Mutant p53 upregulates alpha-1 antitrypsin expression and promotes invasion in lung cancer

Missense mutations in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene inactivate its antitumorigenic properties and endow the incipient cells with newly acquired oncogenic properties that drive invasion and metastasis. Although the oncogenic effect of mutant p53 transcriptome has been widely acknowledged, the global influence of mutant p53 on cancer cell proteome remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we show that mutant p53 drives the release of invasive extracellular factors (the 'secretome') that facilitates the invasion of lung cancer cell lines. Proteomic characterization of the secretome from mutant p53-inducible H1299 human non-small cell lung cancer cell line discovered that the mutant p53 drives its oncogenic pathways through modulating the gene expression of numerous targets that are subsequently secreted from the cells. Of these genes, alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) was identified as a critical effector of mutant p53 that drives invasion in vitro and in vivo, together with induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers expression. Mutant p53 upregulated A1AT transcriptionally through the involvement with its family member p63. Conditioned medium containing secreted A1AT enhanced cell invasion, while an A1AT-blocking antibody attenuated the mutant p53-driven migration and invasion. Importantly, high A1AT expression correlated with increased tumor stage, elevated p53 staining and shorter overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Collectively, these findings suggest that A1AT is an indispensable target of mutant p53 with prognostic and therapeutic potential in mutant p53-expressing tumors.

Experimental Observation of Anisotropic Adler-Bell-Jackiw Anomaly in Type-II Weyl Semimetal WTe_{1.98} Crystals at the Quasiclassical Regime

The asymmetric electron dispersion in type-II Weyl semimetal theoretically hosts anisotropic transport properties. Here, we observe the significant anisotropic Adler-Bell-Jackiw (ABJ) anomaly in the Fermi-level delicately adjusted WTe_{1.98} crystals. Quantitatively, C_{W}, a coefficient representing the intensity of the ABJ anomaly along the a and b axis of WTe_{1.98} are 0.030 and 0.051  T^{-2} at 2 K, respectively. We found that the temperature-sensitive ABJ anomaly is attributed to a topological phase transition from a type-II Weyl semimetal to a trivial semimetal, which is verified by a first-principles calculation using experimentally determined lattice parameters at different temperatures. Theoretical electrical transport study reveals that the observation of an anisotropic ABJ along both the a and b axes in WTe_{1.98} is attributed to electrical transport in the quasiclassical regime. Our work may suggest that electron-doped WTe_{2} is an ideal playground to explore the novel properties in type-II Weyl semimetals.

Investigation of an InP-based image converter with optical excitation

An image converter based on an indium phosphide has been developed to measure the two-dimensional spatial profile of the incident photon flux by probing the rapid change of the refractive index in the semiconductor. The spatial resolution, dynamic range, and temporal response of this image converter have been investigated with optical methods. The results show that the spatial resolution is ∼15 cycles/mm at the percent modulation transfer function of 0.5, the dynamic range is about 100, and the time response is in the order of 600 ps. This scheme can provide an alternative choice as an imaging diagnostic for experiments in the area of high-energy density physics.

The risk predictive values of UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring system in Chinese patients with primary biliary cholangitis: the additional effect of anti-gp210

BACKGROUND

Adequate risk stratification is critical for the management of the patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring systems for prognosis of PBC have been proposed recently, but have not been validated in Asian population.

AIM

To validate the UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring systems in Chinese patients for prognosis of PBC. To clarify the role of anti-gp210 as a biomarker, and to investigate whether anti-gp210 could affect the prognostic values of UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring systems.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 276 patients with PBC evaluated between September 2004 and May 2016, including 133 anti-gp210+ and 143 anti-gp210- patients.

RESULTS

The 5-year adverse outcome-free survivals of anti-gp210+ vs. anti-gp210- patients were 70% and 85%, respectively (P = 0.005). Cirrhosis (P = 0.001), albumin level ≤40 g/L (P = 0.011) and platelet count ≤153 × 10⁹ (P < 0.001) had a superimposition effect on anti-gp210 antibody as a risk factor. Furthermore, long-term prognoses were evaluated using the UK-PBC and GLOBE scores. For UK-PBC scoring system, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.924 for all patients with PBC (n = 223), 0.940 for anti-gp210+ patients (n = 110) and 0.888 for anti-gp210- patients (n = 113). For GLOBE scoring system, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.901 for all patients with PBC (n = 223), 0.924 for anti-gp210+ patients (n = 110) and 0.848 for anti-gp210- patients (n = 113). UK-PBC score >0.0578 (P < 0.001, HR: 32.736, 95% CI: 11.368-94.267) and GLOBE score <0.850 (P < 0.001, HR: 18.763, 95% CI: 7.968-44.180) were associated with poorer outcomes in the whole cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring systems were good 5-year prognostic predictors in Chinese patients with PBC, especially in anti-gp210+ patients. As a biomarker, anti-gp210 antibody was associated with a more severe cholestatic manifestation and a worse long-term prognosis. The anti-gp210 antibody could be added to further optimise the UK-PBC and GLOBE scoring systems.

Time-reversal-breaking induced quantum spin Hall effect

We show that quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect does not occur in a square lattice model due to cancellation of the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling coming from different hopping paths. However, we show that QSH effect can be induced by the presence of staggered magnetic fluxes alternating directions square by square. When the resulting Peierls phase takes a special value , the system has a composite symmetry ΘΡ₋ with Θ the time-reversal operator and Ρ₋ transforming the Peierls phase from γ to γ − , which protects the gapless edge states. Once the phase deviates from , the edge states open a gap, as the composite symmetry is broken. We further investigate the effect of a Zeeman field on the QSH state, and find that the edge states remain gapless for . This indicates that the QSH effect is immune to the magnetic perturbation.

Abstract P4-05-02: Conditional inactivation of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase (Cyp24a1) in the mouse mammary epithelium alters mammary gland development

The biologically active form of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) regulates proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in diverse cell types. We have previously identified anti-proliferative activities of 1,25(OH)2D in human breast tissue, as well as 1,25(OH)2D target gene expression consistent with reports that elevated vitamin D levels may protect against cancer. In mouse studies, vitamin D signaling modulates normal mammary gland development, including ductal outgrowth and branching, and protects against tumorigenesis. Degradation of 1,25(OH)2D is initiated by the enzyme Cyp24a1 in target tissues, providing critical local control of 1,25(OH)2D bioactivity. In vitro, blockade of Cyp24a1 activity potentiates the anti-proliferative effects of 1,25(OH)2D. However, the extent to which endogenous Cyp24a1 activity within the mammary epithelium regulates local 1,25(OH)2D levels to modulate normal mammary gland development, with possible implications for cancer, has not been investigated. We generated a novel mouse model with conditional knockout of the Cyp24a1 gene specifically in the mammary epithelium (MMTV-Cre x Cyp24a1lox/lox). Ablation of Cyp24a1 activity in the mammary epithelium does not alter either gland or body weight at 4, 6 or 10 weeks of age. Preliminary analyses of mammary gland whole mounts indicate that virgin knockout mice form fewer terminal end buds compared to glands from wild-type littermates at 4 and 6 weeks of age (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, the width of the ducts proximal to the central lymph node of knockout mice was less than that of wild-type mice at 4 and 10 weeks of age (P&lt;0.05 and P&lt;0.01, respectively). In addition, the number of secondary and tertiary branching points is reduced in mammary glands from knockout mice at 6 weeks of age (P&lt;0.05 and P&lt;0.01, respectively). In summary, our findings suggest that Cyp24a1 activity within epithelial cells plays a crucial role to modulate postnatal mammary gland development, presumably by limiting the local accumulation of 1,25(OH)2D.

