Notch1 signaling pathway promotes invasion, self-renewal and growth of glioma initiating cells via modulating chemokine system CXCL12/CXCR4

Dysregulated CXCL12 expression in osteoblasts promotes B-lymphocytes preferentially homing to the bone marrow in MRL/lpr mice

Objective: Todetect the abnormal distribution of B-lymphocytes between peripheral and bone marrow (BM) compartments and explore the mechanism of abnormal chemotaxis of B-lymphocytes in lupus subjects. Methods: The proportions of CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)4+ B cells and CFDA-labeled MRL/lpr-derived B cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)12in peripheral blood (PB)were measured by ELISA. The migrated B cells to osteoblasts (OBs) was measured by transwell migration assay. The relative spatial position of B cells, OBs and CXCL12 was presented by Immunofluorescence assay. Results: Firstly, we found that the percentage of CXCR4+ B cells was lower in PB and higher in the BM from both MRL/lpr mice and patientswith Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Secondly, OBs from MRL/lpr mice produced more CXCL12 than that from C57BL/6 mice. Besides, MRL/lpr-derived OBs demonstrated more potent chemotactic ability toward B-lymphocytes than control OBs by vitro an vivo. Additionally, more B-lymphocytes were found to co-localize with OBs within the periosteal zone of bone in MRL/lpr mice. Lastly, the percentages of CXCR4+B cells were found to be negatively correlated with serum Immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration, moreover, BM CXCL12 levels were found to be positively correlated with SLE disease activity index Score and negatively correlated with serum Complement3 (C3) concentration. Conclusions: our results indicated that there is a shifted distribution of B-lymphocytes between BM and peripheral compartments in both SLE patients and MRL/lpr mice. Besides, the up-regulated levels of CXCL12 in OBs was indicated to contribute to the enhanced chemotactic migration and anchorage of B-lymphocytes to OBs.

Curcuminoid PBPD induces cuproptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in cervical cancer via the Notch1/RBP-J/NRF2/FDX1 pathway

Curcumin has been shown to have antitumor properties, but its low potency and bioavailability has limited its clinical application. We designed a novel curcuminoid, [1-propyl-3,5-bis(2-bromobenzylidene)-4-piperidinone] (PBPD), which has higher antitumor strength and improves bioavailability. Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect cell activity. Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion and migration ability. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect protein levels and their messenger RNA expression. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the protein location. PBPD significantly inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 4.16 μM for Hela cells and 3.78 μM for SiHa cells, leading to the induction of cuproptosis. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that PBPD significantly inhibited the Notch1/Recombination Signal Binding Protein for Immunoglobulin kappa J Region (RBP-J) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathways while upregulating ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) expression. Knockdown of Notch1 or RBP-J significantly inhibited NRF2 expression and upregulated FDX1 expression, leading to the inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate activity and the induction of oxidative stress, which in turn activated endoplasmic reticulum stress and induced cell death. The overexpression of Notch1 or RBP-J resulted in the enrichment of RBP-J within the NRF2 promoter region, thereby stimulating NRF2 transcription. NRF2 knockdown resulted in increase in FDX1 expression, leading to cuproptosis. In addition, PBPD inhibited the acidification of tumor niche and reduced cell metabolism to inhibit cervical cancer cell invasion and migration. In conclusion, PBPD significantly inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and migration of cervical cancer cells and may be a novel potential drug candidate for treatment of cervical cancer.

CXCR7 promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling via targeting p38/MMP2 pathway in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

A hallmark feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in the pulmonary arteries. The exact role of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)/chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7) in the PASMCs remains unknown. This study was conducted to investigate CXCR7's role in p38/MMP2 pathway and its effect on PASMCs.

Methods

In this study, we examined the expression profile of CXCL12/CXCR7 in both hypoxic rats and PASMCs. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) was used to measure the level of proliferation in PASMCs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting assays were applied to investigate the protein expression of the related molecules.

Results

We found that a high level of CXCR7 was correlated with remodeled pulmonary arterioles in hypoxic rats. Moreover, CXCR7 protein levels were significantly increased by the induction of CXCL12, indicating that the CXCL12-CXCR7 axis participates in PAH. During hypoxia-PAH, CXCR7 inhibition reduces right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), the Fulton index, and pulmonary arteriosclerosis remodeling. Further study indicated inhibition CXCR7 reduced PASMCs by downregulating MMP2, via p38 MAPK pathway. It was additionally found that CXCL12/CXCR7 stimulated the phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK pathway, which was a contributing factor to the decrease in MMP2 expression following preconditioning with SB203580, which inhibited p38 MAPK.

Conclusions

In summary, these findings suggest that CXCL12/CXCR7 plays a critical role in PAH, the therapy of which can be developed further by targeting its potential targets.

Glioma Stem Cells-Features for New Therapy Design

On a molecular level, glioma is very diverse and presents a whole spectrum of specific genetic and epigenetic alterations. The tumors are unfortunately resistant to available therapies and the survival rate is low. The explanation of significant intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity and the infiltrative capability of gliomas, as well as its resistance to therapy, recurrence and aggressive behavior, lies in a small subset of tumor-initiating cells that behave like stem cells and are known as glioma cancer stem cells (GCSCs). They are responsible for tumor plasticity and are influenced by genetic drivers. Additionally, GCSCs also display greater migratory abilities. A great effort is under way in order to find ways to eliminate or neutralize GCSCs. Many different treatment strategies are currently being explored, including modulation of the tumor microenvironment, posttranscriptional regulation, epigenetic modulation and immunotherapy.

Mechanism of Notch Signaling Pathway in Malignant Progression of Glioblastoma and Targeted Therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of glioma and the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system. Despite significant advances in clinical management strategies and diagnostic techniques for GBM in recent years, it remains a fatal disease. The current standard of care includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but the five-year survival rate for patients is less than 5%. The search for a more precise diagnosis and earlier intervention remains a critical and urgent challenge in clinical practice. The Notch signaling pathway is a critical signaling system that has been extensively studied in the malignant progression of glioblastoma. This highly conserved signaling cascade is central to a variety of biological processes, including growth, proliferation, self-renewal, migration, apoptosis, and metabolism. In GBM, accumulating data suggest that the Notch signaling pathway is hyperactive and contributes to GBM initiation, progression, and treatment resistance. This review summarizes the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of the Notch signaling pathway in GBM, as well as some clinical advances targeting the Notch signaling pathway in cancer and glioblastoma, highlighting its potential as a focus for novel therapeutic strategies.

GRIK1 promotes glioblastoma malignancy and is a novel prognostic factor of poor prognosis

Primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are classified into over 100 different histological types. The most common type of glioma is derived from astrocytes, and the most invasive glioblastoma (WHO IV) accounts for over 57% of these tumors. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and fatal tumor of the CNS, with strong growth and invasion capabilities, which makes complete surgical resection almost impossible. Despite various treatment methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, glioma is still an incurable disease, and the median survival time of patients with GBM is shorter than 15 months. Thus, molecular mechanisms of GBM characteristic invasive growth need to be clarified to improve the poor prognosis. Glutamate ionotropic receptor kainate type subunit 1 (GRIK1) is essential for brain function and is involved in many mental and neurological diseases. However, GRIK1's pathogenic roles and mechanisms in GBM are still unknown. Single-nuclear RNA sequencing of primary and recurrent GBM samples revealed that GRIK1 expression was noticeably higher in the recurrent samples. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining of an array of GBM samples showed that high levels of GRIK1 correlated with poor prognosis of GBM, consistent with The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Knockdown of GRIK1 retarded GBM cells growth, migration, and invasion. Taken together, these findings show that GRIK1 is a unique and important component in the development of GBM and may be considered as a biomarker for the diagnosis and therapy in individuals with GBM.

