RESUMO
Male ageing is always accompanied by decreased fertility. The forkhead O (FOXO) transcription factor FOXO4 is reported to be highly expressed in senescent cells. Upon activation, it binds p53 in the nucleus, preventing senescent cell apoptosis and maintaining senescent cells in situ. Leydig cells play key roles in assisting spermatogenesis. Leydig cell senescence leads to deterioration of the microenvironment of the testes and impairs spermatogenesis. In this study, we observed that FOXO4-DRI, a specific FOXO4- p53 binding blocker, induced apoptosis in senescent Leydig cells, reduced the secretion of certain Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype and improved the proliferation of cocultured GC-1 SPG cells. In naturally aged mice, FOXO4-DRI-treated aged mice exhibited increased sperm quality and improved spermatogenesis.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant non-SMC condensin II complex subunit D3 (NCAPD3) is associated with carcinogenesis of various cancers. Nevertheless, the biological role of NCAPD3 in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to assess NCAPD3 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The ability of cell proliferation, invasion, and migration was evaluated by CCK-8 assays, EdU assays, Transwell assays, and scratch wound healing assays. Flow cytometry was performed to verify the cell cycle and apoptosis. RNA-sequence and rescue experiment were performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: The results showed that the expression of NCAPD3 was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues. High NCAPD3 expression in NSCLC patients was substantially associated with a worse prognosis. Functionally, knockdown of NCAPD3 resulted in cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in NSCLC cells as well as a significant inhibition of proliferation, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis suggested that NCAPD3 contributes to NSCLC carcinogenesis by regulating PI3K/Akt/FOXO4 pathway. Insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1), an activator of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, could reverse NCAPD3 silence-mediated proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in NSCLC cells. CONCLUSION: NCAPD3 suppresses apoptosis and promotes cell proliferation via the PI3K/Akt/FOXO4 signaling pathway, suggesting a potential use for NCAPD3 inhibitors as NSCLC therapeutics.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Carcinogênese/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/genética , Proliferação de Células/genética , Transformação Celular Neoplásica , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/genética , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , RNARESUMO
Although previous studies have examined the signaling pathway involved in melanogenesis through which ultraviolet (UV) or α-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (α-MSH) stimuli act as key inducers to produce melanin at the stratum basal layer of the epidermis, the signaling pathway regulating melanogenesis is still controversial. This study reports that α-MSH, not UVA and UVB, acted as a major stimulus of melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Signaling pathway analysis using gene knockdown technology and chemical inhibitors, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) played an important role in melanogenesis. Unexpectedly, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, increased melanogenesis without UV or α-MSH stimulation, suggesting that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may not be a major signaling pathway for melanogenesis. Chemical inhibition of the MEKs/ERKs/RSK2 signaling pathway using U0126 or BI-D1870 suppressed melanogenesis by stimulation of UVA or α-MSH stimulation, or both. In particular, the genetic depletion of RSK2 or constitutive active (CA)-RSK2 overexpression showed that RSK2 plays a key role in melanogenesis. Interestingly, forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4) was phosphorylated by RSK2, resulting in the increase of FOXO4's transactivation activity. Notably, the FOXO4 mutant harboring serine-to-alanine replacement at the phosphorylation sites totally abrogated the transactivation activity and reduced melanin production, indicating that RSK2-mediated FOXO4 activity plays a key role in melanogenesis. Furthermore, kaempferol, a flavonoid inhibiting the RSK2 activity, suppressed melanogenesis. In addition, FOXO4-wt overexpression showed that FOXO4 enhance melanin synthesis. Overall, the RSK2-FOXO4 signaling pathway plays a key role in modulating melanogenesis.
