Hypermethylation-mediated silencing of NDRG4 promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by regulating mitochondrial function

( Hao-hong Shi ),( Hai-e Liu ),( Xing-jing Luo ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2020 BMB Reports Vol.53 No.12

The N-myc downstream regulated gene (NDRG) family members are dysregulated in several tumors. Functionally, NDRGs play an important role in the malignant progression of cancer cells. However, little is known about the potential implications of NDRG4 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of the current study was to elucidate the expression pattern of NDRG4 in PDAC and evaluate its potential cellular biological effects. Here, we firstly report that epigenetic-mediated silencing of NDRG4 promotes PDAC by regulating mitochondrial function. Data mining demonstrated that NDRG4 was significantly down-regulated in PDAC tissues and cells. PDAC patients with low NDRG4 expression showed poor prognosis. Epigenetic regulation by DNA methylation was closely associated with NDRG4 down-regulation. NDRG4 overexpression dramatically suppressed PDAC cell growth and metastasis. Further functional analysis demonstrated that up-regulated NDRG4 in SW1990 and Canpan1 cells resulted in attenuated mitochondrial function, including reduced ATP production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased fragmented mitochondria. However, opposite results were obtained for HPNE cells with NDRG4 knockdown. These results indicate that hypermethylation-driven silencing of NDRG4 can promote PDAC by regulating mitochondrial function and that NDRG4 could be as a potential biomarker for PDAC patients. [BMB Reports 2020; 53(12): 658-663]

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Sen-Ling Feng,Hai-Bin Luo,Liang Cai,Jie Zhang,Dan Wang,Ying-Jiang Chen,Huan-Xing Zhan,Zhi-Hong Jiang,Ying Xie 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinicalcancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediatedby ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrateswere carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. Theexpressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cellxenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation ofABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPaseand reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 bindingsite which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 anddocetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizingeffect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXTtreatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicitywhen compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvantchemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Leaf Wilting Movement Can Protect Water-Stressed Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Plants Against Photoinhibition of Photosynthesis and Maintain Carbon Assimilation in the Field

Ya-Li Zhang,Hong-Zhi Zhang,Ming-Wei Du,Wei Li,Hong-Hai Luo,Wah-Soon Chow,Wang-Feng Zhang 한국식물학회 2010 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.53 No.1

Under severe water stress, leaf wilting is quite general in higher plants. This passive movement can reduce the energy load on a leaf. This paper reports an experimental test of the hypothesis that leaf wilting movement has a protective function that mitigates against photoinhibition of photosynthesis in the field. The experiments exposed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to two water regimes: waterstressed and well-watered. Leaf wilting movement occurred in water-stressed plants as the water potential decreased to −4.1 MPa, reducing light interception but maintaining comparable quantum yields of photosystem II (PS II; Yield for short) and the proportion of total PS II centers that were open (qP). Predrawn Fv/Fm (potential quantum yield of PS II) as an indicator of overnight recovery of PS II from photoinhibition was higher than or similar to that in wellwatered plants. Compared with water-stressed cotton leaves for which wilting movement was permitted, water-stressed cotton leaves restrained from such movement had significantly increased leaf temperature and instantaneous CO2assimilation rates in the short term, but reduced Yield, qP,and Fv/Fm. In the long term, predrawn Fv/Fm and CO2assimilation capacity were reduced in water-stressed leaves restrained from wilting movement. These results suggest that, under water stress, leaf wilting movement could reduce the incident light on leaves and their heat load, alleviate damage to the photosynthetic apparatus due to photoinhibition,and maintain considerable carbon assimilation capacity in the long term despite a partial loss of instantaneous carbon assimilation in the short term.

Ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 transporter: in vitro and in vivo study

Feng, Sen-Ling,Luo, Hai-Bin,Cai, Liang,Zhang, Jie,Wang, Dan,Chen, Ying-Jiang,Zhan, Huan-Xing,Jiang, Zhi-Hong,Xie, Ying The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

Drug-induced hyperglycaemia and diabetes: pharmacogenomics perspectives

Mou-Ze Liu,Hai-Yan He,Jian-Quan Luo,Fa-Zhong He,Zhang-Ren Chen,Yi-Ping Liu,Da-Xiong Xiang,Hong-Hao Zhou,Wei Zhang 대한약학회 2018 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.41 No.7

Drug-induced diabetes is widely reported inclinical conditions, and it is becoming a global issuebecause of its potential to increase the risk of severe cardiovascularcomplications. However, which drug mechanismsexert their diabetogenic effects and why the effectspresent significant inter-individual differences remain largelyunknown. Pharmacogenomics, which is the study ofhow genomic variation influences drug responses, providesan explanation for individual differences in drug-induceddiabetes. We highlight that pharmacogenomics can beinvolved in regulating the expression of genes in signalingpathways related to the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamicsof drugs or the pathogenesis of diabetes, contributingto the differences in drug-induced glucoseimpairment. The pharmacogenomics studies of the majordiabetogenic drugs are reviewed, including calcineurininhibitors, antipsychotics, hormones, and antihypertensivedrugs. We intend to elucidate the genetic basis of druginduceddiabetes and pave the way for the precise use ofthese drugs in the clinic.

Triterpenoid saponins from Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze and their biological activity

Yin-Di Zhu,Jing-Yi Hong,Feng-Da Bao,Na Xing,Ling-Tian Wang,Zhong-Hao Sun,Yun Luo,Hai Jiang,Xudong Xu,Nai-Liang Zhu,Hai-Feng Wu,Gui-Bo Sun,Jun-Shan Yang 대한약학회 2018 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.41 No.12

Four new ursane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopoursaponins A–D (1–4), six new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopodiside VII–XII (5–10), as well as eight known triterpene analogues (11–18), were isolated from the aerial parts of Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on extensive spectral analyses, including 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, 2D TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC), HR-ESI-MS and chemical methods. Compounds 1–18 were evaluated for their protective effects against anoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells and cytotoxicities against murine mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1. Compounds 8, 9 and 18 exhibited significant protective effects, while compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC50 value of 7.4 μm compared to 7.6 μm for the positive control 10-hydroxycamptothecin.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of natural prenylated flavonoids

Hua-Wei Lv,Qiao-Liang Wang,Meng Luo,Meng-Di Zhu,Hui-Min Liang,Wen-Jing Li,Hai Cai,Zhong-Bo Zhou,Hong Wang,Sheng-Qiang Tong,Xing-Nuo Li 대한약학회 2023 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.46 No.4

Prenylated flavonoids are a special kind of flavonoid derivative possessing one or more prenyl groups in the parent nucleus of the flavonoid. The presence of the prenyl side chain enriched the structural diversity of flavonoids and increased their bioactivity and bioavailability. Prenylated flavonoids show a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective effects, and anti-osteoclastogenic activities. In recent years, many compounds with significant activity have been discovered with the continuous excavation of the medicinal value of prenylated flavonoids, and have attracted the extensive attention of pharmacologists. This review summarizes recent progress on research into natural active prenylated flavonoids to promote new discoveries of their medicinal value.

Wnt/β-Catenin Promotes the Osteoblastic Potential of BMP9 Through Down-Regulating Cyp26b1 in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Yao Xin-Tong,Li Pei-pei,Liu Jiang,Yang Yuan-Yuan,Luo Zhen-Ling,Jiang Hai-Tao,He Wen-Ge,Luo Hong-Hong,Deng Yi-Xuan,He Bai-Cheng 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2023 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.20 No.5

BACKGROUND: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) promotes the osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), but the intrinsic relationship between BMP9 and ATRA keeps unknown. Herein, we investigated the effect of Cyp26b1, a critical enzyme of ATRA degradation, on the BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and unveiled possible mechanism through which BMP9 regulates the expression of Cyp26b1. METHODS: ATRA content was detected with ELISA and HPLC–MS/MS. PCR, Western blot, and histochemical staining were used to assay the osteogenic markers. Fetal limbs culture, cranial defect repair model, and micro–computed tomographic were used to evaluate the quality of bone formation. IP and ChIP assay were used to explore possible mechanism. RESULTS: We found that the protein level of Cyp26b1 was increased with age, whereas the ATRA content decreased. The osteogenic markers induced by BMP9 were increased by inhibiting or silencing Cyp26b1 but reduced by exogenous Cyp26b1. The BMP9-induced bone formation was enhanced by inhibiting Cyp26b1. The cranial defect repair was promoted by BMP9, which was strengthened by silencing Cyp26b1 and reduced by exogenous Cyp26b1. Mechanically, Cyp26b1 was reduced by BMP9, which was enhanced by activating Wnt/b-catenin, and reduced by inhibiting this pathway. b-catenin interacts with Smad1/5/9, and both were recruited at the promoter of Cyp26b1. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested the BMP9-induced osteoblastic differentiation was mediated by activating retinoic acid signalling, viadown-regulating Cyp26b1. Meanwhile, Cyp26b1 may be a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of bone-related diseases or accelerating bone-tissue engineering.

Molecular Cloning and Expression of Grass Carp MyoD in Yeast Pichia pastoris

( Li Xin Wang ),( Jun Jie Bai ),( Jian Ren Luo ),( Hong Chen ),( Xing Ye ),( Qing Jian ),( Hai Hua Lao ) 생화학분자생물학회 2007 BMB Reports Vol.40 No.1

Analysis of Key Genes and Pathways Associated with Colorectal Cancer with Microarray Technology

Liu, Yan-Jun,Zhang, Shu,Hou, Kang,Li, Yun-Tao,Liu, Zhan,Ren, Hai-Liang,Luo, Dan,Li, Shi-Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Objective: Microarray data were analyzed to explore key genes and their functions in progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Two microarray data sets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using corresponding packages of R. Functional enrichment analysis was performed with DAVID tools to uncover their biological functions. Results: 631 and 590 DEGs were obtained from the two data sets, respectively. A total of 32 common DEGs were then screened out with the rank product method. The significantly enriched GO terms included inflammatory response, response to wounding and response to drugs. Two interleukin-related domains were revealed in the domain analysis. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the PPAR signaling pathway and the renin-angiotensin system were enriched in the DEGs. Conclusions: Our study to systemically characterize gene expression changes in CRC with microarray technology revealed changes in a range of key genes, pathways and function modules. Their utility in diagnosis and treatment now require exploration.