Analysis and Review of Downregulated Actin Cytoskeletal Proteins in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties of NSCLC proteins is a potential alternative for developing treatment strategies. Towards this, 35 downregulated actin cytoskeletal proteins on NSCLC prognosis and treatment were studied by examining their protein-protein interactions, gene ontology enrichment terms, and signaling pathways. Using PubMed, various proteins in NSCLC were identified. The protein-protein interactions and functional associations of these proteins were examined using the STRING database. The focal adhesion signaling pathway was selected from all available KEGG and Wiki pathways because of its role in regulating gene expression, facilitating cell movement and reproduction, and significantly impacting NSCLC. The protein-protein interaction network of the 35 downregulated actin cytoskeleton proteins revealed that ACTG1, ACTR2, ACTR3, ANXA2, ARPC4, FLNA, TLN1, CALD1, MYL6, MYH9, MYH10, TPM1, TPM3, TPM4, PFN1, IQGAP1, MSN, and ZXY exhibited the highest number of interactions. Whereas HSPB1, CTNNA1, KRT17, KRT7, FLNB, SEPT2, and TUBA1B displayed medium interactions, while UTRN, TUBA1B, and DUSP23 had relatively fewer interactions. It was discovered that focal adhesions are critical in connecting membrane receptors with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, protein kinases, phosphatases, and adapter proteins were identified as key signaling molecules in this process, greatly influencing cell shape, motility, and gene expression. Our analysis shows that the focal adhesion pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC and is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio predict responses to programmed cell death-1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND Over the years,programmed cell death-1(PD-1)inhibitors have been routinely used for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treatment and yielded improved survival outcomes.Nonetheless,significant heterogeneity surrounds the outcomes of most studies.Therefore,it is critical to search for biomarkers that predict the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in patients with HCC.AIM To investigate the role of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio(CAR)in evaluating the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors for HCC.METHODS The clinical data of 160 patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors from January 2018 to November 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS The optimal cut-off value for CAR based on progression-free survival(PFS)was determined to be 1.20 using x-tile software.Cox proportional risk model was used to determine the factors affecting prognosis.Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status[hazard ratio(HR)=1.754,95%confidence interval(95%CI)=1.045-2.944,P=0.033],CAR(HR=2.118,95%CI=1.057-4.243,P=0.034)and tumor number(HR=2.932,95%CI=1.246-6.897,P=0.014)were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.CAR(HR=2.730,95%CI=1.502-4.961,P=0.001),tumor number(HR=1.584,95%CI=1.003-2.500,P=0.048)and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(HR=1.120,95%CI=1.022-1.228,P=0.015)were independent prognostic factors for PFS.Two nomograms were constructed based on independent prognostic factors.The C-index index and calibration plots confirmed that the nomogram is a reliable risk prediction tool.The ROC curve and decision curve analysis confirmed that the nomogram has a good predictive effect as well as a net clinical benefit.CONCLUSION Overall,we reveal that the CAR is a potential predictor of short-and long-term prognosis in patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors.If further verified,CAR-based nomogram may increase the number of markers that predict individualized prognosis.

GATA binding protein 2 mediated ankyrin repeat domain containing 26 high expression in myeloid-derived cell lines

BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia 2,an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by moderate thrombocytopenia,predisposition to myeloid malignancies and normal platelet size and function,can be caused by 5’-untranslated region(UTR)point mutations in ankyrin repeat domain containing 26(ANKRD26).Runt related transcription factor 1(RUNX1)and friend leukemia integration 1(FLI1)have been identified as negative regulators of ANKRD26.However,the positive regulators of ANKRD26 are still unknown.AIM To prove the positive regulatory effect of GATA binding protein 2(GATA2)on ANKRD26 transcription.METHODS Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from bone marrow(hiPSC-BM)INTRODUCTION Ankyrin repeat domain containing protein 26(ANKRD26)acts as a regulator of adipogenesis and is involved in the regulation of feeding behavior[1-3].The ANKRD26 gene is located on chromosome 10 and shares regions of homology with the primate-specific gene family POTE.According to the Human Protein Atlas database,the ANKRD26 protein is localized to the Golgi apparatus and vesicles,and its expression can be detected in nearly all human tissues[4].Moreover,UniProt annotation revealed that ANKRD26 is localized in the centrosome and contains coiled-coil domains formed by spectrin helices and ankyrin repeats[5,6].The most common disease related to ANKRD26 is thrombocytopenia 2(THC2),which is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by lifelong mild-to-moderate thrombocytopenia and mild bleeding[7-9].Caused by the variants in the 5’-untranslated region(UTR)of ANKRD26,THC2 is defined by a decrease in the number of platelets in circulating blood and results in increased bleeding and decreased clotting ability[8,10].Due to the point mutations that occur in the 5’-UTR of ANKRD26,its negative transcription factors(TFs),Runt related transcription factor 1(RUNX1)and friend leukemia integration 1(FLI1),lose their repression effect[11].The persistent expression of ANKRD26 increases the activity of the mitogen activated protein kinase and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways,which are potentially involved in the regulation of thrombopoietin-dependent signaling and further impair proplatelet formation by megakaryocytes(MKs)[11].However,the positive regulators of ANKRD26,which might be associated with THC2 pathology,are still unknown.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound reduces alveolar bone resorption during orthodontic treatment via Lamin A/C-Yes-associated protein axis in stem cells

BACKGROUND The bone remodeling during orthodontic treatment for malocclusion often requires a long duration of around two to three years,which also may lead to some complications such as alveolar bone resorption or tooth root resorption.Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS),a noninvasive physical therapy,has been shown to promote bone fracture healing.It is also reported that LIPUS could reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment;however,how LIPUS regulates the bone metabolism during the orthodontic treatment process is still unclear.AIM To investigate the effects of LIPUS on bone remodeling in an orthodontic tooth movement(OTM)model and explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS A rat model of OTM was established,and alveolar bone remodeling and tooth movement rate were evaluated via micro-computed tomography and staining of tissue sections.In vitro,human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMSCs)were isolated to detect their osteogenic differentiation potential under compression and LIPUS stimulation by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining,and Alizarin red staining.The expression of Yes-associated protein(YAP1),the actin cytoskeleton,and the Lamin A/C nucleoskeleton were detected with or without YAP1 small interfering RNA(siRNA)application via immunofluorescence.RESULTS The force treatment inhibited the osteogenic differentiation potential of hBMSCs;moreover,the expression of osteogenesis markers,such as type 1 collagen(COL1),runt-related transcription factor 2,ALP,and osteocalcin(OCN),decreased.LIPUS could rescue the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs with increased expression of osteogenic marker inhibited by force.Mechanically,the expression of LaminA/C,F-actin,and YAP1 was downregulated after force treatment,which could be rescued by LIPUS.Moreover,the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs increased by LIPUS could be attenuated by YAP siRNA treatment.Consistently,LIPUS increased alveolar bone density and decreased vertical bone absorption in vivo.The decreased expression of COL1,OCN,and YAP1 on the compression side of the alveolar bone was partially rescued by LIPUS.CONCLUSION LIPUS can accelerate tooth movement and reduce alveolar bone resorption by modulating the cytoskeleton-Lamin A/C-YAP axis,which may be a promising strategy to reduce the orthodontic treatment process.

A pilot study of the relative number of circulating tumor cells and leukocytes containing actin-binding proteins in head and neck cancer patients

Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)play an important role in tumor metastases,which is positively correlated with an increased risk of death.Actin-binding proteins,including cofilin(CFL1),profilin 1(PFN1),and adenylate cyclase-associated protein 1(CAP1),are thought to be involved in tumor cell motility and metastasis,specifically in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).However,currently,there are no published studies on CFL1,PFN1,and CAP1 in CTCs and leukocytes in HNSCC patients.We assessed serum levels of CFL1,PFN1,and CAP1 and the number of CTCs and leukocytes containing these proteins in blood from 31 HNSCC patients(T1-4N0-2M0).The analysis used flow cytometry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.We found that CAP1+CTCs and CAP1+leukocyte subpopulations were prevalent in these HNSCC patient samples,while the prevalence rates of CFL1+and PFN1+CTCs were relatively low.Patients with stage T2-4N1-2M0 had CFL1+and PFN1+CTCs with an elevated PFN1 serum level,compared with the T1-3N0M0 group.In summary,the PFN1 serum level and the relative number of PFN1+CD326+CTCs could be valuable prognostic markers for HNSCC metastases.The current study is the first to obtain data regarding the contents of actin-binding proteins(ABPs)in CTCs,and leukocytes in blood from HNSCC patients.This is also the first to assess the relationship between the number of CTCs subgroups and disease characteristics.

