APRIL binding to BCMA activates a JNK2-FOXO3-GADD45 pathway and induces a G2/M cell growth arrest in liver cells

Mechanisms for resistance to BCMA-targeted immunotherapies in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable and patients eventually face the relapse/refractory dilemma. B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted immunotherapeutic approaches have shown great effectiveness in patients with relapsed/refractory MM, mainly including chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs), and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). However, their impact on long-term survival remains to be determined. Nonetheless, resistance to these novel therapies is still inevitable, raising a challenge that we have never met in both laboratory research and clinical practice. In this scenario, the investigation aiming to enhance and prolong the anti-MM activity of BCMA-targeted therapies has been expanding rapidly. Despite considerable uncertainty in our understanding of the mechanisms for their resistance, they have mainly been attributed to antigen-dependency, T cell-driven factors, and (immune) tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms for resistance to BCMA-targeted immunotherapies and discuss potential strategies for overcoming it.

Role of microRNAs in immunoregulatory functions of epithelial cells

Epithelial cells (ECs) provide the first line of defense against microbial threats and environmental challenges. They participate in the host's immune responses via the expression and secretion of various immune-related molecules such as cytokines and chemokines, as well as interaction with immune cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that the dysregulated function of ECs can be involved in the pathophysiology of a broad range of infectious, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), asthma, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. To maintain a substantial immunoregulatory function of ECs, precise expression of different molecules and their regulatory effects are indispensable. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression commonly at post-transcriptional level through degradation of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) or suppression of protein translation. MiRNAs implicate as critical regulators in many cellular processes, including apoptosis, growth, differentiation, and immune response. Due to the crucial roles of miRNAs in such a vast range of biological processes, they have become the spotlight of biological research for more than two decades, but we are still at the beginning stages of the use of miRNA-based therapies in the improvement of human health. Hence, in the present paper, attempts are made to provide a comprehensive overview with regard to the roles of miRNAs in the immunoregulatory functions of ECs. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which immunoregulatory properties of ECs are manifested, could aid the development of efficient strategies to prevent and treat multiple human diseases.

Past and present discovery of the BAFF/APRIL system - A bibliometric study from 1999 to 2023

Cytokines from the Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) family are important regulators of both physiological and pathological processes. The discovery of novel TNF ligands and receptors, BAFF and APRIL, have opened up new possibilities for scientists to explore the effect of these cytokines on the human immune system. The role of BAFF/APRIL system in B lymphocytes is particularly important for survival and maintenance of homeostasis. Aberrant expression of the system is associated with various immunological disorders. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the past and present BAFF/APRIL system research development in a bibliometric perspective. To our best knowledge, this is the first ever bibliometric analysis conducted focusing on the BAFF/APRIL system. A total of 1055 relevant documents were retrieved from WoSCC. Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny of R studio were bibliometric tools used to analyse the scientific literature. From 1999, the annual publications showed an upward trend, with Journal of Immunology being the most productive journal. USA leads the race for BAFF/APRIL system research developments. Pascal Schneider, a senior researcher affiliated with University of Lausanne, Switzerland was recognised as the most productive author and institution in the BAFF/APRIL system research field. The research focus transitioned from focusing on the role of the system in B cell biology, to immunological disorders and finally to development of BAFF/APRIL targeting drugs. Despite several studies elucidating briefly the pathway mechanism of BAFF/APRIL system in B-cell selection, substantial research on the mechanism of action in disease models and T cell activation and development of immunomodulating drugs from natural origins remains largely unexplored. Therefore, future research focusing on these areas are crucial for the deeper understanding of the system in disease manifestations and progression allowing a better treatment management for various immunological disorders.

25-hydroxycholesterol promotes proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating ERβ/TNFRSF17 axis

Lung adenocarcinoma is the main type of lung cancer in women. Our previous findings have evidenced that 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) promotes migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells (LAC), during which LXR as a 25-HC receptor plays an important role. Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is a receptor of 27-hydroxycholesterol that is structurally analogous to 25-HC, but its role in the functional actions of 25-HC remained largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that 25-HC treatment triggered ERβ expression in LAC. Knockdown of ERβ inhibited 25-HC-mediated proliferation, migration and invasion, and reduced 25-HC-induced LAC metastasis in vivo. Further investigation revealed that ERβ knockdown restrained the expression of TNFRSF17 (BCMA). In vivo experiments also confirmed that ERβ knockdown blocked 25-HC-induced TNFRSF17 expression. TNFRSF17 knockdown also restrained 25-HC-induced proliferation, migration and invasion. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the levels of ERβ and TNFRSF17 were elevated in lung adenocarcinoma, and were closely related to tumor stages and nodal metastasis status. These results suggested that 25-HC promoted the proliferation and metastasis of LAC by regulating ERβ/TNFRSF17 axis.

POLE2 promotes osteosarcoma progression by enhancing the stability of CD44

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent primary malignancy of bone in children and adolescents. It is extremely urgent to develop a new therapy for OS. In this study, the GSE14359 chip from the GEO database was used to screen differentially expressed genes in OS. DNA polymerase epsilon 2 (POLE2) was confirmed to overexpress in OS tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemical staining, qPCR and Western blot. Knockdown of POLE2 inhibited the proliferation and migration of OS cells in vitro, as well as the growth of tumors in vivo, while the apoptosis rate was increased. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CD44 and Rac signaling pathway were the downstream molecule and pathway of POLE2, which were inhibited by knockdown of POLE2. POLE2 reduced the ubiquitination degradation of CD44 by acting on MDM2. Moreover, knockdown of CD44 inhibited the tumor-promoting effects of POLE2 overexpression on OS cells. In conclusion, POLE2 augmented the expression of CD44 via inhibiting MDM2-mediated ubiquitination, and then activated Rac signaling pathway to influence the progression of OS, indicating that POLE2/CD44 might be potential targets for OS treatment.

