Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Signaling in Glucose Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer

Abnormal dermal microvascular endothelial cells in psoriatic excessive angiogenesis

Psoriasis is characterized by excessive angiogenesis, with increased distortion and dilation of the dermal blood vessels. These vascular alterations are ascribed, at least in part, to the changes in dermal microvascular endothelial cell functions. However, despite the recognition of vascular normalization as an emerging strategy for the treatment of psoriasis, in-depth studies of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) have been missing. The difficulty of isolation and culture of HDMECs has impeded the study of endothelial dysfunction in psoriasis. Researchers have done a great deal of work to study the abnormal characteristics of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and leukocytes in psoriatic skin tissue. Recently, with successful isolation of HDMECs from psoriasis, great progress has been made in the elucidation of the pathogenic role of these cells in psoriasis. It is of great therapeutic significance to study the molecular mechanism of HDMECs in psoriasis. We review here the abnormalities of HDMECs in psoriasis.

Advancing the understanding of diabetic encephalopathy through unravelling pathogenesis and exploring future treatment perspectives

Diabetic encephalopathy (DE), a significant micro-complication of diabetes, manifests as neurochemical, structural, behavioral, and cognitive alterations. This condition is especially dangerous for the elderly because aging raises the risk of neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive impairment, both of which can be made worse by diabetes. Despite its severity, diagnosis of this disease is challenging, and there is a paucity of information on its pathogenesis. The pivotal roles of various cellular pathways, activated or influenced by hyperglycemia, insulin sensitivity, amyloid accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, brain vasculopathy, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, are widely recognized for contributing to the potential causes of diabetic encephalopathy. We also reviewed current pharmacological strategies for DE encompassing a comprehensive approach targeting metabolic dysregulations and neurological manifestations. Antioxidant-based therapies hold promise in mitigating oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage, while anti-diabetic drugs offer neuroprotective effects through diverse mechanisms, including modulation of insulin signaling pathways and neuroinflammation. Additionally, tissue engineering and nanomedicine-based approaches present innovative strategies for targeted drug delivery and regenerative therapies for DE. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in translating these therapeutic interventions into clinical practice, including long-term safety, scalability, and regulatory approval. Further research is warranted to optimize these approaches and address remaining gaps in the management of DE and associated neurodegenerative disorders.

Cancer risk following onset of type 2 diabetes in New Zealanders with impaired glucose tolerance over 25 years: a matched prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In people with prediabetes, the link between developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cancer risk among those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) remains uncertain. We examined this association in IGT individuals from primary care in South and West Auckland, New Zealand, spanning 1994-2019, assessing 5- and 10-year cancer risks.

METHODS

Study cohorts were extracted from the Diabetes Care Support Service in Auckland, New Zealand, linking it with national registries for death, cancer, hospital admissions, pharmaceutical claims, and socioeconomic status. We compared cancer risks in individuals with IGT newly diagnosed with or without T2D within a 1-5-year exposure window. Employing tapered matching and landmark analysis to address potential confounding effects, we formed comparative IGT cohorts. Weighted Cox regression models were then employed to assess the association between T2D onset and 5- and 10-year cancer risks.

RESULTS

The study included 26,794 patients with IGT, with 629 newly diagnosed with T2D within 5 years and 13,007 without such a diagnosis. Those progressing to T2D had similar 5-year cancer risk but significantly higher 10-year risk (HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.09-1.68). This association was stronger in older individuals, the socioeconomically deprived, current smokers, those with worse metabolic measures, and lower renal function. Patients with IGT of NZ European ethnicity had lower 10-year cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONS

T2D diagnosis influences cancer risk in individuals with IGT. Developing risk scores for high-risk IGT individuals and implementing cancer screening and structured diabetes prevention, especially in deprived or minority ethnic populations, is essential.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of 2-Chloro-8-methoxy-5-methyl-5H-indolo [2,3-b] Quinoline for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer by Modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathways

Developing novel drugs from natural products has proven to be a very effective strategy. Neocryptolepine was isolated from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, a traditional endemic African herb, which exerts a wide range of biological activities such as antimalaria, antibacterial, and antitumor. 2-Chloro-8-methoxy-5-methyl-5H-indolo [2,3-b] quinoline (compound 49) was synthesized, and its cytotoxicity was assessed on pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, colorectal cancer HCT116 cells, liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells, and gastric cancer AGS cells in vitro. The results of the in vitro assay showed that compound 49 exerted remarkable cytotoxicity on colorectal cancer HCT116 and Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxicity of compound 49 to colorectal cancer HCT116 cells was 17 times higher than that of neocryptolepine and to human normal intestinal epithelial HIEC cells was significantly reduced. Compound 49 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the colorectal cancer HCT116 and Caco-2 cells, with IC50 of 0.35 and 0.54 μM, respectively. The mechanism of cytotoxicity of compound 49 to colorectal cancer HCT116 and Caco-2 cells was further investigated. The results showed that compound 49 could inhibit colony formation and cell migration. Moreover, compound 49 could arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, promote the production of reactive oxygen species, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, and induce apoptosis. The results of Western blot indicated that compound 49 showed cytotoxicity on HCT116 and Caco-2 cells by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results suggested that compound 49 may be a potentially promising lead compound for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Dietary insulin indices and low-carbohydrate diet and the odds of colorectal cancer: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Regarding the role of insulin and insulin-inducing dietary factors in some cancers' etiology, we hypothesized that the risk of colorectal cancer may be lessened by following a lower carbohydrate and insulinogenic diet. Therefore, we performed this study to explore the association between a low-carbohydrate diet and insulin indices and the odds of colorectal cancer.

METHOD

This hospital-based case-control study was conducted on 150 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients and 300 healthy age- and sex-matched hospitalized controls. A valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the insulin indices and low-carbohydrate diet score. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between insulin indices and low-carbohydrate diet and the odds of colorectal cancer.

RESULT

After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals in the highest tertile of insulin indices had a higher risk of colorectal cancer (OR insulin index  = 3.46; 95% CI, 2.00-5.96; OR insulin load  = 2; 95% CI, 1.17-3.41). No association was found between a low-carbohydrate diet and colorectal cancer (OR = 1.55; 95% CI, 0.85-2.84).

CONCLUSION

Current results demonstrated that a high insulinemic diet was associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

The association between endometrial polyps and insulin resistance from the expression of PI3K and AKT proteins perspective

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) induces hyperinsulinemia, which activates downstream signaling pathways such as the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, ultimately leading to abnormal proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial cells. This is thought to be a key pathogenic mechanism underlying the development of endometrial polyps (EP). This study aims to investigate the relationship between IR and the development of EP, the expression levels of downstream signaling molecules, including PI3K and AKT, and related laboratory parameters were examined.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients who visited the gynecology outpatient clinic of Zhongda Hospital affiliated with Southeast University from May 2021 to March 2023 and were diagnosed with abnormal endometrial echoes by vaginal ultrasound and underwent hysteroscopic diagnostic curettage were enrolled in this study. General data and relevant hematological indicators were compared, and intraoperative specimens were obtained for pathological examination. Possible factors influencing the development of endometrial polyps were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

In terms of body mass index, waist circumference, fasting insulin, insulin resistance index, serum total testosterone, and free testosterone index, women of childbearing age in the endometrial polyp group had higher values than those in the non-polyp group, while sex hormone-binding globulin in the endometrial polyp group was lower than that in the non-polyp group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression scores and mRNA expression levels of PI3K and AKT proteins were higher in the EP group than in the non-EP group (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and the expression scores of PI3K and AKT proteins (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin resistance and abnormal activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway may be potential pathogenic mechanisms for the development of endometrial polyps.

Role of dietary nutrients and metabolism in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. The development of CRC is driven by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is growing evidence that changes in dietary nutrition may modulate the CRC risk, and protective effects on the risk of developing CRC have been advocated for specific nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, lipid, vitamins, micronutrients and prebiotics. Metabolic crosstalk between tumor cells, tumor microenvironment components and intestinal flora further promote proliferation, invasion and metastasis of CRC cells and leads to treatment resistance. This review summarizes the research progress on CRC prevention, pathogenesis, and treatment by dietary supplementation or deficiency of glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, micronutri-ents, and prebiotics, respectively. The roles played by different nutrients and dietary crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment and metabolism are discussed, and nutritional modulation is inspired to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Development of an insulin-like growth factor-1 certified reference material by SI-traceable isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

In this study, an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) certified reference material (CRM) was developed by the National Institute of Metrology (NIM), and two different principles for evaluating the IGF-1 CRM were established. After optimisation of the acid hydrolysis conditions (110 °C, 36 h), quantitative determination of peptide purity, and chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection, amino acid analysis-based high-performance liquid chromatography combined with isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry (AAA-HPLC-IDMS/MS) and peptide analysis-based HPLC-IDMS/MS (Peptide-HPLC-IDMS/MS) were used for certified value assignment; the results obtained were 136.28 and 135.01 μg/g, respectively, which were in good agreement. These results were subjected to the normal distribution test, outlier test, and method consistency test. The homogeneity and stability of the reference materials were also examined, and the uncertainty introduced in the experimental process was calculated. The final certified value was (136 ± 15) μg g-1 (k = 2). The CRM was found to be stable for at least six months when stored at -70 °C and for 7 d when stored at higher temperatures (-20 °C, 4 °C, 25 °C, or 40 °C). The CRM is expected to be used as a primary calibrator for quality control in biopharmaceutical production and clinical diagnostics.

A Combination of Microarray-Based Profiling and Biocomputational Analysis Identified miR331-3p and hsa-let-7d-5p as Potential Biomarkers of Ulcerative Colitis Progression to Colorectal Cancer

Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by activating chronic proinflammatory pathways. The goal of this study was to find serum prediction biomarkers in UC to CRC development by combining low-density miRNA microarray and biocomputational approaches. The UC and CRC miRNA expression profiles were compared by low-density miRNA microarray, finding five upregulated miRNAs specific to UC progression to CRC (hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-223-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p). The circRNA/miRNA/mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis showed that the candidate miRNAs were connected to well-known colitis-associated CRC ACVR2A, SOCS1, IGF2BP1, FAM126A, and CCDC85C mRNAs, and circ-SHPRH circRNA. SST and SCARA5 genes regulated by hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p were linked to a poor survival prognosis in a CRC patient dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Lastly, our mRNA and miRNA candidates were validated by comparing their expression to differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs from colitis-associated CRC tissue databases. A high level of hsa-miR-331-3p and a parallel reduction in SOCS1 mRNA were found in tissue and serum. We propose hsa-miR-331-3p and possibly hsa-let-7d-5p as novel serum biomarkers for predicting UC progression to CRC. More clinical sample analysis is required for further validation.

Effect of hyperglycemia on the occurrence and prognosis of colorectal cancer

Hyperglycemic status is associated with the development and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. Hyperglycemia can promote the development of CRC by influencing cell proliferation and apoptosis, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and other pathways. In terms of prognosis, hyperglycemia may affect the survival and recurrence of CRC patients as well as chemotherapy resistance, but the results of related studies are not consistent. Hypoglycemic treatment may have a positive impact on the prognosis of CRC patients, but its specific effects need further research. Therefore, this article systematically explores the relationship between hyperglycemia and CRC, analyzes the impact of hyperglycemia on the occurrence and prognosis of CRC, and discusses the role of managing hyperglycemia in CRC.

Hypoxia impairs blood glucose homeostasis in naked mole-rat adult subordinates but not queens

Naked mole-rats (NMRs) are among the most hypoxia-tolerant mammals and metabolize only carbohydrates in hypoxia. Glucose is the primary building block of dietary carbohydrates, but how blood glucose is regulated during hypoxia has not been explored in NMRs. We hypothesized that NMRs mobilize glucose stores to support anaerobic energy metabolism in hypoxia. To test this, we treated newborn, juvenile and adult (subordinate and queen) NMRs in normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (7, 5 or 3% O2), while measuring metabolic rate, body temperature and blood [glucose]. We also challenged animals with glucose, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) injections and measured the rate of glucose clearance in normoxia and hypoxia. We found that: (1) blood [glucose] increases in moderate hypoxia in queens and pups, but only in severe hypoxia in adult subordinates and juveniles; (2) glucose tolerance is similar between developmental stages in normoxia, but glucose clearance times are 2- to 3-fold longer in juveniles and subordinates than in queens or pups in hypoxia; and (3) reoxygenation accelerates glucose clearance in hypoxic subordinate adults. Mechanistically, (4) insulin and IGF-1 reduce blood [glucose] in subordinates in both normoxia but only IGF-1 impacts blood [glucose] in hypoxic queens. Our results indicate that insulin signaling is impaired by hypoxia in NMRs, but that queens utilize IGF-1 to overcome this limitation and effectively regulate blood glucose in hypoxia. This suggests that sexual maturation impacts blood glucose handling in hypoxic NMR queens, which may allow queens to spend longer periods of time in hypoxic nest chambers.

Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet and Colorectal Cancer Risk

BACKGROUND

Diabetes has been associated with colorectal cancer. We evaluated whether adherence to a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) can favorably influence the risk of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Data came from a multicentric Italian case-control study including 1,953 histologically confirmed colorectal cancer cases and 4,154 hospital controls admitted for acute nonneoplastic diseases. Diet was assessed through a validated and reproducible food frequency questionnaire. The DRRD score was computed assigning higher values for higher consumption of cereal fiber, fruit, coffee, nuts and a higher polyunsaturated/saturated fats ratio and for lower glycemic index and lower consumption of red/processed meat and sweetened beverages and fruit juices. The ORs and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of colorectal cancer according to the DRRD score were obtained using logistic regression models adjusting for total energy intake and other major confounders.

RESULTS

The DRRD was inversely related to colorectal cancer risk. The ORs of colorectal cancer were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.67-0.89) for the third versus first score tertile (Ptrend < 0.001) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87-0.96) for a 3-point increment in the score. Inverse associations were observed for colon and rectal cancers and were consistent in strata of sex, age, and other major covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher adherence to a DRRD was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk.

IMPACT

Given the high incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer, adherence to a DRRD can have relevant prevention and public health implications.

