Dihydroartemisinin regulates apoptosis, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via mediating RECK.

BACKGROUND: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) possesses an inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer and promotes reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) expression in glioma cells. This study explored the role of DHA and RECK on ovarian cancer. METHODS: The RECK level in ovarian cancer was analyzed under GEPIA 2 database and proved by RT-qPCR. After being treated with DHA or infected with siRECK lentivirus, the viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells were evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays. Also, the expressions of factors related to apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were measured by Western blot or RT-qPCR. RESULTS: DHA-treatment weakened the viability, migration, invasion, and enhanced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. DHA also down-regulated the levels of Bcl-2, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, and up-regulated the levels of Bax, C-caspase-3 and E-cadherin in ovarian cancer cells. RECK was lowly expressed in both ovarian cancer tissues and cells. siRECK not only had an effect opposite to DHA on the viability, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and related-factors of ovarian cancer cells but also offset the effect of DHA on ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSION: DHA regulated apoptosis, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via mediating RECK.

Effects and Mechanisms of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation on Postoperative Recovery After Elective Cesarean Section.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects and mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) on postoperative recovery after cesarean section (CS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 108 women who underwent CS were randomized to receive TEA or sham-TEA. Four hours after CS, electrogastrogram (EGG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded for 30 min to assess gastric slow waves and autonomic functions, respectively. TEA at ST36 or sham-TEA at non-acupoints was performed for one hour right after recording ECG and EGG and then twice daily from postoperative days (POD) 1 to 3. In the morning of POD4, the EGG and ECG were recorded again for 30 min. RESULTS: TEA enhanced postoperative recovery associated with lower GI motility, reflected as a reduction in time of first flatus (p = 0.002) and time of first defecation (p < 0.001), an increase in the Bristol stool score (p < 0.001) and the number of SBMs (p < 0.001) in comparison with sham-TEA. TEA reduced symptoms associated with upper GI motility, including a reduction in time to resume semifluid (p = 0.008), and the total score of loss of appetite (p = 0.003) and belching (p = 0.038) from POD1 to POD3. Physiologically, TEA but not sham-TEA increased the percentage of normal gastric slow waves on POD4 compared with POD0 (p = 0.001). TEA reduced the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score from POD1 to POD3 (p < 0.001). TEA but not sham-TEA increased vagal activity (p = 0.013) and decreased sympathetic activity (p = 0.013) on POD4 compared with POD0. Two factors were found to be independent predictors of shortened time of the first defecation: the use of TEA and a shorter surgical duration. CONCLUSIONS: Needleless non-invasive TEA at ST36 is effective in promoting both lower and upper GI symptoms after CS by enhancing vagal and suppressing sympathetic activities [Correction added on 23 June 2020, after first online publication: The first word of the preceded sentence has been corrected.].

Erratum: SPOP targets oncogenic protein ZBTB3 for destruction to suppress endometrial cancer.

[This corrects the article on p. 2797 in vol. 9, PMID: 31911863.].

Erratum: SPOP targets oncogenic protein ZBTB3 for destruction to suppress endometrial cancer.

[This corrects the article on p. 2797 in vol. 9, PMID: 31911863.].

SPOP targets oncogenic protein ZBTB3 for destruction to suppress endometrial cancer.

Dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is closely associated with cancer initiation and progression. SPOP is an adapter protein of the CUL3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. Several whole genome/exome sequencing studies on endometrial cancers (ECs) revealed that the SPOP gene is frequently mutated. However, how SPOP mutations contribute to EC remains poorly understood. In this study, transcription factor ZBTB3 was identified as a proteolytic substrate for the SPOP-CUL3-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. SPOP specifically recognizes two Ser/Thr (S/T)-rich degrons located in ZBTB3 and triggers the degradation of ZBTB3 via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. By contrast, EC-associated SPOP mutants are defective in regulating ZBTB3 stability. SPOP inactivation promotes endometrial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion partly through ZBTB3 accumulation. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) was found to be a transcriptional target of ZBTB3. SPOP inactivation leads to ZBTB3-dependent SHH upregulation in EC cells. RUSKI-43, a small molecule inhibitor of SHH, suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in SPOP-depleted or EC-associated SPOP mutant-overexpressed EC cells. Our data indicate that pharmacological inhibition of SHH represents a possible treatment strategy for SPOP-mutated ECs.

MEHP promotes the proliferation of cervical cancer via GPER mediated activation of Akt.

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide and the second leading cause of mortality among women. Estrogenic signals can regulate the progression of cervical cancer, however, little is known about the mono-2-ethyhexyl phthalate (MEHP), an environmental xenoestrogen, on the development of cervical cancers. Our present data showed that nanomolar concentrations of MEHP can trigger the proliferation, while not invasion, of cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, which was confirmed by the results that MEHP can also increase the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). MEHP treatment can increase the phosphorylation and nuclear localization of Akt, while had no effect on the activation of ERK1/2 or p65. Targeted inhibition of Akt via its specific siRNA or inhibitor can reverse MEHP induced cell proliferation. In addition, the inhibitor of G protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), while not estrogen receptor α (ERα), can abolish MEHP induced phosphorylation of Akt and cell proliferation, suggesting that GPER is involved in MEHP induced activation of Akt. Collectively, our data showed that MEHP can trigger the progression of cervical cancer via activation of GPER/Akt. It suggested that MEHP exposure is also an important risk factor for development and progression of cervical cancers.