Biology subjects

Han, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Han, S..

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

INHBA promotes the progression of gastric cancer by activating MAPK signaling pathway via targeting ITGA6

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies, ranking as the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause among cancer related deaths worldwide. Upregulated INHBA expression in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR analysis. This increased expression of INHBA was found to be significantly associated with the incidence of tumor lesion, lymph node metastasis and the progression to more advanced TNM stages in patients. Functional experiments showed that INHBA could promote the proliferation of GC cells, enhance migration and invasion in vitro, while simultaneously facilitating the inhibition of apoptosis. To test whether INHBA regulated the tumor growth in vivo, the animal studies were performed. The indicated that INHBA over-expression promoted the tumor growth, including weight and volume. Moreover, this study demonstrated through a series of experiments including RNA-seq, Co-IP, Co-IF, Western blot, and Rescue studies that INHBA promotes the progression of GC by targeting ITGA6 to regulate the MAPK signaling pathway. In summary, understanding the role of INHBA/ITGA6/MAPK in tumourigenesis could provide new insights into gastric cancer therapy and targeted inhibition of INHBA might be a potential therapeutic approach for GC treatment.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Nanosecond pulsed electric field precisely manipulates cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations during oocyte activation

Oocyte activation deficiency (OAD) is a primary cause of fertilization failure following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a problem that can potentially be overcome through artificial oocyte activation (AOA). However, concerns persist regarding the safety and efficacy of AOA techniques in clinical practice. In this study, nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is proposed as a safe and controllable method for oocyte activation in vitro by precisely manipulating Ca2+ signaling in the ooplasm. Mouse oocytes collected from oviducts were exposed to nsPEF stimulation at varying intensities to induce distinct Ca2+ signaling patterns. Subsequently, these oocytes underwent parthenogenetic activation and were cultured to assess developmental potential up to the blastocyst stage. The sperm-initiated physiological Ca2+ oscillations are successfully mimicked by one series of Ca2+ signals induced by nsPEF at low or medium intensities, and improve activation efficiency and developmental potential compared to calcium ionophore A23187. Low-intensity nsPEF pulses mediated repetitive extracellular Ca2+ influx in a non-invasive, electro-permeable manner. Medium-intensity nsPEF stimulation triggered periodic Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the PIP2-IP3-IP3R pathway, producing physiological-like Ca2+ oscillations. The non-invasive nsPEF method ensures safe oocyte activation by preserving cellular integrity and minimizing stress responses. The efficacy of nsPEF in precisely manipulating Ca2+ signaling patterns was further validated in human unfertilized oocytes. Our findings present a novel AOA approach with enhanced safety and efficacy, especially for patients experiencing repeated fertilization failures. It is anticipated that nsPEF is emerging as a promising technology for addressing male infertility issues, and may offer a potential alternative fertility treatment, bypassing sperm for initiation of oocyte activation.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

CTCF-RNA interactions orchestrate cell-specific chromatin loop organization

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is essential for chromatin organization. CTCF interacts with endogenous RNAs, and deletion of its ZF1 RNA-binding region ({Delta}ZF1) disrupts chromatin loops in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the functional significance of CTCF-ZF1 RNA interactions during cell differentiation is unknown. Using an ESC-to-neural progenitor cell (NPC) differentiation model, we show that CTCF-ZF1 is crucial for maintaining cell-type-specific chromatin loops. Expression of CTCF-{Delta}ZF1 leads to disrupted loops and dysregulation of genes within these loops, particularly those involved in neuronal development and function. We identified NPC-specific, CTCF-ZF1 interacting RNAs. Truncation of two such coding RNAs, Podxl and Grb10, disrupted chromatin loops in cis, similar to the disruption seen in CTCF-{Delta}ZF1 expressing NPCs. These findings underscore the inherent importance of CTCF-ZF1 RNA interactions in preserving cell-specific genome structure and cellular identity. HIGHLIGHTSO_LICTCF loop anchors induced after differentiation are disrupted in the {Delta}ZF1 RNA-binding mutant. C_LIO_LILoop loss in the {Delta}ZF1 mutant is independent of its DNA binding and protein interactions. C_LIO_LIChromatin loop loss is associated with gene dysregulation. C_LIO_LITruncation of cell-specific, CTCF-ZF1-interacting RNAs disrupts chromatin loops in cis. C_LI GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/643339v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (37K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1dad736org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@674a5dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14345d4org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19d83cb_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Non-invasive assessment of integrated cardiorespiratory network dynamics after physiological stress in humans

