Upregulation of amplified in breast cancer 1 contributes to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression and vulnerability to blockage of hedgehog activation

Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of NCOA3, Maspin and VHL protein expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: An immunohistochemical study

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal tumor with a high mortality rate. The distinction between PDAC and chronic pancreatitis is sometimes challenging on routine histopathological examination, highlighting the need to identify biomarkers that can facilitate this distinction. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic utility of nuclear receptor co-activator 3 (NCOA3), Maspin and Von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL) immunostaining in PDAC. Eighty cases of PDAC, 46 cases of chronic pancreatitis and 53 normal pancreatic tissue were immunohistochemically assessed using NCOA3, Maspin and VHL antibodies on sections from a tissue microarray. NCOA3, Maspin and VHL were positive in 90 %, 100 % and 35 %, of PDAC cases respectively, whereas NCOA3, Maspin and VHL expressions were positive in 3.8 %, 0 and 100 % of normal pancreatic tissue and in 15.2 %, 21.7 % and 97.8 % of chronic pancreatitis cases respectively. Significant differences were observed between PDAC and other groups regarding NCOA3, Maspin and VHL expression (p < 0.001). The H scores of NCOA3, Maspin and VHL could significantly distinguish between PDAC and normal cases with high sensitivity (90 %, 100 % and 98.75 % respectively) and specificity (100 %, 100 % and 96.23 % respectively). Similar findings were found in the distinction between PDAC and chronic pancreatitis (Sensitivity: 90 %, 95.25 % and 98.75 %; specificity: 100 %, 100 % and 93.48 % for NCOA3, Maspin and VHL respectively). In conclusion, NCOA3 and Maspin were found to be significantly expressed in PDAC compared to non-tumorous tissue while VHL was significantly expressed in non-tumorous tissue. A panel of NCOA3, Maspin and VHL could potentially distinguish PDAC from non-tumorous pancreatic tissue.

NLRP3 inflammasome mediates abnormal epithelial regeneration and distal lung remodeling in silica‑induced lung fibrosis

NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is closely related to silica particle‑induced chronic lung inflammation but its role in epithelial remodeling, repair and regeneration in the distal lung during development of silicosis remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on epithelial remodeling and cellular regeneration and potential mechanisms in the distal lung of silica‑treated mice at three time points. Pulmonary function assessment, inflammatory cell counting, enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay, histological and immunological analyses, hydroxyproline assay and western blotting were used in the study. Single intratracheal instillation of a silica suspension caused sustained NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the distal lung. Moreover, a time‑dependent increase in airway resistance and a decrease in lung compliance accompanied progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In the terminal bronchiole, lung remodeling including pyroptosis (membrane‑distributed GSDMD+), excessive proliferation (Ki67+), mucus overproduction (mucin 5 subtype AC and B) and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (decreased E‑Cadherin+ and increased Vimentin+), was observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Notably, aberrant spatiotemporal expression of the embryonic lung stem/progenitor cell markers SOX2 and SOX9 and ectopic distribution of bronchioalveolar stem cells were observed in the distal lung only on the 7th day after silica instillation (the early inflammatory phase of silicosis). Western blotting revealed that the Sonic hedgehog/Glioma‑associated oncogene (Shh/Gli) and Wnt/β‑catenin pathways were involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation‑mediated epithelial remodeling and dysregulated regeneration during the inflammatory and fibrotic phases. Overall, sustained NLRP3 inflammasome activation led to epithelial remodeling in the distal lung of mice. Moreover, understanding the spatiotemporal profile of dysregulated epithelial repair and regeneration may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for inhalable particle‑related chronic inflammatory and fibrotic lung disease.

The functional roles of the circRNA/Wnt axis in cancer

CircRNAs, covalently closed noncoding RNAs, are widely expressed in a wide range of species ranging from viruses to plants to mammals. CircRNAs were enriched in the Wnt pathway. Aberrant Wnt pathway activation is involved in the development of various types of cancers. Accumulating evidence indicates that the circRNA/Wnt axis modulates the expression of cancer-associated genes and then regulates cancer progression. Wnt pathway-related circRNA expression is obviously associated with many clinical characteristics. CircRNAs could regulate cell biological functions by interacting with the Wnt pathway. Moreover, Wnt pathway-related circRNAs are promising potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and treatment. In our review, we summarized the recent research progress on the role and clinical application of Wnt pathway-related circRNAs in tumorigenesis and progression.

SRC-3, a Steroid Receptor Coactivator: Implication in Cancer

Steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3), also known as amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1), is a member of the SRC family. SRC-3 regulates not only the transcriptional activity of nuclear receptors but also many other transcription factors. Besides the essential role of SRC-3 in physiological functions, it also acts as an oncogene to promote multiple aspects of cancer. This review updates the important progress of SRC-3 in carcinogenesis and summarizes its mode of action, which provides clues for cancer therapy.