient rat IA rupture model.

Profiling estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors in colorectal cancer in relation to gender, menopausal status, clinical stage, and tumour sidedness

Background

Although estrogen (ERα/ERβ), progesterone (PGR), and androgen (AR) receptors are pathologically altered in colorectal cancer (CRC), their simultaneous expression within the same cohort of patients was not previously measured.

Methods

ERα/ERβ/PGR/AR proteins were measured in archived paired normal and malignant colon specimens (n =120 patients) by immunohistochemistry, and results were analyzed by gender, age (≤50 vs. ≥60 years), clinical stages (early-stage I/II vs. late-stage III/IV), and anatomical location (right; RSCs vs. left; LSCs). Effects of 17β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone alone or combined with the specific blockers of ERα (MPP dihydrochloride), ERβ (PHTPP), PGR (mifepristone), and AR (bicalutamide) on cell cycle and apoptosis were also measured in the SW480 male and HT29 female CRC cell lines.

Results

ERα and AR proteins increased, whilst ERβ and PGR declined markedly in malignant specimens. Moreover, male neoplastic tissues showed highest AR expression, whilst ERβ and PGR weakest alongside ERα strongest expression was seen in cancerous tissues from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage neoplasms also revealed maximal alterations in the expression of sex steroid receptors. By tumor location, LSCs disclosed significant elevations in ERα with marked declines in PGR compared with RSCs, and ERα strongest alongside PGR weakest expression was detected in advanced LSCs from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage LSCs from females aged ≥60 years also showed weakest ERβ and strongest AR expression. In contrast, male RSC and LSC tissues exhibited equal ERβ and AR expression in all clinical stages. ERα and AR proteins also correlated positively, whereas ERβ and PGR inversely, with tumor characteristics. Concomitantly, E2 and P4 monotherapies triggered cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the SW480 and HT29 cells, and while pre-treatment with ERα-blocker enhanced the effects of E2, ERβ-blocker and PGR-blocker suppressed the E2 and P4 anti-cancer actions, respectively. In contrast, treatment with the AR-blocker induced apoptosis, whilst co-treatment with testosterone hindered the effects.

Conclusions

This study advocates that protein expression of sex steroid receptors in malignant tissues could represent prognostic markers, as well as hormonal therapy could provide an alternative strategy against CRC, and their efficacies could be dependent on gender, clinical stage, and tumor location.

KCNJ14 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of colorectal cells

Background

This study attempted to verify the potential of KCNJ14 as a biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Data on transcriptomics and DNA methylation and the clinical information of CRC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Biological information analysis methods were conducted to determine the role of KCNJ14 in the prognosis, diagnosis, immune cell infiltration, and regulation mechanism of CRC patients. The effect of KCNJ14 on the proliferation and migration of HCT116 and SW480 CRC cell lines was verified by in vitro experiments (MTT, colony-forming, wound healing, and transwell assays). Western blotting was performed to detect the effect of KCNJ14 on the levels of mTOR signalling pathway-related proteins.

Results

KCNJ14 expression was remarkably increased in CRC tissues and cell lines, which reduced the overall survival time of patients. KCNJ14 mRNA was negatively regulated by its methylation site cg17660703, which can also endanger the prognosis of patients with CRC. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that KCNJ14 is involved in the mTOR, NOD-like receptor, and VEGF signalling pathways. KCNJ14 expression was positively correlated with the number of CD4 + T cells and negatively correlated with that of CD8 + T cells in the immune microenvironment. KCNJ14 knockdown significantly reduced not only the proliferation and migration of CRC cell lines but also the levels of mTOR signalling pathway-related proteins.

