Comprehensive analysis of PD-L1 expression, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and tumor microenvironment in LUAD: differences between Asians and Caucasians

Backgrounds

The characteristics of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients are closely related to immunotherapy, and there are differences between Asians and Caucasians.

Methods

Acquire the transcriptome data of the Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese LUAD patients. R software was used to analyze the differential expression of genes, prognosis, and gene function. Use CIBERSORT for TIL-related analysis and ESTIMATE for TME-related analysis.

Results

The expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues of Caucasian LUAD patients was lower than that in normal tissues, while there was no significant difference in Asians. There was no statistical difference between PD-L1 expression and prognosis. The composition of TILs between Caucasian and Asian LUAD patients was quite different. There was no correlation between TILs and prognosis in Caucasians. However, the higher content of resting mast cells indicated a better prognosis in Asians. The Caucasian patients with higher immune and estimate scores had a better prognosis (p = 0.021, p = 0.025). However, the Asian patients with a higher estimate score had a worse prognosis (p = 0.024). The high expression of COL5A2 (p = 0.046, p = 0.027) and NOX4 (p = 0.020, p = 0.019) were both associated with the poor prognosis in Caucasians and Asians.

Conclusion

There are many differences in the characteristics of PD-L1 expression, TILs, and TME between Caucasian and Asian LUAD patients. This provides a certain hint for the selection of specific immunotherapy strategies separately for Caucasian and Asian LUAD patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01221-3.

Seeking help by parents for care regarding the socio-emotional development of preschool children

Background

Timely parental help-seeking regarding their child's socio-emotional development is associated with a lower rate and lower severity of psychosocial problems in later life. This study aimed to examine factors associated with parental help-seeking for the socio-emotional development of 3-year-old children.

Methods

Data of parents and children (n = 1507) from a community sample was analyzed. Thirteen potentially related factors were assessed at baseline at child age 2 years, and classified according to Andersen's Behavioral Model: predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Parental help-seeking and 14 formal and informal care (e.g. General practitioner, internet) used in the past 12 months were measured at follow-up at child age 3 years. Logistic regression was applied.

Results

In total, 22.6% of parents reported help-seeking for socio-emotional development of their 3-year-old child; 6.8% addressed formal care and 17.5% addressed informal care. General practitioner (2.7%) and family (12.5%) were the most frequently used formal and informal care, respectively. Among predisposing factors associated with a higher odds of parental help-seeking were child's other western background (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.02-2.68) and parental age = < 29 years old (OR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.01-2.92). No associated factors were found among enabling factors. The need factors associated with a higher odds of parental help-seeking were having previous help-seeking (OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.83-3.48) and discussing child's socio-emotional development in the well-child visit (OR = 2.47, 95%CI: 1.73-3.53).

Conclusions

Predisposing and need factors were associated with parental help-seeking for socio-emotional development of 3-years-old child. The findings can be used to further develop support for parents accessing adequate information, prevention and anticipatory care with regard to the child's socio-emotional development.

Key messages

The study longitudinally investigated parental help-seeking for socio-emotional development of their 3-year old children in a large community sample. The study makes an important contribution to the existing literature on this topic because of its particularly young sample of 3-year-old children.

Grassland ecological restoration based on the relationship between vegetation and its below-ground habitat analysis in steppe coal mine area

Coal mining activities have caused severe disturbances to the regional ecosystem and soil properties. Studying the relationship of vegetation and its below-ground habitat (RVBGH) is of great significance to the coal mine land ecological restoration. To identify the optimal thickness of the soil layer for mine land ecosystem recovery and characterize the changes of the reclaimed soil-vegetation ecosystem, we studied natural and reclaimed grassland at the coal mine of Baorixile, located in Hulunbuir Steppe, Northeastern China. The vegetation and its below-ground habitat (BGH), including "root mass" and soil properties in the soil profile (0-100 cm), were surveyed in the natural and different year-reclaimed grassland. The "root mass" is the part of root system that has the most amounts of root hairs, which is the functional zone for plant growth. The RVBGH was identified by the "root mass" and plant water extraction depth, measured through the isotope δD and δ¹⁸O method. Firstly, the BGH of natural grassland was identified as a "double layer" vertical structure, with the "root mass" of 37.11 ± 2.57% fine roots at 0-20 cm range and 30.44 ± 2.67% at 20-40 cm range. The annual and perennial plant "root mass" was found at 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm depth, respectively. Secondly, an optimal thickness of the soil covering of 30-40 cm was proposed for grassland reclamation. Thirdly, along the reclamation chronosequence, the values of the reclaimed vegetation properties (height, density, coverage and diversity) increased and a deep root system was established. The "root mass" increased from one layer to double layer and the amount of total fine roots increased from 1621 ± 231.9 to 4459 ± 456.0. Moreover, the reclaimed soil properties of organic matter, cation exchange capacity, available N and P also increased. The study proposed that vegetation restoration was significantly correlated with its BGH, suggesting that vegetation BGH recovery is crucial in ecological restoration.

