PCSK9 Expression in Epicardial Adipose Tissue: Molecular Association with Local Tissue Inflammation

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has the unique property to release mediators that nourish the heart in healthy conditions, an effect that becomes detrimental when volume expands and proinflammatory cytokines start to be produced. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a proinflammatory mediator involved in atherosclerosis, is also produced by visceral fat. Due to the correlation of inflammation with PCSK9 and EAT enlargement, we evaluated whether PCSK9 was expressed in EAT and associated with EAT inflammation and volume. EAT samples were isolated during surgery. EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography. A microarray was used to explore EAT transcriptoma. The PCSK9 protein levels were measured by Western Blot in EAT and ELISA in plasma. PCSK9 was expressed at both the gene and protein levels in EAT. We found a positive association with EAT thickness and local proinflammatory mediators, in particular, chemokines for monocytes and lymphocytes. No association was found with the circulating PCSK9 level. The expression of PCSK9 in EAT argues that PCSK9 is part of the EAT secretome and EAT inflammation is associated with local PCSK9 expression, regardless of circulating PCSK9 levels. Whether reducing EAT inflammation or PCSK9 local levels may have beneficial effects on EAT metabolism and cardiovascular risk needs further investigations.

TWIST1-Reprogrammed Endothelial Cell Transplantation Potentiates Neovascularization-Mediated Diabetic Wound Tissue Regeneration

Hypovascularized diabetic nonhealing wounds are due to reduced number and impaired physiology of endogenous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) population that limits their recruitment and mobilization at the wound site. For enrichment of the EPC repertoire from nonendothelial precursors, abundantly available mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were reprogrammed into induced endothelial cells (iEC). We identified cell signaling molecular targets by meta-analysis of microarray data sets. BMP-2 induction leads to the expression of inhibitory Smad 6/7-dependent negative transcriptional regulation of ID1, rendering the latter's reduced binding to TWIST1 during transdifferentiation of Wharton jelly-derived MSC (WJ-MSC) into iEC. TWIST1, in turn, regulates endothelial gene transcription, positively of proangiogenic KDR and negatively, in part, of antiangiogenic SFRP4 Twist1 reprogramming enhanced the endothelial lineage commitment of WJ-MSC and increased the vasculogenic potential of reprogrammed endothelial cells (rEC). Transplantation of stable TWIST1 rEC into a type 1 and 2 diabetic full-thickness splinted wound healing murine model enhanced the microcirculatory blood flow and accelerated the wound tissue regeneration. An increased or decreased colocalization of GFP with KDR/SFRP4 and CD31 in the regenerated diabetic wound bed with TWIST1 overexpression or silencing (piLenti-TWIST1-shRNA-GFP), respectively, further confirmed improved neovascularization. This study depicted the reprogramming of WJ-MSC into rEC using unique transcription factor TWIST1 for an efficacious cell transplantation therapy to induce neovascularization-mediated diabetic wound tissue regeneration.

Nonstructural NS5A Protein Regulates LIM and SH3 Domain Protein 1 to Promote Hepatitis C Virus Propagation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation is highly dependent on cellular proteins. To identify the host factors involved in HCV propagation, we previously performed protein microarray assays and identified the LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP-1) as an HCV NS5A-interacting partner. LASP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and protein-protein interactions. Alteration of LASP-1 expression has been implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional involvement of LASP1 in HCV propagation and HCV-induced pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we first verified the protein interaction of NS5A and LASP-1 by both in vitro pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation assays. We further showed that NS5A and LASP-1 were colocalized in the cytoplasm of HCV infected cells. NS5A interacted with LASP-1 through the proline motif in domain I of NS5A and the tryptophan residue in the SH3 domain of LASP-1. Knockdown of LASP-1 increased HCV replication in both HCV-infected cells and HCV subgenomic replicon cells. LASP-1 negatively regulated viral propagation and thereby overexpression of LASP-1 decreased HCV replication. Moreover, HCV propagation was decreased by wild-type LASP-1 but not by an NS5A binding-defective mutant of LASP-1. We further demonstrated that LASP-1 was involved in the replication stage of the HCV life cycle. Importantly, LASP-1 expression levels were increased in persistently infected cells with HCV. These data suggest that HCV modulates LASP-1 via NS5A in order to regulate virion levels and maintain a persistent infection.

