In vitro cell migration and invasion assays

S-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoyl)-N-acetyl-l-cysteine for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer through regulating NF-κB signalling pathway without neurotoxicity

The discovery of novel targeted agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains an important research landscape due to the limited efficacy, side effects and drug resistance of current treatment options. Among many repurposed drugs, disulphiram (DSF) has shown the potential to target tumours. However, its unpleasant neurotoxicity greatly limits its use. A DSF derivative, S-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoyl)-N-acetyl-l-cysteine (DS-NAC), was synthesised against NSCLC. The therapeutic effects, mechanism and toxicities of DS-NAC were evaluated in A549 and H460 cells and the mouse model of in situ lung cancer. The in vitro results exhibited that DS-NAC had potent anti-proliferation, apoptotic, anti-metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inhibition effects. In the orthotopic lung cancer mouse model, therapeutic effects of DS-NAC were better than those of DSF and were similar to docetaxel (DTX). Also, results from western blot and immunohistochemistry showed that DS-NAC in combination with copper exerted therapeutic effects via regulating NF-κB signalling pathway and ROS-related proteins such as HIF-1α, Nrf2 and PKC-δ rather than regulating ROS level directly. Moreover, the safety evaluation study showed that DS-NAC had low haematologic and hepatic toxicities in comparison with DTX as well as low neurological toxicity compared with DSF. DS-NAC could be a promising anti-lung cancer agent with a favourable safety profile.

Proanthocyanidin Regulates NETosis and Inhibits the Growth and Proliferation of Liver Cancer Cells - In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Investigation

Liver cancer ranks third in global cancer-related mortality, with about 700,000 deaths recorded yearly, making it one of the most common cancers worldwide. Even though prognoses differ according to the severity of the diseases, many patients now exhibit an increased life cycle since the implementation of chemotherapy. In the current study, we investigated the effect of proanthocyanidin ‒a polyphenol molecule found in many plants‒ on the proliferation and invasion of liver cancer cells. In particular, we determined the effect of proanthocyanidin on the serum levels of four strategic liver cancer target, TNFα, IL-6, cfDNA, and IL-1β. Further molecular insight on the inhibitory mechanism of proanthocyanidin against TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β was obtained via molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. Results showed that proanthocyanidin inhibited the growth of HepG2 and HEP3B cells, and effectively reduced clonogenic survival and invasion potential when compared to control cells. Proanthocyanidin was also found to suppress the expression of Bcl-2 (26 kDa) protein in HepG2 cells, while increasing the expression of Bax (21 kDa). Molecular dynamics (MD) and thermodynamic binding free energy calculations showed that proanthocyanidin maintained stable binding within the active site of target proteins across the entire 100 ns MD simulation period, and its binding affinity outscored respective control molecules.In conclusion, the multifaceted analysis showcased in this study demonstrated promising anti-cancer effect of proanthocyanidin on HepG2 and HEP3B cancer cells, highlighting its potential as a viable liver cancer therapeutic alternative.

Studying the Pulmonary Endothelium in Health and Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report

Lung endothelium resides at the interface between the circulation and the underlying tissue, where it senses biochemical and mechanical properties of both the blood as it flows through the vascular circuit and the vessel wall. The endothelium performs the bidirectional signaling between the blood and tissue compartments that is necessary to maintain homeostasis while physically separating both, facilitating a tightly regulated exchange of water, solutes, cells, and signals. Disruption in endothelial function contributes to vascular disease, which can manifest in discrete vascular locations along the artery-to-capillary-to-vein axis. Although our understanding of mechanisms that contribute to endothelial cell injury and repair in acute and chronic vascular disease have advanced, pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie site-specific vascular disease remain incompletely understood. In an effort to improve the translatability of mechanistic studies of the endothelium, the American Thoracic Society convened a workshop to optimize rigor, reproducibility, and translation of discovery to advance our understanding of endothelial cell function in health and disease.

Engineering Three-Dimensional Spheroid Culture for Enrichment of Proangiogenic miRNAs in Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Promotion of Angiogenesis

In the field of regenerative medicine, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have a plausible potential. However, traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems remain limited in replicating the complex in vivo microenvironment. Thus, three-dimensional (3D) cultures offer a more physiologically relevant model. This study explored the impact of 3D culture conditions on the UC-MSC secretome and its ability to promote angiogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, using two distinct methods, we successfully cultured UC-MSCs: in a monolayer (2D-UC-MSCs) and as spheroids formed in U-shaped 96-well plates (3D-UC-MSCs). The presence and expression of proangiogenic miRNAs in the conditioned media (CM) of these cultures were investigated, and differential expression patterns were explored. Particularly, the CM of 3D-UC-MSCs revealed significantly higher levels of miR-21-5p, miR-126-5p, and miR-130a-3p compared to 2D-UC-MSCs. Moreover, the CM from 3D-UC-MSCs revealed a higher effect on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation than did the CM from 2D-UC-MSCs, indicating their proangiogenic potential. In an in vivo Matrigel plug mouse model, 3D-UC-MSCs (cells) stimulated greater vascular formation compared to 2D-UC-MSCs (cells). 3D culture of UC-MSCs' secretome improves the promotion of angiogenesis.

Functionalized siRNA-chitosan nanoformulations promote triple-negative breast cancer cell death via blocking the miRNA-21/AKT/ERK signaling axis: in-silico and in vitro studies

Oncogenic microRNA (miRNA), especially miRNA-21 upregulation in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), suggests a new class of therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to create GE11 peptide-conjugated small interfering RNA-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (GE11-siRNA-CSNPs) for the targeting of EGFR overexpressed TNBC and selectively inhibit miRNA-21 expression. A variety of in-silico and in vitro cellular and molecular studies were conducted to investigate the binding affinities of specific targets used as well as the anticancer efficacies and mechanisms of GE11-siRNA-CSNPs in TNBC cells. An in-silico assessment reveals a distinct binding affinity of miRNA-21 with siRNA as well as between the extracellular domain of EGFR and synthesized peptides. Notably, the in vitro results showed that GE11-siRNA-CSNPs were revealed to have better cytotoxicity against TNBC cells. It significantly inhibits miRNA-21 expression, cell migration, and colony formation. The results also indicated that GE11-siRNA-CSNPs impeded cell cycle progression. It induces cell death by reducing the expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 and increasing the expression of the proapoptotic genes Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9. Additionally, the docking analysis and immunoblot investigations verified that GE1-siRNA-CSNPs, which specifically target TNBC cells and suppress miRNA-21, can prevent the effects of miRNA-21 on the proliferation of TNBC cells via controlling EGFR and subsequently inhibiting the PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling axis. The GE11-siRNA-CSNPs design, which specifically targets TNBC cells, offers a novel approach for the treatment of breast cancer with improved effectiveness. This study suggests that GE11-siRNA-CSNPs could be a promising candidate for further assessment as an additional strategy in the treatment of TNBC.

In vitro evidence for the potential of EGFR inhibitors to decrease the TGF-β1-induced dispersal of circulating tumour cell clusters mediated by EGFR overexpression

Most cancer-related deaths are due to the spread of tumour cells throughout the body-a process known as metastasis. While in the vasculature, these cells are referred to as circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and can be found as either single cells or clusters of cells (often including platelets), with the latter having the highest metastatic potential. However, the biology of CTC clusters is poorly understood, and there are no therapies that specifically target them. We previously developed an in vitro model system for CTC clusters and proposed a new extravasation model that involves cluster dissociation, adherence, and single-cell invasion in response to TGF-β1 released by platelets. Here, we investigated TGF-β1-induced gene expression changes in this model, focusing on genes for which targeted drugs are available. In addition to the upregulation of the TGF-β1 signalling pathway, we found that (i) genes in the EGF/EGFR pathway, including those coding for EGFR and several EGFR ligands, were also induced, and (ii) Erlotinib and Osimertinib, two therapeutic EGFR/tyrosine kinase inhibitors, decreased the TGF-β1-induced adherence and invasion of the CTC cluster-like line despite the line expressing wild-type EGFR. Overall, we suggest that EGFR inhibitors have the potential to decrease the dispersal of CTC clusters that respond to TGF-β1 and overexpress EGFR (irrespective of its status) and thus could improve patient survival.