Conclusions

This study not only increases the molecular understanding of KCNJ14 but also provides a potentially valuable biological target for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Isobavachalcone's Alleviation of Pyroptosis Contributes to Enhanced Apoptosis in Glioblastoma: Possible Involvement of NLRP3

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant intracranial tumor with high mortality rates and invariably poor prognosis due to its limited clinical treatments. There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic drugs for GBM treatment. As a natural prenylated chalcone compound, Isobavachalcone (IBC)'s favorable pharmacological activities have been widely revealed. However, potential inhibitory effects of IBC on GBM have not been explored. In the present study, we aimed to detect the effects of IBC on GBM and clarify its anti-GBM mechanisms for the first time. It was observed that IBC could inhibit GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and prevent tumor growth without any significant drug toxicity in both subcutaneous and orthotopic GBM xenograft tumor models in vivo. Mechanistically, IBC may target NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) transcription factor estrogen receptor α (ESR1 gene) by network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Experimentally, IBC alleviated NLRP3 inflammasome-related pyroptosis and inflammation, arrested cell cycle at G1 phase, and induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in GBM cells. IBC's inhibition on NLRP3 could be rescued by the NLRP3 antagonist CY-09 both in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that IBC is a potential therapeutic drug against GBM and provide a new insight into GBM treatment.

Identification of a Genomic Instability-Related Long Noncoding RNA Prognostic Model in Colorectal Cancer Based on Bioinformatic Analysis

Background. In recent years, a growing body of research has revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in regulating genomic instability. Materials and Methods. We obtained RNA expression profiles, somatic mutation profiles, clinical information, and pathological features of colorectal cancer (CRC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We divided the cohort into two groups based on mutation frequency and identified genomic instability-related lncRNAs (GI-lncRNAs) using R software. We further analyzed the function of identified GI-lncRNAs and established a prognostic model through Cox regression. Using the established prognostic model, we divided the cohort into the high- and low-risk groups and further verified the prognostic differences between the two groups as well as the predictive power of prognosis-related lncRNAs in the genomic instability of CRC. Results. We identified a total of 143 GI-lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between the higher mutation frequency group and the lower mutation frequency group. According to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and Gene Ontology analyses, a series of cancer-associated terms were enriched. We further constructed a prognostic model that included five GI-lncRNAs (lncRNA PTPRD-AS1, lncRNA AC009237.14, lncRNA LINC00543, lncRNA AP003555.1, and lncRNA AL109615.3). We confirmed that the expression of the five GI-lncRNAs was associated with prognosis and the mutation of critical genes in the CRC patient cohort. Conclusions. The present research further confirmed the vital function of GI-lncRNAs in the genomic instability of CRC. The five GI-lncRNAs identified in our study are potential biomarkers and need to be studied in more depth.

Downstream Signaling of Inflammasome Pathway Affects Patients' Outcome in the Context of Distinct Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes

Inflammasomes are protein complexes involved in the regulation of different biological conditions. Over the past few years, the role of NLRP3 in different tumor types has gained interest. In breast cancer (BC), NLRP3 has been associated with multiple processes including epithelia mesenchymal transition, invasion and metastization. Little is known about molecular modifications of NLRP3 up-regulation. In this study, in a cohort of BCs, the expression levels of NLRP3 and PYCARD were analyzed in combination with CyclinD1 and MYC ones and their gene alterations. We described a correlation between the NLRP3/PYCARD axis and CyclinD1 (p < 0.0001). NLRP3, PYCARD and CyclinD1’s positive expression was observed in estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) positive cases (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a reduction of NLRP3 and PYCARD expression has been observed in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) with respect to the Luminal phenotypes (p = 0.017 and p = 0.0015, respectively). The association NLRP3+/CCND1+ or PYCARD+/CCND1+ was related to more aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and a worse clinical outcome, both for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with respect to NLRP3+/CCND1− or PYCARD+/CCND1− patients, both in the whole cohort and also in the subset of Luminal tumors. In conclusion, our study shows that the NLRP3 inflammasome complex is down-regulated in TNBC compared to the Luminal subgroup. Moreover, the expression levels of NLRP3 and PYCARD together with the alterations of CCND1 results in Luminal subtype BC’ss poor prognosis.

