The interplay of Cxcl10+/Mmp14+ monocytes and Ccl3+ neutrophils proactively mediates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis

As a fatal occupational disease with limited therapeutic options, molecular mechanisms underpinning silicosis are still undefined. Herein, single-cell RNA sequencing of the lung tissue of silicosis mice identified two monocyte subsets, which were characterized by Cxcl10 and Mmp14 and enriched in fibrotic mouse lungs. Both Cxcl10+ and Mmp14+ monocyte subsets exhibited activation of inflammatory marker genes and positive regulation of cytokine production. Another fibrosis-unique neutrophil population characterized by Ccl3 appeared to be related to the pro-fibrotic process, specifically the "inflammatory response". Meanwhile, the proportion of monocytes and neutrophils was significantly higher in the serum of silicosis patients and slices of lung tissue from patients with silicosis further validated the over-expression of Cxcl10 and Mmp14 in monocytes, also Ccl3 in neutrophils, respectively. Mechanically, receptor-ligand interaction analysis identified the crosstalk of Cxcl10+/Mmp14+ monocytes with Ccl3+ neutrophils promoting fibrogenesis via coupling of HBEGF-CD44 and CSF1-CSF1R. In vivo, administration of clodronate liposomes, Cxcl10 or Mmp14 siRNA-loaded liposomes, Ccl3 receptor antagonist BX471, CD44 or CSF1R neutralizing antibodies significantly alleviated silica-induced lung fibrosis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the newly defined Cxcl10+/Mmp14+ monocytes and Ccl3+ neutrophils participate in the silicosis process and highlight anti-receptor-ligand pair treatment as a potentially effective therapeutic strategy in managing silicosis.

circPVT1 promotes silica-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition by modulating the miR-497-5p/TCF3 axis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a vital pathological feature of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, whether circRNA is involved in the process remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of circPVT1 in the silica-induced EMT and the underlying mechanisms. We found that an elevated expression of circPVT1 promoted EMT and enhanced the migratory capacity of silica-treated epithelial cells. The isolation of cytoplasmic and nuclear separation assay showed that circPVT1 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and RNA pull-down experiment indicated that cytoplasmic-localized circPVT1 was capable of binding to miR-497-5p. Furthermore, we found that miR-497-5p attenuated the silica-induced EMT process by targeting transcription factor 3 (TCF3), an E-cadherin transcriptional repressor, in the silica-treated epithelial cells. Collectively, these results reveal a novel role of the circPVT1/miR-497-5p/TCF3 axis in the silica-induced EMT process in lung epithelial cells. Once validated, this finding may provide a potential theoretical basis for the development of interventions and treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.

CircZNF609 regulates pulmonary fibrosis via miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and its translation function

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary fibrosis is a growing clinical problem that develops as a result of abnormal wound healing, leading to breathlessness, pulmonary dysfunction and ultimately death. However, therapeutic options for pulmonary fibrosis are limited because the underlying pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Circular RNAs, as key regulators in various diseases, remain poorly understood in pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.

METHODS

We performed studies with fibroblast cell lines and silica-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis models. The expression of circZNF609, miR-145-5p, and KLF4 was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays and m6A RNA immunoprecipitation assays (MeRIP), Western blotting, immunofluorescence assays, and CCK8 were performed to investigate the role of the circZNF609/miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and circZNF609-encoded peptides in fibroblast activation.

RESULTS

Our data showed that circZNF609 was downregulated in activated fibroblasts and silica-induced fibrotic mouse lung tissues. Overexpression of circZNF609 could inhibit fibroblast activation induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Mechanically, we revealed that circZNF609 regulates pulmonary fibrosis via miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and circZNF609-encoded peptides. Furthermore, circZNF609 was highly methylated and its expression was controlled by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Lastly, in vivo studies revealed that overexpression of circZNF609 attenuates silica-induced lung fibrosis in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that circZNF609 is a critical regulator of fibroblast activation and silica-induced lung fibrosis. The circZNF609 and its derived peptides may represent novel promising targets for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

IL33-mediated NPM1 promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition via ERK/AP-1 signaling in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Silicosis is a global occupational pulmonary disease due to the accumulation of silica dust in the lung. Lacking effective clinical drugs makes the treatment of this disease quite challenging in clinics largely because the pathogenic mechanisms remain obscure. Interleukin 33 (IL33), a pleiotropic cytokine, could promote wound healing and tissue repair via the receptor ST2. However, the mechanisms governing the involvement of IL33 in silicosis progression remain to be further explored. Here, we demonstrated that the IL33 levels in the lung sections were significantly overexpressed after bleomycin and silica treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, knockdown, and reverse experiments were performed in lung fibroblasts to prove gene interaction following exogenous IL33 treatment or cocultured with silica-treated lung epithelial cells. Mechanistically, we illustrated that silica-stimulated lung epithelial cells secreted IL33 and further promoted the activation, proliferation, and migration of pulmonary fibroblasts by activating the ERK/AP-1/NPM1 signaling pathway in vitro. And more, treatment with NPM1 siRNA-loaded liposomes markedly protected mice from silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. In conclusion, the involvement of NPM1 in the progression of silicosis is regulated by the IL33/ERK/AP-1 signaling axis, which is the potential therapeutic target candidate in developing novel antifibrotic strategies for pulmonary fibrosis.

A comparative study of pilomatricoma and epidermoid cyst with ultrasound

AIM

To explore and compare the ultrasonic (US) features of pilomatricoma (PM) and epidermoid cyst (EC) in the differential diagnosis and improve the accuracy of US diagnosis of PM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and nine patients who underwent US examination before surgery with a histopathological diagnosis of PM or EC after surgery were analysed retrospectively. The patients were categorised into the training and validation sets according to the inspection times. Univariate analysis was undertaken on the US and clinical features of PM and statistically significant variables (p<0.05) were included in the multivariate logistic regression model to establish a diagnostic model.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the multivariate logistic regression model for PM was statistically significant (p<0.001). The risk factors included posterior echo attenuation and hypoechoic halos (odds ratio [OR] = 9.277, 10.254) and the protective factors included age, diameter thickness, and posterior echo enhancement (OR=0.936, 0.302, 0.156). The performance of the diagnostic model was tested using the training set (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.974, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.955-0.994) and the validation set (AUC = 0.967, 95% CI = 0.926-1.000), which demonstrated good discriminant ability.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic accuracy for PM was higher than that for EC when the nodule is characterised by posterior echo attenuation, hypoechoic halos, smaller thickness, and younger age. The US diagnostic model developed may be used to guide the diagnosis of PM.

