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Chen Y, Peng C, Chen J, Chen D, Yang B, He B, Hu W, Zhang Y, Liu H, Dai L, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. WTAP facilitates progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via m6A-HuR-dependent epigenetic silencing of ETS1. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:127. [PMID: 31438961 PMCID: PMC6704583 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1053-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 421] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, a well-known modification with new epigenetic functions, has been reported to participate in the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of this disease. However, as the key component of m6A methylation, Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) has not been well studied in HCC. Here we investigated the biological role and underlying mechanism of WTAP in liver cancer. Methods We determined the expression of WTAP and its correlation with clinicopathological features using tissue microarrays and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. And we clarified the effects of WTAP on HCC cells using cell proliferation assay, colony formation, Edu assay and subcutaneous xenograft experiments. We then applied RNA sequencing combined with gene expression omnibus (GEO) data to screen candidate targets of WTAP. Finally, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of WTAP in HCC by m6A dot blot assay, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay, dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Results We demonstrated that WTAP was highly expressed in HCC which indicated the poor prognosis, and that WTAP expression served as an independent predictor of HCC survival. Functionally, WTAP promoted the proliferation capability and tumor growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) was identified as the downstream effector of WTAP. The m6A modification regulated by WTAP led to post-transcriptional suppression of ETS1, with the implication of Hu-Antigen R (HuR) as an RNA stabilizer. Then ETS1 was found to inhibit the progression of HCC and could rescue the phenotype induced by WTAP deficiency. Moreover, WTAP modulated the G2/M phase of HCC cells through a p21/p27-dependent pattern mediated by ETS1. Conclusion We have identified that WTAP is significantly up-regulated in HCC and promotes liver cancer development. WTAP-guided m6A modification contributes to the progression of HCC via the HuR-ETS1-p21/p27 axis. Our study is the first to report that WTAP-mediated m6A methylation has a crucial role in HCC oncogenesis, and highlights WTAP as a potential therapeutic target of HCC treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12943-019-1053-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Xu J, Shen J, Gu S, Zhang Y, Wu L, Wu J, Shao G, Zhang Y, Xu L, Yin T, Liu J, Ren Z, Xiong J, Mao X, Zhang L, Yang J, Li L, Chen X, Wang Z, Gu K, Chen X, Pan Z, Ma K, Zhou X, Yu Z, Li E, Yin G, Zhang X, Wang S, Wang Q. Camrelizumab in Combination with Apatinib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (RESCUE): A Nonrandomized, Open-label, Phase II Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 27:1003-1011. [PMID: 33087333 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 358] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We assessed the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab [an anti-programmed death (PD-1) mAb] plus apatinib (a VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS This nonrandomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II study enrolled patients with advanced HCC who were treatment-naïve or refractory/intolerant to first-line targeted therapy. Patients received intravenous camrelizumab 200 mg (for bodyweight ≥50 kg) or 3 mg/kg (for bodyweight <50 kg) every 2 weeks plus oral apatinib 250 mg daily. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by an independent review committee (IRC) per RECIST v1.1. RESULTS Seventy patients in the first-line setting and 120 patients in the second-line setting were enrolled. As of January 10, 2020, the ORR was 34.3% [24/70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 23.3-46.6] in the first-line and 22.5% (27/120; 95% CI, 15.4-31.0) in the second-line cohort per IRC. Median progression-free survival in both cohorts was 5.7 months (95% CI, 5.4-7.4) and 5.5 months (95% CI, 3.7-5.6), respectively. The 12-month survival rate was 74.7% (95% CI, 62.5-83.5) and 68.2% (95% CI, 59.0-75.7), respectively. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were reported in 147 (77.4%) of 190 patients, with the most common being hypertension (34.2%). Serious TRAEs occurred in 55 (28.9%) patients. Two (1.1%) treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS Camrelizumab combined with apatinib showed promising efficacy and manageable safety in patients with advanced HCC in both the first-line and second-line setting. It might represent a novel treatment option for these patients.See related commentary by Pinato et al., p. 908.
