Neuromedin U secreted by colorectal cancer cells promotes a tumour-supporting microenvironment

Mechanistic study of pre-eclampsia and macrophage-associated molecular networks: bioinformatics insights from multiple datasets

Background

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, severely affecting the health and quality of life of patients. However, the molecular mechanism of macrophages in pre-eclampsia is not well understood.

Methods

In this study, the key biomarkers during the development of pre-eclampsia were identified using bioinformatics analysis. The GSE75010 and GSE74341 datasets from the GEO database were obtained and merged for differential analysis. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was constructed based on macrophage content, and machine learning methods were employed to identify key genes. Immunoinfiltration analysis completed by the CIBERSORT method, R package "ClusterProfiler" to explore functional enrichment of these intersection genes, and potential drug predictions were conducted using the CMap database. Lastly, independent analysis of protein levels, localization, and quantitative analysis was performed on placental tissues collected from both preeclampsia patients and healthy control groups.

Results

We identified 70 differentially expressed NETs genes and found 367 macrophage-related genes through WGCNA analysis. Machine learning identified three key genes: FNBP1L, NMUR1, and PP14571. These three key genes were significantly associated with immune cell content and enriched in multiple signaling pathways. Specifically, these genes were upregulated in PE patients. These findings establish the expression patterns of three key genes associated with M2 macrophage infiltration, providing potential targets for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of PE. Additionally, CMap results suggested four potential drugs, including Ttnpb, Doxorubicin, Tyrphostin AG 825, and Tanespimycin, which may have the potential to reverse pre-eclampsia.

Conclusion

Studying the expression levels of three key genes in pre-eclampsia provides valuable insights into the prevention and treatment of this condition. We propose that these genes play a crucial role in regulating the maternal-fetal immune microenvironment in PE patients, and the pathways associated with these genes offer potential avenues for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying preeclampsia and identifying therapeutic targets. Additionally, by utilizing the Connectivity Map database, we identified drug targets like Ttnpb, Doxorubicin, Tyrphostin AG 825, and Tanespimycin as potential clinical treatments for preeclampsia.

Ferroptosis, Metabolic Rewiring, and Endometrial Cancer

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of regulated cell death. The main feature of ferroptosis is excessive membrane lipid peroxidation caused by iron-mediated chemical and enzymatic reactions. In normal cells, harmful lipid peroxides are neutralized by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). When GPX4 is inhibited, ferroptosis occurs. In mammalian cells, ferroptosis serves as a tumor suppression mechanism. Not surprisingly, in recent years, ferroptosis induction has gained attention as a potential anticancer strategy, alone or in combination with other conventional therapies. However, sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers depends on the metabolic state of the cell. Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with more than 66,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Out of all gynecological cancers, carcinogenesis of EC is mostly dependent on metabolic abnormalities. Changes in the uptake and catabolism of iron, lipids, glucose, and glutamine affect the redox capacity of EC cells and, consequently, their sensitivity to ferroptosis-inducing agents. In addition to this, in EC cells, ferroptosis-related genes are usually mutated and overexpressed, which makes ferroptosis a promising target for EC prediction, diagnosis, and therapy. However, for a successful application of ferroptosis, the connection between metabolic rewiring and ferroptosis in EC needs to be deciphered, which is the focus of this review.