Background:Liver cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths globally.Cancer cell stem-ness and chemotherapy resistance contribute to the high mortality.Although evidence indicates that the alpha subuni...Background:Liver cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths globally.Cancer cell stem-ness and chemotherapy resistance contribute to the high mortality.Although evidence indicates that the alpha subunit of protein kinase 2(CK2α)is involved in several human cancers,its function in liver cancer remains unknown.In the present study,we aimed to elucidate the role of CK2αin liver cancer.Methods:We examined the role of CK2αregulation in stemness and chemotherapy resistance capacity of liver cancer cells.MTT assays,tumor sphere formation assays,RT-PCR,flow cytometry,Western blotting assay,clonogenicity assay,matrigel invasion assay and bioinformatics were conducted in this study.Results:CK2αexpression in the liver cancer tissues was notably upregulated compared with that in the corresponding non-tumorous tissues.The overexpression of CK2αpromoted tumor sphere formation,increased the percentage of CD133(+)and side population cells,caused the resistance of liver cancer cells to 5-FU treatment,increased the expression levels of NANOG,OCT4,SOX2,Gli1 and Ptch1,and enhanced the ability of CD133(+)cell clone formation and invasion.Consistently,the downregulation of CK2αhad the opposite effects.CK2αsilencing inhibited the Hedgehog pathway by reducing the expression of Gli1 and Ptch1.Mechanistically,CK2αregulation on liver cancer cell stemness and chemotherapy resistance was found to be involved in the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Conclusions:Our study may bring some new insights into the occurrence of liver cancer.Furthermore,these findings suggest that targeting CK2αmay be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with liver cancer.展开更多
Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embry...Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embryonic development.Therefore,we investigated the effect of AN on the development of porcine embryos and the underlying mechanism.Results We cultured porcine in vitro-fertilized embryos in medium with AN(0,0.3,0.5,and 1 mg/mL)for 6 d.AN at 0.5 mg/mL significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate,trophectoderm cell number,and cellular survival rate compared to the control.AN-supplemented embryos exhibited significantly lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher glutathione levels than the control.Moreover,AN significantly improved the quantity of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential,and increased the lipid droplet,fatty acid,and ATP levels.Interestingly,the levels of proteins and genes related to the sonic hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway were significantly increased by AN.Conclusions These results revealed that AN improved the developmental competence of porcine preimplantation embryos by activating SHH signaling against oxidative stress and could be used for large-scale production of high-quality porcine embryos.展开更多
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult cancers to treat.Despite numerous research efforts,limited success has been achieved in the therapeutic management of patients with this disease.In the cur...Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult cancers to treat.Despite numerous research efforts,limited success has been achieved in the therapeutic management of patients with this disease.In the current review,we focus on one component of morphogenesis signaling,Hedgehog(Hh),with the aim of developing novel,effective therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.Hh signaling contributes to the induction of a malignant phenotype in pancreatic cancer and is responsible for maintaining pancreatic cancer stem cells.In addition,we propose a novel concept linking Hh signaling and tumor hypoxic conditions,and discuss the effects of Hh inhibitors in clinical trials.The Hh signaling pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target for patients with refractory pancreatic cancer.展开更多
Objective:To investigate clinical significance of Sonic Hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway molecular Shh,Smo and Gli2 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tissue.Methods:A total of 30 HCC tissue samples were collected....Objective:To investigate clinical significance of Sonic Hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway molecular Shh,Smo and Gli2 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tissue.Methods:A total of 30 HCC tissue samples were collected.Protein expression of SHH signaling pathway molecules Shh,Smo and Gli2 in HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissue were detected by using immimohistochemical method.Cirrhosis and normal liver tissue specimens were observed as control to analyze the expression of SHH signaling pathway molecular Shh,Smo and Glil mRMA in HCC tissues and corresponding para—carcinoma tissues and its relationship with the onset of HCC.Results:There was no expression of Shh,Smo and Gli2 protein in normal liver tissue,while their positive rates were 63.3%,76.79%and 66.7%in HCC tissues,respectively,with a significantly higher expression level than that in the para-carcinoma tissue(P<0.05).The protein expressions in HepG2 cells were slightly lower than that in Huh7 cells,with no statistical difference(P>0.05);Shh and Smo protein was detected in part of cirrhosis with positive expression,but Gli2 protein was not observable in cirrhosis tissues.Conclusions:In HCC tissues,the high expression level of SHH signaling pathway molecules signal peptide(Shh),membrane protein receiptor(Smo)and nuclear transcription molecular(Gli2)can be indicators of the onset of liver cancer.展开更多
The Hedgehog signaling pathway participates in the occurrence and progression of cancers including gastric cancer.We conducted this study to evaluate whether genetic variants in the Hedgehog signaling pathway genes wo...The Hedgehog signaling pathway participates in the occurrence and progression of cancers including gastric cancer.We conducted this study to evaluate whether genetic variants in the Hedgehog signaling pathway genes would affect gastric cancer risk.Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation(MAGMA)was used to investigate the aggregated genetic effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)assigned to candidate genes.The relationship between SNPs and gastric cancer risk was estimated by multivariate logistic regression analyses.Gene expression was calculated using databases obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and The Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Kaplan‐Meier plotter was used to evaluate the association between gene expression with gastric cancer survival.Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0(TIMER 2.0)was applied to determine the correlation between selected gene expression and the immune cell infiltration degree.We identified that the G allele of rs2990912 in KIF27 was associated with higher gastric cancer risk,especially in the young and male subgroups.The expression of KIF27 in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in normal tissues,leading to poor survival in gastric cancer patients.Besides,KIF27 expression was related to immune cell infiltration and positively correlated with PD-L1 expression.Our findings highlight the key role of genetic variation in the Hedgehog signaling pathway genes in gastric cancer susceptibility,which may provide important insights into the diagnosis,prognosis,and treatment of gastric cancer.