An integrated expression profiling reveals target genes of TGF-β and TNF-α possibly mediated by microRNAs in lung cancer cells

Epigenetic regulation of TGF-β pathway and its role in radiation response

PURPOSE

Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) plays a dual role in tumor progression as well as a pivotal role in radiation response. TGF-β-related epigenetic regulations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications (including methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination), chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA regulation, have been found to affect the occurrence and development of tumors as well as their radiation response in multiple dimensions. Due to the significance of radiotherapy in tumor treatment and the essential roles of TGF-β signaling in radiation response, it is important to better understand the role of epigenetic regulation mechanisms mediated by TGF-β signaling pathways in radiation-induced targeted and non-targeted effects.

CONCLUSIONS

By revealing the epigenetic mechanism related to TGF-β-mediated radiation response, summarizing the existing relevant adjuvant strategies for radiotherapy based on TGF-β signaling, and discovering potential therapeutic targets, we hope to provide a new perspective for improving clinical treatment.

Use of honokiol in lung cancer therapy: a mini review of its pharmacological mechanism

Honokiol (3',5-di-(2-propenyl)-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) is a biologically active natural product derived from Magnolia and has been shown to have excellent biological activities. This paper discusses research progress on the use of honokiol in the treatment of lung cancer, as studies have confirmed that honokiol can exert anti-lung-cancer effects through multiple pathways and multiple signaling pathways, such as inhibiting angiogenesis, affecting mitochondrial function and apoptosis, regulating of autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, honokiol combined with other chemotherapy drugs is also a way in which it can be applied.

The versatile role of Serpina3c in physiological and pathological processes: a review of recent studies

Murine Serpina3c belongs to the family of serine protease inhibitors (Serpins), clade "A" and its human homologue is SerpinA3. Serpina3c is involved in some physiological processes, including insulin secretion and adipogenesis. In the pathophysiological process, the deletion of Serpina3c leads to more severe metabolic disorders, such as aggravated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), insulin resistance and obesity. In addition, Serpina3c can improve atherosclerosis and regulate cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction. Many of these processes are directly or indirectly mediated by its inhibition of serine protease activity. Although its function has not been fully revealed, recent studies have shown its potential research value. Here, we aimed to summarize recent studies to provide a clearer view of the biological roles and the underlying mechanisms of Serpina3c.

Sodium hydrosulfide and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells combined therapy for bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats: Implication of micro RNA-21 and Lnc GAS5

AIMS

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is considered as an end stage for many lung diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as regenerative therapy have become a remarkably valuable therapeutic strategy in different diseases. Hydrogen sulfide has been recently introduced into the medical field for its antifibrotic properties in addition to enhancement of MSC stemness and function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of BM-MSC in combination with NaHS to attenuate Bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis was studied in rats. A special emphasis was given to miR-21 and GAS5 as important players in the development of PF.

MAIN METHODS

PF was induced in 32 Wistar male rats by single endotracheal injection of bleomycin, those were randomly divided into four groups (8 rats each): (untreated PF group) - (PF + MSC) treated group- (PF + NaHS treated group) - PF + combined (NAHS + MSC) treated group.

KEY FINDINGS

Induction of PF was associated with increased miR-21 and decreased lncRNA-GAS5 expression. Treatment with either NaHS or BM-MSC leads to an inhibitory effect on pulmonary fibrosis as evidenced by improvement of histopathological studies, pulmonary function tests, reduction of inflammatory and fibrotic markers like Hydroxyproline, TNF α, TGF-β and caspase -3 together with downregulation miR-21 and increase lncRNA-GAS5 expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

The current work revealed the inhibitory effect of combined NaHS and BM-MSC on pulmonary fibrosis with concomitant modulation of miR-21 and lncRNA-GAS5 expression.

Unfolding the cascade of SERPINA3: Inflammation to cancer

SERine Protease INhibitor clade A member 3 (SERPINA3), a member of the SERine-Protease INhibitor (SERPIN) superfamily, principally works as a protease inhibitor in maintaining cellular homeostasis. It is a matricellular acute-phase glycoprotein that appears to be the sole nuclear-binding secretory serpin. Several studies have emerged in recent years demonstrating its link to cancer and disease biology. SERPINA3 seems to have cancer- and compartment-specific biological functions, acting either as a tumour promoter or suppressor in different cancers. However, the localization, mechanism of action and the effectors of SERPINA3 in physiological and pathological scenarios remain obscure. Our review aims to consolidate the current evidence of SERPINA3 in various cancers, highlighting its association with the cancer hallmarks and ratifying its status as an emerging cancer biomarker. The elucidation of SERPINA3-mediated cancer progression and its targeting might shed light on the realm of cancer therapeutics.

Targeting TGF-β signal transduction for fibrosis and cancer therapy

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has long been identified with its intensive involvement in early embryonic development and organogenesis, immune supervision, tissue repair, and adult homeostasis. The role of TGF-β in fibrosis and cancer is complex and sometimes even contradictory, exhibiting either inhibitory or promoting effects depending on the stage of the disease. Under pathological conditions, overexpressed TGF-β causes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) formation, which leads to fibrotic disease, and cancer. Given the critical role of TGF-β and its downstream molecules in the progression of fibrosis and cancers, therapeutics targeting TGF-β signaling appears to be a promising strategy. However, due to potential systemic cytotoxicity, the development of TGF-β therapeutics has lagged. In this review, we summarized the biological process of TGF-β, with its dual role in fibrosis and tumorigenesis, and the clinical application of TGF-β-targeting therapies.

Duality of Interactions Between TGF-β and TNF-α During Tumor Formation

The tumor microenvironment is essential for the formation and development of tumors. Cytokines in the microenvironment may affect the growth, metastasis and prognosis of tumors, and play different roles in different stages of tumors, of which transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) are critical. The two have synergistic and antagonistic effect on tumor regulation. The inhibition of TGF-β can promote the formation rate of tumor, while TGF-β can promote the malignancy of tumor. TNF-α was initially determined to be a natural immune serum mediator that can induce tumor hemorrhagic necrosis, it has a wide range of biological activities and can be used clinically as a target to immune diseases as well as tumors. However, there are few reports on the interaction between the two in the tumor microenvironment. This paper combs the biological effect of the two in different aspects of different tumors. We summarized the changes and clinical medication rules of the two in different tissue cells, hoping to provide a new idea for the clinical application of the two cytokines.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular phenotypic change from epithelial to mesenchymal-like features, is related to the resistance and metastasis of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Several signal transduction mechanisms induce EMT, which causes the gene expression alteration to induce the acquisition of resistance and metastasis in cancer. EMT is characterized with high gene expression of cadherin 2 (N-cadherin) and vimentin, and sparse cell-cell junction. The cells with EMT-phenotype have migration, metastasis and drug-resistance capacity, which are main characteristics of CSCs. It seems that the main population of CSCs exhibits EMT phenotype, whereas some populations consist of phenotypes other than EMT. In this chapter, EMT mechanism, phenotypic features of EMT and CSCs, signal transduction in EMT and CSCs, differences between EMT and CSCs, and the role of EMT in CSCs are described.

