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Guo H, Hu Z, Yang X, Yuan Z, Wang M, Chen C, Xie L, Gao Y, Li W, Bai Y, Lin C. Smad4 regulates TGF-β1-mediated hedgehog activation to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer cells by suppressing Gli1 activity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:1189-1200. [PMID: 38525105 PMCID: PMC10957521 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive and metastatic gastrointestinal tumor with a poor prognosis. Persistent activation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling induces PC cell (PCC) invasion and infiltration via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Hedgehog signaling is a crucial pathway for the development of PC via the transcription factors Gli1/2/3. This study aimed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of action of hedgehog activation in TGF-β1-triggered EMT in PCCs (PANC-1 and BxPc-3). In addition, overexpression and shRNA techniques were used to evaluate the role of Smad4 in TGF-β1-treated PCCs. Our data showed that TGF-β1 promoted PCC invasion and infiltration via Smad2/3-dependent EMT. Hedgehog-Gli signaling axis in PCCs was activated upon TGF-β1 stimulation. Inhibition of hedgehog with cyclopamine effectively antagonized TGF-β1-induced EMT, thereby suggesting that the hedgehog signaling may act as a downstream cascade signaling of TGF-β1. As a key protein that assists the nuclear translocation of Smad2/3, Smad4 was highly expressed in PANC-1 cells, but not in BxPc-3 cells. Conversely, Gli1 expression was low in PANC-1 cells, but high in BxPc-3 cells. Furthermore, knockdown of Smad4 in PANC-1 cells by shRNA inhibited TGF-β1-mediated EMT and collagen deposition. Overexpression of Smad4 did not affect TGF-β1-mediated EMT due to the lack of significant increase in nuclear expression of Smad4. Importantly, Gli1 activity was upregulated by Smad4 knockdown in PANC-1 cells and downregulated by Smad4 overexpression in BxPc-3 cells, indicating that Gli1 may be a negative target protein downstream of Smad4. Thus, Smad4 regulates TGF-β1-mediated hedgehog activation to promote EMT in PCCs by suppressing Gli1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangcheng Guo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- Sichuan Mianyang 404 Hospital, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Zujian Hu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xuejia Yang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ziwei Yuan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Mengsi Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Chaoyue Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Lili Xie
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Wangjian Li
- Department of Urology, The Central Hospital Affiliated to Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312030, China
| | - Yongheng Bai
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- National Key Clinical Specialty (General Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Chunjing Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Medicine and Health Care Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
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Yu H, Du X, Chen X, Liu L, Wang X. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β): A master signal pathway in teleost sex determination. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 355:114561. [PMID: 38821217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation in fish has always been a hot topic in genetic breeding of aquatic animals. With the advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) in recent years, sex chromosomes and sex determining genes can be efficiently identified in teleosts. To date, master sex determination genes have been elucidated in 114 species, of which 72 species have sex determination genes belonging to TGF-β superfamily. TGF-β is the only signaling pathway that the largest proportion of components, which including ligands (amhy, gsdfy, gdf6), receptors (amhr, bmpr), and regulator (id2bby), have opportunity recognized as a sex determination gene. In this review, we focus on the recent studies about teleost sex-determination genes within TGF-β superfamily and propose several hypotheses on how these genes regulate sex determination process. Differing from other reviews, our review specifically devotes significant attention to all members of the TGF-β signal pathway, not solely the sex determination genes within the TGF-β superfamily. However, the functions of the paralogous genes of TGF superfamily are still needed ongoing research. Further studies are required to more accurately interpret the molecular mechanism of TGF-β superfamily sex determination genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Yu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Xinxin Du
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Xue Chen
- School of Resource & Environment and Safety Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Longxue Liu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Xubo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology (Ningbo University), Ministry of Education, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
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Zelisko N, Lesyk R, Stoika R. Structure, unique biological properties, and mechanisms of action of transforming growth factor β. Bioorg Chem 2024; 150:107611. [PMID: 38964148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a ubiquitous molecule that is extremely conserved structurally and plays a systemic role in human organism. TGF-β is a homodimeric molecule consisting of two subunits joined through a disulphide bond. In mammals, three genes code for TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 isoforms of this cytokine with a dominating expression of TGF-β1. Virtually, all normal cells contain TGF-β and its specific receptors. Considering the exceptional role of fine balance played by the TGF-β in anumber of physiological and pathological processes in human body, this cytokine may be proposed for use in medicine as an immunosuppressant in transplantology, wound healing and bone repair. TGFb itself is an important target in oncology. Strategies for blocking members of TGF-β signaling pathway as therapeutic targets have been considered. In this review, signalling mechanisms of TGF-β1 action are addressed, and their role in physiology and pathology with main focus on carcinogenesis are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Zelisko
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Roman Lesyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine.
| | - Rostyslav Stoika
- Department of Regulation of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis, Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine
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Massoud G, Parish M, Hazimeh D, Moukarzel P, Singh B, Cayton Vaught KC, Segars J, Islam MS. Unlocking the potential of tranilast: Targeting fibrotic signaling pathways for therapeutic benefit. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 137:112423. [PMID: 38861914 PMCID: PMC11245748 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in an organ or tissue that results from an impaired tissue repair in response to tissue injury or chronic inflammation. The progressive nature of fibrotic diseases and limited treatment options represent significant healthcare challenges. Despite the substantial progress in understanding the mechanisms of fibrosis, a gap persists translating this knowledge into effective therapeutics. Here, we discuss the critical mediators involved in fibrosis and the role of tranilast as a potential antifibrotic drug to treat fibrotic conditions. Tranilast, an antiallergy drug, is a derivative of tryptophan and has been studied for its role in various fibrotic diseases. These include scleroderma, keloid and hypertrophic scars, liver fibrosis, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and uterine fibroids. Tranilast exerts antifibrotic effects by suppressing fibrotic pathways, including TGF-β, and MPAK. Because it disrupts fibrotic pathways and has demonstrated beneficial effects against keloid and hypertrophic scars, tranilast could be used to treat other conditions characterized by fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaelle Massoud
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Maclaine Parish
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Dana Hazimeh
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Pamela Moukarzel
- American University of Beirut Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Bhuchitra Singh
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kamaria C Cayton Vaught
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - James Segars
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Md Soriful Islam
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women's Health Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Milewska G, Ponikwicka-Tyszko D, Bernaczyk P, Lupu O, Szamatowicz M, Sztachelska M, Pilaszewicz-Puza A, Koda M, Bielawski T, Zbucka-Kretowska M, Pawelczyk A, Tomaszewski J, Li X, Huhtaniemi I, Wolczynski S, Rahman NA. Functional evidence for two distinct mechanisms of action of progesterone and selective progesterone receptor modulator on uterine leiomyomas. Fertil Steril 2024; 122:341-351. [PMID: 38431184 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the specific mechanisms through which progesterone and selective progesterone receptor modulators impact the growth, synthesis, and accumulation of the extracellular matrix in uterine leiomyomas. DESIGN Laboratory study. SETTING Academic Research Institutions. PATIENTS (S) This study involved reproductive-age women diagnosed with infertility associated uterine leiomyomas who underwent myomectomy either after selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate (UA) treatment or without any pharmacological pretreatment. Control samples included healthy myometrium tissue (n = 100). Specimens were obtained from the Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology and Biobank, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. INTERVENTIONS Daily (5 mg/d) UA treated for 2 months (n = 100) and untreated (n = 150) patients with uterine leiomyomas or normal healthy myometrium (n = 100) tissue samples immediately after surgery were collected for transcriptional analysis and assessments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Progesterone-induced activation of the signaling pathways related to uterine leiomyomas extracellular matrix synthesis, deposition, and growth, as well as the expression profile of progesterone receptors in uterine leiomyomas, were assessed. RESULTS The results indicated that progesterone activated the transforming growth factor-β and SMAD3 signaling pathways and promoted proliferation, growth, and extracellular matrix remodeling in uterine leiomyomas by up-regulating SMAD3, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor type 1 and II, Ras homolog A, vascular endothelial growth factor, or increasing the fibrosis-related gene collagen, type I, ɑ-1, and procollagen, type I, ɑ-1 production. In contrast, UA had inhibitory effects on these processes. The study also showed that both nuclear and membrane progesterone receptors play distinct roles in uterine leiomyoma pathobiology. CONCLUSIONS We showed that both nuclear and membrane progesterone receptors were relevant in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas, especially when combined with selective progesterone receptor modulators. Novel therapeutic approaches combining selective progesterone receptor modulators with or without direct and indirect extracellular matrix targeting through selected specifically TGF-β and SMAD3 (SMAD3, TGF-β receptor types 1 and II, Ras homolog A, vascular endothelial growth factor, collagen, type I, ɑ-1) signaling pathways could therefore be a treatment option for uterine leiomyomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Milewska
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Donata Ponikwicka-Tyszko
- Department of Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Piotr Bernaczyk
- Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Oana Lupu
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Michal Szamatowicz
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Maria Sztachelska
- Department of Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | | | - Mariusz Koda
- Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bielawski
- Department of Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Monika Zbucka-Kretowska
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland
| | - Adam Pawelczyk
- Division of General and Transplant Surgery, Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jakub Tomaszewski
- Tomaszewski Medical Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology Bialystok, Poland
| | - Xiangdong Li
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland; State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University Bejing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Slawomir Wolczynski
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland; Department of Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Nafis A Rahman
- Department of Reproduction and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland.
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Fesneau O, Thevin V, Pinet V, Goldsmith C, Vieille B, M'Homa Soudja S, Lattanzio R, Hahne M, Dardalhon V, Hernandez-Vargas H, Benech N, Marie JC. An intestinal T H17 cell-derived subset can initiate cancer. Nat Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41590-024-01909-7. [PMID: 39060651 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01909-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Approximately 25% of cancers are preceded by chronic inflammation that occurs at the site of tumor development. However, whether this multifactorial oncogenic process, which commonly occurs in the intestines, can be initiated by a specific immune cell population is unclear. Here, we show that an intestinal T cell subset, derived from interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing helper T (TH17) cells, induces the spontaneous transformation of the intestinal epithelium. This subset produces inflammatory cytokines, and its tumorigenic potential is not dependent on IL-17 production but on the transcription factors KLF6 and T-BET and interferon-γ. The development of this cell type is inhibited by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) produced by intestinal epithelial cells. TGFβ signaling acts on the pretumorigenic TH17 cell subset, preventing its progression to the tumorigenic stage by inhibiting KLF6-dependent T-BET expression. This study therefore identifies an intestinal T cell subset initiating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Fesneau
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Valentin Thevin
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Valérie Pinet
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Chloe Goldsmith
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Baptiste Vieille
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Saïdi M'Homa Soudja
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michael Hahne
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie Dardalhon
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier (IGMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Hector Hernandez-Vargas
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Benech
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Croix Rousse Hospital, Lyon, France
| | - Julien C Marie
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) INSERM U 1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Lyon, France.
