Differentially expressed genes of HepG2 cells treated with gecko polypeptide mixture

OBJECTIVE In order to investigate the possible anti-tumor molecular mechanisms of gecko polypeptide mixture(GPM).METHODS RNA-seq technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes of human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)HepG2 cells treated with or without GPM.The HepG2 cells were treated with different concentration of GPM(0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4 mg·mL^(-1))for 6 h,12 h and 24 h,respectively.MTT assay was used to detect the viability of HepG2 cells.DAPI fluorescence staining was performed to observe nucleus morphological changes of HepG2 cells.Western blot analysis was applied to observe the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in HepG2 cells.RESULTS The results showed that GPM could induce HepG2 cells apoptosis and influence HepG2 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.We applied many analysis methods,including differentially expressed genes analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis,KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network analysis to screen out possible molecular mechanisms.ER-nucleus signaling pathway,cellular response to stress and apoptotic processes were identified the potential anti-cancer molecular biological process of GPM.GPM may also induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.The mechanism is closely related to ERs,which might be beneficial for clinical therapy of HCC.CONCLUSION GPM can inhibit cells proliferation and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells.The gene expression profile of GPM in HepG2 cells was obtained.The present study revealed the potential anti-tumor mechanism of GPM.

AIM associated with the IgM pentamer: attackers on stand-by at aircraft carrier

Circulating immunoglobulin M(IgM)exists in a pentameric form,possessing a polyreactive nature that responds not only to foreign antigens but also to autoantigens;thus,it is involved in both beneficial and detrimental immune responses,including protection from infection and the progression of autoimmunity.On the other hand,IgM also behaves as a carrier of the apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage(AIM)protein,storing a large amount of the inactivated form of AIM in the blood through this association.Under different disease conditions,AIM can dissociate from IgM locally or systemically to exert its function,inducing the removal of various biological debris such as excess fat,bacteria,cancer cells or dead cell debris.Most typically,upon induction of acute kidney injury(AKI),IgM-free AIM is filtered by the glomerulus in the kidney,which stimulates the clearance of intraluminal dead cells debris at the obstructed proximal tubules,thereby facilitating the repair of kidney injury.Interestingly,cats exhibit a deficiency in AIM release from IgM,which may increase their susceptibility to renal failure.Conversely,association with AIM inhibits IgM binding to the Fcα/μreceptor on follicular dendritic cells at the splenic germinal center,thereby protecting the IgM immune complex from Fcα/μreceptor-mediated internalization,which supports IgM-dependent antigen presentation to B cells and stimulates high-affinity IgG antibody production.The regulation of AIM–IgM binding,resulting from the discovery of reciprocal actions between AIM and IgM,could lead to the development of novel therapies against different diseases.