[Epidemiological characteristics of molecular transmission cluster among reported HIV/AIDS cases in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province, 2017]

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of one large HIV molecular transmission cluster in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province, 2017 in order to select those people under high-risk and providing basis for programs on prevention. Methods: During 2017, newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in this city were recruited. Plasma samples were collected from subjects, followed by RNA extraction, RT-PCR and nest-PCR for pol gene amplification, before being sequenced and aligned. Mega 6.0 software was used to construct phylogenetic tree, and Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to identify HIV molecular transmission clusters. Cases within the large transmission clusters were investigated, using a field-epidemiology-questionnaire. Data related to socio-demographics and previous sexual behaviors were collected and EpiData 3.0 and SPSS 20.0 software were used. Results: In the large transmission cluster with subtype identified as CRF07_BC, in Jiaxing, 2017, 26 cases of the total 30 cases were investigated. A total of 80.8% (21/26) could be identified as newly infected within the last two years and 30.8%(8/26) could be identified as newly infected within the last one year, including 22 cases infected locally. Among several infected cases who were at age 45 years or older, they admitted that they had experienced unprotected sexual contacts in local city for long time and having had more than 10 disclosed sexual contacts within the last two years at the local venues. Conclusions: This molecular cluster had been formed and scaled up quickly in recent two years, it has played an important role in promoting and scaling up the HIV transmission. Three cases identificed as high risk played an importantrde role in scaling up this cluster.

Apatinib inhibits tumor progression and promotes antitumor efficacy of cytotoxic drugs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

e15554

Background: Apatinib, a highly selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), inhibits the angiogenesis of tumors. The function and mechanism of Apatinib in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. Methods: The expression of VEGFR-2 in ESCC cell lines (KYSE450, EC1, KYSE410, KYSE70) were detected by western blot. KYSE450 and EC1 cell lines were treated with Apatinib, or combined with cytotoxic drugs: paclitaxel (TAX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin (DDP) respectively. Cell proliferation was then measured using CCK-8 assay; cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry; cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays. The expression of VEGFR-2, Bcl2, MMP-2/MMP-9, p-Akt and p-mTOR in KYSE450 and EC1 cell lines were determined by western blot. Esophageal cancer xenografts model was established and used to evaluate the antitumor effects of combination of Apatinib and cytotoxic drugs in vivo. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Ki67, VEGFR-2 and CD31 in tumor tissues of esophageal cancer xenografts model. Results: We found that Apatinib efficiently inhibited cell growth, metastasis and activity of the Akt/mTOR pathway in ESCC cells. Western blot analysis showed that Apatinib significantly increased Bax protein levels, decreased VEGFR-2, Bcl2, MMP-2/MMP-9, p-Akt and p-mTOR protein levels in ESCC cells. Moreover, Apatinib enhanced chemosensitivity of cytotoxic drugs TAX, 5-FU and DDP by upregulating expression of Bax protein, and downregulating expression of VEGFR-2, Bcl2, MMP-2/MMP-9 protein in vitro. Compared with single agent groups, the combination of Apatinib with each chemotherapeutic drug significantly repressed tumor growth and angiogenesis through blocking the expression of Ki67, VEGFR-2 and CD31 in vivo. Conclusions: Taken together, Apatinib suppressed cell growth, migration and invasion, and promoted antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic agents in ESCC.

A single-arm, open phase II clinical trial of anti-programmed death-1 antibody SHR-1210 combined with nimotuzumab as second-line treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

TPS4147

Background: Approximately 40% of patients (pts) with esophageal cancer are diagnosed with advanced unresectable or metastatic disease; the 5-year survival rate for advanced disease is 5%. No standard therapy is available in China for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma(ESCC) patients progressed after first-line chemotherapy.Inhibition of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) has demonstrated promising antitumor activity and manageable safety in pts with advanced unresectable or metastatic ESCC. SHR-1210, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, has high affinity and specificity for PD-1 molecule. SHR-1210 was generally well tolerated and had preliminary antitumor effects in pts with solid tumors, including ESCC. Nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3, has been shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of head and neck cancer,non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and esophageal Cancer in several phase II studies.The purpose of this study is to observe and evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 antibody SHR-1210 combined with nimotuzumab as second-line therapy in patients with advanced ESCC. Methods: Patients, age 18-75, with measurable tumor lesion, failed in or progression after 1st line chemotherapy, were enrolled in this study.Patients received SHR-1210 200 mg once every 2 weeks (Q2W) combined nimotuzumab 200 mg weekly until disease progression, death or unacceptable toxicity.Assessments included response by RECIST v1.1 every 6 wks and safety (physical examination, vital signs, ECOG PS, laboratory tests).The primary endpoint is the objective response rate (ORR),and the secondary end points include the diseases control rate (DCR),duration of response (DOR),progression-free survival (PFS),and overall survival(OS). Additionally, we try to identify biomarker to predict efficacy of SHR-1210 and Nimotuzumab with target capture sequencing and gene expression profile as exploratory endpoints. Clinical trial information: NCT03766178.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in Chinese gastric cancer by HER2 status: A non-interventional registry study (EVIDENCE)

