Aberrant splicing of mutant huntingtin in Huntington's disease knock-in pigs.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in exon1 of the huntingtin gene (HTT). This expansion leads to the production of N-terminal mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) that contains an expanded polyglutamine tract, which is toxic to neurons and causes neurodegeneration. While the production of N-terminal mHtt can be mediated by proteolytic cleavage of full-length mHtt, abnormal splicing of exon1-intron1 of mHtt has also been identified in the brains of HD mice and patients. However, the proportion of aberrantly spliced exon1 mHTT in relation to normal mHTT exon remains to be defined. In this study, HTT exon1 production was examined in the HD knock-in (KI) pig model, which more closely recapitulates neuropathology seen in HD patient brains than HD mouse models. The study revealed that aberrant spliced HTT exon1 is also present in the brains of HD pigs, but it is expressed at a much lower level than the normally spliced HTT exon products. These findings suggest that careful consideration is needed when assessing the contribution of aberrantly spliced mHTT exon1 to HD pathogenesis, and further rigorous investigation is required.

TBN improves motor function and prolongs survival in a TDP-43M337V mouse model of ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are serious neurodegenerative diseases. Although their pathogenesis is unclear, the abnormal accumulation of TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a pathological feature that exists in almost all patients. Thus far, there is no drug that can cure ALS/FTLD. Tetramethylpyrazine nitrone (TBN) is a derivative of tetramethylapyrazine, derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong, which has been widely proven to have therapeutic effects on models of various neurodegenerative diseases. TBN is currently under clinical investigation for several indications including a Phase II trial of ALS. Here, we explored the therapeutic effect of TBN in an ALS/FTLD mouse model. We injected the TDP-43 M337V virus into the striatum of mice unilaterally and bilaterally, and then administered 30 mg/kg TBN intragastrically to observe changes in behavior and survival rate of mice. The results showed that in mice with unilateral injection of TDP-43M337V into the striatum, TBN improved motor deficits and cognitive impairment in the early stages of disease progression. In mice with bilateral injection of TDP-43M337V into the striatum, TBN not only improved motor function but also prolonged survival rate. Moreover, we show that its therapeutic effect may be through activation of the Akt/mTOR/GSK-3ß and AMPK/PGC-1α/Nrf2 signaling pathways. In summary, TBN is a promising agent for the treatment of ALS/FTLD.

Effects of acute heat stress on liver damage, apoptosis and inflammation of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca).

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is a sub-cold water fish species with high aquaculture potential. Its culture is seriously affected by increasing summer temperatures in recent years. Aim to investigate the effects of heat stress on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and the immune response in pikeperch. the fish were heat stressed at 30 °C, 32 °C and 34 °C for 2h respectively, followed by a 48h recovery period. The results showed that as temperature increased, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the liver increased significantly. Meanwhile, acute heat stress results in progressive deleterious alterations in liver tissue, especially vascular rupture, blood infiltration, and severe vacuolation at 34 °C. TUNEL staining revealed that the apoptosis level increased significantly with the rising temperature. Acute heat stress significantly induced the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, including tumor suppressor (p53), B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2), bcl-2-associated X (bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (apaf-1), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase-3 and caspase-9), and the expression of p53 was also positively correlated with bax expression and the bax/bcl-2 ratio. Additionally, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity increased significantly at 34 °C compared with the control group (23 °C). Innate immune genes, including tumor necrosis factor (tnf-α), interleukins (il-7, il-8, il-10 and il-1ß), complement 3 (c3) were activated under acute heat stress, and H2O2 content was positively correlated with the expressions of tnf-α and il-1ß. After the temperature reached again 23 °C, most measured indexes in heat-stressed groups didn't return to stress-free levels, and liver tissue also didn't return to its normal state in the histopathology. It was found that p53-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was triggered in pikeperch under acute heat stress, and there may be a vicious cycle between oxidative stress and inflammation. In summary, the present study is helpful to elucidate how acute heat stress mediates liver injury of pikeperch through mitochondrial pathway, inflammation and oxidative stress.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of SHANK3 in monkey leads to drug-treatable autism-like symptoms.