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Chen Y, Dai R, Cheng M, Wang W, Liu C, Cao Z, Ge Y, Wang Y, Zhang L. Status and role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in renal fibrosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 178:117210. [PMID: 39059348 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a basic regulatory mechanism in cells that is essential for maintaining cell homeostasis, stimulating signal transduction, and determining cell fate. These biological processes require coordinated signaling cascades across members of the UPS to achieve substrate ubiquitination and deubiquitination. The role of the UPS in fibrotic diseases has attracted widespread attention, and the aberrant expression of UPS members affects the fibrosis process. In this review, we provide an overview of the UPS and its relevance for fibrotic diseases. Moreover, for the first time, we explore in detail how the UPS promotes or inhibits renal fibrosis by regulating biological processes such as signaling pathways, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the cell cycle, emphasizing the status and role of the UPS in renal fibrosis. Further research on this system may reveal new strategies for preventing renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Chen
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Rong Dai
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Meng Cheng
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Weili Wang
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Chuanjiao Liu
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Zeping Cao
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yong Ge
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yiping Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
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Watanabe M, Tsugeno Y, Sato T, Higashide M, Umetsu A, Furuhashi M, Ohguro H. Inhibition of mTOR differently modulates planar and subepithelial fibrogenesis in human conjunctival fibroblasts. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024:10.1007/s00417-024-06481-2. [PMID: 39042147 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06481-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In the current investigation, the effects of the mTOR inhibitors, Rapa and Torin1 on the TGF-β2-induced conjunctival fibrogenesis were studied. STUDY DESIGN Experimental research. METHODS 2D and 3D cultures of HconF were subjected to the following analyses; (1) planar proliferation evaluated by TEER (2D), (2) Seahorse metabolic analyses (2D), (3) subepithelial proliferation evaluated by the 3D spheroids' size and hardness, and (4) the mRNA expression of ECM proteins and their regulators (2D and 3D). RESULT Rapa or Torin1 both significantly increased planar proliferation in the non-TGF-β2-treated 2D HconF cells, but in the TGF-β2-treated cells, this proliferation was inhibited by Rapa and enhanced by Torin1. Although Rapa or Torin1 did not affect cellular metabolism in the non-TGF-β2-treated HconF cells, mTOR inhibitors significantly decreased and increased the mitochondrial respiration and the glycolytic capacity, respectively, under conditions of TGF-β2-induced fibrogenesis. Subepithelial proliferation, as evidenced by the hardness of the 3D spheroids, was markedly down-regulated by both Rapa and Torin1 independent of TGF-β2. The mRNA expressions of several ECM molecules and their regulators fluctuated in the cases of 2D vs 3D and TGF-β2 untreated vs treated cultures. CONCLUSION The present findings indicate that mTOR inhibitors have the ability to increase and to reduce planar and subepithelial proliferation in HconF cells, depending on the inhibitor being used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Watanabe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan.
| | - Yuri Tsugeno
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sato
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
- Cellular Physiology and Signal Transduction, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Megumi Higashide
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Araya Umetsu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Masato Furuhashi
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohguro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo Ika Daigaku, Hirosaki, Japan.
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9
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Shen S, Lin Y, Sun J, Liu Y, Chen Y, Lu J. A New Tissue Engineering Strategy to Promote Tendon-bone Healing: Regulation of Osteogenic and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Tendon-derived Stem Cells. Orthop Surg 2024. [PMID: 39043618 DOI: 10.1111/os.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the field of sports medicine, repair surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and rotator cuff (RC) injuries are remarkably common. Despite the availability of relatively effective treatment modalities, outcomes often fall short of expectations. This comprehensive review aims to thoroughly examine current strategies employed to promote tendon-bone healing and analyze pertinent preclinical and clinical research. Amidst ongoing investigations, tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs), which have comparatively limited prior exploration, have garnered increasing attention in the context of tendon-bone healing, emerging as a promising cell type for regenerative therapies. This review article delves into the potential of combining TDSCs with tissue engineering methods, with ACL reconstruction as the main focus. It comprehensively reviews relevant research on ACL and RC healing to address the issues of graft healing and bone tunnel integration. To optimize tendon-bone healing outcomes, our emphasis lies in not only reconstructing the original microstructure of the tendon-bone interface but also achieving proper bone tunnel integration, encompassing both cartilage and bone formation. In this endeavor, we thoroughly analyze the transcriptional and molecular regulatory variables governing TDSCs differentiation, incorporating a retrospective analysis utilizing single-cell sequencing, with the aim of unearthing relevant signaling pathways and processes. By presenting a novel strategy rooted in TDSCs-driven osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation for tendon-bone healing, this study paves the way for potential future research avenues and promising therapeutic applications. It is anticipated that the findings herein will contribute to advancing the field of tendon-bone healing and foster the exploration of TDSCs as a viable option for regenerative therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinuo Shen
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yucheng Lin
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiachen Sun
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanhao Liu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuzhi Chen
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Lu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- The Center of Joint and Sports Medicine, Orthopedics Department, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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10
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Yi M, Li T, Niu M, Zhang H, Wu Y, Wu K, Dai Z. Targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:176. [PMID: 39034318 PMCID: PMC11275440 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are critical in regulating immune responses and cellular behavior, playing dual roles in both normal physiology and the pathology of diseases such as cancer. These molecules, including interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, chemokines, and growth factors like TGF-β, VEGF, and EGF, can promote or inhibit tumor growth, influence the tumor microenvironment, and impact the efficacy of cancer treatments. Recent advances in targeting these pathways have shown promising therapeutic potential, offering new strategies to modulate the immune system, inhibit tumor progression, and overcome resistance to conventional therapies. In this review, we summarized the current understanding and therapeutic implications of targeting cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways in cancer. By exploring the roles of these molecules in tumor biology and the immune response, we highlighted the development of novel therapeutic agents aimed at modulating these pathways to combat cancer. The review elaborated on the dual nature of cytokines as both promoters and suppressors of tumorigenesis, depending on the context, and discussed the challenges and opportunities this presents for therapeutic intervention. We also examined the latest advancements in targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, receptor inhibitors, fusion proteins, engineered cytokine variants, and their impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of combining these targeted therapies with other treatment modalities to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes. Besides, we also focused on the ongoing research and clinical trials that are pivotal in advancing our understanding and application of cytokine- and chemokine-targeted therapies for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoxiang Zhang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuze Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Zohri M, Arefian E, Azizi Z, Javar HA, Shadboorestan A, Fatahi Y, Chogan F, Taheri M, Karoobi S, Aghaee-Bakhtiari SH, Bonakdar S, Gazori T, Mohammadi S, Saadatpour F, Ghahremani MH. Activation of the BMP2/SMAD4 signaling pathway for enhancing articular cartilage regeneration of mesenchymal stem cells utilizing chitosan/alginate nanoparticles on 3D extracellular matrix scaffold. Int J Biol Macromol 2024:133995. [PMID: 39038571 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the efficacy of using chitosan/alginate nanoparticles loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic-2 (rhBMP-2) and SMAD4 encoding plasmid to enhance the chondrogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) seeded on an extracellular matrix (ECM). The research treatments included the stem cells treated with the biological cocktail (BC), negative control (NC), hBM-MSCs with chondrogenic medium (MCM), hBM-MSCs with naked rhBMP-2 and chondrogenic medium (NB/C), and hBM-MSCs with naked rhBMP-2 and chondrogenic medium plus SMAD4 encoding plasmid transfected with polyethyleneimine (PEI) (NB/C/S/P). The cartilage differentiation was performed with real-time quantitative PCR analysis and alizarin blue staining. The data indicated that the biological cocktail (BC) exhibited significantly higher expression of cartilage-related genes compared to significant differences with MCM and negative control (NC) on chondrogenesis. In the (NB/C/S/P), the expression levels of SOX9 and COLX were lower than those in the BC group. The expression pattern of the ACAN gene was similar to COL2A1 changes suggesting that it holds promising potential for cartilage regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zohri
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Arefian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
| | - Zahra Azizi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Akbari Javar
- Departments of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Shadboorestan
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yousef Fatahi
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faraz Chogan
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mojtaba Taheri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Karoobi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hamid Aghaee-Bakhtiari
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shahin Bonakdar
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taraneh Gazori
- Trita Nanomedicine Research Center (TNRC), Trita Third Millennium Pharmaceuticals, 1917733831 Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Mohammadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Saadatpour
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Ghahremani
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Du X, Zhao Y, Li J, Xie W, Lyu L, Chen S, Jia C, Yan J, Li P. Expression Patterns of TGF-β1, TβR-I, TβR-II, and Smad2 Reveal Insights into Heterosis for Growth of Hybrid Offspring between Acanthopagrus schlegelii and Pagrus major. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:945. [PMID: 39062724 PMCID: PMC11276220 DOI: 10.3390/genes15070945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
TGF-β1/Smads is a classic signaling pathway, which plays important roles in the development process of organisms. Black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii and red porgy Pagrus major are valuable economic fishes, and their hybrid offspring show excellent heterosis traits. Yet the molecular regulation mechanism of the heterosis traits is less clear. Here, we explored the TGF-β1/Smads pathway's molecular genetic information for heterosis in A. schlegelii ♂ × P. major ♀ (AP) and A. schlegelii ♀ × P. major ♂ (PA) in terms of growth and development. The mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1, TβR-I, TβR-II, and Smad2 genes in different developmental stages of A. schlegelii were detected. Furthermore, the expression levels of TGF-β1, TβR-I, TβR-II, and Smad2 genes in different tissues of adult (mRNA level) and larva (mRNA and protein level) of A. schlegelii, P. major, and their hybrids were determined by both real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot techniques. The results indicated the ubiquitous expression of these genes in all developmental stages of A. schlegelii and in all tested tissues of A. schlegelii, P. major, and its hybrids. Among them, the mRNA of TGF-β1, TβR-I, and TβR-II genes is highly expressed in the liver, gill, kidney, and muscle of black porgy, red porgy, and their hybrid offspring. There are significant changes in gene and protein expression levels in hybrid offspring, which indirectly reflect hybrid advantage. In addition, there was no correlation between protein and mRNA expression levels of Smad2 protein. The results provide novel data for the differential expression of growth and development genes between the reciprocal hybridization generation of black porgy and red porgy and its parents, which is conducive to further explaining the molecular regulation mechanism of heterosis in the growth and development of hybrid porgy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Du
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Yue Zhao
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jingbo Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Wenli Xie
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Linna Lyu
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Shuyin Chen
- Jiangsu Institute of Oceanology & Marine Fisheries, Nantong 226007, China; (S.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Chaofeng Jia
- Jiangsu Institute of Oceanology & Marine Fisheries, Nantong 226007, China; (S.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Jie Yan
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Peng Li
- Herpetological Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (X.D.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (W.X.); (L.L.); (J.Y.)
