An adaptation of particle swarm clustering applied in basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and actinic keratosis

Prion protein is associated with a worse prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) etiopathogenesis remains unclear, and the biological changes with the activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and prion protein (PRNP) promoted by hypoxia in HNSC are undetermined. This study investigates hypoxia's effect in lymph node metastasis by PRNP expression changes and its main partners.

METHODS

The study combined a theoretical/cell culture study with a case-control study. First, bioinformatics and cell culture were performed. A case-control study was performed in a second step by comparing HNSC patients with and without lymph node metastasis.

ANALYSES

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data source validates the theory in the global population study.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis suggests that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1A) is associated with HSPA4, HSP90AA1 and PRNP expression. TCGA data validate the hypothesis that higher HSP90AA1, HSPA4 and PRNP are related to metastases and low survival. Herein, the cell study demonstrated that muted PRNP did not respond to hypoxia.

DISCUSSION

Our results collectively provide the first evidence that PRNP promotes HNSC lymph node metastasis progression through the upregulation of HSPA4, HSP90AA1 and HIF1A. Our findings may provide a molecular basis for the promoting Role of PRNP in HNSC progression.

Oral gallic acid improve liver steatosis and metabolism modulating hepatic lipogenic markers in obese mice

INTRODUCTION

Gallic acid (GA) is a natural endogenous polyphenol found in a variety of fruits, vegetables and wines, with beneficial effects on the energetic homeostasis.

AIM

The present study aimed to investigate oral gallic acid effects on liver steatosis and hepatic lipogenesis markers in obese mice evaluating new possible molecular related mechanisms.

METHODS

Twenty-four Swiss male mice were divided into four groups and fed for 60 days with standard diet (ST), standard diet plus gallic acid (ST + GA), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet plus gallic acid (HFD + GA). We evaluated the relationship between body weight, food intake and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, aspartate and alanine transaminases. Liver histology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. These results were accompanied by bioinformatics analyses. The acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

The main findings of the present study showed that GA reduced liver steatosis, body weight and plasma insulin levels. Analyzes of hepatic steatosis related genes expression showed that ACC and FAS mRNA were significantly suppressed in liver of HFD + GA mice. These data was corroborated by bioinformatics analysis.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest an important clinical application of GA in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.

Oral gallic acid improves metabolic profile by modulating SIRT1 expression in obese mice brown adipose tissue: A molecular and bioinformatic approach

AIMS

The aim of the presente study was to examine the effects of oral gallic acid (GA) administration on the brown adipose tissue of obese mice fed with high-fat diet. New mechanisms and interactions pathways in thermogenesis were accessed through bioinformatics analyses.

MAIN METHODS

Swiss male mice were divided into four groups and fed during 60 days with: standard diet, standard diet combined with gallic acid, high-fat diet and high-fat diet combined with gallic acid. Body weight, food intake, and blood parameters (glucose tolerance test, total-cholesterol, high-density low-c, triglyceride and glucose levels) were evaluated. Brown and subcutaneous white adipose tissue histological analysis were performed. SIRT1 and PGC1-α mRNA expression in the brown adipose tissue were assessed.

KEY FINDINGS

Our main findings showed that the gallic acid improved glucose tolerance and metabolic parameters. These results were accompanied by bioinformatics analyses that evidenced SIRT1 as main target in the thermogenesis process, confirmed as increased SIRT1 mRNA expression was evidenced in the brown adipose tissue.

SIGNIFICANCE

Together, the data suggest that the gallic acid effect in brown adipose tissue may improve body metabolism, glucose homeostasis and increase thermogenesis.

MicroRNA profiling reveals dysregulated microRNAs and their target gene regulatory networks in cemento-ossifying fibroma

BACKGROUND

Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) is a benign fibro-osseous neoplasm of uncertain pathogenesis, and its treatment results in morbidity. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and may represent therapeutic targets. The purpose of the study was to generate a comprehensive miRNA profile of COF compared to normal bone. Additionally, the most relevant pathways and target genes of differentially expressed miRNA were investigated by in silico analysis.

METHODS

Nine COF and ten normal bone samples were included in the study. miRNA profiling was carried out by using TaqMan® OpenArray® Human microRNA panel containing 754 validated human miRNAs. We identified the most relevant miRNAs target genes through the leader gene approach, using STRING and Cytoscape software. Pathways enrichment analysis was performed using DIANA-miRPath.

RESULTS

Eleven miRNAs were downregulated (hsa-miR-95-3p, hsa-miR-141-3p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-31-5p, hsa-miR-944, hsa-miR-200b-3p, hsa-miR-135b-5p, hsa-miR-31-3p, hsa-miR-223-5p and hsa-miR-200c-3p), and five were upregulated (hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-181c-5p, hsa-miR-149-5p, hsa-miR-138-5p and hsa-miR-199a-3p) in COF compared to normal bone. Eighteen common target genes were predicted, and the leader genes approach identified the following genes involved in human COF: EZH2, XIAP, MET and TGFBR1. According to the biology of bone and COF, the most relevant KEGG pathways revealed by enrichment analysis were proteoglycans in cancer, miRNAs in cancer, pathways in cancer, p53-, PI3K-Akt-, FoxO- and TGF-beta signalling pathways, which were previously found to be differentially regulated in bone neoplasms, odontogenic tumours and osteogenesis.

CONCLUSION

miRNA dysregulation occurs in COF, and EZH2, XIAP, MET and TGFBR1 are potential targets for functional analysis validation.