Endometriosis-Associated Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenic Therapy for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a known estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease affecting reproductive-aged women. Common symptoms include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility. The exact etiology of endometriosis is largely unknown, and, thus, the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis are challenging. A complex interplay of many molecular mechanisms is thought to aid in the progression of endometriosis, most notably angiogenesis. This mini-review examines our current knowledge of the molecular etiology of endometriosis-associated angiogenesis and discusses anti-angiogenic therapy, in the blockade of endometriosis-associated angiogenesis, as potential non-hormonal therapy for the treatment of endometriosis.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 facilitates the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) is involved in the development of multiple tumors, including lung cancer. However, the exact mechanism by which LRP8 exerts its oncogenic role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains elusive. Hence, in this study, we aimed to unravel the expression and role of LRP8 in the progression of NSCLC. We used online bioinformatics databases to identify the expression of LRP8 in multiple types of lung cancer. We validated LRP8 expression in NSCLC cell lines and tissues by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The functions of LRP8 in NSCLC carcinogenesis and progression were determined using in vitro and in vivo systems. The Wnt pathway activator LiCl was further used to validate the regulatory role of LRP8 in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We demonstrated that LRP8 was markedly overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and its overexpression significantly correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Moreover, LRP8 depletion suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LPR8 knockdown elicited tumor-suppressive functions by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which was partially reversed by LiCl. Hence, our study revealed that LRP8 facilitates NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and thus LRP8 could be a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.

M2PP: a novel computational model for predicting drug-targeted pathogenic proteins

BACKGROUND

Detecting pathogenic proteins is the origin way to understand the mechanism and resist the invasion of diseases, making pathogenic protein prediction develop into an urgent problem to be solved. Prediction for genome-wide proteins may be not necessarily conducive to rapidly cure diseases as developing new drugs specifically for the predicted pathogenic protein always need major expenditures on time and cost. In order to facilitate disease treatment, computational method to predict pathogenic proteins which are targeted by existing drugs should be exploited.

RESULTS

In this study, we proposed a novel computational model to predict drug-targeted pathogenic proteins, named as M2PP. Three types of features were presented on our constructed heterogeneous network (including target proteins, diseases and drugs), which were based on the neighborhood similarity information, drug-inferred information and path information. Then, a random forest regression model was trained to score unconfirmed target-disease pairs. Five-fold cross-validation experiment was implemented to evaluate model's prediction performance, where M2PP achieved advantageous results compared with other state-of-the-art methods. In addition, M2PP accurately predicted high ranked pathogenic proteins for common diseases with public biomedical literature as supporting evidence, indicating its excellent ability.

CONCLUSIONS

M2PP is an effective and accurate model to predict drug-targeted pathogenic proteins, which could provide convenience for the future biological researches.

Enhanced anti-cancer effects of oestrogen and progesterone co-therapy against colorectal cancer in males