TGF-β-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor-promoting effects in CMT64 cells are reflected in the transcriptomic signature of human lung adenocarcinoma

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process during which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypes. Cancer cells undergo EMT to acquire malignant features and TGF-β is a key regulator of EMT. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that TGF-β could elicit EMT in a mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell line. TGF-β signaling activation led to cell morphological changes corresponding to EMT and enhanced the expression of mesenchymal markers and EMT-associated transcription factors in CMT64 lung cancer cells. RNA-sequencing analyses revealed that TGF-β increases expression of Tead transcription factors and an array of Tead2 target genes. TGF-β stimulation also resulted in alternative splicing of several genes including Cd44, tight junction protein 1 (Tjp1), and Cortactin (Cttn). In parallel with EMT, TGF-β enhanced cell growth of CMT64 cells and promoted tumor formation in a syngeneic transplantation model. Of clinical importance, the expression of TGF-β-induced genes identified in CMT64 cells correlated with EMT gene signatures in human lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples. Furthermore, TGF-β-induced gene enrichment was related to poor prognosis, underscoring the tumor-promoting role of TGF-β signaling in lung adenocarcinoma. Our cellular and syngeneic transplantation model would provide a simple and useful experimental tool to study the significance of TGF-β signaling and EMT.

Immature Persimmon Suppresses Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Mediated Cognitive Dysfunction via Tau Pathology in ICR Mice

This study confirmed the ameliorating effect of immature persimmon (Diospyros kaki) ethanolic extract (IPEE) on neuronal cytotoxicity in amyloid beta (Aβ)1-42-induced ICR mice. The administration of IPEE ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction in Aβ1-42-induced mice by improving the spatial working memory, the short-term and long-term memory functions. IPEE protected the cerebral cholinergic system, such as the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and antioxidant system, such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction against Aβ1-42-induced toxicity was reduced by regulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP contents. In addition, IPEE regulated the expression levels of tau signaling, such as TNF-α, p-JNK, p-Akt, p-GSK3β, p-tau, p-NF-κB, BAX and caspase 3. Finally, gallic acid, ellagic acid and quercetin 3-O-(6″-acetyl-glucoside) were identified as the physiological compounds of IPEE using ultra-performance liquid chromatography ion mobility separation quadrupole time-of-flight/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC IMS Q-TOF/MS2).

Molecule mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum treated hepatocellular carcinoma based on the transcriptional profiles and miRNA-target network

Ganoderma lucidum has salutary effects on tumor treatment, including pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Ganoderma lucidum therapy is obscure. In this study, the Hepa1-6-bearing C57 BL/6 mouse model was utilized to explore the therapeutic efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), documenting that it could effectively inhibit tumor growth. The microRNA (miRNA) profiles of GLE-treated and untreated mice were detected, and 25 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were determined, including 24 up-expressed and one down-expressed miRNAs. Using the ClusterOne algorithm, 8 hub miRNAs were isolated from the established miRNA-target network. The qRT-PCR assay demonstrated that these 8 miRNAs were up-expressed in the GLE treated tumor mice. Furthermore, the mRNA profiles showed that there are 76 DE mRNAs between GLE treated and model groups. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network shows that Cntn1, Irs1, Nfkbia, Rybp and Ywhaz playing important roles, and qRT-PCR further revealed they were down-expressed in GLE treated Hepa1-6-bearing C57 BL/6 mice. The rebuilt miRNA-target network was shown that these 5 mRNAs were regulated by mmu-mir-23a-5p, -3102-3p, -337-3p, and -467a-3p, respectively. This study suggested that these 4 interesting miRNAs were potential biomarkers for evaluation of GLE efficacy, which may down-regulate the expression of Cntn1, Irs1, Nfkbia, Rybp and Ywhaz, and mediate many signaling pathways occurring in tumor treatment.

PD-L1 Expression Is Regulated By NF-κB During EMT Signaling In Gastric Carcinoma

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurring in gastric carcinoma cells and the involvement of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells that undergo EMT. The mechanisms underlying PD-L1 expression during EMT in gastric carcinoma cells were also explored.

Methods

The capacities of migration and invasion were tested by cell scratch-wound assay and transwell chamber assay. PD-L1 expression by SGC7901 cell line and related mechanism were measured by Western blot and QRT-PCR.

Results

Treating with TGF-β1 promotes the motility of SGC7901 and PD-L1 expression in vitro, while activating the NF-κB signal pathway.

Conclusion

EMT increases the capacities of migration and invasion in gastric cancer cells, which resulted in up-regulation of PD-L1 expression via a mechanism that is dependent on NF-κB activation.

P27 Promotes TGF-β-Mediated Pulmonary Fibrosis via Interacting with MTORC2

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a progressive and life-threatening pulmonary disease, is the main pathological basis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) which includes the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). No effective therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis has been established. TGF-β signaling has emerged as the vital regulator of PF; however, the detailed molecular mechanisms of TGF-β in PF were uncertain. In the present study, we proved that inhibition of MTORC2 suppresses the expression of P27 in MRC5 and HLF cells. And in bleomycin-induced PF model, the expression of α-SMA and P27 was upregulated. Moreover, TGF-β application increased the level of α-SMA, vimentin, and P27 in MRC5 and HLF cells. Furthermore, P27 overexpression advanced the cell cycle process and promoted the proliferation of MRC5 and HLF cells. Finally, the rescue experiment showed that MTORC2 knockdown reversed P27 overexpression-induced cell cycle acceleration and proliferation. Thus, our results suggest that P27 is involved in TGF-β-mediated PF, which was regulated by MTORC2, providing a novel insight into the development of PF.

