Objective To investigate the impact of Qizhi Jiangtang Capsule (QZJT) on renal damage in diabetic nephropathy (DN) mice via NOD like receptors family pyrin domain containing 3/caspase-1/ Gasdermin D (NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD) signaling pathway. Methods Mice were randomly allocated into six experimental groups: a normal control group (NC), a diabetic nephropathy model group (DN), a low-dose QZJT treatment group (L-QZJT), a high-dose QZJT treatment group (H-QZJT), a positive control group administered Shenqi Jiangtang Granules (SQJT), and an ML385 group (treated with an inhibitor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, Nrf2). Upon successful model induction, therapeutic interventions were commenced. Renal function impairment in the mice was evaluated through quantification of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24-hour urinary albumin (UAlb), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and the kidney-to-body mass ratio (K/B). Renal tissue pathology was evaluated using HE and PAS staining. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 were quantified by ELISA. Levels of podocyte markers and proteins involved in relevant pathways were assessed using Western blot analysis. Results Compared with the NC group, FBG, 24 h UAlb, SCr, and BUN were increased in the DN group, and the K/B mass ratio was also increased. In contrast, compared with the DN group, FBG, 24 h UAlb, SCr, and BUN in both the low-dose (L-QZJT) and high-dose Quanzhou Jintang (H-QZJT) groups were decreased, and the K/B mass ratio was decreased as well. The therapeutic efficacy of H-QZJT was comparable to that of Shenqi Jiangtang Granules. QZJT ameliorated renal histopathological injury in DN mouse, increased the protein levels of Nephrin (a podocyte marker), and decreased the protein levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), pro-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N. After ML385 treatment, renal cells exhibited swelling and morphological changes, the inflammatory infiltrate area was enlarged, the protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N were up-regulated, and the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were increased. Conclusion QZJT may inhibit podocyte pyroptosis by acting on the Nrf2 to regulate the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, thus improving renal damage in DN mouse.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/pathology* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Caspase 1/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Phosphate-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Kidney/pathology* ; Gasdermins

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein-8-like factor 2 (TIPE2) on the phenotype of lung cancer tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and its influence on the stemness of lung cancer cells. Methods Mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was cultured and infected with either LV-TIPE2 lentivirus or negative control LV-NC lentivirus. The TIPE2 expression in infected cells was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting to verify transfection efficiency. The infected RAW264.7 cells were co-cultured with lung cancer cell line A549, and were divided into four groups: control group (RAW264.7 cells or A549 cells cultured alone), TAM group (RAW264.7 cells co-cultured with A549 cells), LV-NC group (RAW264.7 cells infected with LV-NC and co-cultured with A549 cells), LV-TIPE2 group (RAW264.7 cells infected with LV- TIPE2 and co-cultured with A549 cells). The RAW264.7 cells were collected after co-culture, and the expression of mannose receptor (CD206) protein of M2 macrophages was detected by cellular immunofluorescence staining. The proportions of M1 and M2 macrophages were detected by flow cytometry. After co-culture, A549 cells were collected, and their activity was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Self-renewal ability was evaluated using tumor cell pelleting experiment. The expression of stemness marker proteins-including cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), transmembrane adhesion molecule (CD44), sex-determining region Y-box protein 2 (SOX2) and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4)-was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the control group or LV-NC group, the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of TIPE2 in RAW264.7 cells from the LV-TIPE2 group were significantly upregulated. Compared with the control group, the fluorescence intensity of M2-type macrophage marker CD206 protein in RAW264.7 cells from the TAM group was significantly increased, the proportion of M1-type macrophages was significantly decreased, and the proportion of M2-type macrophages was significantly increased. In contrast, compared with the TAM group, the fluorescence intensity of CD206 protein in RAW264.7 cells from the LV-TIPE2 group was significantly decreased, the proportion of M1-type macrophages was significantly increased, and the proportion of M2-type macrophages was significantly decreased. Compared with the control group, the proliferation activity of A549 cells in TAM group was significantly increased, the number of tumor pellet formation was significantly increased, and the relative expression levels of CD133, CD44, SOX2 and OCT4 were significantly up-regulated. However, compared with the TAM group, the proliferation activity of A549 cells from the LV-TIPE2 group was significantly decreased, the number of tumor pellet formation was significantly decreased, and the relative expression levels of CD133, CD44, SOX2 and OCT4 were significantly decreased. Conclusion TIPE2 can suppress the stemness of lung cancer cells by inhibiting the polarization of macrophages to M2-type, thereby exerting an anticancer effect.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; A549 Cells ; Phenotype ; Coculture Techniques ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism* ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Mannose Receptor ; Mannose-Binding Lectins/metabolism* ; Lectins, C-Type/metabolism* ; Cell Polarity ; Macrophages/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huazhuo Tongluo Formula (YYHT) against high glucose-induced injury in mouse renal podocytes (MPC5 cells) and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Adult Wistar rats were treated with 19, 38, and 76 g/kg YYHT or saline via gavage for 7 days to prepare YYHT-medicated or blank sera for treatment of MPC5 cells cultured in high glucose (30 mmol/L) prior to transfection with a miR-21a-5p inhibitor or a miR-21a-5p mimic. The changes in miR-21a-5p expressions and the mRNA levels of FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin in the treated cells were detected with qRT-PCR, and the protein levels of nephrin, podocin, FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin were detected with Western blotting. Autophagic activity in the cells were evaluated with MDC staining. The effect of miR-21a-5p mimic on FoxO1 transcription and the binding of miR-21a-5p to FoxO1 were examined with luciferase reporter gene assay and radioimmunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS: MPC5 cells exposed to high glucose showed significantly increased miR-21a-5p expression, lowered expressions of FoxO1, PINK1, and Parkin1 mRNAs, and reduced levels of FoxO1, PINK1, parkin, nephrin, and podocin proteins and autophagic activity. Treatment of the exposed cells with YYHT-medicated sera and miR-21a-5p inhibitor both significantly enhanced the protein expressions of nephrin and podocin, inhibited the expression of miR-21a-5p, increased the mRNA and protein expressions of FoxO1, PINK1 and Parkin, and upregulated autophagic activity of the cells. Transfection with miR-21a-5p mimic effectively inhibited the transcription of FoxO1 and promoted the binding of miR-21a-5p to FoxO1 in MPC5 cells, and these effects were obviously attenuated by treatment with YYHT-medicated sera. CONCLUSIONS YYHT-medicated sera alleviate high glucose-induced injury in MPC5 cells by regulating miR-21a-5p/FoxO1/PINK1-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Podocytes/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats, Wistar ; Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Rats ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Mice ; Mitochondria/drug effects* ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism* ; Glucose ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