Identification of Key Molecular Pathways and Associated Genes as Targets to Overcome Radiotherapy Resistance Using a Combination of Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy in Glioma Patients

Recent mechanistic studies have indicated that combinations of radiotherapy (RT) plus immunotherapy (via CSF-1R inhibition) can serve as a strategy to overcome RT resistance and improve the survival of glioma mice. Given the high mortality rate for glioma, including low-grade glioma (LGG) patients, it is of critical importance to investigate the mechanism of the combination of RT and immunotherapy and further translate the mechanism from mouse studies to improve survival of RT-treated human glioma patients. Using the RNA-seq data from a glioma mouse study, 874 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the group of RT-treated mice at glioma recurrence and the group of mice with combination treatment (RT plus CSF-1R inhibition) were translated to the human genome to identify significant molecular pathways using the KEGG enrichment analysis. The enrichment analysis yields statistically significant signaling pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, Hippo pathway, and Notch pathway. Within each pathway, a candidate gene set was selected by Cox regression models as genetic biomarkers for resistance to RT and response to the combination of RT plus immunotherapies. Each Cox model is trained using a cohort of 295 RT-treated LGG patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and validated using a cohort of 127 RT-treated LGG patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database. A four-DEG signature (ITGB8, COL9A3, TGFB2, JAG1) was identified from the significant genes within the three pathways and yielded the area under time-dependent ROC curve AUC = 0.86 for 5-year survival in the validation set, which indicates that the selected DEGs have strong prognostic value and are potential intervention targets for combination therapies. These findings may facilitate future trial designs for developing combination therapies for glioma patients.

SPI1-mediated CXCL12 expression in bladder cancer affects the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages

Bladder cancer (BC) originates principally from the epithelial compartment of the bladder. The immune system and its diverse players, chemokines, in particular, have been related to the responses against BC. The goal of the study here was to examine if C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) in BC cells could manipulate protumorigenic properties of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which affects anticancer immunity supporting tumor development in the tumor microenvironment. CXCL12 was found to be overexpressed in BC and predicted poor survival. CXCL12 in BC was associated with multiple immune cell infiltrations, with TAM infiltration playing a key role. CXCL12 elevated chemotaxis of TAMs. CXCL12 downregulation inhibited cellular activity and TAM and suppressed the ability of TAMs to secrete inflammatory factors and MMP9. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that SPI1 was localized to the CXCL12 promoter in BC cells, suggesting that CXCL12 serves a direct target of SPI1, which was consistent with the fact that SPI1 reversed the repressive effects of si-CXCL12 on BC cell activity and TAM recruitment in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggest that SPI1 is involved in modulating TAM recruitment, representing a new mechanism through which it may influence tumor growth. This may be partly mediated by regulating CXCL12 expression.

Exploring the Multiple Roles of Notch1 in Biological Development: An Analysis and Study Based on Phylogenetics and Transcriptomics

At present, there is a research gap concerning the specific functions and mechanisms of the Notch gene family and its signaling pathway in jawless vertebrates. In this study, we identified a Notch1 homologue (Lr. Notch1) in the Lethenteron reissneri database. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified Lr. Notch1 as the likely common ancestor gene of the Notch gene family in higher vertebrates, indicating a high degree of conservation in the Notch gene family and its signaling pathways. To validate the biological function of Lr. Notch1, we conducted targeted silencing of Lr. Notch1 in L. reissneri and analyzed the resultant gene expression profile before and after silencing using transcriptome analysis. Our findings revealed that the silencing of Lr. Notch1 resulted in differential expression of pathways and genes associated with signal transduction, immune regulation, and metabolic regulation, mirroring the biological function of the Notch signaling pathway in higher vertebrates. This article systematically elucidated the origin and evolution of the Notch gene family while also validating the biological function of Lr. Notch1. These insights offer valuable clues for understanding the evolution of the Notch signaling pathway and establish a foundation for future research on the origin of the Notch signaling pathway, as well as its implications in human diseases and immunomodulation.

Chemokines: Function and therapeutic potential in bone metastasis of lung cancer

Lung cancer is a rapidly progressing disease with a poor prognosis. Bone metastasis is commonly found in 40.6% of advanced-stage patients. The mortality rate of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis can be significantly decreased by implementing novel diagnostic techniques, improved staging and classification systems, precise surgical interventions, and advanced treatment modalities. However, it is important to note that there is currently a lack of radical procedures available for these patients due to the development of drug resistance. Consequently, palliative care approaches are commonly employed in clinical practice. Therefore, new understandings of the process of bone metastasis of lung cancer are critical for developing better treatment strategies to improve patient's clinical cure rate and quality of life. Chemokines are cell-secreted small signaling proteins in cancer occurrence, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In this study, we review the development of bone metastasis in lung cancer and discuss the mechanisms of specific chemokine families (CC, CXC, CX3C, and XC) in regulating the biological activities of tumors and promoting bone metastasis. We also highlight some preclinical studies and clinical trials on chemokines for lung cancer and bone metastasis.

Emodin disrupts the Notch1/Nrf2/GPX4 antioxidant system and promotes renal cell ferroptosis

Emodin has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological activities. However, emodin has also been reported to induce nephrotoxicity at high doses and with long-term use, and the underlying mechanism has not been fully disclosed. The current study aimed to investigate the roles of oxidative stress and ferroptosis in emodin-induced kidney toxicity. Mice were intraperitoneally treated with emodin, and NRK-52E cells were exposed to emodin in the presence or absence of treatment with Jagged1, SC79, or t-BHQ. Emodin significantly upregulated the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, malondialdehyde, and Fe2+ , reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and induced pathological changes in the kidneys in vivo. Moreover, the viability of NRK-52E cells treated with emodin was reduced, and emodin induced iron accumulation, excessive reactive oxygen species production, and lipid peroxidation and depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). In addition, emodin treatment downregulated the activity of neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1), reduced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and decreased glutathione peroxidase 4 protein levels. However, Notch1 activation by Jagged1 pretreatment, Akt activation by SC79 pretreatment, or Nrf2 activation by t-BHQ pretreatment attenuated the toxic effects of emodin in NRK-52E cells. Taken together, these results revealed that emodin-induced ferroptosis triggered kidney toxicity through inhibition of the Notch1/Nrf2/glutathione peroxidase 4 axis.

Targeting EZH2 regulates the biological characteristics of glioma stem cells via the Notch1 pathway

Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor, and its behavior is closely related to the presence of glioma stem cells (GSCs). We found that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is highly expressed in glioma and that its expression is correlated with the prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in two databases: The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas. Additionally, EZH2 is known to regulate the stemness-associated gene expression, proliferation, and invasion ability of GSCs, which may be achieved through the activation of the STAT3 and Notch1 pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of the EZH2-specific inhibitor GSK126 on GSCs; these results not only corroborate our hypothesis, but also provide a potential novel treatment approach for glioma.

Uncovering NOTCH1 as a Promising Target in the Treatment of MLL-Rearranged Leukemia

MLL rearrangement (MLLr) is responsible for the development of acute leukemias with poor outcomes. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. The NOTCH1 pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many cancers including acute leukemia. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 MLL-AF4/-AF9 translocation model, the newly developed NOTCH1 inhibitor CAD204520 with less toxic side effects allowed us to unravel the impact of NOTCH1 as a pathogenic driver and potential therapeutic target in MLLr leukemia. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RT-qPCR of our MLLr model and MLLr cell lines showed the NOTCH1 pathway was overexpressed and activated. Strikingly, we confirmed this elevated expression level in leukemia patients. We also demonstrated that CAD204520 treatment of MLLr cells significantly reduces NOTCH1 and its target genes as well as NOTCH1 receptor expression. This was not observed with a comparable cytarabine treatment, indicating the specificity of the small molecule. Accordingly, treatment with CAD204520 resulted in dose-dependent reduced proliferation and viability, increased apoptosis, and the induction of cell cycle arrest via the downregulation of MLL and NOTCH1 target genes. In conclusion, our findings uncover the oncogenic relevance of the NOTCH1 pathway in MLLr leukemia. Its inhibition leads to specific anti-leukemic effects and paves the way for further evaluation in clinical settings.