Single Site N-Glycosylation of B Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) Inhibits γ-Secretase-Mediated Shedding and Improves Surface Retention and Cell Survival

B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, on the cell surface plays a key role in maintaining the survival of plasma cells and malignant as well as inflammatory accessory cells. Therefore, targeting BCMA or disrupting its interaction with ligands has been a potential approach to cancer therapy. BCMA contains a single N-glycosylation site, but the function of N-glycan on BCMA is not understood. Here, we found that the N-glycosylation of BCMA promoted its cell-surface retention while removing the N-glycan increased BCMA secretion through γ-secretase-mediated shedding. Addition of γ-secretase inhibitor prevented nonglycosylated BCMA from shedding and protected cells from dexamethasone and TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

The BAFF-APRIL System in Cancer

B cell-activating factor (BAFF; also known as CD257, TNFSF13B, BLyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL; also known as CD256, TNFSF13) belong to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. BAFF was initially discovered as a B-cell survival factor, whereas APRIL was first identified as a protein highly expressed in various cancers. These discoveries were followed by over two decades of extensive research effort, which identified overlapping signaling cascades between BAFF and APRIL, controlling immune homeostasis in health and driving pathogenesis in autoimmunity and cancer, the latter being the focus of this review. High levels of BAFF, APRIL, and their receptors have been detected in different cancers and found to be associated with disease severity and treatment response. Here, we have summarized the role of the BAFF-APRIL system in immune cell differentiation and immune tolerance and detailed its pathogenic functions in hematological and solid cancers. We also highlight the emerging therapeutics targeting the BAFF-APRIL system in different cancer types.

High throughput sequencing revealed enhanced cell cycle signaling in SLE patients

The multi-system involvement and high heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pose great challenges to its diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of the current study is to identify genes and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. High throughput sequencing was performed on the PBMCs from SLE patients. We conducted differential gene analysis, gene ontology (GO) analysis, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) verification. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, alternative splicing analysis, and disease correlation analysis were conducted on some key pathogenic genes as well. Furthermore, si-CDC6 was used for transfection and cell proliferation was monitored using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. We identified 2495 differential genes (1494 upregulated and 1001 downregulated) in SLE patients compared with healthy controls. The significantly upregulated genes were enriched in the biological process-related GO terms of the cell cycle, response to stress, and chromosome organization. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed 7 significantly upregulated pathways including SLE, alcoholism, viral carcinogenesis, cell cycle, proteasome, malaria, and transcriptional misregulation in cancer. We successfully verified some differential genes on the SLE pathway and the cell cycle pathway. CDC6, a key gene in the cell cycle pathway, had remarkably higher MXE alternative splicing events in SLE patients than that in controls, which may explain its significant upregulation in SLE patients. We found that CDC6 participates in the pathogenesis of many proliferation-related diseases and its levels are positively correlated with the severity of SLE. Knockdown of CDC6 suppressed the proliferation of Hela cells and PBMCs from SLE patients in vitro. We identified SLE-related genes and their alternative splicing events. The cell cycle pathway and the cell cycle-related biological processes are over-activated in SLE patients. We revealed a higher incidence of MXE events of CDC6, which may lead to its high expression in SLE patients. Upregulated cell cycle signaling and CDC6 may be related to the hyperproliferation and pathogenesis of SLE.

Bispecific BCMA-CD3 Antibodies Block Multiple Myeloma Tumor Growth

BCMA antigen is overexpressed in multiple myeloma cells and has been shown to be a promising target for novel cellular and antibody therapeutics. The humanized BCMA (clone 4C8A) antibody that effectively targeted multiple myeloma in a CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) format was used for designing several formats of bispecific BCMA-CD3 antibodies. Several different designs of univalent and bivalent humanized BCMA-CD3 CrossMAB and BCMA-FAB-CD3 ScFv-Fc antibodies were tested for binding with BCMA-positive cells and T cells and for killing by real time cytotoxic activity and IFN-gamma secretion with CHO-BCMA target cells and with multiple myeloma MM1S and H929 cell lines. All BCMA-CD3 antibodies demonstrated specific binding by FACS to CHO-BCMA, multiple myeloma cells, and to T cells with affinity Kd in the nM range. All antibodies with T cells specifically killed CHO-BCMA and multiple myeloma cells in a dose-dependent manner. The BCMA-CD3 antibodies with T cells secreted IFN-gamma with EC50 in the nM range. In addition, three BCMA bispecific antibodies had high in vivo efficacy using an MM1S xenograft NSG mouse model. The data demonstrate the high efficacy of novel hBCMA-CD3 antibodies with multiple myeloma cells and provide a basis for future pre-clinical and clinical development.

GADD45 in Stress Signaling, Cell Cycle Control, and Apoptosis

GADD45 is a gene family consisting of GADD45A, GADD45B, and GADD45G that is often induced by DNA damage and other stress signals associated with growth arrest and apoptosis. Many of these roles are carried out via signaling mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The GADD45 proteins can contribute to p38 activation either by activation of upstream kinase(s) or by direct interaction, as well as suppression of p38 activity in certain cases. In vivo, there are important tissue and cell type specific differences in the roles for GADD45 in MAPK signaling. In addition to being p53-regulated, GADD45A has also been found to contribute to p53 activation via p38. Like other stress and signaling proteins, GADD45 proteins show complex regulation and numerous effectors. More recently, aberrant GADD45 expression has been found in several human cancers, but the mechanisms behind these findings largely remain to be understood.

The effects of BAFF and APRIL signaling on non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness

Lung cancer represents the most common type of human malignancy and is the main cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. To improve the effectiveness of treatment strategies, a better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and invasiveness is required. Recently, B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), two relatively newly described cytokines belonging to the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, have been shown to play a role in cancer progression. However, at present, the effects of both cytokines on lung cancer cells remain unclear. The present study aimed therefore to understand the direct effects of BAFF and APRIL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. To do so, reverse transcription quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate whether A549 and H2030 NSCLC cells express receptors for both BAFF and APRIL. The results demonstrated that both investigated cell lines expressed BAFF-R (receptor specific to BAFF only) and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI; shared receptor for both cytokines). In addition, functional experiments were performed to determine the effects of BAFF and APRIL stimulation on cancer cell viability. The results demonstrated no direct effects of BAFF and APRIL on NSCLC cell proliferation and invasiveness. In summary, the present study demonstrated that NSCLC cells possess the ability to respond directly to both BAFF and APRIL. However, activation of BAFF-R and TACI signaling in cancer cells did not increase the proliferative capacity and invasiveness. Further investigation is thus required to better understand the role of BAFF and APRIL on the progression of NSCLC.

