An autophagic deficit in the uterine vessel microenvironment provokes hyperpermeability through deregulated VEGFA, NOS1, and CTNNB1
AUTOPHAGY
Authors: Lee, Bora; Shin, Hyejin; Oh, Ji-Eun; Park, Jaekyoung; Park, Mira; Yang, Seung Chel; Jun, Jin-Hyun; Hong, Seok-Ho; Song, Haengseok; Lim, Hyunjung Jade
Abstract
The uterus undergoes vascular changes during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. Steroid hormone deprivation induces macroautophagy/autophagy in major uterine cell types. Herein, we explored the functions of uterine autophagy using theAmhr2-Cre-drivenatg7deletion model. Deletion ofAtg7was confirmed by functional deficit of autophagy in uterine stromal, myometrial, and vascular smooth muscle cells, but not in endothelial cells.atg7(d/d)uteri exhibited enhanced stromal edema accompanied by dilation of blood vessels. Ovariectomizedatg7(d/d)uteri showed decreased expression of endothelial junction-related proteins, such as CTNNB1/beta-catenin, with increased vascular permeability, and increased expression of VEGFA and NOS1. Nitric oxide (NO) was shown to mediate VEGFA-induced vascular permeability by targeting CTNNB1. NO involvement in maintaining endothelial junctional stability inatg7(d/d)uteri was confirmed by the reduction in extravasation following treatment with a NOS inhibitor. We also showed thatatg7(d/d)uterine phenotype improved the fetal weight:placental weight ratio, which is one of the indicators of assessing the status of preeclampsia. We showed that autophagic deficit in the uterine vessel microenvironment provokes hyperpermeability through the deregulation of VEGFA, NOS1, and CTNNB1.
Disease-related cellular protein networks differentially affected under different EGFR mutations in lung adenocarcinoma
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Nishimura, Toshihide; Nakamura, Haruhiko; Yachie, Ayako; Hase, Takeshi; Fujii, Kiyonaga; Koizumi, Hirotaka; Naruki, Saeko; Takagi, Masayuki; Matsuoka, Yukiko; Furuya, Naoki; Kato, Harubumi; Saji, Hisashi
Abstract
It is unclear how epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR major driver mutations (L858R or Ex19del) affect downstream molecular networks and pathways. This study aimed to provide information on the influences of these mutations. The study assessed 36 protein expression profiles of lung adenocarcinoma (Ex19del, nine; L858R, nine; no Ex19del/L858R, 18). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis together with analysis of variance-based screening identified 13 co-expressed modules and their eigen proteins. Pathway enrichment analysis for the Ex19del mutation demonstrated involvement of SUMOylation, epithelial and mesenchymal transition, ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling via phosphorylation and Hippo signalling. Additionally, analysis for the L858R mutation identified various pathways related to cancer cell survival and death. With regard to the Ex19del mutation, ROCK, RPS6KA1, ARF1, IL2RA and several ErbB pathways were upregulated, whereas AURK and GSKIP were downregulated. With regard to the L858R mutation, RB1, TSC22D3 and DOCK1 were downregulated, whereas various networks, including VEGFA, were moderately upregulated. In all mutation types, CD80/CD86 (B7), MHC, CIITA and IFGN were activated, whereas CD37 and SAFB were inhibited. Costimulatory immune-checkpoint pathways by B7/CD28 were mainly activated, whereas those by PD-1/PD-L1 were inhibited. Our findings may help identify potential therapeutic targets and develop therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.