4025

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. Trastuzumab (TRA) has been used to treat HER2+ metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) in China since 2012. However, real-world data on effectiveness and safety in Chinese patients are limited. Methods: This prospective, multicenter (85 hospitals), real-world noninterventional registry study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of TRA in five cohorts of Chinese GC patients with different HER2 statuses from April 2013 to June 2018. Effectiveness analysis was conducted in three cohorts: Cohort I (HER2+ mGC with TRA), Cohort II (HER2+ mGC untreated with TRA) and Cohort IV (HER2− mGC untreated with TRA). Safety outcomes of TRA-related adverse events (AEs) were analyzed in Cohort I. Results: Cohorts I, II and IV included 709 patients (174, 113 and 422, respectively; mean age 57.8 years; 72% male); 64.9% of patients were ECOG 0–1, 93.7% had a primary GC tumor and 42.3% were at stage T4. Progressive disease was the cause of death in 32.8%, 27.4% and 29.9% in Cohorts I, II and IV, respectively. Respective mean duration of follow-up was 422.5, 287.5 and 277.5 days. Median overall survival (OS) was 22.3, 17.2 and 17.4 months, respectively. After excluding patients who had surgery, the respective median OS was 19.9, 15.3, and 12.6 months. For the first-line treatment, the median OS in Cohort I was 22.1 months, and the median progression free survival (PFS) was 8.2, 6.9 and 6.2 months in Cohorts I, II and IV, respectively. Response rates (RR) for first-line treatment in Cohorts I, II and IV were 51.7%, 18.4% and 32.8%, respectively. After propensity score matching, OS, PFS and RR were all significantly better in Cohort I versus II (all P<0.05). The most common regimen, TRA+XELOX (capecitabine+oxaliplatin), was estimated to have the longest median OS at 34.6 months. Grade ≥3 AEs were reported in 33.9% (59/174) of patients in Cohort I; anemia was the most common AE (12.1%). Conclusions: TRA improved OS and PFS in Chinese HER2+ mGC patients compared with chemotherapy alone and was well tolerated and effective when combined with a range of other therapies in a real-world setting. Clinical trial information: NCT01839500.

Infection with sodA mutant of S. Typhimurium leads to up-regulation of autophagy in Raw264·7 macrophages

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) inhabits a wide range of hosts, including poultry, and causes acute gastroenteritis in humans that may result in death. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an important antioxidant enzyme present in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen. Recently, we reported the novel roles of SOD in serum resistance and biofilm formation in S. Typhimurium. This study was designed to explore the effect of infection with sodA mutant of S. Typhimurium on the autophagic response of macrophages. Murine macrophage cell line RAW264·7 was infected with wild-type (LSM52), a sodA deletion mutant (LSM52ΔsodA) and complemented strain (LSM52CΔsodA). We found that sodA deletion triggered remarkable autophagic responses in infected cells, shown as higher concentrations of LC3-II or Beclin-1 than those infected with the wild-type or complemented strain during the first hour post-infection in S. Typhimurium. Consistent with these results, the number of viable bacteria in cells infected with the sodA mutant was significantly lower than those infected with wild-type or complemented strains at 1 h, 2 h and 3 h post-infection in S. Typhimurium. All results indicated that infection with sodA mutant of S. Typhimurium leads to up-regulation of autophagy in Raw264·7 macrophages. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Autophagy plays an important role in Salmonella infection although the role of autophagy in Salmonella infection remains unclear. This study was designed to explore the effect of sodA on the autophagic response of macrophage. We found that infection with sodA mutant of Salmonella Typhimurium could lead to up-regulation of autophagy in Raw264·7 macrophages.