Monogenic mutations in the SHANK3 gene, which encodes a postsynaptic scaffold protein, play a causative role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although a number of mouse models with Shank3 mutations have been valuable for investigating the pathogenesis of ASD, species-dependent differences in behaviors and brain structures post considerable challenges to use small animals to model ASD and to translate experimental therapeutics to the clinic. We have used clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 to generate a cynomolgus monkey model by disrupting SHANK3 at exons 6 and 12. Analysis of the live mutant monkey revealed the core behavioral abnormalities of ASD, including impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors, and reduced brain network activities detected by positron-emission computed tomography (PET). Importantly, these abnormal behaviors and brain activities were alleviated by the antidepressant fluoxetine treatment. Our findings provide the first demonstration that the genetically modified non-human primate can be used for translational research of therapeutics for ASD.

miR-524-5p inhibits angiogenesis through targeting WNK1 in colon cancer cells.

There is increasing evidence that microRNA (miRNA) abnormity is involved in the occurrence and the development of various malignancies, including colon cancer. MiRNA-524-5p has been reported to possess anticancer activity in various tumors, which function is seldom investigated in colon cancer cells. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of the miRNA-524-5p/with-no-lysine kinase 1 (WNK1) system on angiogenesis in a colon cancer cell line (HT-29 and COLO205 cells) and further investigate the potential mechanisms. We found miRNA-524-5p expression was relatively high in COLO205 cells and relatively low in HT-29 cells. Elevating miRNA-524-5p expression inhibited proliferation, induced cycle arrest, diminished vascular endothelial growth factor production, and thereby suppressed angiogenesis in HT-29 cells. WNK1 silencing exerted the ability of antiangiogenesis in HT-29 cells. Besides, miRNA-524-5p deficiency-induced angiogenesis was impeded by WNK1 silence in COLO205 cells. In a murine tumor model, miRNA-524-5p agomir treatment significantly suppressed colon cancer tumorigenicity with the downregulation of WNK1 expression. In summary, our results indicated that miRNA-524-5p inhibited angiogenesis in colon cancer cells via targeting WNK1.NEW & NOTEWORTHY MiRNA-524-5p inhibited angiogenesis in colon cancer cells via targeting with-no-lysine kinase 1.

Correction to: Analysis of the role of the human papillomavirus 16/18 E7 protein assay in screening for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a case control study.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Analysis of the role of the human papillomavirus 16/18 E7 protein assay in screening for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second-most common gynecological cancer, early screening plays a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Sustained E7 protein expression is the pathological basis for CIN and cervical cancer. METHODS: We collected the cervical cell samples of women who visited the gynecological clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between September 2018 and September 2019 and submitted them to the high-risk human papillomavirus (Hr-HPV) test. We performed a magnetic particle-based chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay to analyze the HPV16/18 E7 protein level in CIN of different severities and compared the results with those of cervical pathology (gold standard) and the HPV test. RESULTS: The positive rate of HPV16/18 E7 protein increased with the severity of CIN: 26.6% in normal tissue, 58.3% in CIN1, and 70.6% in CIN2 or higher (CIN2+). For CIN2+, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the E7 protein were 70.6, 67.9, 52.2, and 82.3%, respectively. These values of the HPV test were 86.8, 44.5, 43.7, and 87.1%, respectively. With the combination of the E7 protein assay and HPV test, the specificity for diagnosing CIN2+ was 78.1%, which was significantly higher than that of the HPV test alone. CONCLUSIONS: HPV16/18 E7 protein level is correlated with the severity of CIN and has a high concordance rate with the pathological result. For cervical cancer screening, the combination of HPV16/18 E7 protein assay and HPV test improves the CIN diagnostic specificity, detection rate, and detection accuracy.

The etiological contribution of GABAergic plasticity to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain developing after peripheral or central nerve injury is the result of pathological changes generated through complex mechanisms. Disruption in the homeostasis of excitatory and inhibitory neurons within the central nervous system is a crucial factor in the formation of hyperalgesia or allodynia occurring with neuropathic pain. The central GABAergic pathway has received attention for its extensive distribution and function in neural circuits, including the generation and development of neuropathic pain. GABAergic inhibitory changes that occur in the interneurons along descending modulatory and nociceptive pathways in the central nervous system are believed to generate neuronal plasticity, such as synaptic plasticity or functional plasticity of the related genes or proteins, that is the foundation of persistent neuropathic pain. The primary GABAergic plasticity observed in neuropathic pain includes GABAergic synapse homo- and heterosynaptic plasticity, decreased synthesis of GABA, down-expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase and GABA transporter, abnormal expression of NKCC1 or KCC2, and disturbed function of GABA receptors. In this review, we describe possible mechanisms associated with GABAergic plasticity, such as central sensitization and GABAergic interneuron apoptosis, and the epigenetic etiologies of GABAergic plasticity in neuropathic pain. Moreover, we summarize potential therapeutic targets of GABAergic plasticity that may allow for successful relief of hyperalgesia from nerve injury. Finally, we compare the effects of the GABAergic system in neuropathic pain to other types of chronic pain to understand the contribution of GABAergic plasticity to neuropathic pain.