The surgical management of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma: is wedge resection effective?

Background

The aim of the study was to explore the outcomes of wedge resection on patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and further identify potential prognostic factors for these patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of 190 patients (99 solitary LUAD and 91 multifocal LUAD) undergone wedge resection from October 2014 to September 2015 was established. Cox proportional-hazards model was used to evaluate the significant clinical prognostic factors. Further, data on patients with multifocal adenocarcinoma after segmentectomy were retrieved and propensity score matching was used to compare the outcomes of patients with multiple pulmonary nodules (MPNs) after wedge resection and segmentectomy.

Results

The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and lung cancer specific survival of the 190 patients after wedge resection were 95.5%, 87.9%, and 97.7%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that MPN [hazard ratio (HR) 3.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–8.98] and solid-dominant lesions (HR 15.87; 95% CI, 2.38–105.84) were independently associated with worse PFS. Further, propensity score matching analysis showed that MPN patients had better PFS after segmentectomy compared with wedge resection (94% vs. 80.9%, P=0.008). MPN patients were more likely to perform systematic mediastinal nodal sampling (95.6% vs. 59.3%, P<0.001) after segmentectomy compared to patients who underwent wedge resection.

Conclusions

Wedge resection is a practical option for appropriately selected early-stage LUAD where tumor size is less than 2 cm and has a consolidation-to-tumor ratio ≤0.5. However, for MPNs, wedge resection may be not reliable and alternative procedures such as segmentectomy should be used.

MiR-195 alleviates ulcerative colitis in rats via MAPK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-195 on the inflammatory response of ulcerative colitis (UC) model rats and to explore its regulatory mechanism, thus providing a new scheme for the clinical treatment of UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A rat model of UC was prepared by 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol assay, and the rats were randomly divided into Control group, Model group, and miR-195 mimic (miR-195 agomir) group. The disease activity index (DAI) in each group was observed. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was utilized to detect the pathological changes in the rat colon tissues in each group. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β in the colon tissues of the rats in each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the colon tissues of each group of rats were examined via Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with those in Control group, the rats in Model group had an increased DAI score, severely pathologically damaged colon tissues, raised levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in the colon tissues and significantly elevated mRNA and protein levels of p38 MAPK and TNF-α. In comparison with those in Model group, the DAI score was decreased, the pathological damage to the rat colon tissues was improved, the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in the rat colon tissues were reduced, and the mRNA and protein levels of p38 MAPK and TNF-α were notably lowered in miR-195 agomir group.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-195 mimics can alleviate the pathological damage to the colon and inflammatory responses in UC model rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition on the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of primary pulmonary lymphoma

Background

Primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) is a rare extranodal lymphoma originating from the lung, accounting for 0.5–1.0% of primary lung malignant tumors. Previous case reports or cohort studies included a limited sample size; therefore, the understanding of the disease remains inadequate, and clinical data regarding PPL are limited.

Methods

Patients with PPL diagnosed histologically and radiologically between January 2000 and December 2019 at our center were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

In total, 90 consecutive cases were included in this research. Forty-seven (52.2%) patients were female, and the median age was 54 years old. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (PPNHL) was the most common type of PPL (71/90, 78.9%), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was the most common pathological subtype of PPNHL (56.3%) followed by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (32.4%). Thirty-nine (43.3%) patients underwent surgical treatment, and the others received chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of MALT lymphoma and non-MALT lymphoma were 68.9% and 65.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis of PPL showed that clinicopathological features that significantly correlated with worse OS were age over 60 years (P=0.006<0.05), elevated LDH (P=0.029<0.05) and β2-MG (P=0.048<0.05) levels, clinical stage II2E and greater (P=0.015<0.05), and nonsurgical treatment (P=0.046<0.05). Age (P=0.013<0.05) was an independent prognostic factor for the 5-year OS of patients through multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Age over 60 years old, elevated LDH and β2-MG levels, clinical stage II2E disease or higher, and nonsurgical treatment were associated with poor prognosis in patients with PPL. Age can be used as a potential independent prognostic factor for PPL.

