ADIPOQ/adiponectin induces cytotoxic autophagy in breast cancer cells through STK11/LKB1-mediated activation of the AMPK-ULK1 axis

Inhibitory effects of black phosphorus nanosheets on tumor cell proliferation through downregulation of ADIPOQ and downstream signaling pathways

Exposure to environmental pollutants, including nanomaterials, has a significant impact on tumor progression. The increased demand for black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs), driven by their exceptional properties, raises concerns about potential environmental contamination. Assessing their toxicity on tumor growth is essential. Herein, we employed a range of biological techniques, including cytotoxicity measurement, bioinformatics tools, proteomics, target gene overexpression, Western blot analysis, and apoptosis detection, to investigate the toxicity of BPNSs across A549, HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines. Our results demonstrated that BPNSs downregulated the expression of ADIPOQ and its associated downstream pathways, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and other unidentified pathways. These downregulated pathways ultimately led to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Notably, the specific downstream pathways involved varied depending on the type of tumors. These insightful findings not only confirm the consistent inhibitory effects of BPNSs across different tumor cells, but also elucidate the cytotoxicity mechanisms of BPNSs in different tumors, providing valuable information for their safe application and health risk assessment.

Rotenone activates the LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 signaling pathway to induce autophagy and apoptosis in rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

The specific mechanism by which rotenone impacts thoracic aortic autophagy and apoptosis is unknown. We aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of rotenone on autophagy and apoptosis in rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells (RTAEC) via activation of the LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 signaling pathway and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of rotenone on autophagy and apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells.

METHODS

In vivo, 60 male SD rats were randomly selected and divided into 5 groups: control (Con), DMSO, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg groups, respectively. After 28 days of treatment, histopathological and ultrastructural changes in each group were observed using HE and transmission electron microscopy; Autophagy, apoptosis, and LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blot; Apoptosis levels in the thoracic aorta were detected by TUNEL. In vitro, RTAEC were cultured and divided into control (Con), DMSO, 20, 100, 500, and 1000 nM groups. After 24 h of intervention, autophagy, apoptosis, and LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 pathway-related factors were detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR; Flow cytometry to detect apoptosis levels; Autophagy was inhibited with 3-MA and CQ to detect apoptosis levels, and changes in autophagy, apoptosis, and downstream factors were detected by the AMPK inhibitor CC intervention.

RESULTS

Gavage in SD rats for 28 days, some degree of damage was observed in the thoracic aorta and heart of the rotenone group, as well as the appearance of autophagic vesicles was observed in the thoracic aorta. TUNEL analysis revealed higher apoptosis in the rotenone group's thoracic aorta; RTAEC cultured in vitro, after 24 h of rotenone intervention, showed increased ROS production and significantly decreased ATP production. The flow cytometry data suggested an increase in the number of apoptotic RTAEC. The thoracic aorta and RTAEC in the rotenone group displayed elevated levels of autophagy and apoptosis, and the LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 pathway proteins were activated and expressed at higher levels. Apoptosis and autophagy were both suppressed by the autophagy inhibitors 3-MA and CQ. The AMPK inhibitor CC reduced autophagy and apoptosis in RTAEC and suppressed the production of the AMPK downstream factors ULK1 and P-ULK1.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotenone may promote autophagy in the thoracic aorta and RTAEC by activating the LKB1-AMPK-ULK1 signaling pathway, thereby inducing apoptosis.

Feedback loop between hypoxia and energy metabolic reprogramming aggravates the radioresistance of cancer cells

Radiotherapy is one of the mainstream approaches for cancer treatment, although the clinical outcomes are limited due to the radioresistance of tumor cells. Hypoxia and metabolic reprogramming are the hallmarks of tumor initiation and progression and are closely linked to radioresistance. Inside a tumor, the rate of angiogenesis lags behind cell proliferation, and the underdevelopment and abnormal functions of blood vessels in some loci result in oxygen deficiency in cancer cells, i.e., hypoxia. This prevents radiation from effectively eliminating the hypoxic cancer cells. Cancer cells switch to glycolysis as the main source of energy, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, to sustain their rapid proliferation rates. Therefore, pathways involved in metabolic reprogramming and hypoxia-induced radioresistance are promising intervention targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms and pathways underlying radioresistance due to hypoxia and metabolic reprogramming in detail, including DNA repair, role of cancer stem cells, oxidative stress relief, autophagy regulation, angiogenesis and immune escape. In addition, we proposed the existence of a feedback loop between energy metabolic reprogramming and hypoxia, which is associated with the development and exacerbation of radioresistance in tumors. Simultaneous blockade of this feedback loop and other tumor-specific targets can be an effective approach to overcome radioresistance of cancer cells. This comprehensive overview provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying tumor radiosensitivity and progression.

FGF21-mediated autophagy: Remodeling the homeostasis in response to stress in liver diseases

Liver diseases are worldwide problems closely associated with various stresses, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress. The exact interplay between stress and liver diseases remains unclear. Autophagy plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis, and recent studies indicate tight crosstalk between stress and autophagy in liver diseases. Once the balance between damage and autophagy is broken, autophagy can no longer resist injury or maintain homeostasis. In recent years, FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21)-induced autophagy has attracted much attention. FGF21 is regarded as a stress hormone and can be up-regulated by an abundance of signaling pathways in response to stress. Also, increased FGF21 activates autophagy by a complicated signaling network in which mTOR plays a pivotal role. This review summarizes the mechanism of FGF21-mediated autophagy and its derived application in the defense of stress in liver diseases and offers a glimpse into its promising prospect in future clinical practice.

Pan-cancer analysis of SLC2A family genes as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Background

The major facilitator superfamily glucose transporters (GLUTs), encoded by solute carrier 2A (SLC2A) genes, mediate the transmembrane movement and uptake of glucose. To satisfy the improved energy demands, glycolysis flux is increased in cancers compared with healthy tissues. Multiple diseases, including cancer, have been associated with GLUTs. Nevertheless, not much research has been done on the functions of SLC2As in pan-cancer prognosis or their clinical treatment potential.

Methods

The SLC2A family genes' level of expression and prognostic values were analyzed in relation to pan-cancer. We then examined the association among SLC2As expression and TME, Stemness score, clinical characteristics, immune subtypes, and drug sensitivity. We merged bioinformatics analysis techniques with up-to-date public databases. Additionally, SLC2As from the KOBAS database were subjected to enrichment analysis.

Results

We discovered that SLC2As' gene expression differed significantly between normal tissues and many malignancies. A number of tumors from various databases demonstrate a relationship between prognosis and SLC2A family gene expression. For instance, SLC2A2 and SLC2A5 were associated with the overall survival (OS) of hepatocellular carcinoma. SLC2A1 was associated with the OS of lung adenocarcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Moreover, the SLC2A family gene expression is significantly correlated with the pan-cancer stromal and immune scores, and the RNA and DNA stemness scores. Furthermore, we found that the majority of SLC2As had a strong correlation with the tumor stages in KIRC. The immunological subtypes and all members of the SLC2A gene family exhibited a substantial correlation. Moreover, pathways containing insulin resistance and adipocytokine signaling pathway may influence the progression of some cancers. Finally, there is a significant positive or negative connection between drug sensitivity and SLC2A1 expression.

Conclusion

Our research highlights the significant promise of SLC2As as prognostic indicators and offers insightful approaches for upcoming exploration of SLC2As as putative therapeutic targets in malignancies.