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effect of scutellarin on the self-renewal and differentiation of HT-29 cells-derived cancer stem-like cells(HT-29CSC)in vitro and in vivo,and to explore its mechanism.METHODS Th...OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effect of scutellarin on the self-renewal and differentiation of HT-29 cells-derived cancer stem-like cells(HT-29CSC)in vitro and in vivo,and to explore its mechanism.METHODS The effect of scutellarin on the growth of HT-29CSC was determined by 3D Culture assay.The effect of scutellarin on growth and transformation of HT-29CSC was probed by soft agar colony formation assay.The effect of scutellarin on the differentiation of HT-29CSC was determined by serum induction differentiation assay in vitro.The effects of scutellarin on the expressions of marker gene Lgr5,target gene c-Myc,proliferation gene CK20 and Nanog gene were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Investigate the effect of scutellarin on the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,and Lgr5 protein by Western blotting.A subcutaneous xenograft model of colon cancer in nude mice was established and administered by intraperitoneal injection.The change of body weight and tumor size of nude mice were observed every two days.Investi⁃gate the effects of scutellarin on the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice.The expression of CD133,Lgr5,Gli1,Ptch1,c-Myc,Ki67,CK20,Nanog gene in tumors were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.The expression of c-Myc,Gli1,Lgr5,CD133,Ki67 protein were measured by Western blotting.RESULTS Scutellarin can inhibit the growth of HT-29CSC in 3D culture.Compared with the solvent control group,scutellarin can significantly inhibit the growth and transformation and differentiation of HT-29CSC in vitro(P<0.01).The expression levels of marker genes Lgr5,target gene c-Myc,proliferation gene CK20 and Nanog in HT-29CSC were down-regulated by scutellarin.Scutellarin can reduce the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,and Lgr5 protein in HT-29CSC.Scutellarin can inhibit the growth of colon cancer xenografts,lower CD133,Lgr5,Gli1,Ptch1,c-Myc,Ki67,CK20,and Nanog mRNA level of xenograft tumors,reduce the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,Lgr5,CD133,and Ki67 protein of xenograft tumors in nude mice.CONCLUSION Scutellarin,which is the main component of scutellaria barbata,can inhibit the differentiation of HT-29CSC and the mechanism is to inhibit the activity of Hedgehog signaling pathway.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition and mechanism of berberine on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells through canonical Hedgehog signaling pathway.METHODS The effect of berberine on cell morphology was observed b...OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition and mechanism of berberine on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells through canonical Hedgehog signaling pathway.METHODS The effect of berberine on cell morphology was observed by microscopy.MTT colorimetric assay,cell scratch experiment,colony formation assay and Hoechest/PI staining were utilized to detect the activities of berberine on cell viability,cell migration and cell apoptosis.Flow cytometry was applied to examine the cell apoptosis.The effects of berberine on caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by caspase activity detection kit.The expressions of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related proteins SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,SUFU,apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related proteins cyclin D1 were detected by Western blotting.Additionally,quantitative real time RT-PCR was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related genes SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,SUFU,apoptosis-related genes Bax and Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related genes cyclin D1.RESULTS Berberine sharply altered the morphology of human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells,demonstrated by that migration ability of HCT116 cells was reduced significantly and the nuclei were densely stained.Berberine could induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased prominently.The expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related protein SUFU and apoptosis-related protein Bax were augmented substantially.The expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related proteins SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related genes cyclin D1 were markedly lessened.Besides,the mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related gene SUFU and apoptosis-related gene Bax were augmented substantially.The mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related genes SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related gene cyclin D1 were markedly lessened.CONCLUSION Berberine,which is the main component of coptidis rhizoma,can remarkably restrain the growth and proliferation,promote apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells HCT116,and the underlying mechanism may be involved in suppressing the activity of the Hedgehog signaling pathway.展开更多
The effects of Sonic hedgehog(Shh) signaling pathway activation on S-type neuroblastoma(NB) cell lines and its role in NB tumorigenesis were investigated.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Shh p...The effects of Sonic hedgehog(Shh) signaling pathway activation on S-type neuroblastoma(NB) cell lines and its role in NB tumorigenesis were investigated.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Shh pathway components- Patched1(PTCH1) and Gli1 in 40 human primary NB samples.Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to examine the protein expression and mRNA levels of PTCH1 and Gli1 in three kinds of S-type NB cell lines(SK-N-AS,SK-N-SH and SHEP1),respectively.Exogenous Shh was administrated to activate Shh signaling pathway while cyclopamine was used as a selective antagonist of Shh pathway.S-type NB cell lines were treated with different concentrations of Shh or/and cyclopamine for different durations.Cell viability was measured by using MTT method.Apoptosis rate and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry.The xenograft experiments were used to evaluate the role of Shh pathway in tumor growth in immunodeficient mice.High-level expression of PTCH1 and Gli1 was detected in both NB samples and S-type NB cell lines.Cyclopamine decreased the survival rate of the three cell lines while Shh increased it,and the inhibition effects of cyclopamine could be partially reversed by shh pre-treatment.Cyclopamine induced the cell apoptosis and the cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase,while Shh induced the reverse effects and could partially prevent effects of cyclopamine.Cyclopamine could also inhibit the growth of NB in vivo.Our studies revealed that activation of the Shh pathway is important for survival and proliferation of S-type NB cells in vivo and in vitro through affecting cell apoptosis and cell cycle,suggesting a new therapeutic approach to NB.展开更多
