Serum levels of cytoskeleton remodeling proteins and their mRNA expression in tumor tissue of metastatic laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers

A pilot study of the relative number of circulating tumor cells and leukocytes containing actin-binding proteins in head and neck cancer patients

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play an important role in tumor metastases, which is positively correlated with an increased risk of death. Actin-binding proteins, including cofilin (CFL1), profilin 1 (PFN1), and adenylate cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), are thought to be involved in tumor cell motility and metastasis, specifically in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, currently, there are no published studies on CFL1, PFN1, and CAP1 in CTCs and leukocytes in HNSCC patients. We assessed serum levels of CFL1, PFN1, and CAP1 and the number of CTCs and leukocytes containing these proteins in blood from 31 HNSCC patients (T1-4N0-2M0). The analysis used flow cytometry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. We found that CAP1 + CTCs and CAP1 + leukocyte subpopulations were prevalent in these HNSCC patient samples, while the prevalence rates of CFL1 + and PFN1 + CTCs were relatively low. Patients with stage T2-4N1-2M0 had CFL1 + and PFN1 + CTCs with an elevated PFN1 serum level, compared with the T1-3N0M0 group. In summary, the PFN1 serum level and the relative number of PFN1 +CD326 + CTCs could be valuable prognostic markers for HNSCC metastases. The current study is the first to obtain data regarding the contents of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) in CTCs, and leukocytes in blood from HNSCC patients. This is also the first to assess the relationship between the number of CTCs subgroups and disease characteristics.

Epigenetic Regulation Mechanisms of the Cofilin-1 Gene in the Development and Differentiation of Bovine Primary Myoblasts

As the quality of beef products has received increasing attention, it is essential to explore the underlying transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of meat traits. Our project uses Qinchuan cattle as the research subject. First, we examined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the CFL1 gene in a panel of fetal bovine, calf, and adult cattle samples. Then, we performed DNA methylation experiments of CFL1 on myogenesis and muscle maturation using the BSP amplification and COBRA sequencing techniques and found that high DNA methylation levels showed low expression levels. Next, we performed an assay between bta-miR-182 and the CFL1 gene and demonstrated that miR-182 could promote bovine primary myoblast differentiation by negatively regulated the expression of CFL1. Finally, we constructed an adenovirus overexpression and interference vector and found that CFL1 could suppress the differentiation of bovine primary myoblasts. In summary, our experiment comprehensively analyzes the epigenetic regulation mechanisms of the CFL1 gene in the development and differentiation of bovine primary myoblasts. This has far-reaching significance for improving the meat production and meat quality of Qinchuan cattle. This can provide reliable data support and a theoretical research basis for the rapid and efficient breeding selection of local yellow cattle and the genetic improvement of meat quality.