OBJECTIVES: To investigate CEACAM6 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its regulatory effects on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: CEACAM6 expression in NPC was analyzed using GEO datasets and validated by immunohistochemistry in NPC tissues and by Western blotting and RT-qPCR in NPC cell lines (HNE1, C666-1, HK1, 5-8F and CNE2Z) and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69 cells. In the NPC cell lines, the effects of lentivirus-mediated CEACAM6 overexpression and knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cytoskeletal structures were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, Edu staining, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and phalloidin staining. Western blotting was performed to determine the expressions of EMT-related proteins (FN1, ITGA5, ITGB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin) in the NPC cells and the effect of FN1 overexpression on ITGA5 and ITGB1 protein expressions. RESULTS: Analysis of the data from the GEO datasets suggested that CEACAM6 was significantly downregulated in NPC, which was associated with poor patient prognosis. Immunohistochemistry also showed low expressions of CEACAM6 in clinical NPC tissues (P<0.05). In NPC cells, CEACAM6 overexpression significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and reduced the fluorescence intensity of actin. CEACAM6 overexpression also resulted in significant downregulation of FN1, ITGA5, ITGB1, N-cadherin and vimentin expressions and upregulation of E-cadherin expression, and FN1 overexpression obviously attenuated the inhibitory effect of CEACAM6 overexpression on ITGA5 and ITGB1 expressions. CONCLUSIONS CEACAM6 inhibits NPC cell migration and invasion by inhibiting EMT via regulating FN1, ITGA5 and ITGB1 expressions.
Humans ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics* ; Antigens, CD/metabolism* ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Integrin alpha5/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Fibronectins ; Integrins

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) disrupts vascular endothelial integrity and induces atherosclerosis. Active integrin β1 plays a pivotal role in promoting EndMT by facilitating TGFβ/Smad signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we report a novel anthraquinone compound, Kanglexin (KLX), which prevented EndMT and atherosclerosis by activating MAP4K4 and suppressing integrin β1/TGFβ signaling. First, KLX effectively counteracted the EndMT phenotype and mitigated the dysregulation of endothelial and mesenchymal markers induced by TGFβ1. Second, KLX suppressed TGFβ/Smad signaling by inactivating integrin β1 and inhibiting the polymerization of TGFβR1/2. The underlying mechanism involved the activation of FGFR1 by KLX, resulting in the phosphorylation of MAP4K4 and Moesin, which led to integrin β1 inactivation by displacing Talin from its β-tail. Oral administration of KLX effectively stimulated endothelial FGFR1 and inhibited integrin β1, thereby preventing vascular EndMT and attenuating plaque formation and progression in the aorta of atherosclerotic Apoe^-/- mice. Notably, KLX (20 mg/kg) exhibited superior efficacy compared with atorvastatin, a clinically approved lipid-regulating drug. In conclusion, KLX exhibited potential in ameliorating EndMT and retarding the formation and progression of atherosclerosis through direct activation of FGFR1. Therefore, KLX is a promising candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis to mitigate vascular endothelial injury.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Anthraquinones/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects*

BACKGROUND: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the biggest cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality because of its extremely metastatic nature. This study aimed to explore and evaluate the characteristics of candidate factors associated with the metastasis and progression of HGSOC. METHODS: Transcriptomic data of HGSOC patients' samples collected from primary tumors and matched omental metastatic tumors were obtained from three independent studies in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected to evaluate the effects on the prognosis and progression of ovarian cancer using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Hub genes' immune landscapes were estimated by the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database. Finally, using 25 HGSOC patients' cancer tissues and 10 normal fallopian tube tissues, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to quantify the expression levels of hub genes associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages. RESULTS: Fourteen DEGs, ADIPOQ , ALPK2 , BARX1 , CD37 , CNR2 , COL5A3 , FABP4 , FAP , GPR68 , ITGBL1 , MOXD1 , PODNL1 , SFRP2 , and TRAF3IP3 , were upregulated in metastatic tumors in every database while CADPS , GATA4 , STAR , and TSPAN8 were downregulated. ALPK2 , FAP , SFRP2 , GATA4 , STAR , and TSPAN8 were selected as hub genes significantly associated with survival and recurrence. All hub genes were correlated with tumor microenvironment infiltration, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, the expression of FAP and SFRP2 was positively correlated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and their increased protein expression levels in metastatic samples compared with primary tumor samples and normal tissues were confirmed by IHC ( P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study describes screening for DEGs in HGSOC primary tumors and matched metastasis tumors using integrated bioinformatics analyses. We identified six hub genes that were correlated with the progression of HGSOC, particularly FAP and SFRP2 , which might provide effective targets to predict prognosis and provide novel insights into individual therapeutic strategies for HGSOC.
Humans ; Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/therapeutic use* ; Tetraspanins/genetics* ; Protein Kinases ; Integrin beta1/therapeutic use*

