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The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway is a principal signaling pathway for the signal transduction of many pivotal cytokines involved in sepsis. Binding of cytokines to corresponding receptors can activate associated JAK kinases, which selectively phosphorylate STATs. Activated STATs then translocate to the nucleus and play a critical role in the transcription of target genes. During the past several years, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the roles of JAK/STAT pathway in sepsis. The aims of this review are to describe the present knowledge about JAK/STAT signaling pathway, describe the specific roles of JAK/STAT pathway in sepsis, and put forward the prospect for future studies of JAK/STAT signaling pathway in sepsis. A PubMed database search was performed for studies of JAKs and STATs in sepsis. It has been shown that a variety of cytokines can exert their biological effects via the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. JAK/STAT pathway has been shown related to the release of various cytokines and inflammatory mediators and involved in the regulation of immune response in sepsis. Moreover, JAK/STAT pathway has been shown involved in organ damage and other dysfunctions in sepsis models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Testicular inflammation induced by aging is identified as a potential risk factor for late-onset hypogonadism. • TNFAIP3, an anti-inflammatory factor, demonstrates close involvement in various aging and inflammatory diseases. • Our study reveals TNFAIP3 promotes testosterone production and suppresses apoptosis in Leydig cells within the aging inflammatory microenvironment. The aging inflammatory microenvironment surrounding Leydig cells is linked to reduced testosterone levels in males. Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) acts as a critical anti-inflammatory factor in various aging-related diseases. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of TNFAIP3 on testosterone production in Leydig cells under an aging inflammatory microenvironment. Bioinformatics analysis examined TNFAIP3 expression differences in aging rat testes and validated the findings in aging mouse testes. In vitro models of inflammation were established using two Leydig cell lines, with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) as the inflammatory factor. Lentiviral transduction was utilized to manipulate TNFAIP3 expression in these cell lines. Transcriptomic sequencing identified differentially expressed genes in TNFAIP3-overexpressing cells. Bioinformatics analysis and validation experiments revealed increased inflammatory signaling and elevated TNFAIP3 expression in aging rat and mouse testes. TNFAIP3 knockdown worsened testosterone synthesis inhibition and apoptosis in cells, while TNFAIP3 overexpression reversed these effects. Transcriptome analysis identified alterations in the P38MAPK pathway following TNFAIP3 overexpression. TNFAIP3 knockdown enhanced TNF-induced P38MAPK signaling, whereas its overexpression attenuated this effect. TNFAIP3 was found to regulate testosterone synthesis by upregulating CEBPB expression. TNFAIP3 exhibits inhibitory effects on apoptosis and promotes testosterone production in Leydig cells. The protective influence of TNFAIP3 on Leydig cells within an inflammatory microenvironment is likely mediated through by inhibiting the P38MAPK pathway and upregulating CEBPB expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogen on endometrial cancer remain undefined. Although the classical mechanism of the action of estrogen involves binding to the estrogen receptors α and β, and transduction of the signal into the cell, G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 30 has been shown to mediate nongenomic estrogen signaling. The goal of this study was to determine the role of GPR30 signal in the basic process such as invasion and carcinogenesis of endometrial cancer. Methods: We downregulated the expression of GPR30 in endometrial cancer cell line RL95-2 by transfection with shGPR30-pGFP-V-RS, a GPR30 antisense expression vector. The cells were then subjected to an MTT assay and a Transwell migration assay. And an animal model was also used to investigate the influence of downregulation of GPR30 on oncogenesis. Results: Downregulation of GPR30 led to reduced growth and invasion by cells treated with 17β-estradiol. And the capacity of transfected RL95-2 cells to promote tumorigenesis was weakened in vivo. Conclusions: Our data suggest that, for the endometrial cancer cell line RL95-2, GPR30 plays important roles in mediating the proliferative and invasive effects of estrogen and in tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The testicular microcirculation was an important aspect of testicular physiology and it offered a stable environment for the transport of nutrients and secretary products in the testis. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription, has been proved as an effective drug to ameliorate spermatogenesis, promote testosterone synthesis in vivo, and cure spermatogenesis in clinical practice. Objective. This study was aimed at understanding the potential mechanisms of YC exerting angiogenic effects in the mouse spermatogenesis dysfunction model induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and MLTC-1 cells. Materials and Methods. Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, CP, CP plus YC (630 mg/kg), CP plus YC (1260 mg/kg), and CP plus YC (2520 mg/kg). After 30 days, mice were sacrificed and the expressions of endothelial marker CD34+, angiogenic marker VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in the testes of the mice were examined; moreover, Leydig cell line MLTC-1 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of YC extracts (YCE), and the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS, as well as the secretion of NO, were evaluated. Results. We observed that YC significantly increased the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in testes of CP-treated mice; moreover, YCE has led to increased expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS and secretion of NO in MLTC-1 in vitro. These data suggested that the YC might be an alternative treatment for the dysfunction of testicular microcirculation by promoting the angiogenesis in the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The testicular microcirculation was an important aspect of testicular physiology and it offered a stable environment for the transport of nutrients and secretary products in the testis. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription, has been proved as an effective drug to ameliorate spermatogenesis, promote testosterone synthesis in vivo, and cure spermatogenesis in clinical practice. Objective. This study was aimed at understanding the potential mechanisms of YC exerting angiogenic effects in the mouse spermatogenesis dysfunction model induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and MLTC-1 cells. Materials and Methods. Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, CP, CP plus YC (630 mg/kg), CP plus YC (1260 mg/kg), and CP plus YC (2520 mg/kg). After 30 days, mice were sacrificed and the expressions of endothelial marker CD34+, angiogenic marker VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in the testes of the mice were examined; moreover, Leydig cell line MLTC-1 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of YC extracts (YCE), and the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS, as well as the secretion of NO, were evaluated. Results. We observed that YC significantly increased the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in testes of CP-treated mice; moreover, YCE has led to increased expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS and secretion of NO in MLTC-1 in vitro. These data suggested that the YC might be an alternative treatment for the dysfunction of testicular microcirculation by promoting the angiogenesis in the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The testicular microcirculation was an important aspect of testicular physiology and it offered a stable environment for the transport of nutrients and secretary products in the testis. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription, has been proved as an effective drug to ameliorate spermatogenesis, promote testosterone synthesis in vivo, and cure spermatogenesis in clinical practice. Objective. This study was aimed at understanding the potential mechanisms of YC exerting angiogenic effects in the mouse spermatogenesis dysfunction model induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and MLTC-1 cells. Materials and Methods. Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, CP, CP plus YC (630 mg/kg), CP plus YC (1260 mg/kg), and CP plus YC (2520 mg/kg). After 30 days, mice were sacrificed and the expressions of endothelial marker CD34+, angiogenic marker VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in the testes of the mice were examined; moreover, Leydig cell line MLTC-1 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of YC extracts (YCE), and the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS, as well as the secretion of NO, were evaluated. Results. We observed that YC significantly increased the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in testes of CP-treated mice; moreover, YCE has led to increased expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS and secretion of NO in MLTC-1 in vitro. These data suggested that the YC might be an alternative treatment for the dysfunction of testicular microcirculation by promoting the angiogenesis in the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The testicular microcirculation was an important aspect of testicular physiology and it offered a stable environment for the transport of nutrients and secretary products in the testis. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription, has been proved as an effective drug to ameliorate spermatogenesis, promote testosterone synthesis in vivo, and cure spermatogenesis in clinical practice. Objective. This study was aimed at understanding the potential mechanisms of YC exerting angiogenic effects in the mouse spermatogenesis dysfunction model induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and MLTC-1 cells. Materials and Methods. Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, CP, CP plus YC (630 mg/kg), CP plus YC (1260 mg/kg), and CP plus YC (2520 mg/kg). After 30 days, mice were sacrificed and the expressions of endothelial marker CD34+, angiogenic marker VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in the testes of the mice were examined; moreover, Leydig cell line MLTC-1 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of YC extracts (YCE), and the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS, as well as the secretion of NO, were evaluated. Results. We observed that YC significantly increased the expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS in testes of CP-treated mice; moreover, YCE has led to increased expressions of VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and eNOS and secretion of NO in MLTC-1 in vitro. These data suggested that the YC might be an alternative treatment for the dysfunction of testicular microcirculation by promoting the angiogenesis in the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism by which spinal cord injury (SCI) induces neuronal death has not been thoroughly understood. Investigation on the molecular signal pathways involved in SCI-mediated neuronal apoptosis is important for development of new therapeutics for SCI. In the current study, we explore the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the modulation of mixed lineage kinase 3/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/cJUN N-terminal kinase 3 (MLK3/MKK7/JNK3) signaling, which is a pro-apoptotic pathway, after SCI. We found that MLK3/MKK7/JNK3 signaling was activated by SCI in a time-dependent manner, demonstrated by increase in activating phosphorylation of MLK3, MKK7, and JNK3. SCI also induced HO-1 expression. Administration of HO-1-expressing adeno-associated virus before SCI introduced expression of exogenous HO-1 in injured spinal cords. Exogenous HO-1 reduced phosphorylation of MLK3, MKK7, and JNK3. Consistent with its inhibitory effect on MLK3/MKK7/JNK3 signaling, exogenous HO-1 decreased SCI-induced neuronal apoptosis and improved neurological score. Further, we found that exogenous HO-1 inhibited expression of cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42), which is crucial for MLK3 activation. In vitro experiments indicated that Cdc42 was essential for neuronal apoptosis, while transduction of neurons with HO-1-expressing adeno-associated virus significantly reduced neuronal apoptosis to enhance neuronal survival. Therefore, our study disclosed a novel mechanism by which HO-1 exerted its neuroprotective efficacy. Our discovery might be valuable for developing a new therapeutic approach for SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gankyrin has been implicated in the formation of multiple cancer types, although its roles in estrogen-driven endometrial carcinoma remain unclarified. We evaluated the expression of Gankyrin in endometrial tissues and further explored its roles in estrogen-driven and GPR30-mediated endometrial cancer cell proliferation. Gankyrin was overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues and showed an inverse relationship with the pattern of PTEN expression. The depletion or overexpression of Gankyrin induced endometrial cancer cell proliferation inhibition or expansion, respectively, which was associated with estrogen-driven GPR30 signaling via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. This study suggests that Gankyrin is functional in endometrial cancer development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]