CRISPR/Cpf1-FOKI-induced gene editing in Gluconobacter oxydans

Gluconobacter oxydans is an important Gram-negative industrial microorganism that produces vitamin C and other products due to its efficient membrane-bound dehydrogenase system. Its incomplete oxidation system has many crucial industrial applications. However, it also leads to slow growth and low biomass, requiring further metabolic modification for balancing the cell growth and incomplete oxidation process. As a non-model strain, G. oxydans lacks efficient genome editing tools and cannot perform rapid multi-gene editing and complex metabolic network regulation. In the last 15 years, our laboratory attempted to deploy multiple CRISPR/Cas systems in different G. oxydans strains and found none of them as functional. In this study, Cpf1-based or dCpf1-based CRISPRi was constructed to explore the targeted binding ability of Cpf1, while Cpf1-FokI was deployed to study its nuclease activity. A study on Cpf1 found that the CRISPR/Cpf1 system could locate the target genes in G. oxydans but lacked the nuclease cleavage activity. Therefore, the CRISPR/Cpf1-FokI system based on FokI nuclease was constructed. Single-gene knockout with efficiency up to 100% and double-gene iterative editing were achieved in G. oxydans. Using this system, AcrVA6, the anti-CRISPR protein of G. oxydans was discovered for the first time, and efficient genome editing was realized.

Hydroxylamine supplementation accelerated the rates of cell growth, aerobic denitrification and nitrous oxide emission of Pseudomonas taiwanensis EN-F2

Hydroxylamine can disrupt the protein translation process of most reported nitrogen-converting bacteria, and thus hinder the reproduction of bacteria and nitrogen conversion capacity. However, the effect of hydroxylamine on the denitrification ability of strain EN-F2 is unclear. In this study, the cell growth, aerobic denitrification ability, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission by Pseudomonas taiwanensis were carefully investigated by addition of hydroxylamine at different concentrations. The results demonstrated that the rates of nitrate and nitrite reduction were enhanced by 2.51 and 2.78 mg/L/h after the addition of 8.0 and 12.0 mg/L hydroxylamine, respectively. The N2O production from nitrate and nitrite reaction systems were strongly promoted by 4.39 and 8.62 mg/L, respectively, through the simultaneous acceleration of cell growth and both of nitrite and nitrate reduction. Additionally, the enzymatic activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase climbed from 0.13 and 0.01 to 0.22 and 0.04 U/mg protein when hydroxylamine concentration increased from 0 to 6.0 and 12.0 mg/L. This may be the main mechanism for controlling the observed higher denitrification rate and N2O release. Overall, hydroxylamine supplementation supported the EN-F2 strain cell growth, denitrification and N2O emission rates.

Increased expression of long non-coding RNA FIRRE promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by HuR-CyclinD1 axis signaling

There is a critical need to understand the disease processes and identify improved therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) display diverse effects on biological regulations. The aim of this study was to identify a lncRNA as a potential biomarker of HCC and investigate the mechanisms by which the lncRNA promotes HCC progression using human cell lines and in vivo. Using RNA-Seq analysis, we found that lncRNA FIRRE was significantly upregulated in hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated liver tissue and identified that lncRNA FIRRE is significantly upregulated in HCV associated HCC compared to adjacent non-tumor liver tissue. Further, we observed that FIRRE is significantly upregulated in HCC specimens with other etiologies, suggesting this lncRNA has a potential to serve as an additional biomarker for HCC. Overexpression of FIRRE in hepatocytes induced cell proliferation, colony formation, and xenograft tumor formation as compared to vector transfected control cells. Using RNA pull-down proteomics, we identified HuR as an interacting partner of FIRRE. We further showed that the FIRRE-HuR axis regulates cyclin D1 expression. Our mechanistic investigation uncovered that FIRRE is associated with an RNA binding protein HuR for enhancing hepatocyte growth. Together, these findings provide molecular insights into the role of FIRRE in HCC progression.

BET bromodomain inhibitors PFI-1 and CPI-203 suppress the development of follicular lymphoma via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Objective

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized by a lymphoid follicular pattern of growth. PFI-1 or CPI-203 has been known to effectively promote the inhibition of primary effusion lymphoma progression. This study aimed at investigating the anti-tumor properties of PFI-1 and CPI-203 on FL cells and uncover the underlying mechanism of action.

Methods

FL cells were treated with PFI-1 and CPI-203, and the treated cells were evaluated for their cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis using CCK8, flow cytometry, and Western blot assays. A xenograft mouse model was used for assessing the in vivo effects of CPI-203 on tumorigenesis.

Results

PFI-1 or CPI-203 showed potential inhibitory effects on the cell viability of DOHH2 and RL cells in a dose-response-dependent manner. Furthermore, PFI-1 and CPI-203 inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis of FL cells in vitro, and facilitated the translocation of β-catenin into cytoplasm both in vitro and in vivo. After engrafted with FL cells, CPI-203-treated mice got a longer duration of survival and a smaller tumor size than control mice. Mechanistically, PFI-1 and CPI-203 impede the activity of β-catenin and its downstream molecules by regulating the DVL2/GSK3β axis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PFI-1 and CPI-203 may serve as potential anti-tumor inhibitors for the therapy of FL.

Propofol Promoted the Cell Growth and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transformation of the HTR-8/SVneo Cells through Targeting the METTL3 Mediated ZEB2

Preeclampsia (PE) belongs to hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, which is a serious obstetric complication. Propofol is a new type of fast and short-acting general anesthetic, which has also been demonstrated to promote the cell growth recently. Therefore, this study was carried out to explore the effects of propofol on the cell growth, migration and invasion in the HTR-8/SVneo cells. The cell biological behaviors were analyzed using CCK-8, EdU, transwell assays. The relationship between METTL3 and ZEB2 was confirmed by RIP assay. Western blot and RT-qPCR assays were carried out to detect the protein and mRNA levels. The results showed that propofol enhanced the cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of the HTR-8/SVneo cells. Besides, METTL3 overexpression neutralized the propofol role. Furthermore, METTL3 overexpression elevated the m6A levels of ZEB2 and decreased the mRNA levels and stability of ZEB2. ZEB2 overexpression neutralized the role of METTL3 in the propofol treated HTR-8/SVneo cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the effects of propofol on promoting the cell growth, migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Mechanistically, propofol indirectly regulated ZEB2 expression by targeting METTL3 mediated m6A methylation modification.

Mechanistic insights into the effects of diuron exposure on Alexandrium pacificum

Diuron (N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N‑dimethylurea, DCMU), a ureic herbicide, is extensively used in agriculture to boost crop productivity; however, its extensive application culminates in notable environmental pollution, especially in aquatic habitats. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of diuron on the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum, which is known to induce harmful algal blooms (HAB), and its potential to biodegrade DCMU. Following a four-day DCMU exposure, our results revealed that A. pacificum proficiently assimilated DCMU at concentrations of 0.05 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L in seawater, attaining a complete reduction (100 % efficiency) after 96 h for both concentrations. Moreover, evaluations of paralytic shellfish toxins content indicated that cells subjected to higher DCMU concentrations (0.1 mg/L) exhibited reductions of 73.4 %, 86.7 %, and 75 % in GTX1, GTX4, and NEO, respectively. Exposure to DCMU led to a notable decrease in A. pacificum's photosynthetic efficacy, accompanied by increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressed cell growth, with a growth inhibition rate of 41.1 % at 72 h. Proteomic investigations pinpointed the diminished expression levels of specific proteins like SxtV and SxtW, linked to paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) synthesis, as well as key proteins associated with Photosystem II, namely PsbA, PsbD, PsbO, and PsbU. Conversely, proteins central to the cysteine biosynthesis pathways exhibited enhanced expression. In summary, our results preliminarily resolved the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of A. pacificum to DCMU and revealed that DCMU affected the synthesis of PSTs. Meanwhile, our data suggested that A. pacificum has great potential in scavenging DCMU.

Dauricine Inhibits Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Development by Regulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR and Ras/MEK1/2/ERK1/2 Pathways in a FLT4-dependent Manner

OBJECTIVE

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still a solid tumor with high malignancy and poor prognosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (FLT4, VEGFR3) is overexpressed in NSCLC cells, making it a potential target for NSCLC treatment. In this study, we aimed to explore the anti-cancer effects of dauricine on NSCLC cells and its mechanism targeting FLT4.

