Mitochondrial metabolism in neural stem cells and implications for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles having a fundamental role in the regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) fate during neural development and maintenance.During embryonic and adult neurogenesis, NSCs undergo a metabolic switch from glycolytic to oxidative phosphorylation with a rise in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, changes in mitochondria shape and size, and a physiological augmentation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species which together drive NSCs to proliferate and differentiate. Genetic and epigenetic modifications of proteins involved in cellular differentiation (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin), proliferation (Wingless-type), and hypoxia (Mitogen-activated protein kinase)-and all connected by the common key regulatory factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1A-are deemed to be responsible for the metabolic shift and, consequently, NSC fate in physiological and pathological conditions.Both primary mitochondrial dysfunction due to mutations in nuclear DNA or mtDNA or secondary mitochondrial dysfunction in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, and organelle interplay pathways can contribute to the development of neurodevelopmental or progressive neurodegenerative disorders.This review analyses the physiology and pathology of neural development starting from the available in vitro and in vivo models and highlights the current knowledge concerning key mitochondrial pathways involved in this process.

HIF-1A regulates cognitive deficits of post-stroke depressive rats

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a serious neuropsychiatric complication post stroke and leads to cognitive deficits. This study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanism of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1A) in cognitive dysfunction in rats with PSD. The rat model of PSD was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 3 weeks of treatment with chronic unpredictable mild stress. The levels of miR-582-5p, HIF-1A, and neighbor of Brca1 gene (NBR1) in brain tissues were determined using RT-qPCR. The behaviors and cognitive capacity of rats were evaluated by various behavioral tests. PSD rats were injected with HIF-1A/miR-582-5p lowexpression vectors or NBR1 overexpression vectors via stereotactic method. The binding of HIF-1A to NBR1 or miR-582-5p was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assay. HIF-1A and NBR1 were highly expressed while miR-582-5p was poorly expressed in the brain of PSD rats. HIF-1A inhibition alleviated cognitive dysfunction of PSD rats. miR-582-5p was the upstream miRNA of HIF-1A, and HIF-1A specifically interacted with the NBR1 promoter to enhance NBR1 expression. miR-582-5p downregulation and NBR1 upregulation reversed the alleviative role of HIF-1A inhibition in cognitive dysfunction of PSD rats. In summary, HIF-1A inhibition may be a therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction post PSD.

HIF-1A as a prognostic biomarker related to invasion, migration and immunosuppression of cervical cancer

Background

The incidence of cervical cancer ranks second among malignant tumors in women, exerting a significant impact on their quality of life and overall well-being. The hypoxic microenvironment plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. The present study aims to investigate the fundamental genes and pathways associated with the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1A) in cervical cancer, aiming to identify potential downstream targets for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Methods

We obtained dataset GSE63514 from the Comprehensive Gene Expression Database (GEO). The dataset comprised of 24 patients in the normal group and 28 patients in the tumor group. Gene set difference analysis (GSVA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to identify the genes related to HIF-1A expression and the specific signaling pathways involved.The association between HIF-1A and tumor immune infiltration was examined in the TCGA dataset. The WGCAN network was constructed to identify key genes within the blue module, and subsequent gene ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the pathways and functional annotations associated with HIF-1A. The protein interaction network of the HIF-1A gene was obtained from the STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape in the meantime.The function of HIF-1A and its related gene expression were verified in vivo.

Results

HIF-1A was a risk factor in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis of cervical cancer patients. A total of 344 genes significantly correlated with the expression of HIF-1A were identified through correlation analysis, and the genes exhibiting the strongest correlation were obtained. The major signaling pathways involved in HIF-1A encompass TNF-α/NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/MTOR, TGF-β, JAK-STAT, and various other signaling cascades. Reinforced by qRT-PCR, we identified Integrin beta-1 (ITGB1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), striatin 3 (STRN3), and endothelin-1 (EDN1) as pivotal downstream genes influenced by HIF-1A. HIF-1A is associated with immune infiltration of natural killer (NK) cells, mast cells, CD4+T cells, M0 macrophages, neutrophils, follicular helper T cells, CD8+T cells, and regulatory T cells (Treg). HIF-1A is associated with sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. The identification of the HIF-1A pathway and its function primarily focuses on cytoplasmic translation, aerobic respiration, cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation, thermogenesis, among others. The results of in vivo experiments have confirmed that HIF-1A plays a crucial role in promoting the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Moreover, the overexpression of HIF-1A led to an upregulation in the expressions of ITGB1, CCL2, STRN3, and EDN1.

