Nuclear Aurora kinase A switches m6A reader YTHDC1 to enhance an oncogenic RNA splicing of tumor suppressor RBM4

Aberrant RNA splicing produces alternative isoforms of genes to facilitate tumor progression, yet how this process is regulated by oncogenic signal remains largely unknown. Here, we unveil that non-canonical activation of nuclear AURKA promotes an oncogenic RNA splicing of tumor suppressor RBM4 directed by m⁶A reader YTHDC1 in lung cancer. Nuclear translocation of AURKA is a prerequisite for RNA aberrant splicing, specifically triggering RBM4 splicing from the full isoform (RBM4-FL) to the short isoform (RBM4-S) in a kinase-independent manner. RBM4-S functions as a tumor promoter by abolishing RBM4-FL-mediated inhibition of the activity of the SRSF1-mTORC1 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, AURKA disrupts the binding of SRSF3 to YTHDC1, resulting in the inhibition of RBM4-FL production induced by the m⁶A-YTHDC1-SRSF3 complex. In turn, AURKA recruits hnRNP K to YTHDC1, leading to an m⁶A-YTHDC1-hnRNP K-dependent exon skipping to produce RBM4-S. Importantly, the small molecules that block AURKA nuclear translocation, reverse the oncogenic splicing of RBM4 and significantly suppress lung tumor progression. Together, our study unveils a previously unappreciated role of nuclear AURKA in m⁶A reader YTHDC1-dependent oncogenic RNA splicing switch, providing a novel therapeutic route to target nuclear oncogenic events.

[Exploring the effects of entecavir treatment on the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver combined with chronic hepatitis B in Tibet region]

Objective: To explore the efficacy of entecavir antiviral therapy on the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) combined with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Tibet region. Methods: HBeAg-positive CHB patients who were treated with entecavir in the outpatient and inpatient Department of Infectious Diseases of the Tibet Autonomous Region people's Hospital between January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 140 subjects with CHB, 95 cases were CHB alone, and the other 45 cases were diagnosed as CHB combined with NAFLD by ultrasound. All patients were given entecavir 0.5 mg orally once daily on an empty stomach for 48 weeks. HBeAg negative conversion rate, blood glucose, blood lipid, liver function and the degree of liver fibrosis were compared between the two groups at the 12th, 24th and 48th weeks of treatment to evaluate the virological response. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used to process the data. Measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (x¯±s). Descriptive statistical analysis was used for t-test, and the categorical variables were expressed as percentage (%) and χ² test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: After 48 weeks of treatment, the HBeAg and HBV DNA negative conversion rate were significantly better in patients with CHB alone (group B) than CHB combined with NAFLD (group A), that is to say, HBeAg negative conversion rate in group A and B patients were 28.90% and 40%, respectively, and group B was better than group A. HBV DNA negative conversion rate was significantly elevated in group B (83.2%) than group A (64.4%), with statistical significance (P<0.05), and the difference between the both groups was statistically significant. Alanine aminotransferase level was significantly decreased in patients with CHB alone than patients with CHB combined with NAFLD. Aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index was significantly decreased after treatment than before treatment in both group of patients, and the depletion was more pronounced in CHB alone group. Liver stiffness values were significantly decreased in patients with CHB combined with NAFLD than CHB alone group. Moreover, liver stiffness values was higher in group A than group B before treatment under the influence of fat attenuation factors, and the differences before treatment and after treatment were 3.50±4.66 and 2.05±2.53, respectively; however, group B was not affected by fat attenuation factors, so LSM value reduction in group A was more obvious, and the differences were statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in blood glucose and blood lipids levels before and after treatment between the two groups. Conclusion: NAFLD has a certain effect on antiviral therapy and liver fibrosis in patients with CHB, i.e., the effect of antiviral therapy in patients with CHB alone is better than patients with CHB combined with NAFLD. Patients with CHB combined with NAFLD when treated with antiviral therapy had a significantly greater degree of liver stiffness reduction than patients with CHB alone. Therefore, it is necessary to actively intervene the risk factors associated with NAFLD according to the actual situation of different individuals to improve clinical efficacy of antiviral therapy.

