Cholecystohepatic shunt pathway reduces secondary bile acid accumulation to enhance natural killer T cell-mediated anti-hepatocellular carcinoma immunity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The impact of cholecystectomy, which blocks the cholecystohepatic shunt pathway (CHSP), on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Hepatic secondary bile acids (BAs) inhibit natural killer T (NKT) cell-mediated immunity against HCC, and the regulation of homeostasis of hepatic secondary BAs is controlled by the CHSP. However, the influence of CHSP on NKT cell-mediated immunity against HCC remains unclear. METHODS: The clinical data of hospitalized patients undergoing HCC resection were collected. Meanwhile, an in situ HCC mouse model was established, and the CHSP was augmented using oleanolic acid (OA). RESULTS: After 1:1 propensity score matching, Cox regression analysis revealed that cholecystectomy was an independent risk factor for HCC recurrence after hepatectomy (P = 0.027, hazard ratio: 1.599, 95% confidence interval: 1.055-2.422). Experimentally, when OA enhanced CHSP, a significant decrease was observed in the accumulation of secondary BAs in the livers of mice. Additionally, a significant increase was observed in the levels of C-X-C ligand 16 and interferon γ in the serum and tumor tissues. Further, the percentage of C-X-C receptor 6 (+) NKT cells in the tumor tissues increased significantly, and the growth of liver tumors was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical study revealed that cholecystectomy promoted the recurrence after radical hepatectomy in patients with HCC. Preserving the normal-functioning gallbladder as much as possible during surgery may be beneficial to the patient's prognosis. Further investigation into the mechanism revealed that CHSP enhanced NKT cell-mediated immunity against HCC by reducing the hepatic accumulation of secondary BAs.

HMGA1 sensitizes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to mTOR inhibitors through the ETS1-FKBP12 axis.

Esophageal carcinoma is amongst the prevalent malignancies worldwide, characterized by unclear molecular classifications and varying clinical outcomes. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, one of the frequently perturbed dysregulated pathways in human malignancies, has instigated the development of various inhibitory agents targeting this pathway, but many ESCC patients exhibit intrinsic or adaptive resistance to these inhibitors. Here, we aim to explore the reasons for the insensitivity of ESCC patients to mTOR inhibitors. We assessed the sensitivity to rapamycin in various ESCC cell lines by determining their respective IC50 values and found that cells with a low level of HMGA1 were more tolerant to rapamycin. Subsequent experiments have supported this finding. Through a transcriptome sequencing, we identified a crucial downstream effector of HMGA1, FKBP12, and found that FKBP12 was necessary for HMGA1-induced cell sensitivity to rapamycin. HMGA1 interacted with ETS1, and facilitated the transcription of FKBP12. Finally, we validated this regulatory axis in in vivo experiments, where HMGA1 deficiency in transplanted tumors rendered them resistance to rapamycin. Therefore, we speculate that mTOR inhibitor therapy for individuals exhibiting a reduced level of HMGA1 or FKBP12 may not work. Conversely, individuals exhibiting an elevated level of HMGA1 or FKBP12 are more suitable candidates for mTOR inhibitor treatment.

DLL3-guided therapies in small-cell lung cancer: from antibody-drug conjugate to precision immunotherapy and radioimmunotherapy.

DLL3 acts as an inhibitory ligand that downregulates Notch signaling and is upregulated by ASCL1, a transcription factor prevalent in the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) subtype SCLC-A. Currently, the therapeutic strategies targeting DLL3 are varied, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. Although rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T) showed promise in a phase II study, it failed to produce favorable results in subsequent phase III trials, leading to the cessation of its development. Conversely, DLL3-targeted BiTEs have garnered significant clinical interest. Tarlatamab, for instance, demonstrated enhanced response rates and progression-free survival compared to the standard of care in a phase II trial; its biologics license application (BLA) is currently under US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. Numerous ongoing phase III studies aim to further evaluate tarlatamab's clinical efficacy, alongside the development of novel DLL3-targeted T-cell engagers, both bispecific and trispecific. CAR-T cell therapies targeting DLL3 have recently emerged and are undergoing various preclinical and early-phase clinical studies. Additionally, preclinical studies have shown promising efficacy for DLL3-targeted radiotherapy, which employs ß-particle-emitting therapeutic radioisotopes conjugated to DLL3-targeting antibodies. DLL3-targeted therapies hold substantial potential for SCLC management. Future clinical trials will be crucial for comparing treatment outcomes among various approaches and exploring combination therapies to improve patient survival outcomes.