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Wu J, Li W, Shi X, Chen Z, Jiang B, Liu J, Wang D, Liu C, Meng Y, Cui L, Yu J, Cao H, Li L. Early antiviral treatment contributes to alleviate the severity and improve the prognosis of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). J Intern Med 2020; 288:128-138. [PMID: 32220033 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At present, the severity of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a focal point. METHODS To assess the factors associated with severity and prognosis of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, we retrospectively investigated the clinical, imaging and laboratory characteristics of confirmed 280 cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from 20 January to 20 February 2020. RESULTS The median age of patients in the mild group was 37.55 years, whilst that in the severe group was 63.04 years. The proportion of patients aged over 65 years in the severe group was significantly higher than that of the mild group (59.04% vs. 10.15%, P < 0.05). 85.54% of severe patients had diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, which was significantly higher than that of the mild group (51.81% vs. 7.11%, P = 0.025; 33.73% vs. 3.05%, P = 0.042). Patients in the mild group experienced earlier initiation of antiviral treatment (1.19 ± 0.45 vs. 2.65 ± 1.06 days in the severe group, P < 0.001). Our study showed that comorbidity, time from illness onset to antiviral treatment and age >=65 were three major risk factors for COVID-19 progression, whilst comorbidity and time from illness onset to antiviral treatment were two major risk factors for COVID-19 recovery. CONCLUSIONS The elderly and patients with underlying diseases are more likely to experience a severe progression of COVID-19. It is recommended that timely antiviral treatment should be initiated to slow the disease progression and improve the prognosis.
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Chen Y, Zhao Y, Chen J, Peng C, Zhang Y, Tong R, Cheng Q, Yang B, Feng X, Lu Y, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. ALKBH5 suppresses malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma via m 6A-guided epigenetic inhibition of LYPD1. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:123. [PMID: 32772918 PMCID: PMC7416417 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01239-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is an emerging layer of epigenetic regulation which is widely implicated in the tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), offering a novel perspective for investigating molecular pathogenesis of this disease. The role of AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), one of the m6A demethylases, has not been fully explored in HCC. Here we clarify the biological profile and potential mechanisms of ALKBH5 in HCC. Methods Expression of ALKBH5 and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of HCC were evaluated using tissue microarrays and online datasets. And biological effects of ALKBH5 in HCC were determined in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) combined with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and following m6A dot blot, MeRIP-qPCR, RIP-qPCR or dual luciferase reporter assays were employed to screen and validate the candidate targets of ALKBH5. Results We demonstrated that ALKBH5 was down-regulated in HCC, and decreased ALKBH5 expression was an independent prognostic factor of worse survival in HCC patients. Functionally, ALKBH5 suppressed the proliferation and invasion capabilities of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation led to a post-transcriptional inhibition of LY6/PLAUR Domain Containing 1 (LYPD1), which could be recognized and stabilized by the m6A effector IGF2BP1. In addition, we identified that LYPD1 induced oncogenic behaviors of tumors in contrast to ALKBH5. Dysregulation of ALKBH5/LYPD1 axis impelled the progression of HCC. Conclusion Our study reveals that ALKBH5, characterized as a tumor suppressor, attenuates the expression of LYPD1 via an m6A-dependent manner in HCC cells. Our findings enrich the landscape of m6A-modulated tumor malignancy, and provide new insights into potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of HCC treatment.
