A novel HLA-B allele: HLA-B*40:241

The HLA-B*40:241 allele differs from B*40:01:01 by 1 nucleotide substitution at position 691.

MicroRNA-21 functions as an oncogene and promotes cell proliferation and invasion via TIMP3 in renal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) displays an increasing incidence and mortality rate worldwide in recent years. More and more evidence identified microRNAs function as positive or negative regulatory factors in many cancers, but the role of miR-21 in RCC remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Relative expression levels of miR-21 in human RCC tissue samples and RCC-derived cell lines were measured using quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Clinical features were collected to further study the relationship between the miR-21 level and clinicopathologic variables. Loss- and gain- of miR-21 experiments were employed to measure the influence of miR-21 in cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration. Downstream target gene was confirmed by using luciferase and Western blotting assays.

RESULTS

MiR-21 significantly over-expressed in RCC tissues and cell lines than normal groups. Higher miR-21 expression level indicated larger tumor sizes, more lymph metastasis and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage. Knocking down miR-21 inhibited the cell growth, invasion and migration abilities but promoted the cell apoptosis, while over-expressing miR-21 promoted cell growth and metastasis. Furthermore, TIMP3 was confirmed as a direct target of moR-21 and inhibition of TIMP3 reserved the effect of down-regulating miR-21 in RCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated miR-21 was significantly over-expressed and functioned as a tumor oncogene via TIMP3 in RCC, which could provide a potential target for RCC diagnosis and therapy.

MicroRNA-645 promotes cell metastasis and proliferation of renal clear cell carcinoma by targeting GK5

OBJECTIVE

To dissect the functioning mode of miR-645 on renal clear cell carcinoma cell metastasis and growth, and provide therapeutic targets for renal clear cell carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was employed to detect miR-645 expression level. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were performed to investigate metastasis capacity of renal clear cell carcinoma cells. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay was incorporated to assess cell proliferation capacity. Flow cytometry was used to identify cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. Protein levels were assessed by Western blotting assay. The target gene was predicted and verified by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assay.

RESULTS

MiR-645 was upregulated in renal clear cell carcinoma tissues when compared with para-carcinoma tissues (n=32). Downregulated miR-645 could attenuate cell migration and invasion capacities, as well as inhibited cell proliferation capacity, promoted cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. GK5 was chosen as the target gene of miR-645 by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, silence of GK5 could rescue tumor suppression role of downregulated miR-645 on renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Knockdown of miR-645 exerted tumor-suppressive effects on renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis and growth via targeting GK5 in vitro, which provided an innovative and candidate target for diagnose and treatment of renal clear cell carcinoma.

The RNA-binding protein Sam68 is critical for non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation by regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Src associated in mitosis, 68 kDa (Sam68) is a KH domain RNA-binding protein that regulates a broad scope of biological events, including RNA metabolism, transcription and signal transduction. Herein, we aimed to explore the expression, clinical significance and biological function of Sam68 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By applying quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods, we found that nucleic localized Sam68 was markedly overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. By X² analysis and Kaplan-Meier survivial analysis between Sam68 expression and various clinicopathological features, Sam68 was found to be significantly associated with clinical T stage, advanced tumor grade, and short overall survival. Finally, in vitro loss-of-function studies showed that knockdown of Sam68 inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation and cell cycle progression in NSCLC cells. Moreover, our results clarified that knockdown of Sam68 could suppress NSCLC cell proliferation via the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. To conclude, our results demonstrated that upregulation of Sam68 in NSCLC resulted in poor prognosis, and it promoted cell proliferation via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which could serve as a novel biomarker for the prognosis and therapy of NSCLC.

