Melatonin Suppresses Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas Migration and Invasion through Blocking FGF19/FGFR 4 Signaling Pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are one of the most prevalent malignancies, with a low five-year survival rate, thus warranting more effective drugs or therapy to improve treatment outcomes. Melatonin has been demonstrated to exhibit oncostatic effects. In this study, we explored the anti-cancer effects of melatonin on OSCCs and the underlying mechanisms. A human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCC-15) was treated with 2 mM melatonin, followed by transwell migration and invasion assays. Relative expression levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 (FGF19) was identified by Cytokine Array and further verified by qPCR and Western blot. Overexpression and downregulation of FGF19 were obtained by adding exogenous hFGF19 and FGF19 shRNA lentivirus, respectively. Invasion and migration abilities of SCC-15 cells were suppressed by melatonin, in parallel with the decreased FGF19/FGFR4 expression level. Exogenous hFGF19 eliminated the inhibitory effects of melatonin on SCC-15 cells invasion and migration, while FGF19 knocking-down showed similar inhibitory activities with melatonin. This study proves that melatonin suppresses SCC-15 cells invasion and migration through blocking the FGF19/FGFR4 pathway, which enriches our knowledge on the anticancer effects of melatonin. Blocking the FGF19/FGFR4 pathway by melatonin could be a promising alternative for OSCCs prevention and management, which would facilitate further development of novel strategies to combat OSCCs.     

When Two Become One: Conformational Changes in FXR/RXR Heterodimers Bound to Steroidal Antagonists

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor with an essential role in regulating bile acid synthesis and cholesterol homeostasis. FXR activation by agonists is explained by an αAF-2-trapping mechanism; however, antagonism mechanisms are diverse. We discuss microsecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations investigating our recently reported FXR antagonists 2a and 2 h. We study the antagonist-induced conformational changes in the FXR ligand-binding domain, when compared to the synthetic (GW4064) or steroidal (chenodeoxycholic acid, CDCA) FXR agonists in the FXR monomer or FXR/RXR heterodimer r, and in the presence and absence of the coactivator. Our MD data suggest ligand-specific influence on conformations of different FXR-LBD regions, including the α5/α6 region, αAF-2, and α9-11. Changes in the heterodimerization interface induced by antagonists seem to be associated with αAF-2 destabilization, which prevents both co-activator and co-repressor recruitment. Our results provide new insights into the conformational behaviour of FXR, suggesting that FXR antagonism/agonism shift requires a deeper assessment than originally proposed by crystal structures.     

Fibroblast Growth Factor Inhibitors for Treating Locally Advanced/Metastatic Bladder Urothelial Carcinomas via Dual Targeting of Tumor-Specific Oncogenic Signaling and the Tumor Immune Microenvironment

Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (a/m UBC) is currently treated using platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the preferred second-line treatment options for cisplatin-eligible a/m UBC patients and as first-line options in cisplatin-ineligible settings. However, the response rates for ICI monotherapy are modest (~20%), which necessitates the exploration of alternative strategies. Dysregulated activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling enhances tumor proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. The recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of erdafitinib and the emergence of other potent and selective FGFR inhibitors (FGFRis) have shifted the treatment paradigm for patients with a/m UBC harboring actionable FGFR2 or FGFR3 genomic alterations, who often have a minimal-to-modest response to ICIs. FGFRi–ICI combinations are therefore worth exploring, and their preliminary response rates and safety profiles are promising. In the present review, we summarize the impact of altered FGFR signaling on a/m UBC tumor evolution, the clinical development of FGFRis, the rationale for FGFRi–ICI combinations, current trials, and prospective research directions.     