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13
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Ju X, Wang K, Wang C, Zeng C, Wang Y, Yu J. Regulation of myofibroblast dedifferentiation in pulmonary fibrosis. Respir Res 2024; 25:284. [PMID: 39026235 PMCID: PMC11264880 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02898-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lethal, progressive, and irreversible condition that has become a significant focus of medical research due to its increasing incidence. This rising trend presents substantial challenges for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers. Despite the escalating burden of pulmonary fibrosis, the available therapeutic options remain limited. Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis-nintedanib and pirfenidone. However, their therapeutic effectiveness is limited, and they cannot reverse the fibrosis process. Additionally, these drugs are associated with significant side effects. Myofibroblasts play a central role in the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis, significantly contributing to its progression. Consequently, strategies aimed at inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation or promoting their dedifferentiation hold promise as effective treatments. This review examines the regulation of myofibroblast dedifferentiation, exploring various signaling pathways, regulatory targets, and potential pharmaceutical interventions that could provide new directions for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuetao Ju
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Congjian Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxi Zeng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Li Y, Wang X, Yu H, Cao J, Xie J, Zhou J, Feng Z, Chen W. YAP-LAMB3 axis dictates cellular resistance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells to gemcitabine. Mol Carcinog 2024. [PMID: 39016677 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive tumors with poor prognosis and inadequate response to treatment, such as gemcitabine (Gem), the first-line chemotherapeutic drug. Understanding the molecular determinants that control drug resistance to Gem is critical to predict potentially responsive patients and improve the benefits of Gem therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that certain developmental pathways, such as Hippo signaling, are aberrated and play important roles in Gem resistance in cancers. Although Hippo signaling has been reported to play a role in chemoresistance in cancers, it has not been clarified which specific target gene(s) functionally mediates the effect. In the present study, we found that YAP serves as a potent barrier for the cellular sensitivity of PDAC cells to Gem. We then identified and characterized laminin subunit beta 3 (LAMB3) as a bona fide target of YAP-TEAD4 to amplify YAP signaling via a feedback loop. Such a YAP-LAMB3 axis is critical to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition and mediate Gem resistance. Taken together, we uncovered that YAP-LAMB3 axis is an important regulator of Gem, thus providing potential therapeutic targets for overcoming Gem resistance in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yecheng Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Haian People's Hospital, Haian, China
| | - Hongpei Yu
- General Surgery Department, Taizhou Second People's Hospital, Taizhou, China
| | - Jinming Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiaming Xie
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jinhong Zhou
- General Surgery Department, Taizhou Second People's Hospital, Taizhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Feng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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15
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Vlashi R, Sun F, Zheng C, Zhang X, Liu J, Chen G. The molecular biology of NF2/Merlin on tumorigenesis and development. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23809. [PMID: 38967126 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400019rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene, known for encoding the tumor suppressor protein Merlin, is central to the study of tumorigenesis and associated cellular processes. This review comprehensively examines the multifaceted role of NF2/Merlin, detailing its structural characteristics, functional diversity, and involvement in various signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Hippo, TGF-β, RTKs, mTOR, Notch, and Hedgehog. These pathways are crucial for cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation. NF2 mutations are specifically linked to the development of schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas, although the precise mechanisms of tumor formation in these specific cell types remain unclear. Additionally, the review explores Merlin's role in embryogenesis, highlighting the severe developmental defects and embryonic lethality caused by NF2 deficiency. The potential therapeutic strategies targeting these genetic aberrations are also discussed, emphasizing inhibitors of mTOR, HDAC, and VEGF as promising avenues for treatment. This synthesis of current knowledge underscores the necessity for ongoing research to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of NF2/Merlin and develop effective therapeutic strategies, ultimately aiming to improve the prognosis and quality of life for individuals with NF2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rexhina Vlashi
- College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fuju Sun
- College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenggong Zheng
- College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingen Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopaedics & Skeletal Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Rongjun Hospital, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Cancer Center, Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiaxing, China
| | - Guiqian Chen
- College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Gu M, Wang Y, Yu Y. Ovarian fibrosis: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:139. [PMID: 38970048 PMCID: PMC11225137 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01448-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian fibrosis, characterized by the excessive proliferation of ovarian fibroblasts and the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), serves as one of the primary causes of ovarian dysfunction. Despite the critical role of ovarian fibrosis in maintaining the normal physiological function of the mammalian ovaries, research on this condition has been greatly underestimated, which leads to a lack of clinical treatment options for ovarian dysfunction caused by fibrosis. This review synthesizes recent research on the molecular mechanisms of ovarian fibrosis, encompassing TGF-β, extracellular matrix, inflammation, and other profibrotic factors contributing to abnormal ovarian fibrosis. Additionally, we summarize current treatment approaches for ovarian dysfunction targeting ovarian fibrosis, including antifibrotic drugs, stem cell transplantation, and exosomal therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the research progress on ovarian fibrosis and to propose potential therapeutic strategies targeting ovarian fibrosis for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqing Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
- Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yibo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Yang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, 100191, China.
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17
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Qi J, Amrutha AS, Ishida-Ishihara S, Dokainish HM, Hashim PK, Miyazaki R, Tsuda M, Tanaka S, Tamaoki N. Caging Bioactive Triarylimidazoles: An Approach to Create Visible Light-Activatable Drugs. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18002-18010. [PMID: 38905195 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Imidazoles are crucial structural components in a variety of small-molecule inhibitors designed to target different kinases in anticancer treatment. However, the effectiveness of such inhibitors is often hampered by nonspecific effects and the development of resistance. Photopharmacology provides a compelling solution by enabling external control over drug activity with spatiotemporal precision. Herein, we introduce a novel strategy for caging bioactive triarylimidazole-based drug molecules. This approach involves introducing a dialkylamino group as a photoremovable group on the carbon atom of the imidazole ring, which intrinsically modulates the core structure from planar imidazole to tetrahedral 2H-imidazole, enabling the caged compound to be selectively uncaged upon visible light exposure. We applied this innovative caging technique to SB431542, a triarylimidazole-based small-molecule inhibitor that targets the pivotal TGF-β signaling pathway, the dysregulation of which is linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Our results demonstrated the selective inhibition of human breast cancer cell migration in vitro upon light activation, highlighting the potential of our approach to transform triarylimidazole-based drug molecules into visible light-activatable drugs, thereby facilitating spatiotemporal regulation of their pharmacological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Qi
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Ammathnadu S Amrutha
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Sumire Ishida-Ishihara
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
- Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 21, Nishi 11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Hisham M Dokainish
- Center of Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12, Nishi 6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0812, Japan
| | - P K Hashim
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Ryu Miyazaki
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
| | - Masumi Tsuda
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Kita 21, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Shinya Tanaka
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Kita 21, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tamaoki
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
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18
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Kan H, Wang P, Yang Y, Jia H, Liu A, Wang M, Ouyang C, Yang X. Apigenin inhibits proliferation and differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts through AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 334:118518. [PMID: 38964628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is an important Traditional Chinese herbal Medicine (TCM) used to treat cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Based on the pharmacodynamic substance of S. miltiorrhiza, the aim of present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of S. miltiorrhiza against cardiac fibrosis (CF) through a systematic network pharmacology approach, molecular docking and dynamics simulation as well as experimental investigation in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic pharmacological analysis was conducted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology (TCMSP) database to screen the effective chemical components of S. miltiorrhiza, then the corresponding potential target genes of the compounds were obtained by the Swiss Target Prediction and TCMSP databases. Meanwhile, GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM, and TTD disease databases were used to screen CF targets, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of drug-disease targets was constructed on S. miltiorrhiza/CF targets by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STING) database. After that, the component-disease-target network was constructed by software Cytoscape 3.7. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed for the intersection targets between drug and disease. The relationship between active ingredient of S. miltiorrhiza and disease targets of CF was assessed via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Subsequently, the underlying mechanism of the hub compound on CF was experimentally investigated in vitro. RESULTS 206 corresponding targets to effective chemical components from S. miltiorrhiza were determined, and among them, there were 82 targets that overlapped with targets of CF. Further, through PPI analysis, AKT1 and GSK3β were the hub targets, and which were both enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, it was the sub-pathways of the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway. Subsequently, compound-disease-genes-pathways diagram is constructed, apigenin (APi) was a top ingredients and AKT1 (51) and GSK3β (22) were the hub genes according to the degree value. The results of molecular docking and dynamics simulation showed that APi has strong affinities with AKT and GSK3β. The results of cell experiments showed that APi inhibited cells viability, proliferation, proteins expression of α-SMA and collagen I/III, phosphorylation of AKT1 and GSK3β in MCFs induced by TGFβ1. CONCLUSION Through a systematic network pharmacology approach, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, and confirmed by in vitro cell experiments, these results indicated that APi interacts with AKT and GSK3β to disrupt the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and differentiation of MCFs induced by TGFβ1, which providing new insights into the pharmacological mechanism of S. miltiorrhiza in the treatment of CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshuang Kan
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 437100, China.
| | - Pengyu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 437100, China.
| | - Yayuan Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 437100, China.
| | - Hongyu Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 437100, China.
| | - Aimei Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xian Ning Central Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xian'an District, Xian Ning City, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Changhan Ouyang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China.
| | - Xiaosong Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China; School of Stomatology and Ophthalmology, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 437100, China.
