Osteoarthritis (OA), a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, is defined by articular cartilage degradation, abnormal bone remodeling, and persistent chronic inflammation. It severely compromises patients’ quality of life, and currently, there is no radical cure. Abnormal mechanical stress is widely regarded as a core driver of OA pathogenesis, and the exploration of mechanical signal perception and transduction mechanisms has become crucial for deciphering OA’s pathophysiological processes. Piezo1, a key mechanosensitive cation channel belonging to the Piezo protein family, has recently gained significant attention due to its pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in joint tissues. This review systematically examines Piezo1’s expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and pathological functions in OA, with a particular focus on its dual roles in modulating chondrocyte homeostasis and bone metabolism disorders, while also delving into the underlying molecular signaling pathways and potential therapeutic implications. Piezo1, consisting of approximately 2 500 amino acids and forming a unique trimeric propeller-like structure, is widely expressed in chondrocytes, osteocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and synovial cells. It exhibits permeability to cations such as Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺, and directly responds to membrane tension changes induced by mechanical stimuli like fluid shear stress and mechanical overload. In OA patients and animal models, Piezo1 expression is significantly upregulated, especially in cartilage regions subjected to abnormal mechanical stress (e.g., human temporomandibular joint cartilage). This overexpression is closely associated with aggravated cartilage degeneration, increased chondrocyte apoptosis, accelerated cellular senescence, and intensified inflammatory responses. Mechanical overload and pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β) are key inducers of Piezo1 upregulation: IL-1β activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to enhance Piezo1 expression, forming a pathogenic positive feedback loop that inhibits chondrocyte autophagy, promotes apoptosis, and further accelerates joint degeneration. Mechanistically, Piezo1 mediates OA progression through multiple interconnected pathways. When activated by mechanical stress, Piezo1 triggers excessive Ca²⁺ influx, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and mitochondrial dysfunction, which directly induce chondrocyte apoptosis. This process involves the activation of downstream signaling cascades such as cGAS-STING and YAP-MMP13/ADAMTS5. YAP, a transcriptional regulator, upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and aggrecanase (ADAMTS5), thereby accelerating cartilage matrix degradation. Additionally, Piezo1-driven Ca²⁺ overload promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulates senescence markers (p16 and p21), accelerating chondrocyte senescence via the p38MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Senescent chondrocytes secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors (e.g., IL-6, IL-1β), further amplifying joint inflammation. In terms of bone metabolism, Piezo1 maintains joint homeostasis by promoting the differentiation of fibrocartilage stem cells into chondrocytes and balancing bone formation and resorption through regulating the FoxC1/YAP axis and RANKL/OPG ratio. Therapeutically, targeting Piezo1 shows promising potential. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 inhibitors (e.g., GsMTx4) can reduce joint damage and alleviate pain in OA mice. Simultaneously, siRNA-mediated co-silencing of Piezo1 and TRPV4 (another mechanosensitive channel) decreases intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis, and promotes cartilage repair. Conditional knockout of Piezo1 using Gdf5-Cre transgenic mice alleviates cartilage degeneration in post-traumatic OA models by downregulating MMP13 and ADAMTS5 expression. Despite existing challenges, such as off-target effects of inhibitors, inefficient local drug delivery, and interindividual genetic variability, strategies like developing selective Piezo1 antagonists, optimizing targeted nanocarriers, and combining Piezo1-targeted therapy with physical therapy provide viable avenues for clinical translation. The authors propose that Piezo1 serves as a critical therapeutic target for OA, and future research should focus on deciphering its context-dependent regulatory networks, developing tissue-specific intervention strategies, and validating their efficacy and safety in clinical trials to address the unmet medical needs of OA patients.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Human naïve pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold great promise for embryonic development studies. Existing induction and culture strategies for these cells, heavily dependent on MEK inhibitors, lead to widespread DNA hypomethylation, aberrant imprinting loss, and genomic instability during extended culture. Here, employing high-content analysis alongside a bifluorescence reporter system indicative of human naïve pluripotency, we screened over 1,600 chemicals and identified seven promising candidates. From these, we developed four optimized media-LAY, LADY, LUDY, and LKPY-that effectively induce and sustain PSCs in the naïve state. Notably, cells reset or cultured in these media, especially in the LAY system, demonstrate improved genome-wide DNA methylation status closely resembling that of pre-implantation counterparts, with partially restored imprinting and significantly enhanced genomic stability. Overall, our study contributes advancements to naïve pluripotency induction and long-term maintenance, providing insights for further applications of naïve PSCs.
Humans ; DNA Methylation/drug effects* ; Genomic Instability ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cell Culture Techniques/methods* ; Cells, Cultured

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*