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Xu X, Lu D, Ling Q, Wei X, Wu J, Zhou L, Yan S, Wu L, Geng L, Ke Q, Gao F, Tu Z, Wang W, Zhang M, Shen Y, Xie H, Jiang W, Wang H, Zheng S. Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria. Gut 2016; 65:1035-41. [PMID: 25804634 PMCID: PMC4893115 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liver transplantation is an optimal radical therapy for selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The stringent organ allocation system driven by the Milan criteria has been challenged by alternative sets of expanded criteria. Careful analysis is needed to prove that the Milan criteria can be expanded safely and effectively. DESIGN This study collectively reviewed 6012 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma from the China Liver Transplant Registry. Expanded criteria were evaluated to characterise an optimised expansion with acceptable outcomes beyond the Milan criteria. RESULTS Compared with the Milan criteria, Valencia, University of California, San Francisco, University Clinic of Navarra and Hangzhou criteria provided an expansion of 12.4%, 16.3%, 19.6%, and 51.5%, respectively. The post-transplant survivals of patients fulfilling the expanded criteria were comparable to that of the Milan criteria. The analysis of net reclassification improvement and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves showed an excellent efficiency in recurrence prediction for the expanded criteria compared with the Milan criteria. In patients exceeding Milan but fulfilling the Hangzhou criteria (N=1352), α-fetoprotein (AFP) >100 ng/mL and tumour burden>8 cm were the only two independent prognostic factors (p<0.001). Accordingly, the Hangzhou criteria were stratified as type A (tumour burden ≤8 cm, or tumour burden >8 cm but AFP≤100 ng/mL) and type B (tumour burden >8 cm but AFP between 100 and 400 ng/mL). Type A showed significantly higher 5-year tumour-free survival rates compared with type B (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The Milan criteria can be expanded safely and effectively. The prognostic stratification system based on the Hangzhou criteria serves as a hierarchy of transplant candidates for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Chen X, Tong R, Shi Z, Yang B, Liu H, Ding S, Wang X, Lei Q, Wu J, Fang W. MOF Nanoparticles with Encapsulated Autophagy Inhibitor in Controlled Drug Delivery System for Antitumor. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:2328-2337. [PMID: 29286625 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b16522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Ye P, Xu ZK, Wu J, Innocent C, Seta P. Nanofibrous poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) membranes functionalized with gelatin and chitosan for lipase immobilization. Biomaterials 2006; 27:4169-76. [PMID: 16584770 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2005] [Accepted: 03/15/2006] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Nanofibrous membranes with an average diameter of 100 and 180 nm were fabricated from poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) (PANCMA) by the electrospinning process. These nanofibrous membranes contain reactive groups which can be used to covalently immobilize biomacromolecules. Two natural macromolecules, chitosan and gelatin, were tethered on these nanofibrous membranes to fabricate dual-layer biomimetic supports for enzyme immobilization in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)/N-hydroxyl succinimide (NHS). Lipase from Candida rugosa was then immobilized on these dual-layer biomimetic supports using glutaraldehyde (GA), and on the nascent PANCMA fibrous membrane using EDC/NHS as coupling agent, respectively. The properties of the immobilized lipases were assayed. It was found that there is an increase of the activity retention of the immobilized lipase on the chitosan-modified nanofibrous membrane (45.6+/-1.8%) and on the gelatin-modified one (49.7+/-1.8%), compared to that on the nascent one (37.6+/-1.8%). The kinetic parameters of the free and immobilized lipases, K(m) and V(max), were also assayed. In comparison with the immobilized lipase on the nascent nanofibrous membrane, there is an increase of the V(max) value for the immobilized lipases on the chitosan- and gelatin-modified nanofibrous membranes. Results also indicate that the pH and thermal stabilities of lipases increase upon immobilization. The residual activities of the immobilized lipases are 55% on the chitosan-modified nanofibrous membrane and 60% on the gelatin-modified one, after 10 uses.
