Safflower Polysaccharide Inhibits AOM/DSS-Induced Mice Colorectal Cancer Through the Regulation of Macrophage Polarization

MFGE8 in exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells prevents esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection in pigs

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the current standard treatment for early-stage esophageal neoplasms. However, the postoperative esophageal stricture after extensive mucosal dissection remains a severe challenge with limited effective treatments available. In this study, we introduced a chitosan/gelatin (ChGel) sponge encapsulating the adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs)-derived exosomes (ChGelMSC-Exo) for the prevention of esophageal stenosis after ESD in a porcine model.

RESULTS

Pigs were randomly assigned into (1) ChGelMSC-Exo treatment group, (2) ChGelPBS group, and (3) the controls. Exosome treatments were applied immediately on the day after ESD as well as on day 7. Exosome components crucial for wound healing were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and small RNA sequencing. ChGelMSC-Exo treatment significantly reduced mucosal contraction on day 21, with less fiber accumulation and inflammatory infiltration, and enhanced angiogenesis when compared with the control and ChGelPBS groups. The anti-fibrotic effects following MSC-Exo treatment were further found to be associated with the anti-inflammatory M2 polarization of the resident macrophages, especially within the M2b subset characterized by the reduced TGFβ1 secretion, which sufficiently inhibited inflammation and prevented the activation of myofibroblast with less collagen production at the early stage after ESD. Moreover, the abundant expression of exosomal MFGE8 was identified to be involved in the transition of the M2b-macrophage subset through the activation of MFGE8/STAT3/Arg1 axis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that exosomal MFGE8 significantly promotes the polarization of the M2b-macrophage subset, consequently reducing collagen deposition. These findings suggest a promising potential for MSC-Exo therapy in preventing the development of esophageal stricture after near-circumferential ESD.

Research Progress on the Anticancer Activity of Plant Polysaccharides

Tumor is a serious threat to human health, with extremely high morbidity and mortality rates. However, tumor treatment is challenging, and the development of antitumor drugs has always been a significant research focus. Plant polysaccharides are known to possess various biological activities. They have many pharmacological properties such as immunomodulation, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidative, antithrombotic, and antiradiation effects, reduction of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and protection from liver injury. Among these effects, the antitumor effect of plant polysaccharides has been widely studied. Plant polysaccharides can inhibit tumor proliferation and growth by inhibiting tumor cell invasion and metastasis, inducing cell apoptosis, affecting the cell cycle, and regulating the tumor microenvironment. They also have the characteristics of safety, high efficiency, and low toxicity, which can alleviate, to a certain extent, the adverse reactions caused by traditional tumor treatment methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Therefore, this paper systematically summarizes the direct antitumor effects of plant polysaccharides, their regulatory effects on the tumor microenvironment, and intervening many common high-incidence tumors in other ways. It also provides data support for the administration of plant polysaccharides in modern tumor drug therapy, enabling the identification of new targets and development of new drugs for tumor therapy.

Simultaneous Analysis of 53 Pesticides in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) by Using LC-MS/MS Coupled with a Modified QuEChERS Technique

OBJECTIVE

An optimized quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) technique was investigated and compared with the conventional QuEChERS technique for the simultaneous analysis of fifty-three pesticide residues in safflower using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

METHOD

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) consisting of a major amount of carbon and nitrogen with a large surface area was used as a QuEChERS adsorbent instead of graphitized carbon black (GCB) for safflower extraction purification. Validation experiments were performed using spiked pesticide samples, and real samples were analyzed.

RESULTS

The linearity of the modified QuEChERS technique was evaluated with high coefficients of determination (R-2) being higher than 0.99. The limits of detection were <10 μg/kg. The spiked recoveries ranged from 70.4% to 97.6% with a relative standard deviation of less than 10.0%. The fifty-three pesticides exhibited negligible matrix effects (<20%). Thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, metolachlor, and difenoconazole were detected in real samples using an established method.

CONCLUSION

This work provides a new g-C₃N₄-based modified QuEChERS technique for multi-pesticide residue analysis in complex food matrices.

Comprehensive analysis of the differential expression and prognostic value of COL1A2 in colon adenocarcinoma

Background: Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a highly heterogeneous disease, which is the second most common cancer in females and third in males. Collagen type I alpha 2 (COL1A2) has been documented to be involved in the carcinogenesis of multiple tumors; however, the expression and prognostic significance of COL1A2 and its underlying mechanism in COAD remains unclarified.

Materials and Methods: The general profile of COL1A2, its expression pattern, and prognostic value were systematically assessed through various bioinformatics tools. The protein level of COL1A2 was verified in COAD patients using immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition, enrichment analyses were performed to explore the possible regulatory pathways of COL1A2 in COAD.

Results: The mRNA and protein levels of COL1A2 were significantly increased in COAD than that in normal tissues (P < 0.05). The COL1A2 expression tended to increase along with cancer stages and nodal metastasis status in COAD, while the promoter methylation levels of COL1A2 might negatively related to its mRNA expression. Survival analysis showed that COL1A2 was a reliable predictor for distinguishing the status of disease-specific survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS), and might serve as a robust independent prognostic biomarker for DSS and OS in COAD patients (P < 0.05). The enrichment analysis showed focal adhesion as the most possible regulatory pathway by COL1A2.

Conclusion: Collectively, COL1A2 functioned as an independent prognostic biomarker and might be a potential therapeutic target in COAD.