Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Recently, nucleolar complex protein 14 (NOP14) has been discovered to play a critical role in cancer development and progression, but the mechanisms of action of NOP14 in colorectal cancer remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used collected colorectal cancer tissues and cultured colorectal cancer cell lines (SW480, HT29, HCT116, DLD1, Lovo), and measured the mRNA and protein expression levels of NOP14 in colorectal cancer cells using qPCR and western blotting. GFP-NOP14 was constructed and siRNA fragments against NOP14 were synthesized to investigate the importance of NOP14 for the development of colorectal cells. Transwell migration assays were used to measure cell invasion and migration, CCK-8 kits were used to measure cell activity, and flow cytometry was applied to the observation of apoptosis. We found that both the mRNA and protein levels of NOP14 were significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of GFP-NOP14 markedly promoted the growth, migration, and invasion of the CRC cells HT19 and SW480, while genetic knockdown of NOP14 inhibited these behaviors. Overexpression of NOP14 promoted the expression of NRIP1 and phosphorylated inactivation of GSK-3β, leading to the upregulation of β-catenin. Genetic knockdown of NOP14 had the opposite effect on NRIP1/GSK-3/β-catenin signals. NOP14 therefore appears to be overexpressed in clinical samples and cell lines of colorectal cancer, and promotes the proliferation, growth, and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by modulating the NRIP1/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common digestive system disease. The severity of AP ranges from mild edema in pancreas to severe systemic inflammatory responses leading to peripancreat-ic/pancreatic necrosis, mul-ti-organ failure...

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy threatening human health, and existing diagnostic and therapeutic techniques are facing great challenges.

Bacterial infections seriously threaten human health. Although antibiotics can significantly treat infectious diseases, antibiotics abuse has brought a series of serious problems, such as multidrug-resistant bacteria, adverse effects, and so...

TP53 is one of the most important tumor suppressor genes and is known as the “genetic guardian”. Targeting the MDM2-p53 loop is an attractive tumor treatment strategy. Herein, an organic PCM with a melting point of 43.5℃ was prepared by using biocompatible fatty acids and alcohols. PCM was used to co-encapsulate a photosensitizer (IR780) and a novel MDM2-p53 inhibitor (APG-115). The final prepared multifunctional temperature responsive release nanoplatform (PIA NPs) can not only effectively deliver APG-115 and IR780 but also act as a “gatekeeper” to protect the delivered drug, avoid hydration of IR780, and prevent drug leakage. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the protected IR780 can melt the PCM by generating the photothermal effect, thereby achieving drug release regulated by exogenous stimuli (light). Furthermore, the oxidative stress signal (ROS) generated by the PDT effect of IR780 can promote the expression of p53 protein, collaborating with APG-115 to improve the therapeutic efficiency of HCC. PIA NPs have shown superior therapeutic effects in vivo and vitro. This PDT/PTT/MDM2-p53 inhibitor combined therapy strategy provides an unprecedented approach to the treatment of HCC via synergistically enhancing p53 expression.