The roles of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling pathway in the proliferation and apoptosis of precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs) were investigated. PSCs, labeled with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3), were is...The roles of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling pathway in the proliferation and apoptosis of precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs) were investigated. PSCs, labeled with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3), were isolated from neonatal rats by immunomagnetic separation. After identifi-cation with FGFR-3 and ColⅡ, the cells were incubated with different concentrations of cyclopamine (cyclo), the specific inhibitor of Ihh signaling pathway. The morphologic changes of the cells were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope. The mRNA expression levels of Ihh, para-thyroid hormonerelated peptide (PTHrP), protein Patched (Ptch), Bcl-2 and p21 were detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression levels of Ihh and Ptch were measured by Western blot. MTT assay was used to examine the effects of cyclo on proliferation of PSCs. Apoptosis rate of PSCs was exam-ined by AnnexinⅤ /PI assay of flow cytometric analyses. After PSCs were incubated with cyclo, ob-vious morphologic changes were observed as compared with the control group. The mRNA expres-sion levels of PTHrP, Ptch and Bcl-2 were decreased to varying degrees in a cyclo dose-dependent manner. However, the expression levels of Ihh and p21 mRNA were increased. The protein expres-sion of Ptch and Ihh had the same change as the mRNA expression. Meanwhile, cyclo could obvi-ously inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of PSCs. The results indicated that Ihh sig-naling pathway plays an important role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of PSCs, which is probably mediated by Bcl-2 and p21.展开更多
Background:The PTCH1 gene,also known as Patched 1,is located on the long arm of human chromosome 9(9q22.3).It encodes the PTCH1 protein,which is a critical transmembrane receptor within the Hedgehog signaling pathway(...Background:The PTCH1 gene,also known as Patched 1,is located on the long arm of human chromosome 9(9q22.3).It encodes the PTCH1 protein,which is a critical transmembrane receptor within the Hedgehog signaling pathway(Hh),playing a pivotal role in cellular communication and developmental processes.Recent studies have highlighted the significance of mutations in PTCH1 in the pathogenesis of lung cancer,positioning it as a crucial molecule for investigation in oncology.Purpose:This review aims to elucidate the role of the PTCH1 and the Hedgehog pathway in the initiation,progression,and potential treatment of lung cancer,thereby providing a theoretical foundation for personalized and precise therapeutic strategies.Method:To ensure a comprehensive review,this study systematically searched for literature related to the PTCH1,lung cancer,and the Hedgehog pathway across multiple databases including PubMed,Web of Science,and CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure).The search strategy involved using specific keywords and advanced filtering options to include the most relevant and recent studies.Initial screening excluded irrelevant articles,followed by a detailed evaluation of the selected studies based on their scientific quality and relevance.Results:This review indicated that specific mutations in the PTCH1 gene are closely associated with the onset and progression of lung cancer.These mutations impede normal Hedgehog signaling,leading to unregulated cell proliferation and tumor growth.Targeting PTCH1,including vismodegib,have shown efficacy in clinical cases,particularly in SCCL with specific PTCH1 mutations,leading to complete remissions.Furthermore,the interaction between PTCH1 and microRNA-212 suggests potential therapeutic approaches by targeting miRNA to regulate PTCH1 expression.In addition,the investigation of traditional Chinese medicines such as Ginsenosides and Cordyceps sinensis extracts has shown their potential to modulate the Hedgehog pathway and reverse drug resistance.Conclusions:An in-depth understanding of the precise mechanisms by which PTCH1 mutations promote lung cancer could facilitate the development of targeted therapies.This study highlights the potential of PTCH1 as a biomarker for diagnosis and a target for precision medicine in lung cancer treatment,advocating for further research into its molecular pathways and therapeutic applications.展开更多
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neurons under the induction of Schwann cells. However, key microRNAs and related pathways for differentiation remain unclear. This study screened and ident...Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neurons under the induction of Schwann cells. However, key microRNAs and related pathways for differentiation remain unclear. This study screened and identified differentially expressed microRNAs in bone marrow- derived mesenchymal stem cells induced by Schwann cell-conditioned medium, and explored targets and related pathways involved in their differentiation into neuronal-like cells. Primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from femoral and tibial bones, while primary Schwann cells were isolated from bilateral saphenous nerves. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in unconditioned (control group) and Schwann cell-conditioned medium (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group). Neuronal differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells induced by Schwann cell-conditioned medium was observed by time-lapse imaging. Upon induction, the morphology of bone marrow-derived mesencaymal stem cells changed into a neural shape with neurites. Results of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that nestin mRNA expression was upregulated from 1 to 3 days and downregulated from 3 to 7 days in the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group. Compared with the control group, microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression gradually increased from 1 to 7 days in the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group. After 7 days of induction, microRNA analysis iden:ified 83 significantly differentially expressed microRNAs between the two groups. Gene Ontology analysis indicated enrichment of microRNA target genes for neuronal projection development, regulation of axonogenesis, and positive regulation of cell proliferation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated that Hippo, Wnt, transforming growth factor-beta, and Hedgehog signaling pathv/ays were potentially associated with neural differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This study, which carried out successful microRNA analysis of neuronal-like cells differentiated from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by Schwann cell induction, revealed key microRNAs and pathways involved in neural differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. All protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences on March 12, 2017 (approval number: DWLI-20170311).展开更多
