TuBG1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma via ATR/P53-apoptosis and cycling pathways

Background:As reported,γ-tubulin(TuBG1)is related to the occurrence and development of various types of malignant tumors.However,its role in hepatocellular cancer(HCC)is not clear.The present study was to investigate the relationship between TuBG1 and clinical parameters and survival in HCC patients.Methods:The correlation between TuBG1 and clinical parameters and survival in HCC patients was ex-plored by bioinformatics analysis.Immunohistochemistry was used for the verification.The molecular function of TuBG1 was measured using colony formation,scratch assay,trans-well assay and flow cytometry.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was used to pick up the enriched pathways,followed by investigating the target pathways using Western blotting.The tumor-immune system interactions and drug bank database(TISIDB)was used to evaluate TuBG1 and immunity.Based on the TuBG1-related immune genes,a prognostic model was constructed and was further validated internally and externally.Results:The bioinformatic analysis found high expressed TuBG1 in HCC tissue,which was confirmed us-ing immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.After silencing the TuBG1 in HCC cell lines,more G1 arrested cells were found,cell proliferation and invasion were inhibited,and apoptosis was promoted.Furthermore,the silence of TuBG1 increased the expressions of Ataxia-Telangiectasia and Rad-3(ATR),phospho-P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P-P38MAPK),phospho-P53(P-P53),B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein(Bax),cleaved caspase 3 and P21;decreased the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),cyclin D1,cyclin E2,cyclin-dependent kinase 2(CDK2)and CDK4.The correlation analysis of immunohistochemistry and clinical parameters and survival data revealed that TuBG1 was negatively corre-lated with the overall survival.The constructed immune prognosis model could effectively evaluate the prognosis.Conclusions:The increased expression of TuBG1 in HCC is associated with poor prognosis,which might be involved in the occurrence and development of HCC.

miR-24-3p promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of porcine granulosa cells by targeting P27

Ovarian follicle development is associated with the physiological functions of granulosa cells(GCs),including proliferation and apoptosis.The level of miR-24-3p in ovarian tissue of high-yielding Yorkshire×Landrace sows was significantly higher than that of low-yielding sows.However,the functions of miR-24-3p on GCs are unclear.In this study,using flow cytometry,5-ethynyl-2′-de-oxyuridine(EdU)staining,and cell count,we showed that miR-24-3p promoted the proliferation of GCs increasing the proportion of cells in the S phase and upregulating the expression of cell cycle genes,moreover,miR-24-3p inhibited GC apoptosis.Mechanistically,on-line prediction,bioinformatics analysis,a luciferase reporter assay,RT-qPCR,and Western blot results showed that the target gene of miR-24-3p in proliferation and apoptosis is cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B(P27/CDKN1B).Furthermore,the effect of miR-24-3p on GC proliferation and apoptosis was attenuated by P27 overexpression.These findings suggest that miR-24-3p regulates the physiological functions of GCs.

The effect of celastrol in combination with 5-fluorouracil on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cell lines

Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol in combination with the chemotherapy drug 5-FU on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines(AGS and EPG85-257).Materials and Methods:In this in vitro study,AGS and EPG85-257 cells were treated with different concentrations of celastrol,5-FU,and their combination.Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.The synergistic effect of 5-FU and celastrol was studied using Compusyn software.The DNA content at different phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis rate was measured usingflow cytometry.Results:Co-treatment with low concentrations(10%inhibitory concentration(IC10))of celastrol and 5-FU significantly reduced IC50(p<0.05)so that 48 h after treatment,IC50 was calculated at 3.77 and 6.9μM for celastrol,20.7 and 11.6μM for 5-FU,and 5.03 and 4.57μM for their combination for AGS and EPG85-257 cells,respectively.The mean percentage of apoptosis for AGS cells treated with celastrol,5-FU,and their combination was obtained 23.9,41.2,and 61.9,and for EPG85-257 cells 5.65,46.9,and 55.7,respectively.In addition,the 5-FU and celastrol-5-FU combination induced cell cycle arrest in the synthesis phase.Conclusions:Although celastrol could decrease the concentration of 5-fluorouracil that sufficed to suppress gastric cancer cells,additional studies are required to arrive at conclusive evidence on the anticancer effects of celastrol.