Pyrocurzerenone suppresses human oral cancer cell metastasis by inhibiting the expression of ERK1/2 and cathepsin S proteins

Pyrocurzerenone is a natural compound found in Curcuma zedoaria and Chloranthus serratus. However, the anticancer effect of pyrocurzerenone in oral cancer remains unclear. Using the MTT assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and western blot analysis, we investigated the impact of pyrocurzerenone on antimetastatic activity, as well as the critical signalling pathways that underlie the processes of oral cancer cell lines SCC-9, SCC-1 and SAS in this work. Our findings suggested that pyrocurzerenone inhibits cell migration and invasion ability in oral cancer cell lines. Furthermore, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 had significant inhibitory effects in SCC-9 and SCC-1 cell lines. Combining ERK1/2 inhibitors with pyrocurzerenone decreased the migration and invasion activity of SCC-9 and SCC-1 cell lines. We also found that the expressed level of cathepsin S decreased under pyrocurzerenone treatment. This study showed that pyrocurzerenone reduced ERK1/2 expression of the proteins and cathepsin S, suggesting that it could be a valuable treatment to inhibit human oral cancer cell metastasis.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastatic and anti-oxidant activities of novel chalcones incorporating 2-phenoxy-N-arylacetamide and thiophene moieties: induction of apoptosis in MCF7 and HEP2 cells

Eight Novel chalcones were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by different spectral tools. All the prepared compounds were subjected to SRB cytotoxic screening against several cancer cell lines. Compound 5c exerted the most promising effect against MCF7 and HEP2 cells with IC50 values of 9.5 and 12 µg/mL, respectively. Real-time PCR demonstrated the inhibitory effect of compound 5c on the expression level of Antigen kiel 67 (KI-67), Survivin, Interleukin-1beta (IL-1B), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Protein kinase B (AKT1) genes. Flow-cytometric analysis of the cell cycle indicated that compound 5c stopped the cell cycle at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases in MCF7 and HEP2 treated cells, respectively. ELISA assay showed that Caspase 8, Caspase 9, P53, BAX, and Glutathione (GSH) were extremely activated and Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), BCL2, Malondialdehyde (MDA), and IL-6 were deactivated in 5c treated MCF7 and HEP2 cells. Wound healing revealed that chalcone 5c reduced the ability to close the scrape wound and decreased the number of migrating MCF7 and HEP2 cells compared to the untreated cells after 48 h. Theoretical molecular modeling against P53 cancer mutant Y220C and Bcl2 showed binding energies of -22.8 and -24.2 Kcal/mole, respectively, which confirmed our ELISA results.

Inhibitory effect of recombinant tyrosine‑sulfated madanin‑1, a thrombin inhibitor, on the behavior of MDA‑MB‑231 and SKOV3 cells in vitro

Thrombin, which plays a crucial role in hemostasis, is also implicated in cancer progression. In the present study, the effects of the thrombin‑targeting recombinant tyrosine‑sulfated madanin‑1 on cancer cell behavior and signaling pathways compared with madanin‑1 wild‑type (WT) were investigated. Recombinant madanin‑1 2 sulfation (madanin‑1 2S) and madanin‑1 WT proteins were generated using Escherichia coli. SKOV3 and MDA‑MB‑231 cells were treated with purified recombinant proteins with or without thrombin stimulation. Migration and invasion of cells were analyzed by wound healing assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Thrombin markedly increased cell migration and invasion in both SKOV3 and MDA‑MB‑231 cells, which were significantly suppressed by madanin‑1 2S (P<0.05). Madanin‑1 2S also significantly suppressed thrombin‑induced expression of phosphorylated (p)‑Akt and p‑extracellular signal‑regulated kinase in both cell lines (P<0.05), whereas madanin‑1 WT had no effect on the expression levels of these proteins in MDA‑MB‑231 cells. Furthermore, madanin‑1 2S significantly reversed the effects of thrombin on E‑cadherin, N‑cadherin and vimentin expression in MDA‑MB‑231 cells (P<0.05), whereas madanin‑1 WT did not show any effect. In conclusion, madanin‑1 2S suppressed the migration and invasion of cancer cells more effectively than madanin‑1 WT. It is hypothesized that inhibiting thrombin via the sulfated form of madanin‑1 may be a potential candidate for enhanced cancer therapy; however, further in vivo validation is required.

A disulfiram derivative against lung cancer via the Notch signaling pathway without neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity

The exploration of novel anti-lung cancer small-molecule drugs is important for drug resistance and adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs in current clinics. Disulfiram (DSF), as an antidote, has been proven to have excellent antitumor effects in combination with copper (Cu). However, the risk for potential neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in clinical use, as well as its poor water solubility, limits its use. In this study, we identified a DSF derivative, S-(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoyl)-N-acetyl-L-cysteine, which could greatly increase the water solubility by converting it to a calcium salt (DS-NAC). The anti-lung cancer pharmacodynamic studies in vitro of DS-NAC were evaluated and a mouse model of lung cancer in situ was established to explore the therapeutic effects of DS-NAC compared with DSF and oxaliplatin (OXA). The results demonstrated that DS-NAC combined with Cu had superior cytotoxicity to DSF and OXA in the CCK8 assay against lung cancer cells, and exhibited potent anti-metastatic, epithelial-mesenchymal transition inhibition. In addition, DS-NAC showed better antitumor effects than DSF and comparable effects to OXA in lung cancer in situ model. In terms of the antitumor mechanism, we discovered that DS-NAC in combination with Cu exerted a greater inhibitory effect on the Notch pathway than DSF, which may account for its excellent antitumor effects. Finally, we verified the safety of DS-NAC in vivo, showing lower hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity compared with DSF and OXA. DS-NAC is a promising anti-lung cancer drug with a favorable safety profile.

Methods and computational tools to study eukaryotic cell migration in vitro

Cellular movement is essential for many vital biological functions where it plays a pivotal role both at the single cell level, such as during division or differentiation, and at the macroscopic level within tissues, where coordinated migration is crucial for proper morphogenesis. It also has an impact on various pathological processes, one for all, cancer spreading. Cell migration is a complex phenomenon and diverse experimental methods have been developed aimed at dissecting and analysing its distinct facets independently. In parallel, corresponding analytical procedures and tools have been devised to gain deep insight and interpret experimental results. Here we review established experimental techniques designed to investigate specific aspects of cell migration and present a broad collection of historical as well as cutting-edge computational tools used in quantitative analysis of cell motion.

The mitochondrial stress-induced protein carboxyl-terminal alanine and threonine tailing (msiCAT-tailing) promotes glioblastoma tumorigenesis by modulating mitochondrial functions

The rapid and sustained proliferation in cancer cells requires accelerated protein synthesis. Accelerated protein synthesis and disordered cell metabolism in cancer cells greatly increase the risk of translation errors. ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) is a recently discovered mechanism for resolving ribosome collisions caused by frequent translation stalls. The role of the RQC pathway in cancer initiation and progression remains controversial and confusing. In this study, we investigated the pathogenic role of mitochondrial stress-induced protein carboxyl-terminal terminal alanine and threonine tailing (msiCAT-tailing) in glioblastoma (GBM), which is a specific RQC response to translational arrest on the outer mitochondrial membrane. We found that msiCAT-tailed mitochondrial proteins frequently exist in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Ectopically expressed msiCAT-tailed mitochondrial ATP synthase F1 subunit alpha (ATP5α) protein increases the mitochondrial membrane potential and blocks mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) formation/opening. These changes in mitochondrial properties confer resistance to staurosporine (STS)-induced apoptosis in GBM cells. Therefore, msiCAT-tailing can promote cell survival and migration, while genetic and pharmacological inhibition of msiCAT-tailing can prevent the overgrowth of GBM cells.

Highlights

The RQC pathway is disturbed in glioblastoma (GBM) cellsmsiCAT-tailing on ATP5α elevates mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibits MPTP openingmsiCAT-tailing on ATP5α inhibits drug-induced apoptosis in GBM cellsInhibition of msiCAT-tailing impedes overall growth of GBM cells.