Use of bone morphogenetic proteins in mesenchymal stemcell stimulation of cartilage and bone repair

The extracellular matrix-associated bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) govern a plethora of biological processes. The BMPs are members of the transforming growth factor-β protein superfamily, and they actively participate to kidney development, digit and limb formation, angiogenesis, tissue fibrosis and tumor development. Since their discovery, they have attracted attention for their fascinating perspectives in the regenerative medicine and tissue engineering fields. BMPs have been employed in many preclinical and clinical studies exploring their chondrogenic or osteoinductive potential in several animal model defects and in human diseases. During years of research in particular two BMPs, BMP2 and BMP7 have gained the podium for their use in the treatment of various cartilage and bone defects. In particular they have been recently approved for employment in non-union fractures as adjunct therapies. On the other hand, thanks to their potentialities in biomedical applications, there is a growing interest in studying the biology of mesenchymal stem cell(MSC), the rules underneath their differentiation abilities, and to test their true abilities in tissue engineering. In fact, the specific differentiation of MSCs into targeted celltype lineages for transplantation is a primary goal of the regenerative medicine. This review provides an overview on the current knowledge of BMP roles and signaling in MSC biology and differentiation capacities. In particular the article focuses on the potential clinical use of BMPs and MSCs concomitantly, in cartilage and bone tissue repair.

Recombinant human zona pellucida proteins ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 co-expressed in a human cell line

Aim: To produce biologically active recombinant human (rh) ZP proteins in a human cell for use in sperm function tests. Methods: The human embryonic kidney cell line 293T was employed to produce rhZP1, rhZP2 and rhZP3 proteins individually and together by co-expression. Presence of these proteins in the culture medium and cell lysate was assessed by Western blotting analysis. The effect of the recombinant proteins on the human AR was assessed. Results: RhZP2 and rhZP3 were secreted into the culture medium, whereas rhZPl was found only in the cell lysate. Interestingly, when all zona pellucida proteins were co-expressed in the same cells, rhZPl was also secreted into the culture medium. However, despite the presence of all three ZP proteins in sufficient concentration and evidence of heavy glycosylation on gel electrophoresis, biological activity to induce the AR was not observed. Conclusion: RhZP1, rhZP2 and rhZP3 were successfully expressed in the human embryonic kidney cell line 293T. It appears that an interaction amongst these proteins may be required for release of rhZPl from the cell. Although this approach is not satisfactory for producing active human ZP proteins, it makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of the ZP proteins.

Soluble expression of recomb inant cMyc,Klf4,Oct4,and Sox2 proteins in bacteria and transduction into living cells

AIM：To develop a new method to produce recombinant reprogramming proteins,c Myc,Klf4,Oct4,and Sox2,in soluble format with low cost for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells（i PSCs）.METHODS：A short polypeptide sequence derived from the HIV trans-activator of transcription protein（TAT） and the nucleus localization signal（NLS） polypeptide were fused to the N terminus of the reprogramming proteins and they were constructed into p Cold-SUMO vector which can extremely improve the solubility of recombinant proteins.Then these vector plasmids were transformed into E.coli BL21（DE3） Chaperone competent cells for amplification.The solubility of these recombinant proteins was determined by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie brilliant blue staining.The recombinant proteins were purified by NiNTA resin and identified by Western blot.The transduction of these proteins into HEK 293 T cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining.RESULTS：These four reprogramming proteins could be produced in soluble format in p Cold-SUMO expression vector system with the assistance of chaperone proteins in bacteria.The proteins were purified successfully with a purity of over 70% with a relative high transduction rate into 293 cells.CONCLUSION：The results in the present study indicate the four important reprogramming proteins,c Myc,Klf4,Oct4,and Sox2,can be produced in soluble format in bacteria with low cost.Our new method thus might be expected to greatly contribute to the future study of i PSCs.

