Gene Editing and Small Molecule Inhibitors of the RNA Binding Protein IGF2BP2/IMP2 Show its Potential as an Anti-Cancer Drug Target.

BACKGROUND: The RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2/IMP2/VICKZ2/p62 is an oncofetal protein that is overexpressed in several cancer entities. Employing IMP2 knockout colorectal cancer cells, we could show the important role of IMP2 in several hallmarks of cancer. This study aimed to functionally characterize IMP2 in lung (A549, LLC1) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2, Huh7) cell lines to assess its role as a potential target for these cancer entities. METHODS: IMP2 knockouts were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 and its variant approach prime editing; the editing efficiency of two single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) was verified via next-generation sequencing. We studied the effect of IMP2 knockout on cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration and employed small-molecule inhibitors of IMP2. RESULTS: Despite multiple attempts, it was not possible to generate IMP2 biallelic knockouts in A549 and Huh7 cells. Both sgRNAs showed good editing efficiency. However, edited cells lost their ability to proliferate. The attempt to generate an IMP2 biallelic knockout in LLC1 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 was successful. Monoallelic knockout cell lines of IMP2 showed a reduction in 2D cell proliferation and reduced migration. In 3D cultures, a change in morphology from compact spheroids to loose aggregates and a distinct reduction in the colony formation ability of the IMP2 knockouts was observed, an effect that was mimicked by previously identified IMP2 inhibitor compounds that also showed an inhibitory effect on colony formation. CONCLUSIONS: Our in vitro target validation supports that IMP2 is essential for tumor cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation in several cancer entities.

RNA binding protein IGF2BP2 expression is induced by stress in the heart and mediates dilated cardiomyopathy.

The IGF2BP family of RNA binding proteins consists of three paralogs that regulate intracellular RNA localization, RNA stability, and translational control. Although IGF2BP1 and 3 are oncofetal proteins, IGF2BP2 expression is maintained in many tissues, including the heart, into adulthood. IGF2BP2 is upregulated in cardiomyocytes during cardiac stress and remodeling and returns to normal levels in recovering hearts. We wondered whether IGF2BP2 might play an adaptive role during cardiac stress and recovery. Enhanced expression of an IGF2BP2 transgene in a conditional, inducible mouse line leads to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and death within 3-4 weeks in newborn or adult hearts. Downregulation of the transgene after 2 weeks, however, rescues these mice, with complete recovery by 12 weeks. Hearts overexpressing IGF2BP2 downregulate sarcomeric and mitochondrial proteins and have fragmented mitochondria and elongated, thinner sarcomeres. IGF2BP2 is also upregulated in DCM or myocardial infarction patients. These results suggest that IGF2BP2 may be an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in cardiomyopathies.

Alterations in the hepatocyte epigenetic landscape in steatosis.

Fatty liver disease or the accumulation of fat in the liver, has been reported to affect the global population. This comes with an increased risk for the development of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Yet, little is known about the effects of a diet containing high fat and alcohol towards epigenetic aging, with respect to changes in transcriptional and epigenomic profiles. In this study, we took up a multi-omics approach and integrated gene expression, methylation signals, and chromatin signals to study the epigenomic effects of a high-fat and alcohol-containing diet on mouse hepatocytes. We identified four relevant gene network clusters that were associated with relevant pathways that promote steatosis. Using a machine learning approach, we predict specific transcription factors that might be responsible to modulate the functionally relevant clusters. Finally, we discover four additional CpG loci and validate aging-related differential CpG methylation. Differential CpG methylation linked to aging showed minimal overlap with altered methylation in steatosis.

A combined computational and functional approach identifies IGF2BP2 as a driver of chemoresistance in a wide array of pre-clinical models of colorectal cancer.

