Association between urinary phthalates and phthalate metabolites and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Phthalates, widely utilized in industrial products, are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Although certain phthalate and their metabolites have been implicated in cancer development, the reported findings have exhibited inconsistencies. Therefore, we conducted the comprehensive literature search to assess the association between phthalate and their metabolites and cancer risk by identifying original studies measuring phthalates or their metabolites and reporting their correlation with cancer until July 4, 2023.

Single-nucleotide methylation specifically represses type I interferon in antiviral innate immunity.

Frequent outbreaks of viruses have caused a serious threat to public health. Previous evidence has revealed that DNA methylation is correlated with viral infections, but its role in innate immunity remains poorly investigated. Additionally, DNA methylation inhibitors promote IFN-I by upregulating endogenous retrovirus; however, studies of intrinsically demethylated tumors do not support this conclusion.

SOX2 upregulates side population cells and enhances their chemoresistant ability by transactivating ABCC1 expression contributing to intrinsic resistance to paclitaxel in melanoma.

Paclitaxel is the last choice for the treatment of advanced melanoma as a second-line chemotherapeutic agent, but there are still many cases of intrinsic resistance to paclitaxel in melanoma and the reasons that cause paclitaxel resistance remain unclear. Here, we identified that high expression of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) and high ratio of side population (SP) cells reduced the sensitivity to paclitaxel in melanoma cells. The knockout and the induction of SOX2 completely depleted and significantly upregulated the ratios of melanoma SP cells, respectively.

Stress-Induced Metabolic Disorder in Peripheral CD4 T Cells Leads to Anxiety-like Behavior.

Physical or mental stress leads to neuroplasticity in the brain and increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Stress exposure causes the dysfunction of peripheral T lymphocytes. However, the pathological role and underlying regulatory mechanism of peripheral T lymphocytes in mood disorders have not been well established.

USP16-mediated deubiquitination of calcineurin A controls peripheral T cell maintenance.

Calcineurin acts as a calcium-activated phosphatase that dephosphorylates various substrates, including members of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family, to trigger their nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity. However, the detailed mechanism regulating the recruitment of NFATs to calcineurin remains poorly understood. Here, we report that calcineurin A (CNA), encoded by PPP3CB or PPP3CC, is constitutively ubiquitinated on lysine 327, and this polyubiquitin chain is rapidly removed by ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 16 (USP16) in response to intracellular calcium stimulation.

CRL4 is required for mature T-cell expansion via Aurora B-regulated proteasome activity.

The proliferation of T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues requires T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated cell cycle entry. However, the underlying mechanism regulating cell cycle progression in mature T cells is incompletely understood. Here, we have identified an E3 ubiquitin ligase, CRL4, as a critical mediator controlling M phase exit in activated T cells.

CRL4 negatively regulates IL-23 production in dendritic cells and limits the development of psoriasis.

The E3 ligase CRL4 is believed to be a pivotal regulator of the cell cycle and is required for mitotic and S phase progression. The NEDD8-targeting drug MLN4924, which inactivates cullin ring-finger ubiquitin ligases (CRLs), has been examined in clinical trials for various types of lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. However, the essential role of CRL4 in primary myeloid cells remains poorly understood.

Mitochondrial dynamics controls anti-tumour innate immunity by regulating CHIP-IRF1 axis stability.

Macrophages, dendritic cells and other innate immune cells are involved in inflammation and host defense against infection. Metabolic shifts in mitochondrial dynamics may be involved in Toll-like receptor agonist-mediated inflammatory responses and immune cell polarization. However, whether the mitochondrial morphology in myeloid immune cells affects anti-tumor immunity is unclear.

Inhibiting scar formation in vitro and in vivo by adenovirus-mediated mutant Smad4: a preliminary report.

The best characterized signalling pathway employed by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is the Smad pathway. We focused on Smad4, because it is essential for the activation of Smad-dependent target genes. We aimed to explore the possibility of inhibiting scar formation after wounding by blocking TGF-β signalling by means of a gene therapy approach using adenovirus-mediated expression of mutant Smad4.