Protective Effects of Crotonis Semen Extract against Sepsis through NF-κB Pathway Inhibition.

Sepsis is an inflammatory condition causing organ failure due to an uncontrolled immune response to infection and remains a significant challenge. Crotonis Semen has displayed various pharmacological effects, yet its potential in protecting against sepsis and the mechanisms involved remains largely unclear. Here, we explored the antiseptic properties of Crotons Semen extract (CSE) in both LPS-stimulated J774 macrophages and mice subjected to sepsis through Cecal ligation and Puncture (CLP) or LPS induction.

Paulownin elicits anti-tumor effects by enhancing NK cell cytotoxicity through JNK pathway activation.

Paulownin, a natural compound derived from wood, exhibits various physiological functions, including anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. However, the impact of paulownin on natural killer (NK) cell immune activity remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of paulownin on NK cell activity both and , and explored its potential mechanisms.

Emerging roles of MITF as a crucial regulator of immunity.

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor (bHLH-Zip), has been identified as a melanocyte-specific transcription factor and plays a critical role in melanocyte survival, differentiation, function, proliferation and pigmentation. Although numerous studies have explained the roles of MITF in melanocytes and in melanoma development, the function of MITF in the hematopoietic or immune system-beyond its function in melanin-producing cells-is not yet fully understood. However, there is convincing and increasing evidence suggesting that MITF may play multiple important roles in immune-related cells.

Anticancer Effect of E26 Transformation-Specific Homologous Factor through the Induction of Senescence and the Inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ETS homologous factor (EHF) in malignant breast cancer cells. The overexpression and knockdown of the EHF gene in human and mouse breast cancer cells were performed, and the TCGA dataset and Q-omics were analyzed. We found that the tumor suppressor NDRG2 is correlated with EHF gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells, that EHF overexpression results in reduced cell proliferation and that apoptosis is promoted by the chemotherapeutic reagent treatment of EHF-overexpressing cells.

Alleviation of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like symptoms in Rorα-deficient mouse skin.

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα) plays a vital role in various physiological processes, including metabolism, cancer, circadian rhythm, cerebellar development, and inflammation. Although RORα is expressed in the skin, its role in skin physiology remains poorly elucidated. Herein, Rorα was expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers of the epidermis; however, keratinocyte-specific Rorα deletion did not impact normal epidermal formation.

Novel role of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in modulating the differentiation and immunosuppressive functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Background: Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulator of melanogenesis and is mainly expressed in melanoma cells. MITF has also been reported to be expressed in non-pigmented cells, such as osteoclasts, mast cells, and B cells. However, the roles of MITF in immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), remain unclear.

Protective Effects of High-Fat Diet against Murine Colitis in Association with Leptin Signaling and Gut Microbiome.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic intestinal-tract inflammation with dysregulated immune responses, which are partly attributable to dysbiosis. Given that diet plays a critical role in IBD pathogenesis and progression, we elucidated the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) feeding on IBD development in relation to immune dysfunction and the gut microbiota. Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or HFD for 14 weeks.

NDRG2 Expression in Breast Cancer Cells Downregulates PD-L1 Expression and Restores T Cell Proliferation in Tumor-Coculture.

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of NDRG2 expression in regulating PD-L1 or PD-L2 on malignant breast cancer cells. (2) Methods: Overexpression and knockdown of the NDRG2 gene in human and mouse cancer cells were applied and quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed. T cell proliferation and TCGA analysis were conducted to validate negative correlation of the PD-L1 expression with the NDRG2 expression.

Regulation of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) differentiation by NDRG2 expression in breast cancer cells.

Macrophages are a major cellular component of innate immunity and are mainly known to have phagocytic activity. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), they can be differentiated into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). As the most abundant immune cells in the TME, TAMs promote tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis, suppressing T cells and increasing immunosuppressive cytokine production.

[Corrigendum] Cryptotanshinone inhibits IgE‑mediated degranulation through inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase and tyrosine‑protein kinase phosphorylation in mast cells.

Following the publication of the above article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that they had mentioned that activated PKCδ phosphorylates IKKβ in order that IKKβ is relocated to the plasma membrane, resulting in the induction of mast cell degranulation; however, four references the authors had included did not seem to support this statement. The authors have re-examined their paper, and realized that the four references the reader mentioned were indeed cited incorrectly, and wish to rectify this error through revising the third paragraph in the Discussion section, the References section, and an associated figure (Fig. 6C) in order to avoid any further misunderstandings on the part of the readership.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Patagonian moray cod, Vaillant, 1888 (Gadiformes, Muraenolepididae).

The full-length mitochondrial genome of (Vaillant, 1888) was studied using PacBio platform and it is first report in a Muraenolepididae family. The circular form of mitochondria genome is 16,833 bp including 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA, and 22 tRNA. Start codon of 13 protein-coding genes was only ATG but three types of stop codons (TAA, T(AA), and TAG) were detected.

Z-ajoene from Crushed Garlic Alleviates Cancer-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is one of the major symptoms of cancer cachexia. Garlic (), one of the world's most commonly used and versatile herbs, has been employed for the prevention and treatment of diverse diseases for centuries. In the present study, we found that ajoene, a sulfur compound found in crushed garlic, exhibits protective effects against muscle atrophy.

Modulation of Immunosuppression by Oligonucleotide-Based Molecules and Small Molecules Targeting Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells that exert suppressive function on the immune response. MDSCs expand in tumor-bearing hosts or in the tumor microenvironment and suppress T cell responses via various mechanisms, whereas a reduction in their activities has been observed in autoimmune diseases or infections. It has been reported that the symptoms of various diseases, including malignant tumors, can be alleviated by targeting MDSCs.

NDRG2 Sensitizes Myeloid Leukemia to Arsenic Trioxide via GSK3β-NDRG2-PP2A Complex Formation.

N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) was characterized as a tumor suppressor, inducing anti-metastatic and anti-proliferative effects in several tumor cells. However, NDRG2 functions on anticancer drug sensitivity, and its molecular mechanisms are yet to be fully investigated. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of NDRG2-induced sensitization to AsO in the U937 cell line, which is one of the most frequently used cells in the field of resistance to AsO.

Novel loss-of-function variants of TRAPPC2 manifesting X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda: report of two cases.

Background: X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT-XL) is a skeletal disorder characterized by defective structures of vertebral bodies and/or of epiphyses of the long bones, resulting in moderately short stature and early joint degeneration. TRAPPC2 gene, which is important for collagen secretion, has been reported as causative for SEDT-XL.

Case Presentation: Here, we report two variants of TRAPPC2 gene of SEDT-XL patients, a missense variant of start codon, c.

Prenylated Rab acceptor RABAC1 inhibits anti-apoptotic protein BCL2A1 and induces apoptosis.

The B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) family of proteins constitutes a critical intracellular checkpoint in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Among BCL2 members, the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2A1 mediates the resistance to BCL2 inhibitors and may be considered as a target for anti-cancer therapy. Here, we report that prenylated Rab acceptor 1 (RABAC1 or PRA1) inhibits the anti-apoptotic activity of BCL2A1 and induces apoptosis in AGS gastric cancer cells.

Kazinol U inhibits melanogenesis through the inhibition of tyrosinase-related proteins via AMP kinase activation.

Background And Purpose: Kazinol U is a prenylated flavan isolated from an extract of Broussonetia kazinoki Sieb (Moraceae). Kazinol U has shown cytoprotective effects against cytokine-induced apoptotic cell death and induces AMP kinase (AMPK) activation through LKB1 activation. However, kazinol U has not been tested as a regulator of melanogenesis, although bark extract of B.

Analysis of the Expression and Regulation of PD-1 Protein on the Surface of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs).

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that are able to suppress T cell function are a heterogeneous cell population frequently observed in cancer, infection, and autoimmune disease. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death 1 (PD-1) expressed on T cells and its ligand (PD-L1) expressed on tumor cells or antigen-presenting cells, have received extensive attention in the past decade due to the dramatic effects of their inhibitors in patients with various types of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the expression of PD-1 on MDSCs in bone marrow, spleen, and tumor tissue derived from breast tumor-bearing mice.

C1q/TNF-α-Related Protein 1 (CTRP1) Maintains Blood Pressure Under Dehydration Conditions.

Rationale: Circulating CTRP1 (C1q/TNF-α [tumor necrosis factor-α]-related protein 1) levels are increased in hypertensive patients compared with those in healthy subjects. Nonetheless, little is known about the molecular and physiological function of CTRP1 in blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Objective: To investigate the physiological/pathophysiological role of CTRP1 in BP regulation.

Cryptotanshinone inhibits IgE‑mediated degranulation through inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase and tyrosine‑protein kinase phosphorylation in mast cells.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a type of chronic skin inflammation and one of the most common relapsing allergic diseases, which presents with a severe rash and itchy skin lesions. The pathogenesis of AD is primarily associated with hyper‑activated mast cells, which makes them an effective treatment target. After cross‑linking the antigen/immunoglobulin (Ig) E complex binds to its high affinity receptor FcεRl on the surface of mast cells.

Erratum: Eupatolide inhibits the TGF-β1-induced migration of breast cancer cells via downregulation of SMAD3 phosphorylation and transcriptional repression of ALK5.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.

Anti-cancerous effect of cis-khellactone from through the induction of three programmed cell deaths.

has traditionally been used to treat various medical problems. In this report, we introduce cis-khellactone as a new anti-cancer agent, which was isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of the rhizomes of . Its anti-cancerous effect was at first tested in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cell lines, in which MCF7 is well known to be resistant to many anti-cancer drugs; MCF10A normal breast cell line was used as a control.

Oncoprotein CIP2A promotes the disassembly of primary cilia and inhibits glycolytic metabolism.

In most mammalian cells, the primary cilium is a microtubule-enriched protrusion of the plasma membrane and acts as a key coordinator of signaling pathways during development and tissue homeostasis. The primary cilium is generated from the basal body, and cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), the overexpression of which stabilizes c-MYC to support the malignant growth of tumor cells, is localized in the centrosome. Here, we show that CIP2A overexpression induces primary cilia disassembly through the activation of Aurora A kinase, and CIP2A depletion increases ciliated cells and cilia length in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE1) cells.

Development of suspension cell culture model to mimic circulating tumor cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are essential for the establishment of distant metastasis. Numerous studies have characterized CTCs as metastatic precursors; however, the molecular nature of CTCs has not been completely revealed yet due to the low number of CTCs in the blood stream. As an alternative approach, we developed a long-term suspension cell culture model using human breast cancer cell lines to mimic CTCs.

Protein phosphatase 1B dephosphorylates Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 and suppresses cancer cell migration and invasion.

Rho GTPases control a wide range of cellular processes, and their deregulation is associated with promotion of an aggressive and metastatic tumor phenotype in human cancers. Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 (RhoGDI1) plays a key role in regulating the activity of Rho GTPases. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.