Apoptosis and Cell Proliferation Markers in Inflammatory-Fibroproliferative Diseases of the Vessel Wall (Review)

Identification of DYRK2 and TRIM32 as keloids programmed cell death-related biomarkers: insights from bioinformatics and machine learning in multiple cohorts

This study aims to explore the expression patterns and mechanisms of programmed cell death-related genes in keloids and identify molecular targets for early diagnosis and treatment. We first explored the expression, immune, and biological function profiles of keloids. Using various machine learning methods, two key genes, DYRK2 and TRIM32, were identified, with ROC curves demonstrating their diagnostic potential. Further analyses, including GSEA, immune cell profiling, competing endogenous RNA network, and single-cell analysis, revealed their mechanism of action and regulatory network. Finally, SB-431542 was identified as a potential therapeutic agent for keloids through CMap and molecular docking.

Apoptotic effect of thymoquinone on OVCAR3 cells via the P53 and CASP3 activation

PURPOSE

The limitations in cancer treatment and the inadequacy of classical methods have made it necessary to discover therapeutics in cancer treatment. The cytotoxicity of thymoquinone, which has quite different properties in terms of biological activities, in ovarian cancer cells, and the changes in the expression levels of apoptotic genes (p53/caspase-3 (casp-3)) were investigated.

METHODS

In the study, thymoquinone (5, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µM and 24, 48, 72 hours) were applied to ovarian adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (OVCAR3), at different concentrations. Cytotoxic effect of thymoquinone on OVCAR-3 cells were analyzed by MTT method, and apoptotic and pro-apoptotic gene expression levels (p53, Casp-3) of thymoquinone in cancer cells were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Thymoquinone, whose effect has been revealed in many types of cancer, was shown to significantly reduce the viability of OVCAR3 cancer cells depending on the dose and time (p < 0.05). It was also determined that Casp-3 and p53 gene expressions increased in OVCAR3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the in-vitro cytotoxic activity and apoptotic gene expressions of thymoquinone, an important treatment agent, since it is a promising agent for the future of cancer treatment, more comprehensive studies may pave the way for its clinical use.

Inhibition of MAT2A Impairs Skeletal Muscle Repair Function

The regenerative capacity of muscle, which primarily relies on anabolic processes, diminishes with age, thereby reducing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions aimed at treating age-related muscle atrophy. In this study, we observed a decline in the expression of methionine adenosine transferase 2A (MAT2A), which synthesizes S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), in the muscle tissues of both aged humans and mice. Considering MAT2A's critical role in anabolism, we hypothesized that its reduced expression contributes to the impaired regenerative capacity of aging skeletal muscle. Mimicking this age-related reduction in the MAT2A level, either by reducing gene expression or inhibiting enzymatic activity, led to inhibiting their differentiation into myotubes. In vivo, inhibiting MAT2A activity aggravated BaCl2-induced skeletal muscle damage and decreased the number of satellite cells, whereas supplementation with SAM improved these effects. RNA-sequencing analysis further revealed that the Fas cell surface death receptor (Fas) gene was upregulated in Mat2a-knockdown C2C12 cells. Suppressing MAT2A expression or activity elevated Fas protein levels and increased the proportion of apoptotic cells. Additionally, inhibition of MAT2A expression or activity increased p53 expression. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that impaired MAT2A expression or activity compromised the regeneration and repair capabilities of skeletal muscle, partially through p53-Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Release miR-378a-5p-Carried Extracellular Vesicles to Alleviate Rheumatoid Arthritis

This study investigates whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can affect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by delivering microRNA (miR)-378a-5p to regulate the interferon regulatory factor 1/signal transducer and transcription 1 (IRF1/STAT1) axis. We identified RA-associated miRNAs using the GEO microarray dataset GSE121894. We found the most important miRNAs in RA synovial tissues using RT-qPCR. BMSC-derived EVs were ultracentrifuged and cocultured with human synovial microvascular endothelial cells (HSMECs) in vitro. Dual-luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation studies examined miR-378a-5p's specific binding to IRF1. We also measured angiogenesis, migration, and proliferation using CCK-8, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice models were created by inducing arthritis and scoring it. RA synovial tissues had low miR-378a-5p expression, whereas BMSC-derived EVs had high levels. The transfer of miR-378a-5p by BMSC-derived EVs to HSMECs boosted proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. miR-378a-5p inhibited IRF1. MiR-378a-5p-containing BMSC-derived EVs decreased STAT1 phosphorylation and HSMEC IRF1 expression. EVs with miR-378a-5p mimic promoted HSMEC proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, whereas dexmedetomidine inhibited STAT1 phosphorylation. In CIA mice, BMSC-derived EVs containing miR-378a-5p enhanced synovial vascular remodeling and histopathology. Thus, miR-378a-5p from BMSC-derived EVs promotes HSMEC proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, inactivating the IRF1/STAT1 axis and preventing RA.

