Hapln1 promotes dedifferentiation and proliferation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by promoting versican-based GDF11 trapping

Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1(Hapln1)supports active cardiomyogenesis in zebrafish hearts,but its regulation in mammal cardiomyocytes is unclear.This study aimed to explore the potential regulation of Hapln1 in the dedifferentiation and proliferation of cardiomyocytes and its therapeutic value in myocardial infarction with human induced pluripotent stem cell(hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes(CMs)and an adult mouse model of myocardial infarction.HiPSC-CMs and adult mice with myocardial infarction were used as in vitro and in vivo models,respectively.Previous single-cell RNA sequencing data were retrieved for bioinformatic exploration.The results showed that recombinant human Hapln1(rhHapln1)promotes the proliferation of hiPSC-CMs in a dose-dependent manner.As a physical binding protein of Hapln1,versican interacted with Nodal growth differentiation factor(NODAL)and growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11).GDF11,but not NODAL,was expressed by hiPSC-CMs.GDF11 expression was unaffected by rhHapln1 treatment.However,this molecule was required for rhHapln1-mediated activation of the transforming growth factor(TGF)-β/Drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein(SMAD)2/3 signaling in hiPSC-CMs,which stimulates cell dedifferentiation and proliferation.Recombinant mouse Hapln1(rmHapln1)could induce cardiac regeneration in the adult mouse model of myocardial infarction.In addition,rmHapln1 induced hiPSC-CM proliferation.In conclusion,Hapln1 can stimulate the dedifferentiation and proliferation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by promoting versican-based GDF11 trapping and subsequent activation of the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.Hapln1 might be an effective hiPSC-CM dedifferentiation and proliferation agent and a potential reagent for repairing damaged hearts.

Maintaining moderate levels of hypochlorous acid promotes neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the recovery phase of stroke

It has been shown clinically that continuous removal of ischemia/reperfusion-induced reactive oxygen species is not conducive to the recovery of late stroke.Indeed,previous studies have shown that excessive increases in hypochlorous acid after stroke can cause severe damage to brain tissue.Our previous studies have found that a small amount of hypochlorous acid still exists in the later stage of stroke,but its specific role and mechanism are currently unclear.To simulate stroke in vivo,a middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model was established,with an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model established in vitro to mimic stroke.We found that in the early stage(within 24 hours)of ischemic stroke,neutrophils produced a large amount of hypochlorous acid,while in the recovery phase(10 days after stroke),microglia were activated and produced a small amount of hypochlorous acid.Further,in acute stroke in rats,hypochlorous acid production was prevented using a hypochlorous acid scavenger,taurine,or myeloperoxidase inhibitor,4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide.Our results showed that high levels of hypochlorous acid(200μM)induced neuronal apoptosis after oxygen/glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.However,in the recovery phase of the middle cerebral artery occlusion model,a moderate level of hypochlorous acid promoted the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons and astrocytes.This suggests that hypochlorous acid plays different roles at different phases of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Lower levels of hypochlorous acid(5 and 100μM)promoted nuclear translocation ofβ-catenin.By transfection of single-site mutation plasmids,we found that hypochlorous acid induced chlorination of theβ-catenin tyrosine 30 residue,which promoted nuclear translocation.Altogether,our study indicates that maintaining low levels of hypochlorous acid plays a key role in the recovery of neurological function.

Spatial-temporal differentiation and influencing factors of rural settlements in mountainous areas: an example of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwestern China

