Glycoprotein PTGDS promotes tumorigenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by MYH9-mediated regulation of Wnt-β-catenin-STAT3 signaling

Ptgds downregulation protect vestibular hair cells from aminoglycoside-induced vestibulotoxicity

The clinical use of aminoglycosides often results in injury to vestibular hair cells and subsequent vestibular dysfunction. Thus, clarifying the targets and mechanisms underlying aminoglycoside-mediated damage is of urgent importance. Prostaglandin D2 synthase (Ptgds) is a glycoprotein that plays dual roles in lipid transport regulation and prostaglandin metabolism. However, the role of Ptgds in aminoglycoside-induced vestibular dysfunction remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the function of Ptgds in the utricle and HEI-OC1 cells. Neomycin injury induced high levels of Ptgds expression in utricle explants. Moreover, Ptgds knockdown protected against neomycin injury by enhancing cellular proliferation and viability while suppressing reactive oxygen species production, inflammation, and apoptosis. These findings suggest that Ptgds may serve as a novel therapeutic target for treating vestibular dysfunction caused by aminoglycoside-induced damage.

Wnt signaling in cancer: from biomarkers to targeted therapies and clinical translation

The Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in development and tissue homeostasis, regulating key cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, its abnormal activation is strongly associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance to therapy, making it a vital target for cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the role of Wnt signaling in cancer, examining its normal physiological functions, dysregulation in malignancies, and therapeutic potential. We emphasize the importance of predicting Wnt signaling sensitivity and identify key biomarkers across various cancer types. Additionally, we address the challenges and future prospects of Wnt-targeted therapies, including biomarker discovery, advancements in emerging technologies, and their application in clinical practice.

Spatial and Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals the Regional Division of the Spatial Structure of MASH Fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the regional distribution of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) fibrosis within the liver and to identify potential therapeutic targets for MASH fibrosis.

METHODS

Liver sections from healthy controls, patients with simple steatosis and MASH patients were analysed using spatial transcriptomics integrated with single-cell RNA-seq.

RESULTS

Spatial transcriptomics analysis of liver tissues revealed that the fibrotic region (Cluster 9) was primarily distributed in lobules, with some fibrosis also found in the surrounding area. Integration of the single-cell-sequencing data set (GSE189175) showed a greater proportion of inflammatory cells (Kupffer cells and T cells) and myofibroblasts in MASH. Six genes, showing high- or low-specific expression in Cluster 9, namely, ADAMTSL2, PTGDS, S100A6, PPP1R1A, ASS1 and G6PC, were identified in combination with pathology. The average expression levels of ADAMTSL2, PTGDS and S100A6 on the pathological HE staining map were positively correlated with the increase in the degree of fibrosis and aligned strongly with the distribution of fibrosis. ADAMTSL2+ myofibroblasts play a role in TNF signalling pathways and in the production of ECM structural components. Pseudotime analysis indicated that in the early stages of MASH, infiltration by T cells and Kupffer cells triggers a significant inflammatory response. Subsequently, this inflammation leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), transforming them into myofibroblasts and promoting the development of liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to characterise lineage-specific changes in gene expression, subpopulation composition, and pseudotime analysis in MASH fibrosis and reveals potential therapeutic targets for this condition.

Endothelial-like cancer-associated fibroblasts facilitate pancreatic cancer metastasis via vasculogenic mimicry and paracrine signalling

BACKGROUND

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are highly heterogeneous in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to a phenomenon in which cancer cells adopt endothelial-like characteristics.

OBJECTIVE

To identify a novel protumoural CAF subtype undertaking VM.

DESIGN

We used single-cell RNA sequencing and mIHC to identify FAPα+CD144+ endothelial-like CAFs (endoCAFs) and combined prospective and retrospective analyses to assess its clinical outcomes. Tube formation, proliferation and invasion assay were conducted on cell lines, organoids, the orthotopic tumour model and LSL-KrasG12D/+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+ and Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mouse model. Mechanically, we performed cytokine array assays, RNA-sequencing, IP-mass spectrometry, ChIP and luciferase analyses. Importantly, an siRNA delivery nanosystem was developed to precisely target FAPα+CD144+endoCAFs in vivo.

RESULTS

FAPα+CD144+endoCAFs were present in the tumour microenvironment of PDAC, and patients with a higher CD144+CAFs proportion displayed poor prognosis of PDAC. FAPα+CD144+endoCAFs not only acquired a VM phenotype to provide metastatic conduits but also promoted the proliferation and invasion of tumour cells in situ through paracrine signalling, thereby actively facilitating the metastasis of tumour cells. The CD144-β-catenin-STAT3 signalling axis was activated, and CD144 and downstream secreted cytokines were transcriptionally upregulated to maintain the dual roles of endoCAFs. A CAF-targeting siRNA delivery nanosystem, via loading FAPα and siCD144, was administered to precisely target FAPα+CD144+ endoCAFs, which substantially inhibited their protumoural roles in vivo.

CONCLUSION

FAPα+CD144+endoCAFs can promote metastasis of PDAC via undertaking VM and paracrine through activation of the CD144-β-catenin-STAT3 signalling axis. CAF-targeting siRNA delivery nanosystem can inhibit tumour progression by precisely targeting FAPα+CD144+endoCAFs.

Targeting TTK Inhibits Tumorigenesis of T-Cell Lymphoma Through Dephosphorylating p38α and Activating AMPK/mTOR Pathway

T-cell lymphoma (TCL) is a group of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with high heterogeneity and unfavorable prognosis. Current standard treatments have demonstrated limited efficacy in improving the outcomes for TCL patients. Therefore, identification of novel drug targets is urgently needed to improve the prognosis of TCL patients. Through multi-omics analysis, aberrant expression of threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) in TCL is identified. High expression of TTK is closely associated with poor prognosis in TCL patients. Targeting TTK through gene knockdown exerts anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo, including inhibiting the cell proliferation, inducing G2/M phase arrest, enhancing DNA damage and cell apoptosis. Mechanically, p38α is identified as the potential phosphorylation substrate of TTK through phosphoproteomic quantification and motif prediction. Furthermore, inhibition of TTK suppresses activation of p38α through dephosphorylating it at Thr180/Tyr182, thereby promoting the activation of AMPK/mTOR pathway. In addition, targeting TTK enhances the autophagy in TCL cells through dephosphorylating p38α. CFI-402257, a specific inhibitor of TTK, is found to exhibit anti-tumor effects and exerted synergistic efficacy with PI3K inhibitor, Duvelisib, in TCL. The study shows that TTK contributes to the development of TCL by regulating p38α-mediated AMPK/mTOR pathway. CFI-402257 is expected to be a promising strategy for TCL treatment.