Objective To study the characteristics of positive expression of integrin β1 in the rat brain tissue of two kinds of traumatic brain injury models and to explore the feasibility of inferring the mode of traumatic brain injury using the positive expression of integrin β1. Methods The occipital region of rats was hit by hydraulic impact method and pendulum striking method to produce two closed brain injury models of linear and rotation acceleration respectively, then 120 SD rats were randomly divided into linear acceleration injury group, rotation acceleration injury group, sham operation group and normal control group. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blotting method were used to detect the positive expression of integrin β1 in different parts of the brain tissue at 30 min, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 3 d and 7 d after rat injury. The data was processed statistically by SPSS 18.0 software. Results The positive expression of integrin β1 was detected 30 min after brain injury and reached the peak 6 h after brain injury. With the extension of injury time, the expression tended to enhance. At the same time points after injury, the differences in the positive expression of integrin β1 between the linear acceleration injury group and the rotation acceleration injury group in the occipital strike point and thalamus had no statistical significance （ P>0.05）, but the differences in the expression of integrin β1 in the frontal lobe and brain stem had statistical significance （P<0.05）. Conclusion The characteristics of positive expression of integrin β1 in brain tissue can be used to infer the strike point and the manner of injury and has application value for the reconstruction of craniocerebral injury process.
Animals ; Brain/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether garlicin post-conditioning can attenuate myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by affecting adhesion molecules integrin β1/CD29 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31). METHODS: Twenty-two swine were devided into 3 groups: 6 in a sham-operation group, and 8 each in the model and garlicin groups. AMI porcine model was established in the model and garlicin groups. The distal parts of the left anterior descending coronary artery in the animals of the model and garlicin groups were occluded by dilated balloon for 2 h, followed by reperfusion for 3 h. Garlicin (1.88 mg/kg) was injected over a period of 1 h, beginning just before reperfusion, in the garlicin group. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were carried out to detect mRNA and protein expressions of CD29 and CD31 3 h after reperfusion. RESULTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed a better myocardial structure in the garlicin group after reperfusion. Compared to the model group, garlicin inhibited both the mRNA and protein expression of CD29 and CD31 in reperfusion area and no-reflflow area (P<0.05 respectively). CONCLUSIONS Garlicin post-conditioning induced cardio-protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in this catheter-based porcine model of AMI. The cardio-protective effect of garlicin is possibly owing to suppression of production of CD29 and CD31, by inhibition of the mRNA expression of CD29 and CD31.
Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; Integrin beta1 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the peripheral serum expression of microRNA 124 (miRNA 124), laminin and integrin β1 in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI).

METHODSSeventy-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a model group, an acupuncture group, and a sham-operated group using a random digits table, with 24 rats per group. Each group was further randomly divided into 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day subgroups based on the reperfusion time according to a random digits table, with 6 rats in each subgroup. In the model and acupuncture groups, CIRI was induced using the thread occlusion method. Electroacupuncture stimulation was applied daily to GV 20 and left ST 36 for 20 min at the indicated time points after successful operations. Serum was sampled for detecting laminin and integrin β1 protein via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum miRNA 124 was examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe serum level of miRNA 124 in the cerebral ischemia rats increased significantly, and the peak expression of miRNA 124 in both the model and acupuncture groups occurred at 3 days. The expression of miRNA 124 in the acupuncture group was higher than in the model group at the same time point (5.96±0.01 vs. 3.11±0.04, P <0.05). Laminin expression in serum from the cerebral ischemia group was higher than that in the sham-operated group. Compared with the model group, the level of laminin in the serum of the acupuncture group was significantly lower at each time point, especially at the 3-day, and 7-day time points (589.12±3.57 vs. 793.05±5.28, and 600.53±3.05 vs. 899.06±5.74, P <0.05). The level of integrin β1 in the serum from the acupuncture group was lower than that in the model group particularly at the 3-day and 7-day time points (208.66±0.95 vs. 280.83±1.77, and 212.36±0.95 vs. 316.77±2.42, P <0.05). Additionally, the model group and the acupuncture group showed dual peaks of integrin β1 and laminin expression at 3-day and 7-day.

