Publications

ABSTRACT

Nuclear receptors (NRs) function as crucial transcription factors in orchestrating essential functions within the realms of development, host defense, and homeostasis of body. NRs have garnered increased attention due to their potential as therapeutic targets, with drugs directed at NRs demonstrating significant efficacy in impeding chronic disease progression. Consequently, these pharmacological agents hold promise for the treatment and management of various diseases. Accumulating evidence emphasizes the regulatory role of exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs)
in chronic inflammation, disease progression, and therapy resistance, primarily by modulating transcription factors, particularly NRs. By exploiting inflammatory pathways such as protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, exosomes and NRs play a pivotal role in the panorama of development, physiology, and pathology. The internalization of exosomes modulates NRs and initiates diverse autocrine or paracrine signaling cascades, influencing various processes in recipient cells such as survival, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and cellular defense mechanisms. This comprehensive review meticulously examines the involvement of exosome-mediated NR regulation in the pathogenesis of chronic ailments, including atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, liver diseases, and respiratory conditions. Additionally, it elucidates the molecular intricacies of exosome-mediated communication between host and recipient cells via NRs, leading to immunomodulation. Furthermore, it outlines the implications of exosome-modulated NR pathways in the prophylaxis of chronic inflammation, delineates current limitations, and provides insights into future perspectives. This review also presents existing evidence on the role of exosomes and their components in the emergence of therapeutic resistance.

 

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/s40779-024-00564-1

ABSTRACT

ARID1A deletion mutation contributes to improved treatment of several malignancies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, its role in modulating of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here, we report an increase of CD8+ T cells infiltration in GC patients with ARID1Amutation (MUT), which enhances sensitivity to ICIs. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that ARID1Amutation patients with gastrointestinal malignancies benefit from immunotherapy. Transcriptome analysis implicated that ARID1A regulates STAT5 downstream targets to inhibit T-cell mediated toxicity. Integrated dual luciferase assay and ChIP-qPCR analyses indicated that ARID1A coordinated with STAT5 to facilitate the transcription of the immunosuppressive factors TGF-β1 and NOX4. ARID1A recruited canonical BAF complex (cBAF) subunits, including SMARCB1 and SMARCD1, to sustain DNA accessibility. Downregulation of ARID1A reduced chromatin remodeling into configurations which make GC more sensitive to ICIs. In addition, targeting STAT5 effectively improved anti-PD-1 efficiency in ARID1A-wild type (WT) GC patients. Taken together, ARID1A is a coactivator of STAT5, function as a chromatin organizer in GC ICIs resistance, and targeting STAT5 is an effective
strategy to improve the efficiency of ICIs in GC.

 

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107499

 

ABSTRACT

The role of the gut microbiome in enhancing the efficacy of anticancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy is well acknowledged. However, there is limited empirical evidence on its predictive capabilities for neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT) responses in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Our study fills this gap by comprehensively analyzing the gut microbiome’s influence on NICT outcomes. We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences from 136 fecal samples from 68 ESCC patients before and after NICT, along with 19 samples from healthy controls. After NICT, marked microbiome composition changes were noted, including a decrease in ESCC-associated pathogens and an increase in beneficial microbes such as Limosilactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, and Staphylococcus. Baseline microbiota profiles effectively differentiated responders from nonresponders, with responders showing higher levels of short-chain fatty
acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, Eubacterium_eligens_group, Anaerostipes, and Odoribacter, and nonresponders showing increases in Veillonella, Campylobacter, Atopobium, and Trichococcus. We then divided our patient cohort into training and test sets at a 4:1 ratio and utilized the XGBoost-RFE algorithm to identify 7 key microbial biomarkers—Faecalibacterium, Subdoligranulum, Veillonella, Hungatella, Odoribacter, Butyricicoccus, and HT002. A predictive model was developed using LightGBM, which achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 86.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), 73.8% to 99.4%] in the training set, 76.8% (95% CI, 41.2% to 99.7%) in the validation set, and 76.5%
(95% CI, 50.4% to 100%) in the testing set. Our findings underscore the gut microbiome as a novel source of biomarkers for predicting NICT responses in ESCC, highlighting its potential to enhance personalized treatment strategies and advance the integration of microbiome profiling into clinical practice for modulating cancer treatment responses.

