Krüppel-like factor 8 regulates VEGFA expression and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

miR-29b-3p targetedly regulates VEGF to inhibit tumor progression and cisplatin resistance through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUNDS

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer. Prior investigations have elucidated the pivotal role of miR-29b-3p in restraining tumor growth and metastasis. Nonetheless, it remains to be determined whether miR-29b-3p can effectively suppress NSCLC progression and enhance the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to cisplatin. This investigation sought to determine the mechanism by which miR-29b-3p inhibited the advancement of NSCLC and mitigated resistance to cisplatin.

METHODS

We initially assessed miR-29b-3p and VEGF levels in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Next, miR-29b-3p expression was elevated in NSCLC cell lines H1975 and A549 by overexpression plasmid transfection. Following this, a sequence of molecular biology experiments was conducted to evaluate the impact of miR-29b-3p on the biological behaviors of NSCLC cells and their resistance to cisplatin. Additionally, we predicted VEGF was a target gene of miR-29b-3p by bioinformatics analysis. We next employed western blot to evaluate the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in NSCLC cells. Finally, we elucidated the effects of VEGF and Nrf2/HO-1pathway on NSCLC progression and cisplatin resistance by in vitro assays.

RESULTS

In comparison to paracancerous tissues and human normal lung epithelial cells, the expression of miR-29b-3p was notably reduced and VEGF expression was clearly elevated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Moreover, miR-29b-3p upregulated obviously suppressed the biological activities of NSCLC cells and increased their sensitivity to cisplatin. Furthermore, in NSCLC cells, miR-29b-3p bound to VEGF and negatively regulate its transcription. Additionally, miR-29b-3p overexpression also inhibited the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Finally, the overexpression of VEGF and the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway reversed miR-29b-3p-mediated inhibitory effect on biological behaviors of NSCLC cells and increased the cisplatin resistance.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that miR-29b-3p impedes NSCLC cells' biological behaviors and augments their sensitivity to cisplatin by targeting VEGF to modulate the Nfr2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Adipose tissue macrophage dysfunction is associated with a breach of vascular integrity in NASH

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), monocytes infiltrate visceral adipose tissue promoting local and hepatic inflammation. However, it remains unclear what drives inflammation and how the immune landscape in adipose tissue differs across the NAFLD severity spectrum. We aimed to assess adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) heterogeneity in a NAFLD cohort.

METHODS

Visceral adipose tissue macrophages from lean and obese patients, stratified by NAFLD phenotypes, underwent single-cell RNA sequencing. Adipose tissue vascular integrity and breaching was assessed on a protein level via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to determine targets of interest.

RESULTS

We discovered multiple ATM populations, including resident vasculature-associated macrophages (ResVAMs) and distinct metabolically active macrophages (MMacs). Using trajectory analysis, we show that ResVAMs and MMacs are replenished by a common transitional macrophage (TransMac) subtype and that, during NASH, MMacs are not effectively replenished by TransMac precursors. We postulate an accessory role for MMacs and ResVAMs in protecting the adipose tissue vascular barrier, since they both interact with endothelial cells and localize around the vasculature. However, across the NAFLD severity spectrum, alterations occur in these subsets that parallel an adipose tissue vasculature breach characterized by albumin extravasation into the perivascular tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD-related macrophage dysfunction coincides with a loss of adipose tissue vascular integrity, providing a plausible mechanism by which tissue inflammation is perpetuated in adipose tissue and downstream in the liver.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Our study describes for the first time the myeloid cell landscape in human visceral adipose tissue at single-cell level within a cohort of well-characterized patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We report unique non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-specific transcriptional changes within metabolically active macrophages (MMacs) and resident vasculature-associated macrophages (ResVAMs) and we demonstrate their spatial location surrounding the vasculature. These dysfunctional transcriptional macrophage states coincided with the loss of adipose tissue vascular integrity, providing a plausible mechanism by which tissue inflammation is perpetuated in adipose tissue and downstream in the liver. Our study provides a theoretical basis for new therapeutic strategies to be directed towards reinstating the endogenous metabolic, homeostatic and cytoprotective functions of ResVAMs and MMacs, including their role in protecting vascular integrity.

