Mechanism of Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis of TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway Affected by Chymase Inhibitors

Objective: This study aims to investigate the pathological mechanism of chymase inhibitors (Chy-I) on liver tissue in rats with hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Rats in the model group and chymase inhibitor group were established by using carbon tetrachloride. Rats in the chymase inhibitor group intragastrically received Chy-I (10 mg/kg/d) during the modeling. The pathological changes of rat liver tissues induced by chymase inhibitors were investigated, and the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1, Smad3 and Smad7 were observed in rat liver tissues. Results: When compared to the model group, The results presented that the liver tissue pathology of rats had been significantly improved in the Chy-I group. When compared to the normal group, the mRNA expression level and protein expression level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in liver tissues had significantly increased, but the mRNA expression level and protein expression level of Smad7 significantly decreased (p < 0 05). When compared to the model group, the mRNA expression level and protein expression level of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was significantly downregulated, but the mRNA expression level and protein expression level of Smad7 was significantly upregulated in the Chy-I group. Conclusion:Chy-I plays an active role in blocking hepatic fibrosis in rats by affecting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in liver tissues through multiple sites.

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Long non-coding RNA RP11-284P20.2 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by recruiting EIF3b to induce c-met protein synthesis

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20200297 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Qin-Liang Fang ◽

Jian-Yin Zhou ◽

Yu Xiong ◽

Cheng-Rong Xie ◽

Fu-Qiang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Translation Initiation Factor ◽

Expression Level ◽

Mrna Expression Level ◽

Protein Expression Level ◽

Proliferation And Invasion

Abstract A newly identified lncRNA designated as RP11-284P20.2 has been identified to be up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its role in HCC remain poorly understood. Quantitative PCR and immunocytochemical analysis were performed using the HCC tissues to identify the potential interaction partners of RP11-284P20.2. Moreover, RP11-284P20.2 was knocked down in HCC cell lines, HepG2 and SMMC7721, to investigate the influence of this lncRNA on cell growth properties. Additionally, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays were performed to determine the interaction of RP11-284P20.2 with c-met mRNA and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3b (EIF3b). Silencing RP11-284P20.2 inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and colony formation, and increased apoptosis. Overexpression of c-met abolished these effects of RP11-284P20.2 in HCC cells. Histopathological examination showed that HCC tissues with high RP11-284P20.2 expression had higher c-met protein level than that in HCC tissues with low RP11-284P20.2 expression. However, there was no positive correlation between the expression levels of RP11-284P20.2 and c-met mRNA. RP11-284P20.2 knockdown led to a decease in c-met protein expression level, but did not affect the c-met mRNA expression level. These data suggest that RP11-284P20.2 regulates c-met protein expression level, which is independent of c-Met mRNA expression level. It was also confirmed that RP11-284P20.2 has high affinity toward both c-met mRNA and EIF3b protein, and hence RP11-284P20.2 probably recruits EIF3b protein to c-met mRNA and further facilitates its translation. RP11-284P20.2 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by recruiting EIF3b to induce c-met protein synthesis.

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Analysis of Enigma Gene-Signaling Pathways in Thyroid Cancer

Journal of the Endocrine Society ◽

10.1210/jendso/bvab048.1747 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A856-A856

Author(s):

Narudee Churdsuwanrak ◽

Robert Niihara ◽

Kristiana Rood ◽

Celina Yamauchi ◽

Kharl Wright ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Expression Level ◽

Mrna Expression Level ◽

Indeterminate Nodules ◽

Benign Nodules ◽

Benign Thyroid Nodules ◽

Benign Thyroid

Abstract Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is one of the most accurate modes of obtaining thyroid nodule biopsies, however, up to 25% of biopsies still yield indeterminate results. There is an increasing number of thyroidectomies due to indeterminate nodules by FNA alone. Therefore, more accurate and time efficient diagnostic approaches for analyzing indeterminate thyroid nodules is required. Recent studies showed that Enigma is associated with different cancer types, including thyroid cancer progression and calcification through its interaction with bone morphogenic protein-1 (BMP-1) and tyrosine kinases linked to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Our published data on Enigma protein analysis with immunohistochemistry showed promising findings to discriminate malignant versus benign nodules. We also showed a thyroid cancer stage-dependent enhancement of Enigma protein expression. In this study, we are investigating Enigma at a gene expression level by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), which is more time-efficient, quantitative, and requires less tissue than immunohistochemistry. We extracted mRNA/DNA/proteins from fresh malignant and benign thyroid nodules using a Qiagen AllPrep DNA/RNA/Protein Mini Kit. After verification of the quantity and purity by NanoDrop, isolated mRNA was then run through Enigma-RT-qPCR. MAPK assay was done by western blotting using MAPK-antibody. Our initial results found that Enigma-mRNA expression level was 3-fold higher in malignant compared to benign thyroid tissues. This finding supports our previous protein expression data with a relative quantitative difference in Enigma-mRNA expression level between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. MAPK expression was upregulated in thyroid cancer compared to benign nodules. We conclude that Enigma-RT-qPCR can be used effectively in FNA samples derived from thyroid nodules, which could potentially enhance the diagnostic accuracy of indeterminate nodules and decrease unnecessary thyroidectomies. Furthermore, both Enigma and MAPK were highly expressed in advanced tumor in the same tissues. Future study is needed to establish the functional interaction of Enigma-MAPK activity in thyroid cancer cells.