Background: Previous research suggested that insulin-like growth factor binding protein related protein 1(IGFBPrP1), as a novel mediator, contributes to hepatic fibrogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) and tissue ...Background: Previous research suggested that insulin-like growth factor binding protein related protein 1(IGFBPrP1), as a novel mediator, contributes to hepatic fibrogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP) play an essential role in hepatic fibrogenesis by regulating homeostasis and remodeling of the extracellular matrix(ECM). However, the interaction between IGFBPrP1 and MMP/TIMP is not clear. The present study was to knockdown IGFBPrP1 to investigate the correlation between IGFBPrP1 and MMP/TIMP in hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by thioacetamide(TAA) in mice. Knockdown of IGFBPrP1 expression by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction-mediated CMB-shRNA-IGFBPrP1 delivery, or inhibition of the Hedgehog(Hh) pathway by cyclopamine treatment, was performed in TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice. Hepatic fibrosis was determined by hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining. Hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, α-smooth muscle actin( α-SMA), transforming growth factor β 1(TGF β1), collagen I, MMPs/TIMPs, Sonic Hedgehog(Shh), and glioblastoma family transcription factors(Gli1) were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting analysis. Results: We found that hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, TGF β1, α-SMA, and collagen I were increased longitudinally in mice with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis, concomitant with MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 imbalance and Hh pathway activation. Knockdown of IGFBPrP1 expression, or inhibition of the Hh pathway, reduced the hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, TGF β1, α-SMA, and collagen I and re-established MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 balance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IGFBPrP1 knockdown attenuates liver fibrosis by re-establishing MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 balance, concomitant with the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation, down-regulation of TGF β1 expression, and degradation of the ECM. Furthermore, the Hh pathway mediates IGFBPrP1 knockdown-induced attenuation of hepatic fibrosis through the regulation of MMPs/TIMPs balance.展开更多
Globally,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer and cancerrelated deaths.The therapeutic efficacy of locoregional and systemic treatment in patients with advanced HCC remains low,which results in a ...Globally,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer and cancerrelated deaths.The therapeutic efficacy of locoregional and systemic treatment in patients with advanced HCC remains low,which results in a poor prognosis.The development of sorafenib for the treatment of HCC has resulted in a new era of molecular targeted therapy for this disease.However,the median overall survival was reported to be barely higher in the sorafenib treatment group than in the control group.Hence,in this review we describe the importance of developing more effective targeted therapies for the management of advanced HCC.Recent investigations of molecular signaling pathways in several cancers have provided some insights into developing molecular therapies that target critical members of these signaling pathways.Proteins involved in the Hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways,Polo-like kinase 1,arginine,histone deacetylases and Glypican-3 can be potential targets in the treatment of HCC.Monotherapy has limited therapeutic efficacy due to the development of inhibitory feedback mechanisms and induction of chemoresistance.Thus,emphasis is now on the development of personalized and combination molecular targeted therapies that can serve as ideal therapeutic strategies for improved management of HCC.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.The modern concept of cancer biology indicates that cancer is formed of a small populati...Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.The modern concept of cancer biology indicates that cancer is formed of a small population of cells called cancer stem cells(CSCs),which present both pluripotency and self-renewal properties.These cells are considered responsible for the progression of the disease,recurrence and tumor resistance.Interestingly,some cell signaling pathways participate in CRC survival,proliferation,and selfrenewal properties,and most of them are dysregulated in CSCs,including the Wingless(Wnt)/β-catenin,Notch,Hedgehog,nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR),phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR),and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad pathways.In this review,we summarize the strategies for eradicating CRC stem cells by modulating these dysregulated pathways,which will contribute to the study of potential therapeutic schemes,combining conventional drugs with CSC-targeting drugs,and allowing better cure rates in anti-CRC therapy.展开更多
Medulloblastoma(MB)is a common yet highly heterogeneous childhood malignant brain tumor,however,clinically effective molecular targeted therapy is lacking.Modulation of hedgehog(HH)signaling by epigenetically targetin...Medulloblastoma(MB)is a common yet highly heterogeneous childhood malignant brain tumor,however,clinically effective molecular targeted therapy is lacking.Modulation of hedgehog(HH)signaling by epigenetically targeting the transcriptional factors GLI through bromodomain-containing protein 4(BRD4)has recently spurred new interest as potential treatment of HH-driven MB.Through screening of current clinical BRD4 inhibitors for their inhibitory potency against glioma-associated oncogene homolog(GLI)protein,the BRD4 inhibitor 2 was selected as the lead for further structural optimization,which led to the identification of compounds 25 and 35 as the high potency HH inhibitors.Mechanism profiling showed that both compounds suppressed HH signaling by interacting with the transcriptional factor GLI,and were equally potent against the clinical resistant mutants and the wild type of smoothened(SMO)receptor with IC50 values around 1 nmol/L.In the resistant MB allograft mice,compound 25 was well tolerated and markedly suppressed tumor growth at both 5 mg/kg(TGI=83.3%)and 10 mg/kg(TGI=87.6%)doses.Although further modification is needed to improve the pharmacokinetic(PK)parameters,compound 25 represents an efficacious lead compound of GLI inhibitors,possessing optimal safety and tolerance to fight against HH-driven MB.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natu-ral Science Foundation of China (81602589 and 81601692)345 Talent Program of Shengjing Hospital
文摘Background:Liver cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths globally.Cancer cell stem-ness and chemotherapy resistance contribute to the high mortality.Although evidence indicates that the alpha subunit of protein kinase 2(CK2α)is involved in several human cancers,its function in liver cancer remains unknown.In the present study,we aimed to elucidate the role of CK2αin liver cancer.Methods:We examined the role of CK2αregulation in stemness and chemotherapy resistance capacity of liver cancer cells.MTT assays,tumor sphere formation assays,RT-PCR,flow cytometry,Western blotting assay,clonogenicity assay,matrigel invasion assay and bioinformatics were conducted in this study.Results:CK2αexpression in the liver cancer tissues was notably upregulated compared with that in the corresponding non-tumorous tissues.The overexpression of CK2αpromoted tumor sphere formation,increased the percentage of CD133(+)and side population cells,caused the resistance of liver cancer cells to 5-FU treatment,increased the expression levels of NANOG,OCT4,SOX2,Gli1 and Ptch1,and enhanced the ability of CD133(+)cell clone formation and invasion.Consistently,the downregulation of CK2αhad the opposite effects.CK2αsilencing inhibited the Hedgehog pathway by reducing the expression of Gli1 and Ptch1.Mechanistically,CK2αregulation on liver cancer cell stemness and chemotherapy resistance was found to be involved in the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Conclusions:Our study may bring some new insights into the occurrence of liver cancer.Furthermore,these findings suggest that targeting CK2αmay be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with liver cancer.
