Explore the vast range of titles available.

Iron is an essential element for biological processes. Iron homeostasis is regulated through several mechanisms, from absorption by enterocytes to recycling by macrophages and storage in hepatocytes. Iron has dual properties, which may facilitate tumor growth or cell death. Cancer cells exhibit an increased dependence on iron compared with normal cells. Macrophages potentially deliver iron to cancer cells, resulting in tumor promotion. Mitochondria utilize cellular iron to synthesize cofactors, including heme and iron sulfur clusters. The latter is composed of essential enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and repair, oxidation-reduction reactions, and other cellular processes. However, highly increased iron concentrations result in cell death through membrane lipid peroxidation, termed ferroptosis. Ferroptosis, an emerging pathway for cancer treatment, is similar to pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis. In the present review, previous studies on the physiology of iron metabolism and its role in cancer are summarized. Additionally, the significance of iron regulation, and the association between iron homeostasis and carcinogenic mechanisms are discussed.

Lightweight and high-strength materials with high electromagnetic interference shielding performance are the best solution for electromagnetic pollution. However, the MXene film with extremely high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness cannot be extensively applied to the aerospace engineering because of its high density and low mechanical properties. Herein, a MXene/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite film with low density and high conductivity (24,875 S m −1 ) was prepared by using an ice crystal sacrificial template as a pore-forming agent and CNF as a structural reinforcement. The composite film with a small thickness effectively shielded electromagnetic waves since it has a continuous three-dimensional MXene conductive network framework, which serves as a rich interface to facilitate multiple reflections and absorption attenuation of electromagnetic waves. In addition, the absolute electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of the prepared film reached 9177 dB cm 2  g −1 . The design concept and approaches adopted in this work are highly efficient and scalable, which provides a bright prospect for the development of the MXene/polymer composites with high electromagnetic interference shielding properties.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide and remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Although current treatment strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies, have improved patient outcomes, their effectiveness is frequently limited by multidrug resistance, severe adverse effects, tumour recurrence, and restricted patient applicability. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic agents with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. Marine bioactive peptides have emerged as promising candidates for CRC therapy because of their remarkable structural diversity, unique evolutionary adaptations, and broad spectrum of biological activities. Numerous marine-derived peptides exhibit potent anti-CRC effects by inducing apoptosis, regulating cell-cycle progression, suppressing invasion and metastasis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and modulating the tumour microenvironment while generally demonstrating low toxicity toward normal cells. Despite these advantages, the clinical translation of marine peptides remains constrained by several challenges, including poor stability, rapid enzymatic degradation, limited bioavailability, difficulties in large-scale production, insufficient target characterization, and a lack of long-term safety evaluation. Recent advances in peptide engineering and pharmaceutical technology have significantly accelerated progress in this field. Strategies such as structural modification, cyclization, nanoformulation, intelligent delivery systems, and artificial intelligence-assisted peptide design have improved peptide stability, targeting efficiency, pharmacokinetic properties, and production feasibility. These technological innovations provide new opportunities to overcome the major limitations associated with marine peptide therapeutics. This review systematically summarizes the sources, structural characteristics, extraction and purification methods, molecular mechanisms, and in vitro and in vivo anti-CRC activities of marine-derived peptides. In addition, the major translational challenges and current technological solutions are critically discussed, with particular emphasis on the integration of multidisciplinary approaches for the development of next-generation marine peptide-based therapeutics for colorectal cancer.

Developing new anti-atherosclerotic agents and exploring their mechanistic actions is required. This study defined the molecular mechanism of icariin (ICA) in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) proliferation and migration by focusing on lncRNA H19 mediated the ability of the HuR protein to bind target mRNAs. The levels of lncRNA H19, cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured via qPCR or western blot. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2 H-tetrazolium (MTS), flow cytometry and transwell assays were performed to determine the functions of lncRNA H19 in cell proliferation and migration. RNA pull down and RIP were performed to verify the interaction between lncRNA H19 and HuR, or interaction between HuR and target mRNAs. LncRNA H19 expression was modulated in response to treatment with ICA. LncRNA H19 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-induced HA-VSMCs. ICA attenuated cell proliferation and migration, which was reversed by lncRNA H19 knockdown. LncRNA H19 overexpression reduced the expression of cyclin D1/MMP-9, and restrained the stability of cyclin D1/MMP-9 mRNAs. Moreover, lncRNA H19 was found to bind with HuR to decrease the mRNA stability of cyclin D1/MMP-9 mRNAs. In addition, ICA suppressed the expression of cyclin D1/MMP-9, this effect was partly reversed by lncRNA H19 knockdown. We propose that lncRNA H19 serves as an endogenous competing RNA to disable HuR, restricting its availability to target cyclin D1/MMP-9 mRNAs, generally repressing HA-VSMCs proliferation and migration. ICA inhibits proliferation and migration of HA-VSMCs, altering the expression of cyclin D1 and MMP-9, in a lncRNA H19/HuR dependent manner.

Cardamonin (CDN) can suppress cell growth in colorectal cancer (CRC), a common digestive malignancy. We explored the effect and mechanism of CDN on metastatic CRC. Two cell lines (HT29 and HCT116) were initially treated with CDN at different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 μmol/L) or 50 μmol/L propranolol (positive control) for 24 or 48 h. Then, the two cell lines were separately transfected with siADRB2 and ADRB2 overexpression plasmids, and further treated with 10 μmol/L CDN for 24 h. The cell viability, migration and invasion were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. The levels of ADRB2, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin and N-cadherin were measured by Western blotting or/and RT-qPCR. A CRC metastasis model was established to evaluate the antimetastatic potential of CDN (25 mg/kg). ADRB2 (3.2-fold change; p < 0.001) was highly expressed in CRC tissues. CDN at 10 μmol/L suppressed viability (69% and 70%), migration (33% and 66%), invasion (43% and 72%) and ADRB2 expression (2.2- and 2.84-fold change) in HT29 and HCT116 cells (p < 0.001). CDN at 10 μmol/L inhibited MMP-2, MMP-9 and N-cadherin expression but promoted E-cadherin expression in CRC cells (p < 0.001). Importantly, the effect of CDN on CRC cells was impaired by ADRB2 overexpression, but further enhanced by ADRB2 down-regulation (p < 0.01). Additionally, ADRB2 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of CDN on metastatic lung nodules (p < 0.05). Discussion and conclusions: CDN is a potential candidate for the treatment of metastatic CRC in clinical practice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is difficult to be treated. miRNAs are a group of gene regulators. Study demonstrated that miR-200b-3p is involved in the development of UC, but the specific molecular mechanism is still unclear. A UC model was established by injecting acetic acid into rectum of rats, which were then treated with miR-200b-3p antagonists and agonists. Weight change, fecal viscosity and fecal bleeding were measured to determine disease activity index. The ratio of colon length to weight was measured. Colon lesions were detected by H&E staining. ELISA was used to detect the expression of TGF-β in colon tissues and IL-10/CRP in serum. Intestinal epithelial cells (NCM460) were treated by TNF-α to create an inflammatory environment. MRNA and protein levels of miR-200b-3p, KHDRBS1, IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β, Bcl-2, Bax and C-capase-3 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. TargetScan database and dual-luciferase reporter assay were conducted to predict the targeting relationship between miR-200b-3p and KHDRBS1. MTT and flow cytometry were respectively performed to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. MiR-200b-3p expression was inhibited, leading to increased disease activity index and colonic length–weight ratio, and aggravation of lesions of the UC rat model. Up-regulation of miR-200b-3p can relieve inflammation and apoptosis of immune cells in UC rats. MiR-200b-3p targeted KHDRBS1 and inhibited its expression. Moreover, KHDRBS1 reversed the effects of miR-200b-3p on apoptosis, proliferation and inflammation of intestinal epithelial cells. MiR-200b-3p alleviates UC by negatively regulating KHDRBS1.

