[Guideline for clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine (2022 version)].

Currently,the research or publications related to the clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine are increasing,which attracts the broad attention of all circles. According to the completed clinical evaluation report on Chinese patent medicine,there are still practical problems and technical difficulties such as unclear responsibility of the evaluation organization,unclear evaluation subject,miscellaneous evaluation objects,and incomplete and nonstandard evaluation process. In terms of evaluation standards and specifications,there are different types of specifications or guidelines with different emphases issued by different academic groups or relevant institutions. The professional guideline is required to guide the standardized and efficient clinical comprehensive evaluation of Chinese patent medicine and further improve the authority and quality of evaluation. In combination with the characteristics of Chinese patent medicine and the latest research achievement at home and abroad,the detailed specifications were formulated from six aspects including design,theme selection,content and index,outcome,application and appraisal,and quality control. The guideline was developed based on the guideline development requirements of China Assoication of Chinese medicine. After several rounds of expert consensus and public consultation,the current version of the guideline has been developed.

Ponicidin induces apoptosis via JAK2 and STAT3 signaling pathways in gastric carcinoma.

Ponicidin has a variety of biological effects such as immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory functions as well as anti-viral functions especially in the upper respiratory tract infection. This study was aimed to elucidate the antitumor effect of ponicidin in gastric carcinoma MKN28 cells and the possible molecular mechanism involved. Cell viability was measured by the Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK8). Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry as well as cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the active form of caspase-3 as well as Bax and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expressions after cells were treated with different concentrations of ponicidin. The results revealed that ponicidin could inhibit the growth of MKN28 cells significantly in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The cell cycle was blocked and ROS generation was increased after the cells were treated with ponicidin. Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated remarkably while Bax expression and the active form of caspase-3 were increased after apoptosis occurred. We therefore conclude that ponicidin exhibited significant growth inhibition of gastric carcinoma cell line MKN28 and induced apoptosis of MKN28 cells via the signaling pathway regulated by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). Ponicidin may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for gastric carcinoma.

Association of MORC2 expression with progression-free survival in cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

MORC family CW-type zinc finger 2 (MORC2) is a newly identified chromatin remodeling protein, and has been proposed as a prognostic biomarker associated with survival in some types of human cancer, but the role of MORC2 in cervical cancer remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of MORC2 expression in predicting the survival outcomes of locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). In this retrospectively study, we detected MORC2 immunohistochemical expression on 55 biopsies from patients who underwent CCRT. The association between the MORC2 expression and various clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, as were association between MORC2 expression and locoregional failure and progression-free survival (PFS) of cervical cancer patients. MORC2 expression was positively associated with pelvic node metastasis and locoregional failure. Higher MORC2 expression was a significant indicator of worse PFS. Our results suggest that MORC2 expression may be a prognostic indicator in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing CCRT.

[Role of uteroglobin-binding protein in antiflammin-1 promoting IL-10 expression and secretion in RAW264.7 cells induced by endotoxin].

The present study investigated the effect of antiflammin-1 (AF-1) on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from RAW264.7 cells through uteroglobin-binding protein (UGBP). Cultured RAW264.7 cells, a murine monocyte-macrophage cell line, were divided as following: control group, LPS group (1 µg/mL LPS), AF-1 group (100 µmol/L AF-1), LPS+AF-1 group (2 h of 100 µmol/L AF-1 pretreatment before LPS addition), and LPS+AF-1+anti-UGBP group (30 min of anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment before successive treatments with AF-1 and LPS). IL-10 concentration in the supernatants was detected by ELISA assay, and the level of IL-10 mRNA expression in macrophage was detected by using RT-PCR method. The results showed that AF-1 significantly increased LPS-induced IL-10 secretion in RAW264.7 cells in a dose dependent way, and up-regulated its mRNA level. Anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment attenuated the augmented effect of AF-1 on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion and gene expression. These results suggest that AF-1 promotes LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from macrophages, and this effect is mediated by UGBP.

[Effect of changji'an capsule on mRNA expressions of NPY and ACTH contents in brain-gut axis of IBS-D model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Changji'an Capsule (CA) on mRNA expressions of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus and colon and serum levels of adreno-cortico-tropic hormone (ACTH) in rats of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model rats. METHODS: Totally 48 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Pinaverium Bromide group (PB, 0.018 g/kg), the high dose CA group (2.812 g/kg), the medium dose CA group (1.406 g/kg), and the low dose CA group (0.703 g/kg), 8 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was established by using separation of breast milk + stimulation of acetic acid + constraint of four limbs. Normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication lasted for 14 successive days by gastrogavage. The serum content of ACTH was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of NPY mRNA in the colon and the hypothalamus were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the serum ACTH content significantly increased (P < 0.01), the NPY mRNA expression in the colon and the hypothalamus obviously decreased (P < 0.01) in the model control group. Compared with the model group, the serum ACTH obviously decreased in the high dose CA group, the medium dose CA group, and the PB group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The NPY mRNA expression in the colon and the hypothalamus were obviously up-regulated in the high dose CA group, the medium dose CA group, the low dose CA group, and the PB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CA could modulate the abnormity of brain-gut axis of IBS-D rats possibly by up-regulating NPY mRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and the colon and down-regulating the ACTH content in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

RNF144A functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer through ubiquitin ligase activity-dependent regulation of stability and oncogenic functions of HSPA2.

Deregulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases is intimately implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis and progression, but the underlying mechanisms still remain elusive. Here we report that RING finger protein 144A (RNF144A), a poorly characterized member of the RING-in-between-RING family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. RNF144A was  downregulated in a subset of primary breast tumors and restoration of RNF144A suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion in vitro, tumor growth, and lung metastasis in vivo. In contrast, knockdown of RNF144A promoted malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells. Quantitative proteomics and biochemical analysis revealed that RNF144A interacted with and targeted heat-shock protein family A member 2 (HSPA2), a putative oncoprotein that is frequently upregulated in human cancer and promotes tumor growth and progression, for ubiquitination and degradation. Notably, the ligase activity-defective mutants of RNF144A impaired its ability to induce ubiquitination and degradation of HSPA2, and to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion as compared with its wild-type counterpart. Moreover, RNF144A-mediated suppression of breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was rescued by ectopic HSPA2 expression. Clinically, low RNF144A and high HSPA2 expression in breast cancer patients was correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and decreased overall and disease-free survival. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for RNF144A in suppression of breast cancer growth and metastasis, and identify RNF144A as the first, to our knowledge, E3 ubiquitin ligase for HSPA2 in human cancer.

Epigenetic silencing of RNF144A expression in breast cancer cells through promoter hypermethylation and MBD4.

Emerging evidence shows that ring finger protein 144A (RNF144A), a poorly characterized member of the Ring-between-Ring (RBR) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, is a potential tumor suppressor gene. However, its regulatory mechanism in breast cancer remains undefined. Here, we report that RNF144A promoter contains a putative CpG island and the methylation levels of RNF144A promoter are higher in primary breast tumors than those in normal breast tissues. Consistently, RNF144A promoter methylation levels are associated with its transcriptional silencing in breast cancer cells, and treatment with DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (AZA) reactivates RNF144A expression in cells with RNF144A promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of endogenous methyl-CpG-binding domain 4 (MBD4) results in increased RNF144A expression. These findings suggest that RNF144A is epigenetically silenced in breast cancer cells by promoter hypermethylation and MBD4.

[Construction of a lentiviral vector carrying short?hairpin RNA targeting PAX6 and its effect on proliferation of glioma U251 cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a lentiviral vector for delivering short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting PAX6 and investigate its effect on the proliferation of glioma U251 cells in vitro. METHODS: Two small interfering RNA sequences targeting PAX6 gene were designed based on the reported sequence of PAX6 and annealed to form a double?stranded chain, which was inserted into a lentiviral vector to construct the recombinant lentiviral vector shRNA?PAX6. The recombinant vector was infected into U251 cells, and the expression of PAX6 mRNA and protein in the cells was detected by real?time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The changes in the proliferation of U251 cells after the infection was assessed using MTT assay. RESULTS: Double enzyme digestion of the lentiviral vector pLKD?CMV?G&NR?U6?shRNA yielded an 8208?bp fragment, and colony PCR and sequencing analysis confirmed successful construction of the lentiviral vector shRNA?PAX6. Infection of the cells with shRNA?PAX6 caused a significant reduction of the expressions of PAX6 mRNA and protein (P<0.05) and resulted in obviously increased proliferation of U251 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We successfully constructed the recombinant vector shRNA?PAX6 for silencing PAX6 gene. PAX6 gene silencing results in increased proliferation of U251 cells in vitro.

RBR-type E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF144A targets PARP1 for ubiquitin-dependent degradation and regulates PARP inhibitor sensitivity in breast cancer cells.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), a critical DNA repair protein, is frequently upregulated in breast tumors with a key role in breast cancer progression. Consequently, PARP inhibitors have emerged as promising therapeutics for breast cancers with DNA repair deficiencies. However, relatively little is known about the regulatory mechanism of PARP1 expression and the determinants of PARP inhibitor sensitivity in breast cancer cells. Here, we report that ring finger protein 144A (RNF144A), a RING-between-RING (RBR)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase with an unexplored functional role in human cancers, interacts with PARP1 through its carboxy-terminal region containing the transmembrane domain, and targets PARP1 for ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Moreover, induced expression of RNF144A decreases PARP1 protein levels and renders breast cancer cells resistant to the clinical-grade PARP inhibitor olaparib. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous RNF144A increases PARP1 protein levels and enhances cellular sensitivity to olaparib. Together, these findings define RNF144A as a novel regulator of PARP1 protein abundance and a potential determinant of PARP inhibitor sensitivity in breast cancer cells, which may eventually guide the optimal use of PARP inhibitors in the clinic.

