Bioactivity and genome analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18 isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides in an alpine meadow

The unique eco-environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau breeds abundant microbial resources. In this research, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GL18, isolated from the rhizosphere of Kobresia myosuroides from an alpine meadow, and the antagonistic activity, bacteriostatic hydrolase activity, and low temperature, salt, and drought resistance of it were determined and analysed. The seedlings of Avena sativa were root-irrigated using bacteria suspensions (cell concentration 1 × 107 cfu/mL) of GL18, and the growth-promoting effect of GL18 on it was determined under cold, salt and drought stress, respectively. The whole genome of GL18 was sequenced, and its functional genes were analysed. GL18 presented significant antagonistic activity to Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger (inhibition zone diameter > 17 mm). Transparent zones formed on four hydrolase detection media, indicating that GL18 secreted cellulase, protease, pectinase and β-1,3-glucanase. GL18 tolerated conditions of 10 °C, 11% NaCl and 15% PEG-6000, presenting cold, salt and drought resistance. GL18 improved the cold, salt and drought tolerance of A. sativa and it showed significant growth effects under different stress. The total length of the GL18 genome was 3,915,550 bp, and the number of coding DNA sequence was 3726. Compared with the clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes databases, 3088, 2869 and 2357 functional genes were annotated, respectively. GL18 contained gene clusters related to antibacterial substances, functional genes related to the synthesis of plant growth-promoting substances, and encoding genes related to stress resistance. This study identified an excellent Bacillus strain and provided a theoretical basis for improving stress resistance and promoting the growth of herbages under abiotic stress.

Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor NMS-P937 represses nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression via induction of mitotic abnormalities

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor NMS-P937 is a targeted therapeutic agent with good preclinical efficacy in various human cancers, and its therapeutic effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be determined. Here, to explore biological activity of NMS-P937 in NPC, multiple types of NPC cells were utilized. We tested IC50 values, carried out flow cytometry, western blot analysis analysis, immunofluorescence, and constructed subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. We found that treatment with NMS-P937 increased the proportion of G2/M phase NPC cells, where CyclinB1 expression was upregulated and CyclinE1 expression was downregulated. Besides, NMS-P937 treatment-induced NPC cell apoptosis with increased cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. Mechanistically, NMS-P937 treatment led to aberrant mitosis, causing increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine partially reversed ROS levels induced by NMS-P937. Furthermore, NMS-P937 administration restrained NPC xenografts growth in nude mice. Overall, NMS-P937 suppressed NPC cell proliferation and increased ROS levels, causing cell cycle abnormalities and apoptosis. NMS-P937 holds great promise as a therapeutic agent for treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PI3K/mTOR inhibitor VS-5584 combined with PLK1 inhibitor exhibits synergistic anti-cancer effects on non-small cell lung cancer

Small molecule drugs are of significant importance in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we explored biological effects of the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor VS-5584 on NSCLC. Our findings indicated that VS-5584 administration resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of NSCLC cell proliferation, as well as the induction of apoptosis and cycle arrest. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels following VS-5584 treatment. The use of the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively reduced ROS levels and decreased the proportion of apoptotic cells. Treatment with VS-5584 led to an upregulation of genes associated with apoptosis and cell cycle, such as c-caspase 3 and P21. Conversely, a downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) expression was observed. Next, transcriptome analyses revealed that VS-5584 treatment altered the abundance of 1520 genes/transcripts in PC-9 cells, one of which was polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). These differentially expressed genes were primarily enriched in biological processes such as cell cycle regulation and cell apoptosis, which are closely linked to the P53 and apoptosis pathways. Co-treatment with VS-5584 and PLK1 inhibitor NMS-P937 resulted in enhanced cancer cell death, exhibiting synergistic inhibitory activity. Notably, VS-5584 inhibited the growth of NSCLC in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model without observable abnormalities in major organs. Overall, VS-5584 effectively suppressed the growth of NSCLC cells both in vitro and in vivo. VS-5584 combined with NMS-P937 exhibited a synergistic effect in inhibiting NSCLC cell growth. These findings suggest that VS-5584 has potential as a therapeutic strategy for treating NSCLC.

The economic burden of coronary heart disease in mainland China

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the current economic burden of coronary heart disease (CHD) in mainland China and provide a reference for the formulation of policies to reduce the economic burden of CHD.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic literature review was conducted of empirical studies on the economic burden of CHD over the past 20 years.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database and the WANFANG database were comprehensively searched for relevant articles published between 1 January 2000 and 22 December 2021. Content analysis was used to extract the data, and Stata 17.0 software was used for analysis. The median values were used to describe trends.

RESULTS

A total of 35 studies were included in this review. The annual median per-capita hospitalisation expense and the average expense per hospitalisation were $3544.40 ($891.64-$18,371.46) and $5407.34 ($1139.93-$8277.55), respectively. The median ratio on medical consumables expenses, drug expenses, medical examination expenses and treatment expenses were 41.59% (12.40%-63.73%), 26.90% (7.30%-60.00%), 9.45% (1.65%-33.40%) and 10.10% (2.36%-66.00%), respectively. The median per-capita hospitalisation expense in the eastern, central and western regions were $9374.45 ($2056.13-$18,371.46), $4751.5 ($2951.95-$8768.93) and $3251.25 ($891.64-$13,986.38), respectively. The median average expense per hospitalisation in the eastern and central regions were $6177.15 ($1679.15-$8277.55) and $1285.49 ($1239.93-$2197.36), respectively. The median average length of stay in the eastern, central and western regions were 9.3 days, 15.2 days and 16.1 days, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The economic burden of CHD is more severe in mainland China than in developed countries, especially in terms of the direct economic burden. In terms of the types of direct medical expenses, a proportion of medical examination expenses, treatment expenses and drug expenses were lowest in the eastern region, but medical consumables expenses were the highest in this region. This study provides guidance for the formulation of policies to reduce the economic burden of CHD in mainland China.

MRI manifestations of central nervous system leukaemia and cytological analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid

AIM

To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and explore the value of MRI in the diagnosis of central nervous system leukaemia (CNSL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed in 68 patients with leukaemia who underwent cranial MRI between January 2020 and June 2022 at Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 33 patients fulfilled the requirements for inclusion. The findings showed that 87.9% patients exhibited neurological symptoms, and 23 patients showed abnormal MRI findings. No differences were observed between the MRI+ and MRI- groups in terms of age, sex, neurological symptoms, glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), chloride in the CSF, abnormal cells detected using conventional cytology (CC), bone marrow status at the diagnosis of CNSL, signal intensity ratio, and mortality, except for protein concentration and the number of leukaemic cells detected using flow cytometry (FCM) in the CSF. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis in patients with leukaemia revealed no statistical differences in the median survival times between the MRI+ group and MRI- group. Cox regression analysis and multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in survival rate between the MRI+ and MRI- groups. Kappa consistency test shows weak diagnostic consistency between MRI and CC, and weak diagnostic inconsistency between MRI and FCM.

CONCLUSION

MRI could serve as an important complementary tool to CC and FCM in the diagnosis of CNSL, especially in patients without leptomeningeal involvement.

