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1.
Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol ; 23(2): 220-230, 2024 Apr 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38822516

ABSTRACT

During epithelial to mesenchymal transition, the ability of cancer cells to transform and metastasize is primarily determined by N-cadherin-mediated migration and invasion. This study aimed to evaluate whether the N-cadherin promoter can induce diphtheria toxin expression as a suicide gene in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-induced cancer cells and whether this can be used as potential gene therapy. To investigate the expression of diphtheria toxin under the N-cadherin promoter, the promoter was synthesized, and was cloned upstream of diphtheria toxin in a pGL3-Basic vector. The A-549 cells was transfected by electroporation. After induction of EMT by TGF-ß and hypoxia treatment, the relative expression of diphtheria toxin, mesenchymal genes such as N-cadherin and Vimentin, and epithelial genes such as E-cadherin and ß-catenin were measured by real-time PCR. MTT assay was also performed to measure cytotoxicity. Finally, cell motility was assessed by the Scratch test. After induction of EMT in transfected cells, the expression of mesenchymal markers such as Vimentin and N-cadherin significantly decreased, and the expression of ß-catenin increased. In addition, the MTT assay showed promising toxicity results after induction of EMT with TGF-ß in transfected cells, but toxicity was less effective in hypoxia. The scratch test results also showed that cell movement was successfully prevented in EMT-transfected cells and thus confirmed EMT occlusion. Our findings indicate that by using structures containing diphtheria toxin downstream of a specific EMT promoter such as the N-cadherin promoter, the introduced toxin can kill specifically and block EMT in cancer cells.


Subject(s)
Cadherins , Diphtheria Toxin , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Humans , Cadherins/genetics , Cadherins/metabolism , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics , Diphtheria Toxin/genetics , Diphtheria Toxin/pharmacology , Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics , A549 Cells , Cell Movement/genetics , Cell Movement/drug effects , Vimentin/genetics , Vimentin/metabolism , Genes, Transgenic, Suicide , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antigens, CD/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
2.
Anticancer Res ; 44(6): 2689-2698, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38821605

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: There are two main subtypes of mucinous carcinoma (MC) based on the quantification of the mucinous component: the pure variant (pMC) and the mixed variant (mMC). pMC has been subdivided into pure A with a hypocellular variant, and pure B with a hypercellular variant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features of 99 patients with MC who were treated at our institution from January 2002 to December 2014. We evaluated the expression profiles of markers, including mucin (MUC) family members, in the patients groups representing different MC subtypes by performing immunohistochemistry to identify factors involved in the differentiation and progression of MCs. RESULTS: Among the 99 patients, 76 (76.8%) had pure mucinous carcinomas (pMC) and the other 23 (23.2%) had mixed mucinous carcinomas (mMC). Of the pMCs, 54 were pure A and 22 were pure B. The prognosis was worse for pure B than pure A and worse for mMC than pMC. Although there was no significant difference in clinicopathological factors between the pure A and pure B groups, immunohistochemical staining revealed differences in the localization of mucin MUC1 and ß-catenin. A comparison of the pMC and mMC cases revealed more lymphovascular invasion in mMC and differences in the localization of ß-catenin between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The patients' prognoses were significantly poorer depending on the histologic subtype (in the order pure A, pure B, and mixed). MUC1 localization and ß-catenin were revealed as independent predictors contributing to the poorer prognosis.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous , Biomarkers, Tumor , Breast Neoplasms , Mucin-1 , beta Catenin , Humans , Mucin-1/metabolism , Female , beta Catenin/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/pathology , Middle Aged , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Prognosis , Adult , Immunohistochemistry , Aged, 80 and over
3.
Anticancer Res ; 44(6): 2471-2485, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38821625

