Functional inhibition of regulatory CD4+CD25+T cells in peripheral blood of patients with pemphigus vulgaris

BACKGROUND

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune bullous disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. Its pathogenic mechanism is still not fully understood. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been reported to play a significant role in regulating immune homeostasis in autoimmune disorders, such as PV.

AIM

To investigate the potential role of Tregs in the immunopathogenesis of PV.

METHODS

We enrolled 15 patients with PV and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants before treatment. This was followed by flow cytometric, real-time reverse transcription PCR, and in vitro inhibition-based functional assays to explore the immunopathogenesis of Tregs in PV.

RESULTS

Our results showed no statistically significant differences in total CD4+CD25+ cells and CD4+CD25^high cells. In addition, expression levels of FOXP3 mRNA and the corresponding FOXP3 protein remained unchanged in the patients with PV and the HCs. However, the in vitro suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ T cells was impaired in patients with PV compared with HCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations suggest that inhibition of suppressive activity of Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PV.

Knocking down PFL can improve myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by up-regulating heat shock protein-20

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and mechanism of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) PFL on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats, and to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) in clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

According to the random number table, 60 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Control group (n=20), I/R group (n=20), and I/R + PFL small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) group (n=20). The I/R model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and then recanalizing it. PFL siRNAs were injected intravenously into the tail vein of rats in I/R + PFL siRNA group to construct a PFL knockout model. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test was used to detect the infarction area of each group. Echocardiography was adopted to measure the ejection fraction [EF (%)] and fraction shortening [FS (%)] of rats in each group. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was applied to detect the morphological changes in myocardial cells in each group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was conducted to detect the apoptosis levels of myocardial cells and fibroblasts in heart tissues in each group. Meanwhile, the protein expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), and Bcl-2, were measured via Western blotting. Also, the expression level of heat shock protein 20 (HSP-20) in the heart of three groups of rats was examined using immunohistochemical staining. Finally, the effects of PFL siRNAs on the expression level of HSP-20 were detected via Western blotting.

RESULTS

PFL siRNAs could significantly improve I/R-induced cardiac insufficiency in rats, thus increasing EF (%) and FS (%) (p<0.05). Besides, PFL siRNAs could remarkably inhibit cardiac infarction caused by I/R injury and reduce the infarction area from (59.54±3.45)% to (24.85±1.30)% (p<0.05). H&E staining results manifested that, compared with those in I/R group, the cardiac myofilament was better in alignment, degradation and necrosis were milder, and cell edema was notably reduced in I/R + PFL siRNA group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that PFL siRNAs could remarkably reverse the decrease in the HSP-20 expression caused by I/R (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that PFL knockdown can significantly improve the myocardial injury caused by I/R and improve the cardiac function in rats. The mechanism may be related to the activation of HSP-20 by PFL siRNAs. Therefore, PFL is expected to become a new target for the treatment of MI.

[Application of membrane anatomy in key technologies during gastric cancer surgery: guidance and compromise]

Different from classical surgical anatomy which only pays attention to the morphology and structure of human organs, modern membrane anatomy focuses on not only the relationship between morphology and structure, but also the biological behavior characteristics of tumors. Membrane antomy is a theoretical system with interpretation on both the structural and disease function, so it has been accepted by more and more gastrointestinal surgeons. However, the theoretical system of gastric membrane anatomy is not mature yet. The stomach and its mesentery have undergone complex rotation and fusion in the process of embryonic development, so that surgeons have different understandings of the gastric membrane anatomy. Therefore, it is easy to cause various confusion and misunderstanding, resulting in deviations between the theory of membrane anatomy and the practice of surgery. In the present study, the mesentery of the stomach is divided into different regions, and the embryonic development process is traced back. The application and compromise encountered in the radical gastrectomy of gastric cancer will be expounded according to the membrane anatomy theory combined with the author's experience of operation.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG14 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion via sponging miR-193a-3p

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most ordinary fatal cancers. Recent studies have identified the vital role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development and progression of BC. In this research, lncRNA SNHG14 was studied to identify how it functioned in the development and metastasis of BC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SNHG14 expression of tissues was detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) in 50 paired patients with BC. And cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assay were enrolled to observe the biological behavior changes of BC cells through gain or loss of SNHG14. In addition, luciferase assays and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) were performed to discover the potential targets of SNHG14 in BC cells.