Vinorelbine Improves the Efficacy of Sorafenib against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading global cause of cancer-related mortality. Despite the widespread adoption of sorafenib as the standard HCC treatment, its efficacy is constrained, frequently encountering resistance. To augment the effectiveness of sorafenib, this study investigated the synergy of sorafenib and vinorelbine using 22 HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In this study, mice bearing HCC tumors were treated with the vehicle, sorafenib (15 mg/kg), vinorelbine (3 mg/kg), and sorafenib-vinorelbine combination (Sora/Vino). Rigorous monitoring of the tumor growth and side effects coupled with comprehensive histological and molecular analyses was conducted. The overall survival (OS) of mice bearing HCC orthotopic tumors was also assessed. Our data showed a notable 86.4% response rate to Sora/Vino, surpassing rates of 31.8% for sorafenib and 9.1% for vinorelbine monotherapies. Sora/Vino significantly inhibited tumor growth, prolonged OS of mice bearing HCC orthotopic tumors (p < 0.01), attenuated tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and enhanced necrosis and apoptosis. The combination therapy effectively suppressed the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway, which is a pivotal player in cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, survival, and metastasis. The noteworthy antitumor activity in 22 HCC PDX models positions Sora/Vino as a promising candidate for early-phase clinical trials, leveraging the established use of sorafenib and vinorelbine in HCC and other cancers.

Swietenine inhibited oxidative stress through AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathways and the liver-protective effect in T2DM mice: In vivo and in vitro study

Swietenia macrophylla King, belongs to the Meliaceae family, is a valuable medicinal plant and its fruits have been processed commercially to a variety of health foods. The seeds have long been known for their ethnomedicinal significance against these diseases. Swietenine (Swi) was isolated from S. macrophylla and could ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, HepG2 cells induced by H₂ O₂ were used to construct oxidative stress model in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Swi on H₂ O₂ induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells and its molecular mechanism, and to explore the effect of Swi on liver injury in db/db mice and its possible mechanism. The results showed that Swi significantly inhibited HepG2 cells viability and reduced oxidative damage in a dose-dependent manner as evidenced by a range of biochemical analysis and immunoblotting study. Moreover, it induced the protein and mRNA expression of HO-1 together with its upstream mediator Nrf2 and activated the phosphorylation of AKT in HepG2 cells. LY294002, a PI3K/AKT inhibitor, significantly suppressed the Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO-1 expression in H₂ O₂ induced HepG2 cells treated with Swi. In addition, RNA interference with Nrf2 significantly reduced the expression level of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the nucleus. Swi has a significant protective effect on cell damage in H₂ O₂ induced HepG2 cells by increasing the antioxidant capacity which is achieved through the AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Additionally, in vivo, Swi could protect the liver of type 2 diabetic mice by improving lipid deposition in liver tissue and inhibiting oxidative stress. These findings indicated that Swi can be a promising dietary agent to improve type 2 diabetes.

Identification of ferroptosis and drug resistance related hub genes to predict the prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Currently, overcoming the drug resistance in HCC is a critical challenge and ferroptosis has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for cancer. We aim to construct a new gene signature related to ferroptosis and drug resistance to predict the prognosis in HCC. The RNA-seq data of HCC patients was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and differential analysis, we constructed a prognostic model consisting of six hub genes (TOP2A, BIRC5, VEGFA, HIF1A, FTH1, ACSL3) related to ferroptosis and drug resistance in HCC. Functional enrichment, pathway enrichment and GSEA analysis were performed to investigate the potential molecular mechanism, and construction of PPI, mRNA-miRNA, mRNA-RBP, mRNA-TF and mRNA-drugs interaction networks to predict its interaction with different molecules. Clinical prognostic characteristics were revealed by univariate, multivariate cox regression analysis and nomogram. We also analyzed the relationship between the signature, immune checkpoints, and drug sensitivity. The expression of the gene signature was detected in HCC cell lines and HPA database. Our prognostic model classified patients into high and low-risk groups based on the risk scores and found the expression level of the genes was higher in the high-risk group than the low-risk group, demonstrating that high expression of the hub genes was associated with poor prognosis in HCC. ROC analysis revealed its high diagnostic efficacy in both HCC and normal tissues. The proportional hazards model and calibration analysis confirmed that the model's prediction was most accurate for 1- and 3-years survival. QRT-PCR showed the high expression level of the gene signature in HCC. Our study built a novel gene signature with good potential to predict the prognosis of HCC, which may provide new therapeutic targets and molecular mechanism for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Epigenetics and stroke: role of DNA methylation and effect of aging on blood-brain barrier recovery

