Characterization of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA harboring pre-S mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with ground glass hepatocytes.

Ground glass hepatocytes (GGHs) have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and poor prognosis. We previously demonstrated that pre-S expression in some GGHs is resistant to current hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral therapies. This study aimed to investigate whether integrated HBV DNA (iDNA) is the primary HBV DNA species responsible for sustained pre-S expression in GGH after effective antiviral therapy. We characterized 10 sets of micro-dissected, formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded, and frozen GGH, HCC, and adjacent hepatitis B surface antigen-negative stained tissues for iDNA, pre-S deletions, and the quantity of covalently closed circular DNA. Eight patients had detectable pre-S deletions, and nine had detectable iDNA. Interestingly, eight patients had integrations within the TERT and CCNE1 genes, which are known recurrent integration sites associated with HCC. Furthermore, we observed a recurrent integration in the ABCC13 gene. Additionally, we identified variations in the type and quantity of pre-S deletions within individual sets of tissues by junction-specific PacBio long-read sequencing. The data from long-read sequencing indicate that some pre-S deletions were acquired following the integration events. Our findings demonstrate that iDNA exists in GGH and can be responsible for sustained pre-S expression in GGH after effective antiviral therapy.

A novel STAT3/ NFκB p50 axis regulates stromal-KDM2A to promote M2 macrophage-mediated chemoresistance in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lysine Demethylase 2A (KDM2A) plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth, differentiation, metastasis, and the maintenance of cancer stemness. Our previous study found that cancer-secreted IL-6 can upregulate the expression of KDM2A to promote further the transition of cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). However, the molecular mechanism by which breast cancer-secreted IL-6 regulates the expression of KDM2A remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of IL-6 in regulating KDM2A expression in CAFs and KDM2A-mediated paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer. METHODS: The ectopic vector expression and biochemical inhibitor were used to analyze the KDM2A expression regulated by HS-578 T conditioned medium or IL-6 in mammary fibroblasts. Immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to examine the interaction between STAT3 and NFκB p50. M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by analyzing M2 macrophage-specific markers using flow cytometry and RT-PCR. ESTIMATE algorithm was used to analyze the tumor microenvironment-dominant breast cancer samples from the TCGA database. The correlation between stromal KDM2A and CD163 + M2 macrophages was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Cell viability was determined using trypan blue exclusion assay. RESULTS: IL-6 regulates gene expression via activation and dimerization of STAT3 or collaboration of STAT3 and NFκB. However, STAT3, a downstream transcription factor of the IL-6 signaling pathway, was directly complexed with NFκB p50, not NFκB p65, to upregulate the expression of KDM2A in CAFs. Enrichment analysis of immune cells/stromal cells using TCGA-breast cancer RNA-seq data unveiled a positive correlation between stromal KDM2A and the abundance of M2 macrophages. CXCR2-associated chemokines secreted by KDM2A-expressing CAFs stimulated M2 macrophage polarization, which in turn secreted CCL2 to increase paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells by activating CCR2 signaling. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the non-canonical molecular mechanism of IL-6 secreted by breast cancer upregulated KDM2A expression in CAFs via a novel STAT3/NFκB p50 axis, which STAT3 complexed with NFκB p50 in NFκB p50 binding motif of KDM2A promoter. KDM2A-expressing CAFs dominantly secreted the CXCR2-associated chemokines to promote M2 macrophage polarization and enhance paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting the CXCR2 or CCR2 pathway as a novel strategy for paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer.

MFI2 upregulation promotes malignant progression through EGF/FAK signaling in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the predominant histological type of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). By comparing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OSCC-TCGA patients with copy number variations (CNVs) that we identify in OSCC-OncoScan dataset, we herein identified 37 dysregulated candidate genes. Among these potential candidate genes, 26 have been previously reported as dysregulated proteins or genes in HNSCC. Among 11 novel candidates, the overall survival analysis revealed that melanotransferrin (MFI2) is the most significant prognostic molecular in OSCC-TCGA patients. Another independent Taiwanese cohort confirmed that higher MFI2 transcript levels were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, we found that knockdown of MFI2 reduced cell viability, migration and invasion via modulating EGF/FAK signaling in OSCC cells. Collectively, our results support a mechanistic understanding of a novel role for MFI2 in promoting cell invasiveness in OSCC.