The role of protein restriction and interaction with antibiotics in the regulation of compensatory growth in pigs: growth performance, serum hormone concentrations, and messenger RNA levels in component tissues of the endocrine growth axis

The present study investigated the effects of protein restriction and antibiotics on the hypothalamus-pituitary-liver growth axis during the compensatory growth of growing and finishing pigs. Growth performance, serum hormones, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of hormones and their receptors in growth axis tissues were recorded for analyses. A total of 64 piglets (large white × Landrace × Duroc cross) with an initial weight of 10.07 ± 0.14 kg were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups of 16 piglets per group. The dietary treatments consisted of 2 protein levels (14% and 20%) and 2 antibiotic levels (no antibiotics and 20 mg/kg colistin sulfate with 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The study was performed over 30 d for the first stage (S1, restriction phase) and 74 d for the second stage (S2, realimentation phase). The 4 treatment diets were maintained throughout the duration in the restriction phase. The 4 groups were fed the same diet in the realimentation phase. The trial period totaled 104 d. Protein restriction decreased BW, average daily food intake, and ADG in weaning pigs (P < 0.01) and induced compensatory growth after feeding a normal diet during the growth of finishing pigs. Average daily gain increased during the last phase of compensatory growth (P < 0.01). Protein restriction increased serum GH and leptin (LEP) and the mRNA levels of liver IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1-R; P < 0.01) but decreased serum IGF-1 (P < 0.01) and the mRNA levels of liver GH receptor (GH-R; P < 0.01) and IGF-1 (P < 0.05) in weaning piglets. Serum GH was increased, but serum IGF-1 was decreased during the realimentation phase (P < 0.05). Antibiotics increased the mRNA levels of GHRH (P < 0.05) and decreased somatostatin (P < 0.01) in the hypothalamus of weaning pigs. Protein restriction and antibiotics had no interactions across the entire trial. In conclusion, the slowing of growth caused by early protein restriction may be compensated for in the later stages of pig raising, and the mechanism of compensation is related to the regulation of GH, IGF-1, GH-R, and IGF-1-R.

A Single Amino Acid Substitution in the Intervening Region of 129K Protein of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus Resulted in Attenuated Symptoms

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), a member of the genus Tobamovirus, is a major threat to economically important cucurbit crops worldwide. An attenuated strain (SH33b) derived from a severe strain (SH) of CGMMV caused a reduction in the viral RNA accumulation and the attenuation of symptoms, and it has been successfully used to protect muskmelon plants against severe strains in Japan. In this study, we compared GFP-induced silencing suppression by the 129K protein and the methyltransferase domain plus intervening region (MTIR) of the 129K protein between the SH and SH33b strains, respectively. As a result, silencing suppression activity (SSA) in the GFP-silenced plants was inhibited efficiently by the MTIR and 129K protein of SH strain, and it coincided with drastically reduced accumulation of GFP-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) but not by that of SH33b strain. Furthermore, analyses of siRNA binding capability (SBC) by the MTIR of 129K protein and 129K protein using electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that SBC was found with the MTIR and 129K protein of SH but not with that of SH33b, suggesting that a single amino acid mutation (E to G) in the MTIR is responsible for impaired SSA and SBC of SH33b. These data suggest that a single amino acid substitution in the intervening region of 129K protein of CGMMV resulted in attenuated symptoms by affecting RNA silencing suppression.