Expert consensus on multidisciplinary therapy of colorectal cancer with lung metastases (2019 edition)

The lungs are the second most common site of metastasis for colorectal cancer (CRC) after the liver. Rectal cancer is associated with a higher incidence of lung metastases compared to colon cancer. In China, the proportion of rectal cancer cases is around 50%, much higher than that in Western countries (nearly 30%). However, there is no available consensus or guideline focusing on CRC with lung metastases. We conducted an extensive discussion and reached a consensus of management for lung metastases in CRC based on current research reports and the experts' clinical experiences and knowledge. This consensus provided detailed approaches of diagnosis and differential diagnosis and provided general guidelines for multidisciplinary therapy (MDT) of lung metastases. We also focused on recommendations of MDT management of synchronous lung metastases and initial metachronous lung metastases. This consensus might improve clinical practice of CRC with lung metastases in China and will encourage oncologists to conduct more clinical trials to obtain high-level evidences about managing lung metastases.

Hierarchical measurement structure in the Women's Health Questionnaire: a confirmatory factor analysis

Purpose: This study conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the measurement structure of the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and how its components were organized. Methods: Participants were 448 postmenopausal women, with a mean age of 63.3 years. CFA was conducted to test how well several proposed measurement models fit the data. Results: The single-factor model performed poorly, indicating the presence of multiple factors. The model with seven correlated factors fit the data well, although the varying degrees of inter-factor correlations suggested grouping of similar factors. The hierarchical measurement structure, with seven first-order factors organized under two second-order factors of physical health and mental health functioning, demonstrated a good fit with the data (χ²(367) = 694.05, p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.05; comparative fit index = 0.95) and a meaningful pattern. The Mental Health factor was represented by Depressed Mood, Anxiety/Fear, Memory/Concentration Problems, and Sleep Problems. The Physical Health factor was manifested mainly by Somatic Symptoms, Menstrual Symptoms, and Vasomotor Symptoms, and, to a lesser extent, also by Sleep Problems and Memory/Concentration Problems. Conclusion: Findings suggested that, in addition to a global index and subscale scores, the WHQ may produce summary scores of physical health and mental health functioning in evaluation of well-being among postmenopausal women.

Anlotinib in chemotherapy-refractory metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): A randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase II trial

95

Background: The treatment option for ESCC patients (pts) progressing after chemotherapy is still uncertain. Anlotinib is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor involved in tumor angiogenesis and growth, such as vascular endothelia growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 2/3, etc. Methods: Eligible pts were advanced ESCC who had progressed after platinum or taxane containing chemotherapy. Between January 6, 2016 and May 22, 2018, a total of 165 pts from 13 centers in China were randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) to anlotinib arm (n=110), and placebo arm (n=55). Pts were given anlotinib (12 mg/day) or placebo orally from day 1 to day 14 in a 21-day cycle until disease progression or had unacceptable toxic effects. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Median PFS was 3.0 months with anlotinib and 1.4 months with placebo (HR 0.5, 95% CI, 0.3-0.7; P<0.0001). Complete response occured in 2 pts with anlotinib and 0 pt with placebo. The objective response rates were 7% in the anlotinib group and 4% in the placebo group (P=0.498), and the disease control rates (DCR) were 64% and 18%, respectively (P<0.0001). In anlotinib arm, median duration of response was 5.8 months (range, 3.1-19.7+). Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were reported in 36.7% and 11.0% of the two group pts, and grade 5 TRAE were 2.8% and 0%, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 TRAE (>5%) in anlotinib arm were hypertension (15.6%) and loss of appetite (5.5%). Median overall survival were similar between the groups (6.1 months vs 7.2 months; HR 1.2, 95%CI 0.8-1.8, P=0.4261). The ratio of pts received post study treatments was 41.2% (40/97) in anlotinib arm and 72.7% (40/55) in placebo arm (P=0.0002), including chemotherapy (23.7% vs 54.6%), PD-1 inhibitors (4.1% vs 11.0%), and Apatinib, a VEGFR inhibitor, (10.3% vs 20.0%), etc. Conclusions: In pretreated advanced ESCC pts, anlotinib significantly improved PFS and DCR compared with placebo, with a manageable safety profile. Clinical trial information: NCT02649361.