Expression levels of PTEN, HIF-1α, and VEGF as prognostic factors in ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Epithelial ovarian cancer is associated with high mortality, mostly because of delayed diagnosis, necessitating the search for novel diagnostic and prognostic markers. Here we evaluated the association between expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Expressions of these proteins were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 21 specimens of normal ovary tissues and 76 specimens of ovarian cancer tissues. Associations with pathological characteristics and prognosis were determined using chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Expression of PTEN in ovarian cancer tissue was negatively associated with clinical stage and differentiation degree. A reverse trend was observed in association between expression of HIF-1α and VEGF, and the clinical stage of the disease. PTEN expression negatively correlated with HIF-1α and VEGF expression levels, whereas both latter positively correlated with each other. The overall survival of patients with positive PTEN expression was significantly longer than that of those with negative expression; the opposite trend was observed with HIF-1α and VEGF. The differentiation degree and expressions of HIF-1α and PTEN were dependent predictors, whereas VEGF expression, clinical stage and lymph node metastasization were independent prognostic factors in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PTEN, HIF-lα, and VEGF were found to be prognostic markers in ovarian cancer, with VEGF also being as an independent prognostic factor. Combined detection of their expression levels may be useful for determination of the degree of malignancy, metastasis, and prognosis of ovarian cancer.

MiR-30 suppresses lung cancer cell 95D epithelial mesenchymal transition and invasion through targeted regulating Snail

OBJECTIVE

As an important factor regulating the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) Snail is associated with lung cancer. Bioinformatics analysis showed that microRNA-30a (miR-30a) may target the 3'-UTR of Snail mRNA. It was exhibited that miR-30a down-regulation was related to tumor size, TNM stage, and poor prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, which suggests that miR-30a might participate in NSCLC attack. This study aims to explore the role of miR-30a and Snail in NSCLC invasion and metastasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

NSCLC tumor and para-carcinoma tissues were collected from 46 patients to evaluate the miR-30a and Snail expressions. The targeted relationship between miR-30a and Snail was verified by using dual-luciferase reporter assay. 95D cells were cultured in vitro and transfected with miR-30a mimic or small interfere RNA targeting Snail (si-Snail). The expression of miR-30a, Snail, EMT-related factors, malignant growth, invasion, and apoptosis, were compared.

RESULTS

Snail was significantly up-regulated, while miR-30a was significantly reduced in NSCLC tissue. MiR-30a suppressed Snail expression by targeting the 3'-URT of Snail mRNA. 95D cells exhibited significantly higher Snail, N-cadherin, and vimentin levels, while lower miR-30a, E-cadherin, and occludin expressions were compared with 95C cells. 95D cells presented stronger malignant growth and invasive ability, whereas lower background apoptosis than 95C. MiR-30a mimic and/or si-Snail transfection significantly enhanced E-cadherin and occludin expression, while significantly declined N-cadherin and vimentin levels, thus weakening malignant growth and invasion and increasing cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Snail up-regulated, while miR-30a declined in NSCLC tissue. MiR-30a may suppress Snail expression, restrain EMT, and inhibit lung cancer cell invasion.

Study on the proliferation of human gastric cancer cell AGS by activation of EGFR in H2O2

OBJECTIVE

This study is to investigate the effect of low concentration hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the proliferation of gastric cancer AGS cell line in vitro and the mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AGS cells were treated with different low concentrations of H2O2 (1, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 μm) for 48 hours. The effect of H2O2 concentration gradient on the activity of AGS cell activities was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream signaling pathway extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) protein in H2O2 was detected by Western blot method; moreover, the effect of H2O2 on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AGS cells was observed under the fluorescence microscope and quantitative analysis by flow cytometry. The effect of H2O2 on the level of c-myc mRNA in AGS cells was also detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

MTT detection results showed that 1 μm and 0.1 μm H2O2 at 48h can effectively promote the proliferation of AGS cells (p<0.05). The Western blot results showed that after 48 hours of low concentration of H2O2 treatment of AGS cells, the EGFR protein levels and ERK protein phosphorylation levels increased significantly (p<0.05). Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry showed that the low concentration of H2O2 increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). RT-PCR results showed the levels of c-myc mRNA in AGS cells treated with a low concentration of H2O2 were significantly increased (p<0.05) and EGFR blocking agent AG1478 can resist the above effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Low concentration of H2O2 can significantly promote the proliferation of AGS cells by activating EGFR/ERK signaling pathway.

