Pub Date : 2024-10-07eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.97723
Han-Byeol Kim, Yu-Jin Kim, Ye-Ji Lee, Ji-Young Yoo, Yoori Choi, Eun-Mee Kim, Sang Won Suh, Ran-Sook Woo
Exposure to adverse experiences during early life is associated with an increased risk of psychopathology during adolescence. In a previous study, we demonstrated that neonatal maternal separation (NMS) combined with social isolation led to impulsive and depressive-like behaviors in male adolescents. Additionally, it significantly reduced the expression of excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) in the hippocampus. Building upon this work, we investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor to glutathione, in early-life stress (ELS) model rats and in EAAC1-/- mice. EAAC1 plays a dual role in transporting both glutamate and cysteine into neurons. Our findings revealed that female adolescents subjected to in the ELS model also exhibited behavioral defects similar to those of males. NAC injection rescued depressive-like behaviors in both male and female NMS models, but it improved impulsive behavior only in males. Furthermore, we observed increased reactive oxidative stress (ROS) and neuroinflammation in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) and prefrontal cortex of NMS model rats, which were mitigated by NAC treatment. Notably, NAC reversed the reduced expression of EAAC1 in the vHPC of NMS model rats. In EAAC1-/- mice, severe impulsive and depressive-like behaviors were evident, and the NAC intervention improved only depressive-like behaviors. Collectively, our results suggest that ELS contributes to depression and impulsive behaviors during adolescence. Moreover, the cysteine uptake function of EAAC1 in neurons may be specifically related to depression rather than impulsive behavior.
{"title":"N-Acetylcysteine Alleviates Depressive-Like Behaviors in Adolescent EAAC1<sup>-/-</sup> Mice and Early Life Stress Model Rats.","authors":"Han-Byeol Kim, Yu-Jin Kim, Ye-Ji Lee, Ji-Young Yoo, Yoori Choi, Eun-Mee Kim, Sang Won Suh, Ran-Sook Woo","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.97723","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.97723","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to adverse experiences during early life is associated with an increased risk of psychopathology during adolescence. In a previous study, we demonstrated that neonatal maternal separation (NMS) combined with social isolation led to impulsive and depressive-like behaviors in male adolescents. Additionally, it significantly reduced the expression of excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) in the hippocampus. Building upon this work, we investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor to glutathione, in early-life stress (ELS) model rats and in EAAC1<sup>-/-</sup> mice. EAAC1 plays a dual role in transporting both glutamate and cysteine into neurons. Our findings revealed that female adolescents subjected to in the ELS model also exhibited behavioral defects similar to those of males. NAC injection rescued depressive-like behaviors in both male and female NMS models, but it improved impulsive behavior only in males. Furthermore, we observed increased reactive oxidative stress (ROS) and neuroinflammation in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) and prefrontal cortex of NMS model rats, which were mitigated by NAC treatment. Notably, NAC reversed the reduced expression of EAAC1 in the vHPC of NMS model rats. In EAAC1<sup>-/-</sup> mice, severe impulsive and depressive-like behaviors were evident, and the NAC intervention improved only depressive-like behaviors. Collectively, our results suggest that ELS contributes to depression and impulsive behaviors during adolescence. Moreover, the cysteine uptake function of EAAC1 in neurons may be specifically related to depression rather than impulsive behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11528454/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142566468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-07eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.95875
José Manuel García-Martínez, Ana Chocarro-Calvo, Javier Martínez-Useros, Nerea Regueira-Acebedo, María Jesús Fernández-Aceñero, Alberto Muñoz, María Jesús Larriba, Custodia García-Jiménez
Cancer initiation and progression result from genetic and epigenetic alterations caused by interactions between environmental and endogenous factors leading to aberrant cell signalling. Colorectal cancers (CRC) are linked to abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, whose key feature is the nuclear accumulation of acetylated β-catenin in colon epithelial cells. Nuclear β-catenin acts as a transcriptional co-activator, targeting genes involved in cell proliferation and invasion. 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D, antagonizes Wnt/β-catenin over-activation by engaging its high affinity receptor, VDR. Here we unveil that 1,25(OH)2D3-bound VDR activates Silent Information Regulator of Transcription, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), leading to β-catenin deacetylation and nuclear exclusion, downregulation of its pro-tumourigenic target genes and inhibition of human colon carcinoma cell proliferation. Notably, orthogonal SIRT1 activation mimics nuclear exclusion of β-catenin while SIRT1 inhibition blocks the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3. Thus, SIRT1 emerges as a crucial mediator in the protective action of vitamin D against CRC. The mutual negative feedback loop unveiled here between Wnt and SIRT1 represents an important surrogate target in CRC. Since nuclear localisation of β-catenin is a critical driver of CRC that requires its acetylation, we provide a mechanistic foundation for the epidemiological evidence linking vitamin D deficiency and increased CRC risk and mortality.