基金supported by the Ministry of EducationScience and Technology(No.2021M3A9A1096894)+1 种基金Republic of Korea and the KRIBB Research Initiative Program(KGM4252223)Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology,Republic of Korea。
文摘Background Anethole(AN)is an organic antioxidant compound with a benzene ring and is expected to have a positive impact on early embryogenesis in mammals.However,no study has examined the effect of AN on porcine embryonic development.Therefore,we investigated the effect of AN on the development of porcine embryos and the underlying mechanism.Results We cultured porcine in vitro-fertilized embryos in medium with AN(0,0.3,0.5,and 1 mg/mL)for 6 d.AN at 0.5 mg/mL significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate,trophectoderm cell number,and cellular survival rate compared to the control.AN-supplemented embryos exhibited significantly lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher glutathione levels than the control.Moreover,AN significantly improved the quantity of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential,and increased the lipid droplet,fatty acid,and ATP levels.Interestingly,the levels of proteins and genes related to the sonic hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway were significantly increased by AN.Conclusions These results revealed that AN improved the developmental competence of porcine preimplantation embryos by activating SHH signaling against oxidative stress and could be used for large-scale production of high-quality porcine embryos.
基金Supported by The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science,Kakenhi Grant,No.24390303
文摘Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult cancers to treat.Despite numerous research efforts,limited success has been achieved in the therapeutic management of patients with this disease.In the current review,we focus on one component of morphogenesis signaling,Hedgehog(Hh),with the aim of developing novel,effective therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.Hh signaling contributes to the induction of a malignant phenotype in pancreatic cancer and is responsible for maintaining pancreatic cancer stem cells.In addition,we propose a novel concept linking Hh signaling and tumor hypoxic conditions,and discuss the effects of Hh inhibitors in clinical trials.The Hh signaling pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target for patients with refractory pancreatic cancer.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation Project of Liaoning Province,No.2013022005
文摘Objective:To investigate clinical significance of Sonic Hedgehog(SHH)signaling pathway molecular Shh,Smo and Gli2 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)tissue.Methods:A total of 30 HCC tissue samples were collected.Protein expression of SHH signaling pathway molecules Shh,Smo and Gli2 in HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissue were detected by using immimohistochemical method.Cirrhosis and normal liver tissue specimens were observed as control to analyze the expression of SHH signaling pathway molecular Shh,Smo and Glil mRMA in HCC tissues and corresponding para—carcinoma tissues and its relationship with the onset of HCC.Results:There was no expression of Shh,Smo and Gli2 protein in normal liver tissue,while their positive rates were 63.3%,76.79%and 66.7%in HCC tissues,respectively,with a significantly higher expression level than that in the para-carcinoma tissue(P<0.05).The protein expressions in HepG2 cells were slightly lower than that in Huh7 cells,with no statistical difference(P>0.05);Shh and Smo protein was detected in part of cirrhosis with positive expression,but Gli2 protein was not observable in cirrhosis tissues.Conclusions:In HCC tissues,the high expression level of SHH signaling pathway molecules signal peptide(Shh),membrane protein receiptor(Smo)and nuclear transcription molecular(Gli2)can be indicators of the onset of liver cancer.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Grants No.2018YFC1313100 and No.2018YFC1313102)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.81773538 and No.81773539)Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine,and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(Public Health and Preventive Medicine).
