Loss of Spry1 attenuates vascular smooth muscle proliferation by impairing mitogen-mediated changes in cell cycle regulatory circuits

Hypoxia preconditioning of adipose stem cell-derived exosomes loaded in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) promote type H angiogenesis and osteoporotic fracture repair

The challenges posed by delayed atrophic healing and nonunion stand as formidable obstacles in osteoporotic fracture treatment. The processes of type H angiogenesis and osteogenesis emerge as pivotal mechanisms during bone regeneration. Notably, the preconditioning of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) exosomes under hypoxic conditions has garnered attention for its potential to augment the secretion and functionality of these exosomes. In the present investigation, we embarked upon a comprehensive elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of hypo-ADSC-Exos within the milieu of osteoporotic bone regeneration. Our findings revealed that hypo-ADSC-Exos harboured a preeminent miRNA, namely, miR-21-5p, which emerged as the principal orchestrator of angiogenic effects. Through in vitro experiments, we demonstrated the capacity of hypo-ADSC-Exos to stimulate the proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via the mediation of miR-21-5p. The inhibition of miR-21-5p effectively attenuated the proangiogenic effects mediated by hypo-ADSC-Exos. Mechanistically, our investigation revealed that exosomal miR-21-5p emanating from hypo-ADSCs exerts its regulatory influence by targeting sprouly1 (SPRY1) within HUVECs, thereby facilitating the activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Notably, knockdown of SPRY1 in HUVECs was found to potentiate PI3K/AKT activation and, concomitantly, HUVEC proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. The culminating stage of our study involved a compelling in vivo demonstration wherein GelMA loaded with hypo-ADSC-Exos was validated to substantially enhance local type H angiogenesis and concomitant bone regeneration. This enhancement was unequivocally attributed to the exosomal modulation of SPRY1. In summary, our investigation offers a pioneering perspective on the potential utility of hypo-ADSC-Exos as readily available for osteoporotic fracture treatment.

Association between SPRY1 and TET3 in skin photoaging and natural aging mechanisms

BACKGROUND

SPRY1 is associated with the invasiveness and prognosis of various tumors, and TET3 affects aging by regulating gene expression.

AIMS

We investigated the roles of SPRY1 and TET3 in natural skin aging, replicative aging, and photoaging, along with the effect of UVA on genome-wide DNA methylation in HaCaT cells.

METHODS

TET3 and SPRY1 expression were measured in the skin of patients of different age groups, as well as in vitro human skin, HaCaT cell replicative senescence, and HaCaT and HaCaT-siTET3 cell photoaging models. Senescence was verified using β-galactosidase staining, and DNA damage was detected using immunofluorescence staining for γ-H2A.X. 5-Methyl cytosine (5-mC) content in the genome was determined using ELISA.

RESULTS

SPRY1 expression increased with age, whereas TET3 expression decreased. Similarly, SPRY1 was upregulated and TET3 was downregulated with increasing cell passages. TET3-siRNA upregulated SPRY1 expression in HaCaT cells. UVA irradiation promoted HaCaT cell senescence and induced cellular DNA damage. SPRY1 was upregulated and TET3 was downregulated upon UVA irradiation. Genome-wide 5-mC content increased upon TET3 silencing and UVA irradiation, indicating a surge in overall methylation.

CONCLUSIONS

SPRY1 and TET3 are natural skin aging-related genes that counteract to regulate replicative aging and UVA-induced photoaging in HaCaT cells. The cell photoaging model may limit experimental bias caused by different exposure times of skin model samples.

Sprouty1 has a protective role in atherogenesis and modifies the migratory and inflammatory phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Sprouty1 (Spry1) regulates the differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and our aim was to determine its role in atherogenesis. A significant proportion of cells within atherosclerotic lesions are derived from migration and pathological adaptation of medial VSMC.

METHODS

We used global Spry1 null mouse, and Myh11-CreERT2, ROSA26-STOPfl/fl-tdTomato-Spry1fl/fl mice to allow for lineage tracing and conditional Spry1 deletion in VSMC. Atherosclerosis was induced by injection of a mutant form of mPCSK9D377Y-AAV followed by Western diet. Human aortic VSMC (hVSMC) with shRNA targeting of Spry1 were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Global loss of Spry1 increased inflammatory markers ICAM1 and Cox2 in VSMC. Conditional deletion of Spry1 in VSMC had no effect on early lesion development, despite increased Sca1high cells. After 26 weeks of Western diet, mice with VSMC deletion of Spry1 had increased plaque burden, with reduced collagen content and smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA) in the fibrous cap. Lineage tracing via tdTomato marking Cre-recombined cells indicated that VSMC with loss of Spry1 had decreased migration into the lesion, noted by decreased proportions of tdTomato+ and tdTomato+/SMA + cells. Loss-of-function of Spry1 in hVSMC increased mesenchymal and activation markers, including KLF4, PDGFRb, ICAM1, and Cox2. Loss of Spry1 enhanced the effects of PDGFBB and TNFa on hVSMC.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of Spry1 in VSMC aggravated plaque formation at later stages, and increased markers of instability. Our results indicate that Spry1 suppresses the mesenchymal and inflammatory phenotype of VSMC, and its expression in VSMC is protective against chronic atherosclerotic disease.