Rural settlement is the basic spatial unit for compact communities in rural area. Scientific exploration of spatial-temporal differentiation and its influencing factors is the premise of spatial layout rationalization. Based on land use data of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture(hereinafter referred to as Liangshan Prefecture) in Sichuan Province, China from 1980 to 2020, compactness index, fractal dimension, imbalance index, location entropy and the optimal parameters-based geographical detector(OPGD) model are used to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution of the morphological characteristics of rural settlements, and to explore the influence of natural geographical factors, socioeconomic factors, and policy factors on the spatial differentiation of rural settlements. The results show that:(1) From 1980 to 2020, the rural settlements area in Liangshan Prefecture increased by 15.96 km^(2). In space, the rural settlements are generally distributed in a local aggregation, dense in the middle and sparse around the periphery. In 2015, the spatial density and expansion index of rural settlements reached the peak.(2) From 1980 to 2020, the compactness index decreased from 0.7636 to 0.7496, the fractal dimension increased from 1.0283 to 1.0314, and the fragmentation index decreased from 0.1183 to 0.1047. The spatial morphological structure of rural settlements tended to be loose, the shape contour tended to be complex, the degree of fragmentation decreased, and the spatial distribution was significantly imbalanced.(3) The results of OPGD detection in 2015 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2371) > traffic accessibility(0.2098) > population(0.1403) > regional GDP(0.1325) > elevation(0.0987) > poverty alleviation(0). The results of OPGD detection in 2020 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2339) > traffic accessibility(0.2198) > population(0.1432) > regional GDP(0.1219) > poverty alleviation(0.0992) > elevation(0.093). Natural geographical factors(slope and elevation) are the basic factors affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements, and rural settlements are widely distributed in the river valley plain and the second half mountain area. Socioeconomic factors(traffic accessibility, population, and regional GDP) have a greater impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements, which is an important factor affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements. Policy factors such as poverty alleviation relocation have an indispensable impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements. The research results can provide decisionmaking basis for the spatial arrangement of rural settlements in Liangshan Prefecture, and optimize the implementation of rural revitalization policies.

How mesenchymal stem cells transform into adipocytes:Overview of the current understanding of adipogenic differentiation

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)are stem/progenitor cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into osteoblasts,chondrocytes and adipocytes.The transformation of multipotent MSCs to adipocytes mainly involves two subsequent steps from MSCs to preadipocytes and further preadipocytes into adipocytes,in which the process MSCs are precisely controlled to commit to the adipogenic lineage and then mature into adipocytes.Previous studies have shown that the master transcription factors C/enhancer-binding protein alpha and peroxisome proliferation activator receptor gamma play vital roles in adipogenesis.However,the mechanism underlying the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs is not fully understood.Here,the current knowledge of adipogenic differentiation in MSCs is reviewed,focusing on signaling pathways,noncoding RNAs and epigenetic effects on DNA methylation and acetylation during MSC differentiation.Finally,the relationship between maladipogenic differentiation and diseases is briefly discussed.We hope that this review can broaden and deepen our understanding of how MSCs turn into adipocytes.

The MORC2 p.S87L mutation reduces proliferation of pluripotent stem cells derived from a patient with the spinal muscular atrophy-like phenotype by inhibiting proliferation-related signaling pathways

Mutations in the microrchidia CW-type zinc finger protein 2(MORC2)gene are the causative agent of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z(CMT2Z),and the hotspot mutation p.S87L is associated with a more seve re spinal muscular atrophy-like clinical phenotype.The aims of this study were to determine the mechanism of the severe phenotype caused by the MORC2 p.S87L mutation and to explore potential treatment strategies.Epithelial cells were isolated from urine samples from a spinal muscular atrophy(SMA)-like patient[MORC2 p.S87L),a CMT2Z patient[MORC2 p.Q400R),and a healthy control and induced to generate pluripotent stem cells,which were then differentiated into motor neuron precursor cells.Next-generation RNA sequencing followed by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes involved in the PI3K/Akt and MAP K/ERK signaling pathways were enriched in the p.S87L SMA-like patient group and were significantly downregulated in induced pluripotent stem cells.Reduced proliferation was observed in the induced pluripotent stem cells and motor neuron precursor cells derived from the p.S87L SMA-like patient group compared with the CMT2Z patient group and the healthy control.G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest was observed in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from the p.S87L SMA-like patient.MORC2 p.S87Lspecific antisense oligonucleotides(p.S87L-ASO-targeting)showed significant efficacy in improving cell prolife ration and activating the PI3K/Akt and MAP K/ERK pathways in induced pluripotent stem cells.Howeve r,p.S87L-ASO-ta rgeting did not rescue prolife ration of motor neuron precursor cells.These findings suggest that downregulation of the PI3K/Akt and MAP K/ERK signaling pathways leading to reduced cell proliferation and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in induced pluripotent stem cells might be the underlying mechanism of the severe p.S87L SMA-like phenotype.p.S87L-ASO-targeting treatment can alleviate disordered cell proliferation in the early stage of pluripotent stem cell induction.

