METHODS: We performed an allelic association analysis in patients with SLE, followed by a meta-analysis assessing genome-wide association data across 11 independent cohorts (n = 28,872). In silico bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation in SLE-relevant cell lines were applied to determine the functional consequences of rs34330.
RESULTS: We replicated a genetic association between SLE and rs34330 (meta-analysis P = 5.29 × 10-22 , odds ratio 0.84 [95% confidence interval 0.81-0.87]). Follow-up bioinformatics and expression quantitative trait locus analysis suggested that rs34330 is located in active chromatin and potentially regulates several target genes. Using luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation-real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrated substantial allele-specific promoter and enhancer activity, and allele-specific binding of 3 histone marks (H3K27ac, H3K4me3, and H3K4me1), RNA polymerase II (Pol II), CCCTC-binding factor, and a critical immune transcription factor (interferon regulatory factor 1 [IRF-1]). Chromosome conformation capture revealed long-range chromatin interactions between rs34330 and the promoters of neighboring genes APOLD1 and DDX47, and effects on CDKN1B and the other target genes were directly validated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing. Finally, CRISPR/dead CRISPR-associated protein 9-based epigenetic activation/silencing confirmed these results. Gene-edited cell lines also showed higher levels of proliferation and apoptosis.
CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings suggest a mechanism whereby the rs34330 risk allele (C) influences the presence of histone marks, RNA Pol II, and IRF-1 transcription factor to regulate expression of several target genes linked to proliferation and apoptosis. This process could potentially underlie the association of rs34330 with SLE.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Five groups of rats: normal control, cancer control, TPHE low dose, TPHE high dose and positive control (tamoxifen) were used for the in vivo study. Histopathological examination showed that TPHE significantly suppressed the carcinogenic effect of LA7 tumour cells. The tumour sections from TPHE-treated rats demonstrated significantly reduced expression of Ki67 and PCNA compared to the cancer control group. Using a bioassay-guided approach, the cytotoxic compound of TPHE was identified as a tricyclic sesquiterpene lactone, namely, 8β- hydroxyl- 4β, 15- dihydrozaluzanin C (HDZC). Signs of early and late apoptosis were observed in MCF7 cells treated with HDZC and were attributed to the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway based on the up-regulation of Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. HDZC induced cell cycle arrest in MCF7 cells and increased the expression of p21 and p27 at the mRNA and protein levels.
CONCLUSION: This results of this study substantiate the anticancer effect of TPHE and highlight the involvement of HDZC as one of the contributing compounds that act by initiating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis.