Overexpression of apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrion-associated 1 (AIFM1) induces apoptosis by promoting the transcription of caspase3 and DRAM in hepatoma cells

EFTUD2 Regulates Cortical Morphogenesis via Modulation of Caspase-3 and Aifm1 Splicing Pathways

Elongation Factor Tu GTP-Binding Domain Containing 2 (EFTUD2), a core spliceosomal GTPase associated with Mandibulofacial Dysostosis with Microcephaly (MFDM), plays a mechanistically undefined role in cerebral development. To investigate its pathophysiological contributions, murine models are generated through conditional Eftud2 ablation and in utero electroporation of human pathogenic EFTUD2 variants into cortical neural stem cells (NSCs). Embryonic NSC-specific Eftud2 knockout resulted in cortical disorganization and microcephaly, while pathogenic variants led to significant neuronal loss. Integrative transcriptomic and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that Eftud2 deficiency triggers apoptotic pathways, contributing to cortical malformations. Mechanistic studies using RNA co-immunoprecipitation and full-length transcriptome sequencing demonstrated that Eftud2 directly interacts with Caspase3 and Aifm1 transcripts, regulating their alternative splicing to generate pro-apoptotic isoforms. Splicing assays functionally validated this regulatory mechanism, showing its role in activating cell death pathways and disrupting neurodevelopmental homeostasis. These findings elucidate EFTUD2's critical role in maintaining apoptotic balance during corticogenesis and identify defective splicing regulation as the molecular basis of MFDM. This study provides insights for advancing diagnostic frameworks and therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Establishment and validation of a novel risk model based on PANoptosis-related genes to predict prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a common cancer worldwide with poor prognosis. Current treatment methods have limited effect on improving the prognosis of patients with HNSC. Differentially expressed PANoptosis-related genes in HNSC were identified from the TCGA using limma and WGCNA. A prognostic model was established using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and machine learning, and its performance was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic curves. SNP data was analyzed using maftools package. Immune analysis was performed using IOBR package and TIDE website. The scRNA data was analyzed using Seurat and cellchat package. The expression of hub genes was validated in vitro. The prognostic model comprising 5 hub PANoptosis-related genes (AIFM1, AKT3, CDKN2A, EGFR, IL1RAP) accurately predicted patient outcomes, with the high-risk group exhibiting poorer survival. mRNA expression levels of all 5 hub genes were elevated in the tumor cells, but only AIFM1, AKT3 and IL1RAP's protein expression were higher in tumor tissues. Additionally, high expression of AIFM1, AKT3, EGFR, IL1RAP and low expression of CDKN2A indicated poor prognosis of HNSC patients. The decreasing levels of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and M1 macrophages were observed in high-risk groups. There was a significant difference of 5-fluorouracil in low and high-risk groups. scRNA analysis exhibited that TNF pathway was important in the interaction between macrophages and T cells. We identified 5 hub genes and constructed a great risk model for the prognosis of HNSC. The immune cells may influence the HNSC malignant through TNF signal pathway.

Biochemical indices, histological observations and transcriptome sequencing reveal the response mechanism of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to transport stress

In this study, transport conditions were simulated to investigate changes in intestinal tissue structure, oxidative stress, apoptosis and transcriptome levels during transport stress of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The results showed that the serum cortisol and lactic acid levels in largemouth bass significantly increased with increasing transport time, and the glucose content peaked after 8 h of transport. After 8 h and 12 h, the Reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and lipid peroxide contents in the intestine were significantly higher than those in the control group and the stressed group at 4 h. Additionally, more of the mucous membrane of intestinal tissue was exfoliated, resulting in edema, and the intestinal villi height and density significantly decreased. The differentially expressed genes were further analyzed after 0 h, 8 h, and 12 h of transport stress. There were significant differences in genes associated with the p53 signaling pathway (igfbp1a, ccnb1, cdk1, and igfbp6b) and apoptosis (bcl2l11, parp3, pik3r1, fadd, aifm1, and lmnb1). Combined with the increasing amount of apoptotic cells after stress, these results indicated that transport stress had a substantial effect on intestinal cell apoptosis. The intestinal antioxidant activity and tissue structure of the stressed groups recovered to the pre-stress level after 7 d of recovery from 8 h of transport; however, these parameters did not return to pre-stress levels after 7 d of recovery from 12 h of transport. This finding further demonstrated that long-term transport stress induced apoptosis and tissue damage in the largemouth bass intestine through p53 signaling.

Identification and validation of a prognostic signature of drug resistance and mitochondrial energy metabolism-related differentially expressed genes for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Drug resistance constitutes one of the principal causes of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Although cancer cells can maintain viability independently of mitochondrial energy metabolism, they remain reliant on mitochondrial functions for the synthesis of new DNA strands. This dependency underscores a potential link between mitochondrial energy metabolism and drug resistance. Hence, drug resistance and mitochondrial energy metabolism-related differentially expressed genes (DMRDEGs) may emerge as candidates for novel cancer biomarkers. This study endeavors to assess the viability of DMRDEGs as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for breast cancer.

METHODS

We utilized the DRESIS database and MSigDB to identify genes related to drug resistance. Additionally, we sourced genes associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism from GeneCards and extant literature. By merging these genes with differentially expressed genes observed in normal and tumor tissues from the TCGA-BRCA and GEO databases, we successfully identified the DMRDEGs. Employing unsupervised consensus clustering, we divided breast cancer patients into two distinct groups based on the DMRDEGs. Consequently, we identified four hub genes to formulate a prognostic model, applying Cox regression, LASSO regression, and Random Forest methods. Furthermore, we examined immune infiltration and tumor mutation burden of the genes within our model and scrutinized divergences in the immune microenvironment between high- and low-risk groups. Small hairpin RNA and lentiviral plasmids were designed for stable transfection of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC1806. By conducting clone formation, scratch test, transwell assays, cell viability assay and measurement of oxygen consumption we initiated a preliminary investigation into mechanistic roles of AIFM1.