文摘The Hedgehog signaling pathway participates in the occurrence and progression of cancers including gastric cancer.We conducted this study to evaluate whether genetic variants in the Hedgehog signaling pathway genes would affect gastric cancer risk.Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation(MAGMA)was used to investigate the aggregated genetic effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)assigned to candidate genes.The relationship between SNPs and gastric cancer risk was estimated by multivariate logistic regression analyses.Gene expression was calculated using databases obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and The Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Kaplan‐Meier plotter was used to evaluate the association between gene expression with gastric cancer survival.Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0(TIMER 2.0)was applied to determine the correlation between selected gene expression and the immune cell infiltration degree.We identified that the G allele of rs2990912 in KIF27 was associated with higher gastric cancer risk,especially in the young and male subgroups.The expression of KIF27 in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in normal tissues,leading to poor survival in gastric cancer patients.Besides,KIF27 expression was related to immune cell infiltration and positively correlated with PD-L1 expression.Our findings highlight the key role of genetic variation in the Hedgehog signaling pathway genes in gastric cancer susceptibility,which may provide important insights into the diagnosis,prognosis,and treatment of gastric cancer.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(8157381381173598)+1 种基金Excellent Talent Program of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(YXRC2019002)Fund of Scientific Research Innovation Team Construction in Sichuan Provincial University(18TD0017)
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effect of scutellarin on the self-renewal and differentiation of HT-29 cells-derived cancer stem-like cells(HT-29CSC)in vitro and in vivo,and to explore its mechanism.METHODS The effect of scutellarin on the growth of HT-29CSC was determined by 3D Culture assay.The effect of scutellarin on growth and transformation of HT-29CSC was probed by soft agar colony formation assay.The effect of scutellarin on the differentiation of HT-29CSC was determined by serum induction differentiation assay in vitro.The effects of scutellarin on the expressions of marker gene Lgr5,target gene c-Myc,proliferation gene CK20 and Nanog gene were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Investigate the effect of scutellarin on the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,and Lgr5 protein by Western blotting.A subcutaneous xenograft model of colon cancer in nude mice was established and administered by intraperitoneal injection.The change of body weight and tumor size of nude mice were observed every two days.Investi⁃gate the effects of scutellarin on the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice.The expression of CD133,Lgr5,Gli1,Ptch1,c-Myc,Ki67,CK20,Nanog gene in tumors were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.The expression of c-Myc,Gli1,Lgr5,CD133,Ki67 protein were measured by Western blotting.RESULTS Scutellarin can inhibit the growth of HT-29CSC in 3D culture.Compared with the solvent control group,scutellarin can significantly inhibit the growth and transformation and differentiation of HT-29CSC in vitro(P<0.01).The expression levels of marker genes Lgr5,target gene c-Myc,proliferation gene CK20 and Nanog in HT-29CSC were down-regulated by scutellarin.Scutellarin can reduce the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,and Lgr5 protein in HT-29CSC.Scutellarin can inhibit the growth of colon cancer xenografts,lower CD133,Lgr5,Gli1,Ptch1,c-Myc,Ki67,CK20,and Nanog mRNA level of xenograft tumors,reduce the expression of c-Myc,Gli1,Lgr5,CD133,and Ki67 protein of xenograft tumors in nude mice.CONCLUSION Scutellarin,which is the main component of scutellaria barbata,can inhibit the differentiation of HT-29CSC and the mechanism is to inhibit the activity of Hedgehog signaling pathway.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(81573813,81173598)Sichuan Provincial Admin⁃istration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China(2021MS447)+1 种基金Excellent Talent Program of Chengdu University of Tra⁃ditional Chinese Medicine of China(YXRC2019002,ZRYY1917)and Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources of China(2020XSGG006)。
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition and mechanism of berberine on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells through canonical Hedgehog signaling pathway.METHODS The effect of berberine on cell morphology was observed by microscopy.MTT colorimetric assay,cell scratch experiment,colony formation assay and Hoechest/PI staining were utilized to detect the activities of berberine on cell viability,cell migration and cell apoptosis.Flow cytometry was applied to examine the cell apoptosis.The effects of berberine on caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by caspase activity detection kit.The expressions of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related proteins SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,SUFU,apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related proteins cyclin D1 were detected by Western blotting.Additionally,quantitative real time RT-PCR was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related genes SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,SUFU,apoptosis-related genes Bax and Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related genes cyclin D1.RESULTS Berberine sharply altered the morphology of human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells,demonstrated by that migration ability of HCT116 cells was reduced significantly and the nuclei were densely stained.Berberine could induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased prominently.The expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related protein SUFU and apoptosis-related protein Bax were augmented substantially.The expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related proteins SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related genes cyclin D1 were markedly lessened.Besides,the mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related gene SUFU and apoptosis-related gene Bax were augmented substantially.The mRNA expression levels of Hedgehog signaling pathway-related genes SHH,GLI1,PTCH1,SMO,apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle-related gene cyclin D1 were markedly lessened.CONCLUSION Berberine,which is the main component of coptidis rhizoma,can remarkably restrain the growth and proliferation,promote apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells HCT116,and the underlying mechanism may be involved in suppressing the activity of the Hedgehog signaling pathway.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No.30600189)
文摘The effects of Sonic hedgehog(Shh) signaling pathway activation on S-type neuroblastoma(NB) cell lines and its role in NB tumorigenesis were investigated.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Shh pathway components- Patched1(PTCH1) and Gli1 in 40 human primary NB samples.Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to examine the protein expression and mRNA levels of PTCH1 and Gli1 in three kinds of S-type NB cell lines(SK-N-AS,SK-N-SH and SHEP1),respectively.Exogenous Shh was administrated to activate Shh signaling pathway while cyclopamine was used as a selective antagonist of Shh pathway.S-type NB cell lines were treated with different concentrations of Shh or/and cyclopamine for different durations.Cell viability was measured by using MTT method.Apoptosis rate and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry.The xenograft experiments were used to evaluate the role of Shh pathway in tumor growth in immunodeficient mice.High-level expression of PTCH1 and Gli1 was detected in both NB samples and S-type NB cell lines.Cyclopamine decreased the survival rate of the three cell lines while Shh increased it,and the inhibition effects of cyclopamine could be partially reversed by shh pre-treatment.Cyclopamine induced the cell apoptosis and the cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase,while Shh induced the reverse effects and could partially prevent effects of cyclopamine.Cyclopamine could also inhibit the growth of NB in vivo.Our studies revealed that activation of the Shh pathway is important for survival and proliferation of S-type NB cells in vivo and in vitro through affecting cell apoptosis and cell cycle,suggesting a new therapeutic approach to NB.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30571872).