[HbA1c comparison and diagnostic efficacy analysis of multi center different glycosylated hemoglobin detection systems]

Objective: Compare and analyze the results of the domestic Lanyi AH600 glycated hemoglobin analyzer and other different detection systems to understand the comparability of the detection results of different detectors, and establish the best cut point of Lanyi AH600 determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Methods: Multi center cohort study was adopted. The clinical laboratory departments of 18 medical institutions independently collected test samples from their respective hospitals from March to April 2022, and independently completed comparative analysis of the evaluated instrument (Lanyi AH600) and the reference instrument HbA1c. The reference instruments include four different brands of glycosylated hemoglobin meters, including Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong. Scatter plot was used to calculate the correlation between the results of different detection systems, and the regression equation was calculated. The consistency analysis between the results of different detection systems was evaluated by Bland Altman method. Consistency judgment principles: (1) When the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) of the measurement difference was within 0.4% HbA1c and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was good; (2) When the measurement difference of 95% LoA exceeded 0.4% HbA1c, and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was relatively good; (3) The measurement score was less than 80 points, the comparison consistency was poor. The difference between the results of different detection systems was tested by paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test; The best cut-off point of diabetes was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: The correlation coefficient R² of results between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument in 16 hospitals is≥0.99; The Bland Altman consistency analysis showed that the difference of 95% LoA in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180) was -0.486%-0.325%, and the measurement score was 94.6 points (473/500); The difference of 95% LoA in the Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant II) was -0.727%-0.612%, and the measurement score was 89.8 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.231%-0.461%, and the measurement score was 96.6 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.469%-0.479%, and the measurement score was 91.9 points. The other 14 hospitals, Lanyi AH600, were compared with 4 reference instrument brands, the difference of 95% LoA was less than 0.4% HbA1c, and the scores were all greater than 95 points. The results of paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument Arkray HA8180 (Z=1.665,P=0.096), with no statistical difference. The mean difference between the measured values of the two instruments was 0.004%. The comparison data of Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument of all other institutions had significant differences (all P<0.001), however, it was necessary to consider whether it was within the clinical acceptable range in combination with the results of the Bland-Altman consistency analysis. The ROC curve of HbA1c detected by Lanyi AH600 in 985 patients with diabetes and 3 423 patients with non-diabetes was analyzed, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.877, the standard error was 0.007, and the 95% confidence interval 95%CI was (0.864, 0.891), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The maximum value of Youden index was 0.634, and the corresponding HbA1c cut point was 6.235%. The sensitivity and specificity of diabetes diagnosis were 76.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the hospitals and instruments currently included in this study, among these four hospitals included Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180), Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant Ⅱ), the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), and the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), the comparison between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instruments showed relatively good consistency, while the other 14 hospitals involved four different brands of reference instruments: Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong, Lanyi AH600 had good consistency with its comparison. The best cut point of the domestic Lanyi AH600 for detecting HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.235%.

[Progress of researches on the role and mechanisms of non - coding RNA in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection]

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a food-borne zoonotic parasite, and human infection may cause eosinophilic meningitis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) may regulate physiological and pathological processes at multiple biological levels; however, there are few studies pertaining to the regulatory role of ncRNAs in A. cantonensis infection. Based on publications retrieved from PubMed, Wanfang Data and CNKI, the regulatory role of ncRNAs in A. cantonensis infections mainly includes immune responses, cell apoptosis and signaling transduction, and ncRNAs may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis. This review summarizes the main roles of ncRNAs in A. cantonensis infections and the underlying mechanisms, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and treatment of angiostrongyliasis.

Promoting the overall energy profit through using the liquid hydrolysate during microwave hydrothermal pretreatment of wheat straw as co-substrate for anaerobic digestion

Liquid hydrolysate (LH) derived from the microwave hydrothermal pretreatment (MHP) of wheat straw (WS) was anaerobically digested together with the solid residual to promote the overall energy profit. Different MHP temperatures (90, 120, 150, 180 °C) and retention times (10, 20, 40 min) were investigated. Increased MHP intensity generated plenty of VFAs (mainly acetate) and phenols in the LH, implying the double-side effect of LH on AD. The highest methane production of 227.92 mL CH₄·gVS^-1 Raw was obtained with MHP at 120 °C for 10 min, 21.53 % higher than the control. While, MHP at 180 °C for 40 min exhibited 29.02 % lower methane production (113.13 mL CH₄·gVS^-1 Raw) and 115.86 % longer lag phase (3.13 days) than the control. Butyrate fermentation endowed the treatment groups of 180 °C with resilience from the overload and inhibition. Methanosarcina was largely enriched by the abundant acetate in LH on the early stage of anaerobic digestion (AD), especially when with high MHP intensity. Increased abundance of Methanosaeta and Methanobacterium played a crucial role in maintaining methane production at the middle and later stage. The high number of species and evenness in methanogens community were beneficial for the startup of batch AD. Although negative net energy was obtained, the lower ratio of energy input and output compared with the most researches using the solid residual after MHP as the sole substrate for AD demonstrated the contribution of LH to the overall energy profit.

Muscle Fat Content Is Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis in Chinese Adults

OBJECTIVES

Several studies have linked myosteatosis with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in individuals with obesity. The clinical significance of myosteatosis in individuals with NAFLD in the general population has not been well investigated. Here, we wanted to explore and compare the associations of NAFLD and liver fibrosis with muscle fat content and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in a relatively large general population in China.

METHODS

We retrospectively included all participants who underwent abdominal CT scans in our health promotion center between April 2021 and October 2021. Muscle fat content was assessed by abdomen quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans, and SMM was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance. NAFLD was assessed by ultrasonography. The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) score were calculated to assess liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

Compared with participants without NAFLD, patients with NAFLD showed significantly increased intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT%) (7.40±3.37% vs. 6.76±2.66%, P <0.01). According to a multiple logistic regression model, IMAT% (OR=1.091, 95% CI 1.030-1.155, P=0.003) was only independently correlated with NAFLD in obese participants. Mediation analysis showed that BMI mediated the association between IMAT% and NAFLD. In participants with NAFLD, increased IMAT% was independently associated with an increased intermediate to high risk of advanced fibrosis assessed by the NFS or FIB-4 score after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. However, SMM was only independently correlated with an intermediate to high risk for advanced fibrosis evaluated by the NFS and not by the FIB-4 score.

CONCLUSION

Increased muscle fat content is positively correlated with NAFLD and intermediate to high risk for advanced fibrosis in the general Chinese population.