Advances in mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related drugs in glioblastoma treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). It is a leading cause of death among patients with intracranial malignant tumors. GBM exhibits intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity, leading to drug resistance and eventual tumor recurrence. Conventional treatments for GBM include maximum surgical resection of glioma tissue, temozolomide administration, and radiotherapy, but these methods do not effectively halt cancer progression. Therefore, development of novel methods for the treatment of GBM and identification of new therapeutic targets are urgently required. In recent years, studies have shown that drugs related to mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways can promote the death of glioblastoma cells by inducing mitochondrial damage, impairing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and depleting large amounts of ATP. Some studies have also shown that modern nano-drug delivery technology targeting mitochondria can achieve better drug release and deeper tissue penetration, suggesting that mitochondria could be a new target for intervention and therapy. The combination of drugs targeting mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy pathways with nanotechnology is a promising novel approach for treating GBM.This article reviews the current status of drug therapy for GBM, drugs targeting mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways, the potential of mitochondria as a new target for GBM treatment, the latest developments pertaining to GBM treatment, and promising directions for future research.

The Glioblastoma Landscape: Hallmarks of Disease, Therapeutic Resistance, and Treatment Opportunities

Malignant brain tumors are aggressive and difficult to treat. Glioblastoma is the most common and lethal form of primary brain tumor, often found in patients with no genetic predisposition. The median life expectancy for individuals diagnosed with this condition is 6 months to 2 years and there is no known cure. New paradigms in cancer biology implicate a small subset of tumor cells in initiating and sustaining these incurable brain tumors. Here, we discuss the heterogenous nature of glioblastoma and theories behind its capacity for therapy resistance and recurrence. Within the cancer landscape, cancer stem cells are thought to be both tumor initiators and major contributors to tumor heterogeneity and therapy evasion and such cells have been identified in glioblastoma. At the cellular level, disruptions in the delicate balance between differentiation and self-renewal spur transformation and support tumor growth. While rapidly dividing cells are more sensitive to elimination by traditional treatments, glioblastoma stem cells evade these measures through slow division and reversible exit from the cell cycle. At the molecular level, glioblastoma tumor cells exploit several signaling pathways to evade conventional therapies through improved DNA repair mechanisms and a flexible state of senescence. We examine these common evasion techniques while discussing potential molecular approaches to better target these deadly tumors. Equally important, the presented information encourages the idea of augmenting conventional treatments with novel glioblastoma stem cell-directed therapies, as eliminating these harmful progenitors holds great potential to modulate tumor recurrence.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4 A-3 promotes glioblastoma growth and invasion through the Notch1-dependent pathway

BACKGROUND

As an adult tumor with the most invasion and the highest mortality rate, the inherent heterogeneity of glioblastoma (GBM) is the main factor that causes treatment failure. Therefore, it is important to have a deeper understanding of the pathology of GBM. Some studies have shown that Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4A-3 (EIF4A3) can promote the growth of many people's tumors, and the role of specific molecules in GBM remains unclear.

METHODS

The correlation between the expression of EIF4A3 gene and its prognosis was studied in 94 GBM patients using survival analysis. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments, the effect of EIF4A3 on GBM cells proliferation, migration, and the mechanism of EIF4A3 on GBM was explored. In addition, combined with bioinformatics analysis, we further confirmed that EIF4A3 contributes to the progress of GBM.

RESULTS

The expression of EIF4A3 was upregulated in GBM tissues, and high expression of EIF4A3 is associated with poor prognosis in GBM. In vitro, knockdown of EIF4A3 significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of GBM cells, whereas overexpression of EIF4A3 led to the opposite effect. The analysis of differentially expressed genes related to EIF4A3 indicates that it is involved in many cancer-related pathways, such as Notch and JAK-STAT3 signal pathway. In Besides, we demonstrated the interaction between EIF4A3 and Notch1 by RNA immunoprecipitation. Finally, the biological function of EIF4A3-promoted GBM was confirmed in living organisms.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that EIF4A3 may be a potential prognostic factor, and Notch1 participates in the proliferation and metastasis of GBM cells mediated by EIF4A3.

Development and validation of an immune infiltration/tumor proliferation-related Notch3 nomogram for predicting survival in patients with primary glioblastoma

Background: Notch receptors (Notch 1/2/3/4), the critical effectors of the Notch pathway, participate in the tumorigenesis and progression of many malignancies. However, the clinical roles of Notch receptors in primary glioblastoma (GBM) have not been fully elucidated. Methods: The genetic alteration-related prognostic values of Notch receptors were determined in the GBM dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Two GBM datasets from TCGA and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were used to explore the differential expression between Notch receptors and IDH mutation status, and GBM subtypes. The biological functions of Notch Receptors were explored by Gene Ontology and KEGG analysis. The expression and prognostic significance of Notch receptors were determined in the TCGA and CGGA datasets and further validated in a clinical GBM cohort by immunostaining. A Notch3-based nomogram/predictive risk model was constructed in the TCGA dataset and validated in the CGGA dataset. The model performance was evaluated by receiver operating curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses. The Notch3-related phenotypes were analyzed via CancerSEA and TIMER. The proliferative role of Notch3 in GBM was validated in U251/U87 glioma cells by Western blot and immunostaining. Results: Notch receptors with genetic alterations were associated with poor survival of GBM patients. Notch receptors were all upregulated in GBM of TCGA and CGGA databases and closely related to the regulation of transcription, protein-lysine N-methyltransferase activity, lysine N-methyltransferase activity, and focal adhesion. Notch receptors were associated with Classical, Mesenchymal, and Proneural subtypes. Notch1 and Notch3 were closely correlated with IDH mutation status and G-CIMP subtype. Notch receptors displayed the differential expression at the protein level and Notch3 showed a prognostic significance in a clinical GBM cohort. Notch3 presented an independent prognostic role for primary GBM (IDH1 mutant/wildtype). A Notch3-based predictive risk model presented favorable accuracy, reliability, and net benefits for predicting the survival of GBM patients (IDH1 mutant/wildtype and IDH1 wildtype). Notch3 was closely related to immune infiltration (macrophages, CD4⁺ T cells, and dendritic cells) and tumor proliferation. Conclusion: Notch3-based nomogram served as a practical tool for anticipating the survival of GBM patients, which was related to immune-cell infiltration and tumor proliferation.