Conclusions

The role of HIF-1A in cervical cancer was determined through a combination of bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. The genes potentially implicated in the tumorigenesis mechanism of HIF-1A were identified. These findings has the potential to enhance our comprehension of the progression of cervical cancer and offer promising therapeutic targets for its clinical management.

Exploration of the Pharmacological Mechanism of Vitexicarpin against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Vitexicarpin (VIT), an isoflavone derived from various medicinal herbs, has shown promising anti-tumor activities against multiple cancer cells. However, the understanding of the mechanisms and potential targets of VIT in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains limited.

METHODS

The potential VIT targets were searched for in the Super-PRED online database, while the TNBC targets were acquired in the DisGeNET database, and the Veeny database was used to identify the VIT and TNBC targets that overlapped. Then, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were carried out in the DAVID database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to acquire the hub targets in the STRING database, and the overall survival analysis of the hub targets was examined in the Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Afterward, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding capabilities between VIT and the hub targets. In order to measure the effect of VIT on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in the TNBC cell lines-MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937-the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis were performed. The Western blot and pull-down assays were used to verify the molecular mechanisms by modulating the hub targets.

RESULTS

The network pharmacology results identified a total of 37 overlapping genes that were shared by VIT and TNBC. The results of the PPI network and molecular docking analyses showed that HSP90AA1, CREBBP, and HIF-1A were key targets of VIT against TNBC. However, the pull-down results suggested that VIT could directly bind to HSP90AA1 and HIF-1A, yet not to CREBBP. The results of the in vitro tests showed that VIT decreased proliferation and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937 cells, in a dose-dependent manner, while the cell cycle arrest occurred at the G2 phase. Mechanistically, the Western blot assay demonstrated that VIT decreased the expression of HSP90AA1, CREBBP, and HIF-1A.

CONCLUSIONS

VIT inhibited growth and induced apoptosis of TNBC cells by modulating HIF-1A, HSP90AA1, and CREBBP expression. Our findings suggest that VIT is a potential drug for TNBC therapy.

ACLY promotes gastric tumorigenesis and accelerates peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer regulated by HIF-1A

Mounting evidence indicates the potential involvement of ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) in the modulation of various cancer types. Nevertheless, the precise biological significance of ACLY in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. This study sought to elucidate the biological function of ACLY and uncover its influence on peritoneal metastasis in GC. The expression of ACLY was assessed using both real-time quantitative PCR and western blot techniques. To investigate the impact of ACLY on the proliferation of gastric cancer (GC) cells, colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were performed. The migratory and invasive abilities of GC were evaluated using wound healing and transwell assays. Additionally, a bioinformatics analysis was employed to predict the correlation between ACLY and HIF-1A. This interaction was subsequently confirmed through a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. ACLY exhibited upregulation in gastric cancer (GC) as well as in peritoneal metastasis. Its overexpression was found to facilitate the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, ACLY was observed to play a role in promoting angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1A levels were elevated, thereby acting as a transcription factor to upregulate ACLY expression. Under the regulatory influence of HIF-1A, ACLY exerts a significant impact on the progression of gastric cancer, thereby facilitating peritoneal metastasis.

HIF1A-repressed PUS10 regulates NUDC/Cofilin1 dependent renal cell carcinoma migration by promoting the maturation of miR-194-5p

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by a high rate of distant metastasis, which leads to poor prognosis in patients with advanced RCC. PUS10 has been recognized as a member of the pseudouridine synthase family, and recently other functions beyond the synthesis of the RNA modification have been uncovered. However, little is known about its role in diseases such as cancer.

METHODS

RT-qPCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the expression of PUS10 in RCC tissues. Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and in vivo metastasis model were conducted to determine the function of PUS10 in RCC progression. MicroRNA sequencing and GEO database were used to screen for the downstream microRNAs of PUS10. RNA immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter assay, immunostaining, and rescue experiments were employed to establish the PUS10/miR-194-5p/nuclear distribution protein C(NUDC)/Cofilin1 axis in RCC migration. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to verify its upstream transcriptional regulator.