Although ovarian sex steroids could have protective roles against colorectal cancer (CRC) in women, little is currently known about their potential anti-tumorigenic effects in men. Hence, this study measured the therapeutic effects of 17β-oestradiol (E2) and/or progesterone (P4) against azoxymethane-induced CRC in male mice that were divided into (n = 10 mice/group): negative (NC) and positive (PC) controls, E2 (580 µg/Kg/day; five times/week) and P4 (2.9 mg/Kg/day; five times/week) monotherapies, and concurrent (EP) and sequential (E/P) co-therapy groups. Both hormones were injected intraperitoneally to the designated groups for four consecutive weeks. Similar treatment protocols with E2 (10 nM) and/or P4 (20 nM) were also used in the SW480 and SW620 human male CRC cell lines. The PC group showed abundant colonic tumours alongside increased colonic tissue testosterone levels and androgen (AR) and oestrogen (ERα) receptors, whereas E2 and P4 levels with ERβ and progesterone receptor (PGR) decreased significantly compared with the NC group. E2 and P4 monotherapies equally increased ERβ/PGR with p21/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3, reduced testosterone levels, inhibited ERα/AR and CCND1/survivin and promoted apoptosis relative to the PC group. Both co-therapy protocols also revealed better anti-cancer effects with enhanced modulation of colonic sex steroid hormones and their receptors, with E/P the most prominent protocol. In vitro, E/P regimen showed the highest increases in the numbers of SW480 (2.1-fold) and SW620 (3.5-fold) cells in Sub-G1 phase of cell cycle. The E/P co-therapy also disclosed the lowest percentages of viable SW480 cells (2.8-fold), whilst both co-therapy protocols equally showed the greatest SW620 apoptotic cell numbers (5.2-fold) relative to untreated cells. Moreover, both co-therapy regimens revealed maximal inhibitions of cell cycle inducers, cell survival markers, and AR/ERα alongside the highest expression of cell cycle suppressors, pro-apoptotic molecules, and ERβ/PGR in both cell lines. In conclusion, CRC was associated with abnormal levels of colonic sex steroid hormones alongside aberrant protein expression of their receptors. While the anti-cancer effects of E2 and P4 monotherapies were equal, their combination protocols showed boosted tumoricidal actions against CRC in males, possibly by promoting ERβ and PGR-mediated androgen deprivation together with inhibition of ERα-regulated oncogenic pathways.

Inhibition of estrogen signaling in myeloid cells increases tumor immunity in melanoma

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have significantly prolonged patient survival across multiple tumor types, particularly in melanoma. Interestingly, sex-specific differences in response to ICB have been observed, with males receiving a greater benefit from ICB than females, although the mechanism or mechanisms underlying this difference are unknown. Mining published transcriptomic data sets, we determined that the response to ICBs is influenced by the functionality of intratumoral macrophages. This puts into context our observation that estrogens (E2) working through the estrogen receptor α (ERα) stimulated melanoma growth in murine models by skewing macrophage polarization toward an immune-suppressive state that promoted CD8+ T cell dysfunction and exhaustion and ICB resistance. This activity was not evident in mice harboring macrophage-specific depletion of ERα, confirming a direct role for estrogen signaling within myeloid cells in establishing an immunosuppressed state. Inhibition of ERα using fulvestrant, a selective estrogen receptor downregulator (SERD), decreased tumor growth, stimulated adaptive immunity, and increased the antitumor efficacy of ICBs. Further, a gene signature that determines ER activity in macrophages predicted survival in patients with melanoma treated with ICB. These results highlight the importance of E2/ER signaling as a regulator of intratumoral macrophage polarization, an activity that can be therapeutically targeted to reverse immune suppression and increase ICB efficacy.

Microarray profile analysis identifies ETS1 as potential biomarker regulated by miR-23b and modulates TCF4 in gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC), a common malignancy of the human digestive system, represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early detection of GC has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify potential GC biomarkers.

Methods

In this study, we conducted a multi-step analysis of expression profiles in GC clinical samples downloaded from TCGA database to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs). Potential prognostic biomarkers from the available DEMs were then established using the Cox regression method. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to investigate the biological role of the predicted target genes of the miRNA biomarkers. Then, the prognostic DEM-mediated regulatory network was constructed based on transcription factor (TF)–miRNA–target interaction. Subsequently, the consensus genes were further determined based on the overlap between DEGs and these target genes of DEMs. Besides, expression profile, co-expression analysis, immunity, and prognostic values of these prognostic genes were also investigated to further explore the roles in the mechanism of GC tumorigenesis.

Results

We got five miRNAs, including miR-23b, miR-100, miR-143, miR-145, and miR-409, which are associated with the overall survival of GC patients. Subsequently, enrichment analysis of the target genes of the miRNA biomarkers shown that the GO biological process terms were mainly enriched in mRNA catabolic process, nuclear chromatin, and RNA binding. In addition, the KEGG pathways were significantly enriched in fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction, and proteoglycans in cancer pathways. The transcriptional regulatory network consisting of 68 TFs, 4 DEMs, and 58 targets was constructed based on the interaction of TFs, miRNAs, and targets. The downstream gene ETS1 of miR-23b and TCF4 regulated by ETS1 were obtained by the regulatory network construction and co-expression analysis. High expression of ETS1 and TCF4 indicated poor prognosis in GC patients, particularly in the advanced stages. The expression of ETS1 and TCF4 was correlated with CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and B cells.

