Fibroblast-derived CXCL12/SDF-1α promotes CXCL6 secretion and co-operatively enhances metastatic potential through the PI3K/Akt/m TOR pathway in colon cancer

AIM To investigate the underlying mechanism by which CXCL12 and CXCL6 influences the metastatic potential of colon cancer and internal relation of colon cancer and stromal cells. METHODS Western blotting was used to detect the expression of CXCL12 and CXCL6 in colon cancer cells and stromal cells. The co-operative effects of CXCL12 and CXCL6 on proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and proliferation and invasion assays. The angiogenesis of HUVECs through interaction with cancer cells and stromal cells was examined by angiogenesis assay. We eventually investigated activation of PI3K/Akt/m TOR signaling by CXCL12 involved in the metastatic process of colon cancer.RESULTS CXCL12 was expressed in DLD-1 cancer cells and fibroblasts. The secretion level of CXCL6 by colon cancer cells and HUVECs were significantly promoted by fibroblasts derived from CXCL12. CXCL6 and CXCL2 could significantly enhance HUVEC proliferation and migration(P < 0.01). CXCL6 and CXCL2 enhanced angiogenesis by HUVECs when cultured with fibroblast cells and colon cancer cells(P < 0.01). CXCL12 also enhanced the invasion of colon cancer cells. Stromal cell-derived CXCL12 promoted the secretion level of CXCL6 and co-operatively promoted metastasis of colon carcinoma through activation of the PI3K/Akt/m TOR pathway.CONCLUSION Fibroblast-derived CXCL12 enhanced the CXCL6 secretion of colon cancer cells,and both CXCL12 and CXCL6 co-operatively regulated the metastasis via the PI3K/Akt/m TOR signaling pathway. Blocking this pathway may be a potential anti-metastatic therapeutic target for patients with colon cancer.

Effect of New Fly Maggot Protein Feed on mRNA Expression of TOR Signaling Pathway-related Genes in Loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the effects of new fly maggot protein feed on the mRNA expression of genes related to the TOR signaling pathway in loaches(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus). [Methods] Two kinds of test feed with equal nitrogen and energy were prepared by replacing 60% of the fish meal in the control group with the new fly maggot protein feed, i.e., Diet1(control group) and Diet2(60% fish meal replacement group). The feeding experiment was carried out in an indoor circulating water system, and the breeding period was 60 d. [Results] For the livers, the mRNA levels of TOR and 4EBP1 in the Diet2 group were significantly higher than those in the Diet1 group(P<0.05), while the expression of 4 EBP2 was lower than in the Diet1 group(P<0.05);and as to the muscles, the mRNA levels of TOR and 4EBP1 in the Diet2 group were significantly lower than those in the Diet1 group(P<0.05), while there was no significant change in the mRNA level of 4EBP2 between the two groups. [Conclusions] The replacement of fish meal by fly maggot cultures affected the mRNA expression of TOR, 4EBP1 and 4EBP2 in loach livers and muscles.

Cadmium Activates Reactive Oxygen Species-dependent AKT/mT OR and Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathways in Neuronal Cells

Objective To examine the role of Cd-induced reactive oxygen species（ROS） generation in the apoptosis of neuronal cells. Methods Neuronal cells（primary rat cerebral cortical neurons and PC12 cells） were incubated with or without Cd post-pretreatment with rapamycin（Rap） or N-acetyl-L-cysteine（NAC）. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, and the activation of phosphoinositide 3’-kinase/protein kinase B（Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin（m TOR） and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways were measured by western blotting or immunofluorescence assays. Results Cd-induced activation of Akt/m TOR signaling, including Akt, m TOR, p70 S6 kinase（p70 S6K）, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1（4E-BP1）. Rap, an m TOR inhibitor and NAC, a ROS scavenger, blocked Cd-induced activation of Akt/m TOR signaling and apoptosis of neuronal cells. Furthermore, NAC blocked the decrease of B-cell lymphoma 2/Bcl-2 associated X protein（Bcl-2/Bax） ratio, release of cytochrome c, cleavage of caspase-3 and poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase（PARP）, and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor（AIF） and endonuclease G（Endo G）. Conclusion Cd-induced ROS generation activates Akt/m TOR and mitochondrial pathways, leading to apoptosis of neuronal cells. Our findings suggest that m TOR inhibitors or antioxidants have potential for preventing Cd-induced neurodegenerative diseases.

Regulation of the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Fuel Utilization During Primate Torpor in the Gray Mouse Lemur, Microcebus murinus

Gray mouse lemurs（Microcebus murinus） from Madagascar present an excellent model for studies of torpor regulation in a primate species. In the present study, we analyzed the response of the insulin signaling pathway as well as controls on carbohydrate sparing in six different tissues of torpid versus aroused gray mouse lemurs. We found that the relative level of phospho-insulin receptor substrate（IRS-1） was significantly increased in muscle, whereas the level of phospho-insulin receptor（IR） was decreased in white adipose tissue（WAT） of torpid animals, both suggesting an inhibition of insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1（IGF-1） signaling during torpor in these tissues. By contrast, the level of phospho-IR was increased in the liver. Interestingly, muscle,WAT, and liver occupy central roles in whole body homeostasis and each displays regulatory controls operating at the plasma membrane. Changes in other tissues included an increase in phosphoglycogen synthase kinase 3a（GSK3a） and decrease in phospho-ribosomal protein S6（RPS6） in the heart, and a decrease in phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin（m TOR） in the kidney. Pyruvate dehydrogenase（PDH） that gates carbohydrate entry into mitochondria is inhibited via phosphorylation by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase（e.g., PDK4）. In the skeletal muscle, the protein expression of PDK4 and phosphorylated PDH at Ser 300 was increased, suggesting inhibition during torpor. In contrast, there were no changes in levels of PDH expression and phosphorylation in other tissues comparing torpid and aroused animals. Information gained from these studies highlight the molecular controls that help to regulate metabolic rate depression and balance energetics during primate torpor.

Molecular mechanisms of dietary restriction in aging—insights from Caenorhabditis elegans research

Dietary restriction(DR) is one of the most robust environmental manipulations that not only extend life span but also delay the onset of age-related diseases in almost every species examined. Caenorhabditis elegans plays an important role in aging studies due to its simple life cycle, easy genetic manipulations and highly conserved genome. Recent studies have demonstrated that the beneficial effects of DR are mediated by the highly conserved transcription factors and signaling pathways in C. elegans. Here we review recent progress in the methodology and molecular mechanisms of DR using C. elegans as a model, as well as prospects for future research.