High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promotes neural stem cell proliferation after ischemic stroke

Prolife ration of neural stem cells is crucial for promoting neuronal regeneration and repairing cerebral infarction damage.Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)has recently emerged as a tool for inducing endogenous neural stem cell regeneration,but its underlying mechanisms remain unclea r In this study,we found that repetitive TMS effectively promotes the proliferation of oxygen-glucose deprived neural stem cells.Additionally,repetitive TMS reduced the volume of cerebral infa rction in a rat model of ischemic stro ke caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion,im p roved rat cognitive function,and promoted the proliferation of neural stem cells in the ischemic penumbra.RNA-sequencing found that repetitive TMS activated the Wnt signaling pathway in the ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia.Furthermore,PCR analysis revealed that repetitive TMS promoted AKT phosphorylation,leading to an increase in mRNA levels of cell cycle-related proteins such as Cdk2 and Cdk4.This effect was also associated with activation of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin signaling pathway,which ultimately promotes the prolife ration of neural stem cells.Subsequently,we validated the effect of repetitive TMS on AKT phosphorylation.We found that repetitive TMS promoted Ca2+influx into neural stem cells by activating the P2 calcium channel/calmodulin pathway,thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation and activating the glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin pathway.These findings indicate that repetitive TMS can promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells through a Ca2+influx-dependent phosphorylated AKT/glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.This study has produced pioneering res ults on the intrinsic mechanism of repetitive TMS to promote neural function recove ry after ischemic stro ke.These results provide a stro ng scientific foundation for the clinical application of repetitive TMS.Moreover,repetitive TMS treatment may not only be an efficient and potential approach to support neurogenesis for further therapeutic applications,but also provide an effective platform for the expansion of neural stem cells.

Resveratrol inhibits pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis by depleting senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts

BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer,a formidable gastrointestinal neoplasm,is characterized by its insidious onset,rapid progression,and resistance to treatment,which often lead to a grim prognosis.While the complex pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer is well recognized,recent attention has focused on the oncogenic roles of senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts.However,their precise role in pancreatic cancer remains unknown.Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol known for its multifaceted biological actions,including antioxidative and neuroprotective properties,as well as its potential to inhibit tumor proliferation and migration.Our current investigation builds on prior research and reveals the remarkable ability of resveratrol to inhibit pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis.AIM To explore the potential of resveratrol in inhibiting pancreatic cancer by targeting senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts.METHODS Immunofluorescence staining of pancreatic cancer tissues revealed prominent coexpression ofα-SMA and p16.HP-1 expression was determined using immunohistochemistry.Cells were treated with the senescence-inducing factors known as 3CKs.Long-term growth assays confirmed that 3CKs significantly decreased the CAF growth rate.Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression levels of p16 and p21.Immunofluorescence was performed to assess LaminB1 expression.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the levels of several senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors,including IL-4,IL-6,IL-8,IL-13,MMP-2,MMP-9,CXCL1,and CXCL12.A scratch assay was used to assess the migratory capacity of the cells,whereas Transwell assays were used to evaluate their invasive potential.RESULTS Specifically,we identified the presence of senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts within pancreatic cancer tissues,linking their abundance to cancer progression.Intriguingly,Resveratrol effectively eradicated these fibroblasts and hindered their senescence,which consequently impeded pancreatic cancer progression.CONCLUSION This groundbreaking discovery reinforces Resveratrol's stature as a potential antitumor agent and positions senescent tumor-associated fibroblasts as pivotal contenders in future therapeutic strategies against pancreatic cancer.