Onvansertib inhibits the proliferation and improves the cisplatin-resistance of lung adenocarcinoma via β-catenin/c-Myc signaling pathway

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a key regulator of cell division, and its abnormal expression is related to the progression and prognosis of cancers. However, the effect of PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been explored. In this study, we performed a series of bioinformatics and experimental analyses to comprehensively investigate the role of PLK1 in LUAD. We used CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay to evaluate the growth inhibitory ability of onvansertib. Furthermore, flow cytometry was applied to exploit the effects of onvansertib on cell cycle, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of onvansertib was assessed in vivo by using xenograft tumor and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. We found that onvansertib significantly induced the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells. Mechanistically, onvansertib arrested the cells at G2/M phase and enhanced the levels of reactive oxidative species in LUAD. Accordingly, onvansertib regulated the expression of glycolysis-related genes and improved the cisplatin resistance in LUAD. Notably, the protein levels of β-catenin and c-Myc were affected by onvansertib. Taken together, our findings provide insight into the function of onvansertib and shed light on the potential clinical application of onvansertib for the treatment of patients with LUAD.

[Inflammatory factors in periodontitis patients and their effects toward the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study]

Objective: To explore the effects of periodontitis and inflammatory factors toward the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Pregnant women who came to the Department of Obstetrics, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital for prenatal examinations during March to November of 2021 were invited to participate in this study. Participants with GDM who met the inclusion criteria (n=100) were assigned into the case group; while healthy participants (n=100) were assigned into the control group. Information of participants from the two groups were collected by questionnaires and periodontal statuses were clinically recorded in the meantime. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and venous blood were also collected from participants of two groups to analyze the expression levels of inflammatory factors like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-33. Factors different between the two groups were included in the multivariate regression analysis model to determine the risk factors of GDM. Results: The age of participants was (33.4±5.1) years in case group and (30.5±4.5) years in control group respectively, which had statistical differences (t=4.33,P<0.001). Besides, the body mass index of participants from case group was also significantly higher than control group [(28.11±3.85) kg/m² vs. (23.31±3.15) kg/m², t=9.65, P<0.001]. Participants with GDM had more adverse periodontal clinical parameters. Prevalence of periodontitis in GDM group was 47.0% (47/100) compared with 29.0% (29/100) in control group (χ²=6.88, P=0.009). Multivariate regression analysis results indicated that periodontitis was a critical risk factor for the occurrence of GDM (OR=1.882, P<0.001). Besides, GCF IL-8, serum TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 were also risk factors of GDM due to their higher expressions. Among them, TNF-α in serum (OR=2.077) and IL-8 in serum (OR=2.060) had more significant impacts (P<0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that periodontitis was associated with the occurrence of GDM. Up-regulation of serum pro-inflammatory mediators leaded by local periodontal inflammatory microenvironment might play a critical role in this pathological process.

The HOXC-AS2/miR-876-5p/HKDC1 axis regulates endometrial cancer progression in a high glucose-related tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is related to chronic inflammation and is currently identified as a risk factor for the occurrence and development of endometrial cancer (EC). Pyroptosis is a new proinflammatory form of programmed cell death that plays a critical role in the progression of multiple diseases. However, the important role of pyroptosis in high‐glucose (HG)‐related EC and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, transcriptome high‐throughput sequencing revealed significantly higher hexokinase domain‐containing 1 (HKDC1) expression in EC patients with diabetes than in EC patients with normal glucose. Mechanistically, HKDC1 regulates HG‐induced cell pyroptosis by modulating the production of reactive oxygen species and pyroptosis‐induced cytokine release in EC. In addition, HKDC1 regulates TME formation by enhancing glycolysis, promoting a metabolic advantage in lactate‐rich environments to further accelerate EC progression. Subsequently, miR‐876‐5p was predicted to target the HKDC1 mRNA, and HOXC‐AS2 was identified to potentially inhibit the miR‐876‐5p/HKDC1 axis in regulating cell pyroptosis in HG‐related EC. Collectively, we elucidated the regulatory role of the HOXC‐AS2/miR‐876‐5p/HKDC1 signal transduction axis in EC cell pyroptosis at the molecular level, which may provide an effective therapeutic target for patients with diabetes who are diagnosed with EC.

Evaluating prognostic value and relevant gene signatures of tumor microenvironment characterization in esophageal carcinoma

Background

Tumor microenvironment (TME) cells are an important part of tumor tissues. There is increasing evidence that the TME plays a vital role in tumor prognosis, and is associated with patient survival in various kinds of malignances. To date, very little research has been conducted on how to effectively use TME to better evaluate the prognosis of patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC). The concept of a "TME score" was introduced to better distinguish the prognosis of patients.

Methods

We employed bioinformatic methods to investigate the TME infiltration patterns of 160 patients with EC from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. TME clusters were identified using k-means clustering methods with 1,000 resampling times. The significance of the survival difference among patients belonging to different TME clusters was assessed by the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Correlations between immune cell types and survival were calculated by a Cox regression, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) was used to measure the relationship among different immune cell types. We classified patient into 2 subtypes based on the optimal breakpoint of TME score determined by R package maxstat.

Results

Two TME phenotypes were defined based on the immune cell type fractions, and patients with a high TME score phenotype had a better prognosis than those with a low TME score phenotype. Kaplan-Meier analysis for differentially expressed micro ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and messenger RNAs also showed that different TME score subtypes were significantly associated with the prognosis of EC. Just as tumor mutational burden can predict the efficacy of immunotherapy, the TME score can predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The genomic alterations of 2 TME score subtypes of EC further revealed that genomic instability is prevalent in TMEs, and patients with a low TME score subtype have a more unstable chromosome status than those with a high subtype.

Conclusions

Thus, TME score is an emerging prognostic biomarker for predicting the efficacy of ICIs.

LINC01140 promotes the progression and tumor immune escape in lung cancer by sponging multiple microRNAs

BACKGROUND

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1140 (LINC01140), a long non-coding RNA, is highly expressed in various cancers; however, its biological functions in lung cancer (LC) progression and immune escape are still unclear.

METHODS

Here, to elucidate LINC01140 function, 79 paired LC and paracancerous tissues were collected. LINC01140 expression levels were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization and qPCR analysis. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell assays were performed. The interaction between microRNAs (miRNAs) and LINC01140 was confirmed using an RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokine secretion levels were determined by ELISA. CIK cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. Besides, xenograft tumor mouse models were used to unveil the in vivo function of LINC01140.

RESULTS

We found that LINC01140 was highly expressed in human LC tissues and cell lines. High LINC01140 levels were associated with poor survival in patients with LC. LINC01140 upregulation promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LC cells through direct interaction with miR-33a-5p and miR-33b-5p, thereby contributing to c-Myc expression and also inhibited cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis. In subcutaneous tumor xenograft mice, LINC01140 knockdown markedly reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis. Additionally, LINC01140 directly repressed miR-377-3 p and miR-155-5 p expression levels, resulting in the upregulation of their common downstream target programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a crucial target in LC immunotherapy. Notably, we proved that LINC01140 knockdown, along with CIK administration, suppressed the growth of subcutaneous LC xenografts by decreasing PD-L1 expression in severe combined immunodeficient mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, LINC01140 overexpression protects c-Myc and PD-L1 mRNA from miRNA-mediated inhibition and contributes to the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune escape of LC cells. These results provide a theoretical basis that LINC01140 is a promising target for LC treatment.

