Lysyl oxidase promotes anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis mediated via BMP1

Lysyl oxidase inhibitors in colorectal cancer progression

The lysine oxidase (LOX) family, consisting of LOX and LOX-like-1-4 (LOXL1-LOXL4), catalyses the cross-linking reaction of collagen and elastin in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Numerous studies have demonstrated that LOX family members are dysregulated in a variety of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and play a key role in cancer cell migration, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Targeting LOX family proteins with specific inhibitors has therefore been developed as a new therapeutic strategy for cancer. In this paper, we review the role of LOX enzymes in the development and progression of CRC. In addition, we address recent advances in the development of LOX/LOXL inhibitors, highlighting the potential use of this inhibitor as an effective and complementary treatment for CRC.

Formononetin alleviates thermal injury-induced skin fibroblast apoptosis and promotes cell proliferation and migration

The aim of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of formononetin (FMNT) in thermal-injured fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. After thermal injury, human skin fibroblast (HSF) cells showed inhibited proliferation, migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis; and increased apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and inflammation. Specifically, after thermal injury, cell viability, migration distance, and protein levels of collagen I, collagen III, α-SMA, MMP1, and MMP3 were reduced; cell apoptosis rate and TUNEL-positive cell numbers were increased; the levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were elevated, while Bcl-2 level was reduced. Moreover, the thermally injured HSF cells showed increased levels of ROS, MDA, LDH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and decreased GSH, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT. FMNT levels can partially eliminate the effects of thermal injury on HSF cells, as shown by promoting thermally injured HSF cell proliferation and migration, and inhibiting cell apoptosis, ROS production, and inflammation. FMNT exerted no significant effect on normal HSF cells. Additionally, the levels of the P13K/AKT/mTOR signaling-related proteins (p-P13K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR) were reduced in thermally injured HSF cells, whereas FMNT could promote p-P13K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR levels. FMNT can partially alleviate the thermal injury-induced inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and migration; FMNT also inhibited the apoptosis, ROS level, and inflammation in thermal-injured cells. The effects of FMNT may be mediated by regulating the P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Targeting BMP-1 enhances anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin in metastatic mammary cancer: common and distinct features of TGF-β inhibition

PURPOSE

Mammary carcinoma is comprised heterogeneous groups of cells with different metastatic potential. 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells metastasized to heart (4THM), liver (4TLM) and brain (4TBM) and demonstrate cancer-stem cell phenotype. Using these cancer cells we found thatTGF-β is the top upstream regulator of metastatic process. In addition, secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), which is crucial for the proteolytic release of TGF-β, was markedly high in metastatic mammary cancer cells compared to non-metastatic cells. Although TGF-β inhibitors are in clinical trials, systemic inhibition of TGF-β may produce heavy side effects. We here hypothesize that inhibition of BMP-1 proteolytic activity inhibits TGF-β activity and induces anti-tumoral effects.

METHOD AND RESULTS

Effects of specific BMP-1 inhibitor on liver and brain metastatic murine mammary cancer cells (4TLM and 4TBM), as well as on human mammary cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, were examined and compared with the results of TGF-β inhibition. Inhibition of BMP-1 activity markedly suppressed proliferation of cancer cells and enhanced anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin. Inhibition of BMP-1 activity but not of TGF-β activity decreased colony and spheroid formation. Differential effects of BMP-1 and TGF-β inhibitors on TGF-β secretion was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated for the first time that the inhibition of BMP-1 activity has therapeutic potential for treatment of metastatic mammary cancer and enhances the anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin.

Inhibition of CRLF1 expression by miR-8485 alleviates IL-1β-induced chondrocyte inflammation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of differentially expressed miR-8485 on chondrocyte inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) and its underlying pathological mechanisms. MiR-8485, which was downregulated in OA, was identified by microarray analysis, and was also found to be decreased in IL-1β-induced C28/I2 cells. miR-8485 down-regulation or IL-1β treated of C28/I2 cells induces a decrease in cellular activity, an increase in apoptosis, an elevation in Cleaved caspase-3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 protein levels, a decrease in Collagen II and Aggrecan levels, and an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6. CRLF1 was identified to be a downstream target gene of miR-8485 using bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter gene assays. CRLF1 was shown to be increased in IL-1β-treated C28/I2 cells, and CRLF1 overexpression partially abrogated the suppressive effect of upregulated miR-8485 on chondrocyte inflammation. In addition, miR-8485 was able to inhibit MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling activation by inhibiting CRLF1. In conclusion, miR-8485 was able to inhibit CRLF1 expression and thus inhibit IL-1β-triggered inflammation in chondrocytes, potentially through the inhibition of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