Probe-target hybridization depends on spatial uniformity of initial concentration condition across large-format chips

Diverse assays spanning from immunohistochemistry (IHC), to microarrays (protein, DNA), to high-throughput screens rely on probe-target hybridization to detect analytes. These large-format 'chips' array numerous hybridization sites across centimeter-scale areas. However, the reactions are prone to intra-assay spatial variation in hybridization efficiency. The mechanism of spatial bias in hybridization efficiency is poorly understood, particularly in IHC and in-gel immunoassays, where immobilized targets are heterogeneously distributed throughout a tissue or hydrogel network. In these systems, antibody probe hybridization to a target protein antigen depends on the interplay of dilution, thermodynamic partitioning, diffusion, and reaction. Here, we investigate parameters governing antibody probe transport and reaction (i.e., immunoprobing) in a large-format hydrogel immunoassay. Using transport and bimolecular binding theory, we identify a regime in which immunoprobing efficiency (η) is sensitive to the local concentration of applied antibody probe solution, despite the antibody probe being in excess compared to antigen. Sandwiching antibody probe solution against the hydrogel surface yields spatially nonuniform dilution. Using photopatterned fluorescent protein targets and a single-cell immunoassay, we identify regimes in which nonuniformly distributed antibody probe solution causes intra-assay variation in background and η. Understanding the physicochemical factors affecting probe-target hybridization reduces technical variation in large-format chips, improving measurement precision.

Comparison of biochemical parameters and chemokine levels in pleural fluid between patients with anergic and non-anergic tuberculous pleural effusion

Pleural fluid (PF) immune response in anergic tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) patients is poorly understood. This study aimed to compare PF biochemical parameters and chemokine levels between anergic and non-anergic TPE patients. Chemokine arrays, cytokine measurements, and flow cytometry were performed in 58 patients (TPE [non-anergic (n = 32) and anergic (n = 10)] and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) [n = 16]). PF adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) levels were significantly lower in anergic TPE patients than in non-anergic TPE patients (p = 0.048). Among the 40 chemokines tested, PF CCL27 levels were significantly higher in anergic TPE patients than in non-anergic TPE and MPE patients (p < 0.001). The percentage of CD4⁺CCR10⁺T cells in PF was higher in anergic TPE patients than in non-anergic TPE and MPE patients (p = 0.001). We reported here that CCL27/CCR10 interactions might contribute to pathophysiology in anergic TPE. PF CCL27 and CD4⁺CCR10⁺T cells may help in diagnosing TPE in patients with moderate elevation of PF ADA levels.

Loss of DNA mismatch repair proteins in prostate cancer

Recent studies have suggested an increased risk of prostate cancer in men with Lynch syndrome driven by germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, the incidence and clinical implication of MMR deficiency in sporadic prostate cancers remain poorly understood. We immunohistochemically stained for MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 in a set of tissue microarray consisting of 220 radical prostatectomy specimens and evaluated the relationship between loss of their expression and available clinicopathological features. MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 were lost in 2 (0.9%), 6 (2.7%), 37 (16.8%), and 27 (12.3%) prostate cancers, respectively. Loss of at least 1 MMR protein was identified in 50 (22.7%) cases. There were no statistically significant associations between MMR deficiency and patient age, family history of prostate cancer, Gleason score, or pT/pN stage. Nonetheless, the levels of preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were significantly (P = .015) higher in patients with MMR deficiency (mean ± SD: 9.12 ± 9.01 ng/mL) than in those without abnormal MMR (5.76 ± 3.17 ng/mL). There were 15 (6.8%) cases showing loss of at least 2 MMR proteins, which was not significantly associated with PSA level or tumor grade/stage. Additionally, 5 and 2 cases showed losses of at least 3 MMR proteins and all 4 proteins, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant associations between loss of MLH1 (P = .373), MSH2 (P = .348), MSH6 (P = .946), or PMS2 (P = .681), or at least 1 (P = .477), 2 (P = .486), or 3 (P = .352) MMR proteins and biochemical recurrence. Further analyses of the data on programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression previously stained in the same set of tissue microarray demonstrated associations between loss of ≥2 MMR proteins and a higher rate of PD-L1 expression in cancer cells (17.2% vs 5.2%; P = .033) as well as between cases showing both loss of ≥1 MMR protein(s) and PD-L1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells vs a higher risk of biochemical recurrence (P = .045). MMR protein loss was seen in a subset of prostate cancers. Interestingly, it was associated with significantly higher levels of PSA. Moreover, immunohistochemical detection of MMR proteins together with other proteins, such as PD-L1, might be helpful in predicting tumor recurrence following radical prostatectomy.