RESULTS

We utilized DMRDEGs to develop a prognostic model that includes four mRNAs for breast cancer. This model combined with various clinical features and critical breast cancer facets, demonstrated remarkable efficacy in predicting patient outcomes. AIFM1 appeared to enhance the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC1806. Moreover, by reducing oxygen consumption, it aids in the cancer cells' acquisition of drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

DMRDEGs hold promise as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Among the associated mutated genes, ATP7B, FUS, AIFM1, and PPARG could serve as early diagnostic indicators, and notably, AIFM1 may present itself as a promising therapeutic target.

Exploring genetic associations and drug targets for mitochondrial proteins and schizophrenia risk

Numerous observational studies have highlighted associations between mitochondrial dysfunction and schizophrenia (SCZ), yet the causal relationship remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the causal link between mitochondria-associated proteins and SCZ. We used summary data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 66 mitochondria-associated proteins in 3,301 individuals from Europe, as well as a GWAS on the large, multi-ethnic ancestry of SCZ, involving 76,755 cases and 243,649 controls. We conducted bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, with inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary method. To account for multi-directionality and ensure robustness, we included MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), weighted mode, and simple mode methods as supplementary sensitivity analyses. Moreover, we explored the GWAS catalog and the Drug-Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb) to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic targets. MR analysis revealed significant genetically determined causal associations between ETHE1 (OR: 1.06), SOD (OR: 0.97), CALU3 (OR: 1.03), and C1QBP (OR: 1.05) and SCZ. According to the reverse MR analysis, a causal relationship was shown between SCZ and CA5A (OR: 1.09), DLD (OR: 1. 08), AIF1 (OR: 0.93), SerRS (OR: 0.93) and MULA of NFKB1 (OR: 0.77). After conducting the gene-drug analysis, HRG, F12, GPLD1, C1R, BCHE, CFH, PON1, and CA5A were identified as promising therapeutic targets. This present study reveals a significant causal relationship between mitochondria-associated proteins and SCZ, offering valuable insights into the disease's pathogenicity and identifying potential therapeutic targets for drug development.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Related to Necroptosis in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Necroptosis is a critical process in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). This research is aimed at identifying key genes regulating necroptosis in IDD to provide a theoretical basis for early diagnosis and treatment. Transcriptome data from patients with IDD and normal samples were obtained from the GSE34095 and GSE124272 datasets of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database. Necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) were sourced from the GeneCards database and literature. Differentially expressed necroptosis-related genes (DE-NRGs) in IDD were identified by intersecting these sources. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for gene annotation analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and nomogram analyses assessed the diagnostic efficiency of DE-NRGs. The miRWalk and starBase databases helped construct the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network of DE-NRGs. We identified 517 differential genes in tissue and 2974 in blood, with 62 genes in common. DE-NRGs (AIFM1, CCT8, HNRNPA1, KHDRBS1, SERBP1) were identified by intersecting NRGs with these 62 common genes. The ROC curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.70 for DE-NRGs, and the nomogram indicated that a higher DE-NRG score correlates with a higher risk of IDD. CCT8, KHDRBS1, and AIFM1 emerged as potential therapeutic targets for IDD through target drug prediction. qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of AIFM1, CCT8, HNRNPA1, KHDRBS1, and SERBP1 in patients' nucleus pulposus tissue, suggesting these genes as key targets for IDD risk assessment and drug therapy.

NS7a of SADS-CoV promotes viral infection via inducing apoptosis to suppress type III interferon production

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) is a newly discovered swine coronavirus with potential cross-species transmission risk. Although SADS-CoV-induced host cell apoptosis and innate immunity antagonization has been revealed, underlying signaling pathways remain obscure. Here, we demonstrated that infection of SADS-CoV induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, and that viral protein NS7a is mainly responsible for SADS-CoV-induced apoptosis in host cells. Furthermore, we found that NS7a interacted with apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria associated 1 (AIFM1) to activate caspase-3 via caspase-6 in SADS-CoV-infected cells, and enhanced SADS-CoV replication. Importantly, NS7a suppressed poly(I:C)-induced expression of type III interferon (IFN-λ) via activating caspase-3 to cleave interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and caspase-3 inhibitor protects piglets against SADS-CoV infection in vivo. These findings reveal how SADS-CoV induced apoptosis to inhibit innate immunity and provide a valuable clue to the development of effective drugs for the clinical control of SADS-CoV infection.IMPORTANCEOver the last 20 years, multiple animal-originated coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2, have caused millions of deaths, seriously jeopardized human health, and hindered social development, indicating that the study of animal-originated coronaviruses with potential for cross-species transmission is particularly important. Bat-originated swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), discovered in 2017, can not only cause fatal diarrhea in piglets, but also infect multiple human cells, with a potential risk of cross-species transmission, but its pathogenesis is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that NS7a of SADS-CoV suppresses IFN-λ production via apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria associated 1 (AIFM1)-caspase-6-caspase-3-interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway, and caspase-3 inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) can effectively inhibit SADS-CoV replication and protect infected piglets. Our findings in this study contribute to a better understanding of SADS-CoV-host interactions as a part of the coronaviruses pathogenesis and using apoptosis-inhibitor as a drug as potential therapeutic approaches for prevention and control of SADS-CoV infection.