{"title":"SIRT1 Mediates the Antagonism of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway by Vitamin D in Colon Carcinoma Cells.","authors":"José Manuel García-Martínez, Ana Chocarro-Calvo, Javier Martínez-Useros, Nerea Regueira-Acebedo, María Jesús Fernández-Aceñero, Alberto Muñoz, María Jesús Larriba, Custodia García-Jiménez","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.95875","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.95875","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer initiation and progression result from genetic and epigenetic alterations caused by interactions between environmental and endogenous factors leading to aberrant cell signalling. Colorectal cancers (CRC) are linked to abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, whose key feature is the nuclear accumulation of acetylated β-catenin in colon epithelial cells. Nuclear β-catenin acts as a transcriptional co-activator, targeting genes involved in cell proliferation and invasion. 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub> (1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D<sub>3</sub> or calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D, antagonizes Wnt/β-catenin over-activation by engaging its high affinity receptor, VDR. Here we unveil that 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D<sub>3</sub>-bound VDR activates Silent Information Regulator of Transcription, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), leading to β-catenin deacetylation and nuclear exclusion, downregulation of its pro-tumourigenic target genes and inhibition of human colon carcinoma cell proliferation. Notably, orthogonal SIRT1 activation mimics nuclear exclusion of β-catenin while SIRT1 inhibition blocks the effects of 1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D<sub>3</sub>. Thus, SIRT1 emerges as a crucial mediator in the protective action of vitamin D against CRC. The mutual negative feedback loop unveiled here between Wnt and SIRT1 represents an important surrogate target in CRC. Since nuclear localisation of β-catenin is a critical driver of CRC that requires its acetylation, we provide a mechanistic foundation for the epidemiological evidence linking vitamin D deficiency and increased CRC risk and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11528448/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142567121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.101507
Qian He, Zhouboran Liu, Xuan Xia, Jun Zeng, Yuling Liu, Jingqiong Xun, Meilu Liu, Yueming Mei, Ruchun Dai
There was arising osteoporosis from an imbalance in bone remodeling, with excessive differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts. In this study, we found IKKε was upregulated in osteoporotic bone and Ikbke knockdown promoted osteoblast differentiation. We explored amlexanox (AM), a novel IKKε inhibitor, for its effects on osteogenic differentiation and bone homeostasis. AM treatment in mice decreased bone loss, reduced marrow fat, and improved bone microarchitecture, leading to enhanced bone strength. In vitro, AM promoted osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis of BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, AM controlled RANKL/OPG expression of BMSC which regulated osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistic explorations revealed AM reinforced Wnt/β-catenin pathway by suppressing ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of β-catenin. Importantly, AM stimulated osteogenesis in human BMSCs. By promoting osteogenesis at the expense of adipogenesis and hindering osteoclastogenesis, AM offers a promising therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis due to its established safety profile.
