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Zhu QW, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Wang XH. VLCAD inhibits the proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular cancer cells through regulating PI3K/AKT axis. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:864-874. [PMID: 35001339 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02733-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) is an essential mediator in fatty acid metabolism. The progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely associated with the disorder of energy supply. Here, we aimed to investigate the role and underlying molecule mechanism of VLCAD in pathological process of HCC. METHODS In this study, VLCAD was induced silencing and overexpression using small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and lentiviral-mediated vector in HCC cell lines. The proliferation of HCC cells was determined using CCK-8 assay. Transwell assay and lung metastasis were performed to analysis cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo. ECAR and OCR were used to evaluate the activity of glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. RESULTS Our data indicated that VLCAD was downregulated in human HCC tissues and cells. VLCAD overexpression strongly suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells associating with the decrease of ATP accumulation and glycolysis activity. Importantly, the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 strongly abolished the role of shVLCAD in HCC cells. Our results suggested that VLCAD suppressed the growth and metastasis in HCC cells by inhibiting the activities of glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation metabolism via PI3K/AKT pathway. CONCLUSIONS Together, present findings not only demonstrated the protective role of and molecular network of VLCAD in HCC cells but also indicated its and potential use as a target in the therapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q W Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Research Unit of Liver Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - X H Wang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, NHC Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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2
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Nagarajan SR, Butler LM, Hoy AJ. The diversity and breadth of cancer cell fatty acid metabolism. Cancer Metab 2021; 9:2. [PMID: 33413672 PMCID: PMC7791669 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-020-00237-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cellular metabolism exhibits distinguishing features that collectively enhance biomass synthesis while maintaining redox balance and cellular homeostasis. These attributes reflect the complex interactions between cell-intrinsic factors such as genomic-transcriptomic regulation and cell-extrinsic influences, including growth factor and nutrient availability. Alongside glucose and amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism supports tumorigenesis and disease progression through a range of processes including membrane biosynthesis, energy storage and production, and generation of signaling intermediates. Here, we highlight the complexity of cellular fatty acid metabolism in cancer, the various inputs and outputs of the intracellular free fatty acid pool, and the numerous ways that these pathways influence disease behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa R Nagarajan
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Lisa M Butler
- Adelaide Medical School and Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Andrew J Hoy
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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3
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Expression of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Alpha in Glioblastoma Is Associated With Resistance to Chemotherapy. Am J Med Sci 2018; 356:391-398. [PMID: 30360807 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2018.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical management of glioblastoma is still challenging despite aggressive surgery and radio-chemotherapy approaches. Better understanding of the molecules involved in glioblastoma chemoresistance is necessary to improve the treatment and predict prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed the expression and possible roles of cytosolic phospholipase A2 alpha (cPLA2α) in human glioblastoma cell lines and patient samples using immunohistochemistry and cellular assays. We analyzed the signaling pathways that cPLA2α regulates in glioblastoma cells using western blot analysis. RESULTS Our work demonstrated that cPLA2α is upregulated in glioblastoma compared with normal neuron cells. The expression of cPLA2α varies in multiple glioblastoma cell lines and is associated with chemoresistance rather than tumor development. cPLA2α depletion moderately inhibits glioblastoma growth and survival but remarkably sensitizes chemo-resistant glioblastoma cells to several chemotherapeutic agents. Mechanistically, cPLA2α knockdown significantly suppresses the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in glioblastoma cells. CONCLUSIONS We are the first to identify the important role of cPLA2α in glioblastoma in response to chemotherapy. Our data also suggest that cPLA2α may serve as a biomarker to indicate prognosis of glioblastoma patients with high level of cPLA2α to chemotherapy.