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: The cytoplasmic retention and stabilization of CTNNB1 (ß-catenin) in response to Wnt is well documented in playing a role in tumor growth. Here, through the utilization of a multiplex siRNA library screening strategy, we investigated the modulation of CTNNB1 function in tumor cell progression by ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M2 (RRM2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multiplex siRNA screening assay to identify targets involved in CTNNB1 nuclear translocation. In order to examine the effect of inhibition of RRM2, selected from the siRNA screening results, we performed RRM2 knockdown and assayed for colon cancer cell viability, sphere formation assay, and invasion assay. The interaction of RRM2 with CTNNB1 and its impact on oncogenesis was examined using immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: After a series of screening and filtration steps, we identified 26 genes that were potentially involved in CTNNB1 nuclear translocation. All candidate genes were validated in various cell lines. The results revealed that siRNA-mediated knockdown of RRM2 reduces the nuclear translocation of CTNNB1. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in cell count, resulting in a suppressive effect on tumor cell growth. CONCLUSION: High throughput siRNA screening is an attractive strategy for identifying gene functions in cancers and the interaction between RRM2 and CTNNB1 is an attractive drug target for regulating RRM2-CTNNB1-related pathways in cancers.


Subject(s)
Colonic Neoplasms , Disease Progression , Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase , beta Catenin , Humans , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase/genetics , Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase/metabolism , Colonic Neoplasms/genetics , Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Colonic Neoplasms/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Gene Knockdown Techniques
4.
Cell Cycle ; 23(5): 588-601, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38743408

ABSTRACT

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer, with a poor prognosis, yet the underlying mechanism needs further exploration. Non-SMC condensin I complex subunit D2 (NCAPD2) is a widely expressed protein in OSCC, but its role in tumor development is unclear. This study aimed to explore NCAPD2 expression and its biological function in OSCC. NCAPD2 expression in OSCC cell lines and tissue specimens was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Cancer cell growth was evaluated using cell proliferation, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, and colony formation assays. Cell migration was evaluated using wound healing and Transwell assays. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The influence of NCAPD2 on tumor growth in vivo was evaluated in a mouse xenograft model. NCAPD2 expression was significantly higher in OSCC than that in normal oral tissue. In vitro, the knockdown of NCAPD2 inhibited OSCC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. NCAPD2 depletion also significantly inhibited the migration of OSCC cells. Moreover, NCAPD2 overexpression induced inverse effects on OSCC cell phenotypes. In vivo, we demonstrated that downregulating NCAPD2 could inhibit the tumorigenicity of OSCC cells. Mechanically, OSCC regulation by NCAPD2 involved the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. These results suggest NCAPD2 as a novel oncogene with an important role in OSCC development and a candidate therapeutic target for OSCC.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Mouth Neoplasms , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Humans , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism , Mouth Neoplasms/genetics , Animals , Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Cell Movement/genetics , Apoptosis/genetics , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Mice , Mice, Nude , Disease Progression , Female , Male , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Mice, Inbred BALB C , beta Catenin/metabolism
5.
Exp Dermatol ; 33(5): e15101, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38770555

ABSTRACT

Skin hyperpigmentation is mainly caused by excessive synthesis of melanin; however, there is still no safe and effective therapy for its removal. Here, we found that the dermal freezer was able to improve UVB-induced hyperpigmentation of guinea pigs without causing obvious epidermal damage. We also mimic freezing stimulation at the cellular level by rapid freezing and observed that freezing treatments <2.5 min could not decrease cell viability or induce cell apoptosis in B16F10 and Melan-A cells. Critically, melanin content and tyrosinase activity in two cells were greatly reduced after freezing treatments. The dramatic decrease in tyrosinase activity was associated with the downregulation of MITF, TYR, TRP-1 and TRP-2 protein expression in response to freezing treatments for two cells. Furthermore, our results first demonstrated that freezing treatments significantly reduced the levels of p-GSK3ß and ß-catenin and the nuclear accumulation of ß-catenin in B16F10 and Melan-A cells. Together, these data suggest that fast freezing treatments can inhibit melanogenesis-related gene expression in melanocytes by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway. The inhibition of melanin production eventually contributed to the improvement in skin hyperpigmentation induced by UVB. Therefore, fast freezing treatments may be a new alternative of skin whitening in the clinic in the future.