Cell metabolism pathways involved in the pathophysiological changes of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus.Elucidating the pathophysiological metabolic mechanism impels the generation of ideal therapies.However,existing limited treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy expose the urgent need for cell metabolism research.Given the lack of comprehensive understanding of energy metabolism changes and related signaling pathways in diabetic peripheral neuropathy,it is essential to explore energy changes and metabolic changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy to develop suitable treatment methods.This review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanism of diabetic peripheral neuropathy from the perspective of cellular metabolism and the specific interventions for different metabolic pathways to develop effective treatment methods.Various metabolic mechanisms(e.g.,polyol,hexosamine,protein kinase C pathway)are associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,and researchers are looking for more effective treatments through these pathways.

Cinnamicaldehyde regulates the expression of tight junction proteins and amino acid transporters in intestinal porcine epithelial cells

Background： Cinnamicaldehyde（CA） is a key flavor compound in cinnamon essential oil possessing various bioactivities. Tight junction（TJ） proteins are vital for the maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier function,transport, absorption and utilization of dietary amino acids and other nutrients. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CA may regulate the expression of TJ proteins and amino acid transporters in intestinal porcine epithelial cells（IPEC-1） isolated from neonatal pigs.Results： Compared with the control, cells incubated with 25 μmol/L CA had increased transepithelial electrical resistance（TEER） and decreased paracellular intestinal permeability. The beneficial effect of CA on mucosal barrier function was associated with enhanced protein abundance for claudin-4, zonula occludens（ZO）-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3. Immunofluorescence staining showed that 25 μmol/L CA promoted the localization of claudin-1 and claudin-3 to the plasma membrane without affecting the localization of other TJ proteins, including claudin-4, occludin,ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3, compared with the control cells. Moreover, protein abundances for rBAT, xCT and LAT2 in IPEC-1 cells were enhanced by 25 μmol/L CA, while that for EAAT3 was not affected.Conclusions： CA improves intestinal mucosal barrier function by regulating the distribution of claudin-1 and claudin-3 in enterocytes, as well as enhancing protein abundance for amino acid transporters rBAT, xCT and LAT2 in enterocytes. Supplementation with CA may provide an effective nutritional strategy to improve intestinal integrity and amino acid transport and absorption in piglets.

The Experimental and Clinical Study on the Effect of Curcumin on Cell Cycle Proteins and Regulating Proteins of Apoptosis in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

To investigate whether the Bcl- 2 gene family is involved in m odulating mechanism of apoptosis and change of cell cycle protein induced by curcumin in acute myeloid leukemia HL - 6 0 cell line and primary acute m yelogenous leukem ic cells,the Bcl- 2 family member Mcl- 1,Bax and Bak and cell cycle proteins including P2 7kipl,P2 1wafl,cyclin D3and p Rbp- were selected and their ex- pression detected by SABC imm uno- histochem ical stain m ethod.The attitude of sub- G1 peak in DNA histogram was determined by FCM.The TU NEL positive cell percentage was identified by term inal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Td T ) - m ediated Biotin d U NP end labeling technique.It was found that when HL - 6 0 cells were treated with 2 5μm ol/ L curcumin for 2 4 h,the expression level of Mcl- 1was down- regulated,but that of Bax and Bak up- regulated time- dependently.There was significant difference in the expression level of Mcl- 1,Bax and Bak between the curcumin- treated groups and control group(P<0 .0 5 - 0 .0 1) .At the sam e time,curcumin had no effect on progress of cell cycle in prim aty acute m yelogenous leukemia at newly diagnosis,but could in- crease the peak of Sub- G1 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,and down- regulate the expression of Mcl- 1and up- regulate the expression of Bax and Bak with the difference being statistically significant.The expression of P2 7kipl,P2 1wafl and p Rbp- were elevated and thatof cyclin D3decreased in the presence of curcum in. These findings suggested thatthe Bcl- 2 gene fam ily indeed participated in the regulatory process of apoptosis induced by curcumin in HL - 6 0 cells and AML cells.Curcumin can induce apoptosis of primary acute myelogenous leukemic cells and disturb cell cycle progression of HL - 6 0 cells.The m echanism appeared to be m ediated by perturbing G0 / G1 phases checkpoints which associated with up- regulation of P2 7kipl,P2 1wafl and p Rbp- expression,and down- regulation of cyclin D3.