AdipoRon promotes amyloid-β clearance through enhancing autophagy via nuclear GAPDH-induced sirtuin 1 activation in Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is one of the more important pathological markers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The development of AD impairs autophagy, which results in an imbalanced clearance of Aβ. Our previous research demonstrated that AdipoRon, an agonist of adiponectin receptors, decreased the deposition of Aβ and enhanced cognitive function in AD. However, the exact mechanisms by which AdipoRon affects Aβ clearance remain unclear.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We studied how AdipoRon affects autophagy in HT22 cells and APP/PS1 transgenic mice. We also investigated the signalling pathway involved and used pharmacological inhibitors to examine the role of autophagy in this process.

KEY RESULTS

AdipoRon promotes Aβ clearance by activating neuronal autophagy in the APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Interestingly, we found that AdipoRon induces the nuclear translocation of GAPDH, where it interacts with the SIRT1/DBC1 complex. This interaction then leads to the release of DBC1 and the activation of SIRT1, which in turn activates autophagy. Importantly, we found that inhibiting either GAPDH or SIRT1 to suppress the activity of SIRT1 counteracts the elevated autophagy and decreased Aβ deposition caused by AdipoRon. This suggests that SIRT1 plays a critical role in the effect of AdipoRon on autophagic induction in AD.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

AdipoRon promotes the clearance of Aβ by enhancing autophagy through the AdipoR1/AMPK-dependent nuclear translocation of GAPDH and subsequent activation of SIRT1. This novel molecular pathway sheds light on the modulation of autophagy in AD and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.

Crosstalk between metabolism and cell death in tumorigenesis

It is generally recognized that tumor cells proliferate more rapidly than normal cells. Due to such an abnormally rapid proliferation rate, cancer cells constantly encounter the limits of insufficient oxygen and nutrient supplies. To satisfy their growth needs and resist adverse environmental events, tumor cells modify the metabolic pathways to produce both extra energies and substances required for rapid growth. Realizing the metabolic characters special for tumor cells will be helpful for eliminating them during therapy. Cell death is a hot topic of long-term study and targeting cell death is one of the most effective ways to repress tumor growth. Many studies have successfully demonstrated that metabolism is inextricably linked to cell death of cancer cells. Here we summarize the recently identified metabolic characters that specifically impact on different types of cell deaths and discuss their roles in tumorigenesis.

Targeting Trop2 by Bruceine D suppresses breast cancer metastasis by blocking Trop2/β-catenin positive feedback loop

INTRODUCTION

Tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (Trop2) has been used as a transport gate for cytotoxic agents into cells in antibody-drug conjugate designs because of its expression in a wide range of solid tumors. However, the specific role of Trop2 itself in breast cancer progression remains unclear and small molecules targeting Trop2 have not yet been reported.

OBJECTIVES

To screen small molecules targeting Trop2, and to reveal its pharmacological effects and the molecular mechanisms of action.

METHODS

Small molecule targeting Trop2 was identified by cell membrane chromatography, and validated by cellular thermal shift assay and point mutation analyses. We investigated the pharmacological effects of Trop2 inhibitor using RNA-seq, human foreskin fibroblast (HFF)-derived extracellular matrix (ECM), Matrigel drop invasion assays, colony-forming assay, xenograft tumor model, 4T1 orthotopic metastasis model and 4T1 experimental metastasis model. The molecular mechanism was determined using immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Here we identified Bruceine D (BD) as the inhibitor of Trop2, and demonstrated anti-metastasis effects of BD in breast cancer. Notably, Lys307 and Glu310 residues of Trop2 acted as critical sites for BD binding. Mechanistically, BD suppressed Trop2-induced cancer metastasis by blocking the formation of Trop2/β-catenin positive loop, in which the Trop2/β-catenin complex prevented β-catenin from being degraded via the ubiquitin-proteosome pathway. Destabilized β-catenin caused by BD reduced nucleus translocation, leading to the reduction of transcription of Trop2, the reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and the inhibition of ECM remodeling, further inhibiting cancer metastasis. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of BD on lung metastatic colonization and the beneficial effects of BD on prolongation of survival were validated in 4T1 experimental metastasis model.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the tumor-promoting role of Trop2 in breast cancer by stabilizing β-catenin in Trop2/β-catenin positive loop, and suggest Bruceine D as a promising candidate for Trop2 inhibition.

Non-apoptotic regulated cell death mediates reprogramming of the tumour immune microenvironment by macrophages

Tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) plays an indispensable role in tumour progression, and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immune cells in TIME. Non-apoptotic regulated cell death (RCD) can avoid the influence of tumour apoptosis resistance on anti-tumour immune response. Specifically, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and necroptosis mediate the crosstalk between TAMs and tumour cells in TIME, thus reprogram TIME and affect the progress of tumour. In addition, although some achievements have been made in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), there is still defect that ICIs are only effective for some people because non-apoptotic RCD can bypass the apoptosis resistance of tumour. As a result, ICIs combined with targeting non-apoptotic RCD may be a promising solution. In this paper, the basic molecular mechanism of non-apoptotic RCD, the way in which non-apoptotic RCD mediates crosstalk between TAMs and tumour cells to reprogram TIME, and the latest research progress in targeting non-apoptotic RCD and ICIs are reviewed.

Dynamic Assembly of DNA Nanostructures in Cancer Cells Enables the Coupling of Autophagy Activating and Real-Time Tracking

Developing dynamic nanostructures for in situ regulation of biological processes inside living cells is of great importance in biomedical research. Herein we report the cascaded assembly of Y-shaped branched DNA nanostructure (YDN) during intracellular autophagy. YDN contains one arm with semi-i-motif sequence and Cy3-BHQ2, and another arm with an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site and Cy5-BHQ3. Upon uptake by cancer cells, intermolecular i-motif structures are formed in response to lysosomal H+, causing the formation of YDN-dimer and the recovery of Cy3 fluorescence; when escapes occur from the lysosome to the cytoplasm, the YDN-dimer responds to the overexpressed APE1, leading to the assembly of YDN into the DNA network and the fluorescence recovery of Cy5. Simultaneously, the cascaded assembly activates autophagy, and thus the process of assembly of YDN and autophagy flux can be spatiotemporally coupled. This work illustrates the potential of DNA nanostructures for the in situ regulation of intracellular dynamic events with spatiotemporal control.

Exosomal microRNAs in regulation of tumor cells resistance to apoptosis

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle that contains bioactive molecules that can be secreted by most cells. Nevertheless, the content of these cells differs depending on the cell from which they originate. The exosome plays a crucial role in modulating intercellular communication by conveying molecular messages to neighboring or distant cells. Cancer-derived exosomes can transfer several types of molecules into the tumor microenvironment, including high levels of microRNA (miRNA). These miRNAs significantly affect cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis resistance, metastasis, and immune evasion. Increasing evidence indicates that exosomal miRNAs (exomiRs) are crucial to regulating cancer resistance to apoptosis. In cancer cells, exomiRs orchestrate communication channels between them and their surrounding microenvironment, modulating gene expression and controlling apoptosis signaling pathways. This review presents an outline of present-day knowledge of the mechanisms that affect target cells and drive cancer resistance to apoptosis. Also, our study looks at the regulatory role of exomiRs in mediating intercellular communication between tumor cells and surrounding microenvironmental cells, specifically stromal and immune cells, to evade therapy-induced apoptosis.

Implication of IZUMO2 in the cell-in-cell phenomenon: A potential therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the loss of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The aggressive clinicopathological features and resistance to currently available therapeutics of the disease warrant an urgent need for the development of novel alternate therapeutic options. We have previously reported adiponectin-expressing regulatory T cells (A-Tregs), which can induce apoptosis in TNBC through the cell-in-cell phenomenon. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecule that allows TNBC cells to engulf A-Tregs.