Investigating Trans-differentiation of Glioblastoma Cells in an In Vitro 3D Model of the Perivascular Niche

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the deadliest form of brain cancer, responsible for over 50% of adult brain tumors. A specific region within the GBM environment is known as the perivascular niche (PVN). This area is defined as within approximately 100 μm of vasculature and plays an important role in the interactions between endothelial cells (ECs), astrocytes, GBM cells, and stem cells. We have designed a 3D in vitro model of the PVN comprising either collagen Type 1 or HyStem-C, human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), and LN229 (GBM) cells. HUVECs were encapsulated within the hydrogels to form vascular networks. After 7 days, LN229 cells were co-cultured to investigate changes in both cell types. Over a 14 day culture period, we measured alterations in HUVEC networks, the contraction of the hydrogels, trans-differentiation of LN229 cells, and the concentrations of two chemokines; CXCL12 and TGF-β. Increased cellular proliferation ranging from 10- to 16-fold was exhibited in co-cultures from days 8 to 14. This was accompanied with a decrease in the height of hydrogels of up to 68%. These changes in the biomaterial scaffold indicate that LN229-HUVEC interactions promote changes to the matrix. TGF-β and CXCL12 secretion increased approximately 2-2.6-fold each from day 8 to 14 in all co-cultures. The expression of CXCL12 correlated with cell colocalization, indicating a chemotactic role in enabling the migration of LN229 cells toward HUVECs in co-cultures. von Willebrand factor (vWF) was co-expressed with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in up to 15% of LN229 cells after 24 h in co-culture. Additionally, when LN229 cells were co-cultured with human brain microvascular ECs, the percentages of GFAP⁺/vWF⁺ cells were up to 20% higher than that in co-cultures with HUVECs in collagen (2.2 mg/mL) and HyStem-C gels on day 14. The expression of vWF indicates the early stages of trans-differentiation of LN229 cells to an EC phenotype. Designing in vitro models of trans-differentiation may provide additional insights into how vasculature and cellular phenotypes are altered in GBM.

Artesunate targets cellular metabolism to regulate the Th17/Treg cell balance

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic reprogramming is one of the important mechanisms of cell differentiation, and different cells have different preferences for energy sources. During the differentiation of naive CD4 + T cells into Th17 and Treg cells, these cells show specific energy metabolism characteristics. Th17 cells depend on enhanced glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, and glutaminolysis. In contrast, Treg cells are dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid depletion. As a potent antimalarial drug, artesunate has been shown to modulate the Th17/Treg imbalance and regulate cell metabolism.

METHODOLOGY

Relevant literatures on ART, cellular metabolism, glycolysis, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, CD4 + T cells, Th17 cells, and Treg cells published from January 1, 2010 to now were searched in PubMed database.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we will highlight recent advances in which artesunate can restore the Th17/Treg imbalance in disease states by altering T-cell metabolism to influence differentiation and lineage selection. Data from the current study show that few studies have focused on the effect of ART on cellular metabolism. ART can affect the metabolic characteristics of T cells (glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism) and interfere with their differentiation lineage, thereby regulating the balance of Th17/Treg and alleviating the symptoms of the disease.

Advances in antibody-based drugs and their delivery through the blood-brain barrier for targeted therapy and immunotherapy of gliomas

Gliomas are highly invasive and are the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor. The routine treatments for glioma include surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, glioma recurrence and patient survival remain unsatisfactory after employing these traditional treatment approaches. With the rapid development of molecular immunology, significant breakthroughs have been made in targeted glioma therapy and immunotherapy. Antibody-based therapy has excellent advantages in treating gliomas due to its high specificity and sensitivity. This article reviewed various targeted antibody drugs for gliomas, including anti-glioma surface marker antibodies, anti-angiogenesis antibodies, and anti-immunosuppressive signal antibodies. Notably, many antibodies have been validated clinically, such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, panitumumab, and anti-PD-1 antibodies. These antibodies can improve the targeting of glioma therapy, enhance anti-tumor immunity, reduce the proliferation and invasion of glioma, and thus prolong the survival time of patients. However, the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has caused significant difficulties in drug delivery for gliomas. Therefore, this paper also summarized drug delivery methods through the BBB, including receptor-mediated transportation, nano-based carriers, and some physical and chemical methods for drug delivery. With these exciting advancements, more antibody-based therapies will likely enter clinical practice and allow more successful control of malignant gliomas.

Molecules promoting circulating clusters of cancer cells suggest novel therapeutic targets for treatment of metastatic cancers

Treatment of metastatic disease remains among the most challenging tasks in oncology. One of the early events that predicts a poor prognosis and precedes the development of metastasis is the occurrence of clusters of cancer cells in the blood flow. Moreover, the presence of heterogeneous clusters of cancerous and noncancerous cells in the circulation is even more dangerous. Review of pathological mechanisms and biological molecules directly involved in the formation and pathogenesis of the heterotypic circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters revealed their common properties, which include increased adhesiveness, combined epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype, CTC-white blood cell interaction, and polyploidy. Several molecules involved in the heterotypic CTC interactions and their metastatic properties, including IL6R, CXCR4 and EPCAM, are targets of approved or experimental anticancer drugs. Accordingly, analysis of patient survival data from the published literature and public datasets revealed that the expression of several molecules affecting the formation of CTC clusters predicts patient survival in multiple cancer types. Thus, targeting of molecules involved in CTC heterotypic interactions might be a valuable strategy for the treatment of metastatic cancers.

Nanomedicines Targeting Glioma Stem Cells

Glioblastoma (GBM), classified as a grade IV glioma, is a rapidly growing, aggressive, and most commonly occurring tumor of the central nervous system. Despite the therapeutic advances, it carries an ominous prognosis, with a median survival of 14.6 months after diagnosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that cancer stem cells in GBM, termed glioma stem cells (GSCs), play a crucial role in tumor propagation, treatment resistance, and tumor recurrence. GSCs, possessing the capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation, are responsible for tumor growth and heterogeneity, leading to primary obstacles to current cancer therapy. In this respect, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of anti-GSC strategies based on targeting GSC surface markers, blockage of essential signaling pathways of GSCs, and manipulating the tumor microenvironment (GSC niches). In this review, we will discuss the research knowledge regarding GSC-based therapy and the underlying mechanisms for the treatment of GBM. Given the rapid progression in nanotechnology, innovative nanomedicines developed for GSC targeting will also be highlighted from the perspective of rationale, advantages, and limitations. The goal of this review is to provide broader understanding and key considerations toward the future direction of GSC-based nanotheranostics to fight against GBM.

NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GAMMA-SECRETASE INHIBITOR ON SEPSIS- INDUCED RENAL INJURY IN MOUSE MODEL OF CLP

OBJECTIVE

The aim: This study was set out to assess the potential protective impact of MK0752 (a gamma secretase inhibitor) on sepsis-induced renal injury through modulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: Twenty-four Swiss-albino mice aged between eight and twelve week and weighted twenty to thirty-seven grams were randomly allocated into four groups (n=6 in each group). Sham group (laparotomy without cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), sepsis group (laparotomy with CLP), vehicle-treated group (equivalent volume of DMSO before the CLP), MK0752 treated group (5 mg/kg) single daily dose for three days before the CLP. Blood samples were used to assess the serum levels of urea and creatinine. The kidneys were used to assess tissue levels of the TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, TNFR1, VEGF, notch1, jagged1 and tissue damage by histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

Results: The current study shows that pretreatment with MK0752 ameliorates the renal damage by significantly reducing the proinflammatory cytokines and notch1 signaling.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that MK0752 could be protective against the renal injury induced by sepsis through its ameliorative impact on renal architecture and modulating cytokines and Notch1 singling pathway. Further studies regarding the role of Notch signaling pathways would be worthwhile.

Decreased APOC1 expression inhibited cancer progression and was associated with better prognosis and immune microenvironment in esophageal cancer

Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in multiple cancers. However, the role of APOC1 in esophageal cancer (ESCA) has not been elucidated. Hence, we examined the expression of APOC1 in ESCA tissues acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and clinical samples from our hospital. An investigation of the association of APOC1 with the clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, and diagnosis of ESCA was carried out on the basis of survival, receiver operating characteristics, and correlation analyses. Gene ontology, KEGG analysis, and protein-protein interaction network showed that co-expressed APOC1 genes were involved in the functions, mechanisms, and action network. The effects of APOC1 expression on ESCA cells were explored using CCK-8, migration and invasion assays. The relationship between APOC1 expression and ESCA immune-infiltrating cells and cell markers were examined using correlation analysis. We found that APOC1 was overexpressed in TCGA ESCA tissues and the same was validated in clinical ESCA tissues, with the area under the curve for APOC1 being 0.887. Overexpression of APOC1 was associated with short overall survival, disease-specific survival, progression-free interval, T stage, pathological stage, body mass index, and histological grade. Inhibition of APOC1 expression significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCA cells. Furthermore, APOC1 expression positively correlated with the ESTIMATE, immune, and stromal scores in ESCA. Overexpression of APOC1 correlated with the tumor purity, B cells, T helper cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic cells, and other immune cells. Moreover, APOC1 was involved in ESCA progression via T cell receptor, B cell receptor, and other immune signaling pathways. Thus, APOC1 overexpression is expected to be a biomarker for dismal prognosis and diagnosis of ESCA. Inhibition of APOC1 expression significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCA cells. Overexpression of APOC1 was associated with the immune microenvironment in ESCA. Thus, APOC1 may be an efficient biomarker for proper prognosis and diagnosis of ESCA.

