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PubMed2026

Oncogenic PIK3CA enhances collective migration of mammary epithelial cells through ERK wave propagation.

Oncogenic mutations of the PIK3CA gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) enhance cell migration via ERK (ERK1 and ERK2, also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively) activation. We analyzed the factors regulating collective cell migration (CCM) of genome-edited MCF10A cell lines carrying hotspot PIK3CA mutations E545K or H1047R. H1047R enhanced CCM and promoted the propagation of waves of ERK activity backwards from the wound edge, whereas E545K impaired both coordinated CCM and ERK activity wave formation. The distance traveled by ERK activity waves correlated with directional persistence of migrating cells. Inhibition of cell contractility stimulated ERK wave propagation and efficient CCM of E545K cells but impaired ERK waves and CCM in control cells. Impaired ERK wave propagation was consistently associated with non-linear cell-cell junctions and the loss of polarized distribution of actomyosin. Taken together, these analyses suggest that polarized actomyosin contractility and pulsatile ERK activation must be constrained in the territory of a phase diagram compatible with mechanotransduction of ERK waves across cell-cell junctions to achieve highly coordinated and efficient collective migration.

Cell Movement↗

PubMed2026

Phosphoproteomic analysis in a mouse model reveals ERK signaling as a key modulator of inflammatory response in nasal mucosa associated with childhood allergic rhinitis.

Childhood allergic rhinitis (AR) is a multifactorial condition arising from the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. Although protein phosphorylation is widely recognized as a key regulator of gene expression across various physiological and pathological states, its global alterations in the nasal mucosa of pediatric patients with AR and their subsequent impact on mucosal function and inflammatory pathways remain incompletely characterized. Our study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying nasal mucosa dysfunction induced by pediatric AR. Our analysis revealed 3,861 proteins encompassing a total of 15,491 phosphorylation sites. Specifically, we detected 441 downregulated phosphorylation sites on 584 proteins and 531 upregulated phosphorylation sites on 722 proteins in the nasal mucosa of the AR group. Our proteomics findings suggest that the dysregulation of immune activation and metabolic regulation may contribute to AR pathophysiology. Through pathway analysis of the identified phosphorylation sites, we found Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) signaling emerged as an important pathway; notably, upregulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was observed as a significant marker associated with AR. Importantly, targeting ERK inhibitors presents a potential therapeutic strategy for modulating key inflammatory response signaling pathways in the context of AR, although this finding is derived from preclinical mouse models and requires rigorous validation in human pediatric nasal mucosal tissues before any clinical translation can be considered. Collectively, these findings highlight that elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying AR-induced nasal mucosal dysfunction in the mouse model may inform the novel therapeutic targets for pediatric allergy-related diseases. Overall, elucidating these mechanisms has substantial implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at mitigating inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

METTL14-mediated m6A modification of CCNE1 accelerates progression of myelodysplastic syndromes via MAPK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common RNA modification and plays a key role in the initiation, progression, and relapse of multiple cancers, including hematologic malignancies. However, the role of m6A and m6A regulatory genes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the function and molecular mechanism of methyltransferase METTL14 in MDS. METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to assess the expression of multiple m6A regulators, focusing on METTL14 in MDS patients and cell lines. METTL14 overexpressing and knockdown cell lines were established, and CCK-8, EdU, and flow cytometry assays were performed to explore the biological functions of METTL14.Dot blot, MeRIP-Seq, MeRIP-qPCR, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. RESULTS: Dysregulation of multiple m6A regulators was observed in MDS, among which METTL14 was upregulated. Elevated METTL14 expression increases MDS risk and adverse prognosis, emerging as a biomarker for poor prognosis. METTL14 promoted proliferation and cell-cycle progression of MDS cells while inhibiting apoptosis; corresponding changes were observed in cell cycle and apoptosis markers. METTL14 regulated cellular m6A levels. Downstream targets of METTL14 were enriched in cell cycle-related pathways, with CCNE1 identified as a critical target. Knockdown of METTL14, actinomycin D, or S-adenosylhomocysteine treatment reduced CCNE1 mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, METTL14 activated MAPK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling via CCNE1 in an m6A-dependent manner, thereby promoting proliferative MDS cells' capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This study delineates a METTL14/m6A/CCNE1 signaling axis in MDS progression and suggests that METTL14-mediated m6A modification may be a potential therapeutic target for MDS.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Phosphoproteomics identification of ERK-dependent activation of Rps6kb1 in cardiac hypertrophy.

