scholarly journals Targeting uPAR in diabetic vascular pathologies*

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 803-808
Author(s):  
Martyna Durak-Kozica ◽  
Francisco J. Enguita ◽  
Ewa Stępień

The uPAR protein is one of the most important elements in fibrinolysis. uPAR is associated with many biological processes, such as cell invasion, angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Because of its multifunctional character, it is difficult to produce an effective inhibitor of uPA-uPAR interactions. The present paper shows the current state of knowledge about the contribution of uPA-uPAR complex in many biological processes and the application of uPAR inhibitors (antibodies, small-molecules, peptides), which might be potentially useful in the treatment of vascular pathologies.

Author(s):  
Islam Mohamed ◽  
Ahmed Moahmed ◽  
Mennatallah Abdelkader ◽  
Alaaeldin Saleh ◽  
Ala-Eddin Al-Moustafa

Introduction: Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) is a medicinal plant that has been used for centuries in treating many human diseases, in the Middle East, including fever, amoebic dysentery, gastrointestinal problems. However, the effect of EA plant extract on human cancer progression especially oral malignancy has not been investigated yet. Thus, first we examined the effect of EA flower extract on angiogenesis in ovo, and on selected parameters in human oral cancer cells. Materials and methods: Chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of chicken embryos at 3-7 days of incubation were used to assess the effect EAflower plant extract on angiogenesis. Meanwhile, cell proliferation, soft agar, cell cycle, cell invasion and cell wounding assays were performed to explore the outcome of EA plant extract on FaDu and SCC25 oral cancer cell lines. On the other hand, western blot analysis was carried out to evaluate E-cadherin and Erk1/Erk2 expression and activation, respectively, in FaDu and SCC25 under the effect of EA extract. Results: Our data show that EA extract inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation, in addition to the initiation of Scell cycle arrest and reductionof G1/G2 phases. In parallel, EA extract provokes differentiation to an epithelial phenotype “mesenchymal-epithelial transition: MET” which is the opposite of “epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT”: an important event in cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, EA extract causes a dramatic decrease in cell motility and invasion abilities of FaDu and SCC25 cancer cells in comparison with their controls. These changes are accompanied by an up-regulation of E-cadherin expression. The molecular pathway analysis of the EA flower extract reveals that it can inhibit the phosphorylation of Erk1/Erk2, which could be behind the inhibition of angiogenesis, the initiation of MET event and the overexpression of E-cadherin. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that EA plant extract can downgrade human oral cancer progression by the inhibition of angiogenesis and cell invasion via Erk1/Erk2 signaling pathways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangfan Xu ◽  
Xianqun Fan ◽  
Yang Hu

AbstractEnzyme-catalyzed proximity labeling (PL) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a revolutionary approach to reveal the protein-protein interaction networks, dissect complex biological processes, and characterize the subcellular proteome in a more physiological setting than before. The enzymatic tags are being upgraded to improve temporal and spatial resolution and obtain faster catalytic dynamics and higher catalytic efficiency. In vivo application of PL integrated with other state of the art techniques has recently been adapted in live animals and plants, allowing questions to be addressed that were previously inaccessible. It is timely to summarize the current state of PL-dependent interactome studies and their potential applications. We will focus on in vivo uses of newer versions of PL and highlight critical considerations for successful in vivo PL experiments that will provide novel insights into the protein interactome in the context of human diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 109-109
Author(s):  
Matthew S Crouse ◽  
Wellison Jarles Da Silva Diniz ◽  
Joel Caton ◽  
Carl R Dahlen ◽  
Lawrence P Reynolds ◽  
...  

Abstract We hypothesized that supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM: methionine, folate, choline, and vitamin B12) to bovine embryonic tracheal fibroblasts in divergent glucose media would alter cytosine methylation, and alterations in cytosine methylation will reflect biological processes matching previously improved mitochondrial respiration, cell proliferation, and cell growth rate data. Cells were cultured with 1g/L glucose (Low) or 4.5g/L glucose (High). Control medium (CON) contained basal concentrations of folate (0.001g/L), choline (0.001g/L), vitamin B12 (4µg/L), and methionine (0.015g/L). The OCM were supplemented at 2.5 and 5 times (2.5X and 5X, respectively) the CON media, except methionine was limited to 2X across all supplemented treatments. Cells were passaged three times in their treatment media before DNA extraction. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was adopted to analyze and compare the genomic methylation patterns within and across treatments using edgeR. Biological processes (BP) were retrieved based on the nearest genes of differentially methylated cytosines (P < 0.01) for each comparison between treatments. In both Low and High treatments, greater OCM increased the proportion of hypomethylated vs. hypermethylated cytosines. Functional analyses pointed out positive regulation of BP related to energy metabolism, except for the contrasts within the High group. Among the BP, we can highlight positive regulation of: GTPase activity, catalytic activity, molecular function, protein modification processes, phosphorylation, protein phosphorylation, cellular protein metabolic processes, MAPK cascade, and metabolic processes. These data support previously reported results from this experiment that showed increased mitochondrial respiration, cell proliferation, and growth rates with increasing OCM levels. We interpret these data to imply that when energy and OCM requirements are met for growth and basal methylation levels, DNA methylation levels decrease which may allow for greater transcription. Thus, OCM can be utilized for other functions such as polyamine synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, energetic metabolites, and phosphatidylcholine synthesis. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.


Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 162 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhang ◽  
Lian Wu ◽  
Shao-Zheng Liu ◽  
Qing-Jie Chen ◽  
Ling-Peng Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During the transformation to dedifferentiated thyroid cancer (TC) types, the ability of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) to concentrate radioactive iodine might be lost, raising difficulty for the current therapy. circRNAs were proved to be implicated in the progression of various cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional role and mechanism of hsa_circ_0023990 in dedifferentiated TC. Methods The expression pattern of genes were detected using quantitative PCR or western blot assays. Cell proliferation was determined by CCK8, colony formation, EdU, and cell-cycle assays. Glycolysis was assessed using glucose uptake and lactate production assays. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the interactions between miR-485-5p and hsa_circ_0023990 or FOXM1. Xenograft assay was allowed for observation of tumor growth in vivo. Results Hsa_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 were upregulated in dedifferentiated TC tissues and cell lines. The higher level of hsa_circ_0023900 could stimulate the proliferation and glycolysis of dedifferentiated TC cells via positively regulating FOXM1. Mechanistically, miR-485-5p was demonstrated to interact with hsa_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 and involved in the regulation of has_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 in TC biological processes. Conclusion Our results discovered the functional network of hsa_circ_0023990 in dedifferentiated TC development by facilitating cell proliferation and glycolysis via miR-485-5p/FOXM1 axis, implying that hsa_circ_0023990 might be a potential therapeutic target for the dedifferentiated TC treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-75
Author(s):  
Jae Chang Lee ◽  
Sung Ae Koh ◽  
Kyung Hee Lee ◽  
Jae-Ryong Kim

Introduction: Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is elevated in several types of cancers. However, the role of BAG3 in progression of gastric cancer is unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to find out the role of BAG3 in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)–mediated tumor progression and the molecular mechanisms by which HGF regulates BAG3 expression. Methods: BAG3 mRNA and protein were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot in the 2 human gastric cancer cell lines, NUGC3 and MKN28, treated with or without HGF. The effects of BAG3 knockdown on cell proliferation, cell invasion, and apoptosis were analyzed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the in vitro 2-chamber invasion assay, and flow cytometry in BAG3 short hairpin RNA (shRNA)–transfected cells and control cells. The signaling pathways involved in BAG3 that are regulated by HGF were analyzed. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was used to determine binding of Egr1 to the BAG3 promoter. Results: BAG3 mRNA and protein levels were increased following treatment with HGF. HGF-mediated BAG3 upregulation increased cell proliferation and cell invasion; however, it decreased apoptosis. HGF-mediated BAG3 upregulation is regulated by an ERK and Egr1-dependent pathway. BAG3 may have an important role in HGF-mediated cell proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer through an ERK and Egr1-dependent pathway. Conclusion: This pathway may provide novel therapeutic targets and provide information for further identification of other targets of therapeutic significance in gastric cancer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Granier ◽  
Robert D Healey ◽  
Essa Saied ◽  
Xiaojing Cong ◽  
Gergely Karsai ◽  
...  

