Objective:Protein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9(PCSK9)has been found to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of numerous tumors.However,the precise role of PCSK9 and its relationship to the d...Objective:Protein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9(PCSK9)has been found to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of numerous tumors.However,the precise role of PCSK9 and its relationship to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain largely unknown.This study aimed to clarify these issues.Methods:The expression levels of PCSK9 in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines were determined by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,and immunohistochemical analyses,and the effects of PCSK9 expression on HCC cell biological traits were investigated by overexpressing and downregulating PCSK9 expression in vivo and in vitro.Additionally,the mechanism by which PCSK9 mediated dissociation of glutathione S-transferase Pi 1(GSTP1)dimers and phosphorylation of the Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)pathway components were investigated.Results:PCSK9 expression levels were significantly lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumor samples.In vivo and in vitro experiments suggested that PCSK9 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and metastasis.Further analysis showed that PCSK9 interacted with GSTP1 and promoted GSTP1 dimer dissociation and JNK signaling pathway inactivation in HCC cells.Moreover,the relationships between PCSK9 protein expressions and clinical outcomes were investigated.The PCSK9-lo group displayed a significantly shorter overall survival(OS;median OS:64.2 months vs.83.2 months;log-rank statistic:4.237;P=0.04)and recurrencefree survival(RFS;median RFS:26.5 months vs.46.6 months;log-rank statistic:10.498;P=0.001)time than the PCSK9-hi group.Conclusions:PCSK9 inhibited HCC cell proliferation,cell cycle progression,and apoptosis by interacting with GSTP1 and suppressing JNK signaling,suggesting that PCSK9 might act as a tumor suppressor and be a therapeutic target in HCC patients.展开更多
Bioactive compounds derived from herbal medicinal plants modulate various therapeutic targets and signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases(CVDs),the world’s primary cause of death.Ginkgo biloba,a we...Bioactive compounds derived from herbal medicinal plants modulate various therapeutic targets and signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases(CVDs),the world’s primary cause of death.Ginkgo biloba,a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with notable cardiovascular actions,has been used as a cardio-and cerebrovascular therapeutic drug and nutraceutical in Asian countries for centuries.Preclinical studies have shown that ginkgolide B,a bioactive component in Ginkgo biloba,can ameliorate atherosclerosis in cultured vascular cells and disease models.Of clinical relevance,several clinical trials are ongoing or being completed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginkgolide B-related drug preparations in the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases,such as ischemia stroke.Here,we present a comprehensive review of the pharmacological activities,pharmacokinetic characteristics,and mechanisms of action of ginkgolide B in atherosclerosis prevention and therapy.We highlight new molecular targets of ginkgolide B,including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases(NADPH oxidase),lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1(LOX-1),sirtuin 1(SIRT1),platelet-activating factor(PAF),proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)and others.Finally,we provide an overview and discussion of the therapeutic potential of ginkgolide B and highlight the future perspective of developing ginkgolide B as an effective therapeutic agent for treating atherosclerosis.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81802461)the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology(Grant No.20202ACBL216012)the Education Department of Jiangxi Province(Grant No.GJJ170010)。
文摘Objective:Protein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9(PCSK9)has been found to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of numerous tumors.However,the precise role of PCSK9 and its relationship to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain largely unknown.This study aimed to clarify these issues.Methods:The expression levels of PCSK9 in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines were determined by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,and immunohistochemical analyses,and the effects of PCSK9 expression on HCC cell biological traits were investigated by overexpressing and downregulating PCSK9 expression in vivo and in vitro.Additionally,the mechanism by which PCSK9 mediated dissociation of glutathione S-transferase Pi 1(GSTP1)dimers and phosphorylation of the Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)pathway components were investigated.Results:PCSK9 expression levels were significantly lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumor samples.In vivo and in vitro experiments suggested that PCSK9 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and metastasis.Further analysis showed that PCSK9 interacted with GSTP1 and promoted GSTP1 dimer dissociation and JNK signaling pathway inactivation in HCC cells.Moreover,the relationships between PCSK9 protein expressions and clinical outcomes were investigated.The PCSK9-lo group displayed a significantly shorter overall survival(OS;median OS:64.2 months vs.83.2 months;log-rank statistic:4.237;P=0.04)and recurrencefree survival(RFS;median RFS:26.5 months vs.46.6 months;log-rank statistic:10.498;P=0.001)time than the PCSK9-hi group.Conclusions:PCSK9 inhibited HCC cell proliferation,cell cycle progression,and apoptosis by interacting with GSTP1 and suppressing JNK signaling,suggesting that PCSK9 might act as a tumor suppressor and be a therapeutic target in HCC patients.
基金This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(82270500,81870324,82203304,82070464,U1401225,U21A20419)National Mega-Project for Innovative Drugs(2019ZX09735002)+1 种基金Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program(2017BT01Y036,2017BT01Y093,China)National Engineering and Technology Research Center for New drug Druggability Evaluation(Seed Program of Guangdong Province,2017B090903004,China).
文摘Bioactive compounds derived from herbal medicinal plants modulate various therapeutic targets and signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases(CVDs),the world’s primary cause of death.Ginkgo biloba,a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with notable cardiovascular actions,has been used as a cardio-and cerebrovascular therapeutic drug and nutraceutical in Asian countries for centuries.Preclinical studies have shown that ginkgolide B,a bioactive component in Ginkgo biloba,can ameliorate atherosclerosis in cultured vascular cells and disease models.Of clinical relevance,several clinical trials are ongoing or being completed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginkgolide B-related drug preparations in the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases,such as ischemia stroke.Here,we present a comprehensive review of the pharmacological activities,pharmacokinetic characteristics,and mechanisms of action of ginkgolide B in atherosclerosis prevention and therapy.We highlight new molecular targets of ginkgolide B,including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases(NADPH oxidase),lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1(LOX-1),sirtuin 1(SIRT1),platelet-activating factor(PAF),proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)and others.Finally,we provide an overview and discussion of the therapeutic potential of ginkgolide B and highlight the future perspective of developing ginkgolide B as an effective therapeutic agent for treating atherosclerosis.
