Objective Fraxetin, extracted from the bark of Fraxinus rhynchophylla, has been shown to exhibit antitumour and anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties. However, the mechanism underlying its anticancer activity towards colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is not well understood. We aimed to determine the antitumour effect of fraxetin on COAD cell lines and elucidate its biochemical and molecular targets

Serotonin (5-HT) has traditional roles as a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and as a regulatory hormone controlling a broad range of physiological functions. Perhaps the most classically-defined functions of 5-HT are centrally in the control of mood, sleep and anxiety and peripherally in the modulation of gastrointestinal motility. A more recently appreciated role for 5-HT has emerged

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) involves airway inflammation and remodeling leading to small airways disease and emphysema, which results in irreversible airflow obstruction. During lung development, reciprocal interactions between the endoderm and mesoderm (epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit (EMTU)) are essential for morphogenetic cues that direct cell proliferation, differentiation

Sex and gender differences affect all dimensions of human health ranging from the biological basis of disease to therapeutic access, choice and response. Genomics research has long ignored the role of sex differences as potential modulators and the concept is gaining more attention only recently. In the present review we summarize the current knowledge of the impact of sex differences on genomic and

NTCP (SLC10A1) has been well recognized as a basolateral (sinusoidal) Na+-bile acid co-transporter that mediates the hepatic uptake of bile acids. However, little is known about the effects of NTCP (SLC10A1) on hepatoblastoma (HB) and its underlying metabolic mechanisms. In this study, we found that NTCP (SLC10A1) expression was downregulated in HB cells and tissues, and it was demonstrated that NTCP

Ovarian cancer (OC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because of the late onset of symptoms, and this together with the lack of effective treatments, has meant it is associated with a very high mortality. The aberrant expression of MicroRNA (miRNA) contributes to the initiation and development of human tumors including OC. Several miRNAs are secreted by tumor cells and can be identified in body

Expansion microscopy is a novel, fluorescence imaging technique, which allows three-dimensional nanoscale imaging of specimens on a conventional fluorescence microscope. This is achieved through an innovative sample treatment, which culminates in approximately 4.5-fold expansion of specimens in each dimension. This allows 70 nm lateral and 200 nm axial resolution. To further develop application of

Synaptic transmission is a complex process, dysregulation of which underlies several neurological conditions. Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is a microtubule associated protein expressed ubiquitously in the central nervous system. Identified initially in the context of Semaphorin 3A (Collapsin) induced growth cone collapse, more recent findings revealed the involvement of CRMP2 in ion

Mycobacterium smegmatis MSMEG_0129 and Rv0164, its homologue in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are single START-domain proteins essential for bacterial growth and survival, but their biochemical activities and biological roles remain undetermined. Here, we probed the possible functions of MSMEG_0129 and its underlying mechanisms by determining its cellular location, searching for its interaction partners

Population aging, as well as the handling of age-associated diseases, is a worldwide increasing concern. Among them, Alzheimer's disease stands out as the major cause of dementia culminating in full dependence on other people for basic functions. However, despite numerous efforts, in the last decades, there was no new approved therapeutic drug for the treatment of the disease. Calcium-activated potassium

Mitochondria exhibit high degree of heterogeneity within various tissues, including differences in terms of morphology, quantity, or function. Mitochondria can even vary among distinct sub-compartments of the same cell. Emerging evidence suggest that the molecular diversity of mitochondria can influence the identity and functionality of a given cell type. Human pathologies affecting mitochondria typically

This report aims to explore how LINC00691 regulates the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer (GC). Clinical tissue and serum samples, as well as specimens in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, were used to analyse the expression of LINC00691 in GC. Our data indicated that the expression of LINC00691 in GC was significantly higher than that in healthy controls and was associated with clinicopathological

Single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) gives access to biological information below the diffraction limit, allowing nanoscale cellular structures to be probed. The data output is unlike that of conventional microscopy images, instead consisting of an array of molecular coordinates. These represent a spatial point pattern that attempts to approximate, as closely as possible, the underlying positions