Assuntos
Melaninas , Pteridinas , Proteínas Quinases S6 Ribossômicas 90-kDa , Transdução de Sinais , alfa-MSH , Proteínas Quinases S6 Ribossômicas 90-kDa/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases S6 Ribossômicas 90-kDa/genética , Melaninas/biossíntese , Melaninas/metabolismo , Animais , alfa-MSH/metabolismo , alfa-MSH/farmacologia , Camundongos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Raios Ultravioleta , Morfolinas/farmacologia , Cromonas/farmacologia , Nitrilas/farmacologia , Butadienos/farmacologia , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Fosforilação , Melanoma Experimental/metabolismo , MelanogêneseRESUMO
Small round cell sarcoma is a group of undifferentiated malignancies arising in the bone and soft tissue, notable for Ewing sarcoma. Recently, a new World Health Organization classification has been introduced, including an additional subset of these sarcomas, named CIC-rearranged sarcoma. Within this group, CIC-FOXO4 translocation is an exceedingly rare fusion that has been reported only 4 times in the literature. Herein, we report in-depth the pathological, clinical, and molecular features of a CIC-FOXO4 translocation-driven tumor in a 46-year-old woman.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) has been observed to alleviate ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study sought to explore the molecular mechanism of Smurf2-mediated forkhead box O4 (FOXO4) ubiquitination in oxygen-glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced pyroptosis of cortical neurons. METHODS: Human cortical neurons (HCN-2) were subjected to OGD/R to establish a cell model of cerebral stroke. Smurf2, FOXO4, and doublecortin domain containing 2 (DCDC2) expressions were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. LDH release, pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, GSDMD-N, and cleaved-caspase-3, as well as inflammatory factors IL-1ß and IL-18, were assessed by LDH assay kit, Western blot, and ELISA. The ubiquitination level of FOXO4 was determined by ubiquitination assay. The bindings of Smurf2 to FOXO4 and FOXO4 to DCDC2 were testified by Co-IP, ChIP, and dual-luciferase assays. Rescue experiments were designed to validate the role of FOXO4/DCDC2 in the pyroptosis of HCN-2 cells. RESULTS: Smurf2 was weakly expressed, while FOXO4 and DCDC2 were prominently expressed in OGD/R-treated HCN-2 cells. Smurf2 overexpression promoted LDH release, reduced NLRP3, GSDMD-N, and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins, and decreased IL-1ß and IL-18 concentrations. Sumrf2 improved the ubiquitination level of FOXO4 to downregulate its protein level. FOXO4 is bound to the DCDC2 promoter to facilitate its transcription. Overexpression of FOXO4 or DCDC2 reversed the inhibition of Smurf2 overexpression on pyroptosis of OGD/Rtreated HCN-2 cells. CONCLUSION: Smurf2 overexpression facilitated the ubiquitination of FOXO4 to reduce its protein level, thereby suppressing DCDC2 transcription and restricting OGD/R-induced pyroptosis of cortical neurons.
Assuntos
Piroptose , Traumatismo por Reperfusão , Humanos , Piroptose/fisiologia , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/genética , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Glucose/metabolismo , Interleucina-18/metabolismo , Caspase 3/metabolismo , Traumatismo por Reperfusão/metabolismo , Reperfusão , Neurônios/metabolismo , Ubiquitinação , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Proteínas Associadas aos Microtúbulos/metabolismoRESUMO
A classic model for identification of novel differentiation mechanisms and pathways is the eye lens that consists of a monolayer of quiescent epithelial cells that are the progenitors of a core of mature fully differentiated fiber cells. The differentiation of lens epithelial cells into fiber cells follows a coordinated program involving cell cycle exit, expression of key structural proteins and the hallmark elimination of organelles to achieve transparency. Although multiple mechanisms and pathways have been identified to play key roles in lens differentiation, the entirety of mechanisms governing lens differentiation remain to be discovered. A previous study established that specific chromatin accessibility changes were directly associated with the expression of essential lens fiber cell genes, suggesting that the activity of transcription factors needed for expression of these genes could be regulated through binding access to the identified chromatin regions. Sequence analysis of the identified chromatin accessible regions revealed enhanced representation of the binding sequence for the transcription factor FOXO4 suggesting a direct role for FOXO4 in expression of these genes. FOXO4 is known to regulate a variety of cellular processes including cellular response to metabolic and oxidative stress, cell cycle withdrawal, and homeostasis, suggesting a previously unidentified role for FOXO4 in the regulation of lens cell differentiation. To further evaluate the role of FOXO4 we employed a multiomics approach to analyze the relationship between genome-wide FOXO4 binding, the differentiation-specific expression of key genes, and chromatin accessibility. To better identify active promoters and enhancers we also examined histone modification through analysis of H3K27ac. Specific methods included CUT&RUN (FOXO4 binding and H3K27ac modification), RNA-seq (differentiation state specific gene expression), and ATAC-seq (chromatin accessibility). CUT&RUN identified 20,966 FOXO4 binding sites and 33,921 