Effects of interleukin-10 treated macrophages on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

BACKGROUND Alveolar bone defects caused by inflammation are an urgent issue in oral implant surgery that must be solved.Regulating the various phenotypes of macrophages to enhance the inflammatory environment can significantly affect the progression of diseases and tissue engineering repair process.AIM To assess the influence of interleukin-10(IL-10)on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)following their interaction with macrophages in an inflammatory environment.METHODS IL-10 modulates the differentiation of peritoneal macrophages in Wistar rats in an inflammatory environment.In this study,we investigated its impact on the proliferation,migration,and osteogenesis of BMSCs.The expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and its activated form,phos-phorylated-STAT3,were examined in IL-10-stimulated macrophages.Subsequently,a specific STAT3 signaling inhibitor was used to impede STAT3 signal activation to further investigate the role of STAT3 signaling.RESULTS IL-10-stimulated macrophages underwent polarization to the M2 type through substitution,and these M2 macrophages actively facilitated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.Mechanistically,STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in the process by which IL-10 influences macrophages.Specifically,IL-10 stimulated the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway and reduced the macrophage inflammatory response,as evidenced by its diminished impact on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.CONCLUSION Stimulating macrophages with IL-10 proved effective in improving the inflammatory environment and promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.The IL-10/STAT3 signaling pathway has emerged as a key regulator in the macrophage-mediated control of BMSCs’osteogenic differentiation.

18β-glycyrrhetinic acid promotes gastric cancer cell autophagy and inhibits proliferation by regulating miR-328-3p/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common cancer types worldwide,and its prevention and treatment methods have garnered much attention.As the active ingredient of licorice,18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(18β-GRA)has a variety of pharmacological effects.The aim of this study was to explore the effective target of 18β-GRA in the treatment of GC,in order to provide effective ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of GC.AIM To investigate the mechanism of 18β-GRA in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting autophagy flux in GC cells.METHODS Whole transcriptomic analyses were used to analyze and screen differentially expressed microRNAs(miRNAs)in GC cells after 18β-GRA intervention.Lentivirus-transfected GC cells and the Cell Counting Kit-8 were used to detect cell proliferation ability,cell colony formation ability was detected by the clone formation assay,and flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis.A nude mouse transplantation tumor model of GC cells was constructed to verify the effect of miR-328-3p overexpression on the tumorigenicity of GC cells.Tumor tissue morphology was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining,and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3)expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.TransmiR,STRING,and miRWalk databases were used to predict the relationship between miR-328-3p and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)-related information.Expression of STAT3 mRNA and miR-328-3p was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and the expression levels of STAT3,phosphorylated STAT3(p-STAT3),and LC3 were detected by western blot analysis.The targeted relationship between miR-328-3p and STAT3 was detected using the dual-luciferase reporter gene system.AGS cells were infected with monomeric red fluorescent protein-green fluorescent protein-LC3 adenovirus double label.LC3 was labeled and autophagy flow was observed under a confocal laser microscope.RESULTS The expression of miR-328-3p was significantly upregulated after 18β-GRA intervention in AGS cells(P=4.51E-06).Overexpression of miR-328-3p inhibited GC cell proliferation and colony formation ability,arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase,promoted cell apoptosis,and inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in BALB/c nude mice(P<0.01).No obvious necrosis was observed in the tumor tissue in the negative control group(no drug intervention or lentivirus transfection)and vector group(the blank vector for lentivirus transfection),and more cells were loose and necrotic in the miR-328-3p group.Bioinformatics tools predicted that miR-328-3p has a targeting relationship with STAT3,and STAT3 was closely related to autophagy markers such as p62.After overexpressing miR-328-3p,the expression level of STAT3 mRNA was significantly decreased(P<0.01)and p-STAT3 was downregulated(P<0.05).The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the luciferase activity of miR-328-3p and STAT33’untranslated regions of the wild-type reporter vector group was significantly decreased(P<0.001).Overexpressed miR-328-3p combined with bafilomycin A1(Baf A1)was used to detect the expression of LC3 II.Compared with the vector group,the expression level of LC3 II in the overexpressed miR-328-3p group was downregulated(P<0.05),and compared with the Baf A1 group,the expression level of LC3 II in the overexpressed miR-328-3p+Baf A1 group was upregulated(P<0.01).The expression of LC3 II was detected after intervention of 18β-GRA in GC cells,and the results were consistent with the results of miR-328-3p overexpression(P<0.05).Additional studies showed that 18β-GRA promoted autophagy flow by promoting autophagosome synthesis(P<0.001).qPCR showed that the expression of STAT3 mRNA was downregulated after drug intervention(P<0.05).Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3 were significantly downregulated after drug intervention(P<0.05).CONCLUSION 18β-GRA promotes the synthesis of autophagosomes and inhibits GC cell proliferation by regulating the miR-328-3p/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging reflects activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 during focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Signal transducer and activator of transcription（STAT）is a unique protein family that binds to DNA,coupled with tyrosine phosphorylation signaling pathways,acting as a transcriptional regulator to mediate a variety of biological effects.Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion can activate STATs signaling pathway,but no studies have confirmed whether STAT activation can be verified by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging（DWI）in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.Here,we established a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia injury using the modified Longa method.DWI revealed hyperintensity in parts of the left hemisphere before reperfusion and a low apparent diffusion coefficient.STAT3 protein expression showed no significant change after reperfusion,but phosphorylated STAT3 expression began to increase after 30 minutes of reperfusion and peaked at 24 hours.Pearson correlation analysis showed that STAT3 activation was correlated positively with the relative apparent diffusion coefficient and negatively with the DWI abnormal signal area.These results indicate that DWI is a reliable representation of the infarct area and reflects STAT phosphorylation in rat brain following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Regulation and function of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), a member of the STAT family, is a key regulator of many physiological and pathological processes. Significant progress has been made in understanding the transcriptional control, posttranslational modification, cellular localization and functional regulation of STAT3. STAT3 can translocate into the nucleus and bind to specific promoter sequences, thereby exerting transcriptional regulation. Recent studies have shown that STAT3 can also translocate into mitochondria, participating in aerobic respiration and apoptosis. In addition, STAT3 plays an important role in inflammation and tumorigenesis by regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism. Conditional knockout mouse models make it possible to study the physiological function of STAT3 in specific tissues and organs. This review summarizes the latest advances in the understanding of the expression, regulation and function of STAT3 in physiological and tumorigenic processes.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 promotes the Warburg effect possibly by inducing pyruvate kinase M2 phosphorylation in liver precancerous lesions