PCPE-2 (procollagen C-proteinase enhancer-2): The non-identical twin of PCPE-1

PCPE-2 was discovered at the beginning of this century, and was soon identified as a close homolog of PCPE-1 (procollagen C-proteinase enhancer 1). After the demonstration that it could also stimulate the proteolytic maturation of fibrillar procollagens by BMP-1/tolloid-like proteinases (BTPs), PCPE-2 did not attract much attention as it was thought to fulfill the same functions as PCPE-1 which was already well-described. However, the tissue distribution of PCPE-2 shows both common points and significant differences with PCPE-1, suggesting that their activities are not fully overlapping. Also, the recently established connections between PCPE-2 (gene name PCOLCE2) and several important diseases such as atherosclerosis, inflammatory diseases and cancer have highlighted the need for a thorough reappraisal of the in vivo roles of this regulatory protein. In this context, the recent finding that, while retaining the ability to bind fibrillar procollagens and to activate their C-terminal maturation, PCPE-2 can also bind BTPs and inhibit their activity has substantially extended its potential functions. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about PCPE-2 with a focus on collagen fibrillogenesis, lipid metabolism and inflammation, and discuss how we could further advance our understanding of PCPE-2-dependent biological processes.

The miR-199a-5p/HIF1α dual-regulatory axis participates in hypoxia-induced aggressive phenotypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells

BACKGROUND

The late-stage diagnosis and distant metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain a huge challenge to clinical treatment for OSCC. During the past decades, targeting glycolysis-inducing factors becomes an attractive new strategy in OSCC therapies.

METHODS

OSCC cells were stimulated with hypoxia or transfected with agomir-199a-5p, antagomir-199a-5p, and siRNA for HIF1A, cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay; HIF1α, GLUT1, HK2 and LDHA expression levels were examined with western blot; miR-199 expression was determined with RT-PCR; cell migratory and invasive abilities were examined using wound healing and transwell assays; the lactate and glucose in culture medium were also determined. Luciferase assay or CHIP assay was applied for confirm the binding between miR-199a-5p and HIF1A 3'UTR, or between HIF1α and miR-199a promoter.

RESULTS

HIF1α showed to be abnormally up-regulated, and miR-199a-5p showed to be abnormally down-regulated within OSCC under hypoxia. Hypoxia considerably enhanced OSCC cell proliferation, glycolysis, migratory ability, and invasive ability. MiR-199a-5p bound to HIF1A 3'-UTR and suppressed HIF1A expression; HIF1α targeted miR-199a-5p promoter region and downregulated miR-199a-5p expression. Under hypoxia, miR-199a-5p overexpression significantly repressed HIF1α up-regulation inresponse to hypoxia, OSCC cell proliferation, glycolysis, migratory ability, and invasive ability.

CONCLUSION

miR-199a-5p and HIF1α form a dual-regulatory axis in OSCC cells; the miR-199a-5p/HIF1α dual-regulatory axis contributes to hypoxia-induced aggressive OSCC phenotypes.

Association between thyroid disorders and extra-thyroidal cancers, a review

Thyroid hormone has been shown to have both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing actions, which has led to significant debate over its involvement in the development of cancer. Proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, and angiogenesis are all aspects of cancer that are affected by the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, according to research conducted in animal models and in vitro experiments. The effects of thyroid hormones on cancer cells are mediated by many non-genomic mechanisms, one of which involves the activation of the plasma membrane receptor integrin αvβ3. Typically, abnormal amounts of thyroid hormones are linked to a higher occurrence of cancer. Both benign and malignant thyroid disorders were found to be associated with an increased risk of extra-thyroidal malignancies, specifically colon, breast, prostate, melanoma, and lung cancers. The purpose of this review was to shed light on this link to define which types of cancer are sensitive to thyroid hormones and, as a result, are anticipated to respond favorably to treatment of the thyroid hormone axis.