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4
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Lopez-Bujanda Z, Drake CG. Myeloid-derived cells in prostate cancer progression: phenotype and prospective therapies. J Leukoc Biol 2017; 102:393-406. [PMID: 28550116 PMCID: PMC6608078 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5vmr1116-491rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in men in the United States. As is the case for other tumor types, accumulating evidence suggests an important role for myeloid-derived cells in the promotion and progression of prostate cancer. Here, we briefly describe myeloid-derived cells that interact with tumor cells and what is known about their immune suppressive function. We next discuss new evidence for tumor cell-mediated myeloid infiltration via the PI3K/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway and an alternative mechanism for immune evasion that may be regulated by an endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Finally, we discuss several interventions that target myeloid-derived cells to treat prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoila Lopez-Bujanda
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Charles G Drake
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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5
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Moselhy J, Suman S, Alghamdi M, Chandarasekharan B, Das TP, Houda A, Ankem M, Damodaran C. Withaferin A Inhibits Prostate Carcinogenesis in a PTEN-deficient Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer. Neoplasia 2017; 19:451-459. [PMID: 28494348 PMCID: PMC5421823 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that AKT activation plays a role in prostate cancer progression and inhibits the pro-apoptotic function of FOXO3a and Par-4. AKT inhibition and Par-4 induction suppressed prostate cancer progression in preclinical models. Here, we investigate the chemopreventive effect of the phytonutrient Withaferin A (WA) on AKT-driven prostate tumorigenesis in a Pten conditional knockout (Pten-KO) mouse model of prostate cancer. Oral WA treatment was carried out at two different doses (3 and 5 mg/kg) and compared to vehicle over 45 weeks. Oral administration of WA for 45 weeks effectively inhibited primary tumor growth in comparison to vehicle controls. Pathological analysis showed the complete absence of metastatic lesions in organs from WA-treated mice, whereas discrete metastasis to the lungs was observed in control tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the down-regulation of pAKT expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers, such as β-catenin and N-cadherin, in WA-treated tumors in comparison to controls. This result corroborates our previous findings from both cell culture and xenograft models of prostate cancer. Our findings demonstrate that the daily administration of a phytonutrient that targets AKT activation provides a safe and effective treatment for prostate cancer in a mouse model with strong potential for translation to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim Moselhy
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Suman Suman
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | | | | | - Trinath P Das
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Alatassi Houda
- Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Murali Ankem
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, KY, USA
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6
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cPLA2α mediates TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer through PI3k/Akt signaling. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2728. [PMID: 28383549 PMCID: PMC5477578 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A high incidence of tumor recurrence and metastasis has been reported in breast cancer patients; nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), has been implicated in tumorigenesis and breast cancer metastasis. EMT events are now directly associated with tumor metastasis, and this progress is dependent on the inflammatory microenvironment. Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) has been shown to participate in a series of biological processes including inflammation and cancer development. However, the role and molecular mechanism of cPLA2α in breast cancer EMT and metastasis remain enigmatic. In this study, we found that cPLA2α was commonly overexpressed in most human breast cancer tissues and significantly correlated with a poor prognosis for human breast cancer. Functional studies demonstrated that cPLA2α overexpression was significantly associated with elevated migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 and T47D cells. Conversely, reduced cPLA2α expression strongly attenuated metastasis and the EMT program of MDA-MB-231 cells. Further study found that knockdown of cPLA2α in MDA-MB-231 cells inhibited TGF-β-induced EMT through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments revealed that cPLA2α downregulation in MDA-MB-231 cells markedly restrained tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. This study indicates the potential role of cPLA2α in breast cancer metastasis and indicates that this molecule is a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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7
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Apigenin inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting Akt in the A549 human lung cancer cell line. Anticancer Drugs 2017; 28:446-456. [DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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8
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Probing the PI3K/Akt/mTor pathway using 31P-NMR spectroscopy: routes to glycogen synthase kinase 3. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36544. [PMID: 27811956 PMCID: PMC5109916 DOI: 10.1038/srep36544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Akt is an intracellular signalling pathway that serves as an essential link between cell surface receptors and cellular processes including proliferation, development and survival. The pathway has many downstream targets including glycogen synthase kinase3 which is a major regulatory kinase for cell cycle transit as well as controlling glycogen synthase activity. The Akt pathway is frequently up-regulated in cancer due to overexpression of receptors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor, or mutation of signalling pathway kinases resulting in inappropriate survival and proliferation. Consequently anticancer drugs have been developed that target this pathway. MDA-MB-468 breast and HCT8 colorectal cancer cells were treated with inhibitors including LY294002, MK2206, rapamycin, AZD8055 targeting key kinases in/associated with Akt pathway and the consistency of changes in 31P-NMR-detecatable metabolite content of tumour cells was examined. Treatment with the Akt inhibitor MK2206 reduced phosphocholine levels in MDA-MB-468 cells. Treatment with either the phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002 and pan-mTOR inhibitor, AZD8055 but not pan-Akt inhibitor MK2206 increased uridine-5′-diphosphate-hexose cell content which was suppressed by co-treatment with glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor SB216763. This suggests that there is an Akt-independent link between phosphoinositol-3-kinase and glycogen synthase kinase3 and demonstrates the potential of 31P-NMR to probe intracellular signalling pathways.