The BAFF/NFκB axis is crucial to interactions between sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts

The tumor microenvironment affects malignancy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the microenvironment. As recent studies indicated a difference between CAFs isolated from chemoresistant and non-resistant cancer tissues, therefore we investigated the intracellular mechanism in resistant HCC co-cultured CAFs and interactions between these CAFs with cancer cells. We established a sorafenib-resistant (SR) Huh7 (human HCC) cell line, and characterized it with cytokine assays, then developed CAFs by co-culturing human hepatic stellate cells with resistant or parental Huh7 cells. The 2 types of CAFs were co-cultured with parental Huh7 cells, thereafter the cell viability of these Huh7 cells was checked under sorafenib treatment. The SR Huh7 (Huh7^SR ) cells expressed increased B-cell activating factor (BAFF), which promoted high expression of CAF-specific markers in Huh7^SR -co-cultured CAFs, showed activated BAFF, BAFF-R, and downstream of the NFκB-Nrf2 pathway, and aggravated invasion, migration, and drug resistance in co-cultured Huh7 cells. When we knocked down BAFF expression in Huh7^SR cells, the previously increased malignancy and BAFF/NFκB axis in Huh7^SR -co-cultured CAFs reversed, and enhanced chemoresistance in co-cultured Huh7 cells returned as well. In conclusion, the BAFF/NFκB pathway was activated in CAFs co-cultured with cell-culture medium from resistant Huh7, which promoted chemoresistance, and increased the malignancy in co-cultured non-resistant Huh7 cells. This suggests that the BAFF/NFκB axis in CAFs might be a potential therapeutic target in chemoresistance of HCC.

FoxO3 Modulates LPS-Activated Hepatic Inflammation in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

In mammals, forkhead box O3 (foxo3) plays important roles in liver immune system. The foxo3 can regulate cell cycle, DNA repair, hypoxia, apoptosis and so on. However, as such an important transcription factor, few studies on foxo3 in fish have been reported. The present study characterized the foxo3 in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) incubated in vitro (hepatocytes) and injected in vivo (turbot liver) were used to construct inflammatory models. The foxo3 was interfered and overexpressed to investigate its functions in liver inflammation. The open reading frame (ORF) of foxo3 was 1998 bp (base pair), encoding 665 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that foxo3 of turbot was highly homologous to other fishes. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that the highest expression of foxo3 was in muscle. Immunofluorescence result showed that foxo3 was expressed in cytoplasm and nucleus. Knockdown of foxo3 significantly increased mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α), interleukin-1β (il-1β), interleukin-6 (il-6), myeloid-differentiation factor 88 (myd88), cd83, toll-like receptor 2 (tlr-2) and protein level of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in sifoxo3 + LPS (siRNA of foxo3+ LPS) group compared with NC + LPS (negative control + LPS) group in turbot hepatocytes. Overexpressed foxo3 significantly decreased mRNA levels of tnf-α, il-6, nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (nf-κb), cd83, tlr-2 and the protein level of JNK in vitro. In vivo analysis, foxo3 knockdown significantly increased levels of GOT in serum after LPS injection compared with NC+LPS group. Overexpressed foxo3 significantly decreased levels of GPT and GOT in pcDNA3.1-foxo3+LPS group compared with pcDNA3.1+LPS group in vivo. Foxo3 knockdown significantly increased mRNA levels of tnf-α, il-1β, il-6, nf-κb, myd88 and protein level of JNK in vivo in sifoxo3+LPS group compared with NC+LPS group in turbot liver. Overexpressed foxo3 significantly decreased mRNA levels of il-1β, il-6, myd88, cd83, jnk and protein level of JNK in pcDNA3.1-foxo3+LPS group compared with pcDNA3.1+LPS group in turbot liver. The results indicated that foxo3 might modulate LPS-activated hepatic inflammation in turbot by decreasing the proinflammatory cytokines, the levels of GOT and GPT as well as activating JNK/caspase-3 and tlr-2/myd88/nf-κb pathways. Taken together, these findings indicated that FoxO3 may play important roles in liver immune responses to LPS in turbot and the research of FoxO3 in liver immunity enriches the studies on immune regulation, and provides theoretical basis and molecular targets for solving liver inflammation and liver injury in fish.

Role of Forkhead Box O Proteins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biology and Progression (Review)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of malignant tumor of the digestive system, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The main treatment for HCC is surgical resection. Advanced disease, recurrence, and metastasis are the main factors affecting prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not sufficiently efficacious for the treatment of primary and metastatic HCC; therefore, optimizing targeted therapy is essential for improving outcomes. Forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins are widely expressed in cells and function to integrate a variety of growth factors, oxidative stress signals, and other stimulatory signals, thereby inducing the specific expression of downstream signal factors and regulation of the cell cycle, senescence, apoptosis, oxidative stress, HCC development, and chemotherapy sensitivity. Accordingly, FOXO proteins are considered multifunctional targets of cancer treatment. The current review discusses the roles of FOXO proteins, particularly FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6, in HCC and establishes a theoretical basis for the potential targeted therapy of HCC.

B cell activating factor (BAFF): Structure, functions, autoimmunity and clinical implications in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

The B cell activating factor (BAFF), or B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), is a B cell survival factor which supports autoreactive B cells and prevents their deletion. BAFF expression is closely linked with autoimmunity and is enhanced by genetic alterations and viral infections. Furthermore, BAFF seems to be involved in adipogenesis, atherosclerosis, neuro-inflammatory processes and ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. BAFF is commonly overexpressed in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and strongly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The relationship between BAFF levels, disease activity and damage accrual in SLE is controversial, but growing evidence is emerging on its role in renal involvement. Belimumab, a biologic BAFF inhibitor, has been the first biologic agent licensed for SLE therapy so far. As Rituximab (RTX) has been shown to increase BAFF levels following B cell depletion, the combination therapy of RTX plus belimumab (being evaluated in two RCT) seems to be a valuable option for several clinical scenarios. In this review we will highlight the growing body of evidence of immune and non-immune related BAFF expression in experimental and clinical settings.

