ERH overexpression is associated with decreased cell migration and invasion and a good prognosis in gastric cancer
TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH
Authors: Park, Ji-Ho; Park, Miyeong; Park, Sun Yi; Lee, Young-Joon; Hong, Soon-Chan; Jung, Eun-Jung; Ju, Young-Tae; Jeong, Chi-Young; Kim, Ju-Yeon; Ko, Gyung Hyuck; Hah, Young-Sool; Jeong, Sang-Ho
Abstract
Background: The enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) protein is implicated in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and malignancy. We previously conducted a proteomics analysis using gastric cancer (GC) tissues and identified ERH as a biomarker candidate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ERH may be useful as a prognostic marker for GC. Methods: Surgically resected GC tissue specimens were obtained from 327 patients who underwent gastrectomy at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate ERH as a prognostic marker in these tissues. SNU601 and MKN74 cells with siRNA-mediated knockdown of ERH expression and ERH-overexpressing SNU601 and MKN74 knock-in cells were used for analysis of ERH function. Results: ERH was overexpressed in stomach cancer tissues compared with normal tissues according to proteomics analysis (n=29, P<0.01) of patient samples. Based on IHC, patients with tumors overexpressing ERH had lower T stage and lower TNM stage classifications, lower cancer recurrence rates and longer survival times than did patients with tumors showing low expression of ERH (P=0.04). In vitro, forced expression of ERH significantly decreased GC cell migration and invasion, and depletion of ERH triggered GC cell migration and invasion but had no effect on proliferation in vitro. Conclusions: The findings from the present study show that ERH is associated with decreased cancer cell migration and invasion, suggesting that overexpression of ERH may serve as a marker of good prognosis for patients with GC.
Theabrownin from Pu-erh tea attenuates hypercholesterolemia via modulation of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: Huang, Fengjie; Zheng, Xiaojiao; Ma, Xiaohui; Jiang, Runqiu; Zhou, Wangyi; Zhou, Shuiping; Zhang, Yunjing; Lei, Sha; Wang, Shouli; Kuang, Junliang; Han, Xiaolong; Wei, Meilin; You, Yijun; Li, Mengci; Li, Yitao; Liang, Dandan; Liu, Jiajian; Chen, Tianlu; Yan, Chao; Wei, Runmin; Rajani, Cynthia; Shen, Chengxing; Xie, Guoxiang; Bian, Zhaoxiang; Li, Houkai; Zhao, Aihua; Jia, Wei
Abstract
Pu-erh tea displays cholesterol-lowering properties, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Theabrownin is one of the most active and abundant pigments in Pu-erh tea. Here, we show that theabrownin alters the gut microbiota in mice and humans, predominantly suppressing microbes associated with bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Theabrownin increases the levels of ileal conjugated bile acids (BAs) which, in turn, inhibit the intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling pathway, resulting in increased hepatic production and fecal excretion of BAs, reduced hepatic cholesterol, and decreased lipogenesis. The inhibition of intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling is accompanied by increased gene expression of enzymes in the alternative BA synthetic pathway, production of hepatic chenodeoxycholic acid, activation of hepatic FXR, and hepatic lipolysis. Our results shed light into the mechanisms behind the cholesterol- and lipid-lowering effects of Pu-erh tea, and suggest that decreased intestinal BSH microbes and/or decreased FXR-FGF15 signaling may be potential anti-hypercholesterolemia and anti-hyperlipidemia