GJA1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by mediating TGF-β-induced activation and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells

Harnessing function of EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma: From biological view to nanotechnological standpoint

Management of cancer metastasis has been associated with remarkable reduction in progression of cancer cells and improving survival rate of patients. Since 90% of mortality are due to cancer metastasis, its suppression can improve ability in cancer fighting. The EMT has been an underlying cause in increasing cancer migration and it is followed by mesenchymal transformation of epithelial cells. HCC is the predominant kind of liver tumor threatening life of many people around the world with poor prognosis. Increasing patient prognosis can be obtained via inhibiting tumor metastasis. HCC metastasis modulation by EMT and HCC therapy by nanoparticles are discussed here. First of all, EMT happens during progression and advanced stages of HCC and therefore, its inhibition can reduce tumor malignancy. Moreover, anti-cancer compounds including all-trans retinoic acid and plumbaging, among others, have been considered as inhibitors of EMT. The EMT association with chemoresistance has been evaluated. Moreover, ZEB1/2, TGF-β, Snail and Twist are EMT modulators in HCC and enhancing cancer invasion. Therefore, EMT mechanism and related molecular mechanisms in HCC are evaluated. The treatment of HCC has not been only emphasized on targeting molecular pathways with pharmacological compounds and since drugs have low bioavailability, their targeted delivery by nanoparticles promotes HCC elimination. Moreover, nanoparticle-mediated phototherapy impairs tumorigenesis in HCC by triggering cell death. Metastasis of HCC and even EMT mechanism can be suppressed by cargo-loaded nanoparticles.

Small-molecule natural plants for reversing liver fibrosis based on modulation of hepatic stellate cells activation: An update

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis (LF) is a trauma repair process carried out by the liver in response to various acute and chronic liver injuries. Its primary pathological characteristics are excessive proliferation and improper dismissal of the extracellular matrix, and if left untreated, it will progress into cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is intimately associated to the onset of LF, and it is anticipated that addressing HSCs proliferation can reverse LF. Plant-based small-molecule medications have anti-LF properties, and their mechanisms of action involve suppression of extracellular matrix abnormally accumulating as well as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress. New targeting HSC agents will therefore be needed to provide a potential curative response.

PURPOSE

The most recent HSC routes and small molecule natural plants that target HSC described domestically and internationally in recent years were examined in this review.

METHODS

The data was looked up using resources including ScienceDirect, CNKI, Web of Science, and PubMed. Keyword searches for information on hepatic stellate cells included "liver fibrosis", "natural plant", "hepatic stellate cells", "adverse reaction", "toxicity", etc. RESULTS: We discovered that plant monomers can target and control various pathways to prevent the activation and proliferation of HSC and promote the apoptosis of HSC in order to achieve the anti-LF effect in this work by compiling the plant monomers that influence many common pathways of HSC in recent years. It demonstrates the wide-ranging potential of plant monomers targeting different routes to combat LF, with a view to supplying new concepts and new strategies for natural plant therapy of LF as well as research and development of novel pharmaceuticals. The investigation of kaempferol, physalin B, and other plant monomers additionally motivated researchers to focus on the structure-activity link between the main chemicals and LF.

CONCLUSION

The creation of novel pharmaceuticals can benefit greatly from the use of natural components. They are often harmless for people, non-target creatures, and the environment because they are found in nature, and they can be employed as the starting chemicals for the creation of novel medications. Natural plants are valuable resources for creating new medications with fresh action targets because they feature original and distinctive action mechanisms.

lncRNA LEF1-AS1 Acts as a Novel Biomarker and Promotes Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Metastasis by Targeting the miR-221-5p/GJA1 Axis

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is highly malignant and extremely aggressive, making it one of the worst prognoses among all kinds of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); therefore, gaining insight into molecular mechanisms of HSCC is of profound significance. In the current manuscript, we revealed the elevated expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LEF1-AS1 in HNSCC which was associated with the poor prognosis by bioinformatic analysis. Moreover, we noticed that LEF1-AS1 dramatically accelerated the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in HSCC cell line FaDu. Most importantly, we illustrated that LEF1-AS1 played as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) via sponging miR-221-5p and thereby positively regulated gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1) expression, thus aggravated tumor progression and EMT. In conclusion, for the first time, we demonstrated lncRNA LEF1-AS1 as a novel biomarker for HNSCC and suggested LEF1-AS1/miR-221-5p/GJA1 axis as promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for HSCC treatment.