Proliferation markers

Association of ADAM family members with proliferation signaling and disease progression in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy whose curability is greatly challenged by recurrent patient relapses and therapy resistance. We have previously proposed the high expression of ADAM8, ADAM9 and ADAM15 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 8/9/15) as adverse prognostic markers in MM. This study focused on the so far scarcely researched role of ADAM8/9/15 in MM using two patient cohorts and seven human MM cell lines (HMCL). High ADAM8/9/15 expression was associated with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities and extramedullary disease. Furthermore, ADAM8/15 expression increased with MM progression and in relapsed/refractory MM compared to untreated patient samples. RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis comparing ADAM8/9/15high/low patient samples revealed an upregulation of proliferation markers and proliferation-associated gene sets in ADAM8/9/15high patient samples. High ADAM8/9/15 expression correlated with high Ki67 and high ADAM8/15 expression with high MYC protein expression in immunohistochemical stainings of patient tissue. Conversely, siRNA-mediated knockdown of ADAM8/9/15 in HMCL downregulated proliferation-related gene sets. Western blotting revealed that ADAM8 knockdown regulated IGF1R/AKT signaling and ADAM9 knockdown decreased mTOR activation. Lastly, high ADAM8/9/15 expression levels were verified as prognostic markers independent of Ki67/MYC expression and/or high-risk abnormalities. Overall, these findings suggest that ADAM8/9/15 play a role in MM progression and proliferation signaling.

Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoids on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma xenograft in BALB/c nude mice model

Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant and lethal tumor of the exocrine pancreas. Cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa have been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in several human tumors. However, the anti-tumor effect of cannabinoids on human PDAC is not entirely clarified. In this study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) at a dose of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight compared to the negative control (sesame oil) and positive control (5-fluorouracil) was investigated in human PDAC xenograft nude mice model. The findings showed that cannabinoids significantly decreased the mitotic cells and mitotic/apoptotic ratio, meanwhile dramatically increased the apoptotic cells. Parallelly, cannabinoids significantly downregulated Ki-67 and PCNA expression levels. Interestingly, cannabinoids upregulated BAX, BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and Caspase-3, meanwhile, downregulated BCL-2 expression level and could not change Caspase-8 expression level. These findings suggest that cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human PDAC xenograft models. Cannabinoids, including THC:CBD, should be further studied for use as the potent PDCA therapeutic agent in humans.

Circular RNA-mediated miRNA sponge & RNA binding protein in biological modulation of breast cancer

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and small non-coding RNAs of the head-to-junction circle in the construct play critical roles in gene regulation and are significantly associated with breast cancer (BC). Numerous circRNAs are potential cancer biomarkers that may be used for diagnosis and prognosis. Widespread expression of circRNAs is regarded as a feature of gene expression in highly diverged eukaryotes. Recent studies show that circRNAs have two main biological modulation models: sponging and RNA-binding. This review explained the biogenesis of circRNAs and assessed emerging findings on their sponge function and role as RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to better understand how their interaction alters cellular function in BC. We focused on how sponges significantly affect the phenotype and progression of BC. We described how circRNAs exercise the translation functions in ribosomes. Furthermore, we reviewed recent studies on RBPs, and post-protein modifications influencing BC and provided a perspective on future research directions for treating BC.

The potential of a combination of pungent spices as a novel supplement in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) diets to aid in the strategic use of fish oil in aquafeeds: a holistic perspective

This work studied the potential of a combination of pungent spices (capsicum, black pepper, ginger, and cinnamaldehyde) to be used as a supplement in diets of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata; 44.1 ± 4.2 g). During 90 days, fish were fed three experimental diets with low inclusion of fish oil and containing poultry fat as the main source of lipids, supplemented with graded levels of the tested supplement: 0 (control), 0.1 (SPICY0.1%), and 0.15% (SPICY0.15%). As a result, the pungent spices enhanced the growth performance, the activity of the bile-salt-activated lipase in the intestine, and decreased fat deposit levels within enterocytes. The SPICY0.1% diet reduced the feed conversion ratio and the perivisceral fat index and lipid deposits in the liver. Moreover, the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid in fillet increased in fish fed the SPICY0.1% diet, while the hepatic levels of docosahexaenoic acid and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in fish fed the SPICY0.15% diet. Furthermore, there was an effect on the expression of some biomarkers related to lipid metabolism in 2-h postprandial fish (fasn, elovl6, scd1b, cyp7a1, lpl, and pparβ), and in 48 h fasted-fish fed with the SPICY0.1% diet, a regulation of the intestinal immune response was indicated. However, no significant differences were found in lipid apparent digestibility and proximate macronutrient composition. The spices did not affect biomarkers of hepatic or oxidative stress. No differences in microbial diversity were found, except for an increase in Simpson's Index in the posterior intestine of fish fed the SPICY0.1% diet, reflected in the increased relative abundance of the phylum Chloroflexi and lower relative abundances of the genera Campylobacter, Corynebacterium, and Peptoniphilus. In conclusion, the supplementation of gilthead seabream diets with pungent spices at an inclusion of 0.1% was beneficial to enhance growth performance and feed utilization; reduce fat accumulation in the visceral cavity, liver, and intestine; and improve the fish health status and condition. Results suggest that the tested supplement can be used as part of a nutritional strategy to promote a more judicious use of fish oil in fish diets due to its decreasing availability and rising costs.

Monitoring the Cell Cycle of Tumor Cells in Mouse Models of Human Cancer

Cell division is obligatory to tumor growth. However, both cancer cells and noncancer cells in tumors can be found in distinct stages of the cell cycle, which may inform the growth potential of these tumors, their propensity to metastasize, and their response to therapy. Hence, it is of utmost importance to monitor the cell cycle of tumor cells. Here we discuss well-established methods and new genetic advances to track the cell cycle of tumor cells in mouse models of human cancer. We also review recent genetic studies investigating the role of the cell-cycle machinery in the growth of tumors in vivo, with a focus on the machinery regulating the G1/S transition of the cell cycle.

MUM1 Expression versus Hans Algorithm to Predict Prognosis in Indonesian Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Receiving R-CHOP

Background

Treatment response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is heterogenous. The Hans algorithm (using 30% cut-offs for CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 protein expression) has been the most favored method to categorize DLBCL into germinal center B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB subtypes in order to predict prognosis. However, the algorithm’s ability to prognosticate is not always consistent.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted on DLBCL patients receiving R-CHOP therapy at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta from 2014 to 2017. We aimed to compare the prognostic value of Hans algorithm as well as the protein levels of CD10, BCL6, MUM1, and Ki67 at different cut-offs. Ninety-two patients were classified based on Hans algorithm and various proteins at different cut-off values were analyzed with regard to event-free survival at 24 months using survival analysis. The cut-off values were then compared using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

A significant survival difference was observed with MUM1 expression cut-off of 50% or more (log rank p = 0.035). CD10, BCL6, Ki67, and Hans algorithm showed AUCs below or near 0.5 (0.405, 0.436, 0.498, and 0.413, respectively), whereas MUM1 showed an AUC of 0.835, in predicting events within 24 months. MUM-1 cut-off of 70.5% yielded an optimal trade-off for sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

MUM1 expression of 50% or more can help predict prognosis in DLBCL patients receiving R-CHOP therapy and can be considered as for use as a single marker to predict prognosis.