Subject(s)
Freezing , Hyperpigmentation , Melanins , Melanocytes , Monophenol Monooxygenase , Ultraviolet Rays , Wnt Signaling Pathway , beta Catenin , Animals , Melanins/biosynthesis , Melanins/metabolism , Melanocytes/metabolism , Mice , Hyperpigmentation/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism , Guinea Pigs , Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/metabolism , Cell Survival , Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism , Apoptosis , Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Interferon Type I , Pregnancy Proteins
6.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 10227, 2024 05 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38702443

ABSTRACT

Hydrolyzed egg yolk peptide (YPEP) was shown to increase bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats. However, the underlying mechanism of YPEP on osteoporosis has not been explored. Recent studies have shown that Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and gut microbiota may be involved in the regulation of bone metabolism and the progression of osteoporosis. The present study aimed to explore the preventive effect of the YPEP supplementation on osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to verify whether YPEP can improve osteoporosis by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and gut microbiota. The experiment included five groups: sham surgery group (SHAM), ovariectomy group (OVX), 17-ß estradiol group (E2: 25 µg /kg/d 17ß-estradiol), OVX with low-dose YPEP group (LYPEP: 10 mg /kg/d YPEP) and OVX with high-dose YPEP group (HYPEP: 40 mg /kg/d YPEP). In this study, all the bone samples used were femurs. Micro-CT analysis revealed improvements in both bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure by YPEP treatment. The three-point mechanical bending test indicated an enhancement in the biomechanical properties of the YPEP groups. The serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), bone gla protein (BGP), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) were markedly higher in the YPEP groups than in the OVX group. The LYPEP group had markedly lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) than the OVX group. The YPEP groups had significantly higher protein levels of the Wnt3a, ß-catenin, LRP5, RUNX2 and OPG of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway compared with the OVX group. Compared to the OVX group, the ratio of OPG/RANKL was markedly higher in the LYPEP group. At the genus level, there was a significantly increase in relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and a decrease in Escherichia_Shigella in YPEP groups, compared with the OVX group. However, in the correlation analysis, there was no correlation between these two bacteria and bone metabolism and microstructure indexes. These findings demonstrate that YPEP has the potential to improve osteoporosis, and the mechanism may be associated with its modulating effect on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.


Subject(s)
Bone Density , Osteoporosis , Ovariectomy , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Animals , Female , Rats , Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , Bone Density/drug effects , Egg Proteins/pharmacology , Egg Proteins/metabolism , Egg Yolk/chemistry , Egg Yolk/metabolism , Femur/drug effects , Femur/metabolism , Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5/metabolism , Osteoporosis/prevention & control , Osteoporosis/metabolism , Peptides/pharmacology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects , X-Ray Microtomography
7.
Genes Chromosomes Cancer ; 63(5): e23247, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38757718

ABSTRACT

Superficial fibromas are a group of mesenchymal spindle cell lesions with pathomorphological heterogeneity and diverse molecular backgrounds. In part, they may be indicators of an underlying syndrome. Among the best-known entities of superficial fibromas is Gardner fibroma, a plaque-like benign tumor, which is associated with APC germline mutations and occurs in patients with familial adenomatosis polyposis (Gardner syndrome). Affected patients also have an increased risk to develop desmoid fibromatosis (DTF), a locally aggressive neoplasm of the deep soft tissue highly prone to local recurrences. Although a minority of DTFs occur in the syndromic context and harbor APC germline mutations, most frequently their underlying molecular aberration is a sporadic mutation in Exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene. Up to date, a non-syndromic equivalent to Gardner fibroma carrying a CTNNB1 mutation has not been defined. Here, we present two cases of (sub-)cutaneous tumors with a hypocellular and collagen-rich Gardner fibroma-like appearance and pathogenic, somatic CTNNB1 mutations. We aim to differentiate these tumors from other fibromas according to their histological appearance, immunohistochemical staining profile and underlying somatic CTNNB1 mutations. Furthermore, we distinguish them from locally aggressive desmoid fibromatosis regarding their biological behavior, prognosis and indicated therapeutic strategies. Consequently, we call them CTNNB1-mutated superficial fibromas as a sporadic counterpart lesion to syndromic Gardner fibromas.