Prohibitin 1 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway in vitro

BACKGROUND Prohibitin 1(PHB1)has been identified as an antiproliferative protein that is highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed,and it participates in a variety of essential cellular functions,including apoptosis,cell cycle regulation,prolifera-tion,and survival.Emerging evidence indicates that PHB1 may play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the role of PHB1 in HCC is controversial.AIM To investigate the effects of PHB1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human HCC cells and the relevant mechanisms in vitro.METHODS HCC patients and healthy individuals were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria;then,PHB1 levels in the sera and liver tissues of these participates were determined using ELISA,RT-PCR,and immunohistoche-mistry.Human HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-PHB1 plasmid and PHB1-specific shRNA(shRNA-PHB1)for 24-72 h.Cell prolif-eration was analysed with an MTT assay.Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were analysed using flow cytometry(FACS).The mRNA and protein expression levels of the cell cycle-related molecules p21,Cyclin A2,Cyclin E1,and CDK2 and the cell apoptosis-related molecules cytochrome C(Cyt C),p53,Bcl-2,Bax,caspase 3,and caspase 9 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.RESULTS Decreased levels of PHB1 were found in the sera and liver tissues of HCC patients compared to those of healthy individuals,and decreased PHB1 was positively correlated with low differentiation,TNM stage III-IV,and alpha-fetoprotein≥400μg/L.Overexpression of PHB1 significantly inhibited human HCC cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner.FACS revealed that the overexpression of PHB1 arrested HCC cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and induced apoptosis.The proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase was significantly increased and the proportion of cells in the S phase was decreased in HepG2 cells that were transfected with pEGFP-PHB1 compared with untreated control and empty vector-transfected cells.The percentage of apoptotic HepG2 cells that were transfected with pEGFP-PHB1 was 15.41%±1.06%,which was significantly greater than that of apoptotic control cells(3.65%±0.85%,P<0.01)and empty vector-transfected cells(4.21%±0.52%,P<0.01).Similar results were obtained with SMMC-7721 cells.Furthermore,the mRNA and protein expression levels of p53,p21,Bax,caspase 3,and caspase 9 were increased while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Cyclin A2,Cy-clin E1,CDK2,and Bcl-2 were decreased when PHB1 was overexpressed in human HCC cells.However,when PHB1 was upregulated in human HCC cells,Cyt C expression levels were increased in the cytosol and decreased in the mitochondria,which indicated that Cyt C had been released into the cytosol.Conversely,these effects were reversed when PHB1 was knocked down.CONCLUSION PHB1 inhibits human HCC cell viability by arresting the cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis via activation of the p53-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

miR‑423 sponged by lncRNA NORHA inhibits granulosa cell apoptosis

Background Atresia and degeneration,a follicular developmental fate that reduces female fertility and is triggered by granulosa cell(GC)apoptosis,have been induced by dozens of miRNAs.Here,we report a miRNA,miR-423,that inhibits the initiation of follicular atresia(FA),and early apoptosis of GCs.Results We showed that miR-423 was down-regulated during sow FA,and its levels in follicles were negatively correlated with the GC density and the P4/E2 ratio in the follicular fluid in vivo.The in vitro gain-of-function experiments revealed that miR-423 suppresses cell apoptosis,especially early apoptosis in GCs.Mechanically speaking,the miR-423 targets and interacts with the 3’-UTR of the porcine SMAD7 gene,which encodes an apoptosis-inducing factor in GCs,and represses its expression and pro-apoptotic function.Interestingly,FA and the GC apoptosis-related lncRNA NORHA was demonstrated as a ceRNA of miR-423.Additionally,we showed that a single base deletion/insertion in the miR-423 promoter is significantly associated with the number of stillbirths(NSB)trait of sows.Conclusion These results demonstrate that miR-423 is a small molecule for inhibiting FA initiation and GC early apoptosis,suggesting that treating with miR-423 may be a novel approach for inhibiting FA initiation and improving female fertility.