{"title":"Amlexanox Enforces Osteogenic Differentiation and Bone Homeostasis Through Inhibiting Ubiquitin-Dependent Degradation of β-Catenin.","authors":"Qian He, Zhouboran Liu, Xuan Xia, Jun Zeng, Yuling Liu, Jingqiong Xun, Meilu Liu, Yueming Mei, Ruchun Dai","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.101507","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.101507","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There was arising osteoporosis from an imbalance in bone remodeling, with excessive differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts. In this study, we found IKKε was upregulated in osteoporotic bone and <i>Ikbke</i> knockdown promoted osteoblast differentiation. We explored amlexanox (AM), a novel IKKε inhibitor, for its effects on osteogenic differentiation and bone homeostasis. AM treatment in mice decreased bone loss, reduced marrow fat, and improved bone microarchitecture, leading to enhanced bone strength. In vitro, AM promoted osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis of BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, AM controlled RANKL/OPG expression of BMSC which regulated osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistic explorations revealed AM reinforced Wnt/β-catenin pathway by suppressing ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of β-catenin. Importantly, AM stimulated osteogenesis in human BMSCs. By promoting osteogenesis at the expense of adipogenesis and hindering osteoclastogenesis, AM offers a promising therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis due to its established safety profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489180/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.96469
Andrea Esposito, Alessandra Ferraresi, Letizia Vallino, Beatrice Garavaglia, Danny N Dhanasekaran, Ciro Isidoro
Cancer represents one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate worldwide. The burden of cancer continues to increase, not only affecting the health-related quality of life of patients but also causing an elevated global financial impact. The complexity and heterogeneity of cancer pose significant challenges in research and clinical practice, contributing to increase the failure rate of clinical trials for antitumoral drugs. This is partially due to the fact that preclinical models still present important limitations in faithfully recapitulating human tumors to serve as reliable indicators of drug effectiveness. Up to now, research and development strategies employ expensive animal models (including the so-called "humanized mice") that not only raise ethical concerns, but also frequently fail to accurately predict responses to anticancer drugs because they do not faithfully replicate human physiology as well as the patient's tumor microenvironment. On the other side, traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fail to adequately reproduce the structural organization of tumor and the cellular heterogeneity found in vivo. The growing necessity to develop more accurate cancer models has increasingly emphasized the importance of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell cultures, such as cancer-derived spheroids and organoids, as promising alternatives to bridge the gap between 2D and animal models. In this review, we provide a brief overview focusing on 3D in vitro cell cultures as preclinical models capable of properly reproducing the tissue organization, biological composition, and complexity of in vivo tumors in a fine-tuned microenvironment. Despite their limitations, these models collectively enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer and may offer the potential for a more reliable assessment of drug efficacy before clinical testing and, consequently, improve therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.
{"title":"Three-Dimensional <i>In Vitro</i> Cell Cultures as a Feasible and Promising Alternative to Two-Dimensional and Animal Models in Cancer Research.","authors":"Andrea Esposito, Alessandra Ferraresi, Letizia Vallino, Beatrice Garavaglia, Danny N Dhanasekaran, Ciro Isidoro","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.96469","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.96469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer represents one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate worldwide. The burden of cancer continues to increase, not only affecting the health-related quality of life of patients but also causing an elevated global financial impact. The complexity and heterogeneity of cancer pose significant challenges in research and clinical practice, contributing to increase the failure rate of clinical trials for antitumoral drugs. This is partially due to the fact that preclinical models still present important limitations in faithfully recapitulating human tumors to serve as reliable indicators of drug effectiveness. Up to now, research and development strategies employ expensive animal models (including the so-called \"humanized mice\") that not only raise ethical concerns, but also frequently fail to accurately predict responses to anticancer drugs because they do not faithfully replicate human physiology as well as the patient's tumor microenvironment. On the other side, traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fail to adequately reproduce the structural organization of tumor and the cellular heterogeneity found <i>in vivo.</i> The growing necessity to develop more accurate cancer models has increasingly emphasized the importance of three-dimensional (3D) <i>in vitro</i> cell cultures, such as cancer-derived spheroids and organoids, as promising alternatives to bridge the gap between 2D and animal models. In this review, we provide a brief overview focusing on 3D <i>in vitro</i> cell cultures as preclinical models capable of properly reproducing the tissue organization, biological composition, and complexity of <i>in vivo</i> tumors in a fine-tuned microenvironment. Despite their limitations, these models collectively enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer and may offer the potential for a more reliable assessment of drug efficacy before clinical testing and, consequently, improve therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11488579/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. More than 80% of HCC patients have a background of fibrosis or cirrhosis, which leads to changes in physical factors in tumor microenvironment (TME), such as increased stiffness, solid stress, fluid stresses and structural alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the past, the focus of cancer research has predominantly been on genetic and biochemical factors in the TME, and the critical role of physical factors has often been overlooked. Recent discoveries suggest these unique physical signals are converted into biochemical signals through a mechanotransduction process that influences the biological behavior of tumor cells and stromal cells. This process facilitates the occurrence and progression of tumors. This review delves into the alterations in the mechanical microenvironment during the progression of liver fibrosis to HCC, the signaling pathways activated by physical signals, and the effects on both tumor and mesenchymal stromal cells. Furthermore, this paper summarizes and discusses the therapeutic options for targeting the mechanical aspects of the TME, offering valuable insights for future research into novel therapeutic avenues against HCC and other solid tumors.
