Clinical Significance of Serum Membrane-Bound Mucin-2 Levels in Breast Cancer

New rat to mouse xenograft transplantation of endometrium as a model of human endometriosis

Background

Endometriosis can lead to infertility. Since there is no definitive treatment for endometriosis, animal modelling seems necessary to examine the possible treatments. Mouse endometrium cannot be separated for endometriosis induction. In addition, transplantation of uterus into the abdominal viscera to induce endometriosis causes organ damage. In this study, we defined a new model of endometriosis leading to separability of endometrium and a safe anatomical region for transplantation.

Methods

Forty female mice were allocated to 5 groups: 1, sham; 2, allograft uterus transplantation of mice to anterior abdominal wall of mice; 3, allograft uterus transplantation of mice to mesentery of mice; 4, xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice; 5, xenograft endometrial transplantation of rat to mesentery of mice. Adult female rats with a previous pregnancy experience were selected and placed in the vicinity of male rats for 2 weeks to induce estrogen secretion and increase endometrial thickness.

Results

In the 4th group of animals, compared to sham, the peritoneal concentrations of VEGF-A, TNF-α, NO, MDA, and serum levels of CA-125 and IL-37 were increased and total body weight was decreased, while weight and size of endometrial lesions were increased significantly (P < .05). Genes expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 were decreased significantly (P < .05) in groups 2 and 4 compared to sham.

Conclusions

Xenograft transplantation of endometrium from rat to anterior abdominal wall of mice can potentially mimic human endometriosis morphologically, histologically, and genetically.

GATA3 somatic mutations are associated with clinicopathological features and expression profile in TCGA breast cancer patients

The effect of somatic mutations and the gene expression profiles on the prognosis is well documented in cancer research. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of GATA3 somatic mutations with tumor features, survival, and expression profiles in breast cancer. Clinicopathological information was compared between TCGA-BRCA patients with GATA3-mutant and non-mutant tumors in all patients as well as in ER-positive subgroup. Cox-regression method was used to evaluate the association of the GATA3 mutation status with overall survival time. Differential gene expression, functional annotation, and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed using edgeR, Metascape, DAVID, STRING and CytoNCA. GATA3-mutant and non-mutant samples had significantly different clinicopathological features (p < 0.05). While GATA3 mutation status was not associated with the overall survival in the entire cohort (p_adj = 0.52), the GATA3-wild type ER-positive cases had a better prognosis than mutant ones (p_adj = 0.04). GATA3 expression was higher in tumors than normal tissues. Several pathways were different between mutant and non-mutant groups (p < 0.05). Interleukin-6 was found as the highest scored gene in both comparisons (normal vs. mutant and normal vs. non-mutant groups) in the entire patient and in the ER-positive subgroup, suggesting the association of IL6 with breast tumorigenesis. These findings suggest that GATA3 mutations can be associated with several tumor characteristics and influence the pattern of gene expression. However, GATA3 mutation status seems to be a prognostic factor for the disease only in ER-positive patients.

Comparative Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Mucus Induction Properties of Selected Bacillus Strains against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Probiotics have been shown to bind to host receptors, which are important for pathogen adhesion and induce the host’s production of defence factors. They can activate the goblet-cell-derived production of mucins, a major component of the mucus layer and a physical barrier participating in limiting the proximity of microorganisms to the epithelial layer. In the last decade, Bacillus spp. strains have gained interest in human and animal health due to their tolerance and stability under gastrointestinal tract conditions. Moreover, Bacillus spp. strains can also produce various antimicrobial peptides that can support their use as commercial probiotic supplements and functional foods. The present study aimed to evaluate and determine the ability of selected Bacillus spp. strains to inhibit the growth of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 and to reduce binding of ETEC F4 to HT29-16E (mucus-secreting and goblet-like) human intestinal cells. Moreover, mucus production in the HT29 cells in the presence of the Bacillus spp. strains was quantified by ELISA. Bacillus spp. strains (CHCC 15076, CHCC 15516, CHCC 15541, and CHCC 16872) significantly inhibited the growth of ETEC F4. Moreover, the ability of the probiotic Bacillus spp. strains to stimulate mucin release was highly strain dependent. The treatment with Bacillus subtilis CHCC 15541 resulted in a significant increase of both MUC2 and MUC3 in HT29-16E cells. Therefore, this strain could be an up-and-coming candidate for developing commercial probiotic supplements to prevent infections caused by ETEC F4 and, potentially, other pathogens.