GADD45α drives brown adipose tissue formation through upregulating PPARγ in mice

Stress can lead to obesity and metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we identify GADD45α, a stress-inducible histone folding protein, as a potential regulator for brown adipose tissue biogenesis. Unbiased transcriptomics data indicate a positive correlation between adipose Gadd45a mRNA level and obesity. At the cellular level, Gadd45a knockdown promoted proliferation and lipolysis of brown adipocytes, while Gadd45a overexpression had the opposite effects. Consistently, using a knockout (Gadd45a^−/−) mouse line, we found that GADD45α deficiency inhibited lipid accumulation and promoted expression of thermogenic genes in brown adipocytes, leading to improvements in insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, energy expenditure. At the molecular level, GADD45α deficiency increased proliferation through upregulating expression of cell cycle related genes. GADD45α promoted brown adipogenesis via interacting with PPARγ and upregulating its transcriptional activity. Our new data suggest that GADD45α may be targeted to promote non-shivering thermogenesis and metabolism while counteracting obesity.

TNFSF13 upregulation confers chemotherapeutic resistance via triggering autophagy initiation in triple-negative breast cancer

Since chemotherapy is a main strategy to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients currently, identifying a biomarker to predict chemotherapeutic responses is urgently needed for patients to avoid suffering through unnecessary chemotherapeutic treatments. Here, we found that the endogenous expression of TNFSF13 in a panel of TNBC cell lines highly correlates with paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin IC₅₀ concentrations. Whereas knocking down TNFSF13 enhances PTX effectiveness in PTX-insensitive MDA-MB231 cells, recombinant TNFSF13 (recTNFSF13) desensitizes PTX-sensitive HCC1806 cells to PTX treatment. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that higher TNFSF13 mRNA expression significantly predicts an increased risk for cancer recurrence in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer patients receiving an anthracycline-based treatment. Accordingly, immunohistochemistry experiments indicated that higher levels of TNFSF13 protein are detected in TNBC patients who do not respond to an anthracycline-based treatment. The in silico analysis and Western blotting demonstrated that TNFSF13 expression inversely associates with the activity of the Akt-mTOR pathway, which acts as a negative regulator of autophagy activity. Significantly, the pharmaceutical inhibition of autophagy activity restores the therapeutic effectiveness of PTX in TNFSF13-treated HCC1806 cells. These findings suggest that TNFSF13 can serve as a predictive biomarker for TNBC patients, who can use it to decide whether to receive chemotherapy. KEY MESSAGES: TNFSF13 upregulation correlates with a poor response to chemotherapy in TNBCs. TNFSF13 promotes autophagy initiation in chemotherapeutic resistant TNBCs. Therapeutic targeting of autophagy initiation overcomes the TNFSF13-related chemoresistance. TNFSF13 could be a predictive biomarker for TNBC patients receiving chemotherapy.

The TNFSF Members APRIL and BAFF and Their Receptors TACI, BCMA, and BAFFR in Oncology, With a Special Focus in Breast Cancer

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily consists of 19 ligands and 29 receptors and is related to multiple cellular events from proliferation and differentiation to apoptosis and tumor reduction. In this review, we overview the whole system, and we focus on A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL, TNFSF13) and B cell-activating factor (BAFF, TNFSF13B) and their receptors transmembrane activator and Ca²⁺ modulator (CAML) interactor (TACI, TNFRSF13B), B cell maturation antigen (BCMA, TNFRSF17), and BAFF receptor (BAFFR, TNFRSF13C). We explore their role in cancer and novel biological therapies introduced for multiple myeloma and further focus on breast cancer, in which the modulation of this system seems to be of potential interest, as a novel therapeutic target. Finally, we discuss some precautions which should be taken into consideration, while targeting the APRIL–BAFF system.

The activation of BAFF/APRIL system in spleen and lymph nodes of Plasmodium falciparum infected patients

Previous studies have reported activation of the B cell-activating factor (BAFF)/a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) system in T independent immunity against malaria infection. Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infected animal model is not feasible. Therefore, little is known about the occurrence of BAFF/APRIL system and changes in falciparum lymphoid tissues. This study aimed to investigate the expression of BAFF/APRIL system components in lymphoid tissues from P. falciparum infected patients. Spleen and lymph node samples from 14 patients were collected at autopsy. Normal spleens and bacterially infected tonsils served as controls. The protein and/or mRNA expression of BAFF/APRIL and their cognate receptors, BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA, were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR, respectively. The spleens of the patients exhibited significantly higher BAFF-R protein expression than normal spleens. Although without appropriate control, BCMA protein was markedly observed only in the lymph nodes. BAFF and BCMA mRNA levels were also significantly elevated in the spleen tissues of the patients compared with normal spleens. The overall BAFF-R protein levels in the lymphoid tissues of the patients correlated positively with parasitaemia. These findings are the first to confirm that BAFF/APRIL system activation in lymphoid tissues and is positively correlated with the parasitaemia levels in falciparum malaria.

Cellular function of chicken FOXO3 and its associations with chicken growth

FOXO3 belongs to the Forkhead O transcription factor family and it is an important gene in multiple biological processes, such as cell cycle control, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, human longevity, and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown that FOXO3 is associated with skeletal muscle growth and adipose development in mammals. However, the sequence of chicken FOXO3 is still incomplete and the cellular functions of FOXO3 in chickens are poorly understood. Thus, we obtained the full-length sequence of chicken FOXO3 by 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5' RACE) and the phylogenetic tree showed that the chicken FOXO3 sequence was homologous with those in other species. Flow cytometry analysis and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays showed that FOXO3 repressed cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis in a chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH). Mutations were screened in the second exon of FOXO3 and 13 synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in the test population. Further analysis showed that rs317670452 and rs15379317 were associated with many growth and carcass traits, such as the body weight at different ages and breast muscle weight. Our results indicate that chicken FOXO3 has similar cellular functions to those found in mammals and it is significantly associated with chicken growth.