{"title":"Unveiling the Role of Mechanical Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Molecular Mechanisms and Implications for Therapeutic Strategies.","authors":"Jiachen Hong, Jiongjie Yu, Damiano Buratto, Wei Chen, Ruhong Zhou, Sunbin Ling, Xiao Xu","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.102706","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.102706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. More than 80% of HCC patients have a background of fibrosis or cirrhosis, which leads to changes in physical factors in tumor microenvironment (TME), such as increased stiffness, solid stress, fluid stresses and structural alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the past, the focus of cancer research has predominantly been on genetic and biochemical factors in the TME, and the critical role of physical factors has often been overlooked. Recent discoveries suggest these unique physical signals are converted into biochemical signals through a mechanotransduction process that influences the biological behavior of tumor cells and stromal cells. This process facilitates the occurrence and progression of tumors. This review delves into the alterations in the mechanical microenvironment during the progression of liver fibrosis to HCC, the signaling pathways activated by physical signals, and the effects on both tumor and mesenchymal stromal cells. Furthermore, this paper summarizes and discusses the therapeutic options for targeting the mechanical aspects of the TME, offering valuable insights for future research into novel therapeutic avenues against HCC and other solid tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489173/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.92278
Jie Wang, Lang Gan, Fenghao Liu, Qin Yang, Qingsong Deng, Di Jiang, Chengcheng Zhang, LeiDa Zhang, XiaoJun Wang
Increasing evidence has suggested that ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10), a deubiquitinating enzyme, plays an essential role in targeted protein degradation and participates in cancer progression. However, the relationship between USP10 and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poorly understood. Here, we developed a USP-targeting siRNA library, combining a loss-of-function experimental screen in patient-derived PDAC cells. This approach identified USP10 as a master regulator of PDAC cell migration. High USP10 expression levels were observed in PDAC patient tissues, which were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, knockdown of USP10 expression inhibited PDAC cell proliferation and migration in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, USP10 increased FOXC1 protein stability via deubiquitination. The phosphorylation of FOXC1 at S272A was dependent on USP10-mediated deubiquitination of FOXC1. Additionally, USP10 promoted FOXC1 protein localization in the nucleus. Interestingly, FOXC1 could increase USP10 mRNA expression levels by transcriptional activation. Our data suggest that a positive feedback loop exists between USP10 and FOXC1 that can activate WNT signaling, thus facilitating PDAC malignant progression. Therefore, USP10 represents an exciting therapeutic target that could support new strategies for treating PDAC.