To investigate the therapeutic effect of Fuzheng Tongluo Granules on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) and its mechanism. Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, pirfenidone group(162 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-, medium-and high-dose of Fuzheng Tongluo Granules groups(2.63, 5.25, 10.5 g·kg~(-1)). Rat model of IPF was induced by a single non-invasive tracheal intubation drip of bleomycin(BLM). The corresponding drugs were given daily by gavage after the 2nd day of modeling, and body mass was recorded. On the 28th day, the samples were collected and weighed, and the lung coefficients were calculated. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by HE and Masson staining, and the hydroxyproline(HYP) content of the lung tissue was detected by alkaline hydrolysis. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and interleukin-18(IL-18) of the lung tissue were determined by ELISA. The expression of collagen type Ⅰ(collagen Ⅰ) and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) was observed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3), cysteine-requiring aspartate protease type 1(caspase-1), gasdermin D-N(GSDMD-N), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC) in the lung tissue were detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence co-localization was used to observe the expression of GSDMD and CD68. The results show that compared with the control group, the model group showed increased lung coefficient, Ashcroft score, Szapiel score, HYP, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 content in the lung tissue and elevated protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD-N, and ASC. The expression levels of GSDMD and CD68 were increased, and there was a high degree of co-localization between GSDMD and CD68. Compared with those in the model group, the lung coefficient, Ashcroft score, and Szapiel score decreased in all drug administration groups, and the content of HYP, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 decreased. The protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD-N, and ASC decreased, and the expression levels of GSDMD and CD68 were reduced. There was a high degree of co-localization between GSDMD and CD68. In summary, Fuzheng Tongluo Granules can effectively reduce pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation levels in rats with IPF, and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway to inhibit macrophage pyroptosis.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Caspase 1/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Phosphate-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Gasdermins

