CAGE-miR-140-5p-Wnt1 Axis Regulates Autophagic Flux, Tumorigenic Potential of Mouse Colon Cancer Cells and Cellular Interactions Mediated by Exosomes

Identification of gemcitabine resistance-related AHNAK2 gene associated with prognosis and immune infiltration in pancreatic cancer

Purpose

Gemcitabine is a basic chemotherapy drug for pancreatic cancer (PC), but resistance is common and causes tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, it is significant to explore gemcitabine resistance-related molecules for individualized treatment and prognosis assessment of PC.

Methods

In this study, transcriptome sequencing and TCGA database analysis were performed, and a differentiated gene AHNAK2 was screened. MEXPRESS database, tissue microarray analysis, and CIBERSORT and TIMER databases were used to correlate AHNAK2 expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis and immune infiltration of PC. Enrichment analysis was used to investigate the significant biological processes associated with AHNAK2.

Results

AHNAK2 was highly expressed in gemcitabine-resistant cells. High expression of AHNAK2 increased the risk of poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in PC. Clinicopathologic analysis revealed that AHNAK2 correlated with KRAS, TP53 mutations, histologic type, short OS, N stage, and elevated CA199 levels in PC. Knockdown of AHNAK2 inhibited the ability of cell proliferation and colony formation and enhanced the toxic effect of gemcitabine in PC. Meanwhile, the knockdown of AHNAK2 expression enhanced cell-ECM adhesion, inhibited cell-cell adhesion, and downregulated the KRAS/p53 signaling pathway in PC. Furthermore, AHNAK2 was correlated with immune infiltration, especially B cells and macrophages.

Conclusions

Our study unveils for the first time the pivotal role of AHNAK2 in PC, particularly its association with gemcitabine resistance, clinical prognosis, and immune infiltration. AHNAK2 not only drives the proliferation and drug resistance of PC cells by potentially activating the KRAS/p53 pathway but also significantly impacts cell-cell and cell- ECM adhesion. Additionally, AHNAK2 plays a crucial role in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. These insights underscore AHNAK2's unique potential as a novel therapeutic target for overcoming gemcitabine resistance, offering new perspectives for PC treatment strategies.

The multifaceted role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in colorectal cancer: metastasis, immune suppression, therapy resistance, and autophagy crosstalk

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer structures released by all cells and widely distributed in all biological fluids. EVs are implicated in diverse physiopathological processes by orchestrating cell-cell communication. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with metastasis being the leading cause of mortality in CRC patients. EVs contribute significantly to the advancement and spread of CRC by transferring their cargo, which includes lipids, proteins, RNAs, and DNAs, to neighboring or distant cells. Besides, they can serve as non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for early detection of CRC or be harnessed as effective carriers for delivering therapeutic agents. Autophagy is an essential cellular process that serves to remove damaged proteins and organelles by lysosomal degradation to maintain cellular homeostasis. Autophagy and EV release are coordinately activated in tumor cells and share common factors and regulatory mechanisms. Although the significance of autophagy and EVs in cancer is well established, the exact mechanism of their interplay in tumor development is obscure. This review focuses on examining the specific functions of EVs in various aspects of CRC, including progression, metastasis, immune regulation, and therapy resistance. Further, we overview emerging discoveries relevant to autophagy and EVs crosstalk in CRC.

Bioinformatics analysis identifies potential autophagy key genes and immune infiltration in preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease that seriously threatens maternal and fetal health. Appropriate autophagy can shield the placenta from oxidative stress, but its role in PE is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify potential autophagy-related genes in PE.

METHODS

Microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, compassing the test dataset GSE10588, along with validation datasets GSE4707 and GSE60438 GPL10558, were utilized. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma R package, intersected with autophagy-related genes. Hub genes were obtained using the Cytoscape software and analyzed via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The diagnostic capability of hub genes was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Analysis of immune cell infiltration was conducted using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT methods. Placental tissues were collected from 10 normal pregnant women and 10 preeclamptic pregnant women, and the expression of hub genes was validated through immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis of the microarray data identified 2224 DEGs, among which 26 were autophagy-related DEGs identified through intersection with autophagy genes. Ten hub genes were identified. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested the potential involvement of T regulatory cells (Tregs), natural killer cells, neutrophils, and T follicular helper cells in the pathogenesis of PE. ROC curve analysis indicated promising diagnostic capabilities for EGFR and TP53. Additionally, levels of EGFR and TP53 were significantly higher in placental tissue from PE pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

EGFR and TP53 may play a role in PE by influencing autophagy.

