The therapeutic effect and targets of herba Sarcandrae on breast cancer and the construction of a prognostic signature consisting of inflammation-related genes.

Background: The prevalence of breast cancer (BRCA), which is common among women, is on the rise. This study applied network pharmacology to explore the potential mechanism of action of herba sarcandrae in BRCA and construct a prognostic signature composed of inflammation-related genes. Methods: The active ingredients of herba sarcandrae were screened using the SymMap, TCMID, and TCMSP platforms, and the molecular targets were determined in the UniProt database. The "drug-active compound-potential target" network was established with Cytoscape 3.7.2. The molecular targets were subjected to disease ontology, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses. AutoDock software was used for molecular docking. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to inflammation were obtained from the BRCA Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In the training cohort, the univariate Cox regression model was applied to preliminarily screen prognostic genes. A multigene signature was built by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model, followed by validation through Kaplan‒Meier, Cox, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Results: Forty-one active compounds were identified, and 265 therapeutic targets for herba sarcandrae were predicted. GO enrichment results revealed significant enrichment of biological processes, such as response to xenobiotic stimuli, response to nutrient levels, and response to lipopolysaccharide. KEGG analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways such as AGE-RAGE and chemical carcinogenesis receptor activation signaling pathways. In addition, the herbs Marc-Andre and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway. Sixteen inflammatory signatures, including BST2, GPR132, IL12B, IL18, IL1R1, IL2RB, IRF1, and others, were constructed, and the risk score was found to be a strong independent prognostic factor for overall survival in BRCA patients. The 16-inflammation signature was associated with several clinical features (age, clinical stage, T, and N classifications) and could reflect immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironments with different immune cells. Conclusions: Herba sarcandrae and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the IRF1/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway, and the 16-member inflammatory signature might be a novel biomarker for predicting BRCA patient prognosis, providing more accurate guidance for clinical treatment prognosis evaluation and having important reference value for individualized treatment selection.

Study on the Mechanism of Notch Pathway Mediates the Role of Lenvatinib-resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Organoids.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of treatment resistance has hindered the efficacy of targeted therapies used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of organoids constructed from lenvatinib-resistant HCC cells. METHODS: Hep3B cell and human HCC organoids were cultured and identified using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Immunohistochemistry. Lenvatinib-sensitive/ resistant Hep3B cells were constructed using lenvatinib (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 µM) and lenvatinib (0, 1, 10, and 100 µM). qRT-PCR and flow cytometry were utilized to determine HCC stem cell markers CD44, CD90, and CD133 expressions. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on organoids.-Western blot evaluated Notch pathwayrelated proteins (NOTCH1 and Jagged) expressions. Furthermore, DAPT, an inhibitor of the Notch pathway, was used to investigate the effects of lenvatinib on resistance or stemness in organoids and human HCC tissues. RESULTS: The organoids were successfully cultivated. With the increase of lenvatinib concentration, sensitive cell organoids were markedly degraded and ATP activity was gradually decreased, while there was no significant change in ATP activity of resistant cell organoids. CD44 expressions were elevated after lenvatinib treatment compared with the control group. KEGG showed that lenvatinib treatment of organoids constructed from Hep3B cells mainly activated the Notch pathway. Compared with the control group, NOTCH1 and Jagged expressions elevated, and ATP activity decreased after lenvatinib treatment. However, ATP activity was notably decreased after DAPT treatment. Moreover, DAPT inhibited lenvatinib resistance and the increase in the expressions of CD44 caused by lenvatinib. Besides, 100 µM lenvatinib significantly inhibited the growth and ATP activity of human HCC organoids, and DAPT increased the inhibitory effect of lenvatinib. CONCLUSION: Lenvatinib regulated resistance and stemness in organoids via the Notch pathway.

Tamoxifen induces ferroptosis in MCF-7 organoid.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common female malignant tumor type globally. The occurrence and development of breast cancer involve ferroptosis, which is closely related to its treatment. The development of breast cancer organoids facilitates the analysis of breast cancer molecular background and tumor biological behavior, including clinical pathological characteristics, drug response, or drug resistance relationship, and promotes the advancement of precision treatment for breast cancer. The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture of breast cancer MCF-7 organoid is more similar to the in vivo environment and thus obtains more realistic results than 2D cell culture. Our study examined the new mechanism of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer through breast cancer MCF-7 organoids. METHODS: We used 3D cells to culture breast cancer MCF-7 organoid, as well as tamoxifen-treated MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7 TAMR) cells. We used transcriptome sequencing. We detected GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein levels using Western blotting and the content of ATP, glutathione, and ferrous ions using the Cell Counting Lite 3D Kit. We assessed cell viability using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. RESULTS: Tamoxifen significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 organoids and significantly induced ferroptosis in MCF-7 organoids. The ferroptosis inhibitor reversed the significant tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid inhibition activity. Moreover, the ferroptosis activator enhanced the tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 TAMR cell activity inhibition. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that ferroptosis plays an important role in tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid cell death and provides a new research idea for precise treatment of breast cancer through an organoid model.

