Short interfering RNA targeting Net1 reduces the angiogenesis and tumor growth of in vivo cervical squamous cell carcinoma through VEGF down-regulation

AAV-Net1 facilitates the trans-differentiation of supporting cells into hair cells in the murine cochlea

Mechanosensitive hair cells (HCs) in the cochlear sensory epithelium are critical for sound detection and transduction. Mammalian HCs in the cochlea undergo cytogenesis during embryonic development, and irreversible damage to hair cells postnatally is a major cause of deafness. During the development of the organ of Corti, HCs and supporting cells (SCs) originate from the same precursors. In the neonatal cochlea, damage to HCs activates adjacent SCs to act as HC precursors and to differentiate into new HCs. However, the plasticity of SCs to produce new HCs is gradually lost with cochlear development. Here, we delineate an essential role for the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Net1 in SC trans-differentiation into HCs. Net1 overexpression mediated by AAV-ie in SCs promoted cochlear organoid formation and HC differentiation under two and three-dimensional culture conditions. Also, AAV-Net1 enhanced SC proliferation in Lgr5-EGFPCreERT2 mice and HC generation as indicated by lineage tracing of HCs in the cochleae of Lgr5-EGFPCreERT2/Rosa26-tdTomatoloxp/loxp mice. We further found that the up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin and Notch signaling in AAV-Net1-transduced cochleae might be responsible for the SC proliferation and HC differentiation. Also, Net1 overexpression in SCs enhanced SC proliferation and HC regeneration and survival after HC damage by neomycin. Taken together, our study suggests that Net1 might serve as a potential target for HC regeneration and that AAV-mediated gene regulation may be a promising approach in stem cell-based therapy in hearing restoration.

Gene Therapy for Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disorders: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Success Story

Simple Summary

This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders, highlighting the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach. It specifically focuses on the gene therapy strategies against major gynaecological malignant disorders, such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer, as well as benign disorders, such as uterine leiomyomas, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders. The above therapeutic strategies, which employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation approaches, have yielded promising results over the last decade, setting the grounds for successful clinical trials.

Abstract

Despite the major advances in screening and therapeutic approaches, gynaecological malignancies still present as a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Cervical cancer, although largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening, remains the fourth most common and most lethal cancer type in women, while the available treatment schemes still pose a fertility threat. Ovarian cancer is associated with high morbidity rates, primarily due to lack of symptoms and high relapse rates following treatment, whereas endometrial cancer, although usually curable by surgery, it still represents a therapeutic problem. On the other hand, benign abnormalities, such as fibroids, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders, although not life-threatening, significantly affect women’s life and fertility and have high socio-economic impacts. In the last decade, targeted gene therapy approaches toward both malignant and benign gynaecological abnormalities have led to promising results, setting the ground for successful clinical trials. The above therapeutic strategies employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation. This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders and highlights the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach.

Vaginal drug delivery approaches for localized management of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) remain a major public health problem among women globally. Traditional methods such as surgery are often associated with possible complications which may impact future pregnancies and childbirth especially for young female patients. Vagina with a high contact surface is a suitable route for the local and systemic delivery of drugs but its abundant mucus in continuous exchange presents a barrier for the popularization of conventional vaginal formulations including suppositories, gel, patch, creams and so on. So the development of new pharmaceutical forms based on nanotechnology became appealing owing to its several advantages such as mucosa penetration, bioadhesion, controlled drug release, and decreased adverse effects. This review provided an overview of the development of topical treatment of cervical cancer or CIN through vaginal drug delivery ranging from conventional vaginal formulations to new nanocarriers to the newly developed phototherapy and gene therapy, analyzing the problems faced by current methods used, and advising the developing trend in future. The methods of establishing preclinical animal model are also discussed.

Propofol suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting NET1 through downregulating ERK/VEGF signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of tumor death in China with high mortality since its strong metastatic potential. Currently, treatment against advanced HCC is poorly efficient and thus screening new drugs to prevent the HCC invasion is of great significance to improve the survival rate of patients with HCC. From the results of this study, we concluded that propofol, a widely used anesthetics could prevent the proliferation by MTT assay. The scratch wound and invasion assays showed that migratory property and invasiveness in HCC cells SMMC-7721 was inhibited by propofol. This process was probably mediated by NET1 since NET1 overexpression offset the repressive effect of propofol on the invasiveness and migratory ability of SMMC-7721 cells. Furthermore, propofol treatment also reduced p-ERK1/2 and VEGF level by western blot analysis. Similar observation was found when NET1 was silenced. Thus, the results of this study provided valuable clinical therapy potential of propofol against liver cancer. We also disclosed molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of invasion and migration in HCC cells by NET1.