RESULTS

SNHG14 expression level of BC samples was higher than that of adjacent ones. Besides, cell growth ability and cell invaded ability of BC cells were inhibited after SNHG14 was silenced, while cell growth ability and cell invaded ability of BC cells were promoted after SNHG14 was overexpressed. In addition, miR-193a-3p was upregulated after silence of SNHG14 in BC cells, while miR-193a-3p was downregulated after overexpression of SNHG14 in BC cells. Furthermore, luciferase assays and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) showed that miR-193a-3p was a direct target of SNHG14 in BC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study uncovers a new oncogene in BC and suggests that SNHG14 could enhance BC cell proliferation and invasion via sponging miR-193a-3p, which provided a novel therapeutic target for BC patients.

Metallic Glacial Glass Formation by a First-Order Liquid-Liquid Transition

The glacial phase, with an apparently glassy structure, can be formed by a first-order transition in some molecular-glass-forming supercooled liquids. Here we report the formation of metallic glacial glass (MGG) from the precursor of a rare-earth-element-based metallic glass via the first-order phase transition in its supercooled liquid. The excellent glass-forming ability of the precursor ensures the MGG to be successfully fabricated into bulk samples (with a minimal critical diameter exceeding 3 mm). Distinct enthalpy, structure, and property changes are detected between MGG and metallic glass, and the reversed "melting-like" transition from the glacial phase to the supercooled liquid is observed in fast differential scanning calorimetry. The kinetics of MGG formation is reflected by a continuous heating transformation diagram, with the phase transition pathways measured at different heating rates taken into account. The finding supports the scenario of liquid-liquid transition in metallic-glass-forming liquids.

Retrospective analysis of the clinical effects of endoscopic mucosal dissection on treatment of early esophagogastric precancerous lesions

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to conduct a retrospective study about the clinical effects of endoscopic mucosal dissection on the treatment of early esophagogastric precancerous lesions.

METHODS

A total of 132 patients with early esophagogastric precancerous lesions who were diagnosed and treated with concurrent surgery in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) group (n = 58) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) group (n = 74) according to different surgical methods. The data in the two groups were compared and analyzed in terms of surgical indicators, treatment status and incidence of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the whole block cutting rate, fractional cutting rate and complete cutting rate (P < 0.05). The mean operation time of ESD group was significantly longer than that of EMR group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the intraoperative bleeding rate, blood loss, average specimen area, length of hospital stay and treatment cost between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence and recurrence of postoperative complications, including bleeding, perforation and stenosis in the two groups, were observed within 1 year of postoperative follow-up. The incidence of complications in ESD group was slightly higher than that in EMR group, and the local recurrence rate in ESD group was lower than that in EMR group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ESD is an alternative surgical treatment for patients with early esophagogastric precancerous lesions.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG14 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion via sponging miR-193a-3p

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Long noncoding RNA SNHG14 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion via sponging miR-193a-3p, by S.-D. Xie, C. Qin, L.-D. Jin, Q.-C. Wang, J. Shen, J.-C. Zhou, Y.-X. Chen, A.-H. Huang, W.-H. Zhao, L.-B. Wang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (6): 2461-2468. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201903_17393. PMID: 30964172" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/17393.

Assessing the impact of drinking water iodine concentrations on the iodine intake of Chinese pregnant women living in areas with restricted iodized salt supply

PURPOSE

The supply of non-iodized salt and the water improvement project have been conducted to reduce the iodine concentration in drinking water in areas with elevated water iodine. We aimed to assess the impact of water iodine concentration (WIC) on the iodine intake of pregnant women in areas with restricted iodized salt supply, and determine the cutoff values of WIC in areas with non-iodized salt supply.