ALDH1: A potential therapeutic target for cancer stem cells in solid tumors

Solid tumors can be divided into benign solid tumors and solid malignant tumors in the academic community, among which malignant solid tumors are called cancers. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, and the global incidence of cancer is increasing yearly New cancer patients in China are always the first. After the concept of stem cells was introduced in the tumor community, the CSC markers represented by ALDH1 have been widely studied due to their strong CSC cell characteristics and potential to be the driving force of tumor metastasis. In the research results in the past five years, it has been found that ALDH1 is highly expressed in various solid cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, head,and neck cancer. ALDH1 can activate and transform various pathways (such as the USP28/MYC signaling pathway, ALDH1A1/HIF-1α/VEGF axis, wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway), as well as change the intracellular pH value to promote formation and maintenance, resulting in drug resistance in tumors. By targeting and inhibiting ALDH1 in tumor stem cells, it can enhance the sensitivity of drugs and inhibit the proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis of solid tumor stem cells to some extent. This review discusses the relationship and pathway of ALDH1 with various solid tumors. It proposes that ALDH1 may serve as a diagnosis and therapeutic target for CSC, providing new insights and new strategies for reliable tumor treatment.

MDK induces temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma by promoting cancer stem-like properties

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequently observed and aggressive type of high-grade malignant glioma. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the primary agent for GBM treatment. However, TMZ resistance remains a major challenge. In this study, we report that MDK is overexpressed in GBM, which leads to enhanced proliferation, apoptosis inhibition, increased invasion and TMZ resistance in GBM cells. It was also determined that MDK could significantly improve the stem-like properties of GBM cells. Mechanistically, MDK enhanced p-JNK through Notch1 and subsequently increased the expression of stemness markers, such as CD133 and Nanog, thereby promoting TMZ resistance. Finally, xenograft experiments and clinical sample analysis also demonstrated that MDK knockdown could significantly inhibit tumor growth in vivo, and the expression of MDK was positively correlated with Notch1, p-JNK and CD133. This study revealed that MDK induces TMZ resistance by improving the stem-like properties of GBM by upregulating the Notch1/p-JNK signaling pathway, which provides a possible target for therapeutic intervention of GBM, especially in TMZ-resistant GBM with high MDK expression.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma: Navigating the clinical and translational landscape

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can directly clear tumor cells and enhance the phagocytic ability of immune cells. An abundance of TAMs at the site of the glioblastoma tumor indicates that TAM-targeting immunotherapy could represent a potential form of treatment for this aggressive cancer. Herein, we discuss: i) the dynamic role of TAMs in glioblastoma; ii) describe the formation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment; iii) summarize the latest clinical trial data that reveal how TAM function can be regulated in favor tumor eradication; and lastly, iv) evaluate the implications of existing and novel translational approaches for treating glioblastoma in clinical practice.

Pathophysiological roles of integrins in gliomas from the perspective of glioma stem cells

Glioblastoma is the most common primary intracranial tumor and is also one of the most malignant central nervous system tumors. Its characteristics, such as high malignancy, abundant tumor vasculature, drug resistance, and recurrence-prone nature, cause great suffering to glioma patients. Furthermore, glioma stem cells are the primordial cells of the glioma and play a central role in the development of glioma. Integrins—heterodimers composed of noncovalently bound a and ß subunits—are highly expressed in glioma stem cells and play an essential role in the self-renewal, differentiation, high drug resistance, and chemo-radiotherapy resistance of glioma stem cells through cell adhesion and signaling. However, there are various types of integrins, and their mechanisms of function on glioma stem cells are complex. Therefore, this article reviews the feasibility of treating gliomas by targeting integrins on glioma stem cells.

Molecular Pathways and Genomic Landscape of Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Opportunities for Targeted Therapy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive tumor of the central nervous system categorized by the World Health Organization as a Grade 4 astrocytoma. Despite treatment with surgical resection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, outcomes remain poor, with a median survival of only 14-16 months. Although tumor regression is often observed initially after treatment, long-term recurrence or progression invariably occurs. Tumor growth, invasion, and recurrence is mediated by a unique population of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Their high mutation rate and dysregulated transcriptional landscape augment their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, explaining the poor outcomes observed in patients. Consequently, GSCs have emerged as targets of interest in new treatment paradigms. Here, we review the unique properties of GSCs, including their interactions with the hypoxic microenvironment that drives their proliferation. We discuss vital signaling pathways in GSCs that mediate stemness, self-renewal, proliferation, and invasion, including the Notch, epidermal growth factor receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, sonic hedgehog, transforming growth factor beta, Wnt, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and inhibitors of differentiation pathways. We also review epigenomic changes in GSCs that influence their transcriptional state, including DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, and miRNA expression. The constituent molecular components of the signaling pathways and epigenomic regulators represent potential sites for targeted therapy, and representative examples of inhibitory molecules and pharmaceuticals are discussed. Continued investigation into the molecular pathways of GSCs and candidate therapeutics is needed to discover new effective treatments for GBM and improve survival.

Genes of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System Qualify as Differential Markers in Malignant Glioma of Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Origin

We have mined public genomic datasets to identify genes coding for components of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) that may qualify as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the three major glioma types, astrocytoma (AS), glioblastoma (GBM), and oligodendroglioma (ODG). In the Sun dataset of glioma (GEO ID: GSE4290), expression of the genes UBE2S and UBE2C, which encode ubiquitin conjugases important for cell-cycle progression, distinguished GBM from AS and ODG. KEGG analysis showed that among the ubiquitin E3 ligase genes differentially expressed, the Notch pathway was significantly over-represented, whereas among the E3 ligase adaptor genes the Hippo pathway was over-represented. We provide evidence that the UPS gene contributions to the Notch and Hippo pathway signatures are related to stem cell pathways and can distinguish GBM from AS and ODG. In the Sun dataset, AURKA and TPX2, two cell-cycle genes coding for E3 ligases, and the cell-cycle gene coding for the E3 adaptor CDC20 were upregulated in GBM. E3 ligase adaptor genes differentially expressed were also over-represented for the Hippo pathway and were able to distinguish classic, mesenchymal, and proneural subtypes of GBM. Also over-expressed in GBM were PSMB8 and PSMB9, genes encoding subunits of the immunoproteasome. Our transcriptome analysis provides a strong rationale for UPS members as attractive therapeutic targets for the development of more effective treatment strategies in malignant glioma. Ubiquitin proteasome system and glioblastoma: E1-ubiquitin-activating enzyme, E2-ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E3-ubiquitin ligase. Ubiquitinated substrates of E3 ligases may be degraded by the proteasome. Expression of genes for specific E2 conjugases, E3 ligases, and genes for proteasome subunits may serve as differential markers of subtypes of glioblastoma.

