Growth Hormone Receptor Regulation in Cancer and Chronic Diseases

Changes of Signaling Pathways in Hypothalamic Neurons with Aging

The hypothalamus is an important regulator of autonomic and endocrine functions also involved in aging regulation. The aging process in the hypothalamus is accompanied by disturbed intracellular signaling including insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/growth hormone (GH), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB), and nitric oxide (NO). In the current review, I have summarized the current understanding of the changes in the above-mentioned pathways in aging with a focus on hypothalamic alterations.

Structural Modeling of Cytokine-Receptor-JAK2 Signaling Complexes Using AlphaFold Multimer

Homodimeric class 1 cytokine receptors include the erythropoietin (EPOR), thrombopoietin (TPOR), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3R), growth hormone (GHR), and prolactin receptors (PRLR). These cell-surface single-pass transmembrane (TM) glycoproteins regulate cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation and induce oncogenesis. An active TM signaling complex consists of a receptor homodimer, one or two ligands bound to the receptor extracellular domains, and two molecules of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) constitutively associated with the receptor intracellular domains. Although crystal structures of soluble extracellular domains with ligands have been obtained for all of the receptors except TPOR, little is known about the structure and dynamics of the complete TM complexes that activate the downstream JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Three-dimensional models of five human receptor complexes with cytokines and JAK2 were generated here by using AlphaFold Multimer. Given the large size of the complexes (from 3220 to 4074 residues), the modeling required a stepwise assembly from smaller parts, with selection and validation of the models through comparisons with published experimental data. The modeling of active and inactive complexes supports a general activation mechanism that involves ligand binding to a monomeric receptor followed by receptor dimerization and rotational movement of the receptor TM α-helices, causing proximity, dimerization, and activation of associated JAK2 subunits. The binding mode of two eltrombopag molecules to the TM α-helices of the active TPOR dimer was proposed. The models also help elucidate the molecular basis of oncogenic mutations that may involve a noncanonical activation route. Models equilibrated in explicit lipids of the plasma membrane are publicly available.

Growth hormone reduces aneuploidy and improves oocytes quality by JAK2-MAPK3/1 pathway in aged mice

BACKGROUND

The global delay in women's reproductive age has raised concerns about age-related infertility. The decline in oocyte quality is a limiting factor of female fertility, yet there are currently no strategies to preserve oocyte quality in aged women. Here, we investigated the effects of growth hormone (GH) supplementation on aneuploidy of aged oocytes.

METHODS

For the in vivo experiments, the aged mice (8-month-old) were intraperitoneally injected with GH daily for 8 weeks. For the in vitro experiments, germinal vesicle oocytes from aged mice were treated with GH during oocyte maturation. The impacts of GH on ovarian reserve before superovulation was evaluated. Oocytes were retrieved to assess oocyte quality, aneuploidy and developmental potential characteristics. Quantitative proteomics analysis was applied to investigate the potential targets of GH in aged oocytes.

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that GH supplementation in vivo not only alleviated the decline in oocyte number caused by aging, but also improved the quality and developmental potential of aged oocytes. Strikingly, we discovered that GH supplementation reduced aneuploidy in aged oocytes. Mechanically, in addition to improving mitochondrial function, our proteomic analysis indicated that the MAPK3/1 pathway may be involved in the reduction in aneuploidy of aged oocytes, as confirmed both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, JAK2 may also act as a mediator in how GH regulates MAPK3/1.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our research reveals that GH supplementation protects oocytes against aging-related aneuploidy and enhances the quality of aged oocytes, which has clinical significance for aged women undergoing assisted reproduction technology.

Identification and validation of aging-related gene signatures and their immune landscape in diabetic nephropathy

Background

Aging and immune infiltration have essential role in the physiopathological mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but their relationship has not been systematically elucidated. We identified aging-related characteristic genes in DN and explored their immune landscape.

Methods

Four datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened for exploration and validation. Functional and pathway analysis was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Characteristic genes were obtained using a combination of Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm. We evaluated and validated the diagnostic performance of the characteristic genes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the expression pattern of the characteristic genes was evaluated and validated. Single-Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was adopted to assess immune cell infiltration in samples. Based on the TarBase database and the JASPAR repository, potential microRNAs and transcription factors were predicted to further elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the characteristic genes.