Heparin Modulates the Mitogenic Activity of Fibroblast Growth Factor by Inducing Dimerization of its Receptor. A 3D View by Using NMR

In vitro mitogenesis assays have shown that sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs; heparin and heparan sulfate) cause an enhancement of the mitogenic activity of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Herein, we report that the simultaneous presence of FGF and the GAG is not an essential requisite for this event to take place. Indeed, preincubation with heparin (just before FGF addition) of cells lacking heparan sulfate produced an enhancing effect equivalent to that observed when the GAG and the protein are simultaneously added. A first structural characterization of this effect by analytical ultracentrifugation of a soluble preparation of the heparin‐binding domain of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and a low molecular weight (3 kDa) heparin showed that the GAG induces dimerization of FGFR2. To derive a high resolution structural picture of this molecular recognition process, the interactions of a soluble heparin‐binding domain of FGFR2 with two different homogeneous, synthetic, and mitogenically active sulfated GAGs were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. These studies, assisted by docking protocols and molecular dynamics simulations, have demonstrated that the interactions of these GAGs with the soluble heparin‐binding domain of FGFR induces formation of an FGFR dimer; its architecture is equivalent to that in one of the two distinct crystallographic structures of FGFR in complex with both heparin and FGF1. This preformation of the FGFR dimer (with similar topology to that of the signaling complex) should favor incorporation of the FGF component to form the final assemblage of the signaling complex, without major entropy penalty. This cascade of events is probably at the heart of the observed activating effect of heparin in FGF‐driven mitogenesis.     

Multi-Omics Reveal the Immunological Role and the Theragnostic Value of miR-216a/GDF15 Axis in Human Colon Adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer and is still the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Accurate screening tools for early diagnosis and prediction of prognosis and precision treatment strategies are urgently required to accommodate the unmet medical needs of COAD management. We herein aimed to explore the significance of the microRNA (miR)-216a/growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) axis in terms of clinical value, tumor immunity, and potential mechanisms in COAD by using multi-omic analysis. The gene expression levels of miR-216a and GDF15 showed an increase in the COAD group compared to those of the normal group. The expression of miR-216a presented a negative correlation with GDF15 in COAD tumor tissue. The use of an in vitro luciferase reporter assay and bioinformatic prediction revealed that miR-216a-3p acted toward translational inhibition on GDF15 by targeting its 3′untranslated region (UTR) site. High miR-216a expression was associated with decreased overall survival (OS), while the high expression of GDF15 was associated with increased OS. Enriched type 1 T-helper (Th1), enriched regulatory T (Treg), enriched eosinophils, and decreased nature killer T-cells (NKTs) in COAD tumor tissue may play counteracting factors on the tumor-regulatory effects of miR-216a and GDF15. In addition, high GDF15 expression had associations with suppressed immunoinhibitory genes and negative correlations with the infiltration of macrophages and endothelial cells. The enrichment analysis revealed that GDF15 and its co-expression network may be implicated in mitochondrial organization, apoptosis signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP) analysis identified that Gemcitabine acted as a precision treatment for COAD when GDF15 expression was low. This study supports the miR-216a/GDF15 axis as a diagnostic/prognostic panel for COAD, identifies Th1, Treg, eosinophils, and NKTs as counteracting factors, indicates potential relationships underlying immunomodulation, mitochondrial organization, apoptotic signaling, and ER stress and unveil Gemcitabine as a potential drug for the development of treatment strategy when combined with targeting GDF15.     

V/ SBA-15分子筛的制备及其对乙苯制苯乙酮反应的催化性能

以聚环氧乙烷-聚环氧丙烷-聚环氧乙烷三嵌段共聚物(简称P123)为模板剂,正硅酸乙酯为硅源,前驱体为柠檬酸氧钒配合物,采用水热法在酸性条件下制备了V-SBA-15有序介孔材料。考察了不同晶化时间、模板剂用量等因素对介孔分子筛V-SBA-15制备的影响。结果表明,最优晶化时间为96 h、模板剂用量n=1.0〔以n(P123)/n(V+Si)计〕,在该条件下所制备的材料具有类似于分子筛SBA-15高度有序的六方介孔结构,且活性组分钒在介孔氧化硅基体中均匀分散。用XRD、FTIR、BET、SEM及TEM等方法对制备的分子筛V-SBA-15进行结构表征,同时在乙苯制苯乙酮反应中以苯乙酮选择性及收率来验证催化剂的催化性能。结果表明,在催化氧化乙苯制苯乙酮反应较优工艺条件下,苯乙酮选择性及收率分别为82.0%和38.60%。     