Unraveling molecular signatures in rare bone tumors and navigating the cancer pathway landscapes for targeted therapeutics

Rare cancers (RCs), which account for over 20% of cancer cases, face significant research and treatment challenges due to their limited prevalence. This results in suboptimal outcomes compared to more common malignancies. Rare bone tumors (RBTs) constitute 5-10% of rare cancer cases and pose unique diagnostic complexities. The therapeutic potential of anti-cancer drugs for RBTs remains largely unexplored. Identifying molecular alterations in cancer-related genes and their associated pathways is essential for precision medicine in RBTs. Small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies targeting specific RBT-associated proteins show promise. Ongoing clinical trials aim to define RBT biomarkers, subtypes, and optimal treatment contexts, including combination therapies and immunotherapeutic agents. This review addresses the challenges in diagnosing, treating, and studying RBTs, shedding light on the current state of RBT biomarkers, potential therapeutic targets, and promising inhibitors. Rare cancers demand attention and innovative solutions to improve clinical outcomes.

A Perspective Review on Diet Quality, Excess Adiposity, and Chronic Psychosocial Stress and Implications for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Although the overall incidence of CRC has been decreasing over the past 40 y, early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), which is defined as a CRC diagnosis in patients aged >50 y has increased. In this Perspective, we highlight and summarize the association between diet quality and excess adiposity, and EOCRC. We also explore chronic psychosocial stress (CPS), a less investigated modifiable risk factor, and EOCRC. We were able to show that a poor-quality diet, characterized by a high intake of sugary beverages and a Western diet pattern (high intake of red and processed meats, refined grains, and foods with added sugars) can promote risk factors associated with EOCRC development, such as an imbalance in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, presence of chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Excess adiposity, particularly obesity onset in early adulthood, is a likely contributor of EOCRC. Although the research is sparse examining CPS and CRC/EOCRC, we describe likely pathways linking CPS to tumorigenesis. Although additional research is needed to understand what factors are driving the uptick in EOCRC, managing body weight, improving diet quality, and mitigating psychosocial stress, may play an important role in reducing an individual's risk of EOCRC.

Vitamin D supplementation modulates glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) in diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a metabolic illness that increases protein glycosylation in hyperglycemic conditions, which can have an impact on almost every organ system in the body. The role of vitamin D in the etiology of diabetes under RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) stress has recently received some attention on a global scale. Vitamin D's other skeletal benefits have generated a great deal of research. Vitamin D's function in the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is supported by the discovery of 1,25 (OH)2D3 and 1-Alpha-Hydroylase expression in immune cells, pancreatic beta cells, and several other organs besides the bone system. A lower HBA1c level, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus all seems to be associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Most of the cross-sectional and prospective observational studies that were used to gather human evidence revealed an inverse relationship between vitamin D level and the prevalence or incidence of elevated HBA1c in type 2 diabetes. Several trials have reported on the impact of vitamin D supplementation for glycemia or incidence of type 2 diabetes, with varying degrees of success. The current paper examines the available data for a relationship between vitamin D supplementation and HBA1c level in diabetes and discusses the biological plausibility of such a relationship.

Comparison of ruminal microbiota, IL-1β gene variation, and tick incidence between Holstein × Gyr and Holstein heifers in grazing system

Introduction

The variation in bacterial communities among breeds has been previously reported and may be one of the reasons why Holstein × Gyr dairy heifers have better development in grazing systems in tropical conditions. This study aimed to explore the ruminal microbiota composition, the IL-1β gene variation, tick incidence, and blood parameters of Holstein × Gyr (½ Holstein × ½ Gyr) and Holstein heifers grazing intensely managed Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Mombaça).

Methods

Sixteen heifers were divided into two groups consisting of 8 Holstein × Gyr and 8 Holstein heifers. The experimental period was comprised of 3 periods of 21 days. Ruminal samples were taken via the stomach tube technique. The sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Counting and collection of ticks were conducted each 21 days. Blood and skeletal muscle tissue biopsies were performed at the end of the experiment.

Results

Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla present in both breed rumen samples and Bacteroidota showed differences in relative abundance between breed groups, with greater values for Holstein heifers (p < 0.05 with FDR correction). The 10 most abundant unique OTUs identified in each breed included several OTUs of the genus Prevotella. Holstein heifers had a greater tick count and weight (9.8 ticks/animal and 1.6 g/animal, respectively) than Holstein × Gyr (2.56 ticks/animal and 0.4 g/animal, respectively). We found nucleotide substitutions in the IL-1β gene that might be related to adaptation and resistance phenotypes to tick infestation in Holstein × Gyr heifers. Blood concentrations of urea, albumin, insulin-like growth factor 1, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine were greater in Holstein × Gyr than in Holstein heifers.

Conclusion

Adaptations in Holstein × Gyr heifers such as ruminal microbiota, tick resistance, nucleotide substitutions in IL-1β gene, and hormone concentration suggest a better energy metabolism and thermoregulation resulting in better performance in tropical grazing systems.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with the occurrence and recurrence of colorectal adenomas: a retrospective study from China

BACKGROUND

Resection of colorectal adenoma (CRA) prevents colorectal cancer; however, recurrence is common. We aimed to assess the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with CRA occurrence and recurrence.

METHODS

Data from 3392 participants at a hospital in China from 2020 to 2022 were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A restricted cubic spline was used to fit TyG index dose‒response curves to recurrent adenomas. The discriminatory power of TyG index for predicting later recurrence was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in 170 patients with a TyG index at initial adenoma diagnosis.

RESULTS

One thousand five hundred ninety-six adenoma and 1465 normal participants were included in the occurrence analysis, and 179 recurrent and 152 nonrecurrent participants were included in the recurrence analysis. The TyG mutation was an independent risk factor for CRA occurrence and recurrence. After adjusting for confounders, the risk of adenoma in the participants in Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups of TyG was 1.324 (95% CI 1.020-1.718), 1.349 (95% CI 1.030-1.765), and 1.445 (95% CI 1.055-1.980) times higher than that of the Q1, respectively, and the risk of recurrence in the Q3 and Q4 groups was 2.267 (95% CI 1.096-4.691) and 2.824 (95% CI 1.199-6.648) times in Q1 group. Multiple logistic regression showed that the highest quartile of the TyG index was associated with a greater risk of advanced adenoma recurrence (OR 4.456, 95% CI 1.157-17.164), two or more adenomas (OR 5.079, 95% CI 1.136-22.714 [after removal of TyG index extreme values]), and proximal colon or both adenomas (OR 3.043, 95% CI 1.186-7.810). Subgroup analysis revealed that the association was found to be present only in participants of all age groups who were either male or without obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, or dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). ROC curves illustrated that the TyG index had good predictive efficacy for identifying recurrence, especially for patients with two or more adenomas (AUC 0.777, 95% CI 0.648-0.907).

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in the TyG index is associated with an increased risk of adenoma occurrence and recurrence, with a stronger association with the latter.

Insulin and IGF-1 have both overlapping and distinct effects on CD4+ T cell mitochondria, metabolism, and function

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are metabolic hormones with known effects on CD4+ T cells through insulin receptor (IR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling. Here, we describe specific and distinct roles for these hormones and receptors. We have found that IGF-1R, but not IR, expression is increased following CD4+ T cell activation or following differentiation toward Th17 cells. Although both insulin and IGF-1 increase the metabolism of CD4+ T cells, insulin has a more potent effect. However, IGF-1 has a unique role and acts specifically on Th17 cells to increase IL-17 production and Th17 cell metabolism. Furthermore, IGF-1 decreases mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) in Th17 cells, providing a cytoprotective effect. Interestingly, both IR and IGF-1R are required for this effect of IGF-1 on mitochondria, which suggests that the hybrid IR/IGF-1R may be required for mediating the effect of IGF-1 on mitochondrial membrane potential and mROS production.

