CytojournalPub Date : 2026-03-03eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_51_2024
Yong-Hong Zhang, Hai-Yang Yu, Chun-Fang Li, Jian-Chao Li
{"title":"Upregulation of itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase contributes to endometrial cancer through promoting forkhead box P1 degradation.","authors":"Yong-Hong Zhang, Hai-Yang Yu, Chun-Fang Li, Jian-Chao Li","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_51_2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_51_2024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent cancers affecting the female reproductive system and originates from the uterine epithelium, posing a significant health burden to postmenopausal women. As an E3 ubiquitin ligase, itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (ITCH) plays a key role in the progression of multiple kinds of solid cancers, but its function in EC remains unclear. This work aims to explore the roles of ITCH during the carcinogenesis of EC.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The messenger RNA (mRNA) level of ITCH in 47 paired EC tissue and adjacent non-tumor controls was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein level of ITCH in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded EC tissue and adjacent non-tumor controls from 47 patients with EC was detected by immunohistochemistry. Data on the RNA levels of ITCH and forkhead box P1 (FOXP1), along with prognostic information for 541 patients with EC, were obtained from the Human Protein Atlas database. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was employed to investigate the interaction between FOXP1 and the promoter of the KRAS proto-oncogene GTPase (KRAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both ITCH mRNA and protein levels are upregulated in EC tissues. Patients with lower ITCH expression exhibit prolonged overall survival. In EC tissue samples, ITCH protein level negatively correlates with the FOXP1 protein level. ITCH interacts with FOXP1 in EC cells and promotes its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. FOXP1 inhibits KRAS expression in EC cells by binding to its promoter region. ITCH overexpression suppresses the FOXP1-KRAS axis, leading to increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis of EC cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ITCH functions as an oncogene in EC, promoting carcinogenesis by inducing FOXP1 degradation and upregulating KRAS expression.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13098380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147786811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-28eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_252_2024
Hong Chen, Wenzeng Wang, Daqing Feng, Qun Chen, Tingting Guo, Qiannan Song
{"title":"Silencing C-X-C motif chemokine receptor inhibited autophagy of hippocampal neurons in epileptic mice by upregulating TWIK-related K<sup>+</sup> Channel 1.","authors":"Hong Chen, Wenzeng Wang, Daqing Feng, Qun Chen, Tingting Guo, Qiannan Song","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_252_2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_252_2024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Epilepsy is a neurological disease whose onset causes a variety of sequelae, reducing the standard of living. TWIK-related K<sup>+</sup> channel 1 (TREK-1) has been linked to epilepsy. C-X-C motif chemokine receptor (CXCR2) is a potential target for the treatment of epilepsy inflammation. This work aims to observe the effect of CXCR2 expression on neuron autophagy and TREK-1 expression in the hippocampus of epileptic mice.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>An animal model of epilepsy was established, and the <i>CXCR2</i> gene was silenced. The expression of TREK-1, interleukin (IL)-1b, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6 in the hippocampus of mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Autophagy-related proteins beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) were examined by Western blot. Cell proliferation and activity were analyzed using cell counting kit-8 and 5-Bromodeoxyuridine assays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with that in the normal group, TREK-1 expression decreased and CXCR2 expression increased significantly in the hippocampus of epileptic model mice (<i>P</i> < 0.01). Two autophagy markers, beclin-1 and LC3 II/LC3 I, showed an increased expression in the hippocampal regions of the epileptic model group (<i>P</i> < 0.01). In addition, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein levels increased and Bcl-2 levels decreased in the epileptic mice (<i>P</i> < 0.01). After CXCR2 silencing, the expression of proinflammatory factor in the hippocampus of epileptic mice significantly decreased (<i>P</i> < 0.01). <i>In vitro</i>, cell viability and proliferation increased significantly after silencing CXCR2 (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression levels of TREK-1 and Bcl-2 significantly increased (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and the levels of autophagy markers decreased <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> (<i>P</i> < 0.01). <i>In vivo</i>, CXCR2 expression did not change significantly after silencing TREK-1. After silencing TREK-1 and overexpressing CXCR2, the proliferation ability of HT22 cells decreased significantly (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Epileptic mice's hippocampal neuronal damage can be ameliorated by CXCR2 suppression. One possible explanation is that epileptic mice's hippocampus tissues express more TREK-1, which prevents excessive neuronal autophagy and lowers apoptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12997642/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-25eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_49_2025
Yang Yu, Qian Zhao, Liang Song
{"title":"Zinc finger TRAF-type containing 1 can promote the progression and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma.","authors":"Yang Yu, Qian Zhao, Liang Song","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_49_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_49_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of lung cancer that falls under the category of non-small cell carcinoma. Given its high incidence, it has attracted considerable attention. Zinc finger TRAF-type containing 1 (ZFTRAF1) was found in a two-hybrid yeast screening with muine galectin-3. However, the link between ZFTRAF1 and lung adenocarcinoma was unclear. This study aimed to explore the influencing mechanism of ZFTRAF1 on lung adenocarcinoma.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>In this study, by silencing or overexpressing ZFTRAF1, we investigated the migration and invasion ability of A549 and HCC827 cells. In addition, the polarization effect of ZFTRAF1 on macrophages was evaluated through flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, tumor growth and development were evaluated through histological analysis <i>in vivo</i> and Western Blot analysis <i>in vitro</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ZFTRAF1 was down-regulated in normal lung cells. Silencing of ZFTRAF1 inhibited migration, invasion of A549 and HCC827 cells, and the formation of tumors. Reduction of the expression of ZFTRAF1 inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suppressed the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B pathway, and enhanced the polarization of M1 macrophages. In addition, the overexpression of ZFTRAF1 showed an opposite trend compared with its silencing in A549 and HCC827 cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ZFTRAF1 promotes lung cancer development. Regulating the expression level of ZFTRAF1 to interfere with the growth and migration of lung adenocarcinoma may be a new strategy for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, the theoretical foundation for ZFTRAF1's therapeutic use is provided in this work.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12997640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_36_2025
Jingjie Luan, Jing Li, Jianhang Wang
{"title":"Integrin β1 in osteoblast differentiation and migration during acute bone loss after fracture: Regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway.","authors":"Jingjie Luan, Jing Li, Jianhang Wang","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_36_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_36_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Integrin β1 (ITGB1) reportedly participates in osteoblast differentiation, mineralization, and migration. Nevertheless, its role and underlying mechanism in osteoblast differentiation and migration during acute bone loss after fracture are not yet clear. This research was designed to measure the role of ITGB1 in osteoblast differentiation and migration and the underlying mechanism.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>ITGB1 expression was assessed in MC3T3-E1 cells at different incubation times (0, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity determination, ALP staining, and Alizarin red staining were performed to evaluate the differentiation degree of osteoblasts. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of markers related to osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblast migration ability was determined by wound healing and transwell assays. The molecular mechanism by which ITGB1 modulated the differentiation and migration of osteoblasts was examined by Western blot.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ITGB1 expression increased significantly after 14, 21, and 28 days of osteoblast differentiation. ITGB1 increases enhanced osteoblast differentiation and migration; conversely, reduced ITGB1 inhibits osteoblast differentiation and migration. Mechanically, ITGB1 facilitated the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway, and the suppression of the ERK ERK1/2 pathway attenuated the effects of ITGB1 on osteoblast differentiation and migration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ITGB1 plays an important role in osteoblast differentiation and migration by activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which may provide novel insights into bone injury treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12997641/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_114_2025
Xianghui Yang, Jiazhi Li, Yueyong Li, Min Li, Luogen Peng, Li Zhao, Lijuan Zou
{"title":"The effect of Wilms tumor 1-associated protein on ferroptosis and immune escape in non-small-cell lung cancer by mediating N6-methyladenosine modification of Twist1.","authors":"Xianghui Yang, Jiazhi Li, Yueyong Li, Min Li, Luogen Peng, Li Zhao, Lijuan Zou","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_114_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_114_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most frequently occurring and aggressive cancers globally, but its complex molecular mechanisms remain only partially understood. This study investigated the effects of Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) on NSCLC cell ferroptosis and immune escape through N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of twist family BHLH transcription factor 1 (Twist1).