scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Functional Adrenocortical Adenoma and Carcinoma: Genetic Characterization and Intracellular Signaling Pathway

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 892
Author(s):  
Hiroki Shimada ◽  
Yuto Yamazaki ◽  
Akira Sugawara ◽  
Hironobu Sasano ◽  
Yasuhiro Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Somatic Mutations ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adrenocortical Adenoma ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathway ◽  
Genes Encoding

The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones as adrenocortical hormones in the body, secreting mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and adrenal androgens, which are all considered essential for life. Adrenocortical tumors harbor divergent hormonal activity, frequently with steroid excess, and disrupt homeostasis of the body. Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) cause primary aldosteronism (PA), and cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) are the primary cause of Cushing’s syndrome. In addition, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a highly malignant cancer harboring poor prognosis. Various genetic abnormalities have been reported, which are associated with possible pathogenesis by the alteration of intracellular signaling and activation of transcription factors. In particular, somatic mutations in APAs have been detected in genes encoding membrane proteins, especially ion channels, resulting in hypersecretion of aldosterone due to activation of intracellular calcium signaling. In addition, somatic mutations have been detected in those encoding cAMP-PKA signaling-related factors, resulting in hypersecretion of cortisol due to its driven status in CPAs. In ACC, mutations in tumor suppressor genes and Wnt-β-catenin signaling-related factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. In this article, we review recent findings on the genetic characteristics and regulation of intracellular signaling and transcription factors in individual tumors.

THE ROLE OF PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL-3-KINASE IN CARCINOGENESIS

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-556
Author(s):  
Natalya Oskina ◽  
Aleksandr Shcherbakov ◽  
Maksim Filipenko ◽  
Nikolay Kushlinskiy ◽  
L. Ovchinnikova
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Disease ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Somatic Mutations ◽  
Pi3k Pathway ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathway ◽  
Metabolic Activities ◽  
Carcinogenic Process

Currently it is established that cancer is a genetic disease and that somatic mutations are the initiators of the carcinogenic process. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an important intracellular signaling pathway regulating the cell growth and metabolic activities. Aberrant activation of the PI3K pathway is commonly observed in many different cancers. In this review we analyze the genetic alterations of PI3K pathway in a variety of human malignancies and discuss their possible implications for diagnosis and therapy.

scholarly journals Developmental Genes and Malformations in the Hypothalamus

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Diaz ◽  
Luis Puelles
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Pituitary Development ◽  
Forebrain Development ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Brain Malformations ◽  
Clinical Complexity ◽  
Genes Encoding

The hypothalamus is a heterogeneous rostral forebrain region that regulates physiological processes essential for survival, energy metabolism, and reproduction, mainly mediated by the pituitary gland. In the updated prosomeric model, the hypothalamus represents the rostralmost forebrain, composed of two segmental regions (terminal and peduncular hypothalamus), which extend respectively into the non-evaginated preoptic telencephalon and the evaginated pallio-subpallial telencephalon. Complex genetic cascades of transcription factors and signaling molecules rule their development. Alterations of some of these molecular mechanisms acting during forebrain development are associated with more or less severe hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunctions, which may be associated with brain malformations such as holoprosencephaly or septo-optic dysplasia. Studies on transgenic mice with mutated genes encoding critical transcription factors implicated in hypothalamic-pituitary development are contributing to understanding the high clinical complexity of these pathologies. In this review article, we will analyze first the complex molecular genoarchitecture of the hypothalamus resulting from the activity of previous morphogenetic signaling centers and secondly some malformations related to alterations in genes implicated in the development of the hypothalamus.

scholarly journals Evidence for a link between IGF-I and cancer

2004 ◽  
pp. S17-S22 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Jenkins ◽  
SA Bustin
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
The Body ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Inappropriate Expression

Cancer risk is determined by a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Recent evidence suggests that dietary and related factors such as physical activity and body size may influence cancer risk through their effects on the serum concentration of IGF-I and its binding proteins. The growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I axis is involved in both human development as well as the maintenance of normal function and homeostasis in most cells of the body. In addition to their classical role as endocrine hormones, its members regulate a wide range of biological functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. During cancer development this complex network regulating tissue homeostasis breaks down, with inappropriate expression of the GH/IGF-I axis making an important contribution. The increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways regulated by the GH/IGF-I axis has started to provide significant insights into the aetiology, prevention and therapy for a number of common cancers.

scholarly journals The Functions of ZIP8, ZIP14, and ZnT10 in the Regulation of Systemic Manganese Homeostasis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3304
Author(s):  
James W.W. Winslow ◽  
Kirsten H. Limesand ◽  
Ningning Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Defense ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Metal Transporters ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
The Past ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Essential Nutrient