Transcriptomic profiles of human HaCaT cells in response to angelica polysaccharide

The aim of this study was to explore the anti-psoriatic effect and potential mechanism of Angelica polysaccharide (APS) on an in vitro HaCaT cell model. MTS assay was performed to determine whether APS has the ability to inhibit the proliferation of HaCaT cells. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate the underlying mechanism of APS. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the accuracy of RNA-seq data. Our MTS assay results demonstrated that APS time- and concentration-dependently inhibits the proliferation of HaCaT cells. The anti-proliferation property of APS suggests that APS may have anti-psoriatic effect. In the RNA-seq part, comparison between the CK group (i.e., Control group) and ASP groups revealed dramatic differences [468 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for CK group vs. ASP50 group; 563 DEGs for CK group vs. ASP100 group; 532 DEGs for CK group vs. ASP200 group]. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrich analysis performed on all DEGs failed to find any significant enriched GO terms or KEGG pathways to explain the anti-proliferative effect of APS. All DEGs were then classified into 20 expression profiles by trend analysis. Interestingly, cell proliferation-related GO terms were mostly dispersed in the profile 2 and 17. DEGs enriched in these terms were then analyzed. After literature retrieval, DEGs such as SERPINE1, SMAD6, CTGF, and TGF-β were suspected to closely relevant to the anti-proliferation effect of APS. qRT-PCR results showed similar expression trend with RNA-seq data for 8 out of 10 genes, indicating our sequence data are reliable.

Association of inflammatory biomarkers with lung cancer in North Indian population

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth of the lung tissues. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to determine the circulating CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in lung cancer and healthy control and also established association between these biomarkers with the smoking status as well as the stages of the disease.

METHODOLOGY

51 lung cancer patients and 51 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. The serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in lung cancer patients and healthy control groups.

RESULTS

The levels of serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in lung cancer patients when compared with controls(P<0.0001). The levels of these biomarkers were also significantly higher in stage iii/iv as compared to stage i/ii(P<0.001). Significant difference in the levels of these biomarkers were also found in smoker and non-smoker lung cancer patients as compared to controls(P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 are the promising biomarkers in the identification of lung cancer patients. The study also supports the association of inflammatory markers to lung cancer risk. Hence these findings suggest the levels of these biomarkers could be a useful tool for guiding the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Analysis of the role of the Hippo pathway in cancer

Cancer is a serious health issue in the world due to a large body of cancer-related human deaths, and there is no current treatment available to efficiently treat the disease as the tumor is often diagnosed at a serious stage. Moreover, Cancer cells are often resistant to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecular-targeted therapy. Upon further knowledge of mechanisms of tumorigenesis, aggressiveness, metastasis, and resistance to treatments, it is necessary to detect the disease at an earlier stage and for a better response to therapy. The hippo pathway possesses the unique capacity to lead to tumorigenesis. Mutations and altered expression of its core components (MST1/2, LATS1/2, YAP and TAZ) promote the migration, invasion, malignancy of cancer cells. The biological significance and deregulation of it have received a large body of interests in the past few years. Further understanding of hippo pathway will be responsible for cancer treatment. In this review, we try to discover the function of hippo pathway in different diversity of cancers, and discuss how Hippo pathway contributes to other cellular signaling pathways. Also, we try to describe how microRNAs, circRNAs, and ZNFs regulate hippo pathway in the process of cancer. It is necessary to find new therapy strategies for cancer.

A plasma protein derived TGFβ signature is a prognostic indicator in triple negative breast cancer

We investigated the potential of in-depth quantitative plasma proteome analysis to uncover proteins predictive of progression and metastasis in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Analysis of samples from 24 pre-menopausal and 24 post-menopausal women with newly diagnosed TNBC who subsequently developed metastasis or remained metastasis free were utilized in the proteomic discovery set, which resulted in 43 proteins associated with tumor progression. These proteins were found to form a hierarchical network with TGFβ. The signature was further confirmed and refined by integrating plasma protein data from a murine TNBC model that encompassed mice with rapid- versus slow-growing tumors. Three genes consisting of CLIC1, MAPRE1, and SERPINA3 in the refined TGFβ signature significantly stratified overall survival (log-rank p = 0.0141) in a larger validation cohort irrespective of menopausal status, tumor stage, grade, and size.

Molecular characterization of a precision-cut rat lung slice model for the evaluation of antifibrotic drugs

The translation of novel pulmonary fibrosis therapies from preclinical models into the clinic represents a major challenge demonstrated by the high attrition rate of compounds that showed efficacy in preclinical models but demonstrated no significant beneficial effects in clinical trials. A precision-cut lung tissue slice (PCLS) contains all major cell types of the lung and preserves the original cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. It represents a promising ex vivo model to study pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, using RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) induced robust fibrotic responses in the rat PCLS model, as it changed the expression of genes functionally related to extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and various immune responses. Nintedanib, pirfenidone, and sorafenib each reversed a subset of genes modulated by TGFβ1, and of those genes we identified 229 whose expression was reversed by all three drugs. These genes define a molecular signature characterizing many aspects of pulmonary fibrosis pathology and its attenuation in the rat PCLS fibrosis model. A panel of 12 genes and three secreted biomarkers, including procollagen I, hyaluronic acid, and WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 were validated as efficacy end points for the evaluation of antifibrotic activity of experimental compounds. Finally, we showed that blockade of αV-integrins suppressed TGFβ1-induced fibrotic responses in the rat PCLS fibrosis model. Overall, our results suggest that the TGFβ1-induced rat PCLS fibrosis model may represent a valuable system for target validation and to determine the efficacy of experimental compounds.

microRNA-23a in Human Cancer: Its Roles, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Relevance

microRNA-23a (miR-23a) is one of the most extensively studied miRNAs in different types of human cancer, and plays various roles in the initiation, progression, and treatment of tumors. Here, we comprehensively summarize and discuss the recent findings about the role of miR-23a in cancer. The differential expression of tissue miR-23a was reported, potentially indicating cancer stages, angiogenesis, and metastasis. miR-23a in human biofluid, such as plasma and salivary fluid, may be a sensitive and specific marker for early diagnosis of cancer. Tissue and circulating miR-23a serves as a prognostic factor for cancer patient survival, as well as a predictive factor for response to anti-tumor treatment. The direct and indirect regulation of miR-23a on multiple gene expression and signaling transduction mediates carcinogenesis, tumor proliferation, survival, cell migration and invasion, as well as the response to anti-tumor treatment. Tumor cell-derived miR-23a regulates the microenvironment of human cancer through manipulating both immune function and tumor vascular development. Several transcriptional and epigenetic factors may contribute to the dysregulation of miR-23a in cancer. This evidence highlights the essential role of miR-23a in the application of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

The Role of TGF-β Signaling in Lung Cancer Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology and dismal prognosis. IPF patients are known to have an increased risk of lung cancer and careful decision-making is required for the treatment of lung cancer associated with IPF. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling plays a central role in tissue fibrosis and tumorigenesis. TGF-β-mediated pathological changes that occur in IPF lung tissue may promote the process of field cancerization and provide the microenvironment favorable to cancer initiation and progression. This review summarizes the current knowledge related to IPF pathogenesis and explores the molecular mechanisms that underlie the occurrence of lung cancer in the background of IPF, with an emphasis on the multifaceted effects of TGF-β signaling.

