Positive relationship between p42.3 gene and inflammation in chronic non-atrophic gastritis

Bioactivities of morroniside: A comprehensive review of pharmacological properties and molecular mechanisms

Morroniside (MOR) is an iridoid glycoside and the main active principle of the medicinal plant, Cornus officinalis Sieb. This phytochemical is associated with numerous health benefits due to its antioxidant properties. The primary objective of the present study was to assess the pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of MOR, utilizing published data obtained from literature databases. Data collection involved accessing various sources, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and SpringerLink. Our findings demonstrate that MOR can be utilized for the treatment of several diseases and disorders, as numerous studies have revealed its significant therapeutic activities. These activities encompass anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, lipid-lowering capability, anticancer, trichogenic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, osteoprotective, renoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. MOR has also shown promising benefits against various neurological ailments, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, cerebral ischemia, and neuropathic pain. Considering these therapeutic features, MOR holds promise as a lead compound for the treatment of various ailments and disorders. However, further comprehensive preclinical and clinical trials are required to establish MOR as an effective and reliable therapeutic agent.

Efficacy and Safety of Zuojin Pill for the Treatment of Chronic Nonatrophic Gastritis: A Randomized Active-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective

Zuojin pill (ZJP) is used as the classical prescription for a wide variety of digestive diseases. However, there is a lack of direct evidence for its use in the treatment of chronic nonatrophic gastritis (CNG). In particular, there is a lack of rigorous trials of randomized controlled designs. In this study, a randomized active-controlled clinical trial was performed to verify the efficacy and safety of ZJP in detail.

Methods

Patients with CNG were divided into the ZJP group and the Marzulene-S granule group. Patients were enrolled from September 2019 to February 2021 (ChiCTR2000040549). Endoscopy and histology scores were evaluated as the primary outcome measure. The Helicobacter pylori positive rate and the disappearance rate of symptoms were also measured to reflect the outcomes. Finally, adverse events were also calculated as the index of safety.

Results

A total of 68 eligible patients were enrolled in this trial and randomly divided into two groups with baseline comparability. ZJP was able to improve the red plaques as well as bile reflux scores compared with Marzulene-S granule (P=0.043 and P=0.019, respectively). Moreover, it also remarkably alleviated the active chronic inflammation score (P=0.043). However, there was no difference between the Helicobacter pylori positivity rate (P=0.752). The symptom scores of abdominal distension (P=0.004), belching (P=0.010), and loss of appetite (P=0.019) were alleviated by ZJP, but nausea and vomiting were not (P=0.616). ZJP can also be considered safe with no obvious adverse effects.

Conclusion

ZJP might decrease mucosal injury and alleviate symptoms in CNG. In addition, more large-scale clinical trials should be carried out to further confirm its clinical efficacy and safety.

The Function and Regulation of SAPCD2 in Physiological and Oncogenic Processes

The Suppressor APC Domain Containing 2 (SAPCD2) gene, also known by its aliases p42.3 and c9orf140, encodes a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 42.3 kDa. It was initially recognized as a cell cycle-associated protein involved in mitotic progression. Since the initial discovery of this gene, emerging evidence has suggested that its functions extend beyond that of regulating cell cycle progression to include modulation of planar polarization of cell progenitors and determination of cell fate throughout embryonic development. The underlying mechanisms driving such functions have been partially elucidated. However, the detailed mechanisms of action remain to be further characterized. The expression level of SAPCD2 is high throughout embryogenesis but is generally absent in healthy postnatal tissues, with restored expression in adult tissues being associated with various disease states. The pathological consequences of its aberrant expression have been investigated, most notably in the development of several types of cancers. The role of SAPCD2 in tumorigenesis has been supported by in vitro, in vivo, and retrospective clinical investigations and the mechanisms underlying its oncogenic function have been partially revealed. The potential of SAPCD2 as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target of cancers have also been explored and have shown great promise. However, many questions pertaining to its oncogenic mechanisms as well as its value as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target remain to be answered. In addition to its function as an oncogene, an involvement of SAPCD2 in other pathological processes such as inflammation has also been implicated and provides additional directions that warrant future investigation. This article reviews the current understanding of the normal cellular functions of SAPCD2 and the relevance of SAPCD2 in disease development with a primary focus on tumorigenesis. The mechanisms that regulate p43.2 expression, including the potential role of microRNAs in regulating its expression, are also reviewed. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to comprehensively review the published findings regarding the physiological and pathological functions of this gene.

Overexpression of SAPCD2 correlates with proliferation and invasion of colorectal carcinoma cells

Background

Suppressor anaphase-promoting complex domain containing 2 (SAPCD2) is a novel gene playing important roles in the initiation, invasion, and metastasis of several malignancies. However, its role in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) still remains unclear.

Method

In this study, we investigated the expression and biological function of SAPCD2 in CRC. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for SAPCD2 was performed in 410 pairs of CRC specimens and corresponding normal epithelial tissues, and in 50 adenoma tissues. Clinical pathological factors were analyzed in relation to the expression of SAPCD2. The biological functions of SAPCD2 in CRC cells and its effect on cell cycle were investigated in vitro and in vivo through gain/loss-of-function approaches.

Results

IHC showed that SAPCD2 expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues compared to adenoma and normal epithelium tissues and was correlated with tumor location (p = 0.018). SAPCD2 significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo (p < 0.05). In addition, SAPCD2 knockdown in CRC cells was associated with reduced G₁/S transition, while overexpression caused G₂/M phase arrest (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In sum, SAPCD2 is overexpressed in CRC tissues and plays a critical role in CRC progression. Therefore, it might represent a promising therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

C9orf140, a novel Axin1-interacting protein, mediates the negative feedback loop of Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity is maintained in homeostasis by an expanding list of molecular determinants. However, the molecular components and the regulatory mechanisms involved in its fine-tuning remain to be determined. Here, we identified C9orf140, a tumor-specific protein, as a novel Axin1-interacting protein by tandem-affinity purification and mass spectrometry. We further showed that C9orf140 is a negative regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cultured cells as well as in zebrafish embryos. It functions upstream of β-catenin, outcompetes PP2A for binding to Axin1, influences the balance between phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation of β-catenin, and ultimately compromises Wnt3A-induced β-catenin accumulation. Interestingly, Wnt-induced C9orf140 expression via β-catenin. We propose that C9orf140 mediates a negative feedback loop of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by interacting with Axin1. Our results advance the current understanding of the exquisite control of Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, and provide evidence of the new role of C9orf140.