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Chen Z, Xie W, Tang S, Lin M, Ren L, Huang X, Deng L, Qian R, Wang Z, Xiong D, Xie P, Liu W. Taraxerone exerts antipulmonary fibrosis effect through Smad signaling pathway and antioxidant stress response in a Sirtuin1-dependent manner. Phytother Res 2024; 38:3720-3735. [PMID: 38776174 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatments are limited, often with severe side effects, highlighting the need for novel options. Taraxerone has diverse biomedical properties, but its mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates taraxerone's impact and the mechanisms involved in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. After establishing a pulmonary fibrosis mouse model, taraxerone was intraperitoneally injected continuously for 14-28 days. The in vivo antifibrotic and antioxidative stress effects of taraxerone were assessed. In vitro, the influence of taraxerone on transforming growth factor-β1-induced myofibroblast transformation and oxidative stress was investigated. Subsequently, quantitative polymerase chain reaction screened the histone deacetylase and Sirtuin family, and taraxerone's effects on SIRT1 were assessed. After SIRT1 siRNA treatment, changes in myofibroblast transformation and antioxidant capacity in response to taraxerone were observed. Acetylation and phosphorylation levels of Smad3 were evaluated. We also examined the binding levels of SIRT1 with Pho-Smad3 and Smad3, as well as the nuclear localization of Smad2/3. EX527 confirmed SIRT1's in vivo action in response to taraxerone. In vitro experiments suggested that taraxerone inhibited myofibroblast differentiation by activating SIRT1 and reducing oxidative stress. We also observed a new interaction between SIRT1 and the Smad complex. Taraxerone activates SIRT1, enabling it to bind directly to Smad3. This leads to reduced Smad complex phosphorylation and limited nuclear translocation. As a result, the transcription of fibrotic factors is reduced. In vivo validation confirms taraxerone's SIRT1-mediated antifibrotic effectiveness. This suggests that targeting SIRT1-mediated inhibition of myofibroblast differentiation could be a key strategy in taraxerone-based therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Chen
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weixi Xie
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Siyuan Tang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Lin
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Ren
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoting Huang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lang Deng
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Rui Qian
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zun Wang
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dayang Xiong
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pingli Xie
- National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Medical Function, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Xiangya Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, China
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20
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Horvat Mercnik M, Schliefsteiner C, Sanchez-Duffhues G, Wadsack C. TGFβ signalling: a nexus between inflammation, placental health and preeclampsia throughout pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:442-471. [PMID: 38519450 PMCID: PMC11215164 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is a unique and pivotal organ in reproduction, controlling crucial growth and cell differentiation processes that ensure a successful pregnancy. Placental development is a tightly regulated and dynamic process, in which the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily plays a central role. This family of pleiotropic growth factors is heavily involved in regulating various aspects of reproductive biology, particularly in trophoblast differentiation during the first trimester of pregnancy. TGFβ signalling precisely regulates trophoblast invasion and the cell transition from cytotrophoblasts to extravillous trophoblasts, which is an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like process. Later in pregnancy, TGFβ signalling ensures proper vascularization and angiogenesis in placental endothelial cells. Beyond its role in trophoblasts and endothelial cells, TGFβ signalling contributes to the polarization and function of placental and decidual macrophages by promoting maternal tolerance of the semi-allogeneic foetus. Disturbances in early placental development have been associated with several pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia (PE) which is one of the severe complications. Emerging evidence suggests that TGFβ is involved in the pathogenesis of PE, thereby offering a potential target for intervention in the human placenta. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This comprehensive review aims to explore and elucidate the roles of the major members of the TGFβ superfamily, including TGFβs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), activins, inhibins, nodals, and growth differentiation factors (GDFs), in the context of placental development and function. The review focusses on their interactions within the major cell types of the placenta, namely trophoblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, in both normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by PE throughout pregnancy. SEARCH METHODS A literature search was carried out using PubMed and Google Scholar, searching terms: 'TGF signalling preeclampsia', 'pregnancy TGF signalling', 'preeclampsia tgfβ', 'preeclampsia bmp', 'preeclampsia gdf', 'preeclampsia activin', 'endoglin preeclampsia', 'endoglin pregnancy', 'tgfβ signalling pregnancy', 'bmp signalling pregnancy', 'gdf signalling pregnancy', 'activin signalling pregnancy', 'Hofbauer cell tgfβ signalling', 'placental macrophages tgfβ', 'endothelial cells tgfβ', 'endothelium tgfβ signalling', 'trophoblast invasion tgfβ signalling', 'trophoblast invasion Smad', 'trophoblast invasion bmp', 'trophoblast invasion tgfβ', 'tgfβ preeclampsia', 'tgfβ placental development', 'TGFβ placental function', 'endothelial dysfunction preeclampsia tgfβ signalling', 'vascular remodelling placenta TGFβ', 'inflammation pregnancy tgfβ', 'immune response pregnancy tgfβ', 'immune tolerance pregnancy tgfβ', 'TGFβ pregnancy NK cells', 'bmp pregnancy NK cells', 'bmp pregnancy tregs', 'tgfβ pregnancy tregs', 'TGFβ placenta NK cells', 'TGFβ placenta tregs', 'NK cells preeclampsia', 'Tregs preeclampsia'. Only articles published in English until 2023 were used. OUTCOMES A comprehensive understanding of TGFβ signalling and its role in regulating interconnected cell functions of the main placental cell types provides valuable insights into the processes essential for successful placental development and growth of the foetus during pregnancy. By orchestrating trophoblast invasion, vascularization, immune tolerance, and tissue remodelling, TGFβ ligands contribute to the proper functioning of a healthy maternal-foetal interface. However, dysregulation of TGFβ signalling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PE, where the shallow trophoblast invasion, defective vascular remodelling, decreased uteroplacental perfusion, and endothelial cell and immune dysfunction observed in PE, are all affected by an altered TGFβ signalling. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The dysregulation of TGFβ signalling in PE has important implications for research and clinical practice. Further investigation is required to understand the underlying mechanisms, including the role of different ligands and their regulation under pathophysiological conditions, in order to discover new therapeutic targets. Distinguishing between clinically manifested subtypes of PE and studying TGFβ signalling in different placental cell types holistically is an important first step. To put this knowledge into practice, pre-clinical animal models combined with new technologies are needed. This may also lead to improved human research models and identify potential therapeutic targets, ultimately improving outcomes for affected pregnancies and reducing the burden of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gonzalo Sanchez-Duffhues
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN-CSIC), Tissue-Specific BMP Signalling ISPA-HUCA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Christian Wadsack
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
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21
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Fuster-Martínez I, Calatayud S. The current landscape of antifibrotic therapy across different organs: A systematic approach. Pharmacol Res 2024; 205:107245. [PMID: 38821150 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common pathological process that can affect virtually all the organs, but there are hardly any effective therapeutic options. This has led to an intense search for antifibrotic therapies over the last decades, with a great number of clinical assays currently underway. We have systematically reviewed all current and recently finished clinical trials involved in the development of new antifibrotic drugs, and the preclinical studies analyzing the relevance of each of these pharmacological strategies in fibrotic processes affecting tissues beyond those being clinically studied. We analyze and discuss this information with the aim of determining the most promising options and the feasibility of extending their therapeutic value as antifibrotic agents to other fibrotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Fuster-Martínez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Universitat de València, Valencia 46010, Spain; FISABIO (Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana), Valencia 46020, Spain.
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departamento de Farmacología, Universitat de València, Valencia 46010, Spain; CIBERehd (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas), Spain.
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22
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Louault K, Blavier L, Lee MH, Kennedy RJ, Fernandez GE, Pawel BR, Asgharzadeh S, DeClerck YA. Nuclear factor-κB activation by transforming growth factor-β1 drives tumour microenvironment-mediated drug resistance in neuroblastoma. Br J Cancer 2024; 131:90-100. [PMID: 38806726 PMCID: PMC11231159 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02686-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the tumour microenvironment (TME) contribute to therapeutic resistance. Here we demonstrate that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 produced in the TME increased drug resistance of neuroblastoma (NB) cells. METHODS Human NB cell lines were tested in vitro for their sensitivity to Doxorubicin (DOX) and Etoposide (ETOP) in the presence of tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) and mesenchymal stromal cells/cancer-associated fibroblasts (MSC/CAF). These experiments were validated in xenotransplanted and primary tumour samples. RESULTS Drug resistance was associated with an increased expression of efflux transporter and anti-apoptotic proteins. Upregulation was dependent on activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB by TGF-β-activated kinase (TAK1) and SMAD2. Resistance was reversed upon pharmacologic and genetic inhibitions of NF-κB, and TAK1/SMAD2. Interleukin-6, leukaemia inhibitory factor and oncostatin M were upregulated by this TGF-β/TAK1/NF-κB/SMAD2 signalling pathway contributing to drug resistance via an autocrine loop activating STAT3. An analysis of xenotransplanted NB tumours revealed an increased presence of phospho (p)-NF-κB in tumours co-injected with MSC/CAF and TAM, and these tumours failed to respond to Etoposide but responded if treated with a TGF-βR1/ALK5 inhibitor. Nuclear p-NF-κB was increased in patient-derived tumours rich in TME cells. CONCLUSIONS The data provides a novel insight into a targetable mechanism of environment-mediated drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kévin Louault
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - Laurence Blavier
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - Men-Hua Lee
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - Rebekah J Kennedy
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - G Esteban Fernandez
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
| | - Bruce R Pawel
- Department of Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Shahab Asgharzadeh
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA
- Department of Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Yves A DeClerck
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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23
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Yu F, Liu Z, Feng J, Man Y, Zhang H, Shi J, Pang X, Yu Y, Bi Y. Hyaluronic acid modified extracellular vesicles targeting hepatic stellate cells to attenuate hepatic fibrosis. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 198:106783. [PMID: 38703918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) plays a pivotal role in promoting hepatic fibrosis, pirfenidone (PFD) could inhibit TGF-β1 signaling pathway to alleviate hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation mediated hepatic fibrosis. The targeting delivery strategy of PFD to hepatic stellate cells is a challenge. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell-derived membranous particles are intraluminal nano-vesicles that play a vital role in intercellular communication, they also be considered as an ideal nano-carrier. METHODS In this study, we developed a target strategy to deliver PFD to HSC with CD44 over-expression by EVs, hyaluronic acid (HA) modified DSPE-PEG2000 endows the active targeting ability of activated HSCs to PFD-loaded EVs. RESULTS In both rat hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6 and rat hepatocyte cell line BRL, HA@EVs-PFD demonstrated the capacity to down-regulate the expression of collagen-synthesis-related proteins and showed superior inhibition efficacy of HSC-T6 activation compared to free PFD. In hepatic fibrosis model, 4 weeks of HA@EVs-PFD treatment resulted in a reduction in liver collagen fibers, significant improvement in hepatic cell morphology, and amelioration of hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS HA@EVs-PFD, as a drug delivery system that effectively targets and inhibits activated HSCs to treat hepatic fibrosis, holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent against hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Zongyu Liu
- Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Jie Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yuhong Man
- Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Jingying Shi
- Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing 100144, China.
| | - Xiang Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Yang Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Ye Bi
- Practice Training Center, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China.
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Voytyuk O, Ohata Y, Moustakas A, Ten Dijke P, Heldin CH. Smad7 palmitoylation by the S-acyltransferase zDHHC17 enhances its inhibitory effect on TGF-β/Smad signaling. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107462. [PMID: 38876303 PMCID: PMC11277750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular signaling by the pleiotropic cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is inhibited by Smad7 in a feedback control mechanism. The activity of Smad7 is tightly regulated by multiple post-translational modifications. Using resin-assisted capture and metabolic labeling methods, we show here that Smad7 is S-palmitoylated in mammary epithelial cell models that are widely studied because of their strong responses to TGF-β and their biological relevance to mammary development and tumor progression. S-palmitoylation of Smad7 is mediated by zDHHC17, a member of a family of 23 S-acyltransferase enzymes. Moreover, we identified four cysteine residues (Cys202, Cys225, Cys415, and Cys417) in Smad7 as palmitoylation acceptor sites. S-palmitoylation of Smad7 on Cys415 and Cys417 promoted the translocation of Smad7 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, enhanced the stability of the Smad7 protein, and enforced its inhibitory effect on TGF-β-induced Smad transcriptional response. Thus, our findings reveal a new post-translational modification of Smad7, and highlight an important role of S-palmitoylation to enhance inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling by Smad7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Voytyuk
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Box 582, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Yae Ohata
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Box 582, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Box 582, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Box 582, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Panditrao Lahane G, Dhar A. Renoprotective effect of Nesfatin-1 in Adenine-Induced Chronic kidney Disease: An in vitro and in vivo study. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116284. [PMID: 38750903 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) presents a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options. Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide, has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties in various diseases. However, the role of nesfatin-1 in CKD remains unclear. This study investigates the potential renoprotective effects of nesfatin-1 in adenine-induced CKD mice and in NRK-52E renal epithelial cells. Male C57BL/6J mice and NRK-52E renal epithelial cells were administered adenine to induce CKD. Various aspects of renal function, histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and renal interstitial fibrosis were assessed and downstream pathways were investigated. Adenine-fed mice exhibited reduced nesfatin-1 expression and increased markers of kidney damage, including elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and histological abnormalities, reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Treatment with nesfatin-1 in adenine induced mice significantly reversed these changes. Nesfatin-1 also lowered calcium levels and the expression of inflammatory markers, including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Nf-kB. Furthermore, nesfatin-1 reduced the expression of apoptotic markers (Caspase-3, Caspase-1, Bax/Bcl2 ratio) and restored the balance of Bcl2 and MMP. Lastly, nesfatin-1 attenuated fibrotic markers (Tgf-β, Smad2/3,4, type IV collagen, α-SMA) in both adenine-induced CKD mice and NRK-52E cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that nesfatin-1 may enhance kidney function in adenine-induced CKD mice and NRK-52E cells. The renoprotective effects of nesfatin-1 are likely associated with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Panditrao Lahane
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Arti Dhar
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India.
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Nong J, Shen S, Hong F, Xiao F, Meng L, Li P, Lei X, Chen YG. Verteporfin inhibits TGF-β signaling by disrupting the Smad2/3-Smad4 interaction. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar95. [PMID: 38696259 PMCID: PMC11244160 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e24-02-0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a crucial role in pathogenesis, such as accelerating tissue fibrosis and promoting tumor development at the later stages of tumorigenesis by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer cell migration, and invasion. Targeting TGF-β signaling is a promising therapeutic approach, but nonspecific inhibition may result in adverse effects. In this study, we focus on the Smad2/3-Smad4 complex, a key component in TGF-β signaling transduction, as a potential target for cancer therapy. Through a phase-separated condensate-aided biomolecular interaction system, we identified verteporfin (VP) as a small-molecule inhibitor that specifically targets the Smad2/3-Smad4 interaction. VP effectively disrupted the interaction between Smad2/3 and Smad4 and thereby inhibited canonical TGF-β signaling, but not the interaction between Smad1 and Smad4 in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Furthermore, VP exhibited inhibitory effects on TGF-β-induced EMT and cell migration. Our findings indicate a novel approach to develop protein-protein interaction inhibitors of the canonical TGF-β signaling pathway for treatments of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxiu Nong
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shengqiang Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Fan Hong
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fan Xiao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lingtian Meng
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pilong Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaoguang Lei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, Guangdong Province, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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Song Y, Gu D, Gao N, Sa H, Wang R, Fang L, Yuan Z. Smad4 deficiency inhibits lung metastases through enhancing phagocytosis of lung interstitial macrophages. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 715:150007. [PMID: 38678783 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Smad4, a critical mediator of TGF-β signaling, plays a pivotal role in regulating various cellular functions, including immune responses. In this study, we investigated the impact of Smad4 knockout specifically in macrophages on anti-tumor immunity, focusing on lung metastasis of B16 melanoma cells. Using a mouse model with Smad4 knockout in macrophages established via Lyz2-cre mice and Smad4 flox/flox mice, we demonstrated a significant inhibition of B16 metastasis in the lungs. Interestingly, the inhibition of tumor growth was found to be independent of adaptive immunity, as no significant changes were observed in the numbers or activities of T cells, B cells, or NK cells. Instead, Smad4 knockout led to the emergence of an MCHIIlow CD206high subset of lung interstitial macrophages, characterized by enhanced phagocytosis function. Our findings highlight the crucial role of Smad4 in modulating the innate immune response against tumors and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies targeting lung interstitial macrophages to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Song
- Changchun Medical College, 6177, Jilin Street, Changchun, 130031, China.
| | - Dongxu Gu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, The Third Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 2, Xiantai Street, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Nan Gao
- Laboratory Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of CCUCM, 1643, Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Huanlan Sa
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 1, Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Ruonan Wang
- Changchun Medical College, 6177, Jilin Street, Changchun, 130031, China.
| | - Lin Fang
- Changchun Medical College, 6177, Jilin Street, Changchun, 130031, China.
| | - Zhaoxin Yuan
- Changchun Medical College, 6177, Jilin Street, Changchun, 130031, China.
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Lei T, Lin Y, Lai X, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Wang X, Liu W, Tang Q, Yang T, Feng W, Song W. ITGB5 facilitates gastric cancer metastasis by promoting TGFBR2 endosomal recycling. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216953. [PMID: 38729557 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
TGFBR2, a key regulator of the TGFβ signaling pathway, plays a crucial role in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis through its endosomal recycling process. Despite its importance, the mechanisms governing this process remain unclear. Here, we identify integrin β5 (ITGB5) as a critical mediator that promotes TGFBR2 endosomal recycling. Our study reveals elevated expression of ITGB5 in GC, particularly in metastatic cases, correlating with poor patient outcomes. Knockdown of ITGB5 impairs GC cell metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ITGB5 facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by TGFβ signaling, thereby enhancing GC metastasis. Acting as a scaffold, ITGB5 interacts with TGFBR2 and SNX17, facilitating SNX17-mediated endosomal recycling of TGFBR2 and preventing lysosomal degradation, thereby maintaining its surface distribution on tumor cells. Notably, TGFβ signaling directly upregulates ITGB5 expression, establishing a positive feedback loop that exacerbates GC metastasis. Our findings shed light on the role of ITGB5 in promoting GC metastasis through SNX17-mediated endosomal recycling of TGFBR2, providing insights for the development of targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiang Lei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Yingying Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiaofan Lai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Yongxin Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Yuanchen Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Wenwei Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Qiao Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Wei Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Bioclinicum, Solna, 17177, Sweden
| | - Wu Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
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Onda N, Nakamichi S, Hirao M, Matsuda K, Matsumoto M, Miyanaga A, Noro R, Gemma A, Seike M. Afatinib plus PEM and CBDCA overcome osimertinib resistance in EGFR-mutated NSCLC with high thrombospondin-1 expression. Cancer Sci 2024. [PMID: 38941131 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Osimertinib induces a marked response in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations. However, acquired resistance to osimertinib remains an inevitable problem. In this study, we aimed to investigate osimertinib-resistant mechanisms and evaluate the combination therapy of afatinib and chemotherapy. We established osimertinib-resistant cell lines (PC-9-OR and H1975-OR) from EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma cell lines PC-9 and H1975 by high exposure and stepwise method. Combination therapy of afatinib plus carboplatin (CBDCA) and pemetrexed (PEM) was effective in both parental and osimertinib-resistant cells. We found that expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was upregulated in resistant cells using cDNA microarray analysis. We demonstrated that TSP-1 increases the expression of matrix metalloproteinases through integrin signaling and promotes tumor invasion in both PC-9-OR and H1975-OR, and that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was involved in H1975-OR. Afatinib plus CBDCA and PEM reversed TSP-1-induced invasion ability and EMT changes in resistant cells. In PC-9-OR xenograft mouse models (five female Balb/c-Nude mice in each group), combination therapy strongly inhibited tumor growth compared with afatinib monotherapy (5 mg/kg, orally, five times per week) or CBDCA (75 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, one time per week) + PEM (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, one time per week) over a 28-day period. These results suggest that the combination of afatinib plus CBDCA and PEM, which effectively suppresses TSP-1 expression, may be a promising option in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients after the acquisition of osimertinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Onda
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Nakamichi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Hirao
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kuniko Matsuda
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Matsumoto
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Miyanaga
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rintaro Noro
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Gemma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Seike
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
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Sheng X, Zhang C, Zhao J, Xu J, Zhang P, Ding Q, Zhang J. Microvascular destabilization and intricated network of the cytokines in diabetic retinopathy: from the perspective of cellular and molecular components. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:85. [PMID: 38937783 PMCID: PMC11212265 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01269-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Microvascular destabilization is the primary cause of the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB) breakdown and increased vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Microvascular destabilization results from the combinational effects of increased levels of growth factors and cytokines, involvement of inflammation, and the changed cell-to-cell interactions, especially the loss of endothelial cells and pericytes, due to hyperglycemia and hypoxia. As the manifestation of microvascular destabilization, the fluid transports via paracellular and transcellular routes increase due to the disruption of endothelial intercellular junctional complexes and/or the altered caveolar transcellular transport across the retinal vascular endothelium. With diabetes progression, the functional and the structural changes of the iBRB components, including the cellular and noncellular components, further facilitate and aggravate microvascular destabilization, resulting in macular edema, the neuroretinal damage and the dysfunction of retinal inner neurovascular unit (iNVU). Although there have been considerable recent advances towards a better understanding of the complex cellular and molecular network underlying the microvascular destabilization, some still remain to be fully elucidated. Recent data indicate that targeting the intricate signaling pathways may allow to against the microvascular destabilization. Therefore, efforts have been made to better clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in the microvascular destabilization in DR. In this review, we discuss: (1) the brief introduction of DR and microvascular destabilization; (2) the cellular and molecular components of iBRB and iNVU, and the breakdown of iBRB; (3) the matrix and cell-to-cell contacts to maintain microvascular stabilization, including the endothelial glycocalyx, basement membrane, and various cell-cell interactions; (4) the molecular mechanisms mediated cell-cell contacts and vascular cell death; (5) the altered cytokines and signaling pathways as well as the intricate network of the cytokines involved in microvascular destabilization. This comprehensive review aimed to provide the insights for microvascular destabilization by targeting the key molecules or specific iBRB cells, thus restoring the function and structure of iBRB and iNVU, to treat DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Sheng
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiwei Zhao
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jianping Xu
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Quanju Ding
- People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- The International Eye Research Institute of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China.
- C-MER (Shenzhen) Dennis Lam Eye Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- C-MER International Eye Care Group, C-MER Dennis Lam & Partners Eye Center, Hong Kong, China.