Clinical significance and immune characteristics analysis of miR-221-3p and its key target genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA-221-3p (miR-221-3p) facilitates the advancement of breast cancer (BC) through the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our research aimed to utilize bioinformatics to discover possible EMT-related target genes (ETGs) of miR-221-3p and examine their roles in breast cancer.

METHODS

We employed bioinformatics techniques to identify ten key ETGs of miR-221-3p. Subsequently, we conducted an extensive analysis of both miR-221-3p and the ten ETGs, including clinical significance and immune characteristics.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-221-3p was notably higher in Basal-like BC compared to other subtypes and adjacent normal tissue. Our pathway analysis suggested that miR-221-3p might regulate EMT through the MAPK signaling pathway by targeting its ETGs. Among the ETGs, seven core genes (EGFR, IGF1, KDR, FGF2, KIT, FGFR1, and FGF1) exhibited downregulation in BC. Conversely, ERBB2, SDC1, and MMP14 showed upregulation in BC and displayed potential diagnostic value. The analysis of prognostication indicated that increased levels of SDC1 and MMP14 were correlated with an unfavorable prognosis, whereas elevated expression of KIT was associated with a more favorable prognosis. The infiltration of various immune cells and the expression of immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) exhibited positive correlations with most ETGs and miR-221-3p. SDC1 exhibited a greater tumor mutational burden (TMB) score, while ERBB2, KDR, FGF2, KIT, FGFR1, and FGF1 showed lower TMB scores. Furthermore, decreased ERBB2 and KDR expression levels were correlated with elevated microsatellite instability (MSI) scores. Elevated expression of ETGs was linked to decreased mRNA stemness indices (mRNAsi), whereas miR-221-3p displayed the opposite pattern. Most ETGs and miR-221-3p expression exhibited a negative correlation with IC50 values for drugs. Among the ETGs, amplification was the most significant genetic alteration, except for IGF1.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, miR-221-3p acts as a unique indicator for Basal-like BC. The examination revealed ten essential ETGs of miR-221-3p, some of which show potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers. The in-depth examination of these ten ETGs and miR-221-3p indicates their participation in the development of BC, emphasizing their promise as innovative targets for therapy in BC patients.

General or Central Obesity and Mortality Among US Hispanic and Latino Adults

Importance

The Hispanic and Latino population is the second largest ethnic group in the US, but associations of obesity parameters with mortality in this population remain unclear.

Objective

To investigate the associations of general and central obesity with mortality among US Hispanic and Latino adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is an ongoing, multicenter, population-based cohort study with a multistage probability sampling method performed in Hispanic and Latino adults aged 18 to 74 years with a baseline between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2011. Active follow-up for this analyses extended from baseline through February 17, 2022. All analyses accounted for complex survey design (ie, stratification and clustering) and sampling weights to generate estimates representing the noninstitutionalized, 18- to 74-year-old Hispanic or Latino populations from selected communities.

Exposures

Body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), and waist to hip ratio (WHR).

Main Outcome and Measure

Deaths were ascertained via death certificates, the National Death Index, and active follow-up.

Results

Of 15 773 adults (mean [SE] age, 40.9 [0.3] years; 52.8% female), 686 deaths occurred during a median (IQR) follow-up of 10.0 (9.9-10.2) years. When adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and family history covariates, hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were 1.55 (95% CI, 1.08-2.22) for a BMI of 35.0 or greater vs 18.5 to 24.9, 1.22 (95% CI, 0.92-1.64) for the highest vs lowest body fat percentage groups (defined according to sex-, age-, and Hispanic or Latino background-specific BMI distribution), 1.35 (95% CI, 0.98-1.85) for WC greater than 102 cm (men) or 88 cm (women) vs 94 cm (men) or 80 cm (women) or less, and 1.91 (95% CI, 1.28-2.86) for WHR of 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) or greater vs less than 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women). Only WHR was associated with mortality with additional adjustment for major comorbidities (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.17-2.62). The association of WHR with mortality was stronger among women compared with men (P = .03 for interaction), and the association between BMI and mortality was stronger among men (P = .02 for interaction). The positive association between severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35.0) and mortality was observed only among adults with WHR of 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) or greater but not among those with WHR below 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) (P = .005 for interaction) who had greater hip circumference.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort of US Hispanic and Latino adults, WHR was independently associated with higher all-cause mortality regardless of BMI and prevalent comorbidities. These findings suggest that prioritizing clinical screening and intervention for WHR in this population may be an important public health strategy, with sex-specific strategies potentially being needed.

Expression of PVT-1 and miR-29a/29b as reliable biomarkers for liver cirrhosis and their correlation with the inflammatory biomarkers profile

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The liver is a vital organ responsible for numerous metabolic processes, which can be significantly impacted by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). These ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules have been shown to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, and their dysregulation has been implicated in numerous liver disorders. Our study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of plasmacytoma variant translocation-1 (PVT-1), microRNA-29a/29b (miR-29a/miR-29b), and inflammatory biomarkers [ interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1)] as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which lncRNAs and miRNAs influence liver metabolism is of paramount importance in developing effective treatments for liver-related diseases.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 164 participants, comprising 114 cirrhotic patients with varying grades (35 grade I, 35 grade II, and 44 grade III) and 50 healthy controls. PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The study participants exhibited notable differences in PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression. ROC analysis revealed excellent discriminative power for PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b in distinguishing cirrhotic patients from healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the promising potential of PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b as early diagnostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis detection, requiring further validation in larger cohorts. Our findings also reinforce the diagnostic value of circulating inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β, and IGF-1) levels for liver cirrhosis screening.

Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with colorectal adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps: a cross-sectional study

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and both colorectal adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps, in order to provide evidence for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with NAFLD.

METHODS

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the First People's Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu, China. The study included 3028 adults who underwent abdominal ultrasonography and colonoscopy over a 5 year period. We compared characteristics among patients with adenomatous polyps, non-adenomatous polyps, and without colorectal polyps using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analyses were used to detect associations between NAFLD with the prevalence of adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps. NAFLD was determined by abdominal ultrasound. Colorectal polyps were assessed by data in the colonoscopy report and pathology report.

RESULTS

A total of 65% of patients with NAFLD had colorectal polys (52% adenomatous polyps and 13% non-adenomatous polyps), and 40% of patients without NAFLD had polyps (29% adenomatous polyps and 11% non-adenomatous polyps). After adjusting for confounding variables, NAFLD was significantly associated with the prevalence of adenomatous in males and females [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-2.2, P  < 0.01], but was not associated with non-adenomatous polyps (OR = 1.2, 95% CI:0.9-1.5, P  > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomatous polyps compared to the absence of polyps, but not associated with an increased risk of non-adenomatous polyps. These results provide important evidence for the prevention of CRC in patients with NAFLD.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is associated with colorectal adenomas in young and older Korean adults

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Given that the majority of colorectal cancers (CRCs) develop from high-risk adenomas, identifying risk factors for high-risk adenomas is important. The relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the risk of colorectal adenoma in young adults remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate this relationship in adults <50 (younger) and ≥50 (older) years of age.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 184 792 Korean adults (80% <50 years of age) who all underwent liver ultrasound and colonoscopy. Participants were grouped into those with and without MAFLD and classified by adenoma presence into no adenoma, low-risk adenoma, or high-risk adenoma (defined as ≥3 adenomas, any ≥10 mm, or adenoma with high-grade dysplasia/villous features).