Targeting PTGDS Promotes ferroptosis in peripheral T cell lymphoma through regulating HMOX1-mediated iron metabolism

BACKGROUND

Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) is characterized by high heterogeneity, strong aggressiveness, and extremely poor prognosis. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, has been involved in tumor development and targeting ferroptosis holds great potential for tumor therapy.

METHODS

Lentiviral transfection was performed to regulate gene expression, followed by Tandem mass tag (TMT)-mass spectrometry and RNA-sequencing. Tumor xenograft models were established for in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

High expression of prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS) was closely associated with poor prognosis of PTCL patients. PTGDS knockdown and AT56 treatment significantly inhibited the progression of PTCL through regulating cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and invasion in vitro and in vivo. We further revealed that targeting PTGDS promoted ferroptosis process and enhanced the sensitivity of PTCL cells to ferroptosis inducers Sorafenib in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, PTGDS interacted with heme-degrading enzymes HMOX1, and targeting PTGDS increased the level of iron and induced ferroptosis in PTCL through promoting HMOX1-mediated heme catabolism and ferritin autophagy process. Through the construction of H25A mutation, the specific gene site of HMOX1 corresponding to its role was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings firstly identified that targeting PTGDS promotes the ferroptosis in PTCL through regulating HMOX1-mediated iron metabolism, and highlighted novel therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy of ferroptosis-targeted therapy in PTCL patients.

Identifying potential biomarkers and molecular mechanisms related to arachidonic acid metabolism in vitiligo

Background

Numerous studies have reported that dysregulation of fatty acid metabolic pathways is associated with the pathogenesis of vitiligo, in which arachidonic acid metabolism (AAM) plays an important role. However, the molecular mechanisms of AAM in the pathogenesis of vitiligo have not been clarified. Therefore, we aimed to identify the biomarkers and molecular mechanisms associated with AAM in vitiligo using bioinformatics methods.

Methods

The GSE75819 and GSE65127 datasets were used in this study as the training and validation sets, respectively, along with 58 AAM-related genes (AAM-RGs). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the lesional and control groups in the training set were identified through differential expression analysis. A biomarker-based nomogram was constructed to predict the risk of vitiligo.

Results

15 overlapping candidate genes were obtained between the DEGs and AAM-RGs. Machine-learning algorithms were used to identify six key genes as PTGDS, PNPLA8, FAAH, ABHD12, PTGS1, and MGLL. In both the training and validation sets, PTGDS, PNPLA8, and MGLL. In both the training and validation sets, PTGDS, PNPLA8, and MGLL were regarded as biomarkers. A nomogram based on these biomarkers showed potential for predicting the risk of vitiligo. Functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and regulatory network analyses were used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PTGDS, PNPLA8, and MGLL were implicated in AAM to influence the pathogenesis of vitiligo. These findings offer insights into vitiligo treatment, although further research is needed for a comprehensive understanding.

STING1 targets MYH9 to drive adipogenesis through the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway

Stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1 (STING1), as an innate immune adaptor protein that mediates DNA sensing, has attracted tremendous biomedical interest. However, several recent researches have revealed the key role of STING1 in regulating the metabolic pathway. Here, we investigated its role in adipocyte differentiation. Preadipocytes with lentivirus-mediated Sting1 knockdown or overexpression were constructed to examine the effect of STING1 on adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Proteomics was performed in adipocytes to explore the mechanisms by which STING1 exerts pro-adipogenesis effects. Coimmunoprecipitation (CoIP)/mass spectrometry (MS) assay were used to identify the interacting partners of STING1. Our results showed that STING1 was upregulated during adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 and white adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular precursor cells (WAT-SVF), accompanied by upregulation of adipocyte marker genes, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (Cebpβ). Knockdown or overexpression of Sting1 altered adipogenesis in adipocytes. Mechanistically, proteomics and CoIP/MS assay revealed that STING1 targets non-muscle myosin protein (MYH9) to block its expression, which enhances AKT/GSK3β signaling and mediates β-catenin accumulation, affecting adipogenesis-related genes in adipocytes. These findings suggest that STING1 targeting combined with MYH9 regulates adipocyte differentiation through the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. This is a new potential target for the treatment of hypertrophic adipose tissue, or obesity.

MYH9 promotes malignant progression of glioma cells through regulating β-catenin stability via epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathway

Epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which polar epithelial cells transform into active mesenchymal cells and acquire invasion and migration capabilities (Cano CE, Motoo Y, Iovanna JL in Sci World J 10, 2010). EMT is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes in the human body. The occurrence of EMT involves many signal transduction pathways and complex molecular mechanisms related to calnexin, growth factors, transcription factors, and the microenvironment. EMT is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. The MYH9 gene is closely associated with tumour progression. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of MYH9 in tumour occurrence and development remain unclear. Herein, we revealed for the first time that the migration, invasion, and metastatic abilities of glioma cells decreased significantly after MYH9 expression was downregulated. Moreover, our results suggested that MYH9 regulated the epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in glioma cells via β-catenin. In this mechanism, MYH9 was shown to bind to β-catenin and to increase its protein level by recruiting the deubiquitinase USP2 to form a complex. This complex suppressed β-catenin protein degradation, ultimately enhancing EMT signal transduction. This MYH9/β-catenin/EMT pathway represents a new molecular mechanism involved in the invasion promotion in gliomas. Our findings also demonstrated that MYH9 was crucial for inducing glioma cell migration. In summary, we suggest that MYH9 is a potential molecular marker for predicting tumour progression and prognosis and highlight its role in a new molecular mechanism of tumour metastasis.

Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Porcine Macrophages Are Able to Inhibit the Cell Entry of Macrophage-Tropic Viruses (PRRSV and ASFV)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and African swine fever virus (ASFV) cause serious economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Both viruses show a tropism for macrophages, based on the use of specific entry mediators (e.g., Siglec-1 and CD163). Identifying additional mediators of viral entry is essential for advancing antiviral and vaccine development. In this context, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are valuable tools. This study employed a library of 166 mAbs targeting porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) to identify candidates capable of blocking early infection stages, including viral binding, internalization, and fusion. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed 74 mAbs with cytoplasmic staining and 70 mAbs with membrane staining. Fifteen reacted with blood monocytes as determined by flow cytometry. mAb blocking assays were performed at 4 °C and 37 °C to analyze the ability of mAbs to block PRRSV and/or ASFV infections in PAMs. The mAb 28C10 significantly blocked PRRSV (96% at 4 °C and 80% at 37 °C) and ASFV (64% at 4 °C and 81% at 37 °C) infections. The mAb 28G10B6 significantly blocked PRRSV (86% at 4 °C and 74% at 37 °C) and partially blocked ASFV (35% at 4 °C and 64% at 37 °C) infections. mAb 26B8F5-I only partially blocked PRRSV infection (65% at 4 °C and 46% at 37 °C). Western blotting and mass spectrometry identified the corresponding proteins as Siglec-1 (28C10; 250 kDa), MYH9 (28G10B6; 260 kDa), and ANXA1 (26B8F5-I; 37 kDa). Our findings are indicative that Siglec-1, MYH9, and ANXA1 play a role in PRRSV/ASFV entry into macrophages.

