scholarly journals The Potential Effect of Fucoidan on Inhibiting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, Proliferation, and Increase in Apoptosis for Endometriosis Treatment: In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Li-Chun Chang ◽  
Yi-Fen Chiang ◽  
Hsin-Yuan Chen ◽  
Yun-Ju Huang ◽  
An-Chieh Liu ◽  
...  

Endometriosis is common in reproductive-age women and its pathology is to increase proliferation and migration to enhance epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition progression (EMT). However, treatments are currently limited, so it is important to explore new therapeutic drugs. Hence, in this study, we investigate the therapeutic effect of fucoidan (FC) on the progression and mechanisms of endometriosis. The cell viability of endometrial cell lines End1/E6E7 and Vk2/E6E7 treated with different concentrations of FC were assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell counting. Cell migration was evaluated using wound-healing assay. In an in vivo experiment, female Balb/c mice received surgically induced endometriosis followed by different concentrations of fucoidan for 6 weeks. High-frequency ultrasound imaging was applied to detect subsequent lesion growth. The results demonstrated that fucoidan inhibited the viability and migration ability of End1/E6E7 and Vk2/E6E7 cells. Additionally, the administration of fucoidan reduced the volume and weight of endometriotic lesions, decreased inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of serum and lesions, and improved EMT proliferation and apoptosis-related protein expression. For the first time, fucoidan indicated anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects as well as inhibited EMT progression and induced apoptosis, improving endometriosis.

2022 ◽  
Vol 2022 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Yan Shi ◽  
Shang Wang ◽  
Ronghua Yang ◽  
Zhenmin Wang ◽  
Weiwei Zhang ◽  
...  

We previously showed that wound-induced hypoxia is related to keratinocyte migration. The ability of keratinocytes within wound healing to undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes significantly to the acquisition of migratory properties. However, the effect of hypoxia on keratinocyte EMT on wound healing and the potential mechanism are poorly documented. This study first demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to be an essential signalling mediator in keratinocytes with increased EMT and migration subjected to hypoxic conditions. Next, we showed that the expression of sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), a stemness-associated molecule, is ROS-dependent under hypoxia and that SOX2 inhibition in keratinocytes dramatically prevented hypoxia-induced EMT and migration. In addition, β-catenin was found to be a potential molecular target of SOX2, and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin was required for hypoxia-induced EMT and migration. Using an in vitro skin culture model and an in vivo skin wound model, our study further reinforced the critical role of ROS in inducing EMT through SOX2 expression and subsequent activation of Wnt/β-catenin, allowing for rapid reepithelialization of the wound area. Taken together, our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism by which hypoxia promotes wound healing by promoting reepithelialization through the production of ROS, inducing keratinocyte EMT and migration via the enhancement of SOX2 and activation of Wnt/β-catenin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Li ◽  
Chenyuan Li ◽  
Qi Wu ◽  
Yi Tu ◽  
Changhua Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women. Mesenteric estrogen-dependent adipogenesis gene (MEDAG) was first reported as a novel adipogenic gene, and its involvement and mechanism in visceral adiposity were analyzed. However, the role of MEDAG in BC is unclear. The biological roles and corresponding mechanisms were investigated in vitro and in vivo. We found that MEDAG was highly expressed in BC samples and that a high MEDAG expression was correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and poor survival in BC patients. MEDAG knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; triggered epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT); and enhanced epirubicin sensitivity in vitro. The opposite results were observed in MEDAG-overexpressing cells. The inhibition of MEDAG suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, MEDAG knockdown led to decreased phosphorylation levels of AKT, increased levels of p-AMPK, and reduced levels of p-mTOR, while the overexpression of MEDAG had the opposite effects. Moreover, the activation of p-AKT and inhibition of p-AMPK restored the effect of MEDAG on EMT and chemosensitivity in BC cell lines, indicating that MEDAG functions as an oncogene by regulating the AKT/AMPK/mTOR pathway. MEDAG regulates BC progression and EMT via the AKT/AMPK/mTOR pathway and reduces chemosensitivity in BC cells. Therefore, MEDAG is a promising target for BC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Tian ◽  
Bo Tang ◽  
Chengye Wang ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Jiakai Mao ◽  
...  

