1.Inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells.
Ying-Ying TIAN ; Bei-Bei MA ; Xin-Yue ZHAO ; Chuang LIU ; Yi-Lin LI ; Shang-Yue YU ; Shi-Qiu TIAN ; Hai-Luan PEI ; Ying-Nan LYU ; Ze-Ping ZUO ; Zhi-Bin WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(17):4702-4710
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This study aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and combination with inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells. The effect of sinomenine on the growth ability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were investigated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and BeyoClick~(TM) EdU-488 staining. The effect of sinomenine on DNA damage was detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the effect of sinomenine on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was clarified by Hoechst 33258 staining and CellEvent~(TM) Cystein-3/7Green ReadyProbes~(TM) reagent assay. Cell invasion assay and 3D tumor cell spheroid invasion assay were performed to investigate the effect of sinomenine on the invasion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The effect of sinomenine on the regulation of protein expression related to the protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling pathway in HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells was examined by Western blot. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the strength of affinity of sinomenine to the target cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3) and STAT3, and combined with CCK-8 assay to detect the changes in cell viability after combination with STAT3 inhibitor JSI-124 in combination with CCK-8 assay. The results showed that sinomenine could significantly reduce the cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner, significantly inhibit the clonogenic ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and weaken the invasive ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. In addition, sinomenine could up-regulate the cleaved level of poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP), a marker of apoptosis, and down-regulate the protein levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-STAT3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Molecular docking results showed that sinomenine had good affinity with the targets caspase-3 and STAT3, and the sensitivity of sinomenine to hepatocellular carcinoma cells was diminished after STAT3 was inhibited. Therefore, sinomenine can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induce apoptosis, and the mechanism may be attributed to the activation of caspase-3 signaling and inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway. This study can provide a new reference for the in-depth research and clinical application of sinomenine and is of great significance to further promote the scientific development and utilization of sinomenine.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Caspase 3/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Liver Neoplasms/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Molecular Docking Simulation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Hep G2 Cells
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Apoptosis
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
2.Lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 overexpression reduces sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells to osimertinib.
Qi Lin ZHAO ; Nan WANG ; Ya Wen LI ; Qing Tan WU ; Lan Xiang WU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2023;43(2):242-250
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To screen the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with acquired resistance to osimertinib and explore their roles in drug resistance of the cells.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			The cell lines H1975_OR and HCC827_OR with acquired osimertinib resistance were derived from their osimertinib-sensitive parental NSCLC cell lines H1975 and HCC827, respectively, and their sensitivity to osimertinib was assessed with CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay and flow cytometry. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to screen the differentially expressed lncRNAs in osimertinib-resistant cells. The role of the identified lncRNA in osimertinib resistance was explored using CCK-8, clone formation and Transwell assays, and its subcellular localization and downstream targets were analyzed by nucleoplasmic separation, bioinformatics analysis and qPCR.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			The resistance index of H1975_OR and HCC827_OR cells to osimertinib was 598.70 and 428.82, respectively (P < 0.001), and the two cell lines showed significantly increased proliferation and colony-forming abilities with decreased apoptosis (P < 0.01). RNA-seq identified 34 differentially expressed lncRNAs in osimertinib-resistant cells, and among them lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 showed the highest increase of expression after acquired osimertinib resistance (P < 0.01). Analysis of the TCGA database suggested that the level of lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 was significantly higher in NSCLC than in adjacent tissues (P < 0.001), and its high expression was associated with a poor prognosis of the patients. In osimertinib-sensitive cells, overexpression of Lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 obviously promoted cell proliferation, colony formation and migration (P < 0.05), while Lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 knockdown partially restored osimertinib sensitivity of the resistant cells (P < 0.01). Lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm, and bioinformatics analysis suggested that hsa-miR-766-5p was its candidate target, and their expression levels were inversely correlated. The target mRNAs of hsa-miR-766-5p were mainly enriched in the Ras signaling pathway.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			The expression of lnc-TMEM132D-AS1 is significantly upregulated in NSCLC cells with acquired osimertinib resistance, and may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for osimertinibresistant NSCLC.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Lung Neoplasms/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Movement