Comparative Proteomics Identified EXOSC1 as a Target Protein of Anticancer Peptide LVTX-8 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent malignancy that usually occurs among the nose and throat. Due to mild initial symptoms, most patients are diagnosed in the late stage, and the recurrence rate of tumors is high, resulting in many deaths every year. Traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy are prone to causing drug resistance and significant side effects. Therefore, searching for new bioactive drugs including anticancer peptides is necessary and urgent. LVTX-8 is a peptide toxin synthesized from the cDNA library of the spider Lycosa vittata, which is consisting of 25 amino acids. In this study, a series of in vitro cell experiments such as cell toxicity, colony formation, and cell migration assays were performed to exam the anticancer activity of LVTX-8 in NPC cells (5-8F and CNE-2). The results suggested that LVTX-8 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration of NPC cells. To find the potential molecular targets for the anticancer capability of LVTX-8, high-throughput proteomic and bioinformatics analysis were conducted on NPC cells. The results identified EXOSC1 as a potential target protein with significantly differential expression levels under LVTX-8+/LVTX-8- conditions. The results in this research indicate that spider peptide toxin LVTX-8 exhibits significant anticancer activity in NPC, and EXOSC1 may serve as a target protein for its anticancer activity. These findings provide a reference for the development of new therapeutic drugs for NPC and offer new ideas for the discovery of biomarkers related to NPC diagnosis. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium (https://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org) via the iProX partner repository with the data set identifier PXD050542.

Extracellular vesicles derived from human foreskin cells (hFS-Exo) accelerate cell migration and angiogenesis through MAPK pathway: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Wound healing is one of the important processes in the body. Attempts to create new drugs are of interest due to the side effects of natural and chemical wound healing compounds. To overcome this obstacle, stem cells have been used as healing agents. However, both difficulties in collection and risks such as rejection and teratoma in the recipient body have limited the use of stem cells, directly. Since the potential content of the stem cells can be transferred to the recipient cells by vesicles, small extracellular vesicles have recently become prominent agents.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The wound-healing effect of extracellular vesicles derived from foreskin cells was investigated in both keratinocyte and endothelial cells. Migration assay, RT-PCR, Col1a1 ELISA and Western Blot experiments were utilized to reveal healing effect of EVs and its possible molecular pathways. EV-treated groups exhibited more proliferative, invasive, and migrative characteristics. When comparing to the control group, new vessel formation was induced in EV groups. An increase in gene levels of growth factors related to wound healing and change in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway proteins in EV-treated groups were determined. Possible molecular mechanisms underlying cell movements were associated with the MAPK pathway. It was found that human foreskin cell EVs (hFS-Exo) may have a potential to heal wounds in a short period of time by triggering the MAPK pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

hFS-Exo could be a new promising wound healing agent in the future.

A first comprehensive analysis of Transcribed Ultra Conserved Regions uncovers important regulatory functions of novel non-coding transcripts in gliomas

Transcribed Ultra-Conserved Regions (TUCRs) represent a severely understudied class of putative non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are 100% conserved across multiple species. We performed the first-ever analysis of TUCRs in glioblastoma (GBM) and low-grade gliomas (LGG). We leveraged large human datasets to identify the genomic locations, chromatin accessibility, transcription, differential expression, correlation with survival, and predicted functions of all 481 TUCRs, and identified TUCRs that are relevant to glioma biology. Of these, we investigated the expression, function, and mechanism of action of the most highly upregulated intergenic TUCR, uc.110, identifying it as a new oncogene. Uc.110 was highly overexpressed in GBM and LGG, where it promoted malignancy and tumor growth. Uc.110 activated the WNT pathway by upregulating the expression of membrane frizzled-related protein (MFRP), by sponging the tumor suppressor microRNA miR-544. This pioneering study shows important roles for TUCRs in gliomas and provides an extensive database and novel methods for future TUCR research.

Cellular and molecular antiproliferative effects in 2D monolayer and 3D-cultivated HT-29 cells treated with zerumbone

Zerumbone (ZER) is a phytochemical isolated from plants of the Zingiberaceae family. Numerous studies have demonstrated its diverse pharmacological properties, particularly its potent antitumorigenic activity. This study aimed to assess the antiproliferative effects of ZER on HT-29 cells cultivated in both two-dimensional (2D) monolayer and three-dimensional (3D) spheroid culture systems. The evaluation of growth (size), cell death, and cell cycle arrest in 3D spheroid HT-29 cells was correlated with mRNA expression data. Treatment of 2D cells revealed that ZER exhibited cytotoxicity at concentrations above 30 µM, and an IC50 of 83.54 µM (24-h post-ZER treatment) effectively suppressed cell migration. In the 3D model, ZER induced an increase in spheroid volume over a 72-h period attributed to disaggregation and reconfiguration of characteristic zones. Analysis of cell death demonstrated a significant rise in apoptotic cells after 24 h of ZER treatment, along with cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Furthermore, ZER treatment resulted in alterations in mRNA expression, affecting key signaling pathways involved in cell death (BCL2 and BBC3), endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERN1), DNA damage (GADD45A), cell cycle regulation (CDKN1A, NFKB1, MYC, and TP53), and autophagy (BECN1 and SQSTM1). These findings suggested that ZER holds promise as a potential candidate for the development of novel anticancer agents that can modulate crucial cell signaling pathways. Additionally, the use of the 3D culture system proved to be a valuable tool in our investigation.

Anti-melanoma and antioxidant properties of the methanol extract from the leaves of Phragmenthera capitata (Spreng.) Balle and Globimetula braunii (Engl.) Van Tiegh

OBJECTIVES

Phragmenthera capitata (Spreng.) Balle and Globimetula braunii (Engler.) Van Tiegh are African mistletoe traditionally used in cancers treatment. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the anti-melanoma potential of the methanol extract of Phragmenthera capitata (Spreng.) Balle (PCMe-OH) and Globimetula braunii (Engler.) (GBMe-OH) Van Tiegh.

METHODS

Antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH, FRAP and hydroxyl assays. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents was also determined. MTT assay was used to estimate the effects on cell viability using SK-MLE28 and B16-F10 cell lines. Colony formation and wound healing were also assessed. Fluorometry methods were used for qualitative analysis of apoptosis and estimate ROS production. Western blot analysis was used for protein expression.

RESULTS

Phragmenthera capitata (PCMe-OH) showed the highest antioxidant activity and possess the highest phenolic contents (1,490.80 ± 55 mgGAE/g extract) in comparison with G. braunii (GBMe-OH) and (1,071.40 ± 45 mgGAE/g extract). Flavonoid content was similar in both extracts (11.63 ± 5.51 mg CATE/g of extract and 12.46 ± 2.58 mg CATE/g of extract respectively). PC-MeOH showed the highest cytotoxicity effect (IC50 of 55.35 ± 1.17 μg/mL) and exhibited anti-migrative potential on B16-F10 cells. Furthermore, PC-MeOH at 55.35 and 110.7 μg/mL; promoted apoptosis-induced cell death in B16-F10 cells by increasing intracellular ROS levels and reducing Bcl-2 expression level at 110.7 μg/mL. Significant upregulation of P-PTEN expression was recorded with PC-MeOH at 110.7 μg/mL; inhibiting therefore PI3K/AKT/m-Tor signaling pathway. Moreover, at 55.37 μg/mL significant reduction of c-myc and cyclin D1 was observed; dysregulating the MAPK kinase signaling pathway and cell cycle progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Phragmenthera capitata may be developed into selective chemotherapy to fight against melanoma.

Characterization of cardiac fibroblast-extracellular matrix crosstalk across developmental ages provides insight into age-related changes in cardiac repair

Heart failure afflicts an estimated 6.5 million people in the United States, driven largely by incidents of coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD leads to heart failure due to the inability of adult myocardial tissue to regenerate after myocardial infarction (MI). Instead, immune cells and resident cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), the cells responsible for the maintenance of the cardiac extracellular matrix (cECM), drive an inflammatory wound healing response, which leads to fibrotic scar tissue. However, fibrosis is reduced in fetal and early (<1-week-old) neonatal mammals, which exhibit a transient capability for regenerative tissue remodeling. Recent work by our laboratory and others suggests this is in part due to compositional differences in the cECM and functional differences in CFs with respect to developmental age. Specifically, fetal cECM and CFs appear to mitigate functional loss in MI models and engineered cardiac tissues, compared to adult CFs and cECM. We conducted 2D studies of CFs on solubilized fetal and adult cECM to investigate whether these age-specific functional differences are synergistic with respect to their impact on CF phenotype and, therefore, cardiac wound healing. We found that the CF migration rate and stiffness vary with respect to cell and cECM developmental age and that CF transition to a fibrotic phenotype can be partially attenuated in the fetal cECM. However, this effect was not observed when cells were treated with cytokine TGF-β1, suggesting that inflammatory signaling factors are the dominant driver of the fibroblast phenotype. This information may be valuable for targeted therapies aimed at modifying the CF wound healing response and is broadly applicable to age-related studies of cardiac remodeling.

