Project description:This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of tormentic acid (TA) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. The rats were intragastrically administered with 50% CCl4 for 9 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis, followed by various agents for 6 weeks. Transcriptomic analysis was carried out to predict the potential targets, and then multiple examinations were performed to verify the prediction. The results showed that TA significantly alleviated liver injury and fibrosis, as evidenced by the ameliorative pathological tissue, low transaminase activity, and decreased collagen accumulation. Besides, TA markedly reduced hepatocyte apoptosis by regulating the expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 families. The transcriptomic analysis revealed 2,173 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the TA and model groups, which could be enriched in the metabolic pathways and the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. The metabolomics analysis showed that TA could regulate the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway by regulating the synthesis of phosphatidylserines, phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylcholines. Moreover, the integrative analysis of the transcriptomics and metabolomics data indicated that TA inhibited the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway by inhibiting the expression of LPCAT4, PTDSS2, PLA2G2A and CEPT1. In addition, the relevant signaling pathways analysis confirmed that TA inhibited HSCs activation by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and ameliorated inflammatory injury by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, TA significantly alleviates liver fibrosis in vivo by inhibiting the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE35701: CP001: Modulation of glutamine metabolism by the PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO network regulates autophagy GSE35703: CP003: Modulation of glutamine metabolism by the PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO network regulates autophagy Refer to individual Series
Project description:Frozen shoulder (FS) is characterized by pain and limited range of motion (ROM). Inflammation and fibrosis are accepted as main pathologic processes associated with the development of FS. However, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying pathologic fibrosis remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the key molecules involved in pathologic fibrosis and explore new therapeutic targets for FS. Synovial fibroblasts isolated from patient biopsies were identified using immunofluorescence. Western blotting, RT-qPCR, cell adhesion tests, and would-healing assays were used to evaluate the fibrosis-related functions of synovial fibroblasts. Elevated cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) expression was detected in FS using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Salvianolic acid b (SaB) inhibited CD36, blocking synovial fibroblast-induced inflammation and fibrosis. Our RNA-seq data showed that knocking down CD36 dramatically impaired the capacity of synovial fibroblasts for cell adhesion and that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be crucial to the fibrotic process of FS. By up-regulating CD36 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt, we demonstrated that CD36 promotes pathologic fibrosis by activating the PI3k-Akt pathway. Finally, rats treated with SaB had improved ROM and less collagen fiber deposition than the FS model group. Conclusions: SaB attenuates inflammation and inhibited the CD36-mediated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to block pathologic fibrosis of FS in in vitro and in vivo models.
Project description:Frozen shoulder (FS) is characterized by pain and limited range of motion (ROM). Inflammation and fibrosis are accepted as main pathologic processes associated with the development of FS. However, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying pathologic fibrosis remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the key molecules involved in pathologic fibrosis and explore new therapeutic targets for FS. Synovial fibroblasts isolated from patient biopsies were identified using immunofluorescence. Western blotting, RT-qPCR, cell adhesion tests, and would-healing assays were used to evaluate the fibrosis-related functions of synovial fibroblasts. Elevated cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) expression was detected in FS using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Salvianolic acid b (SaB) inhibited CD36, blocking synovial fibroblast-induced inflammation and fibrosis. Our RNA-seq data showed that knocking down CD36 dramatically impaired the capacity of synovial fibroblasts for cell adhesion and that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be crucial to the fibrotic process of FS. By up-regulating CD36 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt, we demonstrated that CD36 promotes pathologic fibrosis by activating the PI3k-Akt pathway. Finally, rats treated with SaB had improved ROM and less collagen fiber deposition than the FS model group. Conclusions: SaB attenuates inflammation and inhibited the CD36-mediated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to block pathologic fibrosis of FS in in vitro and in vivo models.
Project description:Padala2017- ERK, PI3K/Akt and Wnt signalling
network (EGFR overexpression)
Crosstalk model of the ERK, Wnt and Akt
signalling pathways with EGFR overexpression.