6-Hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline Demonstrates Neuroprotective Properties in Experimental Parkinson's Disease by Enhancing the Antioxidant System, Normalising Chaperone Activity and Suppressing Apoptosis

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease, whereby disturbances within the antioxidant defence system, increased aggregation of proteins, and activation of neuronal apoptosis all have a crucial role in the pathogenesis. In this context, exploring the neuroprotective capabilities of compounds that sustain the effectiveness of cellular defence systems in neurodegenerative disorders is worthwhile. During this study, we assessed how 6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (HTHQ), which has antioxidant properties, affects the functioning of the antioxidant system, the activity of NADPH-generating enzymes and chaperones, and the level of apoptotic processes in rats with rotenone-induced PD. Six groups of animals were formed for our experiment, each with 12 animals. These were: a control group, animals with rotenone-induced PD, rats with PD given HTHQ at a dose of 50 mg/kg, rats with PD given HTHQ at a dose of 25 mg/kg, animals with pathology who were administered a comparison drug rasagiline, and control animals who were administered HTHQ at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The study results indicate that administering HTHQ led to a significant decrease in oxidative stress in PD rats. The enhanced redox status in animal tissues was linked with the recovery of antioxidant enzyme activities and NADPH-generating enzyme function, as well as an upsurge in the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant genes and factors Nrf2 and Foxo1. Administering HTHQ to rats with PD normalized the chaperone-like activity and mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70. Rats treated with the compound displayed lower apoptosis intensity when compared to animals with pathology. Therefore, owing to its antioxidant properties, HTHQ demonstrated a beneficial impact on the antioxidant system, resulting in decreased requirements for chaperone activation and the inhibition of apoptosis processes triggered in PD. HTHQ at a dose of 50 mg/kg had a greater impact on the majority of the examined variables compared to rasagiline.

Apoptosis-inducing factor 1 mediates Vibrio splendidus-induced coelomocyte apoptosis via importin β dependent nuclear translocation in Apostichopus japonicus

As is well known, apoptosis is an important form of immune response and immune regulation, particularly playing a crucial role in combating microbial infections. Apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIF-1) is essential for apoptosis to induce chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation via a caspase-independent pathway. The nuclear translocation of AIF-1 is a key step in apoptosis but the molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the homologous gene of AIF-1, named AjAIF-1, was cloned and identified in Apostichopus japonicus. The mRNA expression of AjAIF-1 was significantly increased by 46.63-fold after Vibrio splendidus challenge. Silencing of AjAIF-1 was found to significantly inhibit coelomocyte apoptosis because the apoptosis rate of coelomocyte decreased by 0.62-fold lower compared with the control group. AjAIF-1 was able to promote coelomocyte apoptosis through nuclear translocation under the V. splendidus challenge. Moreover, AjAIF-1 and Ajimportin β were mainly co-localized around the nucleus in vivo and silencing Ajimportin β significantly inhibited the nuclear translocation of AjAIF-1 and suppressed coelomocyte apoptosis by 0.64-fold compared with control. In summary, nuclear translocation of AjAIF-1 will likely mediate coelomocyte apoptosis through an importin β-dependent pathway in sea cucumber.

Mechanisms of chondrocyte regulated cell death in osteoarthritis: Focus on ROS-triggered ferroptosis, parthanatos, and oxeiptosis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic inflammatory degenerative disease. Since chondrocytes are the only type of cells in cartilage, their survival is critical for maintaining cartilage morphology. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of how reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide, and their derivatives, affect cartilage homeostasis and trigger several novel modes of regulated cell death, including ferroptosis, parthanatos, and oxeiptosis, which may play roles in chondrocyte death and OA development. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies to alleviate OA by scavenging ROS and provide new insight into the research and treatment of the role of regulated cell death in OA.

Identification of oxeiptosis-associated lncRNAs and prognosis-related signature to predict the immune status in gastric cancer

As a novel form of cell death, oxeiptosis is mainly caused by oxidative stress and has been defined to contribute to the cellular death program in cancer. However, the precise involvement of oxeiptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) within gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. Thus, our study was aimed to elucidate the pivotal effect of hub oxeiptosis-related lncRNAs on GC by comprehensively analyzing lncRNA and gene expression data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, we constructed a risk signature (risk-sig) using lncRNAs and further evaluated its prognostic significance. We successfully identified thirteen lncRNAs closely related with oxeiptosis that exhibited significant relevance to the prognosis of GC, forming the foundation of our meticulously constructed risk-sig. Notably, our clinical analyses unveiled a strong correlation between the risk-sig and crucial clinical parameters including overall survival (OS), gender, TNM stage, grade, M stage, and N stage among GC patients. Intriguingly, the diagnostic accuracy of this risk-sig surpassed that of conventional clinicopathological characteristics, underscoring its potential as a highly informative prognostic tool. In-depth mechanistic investigations further illuminated a robust association between this risk-sig and fundamental biological processes such as tumor stemness, immune cell infiltration, and immune subtypes. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between oxeiptosis-related lncRNAs and the intricate molecular landscape of GC. Ultimately, leveraging the risk scores derived from our comprehensive analysis, we successfully developed a nomogram that enables accurate prediction of GC prognosis. Collectively, our study established a solid foundation for the integration of thirteen hub oxeiptosis-related lncRNAs into a clinically applicable risk-sig, potentially revolutionizing prognostic assessment in GC and facilitating the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Identification and validation of oxeiptosis-associated lncRNAs and prognosis-related signature genes to predict the immune status in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma

As a novel cell death modality, oxeiptosis is mainly caused by oxidative stress. However, the associations of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) with oxeiptosis-associated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are unknown. Here, to identify hub oxeiptosis-associated lncRNAs in UCEC, we collected the data for lncRNAs and gene expression in UCEC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Then, a lncRNA risk signature was constructed, and its prognostic value was further evaluated. Finally, the expression levels of hub lncRNA HOXB-AS3 were validated by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. MTT and wounding analyses were also applied to confirm the role of HOXB-AS3 knockdown on UCEC cells. Five lncRNAs associated with oxeiptosis and connected to the prognosis of UCEC were identified, and a risk signature was constructed based on these identified lncRNAs. Our clinical value analyses suggested that the risk signature was closely connected to the overall survival, TNM stage, and grade of UCEC patients. Meanwhile, compared to the conventional clinicopathological characteristics, this risk signature exhibited significantly higher diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, the potential mechanism analysis indicated a close connection of this risk signature to tumor stemness, m6A-related genes, immune cell infiltration, and immune subtypes. Based on the risk scores, we constructed a nomogram. In vitro experiments found that HOXB-AS3 was significantly higher expressed in UCEC cells, and the silence of HOXB-AS3 inhibited the proliferation and migration of UCEC cells. In conclusion, using five hub lncRNAs associated with oxeiptosis, we generated a risk signature, which could be applied in the novel therapeutic strategies of UCEC development.

Whole-exome sequencing detected a novel AIFM1 variant in a Han-Chinese family with Cowchock syndrome

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease(CMT) is a hereditary peripheral neuropathy, characterized by progressive distal hypoesthesia and amyotrophia. CMT is characterized by an X- linked recessive inheritance pattern. The apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria associated-1 (AIFM1) is the main pathogenic gene of the X-linked recessive Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease-4 with or without cerebellar ataxia (CMTX4), also known as Cowchock syndrome. In this study, we enrolled a family with CMTX from the southeast region of China and identified a novel AIFM1 variant (NM_004208.3: c.931C>G; p.L311V) using whole exon sequencing technology. The results of our study may also be useful for genetic counseling, embryo screening of in vitro fertilization embryos, and prenatal genetic diagnosis.

AIFM1, negatively regulated by miR-145-5p, aggravates hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia-induced apoptosis is linked to the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. The role of apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria associated 1 (AIFM1) in cardiomyocyte injury remains unclear. This study was aimed at probing into the role and the underlying regulatory mechanism of AIFM1 in myocardial injury.

METHODS

H9c2 cardiomyocytes and C57BL/6 mice were used for myocardial hypoxic/ischemic injury and myocardial infarction animal models. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the expression levels of AIFM1 mRNA and miR-145-5p. Western blot was used for examining the expression levels of AIFM1, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, p-53, and γ-H2AX. Cell viability was examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and BrdU assay. Interaction between AIFM1 and miR-145-5p was determined by bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, Western blot, and dual-luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

AIFM1 expression was markedly highly elevated, while miR-145-5p expression was significantly down-regulated in the myocardial infarction animal model and H9c2 cells under hypoxia. Augmentation of AIFM1 led to a dramatic decrease of cell viability, accompanied by an increase of the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Furthermore, AIFM1 was identified as a target of miR-145-5p. In addition, miR-145-5p/AIFM1 axis regulated the expression of p53.

CONCLUSION

AIFM1 may exacerbate myocardial ischemic injury by promoting inflammation and the injury of cardiomyocytes, and its up-regulation may be partly due to the down-regulation of miR-145-5p.

Identification of a novel AIFM1 variant from a Chinese family with auditory neuropathy

Background: Auditory neuropathy (AN) is a specific type of hearing loss characterized by impaired language comprehension. Apoptosis inducing factor mitochondrion associated 1 (AIFM1) is the most common gene associated with late-onset AN. In this study, we aimed to screen the pathogenic variant of AIFM1 in a Chinese family with AN and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the function of such variant in the development of AN.

Methods: One patient with AN and eight unaffected individuals from a Chinese family were enrolled in this study. A comprehensive clinical evaluation was performed on all participants. A targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of a total of 406 known deafness genes was performed to screen the potential pathogenic variants in the proband. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the variants identified in all participants. The pathogenicity of variant was predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the subcellular distribution and expression of the wild type (WT) and mutant AIFM1 proteins. Cell apoptosis was evaluated based on the TUNEL analyses.

Results: Based on the clinical evaluations, the proband in this family was diagnosed with AN. The results of NGS and Sanger sequencing showed that a novel missense mutation of AIFM1, i.e., c.1367A > G (p. D456G), was identified in this family. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that this variant was pathogenic. Functional analysis showed that in comparison with the WT, the mutation c.1367A > G of AIFM1 showed no effect on its subcellular localization and the ability to induce apoptosis, but changed its protein expression level.

Conclusion: A novel variant of AIFM1 was identified for the first time, which was probably the genetic cause of AN in a Chinese family with AN.