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Yang B, Feng X, Liu H, Tong R, Wu J, Li C, Yu H, Chen Y, Cheng Q, Chen J, Cai X, Wu W, Lu Y, Hu J, Liang K, Lv Z, Wu J, Zheng S. High-metastatic cancer cells derived exosomal miR92a-3p promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of low-metastatic cancer cells by regulating PTEN/Akt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2020; 39:6529-6543. [PMID: 32917956 PMCID: PMC7561497 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01450-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes play an important role in intercellular communication and metastatic progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, cellular communication between heterogeneous HCC cells with different metastatic potentials and the resultant cancer progression are not fully understood in HCC. Here, HCC cells with high-metastatic capacity (97hm and Huhm) were constructed by continually exerting selective pressure on primary HCC cells (MHCC-97H and Huh7). Through performing exosomal miRNA sequencing in HCC cells with different metastatic potentials (MHCC-97H and 97hm), many significantly different miRNA candidates were found. Among these miRNAs, miR-92a-3p was the most abundant miRNA in the exosomes of highly metastatic HCC cells. Exosomal miR92a-3p was also found enriched in the plasma of HCC patient-derived xenograft mice (PDX) model with high-metastatic potential. Exosomal miR-92a-3p promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in recipient cancer cells via targeting PTEN and regulating its downstream Akt/Snail signaling. Furthermore, through mRNA sequencing in HCC cells with different metastatic potentials and predicting potential transcription factors of miR92a-3p, upregulated transcript factors E2F1 and c-Myc were found in high-metastatic HCC cells promote the expression of cellular and exosomal miR-92a-3p in HCC by directly binding the promoter of its host gene, miR17HG. Clinical data showed that a high plasma exosomal miR92a-3p level was correlated with shortened overall survival and disease-free survival, indicating poor prognosis in HCC patients. In conclusion, hepatoma-derived exosomal miR92a-3p plays a critical role in the EMT progression and promoting metastasis by inhibiting PTEN and activating Akt/Snail signaling. Exosomal miR92a-3p is a potential predictive biomarker for HCC metastasis, and this may provoke the development of novel therapeutic and preventing strategies against metastasis of HCC.
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Ye P, Xu ZK, Che AF, Wu J, Seta P. Chitosan-tethered poly(acrylonitrile--maleic acid) hollow fiber membrane for lipase immobilization. Biomaterials 2005; 26:6394-403. [PMID: 15919112 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2005.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2005] [Accepted: 04/07/2005] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A protocol was used to prepare a dual-layer biomimetic membrane as support for enzyme immobilization by tethering chitosan on the surface of poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) (PANCMA) ultrafiltration hollow fiber membrane in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)/N-hydroxylsuccin-imide (NHS). The chemical change of the chitosan-modified PANCMA membrane surface was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized on this dual-layer biomimetic membrane using glutaraldehyde (GA), and on the nascent PANCMA membrane using EDC/NHS as coupling agent. The properties of the immobilized enzymes were assayed and compared with those of the free one. It was found that both the activity retention of the immobilized lipase and the amount of bound protein on the dual-layer biomimetic membrane (44.5% and 66.5 mg/m2) were higher than those on the nascent PANCMA membrane (33.9% and 53.7 mg/m2). The kinetic parameters of the free and immobilized lipases, Km and Vmax, were also assayed. The Km values were similar for the immobilized lipases, while the Vmax value of the immobilized lipase on the dual-layer biomimetic membrane was higher than that on the nascent PANCMA membrane. Results indicated that the pH and thermal stabilities of lipase increased upon immobilization. The residual activity of the immobilized lipase after 10 uses was 53% on the dual-layer biomimetic membrane and 62% on the nascent PANCMA membrane.
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Ding C, Yang Z, Lv Z, DU C, Xiao H, Peng C, Cheng S, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. Long non-coding RNA PVT1 is associated with tumor progression and predicts recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Oncol Lett 2014; 9:955-963. [PMID: 25624916 PMCID: PMC4301564 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2014.2730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PVT1, which maps to chromosome 8q24, is a copy number amplification-associated long non-coding RNA. Overexpression of PVT1 is a powerful predictor of tumor progression and patient survival in a diverse range of cancer types. However, the association between PVT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression pattern of PVT1, and its clinical significance in HCC. Between 2003 and 2012, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of PVT1 in two independent cohorts: Cohort one, 58 HCC resection samples; and cohort 2, 214 HCC transplant samples. Additionally, the correlation between PVT1 expression levels and clinical parameters and outcomes was analyzed. The relative expression levels of PVT1 were significantly higher in cancerous tissues compared with the corresponding non-cancerous tissues (cohort one, P=0.0016; cohort two, P=0.0274). Furthermore, overexpression of PVT1 was associated with a higher serum α-fetoprotein expression level (P=0.011) and a higher recurrence rate (P=0.004). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the patients with high PVT1 expression exhibited poor recurrence-free survival (P=0.021), and multivariate analysis demonstrated that high levels of PVT1 expression are an independent predictor for HCC recurrence (P=0.042; hazard ratio, 1.653). Thus, the high expression levels of PVT1 in HCC may serve as a novel biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in HCC patients, and as a potential therapeutic target.
