Early Diagnosis and Prognosis Prediction of Pancreatic Cancer Using Engineered Hybrid Core-Shells in Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Effective detection of bio-molecules relies on the precise design and preparation of materials, particularly in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). Despite significant advancements in substrate materials, the performance of single-structured substrates remains suboptimal for LDI-MS analysis of complex systems. Herein, designer Au@SiO2@ZrO2 core-shell substrates are developed for LDI-MS-based early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PC). Through controlling Au core size and ZrO2 shell crystallization, signal amplification of metabolites up to 3 orders is not only achieved, but also the synergistic mechanism of the LDI process is revealed. The optimized Au@SiO2@ZrO2 enables a direct record of serum metabolic fingerprints (SMFs) by LDI-MS. Subsequently, SMFs are employed to distinguish early PC (stage I/II) from controls, with an accuracy of 92%. Moreover, a prognostic prediction scoring system is established with enhanced efficacy in predicting PC survival compared to CA19-9 (p < 0.05). This work contributes to material-based cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Identification of the communal pathogenesis and immune landscape between viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Studies have confirmed that viral myocarditis (VMC) is one of the risk factors for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The molecular mechanisms underlying the progression from VMC to DCM remain unclear and require further investigation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The mRNA microarray datasets GSE57338 (DCM) and GSE1145 (VMC) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The candidate key genes were further screened using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), protein-protein interaction and external dataset validation, and the correlation between the candidate key genes and immune cells and the signalling pathways of the candidate key genes were observed by enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis. The expression of key genes was validated in the external dataset GSE35182. The crosstalk genes between DCM and VMC were mainly enriched in 'transcriptional misregulation in cancer', 'FoxO signalling pathway', 'AGE-RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications', 'thyroid hormone signalling pathway', 'AMPK signalling pathway', and other signalling pathways. The immune infiltration analysis indicated that VMC was mainly associated with resting dendritic cells and M0 macrophages, while DCM was mainly associated with monocytes, M0 macrophages, CD8+ T cells, resting CD4 memory T cells, naive CD4+ T cells, and resting mast cells. In DCM-related dataset GSE57338 and VMC-related dataset GSE1145, a total of 18 candidate key genes were differentially expressed. BLC6, FOXO1, and UBE2M were identified as the key genes that lead to the progression from VMC to DCM by GSE35182.

CONCLUSIONS

Three key genes (BLC6, FOXO1, and UBE2M) were identified and provided new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of VMC with DCM.

Regulation of Angiogenesis by Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer

Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been identified as crucial regulators of various biological processes through epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional regulation. Growing evidence suggests that dysregulation and activation of non-coding RNAs are closely associated with tumor angiogenesis, a process essential for tumor growth and metastasis and a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor angiogenesis is of utmost importance. Numerous studies have documented the involvement of different types of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of angiogenesis. This review provides an overview of how non-coding RNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis. Additionally, we discuss emerging strategies that exploit non-coding RNAs for anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer treatment. Ultimately, this review underscores the crucial role played by non-coding RNAs in tumor angiogenesis and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenic interventions against cancer.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 6 and Human Cancer: A Systematic Review of Mechanistic Insights, Functional Roles, and Therapeutic Potential

Cancer imposes a substantial burden and its incidence is persistently increasing in recent years. Cancer treatment has been difficult due to its inherently complex nature. The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes a complex interplay of cellular and noncellular constituents surrounding neoplastic cells, intricately contributing to the tumor initiation and progression. This critical aspect of tumors involves a complex interplay among cancer, stromal, and inflammatory cells, forming an inflammatory TME that promotes tumorigenesis across all stages. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is implicated in modulating various critical processes linked to tumor pathogenesis, including but not limited to the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and survival. Furthermore, TRAF6 prominently contributes to various immune and inflammatory pathways. The TRAF6-mediated activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in immune cells governs the production of proinflammatory cytokines. These cytokines sustain inflammation and stimulate tumor growth by activating NF-κB in tumor cells. In this review, we discuss various types of tumors, including gastrointestinal cancers, urogenital cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, uterine fibroids, and glioma. Employing a rigorous and systematic approach, we comprehensively evaluate the functional repertoire and potential roles of TRAF6 in various cancer types, thus highlighting TRAF6 as a compelling and emerging therapeutic target worthy of further investigation and development.

High temperature stress induced oxidative stress, gut inflammation and disordered metabolome and microbiome in tsinling lenok trout

Tsinling lenok trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis Li) is a species of cold-water salmon that faces serious challenges due to global warming. High temperature stress has been found to damage the gut integrity of cold-water fish, impacting their growth and immunity. However, limited research exists on the causal relationship between gut microbial disturbance and metabolic dysfunction in cold-water fish induced by high temperature stress. To address this gap, we conducted a study to investigate the effects of high temperature stress (24 °C) on the gut tissue structure, antioxidant capacity, gut microorganisms, and metabolome reactions of tsinling lenok trout. Our analysis using 16 S rDNA gene sequencing revealed significant changes in the gut microbial composition and metabolic profile. Specifically, the abundance of Firmicutes and Gemmatimonadetes decreased significantly with increasing temperature, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes increased significantly. Metabolic analysis revealed a significant decrease in the abundance of glutathione, which is synthesized from glutamate and glycine, under high temperature stress. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in the levels of adenosine, inosine, xanthine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine, which are essential for DNA/RNA synthesis. Conversely, there was a significant increase in the abundance of D-glucose 6 P. Furthermore, high temperature stress adversely affects intestinal structure and barrier function. Our findings provide valuable insights into the mechanism of high temperature stress in cold-water fish and serve as a foundation for future research aimed at mitigating the decline in production performance caused by such stress.

Single Cell Analysis of Macrophage Heterogeneity and NK-Cell Exhaustion in Lewis Lung Cancer Xenograft Tumor

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has attracted much attention because of its ability to stimulate anti-tumor immune response. However, the mechanism of SBRT reprogramming the tumor microenvironment remains to be elucidated.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Using Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenograft mice model treated with SBRT (8Gy x 3F), multiplex assay was performed to measure serum chemokine levels, and single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to assess tumor microenvironment. The differential expression genes of each cell subcluster were identified by the "Find-All markers" function with default parameters provided by Seurat. Intercellular communication analysis was explored by using CellPhone DB package.