Ruthenium(II) complex with 2-mercaptothiazoline ligand induces selective cytotoxicity involving DNA damage and apoptosis in melanoma cells

Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal type of skin cancer due to its characteristics such as high metastatic potential and low response rate to existing treatment modalities. In this way, new drug prototypes are being studied to solve the problem of treating patients with melanoma. Among these, ruthenium-based metallopharmaceuticals may be promising alternatives due to their antitumor characteristics and low systemic toxicity. In this context, the present study evaluated the antineoplastic effect of the ruthenium complex [Ru(mtz)(dppe)2]PF6-2-mercaptothiazoline-di-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine) ethaneruthenium(II), namely RuMTZ, on human melanoma (A-375) and murine (B16-F10) cells, considering different approaches. Through XTT colorimetric and clonogenic efficiency assays, the complex revealed the selective cytotoxic activity, with the lowest IC50 (0.4 µM) observed for A375 cells. RuMTZ also induced changes in cell morphology, increased cell population in the sub-G0 phase and inhibiting cell migration. The levels of γH2AX and cleaved caspase 3 proteins were increased in both cell lines treated with RuMTZ. These findings indicated that the cytotoxic activity of RuMTZ on melanoma cells is related, at least in part, to the induction of DNA damage and apoptosis. Therefore, RuMTZ exhibited promising antineoplastic activity against melanoma cells.

Kv3.4 regulates cell migration and invasion through TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process by which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics. This process induces cell migration and invasion, which are closely related to cancer metastasis and malignancy. EMT consists of various intermediate states that express both epithelial and mesenchymal traits, called partial EMT. Recently, several studies have focused on the roles of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels associated with EMT in cancer cell migration and invasion. In this study, we demonstrate the relationship between Kv3.4 and EMT and confirm the effects of cell migration and invasion. With TGF-β treatment, EMT was induced and Kv3.4 was also increased in A549 cells, human lung carcinoma cells. The knockdown of Kv3.4 blocked the EMT progression reducing cell migration and invasion. However, the Kv3.4 overexpressed cells acquired mesenchymal characteristics and increased cell migration and invasion. The overexpression of Kv3.4 also has a synergistic effect with TGF-β in promoting cell migration. Therefore, we conclude that Kv3.4 regulates cancer migration and invasion through TGF-β-induced EMT and these results provide insights into the understanding of cancer metastasis.

Nε-(1-Carboxymethyl)-L-lysine/RAGE Signaling Drives Metastasis and Cancer Stemness through ERK/NFκB axis in Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is an extremely aggressive bone cancer with poor prognosis. Nε-(1-Carboxymethyl)-L-lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end product (AGE), can link to cancer progression, tumorigenesis and metastasis, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The role of CML in osteosarcoma progression is still unclear. We hypothesized that CML could promote migration, invasion, and stemness in osteosarcoma cells. CML and its receptor (RAGE; receptor for AGE) were higher expressed at advanced stages in human osteosarcoma tissues. In mouse models, which streptozotocin was administered to induce CML accumulation in the body, the subcutaneous tumor growth was not affected, but the tumor metastasis using tail vein injection model was enhanced. In cell models (MG63 and U2OS cells), CML enhanced tumor sphere formation and acquisition of cancer stem cell characteristics, induced migration and invasion abilities, as well as triggered the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, which were associated with RAGE expression and activation of downstream signaling pathways, especially the ERK/NFκB pathway. RAGE inhibition elicited CML-induced cell migration, invasion, and stemness through RAGE-mediated ERK/NFκB pathway. These results revealed a crucial role for CML in driving stemness and metastasis in osteosarcoma. These findings uncover a potential CML/RAGE connection and mechanism to osteosarcoma progression and set the stage for further investigation.

DOK7, a target of miR-299-5p, suppresses the progression of bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the 6th most common malignancy in males. microRNA (miRNAs) can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenic factors, which are of significance in the progression of BLCA. This study explored the mechanisms by which miR-299-5p modulates DOK7 (Docking Protein 7) expression and the functional role of DOK7 in the progression of BLCA.

METHODS

The expression of the DOK7 in BLCA patient samples was examined by RT-qPCR (Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction), Western blotting and Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The malignant phenotype of BLCA cells upon DOK7 overexpression or silencing was assessed by functional assays including cell count kit-9 (CCK8), colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) staining assays, as well as Transwell migration and invasion assays. The miRNA regulators of DOK7 were identified through bioinformatics prediction, and the biological role of miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis was validated by functional assays. The impact of miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis on Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway was further examined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

DOX7 was significantly downregulated in BLCA tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. Ectopic DOK7 expression suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of BLCA cells. DOK7 overexpression also attenuated the tumorigenesis of BLCA cells in nude mice. miR-299-5p was a negative regulator of DOK7 expression in BLCA cells. miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis impaired the malignancy of BLCA cells through regulating the JAK signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis suppresses BLCA progression possibly by regulating the JAK signaling pathway.

Epiberberine suppresses the metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating the MMP-13 and JNK pathway

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common histological types of head and neck cancer. Epiberberine is a potent antitumour agent for several types of cancer. This study is aimed at investigating the regulatory and molecular mechanism of epiberberine on HNSSC cell metastasis. The results showed that epiberberine inhibited the motility of Ca9-22 and FaDu cell lines at nontoxicity doses. Moreover, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, vimentin, snail and slug, were found suppressing after epiberberine treatments. In addition, the JNK signalling cascade and the metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) expression were also found downregulated by epiberberine. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that epiberberine suppresses cell migration and invasion by regulating the JNK pathway and MMP-13. These results suggest that epiberberine could be a potential antimetastatic agent in HNSCC cells.

Pterostilbene-Isothiocyanate Inhibits Proliferation of Human MG-63 Osteosarcoma Cells via Abrogating β-Catenin/TCF-4 Interaction-A Mechanistic Insight

Osteosarcoma, a highly metastasizing bone neoplasm, is a leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents worldwide. Osteosarcoma is only suboptimally responsive to surgery and radio- and chemotherapy, that too with adverse side effects. Hence, there is a necessary need for safer alternative therapeutic approaches. This study evaluated the anticancer effects of the semi-synthetic compound, pterostilbene-isothiocyanate (PTER-ITC), on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells through cytotoxicity, wound-healing, and transwell-migration assays. Results showed that PTER-ITC specifically inhibited the survival, proliferation, and migration of osteosarcoma cells. PTER-ITC induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential, as evident from the outcomes of different cytological staining. The antimetastatic potential of PTER-ITC was evaluated through immunostaining, RT-qPCR, and immunoblotting. In silico (molecular docking and dynamic simulation) and, subsequently, biochemical [co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and luciferase reporter] assays deciphered the underlying mode-of-action of this compound. PTER-ITC increased E-cadherin and reduced N-cadherin levels, thereby facilitating the reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). It also modulated the expressions of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), caspase-3, poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase (PARP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMPs-2/9) at transcriptional and translational levels. PTER-ITC interfered with the β-catenin/transcription factor-4 (TCF-4) interaction in silico by occupying the β-catenin binding site on TCF-4, confirmed by their reduced physical interactions (Co-IP assay). This inhibited transcriptional activation of TCF-4 by β-catenin (as shown by luciferase reporter assay). In conclusion, PTER-ITC exhibited potent anticancer effects in vitro against human osteosarcoma cells by abrogating the β-catenin/TCF-4 interaction. Altogether, this study suggests that PTER-ITC may be regarded as a new approach for osteosarcoma treatment.

Role of Oxidative Stress-Dependent C/EBPβ Expression on CAF Transformation Inducing HCT116 Colorectal Cancer Cell Progression; Migration and Invasion

OBJECTIVE

To investigate oxidative stress-related CAF transformation through C/EBPβ, which affects CRC progression and may have a potential implication for CRC treatment.

