A novel heat shock protein inhibitor KU757 with efficacy in lenvatinib-resistant follicular thyroid cancer cells overcomes up-regulated glycolysis in drug-resistant cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer develop resistance to lenvatinib treatment from metabolic dysregulation. Heat shock protein 90 is a molecular chaperone that plays an important role in glycolysis and metabolic pathway regulation. We hypothesize that lenvatinib-resistant differentiated thyroid cancer cells will have an increased dependency on glycolysis and that a novel C-terminal heat shock protein 90 inhibitor (KU757) can effectively treat lenvatinib-resistant cells by targeting glycolysis.

METHODS

Inhibitory concentration 50 values of thyroid cancer cells were determined by CellTiter-Glo assay (Promega Corp, Madison, WI). Glycolysis was measured through Seahorse experiments. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot evaluated glycolytic pathway genes/proteins. Exosomes were isolated/validated by nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western blot. Differentially expressed long non-coding ribonucleic acids in exosomes and cells were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Extracellular acidification rate demonstrated >2-fold upregulation of glycolysis in lenvatinib-resistant cells versus parent cells and was downregulated after KU757 treatment. Lenvatinib-resistant cells showed increased expression of the glycolytic genes lactic acid dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase M1/2, and hexokinase 2. KU757 treatment resulted in downregulation of these genes and proteins. Several long non-coding ribonucleic acids associated with glycolysis were significantly upregulated in WRO-lenvatinib-resistant cells and exosomes and downregulated after KU757 treatment.

CONCLUSION

Lenvatinib resistance leads to increased glycolysis, and KU757 effectively treats lenvatinib-resistant cells and overcomes this increased glycolysis by targeting key glycolytic genes, proteins, and long non-coding ribonucleic acids.

Cultural determinants of achievement, aggression, and psychological distress

We present a cross-cultural exploration of the interrelationships among six concepts: achievement (ie, cultural attainment), aggression, psychological distress, competition, interpersonal intensity (strength of passionate attachments), and social synergy (patterned behavior that simultaneously benefits both individual and society). Of interest is the proposition that levels of achievement, aggression, and psychological distress are partly determined by corresponding levels of competition and interpersonal intensity; however, in the presence of high levels of social synergy, aggression and psychological distress are lowered without affecting the level of achievement. We have tested the implied linear relationships, using blind ratings (of five variables assessed from ethnographic extracts) obtained from ten cross-cultural scholars, and a Social Development Index (from Tatje and Naroll) to indicate achievement. A sample of 58 societies was employed in correlation and multivariate analysis of variance.

A clinical evaluation of the Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator with integrated arterial filter

High-performance, low-prime-volume oxygenators for the pediatric patient population have become a growing market among manufacturers. In the summer of 2011, our institution clinically evaluated the performance of the newly released Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator with integrated arterial filter. The static priming volume, including the integrated arterial filter, is 40 ml and the maximum rated blood flow is 1.5 liters per minute (LPM). The device was used on seven pediatric patients, ranging from 3.2 to 14 kg, undergoing various congenital heart defect repairs. Data were collected to calculate gas transfer, trans-oxygenator pressure drop, and heat exchange performance. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 85 minutes and the mean cross-clamp time was 56 minutes. The average oxygen transfer was 34.3 ± 22.8 ml/O2/min and increased with both blood flow and FiO2. The average carbon dioxide transfer was 22.3 ± 17.8 ml/min and increased with both blood flow and gas sweep to blood flow ratio. The average trans-oxygenator pressure drop per blood flow was 53.3 ± 15.5 mmHg/L/min and increased with flow. The average heat exchanger performance factor was 47.6 ± 11.6% and decreased with flow. The heat exchange performance factor at maximum observed clinical flow, 1.42 LPM, was 36.4%. During this evaluation, the Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator adequately performed within its operational flow in the clinical setting.

Impact of dramatized television entertainment on adult males

The authors studied the effects of a week's viewing of five types of television programs, including those with predominantly helpful or hurtful content, on the aggressive mood and hurtful behavior of adult men. They found, within the population studied, a significant decrease in aggressive mood and lower levels of hurtful behavior in viewers of helpful programs as compared with a control group, as well as some evidence that emotional arousal in response to helpful programs is negatively correlated with aggressive mood.