Topological phases of the kicked Harper-Kitaev model with ultracold atoms

We propose using ultracold atoms trapped in a one-dimensional periodically driven optical lattice to realize the Harper-Kitaev model, where the on-site energies are periodically kicked. Such a system provides a natural platform to study both Chern insulators and Majorana fermions. Based on calculating the quasienergy spectra, we find that both Floquet Majorana modes and Hall chiral edge modes could appear at the sample boundary in the gaps between the quasienergy bands. We also study the competition of topological superconductor and Chern insulator states in the model. We calculate the [Formula: see text] index and Floquet Chern number to characterize the above two different topological states, including the topological phase transitions in the kicked Harper-Kitaev model with the increase in the strength of the kick.

π Spin Berry Phase in a Quantum-Spin-Hall-Insulator-Based Interferometer: Evidence for the Helical Spin Texture of the Edge States

The quantum spin Hall insulator is characterized by helical edge states, with the spin polarization of the electron being locked to its direction of motion. Although the edge-state conduction has been observed, unambiguous evidence of the helical spin texture is still lacking. Here, we investigate the coherent edge-state transport in an interference loop pinched by two point contacts. Because of the helical character, the forward interedge scattering enforces a π spin rotation. Two successive processes can only produce a nontrivial 2π or trivial 0 spin rotation, which can be controlled by the Rashba spin-orbit coupling. The nontrivial spin rotation results in a geometric π Berry phase, which can be detected by a π phase shift of the conductance oscillation relative to the trivial case. Our results provide smoking gun evidence for the helical spin texture of the edge states. Moreover, it also provides the opportunity to all electrically explore the trajectory-dependent spin Berry phase in condensed matter.

Topological spin and valley pumping in silicene

We propose to realize adiabatic topological spin and valley pumping by using silicene, subject to the modulation of an in-plane ac electric field with amplitude Ey and a vertical electric field consisting of an electrostatic component and an ac component with amplitudes and . By tuning and , topological valley pumping or spin-valley pumping can be achieved. The low-noise valley and spin currents generated can be useful in valleytronic and spintronic applications. Our work also demonstrates that bulk topological spin or valley pumping is a general characteristic effect of two-dimensional topological insulators, irrelevant to the edge state physics.

Zeeman-Field-Tuned Topological Phase Transitions in a Two-Dimensional Class-DIII Superconductor

We investigate the topological phase transitions in a two-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological superconductor in the presence of a Zeeman field. Based on the spin Chern number theory, we find that the system exhibits a number of topologically distinct phases with changing the out-of-plane component of the Zeeman field, including a quantum spin Hall-like phase, quantum anomalous Hall-like phases with total Chern number C = −2, −1, 1 and 2, and a topologically trivial superconductor phase. The BdG band gap closes at each boundary of the phase transitions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the zero bias conductance provides clear transport signatures of the different topological phases, which are robust against symmetry-breaking perturbations.

Characterization of Normal and Freeze-Thawed Tissues in vitro Through The Ultrasonic Integrated Backscatter

BACKGROUND

The ultrasound guidance of cryotherapy could be improved if changes of tissue characterization parameters during freezing could be used to monitor freezing patterns and estimate the postoperative effects after surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The ultrasonic integrated backscatter analysis holds promise as an effective method for signal analysis and characterization of thawed tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ultrasonic integrated backscatter has been found to be an important parameter for describing the ultrasonic scattering and characterization of biological tissues. However, its potential values in the evaluation of cryosurgical effects of tissues reserved unclear so far. Here, we investigated the power spectrum of acoustic signal to estimate the ultrasound integrated backscatter in normal and freeze-thawed tissues on porcine livers in vitro.

RESULTS

The experimental results carried out at 10 MHz using weakly focused pulse-echo signal element transducer indicated that the ultrasonic integrated backscatter in normal liver tissues is 31.3±4.6 whereas it is 44.2±6.5 in several pre-frozen and then thawed tissues.