MicroRNA-182 suppresses clear cell renal cell carcinoma migration and invasion by targeting IGF1R

The purpose of our study was aimed to determine the functional role of microRNA (miR)-182 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and try to clarify its underlying molecular mechanism. Expression of miR-182 in both cancer and peripheral blood samples was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Human RCC line Caki-1 cells were transfected with miR-182 mimic, miR-182 inhibitor, or negative controls, and then the cell viability, colony-formation ability, migration, and invasion assay were determined. Luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine whether insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) was a target of miR-182. Further, small interfering RNA (siRNA) against IGF1R was co-transfected with miR-182 inhibitor into cells, and then the effects on migration and invasion were assessed. MiR-182 was down-regulated in both cancer and blood samples compared to the matched non-tumor adjacent tissues and healthy volunteers, respectively (both P<0.05). Compared to the control group, cell viability, colony-forming ability, and numbers of migrated and invaded cells were significantly decreased by transfection with miR-182 mimic but were markedly increased by miR-182 inhibitor (all P < 0.05). Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that IGF1R was a target gene of miR-182, and IGF1R was negatively regulated by miR-182. Co-transfection of miR-182 inhibitor with si-IGF1R reversed the effect of miR-182 inhibitor on the migration and invasion of the cells. MiR-182 functions as an anti-oncogene in ccRCC, and miR-182-mediated inhibition of cell migration and invasion might be through directly targeting IGF1R.

MicroRNA-29a Functions as a Tumor Suppressor and Increases Cisplatin Sensitivity by Targeting NRAS in Lung Cancer

MicroRNAs have been reported to play an important role in diverse biological processes and progression of various cancers. MicroRNA-29a has been observed to be downregulated in human lung cancer tissues, but the function of microRNA-29a in lung cancer has not been well investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression levels of microRNA-29a were significantly downregulated in 38 pairs of lung cancer tissues when compared to adjacent normal tissues. Overexpression of microRNA-29a inhibited the activity of cell proliferation and colony formation of lung cancer cells, H1299 and A549. Furthermore, microRNA-29a targeted NRAS proto-oncogene in lung cancer cells. In human clinical specimens, NRAS proto-oncogene was highly expressed in human lung cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. More interestingly, microRNA-29a also sensitizes lung cancer cells to cisplatin (CDDP[Please replace “CDDP” with its expansion in the abstract and also provide expansion for the same in its first occurrence in text, if appropriate.]) via its target, NRAS proto-oncogene. Thus, our results in this study demonstrated that microRNA-29a acted as a tumor suppressor microRNA, which indicated potential application of microRNAs for the treatment of human lung cancer in the future.

ZKSCAN3 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion

ZKSCAN3, a zinc-finger transcription factor, which has been shown to be upregulated in several human cancer. However, the expression level, function and mechanism of ZKSCAN3 in breast cancer remains unknown. In the current study, immunohistochemistry, western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that ZKSCAN3 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissue compared with normal breast tissue. Through analyzing the clinicopathological characteristics, we demonstrated that positive ZKSCAN3 expression predicted poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The expression level of ZKSCAN3 protein/mRNA in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) was higher than its expression in normal breast cells (HBL-100). Knocking down ZKSCAN3 via its short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion. Western blot analysis showed that ZKSCAN3 silencing lead to significant decreases in the expression of Cyclin D1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/MMP-9, as well as increases in the expression of Bcl2 Associated X Protein (Bax) in breast cancer cells. Additionally, ZKSCAN3-shRNA expression markedly suppressed tumor growth in breast cancer xenograft mice. Finally, we demonstrated that silencing of ZKSCAN3 was able to inhibit Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by blocking p-Akt and p-mTOR protein expression in breast cancer cells. These results demonstrate that ZKSCAN3 plays a significant role in the progression of breast cancer. Therefore, ZKSCAN3 is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Asthma symptoms among Chinese children: the role of ventilation and PM10 exposure at school and home

SETTING

Respiratory symptoms in relation to environment in Taiyuan, China.

OBJECTIVE

To study associations between school/home exposure and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and self-reported respiratory infections (RIs) among students.

DESIGN

A total of 2134 pupils from 10 schools answered a questionnaire; air pollution at school was measured.