RESULTS

The majority of serum chemokines involved macrophage recruitment, including CCL3, CCL4, CCL8, and CCL20, were highly secreted at 7 days after SBRT. Single-cell RNA sequencing of 108,741 cells were contained from 6 mouse Lewis lung carcinoma samples (n = 3 tumors for SBRT, n = 3 tumors pooled for SHAM). Besides Lewis cancer cells, myeloid cells were 57.61% ,70.82% in Sham-irradiation (SHAM) and SBRT while NT and T cells were 20.50%, 7.81% in SHAM and SBRT, respectively. When compared with SHAM group, upregulation of Ccl3, Ccl4, Ccl8 chemokine genes were observed in cancer cells of SBRT group. Differential expression genes analysis showed high expression level of Ccl8 (Log2FC 2.54, p<0.01) in cluster of Mrc1+macrophage. The SBRT group consisted of more Ccl8+Mrc1+macrophages (proportion 36.28% for SBRT, 27.44% for SHAM) and exhausted NK cells (proportion 22.56% for SBRT, 13.70% for SHAM). More importantly, intercellular communication analysis revealed a potential communication network between Ccl8+Mrc1+macrophages and exhausted NK cells.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide a potential therapeutic strategy by disrupting Ccl8+ Mrc1+macrophages and NK-cell interaction to facilitate the stimulation of the anti-tumor immune response by SBRT.

High-Flux Neutron Generator Based on Laser-Driven Collisionless Shock Acceleration

A novel compact high-flux neutron generator with a pitcher-catcher configuration based on laser-driven collisionless shock acceleration (CSA) is proposed and experimentally verified. Different from those that previously relied on target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), CSA in nature favors not only acceleration of deuterons (instead of hydrogen contaminants) but also increasing of the number of deuterons in the high-energy range, therefore having great advantages for production of high-flux neutron source. The proof-of-principle experiment has observed a typical CSA plateau feature from 2 to 6 MeV in deuteron energy spectrum and measured a forward neutron flux with yield 6.6×10^{7}  n/sr from the LiF catcher target, an order of magnitude higher than the compared TNSA case, where the laser intensity is 10^{19}  W/cm^{2}. Self-consistent simulations have reproduced the experimental results and predicted that a high-flux forward neutron source with yield up to 5×10^{10}  n/sr can be obtained when laser intensity increases to 10^{21}  W/cm^{2} under the same laser energy.

Expression Pattern and Molecular Mechanism of Oxidative Stress-Related Genes in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

(1) Background: The molecular mechanism of oxidative stress-related genes (OSRGs) in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) has not been fully elucidated. (2) Methods: Differential expression analysis, enrichment analysis, and PPI analysis were performed on the MIRI-related datasets GSE160516 and GSE61592 to find key pathways and hub genes. OSRGs were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). The expression pattern and time changes of them were studied on the basis of their raw expression data. Corresponding online databases were used to predict miRNAs, transcription factors (TFs), and therapeutic drugs targeting common differentially expressed OSRGs. These identified OSRGs were further verified in the external dataset GSE4105 and H9C2 cell hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) model. (3) Results: A total of 134 DEGs of MIRI were identified which were enriched in the pathways of "immune response", "inflammatory response", "neutrophil chemotaxis", "phagosome", and "platelet activation". Six hub genes and 12 common differentially expressed OSRGs were identified. A total of 168 miRNAs, 41 TFs, and 21 therapeutic drugs were predicted targeting these OSRGs. Lastly, the expression trends of Aif1, Apoe, Arg1, Col1a1, Gpx7, and Hmox1 were confirmed in the external dataset and HR model. (4) Conclusions: Aif1, Apoe, Arg1, Col1a1, Gpx7, and Hmox1 may be involved in the oxidative stress mechanism of MIRI, and the intervention of these genes may be a potential therapeutic strategy.

Multiomic Signatures of Chronic Beryllium Disease Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cells Relate to T-Cell Function and Innate Immunity

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a Th1 granulomatous lung disease preceded by sensitization to beryllium (BeS). We profiled the methylome, transcriptome, and selected proteins in the lung to identify molecular signatures and networks associated with BeS and CBD. BAL cell DNA and RNA were profiled using microarrays from CBD (n = 30), BeS (n = 30), and control subjects (n = 12). BAL fluid proteins were measured using Olink Immune Response Panel proteins from CBD (n = 22) and BeS (n = 22) subjects. Linear models identified features associated with CBD, adjusting for covariation and batch effects. Multiomic integration methods identified correlated features between datasets. We identified 1,546 differentially expressed genes in CBD versus control subjects and 204 in CBD versus BeS. Of the 101 shared transcripts, 24 have significant cis relationships between gene expression and DNA methylation, assessed using expression quantitative trait methylation analysis, including genes not previously identified in CBD. A multiomic model of top DNA methylation and gene expression features demonstrated that the first component separated CBD from other samples and the second component separated control subjects from remaining samples. The top features on component one were enriched for T-lymphocyte function, and the top features on component two were enriched for innate immune signaling. We identified six differentially abundant proteins in CBD versus BeS, with two (SIT1 and SH2D1A) selected as important RNA features in the multiomic model. Our integrated analysis of DNA methylation, gene expression, and proteins in the lung identified multiomic signatures of CBD that differentiated it from BeS and control subjects.

Dysregulated RUNX1 Predicts Poor Prognosis by Mediating Epithelialmesenchymal Transition in Cervical Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) has been proven to be over-expressed and vital in many malignancies. However, its role in cervical cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

Some online databases (Oncomine, GEPIA, UALCAN, LinkedOmics, and others) were used to explore the expression level, prognostic significance, and gene mutation characteristics of RUNX1 in cervical cancer. The protein levels of RUNX1 in cervical cancer were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The functional changes of cervical cancer cells were measured in vitro after decreasing RUNX1.

RESULTS

Bioinformatic results revealed that RUNX1 was upregulated in cervical cancer compared to normal tissues. Moreover, over-expression of RUNX1 was significantly correlated with cervical cancer patients' clinical parameters (e.g., individual cancer stages, patients' age, nodal metastasis status, and others). Meanwhile, functional enrichment analysis of RUNX1-related genes indicated that RUNX1 was mainly involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in cervical cancer. Furthermore, RUNX1 may be upregulated by hsamiR-616-5p and hsa-miR-766 identified by miRDB, TargetScan, and miRWalk. Finally, RUNX1 was upregulated in cervical cancer compared to normal tissues by IHC in collected cervical cancer samples. The invasion and migration abilities of cervical cancer cells were significantly reduced by repressing EMT after knocking down RUNX1 in vitro.

CONCLUSION

RUNX1 was highly expressed in cervical cancer, and upregulated RUNX1 could significantly promote the invasive abilities of cervical cancer cells by inducing EMT. Therefore, RUNX1 may be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of cervical cancer.

Expression pattern and diagnostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis is a form of regulatory cell death (RCD) caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. The role of ferroptosis in the process of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still unclear and requires further study. Therefore, it is helpful to identify ferroptosis related genes (FRGs) involved in AMI and explore their expression patterns and molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

The AMI-related microarray datasets GSE66360 and GSE61144 were obtained using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) online database. GO annotation, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis were performed for the common significant differential expression genes (CoDEGs) in these two datasets. The FRGs were obtained from the FerrDb V2 and the differentially expressed FRGs were used to identify potential biomarkers by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The expression of these FRGs was verified using external dataset GSE60993 and GSE775. Finally, the expression of these FRGs was further verified in myocardial hypoxia model.