{"title":"USP10 promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression by attenuating FOXC1 protein degradation to activate the WNT signaling pathway.","authors":"Jie Wang, Lang Gan, Fenghao Liu, Qin Yang, Qingsong Deng, Di Jiang, Chengcheng Zhang, LeiDa Zhang, XiaoJun Wang","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.92278","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.92278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increasing evidence has suggested that ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10), a deubiquitinating enzyme, plays an essential role in targeted protein degradation and participates in cancer progression. However, the relationship between USP10 and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poorly understood. Here, we developed a USP-targeting siRNA library, combining a loss-of-function experimental screen in patient-derived PDAC cells. This approach identified USP10 as a master regulator of PDAC cell migration. High USP10 expression levels were observed in PDAC patient tissues, which were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, knockdown of USP10 expression inhibited PDAC cell proliferation and migration <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Mechanistically, USP10 increased FOXC1 protein stability via deubiquitination. The phosphorylation of FOXC1 at S272A was dependent on USP10-mediated deubiquitination of FOXC1. Additionally, USP10 promoted FOXC1 protein localization in the nucleus. Interestingly, FOXC1 could increase USP10 mRNA expression levels by transcriptional activation. Our data suggest that a positive feedback loop exists between USP10 and FOXC1 that can activate WNT signaling, thus facilitating PDAC malignant progression. Therefore, USP10 represents an exciting therapeutic target that could support new strategies for treating PDAC.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11488585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In elderly women and patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), activating their remaining dormant primordial follicles in vivo is challenging. In this study, we found that phosphodiesterase (PDE) subtypes were expressed mainly in primordial follicle oocytes. The specific PDE inhibitors and theophylline derivatives (aminophylline, dyphylline, and enprofylline) activated primordial follicles in neonatal mice by ovary culture and intraperitoneal injection. These inhibitors also increased the levels of ovarian cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and oocyte phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). The blockade of gap junctions using carbenoxolone (CBX) increased the levels of ovarian cAMP and pre-granulosa cell phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), suggesting that oocyte PDEs hydrolyze cAMP from pre-granulosa cells through gap junctions to maintain primordial follicle dormancy. Importantly, oral aminophylline improved ovulated oocyte quantity and quality, and increased offspring numbers in naturally aged mice. In addition, theophylline derivatives also activated human primordial follicles and increased p-Akt levels. Thus, theophylline derivatives activate primordial follicles by accumulating cAMP levels and activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in oocytes, and oral aminophylline increased fertility in naturally aged female mice by improving ovulated oocyte quantity and quality. As oral medications, theophylline derivatives may be used to improve fertility in elderly women and patients with POI.
对于老年妇女和早衰性卵巢功能不全(POI)患者来说,在体内激活其剩余的休眠原始卵泡是一项挑战。在这项研究中,我们发现磷酸二酯酶(PDE)亚型主要在原始卵泡卵母细胞中表达。通过卵巢培养和腹腔注射,特异性 PDE 抑制剂和茶碱衍生物(氨茶碱、二茶碱和恩丙茶碱)激活了新生小鼠的原始卵泡。这些抑制剂还能提高卵巢环磷酸腺苷(cAMP)和卵母细胞磷酸化蛋白激酶 B(p-Akt)的水平。使用羧甲唑龙(CBX)阻断间隙连接可提高卵巢cAMP和前颗粒细胞磷酸化哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶标(p-mTOR)的水平,这表明卵母细胞PDE通过间隙连接水解前颗粒细胞的cAMP,以维持原始卵泡休眠。重要的是,口服氨茶碱可改善排卵卵母细胞的数量和质量,并增加自然衰老小鼠的后代数量。此外,茶碱衍生物还能激活人类原始卵泡,提高p-Akt水平。因此,茶碱衍生物通过积累cAMP水平和激活卵母细胞中的磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)/Akt通路来激活原始卵泡,而口服氨茶碱通过改善排卵卵母细胞的数量和质量来提高自然老龄雌性小鼠的生育能力。作为口服药物,茶碱衍生物可用于改善老年妇女和 POI 患者的生育能力。
{"title":"Theophylline derivatives promote primordial follicle activation via cAMP-PI3K/Akt pathway and ameliorate fertility deficits in naturally aged mice.","authors":"Wenbo Zhang, Longwei Gao, Xiaodan Zhang, Yashuang Weng, Yan Du, Yan-Li Sun, Hongwei Wei, Tiantian Hao, Yuezhou Chen, Xiaoyan Liang, Meijia Zhang","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.99936","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.99936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In elderly women and patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), activating their remaining dormant primordial follicles <i>in vivo</i> is challenging. In this study, we found that phosphodiesterase (PDE) subtypes were expressed mainly in primordial follicle oocytes. The specific PDE inhibitors and theophylline derivatives (aminophylline, dyphylline, and enprofylline) activated primordial follicles in neonatal mice by ovary culture and intraperitoneal injection. These inhibitors also increased the levels of ovarian cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and oocyte phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). The blockade of gap junctions using carbenoxolone (CBX) increased the levels of ovarian cAMP and pre-granulosa cell phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), suggesting that oocyte PDEs hydrolyze cAMP from pre-granulosa cells through gap junctions to maintain primordial follicle dormancy. Importantly, oral aminophylline improved ovulated oocyte quantity and quality, and increased offspring numbers in naturally aged mice. In addition, theophylline derivatives also activated human primordial follicles and increased p-Akt levels. Thus, theophylline derivatives activate primordial follicles by accumulating cAMP levels and activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in oocytes, and oral aminophylline increased fertility in naturally aged female mice by improving ovulated oocyte quantity and quality. As oral medications, theophylline derivatives may be used to improve fertility in elderly women and patients with POI.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.98490