H3K27ac marked regions across the lens fiber cell genome. RNA-seq identified 956 genes with significantly greater expression levels in fiber cells compared to epithelial cells (log2FC > 0.7, q < 0.05) and 2548 genes with significantly lower expression levels (log2FC < -0.7, q < 0.05). Integrated analysis identified 1727 differentiation-state specific genes that were nearest neighbors to at least one FOXO4 binding site, including genes encoding lens gap junctions (GJA1, GJA3), lens structural proteins (BFSP1, CRYBB1, ASL1), and genes required for lens transparency (HSF4, NRCAM). Multiomics analysis comparing the identified FOXO4 binding sites in published ATAC-seq data revealed that chromatin accessibility was associated with FOXO4-dependent gene expression during lens differentiation. The results provide evidence for an important requirement for FOXO4 in the regulated expression of key genes required for lens differentiation and link epigenetic regulation of chromatin accessibility and H3K27ac histone modification with the function of FOXO4 in controlling lens gene expression during lens fiber cell differentiation.
Assuntos
Epigênese Genética , Cristalino , Multiômica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Cromatina/metabolismo , Cristalino/metabolismoRESUMO
This study aimed to investigate the effects of JQ1 in a renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) rat model. Twenty-four adult male Wistar Albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. The sham group underwent laparotomy without ischemia-reperfusion induction. The control group experienced bilateral renal ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by a 2-hour reperfusion period. The vehicle group (IR group + DMSO) and JQ1 group (same as in control IR + 25 mg/kg JQ1). Kidney and blood samples were collected 2 hours after reperfusion. Blood samples were used to analyze serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Renal tissue was assessed for TNF-alpha, caspase-3, FOXO4, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and histological analysis. The control group exhibited significantly higher serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, caspase-3, TNF-alpha, and FOXO4 levels in renal tissue compared to the sham group. Additionally, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was significantly decreased in the control group. Histopathological examination revealed severe kidney damage in the control group compared to the sham group. In rats treated with JQ1, serum creatinine, BUN, caspase-3, TNF-alpha, and FOXO4 levels in renal tissue significantly improved. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was substantially increased (p-value 0.01) compared to the Vehicle and Control groups. The tubular severity score was also significantly reduced in the JQ1-treated groups compared to the Control and Vehicle groups. In conclusion, JQ1 significantly ameliorated renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by suppressing apoptosis and inflammatory pathways.
Assuntos
Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt , Traumatismo por Reperfusão , Ratos , Masculino , Animais , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Caspase 3/metabolismo , Caspase 3/farmacologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/farmacologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismo , Creatinina , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/farmacologia , Ratos Wistar , Rim , Estresse Oxidativo , Isquemia , Traumatismo por Reperfusão/tratamento farmacológico , Traumatismo por Reperfusão/metabolismo , Traumatismo por Reperfusão/patologia , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Asthma imposes a heavy burden due to its high prevalence. Forkhead box O4 (FoxO4) proteins participate in the modulation of cell progression. However, the role and mechanism of FoxO4 in asthma remains uncharted. METHODS: An allergic asthma model was constructed by the induction of ovalbumin and interleukin (IL)-4 in mice and monocyte/macrophage-like Raw264.7 cells, respectively. The role and mechanism of FoxO4 in asthma was determined by pathological staining, immunofluorescence assay, measurement of inflammatory cells in the blood, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Ovalbumin treatment triggered an obvious inflammatory cell infiltration with a prominent increase in F4/80+ cell numbers. The relative messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of FoxO4 were increased in both ovalbumin-induced mice and interleukin-4 (IL-4)-induced Raw264.7 cells. Inhibition of FoxO4 via AS1842856 reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, the number of Periodic Acid Schiff+ (PAS+) goblet cells, the numbers of inflammatory cells in the blood, and the airway resistance in ovalbumin-induced mice. Besides, interference of FoxO4 decreased the number of F4/80+CD206+ cells, and the relative protein expressions of CD163 and Arg1 in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, suppression of FoxO4 diminished the relative mRNA and protein expressions of LXA4R in both ovalbumin-induced mice and IL-4-induced Raw264.7 cells. Overexpression of LXA4R reversed the outcomes caused by repression of FoxO4, including airway resistance, the number of F4/80+ cells, the proportion of CD206+ cells in ovalbumin-induced mice, and the proportion of F4/80+CD206+ cells in IL-4-induced Raw264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: FoxO4/LXA4R axis mediated macrophage M2 polarization in allergic asthma.