Laparoscopic surgery as a treatment option for elderly patients with colon cancer

PURPOSE

With the increase in life expectancy, the use of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with colon cancer is gaining interest. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of laparoscopic surgery on elderly patients with colon cancer in comparison with open surgery. In addition, we evaluated the role of surgery in elderly patients with colon cancer by assessing long-term outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 203 colon cancer patients aged ≥75 years who underwent radical surgery by either laparoscopy or open surgery from January 2009 to January 2015. Patient characteristics, short-term outcomes, and follow-up data were compared. Radical laparoscopic surgery was performed in 109 patients and 94 patients underwent open surgery.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic surgery was accompanied with significantly less blood loss, lower analgesic consumption, shorter time to first flatus and soft diet, and shorter postoperative hospital stay compared with open surgery. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were similar between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that OS and DFS were influenced only by TNM stage.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery in older patients for colon cancer can be safely performed and maintains the advantage of being minimally invasive.

Activating transcription factor 3 promotes malignance of lung cancer cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related death, with high rates of recurrence and poor outcomes. An abnormally high expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in various cancers suggests an oncogenic role; however, its function in lung cancer is largely unknown.

METHODS

Sixty-four pairs of lung cancer tissues were collected for ATF3 expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry staining. Correlations between ATF3 expression with clinicopathological features and overall survival were analyzed. ATF3 expression in a panel of lung cancer cell lines together with normal bronchial epithelial Beas-2B cells was also determined. Human H1299 and A549 cells were used for ATF3 knockdown and/or overexpression assays. Alterations in cell proliferation, cell cycle attribution, migration, and invasion were all assessed in vitro.

RESULTS

Increased ATF3 messenger RNA and protein expression were observed in lung cancer tissues/cells compared with normal tissues/cells. High tumorous ATF3 expression was significantly correlated with positive advanced tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall survival. Experimentally, we found that RNA interference mediated knockdown of ATF3 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion capacities of lung cancer cells in vitro, whereas forced expression of ATF3 did the opposite.

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of ATF3 in lung cancer promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and may represent a novel therapeutic target for lung cancer.

Qualitative and quantitative determination of coumarin using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy coupled with intelligent multivariate analysis

Coumarin is harmful to health but still used in cosmetics, tobacco, or illegally added into food as a spice in trace amounts so that it is exceedingly difficult to be determined accurately.

Beneficial effects of protein hydrolysates in exercise and sports nutrition

Protein hydrolysates (PH) are rich sources of proteins that supply the need of exercising muscles. PHs are enriched in di- and tripeptides and are better than free amino acids or intact proteins when muscle anabolic effect is considered. Digestion, absorption and muscle uptake of amino acids are faster and more efficient when PH is ingested in comparison to the respective intact protein. PHs not only enhance endurance in high intensity exercise regimen, but also help in faster post-exercise recovery of muscle by promoting glycogen synthesis, although the latter effect requires more convincing evidence. PHs have been shown to exhibit insulinotrophic effect as it enhances the secretion of insulin and the hormone, in turn, exerts muscle anabolic effect.

[Relationship between metastatic lymph node and prognosis of esophageal cancer patients treated with following radical esophagectomy]

Objective: To investigate the number of metastatic lymph nodes (pN) and the metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) on the post-surgical prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer (EC). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 573 inpatients diagnosed as esophageal carcinomas from March 2008 to June 2012 was carried out.All pathologic specimen were reviewed by pathologists from Henan Tumor Hospital.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates, and survival curves were compared with the Log-rank test.The Cox model was employed for multivariate analyses of factors.The association of pN and LNR with prognosis of esophageal cancer was examined by the area under the ROC curve(AUC). Results: The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 72.5%, 46.1% and 32.3%, respectively.Univariate analysis showed that tumor location(P=0.020), tumor length(P=0.009), pT stage(P=0.011), pN stage(P<0.01), and the LNR(P<0.01) were prognostic factors for OS.Multivariate analysis indicated that pT stage(P=0.047), pN stage(P=0.018) and LNR(P=0.011) were significant and independent risk factors for poor OS.ROC analysis indicated that LNR (AUC=0.680) had better predictive value than pN (AUC=0.579). Conclusion: The integrated use of LNR and pN may be suitable for evaluation of prognosis in patients with EC and positive nodal metastasis after curative resection.