</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to assess Twist1 expression in NSCLC cell lines and its circular structure. Small interfering RNAs targeting Twist1 and WTAP were transfected into H2170 cells, and their effects on cell viability, apoptosis, ferroptosis markers (reactive oxygen species [ROS], malondialdehyde [MDA], and Fe<sup>2+</sup>), and immune escape were evaluated using cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-End labeling, ROS staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Co-culture with CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells was employed to assess cytotoxicity and exhaustion marker expression (Lymphocyte activation gene-3, Programmed cell death protein 1, and T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains). Magna methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, photo-activatable ribonucleoside-enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation, and treatment with the methylation inhibitor 3-Deazaneplanocin A (3-DAA) confirmed the m6A modification of Twist1 and WTAP's regulatory role.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twist1 was dramatically elevated in the NSCLC cell lines (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Knockdown of Twist1 inhibited NSCLC cell viability; promoted apoptosis; increased ROS, MDA, and Fe<sup>2+</sup> levels; enhanced the cytotoxicity of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells; and reduced the expression of exhaustion markers (<i>P</i> < 0.05). These effects were partially reversed by the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1. WTAP expression increased in the NSCLC cells, and its knockdown markedly reduced the m6A modification and expression of Twist1 (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, overexpression of Twist1 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of WTAP knockdown on NSCLC cell proliferation, ferroptosis, and immune escape (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Twist1 is highly expressed in NSCLC. It promotes NSCLC progression by enhancing ferroptosis and immune escape. WTAP-mediated m6A methylation plays a critical role in regulating Twist1 expression. The WTAP/Twist1 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12997639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-04eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_62_2025
Chenwei Jiao, Lichao Zhu, Anzhi Zhu, Xiaoqing Xu
{"title":"Actin-related protein 6 regulates the Hedgehog signaling pathway: Molecular basis for stemness maintenance of hepatoma cells.","authors":"Chenwei Jiao, Lichao Zhu, Anzhi Zhu, Xiaoqing Xu","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_62_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_62_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The liver is a common primary cancer site in humans. Actin-related protein 6 (ACTR6) plays a key role in liver cancer. The aim of this study was to further explore the regulatory molecular mechanism of ACTR6 in liver cancer.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>In this study, hepatoma cell HuH-7 was evaluated by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, colony formation, Transwell assay, and wound healing assay. The possible mechanism of the action of ACTR6 on hepatocellular carcinoma cells was evaluated by analyzing sphere formation, the key factors of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, and molecules related to cell stemness. Then, xenografted mouse tumor models were used to demonstrate the promotion effect of ACTR6 on liver cancer <i>in vivo</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ACTR6 was highly expressed in HuH-7h and HepG2 cells (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Silencing ACTR6 inhibited the migration, invasion capacity, and activity of HuH-7 (<i>P</i> < 0.01). ACTR6 activated the Hh signaling pathway by upregulating the expression of Sonic Hedgehog, patched 1, smoothened, and glioma-associated transcription factor 1. In addition, ACTR6 increased the molecular level of cell stemness by increasing the level of cellular myelocytomatosis oncogene, octamer-binding transcription factor 4, Nanog homeobox, and SRY-box transcription factor 2. Vismodegib reversed the promoting effect of ACTR6 on the Hh signaling pathway and stem-related proteins in cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ACTR6 regulates the molecular basis of stemness maintenance of liver cancer cells through the Hh signaling pathway and promotes the occurrence of liver cancer. This study provides possible targets for the clinical treatment of liver cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147311547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-02-03eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_184_2025
Nadir Paksoy
{"title":"Quo vadis? Evolving trends in fine-needle aspiration cytology practice: A personal perspective.","authors":"Nadir Paksoy","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_184_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_184_2025","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931184/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147291692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current situation and future prospect of biobank.","authors":"Ruizhe Wang, Xiaotong Han, Lvcheng Jin, Zitong Wang, Huimin Sun, Yunxiang Zhang","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_82_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_82_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biobanks are essential infrastructures dedicated to the systematic collection, processing, storage, and distribution of biological samples and related data, serving as fundamental resources for biomedical research. Their application ranges from clinical research and epidemiological investigations to public health monitoring, facilitating the identification of disease-associated genetic variations and the exploration of gene-environment interactions. Biobanks provide valuable resources for systems biology and interdisciplinary research, significantly broadening the scope and depth of scientific inquiry. This review explores the development history, current landscape, and future prospects of global biobanking initiatives, highlighting notable advancements in technological innovation and methodological practices. It also scrutinizes prevailing challenges and envisions future trajectories for development. In the era of personalized medicine, biobanks are expected to play a more critical role by providing the data and samples needed for the development of individualized therapies. By surmounting existing impediments and fostering international collaboration, biobanks are poised to propel scientific breakthroughs and elevate global healthcare standards. This article aims to comprehensively elucidate the trajectory of biobanking development and its profound influence on biomedical research.