Cardiomyocyte growth is tightly controlled by multiple signaling pathways. Identification of master kinases in this process is essential in exploring potential targets for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Here we identified the mTOR-independent activation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase b1 (Rps6kb1) during cardiomyocyte growth. By utilizing phosphoproteomics in primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, we revealed Rps6kb1 as one of most activated kinases under growth stimulation. We further demonstrated the role of Rps6kb1 phosphorylation in pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. We showed that the phosphorylation of multiple sites in Rps6kb1, including T367 in the kinase domain and S418/T421/S424 in the C-terminal domain, is not directly regulated by the activity of mTOR but coupled with the activation of the MEK1/ERK axis. In mice, cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Rps6kb1 significantly inhibited both constitutively active ERK- and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In contrast, cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of wild-type Rps6kb1, rather than the phosphorylation-defective mutant, elevated cardiac hypertrophy and augmented pressure overload-induced heart failure. In conclusion, our findings reveal that the MEK/ERK axis primes Rps6kb1 activation through phosphorylation of 2 separate domains of Rps6kb1, which may play an essential role in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure under hemodynamic stress.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Reduced VEPH1 expression is associated with an invasive phenotype and poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains a clinically heterogeneous urologic malignancy, and improved biomarkers are needed to refine prognostic stratification. VEPH1 has been implicated in cancer biology, but its role in ccRCC is incompletely defined. This study aimed to investigate the expression, prognostic relevance, and functional effects of VEPH1 in ccRCC. METHODS: VEPH1 transcript expression and prognostic relevance were evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-KIRC) dataset and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Data Analysis Portal (UALCAN) and validated in paired ccRCC and adjacent normal renal tissues. The ability of VEPH1 transcript expression to distinguish tumor from normal tissues within the TCGA-KIRC dataset was assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed in 786-O and 769-P ccRCC cells to determine the effects of VEPH1 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, migration, and invasion. AKT and ERK phosphorylation was evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: VEPH1 transcript expression was significantly lower in ccRCC tissues than in normal renal tissues and distinguished tumor from normal samples within the TCGA-KIRC dataset. Low VEPH1 transcript expression was associated with poorer overall survival. Validation in 11 paired clinical specimens confirmed reduced VEPH1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and VEPH1 protein expression in tumor tissues. Functionally, VEPH1 overexpression increased E-cadherin, decreased N-cadherin, and suppressed migration and invasion, whereas partial VEPH1 knockdown produced the opposite changes. In exploratory signaling analyses, VEPH1 overexpression was associated with reduced AKT and ERK phosphorylation without altering total AKT or ERK levels. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced VEPH1 transcript expression was associated with poorer overall survival, whereas experimental VEPH1 depletion was associated with invasive and EMT-related features in ccRCC cells. VEPH1 may represent a candidate prognostic indicator in ccRCC; however, its relationship with AKT and ERK signaling and its clinical relevance require further mechanistic and independent-cohort validation.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)↗

PubMed2026

FASN Promotes Malignant Progression of Bladder Cancer by Regulating Lipid Metabolism via the ERK/PPAR Pathway.

Among urological cancers, bladder cancer (BC) is one of the main causes of morbidity and death. Although the lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase (FASN) is known to aid in the growth of tumors, its precise role and mechanism in bladder cancer remain unclear. The effects and mechanisms of FASN in BC are examined in this study. Using information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the expression and prognostic significance of FASN were examined. Functional assays, including CCK-8, apoptosis, Transwell, and scratch-wound experiments, were conducted in BIU-87 and T24 cells after FASN knockdown and treatment with the ERK activator TBHQ. Western blot analysis assessed key proteins of the ERK/PPARγ pathway, such as PPARα, PPARγ, and p-ERK1/2, along with the lipid metabolism marker CD36. Metabolite levels, including free fatty acids, acyl-coenzyme A, and triglycerides, were quantified. Finally, an in vivo subcutaneous xenograft model was established to validate these findings. In BC tissues, FASN expression was markedly increased and associated with lower overall survival. FASN knockdown increased apoptosis while inhibiting BC cell motility, invasion, and proliferation. These phenotypic changes were associated with downregulation of the ERK/PPARγ pathway and reduced fatty acid uptake and metabolite levels. Both in vitro and in vivo, treatment with TBHQ effectively reversed the tumor-suppressive effects and metabolic alterations induced by FASN knockdown, confirming the involvement of ERK signaling. This study therefore demonstrates that FASN promotes BC progression by modulating the ERK/PPARγ pathway and lipid metabolism. Targeting FASN or its upstream activator ERK could thus provide a therapeutic strategy to inhibit BC growth.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pathway incompatibility between NF-κB and RAS signaling constrains oncogenicity in B-cell leukemia.

