EPHB2 as a key mediator of glioma progression: Insights from microenvironmental receptor ligand-related prognostic gene signature.

Malignant gliomas, characterized by pronounced heterogeneity, a complex microenvironment, and a propensity for relapse and drug resistaniguree, pose significant challenges in oncology. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of Ligand and Receptor related genes (LRRGs) within the glioma microenvironment. An intersection of 71 ligand-related genes (LRGs) and 2628 receptor-related genes (RRGs) yielded a total of 69 LRRGs. Utilizing the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, a prognostic RiskScore model comprising 28 LRRGs was constructed. The model demonstrated robust prognostic value, further validated in the TCGA-GBMLGG dataset. Subsequent analyses included differential gene expression, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment (GSEA), and gene set variation (GSVA) within RiskScore groups. Additionally, evaluations of PPI, mRNA-RBP, mRNA-TF, and mRNA-drug interaction networks were conducted. Four hub genes were identified through differential expression analysis of the 28 LRRGs across various GSE datasets. A multivariate Cox prognostic model was constructed for nomogram analysis, gene mutation analysis, and related expression distribution. This study underscores the role of LRRGs in intercellular communication within the glioma microenvironment and identifies four hub genes crucial for prognostic assessment in clinical glioma patients. These findings offer a potential evaluation framework for glioma patients, enhancing our understanding of the disease and informing future therapeutic strategies.

Astaxanthin attenuates diabetic kidney injury through upregulation of autophagy in podocytes and pathological crosstalk with mesangial cells.

Objectives: Astaxanthin (ATX) is a strong antioxidant drug. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ATX on podocytes in diabetic nephropathy and the underlying renal protective mechanism of ATX, which leads to pathological crosstalk with mesangial cells.Methods: In this study, diabetic rats treated with ATX exhibited reduced 24-h urinary protein excretion and decreased blood glucose and lipid levels compared to vehicle-treated rats. Glomerular mesangial matrix expansion and renal tubular epithelial cell injury were also attenuated in ATX-treated diabetic rats compared to control rats.Results: ATX treatment markedly reduced the α-SMA and collagen IV levels in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Additionally, ATX downregulated autophagy levels. In vitro, compared with normal glucose, high glucose inhibited LC3-II expression and increased p62 expression, whereas ATX treatment reversed these changes. ATX treatment also inhibited α-SMA and collagen IV expression in cultured podocytes. Secreted factors (vascular endothelial growth factor B and transforming growth factor-ß) generated by high glucose-induced podocytes downregulated autophagy in human mesangial cells (HMCs); however, this downregulation was upregulated when podocytes were treated with ATX.Conclusions: The current study revealed that ATX attenuates diabetes-induced kidney injury likely through the upregulation of autophagic activity in podocytes and its antifibrotic effects. Crosstalk between podocytes and HMCs can cause renal injury in diabetes, but ATX treatment reversed this phenomenon.

Micron-Sized Thiol-Functional Polysilsesquioxane Microspheres with Open and Interconnected Macropores: Effects of the System Composition on the Porous Structure and Particle Size of the Microspheres.

Control of the porous structure and particle size is essential for improving the properties of polysilsesquioxane (PSQ) microspheres. Herein, using the strategy combining inverse suspension polymerization, two-step sol-gel- and polymerization-induced phase separation processes, micron-sized thiol-containing macroporous PSQ (TMPSQ) microspheres with controllable morphologies, adjustable particle diameters (4.9-17.3 µm), and pore sizes (40-3774 nm) were prepared. The morphology and size of the TMPSQ microspheres were characterized by SEM. The mercury intrusion method was employed to analyze the porous structure of the microspheres. The effects of the composition of the sol-gel disperse phase, the mass ratio of the sol-gel disperse phase to the oil continuous phase (WRW/O), and the Span 80 mass content in the oil continuous phase on the morphology, particle diameter and pore size of the TMPSQ microspheres were investigated. Results indicated that the composition of the sol-gel disperse phase determines the morphology and porous structure of the microspheres, and WRW/O and Span 80 content have remarkable impacts on the morphology and particle size of the microspheres. This study is beneficial to the design and fabrication of functional PSQ microspheres with desired properties and promising application prospects.

Micron-Sized Thiol-Functional Polysilsesquioxane Microspheres with Open and Interconnected Macropores: Preparation, Characterization and Formation Mechanism.