[Bioinformatics analysis of key genes and prognosis-related genes during the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To screen and analyze the differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues using bioinformatics methods to explore the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: GSE76427 data set was collected through GEO database, and DEGs were identified using GEO2R online analysis. Go and KEGG databases were used for enrichment and functional annotation of DEGs. Protein interaction network was built based on the STRING database and Cytoscape software to analyze the key genes of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the survival curve of these key genes were analyzed using the GEPIA database. Results: A total of 74 hepatocellular carcinoma DEGs were screened, of which 3 and 71 were up-and-down-regulated genes. The results of GO enrichment analysis showed that the down-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in cell response to cadmium and zinc ions, negative growth regulation, heterologous metabolic processes and hormone-mediated signaling pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis results showed that the down-regulated DEGs pathway were mainly involved in retinol metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, cytochrome P450 metabolizing xenobiotics, tryptophan metabolism and caffeine metabolism. Protein interaction network had screened out 10 down-regulated core genes: MT1G, MT1F, MT1X, MT1E, MT1H, insulin-like growth factor 1, FOS, CXCL12, EGR1, and BGN. Among them, the insulin-like growth factor 1 was related to the prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: Bioinformatics analysis results of HCC chip data showed that 10 key genes may play a key role in the occurrence and development of HCC and the insulin like growth factor 1 is associated with the prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Integrated analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma to construct miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA regulatory network]

Objective: This study analyzes the expression level of miR-1180-3p and constructs the regulatory network of relevant ceRNA by integrating the DNA methylation and gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods: Firstly, the expression level of miR-1180-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues was analyzed by TCGA database, and the differential expression of lncrna and mRNA was screened. Secondly, the LncBase database and the TargetScan database were used to predict the relationship between miR-1180-3p and lncRNA and mRNA, and the DNA methylation-mediated lncRNA was screened by the DNA methylation profile of lncRNA. Finally, Cytoscape software was used to construct miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA network, and WebGestalt website was used to perform GO and KEGG analysis of related mRNA in ceRNA. Results: Compared with patients with low expression of miR-1180-3p (mean overall survival duration, 5.69 ± 0.35 years), patients with high expression of miR-1180-3p had shorter overall survival time (mean overall survival duration, 3.99 ± 0.47 years), indicating that the high expression of miR-1180-3p was hepatocellular carcinoma risk factor affecting the prognosis (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.1 ~ 1.5, P < 0.01). A miR-1180-3p related ceRNA regulatory network was constructed in this study, which contained 2 lncRNAs (F11-AS1 and LINC01511) and 37 mRNAs. Conclusion: This study has successfully constructed miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA regulatory network, and DNA methylation-mediated F11-AS1 and F11-AS1/miR-1180-3p/C11of54 ceRNA regulatory axis has played an important role in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Whole-Course Application of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Ketorolac in Nonnarcotic Postoperative Analgesia for Patients with Lung Cancer Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Control Trial

BACKGROUND

Opioid-based postoperative analgesia provides adequate analgesia with much adverse effects and immunosuppression. Dexmedetomidine and ketorolac have properties of opioid-sparing, antiinflammation, and immune protection.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy and safety of whole-course application of dexmedetomidine combined with ketorolac in nonnarcotic postoperative analgesia and its effect on inflammatory response and immune function in thoracoscopic surgery of lung cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Double-blind, randomized control trial.

SETTING

The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.