Integrative Analysis of Bulk RNA-Seq and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Unveils the Characteristics of the Immune Microenvironment and Prognosis Signature in Prostate Cancer

The immune microenvironment is a culmination of the collaborative effort of immune cells and is important in cancer development. The underlying mechanisms of the tumor immune microenvironment in regulating prostate cancer (PRAD) are unclear. In the current study, 144 natural killer cell-related genes were identified using differential expression, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, and weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Furthermore, VCL, ACTA2, MYL9, MYLK, MYH11, TPM1, ACTG2, TAGLN, and FLNC were selected as hub genes via the protein-protein interaction network. Based on the expression patterns of the hub genes, endothelial, epithelial, and tissue stem cells were identified as key cell subpopulations, which could regulate PRAD via immune response, extracellular signaling, and protein formation. Moreover, 27 genes were identified as prognostic signatures and used to construct the risk score model. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed the good performance of the risk score model in both the training and testing datasets. Different chemotherapeutic responses were observed between the low- and high-risk groups. Additionally, a nomogram based on the risk score and other clinical features was established to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free interval of patients with PRAD. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of the immune microenvironment and its role in the pathogenesis of PARD. The identification of key cell subpopulations has a potential therapeutic and prognostic use in PRAD.

A Signature of Three Apoptosis-Related Genes Predicts Overall Survival in Breast Cancer

Background

The commonest malignancy in women is known as breast cancer (BC). Numerous studies demonstrated that apoptosis appears to be critical to the management and clinical outcome of BC patients. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential connection between apoptosis and BC and establish the apoptosis-associated gene signature in BC.

Methods

The data of BC patient transcripts and related clinical information comes from the Cancer Genome Atlas Database (TCGA), and the genes related to apoptosis come from the Molecular Characterization Database (MSigDB). We identified the abnormally expressed apoptosis-related genes in BC samples. The optimal apoptosis-related genes screened by Cox regression analysis were designed to construct a prognostic model for predicting BC patients. Using the Nom Chart to Predict 1-Year, 3-Year, and 5-Year overall survival for BC patients. The gene signature-related functional pathways were explored by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

Results

Three genes [alpha subunit of the interleukin 3 receptor (IL3RA), apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrial-associated 1 (AIFM1), and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase catalytic alpha (PIK3CA)] correlated with apoptosis were shown to be strongly linked to the overall survival of BC. Survival analysis shows that the risk score is directly proportional to the poor prognosis of BC patients. Risk assessment based on three genetic characteristics (age, pathological stage N, and pathological stage M) can independently predict the prognosis of patients with BC. The Nom chart is most suitable for assessing the long-term survival rate of BC patients. The results of GSEA demonstrated that numerous cell cycle-related pathways were abundant in the high-risk group.

Conclusion

We constructed an apoptosis-associated gene signature in BC, which had a potential clinical application prospect for BC patients.

Data mining of key genes expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: novel potential biomarkers of diagnosis prognosis or progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main cancer-related causes of death worldwide. The study aimed to perform a data mining analysis of the expression and regulatory role of key genes in HCC to reveal novel potential biomarkers of diagnosis prognosis, or progression since their availability is still almost lacking. Starting from data of our cohort of patients (HCV-positive HCC pts undergoing liver transplantation (LR, n = 10) and donors (LD, n = 14), deeply analyzed previously, in which apelin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, NOTCH-1, CASP-3, Bcl-2, BAX, PTX3, and NPTX2 were analyzed, we applied statistical analysis and in-silico tools (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, HCCDB database and GeneMania, UALCAN) to screen and identify the key genes. Firstly, we performed a stepwise regression analysis using our mRNA-datasets which revealed that higher expression levels of apelin and osteopontin were positively associated with the HCC and identified that the most consistently differentially expressed gene across multiple HCC expression datasets was only OPN. This comprehensive strategy of data mining evidenced that OPN might have a potential function as an important tumor marker-driven oncogenesis being associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients.

Oxeiptosis: a novel pathway of melanocytes death in response to oxidative stress in vitiligo

Vitiligo is a cutaneous depigmenting autoimmune disease caused by the extensive destruction of epidermal melanocytes. Convincing data has defined a critical role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Oxeiptosis is a caspase-independent cell death modality that was reportedly triggered by oxidative stress and operative in pathogen clearance. However, whether oxeiptosis exists in oxidative stress-induced melanocytes demise in vitiligo remains undetermined. In the present study, we initially found that other cell death modalities might exist in addition to the well-recognized apoptosis and necroptosis in H₂O₂-treated melanocytes. Furthermore, AIFM1 was found to be dephosphorylated at Ser116 in oxidative stress-induced melanocytes death, which was specific to oxeiptosis. Moreover, KEAP1 and PGAM5, upstream of the AIFM1 in oxeiptosis, were found to operate in melanocytic death. Subsequently, the KEAP1-PGAM5-AIFM1 signaling pathway was proved to be involved in oxidative stress-triggered melanocytes demise through the depletion of KEAP1 and PGAM5. Altogether, our study indicated that oxeiptosis might occur in melanocytes death under oxidative stress and contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Identification of key genes and biological processes contributing to colitis associated dysplasia in ulcerative colitis

Background

Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer (UC-CRC) is a life-threatening complication of ulcerative colitis (UC). The mechanisms underlying UC-CRC remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore the key genes and biological processes contributing to colitis-associated dysplasia (CAD) or carcinogenesis in UC via database mining, thus offering opportunities for early prediction and intervention of UC-CRC.

Methods

Microarray datasets (GSE47908 and GSE87466) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups of GSE47908 were identified using the “limma” R package. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) based on DEGs between the CAD and control groups was conducted subsequently. Functional enrichment analysis was performed, and hub genes of selected modules were identified using the “clusterProfiler” R package. Single-gene gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to predict significant biological processes and pathways associated with the specified gene.

