ABSTRACT
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) represent a significant component of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) microenvironments which play a critical role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Tumor-on-a-chip technology has provided a powerful in vitro platform to investigate the crosstalk between activated HSCs and HCC cells by mimicking physiological architecture with precise spatiotemporal control. Here we developed a tri-cell culture microfluidic chip to evaluate the impact of HSCs on HCC progression. On-chip analysis revealed activated HSCs contributed to endothelial invasion, HCC drug resistance and natural killer (NK) cell exhaustion. Cytokine array and RNA sequencing analysis were combined to indicate the iron-binding protein LIPOCALIN-2 (LCN-2) as a key factor in remodeling tumor microenvironments in the HCC-on-a-chip. LCN-2 targeted therapy demonstrated robust anti-tumor effects both in vitro 3D biomimetic chip and in vivo mouse model, including angiogenesis inhibition, sorafenib sensitivity promotion and NK-cell cytotoxicity enhancement. Taken together, the microfluidic platform exhibited obvious advantages in mimicking functional characteristics of tumor microenvironments and developing targeted therapies.
ABSTRACT
Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1),as one of the main members of the heat shock protein 90 family, resists oxidative stress-induced apoptosis as well as predominantly maintains the integrity of mitochondria and cellu-lar homeostasis. Abnormal expression of TRAP1 was herein closely related to the onset and progression of a wide variety of tumors. As a key regulatory factor mediating energy metabolism within tumor cells, TRAP1 may be able to kill them by interfer-ing with such metabolism. More importantly, the abnormal ex-pression of TRAP1 played a less important role in normal cells, allowing TRAP1 to be a particularly attractive target as it can be used in tumor treatment or interference. The relationship be-tween abnormal expression of TRAP1 protein and tumor onset was reviewed. Besides, the mechanism by which disordered TRAP1 protein expression induced tumor formation was postula-ted, which may provide references for future research and clini-cal treatment.
ABSTRACT
Aim To discuss the impact of important ac-tive ingredient of garlic diallyl sulfide———DATS on platelet activating factor (PAF ) mediated melanoma metastasis and its mechanisms.Methods ①MTT was used to test the effect of different concentrations of DATS on B16F10 and A375 melanoma cell growth number;②Scratch test and transwell were employed to test the effect of different concentrations of DATS on B16F10 and A375 melanoma cell migration;③ West-ern blot was used to test the effect of DATS on expres-sion of MMP-2,ERK,p38 induced by PFA;④Intrave-nous injection of tumor metastasis model was used to check the inhibition of DATS in PAF-mediated melano-ma metastasis.Results B16F10 cells relative growth rate fell to 73.21% and 48.78%,respectively,when DATS concentration reached 50 and 100 μmol·L-1 . DATS inhibited the levels of PAF-induced migration of melanoma cells B16F10 and vertical migration signifi-cantly,and inhibited B16F10 cells migration induced by PAF through inhibiting the expression of MMP-2, paxillin protein,FAK and other proteins.Conclusion DATS can significantly inhibit PAF-induced tumor metastasis, which is related to the inactivation of MAPKs.
ABSTRACT
MTH1 (MutT Homolog1 )as MutT homologous en-zyme,is a nucleotide pyrophosphatase,mainly involved in DNA damage repair process,especially plays an important role in the process of DNA replication in tumor cells.Recent studies have found that MTH1’s function is responsible for the development of a variety of tumors.Studies have shown that,MTH1 can remove tumor cells’oxidative DNA elements detrimental to the function-al structure,protecting tumor cell division and proliferation, maintaining tumor cell survival,however,normal cells do not need MTH1.Therefore,MTH1 may be only closely associated with abnormal cell growth.This makes MTH1 as therapeutic tar-gets that have been paid much attention.This article reviewed the relationship of MTH1 and tumor,discussed the mechanisms of MTH1 in tumor growth MTH1 and tumor treatment,so as to provide reference for clinical research and treatment of tumor.
ABSTRACT
Tumor metastasis is one of the most important biologi-cal characteristics of malignant tumor, and it is also the main factor resulting in poor prognosis and leading to failure of treat-ment. In recent years, studies have shown that the extracellular matrix ( ECM) of tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor metastasis. Tumor ECM fibrogenesis could form the cross-linked network structure, which not only provides nutrition and support to tumor, also it is necessary to tumor growth and inva-sion. These research results indicate that blocking ECM fibro-genesis may exert an inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis. Therefore, targeting ECM fibrogenesis has become a particularly attractive strategy as it can be used in the treatment of metasta-sis-related diseases. The ECM fibrogenesis in tumor is reviewed in this paper as well as the treatment strategies on tumor metas-tasis by targeting ECM fibrogenesis, which may provide refer-ences for follow-up research and clinical treatment.