Epigenetic silencing ZSCAN23 promotes pancreatic cancer growth by activating Wnt signaling

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most malignant tumor. Zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 23 (ZSCAN23) is a new member of the SCAN domain family. The expression regulation and biological function remain to be elucidated. In this study, we explored the epigenetic regulation and the function of ZSCAN23 in PDAC. ZSCAN23 was methylated in 60.21% (171/284) of PDAC and its expression was regulated by promoter region methylation. The expression of ZSCAN23 inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis and G1/S phase arrest. ZSCAN23 suppressed Panc10.05 cell xenograft growth in mice. Mechanistically, ZSCAN23 inhibited Wnt signaling by interacting with myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) in pancreatic cancer cells. ZSCAN23 is frequently methylated in PDAC and may serve as a detective marker. ZSCAN23 suppresses PDAC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.

Sanhuang Xiexin Decoction Ameliorates TNBC By Modulating JAK2-STAT3 and Lipid Metabolism

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effect of Sanhuang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in mice and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantitate and qualify SXD. A total of 15 female BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously on the right hypogastrium with 3×105 of 4T1-Luc cells to establish TNBC mouse model. All mice were divided randomly into 3 groups, including phosphate buffered solution (PBS), SXD and doxorubicin (DOX) groups (positive drug). Additionally, tumor growth, pathological changes, serum lipid profiles, expression of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway and its key targets including inflammatory factors, cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were investigated. Besides, the biosafety of SXD was also evaluated in mice.

RESULTS

Rhein, coptisine, berberine hydrochloride and baicalin were all found in SXD, and the concentrations of these 4 components were 0.57, 2.61, 2.93, and 46.04 mg/g, respectively. The mouse experiment showed that SXD could notably suppress the development of tumors and reduce the density of tumor cells (P<0.01). The serum lipid analysis and Oil-Red-O staining both showed the differences, SXD group exhibited higher serum adiponectin and HDL-C levels with lower TC and LDL-C levels compared to the PBS and DOX groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. SXD also decreased the levels of phospho-JAK2 (p-JAK2), phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3) expressions and its downstream factors, including mostly inflammatory cytokine, EMT markers, S phase of tumor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. The biosafety assessment of SXD revealed low levels of toxicity in mice.

CONCLUSION

SXD could inhibit TNBC by suppressing JAK2-STAT3 phosphorylation which may be associated with modulation of lipid metabolism.

Butyrate Metabolism-Related Gene Signature in Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Comprehensive Bioinformatics Study

BACKGROUND

Experimental results have verified the suppressive impact of butyrate on tumor formation. Nevertheless, there is a limited understanding of the hidden function of butyrate metabolism within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). This research aimed at digging the association between genes related to butyrate metabolism (butyrate metabolism-related genes [BMRGs) and immune infiltrates in LUAD patients.

METHODS

Through analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset (TCGA), the identification of 38 differentially expressed BMRGs was made between LUAD and normal samples. Later, a prognostic signature made up of nine BMRGs was made to evaluate the risk score of LUAD subjects. Notably, high-risk scores emerged as negative prognostic indicators for overall survival in LUAD subjects. Additionally, BMRGs displayed associations with immunocyte infiltration levels, immune pathway activities, and pivotal prognostic hub BMRGs.

RESULTS

One key prognostic BMRG, PTGDS, exhibited a robust correlation with T cells, the chemokine-related pathway, and the TCR signaling pathway. This study suggests that investigating the interplay between butyrate metabolism and T cells could present a promising novel approach to cancer treatment. OncoPredict analysis further unveiled distinct sensitivities of nine medicine in high- and low-risk groups, facilitating the selection of optimal treatment strategies for individual LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The study establishes that the BMRG signature serves as a sensitive predictive biomarker, providing profound insights into the crucial effect of butyrate metabolism in the context of LUAD TIME.

Novel serous effusion-related risk models and biomarkers for predicting prognosis in T-cell lymphoma patients

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are a cluster of lymphoproliferative diseases with high heterogeneity, which lack accurate prognostic models and standard treatment regimen at present. Serous effusion (SE) is a relatively common manifestation and poses more challenges for risk stratification in TCLs. In this study, entire of 518 newly diagnosed TCLs patients were included. SE was found to be tightly correlated to clinical characteristics and prognosis in TCL patients, and SE volume (SEV) > 1000 ml was identified as a potential prognostic factor. Novel AEBS risk model, including age > 60, ECOG PS > 1, β2-microglobulin (BMG) > 3.0 mg/L and SEV > 1000 ml, which exerted superior efficacy for risk stratification compared to the current risk systems in TCL patients with SE. Besides, multiple RNA-seq datasets were used for the identification and function analysis of SE-related genes (SERGs). TCL patients in different SERGs-associated subgroups exhibited discrepancy in the infiltration of immunocytes and the expression of immune checkpoints. SERGs signature, including HIF1A, FERMT2, NFATC1 and COL1A1, was established and demonstrated to have distinguishing capacity for predicting prognosis in TCL patients. Moreover, immunohistochemistry revealed that SE-related molecule HIF1A was reductively expressed and related to inferior prognosis in TCL patients, especially in SE group. Pan-cancer analysis found HIF1A expression was decreased in several tumors, and chemosensitivity analysis revealed that HIF1A was associated with sensitivity of several anti-tumor drugs, such as Sorafenib, Navitoclax, and Venetoclax. Our findings provide evidence for identifying high-risk population and facilitating individualized treatment in TCL patients with SE.

Inferring single-cell resolution spatial gene expression via fusing spot-based spatial transcriptomics, location, and histology using GCN

Spatial transcriptomics (ST technology allows for the detection of cellular transcriptome information while preserving the spatial location of cells. This capability enables researchers to better understand the cellular heterogeneity, spatial organization, and functional interactions in complex biological systems. However, current technological methods are limited by low resolution, which reduces the accuracy of gene expression levels. Here, we propose scstGCN, a multimodal information fusion method based on Vision Transformer and Graph Convolutional Network that integrates histological images, spot-based ST data and spatial location information to infer super-resolution gene expression profiles at single-cell level. We evaluated the accuracy of the super-resolution gene expression profiles generated on diverse tissue ST datasets with disease and healthy by scstGCN along with their performance in identifying spatial patterns, conducting functional enrichment analysis, and tissue annotation. The results show that scstGCN can predict super-resolution gene expression accurately and aid researchers in discovering biologically meaningful differentially expressed genes and pathways. Additionally, scstGCN can segment and annotate tissues at a finer granularity, with results demonstrating strong consistency with coarse manual annotations. Our source code and all used datasets are available at https://github.com/wenwenmin/scstGCN and https://zenodo.org/records/12800375.