Discovery of New Triterpenoids Extracted from Camellia oleifera Seed Cake and the Molecular Mechanism Underlying Their Antitumor Activity

Theasaponin derivatives, which are reported to exert antitumor activity, have been widely reported to exist in edible plants, including in the seed cake of Camellia oleifera (C.), which is extensively grown in south of China. The purpose of this study was to isolate new theasaponin derivatives from C. seed cake and explore their potential antitumor activity and their underlying molecular mechanism. In the present study, we first isolated and identified four theasaponin derivatives (compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4) from the total aglycone extract of the seed cake of Camellia oleifera by utilizing a combination of pre-acid-hydrolysis treatment and activity-guided isolation. Among them, compound 1 (C1) and compound 4 (C4) are newly discovered theasaponins that have not been reported before. The structures of these two new compounds were characterized based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as data reported in the literature. Secondly, the cytotoxicity and antitumor property of the above four purified compounds were evaluated in selected typical tumor cell lines, Huh-7, HepG2, Hela, A549, and SGC7901, and the results showed that the ED₅₀ value of C4 ranges from 1.5 to 11.3 µM, which is comparable to that of cisplatinum (CDDP) in these five cell lines, indicating that C4 has the most powerful antitumor activity among them. Finally, a preliminary mechanistic investigation was performed to uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the antitumor property of C4, and the results suggested that C4 may trigger apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Caspase-3 and JAK2/STAT3 pathways, and stimulate cell proliferation via the NF-κB/iNOS/COX-2 pathway. Moreover, it was surprising to find that C4 can inhibit the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which indicates that C4 has the potency to overcome the resistance to cancer drugs. Therefore, C1 and C4 are two newly identified theasaponin derivatives with antitumor activity from the seed cake of Camellia oleifera, and C4 is a promising antitumor candidate not only for its powerful antitumor activity, but also for its ability to function as an Nrf2 inhibitor to enhance the anticancer drug sensitivity.

Markers of the Development of the Reconstruction Area Restenosis After Endovascular Interventions in Lower Limbs Arteries

Restenosis of the reconstruction zone is one of the main postoperative complications of vascular reconstructions, which develops in 18–40% of cases and leads to an increase in the risk of limb loss to 20–25%. The search for new markers for predicting the development of this complication is an urgent problem today.

Aim of study. To assess the dynamics of markers of apoptosis and cell proliferation at different times after endovascular intervention and their role in the development of restenosis of the reconstruction zone in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Material and methods. The clinical study included 30 patients with PAD stage III disease. After further examination, the patients underwent endovascular intervention on the arteries of the femoral-popliteal segment. If restenosis developed, the patients were re-operated. In patients before surgery, within the first hour, and then on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 30 after the operation, venous blood was taken to determine the markers Bax, sFas, PDGF BB using enzyme immunoassay.

Results. After endovascular intervention, the first wave of apoptosis was triggered with an increase in the amount of proapoptotic protein Bax (p=0,00003) from 1 to 24 hours, followed by a decrease by day 7 (p=0.0008) compared to the amount on day 1. The PDGF BB level increased from day 1 after surgery (p=0.03) with maximum values on day 7 (p=0.0002) compared to the level on day 1. Then the second wave was triggered with a peak decrease in the level of the apoptosis inhibitor sFas on day 21 (p=0.002). After 9-12 months, restenosis of the intervention zone with a return of limb ischemia developed in 10 patients. During the first hour (p=0.004) in patients with restenosis, the level of Bax protein was significantly increased, with an increase in the level of PDGF BB by day 7 (p=0.011), and sFas by day 21 (p=0.0001), PDGF BB by the end of 1 month (p=0.004) compared to values in patients without this complication.