Effect of HMGN2 on proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

We investigated the effect of high mobility group protein N2 (HMGN2) on the proliferation and apoptosis of the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, and its effect on tumor growth in a subcutaneous heterotopic transplantation tumor model of breast cancer. The cell viability assay was used to verify the effect of the recombinant human HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell proliferation. The Transwell chamber assay was used to verify the effect of HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell migration. Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining were used to detect the effect of HMGN2 on MCF-7 cell apoptosis. MCF-7 was injected to establish a subcutaneous heterotopic transplantation tumor model of breast cancer in nude mice. The size, weight and volume of tumor in each group were compared after the administration of different concentrations of HMGN2 solution around the tumor tissue at day 1, 3, 5 and 7. The tumor tissue was removed and cut into sections, and the apoptotic cells in tumors of nude mice were detected by a TUNEL kit. The CCK-8 assay showed that HMGN2 at different concentrations inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and the proliferation of MCF-7 cells were significantly inhibited when the concentration of HMGN2 reached 3 µg/ml (P<0.01). The Transwell chamber assay showed that 3 µg/ml of HMGN2 significantly decreased the migration capacity of MCF-7 cells (P<0.01). Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining showed that 3 µg/ml of HMGN2 significantly increased apoptosis of MCF-7 cells (P<0.01). After the nude mouse model of breast cancer was established, HMGN2 at different concentrations was injected around the tumor tissue at day 1, 3, 5 and 7. We demonstrated that the growth of breast cancer was significantly inhibited when the concentration of HMGN2 reached 15 µg/ml. TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the 15 µg/ml dose group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). Therefore, in vitro and in vivo experiments proved that recombinant human HMGN2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells, which increased the apoptosis of breast cancer cells and exerted anti-breast cancer effects, which enriched our understanding of the biological roles of HMGN2.

TGF-β Signaling in Lung Health and Disease

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is an evolutionarily conserved pleiotropic factor that regulates a myriad of biological processes including development, tissue regeneration, immune responses, and tumorigenesis. TGF-β is necessary for lung organogenesis and homeostasis as evidenced by genetically engineered mouse models. TGF-β is crucial for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during lung branching morphogenesis and alveolarization. Expression and activation of the three TGF-β ligand isoforms in the lungs are temporally and spatially regulated by multiple mechanisms. The lungs are structurally exposed to extrinsic stimuli and pathogens, and are susceptible to inflammation, allergic reactions, and carcinogenesis. Upregulation of TGF-β ligands is observed in major pulmonary diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, and lung cancer. TGF-β regulates multiple cellular processes such as growth suppression of epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix organization. These effects are closely associated with tissue remodeling in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. TGF-β is also central to T cell homeostasis and is deeply involved in asthmatic airway inflammation. TGF-β is the most potent inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells and is pivotal to the development of tumor-promoting microenvironment in the lung cancer tissue. This review summarizes and integrates the current knowledge of TGF-β signaling relevant to lung health and disease.

Bronchial extracellular matrix from COPD patients induces altered gene expression in repopulated primary human bronchial epithelial cells

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious global health problem characterized by chronic airway inflammation, progressive airflow limitation and destruction of lung parenchyma. Remodeling of the bronchial airways in COPD includes changes in both the bronchial epithelium and the subepithelial extracellular matrix (ECM). To explore the impact of an aberrant ECM on epithelial cell phenotype in COPD we developed a new ex vivo model, in which normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells repopulate and differentiate on decellularized human bronchial scaffolds derived from COPD patients and healthy individuals. By using transcriptomics, we show that bronchial ECM from COPD patients induces differential gene expression in primary NHBE cells when compared to normal bronchial ECM. The gene expression profile indicated altered activity of upstream mediators associated with COPD pathophysiology, including hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 1 and platelet-derived growth factor B, which suggests that COPD-related changes in the bronchial ECM contribute to the defective regenerative ability in the airways of COPD patients.

PD-L1 expression is regulated by both DNA methylation and NF-kB during EMT signaling in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Tumor cells, which undergo Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) acquire increased capacities of proliferation, invasion and have the ability to generate metastases by escaping the immune system during their systemic migration. To escape the immune system, cancer cells may induce tolerance or resist elimination by immune effectors via multiple mechanisms and we hypothesized that EMT may control the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors, then promoting immune evasion. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) but not PD-L2 nor Galectin 9 or Death receptor (DR4, DR5 and Fas) and ligands (FasL and TRAIL) expression was up-regulated during cytokine-driven EMT in a reversible manner. Moreover PD-L1 is overexpressed in VIMENTIN positive NSCLC tissues. We also demonstrated that the expression of PD-L1 required both TNFα and TGFβ1. Indeed, TGFβ1 decreased DNMT1 content and that resulted in PD-L1 promoter demethylation whereas TNFα induced the NF-κB pathway that promoted expression of demethylated PD-L1 promoter.

Carnosol controls the human glioblastoma stemness features through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition modulation and the induction of cancer stem cell apoptosis

A high cell proliferation rate, invasiveness and resistance to chemotherapy are the main features of glioblastoma (GBM). GBM aggressiveness has been widely associated both with a minor population of cells presenting stem-like properties (cancer stem-like cells, CSCs) and with the ability of tumor cells to acquire a mesenchymal phenotype (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT). Carnosol (CAR), a natural inhibitor of MDM2/p53 complex, has been attracted attention for its anti-cancer effects on several tumor types, including GBM. Herein, the effects of CAR on U87MG-derived CSC viability and stemness features were evaluated. CAR decreased the rate of CSC formation and promoted the CSC apoptotic cell death through p53 functional reactivation. Moreover, CAR was able to control the TNF-α/TGF-β-induced EMT, counteracting the effects of the cytokine on EMT master regulator genes (Slug, Snail, Twist and ZEB1) and modulating the activation of miR-200c, a key player in the EMT process. Finally, CAR was able to increase the temozolomide (TMZ) anti-proliferative effects. These findings demonstrate that CAR affected the different intracellular mechanism of the complex machinery that regulates GBM stemness. For the first time, the diterpene was highlighted as a promising lead for the development of agents able to decrease the stemness features, thus controlling GBM aggressiveness.