Polysilsesquioxane (PSQ) microspheres have shown promise in many fields, but previous studies about porous PSQ microspheres are scarce. Herein, we fabricated novel micron-sized thiol-functional polysilsesquioxane (TMPSQ) microspheres with open and interconnected macropores by combining inverse suspension polymerization with two-step sol-gel and polymerization-induced phase separation processes, without using phase-separation-promoting additives or sacrificial templates. The chemical composition of the TMPSQ microspheres was confirmed using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The morphology of the TMPSQ microspheres was characterized using SEM and TEM. TGA was employed to test the thermal stability of the TMPSQ microspheres. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests were performed to investigate the pore structure of the TMPSQ microspheres. The results showed that the TMPSQ microspheres had open and interconnected macropores with a pore size of 839 nm, and the total porosity and intraparticle porosity reached 70.54% and 43.21%, respectively. The mechanism of porous generation was proposed based on the morphological evolution observed using optical microscopy. The macropores were formed through the following four steps: phase separation (spinodal decomposition), coarsening, gelation, and evaporation of the solvent. The macropores can facilitate the rapid mass transfer between the outer and inner spaces of the TMPSQ microspheres. The TMPSQ microspheres are promising in various fields, such as catalyst supports and adsorbents.

[High glucose dialysate enhances peritoneal fibrosis through upregulating glucose transporters GLUT1 and SGLT1].

Objective: To investigate the role of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) in high glucose dialysate-induced peritoneal fibrosis. Methods: Thirty six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (6 in each):normal control group, sham operation group, peritoneal dialysis group (PD group), PD+phloretin group (PD+T group), PD+phlorizin group (PD+Z group), PD+phloretin+phlorizin group (PD+T+Z group). Rat model of uraemia was established using 5/6 nephrotomy, and 2.5% dextrose peritoneal dialysis solution was used in peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal equilibration test was performed 24 h after dialysis to evaluate transport function of peritoneum in rats; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of peritoneal tissue; and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of GLUT1, SGLT1, TGF-ß1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in peritoneum. Human peritoneal microvascular endothelial cells (HPECs) were divided into 5 groups:normal control group, peritoneal dialysis group (PD group), PD+phloretin group (PD+T group), PD+phlorezin group (PD+Z group), and PD+phloretin+phlorezin group (PD+T+Z group). Real time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1, TGF-ß1, CTGF in peritoneal membrane and HPECs. Results:In vivo, compared with sham operation group, rats in PD group had thickened peritoneum, higher ultrafiltration volume, and the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1, CTGF, TGF-ß1 were significantly increased (all P<0.05); compared with PD group, thickened peritoneum was attenuated, and the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1, CTGF, TGF-ß1 were significantly decreased in PD+T, PD+Z and PD+T+Z groups (all P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1 in peritoneum were positively correlated with the expressions of TGF-ß1 and CTGF (all P<0.05). In vitro, the mRNA and protein expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1, TGF-ß1, CTGF were significantly increased in HPECs of peritoneal dialysis group (all P<0.05), and those in PD+T, PD+Z, and PD+T+Z groups were decreased (all P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the expressions of GLUT1, SGLT1 in HPECs were positively correlated with the expressions of TGF-ß1 and CTGF (all P<0.05). Conclusion: High glucose peritoneal dialysis fluid may promote peritoneal fibrosis by upregulating the expressions of GLUT1 and SGLT1.

Metal-Drug Coordination Nanoparticles and Hydrogels for Enhanced Delivery.

Drug delivery is a key component of nanomedicine, and conventional delivery relies on the adsorption or encapsulation of drug molecules to a nanomaterial. Many delivery vehicles contain metal ions, such as metal-organic frameworks, metal oxides, transition metal dichalcogenides, MXene, and noble metal nanoparticles. These materials have a high metal content and pose potential long-term toxicity concerns leading to difficulties for clinical approval. In this review, recent developments are summarized in the use of drug molecules as ligands for metal coordination forming various nanomaterials and soft materials. In these cases, the drug-to-metal ratio is much higher than conventional adsorption-based strategies. The drug molecules are divided into small-molecule drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins. The formed hybrid materials mainly include nanoparticles and hydrogels, upon which targeting ligands can be grafted to improve efficacy and further decrease toxicity. The application of these materials for addressing cancer, viral infection, bacterial infection inflammatory bowel disease, and bone diseases is reviewed. In the end, some future directions are discussed from fundamental research, materials science, and medicine.

The multiple roles of viral 3Dpol protein in picornavirus infections.