Results

A total of 14 differentially expressed genes related to aging were obtained, of which 10 were up-regulated and 4 were down-regulated. Models were constructed by the RF and SVM-RFE algorithms, contracted to three signature genes: EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix (EFEMP1), Growth hormone receptor (GHR), and Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). The three genes showed good efficacy in three tested cohorts and consistent expression patterns in the glomerular test cohorts. Most immune cells were more infiltrated in the DN samples compared to the controls, and there was a negative correlation between the characteristic genes and most immune cell infiltration. 24 microRNAs were involved in the transcriptional regulation of multiple genes simultaneously, and Endothelial transcription factor GATA-2 (GATA2) had a potential regulatory effect on both GHR and VEGFA.

Conclusion

We identified a novel aging-related signature allowing assessment of diagnosis for DN patients, and further can be used to predict immune infiltration sensitivity.

Structural modeling of cytokine-receptor-JAK2 signaling complexes using AlphaFold Multimer

Homodimeric class 1 cytokine receptors include the erythropoietin (EPOR), thrombopoietin (TPOR), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3R), growth hormone (GHR), and prolactin receptors (PRLR). They are cell-surface single-pass transmembrane (TM) glycoproteins that regulate cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation and induce oncogenesis. An active TM signaling complex consists of a receptor homodimer, one or two ligands bound to the receptor extracellular domains and two molecules of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) constitutively associated with the receptor intracellular domains. Although crystal structures of soluble extracellular domains with ligands have been obtained for all the receptors except TPOR, little is known about the structure and dynamics of the complete TM complexes that activate the downstream JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Three-dimensional models of five human receptor complexes with cytokines and JAK2 were generated using AlphaFold Multimer. Given the large size of the complexes (from 3220 to 4074 residues), the modeling required a stepwise assembly from smaller parts with selection and validation of the models through comparisons with published experimental data. The modeling of active and inactive complexes supports a general activation mechanism that involves ligand binding to a monomeric receptor followed by receptor dimerization and rotational movement of the receptor TM α-helices causing proximity, dimerization, and activation of associated JAK2 subunits. The binding mode of two eltrombopag molecules to TM α-helices of the active TPOR dimer was proposed. The models also help elucidating the molecular basis of oncogenic mutations that may involve non-canonical activation route. Models equilibrated in explicit lipids of the plasma membrane are publicly available.

Neurologic Complications of Endocrine Disorders

OBJECTIVE

This article provides an overview of the neurologic complications of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in adults with an emphasis on relevant neurologic symptoms, signs, and laboratory and neuroimaging findings.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Although the mechanisms of many of the neurologic complications discussed here remain unclear, our understanding of the impacts of diabetes and hypothyroidism on the nervous system and muscle, including complications of rapid correction of chronic hyperglycemia, has advanced in recent years. Recent large studies have not demonstrated a convincing association between subclinical or overt hypothyroidism and cognitive decline.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

Neurologists must become familiar with the neurologic complications of endocrine disorders not only because they are common and treatable (and often reversible) but also because they may be iatrogenic, as is the case with adrenal insufficiency in the setting of long-term corticosteroid therapy.

Aging microenvironment and antitumor immunity for geriatric oncology: the landscape and future implications

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been extensively investigated; however, it is complex and remains unclear, especially in elderly patients. Senescence is a cellular response to a variety of stress signals, which is characterized by stable arrest of the cell cycle and major changes in cell morphology and physiology. To the best of our knowledge, senescence leads to consistent arrest of tumor cells and remodeling of the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) by activating a set of pleiotropic cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteinases, which constitute the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). On the one hand, the SASP promotes antitumor immunity, which enhances treatment efficacy; on the other hand, the SASP increases immunosuppressive cell infiltration, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), M2 macrophages, and N2 neutrophils, contributing to TIME suppression. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the regulation of the SASP and components contributing to robust antitumor immunity in elderly individuals with different cancer types and the available therapies is necessary to control tumor cell senescence and provide greater clinical benefits to patients. In this review, we summarize the key biological functions mediated by cytokines and intercellular interactions and significant components of the TME landscape, which influence the immunotherapy response in geriatric oncology. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in clinical practices targeting TME components and discuss potential senescent TME targets.

