Microtubule Acetylation-Specific Inhibitors Induce Cell Death and Mitotic Arrest via JNK/AP-1 Activation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Microtubule acetylation has been proposed as a marker of highly heterogeneous and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The novel microtubule acetylation inhibitors GM-90257 and GM-90631 (GM compounds) cause TNBC cancer cell death but the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that GM compounds function as anti-TNBC agents through activation of the JNK/AP-1 pathway. RNA-seq and biochemical analyses of GM compound-treated cells revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and members of its downstream signaling pathway are potential targets for GM compounds. Mechanistically, JNK activation by GM compounds induced an increase in c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Fos protein levels, thereby activating the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Notably, direct suppression of JNK with a pharmacological inhibitor alleviated Bcl2 reduction and cell death caused by GM compounds. TNBC cell death and mitotic arrest were induced by GM compounds through AP-1 activation in vitro. These results were reproduced in vivo, validating the significance of microtubule acetylation/JNK/AP-1 axis activation in the anti-cancer activity of GM compounds. Moreover, GM compounds significantly attenuated tumor growth, metastasis, and cancer-related death in mice, demonstrating strong potential as therapeutic agents for TNBC.

SPIN90 Deficiency Ameliorates Amyloid ß Accumulation by Regulating APP Trafficking in AD Model Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a common form of dementia, is caused in part by the aggregation and accumulation in the brain of amyloid ß (Aß), a product of the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in endosomes. Trafficking of APP, such as surface-intracellular recycling, is an early critical step required for Aß generation. Less is known, however, about the molecular mechanism regulating APP trafficking. This study investigated the mechanism by which SPIN90, along with Rab11, modulates APP trafficking, Aß motility and accumulation, and synaptic functionality. Brain Aß deposition was lower in the progeny of 5xFAD-SPIN90KO mice than in 5xFAD-SPIN90WT mice. Analysis of APP distribution and trafficking showed that the surface fraction of APP was locally distinct in axons and dendrites, with these distributions differing significantly in 5xFAD-SPIN90WT and 5xFAD-SPIN90KO mice, and that neural activity-driven APP trafficking to the surface and intracellular recycling were more actively mobilized in 5xFAD-SPIN90KO neurons. In addition, SPIN90 was found to be cotrafficked with APP via axons, with ablation of SPIN90 reducing the intracellular accumulation of APP in axons. Finally, synaptic transmission was restored over time in 5xFAD-SPIN90KO but not in 5xFAD-SPIN90WT neurons, suggesting SPIN90 is implicated in Aß production through the regulation of APP trafficking.

Elevation of phospholipase C-ß1 expression by amyloid-ß facilitates calcium overload in neuronal cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia. Amyloid-ß (Aß) has long been considered a key cause of neurodegeneration in the AD brain. Although the mechanisms underlying Aß-induced neurodegeneration are not fully understood, a number of recent studies have suggested that intracellular calcium overload mediates this process. In this study, we focused on the cellular function of phospholipase C-ß1 (PLCB1), which regulates calcium signaling by mediating hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate through G-protein coupled receptor pathways. First, we confirmed that acetylcholine-induced calcium release from intracellular stores of SH-SY5Y cells was significantly increased with Aß42 oligomer treatment. We further found that PLCB1 expression was upregulated in Aß42-treated cells, and PLCB1 overexpression in SH-SY5Y cells elicited the calcium overload observed in Aß-treated cells. In addition, Aß42 oligomer-induced calcium overload in SH-SY5Y cells was alleviated by knockdown of PLCB1, indicating that PLCB1 plays an essential role in the neurotoxic process initiated by Aß. The elevation of PLCB1 expression was confirmed in the brain tissues from the 5× familial AD (5×FAD) model mice. These findings suggest that PLCB1 may represent a potential therapeutic target for protecting neuronal cells against excitotoxicity in AD progression.

Acute ST Elevated Myocardial Injury due to Coronary Thrombosis during Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Patient with Protein S Deficiency.

A 71-year-old woman who had suffered from pulmonary thromboembolism with deep vein thrombosis for 12 years presented the hospital with a huge thoracic aortic aneurysm. During thoracic endovascular therapy, she had a sudden coronary artery occlusion without having organized stenosis or plaque rupture even under the dual antiplatelet treatment and heparinization. She turned out to be having a protein S deficiency. A procedure related thrombotic adverse event in patient with protein S deficiency is very rare, so we report a case with literature review.