Conclusions

miR-23b, ETS1, and TCF4 were identified as the prognostic biomarkers. ETS1 and TCF4 had potential immune function in GC, which provided a theoretical basis for molecular-targeted combined immunotherapy in the future.

Downregulation of circular RNA circ-HN1 suppressed the progression of gastric cancer through the miR-485-5p/GSK3A pathway

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignancy with high incidence and mortality globally. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are reported to regulate cellular processes in human diseases, including GC. Herein, the functions of circ-HN1 and its molecular mechanisms were investigated. circ-HN1, miR-485-5p, and GSK3A levels in GC were measured using Real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation was analyzed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays. Meanwhile, the migration and invasion abilities were analyzed using the transwell assay. The targeted relationship was confirmed using a luciferase reporter assay and an RNA pull-down assay. In both GC tissues and cells, circ-HN1 expression was upregulated, and its silencing suppressed cellular processes. Moreover, circ-HN1 served as a sponge of miR-485-5p, which was reduced in patients with GC and negatively regulated by circ-HN1 in GC cells. Inhibition of miR-485-4p abolished the biological functions induced by the silencing of circ-HN1. Additionally, miR-485-5p targeted GSK3A in GC, whose expression was elevated in tumor tissues and was negatively correlated with miR-485-5p in tumor cells. GSK3A rescued the inhibition of miR-485-5p in the cellular processes. In conclusion, silencing of the circ-HN1–miR-485-5p–GSK3A regulatory network inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, suggesting that circ-HN1 is a potential target for GC therapy.

Pan-Cancer Prognostic Role and Targeting Potential of the Estrogen-Progesterone Axis

Introduction

Estrogen receptors (ESRs) and progesterone receptors (PGRs) are associated with the development and progression of various tumors. The feasibility of ESRs and PGRs as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for multiple cancers was evaluated via pan-cancer analysis.

Methods

The pan-cancer mRNA expression levels, genetic variations, and prognostic values of ESR1, ESR2, and PGR were analyzed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) and cBioPortal. The expression levels of ERa, ERb, and PGR proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining using paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OV) and uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma (UTEA). Correlation between immunomodulators and immune cells was determined based on the Tumor and Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB).

Results

ESR1, ESR2, and PGR mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in different cancer types, and were associated with tumor progression and clinical prognosis. ERa, ERb, and PGR proteins were further determined to be significantly differentially expressed in OV and UTEA via immunohistochemical staining. The expression of ERa protein was positively correlated with a high tumor stage, whereas the expression of PGR protein was conversely associated with a high tumor stage in patients with OV. In patients with UTEA, the expression levels of both ERa and PGR proteins were conversely associated with tumor grade and stage. In addition, the expression levels of ESR1, ESR2, and PGR mRNAs were significantly associated with the expression of immunomodulators and immune cells.

Conclusion

ESR1, ESR2, and PGR are potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets, as well as important factors for the prediction, evaluation, and individualized treatment in several cancer types.

High Expression of MTA1 Predicts Unfavorable Survival in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) plays a role in ATP-dependent nucleosome disruption activity and histone deacetylase activity and may indicate DNA methylation activity. MTA1 may also be involved in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

MTA1 immunoreactivity was analyzed using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining analysis in specimens from 281 OSCC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the prognostic value of MTA1 for overall survival.

RESULTS

High MTA1 expression was significantly associated with female gender and lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analyses showed the independent prognostic role of high MTA1 expression in patients with OSCC of poorer mean survival.