BackgroundPhysiological variables provide critical insights into the integrated control of the cardiorespiratory system, reflecting the bodys real-time responses to internal and external perturbations. Visualizing the exchange of information between different components of the cardiorespiratory system is beneficial for monitoring individuals in various clinical settings and extreme environments. This study aimed to develop a non-invasive method, using principles of information theory, to visualize the flow of information between physiological variables, with a focus on the integrated cardiorespiratory responses to different physiological stressors. MethodsHeart rate, respiratory rate, minute ventilation, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), end-tidal oxygen, and end-tidal carbon dioxide concentrations were recorded from 22 healthy participants. Transfer entropy, which reflects measures of causal relationships between parallel time-series, was used to compute the flow of information between cardiorespiratory signals into network maps. Network mapping was performed after rest in a control condition and following exposure to the isolated and combined effects of normobaric hypoxia (FIO2: 0.12), moderate intensity cycling exercise (100W), and overnight sleep deprivation. For each intervention, 10-minute segments of physiological signals (from minutes 5 to 15 after the commencement of hypoxia and/or exercise) were used for analysis. ResultsEach physiological stressor was associated with a distinctive pattern of information flow between physiological variables. Hypoxia led to the engagement of SpO2 a hub in the network, facilitating the exchange of information with end-tidal oxygen concentration and heart rate. Sleep deprivation was associated with a shift in the flow of information from SpO2 to other nodes, such as respiratory rate, during hypoxia. During exercise, heart rate emerged as the central node for receiving information, while SpO2 acted as the primary node disseminating information to other nodes. Increased connectivity within the networks was observed during exercise alone or when combined with other stressors. ConclusionThis non-invasive network mapping technique visualizes the interaction of various cardiorespiratory variables following exposure to physiological stressors. By mapping normative responses, this approach may help identify outliers associated with various disease states.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Identification of a neural basis for energy expenditure in the arcuate hypothalamus

Given the evolutionary instinct for caloric intake and the tendency for weight rebound after discontinuing dietary interventions or medications, increasing energy expenditure emerges as an alternative obesity treatment. However, neural regulation of energy expenditure remains poorly understood. Here, we report that a hypothalamic neuronal subtype, characterized by Crabp1 expression, establishes connections with multiple hypothalamic nuclei to regulate energy expenditure in mice. Inactivation of Crabp1 neurons reduces physical activity, body temperature, and adaptive thermogenesis, leading to an obese phenotype. Conversely, activation of these neurons increases energy expenditure and mitigates diet-induced obesity. Structural and functional analyses reveal that Crabp1 neurons promote energy metabolism through a "one-to-many" projection pattern. While Crabp1 neurons are rapidly activated by cold exposure and physical activity, prolonged light exposure abrogates their firing and may mediate light-induced metabolic disorder. Together, we reveal a neural basis that integrate various physiological and environmental stimuli to control energy expenditure and body weight.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

A curated great ape genome diversity panel

Studying the genetic diversity of non-human great apes is important for research questions in evolution as well as human diversity and disease. Genomic data of the three great ape clades (Pan, Gorilla, Pongo) has been published across multiple studies over more than one decade. However, unlike in humans, no comprehensive dataset on great ape diversity is available, due to different scopes of the original studies. Here, we present a curated dataset of 332 high coverage ([≥]12-fold) whole genomes, including 198 chimpanzee, 16 bonobo, 77 gorilla and 41 orangutan individuals sequenced on the Illumina platform. By integrating data from captive individuals, we contextualize them with data from wild individuals. We discuss issues with previously published data leading to removal of individuals due to low sequencing depth, missing data, or occurrence of duplicate individuals. This resource of files in CRAM and gVCF format, as well as segregating sites per clade, will allow researchers to address questions related to human and great ape evolution and diversity in a comparative manner.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Cholesterol efflux protein, ABCA1, supports anti-cancer functions of myeloid immune cells

