Muscular atrophy, impaired epithelial autophagy and UCHL1 increase in androgen-deficient cauda epididymis

UCHL1 acts as a potential oncogene and affects sensitivity of common anti-tumor drugs in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Recently, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) has been demonstrated to be highly expressed in many tumors and plays the role of an oncogene. However, the functional mechanism of UCHL1 is unclear in lung adenocarcinoma progression.

Methods

We analyzed the differential expression of the UCHL1 gene in lung adenocarcinoma and normal lung tissues, and the correlation between the UCHL1 gene and prognosis was also analyzed by the bioinformatics database TCGA. Meanwhile, we detected and analyzed the expression of UCHL1 and Ki-67 protein in a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 150 patients with lung adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and clinicopathological characteristics by TCGA database. In vitro experiments, we knocked down the UCHL1 gene of A549 cells and detected the changes in cell migration, invasion, and apoptosis. At the same time, we analyzed the effect of UCHL1 on anti-tumor drug sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma by a bioinformatics database. In terms of the detection rate of lung adenocarcinoma indicators, we analyzed the impact of UCHL1 combined with common clinical indicators on the detection rate of lung adenocarcinoma through a bioinformatics database.

Results

In this study, the analysis of UCHL1 protein expression in lung adenocarcinoma proved that obviously higher UCHL1 protein level was discovered in lung adenocarcinoma tissues. The expression of UCHL1 was closely related to poor clinical outcomes. Interestingly, a significantly positive correlation between the expression of UCHL1 and Ki-67-indicated UCHL1 was associated with tumor migration and invasion. Through executing loss of function tests, we affirmed that silencing of UCHL1 expression significantly inhibited migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, lung adenocarcinoma cells with silenced UCHL1 showed a higher probability of apoptosis. In terms of the detection rate of lung adenocarcinoma indicators, we discovered UCHL1 could improve the detection rate of clinical lung adenocarcinoma and affect drug sensitivity.

Conclusion

In lung adenocarcinoma, UCHL1 promotes tumor migration, invasion, and metastasis by inhibiting apoptosis and has an important impact on the clinical drug treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, UCHL1 can improve the detection rate of clinical lung adenocarcinoma. Above all, UCHL1 may be a new marker for the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma and provide a new target for the treatment of clinical diseases.

Venlafaxine-induced adrenergic signaling stimulates Leydig cells steroidogenesis via Nur77 overexpression: a possible role of EGF

Venlafaxine, a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, impairs rat sperm parameters, spermatogenesis and causes high intratesticular estrogen and testosterone levels, indicating that Leydig cells (LCs) may be a venlafaxine target. We evaluated the effect of venlafaxine treatment on LCs in vivo, focusing on adrenergic signaling, EGF immunoexpression and steroidogenesis. Germ cells mitotic/meiotic activity and UCHL1 levels were also evaluated in the seminiferous epithelium. Adult male rats received venlafaxine (30 mg/kg) or distilled water. In testicular sections, the seminiferous tubules, epithelium and the LCs nuclear areas were measured, and the immunoexpression of Ki-67, UCHL1, StAR, EGF, c-Kit and 17β-HSD was evaluated. UCHL1, StAR and EGF protein levels and Adra1a, Nur77 and Ndrg2 expression were analyzed. MDA and nitrite testicular levels, and serum estrogen and testosterone levels were measured. Venlafaxine induced LCs hypertrophy and Ndrg2 upregulation, in parallel to increased number of Ki-67, c-Kit- and 17β-HSD-positive interstitial cells, indicating that this antidepressant stimulates LCs lineage proliferation and differentiation. Upregulation of Adra1a and Nur77 could explain the high levels of StAR and testosterone levels, as well as aromatization. Enhanced EGF immunoexpresion in LCs suggests that this growth fact is involved in adrenergically-induced steroidogenesis, likely via upregulation of Nur77. Slight tubular atrophy and weak Ki-67 immunoexpression in germ cells, in association with high UCHL1 levels, indicate that spermatogenesis is likely impaired by this enzyme under supraphysiological estrogen levels. These data corroborate the unchanged MDA and nitrite levels. Therefore, venlafaxine stimulates LCs steroidogenesis via adrenergic signaling, and EGF may be involved in this process.