文摘The roles of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling pathway in the proliferation and apoptosis of precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs) were investigated. PSCs, labeled with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3), were isolated from neonatal rats by immunomagnetic separation. After identifi-cation with FGFR-3 and ColⅡ, the cells were incubated with different concentrations of cyclopamine (cyclo), the specific inhibitor of Ihh signaling pathway. The morphologic changes of the cells were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope. The mRNA expression levels of Ihh, para-thyroid hormonerelated peptide (PTHrP), protein Patched (Ptch), Bcl-2 and p21 were detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression levels of Ihh and Ptch were measured by Western blot. MTT assay was used to examine the effects of cyclo on proliferation of PSCs. Apoptosis rate of PSCs was exam-ined by AnnexinⅤ /PI assay of flow cytometric analyses. After PSCs were incubated with cyclo, ob-vious morphologic changes were observed as compared with the control group. The mRNA expres-sion levels of PTHrP, Ptch and Bcl-2 were decreased to varying degrees in a cyclo dose-dependent manner. However, the expression levels of Ihh and p21 mRNA were increased. The protein expres-sion of Ptch and Ihh had the same change as the mRNA expression. Meanwhile, cyclo could obvi-ously inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of PSCs. The results indicated that Ihh sig-naling pathway plays an important role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of PSCs, which is probably mediated by Bcl-2 and p21.
文摘Background:The PTCH1 gene,also known as Patched 1,is located on the long arm of human chromosome 9(9q22.3).It encodes the PTCH1 protein,which is a critical transmembrane receptor within the Hedgehog signaling pathway(Hh),playing a pivotal role in cellular communication and developmental processes.Recent studies have highlighted the significance of mutations in PTCH1 in the pathogenesis of lung cancer,positioning it as a crucial molecule for investigation in oncology.Purpose:This review aims to elucidate the role of the PTCH1 and the Hedgehog pathway in the initiation,progression,and potential treatment of lung cancer,thereby providing a theoretical foundation for personalized and precise therapeutic strategies.Method:To ensure a comprehensive review,this study systematically searched for literature related to the PTCH1,lung cancer,and the Hedgehog pathway across multiple databases including PubMed,Web of Science,and CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure).The search strategy involved using specific keywords and advanced filtering options to include the most relevant and recent studies.Initial screening excluded irrelevant articles,followed by a detailed evaluation of the selected studies based on their scientific quality and relevance.Results:This review indicated that specific mutations in the PTCH1 gene are closely associated with the onset and progression of lung cancer.These mutations impede normal Hedgehog signaling,leading to unregulated cell proliferation and tumor growth.Targeting PTCH1,including vismodegib,have shown efficacy in clinical cases,particularly in SCCL with specific PTCH1 mutations,leading to complete remissions.Furthermore,the interaction between PTCH1 and microRNA-212 suggests potential therapeutic approaches by targeting miRNA to regulate PTCH1 expression.In addition,the investigation of traditional Chinese medicines such as Ginsenosides and Cordyceps sinensis extracts has shown their potential to modulate the Hedgehog pathway and reverse drug resistance.Conclusions:An in-depth understanding of the precise mechanisms by which PTCH1 mutations promote lung cancer could facilitate the development of targeted therapies.This study highlights the potential of PTCH1 as a biomarker for diagnosis and a target for precision medicine in lung cancer treatment,advocating for further research into its molecular pathways and therapeutic applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81330042,81620108018(both to SQF),and 81702147(to ZJW)
文摘Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neurons under the induction of Schwann cells. However, key microRNAs and related pathways for differentiation remain unclear. This study screened and identified differentially expressed microRNAs in bone marrow- derived mesenchymal stem cells induced by Schwann cell-conditioned medium, and explored targets and related pathways involved in their differentiation into neuronal-like cells. Primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from femoral and tibial bones, while primary Schwann cells were isolated from bilateral saphenous nerves. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in unconditioned (control group) and Schwann cell-conditioned medium (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group). Neuronal differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells induced by Schwann cell-conditioned medium was observed by time-lapse imaging. Upon induction, the morphology of bone marrow-derived mesencaymal stem cells changed into a neural shape with neurites. Results of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that nestin mRNA expression was upregulated from 1 to 3 days and downregulated from 3 to 7 days in the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group. Compared with the control group, microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression gradually increased from 1 to 7 days in the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell + Schwann cell group. After 7 days of induction, microRNA analysis iden:ified 83 significantly differentially expressed microRNAs between the two groups. Gene Ontology analysis indicated enrichment of microRNA target genes for neuronal projection development, regulation of axonogenesis, and positive regulation of cell proliferation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated that Hippo, Wnt, transforming growth factor-beta, and Hedgehog signaling pathv/ays were potentially associated with neural differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This study, which carried out successful microRNA analysis of neuronal-like cells differentiated from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by Schwann cell induction, revealed key microRNAs and pathways involved in neural differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. All protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences on March 12, 2017 (approval number: DWLI-20170311).