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Upton DH, Walters KA, Allavena RE, Jimenez M, Desai R, Handelsman DJ, Allan CM. Global or Granulosa Cell-Specific Pten Mutations in Combination with Elevated FSH Levels Fail to Cause Ovarian Tumours in Mice. Discov Oncol 2016; 7:316-326. [PMID: 27506975 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-016-0272-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a known tumour suppressor. To explore the role of Pten in ovarian tumorigenesis, we used transgenic (Tg) SOX2. Cre and AMH. Cre mouse models to direct global Pten haploinsufficiency (Pten +/-) or ovary-specific granulosa cell (GC) Pten disruption (Pten GC ). Pten mutant models were combined with progressively rising Tg-follicle-stimulating hormone (TgFSH) levels to study the tumorigenic potential of combined genetic/endocrine modification in vivo. Global Pten +/- mice exhibited grossly detectable tumours in multiple organs including uterine and mammary tissue and displayed reduced survival. Despite extra-ovarian tumorigenesis, Pten +/- females had no detectable ovarian tumours, although elevated corpus luteum numbers increased ovary size and estrous cycling was altered. Combined TgFSH/Pten +/- mice also had no ovarian tumours, but early survival was reduced in the presence of TgFSH. Ovary-specific Pten GC ± TgFSH females exhibited no detectable ovarian or uterine tumours, and corpus luteum numbers and estrous cycling remained unchanged. The non-tumorigenic ovarian phenotypes in Pten +/- and Pten GC ± TgFSH mice support the proposal that multi-hit genetic mutations (including ovarian and extra-ovarian tissue) initiate ovarian tumours. Our findings suggest that elevated FSH may reduce early cancer survival; however, the ovary remains remarkably resistant to Pten-induced tumorigenic changes even in the presence of uterine and reproductive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle H Upton
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia.
| | - Kirsty A Walters
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
| | - Rachel E Allavena
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, QLD, Gatton, 4343, Australia
| | - Mark Jimenez
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
| | - Reena Desai
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
| | - Charles M Allan
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
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10
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Xi Z, Yao M, Li Y, Xie C, Holst J, Liu T, Cai S, Lao Y, Tan H, Xu HX, Dong Q. Guttiferone K impedes cell cycle re-entry of quiescent prostate cancer cells via stabilization of FBXW7 and subsequent c-MYC degradation. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2252. [PMID: 27253416 PMCID: PMC5143372 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cell cycle re-entry by quiescent cancer cells is an important mechanism for cancer progression. While high levels of c-MYC expression are sufficient for cell cycle re-entry, the modality to block c-MYC expression, and subsequent cell cycle re-entry, is limited. Using reversible quiescence rendered by serum withdrawal or contact inhibition in PTEN(null)/p53(WT) (LNCaP) or PTEN(null)/p53(mut) (PC-3) prostate cancer cells, we have identified a compound that is able to impede cell cycle re-entry through c-MYC. Guttiferone K (GUTK) blocked resumption of DNA synthesis and preserved the cell cycle phase characteristics of quiescent cells after release from the quiescence. In vehicle-treated cells, there was a rapid increase in c-MYC protein levels upon release from the quiescence. However, this increase was inhibited in the presence of GUTK with an associated acceleration in c-MYC protein degradation. The inhibitory effect of GUTK on cell cycle re-entry was significantly reduced in cells overexpressing c-MYC. The protein level of FBXW7, a subunit of E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for degradation of c-MYC, was reduced upon the release from the quiescence. In contrast, GUTK stabilized FBXW7 protein levels during release from the quiescence. The critical role of FBXW7 was confirmed using siRNA knockdown, which impaired the inhibitory effect of GUTK on c-MYC protein levels and cell cycle re-entry. Administration of GUTK, either in vitro prior to transplantation or in vivo, suppressed the growth of quiescent prostate cancer cell xenografts. Furthermore, elevation of FBXW7 protein levels and reduction of c-MYC protein levels were found in the xenografts of GUTK-treated compared with vehicle-treated mice. Hence, we have identified a compound that is capable of impeding cell cycle re-entry by quiescent PTEN(null)/p53(WT) and PTEN(null)/p53(mut) prostate cancer cells likely by promoting c-MYC protein degradation through stabilization of FBXW7. Its usage as a clinical modality to prevent prostate cancer progression should be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - M Yao
- Discipline of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Y Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - C Xie
