Function of BCLAF1 in human disease

MED23 depletion induces premature senescence in NSCLC cells by interacting with BCLAF1 and then suppressing NUPR1 expression

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. 85 % of lung cancers are categorized by their histological types as a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype. While the MED23 subunit of the mediator complex has been implicated in lung cancer development, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our research indicates that elevated MED23 expression is linked to reduced overall survival rates in NSCLC. Depletion of MED23 triggers premature senescence in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, through co-IP and mass spectrometry analyses, we have identified BCLAF1 as a binding partner of MED23, with subsequent confirmation via PLA assays. Subsequently, NUPR1, a transcriptional cofactor known to induce premature senescence in lung cancer cells by disrupting autophagic processes, was validated as a downstream target of the MED23/BCLAF1 complex through RNA-seq and ChIP assays. Thus, the interaction between MED23 and BCLAF1 regulates NUPR1 expression, impacting autophagic flux and leading to premature senescence in NSCLC cells.

A distinct metabolic and epigenetic state drives trained immunity in HSC-derived macrophages from autoimmune mice

Here, we investigate the contribution of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSCsLT) to trained immunity (TI) in the setting of chronic autoimmune disease. Using a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we show that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from autoimmune mice exhibit hallmark features of TI, including increased Mycobacterium avium killing and inflammatory cytokine production, which are mechanistically linked to increased glycolytic metabolism. We show that HSCs from autoimmune mice constitute a transplantable, long-term reservoir for macrophages that exhibit the functional properties of TI. However, these BMDMs exhibit reduced glycolytic activity and chromatin accessibility at metabolic genes while retaining elevated expression of TI-associated transcriptional regulators. Hence, HSC exposed to autoimmune inflammation can give rise to macrophages in which the functional and metabolic properties of TI are decoupled. Our data support a model in which TI is characterized by a spectrum of molecular and metabolic states driving augmented immune function.

Sorbaria sorbifolia flavonoid derivative induces mitochondrial apoptosis in human hepatoma cells through Bclaf1

4',5,7-Trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone is an anticancer monomer component isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Sorbaria sorbifolia. 4',5-Dihydroxy-7-piperazinemethoxy-8-methoxy flavonoids (DMF) with good solubility and anti-tumor effects was obtained by chemical modification in the early stage. This study explored the mechanism by which DMF regulates the mitochondrial apoptosis of human hepatoma cells through Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 (Bclaf1). DMF inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and induced cell mitochondrial apoptosis. The molecular docking and cell assay results demonstrated that DMF inhibits Bclaf1 expression by binding to its active site. Lentivirus transfection was used to construct cells with stable knockout and overexpression of Bclaf1, and a Hep3B xenograft model was constructed in nude mice. The mechanism by which DMF induced the mitochondrial apoptosis of human hepatoma cells through Bclaf1 was further verified in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicated that DMF induced human hepatoma cell mitochondrial apoptosis through Bclaf1.

BCLAF1 is Expressed as a Potential Anti-oncogene in Bile Duct Cancer

Validating the role of BCLAF1 in the development of Bile Duct Cancer. Differential expression of BCLAF1 in Bile Duct Cancer and normal tissues was analyzed bioinformatically, and immuno-infiltration analysis was performed by R. We also derived the correlation between the expression of BCLAF1 and HIF-1α by bioinformatics analysis and validated it by Western Blotting, qRT-PCR and scratch assays before and after hypoxia. Through bioinformatics analysis, we found that BCLAF1 mRNA was significantly higher in the tumor tissues of Bile Duct Cancer. The high expression of BCLAF1 implied a more advanced stage but a lower mortality rate. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis showed that BCLAF1 overexpression in Bile Duct Cancer was mainly associated with histone modification, peptidyl lysine modification, and macromolecular methylation. We used the TIMER algorithm to show that BCLAF1 expression in Bile Duct Cancer is associated with immune cell infiltration, which affects tumor progression and patient prognosis. We confirmed by normoxia and hypoxia qRT-PCR, Western Blotting and scratch assays that BCLAF1 and HIF-1α expression are positively correlated and that BCLAF1 may be expressed as anti-oncogene in Bile Duct Cancer. These findings demonstrate that BCLAF1 may act as anti-oncogene in Bile Duct Cancer and may be involved in immune cell infiltration in Bile Duct Cancer, suppressing the expression of HIF-1α.

