Molecular mechanism of vimentin nuclear localization associated with the migration and invasion of daughter cells derived from polyploid giant cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), a specific type of cancer stem cells (CSCs), can be induced by hypoxic microenvironments, chemical reagents, radiotherapy, and Chinese herbal medicine. Moreover, PGCCs can produce daughter cells that undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which leads to cancer recurrence and disseminated metastasis. Vimentin, a mesenchymal cell marker, is highly expressed in PGCCs and their daughter cells (PDCs) and drives migratory persistence. This study explored the molecular mechanisms by which vimentin synergistically regulates PGCCs to generate daughter cells with enhanced invasive and metastatic properties. METHODS: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) was used to induce the formation of PGCCs in Hct116 and LoVo cells. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical assays were performed to determine the subcellular localization of vimentin. Cell function assays were performed to compare the invasive metastatic abilities of the PDCs and control cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying vimentin expression and nuclear translocation were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, cell function assays, cell transfection, co-immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation, followed by sequencing. Finally, animal xenograft experiments and clinical colorectal cancer samples were used to study vimentin expression in tumor tissues. RESULTS: Daughter cells derived from PGCCs showed strong proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities, in which vimentin was highly expressed and located in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Vimentin undergoes small ubiquitin-like modification (SUMOylation) by interacting with SUMO1 and SUMO2/3, which are associated with nuclear translocation. P62 regulates nuclear translocation of vimentin by controlling SUMO1 and SUMO2/3 expression. In the nucleus, vimentin acts as a transcription factor that regulates CDC42, cathepsin B, and cathepsin D to promote PDC invasion and migration. Furthermore, animal experiments and human colorectal cancer specimens have confirmed the nuclear translocation of vimentin. CONCLUSION: P62-dependent SUMOylation of vimentin plays an important role in PDC migration and invasion. Vimentin nuclear translocation and overexpressed P62 of cancer cells may be used to predict patient prognosis, and targeting vimentin nuclear translocation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for metastatic cancers.

[Research progress on antitumor effect and molecular mechanism of capsaicin].

Capsaicin is a lipid-soluble vanillin alkaloid extracted from Capsicum plants in the Solanaceae family, which is the main active ingredient in capsicum, with multiple functions such as anti-inflammation, analgesia, cardiovascular expansion, and gastric mucosa protection. Recently, capsaicin has been confirmed as a potential antitumor compound. It can induce cell cycle arrest, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis, and promote apoptosis or autophagy in malignancy cell models and animal models of lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer. Meanwhile, capsaicin shows a synergistic antitumor effect when combined with other antitumor drugs such as sorafenib. Based on the recent literature on the antitumor effect of capsaicin, the present study analyzed the molecular mechanism of capsaicin in resisting tumors by inducing apoptosis and reviewed the effects of capsaicin in inducing tumor cell cycle arrest, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and combating tumors with other drugs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for further research of capsaicin and its rational development and utilization.

Evaluation of Biochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Two Wild-Grown Berberis Fruits: Berberis nummularia and Berberisatrocarpa.

To evaluate the potential health-promoting benefits of Berberis nummularia and B. atrocarpa fruits, the biochemical properties (nutrition component, mineral substance, organic acids), total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and ORAC) capacity of ethanol extracts of B. nummularia and B. atrocarpa fruits wild-grown in Xinjiang were analyzed. The results indicated that there were no meaningful differences (p > 0.05) between the ash (1 ± 0.1 and 1 ± 0.0 g/100 g), fiber (16 ± 1.0 and 18 ± 1.4) and carbohydrate (57 ± 1.8 and 56 ± 1.8 g/100 g) content, respectively, in the dry fruits of B. nummularia and B. atrocarpa. The total fat (7 ± 0.4 and 5 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), soluble sugar (23 ± 0.6 and 12 ± 1.4 g/100 g), titratable acidity (18 ± 2.5% and 14 ± 1.3%) content, and energy value (330.86 and 314.41 kcal/100 g) of B. nummularia was significantly higher than that of B. atrocarpa fruits. Both species contain malic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and fumaric acid, in which, malic acid is the dominant organic acid. The organic acid and mineral components of B. nummularia fruits were significantly higher than that of B. atrocarpa (p < 0.05). The total phenolic and flavonoid content of B. nummularia were 2 ± 0.0 mg GA/g DW and 2 ± 0.0 mg RE/g DW, respectively, which were significantly lower than the total phenolic and flavonoid content of B. atrocarpa (12 ± 0.1 mg GA/g DW and 9 ± 0.0 mg RE/g DW). The antioxidant capacity of B. nummularia (4 ± 0.1 mg Ascorbic acid/g DW for DPPH, 32 ± 0.1 mg Trolox/g DW for FRAP, 80 ± 3.0 mg Trolox/g DW for ABTS and 60 ± 3.6 mg Trolox/g for ORAC was significantly lower than that of B. atrocarpa (12 ± 0.0 mg Ascorbic acid/g DW for DPPH, 645 ± 1.1 mg Trolox/g DW for FRAP, 304 ± 3.0 mg Trolox/g DW for ABTS and 155 ± 2.8 mg Trolox/g for ORAC). B. atrocarpa fruits showed significantly higher antioxidant capacity than that of B. nummularia. The fruits of the two species can be used in food coloring and nutritional supplements, and consumption of the fruits can aid in weight control and reduce blood glucose or cholesterol.