METHODS

The conditioned media (CM) from HCT116, CRC cells, was used to activate CCD-18Co, colon fibroblasts, then the ability of activated FBs to induce HCT116 growth and progression was assessed using MTT assay, transwell migration, and matrix invasion assay. Alteration of the cytokine profile and oxidative stress of the activated FBs were studied with cytokine arrays and DCFH-DA assay, respectively. The protein expressions of the CAF markers (α-SMA and FAP) and C/EBPβ were investigated with immunofluorescence and western blotting.

RESULT

It was found that CM from HCT116 cells induced oxidative stress, change of cytokine profile, CAF markers, and the C/EBPβ expression of activated FBs. Furthermore, when the oxidative stress of the activated FBs was suppressed, FAP and C/EBPβ expression were downregulated, correlating with the disabling of their capability to support the cancer progression. The C/EBPβ and prognosis for CRC patients were accessed using the GEPIA dataset, in which high C/EBPβ expression was associated with a poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that C/EBPβ expression has a role in CAF transformation in an oxidative stress-related manner and might be used as a target to improve aggressive CRC treatment outcomes.

Suppresses of LIM kinase 2 promotes radiosensitivity in radioresistant non-small cell lung cancer cells

Radiation resistance has always been one of the main obstacles to tumor radiotherapy. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying radiotherapy resistance is a focus of research. In this study, we induced two radiation-resistant cell lines to mimic the radiation resistance of NSCLC and investigated the mechanisms of radiotherapy resistance. Cell radiosensitivity was analyzed by single-cell gel electrophoresis, colony formation and tumor sphere formation assays. A wound healing assay was used to analyze cell migration. Western blotting and siRNA were used to identify the potential mechanism. In animal model experiments, xenograft tumors were used to verify the difference between radiotherapy-resistant and nonresistant NSCLC models after radiotherapy. Our results showed that NSCLC radiation-resistant cells exhibited more radioresistance and migratory abilities under low-dose irradiation. The expression of LIMK2 and p-CFL1 were upregulated in NSCLC radiation-resistant cells. Knockdown of LIMK2 significantly enhanced the radiosensitivity of NSCLC-resistant cells. In vivo, low-dose radiotherapy suppressed tumor growth, induced apoptosis and upregulated the expression of LIMK2 in xenograft tumors. However, radiotherapy had little effect on the NSCLC radiation resistance model. In conclusion, NSCLC radiation-resistant cells exhibit more radioresistance and migratory ability under low-dose irradiation. Strikingly, knockdown of LIMK2 enhanced the radiosensitivity of NSCLC-resistant cells.

HPV16E1 downregulation altered the cell characteristics involved in cervical cancer development

The primary causes of cervical cancer are human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and/or other high-risk (Hr -) HPV infections. Hr-HPVE5, E6, and E7 have been identified as oncoproteins that play roles in the development of cancer. However, other HPV proteins, especially E1, may also be involved in cancer development. In this study, the role of HPV16E1 in cervical carcinogenesis was examined by siRNA knockdown experiments using SiHa cells as a model. The results showed that HPV16E1 regulated P-FOXO3a and HPV16E7 expression. Various cell functions associated with the hallmarks of cancer, including cell viability, colony formation, invasion, and anchorage-independent cell growth, were altered when HPV16E1 was downregulated. However, no effect on cell migration and apoptosis properties was found. Moreover, HPV16E1 downregulation resulted in an increase in cisplatin susceptibility. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration that HPV16E1 might be regarded as a possible novel oncoprotein involved in several processes related to oncogenesis.

Ultra-thin and ultra-porous nanofiber networks as a basement-membrane mimic

Current basement membrane (BM) mimics used for modeling endothelial and epithelial barriers in vitro do not faithfully recapitulate key in vivo physiological properties such as BM thickness, porosity, stiffness, and fibrous composition. Here, we use networks of precisely arranged nanofibers to form ultra-thin (∼3 μm thick) and ultra-porous (∼90%) BM mimics for blood-brain barrier modeling. We show that these nanofiber networks enable close contact between endothelial monolayers and pericytes across the membrane, which are known to regulate barrier tightness. Cytoskeletal staining and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements reveal barrier formation on nanofiber membranes integrated within microfluidic devices and transwell inserts. Further, significantly higher TEER values indicate a biological benefit for co-cultures formed on the ultra-thin nanofiber membranes. Our BM mimic overcomes critical technological challenges in forming co-cultures that are in proximity and facilitate cell-cell contact, while still being constrained to their respective sides. We anticipate that our nanofiber networks will find applications in drug discovery, cell migration, and barrier dysfunction studies.

Circulating extracellular vesicles are monitoring biomarkers of anti-PD1 response and enhancer of tumor progression and immunosuppression in metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND

Clinical drawback in checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy (ICI) of metastatic melanoma (MM) is monitoring clinical benefit. Soluble forms of PD1(sPD1) and PD-L1(sPD-L1) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) expressing PD1 and PD-L1 have recently emerged as predictive biomarkers of response. As factors released in the blood, EVs and soluble forms could be relevant in monitoring treatment efficacy and adaptive resistance to ICI.

METHODS

We used pre-therapy plasma samples of 110 MM patients and longitudinal samples of 46 patients. Elisa assay and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to measure sPD-L1 and sPD1 concentrations and the percentage of PD1+ EVs and PD-L1+ EVs, released from tumor and immune cells in patients subsets. Transwell assays were conducted to investigate the impact of EVs of each patient subset on MM cells invasion and interaction between tumor cells and macrophages or dendritic cells. Viability assays were performed to assess EVs effect on MM cells and organoids sensitivity to anti-PD1. FCM was used to investigate immunosuppressive markers in EVs and immune cells.

RESULTS

The concentrations of sPD1 and sPD-L1 in pre-treatment and longitudinal samples did not correlate with anti-PD1 response, instead only tumor-derived PD1+ EVs decreased in long responders while increased during disease progression in responders. Notably, we observed reduction of T cell derived EVs expressing LAG3+ and PD1+ in long responders and their increase in responders experiencing progression. By investigating the impact of EVs on disease progression, we found that those isolated from non-responders and from patients with progression disease accelerated tumor cells invasiveness and migration towards macrophages, while EVs of long responders reduced the metastatic potential of MM cells and neo-angiogenesis. Additionally, the EVs of non-responders and of progression disease patients subset reduced the sensitivity of MM cells and organoids of responder to anti-PD1 and the recruitment of dendritic cells, while the EVs of progression disease subset skewed macrophages to express higher level of PDL-1.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, we suggest that the detection of tumor-derived PD1 + EVs may represent a useful tool for monitoring the response to anti-PD1 and a role for EVs shed by tumor and immune cells in promoting tumor progression and immune dysfunction.

Validation and characterization of a novel blood-brain barrier platform for investigating traumatic brain injury

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) is a highly-selective physiologic barrier responsible for maintaining cerebral homeostasis. Innovative in vitro models of the BBB are needed to provide useful insights into BBB function with CNS disorders like traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a multidimensional and highly complex pathophysiological condition that requires intrinsic models to elucidate its mechanisms. Current models either lack fluidic shear stress, or neglect hemodynamic parameters important in recapitulating the human in vivo BBB phenotype. To address these limitations in the field, we developed a fluid dynamic novel platform which closely mimics these parameters. To validate our platform, Matrigel-coated Transwells were seeded with brain microvascular endothelial cells, both with and without co-cultured primary human astrocytes and bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In this article we characterized BBB functional properties such as TEER and paracellular permeability. Our platform demonstrated physiologic relevant decreases in TEER in response to an ischemic environment, while directly measuring barrier fluid fluctuation. These recordings were followed with recovery, implying stability of the model. We also demonstrate that our dynamic platform is responsive to inflammatory and metabolic cues with resultant permeability coefficients. These results indicate that this novel dynamic platform will be a valuable tool for evaluating the recapitulating BBB function in vitro, screening potential novel therapeutics, and establishing a relevant paradigm to evaluate the pathophysiology of TBI.

