The Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway regulates autophagy and migration in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway plays an important role in various types of human cancers including ovarian cancer; however, its function and underlying mechanism in ovarian cancer are still not entirely understood. METHODS: We detected the expressions of SHH and SQSTM1 in borderline ovarian tumor tissues, epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and benign ovarian tumor tissues. Cyclopamine (Cyp, a well-known inhibitor of SHH signaling pathway) and chloroquine (CQ, the pharmaceutical inhibitor of autophagy) were used in vivo and in vitro (autophagic flux, CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, tumor xenograft model). The mechanism of action was explored through Quantitative RT-PCR and Western Blot. RESULTS: We found up-regulation of SHH and accumulation of SQSTM1/P62 in epithelial ovarian cancer. Cyp induced autophagy through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, low-dose Cyp and chloroquine (CQ) significantly promoted the migratory ability of SKOV3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that inhibition of the SHH pathway and autophagy may be a potential and effective therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage.

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.

Acceleration of diabetic-wound healing with PEGylated rhaFGF in healing-impaired streptozocin diabetic rats.

Molecular modification with polyethylene glycol (PEGylation) is an effective approach to improve protein biostability, in vivo lifetime and therapeutic potency. In the present study, the recombinant human acid fibroblast growth factor (rhaFGF) was site-selectively PEGylated with 20 kDa mPEG-butyraldehyde. Mono-PEGylated rhaFGF was purified to near homogeneity by Sephadex G 25-gel filtration followed by a Heparin Sepharose TM CL-6B affinity chromatography. PEGylated rhaFGF has less effect than the native rhaFGF on the stimulation of 3T3 cell proliferation in vitro; however, its relative thermal stability at normal physiological temperature and structural stability were significantly enhanced, and its half-life time in vivo was significantly extended. Then, the physiological function of PEGylated rhaFGF on diabetic-wound healing was evaluated in type 1 diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. The results showed that, compared with the group of animal treated with native rhaFGF, the group treated with PEGylated rhaFGF exhibited better therapeutic efficacy with shorter healing time, quicker tissue collagen generation, earlier and higher transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß expression, and dermal cell proliferation. In addition, in vivo analysis showed that both native and PEGylated rhaFGF were more effective in the wound healing in the diabetic group compared with the nondiabetic one. Taken together, these results suggest that PEGylation of rhaFGF could be a more effective approach to the pharmacological and therapeutic application of native rhaFGF.

A better anti-diabetic recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 21 (rhFGF21) modified with polyethylene glycol.

As one of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members, FGF21 has been extensively investigated for its potential as a drug candidate to combat metabolic diseases. In the present study, recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21) was modified with polyethylene glycol (PEGylation) in order to increase its in vivo biostabilities and therapeutic potency. At N-terminal residue rhFGF21 was site-selectively PEGylated with mPEG20 kDa-butyraldehyde. The PEGylated rhFGF21 was purified to near homogeneity by Q Sepharose anion-exchange chromatography. The general structural and biochemical features as well as anti-diabetic effects of PEGylated rhFGF21 in a type 2 diabetic rat model were evaluated. By N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, we confirmed that PEG molecule was conjugated only to the N-terminus of rhFGF21. The mono-PEGylated rhFGF21 retained the secondary structure, consistent with the native rhFGF21, but its biostabilities, including the resistance to physiological temperature and trypsinization, were significantly enhanced. The in vivo immunogenicity of PEGylated rhFGF21 was significantly decreased, and in vivo half-life time was significantly elongated. Compared to the native form, the PEGylated rhFGF21 had a similar capacity of stimulating glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro, but afforded a significantly long effect on reducing blood glucose and triglyceride levels in the type 2 diabetic animals. These results suggest that the PEGylated rhFGF21 is a better and more effective anti-diabetic drug candidate than the native rhFGF21 currently available. Therefore, the PEGylated rhFGF21 may be potentially applied in clinics to improve the metabolic syndrome for type 2 diabetic patients.

Improved refractory wound healing with administration of acidic fibroblast growth factor in diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on treating refractory wound of diabetic rats. SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group, and aFGF group. Ulcer skin tissues of three groups of rats were respectively collected on days 7 and 14 after establishment of ulcer model for biochemical test, pathological section and immunohistochemistry to comprehensively evaluate the treatment effect of aFGF on diabetic ulcer. The results showed that aFGF could significantly increase capillaries and fibroblast amounts of ulcer tissues, enhance the expression of TGF-ß and PCNA proliferation proteins, and thus improved diabetic ulcer tissues. The preliminary mechanism that aFGF helps to promote healing of diabetic ulcer is possibly associated with that aFGF stimulated ulcer skins to secrete TGF-ß and PCNA proteins and promoted proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts.

Preparation and characterisation of bFGF-encapsulated liposomes and evaluation of wound-healing activities in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a very short half-life in vivo, and this limits its therapeutic value for frequent administration. Liposome technology was used to improve the stability of bFGF and to prolong its effects in vivo. METHODS: bFGF-encapsulated liposomes (bFGF-lip) were prepared using the pH gradient method. Four critical factors were investigated including concentration of citric acid solution, incubation time of blank liposomes, incubation temperature and sonication time. The pharmacodynamics of bFGF-lip was investigated by establishing a deep second-degree burns model in rats. RESULTS: The optimal bFGF-lip were characterised by high entrapment efficiency (79.88 ± 3.37%), good physical stability (K(E): 1.02 ± 0.413%) and high bioactivity ((6.147 ± 0.769) × 10(5) IU ml(-1)). The middle dose of bFGF-lip (60 IU ml(-1)) demonstrated the fastest tissue collagen generation as well as the earliest and highest tumour growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and dermal cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)) expression as compared with other treatments. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study imply that bFGF-lip have promising prospects for application in wound-healing therapies.