E-cadherin can replace N-cadherin during secretory-stage enamel development

Mitofusin-2 enhances cervical cancer progression through Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Overexpression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, is frequently associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Here, I aimed to investigate the involvement of MFN2 in cervical cancer progression and determine the effect of MFN2 on prognosis in cervical cancer patients. After generating MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells derived from squamous cell carcinoma, I investigated the effect of MFN2 on SiHa cell proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and determined the mRNA levels of proliferation markers. Colony-forming ability and tumorigenesis were evaluated using a colonyformation assay and tumor xenograft mouse models. The migratory and invasive abilities associated with MFN2 were measured using wound-healing and invasion assays. Wnt/β-cateninmediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers related to MFN2 were assessed through quantitative RT-PCR. MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells exhibited reduced proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation in vivo. The motility of SiHa cells with MFN2 knockdown was reduced through Wnt/β-catenin-mediated EMT inhibition. MFN2 promoted cancer progression and tumorigenesis in SiHa cells. Overall, MFN2 could serve as a therapeutic target and a novel biomarker for cervical cancer. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(4): 194-199].

The synergic impact of lignin and Lactobacillus plantarum on DSS-induced colitis model via regulating CD44 and miR 199a alliance

Chronic or recurrent immune system activation and inflammation inside the gastrointestinal tract is characterized by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Due to the lack of safety and efficacy of traditional medications, the use of food supplements for IBD management is on the rise. Numerous studies reported that, certain food supplements have a variety of therapeutic benefits for IBD. In the present study, a mouse model of IBD was used to the anti-colitis effects of lignin supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) on intestinal inflammation. The animal model was treated with dextran sodium sulphate (DSS), the illness index increased, and colon length and body weight declined, but these effects were reversed when lignin and L. plantarum treated groups. In addition, lignin and L. plantarum supplementation inhibited the DSS induced increase in levels of cytokines TNF-α (250 pg/mL), INF-γ (180 pg/mL), IL-1β (70 pg/mL) and TGF- β (72 pg/mL). Gene and protein expression study revealed that Lignin and L. plantarum supplementation restored the expression of E-cad and suppressed the expression of STAT3 in DSS induced colitis model. Lignin and L. plantarum supplementation also suppressed CD44 expression (1.2 fold) by up regulating the expression of miR199a (1 fold) over DSS induced colitis. Our study suggests that Lactobacillus, lignin, and their synergistic treatments have protective roles against inflammatory bowel disease through changes in inflammatory cytokines, and miR 199a expression in DSS-induced colitis.

Conditional ablation of E‐cadherin in the oral epithelium progeny results in tooth anomalies

Objectives

The objective of this study is to confirm the developmental origin of the enamel organ and evaluate the role of E‐cadherin in tooth development by conditional deletion in the oral epithelium and its enamel organ progeny. K5‐Cre;ROSA26 compound mice were included in this study in order to confirm the oral epithelial origin of the enamel organ, as well as of the action of the K5‐Cre transgene in ablating E‐cadherin in the enamel organ. K5‐Cre;Ecad^fl/fl knockout mice were included to evaluate the effects of the conditional E‐cadherin ablation onto tooth development.

Material and Methods

K5‐Cre transgenic mice were crossed into the ROSA26 reporter mouse to trace the cell fate of the oral epithelium and its progeny in vivo. Moreover, K5‐Cre mice were crossed into the Ecad^fl/fl mice to produce K5‐Cre;Ecad^fl/fl compound mouse, as well as K5‐Cre;Ecad^fl/+ and Ecad^fl/fl littermate controls. These litters were euthanized at postnatal day P2 to study the effects of conditional E‐cadherin ablation in vivo.

Results

The K5‐Cre;ROSA26 compound mouse demonstrated that the origin of the enamel organ and the structures thereof are of oral epithelial origin. Furthermore, using the K5‐Cre;Ecad^fl/fl compound mouse, we determined that conditional ablation of E‐cadherin in the oral epithelium, and its progeny, results in dental anomalies involving elongation of the molar root, shrinkage of the pulp space, and alterations of the periapical area, including cementum hyperplasia. The K5‐Cre;Ecad^fl/fl mice also displayed a smaller overall stature compared with heterozygotes and wild‐type littermates.

Conclusions

E‐cadherin is important in tooth development, including the formation of enamel, the crown, pulp space, and the roots.