Chromatin remodeling protein MORC2 promotes breast cancer invasion and metastasis through a PRD domain-mediated interaction with CTNND1.

MORC family CW-type zinc finger 2 (MORC2) is a newly identified chromatin remodeling protein with emerging roles in the regulation of DNA damage response and gene transcription, but its mechanistic role in breast cancer development and progression remains unexplored. Here, we show that MORC2 promoted breast cancer invasion and metastasis and these effects depended on a proline-rich domain (PRD) within its carboxy-terminal region spanning residues 601-734. Induced expression of wild-type MORC2 did not significantly affect cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression, but promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastatic lung colonization in vivo. The PRD domain was dispensable for the protein stability and subcellular localization of MORC2, but depletion of the PRD domain substantially suppressed MORC2-mediated migration, invasion, and metastasis. Proteomic and biochemical analyses further demonstrated that wild-type MORC2, but not PRD deletion mutant, interacted with catenin delta 1 (CTNND1), a cadherin-associated protein that participates in tumor invasion and metastasis. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous CTNND1 by short hairpin RNAs suppressed the migratory and invasive potential of MORC2-expressing cells. Taken together, these results suggest that MORC2 promotes breast cancer invasion and metastasis through its PRD domain-mediated interaction with CTNND1.

PLK2 phosphorylates and inhibits enriched TAp73 in human osteosarcoma cells.

TAp73, a member of the p53 tumor suppressor family, can substitute for p53 function, especially in p53-null and p53-mutant cells. However, TAp73 enrichment and phosphorylation change its transcriptional activity. Previously, we found that the antitumor function of TAp73 was reactivated by dephosphorylation. Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK2) plays an important role in bone development. Using a biological information database and phosphorylation prediction software, we hypothesized that PLK2 phosphorylates TAp73 and inhibits TAp73 function in osteosarcomas. Actually,we determined that PLK2 physically binds to and phosphorylates TAp73 when TAp73 protein abundance is up-regulated by cisplatin. PLK2-phosphorylated TAp73 at residue Ser48 within the TA domain; phosphorylation of TAp73 was abolished by mutating this residue. Moreover, PLK2 inhibition combined with cisplatin treatment in osteosarcoma Saos2 cells up-regulated p21 and puma mRNA expression to a greater extent than cisplatin treatment alone. Inhibiting PLK2 in TAp73-enriched Saos2 cells resulted in inhibited cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, G1 phase arrest, and decreased cell invasion. However, these changes did not occur in TAp73 knockdown Saos2 cells. In conclusion, these findings reveal a novel PLK2 function in the phosphorylation of TAp73, which prevents TAp73 activity in osteosarcoma cells. Thereby, this research provides an insight into the clinical treatment of malignant tumors overexpressing TAp73.

Silencing of MAP4K4 by short hairpin RNA suppresses proliferation, induces G1 cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cause of cancer­associated mortality worldwide. Previous studies suggest that mitogen­activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase isoform 4 (MAP4K4) is involved in cancer cell growth, apoptosis and migration. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to determine if MAP4K4 was overexpressed in GC. The knockdown of MAP4K4 by RNA interference in GC cells markedly inhibited cell proliferation, which may be mediated by cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. The silencing of MAP4K4 also induced cell apoptosis by increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl­2. In addition, Notch signaling was markedly reduced by MAP4K4 silencing. The results of the present study suggested that inhibition of MAP4K4 may be a therapeutic strategy for GC.

Effect of RTKN on progression and metastasis of colon cancer in vitro.

Like many epithelial-derived cancers, colon cancer results from a multistep tumorigenic process. However, the detailed mechanisms involved in colon cancer formations are poorly characterized. In the present study, we investigated the role of RTKN in colon cancer and explored underlying mechanisms. The results showed that RTKN expression was significantly increased in colon cancer tissues when compared with the adjacent tissues of patients in Shanghai People's hospital and in TCGA independent dataset. Furthermore, silencing of RTKN inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and arrested cell cycle at G1 phase in LOVO cells. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that DNA replication and cell cycle were involved in the regulation of RTKN. MCM2/3/5, CDK1/2 and PCNA expression had a direct relationship with the reduction of RTKN. RTKN could affect the proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer by reducing expression of MCM2/3/5, CDK1/2 and PCNA, suggesting that RTKN was a potential target for treating colon cancer.