As an essential nutrient, manganese is required for the regulation of numerous cellular processes, including cell growth, neuronal health, immune cell function, and antioxidant defense. However, excess manganese in the body is toxic and produces symptoms of neurological and behavioral defects, clinically known as manganism. Therefore, manganese balance needs to be tightly controlled. In the past eight years, mutations of genes encoding metal transporters ZIP8 (SLC39A8), ZIP14 (SLC39A14), and ZnT10 (SLC30A10) have been identified to cause dysregulated manganese homeostasis in humans, highlighting the critical roles of these genes in manganese metabolism. This review focuses on the most recent advances in the understanding of physiological functions of these three identified manganese transporters and summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying how the loss of functions in these genes leads to impaired manganese homeostasis and human diseases.

scholarly journals Transcriptome analysis reveals rice MADS13 as an important repressor of the carpel development pathway in ovules

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Osnato ◽  
Elia Lacchini ◽  
Alessandro Pilatone ◽  
Ludovico Dreni ◽  
Andrea Grioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Female Sterility ◽  
Homeotic Genes ◽  
Ovule Development ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Regulatory Pathways ◽  
Genes Encoding

Abstract In angiosperms, floral homeotic genes encoding MADS-domain transcription factors regulate the development of floral organs. Specifically, members of the SEPALLATA (SEP) and AGAMOUS (AG) subfamilies form higher-order protein complexes to control floral meristem determinacy and to specify the identity of female reproductive organs. In rice, the AG subfamily gene OsMADS13 is intimately involved in the determination of ovule identity, since knock-out mutant plants develop carpel-like structures in place of ovules, resulting in female sterility. Little is known about the regulatory pathways at the base of rice gynoecium development. To investigate molecular mechanisms acting downstream of OsMADS13, we obtained transcriptomes of immature inflorescences from wild-type and Osmads13 mutant plants. Among a total of 476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), a substantial overlap with DEGs from the SEP-family Osmads1 mutant was found, suggesting that OsMADS1 and OsMADS13 may act on a common set of target genes. Expression studies and preliminary analyses of two up-regulated genes encoding Zinc-finger transcription factors indicated that our dataset represents a valuable resource for the identification of both OsMADS13 target genes and novel players in rice ovule development. Taken together, our study suggests that OsMADS13 is an important repressor of the carpel pathway during ovule development.

scholarly journals Does Calorie Restriction Modulate Inflammaging via FoxO Transcription Factors?

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1959
Author(s):  
Sang-Eun Kim ◽  
Ryoichi Mori ◽  
Isao Shimokawa
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Calorie Restriction ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Myeloid Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pyrin Domain ◽  
Foxo Transcription Factors

Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to extend lifespan and retard aging-related functional decline in animals. Previously, we found that the anti-neoplastic and lifespan-extending effects of CR in mice are regulated by forkhead box O transcription factors (FoxO1 and FoxO3), located downstream of growth hormone (GH)–insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling, in an isoform-specific manner. Inflammaging is a term coined to represent that persistent low-level of inflammation underlies the progression of aging and related diseases. Attenuation of inflammaging in the body may underlie the effects of CR. Recent studies have also identified cellular senescence and activation of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin-domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome as causative factors of inflammaging. In this paper, we reviewed the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms linking the effects of CR with the formation of inflammasomes, particularly focusing on possible relations with FoxO3. Inflammation in the brain that affects adult neurogenesis and lifespan was also reviewed as evidence of inflammaging. A recent progress of microRNA research was described as regulatory circuits of initiation and propagation of inflammaging. Finally, we briefly introduced our preliminary results obtained from the mouse models, in which Foxo1 and Foxo3 genes were conditionally knocked out in the myeloid cell lineage.

scholarly journals Osteogenic Effect and Cell Signaling Activation of Extremely Low-Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrina S. P. Poh ◽  
Claudine Seeliger ◽  
Marina Unger ◽  
Karsten Falldorf ◽  
Elizabeth R. Balmayor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Alizarin Red ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathway ◽  
Extremely Low Frequency ◽  
Pulsed Electromagnetic

Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (ELF-PEMF) devices have been used in the clinic for the treatment of bone disorders over the past 30 years. However, the underlying mechanism of which ELF-PEMFs exert an effect on tissues at a cellular level is not well understood. Hence, in this study, we explored the potential of different ELF-PEMF signals in modulating human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells’ (hAMSC) osteogenic capability. The cell proliferation rate was assessed using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) method. The osteogenesis potential of cells was determined by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Alizarin-Red S staining, and RT-qPCR. Finally, the intracellular signaling pathway of a selected ELF-PEMF signal was examined using the PathScan Intracellular Signaling Array. Among the tested ELF-PEMF signals, program 20 (26 Hz) showed activation of the Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling cascade and significant upregulations of collagen I, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin when compared to nonstimulated cells. This study demonstrates the potential of certain ELF-PEMF signal parameters to induce osteogenic differentiation of hAMSC and provides important clues in terms of the molecular mechanisms for the stimulation of osteogenic effects by ELF-PEMF on hAMSC.