Liver impact of growth hormone (GH) intermittent treatment during the growth period in mice

Liver impact of prolonged GH-treatment given to non-GH-deficient growing mice between the third and eighth week of life was evaluated in both sexes. Tissues were collected 6 h after last dose or four weeks later. Somatometric, biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, RT-qPCR and immunoblotting determinations were performed. Five-week GH intermittent administration induced body weight gain and body and bone length increase, augmented organ weight, higher hepatocellular size and proliferation, and increased liver IGF1 gene expression. Phosphorylation of signaling mediators and expression of GH-induced proliferation-related genes was decreased in GH-treated mice liver 6h after last injection, reflecting active sensitization/desensitization cycles. In females, GH elicited EGFR expression, associated to higher EGF-induced STAT3/5 phosphorylation. Four weeks after treatment, increased organ weight concomitant to body weight gain was still observed, whereas hepatocyte enlargement reverted. However, basal signaling for critical mediators was lower in GH-treated animals and in male controls compared to female ones, suggesting signaling declination.

HGCA2.0: An RNA-Seq Based Webtool for Gene Coexpression Analysis in Homo sapiens

Genes with similar expression patterns in a set of diverse samples may be considered coexpressed. Human Gene Coexpression Analysis 2.0 (HGCA2.0) is a webtool which studies the global coexpression landscape of human genes. The website is based on the hierarchical clustering of 55,431 Homo sapiens genes based on a large-scale coexpression analysis of 3500 GTEx bulk RNA-Seq samples of healthy individuals, which were selected as the best representative samples of each tissue type. HGCA2.0 presents subclades of coexpressed genes to a gene of interest, and performs various built-in gene term enrichment analyses on the coexpressed genes, including gene ontologies, biological pathways, protein families, and diseases, while also being unique in revealing enriched transcription factors driving coexpression. HGCA2.0 has been successful in identifying not only genes with ubiquitous expression patterns, but also tissue-specific genes. Benchmarking showed that HGCA2.0 belongs to the top performing coexpression webtools, as shown by STRING analysis. HGCA2.0 creates working hypotheses for the discovery of gene partners or common biological processes that can be experimentally validated. It offers a simple and intuitive website design and user interface, as well as an API endpoint.

Case report: Two cases of Poirier-Bienvenu neurodevelopmental syndrome and review of literature

The Poirier-Bienvenu neurodevelopmental syndrome (POBINDS) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the CSNK2B gene, which is characterized by intellectual disability and early-onset epilepsy. Mosaicism has not been previously reported in CSNK2B gene. POBINDS is autosomal dominant and almost all reported cases were de novo variants. Here, we report two patients were diagnosed with POBINDS. Using Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), we detected two novel CSNK2B variants in the two unrelated individuals: c.634_635del (p.Lys212AspfsTer33) and c.142C > T (p.Gln48Ter) respectively. Both of them showed mild developmental delay with early-onset and clustered seizures. The patient with c.634_635del(p.Lys212AspfsTer33) variant was mutant mosaicism, and the proportion of alleles in peripheral blood DNA was 28%. Further, the literature of patients with a de novo mutation of the CSNK2B gene was reviewed, particularly seizure semiology and genotype-phenotype correlations.

Identification of immune-related and autophagy-related genes for the prediction of survival in bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer has the characteristics of high morbidity and mortality, and the prevalence of bladder cancer has been increasing in recent years. Immune and autophagy related genes play important roles in cancer, but there are few studies on their effects on the prognosis of bladder cancer patients.

Methods

Using gene expression data from the TCGA-BLCA database, we clustered bladder cancer samples into 6 immune-related and autophagy-related molecular subtypes with different prognostic outcomes based on 2208 immune-related and autophagy-related genes. Six subtypes were divided into two groups which had significantly different prognosis. Differential expression analysis was used to explore genes closely related to the progression of bladder cancer. Then we used Cox stepwise regression to define a combination of gene expression levels and immune infiltration indexes to construct the risk model. Finally, we built a Nomogram which consist of risk score and several other prognosis-related clinical indicators.

