HAO LV¹, BO ZHU^1,2, DEGAO CHEN^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 363-378, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.046367

Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are emerging as targets for tumor therapy because of their primary role in promoting tumor progression. Several studies have been conducted to target TAMs by reducing their infiltration, depleting their numbers, and reversing their phenotypes to suppress tumor progression, leading to the development of drugs in preclinical and clinical trials. However, the heterogeneous characteristics of TAMs, including their ontogenetic and functional heterogeneity, limit their targeting. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the heterogeneity of TAMs, combined with immune checkpoint therapy or other therapeutic modalities could improve the efficiency of tumor treatment. This review focuses on the heterogeneous ontogeny and… More >

SHAN OU^#, YUN XU^#, QINGLAN LIU, TIANWEN YANG, WEI CHEN, XIU YUAN, XIN ZUO, PENG SHI^*, JIE YAO^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 415-429, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.046178

Abstract Background: The interrelation between intestinal polyps, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and colorectal cancer (CRC) is a critical area of study. This research focuses on pinpointing potential molecular targets to understand the link between intestinal polyp formation, metabolic irregularities, and CRC progression. Methods: We examined clinical samples from patients with intestinal polyps coexisting with MetS and compared them with samples from patients with standard intestinal polyps. Transcriptome sequencing and public database analysis were employed to identify significant pathways and genes. These targets were then validated through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Following the RNA interference of key target expression, a series of experiments, including the… More > Graphic Abstract

PEI QIN^#, MIAO LIU^#, XIN WANG, JIANHUA MA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 513-523, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045640

Abstract Background: L-dopa (Levodopa) is well known for managing PD (Parkinson’s disease); however, its prolonged use caused dyskinesia (LID). Due to the varied presentation of LID, effective treatment options are scarce. Flavonoids reported their neuroprotective activity by ameliorating acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and neuroinflammation. Kaempferol is another flavonoid bearing these potentials. Aim: To evaluate neuroprotective activity of kaempferol in dyskinetic rats. Methods: PD was developed in Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting combination of L-ascorbic acid (10 µL) + 6-OHDA (12 µg) in medial forebrain bundle to induce neuronal damage in substantial nigra (SNr). LID was induced by administrating combination of L-dopa (20 mg/kg)… More > Graphic Abstract

SHAHID HUSSAIN^1,*, HABIB BOKHARI¹, XINGXING FAN², SHAUKAT IQBAL MALIK³, SUNDAS IJAZ¹, MUHAMMAD ADNAN SHEREEN⁴, AIMAN FATIMA³

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 403-413, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.044801

Abstract The global incidence of lung cancer is marked by a considerably elevated mortality rate. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert pivotal influence in the intricate orchestration of gene regulation, and their dysregulation can precipitate dire consequences, notably cancer. Within this context, miRNAs encapsulated in exosomes manifest a diversified impact on the landscape of lung cancer, wherein their actions may either foster angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and metastasis, or counteract these processes. This comprehensive review article discerns potential targets for the prospective development of therapeutic agents tailored for lung cancer. Tumor-suppressive miRNAs, such as miR-204, miR-192, miR-30a, miR-34a, miR-34b, miR-203, and miR-212, exhibit heightened expression… More >

YAN LI¹, HUZHI CAI², XIAOLING PENG³, YOUHUI LIU⁴, QINGYANG CHEN⁴, XIANGDONG LIN⁵, XINYU CHEN^6,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 501-511, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.030854

Abstract Background: Renal fibrosis is an important process in the development of chronic kidney disease. Understanding the pathogenesis and finding effective treatments for renal fibrosis is crucial. This study aims to investigate whether a newly discovered long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) called LOC103694972 could be a potential target for treating fibrosis of NRK-49F cells. Methods:: LncRNA Chip was used to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs between TGF-β1-induced NRK-49F cells and normal cells. The dual-luciferase assay confirmed the binding between miR-29c-3p and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3), as well as between miR-29c-3p and lncRNA LOC103694972. Si-LOC103694972 and miR-29c-3p mimic were then transfected… More > Graphic Abstract