Although immune therapy has seen significant advances, the majority of breast and other solid tumors do not respond or quickly develop de novo resistance. One factor driving resistance is highly immune suppressive myeloid cells (MCs) such as macrophages. Previous work has established clinical links between cholesterol and cancer outcome, and that MC function can be regulated through disruption in cholesterol metabolism. Thus, we screened for proteins that were expressed in MCs, involved in cholesterol homeostasis and whose expression was associated with survival; we identify the cholesterol efflux protein ABCA1. Preclinical studies revealed that ABCA1 activity resulted in increased anti-cancer functions of macrophages: enhanced tumor infiltration, decreased angiogenic potential, reduced efferocytosis, and improved support of CD8+ T cell activity. Mechanistically, different AKT isoforms are involved, through both PI3K dependent and independent mechanisms. Assessment of human blood and breast tumors revealed correlations between ABCA1 in macrophages and angiogenic potential, VEGFA, and CD8 T cell abundance and activity, highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings. The culmination of the effects of ABCA1 on MC function were demonstrated through increased tumor growth and metastasis in mice with MC specific knockout of ABCA1. Therefore, modulating ABCA1 activity within MCs may represent a novel approach to immune therapy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Identification of polyphosphate-binding proteins in E. coli uncovers targets involved in translation control and ribosome biogenesis

In many bacteria, polyphosphate kinase (PPK) enzymes use ATP to synthesize polyphosphate (polyP) in response to cellular stress. These chains of inorganic phosphates are joined by high-energy bonds and can reach hundreds of residues in length. PolyP plays diverse functions in helping bacteria adjust to changing environmental conditions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these functions are poorly understood. In eukaryotic cells, polyacidic serine- and lysine-rich (PASK) motifs of proteins can mediate binding to polyP chains. Whereas PASK motifs are relatively common in yeast and human cells, we report that these sequences are rare in bacteria commonly used for polyP research. Thus, to identify novel polyP-binding proteins in Escherichia coli, we carried out an untargeted screen and identified 7 novel targets with links to translation control and ribosome biogenesis. For two targets, the GTPase activating protein YihI and the ribonuclease Rnr, we mapped the regions of polyP interaction to non-PASK sequences and identified lysine residues critical for binding. We found that deletion of rnr suppressed the slow growth phenotype of {Delta}ppk mutants grown on minimal media. Conversely, ppk deletion resulted in decreased Rnr protein expression. These phenotypes were dependent on the polyP binding region of Rnr but independent of polyP binding itself, suggesting a complex interplay between PPK and Rnr function in E. coli. Overall, our work provides new insights into the scope of polyP binding proteins and extends the connections between polyP and the regulation of protein translation in E. coli.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Context-dependent hierarchical categorization of human faces: Behavioral and EEG/MEG evidence

Social categorization of faces provides a key cognitive basis of human behavior and may occur along various dimensions of facial attributes. The present study investigated a potential hierarchical structure of social categorization of faces based on a superordinate (Species) versus a subordinate (Race) level of abstraction of facial attributes. We recorded behavioral performances in a face classification task and found faster responses to the same set of Asian faces when presented alternately with dog faces (a species context) relative to Black faces (a race context). In addition, using a repetition suppression (RS) paradigm, we recorded electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals to Asian faces in the species and race contexts, respectively. Our analyses of the RS effects on EEG/MEG signals to Asian faces revealed that dynamic neural encoding of similarity of Asian faces occurred in the right fusiform gyrus at 140-200 ms and in the left temporoparietal junction at 317-413 ms after stimulus onset in the species context but only in the left temporoparietal junction at 317-413 ms in the race context. These behavioral and EEG/MEG findings unravel the neurocognitive mechanisms of context-dependent social categorization of faces by highlighting its hierarchically organized structure based on different levels of facial attributes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Repurposing AZD-5991 for inhibiting growth and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus by disrupting the cell membrane and targeting FabI.