RESULTS

The expression of PUS10 was significantly decreased in RCC tissues, and low expression predicted poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that PUS10 suppressed RCC migration, which, however, was independent of its classical pseudouridine catalytic function. Mechanically, PUS10 promoted the maturation of miR-194-5p, which sequentially inhibited RCC migration via disrupting NUDC-dependent cytoskeleton. Furthermore, hypoxia and HIF-1 A were found involved in the downregulation of PUS10.

CONCLUSION

We unraveled PUS10 restrained RCC migration via the PUS10/miR-194-5p/NUDC/Cofilin1 pathway, which independent of its classical catalytic function. Furthermore, a linkage between the critical tumor microenvironment hallmark with malfunction of the forementioned metastasis inhibition mechanism was presented, as demonstrated by repressed expression of PUS10 due to hypoxia and HIF-1A.

Vascularisation in Deep Endometriosis: A Systematic Review with Narrative Outcomes

Deep endometriosis (DE) is the most severe subtype of endometriosis, with the hallmark of lesions infiltrating adjacent tissue. Abnormal vascularisation has been implicated in contributing to endometriosis lesion development in general, and how vascularisation influences the pathogenesis of DE, in particular, is of interest. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines to elucidate and examine the evidence for DE-specific vascularisation. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL Library and Europe PubMed Central databases. The databases were searched from inception to the 13 March 2023. A total of 15 studies with 1125 patients were included in the review. The DE lesions were highly vascularised, with a higher microvessel density (MVD) than other types of endometriotic lesions, eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis and control tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor, its major subtype (VEGF-A) and associated receptor (VEGFR-2) were significantly increased in the DE lesions compared to superficial endometriosis, eutopic endometrium and control tissue. Progestin therapy was associated with a significant decrease in the MVD of the DE lesions, explaining their therapeutic effect. This review comprehensively summarises the available literature, reporting abnormal vascularisation to be intimately related to the pathogenesis of DE and presents potentially preferential therapeutic targets for the medical management of DE.

NPAS2 promotes aerobic glycolysis and tumor growth in prostate cancer through HIF-1A signaling

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa), one of the common malignant tumors, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. The circadian rhythm plays a critical role in disease. Circadian disturbances are often found in patients with tumors and enable to promote tumor development and accelerate its progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that the core clock gene NPAS2 (neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 2) has been implicated in tumors initiation and progression. However, there are few studies on the association between NPAS2 and prostate cancer. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of NPAS2 on cell growth and glucose metabolism in prostate cancer.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, western blot, GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) and CCLE (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia) databases were used to analyze the expression of NPAS2 in human PCa tissues and various PCa cell lines. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTS, clonogenic assays, apoptotic analyses, and subcutaneous tumor formation experiments in nude mice. Glucose uptake, lactate production, cellular oxygen consumption rate and medium pH were measured to examine the effect of NPAS2 on glucose metabolism. The relation of NPAS2 and glycolytic genes was analyzed based on TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database.

RESULTS

Our data showed that NPAS2 expression in prostate cancer patient tissue was elevated compared with that in normal prostate tissue. NPAS2 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in a nude mouse model in vivo. NPAS2 knockdown led to glucose uptake and lactate production diminished, oxygen consumption rate and pH elevated. NPAS2 increased HIF-1A (hypoxia-inducible factor-1A) expression, leading to enhanced glycolytic metabolism. There was a positive correlation with the expression of NPAS2 and glycolytic genes, these genes were upregulated with overexpression of NPAS2 while knockdown of NPAS2 led to a lower level.

CONCLUSION

NPAS2 is upregulated in prostate cancer and promotes cell survival by promoting glycolysis and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation in PCa cells.

