EFHD1 promotes osteosarcoma proliferation and drug resistance by inhibiting the opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (mPTP) by binding to ANT3

EFHD1 promotes breast cancer progression through estrogen signaling

BACKGROUND

EF-hand domain family member D1 (EFHD1) is a novel mitochondrial regulator. EFHD1 has been reported in the progression of many types of cancer, such as osteosarcoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of EFHD1 in breast cancer (BRCA).

METHODS

EFHD1 expression was detected in samples of patients with BRCA using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation was determined using EdU assay. Cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry. Meanwhile, cell migration and cell invasion were detected using wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The expression levels of protein involved in ERα signaling were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

EFHD1 expression was elevated in samples of patients with BRCA, which is associated with poor outcome. EFHD1 knockdown inhibited BRCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. EFHD1 overexpression promoted BRCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Through gene set enrichment analysis, it was discovered that EFHD1 activated estrogen signaling. ESR1 knockdown treatment abolished the effects of EFHD1 overexpression on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that EFHD1 promoted BRCA progression through enhancing estrogen signaling. EFHD1/ESR1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating BRCA.

Single-cell eQTL analysis identifies genetic variation underlying metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly recognized for its medical and socioeconomic impacts, driven by diverse genetic and environmental factors. Here, to address the urgent need for individually tailored therapies, we show results from single-cell expression quantitative trait locus (sc-eQTL) analysis on liver biopsies from 25 patients with MASLD and 23 controls. This approach identified over 3,500 sc-eQTLs across major liver cell types and cell-state-interacting eQTLs (ieQTLs) with significant enrichment for disease heritability (for MASLD trait, ieQTL enrichment odds ratio 10.27). We integrated transcription factors as upstream regulators of ieQTLs, revealing 601 functional units ('quartets') composed of transcription factors, cell states, SNP components of ieQTL (ieSNPs) and Gene component of ieQTL (ieGenes). From these results, we pinpoint the loss of an eQTL in EFHD1 during hepatocyte maladaptation associated with genotype-specific regulation by FOXO1, further contributing to the risk of MASLD. Our approach underscores the role of eQTL analysis in capturing crucial genetic variations that influence gene expression and clinical outcomes in complex diseases.

The Role of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition in Bone Metabolism, Bone Healing, and Bone Diseases

Bone is a dynamic organ with an active metabolism and high sensitivity to mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a low-selectivity channel situated in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), permitting the exchange of molecules of up to 1.5 kDa in and out of the IMM. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of the mPTP in bone tissue, but there is currently a lack of reviews concerning this topic. This review discusses the structure and function of the mPTP and its impact on bone-related cells and bone-related pathological states. The mPTP activity is reduced during the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), while its desensitisation may underlie the mechanism of enhanced resistance to apoptosis in neoplastic osteoblastic cells. mPTP over-opening triggers mitochondrial swelling, regulated cell death, and inflammatory response. In particular, mPTP over-opening is involved in dexamethasone-induced osteoblast dysfunction and bisphosphonate-induced osteoclast apoptosis. In vivo, the mPTP plays a significant role in maintaining bone homeostasis, with many bone disorders linked to its excessive opening. Genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of the over-opening of mPTP has shown potential in enhancing bone injury recovery and alleviating bone diseases. Here, we review the findings on the relationship of the mPTP and bone at both the cellular and disease levels, highlighting novel avenues for pharmacological approaches targeting mitochondrial function to promote bone healing and manage bone-related disorders.