FEI SHA¹, DAISHAN XIN², JUN XU³, ZHIWEI ZHENG¹, WENXIN LIN¹, XIAORUI CAI¹, FEI LIN³, MINGHAO ZHENG^1,*, JIAOLING CHEN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.3, pp. 443-451, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029188

Abstract Background: Curcumin is a plant polyphenol with antitumor properties and inhibits the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, as the molecular mechanism associated is still unclear, our study aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms by which curcumin inhibits CRC. Methods: HT29 and SW480 cells were treated with curcumin or/and Doxycycline (DOX), and cell viability, colony forming ability, migration and invasion were confirmed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony forming, Transwell assays. And Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) signaling-related genes or proteins were analyzed using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. Then… More > Graphic Abstract

CHAO LIU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 339-351, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.047044

Abstract Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is still an important health problem, and understanding its pathological mechanisms is essential for its diagnosis and treatment. There is evidence that autophagy may play a role in OA progression, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we adopted a multi-prong approach to systematically identify the key autophagy-related genes (ARGs) associated with OA. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we initially identified significant gene modules associated with OA. Subsequent differential gene analysis performed on normal and OA specimens. Further analysis later using the MCC algorithm highlighted hub ARGs. These genes were then incorporated into… More >

XIAN ZHANG¹, ZHUANG ZHOU², JUNZHE WANG¹, MENGMENG HAN¹, HAN LIU¹, MEIRONG ZANG¹, JIANNING LIU¹, JIAPEI LU¹, JINQIAO ZHANG¹, GUOCHUAN ZHANG^2,*, LIXIA SUN^1,#,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 303-311, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.046640

Abstract Background: Prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) remains poor. T cell dysfunction and an immunosuppressive environment have been reported in the bone marrow (BM) of MM patients. However, the immunosuppressive microenvironment and immune checkpoint receptors (ICRs) on CD8 T cells in the EMD tissue of newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients have not been thoroughly studied. Methods: We investigated the expression levels of T cell immunoglobulin mucin-domain-containing-3 (TIM-3) and T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) on CD8 T cells and the expression of their ligands (Galectin-9 and CD155) on myeloma cells in EMD tissue of NDMM patients.… More > Graphic Abstract

JUNYING XU^1,#, PING LI^1,#, GE WANG², DAQIANG YE^1,*, XIUFU TANG^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 283-291, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045429

Abstract Background: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has been demonstrated to be involved in numerous of inflammatory diseases. Cell pyroptosis is a kind of cell death accompanied by inflammation. Objectives: The objective of this work is to explore the function of α7nAChR on cell pyroptosis in cervical cancer cells. Methods: Immunoblotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to examine the function of α7nAChR on cell pyroptosis and metabolic changes. Results: Herein, we found that α7nAChR inhibition led to cell pyroptosis in HeLa and SiHa of cervical cancer cells, which was attributed to the upregulation of the polyol… More >

LEI WANG^1,2, ZHI-HANG WANG¹, NIAN-PING CAO¹, BOBO CHEN¹, CHONG-JUN HUANG¹, LEI YANG¹, YE TIAN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.2, pp. 191-203, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.045349

Abstract Estrogen-related receptor alpha can significantly affect cell metabolism and play key regulatory roles in healthy and diseased organisms. ERRα is also related to the onset and progression of various cancer types. ERRα is primarily expressed in metabolically active tissues and regulates the transcription of metabolic genes in such tissues. It coordinates metabolism and energy demand, affects osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and chondrocytes, promotes muscle regeneration, participates in angiogenesis, and regulates cell aging. In this study, the literature related to the identification of ERRα in skeletal, muscular, and vascular systems was reviewed to further elucidate this receptor. More >