Results

Six functional modules were identified based on 4929 DEGs. Green and blue modules were selected because of their consistent correlation with UC and CAD, and the highest correlation coefficient with the progress of UC-associated carcinogenesis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that genes of these two modules were significantly enriched in biological processes, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cell-cell junction, and immune responses. However, GSEA based on differential expression analysis between sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) and normal controls from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction may not be the major carcinogenic mechanism underlying sporadic CRC. Thirteen hub genes (SLC25A3, ACO2, AIFM1, ATP5A1, DLD, TFE3, UQCRC1, ADIPOR2, SLC35D1, TOR1AIP1, PRR5L, ATOX1, and DTX3) were identified. Their expression trends were validated in UC patients of GSE87466, and their potential carcinogenic effects in UC were supported by their known functions and other relevant studies reported in the literature. Single-gene GSEA indicated that biological processes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways related to angiogenesis and immune response were positively correlated with the upregulation of TFE3, whereas those related to mitochondrial function and energy metabolism were negatively correlated with the upregulation of TFE3.

Conclusions

Using WGCNA, this study found two gene modules that were significantly correlated with CAD, of which 13 hub genes were identified as the potential key genes. The critical biological processes in which the genes of these two modules were significantly enriched include mitochondrial dysfunction, cell-cell junction, and immune responses. TFE3, a transcription factor related to mitochondrial function and cancers, may play a central role in UC-associated carcinogenesis.

Riboflavin in Neurological Diseases: A Narrative Review

Riboflavin is classified as one of the water-soluble B vitamins. It is part of the functional group of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactors and is required for numerous flavoprotein-catalysed reactions. Riboflavin has important antioxidant properties, essential for correct cell functioning. It is required for the conversion of oxidised glutathione to the reduced form and for the mitochondrial respiratory chain as complexes I and II contain flavoprotein reductases and electron transferring flavoproteins. Riboflavin deficiency has been demonstrated to impair the oxidative state of the body, especially in relation to lipid peroxidation status, in both animal and human studies. In the nervous system, riboflavin is essential for the synthesis of myelin and its deficiency can determine the disruption of myelin lamellae. The inherited condition of restricted riboflavin absorption and utilisation, reported in about 10-15% of world population, warrants further investigation in relation to its association with the main neurodegenerative diseases. Several successful trials testing riboflavin for migraine prevention were performed, and this drug is currently classified as a Level B medication for migraine according to the American Academy of Neurology evidence-based rating, with evidence supporting its efficacy. Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome and Fazio-Londe diseases are now renamed as "riboflavin transporter deficiency" because these are autosomal recessive diseases caused by mutations of SLC52A2 and SLC52A3 genes that encode riboflavin transporters. High doses of riboflavin represent the mainstay of the therapy of these diseases and high doses of riboflavin should be rapidly started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected and continued lifelong. Remarkably, some mitochondrial diseases respond to supplementation with riboflavin. These include multiple acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase deficiency (which is caused by ETFDH gene mutations in the majority of the cases, or mutations in the ETFA and ETFB genes in a minority), mutations of ACAD9 gene, mutations of AIFM1 gene, mutations of the NDUFV1 and NDUFV2 genes. Therapeutic riboflavin administration has been tried in other neurological diseases, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Friedreich's ataxia and Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, the design of these clinical trials was not uniform, not allowing to accurately assess the real effects of this molecule on the disease course. In this review we analyse the properties of riboflavin and its possible effects on the pathogenesis of different neurological diseases, and we will review the current indications of this vitamin as a therapeutic intervention in neurology.

MTIF2 impairs 5 fluorouracil-mediated immunogenic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic significance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality; it has been reported that immune cell infiltration is a prognosis factor. Here we identified genes that associated with tumor immune cell infiltrate; the underlying mechanism was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiment. In this study, Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and CIBERSORT tool were used to identify MTIF2 as the hub tumor immune infiltrating gene in HCC. To investigate the underlying role played by MTIF2, MTIF2 was knocked down by transfection of shRNA targeting MTIF2, CCK8, and EdU incorporation assay was used to evaluate the effect of MTIF2 on proliferation, wound heal assay and transwell assay was used to confirm its effect on cell migration. Ecto-calreticulin on the cell surface was evaluated by flow cytometry, ATP, and HMGB1 secretion were tested to the investigated effect of MTIF2 on the immunogenic cell death (ICD) process. We found that down-regulation of MTIF2 impaired proliferation and migration capacity of HCC cells, chemoresistance to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) weakened after MTIF2 was knocked down. Reduced release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) was observed after MTIF2 was overexpressed, which subsequently impaired dendritic cell (DC) maturation and proliferation of CD8 + T cells. Mechanically, the co-IP experiment confirmed that MTIF2 could interact with AIFM1, prevents AIFM1 induced transcription of caspase3, and finally suppress apoptosis. In vivo experiment also used to confirm our previously conclusion, our result indicated that MTIF2 overexpression suppresses tumor apoptosis and immune cell activity in the 5-FU therapy in vivo model, by suppression maturation of tumor-infiltrated DC. Collectively, our study confirmed that MTIF2 impair drug-induced immunogenic cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Simiao Decoction Alleviates Gouty Arthritis by Modulating Proinflammatory Cytokines and the Gut Ecosystem