PrimPol: A Breakthrough among DNA Replication Enzymes and a Potential New Target for Cancer Therapy

DNA replication can encounter blocking obstacles, leading to replication stress and genome instability. There are several mechanisms for evading this blockade. One mechanism consists of repriming ahead of the obstacles, creating a new starting point; in humans, PrimPol is responsible for carrying out this task. PrimPol is a primase that operates in both the nucleus and mitochondria. In contrast with conventional primases, PrimPol is a DNA primase able to initiate DNA synthesis de novo using deoxynucleotides, discriminating against ribonucleotides. In vitro, PrimPol can act as a DNA primase, elongating primers that PrimPol itself sythesizes, or as translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase, elongating pre-existing primers across lesions. However, the lack of evidence for PrimPol polymerase activity in vivo suggests that PrimPol only acts as a DNA primase. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of human PrimPol covering its biochemical properties and structure, in vivo function and regulation, and the processes that take place to fill the gap-containing lesion that PrimPol leaves behind. Finally, we explore the available data on human PrimPol expression in different tissues in physiological conditions and its role in cancer.

Immunohistochemical expression and evaluation of cyclin D1 and minichromosome maintenance 2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma

Background

The study of cell proliferation is important for assessing the tumor behavior, prognosis and patient survival of oral carcinomas. As literature search did not reveal sufficient studies of immunohistochemical expression of cyclin D1 and minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and verrucous carcinoma (VC), the present study was undertaken.

Materials and Methods

The study group included 20 cases of histopathologically diagnosed OSCC, 10 cases of VC and 10 cases of normal mucosa (NM). All samples were evaluated for the expression of cyclin D1 and MCM2 using standard Immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure.The present study involved both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Qualitative analysis was done by evaluation of intensity and area of staining. Quantitative analysis was done by calculating the percentage of positively stained cells and assessing the labeling index (LI). Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS statistical package (version 23.0).

Results

On evaluating and comparing the intensity of staining and area of staining of cyclin D1 and MCM2 between the study groups, statistically significant values (P < 0.05) were obtained using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. Comparison of LI of cyclin D1 and MCM2 in NM, OSCC and VC statistically significant results (P < 0.05) was obtained using Mann-Whitney U-test. Mean LI of MCM2 was found to be significantly higher than mean LI of cyclin D1 in all the study groups.

Conclusion

From the present study, we conclude that MCM2 has the potential to serve as a novel cell proliferation biomarker in OSCC and VC when compared to cyclin D1.

Expression and clinicopathological correlation of Ki-67 in gallbladder carcinoma

INTRODUCTION:

Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive cancer with short median survival from the time of diagnosis. Improved understanding of the pathological molecular mechanisms of gallbladder carcinogenesis is important to refine the diagnosis, prognosis, and also to develop novel targeted therapies for patients with advanced Gallbladder cancer (GBC) malignancy. Ki-67 is a marker of cell proliferation and its detection by immunohistochemistry is considered to be an effective method for the detection of prognosis in several tumors. In the present study, we have analyzed expression of immunohistochemical marker Ki-67 in gallbladder carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological and radiological parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2017 to July 2020. The patients of newly diagnosed gallbladder cancer were enrolled as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in the study protocol. Contrast-enhanced computer tomography of the chest and abdomen and serum tumor markers such as carbohydrate antigen (CA)-19.9, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA 125 were done. Immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 was evaluated on biopsy tissue from the gallbladder mass.

RESULTS:

Fifty newly diagnosed patients of carcinoma gallbladder were included in the present study. The correlation was studied between clinicodemographic parameters and Ki-67, but no association was found with age, gender, and symptoms. There was a weak positive correlation between Ki-67 and direct bilirubin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.094; 0.126; 0.542; and 0.328, respectively). There was a weak positive correlation between body mass index (Kg/m²) and Ki-67, but this correlation was not statistically significant (P = 0.304).

CONCLUSIONS:

Ki-67 is a marker of proliferation and it correlated with histological differentiation, jaundice and liver function tests, presence of stones, and location of metastases but did not correlate with stage and extent of disease.

Temperature Tolerance Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing for Joint Assessment of Cell Viability and Vitality

Evaluation of the cell health status is critical for drug screening and cell physiological activity investigations. The existing cell health assessment methods are solely devoted to the study of cell vitality or viability, leading to an incomplete evaluation. Herein, we report a convenient and robust method for the joint assessment of cell viability and vitality based on electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) supplied with an environmental temperature control. The static value of electric cell-substrate impedance reflects the survival rate of cells, while the temperature tolerance of cells demonstrates the cell vitality. It was found that the cell vitality evaluated by the temperature tolerance of cells was independent of the initial cell numbers, rendering the proposed method easy to utilize in various applications. We compared the temperature tolerance ECIS method with the traditional trypan blue staining method, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, and the direct impedance sensing method for joint evaluation of cell viability and vitality in drug screening. The temperature tolerance ECIS method showed comparable results but with a simpler protocol, faster results, and less dependence on the sample conditions. By providing both information on cell viability and cell vitality, the proposed temperature tolerance ECIS method would pave the way in building a simple and robust sensing system for cell health evaluation.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor is involved in hypertension and vascular alterations caused by environmental toxicant hexachlorobenzene

Environmental hexachlorobenzene (HCB) increases blood pressure (BP) in female rats, causing alterations in arterial structure and function. Here we study the role of Angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) in HCB-induced hypertension through the use of AT1 antagonist losartan. HCB-treated male rats showed a 22.7% increase in BP which was prevented by losartan. Losartan blocked HCB-induced changes in arterial morphology (decreased aorta cell number and increased wall thickness). Losartan also prevented HCB-induced alterations in artery relaxation by acetylcholine and nitroprusside but not the reduction in the maximum contraction by phenylephrine. Losartan rescued arterial molecular alterations caused by HCB (i.e. an increase in TGF-β1 and AT1 expression and a decrease in eNOS expression and nitrite levels) and reduced hydrogen sulfide plasma concentration. In conclusion: in this work we demonstrate that AT1 activity is involved in HCB effects on the vascular system leading to hypertension.

Orexin-A Regulates Follicular Growth, Proliferation, Cell Cycle and Apoptosis in Mouse Primary Granulosa Cells via the AKT/ERK Signaling Pathway

Granulosa cells (GCs) are essential for follicular growth, development, and atresia. The orexin-A (OXA) neuropeptide is widely involved in the regulation of various biological functions. OXA selectively binds to orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R) and mediates all its biological actions via OX1R. This study aimed to explore the expression of OXA and OX1R and their regulatory role in GCs proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, oocyte maturation, and underlying molecular mechanisms of these processes and elucidate its novel signaling pathway. Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that OXA and OX1R were expressed during different developmental stages of GCs, and siRNA transfection successfully inhibited the expression of OX1R at the translational and transcriptional levels. Flow cytometry revealed that OX1R knockdown upregulated GCs apoptosis and triggered S-phase arrest in cell cycle progression. RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed significantly reduced expression of Bcl-2 and elevated expression of Bax, caspase-3, TNF-α, and P21 in OX1R-silenced GCs. Furthermore, the CCK-8 assay showed that knockdown of OX1R suppressed GCs proliferation by downregulating the expression of PCNA, a proliferation marker gene, at the translational and transcriptional levels. Western blotting revealed that knockdown of OX1R resulted in a considerable decrease of the phosphorylation level of the AKT and ERK1/2 proteins, indicating that the AKT/ERK1/2 pathway is involved in regulating GCs proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, OX1R silencing enhanced the mRNA expression of GDF9 and suppressed the mRNA expression of BMP15 in mouse GCs. Collectively, these results reveal a novel regulatory role of OXA in the development of GCs and folliculogenesis by regulating proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. Therefore, OXA can be a promising therapeutic agent for female infertility.