CONCLUSION

MTA1 expression, detected by IHC staining, could be an independent prognostic marker for patients of OSCC.

Estrogen/ER in anti-tumor immunity regulation to tumor cell and tumor microenvironment

As the essential sexual hormone, estrogen and its receptor has been proved to participate in the regulation of autoimmunity diseases and anti-tumor immunity. The adjustment of tumor immunity is related to the interaction between cancer cells, immune cells and tumor microenvironment, all of which is considered as the potential target in estrogen-induced immune system regulation. However, the specific mechanism of estrogen-induced immunity is poorly understood. Typically, estrogen causes the nuclear localization of estrogen/estrogen receptor complex and alternates the transcription pattern of target genes, leading to the reprogramming of tumor cells and differentiation of immune cells. However, the estrogen-induced non-canonical signal pathway activation is also crucial to the rapid function of estrogen, such as NF-κB, MAPK-ERK, and β-catenin pathway activation, which has not been totally illuminated. So, the investigation of estrogen modulatory mechanisms in these two manners is vital for the tumor immunity and can provide the potential for endocrine hormone targeted cancer immunotherapy. Here, this review summarized the estrogen-induced canonical and non-canonical signal transduction pathway and aimed to focus on the relationship among estrogen and cancer immunity as well as immune-related tumor microenvironment regulation. Results from these preclinical researches elucidated that the estrogen-target therapy has the application prospect of cancer immunotherapy, which requires the further translational research of these treatment strategies.

Saikosaponin-d protects against liver fibrosis by regulating Estrogen receptor-β/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Liver fibrosis is the ultimate common pathway in most types of chronic liver damage characterized by imbalance of extracellular matrix degradation and synthesis. Saikosaponin-d (SSd) possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-liver fibrosis effects. However, the underlying mechanism of SSd in repressing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation remains unclear. Here we found that SSd alleviated remarkably carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis, as evidenced by decreased collagen level and profibrotic markers (COl1a1 and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)) expression. SSd repressed CCl4-induced NOD-like receptor family pyrin-domain-containng-3 (NLRP3) activation in fibrotic livers, as suggested by decreased level of NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-β. The primary HSCs of CCl4 mice exhibited a significant increase in profibrotic markers expression and NLRP3 activation, but SSd treatment reversed the effect. SSd also repressed TGF-β-induced profibrotic markers expression and NLRP3 activation in vitro. Mechanistically, TGF-β decreased the expression of Estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) in HSCs, whereas SSd treatment reversed the effect. ERβ inhibition enhanced NLRP3 activation in HSCs. More important, ERβ or NLRP3 inhibition destroyed partially the function of SSd on anti-liver fibrosis. In summary, the current data suggest that SSd prevents hepatic fibrosis through regulating ERβ/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, and suggest SSd as a potential agent for treating liver fibrosis.

Colorectal Cancer-Associated Smad4 R361 Hotspot Mutations Boost Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling through Enhanced Smad4-LEF1 Binding

About 10% to 30% of patients with colorectal cancer harbor either loss of or missense mutations in SMAD4, a critical component of the TGFβ signaling pathway. The pathophysiologic function of missense mutations in Smad4 is not fully understood. They usually map to the MH2 domain, specifically to residues that are involved in heterodimeric complex formation with regulatory Smads (such as Smad2/3) and ensuing transcriptional activation. These detrimental effects suggest that SMAD4 missense mutations can be categorized as loss-of-function. However, they tend to cluster in a few hotspots, which is more consistent with them acting by a gain-of-function mechanism. In this study, we investigated the functional role of Smad4 R361 mutants by re-expressing two R361 Smad4 variants in several Smad4-null colorectal cancer cell lines. As predicted, R361 mutations disrupted Smad2/3-Smad4 heteromeric complex formation and abolished canonical TGFβ signaling. In that, they were similar to SMAD4 loss. However, RNA sequencing and subsequent RT-PCR assays revealed that Smad4mut cells acquired a gene signature associated with enhanced Lef1 protein function and increased Wnt signaling. Mechanistically, Smad4 mutant proteins retained binding to Lef1 protein and drove a commensurate increase in downstream Wnt signaling as measured by TOP/FOP luciferase assay and Wnt-dependent cell motility. Consistent with these findings, human colorectal cancers with SMAD4 missense mutations were less likely to acquire activating mutations in the key Wnt pathway gene CTNNB1 (encoding β-catenin) than colorectal cancers with truncating SMAD4 nonsense mutations. IMPLICATIONS: Our studies suggest that in colorectal cancer hotspot mutations in Smad4 confer enhanced Wnt signaling and possibly heightened sensitivity to Wnt pathway inhibitors. VISUAL OVERVIEW: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/19/5/823/F1.large.jpg.