Oncogenic pathways do not always cooperate; in some contexts, their co-activation is antagonistic and suppresses tumorigenesis, a phenomenon we termed pathway incompatibility. However, the mechanisms underlying this antagonism and the role of receptor context in shaping these interactions remain unclear. During normal B-cell development, precursor B-cell receptor (pre-BCR) signaling supports survival and proliferation of early B-cell precursors before transition to expression of the mature B-cell receptor (BCR). B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), the most common childhood cancer, is characterized by developmental arrest prior to BCR expression, and approximately 35% of cases harbor activating RAS-ERK mutations that mimic pre-BCR-dependent survival signaling. NF-κB plays context-dependent roles in B-cell malignancies, but whether it influences the compatibility between oncogenic RAS signaling and BCR expression remains poorly understood. Activation of canonical NF-κB induced apoptotic depletion of RAS-driven B-ALL cells. Mechanistically, NF-κB suppressed pre-BCR-dependent survival signaling while promoting expression of BCR components. Consistent with this shift, oncogenic RAS signaling was poorly tolerated in BCR-positive cells unless BCR expression was disrupted. Pharmacologic activation of NF-κB reduced ERK signaling and selectively impaired viability of RAS-driven B-ALL cells, with enhanced effects in combination with ERK inhibition. Together, these findings show that canonical NF-κB signaling promotes BCR expression, which constrains oncogenic RAS activity, and establish pathway incompatibility as a mechanism through which receptor context can limit oncogenic potential.

Cancer biology↗

PubMed2026

Design and optimization of a kinase-controlled allosteric switch.

Post-translational control enables rapid and precise regulation of cell behavior. Despite these advantages, general strategies to build phosphorylation-based synthetic circuits are limited. Here we reasoned that engineered allostery, a technique that has been applied to design light- and chemically gated protein switches, could also be used to engineer phosphorylation-controlled protein switches (phospho-switches). Using an allosterically controllable Gal4 transcription factor as a scaffold, we show that a classic kinase Förster resonance energy transfer biosensor architecture can be used as a starting point for phospho-switch design. We optimize all features of the phospho-switch to develop an ERK-controlled transcription factor with a 20-fold phosphorylation-dependent change in transcriptional output. The resulting synthetic ERK-responsive transcription factor responds with comparable sensitivity to the c-fos promoter and reveals spatial ERK signaling patterns in mammalian developmental organoids. We further show that our switch architecture can be generalized to other input kinases and allosterically controlled targets. This work provides a general platform for a new generation of kinase-responsive tools for biosensing and synthetic biology applications.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed2026

GlycoRNA complexed with heparan sulfate regulates VEGF-A signalling.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) have been recognized as key plasma membrane-tethered co-receptors for a broad range of growth factors and cytokines containing cationic heparan-binding domains1,2. However, how HSPGs mechanistically mediate signalling at the cell surface-particularly in the context of cell surface RNA-remain poorly understood. During developmental and disease processes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), a heparan sulfate-binding factor, regulates endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis3. The regulatory paradigm for endothelial cell-mediated selectively of VEGF-A binding and activity has largely been focused on understanding the selective sulfation of the anionic heparan sulfate chains4-8. Here we examine the organizational rules of a new class of anionic cell surface conjugates, glycoRNAs9,10, and cell surface RNA-binding proteins (csRBPs11,12). Leveraging genome-scale knockout screens, we discovered that heparan sulfate biosynthesis and specifically the 6-O-sulfated forms of heparan sulfate chains are critical for the assembly of clusters of glycoRNAs and csRBPs (cell surface ribonucleoproteins (csRNPs)). Mechanistically, we show that these clusters antagonize heparan sulfate-mediated activation of ERK signalling downstream of VEGF-A. We demonstrate that the heparan sulfate-binding domain of VEGF-A165 is responsible for binding RNA, and that disrupting this interaction enhances ERK signalling and impairs vascular development both in vitro and in vivo and is conserved across species. Our study thus uncovers a previously unrecognized regulatory axis by which csRNPs negatively modulate heparan sulfate-mediated signalling in the context of angiogenesis driven by VEGF-A.

Heparan Sulfate↗

PubMed2025

Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR3-mediated inflammatory cascades in host cells.