High-Performance Metabolic Profiling of High-Risk Thyroid Nodules by ZrMOF Hybrids

Thyroid nodules (TNs) have emerged as the most prevalent endocrine disorder in China. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) remains the standard diagnostic method for assessing TN malignancy, although a majority of FNA results indicate benign conditions. Balancing diagnostic accuracy while mitigating overdiagnosis in patients with benign nodules poses a significant clinical challenge. Precise, noninvasive, and high-throughput screening methods for high-risk TN diagnosis are highly desired but remain less explored. Developing such approaches can improve the accuracy of noninvasive methods like ultrasound imaging and reduce overdiagnosis of benign nodule patients caused by invasive procedures. Herein, we investigate the application of gold-doped zirconium-based metal-organic framework (ZrMOF/Au) nanostructures for metabolic profiling of thyroid diseases. This approach enables the efficient extraction of urine metabolite fingerprints with high throughput, low background noise, and reproducibility. Utilizing partial least-squares discriminant analysis and four machine learning models, including neural network (NN), random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM), we achieved an enhanced diagnostic accuracy (98.6%) for discriminating thyroid cancer (TC) from low-risk TNs by using a diagnostic panel. Through the analysis of metabolic differences, potential pathway changes between benign nodule and malignancy are identified. This work explores the potential of rapid thyroid disease screening using the ZrMOF/Au-assisted LDI-MS platform, providing a potential method for noninvasive screening of thyroid malignant tumors. Integrating this approach with imaging technologies such as ultrasound can enhance the reliability of noninvasive diagnostic methods for malignant tumor screening, helping to prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and reducing the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in patients with benign nodules.

Anti-tyrosinase and anti-melanogenic effects of piperine isolated from Piper nigrum on B16F10 mouse melanoma cells

The essential function of melanin is to protect our skin against harmful environmental factors. However, excessive melanin production can cause undesirable hyperpigmentation issues, such as freckles and melasma. Although several compounds are used to control melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase (TYR), their efficacy is limited by skin-related adverse effects and cytotoxicity concerns. Consequently, searching for new natural compounds with an effective TYR inhibitor (TYR-I) activity but less harmful effects continues. Plant-based natural extracts are an alternative that are in great demand due to their safety and diverse biological properties. This study assessed ten isolated plant compounds for their TYR-I activities using an in vitro mushroom TYR inhibition assay. Among these compounds, piperine (400 μM) demonstrated the highest TYR-I activity, with a potency of 36.27 ± 1.96 %. Hence, this study examined the effect of piperine on melanogenesis in melanocyte stimulating hormone-treated B16F10 melanoma cells and using kojic acid as a positive reference. Cell viability was evaluated through the standard 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Measurements of cellular TYR activity and melanin content were performed and related to changes in the transcriptional expression levels of melanogenesis-related genes, assessed via quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase (RT-q)PCR analysis. The results revealed that piperine at a concentration of 44 μM significantly reduced cellular TYR activity by 21.51 ± 2.00 % without causing cytotoxicity. Additionally, at the same concentration, piperine significantly decreased the intracellular melanin content by 37.52 ± 2.53 % through downregulating transcription levels of TYR and TYR-related protein 1 (TRP-1) but not TRP-2. Kojic acid, at a concentration of 1407 μM, induced a significant decrease in the melanin content and cellular TYR activity by suppressing all three melanogenesis-related genes. These findings suggest that piperine has potential as a potent depigmenting agent.

Study of cell and drug interactions based on dual-mode detection using SPR and fluorescence imaging

The investigation of the interactions between cells and drugs forms a crucial aspect of biological and clinical medical studies. Generally, single-cell or local-cellular studies require a microscopic imaging system with high magnifications, which suffers from low detection throughputs and poor time responses. The study presented in this paper combined SPR and fluorescence to achieve cell localization, real-time monitoring of cell images and quantitative analysis of drugs. In order to obtain more comprehensive, accurate and real-time data, a dual-mode system based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescence was constructed based on a 4× magnification lens. This enables simultaneous studies of an entire cell and a specific region of the cell membrane. An adaptive adjustment algorithm was established for distorted SPR images, achieving temporal and spatial matching of the dual-mode detection. The combination of SPR and fluorescence not only achieved micro-detection but also complemented the qualitative or quantitative limitations of SPR or fluorescence method alone. In system characterization, the response signal of SPR was noticed to increase with the increasing concentration of EGF in stimulated cells. It indicated that this platform could be employed for quantitative detection of the cell membrane region. Upon addition of EGF, a peak in the SPR curve was observed, and the cells in the corresponding SPR image turned whiter. This indicated that the platform can simultaneously monitor the SPR response signal and image changes. The response time of fluorescence in EGF testing was several seconds earlier than SPR, revealing that signal transduction first occurred in the whole cell and then propagated to the cell membrane region. The inhibitory ability of Gefitinib on cells was verified in a fast and real-time manner within 20 min. The results indicated that the detection limit of this method was 20 IU/mL for EGF and 10 µg/mL for Gefitinib. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the advantages of SPR and fluorescence dual-mode techniques in the analysis of cell-drug interactions, as well as their strong potential in drug screening.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide promotes angiogenesis as well as follicle regeneration and hair growth through activation of the WNT signaling pathway

Introduction

Hair loss is one of the common clinical conditions in modern society. Although it is not a serious disease that threatens human life, it brings great mental stress and psychological burden to patients. This study investigated the role of dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) in hair follicle regeneration and hair growth and its related mechanisms.

