Objective:Obesity-induced kidney injury contributes to the development of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Here,we identified the functions of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 19(USP19)in HK-2 cells exposed to a combination of high glucose(HG)and free fatty acid(FFA)and determined its association with TGF-beta-activated kinase 1(TAK1).Methods:HK-2 cells were exposed to a combination of HG and FFA.USP19 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative RT-PCR(qRT-PCR),and protein analysis was performed by immunoblotting(IB).Cell growth was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)viability and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)proliferation assays.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.The USP19/TAK1 interaction and ubiquitinated TAK1 levels were assayed by coimmunoprecipitation(Co-IP)assays and IB.Results:In HG+FFA-challenged HK-2 cells,USP19 was highly expressed.USP19 knockdown attenuated HG+FFA-triggered growth inhibition and apoptosis promotion in HK-2 cells.Moreover,USP19 knockdown alleviated HG+FFA-mediated PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin pathway inactivation and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation in HK-2 cells.Mechanistically,USP19 stabilized the TAK1 protein through deubiquitination.Importantly,increased TAK1 expression reversed the USP19 knockdown-mediated phenotypic changes and PINKl/Parkin pathway activation in HG+FFA-challenged HK-2 cells.Conclusion:The findings revealed that USP19 plays a crucial role in promoting HK-2 cell dysfunction induced by combined stimulation with HG and FFAs by stabilizing TAK1,providing a potential therapeutic strategy for combating DN.

Objective:Colorectal cancer(CRC),a prevalent malignancy worldwide,has prompted extensive research into anticanccr drugs.Traditional Chinese medicinal materials offer promising avenues for cancer management due to their diverse pharmacological activities.This study investigated the effects of Notopterygium incisum,a traditional Chinese medicine named Qianghuo(QH),on CRC cells and the underlying mechanism.Methods:The sulforhodamine B assay and colony formation assay were employed to assess the effect of QH extract on the proliferation of CRC cell lines HCT116 and Caco-2.Propidium iodide(PI)staining was utilized to detect cell cycle progression,and PE Annexin V staining to detect apoptosis.Western blotting was conducted to examine the levels of apoptotic proteins,including B-cell lymphoma 2-interacting mediator of cell death(BIM),B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(BAX)and cleaved caspase-3,as well as BIM stability after treatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide.The expression of BAX was suppressed using lentivirus-mediated shRNA to validate the involvement of the BIM/BAX axis in QH-induced apoptosis.The in vivo effects of QH extract on tumor growth were observed using a xenograft model.Lastly,APCMin+mice were used to study the effects of QH extract on primary intestinal tumors.Results:QH extract exhibited significant in vitro anti-CRC activities evidenced by the inhibition of cell proliferation,perturbation of cell cycle progression,and induction of apoptosis.Mechanistically,QH extract significantly increased the stability of BIM proteins,which undergo rapid degradation under unstressed conditions.Knockdown of BAX,the downstream effector of BIM,significantly rescued QH-induced apoptosis.Furthermore,the in vitro effect of QH extract was recapitulated in vivo.QH extract significantly inhibited the tumor growth of HCT116 xenografts in nude mice and decreased the number of intestinal polyps in the APCMin+mice.Conclusion:QH extract promotes the apoptosis of CRC cells by preventing the degradation of BIM.