Obtention of viable cell suspensions from breast cancer tumor biopsies for 3D chromatin conformation and single-cell transcriptome analysis

Molecular and cellular characterization of tumors is essential due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of cancer. In recent decades, many bioinformatic tools and experimental techniques have been developed to achieve personalized characterization of tumors. However, sample handling continues to be a major challenge as limitations such as prior treatments before sample acquisition, the amount of tissue obtained, transportation, or the inability to process fresh samples pose a hurdle for experimental strategies that require viable cell suspensions. Here, we present an optimized protocol that allows the recovery of highly viable cell suspensions from breast cancer primary tumor biopsies. Using these cell suspensions we have successfully characterized genome architecture through Hi-C. Also, we have evaluated single-cell gene expression and the tumor cellular microenvironment through single-cell RNAseq. Both technologies are key in the detailed and personalized molecular characterization of tumor samples. The protocol described here is a cost-effective alternative to obtain viable cell suspensions from biopsies simply and efficiently.

Single-Cell Patch-Clamp/Proteomics of Human Alzheimer's Disease iPSC-Derived Excitatory Neurons Versus Isogenic Wild-Type Controls Suggests Novel Causation and Therapeutic Targets

Standard single-cell (sc) proteomics of disease states inferred from multicellular organs or organoids cannot currently be related to single-cell physiology. Here, a scPatch-Clamp/Proteomics platform is developed on single neurons generated from hiPSCs bearing an Alzheimer's disease (AD) genetic mutation and compares them to isogenic wild-type controls. This approach provides both current and voltage electrophysiological data plus detailed proteomics information on single-cells. With this new method, the authors are able to observe hyperelectrical activity in the AD hiPSC-neurons, similar to that observed in the human AD brain, and correlate it to ≈1400 proteins detected at the single neuron level. Using linear regression and mediation analyses to explore the relationship between the abundance of individual proteins and the neuron's mutational and electrophysiological status, this approach yields new information on therapeutic targets in excitatory neurons not attainable by traditional methods. This combined patch-proteomics technique creates a new proteogenetic-therapeutic strategy to correlate genotypic alterations to physiology with protein expression in single-cells.

Transfer of miR-877-3p via extracellular vesicles derived from dental pulp stem cells attenuates neuronal apoptosis and facilitates early neurological functional recovery after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through the Bclaf1/P53 signaling pathway

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI) is one of the principal pathogenic factors in the poor prognosis of ischemic stroke, for which current therapeutic options to enhance neurological recovery are notably insufficient. Dental pulp stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (DPSC-EVs) have promising prospects in stroke treatment and the specific underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The present study observed that DPSC-EVs ameliorated the degree of cerebral edema and infarct volume by reducing the apoptosis of neurons. Furthermore, the miRNA sequencing and functional enrichment analysis identified that miR-877-3p as a key component in DPSC-EVs, contributing to neuroprotection and anti-apoptotic effects. Following target prediction and dual-luciferase assay indicated that miR-877-3p interacted with Bcl-2-associated transcription factor (Bclaf1) to play a function. The miR-877-3p inhibitor or Bclaf1 overexpression reversed the neuroprotective effects of DPSC-EVs. The findings reveal a novel therapeutic pathway where miR-877-3p, transferred via DPSC-EVs, confers neuroprotection against cerebral I/RI, highlighting its potential in promoting neuronal survival and recovery post-ischemia.

Integrated bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing identifies an aneuploidy-based gene signature to predict sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma to traditional chemotherapy drugs and patients' prognosis

Background

Patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) often develop a poor prognosis. Currently, researches on prognostic and immunotherapeutic capacity of aneuploidy-related genes in LUAD are limited.

Methods

Genes related to aneuploidy were screened based on bulk RNA sequencing data from public databases using Spearman method. Next, univariate Cox and Lasso regression analyses were performed to establish an aneuploidy-related riskscore (ARS) model. Results derived from bioinformatics analysis were further validated using cellular experiments. In addition, typical LUAD cells were identified by subtype clustering, followed by SCENIC and intercellular communication analyses. Finally, ESTIMATE, ssGSEA and CIBERSORT algorithms were employed to analyze the potential relationship between ARS and tumor immune environment.

