MiRNA-30a-5p/VCAN Arrests Tumor Metastasis via Modulating the Adhesion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Previous research indicated that the dysregulation of miRNA-30a-5p has a correlation with cell metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). But the study about the molecular regulatory mechanism of miRNA-30a-5p in LUAD cell metastasis is limited. Thus, we discussed the mechanism of miRNA-30a-5p and its biological function in LUAD cells. By utilizing bioinformatics analysis, how miRNA-30a-5p was expressed in LUAD tissue was determined and its downstream target genes were predicted. The signaling pathways where these target genes enriched were analyzed. Several in vitro experiments were applied for cell function detection: dual-luciferase assay for validating the targeting relationship between miRNA-30a-5p and its target gene; quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for testing the expression of miRNA-30a-5p and its target gene in LUAD cells; MTT, transwell, cell adhesion, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays for examining the capabilities of LUAD cells to proliferate, migrate, invade, adhere, apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) effect; Western blot for determining the expression of adhesion-related proteins and EMT-related proteins. Down-regulated miRNA-30a-5p was discovered in LUAD cells, but on the contrary, VCAN was upregulated. MiRNA-30a-5p overexpression notably repressed the virulent progression of LUAD cells. Besides, dual-luciferase assay validated the targeting relationship between miRNA-30a-5p and VCAN. MiRNA-30a-5p, by negatively regulating VCAN, was capable of hindering LUAD cell proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, viability and EMT. It was illustrated that miRNA-30a-5p could downregulate VCAN to retard the malignant progression of LUAD cells, which provides novel insights into LUAD pathogenesis, suggesting that miRNA-30a-5p/VCAN axis can be a promising anti-cancer target for LUAD.

Plasma Heat Shock Protein 90 Alpha: A Valuable Predictor of Early Chemotherapy Effectiveness in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Heat shock protein-90 alpha (HSP90α) is more abundant in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients than in control individuals. However, whether it can reflect chemotherapy efficacy remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of HSP90α with chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

Material/Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data from patients admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, from September 2016 to September 2018 with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC and administered 4 cycles of third-generation platinum-based combination chemotherapy (2 drugs simultaneously). Based on the RECIST1.1 criteria, complete remission (CR), partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD) in 60 cases were determined before and after chemotherapy. Before chemotherapy and after 1, 2, and 4 cycles of chemotherapy, plasma HSP90α levels were quantitated by ELISA. Chest CT was performed before and after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy.

Results

After 1–4 cycles of chemotherapy, plasma HSP90α levels were significantly lower than pre-chemotherapy levels (P<0.05). The sums of the longest tumor diameters after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy were decreased compared with pre-chemotherapy values (P<0.05). Plasma HSP90α levels and tumor size showed no significant correlation before and after chemotherapy (r=0.244, P=0.06).

Conclusions

Plasma HSP90α can be considered a valuable predictor of early chemotherapy effectiveness in advanced NSCLC, and is positively correlated with tumor remission after chemotherapy. However, plasma HSP90α level is not correlated with tumor diameter and pathological type.

Minocycline Induces Autophagy and Inhibits Cell Proliferation in LPS-Stimulated THP-1 Cells

Excessive activation and proliferation of inflammatory cell and uncontrolled release of cytokines and chemokines, also known as cytokine storm, is considered to be the main cause of sepsis. Accumulating evidence has indicated that autophagy may play an important role in regulating immune response and controlling excessive inflammation. Recent studies have showed that minocycline has immunomodulatory effects on cytokine and chemokine production. It has also been reported that minocycline can induce autophagy, suggesting that autophagy may be involved in the process of minocycline regulating inflammation and immune response. However, the precise mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to measure the production of cytokines following minocycline treatment of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated THP-1 cells. Western blotting analysis was performed to confirm autophagy and the mTOR signal pathway. Cell proliferation was measured by WST-1 cell proliferation assay. We demonstrated that LPS induced autophagy in a tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α-mediated manner, and simultaneously, LPS induced the release of TNF-α to trigger inflammation and activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to potentiate cell proliferation. Minocycline, which induces autophagy by inhibiting mTOR, suppresses cytokine production and cell proliferation and protects THP-1 cells from LPS toxicity. Further study demonstrated that there might be an intimate crosstalk between the inhibitor kappa B kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and autophagy flux in modification of inflammatory responses. In addition, rapamycin, the mTOR inhibitor, has cooperative effect with minocycline on suppression of TNF-α release and induction of autophagy by repressing mTOR. Our data brought a novel clue to evaluate minocycline using as a potential therapeutic medicine for sepsis.