Objective:Icariin(ICA)has a good neuroprotective effect and can upregulate neuronal basal autophagy in naturally aging rats.Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with brain aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.Abnormal opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP)is a crucial factor in mitochondrial dysfunction and is associated with excessive autophagy.This study aimed to explore that ICA protects against neuronal injury by blocking the mPTP opening and down-regulating autophagy levels in a D-galactose(D-gal)-induced cell injury model.Methods:A cell model of neuronal injury was established in rat pheochromocytoma cells(PC 12 cells)treated with 200 mmol/L D-gal for 48 h.In this cell model,PC12 cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of ICA for 24 h.MTT was used to detect cell viability.Senescence associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to observe cell senescence.Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of a senescence-related protein(p21),autophagy markers(LC3B,p62,Atg7,Atg5 and Beclin 1),mitochondrial fission and fusion-related proteins(Drp1,Mfn2 and Opa1),and mitophagy markers(Pink1 and Parkin).The changes of autophagic flow were detected by using mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus.The intracellular ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Immunofluorescence was used to detect mPTP,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)and ROS levels.ROS and apoptosis levels were detected by flow cytometry.Results:D-gal treatment significantly decreased the viability of PC12 cells,and markedly increased the SA-β-Gal positive cells as compared to the control group.With the D-gal stimulation,the expression of p21 was significantly up-regulated.Furthermore,D-gal stimulation resulted in an elevated LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio and decreased p62 expression.Meanwhile,autophagosomes and autolysosomes were significantly increased,indicating abnormal activation of autophagy levels.In addition,in this D-gal-induced model of cell injury,the mPTP was abnormally open,the ROS generation was continuously increased,the MMP was gradually decreased,and the apoptosis was increased.ICA effectively improved mitochondrial dysfunction to protect against D-gal-induced cell injury and apoptosis.It strongly inhibited excessive autophagy by blocking the opening of the mPTP.Cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP inhibitor(cyclosporin A)did not ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction.However,the protective effects were attenuated by cotreatment with ICA and an mPTP activator(lonidamine).Conclusion:ICA inhibits the activation of excessive autophagy and thus improves mitochondrial dysfunction by blocking the mPTP opening.

目的 通过生物信息学分析和体外实验结合的方式验证miR-3609 在骨质疏松症发病中的可能作用机制,为骨质疏松症的治疗提供新靶点.方法 通过miRDB、miRWalk、TargetScan三大miRNA靶点分析数据库进行miR-3609 下游靶点分析.双荧光素酶实验验证miR-3609 和下游靶基因之间的靶向关系,RT-qPCR实验和WB实验验证miR-3609 对下游靶基因表达的影响及WB实验检测miR-3609 对抗凋亡基因Bcl2 和成骨相关蛋白Runx2、OPG表达的影响.碱性磷酸酶实验及茜素红实验检测分析miR-3609 对成骨细胞成骨分化、矿化的影响.结果 首先,数据库靶点预测结果显示,CCND1 可能是miR-3609 导致骨质疏松发病的潜在靶点.其次,双荧光素酶实验验证了二者之间的靶向关系:miR3609 的激活会下调成骨细胞中的CCND1表达.同时,碱性磷酸酶和茜素红实验结果表明miR3609 的激活抑制成骨细胞向成骨分化及矿化.此外,miR3609 的激活下调了成骨细胞成骨相关蛋白Runx2、OPG的表达,下调了抗凋亡蛋白Bcl2 的表达.结论 miR-3609 可以通过靶向抑制CCND1表达抑制成骨细胞成骨分化、矿化,这可能是其导致骨质疏松发病的机制,靶向抑制miR-3609 有望成为治疗骨质疏松症的新方向.

目的 探讨白术内酯I(Atractylenolide I,AT-I)对白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)诱导的关节软骨细胞炎性损伤的影响.方法 人关节软骨细胞来自武汉普诺赛生命科技有限公司.实验分 6 组:对照组(未处理)、模型组(10 ng/mL IL-1β)、AT-I-L组(25 μmol/L)、AT-I-M组(50 μmol/L)、AT-I-H组(100 μmol/L)、AT-I-H+740 Y-P组[100 μmol/L AT-I与50 μg/mL 740 Y-P磷脂酰肌醇 3-激酶(PI3K)激活剂].CCK-8法和流式细胞术分别测定增殖及凋亡;ELISA法测定上清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平;Western blot检测PI3K/蛋白激酶B(AKT)/核因子-κB(NF-κB)相关蛋白表达.结果 与对照组相比,模型组OD450 值(24、48 h)降低(P＜0.05),TNF-α、IL-6 表达、凋亡率、PI3K/AKT/NF-κB蛋白表达均升高(P＜0.05).与模型组对比,AT-I-L组OD450 值(24、48 h)、TNF-α、IL-6 表达、凋亡率、PI3K/AKT/NF-κB通路蛋白表达差异不显著(P＞0.05),AT-I-M组、AT-I-H组OD450 值(24 h、48 h)升高(P＜0.05),TNF-α、IL-6 表达、细胞凋亡率、PI3K/AKT/NF-κB通路蛋白表达均降低(P＜0.05).与AT-I-H组对比,AT-I-H+740 Y-P组OD450 值(24、48 h)降低(P＜0.05),TNF-α、IL-6 表达、凋亡率、PI3K/AKT/NF-κB通路蛋白表达均升高(P＜0.05).结论 白术内酯Ⅰ改善IL-1β诱导的关节软骨细胞炎性损伤,其可能机制是促进软骨细胞增殖并抑制炎症反应、细胞凋亡和PI3K/AKT/NF-κB通路实现.

