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Naeem A, Knoer G, Avantaggiati ML, Rodriguez O, Albanese C. Provocative non-canonical roles of p53 and AKT signaling: A role for Thymosin β4 in medulloblastoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109785. [PMID: 36720193 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT and p53 pathways are key regulators of cancer cell survival and death, respectively. Contrary to their generally accepted roles, several lines of evidence, including ours in medulloblastoma, the most common childhood brain cancer, highlight non-canonical functions for both proteins and show a complex context-dependent dynamic behavior in determining cell fate. Interestingly, p53-mediated cell survival and AKT-mediated cell death can dominate in certain conditions, and these interchangeable physiological functions may potentially be manipulated for better clinical outcomes. This review article presents studies in which p53 and AKT behave contrary to their well-established functions. We discuss the factors and circumstances that may be involved in mediating these changes and the implications of these unique roles of p53 and AKT in devising therapeutic strategies. Lastly, based on our recent finding of Thymosin beta 4-mediated chemosensitivity via an AKT-p53 interaction in medulloblastoma cells, we also discuss the possible implications of Thymosin beta-4 in enhancing drug sensitivity in this deadly childhood disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Naeem
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Health Research Governance Department, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar.
| | - Grace Knoer
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Maria Laura Avantaggiati
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Olga Rodriguez
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Chris Albanese
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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2
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Klimovich B, Meyer L, Merle N, Neumann M, König AM, Ananikidis N, Keber CU, Elmshäuser S, Timofeev O, Stiewe T. Partial p53 reactivation is sufficient to induce cancer regression. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:80. [PMID: 35232479 PMCID: PMC8889716 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02269-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background Impaired p53 function is one of the central molecular features of a tumor cell and even a partial reduction in p53 activity can increase the cancer risk in mice and men. From a therapeutic perspective it is noteworthy that tumor cells often become addicted to the absence of p53 providing a rationale for developing p53 reactivating compounds to treat cancer patients. Unfortunately, many of the compounds that are currently undergoing preclinical and clinical testing fail to fully reactivate mutant p53 proteins, raising the crucial question: how much p53 activity is needed to elicit a therapeutic effect? Methods We have genetically modelled partial p53 reactivation using knock-in mice with inducible expression of the p53 variant E177R. This variant has a reduced ability to bind and transactivate target genes and consequently causes moderate cancer susceptibility. We have generated different syngeneically transplanted and autochthonous mouse models of p53-deficient acute myeloid leukemia and B or T cell lymphoma. After cancer manifestation we have activated E177R expression and analyzed the in vivo therapy response by bioluminescence or magnetic resonance imaging. The molecular response was further characterized in vitro by assays for gene expression, proliferation, senescence, differentiation, apoptosis and clonogenic growth. Results We report the conceptually intriguing observation that the p53 variant E177R, which promotes de novo leukemia and lymphoma formation, inhibits proliferation and viability, induces immune cell infiltration and triggers cancer regression in vivo when introduced into p53-deficient leukemia and lymphomas. p53-deficient cancer cells proved to be so addicted to the absence of p53 that even the low-level activity of E177R is detrimental to cancer growth. Conclusions The observation that a partial loss-of-function p53 variant promotes tumorigenesis in one setting and induces regression in another, underlines the highly context-specific effects of individual p53 mutants. It further highlights the exquisite sensitivity of cancer cells to even small changes in p53 activity and reveals that changes in activity level are more important than the absolute level. As such, the study encourages ongoing research efforts into mutant p53 reactivating drugs by providing genetic proof-of-principle evidence that incomplete p53 reactivation may suffice to elicit a therapeutic response. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02269-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Klimovich
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Laura Meyer
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nastasja Merle
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michelle Neumann
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander M König
- Clinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Core Facility 7T-small animal MRI, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Ananikidis
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Corinna U Keber
- Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Elmshäuser
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Oleg Timofeev
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany. .,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany. .,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany. .,Genomics Core Facility, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