RESULTS

The prevalence of current wheeze, daytime attacks of breathlessness, nocturnal cough, nocturnal respiratory symptoms and RI was respectively 4.4%, 18.7%, 11.6%, 3.6% and 32.3%. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home was associated with daytime attacks of breathlessness (OR 1.41), nocturnal cough (OR 1.41) and RI (OR 1.26). Redecoration or indoor painting at home was associated with wheeze (OR 2.02), daytime attacks of breathlessness (OR 1.57) and nocturnal symptoms (OR 1.83). Dampness or mould at home was associated with daytime attacks of breathlessness (OR 1.68), nocturnal cough (OR 1.68) and RI (OR 1.69). Particulate matter of diameter  10 microns (PM10) in the classroom was associated with nocturnal cough (OR 1.20/10 μg/m3). PM10 outside school was associated with daytime attacks of breathlessness (OR 1.07/10 μg/m3) and nocturnal cough (OR 1.13/10 μg/m3). Indoor carbon dioxide, a marker of poor ventilation (OR 1.52/1000 parts per million), and relative humidity (RH) (OR 1.33/10%) were associated with nocturnal cough.

CONCLUSION

Dampness, redecoration and ETS at home, as well as poor ventilation flow, and high RH and PM10 concentration at school may influence respiratory health.

Use of integrative epigenetic and mRNA expression analyses to identify significantly changed genes and functional pathways in osteoarthritic cartilage

Aim

Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of genes and are likely to regulate the OA transcriptome. We performed integrative genomic analyses to define methylation-gene expression relationships in osteoarthritic cartilage.

Patients and Methods

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of articular cartilage from five patients with OA of the knee and five healthy controls was conducted using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (Illumina, San Diego, California). Other independent genome-wide mRNA expression profiles of articular cartilage from three patients with OA and three healthy controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Integrative pathway enrichment analysis of DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles was performed using integrated analysis of cross-platform microarray and pathway software. Gene ontology (GO) analysis was conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID).

Results

We identified 1265 differentially methylated genes, of which 145 are associated with significant changes in gene expression, such as DLX5, NCOR2 and AXIN2 (all p-values of both DNA methylation and mRNA expression < 0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis identified 26 OA-associated pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway (p = 6.25 × 10-4), phosphatidylinositol (PI) signalling system (p = 4.38 × 10-3), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signalling pathway (p = 8.63 × 10-3 pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis (p = 0.017), ErbB signalling pathway (p = 0.024), inositol phosphate (IP) metabolism (p = 0.025), and calcium signalling pathway (p = 0.032).

Conclusion

We identified a group of genes and biological pathwayswhich were significantly different in both DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles between patients with OA and controls. These results may provide new clues for clarifying the mechanisms involved in the development of OA.

Cite this article: A. He, Y. Ning, Y. Wen, Y. Cai, K. Xu, Y. Cai, J. Han, L. Liu, Y. Du, X. Liang, P. Li, Q. Fan, J. Hao, X. Wang, X. Guo, T. Ma, F. Zhang. Use of integrative epigenetic and mRNA expression analyses to identify significantly changed genes and functional pathways in osteoarthritic cartilage. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:343–350. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.75.BJR-2017-0284.R1.

A novel near-infrared nanomaterial with high quantum efficiency and its applications in real time in vivo imaging

Fluorescence imaging signal is severely limited by the quantum efficiency and emission wavelength. To overcome these challenges, novel NIR-emitting K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanoparticles under NIR excitation was introduced as fluorescence imaging probe for the first time. The photostability of K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanoparticles in the water, phosphate buffer saline, fetal bovine serum and living mice was investigated. The fluorescence signal was detected with depths of 3.5 and 2.0 cm in phantom and pork tissue, respectively. Fluorescence spectrum with a significant signal-to-background ratio of 10:1 was captured in living mice. Moreover, clear NIR images were virtualized for the living mice after intravenous injection. The imaging ability of nanoparticles in tumor-beard mice were evaluated, the enrichment of K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanoparticles in tumor site due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect was confirmed. The systematic studies of toxicity, bio-distribution and in-vivo dynamic imaging suggest that these materials give high biocompatibility and low toxicity. These NIR-emitting nanoparticles with high quantum efficiency, high penetration and low toxicity might facilitate tumor identification in deep tissues more sensitively.

