Jun/Fos promotes migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by enhancing BORIS promoter activity

GnRHR inhibits the malignant progression of triple-negative breast cancer by upregulating FOS and IFI44L

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) has been identified as a factor that hinders the malignant advancement of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Nevertheless, the specific molecular mechanism responsible for this impact remains unclear. This study demonstrates that GnRHR exhibits low expression levels in TNBC, which correlates with an unfavorable prognosis for patients. GnRHR promotes the expression of FOS, subsequently enhancing IFI44L transcription and expression, thereby inhibiting TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Goserelin reduced the growth rate of TNBC tumors in nude mice, resulting in elevated levels of GnRHR, FOS, and IFI44L in tumor tissues, while the expression of Ki67, vimentin, and N-cadherin decreased. Overall, our results reveal that GnRHR suppresses the malignant progression of TNBC by upregulating FOS and IFI44L. Goserelin slows down the proliferation of TNBC tumors in vivo through the GnRHR/FOS/IFI44L pathway, which may present a new therapeutic approach for the management of TNBC.

Single-cell mitophagy patterns within the tumor microenvironment modulate intercellular communication, impacting the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system with a high incidence that seriously threatens patients' lives and health. However, with the rise and application of new treatments, such as immunotherapy, there are still some restrictions in the treatment and diagnosis of HCC, and the therapeutic effects on patients are not ideal.

Methods

Two single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from HCC patients, encompassing 25,189 cells, were analyzed in the study. We utilized non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering to identify mitophagy patterns in HCC TME cells, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), T cells, B cells, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Cell-to-cell communication was analyzed using the CellChat package, and pseudotime trajectory analysis was performed using the Monocle package. Gene regulatory networks were investigated with the SCENIC package, and survival analyses were conducted with mitophagy-related signatures.

Results

HCC samples analysis identified 22 clusters, including 7 principal cell types. Complex cell communications were observed among these cell types. Mitophagy-related CAFs, TAMs, CD8+ T cells, and B cells were identified. These subtypes had different biological states, cell-cell communications, and metabolic pathways. Mitophagy levels were elevated in tumor samples. Changes in mitophagy-related genes within specific cell subtypes were associated with different overall survival rates. However, mitophagy did not seem to affect the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that mitophagy within the HCC TME modulates intercellular communication, influencing tumor progression and patient prognosis. Targeting mitophagy may offer a promising approach to improve the long-term prognosis of HCC patients.

Integration of meta-analysis and network pharmacology analysis to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: This study will explore the therapeutic value of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) through meta-analysis, combined with network pharmacology analysis. Methods: The results of randomized controlled trials on TCM and HCC were retrieved and summarized from multiple databases. The effective active com-pounds and target genes of the high-frequency TCM were obtained using the TCMSP database, and disease targets of HCC were acquired through the public disease database. The network pharmacology analysis was used to get the core genes and investigate the potential oncogenic molecular mechanism. Results: A total of 14 meta-analysis studies with 1,831 patients suggested that therapy combined TCM is associated with better clinical efficacy and survival prognosis, as well as avoiding many adverse events. A total of 156 compounds, 247 herbal target genes and 36 core genes were identified. The function analysis suggested above genes may participate development in HCC through regulating some pathways, such as HIF-1 pathway and PD-L1 immune-related pathway. Conclusion: TCM, as a novel, safe, and effective multi-mechanism therapy, holds greater value in the treatment of HCC.