The Picornaviridae are a large group of positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses, and most research has focused on the Enterovirus genus, given they present a severe health risk to humans. Other picornaviruses, such as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and senecavirus A (SVA), affect agricultural production with high animal mortality to cause huge economic losses. The 3Dpol protein of picornaviruses is widely known to be used for genome replication; however, a growing number of studies have demonstrated its non-polymerase roles, including modulation of host cell biological processes, viral replication complex assembly and localization, autophagy, and innate immune responses. Currently, there is no effective vaccine to control picornavirus diseases widely, and clinical therapeutic strategies have limited efficiency in combating infections. Many efforts have been made to develop different types of drugs to prohibit virus survival; the most important target for drug development is the virus polymerase, a necessary element for virus replication. For picornaviruses, there are also active efforts in targeted 3Dpol drug development. This paper reviews the interaction of 3Dpol proteins with the host and the progress of drug development targeting 3Dpol.

The Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell-Based H9 HA Subunit Avian Influenza Vaccine Provides Complete Protection against the H9N2 Virus Challenge in Chickens.

(1) Background: Avian influenza has attracted widespread attention because of its severe effect on the poultry industry and potential threat to human health. The H9N2 subtype of avian influenza viruses was the most prevalent in chickens, and there are several commercial vaccines available for the prevention of the H9N2 subtype of avian influenza viruses. However, due to the prompt antigenic drift and antigenic shift of influenza viruses, outbreaks of H9N2 viruses still continuously occur, so surveillance and vaccine updates for H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses are particularly important. (2) Methods: In this study, we constructed a stable Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO) to express the H9 hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the major prevalent H9N2 strain A/chicken/Daye/DY0602/2017 with genetic engineering technology, and then a subunit H9 avian influenza vaccine was prepared using the purified HA protein with a water-in-oil adjuvant. (3) Results: The results showed that the HI antibodies significantly increased after vaccination with the H9 subunit vaccine in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens with a dose-dependent potency of the immunized HA protein, and the 50 µg or more per dose HA protein could provide complete protection against the H9N2 virus challenge. (4) Conclusions: These results indicate that the CHO expression system could be a platform used to develop the subunit vaccine against H9 influenza viruses in chickens.

External Validation of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation Among Urban Community-Based Chinese Patients With CKD.

Rationale & Objective: The Kidney Failure Risk Equations have been proven to perform well in multinational databases, whereas validation in Asian populations is lacking. This study sought to externally validate the equations in a community-based chronic kidney disease cohort in China. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants: Patients with and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 dwelling in an industrialized coastal city of China. Exposure: Age, sex, eGFR, and albuminuria were included in the 4-variable model, whereas serum calcium, phosphate, bicarbonate, and albumin levels were added to the previously noted variables in the 8-variable model. Outcome: Initiation of long-term dialysis treatment. Analytical Approach: Model discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility were evaluated by Harrell's C statistic, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis, respectively. Results: A total of 4,587 participants were enrolled for validation of the 4-variable model, whereas 1,414 were enrolled for the 8-variable model. The median times of follow-up were 4.0 (interquartile range: 2.6-6.3) years for the 4-variable model and 3.4 (2.2-5.6) years for the 8-variable model. For the 4-variable model, the C statistics were 0.750 (95% CI: 0.615-0.885) for the 2-year model and 0.766 (0.625-0.907) for the 5-year model, whereas the values were 0.756 (0.629-0.883) and 0.774 (0.641-0.907), respectively, for the 8-variable model. Calibration was acceptable for both the 4-variable and 8-variable models. Decision curve analysis for the models at the 5-year scale performed better throughout different net benefit thresholds than the eGFR-based (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2) strategy. Limitations: A large proportion of patients lack albuminuria measurements, and only a subset of population could provide complete data for the 8-variable equation. Conclusions: The kidney failure risk equations showed acceptable discrimination and calibration and better clinical utility than the eGFR-based strategy for incidence of kidney failure among community-based urban Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease.

Accurate and reliable risk evaluation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) prognosis can be helpful for physicians to make decisions concerning treatment opportunity and therapeutic strategy. The kidney failure risk equation is an outstanding model for predicting risk of kidney failure among patients with CKD. However, the equation is lacking validation among Chinese populations. In the current study, we demonstrated that the equation had good discrimination among an urban community-based cohort of patients with CKD in China. The calibration was also acceptable. Decision curve analysis also showed that the equation performed better than a traditional kidney function-based strategy. The results provide the basis for using predictions derived from the kidney failure risk equation to improve the management of patients with CKD in community settings in China.

Peritonitis-associated with peritoneal dialysis following Ureaplasma parvum infection: A case report and literature review.