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Chen J, Ding C, Chen Y, Hu W, Yu C, Peng C, Feng X, Cheng Q, Wu W, Lu Y, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. ACSL4 reprograms fatty acid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma via c-Myc/SREBP1 pathway. Cancer Lett 2020; 502:154-165. [PMID: 33340617 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Lipid metabolic reprogramming plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely characterized. Long chain acyl CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4), a member of acyl-CoA synthetases (ACS) family, has been identified as a novel marker of alpha-fetoprotein-high subtype HCC and as an oncogene. Here, we identified a new function of ACSL4 in HCC lipid metabolism. ACSL4 can modulate de novo lipogenesis by accumulating intracellular triglycerides, cholesterols, and lipid droplets in HCC. Mechanistically, ACSL4 upregulates the master lipogenesis regulator sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and its downstream lipogenic enzymes in HCC cells via c-Myc. Moreover, SREBP1 is crucial for ACSL4-mediated regulation of lipogenesis as well as HCC cell proliferation and metastasis, as SREBP1 overexpression rescues lipogenic deficiency and decreased oncogenic capabilities associated with ACSL4 suppression in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, our data showed that the expression of ACSL4 was positively correlated with that of SREBP1 in HCC patients, and the combinational biomarkers showed strong predictive value for HCC. Together, our findings uncover a new mechanism by which ACSL4 modulates aberrant lipid metabolism and promotes the progression of HCC.
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95 |
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Du C, Lv Z, Cao L, Ding C, Gyabaah OAK, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. MiR-126-3p suppresses tumor metastasis and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting LRP6 and PIK3R2. J Transl Med 2014; 12:259. [PMID: 25240815 PMCID: PMC4189615 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-014-0259-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The deregulation of microRNAs has been reported to play a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MiR-126-3p has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in HCC. However the underlying mechanism of miR-126-3p in HCC remains unclear. Methods The expression levels of miR-126-3p in HCC tissues and cells were detected by RT-PCR. Transwell assay and capillary tube formation assay were applied to assess the metastasis and angiogenesis in vitro. Nude mice subcutaneous tumor model was used to perform in vivo study. Dual- luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the direct binding of miR-126-3p and target genes. The changes of biomarker protein levels were examined by western blot and Immunohistochemistry. Results We observed that the miR-126-3p expression levels in HCC tissues and cells were significantly down-regulated. Through gain- and loss- of function studies, we showed that miR-126-3p dramatically inhibited HCC cells from migrating and invading extracellular matrix gel and suppressed capillary tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-126-3p significantly reduced the volume of tumor and microvessel density in vivo. LRP6 and PIK3R2 were identified as targets of miR-126-3p. Silencing LRP6 and PIK3R2 had similar effects of miR-126-3p restoration on metastasis and angiogenesis individually in HCC cells. Furthermore, the miR-126-3p level was inversely correlated with LRP6 and PIK3R2 in HCC tissues. In addition, the rescue experiments indicated that the metastasis and angiogenesis functions of miR-126-3p were mediated by LRP6 and PIK3R2. Conclusion Our results demonstrates that deregulation of miR-126-3p contributes to metastasis and angiogenesis in HCC. The restoration of miR-126-3p expression may be a promising strategy for HCC therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0259-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Xu X, Zhu Y, Liang Z, Li S, Xu X, Wang X, Wu J, Hu Z, Meng S, Liu B, Qin J, Xie L, Zheng X. c-Met and CREB1 are involved in miR-433-mediated inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer by regulating Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2088. [PMID: 26844702 PMCID: PMC4849142 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) have an important role in tumor development and progression by regulating diverse cellular pathways. Here we describe the function and regulation network of miR-433 in bladder cancer (BCa). miR-433 is frequently downregulated in BCa tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in the regulation of miR-433 expression. Enforced expression of miR-433 significantly inhibits proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in BCa cells. In addition, miR-433 inhibits the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BCa cells by regulating c-Met/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway. Both c-Met and CREB1 are downstream target genes of miR-433. CREB1 can also indirectly regulate c-Met/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling via MITF. Furthermore, CREB1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with BCa. Finally, there appears to exist a reciprocal regulation between c-Met and miR-433/miR-409-3p. Taken together, this study reveals that miR-433-c-MET/CREB1-Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling is critical to EMT in BCa. Targeting the pathway described here may open up new prospects to restrict metastatic progression of BCa.