The Functional Effects of Key Driver KRAS Mutations on Gene Expression in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a common malignant cancer. Kirsten rat sarcoma oncogene (KRAS) mutations have been considered as a key driver for lung cancers. KRAS p.G12C mutations were most predominant in NSCLC which was comprised about 11–16% of lung adenocarcinomas (p.G12C accounts for 45–50% of mutant KRAS). But it is still not clear how the KRAS mutation triggers lung cancers. To study the molecular mechanisms of KRAS mutation in lung cancer. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of 156 KRAS mutation samples and other negative samples with two stage feature selection approach: (1) minimal Redundancy Maximal Relevance (mRMR) and (2) Incremental Feature Selection (IFS). At last, 41 predictive genes for KRAS mutation were identified and a KRAS mutation predictor was constructed. Its leave one out cross validation MCC was 0.879. Our results were helpful for understanding the roles of KRAS mutation in lung cancer.

Measuring anisotropic muscle stiffness properties using elastography

Physiological and pathological changes to the anisotropic mechanical properties of skeletal muscle are still largely unknown, with only a few studies quantifying changes in vivo. This study used the noninvasive MR elastography (MRE) technique, in combination with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to measure shear modulus anisotropy in the human skeletal muscle in the lower leg. Shear modulus measurements parallel and perpendicular to the fibre direction were made in 10 healthy subjects in the medial gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles. The results showed significant differences in the medial gastrocnemius (μ‖ = 0.86 ± 0.15 kPa; μ⊥ = 0.66 ± 0.19 kPa, P < 0.001), soleus (μ‖ = 0.83 ± 0.22 kPa; μ⊥ = 0.65 ± 0.13 kPa, P < 0.001) and the tibialis anterior (μ‖ = 0.78 ± 0.24 kPa; μ⊥ = 0.66 ± 0.16 kPa, P = 0.03) muscles, where the shear modulus measured in the direction parallel is greater than that measured in the direction perpendicular to the muscle fibres. No significant differences were measured across muscle groups. This study provides the first direct estimates of the anisotropic shear modulus in the triceps surae muscle group, and shows that the technique may be useful for the probing of mechanical anisotropy changes caused by disease, aging and injury.

Learning Chronobiology by Improving Wikipedia

Although chronobiology is of growing interest to scientists, physicians, and the general public, access to recent discoveries and historical perspectives is limited. Wikipedia is an online, user-written encyclopedia that could enhance public access to current understanding in chronobiology. However, Wikipedia is lacking important information and is not universally trusted. Here, 46 students in a university course edited Wikipedia to enhance public access to important discoveries in chronobiology. Students worked for an average of 9 h each to evaluate the primary literature and available Wikipedia information, nominated sites for editing, and, after voting, edited the 15 Wikipedia pages they determined to be highest priorities. This assignment ( http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/courses/Bio4030/wikipedia_project.html ) was easy to implement, required relatively short time commitments from the professor and students, and had measurable impacts on Wikipedia and the students. Students created 3 new Wikipedia sites, edited 12 additional sites, and cited 347 peer-reviewed articles. The targeted sites all became top hits in online search engines. Because their writing was and will be read by a worldwide audience, students found the experience rewarding. Students reported significantly increased comfort with reading, critiquing, and summarizing primary literature and benefited from seeing their work edited by other scientists and editors of Wikipedia. We conclude that, in a short project, students can assist in making chronobiology widely accessible and learn from the editorial process.

[Humoral immune response in mice to hybrid nucleic acid vaccines containing Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 block 17-based gene]

AIM

To analyse the humoral immune response in mice to nucleic acid vaccines (VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 for intracellular expression or VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP-17 for secretion) containing Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) 17 block gene and gene fragment of several T cell epitopes from MSA1, MSA2, RESA, IL-1 and TT.

METHODS

BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice received three times intramuscular immunization with 200 micrograms/100 microliters or 100 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 or VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse each time. Anti-HG or anti-MSP1-17 antibodies were monitored by indirect ELISA.

RESULTS

BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice immunized with 100 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised significantly anti-HG and anti-MSP1-17 antibodies, but the levels of antibodies were not high. BALB/c mice immunized with 200 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised higher anti-HG antibodies but not anti-MSP1-17 antibodies. BALB/c mice immunized with 200 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised low level of anti-HG antibodies only.

CONCLUSION

VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 is more immunogenic than VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17.

Therapeutic effects of dengue 2 virus capsid protein and staphylococcal nuclease fusion protein on dengue-infected cell cultures

Dengue infection poses a serious public health problem in most tropical and subtropical areas. No effective antiviral drugs or vaccines are currently available against dengue infection. To explore the feasibility of using capsid-targeted viral inactivation (CTVI) as an antiviral strategy against dengue infection, we constructed a plasmid expressing a fusion protein consisting of staphylococcal nuclease (SN) fused to dengue 2 virus capsid protein (D2C), and investigated its effects on the production of infectious virions when introduced into BHK cells infected with dengue virus. The results indicated that D2C-SN can be expressed and tolerated in this mammalian cell culture. The enzymatically active SN moiety was incorporated into nascent virions during the process of viral assembly. By comparing the effects of incorporated SN and SN*, an enzymatically inactive missense mutant form of wild-type SN, on the infectivity of progeny virions, we clearly demonstrated that nucleolytic activity was the major antiviral mechanism. Expression of D2C-SN fusion protein as a therapeutic agent resulted in a reduction in infectious titers of 12- to 60-fold. Therefore, dengue virus may be particularly vulnerable to a CTVI therapeutic approach.

