ANDI ZHAO^1,2,#, YUE WANG^3,#, ZIJIN WANG^1,2, QING SHAO^1,2, QI GONG^1,2, HUI ZHU^1,2, SHIYA SHEN^1,2, HU LIU^1,2,*, XUEJUAN CHEN^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.5, pp. 983-998, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.045972

Abstract Numerous studies have characterized the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) as regulatory factors in the progression of multiple cancers. However, the biological functions of circRNAs and their underlying molecular mechanisms in the progression of uveal melanoma (UM) remain enigmatic. In this study, we identified a novel circRNA, circ_0053943, through re-analysis of UM microarray data and quantitative RT-PCR. Circ_0053943 was found to be upregulated in UM and to promote the proliferation and metastatic ability of UM cells in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Mechanistically, circ_0053943 was observed to bind to the KH1 and KH2 domains of insulin-like growth… More > Graphic Abstract

FREDERICK H. SILVER^1,2,*, TANMAY DESHMUKH²

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.4, pp. 525-540, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.047965

Abstract All tissues in the body are subjected externally to gravity and internally by collagen fibril and cellular retractive forces that create stress and energy equilibrium required for homeostasis. Mechanotransduction involves mechanical work (force through a distance) and energy storage as kinetic and potential energy. This leads to changes in cell mitosis or apoptosis and the synthesis or loss of tissue components. It involves the application of energy directly to cells through integrin-mediated processes, cell-cell connections, stretching of the cell cytoplasm, and activation of the cell nucleus via yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-motif (TAZ). These processes involve numerous… More >

ZHI ZHANG^1,#, XIAOSONG LI^1,2,#, YING ZHANG^1,2,#, HAO ZHU^1,2, ZHENGUO QIAO³, YANG LU⁴, XIUWEI MI⁴, HUIHUA CAO⁵, GENHAI SHEN^1,*, SONGBING HE^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.2, pp. 353-360, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042986

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands among the top prevalent cancers worldwide and holds a prominent position as a major contributor to cancer-related mortality globally. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), a constituent of the interferon-inducible hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear antigens with 200 amino acid repeats protein family, contributes to both cancer progression and inflammasome activation. Despite this understanding, the precise biological functions and molecular mechanisms governed by AIM2 in CRC remain elusive. Consequently, this study endeavors to assess AIM2’s expression levels, explore its potential antitumor effects, elucidate associated cancer-related processes, and decipher the underlying signaling pathways in CRC. Our findings showed a reduced… More > Graphic Abstract

XIN ZHU^1,2,#, BIN XIAO^3,#,*, WENWU ZHANG^3,4, XIAOYU SONG³, WEI GONG⁵, LINHAI LI^3,*, XINPING CHEN^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.10, pp. 2265-2281, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029195

Abstract Background: The protein encoded by ring finger protein 157 (RNF157) is known to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. However, whether the level of RNF157 expression in breast cancer correlates with prognosis and immune cell infiltration among breast cancer patients remains to be further explored. Methods: In this study, publicly available datasets were used for evaluating RNF157 expression in different tumors compared with normal samples. Several independent datasets were screened for investigating the relationship between RNF157 and breast cancer survival, different mutation profiles, and tumor immune cell infiltration. We conducted a pathway enrichment analysis to identify signaling pathways associated with… More >

CHUNYANG XU^1,#, CAIYUN YANG^1,#, JINSONG ZHANG², XIAOHUA PAN³, JUN WANG⁴, LEI JIANG², HONGWEI YE^1,*, BO CHEN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.9, pp. 2027-2035, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029277

Abstract Background: The lung is one of the primary target organs of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), as exposure to H₂S can cause acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary edema. Dexamethasone (Dex) exerts a protective effect on ALI caused by exposure to toxic gases and is commonly used in the clinic; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and the dose is unclear. Methods: In vivo experiments: divided C57BL6 mice into 6 groups at random, 12 in each group. The mice were exposed to H₂S for 3 h and 5 or 50 mg/kg Dex pretreated before exposure, sacrificed 12 h later. The morphological changes… More >

SHU ZHAO^1,*, SHIXIN YE²

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1377-1388, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.023874

Abstract Background: This paper aims to establish a light-controlled phosphorylation detection method at the Y785 site of tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) receptor in mammalian cells by using genetic code expansion technology and detecting the effects of optical activation of this site on the downstream MAPK/ERK pathway. The study is based on the current situation that the regulatory mechanism of TrkA phosphorylation has not been fully elucidated. Methods: Two photosensitive unnatural amino acids, p-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF) and photo-caged tyrosine (ONB) were introduced into the TrkA-Y785 site by genetic code expansion technology and site-directed mutagenesis. Western blotting and laser confocal imaging were conducted… More >

Shunde Su^1,2,#, Huan Chang^3,#, Xiangyang Kang^1,*, Renhua Zheng^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.6, pp. 1713-1723, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.027586

Abstract As the reproductive organ of the endangered species Fokienia hodginsii, the size of the cones is a constraint on the reproductive renewal of the population. In this study, the molecular basis of the influence of cone size on F. hodginsii was elucidated by comparing the phenotype, biochemistry, and transcriptome of two cultivars of F. hodginsii (‘FJ431’ and ‘FJ415’). The two cultivars differed significantly in cone size, with FJ431 having a significantly larger cone size and weight than FJ415, 1.32 and 1.90 times that of FJ415, respectively. RNA-Seq analysis of both cultivars retrieved 75,940 genes whose approximate functions were classified as… More >

MAN REN^1,2,3,#, YUAN YANG^1,2,#, DAN LI⁴, NANNAN ZHAO⁵, YUPING WANG^2,6,*, YONGNING ZHOU^2,6,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.5, pp. 977-989, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028402

Abstract Background: 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG) is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from multiple medicinal plants with favorable anticancer activity. Methods: In this study, the mechanisms of PGG against gastric cancer were explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking. First, the targets of PGG were searched in the Herbal Ingredients’ Targets (HIT), Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA), and Super-PRED databases. The potential targets related to gastric cancer were predicted from the Human Gene Database (GeneCards) and DisGeNET databases. The intersecting targets of PGG and gastric cancer were obtained by Venn diagram and then subjected to protein-protein interaction analysis to screen hub targets. Functional and… More >

HONGMEI WU^#, DI LI^#, YUANYUAN HUANG, RUYUAN LIU, XIAONIAN ZHU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.3, pp. 485-491, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.026049

Abstract Autophagy is an important metabolic process. It facilitates the recycling of intracellular substances by removing, degrading, and recycling damaged organelles, proteins, and lipids in lysosomal vacuoles and plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a key serine/threonine phosphatase and one of the main cell cycle regulatory enzymes. As PP2A activity is essential for the cell, dysfunction or dysregulation of PP2A can affect various physiological processes, including autophagy. Here, we review the autophagy-related factors that target PP2A in different diseases, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, to maintain cell homeostasis… More >

TIANZHU LI^1,#, YU ZHANG^2,#, TONG ZHANG^2,#, YANNAN LI², HUI XUE², JINGLONG CAO², WENSHUANG HOU², YINGHUA LUO^3,*, CHENGHAO JIN^2,4,*,

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 195-204, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.025593

Abstract Schisandrin B (Sch B) is a monomer with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, which are isolated from the plant Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baillon. We investigated the anti-gastric cancer (GC) effects of Sch B and its underlying molecular mechanisms. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to determine the effects of Sch B on the viability of GC and normal cell lines. Hoechst/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry were used to assess the apoptosis induction of Sch B. Western blotting was used to evaluate the effects of Sch B on downstream apoptotic proteins. The DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used to assess the… More >