RESULTS

A total of 131 CoDEGs were identified and these genes were mainly enriched in the pathways of "inflammatory response," "immune response," "plasma membrane," "receptor activity," "protein homodimerization activity," "calcium ion binding," "Phagosome," "Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction," and "Toll-like receptor signaling pathway." The top 7 hub genes ITGAM, S100A12, S100A9, TLR2, TLR4, TLR8, and TREM1 were identified from the PPI network. 45 and 14 FRGs were identified in GSE66360 and GSE61144, respectively. FRGs ACSL1, ATG7, CAMKK2, GABARAPL1, KDM6B, LAMP2, PANX2, PGD, PTEN, SAT1, STAT3, TLR4, and ZFP36 were significantly differentially expressed in external dataset GSE60993 with AUC ≥ 0.7. Finally, ALOX5, CAMKK2, KDM6B, LAMP2, PTEN, PTGS2, and ULK1 were identified as biomarkers of AMI based on the time-gradient transcriptome dataset of AMI mice and the cellular hypoxia model.

CONCLUSION

In this study, based on the existing datasets, we identified differentially expressed FRGs in blood samples from patients with AMI and further validated these FRGs in the mouse time-gradient transcriptome dataset of AMI and the cellular hypoxia model. This study explored the expression pattern and molecular mechanism of FRGs in AMI, providing a basis for the accurate diagnosis of AMI and the selection of new therapeutic targets.

RGS6 suppresses TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancers via a novel mechanism dependent on its interaction with SMAD4

Regulator of G-protein signaling 6 (RGS6) is a newly discovered tumor suppressor that has been shown to be protective in development of various cancers such as breast cancer and bladder cancer. But the mechanisms underlying these tumor-suppressing functions of RGS6 are not fully understood. Here, we discover a novel function of RGS6 in suppressing TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and in vivo NSCLC metastasis. Using both bioinformatics and experimental tools, we showed that RGS6 was downregulated in lung cancer tissues compared to noncancerous counterparts, and low expression of RGS6 was associated with poor survival of lung cancer patients. Overexpression of RGS6 suppressed TGF-β-induced EMT in vitro and TGF-β-promoted metastasis in vivo, by impairing gene expression of downstream effectors induced by the canonical TGF-β-SMAD signaling. The ability of RGS6 to suppress TGF-β-SMAD-mediated gene expression relied on its binding to SMAD4 to prevent complex formation between SMAD4 and SMAD2/3, but independent of its regulation of the G-protein signaling. Interaction between RGS6 and SMAD4 caused less nuclear entry of p-SMAD3 and SMAD4, resulting in inefficient SMAD3-mediated gene expression. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel and noncanonical role of RGS6 in regulation of TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis of NSCLC and identify RGS6 as a prognostic marker and a potential novel target for NSCLC therapy.

Comprehensive Analysis of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network and Novel Potential Biomarkers in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression and the occurrence of human diseases. However, studies on the role of circRNA in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are limited. This study was performed to explore novel circRNA-related regulatory networks in AMI, aiming to better understand the molecular mechanism of circRNAs involvement in AMI and provide basis for further scientific research and clinical decision-making.

Methods

The AMI-related microarray datasets GSE160717 (circRNA), GSE31568 (miRNA), GSE61741 (miRNA), and GSE24519 (mRNA) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After differential expression analysis, the regulatory relationships between these DERNAs were identified by online databases circBank, circInteractome, miRDB, miRWalk, Targetscan, and then two circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in this network were selected followed by enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Hub genes were identified using Cytohubba plug-in of Cytoscape software. Hub genes and hub gene-related miRNAs were used for receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis to identify potential biomarkers. The relative expression levels of these biomarkers were further assessed by GSE31568 (miRNA) and GSE66360 (mRNA). Finally, on the basis of the above analysis, myocardial hypoxia model was constructed to verify the expression of Hub genes and related circRNAs.

Results

A total of 83 DEcircRNAs, 109 CoDEmiRNAs and 1204 DEGs were significantly differentially expressed in these datasets. The up-regulated circRNAs and down-regulated circRNAs were used to construct a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network respectively. These circRNA-related DEGs were mainly enriched in the terms of “FOXO signaling pathway,” “T cell receptor signaling pathway,” “MAPK signaling pathway,” “Insulin resistance,” “cAMP signaling pathway,” and “mTOR signaling pathway.” The top 10 hub genes ATP2B2, KCNA1, GRIN2A, SCN2B, GPM6A, CACNA1E, HDAC2, SRSF1, ANK2, and HNRNPA2B1 were identified from the PPI network. Hub genes GPM6A, SRSF1, ANK2 and hub gene-related circRNAs hsa_circ_0023461, hsa_circ_0004561, hsa_circ_0001147, hsa_circ_0004771, hsa_circ_0061276, and hsa_circ_0045519 were identified as potential biomarkers in AMI.

Conclusion

In this study, the potential circRNAs associated with AMI were identified and two circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed. This study explored the mechanism of circRNA involvement in AMI and provided new clues for the selection of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AMI.

Small molecule-mediated rapid maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Gravitation Program “Materials Driven Regeneration” by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (RegmedXB #024.003.013) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Grant agreement RESCUE #801540). The EU-funded project BRAV3 (H2020, ID:874827)

Background

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) do not display all hallmarks of mature human primary cardiomyocytes: the ability to use fatty acids as an energy source, high mitochondrial mass, increased nuclei polyploidism, synchronized electrical conduction, and forceful contractions. Instead, their phenotype is similar to immature cardiomyocytes in the late fetal stage. This immaturity represents a bottleneck to their application in 1) disease modeling – as most cardiac (genetic) diseases have a middle-age onset – and 2) clinical use, where integration and functional coupling are key. So far, the mainly used methods to enhance iPSC-CM maturation include prolonged time-in-culture, 3D culture, cyclic mechanical stretch, and electrical stimulation with specialized media. However, these protocols are laborious, costly, and not easily scalable.

Methods

In this study, we developed a simple, low cost, and rapid protocol using two peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A/PGC-1α) activating small molecules: Asiatic Acid (AA) and GW501516 (GW) to promote cardiomyocyte maturity by inducing a metabolic switch to fatty acid utilization and increased mitochondrial biogenesis.

Results

Monolayers of iPSC-CMs were incubated with AA and GW every other day for 10 days resulting in increased expression of fatty acid-metabolism-related genes (5 and 10-fold increase in CPT1B gene expression, respectively), mitochondria biogenesis (protein expression of ATP5A) and fusion (50 and 100-fold increase in OPA1 gene expression, respectively). In addition, AA treated iPSC-CMs responded in the seahorse mitochondria stress test more rapidly to an artificial increase in mitochondrial activity and showed a higher flexibility in substrate utilization in the seahorse stress test. A more mature electrophysiological functionality was shown by increased ion channel gene expression (KCNA4, SCN5A, GJA1, CACNA1C, and SCN1B) and enhanced synchronous contraction in treated samples. Moreover, maturation was further shown by increased sarcomeric gene expression (5 and 7-fold increase in TNNI3 in AA and GW respectively) and nuclear polyploidism (&gt;4N fold 2.16 and 1.48-fold increase in AA and GW respectively).