Assuntos
Asma , Interleucina-4 , Animais , Camundongos , Ovalbumina/efeitos adversos , Asma/patologia , Células RAW 264.7 , RNA Mensageiro , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Líquido da Lavagem Broncoalveolar , Inflamação , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Fatores de Transcrição ForkheadRESUMO
Recent studies have shown that the occurrence and development of common liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, are related to liver aging(LA). Therefore, to explore the effect and mechanism of Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP), a traditional classic prescription in improving LA with multiple targets, the present study randomly divided 24 rats into a normal group, a model group, a DHZCP group, and a vitamin E(VE) group, with six rats in each group. The LA model was induced by continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose(D-gal) in rats. For the LA model rats, the general situation was evaluated by aging phenotype and body weight(BW). LA was assessed by the pathological characteristics of hepatocyte senescence, hepatic function indexes, the staining characteristics of phosphorylated histone family 2A variant(γ-H2AX), and the expression levels of cell cycle arrest proteins(P21, P53, P16) and senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP) in the liver. The activation of the reactive oxygen species(ROS)-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/forkhead box protein O4(FoxO4) signaling pathway was estimated by hepatic ROS expression feature and the protein expression levels of the key signaling molecules in the PI3K/Akt/FoxO4 signaling pathway. The results showed that after the treatment with DHZCP or VE for 12 weeks, for the DHZCP and VE groups, the characterized aging phenotype, BW, pathological characteristics of hepatocyte senescence, hepatic function indexes, relative expression of ROS in the liver, protein expression levels of key signaling molecules including p-PI3K, p-Akt, and FoxO4 in the liver, staining characteristics of γ-H2AX, and the protein expression levels of P16, P21, P53, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the liver were improved, and the effects of DHZCP and VE were similar. Based on the D-gal-induced LA model in rats, this study demonstrates that DHZCP can ameliorate LA with multiple targets in vivo, and its effects and mechanism are related to regulating the activation of the ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/FoxO4 signaling pathway in the liver. These findings are expected to provide new pharmacological evidence for the treatment of DHZCP in aging-related liver diseases.
Assuntos
Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt , Animais , Ratos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/genética , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/genética , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Transdução de Sinais , Fígado , Envelhecimento , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Interleucina-6RESUMO
Oxygen homeostasis is an important organizing principle for understanding development, physiology, disease, and evolution. Under various physiological and pathological states, organisms experience oxygen deficiency or hypoxia. FoxO4 has been recognized as an important transcriptional regulator involved in a variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and stress resistance, but its role in hypoxia adaptation mechanisms in animals is not so clear. To explore the role of foxO4 in the hypoxia response, we detected the expression of foxO4 and the regulatory relationship between Hif1α and foxO4 under hypoxic conditions. It was found that the expression of foxO4 was up-regulated in ZF4 cells and zebrafish tissues after hypoxia treatment, and Hif1α could directly target the HRE of the foxO4 promoter to regulate foxO4 transcription, indicating that foxO4 was involved in the hypoxia response by the Hif1α-mediated pathway. Furthermore, we obtained foxO4 knockout zebrafish and found that the disruption of foxO4 increased the tolerance to hypoxia. Further research found that the oxygen consumption and locomotor activity of foxO4-/- zebrafish were lower than those of WT zebrafish, as was true for NADH content, NADH/NAD+ rate, and expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex-related genes. This suggests that disruption of foxO4 reduced the oxygen demand threshold of the organism, which explained why the foxO4-/- zebrafish were more tolerant to hypoxia than WT zebrafish. These results will provide a theoretical basis for further study of the role of foxO4 in the hypoxia response.