PLGA nanoparticle loaded with antioxidants and photosensitizer for ROS shock mediated phototherapy of triple negative breast cancer

The potential use of antioxidants for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is investigated in this study. PDT causes reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cell death; on the contrary, antioxidants scavenge ROS. The use of a photosensitizer along with an antioxidant photosensitizer compensates for the loss of ROS due to the use of antioxidant, eventually leading to cell death. In this work, for PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT), we have combined the photosensitizer IR 792 perchlorate dye with the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (A) andp-coumaric acid (C) encapsulated in a polymeric nanocarrier (AC IR NPs). We have reported the synthesis of AC IR NPs using poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) by nanoprecipitation method. The size of the polymeric nanoparticles was found to be 80.4 ± 15.6 nm, with a spherical morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized AC IR NPs demonstrated good biocompatibility in fibroblast cell lines (L929). Furthermore, the efficacy assessment of the as prepared nanosystemin vitroon breast cancer cell lines (4T1) revealed a significant cell death of nearly 80%. This could be attributed to the ROS generation leading to oxidative stress and inhibition of metastasis. This study provides evidence that the combination of antioxidant drugs along with photosensitizers have the potential to be an effective therapy for treating triple negative breast cancer.

Targeting c-Jun Is a Potential Therapy for Luminal Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

Luminal breast cancer has the highest bone metastasis frequency among all breast cancer subtypes; however, its metastatic mechanism has not been elucidated because of a lack of appropriate models. We have previously developed useful bone metastatic cell lines of luminal breast cancer using MCF7 cells. In this study, we characterized bone metastatic MCF7-BM cell lines and identified c-Jun as a novel bone metastasis marker of luminal breast cancer. The protein level of c-Jun was upregulated in MCF7-BM cells compared with that in parental cells, and its deficiency resulted in the suppression of tumor cell migration, transformation, and reduced osteolytic ability. In vivo, dominant-negative c-Jun exhibited smaller bone metastatic lesions and a lower metastatic frequency. Histologic analysis revealed that c-Jun expression was heterogeneous in bone metastatic lesions, whereas c-Jun overexpression mediated a vicious cycle between MCF7-BM cells and osteoclasts by enhancing calcium-induced migration and releasing the osteoclast activator BMP5. Pharmacological inhibition of c-Jun by the Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor JNK-IN-8 effectively suppressed tumorigenesis and bone metastasis in MCF7-BM cells. Furthermore, c-Jun downstream signals were specifically correlated with the clinical prognosis of patients with the luminal subtype of breast cancer. Our results illustrate the potential benefits of a therapy that targets c-Jun to prevent bone metastasis in luminal breast cancer.

IMPLICATIONS

c-Jun expression mediates bone metastasis in luminal breast cancer by forming a vicious cycle in the bone microenvironment, which reveals potential strategies for subtype-specific bone metastasis therapy.

Mir-25 Promotes Metastasis of Esophageal Cancer by Targeting BTG2

At present times, various kinds of literature have suggested the miR-25 acts as an oncogene in various types of human malignancies and until now, very less work has been performed pertaining to the role of miR-25 in esopharyngeal cancer. This study was performed to confirm that miR-25 is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tumor tissue as a prognostic biomarker and to clarify the mechanism of miR-25. The expression levels of miR-25 and BTG2 were detected in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumor tissue. A stably knocked-down miR-25 cell line (miR-25KD) was established in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Moreover, a CCK-8 assay was performed for determining the role of miR-25 in proliferation. The Transwell assays were organized to detect metastasis. Later, a gene profiling study was carried out to identify the gene expression pertaining to tumor progression. The expression of miR-25 in the esophageal cancer tissues was much higher compared with that in paracarcinoma tissues (6.42±4.28 VS 3.36±2.63, p<0.001). A high level of miR-25 was identified to be correlated with postoperative metastasis (χ2=8.187, p =0.004). BTG2 levels were significantly lower in tumor tissues (3.24±2.79) than those in adjacent non-tumor tissues (1.96±1.56 VS 2.64±1.41, p<0.001). Negative signs of BTG2 were also associated with postoperative metastasis (χ2=7.766, p=0.005). Besides, BTG2-negative cancer tissues are often accompanied by increased miR-25 expression levels (χ2=18.379, p<0.001). Patients with high miR-25 levels were found with worse overall survival (OS) (χ2=6.906, p=0.009) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) (χ2=4.991, p=0.025). Patients with positive BTG2 had better OS (χ2=12.917, p <0.001) and MFS (χ2=14.173, p<0.001). Knockdown of miR-25 helped to inhibit the proliferation and metastatic ability of esophageal cancer cells. Also, MiR-25 inhibits the expression of BTG2 directly. Results also show that miR-25 also helps to suppress the expression of vimentin and increase the expressions of E-cadherin and BTG2. MiR-25 promotes ESCC progression by directly inhibiting the expression of BTG2. MiR-25 and BTG2 can be utilized as prognostic biomarkers.

Isoform-specific disruption of the TP73 gene reveals a critical role for TAp73γ in tumorigenesis via leptin

TP73, a member of the p53 family, is expressed as TAp73 and ΔNp73 along with multiple C-terminal isoforms (α-η). ΔNp73 is primarily expressed in neuronal cells and necessary for neuronal development. Interestingly, while TAp73α is a tumor suppressor and predominantly expressed in normal cells, TAp73 is found to be frequently altered in human cancers, suggesting a role of TAp73 C-terminal isoforms in tumorigenesis. To test this, the TCGA SpliceSeq database was searched and showed that exon 11 (E11) exclusion occurs frequently in several human cancers. We also found that p73α to p73γ isoform switch resulting from E11 skipping occurs frequently in human prostate cancers and dog lymphomas. To determine whether p73α to p73γ isoform switch plays a role in tumorigenesis, CRISPR technology was used to generate multiple cancer cell lines and a mouse model in that Trp73 E11 is deleted. Surprisingly, we found that in E11-deificient cells, p73γ becomes the predominant isoform and exerts oncogenic activities by promoting cell proliferation and migration. In line with this, E11-deficient mice were more prone to obesity and B-cell lymphomas, indicating a unique role of p73γ in lipid metabolism and tumorigenesis. Additionally, we found that E11-deficient mice phenocopies Trp73-deficient mice with short lifespan, infertility, and chronic inflammation. Mechanistically, we showed that Leptin, a pleiotropic adipocytokine involved in energy metabolism and oncogenesis, was highly induced by p73γ,necessary for p73γ-mediated oncogenic activity, and associated with p73α to γ isoform switch in human prostate cancer and dog lymphoma. Finally, we showed that E11-knockout promoted, whereas knockdown of p73γ or Leptin suppressed, xenograft growth in mice. Our study indicates that the p73γ-Leptin pathway promotes tumorigenesis and alters lipid metabolism, which may be targeted for cancer management.

Splicing Factor SRSF1 Promotes Pancreatitis and KRASG12D-Mediated Pancreatic Cancer

Inflammation is strongly associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal malignancy. Dysregulated RNA splicing factors have been widely reported in tumorigenesis, but their involvement in pancreatitis and PDAC is not well understood. Here, we report that the splicing factor SRSF1 is highly expressed in pancreatitis, PDAC precursor lesions, and tumors. Increased SRSF1 is sufficient to induce pancreatitis and accelerate KRASG12D-mediated PDAC. Mechanistically, SRSF1 activates MAPK signaling-partly by upregulating interleukin 1 receptor type 1 (IL1R1) through alternative-splicing-regulated mRNA stability. Additionally, SRSF1 protein is destabilized through a negative feedback mechanism in phenotypically normal epithelial cells expressing KRASG12D in mouse pancreas and in pancreas organoids acutely expressing KRASG12D, buffering MAPK signaling and maintaining pancreas cell homeostasis. This negative feedback regulation of SRSF1 is overcome by hyperactive MYC, facilitating PDAC tumorigenesis. Our findings implicate SRSF1 in the etiology of pancreatitis and PDAC, and point to SRSF1-misregulated alternative splicing as a potential therapeutic target.

SIGNIFICANCE

We describe the regulation of splicing factor SRSF1 expression in the context of pancreas cell identity, plasticity, and inflammation. SRSF1 protein downregulation is involved in a negative feedback cellular response to KRASG12D expression, contributing to pancreas cell homeostasis. Conversely, upregulated SRSF1 promotes pancreatitis and accelerates KRASG12D-mediated tumorigenesis through enhanced IL1 and MAPK signaling. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1501.