MiRNA-target network analysis identifies potential biomarkers for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome development evaluation in hepatitis B caused liver cirrhosis

Hepatitis B is one of most etiologies of Liver cirrhosis in China, and clinically lacks the effective strategy for Hepatitis B caused cirrhosis (HBC) therapy. As a complementary and alternative medicine, Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) has special therapeutic effects for HBC. Here, we focus on the evolution process of HBC TCM syndromes, which was from Excessive (Liver-Gallbladder Dampness-Heat Syndrome, LGDHS) to Deficient (Liver-Kidney Deficiency Syndrome, LKYDS) via Excessive-Deficient syndrome (Liver-Depression and Spleen-Deficiency Syndrome, LDSDS). Using R package, 16 miRNAs in LGDHS/Normal, 48 miRNAs in LDSDS/LGDHS, and 16 miRNAs in LKYDS/LDSDS were identified, respectively. The miRNA-target networks show that the LDSDS was most stability and complicated. Subsequently, 4 kernel miRNAs with LGDHS-LDSDS process, and 5 kernel miRNAs with LDSDS-LKYDS process were screened. Using RT-qPCR data, p1 (hsa-miR-17-3p, -377-3p, -410-3p and -495) and p2 miRNA panel (hsa-miR-377-3p, -410-3p, -27a-3p, 149-5p and 940) were identified by Logistic Regression Model, which clearly improve the accuracy of TCM syndrome classification. The rebuilt miRNA-target network shows that the LDSDS is a critical point and might determine the evolution directions of HBC TCM syndrome. This study suggests that the identified kernel miRNAs act as potential biomarkers and benefit to evaluate the evolution tendency of HBC TCM syndromes.

Regulation of TGF-β-mediated endothelial-mesenchymal transition by microRNA-27

Multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition and endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Here we report that microRNA-27b (miR-27b) positively regulates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced EndMT of MS-1 mouse pancreatic microvascular endothelial cells. TGF-β induced miR-23b/24-1/27b expression, and inhibition of miR-27 suppressed TGF-β-mediated induction of mesenchymal genes. Genome-wide miRNA target analysis revealed that miR-27 targets Elk1, which acts as a competitive inhibitor of myocardin-related transcription factor-serum response factor signalling and as a myogenic repressor. miR-27b was also found to regulate several semaphorin receptors including Neuropilin 2, Plexin A2 and Plexin D1. These results suggest important roles of miR-27 in TGF-β-driven EndMT.

Honokiol inhibits EMT-mediated motility and migration of human non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro by targeting c-FLIP

AIM

Honokiol (HNK) is a natural compound isolated from the magnolia plant with numerous pharmacological activities, including inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which has been proposed as an attractive target for anti-tumor drugs to prevent tumor migration. In this study we investigated the effects of HNK on EMT in human NSCLC cells in vitro and the related signaling mechanisms.

METHODS

TNF-α (25 ng/mL) in combination with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) was used to stimulate EMT of human NSCLC A549 and H460 cells. Cell proliferation was analyzed using a sulforhodamine B assay. A wound-healing assay and a transwell assay were performed to examine cell motility. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of relevant proteins. siRNAs were used to knock down the gene expression of c-FLIP and N-cadherin. Stable overexpression of c-FLIP L (H157-FLIP L) or Lac Z (H157-Lac Z) was also performed.

RESULTS

Treatment with TNF-α+TGF-β1 significantly enhanced the migration of A549 and H460 cells, increased c-FLIP, N-cadherin (a mesenchymal marker), snail (a transcriptional modulator) and p-Smad2/3 expression, and decreased IκB levels in the cells; these changes were abrogated by co-treatment with HNK (30 μmol/L). Further studies demonstrated that expression level of c-FLIP was highly correlated with the movement and migration of NSCLC cells, and the downstream effectors of c-FLIP signaling were NF-κB signaling and N-cadherin/snail signaling, while Smad signaling might lie upstream of c-FLIP.

CONCLUSION

HNK inhibits EMT-mediated motility and migration of human NSCLC cells in vitro by targeting c-FLIP, which can be utilized as a promising target for cancer therapy, while HNK may become a potential anti-metastasis drug or lead compound.

TGF-β1 regulating miR-205/miR-195 expression affects the TGF-β signal pathway by respectively targeting SMAD2/SMAD7

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) proteins are important cytokines in the occurrence and development of tumors. However, its neural functions in glioma are still not understood. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of TGF-β1 on glioma cell line U87. miR-205 and miR-195 were involved in TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect miR-205 and miR-195 levels in human glioma tissue samples and U87 cells treated with different concentrations of TGF-β1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine TGF-β1 in the glioma patients peripheral blood. In vitro, U87 cells were transfected with mimics or inhibitors of miR-205 and miR-195. SMAD proteins were assayed by western blotting. Luciferase assay and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP)were used to determine the relationships between miR-205 and SMAD2, miR-195 and SMAD7. Effects of miR-205 and miR-195 on glioma cell proliferation and invasion using colony forming and cell migration assays. It was shown that miR-205 was decreased in glioma tissue, but miR-195 and TGF-β1 was increased. In addition, TGF-β1 concentration was negatively correlated with miR-205 mRNA level, but positively correlated with miR-195 mRNA. In addition, miR-205 was downregulated and miR-195 was upregulated by TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner. miR-205 and miR-195 targeted and inhibited SMAD2 and SMAD7 expression, respectively, in U87. High expression of miR-205 but not miR-195 reduced SMAD2 and SMAD4 heteromer formation. In addition, it was also shown that miR-205 overexpression inhibited U87 proliferation and invasion efficiently. All the results suggested that miR-205 and miR-195 participated in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway and showed opposite effects in glioma. These findings contribute to the understanding of TGF-β1 function in glioma.

Plasticity of tumor cell invasion: governance by growth factors and cytokines

Tumor cell migration, the basis for metastatic dissemination, is an adaptive process which depends upon coordinated cell interaction with the environment, influencing cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics and extracellular matrix remodeling. Growth factors and cytokines, released within the reactive tumor microenvironment and their intracellular effector signals strongly impact mechanocoupling functions in tumor cells and thereby control the mode and extent of tumor invasion, including collective and single-cell migration and their interconversions. Besides their role in controlling tumor cell growth and survival, cytokines and growth factors thus provide complex orchestration of the metastatic cascade and tumor cell adaptation to environmental challenge. We here review the mechanisms by which growth factors and cytokines control the reciprocal interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment, and the consequences for the efficacy and plasticity of invasion programs and metastasis.

