Picrasidine J, a Dimeric β-Carboline-Type Alkaloid from Picrasma quassioides, Inhibits Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

KLK7 Involvement in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion by EMT via MAPK/ERK Pathways

Purpose: KLK7, also known as Kallikrein 7, is a secreted enzyme classified as a serine protease. Earlier studies have indicated that KLK7, KLK10, and KLK11 are linked to the survival rates and immune reactions of individuals with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This research examines KLK7, investigating its role and expression, and evaluates its viability as a treatment target for PTC. Methods: Initially, we examined the expression and possible functions of KLK7 in PTC using bioinformatics techniques. Researchers examined the impact of KLK7 on the cancer characteristics of PTC and explored if KLK7 influences the Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process via the MAPK/ERK pathway in PTC using methods like immunohistochemistry and growth curve analysis. Ultimately, a model using a nude mouse was conducted to confirm the impact of KLK7 on PTC. Results: Our research demonstrated that KLK7 exhibited variations in THCA tissues, and KLK7-related genes had the role of participating in protein synthesis, genetic variation, mRNA degradation and immune microenvironment of PTC. KLK7 was upregulated in PTC tissues and positively associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the inhibition of KLK7 significantly diminished the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of PTC cells. Notably, silencing KLK7 reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and suppression of EMT. In vivo experiments further supported these findings. KLK7 might serve as an efficacious therapeutic target and predictive biomarker for PTC patients. Conclusion: KLK7 could be essential in the cancerous advancement of PTC by influencing the EMT via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, thereby impacting the growth, migration, and invasiveness of PTC cells. KLK7 appears to be a promising candidate for targeting in PTC therapy.

1-Ethoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline inhibits the M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages: A study based on network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses

AIM

Through network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics in combination with experimentation, we explored the mechanism whereby 1-ethoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (EBC) regulates the M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages.

METHODS

Network pharmacology was adopted for analyzing the targets and signaling pathways related to the M2 polarization of EBC-macrophages, small molecular-protein docking was employed to analyze the possibility of EBC bonding to related protein, and molecular dynamics was introduced to analyze the binding energy between EBC and HDAC2. The M2 polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages was triggered in vitro by IL-4. After EBC intervention, the expressions of M1/M2 polarization-related cytokines were detected, and the mechanism of EBC action was explored in HDAC2-knockout RAW264.7 macrophages. A tumor-bearing mouse model was established in vitro to find the impact of EBC on tumor-associated M2 macrophages.

RESULTS

As revealed by the network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics analyses, EBC was associated with 51 proteins, including HDAC2, NF-κB and HDAC4. Molecular docking and dynamics analyses suggested that HDAC2 was the main target of EBC. In vitro experiments discovered that EBC could hinder the M2 polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages, which exerted insignificant effect on the M1-associated cytokines, but could lower the levels of M2-associated cytokines. After knocking out HDAC2, EBC could not further inhibit the M2 polarization of macrophages. At the mouse level, EBC could hinder the tumor growth and the tissue levels of M2 macrophages, whose effect was associated with HDAC2.

CONCLUSION

Our study combining multiple methods finds that EBC inhibits the HDAC2-mediated M2 polarization of macrophages, thereby playing an anti-tumor role.