Isoliquiritigenin ameliorates caerulein‐induced chronic pancreatitis by inhibiting the activation of PSCs and pancreatic infiltration of macrophages

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by persistent inflammation of the pancreas that results in progressive loss of the endocrine and exocrine compartment owing to atrophy and/or replacement with fibrotic tissue. Currently, the clinical therapeutic scheme of CP is mainly symptomatic treatment including pancreatic enzyme replacement, glycaemic control and nutritional support therapy, lacking of specific therapeutic drugs for prevention and suppression of inflammation and fibrosis aggravating in CP. Here, we investigated the effect of isoliquiritigenin (ILG), a chalcone‐type dietary compound derived from licorice, on pancreatic fibrosis and inflammation in a model of caerulein‐induced murine CP, and the results indicated that ILG notably alleviated pancreatic fibrosis and infiltration of macrophages. Further in vitro studies in human pancreatic stellate cells (hPSCs) showed that ILG exerted significant inhibition on the proliferation and activation of hPSCs, which may be due to negative regulation of the ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 activities. Moreover, ILG significantly restrained the M1 polarization of macrophages (RAW 264.7) via attenuation of the NF‐κB signalling pathway, whereas the M2 polarization was hardly affected. These findings indicated that ILG might be a potential anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic therapeutic agent for CP.     

Antibacterial potential of Forsythia suspensa polysaccharide against resistant Enterobacter cloacae with SHV‐12 extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)

In this study, a homogenous polysaccharide (FSP), with an average molecular weight of 9.08 × 10⁴ Da, was isolated from Forsythia suspense and its antibacterial potential against Enterobacter cloacae producing SHV‐12 ESBL was investigated. Growth kinetics, in vitro competition and biofilm formation experiments demonstrated that SHV‐12 ESBL contributed to a fitness benefit to E cloacae strain. The antibacterial activity of FSP (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/mL) was tested against E cloacae bearing SHV‐12 ESBL gene using bacterial sensitivity, agar bioassay and agar well diffusion assays. It was found that the addition of FSP demonstrated potent antibacterial activities against this bacterial as showed by the decrease of bacterial growth and the increase of the inhibition zone diameter. Furthermore, SHV‐12 ESBL gene expression was decreased in E cloacae strain following different FSP treatment in a concentration‐dependent manner. In conclusion, these data showed that FSP exhibited potent good antibacterial activity against E cloacae producing SHV‐12 ESBL via inhibition of SHV‐12 ESBL gene expression, which may promote the development of novel natural antibacterial agents to treat infections caused by this drug‐resistant bacterial pathogen.     

Combined tazemetostat and MAPKi enhances differentiation of papillary thyroid cancer cells harbouring BRAFV600E by synergistically decreasing global trimethylation of H3K27

Clinical efficacy of differentiation therapy with mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) for lethal radioiodine-refractory papillary thyroid cancer (RR-PTC) urgently needs to be improved and the aberrant trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) plays a vital role in BRAF^V600E-MAPK-induced cancer dedifferentiation and drug resistance. Therefore, dual inhibition of MAPK and histone methyltransferase (EZH2) may produce more favourable treatment effects. In this study, BRAF^V600E-mutant (BCPAP and K1) and BRAF-wild-type (TPC-1) PTC cells were treated with MAPKi (dabrafenib or selumetinib) or EZH2 inhibitor (tazemetostat), or in combination, and the expression of iodine-metabolizing genes, radioiodine uptake, and toxicity were tested. We found that tazemetostat alone slightly increased iodine-metabolizing gene expression and promoted radioiodine uptake and toxicity, irrespective of the BRAF status. However, MAPKi induced these effects preferentially in BRAF^V600E mutant cells, which was robustly strengthened by tazemetostat incorporation. Mechanically, MAPKi-induced decrease of trimethylation of H3K27 was evidently intensified by tazemetostat in BRAF^V600E-mutant cells. In conclusion, tazemetostat combined with MAPKi enhances differentiation of PTC cells harbouring BRAF^V600E through synergistically decreasing global trimethylation of H3K27, representing a novel differentiation strategy.     

Deficiency of Macf1 in osterix expressing cells decreases bone formation by Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway

Microtubule actin cross‐linking factor 1 (Macf1) is a spectraplakin family member known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell migration, neuronal growth and cell signal transduction. We previously demonstrated that knockdown of Macf1 inhibited the differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cell line. However, whether Macf1 could regulate bone formation in vivo is unclear. To study the function and mechanism of Macf1 in bone formation and osteogenic differentiation, we established osteoblast‐specific Osterix (Osx) promoter‐driven Macf1 conditional knockout mice (Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre). The Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice displayed delayed ossification and decreased bone mass. Morphological and mechanical studies showed deteriorated trabecular microarchitecture and impaired biomechanical strength of femur in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. In addition, the differentiation of primary osteoblasts isolated from calvaria was inhibited in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Deficiency of Macf1 in primary osteoblasts inhibited the expression of osteogenic marker genes (Col1, Runx2 and Alp) and the number of mineralized nodules. Furthermore, deficiency of Macf1 attenuated Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 signalling in primary osteoblasts of Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Together, these results indicated that Macf1 plays a significant role in bone formation and osteoblast differentiation by regulating Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway, suggesting that Macf1 might be a therapeutic target for bone disease.     

Identification of novel susceptibility loci for non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate

Although several genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) of non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) have been reported, more novel association signals are remained to be exploited. Here, we performed an in‐depth analysis of our previously published Chinese GWAS cohort study with replication in an extra dbGaP case‐parent trios and another in‐house Nanjing cohort, and finally identified five novel significant association signals (rs11119445: 3’ of SERTAD4, P = 6.44 × 10⁻¹⁴; rs227227 and rs12561877: intron of SYT14, P = 5.02 × 10⁻¹³ and 2.80 × 10⁻¹¹, respectively; rs643118: intron of TRAF3IP3, P = 4.45 × 10⁻⁶; rs2095293: intron of NR6A1, P = 2.98 × 10⁻⁵). The mean (standard deviation) of the weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) from these SNPs was 1.83 (0.65) for NSCL/P cases and 1.58 (0.68) for controls, respectively (P = 2.67 × 10⁻¹⁶). Rs643118 was identified as a shared susceptible factor of NSCL/P among Asians and Europeans, while rs227227 may contribute to the risk of NSCL/P as well as NSCPO. In addition, sertad4 knockdown zebrafish models resulted in down‐regulation of sox2 and caused oedema around the heart and mandibular deficiency, compared with control embryos. Taken together, this study has improved our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to NSCL/P and provided further clues to its aetiology in the Chinese population.     

Melatonin against acute ischaemic stroke dependently via suppressing both inflammatory and oxidative stress downstream signallings

This study tested the hypothesis that melatonin (Mel) therapy preserved the brain architectural and functional integrity against ischaemic stroke (IS) dependently through suppressing the inflammatory/oxidative stress downstream signalling pathways. Adult male B6 (n = 6 per each B6 group) and TLR4 knockout (ie TLR4^?/?) (n = 6 per each TLR4^?/? group) mice were categorized into sham control (SC^B6), SC^TLR4?/?, IS^B6, IS^TLR4?/?, IS^B6 + Mel (i.p. daily administration) and IS^TLR4?/? + Mel (i.p. daily administration). By day 28 after IS, the protein expressions of inflammatory (HMBG1/TLR2/TLR4/MAL/MyD88/RAM TRIF/TRAF6/IKK‐α/p‐NF‐κB/nuclear‐NF‐κB/nuclear‐IRF‐3&7/IL‐1β/IL‐6/TNF‐α/IFN‐γ) and oxidative stress (NOX‐1/NOX‐2/ASK1/p‐MKK4&7/p‐JNK/p‐c‐JUN) downstream pathways as well as mitochondrial‐damaged markers (cytosolic cytochrome C/cyclophilin D/SRP1/autophagy) were highest in group IS^B6, lowest in groups SC^B6 and SC^TLR4?/?, lower in group IS^TLR4?/? + Mel than in groups IS^TLR4?/? and IS^B6 + Mel and lower in group IS^B6 + Mel than in group IS^TLR4?/? (all P < .0001). The brain infarct volume, brain infarct area and the number of inflammatory cells in brain (CD14/F4‐88) and in circulation (MPO+//Ly6C+/CD11b+//Ly6G+/CD11b+) exhibited an identical pattern, whereas the neurological function displayed an opposite pattern of inflammatory protein expression among the six groups (all P < .0001). In conclusion, TLR inflammatory and oxidative stress signallings played crucial roles for brain damage and impaired neurological function after IS that were significantly reversed by Mel therapy.     

Gilteritinib induces PUMA‐dependent apoptotic cell death via AKT/GSK‐3β/NF‐κB pathway in colorectal cancer cells

As a highly potent and highly selective oral inhibitor of FLT3/AXL, gilteritinib showed activity against FLT3D835 and FLT3‐ITD mutations in pre‐clinical testing, although its role on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is not yet fully elucidated. We examined the activity of gilteritinib in suppressing growth of CRC and its enhancing effect on other drugs used in chemotherapy. In this study, we observed that, regardless of p53 status, treatment using gilteritinib induces PUMA in CRC cells via the NF‐κB pathway after inhibition of AKT and activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK‐3β). PUMA was observed to be vital for apoptosis in CRC cells through treatment of gilteritinib. Moreover, enhancing induction of PUMA through different pathways could mediate chemosensitization by using gilteritinib. Furthermore, PUMA deficiency revoked the antitumour role of gilteritinib in vivo. Thus, our results indicate that PUMA mediates the antitumour activity of gilteritinib in CRC cells. These observations are critical for the therapeutic role of gilteritinib in CRC.     

Methyltransferase like 3 promotes colorectal cancer proliferation by stabilizing CCNE1 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner

m6A modification is the most prevalent RNA modification in eukaryotes. As the critical N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase, the roles of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) in colorectal cancer (CRC) are controversial. Here, we confirmed that METTL3, a critical m6A methyltransferase, could facilitate CRC progression in vitro and in vivo. Further, we found METTL3 promoted CRC cell proliferation by methylating the m6A site in 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of CCNE1 mRNA to stabilize it. Moreover, we found butyrate, a classical intestinal microbial metabolite, could down-regulate the expression of METTL3 and related cyclin E1 to inhibit CRC development. METTL3 promotes CRC proliferation by stabilizing CCNE1 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner, representing a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CRC.     

Baicalein inhibits mitochondrial apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes by stabilizing MARCH5 expression

Abnormal mitochondrial fission and mitophagy participate in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases. Baicalein is a key active component in the roots of traditional Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. It has been reported that baicalein can resist cardiotoxicity induced by several stress, but the mechanisms of baicalein operate in the protection of cardiomyocytes need to be researched further. Here we report that baicalein can promote cell survival under oxidative stress by up‐regulating the expression level of MARCH5 in cardiomyocytes. Pre‐treatment cells or mice with baicalein can stabilize the expression of MARCH5, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of mitochondrial network and mitophagy. Overexpressed MARCH5 is able to against H₂O₂ and ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) stress by suppressing mitochondrial fission and enhancing mitophagy, and then attenuate cells apoptosis. Altogether, our present study investigated that baicalein exerts a protective effect through regulating KLF4‐MARCH5‐Drp1 pathway, our research also provided a novel theoretical basis for the clinical application of baicalein.