Prox1 Suppresses Proliferation and Drug Resistance of Retinoblastoma Cells via Targeting Notch1

Objective Retinoblastoma(RB)is a prevalent type of eye cancer in youngsters.Prospero homeobox 1(Prox1)is a homeobox transcriptional repressor and downstream target of the proneural gene that is relevant in lymphatic,hepatocyte,pancreatic,heart,lens,retinal,and cancer cells.The goal of this study was to investigate the role of Prox1 in RB cell proliferation and drug resistance,as well as to explore the underlying Notch1 mechanism.Methods Human RB cell lines(SO-RB50 and Y79)and a primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cell line(ACBRI-181)were used in this study.The expression of Prox1 and Notch1 mRNA and protein in RB cells was detected using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting.Cell proliferation was assessed after Prox1 overexpression using the Cell Counting Kit-8 and the MTS assay.Drug-resistant cell lines(SO-RB50/vincristine)were generated and treated with Prox1 to investigate the role of Prox1 in drug resistance.We employed pcDNA-Notch1 to overexpress Notch1 to confirm the role of Notch1 in the protective function of Prox1.Finally,a xenograft model was constructed to assess the effect of Prox1 on RB in vivo.Results Prox1 was significantly downregulated in RB cells.Overexpression of Prox1 effectively decreased RB cell growth while increasing the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to vincristine.Notch1 was involved in Prox1’s regulatory effects.Notch1 was identified as a target gene of Prox1,which was found to be upregulated in RB cells and repressed by increased Prox1 expression.When pcDNA-Notch1 was transfected,the effect of Prox1 overexpression on RB was removed.Furthermore,by downregulating Notch1,Prox1 overexpression slowed tumor development and increased vincristine sensitivity in vivo.Conclusion These data show that Prox1 decreased RB cell proliferation and drug resistance by targeting Notch1,implying that Prox1 could be a potential therapeutic target for RB.

Role of hsa_circ_0007482 in pterygium development: insights into proliferation, apoptosis, and clinical correlations

AIM:To investigate the impact of hsa_circ_0007482 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts(HPFs)and its correlation with the severity grades of pterygium.METHODS:Pterygium and normal conjunctival tissues were collected from the superior area of the same patient’s eye(n=33).The correlation between pterygium severity and hsa_circ_0007482 expression using quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were analyzed.Three distinct siRNA sequences targeting hsa_circ_0007482,along with a negative control sequence,were transfected into HPFs.Cell proliferation was assessed using the cell counting kit-8.Expression levels of Ki67,proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),Cyclin D1,Bax,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Caspase-3 were measured via RT-qPCR.Immunofluorescence staining was employed to detect Ki67 and vimentin expressions.Apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry.RESULTS:Hsa_circ_0007482 expression was significantly higher in pterygium tissues compared to normal conjunctival tissues(P<0.001).Positive correlations were observed between hsa_circ_0007482 expression and pterygium severity,thickness,and vascular density.Knockdown of hsa_circ_0007482 inhibited cell proliferation,reducing the mRNA expression of Ki67,PCNA,and Cyclin D1 in HPFs.Hsa_circ_0007482 knockdown induced apoptosis,increasing mRNA expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3,while decreasing Bcl-2 expression in HPFs.Additionally,hsa_circ_0007482 knockdown attenuated vimentin expression in HPFs.CONCLUSION:The downregulation of hsa_circ_0007482 effectively hampers cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in HPFs.There are discernible positive correlations detected between the expression of hsa_circ_0007482 and the severity of pterygium.

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.

Sm-like 5 knockdown inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of colon cancer cells by upregulating p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B

BACKGROUND The role of Sm-like 5(LSM5)in colon cancer has not been determined.In this study,we investigated the role of LSM5 in progression of colon cancer and the potential underlying mechanism involved.AIM To determine the role of LSM5 in the progression of colon cancer and the potential underlying mechanism involved.METHODS The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database and the Human Protein Atlas website were used for LSM5 expression analysis and prognosis analysis.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were utilized to detect the expression of mRNAs and proteins.A lentivirus targeting LSM5 was constructed and transfected into colon cancer cells to silence LSM5 expression.Proliferation and apoptosis assays were also conducted to evaluate the growth of the colon cancer cells.Human GeneChip assay and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the potential underlying mechanism of LSM5 in colon cancer.RESULTS LSM5 was highly expressed in tumor tissue and colon cancer cells.A high expression level of LSM5 was related to poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer.Knockdown of LSM5 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in colon cancer cells.Silencing of LSM5 also facilitates the expression of p53,cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A(CDKN1A)and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 10B(TNFRSF10B).The inhibitory effect of LSM5 knockdown on the growth of colon cancer cells was associated with the upregulation of p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B.CONCLUSION LSM5 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and facilitated the apoptosis of colon cancer cells by upregulating p53,CDKN1A and TNFRSF10B.