- Discipline of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Science and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Holst
- Origins of Cancer Program, Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - T Liu
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, Australia
| | - S Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - Y Lao
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - H Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - H-X Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai, China
| | - Q Dong
- Discipline of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Science and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Boulter N, Suarez FG, Schibeci S, Sunderland T, Tolhurst O, Hunter T, Hodge G, Handelsman D, Simanainen U, Hendriks E, Duggan K. A simple, accurate and universal method for quantification of PCR. BMC Biotechnol 2016; 16:27. [PMID: 26956612 PMCID: PMC4784296 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-016-0256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research into gene expression enables scientists to decipher the complex regulatory networks that control fundamental biological processes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a powerful and ubiquitous method for interrogation of gene expression. Accurate quantification is essential for correct interpretation of qPCR data. However, conventional relative and absolute quantification methodologies often give erroneous results or are laborious to perform. To overcome these failings, we developed an accurate, simple to use, universal calibrator, AccuCal. Results Herein, we show that AccuCal quantification can be used with either dye- or probe-based detection methods and is accurate over a dynamic range of ≥105 copies, for amplicons up to 500 base pairs (bp). By providing absolute quantification of all genes of interest, AccuCal exposes, and circumvents, the well-known biases of qPCR, thus allowing objective experimental conclusions to be drawn. Conclusion We propose that AccuCal supersedes the traditional quantification methods of PCR. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12896-016-0256-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Boulter
- Accugen Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | | | - Stephen Schibeci
- Westmead Millennium Institute, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Trevor Sunderland
- Bitfuturistic Solutions, 9623 Lawndale Avenue SW, Lakewood, WA, 98498, USA.
| | - Ornella Tolhurst
- Accugen Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia. .,Vectus Biosystems Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Tegan Hunter
- Accugen Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia. .,Vectus Biosystems Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - George Hodge
- Vectus Biosystems Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - David Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia.
| | - Ulla Simanainen
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia.
| | - Edward Hendriks
- Accugen Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia. .,Vectus Biosystems Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
| | - Karen Duggan
- Accugen Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia. .,Vectus Biosystems Pty Ltd, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia.
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12
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Discrete functions of GSK3α and GSK3β isoforms in prostate tumor growth and micrometastasis. Oncotarget 2016; 6:5947-62. [PMID: 25714023 PMCID: PMC4467413 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Isoform specific function of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) in cancer is not well defined. We report that silencing of GSK3α, but not GSK3β expression inhibited proliferation, survival and colony formation by the PC3, DU145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells, and the growth of PC3 tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice. Silencing of GSK3α, but not GSK3β resulted in reduced proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in tumor xenografts. ShRNA-mediated knockdown of GSK3α and GSK3β equally inhibited the ability of prostate cancer cells to migrate and invade the endothelial-barrier in vitro, and PC3 cell micrometastasis to lungs in vivo. Mechanistically, whereas silencing GSK3α resulted in increased expression of pro-apoptotic markers cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 in LNCaP, PC3 and DU145 cells, silencing GSK3β resulted in the inhibition of cell scattering, establishment of cell-cell contacts, increased expression and membrane localization of β-catenin, and reduced expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers such as Snail and MMP-9. This indicated the specific role of GSK3β in EMT, acquisition of motility and invasive potential. Overall, our data demonstrated the isoform specific role of GSK3α and GSK3β in prostate cancer cells in vitro, and tumor growth and micrometastasis in vivo, via distinct molecular and cellular mechanisms.