Thatcher wheat line RL6149 carries Lr64 and a second leaf rust resistance gene on chromosome 1DS

The leaf rust resistance gene Lr64 in the Thatcher wheat RL6149 was mapped to chromosome 6AL with SNP and KASP markers and a second leaf rust resistance gene was mapped to chromosome 1DS. RL6149, a near-isogenic line of Thatcher wheat, carries leaf rust resistance gene Lr64 on chromosome arm 6AL. The objective of this study was to develop molecular markers that can be easily used to select wheat lines with Lr64. RL6149 was crossed with Thatcher and F₂ plants derived from a single F₁ plant were advanced to F₆ lines by single seed descent. The 100 F₇ recombinant inbred lines (RIL) were inoculated with two races of P.triticina that differed widely for virulence in order to identify resistant and susceptible RIL. Thirty RIL that differed for resistance and the parental lines were genotyped with the 90 K Infinium iSelect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to find closely linked markers with Lr64. Seven linked SNPs on chromosome arm 6AL were converted into Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers that were genotyped on the 100 RIL. A genetic linkage map for the seven KASP markers spanned 19.1 cM on chromosome arm 6AL. KASP marker K-IWB59855 was tightly linked to Lr64. A second unexpected gene for leaf rust resistance also segregated in the F₇ lines. Four KASP markers that spanned 18.6 cM located the gene on chromosome 1DS. The KASP marker K-IWB38437 was tightly linked to the second leaf rust resistance gene.

Variables associated with pediatric emergency department visits for uncontrolled pain in postoperative adenotonsillectomy patients

OBJECTIVE

Returns to the emergency department (ED) for pain or dehydration after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) are frequent. Attempts to associate the specific pain regimens with these visits have been unrevealing, suggesting a need to assess for other potential factors associated with readmission.

METHODS

A review of a 2:1 cohort matched by age, gender and payer status compared post-T&A patients who did not return ED for pain or dehydration within 21 days to those who returned. Factors investigated included patient demographics, comorbidities, medication regimen and the presence of postoperative telephone encounters. Patients returning to the ED were further assessed for rates of medication adherence.

RESULTS

7493 patients underwent T&A during the period. Of these, 144 (1.9%) returned for pain/dehydration. Comparison to 285 matched patients revealed an association between ED returns and Hispanic ethnicity (p < 0.001), Spanish language (p = 0.0002), and comorbid Down syndrome and ADHD (p = 0.011 in both). The incidence of parent telephone calls to the office was associated with ED returns (58.7 in the ED cohort, 28.4% in non-ED cohort, p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, Hispanic ethnicity and phone calls were associated with ED returns (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Only 64.0% of patients returning to the ED were adherent with postoperative pain regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

While demographic factors may be associated with rate of ED returns for pain and dehydration, post-operative phone calls were most highly associated with returns. The majority of patients returning to the ED were non-adherent with recommended pain regimens, suggesting an opportunity to investigate medication adherence in all post-tonsillectomy patients.

RNA interference-mediated silencing of aquaporin (AQP)-5 hinders angiogenesis of colorectal tumor by suppressing the production of vascular endothelial growth factor

Aquaporin (AQP)-5 is an essential member of AQP family involved in the tumorigenesis of various malignant tumors. However, its role in the angiogenesis of colorectal cancer is unclear and requires further investigation. In this study, a pRNA-H1.1 vector containing the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting AQP5 mRNA was constructed to inhibit the endogenous expression of AQP5 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that the AQP5-silenced HUVECs acquired decreased proliferation, migration and tube formation ability. AQP5 shRNA also inhibited the enzyme activity of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9 in HUVECs without affecting the MMP-2. Further, two colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29 and HCT116) stably transfected with scrambled or AQP5 shRNA were established. The expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A (a pro-angiogenic factor) in colorectal cancer cells were downregulated by AQP5 shRNA. HUVECs cultured in low-VEGF conditioned media (CM) obtained from cancer cells developed less vessel-like tubes and had decreased proliferation and migration. The growth and angiogenesis of xenograft tumors were suppressed when the endogenous AQP5 in HT29 cells was knocked down. Tumor samples were additionally collected from patients with colorectal cancer to analyze the expression of AQP5. The immunofluorescence data indicated that AQP5 was expressed in both inner cancer areas and CD31-positive vessels. Taken together, our study suggests AQP5 as a novel anti-angiogenesis target for colorectal cancer.