Anterior gradient 2 induces resistance to sorafenib via endoplasmic reticulum stress regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for almost 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the sixth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The survival rate of sorafenib-treated advanced HCC patients is still unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, no useful biomarkers have been verified to predict sorafenib efficacy in HCC. RESULTS: We assessed a sorafenib resistance-related microarray dataset and found that anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) is highly associated with overall and recurrence-free survival and with several clinical parameters in HCC. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of AGR2 in sorafenib resistance and HCC progression remain unknown. We found that sorafenib induces AGR2 secretion via posttranslational modification and that AGR2 plays a critical role in sorafenib-regulated cell viability and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and induces apoptosis in sorafenib-sensitive cells. In sorafenib-sensitive cells, sorafenib downregulates intracellular AGR2 and conversely induces AGR2 secretion, which suppresses its regulation of ER stress and cell survival. In contrast, AGR2 is highly intracellularly expressed in sorafenib-resistant cells, which supports ER homeostasis and cell survival. We suggest that AGR2 regulates ER stress to influence HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report that AGR2 can modulate ER homeostasis via the IRE1α-XBP1 cascade to regulate HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. Elucidation of the predictive value of AGR2 and its molecular and cellular mechanisms in sorafenib resistance could provide additional options for HCC treatment.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 induces gastric cancer progression and resistance to cisplatin and oxaliplatin via ß-catenin dysregulation.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer is the 5th most common cancer and 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There are three main ways to treat gastric cancer: surgical resection, radiation therapy, and drug therapy. Furthermore, combinations of two to three regimens can improve survival. However, the survival outcomes of chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients are still unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, no widely useful biomarkers have been verified to predict the efficacy of chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: An MTT assay was used to determine the cell viability after cisplatin or oxaliplatin treatment. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were utilized to examine the sFRP4 level and associated signaling pathways. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to analyze the location of ß-catenin. Colony formation and Transwell assays were used to analyze the functions related with cisplatin, oxaliplatin and sFRP4. RESULTS: We have found that gastric cancer patients treated with combinations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin regimens have better survival rates than those treated with 5-FU-based chemotherapy alone. Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) was selected as a potential target from stringent analysis and intersection of 5-FU and cisplatin resistance-related gene sets. sFRP4 was shown to be overexpressed in clinical gastric tumor tissues and positively correlated with a worse survival rate. In addition, sFRP4 and ß-catenin were upregulated in cisplatin-resistant and oxaliplatin-resistant gastric cancer cells compared to parental cells. Immunofluorescence staining and nuclear fractionation showed that ß-catenin translocated from the cytosol into the nucleus. Moreover, sFRP4 was detected in the conditioned medium of these resistant cells, which indicates that sFRP4 might have an extracellular role in chemotherapy resistance. Increased migration capacity and dysregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related markers, which might result from the dysregulation of sFRP4, were observed in cisplatin-resistant and oxaliplatin-resistant gastric cancer cells. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: In summary, sFRP4 might play a critical role in resistance to cisplatin and oxaliplatin, cell metastasis and poor prognosis in gastric cancer via the Wnt-ß-catenin pathway. Investigations of the molecular mechanism underlying sFRP4-modulated cancer progression and chemotherapeutic outcomes can provide additional therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.

Molecular asymmetry in the cephalochordate embryo revealed by single-blastomere transcriptome profiling.

Studies in various animals have shown that asymmetrically localized maternal transcripts play important roles in axial patterning and cell fate specification in early embryos. However, comprehensive analyses of the maternal transcriptomes with spatial information are scarce and limited to a handful of model organisms. In cephalochordates (amphioxus), an early branching chordate group, maternal transcripts of germline determinants form a compact granule that is inherited by a single blastomere during cleavage stages. Further blastomere separation experiments suggest that other transcripts associated with the granule are likely responsible for organizing the posterior structure in amphioxus; however, the identities of these determinants remain unknown. In this study, we used high-throughput RNA sequencing of separated blastomeres to examine asymmetrically localized transcripts in two-cell and eight-cell stage embryos of the amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae. We identified 111 and 391 differentially enriched transcripts at the 2-cell stage and the 8-cell stage, respectively, and used in situ hybridization to validate the spatial distribution patterns for a subset of these transcripts. The identified transcripts could be categorized into two major groups: (1) vegetal tier/germ granule-enriched and (2) animal tier/anterior-enriched transcripts. Using zebrafish as a surrogate model system, we showed that overexpression of one animal tier/anterior-localized amphioxus transcript, zfp665, causes a dorsalization/anteriorization phenotype in zebrafish embryos by downregulating the expression of the ventral gene, eve1, suggesting a potential function of zfp665 in early axial patterning. Our results provide a global transcriptomic blueprint for early-stage amphioxus embryos. This dataset represents a rich platform to guide future characterization of molecular players in early amphioxus development and to elucidate conservation and divergence of developmental programs during chordate evolution.