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Li L, Lu L, Xiao Z, Lv J, Huang H, Wu B, Zhao T, Li C, Wang W, Wang H. Deamidation enables pathogenic SMAD6 variants to activate the BMP signaling pathway. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024:10.1007/s11427-023-2532-5. [PMID: 38913236 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2532-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The BMP signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating early embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. SMAD6 encodes a negative regulator of BMP, and rare variants of SMAD6 are recurrently found in individuals with birth defects. However, we observed that a subset of rare pathogenic variants of SMAD6 consistently exhibited positive regulatory effects instead of the initial negative effects on the BMP signaling pathway. We sought to determine whether these SMAD6 variants have common pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we showed that pathogenic SMAD6 variants accompanying this functional reversal exhibit similar increases in deamidation. Mechanistically, increased deamidation of SMAD6 variants promotes the accumulation of the BMP receptor BMPR1A and the formation of new complexes, both of which lead to BMP signaling pathway activation. Specifically, two residues, N262 and N404, in SMAD6 were identified as the crucial sites of deamidation, which was catalyzed primarily by glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2 (GFPT2). Additionally, treatment of cells harboring SMAD6 variants with a deamidase inhibitor restored the inhibitory effect of SMAD6 on the BMP signaling pathway. Conversely, when wild-type SMAD6 was manually simulated to mimic the deamidated state, the reversed function of activating BMP signaling was reproduced. Taken together, these findings show that deamidation of SMAD6 plays a crucial role in the functional reversal of BMP signaling activity, which can be induced by a subset of various SMAD6 variants. Our study reveals a common pathogenic mechanism shared by these variants and provides a potential strategy for preventing birth defects through deamidation regulation, which might prevent the off-target effects of gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Reproduction and Development, and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Lei Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Ziqi Xiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingyi Lv
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Reproduction and Development, and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Reproduction and Development, and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200090, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, 518028, China
| | - Tongjin Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Chengtao Li
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Reproduction and Development, and Children's Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200090, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, 518028, China.
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Yan W, Rao D, Fan F, Liang H, Zhang Z, Dong H. Hepatitis B virus X protein and TGF-β: partners in the carcinogenic journey of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1407434. [PMID: 38962270 PMCID: PMC11220127 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1407434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B infection is substantially associated with the development of liver cancer globally, with the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases exceeding 50%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes the Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein, a pleiotropic regulatory protein necessary for the transcription of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) microchromosome. In previous studies, HBV-associated HCC was revealed to be affected by HBx in multiple signaling pathways, resulting in genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In addition, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has dichotomous potentials at various phases of malignancy as it is a crucial signaling pathway that regulates multiple cellular and physiological processes. In early HCC, TGF-β has a significant antitumor effect, whereas in advanced HCC, it promotes malignant progression. TGF-β interacts with the HBx protein in HCC, regulating the pathogenesis of HCC. This review summarizes the respective and combined functions of HBx and TGB-β in HCC occurrence and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yan
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dean Rao
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Feimu Fan
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, National Health Commission (NHC), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zunyi Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hanhua Dong
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Wang M, Ding X, Fang X, Xu J, Chen Y, Qian Y, Zhang J, Yu D, Zhang X, Ma X, Zhu T, Gu J, Zhang X. Circ6834 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer progression by destabilizing ANHAK and regulating miR-873-5p/TXNIP axis. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:128. [PMID: 38890620 PMCID: PMC11184876 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the expression profiles and biological roles of circRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. METHODS In this study, we identified a novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0006834 (termed circ6834), in NSCLC by RNA-seq and investigated the biological role of circ6834 in NSCLC progression in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the molecular mechanism of circ6834 was revealed by tagged RNA affinity purification (TRAP), western blot, RNA immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter gene assays and rescue experiments. RESULTS Our results showed that circ6834 was downregulated in NSCLC tumor tissues and cell lines. Circ6834 overexpression inhibited NSCLC cell growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, while circ6834 knockdown had the opposite effect. We found that TGF-β treatment decreased circ6834 expression, which was associated with the QKI reduction in NSCLC cells and circ6834 antagonized TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, circ6834 bound to AHNAK protein, a key regulator of TGF-β/Smad signaling, and inhibited its stability by enhancing TRIM25-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. In addition, circ6834 acted as a miRNA sponge for miR-873-5p and upregulated TXNIP gene expression, which together inactivated the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in NSCLC cells. CONCLUSION In conclusion, circ6834 is a tumor-suppressive circRNA that inhibits NSCLC progression by forming a negative regulatory feedback loop with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and represents a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoye Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Xiaoge Ding
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Xinjian Fang
- Department of Oncology, Gaochun Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Nanjing, 211300, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Yanke Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Yu Qian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Jiahui Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Xiaoxin Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Xiuqin Ma
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yixing Hospital affiliated to Jiangsu University, Yixing, 214200, China
| | - Taofeng Zhu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yixing Hospital affiliated to Jiangsu University, Yixing, 214200, China.
| | - Jianmei Gu
- Departmemt of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nantong Tumor Hospital/Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226300, China.
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
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Cui L, Li X, Chen Z, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Han Z, Liu S, Li H. Integrative RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis unveils metabolic regulation as a conserved antiviral mechanism of chicken p53. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0030924. [PMID: 38888361 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00309-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor p53, primarily functioning as a transcription factor, has exhibited antiviral capabilities against various viruses in chickens, including infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), and avian infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). Nevertheless, the existence of a universal antiviral mechanism employed by chicken p53 (chp53) against these viruses remains uncertain. This study conducted a comprehensive comparison of molecular networks involved in chp53's antiviral function against IBDV, ALV-J, and ILTV. This was achieved through an integrated analysis of ChIP-seq data, examining chp53's genome-wide chromatin occupancy, and RNA-seq data from chicken cells infected with these viruses. The consistent observation of chp53 target gene enrichment in metabolic pathways, confirmed via ChIP-qPCR, suggests a ubiquitous regulation of host cellular metabolism by chp53 across different viruses. Further genome binding motif conservation analysis and transcriptional co-factor prediction suggest conserved transcriptional regulation mechanism by which chp53 regulates host cellular metabolism during viral infection. These findings offer novel insights into the antiviral role of chp53 and propose that targeting the virus-host metabolic interaction through regulating p53 could serve as a universal strategy for antiviral therapies in chickens.IMPORTANCEThe current study conducted a comprehensive analysis, comparing molecular networks underlying chp53's antiviral role against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), and avian infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). This was achieved through a combined assessment of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data obtained from infected chicken cells. Notably, enrichment of chp53 target genes in metabolic pathways was consistently observed across viral infections, indicating a universal role of chp53 in regulating cellular metabolism during diverse viral infections. These findings offer novel insights into the antiviral capabilities of chicken p53, laying a foundation for the potential development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Cui
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Zhijie Chen
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Zheyi Liu
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Zongxi Han
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Shengwang Liu
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Hai Li
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
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35
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Xiao Y, Wang Z, Gu M, Wei P, Wang X, Li W. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: heterogeneity and their role in the tumor immune response. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:126. [PMID: 38864912 PMCID: PMC11169017 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, many reports have been published on the composition and function of the tumor microenvironment (TME), among which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have received much attention. CAFs have different degrees of heterogeneity in terms of their origin, phenotype, and function and can be divided into different subpopulations. These subgroups may play different roles in the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, CAFs are closely associated with tumor immunity and have been found to regulate immune cell activity and to suppress the tumor immune response. In this review, we systematize the heterogeneity and characteristics of CAFs, discuss how specific CAF subgroups contribute to cancer progression by inducing an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and finally, we examine the future clinical applications of CAF subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Xiao
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Panjian Wei
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojue Wang
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Weiying Li
- Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China.
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Singh A, Bhatt KS, Nguyen HC, Frisbee JC, Singh KK. Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6180. [PMID: 38892367 PMCID: PMC11173124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Under different pathophysiological conditions, endothelial cells lose endothelial phenotype and gain mesenchymal cell-like phenotype via a process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). At the molecular level, endothelial cells lose the expression of endothelial cell-specific markers such as CD31/platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule, von Willebrand factor, and vascular-endothelial cadherin and gain the expression of mesenchymal cell markers such as α-smooth muscle actin, N-cadherin, vimentin, fibroblast specific protein-1, and collagens. EndMT is induced by numerous different pathways triggered and modulated by multiple different and often redundant mechanisms in a context-dependent manner depending on the pathophysiological status of the cell. EndMT plays an essential role in embryonic development, particularly in atrioventricular valve development; however, EndMT is also implicated in the pathogenesis of several genetically determined and acquired diseases, including malignant, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and fibrotic disorders. Among cardiovascular diseases, aberrant EndMT is reported in atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, fibroelastosis, and cardiac fibrosis. Accordingly, understanding the mechanisms behind the cause and/or effect of EndMT to eventually target EndMT appears to be a promising strategy for treating aberrant EndMT-associated diseases. However, this approach is limited by a lack of precise functional and molecular pathways, causes and/or effects, and a lack of robust animal models and human data about EndMT in different diseases. Here, we review different mechanisms in EndMT and the role of EndMT in various cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Singh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Kriti S. Bhatt
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Hien C. Nguyen
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Jefferson C. Frisbee
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Krishna K. Singh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (A.S.); (K.S.B.); (H.C.N.); (J.C.F.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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Fang X, Zhou J, Yang Y, Li D, Wang B. Integrating scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to explore the differentiation mechanism of human nail stem cells mediated by onychofibroblasts. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1416780. [PMID: 38887517 PMCID: PMC11181305 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1416780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Nail stem cell (NSC) differentiation plays a vital role in maintaining nail homeostasis and facilitating digit regeneration. Recently, onychofibroblasts (OFs), specialized mesenchymal cells beneath the nail matrix, have emerged as potential regulators of NSC differentiation. However, limited understanding of OFs' cellular properties and transcriptomic profiles hinders our comprehension of their role. This study aims to characterize human OFs and investigate their involvement in NSC differentiation. Methods: Human OFs were isolated and characterized for their mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like phenotype through flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation assays. Bulk RNA-seq analysis was conducted on three samples of OFs and control fibroblasts from human nail units to delineate their molecular features. Integrated analysis with scRNA-seq data was performed to identify key signaling pathways involved in OF-induced NSC differentiation. Co-culture experiments, siRNA transfection, RT-qPCR, and immunocytochemistry were employed to investigate the effect of OF-derived soluble proteins on NSC differentiation. Drug treatments, RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were used to verify the regulation of candidate signaling pathways on NSC differentiation in vitro. Results: Human OFs exhibited slow cell cycle kinetics, expressed typical MSC markers, and demonstrated multilineage differentiation potential. Bulk RNA-seq analysis revealed differential gene expression in OFs compared to control fibroblasts, highlighting their role in coordinating nail development. Integrated analysis identified BMP4 as a pivotal signal for OFs to participate in NSC differentiation through mesenchymal-epithelial interactions, with the TGF-beta pathway possibly mediating this signal. OFs synthesized and secreted more BMP4 than control fibroblasts, and BMP4 derived from OFs induced NSC differentiation in a co-culture model. Recombinant human BMP4 activated the TGF-beta pathway in NSCs, leading to cell differentiation, while the BMP type I receptor inhibitor LDN193189 attenuated this effect. Discussion: This study characterizes the cellular and molecular features of human OFs, demonstrating their ability to regulate NSC differentiation via the TGF-beta signaling pathway. These findings establish a connection between the dermal microenvironment and NSC differentiation, suggesting the potential of OFs, in conjunction with NSCs, for developing novel therapies targeting nail and digit defects, even severe limb amputation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Fang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiateng Zhou
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yating Yang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Mansour MA, Hassan GS, Serya RAT, Jaballah MY, Abouzid KAM. Advances in the discovery of activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107332. [PMID: 38581966 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Activin receptor‑like kinase-5 (ALK5) is an outstanding member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family. (TGF-β) signaling pathway integrates pleiotropic proteins that regulate various cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation within the signaling pathway can cause variety of diseases, such as fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, and especially cancer, rendering ALK5 a potential drug target. Hence, various small molecules have been designed and synthesized as potent ALK5 inhibitors. In this review, we shed light on the current ATP-competitive inhibitors of ALK5 through diverse heterocyclic based scaffolds that are in clinical or pre-clinical phases of development. Moreover, we focused on the binding interactions of the compounds to the ATP binding site and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of each scaffold, revealing new scopes for designing novel candidates with enhanced selectivity and metabolic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai A Mansour
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Ghaneya S Hassan
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Rabah A T Serya
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Egypt
| | - Maiy Y Jaballah
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Egypt
| | - Khaled A M Abouzid
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Egypt.