Conclusion. 1. Endovascular intervention causes two waves of apoptosis in the postoperative period. The first wave is associated with an increase in Bax protein in the first hours, followed by an increase in PDGF BB on day 7. The second wave of apoptosis is due to a decrease in the inhibitor of apoptosis — sFas for 21 days against the background of the shift of the PDGF BB to the initial level. 2. An increase in Bax protein within the first hours after surgery in the course of PDGF BB growth on day 7 with an increased amount of sFas on day 21 leads and PDGF BB by the end of 1 month leads to the development of restenosis of the intervention area. 

The effect of the geometry of the proximal anastomosis, markers of apoptosis and cell proliferation on the long-term patency following reconstructive interventions on the femoropopliteal arterial segment

Aim. To study changes in the topography of the orifice of the deep femoral artery (DFA), markers of proliferation, and apoptosis in patients after open interventions on the femoropopliteal arterial segment. Methods. The study included 35 patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD), femoral-popliteal occlusion, stage IIBIII of the disease according to the classification of A.V. PokrovskyFontaine, who underwent open surgery. The average age of the patients was 694.6 years. These patients included 26 men. Patients were divided into two groups: group A included 18 patients who underwent femoral-popliteal prosthetics (distal End-To-End bypass anastomoses), group B included 17 patients with femoral-popliteal bypass surgery (distal End-To-Side bypass anastomoses). The groups were comparable in terms of age and disease severity (p 0.05). Determination of serum platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB) and soluble form Fas (sFas) levels was carried out immediately before the intervention, on the 1st, 7th days, and 1 month after the operation. Duplex scanning (DS) was performed on day 7, after 1 and 18 months. Statistica 10.0 software was used for statistical data processing. The significance of differences between unrelated samples was assessed using the Student's t-test. The correlations between variables were analyzed by using Pearson's method. Results. On 1st day, there was a decrease in soluble Fas in patients of group A compared with group B (0.41 ng/ml vs 0.78 ng/ml, p=0.01). On the 7th day, the levels of serum platelet-derived growth factor BB were increased in patients of group A compared with group B (35.2 ng/ml vs 23.2 ng/ml, p=0.00001). After 1 month, the level of serum platelet-derived growth factor BB in patients of group A remained elevated compared with those in patients of group B (22.8 ng/ml vs 14.4 ng/ml, p=0.0003). Conclusion. Femoropopliteal prosthetics leads to a change in branching angle of the deep femoral artery up to 7080%, accompanied by changing dynamics of apoptotic markers and cell proliferation, leading to an increase in the thickness of neointimal hyperplasia and the progression of atherosclerosis.

The level of markers of apoptosis and cell proliferation in the area of restenosis after lower extremity arterial reconstruction

Aim. To assess the number of markers of apoptosis and cell proliferation, as well as their relationships in the area of restenosis of arterial reconstructions. Methods. The study included 14 patients with a diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities. Post-thrombotic occlusion of femoropopliteal bypass. All patients were males with stage III disease according to the Fontaine classification modified by A.V. Pokrovsky. The average age of the patients was 653.4 years. The mean disease duration was 92.5 months after the initial intervention. Intraoperative material distal anastomosis of femoropopliteal bypass was taken from patients during arterial reconstructions. As a control, we used arterial wall samples obtained at organ procurement from postmortem donors without arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities. The number of samples is 8. The site of their collection is the popliteal artery. After sampling, they were crushed, and a homogenate was prepared, followed by the determination of the amount of p53, PDGF BB, Bcl2, and Bax proteins using the enzyme immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10.0 software. Group differences were assessed by using the MannWhitney test. Correlation coefficients were determined using the Spearman test. Data are presented as medians and interquartile ranges. Results. In tissue samples of restenosis, the amount of p53 protein was 0.07 units/mg and was significantly reduced compared with the control samples 0.14 units/mg (р=0,015). The amount of platelet-derived growth factor PDGF BB was 0.17 ng/mg (р=0.05), Bcl2 1.61 ng/mg (р=0.008), Bax 6.0 ng/mg (р=0.25) in the restenosis area and was increased in comparison with the control samples (0.04 ng/mg, 0.9 ng/mg, 4.4 ng/mg, respectively). A relationship between p53 and platelet-derived growth factor BB (r=0.724, p=0.002), platelet-derived growth factor BB and Bcl2 (r=0.672, p=0.003) was revealed in samples from restenosis tissue obtained during arterial reconstructions. Conclusion. The decreased apoptosis, expressed in a low level of p53 protein, with an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio is associated with an increase in the proliferative response of vascular wall cells in the area of restenosis of arterial reconstruction.