Results

The risk model suggested that high expression of C5AR2, CSF3R, FBXW10, FCAR, GHR, OLR1, PGLYRP3, RASGRP4, S100A12 was associated with poor prognosis, while high expression level of CD96, IL10, MEFV pointed to a better prognosis. Validation by internal and external dataset suggested that our risk model had a high ability to discriminate between the outcomes of patients with bladder cancer. The immunohistochemical results basically confirmed our results. The C-Index value and Calibration curves verified the robustness of Nomogram.

Conclusions

Our study constructed a model that included a risk score for patients with bladder cancer, which provided a lot of helps to predict the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-022-01073-7.

Syndromic and Nonsyndromic Obesity: Underlying Genetic Causes in Humans

Growing evidence supports syndromic and nonsyndromic causes of obesity, including genome-wide association studies, candidate gene analysis, advanced genetic technology using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and identification of copy number variants. Identification of susceptibility genes impacts mechanistic understanding and informs precision medicine. The cause of obesity is heterogeneous with complex biological processes playing a role by controlling peptides involved in regulating appetite and food intake, cellular energy, and metabolism. Evidence for heritability shows genetic components contributing to 40%-70% of obesity. Monogenic causes and obesity-related syndromes are discussed and illustrated as well as biological pathways, gene interactions, and factors contributing to the obesity phenotype. Over 550 obesity-related single genes have been identified and summarized in tabular form with approximately 20% of these genes have been added to obesity gene panels for testing by commercially available laboratories. Early studies show that about 10% of patients with severe obesity using NGS testing have a pathogenic gene variant. Discussion to help characterize gene-gene interactions and disease mechanisms for early diagnosis, treatment, and risk factors contributing to disease is incorporated in this review.

A novel immune-related gene signature predicts the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Immune-related genes play a key role in regulating the cancer immune microenvironment, influencing the overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Along with the rapid development of immunotherapy, identifying immune-related genes with prognostic value in HCC has attracted increasing attention. Here, we aimed to develop a prognostic signature based on immune-related genes. By investigating the transcriptome landscape of 374 HCC and 160 non-HCC samples in silico, a total of 2251 differentially expressed genes were identified. Among which, 183 differentially expressed immune-related genes were subjected to a univariate Cox proportional hazard model to screen for genes with possible prognostic significance. A 10-gene prognostic signature, including HLA-G, S100A9, S100A10, DCK, CCL14, NRAS, EPO, IL1RN, GHR and RHOA, was generated employing a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Kaplan–Meier and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the prognostic utility of the 10-gene signature. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of these genes were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. According to the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database, our prognostic signature was significantly associated with tumor-infiltrating B cells, CD4 T cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils. Our study provides a novel prognostic signature based on immune-related genes associated with clinical outco mes of HCC.

dRNASb: a systems biology approach to decipher dynamics of host-pathogen interactions using temporal dual RNA-seq data

Infection triggers a dynamic cascade of reciprocal events between host and pathogen wherein the host activates complex mechanisms to recognise and kill pathogens while the pathogen often adjusts its virulence and fitness to avoid eradication by the host. The interaction between the pathogen and the host results in large-scale changes in gene expression in both organisms. Dual RNA-seq, the simultaneous detection of host and pathogen transcripts, has become a leading approach to unravelling complex molecular interactions between the host and the pathogen and is particularly informative for intracellular organisms. The amount of in vitro and in vivo dual RNA-seq data is rapidly growing, which demands computational pipelines to effectively analyse such data. In particular, holistic, systems-level, and temporal analyses of dual RNA-seq data are essential to enable further insights into the host-pathogen transcriptional dynamics and potential interactions. Here, we developed an integrative network-driven bioinformatics pipeline, dRNASb, a systems biology-based computational pipeline to analyse temporal transcriptional clusters, incorporate molecular interaction networks (e.g. protein-protein interactions), identify topologically and functionally key transcripts in host and pathogen, and associate host and pathogen temporal transcriptome to decipher potential between-species interactions. The pipeline is applicable to various dual RNA-seq data from different species and experimental conditions. As a case study, we applied dRNASb to analyse temporal dual RNA-seq data of Salmonella-infected human cells, which enabled us to uncover genes contributing to the infection process and their potential functions and to identify putative associations between host and pathogen genes during infection. Overall, dRNASb has the potential to identify key genes involved in bacterial growth or host defence mechanisms for future uses as therapeutic targets.