Research Progress on the Regulation Mechanism of Key Signal Pathways Affecting the Prognosis of Glioma

As is known to all, glioma, a global difficult problem, has a high malignant degree, high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. We analyzed and summarized signal pathway of the Hippo/YAP, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, miRNA, WNT/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, TCS/mTORC1 signal pathway, JAK/STAT signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, the relationship between BBB and signal pathways and the mechanism of key enzymes in glioma. It is concluded that Yap1 inhibitor may become an effective target for the treatment of glioma in the near future through efforts of generation after generation. Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Shh, Wnt/β-Catenin, and HIF-1α can reduce the migration ability and drug resistance of tumor cells to improve the prognosis of glioma. The analysis shows that Notch1 and Sox2 have a positive feedback regulation mechanism, and Notch4 predicts the malignant degree of glioma. In this way, notch cannot only be treated for glioma stem cells in clinic, but also be used as an evaluation index to evaluate the prognosis, and provide an exploratory attempt for the direction of glioma treatment. MiRNA plays an important role in diagnosis, and in the treatment of glioma, VPS25, KCNQ1OT1, KB-1460A1.5, and CKAP4 are promising prognostic indicators and a potential therapeutic targets for glioma, meanwhile, Rheb is also a potent activator of Signaling cross-talk etc. It is believed that these studies will help us to have a deeper understanding of glioma, so that we will find new and better treatment schemes to gradually conquer the problem of glioma.

Research Progress on the Regulation Mechanism of Key Signal Pathways Affecting the Prognosis of Glioma

As is known to all, glioma, a global difficult problem, has a high malignant degree, high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. We analyzed and summarized signal pathway of the Hippo/YAP, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, miRNA, WNT/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, TCS/mTORC1 signal pathway, JAK/STAT signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, the relationship between BBB and signal pathways and the mechanism of key enzymes in glioma. It is concluded that Yap1 inhibitor may become an effective target for the treatment of glioma in the near future through efforts of generation after generation. Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Shh, Wnt/β-Catenin, and HIF-1α can reduce the migration ability and drug resistance of tumor cells to improve the prognosis of glioma. The analysis shows that Notch1 and Sox2 have a positive feedback regulation mechanism, and Notch4 predicts the malignant degree of glioma. In this way, notch cannot only be treated for glioma stem cells in clinic, but also be used as an evaluation index to evaluate the prognosis, and provide an exploratory attempt for the direction of glioma treatment. MiRNA plays an important role in diagnosis, and in the treatment of glioma, VPS25, KCNQ1OT1, KB-1460A1.5, and CKAP4 are promising prognostic indicators and a potential therapeutic targets for glioma, meanwhile, Rheb is also a potent activator of Signaling cross-talk etc. It is believed that these studies will help us to have a deeper understanding of glioma, so that we will find new and better treatment schemes to gradually conquer the problem of glioma.

Targeting CXCR4 to suppress glioma-initiating cells and chemoresistance in glioma

Glioma initiating cells (GICs), also known as glioma stem cells, display the capacity to recapitulate the functional diversity within the tumor. Despite the great progress achieved over the last decades, defining the key molecular regulators of GICs has represented a major obstacle in this field. In our study, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database illustrated a relationship between C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression and the survival of glioma patients. Mechanistically, we further indicated that CXCR4 mediated the upregulation of Kruppel like factor 5 (KLF5), a zinc-finger-containing transcription factor, to facilitate the proliferation of GICs. What's more, CXCR4 also enhanced the chemoresistance through KLF5/Bcl2-like 12 (BCl2L12) in glioma. The elevated expression of KLF5 and BCL2L12 induced by CXCR4 was dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase (AKT) signaling. Importantly, combined application of temozolomide and a CXCR4 inhibitor efficiently reversed CXCR4 mediated drugs resistance and improved anticancer effects in vivo. Collectively, our findings confirmed that CXCR4 promoted GICs proliferation via the KLF5/BCL2L12 dependent pathway, which may enrich the understanding of GICs and help drive the design of efficacious therapeutic strategies.

CXCR4 knockdown enhances sensitivity of paclitaxel via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in ovarian carcinoma

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy. EOC control remains difficult, and EOC patients show poor prognosis regarding metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of CXCR4 knockdown-mediated reduction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) stemness and enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity in EOC. Mechanisms contributing to these effects were also explored. Our data showed distinct contribution of CXCR4 overexpression by dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in EOC development. CXCR4 knockdown resulted in a reduction in CSCs and EMT formation and enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity in tumor cells, which was further advanced by blocking CXCR4-PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. This study also documented the critical role of silencing CXCR4 in sensitizing ovarian CSCs to chemotherapy. Thus, targeting CXCR4 to suppress EOC progression, specifically in combination with paclitaxel (PTX) treatment, may have clinical application value.

Pristimerin alleviates cigarette smoke-induced inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via inhibiting NF-κB pathway

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can exacerbate inflammation and oxidative stress. Pristimerin (Pris) is a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We managed to evaluate the protective effects of Pris on CS-induced COPD. The CS-induced COPD mice model and cell model were constructed. The effects of Pris treatment on lung function, inflammatory cell infiltration, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and pathological changes of lung tissues in mice model were evaluated. The impacts of Pris treatment on inflammatory factors, chemokines, and oxidative stress parameters in mice lung tissues and cells were determined by kits. The viability of human bronchial epithelial cells after Pris treatment was tested by CCK-8. The activation of NF-κB pathway was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. CS treatment impaired lung function, reduced weight of mice, and enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration, MPO, and lung tissue damage, but these effects of CS were reversed by Pris treatment. Furthermore, Pris treatment downregulated the levels of malondialdehyde, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, CXCL1, and CXLC2, but upregulated superoxide dismutase and catalase levels. Pris treatment could overturn CS-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Pris alleviates CS-induced COPD by inactivating NF-κB pathway.

Notch signaling in malignant gliomas: supporting tumor growth and the vascular environment

Glioblastoma is the most malignant form of glioma, which is the most commonly occurring tumor of the central nervous system. Notch signaling in glioblastoma is considered to be a marker of an undifferentiated tumor cell state, associated with tumor stem cells. Notch is also known for facilitating tumor dormancy escape, recurrence and progression after treatment. Studies in vitro suggest that reducing, removing or blocking the expression of this gene triggers tumor cell differentiation, which shifts the phenotype away from stemness status and consequently facilitates treatment. In contrast, in the vasculature, Notch appears to also function as an important receptor that defines mature non-leaking vessels, and increasing its expression promotes tumor normalization in models of cancer in vivo. Failures in clinical trials with Notch inhibitors are potentially related to their opposing effects on the tumor versus the tumor vasculature, which points to the need for a greater understanding of this signaling pathway.

Tracing the origins of glioblastoma by investigating the role of gliogenic and related neurogenic genes/signaling pathways in GBM development: a systematic review

Background

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive tumors. The etiology and the factors determining its onset are not yet entirely known. This study investigates the origins of GBM, and for this purpose, it focuses primarily on developmental gliogenic processes. It also focuses on the impact of the related neurogenic developmental processes in glioblastoma oncogenesis. It also addresses why glial cells are at more risk of tumor development compared to neurons.

Methods

Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched for published articles without any date restrictions, involving glioblastoma, gliogenesis, neurogenesis, stemness, neural stem cells, gliogenic signaling and pathways, neurogenic signaling and pathways, and astrocytogenic genes.

Results

The origin of GBM is dependent on dysregulation in multiple genes and pathways that accumulatively converge the cells towards oncogenesis. There are multiple layers of steps in glioblastoma oncogenesis including the failure of cell fate-specific genes to keep the cells differentiated in their specific cell types such as p300, BMP, HOPX, and NRSF/REST. There are genes and signaling pathways that are involved in differentiation and also contribute to GBM such as FGFR3, JAK-STAT, and hey1. The genes that contribute to differentiation processes but also contribute to stemness in GBM include notch, Sox9, Sox4, c-myc gene overrides p300, and then GFAP, leading to upregulation of nestin, SHH, NF-κB, and others. GBM mutations pathologically impact the cell circuitry such as the interaction between Sox2 and JAK-STAT pathway, resulting in GBM development and progression.