Conclusions

Collectively, these findings show that AA and GW trigger a metabolic switch and induce extensive maturation of iPSC-CMs, providing a rapid and cost-effective method to obtain iPSC-CMs that more closely resemble their adult counterparts.

E2F7/8 is involved in cardiomyocyte polyploidy but does not affect myocardial reperfusion injury recovery

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): CSC fellowship

Background

Polyploidy cells consist of more than two complete sets of homologous chromosomes. Although a characteristic feature of cardiomyocytes and observed in all mammalian species, its molecular mechanism and biological functions are still unknown. Cardiomyocytes polyploidy in rodents occurs mainly through incomplete cytokinesis and increases with age. Studies have demonstrated that E2F7/8 transcription factors are key regulators of polyploidy in the liver and pancreas, however, it remains unclear if E2F7/8 control the generation of polyploidy cardiomyocytes and what the functional consequence is post-myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

By using a tamoxifen inducible Cre/LoxP approach in new-born mice, we deleted E2F7/8 transcription factors ubiquitously and evaluated the biological significance of postnatal E2F7/8 loss. Mice underwent myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and heart function was assessed by 4D-echocardiography. Cardiomyocyte nucleus polyploidy was measured by FACS and microscope.

Results

Deficiency of E2F7/8 significantly suppress cardiomyocyte mononucleated and multinucleated polyploidy, as well as dramatically decreased hepatocytes polyploidy. E2F7/8 defect also led to a decrease in cardiac stress related marker lever such as ANP, BNP, MMP2, β-MHC/α-MHC and an increase in CD31 expression level. Surprisingly, E2F7/8 deletion did not have impact on cardiac function and dimensions post-IRI.

Conclusion

In summary, we identified that E2F7/8 activity is involved in the cellular polyploidy in the heart but did not affect myocardial function after myocardial injury.

Myocardial tissue slices for modeling of the human PLN p.Arg14del associated cardiomyopathy

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NWO - The Dutch Research Council

Background

Current in vivo preclinical models lack the predictability of the clinical efficacy resulting in a high dropout rate of therapeutic candidates. Advanced human-based models are required to bridge this gap and indicate the potential of novel therapeutic approaches[1].  Myocardial tissue slices are an in vitro model that recapitulates the native multicellular architecture of the heart. This allows for modeling cellular processes in a macroscopic context entailing great promise. The most common cardiomyopathy-related mutation in the Netherlands is the loss of arginine at position 14 (p.Arg14del) in the phospholamban protein (PLN). PLN is a critical regulator of calcium cycling and contractility in the heart. The p.Arg14del mutation results in a super inhibition of SERCA2a and thus aberrant calcium handling and reduced contractile force. Mice models harbouring the PLN p.Arg14del do not completely recapitulate the human manifestation mainly due to the difference between species; heart rate, Calcium-cycling and ion properties, and different myosin heavy chain isoforms, showing the unmet need for a human-based model[2,3].

Methods & Results

300 µm thick viable myocardial tissue were sectioned from a PLN p.Arg14del patient’s left ventricle. Although the myocardial tissue slices were kept alive for eight days in static culture, these conditions initiated cell death and dedifferentiation. The tissue slices show the greatest resemblance to the intact architecture of the in vivo human heart, it is the most relevant model for viral transduction in the human heart, and proof-of-principle of this is performed. Myocardial tissue slices of a PLN p.Arg14del patient retain the structural phenotype shown by the fibrofatty deposition. Similarly, functional patient characteristics, aberrant calcium handling, and reduced contractile force are preserved.

Conclusion

Myocardial tissue slices recapitulate the (patho)physiology of the heart, as shown here with the PLN p.Arg14del case. However, the static culture conditions induce remodeling of the heart and thus only allow for acute measures in the native heart. To prolong the period that the slices recapitulate the native heart, culture conditions should mimic the environment of the heart. The tissue slices allow for a currently unmet need to modulate the complex architecture of the human heart with e.g. novel delivery tools or therapeutic interventions. All in all, myocardial tissue slices are a promising model that can give novel insights into the physiology of the human heart, and therapeutic intervention on induced or genetic cardiomyopathies.

RNA demethylase ALKBH5 inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT by regulating TGF-β/SMAD signaling in non-small cell lung cancer

AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) has been revealed as a key RNA N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A) demethylase that is implicated in development and diseases. However, the function of ALKBH5 in TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. Here, we firstly show that ALKBH5 expression is significantly reduced in metastatic NSCLC. ALKBH5 overexpression inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT and invasion of NSCLC cells, whereas ALKBH5 knockdown promotes the corresponding phenotypes. ALKBH5 overexpression suppresses TGF-β-stimulated NSCLC cell metastasis in vivo. ALKBH5 overexpression decreases the expression and mRNA stability of TGFβR2 and SMAD3 but increases those of SMAD6, while ALKBH5 knockdown causes the opposite results. Importantly, ALKBH5 overexpression or knockdown leads respectively to an attenuated or augmented phosphorylation of SMAD3, an indispensable downstream effector that activates TGF-β/SMAD signaling. Moreover, m⁶ A-binding proteins YTHDF1/3 promotes TGFβR2 and SMAD3 expression, and YTHDF2 inhibits SMAD6 expression. YTHDF1/2/3 facilitates TGF-β-stimulated EMT and invasion of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, ALKBH5 affects TGFβR2, SMAD3 and SMAD6 expression and mRNA stability by erasing m⁶ A modification in NSCLC cells. ALKBH5 weakens YTHDF1/3-mediated TGFβR2 and SMAD3 mRNA stabilization, and abolishes YTHDF2-mediated SMAD6 mRNA degradation, supporting the notion that ALKBH5 inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT and invasion of NSCLC cells via YTHD1/2/3-mediated mechanism. Taken together, our findings highlight an important role of ALKBH5 in regulating TGF-β/SMAD signaling, and establish a mechanistic interaction of ALKBH5 with TGFβR2/SMAD3/SMAD6 for controlling TGF-β-induced EMT in NSCLCs.

Computed Tomography Density and β-Amyloid Deposition of Intraorbital Optic Nerve May Assist in Diagnosing Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: A 18F-Flutemetamol Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Study

Objective

The aim was to study whether the computed tomography (CT) density and β-amyloid (Aβ) level of intraorbital optic nerve could assist in diagnosing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods

A total of sixty subjects were recruited in our study, including nine normal control (NC) subjects (i.e., 4 men and 5 women), twenty four MCI subjects (i.e., 11 men and 13 women), and twenty seven AD subjects (i.e., 14 men and 13 women). All subjects conducted ¹⁸F-flutemetamol amyloid positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging. Blinded to the clinical information of the subjects, two physicians independently measured and calculated the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) of the bilateral occipital cortex, SUVR of the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve, and CT density of the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve by using GE AW 4.5 Workstation.