Sphingolipid metabolism is tightly controlled by enzymes to regulate essential processes such as energy utilisation and cell proliferation. The central metabolite is ceramide, a pro-apoptotic lipid catabolized by ceramidase enzymes to ultimately produce pro-proliferative sphingosine-1-phosphate. Human ceramidases can be soluble proteins (acid and neutral ceramidase) or integral membrane proteins (alkaline ceramidases). Increasing ceramide levels to increase apoptosis has shown efficacy as a cancer treatment using small molecules inhibiting a soluble ceramidase. Due to the transmembrane nature of alkaline ceramidases, no specific small molecule inhibitors have been reported. Here, we report novel fluorescent substrates (FRETceramides) of ceramidases that can be used to monitor enzyme activity in real-time. We use FRETceramides to discover the first drug-like inhibitors of alkaline ceramidase 3 (ACER3) which are active in cell-based assays. Biophysical characterization of enzyme:inhibitor interactions reveal a new paradigm for inhibition of lipid metabolising enzymes with non-lipidic small molecules.


Author(s):  
Fada Xia ◽  
Zeyu Zhang ◽  
Xinying Li

Thyroid cancer (TC) has the highest incidence among endocrine malignancies. Thus, it is essential to achieve a deep understanding of various mechanisms of development and progression of TC. circRNAs are recognized by multiple studies as being dysregulated in TC. Accumulating evidences have revealed that circRNAs serve as regulatory molecules involved in various biological processes in TC, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion/migration, metabolism, and chemoresistance. Furthermore, circRNA can also serve as an effective tool in TC researches of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments. Thus, this review is to outline the characteristics of circRNAs, generalize their categories and functions, and highlight the expression of circRNAs in TC. Meanwhile, we are expecting to achieve a comprehensive understanding of new therapies based on circRNAs in treating or preventing TC.


2007 ◽  
Vol 302 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Simpson ◽  
Dong C. Zhang ◽  
Michael Mariani ◽  
Kerry A. Landman ◽  
Donald F. Newgreen

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-175
Author(s):  
Tianlong Quan ◽  
Chunhua Zhang ◽  
Xin Song ◽  
Lu Wang

As a common malignant tumor in neurosurgery, glioma is characterized as high incidence rate, easy to invade, metastasize and recurrent. It is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis. The gliomas pathogenesis is complex and has not been fully resolved. Therefore, finding effective molecular targets for glioma is beneficial to improve therapeutic effect. The SRY-related high mobility group box 9 (SOX9) gene involves in mammalian development and is significantly increased in glioma. However, SOX9’s role in gliomas is unclear. The glioma cell line U87 was assigned into control group, scramble group that was transfected with siRNA negative control, and SOX9 siRNA group that was transfected with SOX9 siRNA followed by analysis of SOX9 mRNA and protein level by qPCR and Western blot, cell proliferation by MTT assay, cell apoptosis by Caspase 3 activity assay, cell invasion by Transwell assay, and MMP-9 level by ELISA. SOX9 siRNA transfection significantly downregulated SOX9 mRNA and protein expressions, inhibited U87 cell proliferation, enhanced Caspase 3 activity, suppressed cell invasion of U87, decreased the secretion of MMP-9 in the supernatant, and reduced ERK1/2 and P38 phosphorylation levels (P < 0.05). SOX9 can regulate the progression of glioma by regulating ERK/P38 signaling pathway, promoting cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and restraining cell invasion.


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