Structural insight into crystal structure of helicase domain of DDX53

DEAD box helicase proteins are a family of RNA helicases that participate in various RNA metabolisms such as RNA unwinding, RNA processing, and RNPase activities. A particular DEAD box protein, the DDX53 protein, is primarily expressed in cancer cells and plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Numerous studies have revealed that DDX53 interacts with various microRNA and Histone deacetylases. However, its molecular structure and the detailed binding interaction between DDX53 and microRNA or HDAC is still unclear. In this study, we used X-ray crystallography to investigate the 3D structure of the hlicase C-terminal domain of DDX53, and successfully determined its crystal structure at a resolution of 1.97 Å. Subsequently, a functional analysis of RNA was conducted by examining the binding properties thereof with DDX53 by transmission electron microscopy and computing-based molecular docking simulation. The defined 3D model of DDX53 not only provides a structural basis for the fundamental understanding of DDX53 but is also expected to contribute to the field of anti-cancer drug discovery such as structure-based drug discovery and computer-aided drug design.

HDAC2 as a Target for developing Anti-cancer Drugs

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) deacetylate histones H3 and H4. An imbalance between histone acetylation and deacetylation can lead to various diseases. HDAC2 is present in the nucleus. It plays a critical role in modifying chromatin structures and regulates the expression of various genes by functioning as a transcriptional regulator. The roles of HDAC2 in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer drug resistance are discussed in this review. Several reports suggested that HDAC2 is a prognostic marker of various cancers. The roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) that directly regulate the expression of HDAC2 in tumorigenesis are also discussed in this review. This review also presents HDAC2 as a valuable target for developing anti-cancer drugs.

[Exosomal miR-10b Promotes Invasion and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transformation of Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells by Regulating Macrophage M2 Polarization]

BACKGROUND

Metastasis is the main cause of death in patients with lung cancer. Macrophages are innate immune cells that play important roles in cancer metastasis. Exosomes could play an important role of communication between tumor cells and macrophages. This study investigated the effect of miR-10b on cell growth invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell exosomes.

METHODS

Exosomes were isolated from A549 cells and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were detected by Transwell assay. The expression of mRNA and protein were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-10b was up-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer, and miR-10b inhibitor could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cell. Meanwhile, the tumor cell-derived exosome miR-10b promoted the invasion of A549 cell and EMT by promoting the M2 polarization of macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor cell-derived exosome miR-10b promotes A549 cell invasion and EMT through M2 macrophage polarization.

Exosomal microRNAs shuttling between tumor cells and macrophages: cellular interactions and novel therapeutic strategies

Extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor microenvironment (TME) cells are vital players in tumor progression through transferring nucleic acids and proteins. Macrophages are the main immune cells in TME and tumor associated macrophages (TAM) express M2 phenotype, which induce tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and immune elimination, resulting in the subsequent evolution of malignancies. There are a high number of studies confirmed that tumor cells and TAM interact with each other through extracellular vesicles in various cancers, like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, glioblastoma, hepatocellular cancer, and lung cancer. Herein, this review summarizes the current knowledge on mechanisms of communications between tumor cells and TAM via extracellular vesicles, mainly about microRNAs, and targeting these events might represent a novel approach in the clinical implications of this knowledge into successful anti-cancer strategies.