METHODS

A monoclonal antibody, which repressed the engulfment of A-Tregs by TNBC cells, was developed. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry and small interfering RNAs-mediated gene silencing was performed to characterize the antigen.

RESULTS

We successfully generated a monoclonal antibody, designated G1D7, which abrogated the engulfment of A-Tregs by TNBC and subsequent A-Treg-mediated apoptosis. G1D7 detected the immunoglobulin-like type I membrane protein IZUMO2, a molecule related to IZUMO1 that is essential for cell-cell membrane binding and fusion of sperm to oocyte.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the importance of IZUMO2 on TNBC cells in facilitating the cell-in-cell phenomenon by A-Tregs.

AMPK activation enhances osteoblast differentiation on a titanium disc via autophagy

PURPOSE

The acquisition of osseointegration during implant therapy is slower and poorer in patients with diabetes compared with healthy persons. The serum concentration of adiponectin in patients with type II diabetes is lower than that of healthy persons via the suppression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Therefore, we hypothesized that the AMPK activation enhances bone formation around implants, resulting in the improved acquisition of osseointegration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of AMPK activation on osteoblast differentiation and its mechanism of downstream signaling on titanium disc (Ti).

METHODS

Confluent mouse pre-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) cells (1 × 105 cells/well) were cultured with BMP-2 for osteoblast differentiation, in the presence or absence AICAR, an AMPK activator. We examined the effects of AMPK activation on osteoblast differentiation and the underlying mechanism on a Ti using a CCK8 assay, a luciferase assay, quantitative RT-PCR, and western blotting.

RESULTS

Although the proliferation rate of osteoblasts was not different between a Ti and a tissue culture polystyrene dish, the addition of AICAR, AMPK activator slightly enhanced osteoblast proliferation on the Ti. AICAR enhanced the BMP-2-dependent transcriptional activity on the Ti, leading to upregulation in the expression of osteogenesis-associated molecules. AICAR simultaneously upregulated the expression of autophagy-associated molecules on the Ti, especially LC3-II. AdipoRon, an adiponectin receptor type1/type2 activator activated AMPK, and upregulated osteogenesis-associated molecules on Ti.

CONCLUSIONS

AMPK activation enhances osteoblast differentiation on a Ti via autophagy, suggesting that it promotes the acquisition of osseointegration during implant therapy.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease promotes breast cancer progression through upregulated hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been shown to influence breast cancer progression, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of NAFLD on breast cancer tumor growth and cell viability through the potential mediator, hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Both peritumoral and systemic administration of FGF21 promoted breast cancer tumor growth, while FGF21 knockout attenuated the tumor-promoting effects of the high-fat diet. Mechanistically, exogenous FGF21 treatment enhanced the anti-apoptotic ability of breast cancer cells through STAT3 and Akt/FoXO1 signaling pathways, and mitigated doxorubicin-induced cell death. Furthermore, we observed overexpression of FGF21 in tumor tissues from breast cancer patients, which was associated with poor prognosis. These findings suggest a novel role for FGF21 as an upregulated mediator in the context of NAFLD, promoting breast cancer development and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Autophagic and apoptotic proteins in goat corpus luteum and the effect of Adiponectin/AdipoRon on luteal cell autophagy and apoptosis

The most abundant adipokine Adiponectin (APN) is present in ovaries. AdipoRon is a small molecule oral APN receptor agonist that binds and activates APN receptors. However, the function of APN/AdipoRon in regulation of luteal cell processes has not been elucidated. To investigate autophagic and apoptotic proteins in goat CLs and effects of APN/AdipoRon on goat luteal autophagy and apoptosis, goat CLs were collected during the early, mid and late luteal stages of the estrous cycle to evaluate autophagic and apoptotic protein patterns. LC3B, Beclin 1, Caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 as well as p-AMPK were differentially abundant at different stages of CL development. All these proteins were primarily localized in large and small luteal steroidogenic cells. Then, isolated luteal steroidogenic cells were evaluated to ascertain the functions and mechanism of APN/AdipoRon in luteal autophagy and apoptosis. Treatment with AdipoRon (25 and 50 μM) and APN (1 μg/mL) for 48 h resulted in a decrease in cell viability and P4 level, increased autophagic and apoptotic proteins. Treatment with AdipoRon (25 μM) led to rapid and transient p-AMPK activation, with p-AMPK elevated at 30 min to 1 h with there being a return to a basal concentration at 2 h post-treatment. Moreover, treatment with AdipoRon led to an increase in autophagy by activating AMPK, which was markedly reduced with treatment with an AMPK inhibitor Compound C and siAMPK, however, abundances of apoptotic proteins were not affected by these treatments. In conclusion, autophagy and apoptosis are involved in the structural regression of goat CL. APN/AdipoRon led to a lesser cell viability and P4 concentration, and activated autophagy through induction of the AMPK while there was induction of apoptosis through an AMPK - independent pathway in goat luteal cells.

Therapeutic potential of natural products against Alzheimer's disease via autophagic removal of Aβ

The pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, include the deposition of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles. A decline in cognitive ability is related to the accumulation of Aβ in patients with AD. Autophagy, which is a primary intracellular mechanism for degrading aggregated proteins and damaged organelles, plays a crucial role in AD. In this review, we summarize the most recent research progress regarding the process of autophagy and the effect of autophagy on Aβ. We further discuss some typical monomers of natural products that contribute to the clearance of Aβ by autophagy, which can alleviate AD. This provides a new perspective for the application of autophagy modulation in natural product therapy for AD.

Combination of the biomarkers for aging and cancer? - Challenges and current status

The proportion of patients diagnosed with cancer has been shown to rise with the increasing aging global population. Advanced age is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in older adults. As individuals experience varying health statuses, particularly with age, it poses a challenge for medical professionals in the cancer field to obtain standardized treatment outcomes. Hence, relying solely on chronological age and disease-related parameters is inadequate for clinical decision-making for elderly patients. With functional, multimorbidity-related, and psychosocial changes that occur with aging, oncologic diseases may develop and be treated differently from younger patients, leading to unique challenges in treatment efficacy and tolerance. To overcome this challenge, personalized therapy using biomarkers has emerged as a promising solution. Various categories of biomarkers, including inflammatory, hematological, metabolic, endocrine, and DNA modification-related indicators, may display features related to both cancer and aging, aiding in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for patients with cancer in old age. Furthermore, physical functional measurements as non-molecular phenotypic biomarkers are being investigated for their potential complementary role in structured multidomain strategies to combat age-related diseases such as cancer. This review provides insight into the current developments, recent discoveries, and significant challenges in cancer and aging biomarkers, with a specific focus on their application in advanced age.

The investigation of circRNA profiling reveals the regulatory role of the hsa_circ_0000375/miR-7706 pathway in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) take an effect on tumorigenesis and progression. However, circRNAs have not been systematically identified in breast cancer (BC) as crucial regulators in multitudinous biological processes. This study is conducted to explore novel circRNAs in BC and the corresponding mechanisms of their action.

METHODS

The circRNA expression profile and RNA-sequencing data about BC were respectively downloaded from public database. Differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were identified by fold change filtering. The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network was established based on the relationship between circular RNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the overlapped genes were carried out to predict the potential functions and mechanisms of circRNAs in BC. The CytoHubba plugin in Cytoscape was applied to identify the hub genes from the PPI regulatory network. Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to perform survival analysis of these hub genes further. Real-time PCR was performed to test the expression of circRNA in BC tissues. Cell function studies including transwell analysis and CCK-8 analysis were used to investigate circRNAs' biological functions.