AbstractOncogenic ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) is implicated in a variety of tumours; however, evidence of its role and underlying molecular mechanisms in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development remains unknown. We collected paired tumour and adjacent non-tumour tissues from 57 intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) patients and evaluated levels of the USP22 gene and protein by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Both the mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated, correlated with the malignant invasion and worse OS of iCCA. In cell cultures, USP22 overexpression increased CCA cell proliferation and mobility, and induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Upon an interaction, USP22 deubiquitinated and stabilized sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), in conjunction with Akt/ERK activation. In implantation xenografts, USP22 overexpression stimulated tumour growth and metastasis to the lungs of mice. Conversely, the knockdown by USP22 shRNA attenuated the tumour growth and invasiveness in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, SIRT1 overexpression reversed the USP22 functional deficiency, while the knockdown acetylated TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and Akt. Our present study defines USP22 as a poor prognostic predictor in iCCA that cooperates with SIRT1 and facilitates tumour development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
JiangSheng Zhao ◽  
GuoFeng Chen ◽  
Jingqi Li ◽  
Shiqi Liu ◽  
Quan Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background PR55α plays important roles in oncogenesis and progression of numerous malignancies. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. This study aims to characterize the functions of PR55α in HCC. Methods PR55α expressions in HCC tissues and paired healthy liver samples were evaluated using Western blot and tissue microarray immunohistochemistry. We knocked down the expression of PR55α in SMMC-7721 and LM3 cell lines via small interfering and lentivirus. In vitro cell counting, colony formation, migration and invasion assays were performed along with in vivo xenograft implantation and lung metastases experiments. The potential mechanisms involving target signal pathways were investigated by RNA-sequencing. Results PR55α expression level was suppressed in HCC tissues in comparison to healthy liver samples. Decreased PR55α levels were correlated with poorer prognosis (P = 0.0059). Knockdown of PR55α significantly promoted cell proliferation and migration, induced repression of the cell cycle progression and apoptosis in vitro while accelerating in vivo HCC growth and metastasis. Mechanistic analysis indicated that PR55α silencing was involved with MAPK/AKT signal pathway activation and resulted in increased phosphorylation of both AKT and ERK1/2. Conclusions This study identifies PR55α to be a candidate novel therapeutic target in the treatment of HCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenjing Zhang ◽  
Xiaolu Zhou ◽  
Xiaoge Geng ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Jingya Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractDysregulation of circular RNA (circRNA) expression is involved in the progression of cancer. Here, we aimed to study the potential function of hsa_circ_0006401 in colorectal cancer (CRC). CircRNA hsa_circ_0006401 expression levels in CRC and adjacent nontumor tissues were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and circRNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH). Then, CRC cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting. Wound-healing and transwell assays were utilized to detect the effect of hsa_circ_0006401 on CRC migration. A circRNA-ORF construct was created, and a specific antibody against the splice junction of hsa_circ_0006401 was prepared. Finally, the proteins directly binding to hsa_circ_0006401 peptides were identified by immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry. In our study, we found hsa_circ_0006401 was closely related to CRC metastasis and exhibited upregulated expression in metastatic CRC tissue samples. Proliferation and migration were inhibited in vitro when hsa_circ_0006401 expression was silenced. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0006401 expression decreased CRC proliferation and liver metastasis in vivo. A 198-aa peptide was encoded by sequences of the splice junction absent from col6a3. Hsa_circ_0006401 promoted CRC proliferation and migration by encoding the hsa_circ_0006401 peptide. Hsa_circ_0006401 peptides decreased the mRNA and protein level of the host gene col6a3 by promoting col6a3 mRNA stabilation. In conclusion, our study revealed that circRNAs generated from col6a3 that contain an open-reading frame (ORF) encode a novel 198-aa functional peptide and hsa_circ_0006401 peptides promote stability of the host gene col6a3 mRNA to promote CRC proliferation and metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5194
Author(s):  
Paola Pontrelli ◽  
Francesca Conserva ◽  
Rossella Menghini ◽  
Michele Rossini ◽  
Alessandra Stasi ◽  
...  

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most frequent cause of end-stage renal disease. Tubulointerstitial accumulation of lysine 63 (K63)-ubiquitinated (Ub) proteins is involved in the progression of DN fibrosis and correlates with urinary miR-27b-3p downregulation. We explored the renoprotective effect of an inhibitor of K63-Ub (NSC697923), alone or in combination with the ACE-inhibitor ramipril, in vitro and in vivo. Proximal tubular epithelial cells and diabetic DBA/2J mice were treated with NSC697923 and/or ramipril. K63-Ub protein accumulation along with α-SMA, collagen I and III, FSP-1, vimentin, p16INK4A expression, SA-α Gal staining, Sirius Red, and PAS staining were measured. Finally, we measured the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR), and urinary miR-27b-3p expression in mice. NSC697923, both alone and in association with ramipril, in vitro and in vivo inhibited hyperglycemia-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition by significantly reducing K63-Ub proteins, α-SMA, collagen I, vimentin, FSP-1 expression, and collagen III along with tubulointerstitial and glomerular fibrosis. Treated mice also showed recovery of urinary miR-27b-3p and restored expression of p16INK4A. Moreover, NSC697923 in combination with ramipril demonstrated a trend in the reduction of uACR. In conclusion, we suggest that selective inhibition of K63-Ub, when combined with the conventional treatment with ACE inhibitors, might represent a novel treatment strategy to prevent the progression of fibrosis and proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy and we propose miR-27b-3p as a biomarker of treatment efficacy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ping Xu ◽  
Xiao Mo ◽  
Ruixue Xia ◽  
Long Jiang ◽  
Chengfei Zhang ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Potassium channels, encoded by more than seventy genes, are cell excitability transmembrane proteins and become evident to play essential roles in tumor biology. OBJECTIVE: The deregulation of potassium channel genes has been related to cancer development and patient prognosis. The objective of this study is to understand the role of potassium channels in lung cancer. METHODS: We examined all potassium channel genes and identified that KCNN4 is the most significantly overexpressed one in lung adenocarcinoma. The role and mechanism of KCNN4 in lung adenocarcinoma were further investigated by in vitro cell and molecular assay and in vivo mouse xenograft models. RESULTS: We revealed that the silencing of KCNN4 significantly inhibits cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity of lung adenocarcinoma. Further studies showed that knockdown of KCNN4 promotes cell apoptosis, induces cell cycle arrested in the S phase, and is associated with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Most importantly, we demonstrated that KCNN4 regulates the progression of lung adenocarcinoma through P13K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. The use of inhibitors that targeted AKT and ERK also significantly inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the function and mechanism of KCNN4 in lung adenocarcinoma. On this basis, this means that KCNN4 can be used as a tumor marker for lung adenocarcinoma and is expected to become an important target for a potential drug.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Damerell ◽  
Michael S. Pepper ◽  
Sharon Prince

AbstractSarcomas are complex mesenchymal neoplasms with a poor prognosis. Their clinical management is highly challenging due to their heterogeneity and insensitivity to current treatments. Although there have been advances in understanding specific genomic alterations and genetic mutations driving sarcomagenesis, the underlying molecular mechanisms, which are likely to be unique for each sarcoma subtype, are not fully understood. This is in part due to a lack of consensus on the cells of origin, but there is now mounting evidence that they originate from mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). To identify novel treatment strategies for sarcomas, research in recent years has adopted a mechanism-based search for molecular markers for targeted therapy which has included recapitulating sarcomagenesis using in vitro and in vivo MSC models. This review provides a comprehensive up to date overview of the molecular mechanisms that underpin sarcomagenesis, the contribution of MSCs to modelling sarcomagenesis in vivo, as well as novel topics such as the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT)/mesenchymal-to-epithelial-transition (MET) plasticity, exosomes, and microRNAs in sarcomagenesis. It also reviews current therapeutic options including ongoing pre-clinical and clinical studies for targeted sarcoma therapy and discusses new therapeutic avenues such as targeting recently identified molecular pathways and key transcription factors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 215 (5) ◽  
pp. 735-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Schiffmacher ◽  
Vivien Xie ◽  
Lisa A. Taneyhill

During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), cells disassemble cadherin-based junctions to segregate from the epithelia. Chick premigratory cranial neural crest cells reduce Cadherin-6B (Cad6B) levels through several mechanisms, including proteolysis, to permit their EMT and migration. Serial processing of Cad6B by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteins and γ-secretase generates intracellular C-terminal fragments (CTF2s) that could acquire additional functions. Here we report that Cad6B CTF2 possesses a novel pro-EMT role by up-regulating EMT effector genes in vivo. After proteolysis, CTF2 remains associated with β-catenin, which stabilizes and redistributes both proteins to the cytosol and nucleus, leading to up-regulation of β-catenin, CyclinD1, Snail2, and Snail2 promoter-based GFP expression in vivo. A CTF2 β-catenin–binding mutant, however, fails to alter gene expression, indicating that CTF2 modulates β-catenin–responsive EMT effector genes. Notably, CTF2 association with the endogenous Snail2 promoter in the neural crest is β-catenin dependent. Collectively, our data reveal how Cad6B proteolysis orchestrates multiple pro-EMT regulatory inputs, including CTF2-mediated up-regulation of the Cad6B repressor Snail2, to ensure proper cranial neural crest EMT.


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