Regulation of tamoxifen sensitivity by the PLAC8/MAPK pathway axis is antagonized by curcumin-induced protein stability change

Single-cell RNA sequencing unveils dynamic transcriptional profiles during the process of donkey spermatogenesis and maturation

INTRODUCTION

With the increasing demand for donkey production, there has been a growing focus on the breeding of donkeys. However, our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys during reproduction remains limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study is to provide a comprehensive single-cell landscape analysis of spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys.

METHODS

In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate cell composition, gene expression patterns, and regulatory roles during spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys.

RESULTS

The expression patterns of CDK1, CETN3, and UBE2J1 were found to be indicative of specific germ cells during donkey spermatogenesis. Additionally, the DEFB121, ELSPBP1, and NPC2 genes were specifically identified in the principal cells of the donkey epididymis.

CONCLUSIONS

We performed single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the cellular composition and spatial distribution of donkey testis and epididymis, thereby generating comprehensive transcriptional atlases at the single-cell resolution.

Role of UFMylation in tumorigenesis and cancer immunotherapy

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) represent a crucial aspect of cellular regulation, occurring after protein synthesis from mRNA. These modifications, which include phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, methylation, glycosylation, Sumoylation, and palmitoylation, play pivotal roles in modulating protein function. PTMs influence protein localization, stability, and interactions, thereby orchestrating a variety of cellular processes in response to internal and external stimuli. Dysregulation of PTMs is linked to a spectrum of diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. UFMylation, a type of PTMs, has recently gained prominence for its regulatory role in numerous cellular processes, including protein stability, response to cellular stress, and key signaling pathways influencing cellular functions. This review highlights the crucial function of UFMylation in the development and progression of tumors, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target. Moreover, we discuss the pivotal role of UFMylation in tumorigenesis and malignant progression, and explore its impact on cancer immunotherapy. The article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of biological functions of UFMylation and propose how targeting UFMylation could enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy strategies.

Plac8-ERK pathway modulation of monocyte function in sepsis

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by infection, is characterized by the dysregulation of immune responses and activation of monocytes. Plac8, a protein, has been implicated in various inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Plac8 upregulation on monocyte proliferation and activation in sepsis patients. Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy individuals and sepsis patients. Monocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to create an in vitro sepsis model, while a murine sepsis model was established using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The levels of monocyte markers, proliferation index (PI), and pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed using flow cytometry and qPCR, respectively. Plac8 and phosphorylated ERK protein levels were determined by western blot, and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were quantified using ELISA. The CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate PBMC proliferation and activation. The results showed that Plac8 was highly expressed in sepsis models, promoting the survival, proliferation, and activation of monocytes. Plac8 upregulation activated the ERK pathway, leading to increased phosphorylation of ERK protein and elevated levels of CD14, CD16, TNF-α, IL-6, Plac8, and IL-10. In sepsis mice, Plac8 overexpression similarly activated the ERK pathway and promoted the survival, proliferation, and activation of monocytes. In conclusion, the upregulation of Plac8 enhances the activation of the ERK pathway and promotes monocyte proliferation and activation in sepsis patients.

Modulation of the tumor microenvironment and mechanism of immunotherapy-based drug resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer, the most frequent female malignancy, is often curable when detected at an early stage. The treatment of metastatic breast cancer is more challenging and may be unresponsive to conventional therapy. Immunotherapy is crucial for treating metastatic breast cancer, but its resistance is a major limitation. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is vital in modulating the immunotherapy response. Various tumor microenvironmental components, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are involved in TME modulation to cause immunotherapy resistance. This review highlights the role of stromal cells in modulating the breast tumor microenvironment, including the involvement of CAF-TAM interaction, alteration of tumor metabolism leading to immunotherapy failure, and other latest strategies, including high throughput genomic screening, single-cell and spatial omics techniques for identifying tumor immune genes regulating immunotherapy response. This review emphasizes the therapeutic approach to overcome breast cancer immune resistance through CAF reprogramming, modulation of TAM polarization, tumor metabolism, and genomic alterations.