Full article:https://doi.org/10.34133/research.0529

 

Summary
Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently the standard therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) bearing mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Unfortunately, drug-acquired resistance is inevitable due to the emergence of new mutations in EGFR. Moreover, the TKI treatment is associated with severe toxicities due to the unspecific inhibition of wild-type (WT) EGFR. Thus, treatment that is customised to an individual’s genetic alterations in EGFR may offer greater therapeutic benefits for patients with NSCLC.

( Full Article : https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00392-X/fulltext )

 

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the sixth most prevalent cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Despite surgical resection being the preferred approach for early-stage HCC, most patients are diagnosed at intermediate to advanced stages, limiting treatment options to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which often yield poor outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), minute lipid-bilayered particles released by diverse cells under various physiological and pathological conditions, are crucial for mediating communication between cells. Mounting evidence indicates that EVs sourced from different cells can profoundly influence the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby affecting the progression of HCC. Given their immunogenicity and liver-targeting properties, these EVs not only hold promise for HCC treatment but also provide avenues for advancing early diagnostic methods and assessing prognosis. This review not only describes the function of EVs within the HCC tumor microenvironment but also analyzes their therapeutic advantages and explores their significance in various therapeutic approaches for HCC, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, combination therapy, and their role as innovative drug delivery carriers. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of EVs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

 

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107419

ABSTRACT

Mitophagy, the cellular process of selectively eliminating damaged mitochondria, plays a crucial role in main­taining metabolic balance and preventing insulin resistance, both key factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. When mitophagy malfimctions in diabetic neuropathy, it triggers a cascade of metabolic disrup­tions, including reduced energy production, increased oxidative stress, and cell death, ultimately leading to various complications. Thus, targeting mitophagy to enhance the process may have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for T2DM and its complications. Notably, plant-derived compounds with ?-cell protective and mitophagy-stimulating properties offer potential as novel therapeutic agents. This review highlights the intricate mechanisms linking mitophagy dysfunction to T2DM and its complications, particularly neuropathy, elucidating potential therapeutic interventions for this debilitating disease.

 

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107394

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal cancer that is often diagnosed at the advanced stages which limits the available therapeutic options. The interaction of HGF with c-MET (a receptor tyrosine kinase) results in the activation of c-MET which subsequently triggers the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. Overexpression of c-MET in HCC tissues has been demonstrated to contribute to tumor progression and metastasis.

Objectives: We aimed to synthesize triazole-indirubin conjugates, examine their growth suppressor efficacy in cell-based assays, and investigate the antitumor as well as antimetastatic activity of lead cytotoxic agent in the orthotopic mice model. Methods: A series of triazole-indirubin hybrids were synthesized and cytotoxicity, apoptogenic, and antimigratory effect of the lead compound (CRI9) was evaluated using MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, annexin-V/PI assay, TUNEL assay, and wound healing assay. The effect of CRI9 on the operation of the HGF/c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis was examined using western blotting and transfection experiments. Acute toxicity, antitumor, and antimetastatic activity of CRI9 were examined in NCr nude mice. The expression of c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR, CD31, and Ki-67 was examined using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.
Results: Among the new compounds, CRI9 consistently displayed potent cytotoxicity against HGFinduced HCC cells. CRI9 induced apoptosis as evidenced by increased sub G1 cells, annexin-V+/PI+ cells, TUNEL+ cells, and cleavage of procaspase-3 and PARP. CRI9 inhibited HGF-induced phosphorylation of c-METY1234/1235 and subsequently suppressed the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. Also, depletion of c-MET or inhibition of c-MET by CRI9 resulted in suppression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. CRI9 showed no toxic effects in NCr nude mice and displayed a potent antitumor and antimetastatic effect in the orthotopic HCC mice model. CRI9 also reduced the levels of phospho-c-MET, CD31, and Ki-67 and suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in tumor tissues.
Conclusion: CRI9 has been identified as a new inhibitor of the c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in HCC preclinical models.