BACKGROUND Study shows that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) can increase the Warburg effect by stimulating hexokinase 2 in breast cancer and upregulate lactate dehydrogenase A and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 in myeloma. STAT3 and pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2) can also be activated and enhance the Warburg effect in hepatocellular carcinoma. Precancerous lesions are critical to human and rodent hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for the development of liver precancerous lesions remains unknown. We hypothesized that STAT3 promotes the Warburg effect possibly by upregulating p-PKM2 in liver precancerous lesions in rats.AIM To investigate the mechanism of the Warburg effect in liver precancerous lesions in rats.METHODS A model of liver precancerous lesions was established by a modified Solt-Farber method. The liver pathological changes were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. The transformation of WB-F344 cells induced with Nmethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and hydrogen peroxide was evaluated by the soft agar assay and aneuploidy. The levels of glucose and lactate in the tissue and culture medium were detected with a spectrophotometer. The protein levels of glutathione S-transferase-π, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), STAT3,and PKM2 were examined by Western blot and immunofluorescence.RESULTS We found that the Warburg effect was increased in liver precancerous lesions in rats. PKM2 and p-STAT3 were upregulated in activated oval cells in liverprecancerous lesions in rats. The Warburg effect, p-PKM2, and p-STAT3 expression were also increased in transformed WB-F344 cells. STAT3 activation promoted the clonal formation rate, aneuploidy, alpha-fetoprotein expression,PCNA expression, G1/S phase transition, the Warburg effect, PKM2 phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation in transformed WB-F344 cells.Moreover, the Warburg effect was inhibited by stattic, a specific inhibitor of STAT3, and further reduced in transformed WB-F344 cells after the intervention for PKM2.CONCLUSION The Warburg effect is initiated in liver precancerous lesions in rats. STAT3 activation promotes the Warburg effect by enhancing the phosphorylation of PKM2 in transformed WB-F344 cells.

Inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression by RNA interference suppresses invasion through inducing anoikis in human colon cancer cells

AIM:To investigate the roles and mechanism of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in invasion of human colon cancer cells by RNA interference. METHODS: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was transfected into HT29 colon cancer cells. STAT3 protein level and DNA-binding activity of STAT3 was evaluated by western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. We studied the anchorage-independent growth using colony formation in soft agar, and invasion using the boyden chamber model, anoikis using DNA fragmentation assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. Western blot assay was used to observe the protein expression of Bcl-xL and survivin in colon cancer HT29 cells. RESULTS: RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by siRNA leads to suppression of STAT3 expression in colon cancer cell lines. Suppression of STAT3 expression by siRNA could inhibit anchorage-independent growth, and invasion ability, and induces anoikis in the colon cancer cell line HT29. It has been shown that knockdown of STAT3 expression by siRNA results in a reduction in expression of Bcl-xL and survivin in HT29 cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that STAT3 siRNA can inhibit the invasion ability of colon cancer cells through inducing anoikis, which antiapoptotic genes survivin and Bcl-xL contribute to regulation of anoikis.These studies indicate STAT3 siRNA could be a useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of colon cancer.

Downregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 by sorafenib:A novel mechanism for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide,and a leading cause of cancer-related death.Owing to unsatisfactory clinical outcomes under the current standard of care,there is a need to search for and identify novel and potent therapeutic targets to improve patient outcomes.Sorafenib is the first and only approved targeted therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Besides functioning as a multiple tyrosine kinase,sorafenib also acts via a kinase-independent mechanism to target signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.STAT3 is a key regulator of inflammation,cell survival,and tumorigenesis of liver cells,and the high percentage of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with constitutively active STAT3 justifies targeting it for the development of novel therapeutics.Sorafenib inactivates STAT3 and STAT3-related signaling by inducing a conformational change in and releasing the autoinhibition of Src homology region 2 domaincontaining phosphatase-1.This phosphatase negatively regulates STAT3 activity,which leads to the subsequent apoptosis of cancer cells.The novel anti-cancer property of sorafenib will be discussed in this review,not only adding information regarding its mechanism of action but also providing an innovative approach for the development of cancer therapeutics in the future.

Silencing of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression by RNA interference suppresses growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma in tumor-bearing nude mice

AIM:To explore the effect of silencing of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) expression by RNA interference(RNAi) on growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in tumor-bearing nude mice in vivo.METHODS:To construct the recombinant plasmid of pSilencer 3.0-H1-STAT3-siRNA-GFP(pSH1-siRNA-STAT3) and establish the tumor-bearing nude mouse model of the HCC cell line SMMC7721,we used intratumoral injection together with electroblotting to transfect the recombinant plasmid pSH1-siRNA-STAT3 into the transplanted tumor.The weight of the nude mice and tumor volumes were recorded.STAT3 gene transcription was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Level of protein expression and location of STAT3 were determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining.STAT3-related genes such as survivin,c-myc,VEGF,p53 and caspase3 mRNA and protein expression were detected in tumor tissues at the same time.The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells.RESULTS:The weight of the treated nude mice increased,and the tumor volume decreased markedly compared with those of the mock-treated and negative control groups(P < 0.01).The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that mRNA and protein levels of STAT3 declined markedly in the treated group.The change in STAT3-related gene expression in tumor tissues at the mRNA and protein level also varied,the expression of survivin,VEGF and c-myc were obviously reduced,and expression of p53 and caspase3 increased(P < 0.01).Most of the tumor tissue cells in the treated group developed apoptosis that was detected by TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION:Silencing of STAT3 expression by RNAi significantly inhibits expression of STAT3 mRNA and protein,and suppresses growth of human HCC in tumor-bearing nude mice.The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of survivin,VEGF and c-myc and up-regulation of p53 and caspase3 expression.Accordingly,the STAT3 gene may act as an important and effective target in gene therapy of HCC.

Impact of STAT-signaling pathway on cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer and its role in immunosuppression

Colorectal cancer(CRC)remains one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadliest types of cancer worldwide.CRC displays a desmoplastic reaction(DR)that has been inversely associated with poor prognosis;less DR is associated with a better prognosis.This reaction generates excessive connective tissue,in which cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)are critical cells that form a part of the tumor microenvironment.CAFs are directly involved in tumorigenesis through different mechanisms.However,their role in immunosuppression in CRC is not well understood,and the precise role of signal transducers and activators of transcription(STATs)in mediating CAF activity in CRC remains unclear.Among the myriad chemical and biological factors that affect CAFs,different cytokines mediate their function by activating STAT signaling pathways.Thus,the harmful effects of CAFs in favoring tumor growth and invasion may be modulated using STAT inhibitors.Here,we analyze the impact of different STATs on CAF activity and their immunoregulatory role.