Fipronil impairs the GABAergic brain responses of Nile Tilapia during the transition from normoxia to acute hypoxia

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the main neurotransmitters involved in the adaptation processes against the damage that hypoxia can cause to the brain. Due to its antagonist action on GABA receptors, the insecticide fipronil can turn the fish more susceptible to the negative effects of hypoxia. This study aimed to understand better if fipronil affects these GABAergic responses of Tilapia ahead to hypoxia. Oreochromis Niloticus (Nile Tilapia) were exposed for 3 and 8 h to fipronil (0.0, 0.1, and 0.5 µg.L^-1 ) under normoxia (dissolved O₂  > 6 mg.L^-1 ) and moderate hypoxia (dissolved O₂  < 2 mg.L^-1 ) conditions. Briefly, hypoxia caused opposite effects on the gene transcription of the evaluated ionotropic and metabotropic GABA receptors. Unexpectedly, we obtained reduced HIF1A mRNA and brain GABA levels, mostly in the first 3 h of the experiment, for the hypoxic group compared with the normoxia one. Besides that, we also demonstrated that the insecticide fipronil impairs the brain GABAergic signaling of a hypoxia-tolerant fish during the transition from a normoxic to an acute hypoxic state. Thus, these results predict the relevant impact on the brain metabolic adaptations of fishes exposed to such stressful conditions in an aquatic environment, as well as the effects of fipronil in the GABAergic responses to hypoxia, which in turn may have ecological and physiological significance to hypoxia-tolerant fishes exposed to this insecticide.

Circular RNA Circ-0003006 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation and Metastasis Through Sponging miR-542-3p and Regulating HIF-1A

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one most common cancer types among gastrointestinal cancer over the world, while its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. CircRNA has been revealed to participate in multiple biological functions and contribute to various diseases’ progression.

Methods

Bioinformatic analysis of the differently expressed circRNAs in the HCC tissues, then verified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay. We found that circ-0003006 was upregulated in the HCC tissues, the cell fractionation assay and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to confirm the cell location of circ-0003006. shRNA silence assay was used to knock down the expression of circ-0003006 in the HCC cells.

Results

Cell account kit 8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay were revealed that circ-0003006 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and metastasis in HCC cells. The target miR‑542‑3p and target gene HIF-1A were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, then verified through biotinylated RNA pull-down and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The mechanism, circ-0003006, probably acted as a sponge of miR‑542‑3p and regulated HIF-1A levels in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Moreover, HIF-1A overexpression abolished the effect of circ-0003006 inhibition on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The subcutaneous tumor formation experiment indicated that circ-0003006 knockdown inhibited the HCC cell growth in vivo.

Conclusion

Circ-0003006 was demonstrated to promote HCC progression in vitro and in vivo by sponging miR‑542‑3p to release the inhibition on HIF-1A.

Knockdown of m6A Reader IGF2BP3 Inhibited Hypoxia-Induced Cell Migration and Angiogenesis by Regulating Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α in Stomach Cancer

Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors including stomach cancer (SC) and is closely associated with cancer malignant progression. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a common modification on RNA, is involved in the regulation of RNA fate and hypoxic responses in cancers. However, the interaction between m6A reader insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) and SC hypoxic microenvironment is poorly defined. In the present study, expression levels of IGF2BP3 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF1A) were examined by bioinformatics analysis and RT-qPCR and western blot assays. Cell migratory ability was assessed through Transwell and wound healing assays. The angiogenic potential was evaluated by VEGF secretion, tube formation, and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. The interaction between IGF2BP3 and HIF1A was explored using bioinformatics analysis and RIP and luciferase reporter assays. The results showed that IGF2BP3 and HIF1A were highly expressed in SC tissues and hypoxia-treated SC cells. IGF2BP3 knockdown inhibited hypoxia-induced cell migration and angiogenesis in SC. IGF2BP3 positively regulated HIF1A expression by directly binding to a specific m6A site in the coding region of HIF1A mRNA in SC cells. HIF1A overexpression abrogated the effects of IGF2BP3 knockdown on hypoxia-induced cell migration and angiogenesis in SC. In conclusion, IGF2BP3 knockdown inhibited hypoxia-induced cell migration and angiogenesis by down-regulating HIF1A in SC.