METHODS

We found that dauricine inhibited the growth of NCI-H1299 cells by blocking the cycle in the G2/M phase through flow cytometry analysis. In addition， dauricine also inhibited the migration of NCI-H1299 cells by wound healing assay and transwell migration assay. More importantly, our empirical analysis found the anti-cancer effect of dauricine on NCI-H1299 cells and the protein level of FLT4 had a distinctly positive correlation, and this effect was weakened after FLT4 knockdown.

RESULTS

It is suggested that dauricine suppressed the growth and migration of NCI-H1299 cells by targeting FLT4. Furthermore, dauricine inhibited FLT4 downstream pathways, such as PTEN/AKT/mTOR and Ras/MEK1/2/ERK1/2, thereby regulating cell migration-related molecule MMP3 and cell cycle-related molecules (CDK1, pCDK1-T161, and cyclin B1).

CONCLUSION

Dauricine may be a promising FLT4 inhibitor for the treatment of NSCLC.

Challenges in developing cell culture media using machine learning

Microbial and mammalian cells are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. Developing or optimizing culture media is essential to improve cell culture performance as a critical technology in cell culture engineering. Methodologies for media optimization have been developed to a great extent, such as the approaches of one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and response surface methodology (RSM). The present review introduces the emerging machine learning (ML) technology in cell culture engineering by combining high-throughput experimental technologies to develop highly efficient and effective culture media. The commonly used ML algorithms and the successful applications of employing ML in medium optimization are summarized. This review highlights the benefits of ML-assisted medium development and guides the selection of the media optimization method appropriate for various cell culture purposes.

Contribution of nadR to the cell growth and virulence of Streptococcus suis serotype 2

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) has been reported to be a highly invasive pathogen in swine and a zoonotic agent for humans. Although many bacterial virulence factors have been identified, our an insightful understanding of SS2 pathogenicity is lacking. The gene nadR, encoding nicotinamide-nucleotide adenylyltransferase, was first reported as a regulator and transporter of the intracellular NAD synthesis pathway in Salmonella typhimurium. In this study, we constructed a mutant strain of nadR (ΔnadR) to test the phenotypic and virulence variations between the deletion mutant and the wild-type strain ZY05719. The phenotypic experimental results showed that ΔnadR obviously inhibited cell growth and exhibited shorter chains than WT. The growth defect of ΔnadR was caused by the loss of the function of nadR for transporting the substrates nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside in the intracellular NAD synthesis pathway. In the process of interaction with the host, ΔnadR participated in adherence and invasion to the host cells, and it was more easily cleared by RAW264.7 macrophages. More importantly, both zebrafish and BALB/c mice in vivo virulence experimental results showed that ΔnadR dramatically attenuated the virulence of SS2, and the ability of ΔnadR to colonize tissues was notably reduced in comparison with that of WT in the BALB/c mice infection model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to demonstrate that nadR not only plays an important role in bacterial growth, but also in connection with the virulence of SS2 as a global transcriptional regulator.

The Functional Circular RNA Screening via RfxCas13d/BSJ-gRNA System

Although discovered decades ago, functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) produced from exon(s) back-splicing of pre-mRNAs have only been unveiled recently. As circRNAs share overlapping sequences with their cognate linear RNAs, except for the back-splicing junction sites, it is difficult to distinguish circRNAs from cognate mRNAs in functional studies. In this chapter, we describe a programmable method for the large-scale functional circRNA screening based on the RNA-guided, RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 (RfxCas13d) system. This method can be applied both in vivo and in cell to explore highly expressed circRNAs that may influence cell growth, either under natural conditions or in response to environmental stimulation, without disturbing cognate linear mRNAs.

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Signalling Pathway-A Potential Target for Cancer Intervention: A Short Overview

BACKGROUND

The mammalian role of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is the practical nutrient-sensitive regulation of animal growth and plays a central role in physiology, metabolism, and common diseases. The mTOR is activated in response to nutrients, growth factors, and cellular energy. The mTOR pathway activates in various cellular processes and human cancer diseases. Dysfunction of mTOR signal transduction is associated with metabolic disorders, cancer for instance.

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, significant achievements envisaged in developing targeted drugs for cancer. The global impact of cancer continues to grow. However, the focus of disease-modifying therapies remains elusive. The mTOR is a significant target in cancer to be considered for mTOR inhibitors, even though the costs are high. Despite many mTOR inhibitors, potent, selective inhibitors for mTOR are still limited. Therefore, in this review, the mTOR structure and protein-ligand interactions of utmost importance to provide the basis for molecular modelling and structure-based drug design are discussed.

CONCLUSION

This review introduces the mTOR, its crystal structure, and the latest research on mTOR.Besides, the role of mTOR in cancer, its function, and its regulation are reviewed. In addition, the mechanistic role of mTOR signalling networks in cancer and interaction with drugs that inhibit the development of mTOR and crystal structures of mTOR and its complexes are explored. Finally, the current status and prospects of mTOR-targeted therapy are addressed.

coli highlights the potential importance of the folinic acid futile cycle in cell growth

Folate (vitamin B9) plays a central role in one-carbon metabolism in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This pathway mediates the transfer of one-carbon units, playing a crucial role in nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and amino acid homeostasis. The folinic acid futile cycle adds a layer of intrigue to this pathway, due to its associations with metabolism, cell growth, and dormancy. It also introduces additional complexity to folate metabolism. A logical way to deal with such complexity is to examine it by using mathematical modelling. This work describes the construction and analysis of a model of folate metabolism, which includes the folinic acid futile cycle. This model was tested under three in silico growth conditions. Model simulations revealed: 1) the folate cycle behaved as a stable biochemical system in three growth states (slow, standard, and rapid); 2) the initial concentration of serine had the greatest impact on metabolite concentrations; 3) 5-formyltetrahydrofolate cyclo-ligase (5-FCL) activity had a significant impact on the levels of the 7 products that carry the one-carbon donated from folates, and the redox couple NADP/NADPH; this was particularly evident in the rapid growth state; 4) 5-FCL may be vital to the survival of the cells by maintaining low levels of homocysteine, as high levels can induce toxicity; and 5) the antifolate therapeutic trimethoprim had a greater impact on folate metabolism with higher nutrient availability. These results highlight the important role of 5-FCL in intracellular folate homeostasis and mass generation under different metabolic scenarios.

Vaccinia-related kinase 2 variants differentially affect breast cancer growth by regulating kinase activity

Genetic information is transcribed from genomic DNA to mRNA, which is then translated into three-dimensional proteins. mRNAs can undergo various post-transcriptional modifications, including RNA editing that alters mRNA sequences, ultimately affecting protein function. In this study, RNA editing was identified at the 499th base (c.499) of human vaccinia-related kinase 2 (VRK2). This RNA editing changes the amino acid in the catalytic domain of VRK2 from isoleucine (with adenine base) to valine (with guanine base). Isoleucine-containing VRK2 has higher kinase activity than the valine-containing VRK2, which leads to an increase in tumor cell proliferation. Earlier we reported that VRK2 directly interacts with dystrobrevin-binding protein (dysbindin) and results in reducing its stability. Herein, we demonstrate that isoleucine-containing VRK2 decreases the level of dysbindin than valine-containing VRK2. Dysbindin interacts with cyclin D and thereby regulates its expression and function. The reduction in the level of dysbindin by isoleucine-containing VRK2 further enhances the cyclin D expression, resulting in increased tumor growth and reduction in survival rates. It has also been observed that in patient samples, VRK2 level was elevated in breast cancer tissue compared to normal breast tissue. Additionally, the isoleucine form of VRK2 exhibited a greater increase in breast cancer tissue. Therefore, it is concluded that VRK2, especially dependent on the 167th variant amino acid, can be one of the indexes of tumor progression and proliferation.

Development of potent isoflavone-based formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) antagonists and their effects in gastric cancer cell models

Formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1) is a G protein-coupled chemoattractant receptor that plays a crucial role in the trafficking of leukocytes into the sites of bacterial infection and inflammation. Recently, FPR1 was shown to be expressed in different types of tumor cells and could play a significant role in tumor growth and invasiveness. Starting from the previously reported FPR1 antagonist 4, we have designed a new series of 4H-chromen-2-one derivatives that exhibited a substantial increase in FPR1 antagonist potency. Docking studies identified the key interactions for antagonist activity. The most potent compounds in this series (24a and 25b) were selected to study the effects of the pharmacological blockade of FPR1 in NCl-N87 and AGS gastric cancer cells. Both compounds potently inhibited cell growth through a combined effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis and reduced cell migration, while inducing an increase in angiogenesis, thus suggesting that FPR1 could play a dual role as oncogene and onco-suppressor.