RESULTS

The prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas among young and older adults was 9.6% and 0.8% and 22.3% and 4.8%, respectively. MAFLD was associated with an increased prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas in young and older adults. Young adults with MAFLD had a 1.30 (95% CIs 1.26-1.35) and 1.40 (1.23-1.59) times higher prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas, respectively, compared to those without MAFLD. These associations were consistent even in lean adults (BMI < 23 kg/m2 ) and those without a family history of CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

MAFLD is associated with an increased prevalence of low- and high-risk adenomas in Korean adults, regardless of age or obesity status. Whether reducing metabolic risk factors, such as MAFLD, reduces the risk of precancerous lesions and ultimately reduces the risk of early-onset CRC requires further investigation.

Association between metabolic syndrome and early-stage colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Accumulating studies have suggested metabolic syndrome (MetS) contributed to colorectal cancer (CRC) development. However, advanced CRC might decrease the detection proportion of MetS due to chronic malnutrition, we included patients with early-stage CRC to examine the associations among MetS, onset age, and different tumorigenesis pathways of CRC.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study that included 638 patients with early-stage CRC from January 2014 to December 2018. Patient information was collected from the medical record system and further refined during the follow-up. Stratified analyses of the associations between MetS and different stratification factors were determined by the Cochran‒Mantel‒Haenszel test.

RESULTS

There were 16 (13.3%) and 111 (21.4%) cases suffering from MetS in the early-onset and late-onset CRC groups, respectively. MetS coexisted in early-stage CRC patients ≥ 50 years of age more frequently than patients < 50 years of age (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.01 to 3.12), but not for women patients (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.79 to 0.90). MetS patients were associated with a higher risk of advanced serrated lesions than that of conventional adenomas (OR 1.585; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.45), especially in patients ≥ 50 years (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic dysregulation might partly contribute to the incidence of colorectal serrated lesions. Prevention of MetS should be highly appreciated in the early diagnosis and early treatment of the colorectal cancer system, especially in patients ≥ 50 years.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) performance in ovarian function and applications in reproductive biotechnologies

The role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has attracted close attention. The activity of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) within the ovary has not been fully elucidated to date. These proteins bind to IGF with an equal, or greater, affinity than to the IGF1 receptor, thus being in the main position to regulate IGF signalling, in addition to extending the half-life of IGFs within the bloodstream and promoting IGF storage in specific tissue niches. IGF1 has an important part in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Considering the importance of IGFs in oocyte maturation, this review sought to elucidate aspects including: IGF production mechanisms; constituent members of their family and their respective functions; the role that these factors play during folliculogenesis, together with their functions during oocyte maturation and apoptosis, and their performance during luteal development. This review also explores the role of IGFs in biotechnological applications, focusing specifically on animal genetic gain.

Abnormal phosphorylation of protein tyrosine in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis, are chronic disorders of the CNS that are characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunction. These diseases have diverse clinical and pathological features and their pathogenetic mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Currently, widely accepted hypotheses include the accumulation of misfolded proteins, oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, neurotrophin dysfunction, and neuroinflammatory processes. In the CNS of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, a variety of abnormally phosphorylated proteins play important roles in pathological processes such as neuroinflammation and intracellular accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and tau. In recent years, the roles of abnormal tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular signaling molecules regulated by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in neurodegenerative diseases have attracted increasing attention. Here, we summarize the roles of signaling pathways related to protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and the progress of therapeutic studies targeting PTKs and PTPs that provide theoretical support for future studies on therapeutic strategies for these devastating and important neurodegenerative diseases.

Inflammatory and Metabolic Biomarker Assessment in a Randomized Presurgical Trial of Curcumin and Anthocyanin Supplements in Patients with Colorectal Adenomas

Colorectal cancer prevention is crucial for public health, given its high mortality rates, particularly in young adults. The early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions is key to preventing carcinogenesis progression. Natural compounds like curcumin and anthocyanins show promise in impeding adenomatous polyp progression in preclinical models. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II presurgical trial in 35 patients with adenomatous polyps to explore the biological effects of curcumin and anthocyanins on circulating biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism. No significant difference in biomarker changes by treatment arm was observed. However, the network analysis before treatment revealed inverse correlations between adiponectin and BMI and glycemia, as well as direct links between inflammatory biomarkers and leptin and BMI. In addition, a considerable inverse relationship between adiponectin and grade of dysplasia was detected after treatment (corr = -0.45). Finally, a significant increase in IL-6 at the end of treatment in subjects with high-grade dysplasia was also observed (p = 0.02). The combined treatment of anthocyanins and curcumin did not result in the direct modulation of circulating biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism, but revealed a complex modulation of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis.

[Obesity and Colorectal Cancer]

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly worldwide, and this trend is likely to continue in the coming years. There is substantial evidence that obesity plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer. Epidemiological data have consistently demonstrated a correlation between obesity and colorectal cancer. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, altered levels of growth factors, adipocytokines, and various hormones are plausible biological mechanisms. In addition, obesity has been shown to have an impact on recurrence, treatment success, and overall survival. There are some reports, although the evidence is not conclusive, that weight loss and lifestyle changes such as dietary modification and physical activity can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The understanding that obesity is a potentially modifiable risk factor that can affect the incidence and prognosis of colorectal cancer is crucial knowledge that can have an impact on the prevention and treatment of the condition.

Recent advances microRNAs and metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer with the highest incidence and mortality. Alteration of gene expression is the main pathophysiological mechanism of CRC, which results in disturbed signaling pathways and cellular metabolic processes. MicroRNAs are involved in almost all pathophysiological processes and are correlative with colorectal cancer metabolism, proliferation, and chemotherapy resistance. Metabolic reprogramming, an important feature of cancer, is strongly correlative with the development and prognosis of cancers, including colorectal cancer. MicroRNAs can target enzymes involved in metabolic processes, thus playing a regulatory role in tumor metabolism. The disorder of the signaling pathway is another characteristic of tumor, which induces the occurrence and proliferation of tumors, and is closely correlative with the prognosis and chemotherapy resistance of tumor patients. MicroRNAs can target the components of the signaling pathways to regulate their transduction. Understanding the function of microRNAs in the occurrence and proliferation of CRC provides novel insights into the optimal treatment strategies, prognosis, and development of diagnosis in CRC. This article reviews the relationship between CRC and microRNA expression and hopes to provide new options for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

IGF-1 Stimulates Glycolytic ATP Production in MCF-7L Cells

The Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) system in breast cancer progression has been a matter of interest for decades, but targeting this system did not result in a successful clinical strategy. The system's complexity and homology of its two receptors-insulin receptor (IR) and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R)-are possible causes. The IGF system maintains cell proliferation and also regulates metabolism, making it a pathway to explore. To understand the metabolic phenotype of breast cancer cells, we quantified their real-time ATP production rate upon acute stimulation with ligands-insulin-like growth factor 1 (1GF-1) and insulin. MCF-7L cells express both IGF-1R and IR, while tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7L (MCF-7L TamR) cells have downregulated IGF-1R with unchanged IR levels. Treating MCF-7L cells with 5 nM IGF-1 increased the glycolytic ATP production rate, while 10 nM insulin did not affect metabolism when compared with the control. Neither treatment altered ATP production in MCF-7L TamR cells. This study provides evidence of the relationship between metabolic dysfunction, cancer, and the IGF axis. In these cells, IGF-1R, and not IR, regulates ATP production.