Results

A five-gene ARS signature was developed. These genes were abnormally high-expressed in LUAD cell lines, and in particular the high expression of CKS1B promoted the proliferative, migratory and invasive phenotypes of LUAD cell lines. Low ARS group had longer overall survival time, higher degrees of inflammatory infiltration, and could benefit more from receiving immunotherapy. Patients in low ASR group responded more actively to traditional chemotherapy drugs (Erlotinib and Roscovitine). The scRNA-seq analysis annotated 17 cell subpopulations into seven cell clusters. Core transcription factors (TFs) such as CREB3L1 and CEBPD were enriched in high ARS cell group, while TFs such as BCLAF1 and UQCRB were enriched in low ARS cell group. CellChat analysis revealed that high ARS cell groups communicated with immune cells via SPP1 (ITGA4-ITGB1) and MK (MDK-NCl) signaling pathways.

Conclusion

In this research, integrative analysis based on the ARS model provided a potential direction for improving the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

BCLAF1 drives esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through regulation of YTHDF2-dependent SIX1 mRNA degradation

Esophageal cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) constitutes its predominant histological form. Despite its impact, a thorough insight into the molecular intricacies of ESCC's development is still incomplete, which hampers the advancement of targeted molecular diagnostics and treatments. Recently, B-cell lymphoma-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) has come under investigation for its potential involvement in tumor biology, yet its specific role and mechanism in ESCC remain unclear. In this study, we observed a marked increase in BCLAF1 expression in ESCC tissues, correlating with advanced tumor stages and inferior patient outcomes. Our comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies show that BCLAF1 augments glycolytic activity and the proliferation, invasion, and spread of ESCC cells. By employing mass spectrometry, we identified YTHDF2 as a key protein interacting with BCLAF1 in ESCC, with further validation provided by colocalization, co-immunoprecipitation, and GST pull-down assay. Further investigations involving MeRIP-seq and RIP-seq, alongside transcriptomic analysis, highlighted SIX1 mRNA as a molecule significantly upregulated and modified by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in BCLAF1 overexpressing cells. BCLAF1 was found to reduce the tumor-suppressive activities of YTHDF2, and its effects on promoting glycolysis and cancer progression were shown to hinge on SIX1 expression. This research establishes that BCLAF1 fosters glycolysis and tumor progression in ESCC through the YTHDF2-SIX1 pathway in an m6A-specific manner, suggesting a potential target for future therapeutic intervention.

Brain-gut photobiomodulation restores cognitive alterations in chronically stressed mice through the regulation of Sirt1 and neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND

Chronic stress is an important risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). Recent studies have shown microbiome dysbiosis as one of the pathogenic mechanisms associated with MDD. Thus, it is important to find novel non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies that can modulate gut microbiota and brain activity. One such strategy is photobiomodulation (PBM), which involves the non-invasive use of light.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

Brain-gut PBM could have a synergistic beneficial effect on the alterations induced by chronic stress.

METHODS

We employed the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) protocol to induce a depressive-like state in mice. Subsequently, we administered brain-gut PBM for 6 min per day over a period of 3 weeks. Following PBM treatment, we examined behavioral, structural, molecular, and cellular alterations induced by CUMS.

RESULTS

We observed that the CUMS protocol induces profound behavioral alterations and an increase of sirtuin1 (Sirt1) levels in the hippocampus. We then combined the stress protocol with PBM and found that tissue-combined PBM was able to rescue cognitive alterations induced by CUMS. This rescue was accompanied by a restoration of hippocampal Sirt1 levels, prevention of spine density loss in the CA1 of the hippocampus, and the modulation of the gut microbiome. PBM was also effective in reducing neuroinflammation and modulating the morphology of Iba1-positive microglia.

LIMITATIONS

The molecular mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of tissue-combined PBM are not fully understood.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that non-invasive photobiomodulation of both the brain and the gut microbiome could be beneficial in the context of stress-induced MDD.

Identification and classification of glioma subtypes based on RNA-binding proteins

BACKGROUND

Glioma is a common and aggressive primary malignant cancer known for its high morbidity, mortality, and recurrence rates. Despite this, treatment options for glioma are currently restricted. The dysregulation of RBPs has been linked to the advancement of several types of cancer, but their precise role in glioma evolution is still not fully understood. This study sought to investigate how RBPs may impact the development and prognosis of glioma, with potential implications for prognosis and therapy.

METHODS

RNA-seq profiles of glioma and corresponding clinical data from the CGGA database were initially collected for analysis. Unsupervised clustering was utilized to identify crucial tumor subtypes in glioma development. Subsequent time-series analysis and MS model were employed to track the progression of these identified subtypes. RBPs playing a significant role in glioma progression were then pinpointed using WGCNA and Lasso Cox regression models. Functional analysis of these key RBP-related genes was conducted through GSEA. Additionally, the CIBERSORT algorithm was utilized to estimate immune infiltrating cells, while the STRING database was consulted to uncover potential mechanisms of the identified biomarkers.