Silencing of KNTC1 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cells progression via suppressing PI3K/Akt pathway

Kinetochore associated 1 (KNTC1) encodes a kinetochore component in Rod-Zwilch-ZW10 (RZZ) complex which is essential for the segregation of sister chromatids during mitosis and participates in the spindle checkpoint. Recent research demonstrated that kinetochore proteins may be potential biomarkers and may contribute to the development of human malignancies. Our immunohistochemistry experiment showed that KNTC1 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and correlated with terrible prognosis, indicating that KNTC1 acts a pivotal role in HCC development. Furthermore, lentivirus delivered short hairpin RNA (shRNA) KNTC1 (Lv-shKNTC1) was applied to infect BEL-7404 and SK-HEP-1 to identify roles of KNTC1 on HCC. Lv-shKNTC1 cells showed reduced proliferation ability, increased apoptosis and decreased migration ability. In vivo experiments suggested that xenografts grow significantly slower upon the silencing of KNTC1. Mechanistically, the protein levels of PIK3CA, p-Akt, CCND1, CDK6 are all down-regulated in Lv-KNTC1 cells and the Lv-shKNTC1 tumor tissues of nude mice. Therefore, KNTC1 may affect the biological activity of HCC cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Further studies revealed that ZW10 is a pivotal protein that participates in KNTC1-induced regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In summary, the key finding of this report highlighted the significance of KNTC1 in tumor regression of HCC, demonstrating KNTC1 as an innovative target for adjuvant treatment of HCC.

Modulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Multiplication, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Damage by miR-21 in Coronary Heart Disease

This study is aimed at exploring the role and potential molecular mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in coronary heart disease (CHD). RT-qPCR analysis was conducted to detect the expression of miR-21, Sprouty 1 (SPRY1), and connexin 43 (CX43). The protein expression of SPRY1 and CX43 was measured by western blot. ELISA was performed for measuring inflammatory factors, including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). The target relationship between miR-21 and SPRY1 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell multiplication and apoptosis were detected using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Our results indicated that miR-21, CX43, and the level of inflammatory cytokines including ICAM-1 and IL-1β were upregulated, while SPRY1 was downregulated in blood samples from CHD patients compared with the controls. Besides, miR-21 directly targeted SRPY-1. miR-21 could suppress SPRY1 expression and enhance CX43 expression in VSMCs. Moreover, miR-21 accelerated cell multiplication and attenuated cell apoptosis in VSMCs. Collectively, these findings suggested that miR-21 could effectively elevate VSMC multiplication and repress apoptosis by targeting SPRY1 in CHD, providing a potential target for therapeutic strategy of CHD.

MicroRNA-21-3p accelerates diabetic wound healing in mice by downregulating SPRY1

A variety of novel drugs and advanced therapeutic strategies have been developed for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs); however, the clinical outcomes are unsatisfactory and the underlying mechanisms of DFU remain elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate the pathological processes of many diseases. Fibroblasts are involved in each stage of wound healing, and the functions of fibroblasts may be regulated by miRNAs. In the present study, we found that the levels of miRNA-21-3p (miR-21-3p) were decreased in patients with diabetes as compared with those in the healthy control. Similarly, the level of miRNA-21-3p was decreased in fibroblasts that were stimulated with D-glucose as compared with that in the control fibroblasts. Furthermore, enhanced function was found in fibroblasts followed by the miR-21-3p agonist treatment, and a rapid wound healing process was achieved in the miR-21-3p agonist-treated mice. MiR-21-3p directly targeted protein sprout homolog 1 (SPRY1), and the miR-21-3p-regulated reduction in SPRY1 enhanced the function of fibroblasts and accelerated wound healing in vivo. These findings suggest that miR-21-3p may treat DFU by reducing SPRY1.