The modulation of MiR-155 and MiR-23a manipulates Klebsiella pneumoniae Adhesion on Human pulmonary Epithelial cells via Integrin α5β1 Signaling

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) critically regulate several host defense mechanisms, but their roles in the bacteria-epithelium interplay remain unclear. Our results displayed that the expression of miR-155 and miR-23a were down-regulated in K. pneumoniae-infected pulmonary epithelial cells. The elevated bacterial adhesion on A549 cells followed the enhancement of the cellular levels of these two miRNAs. Meanwhile, a mechanistic study demonstrated that miR-155 promoted integrin α5β1 function and resulted in the increased actin polymerization. Moreover, a non-histone nuclear protein, high mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMGN2) served as the potential target of miR-155 and miR-23a to regulate the integrin α5β1 expression and K. pneumoniae adhesion. Furthermore, the expression of a known integrin transcription suppressor-Nuclear Factor-I (NFI) was also repressed by miR-155, which paralleled with its chromatin location in the promoter regions of integrin α5 and β1. These results uncover novel links between miRNAs and integrin function to regulate bacterial adhesion, indicating a potential mechanism of host cell autonomous immune response to K. pneumoniae infection.

RNAseq Analyses Identify Tumor Necrosis Factor-Mediated Inflammation as a Major Abnormality in ALS Spinal Cord

ALS is a rapidly progressive, devastating neurodegenerative illness of adults that produces disabling weakness and spasticity arising from death of lower and upper motor neurons. No meaningful therapies exist to slow ALS progression, and molecular insights into pathogenesis and progression are sorely needed. In that context, we used high-depth, next generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq, Illumina) to define gene network abnormalities in RNA samples depleted of rRNA and isolated from cervical spinal cord sections of 7 ALS and 8 CTL samples. We aligned >50 million 2X150 bp paired-end sequences/sample to the hg19 human genome and applied three different algorithms (Cuffdiff2, DEseq2, EdgeR) for identification of differentially expressed genes (DEG's). Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified inflammatory processes as significantly elevated in our ALS samples, with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) found to be a major pathway regulator (IPA) and TNFα-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2) as a major network "hub" gene (WGCNA). Using the oPOSSUM algorithm, we analyzed transcription factors (TF) controlling expression of the nine DEG/hub genes in the ALS samples and identified TF's involved in inflammation (NFkB, REL, NFkB1) and macrophage function (NR1H2::RXRA heterodimer). Transient expression in human iPSC-derived motor neurons of TNFAIP2 (also a DEG identified by all three algorithms) reduced cell viability and induced caspase 3/7 activation. Using high-density RNAseq, multiple algorithms for DEG identification, and an unsupervised gene co-expression network approach, we identified significant elevation of inflammatory processes in ALS spinal cord with TNF as a major regulatory molecule. Overexpression of the DEG TNFAIP2 in human motor neurons, the population most vulnerable to die in ALS, increased cell death and caspase 3/7 activation. We propose that therapies targeted to reduce inflammatory TNFα signaling may be helpful in ALS patients.

Clinical effects of miR-101 on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and carcinogenic mechanism of anti-miR-101

The aim of this study was to verify whether anti-miR-101 participates in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a small-molecule antitumor agent, and to explore the effect on phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN). Patients who received consecutive hepatectomies were followed-up, and miR-101 expressions in their tumor and paracancerous tissues were detected. Correlation between miR-101 expression and clinical pathological factors and prognosis was studied. High‑throughput sequencing was used to detect the genetic and microRNA (miRNA) levels of tumor tissues. Expression of anti-miR-101 in different HCC cell lines was determined, and those of desired genes and proteins were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting to obtain the target gene. miR-101 was significantly upregulated in HCC patients compared with that in paracancerous tissues. High miR-101 expression, vascular invasion, tumor size ≥7 cm and late pathological stage were the risk factors of recurrence-free survival rate. High miR-101 expression was the independent prognostic factor of total and recurrence-free survival rates. CXCL12, IL6R, FOXO3 and PTEN were screened as desired genes, and only PTEN was expressed significantly differently in three cell lines. miR-101 could bind 3'-UTR of WT-PTEN with reduced fluorescent intensity, suggesting that PTEN was the target gene. SMMC-7721, HepG2 and Huh7 were eligible cell lines for miR-101 studies. miR-101 was an applicable molecular marker of HCC. Anti-miR-101 regulated the transcription of PTEN and may promote cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by regulating downstream genes with PTEN. The regulatory effects of anti-miR-101 on PTEN provide valuable evidence for finding novel miRNA drugs.

miR-29b Mediates NF-κB Signaling in KRAS-Induced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancers

A global understanding of miRNA function in EGFR signaling pathways may provide insights into improving the management of KRAS-mutant lung cancers, which remain relatively recalcitrant to treatment. To identify miRNAs implicated in EGFR signaling, we transduced bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells with retroviral vectors expressing KRASG12V and monitored miRNA expression patterns by microarray analysis. Through this approach, we defined miR-29b as an important target for upregulation by mutant KRAS in non–small cell lung cancers. Cell biologic analyses showed that pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR or MEK was sufficient to reduce levels of miR-29b, while PI3K inhibition had no effect. In KRASG12V-transduced BEAS-2B cells, introduction of anti-miR-29b constructs increased the sensitivity to apoptosis, arguing that miR-29b mediated apoptotic resistance conferred by mutant KRAS. Mechanistic investigations traced this effect to the ability of miR-29b to target TNFAIP3/A20, a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling. Accordingly, overexpression of an miR-29b–refractory isoform of TNFAIP3 restored NF-κB and extrinsic apoptosis, confirming that TNFAIP3 is a functionally relevant target of miR-29b. We also noted that miR-29b could confer sensitivity to intrinsic apoptosis triggered by exposure to cisplatin, a drug used widely in lung cancer treatment. Thus, miR-29b expression may tilt cells from extrinsic to intrinsic mechanisms of apoptosis. Overall, our results reveal a complexity in cancer for miR-29b, which can act as either an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene depending on signaling context. Cancer Res; 76(14); 4160–9. ©2016 AACR.