The Experience of a Single Tertiary Center Regarding Benign and Malignant Tumors in Acromegalic Patients

Background and Objectives: Acromegaly is a rare disease associated with increased levels of growth hormones (GHs) that stimulates the hepatic production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Increased secretion of both GH and IGF-1 activates pathways, such as Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (JAK2/STAT5), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), involved in the development of tumors. Materials and Methods: Given the disputed nature of the topic, we decided to study the prevalence of benign and malignant tumors in our cohort of acromegalic patients. In addition, we aimed to identify risk factors or laboratory parameters associated with the occurrence of tumors in these patients. Results: The study group included 34 patients (9 men (25.7%) and 25 women (74.3%)). No clear relationship between the levels of IGF-1 or GH and tumor development could be demonstrated, but certain risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity, were more frequent in patients with tumors. In total, 34 benign tumoral proliferations were identified, the most common being multinodular goiter. Malignant tumors were present only in women (14.70%) and the most frequent type was thyroid carcinoma. Conclusions: DM and obesity might be associated with tumoral proliferation in patients with acromegaly, and findings also present in the general population. In our study we did not find a direct link between acromegaly and tumoral proliferations.

Different Roles of Apoptosis and Autophagy in the Development of Human Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major life-threatening malignancy, despite numerous therapeutic and screening attempts. Apoptosis and autophagy are two processes that share common signaling pathways, are linked by functional relationships and have similar protein components. During the development of cancer, the two processes can trigger simultaneously in the same cell, causing, in some cases, an inhibition of autophagy by apoptosis or apoptosis by autophagy. Malignant cells that have accumulated genetic alterations can take advantage of any alterations in the apoptotic process and as a result, progress easily in the cancerous transformation. Autophagy often plays a suppressive role during the initial stages of carcinogenicity, while in the later stages of cancer development it can play a promoting role. It is extremely important to determine the regulation of this duality of autophagy in the development of CRC and to identify the molecules involved, as well as the signals and the mechanisms behind it. All the reported experimental results indicate that, while the antagonistic effects of autophagy and apoptosis occur in an adverse environment characterized by deprivation of oxygen and nutrients, leading to the formation and development of CRC, the effects of promotion and collaboration usually involve an auxiliary role of autophagy compared to apoptosis. In this review, we elucidate the different roles of autophagy and apoptosis in human CRC development.

Predictive value of intratumoral-metabolic heterogeneity derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT in distinguishing microsatellite instability status of colorectal carcinoma

Purpose/background

Microsatellite instability (MSI) status is a significant biomarker for the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, response to 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy, and prognosis in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). This study investigated the predictive value of intratumoral-metabolic heterogeneity (IMH) and conventional metabolic parameters derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT for MSI in patients with stage I-III CRC.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis of 152 CRC patients with pathologically proven MSI who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examination from January 2016 to May 2022. Intratumoral-metabolic heterogeneity (including heterogeneity index [HI] and heterogeneity factor [HF]) and conventional metabolic parameters (standardized uptake value [SUV], metabolic tumor volume [MTV], and total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) of the primary lesions were determined. MTV and SUVmean were calculated on the basis of the percentage threshold of SUVs at 30%-70%. TLG, HI, and HF were obtained on the basis of the above corresponding thresholds. MSI was determined by immunohistochemical evaluation. Differences in clinicopathologic and various metabolic parameters between MSI-High (MSI-H) and microsatellite stability (MSS) groups were assessed. Potential risk factors for MSI were assessed by logistic regression analyses and used for construction of the mathematical model. Area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the predictive ability of factors for MSI.

Results

This study included 88 patients with CRC in stages I-III, including 19 (21.6%) patients with MSI-H and 69 (78.4%) patients with MSS. Poor differentiation, mucinous component, and various metabolic parameters including MTV30%, MTV40%, MTV50%, and MTV60%, as well as HI50%, HI60%, HI70%, and HF in the MSI-H group were significantly higher than those in the MSS group (all P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, post-standardized HI60% by Z-score (P = 0.037, OR: 2.107) and mucinous component (P < 0.001, OR:11.394) were independently correlated with MSI. AUC of HI60% and our model of the HI60% + mucinous component was 0.685 and 0.850, respectively (P = 0.019), and the AUC of HI30% in predicting the mucinous component was 0.663.

Conclusions

Intratumoral-metabolic heterogeneity derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT was higher in MSI-H CRC and predicted MSI in stage I-III CRC patients preoperatively. HI60% and mucinous component were independent risk factors for MSI. These findings provide new methods to predict the MSI and mucinous component for patients with CRC.

Proteome profiling of endogenous and potential S-nitrosylation in colorectal cancer

Background

As a common cancer with high incidence rate and mortality, colorectal cancer (CRC) is seriously threatening human health. S-nitrosylation (SNO) proteins mediated by nitric oxide (NO) has important implications in the genesis, progression, and apoptosis of CRC. It's worth noting that the SNO proteins also play an important role in the tumor endocrine and metabolic pathways of CRC.

Materials and methods

In this study, the protein extracts of human tissues and cell lines were treated by biotin switch technology and magnetic beads enrichment. The proteomic results of endogenous and potential SNO proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). Through the comparison and analysis of MS results, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and literatures, some endogenous and potential SNO proteins were identified in CRC, which were closely related to the tumor endocrine and metabolic pathways, the apoptotic signaling pathways, protein maturation, and other biological processes of the proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells.

Results

A total of 19 proteins containing potential or endogenous SNO sites were detected in both human cancer tissue and SW 480 cells. Through the cross validation of MS results, GO analysis, and literatures, several SNO proteins were identified frequently in CRC, such as the actin, cytoplasmic 1 (ACTB), peroxiredoxin-4 (PRDX4), protein S100A8 (S100A8), pyruvate kinase PKM (PKM), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which were closely related to the tumor endocrine and metabolic pathways and the apoptotic signaling pathways of CRC.

Conclusion

Different CRC cells and tissues contained potential and endogenous SNO modified proteins. In addition, some SNO proteins could participate in the proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis of CRC by regulating the tumor endocrine and metabolic pathways.

Why Does Obesity as an Inflammatory Condition Predispose to Colorectal Cancer?

Obesity is a complex and multifactorial problem of global importance. Additionally, obesity causes chronic inflammation, upregulates cell growth, disturbs the immune system, and causes genomic instability, increasing the risk of carcinogenesis. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, and it has become a global problem. In 2018, there were around 1.8 million new cases and around 881,000 deaths worldwide. Another risk factor of colorectal cancer associated with obesity is poor diet. A Western diet, including a high intake of red and processed meat and a low consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fiber, may increase the risk of both colorectal cancer and obesity. Moreover, the Western diet is associated with a proinflammatory profile diet, which may also affect chronic low-grade inflammation. In fact, people with obesity often present gut dysbiosis, increased inflammation, and risk of colorectal cancer. In this article, the association between obesity and colorectal cancer is discussed, including the most important mechanisms, such as low-grade chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and poor diet.