Cell junction proteins within the cochlea: A review of recent research

Cell-cell junctions in the cochlea are highly complex and well organized. The role of these junctions is to maintain structural and functional integrity of the cochlea. In this review, we describe classification of cell junction-associated proteins identified within the cochlea and provide a brief overview of the function of these proteins in adherent junctions, gap junctions and tight junctions. Copyright ? 2016, PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Demethylation of miR-34a upregulates expression of membrane palmitoylated proteins and promotes the apoptosis of liver cancer cells

BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a common cancer and the main cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world.Although miR-34a and palmitoyl membrane palmitoylated protein(MPP2)are reportedly involved in various cell processes,their precise roles in liver cancer are still unclear.AIM To investigate the expression of micro RNA 34a(miR-34a),methylation of the miR-34a promoter and the expression of MPP2 in liver cancer cells and their related mechanisms.METHODS Together,78 cases of liver cancer tissues and 78 cases of adjacent tissues were collected.The methylation degree of miR-34a promoter in liver cancer/paracancerous tissue and liver cancer cells/normal liver cells,and the expression levels of miR-34a and MPP2 in the above samples were detected.Demethylation of liver cancer cells or transfection of liver cancer cells with miR-34a mimetic was performed.The MPP2 overexpression vector was used to transfect liver cancer cells,and the changes in proliferation,invasion,apoptosis,migration,and other biological functions of liver cancer cells after the above interventions were observed.Double luciferase reporter genes were used to detect the targeting relationship between miR-34a and MPP2.RESULTS Clinical samples showed that the expression levels of miR-34a and MPP2 in liver cancer tissues were lower than those in the normal tissues.The methylation degree of miR-34a promoter region in liver cancer cells was higher than that in normal liver cells.After miR-34a demethylation/mimetic transfection/MPP2 overexpression,the apoptosis of liver cancer cells was increased;the proliferation,invasion and migration capabilities were decreased;the expression levels of caspase 3,caspase 9,E-cadherin,and B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2)-associated X protein were increased;and the expression levels of Bcl-2,N-cadherin,andβ-catenin were decreased.Double luciferase reporter genes confirmed that MPP2 is targeted by miR-34a.Rescue experiments showed that small interfering MPP2 could counteract the promoting effect of miR-34a demethylation on apoptosis and the inhibitory effect on cell proliferation,invasion,and migration.CONCLUSION miR-34a demethylation upregulates the expression level of MPP2 in liver cancer cells and promotes the apoptosis of liver cancer cells.miR-34a demethylation is a potential method for liver cancer treatment.

Study on screening potential allergenic proteins from infant milk powders based on human mast cell membrane chromatography and histamine release assays

Cow's milk allergy is mainly observed in infants and young children. Most allergic reactions affect the skin, followed by the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. Conventional diagnosis is based on positive allergy studies and evaluation of parameters including IgE and IgG1 levels, acute allergic skin response and anaphylactic shock reactions. We developed a cell membrane chromatographic(CMC)method based on human mast cells(HMC-1) for screening potential allergens in infant formula milk powders(IFMP). HMC-1 cell membranes were extracted and mixed with silica to prepare cell membrane chromatography columns(10 mm ? 2 mm i.d., 5 mm). Under the conditions of 0.2 mL/min flow rate and214 nm detection wavelength, human breast milk showed no retention. However, IFMP showed clear retention. The retained fractions were collected and analyzed through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Four major milk proteins, i.e., α-casein, β-casein, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin A, were identified. Furthermore, these proteins and β-lactoglobulin B showed clear retention on HMC-1/CMC columns. To test the degranulation effects of the five proteins, histamine and β-hexosaminidase release assays were carried out. All five proteins induced HMC-1 cells to release histamine and β-hexosaminidase. Also, we established a reversed phase liquid chromatographic(RPLC) method for the determination of the five proteins in IFMP and the results showed that 90% proteins in IFMP were α-casein and β-casein. We concluded that cow's milk proteins may be potential allergens and caseins cause more β-casein allergic risk than other proteins. This conclusion was consistent with other studies.

