SMYD3 promotes implant metastasis of ovarian cancer via H3K4 trimethylation of integrin promoters

Detachment of cancer cells from the primary tumor and formation of spheroids in ascites is required for implantation metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), but the underlying mechanism of this process has not been thoroughly elucidated. To mimic this process, ovarian cancer cells were grown in 3D and 2D culture. Hey and OVCA433 spheroids exhibited decreased cell proliferation and enhanced adhesion and invasion. SMYD3 expression was elevated in ovarian carcinoma spheroids in association with increased H3K4 methylation. Depletion of SMYD3 by transient siRNA, stable shRNA knockdown and the SMYD3 inhibitor BCI-121 all decreased spheroid invasion and adhesion. Gene expression arrays revealed downregulation of integrin family members. Inhibition assays confirmed that invasion and adhesion of spheroids are mediated by ITGB6 and ITGAM. SMYD3-deficient cells regained the ability to invade and adhere after forced overexpression of SMYD3, ITGB6 and ITGAM. However, this biological ability was not restored by forced overexpression of SMYD3 in ITGB6- and/or ITGAM-deficient cancer cells. SMYD3 and H3K4me3 binding at the ITGB6 and ITGAM promoters was increased in spheroids compared to that in monolayer cells, and the binding was decreased when SMYD3 expression was inhibited, consistent with the expression changes in integrins. SMYD3 expression and integrin-mediated adhesion were also activated in an intraperitoneal xenograft model and in EOC patient spheroids. In vivo, SMYD3 knockdown inhibited tumor metastasis and reduced ascites volume in both the intraperitoneal xenograft model and a PDX model. Overall, our results suggest that the SMYD3-H3K4me3-integrin pathway plays a crucial role in ovarian cancer metastasis to the peritoneal surface.     

Magnesium lithospermate B acts against dextran sodiumsulfate-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting activation of the NRLP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway

This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effects of magnesium lithospermate B on acute and chronic colitis induced by dextran sodiumsulfate (DSS) and the role of inflammasome complex (NOD-like receptor protein, NLRP; apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing, ASC; caspase-1). Establishment of acute and chronic colitis models were by using 5% DSS oral administration in BALB/C male mice. Magnesium lithospermate B (240 mg/kg body weight) was given by subcutaneous injection. Samples were collected for biomarker assay, histological examination, immunohistochemical evaluation and western blot. There was obvious increase in TNF-α level and NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 expressions in acute and chronic colitis groups compared with the normal control. Significant decrease of the tumor necrosis factor-α level and the expressions of NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 were observed after treatment with magnesium lithospermate B. This study showed that magnesium lithospermate B could be used to treat acute and chronic colitis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.     

蓝莓花青素对人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞增殖、侵袭的影响及机制研究

目的:探讨蓝莓花青素(BA)对人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞增殖、侵袭的影响及相关机制。方法:低、中、高剂量实验组与对照组人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞分别以25、50、100μg/mL BA与等量生理盐水处理,分别处理12 h、24 h、48 h。采用噻唑蓝(MTT)与流式细胞仪检测人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞增殖与凋亡;采用Transwell小室实验与免疫细胞化学法检测人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞侵袭与P53、半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)蛋白表达。结果:干预48 h时,对照组、低、中、高剂量实验组人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞P53与Caspase-3蛋白阳性细胞百分比分别为(11.12±1.01)%,(24.31±2.18)%,(47.56±2.91)%,(66.49±5.14)%与(15.04±1.23)%,(28.22±3.09)%,(69.36±5.42)%,(86.52±6.15)%。实验组胃腺癌BGC-823细胞增殖抑制率随BA浓度增大而逐渐升高;与对照组比较,低、中、高剂量实验组人胃腺癌BGC-823细胞凋亡率、P53与Caspase-3蛋白阳性细胞百分比均显著升高,侵袭率降低,呈浓度依赖性(均P0.05)。结论:BA可有效抑制胃腺癌BGC-823细胞增殖,诱导其凋亡,并降低侵袭能力,其机制可能与上调P53与Caspase-3蛋白表达有关。     

MicroRNA‐375‐3p enhances chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil by targeting thymidylate synthase in colorectal cancer

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major challenge for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies have found that microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in drug resistance; however, the role of miRNA‐373‐3p (miR‐375‐3p) in CRC remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore the potential function of miR‐375‐3p in 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) resistance. MicroRNA‐375‐3p was found to be widely downregulated in human CRC cell lines and tissues and to promote the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5‐FU by inducing colon cancer cell apoptosis and cycle arrest and by inhibiting cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) was found to be a direct target of miR‐375‐3p, and TYMS knockdown exerted similar effects as miR‐375‐3p overexpression on the CRC cellular response to 5‐FU. Lipid‐coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles (NPs) were designed to cotransport 5‐FU and miR‐375‐3p into cells efficiently and rapidly and to release the drugs in a weakly acidic tumor microenvironment. The therapeutic effect of combined miR‐375 + 5‐FU/NPs was significantly higher than that of the individual treatments in mouse s.c. xenografts derived from HCT116 cells. Our results suggest that restoring miR‐375‐3p levels could be a future novel therapeutic strategy to enhance chemosensitivity to 5‐FU.