This model is described in the article:
Cancerous perturbations
within the ERK, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt/?-catenin signaling network
constitutively activate inter-pathway positive feedback
loops.
Padala RR, Karnawat R, Viswanathan
SB, Thakkar AV, Das AB.
Mol Biosyst 2017 May; 13(5):
830-840
Abstract:
Perturbations in molecular signaling pathways are a result
of genetic or epigenetic alterations, which may lead to
malignant transformation of cells. Despite cellular robustness,
specific genetic or epigenetic changes of any gene can trigger
a cascade of failures, which result in the malfunctioning of
cell signaling pathways and lead to cancer phenotypes. The
extent of cellular robustness has a link with the architecture
of the network such as feedback and feedforward loops.
Perturbation in components within feedback loops causes a
transition from a regulated to a persistently activated state
and results in uncontrolled cell growth. This work represents
the mathematical and quantitative modeling of ERK, PI3K/Akt,
and Wnt/?-catenin signaling crosstalk to show the dynamics of
signaling responses during genetic and epigenetic changes in
cancer. ERK, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt/?-catenin signaling crosstalk
networks include both intra and inter-pathway feedback loops
which function in a controlled fashion in a healthy cell. Our
results show that cancerous perturbations of components such as
EGFR, Ras, B-Raf, PTEN, and components of the destruction
complex cause extreme fragility in the network and
constitutively activate inter-pathway positive feedback loops.
We observed that the aberrant signaling response due to the
failure of specific network components is transmitted
throughout the network via crosstalk, generating an additive
effect on cancer growth and proliferation.
This model is hosted on
BioModels Database
and identified by:
BIOMD0000000656.
To cite BioModels Database, please use:
Chelliah V et al. BioModels: ten-year
anniversary. Nucl. Acids Res. 2015, 43(Database
issue):D542-8.
To the extent possible under law, all copyright and related or
neighbouring rights to this encoded model have been dedicated to
the public domain worldwide. Please refer to
CC0
Public Domain Dedication for more information.
Project description:Activated HER2 and EGFR stimulate the Ras small GTPases, which in turn primarily activate the MAPK, PI3K-Akt and RalGEF-Ral pathways. While activation of the MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways downstream of HER2 and EGFR promote mammary tumorigenesis, little is known regarding the role of the RalGEF-Ral pathway. RalGEFs convert the small GTPases RalA and RalB to an active GTP-bound state. Of the two proteins, only activated RalA is transforming, while RalB is more important for cell motility, and hence we investigated the role of RalA in HER2-overexpressing and EGFR-positive breast cancer. We now report that shRNA-mediated knockdown of RalA reduced the in vitro transformed growth and in vivo tumorigenic growth of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, while knockdown of RalB reduced migration and invasion. Lastly, we demonstrate that expression of activated HER2 increases RalA-GTP levels, and that a number of genes associated with activated RalA are elevated in tumor compared to normal mammary tissue. Taken together, these results suggest a possible role for RalA in mammary tumorigenesis. Four independent cultures of HEK-HT cells stably infected with a retrovirus confirmed to expressed RalAQ72L and four independent cultures of HEK-HT cells stably infected with a control retrovirus RalA activation expression analysis
Project description:Pulmonary fibrosis is often triggered by an epithelial injury resulting in the formation of fibrotic lesions in the lung, which progress to impair gas exchange and ultimately cause death. Recent clinical trials using drugs that target either inflammation or a specific molecule have failed, suggesting that multiple pathways and cellular processes need to be attenuated for effective reversal of established and progressive fibrosis. Although activation of MAPK and PI3K pathways have been detected in human fibrotic lung samples, the therapeutic benefits of in vivo modulation of the MAPK and PI3K pathways in combination are unknown. Overexpression of TGF? in the lung epithelium of transgenic mice results in the formation of fibrotic lesions similar to those found in human pulmonary fibrosis, and previous work from our group shows that inhibitors of either the MAPK or PI3K pathway can alter the progression of fibrosis. In this study, we sought to determine whether simultaneous inhibition of