Involvement of the A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 9 in oral cancer cell invasion

Role of noncoding RNA in the pathophysiology and treatment of intrauterine adhesion

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is one of the most common diseases of the reproductive system in women. It is often accompanied by serious clinical problems that damage reproductive function, such as menstrual disorder, infertility, or recurrent abortion. The clinical effect of routine treatment is not ideal, and the postoperative recurrence rate is still very high. Therefore, exploring the pathological mechanism of IUA and finding new strategies for the effective prevention and treatment of IUA are needed. The main pathological mechanism of IUA is endometrial fibrosis and scar formation. Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) plays an important role in the fibrosis process, which is one of the latest research advances in the pathophysiology of IUA. Moreover, the exosomal miRNAs derived from mesenchymal stem cells can be used to improve IUA. This paper reviewed the role of ncRNAs in IUA pathogenesis, summarized the core pathways of endometrial fibrosis regulated by ncRNAs, and finally introduced the potential of ncRNAs as a therapeutic target.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumors from heavy alcohol consumers are associated with higher levels of TLR9 and a particular immunophenotype: Impact on patient survival

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent types of oral cancer in developing countries and its burden correlates with exposure to tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are major sensors of inflammatory stimuli, from both microbial and sterile causes and as such, they have been related to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we evaluated the expression of TLR2, 4 and 9 as well as CD3+, CD8+ and Granzyme B+ cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry in oral samples of 30 patients with OSCC, classified according to their consumption of alcohol. Our findings indicate that there is a significant association between heavy alcohol consumption and tumors with higher expression levels of TLR9. Moreover, patients with TLR9high tumors, as well as those who indicated high consumption of alcohol exhibited a diminished overall survival. TCGA data analysis indicated that TLR9high tumors express a significant increase in some genes related with the oral cavity itself, inflammation and tumor promotion. Our analysis of tumor infiltrating leukocytes demonstrated that the major differences perceived in heavy alcohol consumers was the location of CD8+ T cells infiltrating the tumor, which showed lower numbers intratumorally. Our data suggest the existence of a pathogenic loop that involves alcohol consumption, high TLR9 expression and the immunophenotype, which might have a profound impact on the progression of the disease.

Overexpression of methyltransferase-like 3 and 14 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine expressions of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and METTL14, two enzymes essential for mRNA methylation at the adenosine (m⁶ A), in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to investigate in vitro aggressiveness of their aberrant expressions.

METHODS

METTL3 and METTL14 expressions in 50 OSCC and 11 normal oral tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. METTL3 and METTL14 expressions and m⁶ A amounts were determined in three OSCC cell lines, including HN5, HN6, and HN15. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were studied by BrdU, wound healing, and Transwell chamber assays, after silencing of METTL3, METTL14, or both by siRNA transfection.

RESULTS

Immunostaining of METTL3 and METTL14 was localized in cancer cell nuclei. The mean percentages of METTL3- and METTL14-positive cells were significantly increased in OSCC tissues (p < 0.001). The percentages of METTL3- and METTL14-positive cells were correlated with the advanced pTNM stages (p < 0.05) and with the degrees of histopathological differentiation in OSCC (r = 0.564 and r = 0.316, respectively; p < 0.001). By the COX multivariate analysis, both overexpressed METTL3 and METTL14 were significantly associated with short overall survival (p < 0.05). Both METTL3 and METTL14 expressions and the m⁶ A amounts were significantly increased in HN6 (p < 0.05). Silencing of METTL3 and METTL14 in HN6 significantly inhibited cell proliferation (p < 0.01), but it failed to mitigate cell migration or invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

METTL3 and METTL14 are overexpressed in OSCC tissues and in the HN6 OSCC cell line that promotes cell proliferation. Overexpressed METTL3 or METTL14 is found to be an independent prognostic factor for short overall survival in patients with OSCC.