Identification of crucial genes correlated with esophageal cancer by integrated high-throughput data analysis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is one of the most deadly malignancies in the world. Although the management and treatment of patients with ESCA have improved, the overall 5-year survival rate is still very poor.

METHODS

The study aimed to identify potential key genes associated with the pathogenesis and prognosis of ESCA. In the study, integrated bioinformatics methods were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ESCA and normal tissue in the data set of gene expression profiles. The hub gene in DEGs was further analyzed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and survival analysis to explore its relationship with the pathogenesis and poor prognosis of ESCA.

RESULTS

134 up-regulated genes and 183 down-regulated genes were obtained in ESCA compared with normal tissues. Moreover, the PPI network was established with 176 nodes and 800 interactions. Ten hub genes (AURKA, CDC20, BUB1, TOP2A, ASPM, DLGAP5, TPX2, CENPF, UBE2C, and NEK2) were filtered out based on the degree value. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that a variety of extracellular related items and ECM-receptor interaction pathway were all correlated with the ESCA.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study would provide some guidance for further study of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to promote ESCA treatment.

Influence of protein (human galectin-3) design on aspects of lectin activity

The concept of biomedical significance of the functional pairing between tissue lectins and their glycoconjugate counterreceptors has reached the mainstream of research on the flow of biological information. A major challenge now is to identify the principles of structure–activity relationships that underlie specificity of recognition and the ensuing post-binding processes. Toward this end, we focus on a distinct feature on the side of the lectin, i.e. its architecture to present the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Working with a multifunctional human lectin, i.e. galectin-3, as model, its CRD is used in protein engineering to build variants with different modular assembly. Hereby, it becomes possible to compare activity features of the natural design, i.e. CRD attached to an N-terminal tail, with those of homo- and heterodimers and the tail-free protein. Thermodynamics of binding disaccharides proved full activity of all proteins at very similar affinity. The following glycan array testing revealed maintained preferential contact formation with N-acetyllactosamine oligomers and histo-blood group ABH epitopes irrespective of variant design. The study of carbohydrate-inhibitable binding of the test panel disclosed up to qualitative cell-type-dependent differences in sections of fixed murine epididymis and especially jejunum. By probing topological aspects of binding, the susceptibility to inhibition by a tetravalent glycocluster was markedly different for the wild-type vs the homodimeric variant proteins. The results teach the salient lesson that protein design matters: the type of CRD presentation can have a profound bearing on whether basically suited oligosaccharides, which for example tested positively in an array, will become binding partners in situ. When lectin-glycoconjugate aggregates (lattices) are formed, their structural organization will depend on this parameter. Further testing (ga)lectin variants will thus be instrumental (i) to define the full range of impact of altering protein assembly and (ii) to explain why certain types of design have been favored during the course of evolution, besides opening biomedical perspectives for potential applications of the novel galectin forms.

Adipocyte-Induced FABP4 Expression in Ovarian Cancer Cells Promotes Metastasis and Mediates Carboplatin Resistance