Cimetidine-induced androgenic failure causes cell death and changes in actin, EGF and V-ATPase immunoexpression in rat submandibular glands

Submandibular gland (SMG) is responsive to androgens via androgen receptor (AR). We verified whether cimetidine induces androgenic dysfunction in SMG, and evaluated the structural integrity, cell death and immunoexpression of actin, EGF and V-ATPase in androgen-deficient SMG. Male rats received cimetidine (CMTG) and control animals (CG) received saline. Granular convoluted tubules (GCTs) diameter and number of acinar cell nuclei were evaluated. TUNEL and immunofluorescence reactions for detection of AR, testosterone, actin, EGF and V-ATPase were quantitatively analysed. In CG, testosterone immunolabelling was detected in acinar and ductal cells cytoplasm. AR-immunolabelled nuclei were observed in acinar cells whereas ductal cells showed AR-immunostained cytoplasm, indicating a non-genomic AR action. In CMTG, the weak testosterone and AR immunoexpression confirmed cimetidine-induced androgenic failure. A high cell death index was correlated with decreased number of acinar cells, GCTs diameter and EGF immunoexpression under androgenic dysfunction. Actin immunofluorescence decreased in the SMG cells, but an increased and diffuse cytoplasmic V-ATPase immunolabelling was observed in striated ducts, suggesting a disruption in the actin-dependent V-ATPase recycling due to androgenic failure. Our findings reinforce the androgenic role in the maintenance of SMG histophysiology, and point to a potential clinical use of cimetidine against androgen-dependent glandular tumour cells.

Effect of chronic stress on expression and secretion of seminal vesicle proteins in adult rats

Chronic stress (CS) is known to affect men's health especially fertility by reducing semen quality. Although the effects of CS on testicular function and sperm parameters are documented, changes of substances and secreting proteins in the seminal vesicle (SV) have never been reported. This study aimed to demonstrate the alterations of contents and expressions of proteins in seminal vesicle fluid (SVF) under CS. Fourteen adult rats were divided into control and CS groups (n = 7/each). Control rats were not exposed to stressor, while the CS animals were immobilised by restraint cage (4 hr/day) and followed by forced swimming (15 min/day) for consecutive 60 days. Biochemical substances and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in SVF were examined. Expressions of heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70), caspases (Casp) 3 and 9, and tyrosine-phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins were investigated in seminal vesicle tissue (SVT) and SVF. It was found that CS caused reductions of seminal epithelial height and secreted substance levels. Significantly, MDA levels in SVF and expressions of Hsp70, Casp and TyrPho proteins were increased in of CS animals. It was concluded that CS affected seminal secretion. Low quality of CS seminal plasma may associate with increase of MDA and expressions of secreted proteins.

DNA methyltransferase-1 inactivation of androgen receptor axis triggers homocysteine induced cardiac fibroblast autophagy in diabetic cardiac fibrosis

Diabetic cardiac fibrosis is one of the main pathological manifestations of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Cardiac fibroblast autophagy plays critical roles in diabetic cardiac fibrosis, however, the underlying mechanism of cardiac fibroblast autophagy and diabetic cardiac fibrosis still largely unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the mechanism of DNMT1 mediated DNA methylation alterations control cardiac fibroblast autophagy in diabetic cardiac fibrosis. We employed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats DCM, DCM patient and Hcy induced cardiac fibroblast autophagy. Heart tissue sections were stained with H&E, Sirius Red and Masson's trichrome stain. The expression of DNMT1, AR, Collagen genes mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. MSP and BSP detected the methylation status of the AR promoter. The expression of DNMT1, AR, Collagen and autophagy-related proteins were detected by Western blotting, Immunofluorescence, Immunohistochemistry. Gain and loss function of AR and DNMT1 in cardiac fibroblast was analyzed. DNMT1 inhibition or knockdown elevated the expression of AR in cardiac fibroblast. Furthermore, we found that AR negatively regulation of Hcy induced cardiac fibroblast autophagy. We demonstrated that DNMT1 enhances cardiac fibroblast autophagy in diabetic cardiac fibrosis through inhibiting AR axis. In conclusion, our results provide new insight into the DNMT1 inactivation of AR axis triggers cardiac fibroblast autophagy in diabetic cardiac fibrosis.

Specification of the First Mammalian Cell Lineages In Vivo and In Vitro

Our understanding of how the first mammalian cell lineages arise has been shaped largely by studies of the preimplantation mouse embryo. Painstaking work over many decades has begun to reveal how a single totipotent cell is transformed into a multilayered structure representing the foundations of the body plan. Here, we review how the first lineage decision is initiated by epigenetic regulation but consolidated by the integration of morphological features and transcription factor activity. The establishment of pluripotent and multipotent stem cell lines has enabled deeper analysis of molecular and epigenetic regulation of cell fate decisions. The capability to assemble these stem cells into artificial embryos is an exciting new avenue of research that offers a long-awaited window into cell fate specification in the human embryo. Together, these approaches are poised to profoundly increase our understanding of how the first lineage decisions are made during mammalian embryonic development.