Survey of the Transcription Factor Responses of Mouse Lung Alveolar Macrophages to Pneumocystis murina

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections in individuals who are immunocompromised. Acquired via inhalation, upon entering the respiratory tract, the fungi first encounter innate immune cells such as alveolar macrophages (AMs). Relatively little is known about the AM cellular responses to the organism, and particularly transcription factor (TF) profiles leading to early host responses during infection. Utilizing the Mouse Transcription Factors RT² Profiler™ PCR Array, we report an initial TF survey of these macrophage and Pneumocystis interactions. Expression levels of a panel of mouse TFs were compared between unstimulated and Pneumocystis murina-stimulated AMs. Interestingly, a number of TFs previously implicated in pathogen–host cell interactions were highly up- or downregulated, including hif1a and Pparg. qPCR experiments were further conducted to verify the results of these surveyed transcripts. Furthermore, with immunoblotting, we show that HIF-1A and PPAR-γ are indeed significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Lastly, and importantly, we report that in the mouse model of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), which mimics human Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), qPCR analysis of Pneumocystis murina lungs also mimic the initial TF profile analysis, suggesting an importance for these TFs in immunocompromised hosts with Pneumocystis pneumonia. These data demonstrate the use of TF profiling in host AMs and Pneumocystis organism interactions that may lead to a better understanding of the specific inflammatory responses of the host to Pneumocystis pneumonia and may inform novel strategies for potential therapeutics.

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) plays different roles in Gallbladder Cancer and Normal Gallbladder Tissues

Purpose: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1A) is a transcription factor that plays an “angiogenic switch” role especially under hypoxia microenvironment in solid tumor. However, the functions and clinical significance of HIF-1A in gallbladder cancer (GBC) are still controversial, and it has not been studied in normal gallbladder tissues. In this study, we sought to clarify the role of sub-cellular localization of HIF-1A expression in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Methods: The expressions of HIF-1A and CD34 in 127 GBC and 47 normal gallbladder tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Cox's proportional hazards model analysis and Kaplan-Meier method analysis were used to assess the correlations between these factors and clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Results: HIF-1A was expressed in both cytoplasm and nucleus of GBC and normal control tissues, and was significantly correlated with microvessel density (MVD). GBC tissues with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression had higher MVD compared to that with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A expression; however, in normal gallbladder tissues, samples with positive cytoplasmic HIF-1A had higher MVD compared to that with positive nuclear HIF-1A expression. Moreover, GBC with nuclear HIF-1A expression tended to be more poorly differentiated and had larger tumor size compared to that with cytoplasm HIF-1A expression. Furthermore, GBC patients with nuclear HIF-1A positive were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) compared with cytoplasmic HIF-1A positive. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified lymph node metastasis and nuclear HIF-1A expression to be independent prognostic parameter in GBC.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the first time that HIF-1A is expressed in normal gallbladder tissues. Nuclear HIF-1A and cytoplasm HIF-1A plays different roles in GBC and normal gallbladder tissues.

Investigating the expression level of NF-KB and HIF1A genes among the inhabitants of two different background radiation areas in Ramsar, Iran

This study investigated the fluctuation of NF-KB and HIF-1a gene expression between inhabitants of a high-level background radiation area (HBRA) and a normal-level background radiation area (NBRA) of Ramsar, Iran. Sixty participants with the mean age of 48 ± 15 years were selected and divided into two groups. The group receiving a dose of ≤1.5 mGy/year (NBRA) was considered the control group and the target group (HBRA) received a dose of >1.5 mGy/year. These two groups were from neighbor regions to minimize socioeconomic differences between the participants. Blood samples were collected from each group and NF-KB and HIF-1a expression levels were compared using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) based on the stem loop method. The effects of residency duration in the respective areas and gender on the expression of NF-KB and HIF-1a was also examined. The HIF-1a expression level was statistically lower in the HLBRA region (P < 0.0002), while NF-KB expression was upregulated (P < 0.0001). Although the under-expression of HIF-1a in response to dose rate was significant in females (P < 0.0004), it was not different in males (P = 0.74), indicating a significant difference between sexes (P = 0.0047). The upregulation of NF-KB expression related to dose level was also significant for the female group (P < 0.0001), whereas it was not for the male group (P = 0.72). Notably and as expected, there was a significant relation between longer residency in the HBRA and HIF-1A under-expression (P < 0.026), while there was no effect of increasing residency time for NF-KB over-expression level (P = 0.29). The dwellers of the HBRA those noted that despite receiving an elevated radiation level were seemingly good in general health, showed some alterations in their molecular mechanisms, specifically HIF-1a and NF-KB expression levels. It is not clear if this is indicative of a beneficial adaptive response and more research is recommended.