A Backcross Line of Thatcher Wheat with Adult Plant Leaf Rust Resistance Derived from Duster Wheat has Lr46 and Lr77

The widely grown hard red winter wheat cultivar Duster released in 2006 has remained highly resistant to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the southern Great Plains of the United States. In contrast, many of the winter wheat cultivars in this region are susceptible to leaf rust. The goal of this study was to identify the number and chromosome location of leaf rust resistance genes in a line of Thatcher*2/Duster wheat that was selected for adult plant leaf rust resistance. The Thatcher*2/Duster line was crossed with Thatcher (Tc) and a recombinant line inbred line (RIL) population was advanced to the F₆ generation by single-seed descent. The parents and RIL population were phenotyped for leaf rust resistance in three field plot tests and in an adult plant greenhouse test. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from the Illumina Infinium iSelect 90K wheat SNP array, kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assays on chromosome 3BL, and a sequence tagged site (STS) marker on chromosome 1BL were used to construct a genetic map of the RIL population. The STS marker csLV46G22 that is linked with resistance gene Lr46 on chromosome 1BL, and SNP marker IWB10344 that is linked with Lr77 on chromosome 3BL, were significantly associated with lower leaf rust severity. Duster has at least three adult plant resistance genes for leaf rust resistance because it was previously determined to also have the adult plant resistance gene Lr34. Duster is a valuable source of durable leaf rust resistance for hard red winter wheat improvement in the Great Plains region.

Adult Plant Leaf Rust Resistance Derived from Toropi Wheat is Conditioned by Lr78 and Three Minor QTL

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina is an important disease of wheat in many regions worldwide. Durable or long-lasting leaf rust resistance has been difficult to achieve because populations of P. triticina are highly variable for virulence to race-specific resistance genes, and respond to selection by resistance genes in released wheat cultivars. The wheat cultivar Toropi, developed and grown in Brazil, was noted to have long-lasting leaf rust resistance that was effective only in adult plants. The objectives of this study were to determine the chromosome location of the leaf rust resistance genes derived from Toropi in two populations of recombinant inbred lines in a partial Thatcher wheat background. In the first population, a single gene with major effects on chromosome 5DS that mapped 2.2 centimorgans distal to IWA6289, strongly reduced leaf rust severity in all 3 years of field plot tests. This gene for adult plant leaf rust resistance was designated as Lr78. In the second population, quantitative trait loci (QTL) with small effects on chromosomes 1BL, 3BS, and 4BS were found. These QTL expressed inconsistently over 4 years of field plot tests. The adult plant leaf rust resistance derived from Toropi involved a complex combination of QTL with large and small effects.

Serum starvation-induced cell cycle synchronization stimulated mouse rDNA transcription reactivation during somatic cell reprogramming into iPSCs

BACKGROUND

rDNA, the genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA), is highly demanded for ribosome production and protein synthesis in growing cells such as pluripotent stem cells. rDNA transcription activity varies between cell types, metabolism conditions, and specific environmental challenges. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), partially reprogrammed cells, and somatic cells reveal different epigenetic signatures, including rDNA epigenetic marks. rDNA epigenetic characteristic resetting is not quite clear during induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation. Little is known that whether the different rDNA epigenetic status in donor cells will result in different rDNA transcription activities, and furthermore affect reprogramming efficiency.

METHODS

We utilized serum starvation-synchronized mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to generate S-iPSCs. Both MEFs and serum-refeeding MEFs (S-MEFs) were reprogrammed to a pluripotent state. rDNA-related genes, UBF proteins, and rDNA methylation levels were detected during the MEF and S-MEF cell reprogramming process.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that, after transient inhibition, retroviral induced rRNA transcriptional activity was reprogrammed towards a pluripotent state. Serum starvation would stimulate rDNA transcription reactivation during somatic cell reprogramming. Serum starvation improved the methylation status of donor cells at rRNA gene promoter regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide insight into regulation of rDNA transcriptional activity during somatic cell reprogramming and allow for comparison of rDNA regulation patterns between iPSCs and S-iPSCs. Eventually, regulation of rDNA transcriptional activity will benefit partially reprogrammed cells to overcome the epigenetic barrier to pluripotency.

PDK1/Akt/PDE4D axis identified as a target for asthma remedy synergistic with β2 AR agonists by a natural agent arctigenin

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a heterogenetic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation with variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness. As the most potent and popular bronchodilators, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2 AR) agonists bind to the β2 ARs that are coupled via a stimulatory G protein to adenylyl cyclase, thereby improving cAMP accumulation and resulting in airway smooth muscle relaxation. We previously demonstrated arctigenin had a synergistic function with the β2 AR agonist, but the target for this remained elusive.

METHOD

Chemical proteomics capturing was used to enrich and uncover the target of arctigenin in human bronchial smooth muscle cells, and reverse docking and molecular dynamic stimulation were performed to evaluate the binding of arctigenin and its target. In vitro enzyme activities and protein levels were demonstrated with special kits and Western blotting. Finally, guinea pig tracheal muscle segregation and ex vivo function were analysed.