RESULTS

A total of seven circRNAs exhibiting differential expression were identified in this study. After the intersection between the predicted target miRNA and the down-regulated differential miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), circRNA-miRNA interactions involving 3 circRNAs and 4 miRNAs were identified. Venn diagram was utilized to intersect the predicted target genes of the 4 miRNAs and the down-regulated differential genes in BC, and 149 overlapped genes were screened out ulteriorly. Additionally, we built a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and selected six hub genes. Moreover, the survival data of BC patients suggested that low expression of ADIPOQ, LPL and LEP were significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Results from real-time PCR indicated that hsa_circ_0000375 was significantly down-regulated in breast cancer tissues. Functional in vitro experiments showed that over-expression of hsa_circ_0000375 can restrain proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells. Further verification indicated that hsa_circ_0000375 exerted its anti-oncogene effect via sponge of miR-7706.

CONCLUSIONS

This study constructed and analyzed a circRNA-associated ceRNA regulatory network and uncovered that hsa_circ_0000375 exerted its anti-oncogene effect via sponge of miR-7706.

Beyond Body Size: Adiponectin as a Key Player in Obesity-Driven Cancers

Obesity, a complex and multifactorial disease influenced by genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, has reached epidemic proportions globally, posing a significant health challenge. In addition to its established association with cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for various cancers. However, the precise biological mechanisms linking obesity and cancer remain largely understood. Adipose tissue, an active endocrine organ, produces numerous hormones and bioactive molecules known as adipokines, which play a crucial role in metabolism, immune responses, and systemic inflammation. Notably, adiponectin (APN), the principal adipocyte secretory protein, exhibits reduced expression levels in obesity. In this scoping review, we explore and discuss the role of APN in influencing cancer in common malignancies, including lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, gastric, and endometrial cancers. Our review aims to emphasize the critical significance of investigating this field, as it holds great potential for the development of innovative treatment strategies that specifically target obesity-related malignancies. Furthermore, the implementation of more rigorous and comprehensive prevention and treatment policies for obesity is imperative in order to effectively mitigate the risk of associated diseases, such as cancer.

Expression profiling of luminal B breast tumor in Indian women

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed at profiling of luminal B breast cancer specific gene expression pattern in Indian women using mRNA-seq and validation based on TCGA expression data.

METHODS

RNA isolated from luminal B tumor and adjacent normal tissues was used for library construction and sequencing. Reference-based assemblies of these reads were used for differential gene expression analysis using DeSeq2. The DEGs were evaluated using TCGA expression data. Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to evaluate association between genes showing luminal B specific differential expression pattern and breast cancer prognosis and statistical significance was assessed using log-rank test. Alternate splicing analysis was done using rmats.

RESULTS

Differential expression analysis identified 2371 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in luminal B breast tumors in comparison with adjacent normal tissues of Indian Women. Of them, 1692 DEGs were validated using TCGA luminal B paired samples. Integration of this data with the DEGs obtained by comparative analysis of unpaired luminal B with luminal A unpaired samples from TCGA resulted in 291 DEGs showing luminal B specific expression pattern. Further, 26 genes of prognostic value were identified. Differential splicing analysis between luminal B tumors and adjacent normal tissues in our cohort led to the identification of 687 genes showing significant differential alternate splicing events.

CONCLUSION

This study profiled gene expression pattern of luminal B tumors of Indian women and identified 26 key genes of prognostic value for luminal B breast cancer. This study also profiled differential alternate splicing and identified important alternate splicing events in luminal B breast cancer.

JARID2 coordinates with the NuRD complex to facilitate breast tumorigenesis through response to adipocyte-derived leptin

BACKGROUND

Proteins containing the Jumonji C (JmjC) domain participated in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are still poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the role of Jumonji and the AT-rich interaction domain-containing 2 (JARID2) - a JmjC family protein - in breast cancer, as well as its latent association with obesity.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and other databases were used to analyze the expression of JARID2 in breast cancer cells. Growth curve, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation, and cell invasion experiments were used to detect whether JARID2 affected breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Spheroidization-based experiments and xenotumor transplantation in NOD/SCID mice were used to examine the association between JARID2 and breast cancer stemness. RNA-sequencing, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were used to identify the cell processes in which JARID2 participates. Immunoaffinity purification and silver staining mass spectrometry were conducted to search for proteins that might interact with JARID2. The results were further verified using co-immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down experiments. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing, we sought the target genes that JARID2 and metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) jointly regulated; the results were validated by ChIP-PCR, quantitative ChIP (qChIP) and ChIP-reChIP assays. A coculture experiment was used to explore the interactions between breast cancer cells and adipocytes.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that JARID2 was highly expressed in multiple types of cancer including breast cancer. JARID2 promoted glycolysis, lipid metabolism, proliferation, invasion, and stemness of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, JARID2 physically interacted with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, transcriptionally repressing a series of tumor suppressor genes such as BRCA2 DNA repair associated (BRCA2), RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1), and inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type II B (INPP4B). Additionally, JARID2 expression was regulated by the obesity-associated adipokine leptin via Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway in the breast cancer microenvironment. Analysis of various online databases also indicated that JARID2/MTA1 was associated with a poor prognosis of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicated that JARID2 promoted breast tumorigenesis and development, confirming JARID2 as a target for cancer treatment.

Therapeutic strategies targeting AMPK-dependent autophagy in cancer cells

Macroautophagy is a health-modifying process of engulfing misfolded or aggregated proteins or damaged organelles, coating these proteins or organelles into vesicles, fusion of vesicles with lysosomes to form autophagic lysosomes, and degradation of the encapsulated contents. It is also a self-rescue strategy in response to harsh environments and plays an essential role in cancer cells. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the central pathway that regulates autophagy initiation and autophagosome formation by phosphorylating targets such as mTORC1 and unc-51 like activating kinase 1 (ULK1). AMPK is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase that acts as an energy sensor in cells and regulates various metabolic processes, including those involved in cancer. The regulatory network of AMPK is complicated and can be regulated by multiple upstream factors, such as LKB1, AKT, PPAR, SIRT1, or noncoding RNAs. Currently, AMPK is being investigated as a novel target for anticancer therapies based on its role in macroautophagy regulation. Herein, we review the effects of AMPK-dependent autophagy on tumor cell survival and treatment strategies targeting AMPK.

Adiponectin-expressing Treg-containing T cell fraction inhibits tumor growth in orthotopically implanted triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

In our previous study, we identified a population of adiponectin expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs) residing within thymic nurse cell complexes, which were capable of inhibiting the development of breast cancer in vitro. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with no proper treatment at present is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of a cultured T cell fraction comprising adiponectin-expressing Tregs, referred to as A-TregTF (adiponectin-expressing Treg-containing T cell fraction), in inhibiting the progression of TNBC in vivo.

METHODS

The efficacy of a spontaneously expanding T cell fraction comprising adiponectin-expressing Treg in inhibiting tumor growth was analyzed in a murine orthotopic 4 T1-Luc TNBC model.

RESULTS

The treatment with T cell fraction containing adiponectin-expressing Tregs significantly inhibited the growth and metastasis of orthotopically transplanted 4 T1-Luc tumor cells. Histopathological examination further revealed that the adiponectin-expressing Tregs infiltrated the tumor tissue via a cell-in-cell mechanism and were found to be specifically localized around the necrotic areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our findings, the T cell fraction comprising adiponectin-expressing Tregs, represents a potential candidate for adoptive cell therapy against TNBC.