3-Methyladenine potentiates paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 at thr161 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell

Background:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)exhibits a significant prevalence in the southern regions of China,and paclitaxel(PTX)is frequently employed as a medication for managing advanced NPC.However,drug resistance is typically accompanied by a poor prognosis.Exploring the synergistic potential of combining multiple chemotherapeutic agents may represent a promising avenue for optimizing treatment efficacy.Methods:This study investigated whether 3-Methyladenine(3-MA)could potentiated the effect of PTX and its potential molecular mechanism.Samples were divided into the following categories:Negative control(NC)with the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO,0.5%v/v),PTX(400 nM),3-MA(4 mM),and PTX(400 nM)+3-MA(4 mM).The viability of NPC cells was assessed using both the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay and the colony formation assay.Microscopic observation was performed to identify morphological cell changes.Flow cytometry was used to assess cell cycle status,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),and apoptotic cells.Western blotting was conducted to quantify the protein expression.Results:3-MA enhanced PTX-specific inhibition of NPC cell proliferation.PTX,either alone or in combination with 3-MA,caused cell cycle halt at the G2/M phase in the majority of NPC cells,and the combination treatment of PTX with 3-MA induced a higher rate of NPC cell death compared to PTX alone.Western blotting results revealed the combination of PTX with 3-MA heightened activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1(CDK1),a key molecule in shifting cells from mitotic arrest to apoptosis,led to a reduction in Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1(MCL-1)expression and an increase in Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP)cleavage.Conclusion:The concurrent administration of PTX with 3-MA effectively enhances PTX’s inhibitory impact on NPC and activates the apoptosis signal regulated by CDK1.

Hydrangea serrata extract exerts tumor inhibitory activity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells via inducing p27/CDK2-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Objective:To examine the inhibitory effect of Hydrangea serrata extract against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:The effects of Hydrangea serrata extract on growth inhibition of tumor cells and spheroids were assessed using MTT and 3D culture assays.Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were employed to investigate the changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of molecules related to cell cycle and apoptosis.Results:Hydrangea serrata extract effectively inhibited the growth of both tumor cells and spheroids.The extract also significantly upregulated p27 mRNA expression and downregulated CDK2 mRNA expression,leading to cell cycle arrest.Moreover,increased BAX/Bcl-2 ratio as well as caspase-9 and-3 were observed after treatment with Hydrangea serrata extract,indicating the induction of tumor cell apoptosis.Conclusions:Hydrangea serrata extract has the potential to alleviate tumors by effectively modulating cell-cycle-related gene expressions and inducing apoptosis,thereby inhibiting tumor growth.

Dioscin from Polygonatum sibiricum induces apoptosis and autophagy in Ishikawa human endometrial cancer cell and in vivo

With an aim to comprehend the precise regulatory mechanism of dioscin against endometrial carcinoma(EC), we firstly extracted the components from Polygonatum sibiricum followed by identification and structural characterization. The anti-EC activity of dioscin was initially determined based on the inhibition of Ishikawa cell proliferation and tumor growth. The high-throughput sequencing data indicated that dioscin not only promoted apoptosis, including decrease of poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) and increase of c-PARP and Bcl-2-associcated agonist of cell death(Bad), but also induced autophagy, including increase of autophagic lysosomes and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio. Mechanistic exploration suggested that dioscin induced autophagy and apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Besides, the dioscin-regulated p53 pathway was mainly involved in autophagy induction. Furthermore, inhibition of Ishikawa cell autophagy was linked to dioscin-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest the immense potential of dioscin for the development of functional food for EC and related medical application.

