Journal: NPJ Precision Oncology

Article Title: Taurine and proline promote lung tumour growth by co-regulating Azgp1/mTOR signalling pathway

doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00872-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: The gene expression profiles were established by comparing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of lung tumours from the taurine (25 mg/kg, n = 3), proline (25 mg/kg, n = 3), model ( n = 3) and control ( n = 3) group. In heat-map analysis, the comparison of the top 66 and top 10 regulatory genes of tumours revealed in control vs. model vs. proline ( A ) and control vs. model vs. taurine groups ( B ), respectively. In the histogram, 4 DEGs including Cxcl9, Zbp1, Hmgcs2, and Azgp1 were ultimately identified in control vs. model vs. proline groups ( C ). And 4 DEGs including Azgp1, Cd3d, Cd8a and Cyp2d10 were ultimately identified in control vs. model vs. taurine groups ( D ). The criteria of |log 2 FC| ≥ 1 and p < 0.05 was utilised to identify the DEGs with biological significance. Azgp1 was down-regulated in human primary LUSC ( E ) and LUAD ( F ). Azgp1 mRNA expression was compared from 515 human primary LUAD tumours (or 503 human primary LUSC) and 59 (or 52) normal human lung tissues available at the TCGA database. Lung tumours with low Azgp1 expression correlated with poor survival ( G ). Statistical significance was calculated by means of one-way ANOVA or t -test analysis, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: The following antibodies were used in this experiment: β-Actin (Cell Signalling Technology (CST), #8457), p-mTOR (Santa Cruz, sc-293133), mTOR (CST, #2983), Azgp1 (ZAP) (Santa Cruz, sc-21720).

Techniques: Gene Expression, Control, Comparison, Expressing

Journal: NPJ Precision Oncology

Article Title: Taurine and proline promote lung tumour growth by co-regulating Azgp1/mTOR signalling pathway

doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00872-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Azgp1 is significantly correlated with lipid metabolic pathways in 1017 lung cancer samples (including LUAD and LUSC) according to GSEA ( A – H ). Enrichment scores and p value was calculated in default parameters. |NES| > 1, NOM p val < 0.05, FDR q val < 0.25 were considered to be significant functional pathways. mTOR was up-regulated in human primary LUAD ( I ) and LUSC ( J ). mTOR mRNA expression was compared from 515 human primary LUAD tumours (or 503 human primary LUSC) and 59 (or 53) normal human lung tissues available at the TCGA database. mTOR, p-mTOR, Azgp1, and β-actin protein expressions were evaluated by western blot assay ( K , n = 3). The significance of differences was calculated using two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: The following antibodies were used in this experiment: β-Actin (Cell Signalling Technology (CST), #8457), p-mTOR (Santa Cruz, sc-293133), mTOR (CST, #2983), Azgp1 (ZAP) (Santa Cruz, sc-21720).

Techniques: Functional Assay, Expressing, Western Blot, Two Tailed Test

Journal: NPJ Precision Oncology

Article Title: Taurine and proline promote lung tumour growth by co-regulating Azgp1/mTOR signalling pathway

doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00872-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: LLC cells were transduced by lentivirus, and the resistant cells were selected with corresponding antibiotics to obtain mouse Azgp1 overexpression stable cell lines and the control virus transfected cell lines ( A ). In vitro experiments, quantitative RT-PCR was conducted to determine the expressions of Azgp1 in LLC (wt) and LLC (Azgp1 overexpression) cells ( B ). Western blot assay was applied to confirm that gene Azgp1 had been overexpressed ( C ). LLC (wt) and LLC (Azgp1 overexpression) cells viability for 72 h were detected by MTT assays ( D ). The colony formation and statistical analysis of LLC (wt) and LLC (Azgp1 overexpression) cells for 72 h ( E ). Experiments were independently repeated four times. Experiments were independently repeated three times. In vivo experiments, LLC (wt) or LLC (Azgp1 overexpression) cells were injected by subcutaneously into wild type C57BL/6 mice (5 × 10 5 cells per mouse, n = 6 mice per group, F ). Then body weight ( G ) and tumour volumes ( H ) of mice were examined every 3 days. After dissection, the representative images of tumours ( I ) and tumour weights ( J ) were measured and calculated. mTOR, p-mTOR, Azgp1, and β-actin protein expressions in tumours were evaluated by western blot assay ( K , n = 3 mice per group). Statistical significance was calculated by means of ANOVA analysis. All data are presented as the mean ± SEM, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: The following antibodies were used in this experiment: β-Actin (Cell Signalling Technology (CST), #8457), p-mTOR (Santa Cruz, sc-293133), mTOR (CST, #2983), Azgp1 (ZAP) (Santa Cruz, sc-21720).

Techniques: Over Expression, Stable Transfection, Control, Virus, Transfection, In Vitro, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, In Vivo, Injection, Dissection

Journal: NPJ Precision Oncology

Article Title: Taurine and proline promote lung tumour growth by co-regulating Azgp1/mTOR signalling pathway

doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00872-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Taurine and proline may inhibit AZGP1 function, triggering mTOR pathway activation and lipid metabolism disorder that ultimately promote lung cancer progression.

Article Snippet: The following antibodies were used in this experiment: β-Actin (Cell Signalling Technology (CST), #8457), p-mTOR (Santa Cruz, sc-293133), mTOR (CST, #2983), Azgp1 (ZAP) (Santa Cruz, sc-21720).

Techniques: Activation Assay