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Klimovich B, Merle N, Neumann M, Elmshäuser S, Nist A, Mernberger M, Kazdal D, Stenzinger A, Timofeev O, Stiewe T. p53 partial loss-of-function mutations sensitize to chemotherapy. Oncogene 2022; 41:1011-1023. [PMID: 34907344 PMCID: PMC8837531 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02141-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The tumor suppressive transcription factor p53 is frequently inactivated in cancer cells by missense mutations that cluster in the DNA binding domain. 30% hit mutational hotspot residues, resulting in a complete loss of transcriptional activity and mutant p53-driven chemotherapy resistance. Of the remaining 70% of non-hotspot mutants, many are partial loss-of-function (partial-LOF) mutants with residual transcriptional activity. The therapeutic consequences of a partial-LOF have remained largely elusive. Using a p53 mutation engineered to reduce DNA binding, we demonstrate that partial-LOF is sufficient to enhance oncogene-driven tumorigenesis in mouse models of lung and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia. Interestingly, mouse and human tumors with partial-LOF mutations showed mutant p53 protein accumulation similar as known for hotspot mutants. Different from the chemotherapy resistance caused by p53-loss, the partial-LOF mutant sensitized to an apoptotic chemotherapy response and led to a survival benefit. Mechanistically, the pro-apoptotic transcriptional activity of mouse and human partial-LOF mutants was rescued at high mutant protein levels, suggesting that accumulation of partial-LOF mutants enables the observed apoptotic chemotherapy response. p53 non-hotspot mutants with partial-LOF, therefore, represent tumorigenic p53 mutations that need to be distinguished from other mutations because of their beneficial impact on survival in a therapy context.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
- Humans
- Mice
- Loss of Function Mutation
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Klimovich
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nastasja Merle
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michelle Neumann
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Elmshäuser
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Nist
- Genomics Core Facility, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marco Mernberger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Kazdal
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Albrecht Stenzinger
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oleg Timofeev
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
- Genomics Core Facility, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
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Xu X, Li W, Zhang L, Ji Y, Qin J, Wang L, Wang M, Qi L, Xue J, Lv B, Zhang X, Xue Z. Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation on miRNA Expression and Early Embryonic Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:749486. [PMID: 35004670 PMCID: PMC8728010 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.749486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although sperm preservation is a common means of personal fertility preservation, its effects on embryonic development potential need further investigation. The purpose of this study was to identify key microRNA (miRNA) in cryopreserved sperm and determine the changes of these miRNAs and their target genes during embryonic development using cryopreserved sperm. Moreover, the embryonic development potential of cryopreserved sperm was estimated in assisted reproductive technology (ART), where key miRNAs and target genes were validated in sperm and subsequent embryos. Clinical data of embryonic development from cryopreserved sperm indicated a significant decrease in fertilization rate in both in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cases, as well as a reduction in blastocyst formation rate in ICSI cases. Meanwhile there was a significant increase in blocked embryo ratio of Day1, Day2, and Day3.5 embryos when frozen-thawed mouse sperm was used, compared with fresh mouse sperm, suggesting a potential negative effect of sperm cryopreservation on embryonic development. From frozen-thawed and fresh sperm in humans and mice, respectively, 21 and 95 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were detected. miR-148b-3p were downregulated in both human and mouse frozen-thawed sperm and were also decreased in embryos after fertilization using cryopreserved sperm. Target genes of miR-148b-3p, Pten, was identified in mouse embryos using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB). In addition, common characters of cryopreservation of mouse oocytes compared with sperm were also detected; downregulation of miR-148b-3p was also confirmed in cryopreserved oocytes. In summary, our study suggested that cryopreservation of sperm could change the expression of miRNAs, especially the miR-148b-3p across humans and mice, and may further affect fertilization and embryo development by increasing the expression of Pten. Moreover, downregulation of miR-148b-3p induced by cryopreservation was conserved in mouse gametes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Xu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanqiong Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yazhong Ji
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaying Qin
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingwen Wang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingbin Qi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Xue
