Valsartan inhibits RhoA-ROCK2-MYL pathway in rat model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy

The present study aimed to investigate variations in the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA)-Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2)-myosin light chain (MYL) pathway in a rat model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs. Rat models of ACM were established via alcoholic gavage + free access to alcohol. The structural and functional changes of the heart were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry staining, western blotting and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A total of 16 weeks later, a decreased ejection fraction and left ventricular fractional shortening in the alcohol group compared with the control group were demonstrated resulting in an increased left ventricular end diastolic diameter. These adverse effects were ameliorated following treatment with valsartan. In addition, the alcohol group revealed a disorganized arrangement of myocardial filaments, which was improved upon treatment with valsartan. RhoA and ROCK2 protein expression significantly increased in myocardial cells in the alcohol compared with the control group. Following drug intervention with valsartan, expression of RhoA and ROCK2 proteins were inhibited in the alcohol group. Furthermore, significantly elevated RhoA and ROCK2 and decreased MYL protein and mRNA expression in the alcohol group was demonstrated compared with the control group. Administration of valsartan reversed the expression profile of RhoA, ROCK and MYL in ACM. Expression of RhoA and ROCK were elevated with downregulation of MYL resulting in heart failure. However, the angiotensin receptor antagonist diminished the expression of RhoA and ROCK and enhanced the expression of MYL. The results of the present study suggest a curative effect of valsartan in ACM.

Transcription factor CEBPB inhibits the proliferation of osteosarcoma by regulating downstream target gene CLEC5A

Objective

To screen the gene related to osteosarcoma (OS) metastasis and the molecular mechanism.

Methods

GEO database and R2 chip analysis platform were used to screen genes related to OS metastasis. UCSC gene browser was used to find the transcription factor (TF) of CLEC5A. The mRNA level and protein expression of CLEC5A in OS tissues and normal tissues were determined by RT‐PCR and Western blotting, respectively. OS cell lines MG‐63 were transfected with CEBPB recombinant plasmid. After transfection, the expression of CLEC5A in MG‐63 cells was determined and the cell proliferation situation was determined by clone formation assay.

Results

Three genes CLEC5A, ALOX5AP, and RNASE3 were obtained, and CLEC5A has the highest correlation with OS. CLEC5A has screened the gene related to OS metastasis, and CEBPB can be taken as TF regulating downstream gene CLEC5A. CEBPB can regulate the downstream CLEC5A as transcription factor. The relative mRNA level and protein expression of CLEC5A in OS tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues. CLEC5A can prevent OS metastasis. Transfection of CEBPB increased the expression of CLEC5A in MG‐63 cells and also inhibited the proliferation of OS.

Conclusion

CEBPB can inhibit the proliferation of OS cells via regulating the expression of CLEC5A.

Downregulation of Dock1 and Elmo1 suppresses the migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer epithelial cells through the RhoA/Rac1 pathway

Dedicator of cytokinesis 1 (Dock1), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, has been proven to facilitate cell survival, motility and proliferation via the activation of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1). Engulfment and cell motility 1 (Elmo1) serves as a mammalian homolog of Ced-12, which has been evolutionarily conserved from worm to human. The present study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of Dock1 and Elmo1 in the migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) epithelial cells. Cell Counting kit-8, cell migration and cell invasion assays were performed to assess cell viability, migration and invasion, respectively. A plate clone formation assay was performed to determine cell proliferation. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were used to evaluate mRNA and protein expression. The results revealed that the downregulation of Dock1 and Elmo1 inhibited cell viability, suppressed migration and invasion, and reduced Rac1 activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, downregulation of Dock1 and Elmo1 also attenuated the expression of migration-associated proteins and affected the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA)/Rac1 pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that the downregulation of Dock1 and Elmo1 suppresses the migration and invasion of TNBC epithelial cells through the RhoA/Rac1 pathway.

Expression of family with sequence similarity 172 member A and nucleotide-binding protein 1 is associated with the poor prognosis of colorectal carcinoma

In our previous studies, a functionally unknown gene, family with sequence similarity 172, member A (FAM172A), was identified. High levels of FAM172A suppressed the cell cycle process, arresting HepG2 cells in G1/S and inhibiting cell proliferation. The present study aimed to confirm the expression levels of FAM172A and nucleotide-binding protein 1 (NUBP1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and normal colorectal tissues. The impact of FAM172A and NUBP1 on the prognosis of patients with CRC was also analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for FAM172A and NUBP1 was performed on 180 cancerous tissues and 60 normal paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with CRC. In total, 85 and 83% of 180 patients revealed positive expression of FAM172A and NUBP1, respectively. FAM172A expression level was associated with Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging (P<0.001), the levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; P=0.023) and carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9; P=0.016), lymph node involvement (P=0.004), tissue type (P=0.016), Dukes' staging (P<0.001) and NUBP1 (P=0.026). Furthermore, the expression level of NUBP1 was also markedly associated with the levels of serum CEA (P=0.006) and CA19-9 (P=0.001), TNM staging (P<0.001), lymph node involvement (P=0.005), histological typing (P=0.024) and Dukes' stage (P<0.001). Results of the univariate analysis demonstrated that there was a negative correlation between the expression level of FAM172A and overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (P=0.013 and P=0.012, respectively), and there was also a negative correlation between NUBP1 expression level and OS and RFS (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). With regards to OS and RFS, multivariate analysis revealed that expression levels of FAM172A and NUBP1 and tumor stage may be independent prognostic factors Thus, the present study suggested that FAM172A and NUBP1 may be prognostic makers for CRC.

High RhoA expression at the tumor front in clinically localized prostate cancer and association with poor tumor differentiation

Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) has been reported as essential to the invasion process and aggressiveness of numerous cancers. However, there are only sparse data on the expression and activity of RhoA in clinically localised prostate cancer. In numerous cancers, tumour cells at the invasive front demonstrate more aggressive behaviour in comparison with the cells in the central regions. In the present study, the expression and activity of RhoA was evaluated in 34 paraffin-embedded and 20 frozen prostate tissue specimens obtained from 45 patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localised cancer. The expression patterns of RhoA were assessed by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Additional comparisons were performed between the tumour centre, tumour front and distant peritumoural tissue. RhoA activity was assessed by G-LISA. Associations between RhoA expression and the clinical features and outcome of the patients were also analysed. The present study found an increasing gradient of expression from the centre to the periphery of index tumour foci. RhoA expression was significantly increased at the tumour front compared to the tumour centre, which was determined using immunohistochemistry (P=0.001). Increased RhoA expression was associated with poor tumour differentiation in the tumour front (P=0.044) and tumour centre (P=0.039). Subsequent to a median follow-up period of 52 months, the rate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse was increased in patients with higher RhoA expression at the tumour front when compared with patients with lower RhoA expression (62.5 vs. 35.0%), although the difference was not significant (P=0.09). There was no association between RhoA expression and the PSA level or pathological stage in the present study. In conclusion, RhoA expression was increased at the tumour front and was associated with poor tumour differentiation in the tumour front and tumour centre, indicating the potential role of RhoA in prostate cancer. RhoA expression may also act as a prognostic factor in prostate cancer. The present data provide a foundation for novel therapeutic approaches by targeting RhoA in prostate cancer.