Integrated bioinformatical analysis, machine learning and in vitro experiment-identified m6A subtype, and predictive drug target signatures for diagnosing renal fibrosis

Renal biopsy is the gold standard for defining renal fibrosis which causes calcium deposits in the kidneys. Persistent calcium deposition leads to kidney inflammation, cell necrosis, and is related to serious kidney diseases. However, it is invasive and involves the risk of complications such as bleeding, especially in patients with end-stage renal diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to identify specific diagnostic biomarkers for renal fibrosis. This study aimed to develop a predictive drug target signature to diagnose renal fibrosis based on m6A subtypes. We then performed an unsupervised consensus clustering analysis to identify three different m6A subtypes of renal fibrosis based on the expressions of 21 m6A regulators. We evaluated the immune infiltration characteristics and expression of canonical immune checkpoints and immune-related genes with distinct m6A modification patterns. Subsequently, we performed the WGCNA analysis using the expression data of 1,611 drug targets to identify 474 genes associated with the m6A modification. 92 overlapping drug targets between WGCNA and DEGs (renal fibrosis vs. normal samples) were defined as key drug targets. A five target gene predictive model was developed through the combination of LASSO regression and stepwise logistic regression (LASSO-SLR) to diagnose renal fibrosis. We further performed drug sensitivity analysis and extracellular matrix analysis on model genes. The ROC curve showed that the risk score (AUC = 0.863) performed well in diagnosing renal fibrosis in the training dataset. In addition, the external validation dataset further confirmed the outstanding predictive performance of the risk score (AUC = 0.755). These results indicate that the risk model has an excellent predictive performance for diagnosing the disease. Furthermore, our results show that this 5-target gene model is significantly associated with many drugs and extracellular matrix activities. Finally, the expression levels of both predictive signature genes EGR1 and PLA2G4A were validated in renal fibrosis and adjacent normal tissues by using qRT-PCR and Western blot method.

Identification of growth hormone receptor as a relevant target for precision medicine in low-EGFR expressing glioblastoma

Objective

New therapeutic approaches are needed to improve the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) patients.

Methods

With the objective of identifying alternative oncogenic mechanisms to abnormally activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling, one of the most common oncogenic mechanisms in GBM, we performed a comparative analysis of gene expression profiles in a series of 54 human GBM samples. We then conducted gain of function as well as genetic and pharmocological inhibition assays in GBM patient‐derived cell lines to functionnally validate our finding.

Results

We identified that growth hormone receptor (GHR) signalling defines a distinct molecular subset of GBMs devoid of EGFR overexpression. GHR overexpression was detected in one third of patients and was associated with low levels of suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS2) expression due to SOCS2 promoter hypermethylation. In GBM patient‐derived cell lines, GHR signalling modulates the expression of proteins involved in cellular movement, promotes cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro and promotes tumourigenesis, tumour growth, and tumour invasion in vivo. GHR genetic and pharmacological inhibition reduced cell proliferation and migration in vitro.

Conclusion

This study pioneers a new field of investigation to improve the prognosis of GBM patients.

Identification of Feature Genes of a Novel Neural Network Model for Bladder Cancer

Background: The combination of deep learning methods and oncogenomics can provide an effective diagnostic method for malignant tumors; thus, we attempted to construct a reliable artificial neural network model as a novel diagnostic tool for Bladder cancer (BLCA). Methods: Three expression profiling datasets (GSE61615, GSE65635, and GSE100926) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE61615 and GSE65635 were taken as the train group, while GSE100926 was set as the test group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered out based on the logFC and FDR values. We also performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses to explore the biological functions of the DEGs. Consequently, we utilized a random forest algorithm to identify feature genes and further constructed a neural network model. The test group was given the same procedures to validate the reliability of the model. We also explored immune cells' infiltration degree and correlation coefficients through the CiberSort algorithm and corrplot R package. The qRT-PCR assay was implemented to examine the expression level of the feature genes in vitro. Results: A total of 265 DEGs were filtered out and significantly enriched in muscle system processes, collagen-containing and focal adhesion signaling pathways. Based on the random forest algorithm, we selected 14 feature genes to construct the neural network model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the training group was 0.950 (95% CI: 0.850-1.000), and the AUC of the test group was 0.667 (95% CI: 0.333-1.000). Besides, we observed significant differences in the content of immune infiltrating cells and the expression levels of the feature genes. Conclusion: After repeated verification, our neural network model had clinical feasibility to identify bladder cancer patients and provided a potential target to improve the management of BLCA.