UHRF1-mediated ferroptosis promotes pulmonary fibrosis via epigenetic repression of GPX4 and FSP1 genes

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), as an end-stage clinical phenotype of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), is frequently initiated after alveolar injury, in which ferroptosis has been identified as a critical event aggravating the pathophysiological progression of this disease. Here in, a comprehensive analysis of two mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis developed in our lab demonstrated that lung damage-induced ferroptosis of alveolar epithelial Type2 cells (AEC2) significantly accumulates during the development of pulmonary fibrosis while ferroptosis suppressor genes GPX4 and FSP1 are dramatically inactivated. Mechanistically, upregulation of de novo methylation regulator Uhrf1 sensitively elevates CpG site methylation levels in promoters of both GPX4 and FSP1 genes and induces the epigenetic repression of both genes, subsequently leading to ferroptosis in chemically interfered AEC2 cells. Meanwhile, specific inhibition of UHRF1 highly arrests the ferroptosis formation and blocks the progression of pulmonary fibrosis in both of our research models. This study first, to our knowledge, identified the involvement of Uhrf1 in mediating the ferroptosis of chemically injured AEC2s via de novo promoter-specific methylation of both GPX4 and FSP1 genes, which consequently accelerates the process of pulmonary fibrosis. The above findings also strongly suggested Uhrf1 as a novel potential target in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Liposomal UHRF1 siRNA shows lung fibrosis treatment potential through regulation of fibroblast activation

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive interstitial lung disease associated with the decay of pulmonary function, which leads to a fatal outcome. As an essential epigenetic regulator of DNA methylation, the involvement of ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) in fibroblast activation remains largely undefined in pulmonary fibrosis. In the present study, we found that TGF-β1-mediated upregulation of UHRF1 repressed beclin 1 via methylated induction of its promoter, which finally resulted in fibroblast activation and lung fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, knockdown of UHRF1 significantly arrested fibroblast proliferation and reactivated beclin 1 in lung fibroblasts. Thus, intravenous administration of UHRF1 siRNA-loaded liposomes significantly protected mice against experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Accordingly, our data suggest that UHRF1 might be a novel potential therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

Targeted delivery of ZNF416 siRNA-loaded liposomes attenuates experimental pulmonary fibrosis

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive fibrotic interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition caused by activated fibroblasts. Increasing evidence shows that matrix stiffness is essential in promoting fibroblast activation and profibrotic changes. Here, we investigated the expression and function of matrix stiffness-regulated ZNF416 in pulmonary fibrotic lung fibroblasts.

Methods

1 kappa (soft), 60 kappa (stiff) gel-coated coverslips, or transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-cultured lung fibroblasts and the gain- or loss- of the ZNF416 function assays were performed in vitro. We also established two experimental pulmonary fibrosis mouse models by a single intratracheal instillation with 50 mg/kg silica or 6 mg/kg bleomycin (BLM). ZNF416 siRNA-loaded liposomes and TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor SB431542 were administrated in vivo.

Results

Our study identified that ZNF416 could regulate fibroblast differentiation, proliferation, and contraction by promoting the nuclear accumulation of p-Smad2/3. Besides, ZNF416 siRNA-loaded liposome delivery by tail-vein could passively target the fibrotic area in the lung, and co-administration of ZNF416 siRNA-loaded liposomes and SB431542 significantly protects mice against silica or BLM-induced lung injury and fibrosis.

Conclusion

In this study, our results indicate that mechanosensitive ZNF416 is a potential molecular target for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Strategies aimed at silencing ZNF416 could be a promising approach to fight against pulmonary fibrosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03740-w.

Caveolin-1 and Its Functional Peptide CSP7 Affect Silica-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Regulating Fibroblast Glutaminolysis

Exposure to silica is a cause of pulmonary fibrosis disease termed silicosis, which leads to respiratory failure and ultimately death. However, what drives fibrosis is not fully elucidated and therapeutic options remain limited. Our previous RNA-sequencing analysis showed that the expression of caveolin-1 (CAV1) was downregulated in silica-inhaled mouse lung tissues. Here, we not only verified that CAV1 was decreased in silica-induced fibrotic mouse lung tissues in both messenger RNA and protein levels, but also found that CSP7, a functional peptide of CAV1, could attenuate pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Further in vitro experiments revealed that CAV1 reduced the expression of Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1) and affected its nuclear translocation in fibroblasts. In addition, Glutaminase 1 (GLS1), a key regulator of glutaminolysis, was identified to be a downstream effector of YAP1. CAV1 could suppress the activity of YAP1 to decrease the transcription of GLS1, thereby inhibiting fibroblast activation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that CAV1 and its functional peptide CSP7 may be potential molecules or drugs for the prevention and intervention of silicosis.

[Exosomal FZD10 derived from non-small cell lung cancer cells promotes angiogenesis of human umbilical venous endothelial cells in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of exosomal FZD10 derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells on angiogenesis of human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODS

We analyzed the expression of FZD10 in two NSCLC cell lines (95D and H1299 cells), normal human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells) and their exosomes isolated by ultracentrifugation. Cultured HUVECs were treated with the exosomes derived from NSCLC cells or NSCLC cells transfected with FZD10-siRNA, and the changes in tube formation ability of the cells were analyzed using an in vitro angiogenesis assay. ELISA was performed to determine the concentration of VEGFA and Ang-1 in the conditioned media of HUVECs, and RT-qPCR was used to analyze the mRNA levels of VEGFA and Ang-1 in the HUVECs. The effects of exosomal FZD10 on the activation of PI3K, Erk1/2 and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways were evaluated using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with BEAS-2B cells and their exosomes, 95D and H1299 cells and their exosomes all expressed high levels of FZD10 (P < 0.01). The exosomes derived from 95D and H1299 cells significantly enhanced tube formation ability and increased the expressions of VEGFA and Ang-1 protein and mRNA in HUVECs (P < 0.01), but FZD10 knockdown in 95D and H1299 cells obviously inhibited these effects of the exosomes. Exosomal FZD10 knockdown suppressed the activation of PI3K and Erk1/2 signaling pathways, but had no obvious effect on the activation of YAP/TAZ signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Exosomal FZD10 derived from NSCLC cells promotes HUVEC angiogenesis in vitro, the mechanism of which may involve the activation of PI3K and Erk1/2 signaling pathways.

ALKBH5 promotes lung fibroblast activation and silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis through miR-320a-3p and FOXM1

Background

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common and abundant internal modification of RNA. Its critical functions in multiple physiological and pathological processes have been reported. However, the role of m⁶A in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), a well-known m⁶A demethylase, is upregulated in the silica-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis model. Here, we sought to investigate the function of ALKBH5 in pulmonary fibrosis triggered by silica inhalation.

Methods

We performed studies with fibroblast cell lines and silica-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis models. The expression of ALKBH5, miR-320a-3p, and forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays and m⁶A RNA immunoprecipitation assays (MeRIP), western bolt, immunofluorescence assays, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) fluorescence staining were performed to explore the roles of ALKBH5, miR-320a-3p, and FOXM1 in fibroblast activation.

Results

ALKBH5 expression was increased in silica-inhaled mouse lung tissues and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-stimulated fibroblasts. Moreover, ALKBH5 knockdown exerted antifibrotic effects in vitro. Simultaneously, downregulation of ALKBH5 elevated miR-320a-3p but decreased pri-miR-320a-3p. Mechanically, ALKBH5 demethylated pri-miR-320a-3p, thus blocking the microprocessor protein DGCR8 from interacting with pri-miR-320a-3p and leading to mature process blockage of pri-miR-320a-3p. We further demonstrated that miR-320a-3p could regulate fibrosis by targeting FOXM1 messenger RNA (mRNA) 3′-untranslated region (UTR). Notably, our study also verified that ALKBH5 could also directly regulate FOXM1 in an m⁶A-dependent manner.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that ALKBH5 promotes silica-induced lung fibrosis via the miR-320a-3p/FOXM1 axis or targeting FOXM1 directly. Approaches aimed at ALKBH5 may be efficacious in treating lung fibrosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11658-022-00329-5.