Methods

After in vitro culture of mouse antennal hair follicles and mouse dermal papilla cells (DPCs), and mouse vascular endothelial cells (MVECs), the effects of DOP upon hair follicles and cells were evaluated using multiple methods. DOP effects were evaluated by measuring tentacle growth, HE staining, immunofluorescence, Western blot, CCK-8, ALP staining, tube formation, scratch test, and Transwell. LDH levels, WNT signaling proteins, and therapeutic mechanisms were also analyzed.

Results

DOP promoted tentacle hair follicle and DPCs growth in mice and the angiogenic, migratory and invasive capacities of MVECs. Meanwhile, DOP was also capable of enhancing angiogenesis and proliferation-related protein expression. Mechanistically, DOP activated the WNT signaling and promoted the expression level of β-catenin, a pivotal protein of the pathway, and the pathway target proteins Cyclin D1, C-Myc, and LDH activity. The promotional effects of DOP on the biological functions of DPCs and MVECs could be effectively reversed by the WNT signaling pathway inhibitor IWR-1.

Conclusion

DOP advances hair follicle and hair growth via the activation of the WNT signaling. This finding provides a mechanistic reference and theoretical basis for the clinical use of DOP in treating hair loss.

Whole-Transcriptome Analysis Sheds Light on the Biological Contexts of Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Ningxiang Pigs

The quality of pork is significantly impacted by intramuscular fat (IMF). However, the regulatory mechanism of IMF depositions remains unclear. We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing of the longissimus dorsi muscle (IMF) from the high (5.1 ± 0.08) and low (2.9 ± 0.51) IMF groups (%) to elucidate potential mechanisms. In summary, 285 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 14 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs), 83 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and 79 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were identified. DEGs were widely associated with IMF deposition and liposome differentiation. Furthermore, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were constructed through co-differential expression analyses, which included circRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 47 DECs) and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 36 DELs) regulatory networks. The circRNAs sus-TRPM7_0005, sus-MTUS1_0004, the lncRNAs SMSTRG.4269.1, and MSTRG.7983.2 regulate the expression of six lipid metabolism-related target genes, including PLCB1, BAD, and GADD45G, through the binding sites of 2-4068, miR-7134-3p, and miR-190a. For instance, MSTRG.4269.1 regulates its targets PLCB1 and BAD via miRNA 2_4068. Meanwhile, sus-TRPM7_0005 controls its target LRP5 through ssc-miR-7134-3P. These findings indicate molecular regulatory networks that could potentially be applied for the marker-assisted selection of IMF to enhance pork quality.

Do Brassica Vegetables Affect Thyroid Function?-A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Brassica vegetables are widely consumed all over the world, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. They are a rich source of sulfur compounds, such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), which provide health benefits but are also suspected of having a goitrogenic effect. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of dietary interventions on thyroid function, in terms of the potential risk for people with thyroid dysfunctions. We analyzed the results of 123 articles of in vitro, animal, and human studies, describing the impact of brassica plants and extracts on thyroid mass and histology, blood levels of TSH, T3, T4, iodine uptake, and the effect on thyroid cancer cells. We also presented the mechanisms of the goitrogenic potential of GLSs and ITCs, the limitations of the studies included, as well as further research directions. The vast majority of the results cast doubt on previous assumptions claiming that brassica plants have antithyroid effects in humans. Instead, they indicate that including brassica vegetables in the daily diet, particularly when accompanied by adequate iodine intake, poses no adverse effects on thyroid function.