Mechanism of Yanghe Pingchaun granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats based on IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yanghe Pingchuan Granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and to explore the mechanism of Interleukin-6/Janus kinase 2/ Signal transducing activator of transcription 3(IL-6/JAK2/STAT3) signal axis. Methods: We separated 42 healthy male SD rats into two groups, a control group (7) and a model group (35).The model group was sensitized with a combination of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide for 2 weeks, while the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline.After 2 weeks, the modeling group was randomly divided into Model group, Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, medium and low dose groups and Dexamethasone group, each group consisted of 7 animals. After 4 weeks, OVA atomization and gavage were used for stimulation and treatment. Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, middle and low groups were given 15.48, 7.74, 3.87 g∙kg-1 Yanghe Pingchuan Granules daily, dexamethasone group was given 0.0625 mg∙kg-1 dexamethasone daily, and the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. HE, PAS and Masson staining were used to observe the lung histopathological changes in rats. The levels of interleukin-6, IL-23 and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in rat lung tissue. Results: The lung tissue structure of the model group was severely damaged compared to the control group, accompanied by a great many of inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were more obvious. The expressions of IL-6, IL- 23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01);Compared with the model group, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell proliferation, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were significantly reduced in each administration group, and the expressions of IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly decreased (P< 0.01). The protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Yanghe Pingchuan Granules can significantly alleviate airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and its mechanism may be through inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signal axis.

Role of Toll-like receptor 4 and Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription signal transduction pathway in sepsis-induced brain damage

The Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT） signal transduction pathway is involved in sepsis-induced functional damage to the heart, liver, kidney, and other organs. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying sepsis-induced brain damage remain elusive. In the present study, we found severe loss of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region in rats with sepsis-induced brain damage following intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin, The expression of toll-like receptor 4, tumor necrosis factor a, and interleukin-6 was significantly increased in brain tissues following lipopolysaccharide exposure. AG490 （JAK2 antagonist） and rapamycin （STAT3 antagonist） significantly reduced neuronal loss and suppressed the increased expression of toll-like receptor 4, tumor necrosis factor a, and interleukin-6 in the hippocampal CA1 region in sepsis-induced brain damaged rats. Overall, these data suggest that blockade of the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway is neuroprotective in sepsis-induced brain damage via the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4, tumor necrosis factor a, and interleukin-6 exoression.

Hepatitis C Virus non-structural 5A abrogates signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 nuclear translocation induced by IFN-α through dephosphorylation

AIM: To study the effect of Hepatitis C virus non- structural 5A (HCV NS5A) on IFNα induced signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. METHODS: Expression of STAT1 Tyr701 phosphorylation at different time points was confirmed by Western blot, and the time point when p-STAT1 expressed most, was taken as the IFN induction time for further studies. Immunocytochemistry was used to confirm the successful transient transfection of NS5A expression plasmid. Immunofluorescene was performed to observe if there was any difference in IFNα-induced STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation between HCV NS5A-expressed and non-HCV NS5A-expressed cells. Western blot was used to compare the phosphorylated STAT1 protein of the cells. RESULTS: Expression of HCV NS5A was found in the cytoplasm of PCNS5A-transfected Huh7 cells, but not in the PRC/ CMV transfected or non-transfected cells. STAT1 Tyr701 phosphorylation was found strongest in 30 min of IFN induction. STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear import were much less in the presence of HCV NS5A protein in contrast to PRC/CMV-transfected and non-transfected cells under fluorescent microscopy, which was further confirmed by Western blot. CONCLUSION: HCV NS5A expression plasmid is successfully transfected into Huh7 cells and HCV NS5A protein is expressed in the cytoplasm of the cells. IFN-α is able to induce STAT1 phosphrylation and nuclear translocation, and this effect is inhibited by HCV NS5Aprotein, which might be another possible resistance mechanism to interferon alpha therapy.