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13
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Li D, Liu W, Wang X, Wu J, Quan W, Yao Y, Bals R, Ji S, Wu K, Guo J, Wan H. Cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide produced by macrophages, promotes colon cancer by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Oncotarget 2015; 6:2939-50. [PMID: 25596747 PMCID: PMC4413629 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we found that levels of cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide, were increased in colon cancer tissues compared to noncancerous tissues. Importantly, cathelicidin was mainly expressed in immune cells. Contact with tumor cells caused macrophages to secrete cathelicidin. Neutralization of cathelicidin, in vivo, significantly reduced the engraftment of macrophages into colon tumors, as well as proliferation of tumor cells, resulting in an inhibition of tumor growth. Furthermore, treatment with cathelicidin neutralizing antibody de-activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tumor cells both in vivo and in vitro. Cathelicidin activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by inducing phosphorylation of PTEN, leading to activation of PI3K/Akt signaling and subsequent phosphorylation of GSK3β, resulting in stabilization and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. These data indicate that cathelicidin, expressed by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, promotes colon cancer growth through activation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Wenfang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Putuo People's Hospital, 200060 Shanghai, China
| | - Junlu Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqiang Quan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwen Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Robert Bals
- Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Allergology, Respiratory Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, 66424 Homburg, Germany
| | - Shurong Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiyin Wu
- Institute of Pathology, Charité University Hospital, 12200 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jia Guo
- Tongji University Suzhou Institute, 215000 Suzhou, China
| | - Haiying Wan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 200065 Shanghai, China
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14
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Zheng Z, He X, Xie C, Hua S, Li J, Wang T, Yao M, Vignarajan S, Teng Y, Hejazi L, Liu B, Dong Q. Targeting cytosolic phospholipase A2 α in colorectal cancer cells inhibits constitutively activated protein kinase B (AKT) and cell proliferation. Oncotarget 2015; 5:12304-16. [PMID: 25365190 PMCID: PMC4322978 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A constitutive activation of protein kinase B (AKT) in a hyper-phosphorylated status at Ser473 is one of the hallmarks of anti-EGFR therapy-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to examine the role of cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) on AKT phosphorylation at Ser473 and cell proliferation in CRC cells with mutation in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). AKT phosphorylation at Ser473 was resistant to EGF stimulation in CRC cell lines of DLD-1 (PIK3CAE545K mutation) and HT-29 (PIK3CAP499T mutation). Over-expression of cPLA2α by stable transfection increased basal and EGF-stimulated AKT phosphorylation and proliferation in DLD-1 cells. In contrast, silencing of cPLA2α with siRNA or inhibition with Efipladib decreased basal and EGF-stimulated AKT phosphorylation and proliferation in HT-29. Treating animals transplanted with DLD-1 with Efipladib (10 mg/kg, i.p. daily) over 14 days reduced xenograft growth by >90% with a concomitant decrease in AKT phosphorylation. In human CRC tissue, cPLA2α expression and phosphorylation were increased in 63% (77/120) compared with adjacent normal mucosa determined by immunohistochemistry. We conclude that cPLA2α is required for sustaining AKT phosphorylation at Ser473 and cell proliferation in CRC cells with PI3K mutation, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of CRC resistant to anti-EGFR therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Zheng
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangyi He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chanlu Xie
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. School of Science and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Australia
| | - Sheng Hua
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jianfang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Department of Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, and Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingfeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanhui Central Hospital. Shanghai, China
| | - Mu Yao
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Soma Vignarajan
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ying Teng
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leila Hejazi
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. School of Science and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Australia
| | - Bingya Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Department of Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, and Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qihan Dong
- Central Clinical School and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney and Department of Endocrinology and Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. School of Science and Health, The University of Western Sydney, Australia
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15