Joint Analysis of CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein Beta and Interleukin 1 Beta in the Treatment and Prognosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between elevated levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (CEBPB) gene expression and unfavorable outcomes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The goal is to elucidate potential therapeutic targets associated with this relationship.

METHODS

Differential expression and survival analyses were conducted using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The functions of CEBPB in DLBCL cells were investigated through cell culture, RNA extraction, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. In addition, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to pinpoint gene modules associated with CEBPB. Furthermore, experimental validation was carried out to explore the interaction between CEBPB and interleukin 1 beta (IL1B).

RESULTS

High levels of CEBPB expression are prominently observed in DLBCL, with its overabundance significantly linked to the diagnosis of DLBCL. Survival analysis reveals that patients exhibiting elevated CEBPB expression tend to experience a poorer prognosis. Further validation confirmed CEBPB's role in promoting DLBCL cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. WGCNA identified CEBPB-related gene modules, with IL1B identified as a potential regulatory gene of CEBPB. The presence of high levels of IL1B has been correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in individuals diagnosed with DLBCL. Experiments demonstrate that IL1B promotes DLBCL cell proliferation through CEBPB.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the significant roles of CEBPB and IL1B in DLBCL, providing new theoretical foundations and potential molecular targets for the treatment and prognosis of DLBCL.

Expression Profile and Prognostic Significance of Pivotal Regulators for N7-Methylguanosine Methylation in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

N7-methylguanosine (m7G) occurs by adding a methyl group to the N7 atom of the RNA guanine. Emerging evidence suggests that m7G modification has emerged as a crucial regulator of tumorigenesis, progression, invasion, and metastasis in multiple cancers. Nevertheless, the utility of m7G modification in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains undefined, notably the interaction with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we aimed to identify the expression profile of m7G regulators in DLBCL, construct a novel risk model, and explore their connection with TME. We initially investigated the difference and correlation in m7G regulators' expression in normal and tumor groups, classified patients by consistent clustering analysis, investigated the functional and prognostic significance of the resulting subtypes, and identified prognosis-associated genes by one-way Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression calculations, and constructed a risk model. Further analysis showed that correlation among immune cell infiltration with m7G risk score and determined that it impacts the prognosis of DLBCL patients. Our research demonstrated the relevance of m7G regulators to DLBCL prognosis, providing theoretical support for precise prognostic stratification and immunotherapeutic assessment in DLBCL.

Leveraging cell death patterns to predict metastasis in prostate adenocarcinoma and targeting PTGDS for tumor suppression

Metastasis is the major cause of treatment failure in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). Diverse programmed cell death (PCD) patterns play an important role in tumor metastasis and hold promise as predictive indicators for PRAD metastasis. Using the LASSO Cox regression method, we developed PCD score (PCDS) based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with PCD. Clinical correlation, external validation, functional enrichment analysis, mutation landscape analysis, tumor immune environment analysis, and immunotherapy analysis were conducted. The role of Prostaglandin D2 Synthase (PTGDS) in PRAD was examined through in vitro experiments, single-cell, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. PCDS is elevated in patients with higher Gleason scores, higher T stage, biochemical recurrence (BCR), and higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Individuals with higher PCDS are prone to metastasis, metastasis after BCR, BCR, and castration resistance. Moreover, PRAD patients with low PCDS responded positively to immunotherapy. Random forest analysis and Mendelian randomization analysis identified PTGDS as the top gene associated with PRAD metastasis and in vitro experiments revealed that PTGDS was considerably downregulated in PRAD cells against normal prostate cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of PTGDS was found to suppress the migration, invasion, proliferationof DU145 and LNCaP cells. To sum up, PCDS may be a useful biomarker for forecasting the possibility of metastasis, recurrence, castration resistance, and the efficacy of immunotherapy in PRAD patients. Additionally, PTGDS was identified as a viable therapeutic target for the management of PRAD.

Elucidating the molecular markers and biological pathways associated with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a transcriptome sequencing study

Background

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy with high aggressiveness, and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECCA) represents the predominant subtype. However, the molecular architecture and underlying pathogenic mechanisms of ECCA remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to elucidate the molecular markers and biological pathways associated with ECCA.

Methods

In order to identify the factors influencing ECCA, we conducted transcriptome sequencing on a cohort of 8 surgically resected ECCA specimens. To validate our findings, we integrated data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases using batch integration analysis. Finally, we confirmed our results using clinical samples.

Results

The findings of this study reveal that through the analysis of sequencing data, we have successfully identified the genes that are differentially expressed and have a significant role in the development of ECCA. Utilizing the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis approach, we have integrated these identified gene modules with the GEO dataset, leading to the identification of four key genes (PTGDS, ITIH2, LSAMP, HBB) that are strongly associated with the progression-free survival of ECCA. We screened a key gene LSAMP from four genes using immunohistochemistry. The gene primarily participate in crucial biological processes such as the ECCA cell cycle and DNA replication. The qRT-PCR reaction and Western Blot conducted on the tissues provided confirmation of the expression levels of the gene, which exhibited consistency with the outcomes of our analysis.

Conclusions

Our study has successfully identified potential biomarkers LSAMP for ECCA, which can serve as valuable tools for early detection and targeted therapeutic interventions in clinical settings.