Paclitaxel induces human KOSC3 oral cancer cell apoptosis through caspase pathways

Background:Paclitaxel is a compound derived from Pacific yew bark that induces various cancer cell apoptosis.However,whether it also has anticancer activities in KOSC3 cells,an oral cancer cell line,is unclear.Methods:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide,flow cytometry,and western blotting assays were carried out to assess cell viability,subG1 phase of the cell cycle,and apoptosis-related protein expression,respectively.Results:Ourfindings indicate that paclitaxel could inhibit cell viability and increase the expression of apoptotic markers,including plasma membrane blebbing and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase in KOSC3 cells.Also,the treatment with paclitaxel remarkably elevated the percentage of the subG1 phase in KOSC3 cells.In addition,treatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor could recover paclitaxel-inhibited cell viability.Moreover,caspase-8,caspase-9,caspase-7,and BH3 interacting domain death agonist(Bid)were activated in paclitaxel-treated KOSC3 cells.Conclusions:Paclitaxel induced apoptosis through caspase cascade in KOSC3 cells.

Antitumor Effect of Apcin on Endometrial Carcinoma via p21-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis

Objective Endometrial carcinoma(EC)is a prevalent gynecological malignancy characterized by increasing incidence and mortality rates.This underscores the critical need for novel therapeutic targets.One such potential target is cell division cycle 20(CDC20),which has been implicated in oncogenesis.This study investigated the effect of the CDC20 inhibitor Apcin on EC and elucidated the underlying mechanism involved.Methods The effects of Apcin on EC cell proliferation,apoptosis,and the cell cycle were evaluated using CCK8 assays and flow cytometry.RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)was subsequently conducted to explore the underlying molecular mechanism,and Western blotting and coimmunoprecipitation were subsequently performed to validate the results.Animal studies were performed to evaluate the antitumor effects in vivo.Bioinformatics analysis was also conducted to identify CDC20 as a potential therapeutic target in EC.Results Treatment with Apcin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in EC cells,resulting in cell cycle arrest.Pathways associated with apoptosis and the cell cycle were activated following treatment with Apcin.Notably,Apcin treatment led to the upregulation of the cell cycle regulator p21,which was verified to interact with CDC20 and consequently decrease the expression of downstream cyclins in EC cells.In vivo experiments confirmed that Apcin treatment significantly impeded tumor growth.Higher CDC20 expression was observed in EC tissue than in nonmalignant tissue,and increased CDC20 expression in EC patients was associated with shorter overall survival and progress free interval.Conclusion CDC20 is a novel molecular target in EC,and Apcin could be developed as a candidate antitumor drug for EC treatment.

Crosstalk among Oxidative Stress,Autophagy,and Apoptosis in the Protective Effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 on Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells:A Mixed Computational and Experimental Study

Objective Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) were found to shift from their usually inactive state to an active state in ischemic stroke (IS) and cause neuronal damage. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1),a component derived from medicinal plants,is known for its pharmacological benefits in IS,but its protective effects on BMECs have yet to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of GRb1 on BMECs. Methods An in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model was established to mimic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Bulk RNA-sequencing data were analyzed by using the Human Autophagy Database and various bioinformatic tools,including gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA),Gene Ontology (GO) classification and enrichment analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis,protein-protein interaction network analysis,and molecular docking. Experimental validation was also performed to ensure the reliability of our findings. Results Rb1 had a protective effect on BMECs subjected to OGD/R injury. Specifically,GRb1 was found to modulate the interplay between oxidative stress,apoptosis,and autophagy in BMECs. Key targets such as sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62),autophagy related 5 (ATG5),and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) were identified,highlighting their potential roles in mediating the protective effects of GRb1 against IS-induced damage. Conclusion GRbl protects BMECs against OGD/R injury by influencing oxidative stress,apoptosis,and autophagy. The identification of SQSTM1/p62,ATG5,and HIF-1α as promising targets further supports the potential of GRb1 as a therapeutic agent for IS,providing a foundation for future research into its mechanisms and applications in IS treatment.