Up-regulated Circular RNAs in Colorectal Cancer: New Entities for Therapy and Tools for Identification of Therapeutic Targets

Patients with disseminated colorectal cancer have a dismal prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of only 13%. In order to identify new treatment modalities and new targets, we searched the literature for up-regulated circular RNAs in colorectal cancer which induce tumor growth in corresponding preclinical in vivo models. We identified nine circular RNAs that mediate resistance against chemotherapeutic agents, seven that up-regulate transmembrane receptors, five that induce secreted factors, nine that activate signaling components, five which up-regulate enzymes, six which activate actin-related proteins, six which induce transcription factors and two which up-regulate the MUSASHI family of RNA binding proteins. All of the circular RNAs discussed in this paper induce the corresponding targets by sponging microRNAs (miRs) and can be inhibited by RNAi or shRNA in vitro and in xenograft models. We have focused on circular RNAs with demonstrated activity in preclinical in vivo models because the latter is an important milestone in drug development. All circular RNAs with in vitro activity only data are not referenced in this review. The translational impact of inhibition of these circular RNAs and of the identified targets for treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) are discussed.

Autophagy and the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) System in Colonic Cells: Implications for Colorectal Neoplasia

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common human malignancies worldwide. Along with apoptosis and inflammation, autophagy is one of three important mechanisms in CRC. The presence of autophagy/mitophagy in most normal mature intestinal epithelial cells has been confirmed, where it has mainly protective functions against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA and protein damage. Autophagy regulates cell proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, secretion of mucins and/or anti-microbial peptides. Abnormal autophagy in intestinal epithelial cells leads to dysbiosis, a decline in local immunity and a decrease in cell secretory function. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. This is evidenced by the biological activities of IGFs (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGF-1 receptor type 1 (IGF-1R) and IGF-binding proteins (IGF BPs), which have been reported to regulate cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Defects in autophagy are found in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and CRC. In neoplastic cells, the IGF system modulates the autophagy process bidirectionally. In the current era of improving CRC therapies, it seems important to investigate the exact mechanisms not only of apoptosis, but also of autophagy in different populations of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells. The role of the IGF system in autophagy in normal as well as transformed colorectal cells still seems poorly understood. Hence, the aim of the review was to summarize the latest knowledge on the role of the IGF system in the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in the normal colon mucosa and in CRC, taking into account the cellular heterogeneity of the colonic and rectal epithelium.

Screening for Coronary Artery Disease in Cancer Survivors: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important contributor to the cardiovascular burden in cancer survivors. This review identifies features that could help guide decisions about the benefit of screening to assess the risk or presence of subclinical CAD. Screening may be appropriate in selected survivors based on risk factors and inflammatory burden. In cancer survivors who have undergone genetic testing, polygenic risk scores and clonal hematopoiesis markers may become useful CAD risk prediction tools in the future. The type of cancer (especially breast, hematological, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary) and the nature of treatment (radiotherapy, platinum agents, fluorouracil, hormonal therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, endothelial growth factor inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors) are also important in determining risk. Therapeutic implications of positive screening include lifestyle and atherosclerosis interventions, and in specific instances, revascularization may be indicated.

In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of IGF-1 Delivery Strategies on Tendon Healing: A Review

Tendon injuries suffer from a slow healing, often ending up in fibrovascular scar formation, leading to inferior mechanical properties and even re-rupture upon resumption of daily work or sports. Strategies including the application of growth factors have been under view for decades. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is one of the used growth factors and has been applied to tenocyte in vitro cultures as well as in animal preclinical models and to human patients due to its anabolic and matrix stimulating effects. In this narrative review, we cover the current literature on IGF-1, its mechanism of action, in vitro cell cultures (tenocytes and mesenchymal stem cells), as well as in vivo experiments. We conclude from this overview that IGF-1 is a potent stimulus for improving tendon healing due to its inherent support of cell proliferation, DNA and matrix synthesis, particularly collagen I, which is the main component of tendon tissue. Nevertheless, more in vivo studies have to be performed in order to pave the way for an IGF-1 application in orthopedic clinics.

Evaluating the local expression pattern of IGF-1R in tumor tissues and the circulating levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 in the blood of patients with different primary bone tumors

Introduction

The present study tried to provide insights into the expression pattern and diagnostic significance of the IGF-1 axis main mediators in three main primary bone tumor types with different degrees of severity.

Methods

The real-time qRT-PCR (to analyze IGF-1R gene expression), the immunohistochemistry (to measure IGF-1R protein), and the ELISA assay (to assess the circulating level of IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3) were applied to confirm this hypothesis. A total number of 180 bone tissues (90 tumors and 90 noncancerous adjacent tissues) and 120 blood samples drained from 90 patients with bone tumors and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The association of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 axis expression pattern with the patient's clinical pathological characteristics and tumor aggressive features, the diagnostic and predictive values were assessed for all tumor groups.

Results

A significantly elevated level of IGF-1R gene and protein was detected in bone tumors compared to the noncancerous bone tissues that were prominent in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma compared to the GCT group. The positive association of the IGF-1R gene and protein level with tumor grade, metastasis, and recurrence was detected in the osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma groups. The circulating level of IGF-1, IGFPB-1, and IGFBP-3 were increased in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma and GCT groups that were correlated significantly to the tumor severity. The ability of the IGF-1 axis to discriminate between bone tumors also malignant and benign tumors was considerable.

Discussion

In summary, our data suggested that IGF-1R, IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 levels are associated with bone tumor malignancy, metastasis, and recurrence that might serve as biomarkers for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma recurrence.

Meta-analysis of peripheral insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate if there is a significant difference in peripheral insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls and to determine whether a difference exists before and after initiation of antipsychotics.

METHODS

PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to March 27, 2022. Original clinical studies of any type that reported peripheral blood, serum or plasma IGF-1 levels measured after fasting in schizophrenia patients and/or healthy control group were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using Meta-Essentials: Workbooks for meta-analysis and pooled through random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Twelve publications met eligibility criteria. Schizophrenia patients under antipsychotic treatment had significantly lower peripheral IGF-1 levels compared to healthy controls (n = 632, Hedges' g -0.42, 95% CI from -0.79 to -0.04, p = .006, I²  = 70.38%), while no significant difference was found between schizophrenia patients regardless of the antipsychotic treatment status and healthy controls, as well as between antipsychotic naïve or free schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, and before and after initiation of antipsychotic treatment. However, high heterogeneity was observed and its potential sources in some of the subgroup analyses included sample type and region.

CONCLUSIONS

Schizophrenia patients under antipsychotic treatment seem to have lower peripheral IGF-1 levels compared to healthy controls. Additional studies with larger and more homogenous samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Implications of cancer stem cells in diabetes and pancreatic cancer

This review provides a detailed study of pancreatic cancer (PC) and the implication of different types of cancers concerning diabetes. The combination of anti-diabetic drugs with other anti-cancer drugs and phytochemicals can help prevent and treat this disease. PC cancer stem cells (CSCs) and how they migrate and develop into malignant tumors are discussed. A detailed explanation of the different mechanisms of diabetes development, which can enhance the pancreatic CSCs' proliferation by increasing the IGF factor levels, epigenetic modifications, DNA damage, and the influence of lifestyle factors like obesity, and inflammation, has been discussed. It also explains how cancer due to diabetes is associated with high mortality rates. One of the well-known diabetic drugs, metformin, can be combined with other anti-cancer drugs and prevent the development of PC and has been taken as one of the prime focus in this review. Overall, this paper provides insight into the relationship between diabetes and PC and the methods that can be employed to diagnose this disease at an earlier stage successfully.