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Fibrosis is often involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic progressive diseases such as interstitial pulmonary disease. Pathological hallmark is the formation of fibroblastic foci, which is associated with the disease severity. Mesenchymal cells consisting of the fibroblastic foci are proposed to be derived from several cell sources, including originally resident intrapulmonary fibroblasts and circulating fibrocytes from bone marrow. Recently, mesenchymal cells that underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been also supposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis. In addition, EMT can be induced by transforming growth factor β, and EMT can be enhanced by pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor α. The gel contraction assay is an ideal in vitro model for the evaluation of contractility, which is one of the characteristic functions of fibroblasts and contributes to wound repair and fibrosis. Here, the development of a gel contraction assay is demonstrated for evaluating contractile ability of mesenchymal cells that underwent EMT.

Transcriptional Profiling and miRNA-Target Network Analysis Identify Potential Biomarkers for Efficacy Evaluation of Fuzheng-Huayu Formula-Treated Hepatitis B Caused Liver Cirrhosis

Fuzheng-Huayu (FZHY) formula has been found to have a satisfactory effect on hepatitis B-caused cirrhosis (HBC) treatment. However, the efficacy evaluation of FZHY is often challenging. In this study, a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial was used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of FZHY in HBC treatment. In the trial, 35 medical indexes were detected, and 14 indexes had a statistically-significant difference before compared to after the trial. Importantly, the Child-Pugh score also demonstrated FZHY having therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of 12 serum samples were detected in FZHY groups, and 112 differential-expressed (DE) miRNAs were determined. Using predicted miRNA targets, 13 kernel miRNAs were identified from the established miRNA-target network. Subsequently, quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the expression level of 13 identified miRNAs in the trials. The results showed that nine miRNAs have a statistically-significant difference before compared to after FZHY treatment. By means of a logistic regression model, a miRNA panel with hsa-miR-18a-5p, -326, -1182 and -193b-5p was established, and it can clearly improve the accuracy of the efficacy evaluation of FZHY. This study suggested that the particular miRNAs can act as potential biomarkers and obviously increase the diagnostic accuracy for drug evaluation in HBC treatment progression.

Integrated pathway-based transcription regulation network mining and visualization based on gene expression profiles

Conventionally, workflows examining transcription regulation networks from gene expression data involve distinct analytical steps. There is a need for pipelines that unify data mining and inference deduction into a singular framework to enhance interpretation and hypotheses generation. We propose a workflow that merges network construction with gene expression data mining focusing on regulation processes in the context of transcription factor driven gene regulation. The pipeline implements pathway-based modularization of expression profiles into functional units to improve biological interpretation. The integrated workflow was implemented as a web application software (TransReguloNet) with functions that enable pathway visualization and comparison of transcription factor activity between sample conditions defined in the experimental design. The pipeline merges differential expression, network construction, pathway-based abstraction, clustering and visualization. The framework was applied in analysis of actual expression datasets related to lung, breast and prostrate cancer.

MicroRNAs in oral lichen planus and potential miRNA-mRNA pathogenesis with essential cytokines: a review

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a potentially premalignant condition with unknown pathogenesis. Immune and inflammatory factors are thought to play important roles in the development of OLP, and cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, can act as critical players in the immunopathogenesis of OLP. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are closely correlated with cytokines in various inflammation-related diseases. In patients with OLP, miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 are increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and numerous miRNAs have been shown to exhibit altered expression profiles in lesions. Although the microRNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) network is thought to be involved in the development of OLP, in-depth studies are lacking. Here, we summarize current data on the mechanisms of action of miRNAs regulating typical cytokines in OLP, including interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17, IL-22, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, to study the genetic basis of the pathogenesis of OLP and to provide prospects of therapy.

TGF-β Signaling in Cancer

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a family of structurally related proteins that comprises of TGF-β, activins/inhibins, and bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs). Members of the TGF-β family control numerous cellular functions including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and migration. The first identified member, TGF-β is implicated in several human diseases, such as vascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, and carcinogenesis. Activation of the TGF-β receptor by its ligands induces the phosphorylation of serine/threonine residues and triggers phosphorylation of the intracellular effectors, SMADs. Upon activation, SMAD proteins translocate to the nucleus and induce transcription of their target genes, regulating several cellular functions. TGF-β dysregulation has been implicated in carcinogenesis. In early stages of cancer, TGF-β exhibits tumor suppressive effects by inhibiting cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis. However, in late stages TGF-β exerts tumor promoting effects, increasing tumor invasiveness, and metastasis. Furthermore, the TGF-β signaling pathway communicates with other signaling pathways in a synergistic or antagonistic manner and regulates cellular functions. Elevated TGF-β activity has been associated with poor clinical outcome. Given the pivotal role of TGF-β in tumor progression, this pathway is an attractive target for cancer therapy. Several therapeutic tools such as TGF-β antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, and small molecules inhibitors of TGF-β receptor-1 (TGF-βR1) have shown immense potential to inhibit TGF-β signaling. Finally, in the interest of developing future therapies, further studies are warranted to identify novel points of convergence of TGF-β with other signaling pathways and oncogenic factors in the tumor microenvironment.

Terminal Galactosylation and Sialylation Switching on Membrane Glycoproteins upon TNF-Alpha-Induced Insulin Resistance in Adipocytes

Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex pathophysiological state that arises from both environmental and genetic perturbations and leads to a variety of diseases, including type-2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity is associated with enhanced adipose tissue inflammation, which may play a role in disease progression. Inflammation modulates protein glycosylation in a variety of cell types, and this has been associated with biological dysregulation. Here, we have examined the effects of an inflammatory insult on protein glycosylation in adipocytes. We performed quantitative N-glycome profiling of membrane proteins derived from mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes that had been incubated with or without the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha to induce IR. We identified the regulation of specific terminal N-glycan epitopes, including an increase in terminal di-galactose- and a decrease in biantennary alpha-2,3-sialoglycans. The altered N-glycosylation of TNF-alpha-treated adipocytes correlated with the regulation of specific glycosyltransferases, including the up-regulation of B4GalT5 and Ggta1 galactosyltransferases and down-regulation of ST3Gal6 sialyltransferase. Knockdown of B4GalT5 down-regulated the terminal di-galactose N-glycans, confirming the involvement of this enzyme in the TNF-alpha-regulated N-glycome. SILAC-based quantitative glycoproteomics of enriched N-glycopeptides with and without deglycosylation were used to identify the protein and glycosylation sites modified with these regulated N-glycans. The combined proteome and glycoproteome workflow provided a relative quantification of changes in protein abundance versus N-glycosylation occupancy versus site-specific N-glycans on a proteome-wide level. This revealed the modulation of N-glycosylation on specific proteins in IR, including those previously associated with insulin-stimulated GLUT4 trafficking to the plasma membrane.