The Molecular Basis of COVID-19 Pathogenesis,Conventional and Nanomedicine Therapy

In late 2019, a new member of the Coronaviridae family, officially designated as “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2), emerged and spread rapidly. The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak was accompanied by a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Within the Coronaviridae family, SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be the third most highly pathogenic virus that infects humans, following the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Four major mechanisms are thought to be involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis, including the activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) signaling pathway, oxidative stress and cell death, cytokine storm, and endothelial dysfunction. Following virus entry and RAS activation, acute respiratory distress syndrome develops with an oxidative/nitrosative burst. The DNA damage induced by oxidative stress activates poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1), viral macrodomain of non-structural protein 3, poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), and transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 (TRPM2) channel in a sequential manner which results in cell apoptosis or necrosis. In this review, blockers of angiotensin II receptor and/or PARP, PARG, and TRPM2, including vitamin D3, trehalose, tannins, flufenamic and mefenamic acid, and losartan, have been investigated for inhibiting RAS activation and quenching oxidative burst. Moreover, the application of organic and inorganic nanoparticles, including liposomes, dendrimers, quantum dots, and iron oxides, as therapeutic agents for SARS-CoV-2 were fully reviewed. In the present review, the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are explained by focusing on molecular mechanisms. Potential therapeutic targets, including the RAS signaling pathway, PARP, PARG, and TRPM2, are also discussed in depth.     

Androgen/Androgen Receptor Signaling in Ovarian Cancer: Molecular Regulation and Therapeutic Potentials

Ovarian cancer (OVCA) arises from three cellular origins, namely surface epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. More than 85% of OVCAs are EOCs (epithelial ovarian carcinomas), which are the most lethal gynecological malignancies. Cancer stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) are considered to be cancer promoters due to their capacity for unlimited self-renewal and drug resistance. Androgen receptor (AR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily and can be activated through binding to its ligand androgens. Studies have reported an association between AR expression and EOC carcinogenesis, and AR is suggested to be involved in proliferation, migration/invasion, and stemness. In addition, alternative AR activating signals, including both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent, are involved in OVCA progression. Although some clinical trials have previously been conducted to evaluate the effects of anti-androgens in EOC, no significant results have been reported. In contrast, experimental studies evaluating the effects of anti-androgen or anti-AR reagents in AR-expressing EOC models have demonstrated positive results for suppressing disease progression. Since AR is involved in complex signaling pathways and may be expressed at various levels in OVCA, the aim of this article was to provide an overview of current studies and perspectives regarding the relevance of androgen/AR roles in OVCA.     

Exercise Training Alleviates Cardiac Fibrosis through Increasing Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and Regulating TGF-β1-Smad2/3-MMP2/9 Signaling in Mice with Myocardial Infarction