A Combinational Strategy upon RNA Sequencing and Peptidomics Unravels a Set of Novel Toxin Peptides in Scorpion Mesobuthus martensii

Scorpion venom is deemed to contain many toxic peptides as an important source of natural compounds. Out of the two hundred proteins identified in Mesobuthus martensii (M. martensii), only a few peptide toxins have been found so far. Herein, a combinational approach based upon RNA sequencing and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) was employed to explore the venom peptides in M. martensii. A total of 153 proteins were identified from the scorpion venom, 26 previously known and 127 newly identified. Of the novel toxins, 97 proteins exhibited sequence similarities to known toxins, and 30 were never reported. Combining peptidomic and transcriptomic analyses, the peptide sequence of BmKKx1 was reannotated and four disulfide bridges were confirmed within it. In light of the comparison of conservation and variety of toxin amino acid sequences, highly conserved and variable regions were perceived in 24 toxins that were parts of two sodium channel and two potassium channel toxins families. Taking all of this evidences together, the peptidomic analysis on M. martensii indeed identified numerous novel scorpion peptides, expanded our knowledge towards the venom diversity, and afforded a set of pharmaceutical candidates.

[Effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α/stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 pathway on biological behaviors of hepatoma cells induced by hypoxia]

Objective: To investigate whether hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) affects the biological behaviors of hepatoma cells through regulating stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in a hypoxic environment. Methods: HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were exposed to 1% O₂ to establish the hypoxic models. After hepatoma cells were stimulated by hypoxia for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours, fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-2α and SCD1 over time. HIF-2α interfering plasmids and SCD1 inhibitor CAY10566 were used to divide the cells into blank group (nomoxia), hypoxic group (1% O₂ for 12 h), hypoxic negative control group (negative HIF-2α plasmid+1% O2 for 12 h), hypoxic interference group (HIF-2α interfering plasmid+1% O₂ for 12 h), hypoxic CAY group (CAY10566 10 μmol+1% O₂ for 12 h), and hypoxic interference+CAY group (HIF-2α interfering plasmid+CAY10566 10 μmol+1% O₂ for 12 h). Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of HIF-2α and SCD1 in hepatoma cells, CCK8 assay was used to measure the proliferative capacity of hepatoma cells, Annexin-V/PE flow cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis of hepatoma cells, and transwell invasion assay was used to measure the invasion of hepatoma cells. A one-way analysis of variance was used to compare the means of multiple samples. Results: Both HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells showed increasing mRNA and protein expression of HIF-2α and SCD1 over the time of hypoxic induction. After the expression of HIF-2α was downregulated in a hypoxic environment, hepatoma cells showed a significant reduction in the protein expression of SCD1; inhibition of SCD1 expression had no significant effect on the protein expression of HIF-2α in hepatoma cells. After HIF-2α was interfered with and SCD1 expression was inhibited, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells showed significantly greater reduction in the protein expression of SCD1 than those with HIF-2α or SCD1 inhibition alone (0.53±0.04 vs 1.12±0.04 or 1.12±0.04; 0.44±0.10 vs 0.90±0.10 or 0.99±0.13) (HIF-2α: F_hepG2 = 1026.89, P_hepG2 = 0.00, F_SMMC-7721 = 2186.22, P_SMMC-7721 = 0.00; SCD1: F_hepG2 = 1347.93, P_hepG2 = 0.00, F_SMMC-7721 = 46.43, P_SMMC-7721 = 0.00). Inhibition of the expression of HIF-2α or SCD1 reduced the proliferation and invasion of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells and promoted apoptosis (P < 0.05); interference and downregulation of HIF-2α combined with inhibition of SCD1 expression by CAY10566 achieved significantly greater reductions in proliferation and invasion and a significantly greater increase in apoptosis rate of hepatoma cells, compared with inhibition of HIF-2α or SCD1 alone (P <0.05). Conclusion: HIF-2α/SCD1 pathway may be one of the important mechanisms for hypoxia to regulate the energy metabolism of hepatoma cells and affect their biological behaviors.

