Biological Significance of EphB4 Expression in Cancer.

Eph receptors and their Eph receptor-interacting (ephrin) ligands comprise a vital cell communication system with several functions. In cancer cells, there was evidence of bilateral Eph receptor signaling with both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting actions. As a member of the Eph receptor family, EphB4 has been linked to tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis, which makes it a viable and desirable target for drug development in therapeutic applications. Many investigations have been conducted over the last decade to elucidate the structure and function of EphB4 in association with its ligand ephrinB2 for its involvement in tumorigenesis. Although several EphB4-targeting drugs have been investigated, and some selective inhibitors have been evaluated in clinical trials. This article addresses the structure and function of the EphB4 receptor, analyses its possibility as an anticancer therapeutic target, and summarises knowledge of EphB4 kinase inhibitors. To summarise, EphB4 is a difficult but potential treatment option for cancers.

Glutathione prevents high glucose-induced pancreatic fibrosis by suppressing pancreatic stellate cell activation via the ROS/TGFß/SMAD pathway.

The activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) is the key mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis, which can lead to ß-cell failure. Oxidative stress is an important risk factor for PSC activation. There is no direct evidence proving if administration of glutathione can inhibit fibrosis and ß-cell failure. To explore the role of glutathione in pancreatic fibrosis and ß-cell failure induced by hyperglycaemia, we established a rat model of pancreatic fibrosis and ß-cell failure. The model was founded through long-term oscillating glucose (LOsG) intake and the setup of a sham group and a glutathione intervention group. In vitro, rat PSCs were treated with low glucose, high glucose, or high glucose plus glutathione to explore the mechanism of high glucose-induced PSC activation and the downstream effects of glutathione. Compared with sham rats, LOsG-treated rats had higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in peripheral leukocytes and pancreatic tissue while TGFß signalling was upregulated. In addition, as the number of PSCs and pancreatic fibrosis increased, ß-cell function was significantly impaired. Glutathione evidently inhibited the upregulation of TGFß signalling and several unfavourable outcomes caused by LOsG. In vitro treatment of high glucose for 72 h resulted in higher ROS accumulation and potentiated TGFß pathway activation in PSCs. PSCs showed myofibroblast phenotype transformation with upregulation of α-SMA expression and increased cell proliferation and migration. Treatment with either glutathione or TGFß pathway inhibitors alleviated these changes. Together, our findings suggest that glutathione can inhibit PSC activation-induced pancreatic fibrosis via blocking ROS/TGFß/SMAD signalling in vivo and in vitro.

Glutathione prevents chronic oscillating glucose intake-induced ß-cell dedifferentiation and failure.

Modern lifestyles have altered diet and metabolic homeostasis, with increased sugar intake, glycemic index, and prediabetes. A strong positive correlation between sugar consumption and diabetic incidence is revealed, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Here we show that oral intake of long-term oscillating glucose (LOsG) (4 times/day) for 38 days, which produces physiological glycemic variability in rats, can lead to ß-cells gaining metabolic memory in reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. This stress leads to suppression of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) signaling and subsequent upregulation of thioredoxin interacting protein, inhibition of insulin and SOD-2 expression, re-expression of Neurog3, and ß-cell dedifferentiation and functional failure. LOsG-treated animals develop prediabetes exhibiting hypoinsulinemia and glucose intolerance. Dynamic and timely administration of antioxidant glutathione prevents LOsG/ROS-induced ß-cell failure and prediabetes. We propose that ROS stress is the initial step in LOsG-inducing prediabetes. Manipulating glutathione-related pathways may offer novel options for preventing the occurrence and development of diabetes.