METHODS

Sixty patients scheduled for thoracoscopic surgery were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups to receive a combination of intraoperative usage of dexmedetomidine and postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia of dexmedetomidine 0.1 µg/kg/h and ketorolac 3 mg/kg (DEX group) or only postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia of sufentanil 1.5 µg/kg and ketorolac 3 mg/kg (SUF group) for 48 hours. Vital signs, postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Ramsay sedation score, patient-controlled analgesia pressing times, consumption of sufentanil and rescue drug, and complications were compared between the 2 groups. The levels of inflammatory factors and immune function were also compared.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in median blood pressures and heart rates within 48 hours after surgery and perioperative consumption of sufentanil were observed in the DEX group compared with the SUF group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in VAS scores, patient-controlled analgesia pressing times, and rescue drug consumption between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of nausea was significantly lower in the DEX group compared with the SUF group (P < 0.05). A significant decrease of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and increased CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were observed in the DEX group compared with the SUF group at 24 and 48 hours after surgery (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the levels of CD8+ and natural killer cells between the 2 groups (P > 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

Whole-course application of dexmedetomidine combined with ketorolac in nonnarcotic postoperative analgesia provided adequate and safe postoperative analgesia, reduced sufentanil consumption, analgesia-related complications, alleviated inflammatory response, and immunosuppression compared with sufentanil-based analgesia in thoracoscopic surgery.

KEY WORDS

Dexmedetomidine, ketorolac, sufentanil, thoracoscopic surgery, postoperative analgesic, patient-controlled analgesia, inflammatory response, immune function.

Monitoring the Early Antiproliferative Effect of the Analgesic-Antitumor Peptide, BmK AGAP on Breast Cancer Using Intravoxel Incoherent Motion With a Reduced Distribution of Four b-Values

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantitatively assess the early therapeutic effect of the analgesic–antitumor peptide BmK AGAP on breast cancer and also evaluate the medical value of a reduced distribution of four b-values.

Methods: IVIM diffusion MRI using 10 b-values and 4 b-values (0–1,000 s/mm²) was performed at five different time points on BALB/c mice bearing xenograft breast tumors treated with BmK AGAP. Variability in Dslow, Dfast, PF, and ADC derived from the set of 10 b-values and 4 b-values was assessed to evaluate the antitumor effect of BmK AGAP on breast tumor.

Results: The data showed that PF values significantly decreased in rBmK AGAP-treated mice on day 12 (P = 0.044). PF displayed the greatest AUC but with a poor medical value (AUC = 0.65). The data showed no significant difference between IVIM measurements acquired from the two sets of b-values at different time points except in the PF on the day 3. The within-subject coefficients of variation were relatively higher in Dfast and PF. However, except for a case noticed on day 0 in PF measurements, the results indicated no statistically significant difference at various time points in the rBmK AGAP-treated or the untreated group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: IVIM showed poor medical value in the early evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of rBmK AGAP in breast cancer, suggesting sensitivity in PF. A reduced distribution of four b-values may provide remarkable measurements but with a potential loss of accuracy in the perfusion-related parameter PF.

Scorpion Venom Analgesic Peptide, BmK AGAP Inhibits Stemness, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Down-Regulating PTX3 in Breast Cancer

A scorpion peptide reported to exhibit both analgesic and antitumor activity in animal models may present as an alternative therapeutic agent for breast cancer. We aimed to investigate the effect of Buthus martensii Karsch antitumor-analgesic peptide (BmK AGAP) on breast cancer cell stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with different concentrations of rBmK AGAP and observed that rBmK AGAP inhibited cancer cell stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion. Analysis by qPCR, ELISA, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, sphere formation, colony assay, transwell migration, and invasion assays demonstrated rBmK AGAP treatment decreased the expressions of Oct4, Sox2, N-cadherin, Snail, and increased the expression of E-cadherin. rBmK AGAP inhibited breast cancer cell stemness, EMT, migration, and invasion by down-regulating PTX3 through NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling Pathway in vitro and in vivo. Xenograft tumor model confirmed inhibition of tumor growth, stem-like features, and EMT by rBmK AGAP. Thus, rBmK AGAP is a potential therapeutic agent against breast cancer and related pain.