CNS Anticancer Drug Discovery and Development Conference White Paper

Following the first CNS Anticancer Drug Discovery and Development Conference, the speakers from the first 4 sessions and organizers of the conference created this White Paper hoping to stimulate more and better CNS anticancer drug discovery and development. The first part of the White Paper reviews, comments, and, in some cases, expands on the 4 session areas critical to new drug development: pharmacological challenges, recent drug approaches, drug targets and discovery, and clinical paths. Following this concise review of the science and clinical aspects of new CNS anticancer drug discovery and development, we discuss, under the rubric "Accelerating Drug Discovery and Development for Brain Tumors," further reasons why the pharmaceutical industry and academia have failed to develop new anticancer drugs for CNS malignancies and what it will take to change the current status quo and develop the drugs so desperately needed by our patients with malignant CNS tumors. While this White Paper is not a formal roadmap to that end, it should be an educational guide to clinicians and scientists to help move a stagnant field forward.

Diastolic dysfunction and cardiac troponin I decrease in aging hearts

Cardiac tropnoin I (cTnI) plays a critical role in the regulation of diastolic function, and its low expression may result in cardiac diastolic dysfunction, which is the most common form of cardiovascular disorders in older adults. In this study, cTnI expression levels were determined in mice at various ages and cardiac function was measured and compared between young adult mice (3 and 10 months) and older mice (18 months). The data indicated that the cTnI levels reached a peak high in young adult hearts (3 months), but decreased in older hearts (18 months). Furthermore, the older hearts showed a significant diastolic dysfunction observed by P-V loop and echocardiography measurements. To further define the mechanism underlying the cTnI decrease in aging hearts, we tested DNA methylation and histone acetylation modifications of cTnI gene. We found that acetylation of histone near the promoter region of cTnI gene played an important role in regulation of cTnI expression in the heart at different ages. Our study indicates that epigenetic modification caused cTnI expression decrease is one of the possible causes that result in a reduced cTnI level and diastolic dysfunction in the older hearts.

[Nicotine Induced Lung Cancer Cells Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and Promote Its Vitro Invasion Potential]

背景与目的

我们的前期研究发现尼古丁能诱导肺癌细胞上皮间质转化。本研究的目的是探讨尼古丁诱导的上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT）与肺癌侵袭之间的关系。

方法

应用不同浓度尼古丁处理肺腺癌A549细胞，应用Real-time PCR和Western blot方法检测EMT相关分子标志物E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）和波形蛋白（Vimentin）mRNA和蛋白表达水平，应用免疫荧光技术检测β-链蛋白（β-catenin）蛋白表达位置的变化，应用划痕实验和Transwell小室侵袭实验检测尼古丁对肺癌细胞迁移侵袭能力的影响。

结果

尼古丁明显下调肺癌细胞株A549 E-cadherin mRNA和蛋白水平表达（P < 0.01, P < 0.01），并具有浓度和时间依赖性；尼古丁明显上调肺癌细胞株A549 Vimentin mRNA和蛋白水平表达（P < 0.01, P < 0.01）；尼古丁诱导肺癌细胞株A549细胞β-catenin蛋白发生核转移；划痕实验和侵袭实验观察到尼古丁处理的肺癌细胞株A549细胞的迁移和侵袭能力明显增强（P < 0.01, P < 0.01）。

结论

尼古丁能够诱导肺癌细胞发生EMT，并且促进肺癌细胞株A549细胞的体外侵袭潜能。

A potentially functional polymorphism in ABCG2 predicts clinical outcome of non-small cell lung cancer in a Chinese population

ABCG2, CD133 and CD117 are pivotal markers of cancer stem cell, which are involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. The expression of these genes has been reported to be associated with the development and progression of many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We selected and genotyped 9 potentially functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3 genes in a clinical cohort of 1001 NSCLC patients in a Chinese population. We found that variant genotypes of ABCG2 rs3114020 were associated with a significantly increased risk of death for NSCLC (additive model: adjusted hazard ratio=1.25, 95% confidence intervals=1.10-1.42, P<0.001). Further stepwise regression analysis suggested that rs3114020 was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of NSCLC. Besides, histology interacted with the genetic effect of rs3114020 in relation to NSCLC survival in the interaction analysis. Our findings show that ABCG2 rs3114020 might be one of the candidate biomarkers for NSCLC survival in this Chinese population, especially among patients with adenocarcinoma.