Active Autophagy Is Associated with Favorable Outcome in Patients with Surgically Resected Cholangiocarcinoma

Data on the impact of autophagy in primary cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain scarce. Here, we therefore investigated the role of active autophagy and its impact on survival in CCA patients. All CCA patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent between 08/2005 and 12/2021 at University Hospital Frankfurt were evaluated. Autophagic key proteins were studied by immunohistochemistry. iCCA processed for gene expression profiling of immune-exhaustion gene sets was used for an autophagy approach in silico. Active autophagy was present in 23.3% of the 172 CCA patients. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed median OS of 68.4 months (95% CI = 46.9-89.9 months) and 32.7 months (95% CI = 23.6-41.8 months) for active and non-active autophagy, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). In multivariate analysis, absence of active autophagy (HR = 2, 95% CI = 1.1-3.5, p = 0.015) was an independent risk factor for OS. Differential-expression profiling revealed significantly upregulated histone deacetylases (HDAC) mRNA in patients showing non-active autophagy. In line with this, pan-acetylated lysine was significantly more prominent in CCA patients with ongoing autophagy (p = 0.005). Our findings strengthen the role of active autophagy as a prognostically relevant marker and a potential therapeutic target.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 as the therapeutic target of atherosclerotic diseases: past, present and future

Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 2(PTPN2), an important member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family, can regulate various signaling pathways and biological processes by dephosphorylating receptor protein tyrosine kinases. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that PTPN2 is involved in the occurrence and development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has been reported that PTPN2 exerts an anti-atherosclerotic effect by regulating vascular endothelial injury, monocyte proliferation and migration, macrophage polarization, T cell polarization, autophagy, pyroptosis, and insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on the role of PTPN2 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis to provide a rationale for better future research and therapeutic interventions.

Single-cell analysis of white adipose tissue reveals the tumor-promoting adipocyte subtypes

BACKGROUND

The tumor-adipose microenvironment (TAME) is characterized by the enrichment of adipocytes, and is considered a special ecosystem that supports cancer progression. However, the heterogeneity and diversity of adipocytes in TAME remains poorly understood.

METHODS

We conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of adipocytes in mouse and human white adipose tissue (WAT). We analyzed several adipocyte subtypes to evaluate their relationship and potential as prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). The potential drugs are screened by using bioinformatics methods. The tumor-promoting effects of a typical adipocyte subtype in breast cancer are validated by performing in vitro functional assays and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in clinical samples.

RESULTS

We profiled a comprehensive single-cell atlas of adipocyte in mouse and human WAT and described their characteristics, origins, development, functions and interactions with immune cells. Several cancer-associated adipocyte subtypes, namely DPP4+ adipocytes in visceral adipose and ADIPOQ+ adipocytes in subcutaneous adipose, are identified. We found that high levels of these subtypes are associated with unfavorable outcomes in four typical adipose-associated cancers. Some potential drugs including Trametinib, Selumetinib and Ulixertinib are discovered. Emphatically, knockdown of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and AdipoR2 impaired the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. Patients with AdipoR2-high breast cancer display significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) than those with AdipoR2-low breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide a novel understanding of TAME at the single-cell level. Based on our findings, several adipocyte subtypes have negative impact on prognosis. These cancer-associated adipocytes may serve as key prognostic predictor and potential targets for treatment in the future.

The Causal Effect of Dietary Composition on the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Breast cancer has become the most common malignancy among women, posing a severe health risk to women worldwide and creating a heavy social burden. Based on current observational studies, the dietary factor may have a causal relationship with breast cancer. Therefore, exploring how dietary composition affects breast cancer incidence will provide nutrition strategies for clinicians and women. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to find the causal effect of four kinds of relative macronutrient intake (protein, carbohydrate, sugar, and fat) on the risk of breast cancer and its subtypes [Luminal A, Luminal B, Luminal B HER2-negative, HER2-positive, Triple-negative, Estrogen receptor (ER) positive, and ER-negative breast cancer]. The Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q statistic, funnel plot, and leave-one-out (Loo) analysis were all used in a sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of MR. Genetically, a higher relative protein intake was found as a protective factor for Luminal A and overall breast cancer, which was inconsistent with recent findings. A higher relative sugar intake could genetically promote the risk of Luminal B and HER2-positive breast cancer. Conclusions: A higher protein proportion in diet genetically reduces the risk of breast cancer, while higher relative sugar intake does the opposite.

Potential activity of adiponectin-expressing regulatory T cells against triple-negative breast cancer cells through the cell-in-cell phenomenon

BACKGROUND

A population of regulatory T cells (Treg), which reside within thymic nurse cell complexes, express adiponectin and abrogate breast cancer development in transgenic mice. In this study, we examined whether adiponectin-expressing Treg could impair triple-negative breast cancer, which is defined by a lack of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2.

METHODS

CD4- and CD25-positive cells were sorted from cultured T lymphocytes of a previously characterized experimental thymic tumor model composed of thymic nurse cells and abundant lymphoid stroma. These sorted cells were examined for FOXP3 and adiponectin immunoreactivity and subsequently exposed to triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-157 and -231 cells.

RESULTS

Adiponectin-expressing Treg were obtained by CD4- and CD25-positive sorting and cell death was induced in triple-negative breast cancer cells through the cell-in-cell phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiponectin-expressing Treg may be candidates for adoptive cell therapy against triple-negative breast cancer.

Genetic alterations in LEP and ADIPOQ genes and risk for breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Introduction

Breast cancer has a strong genetic predisposition, and its genetic architecture is not fully understood thus far. In this study, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the association of genetic alterations in LEP and ADIPOQ genes, as well as their receptor-encoded genes with risk for breast cancer.

Methods

Only published studies conducted in humans and written in English were identified by searching PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHIL and Embase from their inception to October 2022. Eligibility assessment and data collection were completed independently by two researchers. Statistical analyses were done using the STATA software.

Results

After literature search, 33 publications were eligible for inclusion. Overall, LEP gene rs7799039-G allele (odds ratio [OR]: 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62 to 0.98) and ADIPOQ gene rs1501299-T allele (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.88) were associated with the significant risk of breast cancer. In subgroup analyses, differences in menopausal status, obesity, race, study design, diagnosis of breast cancer, genotyping method and sample size might account for the divergent observations of individual studies. Circulating leptin levels were comparable across genotypes of LEP gene rs7799039, as well as that of LEPR gene rs1137101 (P>0.05). Begg's funnel plots seemed symmetrical, with the exception of LEPR gene rs1137100 and ADIPOQ gene rs1501299.

Discussion

Taken together, we found, in this meta-analysis, that LEP gene rs7799039 and ADIPOQ gene rs1501299 were two promising candidate loci in predisposition to breast cancer risk.

RAB21 controls autophagy and cellular energy homeostasis by regulating retromer-mediated recycling of SLC2A1/GLUT1

The endosomal system maintains cellular homeostasis by coordinating multiple vesicular trafficking events, and the retromer complex plays a critical role in endosomal cargo recognition and sorting. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for the small GTPase RAB21 in regulating retromer-mediated recycling of the glucose transporter SLC2A1/GLUT1 and macroautophagy/autophagy. RAB21 depletion mis-sorts SLC2A1 to lysosomes and affects glucose uptake, thereby activating the AMPK-ULK1 pathway to increase autophagic flux. RAB21 depletion also increases lysosome function. Notably, RAB21 depletion does not overtly affect retrograde transport of IGF2R/CI-M6PR or WLS from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network. We speculate that RAB21 regulates fission of retromer-decorated endosomal tubules, as RAB21 depletion causes accumulation of the SNX27-containing retromer complex on enlarged endosomes at the perinuclear region. Functionally, RAB21 depletion sensitizes cancer cells to energy stress and inhibits tumor growth in vivo, suggesting an oncogenic role for RAB21. Overall, our study illuminates the role of RAB21 in regulating endosomal dynamics and maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and suggests RAB21 as a potential metabolic target for cancer therapy.