Branchio-oto syndrome (BOS)/branchio-oto-renal syndrome (BORS) is a kind of autosomal dominant heterogeneous disorder. These diseases are mainly characterized by hearing impairment and abnormal phenotype of ears, accompanied by renal malformation and branchial cleft anomalies including cyst or fistula, with an incidence of 1/40 000 in human population. Otic anormalies are one of the most obvious clinical manifestations of BOS/BORS, including deformities of external, middle, inner ears and hearing loss with conductive, sensorineural or mix, ranging from mild to profound loss. Temporal bone imaging could assist in the diagnosis of middle ear and inner ear malformations for clinicians. Multiple methods including direct sequencing combined with next generation sequencing (NGS), multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), or array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) can effectively screen and identify pathogenic genes and/or variation types of BOS/BORS. About 40% of patients with BOS/BORS carry aberrations of EYA1 gene which is the most important cause of BOS/BORS. A total of 240 kinds of pathogenic variations of EYA1 have been reported in different populations so far, including frameshift, nonsense, missense, aberrant splicing, deletion and complex rearrangements. Human Endogenous Retroviral sequences (HERVs) may play an important role in mediating EYA1 chromosomal fragment deletion mutations caused by non-allelic homologous recombination. EYA1 encodes a phosphatase-transactivator cooperated with transcription factors of SIX1, participates in cranial sensory neurogenesis and development of branchial arch-derived organs, then regulates the morphological and functional differentiation of the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear toward normal tissues. In addition, pathogenic mutations of SIX1 and SIX5 genes can also cause BOS/BORS. Variations of these genes mentioned above may cause disease by destroying the bindings between SIX1-EYA1, SIX5-EYA1 or SIX1-DNA. However, the role of SIX5 gene in the pathogenesis of BORS needs further verification.
Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome/pathology* ; Chromosome Deletion ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Genetic Research ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism* ; Pedigree ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely linked to epigenetic modification. Abnormal DNA methylation in the CpG island region of genes has been found in many cancers. Protein kinase C delta binding protein (PRKCDBP) is a potential tumor suppressor and its epigenetic changes are found in many human malignancies. This study investigated the possibility of PRKCDBP methylation as a potential biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We measured the methylation levels of PRKCDBP in the three groups of NSCLC tissues. Promoter activity was measured by the dual luciferase assay, with 5'-aza-deoxycytidine to examine the effect of demethylation on the expression level of PRKCDBP. RESULTS: The methylation levels of PRKCDBP in tumor tissues and 3 cm para-tumor were higher than those of distant (>10 cm) non-tumor tissues. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis between tumor tissues and distant non-tumor tissues showed that the area under the line (AUC) was 0.717. Dual luciferase experiment confirmed that the promoter region was able to promote gene expression. Meanwhile, in vitro methylation of the fragment (PRKCDBP_Me) could significantly reduce the promoter activity of the fragment. Demethylation of 5'-aza-deoxycytidine in lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1299 showed a significant up-regulation of PRKCDBP mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS PRKCDBP methylation is a potential and promising candidate biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer.
Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates that the sineoculis homeobox homolog 1-eyes absent homolog 1 (SIX1-EYA1) transcriptional complex significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple cancers by mediating the expression of genes involved in different biological processes, such as cell-cycle progression and metastasis. However, the roles of the SIX1-EYA1 transcriptional complex and its targets in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still being investigated. This study aimed to investigate the roles of SIX1-EYA1 in the pathogenesis of CRC, to screen inhibitors disrupting the SIX1-EYA1 interaction and to evaluate the efficiency of small molecules in the inhibition of CRC cell growth. METHODS: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to examine gene and protein levels in CRC cells and clinical tissues (collected from CRC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, between 2016 and 2018, n = 24). In vivo immunoprecipitation and in vitro pulldown assays were carried out to determine SIX1-EYA1 interaction. Cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell invasion were determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, clonogenic assay, and Boyden chamber assay, respectively. The Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay Screen (AlphaScreen) method was used to obtain small molecules that specifically disrupted SIX1-EYA1 interaction. CRC cells harboring different levels of SIX1/EYA1 were injected into nude mice to establish tumor xenografts, and small molecules were also injected into mice to evaluate their efficiency to inhibit tumor growth. RESULTS: Both SIX1 and EYA1 were overexpressed in CRC cancerous tissues (for SIX1, 7.47 ± 3.54 vs.1.88 ± 0.35, t = 4.92, P = 0.008; for EYA1, 7.61 ± 2.03 vs. 2.22 ± 0.45, t = 6.73, P = 0.005). The SIX1/EYA1 complex could mediate the expression of two important genes including cyclin A1 (CCNA1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) by binding to the myocyte enhancer factor 3 consensus. Knockdown of both SIX1 and EYA1 could decrease cell proliferation, cell invasion, tumor growth, and in vivo tumor growth (all P < 0.01). Two small molecules, NSC0191 and NSC0933, were obtained using AlphaScreen and they could significantly inhibit the SIX1-EYA1 interaction with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.60 ± 1.15 μmol/L and 83.43 ± 7.24 μmol/L, respectively. Administration of these two compounds could significantly repress the expression of CCNA1 and TGFB1 and inhibit the growth of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of the SIX1/EYA1 complex transactivated the expression of CCNA1 and TGFB1, causing the pathogenesis of CRC. Pharmacological inhibition of the SIX1-EYA1 interaction with NSC0191 and NSC0933 significantly inhibited CRC cell growth by affecting cell-cycle progression and metastasis.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Homeobox ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism* ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/genetics*

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC is refractory to many standard cancer treatments and the prognosis is often poor, highlighting a pressing need to identify biomarkers of aggressiveness and potential targets for future treatments. Kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C) is reported to be highly expressed in several human tumors. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of KIF2C in tumor development and progression have not been investigated. In this study, we found that KIF2C expression was significantly upregulated in HCC, and that KIF2C up-regulation was associated with a poor prognosis. Utilizing both gain and loss of function assays, we showed that KIF2C promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified TBC1D7 as a binding partner of KIF2C, and this interaction disrupts the formation of the TSC complex, resulting in the enhancement of mammalian target of rapamycin complex1 (mTORC1) signal transduction. Additionally, we found that KIF2C is a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and acts as a key factor in mediating the crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling. Thus, the results of our study establish a link between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling, which highlights the potential of KIF2C as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Kinesins/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism* ; Survival Analysis ; Tumor Burden ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Apoprotein(a) ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proprotein Convertase 5 ; genetics ; Salivary Cystatins ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; Whole Exome Sequencing

Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Risk Factors