Exercise training has been reported to alleviate cardiac fibrosis and ameliorate heart dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI), but the molecular mechanism is still not fully clarified. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) exerts a protective effect on the infarcted heart. This study investigates whether exercise training could increase FGF21 protein expression and regulate the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-Smad2/3-MMP2/9 signaling pathway to alleviate cardiac fibrosis following MI. Male wild type (WT) C57BL/6J mice and Fgf21 knockout (Fgf21 KO) mice were used to establish the MI model and subjected to five weeks of different types of exercise training. Both aerobic exercise training (AET) and resistance exercise training (RET) significantly alleviated cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis, up-regulated FGF21 protein expression, inhibited the activation of TGF-β1-Smad2/3-MMP2/9 signaling pathway and collagen production, and meanwhile, enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced cell apoptosis in the infarcted heart. In contrast, knockout of Fgf21 weakened the cardioprotective effects of AET after MI. In vitro, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were isolated from neonatal mice hearts and treated with H₂O₂ (100 μM, 6 h). Recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21, 100 ng/mL, 15 h) and/or 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR, 1 mM, 15 h) inhibited H₂O₂-induced activation of the TGF-β1-Smad2/3-MMP2/9 signaling pathway, promoted CFs apoptosis and reduced collagen production. In conclusion, exercise training increases FGF21 protein expression, inactivates the TGF-β1-Smad2/3-MMP2/9 signaling pathway, alleviates cardiac fibrosis, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis, and finally improves cardiac function in mice with MI. FGF21 plays an important role in the anti-fibrosis effect of exercise training.     

基于固体酸HClO4/SBA-15催化的奥硝唑合成

将分子筛SBA-15上负载高氯酸,制备了一种固体酸催化剂(HCl O4/SBA-15),利用IR对其结构进行了表征。并以HCl O4/SBA-15为催化剂,2-甲基-5-硝基咪唑和环氧氯丙烷为原料合成了奥硝唑,考察了催化用量、反应时间、反应温度、不同溶剂对产物收率的影响。得到优化的反应条件为:催化剂质量分数为60%(以2-甲基-5-硝基咪唑的质量为基准,下同),异丙醇作溶剂,在0℃下反应8 h,奥硝唑收率达76.3%,纯度(HPLC)为99.8%。采用1HNMR、13CNMR和MS确认产物结构。该法合成的奥硝唑质量符合药典质量标准。催化剂重复使用3次后,产品收率仍能达到65.8%。     

SO42－/ZrO2/SBA-15催化丙烯和乙酸合成乙酸异丙酯的研究

水热合成了介孔材料SBA-15，并以其为载体负载固体超强酸SO₄^2－/ZrO₂，得到催化剂 SO₄^2－/ZrO₂/SBA-15，通过XRD对其进行表征。在固定床反应器中，以丙烯和乙酸为原料，研究该催化剂催化合成乙酸异丙酯的活性。对反应条件进行系统地考察，得出最佳反应条件：反应温度140 ℃,反应压力1.2 MPa,空速1 h^－1,n(C₃H₆)∶n(CH₃COOH)=3∶1。在此条件下乙酸异丙酯的产率最高可达79.6％。     

Al/SBA-15催化剂在萘异丙基化反应中的抗硫中毒性能

在磷酸介质中合成了SBA-15分子筛,并采用嫁接法合成了Al/SBA-15介孔分子筛催化剂,以噻吩为硫源,考察了该催化剂_存萘异丙基化反应过程中的抗硫中毒性能.通过XRD、TEM、FT-IR等多种表征手段对催化剂进行了表征,同时探讨了催化剂硫中毒机理.结果表明,在反应体系中,当噻吩浓度低于300×10~(-6)(摩尔分数)时,该催化剂在萘异丙基化反应中萘的转化率可达到47%以上,能够保持较高的催化活性,但是当噻吩浓度高于300×10-6时,催化活性明显下降,萘的转化率降至30%以下.     

HClO4/SBA-15固体酸催化剂的制备及催化性能

将高氯酸引入具有较大孔径和比表面积的介孔分子筛SBA-15中,制备了用于异相催化的固体酸催化剂HClO4/SBA-15,并通过采用X-射线衍射(XRD)、多孔性检测、透射电镜(TEM)分析等方法,对其结构进行了分析表征.HClO4被负载后,材料的比表面积、孔径及孔容等多孔性参数都有所降低,但并没有破坏介孔分子筛SBA-15的孔道结构.为了证明HClO4/SBA-15的催化性能,探究了HClO4/SBA-15催化的选择性脱异丙叉基及乙酰化的一锅法反应.在室温条件和催化量的HClO4/SBA-15作用下,反应30 min内即可完成,产率达到98％,产物的化学结构通过1H NMR、13C NMR及MS等手段得到了表征.该法后处理简单、收率较高,而且不需要任何溶剂.     