Integrating hybrid transfer learning with attention-enhanced deep learning models to improve breast cancer diagnosis

Cancer, with its high fatality rate, instills fear in countless individuals worldwide. However, effective diagnosis and treatment can often lead to a successful cure. Computer-assisted diagnostics, especially in the context of deep learning, have become prominent methods for primary screening of various diseases, including cancer. Deep learning, an artificial intelligence technique that enables computers to reason like humans, has recently gained significant attention. This study focuses on training a deep neural network to predict breast cancer. With the advancements in medical imaging technologies such as X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans, deep learning has become essential in analyzing and managing extensive image datasets. The objective of this research is to propose a deep-learning model for the identification and categorization of breast tumors. The system's performance was evaluated using the breast cancer identification (BreakHis) classification datasets from the Kaggle repository and the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Dataset (WBC) from the UCI repository. The study's findings demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 100%, surpassing other state-of-the-art approaches. The suggested model was thoroughly evaluated using F1-score, recall, precision, and accuracy metrics on the WBC dataset. Training, validation, and testing were conducted using pre-processed datasets, leading to remarkable results of 99.8% recall rate, 99.06% F1-score, and 100% accuracy rate on the BreakHis dataset. Similarly, on the WBC dataset, the model achieved a 99% accuracy rate, a 98.7% recall rate, and a 99.03% F1-score. These outcomes highlight the potential of deep learning models in accurately diagnosing breast cancer. Based on our research, it is evident that the proposed system outperforms existing approaches in this field.

The iron group transition-metal (Fe, Ru, Os) coordination of Se-doped graphitic carbon (Se@g-C3N4) nanostructures for the smart therapeutic delivery of zidovudine (ZVD) as an antiretroviral drug: a theoretical calculation perspective

This study employed density functional theory (DFT) computational techniques at the ωB97XD/def2svp level of theory to comprehensively explore the electronic behavior of Fe-group transition metal (Fe, Ru, Os) coordination of Se-doped graphitic carbon (Se@g-C3N4) nanosystems in the smart delivery of zidovudine (ZVD), an antiretroviral drug. The HOMO-LUMO results of the interactions show a general reduction in energy gap values across all complexes in the following order: ZVD_Se@C3N4 < ZVD_Ru_Se@C3N4 < ZVD_Fe_Se@C3N4 < ZVD_Os_Se@C3N4. ZVD_Se@C3N4 exhibits the smallest post-interaction band gap of 3.783 eV, while ZVD_Os_Se@C3N4 presents the highest energy band gap of 5.438 eV. Results from the corrected adsorption energy (BSSE) revealed that Os_Se@C3N4 and Ru_Se@C3N4 demonstrated more negative adsorption energies of -2.67 and -2.701 eV, respectively, pointing to a more favorable interaction between ZVD and these systems, thus potentially enhancing the drug delivery efficiency. The investigation into the drug release mechanism from the adsorbents involved a comprehensive examination of the dipole moment and the influence of pH, shedding light on the controlled release of ZVD. Additionally, investigating the energy decomposition analysis (EDA) revealed that ZVD_Ru_Se@C3N4 and ZVD_Fe_Se@C3N4 exhibited the same total energy of -787.7 kJ mol-1. This intriguing similarity in their total energy levels suggested that their stability was governed by factors beyond reactivity, possibly due to intricate orbital interactions. Furthermore, analyzing the bond dissociation energies showed that all systems exhibited negative enthalpy values, indicating that these systems were exothermic at both surface and interaction levels, thus suggesting that these processes emitted heat, contributing to the surrounding thermal energy.

An Analysis of BMP1 Associated with m6A Modification and Immune Infiltration in Pancancer

Background. This research explores the underlying link between diagnosis and therapy between bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1) and various cancers. Methods. Three immunotherapeutic cohorts, by the composition of IMvigor210, GSE35640, and GSE78220 were obtained from previously published articles and the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The different expressions of BMP1 in various clinical parameters were conducted, and prognostic analysis was executed utilizing Cox proportional hazard regression and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. Moreover, the correlation between BMP1 and tumor microenvironment was analyzed using ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. Tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability were also included. The correlation between m6A modification and the gene expression level was analyzed using Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis portal. Gene Set Cancer Analysis analyzed the correlation of BMP1 expression level with copy number variations and methylation. Furthermore, the correlation between BMP1 and therapeutic response after antineoplastic drug use was illustrated for further discussion. Results. BMP1 expression had significant differences in 14 cancers. It presented an intimate relationship with immune-relevant biomarkers. A variation analysis indicated that BMP1 had a significant association with immunotherapeutic response. The expression level of BMP1 was closely associated with insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, an m6A modification relative gene. Except for a few cancer types, methylation negatively correlated with BMP1, and copy number variations positively correlated with BMP1. Notably, low BMP1 expression was connected with immunotherapeutic response in the cohorts, and its expression was related to increased sectional sensitivity of drugs. Conclusion. BMP1 may serve as a potential biomarker for prognostic prediction and immunologic infiltration in diversified cancers, providing a new thought approach for oncotherapy.