Apigenin ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis in C57BL/6J mice by inactivating STAT3 and NF-κB

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease featured by patches on the skin.It is caused by malfunction of immune cells and keratinocytes with inflammation as one of its key features.Apigenin(API)is a natural flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.Therefore,we speculated that API can ameliorate psoriasis,and determined its effect on the development of psoriasis by using imiquimod(IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse model.Our results showed that API attenuated IMQ-induced phenotypic changes,such as erythema,scaling and epidermal thickening,and improved splenic hyperplasia.Abnormal differentiation of immune cells was restored in API-treated mice.Mechanistically,we revealed that API is a key regulator of signal transducer activator of transcription 3(STAT3).API regulated immune responses by reducing interleukin-23(IL-23)/STAT3/IL-17A axis.Moreover,it suppressed IMQ-caused cell hyperproliferation by inactivating STAT3 through regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway.Furthermore,API reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines through inactivation of NF-κB.Taken together,our study demonstrates that API can ameliorate psoriasis and may be considered as a strategy for psoriasis treatment.

Gossypol acetic acid regulates leukemia stem cells by degrading LRPPRC via inhibiting IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling or resulting mitochondrial dysfunction

BACKGROUND Leukemia stem cells(LSCs)are found to be one of the main factors contributing to poor therapeutic effects in acute myeloid leukemia(AML),as they are protected by the bone marrow microenvironment(BMM)against conventional therapies.Gossypol acetic acid(GAA),which is extracted from the seeds of cotton plants,exerts anti-tumor roles in several types of cancer and has been reported to induce apoptosis of LSCs by inhibiting Bcl2.AIM To investigate the exact roles of GAA in regulating LSCs under different microenvironments and the exact mechanism.METHODS In this study,LSCs were magnetically sorted from AML cell lines and the CD34+CD38-population was obtained.The expression of leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein(LRPPRC)and forkhead box M1(FOXM1)was evaluated in LSCs,and the effects of GAA on malignancies and mitochondrial RESULTS LRPPRC was found to be upregulated,and GAA inhibited cell proliferation by degrading LRPPRC.GAA induced LRPPRC degradation and inhibited the activation of interleukin 6(IL-6)/janus kinase(JAK)1/signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)3 signaling,enhancing chemosensitivity in LSCs against conventional chemotherapies,including L-Asparaginase,Dexamethasone,and cytarabine.GAA was also found to downregulate FOXM1 indirectly by regulating LRPPRC.Furthermore,GAA induced reactive oxygen species accumulation,disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis,and caused mitochondrial dysfunction.By inhibiting IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling via degrading LRPPRC,GAA resulted in the elimination of LSCs.Meanwhile,GAA induced oxidative stress and subsequent cell damage by causing mitochondrial damage.CONCLUSION Taken together,the results indicate that GAA might overcome the BMM protective effect and be considered as a novel and effective combination therapy for AML.

Paeoniflorin inhibits human gastric carcinoma cell proliferation through up-regulation of microRNA-124 and suppression of PI3K/Akt and STAT3 signaling

AIM: To examine the potential anti-tumor activity of paeoniflorin in the human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC-803.METHODS: Cell viability and cytotoxic effects in MGC-803 cells were analyzed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assay, respectively. Cell apoptosis of MGC-803 cells was measured using flow cytometry,DAPI staining assay and caspase-3 activity assay.Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of microRNA-124(miR-124) in response to paeoniflorin.The expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),protein kinase B(Akt), phospho-Akt(p-Akt) and phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription3(p-STAT3) were also measured by quantitative RTPCR and Western blot analysis in normal, miR-124 and anti-miR-124 over-expressing MGC-803 cells, treated with paeoniflorin.RESULTS: Paeoniflorin was found to inhibit MGC-803 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Paeoniflorin treatment was associated with the induction of apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in MGC-803 cells. Paeoniflorin treatment significantly increased miR-124 levels and inhibited the expression of PI3 K, Akt, p-Akt and p-STAT3 in MGC-803 cells. Interestingly, the over-expression of miR-124 inhibits PI3K/Akt and phospho-STAT3 expressions in MGC-803 cells. PI3 K agonist(IGF-1, 1μg/10 μL) or over-expression of STAT3 reversed the effect of paeoniflorin on the proliferation of MGC-803 cells. Over-expression of anti-miR-124 in MGC-803 cells reversed paeoniflorin-induced up-regulation.CONCLUSION: In summary, the in vitro data suggest that paeoniflorin is a potential novel therapeutic agent against gastric carcinoma, which inhibits cell viability and induces apoptosis through the up-regulation of miR-124 and suppression of PI3K/Akt and STAT3 signaling.