RHAMM/hyaluronan inhibit β-catenin degradation, enhance downstream signaling, and facilitate fibrosarcoma cell growth

Increased hyaluronan deposition (HA) in various cancer tissues, including sarcomas, correlates with disease progression. The receptor for hyaluronic acid-mediated motility (RHAMM) expression is elevated in most human cancers. β-catenin is a critical downstream mediator of the Wnt signaling pathways, facilitating carcinogenic events characterized by deregulated cell proliferation. We previously showed that low molecular weight (LMW) HA/RHAMM/β-catenin signaling axis increases HT1080 fibrosarcoma cell growth. Here, focusing on mechanistic aspects and utilizing immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that LMW HA treatment enhanced RHAMM intracellular localization (p ≤ 0.001) and RHAMM/β-catenin colocalization in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells (p ≤ 0.05). Downregulating endogenous HA attenuated the association of RHAMM/β-catenin in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells (p ≤ 0.0.01). Notably, Axin-2, the key β-catenin degradation complex component, and RHAMM were demonstrated to form a complex primarily to cell membranes, enhanced by LMW HA (p ≤ 0.01). In contrast, LMW HA attenuated the association of β-catenin and Axin-2 (p ≤ 0.05). The utilization of FH535, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, showed that LMW HA partially rescued the Wnt-dependent growth of HT1080 cells and restored the expression of Wnt/β-catenin mediators, cyclin-D1 and c-myc (p ≤ 0.05). B6FS fibrosarcoma cells with different HA metabolism do not respond to the LMW HA growth stimulus (p = NS). The present study identifies a novel LMW HA/RHAMM mechanism in a fibrosarcoma model. LMW HA regulates intracellular RHAMM expression, which acts as a scaffold protein binding β-catenin and Axin-2 at different cellular compartments to increase β-catenin expression, transcriptional activity, and fibrosarcoma growth.

In vitro effects of wool-derived keratin on human dental pulp-derived stem cells for endodontic applications

In this study we examine the influence of wool-derived keratin intermediate filament proteins (kIFPs) on human dental pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs). kIFPs were diluted (10 mg/mL to 0.001 mg/mL) in cell culture media. Effects on hDPSCs proliferation were measured using Alamar blue assay. Keratin concentrations of 1 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL were tested for odontogenic differentiation and mineralisation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) quantification (7th, 14th, and 21st days), alizarin red S (AR-S) staining and calcium quantification (21st day), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, collagen expression), and immunocytochemical staining for dentin matrix protein (DMP) were performed. hDPSCs showed higher proliferation with kIFPs of 0.1 mg/mL or less (p < 0.0001). The 0.1 mg/mL keratin concentration promoted odontogenic differentiation, confirmed by increased ALP activity, significant calcium deposits (AR-S staining, p < 0.05), up-regulated collagen expression (RT-PCR, p < 0.05), and positive DMP staining. These results suggest that kIFPs could be a potential biomaterial for pulp-dentin regeneration.

Unveiling the anti-cancer mechanisms of calotropin: Insights into cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and metabolic regulation in human oral squamous carcinoma cells (HSC-3)

Background

Calotropin, a cardiac glycoside obtained from the plant Calotropis gigantea, has demonstrated promising potential as an anti-tumorigenesis compound.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential anti-cancer properties of calotropin against HSC-3 oral squamous cancer cells and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in its action.

Material and method

Calotropin were treated in HSC-3 to evaluate cell viability by MTT assay. Flow cytometry analysis divulged that calotropin G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. Calotropin displayed inhibitory properties against aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic alteration using glucose uptaken, lactose production and LDHA activity assays. Furthermore, migration and invasion assays help that calotropin has ability to reduce the migratory and invasive of HSC-3 cells, using transwell and Matrigel assay. Validation of mRNA expression through RT-PCR. Molecular docking was implemented to validate the binding association of calotropin with apoptosis and metastatic regulating targets.

Result

The results exemplify that increasing doses of calotropin effectively hold back the HSC-3 cell progression. Migration and invasion assays help that calotropin has ability to reduce the migratory and invasive of HSC-3 cells, indicating its potential to inhibit cancer metastasis. These results imply that calotropin may influence genes linked to metastasis and apoptosis in order to achieve its beneficial effects on cancer. Docking results provided further support, showing a high binding energy between calotropin and metastasis-mediated pathways.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings shed an experimental evidence on how calotropin inhibits the HSC-3 oral squamous cancer cell growth, highlighting the drug's potential as a treatment for oral cancer. Further, investigation on in-vivo experiment is warranted to explore its potential mechanism of action and to develop a novel drug towards clinical trial.

The induction of ferroptosis by KLF11/NCOA4 axis: the inhibitory role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death and has great potential application in the treatment of many cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Herein, we identified the essential roles of Krüppel-like factor 11 (KLF11) in suppressing the progression of ccRCC. By analyzing mRNA expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we found that KLF11 was a significantly downregulated gene in ccRCC tissues. The results of subsequent functional assays verified that KLF11 played an antiproliferative role in ccRCC cells and xenograft tumors. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis indicated that ferroptosis was involved in ccRCC development, and correlation analysis revealed that KLF11 was positively related to ferroptosis drivers. We also found that KLF11 promoted ferroptosis in ccRCC by downregulating the protein expression of ferritin, system xc (-) cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acting as the inhibitory factors of ferroptosis and increasing the intracellular levels of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). As a transcriptional regulator, KLF11 significantly increased the promoter activity of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), a gene significantly downregulated in ccRCC and whose low expression is associated with poor survival. The characteristics of ccRCC cells caused by KLF11 overexpression were reversed after NCOA4 silencing. In summary, the present study suggests that KLF11 suppresses the progression of ccRCC by increasing NCOA4 transcription. Therefore, the KLF11/NCOA4 axis may serve as a novel therapeutic target for human ccRCC.

Mechanism of RhoA regulating benign prostatic hyperplasia: RhoA-ROCK-β-catenin signaling axis and static & dynamic dual roles

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has not been fully elucidated. Ras homology family member A (RhoA) plays an important role in regulating cell cytoskeleton, growth and fibrosis. The role of RhoA in BPH remains unclear.

METHODS

This study aimed to clarify the expression, functional activity and mechanism of RhoA in BPH. Human prostate tissues, human prostate cell lines, BPH rat model were used. Cell models of RhoA knockdown and overexpression were generated. Immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, phalloidine staining, organ bath study, gel contraction assay, protein stability analysis, isolation and extraction of nuclear protein and cytoplasmic protein were performed.

RESULTS

In this study we found that RhoA was localized in prostate stroma and epithelial compartments and was up-regulated in both BPH patients and BPH rats. Functionally, RhoA knockdown induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, fibrosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and contraction. Consistently, overexpression of RhoA reversed all aforementioned processes. More importantly, we found that β-catenin and the downstream of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, including C-MYC, Survivin and Snail were up-regulated in BPH rats. Downregulation of RhoA significantly reduced the expression of these proteins. Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 also down-regulated β-catenin protein in a concentration-dependent manner. However, overexpression of β-catenin did not affect RhoA-ROCK levels, suggesting that β-catenin was the downstream of RhoA-ROCK regulation. Further data suggested that RhoA increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin and up-regulated β-catenin expression by inhibiting its proteasomal degradation, thereby activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Overexpression of β-catenin partially reversed the changes in cell growth, fibrosis and EMT except cell contraction caused by RhoA downregulation. Finally, Y-27632 partially reversed prostatic hyperplasia in vivo, further suggesting the potential of RhoA-ROCK signaling in BPH treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our novel data demonstrated that RhoA regulated both static and dynamic factors of BPH, RhoA-ROCK-β-catenin signaling axis played an important role in the development of BPH and might provide more possibilities for the formulation of subsequent clinical treatment strategies.