We report a patient diagnosed with peritonitis due to a rare infection of Ureaplasma parvum after receiving peritoneal dialysis for two years. This microorganism rarely causes peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP). This is the first case of PDAP caused by Ureaplasma parvum. In the present case, the pathogen was identified through next-generation sequencing of PD fluid samples. The patient was treated with intraperitoneal (IP) levofloxacin combined with vancomycin and oral clarithromycin which effectively improved her symptoms. This case creates awareness that Ureaplasma parvum can cause PDAP and can be diagnosed using next-generation sequencing(NGS).

RNA-Binding Proteins in Bladder Cancer.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key regulators of transcription and translation, with highly dynamic spatio-temporal regulation. They are usually involved in the regulation of RNA splicing, polyadenylation, and mRNA stability and mediate processes such as mRNA localization and translation, thereby affecting the RNA life cycle and causing the production of abnormal protein phenotypes that lead to tumorigenesis and development. Accumulating evidence supports that RBPs play critical roles in vital life processes, such as bladder cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Uncovering the regulatory mechanisms of RBPs in bladder cancer is aimed at addressing the occurrence and progression of bladder cancer and finding new therapies for cancer treatment. This article reviews the effects and mechanisms of several RBPs on bladder cancer and summarizes the different types of RBPs involved in the progression of bladder cancer and the potential molecular mechanisms by which they are regulated, with a view to providing information for basic and clinical researchers.

Duality of the SVIL expression in bladder cancer and its correlation with immune infiltration.

SVIL is a member of the villin/gelsolin superfamily and is responsible for encoding supervillin. It has been reported to be closely related to the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the mechanism of SVIL in bladder cancer has not been reported yet. In this research, we evaluated the relationship between SVIL expression and bladder cancer in public dataset and examined the expression of SVIL in bladder cancer cell lines, tissue microarrays and patients in our cohort. Our work determined that the expression of SVIL in bladder cancer tissue was significantly lower than that in normal tissue. However, in bladder cancer tissues, the high expression of SVIL is significantly associated with poor prognosis. This kind of duality is very novel and has great research value. The expression level of SVIL can well predict the survival time of bladder cancer patients, and is an independent risk factor of bladder cancer patients. The expression of SVIL is also closely related to the immune tumor microenvironment of bladder cancer. Our research provides a basis for personalized therapeutic targets for bladder cancer.

Machine learning-based on cytotoxic T lymphocyte evasion gene develops a novel signature to predict prognosis and immunotherapy responses for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma patients.

Background: Immunotherapy resistance has become a difficult point in treating kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients, mainly because of immune evasion. Currently, there is no effective signature to predict immunotherapy. Therefore, we use machine learning algorithms to construct a signature based on cytotoxic T lymphocyte evasion genes (CTLEGs) to predict the immunotherapy responses of patients, so as to screen patients effective for immunotherapy. Methods: In public data sets and our in-house cohort, we used 10 machine learning algorithms to screen the optimal model with 89 combinations under the cross-validation framework, and 101 published signatures were collected. The relationship between the CTLEG signature (CTLEGS) and clinical variables was analyzed. We analyzed the role of CTLES in other types of cancer by pan-cancer analysis. The immune cell infiltration and biological characteristics were evaluated. Moreover, the response to immunotherapy and drug sensitivity of different risk groups were investigated. The key gene closely related to the signature was identified by WGCNA. We also conducted cell functional experiments and clinical tissue validation of key gene. Results: In public data sets and our in-house cohort, the CTLEGS shows good prediction performance. The CTLEGS can be regard as an independent risk factor for KIRC. Compared with 101 published models, our signature shows considerable superiority. The high-risk group has abundant infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and high expression of T cell depletion markers, which are characterized by immunosuppressive phenotype, minimal benefit from immunotherapy, and resistance to sunitinib and sorafenib. The CTLEGS was also strongly correlated with immunity in pan-cancer. Immunohistochemistry verified that T cell depletion marker LAG3 is highly expressed in high-risk groups in the clinical in-house cohort. The key CTLEG STAT2 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of KIRC cell. Conclusions: CTLEGS can accurately predict the prognosis of patients and their response to immunotherapy. It can provide guidance for the precise treatment of KIRC and help clinicians identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy.