Staphylococcus aureus infections have already become a major threat to public health worldwide. Drug resistance and biofilm formation are two critical factors that significantly affect the efficacy of the antimicrobial treatment of S. aureus infections using conventional antibiotics. Therefore, the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents with potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity has become a hotspot in recent years. Here, we first demonstrated the remarkable inhibitory activity of AZD-5991, a selective Mcl-1 inhibitor, against S. aureus. The MIC50 and MIC90 of AZD-5991 against S. aureus were 12.5 M, and AZD-5991 significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus at a subinhibitory concentration of 1/2 x MIC. Besides, AZD-5991 displayed bactericidal activity and a robust capacity for inhibiting biofilm formation against S. aureus with very low drug toxicity against host cell lines. Our data demonstrated the disruption of S.aureus cell integrity by AZD-5991 through membrane permeability assays and the ingredients of the bacterial phospholipids could neutralize the antibacterial activity of AZD-5991. Moreover, whole-genome sequencing and proteomic analysis were also applied to gain insights into the possible impact of AZD-5991 on the fatty metabolism of S. aureus. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of AZD-5991 was significantly elevated by exogenous fatty acids linoleic acid (C18:2 {Delta} 9,12) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 {Delta} 5,8,11,14). Lastly, the biolayer interferometry assay supported the direct interaction of AZD-5991 with FabI, a necessary protein related closely to bacterial growth and fatty acid metabolism. Conclusively, this study suggests that AZD-5991 could inhibit the planktonic growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus by disrupting the cell membrane and targeting FabI. AZD-5991 might be a promising new antibiotic candidate for the antimicrobial treatment of S. aureus infections resistant to traditional clinical drugs. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=84 SRC="FIGDIR/small/638150v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (18K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@658444org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@cea949org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cc003dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@23de22_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Leopard Cats Occupied Human Settlements in China for 3,500 years before the Arrival of Domestic cats in 600-900 CE around the Tang Dynasty

The earliest cats in human settlements in China were not domestic cats (Felis catus), but native leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis). To trace when and how domestic cats arrived in East Asia, we analyzed 22 feline bones from 14 sites across China spanning 5,000 years. Nuclear and mitochondrial genomes revealed that leopard cats began occupying anthropogenic scenes around 5,400 years ago and last appeared in 150 CE. Following several centuries gap of archeological feline remains, the first known domestic cat (706-883 CE) in China was identified in Shaanxi during the Tang Dynasty. Genomic analysis suggested a white or partially white coat and a link to a contemporaneous domestic cat from Kazakhstan, indicating a likely dispersal route via the Silk Road. The two felids once independently occupied ancient anthropogenic environments in China but followed divergent paths and reached different destinations in human-animal interactions.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Genes with disrupted connectivity in the architecture of schizophrenia gene co-expression networks highlight atypical neuronal-glial interactions

Dysconnectivity in schizophrenia is a pervasive trait across various levels of systems biology. To better understand disrupted patterns of molecular connectivity distinguishing schizophrenia from control non-clinical populations, we applied novel approaches to gene co-expression networks in large samples of postmortem brains from multiple regions relevant to schizophrenia: the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex- (DLPFC) (Ndonors=297), hippocampus (Ndonors=250) and caudate (Ndonors=349). We identified differentially connected genes (DCGs) in schizophrenia networks that deviated from architectural relationships characteristic of control gene co-expression networks, by assessing three network metrics - total connectivity (K), clustering coefficient (C), and intra-module degree (kIn) determined by projecting the modular community structure of the control networks onto the schizophrenia co-expression networks. Genes showing significant absolute case-control differences for these metrics (i.e., irrespective of difference directionality) were then tested for their relationships with common genetic variants conferring risk of schizophrenia and their biological significance through post-GWAS analyses (stratified LDSC and MAGMA), gene ontology annotations and enrichment in schizophrenia-relevant gene sets. We identified multiple DCGs, with case-control differences of connectivity metrics, consistent across brain regions. When parsed by parameter specificity, these genes show shared and specific enrichment in schizophrenia genetic signal, biological ontologies and selected cell-type markers. Notably these findings revealed widespread disturbances in co-expression connectivity affecting both neuronal and glial cells, particularly oligodendrocytes. Overall, our results highlight disrupted co-expression network architecture in schizophrenia, implicating disrupted neuronal-glial crosstalk and its effect on synaptic transmission.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Protein-Like Polymer for Inhibition of Tau Fibril Propagation in Human-Derived Models of Neurodegeneration