Studying the Roles of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Accelerating the Disease of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in a db/db and ACE2 Double-Gene-Knockout Mouse Model.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a crucial metabolic health problem. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is well known to play an important role in DN. Abnormal RAS activity can cause the over-accumulation of angiotensin II (Ang II). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) administration has been proposed as a therapy, but previous studies have also indicated that chymase, the enzyme that hydrolyzes angiotensin I to Ang II in an ACE-independent pathway, may play an important role in the progression of DN. Therefore, this study established a model of severe DN progression in a db/db and ACE2 KO mouse model (db and ACE2 double-gene-knockout mice) to explore the roles of RAS factors in DNA and changes in their activity after short-term (only 4 weeks) feeding of a high-fat diet (HFD) to 8-week-old mice. The results indicate that FD-fed db/db and ACE2 KO mice fed an HFD represent a good model for investigating the role of RAS in DN. An HFD promotes the activation of MAPK, including p-JNK and p-p38, as well as the RAS signaling pathway, leading to renal damage in mice. Blocking Ang II/AT1R could alleviate the progression of DN after administration of ACEI or chymase inhibitor (CI). Both ACE and chymase are highly involved in Ang II generation in HFD-induced DN; therefore, ACEI and CI are potential treatments for DN.

Functional Role of Mitochondrial DNA in Cancer Progression.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been identified as a significant genetic biomarker in disease, cancer and evolution. Mitochondria function as modulators for regulating cellular metabolism. In the clinic, mtDNA variations (mutations/single nucleotide polymorphisms) and dysregulation of mitochondria-encoded genes are associated with survival outcomes among cancer patients. On the other hand, nuclear-encoded genes have been found to regulate mitochondria-encoded gene expression, in turn regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. These observations suggest that the crosstalk between the nuclear genome and mitochondrial genome is important for cellular function. Therefore, this review summarizes the significant mechanisms and functional roles of mtDNA variations (DNA level) and mtDNA-encoded genes (RNA and protein levels) in cancers and discusses new mechanisms of crosstalk between mtDNA and the nuclear genome.

Plasticity in parental effects confers rapid larval thermal tolerance in the estuarine anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Parental effects can prepare offspring for different environments and facilitate survival across generations. We exposed parental populations of the estuarine anemone, Nematostella vectensis, from Massachusetts to elevated temperatures and quantified larval mortality across a temperature gradient. We found that parental exposure to elevated temperatures resulted in a consistent increase in larval thermal tolerance, as measured by the temperature at which 50% of larvae die (LT50), with a mean increase in LT50 of 0.3°C. Larvae from subsequent spawns returned to baseline thermal thresholds when parents were returned to normal temperatures, indicating plasticity in these parental effects. Histological analyses of gametogenesis in females suggested that these dynamic shifts in larval thermal tolerance may be facilitated by maternal effects in non-overlapping gametic cohorts. We also compared larvae from North Carolina (a genetically distinct population with higher baseline thermal tolerance) and Massachusetts parents, and observed that larvae from heat-exposed Massachusetts parents had thermal thresholds comparable to those of larvae from unexposed North Carolina parents. North Carolina parents also increased larval thermal tolerance under the same high-temperature regime, suggesting that plasticity in parental effects is an inherent trait for N. vectensis Overall, we find that larval thermal tolerance in N. vectensis shows a strong genetic basis and can be modulated by parental effects. Further understanding of the mechanisms behind these shifts can elucidate the fate of thermally sensitive ectotherms in a rapidly changing thermal environment.