Characterizing the Cell-Free Transcriptome in a Humanized Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for RNA-Based Liquid Biopsy in a Preclinical Setting

The potential of RNA-based liquid biopsy is increasingly being recognized in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study explores the cell-free transcriptome in a humanized DLBCL patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model. Blood plasma samples (n = 171) derived from a DLBCL PDTX model, including 27 humanized (HIS) PDTX, 8 HIS non-PDTX, and 21 non-HIS PDTX non-obese diabetic (NOD)-scid IL2Rgnull (NSG) mice were collected during humanization, xenografting, treatment, and sacrifice. The mice were treated with either rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), CD20-targeted human IFNα2-based AcTaferon combined with CHOP (huCD20-Fc-AFN-CHOP), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). RNA was extracted using the miRNeasy serum/plasma kit and sequenced on the NovaSeq 6000 platform. RNA sequencing data of the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and blood plasma samples of the original patient were included. Flow cytometry was performed on immune cells isolated from whole blood, spleen, and bone marrow. Bulk deconvolution was performed using the Tabula Sapiens v1 basis matrix. Both R-CHOP and huCD20-Fc-AFN-CHOP were able to control tumor growth in most mice. Xenograft tumor volume was strongly associated with circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) concentration (p < 0.001, R = 0.89), as well as with the number of detected human genes (p < 0.001, R = 0.79). Abundance analysis identified tumor-specific biomarkers that were dynamically tracked during tumor growth or treatment. An 8-gene signature demonstrated high accuracy for assessing therapy response (AUC 0.92). The tumoral gene detectability in the ctRNA of the PDTX-derived plasma was associated with RNA abundance levels in the patient's tumor tissue and blood plasma (p < 0.001), confirming that tumoral gene abundance contributes to the cell-free RNA (cfRNA) profile. Decomposing the transcriptome, however, revealed high inter- and intra-mouse variability, which was lower in the HIS PDTX mice, indicating an impact of human engraftment on the stability and profile of cfRNA. Immunochemotherapy resulted in B cell depletion, and tumor clearance was reflected by a decrease in the fraction of human CD45+ cells. Lastly, bulk deconvolution provided complementary biological insights into the composition of the tumor and circulating immune system. In conclusion, the blood plasma-derived transcriptome serves as a biomarker source in a preclinical PDTX model, enables the assessment of biological pathways, and enhances the understanding of cfRNA dynamics.

Exploring single-cell RNA sequencing as a decision-making tool in the clinical management of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the identification of novel gene signatures and cell heterogeneity in numerous tissues and diseases. Here we review the use of this technology for Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). FECD is the most common indication for corneal endothelial transplantation worldwide. FECD is challenging to manage because it is genetically heterogenous, can be autosomal dominant or sporadic, and progress at different rates. Single-cell RNA sequencing has enabled the discovery of several FECD subtypes, each with associated gene signatures, and cell heterogeneity. Current FECD treatments are mainly surgical, with various Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors used to promote endothelial cell metabolism and proliferation following surgery. A range of emerging therapies for FECD including cell therapies, gene therapies, tissue engineered scaffolds, and pharmaceuticals are in preclinical and clinical trials. Unlike conventional disease management methods based on clinical presentations and family history, targeting FECD using scRNA-seq based precision-medicine has the potential to pinpoint the disease subtypes, mechanisms, stages, severities, and help clinicians in making the best decision for surgeries and the applications of therapeutics. In this review, we first discuss the feasibility and potential of using scRNA-seq in clinical diagnostics for FECD, highlight advances from the latest clinical treatments and emerging therapies for FECD, integrate scRNA-seq results and clinical notes from our FECD patients and discuss the potential of applying alternative therapies to manage these cases clinically.

Non-Muscle Myosin II A: Friend or Foe in Cancer?

Non-muscle myosin IIA (NM IIA) is a motor protein that belongs to the myosin II family. The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene encodes the heavy chain of NM IIA. NM IIA is a hexamer and contains three pairs of peptides, which include the dimer of heavy chains, essential light chains, and regulatory light chains. NM IIA is a part of the actomyosin complex that generates mechanical force and tension to carry out essential cellular functions, including adhesion, cytokinesis, migration, and the maintenance of cell shape and polarity. These functions are regulated via light and heavy chain phosphorylation at different amino acid residues. Apart from physiological functions, NM IIA is also linked to the development of cancer and genetic and neurological disorders. MYH9 gene mutations result in the development of several autosomal dominant disorders, such as May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA) and Epstein syndrome (EPS). Multiple studies have reported NM IIA as a tumor suppressor in melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; however, studies also indicate that NM IIA is a critical player in promoting tumorigenesis, chemoradiotherapy resistance, and stemness. The ROCK-NM IIA pathway regulates cellular movement and shape via the control of cytoskeletal dynamics. In addition, the ROCK-NM IIA pathway is dysregulated in various solid tumors and leukemia. Currently, there are very few compounds targeting NM IIA, and most of these compounds are still being studied in preclinical models. This review provides comprehensive evidence highlighting the dual role of NM IIA in multiple cancer types and summarizes the signaling networks involved in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we also discuss the role of NM IIA as a potential therapeutic target with a focus on the ROCK-NM IIA pathway.

Senescent cells inhibit mouse myoblast differentiation via the SASP-lipid 15d-PGJ2 mediated modification and control of HRas

Senescent cells are characterized by multiple features such as increased expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity (SA β-gal) and cell cycle inhibitors such as p21 or p16. They accumulate with tissue damage and dysregulate tissue homeostasis. In the context of skeletal muscle, it is known that agents used for chemotherapy such as Doxorubicin (Doxo) cause buildup of senescent cells, leading to the inhibition of tissue regeneration. Senescent cells influence the neighboring cells via numerous secreted factors which form the senescence-associated secreted phenotype (SASP). Lipids are emerging as a key component of SASP that can control tissue homeostasis. Arachidonic acid-derived lipids have been shown to accumulate within senescent cells, specifically 15d-PGJ2, which is an electrophilic lipid produced by the non-enzymatic dehydration of the prostaglandin PGD2. This study shows that 15d-PGJ2 is also released by Doxo-induced senescent cells as an SASP factor. Treatment of skeletal muscle myoblasts with the conditioned medium from these senescent cells inhibits myoblast fusion during differentiation. Inhibition of L-PTGDS, the enzyme that synthesizes PGD2, diminishes the release of 15d-PGJ2 by senescent cells and restores muscle differentiation. We further show that this lipid post-translationally modifies Cys184 of HRas in C2C12 mouse skeletal myoblasts, causing a reduction in the localization of HRas to the Golgi, increased HRas binding to Ras Binding Domain (RBD) of RAF Kinase (RAF-RBD), and activation of cellular Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) kinase-Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase (Erk) signaling (but not the Akt signaling). Mutating C184 of HRas prevents the ability of 15d-PGJ2 to inhibit the differentiation of muscle cells and control the activity of HRas. This work shows that 15d-PGJ2 released from senescent cells could be targeted to restore muscle homeostasis after chemotherapy.

Identification of key immune-related genes and potential therapeutic drugs in diabetic nephropathy based on machine learning algorithms

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major contributor to chronic kidney disease. This study aims to identify immune biomarkers and potential therapeutic drugs in DN.

METHODS

We analyzed two DN microarray datasets (GSE96804 and GSE30528) for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Limma package, overlapping them with immune-related genes from ImmPort and InnateDB. LASSO regression, SVM-RFE, and random forest analysis identified four hub genes (EGF, PLTP, RGS2, PTGDS) as proficient predictors of DN. The model achieved an AUC of 0.995 and was validated on GSE142025. Single-cell RNA data (GSE183276) revealed increased hub gene expression in epithelial cells. CIBERSORT analysis showed differences in immune cell proportions between DN patients and controls, with the hub genes correlating positively with neutrophil infiltration. Molecular docking identified potential drugs: cysteamine, eltrombopag, and DMSO. And qPCR and western blot assays were used to confirm the expressions of the four hub genes.