Incomplete recovery of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function contributes to stroke outcomes. How the BBB recovers after stroke remains largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic factors play a significant role in regulating post-stroke BBB recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the epigenetic and transcriptional profile of cerebral microvessels after thromboembolic (TE) stroke to define potential causes of limited BBB recovery. RNA-sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analyses were performed using microvessels isolated from young (6 months) and old (18 months) mice seven days poststroke compared to age-matched sham controls. DNA methylation profiling of poststroke brain microvessels revealed 11,287 differentially methylated regions (DMR) in old and 9818 DMR in young mice, corresponding to annotated genes. These DMR were enriched in genes encoding cell structural proteins (e.g., cell junction, and cell polarity, actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix), transporters and channels (e.g., potassium transmembrane transporter, organic anion and inorganic cation transporters, calcium ion transport), and proteins involved in endothelial cell processes (e.g., angiogenesis/vasculogenesis, cell signaling and transcription regulation). Integrated analysis of methylation and RNA sequencing identified changes in cell junctions (occludin), actin remodeling (ezrin) as well as signaling pathways like Rho GTPase (RhoA and Cdc42ep4). Aging as a hub of aberrant methylation affected BBB recovery processes by profound alterations (hypermethylation and repression) in structural protein expression (e.g., claudin-5) as well as activation of a set of genes involved in endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (e.g., Sox9, Snai1), repression of angiogenesis and epigenetic regulation. These findings revealed that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating BBB repair after stroke, through regulating processes associated with BBB restoration and prevalently with processes enhancing BBB injury.

Specificity Proteins (SP) and Krüppel-like Factors (KLF) in Liver Physiology and Pathology

The liver acts as a central hub that controls several essential physiological processes ranging from metabolism to detoxification of xenobiotics. At the cellular level, these pleiotropic functions are facilitated through transcriptional regulation in hepatocytes. Defects in hepatocyte function and its transcriptional regulatory mechanisms have a detrimental influence on liver function leading to the development of hepatic diseases. In recent years, increased intake of alcohol and western diet also resulted in a significantly increasing number of people predisposed to the incidence of hepatic diseases. Liver diseases constitute one of the serious contributors to global deaths, constituting the cause of approximately two million deaths worldwide. Understanding hepatocyte transcriptional mechanisms and gene regulation is essential to delineate pathophysiology during disease progression. The current review summarizes the contribution of a family of zinc finger family transcription factors, named specificity protein (SP) and Krüppel-like factors (KLF), in physiological hepatocyte functions, as well as how they are involved in the onset and development of hepatic diseases.

Vascular endothelial growth factor A is a potential prognostic biomarker and correlates with immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among cancer patients. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is involved in regulating biological processes, such as angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and is very closely related to the pathogenesis of various tumours, especially vascular-rich, solid tumours. Clinical data of patients with HCC and other tumours were analysed through public databases, such as the TCGA database, Gene Expression Omnibus database, Human Protein Atlas database, STRING, Tumour Immune Estimation Resource and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. The tumour tissues and adjacent normal tissues of patients with HCC from Hunan Provincial People's Hospital were collected to verify the expression of VEGFA by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting and qPCR. VEGFA expression is elevated in multiple tumour types and correlates with the prognosis of tumour patients. VEGFA is involved in regulating the tumour microenvironment and immune cell function in tumour development. Inhibition of VEGFA reduces proliferation, invasion, and migration and promotes apoptosis in HCC cells. VEGFA is a potential predictive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Krüppel-like factors in tumors: Key regulators and therapeutic avenues

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are a group of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators with multiple essential functions in various cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, inflammation, and angiogenesis. The aberrant expression of KLFs is often found in tumor tissues and is essential for tumor development. At the molecular level, KLFs regulate multiple signaling pathways and mediate crosstalk among them. Some KLFs may also be molecular switches for specific biological signals, driving their transition from tumor suppressors to promoters. At the histological level, the abnormal expression of KLFs is closely associated with tumor cell stemness, proliferation, apoptosis, and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Notably, the role of each KLF in tumors varies according to tumor type and different stages of tumor development rather than being invariant. In this review, we focus on the advances in the molecular biology of KLFs, particularly the regulations of several classical signaling pathways by these factors, and the critical role of KLFs in tumor development. We also highlight their strong potential as molecular targets in tumor therapy and suggest potential directions for clinical translational research.