Assuntos
NAD , Peixe-Zebra , Animais , Peixe-Zebra/metabolismo , NAD/metabolismo , Hipóxia/genética , Hipóxia/metabolismo , Proteínas de Peixe-Zebra/genética , Proteínas de Peixe-Zebra/metabolismo , Oxigênio/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most aggressively malignant tumor in the bile duct system. The prognosis for patients with GBC is extremely poor. Ponicidin is a diterpenoid compound extracted and purified from the traditional Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens, and showed promising anti-cancer effects in a variety of tumors. However, Ponicidin has not been investigated in GBC. METHODS: CCK-8, colony formation assay and EdU-488 DNA synthesis assay were performed to investigate the effect of Ponicidin on GBC cells proliferation. Cell invasion and migration assays and wound-healing assay were used to explore the effect of Ponicidin on invasion and migration ability of GBC cells. mRNA-seq was adopted to explore the underlying mechanisms. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were conducted to detect the protein level. CHIP assay and dual-luciferase assay were used to validate binding motif. Nude mouse model of GBC was used to assess the anti-tumor effect and safety of Ponicidin. RESULTS: Ponicidin inhibited the proliferation and cell invasion and migration of GBC cells in vitro. Moreover, Ponicidin exerted anti-tumor effects by down-regulating the expression of MAGEB2. Mechanically, Ponicidin upregulated the FOXO4 expression and promoted it to accumulate in nucleus to inhibit the transcript of MAGEB2. Furthermore, Ponicidin suppressed tumor growth in the nude mouse model of GBC with excellent safety. CONCLUSION: Ponicidin may be a promising agent for the treatment of GBC effectively and safely.
Assuntos
Diterpenos , Neoplasias da Vesícula Biliar , Animais , Camundongos , Neoplasias da Vesícula Biliar/genética , Neoplasias da Vesícula Biliar/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Vesícula Biliar/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos Nus , Diterpenos/farmacologia , Proliferação de Células , Movimento Celular , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismoRESUMO
The antler is the unique mammalian organ found to be able to regenerate completely and periodically after loss, and the continuous proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal cells and chondrocytes together complete the regeneration of the antler. Circular non-coding RNAs (circRNAs) are considered to be important non-coding RNAs that regulate body development and growth. However, there are no reports on circRNAs regulating the antler regeneration process. In this study, full-transcriptome high-throughput sequencing was performed on sika deer antler interstitial and cartilage tissues, and the sequencing results were verified and analyzed. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network related to antler growth and regeneration was further constructed, and the differentially expressed circRNA2829 was screened out from the network to study its effect on chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. The results indicated that circRNA2829 promoted cell proliferation and increased the level of intracellular ALP. The analysis of RT-qPCR and Western blot demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expression levels of genes involved in differentiation rose. These data revealed that circRNAs play a crucial regulatory role in deer antler regeneration and development. CircRNA2829 might regulate the antler regeneration process through miR-4286-R+1/FOXO4.
Assuntos
Chifres de Veado , Cervos , MicroRNAs , Animais , Condrócitos , Transcriptoma , Chifres de Veado/metabolismo , RNA Circular/genética , RNA Circular/metabolismo , Cervos/genética , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Proliferação de Células/genética , MicroRNAs/genética , MicroRNAs/metabolismoRESUMO
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) occurs in various end stages of lung disease, and it is characterized by persistent scarring of the lung parenchyma with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to degressive quality of life and earlier mortality. FOXO4-D-Retro-Inverso (FOXO4-DRI), a synthesis peptide as a specific FOXO4 blocker, selectively induced dissociation of the FOXO4-p53 complex and nuclear exclusion of p53. Simultaneously, the p53 signaling pathway has been reported to activate in fibroblasts isolated from IPF fibrotic lung tissues and the p53 mutants cooperate with other factors that have the ability to disturb the synthesis of ECM. Yet, whether FOXO4-DRI influences the nuclear exclusion of p53 and then obstructs PF progress is still unknown. In this research, we explored the effect of FOXO4-DRI on bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF mouse model and activated fibroblasts model. The animal group of FOXO4-DRI therapeutic administration shows a milder pathologic change and less collagen deposition compared with the BLM-induced group. We also found the FOXO4-DRI resets the distribution of intranuclear p53 and concurrently decreased the total ECM proteins content. After further validation, FOXO4-DRI may well be a promising therapeutic approach to treating pulmonary fibrosis.