METHODS

Overall, 534 pregnant women who attended routine antenatal outpatient visits in Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Gaoqing County were recruited. The 24-h urine iodine excretion (UIE) in 534 samples and the iodine concentration in 534 drinking water samples were estimated. Urinary iodine excretion, daily iodine intake, and daily iodine intake from drinking water (WII) were calculated. The relationship between WIC and daily iodine take was analyzed.

RESULTS

The median WIC, spot urine iodine concentration (UIC), and 24-h UIE were 17 (6, 226) μg/L, 145 (88, 267) μg/L, and 190 (110, 390) μg/day, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between WIC and UIE (R² = 0.265, p < 0.001) and UIC (R² = 0.261, p < 0.001). The contribution rate of WII to total iodine intake increased from 3.0% in the group with WIC of < 10 μg/L to 45.7% in the group with WIC of 50-99 μg/L.

CONCLUSION

The iodine content in drinking water is the major iodine source in pregnant women living in high-water iodine areas where iodized salt supply is restricted. The contribution rate of daily iodine intake from drinking water increases with the increase in water iodine concentration.

A randomised controlled trial of fibrinogen concentrate during scoliosis surgery

Bleeding and blood transfusion are common after scoliosis surgery. Fibrinogen is essential for blood clot formation and depletes quickly during haemorrhage. We randomly allocated 102 children 12-18 years old having surgery for idiopathic scoliosis, 51 to intra-operative fibrinogen concentrate 30 mg.kg^-1 (maximum 2 g) and 51 to saline placebo. Fibrinogen reduced peri-operative blood loss by a median (95%CI) volume of 155 (5-320) ml, from a median (IQR [range]) of 1035 (818-1420 [400-3030]) ml to 885 (755-1155 [270-2645]) ml, p = 0.04. Seven and four children received allogeneic red blood cell transfusion after fibrinogen and placebo, respectively, p = 0.34. There were no side-effects.

MicroRNA: Potential biomarker and target of therapy in acute lung injury

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs stretching over 18-22 nucleotides and considered to be modifiers of many respiratory diseases. They are highly evolutionary conserved and have been implicated in several biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, among others. Acute lung injury (ALI) is a fatal disease commonly caused by direct or indirect injury factors and has a high mortality rate in intensive care unit. Changes in expression of several types of miRNAs have been reported in patients with ALI. Some miRNAs suppress cellular injury and accelerate the recovery of ALI by targeting specific molecules and decreasing excessive immune response. For this reason, miRNAs are proposed as potential biomarkers for ALI and as therapeutic targets for this disease. This review summarizes current evidence supporting the role of miRNAs in ALI.

AB0026 SELECTIVE INHIBITION OF TYROSINE KINASE 2 WITH AN ORAL AGENT, BMS-986165, COMPARED WITH JANUS KINASE INHIBITORS

Background:

BMS-986165 is an oral, selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) with a unique mode of binding to the pseudokinase domain of the enzyme rather than the active site within the kinase domain. This unique mode of binding provides high functional selectivity for TYK2 versus other tyrosine kinases (TYKs) in cellular and other in vitro assays.1This approach may provide robust efficacy with a differentiated safety profile due to decreased off-target activity on other kinases. In a 12-week, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis,2BMS-986165 had a favorable safety profile, and 67%–75% of patients achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 (PASI 75) after 12 weeks at doses ≥3 mg twice daily versus 7% with placebo. BMS-986165 is currently under investigation in multiple autoimmune disorders such as psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives:

To understand the selectivity of BMS-986165 compared with JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib (Tofa), upadacitinib (Upa), and baricitinib (Bari), at clinically relevant doses and plasma concentrations.