Chemotherapeutic Drug-Regulated Cytokines Might Influence Therapeutic Efficacy in HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Processes involved in HCC progression and development, including cell transformation, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, are inflammation-associated carcinogenic processes because most cases of HCC develop from chronic liver damage and inflammation. Inflammation has been demonstrated to be a crucial factor inducing tumor development in various cancers, including HCC. Cytokines play critical roles in inflammation to accelerate tumor invasion and metastasis by mediating the migration of immune cells into damaged tissues in response to proinflammatory stimuli. Currently, surgical resection followed by chemotherapy is the most common curative therapeutic regimen for HCC. However, after chemotherapy, drug resistance is clearly observed, and cytokine secretion is dysregulated. Various chemotherapeutic agents, including cisplatin, etoposide, and 5-fluorouracil, demonstrate even lower efficacy in HCC than in other cancers. Tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is the key limitation of curative treatment and is responsible for treatment failure and recurrence, thus limiting the ability to treat patients with advanced HCC. Therefore, the capability to counteract drug resistance would be a major clinical advancement. In this review, we provide an overview of links between chemotherapeutic agents and inflammatory cytokine secretion in HCC. These links might provide insight into overcoming inflammatory reactions and cytokine secretion, ultimately counteracting chemotherapeutic resistance.

Electroporation of short hairpin RNAs for rapid and efficient gene knockdown in the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis.

A mechanistic understanding of evolutionary developmental biology requires the development of novel techniques for the manipulation of gene function in phylogenetically diverse organismal systems. Recently, gene-specific knockdown by microinjection of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was applied in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, demonstrating that the shRNA approach can be used for efficient and robust sequence-specific knockdown of a gene of interest. However, the time- and labor-intensive process of microinjection limits access to this technique and its application in large scale experiments. To address this issue, here we present an electroporation protocol for shRNA delivery into Nematostella eggs. This method leverages the speed and simplicity of electroporation, enabling users to manipulate gene expression in hundreds of eggs or embryos within minutes. We provide a detailed description of the experimental procedure, including reagents, electroporation conditions, preparation of Nematostella eggs, and follow-up care of experimental animals. Finally, we demonstrate the knockdown of several endogenous and exogenous genes with known phenotypes and discuss the potential applications of this method.

Radiosensitization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Targeting Radio-Associated MicroRNA.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. For patients who are resistant to monotherapy, multimodal therapy is a basic oncologic principle that incorporates surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy providing survival benefits for patients with most types of cancer. Although liver has low tolerance for radiation, high-precision RT for local HCC minimizes the likelihood of radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) in noncancerous liver tissue. RT have several therapeutic benefits, including the down-staging of tumors to make them resectable and repression of metastasis. The DNA damage response (DDR) is a cellular response to irradiation (IR), including DNA repair of injured cells and induction of programmed cell death, thereby resulting in maintenance of cell homeostasis. Molecules that block the activity of proteins in DDR pathways have been found to enhance radiotherapeutic effects. These molecules include antibodies, kinase inhibitors, siRNAs and miRNAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding regulatory RNAs binding to the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of target genes, regulating their translation and expression of proteins. Thus, miRNAs and their target genes constitute complicated interactive networks, which interact with other molecules during carcinogenesis. Due to their promising roles in carcinogenesis, miRNAs were shown to be the potential factors that mediated radiosensitivity and optimized outcomes of the combination of systemic therapy and radiotherapy.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce preterm labor by inhibiting trophoblast cathepsin S and inflammasome activation.

Preterm labor is associated with inflammation and infection. The mechanisms underlying the role of omega-3 fatty acid in inflammasome activation and prevention of preterm labor remain unknown. We hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acid can reduce the rate of preterm birth induced by infection and trophoblast inflammation. In the present study, we found that inflammasome-related molecules and IL-1ß in trophoblasts were activated by TNF-α derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cell-conditioned medium (CM) and recombinant TNF-α protein. The results demonstrated that stimulation with TNF-α caused lysosomal rupture in trophoblasts, which accelerated cathepsin S (CTSS) diffusion from lysosomes to the cytosol and activated NLRP1 (nacht domain-leucine-rich repeat, and pyd-containing protein 1) and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasomes, thereby increasing IL-1ß secretion. Moreover, in response to LPS challenge, TNF-α increased trophoblast cell death and decreased cell viability through inflammasome and CTSS activation. Stearidonic acid (SDA; 18:4n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) inhibited inflammasome-related molecule synthesis and CTSS and caspase-1 activation, which further reduced the preterm delivery rate of pregnant mice induced by LPS (92.9 compared with 69.7% (DHA); 92.9 compared with 53.5% (SDA)). Higher expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, prostaglandin E2, and CTSS, but lower resolvin D1 expression, was observed in preterm pregnant mice than in controls. Similarly, resolvin D1 was highly expressed in women with term delivery compared with women with preterm delivery. Thus, SDA and DHA may attenuate macrophage-derived TNF-α inducing CTSS and inflammasome activation, IL-1ß secretion, and placental trophoblast cell death. These functions are implicated in the preventive effects of SDA and DHA on preterm labor.