Uterine anomalies in cell proliferation, energy homeostasis and oxidative stress in PCOS hamsters, M. auratus: Therapeutic potentials of melatonin

AIMS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive, endocrine and metabolic disorder. Less is known about the mechanism of its effect on uterine function and therapeutic potential of melatonin. Our aim was to evaluate uterine dysfunction(s) in letrozole induced PCOS and its possible rectification by melatonin.

MAIN METHODS

Adult female golden hamsters were divided into groups of Control (C), Melatonin (M; 1 mg/kg b.w.), Letrozole (L; 3 mg/kg b.w.) and combination of Letrozole+Melatonin (L + M; 3 mg/kg b.w. + 1 mg/kg b.w.) which were treated for 40 days. Analysis of serum testosterone/estradiol/progesterone/leptin/insulin, uterine histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry for proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), homeostatic assessment model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), western blotting for PCNA, androgen receptor (AR), insulin receptor (InsR), glucose tansporter-4 (GLUT-4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and biochemical analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD)/catalase/lipid peroxidation (LPO) were done.

KEY FINDINGS

Serum testosterone, leptin and insulin increased while uterine InsR/GLUT-4 expression decreased in L group indicating metabolic abnormalities. Endometrial hyperplasia, increased expression of PCNA and AR indicated abnormal proliferation in L compared to C. Increased uterine oxidative load (SOD/catalase/LPO) and inflammatory markers NFκB/COX-2 expression in L was responsible for high tissue oxidative stress and inflammation. M administration normalized all the above parameters suggesting its ameliorative effect in L + M group.

SIGNIFICANCE

We report PCOS induced uterine dysfunction in Mesocricetus auratus for the first time. M administration restores uterine functions modulating cellular dynamicity, metabolic status, decreased oxidative and inflammatory load in PCOS hamsters. Therefore, we suggest the therapeutic potential of M against PCOS led uterine abnormalities to restore female fertility.

A Comparison of Methods for Isolation of Limbal Niche Cells: Maintenance of Limbal Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells

Purpose

Limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a vital role in the maintenance of limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LESCs). Four methods have been reported to isolate and expand LNCs: digestion by collagenase alone (C-LNC), collagenase following dispase removal of the limbal epithelium (DC-LNC), dissection of dispase-isolated limbal epithelial sheets (D-LNC), and explant cultures of limbal stromal tissues (Ex-LNC). This study aimed to isolate LNCs using those four methods and to compare their capacity to maintain LESCs.

Methods

LNCs were isolated from the rat corneal limbus by the following methods: C-LNC, DC-LNC, D-LNC, and Ex-LNC. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze the expression of embryonic stem cell (ESC) markers. The ability to maintain LESCs was assessed on the basis of colony-forming capacity and the expression of progenitor, proliferation, and differentiation markers in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel and Transwell systems. Notch signaling of LESCs supported by different LNCs in Transwell inserts was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

DC-LNCs exhibited lower expression of CK12 during isolation and expansion. Among P4-expanded LNCs, DC-LNCs expressed significantly higher levels of Sox2, Oct4, Nanog, and N-cadherin than C-LNCs, D-LNCs, and Ex-LNCs. Compared with other LNCs, DC-LNCs were more effective in maintaining LESCs with higher holoclone-forming efficiency, greater expression of ΔNp63α and Ki67, and lower expression of CK12. DC-LNCs were also more capable of downregulating Notch signaling of LESCs.

Conclusions

DC-LNCs were more effective in expressing ESC markers and maintaining LESCs compared to other LNCs. This study identifies an optimal method for the isolation of LNCs in tissue engineering and ocular surface reconstruction.

MicroRNA‑524‑5p regulates the proliferation and invasion of HTR‑8/SVneo trophoblasts by targeting NUMB in the Notch signaling pathway

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder that is primarily associated with maternal and neonatal or fetal morbidity and mortality. The discovery of dysregulated microRNAs (miRs) and their roles in preeclampsia has provided new insight into the mechanisms involved in pregnancy‑related disorders. In the present study, quantitative PCR demonstrated that the expression levels of miR‑524‑5p were lower in patients with preeclampsia than those in normal pregnant women. Cell Counting Kit‑8 and Transwell assays indicated that overexpression of miR‑524‑5p promoted the proliferation and invasion of HTR‑8/SVneo cells, whereas inhibition of miR‑524‑5p suppressed HTR‑8/SVneo cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, NUMB endocytic adaptor protein (NUMB), a negative regulator of the Notch signaling pathway and a target gene of miR‑524‑5p, limited the effects of miR‑524‑5p on HTR‑8/SVneo cell invasion and migration. The present study demonstrated that miR‑524‑5p regulated the proliferation and invasion of HTR‑8/SVneo cells at least partly by targeting NUMB to regulate the Notch signaling pathway.

TEM, SEM, and STEM-based immuno-CLEM workflows offer complementary advantages

Identifying endogenous tissue stem cells remains a key challenge in developmental and regenerative biology. To distinguish and molecularly characterise stem cell populations in large heterogeneous tissues, the combination of cytochemical cell markers with ultrastructural morphology is highly beneficial. Here, we realise this through workflows of multi-resolution immuno-correlative light and electron microscopy (iCLEM) methodologies. Taking advantage of the antigenicity preservation of the Tokuyasu technique, we have established robust protocols and workflows and provide a side-by-side comparison of iCLEM used in combination with scanning EM (SEM), scanning TEM (STEM), or transmission EM (TEM). Evaluation of the applications and advantages of each method highlights their practicality for the identification, quantification, and characterization of heterogeneous cell populations in small organisms, organs, or tissues in healthy and diseased states. The iCLEM techniques are broadly applicable and can use either genetically encoded or cytochemical markers on plant, animal and human tissues. We demonstrate how these protocols are particularly suited for investigating neural stem and progenitor cell populations of the vertebrate nervous system.

T lymphocytes related biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer

The immune environment is a determinant of whether patients with cancer can benefit from immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the prognosis of patients with different types of malignancies and have initiated a transformation in tumor therapy. However, some patients cannot achieve a long-term response and several patients even have no response to ICIs therapy. Thus, potential biomarkers that can effectively predict the efficacy of ICIs are essential for their clinical application and for the selection of patients. The accuracy of well-known biomarkers, such as expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 and tumor mutational burden, remains controversial. One of the critical factors for immune responses in the tumor microenvironment is tumor antigen-specific T cell. The density and distribution of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, T cells activation and T lymphocytes phenotypes in peripheral blood and serum cytokines have been observed in different types of solid cancer. Although the association with immunotherapy prognosis is in dispute, the prospect of T cell-related biomarkers is encouraged. The present review discusses whether these factors are associated with clinical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The association between several serum cytokines and ICIs therapy efficacy is also discussed.