Assuntos
Fibrose Pulmonar , Camundongos , Animais , Fibrose Pulmonar/induzido quimicamente , Fibrose Pulmonar/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrose Pulmonar/metabolismo , Bleomicina/metabolismo , Bleomicina/farmacologia , Bleomicina/uso terapêutico , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismo , Qualidade de Vida , Pulmão , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular/patologia , Fibroblastos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
Hemochorial placentation involves the differentiation of invasive trophoblast cells, specialized cells that possess the capacity to exit the placenta and invade into the uterus where they restructure the vasculature. Invasive trophoblast cells arise from a well-defined compartment within the placenta, referred to as the junctional zone in rat and the extravillous trophoblast cell column in human. In this study, we investigated roles for AKT1, a serine/threonine kinase, in placental development using a genome-edited/loss-of-function rat model. Disruption of AKT1 resulted in placental, fetal and postnatal growth restriction. Forkhead box O4 (Foxo4), which encodes a transcription factor and known AKT substrate, was abundantly expressed in the junctional zone and in invasive trophoblast cells of the rat placentation site. Foxo4 gene disruption using genome editing resulted in placentomegaly, including an enlarged junctional zone. AKT1 and FOXO4 regulate the expression of many of the same transcripts expressed by trophoblast cells, but in opposite directions. In summary, we have identified AKT1 and FOXO4 as part of a regulatory network that reciprocally controls critical indices of hemochorial placenta development.
Assuntos
Placenta , Placentação , Animais , Feminino , Gravidez , Ratos , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Placenta/metabolismo , Placentação/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Trofoblastos , ÚteroRESUMO
Within the present study we proposed a novel approach for senolysis based on the simultaneous disturbance of the several homeostasis-maintaining systems in senescent cells including intracellular ionic balance, energy production and intracellular utilization of damaged products. Of note, we could not induce senolysis by applying ouabain, amiloride, valinomycin or NH4Cl-compounds that modify each of these systems solely. However, we found that ionophore nigericin can disturb plasma membrane potential, intracellular pH, mitochondrial membrane potential and autophagy at once. By affecting all of the tested homeostasis-maintaining systems, nigericin induced senolytic action towards stromal and epithelial senescent cells of different origins. Moreover, the senolytic effect of nigericin was independent of the senescence-inducing stimuli. We uncovered that K+ efflux caused by nigericin initiated pyroptosis in senescent cells. According to our data, the higher sensitivity of senescent cells compared to the control ones towards nigericin-induced death was partially mediated by the lower intracellular K+ content in senescent cells and by their predisposition towards pyroptosis. Finally, we proposed an interval dosing strategy to minimize the negative effects of nigericin on the control cells and to achieve maximal senolytic effect. Hence, our data suggest ionophore nigericin as a new senotherapeutic compound for testing against age-related diseases.
Assuntos
Senoterapia , Nigericina/farmacologia , Ionóforos/farmacologia , Transporte Biológico , HomeostaseRESUMO
Oxidative stress damage to the lens is a key factor in most cataracts. Forkhead box O 4 (FOXO4), a member of the forkhead box O family, plays a pivotal role in oxidative stress. FOXO4 is upregulated in lens of age-related cataract patients, but its role in cataract has not been elucidated. Herein, we investigated the role and mechanism of FOXO4 during oxidative stress damage in lens epithelial cells. H2O2 treatment enhanced FOXO4 expression in HLEpiC cells. Short hairpin RNAs mediated FOXO4 silence aggravated H2O2-induced cell apoptosis. In addition, upon H2O2 exposure, silencing of FOXO4 reduced SOD and CAT activities, as well as increased intracellular MDA and ROS levels. FOXO4 silencing also inhibited Nrf2 nuclear translocation, followed by reducing the expressions of Nrf2-governed antioxidant genes HO-1 and NOQ-1. Exogenous overexpression of FOXO4 was also involved in this study and exhibited opposite effects of FOXO4-silencing. Mechanistically, FOXO4 directly bound the promoter of TRIM25 and regulated its transcription, thereby activating the Nrf2 signaling. Taken together, in the condition of oxidative stress, the expression of FOXO4 showed a compensatory upregulation and it exhibited an anti-oxidative effect by modulating the transcription of TRIM25, thus activating the Nrf2 signaling. The FOXO4/TRIM25/Nrf2 axis may be associated with the pathological mechanisms of cataract.