Ha Gyeong Kim, Yunmi Cho, Jae-Seon Lee, Eun-Taex Oh, Heon Joo Park
Metastasis is a major cause of treatment failure in patients with pancreatic cancer, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we focused on identifying novel miRNAs with key roles in metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Microarray analysis of miRNA expression in metastatic and non-metastatic pancreatic cancer samples revealed significantly lower expression of miR-6794-3p in the metastatic tumor group. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches using the pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA-PaCa-2 and HPAF-II expressing low and high levels of miR-6794-3p, respectively, indicated a role of miR-6794-3p in suppression of cell invasion, migration, and EMT signaling. Importantly, our results showed that miR-6794-3p exerts its effects by inhibiting expression of the chromatin remodeling factor, RBBP4. The resulting suppression of RBBP4 induced an increase in the levels of GRHL2 involved in regulating invasion, migration, and EMT signaling in metastatic pancreatic cancer cells. Consistent with these findings, low miR-6794-3p expression levels correlate with poor pancreatic cancer patient survival. Additional preclinical experiments on nude mice clearly demonstrated inhibitory effects of miR-6794-3p on pancreatic cancer cell metastasis. The collective results highlight the functional significance of miR-6794-3p as a suppressor of metastasis and support its predictive utility as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
{"title":"Identification of miR-6794-3p as a suppressor in pancreatic cancer metastasis.","authors":"Ha Gyeong Kim, Yunmi Cho, Jae-Seon Lee, Eun-Taex Oh, Heon Joo Park","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.98490","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.98490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metastasis is a major cause of treatment failure in patients with pancreatic cancer, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we focused on identifying novel miRNAs with key roles in metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Microarray analysis of miRNA expression in metastatic and non-metastatic pancreatic cancer samples revealed significantly lower expression of miR-6794-3p in the metastatic tumor group. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches using the pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA-PaCa-2 and HPAF-II expressing low and high levels of miR-6794-3p, respectively, indicated a role of miR-6794-3p in suppression of cell invasion, migration, and EMT signaling. Importantly, our results showed that miR-6794-3p exerts its effects by inhibiting expression of the chromatin remodeling factor, RBBP4. The resulting suppression of RBBP4 induced an increase in the levels of GRHL2 involved in regulating invasion, migration, and EMT signaling in metastatic pancreatic cancer cells. Consistent with these findings, low miR-6794-3p expression levels correlate with poor pancreatic cancer patient survival. Additional preclinical experiments on nude mice clearly demonstrated inhibitory effects of miR-6794-3p on pancreatic cancer cell metastasis. The collective results highlight the functional significance of miR-6794-3p as a suppressor of metastasis and support its predictive utility as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11488588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142485635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-30eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.101438
Zewei Zhang, Lingfeng Lv, Dongmei Chen, Fang Li, Jibo Zhou
Myopia is the most common eye disease in the world which is caused by a mismatch between the optical power of the eye and its excessive axial length. Scleral remodeling, oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological states of angiogenesis and fibrosis and metabolism are closely associated with the onset and progression of myopia and the pathological changes that may ultimately result. Intraocular fluid is a collective term for the fluid within the eye, and changes in its composition can reflect the physiological and pathological status within the eye, with aqueous humor and vitreous being the commonly tested specimens. Recent studies have revealed potential changes in a variety of molecules in intraocular fluid during myopia progression. Abnormal expression of these molecules may reflect different stages of myopia and provide new perspectives for disease monitoring and treatment. Therefore, in this review, we systematically review the molecular changes in intraocular fluid associated with myopia, as well as the possible mechanisms, with a view to informing basic myopia research and clinical work.