Cell adhesion molecule 4 (CADM4) is downregulated in many human cancers. However, CADM4 expression levels in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and its roles in NSCLC progression remain unknown. Our study aims to address these issues. We examined CADM4 levels in NSCLC tissues using real-time PCR and western blot. A549 and NCI-H1299 cells were then transfected with pcDNA3.1-CADM4 plasmid

OBJECTIVE To investigate circular RNA (circRNA) expression profile via microarray, and further assess the potential of candidate circRNAs as biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS CircRNA expression profile in cerebrospinal fluid from 8 AD patients and 8 control (Ctrl) subjects was assessed by microarray. Subsequently, 10 candidate circRNAs from microarray were validated by reverse transcription

Ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, UBA1, functions at the apex of the enzymatic ubiquitylation cascade, catalysing ubiquitin activation. UBA1 is thus of fundamental importance to the modulation of ubiquitin homeostasis and to all downstream ubiquitylation-dependent cellular processes, including proteolysis through the ubiquitin-proteasome system and selective autophagy. The proteasome-dependent and -independent

Single cell transcriptomics has emerged as a powerful method for dissecting cell type diversity and for understanding mechanisms of cell fate decisions. However, inclusion of temporal information remains challenging, since each cell can be measured only once by sequencing analysis. Here, we discuss recent progress and current efforts towards inclusion of temporal information in single cell transcriptomics

Viroporins are virus encoded proteins that alter membrane permeability and can trigger subsequent cellular signals. Oligomerization of viroporin subunits results in formation of a hydrophilic pore which facilitates ion transport across host cell membranes. These viral channel proteins may be involved in different stages of the virus infection cycle. Inflammasomes are large multimolecular complexes

Chronic inflammation enhances the detrimental role of dyslipidaemia during atherogenesis. Statins are among the most effective anti-atherosclerotic medications, being able to impact on both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although these molecules have been first described as lipid-lowering medications, several lines of evidence suggest additional benefits through their "pleiotropic" anti-atherosclerotic

Diabetic kidney disease is growing exponentially. This review aims to discuss alternate therapeutic approaches beyond the glomerulocentric view and to consider a novel tubulocentric approach with focus on the primary cilia. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade to decrease glomerular capillary pressure and prevent albuminuria has been the mainstay of treatment for diabetic and non-diabetic

G-protein-signaling modulator 2 (GPSM2) belongs to a protein family that regulates activation of G proteins and plays an important role in mitotic spindle orientation. However, the role of GPSM2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still unclear. In this study, it was found that GPSM2 correlates with clinicopathological features and patient's prognosis in LUAD. Knocking down GPSM2 promoted LUAD cell proliferation

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder, the pathogenic factors of which include the decreased ability of osteogenesis and enhanced osteolysis. Human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) possess the differential capacity to osteoblasts and chondrocytes, so the application of hMSCs in bone tissue is promising to be effective. A group of RNAs which lack of 5' and 3'ends called circular RNAs (circRNAs)

This report aims to explore how Bcl-xL, a Bcl-2 family protein, regulates PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy. Compared with the Hela cells expressing Parkin alone, co-expression of Bcl-xL significantly inhibited CCCP (Carbonyl cyanide 3- chlorophenylhydrazone)-induced mitochondrial Parkin accumulation and mitophagy. Western blotting analysis illustrated that over-expressed Bcl-xL inhibited CCCP-induced

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used anticancer agents for patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), but its efficacy is limited by chemoresistance. Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in multiple tumor chemotherapy resistance. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of ROS in cisplatin resistance of TSCC and explore

The emergence of the drugs targeting epigenetic alterations has brought an optimistic outlook for cancer patients and probably put an end into the devastating effects of the disease. Given to the prominent involvement of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes in the formation of neoplastic nature of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), this study was aimed to evaluate the suppressive effect of pan-HDAC

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cisplatin is an essential drug treating patients with BRCA1/2 or PALB2 mutations. Whether other genetic determinants of cisplatin sensitivity exist and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine METTL14 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues and non-tumoural tissues. Cell proliferation

Esophageal adenocarcinoma essentially develops from esophageal inflammation caused by chronic GERD. During GERD episodes, the lower esophageal epithelium is repeatedly exposed to stomach acid, which often contains duodenal bile salts that prompt malignant transformation. TRAIL is one of the cytokines produced in response to such insults and targets the transformed cells exclusively. In this study,