Synthesis of Quinazolines via an Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative Amination of N-H Ketimines.

An efficient synthesis of quinazolines based on an iron-catalyzed C(sp3)-H oxidation and intramolecular C-N bond formation using tert-BuOOH as the terminal oxidant is described. The reaction of readily available 2-alkylamino benzonitriles with various organometallic reagents led to 2-alkylamino N-H ketimine species. The FeCl2-catalyzed C(sp3)-H oxidation of the alkyl group employing tert-BuOOH followed by intramolecular C-N bond formation and aromatization afforded a wide variety of 2,4-disubstituted quinazolines in good to excellent yields.

Asymmetric Formal Synthesis of the Long-Acting DPP-4 Inhibitor Omarigliptin.

A highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of the key tetrahydropyranol intermediate of DPP-4 inhibitor omarigliptin (1) is described. The successful development of a protecting-group- and precious-metal-free synthesis was achieved via the discovery of a practical asymmetric Henry reaction and the application of a one-pot nitro-Michael-lactolization-dehydration through-process. Other features of the synthesis include a highly efficient MsCl-mediated dehydration and a crystallization-induced dynamic resolution for exceptional ee and dr upgrade. The synthesis of this complex intermediate utilizes simple starting materials and proceeds in four linear steps.

Repression of microRNA-130b by thyroid hormone enhances cell motility.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Thyroid hormone (T3) and its receptor (TR) are involved in cell growth and cancer progression. Although deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression has been detected in many tumor types, the mechanisms underlying functional impairment and specific involvement of miRNAs in tumor metastasis remain unclear. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the involvement of deregulated miRNA-130b (miR-130b) and its target genes mediated by T3/TR in cancer progression. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to identify the miR-130b transcript and the mechanisms implicated in its regulation. The effects of miR-130b on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion were further examined in vitro and in vivo. Clinical correlations among miR-130b, TRs and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) were examined in HCC samples using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Our experiments disclosed negative regulation of miR-130b expression by T3/TR. Overexpression of miR-130b led to marked inhibition of cell migration and invasion, which was mediated via suppression of IRF1. Cell migration ability was promoted by T3, but partially suppressed upon miR-130b overexpression. Furthermore, miR-130b suppressed expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, matrix metalloproteinase-9, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p-ERK1/2, p-AKT and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3. Notably, miR-130b was downregulated in hepatoma samples and its expression patterns were inversely correlated with those of TRα1 and IRF1. CONCLUSIONS: Our data collectively highlight a novel pathway interlinking T3/TR, miR-130b, IRF1, the EMT-related genes, p-mTOR, p-STAT3 and the p-AKT cascade, which regulates the motility and invasion of hepatoma cells.

Human placenta-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells involved in placental angiogenesis via the PDGF-BB and STAT3 pathways.

We studied the smooth muscle cell differentiation capability of human placental multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hPMSCs) and identified how endothelial cells recruit hPMSCs participating in vessel formation. hPMSCs from term placentas were induced to differentiate into smooth muscle cells under induction conditions and different matrix substrates. We assessed endothelial cells from umbilical veins for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB expression and to induce hPMSC PDGFR-beta and STAT3 activation. Endothelial cells were co-cultured with hPMSCs for in vitro angiogenesis. Cell differentiation ability was then further assessed by mouse placenta transplantation assay. hPMSCs can differentiate into smooth muscle cells; collagen type I and IV or laminin support this differentiation. Endothelial cells expressed significant levels of PDGF-BB and activated STAT3 transcriptional activity in hPMSCs. Endothelial cell-conditioned medium induced hPMSC migration, which was inhibited by STAT3 small interfering RNA transfection or by pretreatement with PDGFR-beta-blocking antibody but not by PDGFR-alpha-blocking antibody or isotype immunoglobulin G (IgG; P < 0.001). hPMSCs can incorporate into endothelial cells with tube formation and promote endothelial cells, forming capillary-like networks than endothelial cells alone (tube lengths: 12 024.1 ± 960.1 vs. 9404.2 ± 584.7 pixels; P < 0.001). Capillary-like networks were significantly reduced by hPMSCs pretreated with PDGFR-beta-blocking antibody but not by PDGFR-alpha-blocking antibody or isotype IgG (P < 0.001). Transplantation of hPMSCs into mouse placentas revealed incorporation of the hPMSCs into vessel walls, which expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin, calponin, and smooth muscle myosin (heavy chain) in vivo. In conclusion, endothelial cell-hPMSC interactions occur during vessel development of placenta. Placental endothelial cell-derived PDGF-BB recruits hPMSCs involved in vascular development via PDGFR-beta/STAT3 activation.