Alterations to transcriptomic profile, histopathology, and oxidative stress in liver of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) under heat stress.

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is an economically important cool-water fish. In recent years, its cultivation has become threatened by higher temperatures in summer. We previously investigated the effects of heat stress on pikeperch liver under different temperatures, but the molecular mechanism of the heat-stress response is still unknown. This study applied consistent heat stress (29 °C, 0-48 h) to pikeperch juveniles, and a transcriptomic profile of pikeperch liver under heat stress (29 °C, 0 h) was performed by RNA-Seq. The antioxidant status, changes in liver histology, and antioxidant gene expression at different time points were examined. We identified 403 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), many of which were enriched in KEGG pathways, including protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), insulin signaling, and immune-related pathways. Among these, the most significant heat-stress-related pathway was protein processing in ER, indicating that this pathway is critical for the heat-stress response. After consistent heat stress at 29 °C, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the mRNA expression of manganese SOD (Mn-SOD), CAT, and glutathione peroxidase 1 and 7 (GPx1 and GPx7) in the treated groups showed the same trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) content did not show significant differences between samples at 0 h and 3 h, but significantly increased by 6 h, and thereafter decreased. The liver tissue was normal at 0 h (29 °C); however, it suffered histological damage with increased duration of the heat stress. Above all, heat stress at 29 °C seemed to cause oxidative damage and dysfunction in pikeperch liver between 3 h and 48 h. The present results indicate that pikeperch have the capacity to defend against heat stress and maintain relative balance of oxidation-reduction reactions mainly through activating the antioxidant system, protein processing in ER, the insulin-signaling pathway, and immune-related pathways.

PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy Protects PC12 Cells Against Cisplatin-Induced Neurotoxicity.

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, a dose-dependent adverse effect of cisplatin, involves mitochondrial dysfunction. PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin-mediated mitophagy removes damaged mitochondria under various pathological conditions. The objective of this study was to determine mitophagy status and its effects on mitochondrial function and neuronal cell damage after cisplatin treatment using an in vitro model of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS PC12 cells were transfected with Parkin or Parkin siRNA using lentiviral particles and Lipofectamine 3000™, respectively, and then were exposed to 10 µM cisplatin. The expression of autophagic proteins was measured by Western blot analysis. Mitophagy in PC12 cells was detected by confocal microscopy analysis of mitochondria-lysosomes colocalization and autophagic flux. The effects of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy on cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity were assessed via mitochondrial function, neuritic length, nuclear diameter, and apoptosis. RESULTS Cisplatin activated PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in PC12 cells. Autophagic flux analysis revealed that cisplatin inhibits the late stage of the autophagic process. The knockdown of Parkin suppressed cisplatin-induced mitophagy, aggravating cisplatin-induced depolarization of mitochondria, cellular ATP deficits, reactive oxygen species outburst, neuritic shortening, nuclear diameter reduction, and apoptosis, while Parkin overexpression enhanced mitophagy and reversed these effects. CONCLUSIONS PINK1/Parkin-regulated mitophagy can protect against cisplatin-related neurotoxicity, suggesting therapeutic enhancement of mitophagy as a potential intervention for cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathies. The interference of cisplatin with autophagosome-lysosome fusion may be partly responsible for cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Physicochemical changes in liver and Hsc70 expression in pikeperch Sander lucioperca under heat stress.