Downregulation of signal transduction and STAT3 expression exacerbates oxidative stress mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome

Activated nucleotide binding to the oligonucleotide receptor protein 3（NLRP3） inflammasome is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease through oxidative stress and neurogenic inflammation. Low expression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3） gene may promote the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases to some extent. To clarify the roles of the NLRP3 inflammasome and STAT3 expression in oxidative stress,（1） SHSY5 Y cells were incubated with 1 mM H2 O2 to induce oxidative stress injury, and the expression of human-cell-specific signal transduction, STAT3-shRNA silencing signal transduction and STAT3 were detected. Cells were pretreated with Ca2＋ chelator BAPATA-AM（0.1 mM） for 30 minutes as a control.（2） Western blot assay was used to analyze the expression of caspase-1, NLRP3, signal transduction and STAT3. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze interleukin-1β levels. Flow cytometry was carried out to calculate the number of apoptotic cells. We found that H2 O2 treatment activated NLRP3 inflammasomes and decreased phosphorylation of signal transduction and STAT3 serine 727. BAPTA-AM pretreatment abolished the H2 O2-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, caspase-1 expression, interleukin-1β expression and apoptosis in SHSY5 Y cells, and had no effect in cells with downregulated STAT3 expression by RNAi. The findings suggest that downregulation of signal transduction and STAT3 expression may enhance the oxidative stress mediated by NLRP3, which may not depend on the Ca2^＋ signaling pathway.

STAT3在阿尔茨海默病小鼠认知障碍发生发展中的作用及机制研究

目的 研究信号传导及转录激活因子3(STAT3)在阿尔茨海默病小鼠认知障碍发生发展中的作用及机制。方法 利用C57BL/6J小鼠双侧海马脑立体定位注射β-淀粉样蛋白建立阿尔茨海默病模型,给予STAT3抑制剂氯硝柳胺,运用动物行为学分析检测、Western blot分析检测等探究STAT3在认知障碍中的作用及机制。结果 行为学实验表明,与模型组小鼠相比,给药组小鼠的焦虑症状、空间探索能力、物体识别能力和学习记忆能力均得到改善;Western blot分析结果表明,给药后小鼠阿尔茨海默病的病理标志物改善,促炎因子表达下调;试剂盒分析结果显示给药组小鼠氧化应激相关指标改善;HE染色结果显示给药组小鼠海马神经元组织形态的改善。结论 本研究初步证明了抑制STAT3可减轻神经炎症和氧化应激,从而改善阿尔茨海默病小鼠的认知障碍。

宫颈癌组织中KLF12、STAT3的表达及其与临床病理特征和预后的相关性

目的:分析宫颈癌中Krüpple样转录因子12(KLF12),信号转导和转录激活因子3(STAT3)的表达,并探讨其与临床病理特征和预后的相关性。方法:收集2017年07月至2020年07月收治于本院的82例宫颈癌患者活检及手术宫颈癌标本。采用免疫组化法检测患者宫颈癌组织及宫颈癌KLF12、STAT3表达情况。通过χ^(2)检验分析KLF12、STAT3表达与宫颈癌患者临床病理特征的关系。采用多因素Cox回归分析宫颈癌患者预后的相关因素。绘制Kaplan-Meier曲线分析KLF12、STAT3表达与宫颈癌患者3年生存率的关系。结果:宫颈癌组织KLF12阳性表达率高于癌旁组织(P<0.05),STAT3阳性表达率高于癌旁组织(P<0.05)。不同年龄、产次、月经状态、肿瘤直径、组织学分类、浸润深度患者宫颈癌组织中KLF12、STAT3表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。FIGO分期Ⅱ期、低分化、有淋巴结转移的宫颈癌患者组织中KLF12、STAT3阳性表达率较高(P<0.05)。多因素Cox回归分析显示,FIGO分期Ⅱ期、KLF12、STAT3阳性表达均是宫颈癌患者3年内死亡的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。Kaplan-Meier曲线结果显示,KLF12阳性表达患者3年生存率66.66%(28/42)低于KLF12阴性表达患者90.00%(36/40)(P<0.05),STAT3阳性表达患者3年生存率70.49%(43/61)低于STAT3阴性表达患者100%(21/21)(P<0.05)。结论:宫颈癌组织中KLF12、STAT3阳性表达升高,两者异常表达与FIGO分期、分化程度、淋巴结转移及预后有关,可作为用于评估预后的生物标志物。