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a flagellated parasite that causes trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI), with over 275 million cases annually. TV has been shown to secrete extracellular vesicles (TV-EVs) to regulate intercellular communication between parasites and host immune response; however, the mechanisms by innate immunity against TV-EVs are largely unknown. Herein, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms of inflammation induced by TV-EVs and identify novel proteins modulating the immune response in host cells. Firstly, the morphological characteristics of TV-EVs have been analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis, revealing that the vesicles are round-shaped bilayer membrane structures with size mostly about 100-120 nm. Additionally, the internalization of TV-EVs by host cells has been validated through immunofluorescence and TEM analysis. The multiplex immunoassay identified that TV-EVs induce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including CXCL1, IL-6, IL-8 and MIP-1β in THP-1 macrophages and ectocervical cells (Ect). Mechanistically, TV-EVs induce TLR3 overexpression to activate the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in THP-1 macrophages. Additionally, TV-EVs activate the PI3K-mediated NF-κB, p38 MAPK and ERK pathways in Ect. Moreover, TV-EV-induced TLR3 overexpression positively regulates the PI3K and NF-κB pathways, while simultaneously suppressing the p38 MAPK and ERK pathways in Ect. Proteomic analysis identified that TV-EVs upregulate MICB and TRAF3IP2, which are also positively regulated by TLR3 and involved in TV-EV-induced inflammatory cascade. Altogether, this study significantly advances our understanding of the immunomodulatory roles of TV-EVs in host cells, paving the way for future treatment of trichomoniasis and TV-associated STIs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Network based approach identifies miR-145-3p as a central regulatory hub associated to the progression from localized to metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor originating from calcitonin producing C-cells and accounts for 1-5% of thyroid cancers. Total thyroidectomy is curative in localized disease (N0), whereas lymph node metastases (N1) are associated with poorer prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the metastatic shift remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify miRNA features linked to metastatic spread in MTC, focusing on the transition from N0 to N1. Co-expression networks were constructed for N0 and N1 tumors, and differential connectivity analysis was used to identify key miRNAs acting as regulatory hubs. Functional annotation of their target genes was performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Reactome pathway analyses. Validation experiments were carried out in MTC cells to evaluate the effects of selected miRNAs on cell proliferation, survival, and MAPK pathway activation. Network analysis revealed distinct miRNA co-expression patterns between N0 and N1 tumors. Differential network analysis highlighted miR-145-3p as a central regulatory hub, exhibiting 29 altered co-expression changes and a marked loss of connectivity in N1. Target enrichment identified 59 validated genes, including key oncogenic drivers such as MYC, PTEN, BCL2, PIK3CA, AKT1, and MAPK7. In MTC cells, simultaneous inhibition of miR-145-3p together with its top co-expressed miRNAs increased proliferation and survival, and enhanced ERK phosphorylation, indicating MAPK pathway activation and a shift toward a more aggressive phenotype. In conclusion, this study identifies a miRNA regulatory hub centered on miR-145-3p that is associated with metastatic progression and highlights the value of network-based approaches in uncovering mechanisms of cancer dissemination. © 2026 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

MAPK signaling↗

PubMed2010

MAP Kinase: SUMO pathway interactions.

The convergence and coordinated cross talk of different signalling pathways forms a regulatory network which determines the biological outcome to environmental cues. The MAPK pathways are one of the important routes by which extracellular signals are transduced into intracellular responses. Through protein phosphorylation mechanisms, they can play a pivotal role in regulating other posttranslational modifications such as protein acetylation and ubiquitination. In addition, protein sumoylation has emerged as an important pathway which also functions through post-translational modification. The SUMO pathway modulates a diverse range of cellular processes including signal transduction, chromosome integrity, and transcription. Interestingly, recent studies have provided links between the SUMO and MAPK signalling pathways which converge to modulate transcription factor activity. This was first demonstrated by the observation that the activation of the ERK pathway caused de-sumoylation of the transcription factor, Elk-1. Furthermore, a growing number of links are now being made between the MAPK pathway and protein sumoylation. Given the nature of protein sumoylation in diverse biological functions, it is not surprising that the effect of MAPK pathways on sumoylation varies between different proteins. Here, we describe protocols that can be used in studying the cross talk between the MAPK and SUMO pathways, particularly at the level of gene regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2026