Targeted inhibition of branched-chain amino acid metabolism drives apoptosis of glioblastoma by facilitating ubiquitin degradation of Mfn2 and oxidative stress.

Glioblastoma is one of the most challenging malignancies with high aggressiveness and invasiveness and its development and progression of glioblastoma highly depends on branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism. The study aimed to investigate effects of inhibition of BCAA metabolism with cytosolic branched-chain amino acid transaminase (BCATc) Inhibitor 2 on glioblastoma, elucidate its underlying mechanisms, and explore therapeutic potential of targeting BCAA metabolism. The expression of BCATc was upregulated in glioblastoma and BCATc Inhibitor 2 precipitated apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro with the activation of Bax/Bcl2/Caspase-3/Caspase-9 axis. In addition, BCATc Inhibitor 2 promoted K63-linkage ubiquitination of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), which subsequently caused lysosomal degradation of Mfn2, and then oxidative stress, mitochondrial fission and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, BCATc Inhibitor 2 treatment resulted in metabolic reprogramming, and significant inhibition of expression of ATP5A, UQCRC2, SDHB and COX II, indicative of suppressed oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, Mfn2 overexpression or scavenging mitochondria-originated reactive oxygen species (ROS) with mito-TEMPO ameliorated BCATc Inhibitor 2-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption and mitochondrial fission, and abrogated the inhibitory effect of BCATc Inhibitor 2 on glioblastoma cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. All of these findings indicate suppression of BCAA metabolism promotes glioblastoma cell apoptosis via disruption of Mfn2-mediated mitochondrial dynamics and inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and suggest that BCAA metabolism can be targeted for developing therapeutic agents to treat glioblastoma.

TBC9, an essential TBC-domain protein, regulates early vesicular transport and IMC formation in Toxoplasma gondii.

Apicomplexan parasites harbor a complex endomembrane system as well as unique secretory organelles. These complex cellular structures require an elaborate vesicle trafficking system, which includes Rab GTPases and their regulators, to assure the biogenesis and secretory of the organelles. Here we exploit the model apicomplexan organism Toxoplasma gondii that encodes a family of Rab GTPase Activating Proteins, TBC (Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16) domain-containing proteins. Functional profiling of these proteins in tachyzoites reveals that TBC9 is the only essential regulator, which is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in T. gondii strains. Detailed analyses demonstrate that TBC9 is required for normal distribution of proteins targeting to the ER, and the Golgi apparatus in the parasite, as well as for the normal formation of daughter inner membrane complexes (IMCs). Pull-down assays show a strong protein interaction between TBC9 and specific Rab GTPases (Rab11A, Rab11B, and Rab2), supporting the role of TBC9 in daughter IMC formation and early vesicular transport. Thus, this study identifies the only essential TBC domain-containing protein TBC9 that regulates early vesicular transport and IMC formation in T. gondii and potentially in closely related protists.

Lifileucel, an Autologous Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocyte Monotherapy, in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

In this phase 2 multicenter study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of lifileucel (LN-145), an autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy, in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who had received prior immunotherapy and progressed on their most recent therapy. The median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-6). Lifileucel was successfully manufactured using tumor tissue from different anatomic sites, predominantly lung. The objective response rate was 21.4% (6/28). Responses occurred in tumors with profiles typically resistant to immunotherapy, such as PD-L1-negative, low tumor mutational burden, and STK11 mutation. Two responses were ongoing at the time of data cutoff, including one complete metabolic response in a PD-L1-negative tumor. Adverse events were generally as expected and manageable. Two patients died of treatment-emergent adverse events: cardiac failure and multiple organ failure. Lifileucel is a potential treatment option for patients with mNSCLC refractory to prior therapy.