PbGIF1 promoting cell-proliferation in pear fruit is transcriptionally activated by Pb RR1

As a cell proliferation regulator involved in wide biological processes in plants,GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR(GIF)controls different tissues development.However,whether GIF participates in fruit development remains unclear.According to transcriptome data,we identified PbGIF1was highly expressed during fruit development in cytokinins induced parthenocarpy pear.In the present study,the biofunction of PbGIF1 was initially verified.Overexpression of PbGIF1 promoted fruit size of transgenic tomato.The size of flesh fruit was not affected by cell expansion but the cell proliferation was promoted by overexpressing Pb GIF1.The accelerated cell proliferation process was also observed in PbGIF1-overexpressed transgenic pear fruit calli.The transcriptional regulation of cytokinins on PbGIF1 was further confirmed by exogenous CPPU treatments in pear fruitlets.To investigate the underlying mechanism,the cytokinins-responded factor,PbRR1,was further focused on.The results of Yeast-one-hybrid assay suggested that PbRR1 can bind to the promoter sequence of PbGIF1.The transcriptional activation of PbRR1 on PbGIF1 was also confirmed by Dual-Luciferase assays.Taken together,the results showed that cytokinins control pear fruit development via the transcriptional activation of PbGIF1 by PbRR1.

Downregulation of MUC1 Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis by Inactivating NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the effect of mucin 1(MUC1)on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)and its regulatory mechanism.Methods The 60 NPC and paired para-cancer normal tissues were collected from October 2020 to July 2021 in Quanzhou First Hospital.The expression of MUC1 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)in the patients with PNC.The 5-8F and HNE1 cells were transfected with siRNA control(si-control)or siRNA targeting MUC1(si-MUC1).Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assay,and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis in the 5-8F and HNE1 cells.The qPCR and ELISA were executed to analyze the levels of TNF-αand IL-6.Western blot was performed to measure the expression of MUC1,NFкB and apoptosis-related proteins(Bax and Bcl-2).Results The expression of MUC1 was up-regulated in the NPC tissues,and NPC patients with the high MUC1 expression were inclined to EBV infection,growth and metastasis of NPC.Loss of MUC1 restrained malignant features,including the proliferation and apoptosis,downregulated the expression of p-IкB、p-P65 and Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax in the NPC cells.Conclusion Downregulation of MUC1 restrained biological characteristics of malignancy,including cell proliferation and apoptosis,by inactivating NF-κB signaling pathway in NPC.

Knockdown of circular RNA (CircRNA)_001896 inhibits cervical cancer proliferation and stemness in vivo and in vitro

Objective:Previous studies indicated that aberrant circular RNA(circRNA)expression affects gene expression regulatory networks,leading to the aberrant activation of tumor pathways and promoting tumor cell growth.However,the expression,clinical significance,and effects on cell propagation,invasion,and dissemination of circRNA_001896 in cervical cancer(CC)tissues remain unclear.Methods:The Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)datasets(GSE113696 and GSE102686)were used to examine differential circRNA expression in CC and adjacent tissues.The expression of circRNA_001896 was detected in 72 CC patients usingfluorescence quantitative PCR.Correlation analysis with clinical pathological features was performed through COX multivariate and univariate analysis.The effect of circRNA_001896 downregulation on CC cell propagation was examined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)test,clonogenic,3D sphere formation,and in vivo tumorigenesis assays.Results:Intersection of the GSE113696 and GSE102686 datasets revealed an increased expression of four circRNAs,including circRNA_001896,in CC tissues.Fluorescence quantitative PCR confirmed circRNA_001896 as a circular RNA.High expression of circRNA_001896 was considerably associated with lymph node metastasis,International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians(FIGO)stage,tumor diameter,and survival period in CC patients.Proportional hazards model(COX)univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that circRNA_001896 expressions are a distinct risk factor affecting CC patients’prognosis.Cellular functional experiments showed that downregulating circRNA_001896 substantially suppressed CC cell growth,colony formation,and 3D sphere-forming ability.In vivo,tumorigenesis analysis in nude mice demonstrated that downregulating circRNA_001896 remarkably reduced the in vivo proliferation capacity of CC cells.Conclusion:CircRNA_001896 is highly expressed in CC tissues and is substantially related to lymph node metastasis,FIGO stage,tumor size,and survival period in patients.Moreover,downregulating circRNA_001896 significantly inhibits both in vivo and in vitro propagation of CC cells.Therefore,circRNA_001896 might be used as a biomarker for targeted therapy in cervical cancer.

