Journal: Genomics & Informatics

Article Title: Peptide‑based therapeutics targeting the SLC39A14‑PIWIL2 fusion in hepatocellular carcinoma

doi: 10.1186/s44342-025-00060-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Therapeutic effect of PWILL2-inhibiting peptides. A RT-qPCR analysis showing the expression of PIWIL2, CTNNB1, c-myc, TP53, Cyclin D, K8, and hNME2 following treatment with NEP1 peptide. The effect of peptide was compared to that of vector-expressing and PIWIL-2-expressing peptide-untreated cells. Relative mRNA levels of target genes were normalized to GAPDH. B Immunoblotting of CTNNB1, p-STAT3, c-Akt, c-myc, and p-GSK3 under the same conditions. C Immunocytochemical analysis of c-myc localization was performed in PIWIL2-overexpressing cells. Fluorescence intensities were quantified and expressed as percentages relative to vector. Statistical significance is denoted as * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, and *** P < 0.001 vs. vector. D, E To evaluate the synergistic effect of 5-FU and NEP1, cell viability assays were conducted and the Combination Index (CI) was determined in SNU449 (D) and SNU398 (E) cell lines. The control groups included cells treated with the vector alone followed by treatment with 5-FU, scramble peptide, or NEP1, as well as cells treated with both the PIWIL2-overexpressing plasmid and the scramble peptide. For CI analysis, IC30, IC50, and IC70 values were determined by treating cells with varying concentrations of 5-FU and NEP1 individually. These values were then compared to those obtained from simultaneous treatment with 5-FU and NEP1 at the varying concentrations, allowing for CI calculation. CI > 1 was defined as antagonism, CI = 1 as an additive effect, and CI < 1 as synergism

Article Snippet: The SNU398 (Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cat# 00398_SNU-398, RRID: CVCL_0077), SNU449 (KCLB Cat# 00449_SNU-449, RRID: CVCL_0454), HepG2 (KCLB Cat# 88065_HepG2, RRID: CVCL_0027), and Huh7 (KCLB Cat# 60104_Huh7, RRID: CVCL_0336) cell lines were purchased from Korean cell line bank and maintained in DMEM, MEM, or RPMI-1640 (Gibco BRL, Grand Island, NY) supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% antibiotics, at 37 °C in a 5% CO2 incubator.

Techniques: Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation, Western Blot, Fluorescence, Control