PTX3 alleviates hard metal-induced acute lung injury through potentiating efferocytosis

Prolonged exposure to hard metal dust results in hard metal lung disease (HMLD) characterized by respiratory symptoms. Understanding the pathogenesis and pathological process of HMLD would be helpful for its early diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we established a mouse model of hard metal-induced acute lung injury through one-time intratracheal instillation of WC-Co dust suspension. We found that WC-Co treatment damaged the lungs of mice, leading to increased production of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18, inflammatory cells infiltration and apoptosis. In vitro, WC-Co induced cytotoxicity, inflammatory response and apoptosis in macrophages (PMA-treated THP-1) and epithelial cells (A549) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, RNA-sequence and validation experiments verified that Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an important mediator in the regulation of inflammation, was elevated both in vivo and in vitro induced by WC-Co. Functional experiments confirmed the PTX3, which was located on the membrane of apoptotic cells, promoted macrophage efferocytosis efficiently. This progress could help block the lung inflammation and contribute to the rapid recovery of WC-Co-induced acute lung injury. These observations provide a further understanding of the molecular mechanism of WC-Co-induced pulmonary injury and disclose PTX3 as a new potential therapeutic approach to relieve WC-Co-induced acute lung injury via efferocytosis.

Deletion in KRT75L4 linked to frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chickens

Bird feathers are the product of interactions between natural and artificial selection. Feather-related traits are important for chicken selection and breeding. Frizzle feather is characterized by the abnormally development of feathers in chickens. In the current study, frizzle feather characteristics were observed in a local breed called Xiushui Yellow Chicken in Jiangxi, China. To determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken, four populations of three breeds (Xiushui Yellow Chicken with frizzle feathers, Xiushui Yellow Chicken with normal feathers, Guangfeng White-Ear Yellow Chicken, and Ningdu Yellow Chicken) were selected for whole-genome resequencing. Using a comparative genome strategy and genome-wide association study, a missense mutation (g.5281494A>G) and a 15-bp deletion (g.5285437-5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG) in KRT75L4 were identified as candidate mutations associated with frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken. Based on genotyping performed in a large Xiushui Yellow Chicken population, the g.5285437-5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG mutation in KRT75L4 was confirmed as the putative causative mutation of frizzle feather. These results deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for frizzle feather, as well as facilitating the molecular detection and selection of the feather phenotype in Xiushui Yellow Chickens.

Metformin attenuates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis via AMPK signaling

Background

Silicosis is one of the most common occupational pulmonary fibrosis caused by respirable silica-based particle exposure, with no ideal drugs at present. Metformin, a commonly used biguanide antidiabetic agent, could activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to exert its pharmacological action. Therefore, we sought to investigate the role of metformin in silica-induced lung fibrosis.

Methods

The anti-fibrotic role of metformin was assessed in 50 mg/kg silica-induced lung fibrosis model. Silicon dioxide (SiO₂)-stimulated lung epithelial cells/macrophages and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced differentiated lung fibroblasts were used for in vitro models.

Results

At the concentration of 300 mg/kg in the mouse model, metformin significantly reduced lung inflammation and fibrosis in SiO₂-instilled mice at the early and late fibrotic stages. Besides, metformin (range 2–10 mM) reversed SiO₂-induced cell toxicity, oxidative stress, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in epithelial cells (A549 and HBE), inhibited inflammation response in macrophages (THP-1), and alleviated TGF-β1-stimulated fibroblast activation in lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) via an AMPK-dependent pathway.

Conclusions

In this study, we identified that metformin might be a potential drug for silicosis treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-03036-5.

LncRNA-ATB regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression in pulmonary fibrosis via sponging miR-29b-2-5p and miR-34c-3p

Dysregulation of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been proved to play pivotal roles in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis. We have previously demonstrated the crucial function of long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) ATB in silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis‐related EMT progression. However, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we verified miR‐29b‐2‐5p and miR‐34c‐3p as two vital downstream targets of lncRNA‐ATB. As opposed to lncRNA‐ATB, a significant reduction of both miR‐29b‐2‐5p and miR‐34c‐3p was observed in lung epithelial cells treated with TGF‐β1 and a murine silicosis model. Overexpression miR‐29b‐2‐5p or miR‐34c‐3p inhibited EMT process and abrogated the pro‐fibrotic effects of lncRNA‐ATB in vitro. Further, the ectopic expression of miR‐29b‐2‐5p and miR‐34c‐3p with chemotherapy attenuated silica‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Mechanistically, TGF‐β1‐induced lncRNA‐ATB accelerated EMT as a sponge of miR‐29b‐2‐5p and miR‐34c‐3p and shared miRNA response elements with MEKK2 and NOTCH2, thus relieving these two molecules from miRNA‐mediated translational repression. Interestingly, the co‐transfection of miR‐29b‐2‐5p and miR‐34c‐3p showed a synergistic suppression effect on EMT in vitro. Furthermore, the co‐expression of these two miRNAs by using adeno‐associated virus (AAV) better alleviated silica‐induced fibrogenesis than single miRNA. Approaches aiming at lncRNA‐ATB and its downstream effectors may represent new effective therapeutic strategies in pulmonary fibrosis.

CircHIPK3 regulates pulmonary fibrosis by facilitating glycolysis in miR-30a-3p/FOXK2-dependent manner

Pulmonary fibrosis develops when myofibroblasts and extracellular matrix excessively accumulate in the injured lung, but what drives fibrosis is not fully understood. Glycolysis has been linked to cell growth and proliferation, and several studies have shown enhanced glycolysis promotes pulmonary fibrosis. However, detailed studies describing this switch remain limited. Here, we identified that TGF-β1 effectively increased the expression of circHIPK3 in lung fibroblasts, and circHIPK3 inhibition attenuated the activation, proliferation, and glycolysis of fibroblasts in vitro. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays showed that circHIPK3 could function as a sponge of miR-30a-3p and inhibit its expression. Furthermore, FOXK2, a driver transcription factor of glycolysis, was identified to be a direct target of miR-30a-3p. Mechanistically, circHIPK3 could enhance the expression of FOXK2 via sponging miR-30a-3p, thereby facilitating fibroblast glycolysis and activation. Besides, miR-30a-3p overexpression or FOXK2 knockdown blocked fibroblast activation induced by TGF-β1 and abrogated the profibrotic effects of circHIPK3. Moreover, circHIPK3 and miR-30a-3p were also dysregulated in fibrotic murine lung tissues induced by silica. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated circHIPK3 silence or miR-30a-3p overexpression alleviated silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. In conclusion, our results identified circHIPK3/miR-30a-3p/FOXK2 regulatory pathway as an important glycolysis cascade in pulmonary fibrosis.

LncRNA-PVT1 activates lung fibroblasts via miR-497-5p and is facilitated by FOXM1

It is little known about the lncRNA-PVT1 effect on occupational pulmonary fibrosis, although researches show it plays an essential role in cancer. Studies reveal that lung fibroblast activation is one of the key events in silica-induced fibrosis. Here, we found that lncRNA-PVT1 promoted the proliferation, activation, and migration of lung fibroblasts. The isolation of cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization experiment showed that lncRNA-PVT1 was abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA pull-down experiment indicated that the cytoplasmic-localized lncRNA-PVT1 could competitively bind miR-497-5p. MiR-497-5p was further observed to attenuate silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by targeting Smad3 and Bcl2. Moreover, the transcription factor FOXM1 acted as a profibrotic factor by elevating lncRNA-PVT1 transcription in lung fibroblasts. Inhibition of FOXM1 expression with thiostrepton alleviated silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. Collectively, we revealed that FOXM1-facilitated lncRNA-PVT1 activates lung fibroblasts via miR-497-5p during silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for pulmonary fibrosis.

Long noncoding RNA-SNHG20 promotes silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by miR-490-3p/TGFBR1 axis

Silicosis is a universal occupational disease, which is caused by long-term crystalline silica exposure. Recent studies have shown that noncoding RNAs participate in diverse pathological cellular pathways. However, the precise regulation mechanism remains limited in silicosis. Here, we established a silica-induced mouse fibrosis model (all mice received a one-time intratracheal instillation with 50 mg/kg of silica in 0.05 mL sterile saline). MiR-490-3p was significantly downregulated in silica-induced fibrotic mouse lung tissues and TGF-β1 treated fibroblasts. Moreover, overexpressed miR-490-3p could relieve silica-induced lung fibrosis in vivo, and prevent the process of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition(FMT)in vitro. Mechanistically, TGFBR1 was one of the major target genes of miR-490-3p, and tightly associated with the process of fibroblasts activation. SNHG20, as opposed to miR-490-3p expression, was elevated in TGF-β1-treated fibroblast cell lines and contributed to decreased levels of miR-490-3p. Taken together, these data indicated that miR-490-3p plays a key role in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Our results suggested that SNHG20/miR-490-3p/TGFBR1 axis may provide a new treatment target of pulmonary fibrosis.

Light quantum control of persisting Higgs modes in iron-based superconductors

The Higgs mechanism, i.e., spontaneous symmetry breaking of the quantum vacuum, is a cross-disciplinary principle, universal for understanding dark energy, antimatter and quantum materials, from superconductivity to magnetism. Unlike one-band superconductors (SCs), a conceptually distinct Higgs amplitude mode can arise in multi-band, unconventional superconductors  via strong interband Coulomb interaction, but is yet to be accessed. Here we discover such hybrid Higgs mode and demonstrate its quantum control by light in iron-based high-temperature SCs. Using terahertz (THz) two-pulse coherent spectroscopy, we observe a tunable amplitude mode coherent oscillation of the complex order parameter from coupled lower and upper bands. The nonlinear dependence of the hybrid Higgs mode on the THz driving fields is distinct from any known SC results: we observe a large reversible modulation of resonance strength, yet with a persisting mode frequency. Together with quantum kinetic modeling of a hybrid Higgs mechanism, distinct from charge-density fluctuations and without invoking phonons or disorder, our result provides compelling evidence for a light-controlled coupling between the electron and hole amplitude modes assisted by strong interband quantum entanglement. Such light-control of Higgs hybridization can be extended to probe many-body entanglement and hidden symmetries in other complex systems.

A collective excitation called Higgs mode may arise in multi-band superconductors via strong interband interaction, but it is yet to be accessed. Here, the authors observe a tunable coherent amplitude oscillation of the order parameter in Ba(Fe_1−xCo_x)₂As₂, suggesting appearance and control of the Higgs mode by light tuning interband interaction.

A review of a potential and promising probiotic candidate-Akkermansia muciniphila

Akkermansia muciniphila, a common colonizer in the intestinal mucus layer of humans, has gradually been considered as promising candidate for the next-generation probiotic, given its physiological benefits from animal and human studies. This article comprehensively reviewed A. muciniphila from the published peer-reviewed articles in the aspects of its role in the host physiology and commonly consumed food that can boost its abundance, which should provide useful and fundamental information for scientists and engineers and even ordinary consumers. Akkermansia muciniphila is not only a crucial biomarker that indicates the physiology of human beings but also has huge potential to become a probiotic given its physiological benefits in various clinical scenarios. Current barriers in terms of regulations, necessity for large-scale clinical experiments and production feasibility need to be resolved before A. muciniphila can be widely applied as the next-generation probiotic.

[Effects of two dimensional gray-scale blood flow imaging combined with color Doppler flow imaging in guiding arterial puncture and catheterization through wounds in patients with large burns]

Objective: To explore the effects of two dimensional gray-scale blood flow imaging (hereinafter referred to as " B-flow" ) combined with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in guiding arterial puncture and catheterization through wounds in patients with large burns. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with large burns who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2017 to January 2019 were enrolled in the prospectively randomized control study. According to the random number table, CDFI alone group was allocated with 35 patients (23 males and 12 females) and B-flow+ CDFI group with 32 patients (22 males and 10 females), aged 19-60 and 18-58 years, respectively. According to the progress of the disease, arterial puncture and catheterization were performed in the right time. During the operation, CDFI was used alone for guidance in patients of CDFI alone group, while B-flow and CDFI were used together for guidance in patients of B-flow+ CDIF group. Based on the first time of catheterization, the catheterization location, one-time catheterization success rate, post-back stitching re-catheterization success rate, catheterization failure rate, catheterization duration, and incidences of wound sepsis, catheter-related bloodstream infection, and arterial thrombosis within post catheterization day (PCD) 3 of patients in the two groups were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with the independent-sample t test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability test. Results: (1) All the patients underwent catheterization through wounds, and there was no statistically significant difference in catheterization location of patients between the two groups (χ(2)=0.574, P>0.05). The one-time catheterization success rate of patients in B-flow+ CDFI group was 81.25% (26/32), which was obviously higher than 51.43% (18/35) in CDFI alone group (χ(2)=6.594, P<0.05). The catheterization failure rate of patients in B-flow+ CDFI group was 3.12% (1/32), which was obviously lower than 20.00% (7/35) in CDFI alone group (P<0.05). The post-back stitching re-catheterization success rate of patients was similar between the two groups (χ(2)=1.029, P>0.05). (3) The catheterization duration of patients was (15.7±1.1) min in B-flow+ CDFI group, which was obviously shorter than (17.1±2.2) min in CDFI alone group (t=11.316, P<0.01). (4) Within PCD 3, the incidences of wound sepsis and catheter-related bloodstream infection of patients in CDFI alone group were 2.86% (1/35) and 0, close to 0 and 3.12% (1/32) in B-flow+ CDFI group (P>0.05); the incidence of arterial thrombosis of patients in B-flow+ CDFI group was 0, which was obviously lower than 20.00% (7/35) in CDFI alone group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with CDFI alone, B-flow combined with CDFI can improve the success rate of arterial puncture and catheterization through wounds in large area burn patients, shorten the catheterization duration, and effectively reduce the incidence of arterial thrombosis after catheterization, with a good clinical application value.

Terahertz Second-Harmonic Generation from Lightwave Acceleration of Symmetry-Breaking Nonlinear Supercurrents

We report terahertz (THz) light-induced second harmonic generation, in superconductors with inversion symmetry that forbid even-order nonlinearities. The THz second harmonic emission vanishes above the superconductor critical temperature and arises from precession of twisted Anderson pseudospins at a multicycle, THz driving frequency that is not allowed by equilibrium symmetry. We explain the microscopic physics by a dynamical symmetry breaking principle at sub-THz-cycle by using quantum kinetic modeling of the interplay between strong THz-lightwave nonlinearity and pulse propagation. The resulting nonzero integrated pulse area inside the superconductor leads to light-induced nonlinear supercurrents due to subcycle Cooper pair acceleration, in contrast to dc-biased superconductors, which can be controlled by the band structure and THz driving field below the superconducting gap.

Ultrafast Control of Excitonic Rashba Fine Structure by Phonon Coherence in the Metal Halide Perovskite CH_{3}NH_{3}PbI_{3}

We discover hidden Rashba fine structure in CH_{3}NH_{3}PbI_{3} and demonstrate its quantum control by vibrational coherence through symmetry-selective vibronic (electron-phonon) coupling. Above a critical threshold of a single-cycle terahertz pump field, a Raman phonon mode distinctly modulates the middle excitonic states with persistent coherence for more than ten times longer than the ones on two sides that predominately couple to infrared phonons. These vibronic quantum beats, together with first-principles modeling of phonon periodically modulated Rashba parameters, identify a threefold excitonic fine structure splitting, i.e., optically forbidden, degenerate dark states in between two bright ones with a narrow, ∼3  nm splitting. Harnessing of vibronic quantum coherence and symmetry inspires light-perovskite quantum control and sub-THz-cycle "Rashba engineering" of spin-split bands for ultimate multifunction device.

[Advances in the research of pain assessment and non-drug intervention in burn children]

Children are a high-risk group of burn, and burn pain is a special type of pain. Because children of different ages have different cognitive ability and behavioral response to pain, thus it is particularly difficult to effectively evaluate the pain. It is very important for medical staff to understand the pain of children, to define the adverse reactions of pain, to evaluate and take appropriate pain intervention measures in time and effectively. In this paper, different evaluation methods of burn pain in children and non-drug intervention related measures were reviewed in order to provide references for clinical practice.

A three-microRNA signature predicts clinical outcome in breast cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) is a complex polygenic disease characterized by molecular and histological heterogeneity. An effort is underway to explore and investigate multiple reliable prognostic markers to improve management of BRCA patients and provide novel therapeutic targets. The aim of the study is to identify the prognostic miRNA signature in BRCA patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The miRNA-sequencing data and clinical information of BRCA patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

RESULTS

A total of 106 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between BRCA tissues and matched normal tissues, including 81 up-regulated miRNAs and 25 down-regulated miRNAs. Then, we established a set of three-miRNA signature that was significantly associated with BRCA patients' survival. Using the prognostic three-miRNA signature, we classified the BRCA patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that the prognostic power of the three-miRNA signature was independent of other clinical variables. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that three prognostic miRNAs may be involved in known BRCA-related KEGG pathways and biological processes.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that three-miRNA signature could be a potential biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes for BRCA patients.

[Correlation of capillary plexus with visual acuity in idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography]

Objective: To observe changes in foveal avascular zone(FAZ) and capillary plexus in idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (IMEM) in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and analyze their correlation with the visual acuity. Methods: Cross-sectional study. 42 patients (15 Males and 27 females, age 64.8) from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were included with 51 eyes diagnosed as IMEM (IMEM group), and 23 normal eyes (9 Males and 14 females, control group). All patients received the examination of fissure lamp combined with fundus pre-set lens, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCT angiography (OCTA) and fundus photo. OCTA was performed on 3 mm× 3 mm sections centred on the fovea. The software automatically measured the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density(VD) and retinal thickness(RT) and FAZ area. The IMEM eyes were compared with the normal eyes and correlation between the parameters of OCTA and BCVA was analyzed in IMEM. Independent-sample t test and MannWhitney test were used for comparison between groups, and Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. Results: LogMAR BCVA in the IMEM group was 0.40(0.15, 0.70), in the control group was 0.10(0.05, 0.22). FAZ area of IMEM group was (0.09±0.05) mm(2), while that of control group was (0.34±0.13)mm(2).Compared with the control group, in IMEM group, the BCVA was worse (Z=-4.443, P<0.001), FAZ area was smaller (t=-9.198, P<0.001), RT was increased (P<0.001), The foveal DCP and SCP vessel density was increased (t=4.280, 9.079, P<0.01), The parafoveal DCP vessel density was decreased (P<0.05), The parafoveal SCP vessel density was decreased in superior, inferior and nasal side (t=-2.759, Z=-3.998, Z=-2.108; P<0.05). The BCVA was negatively correlated with FAZ area (r=-0.337, P=0.017), positively correlated with center macular thickness (r=0.324, P=0.020). The BCVA was no correlated with foveal VD and parafoveal DCP vessel density (P>0.05), but correlated with SCP vessel density(P<0.05). Conclusions: In the IMEM eyes the BCVA was worse, FAZ area was smaller, foveal vessel density was increased and the parafoveal vessel density was decreased compared with the normal eyes. The smaller the FAZ area, the smaller foveal SCP vessel density, the poorer BCVA. There was no correlation between BCVA and DCP vessel density. Changes in VD in IMEM eyes may lead to changes in vision. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:757-762).