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Choi JP, Desai R, Zheng Y, Yao M, Dong Q, Watson G, Handelsman DJ, Simanainen U. Androgen actions via androgen receptor promote PTEN inactivation induced uterine cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer 2015; 22:687-701. [PMID: 26285813 DOI: 10.1530/erc-15-0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Haploinsufficient inactivating phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) mutations cause Cowden syndrome, an autosomal dominant risk genotype for hormone dependent reproductive cancers. As androgen actions mediated via the androgen receptor (AR) supports uterine growth and may modify uterine cancer risk, we hypothesized that a functional AR may increase PTEN inactivation induced uterine cancer. To test the hypothesis, we compared the PTEN knockout (PTENKO) induced uterine pathology in heterozygous PTENKO and combined heterozygous PTEN and complete AR knockout (PTENARKO) female mice. PTENKO induced uterine pathology was significantly reduced by AR inactivation with severe macroscopic uterine pathology present in 21% of PTENARKO vs 46% of PTENKO at a median age of 45 weeks. This could be due to reduced stroma ERα expression in PTENARKO compared to PTENKO uterus, while AR inactivation did not modify PTEN or P-AKT levels. Unexpectedly, while progesterone (P4) is assumed protective in uterine cancers, serum P4 was significantly higher in PTENKO females compared to WT, ARKO, and PTENARKO females consistent with more corpora lutea in PTENKO ovaries. Serum testosterone and ovarian estradiol were similar between all females. Hence, our results demonstrated AR inactivation mediated protection against PTENKO induced uterine pathology and suggests a potential role for antiandrogens in uterine cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaesung Peter Choi
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Reena Desai
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Yu Zheng
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Mu Yao
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Qihan Dong
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Geoff Watson
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Ulla Simanainen
- ANZAC Research InstituteUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, AustraliaDiscipline of EndocrinologyCentral Clinical School, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, AustraliaDepartment of Anatomical PathologyRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
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16
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Borisov NM, Terekhanova NV, Aliper AM, Venkova LS, Smirnov PY, Roumiantsev S, Korzinkin MB, Zhavoronkov AA, Buzdin AA. Signaling pathways activation profiles make better markers of cancer than expression of individual genes. Oncotarget 2015; 5:10198-205. [PMID: 25415353 PMCID: PMC4259415 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of reliable and accurate molecular markers remains one of the major challenges of contemporary biomedicine. We developed a new bioinformatic technique termed OncoFinder that for the first time enables to quantatively measure activation of intracellular signaling pathways basing on transcriptomic data. Signaling pathways regulate all major cellular events in health and disease. Here, we showed that the Pathway Activation Strength (PAS) value itself may serve as the biomarker for cancer, and compared it with the "traditional" molecular markers based on the expression of individual genes. We applied OncoFinder to profile gene expression datasets for the nine human cancer types including bladder cancer, basal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma, primary melanoma, prostate cancer and renal cancer, totally 292 cancer and 128 normal tissue samples taken from the Gene expression omnibus (GEO) repository. We profiled activation of 82 signaling pathways that involve ~2700 gene products. For 9/9 of the cancer types tested, the PAS values showed better area-under-the-curve (AUC) scores compared to the individual genes enclosing each of the pathways. These results evidence that the PAS values can be used as a new type of cancer biomarkers, superior to the traditional gene expression biomarkers.
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17
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Du S, Yang L. ClC-3 chloride channel modulates the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells via AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2015; 8:1622-1630. [PMID: 25973047 PMCID: PMC4396317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In cultured human osteosarcoma (OS) cells, we recently demonstrated that insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1)-induced MG-63 and 143B human OS cells proliferation were consistent with increasing ClC-3 expression, and ClC-3 was up-regulated in cells with high metastatic potency. Blockade of ClC-3 greatly suppressed the phosphorylation activation of Akt/GSK3β. We also found that blockade of ClC-3 effectively down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and caused activation of p27(KIP) and p21(CIP). The synthesized effects on these proteins which play a major role in cell cycle regulation bring about G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in MG-63 cells, and finally abrogate the cell proliferation. Besides, ClC-3 deletion attenuates OS cell migration via down-regulation the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Such information suggests that ClC-3 might be a potential target for anti-OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Du
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
| | - Liqing Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang, China
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