Therapeutic targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with antrocinol, a novel, dual-specificity, small-molecule inhibitor of the KRAS and ERK oncogenic signaling pathways

Until recently, sorafenib has been the only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some patients, however, exhibit resistance to this treatment and subsequently experience cancer progression, recurrence, or death. Therefore, identifying a new alternative treatment for patients with little or no response to sorafenib treatment is vital. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanism of antrocinol ((3aS,4R,6aS,10aR)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-7,7-dimethyldecahydro-1H-naphtho[1,8a-c]furan-1-one) in patients with HCC. The results indicated that antrocinol was more therapeutically effective than antrocin, Stivarga, and sorafenib against HCC cell lines. Antrocinol also substantially suppressed the expression of KRAS-GTP, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT in the Huh7 cell line. Additionally, antrocinol-induced apoptosis in the Huh7 cell line, inhibited the formation of tumorspheres, and suppressed the expression of cancer stem cell markers CD133, KLF4, CD44, OCT4, SOX2, and c-Myc. Animal studies revealed that antrocinol alone considerably suppressed tumor growth in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with Huh7 tumorspheres. It also synergistically enhanced the anticancer effect of sorafenib, resulting in enhanced suppression of tumor growth (p < 0.001) and tumorsphere formation (p < 0.001). In tumor samples resected from mice treated with antrocinol alone or in combination with sorafenib, immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in BAX expression and a decrease in ERK and AKT protein expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-HCC activity of antrocinol. With its higher therapeutic efficacy than that of sorafenib, antrocinol is a candidate drug for patients with HCC who demonstrate little or no response to sorafenib treatment.

Epigenetics and stroke: role of DNA methylation and effect of aging on blood-brain barrier recovery

Incomplete recovery of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function contributes to stroke outcomes. How the BBB recovers after stroke remains largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic factors play a significant role in regulating post-stroke BBB recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the epigenetic and transcriptional profile of cerebral microvessels after thromboembolic (TE) stroke to define potential causes of limited BBB recovery. RNA-sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analyses were performed using microvessels isolated from young (6 months) and old (18 months) mice seven days poststroke compared to age-matched sham controls. DNA methylation profiling of poststroke brain microvessels revealed 11287 differentially methylated regions (DMR) in old and 9818 DMR in young mice, corresponding to annotated genes. These DMR were enriched in genes encoding cell structural proteins (e.g., cell junction, and cell polarity, actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix), transporters and channels (e.g., potassium transmembrane transporter, organic anion and inorganic cation transporters, calcium ion transport), and proteins involved in endothelial cell processes (e.g., angiogenesis/vasculogenesis, cell signaling and transcription regulation). Integrated analysis of methylation and RNA sequencing identified changes in cell junctions (occludin), actin remodeling (ezrin) as well as signaling pathways like Rho GTPase (RhoA and Cdc42ep4). Aging as a hub of aberrant methylation affected BBB recovery processes by profound alterations (hypermethylation and repression) in structural protein expression (e.g., claudin-5) as well as activation of a set of genes involved in endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (e.g., Sox17 , Snail1 ), repression of angiogenesis and epigenetic regulation. These findings revealed that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating BBB repair after stroke, through regulating processes associated with BBB restoration and prevalently with processes enhancing BBB injury.

Targeting regulation of VEGF by BPTF in non-small cell lung cancer and its potential clinical significance

PURPOSE

VEGF facilitates tumor angiogenesis, and bevacizumab targeting VEGF is used in anti-tumor therapy. It is meaningful to clarify the upstream regulatory mechanism of VEGF. BPTF is important in chromosomal remodeling, and promotes the progression of tumors. However, its role in promoting tumor angiogenesis by targeting VEGF has not been fully reported. This study aims to elucidate the expression regulation of VEGF by BPTF and its clinical significance in NSCLC.

METHODS

1. BPTF siRNA and shRNA plasmids were used to reduce the expression of BPTF by transfection in vivo and in vitro. BPTF, VEGF and CD144 expressions were examined by immunofluorescence and Western Blot. 2. The expressions of BPTF, VEGF, CD144 and CD31 were detected in lung adenocarcinoma samples by immunofluorescence, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. 3. 26 lung adenocarcinoma patients treated by bevacizumab were divided into 2 groups according to the treatment efficacy. BPTF and VEGF expressions were analyzed.