Adipocytes are critical for ovarian cancer cells to home to the omentum, but the metabolic changes initiated by this interaction are unknown. To this end, we carried out unbiased mass spectrometry-based metabolomic and proteomic profiling of cancer cells cocultured with primary human omental adipocytes. Cancer cells underwent significant proteo-metabolomic alteration(s), typified by changes in the lipidome with corresponding upregulation of lipid metabolism proteins. FABP4, a lipid chaperone protein, was identified as the critical regulator of lipid responses in ovarian cancer cells cocultured with adipocytes. Subsequently, knockdown of FABP4 resulted in increased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels in the DNA, downregulation of gene signatures associated with ovarian cancer metastasis, and reduced clonogenic cancer cell survival. In addition, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-mediated knockout of FABP4 in high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells reduced metastatic tumor burden in mice. Consequently, a small-molecule inhibitor of FABP4 (BMS309403) not only significantly reduced tumor burden in a syngeneic orthotopic mouse model but also increased the sensitivity of cancer cells toward carboplatin both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these results show that targeting FABP4 in ovarian cancer cells can inhibit their ability to adapt and colonize lipid-rich tumor microenvironments, providing an opportunity for specific metabolic targeting of ovarian cancer metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: Ovarian cancer metastatic progression can be restricted by targeting a critical regulator of lipid responses, FABP4.

Proteomic analysis of malignant and benign endometrium according to obesity and insulin-resistance status using Reverse Phase Protein Array

Obesity and hyperinsulinemia are known risk factors for endometrial cancer, yet the biological pathways underlying this relationship are incompletely understood. This study investigated protein expression in endometrial cancer and benign tissue and its correlation with obesity and insulin resistance. One hundred and seven women undergoing hysterectomy for endometrial cancer or benign conditions provided a fasting blood sample and endometrial tissue. We performed proteomic expression according to body mass index, insulin resistance, and serum marker levels. We used linear regression and independent t test for statistical analysis. Proteomic data from 560 endometrial cancer cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databank were used to assess reproducibility of results. One hundred and twenty seven proteins were significantly differentially expressed between 66 cancer and 26 benign patients. Protein expression involved in cell cycle progression, impacting cytoskeletal dynamics (PAK1) and cell survival (Rab 25), were most significantly altered. Obese women with cancer had increased PRAS40_pT246; a downstream marker of increased PI3K-AKT signaling. Obese women without cancer had increased mitogenic and antiapoptotic signaling by way of upregulation of Mcl-1, DUSP4, and Insulin Receptor-b. This exploratory study identified a number of candidate proteins specific to endometrioid endometrial cancer and benign endometrial tissues. Obesity and insulin resistance in women with benign endometrium leads to specific upregulation of proteins involved in insulin and driver oncogenic signaling pathways such as the PI3K-AKT-mTOR and growth factor signaling pathways which are mitogenic and also disruptive to metabolism.

Array-Based Screening of Silver Nanoparticle Mineralization Peptides

The use of biomolecules in nanomaterial synthesis has received increasing attention, because they can function as a medium to produce inorganic materials in ambient conditions. Short peptides are putative ligands that interact with metallic surfaces, as they have the potential to control the synthesis of nanoscale materials. Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) mineralization using peptides has been investigated; however, further comprehensive analysis must be carried out, because the design of peptide mediated-AgNP properties is still highly challenging. Herein, we employed an array comprising 200 spot synthesis-based peptides, which were previously isolated as gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-binding and/or mineralization peptides, and the AgNP mineralization activity of each peptide was broadly evaluated. Among 10 peptides showing the highest AgNP-synthesis activity (TOP10), nine showed the presence of EE and E[X]E (E: glutamic acid, and X: any amino acid), whereas none of these motifs were found in the WORST25 (25 peptides showing the lowest AgNP synthesis activity) peptides. The size and morphology of the particles synthesized by TOP3 peptides were dependent on their sequences. These results suggested not only that array-based techniques are effective for the peptide screening of AgNP mineralization, but also that AgNP mineralization regulated by peptides has the potential for the synthesis of AgNPs, with controlled morphology in environmentally friendly conditions.