TRIM27 is an adverse prognostic biomarker and associated with immune and molecular profiles in right-sided colon cancer

Right-sided colon cancer (RCC), as an independent tumor entity, shows a poor prognosis. It is imperative to detect immune microenvironment-related genes for predicting RCC patient prognosis and study their function in RCC. Tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) was identified as a risk signature from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, differentially expressed analysis, and univariate Cox analysis. It predicted a poorer overall survival and increased lymph node metastasis, which were then validated in our 48 clinical samples. Using immunohistochemistry, TRIM27 was found to be highly expressed in both cancer cells and surrounding immunocytes, and its expression in tumor or immune cells both predicted a poorer prognosis. Thereafter, the functional mechanism, immune and molecular characteristics of TRIM27 were investigated using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) at the single-cell, somatic mutation, and RNA-seq level. Patients with highly expressed TRIM27 presented lower CD4⁺ T cell infiltration and activation of the mTORC1/glycolysis pathway. In addition, patients with highly expressed TRIM27 were characterized by hypermetabolism, higher tumor purity, more BRAF mutation, and more chromosomal instability. Collectively, TRIM27 is an important immune-related prognostic biomarker in patients with RCC. It may function via activating the mTORC1/glycolysis pathway and suppressing CD4⁺ T cells. These results indicated that TRIM27 could be a promising therapeutic target in RCC.

Functional and clinical characteristics of focal adhesion kinases in cancer progression

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and an adaptor protein that primarily regulates adhesion signaling and cell migration. FAK promotes cell survival in response to stress. Increasing evidence has shown that at the pathological level, FAK is highly expressed in multiple tumors in several systems (including lung, liver, gastric, and colorectal cancers) and correlates with tumor aggressiveness and patient prognosis. At the molecular level, FAK promotes tumor progression mainly by altering survival signals, invasive capacity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the tumor microenvironment, the Warburg effect, and stemness of tumor cells. Many effective drugs have been developed based on the comprehensive role of FAK in tumor cells. In addition, its potential as a tumor marker cannot be ignored. Here, we discuss the pathological and pre-clinical evidence of the role of FAK in cancer development; we hope that these findings will assist in FAK-based clinical studies.

The Insulin-like Growth Factor System and Colorectal Cancer

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are peptides which exert mitogenic, endocrine and cytokine activities. Together with their receptors, binding proteins and associated molecules, they participate in numerous pathophysiological processes, including cancer development. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, whose etiology usually represents a combination of the environmental and genetic factors. IGFs are most often increased in CRC, enabling excessive autocrine/paracrine stimulation of the cell growth. Overexpression or increased activation/accessibility of IGF receptors is a coinciding step which transmits IGF-related signals. A number of molecules and biochemical mechanisms exert modulatory effects shaping the final outcome of the IGF-stimulated processes, frequently leading to neoplastic transformation in the case of irreparable disbalance. The IGF system and related molecules and pathways which participate in the development of CRC are the focus of this review.

Metabolic reprogramming consequences of sepsis: adaptations and contradictions

During sepsis, the importance of alterations in cell metabolism is underappreciated. The cellular metabolism, which has a variable metabolic profile in different cells and disease stages, is largely responsible for the immune imbalance and organ failure associated with sepsis. Metabolic reprogramming, in which glycolysis replaces OXPHOS as the main energy-producing pathway, is both a requirement for immune cell activation and a cause of immunosuppression. Meanwhile, the metabolites produced by OXPHOS and glycolysis can act as signaling molecules to control the immune response during sepsis. Sepsis-induced "energy shortage" leads to stagnated cell function and even organ dysfunction. Metabolic reprogramming can alleviate the energy crisis to some extent, enhance host tolerance to maintain cell survival functions, and ultimately increase the adaptation of cells during sepsis. However, a switch from glycolysis to OXPHOS is essential for restoring cell function. This review summarized the crosstalk between metabolic reprogramming and immune cell activity as well as organ function during sepsis, discussed the benefits and drawbacks of metabolic reprogramming to show the contradictions of metabolic reprogramming during sepsis, and assessed the feasibility of treating sepsis through targeted metabolism. Using metabolic reprogramming to achieve metabolic homeostasis could be a viable therapy option for sepsis.

Metabolic pathway-based molecular subtyping of colon cancer reveals clinical immunotherapy potential and prognosis

PURPOSE

Colon cancer presents challenges to clinical diagnosis and management due to its high heterogeneity. For more efficient and convenient diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, we are committed to characterizing the molecular features of colon cancer by pioneering a classification system based on metabolic pathways.

METHODS

Based on the 113 metabolic pathways and genes collected in the previous stage, we scored and filtered the metabolic pathways of each sample in the training set by ssGSEA, and obtained 16 metabolic pathways related to colon cancer recurrence. In consistent clustering of training set samples with recurrence-related metabolic pathway scores, we identified two robust molecular subtypes of colon cancer (MC1 and MC2). Furthermore, we performed multi-angle analysis on the survival differences of subtypes, metabolic characteristics, clinical characteristics, functional enrichment, immune infiltration, differences with other subtypes, stemness indices, TIDE prediction, and drug sensitivity, and finally constructed colon cancer prognostic model.

RESULTS

The results showed that the MC1 subtype had a poor prognosis based on higher immune activity and immune checkpoint gene expression. The MC2 subtype is associated with high metabolic activity and low expression of immune checkpoint genes and a better prognosis. The MC2 subtype was more responsive to PD-L1 immunotherapy than the MC1 subclass. However, we did not observe significant differences in tumor mutational burden between the two.

CONCLUSION

Two molecular subtypes of colon cancer based on metabolic pathways have distinct immune signatures. Constructing prognostic models based on subtype differential genes provides valuable reference for personalized therapy targeting unique tumor metabolic signatures.

Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer: From Mechanism to Clinic

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The 5-year survival rate is 90% for patients with early CRC, 70% for patients with locally advanced CRC, and 15% for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). In fact, most CRC patients are at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. Although chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy have significantly improved patient survival, some patients are initially insensitive to these drugs or initially sensitive but quickly become insensitive, and the emergence of such primary and secondary drug resistance is a significant clinical challenge. The most direct cause of resistance is the aberrant anti-tumor drug metabolism, transportation or target. With more in-depth research, it is found that cell death pathways, carcinogenic signals, compensation feedback loop signal pathways and tumor immune microenvironment also play essential roles in the drug resistance mechanism. Here, we assess the current major mechanisms of CRC resistance and describe potential therapeutic interventions.

Noncoding RNAs in the Glycolysis of Ovarian Cancer

Energy metabolism reprogramming is the characteristic feature of tumors. The tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of ovarian cancer (OC) is dependent on energy metabolism. Even under adequate oxygen conditions, OC cells tend to convert glucose to lactate, and glycolysis can rapidly produce ATP to meet their metabolic energy needs. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact directly with DNA, RNA, and proteins to function as an essential regulatory in gene expression and tumor pathology. Studies have shown that ncRNAs regulate the process of glycolysis by interacting with the predominant glycolysis enzyme and cellular signaling pathway, participating in tumorigenesis and progression. This review summarizes the mechanism of ncRNAs regulation in glycolysis in OC and investigates potential therapeutic targets.