GADD45a Mediated Cell Cycle Inhibition Is Regulated By P53 In Bladder Cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies of the genitourinary system, yet the underlying mechanism of BC progression still remains unclear. Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 alpha (GADD45a) is a repressive gene implicated in cell cycle regulation, as well as in human cancers development. However, its role in BC remains to be determined.

Methods

First, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot assays were used to detect GADD45a expression in BC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues, as well as in bladder cancer cell lines, respectively. Then, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, colony formation assays, and flow cytometry assays were used to measure the ability of cell growth, proliferation and cell cycle distribution. Lentiviral infection technology was used to increase gene expression, while siRNA interfering technology was used to knockdown gene expression. Finally, nude mice were used to construct tumor-burdened models in vivo by injecting tumor cells subcutaneously.

Results

PCR results showed that the level of GADD45a mRNA and protein levels were lower in BC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. After increasing GADD45a expression, both the ability of growth and proliferation of BC cells were seriously impaired. Additionally, the upregulation of GADD45a expression resulted in BC cell cycle in G2/M and S phases in a p53-regulated pathway.

Conclusion

GADD45a-mediated cell cycle inhibition is regulated by p53 in bladder cancer cells.

Tomentosin Displays Anti-Carcinogenic Effect in Human Osteosarcoma MG-63 Cells via the Induction of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species

Tomentosin is a natural sesquiterpene lactone extracted from various plants and is widely used as a medicine because it exhibits essential therapeutic properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-carcinogenic effects of tomentosin in human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells by performing cell migration/viability/proliferation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis assays. MG-63 cells were treated with various doses of tomentosin. After treatment with tomentosin, MG-63 cells were analyzed using the MTT assay, colony formation assay, cell counting assay, wound healing assay, Boyden chamber assay, zymography assay, cell cycle analysis, FITC Annexin V apoptosis assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, western blot analysis, and ROS detection analysis. Our results indicated that tomentosin decreased cell viability and migration ability in MG-63 cells. Moreover, tomentosin induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and ROS production in MG-63 cells. Furthermore, tomentosin-induced intracellular ROS decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA damage in MG-63 cells. Taken together, our results suggested that tomentosin exerted anti-carcinogenic effects in MG-63 cells by induction of intracellular ROS.

Potential clinical value and putative biological function of miR-122-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma: A comprehensive study using microarray and RNA sequencing data

In order to determine the diagnostic efficacy of microRNA (miR)-122-5p and to identify the potential molecular signaling pathways underlying the function of miR-122-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the expression profiles of data collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and literature databases were analyzed, along with any associations between clinicopathological characteristics and the diagnostic value of miR-122-5p in HCC. The intersection of 12 online prediction databases and differentially expressed genes from TCGA and GEO were utilized in order to select the prospective target genes of miR-122-5p in HCC. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analyses were subsequently performed based on the selected target genes. The average expression level of miR-122-5p was decreased in HCC patients compared with controls from TCGA database (P<0.001), and the downregulation of miR-122-5p was significantly associated with HCC tissues (P<0.001), tumor vascular invasion (P<0.001), metastasis (P=0.001), sex (P=0.006), virus infection status (P=0.001) and tissue (compared with serum; P<0.001) in cases from the GEO database. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for miR-122-5p to diagnose HCC were 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.48–0.71] and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70–0.89), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72–0.80), while in Meta-DiSc 1.4, the AUC was 0.76 (Q*=0.70). The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.60 (95% CI, 0.57–0.62) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76–0.81), respectively. A total of 198 overlapping genes were selected as the potential target genes of miR-122-5p, and 7 genes were defined as the hub genes from the PPI network. Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6), minichromosome maintenance complex component 4 (MCM4) and MCM8, which serve pivotal functions in the occurrence and development of HCC, were the most significant hub genes. The regulation of cell proliferation for cellular adhesion and the biosynthesis of amino acids was highlighted in the GO and KEGG pathway analyses. The downregulation of miR-122-5p in HCC demonstrated diagnostic value, worthy of further attention. Therefore, miR-122-5p may function as a tumor suppressor by modulating genome replication.

CAR-T Cells Based on Novel BCMA Monoclonal Antibody Block Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth

The cell-surface protein B cell maturation antigen (BCMA, CD269) has emerged as a promising target for CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma. In order to create a novel BCMA CAR, we generated a new BCMA monoclonal antibody, clone 4C8A. This antibody exhibited strong and selective binding to human BCMA. BCMA CAR-T cells containing the 4C8A scFv were readily detected with recombinant BCMA protein by flow cytometry. The cells were cytolytic for RPMI8226, H929, and MM1S multiple myeloma cells and secreted high levels of IFN-γ in vitro. BCMA-dependent cytotoxicity and IFN-γ secretion were also observed in response to CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary)-BCMA cells but not to parental CHO cells. In a mouse subcutaneous tumor model, BCMA CAR-T cells significantly blocked RPMI8226 tumor formation. When BCMA CAR-T cells were given to mice with established RPMI8226 tumors, the tumors experienced significant shrinkage due to CAR-T cell activity and tumor cell apoptosis. The same effect was observed with 3 humanized BCMA-CAR-T cells in vivo. These data indicate that novel CAR-T cells utilizing the BCMA 4C8A scFv are effective against multiple myeloma and warrant future clinical development.