Expression of miR-18a-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-663b in colorectal cancer and their association with cholesterol homeostasis

OBJECTIVE

Though cholesterol accumulation is an established hallmark of a tumor cell, the relationship between the two is still not clear. Previously, we identified 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase (HMGCR), Sterol Regulatory Element BindingTranscription Factor 2 (SREBF2), Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1 Group H Member 3 (NR1H3), and Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1 Group H Member 2 (NR1H2) as the key cholesterol homeostasis genes involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we aimed to identify microRNAs regulating these key genes in CRC.

METHODS

miR-18a-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-663b were selected as the miRNAs targeting NR1H2, HMGCR, and SREBF2, respectively, based on the bioinformatic prediction tools and literature review. Their expression was evaluated in the local and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves and Kaplan Meier analysis were performed to elucidate their diagnostic and prognostic potential. Pearson or Spearman's correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between miRNAs and their target genes. Protein-protein interaction networks and Gene Ontology analyses were performed to investigate the potential molecular mechanism of these miRNAs.

RESULTS

Deregulated expression of miR-18a-5p, miR-144-3p, and miR-663b was associated with various clinicopathological features. miR-18a-5p exhibited an inverse correlation with NR1H2. miR-18a-5p and miR-144-3p also had a significant direct correlation with miR-33a-5p, an important modulator of cholesterol homeostasis. These miRNAs also exhibited high centrality in the mirna-protein interaction network. miR-144-3p and miR-663b exhibited the potential to be used as diagnostic biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-18a-5p and miR-144-3p exhibited the potential to modulate cholesterol homeostasis in CRC. miR-663b is an interesting candidate in CRC pathophysiology.

Identification and development of a novel invasion-related gene signature for prognosis prediction in colon adenocarcinoma

The overall survival of metastatic colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains poor, so it is important to explore the mechanisms of metastasis and invasion. This study aimed to identify invasion-related genetic markers for prognosis prediction in patients with COAD. Three molecular subtypes (C1, C2, and C3) were obtained based on 97 metastasis-related genes in 365 COAD samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A total of 983 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the different subtypes by using the limma package. A 6-gene signature (ITLN1, HOXD9, TSPAN11, GPRC5B, TIMP1, and CXCL13) was constructed via Lasso-Cox analysis. The signature showed strong robustness and could be used in the training, testing, and external validation (GSE17537) cohorts with stable predictive efficiency. Compared with other published signatures, our model showed better performance in predicting outcomes. Pan-cancer expression analysis results showed that ITLN1, TSPAN11, CXCL13, and GPRC5B were downregulated and TIMP1 was upregulated in most tumor samples, including COAD, which was consistent with the results of the TCGA and GEO cohorts. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed to validate protein expression. Tumor immune infiltration analysis results showed that TSPAN11, GPRC5B, TIMP1, and CXCL13 protein levels were significantly positively correlated with CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Further, the TIMP1 and CXCL13 proteins were significantly related to the tumor immune infiltration of CD8+ T cells. We recommend using our signature as a molecular prognostic classifier to assess the prognostic risk of patients with COAD.

Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome: Insights Into Cancer Hallmarks

In response to a variety of stresses, mammalian cells activate the inflammasome for targeted caspase-dependent pyroptosis. The research community has recently begun to deduce that the activation of inflammasome is instigated by several known oncogenic stresses and metabolic perturbations; nevertheless, the role of inflammasomes in the context of cancer biology is less understood. In manipulating the expression of inflammasome, researchers have found that NLRP3 serves as a deterministic player in conducting tumor fate decisions. Understanding the mechanistic underpinning of pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic pathways might elucidate novel therapeutic onco-targets, thereby providing new opportunities to manipulate inflammasome in augmenting the anti-tumorigenic activity to prevent tumor expansion and achieve metastatic control. Accordingly, this review aims to decode the complexity of NLRP3, whereby summarizing and clustering findings into cancer hallmarks and tissue contexts may expedite consensus and underscore the potential of the inflammasome in drug translation.

Soy isoflavones ameliorate experimental colitis by targeting ERα/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways

Soy isoflavones (SIFs) are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that have anti-inflammatory activities. Our previous study found that estrogen receptor α (ERα) directly regulates the NLRP3 transcription and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Therefore, we hypothesized that SIFs alleviate colitis via an ERα-dependent mechanism by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. The influence of SIFs on colitis and the potential mechanisms were thoroughly determined in this study. The results suggested that SIFs ameliorated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced body weight loss, reduced disease activity index and promoted the recovery of colon pathological damage in mice. Moreover, expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome was significantly inhibited, and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 was suppressed by SIFs. Furthermore, ERα blockade ameliorated DSS-induced inflammatory responses in the intestine, and SIFs markedly suppressed the expression of ERα in a dose-dependent manner. Our study demonstrated that the protective therapeutic action of SIFs on DSS-induced colitis depended on inhibition of ERα and subsequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and SIFs are promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of colitis.

Emerging Roles of Wnt Ligands in Human Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and constitutive activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is universal in most CRC cases. Wnt ligands (Wnts) are secreted glycoproteins and fundamentally essential for the transduction of Wnt signaling pathway. However, the 19 members of Wnts in humans imply a daunting complexity of Wnt signaling and biological effects, and our understanding of their roles in CRC tumorigenesis is still quite rudimentary. This review will give an overview of the structural characteristics and maturation process of Wnts. The expression pattern of all human Wnts in CRC tissues, including Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt2b, Wnt3, Wnt3a, Wnt4, Wnt5a, Wnt5b, Wnt6, Wnt7a, Wnt7b, Wnt8a, Wnt8b, Wnt9a, Wnt9b, Wnt10a, Wnt10b, Wnt11, and Wnt16, and their relationship with the tumorigenesis and the progression of CRC will be specifically summarized separately. Despite certain challenges, Wnt-based therapeutics for CRC emerge continuously and some are now in clinical trials. In conclusion, a deep understanding of Wnts is very helpful for a better management of this disease.

Huaier extract suppresses non-small cell lung cancer progression through activating NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis

Recent studies have reported the anticancer activity of huaier extract in various human malignancies. However, little is known about the effect of huaier extract in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its underlying mechanism. The current study aimed to investigate whether huaier extract affects the progression of NSCLC. mRNA and proteins expression of pyroptotic-related genes (NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) in NSCLC tissues and cells were, respectively, detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The effects of huaier extract on NSCLC cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and LDH detection kit. Besides, we established a xenograft model to assess the antitumor effect of huaier extract on tumor growth in vivo. Our results showed that the expression of pyroptotic-related genes was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Huaier extract pretreatment inhibited cell viability and the percentage of colony formation of H520 and H358 cells, and upregulated the expression of pyroptotic-related genes. Mechanistically, huaier extract exhibited antitumor effect in NSCLC via inducing NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our finding confirmed that huaier extract played an antitumor role in NSCLC progression through promoting pyroptotic cell death, which provided a new potential strategy for NSCLC clinical treatment.