MicroRNA-125a-5p enhances the sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin by suppressing the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play a variety of roles in tumor development, progression and chemosensitivity in a wide range of tumors. In this study, we found that miR-125a-5p exhibited a low expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and cells, and that its low expression was associated with higher tumor staging and shorter a survival time of patients with ESCC. Moreover, miR-125a-5p overexpression contributed to the suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis and a decrease in cell migratory and invasive abilities, whereas the downregulation of miR-125a-5p promoted cell proliferation, accelerated cell cycle progression, suppressed apoptosis and enhanced the migratory and invasive abilities of ESCC EC1 and TE1 cells, which may be tightly associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in ESCC. Importantly, miR-125a-5p enhanced the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin on EC1 and TE1 cells, and co-treatment with miR-125a-5p and cisplatin significantly induced cell apoptosis and reduced the cell migratory and invasive abilities of EC1 and TE1 cells, coupled with an increase in the E-cadherin level and a decrease in the N-cadherin and Vimentin levels. Most notably, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) was found to be a direct target of miR-125a-5p in ESCC cells, and miR-125a-5p overexpression significantly reduced the protein levels of t-STAT3, p-STAT3 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in EC1 and TE1 cells. Furthermore, the combination of miR-125a-5p and cisplatin markedly inactivated the STAT3 signaling pathway; however, interleukin (IL)-6, a widely reported activator of the STAT3 signaling pathway, reversed the suppressive effects of miR-125a-5p/cisplatin in ESCC cells on the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. Of note, we found that IL-6 markedly reversed the altered cell phenotype mediated by the combination of miR-125a-5p and cisplatin in ESCC cells. These findings suggest that miR-125a-5p may play a pivotal role in the development and progression of ESCC, which may be achieved via the manipulation of the STAT3 signaling pathway.

MiR-433-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Targeting GRB2

BACKGROUND/AIMS

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding single stranded RNAs of 17-25 nucleotides in size, and their altered expression has been observed in various cancers. Previous studies have confirmed that miR-433-3p has effects on cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and its expression also correlates with sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, to date, there have been no studies on the biological functions of miR-433-3p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

The Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell, and matrigel assays were used to test the effects of miR-433-3p and its predicted target, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2), on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Eca109 and KYSE30 cells, two types of esophageal cancer cell lines. The miR-433-3p binding site in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) region of GRB2 was predicted and verified using miRNA target site prediction software and structuring correct mutant examination. Western blotting and fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) techniques were employed to evaluate GRB2 expression. The inhibitory effects of miR-433-3p on tumor growth were investigated using a tumor xenograft model.

RESULTS

The binding site of miR-433-3p was identified in the 3'UTR region of GRB2. Western blotting and FQ-PCR showed that miR-433-3p inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of GRB2. Overexpression of GRB2 inhibited tumorigenesis in nude mice. MiR-433-3p overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells by suppressing GRB2 gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that targeting miR-433-3p may have therapeutic benefits in ESCC.

LncRNA Snhg1, a non-degradable sponge for miR-338, promotes expression of proto-oncogene CST3 in primary esophageal cancer cells

Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) is a newly proposed mechanism that describes a crosstalk among lncRNAs, mRNAs and their shared miRNAs. In this study, the role of miR-338-3p (miR-338) in the progression of esophageal cancer and its involve in the ceRNA regulatory circuit lncRNA-Snhg1/CST3 were explored. MiR-338 displayed a 30% decreased expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared with the adjacent. Then, proto-oncogene CST3 was predicted and validated as a target gene of miR-338. Gain-and-loss-function experiments indicated that miR-338 suppressed expression of CST3 protein (also Cystatin C, CysC), promoted expression of apoptotic proteins caspase-8/3, attenuated esophageal carcinoma cell growth and induced its apoptosis. In addition, lncRNA-Snhg1 was significantly upregulated in esophageal carcinoma tissues and promoted esophageal carcinoma cell growth. Furthermore, our results from bioinformatics, luciferase reporter gene and RNA pull-down assays indicated that Snhg1 could be directly bound by miR-338. Snhg1 acted as a non-degradable sponge to relieve the suppression on CST3 caused by miR-338. In conclusion, lncRNA-Snhg1 promoted cell proliferation by acting as a non-degradable sponge for the tumor suppressor miR-338 in esophageal cancer cells.