Exosome-Transmitted miR-224-5p Promotes Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation via Targeting ULK2 in p53-Dependent Manner

Objective To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of exosomal miR-224-5p in colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods The miR-224-5p expression in CRC patient tissues and cell-derived exosomes was measured by laser capture microdissection and qRT-PCR,respectively.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the target gene of miR-224-5p.The protein expressions of p53 and unc-51 like kinase 2(ULK2)in CRC cells were detected by western blot.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis.Cell proliferation was measured by CCK8 and EdU assay.Results The miR-224-5p expression was upregulated in CRC tissues and increased progressively with the rise of CRC stage.CRC cells secreted extracellular miR-224-5p mainly in an exosome-dependent manner,and then miR-224-5p could be transferred to surrounding tumor cells to regulate cell proliferation in the form of autocrine or paracrine.Moreover,ULK2 was characterized as a direct target of miR-224-5p and was downregulated in CRC tissues.Interestingly,ULK2 inhibited CRC cell proliferation in a p53-dependent manner.Furthermore,exosome-derived miR-224-5p partially reversed the proliferation regulation of ULK2 on CRC cells.Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that exosome-transmitted miR-224-5p promotes p53-dependent cell proliferation by targeting ULK2 in CRC,which may offer promising targets for CRC prevention and therapy.

Prognostic significance of grade of malignancy based on histopathological differentiation and Ki-67 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Objective:Tumor cell malignancy is indicated by histopathological differentiation and cell proliferation.Ki-67,an indicator of cellular proliferation,has been used for tumor grading and classification in breast cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.However,its prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)remains uncertain.Methods:Patients who underwent radical pancreatectomy for PDAC were retrospectively enrolled,and relevant prognostic factors were examined.Grade of malignancy(GOM),a novel index based on histopathological differentiation and Ki-67,is proposed,and its clinical significance was evaluated.Results:The optimal threshold for Ki-67 was determined to be 30%.Patients with a Ki-67 expression level>30%rather than≤30%had significantly shorter 5-year overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS).In multivariate analysis,both histopathological differentiation and Ki-67 were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and RFS.The GOM was used to independently stratify OS and RFS into 3 tiers,regardless of TNM stage and other established prognostic factors.The tumor-nodemetastasis-GOM stage was used to stratify survival into 5 distinct tiers,and surpassed the predictive performance of TNM stage for OS and RFS.Conclusions:Ki-67 is a valuable prognostic indicator for PDAC.Inclusion of the GOM in the TNM staging system may potentially enhance prognostic accuracy for PDAC.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for predicting differentiation degree of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for predicting differentiation degree of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Totally 86 HCC patients confirmed by postoperative pathology were retrospectively enrolled and divided into poorly differentiated,moderately differentiated and highly differentiated groups according to postoperative Edmondson-Steiner grading.Preoperative CEUS parameters were compared among groups,and binary logistic regression was used to analyze CEUS-related independent predictors of HCC with different differentiation.The receiver operating characteristic curves of parameters being significant different among groups were drawn,the areas under the curve(AUC)were calculated,and the efficacy for predicting HCC with different differentiation degree was evaluated.Results There were 29 cases in poorly differentiated group,37 in moderately differentiated group and 20 cases in highly differentiated group.The arrival time of contrast agent in poorly differentiated group was earlier than that in moderately and high differentiated groups(both P<0.05),while in moderately differentiated group was not significantly different with that in highly differentiated group(P>0.05).The washout grade were significantly different between each 2 groups(all P<0.05).The arrival time of contrast agent and washout grade were independent predictors of highly or poorly differentiated,moderately or poorly differentiated,moderate-highly or poorly differentiated HCC,and washout grade also was independent predictor of highly or moderately differentiated HCC(all P<0.05).The AUC of the arrival time of contrast agent for predicting highly or moderately differentiated,highly or poorly differentiated,moderately or poorly differentiated,moderate-highly or poorly differentiated HCC was 0.615,0.787,0.690 and 0.724,respectively,while of washout grade was 0.801,0.927,0.795 and 0.841,respectively.Conclusion CEUS could be used to effectively predict differentiation degree of HCC.