AIM: Chemoresistance is a major cause of treatment failure in colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. In this study, the impact of the IGF2BP family of RNA-binding proteins on CRC chemoresistance was investigated using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. METHODS: Gene expression data from a well-characterized cohort and publicly available cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (CLIP-Seq) data were collected. Resistance to chemotherapeutics was assessed in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). Functional studies were performed in 2D and 3D cell culture models, including proliferation, spheroid growth, and mitochondrial respiration analyses. RESULTS: We identified IGF2BP2 as the most abundant IGF2BP in primary and metastastatic CRC, correlating with tumor stage in patient samples and tumor growth in PDXs. IGF2BP2 expression in primary tumor tissue was significantly associated with resistance to selumetinib, gefitinib, and regorafenib in PDOs and to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in PDX in vivo. IGF2BP2 knockout (KO) HCT116 cells were more susceptible to regorafenib in 2D and to oxaliplatin, selumitinib, and nintedanib in 3D cell culture. Further, a bioinformatic analysis using CLIP data suggested stabilization of target transcripts in primary and metastatic tumors. Measurement of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) revealed a decreased basal OCR and an increase in glycolytic ATP production rate in IGF2BP2 KO. In addition, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis confirmed decreased expression of genes of the respiratory chain complex I, complex IV, and the outer mitochondrial membrane in IGF2BP2 KO cells. CONCLUSIONS: IGF2BP2 correlates with CRC tumor growth in vivo and promotes chemoresistance by altering mitochondrial respiratory chain metabolism. As a druggable target, IGF2BP2 could be used in future CRC therapy to overcome CRC chemoresistance.

Endotoxin Tolerance Acquisition and Altered Hepatic Fatty Acid Profile in Aged Mice.

(1) Background: Aging is linked to an altered immune response and metabolism. Inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis, COVID-19, and steatohepatitis are more prevalent in the elderly and steatosis is linked both to severe COVID-19 and sepsis. We hypothesized that aging is linked to a loss of endotoxin tolerance, which normally protects the host from excessive inflammation, and that this is accompanied by elevated levels of hepatic lipids. (2) Methods: An in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance model in young and old mice was used and the cytokine serum levels were measured by ELISA. Cytokine and toll-like receptor gene expression was determined by qPCR in the lungs and the liver; hepatic fatty acid composition was assessed by GC-MS. (3) Results: The old mice showed a distinct potential for endotoxin tolerance as suggested by the serum cytokine levels and gene expression in the lung tissue. Endotoxin tolerance was less pronounced in the livers of the aged mice. However, the fatty acid composition strongly differed in the liver tissues of the young and old mice with a distinct change in the ratio of C18 to C16 fatty acids. (4) Conclusions: Endotoxin tolerance is maintained in advanced age, but changes in the metabolic tissue homeostasis may lead to an altered immune response in old individuals.

Kupffer cells are protective in alcoholic steatosis.

Massive accumulation of lipids is a characteristic of alcoholic liver disease. Excess of hepatic fat activates Kupffer cells (KCs), which affect disease progression. Yet, KCs contribute to the resolution and advancement of liver injury. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of KC depletion on markers of liver injury and the hepatic lipidome in liver steatosis (Lieber-DeCarli diet, LDC, female mice, mixed C57BL/6J and DBA/2J background). LDC increased the number of dead hepatocytes without changing the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in the liver. Animals fed LDC accumulated elevated levels of almost all lipid classes. KC ablation normalized phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol levels in LDC livers, but had no effect in the controls. A modest decline of trigylceride and diglyceride levels upon KC loss was observed in both groups. Serum aminotransferases and hepatic ceramide were elevated in all animals upon KC depletion, and in particular, cytotoxic very long-chain ceramides increased in the LDC livers. Meta-biclustering revealed that eight lipid species occurred in more than 40% of the biclusters, and four of them were very long-chain ceramides. KC loss was further associated with excess free cholesterol levels in LDC livers. Expression of inflammatory cytokines did, however, not increase in parallel. In summary, the current study described a function of KCs in hepatic ceramide and cholesterol metabolism in an animal model of LDC liver steatosis. High abundance of cytotoxic ceramides and free cholesterol predispose the liver to disease progression suggesting a protective role of KCs in alcoholic liver diseases.

First Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the RNA-Binding Protein IGF2BP2/IMP2 for Cancer Therapy.

The RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2/IMP2/VICKZ2/p62 is overexpressed in several tumor entities, promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression, and has been suggested to worsen the disease outcome. The aim of this study is to (I) validate IMP2 as a potential target for colorectal cancer, (II) set up a screening assay for small-molecule inhibitors of IMP2, and (III) test the biological activity of the obtained hit compounds. Analyses of colorectal and liver cancer gene expression data showed reduced survival in patients with a high IMP2 expression and in patients with a higher IMP2 expression in advanced tumors. In vitro target validation in 2D and 3D cell cultures demonstrated a reduction in cell viability, migration, and proliferation in IMP2 knockout cells. Also, xenotransplant tumor cell growth in vivo was significantly reduced in IMP2 knockouts. Different compound libraries were screened for IMP2 inhibitors using a fluorescence polarization assay, and the results were confirmed by the thermal shift assay and saturation-transfer difference NMR. Ten compounds, which belong to two classes, that is, benzamidobenzoic acid class and ureidothiophene class, were validated in vitro and showed a biological target specificity. The three most active compounds were also tested in vivo and exhibited reduced tumor xenograft growth in zebrafish embryos. In conclusion, our findings support that IMP2 represents a druggable target to reduce tumor cell proliferation.

The Good, the Bad, the Question-H19 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is challenging to treat due to its typical late diagnosis, mostly at an advanced stage. Therefore, there is a particular need for research in diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC. The use of long noncoding (lnc) RNAs can widen the list of novel molecular targets improving cancer therapy. In hepatocarcinogenesis, the role of the lncRNA H19, which has been known for more than 30 years now, is still controversially discussed. H19 was described to work either as a tumor suppressor in vitro and in vivo, or to have oncogenic features. This review attempts to survey the conflicting study results and tries to elucidate the potential reasons for the contrary findings, i.e., different methods, models, or readout parameters. This review encompasses in vitro and in vivo models as well as studies on human patient samples. Although the function of H19 in HCC remains elusive, a short outlook summarizes some ideas of using the H19 locus as a novel target for liver cancer therapy.

Thioholgamide A, a New Anti-Proliferative Anti-Tumor Agent, Modulates Macrophage Polarization and Metabolism.

Natural products represent powerful tools searching for novel anticancer drugs. Thioholgamide A (thioA) is a ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide, which has been identified as a product of Streptomyces sp. MUSC 136T. In this study, we provide a comprehensive biological profile of thioA, elucidating its effects on different hallmarks of cancer in tumor cells as well as in macrophages as crucial players of the tumor microenvironment. In 2D and 3D in vitro cell culture models thioA showed potent anti-proliferative activities in cancer cells at nanomolar concentrations. Anti-proliferative actions were confirmed in vivo in zebrafish embryos. Cytotoxicity was only induced at several-fold higher concentrations, as assessed by live-cell microscopy and biochemical analyses. ThioA exhibited a potent modulation of cell metabolism by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation, as determined in a live-cell metabolic assay platform. The metabolic modulation caused a repolarization of in vitro differentiated and polarized tumor-promoting human monocyte-derived macrophages: ThioA-treated macrophages showed an altered morphology and a modulated expression of genes and surface markers. Taken together, the metabolic regulator thioA revealed low activities in non-tumorigenic cells and an interesting anti-cancer profile by orchestrating different hallmarks of cancer, both in tumor cells as well as in macrophages as part of the tumor microenvironment.

The mRNA-binding Protein TTP/ZFP36 in Hepatocarcinogenesis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatic lipid deposition and inflammation represent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mRNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP, gene name ZFP36) has been suggested as a tumor suppressor in several malignancies, but it increases insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of TTP in hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression. Employing liver-specific TTP-knockout (lsTtp-KO) mice in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN) hepatocarcinogenesis model, we observed a significantly reduced tumor burden compared to wild-type animals. Upon short-term DEN treatment, modelling early inflammatory processes in hepatocarcinogenesis, lsTtp-KO mice exhibited a reduced monocyte/macrophage ratio as compared to wild-type mice. While short-term DEN strongly induced an abundance of saturated and poly-unsaturated hepatic fatty acids, lsTtp-KO mice did not show these changes. These findings suggested anti-carcinogenic actions of TTP deletion due to effects on inflammation and metabolism. Interestingly, though, investigating effects of TTP on different hallmarks of cancer suggested tumor-suppressing actions: TTP inhibited proliferation, attenuated migration, and slightly increased chemosensitivity. In line with a tumor-suppressing activity, we observed a reduced expression of several oncogenes in TTP-overexpressing cells. Accordingly, ZFP36 expression was downregulated in tumor tissues in three large human data sets. Taken together, this study suggests that hepatocytic TTP promotes hepatocarcinogenesis, while it shows tumor-suppressive actions during hepatic tumor progression.