RESULTS

Analysis found 95 and 88 distinctively expressed immune genes in the two DN datasets, with 14 consistently differentially expressed immune-related genes. After machine learning algorithms, EGF, PLTP, RGS2, PTGDS were identified as the immune-related hub genes associated with DN. In addition, the mRNA and protein levels of them were obviously elevated in HK-2 cells treated with glucose for 24 h, as well as their mRNA expressions in kidney tissues of mice with DN.

CONCLUSION

This study identified 4 hub immune-related genes (EGF, PLTP, RGS2, PTGDS), as well as their expression profiles and the correlation with immune cell infiltration in DN.

Exploring the nexus between MYH9 and tumors: novel insights and new therapeutic opportunities

The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene, located on human chromosome 22, encodes non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NM IIA). This protein is essential to various cellular events, such as generating intracellular chemomechanical force and facilitating the movement of the actin cytoskeleton. Mutations associated with thrombocytopenia in autosomal dominant diseases first highlighted the significance of the MYH9 gene. In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated the pivotal roles of MYH9 in various cancers. However, its effects on cancer are intricate and not fully comprehended. Furthermore, the elevated expression of MYH9 in certain malignancies suggests its potential as a target for tumor therapy. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of literature summarizing MYH9's role in tumors and the therapeutic strategies centered on it, necessitating a systematic analysis. This paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes the pertinent literature in this domain, elucidating the fundamental structural characteristics, biological functions, and the nexus between MYH9 and tumors. The mechanisms through which MYH9 contributes to tumor development and its multifaceted roles in the tumorigenic process are also explored. Additionally, we discuss the relationship between MYH9-related diseases (MYH9-RD) and tumors and also summarize tumor therapeutic approaches targeting MYH9. The potential clinical applications of studying the MYH9 gene include improving early diagnosis, clinical staging, and prognosis of tumors. This paper is anticipated to provide novel insights for tumor therapy.

C-MYC-activated lncRNA SNHG20 accelerates the proliferation of diffuse large B cell lymphoma via USP14-mediated deubiquitination of β-catenin

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the initiation and progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) has been recognized as a critical lncRNA in multiple human cancers. However, the role of SNHG20 and its underlying mechanism in DLBCL are still unclear.

METHODS

The expression levels of SNHG20, c-MYC, β-catenin, and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14 (USP14) were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR) and immunoblotting. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, and flow cytometry assays were used to assess the proliferation and apoptosis of DLBCL cells. The transcriptional regulation of SNHG20 by c-MYC was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The interaction between USP14 and β-catenin was demonstrated using coimmunoprecipitation. A subcutaneous xenograft model was constructed to determine the role of SNHG20 in vivo.

RESULTS

In the present study, we found that SNHG20 expression was upregulated in DLBCL cell lines and tissues compared to their normal counterparts. SNHG20 knockdown prominently reduced the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of U2932 and OCI-LY3 cells. However, SNHG20 overexpression increased the proliferation and apoptosis resistance of DLBCL cells. Mechanistically, the expression of SNHG20 was positively regulated by c-MYC in DLBCL cells. C-MYC directly bound to the promoter of SNHG20 to activate its transcription. SNHG20 was expressed mainly in the cytosol in DLBCL cells. SNHG20 silencing did not impact USP14 expression but markedly decreased the level of β-catenin, the substrate of USP14, in DLBCL cells. USP14 overexpression increased the β-catenin level, and this increase was attenuated by SNHG20 knockdown. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 abolished SNHG20 knockdown-induced β-catenin downregulation. Moreover, SNHG20 silencing reduced the half-life but increased the ubiquitination of β-catenin in DLBCL cells. SNHG20 knockdown weakened the interaction between both endogenous and exogenous USP14 and β-catenin. In turn, SNHG20 overexpression increased the c-MYC level, and this increase was attenuated by β-catenin knockdown. Importantly, β-catenin knockdown attenuated the SNHG20-mediated increase in DLBCL cell proliferation in vitro and tumour growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our results suggested that c-MYC-activated SNHG20 accelerated the proliferation and increased the apoptosis resistance of DLBCL cells via USP14-mediated deubiquitination of β-catenin. The c-MYC/SNHG20 positive feedback loop may be a new target for anti-DLBCL treatment.

OLFM4 promotes the progression of intestinal metaplasia through activation of the MYH9/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is classified into complete intestinal metaplasia (CIM) and incomplete intestinal metaplasia (IIM). Patients diagnosed with IIM face an elevated susceptibility to the development of gastric cancer, underscoring the critical need for early screening measures. In addition to the complexities associated with diagnosis, the exact mechanisms driving the progression of gastric cancer in IIM patients remain poorly understood. OLFM4 is overexpressed in several types of tumors, including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers, and its expression has been associated with tumor progression.

METHODS

In this study, we used pathological sections from two clinical centers, biopsies of IM tissues, precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) cell models, animal models, and organoids to explore the role of OLFM4 in IIM.

RESULTS

Our results show that OLFM4 expression is highly increased in IIM, with superior diagnostic accuracy of IIM when compared to CDX2 and MUC2. OLFM4, along with MYH9, was overexpressed in IM organoids and PLGC animal models. Furthermore, OLFM4, in combination with Myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9), accelerated the ubiquitination of GSK3β and resulted in increased β-catenin levels through the Wnt signaling pathway, promoting the proliferation and invasion abilities of PLGC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

OLFM4 represents a novel biomarker for IIM and could be utilized as an important auxiliary means to delimit the key population for early gastric cancer screening. Finally, our study identifies cell signaling pathways involved in the progression of IM.

Early predictive value of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase for 28-day mortality in cardiac arrest patients: study protocol for a prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treatment in emergency and intensive care unit have made tremendous progress. However, cardiac arrest remains a major health burden worldwide, with brain damage being a significant contributor to disability and mortality. Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), which is mainly localised in the central nervous system, has been previously shown to inhibit postischemia neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, we aim to observe whether serum L-PGDS can serve as a potential biomarker and explore its role in determining the severity and prognosis of patients who have achieved restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective observational study. The participants (n = 60) who achieve ROSC will be distributed into two groups (non-survivor and survivor) based on 28-day survival. Healthy volunteers (n = 30) will be enrolled as controls. Each individual's relevant information will be extracted from Electronic Medical Record System in Xinhua Hospital, including demographic characteristics, clinical data, laboratory findings and so on. On days 1, 3 and 7 after ROSC, blood samples will be drawn and batch tested on the level of serum neuron-specific enolase, soluble protein 100β, L-PGDS, procalcitonin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. The cerebral performance category score was assessed on the 28th day after ROSC.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was performed with the approval of the Clinical Ethical Committee of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Approval No. XHEC-C-2023-130-1). The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300078564).

