Acetylcytidine modification of Amotl1 by N-acetyltransferase 10 contributes to cardiac fibrotic expansion in mice after myocardial infarction.

Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological scarring process that impairs cardiac function. N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10) is recently identified as the key enzyme for the N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification of mRNAs. In this study, we investigated the role of Nat10 in cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) and the related mechanisms. MI was induced in mice by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery; cardiac function was assessed with echocardiography. We showed that both the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nat10 were significantly increased in the infarct zone and border zone 4 weeks post-MI, and the expression of Nat10 in cardiac fibroblasts was significantly higher compared with that in cardiomyocytes after MI. Fibroblast-specific overexpression of Nat10 promoted collagen deposition and induced cardiac systolic dysfunction post-MI in mice. Conversely, fibroblast-specific knockout of Nat10 markedly relieved cardiac function impairment and extracellular matrix remodeling following MI. We then conducted ac4C-RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation-sequencing (RIP-seq) in cardiac fibroblasts transfected with Nat10 siRNA, and revealed that angiomotin-like 1 (Amotl1), an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, was the target gene of Nat10. We demonstrated that Nat10-mediated ac4C modification of Amotl1 increased its mRNA stability and translation in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts, thereby increasing the interaction of Amotl1 with yes-associated protein 1 (Yap) and facilitating Yap translocation into the nucleus. Intriguingly, silencing of Amotl1 or Yap, as well as treatment with verteporfin, a selective and potent Yap inhibitor, attenuated the Nat10 overexpression-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and prevented their differentiation into myofibroblasts in vitro. In conclusion, this study highlights Nat10 as a crucial regulator of myocardial fibrosis following MI injury through ac4C modification of upstream activators within the Hippo/Yap signaling pathway.

Nomogram to Predict Recurrence and Guide a Pragmatic Surveillance Strategy After Resection of Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: An accurate recurrence risk assessment system and surveillance strategy for hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) remain poorly defined. This study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict postoperative recurrence of HAS and guide individually tailored surveillance strategies. METHODS: The study enrolled all patients with primary HAS who had undergone curative-intent resection at 14 institutions from 2004 to 2019. Clinicopathologic variables with statistical significance in the multivariate Cox regression were incorporated into a nomogram to build a recurrence predictive model. RESULTS: The nomogram of recurrence-free survival (RFS) based on independent prognostic factors, including age, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen, number of examined lymph nodes, perineural invasion, and lymph node ratio, achieved a C-index of 0.723 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.674-0.772) in the whole cohort, which was significantly higher than those of the eighth American Joint Committed on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (C-index, 0.629; 95% CI, 0.573-0.685; P < 0.001). The nomogram accurately stratified patients into low-, middle-, and high-risk groups of postoperative recurrence. The postoperative recurrence risk rates for patients in the middle- and high-risk groups were respectively 3 and 10 times higher than for the low-risk group. The patients in the middle- and high-risk groups showed more recurrence and metastasis, particularly multiple site metastasis, within 36 months after the operation than those in the low-risk group (low, 2.2%; middle, 8.6%; high, 24.0%; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram achieved good prediction of postoperative recurrence for the patients with HAS after radical resection. For the middle- and high-risk patients, more active surveillance and targeted examination methods should be adopted within 36 months after the operation, particularly for liver and multiple metastases.

Immune-based combination therapy to convert immunologically cold tumors into hot tumors: an update and new insights.

As a breakthrough strategy for cancer treatment, immunotherapy mainly consists of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and other immunomodulatory drugs that provide a durable protective antitumor response by stimulating the immune system to fight cancer. However, due to the low response rate and unique toxicity profiles of immunotherapy, the strategies of combining immunotherapy with other therapies have attracted enormous attention. These combinations are designed to exert potent antitumor effects by regulating different processes in the cancer-immunity cycle. To date, immune-based combination therapy has achieved encouraging results in numerous clinical trials and has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for certain cancers with more studies underway. This review summarizes the emerging strategies of immune-based combination therapy, including combinations with another immunotherapeutic strategy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, targeted therapy, bacterial therapy, and stroma-targeted therapy. Here, we highlight the rationale of immune-based combination therapy, the biomarkers and the clinical progress for these immune-based combination therapies.

