Implication of Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand in Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Promoting Osteoblast-like Cell Differentiation

Recent studies showed that activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway promoted the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells in the arterial calcification, but its mechanism remains unknown. In this study, the hypothesis that Wnt/β-catenin pathway promotes the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells by upregulating the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) was examined. LiCl was used to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The differentiation of osteoblast-like cells was observed by Von Kossa staining, calcium content assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, and detection of osteocalcin expression. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG, the decoy receptor of RANKL) during the osteoblast-like cell differentiation. Different concentrations of OPG were added to the culture media respectively to inhibit the function of RANKL, and the change in the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells was evaluated. The results showed that when the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated by LiCl, the expression of RANKL was significantly in-creased, which coincided with the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (P<0.05), and the OPG treatment could partly attenuate the promoting effect of Wnt/β-catenin pathway on the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (P<0.05), but it failed to completely abolish such effect. It was concluded that activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway promotes the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells by both RANKL-dependent and RANKL-independent mechanisms.     

双氢青蒿素通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制胃癌细胞的增殖和侵袭

目的 探讨双氢青蒿素(dihydroartemisinin,DHA)对胃癌细胞增殖、侵袭和迁移能力的影响及其可能的分子机制.方法 用不同浓度(10、20、40 μmol/L)的DHA分别作用于人胃癌BGC-823和SGC-7901细胞,采用MTT法、划痕实验、Transwell法和流式细胞术分别检测细胞的增殖能力、迁移能力、侵袭能力和细胞周期与凋亡情况.Western blot检测细胞中DVL2、GSK-3β、p-GSK-3β、β-catenin和Cyclin D1等蛋白的表达量.结果 不同浓度的DHA可以抑制胃癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭,且呈浓度依赖性增长(P＜0.05).DHA作用48 h后,细胞S期比例显著增加,诱导细胞凋亡(P＜0.05).DHA 可以降低胃癌细胞Dvl2、p-GSK-3β、β-catenin和Cyclin D1的蛋白表达水平(P＜0.05),增加GSK-3β蛋白的表达(P＜0.05).同时,SKL2001激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,逆转DHA对胃癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制作用(P＜0.05);XAV939抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,进一步加强DHA对胃癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制作用(P＜0.05).结论 DHA能有效抑制胃癌细胞的增殖、侵袭和迁移,阻滞细胞周期停留在S期,诱导胃癌细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的激活有关.     

FoxM1通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路对鼻咽癌细胞5-8F增殖、迁移的影响

目的 探讨FoxM1对鼻咽癌细胞5-8F恶性生物学行为的影响及其可能机制.方法 将化学合成的靶向FoxM1的siRNA转染鼻咽癌细胞5-8F(FoxM1-siRNA组),并设立空白对照组、阴性对照组,采用RT-PCR及Western blot检测FoxM1表达变化.采用MTT法、FCM法、Transwell法分别检测下调FoxM1表达对细胞增殖、周期、凋亡、迁移的影响.Western blot检测下调FoxM1表达后β-catenin、C-Myc、Cyclin D1、MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白表达变化.结果 转染FoxM1-siRNA的5-8F细胞FoxM1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平降低(P＜0.05).下调FoxM1表达可抑制5-8F细胞增殖(P＜0.05),FoxM1-siRNA组的凋亡率为(22.68±0.67)％,较阴性对照组[(1 1.74±1.36)％]和空白对照组[(10.94±1.52)％]显著增加(P＜0.05),细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期.FoxM1-siRNA组细胞穿膜数(100.00±10.97)明显低于阴性对照组(246.00±6.66)和空白对照组(233.70±12.41),细胞迁移能力降低(P＜0.05).下调FoxM1的表达可抑制β-catenin细胞核表达,抑制C-Myc、Cyclin D1、MMP-2、MMP-9总蛋白表达(P＜0.001).结论 FoxM1表达下调抑制鼻咽癌细胞5-8F的增殖,诱导细胞凋亡,降低细胞迁移能力,使细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期.其机制可能是通过抑制Wnt通路关键蛋白β-catenin细胞核表达从而抑制Wnt 通路活性实现的.     

microRNA沉默SMYD3基因对乳腺癌细胞Wnt/β-Catenin通路及c-Myc基因影响的研究

目的 研究沉默SMYD3基因后,乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中Wnt/β-catenin通路和c-Myc基因的变化,探讨其可能机制.方法 构建携带绿色荧光蛋白基因的SMYD3-microRNA真核表达质粒载体,脂质体法稳定转染MDA-MB-231细胞,实时定量PCR检测SMYD3、Wnt10b、β-catenin、c-Myc mRNA的表达.结果 流式细胞检测转染效率达到95％以上,实验组SMYD3、Wnt10b、c-Myc mRNA水平低于空白对照组(P＜0.05),β-catenin水平高于空白对照组(P＜0.05);阴性对照组与空白对照组相比无明显变化.结论 沉默SMYD3基因可直接或通过Wnt/β-catenin通路下调c-Myc基因的表达,从而减弱肿瘤细胞的生长及侵袭转移能力,为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供了新的基因靶点.     