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Epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA expression level predicts for survival in metastatic colorectal tumors

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/s0016-5085(01)82462-8 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 120 (5) ◽

pp. A496-A496

Author(s):

J STOEHLMACHER ◽

J BRABENDER ◽

Y SHIROTA ◽

K DANENBERG ◽

P DANENBERG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Epidermal Growth Factor ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Expression Level ◽

Mrna Expression Level ◽

Colorectal Tumors ◽

Receptor Mrna ◽

Epidermal Growth

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Comprehensive Analysis of ESRRA in Endometrial Cancer

Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment ◽

10.1177/1533033821992083 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 153303382199208

Author(s):

Shufang Wang ◽

Xinlong Huo

Keyword(s):

Endometrial Cancer ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Enrichment Analysis ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽

Expression Level ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Protein Expression Level ◽

Normal Tissues

Background: Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRA) was reported to play an important role in multiple biological processes of neoplastic diseases. The roles of ESRRA in endometrial cancer have not been fully investigated yet. Methods: Expression data and clinicopathological data of patients with uteri corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was performed, including receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression level of ESRRA and CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate the effect of ESRRA on the proliferation ability. Results: A total of 552 UCEC tissues and 35 normal tissues were obtained from the TCGA database. The mRNA and protein expression level of ESRRA was highly elevated in UCEC compared with normal tissues, and was closely associated with poor prognosis. ROC analysis indicated a very high diagnostic value of ESRRA for patients with UCEC. GO and GSEA functional analysis showed that ESRRA might be mainly involved in cellular metabolism processes, in turn, tumorigenesis and progression of UCEC. Knockdown of ESRRA inhibited the proliferation of UCEC cells in vitro. Further immune cell infiltration demonstrated that ESRRA enhanced the infiltration level of neutrophil cell and reduced that of T cell (CD4+ naïve), NK cell, and cancer associated fibroblast (CAF). The alteration of immune microenvironment will greatly help in developing immune checkpoint therapy for UCEC. Conclusions: Our study comprehensively analyzed the expression level, clinical value, and possible mechanisms of action of ESRRA in UCEC. These findings showed that ESRRA might be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target.

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Cytokine and Chemokine mRNA Expressions after Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific Antigen Stimulation in Whole Blood from Hemodialysis Patients with Latent Tuberculosis Infection

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11040595 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 595

Author(s):

Ji Young Park ◽

Sung-Bae Park ◽

Heechul Park ◽

Jungho Kim ◽

Ye Na Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽

Latent Tuberculosis ◽

Expression Level ◽

Mrna Expression Level ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Relative Mrna Expression ◽

Mrna Expression Levels

There have been few reports on the kinetics of hemodialyzed (HD) patients’ immune responses in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Therefore, in the present study, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels of nine immune markers were analyzed to discriminate between HD patients with LTBI and healthy individuals. Nine cytokines and chemokines were screened through relative mRNA expression levels in whole blood samples after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific antigens from HD patients with LTBI (HD/LTBI), HD patients without LTBI, and healthy individuals, and results were compared with the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test. We confirmed that the C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11) mRNA expression level of the HD/LTBI group was significantly higher than the other two groups. Especially, the CCL11 mRNA expression level of the >0.7 IU/mL group in the QFT-GIT test was significantly higher than the <0.2 IU/mL group in the QFT-GIT test and the 0.2–0.7 IU/mL group in the QFT-GIT test (p = 0.0043). The present study reveals that the relative mRNA expression of CCL11 was statistically different in LTBI based on the current cut-off value (i.e., ≥0.35 IU/mL) and in the >0.7 IU/mL group. These results suggest that CCL11 mRNA expression might be an alternative biomarker for LTBI diagnosis in HD patients.

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