The M476W/Q482H mutation of procaspase-8 restored caspase-8-mediated apoptosis.

Caspase-8 is an initiator of apoptotic signalling, and aberrations in procaspase-8 have been verified to be associated with malignant tumours. In previous studies, various procaspase-8 mutants were identified in AML patients, such as Q482H and M476W/Q482H mutations. The Q482H mutation can abolish caspase-8-mediated apoptosis by attenuating the dimerization of procaspase-8 protein monomers, causing AML patients carrying the Q482H mutation to develop resistance to chemotherapeutics. The patients with the M476W/Q482H mutation were sensitive to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear in regard to how the M476W/Q482H mutation restored caspase-8-mediated apoptosis. In this study, apoptosis was detected in the cells overexpressing the WT or mutant procaspase-8 with or without TRAIL treatment. Western blotting was devoted to detect the cleavage of procaspase-8 or the expression of proteins downstream in the apoptotic cascade and CO-IP was employed to analyze the dimerization of WT and mutant procaspase-8 proteins. Results demonstrated cells carrying the M476W/Q482H mutation restored caspase-8-mediated and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The M476W/Q482H mutation recovered the dimerization of procaspase-8. Taken together, the M476W/Q482H mutation have restored caspase-8-mediated apoptosis resulting from the recovery of procaspase-8 dimerization.

4­Methoxydalbergione inhibits esophageal carcinoma cell proliferation and migration by inactivating NF­κB.

4­Methoxydalbergione (4­MD) can inhibit the progression of certain types of cancer; however, its effects on esophageal cancer (EC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of 4­MD on EC and its molecular mechanism. ECA­109 and KYSE­105 cells were treated with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 4­MD. Cell Counting Kit­8 and colony formation assays were used to analyze cell proliferation. Wound healing assay was performed to evaluate cell migration. ELISA and western blotting were performed to measure the expression levels of NF­κB and inflammatory cytokines. In cells treated with 4­MD, proliferation and migration were significantly inhibited, the levels of inflammatory cytokines were downregulated and the NF­κB signaling pathway was inactivated. Notably, proliferation, migration, inflammation and NF­κB were promoted by LPS, whereas 4­MD reversed the increases induced by LPS in EC cells. In conclusion, 4­MD may attenuate the proliferation and migration of EC cells by inactivating the NF­κB signaling pathway.

Beneficial Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is characterized by hormonal disorders, amenorrhea, and premature loss of fertility potential in women of reproductive age. Several studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating POF. TCM relied primarily on apoptosis, immunity, and aging to treat POF based on the studies of domestic and foreign literature. Zuogui pills inhibited mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in the treatment of POF. Huyang Yangkun formula regulated the downstream of the Bcl-2 family to resist apoptosis through the aquaporin-1 protein. Modified Bazhen decoction regulated apoptosis in POF by regulating X-linked inhibitors of apoptosis protein. Bushen Tianjing recipe was effective in treating POF by promoting angiogenesis and preventing apoptosis. As for immunity, Bushen Jianpi prescription and Er-Xian decoction cured autoimmunity POF models and increased follicular development-related protein expression. Bushen Huoxue Tang improved ovarian function and reduced ovarian inflammation by regulating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway and T lymphocytes. Taohong Siwu decoction promoted the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells of POF mice by regulating the TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway. In addition, ginsenoside Rg1 and Jiajian Guisheng formula treated POF by regulating cell aging-related mechanisms. Si Wu Tang treated POF by activating the angiogenesis-related proteins. The goal of this review is to serve as a reference for in-depth research into the treatment of POF with TCM and provide inspiration for new diagnostic methods and treatment options.

Lnc-ATG9B-4 aggravates progress of hepatocellular carcinoma through cell proliferation and migration by upregulating CDK5.

Long noncoding RNAs play an important role in the occurrence, invasion, as well as metastasis of various human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Long noncoding RNAs can affect the biological functions of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating various genes; however, only a small fraction of molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs have been elucidated. In the present study, lnc AC010973.1 (lnc-ATG9B-4) was first identified by microarray analysis from 8 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and confirmed by quantitative PCR in 176 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We demonstrated that lnc-ATG9B-4 was tightly relative to the tumorous size, TNM stages, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), the tumor capsule, metastasis, degree of differentiation, and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma according to long-term follow-up data. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, overexpression of lnc-ATG9B-4 promoted proliferation, invasion, as well as migration, while inhibiting lnc-ATG9B-4 by siRNA significantly attenuated the proliferation, invasion, as well as migration. Interestingly, lnc-ATG9B-4 increased the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), which was closely related to the development and chemotherapy sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma. In summary, our results revealed that lnc-ATG9B-4 suggests an unfavorable prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and facilitates the proliferation, invasion, as well as migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by upregulating CDK5. This research suggests that lnc-ATG9B-4 may be a new biomarker for predicting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma; meanwhile, targeting lnc-ATG9B-4 might serve as a potential strategy for the treatment hepatocellular carcinoma.