COPB2: a transport protein with multifaceted roles in cancer development and progression

The Coatomer protein complex subunit beta 2 (COPB2) is involved in the formation of the COPI coatomer protein complex and is responsible for the transport of vesicles between the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum. It plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of these cellular organelles, as well as in maintaining cell homeostasis. More importantly, COPB2 plays key roles in embryonic development and tumor progression. COPB2 is regarded as a vital oncogene in several cancer types and has been implicated in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the roles of COPB2 in cancer development and progression in the context of the hallmarks of cancer.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: Updates on molecular mechanisms and otoprotective strategies

Cisplatin is a highly effective antitumor drug generally used in the treatment of solid malignant tumors. However, cisplatin causes severe side effects such as bone marrow depression, nephrotoxicity, and ototoxicity, thus limiting its clinical application. The incidence of ototoxicity induced by cisplatin ranges from 20% to 70%, and it usually manifests as a progressive, bilateral and irreversible hearing loss. Although the etiology of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity remains unclear, an increasing body of evidence suggests that the ototoxicity of cisplatin is mainly related to the production of reactive oxygen species and activation of apoptotic pathway in cochlear tissues. Many drugs have been well proved to protect cisplatin-induced hearing loss in vitro and in vivo. However, the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin is also weakened by systemic administration of those drugs for hearing protection, especially antioxidants. Therefore, establishing a local administration strategy contributes to the otoprotection without affecting the effect of cisplatin. This review introduces the pathology of ototoxicity caused by cisplatin, and focuses on recent developments in the mechanisms and protective strategies of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Upregulation of Linc-ROR Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells Through miR-212-3p/FGF7 Axis

Background

Linc-ROR is a long non-coding RNA, that is found aberrantly expressed in various human cancers. We aim here to unveil the role of Linc-ROR in gastric cancer (GC) progression.

Methods

qPCR was used to determine gene expression. Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the GC cells’ migratory and invasive abilities. Xenograft mouse model was conducted to measure tumor growth.

Results

We found that Linc-ROR were overexpressed in GC tissues compared to the adjacent tissues. High Linc-ROR predicts poor prognosis of GC patients. The prediction of bioinformatics online revealed that Linc-ROR could bind to miR-212-3p. Further, dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed a direct interaction between Linc-ROR and miR-212-3p. Overexpression of miR-212-3p facilitated GC cells’ migration and invasion, while the silencing of miR-212-3p attenuated GC cell migratory and invasive abilities. Moreover, Linc-ROR knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells, whereas miR-212-3p antagomir partially reversed Linc-ROR knockdown-induced phenotypes. Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), a downstream molecule of miR-212-3p, was overexpressed in GC cells. The recovery of FGF7 expression partially reversed the phenotypes caused by Linc-ROR silencing. Mechanistically, silencing of Linc-ROR contributed to the downregulation of CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D1, N-Cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-9, MMP-2, but caused the upregulation of P21, P27, E-Cadherin, CK-19 in MGC-803 cells; however, FGF7 treatment could reverse the results induced by Linc-ROR silencing. Results in vivo further suggested that Linc-ROR knockdown repressed GC tumor growth, where the expression of miR-212-3p was up-regulated and FGF7 expression was downregulated in tumor tissues of mice.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that Linc-ROR/miR-212-3p/FGF7 axis played an important role in gastric cancer progression. Linc-ROR expression level was associated with the prognosis of GC patients.

microRNA-499a promotes the progression and chemoresistance of cervical cancer cells by targeting SOX6

Emerging evidence has indicated that microRNAs are involved in multiple processes of cancer development. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-499a (miR-499a) plays both oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in several types of malignancies, and genetic variants in miR-499a are associated with the risk of cervical cancer. However, the biological roles of miR-499a in cervical cancer have not been investigated. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess miR-499a expression in cervical cancer cells. Mimics or inhibitor of miR-499a was transfected into cervical cancer cells to upregulate or downregulate miR-499a expression. The effects of miR-499a expression change on cervical cancer cells proliferation, colony formation, tumorigenesis, chemosensitivity, transwell migration and invasion were assessed. The potential targets of miR-499a were predicted using online database tools and validated using real-time PCR, Western blot and luciferase reporter experiments. miR-499a was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-499a significantly enhanced the proliferation, cell cycle progression, colony formation, apoptosis resistance, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells, while inhibiting miR-499a showed the opposite effects. Further exploration demonstrated that Sex-determining region Y box 6 was the direct target of miR-499a. miR-499a-induced SOX6 downregulation mediated the oncogenic effects of miR-499a in cervical cancer. Inhibiting miR-499a could enhance the anticancer effects of cisplatin in the xenograft mouse model of cervical cancer. Our findings for the first time suggest that miRNA-499a may play an important role in the development of cervical cancer and could serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Oncogenic long intervening noncoding RNA Linc00284 promotes c-Met expression by sponging miR-27a in colorectal cancer

Emerging evidences suggest that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Here, the aim of this study is to investigate the biological function of long intervening noncoding RNA Linc00284 in colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression levels of Linc00284, miR-27a and c-Met were evaluated by qPCR and/or Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Ki67 and Phh3 in tumor tissues. The interaction between Linc00284, miR-27a and c-Met was validated by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Cell function experiments, including CCK-8, wound-healing and transwell invasion assays, were conducted. The in vivo studies were performed with the subcutaneous tumor xenograft mouse models. Our findings reveal that Linc00284 is upregulated in CRC tissues and colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW480 in comparison with corresponding para-carcinoma tissues and human fetal colonic mucosa cells FHC. High expression of Linc00284 in tumor tissues is associated with tumor metastasis and predicts a poor clinical outcome in CRC patients. Serum Linc00284 is increased, while miR-27a is decreased in CRC patients compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analysis indicates that serum Linc00284 and miR-27a produce the area under the curve (AUC) value of at 0.8151 and 0.7316 in patients with colorectal cancer compared to healthy individuals, respectively. Additionally, results in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that Linc00284 silencing significantly suppresses CRC cell proliferation and/or invasion. Mechanistically, Linc00284 promotes c-Met expression by acting as miR-27a sponge, leading to the activation of downstream signaling pathways, thereby causing malignant phenotypes of CRC cells. Taken together, Linc00284 exhibits oncogenic function and the disturbance of Linc00284/miR-27a/c-Met regulatory axis contributes to CRC progression, providing new insight into the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Importantly, the expression levels of serum Linc00284 and miR-27a may serve as clinical biomarkers for CRC diagnosis.

[Survey of related factors of maternal venous thromboembolism in nine hospitals of China]

Objective: To investigate and analyze disease status and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pregnancy and puerperium in our country. Methods: Clinical datas were collected from 575 patients diagnosed with VTE during pregnancy and puerperium and hospitalized in nine medical institutions in our country from January 1, 2015 to November 30, 2019, and retrospectively analyzed it's disease status and risk factors. Results: (1) The proportion of VTE in pregnancy and puerperium was 50.6% (291/575) and 49.4% (284/575), respectively. Four patients died, the mortality rate was 0.7% (4/575). The cause of death was pulmonary embolism. (2) The location of VTE during pregnancy and puerperium was mainly in the lower limb vascular (76.2%, 438/575), followed by pulmonary vessels (7.1%, 41/575). (3) In the risk factors of VTE, cesarean section accounted for 32.3% (186/575), maternal advance age accounted for 27.7% (159/575), braking or hospitalization during pregnancy accounted for 13.6% (78/575), other risk factors accounted for more than 5% were previous VTE, obesity, preterm birth, assistant reproductive technology conception and so on, pre-eclampsia and multiple pregnancy accounted for 4.9% (28/575) respectively. In addition, some patients with VTE did not have any of the above risk factors, and the incidence rate was as high as 23.1% (133/575). Conclusions: The occurrence of VTE during pregnancy and puerperium is related to multiple risk factors, and could lead to matemal death, It is very necessary to screen VTE risk factors for all pregnant women, to make corresponding prevention and control measures.

