Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver. Long non-coding RNAs as master gene regulators play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the significance of lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms in HCC are largely unknown. Selleck SZL P1-41 Our study was to define the role of lncAY (long noncoding RNA AY927503) in HCC.

Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation qPCR combined with bioinformatics were used to identify the m6A modification of lncAY. qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to identify the expression of the lncAY/YTHDF2/BMI1/Wnt axis in HCC tissues and cell lines. Gain- and loss-of functions of lncAY and BMI1 were implemented to confirm their roles in the behaviors of HCC cells.

Our findings suggested that m6A-modified lncAY expression relied on m6A “reader” protein YTHDF2. LncAY upregulated BMI1 expression in HCC cells and a notably positive relevance is evident between lncAY and BMI1 expression in TCGA HCC datasets. BMI1 was upregulated in HCC tissues and patients with higher BMI1 expression had a poor clinical prognosis. Besides, GSEA analysis showed remarkable enrichment of high BMI1 expression in gene sets associated with Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Rescue results revealed that BMI1 reversed the suppressive effects of lncAY depletion in HCC cells.

Our work suggested that lncAY might elevate BMI1 expression and further activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. BMI1 reverses the suppressive effects of lncAY depletion in HCC cells. Collectively, our work uncovers a novel undefined regulatory signaling pathway, namely lncAY/BMI1/Wnt/β-catenin axis, involved in liver cancer progression.

Our work suggested that lncAY might elevate BMI1 expression and further activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. BMI1 reverses the suppressive effects of lncAY depletion in HCC cells. Collectively, our work uncovers a novel undefined regulatory signaling pathway, namely lncAY/BMI1/Wnt/β-catenin axis, involved in liver cancer progression.

Obesity is associated with a spectrum of hepatic abnormalities that can be experimentally induced by injections of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in neonatal rodents. We investigated the protective actions of the repeated therapy with 4-phenylselenyl-7-chloroquinoline (4-PSQ), a quinoline derivative containing selenium, on damage to the liver triggered by early postnatal administration of MSG in male Wistar rats.

Neonatal rats received MSG (4g/kg, subcutaneous route) or saline (1ml/kg) from 5 to 14 postnatal day (PND) to induce obesity with consequent damages in the liver. 4-PSQ treatment (5mg/kg) or canola oil (1ml/kg) was administered from 60 to 76 PND by the intragastric route. On 76 PND, animals were anesthetized for blood and liver collection. Plasma markers of hepatic function, hepatic lipoperoxidation levels and histology analysis of liver tissue were assessed.

Our data revealed that treatment with 4-PSQ reverted the increase in plasma transaminases activities observed in MSG rats. Treatment with 4-PSQ reduced plasma lactate levels in obese rats. In the liver, MSG elevated the content of lipoperoxidation which was reverted by 4-PSQ administrations. Lastly, 4-PSQ therapy attenuated the histological alterations induced by MSG.

Together, the results indicate a hepatoprotective action of repeated treatment with 4-PSQ in obese rats.

Together, the results indicate a hepatoprotective action of repeated treatment with 4-PSQ in obese rats.The anal papillae of mosquito larvae are osmoregulatory organs in direct contact with the external aquatic environment that actively sequester ions and take up water in dilute freshwater. In the disease vector Aedes aegypti mechanisms of ion, water and ammonia transport have only been partially resolved. Furthermore, A. aegypti larvae are known to reside in high ammonia sewage and high salt brackish waters, and understanding of anal papillae function in these conditions is in its infancy. The objective of this study was to identify the complement of ion and water transport genes expressed by the anal papillae of freshwater larvae by sequencing their transcriptome, and comparing their expression in anal papillae of larvae abruptly transferred to brackish water for 24 h. Results identified a number of ion and water transport proteins, ammonia detoxifying enzymes, a full suite of xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes and transporters, and G-protein coupled receptors of specific hormones. We identified a marked increase in transcript and protein abundance of aquaporin AaAQP2 in the anal papillae with abrupt transfer to brackish water. We present an updated and more comprehensive model for ion and water transport with additional putative transporters for Na+ and Cl- uptake in the anal papillae. These are organs which are actively engaged in Na+, Cl- and water uptake and regulation when the aquatic larvae encounter fluctuating salinities over the course of their development. Furthermore the transcriptome of the anal papillae includes a full set of xenobiotic detoxification genes suggesting that these are important detoxification organs which is particularly important when larvae reside in polluted water.Immune cells not only constitute tumour microenvironment but they may even affect disease prognosis as a result of dual functional roles that they may play in tumour tissues. Two frequently used established immune cell lines (lymphocytic Jurkat and monocytic THP-1) were used to test whether microenvironmental factors, especially molecular components of extracellular matrix, can shape the phenotype of immune cells. Proliferation, morphological and phenotypical analyses were applied to compare behaviour of the immune cells, typically cultured as suspensions in culture medium, with their behaviour in collagen type I-based and Matrigel-based 3D cultures. Density of both immune cell types in routine suspension cultures affected their subsequent proliferation in extracellular matrices. THP-1 cells appeared to be more sensitive to their surrounding microenvironment as judged from extracellular matrix type-dependent changes in their cell doubling times and from slight increase in their diameters in both extracellular matrix-containing cell cultures.