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Song Z, Li W, He Q, Xie X, Wang X, Guo J. Natural products - Dawn of keloid treatment. Fitoterapia 2024; 175:105918. [PMID: 38554887 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2024.105918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Keloids are prevalent pathological scars, often leading to cosmetic deformities and hindering joint mobility.They cause discomfort, including burning and itching, while gradually expanding and potentially posing a risk of cancer.Developing effective drugs and treatments for keloids has been a persistent challenge in the medical field. Natural products are an important source of innovative drugs and a breakthrough for many knotty disease.Herein, keywords of "natural, plant, compound, extract" were combined with "keloid" and searched in PubMed and Google Scholar, respectively. A total of 32 natural products as well as 9 extracts possessing the potential for treating keloids were ultimately identified.Current research in this field faces a significant challenge due to the lack of suitable animal models, resulting in a predominant reliance on in vitro studies.In vivo and clinical studies are notably scarce as a result.Moreover, there is a notable deficiency in research focusing on the role of nutrients in keloid formation and treatment.The appropriate dosage form (oral, topical, injectable) is crucial for the development of natural product drugs. Finally, the conclusion was hereby made that natural products, when used as adjuncts to other treatments, hold significant potential in the management of keloids.By summarizing the natural products and elucidating their mechanisms in keloid treatment, the present study aims to stimulate further discoveries and research in drug development for effectively addressing this challenging condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongzhou Song
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Wenquan Li
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Qingying He
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Xin Xie
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Xurui Wang
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610036, China.
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40
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Shen X, Mai R, Han X, Wang Q, Wang Y, Ji T, Tong Y, Chen P, Zhao J, He X, Wen T, Liang R, Lin Y, Luo X, Cai X. BTLA deficiency promotes HSC activation and protects against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0449. [PMID: 38840336 PMCID: PMC11155569 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is unavoidable even despite the development of more effective surgical approaches. During hepatic IRI, activated HSC (aHSC) are involved in liver injury and recovery. APPROACH AND RESULT A proportion of aHSC increased significantly both in the mouse liver tissues with IRI and in the primary mouse HSCs and LX-2 cells during hypoxia-reoxygenation. "Loss-of-function" experiments revealed that depleting aHSC with gliotoxin exacerbated liver damage in IRI mice. Subsequently, we found that the transcription of mRNA and the expression of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) protein were lower in aHSC compared with quiescent HSCs. Interestingly, overexpression or knockdown of BTLA resulted in opposite changes in the activation of specific markers for HSCs such as collagen type I alpha 1, α-smooth muscle actin, and Vimentin. Moreover, the upregulation of these markers was also observed in the liver tissues of global BLTA-deficient (BTLA-/-) mice and was higher after hepatic IRI. Compared with wild-type mice, aHSC were higher, and liver injury was lower in BTLA-/- mice following IRI. However, the depletion of aHSC reversed these effects. In addition, the depletion of aHSC significantly exacerbated liver damage in BTLA-/- mice with hepatic IRI. Furthermore, the TGF-β1 signaling pathway was identified as a potential mechanism for BTLA to negatively regulate the activation of HSCs in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS These novel findings revealed a critical role of BTLA. Particularly, the receptor inhibits HSC-activated signaling in acute IRI, implying that it is a potential immunotherapeutic target for decreasing the IRI risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Rongyun Mai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Han
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yifan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Tong Ji
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yifan Tong
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan He
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Tong Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Rong Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Key Laboratory of Endoscopic Technology Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Wei E, Hu M, Wu L, Pan X, Zhu Q, Liu H, Liu Y. TGF-β signaling regulates differentiation of MSCs in bone metabolism: disputes among viewpoints. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:156. [PMID: 38816830 PMCID: PMC11140988 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03761-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into cells of different lineages to form mesenchymal tissues, which are promising in regard to treatment for bone diseases. Their osteogenic differentiation is under the tight regulation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is an essential growth factor in bone metabolism, which regulates the differentiation of MSCs. However, published studies differ in their views on whether TGF-β signaling regulates the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs positively or negatively. The controversial results have not been summarized systematically and the related explanations are required. Therefore, we reviewed the basics of TGF-β signaling and summarized how each of three isoforms regulates osteogenic differentiation. Three isoforms of TGF-β (TGF-β1/β2/β3) play distinct roles in regulating osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Additionally, other possible sources of conflicts are summarized here. Further understanding of TGF-β signaling regulation in MSCs may lead to new applications to promote bone regeneration and improve therapies for bone diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erfan Wei
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Menglong Hu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Likun Wu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Xingtong Pan
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Qiyue Zhu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Hao Liu
- Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials , Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
| | - Yunsong Liu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices& Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , No.22, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, PR China.
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Hu B, Zhang X, Fan H, Jin X, Qi Y, Liu R, Li X, Duan M, Zhang C, Li S, Yao W, Hao C. FOXF1 reverses lung fibroblasts transdifferentiation via inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112067. [PMID: 38608444 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Silicosis is one of the most common and severe types of pneumoconiosis and is characterized by lung dysfunction, persistent lung inflammation, pulmonary nodule formation, and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. The transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts is one of the main reasons for the exacerbation of silicosis. However, the underlying mechanism of transcription factors regulating silicosis fibrosis has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of transcription factor FOXF1 in fibroblast transdifferentiation in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, a silicosis mouse model was established, and we found that FOXF1 expression level was significantly down-regulated in the silicosis group, and after overexpression of FOXF1 by adeno-associated virus (AAV), FOXF1 expression level was up-regulated, and silicosis fibrosis was alleviated. In order to further explore the specific regulatory mechanism of FOXF1 in silicosis, we established a fibroblasts transdifferentiation model induced by TGF-β in vitro. In the model, the expression levels of SMAD2/3 and P-SMAD2/3 were up-regulated, but the expression levels of SMAD2/3 and P-SMAD2/3 were down-regulated, inhibiting transdifferentiation and accumulation of extracellular matrix after the overexpressed FOXF1 plasmid was constructed. However, after silencing FOXF1, the expression levels of SMAD2/3 and P-SMAD2/3 were further up-regulated, aggravating transdifferentiation and accumulation of extracellular matrix. These results indicate that the activation of FOXF1 in fibroblasts can slow down the progression of silicosis fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD2/3 classical pathway, which provides a new idea for further exploration of silicosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Botao Hu
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Xuesong Zhang
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Department of Ultrasound, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Xiaofei Jin
- Department of Ultrasound, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Yuanmeng Qi
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Ruimin Liu
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Meixiu Duan
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | | | - Shiyu Li
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Wu Yao
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Changfu Hao
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China.
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Aguado-Alvaro LP, Garitano N, Pelacho B. Fibroblast Diversity and Epigenetic Regulation in Cardiac Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6004. [PMID: 38892192 PMCID: PMC11172550 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, a process characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a common pathological consequence of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) normally resulting in organ failure and death. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play an essential role in deleterious cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In response to injury, quiescent CFs become activated and adopt a collagen-secreting phenotype highly contributing to cardiac fibrosis. In recent years, studies have been focused on the exploration of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in the activation process of CFs, which allow the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Transcriptomic analyses using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have helped to elucidate the high cellular diversity and complex intercellular communication networks that CFs establish in the mammalian heart. Furthermore, a significant body of work supports the critical role of epigenetic regulation on the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. The study of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, has provided more insights into CF activation and fibrotic processes. Targeting epigenetic regulators, especially DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), histone acetylases (HAT), or histone deacetylases (HDAC), has emerged as a promising approach for the development of novel anti-fibrotic therapies. This review focuses on recent transcriptomic advances regarding CF diversity and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the activation process of CFs and their possible clinical applications for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pilar Aguado-Alvaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Garitano
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pelacho
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Reed EB, Sitikov A, Hamanaka RB, Cetin-Atalay R, Mutlu GM, Mongin AA, Dulin NO. Critical role of Gα12 and Gα13 proteins in TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596473. [PMID: 38854083 PMCID: PMC11160726 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Myofibroblast differentiation, characterized by accumulation of cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins by fibroblasts, is a key process in wound healing and pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the most powerful known driver of myofibroblast differentiation. TGF-β signals through transmembrane receptor serine/threonine kinases that phosphorylate Smad transcription factors (Smad2/3) leading to activation of transcription of target genes. Heterotrimeric G proteins mediate a distinct signaling from seven-transmembrane G protein coupled receptors, not commonly linked to Smad activation. We asked if G protein signaling plays any role in TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation, using primary cultured human lung fibroblasts. Activation of Gαs by cholera toxin blocked TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation without affecting Smad2/3 phosphorylation. Inhibition of Gαi by pertussis toxin, or siRNA-mediated combined knockdown of Gαq and Gα11 had no significant effect on TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation. A combined knockdown of Gα12 and Gα13 resulted in a drastic inhibition of TGF-β-stimulated expression of myofibroblast marker proteins (collagen-1, fibronectin, smooth-muscle α-actin), with siGα12 being significantly more potent than siGα13. Mechanistically, a combined knockdown of Gα12 and Gα13 resulted in a substantially reduced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 in response to TGF-β, which was accompanied by a significant decrease in the expression of TGFβ receptors (TGFBR1, TGFBR2) and of Smad3 under siGα12/13 conditions. In conclusion, our study uncovers a novel role of Gα12/13 proteins in the control of TGF-β signaling and myofibroblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor B. Reed
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Albert Sitikov
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Robert B. Hamanaka
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rengül Cetin-Atalay
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gökhan M. Mutlu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alexander A. Mongin
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
| | - Nickolai O. Dulin
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Ilg MM, Bustin SA, Ralph DJ, Cellek S. TGF-β1 induces formation of TSG-6-enriched extracellular vesicles in fibroblasts which can prevent myofibroblast transformation by modulating Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12389. [PMID: 38811625 PMCID: PMC11136978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles have emerged as important mediators of cell-to-cell communication in the pathophysiology of fibrotic diseases. One such disease is Peyronie's disease (PD), a fibrotic disorder of the penis caused by uncontrolled transformation of resident fibroblasts to alpha-smooth muscle actin positive myofibroblasts. These cells produce large amounts of extracellular matrix, leading to formation of a plaque in the penile tunica albuginea (TA), causing pain, penile curvature, and erectile dysfunction. We have used primary fibroblasts derived from the TA of PD patients to explore the role of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a key signalling factor in this process. TGF-β1 treatment elicited a range of responses from the myofibroblasts: (i) they secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) that were more numerous and differed in size and shape from those secreted by fibroblasts, (ii) these EVs prevented TGF-β1-induced transformation of fibroblasts in a manner that was dependent on vesicle uptake and (iii) they prevented phosphorylation of Erk1/2, a critical component in modulating fibrogenic phenotypic responses, but did not affect TGF-β1-induced Smad-signalling. We posit that this effect could be linked to enrichment of TSG-6 in myofibroblast-derived EVs. The ability of myofibroblast-derived vesicles to prevent further myofibroblast transformation may establish them as part of an anti-fibrotic negative feedback loop, with potential to be exploited for future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus M Ilg
- Medical Technology Research Centre, HEMS, SoAH, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ, UK
| | - Stephen A Bustin
- Medical Technology Research Centre, HEMS, SoAH, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ, UK
| | - David J Ralph
- Medical Technology Research Centre, HEMS, SoAH, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ, UK
- Urology Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Selim Cellek
- Medical Technology Research Centre, HEMS, SoAH, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ, UK.