ATF2 inhibits ani-tumor effects of BET inhibitor in a negative feedback manner by attenuating ferroptosis

BET inhibitor (BETi) has potential therapeutic effects on human cancer especially in breast cancer. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we found that BETi JQ1 and I-BET-151 (I-BET) activated ATF2 through JNK1/2 pathway in breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 (MB-231). In addition, overexpression of ATF2 blocked the reduction of cell viability induced by JQ1 or I-BET in breast cancer MB-231 and BT-549 cells, cervical cancer HeLa cells and lung cancer A549 cells. The induction of cell death by BETi was also attenuated by ATF2 in MB-231 and BT-549 cells. By contrast, depletion of ATF2 increased cancer cell sensitivity to BETi. In MB-231 cells xenograft model, ATF2 significantly inhibited the anti-tumor effects of JQ1. By detection of the oxidized form gluthione, malondialdehyde and lipid ROS, we showed that overexpression of ATF2 inhibited ferroptosis induced by BETi, whereas depletion of ATF2 promoted ferroptosis by BETi. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of ATF2-reduced ferroptosis were investigated. Overexpressed and depleted ATF2 were found to significantly upregulate and downregulate NRF2 protein and mRNA expression, respectively. The significantly positive correlations between NRF2 and ATF2 gene expression were found in breast, lung and cervical cancer tissues from TCGA database. In NRF2-depleted MB-231 cells, ATF2 failed to attenuate JQ1-stimulated ferroptosis. All these results suggested that ATF2 inhibited BETi-induced ferroptosis by increasing NRF2 expression. Altogether, our findings illustrated ATF2 suppressed ani-tumor effects of BETi in a negative feedback manner by attenuating ferroptosis. BETi combined with ATF2 or NRF2 inhibitor might be a novel strategy for treatment of human cancer.

Asiaticoside suppresses cell proliferation by inhibiting the NF‑κB signaling pathway in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality. Asiaticoside (AC) exhibits antitumor effects; however, to the best of our knowledge, the biological function of AC in CRC cells remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AC on CRC cells. In the present study, CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed to assess the effects of AV on human CRC cell lines (HCT116, SW480 and LoVo). Mitochondrial membrane potential was examined by JC-1 staining. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were monitored by flow cytometry, and the expression of genes was evaluated using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, the biological effect of AC in vivo was detected using a xenograft mouse model. The findings revealed that 2 µM AC suppressed the proliferation of CRC cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but had no adverse effects on normal human intestinal FHC cells at a range of concentrations. AC decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the apoptosis of CRC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AC induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. AC attenuated IκBα phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner, thereby preventing P65 from entering the nucleus, and resulting in inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, AC significantly reduced the expression of CDK4 and Cyclin D1 in a dose-dependent manner, significantly upregulated the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and decreased the Bcl-2/Bax mRNA ratio. Furthermore, treatment with the NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor JSH-23 significantly increased the cytotoxicity of AC in CRC cells. Findings of the xenograft mice model experiments revealed that AC significantly inhibited colorectal tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, AC suppressed activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by downregulating IκBα phosphorylation. This resulted in inhibition of CRC cell viability and an increase of cell apoptosis, which may form the basis of AC use in the treatment of patients with CRC.

Macrophages confer resistance to BET inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer by upregulating IKBKE

BET inhibitors (BETi) exhibit a strong anti-tumor activity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, BETi resistance has been reported in TNBC. The mechanisms of resistance have not been demonstrated. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are frequently involved in cancer cells resistance to chemotherapy, also associated with poor prognosis in TNBC. However, the role of TAMs in BETi resistance remains unknown. Here, we found that BETi JQ1 and I-BET151 exerted anti-tumor effects in TNBC by decreasing IKBKE expression to attenuate NF-κB signaling. TAMs have been reported to associate with chemoresistance in breast cancer. Here, we firstly found that TNBC-stimulated TAMs activated NF-κB signaling by upregulating IKBKE expression to enhance breast cancer cells resistance to BETi. The IKBKE levels were also proved to be higher in clinical TNBC tissues than Non-TNBC tissues, suggesting feedback induction of IKBKE expression by TNBC-stimulated TAMs in TNBC. Moreover, the induction of IKBKE by TAMs in TNBC cells was identified to be associated with STAT3 signaling, which was activated by TAM-secreted IL-6 and IL-10. Lastly, the combination of inhibitors of BET and STAT3 exerted a synergistic inhibition effects in TAM-cocultured or TAM CM-treated TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, our findings illustrated TNBC-activated macrophages conferred TNBC cells resistance to BETi via IL-6 or IL-10/STAT3/IKBKE/NF-κB axis. Blockade of IKBKE or double inhibition of BET and STAT3 might be a novel strategy for treatment of TNBC.

Analysis of the prognostic factors of triple-negative breast cancer and the clinical efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy in early cases

e12502

Background: To explore the prognostic value of pretherapeutic peripheral blood parameters and breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) classification of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the effect of postoperative radiotherapy in early cases. Methods: A total of 278 TNBC patients’ medical records between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively collected, including white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serum tumor markers, BI-RADS classification, TNM staging and therapeutic methods. We used the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier curves to assess the progression-free survival (PFS) of enrolled patients. Multivariate prognostic analysis was performed by the Cox regression model. Results: The median PFS of all 278 patients was 20 months (4-72 months) at the end of follow-up. Operable patients who obtained adjuvant chemotherapy had a better median PFS (20 vs 18.5 months, P= 0.018, HR = 5.943, 95% CI: 1.36-25.92) than those without. Lymph node metastasis (52%) and chest well relapse (28%) were the critical failure forms followed by other metastases (12% lungs, 9.3% bones, 4% liver and 2.7% brain) with p value less than 0.001. Multivariate analysis indicated that platelet counts > 113.5×109/L (p = 0.024), PLR ≤ 111.7 (p = 0.036) and CA15-3 ≤ 8.4 U/mL (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with the favourable prognosis of PFS in TNBC patients. Furthermore, BI-RADS of grade 2-4 had a better median PFS compared with grade of 5-6(20 vs 17.5 months, p = 0.008, HR = 2.154, 95% CI: 1.219-3.805). In subgroup analysis, forty-three early cases with pN1 stage earned additional benefits from postoperative radiotherapy in terms of low risk of distant metastasis and recurrence (p = 0.014). Residual tumor after surgery was another important factor of poor prognosis (p = 0.029). Conclusions: Adjuvant chemotherapy improved median PFS for operable TNBC patients and pretherapeutic platelets, PLR, CA15-3 and BI-RADS were the independent prognostic factors of survival. Lymph node metastasis and chest well relapse were the main patterns of treatment failure. Radiotherapy could reduce the risk of disease progression for postoperative patients with N1 stage.

Dihydroartemisinin-induced unfolded protein response feedback attenuates ferroptosis via PERK/ATF4/HSPA5 pathway in glioma cells

Background

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been shown to exert anticancer activity through iron-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which is similar to ferroptosis, a novel form of cell death. However, whether DHA causes ferroptosis in glioma cells and the potential regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

Effects of DHA on the proliferation, cell death, ROS and lipid ROS generation as well as reduced gluthione consumption were assessed in glioma cells with or without ferroptosis inhibitor. The biological mechanisms by which glioma cells attenuate the pro-ferroptotic effects of DHA were assessed using molecular methods.

Results

DHA induced ferroptosis in glioma cells, as characterized by iron-dependent cell death accompanied with ROS generation and lipid peroxidation. However, DHA treatment simultaneously activated a feedback pathway of ferroptosis by increasing the expression of heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 5 (HSPA5). Mechanistically, DHA caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in glioma cells, which resulted in the induction of HSPA5 expression by protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK)-upregulated activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Subsequent HSPA5 upregulation increased the expression and activity of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), which neutralized DHA-induced lipid peroxidation and thus protected glioma cells from ferroptosis. Inhibition of the PERK-ATF4-HSPA5-GPX4 pathway using siRNA or small molecules increased DHA sensitivity of glioma cells by increasing ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

Collectively, these data suggested that ferroptosis might be a novel anticancer mechanism of DHA in glioma and HSPA5 may serve as a negative regulator of DHA-induced ferroptosis. Therefore, inhibiting the negative feedback pathway would be a promising therapeutic strategy to strengthen the anti-glioma activity of DHA.