Results

Between AD and NC groups, the differences of the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve SUVR were statistically significant; between AD and MCI groups, the differences of the left intraorbital optic nerve SUVR were statistically significant. Between any two of the three groups, the differences in the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve density were statistically significant. The bilateral occipital SUVR was positively correlated with the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve SUVR and negatively correlated with the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve density. Bilateral intraorbital optic nerve SUVR was negatively correlated with the bilateral intraorbital optic nerve density. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of multiple logistic regression was 0.9167 (for MCI vs. NC) and 0.8951 (for AD vs. MCI). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were positively associated with the intraorbital optic nerve density and were negatively associated with the intraorbital optic nerve SUVR. The regression equation of MoCA was y = 16.37-0.9734 × x₁ + 0.5642 × x₂-3.127 × x₃ + 0.0275 × x₄; the R² was 0.848. The regression equation of MMSE was y = 19.57-1.633 × x₁ + 0.4397 × x₂-1.713 × x₃ + 0.0424 × x₄; the R² was 0.827.

Conclusion

The CT density and Aβ deposition of the intraorbital optic nerve were associated with Aβ deposition of the occipital cortex and the severity of cognitive impairment. The intraorbital optic nerve CT density and intraorbital optic nerve Aβ deposition could assist in diagnosing MCI and AD.

MicroRNA-214-3p Ameliorates LPS-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury by Inhibiting Cathepsin B

Myocardial injury is a common complication of sepsis. MicroRNA (miRNA) miR-214-3p is protective against myocardial injury caused by sepsis, but its mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced cardiomyocyte injury is still unclear. An AC16 cell injury model was induced by LPS treatment. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry assay showed decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis in LPS-treated AC16 cells. The levels of caspase- 3, Bax, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), myosin 6 (Myh6), myosin 7 (Myh7), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased in LPS-treated AC16 cells, but the levels of Bcl-2 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased. MiR-214-3p was down-regulated and cathepsin B (CTSB) was upregulated in LPS-treated AC16 cells. At the same time, miR-214-3p could target CTSB and reduce its expression. We also found that a miR-214-3p mimic or CTSB silencing could significantly reduce LPSinduced apoptosis, decrease ROS, MDA, caspase-3, and Bax and increase SOD and Bcl-2. CTSB silencing could significantly reduce ANP, BNP, Myh6, and Myh7 in LPS-treated AC16 cells. The effects of CTSB silencing were reversed by a miR-214-3p inhibitor. In summary, miR-214-3p could inhibit LPSinduced myocardial injury by targeting CTSB, which provides a new idea for myocardial damage caused by sepsis.

Regional cerebral perfusion in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: effect of cerebral small vessel disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effort of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on regional cerebral perfusion in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using NeuroGam™ software and evaluate the capability of brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in distinguishing MCI with and without CSVD.

METHODS

34 amnestic MCI subjects entered this study, conducting neuropsychological tests, MRI and ^99mTechnetium ethyl cystine dimer brain perfusion SPECT imaging. All subjects were divided into those with CSVD and those without CSVD. Perfusion value was measured with Brodmann area (BA) mapping in these two groups. Automated software (NeuroGam™) was used for semi-quantitative analyses of perfusion value and comparison with normal database.

RESULTS

Compared with normal database, perfusion levels in BAs 23-left, 28 and 36-left of MCI without CSVD group had great deviations, while perfusion levels in BAs 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 36, 38 and 47-left of MCI with CSVD group had great deviations. Furthermore, compared with CSVD group, there was significantly lower perfusion value in BA 7-left (P < 0.001) in MCI without CSVD group.

CONCLUSIONS

CSVD could interact with pathological changes related to AD, exacerbating hypoperfusion in BAs 21, 23, 28, 36, 38 while compensating for cerebral blood perfusion disorder in BA 7-left in MCI patients. Meanwhile, MCI patients with CSVD shared similar hypoperfusion with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in BAs 24, 25 and 47L. Brain perfusion SPECT may help improve our ability to differentiate MCI with and without CSVD.

Onset of inverse magnetic energy transfer in collisionless turbulent plasmas

Inverse magnetic energy transfer from small to large scales is a key physical process for the origin of large-scale strong magnetic fields in the universe. However, so far, from the magnetohydrodynamic perspective, the onset of inverse transfer is still not fully understood, especially the underlying dynamics. Here, we use both two-dimensional and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to show the self-consistent dynamics of inverse transfer in collisionless decaying turbulent plasmas. Using the space filtering technique in theory and numerical analyses, we identify magnetic reconnection as the onset and fundamental drive for inverse transfer, where, specifically, the subscale electromotive force driven by magnetic reconnection do work on the large-scale magnetic field, resulting in energy transfer from small to large scales. The mechanism is also verified by the strong correlations in locations and characteristic scales between inverse transfer and magnetic reconnection.

Magnetically Induced Aggregation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Carrier Flotation Strategies

On the nanoscale, iron oxides can be used for multiple applications ranging from medical treatment to biotechnology. We aimed to utilize the specific properties of these nanoparticles for new process concepts in flotation. Magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by alkaline coprecipitation, leading to a primary particle size of 9 nm, and coated with oleate. The nanomaterial was characterized for its superparamagnetism and its colloidal stability at different ionic strengths, with and without an external magnetic field. The nanomaterial was used for model experiments on magnetic carrier flotation of microplastic particles, based on magnetically induced heteroagglomeration. We were able to demonstrate the magnetically induced aggregation of the nanoparticles which allows for new flotation strategies. Since the nanomaterial has zero remanent magnetization, the agglomeration is reversible which facilitates the process control. Magnetic carrier flotation based on iron oxide nanoparticles can pave the way to promising new recycling processes for microplastic wastes.

Quaking 5 suppresses TGF-β-induced EMT and cell invasion in lung adenocarcinoma

Quaking (QKI) proteins belong to the signal transduction and activation of RNA (STAR) family of RNA-binding proteins that have multiple functions in RNA biology. Here, we show that QKI-5 is dramatically decreased in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). QKI-5 overexpression inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion, whereas QKI-5 knockdown has the opposite effect. QKI-5 overexpression and silencing suppresses and promotes TGF-β-stimulated metastasis in vivo, respectively. QKI-5 inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT and invasion in a TGFβR1-dependent manner. KLF6 knockdown increases TGFβR1 expression and promotes TGF-β-induced EMT, which is partly abrogated by QKI-5 overexpression. Mechanistically, QKI-5 directly interacts with the TGFβR1 3' UTR and causes post-transcriptional degradation of TGFβR1 mRNA, thereby inhibiting TGF-β-induced SMAD3 phosphorylation and TGF-β/SMAD signaling. QKI-5 is positively regulated by KLF6 at the transcriptional level. In LUAD tissues, KLF6 is lowly expressed and positively correlated with QKI-5 expression, while TGFβR1 expression is up-regulated and inversely correlated with QKI-5 expression. We reveal a novel mechanism by which KLF6 transcriptionally regulates QKI-5 and suggest that targeting the KLF6/QKI-5/TGFβR1 axis is a promising targeting strategy for metastatic LUAD.