LINC00355 promoted the progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma through regulating the miR-466/LYAR axis

LINC00355 has been reported aberrantly over-expressed and associated with poor prognosis in various types of cancer. However, reports regarding the effect of LINC00355 on lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are rare. This study aimed to explore the function of LINC00355 in the development and progression of lung SCC and reveal the underlying mechanism. The expression and subcellular location of LINC00355 were determined by qRT-PCR and RNA-FISH, respectively. The lung SCC cell growth was analyzed by CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion, wound healing, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Reactive oxygen species level was evaluated by DCFH-DA probes. Bioinformatics online websites, luciferase reporter assay, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays were utilized to investigate the interaction among LINC00355, miR-466, and Ly-1 antibody reactive clone (LYAR). The results showed that LINC00355 was upregulated in lung SCC and was positively associated with poor overall survival in lung SCC patients. LINC00355 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of SCC cells. Additionally, LINC0035 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to target miR-466, and LYAR was identified as a direct target of miR-466. LINC00355 expression negatively correlated with miR-466 level, and positively correlated with LYAR level. Mechanistically, knockdown of LINC00355 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, promoted cell apoptosis in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo through targeting miR-466, and thus down-regulated LYAR expression. These findings provide a new sight for understanding the molecular mechanism of lung SCC and indicate that LINC00355 may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of lung SCC.

Relationship between mast cells and E-cadherin in odontogenic keratocysts and radicular cysts

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate tryptase and E-cadherin protein expression in odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) and radicular cysts (RCs) and their relationship with lesion size.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty OKC and 30 RC cases were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Tryptase expression was quantitatively assessed using the quantification of mast cells, and expression of E-cadherin was semi-quantitatively analyzed estimating the proportion of positive cells: 1 = less than 25% of immunopositive cells; 2 = 26 to 50% of immunopositive cells; 3 = 51 to 75% of immunopositive cells; 4 = more than 75% of immunopositive cells. Data on cystic lesion sizes were obtained from patients' clinical files, based on previous radiographic exams, and the lesions were categorized into three groups: group 1 (< 2 to 2 cm); group 2 (> 2 to 4 cm), and group 3 (> 4 cm).

RESULTS

Higher mast cell means were found for RCs, with the predominance of degranulated mast cells in both OKCs and RCs (p = 0.082). Concerning the epithelial component, a higher concentration of degranulated mast cells was detected in RCs (p = 0.000). Regarding connective tissue, degranulated mast cells were more evident in OKCs (p = 0.762). A negative correlation was observed between E-cadherin expression and total number of mast cells (p = 0.011), degranulated mast cells (p = 0.040), and degranulated mast cells in both superficial (p = 0.035) and deep connective tissues (p = 0.009). Concerning lesion size, a negative correlation with total number of mast cells (p = 0.016) and number of degranulated mast cells (p = 0.049) was observed, both in the epithelial components. Herein, the larger the lesion size, the lower the number of degranulated mast cells in the epithelium (r = - 0.271; p = 0.49), suggesting that these cells play a role in the initial cystic expansion phase.

CONCLUSION

The higher expression of tryptase in degranulated mast cells was linked to a lower expression of E-cadherin, which may be related to a change in the epithelial permeability in these lesions, contributing to increased cystic content and lesion growth.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Evidence of the relationship between mast cells and E-cadherin in the growth of odontogenic cysts was studied.

Integrative Temporo-Spatial, Mineralogic, Spectroscopic, and Proteomic Analysis of Postnatal Enamel Development in Teeth with Limited Growth

Tooth amelogenesis is a complex process beginning with enamel organ cell differentiation and enamel matrix secretion, transitioning through changes in ameloblast polarity, cytoskeletal, and matrix organization, that affects crucial biomineralization events such as mineral nucleation, enamel crystal growth, and enamel prism organization. Here we have harvested the enamel organ including the pliable enamel matrix of postnatal first mandibular mouse molars during the first 8 days of tooth enamel development to conduct a step-wise cross-sectional analysis of the changes in the mineral and protein phase. Mineral phase diffraction pattern analysis using single-crystal, powder sample X-ray diffraction analysis indicated conversion of calcium phosphate precursors to partially fluoride substituted hydroxyapatite from postnatal day 4 (4 dpn) onwards. Attenuated total reflectance spectra (ATR) revealed a substantial elevation in phosphate and carbonate incorporation as well as structural reconfiguration between postnatal days 6 and 8. Nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) demonstrated highest protein counts for ECM/cell surface proteins, stress/heat shock proteins, and alkaline phosphatase on postnatal day 2, high counts for ameloblast cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin β5, tropomyosin, β-actin, and vimentin on postnatal day 4, and elevated levels of cofilin-1, calmodulin, and peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase on day 6. Western blot analysis of hydrophobic enamel proteins illustrated continuously increasing amelogenin levels from 1 dpn until 8 dpn, while enamelin peaked on days 1 and 2 dpn, and ameloblastin on days 1-5 dpn. In summary, these data document the substantial changes in the enamel matrix protein and mineral phase that take place during postnatal mouse molar amelogenesis from a systems biological perspective, including (i) relatively high levels of matrix protein expression during the early secretory stage on postnatal day 2, (ii) conversion of calcium phosphates to apatite, peak protein folding and stress protein counts, and increased cytoskeletal protein levels such as actin and tubulin on day 4, as well as (iii) secondary structure changes, isomerase activity, highest amelogenin levels, and peak phosphate/carbonate incorporation between postnatal days 6 and 8. Together, this study provides a baseline for a comprehensive understanding of the mineralogic and proteomic events that contribute to the complexity of mammalian tooth enamel development.