The Overexpression of TOB1 Induces Autophagy in Gastric Cancer Cells by Secreting Exosomes

We previously confirmed that transducer of ERBB2, 1 (TOB1) gene, can induce autophagy in gastric cancer cells. Studies have shown the biogenesis of exosomes overlaps with different autophagy processes, which helps to maintain the self-renewal and homeostasis of body cells. This study is aimed at verifying whether overexpressing TOB1 induces autophagy by secreting exosomes in gastric cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms. Differential ultracentrifugation was used to extracted the exosomes from the culture medium of gastric cancer cell line AGS-TOB1 ectopically overexpressing TOB1 (exo-AGS-TOB1, experimental group) and AGS-empty-vector cell line with low expression of endogenous TOB1 (exo-AGS-Vector, control group). Exosomal markers CD9 and TSG101 were determined in both the cell supernatants of exo-AGS-TOB1 and exo-AGS-Vector by Western blot. Under the transmission electron microscope (TEM), the exosomes were round and saucer-like vesicles with double-layer membrane structure, and the vesicles showed different translucency due to different contents. The peak size of exosomes detected by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was about 100 nm. When the exosomes of exo-AGS-TOB1 and exo-AGS-Vector were cocultured with TOB1 knockdown gastric cancer cell line HGC-27-TOB1-6E12 for 48 hours, the conversion of autophagy-related protein LC3-I to LC3-II in HGC-27-TOB1-6E12 gastric cancer cells cocultured with exo-AGS-TOB1 was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I was statistically different (P < 0.05). More autophagosomes in HGC-27-TOB1-6E12 cells cocultured with exo-AGS-TOB1 for 48 hours were observed under TEM, while fewer autophagosomes were found in the control group. Lastly, miRNAs were differentially expressed by cell supernatant-exosomal whole transcriptome sequencing. Thus, our results provide new insights into TOB1-induced autophagy in gastric cancer.

MicroRNA-mediated inhibition of AMPK coordinates tissue-specific downregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism in hypoxic naked mole-rats

Naked mole-rats reduce their metabolic requirements to tolerate severe hypoxia. However, the regulatory mechanisms that underpin this metabolic suppression have yet to be elucidated. 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the cellular 'master' energy effector and we hypothesized that alterations in the AMPK pathway contribute to metabolic reorganization in hypoxic naked mole-rat skeletal muscle. To test this hypothesis, we exposed naked mole-rats to 4 h of normoxia (21% O2) or severe hypoxia (3% O2), while indirectly measuring whole-animal metabolic rate and fuel preference. We then isolated skeletal muscle and assessed protein expression and post-translational modification of AMPK, and downstream changes in key glucose and fatty acid metabolic proteins mediated by AMPK, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1), glycogen synthase (GS) and glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 4. We found that in hypoxic naked mole-rats (1) metabolic rate decreased ∼80% and fuel use switched to carbohydrates, and that (2) levels of activated phosphorylated AMPK and GS, and GLUT4 expression were downregulated in skeletal muscle, while ACC1 was unchanged. To explore the regulatory mechanism underlying this hypometabolic state, we used RT-qPCR to examine 55 AMPK-associated microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short non-coding RNA post-transcriptional silencers. We identified changes in 10 miRNAs (three upregulated and seven downregulated) implicated in AMPK downregulation. Our results suggest that miRNAs and post-translational mechanisms coordinately reduce AMPK activity and downregulate metabolism in naked mole-rat skeletal muscle during severe hypoxia. This novel mechanism may support tissue-specific prioritization of energy for more essential organs in hypoxia.

EGR3-HDAC6-IL-27 Axis Mediates Allergic Inflammation and Is Necessary for Tumorigenic Potential of Cancer Cells Enhanced by Allergic Inflammation-Promoted Cellular Interactions

The objective of this study was to investigate mechanisms of allergic inflammation both in vitro and in vivo in details. For this, RNA sequencing was performed. Early growth response 3 gene (Egr3) was one of the most highly upregulated genes in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL2H3) cells stimulated by antigen. The role of Egr3 in allergic inflammation has not been studied extensively. Egr3 was necessary for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA). Egr3 promoter sequences contained potential binding site for NF-κB p65. NF-κB p65 directly regulated Egr3 expression and mediated allergic inflammation in vitro. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) is known to be involved in allergic airway inflammation. HDAC6 promoter sequences contained potential binding site for EGR3. EGR3 showed binding to promoter sequences of HDAC6. EGR3 was necessary for increased expression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in antigen-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. HDAC6 mediated allergic inflammation in vitro and PSA. TargetScan analysis predicted that miR-182-5p was a negative regulator of EGR3. Luciferase activity assay confirmed that miR-182-5p was a direct regulator of EGR3. MiR-182-5p mimic inhibited allergic inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. Cytokine array showed that HDAC6 was necessary for increased interleukin-27 (IL-27) expression in BALB/C mouse model of PSA. Antigen stimulation did not affect expression of EBI3, another subunit of IL-27 in RBL2H3 cells or BALB/C mouse model of PCA or PSA. IL-27 receptor alpha was shown to be able to bind to HDAC6. IL-27 p28 mediated allergic inflammation in vitro, PCA, and PSA. Mouse recombinant IL-27 protein promoted features of allergic inflammation in an antigen-independent manner. HDAC6 was necessary for tumorigenic and metastatic potential enhanced by PSA. PSA enhanced the metastatic potential of mouse melanoma B16F1 cells in an IL-27-dependent manner. Experiments employing culture medium and mouse recombinant IL-27 protein showed that IL-27 mediated and promoted cellular interactions involving B16F1 cells, lung macrophages, and mast cells during allergic inflammation. IL-27 was present in exosomes of antigen-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. Exosomes from antigen-stimulated RBL2H3 cells enhanced invasion of B16F1 melanoma cells in an IL-27-dependemt manner. These results present evidence that EGR3-HDAC6-IL-27 axis can regulate allergic inflammation by mediating cellular interactions.

Tumor Cell-Derived Exosomal miR-770 Inhibits M2 Macrophage Polarization via Targeting MAP3K1 to Inhibit the Invasion of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Background

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is a type lung cancer with high malignant behaviors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to be involved in progression of NSCLC. In order to explore potential targets for the treatment of NSCLC, bioinformatics tool was used to analyze differential expressed miRNAs between NSCLC and adjacent normal tissues.

Methods

Bioinformatics tool was used to find potential targets for NSCLC. Cell proliferation was investigated by Ki67 staining. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expression in NSCLC cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western-blot, respectively. Transwell assay was performed to test the cell migration and invasion. In order to investigate the function of exosomal miRNA in NSCLC, in vivo model of NSCLC was constructed.

Results

MiR-770 was identified to be downregulated in NSCLC, and miR-770 agomir could significantly inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation through inducing the apoptosis. Additionally, the metastasis of NSCLC cells was decreased by miR-770 agomir. MAP3K1 was identified to be the target mRNA of miR-770. Meanwhile, tumor cell-derived exosomal miR-770 inhibited M2 macrophage polarization via downregulation of MAP3K1, which in turn suppressed NSCLC cell invasion. Besides, tumor cell-derived exosomal miR-770 markedly decreased NSCLC tumor growth in vivo through suppressing M2 macrophage polarization.

Conclusion

Tumor cell-derived exosomal miR-770 inhibits M2 macrophage polarization to inhibit the invasion of NSCLC cells via targeting MAP3K1. Thus, this study provided a new strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.

The CAGE-MiR-181b-5p-S1PR1 Axis Regulates Anticancer Drug Resistance and Autophagy in Gastric Cancer Cells

Cancer-associated gene (CAGE), a cancer/testis antigen, has been known to promote anticancer drug resistance. Since the underlying mechanisms of CAGE-promoted anticancer drug resistance are poorly understood, we established Anticancer drug-resistant gastric cancer cells (AGS^R) to better elucidate possible mechanisms. AGS^R showed an increased expression level of CAGE and autophagic flux compared with anticancer drug-sensitive parental gastric cancer cells (AGS cells). AGS^R cells showed higher invasion potential, growth rate, tumor spheroid formation, and angiogenic potential than AGS cells. CAGE exerted effects on the response to anticancer drugs and autophagic flux. CAGE was shown to bind to Beclin1, a mediator of autophagy. Overexpression of CAGE increased autophagic flux and invasion potential but inhibited the cleavage of PARP in response to anticancer drugs in CAGE CRISPR–Cas9 cell lines. TargetScan analysis was utilized to predict the binding of miR-302b-5p to the promoter sequences of CAGE, and the results show that miR-302b-5p directly regulated CAGE expression as illustrated by luciferase activity. MiR-302b-5p regulated autophagic flux and the response to anticancer drugs. CAGE was shown to bind the promoter sequences of miR-302b-5p. The culture medium of AGS^R cells increased CAGE expression and autophagic flux in AGS cells. ImmunoEM showed CAGE was present in the exosomes of AGS^R cells; exosomes of AGS^R cells and human recombinant CAGE protein increased CAGE expression, autophagic flux, and resistance to anticancer drugs in AGS cells. MicroRNA array revealed miR-181b-5p as a potential negative regulator of CAGE. MiR-181b-5p inhibitor increased the expression of CAGE and autophagic flux in addition to preventing anticancer drugs from cleaving poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in AGS cells. TargetScan analysis predicted sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (SIPR1) as a potential target for miR-181b-5p. CAGE showed binding to the promoter sequences of S1PR1. The downregulation or inhibition of S1PR1 led to decreased autophagic flux but enhanced the sensitivity to anticancer drugs in AGS^R cells. This study presents a novel role of the CAGE–miR-181b-5p–S1PR1 axis in anticancer drug resistance and autophagy.

Cancer/testis antigens: from serology to mRNA cancer vaccine

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are a group of tumor antigens expressed in numerous cancer tissues, as well as in the testis and placental tissues. There are over 200 CTAs supported by serology and expression data. The expression patterns of CTAs reflect the similarities between the processes of gametogenesis and tumorigenesis. It is notable that CTAs are highly expressed in three types of cancers (lung cancer, bladder cancer, and skin cancer), all of which have a metal etiology. Here, we review the expression, regulation, and function of CTAs and their translational prospects as cancer biomarkers and treatment targets. Many CTAs are highly immunogenic, tissue-specific, and frequently expressed in cancer tissues but not under physiological conditions, rendering them promising candidates for cancer detection. Some CTAs are associated with clinical outcomes, so they may serve as prognostic biomarkers. A small number of CTAs are membrane-bound, making them ideal targets for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Mounting evidence suggests that CTAs induce humoral or cellular immune responses, providing cancer immunotherapeutic opportunities for T-cell receptors (TCRs), CAR T cell, antibody-based therapy and peptide- or mRNA-based vaccines. Indeed, CTAs are the dominating non-mutated targets in mRNA cancer vaccine development. Clinical trials on CTA TCR and vaccines have shown effectiveness, safety, and tolerance, but these successes are limited to a small number of patients. In-depth studies on CTA expression and function are needed to improve CTA-based immunotherapy.

Regulation of Wnt Signaling Pathways at the Plasma Membrane and Their Misregulation in Cancer

Wnt signaling is one of the key signaling pathways that govern numerous physiological activities such as growth, differentiation and migration during development and homeostasis. As pathway misregulation has been extensively linked to pathological processes including malignant tumors, a thorough understanding of pathway regulation is essential for development of effective therapeutic approaches. A prominent feature of cancer cells is that they significantly differ from healthy cells with respect to their plasma membrane composition and lipid organization. Here, we review the key role of membrane composition and lipid order in activation of Wnt signaling pathway by tightly regulating formation and interactions of the Wnt-receptor complex. We also discuss in detail how plasma membrane components, in particular the ligands, (co)receptors and extracellular or membrane-bound modulators, of Wnt pathways are affected in lung, colorectal, liver and breast cancers that have been associated with abnormal activation of Wnt signaling. Wnt-receptor complex components and their modulators are frequently misexpressed in these cancers and this appears to correlate with metastasis and cancer progression. Thus, composition and organization of the plasma membrane can be exploited to develop new anticancer drugs that are targeted in a highly specific manner to the Wnt-receptor complex, rendering a more effective therapeutic outcome possible.

Autophagy and Exosomes Relationship in Cancer: Friends or Foes?

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process involved in the removal of proteins and damaged organelles by the formation of a double-membrane vesicle named autophagosome and degraded through fusion with lysosomes. An intricate relationship between autophagy and the endosomal and exosomal pathways can occur at different stages with important implications for normal physiology and human diseases. Recent researches have revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, could have a cytoprotective role by inducing intracellular autophagy; on the other hand, autophagy plays a crucial role in the biogenesis and degradation of exosomes. Although the importance of these processes in cancer is well established, their interplay in tumor is only beginning to be documented. In some tumor contexts (1) autophagy and exosome-mediated release are coordinately activated, sharing the molecular machinery and regulatory mechanisms; (2) cancer cell-released exosomes impact on autophagy in recipient cells through mechanisms yet to be determined; (3) exosome-autophagy relationship could affect drug resistance and tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we survey emerging discoveries relevant to the exosomes and autophagy crosstalk in the context of cancer initiation, progression and recurrence. Consequently, we discuss clinical implications by targeting autophagy-exosomal pathway interaction and how this could lay a basis for the purpose of novel cancer therapeutics.

Retracted Article: Macrophage-derived exosomes mediate osteosarcoma cell behavior by activating AKT signaling

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone tumor, which severely threatens the health of adolescents and young adults. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages have been shown to mediate cancer progression via extracellular vesicles. However, their potential mechanisms in osteosarcoma progression and in drug-resistance are still not yet known. The macrophage cell line THP1 was stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to secrete exosomes. The exosomes isolated from THP1 were characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and by a western blot. Cell proliferation was determined using CCK-8. A transwell assay and flow cytometry were conducted to detect cell migration and apoptosis, respectively. The expression levels of AKT and its phosphorylation status were determined using a western blot. PMA-treated activated THP1 cells secreted an abundance of exosomes with the characteristics of being less than 200 nm in diameter, and showing the robust expression of exosome markers CD63 and CD81. The THP1-derived exosomes promoted cell proliferation, migration and drug-resistance to the chemical drug docetaxel in both osteosarcoma cell lines MG63 and 143B. The inhibition of the generation of exosomes by the knockdown of ALIX clearly suppressed the cell proliferation, migration and drug-resistance. Mechanistically, the THP1-derived exosomes activated AKT signaling by inducing the increased expression of the phosphorylated AKT at serine 473 (p-AKT). The AKT inhibitor MK2206 significantly abolished exosome-mediated cell proliferation and drug-resistance in osteosarcoma cells. In summary, our data demonstrated that macrophage-derived exosomes promoted osteosarcoma progression and drug-resistance by activating AKT signaling that could be used as a potential molecular target for osteosarcoma treatment.

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone tumor, which severely threatens the health of adolescents and young adults.

Amelioration of paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by regulating miR-140-5p expression with the fibrogenic inhibitor Xuebijing

Intravenous Xuebijing (XBJ) therapy suppresses paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, the mechanism underlying this suppression remains unknown. This work aimed to analyze the miR-140-5p-induced effects of XBJ injection on PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. The mice were arbitrarily assigned to four groups. The model group was administered with PQ only. The PQ treatment group was administered with PQ and XBJ. The control group was administered with saline only. The control treatment group was administered with XBJ only. The miR-140-5p and miR-140-5p knockout animal models were overexpressed. The gene expression levels of miR-140-5p, transglutaminase-2 (TG2), β-catenin, Wnt-1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the lungs were assayed with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. The levels of TGF-β1, CTGF, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hydroxyproline (Hyp) levels and pulmonary fibrosis were also scored. After 14 days of PQ induction of pulmonary fibrosis, AdCMV-miR-140-5p, and XBJ upregulated miR-140-5p expression; blocked the expressions of TG2, Wnt-1, and β-catenin; and decreased p-Smad2, p-Smad3, CTGF, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 expressions. In addition, Hyp and pulmonary fibrosis scores in XBJ-treated mice decreased. Histological results confirmed that PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis in XBJ-treated lungs was attenuated. TG2 expression and the Wnt-1/β-catenin signaling pathway were suppressed by the elevated levels of miR-140-5p expression. This inhibition was pivotal in the protective effect of XBJ against PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, XBJ efficiently alleviated PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.