Altered VEGF, Bcl-2 and IDH1 expression in patients with adenomyosis

PURPOSE

Adenomyosis is a benign uterine disease resulting from the myometrial invasion of the endometrial gland and stroma. In the current study, angiogenesis, apoptosis and energy metabolism were investigated in adenomyosis.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using paraffin archival tissues. Three groups were included in the study: Group I and Group II; ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissues of patients with adenomyosis, respectively, and Control Group; endometrial tissue of individuals without adenomyosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1A) levels were evaluated as angiogenic markers. Bcl-2, caspase-9 and caspase-3 levels were investigated as apoptotic indicators, and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit C (SDHC) and fumarate hydratase (FH) levels were also examined as energy metabolism markers. Gene expression levels of all parameters were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULT

VEGF expression levels were found to be increased in Group I according to the control group and Group II. Bcl-2 expression levels were found to be increased in the Group I compared to the Group II. It was determined that expression levels of IDH1 were decreased in the Group I and Group II compared to the Control Group. There was no significant difference in the other examined parameters. Although we did not find a significant difference in HIF-1A levels between the groups, we found a positive correlation between VEGF and HIF-1A in the Group I.

CONCLUSION

These results point out that VEGF, HIF-1A, Bcl-2 and IDH1 may be associated with the etiology of adenomyosis.

Hypoxia-Induced TGFBI as a Serum Biomarker for Laboratory Diagnosis and Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To explore novel biomarkers for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), from the perspective of tumor hypoxia.

METHODS

We screened 29 differentially expressed and hypoxia-upregulated genes from the Oncomine database. A total of 12 secretory proteins that interact with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1A) were selected by STRING (protein-protein interaction networks). After excluding enzymes and collagens, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), glycoprotein NBM (GPNMB), transforming growth factor-β-induced (TGFBI), and biglycan (BGN) were detected by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with cancer and healthy control individuals.

RESULTS

The serum level of TGFBI was significantly elevated in patients with PDAC, compared with healthy controls; the assay could discriminate among cases of PDAC in different clinical stages. The amount of TGFBI was significantly decreased after treatment. The combination of TGFBI and cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 was more accurate than TGFBI or CA 19-9 alone as diagnostic markers. Also, TGFBI might be used as a prognostic marker according to the PROGgeneV2 Pan Cancer Prognostics Database.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum TGFBI, combined with CA 19-9, offers higher diagnostic value than other methods for patients with PDAC. Also, TGFBI might be used as a prognostic marker.

Phenformin inhibits proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma cells via AMPK-mTOR and HIF-1A pathways

Phenformin (Phen), a potent activator of AMPK, is effective against some resistant cancers. This study evaluated the inhibition of proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis by Phen in aggressive cancer cells and investigated the underlying mechanism of the inhibition. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) KKU-156 and KKU-452 cells were used in this study. The results showed that Phen suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both cells. Phen suppressed migration and invasion of cancer cells in wound healing and transwell chamber assays, respectively. The effects were associated with depletions of glutathione (GSH) and decreased glutathione redox ratio which represents cellular redox state. The redox stress was linked with the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, as evaluated by JC-1 assay. The effect of Phen on angiogenesis was performed using HUVEC cultured cells. Phen alone did not affect tube formation of HUVEC cells. However, conditioned media from CCA cell cultures treated with Phen suppressed the tube-like structure formation. The antitumor effect of Phen was associated with AMPK activation and suppression of mTOR phosphorylation, HIF-1A, and VEGF protein expression. In conclusion, Phen inhibits cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis probably through AMPK-mTOR and HIF-1A-VEGF pathways. Phen may be repurposed as chemoprevention of cancer.

LncRNA XIST modulates HIF-1A/AXL signaling pathway by inhibiting miR-93-5p in colorectal cancer

Background

Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) XIST is one of the genes that exists in different types of cancers. Earlier researches showed that XIST can advance the progression of colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, the potential molecular mechanism of XIST in combination with miR‐93‐5p has not been explored in colorectal cancer.