Fentanyl Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Stemness and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Upregulating α1, 6-Fucosylation via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Cancer pain is a common and severe complication of human breast cancer, and relieving pain is fundamental strategy in the treatment. Fentanyl, as an opioid analgesic, is widely used in breast cancer patients. However, little is known about its effects on stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells. Aberrant protein glycosylation is involved in cancer malignancy. The α1, 6-fucosylation is an important type of glycosylation, and the elevated α1, 6-fucosylation catalyzed by fucosyltransferase VIII (FUT8) is found in many tumors. However, whether 1, 6-fucosylation is involved in regulating stemness and EMT, and stimulated by fentanyl is not clear. In this study, we found that fentanyl induced stemness and EMT in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by analysis of sphere formation, expression of stemness markers (Sox2, Oct4) and EMT markers (N-cadherin, E-cadherin and Vimentin). Results also showed that fentanyl upregulated FUT8 gene and protein expression by qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescent staining, as well as α1, 6-fucosylation level by Lectin blot and Lectin fluorescent staining. Furthermore, decreased or blocked α1, 6-fucosylation by FUT8 siRNA transfection or LCA Lectin blockage reduced stemness and EMT. Additionally, fentanyl activated the key molecules and target genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. LGK-974 (an inhibitor of Wnt ligands) suppressed fentanyl-mediated upregulation of α1, 6-fucosylation, stemness and EMT. The results of tumor xenograft demonstrated that fentanyl enhanced tumor growth, α1, 6-fucosylation, stemness and EMT. Taken together, our study reveals that fentanyl upregulated FUT8 expression, which increased α1, 6-fucosylation level through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby, induce stemness and EMT of breast cancer cells. This study suggest a potential side effect of fentanyl in the treatment of cancer, which may guide the safety of fentanyl in the clinical application.

CXCR4 receptor overexpression in mesenchymal stem cells facilitates treatment of acute lung injury in rats

Novel therapeutic regimens for tissue renewal incorporate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as they differentiate into a variety of cell types and are a stem cell type that is easy to harvest and to expand in vitro. However, surface chemokine receptors, such as CXCR4, which are involved in the mobilization of MSCs, are expressed only on the surface of a small proportion of MSCs, and the lack of CXCR4 expression may underlie the low efficiency of homing of MSCs toward tissue damage, which results in a poor curative effect. Here, a rat CXCR4 expressing lentiviral vector was constructed and introduced into MSCs freshly prepared from rat bone marrow. The influence of CXCR4 expression on migration, proliferation, differentiation, and paracrine effects of MSCs was examined in vitro. The in vivo properties of CXCR4-MSCs were also investigated in a model of acute lung injury in rats induced by lipopolysaccharide. Expression of CXCR4 in MSCs significantly enhanced the chemotactic and paracrine characteristics of the cells in vitro but did not affect self-renewal or differentiation into alveolar and vascular endothelial cells. In vivo, CXCR4 improved MSC homing and colonization of damaged lung tissue, and furthermore, the transplanted CXCR4-MSCs suppressed the development of acute lung injury in part by modulating levels of inflammatory molecules and the neutrophil count. These results indicated that efficient mobilization of MSCs to sites of tissue injury may be due to CXCR4, and therefore, increased expression of CXCR4 may improve their therapeutic potential in the treatment of diseases where tissue damage develops.

Propofol induces apoptosis of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by upregulation of microRNA let-7i expression

OBJECTIVE

Propofol is one of the extensively and commonly used intravenous anaesthetic agents. The aims of the current study were to evaluate effects of propofol on the behavior of human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells and role of miR-let-7i in these effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of propofol on cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT assays and flow cytometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess miR-let-7i expression in human EOC cells OVCAR-3 with or without propofol treatment. Finally, the authors evaluated the effect ofmiR-let-7i on propofol-induced anti-tumor activity using anti-miR-let-7i.