Baicalein inhibits macrophage lipid accumulation and inflammatory response by activating the PPARγ/LXRα pathway.

Lipid accumulation and inflammatory response are two major risk factors for atherosclerosis. Baicalein, a phenolic flavonoid widely used in East Asian countries, possesses a potential atheroprotective activity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study was performed to explore the impact of baicalein on lipid accumulation and inflammatory response in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Our results showed that baicalein up-regulated the expression of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ABCG1, liver X receptor α (LXRα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), promoted cholesterol efflux, and inhibited lipid accumulation. Administration of baicalein also reduced the expression and secretion of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Knockdown of LXRα or PPARγ with siRNAs abrogated the effects of baicalein on ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression, cholesterol efflux, lipid accumulation as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine release. In summary, these findings suggest that baicalein exerts a beneficial effect on macrophage lipid accumulation and inflammatory response by activating the PPARγ/LXRα signaling pathway.

C1q Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Protein 1: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis serves as the pathological basis of most cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 1 (CTRP1) is a 35-kDa glycoprotein synthesized by various tissues and cells, such as adipose tissue and macrophages. As an adiponectin paralog, CTRP1 signals through adiponectin receptor 1 and participates in a variety of pathophysiological processes. Circulating CTRP1 levels are significantly increased in patients with coronary artery disease. Importantly, CTRP1 was shown to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis by promoting vascular inflammation, macrophage foam cell formation, and endothelial barrier dysfunction. This review focused on recent advances regarding the role of CTRP1 in atherogenesis with an emphasis on its potential as a novel biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis-related diseases.

Hypermoins A-D: Rearranged Nor-Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols from the Flowers of Hypericum monogynum.

Hypermonins A-D (1-4), four rearranged nor-polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) with unprecedented skeletons, together with two new biosynthesis related PPAPs (5 and 6) were isolated and identified from the flowers of Hypericum monogynum. Hypermoins A-D represented the first examples of highly modified norPPAPs characterized by a rare 7/6/6/5-tetracyclic system. From the biogenic synthesis pathway analysis, all isolates shared the same biosynthetic intermediate, and the addition of two methyls or one methyl to this intermediate through methyltranferase could generate different types of PPAPs (1-7). Their planner structures as well as absolute configuration were confirmed via spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculation, and X-ray crystallography. All isolates potentially reversed multidrug resistance (MDR) activity in both two cancer cells, HepG2/ADR and MCF-7/ADR. Specifically, hypermoin E (5) and hyperielliptone HA (7) were found to be the best MDR modulators with the reversal fold ranging from 41 to 236, which is higher than the positive control verapamil.

CTRP1 decreases ABCA1 expression and promotes lipid accumulation through the miR-424-5p/FoxO1 pathway in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Prevention of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-dependent cholesterol efflux leads to lipid accumulation in macrophages and atherosclerosis development. C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 1 (CTRP1), a conserved paralog of adiponectin, has been shown to aggravate atherosclerosis via its proinflammatory property. However, very little is known about its effects on ABCA1 expression and macrophage lipid accumulation. In the current studies, we found that CTRP1 downregulated ABCA1 expression, inhibited cholesterol efflux to apoA-I and promoted lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), a transcriptional repressor of ABCA1, was identified as a direct target of miR-424-5p. Mechanistically, CTRP1 attenuated miR-424-5p levels and then augmented FoxO1 expression in the nucleus, which led to downregulation of ABCA1 expression and inhibition of cholesterol efflux. In conclusion, these findings suggest that CTRP1 restrains cholesterol efflux and facilitates macrophage lipid accumulation through the miR-424-5p/FoxO1/ABCA1 signaling pathway, thereby providing a novel mechanistical insight into its proatherosclerotic action.

Two new seco-polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol from Hypericum sampsonii.

Hypsampsone A (1) and hyperhexanone F (2), two novel seco-polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, were isolated from Hypericum sampsonii. Hypsampsone A (1) features the first spirocyclic system fused with 5/6/5/5 tetracyclic skeleton. Hyperhexanone F (2) represents the second novel 1,2-seco-bicyclo[3.3.1]-PPAP skeleton. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, computer-assisted structure elucidation software, and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. A plausible biogenetic pathway of 1 was also proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate multidrug resistance reversal activity to adriamycin (ADR) resistant cancer cell lines, HepG2/ADR and MCF-7/ADR, with the fold-reversals ranging from 16 to 38 at noncytotoxic concentration of 10 µM.