Methods

We performed qRT‐PCR to explore the level of XIST. And a serious experiments in vitro and in vivo were performed to explore the function of XIST. The relationship between XIST/HIF‐1A and miR‐93‐5p was confirmed by RIP and dual‐luciferase assays.

Results

In the present research, our team demonstrated the upregulation of XIST expression, which was related to tumor progression, and the downregulation of miR‐93‐5p in cells and tissues of colorectal cancer. XIST is the competitive endogenous RNA of miR‐93‐5p to promote HIF‐1A, and then the upregulated AXL level facilitates the EMT process, migration, and proliferation of colorectal cancer. At last, we proved that XIST enhanced the in vivo and in vitro activities of colorectal cancer by regulating AXL signaling.

Conclusion

In summary, the above results indicate that XIST promotes colorectal cancer tumorigenesis by regulating miR‐93‐5p/HIF‐1A/AXL signaling pathway, which will supply a novel perspective to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer disease.

Upregulation of LncRNA PVT1 Facilitates Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Progression and Glycolysis by Regulating MiR-519d-3p and HIF-1A

The long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1, as an important epigenetic regulator, has a critical role in carcinogenesis. However, its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not been fully investigated. Here, the up-regulated expression of lncRNA PVT1 is found in our PDAC tumor samples. Knockdown of it suppressed PDCA cells growth and glycolysis. An inverse association between miR-519d-3p and PVT1 was found. RIP, RNA pulldown and luciferase assay showed that PVT1 directly targets miR-519d-3p by binding with microRNA binding site. Bioinformatics analysis and study indicated that HIF-1A is a target of miR-519d-3p. Collectively, our findings suggested that PVT1 could act as an oncogenic lncRNA, and promote tumor progression by regulating HIF-1A via competing with miR-519d-3p.

Expression of ID4 protein in breast cancer cells induces reprogramming of tumour-associated macrophages

Background

As crucial regulators of the immune response against pathogens, macrophages have been extensively shown also to be important players in several diseases, including cancer. Specifically, breast cancer macrophages tightly control the angiogenic switch and progression to malignancy. ID4, a member of the ID (inhibitors of differentiation) family of proteins, is associated with a stem-like phenotype and poor prognosis in basal-like breast cancer. Moreover, ID4 favours angiogenesis by enhancing the expression of pro-angiogenic cytokines interleukin-8, CXCL1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In the present study, we investigated whether ID4 protein exerts its pro-angiogenic function while also modulating the activity of tumour-associated macrophages in breast cancer.

Methods

We performed IHC analysis of ID4 protein and macrophage marker CD68 in a triple-negative breast cancer series. Next, we used cell migration assays to evaluate the effect of ID4 expression modulation in breast cancer cells on the motility of co-cultured macrophages. The analysis of breast cancer gene expression data repositories allowed us to evaluate the ability of ID4 to predict survival in subsets of tumours showing high or low macrophage infiltration. By culturing macrophages in conditioned media obtained from breast cancer cells in which ID4 expression was modulated by overexpression or depletion, we identified changes in the expression of ID4-dependent angiogenesis-related transcripts and microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) in macrophages by RT-qPCR.

Results

We determined that ID4 and macrophage marker CD68 protein expression were significantly associated in a series of triple-negative breast tumours. Interestingly, ID4 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels robustly predicted survival, specifically in the subset of tumours showing high macrophage infiltration. In vitro and in vivo migration assays demonstrated that expression of ID4 in breast cancer cells stimulates macrophage motility. At the molecular level, ID4 protein expression in breast cancer cells controls, through paracrine signalling, the activation of an angiogenic programme in macrophages. This programme includes both the increase of angiogenesis-related mRNAs and the decrease of members of the anti-angiogenic miR-15b/107 group. Intriguingly, these miRNAs control the expression of the cytokine granulin, whose enhanced expression in macrophages confers increased angiogenic potential.