Predicting the complexity and mortality of polytrauma patients with machine learning models.

We aim to develop machine learning (ML) models for predicting the complexity and mortality of polytrauma patients using clinical features, including physician diagnoses and physiological data. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a cohort comprising 756 polytrauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Pizhou People's Hospital Trauma Center, Jiangsu, China between 2020 and 2022. Clinical parameters encompassed demographics, vital signs, laboratory values, clinical scores and physician diagnoses. The two primary outcomes considered were mortality and complexity. We developed ML models to predict polytrauma mortality or complexity using four ML algorithms, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). We assessed the models' performance and compared the optimal ML model against three existing trauma evaluation scores, including Injury Severity Score (ISS), Trauma Index (TI) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). In addition, we identified several important clinical predictors that made contributions to the prognostic models. The XGBoost-based polytrauma mortality prediction model demonstrated a predictive ability with an accuracy of 90% and an F-score of 88%, outperforming SVM, RF and ANN models. In comparison to conventional scoring systems, the XGBoost model had substantial improvements in predicting the mortality of polytrauma patients. External validation yielded strong stability and generalization with an accuracy of up to 91% and an AUC of 82%. To predict polytrauma complexity, the XGBoost model maintained its performance over other models and scoring systems with good calibration and discrimination abilities. Feature importance analysis highlighted several clinical predictors of polytrauma complexity and mortality, such as Intracranial hematoma (ICH). Leveraging ML algorithms in polytrauma care can enhance the prognostic estimation of polytrauma patients. This approach may have potential value in the management of polytrauma patients.

Mechanistic understanding of acclimation and energy metabolism of acetoclastic methanogens under different substrate to microorganism ratios.

Mechanistic understanding of acetoclastic methanogenesis is pivotal for optimizing anaerobic digestion for efficient methane production. In this study, two different operational modes, continuous flow reactor (CFR) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR), accompanied with solids retention times (SRT) of 10 days (SBR10d and CFR10d) and 25 days (SBR25d and CFR25d) were implemented to elucidate their impacts on microbial communities and energy metabolism of methanogens in acetate-fed systems. Microbial community analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Methanosarcina (16.0%-46.0%) surpassed Methanothrix (3.7%-22.9%) in each reactor. SBRs had the potential to enrich both Methanothrix and Methanosarcina. Compared to SBRs, CFRs had lower total relative abundance of methanogens. Methanosarcina exhibited a superior enrichment in reactors with 10-day SRT, while Methanothrix preferred to be acclimated in reactors with 25-day SRT. The operational mode and SRT were also observed to affect the distribution of acetate-utilizing bacteria, including Pseudomonas, Desulfocurvus, Mesotoga, and Thauera. Regarding enzymes involved in energy metabolism, Ech and Vho/Vht demonstrated higher relative abundances at 10-day SRT compared to 25-day SRT, whereas Fpo and MtrA-H showed higher relative abundances in SBRs than those in CFRs. The relative abundance of genes encoding ATPase harbored by Methanothrix was higher than Methanosarcina at 25-day SRT. Additionally, the relative abundance of V/A-type ATPase (typically for methanogens) was observed higher in SBRs compared to CFRs, while the F-type ATPase (typically for bacteria) exhibited higher relative abundance in CFRs than that in SBRs.

Myricanol improves metabolic profiles in dexamethasone induced lipid and protein metabolism disorders in mice.