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Ye P, Xu ZK, Wu J, Innocent C, Seta P. Nanofibrous Membranes Containing Reactive Groups: Electrospinning from Poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) for Lipase Immobilization. Macromolecules 2005. [DOI: 10.1021/ma0517998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Pi JK, Yang HC, Wan LS, Wu J, Xu ZK. Polypropylene microfiltration membranes modified with TiO2 nanoparticles for surface wettability and antifouling property. J Memb Sci 2016; 500:8-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2015.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Lin Y, Wu J, Chen H, Mao Y, Liu Y, Mao Q, Yang K, Zheng X, Xie L. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 is a novel target in micoRNA-195-mediated cell cycle arrest in bladder cancer cells. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:442-7. [PMID: 22289176 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Wang X, Ji A, Zhu Y, Liang Z, Wu J, Li S, Meng S, Zheng X, Xie L. A meta-analysis including dose-response relationship between night shift work and the risk of colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 2016. [PMID: 26208480 PMCID: PMC4694814 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the correlation between night shift work and the risk of colorectal cancer. We searched for publications up to March 2015 using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, and the references of the retrieved articles and relevant reviews were also checked. OR and 95% CI were used to assess the degree of the correlation between night shift work and risk of colorectal cancer via fixed- or random-effect models. A dose-response meta-analysis was performed as well. The pooled OR estimates of the included studies illustrated that night shift work was correlated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 1.318, 95% CI 1.121-1.551). No evidence of publication bias was detected. In the dose-response analysis, the rate of colorectal cancer increased by 11% for every 5 years increased in night shift work (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20). In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicated that night shift work was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Further researches should be conducted to confirm our findings and clarify the potential biological mechanisms.
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Review |
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Liu ZM, Xu ZK, Wan LS, Wu J, Ulbricht M. Surface modification of polypropylene microfiltration membranes by the immobilization of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone): a facile plasma approach. J Memb Sci 2005; 249:21-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2004.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Liu ZM, Xu ZK, Wang JQ, Wu J, Fu JJ. Surface modification of polypropylene microfiltration membranes by graft polymerization of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. Eur Polym J 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2004.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Chen Y, Ling Z, Cai X, Xu Y, Lv Z, Man D, Ge J, Yu C, Zhang D, Zhang Y, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. Activation of YAP1 by N6-methyladenosine-modified CircCPSF6 Drives Malignancy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2021; 82:599-614. [PMID: 34916222 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification are extensively involved in the progression of diverse tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the crosstalk between circRNAs and m6A remains elusive in the pathogenesis of HCC. Here we investigated m6A-mediated regulation of circRNAs in HCC. M6A-related circRNAs were identified by integrating information from two published studies, revealing circular cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 6 (circCPSF6) as a novel m6A-modified circRNA. CircCPSF6 was dominated by ALKBH5-mediated demethylation, followed by the recognization and destabilization by YTHDF2. Meanwhile, circCPSF6 was upregulated in HCC specimens, and elevated circCPSF6 expression served as an independent prognostic factor for worse survival of HCC patients. Loss-of-function assays demonstrated that circCPSF6 maintained cell proliferation and tumorigenicity and reinforced cell motility and tumor metastasis. CircCPSF6 triggered expression of YAP1, further activating its downstream cascade. Mechanistically, circCPSF6 competitively bound PCBP2, blunting its binding to YAP1 mRNA, thereby sustaining the stability of YAP1. Functionally, removal of YAP1 reversed the effects of circCPSF6 in vitro and in vivo. Aberrant activation of the circCPSF6-YAP1 axis promoted HCC malignancy. These findings offer novel insights into the regulation of circRNAs by m6A modifications and the role of this epigenetic reprogramming in HCC.