Simultaneous production of high-value lipids in Schizochytrium sp. by synergism of chemical modulators

The study focuses on the simultaneous improvement of biomass, lipid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) productivities in a single reactor using modulator control strategies. The efficacy of three different biochemical modulators, sesamol (Ses), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as potential stimulants in augmenting the biomass, lipid, and DHA production of Schizochytrium sp. MTCC 5890 was elucidated. After 48 h of cultivation, among tested modulators, the individual supplementation of 6-BAP and Ses showed improvement in biomass, lipid, and DHA accumulation by 28.2%, 56.1%, and 87.2% and 21.7%, 47.9%, and 91%, respectively, over the non-supplemented group. In addition, the cooperative effect of selected concentrations, i.e., 10 mgL-1 6-BAP and 200 mgL-1 Ses, further increased the productivities of biomass of 13.5 gL-1d-1 ± 0.66, lipid of 7.4 gL-1d-1 ± 0.69, and DHA of 3.2 gL-1d-1 ± 1.09 representing 8%, 39%, and 69% increase over the individual addition of 6-BAP or Ses, respectively, in batch culture. Supplementation with 6-BAP + Ses at 12 h of time point eventually increased the lipid yield to 15.6 ± 0.42 gL-1 from 7.88 ± 0.31 gL-1 (control) and DHA yield to 6.4 ± 0.11 gL-1 from 2.23 ± 0.09 gL-1 (control), respectively. Furthermore, the process was optimized in continuous culture supplemented with 6-BAP + Ses for enhanced productivities. Continuous culture resulted in maximum biomass (2.04 ± 1.12 gL-1 day-1), lipid (1.0 ± 0.73 gL-1 day-1), and DHA (0.386 ± 0.22 gL-1 day-1) productivities, which were higher as compared with the batch and fed-batch processes by 26 ± 1.21%, 22 ± 1.01%, and 21 ± 0.98% and 24 ± 0.45%, 16 ± 0.38%, and 14 ± 0.12%, respectively. This work represents the potential application of the combined effect of modulators for the simultaneous enhancement of biomass production and lipid and DHA productivities. KEY POINTS: • The cumulative study of 6-BAP and sesamol proved to be more efficient in the simultaneous production of biomass, lipid, and DHA in a single reactor. • Addition of a combination of 6-BAP + Ses remarkably increased the biomass, lipid, and DHA productivities in tandem in continuous culture.

Ginsenosides: changing the basic hallmarks of cancer cells to achieve the purpose of treating breast cancer

In 2021, breast cancer accounted for a substantial proportion of cancer cases and represented the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. Although tumor cells originate from normal cells in the human body, they possess distinct biological characteristics resulting from changes in gene structure and function of cancer cells in contrast with normal cells. These distinguishing features, known as hallmarks of cancer cells, differ from those of normal cells. The hallmarks primarily include high metabolic activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and resistance to cell death. Current evidence suggests that the fundamental hallmarks of tumor cells affect the tissue structure, function, and metabolism of tumor cells and their internal and external environment. Therefore, these fundamental hallmarks of tumor cells enable tumor cells to proliferate, invade and avoid apoptosis. Modifying these hallmarks of tumor cells represents a new and potentially promising approach to tumor treatment. The key to breast cancer treatment lies in identifying the optimal therapeutic agent with minimal toxicity to normal cells, considering the specific types of tumor cells in patients. Some herbal medicines contain active ingredients which can precisely achieve this purpose. In this review, we introduce Ginsenoside's mechanism and research significance in achieving the therapeutic effect of breast cancer by changing the functional hallmarks of tumor cells, providing a new perspective for the potential application of Ginsenoside as a therapeutic drug for breast cancer.

Rethinking of TEER measurement reporting for epithelial cells grown on permeable inserts

Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measures electrical resistance across epithelial tissue barriers involving confluent layer(s) of cells. TEER values act as a prerequisite for determining the barrier integrity of cells, which play a key role in evaluating the transport of drugs, materials or chemicals of interest across an epithelial barrier. The measurements can be performed non-invasively by measuring ohmic resistance across a defined area. Thus, the TEER values are reported in Ω·cm2. In vitro epithelial models are typically assembled on semi-permeable inserts providing two-chamber compartments, and the majority of the studies use inserts with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes. Recently, new inserts with different membrane types and properties have been introduced. However, the TEER values presented so far did not allow a direct comparison. This study presents the characterization of selected epithelial tissues, i.e., lung, retina, and intestine, grown on an ultra-thin ceramic microporous permeable insert (SiMPLI) and PET membranes with different properties, i.e., thickness, material, and pore numbers. We verified the epithelial cell growth on both inserts via phase-contrast and confocal laser scanning microscope imaging. Barrier characteristics were assessed by TEER measurements and also by evaluating the permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate through cell layers. The findings indicated that background TEER value calculations and the available surface area for cell growth must be thoroughly assessed when new inserts are introduced, as the values cannot be directly compared without re-calculations. Finally, we proposed electrical circuit models highlighting the contributors to TEER recordings on PET and SiMPLI insert membranes. This study paves the way for making the ohmic-based evaluation of epithelial tissues' permeability independent of the material and geometry of the insert membrane used for cell growth.

MiR-934 Exacerbates Malignancy of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting ZFP36

Background

In order to explore new targets for the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), we investigated the regulatory mechanism of miR-934 in the malignant phenotype of gastric cancer.

Methods

The miRNA and mRNA expressions were determined by RT-qPCR, and protein levels were quantified by western blotting assay. Malignancy of AGS cell line was evaluated by MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assays. The putative binding site between miR-934 and ZFP36 was validated using luciferase reporter assay. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was used to visualize the ZFP36-positive cells in the xenograft sections. All experiments were conducted in General Surgery Laboratory of Nanjing Red Cross Hospital Jiangsu Province, China from June 2019 to June 2021.

Results

GC tissues and cell lines showed notably higher levels of miR-934. Overexpression of miR-934 promoted cell viability, migration and invasion, while inhibited cell apoptosis of GC cells. ZFP36 was predicted and verified to be the target of miR-934 and low protein levels of ZFP36 were observed in GC tissues. The ZFP36 protein expressions were suppressed by miR-934 overexpression, while were facilitated by miR-934 inhibition. Furthermore, the carcinogenic functions of miR-934 were partially reversed after ZFP36 overexpression. The results of in vivo experiments further demonstrated that miR-934 promoted tumor growth and repressed the protein expression of ZFP36.

Conclusion

miR-934 served as a tumor promoter in GC via targeting ZFP36, and ZFP36 overexpression could efficiently relieve malignant phenotypes caused by miR-934, which prompted an exploitable molecular target for GC treatment.

Significance of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase and V-ATPase for growth and pathogenicity in pathogenic fungi

Pathogenic fungi are widespread and cause a variety of diseases in human beings and other organisms. At present, limited classes of antifungal agents are available to treat invasive fungal diseases. With the wide use of the commercial antifungal agents, drug resistance of pathogenic fungi are continuously increasing. Therefore, exploring effective antifungal agents with novel drug targets is urgently needed to cope with the challenges that the antifungal area faces. pH homeostasis is vital for multiple cellular processes, revealing the potential for defining novel drug targets. Fungi have evolved a number of strategies to maintain a stable pH internal environment in response to rapid metabolism and a dramatically changing extracellular environment. Among them, plasma membrane H+-ATPase (PMA) and vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) play a central role in the regulation of pH homeostasis system. In this chapter, we will summarize the current knowledge about pH homeostasis and its regulation mechanisms in pathogenic fungi, especially for the recent advances in PMA and V-ATPase, which would help in revealing the regulating mechanism of pH on cell growth and pathogenicity, and further designing effective drugs and identify new targets for combating fungal diseases.

miR-1-3p Inhibits Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation and Cell Cycle Progression While Promoting Cell Apoptosis by Targeting CDK14 to Inactivate Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common bone malignancy and is diagnosed frequently in children and young adults. According to previous RNA sequencing, miR-1-3p is downregulated in OS clinical samples. Nevertheless, the functions of miR-1-3p in OS cell process and the related mechanism have not been revealed yet. In the current study, miR-1-3p expression in OS tissues and cells were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CCK-8 assays were conducted to measure OS cell viability in response to miR-1-3p overexpression. Colony forming assays and EdU staining were conducted for measurement of cell proliferation, and flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression. Protein levels of apoptotic markers, beta-catenin, and Wnt downstream targets were quantified using western blotting. The binding relation between miR-1-3p and cyclin dependent kinase 14 (CDK14) was validated utilizing luciferase reporter assays. Experimental results revealed that miR-1-3p expression was decreased in OS tissues and cells. Additionally, miR-1-3p inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression while enhancing OS cell apoptosis. Moreover, miR-1-3p directly targeted CDK14 and inversely regulated CDK14 expression in OS cells. Furthermore, miR-1-3p inactivated the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. CDK14 overexpression partially rescued the inhibitory impact of miR-1-3p on OS cell growth. Overall, miR-1-3p inhibits OS cell proliferation and cell cycle progression while promoting cell apoptosis by targeting CDK14 and inactivating the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.