Correction to: The lncRNA UCA1 promotes proliferation, migration, immune escape and inhibits apoptosis in gastric cancer by sponging anti-tumor miRNAs.

Following publication of the original article [1], authors reported Pro. Gang Zhao has to be considered as another corresponding author, according to his important contribution.

The lncRNA UCA1 promotes proliferation, migration, immune escape and inhibits apoptosis in gastric cancer by sponging anti-tumor miRNAs.

BACKGROUND: UCA1 is a long non-coding RNA which was found overexpressed in various human cancers including gastric cancer (GC). It is identified that UCA1 promotes GC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, however, the role of UCA1 during the processes of immune escape is still not unclear. METHODS: We collected 40 paired GC and non-tumor tissue samples. The level of UCA1 in GC and control tissue samples were determined by in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. GC cells' migration capacities were examined by transwell assay. To understand the roles of UCA1 during immune escape, wildtype or UCA1 KO GC cells co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells or cytokine-induced killer cells in vitro. Mouse model was used to examine the function of UCA1 in vivo. RESULTS: UCA1 promoted GC cells proliferation and migration, and inhibit apoptosis. UCA1 repressed miR-26a/b, miR-193a and miR-214 expression through direct interaction and then up-regulated the expression of PDL1. UCA1-KO GC cells could induce a higher IFNγ expression when co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and have a lower survival rate when co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells in vitro. UCA1-KO GC cells formed smaller tumors, had higher miR-26a, -26b, -193a and - 214 level, reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in xenograft mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: UCA1 overexpression protected PDL1 expression from the repression of miRNAs and contributed to the GC cells immune escape. UCA1 could serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for GC treatment.

Correlations of fascin-1 and cadherin-17 protein expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

We aim to explore the associations of fascin-1 and cadherin-17 in gastric cancer (GC) to the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of GC. Case group included 204 GC tissues while control group comprised 204 paired adjacent cancer tissues. Expressions of fascin-1 and cadherin-17 were measured with immunohistochemistry and western blot and then analyzed statistically in relation to clinicopathologic features and survival time. Survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, and independent prognostic factors were identified with Cox proportional hazards regression model. Fascin-1 was positively expressed in 45.1 % of GC tissues and in 27.5 % of adjacent cancer tissues, respectively (P < 0.05); cadherin-17 was positively expressed in 51.5 % of GC tissues and in 33.8 % of adjacent cancer tissues (P < 0.05). Fascin-1 expression in GC tissues was related to tumor size (P = 0.001) and Lauren classification (P = 0.001). Cadherin-17 expression in GC tissues was related to tumor size (P < 0.001), Lauren classification (P = 0.009), clinical staging (P = 0.001), and distant metastasis (P = 0.002). Fascin-1 expression was positively correlated with cadherin-17 expression in GC tissues (r = 0.828, P < 0.01). Patients with positive expression of both fascin-1 and cadherin-17 had lower survival rates than those with negative expression (all P < 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that fascin-1 expression, cadherin-17 expression, tumor size, and differentiation were independent risk factors for GC (all P < 0.05). Fascin-1 and cadherin-17 are related to clinicopathologic features of GC and are independent adverse prognostic factors for GC.

Evaluation of high-risk clinicopathological indicators in gastrointestinal stromal tumors for prognosis and imatinib treatment outcome.

BACKGROUND: Although the clinical benefit of imatinib adjuvant therapy for high-risk patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) has been proven, the recurrence rate still remains high. This study aimed to sub-divide high-risk GIST patients with some "very high-risk" factors for more precise prognostic indicator, and possible association with efficiency of imatinib adjuvant therapy. METHODS: Clinicopathological data were confirmed by pathological diagnosis and clinical records. Recurrence-free survivals (RFS) were evaluated in 370 GIST patients (212 cases as test cohort and 158 cases as validation cohort) and 48 high-risk GISTs with imatinib adjuvant therapy after R0 resection. RESULTS: Mitosis count > 10/50 high-power fields (HPF) and serosal invasion are independent prognostic factors for RFS of GIST patients. Mitosis count > 10/50HPF and serosal invasion can sub-divide high-risk GIST patients effectively and significantly improve the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for prognostic indicator both in test and validation cohort. Patients with serosal invasion after R0 resection showed a poorer prognosis with imatinib adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Sub-division of high-risk GIST patients helps to more precisely predicting the prognosis. Serosal invasion may be an adverse predictive factor in high-risk patients and imatinib treatment outcome.

