Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly prevalent, age-related disorder in men, defined by nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, which results in bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and impaired quality of life. Heat shock protein family A member 1 A (HSPA1A)/HSP70, as a molecular chaperone, plays a critical role in cellular stress protection, attenuating apoptosis and oxidative stress across various diseases. This study delineates the mechanistic framework by which HSP70 modulates mitochondrial quality control in BPH. In vitro and in vivo models reveal that lack of HSP70 triggers pronounced mitochondrial fragmentation, boosts reactive oxygen species accumulation, and disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential, resulting in enhanced apoptosis and alleviated BPH progression. Mechanistically, HSP70 facilitates PINK1/Parkin mediated mitophagy by promoting PINK1 autophosphorylation at Ser228, thereby enhancing the elimination of damaged mitochondria and suppressing mitochondrial apoptosis, while also orchestrating mitochondrial fission via regulation of DRP1 and MFF phosphorylation. HSPA1A is transcriptionally upregulated by HSF1, establishing an axis essential for mitophagy and apoptosis resistance in prostatic hyperplasia. Collectively, these findings position HSP70 as a central regulator of mitochondrial integrity and cell survival in BPH, and its manipulation holds translational promise for ameliorating prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prevalently in aging men, is characterized by aberrant cell death of prostate cells. Anoikis, a specific subtype of apoptosis, is triggered when cells detach from the extracellular matrix (ECM), in contrast, cells with anoikis resistance contribute to pathological processes such as unregulated cell proliferation and impaired cell death. However, the role of anoikis resistance in BPH pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, an elevated anoikis resistance level was observed in BPH tissues compared to normal prostates. Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) was identified as a key regulator of anoikis resistance in hyperplastic prostatic epithelium. Under anoikis-inducing conditions, MMP7 promoted mitophagy via the PINK1-Parkin pathway, alleviated mitochondrial stress damage, and enhanced anoikis resistance in BPH-1 cells. Mechanistically, MMP7 interacted with VDAC1 and bound specifically to lysine residues K109 and K110, thereby inhibiting VDAC1 oligomerization and increasing the accumulation of VDAC1 monomers, which served as additional binding sites to Parkin-mediated polyubiquitination. Moreover, clinical data revealed that MMP7 expression levels correlated significantly with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and nocturia frequency. Additionally, in vivo experiments demonstrated that inhibition of MMP7 suppressed mitophagy and markedly attenuated prostatic epithelial hyperplasia in a rat model BPH. Collectively, our findings clarify the functional role of the MMP7-VDAC1 axis in BPH pathogenesis and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for BPH management.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disorder in aging males. It is investigated whether heat shock protein family A member 1A (HSPA1A), a cytoprotective chaperone induced under stress, has been implicated in the development of BPH. RNA-sequencing and single-cell sequencing analyses revealed significant upregulation of HSPA1A in BPH compared to controls. In vitro experiments elucidated that HSPA1A was localized in prostatic epithelium and stroma, with upregulated expression in BPH tissues. Moreover, HSPA1A silencing augmented apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, inhibiting proliferation via ERK/JNK activation, while overexpression reversed these effects in prostatic BPH-1 and WPMY-1 cells. Additionally, ERK1/2 suppression with U0126 rescued the effects of HSPA1A silencing. In vivo, testosterone-induced BPH (T-BPH) rat models treated with the HSPA1A antagonist KNK437 exhibited prostatic atrophy and molecular changes consistent with reduced HSPA1A activity. Finally, we conducted a tissue microarray (TMA) analysis of 139 BPH specimens from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, which revealed a positive correlation between HSPA1A expression and clinical parameters, including prostate volume (PV), tPSA, fPSA, and IPSS. In conclusion, our findings suggested that HSPA1A attenuated apoptosis and oxidative stress through the ERK/JNK signaling pathway, contributing to BPH pathogenesis.

