SUN1/2 controls macrophage polarization via modulating nuclear size and stiffness.

Alteration of the size and stiffness of the nucleus triggered by environmental cues are thought to be important for eukaryotic cell fate and function. However, it remains unclear how context-dependent nuclear remodeling occurs and reprograms gene expression. Here we identify the nuclear envelope proteins SUN1/2 as mechano-regulators of the nucleus during M1 polarization of the macrophage. Specifically, we show that LPS treatment decreases the protein levels of SUN1/2 in a CK2-ßTrCP-dependent manner to shrink and soften the nucleus, therefore altering the chromatin accessibility for M1-associated gene expression. Notably, the transmembrane helix of SUN1/2 is solely required and sufficient for the nuclear mechano-remodeling. Consistently, SUN1/2 depletion in macrophages facilitates their phagocytosis, tissue infiltration, and proinflammatory cytokine production, thereby boosting the antitumor immunity in mice. Thus, our study demonstrates that, in response to inflammatory cues, SUN1/2 proteins act as mechano-regulators to remodel the nucleus and chromatin for M1 polarization of the macrophage.

Rhein induces liver cancer cells apoptosis via activating ROS-dependent JNK/Jun/caspase-3 signaling pathway.

Background: Liver cancer is one of the leading cancers in China. Rhein induces apoptosis in various human cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Methods: In the present study, the MTT assay was used to detect the anti-cell growth ability of Rhein on liver cancer cells. Hoechst33342 staining and FACS assay were used to detect cell apoptosis. Finally, the effect of Rhein on JNK protein' phosphorylation level and the apoptosis-associated proteins were determined by western blot. Results: Here, we found that Rhein significantly inhibited the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner both in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Also, Rhein increased the apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell-cycle arrest. Furthermore, we observed that the ROS level and JNK/Jun/caspase-3 signaling pathway played a key role in Rhein induced apoptosis. Our study further demonstrated that Rhein increases apoptosis by inducing the generation of ROS and activating the JNK/Jun/caspase-3 signaling pathway. Conclusions: The present study showed that Rhein promotes apoptosis via regulating ROS/JNK/Jun/caspase-3 signaling pathway both in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Rhein may be a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of liver cancer.

MiR-429 Involves in the Pathogenesis of Colorectal Cancer via Directly Targeting LATS2.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death around the world whose recurrence and metastasis rate is high. Due to the underlying unclear pathogenesis, it is hard so far to predict the tumorigenesis and prevent its recurrence. YAP/TAZ has been reported to be activated and functioned as a potential oncogene in multiple cancer types and proved to be essential for the carcinogenesis of most solid tumors. In the present study, we found that YAP/TAZ was markedly upregulated in CRC tissues comparing with the adjacent noncancerous tissues due to the downregulation of LATS2, the main upstream regulator. We further identified miR-429 as a direct regulator of LATS2-YAP/TAZ activation, suggesting that the miR-429-LATS2-YAP/TAZ might be novel effective diagnostic axis and therapeutic targets for CRC.