固体超强酸SO42-/ZrO2/SBA-15的合成及其催化活性

水热合成了介孔材料SBA-15,并以其为载体负载固体超强酸SO42-/ZrO2,通过XRD和N2吸附/脱附对制备的SO42-/ZrO2/SBA-15催化剂进行了表征。在固定床反应器中,以丙烯和乙酸为原料,研究了该催化剂合成乙酸异丙酯的活性。结果表明实验制备的催化剂具有较好的介孔结构,并在乙酸异丙酯的合成中表现出了良好的活性。     

Ce-SBA-15改性分子筛催化氧化油酸的研究

采用微波水热法合成SBA-15,并用浸渍法合成了Ce-SBA-15催化剂,对Ce-SBA-15催化剂进行了红外、XRD、氮气吸附脱附和吡啶红外等表征,结果表明Ce的添加没有影响SBA-15的骨架结构,同时增加了载体SBA-15的L酸位和B酸位,改性的分子筛属于中强酸.采用油酸氧化制备壬二酸的方法考察自制的Ce-SBA-15催化剂的催化活性,重复反应2次,壬二酸总收率为86％,是以磷钨酸为催化剂反应收率的1.25倍,实验结果表明了Ce的添加有效地提高了复合分子筛的酸催化性能.     

Viral Infection and Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for the Molecular Basis of COVID-19 Pathogenesis

The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While this respiratory virus only causes mild symptoms in younger healthy individuals, elderly people and those with cardiovascular diseases such as systemic hypertension are susceptible to developing severe conditions that can be fatal. SARS-CoV-2 infection is also associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial injury, acute coronary syndrome, and thromboembolism. Understanding the mechanisms of the effects of this virus on the cardiovascular system should thus help develop therapeutic strategies to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since this virus causes severe and fatal conditions in older individuals with cardiovascular comorbidities, effective therapies targeting specific populations will likely contribute to ending this pandemic. In this review article, the effects of various viruses—including other coronaviruses, influenza, dengue, and human immunodeficiency virus—on the cardiovascular system are described to help provide molecular mechanisms of pathologies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. The goal is to provide mechanistic information from the biology of other viral infections in relation to cardiovascular pathologies for the purpose of developing improved vaccines and therapeutic agents effective in preventing and/or treating the acute and long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.     

Molecular Insights into SARS-CoV2-Induced Alterations of the Gut/Brain Axis

For a yet unknown reason, a substantial share of patients suffering from COVID-19 develop long-lasting neuropsychiatric symptoms ranging from cognitive deficits to mood disorders and/or an extreme fatigue. We previously reported that in non-neural cells, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the gene coding for the SARS-CoV2 host receptor, harbors tight co-expression links with dopa-decarboxylase (DDC), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of dopamine. Here, we mined and integrated data from distinct human expression atlases and found that, among a wide range of tissues and cells, enterocytes of the small intestine express the highest expression levels of ACE2, DDC and several key genes supporting the metabolism of neurotransmitters. Based on these results, we performed co-expression analyses on a recently published set of RNA-seq data obtained from SARS-CoV2-infected human intestinal organoids. We observed that in SARS-CoV2-infected enterocytes, ACE2 co-regulates not only with DDC but also with a specific group of genes involved in (i) the dopamine/trace amines metabolic pathway, (ii) the absorption of microbiota-derived L-DOPA and (iii) the absorption of neutral amino acids serving as precursors to neurotransmitters. We conclude that in patients with long COVID, a chronic infection and inflammation of small intestine enterocytes might be indirectly responsible for prolonged brain alterations.