The misfolding, aggregation, and spread of tau protein fibrils underlie tauopathies, a diverse class of neurodegenerative diseases for which effective treatments remain elusive. Among these are corticobasal dementia (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), canonical examples of 4-repeat (4R) tauopathies characterized by tau isoforms exclusively with four microtubule-binding repeat domains. We target this 4R tau isoform-specific mechanism by focusing on misfolded taus distinctive stem-loop-stem structural motif formed by the junction of the 4R-defining alternatively spliced exon and the adjacent constitutive exon. A synthetic peptide based on this stem-loop-stem sequence can induce aggregation and spread in an isoform-specific manner. Here, we develop a protein-like polymer (PLP) in which multiple copies of this synthetic peptide form a brush-like structure capable of preventing tau aggregation by binding and capping fibril ends in vitro, in human brain organoids, and in cellular models with an EC50 of 105 {+/-} 14 nM. PLPs demonstrate robust activity against fibrils derived from CBD and PSP patient brains and a PS19 mouse tauopathy model. Previous tau-targeted treatments have primarily focused on broad tau clearance, aggregation inhibition, or microtubule stabilization, often lacking isoform specificity and precision. In contrast, this approach targets the 4R tau isoforms unique structural motif, offering a tailored therapeutic intervention for diseases like CBD and PSP. Supported by prior studies showing blood-brain barrier penetrance and safety profiles, this tau-binding PLP offers a promising translational path toward clinical applications in tauopathy treatment.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Evidence for a reactionary account of retrieval state initiation

Engagement of the retrieval state (or mode) is theorized to be a precursor to successful retrieval, but precisely when the retrieval state is engaged is unclear. Our aim in the present study is to determine the time course of retrieval state initiation. Based on growing evidence that the retrieval state reflects internal attention, we hypothesize that the retrieval state is reactionary rather than preparatory, whereby the retrieval state is engaged following - rather than preceding - a stimulus. We collected scalp electroencephalography data during a mnemonic state task in which we explicitly biased participants to engage in either retrieval or encoding states, and in which we manipulated the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between the instruction and stimulus onsets. Our general expectation is that selective engagement of the retrieval state will only occur after stimulus presentation and thus be unaffected by the SOA. Our behavioral results show that regardless of the SOA, a bias to retrieval compared to encoding leads to worse memory for object stimuli. Using cross-study multivariate pattern analyses, we find robust engagement of the retrieval state approximately 500 ms following stimulus onset and no evidence for selective retrieval state engagement during the instruction interval. Together, these findings suggest that retrieval state engagement is reactionary and is consistent with the retrieval state reflecting internal attention engaged in the attempt to access stored information.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

YTHDF3 promotes the progression of gastric cancer by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via targeting NEK7

Gastric cancer (GC) is a widespread and deadly malignancy among global digestive tract tumors, alarmingly ranked the fifth most common cancer in terms of incidence and mortality. This study used immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR to reveal a significant upregulation of YTHDF3 expression in GC tissues compared with that of adjacent normal tissues. This increased expression of YTHDF3 was closely associated with the incidence of lymph node metastasis and the progression to more advanced TNM stages. In vitro experiments demonstrated that YTHDF3 was crucial in promoting the aggressive characteristics of GC cells by enhancing their ability to proliferate, migrate, and invade, while simultaneously inhibiting apoptosis. The role of YTHDF3 in the progression of GC was further confirmed using the BALB/c nude mice subcutaneous tumor model, which showed a slowed tumor growth after YTHDF3 knockdown. This study further confirmed through Co-IF RIP-qPCR, western blotting, and rescue studies that YTHDF3 promotes GC progression by targeting NEK7 to regulate the Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, our pivotal findings highlight the YTHDF3/NEK7/Wnt/{beta}-catenin axis as a promising and accessible therapeutic target for the development of new treatments aimed at improving clinical outcome of patients with GC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Localized Reconstruction of Multimodal Distance Distribution from DEER Data of Biopolymers

