Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in the control of gene expression and regulate plant developmental processes. miRNA 172 (miR172) is a conserved miRNA in plants reported to control the expression of genes involved in developmental phase transition, floral organ identity, and flowering time. However, the specific role of miR172 in legume nodulation is undefined. Ectopic expression of soybean miR172 resulted in an increase in nodule numbers in transgenic roots and an increase in the expression of both symbiotic leghemoglobin and nonsymbiotic hemoglobin. These nodules showed higher levels of nitrogenase activity. Further analysis revealed a complex regulatory circuit in which miR156 regulates miR172 expression and controls the level of an AP2 transcription factor. The latter, either directly or indirectly, controls the expression of nonsymbiotic hemoglobin, which is essential for regulating the levels of nodulation.

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The anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects in vitro and in vivo of 5-FU and oroxylin A combinations were synergistic and oroxylin A increased the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to 5-FU by modulating the metabolic enzymes of 5-FU and apoptotic-related proteins.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) overexpression is related to invasive and metastatic properties in different kinds of cancers. Target therapy by inhibiting FAK has achieved promising effect in some cancer treatments, but its effect in human osteosarcoma has not been well studied. In the present study, we analyzed the antitumor efficacy of PF562271, an FAK inhibitor, against osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylated FAK (Y397) was highly expressed in primary human osteosarcoma tumor samples and was associated with osteosarcoma prognosis and lung metastasis. PF562271 greatly suppressed proliferation and colony formation in human osteosarcoma cell lines. In addition, treatment of osteosarcoma cell lines with PF562271 induced apoptosis and downregulated the activity of the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. PF562271 also impaired the tube formation ability of endothelial cells in vitro. Finally, oral treatment with PF562271 in mice dramatically reduced tumor volume, weight, and angiogenesis of osteosarcoma xenografts in vivo. These results indicate that FAK inhibitor PF562271 can potentially be effectively used for the treatment of osteosarcoma.