Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 counter-regulates thymosin beta-4 expression and primary cilium formation for HeLa cervical cancer cell survival.

Lee JW, Thuy PX, Koo JH, Moon EY

Scientific reports23 Nov 2022Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID36424462PMCIDPMC9691707DOI10.1038/s41598-022-24596-6PepBankPUB-36424462

Summary

We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD). TB4 silencing was achieved using RNA interference. The percentage of PC formation was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Nrf2 expression was modified by the preparation of stable Nrf2-knockdown cells with shNrf2 and the overexpression of Nrf2 with pcDNA-Nrf2 plasmids. Gene expression was measured using reverse-transcription PCR, Gaussia luciferase assay, and western blotting. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay or CellTiter Glo assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with flow cytometry. CCs incubated in SD without fetal bovine serum remained viable, and SD increased PC formation and TB4 transcription. CC viability was further decreased by treatment with ciliobrevin A to inhibit PC formation or TB4-siRNA. SD increased ROS, including H₂O₂. N-acetylcysteine inhibited ROS production following H₂O₂ treatment or SD, which also decreased PC formation and TB4 transcription. Meanwhile, H₂O₂ increased PC formation, which was attenuated in response to TB4 siRNA. Treatment with H₂O₂ increased Nrf2 expression, antioxidant responsive element (ARE) activity, and PC formation, which were inhibited by the Nrf2 inhibitor clobestasol propionate. Nrf2 knockdown via expression of Tet-On shNrf2 enhanced ROS production, leading to increased PC formation and decreased TB4 expression; these effects were counteracted by Nrf2 overexpression. Our data demonstrate that Nrf2 counter-regulates TB4 expression and PC formation for CC survival under conditions of SD, suggesting cervical CC survival could be upregulated by PC formation via Nrf2 activation and TB4 expression.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured3

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01LabEndogenous levelIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In HeLa cervical cancer cells, serum deprivation increased TB4 transcription.
In plain wordsIn cells, lack of serum raised the cells' own thymosin beta‑4 gene activity.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseTB4 transcription under serum deprivation
Study
humann: not reported in source
HeLa cervical cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
SD increased PC formation and TB4 transcription.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD).
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3642446201
02LabEndogenous levelIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In HeLa cervical cancer cells, N-acetylcysteine decreased TB4 transcription after H2O2 treatment or serum deprivation.
In plain wordsIn cells, a ROS blocker lowered the cells' own thymosin beta‑4 gene activity.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseTB4 transcription after N-acetylcysteine under ROS
Study
humann: not reported in source
HeLa cervical cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
N-acetylcysteine inhibited ROS production following H₂O₂ treatment or SD, which also decreased PC formation and TB4 transcription.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD).
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3642446202
03LabEndogenous levelIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In HeLa cervical cancer cells, Nrf2 knockdown decreased TB4 expression, and Nrf2 overexpression counteracted this effect.
In plain wordsIn cells, removing Nrf2 lowered the cells' own thymosin beta‑4, and adding Nrf2 back reversed this.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseTB4 expression after Nrf2 knockdown
Study
humann: not reported in source
HeLa cervical cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Nrf2 knockdown via expression of Tet-On shNrf2 enhanced ROS production, leading to increased PC formation and decreased TB4 expression; these effects were counteracted by Nrf2 overexpression.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD).
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3642446203

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).

04LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In HeLa cervical cancer cells under serum deprivation, TB4 silencing by siRNA decreased cell viability.
In plain wordsIn cells, switching off the cells' own thymosin beta‑4 made the cells less viable.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCell viability after TB4 siRNA under serum deprivation
Study
humann: not reported in source
HeLa cervical cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
CC viability was further decreased by treatment with ciliobrevin A to inhibit PC formation or TB4-siRNA.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD).
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3642446204
05LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In HeLa cervical cancer cells, TB4 siRNA attenuated the H2O2-induced increase in primary cilium formation.
In plain wordsIn cells, switching off the cells' own thymosin beta‑4 reduced the rise in cilium formation caused by H2O2.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseH2O2-induced primary cilium formation after TB4 siRNA
Study
humann: not reported in source
HeLa cervical cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Meanwhile, H₂O₂ increased PC formation, which was attenuated in response to TB4 siRNA.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We investigated the function of thymosin beta-4 (TB4) expression and primary cilium (PC) formation via the underlying Nrf2-dependent mechanism for cervical cancer cell (CC) survival under conditions of serum deprivation (SD).
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3642446205

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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