Pterostilbene-isothiocyanate reduces miR-21 level by impeding Dicer-mediated processing of pre-miR-21 in 5-fluorouracil and tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer cell lines

Converging evidences identifies that microRNA-21 (miR-21) is responsible for drug resistance in breast cancer. This study aims to evaluate the miR-21-modulatory potential of a hybrid compound, pterostilbene-isothiocyanate (PTER-ITC), in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (TR/MCF-7) and 5-fluorouracil-resistant MDA-MB 231 (5-FUR/MDA-MB 231) breast cancer cell lines, established by repeated exposure to gradually increasing the concentrations of tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil, respectively. The outcome of this study shows that PTER-ITC effectively reduced the TR/MCF-7 (IC50: 37.21 µM) and 5-FUR/MDA-MB 231 (IC50: 47.00 µM) cell survival by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell migration, colony and spheroid formations in TR/MCF-7 cells, and invasiveness of 5-FUR/MDA-MB 231 cells. Most importantly, PTER-ITC significantly reduced the miR-21 expressions in these resistant cell lines. Moreover, the downstream tumor suppressor target gene of miR-21 such as PTEN, PDCD4, TIMP3, TPM1, and Fas L were upregulated after PTER-ITC treatment, as observed from transcriptional (RT-qPCR) and translational (immunoblotting) data. In silico and miR-immunoprecipitation (miR-IP) results showed reduced Dicer binding to pre-miR-21, after PTER-ITC treatment, indicating inhibition of miR-21 biogenesis. Collectively, the significance of this study is indicated by preliminary evidence for miR-21-modulatory effects of PTER-ITC that highlights the potential of this hybrid compound as an miR-21-targeting therapeutic agent.

Inference of glioblastoma migration and proliferation rates using single time-point images

Cancer cell migration is a driving mechanism of invasion in solid malignant tumors. Anti-migratory treatments provide an alternative approach for managing disease progression. However, we currently lack scalable screening methods for identifying novel anti-migratory drugs. To this end, we develop a method that can estimate cell motility from single end-point images in vitro by estimating differences in the spatial distribution of cells and inferring proliferation and diffusion parameters using agent-based modeling and approximate Bayesian computation. To test the power of our method, we use it to investigate drug responses in a collection of 41 patient-derived glioblastoma cell cultures, identifying migration-associated pathways and drugs with potent anti-migratory effects. We validate our method and result in both in silico and in vitro using time-lapse imaging. Our proposed method applies to standard drug screen experiments, with no change needed, and emerges as a scalable approach to screen for anti-migratory drugs.

3D cancer models: One step closer to in vitro human studies

Cancer immunotherapy is the great breakthrough in cancer treatment as it displayed prolonged progression-free survival over conventional therapies, yet, to date, in only a minority of patients. In order to broad cancer immunotherapy clinical applicability some roadblocks need to be overcome, first among all the lack of preclinical models that faithfully depict the local tumor microenvironment (TME), which is known to dramatically affect disease onset, progression and response to therapy. In this review, we provide the reader with a detailed overview of current 3D models developed to mimick the complexity and the dynamics of the TME, with a focus on understanding why the TME is a major target in anticancer therapy. We highlight the advantages and translational potentials of tumor spheroids, organoids and immune Tumor-on-a-Chip models in disease modeling and therapeutic response, while outlining pending challenges and limitations. Thinking forward, we focus on the possibility to integrate the know-hows of micro-engineers, cancer immunologists, pharmaceutical researchers and bioinformaticians to meet the needs of cancer researchers and clinicians interested in using these platforms with high fidelity for patient-tailored disease modeling and drug discovery.

Air-liquid interface (ALI) impact on different respiratory cell cultures

The intranasal route has been receiving greater attention from the scientific community not only for systemic drug delivery but also for the treatment of pulmonary and neurological diseases. Along with it, drug transport and permeability studies across the nasal mucosa have exponentially increased. Nevertheless, the translation of data from in vitro cell lines to in vivo studies is not always reliable, due to the difficulty in generating an in vitro model that resembles respiratory human physiology. Among all currently available methodologies, the air-liquid interface (ALI) method is advantageous to promote cell differentiation and optimize the morphological and histological characteristics of airway epithelium cells. Cells grown under ALI conditions, in alternative to submerged conditions, appear to provide relevant input for inhalation and pulmonary toxicology and complement in vivo experiments. Different methodologies and a variety of materials have been used to induce ALI conditions in primary cells and numerous cell lines. Until this day, with only exploratory results, no consensus has been reached regarding the validation of the ALI method, hampering data comparison. The present review describes the most adequate cell models of airway epithelium and how these models are differently affected by ALI conditions. It includes the evaluation of cellular features before and after ALI, and the application of the method in primary cell cultures, commercial 3D primary cells, cell lines and stem-cell derived models. A variety of these models have been recently applied for pharmacological studies against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus(-2) SARS-CoV(-2), namely primary cultures with alveolar type II epithelium cells and organotypic 3D models. The herein compiled data suggest that ALI conditions must be optimized bearing in mind the type of cells (nasal, bronchial, alveolar), their origin and the objective of the study.

Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Inhibited Vascular Endothelial Cell-Induced HREC Angiogenesis Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common reason for blindness among employed adults worldwide. Hyperglycemia and the overaccumulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) lead to diabetic retinopathy, pathological angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy, and consequent visual impairment. Expression levels of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) substantially increase in retinal endothelial cells in diabetic circumstances. The part of TXNIP in retinal angiogenesis combined with diabetes remains unclear. This study examined the effect of reduced TXNIP expression levels and determined how it affects diabetic retinal angiogenesis. Display of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) to moderately high glucose (MHG) encouraged tube formation and cell migration, not cell proliferation. In response to MHG conditions, in HRECs, TXNIP knockdown inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell migration, tube formation, and the Akt/mTOR activation pathway. In addition, gene silencing of TXNIP decreased the VEGF-triggered angiogenic response in HRECs by preventing activation of both VEGF receptor 2 and the downstream components of the Akt/mTOR pathway signaling. Furthermore, TXNIP knockout mice reduced VEGF-induced or VEGF- and MHG-triggered ex vivo retinal angiogenesis compared to wild-type mice. Finally, our findings revealed that TXNIP knockdown suppressed VEGF- and MHG-triggered angiogenic responses in HRECs and mouse retinas, indicating that TXNIP is a promising therapeutic window against the proliferation of diabetic patients' retinopathy.

Assessing cell migration in hydrogels: An overview of relevant materials and methods

Cell migration is essential in numerous living processes, including embryonic development, wound healing, immune responses, and cancer metastasis. From individual cells to collectively migrating epithelial sheets, the locomotion of cells is tightly regulated by multiple structural, chemical, and biological factors. However, the high complexity of this process limits the understanding of the influence of each factor. Recent advances in materials science, tissue engineering, and microtechnology have expanded the toolbox and allowed the development of biomimetic in vitro assays to investigate the mechanisms of cell migration. Particularly, three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels have demonstrated a superior ability to mimic the extracellular environment. They are therefore well suited to studying cell migration in a physiologically relevant and more straightforward manner than in vivo approaches. A myriad of synthetic and naturally derived hydrogels with heterogeneous characteristics and functional properties have been reported. The extensive portfolio of available hydrogels with different mechanical and biological properties can trigger distinct biological responses in cells affecting their locomotion dynamics in 3D. Herein, we describe the most relevant hydrogels and their associated physico-chemical characteristics typically employed to study cell migration, including established cell migration assays and tracking methods. We aim to give the reader insight into existing literature and practical details necessary for performing cell migration studies in 3D environments.