Novel Paired Cell Lines for the Study of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer Stemness of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

There are few well-characterized syngeneic murine models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which limits immunological studies and the development of immunotherapies for HCC. We previously established an oncogene-induced spontaneous HCC mouse model based on transposon-mediated oncogene (AKT and NRASV12) insertion into the genome of hepatocytes to induce tumorigenesis. Two tumor clones with different levels of lipid droplets (LDs) showed similar in vitro growth but distinctive in vivo phenotypes, including divergent proliferative capability and varying induction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The two clones showed distinct gene expression related to lipid metabolism, glycolysis, and cancer stemness. Endogenous fatty acid (FA) synthesis and exogenous monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) consumption promoted both tumor proliferation and cancer stemness, and upregulated c-Myc in the HCC cell lines. Moreover, the LD^hi HCC cell line expressed a higher level of type II IL-4 receptor, which promoted tumor proliferation through binding IL-4 or IL-13. The chromosomal DNA of two tumor clones, NHRI-8-B4 (LD^hi) and NHRI-1-E4 (LD^lo) showed five identical AKT insertion sites in chromosomes 9, 10, 13, 16 and 18 and two NRAS integration sites in chromosomes 2 and 3. Herein, we describe two novel HCC cell lines with distinct features of lipid metabolism related to cancer stemness and differential interplay with the immune system, and present this syngeneic HCC mouse model as a practical tool for the study of cancer stemness and discovery of new therapies targeting liver cancers.

Regulation of ovarian function by growth hormone: Potential intervention of ovarian aging

Growth hormone (GH) is mainly secreted by eosinophils of anterior pituitary gland. GH plays an important role in regulating the growth and development of many tissues and cells, so it is used in the treatment of many diseases. In recent years, the regulation of GH on ovarian function has attracted much attention. GH has been applied in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, particularly in the patients with advanced age, diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and poor ovarian response (POR). GH can directly bind to the growth hormone receptor (GHR) on the ovary to promote the growth, maturation and ovulation of follicles, as well as to inhibit follicular atresia. GH so as to promote the occurrence of early follicles, enhance the sensitivity of follicles to gonadotropins, accelerate the maturation of oocyte nucleus, improve mitochondrial activity and the quality of oocytes through the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, which is an indirect regulation. The deep-seated effects of GH on human reproduction and ovarian aging need further basic research and clinical practice.

Pituitary tumors and the risk of other malignancies: is the relationship coincidental or causal?

Pituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms of the pituitary. The most prevalent are prolactinomas and non-functioning pituitary adenomas, followed by growth hormone- and ACTH-secreting adenomas. Most pituitary adenomas seem to be sporadic and their persistent growth is very atypical. No molecular markers predict their behavior. The occurrence of pituitary adenomas and malignancies in the same patient can be either pure coincidence or caused by shared underlying genetic susceptibility involved in tumorigenesis. Detailed family history on cancers/tumors in the first, second and third generation of family members on each side of the family has been reported in a few studies. They found an association of pituitary tumors with positive family history for breast, lung and colorectal cancer. We have reported that in about 50% of patients with pituitary adenomas, an association with positive family history for cancer has been found independent of secretory phenotype (acromegaly, prolactinoma, Cushing's disease or non-functioning pituitary adenomas). We also found earlier onset of pituitary tumors (younger age at diagnosis of pituitary tumors) in patients with a strong family history of cancer. In our recent unpublished series of 1300 patients with pituitary adenomas, 6.8% of patients were diagnosed with malignancy. The latency period between the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma and cancer was variable, and in 33% of patients, it was longer than 5 years. Besides the inherited trophic mechanisms (shared underlying genetic variants), the potential influence of shared complex epigenetic influences (environmental and behavioral factors - obesity, smoking, alcohol intake and insulin resistance) is discussed. Further studies are needed to better understand if patients with pituitary adenomas are at increased risk for cancer.