BCMA (TNFRSF17) Induces APRIL and BAFF Mediated Breast Cancer Cell Stemness

Recent advances in cancer immunology revealed immune-related properties of cancer cells as novel promising therapeutic targets. The two TNF superfamily members, APRIL (TNFSF13), and BAFF (TNFSF13B), which are type II membrane proteins, released in active forms by proteolytic cleavage and are primarily involved in B-lymphocyte maturation, have also been associated with tumor growth and aggressiveness in several solid tumors, including breast cancer. In the present work we studied the effect of APRIL and BAFF on epithelial to mesenchymal transition, migration, and stemness of breast cancer cells. Our findings show that both molecules increase epithelial to mesenchymal transition and migratory capacity of breast cancer cells, as well as cancer stem cell numbers, by increasing the expression of pluripotency genes such as ALDH1A1, KLF4, and NANOG. These effects are mediated by their common receptor BCMA (TNFRSF17) and the JNK signaling pathway. Interestingly, transcriptional data analysis from breast cancer cells and patients revealed that androgens can increase APRIL transcription and subsequently, in an autocrine/paracrine manner, enhance its pluripotency effect. In conclusion, our data suggest a possible role of APRIL and BAFF in breast cancer disease progression and provide evidence for a new possible mechanism of therapy resistance, that could be particularly relevant in aromatase inhibitors-treated patients, were local androgen is increased.

FOXOs Maintaining the Equilibrium for Better or for Worse

A paradigm shift is emerging within the FOXO field and accumulating evidence indicates that we need to reappreciate the role of FOXOs, at least in cancer development. Here, we discuss the possibility that FOXOs are both tumor suppressors as well as promoters of tumor progression. This is mostly dependent on the biological context. Critical to this dichotomous role is the notion that FOXOs are central in preserving cellular homeostasis in redox control, genomic stability, and protein turnover. From this perspective, a paradoxical role in both suppressing and enhancing tumor progression can be reconciled. As many small molecules targeting the PI3K pathway are developed by big pharmaceutical companies and/or are in clinical trial, we will discuss what the consequences may be for the context-dependent role of FOXOs in tumor development in treatment options based on active PI3K signaling in tumors.

APRIL promotes non-small cell lung cancer growth and metastasis by targeting ERK1/2 signaling

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major subtype of lung cancer, which is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. It is a complex disease involving multiple genetic alterations. As a cytokine belonging to the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF- α) family, the - a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expression and its signaling have been studied in many human solid tumor types, but the data on APRIL signaling in NSCLC are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the APRIL expression and investigate its signaling in NSCLC. The expression of APRIL and its receptors, B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and calcium-modulatorand cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), was analyzed by using immunohistochemistry in NSCLC samples. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of APRIL, BCMA and TACI in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549, H1299, and H1650. Cell proliferation was measured by using the cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay kit 8 (CCK8) assay, cell migration by using wound healing assay, and cell invasion by using transwall assay. The protein level of APRIL, BCMA and TAC, and the activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling, were determined by western blot. Our results indicated, APRIL and its receptors BCMA and TACI, were overexpressed in most of human NSCLC samples and cell lines; APRIL promoted tumor proliferation, migration and metastasis in A549 and H1299 cells via BCMA and TACI. Furthermore, ERK1/2 activation was involved in APRIL signaling through TACI but not BCMA in A549 and H1299 cells. APRIL might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for NSCLC, and APRIL related signaling pathway could be a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

TNF superfamily members promote hepatitis C virus entry via an NF-κB and myosin light chain kinase dependent pathway

Preventing virally induced liver disease begins with an understanding of the host factors that define susceptibility to infection. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health issue, with an estimated 170 million infected individuals at risk of developing liver disease including fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver is the major reservoir supporting HCV replication and this hepatocellular tropism is defined by HCV engagement of cellular entry receptors. Hepatocytes are polarized in vivo and this barrier function limits HCV entry. We previously reported that activated macrophages promote HCV entry into polarized hepatocytes via a TNF-α-dependent process; however, the underlying mechanism was not defined. In this study, we show that several TNF superfamily members, including TNF-α, TNF-β, TWEAK and LIGHT, promote HCV entry via NF-κB-mediated activation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and disruption of tight junctions. These observations support a model where HCV hijacks an inflammatory immune response to stimulate infection and uncovers a role for NF-κB-MLCK signalling in maintaining hepatocellular tight junctions.

APRIL, BCMA and TACI proteins are abnormally expressed in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for >80% of lung cancers. The overall survival for NSCLC is dismal, with a 5-year survival of <5% for patients. Thus, identifying an effective biomarker for early diagnosis of lung cancer is the first essential step to reduce mortality. It has been recognized that certain inflammatory and immune responses are important in lung cancer development and prevention. The present study demonstrated that, in NSCLC, a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) proteins are abnormally expressed by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. In addition, the expression of APRIL, BCMA and TACI were observed to be involved in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation in A549 cells. Overall, the present study provides evidence that APRIL and its receptors, BCMA and TACI, may play roles in the biological processes of NSCLC tumors through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Molecular Characterization of Equine APRIL and its Expression Analysis During the Adipogenic Differentiation of Equine Adipose-Derived Stem Cell In Vitro

A proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) is a member of the TNF superfamily. It shares two receptors with B-cell activating factor (BAFF), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI). Herein, the equine APRIL was identified from equine adipose-derived stem cell (ASC), and the protein expression of APRIL and its related molecules were detected during the adipogenic differentiation of equine ASC in vitro. The equine APRIL gene was located on chromosome 11, spans 1852 base pairs (bp). Its open reading frame covers 753 bp, encoding a 250-amino acid protein with the typical TNF structure domain. During the two weeks' adipogenic differentiation of equine ASC, although the protein expression of APRIL and TACI had an insignificant change, that of BCMA increased significantly. Moreover, with the addition of recombinant protein His6-sAPRIL, a reduced differentiation of equine ASC toward adipocyte was detected. These results may provide the basis for investigating the role of APRIL in ASC adipogenic differentiation.