RESULTS

Six tumor subgroups were identified and found to be highly homogeneous within each subgroup. The progression stages of these tumor subgroups were determined using time-series analysis and a MS model. Through WGCNA, Lasso Cox, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, it was confirmed that BCLAF1 is correlated with survival in glioma patients and is closely linked to glioma progression. Functional annotation suggests that BCLAF1 may impact glioma progression by influencing RNA splicing, which in turn affects the cell cycle, Wnt signaling pathway, and other cancer development pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The study initially identified six subtypes of glioma progression and assessed their malignancy ranking. Furthermore, it was determined that BCLAF1 could serve as an RBP-related prognostic marker, offering significant implications for the clinical diagnosis and personalized treatment of glioma.

Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies BCLAF1 as a Potential Biomarker for Renal Cell Carcinoma

B-cell lymphoma-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) is a versatile protein involved in the regulation of gene transcription and post-transcriptional processing. Although BCLAF1 exerts a broad tumor suppressor effect or tumor promoter effect in many cancer types, the specific roles concerning its expression levels, and its impact on tumorigenesis in Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unclear. Here, we utilized the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets alongside R software and online tools to unravel the specific roles of BCLAF1 in 33 cancer types, including its expression levels, tumor immune and molecular subtypes, and its correlation with prognosis, diagnosis, DNA methylation, and immune microenvironment. Additionally, we carried out cell biology experiments to independently investigate the expression of BCLAF1 in RCC and its effects on tumor progression. BCLAF1 was differentially expressed in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues across various cancer types and was also differentially expressed in different immune and molecular subtypes. In RCC, patients with high BCLAF1 expression had a better prognosis and BCLAF1 was tightly correlated with the stage, gender, and histological grade of patients. Furthermore, BCLAF1 had higher DNA methylation levels and higher immune infiltration levels in tumor tissues. Additionally, cell functional experiments confirmed the low expression of BCLAF1 in RCC and that BCLAF1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in RCC cells in vitro. Our study under-scored the potential of BCLAF1 as an important actor in tumorigenesis, especially concerning RCC where it may serve as an effective prognostic marker.

BCLAF1 binds SPOP to stabilize PD-L1 and promotes the development and immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma

Interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1) ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells allows tumor cells to evade T cell-mediated immune surveillance. Strategies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have shown clinical benefits in a variety of cancers. However, limited response rates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have prompted us to investigate the molecular regulation of PD-L1. Here, we identify B cell lymphoma-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) as a key PD-L1 regulator in HCC. Specifically, BCLAF1 interacts with SPOP, an E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of PD-L1, thereby competitively inhibiting SPOP-PD-L1 interaction and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation of PD-L1. Furthermore, we determined an SPOP-binding consensus (SBC) motif mediating the BCLAF1-SPOP interaction on BCLAF1 protein and mutation of BCLAF1-SBC motif disrupts the regulation of the SPOP-PD-L1 axis. In addition, BCLAF1 expression was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression and negatively correlated with biomarkers of T cell activation, including CD3 and CD8, as well as with the level of immune cell infiltration in HCC tissues. Besides, BCLAF1 depletion leads to a significant reduction of PD-L1 expression in vitro, and this reduction of PD-L1 promoted T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Notably, overexpression of BCLAF1 sensitized tumor cells to checkpoint therapy in an in vitro HCC cells-Jurkat cells co-culture model, whereas BCLAF1-SBC mutant decreased tumor cell sensitivity to checkpoint therapy, suggesting that BCLAF1 and its SBC motif serve as a novel therapeutic target for enhancing anti-tumor immunity in HCC.

Single nuclei transcriptomics in human and non-human primate striatum in opioid use disorder

In brain, the striatum is a heterogenous region involved in reward and goal-directed behaviors. Striatal dysfunction is linked to psychiatric disorders, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Striatal subregions are divided based on neuroanatomy, each with unique roles in OUD. In OUD, the dorsal striatum is involved in altered reward processing, formation of habits, and development of negative affect during withdrawal. Using single nuclei RNA-sequencing, we identified both canonical (e.g., dopamine receptor subtype) and less abundant cell populations (e.g., interneurons) in human dorsal striatum. Pathways related to neurodegeneration, interferon response, and DNA damage were significantly enriched in striatal neurons of individuals with OUD. DNA damage markers were also elevated in striatal neurons of opioid-exposed rhesus macaques. Sex-specific molecular differences in glial cell subtypes associated with chronic stress were found in OUD, particularly female individuals. Together, we describe different cell types in human dorsal striatum and identify cell type-specific alterations in OUD.