RESULTS

1. BPTF knockdown inhibited the expression of VEGF and CD144 in vivo and in vitro. 2. Compared with para-cancer tissues, BPTF, VEGF, CD144 and CD31 were highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma. 3. In 75 lung adenocarcinoma specimens, BPTF and VEGF overexpression was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. The 5-year survival rate of patients with BPTF and VEGF low expression was higher, and BPTF expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression. 4. Among 26 patients treated with bevacizumab, the patients with BPTF overexpression are more sensitive to the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

BPTF positively regulates VEGF expression and its high expression predicts a better efficacy of bevacizumab treatment in NSCLC.

GCN5 participates in KLF4-VEGFA feedback to promote endometrial angiogenesis

Endometrial angiogenesis is necessary for good endometrial receptivity. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor that is essential for regulating angiogenesis. Here we found that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) can form a positive feedback loop with KLF4 to promote the proliferation and migration of human endometrial microvascular endothelial cells (HEMECs) and inhibit cell apoptosis. General control non-derepressible 5 (GCN5) is also time-dependent on VEGFA and participates in the KLF4-VEGFA loop. In addition, we found that GCN5 is a succinyltransferase that modulates the succinylation of histones and nonhistones. GCN5 interacts with KLF4 and is recruited to the KLF4-binding site of the VEGFA promoter to succinylate H3K79, which initiates gene transcription epigenetically. For nonhistones, GCN5 succinylates KLF4 that is activated by ERK signaling in HEMECs treated with VEGFA to increase its transcription activity. These results demonstrate KLF4-VEGFA positive feedback loop is regulated by epigenetics, which contributes to endometrial angiogenesis.

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KLF4 mediates VEGFA-induced endometrial angiogenesis

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VEGFA increases the interaction between KLF4 and GCN5

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VEGFA promotes H3K79 succinylation by upregulating KLF4 and GCN5

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VEGFA succinylates KLF4 and promotes interaction of KLF4 and GCN5 via ERK pathway

KLF8 is activated by TGF-β1 via Smad2 and contributes to ovarian cancer progression

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is a transcription factor expressed abnormally in various cancer types and promotes oncogenic transformation. However, the role of KLF8 in ovarian cancer (OC) progression remains unclear. This study reports that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad2/KLF8 axis regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contributes to OC progression. We analyzed the KLF8 expression in OC cells and tissues, wherein a significant overexpression of KLF8 was observed. Increased KLF8 expressions were correlated with higher cell proliferation, EMT, migration, and invasion and conferred poor clinical outcomes in OC patients. Overexpressed KLF8 increases F-actin polymerization and induces cytoskeleton remodeling of OC cells. Furthermore, a dissection of the molecular mechanism defined that TGF-β1 triggers KLF8 through the Smad2 pathway and regulates EMT. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Smad2 followed by TGF-β1 treatment failed to activate KLF8 expression and induction of EMT. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assays, we defined that upon TGF-β1 activation, phosphorylated Smad2 binds and promotes the KLF8 promoter activity, and knockdown of Smad2 inhibits KLF8 promoter activation. Together, these results demonstrate that TGF-β1 activates KLF8 expression by the Smad2 pathway, and KLF8 contributes to OC progression and may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating OC patients.

FAK in Cancer: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is overexpressed and activated in many cancer types. FAK regulates diverse cellular processes, including growth factor signaling, cell cycle progression, cell survival, cell motility, angiogenesis, and the establishment of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments through kinase-dependent and kinase-independent scaffolding functions in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Mounting evidence has indicated that targeting FAK, either alone or in combination with other agents, may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for various cancers. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying FAK-mediated signaling networks during tumor development. We also summarize the recent progress of FAK-targeted small-molecule compounds for anticancer activity from preclinical and clinical evidence.

Biejiajian Pill Inhibits Carcinogenesis and Metastasis via the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most usual cancers globally. In China, Biejiajian pill (BJJP), Traditional Chinese Medicine clinical prescription, is broadly utilized for the prevention and therapy of HCC. However, the mechanisms by which BJJP exerts its effects on the prevention of tumor invasion and metastasis are still largely unknown. In this study, in vitro multiple hepatic cancer cell lines and an in vivo xenograft mice model were used to validate the preventive effects and molecular mechanisms of BJJP in HCC. We established that BJJP significantly repressed the proliferation, metastasis and infiltration of HCC cells. Furthermore, BJJP remarkably suppressed HCC cell migration, as well as invasion via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by modulating Snail expression, which was associated with the repression of Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling axis activation. In vivo HCC xenograft results indicated that BJJP delayed HCC development and efficiently inhibited lung metastasis. Taken together, BJJP was shown to be an effective therapeutic agent against HCC through repression of the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling cascade and EMT.