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture at GV 20 and ST 36 in rats alleviated CIRI and was associated with upregulated expression of miRNA 124 and with downregulated expression of integrin β1 and laminin in peripheral serum. These changes may represent one of the mechanisms underlying acupuncture's attenuation of CIRI.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Integrin beta1 ; blood ; genetics ; Laminin ; blood ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; genetics ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; therapy

BACKGROUNDGlaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by degeneration of neurons due to loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). High intraocular pressure (HIOP), the main risk factor, causes the optic nerve damage. However, the precise mechanism of HIOP-induced RGC death is not yet completely understood. This study was conducted to determine apoptosis of RGC-5 cells induced by elevated hydrostatic pressures, explore whether laminin is associated with apoptosis under pressure, whether laminin can protect RGCs from apoptosis and affirm the mechanism that regulates the process of RGCs survival.

METHODSRGC-5 cells were exposed to 0, 20, 40, and 60 mmHg in a pressurized incubator for 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. The effect of elevated hydrostatic pressure on RGC-5 cells was measured by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and Western blotting of cleaved caspase-3 protein. Location and expression of laminin were detected by immunofluorescence. The expression of β1-integrin, phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and protein kinase B (PKB, or AKT) were investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSElevated hydrostatic pressure induced apoptosis in cultured RGC-5 cells. Pressure with 40 mmHg for 24 h induced a maximum apoptosis. Laminin was declined in RGC-5 cells after exposing to 40 mmHg for 24 h. After pretreating with laminin, RGC-5 cells survived from elevated pressure. Furthermore, β1-integrin and phosphorylation of FAK and AKT were increased compared to 40 mmHg group.

CONCLUSIONSThe data show apoptosis tendency of RGC-5 cells with elevated hydrostatic pressure. Laminin can protect RGC-5 cells against high pressure via β1-integrin/FAK/AKT signaling pathway. These results suggest that the decreased laminin of RGC-5 cells might be responsible for apoptosis induced by elevated hydrostatic pressure, and laminin or activating β1-integrin/FAK/AKT pathway might be potential treatments to prevent RGC loss in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; physiology ; Humans ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Integrin beta1 ; physiology ; Intraocular Pressure ; Laminin ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; physiology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; physiology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively investigate the expression of several integrins in specimens of human bone metastases and degenerative bone tissue. METHODS: Degenerative cancellous tissue was obtained from a sample of human degenerative spine. Thirteen human specimens were obtained from metastatic spine tumors, whose primary cancer was colon cancer (n=3), hepatocellular cancer (n=3), lung cancer (n=4), and breast cancer (n=3). The expression of vimentin and integrins alphav, beta1, and beta3 was assessed in metastatic and degenerative specimens by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that vimentin and integrin alphav was broadly expressed in all tissues examined. By contrast, integrin beta1 was weakly expressed only in 38.4% (5/13) of tissues. Integrin beta3 was consistently negative in all cases examined. qRT-PCR analysis showed that vimentin gene expression was higher in all metastatic specimens, as compared to degenerative bone. The gene expression of integrin alphav in breast specimen was significantly higher than others (p=0.045). The gene expression of integrin beta1 was also higher in all metastatic specimens than in degenerative bone tissue. The gene expression of integrin beta3 was variable. CONCLUSION: Spinal metastatic tumors have mesenchymal characteristics such as increased expression of vimentin. The increased expression of integrin alphav and beta1 in spine metastatic tumors suggests that adhesive molecules such as integrin may have implications for the prevention of spine metastasis.
Adhesives ; Antigens, CD29 ; Bone and Bones ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin alphaV ; Integrin beta3 ; Integrins* ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Spine* ; Vimentin*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of β8 expression on transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) activation in astrocytes with oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD).

METHODSAstrocytes were cultured and then subjected to OGD to generate hypoxia-ischemia (HI) model in vitro. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression and distribution of β8 in nomoxia cultured cells. β8 protein expression was quantified by Western blot at 12 hours, 1 day and 2 days after OGD. Astrocytes and luciferase reporter cells (TMLC) were co-cultured. β8 RNA interference system was established to specifically inhibit β8 expression in cultured astrocytes. TGF-β1 activation was then detected in the co-culture system.

RESULTSβ8 was mainly located in the cytoplasm and neurites of astrocytes. OGD resulted in increase of β8 protein expression at 12 hours after reoxygenation in astrocytes, which was peaked at 1 day after reoxygenation. TGF-β1 activation was in accordance with β8 expression in astrocyte-TMLC co-culture system after reoxygenation. After the inhibition of β8, TGF-β1 activation was significantly reduced in all time points.

CONCLUSIONSThe highly expressed β8 plays important roles in the regulation of TGF-β1 activation in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Integrin beta Chains ; physiology ; Male ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism