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This study investigated the underlying function and mechanism of genipin in neuroblastoma (NB). Using flow cytometry analysis and cytotoxicity tests, in vitro studies were conducted to assess the effects of genipin on the SK-N-SH cell line. The mechanism of action of genipin was explored through immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting, and caspase-3 activity assays. In addition, we also created a xenograft tumour model to investigate the effects of genipin in vivo. This research confirmed that genipin suppressed cell viability, induced apoptosis, and promoted autophagy, processes that are likely linked to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Autophagy inhibition increases the sensitivity of SK-N-SH cells to genipin. Furthermore, combination treatment with a PI3K inhibitor enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of genipin. These results highlight the potential of genipin as a candidate drug for the treatment of NB., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe and long-lasting neurological disability. Presently, the lack of effective therapies for SCI is largely attributable to an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. F-box and WD repeat domain-containing protein 7 (FBW7, also known as FBXW7) is a type of E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and plays essential roles in regulating different pathological and physiological processes. In this study, we attempted to explore the effects of FBW7 on SCI progression by the in vivo and in vitro experiments. SCI mice showed significantly reduced expression of FBW7 in spinal cord tissues. Promoting FBW7 expression via intrathecal injection of AAV9/FBW7 effectively improved locomotor function in SCI mice. Neuronal death in spinal cords of SCI mice was obviously ameliorated by FBW7 over-expression, along with greatly decreased expression of cleaved Caspase-3. In addition, microglial activation in spinal cord specimens was detected in SCI mice through increasing Iba-1 expression levels, which was, however, attenuated in SCI mice injected with AAV9/FBW7. Additionally, FBW7 over-expression dramatically restrained inflammatory response in spinal cord tissues of SCI mice, as evidenced by the down-regulated expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) through blocking the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. These anti-inflammatory effects of FBW7 were confirmed in LPS-stimulated mouse microglial BV2 cells. Finally, our in vitro studies showed that conditional medium (CM) collected from LPS-incubated BV2 cells markedly induced apoptosis in the isolated primary spinal neurons; However, this effect was overtly ameliorated by CM from LPS-exposed BV2 cells over-expressing FBW7. Thus, FBW7-regulated inflammation in microglial cells was involved in the amelioration of neuronal apoptosis during SCI development. Collectively, these findings illustrated that FBW7 expression was down-regulated in spinal cords of SCI mice, and promoting its expression could effectively mitigate SCI progression by repressing microglial inflammation and neuronal death., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by X-ray radiation-induced A549 cells bystander effect (RIBE), and to explore their mechanisms. In this study, APS increased the reduced cell proliferation rate induced by RIBE and inhibiting the apoptosis of bystander cells. In terms of mechanism, APS up-regulates the proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and down-regulates the proteins Bax and Bak, which induces a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, which induces the release of Cyt-c and AIF, which leads to caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathway to cause apoptosis. In addition, we believe that ROS may be the main cause of these protein changes. APS can inhibit the generation of ROS in bystander cells and thus inhibit the activation of the mitochondrial pathway, further preventing cellular damage caused by RIBE.

Background: Qiliqiangxin (QLQX) is a preparation refined from a traditional Chinese medicine compound. It plays an important role in protecting cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the underline mechanism of QLQX action is not clear. The purpose of this study was to detect the effects of QLQX on mitophagy after MI., Methods: Male FVB/NJ mice aged 8-10 weeks were underwent left coronary artery ligation and were orally administered either QLQX (0.25 g/kg/d) or saline. Twenty-eight days after surgical operation, the cardiac function of mice was detected by echocardiography. Electron Microscopy was used to observe the microstructure of cardiomyocytes. Myocardial apoptosis was examined by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) and western blot. H9c2 cells were cultured in a hypoxic incubator chamber (5% CO 2 , 1% O 2 , 94% N 2 ) for 12 h and pretreated with or without QLQX (0.5 mg/mL). The cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential and mitophagy were detected., Results: When compared to sham group, the cardiac function of MI mice decreased significantly, and their cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial damage were more serious. These MI-induced cardiac changes could be reversed by QLQX treatment. In vitro experiments also confirmed that QLQX could protect cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial damage. Further study indicated that QLQX could increase the expression of Pink1 and Parkin in cardiomyocytes., Conclusion: Qiliqiangxin could reduce cardiomyocytes apotosis and improved heart function in infarcted heart through Pink1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.