[Evaluating inferior vena cava wall invasion in renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus with MRI]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI for the assessment of inferior vena cava (IVC) wall invasion by IVC thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

We retrospectively collected patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy for RCC between 2010 and 2018 at Peking University First Hospital. All the patients underwent imaging on a 1.5 Tesla or 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Fifty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative imaging was reviewed by two radiologists blinded to details of the patient's surgical procedure and histopathology. Two radiologists measured the maximum anterior-posterior diameter and coronal diameters of the IVC and renal vein, and the craniocaudal extent of tumor thrombus, and evaluated the MRI features of IVC thrombus, including occlusion of the IVC lumen, the margin of the tumor thrombus (smooth vs. irregular), contact of the IVC thrombus and IVC wall, and altered signal of the IVC wall. Univariable and multivariable associations of clinical and radiographic features with IVC wall invasion were evaluated by Logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of the 56 patients [male: 43, female: 13, mean age: (55.64±0.43) years], 17 (30.36%) were detected with IVC wall invasion, and most were clear cell carcinoma. Tumor thrombus with IVC wall invasion showed an increase in length of IVC thrombus [(7.91±3.59) cm vs. (5.94±3.57) cm, P=0.049], and more features of complete occlusion of the IVC lumen (P=0.002), irregular margin of the IVC thrombs (P=0.005), contact of the IVC thrombus and IVC wall (P=0.001), and altered signal of the low-intensity vessel wall (P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 94.12% and a specificity of 79.49%.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that MRI could be a means of evaluating RCC with IVC wall invasion, and the combination of tumor thrombus length and subjective impression of IVC wall invasion achieved a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis.

[Influencing factors and antenatal assessment of the vaginal birth after cesarean section]

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of the vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC), and establish a model for predicting the risk of trial of the trial of labor after cesarean section (TOLAC). Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, total 694 pregnant women who underwent TOLAC in Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Those cases were divided into two groups according to the mode of delivery: the VBAC group and the failed TOLAC group. At the same time, 700 cases in the elective repeat cesarean section (ERCS) group were randomly selected as control group. The influencing factors of VBAC were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and the pregnancy outcomes between the three groups were compared. Results: (1) The VBAC rate was 76.1% (528/694) and 166 women underwent the failed TOLAC (23.9%, 166/694). (2) Univariate analysis found that, the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) [(22.0±3.0), (23.3±2.7) kg/m(2)], the previous vaginal delivery history [10.4%(55/528), 3.6%(6/166)], the cervical score (5.2±1.9,4.3±1.6) and the neonatal birth weight [(3 315±468), (3 484±274) g] of the VBAC group were significantly different from the failed TOLAC group (P<0.05). (3) The comparison of pregnancy outcomes: the neonatal birth weight was (3 315±468) g, and the intrapartum hemorrhage volume was (255±121) ml in the VBAC group, which were significantly lower than those in the failed TOLAC group [intrapartum hemorrhage (325±173) ml] and the ERCS group [(3 572±344) g, (281±125) ml], there were statistically significant differences in the comparison among the three groups (all P<0.05). Two cases of bladder injury occurred during cesarean section in the TOLAC failure group (1.2%,2/166). The rates of the blood transfusion, puerperal infection, 5-minute Apgar score and neonatal ICU admission among the three groups were no statistically significantly different (all P>0.05). There was no maternal or perinatal death. (4) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the delivery age of pregnant women (OR=0.92, 95%CI: 0.87-0.98), pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=0.92, 95%CI:0.86-0.98), vaginal delivery history (OR=3.31, 95%CI: 1.35-8.01), cervical score (OR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.13-1.42) and the birth weight of the neonates <3 300 g (OR=3.15, 95%CI: 2.02-4.90) were independent influencing factors for VBAC. The area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.74. Conclusions: The influencing factors of VBAC are delivery age, pre-pregnancy BMI, vaginal delivery history, cervical score and neonatal birth weight <3 300 g. The adequate individualized management and assessment of the TOLAC may be helpful to improve the VBAC rate.

[Sublingual immunotherapy of Dermatophagoides farinae drops in nasal cavity local allergy]

Objective:To investigate treatment effect of Sublingual immunotherapy of Dermatophagoides farinae drops in nasal cavity local allergy.MethodSelecting 60 patients as observation group,who had only nasal local allergy symptoms,allergen skin prick test and serum allergen specific IgE test were negative, but nasal secretions allergen specific IgE test and nasal mucous membrane excitation test were positive.Sublingual immunotherapy of Dermatophagoides farinae drops for three years were given to them.To detect symptom scores and VAS scores,eosinophilia counts in nasal secretion,nasal secretions allergen specific IgE test,nasal mucous membrane excitation test before treatment,after two years treatment,and three years treatment,the data of pre-therapy and post-therapy was taken for statistical analysis.ResultThere was difference(P<0.05) in the symptom scores and VAS scores of patients in observation group before treatment and after two years treatment.There was difference(P<0.05) in the eosinophilia counts in nasal secretion of patients before treatment and after two years treatment. There was difference(P<0.05) in the nasal secretions allergen specific IgE test of patients before treatment and after two years treatment. There was difference(P<0.05) in the nasal mucous membrane excitation test of patients before treatment and after two years treatment.There was no difference(P>0.05) Symptom scores and VAS scores in the patients after two years treatment and after three years treatment.Conclusion：For patients with the typical medical history and symptoms of AR,but with allergen SPT and serum allergen SIgE test negative,there was local specific hypersensitivity in nasal mucosa,but there was not accompanied by systemic sensitization.Combined with nasal secretions allergen SIgE test or allergen nasal mucosa proocation tests positive,local allergic rhinitis can be diagnosed.Sublingual immunotherapy of Dermatophagoides farinae drops in nasal cavity local allergy was effective.

Higher plasma concentration of TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer metastasis

Purpose

We aimed to explore the association of plasma TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) level with colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 126 CRC patients was conducted in Xiamen, China. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted OR and 95% CIs of plasma TIGAR concentration for CRC metastasis in different models with adjustment for potential confounders. Area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value.

Results

CRC patients with metastasis showed significantly decreased plasma TIGAR concentration compared to their controls (1.97±0.64 vs 2.49±0.69 ng/mL [log transformed], P=0.002). Higher plasma TIGAR was significantly associated with the decreased risk of CRC metastasis, and the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 0.134 (0.027–0.676, P=0.015) for per SD increase in plasma TIGAR concentration, and the trend test for increasing tertiles showed a negative trend of plasma TIGAR on risk of CRC metastasis (P for trend test: 0.005). Pearson correlation coefficients of plasma TIGAR with other cancer biomarkers (carbohydrate antigen 50 [CA50], carbohydrate antigen 199 [CA199], carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA125], carbohydrate antigen 724 [CA724], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], and ferritin [FER]) was low (P>0.05). AUC (95% CI) of ROC curve of plasma TIGAR for CRC metastasis was comparable to the values of cancer biomarkers (all P-values <0.05).

Conclusion

Higher level of plasma TIGAR was significantly and independently associated with lower risk of CRC metastasis, and its prognostic value on CRC metastasis was comparable to the common cancer biomarkers.

[The clinical significance of PRL-3,VEGF expression in sinonasalsquamous cell carcinoma]

Objective:To analyze the clinical significance of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3(PRL-3) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression in sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas.Method:We use immunohistochemical analysis and RT-PCR to detecte the expression of PRL-3 and VEGF protein in 62 cases of sinonasal squamous carcinoma tissues(SNSCC),30 cases of nasal polyps(NP),and 25 cases of normal nasal mucosa(NM).Result:①The expression of PRL-3 and VEGF in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma tissues were statistically higher than in nasal polyps and normal nasal mucosa tissues (P<0.05).②The expression of PRL-3 and VEGF were not correlated with patient's age or gender(P>0.05).But the High expression of PRL-3 and VEGF in SNSCC was significantly related with advanced,lower tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).③The expression of PRL-3 and VEGF was positively correlated in sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas.Conclusion:The expression of PRL-3 and VEGF in SNSCC may involve in the regulation of tumor growth and differentiation.The expressing intensity may reflect the proliferation activity of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma cell.PRL-3 and VEGF may promote the tumor metastasis in a synergistic manner.

Tumor suppressor let-7a inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting MAGE-A1

Let-7 was one of the earliest discovered miRNAs and while it reportedly acts as a tumor suppressor in various solid tumors, its function in breast cancer has not been fully studied. Therefore, we examined let-7a and MAGE-A1 expression in breast tissues by qRT-PCR and found that let-7a expression significantly correlates with larger tumor size, higher histological grade (p<0.05) and is significantly lower in patients with Her-2-positive cancers and Ki-67 >14% (p=0.028 and p=0.023). MAGE-A1 expression incidence is 50.8% (33/65) and it inversely correlates with let-7a expression (p=0.008). let-7a inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion was also observed in in vitro cell culture experiments, and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that melanoma-associated antigen A1 (MAGE-A1) was its target gene; the target comprised bases 451-457 of the 3'UTR region of the MAGE-A1 mRNA. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses showed that let-7a inhibited MAGE-A1 expression at both the nucleic acid and protein levels. In our final co-transfection experiment, we targeted MAGE-A1 in a breast cancer cell line and observed that let-7a inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. These combined results confirm that let-7a functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting MAGE-A1 in breast cancer and it therefore provides a novel target in breast cancer clinical treatment.

Anti-neuropilin-1 monoclonal antibody suppresses the migration and invasion of human gastric cancer cells via Akt dephosphorylation

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is involved in a range of physiological and pathological processes, including neuronal cell guidance, cardiovascular development, immunity, angiogenesis and the pathogenesis of cancer. Targeting of NRP-1 is considered to be a potential cancer therapy and a number of approaches have been investigated, including the use of small interfering RNA, peptides, soluble NRP antagonists and monoclonal antibodies. The present study used a novel anti-neuropilin-1 monoclonal antibody (anti-NRP-1 mAb) to investigate its potential anti-tumor effects on human gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as its underlying mechanisms of action. Using an MTT assay, it was observed that anti-NRP-1 mAb (<150 µg/ml) had no effects on the viability of gastric cancer cell line BGC-823, while a Boyden chamber assay indicated that treatment with anti-NRP-1 mAb suppressed the migration and invasion of BGC-823 cells. Western blot analysis also demonstrated that phosphorylation of Akt was reduced in BGC-823 cells treated with anti-NRP-1 mAb. Furthermore, anti-NRP-1 mAb suppressed the growth of gastric cancer xenograft tumors and downregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor proteins within tumors in nude mice. These data indicate the potential effects of anti-NRP-1 mAb on malignant tumors and suggest that inhibition of NRP-1 function with anti-NRP-1 mAb may be a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of cancer.

Dosimetry study of 18F-FMISO + PET/CT hypoxia imaging guidance on intensity-modulated radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

This study was to evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous integrated boost on tumor hypoxia area by studying the dosimetric change of hypoxia imaging guidance on intensity-modulated radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Five NSCLC patients with large hypoxic volume participated in this study. FDG PET/CT images were fused with CT localization images to delineate gross tumor volume. FMISO PET/CT images were fused with CT localization images to delineate hypoxic biological target volume (BTV) (tissue maximum ratio ≥ 1.3) by threshold. BTV was irradiated with 72, 78 and 84 Gy, respectively, 30 times. The dosimetry differences were compared in target volume and organ at risk between simultaneous integrated boost plans and conventional radiotherapy plans.

RESULTS

Dosages on BTV of NSCLC hypoxic area were increased to 72, 78 and 84 Gy, respectively, by simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiation therapy. There was no obvious difference in dosage distributions on original target volume compared with those in conventional radiotherapy. Dosages on main organ at risk in chest met the dosimetric constraint, and there was no significant difference compared with those in conventional radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible in dosiology that the dosages in NSCLC hypoxic area were added to 72, 78 and 84 Gy by simultaneous integrated boost with the guidance of ¹⁸F-FMISO PET/CT.

Repurposing the anti-malarial drug dihydroartemisinin suppresses metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer via inhibiting NF-κB/GLUT1 axis

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an aggressive malignancy and long-term survival remains unsatisfactory for patients with metastatic and recurrent disease. Repurposing the anti-malarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been proved to possess potent antitumor effect on various cancers. However, the effects of DHA in preventing the invasion of NSCLC cells have not been studied. In the present study, we determined the inhibitory effects of DHA on invasion and migration and the possible mechanisms involved using A549 and H1975 cells. DHA inhibited in vitro migration and invasion of NSCLC cells even in low concentration with little cytotoxicity. Additionally, low concentration DHA also inhibited Warburg effect in NSCLC cells. Mechanically, DHA negatively regulates NF-κB signaling to inhibit the GLUT1 translocation. Blocking the NF-κB signaling largely abolishes the inhibitory effects of DHA on the translocation of GLUT1 to the plasma membrane and the Warburg effect. Furthermore, GLUT1 knockdown significantly decreased the inhibition of invasion, and migration by DHA. Our results suggested that DHA can inhibit metastasis of NSCLC by targeting glucose metabolism via inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway and DHA may deserve further investigation in NSCLC treatment.

Plasma MiRNA alterations between NSCLC patients harboring Del19 and L858R EGFR mutations

Based on recognition of driver mutations, treatment paradigm for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has been shifted. However, recently exon 19 deletion mutation (del19) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clearly shows better clinical benefit over single-point substitution mutation L858R in exon 21 (L858R). The aim of this study was to investigate the difference by analyzing the expression of plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation del19 or L858R. MiRNA microarray of plasma from patients' blood identified 79 mapped, network-eligible miRNAs (fold > 5), of which 76 were up regulated and 3 were down regulated. Genetic network was performed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Among analysis, MYC, Argonaute2 (AGO2), Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1), cyclin E1 (CCNE1) were involved in organismal abnormalities and cancer. Our findings provide information on the epigenetic signature of the two major sensitive mutations among NSCLC and add to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the different outcomes.

Plasma microRNA alterations between EGFR-activating mutational NSCLC patients with and without primary resistance to TKI

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have obtained excellent therapeutic effects against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating EGFR mutations. However, some patients have exhibited primary resistance which becomes a major obstacle in effective treatment of NSCLC. The mechanisms of EGFR-TKIs resistance involved are still poorly understood. Many studies suggest that miRNAs play an important role in regulating drug sensitivity of EGFR-TKIs. The aim of the present study was to examine differentially expressed miRNAs in plasma between EGFR-TKIs sensitive and EGFR-TKIs primary resistance patients. MiRNA microarray of plasma from patients' blood identified 16 differentially expressed miRNAs of which 15 (hsv2-miR-H19, hsa-miR-744-5p, hsa-miR-3196, hsa-miR-3153, hsa-miR-4791, hsa-miR-4803, hsa-miR-4796-3p, hsa-miR-372-5p, hsa-miR-138-2-3p, hsa-miR-16-1-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-585-3p, ebv-miR-BART14-5p, hsa-miR-769-3p, hsa-miR-548aq-5p) were down regulated while only hsa-miR-503-3p was up regulated in primary resistant patients' plasma. Volcano plot and hierarchical clustering were performed to examine the accuracy of the miRNAs. Then validation with quantitative real-time PCR was performed and the result was in accordance with the array data. Functional analysis of these differentially expressed miRNAs with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed a common signaling network including MYC, CCND1, IGF1 and RELA. In conclusion, our finding may play important role in understanding the mechanisms underlying the problem and should be further evaluated as potential biomarkers in primary resistance of NSCLC.

Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on acrylamide-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells

Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical intermediate utilized in industry. ACR is also formed during heating of foods containing carbohydrates and amino acids. Therefore, humans are widely exposed to ACR, and ACR neurotoxicity in humans is a significant public health issue attracting wide attention. In this study, we investigated the potential neuroprotective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenolic compound in green tea, in PC12 cells treated with ACR. ACR-treated PC12 cells pretreated with various concentrations of EGCG (2.5, 5 and 10 μM) for 24 h had increased viability and acetylcholinesterase activity and reduced apoptosis and necrosis compared to cells exposed to ACR alone. EGCG reduced the expression of bax mRNA, decreased cytochrome c release, reduced intracellular calcium levels, inactivated caspase 3 and increased mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that EGCG prevents ACR-induced apoptosis through a mitochondrial-mediated pathway. In addition, EGCG inhibited the formation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation while enhancing superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels, thereby reducing oxidative stress. Our results indicate that pretreatment of PC12 cells with EGCG attenuates ACR-induced apoptosis by reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, drinking green tea may reduce nerve injury induced by ACR.

Inhibition of SRC-3 enhances sensitivity of human cancer cells to histone deacetylase inhibitors

SRC-3 is widely expressed in multiple tumor types and involved in cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are promising antitumor drugs. However, the poor efficacy of HDAC inhibitors in solid tumors has restricted its further clinical application. Here, we reported the novel finding that depletion of SRC-3 enhanced sensitivity of breast and lung cancer cells to HDAC inhibitors (SAHA and romidepsin). In contrast, overexpression of SRC-3 decreased SAHA-induced cancer cell apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that SRC-3 inhibitor bufalin increased cancer cell apoptosis induced by HDAC inhibitors. The combination of bufalin and SAHA was particular efficient in attenuating AKT activation and reducing Bcl-2 levels. Taken together, these accumulating data might guide development of new breast and lung cancer therapies.

Co-expression of recombinant human prolyl with human collagen α1 (III) chains in two yeast systems

In this study, we co-expressed the human prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4H) with human collagen α1 (III) (COL3A1) in an inducible system: Pichia pastoris (pPICZB), and one constitutive system: P. pastoris (pGAPZαB). The P4H catalyses the post-translational hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen strands. Conventional protein expression system such as bacteria and yeasts, which lack endogenous P4H, are not efficient for the production of recombinant collagen. In this study, the P4H gene was constructed in pGAPZαB plasmid and pPICZB plasmid respectively. These two plasmids were transformed in P. pastoris #1 that carrying COL3A1. Colony PCR analysis and sequencing after electroporation P. pastoris GS115 showed that the target gene had inserted successfully. The results of reverse transcript-qPCR, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and LC-MS/MS analysis of the rhCOL3A1 demonstrated that the P4H was expressed successfully. Besides, it is noted that low copy number, constitutive system was suitable for hydroxylated rhCOL3A1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Successful co-expression of recombinant human collagen α1 (III) (rhCOL3A1) and human prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4H) in Picha pastoris GS115, simultaneously results in the acquisition of rhCOL3A1 with hydroxylation of proline (Hyp). Further, this experiment also discusses that the high or low copy numbers and different promoters affect the Hyp degree of rhCOL3A1. Selecting more appropriate strains can express high degree Hyp of rhCOL3A1. This work will be helpful to the collagen structure study.

Effects of energy controllable steep pulses on intracellular calcium concentration and cell membrane potential

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Our previous experiments showed that steep pulses could kill tumor cells, but the mechanism is unclear yet. This study was to probe the effects of different dosages of energy controllable steep pulses on intracellular concentration of dissociative calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) and cell membrane potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mammary carcinoma cells MDA-MB-231 were divided into control group and 5 different dosages of Energy Controllable Steep Pulses (ECSP) treatment groups. The calcium ion in each group was labeled by Fluo-3/AM individually and the cell membrane potential was labeled by DiBAC4 (3). The mean fluorescence intensity of fluorescent probe in mammary carcinoma cells was observed in quiet state by laser confocal microscopy after ECSP treatment The changes of calcium concentration and cell membrane potential in cells after ECSP treatment were analyzed. The changes of intracellular [Ca2+]i after ECSP treatment were also observed with and without calcium ion outside of the cells.

RESULTS

The calcium ion outside of cells influx with lower dosage of pulse in quiet state. With the dosage increase, the intracellular calcium ion outflow. In real time kinetic detection, the mean fluorescence intensity of intracellular calcium ion was increased with the pulse electric field intensity raised in the lower ECSP. When the voltage was 285V, frequency was 100Hz, the [Ca2+]i decreased. The increase of intracellular calcium ion concentration was decreased without calcium ion than with calcium ion outside of cells, but still raised gradually. The lower dosage of ECSP could induce the fluorescence intensity of DiBAC4 (3) in cells increase, which showed that the lower dosage of ECSP could induce the depolarization of cells. With the dosage raised, the fluorescence intensity of DiBAC4 (3) in cells attenuated. This dosage of ECSP could induce the superpolarization of cell membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

The lower dosage of ECSP can induce the depolarization of cell membrane and induce the inter flow of calcium ion outside of cell membrane. The higher dosage of ECSP can directly destroy the cell membrane and induce the superpolarization of cell membrane, then induce the outflow of intracellular calcium ion which causes the necrosis of tumor cells.

A suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 antagonist enhances antigen-presenting capacity and tumor cell antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) has emerged as a critical inhibitory molecule for controlling the cytokine response and antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DCs), thereby regulating the magnitude of both innate and adaptive immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the SOCS1 antagonist pJAK2(1001-1013) peptide can weaken or block the inhibition function of SOCS1 in DCs by evaluating the phenotype and cytokine production, antigen-presenting, and specific T-cell-activating capacities of DCs electroporated with human gastric cancer cell total RNA. Furthermore, STAT1 activation of the JAK/STAT signal pathway mediated by SOCS1 was analyzed by Western blotting. The results demonstrate that the SOCS1 antagonist pJAK2(1001-1013) peptide upregulated the expression of the maturation marker (CD83) and costimulatory molecule (CD86) of RNA-electroporated human monocyte-derived mature DCs (mDCs), potentiated the capacity of mDCs to induce T-cell proliferation, stimulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and enhanced the cytotoxicity of tumor cell antigen-specific CTLs activated by human gastric cancer cell total RNA-electroporated mDCs. Data from Western blot analysis indicate that STAT1 was further activated in pJAK2(1001-1013) peptide-loaded mDCs. These results imply that the SOCS1 antagonist pJAK2(1001-1013) peptide is an effective reagent for the enhancement of antigen-specific antitumor immunity by DCs.

Modulation of K(v)7 potassium channels by a novel opener pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one compound QO-58

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Modulation of K(v)7/M channel function represents a relatively new strategy to treat neuronal excitability disorders such as epilepsy and neuropathic pain. We designed and synthesized a novel series of pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one compounds, which activate K(v)7 channels. Here, we characterized the effects of the lead compound, QO-58, on K(v)7 channels and investigated its mechanism of action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A perforated whole-cell patch technique was used to record K(v)7 currents expressed in mammalian cell lines and M-type currents from rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The effects of QO-58 in a rat model of neuropathic pain, chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, were also examined.