Assuntos
Catarata , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2 , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Apoptose/genética , Catarata/genética , Catarata/patologia , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Humanos , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/farmacologia , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Proteínas com Motivo Tripartido/metabolismo , Ubiquitina-Proteína LigasesRESUMO
Metastasis is the main cause of death for patients suffering gastric cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSC) are critical attributes of metastasis, both of which are regulated tightly by DNA methylation and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Here, we studied the functions of DNA dioxygenase TET1 in regulating Wnt signaling and in gastric cancer metastasis. Knocking-down and overexpressing TET1 in gastric cancer cells promoted and inhibited metastatic spreading to the liver in immune-deficient mice, respectively. TET1 showed inhibitory effects on metastasis-related features -EMT and CSC, which were reversed by interfering with Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. RNA-sequencing identified FOXO4 as a direct transactivating target of TET1. FOXO4 directly interacted with ß-catenin and recruited it in the cytoplasm, so as to inhibit ß-catenin-mediated transcription of Wnt target genes, including CSC marker EpCAM. Moreover, modulation of FOXO4 could reverse the effects of TET1 manipulation on EMT and self-renewal of CSCs. The analysis with clinical samples confirmed the value of FOXO4 as an independent prognostic predictor of patients' overall survival. Taken together, regulation of Wnt signaling by TET1/FOXO4 is essential for metastasis-associated cellular properties, and targeting TET1/FOXO4/ß-catenin pathway may serve as promising therapeutics in the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer metastasis.
RESUMO
Epilepsy (EP) is one of the most universal neurological disorders. This study investigated the mechanism of forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4) on hippocampal neuronal damage in EP mice. Initially, the EP mouse model and the in vitro HT-22 cell model were established. EP seizures and neuronal damage in mice were assessed. FOXO4, microRNA (miR)-138-5p, and rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) levels in hippocampal tissues or HT-22 cells were examined. The cell viability and apoptosis of HT-22 cells were determined. The concentrations of oxidative stress markers and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in hippocampal tissues or HT-22 cells were detected. We found that FOXO4 was poorly expressed in EP. FOXO4 overexpression alleviated hippocampal neuronal damage in EP mice and improved HT-22 cell viability and inhibited apoptosis, and decreased oxidative stress and inflammation in hippocampal tissue and HT-22 cells. The bindings of miR-138-5p to FOXO4 and ROCK2 were analyzed, which showed that FOXO4 promoted miR-138-5p via binding to the miR-138-5p promoter region, and miR-138-5p inhibited ROCK2 expression. Joint experiments showed that miR-138-5p suppression or ROCK2 overexpression reversed the alleviation of FOXO4 overexpression on hippocampal neuronal damage. FOXO4 inhibited ROCK2 expression via promoting miR-138-5p expression, thus alleviating hippocampal neuronal damage in EP mice.