Methods:

In vitro whole blood assays were developed to measure the activity of common pairings of JAKs (JAK 1/3, JAK2/2, and TYK2/JAK2) and concentrations providing half-maximal inhibition (IC50) for BMS-986165, Tofa, Upa, and Bari were determined. The whole blood IC50values were plotted against pharmacokinetic profiles of these agents at approved doses and/or doses evaluated in their respective Phase 2/3 trials. The time that concentrations were >IC50and projected average daily inhibition were evaluated.

Results:

At clinically relevant doses and exposures, BMS-986165 plasma concentrations were higher than the TYK2 whole blood IC50value for a considerable part of the dosing interval. Additionally, the maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) of BMS-986165 was approximately >9- to 18-fold lower than the JAK 1/3 whole blood IC50value and >52- to >109-fold lower than JAK2/2 whole blood IC50, indicating lack of meaningful inhibition of the JAK 1-3 pathways by BMS-986165 at therapeutic doses. At clinically relevant doses, projected Cmaxvalues of Tofa, Upa, and Bari were many-fold lower than TYK2 IC50, indicating minimal or no meaningful inhibition of the TYK2 pathway. As expected, Tofa, Upa, and Bari had varying degrees of inhibition against JAK1/3 (daily average inhibition range: 70%–94%) and JAK2/2 pathways (daily average inhibition range: 24%–67%) at clinically relevant doses and exposures.

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate the high TYK2 functional selectivity of BMS-986165 at clinically relevant doses and plasma concentrations compared with Tofa, Upa, and Bari and indicate that BMS-986165 is in a different class compared with JAK 1–3 inhibitors. Ongoing studies in psoriasis and other conditions may confirm the expected safety of BMS-986165 based on the above results. The daily average inhibition of JAK1 and JAK2 likely explains some common laboratory observations and adverse events reported for the JAK1–3 inhibitors.

References:

[1]Burke JR et al.Sci Transl Med. 2019 Jul 24;11(502); eaaw1736.

[2]Papp K et al.N Engl J Med. 2018;379(14):1313-1321.

Acknowledgments:

This study was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Editorial assistance was provided by Peloton Advantage, LLC, an OPEN Health company, Parsippany, NJ, and was funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Disclosure of Interests:

Anjaneya Chimalakonda Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, James Burke Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lihong Cheng Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Joann Strnad Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ian Catlett Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Aditya Patel Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jun Shen Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ihab Girgis Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Subhashis Banerjee Shareholder of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lily, Pfizer, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb (current); AbbVie, Lily, Pfizer (past), John Throup Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb

Potential effects of IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms on susceptibility to gastric cancer in Chinese population: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aims to clarify the effect of IL-17 polymorphisms on the susceptibility to GCa in the Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant pieces of literature were searched in PubMed, Web of School, VIP, and CNKI using the key words as "IL-17, gastric/stomach cancer" or "IL-17 polymorphisms, gastric/stomach cancer susceptibility". The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in the selected studies were calculated using RevMan5.3 and STATA12.0.

RESULTS

A total of 12 investigations reporting mutations in IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 were enrolled. There were 11 studies reporting rs2275913 G>A, involving 3299 cases of GCa patients and 3339 cases of healthy controls. The random-effects model was performed since the heterogeneity test results of the recessive genetic model (GG&GA vs. AA) and the allelic model (G vs. A) of IL-17A rs2275913 G>A were I2>66%/p=0.001. Meanwhile, the dominant genetic model (GG vs. GA&AA) and the super-dominant genetic model (GA vs. GG&AA) of IL-17A rs2275913 G>A were I2< 50%/p>0.05, and the fixed-effects model was used. The meta-analysis showed that IL-17A rs2275913 G>A was positively correlated with GCa susceptibility under four genetic models (p<0.05). Five studies reporting IL-17F rs763780 T>C were enrolled, including 2535 cases of GCa patients and 2402 cases of healthy controls. The heterogeneity test showed that, except for the super-dominant genetic model, the p-value was <0.00001 in the dominant, recessive, and allelic models, and their I2 values were 87%, 88%, and 93%, respectively. Hence, a random-effects model was selected. IL-17F rs763780 T>C was positively correlated with GCa susceptibility under the super-dominant genetic model (p=0.003), rather than the other three models (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-17A rs2275913 G>A polymorphism contributes to susceptibility to GCa in the dominant, recessive, allelic, and super-dominant models. Meanwhile, IL-17F rs763780 T>C polymorphism is positively correlated with GCa susceptibility in the super-dominant model.