Subject(s)
Fibroma , beta Catenin , Humans , beta Catenin/genetics , Fibroma/genetics , Fibroma/pathology , Male , Female , Mutation , Middle Aged , Fibromatosis, Aggressive/genetics , Fibromatosis, Aggressive/pathology , Adult , Gardner Syndrome/genetics , Gardner Syndrome/pathology , Germ-Line Mutation
9.
Anim Biotechnol ; 35(1): 2351975, 2024 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38742598

ABSTRACT

The development of ovarian follicles in poultry is a key factor affecting the performance of egg production. Ovarian follicle development is regulated via the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and ß-catenin, encoded by CTNNB1, is a core component of this pathway. In this study, using ovary GCs from laying hens, we investigated the regulatory role of CTNNB1 in steroid synthesis. We found that CTNNB1 significantly regulates the expression of StAR and CYP11A1 (key genes related to progesterone synthesis) and the secretion of progesterone (P4). Furthermore, simultaneous overexpression of CTNNB1 and SF1 resulted in significantly higher levels of CYP11A1 and secretion of P4 than in cells overexpressing CTNNB1 or SF1 alone. We also found that in GCs overexpressing SF1, levels of CYP11A1 and secreted P4 were significantly greater than in controls. Silencing of CYP11A1 resulted in the inhibition of P4 secretion while overexpression of SF1 in CYP11A1-silenced cells restored P4 secretion to normal levels. Together, these results indicate that synergistic cooperation between the ß-catenin and SF1 regulates progesterone synthesis in laying hen ovarian hierarchical granulosa cells to promote CYP11A1 expression.


Subject(s)
Chickens , Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme , Granulosa Cells , Progesterone , beta Catenin , Animals , Female , Progesterone/biosynthesis , Progesterone/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Granulosa Cells/metabolism , Chickens/genetics , Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme/genetics , Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme/metabolism , Steroidogenic Factor 1/genetics , Steroidogenic Factor 1/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation/physiology
10.
Med Oncol ; 41(6): 151, 2024 May 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38743149

ABSTRACT

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among men. A comprehensive understanding of PCa progression is crucial for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for its treatment. While WDR1 (WD-repeat domain 1) serves as a significant cofactor of actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin, its role in PCa progression remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of WDR1 in various PCa cells substantially inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as confirmed at both the cellular and molecular levels. Moreover, the overexpression of WDR1 promoted PCa cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro. Mechanistically, we showed that the application of lithium chloride, an activator of the Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway, restored the suppressive effects of WDR1 deficiency on cell proliferation and migration in PCa cells. Our findings suggest that the WDR1-ß-Catenin axis functions as an activator of the malignant phenotype and represents a promising therapeutic target for PCa treatment.


Subject(s)
Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Disease Progression , Prostatic Neoplasms , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Humans , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology , Cell Movement/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , beta Catenin/metabolism , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
11.
Cells ; 13(9)2024 May 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38727316

ABSTRACT

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process during which epithelial cells lose epithelial characteristics and gain mesenchymal features. Here, we used several cell models to study migratory activity and redistribution of cell-cell adhesion proteins in cells in different EMT states: EGF-induced EMT of epithelial IAR-20 cells; IAR-6-1 cells with a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype; and their more mesenchymal derivatives, IAR-6-1-DNE cells lacking adherens junctions. In migrating cells, the cell-cell adhesion protein α-catenin accumulated at the leading edges along with ArpC2/p34 and α-actinin. Suppression of α-catenin shifted cell morphology from fibroblast-like to discoid and attenuated cell migration. Expression of exogenous α-catenin in MDA-MB-468 cells devoid of α-catenin drastically increased their migratory capabilities. The Y654 phosphorylated form of ß-catenin was detected at integrin adhesion complexes (IACs). Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated that α-catenin and pY654-ß-catenin were associated with IAC proteins: vinculin, zyxin, and α-actinin. Taken together, these data suggest that in cells undergoing EMT, catenins not participating in assembly of adherens junctions may affect cell migration.


Subject(s)
Actin Cytoskeleton , Cell Movement , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , alpha Catenin , Humans , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , alpha Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , Vinculin/metabolism , Adherens Junctions/metabolism , Cell Adhesion , Actinin/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Zyxin/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Integrins/metabolism , Animals , Epithelial Cells/metabolism
12.
Med Oncol ; 41(6): 147, 2024 May 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38733492

ABSTRACT

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling plays important role in cancers. Compound 759 is one of the compounds previously screened to identify inhibitors of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in A549 cells [Lee et al. in Bioorg Med Chem Lett 20:5900-5904, 2010]. However, the mechanism by which Compound 759 induces the inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway remains unknown. In our study, we employed various assays to comprehensively evaluate the effects of Compound 759 on lung cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that Compound 759 significantly suppressed cell proliferation and Wnt3a-induced Topflash activity and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 stage. Changes in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling-related protein expression, gene activity, and protein stability including Axin, and p21, were achieved through western blot and qRT-PCR analysis. Compound 759 treatment upregulated the mRNA level of p21 and increased Axin protein levels without altering the mRNA expression in A549 cells. Co-treatment of Wnt3a and varying doses of Compound 759 dose-dependently increased the amounts of Axin1 in the cytosol and inhibited ß-catenin translocation into the nucleus. Moreover, Compound 759 reduced tumor size and weight in the A549 cell-induced tumor growth in the in vivo tumor xenograft mouse model. Our findings indicate that Compound 759 exhibits potential anti-cancer activity by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway through the increase of Axin1 protein stability.


Subject(s)
Axin Protein , Cell Proliferation , Lung Neoplasms , Mice, Nude , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Humans , Axin Protein/metabolism , Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects , Animals , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Mice , Protein Stability/drug effects , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , A549 Cells , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/antagonists & inhibitors , Wnt3A Protein/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Mice, Inbred BALB C
13.
Cell Death Dis ; 15(5): 332, 2024 May 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740744

ABSTRACT

Ovarian cancer (OV) poses a significant challenge in clinical settings due to its difficulty in early diagnosis and treatment resistance. FOXP4, belonging to the FOXP subfamily, plays a pivotal role in various biological processes including cancer, cell cycle regulation, and embryonic development. However, the specific role and importance of FOXP4 in OV have remained unclear. Our research showed that FOXP4 is highly expressed in OV tissues, with its elevated levels correlating with poor prognosis. We further explored FOXP4's function through RNA sequencing and functional analysis in FOXP4-deficient cells, revealing its critical role in activating the Wnt signaling pathway. This activation exacerbates the malignant phenotype in OV. Mechanistically, FOXP4 directly induces the expression of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), a Wnt-binding receptor tyrosine pseudokinase, which causes abnormal activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Disrupting the FOXP4-Wnt feedback loop by inactivating the Wnt signaling pathway or reducing FOXP4 expression resulted in the reduction of the malignant phenotype of OV cells, while restoring PTK7 expression reversed this effect. In conclusion, our findings underscore the significance of the FOXP4-induced Wnt pathway activation in OV, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in OV treatment.


Subject(s)
Forkhead Transcription Factors , Ovarian Neoplasms , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Humans , Female , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism , Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Animals , Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism , Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , beta Catenin/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Mice , Mice, Nude , Cell Proliferation
14.
Elife ; 132024 May 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38743056

ABSTRACT

Mutations in the gene for ß-catenin cause liver cancer cells to release fewer exosomes, which reduces the number of immune cells infiltrating the tumor.


Subject(s)
Tumor Escape , Humans , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Exosomes/immunology , Exosomes/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms/immunology , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Mutation , Immune System/immunology , Neoplasms/immunology , Neoplasms/genetics
15.
BMC Oral Health ; 24(1): 518, 2024 May 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38698370

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a microbial risk factor whose presence increases the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression. However, whether it can promote the proliferation of OSCC cells remains unknown. METHODS: In this study, we investigated F. nucleatum effect on OSCC cell proliferation using in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Our results showed that F. nucleatum promoted OSCC cell proliferation, doubling the cell count after 72 h (CCK-8 assay). Cell cycle analysis revealed G2/M phase arrest. F. nucleatum interaction with CDH1 triggered phosphorylation, upregulating downstream protein ß-catenin and activating cyclinD1 and Myc. Notably, F. nucleatum did not affect noncancerous cells, unrelated to CDH1 expression levels in CAL27 cells. Overexpression of phosphorylated CDH1 in 293T cells did not upregulate ß-catenin and cycle-related genes. In vivo BALB/c nude experiments showed increased tumor volume and Ki-67 proliferation index after F. nucleatum intervention. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that F. nucleatum promotes OSCC cell proliferation through the CDH1/ß-catenin pathway, advancing our understanding of its role in OSCC progression and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.


Subject(s)
Cadherins , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Cell Proliferation , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Mouth Neoplasms , beta Catenin , Cadherins/metabolism , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism , Mouth Neoplasms/microbiology , beta Catenin/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/microbiology , Humans , Animals , Mice , Cell Line, Tumor , Antigens, CD/metabolism , Signal Transduction
16.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(21): e2316006121, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38748577

ABSTRACT

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) models derived from human stem cells are powerful tools to improve our understanding of cerebrovascular diseases and to facilitate drug development for the human brain. Yet providing stem cell-derived endothelial cells with the right signaling cues to acquire BBB characteristics while also retaining their vascular identity remains challenging. Here, we show that the simultaneous activation of cyclic AMP and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and inhibition of the TGF-ß pathway in endothelial cells robustly induce BBB properties in vitro. To target this interaction, we present a small-molecule cocktail named cARLA, which synergistically enhances barrier tightness in a range of BBB models across species. Mechanistically, we reveal that the three pathways converge on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling to mediate the effect of cARLA via the tight junction protein claudin-5. We demonstrate that cARLA shifts the gene expressional profile of human stem cell-derived endothelial cells toward the in vivo brain endothelial signature, with a higher glycocalyx density and efflux pump activity, lower rates of endocytosis, and a characteristic endothelial response to proinflammatory cytokines. Finally, we illustrate how cARLA can improve the predictive value of human BBB models regarding the brain penetration of drugs and targeted nanoparticles. Due to its synergistic effect, high reproducibility, and ease of use, cARLA has the potential to advance drug development for the human brain by improving BBB models across laboratories.


Subject(s)
Blood-Brain Barrier , Endothelial Cells , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Humans , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Animals , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Claudin-5/metabolism , Claudin-5/genetics , Cyclic AMP/metabolism , Mice , Stem Cells/metabolism , Stem Cells/cytology , Tight Junctions/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism
17.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(10)2024 May 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38791161

ABSTRACT

Adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) is impaired during Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Curcumin has been reported to reduce cell apoptosis and stimulate neurogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the influence of curcumin on adult neurogenesis in AD mice and its potential mechanism. Two-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were injected with soluble ß-amyloid (Aß1-42) using lateral ventricle stereolocalization to establish AD models. An immunofluorescence assay, including bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), doublecortin (DCX), and neuron-specific nuclear antigen (NeuN), was used to detect hippocampal neurogenesis. Western blot and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to test the expression of related proteins and the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A Morris water maze was used to detect the cognitive function of the mice. Our results showed that curcumin administration (100 mg/kg) rescued the impaired neurogenesis of Aß1-42 mice, shown as enhanced BrdU+/DCX+ and BrdU+/NeuN+ cells in DG. In addition, curcumin regulated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) -mediated glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) /Wingless/Integrated (Wnt)/ß-catenin pathway and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB)/BDNF in Aß1-42 mice. Inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin and depriving BDNF could reverse both the upregulated neurogenesis and cognitive function of curcumin-treated Aß1-42 mice. In conclusion, our study indicates that curcumin, through targeting PI3K/Akt, regulates GSK3ß/Wnt/ß-catenin and CREB/BDNF pathways, improving the adult neurogenesis of AD mice.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Curcumin , Disease Models, Animal , Doublecortin Protein , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neurogenesis , Wnt Signaling Pathway , beta Catenin , Animals , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Neurogenesis/drug effects , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Curcumin/pharmacology , Mice , Male , Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects , Doublecortin Protein/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Up-Regulation/drug effects , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hippocampus/drug effects , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
18.
Medicina (Kaunas) ; 60(5)2024 May 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38792963

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is involved in the transfer of small signaling molecules between neighboring cells, thereby exerting a major influence on the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. However, there is a lack of systematic research on Cx43 expression and its predictive role in clinical diagnosis and prognosis in pan-cancer. Materials and Methods: Several biological databases were used to evaluate the expression levels of GJA1 (encoding Cx43) and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in pan-cancer. We targeted kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and investigated the relationship between GJA1 expression and different clinical features of KIRC patients. Then, we performed cell-based experiments to partially confirm our results and predicted several proteins that were functionally related to Cx43. Results: The expression of GJA1 has a high level of accuracy in predicting KIRC. High GJA1 expression was remarkably correlated with a favorable prognosis, and this expression was reduced in groups with poor clinical features in KIRC. Cell experiments confirmed the inhibitory effects of increased GJA1 expression on the migratory capacity of human renal cancer (RCC) cell lines, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis predicted that CDH1 and CTNNB1 were closely related to Cx43. Conclusions: GJA1 could be a promising independent favorable prognostic factor for KIRC, and upregulation of GJA1 expression could inhibit the migratory capacity of renal cancer cells.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor , Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Connexin 43 , Kidney Neoplasms , Humans , Connexin 43/analysis , Connexin 43/metabolism , Kidney Neoplasms/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Prognosis , beta Catenin , Cell Line, Tumor , Male , Female
19.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0296003, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38787854

ABSTRACT

Maintenance of the intestinal epithelium requires constant self-renewal and regeneration. Tight regulation of proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells within the crypt region is critical to maintaining homeostasis. The transcriptional co-factors ß-catenin and YAP are required for proliferation during normal homeostasis as well as intestinal regeneration after injury: aberrant signaling activity results in over proliferation and tumorigenesis. Although both YAP and ß-catenin activity are controlled along canonical pathways, it is becoming increasingly clear that non-canonical regulation of these transcriptional regulators plays a role in fine tuning their activity. We have shown previously that MAMDC4 (Endotubin, AEGP), an integral membrane protein present in endosomes, regulates both YAP and ß-catenin activity in kidney epithelial cells and in the developing intestinal epithelium. Here we show that MAMDC4 interacts with members of the signalosome and mediates cross-talk between YAP and ß-catenin. Interestingly, this cross-talk occurs through a non-canonical pathway involving interactions between AMOT:YAP and AMOT:ß-catenin.


Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing , Endosomes , Transcription Factors , Wnt Signaling Pathway , beta Catenin , Humans , beta Catenin/metabolism , Endosomes/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Animals , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , YAP-Signaling Proteins/metabolism , Phosphoproteins/metabolism , Phosphoproteins/genetics , Mice , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , HEK293 Cells , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Protein Binding
20.
FASEB J ; 38(10): e23646, 2024 May 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38795328

ABSTRACT

Multiple regulatory mechanisms are in place to ensure the normal processes of bone metabolism, encompassing both bone formation and absorption. This study has identified chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) as a critical regulator that safeguards bone formation from the detrimental effects of excessive inflammation. By silencing LAMP2A or HSCA8, we observed a hindrance in the osteoblast differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. To further elucidate the role of LAMP2A, we generated LAMP2A gene knockdown and overexpression of mouse BMSCs (mBMSCs) using adenovirus. Our results showed that LAMP2A knockdown led to a decrease in osteogenic-specific proteins, while LAMP2A overexpression favored the osteogenesis of mBMSCs. Notably, active-ß-catenin levels were upregulated by LAMP2A overexpression. Furthermore, we found that LAMP2A overexpression effectively protected the osteogenesis of mBMSCs from TNF-α, through the PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin pathway. Additionally, LAMP2A overexpression significantly inhibited osteoclast hyperactivity induced by TNF-α. Finally, in a murine bone defect model, we demonstrated that controlled release of LAMP2A overexpression adenovirus by alginate sodium capsule efficiently protected bone healing from inflammation, as confirmed by imaging and histological analyses. Collectively, our findings suggest that enhancing CMA has the potential to safeguard bone formation while mitigating hyperactivity in bone absorption.


Subject(s)
Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta , Inflammation , Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2 , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Osteogenesis , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , beta Catenin , Animals , Osteogenesis/physiology , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Mice , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , beta Catenin/metabolism , Humans , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Inflammation/metabolism , Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2/metabolism , Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2/genetics , Signal Transduction , Male , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Cell Differentiation , Osteoclasts/metabolism
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