The sensitivity of myocardium is enhanced to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury under PM2.5 exposure. It is still under prelude for lncRNA-miRNA pair in the study of aggravated myocardial I/R injury under PM2.5 exposure. In this study, we first built a rat model of 30 min ischemia and 24 h reperfusion followed PM2.5 (6.0 mg/kg) exposure. We found PM2.5 exposure could obviously aggravate I/R injury in the fields of myocardium damage, apoptosis levels and cardiac function which were evaluated by TTC staining, TUNEL and echocardiography, respectively. Then, based on results of sequencing and RT-qPCR, we selected NONRATT003473.2 in the follow-up experiments and named this lncRNA as PM2.5 exposure aggravated myocardial I/R injury lncRNA (PEAMIR). Consistent with the results rat model, we confirmed PEAMIR to be a protective lncRNA against PM + HR triggered damages in H9c2 cells. Next, according to the bioinformatics analysis from miRanda database and a series of gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we proved PEAMIR to be a ceRNA for miR-29b-3p to inhibit cardiac inflammation and apoptosis. Finally, using Target-Scan database, the conserved binding sites for miR-29b-3p was identified in the 3'UTR of PI3K (p85a), a key protein of apoptosis. Our subsequent experiments validated the regulatory relationship between PEAMIR-miR-29b-3p ceRNA pair and PI3K (p85a)/Akt/GSK3b/p53 cascade pathway. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the role and mechanism of PEAMIR in the augment of I/R injury under PM2.5 exposure, suggesting a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of I/R injury under PM2.5 exposure.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anti-cancer property of Lobetyolin on colorectal cancer and explore its potential mechanism. Lobetyolin was incubated with HCT-116 cells in the absence or presence of ASCT2 inhibitor Benser or p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-α. The levels of glutamine, glutamic acid, α-ketoglutarate, ATP and GSH were determined to measure the glutamine metabolism. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and TUNEL assay were applied to estimate the apoptotic condition. The levels of ASCT2 were examined by RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The expressions of cleaved-caspase-3, caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-7, caspase-7, cleaved-PARP, PARP, p53, p21, bax and survivin were detected using Western blot analysis. As a result, the treatment with Lobetyolin effectively induced apoptosis and glutamine metabolism in HCT-116 cells through ASCT2 signalling. The inhibition of ASCT2 reduced the glutamine-related biomarkers and augmented the apoptotic process. We further found that the effect of Lobetyolin on HCT-116 was related to the expressions of p21 and bax, and transportation of p53 to nucleus. The inhibition of p53 by Pifithrin-α promoted the inhibitory effect of Lobetyolin on ASCT2-mediated apoptosis. Lobetyolin also exerted anti-cancer property in nude mice. In conclusion, the present work suggested that Lobetyolin could induce the apoptosis via the inhibition of ASCT2-mediated glutamine metabolism, which was possibly governed by p53., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Hypothalamic inflammation and apoptosis cause neural injury, playing an important role in metabolic syndrome development. Nuclear Factors of Activated T cells (NFATc3) show many physiological and pathological effects. However, the function of NFATc3 in high fat diet (HFD)-induced hypothalamus injury remains unknown. The wild type (WT) and NFATc3-knockout (KO) mice were subjected to HFD feeding for 16 weeks to examine NFATc3 function in vivo. Astrocytes isolated from WT or KO mice were cultured and exposed to fructose (Fru) in vitro. The liver damage, hypothalamus injury, pro-inflammatory markers, NF-κB (p65), Caspase-3 and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways were evaluated. NFATc3 was significantly up-regulated in hypothalamus from mice challenged with HFD, and in astrocytes incubated with Fru. Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicated that NFATc3-deletion attenuated metabolism syndrome, reduced inflammatory regulators expression, inactivated NF-κB (p65), Caspase-3 and p38/JNK signaling pathway. Of note, we identified that promoting p38 or JNK activation could rescue inflammatory response and apoptosis in NFATc3-KO astrocytes stimulated by Fru. Together, these findings revealed an important role of NFATc3 NFATc3 for HFD-induced metabolic syndrome and particularly hypothalamus injury, and understanding of the regulatory molecular mechanism might provide new and effective therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment of hypothalamic damage associated with dietary obesity-associated neuroinflammation and apoptosis., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Acute liver failure is a serious clinical problem of which the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear and for which effective therapies are lacking. The Fas receptor/ligand system, which is negatively regulated by AKT, is known to play a prominent role in hepatocytic cell death. We hypothesized that AKT activation may represent a strategy to alleviate Fas-induced fulminant liver failure. We report here that a novel AKT activator, SC79, protects hepatocytes from apoptosis induced by agonistic anti-Fas antibody CH11 (for humans) or Jo2 (for mice) and significantly prolongs the survival of mice given a lethal dose of Jo2. Under Fas-signaling stimulation, SC79 inhibited Fas aggregation, prevented the recruitment of the adaptor molecule Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and procaspase-8 [or FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)] into the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), but SC79 enhanced the recruitment of the long and short isoforms of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein at the DISC. All of the SC79-induced hepatoprotective and DISC-interruptive effects were confirmed to have been reversed by the Akt inhibitor LY294002. These results strongly indicate that SC79 protects hepatocytes from Fas-induced fatal hepatic apoptosis. The potent alleviation of Fas-mediated hepatotoxicity by the relatively safe drug SC79 highlights the potential of our findings for immediate hepatoprotective translation., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of eIF2α in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and evaluate the cardioprotective role of salubrinal in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model. Rat left anterior descending coronary arteries were ligated and the classical proteins involved in the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced apoptotic pathway were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Salubrinal was administered to the rats and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and infarct size were evaluated by a specific staining method. Compared with the sham surgery group, the rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the MI group was increased with the development of the disease. It was also demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of GRP78, caspase-12, CHOP and the protein expression of p-eIF2α were increased in the MI group. Furthermore, the results showed that treatment with salubrinal can decrease cardiomyocyte apoptosis and infarct size by increasing eIF2α phosphorylation and decreasing the expression of caspase-12 and CHOP. The present study suggests that salubrinal protects against ER stress-induced rat cadiomyocyte apoptosis via suppressing the dephosphorylation of eIF2α in the ERS-associated pathway.

Hyperthermia as an anticancer method has been paid increasing attention in recent years. Several studies have shown that hyperthermia can kill tumor cells by inducing apoptosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hyperthermia-induced apoptosis are largely unknown. To investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of hyperthermia on the apoptosis in renal carcinoma 786-O cells, we firstly examined apoptosis and Ku expression in 786-O cell line treated with heat exposure (42°C for 0-4 h). The results showed that hyperthermia induced apoptosis of 786-O cells, and suppressed significantly Ku80 expression, but not Ku70 expression. Next, we knock-down Ku80 in 786-O cells, generating stable cell line 786-O-shKu80, and detected apoptosis, cell survival and cell cycle distribution. Our data showed higher apoptotic rate and lower surviving fraction in the stable cell line 786-O-shKu80 compared with those in control cells, exposed to the same heat stress (42°C for 0-4 h). Moreover, the results also showed suppression of Ku80 led to G2/M phase arrest in the stable cell line 786-O-shKu80 following heat treatment. Together, these findings indicate that Ku80 may play an important role in hyperthermia-induced apoptosis and heat-sensitivity of renal carcinoma cells through influencing the cell cycle distribution.

Previously we have shown that tyrosine 718 of ASK1 when phosphorylated is critical for SOCS1 binding and SOCS1-mediated degradation of ASK1. However, the kinase and phosphatase responsible for phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr-718 are unknown. In this study, we identified JAK2 and SHP2 as a Tyr-718-specific kinase and phosphatase, respectively. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced degradation of ASK1 in normal but not in SOCS1-KO endothelial cells (EC). IFN-gamma-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr-718 was blocked by a JAK2-specific inhibitor. IFN-gamma enhanced the association between JAK2 and ASK1, and the ASK1-JAK2 complex was labile and was stabilized by the proteasomal inhibitor MG132. Furthermore, JAK2, but not JAK1, directly bound to and phosphorylated ASK1 at Tyr-718, leading to an enhanced association of ASK1 with SOCS1 and subsequent ASK1 degradation. Next, we showed that overexpression of the SH2-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) augmented, whereas a phosphatase-inactive mutant of SHP2 inhibited, TNF-induced ASK1 dephosphorylation. SHP2 associated with ASK1 in response to tumor necrosis factor in EC. An SHP-2 substrate-trapping mutant formed a complex with tyrosine-phosphorylated ASK1, suggesting that ASK1 is a direct SHP2 substrate. Moreover, SHP2 wild type, but not a catalytically inactive mutant, dissociated SOCS1 from ASK1. IFN-gamma-induced ASK1 Tyr(P)-718 was enhanced in mouse EC deficient in SHP2 (SHP2-KO). In contrast, tumor necrosis factor-induced dephosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr(P)-718 and activation of ASK1-JNK signaling, as well as EC apoptosis, are significantly reduced in SHP2-KO EC. Our data suggest that JAK2-SOCS1 and SHP2 reciprocally regulate ASK1 phosphorylation and stability in response to cytokines.