Downregulated long noncoding RNA LUCAT1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of cardiomyocyte via miR-612/HOXA13 pathway in chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in numerous kinds of cardiovascular disease, including chronic heart failure (CHF). In this study, we mainly focused on investigating the potential roles of lncRNA LUCAT1 patients with CHF.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of LUCAT1 and miR-612 in serum samples of CHF patients (n=60) and healthy volunteers. Relationships between the expressions of LUCAT1 and miR-612, LUCAT1 and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Si-LUCAT1 and miR-612 mimic were constructed and respectively transfected into AC16 cells to explore the functions of LUCAT1 and miR-612. Cell proliferation abilities were detected by CCK-8 assay AC16 cells. Cell apoptotic rates were measured by flow cytometry (FACS) analysis. Western blot (WB) was performed to detect the protein levels of HOXA13, Bcl-2, Bax, Bad and Cleaved Caspase3. In addition, luciferase gene reporter assay was used to prove the relationships between LUCAT1 and miR-612, miR-612 and HOXA13.

RESULTS

Firstly, we found that LUCAT1 was decreased for 1.7 folds in CHF patients, which was correlated with poor prognosis patients. LUCAT1 repression inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in human cardiomyocyte cell line AC16 cells. Furthermore, we found that miR-612 was increased for 2.0 folds in CHF patients, which was negatively interacted with LUCAT1 expression. Luciferase gene reporter assay demonstrated that LUCAT1 could directly bind with miR-612 in AC16 cells. Moreover, miR-612 overexpression also inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in AC16 cells. Luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-612 could directly target at HOXA13 in AC16 cells, which was associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, miR-612 inhibitor was transfected into AC16 cells with si-LUCAT1. The results showed that the inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis were reversed, which confirmed that LUCAT1 repression inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis via miR-612/HOXA13 axis in CHF patients.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the above results, our study revealed that LUCAT1 was decreased in CHF patients, which was correlated with poor prognosis of CHF patients. Furthermore, the downregulation of LUCAT1 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis via targeting miR-612/HOXA13 axis. Our results elucidated a potential mechanism underlying cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which might be used as a promising prognostic marker and a potential target for CHF patients.

Structure and thermal properties of beeswax-based oleogels with different types of vegetable oil

Beeswax-based oleogels with different types of vegetable oil, including camellia oil (CO), soybean oil (SO), sunflower oil (SFO), or flaxseed oil (FO), were prepared and their structure and thermal properties were evaluated. The critical concentration of oleogel obtained from each of CO, SO, and SFO at 25 °C was 3% (w/w), and that from FO was 4%. Thermal measurements revealed similar thermodynamic curves for oleogels in different lipid phases. X-Ray diffraction showed orthorhombic perpendicular subcell packing and characteristic peaks of the β’ form. Furthermore, a morphology analysis of the crystals showed that they were needle shaped. Fourier transform-infrared spectra revealed that beeswax-based oleogels were formed via non-covalent bonds and may be stabilized with physical entanglements. The oleogels showed oil type-dependent oxidative abilities, but they were all stable and showed no obvious changes in peroxide value during 90 days of storage at 5 °C.

Abnormally activated OPN/integrin αVβ3/FAK signalling is responsible for EGFR-TKI resistance in EGFR mutant non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Acquired epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) resistance limits the long-term clinical efficacy of tyrosine kinase-targeting drugs. Although most of the mechanisms of acquired EGFR-TKI resistance have been revealed, the mechanism of ~ 15% of cases has not yet been elucidated.

METHODS

Cell viability was analysed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Proteome profiler array analysis was performed to find proteins contributing to acquired EGFR-TKI resistance. Secreted OPN was detected by ELISA. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to detect expression of integrin αV in NSCLC tissue. The effect of VS-6063 on apoptosis and proliferation of PC9 gefitinib-resistant cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and clonogenic assays. A mouse xenograft model was used to assess the effect of VS-6063 on the sensitivity of PC9 gefitinib-resistant cells to gefitinib.

RESULTS

OPN was overexpressed in acquired EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLCs. Secreted OPN contributed to acquired EGFR-TKI resistance by activating the integrin αVβ3/FAK pathway. Inhibition of FAK signalling increased sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs in PC9 gefitinib-resistant cells both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

OPN contributes to acquired EGFR-TKI resistance by up-regulating expression of integrin αVβ3, which activates the downstream FAK/AKT and ERK signalling pathways to promote cell proliferation in NSCLC.

[Corrigendum] Ski prevents TGF‑β‑induced EMT and cell invasion by repressing SMAD‑dependent signaling in non‑small cell lung cancer

Following the publication of the above paper, an interested reader drew to our attention apparent anomalies associated with Figs. 2, 3 and 4; essentially, these three figures contained panels exhibiting overlapping data, such that data purportedly relating to different experiments were apparently drawn from the same original sources. [Specifically, the Ski, +TGF‑β1 data panel in Fig. 2B, the Mock, +TGF‑β1 data panel in Fig. 3A, and the +TGF‑β1, +SIS3 data panel in Fig. 4B in the original figures were chosen incorrectly.] Upon investigating this matter with the authors, the authors have realized that they made errors in the compilation of the affected figures. The errors were made inadvertently, and the authors have been able to identify the correct data for each of the figures concerned. The corrected versions of these figures are shown opposite and on the next page. Note that these errors did not affect the overall conclusions reported in the study. The authors are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for allowing them the opportunity to publish this Corrigendum; furthermore, the authors apologize for any inconvenience caused to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published in Oncology Reports 34: 87-94, 2015; DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.3961].

Oscillatory surface deformation of paramagnetic rare-earth solutions driven by an inhomogeneous magnetic field

The deformation of the free surface of a paramagnetic liquid subjected to a nonuniform magnetic field is studied. A transient deformation of the surface caused by the interplay of gravity, magnetic field, and surface tension is observed when a permanent magnet is moved vertically downward to the free surface of the liquid. Different concentrations of rare-earth-metal salt (DyCl_{3}) are used and different magnet velocities are studied. The deformation of the interface is followed optically by means of a microscope and recorded with a high-speed camera. The experimental results are compared and discussed with complementary numerical simulations. Detailed results are given for the static shape of the deformed surface and the temporal evolution of the surface deformation below the center of the magnet. The frequency of the surface oscillations is found to depend on the concentration of the salt and is compared with analytical findings. Finally, a potential application of the effects observed is presented.

