CHAO LIU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 339-351, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.047044

Abstract Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is still an important health problem, and understanding its pathological mechanisms is essential for its diagnosis and treatment. There is evidence that autophagy may play a role in OA progression, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we adopted a multi-prong approach to systematically identify the key autophagy-related genes (ARGs) associated with OA. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we initially identified significant gene modules associated with OA. Subsequent differential gene analysis performed on normal and OA specimens. Further analysis later using the MCC algorithm highlighted hub ARGs. These genes were then incorporated into… More >

XIAN ZHANG¹, ZHUANG ZHOU², JUNZHE WANG¹, MENGMENG HAN¹, HAN LIU¹, MEIRONG ZANG¹, JIANNING LIU¹, JIAPEI LU¹, JINQIAO ZHANG¹, GUOCHUAN ZHANG^2,*, LIXIA SUN^1,#,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 303-311, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.046640

Abstract Background: Prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) remains poor. T cell dysfunction and an immunosuppressive environment have been reported in the bone marrow (BM) of MM patients. However, the immunosuppressive microenvironment and immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs) on CD8 T cells in the EMD tissue of newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients have not been thoroughly studied. Methods: We investigated the expression levels of T cell immunoglobulin mucin-domain-containing-3 (TIM-3) and T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) on CD8 T cells and the expression of their ligands (Galectin-9 and CD155) on myeloma cells in EMD tissue of NDMM patients.… More > Graphic Abstract

JUNYING XU^1,#, PING LI^1,#, GE WANG², DAQIANG YE^1,*, XIUFU TANG^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 283-291, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045429

Abstract Background: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has been demonstrated to be involved in numerous of inflammatory diseases. Cell pyroptosis is a kind of cell death accompanied by inflammation. Objectives: The objective of this work is to explore the function of α7nAChR on cell pyroptosis in cervical cancer cells. Methods: Immunoblotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to examine the function of α7nAChR on cell pyroptosis and metabolic changes. Results: Herein, we found that α7nAChR inhibition led to cell pyroptosis in HeLa and SiHa of cervical cancer cells, which was attributed to the upregulation of the polyol… More >

LEI WANG^1,2, ZHI-HANG WANG¹, NIAN-PING CAO¹, BOBO CHEN¹, CHONG-JUN HUANG¹, LEI YANG¹, YE TIAN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 191-203, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045349

Abstract Estrogen-related receptor alpha can significantly affect cell metabolism and play key regulatory roles in healthy and diseased organisms. ERRα is also related to the onset and progression of various cancer types. ERRα is primarily expressed in metabolically active tissues and regulates the transcription of metabolic genes in such tissues. It coordinates metabolism and energy demand, affects osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and chondrocytes, promotes muscle regeneration, participates in angiogenesis, and regulates cell aging. In this study, the literature related to the identification of ERRα in skeletal, muscular, and vascular systems was reviewed to further elucidate this receptor. More >

QINGJIAN HE¹, HUIXIN ZHU^2,3, SHANHONG FANG^4,5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 205-216, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045109

Abstract Introduction: Dexamethasone (Dex) caused impaired osteoblast differentiation and oxidative stress (OS) in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). This work sought to elucidate the precise molecular pathway through which Dex influences osteogenic differentiation (OD) and OS in BMSCs. Methods: The expression of Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) and alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M) was assessed in Dex-treated BMSCs using qRT-PCR and Western Blot. Following the functional rescue experiments, cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) expression by kits, OD by alkaline… More >

JINNI MA^#, MEILIN ZHOU^#, XIN XU, XINYAO GAO, HAIXIA WANG, JINHUA SHEN, LU XUE^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 239-252, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045076

Abstract Background: Placenta specific 8 (PLAC8) is a candidate oncogene involved in the development and progression of solid tumors. However, the status of PLAC8 in lung cancer (LC), especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still not lucid. Methods: Tissue microarray analysis (TMA) was performed to detect the expression patterns of PLAC8 in LC tissues and cell lines. Then a series of cellular experiments were performed fto assess cell proliferation, cell cycle profiles, and cell motility to explore the role of PLAC8 in NSCLC-derived cell lines: H1299 and A549. Results: TMA results showed that PLAC8 played complex and even contradictory roles… More >

YANG XU^1,#, HONGYUN LI^1,#, GE YOU^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 229-237, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045030

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) constitutes the leading cause of death worldwide. Chemoresistance and tumor immune evasion are critical contributors to therapeutic failure in cancer patients. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 6 (CMTM6) is aberrantly expressed in various cancers and can regulate tumor immunity. However, its role in chemoresistance and tumor immunity of CRC is not well understood. Methods: Online bioinformatics tools were used to analyze expression and prognosis of CMTM6 in CRC patients. CRC cells were transfected with si-CMTM6. Subsequently, the effects on CRC cell viability and chemoresistance were investigated by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometer. Furthermore, CRC cell-induced macrophage recruitments… More > Graphic Abstract

BINGJIE WANG¹, YEWEN ZHOU^1,2,3, TONGJUAN NIU¹, MENGQING YIN¹, SHENG CUI^1,2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 327-338, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.044630

Abstract Introduction: The regulation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) synthesis involves neurotransmitters, with melatonin being a subject of ongoing debate. TSH transcription, synthesis, and secretion from the pituitary pars distalis (PD) is primarily regulated in a photoperiodic manner by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). In contrast, in the pituitary pars tuberalis (PT), mRNA transcription and alpha/beta chain synthesis, but not secretion, of a TSH-like product is regulated by melatonin. Conversely, non-photoperiodic melatonin might also affect the secretion of a TSH-like product from the PT. Nevertheless, the impact of exogenous melatonin on the underlying PD-TSH synthesis remains unclear. Casein kinase 1α (CK1α) plays a negative… More >

WEI ZHENG¹, CHENG LIU^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 293-301, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.044211

Abstract Objective: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) represents a devastating disease with high rates of disability and mortality, which is initiated by dysfunction of endothelial cells (ECs). Evidence suggests the dysregulation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase family during EC injury. In this work, the role of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, casitas B lymphoma-B (CBL-B), was explored in human brain microvascular EC (HBMEC) function through the NLRP3 pathway. Methods: In vitro IA model was induced by treating HBMECs with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). The levels of CBL-B and pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDME-N were determined by real-time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and… More >

ANWAR ALI^1,#, SREEKANTH REDDY OBIREDDY^2,#, WING-FU LAI^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 163-171, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.043839

Abstract Farnesol is a C15 isoprenyl alcohol generated from the hydrolysis of farnesyl diphosphate under the action of farnesol synthase in plants. Although this sesquiterpenoid alcohol has been exploited in a wide variety of industrial applications, serious discussions on the possible use of this agent in disease treatment have been scant until now. In this article, we review the current understanding of the physiological properties of farnesol and the potential use of the agent as a candidate for treatment development. In fact, since the turn of the last century, farnesol has been found not only to trigger apoptosis in tumor cells… More >