CRUP: a comprehensive framework to predict condition-specific regulatory units.

We present the software Condition-specific Regulatory Units Prediction (CRUP) to infer from epigenetic marks a list of regulatory units consisting of dynamically changing enhancers with their target genes. The workflow consists of a novel pre-trained enhancer predictor that can be reliably applied across cell types and species, solely based on histone modification ChIP-seq data. Enhancers are subsequently assigned to different conditions and correlated with gene expression to derive regulatory units. We thoroughly test and then apply CRUP to a rheumatoid arthritis model, identifying enhancer-gene pairs comprising known disease genes as well as new candidate genes.

IGF2 mRNA Binding Protein 2 Transgenic Mice Are More Prone to Develop a Ductular Reaction and to Progress Toward Cirrhosis.

The insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA binding proteins (IMPs/IGF2BPs) IMP1 and 3 are regarded as oncofetal proteins, whereas the hepatic IMP2 expression in adults is controversially discussed. The splice variant IMP2-2/p62 promotes steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim of this study was to clarify whether IMP2 is expressed in the adult liver and influences progression toward cirrhosis. IMP2 was expressed at higher levels in embryonic compared to adult tissues as quantified in embryonic, newborn, and adult C57BL/6J mouse livers and suggested by analysis of publicly available human data. In an IMP2-2 transgenic mouse model microarray and qPCR analyses revealed increased expression of liver progenitor cell (LPC) markers Bex1, Prom1, Spp1, and Cdh1 indicating a de-differentiated liver cell phenotype. Induction of these LPC markers was confirmed in human cirrhotic tissue datasets. The LPC marker SPP1 has been described to play a major role in fibrogenesis. Thus, DNA methylation was investigated in order to decipher the regulatory mechanism of Spp1 induction. In IMP2-2 transgenic mouse livers single CpG sites were differentially methylated, as quantified by amplicon sequencing, whereas human HCC samples of a human publicly available dataset showed promoter hypomethylation. In order to study the impact of IMP2 on fibrogenesis in the context of steatohepatitis wild-type or IMP2-2 transgenic mice were fed either a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) or a control diet for 2-12 weeks. MCD-fed IMP2-2 transgenic mice showed a higher incidence of ductular reaction (DR), accompanied by hepatic stellate cell activation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and induction of the LPC markers Spp1, Cdh1, and Afp suggesting the occurrence of de-differentiated cells in transgenic livers. In human cirrhotic samples IMP2 overexpression correlated with LPC marker and ECM component expression. Progression of liver disease was induced by combined MCD and diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment. Combined MCD-DEN treatment resulted in shorter survival of IMP2-2 transgenic compared to wild-type mice. Only IMP2-2 transgenic livers progressed to cirrhosis, which was accompanied by strong DR. In conclusion, IMP2 is an oncofetal protein in the liver that promotes DR characterized by de-differentiated cells toward steatohepatitis-associated cirrhosis development with poor survival.

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 mRNA Binding Protein IMP2/IGF2BP2 is Overexpressed and Correlates with Poor Survival in Pancreatic Cancer.

The insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA binding protein IMP2 (IGF2BP2) is an oncogenic protein known to be overexpressed in different tumor types. Pancreatic cancer is a very lethal cancer that requires early diagnosis and new treatment options. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of IMP2 in the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). IMP2 was significantly overexpressed in a human precursor (PanIN) lesions suggesting IMP2 as a marker for early stages of PDAC. In a PDAC cohort of matched normal and tumor samples IMP2 showed overexpression in tumor tissues compared with normal pancreatic tissue. Strict correlation analysis (threshold R2 > 0.75) revealed 22 genes highly positively and 9 genes highly negatively correlating with IMP2. Besides genes involved in the inhibition of apoptosis (Bcl-XL), especially factors involved in ubiquitination were strongly correlated with IMP2 expression: SMURF1 and FBXO45. Moreover, protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway was distinctly affected: DXS1179E encoding PKC iota, PKC substrate PLEK2, and inositol triphosphate receptor IP3R3 were positively correlated with IMP2 expression. Besides tumor initiation, IMP2 also seemed to have an impact on tumor progression. TGF-ß treatment of Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was accompanied by increased IMP2 expression. EMT is important for cancer cells to gain migratory and invasive potential, which is essential for metastasis. Concordantly, circulating tumor cells showed higher IMP2 levels as compared with normal tissue from tumor origin and with normal hematological cells. Accordingly, IMP2 protein levels correlated with poor survival. In conclusion, as IMP2 seems to promote tumor progression of PDAC, it might be an interesting diagnostic and prognostic marker as well as a novel target for the treatment of PDAC.

Diethylnitrosamine (DENA) recapitulates formation of hepatic angiosarcoma in pigs.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Primary hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to generate a new angiosarcoma model to improve research on hepatic angiosarcoma. METHODS: Pigs sus scrofa were treated with different regimens of diethylnitrosamine (DENA). Tissues were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Serum parameters were determined. Angiosarcoma tissue was investigated for chromosomal aberrations by aCGH analysis. RESULTS: Animals of almost all different treatment regimens developed a multitude of variable liver lesions. Different tumor types such as granulation tissue type, cellular-like, hyalinization necrosis-like, angiosarcoma-like, dysplastic nodule-like, hepatocellular-like, glandular structure-like, and leiomyoma-like lesions were observed. Weekly treatment with 15 mg/kg for up to 52 weeks or a single shot of 200 mg/kg DENA led to the development of hepatic angiosarcomas. aCGH analysis of angiosarcoma tissue revealed increased alterations in tumors compared to non-tumorous tissue. Most of the chromosomal alterations were found on chromosomes 6, 7, 12, and 14. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study treatment of sus scrofa with weekly injections of 15 mg/kg DENA results in a new model for primary hepatic angiosarcoma. This model may help to shed light on the pathomechanisms of primary hepatic angiosarcoma and might therefore open new treatment options.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Nuclear Paraspeckles: Induction in Chemoresistance and Prediction for Poor Survival.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, not least due to its high chemoresistance. The long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), localised in nuclear paraspeckles, has been shown to enhance chemoresistance in several cancer types. Since data on NEAT1 in HCC chemosensitivity are completely lacking and chemoresistance is linked to poor prognosis, we aimed to study NEAT1 expression in HCC chemoresistance and its link to HCC prognosis. METHODS: NEAT1 expression was determined in either sensitive, or sorafenib, or doxorubicin resistant HepG2, PLC/PRF/5, and Huh7 cells by qPCR. Paraspeckles were detected by immunostaining of paraspeckle component 1 (PSPC1) in cell culture and in a cohort of HCC patients. PSPC1 expression was correlated with clinical data. The expression of transcript variants of NEAT1 and transcripts encoding the paraspeckle-associated proteins was analysed in the TCGA liver cancer data set. RESULTS: NEAT1 was overexpressed in all three sorafenib and doxorubicin resistant cell lines. Paraspeckles were present in all chemoresistant cells, whereas no signal was detected in the sensitive cells. Expression of NEAT1 transcripts as well as transcripts encoding PSPC1, NONO, and RBM14 was increased in tumour tissue. Expression of PSPC1, NONO, and RBM14 transcripts was significantly associated with poor survival, whereas NEAT1 expression was not. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that nuclear and cytoplasmic PSPC1-positivity was significantly associated with shorter overall survival of HCC patients. CONCLUSION: Our data show an induction of NEAT1 in HCC chemoresistance and a high correlation of transcripts encoding paraspeckle-associated proteins with poor survival in HCC. Therefore, NEAT1, PSPC1, NONO, and RBM14 might be promising targets for novel HCC therapies, and the paraspeckle-associated proteins might be clinical markers and predictors for poor survival in HCC.

High Keratin 8/18 Ratio Predicts Aggressive Hepatocellular Cancer Phenotype.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Steatohepatitis (SH) and SH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of considerable clinical significance. SH is morphologically characterized by steatosis, liver cell ballooning, cytoplasmic aggregates termed Mallory-Denk bodies (MDBs), inflammation, and fibrosis at late stage. Disturbance of the keratin cytoskeleton and aggregation of keratins (KRTs) are essential for MDB formation. METHODS: We analyzed livers of aged Krt18-/- mice that spontaneously developed in the majority of cases SH-associated HCC independent of sex. Interestingly, the hepatic lipid profile in Krt18-/- mice, which accumulate KRT8, closely resembles human SH lipid profiles and shows that the excess of KRT8 over KRT18 determines the likelihood to develop SH-associated HCC linked with enhanced lipogenesis. RESULTS: Our analysis of the genetic profile of Krt18-/- mice with 26 human hepatoma cell lines and with data sets of >300 patients with HCC, where Krt18-/- gene signatures matched human HCC. Interestingly, a high KRT8/18 ratio is associated with an aggressive HCC phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: We can prove that intermediate filaments and their binding partners are tightly linked to hepatic lipid metabolism and to hepatocarcinogenesis. We suggest KRT8/18 ratio as a novel HCC biomarker for HCC.