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			MicroRNAs/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Membrane Proteins/metabolism*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
3.Leonurine inhibits ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by activating p62/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Ai-Jun WU ; Nai-Qing CHEN ; Li-Hua HUANG ; Ran CHENG ; Xiao-Wan WANG ; Chuang LI ; Wei MAO ; Qing-Ming HUANG ; Peng XU ; Rui-Min TIAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(8):2176-2183
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			To investigate the protective effect and the potential mechanism of leonurine(Leo) against erastin-induced ferroptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2 cells), an in vitro erastin-induced ferroptosis model was constructed to detect the cell viability as well as the expressions of ferroptosis-related indexes and signaling pathway-related proteins. HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro, and the effects of Leo on the viability of HK-2 cells at 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μmol·L~(-1) were examined by CCK-8 assay to determine the safe dose range of Leo administration. A ferroptosis cell model was induced by erastin, a common ferroptosis inducer, and the appropriate concentrations were screened. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effects of Leo(20, 40, 80 μmol·L~(-1)) and positive drug ferrostatin-1(Fer-1, 1, 2 μmol·L~(-1)) on the viability of ferroptosis model cells, and the changes of cell morphology were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Then, the optimal concentration of Leo was obtained by Western blot for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) activation, and transmission electron microscope was further used to detect the characteristic microscopic morphological changes during ferroptosis. Flow cytometry was performed to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS), and the level of glutathione(GSH) was measured using a GSH assay kit. The expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), p62, and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) in each group were quantified by Western blot. RESULTS:: showed that Leo had no side effects on the viability of normal HK-2 cells in the concentration range of 10-100 μmol·L~(-1). The viability of HK-2 cells decreased as the concentration of erastin increased, and 5 μmol·L~(-1) erastin significantly induced ferroptosis in the cells. Compared with the model group, Leo dose-dependently increased cell via-bility and improved cell morphology, and 80 μmol·L~(-1) Leo promoted the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Further studies revealed that Leo remarkably alleviated the characteristic microstructural damage of ferroptosis cells caused by erastin, inhibited the release of intracellular ROS, elevated GSH and GPX4, promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and significantly upregulated the expression of p62 and HO-1 proteins. In conclusion, Leo exerted a protective effect on erastin-induced ferroptosis in HK-2 cells, which might be associated with its anti-oxidative stress by activating p62/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Ferroptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Epithelial Cells/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Glutathione
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
4.Cytotoxicity of 4 Wild Mushrooms in a Case of Yunnan Sudden Unexplained Death.
Wu LONG ; Peng-Fei QU ; Lin MA ; Rui WANG ; Yan-Mei XI ; Yu-Hua LI ; Sheng-Jie NIE ; Ting DUAN ; Jin-Liang DU ; Xue TANG ; Jing-Feng ZHAO ; Pu-Ping LEI ; Yue-Bing WANG
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2023;39(2):121-128
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVES:
		                        			To explore the cytotoxicity of four wild mushrooms involved in a case of Yunnan sudden unexplained death (YNSUD), to provide the experimental basis for prevention and treatment of YNSUD.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Four kinds of wild mushrooms that were eaten by family members in this YNSUD incident were collected and identified by expert identification and gene sequencing. Raw extracts from four wild mushrooms were extracted by ultrasonic extraction to intervene HEK293 cells, and the mushrooms with obvious cytotoxicity were screened by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The selected wild mushrooms were prepared into three kinds of extracts, which were raw, boiled, and boiled followed by enzymolysis. HEK293 cells were intervened with these three extracts at different concentrations. The cytotoxicity was detected by CCK-8 combined with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) Assay Kit, and the morphological changes of HEK293 cells were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Species identification indicated that the four wild mushrooms were Butyriboletus roseoflavus, Boletus edulis, Russula virescens and Amanita manginiana. Cytotoxicity was found only in Amanita manginiana. The raw extracts showed cytotoxicity at the mass concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, while the boiled extracts and the boiled followed by enzymolysis extracts showed obvious cytotoxicity at the mass concentration of 0.4 mg/mL and 0.7 mg/mL, respectively. In addition to the obvious decrease in the number of HEK293 cells, the number of synapses increased and the refraction of HEK293 cells was poor after the intervention of Amanita manginiana extracts.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			The extracts of Amanita manginiana involved in this YNSUD case has obvious cytotoxicity, and some of its toxicity can be reduced by boiled and enzymolysis, but cannot be completely detoxicated. Therefore, the consumption of Amanita manginiana is potentially dangerous, and it may be one of the causes of the YNSUD.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			HEK293 Cells
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			China
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Amanita
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Death, Sudden
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
5.Cigarette Smoke Induces Gefitinib Resistance in NSCLC Cells via ROS/Sirt3/SOD2 Pathway.