Effect of acacetin on inhibition of apoptosis in Helicobacter pyloriinfected gastric epithelial cell line

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection can cause extensive apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells,serving as a critical catalyst in the progression from chronic gastritis,gastrointestinal metaplasia,and atypical gastric hyperplasia to gastric carcinoma.Prompt eradication of H.pylori is paramount for ameliorating the pathophysiological conditions associated with chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the primary prevention of gastric cancer.Acacetin,which has multifaceted pharmacological activities such as anti-cancer,anti-inflammatory,and antioxidative properties,has been extensively investigated across various domains.Nevertheless,the impact and underlying mechanisms of action of acacetin on H.pylori-infected gastric mucosal epithelial cells remain unclear.AIM To explore the defensive effects of acacetin on apoptosis in H.pylori-infected GES-1 cells and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.METHODS GES-1 cells were treated with H.pylori and acacetin in vitro.Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay,cell mortality rate via lactate dehydrogenase assay,alterations in cell migration and healing capacities through the wound healing assay,rates of apoptosis via flow cytometry and TUNEL staining,and expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins through western blot analysis.RESULTS H.pylori infection led to decreased GES-1 cell viability,increased cell mortality,suppressed cell migration,increased rate of apoptosis,increased expressions of Bax and cle-caspase3,and decreased Bcl-2 expression.Conversely,acacetin treatment enhanced cell viability,mitigated apoptosis induced by H.pylori infection,and modulated the expression of apoptosis-regulatory proteins by upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax and cleaved caspase-3.CONCLUSION Acacetin significantly improved GES-1 cell viability and inhibited apoptosis in H.pylori-infected GES-1 cells,thereby exerting a protective effect on gastric mucosal epithelial cells.

Effects of Quercetin Extracted from Flower Buds of Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

[Objectives]To investigate the effects of quercetin extracted from flower buds of Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai on the proliferation,apoptosis and migration of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.[Methods]MTT assay,inverted microscope observation,hoechst33342 staining,flow cytometry(FCM)and wound healing assay were adopted to investigate the proliferation,morphological changes,apoptosis level and cell migration ability of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells,respectively.[Results]The morphological changes of cells in the treatment groups included gradually decreased number,reduced volume,vague cell contour,loose intercellular connection,uneven cytoplasm distribution and increased cell debris.With the increase of drug concentration,quercetin significantly inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells(P<0.05).The number of apoptotic bodies increased gradually.When the concentration reached 100μmol/L,a large number of nuclear fragments appeared,and the level of apoptosis was statistically different(P<0.05).The mobility and migration ability of cells showed a decreasing trend,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusions]This study can provide experimental basis for clinical application of quercetin against breast cancer.

SIRT1 inhibits apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells through suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro and in vivo

AIM:To explore the effect of silent information regulator factor 2-related enzyme 1(SIRT1)on modulating apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells(HLECs)and alleviating lens opacification of rats through suppressing endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress.METHODS:HLECs(SRA01/04)were treated with varying concentrations of tunicamycin(TM)for 24h,and the expression of SIRT1 and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP)was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),Western blotting,and immunofluorescence.Cell morphology and proliferation was evaluated using an inverted microscope and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay,respectively.In the SRA01/04 cell apoptosis model,which underwent siRNA transfection for SIRT1 knockdown and SRT1720 treatment for its activation,the expression levels of SIRT1,CHOP,glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78),and activating transcription factor 4(ATF4)were examined.The potential reversal of SIRT1 knockdown effects by 4-phenyl butyric acid(4-PBA;an ER stress inhibitor)was investigated.In vivo,age-related cataract(ARC)rat models were induced by sodium selenite injection,and the protective role of SIRT1,activated by SRT1720 intraperitoneal injections,was evaluated through morphology observation,hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining,Western blotting,and RT-PCR.RESULTS:SIRT1 expression was downregulated in TMinduced SRA01/04 cells.Besides,in SRA01/04 cells,both cell apoptosis and CHOP expression increased with the rising doses of TM.ER stress was stimulated by TM,as evidenced by the increased GRP78 and ATF4 in the SRA01/04 cell apoptosis model.Inhibition of SIRT1 by siRNA knockdown increased ER stress activation,whereas SRT1720 treatment had opposite results.4-PBA partly reverse the adverse effect of SIRT1 knockdown on apoptosis.In vivo,SRT1720 attenuated the lens opacification and weakened the ER stress activation in ARC rat models.CONCLUSION:SIRT1 plays a protective role against TM-induced apoptosis in HLECs and slows the progression of cataract in rats by inhibiting ER stress.These findings suggest a novel strategy for cataract treatment focused on targeting ER stress,highlighting the therapeutic potential of SIRT1 modulation in ARC development.