Bovine muscle satellite cells in calves and cattle: A comparative study of cellular and genetic characteristics for cultivated meat production

This study compared the cellular and genetic characteristics of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) from Hanwoo (a Korean native cattle breed), including calves and mature cattle. SMSCs were isolated using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) from tissue samples of six Hanwoo (three calves and three mature cattle) using the CD29 antibody. Calves' SMSCs exhibited significantly faster growth rates than did those from cattle (P < 0.01), with a doubling time of 2.43 days. Genetic analysis revealed higher MyoD and Pax7 expression in SMSCs from calves during proliferation than in those from mature cattle (P < 0.001). However, FASN and PLAG1 expression levels were higher in mature cattle than in calves during both proliferation and differentiation (P < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for strategies to improve bovine muscle cell growth to produce competitive cultivated meat at a competitive price.

Analysis of the toxic mechanisms of fluoxastrobin on the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) using transcriptomics

Fluoxastrobin (FLUO), one of the best-selling strobilurin fungicides, could prevent fungal diseases from oilseed crops, fruits, grains, and vegetables. The widespread use of FLUO leads to the continuous accumulation of FLUO in soil. Our previous studies have demonstrated that FLUO exhibited different toxicity in artificial soil and three natural soils (fluvo-aquic soils, black soils, and red clay). The toxicity of FLUO was greater in natural soil than the artificial soil, specifically, showed the highest toxicity in fluvo-aquic soils. To better investigate the mechanism of FLUO toxicity to earthworms (Eisenia fetida), we selected fluvo-aquic soils as representative soil and used transcriptomics to study the gene expression in earthworms after FLUO exposure. The results demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in earthworms after FLUO exposure mainly presented in pathways involving protein folding, immunity, signal transduction, and cell growth. It may be the reason why FLUO exposure stressed the earthworms and affected their normal growth activities. The present study fills gaps in the literature regarding the soil bio-toxicity of strobilurin fungicides. It also sounds the alarm for the application of such fungicides even at the low concentration (0.1 mg kg^-1).

CPEB2 enhances cell growth and angiogenesis by upregulating ARPC5 mRNA stability in multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

The process of multiple myeloma (MM) is the result of the combined action of multiple genes. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein2 (CPEB2) in MM progression.

METHODS

The mRNA and protein expression levels of CPEB2 and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 5 (ARPC5) were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Cell function was determined by cell counting kit 8 assay, soft-agar colony formation assay, flow cytometry and tube formation assay. Fluorescent in situ hybridization assay was used to analyze the co-localization of CPEB2 and ARPC5 in MM cells. Actinomycin D treatment and cycloheximide chase assay were performed to assess the stability of ARPC5. The interaction between CPEB2 and ARPC5 was confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

CPEB2 and ARPC5 mRNA and protein expression levels were upregulated in CD138+ plasma cells from MM patients and cells. CPEB2 downregulation reduced MM cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and increased apoptosis, while its overexpression had an opposite effect. CPEB2 and ARPC5 were co-localized at cell cytoplasm and could positively regulate ARPC5 expression by mediating its mRNA stability. ARPC5 overexpression reversed the suppressive effect of CPEB2 knockdown on MM progression, and it knockdown also abolished CPEB2-promoted MM progression. Besides, CPEB2 silencing also reduced MM tumor growth by decreasing ARPC5 expression.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that CPEB2 increased ARPC5 expression through promoting its mRNA stability, thereby accelerating MM malignant process.

CRIP1 supports the growth and migration of AML-M5 subtype cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous hematopoietic disorder. To effectively eradicate AML, it is urgent to develop new therapeutic approaches and identify novel molecular targets. In silico analysis indicated that the expression of cysteine-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1) was significantly elevated in AML cells and correlated with worse overall survival of the AML patients. However, its specific roles in AML remain elusive. Here we demonstrated that CRIP1 acted as a key oncogene to support AML cell survival and migration. Using a loss-of-function analysis, we found that CRIP1 silencing in U937 and THP1 cells by lentivirus-mediated shRNAs resulted in a decrease in cell growth, migration and colony formation, and an increase in chemosensitivity to Ara-C. CRIP1 silencing induced cell apoptosis and G1/S transition arrest. Mechanically, CRIP1 silencing caused inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway through upregulating axin1 protein. The Wnt/β-catenin agonist SKL2001 markedly rescued the cell growth and migration defect induced by CRIP1 silencing. Our findings reveals that CRIP1 may contribute to AML-M5 pathogenesis and represent a novel target for AML-M5 treatment.

The developing epicardium regulates cardiac chamber morphogenesis by promoting cardiomyocyte growth

The epicardium, the outermost layer of the heart, is an important regulator of cardiac regeneration. However, a detailed understanding of the crosstalk between the epicardium and myocardium during development requires further investigation. Here, we generated three models of epicardial impairment in zebrafish by mutating the transcription factor genes tcf21 and wt1a, and ablating tcf21+ epicardial cells. Notably, all three epicardial impairment models exhibited smaller ventricles. We identified the initial cause of this phenotype as defective cardiomyocyte growth, resulting in reduced cell surface and volume. This failure of cardiomyocyte growth was followed by decreased proliferation and increased abluminal extrusion. By temporally manipulating its ablation, we show that the epicardium is required to support cardiomyocyte growth mainly during early cardiac morphogenesis. By transcriptomic profiling of sorted epicardial cells, we identified reduced expression of FGF and VEGF ligand genes in tcf21-/- hearts, and pharmacological inhibition of these signaling pathways in wild type partially recapitulated the ventricular growth defects. Taken together, these data reveal distinct roles of the epicardium during cardiac morphogenesis and signaling pathways underlying epicardial-myocardial crosstalk.

Experimental studies from shake flasks to 3 L stirred tank bioreactor of nutrients and oxygen supply conditions to improve the growth of the avian cell line DuckCelt®-T17

BACKGROUND

To produce viral vaccines, avian cell lines are interesting alternatives to replace the egg-derived processes for viruses that do not grow well on mammalian cells. The avian suspension cell line DuckCelt^®-T17 was previously studied and investigated to produce a live attenuated metapneumovirus (hMPV)/respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus vaccines. However, a better understanding of its culture process is necessary for an efficient production of viral particles in bioreactors.

RESULTS

The growth and metabolic requirements of the avian cell line DuckCelt^®-T17 were investigated to improve its cultivation parameters. Several nutrient supplementation strategies were studied in shake flasks highlighting the interest of (i) replacing L-glutamine by glutamax as main nutrient or (ii) adding these two nutrients in the serum-free growth medium in a fed-batch strategy. The scale-up in a 3 L bioreactor was successful for these types of strategies confirming their efficiencies in improving the cells' growth and viability. Moreover, a perfusion feasibility test allowed to achieve up to ~ 3 times the maximum number of viable cells obtained with the batch or fed-batch strategies. Finally, a strong oxygen supply - 50% dO₂ - had a deleterious effect on DuckCelt^®-T17 viability, certainly because of the greater hydrodynamic stress imposed.

CONCLUSIONS

The culture process using glutamax supplementation with a batch or a fed-batch strategy was successfully scaled-up to 3 L bioreactor. In addition, perfusion appeared as a very promising culture process for subsequent continuous virus harvesting.

Optimized conditions for the long-term growth of primary cell cultures derived from the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Liviidae: Hemiptera)

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a pest of significant importance to global citrus production, particularly as the vector of a phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) that causes the fatal citrus disease Huanglongbing or citrus greening. CLas is acquired as the psyllid feeds, replicates in ACP tissues, and persists throughout the life of the insect. The study of CLas has been hampered by the lack of a tractable in vitro culture system. As CLas replicates within psyllid tissues, we hypothesize that this bacterium also replicates in cultured ACP cells. In the current study, we evaluated a range of insect cell culture media, media combinations, and supplements for their ability to support the in vitro growth of ACP embryo-derived cells. Ninety-six primary cell cultures were initiated using approximately 12,000 dissected ACP eggs over a 12-month period. Of 19 media tested, 17 supported cell attachment, but only two media supported the long-term survival and growth of ACP embryonic cells over a period of more than 11 months. Delineation of the optimal protocols and conditions for the maintenance of ACP primary cultures as described here provides a foundation for both establishment of continuous cell lines and testing for the replication of ACP-associated pathogens including CLas.