Small molecules to regulate the GH/IGF1 axis by inhibiting the growth hormone receptor synthesis

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) play an important role in mammalian development, cell proliferation and lifespan. Especially in cases of tumor growth there is an urgent need to control the GH/IGF1 axis. In this study we screened a 38,480-compound library, and in two consecutive rounds of analogues selection, we identified active lead compounds based on the following criteria: inhibition the GH receptor (GHR) activity and its downstream effectors Jak2 and STAT5, and inhibition of growth of breast and colon cancer cells. The most active small molecule (BM001) inhibited both the GH/IGF1 axis and cell proliferation with an IC50 of 10-30 nM of human cancer cells. BM001 depleted GHR in human lymphoblasts. In preclinical xenografted experiments, BM001 showed a strong decrease in tumor volume in mice transplanted with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, the drug acts on the synthesis of the GHR. Our findings open the possibility to inhibit the GH/IGF1 axis with a small molecule.

The poorly conducted orchestra of steroid hormones, oxidative stress and inflammation in frailty needs a maestro: Regular physical exercise

This review outlines the various factors associated with unhealthy aging which includes becoming frail and dependent. With many people not engaging in recommended exercise, facilitators and barriers to engage with exercise must be investigated to promote exercise uptake and adherence over the lifespan for different demographics, including the old, less affluent, women, and those with different cultural-ethnic backgrounds. Governmental and locally funded public health messages and environmental facilitation (gyms, parks etc.) can play an important role. Studies have shown that exercise can act as a conductor to balance oxidative stress, immune and endocrine functions together to promote healthy aging and reduce the risk for age-related morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, and promote cognition and mood over the lifespan. Like a classic symphony orchestra, consisting of four groups of related musical instruments - the woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings - the aging process should also perform in harmony, with compassion, avoiding the aggrandizement of any of its individual parts during the presentation. This review discusses the wide variety of molecular, cellular and endocrine mechanisms (focusing on the steroid balance) underlying this process and their interrelationships.

IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in Inflammatory Cachexia

Inflammation induces a wide response of the neuroendocrine system, which leads to modifications in all the endocrine axes. The hypothalamic–growth hormone (GH)–insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis is deeply affected by inflammation, its response being characterized by GH resistance and a decrease in circulating levels of IGF-1. The endocrine and metabolic responses to inflammation allow the organism to survive. However, in chronic inflammatory conditions, the inhibition of the hypothalamic–GH–IGF-1 axis contributes to the catabolic process, with skeletal muscle atrophy and cachexia. Here, we review the changes in pituitary GH secretion, IGF-1, and IGF-1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), as well as the mechanism that mediated those responses. The contribution of GH and IGF-1 to muscle wasting during inflammation has also been analyzed.

GWAS of allometric body-shape indices in UK Biobank identifies loci suggesting associations with morphogenesis, organogenesis, adrenal cell renewal and cancer

Genetic studies have examined body-shape measures adjusted for body mass index (BMI), while allometric indices are additionally adjusted for height. We performed the first genome-wide association study of A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Hip Index (HI) and the new Waist-to-Hip Index and compared these with traditional indices, using data from the UK Biobank Resource for 219,872 women and 186,825 men with white British ancestry and Bayesian linear mixed-models (BOLT-LMM). One to two thirds of the loci identified for allometric body-shape indices were novel. Most prominent was rs72959041 variant in RSPO3 gene, expressed in visceral adipose tissue and regulating adrenal cell renewal. Highly ranked were genes related to morphogenesis and organogenesis, previously additionally linked to cancer development and progression. Genetic associations were fewer in men compared to women. Prominent region-specific associations showed variants in loci VEGFA and HMGA1 for ABSI and KLF14 for HI in women, and C5orf67 and HOXC4/5 for ABSI and RSPO3, VEGFA and SLC30A10 for HI in men. Although more variants were associated with waist and hip circumference adjusted for BMI compared to ABSI and HI, associations with height had previously been reported for many of the additional variants, illustrating the importance of adjusting correctly for height.