Novel CuO–FeS nanocomposites were synthesized to exert anticancer effects on HepG2 cells. The formation was initially demonstrated using UV–Visible spectrophotometry analysis, which indicated two peaks at 335 and 370 nm. Characteristic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy peaks for Cu–O and Fe–S bonds were observed at 516, 577 and 619 cm−1 in addition to other notable peaks. The Miller indices correspond to the lattice spacing of monoclinic CuO and FeS as observed by selected area diffraction rings concurrent with the X-ray diffraction observations. The morphology was interpreted by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, indicating a particle size of 110 nm. As per energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, strong peaks for Cu (0.9, 8 and 9 keV), Fe (6–7 keV), O (0.5 keV) and S (2.5 keV) indicated the formation of CuO–FeS blend with no impurities. A mean particle size of 121.9 nm and polydispersity index of 0.150 were displayed by dynamic light scattering analysis and the zeta potential was −29.2 mV. The composites were not toxic to normal 3T3-L1 cells and were not haemolytic even at higher doses. In addition, the stable composites exerted cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells (IC50 = 250 ± 5.7 μg/mL) and induced cell death by creating a loss in mitochondrial membrane potential and induction of mitochondrial apoptosis in a ROS-independent manner.

Resveratrol(RES) is a natural polyphenol which possesses an anti-depressant effect. However, the mechanisms of its anti-depressant effect remain unclear. The aim of the study is to investigate the potential mechanisms in the neuro-protective efficiency in the corticosterone-induced pheochromacytoma 12 (PC12) cells.

Bladder cancer is a common tumour of the urinary system, and more than 90% is urothelial carcinoma. Therefore, it is important for discovering the key target genes and molecules of bladder tumour cell metastasis and invasion. Our research initially explored the regulation of deltaN p63 on the progression and metastasis of bladder cancer and found that deltaN p63 can influence the occurrence of EMT through PTEN and ultimately regulate the growth and metastasis of bladder cancer. In summary, this study identified a new EMT regulator, deltaN p63, further revealed the mechanism of the invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer cells, and provided a theoretical basis for finding new target molecules and drugs to treat bladder cancer. In conclusion, this study will further reveal the mechanism of tumour cell invasion and metastasis and provide a theoretical basis for cancer treatment to find new target molecules and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) has been known as a global health problem, and cardiac remodeling plays an essential role in the development of HF. We hypothesized that YQWY decoction might exert a cardioprotective effect against myocardium inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis via activating the interleukin-10 (IL-10)/Stat3 signaling pathway. To test this hypothesis, the HF model in rats was established by pressure overload through the minimally invasive transverse aortic constriction (MTAC). Echocardiography was performed to assess the left ventricular function of rats. Myocardial fibrosis in rats was observed by Masson and Picrosirius red staining, and the degree of myocardial apoptosis was detected via TUNEL staining. In addition, expression levels of IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Stat3 (P-Stat3), P65 (P-P65), CD68, collagen I, TGF-β, CTGF, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, and PARP in rat serum and myocardium samples were examined by ELISA, western blot, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. YQWY decoction treatment significantly improved left ventricular function in HF rats, especially in those of the high-dose group (LVEF%: 51.29 ± 5.876 vs. 66.02 ± 1.264, P < 0.01 ;, LVFS%: 27.75 ± 3.757 vs. 37.76 ± 1.137, P < 0.01). Furthermore, YQWY decoction markedly inhibited MTAC-induced myocardial fibrosis as evidenced by downregulated collagen I, TGF-β, and CTGF in myocardium and alleviated apoptosis (downregulated caspase-3 and PARP and increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio in cardiomyocytes). In addition, YQWY decoction decreased the level of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in both circulating blood and myocardium and attenuated infiltration of inflammatory cells in heart tissue from HF rats. Most importantly, YQWY decoction suppressed MTAC-induced NF-κB activation and phosphorylated Stat3 by upregulating IL-10 in rat heart tissues. Our study showed that YQWY decoction could attenuate MTAC-induced myocardial inflammation, fibrosis, apoptosis, and reverse the impairment of cardiac function in rats by activating the IL-10/Stat3 signaling pathway and improving myocardium remodeling. Our findings suggested a therapeutic potential of YQWY decoction in HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have blossomed into an effective approach with great potential for the treatment of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying antifibrosis mechanisms by which the BMSC inhibit activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vivo and in vitro. Methods. To study the effect of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) on activated HSCs, we used HSCs and the coculture systems to evaluate the inhibition of activated HSCs from the aspects of the apoptosis of activated HSCs. In addition, activation of NADPH oxidase pathway and the changes in liver histopathology were tested by using the carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced liver fibrosis in mice. Results. Introduction of hBM-MSCs significantly inhibited the proliferation of activated HSCs by inducing the apoptosis process of activated HSCs. The effect of hBM-MSCs reduced the signaling pathway of NADPH oxidase in activated HSCs. Besides, the signaling pathway of NADPH oxidase mediated hBM-MSC upregulation of the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and downregulation of the expression of α1(I) collagen and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in activated HSCs. Moreover, the hBM-MSC-induced decrease in the signaling pathway of NADPH oxidase was accompanied by the decrease of the activated HSC number and liver fibrosis in a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Conclusion. The hBM-MSCs act as a promising drug source against liver fibrosis development with respect to hepatopathy as a therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a type of cyclic heptapeptide toxin produced by cyanobacteria during bloom events. MC-LR-induced cell death is critically involved in its potent specific hepatotoxicity. Many studies have demonstrated that prototypical apoptosis as a form of programmed cell death after MC-LR is associated with liver injury. However, whether another form of programmed cell death exists and the underlying mechanism have not been reported. Here, we demonstrate that MC-LR can induce necroptosis via ROS overactivation in primary mouse hepatocytes. Various potential pathways of programmed cell death induced by MC-LR were evaluated by annexin V/PI dual staining for flow cytometric analysis, image-based PI staining analysis and western blot analysis. Cell viability was determined by the CCK8 assay. Rupture of the plasma membrane was indicated by lactate dehydrogenase release. ROS was evaluated with the carboxy-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. It was found that in MC-LR-treated cells, as the plasma membrane was damaged, annexin V/PI-stained double-positive cells were significantly induced and PI-stained nuclei were more diffuse. Western blot analysis showed that MC-LR treatment significantly upregulated the expression of necroptotic and apoptotic proteins. Mechanistically, MC-LR induced ROS overproduction by dysregulating the expression and activity of the pro-oxidants SOD1, MAOA, and NOX4 and the antioxidant GPX1. These results indicate the presence of a novel mechanism for MC-LR-mediated liver injury and present a novel target in the treatment of MC-LR-exposed patients. • MC-LR induced both apoptosis and necroptosis in mouse and human hepatocytes. • MC-LR induced necroptosis by overproducing ROS. • MC-LR can not induce pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently identified a novel alternatively spliced isoform of human programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), named Δ42PD1, which contains a 42-base-pair in-frame deletion compared with the full-length PD-1. Δ42PD1 is likely constitutively expressed on human monocytes and down-regulated in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The mechanism underlying the regulation of Δ42PD-1 expression in monocytes remains unknown. By flow cytometry, we investigated the effect of Interferon-gamma (INF-γ) on the expression of Δ42PD1 in primary human monocytes as well as monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937 cells. In addition, signaling pathway inhibitors and Δ42PD1-specific blocking antibody were used to explore the pathway involved in INF-γ-induced Δ42PD1 upregulation, and to elucidate the relationship between Δ42PD1 and TNF-α or IL-6 production by INF-γ primed monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. Furthermore, we assessed T-cell proliferation, activation and cytokine production as enriched CD4+ T cells were co-cultured with THP-1 or U937 cells, with or without Δ42PD1-blocking antibody. Treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with IFN-γ resulted in an approximately 4-fold increase in the expression of Δ42PD1 on monocytes. Similarly, IFN-γ upregulates Δ42PD1 expression on human monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IFN-γ-induced Δ42PD1 upregulation was abolished by JAK inhibitors Ruxolitinib and Tasocitinib, PI3K inhibitor LY294002, and AKT inhibitor MK-2206, respectively, but