[Studies of the resistance of the recombinant alphavirus RNAs containing dengue-2 PrM gene to virus infection]

The amplified PrM gene of dengue-2 virus was cloned into the downstream SP6 promoter-pSFV vector and the recombinant plasmid (pSF.rM2) DNA which contained sense- or antisense-PrM gene, was selected. pSF.rM2 DNA and helper DNA linearized by the enzyme SpeI digestion were both transcribed in vitro into recombinant RNAs which contained the capping analog on the 5'-end and contaansfected into BHK cells by electroportation. The the transfected host cells were challenged with dengue-2 virus and the resistant efficiency of recombinant virus RNAs containing sense- or antisense-PrM gene to virus infection were observed, respectively. The recombinant plasmids (pSFV-PrM) containing sense- or antisense-PrM gene were selected with determination of the nucleotide sequence. The recombinant virus particles were obtained with recombinant RNA and helper RNA co-transfected into BHK cells. Host cells transfected with antisense-PrM RNA derived complete resistance to dengue-2 virus replication and the efficiency was higher than that of the recombinant virus RNA containing sense-PrM gene.

[Sequence analysis of the 5' and 3' terminal regions of dengue type 2 virus 04 strain]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the sequences of 5' and 3' terminal region of dengue type 2 virus 04 strain.

METHODS

Total RNA was isolated from dengue type 2 virus 04 strain (D2-04) infected C6/36 cells. With this RNA as template, the cDNA of both 5' and 3' termini of D2-04 were amplified using RACE method respectively. The cDNAs were separately inserted into pGEM-T vector and the recombinant plasmids containing the 5' terminus 535 bp and 3' terminus 503 bp were obtained. The nucleotide sequences of the inserted cDNA fragment were determined. The nucleotide sequences of the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of D2-04 were compared with other dengue type 2 viruses such as JAM, NGC, S1, 16681 and PD-53.

RESULTS

The results showed that they shared 98.96%, 98.96%, 93.75%, 98.95%, 97.92% and 97.72%, 97.80%, 90.65%, 94.26%, 94.22% homology with D2-04 strain respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Except SI, the homology between D2-04 and other type 2 viruses was higher than 94%.

[Soluble expression and identification of expressed single chain antibody fragment 3D3 against dengue virus type 3]

Hybridoma secreting 3D3 monoclonal antibody against dengue virus type 3 was used. The isolated mRNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA for amplifying the heavy and light chain variable domains genes. The amplified light and heavy chain variable domains' genes were connected by flexible linker to from a single chain fragment (ScFv) gene of 750 bp, which was cloned into phage pCANTAB5E vector using the recombination phage antibody system. pCANTAB5E vector transformed E coli HB2151. Soluble single chain antibody fragment was expressed both in the bacterial supernatant and cell periplasm under the induction of IPTG. The expressed single chain antibody fragment has a molecular weight of about 28 kD detected by SDS-PAGE and can react with dengue virus type 3 by immunofluorescence test.

[Gene cloning, expression and immunological identification of a single chain antibody fragment 3D3 against dengue type 3 virus]

Hybridoma 3D3 which secreted monoclonal antibody against Dengue type 3 virus was used to extract mRNA and then was reverse-transcripted into cDNA for amplifying heavy and light chain variable domain genes. The amplified light and heavy chain variable domain genes were connected by flexible linker to form a single chain antibody fragment (ScFv) gene of 750 bp, which was cloned into phage pCANTAB5 vector using the recombinant phage antibody system. The ScFv gene was expressed as fusion protein with phage g3p coat protein and displayed on the phage surface. The phagemid was used to transform competent E. coli TG1 cells and then infected with M13K07 helper phage to rescue the phagemid and antibody ScFv gene. 12 of the 20 randomized clones were shown to react with dengue type 3 virus by immunofluorescence.

[Cloning of the NS1 gene of dengue-2 virus and determination of its partial nucleotide sequence]

In this study, RT-PCR product of the NS1 gene of dengue-2 virus isolated in China was inserted into the DNA of T-vector plasmid. DNAs of the positive clones, which were identified by using the blue/white spot and PCR, were digested with enzymes, indicating that the inserted fragments were the same sizes as those of the amplified NS1 genes. The result of the nucleotide sequence determined by dideoxy chain-termination method indicated that 5'-terminal nucleotide sequence of the amplified NS1 fragment was not changed.