Simiao decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been widely used for thousands of years due to its safety and efficiency in treating gouty arthritis. Utilizing serum proinflammatory cytokines and gut ecosystems, this study elucidated the mechanisms of alleviating gouty arthritis by Simiao decoction. Simiao decoction (4.0, 8.0, and 16.0 g/kg) was orally administered to gouty arthritis mice and febuxostat was given as a positive control. The spleen, kidney, and liver indexes indicated that Simiao decoction was safe for the treatment of gouty arthritis in C57BL/6 mice. Besides, our study demonstrated that Simiao decoction was effective for reducing the level of serum uric acid and decreasing MPO, XOD, and ADA activity, as well as alleviating gouty-related symptoms, such as foot swelling and pain. Moreover, Simiao decoction could also reduce some specific serum proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-9, IFN-γ, MIP-1α and MIP-1β. We then surveyed the effects of Simiao decoction on the gut ecosystems in a systematic manner by combining network pharmacology, ELISA, western blot, and illumina sequencing. In the murine of model of gouty arthritis, Simiao decoction could suppress NLRP3 inflammasomes expression, reduce gut apoptosis through modulating TNF-α, Caspase 8, and AIFM1 protein expressions, affect lipid metabolism by regulating APOB, LPL, PPARα protein expressions and restore gut microbiota via reducing potential pathogens. Overall, these findings suggested that Simiao decoction was an effective therapeutic drug for gouty arthritis and the gut ecosystem might act as a potential anti-inflammatory target of Simiao decoction.

Fucoidan Induces Apoptosis of HT-29 Cells via the Activation of DR4 and Mitochondrial Pathway

Fucoidan has a variety of pharmacological activities, but the understanding of the mechanism of fucoidan-induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells remains limited. The results of the present study demonstrated that the JNK signaling pathway is involved in the activation of apoptosis in colorectal cancer-derived HT-29 cells, and fucoidan induces apoptosis by activation of the DR4 at the transcriptional and protein levels. The survival rate of HT-29 cells was approximately 40% in the presence of 800 μg/mL of fucoidan, but was increased to 70% after DR4 was silenced by siRNA. Additionally, fucoidan has been shown to reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential and destroy the integrity of mitochondrial membrane. In the presence of an inhibitor of cytochrome C inhibitor and DR4 siRNA or the presence of cytochrome C inhibitor only, the cell survival rate was significantly higher than when cells were treated with DR4 siRNA only. These data indicate that both the DR4 and the mitochondrial pathways contribute to fucoidan-induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells, and the extrinsic pathway is upstream of the intrinsic pathway. In conclusion, the current work identified the mechanism of fucoidan-induced apoptosis and provided a novel theoretical basis for the future development of clinical applications of fucoidan as a drug.

Effect and mechanism of YB-1 knockdown on glioma cell growth, migration, and apoptosis

Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) is manifested as its involvement in cell proliferation and differentiation and malignant cell transformation. Overexpression of YB-1 is associated with glioma progression and patient survival. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of YB-1 knockdown on glioma cell progression and reveal the mechanisms of YB-1 knockdown on glioma cell growth, migration, and apoptosis. It was found that the knockdown of YB-1 decreased the mRNA and protein levels of YB-1 in U251 glioma cells. The knockdown of YB-1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Proteome and phosphoproteome data revealed that YB-1 is involved in glioma progression through regulating the expression and phosphorylation of major proteins involved in cell cycle, adhesion, and apoptosis. The main regulated proteins included CCNB1, CCNDBP1, CDK2, CDK3, ADGRG1, CDH-2, MMP14, AIFM1, HO-1, and BAX. Furthermore, it was also found that YB-1 knockdown is associated with the hypo-phosphorylation of ErbB, mTOR, HIF-1, cGMP-PKG, and insulin signaling pathways, and proteoglycans in cancer. Our findings indicated that YB-1 plays a key role in glioma progression in multiple ways, including regulating the expression and phosphorylation of major proteins associated with cell cycle, adhesion, and apoptosis.

The Biomarker TCONS_00016233 Drives Septic AKI by Targeting the miR-22-3p/AIFM1 Signaling Axis

The prediction of mortality for septic acute kidney injury (AKI) has been assessed by a number of potential biomarkers, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the validation of lncRNAs as biomarkers, particularly for the early stages of septic AKI, is still warranted. Our results indicate that the lncRNA TCONS_00016233 is upregulated in plasma of sepsis-associated non-AKI and AKI patients, but a higher cutoff threshold (9.5 × 10⁵, copy number) provided a sensitivity of 71.9% and specificity of 89.6% for the detection of AKI. The plasma TCONS_00016233 was highly correlated with serum creatinine, tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 (IGFBP7), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and urinary TCONS_00016233. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced the expression of lncRNA TCONS_00016233 via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway in human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. Furthermore, TCONS_00016233 mediates the LPS-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. Mechanistically, TCONS_00016233 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to prevent microRNA (miR)-22-3p-mediated downregulation of the apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrion-associated 1 (AIFM1). Finally, overexpression of TCONS_00016233 is capable of aggravating the LPS- and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic AKI by targeting the miR-22-3p/AIFM1 axis. Taken together, our data indicate that TCONS_00016233 may serve as an early diagnosis marker for the septic AKI, possibly acting as a novel therapeutic target for septic AKI.