Myricanol (MY) is one of the main active components from bark of Myrica Rubra. It is demonstrated that MY rescues dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle dysfunction via activating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and increasing adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Since SIRT1 and AMPK are widely involved in the metabolism of nutrients, we speculated that MY may exert beneficial effects on DEX-induced metabolic disorders. This study for the first time applied widely targeted metabolomics to investigate the beneficial effects of MY on glucose, lipids, and protein metabolism in DEX-induced metabolic abnormality in mice. The results showed that MY significantly reversed DEX-induced soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weight loss, muscle fiber damage, and muscle strength loss. MY alleviated DEX-induced metabolic disorders by increasing SIRT1 and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expressions. Additionally, myricanol prevented muscle cell apoptosis and atrophy by inhibiting caspase 3 cleavages and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) expression. Metabolomics showed that MY treatment reversed the serum content of carnitine ph-C1, palmitoleic acid, PS (16:0_17:0), PC (14:0_20:5), PE (P-18:1_16:1), Cer (t18:2/38:1(2OH)), four amino acids and their metabolites, and 16 glycerolipids in DEX mice. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and metabolic set enrichment analysis (MSEA) analysis revealed that MY mainly affected metabolic pathways, glycerolipid metabolism, lipolysis, fat digestion and absorption, lipid and atherosclerosis, and cholesterol metabolism pathways through regulation of metabolites involved in glutathione, butanoate, vitamin B6, glycine, serine and threonine, arachidonic acid, and riboflavin metabolism. Collectively, MY can be used as an attractive therapeutic agent for DEX-induced metabolic abnormalities.

Recalled age of myopia onset may predict risk of high adult myopia in Chinese adults.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between age of myopia onset and high myopia and to explore if age of onset mediated the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1118 myopic patients aged 18 to 40. Information was obtained via a detailed questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression and linear regression models were utilized to assess age of onset in relation to high myopia and spherical equivalent refractive error, respectively. Structural equation models examined the mediated effect of onset age on the association between parental myopia, time spent on electronics and high myopia. RESULTS: An early age at myopia onset was negatively correlated with spherical equivalent refractive power. Subjects who developed myopia before the age of 12 were more likely to suffer from high myopia than those who developed myopia after the age of 15. Age of myopia onset was the strongest predictor of high myopia, with an area under the curve (AUC) in Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis of 0.80. Additionally, age of myopia onset served as a mediator in the relationships between parental myopia, electronic device usage duration, and the onset of high myopia in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Age of myopia onset might be the single best predictor for high myopia, and age at onset appeared to mediate the associations of high myopia with parental myopia and time spent on electronics.

Decoding the glycoproteome: a new frontier for biomarker discovery in cancer.

Cancer early detection and treatment response prediction continue to pose significant challenges. Cancer liquid biopsies focusing on detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and DNA (ctDNA) have shown enormous potential due to their non-invasive nature and the implications in precision cancer management. Recently, liquid biopsy has been further expanded to profile glycoproteins, which are the products of post-translational modifications of proteins and play key roles in both normal and pathological processes, including cancers. The advancements in chemical and mass spectrometry-based technologies and artificial intelligence-based platforms have enabled extensive studies of cancer and organ-specific changes in glycans and glycoproteins through glycomics and glycoproteomics. Glycoproteomic analysis has emerged as a promising tool for biomarker discovery and development in early detection of cancers and prediction of treatment efficacy including response to immunotherapies. These biomarkers could play a crucial role in aiding in early intervention and personalized therapy decisions. In this review, we summarize the significant advance in cancer glycoproteomic biomarker studies and the promise and challenges in integration into clinical practice to improve cancer patient care.

Protective Mechanism of Polysaccharide ORP-1 Isolated from Oudemansiella raphanipes against Age-Related Cognitive Decline through the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis.

Age-related cognitive decline is primarily attributed to the progressive weakening of synaptic function and loss of synapses, while age-related gut microbial dysbiosis is known to impair synaptic plasticity and cognitive behavior by metabolic alterations. To improve the health of the elderly, the protective mechanisms of Oudemansiella raphanipes polysaccharide (ORP-1) against age-related cognitive decline are investigated. The results demonstrate that ORP-1 and its gut microbiota-derived metabolites SCFAs restore a healthy gut microbial population to handle age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis mainly by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria Dubosiella, Clostridiales, and Prevotellaceae and reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria Desulfovibrio, strengthen intestinal barrier integrity by abolishing age-related alterations of tight junction (TJ) and mucin 2 (MUC2) proteins expression, diminish age-dependent increase in circulating inflammatory factors, ameliorate cognitive decline by reversing memory- and synaptic plasticity-related proteins levels, and restrain hyperactivation of microglia-mediated synapse engulfment and neuroinflammation. These findings expand the understanding of prebiotic-microbiota-host interactions.