14-3-3 and Smad2/3 are crucial mediators of atypical-PKCs: Implications for neuroblastoma progression

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a cancer that develops in the neuroblasts. It is the most common cancer in children under the age of 1 year, accounting for approximately 6% of all cancers. The prognosis of NB is linked to both age and degree of cell differentiation. This results in a range of survival rates for patients, with outcomes ranging from recurrence and mortality to high survival rates and tumor regression. Our previous work indicated that PKC-ι promotes cell proliferation in NB cells through the PKC-ι/Cdk7/Cdk2 cascade. We report on two atypical protein kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutic candidates against BE(2)-C and BE(2)-M17 cells: a PKC-ι-specific 5-amino-1-2,3-dihydroxy-4-(methylcyclopentyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide and a PKC-ζ specific 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid. Both compounds induced apoptosis and retarded the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NB cells. Proteins 14-3-3 and Smad2/3 acted as central regulators of aPKC-driven progression in BE(2)-C and BE(2)-M17 cells in relation to the Akt1/NF-κB and TGF-β pathways. Data indicates that aPKCs upregulate Akt1/NF-κB and TGF-β pathways in NB cells through an association with 14-3-3 and Smad2/3 that can be diminished by aPKC inhibitors. In summary, both inhibitors appear to be promising potential neuroblastoma therapeutics and merit further research.

LINC00963 promotes the malignancy and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by stabilizing Zeb1 and exosomes-induced M2 macrophage polarization

BACKGROUND

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 00963 (LINC00963) is an oncogenic lncRNA in human cancers. However, little is known on how it impacts the pathogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

METHODS

Biological effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were examined by CCK-8, colony formation, EdU incorporation, transwell, and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. Macrophage polarization was evaluated by flow cytometry. Ubiquitination of Zeb1 was examined by co-immunoprecipitation. The location of LINC00963 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was tested by FISH assay. The LINC00963/HNRNPA2B1/Siah1 mRNA complex interaction was verified using RNA pull-down and immunoprecipitation assays. The exact roles of LINC00963 were further validated in metastasis and xenograft models.

RESULTS

Higher LINC00963 expression in LUAD patients positively correlated with shorter overall survival, higher stages, and metastasis. LINC00963 mainly localized in the cytoplasm and aggravated malignant phenotypes of LUAD cells in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00963 directly interacted HNRNPA2B1 protein to trigger the degradation of Siah1 mRNA, which inhibited the ubiquitination and degradation of Zeb1. Moreover, exosomal LINC00963 derived from LUAD cells induced M2 macrophage polarization and promoted LUAD growth and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

By stabilizing Zeb1 in cancer cells and delivering exosomes to induce M2 macrophage polarization, LINC00963 promoted the malignancy and metastasis of LUAD. Targeting LINC00963 may become a valuable therapeutic target for LUAD.

Cytotoxicity Induced by Newly Synthesized Palladium (II) Complexes Lead to the Death of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 Cancer Cell Lines

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy and melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer. Traditional therapy for cancer treatment is far from satisfactory due to drug resistance and side effects, thus a search for new medicines is being emphasized. Palladium(II) complexes have been reported as anticancer potential agents. In this work, the anticancer activities and cell death induction of a new series of square-planar Pd(II) complexes were evaluated against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 cancer cells. Methods: MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) and MDA-MB-435 (melanoma) cells were cultivated, and treated with ligand and Pd(II) complexes. Cell growth, migration and adhesion inhibition, morphological alterations, cell death induction and, DNA interaction upon treatment were studied. Results: Pd(II) complexes exhibited both short and long-term antiproliferative effects on both cell lines, reducing by 80% cell growth in the SRB assay and abolishing longterm proliferation, estimated by the clonogenic assay. Complexes reduced significantly (P<0.05) cell migration and adhesion when compared to the control group. Complexes induced morphological alterations in cell lines and significant (P<0.05) cellular shrinkage. Cell death was induced and the complexes were able to interact with DNA, inducing cleavage of double-stranded DNA, which may account for the complexes cytotoxic effects, observed against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 cells. Conclusion: Overall, the complexes exhibited cytotoxic activities and induced cell death. These observations emphasize an anticancer role with a potential therapeutic value for Pd(II) complexes to improve the outcome of patients with breast cancer and melanoma.

Cancer Cell Culture: The Basics and Two-Dimensional Cultures

Despite significant advances in investigative and therapeutic methodologies for cancer, 2D cell culture remains an essential and evolving competency in this fast-paced industry. From basic monolayer cultures and functional assays to more recent and ever-advancing cell-based cancer interventions, 2D cell culture plays a crucial role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research and development in this field call for a great deal of optimization, while the heterogenous nature of cancer itself demands personalized precision for its intervention. In this way, 2D cell culture is ideal, providing a highly adaptive and responsive platform, where skills can be honed and techniques modified. Furthermore, it is arguably the most efficient, economical, and sustainable methodology available to researchers and clinicians alike.In this chapter, we discuss the history of cell culture and the varying types of cell and cell lines used today, the techniques used to characterize and authenticate them, the applications of 2D cell culture in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and more recent developments in the area of cell-based cancer interventions and vaccines.

Transwell In Vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays

Cell migration and invasion have essential roles in both normal physiology and disease. As such, methodologies to assess cell migratory and invasive capacities are necessary to elucidate normal cell processes and underlying mechanisms of disease. Here, we describe commonly used transwell in vitro methods for the study of cell migration and invasion. The transwell migration assay involves the chemotaxis of cells through a porous membrane after the establishment of a chemoattractant gradient using two medium-filled compartments. The transwell invasion assay involves the addition of an extracellular matrix on top of the porous membrane which only permits chemotaxis of cells which possess invasive properties such as tumor cells.

Design, synthesis and anticancer activity studies of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives: Evidenced by integrating network pharmacology and vitro assay

Coumarin derivatives have diverse structures and show various significant biological activities. Aiming to develop more potent coumarin derivatives for cancer treatment, a series of coumarin acrolein hybrids were designed and synthesized by using molecular hybridization approach, and investigated for their antiproliferative activity against A549, KB, Hela and MCF-7 cancer cells as well as HUVEC and LO2 human normal cells. The results indicated that most of the synthesized compounds displayed remarkable inhibitory activity towards cancer cells but low cytotoxicity on normal cells. Among all the compounds, 5d and 6e were the most promising compounds against different cancer cell lines, especially for A549 and KB cells. The preliminary action mechanism studies suggested that compound 6e, the representative compound, was capable of dose-dependently suppressing migration, invasion and inducing significant apoptosis. Furthermore, the combined results of network pharmacology and validation experiments revealed that compound 6e induced mitochondria dependent apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT-mediated Bcl-2 signaling pathway. In summary, our study indicated compound 6e could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote cell apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells. These findings demonstrated the potential of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives as novel anticancer chemotherapeutic candidates, providing ideas for further development of drugs for clinical use.

Tools for studying human microglia: In vitro and in vivo strategies

Microglia may only represent 10% of central nervous system (CNS) cells but they perform critical roles in development, homeostasis and neurological disease. Microglia are also environmentally regulated, quickly losing their transcriptomic and epigenetic signature after leaving the CNS. This facet of microglia biology is both fascinating and technically challenging influencing the study of the genetics and function of human microglia in a manner that recapitulates the CNS environment. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of existing in vitro and in vivo methodology to study human microglia, such as immortalized cells lines, stem cell-derived microglia, cerebral organoids and xenotransplantation. Since there is currently no single method that completely recapitulates all hallmarks of human ex vivo adult homeostatic microglia, we also discuss the advantages and limitations of each existing model as a practical guide for researchers.

Cancer susceptibility 18 positively regulates NUAK Family Kinase 1 expression to promote migration and invasion via sponging of miR-5586-5p in cervical cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) is the most common gynecological malignancy worldwide. Although the cancer susceptibility 18 (CASC18) gene was involved in the regulation of cancer biology, its specific role in CESC is not well characterized.

METHODS

CASC18-related axis was predicted by bioinformatic analyses, and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interaction was further validated using quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, RNA pulldown, and luciferase reporter assays. Transwell and wound healing assays were performed to verify the effect of CASC18 on SiHa and HeLa cell motility.

RESULTS

We found that CASC18 was upregulated in CESC tissues. Moreover, interference with CASC18 attenuated NUAK1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and thus suppressed cancer cell motility. Furthermore, the effects of CASC18 knockdown on CESC cells were partly rescued by transfection with the miR-5586-5p inhibitor. Additionally, our findings indicated that CASC18 acts as a ceRNA to enhance NUAK1 expression by sponging miR-5586-5p.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed a novel CASC18/miR-5586-5p/NUAK1 ceRNA axis that could regulate cell invasion and migration by modulating EMT in CESC. These findings suggest that CASC18 may potentially serve as a novel therapeutic target in CESC treatment.