[Analysis on HIV-1 subtypes and transmission clusters in newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, 2016]

Objective: To understand the characteristics of distribution on HIV-1 subtypes and the transmission clusters in Yiwu in Zhejiang province. Methods: A cross-sectional study of molecular epidemiology was carried out on newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yiwu. RNA was extracted from 168 plasma samples, followed by RT-PCR and nest-PCR for pol gene amplification, sequencing, phylogenetic tree construction used for analyzing the subtypes and transmission clusters. Mutations on drug resistance was analyzed by CPR 6.0 online tool. Results: Subjects were mainly males (86.3%, 145/168), with average age as (39.1±13.4) years old and most of them were migrants (66.7%, 112/168). The major routes of transmission included homosexual (51.2%, 86/168) and heterosexual (48.8%, 82/168) contacts. The rate of success for sequence acquisition was 89.9% (151/168). The dominant subtypes showed as CRF01_AE (74, 49.0%) and CRF07_BC (64, 42.4%), followed by CRF08_BC (5, 3.3%), CRF55_01B (3, 2.0%), each case of subtype B, CRF45_cpx, CRF59_01B, CRF85_BC and URF (B/C). CRF45_cpx and CRF85_BC were discovered the first time in Zhejiang province. Twenty-six transmission clusters involving 65 cases were found, with the total clustered rate as 43.0% (65/151), in which the CRF01_AE clustered rate appeared as 54.1% (40/74), higher than that of CRF07_BC (21/64, 32.8%). The average size of cluster was 2.5 cases/cluster, with average size of cluster in CRF01_AE patients infected through heterosexual transmission as the largest (3.5 cases/cluster). The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance was 4.6% (7/151). Seven cases with surveillance drug resistant mutations (SDRM) were found, including 5 cases of M46L (3.3%), and one case of F77L or Y181C. Conclusion: HIV genetic diversity and a variety of transmission clusters had been noticed in this study area (Yiwu). Programs on monitoring the subtypes and transmission clusters should be continued and strengthened.

Predictive value of EGFR overexpression and gene amplification on icotinib efficacy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

This study aimed to search for a molecular marker for targeted epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor Icotinib by analyzing protein expression and amplification of EGFR proto-oncogene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to assess EGFR expression and gene amplification status in 193 patients with ESCC. We also examined the association between EGFR overexpression and the efficacy of a novel EGFR TKI, icotinib, in 62 ESCC patients.

Of the 193 patients, 95 (49.2%) patients showed EGFR overexpression (3+), and 47(24.4%) patients harbored EGFR FISH positivity. EGFR overexpression was significantly correlated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). In addition, EGFR overexpression was significantly correlated with EGFR FISH positivity (p<0.001). Among the 62 patients who received icotinib, the response rate was 17.6% for patients with high EGFR-expressing tumors, which was markedly higher than the rate (0%) for patients with low to moderate EGFR-expressing tumors (p=0.341). Furthermore, all cases responded to icotinib showed EGFR overexpression.

In conclusion, our study suggests that EGFR overexpression might potentially be used in predicting the efficacy in patients treated with Icotinib. These data have implications for both clinical trial design and therapeutic strategies.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of articular cartilage reveals significant epigenetic alterations in Kashin-Beck disease and osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To determine genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of knee cartilage from patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis (OA).

METHOD

Knee cartilage was collected from 14 grade III KBD patients, 5 primary OA patients and 13 healthy subjects. The genome-wide methylation profiles of 5 KBD cartilage, 5 OA cartilage and 5 normal cartilage were determined by Illumina HumanMethylation450 array. Illumina Methylation Analyzer package was employed for identifying differentially methylated CpG sites. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis of differentially methylated genes (DMG) were conducted using GeneRIF database, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) and The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Mass spectrometry (MS) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were conducted to validate the functional relevance of identified KBD associated gene.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 1212 differentially methylated CpG sites in KBD vs Normal, annotated to 264 hypermethylated and 368 hypomethylated genes. Comparing the DNA methylation profiles of KBD vs Normal and OA vs Normal detected overlap of 367 differentially methylated CpG sites (annotated to 182 genes) as well as 845 KBD-specific differentially methylated CpG sites (annotated to 471 unique genes). MS and IHC confirmed the hypermethylation status and decreased protein expression of HAPLN1 gene in KBD cartilage.

CONCLUSION

Our data implicate epigenetic dysregulation of a host of genes in KBD and OA. Furthermore, we observed common causal epigenetic changes shared by KBD and OA.