JINXIA CHEN^1,2,3,#, SULI DAI^1,2,#, GENG ZHANG^4,5, SISI WEI^1,2, XUETAO ZHAO³, YANG ZHENG^1,2, YAOJIE WANG^1,2, XIAOHAN WANG^1,2, YUNJIANG LIU^4,5,*, LIANMEI ZHAO^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.11, pp. 1791-1802, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.049348 - 16 October 2024

Abstract Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous, recurring cancer characterized by a high rate of metastasis, poor prognosis, and lack of efficient therapies. KBU2046, a small molecule inhibitor, can inhibit cell motility in malignant tumors, including breast cancer. However, the specific targets and the corresponding mechanism of its function remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we employed (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H tetrazolium) (MTS) assay and transwell assay to investigate the impact of KBU2046 on the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells in vitro. RNA-Seq was used to explore the targets of KBU2046 that inhibit the motility of TNBC.… More > Graphic Abstract

Huiyan Liang¹, Wei Fang¹, Xiqiao Feng^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012719

Abstract Cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions play a pivotal role in many functions of cells, for example, sensing, signaling, migration, and gene expression. The spatial-temporal dynamic evolution of cell–substrate adhesions involves complicated mechano-bio-chemical coupling mechanisms of integrin, adaptor and signaling proteins, and the interplay between the cytoskeleton and ECM as well. In this paper, we establish a multiscale dynamic model of cell–substrate interfaces considering intermolecular force transmission pathways, i.e., intra- and extra-cellular bond dynamics, and mechanochemical coupling regulations. To illustrate its applications, this model is used to reproduce several adhesion-related experimental phenomena of cells, including substrate rigidity… More >

MAGDALENA RUDZIŃSKA-RADECKA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.8, pp. 1893-1901, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019724 - 22 April 2022

Abstract Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the most common and aggressive malignancy subtype of renal neoplasm that arises from proximal convoluted tubules. It is characterized by poor clinical outcomes and high mortality of patients due to the lack of specific biomarkers for varying stages of the disease and no effective treatment. Proteases are associated with the development of several malignant tumors in humans by their ability to degrade extracellular matrices, facilitating metastasis. Herein, differentially expressed genes in KIRC cases compared to healthy kidneys were screened out from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA)… More >

CHEN CAI¹, HAO SUN², LIANG HU³, ZHICHAO FAN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.2, pp. 229-257, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.014338 - 19 February 2021

Abstract Integrin molecules are transmembrane αβ heterodimers involved in cell adhesion, trafficking, and signaling. Upon activation, integrins undergo dynamic conformational changes that regulate their affinity to ligands. The physiological functions and activation mechanisms of integrins have been heavily discussed in previous studies and reviews, but the fluorescence imaging techniques –which are powerful tools for biological studies– have not. Here we review the fluorescence labeling methods, imaging techniques, as well as Förster resonance energy transfer assays used to study integrin expression, localization, activation, and functions. More >

Jun Shan Ruan^*†, Huan Zhou^*, Lin Yang^‡, Ling Wang^*, Zong Sheng Jiang^§, Hong Sun^*, Shao Ming Wang^*†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.5, pp. 593-600, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15051723858706

Abstract Transforming growth factor- 1 (TGF- 1)-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may contribute to tumor metastasis. TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells (a human NSCLC cell line) resulted in the adoption of mesenchymal responses that were predominantly mediated via the TGF- 1–integrin signaling pathway. Ursolic acid has been previously reported to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in several cancers. However, whether ursolic acid can attenuate TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, ursolic acid significantly attenuated the TGF- 1-induced decrease in E-cadherin level More >

Yan Zu^1,2, Qiang Li¹, Chun Yang^2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 106-106, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07132

Abstract Extracellular matrix (ECM) elasticity affects the function of a variety of cells. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that considered to be a sensor of cellular mechanical stimulation. The activity of integrins is strongly influenced by glycans through glycosylation events and the establishment of glycan-mediated interactions. Our study found that the level of β1 integrin N-linked glycosylation was significantly down-regulated on softer ECM. Further, sialic acid is a common monosaccharide modified at the end of the sugar chain during N-glycosylation. We subjected the enriched sialylated glycoproteins to gel-based proteomic identification by tandem mass spectrometry and found that… More >

Xueyi Yang¹, Yue Xu¹, Chun Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 101-101, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07117

Abstract Cell-matrix interactions guide various cell behaviors, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, etc. Integrins, as a known transmembrane mechanosensor, undergo conformational changes in response to mechanical stimuli, and manipulate cell-matrix chemical-mechanical coupled signaling transduction [1]. The integrin-ligand bond kinetics has gain increasing attention among researchers. Independent studies showed that the integrin-ligand bond has been reported to be reinforced by the applied force f, while the loading rate df/dt had little effect on the bond lifetime [2].
We previously observed a dramatic increase in bond lifetime beyond a loading rate threshold for the integrin α2β1-DGEA bond, by introducing… More >

Ying Fang¹, Jianhua Wu^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.1, pp. 5-6, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.05695

Abstract For hemostasis and thrombosis, some proteins, such as Von Willebrand Factor (VWF, a multimeric plasma glycoprotein synthesized in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes and secreted to circulation or attached to endothelial cells), the metalloprotease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13), P-selectin (one of three selectin family members with a N-terminal C-type lectin domain, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like module, a series of consensus repeat (CR) units, a transmembrane segment and a short cyto-plasmic domain) and β2 integrin. In adhesion and aggregation of circulating platelets towards to the sites of… More >

Ning Li^{1, 2, 3}, Xiao Zhang^{1, 2}, Peiwen Li^{1, 2}, Hao Yang^{1, 2}, Chunfang Tong^{1, 2}, Shouqin Lü^{1, 2}, Yan Zhang^{1, 2}, Zhiyi Ye³, Jun Pan^{3, *}, Mian Long^{1, 2, *}

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.116, No.2, pp. 263-279, 2018, DOI:10.31614/cmes.2018.04079

Abstract Neutrophil (PMN) accumulation on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) is crucial to pathogen clearance and tissue damage in the liver sinusoids and controlled by a series of adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of PMNs and LSECs. The role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1) in this process is still contentious. Here we compared the dynamic force spectra of the binding of β2 integrin to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on LSECs using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and performed free and steered molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze their structural bases of LFA-1-… More >

Bingbing ZHANG^{1, 2}, Ying ZHANG^{1, 2}, Xiaomei ZHANG^{1, 2}, Yonggang LV^{1, 2}

BIOCELL, Vol.42, No.1, pp. 17-24, 2018, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2018.06115

Abstract Mechanical microenvironment can strongly affect the metastatic efficiency of circulating tumor cells. However, the effect of suspension state on their extravasation and the mechanisms involved are still unclear. To explore the influence of suspension state on extravasation (including adhesion, spreading and transendothelial migration) of breast tumor cells and its relevant molecular mechanism, MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured on poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) coated 6-well plates to minic the suspension state. Suspension state promoted adhesion, spreading and transendothelial migration of MDA-MB-231 cells to EAhy926 endothelial cells (ECs) monolayer under both the static condition and 0.5 dyne/cm² flow shear stress More >