Exploring the role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in recurrence patterns among patients with differentiated thyroid cancer†

Inhibition of Chitinase-3-like Protein 1 Reduced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Vascular Epithelial Cadherin Expression in Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Oesophageal cancer (EC) is one of the common malignant tumors, and the prognosis of patients is poor. Further exploration of EC pathogenesis remains warranted.

Objective

The relationship between vascular epithelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) in EC is currently unknown. To further explore the relationship, immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression level of CHI3L1 and VE-cadherin in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC).

Materials and Methods

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) inhibited CHI3L1 expression in KYSE-150 and TE1 cells. Western blot and quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the levels of CHI3L1, VE-cadherin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in vitro and in vivo, and KYSE-150 cells were used to establish an in-vivo model and observe tumour growth.

Results

High levels of CHI3L1 and VE-cadherin expression were closely associated with the progression of ESCC; the pathologic tumour-node-metastasis stage was also closely related with the progression of ESCC (p < 0.05). High levels of CHI3L1 and VE-cadherin expression led to poor prognosis in patients with EC. In KYSE-150 and TE1 EC cell lines, the invasion, migration and proliferation of cells decreased, and the apoptotic rate increased after CHI3L1 expression was decreased using siRNA. The CHI3L1, VE-cadherin, Snail, Twist1 protein and mRNA expression levels decreased, whereas the E-cadherin levels increased.

Conclusions

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 could promote the EMT of ESCC, and the inhibition of CHI3L1 decreases the expression of VE-cadherin, which inhibits tumour angiogenesis and tumour progression in ESCC.

Transcriptome Profile of Thyroid Glands in Bile Duct Ligation Mouse Model

Thyroid hormone (TH) contributes to multiple cellular mechanisms in the liver, muscle cells, adipose tissue, and brain, etc. In particular, the liver is an important organ in TH metabolism for the conversion of thyronine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3) by the deiodinase enzyme. TH levels were significantly decreased and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly increased in patients with liver failure compared with normal subjects. Among liver failure diseases, hepatic encephalopathy (HE) deserves more attention because liver damage and neuropathologies occur simultaneously. Although there is numerous evidence of TH dysregulation in the HE model, specific mechanisms and genetic features of the thyroid glands in the HE model are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the significantly different genes in the thyroid glands of a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model as the HE model, compared to the thyroid glands of the control mouse using RNA sequencing. We also confirmed the alteration in mRNA levels of thyroid gland function-related genes in the BDL mouse model. Furthermore, we evaluated the increased level of free T4 and TSH in the BDL mouse blood. Thus, we emphasize the potential roles of TH in liver metabolism and suggest that thyroid dysfunction-related genes in the HE model should be highlighted for finding the appropriate solution for an impaired thyroid system in HE.