Liver fibrosis is a leading cause of liver-related mortality worldwide, yet effective therapies remain limited. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently shown promise in treating liver fibrosis due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which MSCs exert their effects remain unclear. In this study, we explored how human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) contribute to treating liver fibrosis, and revealed a crucial role of ferroptosis in modulating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activity. We found that MSCs primarily promote ferroptosis in HSCs in an exosome-dependent manner. Specifically, MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) deliver miR-499a-5p, which interacts with the transcription factor ETS1, leading to the suppression of GPX4, a key regulator of ferroptosis, thereby reducing the fibrogenic activity of HSCs. Overexpression of ETS1 in HSCs counteracted miR-499a-5p-induced ferroptosis, underscoring the pathway’s potential as a target for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations further identified optimal ETS1-GPX4 binding sites. This research uncovers a novel mechanism by which MSCs may treat liver fibrosis, providing insights that could guide the development of more effective therapies for this widespread condition.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold significant therapeutic potential for liver fibrosis but face translational challenges due to suboptimal homing efficiency and poor retention at injury sites. Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs), the primary drivers of fibrogenesis, overexpress platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRB), a validated therapeutic target in liver fibrosis. Here, we engineered pPB peptide-functionalized MSCs (pPB-MSCs) via hydrophobic insertion of DMPE-PEG-pPB (DPP) into the MSC membrane, creating a targeted "MSC-pPB-aHSC" delivery system. Our findings demonstrated that pPB modification preserved MSC viability, differentiation potential, and paracrine functions. pPB-MSCs exhibited higher binding affinity to TGF-β1-activated HSCs in vitro and greater hepatic accumulation in TAA-induced fibrotic mice, as quantified by in vivo imaging. Moreover, pPB-MSCs attenuated collagen deposition, suppressed α-SMA+ HSCs, and restored serum ALT/AST levels to near-normal ranges. Mechanistically, pPB-MSCs promoted hepatocyte regeneration via HGF upregulation, inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition through TGF-β/Smad pathway suppression, and polarized macrophages toward an M2 phenotype, reducing pro-inflammatory IL-6/TNF-α while elevating anti-inflammatory IL-10. Overall, our study raised a non-genetic MSC surface engineering strategy that synergizes PDGFRB-targeted homing with multifactorial tissue repair, addressing critical barriers in cell therapy for liver fibrosis. By achieving enhanced spatial delivery without compromising MSC functionality, our approach provides a clinically translatable platform for enhancing regenerative medicine outcomes.

Glycolysis activation plays a critical role in sustaining the proinflammatory phenotype of macrophages, which is key to initiating and advancing liver fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanisms that trigger glycolytic activation and their contribution to inflammation remain poorly understood. In this study, we showed that inhibiting glycolysis markedly suppresses macrophage M1 polarization and alleviates liver inflammation and fibrosis, whereas enhancing glycolysis in hepatic macrophages produces the opposite effect. Additionally, our results demonstrated that glycolytic flux is necessary for activation of the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway. Moreover, STING activation was found to reciprocally stimulate glycolysis in macrophages. Mechanistically, we found that ATP generated through glycolysis promotes STING pathway activation and enhances the interferon-dependent immune response. Moreover, activation of IRF3, a downstream transcription factor of STING, upregulates HIF-1α transcription, further driving glycolysis. These findings uncover novel mechanistic links between STING signaling and glycolytic metabolism, emphasizing their coordinated role in promoting macrophage M1 polarization. Together, our data suggest that targeting the interaction between metabolic reprogramming and immune signaling offers an effective therapeutic approach for treating liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

BackgroundBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease afflicting elderly males all over the world. The existing scientific research still has not completely clarified its etiology. Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a developmental regulatory protein involved in various biological processes. This study aimed to elucidate the expression, biological function, and underlying mechanism of PTN in the onset and progression of BPH.MethodsHuman prostate tissues, cell lines, rat models and PTN-knockout mice models were utilized. PTN knockdown, PTN overexpression, and estradiol cell models were established. The qRT-PCR, Western Blot, flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, collagen gel contraction assay, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, H&E, Masson's trichrome, immunohistochemical staining, TUNEL assay and tissue micro-array analysis were performed during in vivo and in vitro experiments.ResultsOur current data validated that PTN is localized in stroma and epithelium of the prostate, with stronger expression in BPH tissues. Functionally, silenced PTN promoted cell apoptosis while it inhibited cell proliferation, cell contraction and fibrosis. Consistently, overexpression of PTN suppressed cell apoptosis, and facilitated cell proliferation, cell contraction, as well as fibrosis. More importantly, AKT phosphorylation and RhoA/ROCK1/2 axis were confirmed to be involved in the regulation of prostate biological processes by PTN. Moreover, estradiol treatment could enhance PTN expression and modulate downstream biological process. Also, PTN expression was correlated with prostate volume (PV), fPSA and the ratio of fPSA/tPSA. Finally, recombinant PTN induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats, PTN knockout suppressed BPH in mice, and estradiol treatment upregulated PTN expression. These results further confirm the crucial role of PTN in BPH onset and progression.ConclusionOur current study demonstrates that PTN is of significance in the onset and development of BPH and may be a new target for the treatment of BPH.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a prevalent urological malignancy, imposing substantial burdens on both patients and society. In our study, we used bioinformatics methods to select four putative target genes associated with EMT and prognosis and developed a nomogram model which could accurately predicting 5-year patient survival rates. We further analyzed proteome and single-cell data and selected PLCG2 and TMEM38A for the following experiments. Overexpression models of PLCG2 and TMEM38A were generated in Caki-1 and 786-O cell lines using plasmids. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that both of them exerted pro-apoptotic effects on Caki-1 and 786-O cells, inducing G2/M phase arrest, inhibiting proliferation, and suppressing EMT. In summary, we identified potential tumor suppressor factors and stratified ccRCC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups based on these factors. Furthermore, we elucidated the impact of PLCG2 and TMEM38A in Caki-1 and 786-O cell lines, offering novel avenues for therapeutic target exploration.