RGS19 activates the MYH9/β-catenin/c-Myc positive feedback loop in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common fatal cancers worldwide, and the identification of novel treatment targets and prognostic biomarkers is urgently needed because of its unsatisfactory prognosis. Regulator of G-protein signaling 19 (RGS19) is a multifunctional protein that regulates the progression of various cancers. However, the specific function of RGS19 in HCC remains unclear. The expression of RGS19 was determined in clinical HCC samples. Functional and molecular biology experiments involving RGS19 were performed to explore the potential mechanisms of RGS19 in HCC. The results showed that the expression of RGS19 is upregulated in HCC tissues and is significantly associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. RGS19 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RGS19, via its RGS domain, stabilizes the MYH9 protein by directly inhibiting the interaction of MYH9 with STUB1, which has been identified as an E3 ligase of MYH9. Moreover, RGS19 activates β-catenin/c-Myc signaling via MYH9, and RGS19 is also a transcriptional target gene of c-Myc. A positive feedback loop formed by RGS19, MYH9, and the β-catenin/c-Myc axis was found in HCC. In conclusion, our research revealed that competition between RGS19 and STUB1 is a critical mechanism of MYH9 regulation and that the RGS19/MYH9/β-catenin/c-Myc feedback loop may represent a promising strategy for HCC therapy.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 3a promotes the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through regulating cell proliferation

BACKGROUND

One-third of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients suffer relapse after standard treatment. Eukaryotic initiation factor 3a (eIF3a) is a key player in the initial stage of translation, which has been widely reported to be correlated with tumorigenesis and therapeutic response. This study aimed to explore the biological role of eIF3a, evaluate its prognostic and therapeutic potential in DLBCL.

METHODS

RNA-seq datasets from GEO database were utilized to detect the expression and prognostic role of eIF3a in DLBCL patients. Protein level of eIF3a was estimated by western blot and immunohistochemical. Next, DLBCL cells were transfected with lentiviral vector either eIF3a-knockdown or empty to assess the biological role of eIF3a. Then, samples were divided into 2 clusters based on eIF3a expression and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Function enrichment and mutation analysis of DEGs were employed to detect potential biological roles. Moreover, we also applied pan-cancer and chemosensitivity analysis for deep exploration.

RESULTS

eIF3a expression was found to be higher in DLBCL than healthy controls, which was associated with worse prognosis. The expression of eIF3a protein was significantly increased in DLBCL cell lines compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. eIF3a knockdown inhibited the proliferation of DLBCL cells and the expression of proliferation-related proteins and increase cell apoptosis rate. Besides, 114 DEGs were identified which had a close linkage to cell cycle and tumor immune. eIF3a and DEGs mutations were found to be correlated to chemosensitivity and vital signal pathways. Pan-cancer analysis demonstrated that high eIF3a expression was associated with worse prognosis in several tumors. Moreover, eIF3a expression was found to be related to chemosensitivity of several anti-tumor drugs in DLBCL, including Vincristine and Wee1 inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

We firstly revealed the high expression and prognostic role of eIF3a in DLBCL, and eIF3a might promote the development of DLBCL through regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. eIF3a expression was related to immune profile and chemosensitivity in DLBCL. These results suggest that eIF3a could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in DLBCL.

Single-cell RNA combined with bulk RNA analysis to explore oxidative stress and energy metabolism factors and found a new prostate cancer oncogene MXRA8

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men worldwide, and its diagnosis and treatment are challenging due to its heterogeneity.

METHODS

Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data, we identified two molecular subtypes of prostate cancer based on dysregulated genes involved in oxidative stress and energy metabolism. We constructed a risk score model (OMR) using common differentially expressed genes, which effectively evaluated prostate cancer prognosis.

RESULTS

Our analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the risk score model and various factors, including tumor immune microenvironment, genomic variations, chemotherapy resistance, and immune response. Notably, patients with low-risk scores exhibited increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy compared to those with high-risk scores, indicating the model's potential to predict patient response to treatment. Additionally, our investigation of MXRA8 in prostate cancer showed significant upregulation of this gene in the disease as confirmed by PCR and immunohistochemistry. Functional assays including CCK-8, transwell, plate cloning, and ROS generation assay demonstrated that depletion of MXRA8 reduced the proliferative, invasive, migratory capabilities of PC-3 cells, as well as their ROS generation capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the potential of oxidative stress and energy metabolism-related genes as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. The integration of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data enables a better understanding of prostate cancer heterogeneity and promotes personalized treatment development. Additionally, we identified a novel oncogene MXRA8 in prostate cancer.

RSK4 promotes the macrophage recruitment and M2 polarization in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

High infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) participates in host immunity and tumor progression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Ribosomal s6 kinase 4 (RSK4) has been shown to be aberrantly overexpressed in ESCC. The role of RSK4 in cytokine secretion and its impact on macrophage recruitment and M2 polarization remains unclear. Therefore, a thorough understanding of RSK4 is needed to expand our knowledge of its therapeutic potential. Herein, RSK4 expression in human ESCC tissues and a xenograft mouse model was positively correlated with high infiltration of M0 and M2 macrophages which is positively associated with unfavorable overall survival outcomes and treatment resistance in patients with ESCC. In vitro experiments revealed that RSK4 derived from ESCC cells promoted macrophage recruitment and M2 polarization by enhancingsoluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) secretion via direct and indirect STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, RSK4-induced macrophages enhanced tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion by secreting C-C motif chemokine ligand 22 (CCL22). We further showed that patients with elevated CD68 and CD206 expression had unfavorable overall survival. Collectively, these results demonstrate that RSK4 promotes the macrophage recruitment and M2 polarization by regulating the STAT3/ICAM-1 axis in ESCC, influencing tumor progression primarily in a CCL22-dependent manner. These data also offer valuable insights for developing novel agents for the treatment of ESCC.

Hair follicle stem cells promote epidermal regeneration under expanded condition

Skin soft tissue expansion is the process of obtaining excess skin mixed with skin development, wound healing, and mechanical stretching. Previous studies have reported that tissue expansion significantly induces epidermal proliferation throughout the skin. However, the mechanisms underlying epidermal regeneration during skin soft tissue expansion are yet to be clarified. Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) have been recognized as a promising approach for epidermal regeneration. This study examines HFSC-related epidermal regeneration mechanisms under expanded condition and proposes a potential method for its cellular and molecular regulation.