circRNA3669 promotes goat endometrial epithelial cells proliferation via miR-26a/RCN2 to activate PI3K/AKT-mTOR and MAPK pathways

The development of receptive endometrium(RE) from pre-receptive endometrium(PE) for successful embryo implantation is a complex dynamic process in which the morphology and physiological states of the endometrial epithelium undergo a series of significant changes, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In this study, a higher circRNA3669 level was observed in PE than in RE of goats. Functional assays revealed that this overexpression promoted the proliferation of goat endometrial epithelial cells(GEECs) by activating the expression of genes related to the PI3K/AKT-mTOR and MAPK pathways,thereby inhibiting apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, circRNA3669 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA) to upregulate Reticulocalbin-2(RCN2) expression at the post-transcriptional level by interacting with and downregulating miR-26a in GEECs. In addition, RCN2, which is highly expressed in the PE of goats, was found to be regulated by β-estradiol(E2) and progesterone(P4). Our results demonstrated that RCN2 also affected the key proteins PI3K, AKT, mTOR, JNK, and P38 in the PI3K/AKT-mTOR and MAPK pathways, thereby facilitating GEECs proliferation and suppressing their apoptosis in vitro. Collectively, we constructed a new circRNA3669-miR-26aRCN2 regulatory network in GEECs, which further provides strong evidence that circRNA could potentially play a crucial regulatory role in the development of RE in goats.

Silencing of peroxiredoxin 2 suppresses proliferation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway,and induces senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),a common malignancy worldwide,still lacks effective clinical treatment.The study aimed to investigate the oncogenes that affect the progression of HCC and their possible mechanisms.In our study,we initially confirmed a higher level of PRDX2 in the bile of HCC patients compared to those with choledocholithiasis by 2-DE,LC-MS,and ELISA.Subsequently,we demonstrated the high expression of peroxiredoxin 2(PRDX2)in HCC based on the TCGA database and clinical sample analysis.Furthermore,PRDX2 overexpression enhanced the viability of HCC cells.And PRDX2 silencing induced senescence of HCC cells.In vivo,knockdown of PRDX2 significantly reduced the weight of xenograft tumors.PRDX2 also was found to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by inducingβ-catenin nuclear translocation.Consequently,we proved that silencing PRDX2 could inhibit proliferation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway while promoting senescence in HCC cells.

Absent in melanoma 2 attenuates proliferation and migration and promotes apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells by activating P38MAPK signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer(CRC)stands among the top prevalent cancers worldwide and holds a prominent position as a major contributor to cancer-related mortality globally.Absent in melanoma 2(AIM2),a constituent of the interferoninducible hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear antigens with 200 amino acid repeats protein family,contributes to both cancer progression and inflammasome activation.Despite this understanding,the precise biological functions and molecular mechanisms governed by AIM2 in CRC remain elusive.Consequently,this study endeavors to assess AIM2’s expression levels,explore its potential antitumor effects,elucidate associated cancer-related processes,and decipher the underlying signaling pathways in CRC.Our findings showed a reduced AIM2 expression in most CRC cell lines.Elevation of AIM2 levels suppressed CRC cell proliferation and migration,altered cell cycle by inhibiting G1/S transition,and induced cell apoptosis.Further research uncovered the participation of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P38MAPK)in AIM2-mediated modulation of CRC cell apoptosis and proliferation.Altogether,our achievements distinctly underscored AIM2’s antitumor role in CRC.AIM2 overexpression inhibited proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis of CRC cells via activating P38MAPK signaling pathway,indicating AIM2 as a prospective and novel therapeutic target for CRC.