Curcuminoids as Cell Signaling Pathway Modulators: A Potential Strategy for Cancer Prevention

Despite substantial advancements in curative modern medicine in the last few decades, cancer risk and casualty rates have continued to mount globally. The exact reason for cancer's onset and progression is still unknown. However, skeletal and functional abnormalities in the genetic code are assumed to be the primary cause of cancer. Many lines of evidence reported that some medicinal plants can be utilized to curb cancer cell proliferation with a safe, fruitful, and cost-efficient perspective. Curcuminoid, isolated from Curcuma longa, have gotten a lot of focus due to their anticancer potential as they reduce tumor progression, invasion, and dissemination. Further, they modulated signal transduction routes like MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, and Wnt/β-catenin, etc., and triggered apoptosis as well as actuated autophagy in malignant cells without altering the normal cells, thus preventing cancer progression. Besides, Curcuminoid also regulate the function and expression of anti-tumor and carcinogenic miRNAs. Clinical studies also reported the therapeutic effect of Curcuminoid against various cancer through decreasing specific biomarkers like TNF-α, Bcl-2, COX-2, PGE2, VEGF, IκKβ, and various cytokines like IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-2, IFN-γ levels and increasing in p53 and Bax levels. Thus, in the present review, we abridged the modulation of several signal transduction routes by Curcuminoids in various malignancies, and its modulatory role in the initiation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs and suppression of the oncogenic miRNAs are explored. Additionally, various pharmacokinetic approaches have been projected to address the Curcuminoids bioavailability like the use of piperine as an adjuvant; nanotechnology- based Curcuminoids preparations utilizing Curcuminoids analogues are also discussed.

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer.

PURPOSE

To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives.

METHOD

We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed.

RESULTS

Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.

Modification of PLAC8 by UFM1 affects tumorous proliferation and immune response by impacting PD-L1 levels in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer is characterized by a poor prognosis and lack of targeted treatments, and thus, new targeting markers and therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. We previously indicated that PLAC8 promotes tumorigenesis and exerts multidrug resistance in breast cancer. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the PLAC8-regulated network in triple-negative breast cancer.

METHODS

We measured the levels of PLAC8 in breast cancer cell lines and found that PLAC8 is post-translationally modified by ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1). Then, we revealed a new regulatory system of PD-L1 by PLAC8 in triple-negative breast cancer. We also tested the molecular functions of PLAC8 in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines and measured the expression of PLAC8 and PD-L1 in breast cancer tissues.

RESULTS

PLAC8 was generally highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer and could be modified by UFM1, which maintains PLAC8 protein stability. Moreover, PLAC8 could promote cancer cell proliferation and affect the immune response by regulating the level of PD-L1 ubiquitination. Additionally, among patients with breast cancer, the expression of PLAC8 was higher in triple-negative breast cancer than in non-triple-negative breast cancer and positively correlated with the level of PD-L1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current study discoveries a new PLAC8-regulated network in triple-negative breast cancer and provides corresponding guidance for the clinical diagnosis and immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

HJURP regulates cell proliferation and chemo-resistance via YAP1/NDRG1 transcriptional axis in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is still a difficult point in clinical treatment at present, and a deep study of its pathogenesis has great clinical value. Therefore, our research mainly focuses on exploring the progression of triple-negative breast cancer and determines the important role of the HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 transcriptional regulation axis in triple-negative breast cancer. We observed significantly increased HJURP expression levels in triple-negative breast cancer compared to other subtypes. HJURP could affect the level of ubiquitination modification of YAP1 protein and then regulate its downstream transcriptional activity. Mechanistically, we found that YAP1 positively regulates NDRG1 transcription by binding the promoter region of the NDRG1 gene. And HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 axis could affect cell proliferation and chemotherapy sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer. Taken together, these findings provide insights into the transcriptional regulation axis of HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 in triple-negative breast cancer progression and therapeutic response.

Curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer via Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a long history that curcuma longa L is used to treat distending pain of chest and belly, arthralgia of shoulder and arm aggravated by cold. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that breast cancer is caused by cold congelation, stagnation of qi and blood stasis. It is usually treated with some pungent and warm Chinese herbs, such as Curcuma longaL and Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc, which are effective in promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis, activating qi-flowing and relieving pain. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, is the main pharmacological component extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Modern pharmacological studies have found that curcumin has many kinds of pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis and anti-multidrug resistance.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the mechanism of curcumin and Glioma-associated oncogene homolod-1 (Gli1) on invasion and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells through the Hedgehog (Hh)/Gli signaling pathway.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The effect of curcumin on TNBC cells was detected by colony formation, wound healing and transwell assay. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) were cultured in serum-free medium and its stemness was detected by flow cytometry and subcutaneous xenografted tumor assay. The formation of mammospheres was used to detect the effect of curcumin and GANT61 (Gli inhibitor)on the formation ability of BCSCs. Gli1 overexpressed was conducted in MDA-MB-231 cells by lentivirus vector HBLV-h-Gli1-3xflag-ZsGreen-PURO. RT-qPCR and Western blot were detected the mRNA and protein level of genes of Hh pathway, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. The nuclear localization and expression of Gli1 was observed by laser confocal microscope scanning. Co-IP was investigated the key genes interacted with Gli1.

RESULTS

The abilities of proliferation, invasion, migration and the formation of mammospheres in TNBC cells were inhibited by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin reduced the invasion and migration abilities in stable Gli1-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cell. Moreover, curcumin down-regulated the expression of genes related Hh pathway, EMT and stemness in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres. Observation of laser confocal microscope showed that Gli1 were expressed mainly in nucleus in MDA-MB-231 adherent cells and completely in nucleus in BCSCs, which was significantly reduced in the nucleus and cytoplasm after curcumin treatment. Besides, our results suggested that vimentin was interacted with Gli1.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of TNBC cells, EMT and characteristics of BCSC by Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway.

Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) mediates inflammation and mobility of the hPDLCs via MEK/ERK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) is reported to regulate cellular functions in the progression of various diseases. However, its role in periodontitis is still unclear.

METHODS

Human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) were treated with lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas Gingivalis (LPS-PG) to mimic periodontitis in vitro. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels and western blot was for protein levels. Wound healing and transwell migration assays were performed to assess the cell mobility of hPDLCs. Both mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were accessed to evaluated process of periodontitis in vitro. Furthermore, the protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and their phosphorylated products quantified by western blotting assay were determined to confirm the activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The microarray analysis results showed that PLAC8 was most significantly downregulated in periodontium samples of patients with periodontitis, which participates in blood coagulation and integrin-mediated signaling pathway. PLAC8 was also markedly downregulated in the LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs. Moreover, overexpression of PLAC8 ameliorated inflammation and promoted cell mobility of LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs, while inhibition of PLAC8 exhibited the opposite effects. MEK/ERK was selected based on analyses of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network as the potential signaling pathway interacted with PLAC8, and PLAC8 showed regulatory function on activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Additionally, U0126, the inhibitor of MEK, abrogated the effects of PLAC8 on inflammation and cell mobility of LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of PLAC8 protected hPDLCs from dysfunction of inflammation and cell mobility via activating MEK/ERK pathway, indicating a novel therapeutic target for periodontitis.

Multifaced roles of PLAC8 in cancer

The role of PLAC8 in tumorigenesis has been gradually elucidated with the development of research. Although there are common molecular mechanisms that enforce cell growth, the impact of PLAC8 is varied and can, in some instances, have opposite effects on tumorigenesis. To systematically understand the role of PLAC8 in tumors, the molecular functions of PLAC8 in cancer will be discussed by focusing on how PLAC8 impacts tumorigenesis when it arises within tumor cells and how these roles can change in different stages of cancer progression with the ultimate goal of suppressing PLAC8-relevant cancer behavior and related pathologies. In addition, we highlight the diversity of PLAC8 in different tumors and its functional output beyond cancer cell growth. The comprehension of PLAC8's molecular function might provide new target and lead to the development of novel anticancer therapies.