PDA-coated CPT@MIL-53(Fe)-based theranostic nanoplatform for pH-responsive and MRI-guided chemotherapy.

Theranostic nanoplatforms for multimodal diagnosis and treatment of tumors are a current research hotspot in the field of nanomedicine. MOF-based theranostic nanoplatforms integrating drug delivery with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have attracted broad attention in cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, due to the poor chemical and colloidal stability of MOFs, as well as their poor biocompatibility, MOF-based theranostic nanoplatforms still face critical challenges in cancer treatment applications. Here, we devised a theranostic nanoplatform based on a bioinspired polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized metal-organic framework MIL-53(Fe) loaded with camptothecin (CPT) for MRI-guided pH-sensitive chemotherapy. On the nanoplatform, MIL-53(Fe) with good biodegradability has large pore volume and showed a high loading content of antitumor drug CPT (43.07%). To overcome the disadvantages of poor aqueous solubility of MIL-53(Fe) and easy photodecomposition of CPT, the CPT-loaded MIL-53(Fe) was coated with a layer of PDA, resulting in theranostic nanoparticles (PDA@CPT@MIL-53(Fe)). The theranostic nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability and pH-sensitive drug release. In vitro toxicity studies showed that the nanoparticles could be efficiently taken up by breast cancer MCF-7 cells and exhibited high cytotoxicity. In vivo antitumor assay showed the great antitumor effect of the theranostic nanoparticles by using a zebrafish xenograft model. Furthermore, the incorporation of Fe affords the PDA@CPT@MIL-53(Fe) with potential MRI; in vitro MRI showed the nanoparticles exhibit an excellent MRI performance with an r2 value up to 50 mM-1 s-1. These results suggest that CPT-loaded MIL-53(Fe) coated with PDA is a promising theranostic platform for MRI imaging and cancer therapy.

First-principles insights into the adsorption and interaction mechanism of selenium on selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

Selenium (Se) species can deposit in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system during the denitrification process, which is harmful to the catalyst. To improve the Se-poisoning resistance of SCR catalysts, the influence mechanism of Se species on vanadium-titanium-based catalysts should be elucidated from an atomic scale. In this paper, theoretical calculations were conducted to reveal the adsorption and interaction mechanism of Se species on V2O5-WO3(MoO3)/TiO2 surface based on the first-principles. The impact of Se species on the electronic structure of the catalyst was investigated from electron transfer, bond formation, and VO site activity. The results show that the adsorption of elementary Se (Se0) belongs to chemisorption, while SeO2 can undergo both physisorption and chemisorption. For the chemisorption of Se species, obvious charge transfer with the catalyst is observed and Se-O bond is formed, which enhances the oxidation activity of the catalyst, triggers the reaction of Se0 and SeO2 with the catalyst components to generate SeVOx and SeW(Mo)Ox. The active sites are thereby damaged and the SCR performance is reduced. The above conclusions are mutually confirmed with the previous experimental research. By studying the correlation with the adsorption energies of Se species, descriptors manifesting the Se species adsorption were initially investigated to unveil the relationship between the electronic structure and the adsorption energy. Finally, the influence of temperature on Se adsorption was investigated. The adsorption can only proceed spontaneously below 500 K and is inhibited at high temperatures.

Hungering for the past: Nostalgic food labels increase purchase intentions and actual consumption.

We proposed that nostalgic labels strengthen the appeal of food items when the items are intrinsically nostalgic (e.g., related to one's childhood). Nostalgic labels do so by fostering a sense of food comfort (i.e., safety and security) among potential consumers. Experiment 1, testing a Chinese sample, confirmed that nostalgic (vs. descriptive) labels strengthen purchase intentions of food items when such items are intrinsically nostalgic. Experiment 2 showed that nostalgic (vs. descriptive) food labels strengthen purchase intentions of intrinsically nostalgic items, and do so by virtue of their capacity to elevate food comfort. This experiment tested a U.S. sample, thus broadening the cross-cultural generalizability of the findings. Experiment 3, testing a Chinese sample, replicated the Experiment 2 findings using nostalgic versus descriptive labels of a food item, and ruled out the influence of an alternative mediator, perceived food healthiness. Finally, Experiment 4, testing also a Chinese sample, revealed that restaurant dishes are more likely to be consumed when advertised with a nostalgic (than descriptive) label. The current work makes theoretical contributions to literature on food consumption and emotions, and has practical implications for harnessing nostalgia for dietary purposes.

Association between serum folate level and cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum folate level and cervical cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Springer, Elsevier Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google scholar were searched for relevant trials. Rev.Man5.1 and Stata 11.0 software were applied for this meta-analysis. Odds Ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were collected and calculated in a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model when appropriate. Subgroup analysis was performed by sample size, participant's geographical location and definition of deficient serum folate level. RESULTS: A total of 6 case-control studies including 2383 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The overall meta-analysis showed that there were significant differences between cases and controls, suggesting that deficient serum folate level was associated with the increased risk of cervical cancer. After stratification subgroup analysis, significant difference was also found in subgroup with sample size <500 as well as in Asian population, but not in subgroup with sample size ≥500, American populations as well as different definition of deficient serum folate level (<6.4 ng/ml or others). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our meta-analysis, deficiency of serum folate level was associated with the increased risk of cervical cancer among Asian populations.