Overexpression of centrosomal protein 55 regulates the proliferation of glioma cell and mediates proliferation promoted by EGFRvIII in glioblastoma U251 cells

A database of crop pest cell lines

We have developed an online database describing the known cell lines from Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera that were developed from agricultural pests. Cell line information has been primarily obtained from previous compilations of insect cell lines. We conducted in-depth Internet literature searches and drew on Internet sources such as the Cellosaurus database (https://web.expasy.org/cellosaurus/), and inventories from cell line depositories. Here, we report on a new database of insect cell lines, which covers 719 cell lines from 86 species. We have not included cell lines developed from Drosophila because they are already known from published databases, such as https://dgrc.bio.indiana.edu/cells/Catalog. We provide the designation, tissue and species of origin, cell line developer, unique characteristics, its use in various applications, publications, and patents, and, when known, insect virus susceptibility. This information has been assembled and organized into a searchable database available at the link https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/aginsectcellsdatabase which will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Aurora A and AKT Kinase Signaling Associated with Primary Cilia

Dysregulation of kinase signaling is associated with various pathological conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmunity; consequently, the kinases involved have become major therapeutic targets. While kinase signaling pathways play crucial roles in multiple cellular processes, the precise manner in which their dysregulation contributes to disease is dependent on the context; for example, the cell/tissue type or subcellular localization of the kinase or substrate. Thus, context-selective targeting of dysregulated kinases may serve to increase the therapeutic specificity while reducing off-target adverse effects. Primary cilia are antenna-like structures that extend from the plasma membrane and function by detecting extracellular cues and transducing signals into the cell. Cilia formation and signaling are dynamically regulated through context-dependent mechanisms; as such, dysregulation of primary cilia contributes to disease in a variety of ways. Here, we review the involvement of primary cilia-associated signaling through aurora A and AKT kinases with respect to cancer, obesity, and other ciliopathies.

Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma - a Review

INTRODUCTION

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture studies are becoming extremely common because of their capability to mimic tumor architecture, such as cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions, more efficiently than 2D monolayer systems. These interactions have important roles in defining the tumor cell behaviors, such as proliferation, differentiation, and most importantly, tumor drug response.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide an overview of the methods for 3D tumor spheroid formation to model human tumors, specifically concentrated on studies using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

METHOD

We obtained information from previously published articles. In this review, there is discussion of the scaffold and non-scaffold-based approaches, including hanging drop, bioreactors and 3D bioprinting.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The mimicking of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as tumor spheroids could provide a valuable platform for studying tumor biology. Multicellular tumor spheroids are self-assembled cultures of mixed cells (tumor and stromal cells) organized in a 3D arrangement. These spheroids closely mimic the main features of human solid tumors, such as structural organization, central hypoxia, and overall oxygen and nutrient gradients. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy, and most difficult to overcome because of its drug resistance and tumor heterogeneity. In order to mimic this highly heterogeneous environment, 3D cell culture systems are needed.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of CEP55 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma as determined by bioinformatics analysis

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common types of malignant adult kidney tumor. Tumor recurrence and metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-associated mortality in patients with ccRCC. Therefore, identification of efficient diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers may improve survival times. The GSE46699, GSE36895, GSE53000 and GSE53757 gene datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and contained 196 ccRCC samples and 164 adjacent normal kidney samples. Bioinformatics analysis was used to integrate the four microarray datasets to identify and analyze differentially expressed genes. Functional analysis revealed that there were 12 genes associated with cancer, based on the tumor-associated gene database. Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4, centrosomal protein 55 (CEP55) and vascular endothelial growth factor A are oncogenes, all of which were associated with tumor stage, whereas only CEP55 was significantly associated with survival time as determined by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. The mRNA expression levels of CEP55 in ccRCC samples were significantly higher than those observed in adjacent normal kidney tissues based on The Cancer Genome Atlas data and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that CEP55 may be considered a diagnostic biomarker for ccRCC with an area under the curve of >0.85 in the training and validation sets. High CEP55 expression was strongly associated with sex, histological grade, stage, T classification, N classification and M classification. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses demonstrated that CEP55 expression was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis indicated that high CEP55 expression was associated with immunization, cell adhesion, inflammation, the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway and cell proliferation. In conclusion, CEP55 was increased in ccRCC samples, and may be considered a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC.

Primary cilium and glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most common, malignant and lethal primary brain tumour in adults. The primary cilium is a highly conserved and dynamic organelle that protrudes from the apical surface of virtually every type of mammalian cell. There is increasing evidence that abnormal cilia are involved in cancer progression, since primary cilia regulate cell cycle and signalling transduction. In this review, we summarize the role of primary cilium specifically with regard to GBM, where there is evidence postulating it as a critical mediator of GBM tumorigenesis and progression. This opens the way to the application of cilia-targeted therapies (‘ciliotherapy’) as a new approach in the fight against this devastating tumour.