Improvement of gibberellin production by a newly isolated Fusarium fujikuroi mutant

AIMS

To obtain and investigate the potential mechanism for GA₃ production in Fusarium fujikuroi GA-251, a high GA₃ producer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fusarium fujikuroi IMI 58289 was bred with Cobalt-60 (⁶⁰ Co) radiation and lithium chloride treatment. The best mutant strain GA-251 was obtained for the subsequent optimization of fermentation conditions. The yield of GA₃ by GA-251 was 2100 mg l^-1 , while the wild-type strain was 100 mg l^-1 , which is a 21-fold increase in the yield. To elucidate the mechanism of high GA₃ yield of GA-251, the genome was sequenced and compared with wild-type strain IMI 58289. The results showed 2295 single nucleotide polymorphisms, 1242 small indels and 30 structural variants. These mutations were analysed and enriched in the MAPK signalling pathway, the mRNA surveillance pathway and endocytosis. The potential reasons for the improved GA₃ biosynthesis were investigated.

CONCLUSIONS

The potential mechanism of high GA₃ yield was attributed to endocytosis pathway and histone modification proteins family.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A mutant strain GA-251 in this work that could potentially be utilized in the industrial yield of GA₃ . The comparative genome analysis would shed light onto the mechanism of yield improvement and be a theoretical guide for further metabolic engineering.

Correction: MiR-940 inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell invasion by targeting Snail in non-small cell lung cancer

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7150/jca.31800.].

Stability criterion for the magnetic separation of rare-earth ions

The stability criterion for the magnetic separation of rare-earth ions is studied, taking dysprosium Dy(iii) ions as an example. Emphasis is placed on quantifying the factors that limit the desired high enrichment. During magnetic separation, a layer enriched in Dy(iii) ions is generated via the surface evaporation of an aqueous solution which is levitated by the Kelvin force. Later, mass transport triggers instability in the enriched layer. The onset time and position of the instability is studied using an interferometer. The onset time signals that an advective process which significantly accelerates the stratification of enrichment is taking place, although the initial phase is quasi-diffusion-like. The onset position of the flow agrees well with that predicted with a generalized Rayleigh number (Ra^{*}=0) criterion which includes the Kelvin force term acting antiparallel to gravity. Further three-dimensional analysis of the potential energy, combining magnetic and gravitational terms, shows an energy barrier that has to be overcome to initiate instability. The position of the energy barrier coincides well with the onset position of the instability.

Neuropilin 1 modulates TGF‑β1‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in non‑small cell lung cancer

Previously, the authors reported that neuropilin-1 (NRP1) was significantly increased and acted as a vital promoter in the metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the regulatory mechanism of NRP1 in NSCLC cell migration and invasion remained unclear. The present study aimed to explore the regulatory mechanism of NRP1 in the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) 1-induced migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. The expression level of NRP1 was determined by RT-qPCR analysis in human tissue samples with or without lymph node metastasis. Transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to determine the cell migration. Lentivirus-mediated stable knockdown and overexpression of NRP1 cell lines were constructed. Exogenous TGF-β1 stimulation, SIS3 treatment, western blot analysis and in vivo metastatic model were utilized to clarify the underlying regulatory mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the expression of NRP1 was increased in metastatic NSCLC tissues. NRP1 promoted NSCLC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. The Transwell assays, wound healing assays and western blot analysis revealed that the knockdown of NRP1 significantly inhibited TGF-β1-mediated EMT and migratory and invasive capabilities of NSCLC. Furthermore, the overexpression of NRP1 weakened the inhibitory effect of SIS3 on the NSCLC migration and invasion. Co-IP assay revealed that NRP1 interacted with TGFβRII to induce EMT. On the whole, the findings of this study demonstrated that NRP1 was overexpressed in metastatic NSCLC tissues. NRP1 could contributes to TGF-β1-induced EMT and metastasis in NSCLC by binding with TGFβRII.

miR-335-5p inhibits TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer via ROCK1

BACKGROUND

Significant evidence has shown that the miRNA pathway is an important component in the downstream signaling cascades of TGF-β1 pathway. Our previous study has indicated that miR-335-5p expression was significantly down-regulated and acted as a vital player in the metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however the underlying mechanism remained unclear.

METHODS

The differential expression level of miR-335-5p and ROCK1 were determined by qRT-PCR and IHC analysis in human tissue samples with or without lymph node metastasis. Transwell assay was conducted to determine cell ability of migration and invasion. SiRNA interference, microRNA transfection and western blot analysis were utilized to clarify the underlying regulatory mechanism.

RESULTS

We showed that down-regulated expression of miR-335-5p and up-regulated expression of ROCK1 in NSCLC tissues were associated with lymph node metastasis. Over-expresion of miR-335-5p significantly inhibited TGF-β1-mediated NSCLC migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays proved that miR-335-5p can bind to 3'-UTR of ROCK1 directly. Moreover, we confirmed that siRNA-mediated silencing of ROCK1 significantly diminished TGF-β1-mediated EMT and migratory and invasive capabilities of A549 and SPC-A1 cells.

CONCLUSION

This is the first time to report that miR-335-5p regulates ROCK1 and impairs its functions, thereby playing a key role in TGF-β1-induced EMT and cell migration and invasion in NSCLC.

MiR-940 inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell invasion by targeting Snail in non-small cell lung cancer

Increased evidence reveals that miR-940 inhibits the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Considering transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling is crucial to cellular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and metastasis of cancer, it is in urgent to explore whether and how miR-940 plays an essential role in regulating TGF-β-induced EMT in lung cancer progression. In the present study, we observed a reciprocal expression with down-regulated miR-940 and up-regulated Snail mRNA in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. we further found that the expression of miR-940 was decreased in NSCLC tissues with lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stages and poor cell differentiation, in which, on the contrary, the expression of Snail was increased. Overexpression of miR-940 significantly inhibited Snail mRNA and protein expression in A549 and H226 cells. Mechanistically, Snail mRNA was identified as target of miR-940. In addition, miR-940 repressed TGF-β-induced EMT and further hampered the cell migration and invasion. Finally, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Snail copied the phenotype of miR-940 overexpression in A549 and H226 cells. Taken together, our study reveals that miR-940 can suppress TGF-β-induced EMT and cell invasion by targeting Snail 3'-UTR mRNA in NSCLC.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0008305 (circPTK2) inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis by controlling TIF1γ in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

TGF-β promotes tumor invasion and metastasis through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recognized as functional non-coding RNAs involved in human cancers. However, whether and how circRNAs contribute to TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis in NSCLC remain vague. Here, we investigated the regulation and function of Circular RNA hsa_circ_0008305 (circPTK2) in TGF-β-induced EMT and tumor metastasis, as well as a link between circPTK2 and transcriptional intermediary factor 1 γ (TIF1γ) in NSCLC.