RESULTS

Propofol inhibited the proliferation of OVCAR-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After exposure to propofol for 24 hours, OVCAR-3 cells showed increased apoptosis and increased expression of miR-let-7i. Finally, anti-miR-let-7i reversed the effect of propofol on cell proliferation and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol can effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of EOC cells and modulation of miR-let-7i possibly contributes to the anti-tumor action of propofol.

Role of potassium channels in Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide-induced inhibition of gastric motility

AIM: To investigate the role of potassium channels in Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP)-induced relaxation of gastric antral circular smooth muscle of guinea pigs.

METHODS: The spontaneous contraction of gastric antral circular muscle of guinea pigs was recorded using a four-channel physiograph. The contents of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in gastric antral smooth muscle tissue and in perfusion medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record calcium-activated potassium current (I_K(Ca)) and delayed rectifier potassium current (I_K(V)) in gastric myocytes isolated by collagenase digestion.

RESULTS: DNP inhibited the spontaneous contraction of gastric antral circular smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner. DNP at concentrations of 1, 10, 100 and 1 000 nmol/L reduced the amplitude of the spontaneous contraction by 35% ± 6%, 54% ± 6%, 78% ± 13% and 94% ± 6%, respectively. LY83583, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, significantly blocked DNP-induced relaxation of gastric antral circular smooth muscle (reduced amplitude: 42% ± 6% vs 60% ± 4%, P < 0.05). In contrast, zaprinast, a cGMP-sensitive phosphodiesterase inhibitor, potentiated DNP-induced relaxation of gastric antral circular smooth muscle (reduced amplitude: 72% ± 7% vs 58% ± 5%, P < 0.05). DNP markedly enhanced cGMP levels in gastric antral smooth muscle tissue and in perfusion medium. DNP increased the amplitude of I_K(Ca) at 60 mV by 62.31% ± 3.22%, but decreased the amplitude of I_K(V) at 60 mV by 18% ± 2.3% in gastric antral circular myocytes of guinea pigs.

CONCLUSION: DNP relaxes the gastric antral circular smooth muscle of guinea pigs by increasing IK(Ca) in a cGMP-dependent pathway. IK(V) may play a critical role in regulating resting membrane potential in gastric antral circular myocytes of guinea pigs.

Effect of Qingyitang on acute lung injury induced by severe acute pancreatitis in rats

AIM: To compare the treatment of different Chinese medicines in rats with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODS: 15 g/L sodium deoxycholate was injected inversely into the common biliopancreatic duct in rat to make the model of ALI during SAP. The rats were devided into 6 groups randomly: sham operated controls (n = 10), SAP model (n = 20), SAP+Sandostatin (n = 10), SAP+ Dexamethasoni (n = 10), SAP + Kefadim (n = 10), and SAP +Qingyitang (n = 10). All the rats were killed 24 hours after operation and treatment. The levels of TNF, IL-6, MDA, SOD, and NO in serum and pulmonary homogenate were measured.

RESULTS: The levels of ET, TNF, IL-6, SOD, and MDA in serum and pulmonary homogenate in the model group were significantly higher than those of sham operated control group (P < 0.01). The indexes of blood gas analysis showed obvious pathological changes in the model group and so did the pathological examination of lung tissue. The indexes of ALI-SAP + Qingyitang group were better than those of the model group (P < 0.05). The effect of sandostatin on suppressing serum amylase was most significant. Dexamethasoni was effective on the amelioration of blood gas and W/T.

CONCLUSION: ET, TNF, IL-6, and OFR play an important role in ALI caused by SAP. Qingyitang protects lung from injury in many aspects, preserving the gut barrier function, reducing or eliminate endotoxemia derived from the gut, and inhibiting the production and release of TNF, IL-6 and the translocation of bacteria. Dexamethasoni, sandostatin, kefadim have certain effect on reducing the levels of some indexes respectively, but those treatments can not improve the death rate. Qingyitang is superior to other methods.