Targeted Gene Delivery Therapies for Cervical Cancer

Despite being largely preventable through early vaccination and screening strategies, cervical cancer is the most common type of gynecological malignancy worldwide and constitutes one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Patients with advanced or recurrent disease have a very poor prognosis; hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in cervical malignancy are needed. In this regard, targeted gene delivery therapy is presented as a promising approach, which leads to the development of multiple strategies focused on different aspects. These range from altered gene restoration, immune system potentiation, and oncolytic virotherapy to the use of nanotechnology and the design of improved and enhanced gene delivery systems, among others. In the present manuscript, we review the current progress made in targeted gene delivery therapy for cervical cancer, the advantages and drawbacks and their clinical application. At present, multiple targeted gene delivery systems have been reported with encouraging preclinical results. However, the translation to humans has not yet shown a significant clinical benefit due principally to the lack of efficient vectors. Real efforts are being made to develop new gene delivery systems, to improve tumor targeting and to minimize toxicity in normal tissues.

LncRNA CTC-497E21.4 promotes the progression of gastric cancer via modulating miR-22/NET1 axis through RhoA signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important roles in gastric cancer (GC). However, the role of the dysregulated lncRNAs in GC remained large unknown. We investigated the clinical significance, biological function and mechanism of CTC-497E21.4 in GC.

METHODS

Firstly, RTFQ-PCR was used to detect the expression of CTC-497E21.4 in GC. Furthermore, knockdown of CTC-497E21.4 was conducted to assess the effect of CTC-497E21.4 in vitro and vivo. Subcellular localization of CTC-497E21.4 was determined by nuclear plasmolysis PCR and FISH. We also predicted CTC-497E21.4 binding miRNAs and downstream target genes and evaluated its regulation of miR-22 by acting as a ceRNA.

RESULT

CTC-497E21.4 was upregulated in GC tissues and GC cell lines (P < 0.05), and the expression was associated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and neurological invasion. Besides, knockdown of CTC-497E21.4 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and promoted cell cycle arrest in vitro and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanistic investigations indicated that CTC-497E21.4 acted as a ceRNA for miR-22 and regulated NET1 expression. CTC-497E21.4/miR-22-3p/NET1 participated in the RhoA signaling pathway in the GC progression.

CONCLUSION

CTC-497E21.4 competed with miR-22 to regulate the expression of NET1 and regulated the malignant progression of GC through RhoA signaling pathway.

NCK1 promotes the angiogenesis of cervical squamous carcinoma via Rac1/PAK1/MMP2 signal pathway

OBJECTIVE

The study was to explore the roles of Nck1 in the angiogenesis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

METHODS

mRNA and protein levels were evaluated with real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemisty/western blotting respectively. The cancer microvessel density (MVD) was assayed with CD34 endothelial labeling. Nck1 gene knock-in (SiHa-Nck1+) and knock-down (SiHa-Nck1-) were achieved by gene transfection and siRNA respectively. Protein level from cellular supernatant was measured with ELISA. Proliferation, migration and tube formation of the Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated by CCK-8 cell viability assay, transwell chamber assay and in vitro Matrigel tubulation assay respectively.

RESULTS

Nck1 level gradually increased from normal cervical epithelia to high-grade CIN, overexpressed in CSCC and was associated with cancer MVD. The ability of proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs was enhanced in SiHa-Nck1+-treated while decreased in SiHa-NcK1--treated cells compared to SiHa-control-treated cells. Mechanistically, RAC1-GTP, p-PAK1 and MMP2 were increased in SiHa-NCK1+ cells and pretreatment with the Rac1 inhibitor (NSC23766) significantly decreased their levels. Furthermore, inhibition of PAK1 reduced MMP2 level in SiHa-Nck1+ cells whereas the level of Rac1-GTP was unaltered. Also, inhibition of Rac1 or PAK1 impaired angiogenesis-inducing capacity of cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Nck1 promotes the angiogenesis-inducing capacity of CSCC via the Rac1/PAK1/MMP2 signal pathway.