Astragaloside Ⅳ inhibited hypoxia-enhanced proliferation and migration of human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells through modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Objective This study aims to determine the effects of astragaloside Ⅳ (AS-Ⅳ) treatment on the viability, proliferation and migration of hypoxia-stimulated human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods The mRNA and protein expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were determined qRT-PCR and Western blot assays, respectively. Cell viability and cell proliferation were determined by CCK-8 and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assays, respectively. The cell migration was determined by Transwell migration assay. Results Hypoxia stimulation up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of PCNA in PASMCs (P<0.05); hypoxia stimulation significantly promoted PASMC viability and proliferation (P<0.05), and also increased the migration of PASMCs (P<0.05). AS - Ⅳ concentration-dependently down-regulated the mRNA expression and protein expression of PCNA (P<0.05), inhibited the viability, proliferation and migration of PASMCs under hypoxia (P<0.05). Hypoxia stimulation activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PASMCs; while AS-Ⅳ concentration-dependently repressed the Wnt/βcatenin signaling in the hypoxia-stimulated PASMCs (P<0.05). Moreover, the treatment of XAV393, a Wnt/β - catenin inhibitor, attenuated the hypoxia-induced increase in the viability, proliferation and migration of PASMCs (P<0.05). The treatment of LiCl, a Wnt/β - catenin activator, restored the mRNA and protein expression levels of PCNA in the hypoxia-stimulated PASMCs with AS-Ⅳ treatment (P<0.05). The inhibitory effects of AS-Ⅳ treatment on the viability, proliferation and migration of PASMCs under hypoxia was attenuated by LiCl treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Our results indicate that AS-Ⅳ reversed hypoxia-induced proliferation and migration of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, which may be by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. © 2022 China Tropical Medicine. All rights reserved.     

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Juice Suppresses A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells via Inhibiting AKT/Nuclear Factor-κ B Signaling Pathway

Objective: To study the mechanism of the anti-tumor effect of Morinda citrifolia (noni). Methods: The influences of noni juice on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration and the activity of AKT/nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κ B) signaling pathway in A549 human lung cancer cells were detected by MTT, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, Annexin V/PI double labeling, transwell, scratch test and immunoblotting assay, respectively. A549 cells were inoculated into the right axilla of nude mice, followed by noni juice treatment. The body weight of the nude mice was weighed, and the tumor volume and weight were measured. Cell proliferation and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the activity of NF-κ B signaling pathway was measured by immunoblotting. Results: The in vitro studies showed that noni juice inhibited the A549 cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Noni juice also promoted cells apoptosis in A549 cells. Immunoblotting assay showed that the phosphorylation level of AKT, p50, and STAT3 proteins was inhibited to different extents after noni juice treatment. The in vivo studies showed that noni juice effectively suppressed tumor formation of A549 cells in nude mice. Noni juice treatment inhibited the expression of Ki67, PCNA, and Bcl-2 protein in the tumor; while promoted the expression of caspase-3 protein. Additionally, we also found that noni juice treatment could restrain the activity of AKT/NF-κ B signaling pathway in the tumor tissue. Conclusion: Noni juice inhibited the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells, induced apoptosis, and inhibited cell invasion and migration via regulating AKT/NF-κ B signaling pathway.     

HOXA4调控Wnt/β-cateni n信号通路对裸鼠移植胶质瘤的抑制作用

目的：建立人胶质瘤荷瘤裸鼠模型,探讨HOXA4对胶质瘤U251细胞体内生长的影响以及对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的调控作用及其机制。方法：采用慢病毒转染,建立胶质瘤U251细胞稳转同源异型盒基因A4（HOXA4） siRNA细胞系（si-HOXA4）和稳转空载体阴性对照U251细胞系（si-NC）。取对数生长期U251、si-NC和si-HOXA4细胞接种于BALB/c裸鼠颈背部皮下,建立荷瘤裸鼠模型,命名为对照组、si-NC组和si-HOXA4组。观察各组裸鼠成瘤情况并绘制肿瘤生长曲线;培养21 d处死裸鼠后剥离肿瘤组织,测量肿瘤体积和质量;qRT-PCR法检测各组裸鼠肿瘤组织中HOXA4、CTNNB1和Gsk3β mRNA相对表达量;免疫组织化学（IHC）法检测各组裸鼠肿瘤组织中HOXA4、β-catenin、Gsk3β、CyclinD1和P53蛋白表达水平。结果：si-HOXA4组裸鼠肿瘤体积和质量小于si-NC组和对照组（P<0.05）;si-HOXA4组裸鼠肿瘤组织中HOXA4 mRNA相对表达量和HOXA4蛋白表达水平低于其他2组（P<0.05）;与si-NC组和对照组比较,si-HOXA4组裸鼠肿瘤组织中CTNNB1 mRNA相对表达量降低（P<0.05）,β-catenin和CyclinD1蛋白表达水平亦降低（P<0.05）,但Gsk3β和P53蛋白表达水平明显升高（P<0.05）。结论：抑制人胶质瘤U251细胞HOXA4表达可在体内通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控CyclinD1和P53蛋白的表达,从而抑制荷瘤裸鼠肿瘤的生长。     

鳖甲煎丸对Wnt信号通路中β-catenin/TCF4复合物活性及信号分子cyclin D1、MMP-2的影响

目的探讨鳖甲煎丸抗肝细胞癌转移侵袭的分子机制。方法使用含鳖甲煎丸药物血清培养肝癌细胞HepG2,48 h后采用
免疫荧光技术检测Wnt/β-catenin通路信号分子β-catenin蛋白表达水平,双荧光素酶检测法检测β-catenin/TCF4复合物的活性,
采用RT-PCR技术检测cyclin D1 与MMP-2 基因转录水平,Western blot 技术检测cyclin D1 与MMP-2 的蛋白表达水平。结果
含鳖甲煎丸药物血清可降低肝癌细胞HepG2细胞核中β-catenin蛋白的表达水平,抑制β-catenin/TCF4复合物的活性,明显下调
cyclin D1、MMP-2的基因转录及其蛋白的表达水平。结论鳖甲煎丸可抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,从而抑制肝癌细胞HepG2
的生长、粘附和转移。