Liraglutide Protects Nucleus Pulposus Cells Against High-Glucose Induced Apoptosis by Activating PI3K/Akt/ mTOR/Caspase-3 and PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Caspase-3 Signaling Pathways

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is reportedly a significant risk factor for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Incretin system and particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) because of its glucose-lowering effects has become an important target in therapeutic strategies of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist with glucoregulatory and insulinotropic functions as well as regulatory functions on cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, little is known on the roles and signaling pathways of apoptosis protecting effects of liraglutide in IDD. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of liraglutide against high glucose-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and the possible involved signaling pathways.

Methods: The human NPCs were incubated with 100 nM liraglutide alone or in combination with LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), and SB216763 (GSK3β inhibitor) in a high glucose culture for 48 h. The four groups were assessed further for apoptosis and genes expressions. The apoptotic effect was evaluated by flow cytometry and further confirmed by cell death detection enzyme-linked immunoassay plus (ELISAPLUS). The gene and protein expression levels were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting techniques. The results were comparatively assessed between the four groups.

Results: The results confirmed the presence of GLP-1R in the NPCs indicating that liraglutide inhibited the high glucose-induced apoptosis, which was blocked by silencing GLP-1R with siRNA. Moreover, liraglutide stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and GSK3β. Treatment with LY294002 significantly increased the apoptosis of NPCs and reduced the levels of their downstream substrates (p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-GSK3β). Further assessments revealed that activation of mTOR and GSK3β was almost completely inhibited by rapamycin and SB216763, respectively, which significantly increased the caspase-3 levels.

Conclusion: Liraglutide could protect NPCs against high glucose-induced apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/caspase-3 and PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/caspase-3 signaling pathways.

The role of Krüppel-like factor 8 in cancer biology: Current research and its clinical relevance

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, ranked second after heart disease. Despite recent advancements in diagnosis and treatment, there are still numerous problems associated with cancer progression, disease recurrence, and therapeutic resistance that are partially explored. Several studies have recently revealed that Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) regulates transcription of genes linked with diverse biological processes, including proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, invasion, and inflammation. KLF8 is expressed ubiquitously in mammalian cells, and its aberrant expression has been manifested with several cancer types. Earlier studies demonstrated the crucial role of KLF8 in DNA repair and resistance to apoptosis in numerous cancer types. Hence, studying the function of KLF8 from the perspective of cancer progression and therapy resistance would help develop a new therapeutic avenue. In this review, we summarize the clinical relevance of KLF8 expression in various malignancies, focusing on recent updates in EMT, cellular signaling, and cancer stem cells. We also address the contribution of KLF8 in development, DNA repair, chemoresistance, and its clinical utility as a predictive biomarker.

PDGFRα/β-PI3K-Akt pathway response to the interplay of mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage in Aroclor 1254-exposed porcine granulosa cells

Metabolic dysfunction and genomic instability are known to affect female fertility. Aroclor 1254 (A1254) is an endocrine disruptor that affects mitochondrial function following ingestion, inhalation, or dermal exposure. Numerous studies to date have addressed associations between A1254 toxicity and chronic neurological disorders, while A1254 exposure is little known to have a toxic effect on the female reproductive system. Furthermore, interactive mechanisms between metabolic dysfunction and the repair of DNA damage deserve further investigation. In this paper, an in vitro porcine primary granulosa cell (GC) culture model was used to investigate the mechanisms of exposure and effects of the exogenous chemical carcinogen A1254 on reproductive toxicology. High-throughput RNA sequencing obtained 2329 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to be analyzed using COG classification, GO, and KEGG. When combined with immunofluorescence, Western blot analysis, and real-time RT-PCR analysis, this data showed that the mitochondrial-ROS-driven feed-forward loop increased phospho-PDGFRα/β, which stimulates apoptosis by suppressing the PI3K-Akt pathway. We also noticed that inhibition of the Akt-PDP1-PDK1 axis attenuated mitochondrial function. In contrast, following iPath analysis, partial metabolic pathways were enhanced. Importantly, we found that A1254 activated a DNA damage response, the major regulators of which belong to the PI3K-related protein kinases (PIKKs) and oncogenes, which led to the "Warburg effect". It is not easy to restore the damage that A1254 causes to metabolism through dysregulation and the Warburg effect, owing to the fact that oncogenes can regulate cytoplasmic metabolism. Therefore, we suspect that the PDGFR-PI3K-Akt pathway may be a latent interaction between mitochondrial dysfunction and the response of DNA damage.