KEY RESULTS

QO-58 increased the current amplitudes, shifted the voltage-dependent activation curve in a more negative direction and slowed the deactivation of K(v)7.2/K(v)7.3 currents. QO-58 activated K(v)7.1, K(v)7.2, K(v)7.4 and K(v)7.3/K(v)7.5 channels with a more selective effect on K(v)7.2 and K(v)7.4, but little effect on K(v)7.3. The mechanism of QO-58's activation of K(v)7 channels was clearly distinct from that used by retigabine. A chain of amino acids, Val(224)Val(225)Tyr(226), in K(v)7.2 was important for QO-58 activation of this channel. QO-58 enhanced native neuronal M currents, resulting in depression of evoked action potentials. QO-58 also elevated the pain threshold of neuropathic pain in the sciatic nerve CCI model.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The results indicate that QO-58 is a potent modulator of K(v)7 channels with a mechanism of action different from those of known K(v)7 openers. Hence, QO-58 shows potential as a treatment for diseases associated with neuronal hyperexcitability.

FasL-induced apoptosis in bovine oocytes via the Bax signal

The factor associated suicide (Fas) and its ligand (FasL) signaling is an important regulatory pathway of apoptosis in mammalian follicles. However, whether apoptosis in bovine oocytes is regulated by the Fas-FasL signaling pathway remains unknown. In this study, localization of Fas and FasL in immature oocytes and FasL in cumulus cells were examined using immunofluorescence staining. In addition, exogenous FasL was added to an in vitro culture system to investigate apoptotic changes in bovine oocytes, using annexin-V and terminal uridine nick-end labeling staining, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In this study, Fas was expressed in immature oocytes, whereas FasL was expressed in cumulus cells, but not in immature oocytes; annexin-V- and terminal uridine nick-end labeling-positive rates of oocytes treated with 2, 10, or 50 ng/mL FasL were higher than those of control oocytes (P < 0.05); and oocytes from the three treatment groups had higher expression levels of Fas and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 associated X than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Taken together, we concluded that the Fas-FasL signaling pathway was involved in regulation of bovine oocyte apoptosis, perhaps related to B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 associated X upregulation.

High-intensity electric pulses induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in ovarian cancer xenograft mice

Human ovarian cancer models were established in nude mice by transplanting SKOV(3) cells, and then tumors were exposed to high-intensity electric pulses with a voltage 1000 V, frequency of 1000 Hz, and duration of 250 ns for 1 min. Mitochondria permeability transition pore (PTP) was inspected by cofocal microscope; cytochrome C (Cyt C) and apoptosis-induced factor (AIF) were determined by immunohistochemistry; and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) was measured by immunofluorescence. High-intensity electric pulses exposure led to increases of PTP, Cyt C, and AIF and a decrease of VDAC. These findings revealed that high-intensity electric pulses activated mitochondria electroporation, apoptosis was realized via mitochondria pathway.

ZD6474 reverses multidrug resistance by directly inhibiting the function of P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pumps multiple types of drugs out of the cell, using energy generated from ATP, and confers multidrug resistance (MDR) on cancer cells. ZD6474 is an orally active, selective inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and rearranged during transfection tyrosine kinases. This study was designed to examine whether ZD6474 reverses P-gp-mediated MDR in cancer cells. Here, we show that clinically achievable levels of ZD6474 reverse P-gp-mediated MDR of the P-gp-overexpressing cell lines derived from breast cancer, MCF-7/adriamycin (ADR), and human oral epidermoid carcinoma, KBV200 to ADR, docetaxel, and vinorelbine. This ability to reverse the P-gp-mediated resistance is comparable to that of another frequently used reversal agent known as verapamil. ZD6474 itself moderately inhibits the proliferation of both MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells with almost equal activity, but its inhibitory effect is not altered by co-incubation with verapamil, suggesting that ZD6474 may not be a substrate of P-gp. In addition, ZD6474 increases the intracellular accumulation of the P-gp substrate, rhodamine-123, and ADR, by enhancing the uptake and/or decreasing the efflux of these compounds in resistant cells. Further studies show that ZD6474 stimulates ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner, which is required for the proper function of P-gp. In contrast, ZD6474 does not inhibit the expression level of P-gp. Our results suggest that ZD6474 is capable of reversing MDR in cancer cells by directly inhibiting the function of P-gp, a finding that may have clinical implications for ZD6474.

Effect of pattern topology on the self-cleaning properties of textured surfaces

The water contact angle and self-cleaning property of microfabricated surface textures possessing different topologies are compared. In one kind of surface textures, the protruded regions form a connected square network. In the other kind of surface textures, the protruded regions form a regular array of square posts. We find that the water apparent contact angle of the connected textures agrees with the Cassie equation [Discuss. Faraday Soc. 3, 11 (1948)], but that of the disconnected textures is much larger. Nevertheless, the disconnected textures exhibit inferior self-cleaning property, contrary to conventional conception. We discuss the possible reasons for these observations.

Indoor molds, bacteria, microbial volatile organic compounds and plasticizers in schools--associations with asthma and respiratory symptoms in pupils

We investigated asthma and atopy in relation to microbial and plasticizer exposure. Pupils in eight primary schools in Uppsala (Sweden) answered a questionnaire, 1014 (68%) participated. Totally, 7.7% reported doctor-diagnosed asthma, 5.9% current asthma, and 12.2% allergy to pollen/pets. Wheeze was reported by 7.8%, 4.5% reported daytime breathlessness, and 2.0% nocturnal breathlessness. Measurements were performed in 23 classrooms (May-June), 74% had <1000 ppm CO(2) indoors. None had visible mold growth or dampness. Mean total microbial volatile organic compound (MVOC) concentration was 423 ng/m(3) indoors and 123 ng/m(3) outdoors. Indoor concentration of TMPD-MIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate, Texanol) and TMPD-DIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, TXIB), two common plasticizers, were 0.89 and 1.64 microg/m(3), respectively. MVOC and plasticizer concentration were correlated (r = 0.5; P < 0.01). Mold concentration was 360 cfu/m(3) indoors and 980 cfu/m(3) outdoors. At higher indoor concentrations of total MVOC, nocturnal breathlessness (P < 0.01) and doctor-diagnosed asthma (P < 0.05) were more common. Moreover, there were positive associations between nocturnal breathlessness and 3-methylfuran (P < 0.01), 3-methyl-1-butanol (P < 0.05), dimethyldisulfide (P < 0.01), 2-heptanone (P < 0.01), 1-octen-3-ol (P < 0.05), 3-octanone (P < 0.05), TMPD-MIB (P < 0.05), and TMPD-DIB (P < 0.01). TMPD-DIB was positively associated with wheeze (P < 0.05), daytime breathlessness (P < 0.05), doctor-diagnosed asthma (P < 0.05), and current asthma (P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to MVOC and plasticizers at school may be a risk factor for asthmatic symptoms in children.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Despite generally good ventilation and lack of visible signs of mold growth, we found an association between respiratory symptoms and indoor MVOC concentration. In addition, we found associations between asthmatic symptoms and two common plasticizers. The highest levels of MVOC, TMPD-MIB, and TMPD-DIB were found in two new buildings, suggesting that material emissions should be better controlled. As MVOC and plasticizers concentrations were positively correlated, while indoor viable molds and bacteria were negatively correlated, it is unclear if indoor MVOC is an indicator of microbial exposure. Further studies focusing on health effects of chemical emissions from indoor plastic materials, including PVC-floor coatings, are needed.