白藜芦醇通过阻断JAK激酶2/信号转导及转录活化因子3信号通路抑制食管癌细胞增殖和迁移并诱导其凋亡的作用研究

目的探究白藜芦醇对人食管癌细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移及JAK激酶2/信号转导及转录活化因子3(JAK2/STAT3)信号通路的调控作用。方法2021年7月至2022年7月,体外培养人食管癌OE19细胞,将细胞分为对照组(不做干预)和实验组(15、30、60、90和120μmol/L白藜芦醇干预24 h)进行预实验,根据细胞计数试剂盒(CCK-8)预实验结果,筛选有显著作用且细胞活力高于50%的30、60、90μmol/L白藜芦醇进行后续的实验,后续实验又分为对照组(不做干预)、30、60、90μmol/L白藜芦醇组(30、60和90μmol/L白藜芦醇)和30μmol/L白藜芦醇+抑制剂组(30μmol/L白藜芦醇+10μmol/L JAK2/STAT3通路抑制剂AG490),干预24 h。用5-乙炔基-2'脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(EdU)、Hoechst 33258染色、Transwell、实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)及蛋白质印迹法对细胞增殖率、凋亡情况、迁移数及细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)、胱天蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)和JAK2/STAT3相关因子表达水平进行分析。结果不同浓度实验组的细胞活力与对照组相比逐渐降低,其中30、60、90和120μmol/L白藜芦醇差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),但120μmol/L白藜芦醇组细胞活力低于50%,所以本研究选择30、60和90μmol/L白藜芦醇继续后续实验;60μmol/L白藜芦醇组细胞增殖率(41.49±5.06)%、迁移细胞数(36.67±2.52)个显著低于对照组(53.34±1.99)%、(58.00±2.00)个,凋亡细胞数(7.67±1.53)个显著高于对照组(2.50±0.71)个,且cyclin D1、p-JAK2和p-STAT3表达量也低于对照组,caspase-3 mRNA和蛋白表达水平高于对照组(P<0.05);30、90μmol/L白藜芦醇组以上各指标与对照组比较同样如此。与30μmol/L白藜芦醇组相比,30μmol/L白藜芦醇+抑制剂组以上各指标变化更显著(P<0.05)。结论白藜芦醇可通过抑制JAK2/STAT3通路抑制人食管癌OE19细胞的增殖和迁移并诱导凋亡。

神经肌肉电刺激通过调控白细胞介素6/信号转导子及转录激活子3信号通路促进脊髓损伤后小鼠运动功能恢复

目的观察神经肌肉电刺激(NMES)对脊髓损伤后小鼠白细胞介素6(IL-6)/STAT3信号通路的影响,探讨其对运动功能恢复的机制。方法选取SPF级小鼠72只随机分成假手术(sham)组、脊髓损伤组(SCI)和NMES组。利用BMS评分、斜坡实验与电生理(EMG)评估小鼠脊髓损伤后肢体运动恢复情况。Western blotting和Real-time PCR检测各组小鼠脊髓组织中相关炎症因子、IL-6/STAT3信号通路与胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)和脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)的表达。HE染色观察各组小鼠脊髓形态结构。结果NMES组BMS评分和小鼠斜坡实验均高于SCI组(P<0.05);NMES组小鼠运动诱发电位(MEP)最大振幅高于SCI组(P<0.05);NMES组脊髓组织TNF-α、IL-12A与GFAP表达量均低于SCI组(P<0.05),TGF-β、IL-10与BDNF表达量均高于SCI组(P<0.05);与SCI组相比,NMES组小鼠脊髓空洞较少,脊髓形态修复较好;与SCI组相比,NMES组IL-6/STAT3信号通路蛋白表达均低于SCI组(P<0.05)。结论神经肌肉电刺激通过抑制IL-6/STAT3信号通路发挥抗炎作用,从而促进脊髓损伤后小鼠后肢运动功能的恢复。