Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaoying Jin, Dandan Wang, Mengxia Lei, Yan Guo, Yuqing Cui, Fengzhi Chen, Weiling Sun, Xuesong Chen
Summary: The study reveals that TPI1 is highly expressed in breast cancer and is associated with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. TPI1 promotes breast cancer progression by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, with CDCA5 and P62 being important mediators.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelsie J. Anson, Giulia A. Corbet, Amy E. Palmer
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated how changes in intracellular zinc ion levels affect kinase signaling pathways using fluorescent biosensors and cell perturbations. The results showed that zinc ion fluctuations are not toxic and do not activate stress-dependent kinase signaling. Additionally, the study demonstrated that while zinc ions can inhibit phosphatases, ERK and Akt are primarily activated through upstream signaling pathways.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hyo-Jin Park, Seul-Gi Yang, Deog-Bon Koo
Summary: The study examined the role of SESN2/NRF2 signaling in regulating oxidative stress and ER stress during porcine oocyte maturation. Activation of p-NRF2(Ser40) in the nucleus of porcine oocytes was accompanied by downregulation of PERK signaling. Knockdown of SESN2 gene expression disrupted NRF2 signaling activation and affected spindle assembly in porcine oocytes. This suggests that the PERK/SESN2/NRF2 signaling pathway may play a crucial role in protecting against ER stress during meiotic maturation and oocyte development.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna A. Cook, Sriram Jayabal, Jacky Sheng, Eviatar Fields, Tsz Chui Sophia Leung, Sabrina Quilez, Eileen McNicholas, Lois Lau, Shixia Huang, Alanna J. Watt
Summary: In a mouse model of SCA6, exercise and the TrkB agonist 7,8-DHF were found to increase cerebellar BDNF expression, improve motor coordination and cerebellar cell firing rate deficits, suggesting their potential as therapeutic interventions for SCA6.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yasunari Yamada, Hodaka Saito, Masaya Araki, Yuhei Tsuchimoto, Shin-ichi Muroi, Kyohei Suzuki, Kazufumi Toume, Jun-Dal Kim, Takashi Matsuzaka, Hirohito Sone, Hitoshi Shimano, Yoshimi Nakagawa
Summary: In this study, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract and wogonin were identified as activators of Fgf21 expression, which can improve metabolic diseases. ATF4 plays a critical role in wogonin's mode of action.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian-bo Fan, Kun Yuan, Xin-hui Zhu, Sheng-yu Cui, Hong Yi, Wei Zhang
Summary: NLGN3 protects osteoblasts from H2O2-induced oxidative injury by activating the Akt-dependent Nrf2 cascade. It reduces cytotoxicity and death, attenuates reactive oxygen species production and oxidative damage, and promotes Nrf2 signaling and the expression of Nrf2-ARE-dependent genes.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zeyu Shi, Sally K. Y. To, Shuaishuai Zhang, Shan Deng, Margarita Artemenko, Minda Zhang, Juan Tang, Jin-Zhang Zeng, Alice S. T. Wong
Summary: Nur77 functions as a novel regulator of microRNA biogenesis in promoting CRC progression under hypoxia, potentially through inhibition of p63-dependent transcription. Knockdown of Nur77 or overexpression of let-7i-5p can inhibit CRC metastasis.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Juan F. Burgueno, Julia Fritsch, Eddy E. Gonzalez, Kevin S. Landau, Ana M. Santander, Irina Fernandez, Hajar Hazime, Julie M. Davies, Rebeca Santaolalla, Matthew C. Phillips, Sophia Diaz, Rishu Dheer, Nivis Brito, Judith Pignac-Kobinger, Ester Fernandez, Gregory E. Conner, Maria T. Abreu
Summary: Chronic colonic inflammation can lead to dysplasia and cancer. Activation of TLR4 is associated with up-regulation of DUOX2 and NOX1, leading to increased epithelial production of H2O2, promoting colorectal tumor formation.