the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways is a more effective therapeutic strategy for established and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Our results showed that inhibiting both pathways had additive effects compared to inhibiting either pathway alone in reducing fibrotic burden, including reducing lung weight, pleural thickness, and total collagen in the lungs of TGF? mice. This study demonstrates that inhibiting MEK and PI3K in combination abolishes proliferative gene changes associated with fibrosis and myfibroblast accumulation and thus may serve as a therapeutic option in the treatment of human fibrotic lung disease where these pathways play a role. mRNA profiles of CCSP/TGFalpha mice treated with vehicle, ARRY, PX-866, ARRY/PX-866
Project description:Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a skin fibroproliferative disease currently having no truly effective therapy. PIK3CA is a catalytic subunit of PI3K able to promote collagen synthesis in benign fibrotic diseases and to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and adhesion in malignancies. To explore PIK3CA’s functions in HS formation, we performed transcriptome sequencing and experimental validation. PIK3CA were overexpressed in HS tissues, and positively correlated with fibrosis. We then screened out miR-203a-3p as the most suitable endogenous inhibitor of PIK3CA through bioinformatics. Intriguingly, miR-203a-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration, collagen synthesis, and contractility, as well as trans-differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in vitro, improved the morphology and histology of HS in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-203a-3p attenuated fibrosis by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway via directly targeting PIK3CA. In conclusion, Our findings identified that PIK3CA and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were actively involved in HS formation and demonstrated that miR-203a-3p might serve as a potential strategy for HS therapy through targeting PIK3CA and inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Project description:Introduction: The clinical benefit of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with activating EGFR mutations is temporary, as virtually all patients develop acquired EGFR TKI resistance that occurs via diverse mechanisms. Here, we identified increased FGFR1 expression as such a resistance mechanism and using pathways analysis and drug combination testing we identified a novel combination treatment to control growth of these resistant tumors. Methods: Novel erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines were generated and analyzed by mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify altered pathways associated with erlotinib resistance. The altered pathways were further analyzed in gefitinib and osibenib resistant cell lines. Small molecule inhibitor combinations were used to block the altered pathways and investigate growth reduction in vitro and in two xenograft mouse models. FGFR1 mRNA levels were examined in pre- and (post?)- EGFR TKI treatment clinical tumor samples. Results: Proteomic analysis revealed increased expression of FGFR1 and AXL as well as increased Akt and ERK1/2 activation in a panel of novel erlotinib-resistant HCC827 cell lines. Combined treatment with erlotinib or osimertinib and a panel of small molecule inhibitors targeting AXL/MET, FGFRs, Akt, PI3K/mTOR, MEK or ERK1/2 showed that the most prominent re-sensitization to EGFR TKI occurred with the pan-FGFR inhibitor, PD173074. Interestingly, simultaneous blockade of components of the Akt pathway using specific Akt or dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitors combined with inhibitors targeting the FGFR family exhibited the most efficient growth inhibition of FGFR1 overexpressing EGFR TKI-resistant cell lines. Phosphorylation of proteins downstream of Akt, including PRAS40, FOXO and S6 ribosomal protein, were completely abrogated by PD173074 combined with the Akt inhibitor GSK2141795 . Combination treatment with PD173074 and an Akt inhibitor exhibited synergistic growth inhibition in vivo in two FGFR1 overexpressing NSCLC EGFR TKI-resistant animal models. Conclusion: The significant growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo observed with PD173074 combined with Akt compared to either drug alone imply that inhibition of several key targets may be beneficial in controlling erlotinib-resistant NSCLC. The complete abrogation of PRAS40, FOXO and S6 phosphorylations by PD173074 combined with an Akt inhibitor indicates that the Akt pathway is no longer active.