Discovery of natural bispecific antibodies: Is psoriasis induced by a toxigenic Corynebacterium simulans and maintained by CIDAMPs as autoantigens?

The high abundance of Corynebacterium simulans in psoriasis skin suggests a contribution to the psoriasis aetiology. This hypothesis was tested in an exploratory study, where western blot (WB) analyses with extracts of heat-treated C. simulans and psoriasis serum-derived IgG exhibited a single 16 kDa-WB-band. Proteomic analyses revealed ribosomal proteins as candidate C. s.-antigens. A peptidomic analysis unexpectedly showed that psoriasis serum-derived IgG already contained 31 immunopeptides of Corynebacteria ssp., suggesting the presence of natural bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). Moreover, peptidomic analyses gave 372 DECOY-peptides with similarity to virus- and phage proteins, including Corynebacterium diphtheriae phage, and similarity to diphtheria toxin. Strikingly, a peptidomic analysis for human peptides revealed 64 epitopes of major psoriasis autoantigens such as the spacer region of filaggrin, hornerin repeats and others. Most identified immunopeptides represent potential cationic intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides (CIDAMPs), which are generated within the epidermis. These may form complexes with bacterial disordered protein regions, representing chimeric antigens containing discontinuous epitopes. In addition, among 128 low-abundance immunopeptides, 48 are putatively psoriasis-relevant such as epitope peptides of PGE2-, vitamin D3- and IL-10-receptors. Further, 47 immunopeptides originated from tumour antigens, and the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K. I propose that persistent infection with a toxigenic C. simulans initiates psoriasis, which is exacerbated as an autoimmune disease by CIDAMPs as autoantigens. The discovery of natural BsAbs allows the identification of antigen epitopes from microbes, viruses, autoantigens and tumour-antigens, and may help to develop epitope-specific peptide-vaccines and therapeutic approaches with antigen-specific regulatory T cells to improve immune tolerance in an autoimmune disease-specific-manner.

BCLAF1-induced HIF-1α accumulation under normoxia enhances PD-L1 treatment resistances via BCLAF1-CUL3 complex

Bcl-2-associated transcription factor-1 (BCLAF1), an apoptosis-regulating protein of paramount significance, orchestrates the progression of various malignancies. This study reveals increased BCLAF1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, in whom elevated BCLAF1 levels are linked to escalated tumor grades and diminished survival rates. Moreover, novel BCLAF1 expression is particularly increased in HCC patients who were not sensitive to the combined treatment of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, but not in patients who had tumors that responded to the combined regimen. Notably, overexpression of BCLAF1 increases HCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, while the conditioned medium derived from cells overexpressing BCLAF1 strikingly enhances the tube-formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Furthermore, compelling evidence demonstrates that BCLAF1 attenuates the expression of prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2 (PHD2) and governs the stability of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) under normoxic conditions without exerting any influence on transcription, as determined by Western blot and RT‒qPCR analyses. Subsequently, employing coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence, we validated the reciprocal interaction between BCLAF1 and Cullin 3 (CUL3), through which BCLAF1 actively upregulates the ubiquitination and degradation of PHD2. The Western blot and RT‒qPCR results suggests that programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is one of the downstream responders to HIF-1α in HCC. Thus, we reveal the pivotal role of BCLAF1 in promoting PD-L1 transcription and, through binding to CUL3, in promoting the accumulation of HIF-1α under normoxic conditions, thereby facilitating the ubiquitination and degradation of PHD2.