The pikeperch Sander lucioperca is an economically important freshwater species that is currently threatened by higher summer temperatures caused by global warming. To clarify the physiological state of pikeperch reared under relatively high temperatures and to acquire valuable biomarkers to monitor heat stress in this species, 100 fish were subjected to five different temperature treatments, ranging from 23 °C (control) to 36 °C. The physiological and biochemical indexes of liver and blood were determined, and heat-shock cognate 70 kDa protein (Hsc70) mRNA expression profiles were analyzed. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in heat-stressed pikeperch first increased and then decreased, exhibiting peaks at 34 °C, 28 °C, and 28 °C, respectively. The level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in all experimental groups was significantly higher than that of the control. The numbers of red blood cells, the packed-cell volume, and the contents of hemoglobin were significantly higher in the 34 °C and 36 °C treatment groups. Under heat stress, the albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides contents decreased with increasing temperatures. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative RT-PCR showed that Hsc70 mRNA levels increased in all eight of the tested tissues under heat stress. Expression reached maximum levels at 34 °C in the muscle, heart and gill tissues, and at 36 °C in the other five tissues. These results demonstrate that several physiological and biochemical phenotypes, such as oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and molecular chaperones, could be important biomarkers of heat stress in pikeperch, and are potentially valuable to uncover the mechanisms of heat-stress responses in fish.

Downregulation of CXCR7 inhibits proliferative capacity and stem cell-like properties in breast cancer stem cells.

Breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) are considered an obstacle in breast cancer therapy because they exhibit long-term proliferative potential, phenotypic plasticity and high resistance to the current therapeutics. CXC chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7), which provides a growth advantage to breast cancer cells, has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in the maintenance of stem cell-like properties in the CSCs of glioblastoma and lung cancer, yet its role in bCSCs remains elusive. In this study, CD44+/CD24low bCSC-enriched cells (bCSCs for short) were isolated from MCF-7 cells, and CXCR7 was stably knocked down in bCSCs via lentivirus-mediated transduction with CXCR7 short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Knockdown of CXCR7 in bCSCs decreased the proportion of CD44+/CD24low cells, and markedly reduced the clonogenicity of the cells. Moreover, silencing of CXCR7 downregulated the expression of stem cell markers, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), Oct4, and Nanog. In addition, CXCR7 silencing in bCSCs suppressed cell proliferation and G1/S transition in vitro, and delayed tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. In situ immunohistochemical analysis revealed a reduction in Ki-67 expression and enhanced apoptosis in the xenograft tumors as a result of CXCR7 silencing. Furthermore, combined treatment with CXCR7 silencing and epirubicin displayed an outstanding anti-tumor effect compared with either single treatment. Our study demonstrates that CXCR7 plays a critical role in the maintenance of stem cell-like properties and promotion of growth in bCSCs, and suggests that CXCR7 may be a candidate target for bCSCs in breast cancer therapy.

A scientometric analysis of research on the role of NMDA receptor in the treatment of depression.

Background: There have been numerous studies on NMDA receptors as therapeutic targets for depression. However, so far, there has been no comprehensive scientometric analysis of this field. Thus, we conducted a scientometric analysis with the aim of better elucidating the research hotspots and future trends in this field. Methods: Publications on NMDAR in Depression between 2004 and 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Then, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, and R-bibliometrix-were used for the scientometric analysis and visualization. Results: 5,092 qualified documents were identified to scientometric analysis. In the past 20 years, there has been an upward trend in the number of annual publications. The United States led the world in terms of international collaborations, publications, and citations. 15 main clusters were identified from the co-cited references analysis with notable modularity (Q-value = 0.7628) and silhouette scores (S-value = 0.9171). According to the keyword and co-cited references analysis, treatment-resistant depression ketamine (an NMDAR antagonist), oxidative stress, synaptic plasticity, neuroplasticity related downstream factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor were the research hotspots in recent years. Conclusion: As the first scientometric analysis of NMDAR in Depression, this study shed light on the development, trends, and hotspots of research about NMDAR in Depression worldwide. The application and potential mechanisms of ketamine in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) are still a hot research topic at present. However, the side effects of NMDAR antagonist like ketamine have prompted research on new rapid acting antidepressants.

Physiological responses and transcriptomic analysis of StCPD gene overexpression in potato under salt stresses.

Introduction: The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most vital food crops worldwide, is sensitive to salinity. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are crucial in tolerance to various abiotic stresses. The constitutive photomorphogenesis and dwarf (CPD) gene encodes C-3 oxidase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme that controls the synthesis of BRs. Methods: In this study, we used StCPD gene overexpression (T) and un-transgenic (NT) plants obtained from our former research to illustrate adaptive resistance to salt stress at levels of phenotype; cell ultrastructure, physiology, and biochemistry; hormone; and transcription. Results: Results showed the accumulation of 2,4-epibrassionolide (EBL) in T potatoes. We found that under high salt situations, the changed Na+/K+ transporter gene expression was linked with the prevalent ionic responses in T plants, which led to lower concentrations of K+ and higher concentrations of Na+ in leaves. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data elucidated that gene expressions in NT and T plants were significantly changed with 200-mM NaCl treatment for 24 h and 48 h, compared with the 0-h treatment. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to the regulation of BR-related gene expression, pigment metabolism process, light and action, and plant hormone signal transduction. Discussion: These findings suggested that StCPD gene overexpression can alleviate the damage caused by salt stress and enhance the salt resistance of potato plantlets. Our study provides an essential reference for further research on BR regulation of plant molecular mechanisms in potatoes with stress tolerance.

STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK REVERSES PHSML-INDUCED VASCULAR HYPOREACTIVITY THROUGH INHIBITING AUTOPHAGY-MEDIATED PHENOTYPIC TRANSFORMATION OF VSMCs.

ABSTRACT: Posthemorrhagic shock mesenteric lymph (PHSML) return-contributed excessive autophagy of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is involved in vascular hyporeactivity, which is inhibited by stellate ganglion block (SGB) treatment. The contractile phenotype of VSMCs transforms into a synthetic phenotype after stimulation with excessive autophagy. Therefore, we hypothesized that SGB ameliorates PHSML-induced vascular hyporeactivity by inhibiting autophagy-mediated phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. To substantiate this hypothesis, a hemorrhagic shock model in conscious rats was used to observe the effects of SGB intervention or intravenous infusion of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on intestinal blood flow and the expression of autophagy- and phenotype-defining proteins in mesenteric secondary artery tissues. We also investigated the effects of intraperitoneal administration of PHSML intravenous infusion and the autophagy agonist rapamycin (RAPA) on the beneficial effect of SGB. The results showed that hemorrhagic shock decreased intestinal blood flow and enhanced the expression of LC3 II/I, Beclin 1, and matrix metalloproteinase 2, which were reversed by SGB or 3-MA treatment. In contrast, RAPA and PHSML administration abolished the beneficial effects of SGB. Furthermore, the effects of PHSML or PHSML obtained from rats treated with SGB (PHSML-SGB) on cellular contractility, autophagy, and VSMC phenotype were explored. Meanwhile, the effects of 3-MA on PHSML and RAPA on PHSML-SGB were observed. The results showed that PHSML, but not PHSML-SGB, incubation decreased VSMC contractility and induced autophagy activation and phenotype transformation. Importantly, 3-MA administration reversed the adverse effects of PHSML, and RAPA treatment attenuated the effects of PHSML-SGB incubation on VSMCs. Taken together, the protective effect of SGB on vascular reactivity is achieved by inhibiting excessive autophagy-mediated phenotypic transformation of VSMCs to maintain their contractile phenotype.

HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein detection as a promising triage strategy for HPV 16/18-positive patients: A prospective multicenter study with a 2-year follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and predicting disease outcomes in HPV 16/18-positive patients. METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional study with a 2-year follow up. We collected 915 cervical exfoliated cell samples from patients who tested positive for HPV 16/18 in gynecologic clinics of three tertiary hospitals in Beijing from March 2021 to October 2022 for HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein testing. Subsequently, 2-year follow up of 408 patients with baseline histologic CIN1 or below were used to investigate the predictive role of HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein in determining HPV persistent infection and disease progression. RESULTS: The positivity rate of the HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein assay was 42.06% (249/592) in the inflammation/CIN 1 group and 85.45% (277/324) in the CIN2+ group. For CIN2+ detection, using the HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein assay combined with HPV 16/18 testing, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 85.45%, 57.94%, 52.57%, and 87.95%, respectively. During the 2-year follow up, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for predicting persistent HPV infection were 48.44%, 58.21%, 34.64%, and 71.18% in the baseline inflammation and CIN1 group. CONCLUSIONS: As a triage method for high-grade CIN screening in HPV 16/18-positive patients, HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein demonstrated a relatively high NPV, making it suitable for clinical use in triaging HPV 16/18-positive cases and potentially reducing the colposcopic referral rate. HPV 16/18 E7 oncoprotein exhibited a preferably predictive value in determining HPV infection outcomes and disease progression.

Role of NF-κB activation in matrix metalloproteinase 9, vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin 8 expression and secretion in human breast cancer cells.

The aims of this study were to assess the effects and potential mechanisms of parthenolide on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. After incubation with different concentrations of parthenolide for 24 h, MDA-MB-231 cells were collected, and the expressions of VEGF, IL-8 and MMP-9 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot. The secretions of VEGF, IL-8 and MMP-9 in culture supernatant of MDA-MB-231 cells were then measured with ELISA assays. The NF-κB DNA-binding activity of breast cancer cells treated with parthenolide was analyzed using electrophoretic mobility assays. The real-time PCR and Western blot data showed that the expressions of VEGF, IL-8 and MMP-9 were significantly inhibited by parthenolide at both transcription level and protein level in MDA-MB-231 cells. ELISA results also confirmed these effects at a secretion level. The electrophoretic mobility assay results demonstrated that parthenolide can inhibit NF-κB DNA-binding activity of the breast cancer cells. Hence, the expression of VEGF, IL-8 and MMP-9 may be suppressed by parthenolide through the inhibition of NF-κB DNA-binding activity in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of CXCR7-mediated angiogenesis in colon cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7) on proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis by changing the expression levels of CXCR7 in colon cancer cells. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound technology was used to quantify tumor perfusion parameters in vivo for the detection of angiogenesis after the change of CXCR7 expression in colon cancer xenografts. Methods: To detect the expression of CXCR7 in colon cancer cells after overexpression or silencing of CXCR7. In addition, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis were determined. The region of interest of the tumor was selected, and a time-intensity curve was drawn. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tumor tissue sections, and the average microvessel density value was calculated. Results: Overexpression or silencing of CXCR7 altered the proliferation, migration, and luminal formation of Caco-2 and SW480 cells. In xenografts produced using CXCR7-overexpressing or -silent Caco-2 and SW480, respectively, the peak intensity and area under the curve were significantly different. The expression of CXCR7, VEGF, Ki67, and CD34 was decreased in CXCR7-silent cells, but increased in CXCR7-overexpressing cells. CXCR7 apparently affected angiogenesis through the extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway. Conclusions: The regulation of CXCR7 expression may affect the proliferation, migration, and luminal formation of Caco-2 and SW480 cells, indicating that CXCR7 may play an important role in colon cancer. Examination through contrast-enhanced ultrasound also demonstrated that the expression of CXCR7 is closely related to angiogenesis.

Tauopathy promotes spinal cord-dependent production of toxic amyloid-beta in transgenic monkeys.

Tauopathy, characterized by the hyperphosphorylation and accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau, and the accumulation of Aß oligomers, constitute the major pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship and causal roles of these two pathological changes in neurodegeneration remain to be defined, even though they occur together or independently in several neurodegenerative diseases associated with cognitive and movement impairment. While it is widely accepted that Aß accumulation leads to tauopathy in the late stages of the disease, it is still unknown whether tauopathy influences the formation of toxic Aß oligomers. To address this, we generated transgenic cynomolgus monkey models expressing Tau (P301L) through lentiviral infection of monkey embryos. These monkeys developed age-dependent neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction. Additionally, we performed a stereotaxic injection of adult monkey and mouse brains to express Tau (P301L) via AAV9 infection. Importantly, we found that tauopathy resulting from embryonic transgenic Tau expression or stereotaxic brain injection of AAV-Tau selectively promoted the generation of Aß oligomers in the monkey spinal cord. These Aß oligomers were recognized by several antibodies to Aß1-42 and contributed to neurodegeneration. However, the generation of Aß oligomers was not observed in other brain regions of Tau transgenic monkeys or in the brains of mice injected with AAV9-Tau (P301L), suggesting that the generation of Aß oligomers is species- and brain region-dependent. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that tauopathy can trigger Aß pathology in the primate spinal cord and provide new insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of tauopathy.

A Specific Mini-Intrabody Mediates Lysosome Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin.

Accumulation of misfolded proteins leads to many neurodegenerative diseases that can be treated by lowering or removing mutant proteins. Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by the intracellular accumulation of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) that can be soluble and aggregated in the central nervous system and causes neuronal damage and death. Here, an intracellular antibody (intrabody) fragment is generated that can specifically bind mHTT and link to the lysosome for degradation. It is found that delivery of this peptide by either brain injection or intravenous administration can efficiently clear the soluble and aggregated mHTT by activating the lysosomal degradation pathway, resulting in amelioration of gliosis and dyskinesia in HD knock-in (KI-140Q) mice. These findings suggest that the small intrabody peptide linked to lysosomes can effectively lower mutant proteins and provide a new approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by the accumulation of mutant proteins.