Objective:Lindqvist-type polyoxometalates(POMs)exhibit potential antitumor activities.This study aimed to examine the effects of Lindqvist-type POMs against breast cancer and the underlying mechanism.Methods:Using different cancer cell lines,the present study evaluated the antitumor activities of POM analogues that were modified at the body skeleton based on molybdenum-vanadium-centered negative oxygen ion polycondensations with different side strains.Cell colony formation assay,autophagy detection,mitochondrial observation,qRT-PCR,Western blotting,and animal model were used to evaluate the antitumor activities of POMs against breast cancer cells and the related mechanism.Results:MO-4,a Lindqvist-type POM linking a proline at its side strain,was selected for subsequent experiments due to its low half maximal inhibitory concentration in the inhibition of proliferation of breast cancer cells.It was found that MO-4 induced the apoptosis of multiple types of breast cancer cells.Mechanistically,MO-4 activated intracellular mitophagy by elevating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels and resulting in apoptosis.In vivo,breast tumor growth and distant metastasis were significantly reduced following MO-4 treatment.Conclusion:Collectively,the results of the present study demonstrated that the novel Lindqvist-type POM MO-4 may exhibit potential in the treatment of breast cancer.

目的:探讨长链非编码RNA DNA损伤诱导的非编码RNA(LncRNA NORAD)通过miR-513b-5p/GREM1轴调节颅内动脉瘤血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)增殖、迁移、侵袭和凋亡的机制.方法:采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)法检测人颅内动脉瘤组织和正常组织中LncRNA NORAD、miR-513b-5p及GREM1表达.体外分离培养人VSMC,随机分为 对照组、LncRNA NORAD siRNA组、miR-513b-5p mimics 组、共转染(LncRNA NORAD siRNA+miR-513b-5p inhibitor)组、共转染阴性对照(LncRNA NORAD siRNA阴性对照+miR-513b-5p inhibitor阴性对照)组,分组转染后,采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测各组细胞LncRNA NORAD、miR-513b-5p及GREM1 mRNA表达;采用细胞计数试剂盒(CCK-8)和免疫荧光染色检测各组细胞增殖情况;采用Hoechst 33342染色和免疫荧光染色检测各组细胞凋亡情况;采用细胞划痕实验和Transwell实验检测各组细胞迁移、侵袭情况;采用免疫印记实验检测各组细胞上皮间充质转化(EMT)标志蛋白神经钙黏素(N-cadherin)、E-钙黏素(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)表达;采用双荧光素酶报告实验分析VSMC中LncRNA NORAD对miR-513b-5p、miR-513b-5p对GREM1的靶向调控.结果:与正常组织比较,颅内动脉瘤组织LncRNA NORAD、GREM1 mRNA表达明显升高(尸＜0.05),miR-513b-5p表达明显降低(P＜0.05).与对照组比较,LncRNA NORAD siRNA 组、miR-513b-5p mimics 组细胞 GREM1 mRNA表达、增殖率、Ki67 阳性率、迁移率、侵袭数及 N-cadherin、Vimentin 蛋白表达降低(P＜0.05),miR-513b-5p表达、凋亡率及Bax/Bcl-2、E-cadherin蛋白表达升高(P＜0.05);共转染阴性对照组各指标差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).与LncRNA NORAD siRNA组比较,共转染组细胞GREM1 mRNA表达、增殖率、Ki67阳性率、迁移率、侵袭数及N-cadherin、Vimentin蛋白表达升高(P＜0.05),miR-513b-5p表达、凋亡率及Bax/Bcl-2、E-cadherin蛋白表达降低(P＜0.05).结论:敲低LncRNA NORAD可通过上调miR-513b-5p表达而降低GREM1表达,从而抑制VSMC增殖与侵袭迁移,并促使其凋亡.

