Identification and validation of the surface proteins FIBG, PDGF-β, and TGF-β on serum extracellular vesicles for non-invasive detection of colorectal cancer: experimental study.

Objectives: The absence of non-invasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) has contributed to poor prognosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising candidates for cancer monitoring using liquid biopsy. However, the complexity of EVs isolation procedures and the absence of clear targets for detecting serum-derived EVs have hindered the clinical application of EVs in early CRC diagnosis.

Oxidized LDL promotes EMS-induced angiogenesis by increasing VEGF-A expression and secretion by endometrial cells.

Background: Endometriosis (EMS) is a "tumour-like" gynaecological disease with distant metastasis, and studies have shown that EMS can induce distant metastasis through vascular vessels, but the driving factors and their mechanism are not clear.

Methods: We used an EMS animal model and gene knockout technique to explore the role of EMS-induced angiogenesis in EMS metastasis in vivo and in vitro and clarify the role and molecular mechanism of oxLDL in promoting EMS-induced angiogenesis.

Results: We found that microvascular density (MVD) in metastasized ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrial tissue was higher than that in normal endometrial tissue, and plasma oxLDL was positively correlated with the distant metastasis of EMS.

Hypomorphic and hypermorphic mouse models of Fsip2 indicate its dosage-dependent roles in sperm tail and acrosome formation.

Loss-of-function mutations in multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF)-associated genes lead to decreased sperm motility and impaired male fertility. As an MMAF gene, the function of fibrous sheath-interacting protein 2 (FSIP2) remains largely unknown. In this work, we identified a homozygous truncating mutation of FSIP2 in an infertile patient.

PEDF inhibits lymphatic metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma as a new lymphangiogenesis inhibitor.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most malignant tumors in southern China and Asia, and lymph node metastasis is an important cause for treatment failure. Lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step in lymphatic metastasis of NPC, while little is known about lymphangiogenesis in NPC. Similar to angiogenesis, lymphangitic neovascularization is a process of balance between pro-lymphangiogenesis and anti-lymphangiogenesis factors, but there are few studies on endogenous lymphangiogenesis inhibitors.

Adipose triglyceride lipase promotes the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells via enhancing the lipolytic pathway.

Abnormal lipid metabolism is the sign of tumour cells. Previous researches have revealed that the lipolytic pathway may contribute to the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) role in CRC cells remains unclear.

Overexpression of FUBP1 is associated with human cervical carcinoma development and prognosis.

Aims: Far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) has been shown to involve in the tumorigenesis and tumor progression of various cancers. However, the expression and function of FUBP1 in cervical carcinoma remains unknown.

Main Methods: Transcriptional expression of FUBP1 was initially evaluated using the Oncomine database, followed by evaluation of FUBP1 protein levels using immunohistochemistry in 119 cervical carcinoma patient tissues.

Chiauranib selectively inhibits colorectal cancer with wild-type by modulation of ROS through activating the p53 signaling pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top three most deadly cancers despite using chemotherapy based on oxaliplatin or irinotecan combined with targeted therapy. Chiauranib has recently been identified to be a promising anticancer candidate with impressive efficacy and safety. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of Chiauranib in the treatment of CRC remain to be elucidated.

Prewash and postwash total progressively motile sperm counts have poor predictive value for clinical pregnancy after intrauterine insemination.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of the prewash and postwash total progressively motile sperm counts (TPMSC) on clinical pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) .

Methods: A review of medical records of women undergoing 2064 IUI cycles in a university hospital between April 2010 and October 2018.

Results: No pregnancies were seen when the prewash TPMSC was less than 9 million or the postwash TPMSC was less than 2 million.

Proteomics and single-cell RNA analysis of Akap4-knockout mice model confirm indispensable role of Akap4 in spermatogenesis.

Sperm fibrous sheath, a unique cytoskeletal structure, is implicated in various sperm physiological functions, such as sperm maturation, motility and capacitation. AKAP4 has been described to be required for structural and functional integrity of the fibrous sheath. We generated Akap4-knockout mice line using CRISPR-Cas9 system.

OxLDL promotes lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer by upregulating VEGF‑C expression and secretion.

Gastric cancer is one of the most malignant tumor types, and its metastasis is a notable cause of mortality. Among the methods of tumor metastasis, lymphatic metastasis is the predominant one in gastric cancer. A previous study reported that the plasma oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is the risk factor associated with the development of tumors in patients with abnormal lipid metabolism, but the influence of plasma oxLDL in the lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer remains unclear.

Kallistatin inhibits lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer by downregulating VEGF-C expression and secretion.

Background: Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis are predominant during the metastasis of many types of cancers. However, the endogenous inhibitors that counterbalance the lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of tumors have not been well evaluated. Kallistatin has been recognized as an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor.

Kallistatin exerts anti-lymphangiogenic effects by inhibiting lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation.

Kallistatin has been recognized as an endogenous angiogenic inhibitor. However, its effects on lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphangiogenesis remain poorly understood. Lymphangiogenesis is involved in tumor metastasis via the lymphatic vasculature in various types of tumors.

Mesenchymal marker expression is elevated in Müller cells exposed to high glucose and in animal models of diabetic retinopathy.

Müller cells are retinal glial cells and exhibit a fibroblast-like phenotype and ability to migrate in diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, expression of mesenchymal markers, which promote fibrosis in various organs, has not been characterized in the diabetic retina. We examined changes in the expression of these markers in Müller cells exposed to high glucose and in animal models of diabetic retinopathy.

High glucose-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition contributes to the upregulation of fibrogenic factors in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

It has been reported that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediates multiple physiological and pathological processes. However, the occurrence and the pathogenic role of high glucose-induced EMT in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells) is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of high glucose on EMT in RPE cells.

Activation of AMPK/MnSOD signaling mediates anti-apoptotic effect of hepatitis B virus in hepatoma cells.

Aim: To investigate the anti-apoptotic capability of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the HepG2 hepatoma cell line and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Targeted knockdown of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) genes as well as AMPK agonist AICAR and antagonist compound C were employed to determine the correlations of expression of these genes.

Plasminogen kringle 5 induces endothelial cell apoptosis by triggering a voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) positive feedback loop.

Human plasminogen kringle 5 (K5) is known to display its potent anti-angiogenesis effect through inducing endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis, and the voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) has been identified as a receptor of K5. However, the exact role and underlying mechanisms of VDAC1 in K5-induced EC apoptosis remain elusive. In the current study, we showed that K5 increased the protein level of VDAC1, which initiated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of ECs.

Pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF)-triggered lung cancer cell apoptosis relies on p53 protein-driven Fas ligand (Fas-L) up-regulation and Fas protein cell surface translocation.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent antiangiogenesis agent, has recently attracted attention for targeting tumor cells in several types of tumors. However, less is known about the apoptosis-inducing effect of PEDF on human lung cancer cells and the underlying molecular events. Here we report that PEDF has a growth-suppressive and proapoptotic effect on lung cancer xenografts.