Recent studies have shown that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) can be transformed into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). This phenomenon represents a potential method for rescuing damaged myocardia after myocardial infarction. The mechanism underlying cardiac reprogramming regulation must be clarified to improve the induction efficiency of iCMs. In this study, we treated CFs with 5-aza for 24 h and added TGF-β

Autonomic nervous system dysregulation is involved in the pathophysiology of multiple cardiac arrhythmias, and therefore modulating sympathetic or parasympathetic input to the heart provides novel therapeutic options for arrhythmia management. Examples include decreasing intrinsic cardiac neuron communication, patterned vagal nerve stimulation, denervation, and blockade of post-ganglionic neurons.

The indulgent success of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the induction of complete remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients has accommodated this agent into the therapeutic protocols. However, the intrusion of unfavorable side effects had put an unanswered question on the way of the application of this agent; whether the benefits of ATO may outweigh its drawbacks. In this study, we found

The activation of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) regulates the human ether a-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel via protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn induces lethal arrhythmia in patients with long QT syndromes (LQTS). However, the role of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) in PKA's regulation of the HERG channel and its molecular mechanism are not clear. Here, HEK293 cells were transfected with

BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in regulation of gene expression and are involved in pathogenesis of different diseases including cancer. Recent studies suggested the lncRNA Colon cancer associated transcript-1 (CCAT1) to act as putative oncogene. In this study, to elucidate the role of this lncRNA in endometrial cancer, we examined its expression in normal endometrium

The human archease, hereafter named HArch, is identified as a key cofactor of the tRNA-splicing ligase complex, and a potential therapeutic target for treating nervous system injuries. However, little is known about the structural basis of HArch in tRNA maturation, mRNA splicing, and RNA repair. Here we report the crystal structures of HArch and its two mutants D51A and D178A with resolutions ranging

The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is relatively well established, but much less is known about the role(s) of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) mediates inflammatory and fibrogenic signaling in CKD via the transcription factor Smad3; however, the extent of lncRNAs-based regulation of TGF-β1 signaling in CKD remains unknown. Herein, we

As reported in numerous studies, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert significant effect on the regulation of tumor development. LncRNA TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1) has been confirmed to be implicated in the development of several cancers. However, its clinical significance is still largely unknown in bladder cancer (BCa). In this study, high expression of TMPO-AS1 was revealed in BCa tissues and

Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal pollutant, contributes to neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, we have demonstrated that Cd induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes apoptosis in neuronal cells. Whether X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is involved in Cd-induced ROS-dependent neuronal apoptosis remains unclear. Here, we show that Cd-induced ROS reduced the expression of XIAP, which

Cytochrome c (Cytc)1is a cellular life and death decision molecule that regulates cellular energy supply and apoptosis through tissue specific post-translational modifications. Cytc is an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) and thus central for aerobic energy production. Under conditions of cellular stress, Cytc release from the mitochondria is a committing step for

Accumulation of aberrant misfolded proteins is a major hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Intracellular accumulations of such abnormal proteins are selectively cleared by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). But how the failure of misfolded protein degradation cause proteinopathies is still an unanswered question?. Previous studies have suggested that few selective quality control (QC)

Antioxidant defences and oxidative stress are related to development, progression and malignancy of colorectal cancer. However, their role in early stages of cancer remains unknown. More and more recent studies have revealed that non-tumour adjacent tissue is not a normal tissue. Thus, our aim was to analyse protein levels of MnSOD (Manganese Superoxide Dismutase), acMnSOD (Acetylated Manganese superoxide

Mitochondria are known as dynamic organelles that fuse and divide under the control of certain proteins. These dynamics are important to shape mitochondria, maintain a healthy mitochondrial population, and enable physiological adaptations, to name just a few key processes. We are less aware that mitochondrial membrane lipids and proteins also exhibit dynamics in terms of lateral mobility and translocation

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS Pancreatic cancer is a digestive system tumour disease with a notably poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate of less than 10 %. In recent years, peptide drugs have shown great clinical value in antitumour applications. We aim to identify differentially expressed peptides by using peptidomics techniques to explore the mechanisms involved in the development and pathology of pancreatic