Whole-genome SNP data unravel population structure and signatures of selection for black plumage of indigenous chicken breeds from Jiangxi province, China

Ten indigenous chicken breeds were originally distributed in Jiangxi Province, China, and they define a critical component of Chinese chicken genetic resources. We have investigated the population genetics of seven Jiangxi chicken breeds using 600K chicken BeadChip SNP data. To provide a genome-wide perspective for the population structure of all 10 Jiangxi chicken breeds, we herein genotyped 78 additional individuals from the seven breeds and 63 chickens from three uninvestigated breeds-Yugan Black (YG), Nancheng Black (NC) and Wanzai Yellow using 55K chicken SNP arrays. We then explored merged data of 17 101 SNPs from 235 individuals to infer the population structure of the 10 breeds. We showed that NC and YG are two regional populations of the same breed, as individuals from the two populations clustered together to form a branch separate from the other breeds in the neighbor-joining tree, they always grouped together in multidimensional principal component analyses and they displayed an identical pattern of ancestral lineage composition. Hence, NC and YG should be considered a single breed in the state-supported conservation scheme. Moreover, we conducted a genome scan for signatures of selection for black plumage. bayescan and hapflk analyses of two contrasting groups (three black-feathered breeds vs. six non-black-feathered breeds) consistently detected 25 putative regions under selection. Nine pigmentation- associated genes (DCT, SLC24A5, SLC30A4, MYO5A, CYP19A1, NADK2, SLC45A2, GNAQ and DCP2) reside within these regions, and these genes are interesting candidates for black plumage and provide a starting point for further identification of causative mutations for black feathers in chicken.

HPV Status Improves Classification of Head and Neck Gray Zone Cancers

In epidemiologic studies, patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are classified mainly by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. However, some patients are of an unclear subsite, the “gray zone” cases, which could reflect ICD coding error, absence of primary subsite, or extensive primary tumors that cross over multiple subsites of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Patients with gray zone squamous cell carcinomas were compared with patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status that was determined by p16 immunostaining or HPV serology. Comparisons consisted of clinicodemographic features and prognostic outcomes presented by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models, reported as hazard ratios. There were 158 consecutive patients with gray zone HNSCC diagnosed at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center between 2006 and 2017: 66 had subsite coding discrepancies against the clinician’s documentation (“discrepant” cases; e.g., the diagnosis by the clinician was OSCC, while the classification by ICD coding was OPSCC), while 92 were squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary of the head and neck (SCCUPHN) after complete diagnostic workup. Comparators included 721 consecutive OSCC and 938 OPSCC adult cases. All HPV-positive cohorts (OPSCC, discrepant, and SCCUPHN) had similar clinicodemographic characteristics and better 3- and 5-y overall survival and disease-free survival than their HPV-negative counterparts. In contrast, HPV-negative discrepant cases had prognostic outcomes most similar to HPV-negative OPSCC cases, while HPV-negative SCCUPHN had survival outcomes most similar to those of patients with OSCC in this study. HPV-positive status can improve the classification of patients with unclear or discrepant oral/oropharyngeal subsite, an improvement over classification systems that are solely clinician defined or conducted through ICD coding. However, due to clinical practice, we could not make definitive reclassification for patients with HPV-negative gray zone HNSCC.

[Human leukocyte antigen polymorphism of HIV infected persons without disease progress for long-term in Henan province, 2011-2016]

Objective: To understand the disease progression and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene polymorphism of HIV-infected persons without disease progress for long term, also known as long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), in Henan province. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 48 LTNPs with complete detection and follow-up information during 2011-2016 in Henan. Changes of CD(4)(+)T cells counts (CD(4)) and viral load (VL) during follow-up period were discussed. Polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) was used for the analyses of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 alleles between LTNPs and healthy controls. Results: From 2011 to 2016, forty-eight LTNPs showed a decrease of the quartile (P(25)-P(75)) of CD(4) from 601.00 (488.50-708.72)/μl to 494.00 (367.00-672.00)/μl, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The increase of the quartile (P(25)-P(75)) of log(10)VL from 3.40 (2.87-3.97) to 3.48 (2.60-4.37), but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). HLA polymorphism analysis revealed that HLA-B*13:02 and HLA-B*40:06 were more common in LTNPs (P<0.05), while HLA-B*46:01 and HLA-DRB1*09:01 were more common in healthy controls (P<0.05). Conclusions: The CD(4) of LTNPs in Henan showed a downward trend year by year. HLA-B*13:02 and B*40:06 might be associated with delayed disease progression for HIV infected persons in Henan.

Abstract P4-06-05: PanCancer profiling reveals population difference in breast cancer immune microenvironment

BACKGROUND. Breast Cancer (BC) outcome in patients (pts) of African ancestry (AA) is worse than pts of European ancestry (EA) despite accounting for socioeconomic status and access. AA have higher hormone receptor negative (HR-) and Triple Negative (TNBC) tumors, subtypes associated with stronger presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). We hypothesize that BC Immune Microenvironment (IME) composition differs by ancestry, and describe IME from two independent datasets.

METHODS. Transcriptome data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (Group 1, Gp1) were used to estimate 22 IME cell types in BC samples by CIBERSORT. Clinical and overall survival (OS) data were accessed from XENA. Gp2 tissue samples were obtained from Women's Circle of Health study and Pathology Resource Network at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and processed using NanoString™ PanCancer Immune Profiling panel, consisting of 770 immunity-related genes describing 24 IME cell types. Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scores were derived from an algorithm by Jiang et al.

RESULTS. Gp1 consisted of 183 AA and 752 EA, with median age older in EA (54.5 vs 59). On CIBERSORT IME analysis by race, AA had higher IME infiltrates including macrophages (Mp), dendritic cells (DC) and TILs; notably T regulatory (Treg) and T Follicular Helper (Tfh) cells. The ratios of Tregs and Tfh to total TILs were also elevated. When stratified by subtypes, AAs with TNBC/Basal-like BC had higher Tregs and Tfh cells. CD8+ cells were higher in HR+ and high-grade AA pts only. CD4+/total T-cells was higher in AA across all subtypes, and predicted worse OS (HR 3.15[1.07-9.2]). Gp2 had 190 AA and 177 EA with comparable median age at diagnosis (53 versus 54) and tumor grade. By subtype, TNBC had significantly higher total TILs, CD45+, CD8+, exhausted CD8+, Treg, cytotoxic T cells, B, natural killer (NK), activated NK, DC and Mp; yet significantly lower mast cells and neutrophils (p &lt;0.01). CD8+/Exhausted CD8+ and CD8+/Treg ratios were lower in TNBC and higher-grade tumors, and lowest in HR- grade III. Most of immune pathways were enriched in HR- tumors, with only exception being cell cycle genes being remarkably enriched in HR+ tissues (p &lt;0.01). TIDE demonstrated high immune dysfunction in HR- and high exclusion in HR+ tumors. When compared to EA, AA had more TILs, including B, cytotoxic T-cells, exhausted CD8+, NK, activated NK and Tregs (p &lt;0.01). Neutrophils, Mp and CD8+ were higher in EA. EA also had significantly higher ratio of immune cell types to total TILs across cytotoxic, exhausted CD8+ and Tregs, as well as persistent higher neutrophils, Mp and CD8+ ratios. CD8+/Treg ratio was higher in EA. Consistent with Gp1; CD4+/total T-cell ratio was higher in AA across all subtypes.