Article
Pathology
Sridhar T. Narla, Daniel S. Bushnell, Joanne L. Duara, Carlton M. Bates
Summary: Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) activates AKT in bladder urothelium, providing cytoprotection from cyclophosphamide. The study shows that KGF modifies AKT targets, suppresses apoptosis, and stabilizes mTORC1 signaling. AKT signaling is necessary for KGF-driven cytoprotection, and direct AKT activation blocks apoptosis. Thus, AKT may be a therapeutic target for preventing urothelial apoptosis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dan Wang, Jieyu Liu, Hong Jiang
Summary: Triclosan (TCS), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, is recognized as an environmental endocrine disruptor causing pollution and potential threat to human health. This study found that TCS-induced oxidative damage in HT-22 neurons is associated with the activation of the PI3K/Akt/JNK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascade.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yeonjin Ko, Mannkyu Hong, Seungbeom Lee, Manoj Kumar, Lara Ibrahim, Kayla Nutsch, Caroline Stanton, Braddock Sandoval, Phillip Sondermann, Maya L. Bulos, Jonathan Iaconelli, Arnab K. Chatterjee, R. Luke Wiseman, Peter G. Schultz, Michael J. Bollong
Summary: sAKZ692, a small molecule, activates the transcriptional activity of NRF2 in cells by inhibiting the pyruvate kinase enzyme. This leads to the accumulation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, which modifies cysteine residues of KEAP1, resulting in increased NRF2-dependent transcription.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yifei Xu, Haiyan Lin, Huan Wang, Jie Pang, Ying Zhou
Summary: Fraxetin treatment reduced infarct size and inhibited ferroptosis in rats with myocardial infarction, while also reducing serum LDH activity and iron accumulation, and activating HO-1 to protect myocardial cells from OGD/R-induced ferroptosis. Fra attenuated MI-induced ferroptosis via AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Shuhang Liang, Hongrui Guo, Kun Ma, Xianying Li, Dehai Wu, Yiqi Wang, Wei Wang, Shugeng Zhang, Yifeng Cui, Yufeng Liu, Linmao Sun, Bo Zhang, Mengyang Xin, Ning Zhang, Huanran Zhou, Yao Liu, Jiabei Wang, Lianxin Liu
Summary: PLCB1 acts as an oncogenic driver in cholangiocarcinoma development by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to induce EMT, and AKT inhibitors can be used as a therapeutic target to overcome chemotherapy resistance in CCA patients.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hamidreza Mohammadi, Sorour Ashari
Summary: Phthalates, widely used in manufacturing industries beyond plastics, have been shown to have harmful effects on organism health, including reproductive toxicity, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, teratogenicity, and tumor development. Experimental studies have indicated the involvement of various signaling pathways such as Nrf2, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT in phthalate-induced toxicity, which can alter cell hemostasis and lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and cancer. Research focusing on these molecular targets may help reduce environmental chemicals-induced toxicity, especially the toxic effects of phthalates.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yi-nan Pan, Chao Jia, Jia-pei Yu, Zhou-wei Wu, Guo-chao Xu, Yi-xing Huang
Summary: This study found that fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) can reduce oxidative stress in chondrocytes and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) by activating the ERK and Nrf2-HO1 signaling pathways.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Zhongming Tan, Beicheng Sun
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eman D. Mohammed, Zechuan Zhang, Wenfang Tian, Venkatanarayana Gangarapu, A. A. Al-Gendy, Jun Chen, Jifu Wei, Beicheng Sun
Summary: This study extracted a nitriles rich fraction (NRF) from Diceratella elliptica and demonstrated its potential to enhance insulin sensitivity, improve NASH histopathology, and act as an anti-NASH and anti-fibrotic agent.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Toshihide Shima, Yukie Ohtakaki, Hitoshi Kikuchi, Hiroki Uchino, Mitsuo Isomura, Katsumi Aoyagi, Hirohisa Oya, Takayuki Katayama, Yasuhide Mitsumoto, Masayuki Mizuno, Atsushi Umemura, Kanji Yamaguchi, Yoshito Itoh, Takeshi Okanoue
Summary: T4C7S chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (T4C7S CLEIA) showed a high correlation with T4C7S radioimmunoassay (T4C7S RIA) in serum samples of NAFLD patients. T4C7S CLEIA demonstrated higher sensitivity, faster measurement time, and showed promise as a popular biomarker for fibrosis stage diagnosis in NAFLD patients.
HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Jiajie Hou, Michael Karin, Beicheng Sun
Summary: The immune system plays crucial roles in cancer development and treatment, with adaptive immunity capable of preventing or constraining cancer and innate immunity and inflammation often promoting tumorigenesis. While immunotherapies derived from preclinical studies have shown efficacy in treating cancer, treatments targeting cancer-associated inflammation still require successful implementation. Anti-inflammatory agents have the potential to delay cancer onset and enhance the efficacy of conventional and next-generation cancer therapies.
NATURE REVIEWS CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Takeshi Okanoue, Toshihide Shima, Yasuhide Mitsumoto, Atsushi Umemura, Kanji Yamaguchi, Yoshito Itoh, Masato Yoneda, Atsushi Nakajima, Eishiro Mizukoshi, Shuichi Kaneko, Kenichi Harada
Summary: The study aimed to develop a novel noninvasive test using an AI/NN system called NASH-Scope, which showed excellent sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between NAFLD and NASH in training and validation studies.
HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Jorge Moscat, Ana Maria Cuervo, Maria T. Diaz-Meco
Summary: The mechanisms of immunosurveillance and immunoevasion are crucial in determining whether a tumor cell survives and the role of autophagy in promoting catabolism and detoxification for transformed cells is significant in the cancer microenvironment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengkai Wu, Haitian Zhang, Yin Yin, Meiling Sun, Shuai Mao, Huihui Chen, Yexuan Deng, Shuai Chen, Shuo Li, Beicheng Sun
Summary: This study reports a novel delivery system, FEGCG/Zn, for immunotherapy of therapeutic biomolecules. The system integrates fluorination and zinc ions into epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to improve delivery efficiency. The results demonstrate that FEGCG/Zn regulates PD-L1 expression and improves immune-biomolecule delivery, offering a versatile platform for cancer immunotherapy.
Review
Oncology
Yu Wang, Haidong Guo, Feng He
Summary: Disruption of circadian rhythms is closely related to cancer development. Constructing appropriate circadian disruption models is essential for uncovering and validating the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development. Mouse models are the most widely used for circadian studies. This review discusses various mouse models of circadian disruption, including light disruption, genetic engineering, sleep deprivation, and other lifestyle factors, as well as the crosstalk between circadian rhythms and oncogenic signaling, the molecular mechanisms of circadian disruption that promote cancer growth, and provides circadian rhythm-based cancer therapeutic strategies.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fengjing Jia, Qun Yu, Ruolei Wang, Ling Zhao, Fuwen Yuan, Haidong Guo, Yunhui Shen, Feng He
Summary: Colorectal cancer is a significant global health burden and Fusobacterium nucleatum is present in the bodies of approximately 30% of CRC patients. Antimicrobial peptides have shown potential as a new class of drugs for treating CRC. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of Jelleine-I derivatives were tested against Fn and their effects on CRC development were evaluated. Br-J-I was found to have the highest anti-Fn activity and showed promise as an adjunct agent for CRC treatment, with better effects than metronidazole and enhanced chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil. These findings suggest that AMPs-based combination treatment could be a new strategy for CRC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Fengjing Jia, Qun Yu, Ling Zhao, Yunhui Shen, Haidong Guo, Feng He
Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major and deadly malignancy, and recent studies have found a close relationship between the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and CRC development. This study discovered that sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH), derived from Houttuynia cordata Thunb, has potent antibacterial activity against Fn and can inhibit inflammation and CRC growth promoted by Fn. These findings have promising implications for CRC treatment and provide a foundation for future antimicrobial therapies.
Article
Cell Biology
Zongmei Zheng, Jiao Wei, Xinxin Hou, Fengjing Jia, Zhaozhou Zhang, Haidong Guo, Fuwen Yuan, Feng He, Zunji Ke, Yan Wang, Ling Zhao
Summary: This study reveals a new bile acid-driven mechanism of colorectal cancer-associated liver metastasis. The accumulation of taurocholic acid (TCA) in the liver promotes liver metastasis and creates a tumor-favorable microenvironment. Blocking hepatic bile acid uptake effectively suppresses TCA-induced liver metastasis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qianqian Zhou, Yanhua Chen, Ruolei Wang, Fengjing Jia, Feng He, Fuwen Yuan
Summary: The global pandemic of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in over 570 million infections and 6 million deaths. Early detection and quarantine are crucial in controlling the spread of COVID-19. The emerging CRISPR system, CRISPR-Cas13, targeting RNA with high specificity and efficiency, has shown promise in COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Suyavaran Arumugam, Binghua Li, Sri Lakshmi Tejaswi Boodapati, Michael H. Nathanson, Beicheng Sun, Xinshou Ouyang, Wajahat Z. Mehal
Summary: TGF-beta induces HSC transdifferentiation by releasing mitochondrial DNA and activating the cGAS-STING-IRF3 pathway.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Feng He, Peng Zhang, Junlai Liu, Ruolei Wang, Randal J. Kaufman, Benjamin C. Yaden, Michael Karin
Summary: This study found that ATF4 plays a protective role in normal hepatocytes by maintaining glutathione production and inhibiting ferroptosis-dependent inflammatory cell death. The reconstitution of SLC7A11 reversed ferroptosis susceptibility and accelerated HCC development in ATF4-deficient mice. The amounts of ATF4 and SLC7A11 were positively correlated in human HCC and livers of patients with NASH.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruolei Wang, Lirong Liang, Misaki Matsumoto, Kazumi Iwata, Atsushi Umemura, Feng He
Summary: The imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and clearance causes oxidative stress and plays a central role in regulating cell and tissue physiology and pathology. ROS can either stimulate cancer survival and growth or cause cell death depending on their concentration. The transcription factor NRF2 has dual roles in carcinogenesis, where short-term activation suppresses tissue injury, inflammation, and cancer initiation, while constitutive activation confers advantages for cancer cells' survival and growth. NRF2 hyperactivation, as an adaptive cancer phenotype, regulates multiple aspects of cancer development, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer therapy.