The present study aimed to determine whether actinomycin X2 (AX2) intercepted the mTOR/PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) in vitro. The effects of AX2 on mTOR, PTEN, PI3K, and Akt at the protein level and mRNA were determined by western blotting and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Concurrently, the effects of AX2 on expression levels of MiRNA144 and MiRNA126 in PC-3 were measured by real-time RT-PCR. The association of MiRNA144 with 3'-UTR of mTOR was identified using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene System. The direct effect of MIRNA144 on the mTOR/PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway was determined by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. Apoptosis of PC-3 cells induced by AX2 was determined by MTT and flow cytometry. The results indicated that mTOR/PTEN/PI3K/Akt were decreased and PTEN was increased by AX (1, 10 µmol/l) at protein and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. MiRNA144 was decreased, whereas MiRNA126 was increased by AX2. MiRNA144 associated with 3'-UTR of mTOR was corroborated. Overexpression of MiRNA144 decreased mTOR, but did not affect PTEN, PI3K, or Akt. The proliferation rates of AX2 on PC-3 cells were decreased. It suggests that AX2 induces apoptosis of PC-3 cells via meddling in the mTOR/PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, but those effects are compounded by MiRNA144. Both AX2 and MiRNA144 intercept the signaling in different ways but cross on mTOR.

Background: Gamma delta (γδ) T cells play dual roles in human tumors, with both antitumor and tumor-promoting functions. However, the role of γδT cells in HPV-infected cervical cancer is still undetermined. Therefore, we aimed to identify γδT cell-related prognostic signatures in the cervical tumor microenvironment. Methods: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, bulk RNA-seq data, and corresponding clinical information of cervical cancer patients were obtained from the TCGA and GEO databases. The Seurat R package was used for single-cell analysis, and machine learning algorithms were used to screen and construct a γδT cell-related prognostic signature. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expression of prognostic signature genes. Results: Single-cell analysis indicated distinct populations of γδT cells between HPV-positive (HPV+) and HPV-negative (HPV-) cervical cancers. A trajectory analysis indicated γδT cells clustered into differential clusters with the pseudotime. High-dimensional Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (hdWGCNA) identified the key γδT cell-related gene modules. Bulk RNA-seq analysis also demonstrated the heterogeneity of immune cells, and the γδT-score was positively associated with inflammatory response and negatively associated with MYC stemness. Eight γδT cell-related hub genes (GTRGs), including ITGAE, IKZF3, LSP1, NEDD9, CLEC2D, RBPJ, TRBC2, and OXNAD1, were selected and validated as a prognostic signature for cervical cancer. Conclusion: We identified γδT cell-related prognostic signatures that can be considered independent factors for survival prediction in cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer ranks the fourth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide, characterized by a notably low survival rate, particularly in its metastatic stage. Despite 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) demonstrating potential anti-tumor effects against cervical cancer, the intricate mechanisms underlying its efficacy necessitate further investigation. Here, the study aims to elucidate the impact of ALA-PDT on the cancer cell viability, invasion and migration, alongside delineating the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cervical cancer SiHa cells were subjected to ALA and red light irradiation, and we then measured the ALA-PDT's effects on cell functions using various assays. The potential interaction between miR-152-3p and JAK1 was explored through bioinformatics analyses and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Post-transfection with miR-152-3p and JAK1 vectors, cellular functions were re-evaluated. The efficacy of ALA-PDT in tumor suppression was further investigated through tumor transplantation experiment in vivo. ALA-PDT markedly suppressed SiHa cell viability, invasion and migration, impacting critical markers of proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT). And these effects were echoed by the inhibition of miR-152-3p. JAK1 was identified as a direct target of miR-152-3p, and ALA-PDT was found to regulate the expression levels of miR-152-3p, consequently influencing the JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway. Augmentation of miR-152-3p expression and inhibition of the JAK1/STAT1 pathway mitigated the anti-cancer effects of ALA-PDT, whereas JAK1 overexpression diminished these effects. In vivo analyses demonstrated that ALA-PDT suppressed tumor growth and modulated the miR-152-3p/JAK1/STAT1 pathway expression. ALA-PDT inhibits the viability, invasion, and migration of cervical cancer SiHa cells by modulating the miR-152-3p/JAK1/STAT1 axis, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for combating invasive cervical cancer.