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Chen J, Ding C, Chen Y, Hu W, Lu Y, Wu W, Zhang Y, Yang B, Wu H, Peng C, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. ACSL4 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via c-Myc stability mediated by ERK/FBW7/c-Myc axis. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:42. [PMID: 32350243 PMCID: PMC7190855 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-0226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous, multigene-driven malignant tumor. Long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4), an enzyme has pivotal roles in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in HCC are still not fully elucidated. Here, we identified ACSL4 as a novel marker for AFP high subtype HCC through transcriptome profiling. ACSL4 was frequently upregulated in HCC samples and associated with poor prognosis. Functionally, ACSL4 knockdown resulted in decreased cell growth, whereas ectopic ACSL4 expression facilitated tumor formation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ACSL4 stabilized the oncoprotein c-Myc through ubiquitin-proteasome system in an ERK/FBW7-dependent manner. Cell growth ability mediated by ACSL4 elevation was partly attenuated by c-Myc depletion using siRNA or its inhibitor 10058-F4. In contrast, the effects of ACSL4 silencing were partially reversed by c-Myc overexpression via FBW7 knockdown. Clinically, ACSL4 expression was positively correlated with c-Myc in HCC. In conclusion, ACSL4 is a novel marker for AFP high subtype HCC. Our data uncovered a new mechanism by which ACSL4 promotes HCC progression via c-Myc stability mediated by ERK/FBW7/c-Myc axis and could be a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in HCC.
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Du C, Weng X, Hu W, Lv Z, Xiao H, Ding C, Gyabaah OAK, Xie H, Zhou L, Wu J, Zheng S. Hypoxia-inducible MiR-182 promotes angiogenesis by targeting RASA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2015; 34:67. [PMID: 26126858 PMCID: PMC4493986 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, including HCC. And hypoxia has been reported to play an important role in HCC progression. However, the potential mechanism of miRNAs in hypoxia mediating HCC progression still remains unclear. Methods The HCC cells were cultured in the atmosphere of 1 % oxygen to induce hypoxia. The microRNA microarray was employed to search for the hypoxia-inducible miRNAs. RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the RNA and protein levels. HUVEC were applied to explore the angiogenesis level. Results We found that miR-182 was upregulated in the hypoxia-based microarray. We then revealed that miR-182 was also significantly increased in the HCC tissues compared to the corresponding normal tissues. In vitro capilliary tube formation assays showed that the miR-182 promoted angiogenesis. RASA1 was demonstrated as the direct target of miR-182. In addition, the suppression of RASA1 phenocopied the pro-angiogenesis effects of miR-182. Besides, RASA1 was also decreased in the hypoxia HCC cells while the inhibition of miR-182 partially restored the level of RASA1. Conclusions Our data showed that hypoxia regulated the expression of miR-182 and RASA1 to promote HCC angiogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-015-0182-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
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Liang Z, Wang X, Xu X, Xie B, Ji A, Meng S, Li S, Zhu Y, Wu J, Hu Z, Lin Y, Zheng X, Xie L, Liu B. MicroRNA-608 inhibits proliferation of bladder cancer via AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathway. Mol Cancer 2017; 16:96. [PMID: 28549468 PMCID: PMC5446711 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-017-0664-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current evidence indicates that miR-608 is widely down-regulated in various malignant tumors including liver cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and glioma, and acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion and migration or by promoting apoptosis. The specific biological function of miR-608 in bladder cancer is still unknown. METHODS qRT-PCR and Chromogenic in Situ Hybridization (CISH) was conducted to assess the expression of miR-608 in paired BCa tissues and adjacent non-tumor bladder urothelial tissues. Bisulfite sequencing PCR was used for DNA methylation analysis. CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometry assays were performed, and a xenograft model was studied. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed with peroxidase and DAB. The target of miR-608 was validated with a dual-luciferase reporter assay, quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blotting. RESULTS miR-608 is frequently down-regulated in human BCa tissues. The methylation status of CpG islands is involved in the regulation of miR-608 expression. Overexpression of miR-608 inhibits the proliferation and tumorigenesis of BCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, up-regulation of miR-608 in BCa cells induces G1-phase arrest through AKT/FOXO3a signaling. In contrast, down-regulation of miR-608 promotes proliferation and cell cycle progression in BCa cells. Moreover, the expression of FLOT1 was directly inhibited by miR-608, the down-regulation of FLOT1 induced by siFLOT1 could be significantly reversed by miR-608 inhibitor. Similarly, the up-regulation of FLOT1 by FLOT1 overexpression plasmid (pFLOT1) could also reverse the suppressed cell proliferation caused by miR-608. CONCLUSIONS miR-608 is a potential tumor suppressor in BCa, and the restoration of miR-608 might be a promising therapeutic option for BCa.
