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Abstract. The survival benefits of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remain unsatisfactory due to the intrinsic or acquired resistance to temozolomide (TMZ). We elucidated the mechanisms of sulforaphane (SFN) reverse TMZ resistance in TMZ-inducing cell lines by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity. TMZ-resistant cell lines (U87-R and U373-R) were generated by stepwise (6 months) exposure of parental cells to TMZ. Luciferase reporter assay, biochemical assays and subcutaneous tumor establishment were used to characterize the antitumor effect of SFN. MGMT expression and 50% inhibiting concentration (IC 50 ) values of TMZ in GBM cell lines were assessed. Next, we established that U87-R and U373-R cells presenting high IC 50 of TMZ, activated NF-κB transcription and significantly increased MGMT expression compared with untreated cells. Furthermore, we revealed that SFN could significantly suppress proliferation of TMZ-resistant GBM cells. In addition, SFN effectively inhibited activity of NF-κB signaling pathway and then reduced MGMT expression to reverse the chemo-resistance to TMZ in T98G, U87-R and U373-R cell lines. Sequential combination with TMZ synergistically inhibited survival capability and increased the induction of apoptosis in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. Finally, a nude mouse model was established with U373-R cell subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice, and results showed that SFN could remarkably suppress cell growth and enhance cell death in chemo-resistant xenografts in the nude mouse model. Collectively, the present study suggests that the clinical efficacy of TMZ-based chemotherapy in TMZ-resistant GBM may be improved by combination with SFN.

UHRF1, an epigenetic factor, is implicated in various cellular processes of tumorigenesis. However, the modulation of UHRF1 expression in human bladder cancer at post‐transcriptional levels remains unclear. Here, we report that miR‐124 suppresses expression of UHRF1 to affect the progression of human bladder cancer through competitive binding of the same region of its 3′‐UTR. We show that compared with corresponding normal tissues, UHRF1 is upregulated and miR‐124 is downregulated in bladder cancer tissues, demonstrating an inverse correlation of miR‐124 and UHRF1. Quantitative PCR and western blot assay demonstrated that over‐expression of miR‐124 resulted in the suppression of UHRF1. Furthermore, luciferase assay revealed that miR‐124 could control the fate of target gene UHRF1 mRNA by binding 3′‐UTR. The rescue experiment confirmed that miR‐124 exerted its biological functions by targeting UHRF1. miR‐124 over‐expression significantly attenuated cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and vasculogenic mimicry in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo. UHRF1 siRNA showed significant inhibitory effects on bladder cancer cells. Collectively, our study demonstrates that miR‐124 can impair the proliferation or metastasis of human bladder cancer cells by down‐regulation of UHRF1.

In mammalian tissues, taurine is an important natural component and the most abundant free amino acid in the heart, retina, skeletal muscle, brain, and leukocytes. This study is to examine the taurine's protective effects on neuronal ultrastructure, the function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, and on cerebral blood flow (CBF). The model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) was made for SD rats by a fluid percussion device, with taurine (200 mg/kg) administered by tail intravenous injection once daily for 7 days after TBI. It was found that CBF was improved for both left and right brain at 30 min and 7 days post-injury by taurine. Reaction time was prolonged relative to the TBI-only group. Neuronal damage was prevented by 7 days taurine. Mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I and II showed greater activity with the taurine group. The improvement by taurine of CBF may alleviate edema and elevation in intracranial pressure. Importantly taurine improved the hypercoagulable state.

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Accumulating evidence indicates that the dysregulation of the miRNAs/mRNA-mediated carcinogenic signaling pathway network is intimately involved in glioma initiation and progression. In the present study, by performing experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we found that RPN2 was markedly elevated in glioma specimens compared with normal controls, and its upregulation was significantly linked to WHO grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of RPN2 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RPN2 deletion repressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 transcription activity partly through functional activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Furthermore, we showed that RPN2 is a direct functional target of miR-181c. Ectopic miR-181c expression suppressed β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity, while restoration of RPN2 partly reversed this inhibitory effect mediated by miR-181c, implying a molecular mechanism in which TMZ sensitivity is mediated by miR-181c. Taken together, our data revealed a new miR-181c/RPN2/wnt/β-catenin signaling axis that plays significant roles in glioma tumorigenesis and TMZ resistance, and it represents a potential therapeutic target, especially in GBM.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) caused by the CCHF virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne natural focal disease with a mortality rate of approximately 50%. CCHFV is widely prevalent in Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East, and southeast Europe. CCHF outbreaks have been reported previously in Xinjiang province, China, especially in its southern region. Epidemiological surveys conducted on ticks and animals have revealed the presence of CCHFV strains in ticks, rodents, and infected individuals from cities and counties in southern Xinjiang. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Chinese CCHFV strains belong to one genotype, based on complete sequences of the S segments of its negative-stranded RNA genome. The present study reports two new CCHFV strains isolated from Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum ticks collected from Fukang City and Wujiaqu City in the northern region of Xinjiang. Viral characteristics and their evolutionary relationships were analyzed through metagenomic and reverse-transcription PCR analyses; these analyses indicated that the genotype of both strains was different from that of other Chinese strains. Furthermore, previous reports of CCHFV in Xinjiang were reviewed and phylogenetic analyses were performed. CCHFV was found to prevail in Fukang City in Junggar Basin for more than 20 years, and that Fukang City and Wujiaqu City are considered natural reservoirs of different genotypes of CCHFV strains. Our findings facilitate the understanding of CCHFV distribution in Xinjiang province and provide insights into the evolutionary relationships among Chinese CCHFV strains.