Mechanisms of ROS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis underlying liquid storage of goat spermatozoa

Liquid storage of spermatozoa is important for artificial insemination and herd genetic breeding. However, the extended time of storage inducing the rapid decline in spermatozoa quality limits the development of this technology. The molecular mechanisms underlying liquid storage of spermatozoa remain largely unexplored. In this study, the effects of liquid storage on functional quality of spermatozoa were assessed in goat (Capra hircus). The time-dependent decline in spermatozoa motility showed a strong correlation with the significant increase in apoptosis. Moreover, apoptosis-related ultrastructural changes were observed, especially the defects in mitochondria. A significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins indicated mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activation. Notably, the abnormally high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by liquid storage resulted in oxidative damage to mitochondria and accelerated mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, as demonstrated by the addition of ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, critical differentially expressed proteins involved in mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and antioxidant defense were identified and profiled by quantitative proteomic analysis, facilitating the understanding of molecular regulation of ROS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. These outcomes provide insights into the mechanisms underlying liquid storage of goat spermatozoa and enhance the progress of semen storage technology.

LINC01018 confers a novel tumor suppressor role in hepatocellular carcinoma through sponging microRNA-182-5p

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that some long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the development and progression of HCC. Herein, the current study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of LINC01018 in regulating the progression of HCC. Initially, the expression of LINC01018, microRNA-182-5p (miR-182-5p), and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) was quantified in 72 paired HCC and adjacent normal tissue samples as well as HCC cells, followed by identification of the interaction among them. To define the contributory role of LINC01018 in the progression of HCC, the expression of LINC01018, miR-182-5p, or FOXO1 was altered in HCC cells, followed by evaluation of cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and cell apoptosis. Finally, in vivo tests were performed to further verify the role of LINC01018 in HCC. It was observed that LINC01018 and FOXO1 were poorly expressed but miR-182-5p was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells. The upregulation of LINC01018 was shown to decrease proliferation while promoting apoptosis of HCC cells. LINC01018 acted as a sponge of miR-182-5p, which targeted FOXO1. Last, mice injected with Hep3B overexpressing FOXO1 displayed suppressed xenograft tumor formation. Collectively, overexpression of LINC01018 represses proliferation and promotes apoptosis of HCC cells via upregulation of FOXO1 by sponging miR-182-5p, which highlights overexpression of LINC01018 as a candidate suppressor of HCC.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides evidence for understanding the molecular mechanism involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and identifies a novel network of LINC01018/miR-182-5p/FOXO1. We also conducted in vivo experiments in nude mice to validate the anti-tumor effect of LINC01018.

Identification of Cell Death Genes in Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus and Their Expression Patterns during Embryonic Development

Apoptosis and autophagy are fundamental mechanisms of programed cell death activated during protostome and deuterostome embryonic development, contributing to the creation and remodeling of different anatomical structures. Programed cell death has been investigated at morphological and biochemical levels, but there is a lack of information concerning gene expression of death factors during deuterostome embryonic development. In this study, we analyze the expression patterns of 13 genes involved in autophagy, extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis during blastula, gastrula, and pluteus stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus embryonic development. Results suggested the occurrence of all death mechanisms investigated, highlighting the simultaneous involvement of apoptosis and autophagy during embryonic development. In particular, gastrula was the developmental stage where the majority of death genes were highly expressed. During gastrulation apoptotic processes are fundamental for tissue remodeling, such as cavity formation and removal of inner ectodermal cells. This is the first report that identifies a panel of cell death genes in the P. lividus genome and analyzes their expression variations during ontogenesis.

Downregulation of microRNA-425-5p suppresses cervical cancer tumorigenesis by targeting AIFM1

Although microRNA-425-5p (miR-425-5p) has been previously revealed to be upregulated in cervical cancer, the cellular function of miR-425-5p in cervical cancer remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the cellular function of miR-425-5p and its underlying mechanism in cervical cancer. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure miR-425-5p expression in several cervical cancer cell lines. TargetScan bioinformatics analysis was used to predict apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria-associated 1 (AIFM1) as a novel target of miR-425-5p, and this was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, cell transfections were used to investigate the role of miR-425-5p in cervical cancer. The effect of miR-425-5p on cell viability and apoptosis in HeLa cells was detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The present study demonstrated that miR-425-5p was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer cell lines. In addition, AIFM1 was identified as a direct target of miR-425-5p and negatively regulated by miR-425-5p. Downregulation of miR-425-5p inhibited HeLa cell viability and induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-425-5p significantly increased the protein and mRNA expression levels of cytochrome c, caspase-3, caspase-9 and DNA damage regulated autophagy modulator 1. The effects of miR-425-5p inhibition on HeLa cell viability and apoptosis were significantly reversed by AIFM1 knockdown. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that miR-425-5p was upregulated in cervical cancer, and downregulation of miR-425-5p inhibited cervical cancer cell growth by targeting AIFM1.

Oxymatrine attenuates amyloid beta 42 (Aβ1–42)-induced neurotoxicity in primary neuronal cells and memory impairment in rats

Amyloid beta 42 (Aβ1–42)-induced oxidative stress causes the death of neuronal cells and is involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Oxymatrine (OMT) inhibits oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the effect of OMT on Aβ1–42-induced neurotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. In the Morris water maze test, OMT significantly decreased escape latency and increased the number of platform crossings. In vitro, OMT markedly increased cell viability and superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, OMT decreased lactate dehydrogenase leakage, malondialdehyde content, and reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner. OMT upregulated the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and downregulated the level of caspase-3. Furthermore, OMT inhibited the activation of MAP kinase (ERK 1/2, JNK) and nuclear factor κB. In summary, OMT may potentially be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Doxorubicin-loaded nanoscale metal–organic framework for tumor-targeting combined chemotherapy and chemodynamic therapy

DMH NPs were prepared and could effectively induce MCF-7 cell death through the combination of chemotherapy and chemodynamic therapy.