Biological functions of thyroid hormone in placenta.

The thyroid hormone, 3,3,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), modulates several physiological processes, including cellular growth, differentiation, metabolism, inflammation and proliferation, via interactions with thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) in the regulatory regions of target genes. Infection and inflammation are critical processes in placental development and pregnancy-related diseases. In particular, infection is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. However, to date, no successful approach has been developed for the effective diagnosis of infection in preterm infants. Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious disorder that adversely affects ~5% of human pregnancies. Recent studies identified a multiprotein complex, the inflammasome, including the Nod-like receptor (NLR) family of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors, the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1, which plays a vital role in the placenta. The thyroid hormone modulates inflammation processes and is additionally implicated in placental development and disease. Therefore, elucidation of thyroid hormone receptor-regulated inflammation-related molecules, and their underlying mechanisms in placenta, should facilitate the identification of novel predictive and therapeutic targets for placental disorders. This review provides a detailed summary of current knowledge with respect to identification of useful biomarkers and their physiological significance in placenta.

Biological significance of a thyroid hormone-regulated secretome.

The thyroid hormone, 3,3,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), modulates several physiological processes, including cellular growth, differentiation, metabolism and proliferation, via interactions with thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) in the regulatory regions of target genes. Several intracellular and extracellular protein candidates are regulated by T3. Moreover, T3-regulated secreted proteins participate in physiological processes or cellular transformation. T3 has been employed as a marker in several disorders, such as cardiovascular disorder in chronic kidney disease, as well as diseases of the liver, immune system, endocrine hormone metabolism and coronary artery. Our group subsequently showed that T3 regulates several tumor-related secretory proteins, leading to cancer progression via alterations in extracellular matrix proteases and tumor-associated signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinomas. Therefore, elucidation of T3/thyroid hormone receptor-regulated secretory proteins and their underlying mechanisms in cancers should facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets. This review provides a detailed summary on the known secretory proteins regulated by T3 and their physiological significance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: An Updated Secretome.

Thyroid hormone enhanced human hepatoma cell motility involves brain-specific serine protease 4 activation via ERK signaling.

BACKGROUND: The thyroid hormone, 3, 3', 5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), has been shown to modulate cellular processes via interactions with thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), but the secretory proteins that are regulated to exert these effects remain to be characterized. Brain-specific serine protease 4 (BSSP4), a member of the human serine protease family, participates in extracellular matrix remodeling. However, the physiological role and underlying mechanism of T3-mediated regulation of BSSP4 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis are yet to be established. METHODS: The thyroid hormone response element was identified by reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The cell motility was analyzed via transwell and SCID mice. The BSSP4 expression in clinical specimens was examined by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Upregulation of BSSP4 at mRNA and protein levels after T3 stimulation is a time- and dose-dependent manner in hepatoma cell lines. Additionally, the regulatory region of the BSSP4 promoter stimulated by T3 was identified at positions -609/-594. BSSP4 overexpression enhanced tumor cell migration and invasion, both in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, BSSP4-induced migration occurs through the ERK 1/2-C/EBPß-VEGF cascade, similar to that observed in HepG2-TRα1 and J7-TRα1 cells. BSSP4 was overexpressed in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, compared with normal subjects, and positively associated with TRα1 and VEGF to a significant extent. Importantly, a mild association between BSSP4 expression and distant metastasis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings collectively support a potential role of T3 in cancer cell progression through regulation of the BSSP4 protease via the ERK 1/2-C/EBPß-VEGF cascade. BSSP4 may thus be effectively utilized as a novel marker and anti-cancer therapeutic target in HCC.