Pulsed Dipolar ESR Spectroscopy (PDS) is a uniquely powerful technique to characterize the structural property of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and polymers and the conformational evolution of IDPs and polymers, e.g. during assembly, by offering the probability distribution of segment end-to-end distances. However, it is challenging to determine distance distribution P(r) of IDPs by PDS because of the uncertain and broad shape information that is intrinsic to the distance distribution of IDPs. We demonstrate here that the Srivastava-Freed Singular Value Decomposition (SF-SVD) point-wise mathematical inversion method along with wavelet denoising (WavPDS) can aid in obtaining reliable shapes for the distance distribution, P(r), for IDPs. We show that broad regions of P(r) as well as mixed narrow and broad features within the captured distance distribution range can be effectively resolved and differentiated without a priori knowledge. The advantage of SF-SVD and WavPDS is that the methods are transparent, requiring no adjustable parameters, the processing of the magnitude for the probability distribution is performed separately for each distance increment, and the outcome of the analysis is independent of the users judgement. We demonstrate the performance and present the application of WavPDS and SF-SVD on model ruler molecules, model polyethylene glycol polymers with end-to-end spin labeling, and IDPs with pairwise labeling spanning different segments of the protein tau to generate the transparent solutions to the P(r)s including their uncertainties and error analysis.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2024

ITGB4 promotes the progression of colorectal cancer by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via targeting EZR

ObjectivesColorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) has been previously identified as being overexpressed in CRC; however, its precise oncogenic mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the functional role of ITGB4 in CRC progression and identify its downstream molecular effectors to provide new insights for targeted therapy. MethodsThe biological functions of ITGB4 were investigated in CRC cell lines (SW480 and HCT116) using a series of in vitro assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell migration and invasion, and flow cytometry for apoptosis following ITGB4 knockdown. An in vivo xenograft mouse model was used to evaluate the effect of ITGB4 on tumor growth. Downstream targets were screened using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and validated by co-immunoprecipitation and co-immunofluorescence. The underlying signaling pathway was investigated by Western blotting and functional rescue experiments. ResultsKnockdown of ITGB4 significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis in vitro. Similarly, silencing ITGB4 markedly inhibited tumor growth in the in vivo xenograft model. RNA-seq analysis identified Ezrin (EZR) as a key downstream target of ITGB4, and a direct protein-protein interaction was confirmed between them. Mechanistically, ITGB4 knockdown decreased the expression of EZR at both the mRNA and protein levels. ITGB4 was demonstrated to exert its pro-tumorigenic effects through the regulation of EZR, which subsequently activated the Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling pathway. Interestingly, EZR overexpression partially restored ITGB4 levels, suggesting a potential positive feedback loop via Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling that further amplifies this oncogenic axis. Notably, the malignant phenotypes suppressed by ITGB4 silencing were significantly rescued by the overexpression of EZR. ConclusionThe present study identified a novel ITGB4/EZR/Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling axis in colorectal cancer. ITGB4 promotes CRC progression by modulating EZR expression and subsequently activating the Wnt/{beta}-catenin pathway. These findings highlight ITGB4 as a potential prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for CRC.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Sex differences in central amygdala glutamate responses to calcitonin gene-related peptide

Women are disproportionately affected by chronic pain compared to men. While societal and environmental factors contribute to this disparity, sex-based biological differences in the processing of pain are also believed to play significant roles. The central lateral nucleus of the amygdala (CeLC) is a key region for the emotional-affective dimension of pain, and a prime target for exploring sex differences in pain processing since a recent study demonstrated sex differences in CGRP actions in this region. Inputs to CeLC from the parabrachial nucleus (PB) play a causal role in aversive processing, and release both glutamate and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is thought to play a crucial role in chronic pain by potentiating glutamatergic signaling in CeLC. However, it is not known if this CGRP-mediated synaptic plasticity occurs similarly in males and females. Here, we tested the hypothesis that female CeLC neurons experience greater potentiation of glutamatergic signaling than males following endogenous CGRP exposure. Using trains of optical stimuli to evoke transient CGRP release from PB terminals in CeLC, we find that subsequent glutamatergic responses are preferentially potentiated in CeLC neurons from female mice. This potentiation was CGRP-dependent and involved a postsynaptic mechanism. This sex difference in CGRP sensitivity may explain sex differences in affective pain processing. Significance statementThe central lateral nucleus of the amygdala (CeLC) receives a dense projection from parabrachial nucleus (PB) neurons that corelease calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and glutamate following aversive stimuli. This PBCGRP[->]CeLC projection plays a causal role in chronic pain. We show that endogenous CGRP release potentiates glutamate signaling in female, but not male, CeLC neurons. In the context of previous work in male CeLC, this suggests that that females are more sensitive to even transient CGRP release events. Understanding how this sex difference in CGRP sensitivity arises could enhance strategies for treating chronic pain in both women and men.

neuroscience↗