7-hydroxycoumarin-β-D-glucuronide protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via inhibiting p38MAPK-mediated apoptosis in mice

Unraveling the unfolded protein response signature: implications for tumor immune microenvironment heterogeneity and clinical prognosis in stomach cancer

BACKGROUND

Stomach cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally due to its high grade and poor response to treatment. Understanding the molecular network driving the rapid progression of stomach cancer is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

METHODS

This study aimed to investigate the role of unfolded protein response (UPR) related genes in stomach cancer and their potential as prognostic biomarkers. RNA expression data and clinical follow-up information were obtained from the TCGA and GEO databases. An unsupervised clustering algorithm was used to identify UPR genomic subtypes in stomach cancer. Functional enrichment analysis, immune landscape analysis, and chemotherapy benefit prediction were conducted for each subtype. A prognostic model based on UPR-related genes was developed and validated using LASSO-Cox regression, and a multivariate nomogram was created. Key gene expression analyses in pan-cancer and in vitro experiments were performed to further investigate the role of the identified genes in cancer progression.

RESULTS

A total of 375 stomach cancer patients were included in this study. Analysis of 113 UPR-related genes revealed their close functional correlation and significant enrichment in protein modification, transport, and RNA degradation pathways. Unsupervised clustering identified two molecular subtypes with significant differences in prognosis and gene expression profiles. Immune landscape analysis showed that UPR may influence the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment. Chemotherapy sensitivity analysis indicated that patients in the C2 molecular subtype were more responsive to chemotherapy compared to those in the C1 molecular subtype. A prognostic signature consisting of seven UPR-related genes was constructed and validated, and an independent prognostic nomogram was developed. The gene IGFBP1, which had the highest weight coefficient in the prognostic signature, was found to promote the malignant phenotype of stomach cancer cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

CONCLUSIONS

The study developed a UPR-related gene classifier and risk signature for predicting survival in stomach cancer, identifying IGFBP1 as a key factor promoting the disease's malignancy and a potential therapeutic target. IGFBP1's role in enhancing cancer cell adaptation to endoplasmic reticulum stress suggests its importance in stomach cancer prognosis and treatment.

Inhibition of CISD1 attenuates cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mice via the PI3K and MAPK pathways

Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for different cancers, but it also causes severe and permanent hearing loss. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in cochlear hair cells (HCs) have been shown to be important in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL). CDGSH iron sulfur domain 1 (CISD1, also known as mitoNEET) plays a critical role in mitochondrial oxidative capacity and cellular bioenergetics. Targeting CISD1 may improve mitochondrial function in various diseases. However, the role of CISD1 in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is unclear. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the role of CISD1 in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. We found that CISD1 expression was significantly increased after cisplatin treatment in both HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear HCs. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of CISD1 with NL-1 inhibited cell apoptosis and reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species accumulation in HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear explants. Inhibition of CISD1 with small interfering RNA in HEI-OC1 cells had similar protective effects. Furthermore, NL-1 protected against CIHL in adult C57 mice, as evaluated by the auditory brainstem response and immunofluorescent staining. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing revealed that NL-1 attenuated CIHL via the PI3K and MAPK pathways. Most importantly, NL-1 did not interfere with the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin. In conclusion, our study revealed that targeting CISD1 with NL-1 reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis via the PI3K and MAPK pathways in HEI-OC1 cell lines and mouse cochlear explants in vitro, and it protected against CIHL in adult C57 mice. Our study suggests that CISD1 may serve as a novel target for the prevention of CIHL.

ERK1/2-dependent activity of SOX9 is required for sublytic C5b-9-induced expression of FGF1, PDGFα, and TGF-β1 in rat Thy-1 nephritis

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) and its related rat model Thy-1 nephritis (Thy-1N) are associated with C5b-9 deposition and are characterized by proliferation of glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) and expansion of extracellular matrix (ECM) expansion, alongside overexpression of multiple growth factors. Although fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), platelet-derived growth factor alpha (PDGFα), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) are well known for their proproliferative and profibrotic roles, the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating the expression of these growth factors have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we found that sublytic C5b-9 induction of sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) transactivated FGF1, PDGFα, and TGF-β1 genes in GMCs, resulting in a significant increase in their mRNA and protein levels. Besides, sublytic C5b-9 induction of activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylated SOX9 at serine 181 and serine 64, which enhanced SOX9's ability to transactivate FGF1, PDGFα, and TGF-β1 genes in GMCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibiting ERK1/2 activation or silencing either ERK1/2 or SOX9 gene led to reduced SOX9 phosphorylation, decreased generation of FGF1, PDGFα, and TGF-β1, and ameliorated glomerular injury in rat Thy-1N. Overall, these findings suggest that expression of FGF1, PDGFα, and TGF-β1 is promoted by ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation of SOX9, which may provide a valuable insight into the pathogenesis of MsPGN and offer a potential target for the development of novel treatment strategies for MsPGN.

TRPA1 promotes cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via regulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress-mitochondrial damage

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin is a widely used and effective chemotherapeutic agent against cancer. However, nephrotoxicity is one of the most common side effects of cisplatin, and it can proceed to acute kidney injury (AKI). Studies have reported that activation of transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) mediates cisplatin-induced renal tubular cytotoxic injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of TRPA1 in promoting cisplatin-induced AKI through modulation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mitochondrial damage.

METHODS

A cisplatin-induced HK-2 cell model in vitro and mouse model in vivo were established. The mechanism of TRPA1 promotes AKI was elucidated by H&E staining, TUNEL staining, transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunofluorescence, CCK-8 viability assays, flow cytometry, Western blotting, JC-1 assay, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULT

In vivo and in vitro, HC-030031 reduced cisplatin-induced Scr and BUN level elevations; improved cisplatin-induced renal tissue injury, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction; elevated the reduced ERS-associated proteins glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) levels induced by cisplatin; reduced the elevated optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), mito-fusion 1 (MFN1), and mito-fusion 2 (MFN2) protein levels, and elevated phospho-dynamin-related protein 1 (p-DRP1) and mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) protein levels. HC-030031 also reduced the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM) structure. In addition, TRPA1 agonists also decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and triggered mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload in HK-2 cells via modulation of MAM. ERS inhibitors and GRP75 inhibitors reversed these changes caused by TRPA1 agonists.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that TRPA1 enhances cisplatin-induced AKI via modulation of ERS and mitochondrial damage.

Oxidative Damage as a Fundament of Systemic Toxicities Induced by Cisplatin-The Crucial Limitation or Potential Therapeutic Target?

Cisplatin, an inorganic complex of platinum, is a chemotherapeutic drug that has been used for 45 years. Despite the progress of pharmaceutical sciences and medicine and the successful application of other platinum complexes for the same purpose, cisplatin is still the therapy of choice in many cancers. Treatment for testicular, ovarian, head and neck, urothelial, cervical, esophageal, breast, and pulmonary malignancies is still unthinkable without the use of this drug. However, cisplatin is also known for many side effects, of which the most pronounced are nephrotoxicity leading to acute renal failure, neurotoxicity, and ototoxicity. Mechanistic studies have proven that one of the conditions that plays a major role in the development of cisplatin-induced toxicities is oxidative stress. Knowing the fact that numerous antioxidants can be used to reduce oxidative stress, thereby reducing tissue lesions, organ failure, and apoptosis at the cellular level, many studies have defined antioxidants as a priority for investigation as a cotreatment. To investigate the mechanism of antioxidant action in vivo, many animal models have been employed. In the last few years, studies have mostly used rodents and zebrafish models. In this article, some of the most recent investigations that used animal models are listed, and the advantages and disadvantages of such experimental studies are pointed out.