MiR-3613-3p affects cell proliferation and cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of malignant tumors with poor sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs and poor prognosis among patients. In the present study, we downloaded the original data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and compared gene expression profiles of liver cancer cells in patients with HCC with those of colon epithelial cells of healthy controls to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). After filtering target microRNAs (miRNA) from core DEGs, we cultured HepG2 cells in vitro, knocked down the miRNA and core mRNAs, and analyzed the effects. We found 228 differentially expressed genes between liver cancer tissue and healthy control tissue. We also integrated the protein-proteininteraction network and module analysis to screen 13 core genes, consisting of 12 up-regulated genes and 1 down-regulated gene. Five core genes were regulated hsa-miR-3613-3p, therefor we hypothesized that hsa-miR-3613-3p was a critical miRNA. After the transfection procedure, we found that changes in hsa-miR-3613-3p were the most obvious. Therefore, we speculated that hsa-miR-3613-3p was a main target miRNA. In addition, we transfected with si (BIRC5, CDK1, NUF2, ZWINT and SPC24), to target genes that can be targeted by miR-3613-3p. Our data shows that BIRC5, NUF2, and SPC24 may be promising liver cancer biomarkers that may not only predict disease occurrence but also potential personalized treatment options.

[Analysis of gene mutation of early onset epileptic spasm with unknown reason]

Objective: To summarize the gene mutation of early onset epileptic spasm with unknown reason. Method: In this prospective study, data of patients with early onset epileptic spasm with unknown reason were collected from neurological department of Children's Hospital of Fudan University between March 2016 and December 2016. Patients with known disorders such as infection, metabolic, structural, immunological problems and known genetic mutations were excluded. Patients with genetic disease that can be diagnosed by clinical manifestations and phenotypic characteristics were also excluded. Genetic research methods included nervous system panel containing 1 427 epilepsy genes, whole exome sequencing (WES), analysis of copy number variation (CNV) and karyotype analysis of chromosome. The basic information, phenotypes, genetic results and the antiepileptic treatment of patients were analyzed. Result: Nine of the 17 cases with early onset epileptic spasm were boys and eight were girls. Patients' age at first seizure onset ranged from 1 day after birth to 8 months (median age of 3 months). The first hospital visit age ranged from 1 month to 2 years (median age of 4.5 months). The time of following-up ranged from 8 months to 3 years and 10 months. All the 17 patients had early onset epileptic spasm. Video electroencephalogram was used to monitor the spasm seizure. Five patients had Ohtahara syndrome, 10 had West syndrome, two had unclear classification. In 17 cases, 10 of them had detected pathogenic genes. Nine cases had point mutations, involving SCN2A, ARX, UNC80, KCNQ2, and GABRB3. Except one case of mutations in GABRB3 gene have been reported, all the other cases had new mutations. One patient had deletion mutation in CDKL5 gene. One CNV case had 6q 22.31 5.5MB repeats. Ten cases out of 17 were using 2-3 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the drugs had no effect. Seven cases used adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and prednisone besides AEDs (a total course for 8 weeks). Among them, five cases had no effect and two cases were seizure free recently. A case with GABRB3 (C.905A>G) had seizure controlled for 3 mouths. A case with ARX (C.700G>A) had seizure controlled for 6 mouths. Conclusion: The early onset epileptic spasm with unknown reason is highly related to genetic disorders. A variety of genetic mutations, especially new mutations were found. Genetic heterogeneity of epileptic spasm is obvious.

Safety, quality and effect of complete mesocolic excision vs non-complete mesocolic excision in patients with colon cancer: a systemic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The application of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in colon cancer is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the safety, quality and effect of CME with non-complete mesocolic excision (NCME) in patients with colon cancer.

METHOD

We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library and Scopus to identify studies comparing CME with NCME in colon cancer. We focused on three study outcome areas: safety (operation time, blood loss, complications, mortality); quality (large bowel length, distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie, area of mesentery, total lymph nodes); and effect (long-term survival).

RESULTS

A total of 8586 patients from 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis. CME was associated with greater intra-operative blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD) 79.87, 95% CI: 65.88-93.86], more postoperative surgical complications (relative risk 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.40), longer large bowel resection (WMD 47.06, 95% CI: 10.49-83.62), greater distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie (WMD 17.51, 95% CI: 15.16-19.87), larger area of mesentery (WMD 36.09, 95% CI: 18.06-54.13) and more lymph nodes (WMD 6.13, 95% CI: 1.97-10.28) than NCME. CME also had positive effects on 5-year survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.81], 3-year survival (HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39-0.86) and 3-year survival for Stage III disease (HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.80) compared with NCME.

CONCLUSION

Limited evidence suggests that CME is a more effective strategy for improving specimen quality and survival but with a higher complication rate.