Long-term prognostic benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach after radical resection: A national multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on whether adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is effective for hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AC and the long-term prognosis of patients with HAS. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 239 patients with primary HAS who underwent radical surgery from April 1, 2004 to December 31, 2019 in 14 centers in China were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the AC group (127 patients) and the nonadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) group (112 patients). RESULTS: Kaplan‒Meier (KM) analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the 1-year3-year overall survival rate (OS) and 1-year, 3-year recurrence-free survival rate (RFS) between the AC group and the NAC group (1-year OS: 85.6% vs. 79.8%, 3-year OS: 59.8% vs. 62.4%, 1-year RFS: 69.8% vs. 74.4%, 3-year RFS: 57.2% vs. 55.9%, all P > 0.05). The subpopulation treatment effect pattern plots (STEPP) did not show treatment heterogeneity of AC in patients with HAS. The proportions of local recurrence and metastasis sites in the two groups were similar. Although the smoothed hazard curves of the NAC and AC groups crossed, the peak hazard time was later in the AC group (5.9 and 4.7 months), and the peak hazard rate was lower (0.032 and 0.038, P = 0.987). CONCLUSION: The current AC regimen may not significantly improve the survival of patients with HAS after radical surgery.

Prognostic role of myeloid-derived tumor-associated macrophages at the tumor invasive margin in gastric cancer with liver metastasis (GCLM): a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Liver metastasis is one of the important factors leading to poor prognosis of gastric cancer. According to the classic "seed soil theory", it is speculated that the liver microenvironment at the invasion margin of gastric cancer liver metastases (GCLM) may have a crucial impact on tumor progression. However, few studies had stated the correlation between the patients' prognosis and the densities of stromal cells infiltrating into the invasive margin, where our retrospective study designed to identify the role of infiltrating macrophages on the prognosis of GCLM as a reliable supplement of predictive tumor markers. Methods: The material consisted of a group of 72 gastric cancer (GC) patients with liver metastasis diagnosed from February 2015 and December 2020. The CD68+, CD206+, and Clec4f+ macrophages in their specimens were counted by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the analysis area was the invasive margin of metastatic lesions. Clinical data were collected retrospectively. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of initial diagnosis to the date of last follow-up or death. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to asses impact of macrophages on OS. Results: The expression of CD206 could indicate the prognosis of patients with GCLM, and patients with high expression of CD206 had worse prognoses (P=0.0002). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that CD206 was an independent risk factor for prognosis (HR 5.276, 95% CI: 1.730-16.089, P=0.003). Conclusions: The CD206+ myeloid-derived tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) may predict whether patients could benefit from R1 resection of liver-metastatic lesions, which has important theoretical significance and practical value for accurately evaluating the clinical prognosis of patients with GCLM and guiding clinical treatment.

Hypersampones A-C, Three Nor-Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols with Lipid-Lowering Activity from Hypericum sampsonii.

Hypersampones A-C (1-3), three unprecedented nor-polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), were isolated from Hypericum sampsonii. These compounds represent the first nor-PPAPs with an unexpected tetracyclic 6/5/5/6 ring system. Their structures were assigned through the analysis of detailed spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallography, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compound 1 significantly inhibited the accumulation of lipid in an oleic acid-treated HepG2 cell model by suppressing the protein expression of FAS and ACACA at 5 µM.

