Weekly Research News Digest
This newsletter is designed to share with you research news in various fields where applications of gene sequencing can be found. It will share research findings from Novogene’s customers. By sharing insights from the most prestigious research teams, it is intended to call your attention to the latest applications of sequencing in life sciences and biomedical research and inspire your research.
It is our great honor to meet everyone again in the Weekly Research News Digest. In the five articles shared in this issue, researchers from around the world utilized precise sequencing technologies such as Eukaryote mRNA-Seq to explore gene expressions and regulations. These studies not only provide new insights into?disease mechanisms but also pave the way?for the development of novel treatment strategies.
Targeting the Circadian Clock: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Liver Fibrosis
Liver fibrosis, a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma?and liver disease-related mortality, currently lacks effective treatments. Elevated TGF-β?signaling promotes?collagen buildup?by hepatic stellate cells (HSC)/myofibroblasts. According to a paper recently published in the Journal of Hepatology, researchers investigated how the circadian clock (CC) influences TGF-β signaling and the progression of fibrosis. Using different models, they showed that CC disruption is associated with increased fibrogenesis. Pharmacological modulation of CC-TGF-β signaling reduced fibrosis. These findings suggest that targeting the CC could be a novel therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.
Targeting Fatty Acid Metabolism to Augment HER2-Targeted Therapies for Breast Cancer
Metabolic reprogramming, a key feature of tumor development, entails changes in the metabolism of glucose and fatty acids.?A research team from Canada explored the role of Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a (Cpt1a), an essential enzyme for long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) oxidation, in breast cancers driven by ErbB2. They found that in?ErbB2+ breast cancer models,?Cpt1a-deficient cells were more dependent on glucose, which aided their survival and allowed tumor to progress. These cells showed increased oxidative stress and elevated activity of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Targeting Nrf2 resulted in reduced proliferation and glucose consumption in these cells. Cpt1a deficiency, in combination with a ketogenic diet, or an anti-ErbB2 monoclonal?antibody, disrupted tumor growth, increased apoptosis, and decreased lung metastasis. These findings suggest that targeting fatty acid oxidation while administering HER2-targeted therapies may improve outcomes for HER2+ breast cancer patients.
Targeting Sialylated Cancer-Derived IgG with CAR-T Cells: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Bladder Cancer
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy holds great potential?as a cancer treatment. However, the absence of suitable target molecules prevents it from being widely used in bladder cancer (BC). Although the association of sialylated cancer-derived IgG (SIA-CIgG)?with the malignant biological behavior?of BC has been recognized, the potential of SIA-CIgG?as a?target for CAR-T cell therapy in BC treatment has not yet been validated.?Researchers from Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrated that whereas SIA-CIgG is highly expressed in the majority of BC samples, its expression is limited in normal tissues. CAR-T cells targeting SIA-CIgG were able to lyse BC cells effectively. Combining SIA-CIgG CAR-T cell therapy with the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat enhanced CAR-T cells’?ability to lyse tumor cells. This study suggests a promising new therapy for BC treatment.
Suppressing?Tumor Growth by Targeting?the ALK2/BMP6 Pathway in LKB1-Mutant KRAS-Driven?Lung Cancer
Different molecular subtypes of?KRAS-driven lung cancer demonstrate?unique?invasion patterns, which affect their growth behaviors and responses to treatment. Yet preclinical strategies aimed at targeting growth in relation to invasion remain underdeveloped. The research team from Emory University developed an experimental system to identify?signaling pathways associated with?early 3D invasion phenotypes in?various?KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma molecular subtypes. They found that LKB1 loss upregulated BMP6 signaling, which increased hepcidin levels. Targeting?the ALK2/BMP6 signaling pathway?suppressed tumor growth in Kras/Lkb1-mutant models. These findings suggest ALK2 inhibition as a potential treatment for LKB1-mutant lung cancer.
LRPPRC–SLIRP Complex as a Key Regulator of Mitochondrial mRNA Translation
The protein factor LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein) stabilizes?mRNAs?during co-transcription?in mammalian mitochondria. Researchers identified LRPPRC as an mRNA delivery factor and presented ?its cryo-electron microscopy structure in complex with SLIRP (SRA stem-loop-interacting RNA-binding protein), mRNA and the mitoribosome. They showed?that LRPPRC?worked with the mitoribosomal proteins mS39 and the N terminus of mS31 to form a corridor for handoff of the mRNA. The effect of LRPPRC on mRNA translation efficiency is transcript-specific, with the influence on?cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 2 translation being the most significant. These findings suggest that LRPPRC–SLIRP is a key regulator of mitochondrial gene expression.
Enjoyed the research news? Share the newsletter with those who might also be interested in it!
About Novogene
Novogene specializes in the application of advanced molecular biotechnology and high-performance computing in the research fields of life science and human health. Established in March 2011, Novogene strives to become a global leader in providing genetic science services and technology products. Novogene has set up operations and laboratories in the United States, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, as well as in China, Singapore and Japan.
Novogene has served over 7,300 global customers, covering 90 countries and regions across 6 continents. It has cooperated extensively with many academic institutions and completed several advanced-level, international genomics research projects. By 2023, Novogene has co-published and/or been acknowledged in more than 22,850 articles in Science Citation Index, with an accumulative impact factor of more than 148,250.
Novogene's partners are worldwide and include more than 4,200 scienti?c research institutions and universities, more than 680 hospitals and over 2,400 pharmaceutical and agricultural enterprises. Currently, Novogene has obtained 425 software copyrights and 76 patents.
If you are interested in the sequencing services provided by Novogene and would like to get further information, please reach us here.