Protective Immunity against Severe Malaria in Children Is Associated with a Limited Repertoire of Antibodies to Conserved PfEMP1 Variants

Extreme diversity of the major Plasmodium falciparum antigen, PfEMP1, poses a barrier to identifying targets of immunity to malaria. Here, we used protein microarrays containing hundreds of variants of the DBLα domain of PfEMP1 to cover the diversity of Papua New Guinean (PNG) parasites. Probing the plasma of a longitudinal cohort of malaria-exposed PNG children showed that group 2 DBLα antibodies were moderately associated with a lower risk of uncomplicated malaria, whereas individual variants were only weakly associated with clinical immunity. In contrast, antibodies to 85 individual group 1 and 2 DBLα variants were associated with a 70%-100% reduction in severe malaria. Of these, 17 variants were strong predictors of severe malaria. Analysis of full-length PfEMP1 sequences from PNG samples shows that these 17 variants are linked to pathogenic CIDR domains. This suggests that whereas immunity to uncomplicated malaria requires a broad repertoire of antibodies, immunity to severe malaria targets a subset of conserved variants. These findings provide insights into antimalarial immunity and potential antibody biomarkers for disease risk.

The processes of cellular growth, aging, and programmed cell death are involved in lifespan of ovarian granulosa cells during short-term IVC - Study based on animal model

The oogenesis and folliculogenesis are closely linked and occur simultaneously in the growing ovarian follicles. Biochemical and morphological changes in oocytes (OC) and surrounding granulosa cells (GCs) are highly complex and depend on many factors, including intercellular communication. GCs are cells with many functions, often crucial for the proper viability of the oocyte and subsequent positive fertilization. The purpose of this study was to analyze gene expression in porcine GCs, to define differentially expressed genes belongs to the "cell growth", "aging", "positive regulation of cell death", "apoptotic process", "regulation of cell death", "cell death" and "negative regulation of cell death" ontology groups during the short - term primary in vitro culture. Microarrays were employed to study the transcriptome contained in the total RNA of the cultured GCs. Ovaries were obtained after slaughter, from 40 gilts of swine aged 170 days. The cells were obtained through puncture of the ovaries, collection of follicular fluid, removal of the cumulus - oocyte complexes and centrifugation. The cells were then cultured in vitro. The RNA material was obtained before the culture was established (0h) and then after 48h, 96h and 144h of its course. From 182 differently expressed genes belonging to the these ontology groups, we have selected POSTN, FN1, FMOD, ITGB3, DCN, SERPINB2, SFRP2, IGFBP5, EMP1, and CCL2 which were upregulated, as well as DAPL1, ESR1, IHH, TGFBR3, PPARD, PDK4, TXNIP, IFIT3, CSRNP3, and TNFSF10 genes whose expression was downregulated during the time of in vitro culture of the GCs. The significance of the differential gene expression is to provide new information on the molecular aspects of in vitro granulosa cell culture.

Application of Lectin Microarrays for Biomarker Discovery

Many proteins in living organisms are glycosylated. As their glycan patterns exhibit protein-, cell-, and tissue-specific heterogeneity, changes in the glycosylation levels could serve as useful indicators of various pathological and physiological states. Thus, the identification of glycoprotein biomarkers from specific changes in the glycan profiles of glycoproteins is a trending field. Lectin microarrays provide a new glycan analysis platform, which enables rapid and sensitive analysis of complex glycans without requiring the release of glycans from the protein. Recent developments in lectin microarray technology enable high-throughput analysis of glycans in complex biological samples. In this review, we will discuss the basic concepts and recent progress in lectin microarray technology, the application of lectin microarrays in biomarker discovery, and the challenges and future development of this technology. Given the tremendous technical advancements that have been made, lectin microarrays will become an indispensable tool for the discovery of glycoprotein biomarkers.

Mapping the epitopes of Schistosoma japonicum esophageal gland proteins for incorporation into vaccine constructs

BACKGROUND

The development of a schistosome vaccine has proved challenging but we have suggested that characterisation of the self-cure mechanism in rhesus macaques might provide a route to an effective product. The schistosome esophagus is a complex structure where blood processing is initiated by secretions from anterior and posterior glands, achieved by a mixture of ~40 unique proteins. The mechanism of self-cure in macaques involves cessation of feeding, after which worms slowly starve to death. Antibody coats the esophagus lumen and disrupts the secretory processes from the glands, potentially making their secretions ideal vaccine targets.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We have designed three peptide arrays comprising overlapping 15-mer peptides encompassing 32 esophageal gland proteins, and screened them for reactivity against 22-week infection serum from macaques versus permissive rabbit and mouse hosts. There was considerable intra- and inter-species variation in response and no obvious unique target was associated with self-cure status, which suggests that self-cure is achieved by antibodies reacting with multiple targets. Some immuno-dominant sequences/regions were evident across species, notably including: MEGs 4.1C, 4.2, and 11 (Array 1); MEG-12 and Aspartyl protease (Array 2); a Tetraspanin 1 loop and MEG-n2 (Array 3). Responses to MEGs 8.1C and 8.2C were largely confined to macaques. As proof of principle, three synthetic genes were designed, comprising several key targets from each array. One of these was expressed as a recombinant protein and used to vaccinate rabbits. Higher antibody titres were obtained to the majority of reactive regions than those elicited after prolonged infection.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