CONCLUSION

These results disclosed the good correlation between the ultrasonic integrated backscatter and microstructures of the normal or thawed tissues, and hence demonstrated that the power spectrum holds promise to be used as an effective method for the characterization of thawed tissues ultrasonic integrated backscatter, which might offer a potential pragmatic prospect for the practice of monitoring transition zone between frozen and unfrozen tissues during the surgical therapy, and evaluating postoperative effects.

Abnormal gene expression profile reveals the common key signatures associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis

The aims of this study were to identify the common gene signatures of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), and to expand the respective protein-protein interaction networks associated with CCRCC regulation. For the latter, we utilized multiple gene expression data sets from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), with which we could analyze the aberrant gene expression patterns at the transcriptome level that distinguish cancer from normal samples. We obtained the GSE781 and GSE6344 clear cell renal cell carcinoma gene expression datasets from GEO, which contained a total of 37 cancer and 37 normal samples. Subsequent R language analysis allowed identification of the differentially expressed genes. The genes that exhibited significant up or downregulation in cancers were entered into the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery to perform analysis of gene functional annotations, resulting in the generation of two protein-protein interaction networks that included the most significantly up or downregulated genes in CCRCC. These allowed us to identify the key factor genes, which could potentially be utilized to separate cancer versus normal samples. The differentially regulated genes are also highly likely to be functionally important regulatory factors in renal cell carcinoma: cell functions showing enrichment of these genes include amine biosynthetic and vitamin metabolic processes, ion binding, extracellular transport function, and regulation of biosynthesis. Together, the results from our study offer further reason to pursue diagnosis and therapy of CCRCC at the molecular level.

Knowledge mapping analysis of Ebola research

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the overall situation of research on Ebola virus via visual knowledge mapping analyses of the literatures regarding Ebola virus all around the world, e.g., literature metrology and topic evolvement.

METHODS

On the basis of the database Web of Knowledge (SCI), a knowledge graph was built by comprehensively utilizing software such as BIBEXCEL, GEPHI, VOSVIEWER, and HistCite.

RESULTS

According to the results of literature analysis, publications on Ebola virus boomed in 2014, and the research focus transferred gradually from basic research (viral glycoprotein) in 1999 to the prevention and treatment research (vaccine). The United States are in a dominant position in the field of Ebola virus research, wherein the US army (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases) has the strongest research capacity.

DISCUSSION

Ebola virus is an important potential biological warfare agent, and some researches may not be published in the form of literature. So the result of literature metrology can only partially reflect the situation of Ebola virus research. In addition, close attention should be paid to the biosafety risk of Ebola research (Tab. 5, Fig. 5, Ref. 14).

Entanglement, subsystem particle numbers and topology in free fermion systems

We study the relationship between bipartite entanglement, subsystem particle number and topology in a half-filled free fermion system. It is proposed that the spin-projected particle numbers can distinguish the quantum spin Hall state from other states, and can be used to establish a new topological index for the system. Furthermore, we apply the new topological invariant to a disordered system and show that a topological phase transition occurs when the disorder strength is increased beyond a critical value. It is also shown that the subsystem particle number fluctuation displays behavior very similar to that of the entanglement entropy. This provides a lower-bound estimation for the entanglement entropy, which can be utilized to obtain an estimate of the entanglement entropy experimentally.

Ageing and type 2 diabetes in an elderly Chinese population: the role of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the effects of ageing on glucose regulation in elderly Chinese men and women.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 4,566 older Chinese men and women (mean age: 70.4 ± 6.7 years) were enrolled in the study. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in all participants at baseline and in 3,174 individuals (69.5%) after 3 years of follow-up. Insulin resistance and beta cell function were estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta function (HOMA%-b), respectively.

RESULTS

At baseline, 1,143 had type 2 diabetes (T2D), 517 had prediabetes and 2,906 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT). After 3 years of follow-up, 769 (42.2%) of 1,821 individuals with NGT at baseline progressed to prediabetes and 153 (8.4%) progressed to T2D. Of individuals with prediabetes at baseline, 17.3% progressed to T2D. In individuals who maintained NGT during follow-up ageing was associated with increased insulin resistance (p ≤ 0.001) and a compensatory increase in beta function (p ≤ 0.001). Individuals with NGT or prediabetes who progressed to T2D during follow-up had a significantly increased insulin resistance and a decreased beta cell function (p < 0.01). In contrast, individuals who regressed from prediabetes to NGT increased both insulin resistance and beta cell function (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Ageing is associated with development of insulin resistance in an Elderly Chinese population. Therefore, maintenance of normal glucose regulation depends on the ability to compensatory increase of the beta cell function.

Stabilization of the quantum spin Hall effect by designed removal of time-reversal symmetry of edge states

The quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect is known to be unstable to perturbations violating time-reversal symmetry. We show that creating a narrow ferromagnetic region near the edge of a QSH sample can push one of the counterpropagating edge states to the inner boundary of the ferromagnetic region and leave the other at the outer boundary, without changing their spin polarizations and propagation directions. Since the two edge states are spatially separated into different "lanes," the QSH effect becomes robust against symmetry-breaking perturbations.

Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in disordered two-dimensional topological insulators

The disorder-driven metal-insulator transition in the quantum spin Hall systems is studied by scaling analysis of the Thouless conductance g. Below a critical disorder strength, the conductance is independent of the sample size M, an indication of critically delocalized electron states. The calculated beta function β = d ln g/d ln M indicates that the metal-insulator transition is of Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) type, which is characterized by binding and unbinding of vortex-antivortex pairs of the local currents. The KT-like metal-insulator transition is a basic characteristic of the quantum spin Hall state, being independent of the time-reversal symmetry.

Electron entanglement detected by quantum spin Hall systems

We propose a promising electron entanglement detector consisting of two quantum spin Hall systems weakly coupled to a superconductor. The detection of electron spins along various polarization directions, which is a prerequisite for testing Bell's inequality on solid state spins, can be achieved in an all-electrical-controlled manner utilizing the helical edge states. It is found that the violation of Bell's inequality exists in a large range of the tunneling parameters, which can be realized in mercury telluride quantum wells.

Ketamine-induced ventricular structural, sympathetic and electrophysiological remodelling: pathological consequences and protective effects of metoprolol

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Growing evidence suggests that long-term abuse of ketamine does harm the heart and increases the risk of sudden death. The present study was performed to explore the cardiotoxicity of ketamine and the protective effects of metoprolol.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Rats and rabbits were divided into control, ketamine, metoprolol alone and ketamine plus metoprolol groups. Ketamine (40 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1), i.p.) and metoprolol (20 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1), p.o.) were administered continuously for 12 weeks in rats and 8 weeks in rabbits. Cardiac function, electrophysiological disturbances, cardiac collagen, cardiomyocte apoptosis and the remodelling-related proteins were evaluated.

KEY RESULTS

Rabbits treated with ketamine showed decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, slowed ventricular conduction velocity and increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia. Metoprolol prevented these pathophysiological alterations. In ketamine-treated rats, cardiac collagen volume fraction and apoptotic cell number were higher than those of control animals; these effects were prevented by co-administration of metoprolol. Consistently, the expressions of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases-1, apoptosis-inducing factor and NF-κB-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells were all increased after ketamine treatment and sharply reduced after metoprolol administration. Moreover, ketamine enhanced sympathetic sprouting, manifested as increased growth-associated protein 43 and tyrosine TH expression. These effects of ketamine were prevented by metoprolol.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Chronic treatment with ketamine caused significant ventricular myocardial apoptosis, fibrosis and sympathetic sprouting, which altered the electrophysiological properties of the heart and increased its susceptibility to malignant arrhythmia that may lead to sudden cardiac death. Metoprolol prevented the cardiotoxicity of ketamine, indicating a promising new therapeutic strategy.