Arginine methylation is mainly catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) and is one of the most common posttranslational modifications closely related to the development of cancer. PRMT7 is overexpressed in various tumors and promotes the malignant progression of tumors, but the expression and role of PRMT7 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Here, we report for the first

The epigenetic silencing mechanism of suppressor 3 of cytokine signaling (SOCS3) in cancers has not been fully elucidated. Polycomb repressive complexes 2 (PRC2), an important epigenetic regulatory factors, exerts a critical role in repressing the initial phase of gene transcription. Whether PRC2 participates the down- regulation of SOCS3 in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear and how does

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a life-threatening progressive disease characterized by aberrant fibroblast activation. This study aims to explore the role of the circ0044226 on fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT). METHODS Bleomycin and TGF-β1 were respectively used to induce the IPF mice model and human lung fibroblasts to myofibroblast differentiation. The mRNA

The O subfamily of forkhead (FoxO) 1 is a crucial regulator of cell metabolism in several tissues, including the heart, where it is involved in cardiac regulation of glucose and lipid metabolic pathways, and endothelium, controlling the levels of some relevant biomarkers in atherosclerotic process. Despite the growing understanding of FoxO1 biology, the metabolic consequences of FoxO1 modifications

Muscle glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) is a key enzyme in the first step of glycogenolysis. Mutation in the PYGM gene leads to autosomal recessive McArdle disease. Patients suffer from exercise intolerance with premature fatigue, muscle cramps and myalgia due to lack of available glucose in muscles. So far, no efficient treatment has been found. The zebrafish has many experimental advantages, and was

Hypertension is one of the main risks causing cardiovascular diseases. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in many physiological and pathological conditions. However, their role in hypertension is still unclear. In this study, 460 lncRNAs and 522 mRNA were identified to have different expressions in the thoracic aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto

OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in coronary heart disease (CHD) is mediated by exosomes derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, little is known about their underlying mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the differentially expressed miRNAs in VSMCs undergoing induced calcification. METHODS A cellular calcification model was established

Although the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) enhances life expectancy with a 5-year survival rate of 100 %, metastasized-PCa is the fundamental reason for death by PCa, hence requires an advanced and target-directed treatment strategy. Metastasis is considered to be initiated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) event in which tumor cells change their epithelial characteristics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most often diagnosed cancers globally. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that play essential roles in tumorigenesis and progression of CRC. Here we evaluated the effects of miR-141-3p on growth, cetuximab sensitivity, migration and invasion of CRC cells. We found that miR-141-3p negatively regulated the proliferation, migration and invasion in CRC cells. In addition

The recombinases present in the all kingdoms in nature play a crucial role in DNA metabolism processes such as replication, repair, recombination and transcription. However, till date, the role of RecA in the deadly foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes remains unknown. In this study, the authors show that L. monocytogenes expresses recA more than two-fold in vivo upon exposure to the DNA damaging

miR-145-5p has been reported to be downregulated and described functioning as a tumor suppressive gene in colorectal cancer (CRC), yet its detailed regulatory function and mechanism in malignant progression of the disease have not been thoroughly understood. In our study, miR-145-5p and rhomboid domain containing 1 (RHBDD1) in CRC tissues and cells were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. MTT, colony

The tyrosine kinase receptor ErbB2 is frequently found to be overexpressed in multiple cancer types. Targeted therapeutic approaches against ErbB2 have shown promising results and received FDA approvals in the treatment of breast cancer. However, this approach has not been granted in ovarian cancers till now. In order to assess the validity of ErbB2-targeted therapy in ovarian cancer, we investigated

Homeostatic regulation of energy and metabolic status requires that anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways be precisely regulated and coordinated. Mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a mega protein complex that promotes energy-consuming anabolic processes of protein and nucleic acid synthesis as well lipogenesis in times of energy and nutrient abundance. However, it is

The main event in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis is the appearance of myofibroblasts. Recent evidence supports pericytes as a major source of myofibroblasts. TGFβ/Smad2/3 and PDGF/Erk signaling pathways are important for regulating pericyte activation. Previous studies have demonstrated that PDGFβR and TGFβR are modified by core fucosylation (CF) catalyzed by α-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8)