The plant-like protein phosphatase PPKL regulates parasite replication and morphology in Toxoplasma gondii.

BACKGROUND: The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes dozens of phosphatases, among which a plant-like phosphatase absent from mammalian genomes named PPKL, which is involved in regulating brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis, was identified in the genome. Among the Apicomplexa parasites, T. gondii is an important and representative pathogen in humans and animals. PPKL was previously identified to modulate the apical integrity and morphology of the ookinetes and parasite motility and transmission in another important parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. However, the exact function of PPKL in the asexual stages of T. gondii remains unknown. METHODS: The plant auxin-inducible degron (AID) system was applied to dissect the phenotypes of PPKL in T. gondii. We first analyzed the phenotypes of the AID parasites at an induction time of 24 h, by staining of different organelles using their corresponding markers. These analyses were further conducted for the parasites grown in auxin for 6 and 12 h using a quantitative approach and for the type II strain ME49 of AID parasites. To further understand the phenotypes, the potential protein interactions were analyzed using a proximity biotin labeling approach. The essential role of PPKL in parasite replication was revealed. RESULTS: PPKL is localized in the apical region and nucleus and partially distributed in the cytoplasm of the parasite. The phenotyping of PPKL showed its essentiality for parasite replication and morphology. Further dissections demonstrate that PPKL is required for the maturation of daughter parasites in the mother cells, resulting in multiple nuclei in a single parasite. The phenotype of the daughter parasites and parasite morphology were observed in another type of T. gondii strain ME49. The substantial defect in parasite replication and morphology could be rescued by genetic complementation, thus supporting its essential function for PPKL in the formation of parasites. The protein interaction analysis showed the potential interaction of PPKL with diverse proteins, thus explaining the importance of PPKL in the parasite. CONCLUSIONS: PPKL plays an important role in the formation of daughter parasites, revealing its subtle involvement in the proper maturation of the daughter parasites during division. Our detailed analysis also demonstrated that depletion of PPKL resulted in elongated tubulin fibers in the parasites. The important roles in the parasites are potentially attributed to the protein interaction mediated by kelch domains on the protein. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of a key phosphatase involved in parasite replication, suggesting the potential of this phosphatase as a pharmaceutic target.

The Toxoplasma monocarboxylate transporters are involved in the metabolism within the apicoplast and are linked to parasite survival.

The apicoplast is a four-membrane plastid found in the apicomplexans, which harbors biosynthesis and organelle housekeeping activities in the matrix. However, the mechanism driving the flux of metabolites, in and out, remains unknown. Here, we used TurboID and genome engineering to identify apicoplast transporters in Toxoplasma gondii. Among the many novel transporters, we show that one pair of apicomplexan monocarboxylate transporters (AMTs) appears to have evolved from a putative host cell that engulfed a red alga. Protein depletion showed that AMT1 and AMT2 are critical for parasite growth. Metabolite analyses supported the notion that AMT1 and AMT2 are associated with biosynthesis of isoprenoids and fatty acids. However, stronger phenotypic defects were observed for AMT2, including in the inability to establish T. gondii parasite virulence in mice. This study clarifies, significantly, the mystery of apicoplast transporter composition and reveals the importance of the pair of AMTs in maintaining the apicoplast activity in apicomplexans.

Large-scale array for radio astronomy on the farside (LARAF).

At the Royal Society meeting in 2023, we have mainly presented our lunar orbit array concept called DSL, and also briefly introduced a concept of a lunar surface array, LARAF. As the DSL concept had been presented before, in this article, we introduce the LARAF. We propose to build an array in the far side of the Moon, with a master station which handles the data collection and processing, and 20 stations with maximum baseline of 10 km. Each station consists of 12 membrane antenna units, and the stations are connected to the master station by power line and optical fibre. The array will make interferometric observation in the 0.1-50 MHz band during the lunar night, powered by regenerated fuel cells. The whole array can be carried to the lunar surface with a heavy rocket mission, and deployed with a rover in eight months. Such an array would be an important step in the long-term development of lunar-based ultralong wavelength radio astronomy. It has a sufficiently high sensitivity to observe many radio sources in the sky, though still short of the dark age fluctuations. We discuss the possible options in the power supply, data communication, deployment etc. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)'.