Towards dual function of autophagy in breast cancer: A potent regulator of tumor progression and therapy response

As a devastating disease, breast cancer has been responsible for decrease in life expectancy of females and its morbidity and mortality are high. Breast cancer is the most common tumor in females and its treatment has been based on employment of surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The changes in biological behavior of breast tumor relies on genomic and epigenetic mutations and depletions as well as dysregulation of molecular mechanisms that autophagy is among them. Autophagy function can be oncogenic in increasing tumorigenesis, and when it has pro-death function, it causes reduction in viability of tumor cells. The carcinogenic function of autophagy in breast tumor is an impediment towards effective therapy of patients, as it can cause drug resistance and radio-resistance. The important hallmarks of breast tumor such as glucose metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis can be regulated by autophagy. Oncogenic autophagy can inhibit apoptosis, while it promotes stemness of breast tumor. Moreover, autophagy demonstrates interaction with tumor microenvironment components such as macrophages and its level can be regulated by anti-tumor compounds in breast tumor therapy. The reasons of considering autophagy in breast cancer therapy is its pleiotropic function, dual role (pro-survival and pro-death) and crosstalk with important molecular mechanisms such as apoptosis. Moreover, current review provides a pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of autophagy in breast tumor.

β-Ionone represses renal cell carcinoma progression through activating LKB1/AMPK-triggered autophagy

β-Ionone, the end ring analog of β-carotenoids, has been proven to have an antitumor effect in a variety of cancers. In this study, we investigated the impact of β-ionone on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines (786-O and ACHN) using colony formation assays, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot analysis. We found that β-ionone effectively inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells in vitro, which was also confirmed in a xenograft model. Moreover, we found that β-ionone could induce autophagy, as indicated by LC3 puncta in 786-O and ACHN cell lines and the expression of LC3 in β-ionone-treated RCC cells. To further explore the underlying mechanism, we assessed liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase (LKB1/AMPK) signaling pathway activity, and the results showed that β-ionone inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells by inducing autophagy via the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. In summary, our findings provide a new therapeutic strategy of β-ionone-induced autophagy in RCC.

Synergistic activation of AMPK by AdipoR1/2 agonist and inhibitor of EDPs-EBP interaction recover NAFLD through enhancing mitochondrial function in mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a common hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. However, there are no effective therapy to treat this devastating disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that the generation of elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) and the inhibition of adiponectin receptors (AdipoR)1/2 plays essential roles in hepatic lipid metabolism and liver fibrosis. We recently reported that the AdipoR1/2 dual agonist JT003 significantly degraded the extracellular matrix (ECM) and ameliorated liver fibrosis. However, the degradation of the ECM lead to the generation of EDPs, which could further alter liver homeostasis negatively. Thus, in this study, we successfully combined AdipoR1/2 agonist JT003 with V14, which acted as an inhibitor of EDPs-EBP interaction to overcome the defect of ECM degradation. We found that combination of JT003 and V14 possessed excellent synergistic benefits on ameliorating NASH and liver fibrosis than either alone since they compensate the shortage of each other. These effects are induced by the enhancement of the mitochondrial antioxidant capacity, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis via AMPK pathway. Furthermore, specific suppression of AMPK could block the effects of the combination of JT003 and V14 on reduced oxidative stress, increased mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. These positive results suggested that this administration of combination of AdipoR1/2 dual agonist and inhibitor of EDPs-EBP interaction can be recommended alternatively for an effective and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NAFLD and NASH related fibrosis.

Cancer-Associated Adipocytes and Breast Cancer: Intertwining in the Tumor Microenvironment and Challenges for Cancer Therapy

Adipocytes are the main components in breast tissue, and cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) are one of the most important components in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer (BC). Bidirectional regulation was found between CAAs and BC cells. BC facilitates the dedifferentiation of adjacent adipocytes to form CAAs with morphological and biological changes. CAAs increase the secretion of multiple cytokines and adipokines to promote the tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis of BC by remodeling the extracellular matrix, changing aromatase expression, and metabolic reprogramming, and shaping the tumor immune microenvironment. CAAs are also associated with the therapeutic response of BC and provide potential targets in BC therapy. The present review provides a comprehensive description of the crosstalk between CAAs and BC and discusses the potential strategies to target CAAs to overcome BC treatment resistance.

A circadian rhythm-related gene signature for prognosis, invasion and immune microenvironment of breast cancer

Background: Circadian dysregulation is linked to the onset and progression of cancer, but current knowledge of the role of circadian rhythm-related genes (CRRGs) in breast cancer (BC) is limited and incomplete. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role and immune-related prognostic significance of CRRGs in BC. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer (TCGA-BRCA) genetic data were combined with 1369 CRRGs to create a model of BC prognosis-related CRRGs. To validate the model's predictive power in TCGA and other external datasets, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and receptor operation characteristic curve were plotted. The relationship between CRRGs model and gene enrichment pathways, immune cell infiltration, and differences in patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy was then discussed. Results: A CRRG-based eighteen-gene model was developed that accurately predicted the survival time of BC patients. Based on this model, BC patients can be classified as high or low risk. The high-risk group has negative immune cell infiltration (such as macrophages M0 and M2) and a poor therapeutic response to ICIs due to lower immune checkpoint gene expression. Furthermore, TCF7 and IFNG were found to be strongly associated with immune checkpoints in CRRGs model. Conclusion: The 18 CRRGs may be useful in assessing the prognosis of BC patients, studying immune infiltration, and developing more effective immunotherapy strategies.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A case-control study

Purpose

To investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on pathologic complete response (pCR) and clinical outcomes in breast cancer (BC) patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

We analyzed 221 female BC patients at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital who received NAC and divided them into MetS and non-MetS groups according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria to investigate the association between MetS and clinicopathological characteristics, pathologic response, and long-term survival and to observe the changes in metabolic parameters after NAC.

Results

A total of 53 (24.0%) BC patients achieved pCR after NAC in our study. MetS status was an independent predictor of pCR, and pCR was more difficult to obtain in the MetS group than the non-MetS group (P=0.028). All metabolic parameters deteriorated significantly after NAC, especially the blood lipid index (P<0.010). The median follow-up time was 6 years. After adjusting for other prognostic factors, MetS was found to be strongly associated with an increased risk of recurrence (P=0.007) and mortality (P=0.004) in BC patients receiving NAC. Compared to individuals without any MetS component, the risk of death and disease progression increased sharply as the number of MetS components increased.

Conclusions

In BC patients who received NAC, MetS was associated with poor outcomes, including a lower pCR rate and increased risks of recurrence and mortality.

Functional metabolomics revealed the dual-activation of cAMP-AMP axis is a novel therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most malignant cancers, owing to extremely high aggressiveness and mortality. Yet, this condition currently incurs widely drug resistance and therapeutic deficiency. In this study, we proposed a novel functional metabolomics strategy as Spatial Temporal Operative Real Metabolomics (STORM) to identify the determinant functional metabolites in a dynamic and visualized pattern whose level changes are mechanistically associated with therapeutic efficiency of gemcitabine against PC. Integrating quantitative analysis and spatial-visualization characterization of functional metabolites in vivo, we identified that the AMP-cAMP axis was a novel therapeutic target of PC to intermediate therapeutic efficiency of gemcitabine. Gemcitabine could induce the dual accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and AMP in tumor tissues. Quantitative analysis of associated biosynthetic enzymes and genes revealed that two independent intracellular ATP derived biosynthetic pathways to promote the dual activation of AMP-cAMP axis in a lower-level energetic environment. Then, gemcitabine induced the dual accumulation of AMP and cAMP can separately activate signaling pathways of AMPK and PKA, leading to the inhibition of tumor growth by the upregulation of the downstream tumor suppressor GADD45A. Collectively, our new STORM strategy was the first time to identify novel target of PC from a metabolic perspective as the dual activation of AMP-cAMP axis induced by gemcitabine can efficiently suppress PC tumor growth. In addition, such discovery has the capability to lower drug resistance of gemcitabine by specifically interacting with novel target, contributing to the improvement of therapeutic efficiency.

The landscape of exosomal non-coding RNAs in breast cancer drug resistance, focusing on underlying molecular mechanisms

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. Like many other cancers, BC therapy is challenging and sometimes frustrating. In spite of the various therapeutic modalities applied to treat the cancer, drug resistance, also known as, chemoresistance, is very common in almost all BCs. Undesirably, a breast tumor might be resistant to different curative approaches (e.g., chemo- and immunotherapy) at the same period of time. Exosomes, as double membrane-bound extracellular vesicles 1) secreted from different cell species, can considerably transfer cell products and components through the bloodstream. In this context, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are a chief group of exosomal constituents with amazing abilities to regulate the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of BC, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, migration, and particularly drug resistance. Thereby, exosomal ncRNAs can be considered potential mediators of BC progression and drug resistance. Moreover, as the corresponding exosomal ncRNAs circulate in the bloodstream and are found in different body fluids, they can serve as foremost prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers. The current study aims to comprehensively review the most recent findings on BC-related molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways affected by exosomal miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, with a focus on drug resistance. Also, the potential of the same exosomal ncRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis of BC will be discussed in detail.

An autophagy-related long non-coding RNA prognostic model and related immune research for female breast cancer

Introduction

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. It was widely accepted that autophagy and the tumor immune microenvironment play an important role in the biological process of BRCA. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), as vital regulatory molecules, are involved in the occurrence and development of BRCA. The aim of this study was to assess the prognosis of BRCA by constructing an autophagy-related lncRNA (ARlncRNA) prognostic model and to provide individualized guidance for the treatment of BRCA.

Methods

The clinical data and transcriptome data of patients with BRCA were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA), and autophagy-related genes were obtained from the human autophagy database (HADb). ARlncRNAs were identified by conducting co‑expression analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to construct an ARlncRNA prognostic model. The prognostic model was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, plotting risk curve, Independent prognostic analysis, clinical correlation analysis and plotting ROC curves. Finally, the tumor immune microenvironment of the prognostic model was studied.

Results

10 ARlncRNAs(AC090912.1, LINC01871, AL358472.3, AL122010.1, SEMA3B-AS1, BAIAP2-DT, MAPT-AS1, DNAH10OS, AC015819.1, AC090198.1) were included in the model. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the prognostic model showed that the overall survival(OS) of the low-risk group was significantly better than that of the high-risk group (p< 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that the prognostic model was an independent prognostic factor for BRCA (HR = 1.788, CI = 1.534-2.084, p < 0.001). ROCs of 1-, 3- and 5-year survival revealed that the AUC values of the prognostic model were all > 0.7, with values of 0.779, 0.746, and 0.731, respectively. In addition, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) suggested that several tumor-related pathways were enriched in the high-risk group, while several immune‑related pathways were enriched in the low-risk group. Patients in the low-risk group had higher immune scores and their immune cells and immune pathways were more active. Patients in the low-risk group had higher PD-1 and CTLA-4 levels and received more benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.

Discussion

The ARlncRNA prognostic model showed good performance in predicting the prognosis of patients with BRCA and is of great significance to guide the individualized treatment of these patients.

Immune-related gene-based prognostic index for predicting survival and immunotherapy outcomes in colorectal carcinoma

Introduction

Colorectal cancer shows high incidence and mortality rates. Immune checkpoint blockade can be used to treat colorectal carcinoma (CRC); however, it shows limited effectiveness in most patients.

Methods

To identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors, we constructed an immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI) for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with CRC. Transcriptome datasets and clinical information of patients with CRC were used to identify differential immune-related genes between tumor and para-carcinoma tissue. Using weighted correlation network analysis and Cox regression analysis, the IRGPI was constructed, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate its predictive ability. We also analyzed the molecular and immune characteristics between IRGPI high-and low-risk subgroups, performed sensitivity analysis of ICI treatment, and constructed overall survival-related receiver operating characteristic curves to validate the IRGPI. Finally, IRGPI genes and tumor immune cell infiltration in CRC model mice with orthotopic metastases were analyzed to verify the results.

Results

The IRGPI was constructed based on the following 11 hub genes: ADIPOQ, CD36, CCL24, INHBE, UCN, IL1RL2, TRIM58, RBCK1, MC1R, PPARGC1A, and LGALS2. Patients with CRC in the high-risk subgroup showed longer overall survival than those in the low-risk subgroup, which was confirmed by GEO database. Clinicopathological features associated with cancer progression significantly differed between the high- and low-risk subgroups. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis of immune infiltration showed that the increased infiltration of naïve B cells, macrophages M1, and regulatory T cells and reduced infiltration of resting dendritic cells and mast cells led to a worse overall survival in patients with CRC. The ORC curves revealed that IRGPI predicted patient survival more sensitive than the published tumor immune dysfunction and rejection and tumor inflammatory signature.

Discussion

Thus, the low-risk subgroup is more likely to benefit from ICIs than the high-risk subgroup. CRC model mice showed higher proportions of Tregs, M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages and lower proportions of B cells, memory B cell immune cell infiltration, which is consistent with the IRGPI results. The IRGPI can predict the prognosis of patients with CRC, reflect the CRC immune microenvironment, and distinguish patients who are likely to benefit from ICI therapy.

Obesity as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer-The Role of miRNA

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the world, with an ever-increasing incidence rate. Due to the dynamic increase in the occurrence of risk factors, including obesity and related metabolic disorders, the search for new regulatory mechanisms is necessary. This will help a complete understanding of the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The review presents the mechanisms of obesity as a factor that increases the risk of developing breast cancer and that even initiates the cancer process in the female population. The mechanisms presented in the paper relate to the inflammatory process resulting from current or progressive obesity leading to cell metabolism disorders and disturbed hormonal metabolism. All these processes are widely regulated by the action of microRNAs (miRNAs), which may constitute potential biomarkers influencing the pathogenesis of breast cancer and may be a promising target of anti-cancer therapies.

Role of Medicinal plant-derived Nutraceuticals as a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, accounting for many cancer-related deaths. Over some years, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, radiation, and surgeries have been used to treat cancer. Unfortunately, these treatment options are unsuccessful due to crucial adverse reactions and multidrug tolerance/resistance. Although it is clear that substances in the nutraceuticals category have a lot of anti-cancer activity, using a supplementary therapy strategy, in this case, could be very beneficial. Nutraceuticals are therapeutic agents, which are nutrients that have drug-like characteristics and can be used to treat diseases. Plant nutraceuticals categorized into polyphenols, terpenoids, vitamins, alkaloids, and flavonoids are part of health food products, that have great potential for combating BC. Nutraceuticals can reduce BC's severity, limit malignant cell growth, and modify cancer-related mechanisms. Nutraceuticals acting by attenuating Hedgehog, Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Notch, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling are the main pathways in controlling the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). This article reviews some important nutraceuticals and their modes of action, which can be very powerful versus BC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Nutraceuticals' importance to the control and diagnosis of breast cancer is undeniable and cannot be overlooked. Natural dietary compounds have a wide range of uses and have been used in traditional medicine. In addition, these natural chemicals can enhance the effectiveness of other traditional medicines. They may also be used as a treatment process independently because of their capacity to affect several cancer pathways. This study highlights a variety of natural chemicals, and their mechanisms of action, routes, synergistic effects, and future potentials are all examined.

The pleiotropic roles of adipocyte secretome in remodeling breast cancer

Background

Breast cancer is the leading female cancer type and the cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Adipocytes possess important functions of energy supply, metabolic regulation, and cytokine release, and are also the matrix cell that supports mammary gland tissue. In breast cancer tumor microenvironment (TME), adipocytes are the prominent stromal cells and are implicated in inflammation, metastatic formation, metabolic remodeling, and cancer susceptibility.

Main body

It is well-established that adipocyte secretome is a reservoir engaged in the regulation of tumor cell behavior by secreting a large number of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and chemokines), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, autotaxin, and resistin), lipid metabolites (free fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate), and other exosome-encapsulated substances. These released factors influence the evolution and clinical outcome of breast cancer through complex mechanisms. The progression of breast cancer tumors revolves around the tumor-adipose stromal network, which may contribute to breast cancer aggressiveness by increasing the pro-malignant potential of TME and tumor cells themselves. Most importantly, the secretome alterations of adipocytes are regarded as distinctly important targets for breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and drug resistance.

Conclusion

Therefore, this review will provide a comprehensive description of the specific adipocyte secretome characteristics and interactions within TME cell populations, which will enable us to better tailor strategies for tumor stratification management and treatment.

Proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters in cancer: From metabolic crosstalk, immunosuppression and anti-apoptosis to clinical applications

The Warburg effect is known as the hyperactive glycolysis that provides the energy needed for rapid growth and proliferation in most tumor cells even under the condition of sufficient oxygen. This metabolic pattern can lead to a large accumulation of lactic acid and intracellular acidification, which can affect the growth of tumor cells and lead to cell death. Proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) belong to the SLC16A gene family, which consists of 14 members. MCT1-4 promotes the passive transport of monocarboxylate (e.g., lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies) and proton transport across membranes. MCT1-4-mediated lactate shuttling between glycolytic tumor cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts and oxidative tumor cells plays an important role in the metabolic reprogramming of energy, lipids, and amino acids and maintains the survival of tumor cells. In addition, MCT-mediated lactate signaling can promote tumor angiogenesis, immune suppression and multidrug resistance, migration and metastasis, and ferroptosis resistance and autophagy, which is conducive to the development of tumor cells and avoid death. Although there are certain challenges, the study of targeted drugs against these transporters shows great promise and may form new anticancer treatment options.

Targeting Adiponectin in Breast Cancer

Obesity and breast cancer are two major health issues that could be categorized as sincere threats to human health. In the last few decades, the relationship between obesity and cancer has been well established and extensively investigated. There is strong evidence that overweight and obesity increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, and adipokines are the central players in this relationship. Produced and secreted predominantly by white adipose tissue, adiponectin is a bioactive molecule that exhibits numerous protective effects and is considered the guardian angel of adipokine. In the obesity-cancer relationship, more and more evidence shows that adiponectin may prevent and protect individuals from developing breast cancer. Recently, several updates have been published on the implication of adiponectin in regulating tumor development, progression, and metastases. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the metabolic signaling linking adiponectin and breast cancer in all its stages. On the other hand, we critically summarize all the available promising candidates that may reactivate these pathways mainly by targeting adiponectin receptors. These molecules could be synthetic small molecules or plant-based proteins. Interestingly, the advances in genomics have made it possible to create peptide sequences that could specifically replace human adiponectin, activate its receptor, and mimic its function. Thus, the obvious anti-cancer activity of adiponectin on breast cancer should be better exploited, and adiponectin must be regarded as a serious biomarker that should be targeted in order to confront this threatening disease.

Adipokines as Regulators of Autophagy in Obesity-Linked Cancer

Excess body weight and obesity have become significant risk factors for cancer development. During obesity, adipose tissue alters its biological function, deregulating the secretion of bioactive factors such as hormones, cytokines, and adipokines that promote an inflammatory microenvironment conducive to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Adipokines regulate tumor processes such as apoptosis, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and invasion. Additionally, it has been found that they can modulate autophagy, a process implicated in tumor suppression in healthy tissue and cancer progression in established tumors. Since the tumor-promoting role of autophagy has been well described, the process has been suggested as a therapeutic target in cancer. However, the effects of targeting autophagy might depend on the tumor type and microenvironmental conditions, where circulating adipokines could influence the role of autophagy in cancer. Here, we review recent evidence related to the role of adipokines in cancer cell autophagy in an effort to understand the tumor response in the context of obesity under the assumption of an autophagy-targeting treatment.

Adiponectin Intervention to Regulate Betatrophin Expression, Attenuate Insulin Resistance and Enhance Glucose Metabolism in Mice and Its Response to Exercise

Aims: Adiponectin stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-coactivator1α (PGC-1α), a major regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and its effect on the genesis of insulin resistance is organ-specific. Expressed predominantly in fat and liver tissues, betatrophin is primarily involved in lipid metabolism, and could be a putative therapeutic target in metabolic syndrome and T2D. We hypothesized that the adiponectin pathway may regulate the production and/or secretion of betatrophin in liver. We aimed to determine whether exercise and adiponectin affect betatrophin to improve insulin resistance in mice. Methods: To investigate this hypothesis, we used wild-type C57BL/6 mice subjected to a high-fat diet, an exercise regimen, and i.p. injection of recombinant mouse adiponectin (Acrp30), and adiponectin knockout (Adipoq−/−) mice (C57BL/6 background) subjected to i.p. injection of Acrp30. Results: In Adipoq–/– mice, betatrophin levels in the plasma and liver were upregulated. In mice, plasma and liver betatrophin levels were significantly upregulated following a high-fat diet. Exercise and i.p. Acrp30 downregulated betatrophin levels and increased adiponectin mRNA and protein expression in the plasma and liver. The trend of change in PGC-1α and betatrophin levels in the liver was consistent. Conclusions/interpretation: Exercise reverses pathogenic changes in adiponectin and betatrophin levels in insulin-resistant mice. Exercise increased adiponectin levels and reduced betatrophin levels. Furthermore, exercise reduced betatrophin levels via adiponectin, which modulated the LKB1/AMPK/PGC-1α signaling axis but was not solely dependent on it for exerting its effects.

Adipose tissue-to-breast cancer crosstalk: Comprehensive insights

The review focuses on mechanistic evidence for the link between obesity and breast cancer. According to the IARC study, there is sufficient evidence that obesity is closely related to a variety of cancers. Among them, breast cancer is particularly disturbed by adipose tissue due to the unique histological structure of the breast. The review introduces the relationship between obesity and breast cancer from two aspects, including factors that promote tumorigenesis or metastasis. We summarize alterations in adipokines and metabolic pathways that contribute to breast cancer development. Breast cancer metastasis is closely related to obesity-induced pro-inflammatory microenvironment, adipose stem cells, and miRNAs. Based on the mechanism by which obesity causes breast cancer, we list possible therapeutic directions, including reducing the risk of breast cancer and inhibiting the progression of breast cancer. We also discussed the risk of autologous breast remodeling and fat transplantation. Finally, the causes of the obesity paradox and the function of enhancing immunity are discussed. Evaluating the balance between obesity-induced inflammation and enhanced immunity warrants further study.