Low expression of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a significant correlation with β2-microglobulin

Mendelian randomization analysis of plasma levels of CD209 and MICB proteins and the risk of varicose veins of lower extremities

Varicose veins of lower extremities (VVs) are a highly prevalent condition, the pathogenesis of which is still not fully elucidated. Mendelian randomization (MR) can provide useful preliminary information on the traits that are potentially causally related to the disease. The aim of the present study is to replicate the effects of the plasma levels of MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MICB) and cluster of differentiation 209 (CD209) proteins reported in a previous hypothesis-free MR study. We conducted MR analysis using a fixed effects inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis of Wald ratios method. For MICB and CD209, we used data from a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) for plasma protein levels (N = 3,301). For VVs, we used GWAS data obtained in the FinnGen project (N = 128,698), the eMERGE network (phase 3, N = 48,429), and the UK Biobank data available in the Gene ATLAS (N = 452,264). The data used in the study were obtained in individuals of European descent. The results for MICB did not pass criteria for statistical significance and replication. The results for CD209 passed all statistical significance thresholds, indicating that the genetically predicted increase in CD209 level is associated with increased risk of VVs (βMR (SE) = 0.07 (0.01), OR (95% CI) = 1.08 (1.05-1.10), P-value = 5.9 ×10-11 in the meta-analysis of three cohorts). Our findings provide further support that CD209 can potentially be involved in VVs. In future studies, independent validation of our results using data from more powerful GWASs for CD209 measured by different methods would be beneficial.

Soluble DC-SIGN isoforms: Ligands with unknown functions - A mini-review

The present study aimed to perform a mini-review of the complete soluble isoforms of Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin (sDC-SIGN), their functions, and their correlation with diseases. The present review reveals the lack of studies regarding these soluble isoforms and poor understanding of the importance of the topic, considering the concordant findings on the relevant influence of sDC-SIGN in the viral and bacterial infection process, in addition to its possible use as a cancer marker.

Overexpression of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin-related protein in cervical cancer and correlation with squamous cell carcinoma antigen

Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin-related protein (DC-SIGNR) is a type II transmembrane protein that has been reported to bind to various pathogens and participate in immunoregulation and tumorigenesis. However, further research is required to investigate whether the level of DC-SIGNR and cervical cancer are associated. The present study aimed to explore the clinical diagnostic significance of DC-SIGNR in cervical cancer. Immunohistochemical staining of DC-SIGNR was performed in samples from 25 patients with early stage cervical cancer, 14 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical polyp samples from 15 individuals. DC-SIGNR expression in cervical cancer tissue was significantly higher compared with that in CIN and cervical polyp tissue (P=0.0184 and P=0.0236, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in DC-SIGNR expression between CIN and cervical polyp tissue (P=0.8103). Additionally, the serum DC-SIGNR levels in 84 cervical cancer patients and 69 healthy female individuals were measured using an ELISA. Serum (s)DC-SIGNR levels were significantly higher in cervical cancer patients compared with healthy female individuals (P<0.0001). A sDC-SIGNR level of 93.7 ng/ml was revealed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to predict the presence of cervical cancer with 69.57% sensitivity and 66.67% specificity (area under the curve, 0.6989; P<0.0001). Levels of sDC-SIGNR in cervical cancer patients were also correlated with serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (r=0.2583; P=0.0348). The results of the present study demonstrate that DC-SIGNR is overexpressed in cervical cancer tissue, and suggest that DC-SIGNR could serve as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Nevertheless, further studies are required to demonstrate what role DC-SIGNR serves in cervical cancer.

Correlation of Patterns of Bone Marrow Infiltration and Biochemical factors in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the patterns of bone marrow involvement in in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) patients and to correlate the patterns with β₂ microglobulin (β2m) and lactate dehydrogenase 2 (LD2) levels in these patients.

METHODS

It was a cross sectional study which was conducted in two years at Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore and at Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Lahore. The study was conducted on 50 subjects irrespective of age and sex divided into two groups i.e. Group-A comprising 20 normal healthy controls while Group-B consisted of 30 patients of NHL with bone marrow infiltration. Bilateral bone marrow trephine biopsy was done to assess the patterns of bone marrow infiltration. Serum β2m and LD2 isoenzyme levels were determined in already diagnosed 30 patients of NHL. The values were compared with 20 healthy age and sex matched controls. Correlation coefficients were determined using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The estimations were made prior to the institution of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

β2m and LD2 levels were significantly (p-Value < 0.05) raised in NHL patients with disease advancement and were compared with controls. These serological markers showed negative correlation (-0.235 for β2m and -0.133 for LD2) with the spread of disease and patterns of involvement in NHL patients.

CONCLUSION

By observing the patterns of bone marrow involvement in NHL patients possible guidelines about prognosis and treatment protocols can be obtained as the serological markers levels correlate well with the spread of disease and patterns of involvement in NHL patients.

DIXDC1 promotes tumor proliferation and cell adhesion mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) via enhancing p-Akt in Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

DIX domain containing 1 (DIXDC1), is a human homolog of Ccd1, a DIX domain containing protein in zebrafish. The present study was undertaken to determine the expression and biologic function of DIXDC1 in Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Clinically, we detected that the expression of DIXDC1 was significantly lower in the indolent lymphomas compared with the progressive lymphomas by immunohistochemistry analysis. Functionally, we found that DIXDC1 could promote cell proliferation via modulating cell cycle progression and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in NHLs. Moreover, we confirmed that DIXDC1 was involved in the process of lymphoma cell adhesion mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR). Adhesion to fibronectin (FN) or HS-5 up-regulated DIXDC1 expression, and up-regulation of DIXDC1 resulted in an increased expression of p-AKT, which promoted CAM-DR. Our finding supports the role of DIXDC1 in cell proliferation, cell cycle and CAM-DR in NHLs. We propose that inhibition of DIXDC1 expression may be a novel therapeutic approach for NHLs patients, and it may be a target for drug resistance.

Development and evaluation of a double antibody sandwich ELISA for the detection of human sDC-SIGN

sDC-SIGN is the soluble form of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN, CD209), which is a molecule involved with pathogen recognition and immune regulation. However, there is no commercially available ELISA kit for detecting human sDC-SIGN, and the normal range of this molecule is unknown. Here, we describe an ELISA for detecting human sDC-SIGN with high specificity. First, sDC-SIGN protein was expressed and purified. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were then raised against the purified protein and subsequently characterized. A sandwich ELISA was developed using polyclonal antibodies specific for sDC-SIGN for capture and a biotin-labeled monoclonal antibody specific for sDC-SIGN for detection of protein. This method has sensitivity up to 0.2 ng/ml. Using this ELISA, we found that the concentration of sDC-SIGN in sera of healthy volunteers ranges from 0-319 ng/ml with a mean concentration of 27.14 ng/ml. Interestingly, the concentration of sDC-SIGN in sera from patients with cancer or chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection was lower than that of health controls. The mean concentrations of sDC-SIGN in cancer patients and chronic hepatitis B virus infection patients were 3.2 ng/ml and 3.8 ng/ml, respectively. We developed a sandwich ELISA for detecting human sDC-SIGN and demonstrated its use by assessing sera concentrations of sDC-SIGN in patients with cancer and chronic CHB infection compared to that of healthy controls.

Sam68 regulates cell proliferation and cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) via the AKT pathway in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

Sam68 (Src-associated in mitosis 68 kDa), a substrate for tyrosine kinase c-Src during mitosis, is up-regulated in a variety of human cancers and acts oncogenically promoting tumour progression. This study has explored biological function and clinical significance of Sam68 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To examine Sam68 expression in NHL, clinically, eight diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and four reactive lymphoid hyperplasia fresh-frozen tissues were obtained for western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analyses. Using immunohistochemical staining, paraffin wax embedded sections from 164 cases of NHL patients were used to evaluate prognostic value of Sam68. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and soft agar colony assays were conducted to investigate the role of Sam68 in cell viability and cell proliferation respectively. Furthermore, effects of Sam68 on cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) was determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTS

Expression status of Sam68 inversely correlated with clinical outcomes of patients with NHL, and it was also an independent prognostic factor for the outcomes. In addition, Sam68 was associated with proliferation of NHL cells. Knock-down of its gene inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation by delaying cell cycle progression. Furthermore, OCI-Ly8 and Jeko-1 cells adhering to FN and HS-5 expressed higher Sam68 protein, compared to their suspension counterparts. Sam68 promoted cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) via the AKT pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased Sam68 expression in NHL resulted in poor prognosis, and it promoted CAM-DR in NHL via AKT.

Low expression of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin-related protein in lung cancer and significant correlations with brain metastasis and natural killer cells

Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin-related protein (DC-SIGNR) is a type II transmembrane protein which has been reported to bind a variety of pathogens as well as participate in immunoregulation. But the association between the level of DC-SIGNR and lung cancer is unknown. To investigate the clinical diagnostic significance of DC-SIGNR in lung cancer, we investigated serum DC-SIGNR levels in 173 lung cancer patients and 134 healthy individuals using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that serum DC-SIGNR levels in lung cancer patients were lower than that in healthy controls (P = 0.0003). A cut-off value of 3.8998 ng/L for DC-SIGNR predicted the presence of lung cancer with 78.03% sensitivity and 49.25% specificity (area under the curve = 0.6212, P = 0.0003). Strikingly, serum DC-SIGNR levels were significantly higher in lung cancer patients with brain metastasis compared to those without metastasis (P = 0.0283). Moreover, the serum concentrations of DC-SIGNR in lung cancer patients also correlated significantly with serum natural killer cells percentage (P = 0.0017). In addition, immunohistochemistry assay demonstrated that the expression of DC-SIGNR in lung tissues of 31 lung cancer patients and 13 tuberculosis patients was significantly lower than that in 18 normal lung tissues (P = 0.0418, 0.0289), and there is no significant difference between tuberculosis tissues and lung cancer tissues (P = 0.2696). These results suggest that DC-SIGNR maybe a promising biological molecule that has the potential for clinical research of lung cancer, whereas its underlying roles are needed to be investigated in further studies.