SALL1 promotes proliferation and metastasis and activates phosphorylation of p65 and JUN in colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most usual malignant tumors, and its incidence continues to rise. Our purpose was to explore the function and potential regulatory mechanisms of SALL1, a differentially methylated gene in CRC, in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Firstly, methylation differential gene SALL1 in CRC was screened and validated. SALL1 overexpression plasmids or SALL1 siRNAs were transfected in HT-29 and SW480 cells. Moreover, 10 µM T-5224 was added in SALL1-overexpressed CRC cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry and transwell assays were utilized to assess cell proliferation, cycle, migration, and invasion, respectively. Then CRC organoids were cultured. Next, HT-29 and SW480 cells transfected with SALL1 overexpression lentivirus were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. Finally, in vivo tumorigenesis was used to analyze the effect of SALL1 overexpression on subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice. RESULTS: The methylation level of CpG island in SALL1 promoter was increased in CRC tissues and could distinguish tumor tissues. Overexpression of SALL1 accelerated proliferation, migration and invasion of HT-29 and SW480 cells, and silencing of SALL1 attenuated proliferation, migration and invasion of HT-29 and SW480 cells. Through analysis and validation, we found that overexpression of SALL1 also could upregulate p-p65 and p-JUN expressions. Besides, c-Fos/activator protein (AP)- 1 inhibitor (T-5224) could reverse the induction of CRC progression by SALL1 overexpression. In vivo, we also proved that overexpression of SALL1 significantly increased tumor volume, tumor weight, and p-JUN expression. CONCLUSIONS: SALL1 could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and activate phosphorylation of p65 and JUN.

Small Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Promotes Hepatic Gluconeogenesis via Enhancing Glucagon/cAMP/Protein Kinase A/CREB Signaling.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for serious liver diseases. The liver plays a unique role in controlling carbohydrate metabolism to maintain the glucose level within the normal range. Chronic HBV infection has been reported to associate with a high prevalence of diabetes. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying the potential association remains largely unknown. Here, we report that liver-targeted delivery of small HBV surface antigen (SHBs), the most abundant viral protein of HBV, could elevate blood glucose levels and impair glucose and insulin tolerance in mice by promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. Hepatocytes with SHB expression also exhibited increased glucose production and expression of gluconeogenic genes glucose-6-phosphatase (G6pc) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in response to glucagon stimulation. Mechanistically, SHBs increased cellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and consequently activated protein kinase A (PKA) and its downstream effector cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). SHBs-induced activation of CREB enhanced transcripts of gluconeogenic genes, thus promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. The elevated cAMP level resulted from increased transcription activity and expression of adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1) by SHBs through a binary E-box factor binding site (BEF). Taken together, we unveiled a novel pathogenic role and mechanism of SHBs in hepatic gluconeogenesis, and these results might highlight a potential target for preventive and therapeutic intervention in the development and progression of HBV-associated diabetes. IMPORTANCE Chronic HBV infection causes progressive liver damage and is found to be a risk factor for diabetes. However, the mechanism in the regulation of glucose metabolism by HBV remains to be established. In the current study, we demonstrate for the first time that the small hepatitis B virus surface antigen (SHBs) of HBV elevates AC1 transcription and expression to activate cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling and subsequently induces the expression of gluconeogenic genes and promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. This study provides a direct link between HBV infection and diabetes and implicates that SHBs may represent a potential target for the treatment of HBV-induced metabolic disorders.

Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with trans-orally inserted anvil (OrVil™): a single institution experience.

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) using trans-orally inserted anvil (OrVil™) in terms of operative characteristics and short term outcomes. RESULTS: Characteristics of 27 patients with gastric cancer who underwent LATG from October 2009 to October 2012 in the Foshan Affiliated Hospital of South Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, six were reconstructed by mini-laparotomy and 21 by OrVil™. The clinicopathological characteristics, total operation time, total blood loss, abdominal incision and complications of anastomosis including stenosis and leakage, were compared between the groups undergoing LATG with OrVil™ and the group undergoing mini-laparotomy. RESULTS: The operations were successfully performed on all the patients without intraoperative complications or conversion to open surgery. Two (10%) patients received palliative procedure under laparoscope who were prepared for LATG preoperatively. One case had hepatic metastatic carcinoma and 1 case had tumor recurrence near the anastomosis 8 mo after surgery. The mean follow-up duration was 10 mo (range, 2-24 mo). Operation time was significantly reduced by the use of OrVil™ (198.42 ± 30.28 min vs 240.83 ± 8.23 min). The postoperative course with regard to occurrence of stenosis and leakage was not different between the two groups. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss. The upper abdominal incision was smaller in OrVil™ group than in mini-laparotomy group (4.31 ± 0.45 cm vs 6.43 ± 0.38 cm). CONCLUSION: LATG using OrVil™ is a technically feasible surgical procedure with sufficient lymph node dissection, less operation time and acceptable morbidity.