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Qi T, Zhou Y, Sheng Y, Li Z, Yang Y, Liu Q, Ge Q. Prediction of Transcription Factor Binding Sites on Cell-Free DNA Based on Deep Learning. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4002-4008. [PMID: 38798191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are important regulatory elements for vital cellular activities, and the identification of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) can help to explore gene regulatory mechanisms. Research studies have proved that cfDNA (cell-free DNA) shows relatively higher coverage at TFBS due to the protection by TF from degradation by nucleases and short fragments of cfDNA are enriched in TFBS. However, there are still great difficulties in the noninvasive identification of TFBSs from experimental techniques. In this study, we propose a deep learning-based approach that can noninvasively predict TFBSs of cfDNA by learning sequence information from known TFBSs through convolutional neural networks. Under the addition of long short-term memory, our model achieved an area under the curve of 84%. Based on this model to predict cfDNA, we found consistent motifs in cfDNA fragments and lower coverage occurred upstream and downstream of these cfDNA fragments, which is consistent with a previous study. We also found that the binding sites of the same TF differ in different cell lines. TF-specific target genes were detected from cfDNA and were enriched in cancer-related pathways. In summary, our method of locating TFBSs from plasma has the potential to reflect the intrinsic regulatory mechanism from a noninvasive perspective and provide technical guidance for dynamic monitoring of disease in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuwei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Quanjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinyu Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China
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Houchen CJ, Ghanem S, Kaartinen V, Bumann EE. TGF-β Signaling in Cranial Neural Crest Affects Late-Stage Mandibular Bone Resorption and Length. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595783. [PMID: 38826301 PMCID: PMC11142237 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Malocclusions are common craniofacial malformations which cause quality of life and health problems if left untreated. Unfortunately, the current treatment for severe skeletal malocclusion is invasive surgery. Developing improved therapeutic options requires a deeper understanding of the cellular mechanisms responsible for determining jaw bone length. We have recently shown that neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) can alter jaw length by controlling recruitment and function of mesoderm-derived osteoclasts. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling is critical to craniofacial development by directing bone resorption and formation, and heterozygous mutations in TGF-β type I receptor (TGFBR1) are associated with micrognathia in humans. To identify what role TGF-β signaling in NCM plays in controlling osteoclasts during mandibular development, mandibles of mouse embryos deficient in the gene encoding Tgfbr1 specifically in NCM were analyzed. Our lab and others have demonstrated that Tgfbr1fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre mice display significantly shorter mandibles with no condylar, coronoid, or angular processes. We hypothesize that TGF-β signaling in NCM can also direct later bone remodeling and further regulate late embryonic jaw bone length. Interestingly, analysis of mandibular bone through micro-computed tomography and Masson's trichrome revealed no significant difference in bone quality between the Tgfbr1fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre mice and controls, as measured by bone perimeter/bone area, trabecular rod-like diameter, number and separation, and gene expression of Collagen type 1 alpha 1 (Col1α1) and Matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13). Though there was not a difference in localization of bone resorption within the mandible indicated by TRAP staining, Tgfbr1fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre mice had approximately three-fold less osteoclast number and perimeter than controls. Gene expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β (Rank) and Mmp9, markers of osteoclasts and their activity, also showed a three-fold decrease in Tgfbr1fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre mandibles. Evaluation of osteoblast-to-osteoclast signaling revealed no significant difference between Tgfbr1fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre mandibles and controls, leaving the specific mechanism unresolved. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of Tgfbr1 signaling during the initiation of bone mineralization and resorption significantly shortened jaw length in embryos. We conclude that TGF-β signaling in NCM decreases mesoderm-derived osteoclast number, that TGF-β signaling in NCM impacts jaw length late in development, and that this osteoblast-to-osteoclast communication may be occurring through an undescribed mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J. Houchen
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Saif Ghanem
- Department Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vesa Kaartinen
- Department Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin Ealba Bumann
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Chen Z, Ou Y, Ye F, Li W, Jiang H, Liu S. Machine learning identifies the role of SMAD6 in the prognosis and drug susceptibility in bladder cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:264. [PMID: 38767747 PMCID: PMC11106122 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bladder cancer (BCa) is among the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting the urinary system. Due to its highly recurrent nature, standard treatments such as surgery often fail to significantly improve patient prognosis. Our research aims to predict prognosis and identify precise therapeutic targets for novel treatment interventions. METHODS We collected and screened genes related to the TGF-β signaling pathway and performed unsupervised clustering analysis on TCGA-BLCA samples based on these genes. Our analysis revealed two novel subtypes of bladder cancer with completely different biological characteristics, including immune microenvironment, drug sensitivity, and more. Using machine learning classifiers, we identified SMAD6 as a hub gene contributing to these differences and further investigated the role of SMAD6 in bladder cancer in the single-cell transcriptome data. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between SMAD6 and immune checkpoint genes. Finally, we performed a series of in vitro assays to verify the function of SMAD6 in bladder cancer cell lines. RESULTS We have revealed two novel subtypes of bladder cancer, among which C1 exhibits a worse prognosis, lower drug sensitivity, a more complex tumor microenvironment, and a 'colder' immune microenvironment compared to C2. We identified SMAD6 as a key gene responsible for the differences and further explored its impact on the molecular characteristics of bladder cancer. Through in vitro experiments, we found that SMAD6 promoted the prognosis of BCa patients by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of BCa cells. CONCLUSION Our study reveals two novel subtypes of BCa and identifies SMAD6 as a highly promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziang Chen
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxi Ou
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangdie Ye
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijian Li
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haowen Jiang
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shenghua Liu
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Gottumukkala SB, Ganesan TS, Palanisamy A. Comprehensive molecular interaction map of TGFβ induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in breast cancer. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:53. [PMID: 38760412 PMCID: PMC11101644 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00378-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the prevailing cancers globally, with a high mortality rate. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is an advanced stage of cancer, characterised by a highly nonlinear, heterogeneous process involving numerous singling pathways and regulatory interactions. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) emerges as a key mechanism exploited by cancer cells. Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ)-dependent signalling is attributed to promote EMT in advanced stages of breast cancer. A comprehensive regulatory map of TGFβ induced EMT was developed through an extensive literature survey. The network assembled comprises of 312 distinct species (proteins, genes, RNAs, complexes), and 426 reactions (state transitions, nuclear translocations, complex associations, and dissociations). The map was developed by following Systems Biology Graphical Notation (SBGN) using Cell Designer and made publicly available using MINERVA ( http://35.174.227.105:8080/minerva/?id=Metastatic_Breast_Cancer_1 ). While the complete molecular mechanism of MBC is still not known, the map captures the elaborate signalling interplay of TGFβ induced EMT-promoting MBC. Subsequently, the disease map assembled was translated into a Boolean model utilising CaSQ and analysed using Cell Collective. Simulations of these have captured the known experimental outcomes of TGFβ induced EMT in MBC. Hub regulators of the assembled map were identified, and their transcriptome-based analysis confirmed their role in cancer metastasis. Elaborate analysis of this map may help in gaining additional insights into the development and progression of metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trivadi Sundaram Ganesan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Anbumathi Palanisamy
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, India.
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50
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Baro L, Almhassneh RA, Islam A, Juanes MA. Tumor invasiveness is regulated by the concerted function of APC, formins, and Arp2/3 complex. iScience 2024; 27:109687. [PMID: 38680662 PMCID: PMC11053316 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cell invasion is the initial step in metastasis, the leading cause of death from cancer. Invasion requires protrusive cellular structures that steer the migration of leader cells emanating from the tumor mass toward neighboring tissues. Actin is central to these processes and is therefore the prime target of drugs known as migrastatics. However, the broad effects of general actin inhibitors limit their therapeutic use. Here, we delineate the roles of specific actin nucleators in tuning actin-rich invasive protrusions and pinpoint potential pharmacological targets. We subject colorectal cancer spheroids embedded in collagen matrix-a preclinical model mirroring solid tumor invasiveness-to pharmacologic and/or genetic treatment of specific actin arrays to assess their roles in invasiveness. Our data reveal coordinated yet distinct involvement of actin networks nucleated by adenomatous polyposis coli, formins, and actin-related protein 2/3 complex in the biogenesis and maintenance of invasive protrusions. These findings may open avenues for better targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lautaro Baro
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
| | - Rabeah A. Almhassneh
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Asifa Islam
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
| | - M. Angeles Juanes
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Cell Migration and Cancer Invasion Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
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