scholarly journals Extracellular and Intracellular Signaling for Neuronal Polarity

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 995-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Namba ◽  
Yasuhiro Funahashi ◽  
Shinichi Nakamuta ◽  
Chundi Xu ◽  
Tetsuya Takano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Neuronal Polarity ◽  
Cultured Neurons ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Major Question ◽  
Neuronal Polarization

Neurons are one of the highly polarized cells in the body. One of the fundamental issues in neuroscience is how neurons establish their polarity; therefore, this issue fascinates many scientists. Cultured neurons are useful tools for analyzing the mechanisms of neuronal polarization, and indeed, most of the molecules important in their polarization were identified using culture systems. However, we now know that the process of neuronal polarization in vivo differs in some respects from that in cultured neurons. One of the major differences is their surrounding microenvironment; neurons in vivo can be influenced by extrinsic factors from the microenvironment. Therefore, a major question remains: How are neurons polarized in vivo? Here, we begin by reviewing the process of neuronal polarization in culture conditions and in vivo. We also survey the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal polarization. Finally, we introduce the theoretical basis of neuronal polarization and the possible involvement of neuronal polarity in disease and traumatic brain injury.

scholarly journals Genome-wide profiling of an enhancer-associated histone modification reveals the influence of asthma on the epigenome of the airway epithelium

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter McErlean ◽  
Audrey Kelly ◽  
Jaideep Dhariwal ◽  
Max Kirtland ◽  
Julie Watson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Histone Modification ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Airway Disease ◽  
Epigenome Editing ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Chronic Airway Disease ◽  
Dynamic Relationships

AbstractAsthma is a chronic airway disease driven by complex genetic-environmental interactions. The role of epigenetic modifications in bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) in asthma is poorly understood. We undertook genome-wide profiling of the enhancer-associated histone modification H3K27ac in BECs from people with asthma and healthy controls. We identified 49,903 regions exhibiting differential H3K27ac enrichment in asthma, clustered at genes associated with type-2-high asthma (CLCA1) and epithelial processes (EMT). Asthma dramatically influenced the BEC enhancer landscape and we identified asthma-associated Super-Enhancers encompassing genes encoding transcription factors (TP63) and enzymes regulating lipid metabolism (NOX4). We integrated published protein, epigenomic and transcriptomic datasets and identified epithelium-specific transcription factors associated with H3K27ac in asthma (TP73) and dynamic relationships between asthma-associated changes in H3K27ac, DNA methylation, genetic susceptibility and transcriptional profiles. Finally, we used a CRISPR-based approach to recapitulate the H3K27ac-asthma landscape in vitro and provide proof of principal that asthma-associated gene expression (SERPINB2) is driven in part by aberrant histone acetylation, validating the combination of genome-wide and epigenome-editing approaches in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying asthma pathogenesis.

scholarly journals B7-H1(PD-L1) confers chemoresistance through ERK and p38 MAPK pathway in tumor cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaosheng Wu ◽  
Yanli Li ◽  
Xin Liu ◽  
Siyu Cao ◽  
Susan M. Harrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathway ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway

ABSTRACTDevelopment of resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy is a major obstacle in extending the survival of patients with cancer. Although several molecular mechanisms have been identified that can contribute to chemoresistance, the role of immune checkpoint molecules in tumor chemoresistance remains underestimated. It has been recently observed that overexpression of B7-H1(PD-L1) confers chemoresistance in human cancers, however the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that the development of chemoresistance depends on the increased activation of ERK pathway in tumor cells overexpressing B7-H1. Conversely, B7-H1 deficiency renders tumor cells susceptible to chemotherapy in a cell-context dependent manner through activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. B7-H1 in tumor cells associates with the catalytic subunit of a DNA-dependent serine / threonine protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). DNA-PKcs is required for the activation of ERK or p38 MAPK in tumors expressing B7-H1, but not in B7-H1 negative or B7-H1 deficient tumors. Ligation of B7-H1 by anti-B7-H1 monoclonal antibody (H1A) increased the sensitivity of human triple negative breast tumor cells to cisplatin therapy in vivo. Our results suggest that B7-H1(PD-L1) expression in cancer cells modifies their chemosensitivity towards certain drugs and targeting B7-H1 intracellular signaling pathway is a new way to overcome cancer chemoresistance.

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