Acute downregulation of emerin alters actomyosin cytoskeleton connectivity and function

Fetal lung fibroblasts contribute dynamic infrastructure for the developing lung. These cells undergo dynamic mechanical transitions, including cyclic stretch and spreading, which are integral to lung growth in utero. We investigated the role of the nuclear envelope protein emerin in cellular responses to these dynamic mechanical transitions. In contrast to control cells, which briskly realigned their nuclei, actin cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrices in response to cyclic stretch, fibroblasts that were acutely downregulated for emerin showed incomplete reorientation of both nuclei and actin cytoskeleton. Emerin-downregulated fibroblasts were also aberrantly circular in contrast to the spindle-shaped controls and exhibited an altered pattern of filamentous actin organization that was disconnected from the nucleus. Emerin knockdown was also associated with reduced myosin light chain phosphorylation during cell spreading. Interestingly, emerin-downregulated fibroblasts also demonstrated reduced fibronectin fibrillogenesis and production. These findings indicate that nuclear-cytoskeletal coupling serves a role in the dynamic regulation of cytoskeletal structure and function and may also impact the transmission of traction force to the extracellular matrix microenvironment.

Evaluation of Dimercaptosuccinic Acid-Coated Iron Nanoparticles Immunotargeted to Amyloid Beta as MRI Contrast Agents for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

Nanoparticle-based magnetic contrast agents have opened the potential for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be used for early non-invasive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulation of amyloid pathology in the brain has shown association with cognitive decline and tauopathy; hence, it is an effective biomarker for the early detection of AD. The aim of this study was to develop a biocompatible magnetic nanoparticle targeted to amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques to increase the sensitivity of T2-weighted MRI for imaging of amyloid pathology in AD. We presented novel iron core-iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with a dimercaptosuccinic acid coating and functionalized with an anti-Aβ antibody. Nanoparticle biocompatibility and cellular internalization were evaluated in vitro in U-251 glioblastoma cells using cellular assays, proteomics, and transmission electron microscopy. Iron nanoparticles demonstrated no significant in vitro cytotoxicity, and electron microscopy results showed their movement through the endocytic cycle within the cell over a 24 h period. In addition, immunostaining and bio-layer interferometry confirmed the targeted nanoparticle's binding affinity to amyloid species. The iron nanoparticles demonstrated favourable MRI contrast enhancement; however, the addition of the antibody resulted in a reduction in the relaxivity of the particles. The present work shows promising preliminary results in the development of a targeted non-invasive method of early AD diagnosis using contrast-enhanced MRI.

Analyzing integrated network of methylation and gene expression profiles in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Gene expression, DNA methylation, and their organizational relationships are commonly altered in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). To elucidate these complex interactions, we reconstructed a differentially expressed gene network and a differentially methylated cytosine (DMC) network by partial information decomposition and an inverse correlation algorithm, respectively. Then, we performed graph union to integrate the networks. Community detection and enrichment analysis of the integrated network revealed close interactions between the cell cycle, keratinization, immune system, and xenobiotic metabolism gene sets in LUSC. DMC analysis showed that hypomethylation targeted the gene sets responsible for cell cycle, keratinization, and NRF2 pathways. On the other hand, hypermethylated genes affected circulatory system development, the immune system, extracellular matrix organization, and cilium organization. By centrality measurement, we identified NCAPG2, PSMG3, and FADD as hub genes that were highly connected to other nodes and might play important roles in LUSC gene dysregulation. We also found that the genes with high betweenness centrality are more likely to affect patients’ survival than those with low betweenness centrality. These results showed that the integrated network analysis enabled us to obtain a global view of the interactions and regulations in LUSC.

Curcumin induces mitochondrial apoptosis in human hepatoma cells through BCLAF1-mediated modulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling

Curcumin is a yellow pigment extracted from the rhizome of turmeric, a traditional Chinese medicine. Here, we tested the hypothesis that curcumin-mediated downregulation of BCLAF1 triggers mitochondrial apoptosis in hepatoma cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling. Treatment of the human hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 and SK-Hep-1, with various concentrations of curcumin revealed a time-dependent and concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced expression levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, GSK-3β, and p-GSK-3β. Additionally, curcumin suppressed the levels of apoptotic factors after treating the cells with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. Curcumin also suppressed the expression of BCLAF1. Treating stable BCLAF1 knockout HepG2 and SK-Hep-1 cells with curcumin further enhanced apoptosis and increased the number of cells in G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, while inhibiting the downregulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway-related proteins. Treatment of a nude mouse xenograft model bearing HepG2 cells with curcumin inhibited tumor growth, disrupted the cellular structure of the tumor tissue, and suppressed the expression of BCLAF1 and PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β proteins. In summary, our in vitro and in vivo analyses show that curcumin downregulates BCLAF1 expression, inhibits the activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway, and triggers mitochondrial apoptosis in HCC. These findings uncover a potential therapeutic strategy leveraging the antitumor effects of curcumin against HCC.