Pan-cancer landscape of CENPO and its underlying mechanism in LUAD

BACKGROUND

Centromere protein O (CENPO) is a newly discovered constitutive centromeric protein, associated with cell death. However, little is known about how CENPO expression is associated with human cancers or immune infiltration. Here, we assessed the function of CENPO in pan-cancer and further verified the results in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

METHODS

Sangerbox and TCGA databases were used to evaluate the CENPO expression level in different human cancer types. A subsequent evaluation of the potential role of CENPO as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in pancancer was conducted. The CENPO mutations were analyzed using the cBioPortal database and its function was analyzed using the LinkedOmics and CancerSEA databases. The TIMER2 and TISIDB websites were used to find out how CENPO affects immune infiltration. The expression level of CENPO in LUAD was revealed by TCGA database and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Targetscan, miRWalk, miRDB, miRabel, LncBase databases, and Cytoscape tool were used to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that regulate expression and construct ceRNA network. Subsequently, loss-of-function assays were performed to identify the functions of CENPO on the malignant behavior and tumor growth of LUAD in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

In most cancers, CENPO was upregulated and mutated, which predicted a poorer prognosis. Furthermore, infiltration of CENPO and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) showed a significant positive correlation, while T-cell NK infiltration showed a significant negative correlation in most cancers. CENPO was expressed at high levels in LUAD and was correlated with p-TNM stage. Furthermore, CENPO knockdown suppressed the malignant phenotypes of LUAD cells, manifested by slower proliferation, cycle in G2, increased apoptosis, decreased migration, and attenuated tumorigenesis. Furthermore, CENPO knockdown decreased CDK1/6, PIK3CA, and inhibited mTOR phosphorylation, suggesting that the mTOR signaling pathway may be involved in CENPO-mediated regulation of LUAD development.

CONCLUSIONS

In pan-cancer, especially LUAD, CENPO may be a potential biomarker and oncogene. Furthermore, CENPO has been implicated in immune cell infiltration in pan-cancer and represents a potential immunotherapeutic target for tumor therapy.

Circ_0060967 contributes to colorectal cancer progression by sponging miR-1184 to up-regulate SRC proto-oncogene

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with cancer pathogenesis. The purpose of our current study was to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0060967 in colorectal cancer (CRC) development.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Human CRC specimens and paired healthy tissues were used to examine variable expression. The expression of circ_0060967 and microRNA (miR)-1184 was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, BCL2-associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax), proto-oncogene nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src (SRC), nuclear factor-κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα), phosphorylated-IκBα (p-IκBα), RELA proto-oncogene, nuclear factor-κB subunit (p65), and phosphorylated-p65 (p-p65) were determined by western blot. Proliferation and motility of HCT-116 and SW480 CRC cells were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assays, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to determine the binding relation between miR-1184 and circ_0060967 or SRC. Animal studies were used to detect the role of circ_0060967 in CRC cell tumorigenicity.

RESULTS

Circ_0060967 abundance was enhanced in human CRC tissue samples versus paired normal colorectal tissues and in HCT-116 and SW480 CRC cells versus normal HCO cells. Decreased expression of circ_0060967 could suppress cell growth, motility, and invasiveness of CRC cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0060967 sponged miR-1184, and miR-1184 targeted SRC. Furthermore, we also found circ_0060967 affected cell growth by modulating miR-1184/SRC axis in CRC.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a novel circ_0060967/miR-1184/SRC regulatory cascade in affecting CRC cell malignant behaviors, which can have a broad effect on the field of molecularly targeted therapeutics.

In-situ ionic crosslinking of 3D bioprinted cell-hydrogel constructs for mechanical reinforcement and improved cell growth

Hydrogels are commonly used in 3D bioprinting technology owing to their ability to encapsulate living cells. However, their inherent delicate properties limit their applicability in the fabrication of mechanically reliable tissue engineering constructs. Herein, we propose a novel reinvented layering integration method for the functional enhancement of 3D cell-hydrogel bioprinting. This was implemented by inserting electrospun microfiber sheets with a crosslinker between the 3D bioprinted layers. When surface-modified microfiber sheets were combined with Ca²⁺ ionic crosslinkers, the as-printed cell-hydrogel strand was immediately crosslinked when it contacted the sheet surface. The in-situ crosslinking in the bioprinting process not only improved the overall structural stability, but also reinforced the compressive strength and elastic modulus. The enhanced structural stability guaranteed the shape fidelity of the 3D architecture, which included the internal channel network, resulting in improved perfusion conditions for cell growth. The growth of NIH3T3 fibroblasts in 3D bioconstructs with in-situ crosslinking increased by up to five times compared to that of normally bioprinted constructs. The strengthened structural integrity was distinctly sustainable during the cell culture period owing to the sustained release of Ca²⁺ ions from the embedded microfiber sheets. The synergistic effect of the reinforced mechanical properties with enhanced cell growth is expected to extend the applicability of the proposed hydrogel-based bioprinting technique for soft tissue engineering.

Hsa_circ_0008673 Promotes Breast Cancer Progression by MiR-578/GINS4 Axis

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in breast cancer (BC) development. This study aimed to explore the new potential mechanism of hsa_circ_0008673 in BC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hsa_circ_0008673, microRNA-578 (miR-578) and recombinant human GINS complex subunit 4 (GINS4) abundances were measured via quantitative real-time PCR or western blot. Cell proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis and apoptosis were assessed via EdU assay, transwell assay, tube formation assay, and flow cytometry. The interactions among hsa_circ_0008673, miR-578 and GINS4 were tested via dual-luciferase reporter analysis and RNA pull-down assay. Animal studies were performed to assess the effect of hsa_circ_0008673 on BC tumor growth.

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0008673 level was increased in BC tissues and cells. Hsa_circ_0008673 silencing repressed BC cell growth, metastasis and angiogenesis, as well as hampered BC tumor growth. Hsa_circ_0008673 acted as miR-578 sponge, and miR-578 targeted GINS4. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0008673 modulated GINS4 expression through sponging miR-578. Additionally, miR-578 inhibitor or GINS4 overexpression could reverse the inhibitory effect of hsa_circ_0008673 silencing on BC cell progression.

CONCLUSION

Hsa_circ_0008673 might promote BC progression via modulating miR-578/GINS4 pathway.

Promoting cell growth for bio-chemicals production via boosting the synthesis of L/D-alanine and D-alanyl-D-alanine in Bacillus licheniformis

Metabolic engineering is a substantial approach for escalating the production of biochemical products. Cell biomass is lowered by system constraints and toxication carried on by the aggregation of metabolites that serve as inhibitors of product synthesis. In order to increase the production of biochemical products, it is important to trace the relationship between alanine metabolism and biomass. According to our investigation, the appropriate concentration of additional L/D-alanine (0.1 g/L) raised the cell biomass (OD₆₀₀) in Bacillus licheniformis in contrast to the control strain. Remarkably, it was also determined that high levels of intracellular L/D-alanine and D-alanyl-D-alanine were induced by the overexpression of the ald, dal, and ddl genes to accelerate cell proliferation. Our findings clearly revealed that 0.2 g/L of L-alanine and D-alanine substantially elevated the titer of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) by 14.89% and 6.19%, correspondingly. And the levels of γ-PGA titer were hastened by the overexpression of the ald, dal, and ddl genes by 19.72%, 15.91%, and 16.64%, respectively. Furthermore, overexpression of ald, dal, and ddl genes decreased the by-products (acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid and lactic acid) formation by about 14.10%, 8.77%, and 8.84% for augmenting the γ-PGA production. Our results also demonstrated that overexpression of ald gene amplified the production of lichenysin, pulcherrimin and nattokinase by about 18.71%, 19.82% and 21.49%, respectively. This work delineated the importance of the L/D-alanine and D-alanyl-D-alanine synthesis to the cell growth and the high production of bio-products, and provided an effective strategy for producing bio-products.