A Purified Aspartic Protease from Akkermansia Muciniphila Plays an Important Role in Degrading Muc2

Akkermansia muciniphila can produce various mucin-degrading proteins. However, the functional characteristics of these proteins and their role in mucin degradation are unclear. Of the predicted protein-coding genes, Amuc_1434, which encodes for a hypothetical protein, is the focus in this study. A recombinant enzyme Amuc_1434 containing the 6× His-tag produced in Escherichia coli (hereinafter termed Amuc_1434*) was isolated to homogeneity and biochemically characterised. Results showed that the enzyme can hydrolyse hemoglobin with an activity of 17.21 U/μg. The optimal pH and temperature for hemoglobin hydrolysis of Amuc_1434* were found to be around 8.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Amuc_1434* is identified as a member of the aspartic protease family through the action of inhibitor pepstatin A. Amuc_1434* promotes the adhesion of colon cancer cell line LS174T, which can highly express Muc2. Significantly Amuc_1434* can degrade Muc2 of colon cancer cells. Amuc_1434 is mainly located in the colon of BALB/c mice. These results suggest that the presence of Amuc_1434 from Akkermansia muciniphila may be correlated with the restoration of gut barrier function by decreasing mucus layer thickness.

Biomarkers in Stress Related Diseases/Disorders: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Values

Various internal and external factors negatively affect the homeostatic equilibrium of organisms at the molecular to the whole-body level, inducing the so-called state of stress. Stress affects an organism's welfare status and induces energy-consuming mechanisms to combat the subsequent ill effects; thus, the individual may be immunocompromised, making them vulnerable to pathogens. The information presented here has been extensively reviewed, compiled, and analyzed from authenticated published resources available on Medline, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and other scientific databases. Stress levels can be monitored by the quantitative and qualitative measurement of biomarkers. Potential markers of stress include thermal stress markers, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), innate immune markers, such as Acute Phase Proteins (APPs), oxidative stress markers, and chemical secretions in the saliva and urine. In addition, stress biomarkers also play critical roles in the prognosis of stress-related diseases and disorders, and therapy guidance. Moreover, different components have been identified as potent mediators of cardiovascular, central nervous system, hepatic, and nephrological disorders, which can also be employed to evaluate these conditions precisely, but with stringent validation and specificity. Considerable scientific advances have been made in the detection, quantitation, and application of these biomarkers. The present review describes the current progress of identifying biomarkers, their prognostic, and therapeutic values.

Biomarkers in Stress Related Diseases/Disorders: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Values

Various internal and external factors negatively affect the homeostatic equilibrium of organisms at the molecular to the whole-body level, inducing the so-called state of stress. Stress affects an organism's welfare status and induces energy-consuming mechanisms to combat the subsequent ill effects; thus, the individual may be immunocompromised, making them vulnerable to pathogens. The information presented here has been extensively reviewed, compiled, and analyzed from authenticated published resources available on Medline, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and other scientific databases. Stress levels can be monitored by the quantitative and qualitative measurement of biomarkers. Potential markers of stress include thermal stress markers, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), innate immune markers, such as Acute Phase Proteins (APPs), oxidative stress markers, and chemical secretions in the saliva and urine. In addition, stress biomarkers also play critical roles in the prognosis of stress-related diseases and disorders, and therapy guidance. Moreover, different components have been identified as potent mediators of cardiovascular, central nervous system, hepatic, and nephrological disorders, which can also be employed to evaluate these conditions precisely, but with stringent validation and specificity. Considerable scientific advances have been made in the detection, quantitation, and application of these biomarkers. The present review describes the current progress of identifying biomarkers, their prognostic, and therapeutic values.