UV/Vis-based process analytical technology to improve monoclonal antibody and host cell protein separation

Process analytical technology(PAT) is gaining more interest in the biomanufacturing industry because of its potential to improve operational control and compliance through real-time quality assurance.Currently, biopharmaceutical producers mainly monitor chromatographic processes with ultraviolet/visible(UV/Vis) absorbance. However, this measurement has a very limited correlation with purity and quantity. The current study aims to determine the concentration of monoclonal antibody(mAb) and host cell proteins(HCPs) using a build-in UV/Vis monitoring during Protein A affinity chromatography and to optimize the separation conditions for high purity of mAb and minimizing the HCPs content. The eluate was analyzed through in-line UV/Vis at 280 and 410 nm, representing mAb and HCPs concentration,respectively. Each 0.1 column volume(CV) fraction of UV/Vis chromatogram peak area were calculated,and different separation conditions were then compared. The optimum conditions of mAb separation were found as 12 CV loading, elution at pH 3.5, and starting the collection at 0.5 CV point, resulting in high m Ab recovery of 95.92% and additional removal of 49.98% of HCP comparing with whole elution pool. This study concluded that UV/Vis-based in-line monitoring at 280 and 410 nm showed a high potential to optimize and real-time control Protein A affinity chromatography for mAb purification from HCPs.

Host cell protein quantification workflow using optimized standards combined with data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry

Monitoring of host cell proteins(HCPs)during the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies(mAb)has become a critical requirement to provide effective and safe drug products.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are still the gold standard methods for the quantification of protein impurities.However,this technique has several limitations and does,among others,not enable the precise identification of proteins.In this context,mass spectrometry(MS)became an alternative and orthogonal method that delivers qualitative and quantitative information on all identified HCPs.However,in order to be routinely implemented in biopharmaceutical companies,liquid chromatography-MS based methods still need to be standardized to provide highest sensitivity and robust and accurate quantification.Here,we present a promising MS-based analytical workflow coupling the use of an innovative quantification standard,the HCP Profiler solution,with a spectral library-based data-independent acquisition(DIA)method and strict data validation criteria.The performances of the HCP Profiler solution were compared to more conventional standard protein spikes and the DIA approach was benchmarked against a classical datadependent acquisition on a series of samples produced at various stages of the manufacturing process.While we also explored spectral library-free DIA interpretation,the spectral library-based approach still showed highest accuracy and reproducibility(coefficients of variation<10%)with a sensitivity down to the sub-ng/mg mAb level.Thus,this workflow is today mature to be used as a robust and straightforward method to support mAb manufacturing process developments and drug products quality control.

MicroRNA-370-5p inhibits pigmentation and cell proliferation by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8 expression in sheep melanocytes

In mammals,microRNAs(miRNAs)play key roles in multiple biological processes by regulating the expression of target genes.Studies have found that the levels of miR-370-5p expression differ significantly in the skins of sheep with different hair colors;however,its function remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the roles of miR-370-5p in sheep melanocytes and found that the overexpression of miR-370-5p significantly inhibited cell proliferation(P<0.01),tyrosinase activity(P=0.001)and significantly reduced(P<0.001)melanin production.Functional prediction revealed that the 3′-untranslated region(UTR)of MAP3K8 has a putative miR-370-5p binding site,and the interaction between these two molecules was confirmed using luciferase reporter assays.In situ hybridization assays revealed that MAP3K8 is expressed in the cytoplasm of melanocytes.The results of quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that overexpression of miR-370-5p in melanocytes significantly inhibits(P<0.01)MAP3K8 expression via direct targeting of its 3′UTR.Inhibition of MAP3K8 expression by siRNA-MAP3K8 transfection induced a significant inhibition(P<0.01)of melanocyte proliferation and significant reduction(P<0.001)in melanin production,which is consistent with our observations for miR-370-5p.Target gene rescue experiments indicated that the expression of MAP3K8 in melanocytes co-transfected with miR-370-5p and MAP3K8-cDNA(containing sites for the targeted binding to miR-370-5p)was significantly rescued(P≤0.001),which subsequently promoted significant increases in cell proliferation(P<0.001)and melanin production(P<0.01).Collectively,these findings indicate that miR-370-5p plays a functional role in inhibiting sheep melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis by downregulating the expression of MAP3K8.