It is feasible to test simultaneously the additive potential of multiple esophageal proteins to induce protection by combining their most reactive regions in artificial constructs that can be used to vaccinate suitable hosts. The efficacy of the approach to disrupt esophageal function now needs to be tested by a parasite challenge.

AMPK-dependent activation of the Cyclin Y/CDK16 complex controls autophagy

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master sensor of the cellular energy status that is crucial for the adaptive response to limited energy availability. AMPK is implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes, including autophagy. However, the precise mechanisms by which AMPK controls these processes and the identities of relevant substrates are not fully understood. Using protein microarrays, we identify Cyclin Y as an AMPK substrate that is phosphorylated at Serine 326 (S326) both in vitro and in cells. Phosphorylation of Cyclin Y at S326 promotes its interaction with the Cyclin-dependent kinase 16 (CDK16), thereby stimulating its catalytic activity. When expressed in cells, Cyclin Y/CDK16 is sufficient to promote autophagy. Moreover, Cyclin Y/CDK16 is necessary for efficient AMPK-dependent activation of autophagy. This functional interaction is mediated by AMPK phosphorylating S326 of Cyclin Y. Collectively, we define Cyclin Y/CDK16 as downstream effector of AMPK for inducing autophagy.

Characterization of Naturally Occurring Bioactive Factor Mixtures for Bone Regeneration

In this study, the bone-regenerative potential of bioactive factors derived from adipose tissue, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium from hypoxia-treated human telomerase immortalized bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hTERT-MSC) was investigated in vitro with the aim to develop cost-effective and efficient bone substitutes for optimized regeneration of bone defects. Adipose tissue was harvested from human donors undergoing reconstructive surgery, and adipose tissue extract (ATE) was prepared. Platelet lysates (PL) were produced by repeated freeze-thaw cycles of PRP, and hypoxia-conditioned medium (HCM) was obtained by culturing human telomerase immortalized bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for 5 days with 1% O2. Besides analysis by cytokine and angiogenesis arrays, ELISA was performed. Angiogenic potential was investigated in cocultures of bone-marrow-derived (BM)-MSC and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Multiple angiogenic proteins and cytokines were detected in all growth factor mixtures. HCM and ATE contained high amounts of angiogenin and CCL2/MCP-1, whereas PL contained high amounts of IGFBP-1. Culturing cells with HCM and ATE significantly increased specific ALP activity of BM-MSC as well as tubule length and junctions of endothelial networks, indicating osteogenic and angiogenic stimulation. To achieve a synergism between chemoattractive potential and osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation capacity, a combination of different growth factors appears promising for potential clinical applications.

Serum biomarker analysis in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a primary ovarian defect characterized by premature depletion of ovarian follicles before 40 years of age. The disorder has been attributed to various causes, but the study of altered proteins in serum levels as the cause is rare. Additionally, identifying novel biomarkers can contribute to more accurate diagnosis or prognosis of POI. In the present study, a solid-phase antibody array simultaneously detecting multiple proteins was used to analyze POI serum with menopausal and healthy fertile subjects as control groups. As a result, compared to the menopause and healthy fertile groups, eleven proteins, including Neurturin, Frizzled-5, Serpin D1, MMP-7, ICAM-3, IL-17F, IFN-gamma R1, IL-29, IL-17R, IL-17C and Soggy-1, were uniquely down-regulated, and Afamin was particularly up-regulated in POI serum. More importantly, all of these factors were firstly found to be associated with POI in this study, suggesting that these proteins may participate in the pathogenesis of POI and may be novel serum biomarkers for POI.