{"title":"Molecular changes in intraocular fluid: implications for myopia.","authors":"Zewei Zhang, Lingfeng Lv, Dongmei Chen, Fang Li, Jibo Zhou","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.101438","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.101438","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Myopia is the most common eye disease in the world which is caused by a mismatch between the optical power of the eye and its excessive axial length. Scleral remodeling, oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological states of angiogenesis and fibrosis and metabolism are closely associated with the onset and progression of myopia and the pathological changes that may ultimately result. Intraocular fluid is a collective term for the fluid within the eye, and changes in its composition can reflect the physiological and pathological status within the eye, with aqueous humor and vitreous being the commonly tested specimens. Recent studies have revealed potential changes in a variety of molecules in intraocular fluid during myopia progression. Abnormal expression of these molecules may reflect different stages of myopia and provide new perspectives for disease monitoring and treatment. Therefore, in this review, we systematically review the molecular changes in intraocular fluid associated with myopia, as well as the possible mechanisms, with a view to informing basic myopia research and clinical work.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489174/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-23eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.100355
Giovanni Luca Beretta, Matteo Costantino, Luca Mirra, Pietro Pettinari, Paola Perego
Ovarian cancer is a lethal disease due to late diagnosis and occurrence of drug resistance that limits the efficacy of platinum-based therapy. Drug resistance mechanisms include both tumor intrinsic and tumor microenvironment-related factors. A role for deubiquitinases (DUBs) is starting to emerge in ovarian cancer. DUBs are a large family of enzymes that remove ubiquitin from target proteins and participate in processes affecting drug resistance such as DNA damage repair and apoptosis. Besides, DUBs modulate the functions of T cell populations favoring an immune suppressed microenvironment. Three DUBs are proteasome-associated, whereas the large majority are not. Among the former DUBs, USP14 has been proposed to modulate transcription factors such as Bcl6 and BACH1. In addition, RPN11/PSMD14 interferes with various processes including epithelial mesenchymal transition, also favored by non-proteasomal DUBs such as USP1 by acting on Snail. Besides, USP8 by stabilizing HER family receptors can confer drug resistance. Overall, DUBs appear to be druggable, with several inhibitors under development. Based on DUBs biological role, DUBs targeting appears promising in view of combination strategies involving different therapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize the relevance of DUBs in ovarian carcinoma and provide insights into future challenges for the treatment of this disease.
{"title":"Deubiquitinases in Ovarian Cancer: Role in Drug Resistance and Tumor Aggressiveness.","authors":"Giovanni Luca Beretta, Matteo Costantino, Luca Mirra, Pietro Pettinari, Paola Perego","doi":"10.7150/ijbs.100355","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijbs.100355","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ovarian cancer is a lethal disease due to late diagnosis and occurrence of drug resistance that limits the efficacy of platinum-based therapy. Drug resistance mechanisms include both tumor intrinsic and tumor microenvironment-related factors. A role for deubiquitinases (DUBs) is starting to emerge in ovarian cancer. DUBs are a large family of enzymes that remove ubiquitin from target proteins and participate in processes affecting drug resistance such as DNA damage repair and apoptosis. Besides, DUBs modulate the functions of T cell populations favoring an immune suppressed microenvironment. Three DUBs are proteasome-associated, whereas the large majority are not. Among the former DUBs, USP14 has been proposed to modulate transcription factors such as Bcl6 and BACH1. In addition, RPN11/PSMD14 interferes with various processes including epithelial mesenchymal transition, also favored by non-proteasomal DUBs such as USP1 by acting on Snail. Besides, USP8 by stabilizing HER family receptors can confer drug resistance. Overall, DUBs appear to be druggable, with several inhibitors under development. Based on DUBs biological role, DUBs targeting appears promising in view of combination strategies involving different therapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize the relevance of DUBs in ovarian carcinoma and provide insights into future challenges for the treatment of this disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":13762,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11489175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142464416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}