RESULTS

Arctigenin bound to PDK1 with an ideal binding free energy -25.45 kcal/mol and inhibited PDK1 kinase activity without changing its protein level. Additionally, arctigenin reduced PKB/Akt-induced phosphorylation of PDE4D, which was first identified in this study. Attenuation of PDE4D resulted in cAMP accumulation in human bronchial smooth muscle. The inhibition of PDK1 showed a synergistic function with β2 AR agonists and relaxed the constriction of segregated guinea pig tracheal muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDK1/Akt/PDE4D axis serves as a novel asthma target, which may benefit airflow obstruction.

Estradiol modulates visceral hyperalgesia by increasing thoracolumbar spinal GluN2B subunit activity in female rats

BACKGROUND

We previously reported estrogen modulates spinal N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor processing of colorectal pain through changes in spinal GluN1 subunit phosphorylation/expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether spinal GluN2B containing NMDA receptors are involved in estrogen modulation of visceral pain processing.

METHODS

Behavioral, molecular, and immunocytochemical techniques were used to determine spinal GluN2B expression/phosphorylation and function 48 h following subcutaneous injection of estradiol (E2) or vehicle (safflower oil, Saff oil) in ovariectomized rats in the absence or presence of colonic inflammation induced by mustard oil.

KEY RESULTS

E2 increased the magnitude of the visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distention compared to Saff oil in non-inflamed rats. Intrathecal injection of the GluN2B subunit antagonist, Ro 25-6981, had no effect on the VMR in non-inflamed E2 or Saff oil rats. Colonic inflammation induced visceral hyperalgesia in E2, but not Saff oil rats. Visceral hyperalgesia in E2 rats was blocked by intrathecal GluN2B subunit selective antagonists. In inflamed rats, E2 increased GluN2B protein and gene expression in the thoracolumbar (TL), but not lumbosacral (LS), dorsal spinal cord. Immunocytochemical labeling showed a significant increase in GluN2B subunit in the superficial dorsal horn of E2 rats compared to Saff oil rats.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

These data support the hypothesis that estrogen increases spinal processing of colonic inflammation-induced visceral hyperalgesia by increasing NMDA receptor activity. Specifically, an increase in the activity of GluN2B containing NMDA receptors in the TL spinal cord by estrogen underlies visceral hypersensitivity in the presence of colonic inflammation.

Expression and significance of molecular biomarkers in esophageal carcinoma in different nationalities patients in Xinjiang

This study aimed to explore some useful biomarkers to focus on the diagnosis and therapy response judgment in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Xinjiang. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent method and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of VEGF, EGFR, ES, HER-2, and NF-κBp in the serum and tissue with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and to analyze the relationship between biomarkers and clinical pathology and curative effects. Our findings were as follows: 1. The serum levels of VEGF and ES in Han patients were obviously higher than those of Uygur and Kazakh patients (P < 0.05). The VEGF positive rate in patients at a later clinical stage was higher than that of the patients at an earlier clinical stage (stages II-IV were 14.29, 50.00, and 50.00%, respectively, P < 0.05), meanwhile it was higher than that of patients without lymph node metastases (78.13 vs 25.00%, P < 0.05). The curative effective rate of patients with negative expression of VEGF was higher than that of patients with positive expression of VEGF (74.67 vs 41.40%, P < 0.05). 2. The expression of EGFR protein in male patients was higher than that of female patients (69.77 vs 35.29%, P < 0.05). Before treatment, the serum EGFR level in patients was higher than the normal group (P < 0.05). 3. The serum ES level in patients before and after treatment was significantly higher than in the normal group (P < 0.05). 4. The HER-2 positive rate in higher differentiated tumor tissue was lower than that in lower differentiated tumor tissue. (The positive rate of I, II, III grade was 70.00, 30.00, and 20.00%, respectively, P < 0.05). 5. The NF-κB positive rate in patients with lymph node metastases was higher than that of patients without lymph node metastases (65.63 vs 39.27%, P < 0.05), meanwhile median survival in the latter group was higher than that of the former group (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that the expression of VEGF and ES were different in Uygur, Han, and Kazakh patients in Xinjiang. The combined detection of tumor markers in serum and tissue is of direct significance for tumor therapy.