Investigation of osteosarcoma genomics and its impact on targeted therapy: an international collaboration to conquer human osteosarcoma
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CANCER
Authors: Yang, Ji-Long
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a genetically unstable malignancy that most frequently occurs in children and young adults. The lack of progress in managing this devastating disease in the clinic has prompted international researchers to collaborate to profile key genomic alterations that define osteosarcoma. A team of researchers and clinicians from China, Finland, and the United States investigated human osteosarcoma by integrating transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), high-density genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcription-polynnerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Sanger sequencing, cell culture, and molecular biological approaches. Systematic analysis of genetic/genonnic alterations and further functional studies have led to several important findings, including novel rearrangement hotspots, osteosarconna-specific LRP1-SNRNP25 and KCNMB4-CCND3 fusion genes, VEGF and Wnt signaling pathway alterations, deletion of the WWOX gene, and amplification of the APEX1 and RUNX2 genes. Importantly, these genetic events associate significantly with pathogenesis, prognosis, progression, and therapeutic activity in osteosarcoma, suggesting their potential impact on improved managements of human osteosarconna. This international initiative provides opportunities for developing new treatment modalities to conquer osteosarcoma.
Screening and identification of critical transcription factors involved in the protection of cardiomyocytes against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage by Yixin-shu
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Zhang, Jingjing; Geng, Ya; Guo, Feifei; Zhang, Fangbo; Liu, Mingwei; Song, Lei; Ma, Yuexiang; Li, Defeng; Zhang, Yi; Xu, Haiyu; Yang, Hongjun
Abstract
Oxidative stress initiates harmful cellular responses, such as DNA damage and protein denaturation, triggering a series of cardiovascular disorders. Systematic investigations of the transcription factors (TFs) involved in oxidative stress can help reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms and facilitate the discovery of effective therapeutic targets in related diseases. In this study, an integrated strategy which integrated RNA-seq-based transcriptomics techniques and a newly developed concatenated tandem array of consensus TF response elements (catTFREs)-based proteomics approach and then combined with a network pharmacology analysis, was developed and this integrated strategy was used to investigate critical TFs in the protection of Yixin-shu (YXS), a standardized medical product used for ischaemic heart disease, against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage in cardiomyocytes. Importantly, YXS initiated biological process such as anti-apoptosis and DNA repair to protect cardiomyocytes from H2O2-induced damage. By using the integrated strategy, DNA-(apurinic or apyrimidinic site) lyase (Apex1), pre B-cell leukemia transcription factor 3 (Pbx3), and five other TFs with their functions involved in anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and DNA repair were identified. This study offers a new understanding of the mechanism underlying YXS-mediated protection against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes and reveals novel targets for oxidative stress-related diseases.