HASPIN is involved in the progression of gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a common malignant tumor of the biliary system, but the current treatment of GBC is unsatisfactory. Therefore, new treatment targets and strategies are urgently needed.

METHODS

The expression of HASPIN in GBC was detected by immunohistochemical staining. HASPIN knockdown cell model was constructed by lentivirus infection, and the infection efficiency of lentivirus and knockdown efficiency of shHASPIN were verified by fluorescence immunoassay, qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effects of HASPIN knockdown on cell proliferation, clone-formation ability and apoptosis were determined by MTT, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and Human Apoptosis Antibody Array in vitro. Besides, the effect of HASPIN knockdown on the growth of GBC solid tumors was demonstrated in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of HASPIN in GBC was up-regulated and positively correlated with the pathological grade of GBC. ShHASPIN significantly down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HASPIN, suggesting that HASPIN knockdown cell model was successfully constructed in vitro. After HASPIN knockdown, the proliferation and clone-formation ability of GBC cells were observably inhibited, the apoptotic levels were markedly increased, and the expression of Caspase 3, IGFBP-5, p21 and sTNF-R1 related to apoptotic pathway was up-regulated. Furthermore, HASPIN knockdown inhibited the growth of GBC in vivo.

CONCLUSION

HASPIN was up-regulated in GBC and played an important role in promoting the progress of GBC.

LvPPAE2 induced by WSV056 confers host defense against WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei

Viral immediate early (IE) genes encode regulatory proteins that are critical for viral replication. WSV056 is an IE protein of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an important pathogen of farmed shrimp. It targets the host Rb protein(s) and, according to a previous study, may enhance the replication of the viral genome. However, the ectopic expression of WSV056 in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster exerted an inhibitory effect on the replication of Drosophila C virus (DCV). Transcriptome study using Affymetrix GeneChip suggested that the enrichment of serine proteases (SPs) likely accounts for DCV inhibition in WSV056-overexpressing Drosophila. Injection of recombinant WSV056 to the WSSV natural host Litopenaeus vannamei enhanced the expression of the SP family member prophenoloxidase-activating enzyme 2 (LvPPAE2) and conferred shrimp with more resistance to WSSV infection. LvPPAE2 knockdown contributed to decreased expression of antimicrobial peptides LvAlf1 and LvLyz1, reduced hemolymph phenoloxidase activity, and increased virus load, suggesting that LvPPAE2 is involved in the host defense against WSSV infection. Taken together, these results suggest that wsv056 plays a role in restricting viral replication by inducing the SP-mediated immune responses in the host.

LncRNA FOXD1-AS1 acts as a potential oncogenic biomarker in glioma

AIMS

Altered activities of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been associated with cancer development, and lncRNA FOXD1-AS1 (FOXD1-AS1) is the antisense transcript of the gene encoding for FOXD1, known for its role as an oncogene in several tumor types including glioma. However, the role of FOXD1-AS1 in the differentiation and progression of glioma is not well known.

METHODS

Expression profile chip and qPCR were used to screen and identify FOXD1-AS1. Glioma cells were transfected with siRNA or eukaryotic expression vector to observe FOXD1-AS1 function in vitro and in vivo. Dual luciferase reporter gene analysis, Western blot, and ChIRP-MS were used to detect microRNAs and protein that combine with FOXD1-AS1.

RESULTS

FOXD1-AS1 was upregulated and directly correlated with the glioma grade, and it was localized in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the glioma cell. FOXD1-AS1 silencing caused tumor suppressive effects via inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, while FOXD1-AS1 overexpression resulted in opposite effects. Additionally, in vivo experiments showed that FOXD1-AS1 knockdown reduced tumor volume and weight. More importantly, mechanical studies revealed that FOXD1-AS1 targeted both miR339-5p and miR342-3p (miR339/342). Furthermore, protein eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5 subunit A (eIF5a) resulted a direct target of FOXD1-AS1.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicated that FOXD1-AS1, a miR339/342 target, affected biological processes via protein eIF5a; thus, it might be considered as a new therapeutic target for glioblastoma.