not by STAT1 inhibitor and MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors. JAK, PI3K-AKT, and MAPK signaling inhibitors abolished effectively the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in INF-γ-primed monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. In contrast, Δ42PD1-specific blocking antibody did not affect the IFN-γ-induced priming effect. Furthermore, the MFI ratio of Δ42PD1 to full-length PD-1 (PD-1 Δ/F ratio) was significantly and positively correlated with TNF-α (P = 0.0289, r = 0.6038) produced by circulating CD14+ monocytes in response to pre-fixed E. coli. Notably, Δ42PD1 blockage significantly inhibited CD4+ T-cells proliferation and cytokine production in the co-culture conditions. We demonstrated that IFN-γ increases Δ42PD1 expression on human monocytes via activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway downstream of JAKs, and that the PD-1 Δ/F ratio is a potential biomarker to predict the functional state of monocytes. Notably, we revealed the Δ42PD1 play a role in T-cell regulation, providing a novel potential approach to manipulate adaptive immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims CAA45 is a calothrixin A (CAA) analogue with anti-cancer activity at nanomolar concentration. This study aimed to investigate the anti-lung cancer activity of CAA45 and explore its mechanisms of actions. Main methods CAA and CAA45 were synthesized and their inhibition on DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) performed by evaluating the relaxation of supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA and their anti-lung cancer capacity determined by cytotoxic assays, cell migration, cell cycle, cell apoptosis, cell autophagy and related signaling proteins expression by western blot. Key findings CAA45 significantly inhibited human non-small cancer cell A549 and NCI-H1650 cells growth with IC 50 values of 110 and 230 nM, respectively. In the A549 xenograft models, CAA45 displayed strong antitumor activities at a dose of 10 mg/kg. CAA45 inhibited Topo I activity and caused the cell cycle arrest at S phase, which also reduced A549 cell migration by inhibiting MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions. Furthermore, CAA45 induced A549 cell apoptosis and autophagy. The apoptosis pathway was involved in the release of cytochrome c and caspase activation. CAA45 also inhibited Akt, activated JNK and up-regulated p53 signals in A549 cells, which may serve as a modulator to induce apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Significance CAA45 exerted its anti-lung cancer effect via inhibition of Topo I, resulting in cell cycle arrest and cell migration, induction of mitochondria mediated cell apoptosis and autophagy via PI3K/Akt/JNK/p53 pathway. All these observations suggested that CAA45 could be a promising lead for anti-cancer drug discovery. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) is the most frequently mutated kinase in human cancers, making it an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment. We identified a structurally novel PI3Kα H1047R mutant inhibitor Hit-01 (EC 50 = 76.0 μM) through a high-throughput screening campaign. Chemical optimizations enabled us to discover compound 7b , which strongly inhibited PI3Kα H1047R mutant with an EC 50 value of 0.137 μM, over 500-fold more potent than Hit-01. Western blotting analysis suggested that 7b could decrease the phosphorylation level of p -AKT, another proof that 7b inhibited PI3Kα H1047R function. Cell viability assay revealed that 7b inhibited HCT116 cancer cell growth with an IC 50 value of 11.23 μM. In addition, 7b was found to arrest cell cycle at G1 phase and induce cell apoptosis via up-regulation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 protein expressions. Collectively, all these data demonstrated that 7b could be a promising lead for the development of structurally novel PI3Kα inhibitors. Graphical abstract Image 1 Comp. EC 50 (μM) IC 50 (μM) Improved potency (Hit-01 to 7b) PI3Kα H1047R mutant PI3Kα WT HCT116 Hit-01 76.0 NT >100 76.0/0.137 > 500 (enzymatic level) 7b 0.137 0.093 11.2 100/11.2 > 9 (cellular level) Highlights • Compound 7b displayed a potent PI3Kα H1047R inhibitory activity. • Compound 7b strongly inhibited HCT116 cancer cell proliferation. • Compound 7b had little effect on other PI3K isoforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cell lines, and the expression of UCA1 was associated with several clinical features and malignant behaviours in HCC. However, none of these findings completely interpreted the role of UCA1 in HCC. We conducted this investigation to validate the expression of UCA1 and its relationship with Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage in 41 HCC tissues and their paired noncancerous adjacent tissues by real-time qPCR. Furthermore, we also explored the biological functions of UCA1 in vitro with HCC cell lines. Most importantly, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis and bioinformatics investigation based on peer-reviewed literature and in silico approaches to further summarise the clinical value and functions of UCA1 in HCC. UCA1 expression was remarkably upregulated in HCC tissues, and its expression was profoundly higher in advanced stages than in early stages. Reducing the expression levels of UCA1 suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis of HCC cells. Furthermore, the present meta-analysis validated that up-regulated UCA1 was closely related to larger tumour size and advanced TNM stages, and the overexpression of UCA1 was significantly correlated with a shorter OS. Additionally, according to GO analysis, the target genes were found concentrated in the following biological processes: extracellular matrix organisation, cilium assembly and cilium morphogenesis. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the UCA1-related genes were significantly enriched in the following pathways: hippo signalling pathway, bile secretion and gastric acid secretion. This evidence hinted that UCA1 could play an indispensable proliferation-related key role in HCC via the hippo signalling pathway. However, the exact molecular mechanism needs to be verified with future functional experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten novel artemisinin derivatives containing fluorine atoms were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and HRMS technologies in this study. The in vitro cytotoxicity against U87MG, SH-SY5Y, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, A549 and A375 cancer cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 9j was the most potent anti-proliferative agent against the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells (IC 50  = 2.1 μM). The mechanism of action of compound 9j was further investigated by analysis of cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Compound 9j induced cell apoptosis and arrested cell cycle at G1 phase in MCF-7 cells. Our promising findings indicated that the compound 9j could stand as potential lead compound for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisinin is a potential anticancer agent with an interesting trioxane sesquiterpene structure. In order to improve the biological activity and metabolic stability of artemisinin, a series of novel ring-contracted artemisinin dimers were synthesized. These dimers were evaluated by MTT assay against six cancer cell lines. Most of the dimmers exhibited improved antiproliferative activities over artemisinin. Especially, compound 8b showed the most pronounced anti-cancer activity for PC12 cancer cells with an IC 50 value of 1.56 μM. Thus, PC12 cancer cells were used to further investigate the mechanism of antiproliferation for this series of compounds. Compound 8b arrested cell cycle at G1 phase and induced cell apoptosis via up-regulation of Bad, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein expressions while inhibiting the expression of Bcl-xL. The present studies are the first to synthesize the ring-contracted artemisinin as dimers and show that these dimers have potent anti-tumor activities against several cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular senescence, a process whereby cells enter a state of permanent growth arrest, appears to regulate cardiac pathological remodeling and dysfunction in response to various stresses including myocardial infarction (MI). However, the precise role as well as the underlying regulatory mechanism of cardiac cellular senescence in the ischemic heart disease remain to be further determined. Herein we report an inhibitory role of Nrf2, a key transcription factor of cellular defense, in regulating cardiac senescence in infarcted hearts as well as a therapeutic potential of targeting Nrf2-mediated suppression of cardiac senescence in the treatment of MI-induced cardiac dysfunction. MI was induced by left coronary artery ligation for 28 days in mice. Heart tissues from the infarct border zone were used for the analyses. The MI-induced cardiac dysfunction was associated with increased myocardial cell senescence, oxidative stress and apoptosis in adult wild type (WT) mice. In addition, a downregulated Nrf2 activity was associated with upregulated Keap1 levels and increased phosphorylation of JAK and FYN in the infarcted border zone heart tissues. Nrf2 Knockout (Nrf2−/−) enhanced the MI-induced myocardial, cardiac dysfunction and senescence. Qiliqiangxin (QLQX), a herbal medicine which could reverse the MI-induced suppression of Nrf2 activity, significantly inhibited the MI-induced cardiac senescence, apoptosis, and cardiac dysfunction in WT mice but not in Nrf2−/− mice. These results indicate that MI downregulates Nrf2 activity thus promoting oxidative stress to accelerate cellular senescence in the infarcted heart towards cardiac dysfunction and Nrf2 may be a drug target for suppressing the cellular senescence-associated pathologies in infarcted hearts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]