METHODS

Circular RNAs were determined by human circRNA Array analysis, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and northern blot. Luciferase reporter, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull-down and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were employed to test the interaction between circPTK2 and miR-429/miR-200b-3p. Ectopic overexpression and siRNA-mediated knockdown of circPTK2, TGF-β-induced EMT, Transwell migration and invasion in vitro, and in vivo experiment of metastasis were used to evaluate the function of circPTK2. Transcription and prognosis analyses were done in public databases.

RESULTS

CircPTK2 and TIF1γ were significantly down-regulated in NSCLC cells undergoing EMT induced by TGF-β. CircPTK2 overexpression augmented TIF1γ expression, inhibited TGF-β-induced EMT and NSCLC cell invasion, whereas circPTK2 knockdown had the opposite effects. CircPTK2 functions as a sponge of miR-429/miR-200b-3p, and miR-429/miR-200b-3p promote TGF-β-induced EMT and NSCLC cell invasion by targeting TIF1γ. CircPTK2 overexpression inhibited the invasion-promoting phenotype of endogenous miR-429/miR-200b-3p in NSCLC cells in response to TGF-β. CircPTK2 overexpression significantly decreased the expression of Snail, an important downstream transcriptional activator of TGF-β/Smad signaling. In an in vivo experiment of metastasis, circPTK2 overexpression suppressed NSCLC cell metastasis. Moreover, circPTK2 expression was dramatically down-regulated and positively correlated with TIF1γ expression in human NSCLC tissues. Especially, circPTK2 was significantly lower in metastatic NSCLC tissues than non-metastatic counterparts.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that circPTK2 (hsa_circ_0008305) inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis by controlling TIF1γ in NSCLC, revealing a novel mechanism by which circRNA regulates TGF-β-induced EMT and tumor metastasis, and suggesting that circPTK2 overexpression could provide a therapeutic strategy for advanced NSCLC.

GPNMB silencing suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Glycoprotein non‑metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) is a glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various types of cancer, including osteosarcoma. However, its cellular functions and related mechanisms in osteosarcoma remain unclear. In the present study, a higher GPNMB mRNA level was observed in osteosarcoma tissues, than in adjacent non‑cancerous tissues. In addition, upregulation of the GPNMB mRNA and protein level was detected in the osteosarcoma cells SaOS2, 143B, MG63 and U2OS using western blot analysis and qPCR. Following transfection with GPNMB siRNA, the proliferation, migration and invasion of MG63 and U2OS cells were assessed using MTT and Transwell assays. The knockdown of GPNMB markedly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of MG63 and U2OS cells. GPNMB silencing inhibited the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in MG63 and U2OS cells. PI3K/AKT activator insulin‑like growth factor‑1 (IGF‑1) significantly activated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and reversed the suppressive effects of GPNMB silencing. IGF‑1 counteracted the inhibitory effects of GPNMB silencing on the proliferation and metastasis of the MG63 and U2OS cells. In conclusion, we provided evidence that GPNMB silencing regulated the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Thus, GPNMB may be a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma treatment.

MicroRNA-205 targets SMAD4 in non-small cell lung cancer and promotes lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains poor; therefore, improved understanding of the disease mechanism and novel treatment strategies are needed. Downregulation of SMAD4 and dysregulated expression of miR-205 have been reported. However, the relationship between them remains unclear. We investigated the effect of microRNA (miR)-205 on the expression of SMAD4 in NSCLC. Knockdown and overexpression of SMAD4 promoted or suppressed cellular viability and proliferation, and accelerated or inhibited the cell cycle in NSCLC cells, respectively. The 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of SMAD4 was predicted as a target of miR-205. Luciferase assays validated that miR-205 binds directly to the SMAD4 3′-UTR. Protein and mRNA expression analyses confirmed that miR-205 overexpression in NSCLC cells inhibited the expression of SMAD4 mRNA and protein. In human NSCLC tissues, increased miR-205 expression was observed frequently and was inversely correlated with decreased SMAD4 expression. Ectopic expression of miR-205 in NSCLC cells suppressed cellular viability and proliferation, accelerated the cell cycle, and promoted tumor growth of lung carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Our study showed that miR-205 decreased SMAD4 expression, thus promoting NSCLC cell growth. Our findings highlighted the therapeutic potential of targeting miR-205 in NSCLC treatment.

Aberrant promoter methylation of hOGG1 may be associated with increased risk of non-small cell lung cancer

DNA methylation may epigenetically inactivate tumor suppressor genes in NSCLC. As the human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) gene promoter is frequently methylated in NSCLC, we evaluated whether genetic or epigenetic alterations of hOGG1 are associated with increased risk of non-small cell lung cancer. Three hOGG1 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNP) were genotyped in PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays, and one htSNP was genotyped in a PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism assay in case-control studies of 217 NSCLC patients and 226 healthy controls. The methylation profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens from 121 NSCLC patients and 121 controls were determined through methylation-specific PCR of hOGG1. No differences in allele or genotype frequencies between NSCLC patients and controls were observed at any of the four polymorphic sites (rs159153, rs125701, rs1052133, and rs293795). However, hOGG1 methylation-positive carriers had a 2.25-fold greater risk of developing NSCLC (adjusted odds ratio: 2.247; 95% confidence interval: 1.067-4.734; P = 0.03) than methylation-free subjects. Furthermore, the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored hOGG1 expression in NSCLC cell lines. These data provide strong evidence of an association between peripheral blood mononuclear cell hOGG1 methylation and the risk of NSCLC in a Chinese population.

Long non-coding RNA XIST promotes TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition by regulating miR-367/141-ZEB2 axis in non-small-cell lung cancer

Growing evidence shows that lncRNA XIST functions as an oncogene accelerating tumor progression. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor metastasis. However, it is still unclear whether lncRNA XIST is implicated in TGF-β-induced EMT and influences cell invasion and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we observed increased expression of lncRNA XIST and ZEB2 mRNA in metastatic NSCLC tissues. Knockdown of lncRNA XIST inhibited ZEB2 expression, and repressed TGF-β-induced EMT and NSCLC cell migration and invasion. Being in consistent with the in vitro findings, the in vivo experiment of metastasis showed that knockdown of lncRNA XIST inhibited pulmonary metastasis of NSCLC cells in mice. In addition, knockdown of ZEB2 expression can inhibit TGF-β-induced EMT and NSCLC cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, lncRNA XIST and ZEB2 were targets of miR-367 and miR-141. Furthermore, both miR-367 and miR-141 expression can be upregulated by knockdown of lncRNA XIST. Taken together, our study reveals that lncRNA XIST can promote TGF-β-induced EMT and cell invasion and metastasis by regulating miR-367/miR-141-ZEB2 axis in NSCLC.