Joint analysis of lncRNA m6A methylome and lncRNA/mRNA expression profiles in gastric cancer

Background

N ⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification might be closely associated with the genesis and development of gastric cancer (GC). Currently, the evidence established by high-throughput assay for GC-related m⁶A patterns based on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) remains limited. Here, a joint analysis of lncRNA m⁶A methylome and lncRNA/mRNA expression profiles in GC was performed to explore the regulatory roles of m⁶A modification in lncRNAs.

Methods

Three subjects with primary GC were enrolled in our study and paired sample was randomly selected from GC tissue and adjacent normal tissue for each case. Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation NextGeneration Sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) and Microarray Gene Expression Profiling was subsequently performed. Then co-expression analysis and gene enrichment analysis were successively conducted.

Results

After data analysis, we identified 191 differentially m⁶A-methylated lncRNAs, 240 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 229 differentially expressed mRNAs in GC. Furthermore, four differentially m⁶A-methylated and expressed lncRNAs (dme-lncRNAs) were discovered including RASAL2-AS1, LINC00910, SNHG7 and LINC01105. Their potential target genes were explored by co-expression analysis. And gene enrichment analysis suggested that they might influence the cellular processes and biological behaviors involved in mitosis and cell cycle. The potential impacts of these targets on GC cells were further validated by CCLE database and literature review.

Conclusions

Four novel dme-lncRNAs were identified in GC, which might exert regulatory roles on GC cell proliferation. The present study would provide clues for the lncRNA m⁶A methylation-based research on GC epigenetic etiology and pathogenesis.

Human Papillomavirus 16 E5 Inhibits Interferon Signaling and Supports Episomal Viral Maintenance

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infect keratinocytes of stratified epithelia. Long-term persistence of infection is a critical risk factor for the development of HPV-induced malignancies. Through the actions of its oncogenes, HPV evades host immune responses to facilitate its productive life cycle. In this work, we discovered a previously unknown function of the HPV16 E5 oncoprotein in the suppression of interferon (IFN) responses. This suppression is focused on keratinocyte-specific IFN-κ and is mediated through E5-induced changes in growth factor signaling pathways, as identified through phosphoproteomics analysis. The loss of E5 in keratinocytes maintaining the complete HPV16 genome results in the derepression of IFNK transcription and subsequent JAK/STAT-dependent upregulation of several IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) at both the mRNA and protein levels. We also established a link between the loss of E5 and the subsequent loss of genome maintenance and stability, resulting in increased genome integration.IMPORTANCE Persistent human papillomavirus infections can cause a variety of significant cancers. The ability of HPV to persist depends on evasion of the host immune system. In this study, we show that the HPV16 E5 protein can suppress an important aspect of the host immune response. In addition, we find that the E5 protein is important for helping the virus avoid integration into the host genome, which is a frequent step along the pathway to cancer development.

Kidney Cells Regeneration: Dedifferentiation of Tubular Epithelium, Resident Stem Cells and Possible Niches for Renal Progenitors

A kidney is an organ with relatively low basal cellular regenerative potential. However, renal cells have a pronounced ability to proliferate after injury, which undermines that the kidney cells are able to regenerate under induced conditions. The majority of studies explain yielded regeneration either by the dedifferentiation of the mature tubular epithelium or by the presence of a resident pool of progenitor cells in the kidney tissue. Whether cells responsible for the regeneration of the kidney initially have progenitor properties or if they obtain a “progenitor phenotype” during dedifferentiation after an injury, still stays the open question. The major stumbling block in resolving the issue is the lack of specific methods for distinguishing between dedifferentiated cells and resident progenitor cells. Transgenic animals, single-cell transcriptomics, and other recent approaches could be powerful tools to solve this problem. This review examines the main mechanisms of kidney regeneration: dedifferentiation of epithelial cells and activation of progenitor cells with special attention to potential niches of kidney progenitor cells. We attempted to give a detailed description of the most controversial topics in this field and ways to resolve these issues.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) deficiency aggravates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced intestinal injury by down-regulating IL6, CCL2 and CSF3

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the human digestive tract. The repair role of TLR4 in the intestinal epithelium is still unknown.

Methods

By comparing to wild-type (WT) mice, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-knockout mice (TLR4-KO) were used as dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis models to explore the role of TLR4 signaling in intestinal injury. High-throughput RNA-Seq, RT-qPCR and ELISA were performed to screen and verify key differences in gut genes between WT and TLR4-KO mice. Functional study of core dysregulated factors was performed in intestinal cell lines.

Results

We found that DSS-induced intestinal injury was aggravated by LPS (TLR4 agonist) and TLR4-KO. When compared to WT mice, IL6, CCL2, CSF3, IL11, Ccnb1, Ccnd1 and TNF-α significantly decreased and Fas and FasL have increased in the gut of TLR4-KO mice. IL6, CCL2, CSF3, Fas and FasL have all increased in CT-26 cells treated with LPS. Combined with the above data and KEGG enrichment, it can be assumed that TLR4-KO might aggravate DSS-induced intestinal damage by attenuating cell cycle, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and enhancing the apoptosis pathway. In the functional study of core dysregulated factors, it was found that LPS, IL6, IL11, CSF3, CCL2, S100A8, S100A9 and Mmp3 have improved viability of colon cancer cell lines and decreased apoptosis rate of mouse colon cancer cells when these were treated with DSS. However, Jo-2 (Fas agonistic monoclonal antibody) played the opposite role in colon cancer cells treated with DSS.

Conclusions

TLR4 had a repairing effect on DSS-induced intestinal damage and it up-regulate IL6, CCL2 and CSF3. Fas and FasL enhanced DSS-induced colon injury in mice, but might have little to do with TLR4 signaling.

Assessment of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (Review)

The assessment of the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) is critical in the management of males with prostate cancer (PC). Over the past decades, a comprehensive effort has been focusing on improving risk stratification; a variety of models have been constructed using PC-associated pathological features and molecular alterations occurring at the genome, protein and RNA level. Alterations in RNA expression (lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA) constitute the largest proportion of the biomarkers of BCR. In this article, we systemically review RNA-based BCR biomarkers reported in PubMed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Individual miRNAs, mRNAs, lncRNAs and multi-gene panels, including the commercially available signatures, Oncotype DX and Prolaris, will be discussed; details related to cohort size, hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals will be provided. Mechanistically, these individual biomarkers affect multiple pathways critical to tumorigenesis and progression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), Wnt, growth factor receptor, cell proliferation, immune checkpoints and others. This variety in the mechanisms involved not only validates their associations with BCR, but also highlights the need for the coverage of multiple pathways in order to effectively stratify the risk of BCR. Updates of novel biomarkers and their mechanistic insights are considered, which suggests new avenues to pursue in the prediction of BCR. Additionally, the management of patients with BCR and the potential utility of the stratification of the risk of BCR in salvage treatment decision making for these patients are briefly covered. Limitations will also be discussed.

Limbal niche cells can reduce the angiogenic potential of cultivated oral mucosal epithelial cells

Background

Autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET) is an important treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency. However, peripheral corneal neovascularization after surgery hinders its application. This study aims to employ a culture system using allogenic limbal niche cells (LNCs) instead of mouse-derived 3T3 cells as a feeder layer that could relieve postoperative neovascularization.

Methods

Rat oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) were co-cultured with rat LNCs or 3T3 cells. Cultivated oral mucosal epithelial cells (COMECs) of different culture systems were identified by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunocytochemistry. The expression levels of the angiogenesis-related factors were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blotting/ELISA. Angiogenic potential was reconfirmed by cell viability and tube formation assays with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Results

COMECs were obtained from both culture systems successfully. Immunocytochemistry showed approximately equal percentages of positive staining cells for p63α (p = 0.9177), ABCG2 (p = 0.526), Ki67 (p = 0.0987), and CK3 (p = 0.4000) in COMECs of different groups. RT-qPCR and western blotting/ELISA showed that COMECs of the LNC group expressed a significantly lower amount of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (p = 0.0038 for RT-qPCR, p = 0.0026 for western blotting) but more pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) (p = 0.0172 for RT-qPCR, p = 0.0253 for western blotting) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) (p < 0.0001 for RT-qPCR, p = 0.0064 for ELISA) than the COMECs of the 3T3 group. Furthermore, compared with COMECs of the 3T3 group, COMECs of the LNC group could reduce the viability (p = 0.0002) and tube formation (p = 0.0002) of HUVECs.

Conclusions

LNCs could substitute 3T3 cells for expanding OMECs in vitro, and the COMECs obtained in this system are less likely to induce postsurgical neovascularization, which provides an alternative option for an ex vivo culture system and promotes the application of COMET.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s11658-018-0133-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Midbrain tectal stem cells display diverse regenerative capacities in zebrafish

How diverse adult stem and progenitor populations regenerate tissue following damage to the brain is poorly understood. In highly regenerative vertebrates, such as zebrafish, radial-glia (RG) and neuro-epithelial-like (NE) stem/progenitor cells contribute to neuronal repair after injury. However, not all RG act as neural stem/progenitor cells during homeostasis in the zebrafish brain, questioning the role of quiescent RG (qRG) post-injury. To understand the function of qRG during regeneration, we performed a stab lesion in the adult midbrain tectum to target a population of homeostatic qRG, and investigated their proliferative behaviour, differentiation potential, and Wnt/β-catenin signalling. EdU-labelling showed a small number of proliferating qRG after injury (pRG) but that progeny are restricted to RG. However, injury promoted proliferation of NE progenitors in the internal tectal marginal zone (TMZi) resulting in amplified regenerative neurogenesis. Increased Wnt/β-catenin signalling was detected in TMZi after injury whereas homeostatic levels of Wnt/β-catenin signalling persisted in qRG/pRG. Attenuation of Wnt signalling suggested that the proliferative response post-injury was Wnt/β-catenin-independent. Our results demonstrate that qRG in the tectum have restricted capability in neuronal repair, highlighting that RG have diverse functions in the zebrafish brain. Furthermore, these findings suggest that endogenous stem cell compartments compensate lost tissue by amplifying homeostatic growth.

Reference limits for hepatic bile duct-to-arteriole and bile duct-to-portal tract ratios in healthy cats

OBJECTIVE To establish reference limits for hepatic bile duct-to-arteriole ratio (BD:A) and bile duct-to-portal tract ratio (BD:PT) in healthy cats and assess whether these parameters could be used to support a diagnosis of biliary ductopenia in cats. SAMPLE Hepatic biopsy samples from healthy cats (n = 20) and cats with ductopenia (2). PROCEDURES Hepatic biopsy samples from healthy cats were used to count the number of bile ducts and hepatic arterioles in 20 portal tracts for each cat. Mean BD:A and mean BD:PT for each cat were calculated, and these values were used to determine reference limits for mean BD:A and mean BD:PT. Results of histologic evaluation, including immunohistochemical staining in some instances, were compared for healthy cats versus cats with ductopenia. RESULTS Of the 400 portal tracts from healthy cats, 382 (95.5%) and 396 (99.0%) had BD:A and BD:PT, respectively, ≥ 1.0, with less variability in BD:A. Mean BD:A and BD:PT were markedly lower in both cats with ductopenia, compared with values for healthy cats. However, only mean BD:A for cats with ductopenia was below the reference limit of 0.59. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that systematic evaluation of BD:A, with a lower reference limit of 0.59 to define biliary ductopenia in cats, may be a discrete and easily applied morphometric tool to enhance detection of ductopenia in cats. However, application of this ratio required evaluation of ≥ 20 portal tracts with cross-sectioned portal elements to determine a mean BD:A value.

Transient Cell-to-Cell Signaling Before Mitosis in Cultures of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Some types of cells, if not all, that undergo signal exchanges in culture need to contact other cells for various reasons, such as cell-to-cell contact for growth inhibition. However, signal exchanges by cell-to-cell contact before proliferation have never been reported. Using time-lapse recording, we discovered the emergence of several astonishing cell-to-cell contact modes in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) before the cells divided. When the cells contacted with another, a huge temporary synapse-like structure formed for molecule exchanges; a cell-tissue particle was taken in by a recipient cell; two cell membranes formed infusion-like structure for a short time; and even a 20-μm long and 5-μm wide cell tail was grafted to another cell. A total of 87% of cells underwent cell-to-cell contact before dividing. After epidermal growth factor-green fluorescent protein (EGF-GFP) vectors were transfected into MSCs and the cells were cocultured with unmanipulated MSCs, the unmanipulated MSCs took in EGF-GFP particles from EGF-GFP expressed MSCs, immediately increased in mitogen genes, and then divided. These results suggest that cells which may lack signal molecules may need to obtain these molecules from other cells through various types of cell-to-cell contact, as mentioned above. Our study provided valuable information to better understand the behaviors of cell-to-cell contact and communication before mitosis.

Ndr kinases regulate retinal interneuron proliferation and homeostasis

Ndr2/Stk38l encodes a protein kinase associated with the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway and is mutated in a naturally-occurring canine early retinal degeneration (erd). To elucidate the retinal functions of Ndr2 and its paralog Ndr1/Stk38, we generated Ndr1 and Ndr2 single knockout mice. Although retinal lamination appeared normal in these mice, Ndr deletion caused a subset of Pax6-positive amacrine cells to proliferate in differentiated retinas, while concurrently decreasing the number of GABAergic, HuD and Pax6-positive amacrine cells. Retinal transcriptome analyses revealed that Ndr2 deletion increased expression of neuronal stress genes and decreased expression of synaptic organization genes. Consistent with the latter, Ndr deletion dramatically reduced levels of Aak1, an Ndr substrate that regulates vesicle trafficking. Our findings indicate that Ndr kinases are important regulators of amacrine and photoreceptor cells and suggest that Ndr kinases inhibit the proliferation of a subset of terminally differentiated cells and modulate interneuron synapse function via Aak1.

Regulatory roles of ephrinA5 and its novel signaling pathway in mouse primary granulosa cell apoptosis and proliferation

Recent findings suggest that ephrinA5 (Efna5) has a novel role in female mouse fertility, in addition to its well-defined role as a neurogenesis factor. Nevertheless, its physiological roles in ovarian granulosa cells (GC) have not been determined. In this study, mouse GC were cultured and transfected with ephrin A5 siRNA and negative control to determine the effects of Efna5 on GC apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and related signaling pathways. To understand the mode signaling, the mRNA expression levels of Efna5 receptors (Eph receptor A5, Eph receptor A3, Eph receptor A8, and Eph receptor B2) were examined. Both mRNA and protein expressions of apoptosis-related factors (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase 8, Caspase 3, and Tnfα) and a proliferation marker, Pcna, were investigated. Additionally, the role of Efna5 on paracrine oocyte-secreted factors and steroidogenesis hormones were also explored. Efna5 silencing suppressed GC apoptosis by downregulating Bax and upregulating Bcl-2 in a Caspase 8-dependent manner. Efna5 knockdown promoted GC proliferation via p-Akt and p-ERK pathway activation. The inhibition of Efna5 enhanced BMH15 and estradiol expression, but suppressed GDF9, while progesterone level remained unaltered. These results demonstrated that Efna5 is a pro-apoptotic agent in GC and plays important role in folliculogenesis by mediating apoptosis, proliferation, and steroidogenesis in female mouse. Therefore Efna5 might be potential therapeutic target for female fertility disorders.

Developing a deeper insight into reproductive biomarkers

The development of biomarkers of reproductive medicine is still in its infancy because many black boxes are still present in reproductive medicine. Novel approaches to human infertility diagnostics and treatment must be developed because reproductive medicine has lagged behind in the implementation of biomarkers in clinical medicine. Despite the dearth of the available literature, the current rapid pace of publications suggests that this gap will soon be filled therefore; this review is a précis of the research that has been done so far and will provide a basis for the development of biomarkers in reproductive medicine.

Rutaecarpine Inhibits Intimal Hyperplasia in A Balloon-Injured Rat Artery Model

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and potential mechanisms of rutaecarpine (Rut) in a rat artery balloon-injury model.

METHODS

The intimal hyperplasia model was established by rubbing the endothelia with a balloon catheter in the common carotid artery (CCA) of rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups, ie. sham, model, Rut (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg) with 10 rats of each group. The rats were treated with or without Rut (25, 50, 75 mg/kg) by intragastric administration for 14 consecutive days following injury. The morphological changes of the intima were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and smooth muscle (SM) α-actin in the ateries were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expressions of c-myc, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of MKP-1 and phosphorylated ERK2 (p-ERK2) were examined by Western blotting. The plasma contents of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) were also determined.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, Rut treatment significantly decreased intimal thickening and ameliorated endothelial injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive expression rate of PCNA was decreased, while the expression rate of SM α-actin obviously increased in the vascular wall after Rut (50 and 75 mg/kg) administration (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of c-myc, ERK2 and PCNA were downregulated while the expressions of eNOS and MKP-1 were upregulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expressions of MKP-1 and the phosphorylation of ERK2 were upregulated and downregulated after Rut (50 and 75 mg/kg) administration (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. In addition, Rut dramatically reversed balloon injury-induced decrease of NO and cGMP in the plasma (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Rut could inhibit the balloon injury-induced carotid intimal hyperplasia in rats, possibly mediated by promotion of NO production and inhibiting ERK2 signal transduction pathways.

Inflammatory features of frontal fibrosing alopecia

INTRODUCTION

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a cicatricial alopecia typically occurring in postmenopausal women. The etiology and pathophysiology of FFA is poorly understood but thought to be immune mediated. This study aims to further explore the extent of fibrosis and the inflammatory microenvironment by characterizing Langerhans cells (LCs), helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and B cells near hair follicles in FFA.

METHODS

Eleven paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with a clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of FFA were selected for immunohistochemical studies using CD3, CD4, CD8, CD1a and CD20. The lymphocytes and LCs were counted around involved follicles. The CD4/CD8 T-lymphocyte ratios were calculated and compared to the CD4/CD8 T-lymphocyte ratios in uninvolved areas.

RESULTS

On histopathologic review, at least 35% of follicles in each case were affected by the disease with concentric perifollicular fibrosis and a perifollicular lichenoid lymphocytic infiltrate around the infundibuloisthmic portion of the hair follicle. There was an increase of perifollicular LCs (mean of 18, SD of 5.5) and intrafollicular LCs (mean of 14, SD of 4.3) in involved follicles compared to uninvolved follicles (P < .0001). The involved follicles also showed a relative decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio indicating increased numbers of CD8+ T cells; a finding distinct from the CD4-predominant population in uninvolved follicles (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

The inflammatory features of FFA show a CD8-biased T-cell infiltrate with increased numbers of LCs in the infundibuloisthmic region. The increased LCs may represent an aberrant immune reaction promoting a CD8+ T-cell response.

Pre-birth sense of smell in the wild boar: the ontogeny of the olfactory mucosa

Animals recognize their surrounding environments through the sense of smell by detecting thousands of chemical odorants. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) completely depend on their ability to recognize chemical odorants: to detect food, during scavenging and searching partners, during breeding periods and to avoid potential predators. Wild piglets must be prepared for the chemical universe that they will enter after birth, and they show intense neuronal activity in the olfactory mucosa. With this in mind, we investigated the morpho-functional embryonic development of the olfactory mucosa in the wild boar (in five stages before birth). Using mRNA expression analysis of olfactory marker protein and neuropeptide Y, involved in the function of olfactory sensory neurons, we show early activation of the appropriate genes in the wild boar. We hypothesize olfactory pre-birth development in wild boar is highly adaptive.

"Suppressor Factor" of Neutrophils: A Short Story of a Long-Term Misconception

A large body of evidence obtained during the last decade has demonstrated that neutrophils suppress T cell proliferation in different models of inflammation and cell interaction. The commonly used method for assessing cell proliferation and proliferation inhibition is measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into cells. Earlier, we observed inhibition of [3H]thymidine uptake in experiments on neutrophil-mediated regulation of T cell response in tuberculosis immunity. Here, we used different types of proliferating cells to analyze the nature of the soluble "neutrophil factor" by a variety of methods (dialysis, HPLC, mass spectrometry, and NMR) and unambiguously demonstrated that neutrophils do not synthesize a specific factor inhibiting cell proliferation, but secrete high concentrations of extracellular thymidine that competitively inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation. Although the physiological significance of thymidine secretion by neutrophils remains unknown, this phenomenon should be carefully considered when designing test systems for studying cell-cell interactions.

Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT3 Suppresses Oxidized LDL-induced Cell Responses during Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice

Atherosclerosis is a serious public health concern. Excessive inflammatory responses of vascular cells are considered a pivotal pathogenesis mechanism underlying atherosclerosis development. It is known that Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) signalling plays an important role in atherosclerosis progression. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) is the key negative regulator of JAK/STAT3 signalling. However, its effect on atherogenesis is unknown. Here, we observed that PIAS3 levels are reduced in atherosclerotic lesions and that PIAS3 expression decreases in conjunction with increases in interleukin-6 expression and atherosclerosis severity. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), an atherogenic stimulus, reduced PIAS3 expression, an effect that may be attributed to nitric oxide synthesis upregulation. In turn, PIAS3 overexpression effectively suppressed ox-LDL-induced inflammation, lipid accumulation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These results indicate that PIAS3 is a critical repressor of atherosclerosis progression. The findings of this study have contributed to our understanding on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and have provided us with a potential target through which we can inhibit atherosclerosis-related cellular responses.

Prostaglandin E2 promotes intestinal repair through an adaptive cellular response of the epithelium

Adaptive cellular responses are often required during wound repair. Following disruption of the intestinal epithelium, wound-associated epithelial (WAE) cells form the initial barrier over the wound. Our goal was to determine the critical factor that promotes WAE cell differentiation. Using an adaptation of our in vitro primary epithelial cell culture system, we found that prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) signaling through one of its receptors, Ptger4, was sufficient to drive a differentiation state morphologically and transcriptionally similar to in vivo WAE cells. WAE cell differentiation was a permanent state and dominant over enterocyte differentiation in plasticity experiments. WAE cell differentiation was triggered by nuclear β-catenin signaling independent of canonical Wnt signaling. Creation of WAE cells via the PGE₂-Ptger4 pathway was required in vivo, as mice with loss of Ptger4 in the intestinal epithelium did not produce WAE cells and exhibited impaired wound repair. Our results demonstrate a mechanism by which WAE cells are formed by PGE₂ and suggest a process of adaptive cellular reprogramming of the intestinal epithelium that occurs to ensure proper repair to injury.

High Fructose Diet inducing diabetes rapidly impacts olfactory epithelium and behavior in mice

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), a major public health issue reaching worldwide epidemic, has been correlated with lower olfactory abilities in humans. As olfaction represents a major component of feeding behavior, its alteration may have drastic consequences on feeding behaviors that may in turn aggravates T2D. In order to decipher the impact of T2D on the olfactory epithelium, we fed mice with a high fructose diet (HFruD) inducing early diabetic state in 4 to 8 weeks. After only 4 weeks of this diet, mice exhibited a dramatic decrease in olfactory behavioral capacities. Consistently, this decline in olfactory behavior was correlated to decreased electrophysiological responses of olfactory neurons recorded as a population and individually. Our results demonstrate that, in rodents, olfaction is modified by HFruD-induced diabetes. Functional, anatomical and behavioral changes occurred in the olfactory system at a very early stage of the disease.

Disrupting the intrinsic growth potential of a suture contributes to midfacial hypoplasia

Children with unoperated cleft palates have nearly normal growth of their faces whereas patients who have had early surgical repair often exhibit midfacial hypoplasia. Surgical repair is responsible for the underlying bone growth arrest but the mechanisms responsible for these surgical sequelae are poorly understood. We simulated the effect of cleft palate repair by raising a mucoperiosteal flap in the murine palate. Three-dimensional micro-CT reconstructions of the palate along with histomorphometric measurements, finite element (FE) modeling, immunohistochemical analyses, and quantitative RT-PCR were employed to follow the skeletal healing process. Inflammatory bone resorption was observed during the first few days after denudation, which destroyed the midpalatal suture complex. FE modeling was used to predict and map the distribution of strains and their associated stresses in the area of denudation and the magnitude and location of hydrostatic and distortional strains corresponded to sites of skeletal tissue destruction. Once re-epithelialization was complete and wound contracture subsided, the midpalatal suture complex reformed. Despite this, growth at the midpalatal suture was reduced, which led to palatal constriction and a narrowing of the dental arch. Thus the simple act of raising a flap, here mimicked by denuding the mucoperiosteum, was sufficient to cause significant destruction to the midpalatal suture complex. Although the bone and cartilage growth plates were re-established, mediolateral skeletal growth was nonetheless compromised and the injured palate never reached its full growth potential. These data strongly suggest that disruption of suture complexes, which have intrinsic growth potential, should be avoided during surgical correction of congenital anomalies.

The urinary bladder carcinogen propoxur does not produce genotoxic effects in the urinary bladder of Wistar male rats

Propoxur (PPX) is a carbamate insecticide which induced urinary bladder cancer in Wistar rats when fed at 5000ppm in Altromin 1321 diet (1321). In the present investigation, PPX was studied for induction of several key events related to modes of action (MOA) of carcinogenicity in urinary bladders (UBs). Wistar rats were administered the compound for 28 days at 8000ppm in Provini Liba SA 3883 diet, which is similar to the 1321 diet. o-Anisidine HCl (AH) was used as a genotoxic UB carcinogenic comparator, and trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA) as an epigenetic UB carcinogen comparator. Along with the non-dosed control and three test substance groups (PPX, AH, NTA), four more groups were additionally fed 2% ammonium chloride (AC) in the diet to acidify the urine, since 1321 was reported to increase urinary pH. AC did acidify the urine, as expected, although the 3883 diet itself did not increase pH values above 8. In the alkaline comet assay, AH produced DNA single strand breaks (SSBs) in the UB urothelium (UBU) irrespective of AC administration, whereas PPX and NTA did not. In the nucleotide (32)P-postlabeling assay (NPL), AH produced DNA adducts irrespective of AC administration, whereas PPX and NTA did not. Routine (H&E) histopathology evaluation of the UBU did not reveal any hyperplasia or evidence of luminal microprecipitates or calculi in any of the groups. Assessment of UBU proliferation as measured by immunohistochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, revealed that NTA and NTA plus AC increased the replicating fraction (RF). Also AH plus AC, but not AH alone, increased the RF of UBU, whereas PPX groups were not significantly different from controls. Thus, the results reveal no evidence for DNA SSBs, binding, or alteration of DNA synthesis in the UBU by PPX, while demonstrating UBU DNA damage by AH and showing that NTA does not damage DNA, but causes increased UBU proliferation. The findings are in accord with a genotoxic MOA for AH, and an epigenetic MOA for NTA. The MOA of PPX does not involve genotoxicity and may be specific to the 1321 diet.

How much can the tubule regenerate and who does it? An open question

The tubular compartment of the kidney is the primary site of a wide range of insults that can result in acute kidney injury (AKI), a condition associated with high mortality and an increased risk to develop end-stage renal disease. Nevertheless, kidney function is often quickly recovered after tubular injury. How this happens has only partially been unveiled. Indeed, although it has clearly been demonstrated that regenerated epithelial cells arise from survived intratubular cells, the true entity, as well as the cellular source of this regenerative process, remains mostly unknown. Is whichever proximal tubular epithelial cell able to dedifferentiate and divide to replace neighboring lost tubular cells, thus suggesting an extreme regenerative ability of residual tubular epithelium, or is the regenerative potential of tubular epithelium limited, and mostly related to a preexisting population of intratubular scattered progenitor cells which are more resistant to death? Gaining insights on how this process takes place is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies to prevent AKI, as well as AKI-related chronic kidney disease. The aim of this review is to discuss why the answers to these questions are still open, and how further investigations are needed to understand which is the true regenerative potential of the tubule and who are the players that allow functional recovery after AKI.

The membrane protein melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) is a novel tumor marker that stimulates tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is overexpressed and has an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether membrane protein can serve not only as a tumor marker that reflects YAP function but also as a therapeutic target that stimulates tumorigenesis in HCC remains unknown. Here we report that the membrane protein melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) was under positive regulation by YAP and was highly elevated in HCC cells. Within the MCAM promoter, we found the presence of a cAMP Response Element (CRE; -32 to -25 nt), which is conserved among species and is essential for YAP- and CREB-dependent regulation. Moreover, the interaction between CREB and YAP at the CRE site was dependent on PTPIY-WW domain interactions. However, MCAM expression was low and could not be regulated by YAP in breast and colon cancer cells because of the low levels of the acetyltransferase p300. In HCC cells, high levels of p300 facilitated the binding of YAP to the MCAM promoter, which in turn enhanced histone acetylation and polymerase II recruitment through the dissociation of the deacetylase Sirt1. These results suggest that MCAM is an HCC-specific target of YAP. In clinical serum samples, we found that the serum levels of MCAM were highly elevated in patients with HCC compared with healthy controls and with patients with cirrhosis, hepatitis, colon cancer and breast cancer. MCAM levels were shown to be a slightly better indicator than serum alpha-fetoprotein for predicting HCC. We further demonstrated that MCAM is essential for the survival and transformation of HCC. Mechanistically, MCAM induced translation initiation and the transcriptional activities of c-Jun/c-Fos. In addition, AKT activation had an essential role in the MCAM-promoted binding of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E to c-Jun/c-Fos mRNA. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MCAM may be a potential tumor marker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Lack of effect of metofluthrin and sodium phenobarbital on replicative DNA synthesis and Ki-67 mRNA expression in cultured human hepatocytes

High doses of metofluthrin have been shown to produce hepatocellular tumours in rats.

Ki67 is a promising molecular target in the diagnosis of cancer (review)

The expression of Ki67 is strongly associated with tumor cell proliferation and growth, and is widely used in routine pathological investigation as a proliferation marker. The nuclear protein Ki67 (pKi67) is an established prognostic and predictive indicator for the assessment of biopsies from patients with cancer. Clinically, pKi67 has been shown to correlate with metastasis and the clinical stage of tumors. In addition, it has been shown that Ki67 expression is significantly higher malignant tissues with poorly differentiated tumor cells, as compared with normal tissue. According to its predictive role, pKi67 expression identifies subpopulations of patients who are more likely to respond to a given therapy. The Ki67 labeling index is an independent prognostic factor for survival rate, which includes all stages and grade categories. There is a correlation between the ratio of Ki67‑positive malignant cells and patient survival. It has been shown that blocking of Ki67 either by microinjection of antibodies or through the use of antisense oligonucleotides leads to the arrest of cell proliferation. Specifically, antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies against pKi67 have been shown to inhibit the progression of the cell cycle. The Ki67 protein is well characterized at the molecular level and is extensively used as a prognostic and predictive marker for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Increasing evidence indicates that Ki67 may be an effective target in cancer therapy. It therefore merits further development, including testing in more sophisticated in vitro and appropriate in vivo models. This review provides an overview of recent advances in this field.

Proliferative capacity and cytokine production by cells of HIV-infected and uninfected adults with different helminth infection phenotypes in South Africa

Background

It has been suggested that the proliferative capacity of cells from individuals with HIV or both HIV and helminth infections is attenuated and cytokine production is dysregulated. This study describes peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation capacity and cytokine profile from individuals with HIV or both HIV and helminth infections in South Africa.

Methods

Forty HIV-infected and 22 HIV-uninfected participants were randomly selected and stratified into different helminth infection phenotypes by egg excretion and Ascaris lumbricoides specific –immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels. Five day cell cultures of participants, unstimulated or stimulated with Phytohaemaglutinnin, Streptokinase, HIV-1 p24 and Ascaris lumbricoides worm antigens were stained with monoclonal antibody-fluorochrome conjugates (Ki67-FITC and CTLA-APC-4). Percentage expression of Ki67 and CTLA-4 was measured to determine cell proliferation and regulation, respectively. Culture supernatants were analysed for the expression of 13 cytokines using the Bioplex (BioRad) system. Kruskal Wallis was used to test for differences in variables between helminth infected subgroups who were either having eggs in stool and high IgE (egg⁺IgE^hi); or eggs in stool and low IgE (egg⁺IgE^lo); or no eggs in stool and high IgE (egg^-IgE^hi) and those without helminth infection (egg^-IgE^lo).

Results

Individuals excreting eggs in stool with high serum IgE (egg⁺IgE^hi phenotype) had potent mitogen responses but consistently produced low, but statistically non-significant antigen–specific (HIV^-1 p24 (p = 0.41) and Ascaris (p = 0.19) and recall antigen (Streptokinase; p = 0.31) Ki67 responses. The group also had reduced type 1 cytokines. Individuals excreting eggs in stool with low serum IgE( egg⁺IgE^lo phenotype) had a more favourable antiviral profile, characterized by higher IFNγ, IL-2, lower IL-4 and higher IL-10 production.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that dual HIV/helminth infection with egg excretion and/or high Ascaris IgE phenotye may be linked with poor proliferative capacity and deleterious cytokine profile with regards to HIV control.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-499) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal growth arrest by cutaneous scarring

In pediatric surgeries, cutaneous scarring is frequently accompanied by an arrest in skeletal growth. The molecular mechanisms responsible for this effect are not understood. Here, we investigated the relationship between scar contracture and osteogenesis. An excisional cutaneous wound was made on the tail of neonatal mice. Finite element (FE) modeling of the wound site was used to predict the distribution and magnitude of contractile forces within soft and hard tissues. Morphogenesis of the bony vertebrae was monitored by micro-CT analyses, and vertebral growth plates were interrogated throughout the healing period using assays for cell proliferation, death, differentiation, as well as matrix deposition and remodeling. Wound contracture was grossly evident on post-injury day 7 and accompanying it was a significant shortening in the tail. FE modeling indicated high compressive strains localized to the dorsal portions of the vertebral growth plates and intervertebral disks. These predicted strain distributions corresponded to sites of increased cell death, a cessation in cell proliferation, and a loss in mineralization within the growth plates and IVD. Although cutaneous contracture resolved and skeletal growth rates returned to normal, vertebrae under the cutaneous wound remained significantly shorter than controls. Thus, localized contractile forces generated by scarring led to spatial alterations in cell proliferation, death, and differentiation that inhibited bone growth in a location-dependent manner. Resolution of cutaneous scarring was not accompanied by compensatory bone growth, which left the bony elements permanently truncated. Therefore, targeting early scar reduction is critical to preserving pediatric bone growth after surgery.

Patient samples of renal cell carcinoma show reduced expression of TRAF1 compared with normal kidney and functional studies in vitro indicate TRAF1 promotes apoptosis: potential for targeted therapy

AIMS

The tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family of proteins links the TNF receptor superfamily to cell signalling cascades. TRAF1 is involved in regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and stress responses. It has a role in development of several malignancies, but no information for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is available.

METHODS

Expression profiles for TRAF1 were investigated in 121 samples of human RCC of various subtypes plus paired normal kidney prepared in tissue microarrays, in comparison with apoptosis (morphology, ApopTag) and mitosis (morphology, proliferating cell nuclear antigen/PCNA). TRAF1 function was tested in vitro in RCC ACHN cells. TRAF1 short interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit expression of TRAF1 in ACHN cells untreated or treated with cancer therapies known to induce apoptosis (20 Gy X-irradiation and/or 500 IU/mL interferon-alpha).

RESULTS

In patient samples, TRAF1 localised to proximal tubular epithelium in normal kidney and was significantly decreased in clear cell RCC as one group (p < 0.01) and all other RCC subclassifications grouped together (p < 0.05). There was little apoptosis identified in any RCC samples. In vitro, TRAF1 siRNA caused significant reduction in TRAF1 expression and a concurrent decrease in apoptosis and increase in proliferative activity (both p < 0.05) in the ACHN RCC cells treated with radiation and interferon-alpha.

CONCLUSION

TRAF1 may have a pro-apoptotic, anti-mitotic role in RCC. The low TRAF1 expression in untreated RCC patient samples compared with normal kidney, and the localisation of TRAF1 to the proximal tubular epithelium from which many RCC originate, may indicate a potential for targeted therapy in RCC.