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147291649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"MicroRNA-15a-5p suppresses triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion by modulating T-cell immunoreceptor associated with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain expression.","authors":"Shaopeng Feng, Yunjie Song, Jintao Cui, Zhihao Wu, Limin Wei","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_40_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_40_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a major challenge owing to its unique biological characteristics. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular interaction between microRNA-15a-5p and T-cell immunoreceptor associated with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT) in TNBC.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The GSE22513 microarray dataset was subjected to bioinformatic analysis. MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells were transfected with lentiviral constructs for overexpressing TIGIT and microRNA (miRNA) mimics for overexpressing miR-15a-5p. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses were conducted to quantify TIGIT and miR-15a-5p levels of pre- and post-transfection. Cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8, wound-healing, colony formation, transwell assays, and flow cytometry, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study identified 139 genes (37 upregulated and 102 downregulated genes). Elevated TIGIT levels exhibited a significant link to unfavorable outcomes in individuals with breast cancer (BC). Additional analyses demonstrated that TIGIT expression in BC cell lines was substantially increased compared with that in normal breast cells. Overexpressing miR-15a-5p effectively inhibited TIGIT expression and consequently suppressed TNBC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. This inhibition prompted G2/M phase accumulation and enhanced cellular mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>miR-15a-5p exerts tumor-suppressive effects through TIGIT downregulation, thereby mitigating the malignant phenotype of TNBC.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"6"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147291643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CytojournalPub Date : 2026-01-23eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.25259/Cytojournal_90_2025
Le Xin, Shuoyu Han, Zixin Wang, Xinyu Yuan, Yiwei Ye, Jidong Liu, Xing Bao, Jinjun Ye
{"title":"Tripartite motif-containing protein 28 promotes drug resistance to bortezomib in gastric cancer through proteasome activity regulation.","authors":"Le Xin, Shuoyu Han, Zixin Wang, Xinyu Yuan, Yiwei Ye, Jidong Liu, Xing Bao, Jinjun Ye","doi":"10.25259/Cytojournal_90_2025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25259/Cytojournal_90_2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Gastric cancer (GC) persists as a leading global cause of cancer-related mortality. Although bortezomib (BTZ), a proteasome inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in treating various cancers, its therapeutic potential is hindered by drug resistance in GC. This study aims to explore the regulatory role of tripartite motif-containing protein 28 (TRIM28) in BTZ resistance in GC cells and to evaluate the antitumor effect of targeting TRIM28 in combination with BTZ.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>We established control groups (including Lenti-control and short hairpin non-targeting control groups), TRIM28-overexpressing (OE), and TRIM28-knockdown models using the MGC-803 gastric cancer cell line to investigate TRIM28-mediated BTZ resistance. A series of assays was performed, including cell counting kit-8 analysis to assess cell viability, flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis, colony formation assays to evaluate cell proliferation, western blot to measure the protein expression of 20S proteasome subunits (α1/4 and β1/2/5), proteasome activity assays, and immunohistochemistry to assess TRIM28 expression in clinical samples. Bioinformatic tools were also used to analyze the clinical correlation of TRIM28 expression with cancer stage and grade.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results demonstrate that TRIM28 markedly enhanced BTZ resistance in GC cells. TRIM28 OE increased cell viability, inhibited apoptosis, enhanced colony-forming ability, upregulated the expression of proteasome subunits, and increased proteasome activity, contributing to a protective effect against BTZ-induced cytotoxicity. For the clinical GC samples, TRIM28 was highly expressed in tumor tissues, and its expression was correlated with advanced cancer stages and high tumor grades.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TRIM28 is critical in promoting BTZ resistance in GC cells. Targeting TRIM28 could potentiate BTZ treatment outcomes and offer a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming drug resistance in GC treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49082,"journal":{"name":"Cytojournal","volume":"23 ","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12931187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147291641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}