Significance of BAFF/APRIL Expression and Their Receptors in Pediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In this study, we investigated the mRNA expression and protein levels of B-cell activating factor (BAFF)/a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and their receptors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines and pediatric patients with ALL using real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. The location and level of the BAFF/APRIL proteins in ALL cell lines were also detected by immunofluorescence cytochemistry and flow cytometry. Correlations between plasma protein levels of BAFF/APRIL and primary clinical parameters were analyzed. We found that BAFF/APRIL was highly expressed in pediatric ALL patients and ALL cell lines. The BAFF/APRIL proteins were located on the cell membrane, and the proportion of positive cells and mean fluorescence intensity were significantly higher than in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression and protein levels of BAFF/APRIL and their receptors in untreated ALL children were significantly higher than in healthy controls (P<0.05) as well as were significantly reduced in the remission group (P<0.05). The plasma protein levels of BAFF/APRIL were positively correlated with the white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, and serum ferritin. Abnormal levels of BAFF/APRIL in pediatric ALL suggest that BAFF/APRIL are associated with the development and progression of ALL in children and may provide information for the development of BAFF-based and APRIL-based targeted therapies.

Derivate isocorydine inhibits cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

We have previously demonstrated that isocorydine (ICD) can be served as a potential antitumor agent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A novel derivate of isocorydine (d-ICD) could significantly improve its anticancer activity in tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms of d-ICD on HCC cells remain to be unclear. In this study, we observed that d-ICD inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. We found d-ICD induced G2/M cycle arrest of HCC cells via DNA damage 45 alpha (GADD45A) and p21 pathway in vitro and in vivo. In d-ICD-treated cells, cell cycle-related proteins cyclin B1 and p-CDC2 were upregulated and p-cyclin B1, CDC2, and E2F1 were inhibited. p21 expression can be reversed by knockdown of GADD45A in d-ICD-treated HCC cells. Enforced expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) in combination with d-ICD enhanced the p21 expression in HCC cells. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay showed that upregulation of GADD45A by C/EBPβ was achieved through the increase of GADD45A promoter activity. These findings indicate that d-ICD inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest through activation of C/EBPβ-GADD45A-p21 pathway in HCC cells. d-ICD might be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC.

Regulatory role of B-cell maturation antigen on the toxic effect of chromium ions on human SaOS-2 osteoblasts

Metal prostheses of artificial joints undergo wear, producing numerous metal particles and ions, such as Cr³⁺ . Cr³⁺ is considered a key factor leading to aseptic loosening. Many studies focus on the effect of Cr³⁺ on osteoblasts; however, little is known about the effect of Cr³⁺ on the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in the osteoblasts. In this study, we first demonstrated the BCMA expressed in human SaOS-2 osteoblasts through reverse transcriptase-PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemical analyses. Cr³⁺ decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), cell mineralization, and collagen type I mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, Cr³⁺ has an inhibitive effect on the expression of the BCMA in human SaOS-2 osteoblasts. However, after we upregulated the expression of the BCMA, ALP, OC, cell mineralization, and collagen type I mRNA and protein expression were increased. Overall, this study demonstrates that the BCMA is involved in human SaOS-2 osteoblast osteogenetic metabolism and plays a regulatory role on the toxic effect of chromium ions on human SaOS-2 osteoblasts.

Conditioned media from human macrophages of M1 phenotype attenuate the cytotoxic effect of 5‑fluorouracil on the HT‑29 colon cancer cell line

Resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is an obstacle for successful treatment of cancer. As a follow-up of a previous study we have investigated the effect of conditioned media (CM) from macrophages of M1 or M2 phenotypes on 5-FU cytotoxicity on the colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and CACO-2. HT-29 cells, but not CACO-2 cells, having been treated with a combination of M1 CM and 5-FU recovered their cell growth to a much larger extent compared to cells having been treated with 5-FU alone when further cultured for 7 days in fresh media. M1 CM treatment of HT-29, but not CACO-2 cells, induced cell cycle arrest in the G₀/G₁ and G₂/M phases. 5-FU treatment induced accumulation of cells in S-phase in both HT-29 and CACO-2 cells. This accumulation of cells in S-phase was attenuated by combined M1 CM and 5-FU treatment in HT-29 cells, but not in CACO-2 cells. The mRNA expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins and 5-FU metabolic enzymes were analyzed in an attempt to find possible mechanisms for the M1 CM induced attenuation of 5-FU cytotoxicity in HT-29. Thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) were found to be substantially downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in HT-29 cells treated with M1 CM, making them unlikely as mediators of reduced 5-FU cytotoxicity. Among cell cycle regulating proteins, p21 was induced in HT-29 cells, but not in CACO-2 cells, in response to M1 CM treatment. However, small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of p21 had no effect on the M1 CM induced cell cycle arrest seen in HT-29 and neither did it change the growth recovery after combined treatment of HT-29 cells with M1 CM and 5-FU. In conclusion, treatment of HT-29 cells with M1 CM reduces the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU and this is mediated by a M1 CM induced cell cycle arrest in the G₀/G₁ and G₂/M phases. So far, we lack an explanation why this action is absent in the CACO-2 cells. The current findings may be important for optimization of chemotherapy in colon cancer.

Therapeutic ROS targeting of GADD45γ in the induction of G2/M arrest in primary human colorectal cancer cell lines by cucurbitacin E

Cucurbitacin E (CuE) or α-elaterin is a natural compound previously shown to be an antifeedant as well as a potent chemopreventive agent against several types of cancer. The present study investigated the anticancer effects of CuE on colorectal cancer (CRC) using primary cell lines isolated from five CRC patients in Taiwan, Specifically, we explored the anti-proliferation and cell cycle G2/M arrest induced by CuE in CRC cells. MPM-2 flow cytometry tests show that CuE-treated cells accumulated in metaphase (CuE 2.5-7.5 μM). Results further indicate that CuE produced G2/M arrest as well as the downregulation of CDC2 and cyclin B1 expression and dissociation. Both effects increased proportionally with the dose of CuE; however, the inhibition of proliferation, arrest of mitosis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were found to be dependent on the quantity of CuE used to treat the cancer cells. In addition, cell cycle arrest in treated cells coincided with the activation of the gene GADD45(α, β, γ). Incubation with CuE resulted in the binding of GADD45γ to CDC2, which suggests that the delay in CuE-induced mitosis is regulated by the overexpression of GADD45γ. Our findings suggest that, in addition to the known effects on cancer prevention, CuE may have antitumor activities in established CRC.