Progress on innate immune evasion and live attenuated vaccine of pseudorabies virus.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a highly infectious disease that can infect most mammals, with pigs as the only natural host, has caused considerable economic losses to the pig husbandry of the world. Innate immunity is the first defense line of the host against the attack of pathogens and is essential for the proper establishment of adaptive immunity. The host uses the innate immune response to against the invasion of PRV; however PRV makes use of various strategies to inhibit the innate immunity to promote the virus replication. Currently, live attenuated vaccine is used to prevent pig from infection with the PRV worldwide, such as Bartha K61. However, a growing number of data indicates that these vaccines do not provide complete protection against new PRV variants that have emerged since late 2011. Here we summarized the interactions between PRV and host innate immunity and the current status of live attenuated PRV vaccines to promote the development of novel and more effective PRV vaccines.

Circular RNA XRCC5 aggravates glioma progression by activating CLC3/SGK1 axis via recruiting IGF2BP2.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidences have reported the critical roles of circular RNA (circRNA) in gliomas. Whereas, the role of circXRCC5 in glioma and its underlying molecular mechanism has not been reported. METHODS: The RNA transcripts and protein levels were detected using qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays. Cell proliferation was characterized by CCK-8 and clone formation assays. The formation of NLRP3-inflammasomes was identified using immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot assays. The cytokines were determined using immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assays. The molecular interactions were validated using RIP and pull-down assays. RESULTS: circXRCC5 was over-expressed in glioma and positively related to the shorter survival rate, advanced TNM stage and larger tumor volume. circXRCC5 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and NLRP3-mediated inflammasome activation of glioma cells. Subsequently, we found that circXRCC5 maintained mRNA stability of CLC3 by binding to IGF2BP2. Furthermore, CLC3 accelerated SGK1 expression via PI3K/PDK1/AKT pathway. The rescue experiments showed that both overexpression of CLC3 or SGK1 dramatically alleviated circXRCC5 knockdown-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and NLRP3-mediated inflammasome activation of glioma cells. In vivo, our study proved that circXRCC5 accelerated glioma growth by regulating CLC3/SGK1 axis. CONCLUSION: Our data concluded that circXRCC5 formed a complex with IGF2BP2 to regulate inflammasome activation and tumor growth via CLC3/SGK1 axis.

Genome-Wide Screening Identifies Gene AKR1C1 Critical for Resistance to Pirarubicin in Bladder Cancer.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a common tumor of the urinary system. Given its high rates of recurrence, progression, and drug resistance, NMIBC seriously affects the quality of life and limits the survival time of patients. Pirarubicin (THP) is a bladder infusion chemotherapy drug recommended by the guidelines for NMIBC. Although the widespread use of THP reduces the recurrence rate of NMIBC, 10-50% of patients still suffer from tumor recurrence, which is closely related to tumor resistance to chemotherapy drugs. This study was performed to screen the critical genes causing THP resistance in bladder cancer cell lines by using the CRISPR/dCas9-SAM system. Thus, AKR1C1 was screened. Results showed that the high expression of AKR1C1 could enhance the drug resistance of bladder cancer to THP both in vivo and in vitro. This gene could reduce the levels of 4-hydroxynonenal and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resist THP-induced apoptosis. However, AKR1C1 did not affect the proliferation, invasion, or migration of the bladder cancer cells. Aspirin, which is an AKR1C1 inhibitor, could help reduce the drug resistance caused by AKR1C1. After receiving THP treatment, the bladder cancer cell lines could upregulate the expression of the AKR1C1 gene through the ROS/KEAP1/NRF2 pathway, leading to resistance to THP treatment. Using tempol, which is an inhibitor of ROS, could prevent the upregulation of AKR1C1 expression.

The role of regulatory necrosis in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the population worldwide, of which key injury mechanism involving the death of nerve cells. Many recent studies have shown that regulatory necrosis is involved in the pathological process of TBI which includes necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, parthanatos, and Cyclophilin D (CypD) mediated necrosis. Therefore, targeting the signaling pathways involved in regulatory necrosis may be an effective strategy to reduce the secondary injury after TBI. Meanwhile, drugs or genes are used as interference factors in various types of regulatory necrosis, so as to explore the potential treatment methods for the secondary injury after TBI. This review summarizes the current progress on regulatory necrosis in TBI.

