Zinc Fingers and Homeobox Family in Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword.

The zinc fingers and homeobox (ZHX) family includes ZHX1, ZHX2, and ZHX3, and their proteins have similar unique structures, containing two C2H2-type zinc finger motifs and four or five HOX-like homeodomains. The members of the ZHX family can form homodimers or heterodimers with each other or with a subunit of nuclear factor Y. Previous studies have suggested that ZHXs can function as positive or negative transcriptional regulators. Recent studies have further revealed their biological functions and underlying mechanisms in cancers. This review summarized the advances of ZHX-mediated functions, including tumor-suppressive and oncogenic functions in cancer formation and progression, the molecular mechanisms, and regulatory functions, such as cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, the differential expression levels and their association with good or poor outcomes in patients with various malignancies and differential responses to chemotherapy exert opposite functions of oncogene or tumor suppressors. Therefore, the ZHXs act as a double-edged sword in cancers.

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Nicotine-Dependent Individuals and Its Correlation with Polymorphisms of Dopamine D Receptor Gene.

The aim of this research was developed to provide a scientific basis for individualized prevention, clinical diagnosis, and corrective treatment of nicotine addiction. The objects were 214 cases in the smoke group and 43 cases in the control group. According to the Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test (FTND), the smokers were divided into mild nicotine dependence group (FTND < 6 points, 138 cases) and nicotine severe dependence group (≥6 points, 76 cases). The brain structure in long-term smokers was evaluated by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The nicotine dependence was further analyzed by grouping the included individuals, and some candidate genes related to nicotine addiction were screened by combining with bioinformatics analysis. The family research strategy was adopted to detect nicotine addiction susceptibility genes and their polymorphisms. The MRI imaging results showed that the bilateral thalamus, right parietal, and left lens gram-molecule volume (GMV) were negatively correlated with smoking index and smoking years in the smoking group. The GMV of the posterior cingulate cortex in the severe nicotine dependence group was lower than that of the control group, and the GMVs of bilateral thalamus and bilateral superior limbic gyrus in the mild nicotine dependence group were lower than those of the control group. The gene polymorphism detection showed that rs6275 was highly polymorphic in the target population and the frequency of rs6275-C allele was 53.26%. Therefore, the MRI imaging characteristics suggested that the affected brain regions of smokers and people with varying degrees of nicotine dependence were mainly concentrated in response-related pathways and the limbic system and had cumulative effects on the central nervous system. In addition, the M6275 polymorphism of DRD2 gene was associated with susceptibility to nicotine addiction in Chinese population, and the M6275-C allele had a protective effect on susceptibility to nicotine addiction and smoking initiation.