Midkine: A multifaceted driver of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis constitutes the pathological basis of life-threatening events, including heart attack and stroke. Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor and forms a small protein family with pleiotrophin. Under inflammatory or hypoxic conditions, midkine expression is up-regulated. Upon binding to its receptors, midkine can activate multiple signal pathways to regulate cell survival and migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and oncogenesis. Circulating midkine levels are significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension, obesity or severe peripheral artery disease. Importantly, midkine exerts a proatherogenic effect by altering multiple pathophysiological processes involving atherogenesis, including macrophage lipid accumulation, vascular inflammation, neointima formation, insulin resistance and macrophage apoptosis. Midkine represents a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis-associated diseases. This review described the structure characteristics, expression patterns and signal transduction pathways of midkine with an emphasis on its role in atherosclerosis.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01569 Promotes Proliferation and Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer by miR-381-3p/RAP2A Axis.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) display regulatory function flexibly in tumor onset and developments. Our study aimed to delve into the roles of lncRNA LINC01569 (LINC01569) in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression to study the potential mechanisms. METHODS: The genetic expression profiles of miR-381-3p and LINC01569 were measured by RT-PCR. The subcellular localization of LINC01569 in CRC cells was identified using subcellular fractionation location. Loss-of-function assays were performed to explore the potential effects of LINC01569 on CRC progression. Dual-luciferase reporter analysis was employed to verify the binding connections among LINC01569, miR-381-3p, and RAP2A. RESULTS: LINC01569 expression was distinctly increased in CRC. Curiously, if LINC01569 is removed, CRC cells will not migrate, proliferate, and invade remarkably. Molecular mechanism exploration uncovered that LINC01569 acted as a ceRNA competing with RAP2A to bind with miR-381-3p. Furthermore, rescue experiments corroborated the fact that miR-381-3p suppression reversed the inhibitory actions of LINC01569 knockdown on the expression of RAP2A and CRC progression. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings indicate that LINC01569 plays a key role in CRC development by means of aiming at the miR-381-3p/RAP2A axis and can be equivalent to an underlying medicinal target to save CRC patients.

Low Distribution of TIM-3+ Cytotoxic Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Predicts Poor Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

There are multiple tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and relevant immune checkpoints existing in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), which provides opportunities and rationales for developing effective immunotherapies. Recent studies have suggested that checkpoint TIM-3/Gal-9 plays a pivotal role on immune response in multiple tumors, similar to the PD-1/PD-L1, emerging as a potential therapeutic target. However, their functions in GIST are unrevealed. Hence, the expression of immune checkpoints TIM-3 and Gal-9, as well as the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, is described in 299 cases of GIST specimens. The results showed that TIM-3 and Gal-9 are mainly expressed in TILs, rarely in tumor cells. Expression levels of TIM-3 and Gal-9 significantly differ in varying risks of GIST and exert opposite distribution trends. Indicated by prognosis analysis, high TIM-3 expression of TILs was associated with improved outcome, while low expression levels of TIM-3 in combination with low amounts of CD8+ and CD56+ TILs predict extremely poor survival. The integrated analysis of TIM-3+, CD8+, and CD56+ TILs as one biomarker is a reliable independent predictor of prognosis. In conclusion, low densities of TIM-3+ TILs are associated with poor survival, and integrated immune biomarkers lead to superior predictors of GIST prognosis.

Emerging roles of growth differentiation factor-15 in brain disorders (Review).

Brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and cerebral stroke, are an important contributor to mortality and disability worldwide, where their pathogenesis is currently a topic of intense research. The mechanisms underlying the development of brain disorders are complex and vary widely, including aberrant protein aggregation, ischemic cell necrosis and neuronal dysfunction. Previous studies have found that the expression and function of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is closely associated with the incidence of brain disorders. GDF15 is a member of the TGFß superfamily, which is a dimer-structured stress-response protein. The expression of GDF15 is regulated by a number of proteins upstream, including p53, early growth response-1, non-coding RNAs and hormones. In particular, GDF15 has been reported to serve an important role in regulating angiogenesis, apoptosis, lipid metabolism and inflammation. For example, GDF15 can promote angiogenesis by promoting the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, apoptosis of prostate cancer cells and fat metabolism in fasted mice, and GDF15 can decrease the inflammatory response of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. The present article reviews the structure and biosynthesis of GDF15, in addition to the possible roles of GDF15 in Alzheimer's disease, cerebral stroke and Parkinson's disease. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the mechanism underlying the role of GDF15 in various brain disorders, which hopes to provide evidence and guide the prevention and treatment of these debilitating conditions.