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
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Wu J, Ji A, Wang X, Zhu Y, Yu Y, Lin Y, Liu Y, Li S, Liang Z, Xu X, Zheng X, Xie L. MicroRNA-195-5p, a new regulator of Fra-1, suppresses the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells. J Transl Med 2015; 13:289. [PMID: 26337460 PMCID: PMC4558968 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0650-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) was a common event in tumor tissues and miRNAs would be treated as ideal tumor biomarkers or therapeutic targets. miR-195-5p (termed as miR-195 for briefly in the following part) was suggested to function as a tumor suppressor in cancer development and progression. However, the roles of miR-195 in human prostate cancer are still elusive. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the biological functions and its molecular mechanisms of miR-195 in human prostate cancer cell lines, discussing whether it has a potential to be a therapeutic way of prostate cancer. METHODS Two human prostate cancer cell lines were analyzed for the expression of miR-195 by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A gain-of-function study of miR-195 was conducted by transfecting mimics into DU145 and PC3 cells and cell motility and invasion ability were evaluated by wound healing assay and transwell assay. Tissue microarray, and immunohistochemistry with antibodies against Fra-1 was performed using the peroxidase and DAB methods. The target gene of miR-195 was determined by luciferase assay, quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. The regulation of motility by miR-195 was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS miR-195 was frequently down-regulated in both prostate cancer cell lines, DU145 and PC3. Overexpression of miR-195 significantly repressed the capability of migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells. In addition, we identified Fra-1, a cell motility regulator, as a novel target of miR-195. Fra-1 was up-regulated in prostate cancer tissues. We also observed that inhibition of miR-195 or restoration of Fra-1 in miR-195-over-expressed prostate cancer cells partially reversed the suppressive effects of miR-195. Furthermore, we demonstrated miR-195 could inhibit prostate cancer cell motility by regulated the expression of c-Met, MMP1, MMP9. CONCLUSIONS miR-195 can repress the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells via regulating Fra-1. Our results indicate that miR-195 could be a tumor suppressor and may have a potential to be a diagnostics or therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
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Xu ZK, Nie FQ, Qu C, Wan LS, Wu J, Yao K. Tethering poly(ethylene glycol)s to improve the surface biocompatibility of poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) asymmetric membranes. Biomaterials 2005; 26:589-98. [PMID: 15282137 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2003] [Accepted: 03/13/2004] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
To improve the surface biocompatibility, asymmetric membranes fabricated from poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid)s (PANCMAs) synthesized by water-phase precipitation copolymerization were tethered (or immobilized) with poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) by esterification reaction. Chemical changes on the membrane surface were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis to confirm the immobilization of PEG onto the PANCMA membranes. The hydrophilicity and blood compatibility of the PEG-tethered PANCMA membrane were investigated by water contact angle, water absorption, protein adsorption, plasma platelets adhesion and cell adhesion measurements, and the results were compared with the corresponding PANCMA membranes. It was found that, after the tethering of PEG, the hydrophilicity of the membrane can be improved significantly, and the protein adsorption, platelets adhesion and macrophage attachment on the membrane surface are obviously suppressed. Furthermore, not only the content of maleic acid in PANCMA, which influences the tethering density of PEG, but also the molecular weight of PEG has great effect on the surface modification of PANCMA membranes for biocompatibility.
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Journal Article |
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