Conclusions

These results uncover a key role for ID4 in dictating the behaviour of tumour-associated macrophages in breast cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-0990-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb Promotes Activation of HIF-1A-FOXO3 and MEF2A Pathways to Induce Apoptosis in Human HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H cordata), a medicinal plant, has anticancer activity, as it inhibits cell growth and induces cell apoptosis in cancer. However, the potential anti-cancer activity and mechanism of H cordata for human liver cancer cells is not well understood. Recently, we identified hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1A, Forkhead box (FOX)O3, and MEF2A as proapoptotic factors induced by H cordata, suggesting that HIF-1A, FOXO3, and MEF2A contribute to the apoptosis of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. FOXO3 transcription factors regulate target genes involved in apoptosis. H cordata significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1A and FOXO3 and stimulated MEF2A expression in addition to increased apoptosis in HepG2 cells within 24 hours. Therefore, we determined the potential role of FOXO3 on apoptosis and on H cordata–induced MEF2A in HepG2 cells. HIF-1A silencing by siRNA attenuated MEF2A and H cordata–mediated FOXO3 upregulation in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, H cordata–mediated MEF2A expression enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-7, which were abolished on silencing FOXO3 with siRNA. In addition, H cordata inhibited growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that H cordata enhances HIF-1A/FOXO3 signaling, leading to MEF2A upregulation in HepG2 cells, and in parallel, it disturbs the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL), which results in apoptosis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that H cordata promotes the activation of HIF-1A–FOXO3 and MEF2A pathways to induce apoptosis in human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and is, therefore, a promising candidate for antitumor drug development.

Chronic cadmium exposure in vitro induces cancer cell characteristics in human lung cells

Cadmium is a known human lung carcinogen. Here, we attempt to develop an in vitro model of cadmium-induced human lung carcinogenesis by chronically exposing the peripheral lung epithelia cell line, HPL-1D, to a low level of cadmium. Cells were chronically exposed to 5 μM cadmium, a noncytotoxic level, and monitored for acquired cancer characteristics. By 20 weeks of continuous cadmium exposure, these chronic cadmium treated lung (CCT-LC) cells showed marked increases in secreted MMP-2 activity (3.5-fold), invasion (3.4-fold), and colony formation in soft agar (2-fold). CCT-LC cells were hyperproliferative, grew well in serum-free media, and overexpressed cyclin D1. The CCT-LC cells also showed decreased expression of the tumor suppressor genes p16 and SLC38A3 at the protein levels. Also consistent with an acquired cancer cell phenotype, CCT-LC cells showed increased expression of the oncoproteins K-RAS and N-RAS as well as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition marker protein Vimentin. Metallothionein (MT) expression is increased by cadmium, and is typically overexpressed in human lung cancers. The major MT isoforms, MT-1A and MT-2A were elevated in CCT-LC cells. Oxidant adaptive response genes HO-1 and HIF-1A were also activated in CCT-LC cells. Expression of the metal transport genes ZNT-1, ZNT-5, and ZIP-8 increased in CCT-LC cells culminating in reduced cadmium accumulation, suggesting adaptation to the metal. Overall, these data suggest that exposure of human lung epithelial cells to cadmium causes acquisition of cancer cell characteristics. Furthermore, transformation occurs despite the cell's ability to adapt to chronic cadmium exposure.

Arsenic exposure induces the Warburg effect in cultured human cells

Understanding how arsenic exacts its diverse, global disease burden is hampered by a limited understanding of the particular biological pathways that are disrupted by arsenic and underlie pathogenesis. A reductionist view would predict that a small number of basic pathways are generally perturbed by arsenic, and manifest as diverse diseases. Following an initial observation that arsenite-exposed cells in culture acidify their media more rapidly than control cells, the report here shows that low level exposure to arsenite (75ppb) is sufficient to induce aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) as a generalized phenomenon in cultured human primary cells and cell lines. Expanded studies in one such cell line, the non-malignant pulmonary epithelial line, BEAS-2B, established that the arsenite-induced Warburg effect was associated with increased accumulation of intracellular and extracellular lactate, an increased rate of extracellular acidification, and inhibition by the non-metabolized glucose analog, 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Associated with the induction of aerobic glycolysis was a pathway-wide induction of glycolysis gene expression, as well as protein accumulation of an established glycolysis master-regulator, hypoxia-inducible factor 1A. Arsenite-induced alteration of energy production in human cells represents the type of fundamental perturbation that could extend to many tissue targets and diseases.