Conclusion

Glioblastoma originates when the gene expression of key gliogenic genes and signaling pathways become dysregulated. This study identifies key gliogenic genes having the ability to control oncogenesis in glioblastoma cells, including p300, BMP, PAX6, HOPX, NRSF/REST, LIF, and TGF beta. It also identifies key neurogenic genes having the ability to control oncogenesis including PAX6, neurogenins including Ngn1, NeuroD1, NeuroD4, Numb, NKX6-1 Ebf, Myt1, and ASCL1. This study also postulates how aging contributes to the onset of glioblastoma by dysregulating the gene expression of NF-κB, REST/NRSF, ERK, AKT, EGFR, and others.

The CD133+CXCR4+ Colorectal Tumor Cells Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression by PI3K/AKT Signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Due to its preferential metastasis to the liver, CRC has become one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There has evidence showing that a variety of subpopulations exist among cancer cells, which play an important role in liver metastasis. Growing evidence suggests that CD133 and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) are thought to contribute to cancer progression and metastasis. However, it has not been fully characterized in CRC. Here, we found that the expression of CD133 and CXCR4 in metastatic liver cancer tissues was higher than that of the primary tumor tissue and paratumor tissue. Furthermore, CD133⁺CXCR4⁺ cells were found to contribute to colorectal carcinogenesis and liver metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CXCR4 blocked significantly inhibited the CD133⁺CXCR4⁺ cells metastatic to the liver in a mouse model. We also showed that CD133⁺CXCR4⁺ induced significant phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that CD133⁺CXCR4⁺ cell subsets play an important role in the development and progression of colon cancer.

Notch signaling pathway: architecture, disease, and therapeutics

The NOTCH gene was identified approximately 110 years ago. Classical studies have revealed that NOTCH signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway. NOTCH receptors undergo three cleavages and translocate into the nucleus to regulate the transcription of target genes. NOTCH signaling deeply participates in the development and homeostasis of multiple tissues and organs, the aberration of which results in cancerous and noncancerous diseases. However, recent studies indicate that the outcomes of NOTCH signaling are changeable and highly dependent on context. In terms of cancers, NOTCH signaling can both promote and inhibit tumor development in various types of cancer. The overall performance of NOTCH-targeted therapies in clinical trials has failed to meet expectations. Additionally, NOTCH mutation has been proposed as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade therapy in many cancers. Collectively, the NOTCH pathway needs to be integrally assessed with new perspectives to inspire discoveries and applications. In this review, we focus on both classical and the latest findings related to NOTCH signaling to illustrate the history, architecture, regulatory mechanisms, contributions to physiological development, related diseases, and therapeutic applications of the NOTCH pathway. The contributions of NOTCH signaling to the tumor immune microenvironment and cancer immunotherapy are also highlighted. We hope this review will help not only beginners but also experts to systematically and thoroughly understand the NOTCH signaling pathway.

Modifications to the Transwell Migration/Invasion Assay Method That Eases Assay Performance and Improves the Accuracy

Migration is a key property of live cells and critical for normal development, immune response, and disease processes such as cancer metastasis and inflammation. Methods to examine cell migration are especially useful and important for a wide range of biomedical research such as cancer biology, immunology, vascular biology, cell biology, and developmental biology. In vitro assays are excellent approaches to extrapolate to in vivo situations and study live cells behavior. The aim of this article is to discuss the existing methods for transwell migration/invasion studies, the problems associated with this assay, and proposed modifications to this methodological approach that makes it simple to perform and improve the assay accuracy. Results of our studies demonstrated that the count of cells that had grown on top of the membrane is important to accurately evaluate the percentage of migrated/invaded cells. The results also showed that the transparent transwell insert with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stained cells is the best approach to ease the analysis of cell numbers on top of the membranes. In addition, the overlay of bright light (representing membrane pores) and DAPI images can further improve the accuracy of cell count. All these modifications in combination simplify the assay performance and improve the accuracy of the transwell migration assay method.

Norepinephrine promotes glioma cell migration through up-regulating the expression of Twist1

Background

Glioma cells are characterized by high migration ability, resulting in aggressive growth of the tumors and poor prognosis of patients. It has been reported that the stress-induced hormone norepinephrine (NE) contributes to tumor progression through mediating a number of important biological processes in various cancers. However, the role of NE in the regulation of glioma migration is still unclear. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the most important steps for tumor migration and metastasis. Twist1, as a key regulator of EMT, has been found to be elevated during glioma migration. But it is still unknown whether Twist1 is involved in the effect of NE on the migration of glioma cells.

Methods

Wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to evaluate the migration of glioma cells upon different treatments. The mesenchymal-like phenotype and the expression of Twist1 after NE treatment were assessed by cell diameters, real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The gain-and loss-of-function experiments were carried out to investigate the biological function of Twist1 in the migration induced by NE. Finally, the clinical significance of Twist1 was explored among three public glioma datasets.

Results

In this study, our finding revealed a facilitative effect of NE on glioma cell migration in a β-adrenergic receptor (ADRB)-dependent way. Mechanistically, NE induced mesenchymal-like phenotype and the expression of Twist1. Twist1 overexpression promoted glioma cells migration, while knockdown of Twist1 abolished the discrepancy in the migration ability between NE treated glioma cells and control cells. In addition, the clinical analysis demonstrated that Twist1 was up-regulated in malignant gliomas and recurrent gliomas, and predicted a poor prognosis of glioma patients.

Conclusions

NE enhanced the migration ability of glioma cells through elevating the expression of Twist1. Our finding may provide potential therapeutic target for protecting patients with glioma from the detrimental effects of stress biology on the tumor progression.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09330-9.

Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Challenges of Glioma Invasion

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, and its prognosis is poor. Glioma cells are highly invasive to the brain parenchyma. It is difficult to achieve complete resection due to the nature of the brain tissue, and tumors that invade the parenchyma often recur. The invasiveness of tumor cells has been studied from various aspects, and the related molecular mechanisms are gradually becoming clear. Cell adhesion factors and extracellular matrix factors have a strong influence on glioma invasion. The molecular mechanisms that enhance the invasiveness of glioma stem cells, which have been investigated in recent years, have also been clarified. In addition, it has been discussed from both basic and clinical perspectives that current therapies can alter the invasiveness of tumors, and there is a need to develop therapeutic approaches to glioma invasion in the future. In this review, we will summarize the factors that influence the invasiveness of glioma based on the environment of tumor cells and tissues, and describe the impact of the treatment of glioma on invasion in terms of molecular biology, and the novel therapies for invasion that are currently being developed.

The synergistic anticancer effect of the bromodomain inhibitor OTX015 and histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor WT-161 in osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a tumour with a high malignancy level and a poor prognosis. First-line chemotherapy for OS has not been improved for many decades. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate histone acetylation in tandem, and BET and HDACs have emerged as potential cancer therapeutic targets.

Methods

Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, colony formation, and sphere-forming assays were performed with the two inhibitors alone or in combination to evaluate their suppressive effect on the malignant properties of OS cells. Apoptosis and the cell cycle profile were measured by flow cytometry. The synergistic inhibitory effect of OTX015/WT-161 on tumours was also examined in a nude mouse xenograft model.