Background Recently, an increasing number of studies have been conducted on circular RNAs (circRNAs) that have demonstrated their different roles in a variety of biological processes. Moreover, a large number of circRNAs have been shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of breast cancer (BC). Main body Both functional and mechanistic experiments have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as competing endogenous RNAs by sponging miRNAs, encoding proteins, and regulating parental genes. In doing so, circRNAs modulate the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and invasion of BC cells in vitro as well as tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Moreover, scores of circRNAs have been demonstrated to be related to clinicopathological features, prognosis, and treatment sensitivity in patients with BC; many circRNAs have shown potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, drug sensitivity, and prognosis prediction. Furthermore, researchers have focused on circRNAs as potential therapeutic targets. Conclusion In this review, we briefly summarize the functions and categories of circRNAs, their different roles in BC, and recent research and therapeutic progress related to circRNAs.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Accurate early diagnosis of breast cancer is critical in the management of the disease. Although mammogram screening has been widely used for breast cancer screening, high false-positive and false-negative rates and radiation from mammography have always been a concern. Over the last 20 years, the emergence of “omics” strategies has resulted in significant advances in the search for non-invasive biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis at an early stage. Circulating carcinoma antigens, circulating tumor cells, circulating cell-free tumor nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), circulating microRNAs, and circulating extracellular vesicles in the peripheral blood, nipple aspirate fluid, sweat, urine, and tears, as well as volatile organic compounds in the breath, have emerged as potential non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers to supplement current clinical approaches to earlier detection of breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the current progress of research in these areas.

In order to improve the lubrication performance and reduce tooth surface wear (TSW) of double involute gears (DIGs), this study comprehensively considers the mutual influence relationship between tooth surface wear, gear pair meshing characteristics, and lubrication characteristics. A calculation model for tooth surface wear of double involute gears under mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is established, and a calculation method for the lubrication characteristics of DIGs considering the effect of tooth surface wear is proposed. Based on this, the distribution of tooth surface wear in DIGs is investigated, along with the impact of TSW on the lubrication characteristics between meshing tooth surfaces under varying operating conditions, tooth waist order parameters, and tooth surface roughness parameters. Research findings indicate that the influence of TSW on DIGs’ lubrication characteristics is closely associated with accumulated wear depth. Tooth surface wear can deteriorate the lubrication state, and has a significant impact on the lubrication characteristics near meshing in and out positions. Under low velocity, high torque, and large roughness conditions, TSW exerts a greater effect on the lubrication characteristics. However, when there are changes in tooth waist order parameters, its impact on overall lubrication performance becomes relatively small.

Charge transport underpins essential biological processes, including cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and enzymatic catalysis. Advances in molecular electronics have enabled single-molecule measurements that unequivocally establish redox-active proteins as efficient electron conductors, with their metal cofactors serving as intrinsic redox relays. By contrast, ubiquitous non-redox proteins lacking such redox centers have long been considered poor conductors. However, recent research has challenged this view, demonstrating that efficient charge transport in non-redox proteins can be mediated through polypeptide backbones, aromatic side-chain arrays, and hydrogen bond networks. This review surveys progress in understanding the single-molecule conductance of non-redox proteins. Firstly, we elucidate the fundamental transport mechanisms, highlighting the interplay between coherent tunneling and thermally activated hopping. We then provide an overview of state-of-the-art experimental techniques for single-molecule characterization. Through analysis of diverse systems spanning short peptides to large enzymes, we illustrate how aromatic amino acid networks and dynamic conformational fluctuations govern conductance, enabling emerging applications in label-free biosensing and single-molecule protein/DNA sequencing. Finally, we discuss persistent challenges and outline future opportunities for integrating protein-based conductors into bioelectronic devices. This review aims to stimulate further research and pave the way for novel applications harnessing protein conductance.