Natural Products in Liver Fibrosis Management: A Five-year Review.

Liver fibrosis, characterized by the overproduction of extracellular matrix proteins within liver tissue, poses a rising global health concern. However, no approved antifibrotic drugs are currently available, highlighting the critical need for understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis. This knowledge could not only aid in developing therapies but also enable early intervention, enhance disease prediction, and improve our understanding of the interaction between various underlying conditions and the liver. Notably, natural products used in traditional medicine systems worldwide and demonstrating diverse biochemical and pharmacological activities are increasingly recognized for their potential in treating liver fibrosis. This review aims to comprehensively understand liver fibrosis, emphasizing the molecular mechanisms and advancements in exploring natural products' antifibrotic potential over the past five years. It also acknowledges the challenges in their development and seeks to underscore their potency in enhancing patient prognosis and reducing the global burden of liver disease.

HMGA1 drives chemoresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing ferroptosis.

Chemotherapy is a primary treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is an important hurdle to effective treatment. Understanding the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance in ESCC is an unmet medical need to improve the survival of ESCC. Herein, we demonstrate that ferroptosis triggered by inhibiting high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) may provide a novel opportunity to gain an effective therapeutic strategy against chemoresistance in ESCC. HMGA1 is upregulated in ESCC and works as a key driver for cisplatin (DDP) resistance in ESCC by repressing ferroptosis. Inhibition of HMGA1 enhances the sensitivity of ESCC to ferroptosis. With a transcriptome analysis and following-up assays, we demonstrated that HMGA1 upregulates the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), a key transporter maintaining intracellular glutathione homeostasis and inhibiting the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), thereby suppressing cell ferroptosis. HMGA1 acts as a chromatin remodeling factor promoting the binding of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) to the promoter of SLC7A11, and hence enhancing the transcription of SLC7A11 and maintaining the redox balance. We characterized that the enhanced chemosensitivity of ESCC is primarily attributed to the increased susceptibility of ferroptosis resulting from the depletion of HMGA1. Moreover, we utilized syngeneic allograft tumor models and genetically engineered mice of HMGA1 to induce ESCC and validated that depletion of HMGA1 promotes ferroptosis and restores the sensitivity of ESCC to DDP, and hence enhances the therapeutic efficacy. Our finding uncovers a critical role of HMGA1 in the repression of ferroptosis and thus in the establishment of DDP resistance in ESCC, highlighting HMGA1-based rewiring strategies as potential approaches to overcome ESCC chemotherapy resistance. Schematic depicting that HMGA1 maintains intracellular redox homeostasis against ferroptosis by assisting ATF4 to activate SLC7A11 transcription, resulting in ESCC resistance to chemotherapy.

Chlorogenic Acid Attenuates Isoproterenol Hydrochloride-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in AC16 Cells by Inhibiting the Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is an important characteristic in heart failure development. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a crucial bioactive compound from honeysuckle, is reported to protect against CH. However, its underlying mechanism of action remains incompletely elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the protective effect of CGA on CH. This study established a CH model by stimulating AC16 cells with isoproterenol (Iso). The observed significant decrease in cell surface area, evaluated through fluorescence staining, along with the downregulation of CH-related markers, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and ß-myosin heavy chain (ß-MHC) at both mRNA and protein levels, provide compelling evidence of the protective effect of CGA against isoproterenol-induced CH. Mechanistically, CGA induced the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß) while concurrently attenuating the expression of the core protein ß-catenin in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, the experiment utilized the Wnt signaling activator IM-12 to observe its ability to modulate the impact of CGA pretreatment on the development of CH. Using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database combined with online platforms and tools, this study identified Wnt-related genes influenced by CGA in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and further validated the correlation between CGA and the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in CH. This result provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of CGA against CH, indicating CGA as a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases.