1.Effects of oleic acid-induced lipid droplet synthesis on the proliferation,migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of osteosarcoma cells
Mengting WANG ; Yunlong WANG ; Mengxia LIANG ; Jun LIU ; Erbao BIAN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):9-15
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of different concentrations of oleic acid on human osteosarcoma cell lines 143B and HOS, as well as the impacts of the optimal concentration of oleic acid on cellular lipid droplet synthesis and cell functions. MethodsThe 143B and HOS cells were treated with varying concentrations of oleic acid (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L) for 48 hours. Following treatment, oil red O staining and BODIPY staining were performed to determine the optimal concentration. Subsequently, CCK-8 assays and colony formation experiments were conducted to assess the effect of this optimal concentration of oleic acid on the cell proliferation of both cell lines. Transwell migration assays were utilized to evaluate the influence of the optimal concentration on migratory capacity and Transwell invasion assays were utilized to evaluate the invasive ability. Additionally, Western blot analysis was employed to examine the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) and Neural cadherin (N-cadherin) in response to treatment with the optimal concentration of oleic acid. ResultsTreatment with oleic acid did not induce significant cell death in either 143B or HOS cells; however, an increase in intracellular lipid droplets was observed alongside enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion capabilities as well as EMT transformation potential (P<0.05). ConclusionOleic acid induces lipid droplet synthesis in osteosarcoma cells which subsequently promotes their proliferation, migration and invasion abilities along with EMT transformation.
2.Effect of bitter-taste receptor T2R38 activation on ferroptosis of human airway epithelium NuLi-1 cells induced by cigarette smoke exposure and its mechanism
Liang LI ; Xiangdong ZHOU ; Jie WANG ; Chaoqun XU ; Mengxia ZHU ; Shanjun YU ; Qi LI
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(2):333-340
Objective:To investigate the effect of type 2 taste receptor(T2R)38 activation on ferroptosis of human airway epithelium NuLi-1 cells induced by cigarette smoke exposure,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:The human airway epithelial NuLi-1 cells were divided into control group(without any treatment),cigarette smoke extract(CSE)group(treated with 5%CSE for 24 h)and CSE+T2R38 specific agonist phenylthiocarbamide(PTC)group(CSE+PTC group)(treated with 5%CSE and 1 mmol·L-1 PTC for 24 h).The expression levels of T2R38 mRNA and protein in NuLi-1 cells in various groups were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods.The cell viabilities in various groups were determined by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay.The activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the cells in various groups were measured by kits.DAX-J2 red fluorescence probe was used to determine the levels of nitric oxide(NO)in the cells in various groups.The reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in the cells in various groups were detected by fluorescent probe kit.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),Fe2+,and reduced glutathione(GSH)in the cells in various groups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method.Western blotting method was used to determine the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and glutathione peroxidases 4(GPx4)proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with control group,the expression levels of T2R38 mRNA and protein in NuLi-1 cells in CSE group were increased(P<0.05).Compared with control group,the viability of NuLi-1 cells in CSE group was decreased(P<0.05),the activities of iNOS and SOD in cells in CSE group were increased(P<0.05),the levels of NO and ROS were increased(P<0.05),the levels of MDA and Fe2+were increased(P<0.05),and the GSH level and the expression levels of Nrf2 and GPx4 proteins were decreased.Compared with CSE group,the viability of NuLi-1 cells in CSE+PTC group was increased(P<0.05),the activity of SOD and the GSH level in the cells were increased(P<0.05),the activity of iNOS in cells was decreased(P<0.05),the levels of NO and ROS in cells were decreased(P<0.05),the levels of MDA and Fe2+were decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of Nrf2 and GPx4 proteins were increased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in eNOS activity among control group,CSE group,and CSE+PTC group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Activation of bitter taste receptor T2R38 can inhibit ferroptosis in human airway epithelium NuLi-1 cells induced by cigarette smoke exposure,and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of iNOS activity in the cells.
3.BiFC and FACS-based CRISPR screening revealed that QKI promotes PABPN1 LLPS in colorectal cancer cells.
Mengxia LI ; Zhijie HU ; Yingye HUANG ; Yuting HAN ; Cheng LIANG ; Yuchi LIU ; Runze WU ; Xin LU ; Ke DENG ; Susu LIU ; Xin OU ; Yuwei LI ; Chao LIU ; Xuening LI ; Jingting LIANG ; Yonggui FU ; Anlong XU
Protein & Cell 2025;16(7):557-574
Protein liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a pivotal phenomenon intricately linked to cellular processes, is regulated by various other proteins. However, there is still a lack of high-throughput methods for screening protein regulators of LLPS in target proteins. Here, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9-based screening method to identify protein phase separation regulators by integrating bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Using this newly developed method, we screened the RNA-binding proteins that regulate PABPN1 phase separation and identified the tumor suppressor QKI as a promoter of PABPN1 phase separation. Furthermore, QKI exhibits decreased expression levels and diminished nuclear localization in colorectal cancer cells, resulting in reduced PABPN1 phase separation, which, in turn, promotes alternative polyadenylation (APA), cell proliferation, and migration in colorectal cancer.