Liver fibrosis is a reversible dynamic pathological process induced by chronic liver injury. Without intervention, liver fibrosis can progress to become cirrhosis, liver failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma, thus posing a high global health burden. Therefore, effective therapies for liver fibrosis are urgently required. Although transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has significant value as a treatment strategy for liver damage, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Chronic liver injury progression is significantly influenced by hepatocyte ferroptosis, and targeting ferroptosis is emerging as a potential treatment strategy for liver fibrosis. Here, we showed that the infusion of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) alleviated TAA-induced liver fibrosis, improved liver functionality, and decreased ferroptosis in mice. hUC-MSCs inhibit ferroptosis-related mitochondrial damage and lipid peroxidation in AML12 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, under oxidative stress, hUC-MSCs transfer healthy mitochondria to damaged hepatocytes through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). Cytochalasin D (CytoD), an inhibitor of TNT formation, abrogated the protective effects of hUC-MSCs against ferroptosis. This research emphasizes the ability of hUC-MSCs to serve as a promising treatment for liver fibrosis via mitochondrial transfer through TNTs.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an upgraded integrated vacuum suction catheter in semi-rigid ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (VC-URSL) compared to traditional methods for treating impacted upper ureteral stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS:This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted from September 2022 to March 2024 at a single center, enrolling 95 patients aged 18-70 years with a single radiopaque impacted upper ureteral stone. Participants were randomized into two groups: the VC-URSL group used an integrated vacuum suction catheter featuring a stainless steel stabilizing tube and a narrowed distal end to prevent obstruction, while the T-URSL group underwent standard ureteroscopic lithotripsy without vacuum assistance. Both groups utilized a holmium-YAG laser under general anesthesia. Primary outcomes included operative time, stone-free rates on the first postoperative day and after one month, and complication rates, specifically fever and stone retropulsion. RESULTS:The VC-URSL group achieved significantly shorter operative times (37.60 ± 3.87 min vs. 46.21 ± 7.54 min, P < 0.001) and higher initial stone-free rates (91.7% vs. 74.5%, P = 0.025) compared to T-URSL. Additionally, the VC-URSL group had fewer complications, with lower rates of fever (2.1% vs. 17.0%, P = 0.015) and stone retropulsion (6.3% vs. 21.3%, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS:VC-URSL offers a more effective, safer, and efficient alternative to T-URSL, enhancing outcomes while reducing complications. Further multicenter trials with larger populations are recommended for broader validation.

Background and objectsBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease that impairs the life quality of elderly men. The close relationship of BPH and diabetes has been generally established, however, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. Midline-1 (MID1) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase belonging to Tripartite Motif family and its involvement in the initiation and progression of many diseases, such as diabetic kidney disease has been well accepted. This study aims to illuminate the potential impact of high glucose (HG) on prostatic cells and elucidate the molecular role of MID1 in the development of BPH.MethodsIn this work, human prostate specimens and cultured human prostate cell lines (BPH-1 and WPMY-1) were employed. The impact of HG treatment on these two lines was assessed and the expression and localization of MID1, along with its potential downstream target protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), were determined using multiple experimental methods. MID1-overexpressing cell models were further used to investigate the function of MID1 in regulating inflammation, fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).ResultsHerein we demonstrate diabetic individuals with BPH had lower expression of MID1 and higher expression of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2Ac), larger prostate volume, higher international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and lower Qmax than non-diabetic groups. On a cellular level, HG treatment inhibited the expression of MID1, thus stimulating cellular proliferation and triggering EMT, fibrosis and inflammation of two prostatic cells via enhanced WNT/β-catenin signaling.ConclusionsIn general, our novel data demonstrate targeting MID1 might be a promising area of medical treatment for patients with both BPH and diabetes.

