miR-182 and miR-183 Promote Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Targeting FOXO1 in Mesothelioma

Dysregulation of miR-182 and miR-183 has been implicated in the progression of several human cancers. Our previous study showed that miR-182 and miR-183 are upregulated in malignant mesothelioma. However, their biological functions remain unclear. We performed in-situ hybridization to analyze the expression of miR-182 and miR-183 in human tissues. Functional analysis was performed by treatment of two mesothelioma cell lines (ACC-MESO1 and CRL-5915) with miR-182 and miR-183 inhibitors. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were conducted to analyze the expression of FOXO1, a known target of both miR-182 and miR-183. Mesothelioma cells treated with FOXO1 siRNA and miR-182/183 inhibitors were also analyzed by evaluating cell proliferation and invasion, as well as expression of FOXO1 and its downstream targets. We confirmed miR-182 expression in 25/29 cases and miR-183 expression in 29/29 cases of human mesothelioma tissue by in-situ hybridization. Notably, inhibition of miR-182 or miR-183 reduced cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and adhesion abilities of mesothelioma cells. Surprisingly, transfection with both miR-182 and miR-183 inhibitors showed even more effects on cell progression. Furthermore, FOXO1 was identified as a target of miR-182 and miR-183 in mesothelioma cells. Inhibition of miR-182 and miR-183 reduced cell proliferation ability via upregulation of FOXO1 and its downstream targets, namely, p27. Moreover, inhibition of miR-182 and miR-183 reduced the cell invasion properties of mesothelioma cells. Our findings indicated that miR-182 and miR-183 promote mesothelioma cell progression via downregulation of FOXO1 and p27. Targeting the miR-182/183—FOXO1 axis could serve as a novel treatment against malignant mesothelioma

Omentin Prevents Myocardial Ischemic Injury Through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase- and Akt-Dependent Mechanisms

ObjectivesThis study examined the impact of omentin on myocardial injury in a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and explored its underlying mechanisms.BackgroundObesity is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Omentin is a circulating adipokine that is down-regulated by obesity.MethodsIn patients who underwent successful reperfusion treatment after acute myocardial infarction, cardiac function and perfusion defect were assessed by using scintigraphic images. Mice were subjected to myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion.ResultsThis study found that high levels of plasma omentin were associated with improvement of heart damage and function after reperfusion therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Systemic administration of human omentin to mice led to a reduction in myocardial infarct size and apoptosis after I/R, which was accompanied by enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Akt in the ischemic heart. Fat-specific overexpression of human omentin also resulted in reduction of infarct size after I/R. Blockade of AMPK or Akt activity reversed omentin-induced inhibition of myocardial ischemic damage and apoptosis in mice. In cultured cardiomyocytes, omentin suppressed hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis, which was blocked by inactivation of AMPK or Akt.ConclusionsOur data indicate that omentin functions as an adipokine that ameliorates acute ischemic injury in the heart by suppressing myocyte apoptosis through both AMPK- and Akt-dependent mechanisms

SOX6は上皮型中皮腫と肺腺癌の鑑別診断における新規免疫組織化学マーカーである

内容の要約広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(医学)Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciencedoctora

Clinically significant association of elevated expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 expression with higher glucose uptake and progression of upper urinary tract cancer

Abstract Background There is growing evidence that the transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is the major participant in regulating antioxidants and pathways for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as having a vital role in tumor proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance. It was also recently reported that Nrf2 supports cell proliferation by promoting metabolic activity. Thus, Nrf2 is involved in progression of cancer. Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a biologically aggressive tumor with high rates of recurrence and progression, resulting in a poor prognosis. However, the role of Nrf2 in UTUC is largely unknown. Methods In order to study the role of Nrf2 in UTUC from the metabolic perspective, we retrospectively assessed Nrf2 expression in the surgical specimen and the preoperative maximum standard glucose uptake (SUVmax) on [18F]fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) of 107 patients with UTUC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy. Results Increased expression of Nrf2 in the primary lesion was correlated with less differentiated histology, local invasion, and lymph node metastasis, and was also an independent indicator of shorter overall survival according to multivariate analysis. Furthermore, increased expression of Nrf2 was associated with higher preoperative SUVmax by the primary tumor on 18F-FDG-PET, while Nrf2 expression and SUVmax were also significantly correlated in the metastatic lymph nodes. Among the 18 patients with lymph node metastasis at nephroureterectomy who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and received adjuvant chemotherapy, the patients with higher Nrf2 expression in the primary tumor had worse recurrence-free survival. Conclusions These results suggest that constitutive activation of Nrf2 might be linked with tumor aerobic glycolysis and progression of UTUC, indicating that Nrf2 signaling in the tumor microenvironment promotes progression of UTUC

Musashi-1 Is a Novel Immunohistochemical Marker of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) have recently been grouped as lung neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Because these lung NECs are clinically malignant and their treatment strategies differ from those of non-SCLC, the quality of diagnosis has a significant prognostic impact. The diagnosis of LCNEC requires positive immunohistochemical staining with chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and CD56, along with a morphological diagnosis, and insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) has been proposed as an additional marker but is still not an ideal or better marker. We investigated Musashi-1 as a novel immunohistochemical marker in 42 patients with SCLCs and 44 with LCNECs who underwent lung resection between 1998 and 2020 at our institution. We found Musashi-1 expression in 98% (41/42) SCLC and in 90% (40/44) LCNEC. These findings were similar to CD56 expression and superior to synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and INSM1. Musashi-1 also tended to show more diffuse and intense staining, especially in LCNEC, with more cases staining > 10% than any other existing markers (Musashi-1, 77%; INSM1, 45%; chromogranin A, 34%; synaptophysin, 41%; and CD56, 66%). In conclusion, we identified Musashi-1 as a novel immunohistochemical staining marker to aid in the diagnosis of lung NEC

Adiponectin Ameliorates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Cardiac Injury

Background. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence suggests that reduced levels of the adipocyte-derived plasma protein adiponectin are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Here, we examined the effects of adiponectin on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute cardiac injury in vivo. Methods and Results. A single dose of LPS (10 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into wild-type (WT) and adiponectin-knockout (APN-KO) mice. Following LPS administration, APN-KO mice had exacerbation of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction compared with WT mice. Administration of LPS to WT and APN-KO mice led to an increased expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6 in the heart, but the magnitude of this induction was greater in APN-KO mice compared to WT mice. Systemic delivery of an adenoviral vector expressing adiponectin (Ad-APN) improved LPS-induced LV dysfunction in APN-KO mice, and this effect was accompanied by the reduced expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in the heart. Administration of etanercept, a soluble TNF receptor abolished the reduced LV contractile function in response to LPS in APN-KO mice. Conclusion. These results suggest that adiponectin protects against LPS-induced acute cardiac injury by suppressing cardiac inflammatory responses, and could represent a potential therapeutic target in sepsis-associated myocardial dysfunction