CircXRCC5, as a Potential Novel Biomarker, Promotes Glioma Progression via the miR-490-3p/XRCC5/CLC3 Competing Endogenous RNA Network.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), forming a covalently closed loop, are identified as a special subgroup of non-coding RNAs. Herein, we investigated the function and underlying mechanism of circXRCC5, generated from the XRCC5 gene, in glioma progression. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to determine the genomic information of circXRCC5 derived from XRCC5 pre-mRNA. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to examine the expression of circXRCC5 in glioma tissues and cells. Stable knockdown of circXRCC5 in U87 and U251 cells was established to assess its' biological functions. Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry and transwell assay were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was verified using luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The samples were subjected to CHIP to ascertain the transcriptional regulation of XRCC5 at the promoter region of CLC3. Up-regulation of circXRCC5 was observed in glioma tissues and cell lines, and indicated poor prognosis of glioma patients. Knockdown of circXRCC5 suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while facilitated apoptosis. Mechanistically, circXRCC5 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-490-3p in a sequence-specific manner. There was a reciprocal negative feedback between circXRCC5 and miR-490-3p in an Argonaute2-dependent manner. Moreover, circXRCC5 acted as a sponge of miR-490-3p to regulate the expression of downstream target gene XRCC5, thus activating the transcription of CLC3, which fostered the progression of glioma. Collectively, circXRCC5 promoted glioma progression via the miR-490-3p/XRCC5/CLC3 ceRNA network, providing a novel prognostic biomarker and a prospective target for glioma treatment.

Scabertopin Derived from Elephantopus scaber L. Mediates Necroptosis by Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Bladder Cancer In Vitro.

Bladder cancer remains one of the most common malignant tumors that threatens human health worldwide. It imposes a heavy burden on patients and society due to the high medical costs associated with its easy metastasis and recurrence. Although several treatment options for bladder cancer are available, their clinical efficacy remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, actively exploring new drugs and their mechanisms of action for the clinical treatment of bladder cancer is very important. Scabertopin is one of the major sesquiterpene lactones found in Elephantopus scaber L. Sesquiterpene lactones are thought to have fairly strong anti-cancer efficacy. However, the anticancer effect of sesquiterpenoid scabertopin on bladder cancer and its mechanism are still unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antitumor activity of scabertopin in bladder cancer and its potential molecular mechanism in vitro. Our results suggest that scabertopin can induce RIP1/RIP3-dependent necroptosis in bladder cancer cells by promoting the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit the expression of MMP-9 by inhibiting the FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and ultimately inhibit the migration and invasion ability of bladder cancer cells. At the same time, we also demonstrated that the half-inhibition concentration (IC50) of scabertopin on various bladder cancer cell lines (J82, T24, RT4 and 5637) is much lower than that on human ureteral epithelial immortalized cells (SV-HUC-1). The above observations indicate that scabertopin is a potential therapeutic agent for bladder cancer that acts by inducing necroptosis and inhibiting metastasis.

Development of a polyamine gene expression score for predicting prognosis and treatment response in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Backgrounds: Polyamine metabolism (PM) is closely related to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and is involved in antitumor immunity. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) not only has high immunogenicity but also has significant metabolic changes. However, the role of PM in the immune microenvironment of ccRCC remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the prognostic value of PM-related genes (PMRGs) expression in ccRCC and their correlation with the TME. Methods: The expression levels PMRGs in different cells were characterized with single-cell sequencing analysis. The PMRG expression pattern of 777 ccRCC patients was evaluated based on PMRGs. Unsupervised clustering analysis was used in identifying PMRG expression subtypes, and Lasso regression analysis was used in developing polyamine gene expression score (PGES), which was validated in external and internal data sets. The predictive value of PGES for immunotherapy was validated in the IMvigor210 cohort. Multiple algorithms were used in analyzing the correlation between PGES and immune cells. The sensitivity of PGES to chemotherapeutic drugs was analyzed with the "pRRophetic" package. We validated the genes that develop PGES in tissue samples. Finally, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used in identifying the key PMRGs closely related to ccRCC, and cell function experiments were carried out. Results: PMRGs were abundantly expressed on tumor cells, and PMRG expression was active in CD8+ T cells and fibroblasts. We identified three PMRG expression subtypes. Cancer and immune related pathways were active in PMRG expression cluster A, which had better prognosis. PGES exhibited excellent predictive value. The high-PGES group was characterized by high immune cell infiltration, high expression of T cell depletion markers, high tumor mutation burden and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion, was insensitive to immunotherapy but sensitive to sunitinib, temsirolimus, and rapamycin, and had poor prognosis. Spermidine synthetase (SRM) has been identified as a key gene and is highly expressed in ccRCC at RNA and protein levels. SRM knockdown can inhibit ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conclusions: We revealed the biological characteristics of PMRG expression subtypes and developed PGES to accurately predict the prognosis of patients and response to immunotherapy.