Yawan ZI ; Ke LIAO ; Hong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2023;26(4):245-256
		                        		
		                        			BACKGROUND:
		                        			Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are the most common driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To prolong the survival of the patients, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) resistance in NSCLC is a major challenge that needs to be addressed urgently, and this study focuses on investigating the mechanism of cigarette smoke (CS) induced Gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			PC-9 and A549 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 1 µmol/L Gefitinib for 4 h and 10% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 48 h. Western blot was used to detect Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) protein expressions; DCFH-DA probe was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS); CCK-8 kit was used to detect cell activity, and EdU was used to detect cell proliferation ability. Sirt3 overexpression plasmid (OV-Sirt3) was transfected in PC-9 and A549 cells and treated with 1 µmol/L Gefitinib for 4 h and 10% CSE for 48 h after N-acetylcysteine (NAC) action. The expressions of Sirt3 and SOD2 were detected by Western blot; the ROS level in the cells was detected by DCFH-DA probe, and the cell activity was detected by CCK-8.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			CSE induced an increase in the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of both PC-9 and A549 cells to Gefitinib (P<0.01) and enhanced the proliferation of PC-9 and A549 cells, suggesting that CS induced Gefitinib resistance in NSCLC. ROS was involved in CSE-induced Gefitinib resistance (P<0.05). CSE induced low expressions of Sirt3 and SOD2 (P<0.01), and Sirt3/SOD2 was associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients (P<0.05). OV-Sirt3 in PC-9 and A549 cells reversed CSE-induced Gefitinib resistance (P<0.05) and significantly reduced ROS production. NAC reversed CSE-induced Gefitinib resistance in PC-9 and A549 cells (P<0.05).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			The ROS/Sirt3/SOD2 pathway is involved in CS-induced Gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Gefitinib/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sirtuin 3/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Lung Neoplasms/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Reactive Oxygen Species/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cigarette Smoking
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			ErbB Receptors/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
6.Naringin Inhibits Colorectal Carcinogenesis by Inhibiting Viability of Colorectal Cancer Cells.
Juan-Ni ZENG ; Jin-Yu TAN ; Li MO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2023;29(8):707-713
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To explore the therapeutic effect of naringin on colorectal cancer (CRC) and the related mechanism.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and annexin V-FITC/PI assay were used to detect the effect of naringin (50-400 µg/mL) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells, respectively. The scratch wound assay and transwell migration assay were used to assess the effect of naringin on CRC cell migration. Four-week-old male nude mice were injected with HCT116 cells subcutaneously to establish the tumor xenograft model. Naringin was injected intraperitoneally at 50 mg/(kg·d), with solvent and 5-fluorouracil treatment as control. The width and length of the tumors were measured and recorded every 6 days, and tumor tissues were photographed and weighed on the last day of the 24-d observation period. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate the effect of naringin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in tumor tissues. The body weight, food and water intake of mice were recorded, and the major organs in different treatment groups were weighed on the last day and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological analysis. Meanwhile, the routine blood indicators were recorded.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			CCK-8 and annexin V-FITC/PI results confirmed that naringin (100, 200, and 400 µg/mL) could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis. The scratch wound assay and transwell migration assay results confirmed the inhibitory activity of naringin against CRC cells migration. In vivo results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of naringin on tumor growth with good bio-compatibility.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			Naringin inhibited colorectal carcinogenesis by inhibiting viability of CRC cells.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Male
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice, Nude
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Apoptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Movement
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinogenesis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
7.Expression and effect of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2023;48(5):633-640
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVES:
		                        			Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a common cancer in the oral and maxillofacial region, which seriously endangers people's life and health.Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1(hnRNP A2/B1) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of a variety of genes and participates in the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers. This study aims to investigate the role of hnRNP A2/B1 in TSCC progression.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			The differential expression of hnRNP A2/B1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa cells and tissues was analyzed based on the gene expression profiles of GSE146483 and GSE85195 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The correlation between hnRNP A2/B1 expression and disease-free survival of TSCC patients was analyzed based on TSCC related chip of GSE4676. TSCC cancer and paracancerous tissue samples of 30 patients were collected in Hunan Cancer Hospital from July to December 2021. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to verify the mRNA and protein expression of hnRNP A2/B1 in TSCC patients'samples, respectively. Human TSCC Tca-8113 cells were transfected with hnRNP A2/B1 empty vector (a sh-NC group), knockdown plasmid (a sh-hnRNP A2/B1 group), empty vector overexpression plasmid (an OE-NC group) and overexpression plasmid (an OE-hnRNP A2/B1 group), respectively. The knockdown or overexpression efficiency of hnRNP A2/B1 was detected by Western blotting. The proliferation activity of Tca-8113 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the apoptosis rate of Tca-8113 cells was detected by flow cytometry.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Based on the analysis of OSCC-related chips of GSE146483 and GSE85195 in the GEO database, it was found that hnRNP A2/B1 was differentially expressed in the OSCC and normal oral mucosa cells and tissues (all P<0.01). Meanwhile, the analysis of TSCC related chip GSE4676 confirmed that the expression of hnRNP A2/B1 was negatively correlated with the disease-free survival of TSCC patients (P=0.006). The results of real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the relative expression levels of hnRNP A2/B1 mRNA and protein in TSCC tissues were significantly up-regulated compared with those in adjacent tissues (all P<0.01). The results of Western blotting showed that the expression level of hnRNP A2/B1 in Tca-8113 cells was significantly inhibited or promoted after knockdown or overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 (all P<0.01). The results of CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that inhibition of hnRNP A2/B1 expression in Tca-8113 cells reduced cell proliferation activity (P<0.05) and increased cell apoptic rate (P<0.01). Overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 in Tca-8113 cells significantly increased cell proliferation (P<0.05) and decreased cell apoptosis (P<0.01).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			HnRNP A2/B1 is a key factor regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of TSCC cells. Inhibition of hnRNP A2/B1 expression can reduce the proliferation activity of TSCC cells and promote the apoptosis of TSCC cells.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tongue Neoplasms/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mouth Neoplasms
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			RNA, Messenger
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tongue/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Line, Tumor
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
8.Hydrogen-rich water reduces cell damage by reducing excessive autophagy in mouse neuronal cells after oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.
Yehong LI ; Ying LIU ; Junling TAO ; Shixin LI
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2023;35(6):633-637
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To investigate whether hydrogen-rich water exerts a protective effect against cellular injury by affecting the level of autophagy after oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in a mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line (HT22 cells).
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			HT22 cells in logarithmic growth phase were cultured in vitro. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to find the optimal concentration of Na2S2O4. HT22 cells were divided into control group (NC group), OGD/R group (sugar-free medium+10 mmol/L Na2S2O4 treated for 90 minutes and then changed to normal medium for 4 hours) and hydrogen-rich water treatment group (HW group, sugar-free medium+10 mmol/L Na2S2O4 treated for 90 minutes and then changed to medium containing hydrogen-rich water for 4 hours). The morphology of HT22 cells was observed by inverted microscopy; cell activity was detected by CCK-8 method; cell ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 was detected by immunofluorescence; the protein expression of LC3II/I and Beclin-1, markers of cellular autophagy, was detected by Western blotting.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Inverted microscopy showed that compared with the NC group, the OGD/R group had poor cell status, swollen cytosol, visible cell lysis fragments and significantly lower cell activity [(49.1±2.7)% vs. (100.0±9.7)%, P < 0.01]; compared with the OGD/R group, the HW group had improved cell status and remarkably higher cell activity [(63.3±1.8)% vs. (49.1±2.7)%, P < 0.01]. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the neuronal nuclear membrane of cells in the OGD/R group was lysed and a higher number of autophagic lysosomes were visible compared with the NC group; compared with the OGD/R group, the neuronal damage of cells in the HW group was reduced and the number of autophagic lysosomes was notably decreased. The results of immunofluorescence assay showed that the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 were outstandingly enhanced in the OGD/R group compared with the NC group, and the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 were markedly weakened in the HW group compared with the OGD/R group. Western blotting assay showed that the expressions were prominently higher in both LC3II/I and Beclin-1 in the OGD/R group compared with the NC group (LC3II/I: 1.44±0.05 vs. 0.37±0.03, Beclin-1/β-actin: 1.00±0.02 vs. 0.64±0.01, both P < 0.01); compared with the OGD/R group, the protein expression of both LC3II/I and Beclin-1 in the HW group cells were notably lower (LC3II/I: 0.54±0.02 vs. 1.44±0.05, Beclin-1/β-actin: 0.83±0.07 vs. 1.00±0.02, both P < 0.01).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			Hydrogen-rich water has a significant protective effect on OGD/R-causing HT22 cell injury, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of autophagy.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Oxygen/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Beclin-1/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Glucose/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Actins
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Autophagy/physiology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Hydrogen/pharmacology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Reperfusion Injury
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Apoptosis
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
9.Berberine inhibits autophagy and promotes apoptosis of fibroblast-like synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients through the ROS/mTOR signaling pathway.