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Lv
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xunyi Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigang Xue
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Timofeev O, Stiewe T. Rely on Each Other: DNA Binding Cooperativity Shapes p53 Functions in Tumor Suppression and Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2422. [PMID: 34067731 PMCID: PMC8155944 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is a tumor suppressor that is mutated in half of all cancers. The high clinical relevance has made p53 a model transcription factor for delineating general mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. p53 forms tetramers that bind DNA in a highly cooperative manner. The DNA binding cooperativity of p53 has been studied by structural and molecular biologists as well as clinical oncologists. These experiments have revealed the structural basis for cooperative DNA binding and its impact on sequence specificity and target gene spectrum. Cooperativity was found to be critical for the control of p53-mediated cell fate decisions and tumor suppression. Importantly, an estimated number of 34,000 cancer patients per year world-wide have mutations of the amino acids mediating cooperativity, and knock-in mouse models have confirmed such mutations to be tumorigenic. While p53 cancer mutations are classically subdivided into "contact" and "structural" mutations, "cooperativity" mutations form a mechanistically distinct third class that affect the quaternary structure but leave DNA contacting residues and the three-dimensional folding of the DNA-binding domain intact. In this review we discuss the concept of DNA binding cooperativity and highlight the unique nature of cooperativity mutations and their clinical implications for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Timofeev
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, 35037 Marburg, Germany
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Celardo I, Melino G, Amelio I. Commensal microbes and p53 in cancer progression. Biol Direct 2020; 15:25. [PMID: 33213502 PMCID: PMC7678320 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-020-00281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aetiogenesis of cancer has not been fully determined. Recent advances have clearly defined a role for microenvironmental factors in cancer progression and initiation; in this context, microbiome has recently emerged with a number of reported correlative and causative links implicating alterations of commensal microbes in tumorigenesis. Bacteria appear to have the potential to directly alter physiological pathways of host cells and in specific circumstances, such as the mutation of the tumour suppressive factor p53, they can also directly switch the function of a gene from oncosuppressive to oncogenic. In this minireview, we report a number of examples on how commensal microbes alter the host cell biology, affecting the oncogenic process. We then discuss more in detail how interaction with the gut microbiome can affect the function of p53 mutant in the intestinal tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Celardo
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivano Amelio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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Zhu X, Luo C, Lin K, Bu F, Ye F, Huang C, Luo H, Huang J, Zhu Z. Overexpression of DJ-1 enhances colorectal cancer cell proliferation through the cyclin-D1/MDM2-p53 signaling pathway. Biosci Trends 2020; 14:83-95. [PMID: 32132307 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2019.01272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that DJ-1 is highly expressed in different cancers. It modulates cancer progression, including cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly defined. The current study noted increased DJ-1 expression in CRC tumor tissue and found that its expression was closely related to clinical-pathological features. Similarly, DJ-1 increased in CRC cells (SW480, HT-29, Caco-2, LoVo, HCT116, and SW620), and especially in SW480 and HCT116 cells. Functional analyses indicated that overexpression of DJ-1 promoted CRC cell invasion, migration, and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies indicated that DJ-1 increased in CRC cell lines, activated specific protein cyclin-D1, and modulated the MDM2/p53 signaling pathway by regulating the levels of the downstream factors Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2, which are related to the cell cycle and apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of DJ-1 upregulated p53 expression by disrupting the interaction between p53 and MDM2 and inhibiting CRC cell proliferation, revealing the pro-oncogenic mechanism of DJ-1 in CRC. In conclusion, the current findings provide compelling evidence that DJ-1 might be a promoter of CRC cell invasion, proliferation, and migration via the cyclin-D1/MDM2-p53 signaling pathway. Findings also suggest its potential role as a postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojian Zhu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chen Luo
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Kang Lin
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fanqin Bu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Fan Ye
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chao Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hongliang Luo
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jun Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhengming Zhu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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