Loss of cell polarity regulated by PTEN/Cdc42 enrolled in the process of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

Utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors in liver transplantation for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective and propensity score matching analysis

Introduction

The use of extended criteria donor (ECD) grafts such as donor with infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potential solution for organ shortage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and long-term survival of utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+) donor livers in HCC patients using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Methods

Forty-eight donors with HBsAg-positive and 279 donors with HBsAg-negative were transplanted and enrolled in this study. PSM analysis were used to eliminate selection bias. Perioperative data and survival were collected and analyzed.

Results

PSM generated 44 patient pairs. When comparing intra- and post-operative data, no significant difference was found between groups (P > 0.05). Patients with a HBsAg-positive donor had significantly worse progression-free survival (1-year: 65.9% vs. 90.9%; 3-year: 18.1% vs. 70.4%, P = 0.0060) and overall survival (1-year: 84.1% and 95.4%; 3-year: 27.2% vs. 79.5%, P = 0.0039). In multivariate analysis, donor HBsAg-positivity was an independent risk factor for survival and occurrence (P = 0.005 and 0.025, respectively).

Conclusion

In conclusion, with adequate antiviral prophylaxis and treatment, utilization of HBsAg positive liver grafts did not increase the incidence of early-stage complications. However, patient with an HBsAg-positive graft had poorer progression-free survival and overall survival.

Biomechanical regulation of planar cell polarity in endothelial cells

Cell polarity refers to the uneven distribution of certain cytoplasmic components in a cell with a spatial order. The planar cell polarity (PCP), the cell aligns perpendicular to the polar plane, in endothelial cells (ECs) has become a research hot spot. The planar polarity of ECs has a positive significance on the regulation of cardiovascular dysfunction, pathological angiogenesis, and ischemic stroke. The endothelial polarity is stimulated and regulated by biomechanical force. Mechanical stimuli promote endothelial polarization and make ECs produce PCP to maintain the normal physiological and biochemical functions. Here, we overview recent advances in understanding the interplay and mechanism between PCP and ECs function involved in mechanical forces, with a focus on PCP signaling pathways and organelles in regulating the polarity of ECs. And then showed the related diseases caused by ECs polarity dysfunction. This study provides new ideas and therapeutic targets for the treatment of endothelial PCP-related diseases.

Cdc42 promotes thyroid cancer cell proliferation and migration and tumor-associated macrophage polarization through the PTEN/AKT pathway

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism and function of Cdc42 in thyroid cancer. We found that knockdown of Cdc42 inhibited the migration and proliferation of WRO cells. This role of Cdc42 is achieved by interacting with PTEN and interfering with its PTEN nuclear translocation. The overexpression of Cdc42 enhances the production of lactic acid and promotes the polarization of M2 macrophages, and therefore M2 macrophages inhibit the function of T cells. Overall, Cdc42 can promote cell proliferation and migration through the PTEN/AKT pathway and promote tumor-related M2 macrophage polarization and inhibit T cell activity by enhancing aerobic glycolysis, animal experiments confirmed that tumor volume increased after Cdc42 overexpressed in TBP-3743 murine thyroid cancer cells. Increased infiltration of Treg and macrophages was also observed. taken together, our results indicate that Cdc42 can be used as a diagnostic and thyroid cancer Prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

Trio cooperates with Myh9 to regulate neural crest-derived craniofacial development

Trio is a unique member of the Rho-GEF family that has three catalytic domains and is vital for various cellular processes in both physiological and developmental settings. TRIO mutations in humans are involved in craniofacial abnormalities, in which patients present with mandibular retrusion. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of Trio in neural crest cell (NCC)-derived craniofacial development, and there is still a lack of direct evidence to assign a functional role to Trio in NCC-induced craniofacial abnormalities. Methods: In vivo, we used zebrafish and NCC-specific knockout mouse models to investigate the phenotype and dynamics of NCC development in Trio morphants. In vitro, iTRAQ, GST pull-down assays, and proximity ligation assay (PLA) were used to explore the role of Trio and its potential downstream mediators in NCC migration and differentiation. Results: In zebrafish and mouse models, disruption of Trio elicited a migration deficit and impaired the differentiation of NCC derivatives, leading to craniofacial growth deficiency and mandibular retrusion. Moreover, Trio positively regulated Myh9 expression and directly interacted with Myh9 to coregulate downstream cellular signaling in NCCs. We further demonstrated that disruption of Trio or Myh9 inhibited Rac1 and Cdc42 activity, specifically affecting the nuclear export of β-catenin and NCC polarization. Remarkably, craniofacial abnormalities caused by trio deficiency in zebrafish could be partially rescued by the injection of mRNA encoding myh9, ca-Rac1, or ca-Cdc42. Conclusions: Here, we identified that Trio, interacting mostly with Myh9, acts as a key regulator of NCC migration and differentiation during craniofacial development. Our results indicate that trio morphant zebrafish and Wnt1-cre;Trio^fl/fl mice offer potential model systems to facilitate the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of Trio mutations causing craniofacial abnormalities.

Loss of cell polarity regulated by PTEN/Cdc42 enrolled in the process of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

One central factor in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) pathogenesis is pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR) which involves dysregulation of proliferation and migration in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). Growing evidence suggests that Apical/basolateral polarity plays an important role in cell proliferation, migration, adhesion and differentiation. In this study, we explored whether cell polarity is involved and critical in experimental HPS rats that are induced by common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Cell polarity related proteins were analysed in CBDL rats lung and PMVECs under the HPS serum stimulation by immunofluorescence assay. Cdc42/PTEN activity, cell proliferation and migration and Annexin A2 (AX2) in PMVECs were determined, respectively. Cell polarity related proteins, lost their specialized luminal localization in PMVECs of the CBDL rat. The loss of cell polarity was induced by abnormal activity of Cdc42, which was strongly enhanced by the interaction between p‐PTEN and Annexin A2 in PMVECs, after treatment with serum from CBDL rats. It led to over‐proliferation and high migration ability of PMVECs. Down‐regulation of PTEN‐Cdc42 activity in PMVECs restored cell polarity and thus reduced their ability of migration and proliferation. Our study suggested that the loss of cell polarity plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of HPS‐associated PVR and may become a potentially effective therapeutic target.