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2024.08.033

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer, and its treatment frequently includes the utilization of drugs based on antibodies and small molecules. The development of CRC has been linked to various signaling pathways, with the Wnt/b-catenin pathway identified as a key target for intervention.

Objectives: We have explored the impact of imidazopyridine-tethered chalcone-C (CHL-C) in CRC models.
Methods: To determine the influence of CHL-C on apoptosis and autophagy, Western blot analysis, annexin V assay, cell cycle analysis, acridine orange staining, and immunocytochemistry were performed. Next, the activation of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway and the anti-cancer effects of CHL-C in vivo were examined in an orthotopic HCT-116 mouse model.

Results: We describe the synthesis and biological assessment of the CHL series as inhibitors of the viability of HCT-116, SW480, HT-29, HCT-15, and SNU-C2A CRC cell lines. Further biological evaluations showed that CHL-C induced apoptosis and autophagy in down-regulated b-catenin, Wnt3a, FZD-1, Axin-1, and p-GSK-3b (Ser9), and up-regulated p-GSK3b (Tyr216) and b-TrCP. In-depth analysis using structure-based bioinformatics showed that CHL-C strongly binds to b-catenin, with a binding affinity comparable to that of ICG-001, a well-known b-catenin inhibitor. Additionally, our in vivo research showed that CHL-C markedly inhibited tumor growth and triggered the activation of both apoptosis and autophagy in tumor tissues.

Conclusion: CHL-C is capable of inducing apoptosis and autophagy by influencing the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway.

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2024.07.022

ABSTRACT

Macroautophagy/autophagy is primarily accountable for the degradation of damaged organelles and toxic macromolecules in the cells. Regarding the essential function of autophagy for preserving cellular homeostasis, changes in, or dysfunction of, autophagy flux can lead to disease development. In the current paper, the complicated function of autophagy in aging-associated pathologies and cancer is evaluated, highlighting the underlying molecular mechanisms that can affect longevity and disease pathogenesis. As a natural biological process, a reduction in autophagy is observed with aging, resulting in an accumulation of cell damage and the development of different diseases, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The MTOR, AMPK, and ATG proteins demonstrate changes during aging, and they are promising therapeutic targets. Insulin/lGFl, TOR, PKA, AKT/PKB, caloric restriction and mitochondrial respiration are vital for lifespan.

 

Full article:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102428

ABSTRACT

Cell cycle dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer that promotes eccessive cell division. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) are key molecules in the G1-to-S phase cell cycle transition and are crucial for the onset, survival, and progression of breast cancer (BC). Small-molecule CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) block phosphorylation of tumor suppressor Rb and thus restrain susceptible BC cells in G1 phase. Three CDK4/6i are approved for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2^–) BC in combination with endocrine therapy (ET). Though this has improved the clinical outcomes for survival of BC patients, there is no established standard next-line treatment to tackle drug resistance. Recent studies suggest that CDK4/6i can modulate other distinct effects in both BC and breast stromal compartments, which may provide new insights into aspects of their clinical activity. This review describes the biochemistry of the CDK4/6-Rb-E2F pathway in HR⁺ BC, then discusses how CDK4/6i can trigger other effects in BC/breast stromal compartments, and finally outlines the mechanisms of CDK4/6i resistance that have emerged in recent preclinical studies and clinical cohorts, emphasizing the impact of these findings on novel therapeutic opportunities in BC.

 

Full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136876462400061X?via%3Dihub