Molecular insights and therapeutic innovations in low-risk human papillomavirus-associated cutaneous wart.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus that belongs to the Papillomaviridae family. Among the various types, high-risk strains are associated to malignancy, whereas low-risk types cause benign skin warts due to persistent infection. Unlike high-risk HPVs, low-risk HPV genomes remain in an episomal state while expressing E6/E7 proteins. These proteins exhibit a reduced ability to degrade pRb and p53, which finally leads to controlled epithelial hyperplasia instead of developing malignancy. Infection with low-risk HPV activates distinct host signaling pathways, ultimately promoting the proliferation of keratinocytes and formation of warts. Simultaneously, it triggers host innate and adaptive immune responses that often clear the lesion. This review focuses on low-risk types that cause skin warts by analyzing the molecular pathways, particularly the integrin-FAK-PI3K/AKT, Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway along with MAPK-ERK pathways that promotes cutaneous benign wart formation. This article further studies clinical management strategies for HPV associated warts, including primary destructive treatment (cryotherapy, keratolytics, excision), immunotherapies (imiquimod, interferon injections or intralesional antigen), and novel adjunctive therapies with clinical evidence including photodynamic therapy, intralesional chemotherapeutics, and emerging HPV vaccination strategies. Among these, for benign skin warts, intralesional immunotherapy, particularly Candida antigen, and intralesional HPV vaccination have shown encouraging responses clinically. But extensive controlled clinical studies are necessary to establish their efficacy and clinical value as a standard medicine. This review therefore, generates a comprehensive overview of papilloma virus mediated skin warts and their management for both clinicians and researchers.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Molecular characterization of 16 MAPK genes in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and the differences of their mRNA expression between Qiandao Lake and Taihu Lake.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a serine-threonine protein kinase, is involved in a variety of stress-induced responses and also plays an important regulatory role in cell metabolism. In the study the open reading frames (ORFs) of 16 MAPK genes in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were obtained and verified, with the evaluations of their taxonomy, structures, conserved motifs, and evolutionary linkages. And the expression patterns of these genes in the silver carp from Qiandao Lake and Taihu Lake were explored for better understanding the response of MAPK genes to different water environment. MAPK genes of silver carp were divided into three subfamilies, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) subfamily, p38 subfamily and C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) subfamily. All these genes possessed similar structures and conserved motifs of MAPK family. Realtime qPCR revealed that the expression patterns of 10 MAPK genes (ScMAPK1, ScMAPK3, ScMAPK4, ScMAPK7, ScMAPK15, ScMAPK8a, ScMAPK8b, ScMAPK9, ScMAPK10 and ScMAPK11) in head kidney, spleen and gill of silver carp in Taihu Lake and Qiandao Lake were different. These findings provide a basis for further research on the function of MAPK in silver carp.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

CTSG Suppresses Breast Cancer Progression by Inhibiting the EGFR/ERK Signaling Pathway and Enhancing CD8⁺ T Cell Activation.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC), the most common female malignancy, has metastasis as its main cause of mortality. Cathepsin G (CTSG) is involved in tumorigenesis and immunity. This study explores the role of CTSG in BC progression and CD8 + T cell regulation. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes and proteins (DEGs/DEPs) were analyzed using Limma, and core genes were screened using Random Forest (RF) and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). CTSG expression was analyzed using GSE36295, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot. Cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), 5‑Ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, and Transwell assays, respectively. Sphere diameter was analyzed via sphere formation assay. Downstream mechanisms were examined using western blot, CCK8, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. CD8 + T cell activity was examined using EdU, western blot, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: A total of 177 genes overlapped between GSE36295 DEGs and PDC000173 DEPs. CTSG was the hub gene identified by RF and LASSO. CTSG expression was significantly reduced in BC (P < 0.01). CTSG overexpression suppressed cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, sphere formation, and CD44 and CD133 expression (P < 0.01). CTSG up-regulation inhibited epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling axis and reduced cancer cell malignancy (P < 0.01). CTSG overexpression activated CD8 + T cells via EGFR/ERK inhibition, enhancing their cytotoxic effect on cancer cells (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CTSG inhibits BC malignancy and enhances CD8 + T cell function via EGFR/ERK inhibition.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics as a theranostic compass in BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: Integrating biomarker discovery with therapeutic stratification.