Feasibility of using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for differentiating thymic carcinoma from thymic lymphoma based on semi-quantitative and quantitative models

AIM

To evaluate the value of using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) derived parameters to differentiate thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma based on semi-quantitative and quantitative models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine pathologically confirmed anterior mediastinum tumours in 29 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study, including 15 thymic carcinoma and 14 lymphoma patients. All the patients underwent pre-treatment mediastinum DCE-MRI. Both semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters were calculated and the volume transfer constant K^trans, the flux rate constant between extravascular extracellular space and plasma k_ep, the extravascular extracellular volume fraction v_e were obtained based on a modified Tofts model. DCE-MRI derived parameters were compared between thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma groups.

RESULTS

Thymic carcinoma had significantly lower k_ep (p=0.040) and higher v_e (p=0.018) than thymic lymphoma; however, there were no significant differences on K^trans and semi-quantitative parameters between the two groups. v_e had the highest area under the curve (cut-off value, 0.282; area under the curve, 0.748; sensitivity, 71.4%; specificity, 80%). The combination of k_ep and v_e could increase the diagnostic performance significantly (area under the curve, 0.752; sensitivity, 57.1%; specificity, 93.3%).

CONCLUSION

DCE-MRI derived parameters may have value in the differentiating thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone promotes therapeutic effects of peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic repair

PURPOSE

In peripheral artery disease, blockage of the blood supply to the limbs leads to blood flow attenuation and tissue ischemia. We investigated whether growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) could enhance the biological functions and therapeutic effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from adult human peripheral blood (PB).

METHODS

EPCs were isolated from human PB (PB-EPCs) and cord blood and expanded in vitro. PB-EPCs incubated with or without GHRH were evaluated for proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis capacity and apoptosis rates under oxidative stress conditions. Activation of STAT3 and Akt pathways was evaluated using Western blot. A hind-limb ischemia (HLI) mouse model was used to study the efficacy of GHRH in improving EPC therapy in vivo.

RESULTS

GHRH enhanced the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis capacity of PB-EPCs and reduced apoptosis under H₂O₂ stimulation. These beneficial effects were GHRH receptor-dependent and were paralleled by increased phosphorylation of STAT3 and Akt. Transplantation of GHRH-preconditioned EPCs into HLI model mice enhanced blood flow recovery by increasing vascular formation density and enhanced tissue regeneration at the lesion site.

CONCLUSION

Our studies demonstrate a novel role for GHRH in dramatically improving therapeutic angiogenesis in HLI by enhancing the biological functions of EPCs. These findings support additional studies to explore the full potential of GHRH in augmenting cell therapy for the management of ischemia.

Unveiling contextual realities by microscopically entangling a neutron

The development of qualitatively new measurement capabilities is often a prerequisite for critical scientific and technological advances. Here we introduce an unconventional quantum probe, an entangled neutron beam, where individual neutrons can be entangled in spin, trajectory and energy. The spatial separation of trajectories from nanometers to microns and energy differences from peV to neV will enable investigations of microscopic magnetic correlations in systems with strongly entangled phases, such as those believed to emerge in unconventional superconductors. We develop an interferometer to prove entanglement of these distinguishable properties of the neutron beam by observing clear violations of both Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt and Mermin contextuality inequalities in the same experimental setup. Our work opens a pathway to a future of entangled neutron scattering in matter.

Exploring correlations in strongly entangled quantum materials is of interest. Here the authors generate a tunable spin-, trajectory-, and energy-entangled neutron beam using a neutron spin-echo interferometer and show violations of Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt and Mermin contextuality inequalities with micron-scale trajectory separation.