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The effects of PFKFB4 on glycolysis during the cancer progression has been investigated, while its role in glioma remains unclear. The present study evaluated the molecular mechanism of PFKFB4 in glycolysis of glioma progression. The pan-cancer platform SangerBox was inquired to investigate the E2F2 expression in tumors. The E2F2 expression was studied by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in collected glioma and normal brain tissues and by qRT-PCR and western blot in glioma cells. The relationship between the E2F2 expression in glioma tissues and patients' prognosis was analyzed. The cell malignant phenotype, glycolysis, growth and metastasis were examined by CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell assays, ELISA kits, and tumorigenesis and metastasis assays. Downstream targets of E2F2 were searched in hTFtarget, followed by pathway enrichment analysis. The expression of these targets and their correlation with E2F2 expression in gliomas were investigated through the GEPIA website. After ChIP and luciferase assays, the effect of the target on glioma was investigated. E2F2 was overexpressed in glioma patients and predicted poor prognoses. E2F2 promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, DNA synthesis, migration, invasion and glycolysis, and inhibited apoptosis. Meanwhile, inhibition of E2F2 suppressed the growth and metastasis of gliomas. E2F2 elevated the PFKFB4 expression transcriptionally by binding to its promoter and activated PI3K/AKT pathway. The promotion of glioma metastasis and glycolysis by E2F2 was mitigated by PFKFB4 knockdown. E2F2-mediated transcriptional enhancement of PFKFB4 expression regulated the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT to promote glioma malignancy progression. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel two-photon pH probe, 3-benzimidazole-7-hydroxycoumarin (BHC), was designed and synthesized based on the structures of hydroxycoumarin and benzimidazole. BHC showed good linearity in the pH ranges of 3.30–5.40 (pKa = 4.20) and 6.50–8.30 (pKa = 7.20) at a maximum emission wavelength of 480 nm. BHC in acidic and alkaline media could be distinguished by an obvious spectral shift of the maximum absorption wavelength from 390 nm to 420 nm. In addition, BHC was well localized to mitochondria and successfully applied to one-photon and two-photon imaging of pH changes in the mitochondria of HeLa cells. The findings presented herein suggest that BHC can serve as an excellent fluorescent probe for selectively sensing mitochondrial pH changes with remarkable photostability and low cytotoxicity. Unlabelled Image • A new fluorescent probe for one- and two-photon sensing of pH was developed. • The probe responded sensitively and selectively to pH changes within 3.0–6.0 (pKa = 4.20) and 6.0–9.0 (pKa = 7.20). • The probe was successfully applied for monitoring and imaging of mitochondrial pH in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aberrant DNA methylation is associated with tumor onset and progression. Study has verified that the DNA methylation of miR-152 was mediated in many tumors, but whether it involved in glioblastomas was still unclear. Methods This study enrolled 20 patients with glioma to analyze the expression pattern of miR-152. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA or protein expression level, respectively. The relationship between miR-152 and runx2 was detected by Luciferase reporter assay. The methylation level of miR-152 was determined by methylation-specific PCR. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT and Annexin-FITC/PI assay. Results The expression of miR-152 was down-regulated while the expression of DNMT1 was up-regulated in both glioma tissue and cell lines. MiR-152 was hypermethylated and its expression was negatively correlated with DNMT in glioma cell lines. DNMT1 knockdown promoted the expression of miR-152, however, DNMT1 overexpression suppressed the expression of miR-152. MiR-152 overexpression promoted glioma cell apoptosis while miR-152 knockdown promoted cell proliferation. MiR-152 targets Runx2 to regulate its expression, Runx2 overexpression abolished the effects of miR-152 overexpression. Conclusion MiR-152 regulated cell proliferation and apoptosis of glioma mediated by Runx2, while the mechanism of down regulated miR-152 in glioma tissues and cells was its hypermethylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Chemically Recyclable vanillin based epoxy vitrimers were achieved. • The mechanical properties were comparable to those of Bisphenol A epoxy/CF composites. • Carbon fiber could be recycled at 25 °C for 2 h under 0.1 M HCl/DMF (v/v = 1/1) • The surface morphology and chemical structure of carbon fiber are not changed. Fabrication of recyclable and reprocessable epoxy vitrimers is opening more application opportunities for carbon fiber (CF) recycling. Despite the extensive study of epoxy thermosets from lignin-based monomer of vanillin, however, few works have been focused on its vitrimers, let alone their mechanical, interfacial, solvent resistance and fully recyclable properties of vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers /CF composite. Here the effect of four types of curing agents on the above properties has been carefully studied. Two-layer CF reinforced vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers composites that was cured with Isophoronediamine shows higher tensile strength at break and Young's Modulus than those of Bisphenyl A epoxy (E51)/CF and other epoxy vitrimers/CF composites, which reaches 571 MPa and 11.7 GPa, respectively. All vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers are easily degradable at room temperature in acid solution except for that cured with 4,4′-Diaminodiphenylmethane. The surface morphology and chemical structure of CF are not altered after degradation. Importantly, completely recyclable vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers are achieved by imine exchange reaction; however, the mechanical and thermal properties of it are slightly inferior to the origins. This work demonstrates that the mildly degradable, fully recyclable vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers and readily recycling of CF are desirable for the development of lignin based functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]