Humans
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Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics*
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RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics*
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Poly(A)-Binding Protein I/genetics*
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CRISPR-Cas Systems
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Flow Cytometry
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Cell Proliferation
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Movement
4.Current status and prospect of biomarker research for schizophrenia
Mengyuan ZHU ; Qing CHEN ; Dan LI ; Mengxia WANG ; Renyu WANG ; Yuxin ZHU ; Weifeng JIN ; Shuzi CHEN ; Ping LI ; Zhenhua LI ; Peijun MA ; Shuai LIU ; Qiong GAO ; Xiaoyan LOU ; Jie XU ; Lili ZHU ; Ling ZHAO ; Kangyi LIANG ; Jinghong CHEN ; Xunjia CHENG ; Ke DONG ; Xiaokui GUO ; Qingtian LI ; Yun SHI ; Junyu SUN ; Huabin XU ; Ping LIN
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2022;45(11):1191-1196
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease. The diagnosis of schizophrenia so far relies heavily on subjective evidence, including self-reported experiences by patients, manifestations described by relatives, and abnormal behaviors assessed by psychiatrists. The diagnosis, monitoring of the disease progression and therapy efficacy assessment are challenging due to the lack of established laboratory biomarkers. Based on the current literature, clinical consensus, guidelines, and expert recommendations, this review highlighted evidence-based potential laboratory biomarkers for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, including genetic biomarkers, neurotransmitters, neurodevelopmental-related proteins, and intestinal flora, and discussed the potential future directions for the application of these biomarkers in this field, aiming to provide an objective basis for the use of these biomarkers in the early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis and rehabilitation assessment of schizophrenia.
5.Efficiency comparison of Kwak and ACR ( 2017 ) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System ( TI‐RADS) classification :a polycentric retrospective study
Yu LIANG ; Linxian YUE ; Qin CHEN ; Jie LIN ; Daoning GUO ; Peng HE ; Fang YANG ; Wensheng YUE ; Hong ZHENG ; Jiaquan RUAN ; Haijun LIU ; Jianqiong SONG ; Lingying YANG ; Juan WANG ; Chengting ZHOU ; Yutian WU ; Siyi WANG ; Yanqiong TANG ; Mengxia YUAN ; Yan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2019;28(5):419-424
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Kwak and ACR( 2017 ) thyroid imaging reporting and data systems ( T I‐RADS ) for thyroid nodules . Methods Cases of thyroid nodule who underwent surgery from January 2015 to M arch 2018 in 15 hospitals in Sichuan province were collected and the ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules were retrospectively analyzed by trained senior ultrasound physicians using Kwak and ACR T I‐RADS classification methods . Totally ,12 712 thyroid nodules were observed ,7 023 thyroid nodules in 7 023 cases with complete ultrasound and surgical and pathological data were eventually enrolled in the study . T hyroid nodules with solid ,hypoechoic or very hypoechoic ,tall/wide ratio ≥ 1 , margin ill‐defined and microcalcification were classified as malignant signs of ultrasound . M alignant percentage was calculated and diagnostic tests were performed . Results ① T here was a statistical difference between the benign and malignant nodules in the two types of T I‐RADS classification ( P<0 .01) . ② T he area under ROC curve of Kwak and ACR in the diagnosis of malignant nodules were 0 .89 and 0 .84 ,respectively . T he Youden index of Kwak and ACR were 0 .66 and 0 .57 ,respectively . ③Taking Kwak T I4B and ACR T R4 as critical points for malignancy ,the sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Kwak T I 4B were 75 .0% ,90 .9% ,83 .2% ,and 85 .9% , respectively . T he accuracy of Kwak T I4B was 84 .9% ; T he sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ACR T R4 were 88 .2% ,68 .9% ,62 .9% ,and 90 .8% ,respectively . T he accuracy of ACR T R4 was 76 .2% . T he Kappa value of Kwak TI4B and ACR T R4 was 0 .52 . T he χ2 value of Kwak T I4B and ACR T R4 was 2 174 .6 ( P < 0 .01 ) . Conclusions T he diagnostic values of two T I‐RADS classification methods for thyroid malignant nodules are high . T he overall efficiency of Kwak T I‐RADS classification method is better than that of ACR TI‐RADS classification method .
6.The effect of long-term high-fat diet on hippocampal neurons ultrastructural and cognitive function in obese rats
Donghua HU ; Yalan LI ; Zhaojia LIANG ; Zhao ZHONG ; Jieke TANG ; Jing LIAO ; He TIAN ; Mengxia WANG ; Gaoming SHE ; Yu LIU ; Huijie XING ; Fuxing TANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2018;37(4):451-455
Objective To investigate the effect of long-term high-fat diet on cognitive function and hippocampus neurons ultrastructure in obese rats.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly assigned to a high fat diet (HFD) group and a common diet (CD) group.Meanwhile,HFD-induced obese rat model were established.The spatial learning and memory were measured by the Morris water maze,and the neurons ultrastructural changes in rat hippocampus CA1 region at the corresponding period were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results The average weight of rats was 25%,28%,and 22% higher in the HFD group than in the CD group at the 12,16,and 20 weeks,respectively;the Lee's indexes were 6%,4%,and 8% higher;the average swimming latency were 52%,44%,and 40% longer;the average swimming distance were 85%,45%,and 51% longer;the average swimming speed were 57%,34%,and 18% higher;the duration of staying in the target quadrant were 32%,54%,and 63% shorter;and the average times of crossing the plate form were 30%,34%,and 34% shorter,respectively (all P <0.001).In comparison of ultrastructure in hippocampus CA1 region of rats at corresponding time points,the amounts of degenerated and necrosis neurons,of the deformed and vacuolar mitochondria,and of the less rough endoplasmic reticulum were significantly more at 12,16,and 20 weeks in the HFD group than in the CD group.Conclusions Long-term HFD-induced obesity damages the structure of neurons in the hippocampus,impairs spatial learning and memory function,and accelerates cognitive aging in rats.

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