Design and Synthesis of Novel Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (NDGA) Analogues as Potential FGFR1 Kinase Inhibitors With Anti-Gastric Activity and Chemosensitizing Effect

A novel metabolism-related prognostic gene development and validation in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The importance of metabolism-related alterations in the development of gastric cancer (GC) is increasingly recognized. The present study aimed to identify metabolism-related genes to facilitate prognosis of GC patients.

METHODS

Gene expression datasets and clinical information of GC patients were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. We scored the enrichment of human metabolism-related pathways (n = 86) in GC samples by GSV, constructed prognostic risk models using LASSO algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analysis, combined with clinical information to construct a nomogram, and finally cis score algorithm to analyze the abundance of immune-related cells in different subtypes. We used Weka software to screen for prognosis-related marker genes and finally validated the expression of the selected genes in clinical cancer patient tissues.

RESULTS

We identified that two GC metabolism-related signatures were strongly associated with OS and the levels of immune cell infiltration. Moreover, a survival prediction model for GC was established based on six GC metabolism-related genes. Time-dependent ROC analysis showed good stability of the risk prediction scoring model. The model was successfully validated in an independent ACRG cohort, and the expression trends of key genes were also verified in the GC tissues of patients. DLX1, LTBP2, FGFR1 and MMP2 were highly expressed in the cluster with poorer prognosis while SLC13A2 and SLCO1B3 were highly expressed in the cluster with better prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a risk predictive score model based on six metabolism-related genes related to survival, which may serve as prognostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets for GC.

Fenofibrate inhibits TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation and activation in human lung fibroblasts in vitro

Fenofibrate (FF), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) agonist and a lipid-lowering agent, can decrease experimental pulmonary fibrosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the antifibrotic effect of FF remain unknown. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FF on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced myofibroblast differentiation and activation in lung fibroblasts. The results showed that FF inhibited alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and connective tissue growth factor expression, collagen production, cell motility, SMAD3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and metabolic reprogramming in TGF-β-exposed cells. The inhibitory effect of FF did not decrease with the addition of a PPAR-α antagonist. Moreover, the inhibitory effect given by FF could not be reproduced with the addition of an alternative PPAR-α agonist. FF inhibited mitochondrial respiration. However, rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, did not suppress TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, the TGF-β-induced nuclear reduction of protein phosphatase, Mg²⁺ /Mn²⁺ -dependent 1A (PPM1A), a SMAD phosphatase, was inhibited by FF. These results showed that FF suppressed TGF-β-induced myofibroblast differentiation and activation independent of PPAR-α activation and impaired mitochondrial respiration. In conclusion, this study provides information on the effects of FF on anti-TGF-β mechanisms.