With the aging global population, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis(OP) are becoming increasingly prevalent. Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a metabolic bone disorder characterized by abnormal bone tissue structure and reduced bone strength in patients with diabetes. Studies have revealed a close association among diabetes, increased fracture risk, and disturbances in iron metabolism. This review explores the concept of ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death process dependent on intracellular iron, focusing on its role in DOP. Iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, particularly impacting pancreatic β-cells, osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs), contributes to DOP. The intricate interplay between iron dysregulation, which comprises deficiency and overload, and DOP has been discussed, emphasizing how excessive iron accumulation triggers ferroptosis in DOP. This concise overview highlights the need to understand the complex relationship between T2DM and OP, particularly ferroptosis. This review aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in DOP and provide a prospective for future research targeting interventions in the field of ferroptosis.

Chronic Liver fibrosis may progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hence cause a substantial global burden. However, effective therapies for blocking fibrosis are still lacking. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proven beneficial to liver regeneration after damage, the underlying mechanism of their therapeutic effects are not fully understood. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial functionality alteration directly contributes to the hepatocyte apoptosis and development of liver fibrosis. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which hUC-MSC alleviates liver fibrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA-sequencing was performed to characterize the transcriptomic changes after implantation of hUC-MSCs in mice with liver fibrosis. Next, western blot, RT-PCR, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the expression of different genes in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, mitochondrial morphological and dynamic changes, ROS content, and ATP production were examined. Slc25a47, a newly identified liver-specific mitochondrial NAD+ transporter, was notably reduced in CCl4-treated mice and H2O2-stimulated hepatocytes. Conversely, hUC-MSCs increased the Slc25a47 expression and NAD+ level within mitochondria, thereby enhanced Sirt3 protein activity and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver. Furthermore, Slc25a47 knockdown could partially abrogate the protective effects of hUC-MSCs on H2O2-induced mitochondrial fission and oxidative stress in hepatocytes. Our study illustrates that Slc25a47 is a key molecular for hUC-MSCs to improve liver fibrosis and regulates mitochondrial function through Sirt3 for the first time, and providing a theoretical basis for the clinical translation of hUC-MSCs transplantation in the treatment of patients with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a quite common chronic disease plagued elderly men and its etiology remains unclear. It was reported that the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) could modulate cell proliferation/apoptosis ratio and oxidative stress in cancers. Our current study aimed to explore the expression, biological function, and underlying mechanism of STEAP4 in BPH progress. Human prostate tissues and cell lines were utilized. qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining were employed. STEAP4 knockdown (STEAP4-KD) or STEAP4 overexpression (STEAP4-OE) cell models were established. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related proteins and antioxidant enzymes were identified by Western Blot. In addition, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and fibrosis biomarker (collagen I and α-SMA) were analyzed. It was indicated that STEAP4 was mainly located in the prostate epithelium and upregulated in BPH tissues. STEAP4 deficiency induced apoptosis and inhibited cell survival, but had no effect on the cell cycle, fibrosis, and EMT process. In addition, ROS changes were observed in the STEAP4-KD model. Consistently, overproduction of STEAP4 suppressed apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation, as well as facilitated ROS production. We further examined AKT / mTOR, p38MAPK / p-p38MAPK, and WNT/ β-Catenin signaling pathway and demonstrated that STEAP4 regulated the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cells through AKT / mTOR signaling, rather than p38MAPK / p-p38MAPK and WNT/ β-Catenin pathways. Furthermore, activating AKT / mTOR signaling with SC79 significantly reversed apoptosis triggered by STEAP4 deficiency, whereas suppressing AKT / mTOR signaling with MK2206 reduced the increase of cell viability triggered by STEAP4 overproduction. Our original data demonstrated that STEAP4 is crucial in the onset and progression of prostate hyperplasia and may become a new target for the treatment of BPH.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging males, but its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its receptors (S1PRs) play important roles in various diseases, while less studied in prostate. Current study attempts to clarify the expression and functional activities of S1P/S1PRs in the prostate. We discovered that S1P/S1PRs were richly expressed in the prostate, with S1PR1/2/3 localized in the epithelial/stromal compartments, while S1PR4/5 were less expressed. In vitro, S1P/S1PR1/S1PR3 promoted cell proliferation via AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, S1P/S1PR2/S1PR3 enhanced contraction of WPMY-1 cells and human prostate via RhoA/ROCK pathway, while S1P/S1PR1/S1PR2/S1PR3 alleviated the inflammation response via STAT3 pathway. In vivo, S1P and S1PR1/3 agonists (SEW2871, CYM5541) led to prostate enlargement in rats, while S1PR1/3 antagonists (W-146, TY-52156) suppressed testosterone-induced BPH. Overall, this study suggests that S1P/S1PRs play a critical role in the development of BPH and may be a promising therapeutic target for BPH treatment.