Results

The combined therapy of OTX015/WT-161 synergistically inhibited growth, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis, resulting in G1/S arrest of OS cells. Additionally, OTX015/WT-161 inhibited the self-renewal ability of OS stem cells (OSCs) in a synergistic manner. Further mechanistic exploration revealed that the synergistic downregulation of β-catenin by OTX015-mediated suppression of FZD2 and WT-161-mediated upregulation of PTEN may be critical for the synergistic effect. Finally, the results of an in vivo assay showed that tumour xenografts were significantly decreased after treatment with the OTX015/WT-161 combination compared with OTX015 or WT-161 alone.

Conclusions

Our findings in this study demonstrated that OTX015 and WT-161 had synergistic anticancer efficacy against OS, and their combination might be a promising therapeutic strategy for OS.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02443-y.

Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1α (SDF-1α) Promotes Growth and Migration of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) and Gastric Cancer Cells Through Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/AKT (PI3K/Akt) Pathway

SDF-1α activity is closely related to information transmission and cell migration when contributing to lymphatic metastasis in various tumors. Herein, we explored the interaction among SDF-1α, CXCR4 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in gastric cancer (GC) and their roles in this disorder. Human GC cells KATO-III and BMSCs were co-cultured without contact. GC cells were transfected with SDF-1α, CXCR4 inhibitor, and PI3K inhibitor. After examining the efficiency of transfection, cell migration was evaluated using Transwell chamber, and expression SDF-1α, CD133, and CXCR4 was determined by RT-qPCR. With transfection rate of 98%, the number of migrated cells reduced upon inhibition of CXCR4 and PI3K. Luciferase activity in 565 nm are high than CXCR4 inhibition group. (p < 0.05). Likewise, up-regulation of SDF-1α increased the expression of SDF-1 (0.825±0.061), CD133 (0.875±0.058), CXCR4 (0.801±0.052), and Akt (0.852±0.062), compared to the blank group, CXCR4 inhibition group and PI3K inhibition group (p < 0.05). Down-regulation of CXCR4 and PI3K, however, decreased the expression insignificantly (p > 0.05). Collectively, up-regulation of SDF-1α activates CXCR4 signaling pathway of BMSCs and stimulates its downstream PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and and increases the expression of CD133, thereby promoting malignant behaviors of GC cells.

Genetic Modifications That Expand Oncolytic Virus Potency

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are a promising type of cancer therapy since they selectively replicate in tumor cells without damaging healthy cells. Many oncolytic viruses have progressed to human clinical trials, however, their performance as monotherapy has not been as successful as expected. Importantly, recent literature suggests that the oncolytic potential of these viruses can be further increased by genetically modifying the viruses. In this review, we describe genetic modifications to OVs that improve their ability to kill tumor cells directly, to dismantle the tumor microenvironment, or to alter tumor cell signaling and enhance anti-tumor immunity. These advances are particularly important to increase virus spread and reduce metastasis, as demonstrated in animal models. Since metastasis is the principal cause of mortality in cancer patients, having OVs designed to target metastases could transform cancer therapy. The genetic alterations reported to date are only the beginning of all possible improvements to OVs. Modifications described here could be combined together, targeting multiple processes, or with other non-viral therapies with potential to provide a strong and lasting anti-tumor response in cancer patients.

Tumor Cell Infiltration into the Brain in Glioblastoma: From Mechanisms to Clinical Perspectives

Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor, defined by its highly aggressive nature. Despite the advances in diagnostic and surgical techniques, and the development of novel therapies in the last decade, the prognosis for glioblastoma is still extremely poor. One major factor for the failure of existing therapeutic approaches is the highly invasive nature of glioblastomas. The extreme infiltrating capacity of tumor cells into the brain parenchyma makes complete surgical removal difficult; glioblastomas almost inevitably recur in a more therapy-resistant state, sometimes at distant sites in the brain. Therefore, there are major efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning glioblastoma invasion; however, there is no approved therapy directed against the invasive phenotype as of now. Here, we review the major molecular mechanisms of glioblastoma cell invasion, including the routes followed by glioblastoma cells, the interaction of tumor cells within the brain environment and the extracellular matrix components, and the roles of tumor cell adhesion and extracellular matrix remodeling. We also include a perspective of high-throughput approaches utilized to discover novel players for invasion and clinical targeting of invasive glioblastoma cells.

The multifaceted mechanisms of malignant glioblastoma progression and clinical implications

With the application of high throughput sequencing technologies at single-cell resolution, studies of the tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and invasive of all cancers, have revealed immense cellular and tissue heterogeneity. A unique extracellular scaffold system adapts to and supports progressive infiltration and migration of tumor cells, which is characterized by altered composition, effector delivery, and mechanical properties. The spatiotemporal interactions between malignant and immune cells generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, contributing to the failure of effective anti-tumor immune attack. Among the heterogeneous tumor cell subpopulations of glioblastoma, glioma stem cells (GSCs), which exhibit tumorigenic properties and strong invasive capacity, are critical for tumor growth and are believed to contribute to therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. Here we discuss the role of extracellular matrix and immune cell populations, major components of the tumor ecosystem in glioblastoma, as well as signaling pathways that regulate GSC maintenance and invasion. We also highlight emerging advances in therapeutic targeting of these components.

COL5A1 Serves as a Biomarker of Tumor Progression and Poor Prognosis and May Be a Potential Therapeutic Target in Gliomas

Glioma is the most common malignancy of the central nervous system. Although advances in surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been achieved in the last decades, the prognosis of gliomas is still dismal. COL5A1 is one of the collagen members with minor content but prominent functions. The present study examined the biological functions, prognostic value, and gene-associated tumor-infiltrating immune cells of COL5A1 through experiments and bioinformatics analysis. We found that the overexpression of COL5A1 was positively correlated with the increasing tumor malignancies and indicated poor prognosis in gliomas. Moreover, downregulation of COL5A1 could inhibit proliferation and migration of glioma cells and enhance their temozolomide sensitivities in vitro. Further bioinformatic analysis revealed that COL5A1 and its co-expressed genes participated in a number of pathways and biological processes involved in glioma progression. Finally, we evaluated the tumor-infiltrating immune cells of gliomas depending on COL5A1 and found that the percentages of the dendritic cells, which were known as the central mediator of tumor microenvironment in gliomas, were positively associated with the expression levels of COL5A1. Taken together, COL5A1 is an important biomarker and potential therapeutic target of gliomas.

Transcription Factor Signatures May Predict the Prognosis and Status of the Immune Microenvironment of Primary Lower-Grade Gliomas

Aim

Transcription factor (TF) in glioma, including proliferation, invasion/migration, and tumor microenvironment, has been receiving increasing attention. However, there are still no systematical analyses based on global TF. Herein, using global TF target gene sets, we comprehensively investigated their relationship with prognosis and potential biological effect in lower-grade glioma (LGG). We aimed to develop a less-biased prognostic model and provide new insight for personalized management of this disease.

Methods

TF target gene sets were collected from MSigDB and GRID database followed by ssGSEA calculating normalized enrichment score. Comprehensive survival analysis was combined with Kaplan-Meier and Cox algorithms. Consensus cluster and lasso regression were performed to develop prognostic signatures with validation of ROC and independent external cohort. Approaches of xCell/CIBERSORT/TIMER were involved in analyzing the immune microenvironment. We also correlated identified prognostic signatures with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and m6A genes.

Results

Fourteen TFs were significantly screened based on survival. Patients were classified into 2 prognosis-related clusters based on 14-TFs features. The function of differentially expressed TF target genes between Cluster1/2 was enriched mostly on glioma invasion/migration. The prognostic model was trained by 6 out of 14-TFs followed by generating risk-score as an independent prognostic indicator. We found differences between the high/low-risk group in TMB and the immune microenvironment, where the high-risk group represented "hot-tumor". Besides, 6-TFs were correlated with m6A regulation genes.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that the 6-TFs model could be used to predict prognosis and predict the status of the immune microenvironment in LGG.