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Zeng CM, Shao B, Chen YP, Ding GS. Silencing MFN2 Drives WNT/β-catenin Nucleation to Reduce Sorafenib Sensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Curr Med Sci 2024; 44:789-798. [PMID: 38926329 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-024-2879-x] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mitofusin-2 (MFN2) is a mitochondrial membrane protein that plays a critical role in regulating mitochondrial fusion and cellular metabolism. To further elucidate the impact of MFN2, this study aimed to investigate its significance on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell function and its potential role in mediating chemosensitivity. METHODS This study investigated the effects of silencing and overexpressing MFN2 on the survival, proliferation, invasion and migration abilities, and sorafenib resistance of MHCC97-L HCC cells. Additional experiments were conducted using XAV939 (a β-catenin inhibitor) and HLY78 (a β-catenin activator) to further validate these findings. RESULTS Silencing MFN2 significantly promoted the survival and proliferation of MHCC97-L cells, enhanced their invasion and migration capacities, increased the IC50 of sorafenib, reduced the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells, and decreased the expression of proapoptotic proteins. Additionally, silencing MFN2 markedly induced the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, increased β-catenin acetylation levels and enhanced the expression of the downstream regulatory proteins Snail1 and Vimentin while inhibiting E-cadherin expression. Conversely, overexpressing MFN2 reversed the effects observed in MHCC97-L cells mentioned above. The results confirmed that silencing MFN2 activated the β-catenin/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway and reduced the sensitivity of cells to sorafenib, which could be reversed by XAV939 treatment. Conversely, overexpression of MFN2 inhibited the β-catenin/EMT pathway and increased the sensitivity of cells to sorafenib, which could be altered by HLY78. CONCLUSION Low expression of MFN2 in HCC cells promotes the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, thereby activating the EMT pathway and mediating resistance to sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chai-Ming Zeng
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics Diseases, Fujian Provincial Center for Geriatrics, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Bin Shao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Yan-Ping Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Gui-Sheng Ding
- Department of Ultrasonography, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University; Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
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Fang XD, He JK, Chen YX, Ke B, Zhu SY, Fan CQ, Tu WP, Li P. MiR-449a downregulation alleviates the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Int Urol Nephrol 2023:10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6. [PMID: 36781680 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-023-03503-6] [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: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) seriously threatens the health of individuals. MiRNAs regulate the progression of fibrosis. Nevertheless, the detailed function of miR-449a in RIF is largely unknown. METHODS In vitro and in vivo models of RIF were developed to evaluate the function of miR-449a. The relationship among miR-449a, KLF4, and MFN2 was explored using a dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Additionally, the pathological changes in the mice were detected using Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. RESULTS TGF-β1 downregulated the expressions of KLF4 and MFN2 in TCMK-1 cells, but upregulated the level of miR-449a. The downregulation of miR-449a significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced upregulation of fibrotic proteins in TCMK-1 cells. Meanwhile, miR-449a directly targeted KLF4. Moreover, KLF4 overexpression activated MFN2 transcription and reversed TGF-β1-induced fibrosis by positively regulating MFN2. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-449a could obviously alleviate the symptoms of RIF in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. CONCLUSION MiR-449a downregulation attenuated the development of RIF by mediating the KLF4/MFN2 axis. Therefore, miR-449a might act as a target in treating RIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Dong Fang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jia-Ke He
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yan-Xia Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ben Ke
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shu-Ying Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Fan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wei-Ping Tu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Gao H, Huo L, Mo X, Jiang B, Luo Y, Xu B, Li J, Ma X, Jing T, Feng Z, Zhang T, Hu W. Suppressive effect of pseudolaric acid B on Echinococcus multilocularis involving regulation of TGF-β1 signaling in vitro and in vivo. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1008274. [PMID: 36439797 PMCID: PMC9691991 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1008274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), severely threats human health and livestock farming. The first line of chemotherapeutic drug for AE is albendazole, which limits rapid extension of E. multilocularis metacestodes, but is rarely curative for AE, with severe side effects in long-term use, thus development of new anti-echinococcal drugs is mandated. Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) has long been used to treat fungal-infected dermatosis, and exerted anti-tumor, -fertility, -angiogenesis, -tubulin and antiparasitic activity. However, the effect of PAB against Echinococcus spp. remains unclear. The present study is to understand the effect of PAB against E. multilocularis in vitro and in vivo, and identify potential anti-echinococcal mechanism, as well as its toxicity. After exposure to PAB at 20 μg/ml, significant reduction of the survival rate and substantial ultrastructural destructions in E. multilocularis protoscoleces were observed in vitro. Furthermore, the wet weight of E. multilocularis cysts in the infected mice was significantly decreased after treatment with PAB (40, 20 or 10 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, significant increase of both protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) was detected in the serum and liver of the infected mice, whereas PAB administration lowered its expression significantly. The toxicity tests demonstrated that PAB displayed lower cytotoxicity to human liver and kidney cells (HL-7702 and HK-2 cell) with IC50 = 25.29 and 42.94 μg/ml than albendazole with IC50 = 3.71 and 21.22 μg/ml in vitro, and caused lower hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice than ABZ. Our findings indicated that PAB possesses potent anti-echinococcal effect, with lower toxicity than albendazole, implying a potential chemotherapeutic agent for AE. Additionally, the present study demonstrated that the suppressive effect of PAB on the parasite may involve down-regulation of TGF-β1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Gao
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Ganzr Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kangding, Sichuan, China
| | - Lele Huo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojin Mo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanping Luo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingzhong Li
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis Prevention and Control, Tibet Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, Tibet, China
| | - Xingming Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Tao Jing
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Zheng Feng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis Prevention and Control, Tibet Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, Tibet, China
- *Correspondence: Ting Zhang, ; Wei Hu,
| | - Wei Hu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Ting Zhang, ; Wei Hu,
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