Circ_0067934 promotes non-small cell lung cancer development by regulating miR-1182/KLF8 axis and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the primary subtype of lung cancer with high mortality. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in tumor development and progression. This study aimed to explore the function of circ_0067934 in NSCLC progression and its molecular basis. The levels of circ_0067934, miR-1182 and kruppel like factor 8 (KLF8) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay. Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. The protein levels of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins were examined by western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay or RNA pull-down assay was performed to verify the interaction among circ_0067934, miR-1182 and KLF8. Xenograft assay was used to detect tumor growth in vivo. We found that circ_0067934 and KLF8 were up-regulated, while miR-1182 was down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Circ_0067934 knockdown blocked proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Circ_0067934 regulated NSCLC progression by sponging miR-1182. MiR-1182 targeted KLF8 to hinder NSCLC development. In addition, depletion of circ_0067934 restrained tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, Circ_0067934 acted as a competing endogenous RNA to facilitate NSCLC progression by regulating the miR-1182/KLF8 axis and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Elevated expression of cellular SYNE1, MMP10, and GTPase1 and their regulatory role in hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy resulting in high mortality. HCC progression is associated with abnormal signal transduction that changes cell signaling pathways and ultimately leads to dysregulation of cell functions and uncontrolled cell proliferation. Present study was undertaken with the objective to identify differentially expressed proteins and quantify their transcript expression in the liver of HCC-bearing rats vis-à-vis controls and to decipher the network involving interaction of genes coding for the characterized proteins to an insight into mechanism of HCC tumorigenesis. 2D-Electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS were used to characterize differentially expressed proteins in DEN (diethylnitrosamine)-induced HCC tissue using the protocol reported by us earlier. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the expression of transcripts for the identified proteins. GENEMANIA, an interacting network of genes coding for selected proteins, was deciphered that provided the functional role of these proteins in HCC progression. Upregulation of proteins SYNE1, MMP10, and MTG1 was observed. The mRNA quantification revealed elevated expression of their transcripts at HCC initiation, progression, and tumor stages. Network analysis showed the involvement of the genes coding for these proteins in dysregulation of signaling pathways during HCC development. The elevated expression of SYNE1, MMP10, and MTG1 suggests the role of these proteins as potential players in HCC progression and tumorigenesis.

MicroRNA-3064-5p sponged by MALAT1 suppresses angiogenesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway

Angiogenesis is critical for the development, progression, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the roles of miR-3064-5p in HCC angiogenesis are still unknown. In this study, the roles of miR-3064-5p in HCC angiogenesis were studied in 192 HCC patients, xenograft mouse models, and HCC cell lines. The results showed that miR-3064-5p expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues and cells, and downregulated miR-3064-5p was associated with upregulated angiogenic potential of HCC. MiR-3064-5p inhibited proangiogenic VEGFA and angiogenin expressions but induced antiangiogenic endostatin and MMP12 expressions, finally leading to suppression of HCC angiogenesis, as shown by the decline in intratumoral microvessel density (MVD). Moreover, miR-3064-5p was inversely correlated with lncRNA MALAT1 and FOXA1. FOXA1 bound to and interacted with CD24 and then regulated Src phosphorylation. MiR-3064-5p played an antiangiogenic role by inhibiting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway, whereas oncogenic MALAT1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-3064-5p to alleviate the suppressive effect on the FOXA1 pathway. HCC patients with high miR-3064-5p, low MALAT1, or low FOXA1 expression had a better prognosis with longer overall survival and recurrence-free survival. In univariate and multivariate analyses, miR-3064-5p was identified as the independent prognostic predicator for HCC progression and patient survival. Taken together, miR-3064-5p exerts an antiangiogenic role by targeting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway but oncogenic lncRNA MALAT1 acts as a ceRNA to sponge miR-3064-5p. MiR-3064-5p is of great clinical significance and is a novel prognostic indicator and an attractive therapeutic target for HCC.