Rod-Shaped Active Drug Particles Enable Efficient and Safe Gene Delivery

Efficient microRNAs (miRNA) delivery into cells is a promising strategy for disease therapy, but is a major challenge because the available conventional nonviral vectors have significant drawbacks. In particular, after these vectors are entrapped in lysosomes, the escape efficiency of genes from lysosomes into the cytosol is less than 2%. Here, a novel approach for lethal-7a (let-7a) replacement therapy using rod-shaped active pure drug nanoparticles (≈130 nm in length, PNPs) with a dramatically high drug-loading of ≈300% as vectors is reported. Importantly, unlike other vectors, the developed PNPs/let-7a complexes (≈178 nm, CNPs) can enter cells and bypass the lysosomal route to localize to the cytosol, achieving efficient intracellular delivery of let-7a and a 50% reduction in expression of the target protein (KRAS). Also, CNPs prolong the t1/2 of blood circulation by ≈threefold and increase tumor accumulation by ≈1.5-2-fold, resulting in significantly improved antitumor efficacies. Additionally, no damage to normal organs is observed following systemic injection of CNPs. In conclusion, rod-shaped active PNPs enable efficient and safe delivery of miRNA with synergistic treatment for disease. This nanoplatform would also offer a viable strategy for the potent delivery of proteins and peptides in vitro and in vivo.

[Imaging diagnostic methods for identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity mucosa: a literature review]

The paper describes properties of clinical visualization approaches which are applied for detection of sentinel lymph nodes in patients suffering from oral cavity squamous cell cancer. Diagnostic efficiency results and technological features of different imaging techniques are discussed.

Longitudinal physical activity trajectories from childhood to adulthood and their determinants: The Young Finns Study

Determining lifelong physical activity (PA) trajectories and their determinants is essential to promote a physically active lifestyle throughout the life-course. We aimed to identify PA trajectories from childhood to midlife and their determinants in a longitudinal population-based cohort. This study is a part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. From 1980, a population-based cohort (N = 3596; 1764 boys/1832 girls, age 3-18 years) has been followed up for 31 years. PA indices were formed based on self-reported data (between age 9-49 years) on frequency, duration, and intensity of leisure (during childhood) or high-intensity (at later age) PA and on sports club participation/competitions. PA trajectories were analyzed using group-based trajectory modeling. Childhood (age 12 years), young adulthood (age 24 years), and early midlife (age 37 years) determinants were analyzed. Five PA trajectories were identified: persistently active (6.6%), decreasingly active (13.9%), increasingly active (13.5%), persistently low active (51.4%, reference group), persistently inactive (14.6%). In childhood, rural residential area (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.96) and high academic performance (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.58-3.00) associated with persistently active group. In early midlife, smoking (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.07-2.58) associated with persistently inactive group, regular alcohol drinking (OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.12-7.55) with persistently active group and having children (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.27-3.38) with decreasingly active group. High adulthood education associated with both decreasingly (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.05-3.35) and increasingly (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.19-3.68) active groups. We identified five PA trajectories from childhood into midlife. Most prominent determinants were academic achievement, education, having children and health habits (i.e. smoking/alcohol use).

Experimental Evidence of Large Amplitude pH Mediated Autonomous Chemomechanical Oscillation

Large amplitude autonomous chemomechanical oscillations were observed in a coupled system consisting of a porous pH-responsive hydrogel and a bromate-sulfite-manganese (II) pH oscillatory reaction. The porous structure effectively improves the chemomechanical response speed, and the negative feedback species of the bulk oscillation Mn2+ takes part in the coupling by forming complex and physical crosslinks with the responsive group in the gel. It strengthens the porous gel by forming additional networks, which may contribute to sustaining the long-lasting chemomechanical oscillation. Additionally, the interaction between Mn2+ and the hydrogel alters the period of the oscillatory reaction due to its binding competition with H⁺, the positive feedback species.

Impact of persistent and nonpersistent generic Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. recovered from a beef packing plant on biofilm formation by E. coli O157

AIMS

To examine the influence of meat plant Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. isolates on E. coli O157 biofilm formation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Biofilm formation was quantified by crystal violet staining (A_570 nm ) and viable cell numbers for up to 6 days at 15°C. All five persistent E. coli genotypes formed strong biofilms when cultured alone or co-cultured with E. coli O157, with A_570 nm values reaching ≥4·8 at day 4, while only two of five nonpersistent genotypes formed such biofilms. For E. coli O157:H7 co-culture biofilms with E. coli genotypes 136 and 533, its numbers were ≥1·5 and ≥1 log CFU per peg lower than those observed for its mono-culture biofilm at days 2 and 4, respectively. The number of E. coli O157:NM in similar co-culture biofilms was 1 log CFU per peg lower than in its mono-culture biofilm at day 4 and 6, respectively. Salmonella sp. lowered the number of E. coli O157:NM by 0·5 log unit, once, at day 6.

CONCLUSION

Generic E. coli may outcompete E. coli O157 strains while establishing biofilms.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Findings advance knowledge regarding inter-strain competition for a similar ecological niche and may aid development of biocontrol strategies for E. coli O157 in food processing environments.

Reprogramming of stromal fibroblasts by SNAI2 contributes to tumor desmoplasia and ovarian cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Molecular profiling in ovarian cancer (OC) revealed that the desmoplasia subtype presented the poorest prognosis, highlighting the contribution of stromal fibroblasts in tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics of SNAI2 driving the transcriptional reprogramming of fibroblasts within tumors.