溴结构域蛋白 4(bromodomain-containing protein 4,BRD4)是溴结构域和超末端结构域家族的成员,在调节基因转录、细胞增殖、凋亡和炎症方面发挥着重要作用.BRD4 与各种疾病密切相关,包括癌症、神经系统疾病和病毒感染.虽然 BRD4 在癌症研究领域引起了广泛的关注,但是关于它在骨相关疾病中的影响,包括骨关节炎、椎间盘退变、骨质疏松和骨肿瘤等方面的研究还很有限.最近的研究表明 BRD4 参与骨相关疾病的发病机制,突出其重要作用.因此,笔者综述了近年来 BRD4 及其抑制剂在骨相关疾病中的研究进展.通过阐述 BRD4 的结构和功能以及 BRD4 及其抑制剂在骨相关疾病中的作用,提示BRD4 可能是治疗骨相关疾病的潜在靶点.

Objective:Mitofusin-2(MFN2)is a mitochondrial membrane protein that plays a critical role in regulating mitochondrial fusion and cellular metabolism.To further elucidate the impact of MFN2,this study aimed to investigate its significance on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cell function and its potential role in mediating chemosensitivity.Methods:This study investigated the effects of silencing and overexpressing MFN2 on the survival,proliferation,invasion and migration abilities,and sorafenib resistance of MHCC97-L HCC cells.Additional experiments were conducted using XAV939(a β-catenin inhibitor)and HLY78(a β-catenin activator)to further validate these findings.Results:Silencing MFN2 significantly promoted the survival and proliferation of MHCC97-L cells,enhanced their invasion and migration capacities,increased the IC50 of sorafenib,reduced the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells,and decreased the expression of proapoptotic proteins.Additionally,silencing MFN2 markedly induced the nuclear translocation of β-catenin,increased β-catenin acetylation levels and enhanced the expression of the downstream regulatory proteins Snail 1 and Vimentin while inhibiting E-cadherin expression.Conversely,overexpressing MFN2 reversed the effects observed in MHCC97-L cells mentioned above.The results confirmed that silencing MFN2 activated the β-catenin/epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)pathway and reduced the sensitivity of cells to sorafenib,which could be reversed by XAV939 treatment.Conversely,overexpression of MFN2 inhibited the β-catenin/EMT pathway and increased the sensitivity of cells to sorafenib,which could be altered by HLY78.Conclusion:Low expression of MFN2 in HCC cells promotes the nuclear translocation of β-catenin,thereby activating the EMT pathway and mediating resistance to sorafenib.

骨质疏松症(osteoporosis,OP)是以骨微观结构退化、骨量和骨矿物质密度下降为特征的骨代谢性疾病,表现为骨的脆性增加且易发生骨折,进而对患者的生活质量产生严重影响.泛凋亡(PANoptosis)是近年来新建立的一种独特的炎性程序性细胞死亡(programmed cell death,PCD)过程,涉及细胞焦亡(pyroptosis)、凋亡(apoptosis)和坏死性凋亡(necroptosis)之间的相互作用及串扰,其同时具有细胞焦亡、凋亡和(或)坏死性凋亡的关键特征,但不能单独用三种程序性细胞死亡途径中的任何一种来解释.近年来,国内外研究主要探究细胞焦亡、凋亡以及坏死性凋亡与OP机制之间的关系,而针对泛凋亡与OP病理生理过程的作用机制探究较少.本文旨在探讨泛凋亡与OP发病机制的潜在联系,为防治OP寻找潜在的靶点.