Chemical composition and antioxidant, cytotoxic, and insecticidal potential of Valeriana alliariifolia in Turkey.

Valeriana is a common plant species used for various healing purposes in folk medicine since antiquity. This study investigates the phytochemical profile, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and insecticidal activity of Valeriana alliariifolia Adams, a species that has traditionally been used in Turkey. For the analyses we prepared four root extracts of V. alliariifolia Adams using hexane (HM1), chloroform (CM1), ethanol (EM1), and water (WM1) for maceration. Additionally, two extracts were also prepared from its roots by maceration separately with ethanol (EM2) and water (WM2). One sample was prepared as a water infusion (WI), according to the procedure used in Turkish traditional medicine. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activity tests showed that ethanol extracts had the strongest antioxidant activity: EM1 (IC50 - DPPH: 17.694 µg/mL; ABTS: 23.8 µg/mL) and EM2 (IC50 - DPPH: 20 µg/mL; ABTS: 21.5 µg/mL). The hexane extract, HM1, was the most cytotoxic (IC50<10 µg/mL against HepG2 and HUVEC) and EM2 strongly cytotoxic (IC50<10 µg/mL against HepG2 and IC50: 11.96 µg/mL against HUVEC). The extracts with demonstrated cytotoxic activities were further examined to check their insecticidal activity against adult female mosquito Aedes aegypti and first instar Ae. aegypti larvae. HM1 was the most effective (90±10 %), which was consistent with its cytotoxic activity. Because of the high antioxidant, cytotoxic, and insecticidal activities, we ran phytochemical analyses of the HM1, EM1, and EM2 extracts with GC-MS (for HM1) and LC-MS/MS (for EM1 and EM2). We also analysed the composition of the essential oil obtained from V. alliariifolia roots by micro-distillation in order to compare its content with HM1, which contains volatile compounds. Phytochemical analyses revealed that the major compound in HM1 was isovaleric acid (16 %) and in the essential oil 1,8-cineole (2.9 %). EM1 and EM2 contained 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), verbascoside (acteoside), and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid as major components. In the light of our findings and available literature, we can conclude that V. alliariifolia has a good bioactive potential that could be used for different purposes, including the development of new agents for the treatment of various diseases. The difference in the content between the essential oil and HM1 was remarkable. It suggests that the variability observed in the activity of the samples was a result of composition and that, therefore, the aim of treatment should dictate which type of preparation is to be selected. An added value of our study is that it determined verbascoside and methylquercetin rutinoside for the first time in the Valeriana extracts.

Transgenic expression of the RNA binding protein IMP2 stabilizes miRNA targets in murine microsteatosis.

Adult expression of IMP2 is often associated with several types of disease and cancer. The RNA binding protein IMP2 binds and stabilizes the IGF2 mRNA as well as hundreds of other transcripts during development. To gain insight into the molecular action of IMP2 and its contribution to disease in context of adult cellular metabolism, we analyze transgenic overexpression of IMP2 in mouse livers, which has been shown to induce a steatosis-like phenotype and enhanced risk to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our data show up-regulation of several HCC marker genes and miRNAs (miR438-3p and miR151-5p). To characterize the impact of miRNAs to their targets, integrative analysis of transcriptome-and miRNAome-dynamics in combination with IMP2 target prediction was carried out. Our analyses show that targets of expressed miRNAs become accumulated in the case that these transcripts have positive IMP2 binding prediction. Therefore, our data indicates that overexpression of IMP2 alters the regulatory capacity of many miRNAs and we conclude that IMP2 competes with miRNAs for binding sites on thousands of transcripts. As a result, our data implicates that overexpression of IMP2 has distinct effects to the regulatory capacity of miRNAs with yet unknown consequences for translational efficiency.