Advances in high-throughput methods for the identification of virus receptors

Viruses have evolved many mechanisms to invade host cells and establish successful infections. The interaction between viral attachment proteins and host cell receptors is the first and decisive step in establishing such infections, initiating virus entry into the host cells. Therefore, the identification of host receptors is fundamental in understanding pathogenesis and tissue tropism. Furthermore, receptor identification can inform the development of antivirals, vaccines, and diagnostic technologies, which have a substantial impact on human health. Nevertheless, due to the complex nature of virus entry, the redundancy in receptor usage, and the limitations in current identification methods, many host receptors remain elusive. Recent advances in targeted gene perturbation, high-throughput screening, and mass spectrometry have facilitated the discovery of virus receptors in recent years. In this review, we compare the current methods used within the field to identify virus receptors, focussing on genomic- and interactome-based approaches.

Stromal interaction molecule 1 promotes tumor growth in Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a disease with poor prognosis which urgently is in need of effective prognostic marker. To discover novel prognostic protein marker for ESCC, we applied a high-throughput monoclonal antibody microarray to compare tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from ESCC patients. Antibody #ESmAb270 was consistent higher expressed in tumors and it was identified via mass spectrometry to be stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1). STIM1 H scores in tumor tissues were significantly up-regulated in esophageal tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues in 105 ESCC patients. We also observed that high STIM1 expression was correlated with advanced tumor grade and poor prognosis of ESCC. In addition, attenuation of STIM1 by siRNA or chemical inhibitors significantly inhibited cell viability and migration of ESCC cells. Evidence from high-throughput monoclonal antibody microarray, IHC microarray with associated survival data and functional analysis show that STIM1 is an unfavorable prognostic biomarker in ESCC.

Features of non-activation dendritic state and immune deficiency in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN)

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, male-predominant hematologic malignancy with poor outcomes and with just one recently approved agent (tagraxofusp). It is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of precursor plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) with morphologic and molecular similarities to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) in its presentation within the bone marrow and peripheral blood. To identify disease-specific molecular features of BPDCN, we profiled the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and serum samples from primary patient samples using an in-house hematologic malignancy panel ("T300" panel), transcriptome microarray, and serum multiplex immunoassays. TET2 mutations (5/8, 63%) were the most prevalent in our cohort. Using the transcriptome microarray, genes specific to pDCs (LAMP5, CCDC50) were more highly expressed in BPDCN than in AML specimens. Finally, the serum cytokine profile analysis showed significantly elevated levels of eosinophil chemoattractants eotaxin and RANTES in BPDCN as compared with AML. Along with the high levels of PTPRS and dendritic nature of the tumor cells, these findings suggest a possible pre-inflammatory context of this disease, in which BPDCN features nonactivated pDCs.

OPN promotes the aggressiveness of non-small-cell lung cancer cells through the activation of the RON tyrosine kinase

Osteopontin (OPN) is identified as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of tumor progression and metastasis. In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the functions of OPN have not been well characterized. The current study sought to investigate the clinical implications of OPN expression in NSCLC and the role of OPN in the aggressiveness of the lung cancer cells. Using a proteomics approach, we identified that phospho-RON (p-RON) was one of the most remarkably up-regulated proteins in OPN-overexpressing cells. The levels of OPN and RON transcripts were unveiled as independent prognostic indicators of survival in NSCLC (p = 0.001). Higher levels of OPN, RON and p-RON proteins were observed in tumor tissues. Knock down of the OPN gene suppressed the migration and invasion abilities of the A549 lung cancer cells which endogenously expresses OPN. While ectopic expression of OPN in the SK-MES-1 lung cancer cells increased levels of cellular invasion and migration. In addition, these changes were accompanied by a phosphorylated activation of RON. Small-molecule inhibition of RON or siRNA silencing of RON significantly reduced OPN-induced migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and had an inhibitory effect on the OPN-mediated cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Our study suggests that in NSCLC, the aberrant expression of OPN can be considered as an independent survival indicator and is associated with disease progression. OPN plays a crucial role in promoting migration and invasion properties of lung cancer cells through its phosphorylation activation of the RON signaling pathway, implying its potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of NSCLC.