Epitranscriptomics in the development, functions, and disorders of cancer stem cells

Biomolecular modifications play an important role in the development of life, and previous studies have investigated the role of DNA and proteins. In the last decade, with the development of sequencing technology, the veil of epitranscriptomics has been gradually lifted. Transcriptomics focuses on RNA modifications that affect gene expression at the transcriptional level. With further research, scientists have found that changes in RNA modification proteins are closely linked to cancer tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered powerful drivers of tumorigenesis and key factors for therapeutic resistance. In this article, we focus on describing RNA modifications associated with CSCs and summarize the associated research progress. The aim of this review is to identify new directions for cancer diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase: A novel vital oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in cancers

The reprogramming of cellular metabolism is frequently linked to tumorigenesis. Glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids are the specific substrates involved in how an organism maintains metabolic equilibrium. The HADH gene codes for the short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), a crucial enzyme in fatty acid oxidation that catalyzes the third phase of fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria. Increasing data suggest that HADH is differentially expressed in various types of malignancies and is linked to cancer development and progression. The significance of HADH expression in tumors and its potential mechanisms of action in the onset and progression of certain cancers are summarized in this article. The possible roles of HADH as a target and/or biomarker for the detection and treatment of various malignancies is also described here.

Exosomes and mimics as novel delivery platform for cancer therapy

Exosomes are nano-sized biological extracellular vesicles transmitting information between cells and constituting a new intercellular communication mode. Exosomes have many advantages as an ideal drug delivery nanocarrier, including good biocompatibility, permeability, low toxicity, and low immunogenicity. Recently, exosomes have been used to deliver chemotherapeutic agents, natural drugs, nucleic acid drugs, and other antitumor drugs to treat many types of tumors. Due to the limited production of exosomes, synthetic exosome-mimics have been developed as an ideal platform for drug delivery. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of exosomes and exosome-mimics delivering therapeutic drugs in treating cancers.

Polymeric nanoparticles—Promising carriers for cancer therapy

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) play an important role in controlled cancer drug delivery. Anticancer drugs can be conjugated or encapsulated by polymeric nanocarriers, which are known as polymeric nanomedicine. Polymeric nanomedicine has shown its potential in providing sustained release of drugs with reduced cytotoxicity and modified tumor retention, but until now, few delivery systems loading drugs have been able to meet clinical demands, so more efforts are needed. This research reviews the current state of the cancer drug-loading system by exhibiting a series of published articles that highlight the novelty and functions from a variety of different architectures including micelles, liposomes, dendrimers, polymersomes, hydrogels, and metal–organic frameworks. These may contribute to the development of useful polymeric NPs to achieve different therapeutic purposes.

From COVID-19 to Sarcoidosis: How Similar Are These Two Diseases?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), leads to the dysregulation of the immune system, exacerbates inflammatory responses, and even causes multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in patients with severe disease. Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic granulomatous multisystem disease characterized by dense epithelioid non-necrotizing lesions with varying degrees of lymphocytic inflammation. These two diseases have similar clinical manifestations and may also influence each other and affect their clinical courses. In this study, we analyzed some possible connections between sarcoidosis and COVID-19, including the role of the renin–angiotensin system in the respiratory system, immune response, and cell death pathways, to understand the underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, predisposing patients to severe forms of COVID-19. This review will provide a new prospect for the treatment of COVID-19 and an opportunity to explore the pathogenesis and development of sarcoidosis.

Effects of Inflammatory Response Genes on the Immune Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer

Background: The close relationship between colorectal cancer and inflammation has been widely reported. However, the relationship between colorectal cancer and inflammation at the genetic level is not fully understood.

Method: From a genetic perspective, this study explored the relationship between inflammation-related genes and the immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer. We identified prognostic genes, namely CX3CL1, CCL22, SERPINE1, LTB4R, XCL1, GAL, TIMP1, ADIPOQ, and CRH, by using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. A risk scoring model for inflammatory response was established, and patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were divided into two groups: high risk group and low risk group.

Results: The analysis showed that the prognosis of the two groups was significantly different, and the low-risk group had a higher survival rate and longer survival time. Pathways related to apoptosis, inflammatory response, and hypoxia were significantly enriched as shown via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Activated dendritic cell infiltration was found in both the TCGA and GEO databases, and the CCL21 gene played a significant role in the process of activated dendritic cell infiltration. CCL21 gene was also positively correlated with inflammatory response, and the gene expression and risk score were significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion: In summary, inflammatory response has a direct impact on patients with colorectal cancer in the prognosis and immune infiltration and further research studies on the inflammatory response can help in advancing the development of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Comparative Analysis of the Biomechanical Characteristics After Different Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Cervical Spondylopathy: A Finite Element Analysis

Minimally invasive surgeries, including posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PECF), microsurgical anterior cervical foraminotomy (MACF), anterior transdiscal approach of endoscopic cervical discectomy (ATd-ECD), and anterior transcorporeal approach of endoscopic cervical discectomy (ATc-ECD), have obtained positive results for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Nonetheless, there is a lack of comparison among them regarding their biomechanical performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biomechanical changes of operated and adjacent segments after minimally invasive surgeries compared to a normal cervical spine. A three-dimensional model of normal cervical vertebrae C3–C7 was established using finite element analysis. Afterwards, four surgical models (PECF, MACF, ATd-ECD, and ATc-ECD) were constructed on the basis of the normal model. Identical load conditions were applied to simulate flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation of the cervical spine. We calculated the range of motion (ROM), intradiscal pressure (IDP), annulus fibrosus pressure (AFP), uncovertebral joints contact pressure (CPRESS), and facet joints CPRESS under different motions. For all circumstances, ATc-ECD was close to the normal cervical spine model, whereas ATd-ECD significantly increased ROM and joints CPRESS and decreased IDP in the operated segment. PECF increased more the operated segment ROM than did the MACF, but the MACF obtained maximum IDP and AFP. Except for ATc-ECD, the other models increased joints CPRESS of the operated segment. For adjacent segments, ROM, IDP, and joints CPRESS showed a downward trend in all models. All models showed good biomechanical stability. With their combination biomechanics, safety, and conditions of application, PECF and ATc-ECD could be appropriate choices for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides in Diabetes and Its Complications

The changes of mitochondrial function are closely related to diabetes and its complications. Here we describe the effects of mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), short peptides formed by transcription and translation of the open reading frame site in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), on diabetes and its complications. We mainly focus on MDPs that have been discovered so far, such as Humanin (HN), mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) and Small humanin-like peptides (SHLP 1-6), and elucidated the role of MDPs in diabetes and its major complications stroke and myocardial infarction by improving insulin resistance, inhibiting inflammatory response and anti-apoptosis. It provides more possibilities for the clinical application of mitochondrial derived peptides.