基金supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(81670559)Key Research and Development Project of Shanxi Province(201603D421023)+2 种基金Youth Fund of Shanxi Medical University(02201514)Graduate Student Education Innovation Project of Shanxi(2016BY077)Youth Fund of Ap-plied Basic Research Program of Shanxi(201701D221175)
文摘Background: Previous research suggested that insulin-like growth factor binding protein related protein 1(IGFBPrP1), as a novel mediator, contributes to hepatic fibrogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP) play an essential role in hepatic fibrogenesis by regulating homeostasis and remodeling of the extracellular matrix(ECM). However, the interaction between IGFBPrP1 and MMP/TIMP is not clear. The present study was to knockdown IGFBPrP1 to investigate the correlation between IGFBPrP1 and MMP/TIMP in hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by thioacetamide(TAA) in mice. Knockdown of IGFBPrP1 expression by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction-mediated CMB-shRNA-IGFBPrP1 delivery, or inhibition of the Hedgehog(Hh) pathway by cyclopamine treatment, was performed in TAA-induced liver fibrosis mice. Hepatic fibrosis was determined by hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining. Hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, α-smooth muscle actin( α-SMA), transforming growth factor β 1(TGF β1), collagen I, MMPs/TIMPs, Sonic Hedgehog(Shh), and glioblastoma family transcription factors(Gli1) were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting analysis. Results: We found that hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, TGF β1, α-SMA, and collagen I were increased longitudinally in mice with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis, concomitant with MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 imbalance and Hh pathway activation. Knockdown of IGFBPrP1 expression, or inhibition of the Hh pathway, reduced the hepatic expression of IGFBPrP1, TGF β1, α-SMA, and collagen I and re-established MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 balance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IGFBPrP1 knockdown attenuates liver fibrosis by re-establishing MMP2/TIMP2 and MMP9/TIMP1 balance, concomitant with the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation, down-regulation of TGF β1 expression, and degradation of the ECM. Furthermore, the Hh pathway mediates IGFBPrP1 knockdown-induced attenuation of hepatic fibrosis through the regulation of MMPs/TIMPs balance.
文摘Globally,hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer and cancerrelated deaths.The therapeutic efficacy of locoregional and systemic treatment in patients with advanced HCC remains low,which results in a poor prognosis.The development of sorafenib for the treatment of HCC has resulted in a new era of molecular targeted therapy for this disease.However,the median overall survival was reported to be barely higher in the sorafenib treatment group than in the control group.Hence,in this review we describe the importance of developing more effective targeted therapies for the management of advanced HCC.Recent investigations of molecular signaling pathways in several cancers have provided some insights into developing molecular therapies that target critical members of these signaling pathways.Proteins involved in the Hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways,Polo-like kinase 1,arginine,histone deacetylases and Glypican-3 can be potential targets in the treatment of HCC.Monotherapy has limited therapeutic efficacy due to the development of inhibitory feedback mechanisms and induction of chemoresistance.Thus,emphasis is now on the development of personalized and combination molecular targeted therapies that can serve as ideal therapeutic strategies for improved management of HCC.
基金Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES,Brazil)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq,Brazil)。
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.The modern concept of cancer biology indicates that cancer is formed of a small population of cells called cancer stem cells(CSCs),which present both pluripotency and self-renewal properties.These cells are considered responsible for the progression of the disease,recurrence and tumor resistance.Interestingly,some cell signaling pathways participate in CRC survival,proliferation,and selfrenewal properties,and most of them are dysregulated in CSCs,including the Wingless(Wnt)/β-catenin,Notch,Hedgehog,nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK/STAT),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR),phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR),and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad pathways.In this review,we summarize the strategies for eradicating CRC stem cells by modulating these dysregulated pathways,which will contribute to the study of potential therapeutic schemes,combining conventional drugs with CSC-targeting drugs,and allowing better cure rates in anti-CRC therapy.
基金supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation(Grants Nos.81773565,81703327,81430080,81573452,and 81773767)Supporting grants from the Key Program of the Frontier Science(Grant No.160621,China)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences+1 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA12020374,China)support from the State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment,Ministry of Education of China,Zhengzhou University(Grant No.K2020-0012,China)
文摘Medulloblastoma(MB)is a common yet highly heterogeneous childhood malignant brain tumor,however,clinically effective molecular targeted therapy is lacking.Modulation of hedgehog(HH)signaling by epigenetically targeting the transcriptional factors GLI through bromodomain-containing protein 4(BRD4)has recently spurred new interest as potential treatment of HH-driven MB.Through screening of current clinical BRD4 inhibitors for their inhibitory potency against glioma-associated oncogene homolog(GLI)protein,the BRD4 inhibitor 2 was selected as the lead for further structural optimization,which led to the identification of compounds 25 and 35 as the high potency HH inhibitors.Mechanism profiling showed that both compounds suppressed HH signaling by interacting with the transcriptional factor GLI,and were equally potent against the clinical resistant mutants and the wild type of smoothened(SMO)receptor with IC50 values around 1 nmol/L.In the resistant MB allograft mice,compound 25 was well tolerated and markedly suppressed tumor growth at both 5 mg/kg(TGI=83.3%)and 10 mg/kg(TGI=87.6%)doses.Although further modification is needed to improve the pharmacokinetic(PK)parameters,compound 25 represents an efficacious lead compound of GLI inhibitors,possessing optimal safety and tolerance to fight against HH-driven MB.