Classic BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)-polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia, and primary myelofibrosis-are clonal haematopoietic stem cell disorders with marked heterogeneity in clinical phenotype, disease trajectory, and therapeutic response. Genomic stratification by driver and cooperating mutations only partially accounts for this variability, leaving gaps in predicting thrombotic risk, fibrotic progression, leukaemic transformation, and treatment benefit. Proteomics bridges this gap by providing function-proximal readouts of protein abundance, post-translational modifications, pathway activity, and intercellular signalling that genomics and transcriptomics cannot capture, positioning it as a theranostic platform in which the same molecular readouts simultaneously inform diagnostic stratification and therapeutic decision-making. We propose a five-stage translational framework spanning from discovery-scale mass spectrometry and affinity-based plasma profiling to targeted validation, multicentre standardisation, and machine learning-integrated clinical panels. Proteomic evidence is synthesised across the following four disease axes: clonal fitness in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells; bone marrow microenvironmental remodelling and fibrosis; chronic inflammation and thrombosis; and leukaemic transformation. We further describe how phosphoproteomics reveals resistance mechanisms to JAK inhibitors, including AXL-MAPK bypass and PP2A-autophagy-mediated tolerance, and how protein-level biomarkers (BCL2-BCL-XL, RAS-ERK, CAMK2G, and ROCK1/2) can guide individualised therapeutic selection. Affinity-based platforms (Olink PEA and SomaScan) and spatially resolved technologies (CODEX and single-cell proteomics) complement discovery proteomics. At present, however, this evidence base is constrained by small and heterogeneous cohorts, limited cross-platform reproducibility, and a scarcity of independent external validation for candidate protein panels. Realising this vision will require multicentre standardisation, analytically validated panel assays, and prospective clinical studies that translate molecular findings into decision-grade tools for patients with MPNs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Signaling into the nucleus through the importin 7 pathway.

Importin 7 (IPO7) is a nuclear transport receptor of the β-karyopherin family that mediates the translocation of a broad spectrum of macromolecules, commonly referred to as cargoes. Discovered nearly three decades ago, IPO7 was initially identified as an import receptor for constitutive cellular cargoes, including histone H1 and ribosomal proteins, and was shown to function synergistically and partially redundantly with canonical receptors such as importin β1 and karyopherin β2. Over the past 15 years, however, accumulating evidence has established IPO7 as an important mediator of signal-dependent nuclear trafficking in response to extracellular stimuli, including cytokines, growth factors, and cellular stress. Thus, IPO7 has emerged as a versatile nuclear transport receptor that couples extracellular signaling to dynamic changes in nuclear composition and gene expression. Mechanistically, many IPO7 cargoes lack classical nuclear localization signals and instead contain noncanonical targeting motifs that directly engage IPO7. In several cases, phosphorylation-dependent conformational changes expose these motifs, promoting IPO7 binding and translocation through the nuclear pore complex. The expanding repertoire of IPO7 cargoes, including ERK, SMAD3, EGR1, GLI1, the glucocorticoid receptor, HIF-1α, YAP1, and RUNX2, highlights its prominent role at the interface of signaling and transcriptional control. Consistent with these functions, dysregulation of IPO7-mediated transport has been implicated in cancer, hypoxia, and other pathological states. Beyond cellular signaling, IPO7 also contributes to the nuclear trafficking of viral genomes and proteins. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of IPO7-dependent nuclear import, emerging principles of cargo recognition, and pathways that regulate IPO7 activity during cellular signaling.

NLS↗

PubMed2026

Thyroxine enhances breast cancer cell survival and proliferation via TRβ1-Dependent PI3K/AKT signaling.

Thyroid hormones (TH) influence tumor biology through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. Specifically, thyroxine (T4) activates signaling pathways linked to cancer progression through interactions with nuclear receptors, such as TRβ1, and membrane receptors, including integrin αvβ3. Nevertheless, the precise role of T4 in breast cancer cell behavior and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The effects of physiological concentrations of T4 (10-9 M) on proliferation, cell viability, apoptotic signaling, and activation of intracellular pathways were evaluated in human mammary cell lines. Tumor cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and the non-tumor mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A were treated with T4 alone or in combination with the thyroid hormone receptor antagonist 1-850. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay, and viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion. Protein expression and signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blot, including assessment of apoptotic markers (caspases, PARP, Bax, Bcl-2), PCNA, steroid hormone receptors, and signaling mediators such as PI3K, AKT, and ERK. Immunocytochemistry was used to evaluate TRβ1, integrin αvβ3, and Ki67 expression. T4 treatment increased proliferation and survival in hormone-sensitive tumor cells, accompanied by modulation of apoptosis-related proteins and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The antagonist 1-850 selectively attenuated TRβ1-dependent effects, enabling distinction between genomic and integrin-mediated mechanisms. These effects were observed exclusively in hormone-sensitive tumor cells. These findings support a role for T4 in breast cancer progression and identify TH-related signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets.

Apoptosis↗