Genomic instability-related twelve-microRNA signatures for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth among all malignant tumors globally, especially in East Asia, and has attracted extensive attention and research. MicroRNA (miRNA) modulation during genomic instability (GI) may be associated with the development and metastasis of malignant tumors. We aimed to identify GI-related miRNA signatures for the prediction of GC prognosis. We constructed a GI-related miRNA signature (GIMiSig) scheme based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) training set (n = 389), which was later verified based on the TCGA test set (n = 194). GI-related miRNAs were identified by analyzing somatic mutation profiles and miRNA expression. A GI-related miRNA-gene co-expression network was also constructed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were analyzed to reveal possible biological pathways associated with GI-related miRNAs. The correlation of the GIMiSig with clinical factors of the TCGA dataset was analyzed. MiRNA mimics and inhibitors were used to evaluate the biological functions of miR-100-5p and miR-145-3p in GC cell lines AGS and MKN-45. This study identified a GI-related 12-miRNA signature for the prediction of GC prognosis. GIMiSig scores, similar to tumor stages, showed significant correlations with overall survival (OS, p < 0.05). GIMiSig showed high accuracy in predicting GC prognosis. MiR-100-5p and miR-145-3p promoted cell growth, invasion, and migration but inhibited apoptosis in GC cells. We report a reliable GI-related 12-miRNA signature for predicting GC prognosis. Furthermore, miR-100-5p and miR-145-3p may promote GC cell growth, invasion, and migration.

Forskolin affects proliferation, migration and Paclitaxel-mediated cytotoxicity in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines via adenylyl cyclase/cAMP axis

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is considered one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite the undoubted therapeutic advances that have occurred in clinical practice over time, due to its high degree in both heterogeneity and resistance, NSCLC remains largely incurable. As a natural cAMP elevating agent, Forskolin has shown anti-cancer properties in different tumor types, thus supposing its possible usage in treating malignancies. In this study, we investigated the Forskolin outcome in H1299 and A549 NSCLC cell lines, either alone or in combination with Paclitaxel. We proved that Forskolin impairs cell growth and migration ability of these cells, concurrently. Albeit with a different extent between H1299 and A549, changes in cell-cycle progression and epithelial-mesenchymal markers were observed in response to Forskolin administration. Interestingly, comparable cell growth impairment was also obtained with the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX, while the employment of adenylyl cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 counteracted, at least in part, the Forskolin-mediated anticancer effects. Besides as a single agent, we also demonstrated that Forskolin strongly enhances Paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity, affecting cell death mainly via apoptosis induction. Notably, H89-mediated protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition further deteriorated the combination outcome. Altogether, our data designate Forskolin as a possible anticancer molecule in NSCLC, and recognize the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP axis as one of the pathways involved in. Although achieved at preclinical stage, our findings encourage the design of future studies aimed at further exploring the Forskolin employment in NSCLC treatment.

Lachnochromonin, a fungal metabolite from Lachnum virgineum, inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis in tumor cells through JAK/STAT3 signaling

Natural compounds that interfere with tumor cell growth have potential to be used as therapeutic agents to treat cancers. Lachnochromonin (p71) is a small molecule isolated from Lachnum virgineum. Here, we reported the effect of p71 on human tumor cells, especially on breast cancer MCF-7 cells. We found that p71 significantly suppresses cell growth and induces apoptosis. The luciferase results demonstrated that p71 specifically attenuates the activation of JAK/STAT3 signaling. Biochemical analysis revealed that p71 blocks the phosphorylation of STAT3 tyrosine 705 and serine 727, resulting in down-regulation of c-Myc and Cyclin D1 expression level. Importantly, p71 inhibited cell growth, colony-formation, and migration through affecting STAT3 activity. These results implied that p71 may be used as a therapeutic agent against breast cancer.

Functional antibody delivery: Advances in cellular manipulation

The current therapeutic antibody market in the U.S. consists of 100 antibody-based products and their market value is expected to explode beyond $300 billion by 2025. These therapies are presently limited to extracellular targets due to the innate inability of antibodies to transverse membranes. To expand the number of accessible therapeutic targets, intracellular antibody delivery is necessary. Many delivery vehicles for antibodies have been used with some promising results, such as nanoparticles and cell penetrating polymers. Despite the success of these delivery platforms using model antibody cargo, there is a surprisingly small number of studies that focus on functional antibody delivery into the cytosol that also measures a cellular response. Antibodies can be designed for essentially unlimited targets, including proteins and DNA, that will ultimately control cell function once delivered inside cells. Advancement in cellular manipulation depends on the application of intracellularly delivering functional antibodies to achieve a desired result. This review focuses on the emerging field of functional antibody delivery which enables various cellular responses and cell manipulation.

Assaying Proliferation Characteristics of Cells Cultured Under Static Versus Periodic Conditions

Two-dimensional in vitro culture models are widely being employed for assessing a vast variety of biological questions in different scientific fields. Common in vitro culture models are typically maintained under static conditions, where the surrounding culture medium is replaced every few days-typically every 48 to 72 h-with the aim to remove metabolites and to replenish nutrients. Although this approach is sufficient for supporting cellular survival and proliferation, static culture conditions do mostly not reflect the in vivo situation where cells are continuously being perfused by extracellular fluid, and thus, create a less-physiological environment. In order to evaluate whether the proliferation characteristics of cells in 2D culture maintained under static conditions differ from cells kept in a dynamic environment, in this chapter, we provide a protocol for differential analysis of cellular growth under static versus pulsed-perfused conditions, mimicking continuous replacement of extracellular fluid in the physiological environment. The protocol involves long-term life-cell high-content time-lapse imaging of fluorescent cells at 37 °C and ambient CO₂ concentration using multi-parametric biochips applicable for microphysiological analysis of cellular vitality. We provide instructions and useful information for (i) the culturing of cells in biochips, (ii) setup of cell-laden biochips for culturing cells under static and pulsed-perfused conditions, (iii) long-term life-cell high-content time-lapse imaging of fluorescent cells in biochips, and (iv) quantification of cellular proliferation from image series generated from imaging of differentially cultured cells.

Construction and characterization of a genome-scale ordered mutant collection of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

BACKGROUND

Ordered transposon-insertion collections, in which specific transposon-insertion mutants are stored as monocultures in a genome-scale collection, represent a promising tool for genetic dissection of human gut microbiota members. However, publicly available collections are scarce and the construction methodology remains in early stages of development.

RESULTS

Here, we describe the assembly of a genome-scale ordered collection of transposon-insertion mutants in the model gut anaerobe Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 that we created as a resource for the research community. We used flow cytometry to sort single cells from a pooled library, located mutants within this initial progenitor collection by applying a pooling strategy with barcode sequencing, and re-arrayed specific mutants to create a condensed collection with single-insertion strains covering >2500 genes. To demonstrate the potential of the condensed collection for phenotypic screening, we analyzed growth dynamics and cell morphology. We identified both growth defects and altered cell shape in mutants disrupting sphingolipid synthesis and thiamine scavenging. Finally, we analyzed the process of assembling the B. theta condensed collection to identify inefficiencies that limited coverage. We demonstrate as part of this analysis that the process of assembling an ordered collection can be accurately modeled using barcode sequencing data.

CONCLUSION

We expect that utilization of this ordered collection will accelerate research into B. theta physiology and that lessons learned while assembling the collection will inform future efforts to assemble ordered mutant collections for an increasing number of gut microbiota members.

PDIA6 involves the thermal stress response of razor clam, Sinonovacula constricta

Protein disulfide isomerases A6 (PDIA6), an oxidoreductase and isomerase, catalyzes the oxidation reduction and isomerization of disulfide bonds, and serves as molecular chaperone to prevent the buildup of misfolded proteins under various environmental insults. However, the role of PDIA6 in mollusks remains largely obscure, although its multifunctional protein has been reported in other species under adverse conditions. To fill this gap, we identified PDIA6 from the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta (ScPDIA6) and investigated its expression patterns in response to thermal stress. Tissue distribution showed that the mRNA transcript of ScPDIA6 was ubiquitously expressed in nine tested tissues. Temporal expression profiles by qPCR revealed that ScPDIA6 in the gill and mantle was significantly increased by hyper-thermic treatment. Further, Western blot and immunofluorescence indicated that ScPDIA6 was significantly upregulated by thermal treatment at the protein level. Additionally, the survival test demonstrated that the viability of E. coli cells expressing recombinant ScPDIA6 protein increased at 42 °C compared with empty vector. Overall, these findings suggested that ScPDIA6 may play a pivotal role in counteracting thermal stress. This study will provide valuable reference data resource for understanding the potential role of PDIA6 in mollusks.

How a single receptor-like kinase exerts diverse roles: lessons from FERONIA

FERONIA (FER) is a member of the Catharanthus roseus receptor-like kinase 1-like (CrRLK1L) protein subfamily, which participates in reproduction, abiotic stress, biotic stress, cell growth, hormone response, and other molecular mechanisms of plants. However, the mechanism by which a single RLK is capable of mediating multiple signals and activating multiple cellular responses remains unclear. Here, we summarize research progress revealing the spatial-temporal expression of FER, along with its co-receptors and ligands determined the function of FER signaling pathway in multiple organs. The specificity of the FER signaling pathway is proposed to operate under a four-layered mechanism: (1) Spatial-temporal expression of FER, co-receptors, and ligands specify diverse functions, (2) Specific ligands or ligand combinations trigger variable FER signaling pathways, (3) Diverse co-receptors confer diverse FER perception and response modes, and (4) Unique downstream components that modify FER signaling and responses. Moreover, the regulation mechanism of the signaling pathway- appears to depend on the interaction among the ligands, RLK receptors, co-receptors, and downstream components, which may be a general mechanism of RLKs to maintain signal specificity. This review will provide a insight into understanding the specificity determination of RLKs signaling in both model and horticultural crops.

Caspase-8 mutants activate Nrf2 via phosphorylating SQSTM1 to protect against oxidative stress in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Caspase-8, a caspase protein, is involved in the regulation of multiple cell death modes and has a predominant role in cell death. Cancer-associated mutations in the protein-coding region of caspase-8 have been widely reported in several solid tumors and might lead to the loss of its apoptotic function and contribute to the pathogenesis of tumors. However, the specific function and molecular mechanisms of mutant caspase-8 in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unknown. Here, we identified caspase-8 mutants exert tumor-promoting properties in ESCC, patients with the mutants presented a worse prognosis, and caspase-8 mutants lost the suppressive effect on tumor growth in ESCC cells. In addition, we demonstrated that caspase-8 mutants gain a new function of abolishing excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain ESCC cell growth under oxidative stress. An Nrf2 inhibitor reduced the effects of caspase-8 mutants against oxidative stress. Caspase-8 mutants combined with mTOR to phosphorylate SQSTM1 at Ser349, facilitating the interaction of SQSTM1 and Keap1 and reducing the degradation of the Nrf2 protein. Therefore, our study demonstrated that caspase-8 mutants gain a new function of protecting against oxidative stress via the mTOR/SQSTM1/Keap1/Nrf2 axis in ESCC. Caspase-8 status may be a new prognostic factor for survival in ESCC patients.

Quercetin Mediated TET1 Expression Through MicroRNA-17 Induced Cell Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells

A previous report suggested that the expression of ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins is abnormal in certain cancers. Quercetin has been demonstrated as anti-cancer role in cancer development. In order to explore the inhibitory effect and mechanism of quercetin on uveal melanoma cells, the expression of TET proteins was analyzed in the present study. Our results suggest that the expression of TET1 was increased following treatment with quercetin in OCM-1, SK-MEL-1, and B16 cells. In addition, quercetin treatment induced apoptosis and inhibited migration and invasion. To further investigate the association of the expression of TET1 with cell growth, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, cell lines in which TET1 was knocked-down or overexpressed were constructed. The results showed that the increased expression of TET1-induced apoptosis, increased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5 hmC). and inhibited invasion. Our bioinformatics studies indicated that TET1 is a target gene of microRNA-17 (miR-17) Our results showed that inhibition of the expression of miR-17 resulted in increased TET1 expression in OCM-1 cells. Furthermore, our results indicated that quercetin treatment increased TET1 expression and inhibited melanoma growth in nude mice. Taken together, our results suggest that quercetin can regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis through TET1 via miR-17 in melanoma cells.

The absence of CsdA in Escherichia coli increases DNA replication and cell size but decreases growth rate at low temperature

The CsdA protein is a highly conserved, DEAD-box RNA helicase and assists RNA structural remodeling at low temperature. We show that the fast-growing wild-type (WT) cells contain higher number of replication origins per cell with bigger cell size and the slowly growing cells possess less number of replication origins per cell with smaller cell size. The absence of CsdA leads to production of larger cells with higher number of origins per cell but slower growth at low temperature in an independent-manner of growth media. The phenotypes in ΔcsdA mutant are reversed by ectopic expression of CsdA or RNase R. A global transcription analysis shows that the absence of CsdA leads to significant decreases in transcription of about 200 genes at low temperature. These genes are associated with essential metabolic pathways, flagger assembly and cell division (minDE). It is likely that the slow growth of ΔcsdA cell results from the decreased transcription of essential metabolic genes, and the larger ΔcsdA cell could be a result of decreased transcription of minDE. The increased transcription of the nrdHIEF genes in ΔcsdA mutant is a likely reason that promotes DNA replication. We conclude that CsdA coordinates the cell cycle to growth by stabilizing mRNA of essential metabolic and cell division genes and degrading mRNA for nucleotide metabolic genes at low temperature.

SKAP2 is downregulated in the villous tissues of patients with missed abortion and regulates growth and migration in trophoblasts through the WAVE2-ARP2/3 signaling pathway

INTRODUCTION

Abnormal placental trophoblast function is the main cause of missed abortion (MA). Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 2 (SKAP2) indirectly affects actin reunion, which is significantly associated with cell migration.

METHODS

Twenty women with MA and 20 healthy women who underwent voluntarily induced abortion were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were used to determine SKAP2, WAVE2, and ARP2 expression in the villous tissues. We investigated the effects of SKAP2 and the W336K mutant (blocked SKAP2 Src homology 3 function) on growth and migration in HTR8/SVneo cells using the CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. The effects of SKAP2 on the WAVE2-ARP2/3 signaling pathway in HTR8/SVneo cells were evaluated by western blotting and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Compared to the women in the voluntary abortion group, SKAP2 and WAVE2 expression levels were downregulated in the villous of patients with MA. In HTR8/SVneo cells, SKAP2 siRNA silencing regulated the growth and migration, while SKAP2 overexpression promoted growth and migration, and inhibited apoptosis. Additionally, SKAP2 regulated the expression of WAVE2 and ARP2, as well as the colocalization of actin with WAVE2. The SKAP2 W336K mutant could not alter WAVE2 and ARP2 expression, nor HTR8/SVneo cell growth and migration, with or without SKAP2 siRNA transfection.

DISCUSSION

SKAP2 could activate the WAVE2-ARP2/3 pathway resulting in an increase of growth and migration in trophoblasts. SKAP2 probably played an important role in MA by affecting the growth and migration of trophoblasts.

Harsh temperature induces Microcystis aeruginosa growth enhancement and water deterioration during vernalization

Cyanobacterial blooms are seasonal phenomena in eutrophic water. Cyanobacteria grow fast in the warm spring/summer while disappearing in cold autumn/winter. The temperature change induces algal vernalization. However, whether vernalization affects cyanobacterial blooms, and the regulatory signaling mechanisms are unclear. This study used Microcystis aeruginosa as the model cyanobacteria, and 4 °C and 10 °C as the low-temperature stimulation to explore the cell growth, metabolites, and signaling pathways in cyanobacteria vernalization. Low temperatures induced M. aeruginosa vernalization; the growth rate and cell density increased by 35±4% and 33±2%. Vernalization influenced peptidoglycan synthesis and cell permeability. Soluble microbial products (SMPs) in water increased by 109±5%, resulting in water deterioration. Polysaccharides were the predominant SMPs during the initial term of vernalization. Tryptophan protein-like & humic acid-like substances became the main increased SMPs in the middle-later period of vernalization. Harsh temperatures triggered quorum sensing and two-component system. Signaling sensing systems upregulated photosynthesis, glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and DNA replication, enhancing M. aeruginosa growth and metabolism during vernalization. This study verified that low temperature stimulates cyanobacteria growth and metabolism, and vernalization possibly aggravates cyanobacterial blooms and water deterioration. It provides new insights into the mechanism of seasonal cyanobacterial blooms and the pivotal role of signaling regulation.