Inhibitory Effects of NO-Fluvastatin on Proliferation of Human Lens Epithelial Cells in vitro by Modulating Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins

The effects of NO-Fluvastatin on proliferation of human lens epithelial cells （HLECs） and the action mechanism were investigated. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins CyclinE mRNA and P21waf1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. MTT staining colorimetry showed that HLECs proliferation was markedly inhibited by NO-Fluvastatin and the effect was dependently related to time （24, 48 and 72 h） and dosage （1, 5 and 20 μmol/L）. Flow cytometry revealed that NO-Fluvastatin could significantly block HLECs in the G0/G1 phase, resulting in the increased cells in the G0/G1 phase and decreased in the S phase （P〈0.05）. RT-PCR showed that NO-Fluvastatin could obviously inhibit the CyclinE mRNA expression and induce the P21waf1 mRNA expression as compared with the negative control groups （P〈0.05）. This experiment suggested that NO-Fluvastatin could suppress the proliferation of HLECs by regulating cell cycle regulatory proteins （inhibiting the expression of CyclinE mRNA and inducing the expression of P21waf1 mRNA）, resulting in the arrest of HLECs in the G0/G1 phase, which can offer theory basis for NO-Fluvastatin in treating posterior capsular opacification in clinic practice.

Chronic neuroprotective effects of low concentration lithium on SH-SY5Y cells:possible involvement of stress proteins and gene expression

To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of lithium on cells, in this study, we exposed SH-SY5Y cells to 0.5 mmol/L lithium carbonate （Li2CO2） for 25-50 weeks and then detected the expression levels of some neurobiology related genes and post-translational modifications of stress proteins in SH-SYSY cells, cDNA arrays showed that pyruvate kinase 2 （PKM2） and calmodulin 3 （CaM 3） expression levels were significantly down-regulated, phosphatase protein PP2A expression was lightly down-regulated, and casein kinase II （CK2）, threonine/tyrosine phosphatase 7 （PYST2）, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase （DBH） expression levels were significantly up-regulated. Besides, western blot analysis of stress proteins （HSP27, HSP70, GRP78 and GRP94） showed an over-expression of two proteins： a 105 kDa protein which is a hyper-phosphorylated isoform of GRP94, and a 108 kDa protein which is a phosphorylated tetramer of HSP27. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of lithium are likely related to gene expressions and post-translational modifications of proteins cited above.

Deleted in liver cancer 1 suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells through inhibiting Rho-associated protein kinase pathway

Objective:Deleted in liver cancer 1(DLC1)is a GTPase-activating protein that is reported as a suppressor in certain human cancers.However,the detailed biological function of DLC1 is still unclear in human prostate cancer(PCa).In the present study,we aimed to explore the function of DLC1 in PCa cells.Methods:Silencing and overexpression of DLC1 were induced in an androgen-sensitive PCa cell line(LNCaP)using RNA interference and lentiviral vector transduction.The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to determine cell proliferation.The cell cycle was examined by performing a propidium iodide staining assay.Results:Our results indicated that DLC1 overexpression markedly suppressed the proliferation and cell cycle progression of LNCaP cells.Moreover,DLC1 expression was negatively correlated with Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)expression in LNCaP cells.Importantly,this study showed that the ROCK inhibitor Y27632 restored the function of DLC1 in LNCaP cells and reduced the tumorigenicity of LNCaP cells in vivo.Conclusion:Our results indicated that DLC1 overexpression markedly suppressed the proliferation and cell cycle progression of PCa cells and negatively correlated with ROCK expression in PCa cells and tissue.