METHODS

SNAI2 expression was evaluated in microdissected profiles of various cancers and in various molecular subtypes of OC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single sample GSEA (ssGSEA) were performed to explore the correlation between SNAI2 and stromal fibroblast activation. The SNAI2 defined signature in the mesenchymal OC subtype was identified through an integrative analysis of the TCGA and the Tothill datasets. The predictive value of this signature was validated in independent datasets. SNAI2 expression alteration influence of tumor growth in primary CAFs was evaluated in 3D organotypic and murine xenograft models.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that SNAI2 was frequently activated in the tumor stroma, correlated with fibroblast activation and worse patient outcome in OC. SNAI2 transformed normal fibroblasts to a CAF-like state and boosted their tumor-supporting role in 3D organotypic culture and in OC xenograft model. SNAI2 drove a transcriptional signature in the mesenchymal subtype of OC that contributed to tumor desmoplasia, which fed back to increase SNAI2 expression and sustain fibroblast activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results address the role of SNAI2 in reprogramming stromal fibroblasts. The identified SNAI2 mesenchymal signature has both a predictive value and biological relevance and might be a therapeutic target for stroma-oriented therapy against the desmoplasia OC subtype.

Co-stimulatory signaling determines tumor antigen sensitivity and persistence of CAR T cells targeting PSCA+ metastatic prostate cancer

Advancing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered adoptive T cells for the treatment of solid cancers is a major focus in the field of immunotherapy, given impressive recent clinical responses in hematological malignancies. Prostate cancer may be amenable to T cell-based immunotherapy since several tumor antigens, including prostate stem-cell antigen (PSCA), are widely over-expressed in metastatic disease. While antigen selectivity of CARs for solid cancers is crucial, it is problematic due to the absence of truly restricted tumor antigen expression and potential safety concerns with “on-target off-tumor” activity. Here, we show that the intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain can determine a CAR's sensitivity for tumor antigen expression. A 4-1BB intracellular co-stimulatory signaling domain in PSCA-CARs confers improved selectivity for higher tumor antigen density, reduced T cell exhaustion phenotype, and equivalent tumor killing ability compared to PSCA-CARs containing the CD28 co-stimulatory signaling domain. PSCA-CARs exhibit robust in vivo anti-tumor activity in patient-derived bone-metastatic prostate cancer xenograft models, and 4-1BB-containing CARs show superior T cell persistence and control of disease compared with CD28-containing CARs. Our study demonstrates the importance of co-stimulation in defining an optimal CAR T cell, and also highlights the significance of clinically relevant models in developing solid cancer CAR T cell therapies.

Ca2+ signaling in HCO3- secretion and protection of upper GI tract

The cytosolic calcium ([Ca²⁺]cyt) is one of the most important cell signaling that can modulate gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial secretion and promote GI mucosal wound repair. The GI mucosal bicarbonate secretion is the main mechanism of mucosal protection. Our research team has been working in this field and provided solid evidence for the important role of Ca²⁺ signaling in the regulation of GI epithelial secretion and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this review, we attempt to systemically review the current status of our knowledge on the role of Ca²⁺ signaling in the regulation of intestinal bicarbonate secretion and in the upper GI epithelial protection. We expect that novel targets could be identified for drug development to better protect GI mucosa and treat mucosal injury with the advance in this filed.

Custom Repair of Mandibular Bone Defects with 3D Printed Bioceramic Scaffolds

Implanting artificial biomaterial implants into alveolar bone defects with individual shape and appropriate mechanical strength is still a challenge. In this study, bioceramic scaffolds, which can precisely match the mandibular defects in macro and micro, were manufactured by the 3-dimensional (3D) printing technique according to the computed tomography (CT) image. To evaluate the stimulatory effect of the material substrate on bone tissue regeneration in situ in a rabbit mandibular alveolar bone defect model, implants made with the newly developed, mechanically strong ~10% Mg-substituted wollastonite (Ca_90%Mg_10%SiO₃; CSi-Mg10) were fabricated, implanted into the bone defects, and compared with implants made with the typical Ca-phosphate and Ca-silicate porous bioceramics, such as β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), wollastonite (CaSiO₃; CSi), and bredigite (Bred). The initial physicochemical tests indicated that although the CSi-Mg10 scaffolds had the largest pore dimension, they had the lowest porosity mainly due to the significant linear shrinkage of the scaffolds during sintering. Compared with the sparingly dissolvable TCP scaffolds (~2% weight loss) and superfast dissolvable (in Tris buffer within 6 wk) pure CSi and Bred scaffolds (~12% and ~14% weight loss, respectively), the CSi-Mg10 exhibited a mild in vitro biodissolution and moderate weight loss of ~7%. In addition, the CSi-Mg10 scaffolds showed a considerable initial flexural strength (31 MPa) and maintained very high flexural resistance during soaking in Tris buffer. The in vivo results revealed that the CSi-Mg10 scaffolds have markedly higher osteogenic capability than those on the TCP, CSi, and Bred scaffolds after 16 wk. These results suggest a promising potential application of customized CSi-Mg10 3D robocast scaffolds in the clinic, especially for repair of alveolar bone defects.