Shiye ZONG ; Jing ZHOU ; Weiwei CAI ; Yun YU ; Ying WANG ; Yining SONG ; Jingwen CHENG ; Yuhui LI ; Yi GAO ; Baihai WU ; He XIAN ; Fang WEI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2023;43(4):552-559
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To evaluate the regulatory effect of berberine on autophagy and apoptosis balance of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from patients with in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the mechanism.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			The inhibitory effect of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 μmol/L berberine on RA-FLS proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 method. Annexin V/PI and JC-1 immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the effect of berberine (30 μmol/L) on apoptosis of 25 ng/mL TNF-α- induced RA-FLSs, and Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in the expression levels of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins. The cells were further treated with the autophagy inducer RAPA and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine to observe the changes in autophagic flow by laser confocal detection of mCherry-EGFP-LC3B. RA-FLSs were treated with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) mimic H2O2 or the ROS inhibitor NAC, and the effects of berberine on ROS, mTOR and p-mTOR levels were observed.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			The results of CCK-8 assay showed that berberine significantly inhibited the proliferation of RA-FLSs in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and JC-1 staining showed that berberine (30 μmol/L) significantly increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.01) and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of RA-FLSs (P < 0.05). Berberine treatment obviously decreased the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax (P < 0.05) and LC3B-II/I (P < 0.01) and increased the expression of p62 protein in the cells (P < 0.05). Detection of mCherry-EGFP-LC3B autophagy flow revealed obvious autophagy flow block in berberine-treated RA-FLSs. Berberine significantly reduced the level of ROS in TNF-α-induced RA-FLSs and upregulated the expression level of autophagy-related protein p-mTOR (P < 0.01); this effect was regulated by ROS level, and the combined use of RAPA significantly reduced the pro-apoptotic effect of berberine in RA-FLSs (P < 0.01).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			Berberine can inhibit autophagy and promote apoptosis of RA-FLSs by regulating the ROS-mTOR pathway.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Synoviocytes
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Berberine/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cell Proliferation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Signal Transduction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Apoptosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Fibroblasts
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Autophagy
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cells, Cultured
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
10.Exosomes secreted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promote pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growth by transferring miRNAs.
Yi Xuan DING ; Yu Ting WANG ; Wen Tong MEI ; Zhi ZHENG ; Yuan Xu QU ; Kuo LIANG ; Jia LI ; Feng CAO ; Fei LI
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2023;45(1):50-55
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective: To observe the effects of exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and to analyze the contents of exosomes and explore the mechanisms affecting pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: Exosomes extracted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were added to pancreatic cancer cells BxPC3, Panc-1 and mouse models of pancreatic cancer, respectively. The proliferative activity and invasion abilities of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells were measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. The expressions of miRNAs in exosomes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the related functions and the main metabolic pathways of target genes with high expressions of miRNAs. Results: The results of CCK-8 cell proliferation assay showed that the absorbance of BxPC3 and Panc-1 cells in the hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(4.68±0.09) vs. (3.68±0.01), P<0.05; (5.20±0.20) vs. (3.45±0.17), P<0.05]. Transwell test results showed that the number of invasion cells of BxPC3 and Panc-1 in hucMSCs-exo group was significantly higher than that in the control group (129.40±6.02) vs. (89.40±4.39), P<0.05; (134.40±7.02) vs. (97.00±6.08), P<0.05. In vivo experimental results showed that the tumor volume and weight in the exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs-exo) group were significantly greater than that in the control group [(884.57±59.70) mm(3) vs. (695.09±57.81) mm(3), P<0.05; (0.94±0.21) g vs. (0.60±0.13) g, P<0.05]. High-throughput sequencing results showed that miR-148a-3p, miR-100-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-92a-3p were highly expressed. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the target genes of these miRNAs were mainly involved in the regulation of glucosaldehylation, and the main metabolic pathways were ascorbic acid and aldehyde acid metabolism, which were closely related to the development of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion: Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can promote the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and the mechanism is related to miRNAs that are highly expressed in exosomes.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			MicroRNAs/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Exosomes/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sincalide/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Umbilical Cord
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
            
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