Retraction:MicroRNA-21 Inhibits the Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cell Line SAOS-2 via Targeting Caspase 8

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.An unexpected area of similarity was identified in terms of the cellular data,where the results from differently performed experiments were intended to have been shown,although the areas immediately surrounding this area featured comparatively different distributions of cells.In addition,the western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.

Retraction:miR-3188 Regulates Cell Proliferation,Apoptosis,and Migration in Breast Cancer by Targeting TUSC5 and Regulating the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.An unexpected area of similarity was identified in terms of the cellular data,where the results from differently performed experiments were intended to have been shown,although the areas immediately surrounding this area featured comparatively different distributions of cells.In addition,the western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.

Possible Role of Cellular Polyamine Metabolism in Neuronal Apoptosis

Recent studies have shown that cellular levels of polyamines(PAs)are significantly altered in neurodegenerative diseases.Evidence from in vivo animal and in vitro cell experiments suggests that the cellular levels of various PAs may play important roles in the central nervous system through the regulation of oxidative stress,mitochondrial metabolism,cellular immunity,and ion channel functions.Dysfunction of PA metabolism related enzymes also contributes to neuronal injury and cognitive impairment in many neurodegenerative diseases.Therefore,in the current work,evidence was collected to determine the possible associations between cellular levels of PAs,and related enzymes and the development of several neurodegenerative diseases,which could provide a new idea for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Retraction:miR-181a-5p Promotes Proliferation and Invasion and Inhibits Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells via Regulating Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase A(INPP5A)

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.An unexpected area of similarity was identified in terms of the cellular data,where the results from differently performed experiments were intended to have been shown,although the areas immediately surrounding this area featured comparatively different distributions of cells.In addition,the western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.

Retraction: miR-940 Upregulation Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis by Targeting PKC-δ in Ovarian Cancer OVCAR3 Cells

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.An unexpected area of similarity was identified in terms of the cellular data,where the results from differently performed experiments were intended to have been shown,although the areas immediately surrounding this area featured comparatively different distributions of cells.In addition,the western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.

Ellagic acid inhibits gastric cancer cells by modulating oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis

Objective:To evaluate the anticancer effect of ellagic acid on gastric cancer cells.Methods:MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid at different concentrations(0.5-100μg/mL)on gastric cancer AGS cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses were applied to assess apoptosis(BCL-2,CASP-3,and BAX)and autophagy(LC3,ATG5,and BECN1)in AGS cells treated with ellagic acid.The expression of invasion-related markers including TP53,CDKN2A,and PTEN was determined.In addition,cell cycle markers including cyclin A,B,D,and E were measured by ELISA.Oxidative stress markers were evaluated using spectrophotometry.Results:Ellagic acid inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner.The expression of BCL-2 was significantly decreased(P<0.05)and CASP-3 and BAX were markedly increased(P<0.01)in AGS cells treated with ellagic acid.However,this compound induced no significant changes in the expression levels of LC3,ATG5,and BECN1(P>0.05).Moreover,the oxidative stress markers including SOD,TAC,and MDA were increased by ellagic acid(P<0.01).Conclusions:Ellagic acid can inhibit cell proliferation,induce apoptosis,and modulate oxidative stress in AGS cells.However,further in vivo and molecular studies are needed to verify its anticancer efficacy.