MicroRNA-613 inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion by regulating KRAS

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play several important roles in carcinogenesis, and the dysregulation of miRNAs is associated with cancer progression. Little is known about the role of miR-613 in ovarian cancer. In the present study, we demonstrate that miR-613 expression is downregulated in human ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues. Additionally, miR-613 overexpression suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion. Furthermore, KRAS was identified as a target of miR-613. Reintroducing KRAS rescued the inhibitory effects exerted by miR-613 on ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Taken together, our findings suggest that miR-613 functions as a candidate tumor suppressor miRNA in ovarian cancer by directly targeting KRAS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that miR-613 affects the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer.

Recursive Random Lasso (RRLasso) for Identifying Anti-Cancer Drug Targets

Uncovering driver genes is crucial for understanding heterogeneity in cancer. L1-type regularization approaches have been widely used for uncovering cancer driver genes based on genome-scale data. Although the existing methods have been widely applied in the field of bioinformatics, they possess several drawbacks: subset size limitations, erroneous estimation results, multicollinearity, and heavy time consumption. We introduce a novel statistical strategy, called a Recursive Random Lasso (RRLasso), for high dimensional genomic data analysis and investigation of driver genes. For time-effective analysis, we consider a recursive bootstrap procedure in line with the random lasso. Furthermore, we introduce a parametric statistical test for driver gene selection based on bootstrap regression modeling results. The proposed RRLasso is not only rapid but performs well for high dimensional genomic data analysis. Monte Carlo simulations and analysis of the "Sanger Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer dataset from the Cancer Genome Project" show that the proposed RRLasso is an effective tool for high dimensional genomic data analysis. The proposed methods provide reliable and biologically relevant results for cancer driver gene selection.

BARD1 mediates TGF-β signaling in pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rapid progressive fibro-proliferative disorder with poor prognosis similar to lung cancer. The pathogenesis of IPF is uncertain, but loss of epithelial cells and fibroblast proliferation are thought to be central processes. Previous reports have shown that BARD1 expression is upregulated in response to hypoxia and associated with TGF-β signaling, both recognized factors driving lung fibrosis. Differentially spliced BARD1 isoforms, in particular BARD1β, are oncogenic drivers of proliferation in cancers of various origins. We therefore hypothesized that BARD1 and/or its isoforms might play a role in lung fibrosis.

METHODS

We investigated BARD1 expression as a function of TGF-β in cultured cells, in mice with experimentally induced lung fibrosis, and in lung biopsies from pulmonary fibrosis patients.

RESULTS

FL BARD1 and BARD1β were upregulated in response to TGF-β in epithelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo. Protein and mRNA expression studies showed very low expression in healthy lung tissues, but upregulated expression of full length (FL) BARD1 and BARD1β in fibrotic tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that FL BARD1 and BARD1β might be mediators of pleiotropic effects of TGF-β. In particular BARD1β might be a driver of proliferation and of pulmonary fibrosis pathogenesis and progression and represent a target for treatment.

Hippo and TGF-β interplay in the lung field

The Hippo pathway is comprised of a kinase cascade that involves mammalian Ste20-like serine/threonine kinases (MST1/2) and large tumor suppressor kinases (LATS1/2) and leads to inactivation of transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and yes-associated protein (YAP). Protein stability and subcellular localization of TAZ/YAP determine its ability to regulate a diverse array of biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, stem/progenitor cell properties, organ size control, and tumorigenesis. These actions are enabled by interactions with various transcription factors or through cross talk with other signaling pathways. Interestingly, mechanical stress has been shown to be an upstream regulator of TAZ/YAP activity, and this finding provides a novel clue for understanding how mechanical forces influence a broad spectrum of biological processes, which involve cytoskeletal structure, cell adhesion, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway is a critical component of lung development and the progression of lung diseases including emphysema, fibrosis, and cancer. In addition, TGF-β is a key regulator of ECM remodeling and cell differentiation processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the Hippo pathway regarding lung development and diseases, with an emphasis on its interplay with TGF-β signaling.

Regulation of Gene Expression by Sodium Valproate in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

PURPOSE

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism in cancer metastasis and pulmonary fibrosis. Previous studies demonstrated effect of histone H3 and H4 acetylation in cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, so we hypothesized that histone modification might play a crucial role in gene regulation during EMT. In this study, we investigated the mechanism behind EMT by analyzing comprehensive gene expression and the effect of sodium valproate (VPA), a class I histone deacetylase inhibitory drug, on histone modification.

METHODS

EMT was induced in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) using 5 ng/mL of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Various concentrations of VPA were then administered, and Western blotting was used to analyze histone acetylation or methylation. Comprehensive gene expression analysis was carried out by RNA sequencing, and chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed with an anti-acetyl histone H3 lysine 27 antibody.

RESULTS

TGF-β1 stimulation led to a decrease in histone acetylation, especially that of histone H3K27, and H3K27ac localization was decreased at particular gene loci. This decrease was recovered by VPA treatment, which also up-regulated the mRNA expression of genes down-regulated by TGF-β1, and correlated with the localization of H3K27ac. However, genes up-regulated by TGF-β1 stimulation were not suppressed by VPA, with the exception of COL1A1.

CONCLUSIONS

Histone acetylation was down-regulated by TGF-β1 stimulation in A549 cells. VPA partially inhibited EMT and the decrease of histone acetylation, which plays an important role in the progression of EMT.

Dynamical Regulation Analysis Identifies Molecular Mechanisms of Fuzheng-Huayu Formula against Hepatitis B-Caused Liver Cirrhosis

Fuzheng-Huayu (FZHY) tablet was formulated based on Chinese medicine theory in treating liver fibrosis. A clinical trial has indicated that FZHY can against hepatitis B-caused liver cirrhosis (HBC), but the underlying mechanism of FZHY efficacy is unclear. Here, we report that miRNA expression levels are remarkably changed when FZHY formula was used in HBC patient's treatment as a paradigm of trials. Then, we functionally characterize the significant impact of potential kernel miRNAs by miRNA-target network analysis. Enrichment analysis show that the FZHY formula dramatically effecting the molecular regulated module in HBC. Thus, we infer that FZHY plays a critical function in HBC treatment process and directly regulated many important pathways, including but not limited to cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, and TGF-β signaling pathway, suggesting a new strategy for investigating the molecular mechanism of FZHY treatment.