Self-Illuminating Photodynamic Therapy with Enhanced Therapeutic Effect by Optimization of the Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Step to the Photosensitizer

The major obstacles to the wider application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) are drawbacks of the current photosensitizers and the tissue penetration limit of the common outer light source. In the present study, the chemiluminescence (CL) from the luminol-H₂O₂-horseradish peroxidase reaction was explored as a potential inner light source for the intracellular activation of carbon dots (CDs)-based PDT system. To fully use the light and enhance the overall PDT yield, the nanocarrier of CDs, the light of CL, and the PDT agent chlorin e6 (Ce6) were carefully selected and designed to form an efficient and united system. Bright-yellow-emissive CDs (y-CDs) were synthesized through purposeful regulation of the absorption and emission spectra to enhance the overlapping areas in the chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes. Our results reflected CL-induced y-CDs-Ce6 system (10 μM) successfully generated reactive oxygen species (ROS, 35.93%), killed ∼90% SMMC-7721 cells in vitro, and significantly delayed tumor growth in vivo. On the basis of immunohistochemical observations of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1 or CD31) results, we concluded that the CL-induced y-CDs-Ce6 system had excellent performance in cancer therapy. The enhanced therapeutic effect was ascribed to two pathways: a direct CRET process and another process of CRET with subsequent y-CD-mediated FRET (CRET-to-FRET).

Bilobalide protects H9c2 cell from oxygen-glucose-deprivation-caused damage through upregulation of miR-27a

Background: Myocardial ischemia is a troublesome disease. Bilobalide possesses multiple biological functions. We researched the consequents of bilobalide in OGD-irritated H9c2 cells. Methods: OGD-stimulated H9c2 cells were treated by bilobalide, and/or transfected with miR-27a inhibitor or negative control. Use CCK-8 and flow cytometry to test cell activity and apoptosis, respectively. Luciferase activity experiment was to test targeting link between miR-27a and Tmub1. Levels of cell-cycle and apoptosis relative proteins and phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin related proteins were detected through western blot. Results: OGD stimulation reduced cell activity and negatively regulated the expression of CDK4, CDK6 and CyclinD1. Cell apoptosis was increased and its related proteins were affected by OGD. Bilobalide administration reversed all the results above caused by OGD. OGD negatively regulated miR-27a while bilobalide upregulated miR-27a. miR-27a's target gene was Tmub1. The protection consequents of bilobalide were suppressed when cells were transfected with a miR-27a inhibitor that cell activity was reduced and apoptosis was raised. Attenuation in the phosphorylation level of PI3K, AKT and β-catenin by OGD was reversed by bilobalide, whereas there were opposite results after transfected with miR-27a inhibitor. Conclusion: Bilobalide relieved OGD-caused H9c2 cell damage, raising cell activity and attenuating apoptosis via upregulating miR-27a and activating of PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. Highlights Bilobalide alleviates OGD-induced H9c2 cell injury. Bilobalide upregulates miR-27a expression in OGD-stimulated H9c2 cells. Bilobalide alleviates cell injury by upregulation of miR-27a. Bilobalide actuates PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.

RETRACTED: Ginkgolides B alleviates hypoxia-induced PC-12 cell injury by up-regulation of PLK1

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief as panels within Figures 2D and 5D appear similar to each other. Given the comments of Dr Elisabeth Bik regarding this article “This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels”, the journal requested the authors to provide the raw data. However, the authors were not able to fulfil this request.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes proliferation and migration of HaCaT keratinocytes through the PI3K/AKT and JNK pathways

Although the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on diverse cell types have been fully studied, the functional role of LIPUS in keratinocytes remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LIPUS on proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells as well as the regulatory mechanisms associated with signaling pathways. Human HaCaT cells were exposed or not to LIPUS, and cell proliferation and migration were measured by BrdU incorporation assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Expression of proteins associated with proliferation and migration was evaluated by western blot analysis. Expression of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT and JNK pathways was also evaluated by western blot analysis. Effects of LIPUS on the PI3K/AKT and JNK pathways, and whether LIPUS affected HaCaT cells via these two pathways were finally explored. When the parameter of LIPUS (number of cycles) was set at 300, cell viability was the highest after LIPUS stimulation. We then found that the percentage of BrdU positive cells was enhanced by LIPUS, along with up-regulation of cyclinD1, CDK6, CDK4, and VEGF. LIPUS promoted migration, as well as up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Phosphorylation levels of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT and JNK pathways were increased by LIPUS. Inhibition of either PI3K/AKT pathway or JNK pathway attenuated effects of LIPUS on HaCaT cells, and co-inhibition of these two pathways showed augmented effects. LIPUS promoted proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells through activating the PI3K/AKT and JNK pathways.