Post-exercise impact of ingested whey protein hydrolysate on gene expression profiles in rat skeletal muscle: activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

We have previously shown that whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) causes a greater increase in muscle protein synthesis than does a mixture of amino acids that is identical in amino acid composition. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of WPH on gene expression. Male Sprague–Dawley rats subjected to a 2 h swimming exercise were administered either a carbohydrate–amino acid diet or a carbohydrate–WPH diet immediately after exercise. At 1 h after exercise, epitrochlearis muscle mRNA was sampled and subjected to DNA microarray analysis. We found that ingestion of WPH altered 189 genes after considering the false discovery rate. Among the up-regulated genes, eight Gene Ontology (GO) terms were enriched, which included key elements such as Cd24, Ccl2, Ccl7 and Cxcl1 involved in muscle repair after exercise. In contrast, nine GO terms were enriched in gene sets that were down-regulated by the ingestion of WPH, and these GO terms fell into two clusters, ‘regulation of ATPase activity’ and ‘immune response’. Furthermore, we found that WPH activated two upstream proteins, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which might act as key factors for regulating gene expression. These results suggest that ingestion of WPH, compared with ingestion of a mixture of amino acids with an identical amino acid composition, induces greater changes in the post-exercise gene expression profile via activation of the proteins ERK1/2 and HIF-1α.

Gadd45 in stress signaling, cell cycle control, and apoptosis

The first identified Gadd45 gene, Gadd45a, encodes a ubiquitously expressed protein that is often induced by DNA damage and other stress signals associated with growth arrest and apoptosis. This protein and the other two members of this small gene family, Gadd45b and Gadd45g, have been implicated in a variety of the responses to cell injury including cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and DNA repair. In vivo, many of the prominent roles for the Gadd45 proteins are associated with signaling mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Gadd45 proteins can contribute to p38 activation either by activation of upstream kinase(s) or by direct interaction. In vivo, there are important tissue and cell-type-specific differences in the roles for Gadd45 in MAPK signaling. In addition to being p53-regulated, Gadd45a has been found to contribute to p53 activation via p38. Like other stress and signaling proteins, Gadd45 proteins show complex regulation and numerous effectors.

BAFF, APRIL, TWEAK, BCMA, TACI and Fn14 proteins are related to human glioma tumor grade: immunohistochemistry and public microarray data meta-analysis

Gliomas are common and lethal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Genetic alterations, inflammatory and angiogenic processes have been identified throughout tumor progression; however, treatment still remains palliative for most cases. Biological research on parameters influencing cell survival, invasion and tumor heterogeneity identified several cytokines interfering in CNS inflammation, oxidative stress and malignant transformation, including TNF-superfamily (TNFSF) members. In this report we performed a meta-analysis of public gene-array data on the expression of a group of TNFSF ligands (BAFF, APRIL, TWEAK) and their receptors (BAFF-R, TACI, BCMA, Fn14) in gliomas. In addition, we investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) the tumor cells' expression of these ligands and receptors in a series of 56 gliomas of different grade. We show that in IHC, BAFF and APRIL as well as their cognate receptors (BCMA, TACI) and Fn14 expression correlate with tumor grade. This result was not evidenced in micro-arrays meta-analysis. Finally, we detected for the first time Fn14, BAFF, BCMA and TACI in glioma-related vascular endothelium. Our data, combined with our previous report in glioma cell lines, suggest a role for these receptors and ligands in glioma biology and advance these molecules as potential markers for the classification of these tumors to the proliferative, angiogenic or stem-like molecular subtype.

The up-regulation expression of APRIL is a marker of glottic malignant disease

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Recent studies have implied that APRIL is closely related to solid tumors and hematological tumors, indicating that APRIL could be a potential marker to diagnose glottic malignant disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of the APRIL mRNA and protein expression in glottic malignant disease, corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and glottic benign lesion, and detect the influence of different clinical parameter in glottic carcinoma. The APRIL mRNA expression in the glottic carcinoma, corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and glottic polypus tissue samples from patients was detected by qRT-PCR. Moreover, we studied the APRIL protein expression in pathological sections of other patients with glottic carcinoma or glottic polypus using immunohistochemistry. All the patients with different clinical parameter underwent surgery. Using qRT-PCR, we revealed an up-regulation of APRIL mRNA expression in glottic carcinoma as compared to glottic polypus and corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues, but no significant difference with T stages, histopathological differentiation grade or lymph node metastasis in glottic carcinoma. The result of the immunohistochemistry was the same, with no influence of different clinical parameter in glottic carcinoma. These results strongly suggest that APRIL could be a potential diagnosed marker to distinguish glottic malignant disease from glottic benign lesion, and it may play an important role in the development of glottic malignant disease.

The BAFF/APRIL system: emerging functions beyond B cell biology and autoimmunity

The BAFF system plays a key role in the development of autoimmunity, especially in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This often leads to the assumption that BAFF is mostly a B cell factor with a specific role in autoimmunity. Focus on BAFF and autoimmunity, driven by pharmaceutical successes with the recent approval of a novel targeted therapy Belimumab, has relegated other potential roles of BAFF to the background. Far from being SLE-specific, the BAFF system has a much broader relevance in infection, cancer and allergy. In this review, we provide the latest views on additional roles of the BAFF system in health and diseases, as well as an update on BAFF and autoimmunity, with particular focus on current clinical trials.

Targeting the BLyS-APRIL signaling pathway in SLE

The B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)-A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) signaling pathway has an important role in the selection, maturation and survival of B cells and plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The inhibition of BLyS, a survival factor for transitional and mature B cells, has recently proven to be successful in large phase III clinical trials that led to the approval of an anti-BLyS monoclonal antibody (belimumab) for the treatment of SLE. Yet, there is currently a need to both understand better the mechanisms of action of belimumab in SLE and better define the subsets of patients that are more likely to respond to the drug.