CONCLUSION. IME differed significantly by HR, grade and ancestry. Aggressive BC demonstrated stronger overall immune response but dysfunctional IME phenotype (higher Treg, lower granulocytes and mast cells ratios). AA had more TILs across all subtypes, but lower ratios of activator (CD8+, Cytotoxic) to suppressor TILs (Treg, exhausted CD8+), demonstrating immune tolerance and immune-desert model, exception being persistently high fraction of CD4+ ratio predicting worse OS.

Citation Format: Elkhanany A, Takabe K, Khoury T, Omilian A, Cheng D, Katsuta E, Davis W, Yan L, Hong C-C, Bandera E, Ambrosone C, Yao S. PanCancer profiling reveals population difference in breast cancer immune microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-06-05.

Population genetic analyses of seven Chinese indigenous chicken breeds in a context of global breeds

Jiangxi province in China is rich in indigenous chicken breeds, which have diverse phenotypes and represent a valuable genetic resource for further genetic improvement of modern breeds. Here, we conducted a series of analyses to reveal genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of seven chicken breeds in Jiangxi province in the context of nine non-local chicken breeds, using 600K SNP data. We show that Jiangxi indigenous breeds have more abundant nucleotide diversity than do European local and commercial breeds. Among Jiangxi breeds, Dongxiang Blue-eggshell (DX) and Chongren Partride (CR) display remarkably reduced genetic diversity, as the two breeds exhibit increased inbreeding coefficients, runs of homozygosity, extent of linkage disequilibrium and reduced expected heterozygosity. DX, CR and Taihe Silkie (TH) represent three ancestral lineages of the Jiangxi chicken and display genetic differentiation from the other four Jiangxi breeds, which show a signature of admixture with European commercial breeds. These findings provide insight for the establishment of an efficient conservation program for Jiangxi chicken breeds. Considering the current status of genetic diversity and ancestral representativeness, particular attention should be paid to DX, CR and TH chickens.

Infection and recurrence rates of the C-QUR V-Patch™ in ventral hernia repairs

PURPOSE

Ventral hernias are a common surgical issue and a myriad of surgical mesh designs has been developed for their treatment. Many of these new mesh designs have not been extensively tested and their complications rates are largely unknown. The C-QUR V-Patch Mesh^™ combines a unique knit construction polypropylene mesh with an omega-3 fatty acid coating. There has only previously been one reported study investigating this mesh.

METHODS

A multicentre cohort study, with a single surgeon, of 168 consecutive patients with ventral hernias underwent repair using a standardized open pre-peritoneal approach with the novel C-QUR V-Patch Mesh^™ between January 2013 and June 2015. A median follow-up of 37 months was completed to assess the patients for hernia infection and recurrence rates. Mesh infections were further classified into early and late infections for further subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

Infection and recurrence rates of the C-QUR V-Patch^® were compared with similar published results of alternate mesh designs. Surgical site infection rates were 7.7% and recurrence rates were 2.4%. The infection rate rose dramatically to 19.0% when the mesh was placed intra-peritoneally. The rate of mesh explantation was 2.4% and usually occurred between 4 and 12 months post-operatively. Smoking was the only factor that appeared to be associated with recurrence.

CONCLUSION

This series finds that recurrence rates associated with the novel C-QUR V-Patch Mesh^™ is acceptably low; however, infection rates appear to be higher when compared to comparable products for use in ventral hernia repairs.

The Intrinsic Relationship Between Structure and Function of the Sialyltransferase ST8Sia Family Members

As a subset of glycosyltransferases, the family of sialyltransferases catalyze transfer of sialic acid (Sia) residues to terminal non-reducing positions on oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids, utilizing CMP-Neu5Ac as the activated sugar nucleotide donor. In the four known sialyltransferase families (ST3Gal, ST6Gal, ST6GalNAc and ST8Sia), the ST8Sia family catalyzes synthesis of α2, 8-linked sialic/polysialic acid (polySia) chains according to their acceptor specificity. We have determined the 3D structural models of the ST8Sia family members, designated ST8Sia I (1), II(2), IV(4), V(5), and VI(6) using the Phyre2 server. Accuracy of these predicted models are based on the ST8Sia III crystal structure as the calculated template. The common structural features of these models are: (1) Their parallel templates and disulfide bonds are buried within the enzymes and are predominately surrounded by helices; (2) The anti-parallel β-sheets are located at the N-terminal region of the enzymes; (3) The mono-sialytransferases (mono-STs), ST8Sia I and ST8Sia VI, contain only a single pair of disulfide bonds, and there are no anti-parallel β-sheets in ST8Sia VI; (4) The Nterminal region of all of the mono-STs are located some distant away from their core structure; (5) These conformational features show that the 3D structures of the mono-STs are less compact than the two polySTs, ST8Sia II and ST8Sia IV, and the oligo-ST, ST8Sia III. These structural features relate to the catalytic specificity of the monoSTs; (6) In contrast, the more compact structural features of ST8Sia II, ST8Sia IV and ST8Sia III relate to their ability to catalyze the processive synthesis of oligo- (ST8Sia III) and polySia chains (ST8Sia II &amp; ST8Sia IV); (7) Although ST8Sia II, III and IV have similar conformations in their corresponding polysialyltransferase domain (PSTD) and polybasic region (PBR) motifs, the structure of ST8Sia III is less compact than ST8Sia II and ST8Sia IV, and the amino acid components of the several three-residue-loops in the two motifs of ST8Sia III are different from that in ST8Sia II and ST8Sia IV. This is likely the structural basis for why ST8Sia III is an oligoST and not able to polysialylate and; (8) In contrast, essentially all amino acids within the threeresidue- loops in the PSTD of ST8Sia II and ST8Sia IV are highly conserved, and many amino acids in the loops and the helices of these two motifs are critical for NCAM polysialylation, as determined by mutational analysis and confirmed by our recent NMR results. In summary, these new findings provide further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying polyST-NCAM recognition, polySTpolySia/ oligoSia interactions, and polysialylation of NCAM.

3D-printed vascular networks direct therapeutic angiogenesis in ischaemia

Arterial bypass grafts remain the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage ischaemic disease. Yet patients unable to tolerate the cardiovascular stress of arterial surgery or those with unreconstructable disease would benefit from grafts that are able to induce therapeutic angiogenesis. Here, we introduce an approach whereby implantation of 3D-printed grafts containing endothelial-cell-lined lumens induces spontaneous, geometrically guided generation of collateral circulation in ischaemic settings. In rodent models of hind-limb ischaemia and myocardial infarction, we demonstrate that the vascular patches rescue perfusion of distal tissues, preventing capillary loss, muscle atrophy and loss of function. Inhibiting anastomoses between the construct and the host’s local capillary beds, or implanting constructs with unpatterned endothelial cells, abrogates reperfusion. Our 3D-printed grafts constitute an efficient and scalable approach to engineer vascular patches able to guide rapid therapeutic angiogenesis and perfusion for the treatment of ischaemic diseases.