Assuntos
Epilepsia , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead , MicroRNAs , Quinases Associadas a rho , Animais , Apoptose/genética , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Epilepsia/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Camundongos , MicroRNAs/genética , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Quinases Associadas a rho/genética , Quinases Associadas a rho/metabolismoRESUMO
Nuclear located hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) remains the key obstacle to cure chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In our previous investigation, it was found that FoxO4 could inhibit HBV core promoter activity through downregulating the expression of HNF4α. However, the exact mechanisms whereby FoxO4 inhibits HBV replication, especially its effect on cccDNA, remain unclear. Here, our data further revealed that FoxO4 could effectively inhibit cccDNA mediated transcription and HBV replication without affecting cccDNA level. Mechanistic study showed that FoxO4 could cause epigenetic suppression of cccDNA. Although FoxO4-mediated downregulation of HNF4α contributed to inhibiting HBV core promoter activity, it had little effect on cccDNA epigenetic regulation. Further, it was found that FoxO4 could colocalize within promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies and interact with PML. Of note, PML was revealed to be critical for FoxO4-mediated inhibition of cccDNA epigenetic modification and of the following cccDNA transcription and HBV replication. Furthermore, FoxO4 was found to be downregulated in HBV-infected hepatocytes and human liver tissues, and it was negatively correlated with cccDNA transcriptional activity in CHB patients. Together, these findings highlight the role of FoxO4 in suppressing cccDNA transcription and HBV replication via genetic downregulation of HNF4α and epigenetic suppression of cccDNA through interacting with PML. Targeting FoxO4 may present as a new therapeutic strategy against chronic HBV infection. IMPORTANCE HBV cccDNA is a determining factor for viral persistence and the main obstacle for a cure of chronic hepatitis B. Strategies that target cccDNA directly are therefore of great importance in controlling persistent HBV infection. In present investigation, we found that FoxO4 could efficiently suppress cccDNA transcription and HBV replication without affecting the level of cccDNA itself. Further, our data revealed that FoxO4 might inhibit cccDNA function via a two-part mechanism: one is to epigenetically suppress cccDNA transcription via interacting with PML, and the other is to inhibit HBV core promoter activity via the genetic downregulation of HNF4α. Of note, HBV might dampen the expression of FoxO4 for its own persistent infection. We propose that manipulation of FoxO4 may present as a potential therapeutic strategy against chronic HBV infection.
Assuntos
Regulação para Baixo , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead , Vírus da Hepatite B , Proteína da Leucemia Promielocítica , Replicação Viral , DNA Circular/genética , DNA Viral/genética , Epigênese Genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Vírus da Hepatite B/genética , Vírus da Hepatite B/metabolismo , Hepatite B Crônica/fisiopatologia , Hepatite B Crônica/virologia , Fator 4 Nuclear de Hepatócito/genética , Fator 4 Nuclear de Hepatócito/metabolismo , Humanos , Proteína da Leucemia Promielocítica/metabolismo , Transcrição Gênica/genética , Replicação Viral/genéticaRESUMO
This study intended to clarify the mechanism of long noncoding RNA ZBTB40-IT1 in directing human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (hBMSC) differentiation. hBMSCs underwent osteogenic and adipogenic induction, and an osteoporosis mouse model was established via ovariectomy (OVX). Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were utilized in hBMSCs and mice to investigate the function of ZBTB40-IT1, microRNA (miR)-514a-3p, and forkhead box O4 (FOXO4). Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pulldown assays were applied to evaluate the binding of miR-514a-3p to ZBTB40-IT1 or FOXO4. The femur of the OVX mice had upregulated ZBTB40-IT1 and FOXO4 expression and downregulated miR-514a-3p expression. The bone mass was increased in OVX mice through ZBTB40-IT1 or FOXO4 knockdown. ZBTB40-IT1 and FOXO4 were downregulated, whereas miR-514a-3p was upregulated in osteogenesis-induced hBMSCs, which was the opposite in adipogenesis-induced hBMSCs. ZBTB40-IT1 or FOXO4 knockdown or miR-514a-3p overexpression increased ARS/ALP absorbance and RUNX2 and OCN levels but decreased fat density and PPARγ and FABP4 levels in hBMSCs. Mechanistically, ZBTB40-IT1 elevated FOXO4 expression by binding to miR-514a-3p. miR-514a-3p inhibition annulled the effects of ZBTB40-IT1 downregulation on hBMSC osteogenesis and adipogenesis, and FOXO4 overexpression abolished the impacts of miR-514a-3p upregulation on hBMSC osteogenesis and adipogenesis. Conclusively, ZBTB40-IT1 inhibition promotes the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs via the miR-514a-3p/FOXO4 axis, thereby increasing bone mass.