MYH9: A key protein involved in tumor progression and virus-related diseases

The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene encodes the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA), which belongs to the myosin II subfamily of actin-based molecular motors. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal expression and mutations of MYH9 were correlated with MYH9-related diseases and tumors. Furthermore, earlier investigations identified MYH9 as a tumor suppressor. However, subsequent research revealed that MYH9 promoted tumorigenesis, progression and chemoradiotherapy resistance. Note-worthily, MYH9 has also been linked to viral infections, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis B virus, as a receptor or co-receptor. In addition, MYH9 promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by interacting with the hepatitis B virus-encoding X protein. Finally, various findings highlighted the role of MYH9 in the development of these illnesses, especially in tumors. This review summarizes the involvement of the MYH9-regulated signaling network in tumors and virus-related diseases and presents possible drug interventions on MYH9, providing insights for the use of MYH9 as a therapeutic target for tumors and virus-mediated diseases.

Exploring the regulatory role of Linc00893 in asthenozoospermia: Insights into sperm motility and SSC viability

The role of long intergenic noncoding RNA 00893 (Linc00893) in asthenozoospermia (AS) and its impact on sperm motility remains unclear The present study explored the effect of Linc00893 on AS, specifically its effect on sperm motility and its relationship with spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) vitality and myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) protein expression. Linc00893 expression was analyzed in semen samples using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, revealing a significant downregulation in samples from individuals with AS compared with those from healthy subjects. This downregulation was found to be negatively correlated with parameters of sperm motility. To further understand the role of Linc00893, small interfering RNA was used to knockdown its expression in SSCs. This knockdown led to a marked decrease in cell vitality and an increase in apoptosis. Notably, Linc00893 knockdown was shown to inhibit MYH9 expression by competitively binding with microRNA‑107, a finding verified by dual‑luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Furthermore, using the GSE160749 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, it was revealed that MYH9 protein expression was downregulated in AS samples. Subsequently, lentiviral vectors were constructed to induce overexpression of MYH9, which in turn reduced SSC apoptosis and counteracted the apoptosis triggered by Linc00893 knockdown. In conclusion, the present study identified the role of Linc00893 in AS, particularly its regulatory impact on sperm motility, SSC vitality and MYH9 expression. These findings may provide information on the potential regulatory mechanisms in AS development, and identify Linc00893 and MYH9 as possible targets for diagnosing and treating AS‑related disorders.

The tertiary lymphoid structure-related signature identified PTGDS in regulating PD-L1 and promoting the proliferation and migration of glioblastoma

Background

Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is a unique organ that carries out tumor cell elimination at tumor sites. It is continuously stimulated by inflammatory tumor signals and has been found to augment immunotherapy response. However, the detailed mechanisms behind it still need to be defined.

Methods

To explore and grasp the whole picture of TLS from a pan-cancer view, we collected nine TLS-related genes from previous studies. We performed a comprehensive analysis of 9637 samples across 33 tumor types accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. EdU, Transwell, and flow cytometry were performed on the feature gene PTGDS in U251 cells. The regulatory role of PTGDS on PD-L1 expression and macrophage polarization was verified.

Results

Alteration analysis showed that mutations of TLS-related genes were widespread and relatively high. Clustering analysis based on the expression of these nine genes obtained two distinct clusters, with high EIF1AY and PTGDS in cluster 2 and better overall survival in cluster 1. To distinguish the two clusters, we utilized six machine learning algorithms and filtrated EIF1AY, PTGDS, SKAP1, and RBP5 as the characteristic genes, among which the former two genes were proved to be hazardous. PTGDS was found to regulate PD-L1 expression and also promoted the proliferation and migration of U251 cells. The knockdown of PTGDS could reduce the migration of macrophages and inhibit the polarization of macrophages into M2-phenotype. In addition, we established a TLS score to demonstrate patients' TLS activity. The low TLS-score group overlapped with cluster 1 and displayed a better prognosis. Besides, the low TLS-score group was related to better immunotherapy responses. The HE staining of histopathological sections confirmed that the low TLS-score group exhibited higher infiltration of immune cells.

Conclusion

This study reveals broad molecular, tumorigenic, and immunogenic signatures for further functional and therapeutic studies of tertiary lymphoid structure. The TLS score we established effectively predicted immunotherapy response and patients' survival. Its future application and combination await more research.

FKBP3 aggravates the malignant phenotype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by PARK7-mediated activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is difficult to treat due to the high recurrence rate and therapy intolerance, so finding potential therapeutic targets for DLBCL is critical. FK506-binding protein 3 (FKBP3) contributes to the progression of various cancers and is highly expressed in DLBCL, but the role of FKBP3 in DLBCL and its mechanism are not clear. Our study demonstrated that FKBP3 aggravated the proliferation and stemness of DLBCL cells, and tumour growth in a xenograft mouse model. The interaction between FKBP3 and parkinsonism associated deglycase (PARK7) in DB cells was found using co-immunoprecipitation assay. Knockdown of FKBP3 enhanced the degradation of PARK7 through increasing its ubiquitination modification. Forkhead Box O3 (FOXO3) belongs to the forkhead family of transcription factors and inhibits DLBCL, but the underlying mechanism has not been reported. We found that FOXO3 bound the promoter of FKBP3 and then suppressed its transcription, eventually weakening DLBCL. Mechanically, FKBP3 activated Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway mediated by PARK7. Together, FKBP3 increased PARK7 and then facilitated the malignant phenotype of DLBCL through activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These results indicated that FKBP3 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of DLBCL.

Predicting the efficacy of glucocorticoids in pediatric primary immune thrombocytopenia using plasma proteomics

Objective

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common acquired autoimmune bleeding disorder among children. While glucocorticoids are the primary first-line treatment for ITP treatment, they prove ineffective in certain patients. The challenge of identifying biomarkers capable of early prediction regarding the response to glucocorticoid therapy in ITP persists. This study aimed to identify ideal biomarkers for predicting glucocorticoid efficacy in patients with ITP using plasma proteomics.

Methods

A four-dimensional data-independent acquisition approach was performed to determine the differentially expressed proteins in plasma samples collected from glucocorticoid-sensitive (GCS) (n=18) and glucocorticoid-resistant (GCR) (n=17) children with ITP treated with prednisone. The significantly differentially expressed proteins were selected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay validation in a cohort conprising 65 samples(30 healthy controls, 18 GCS and 17 GCR children with ITP). Receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, and clinical decision curve analysis were used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of this method.

Results

47 differentially expressed proteins (36 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated) were identified in the GCR group compared with the GCS group. The significantly differentially expressed proteins myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) and fetuin B (FETUB) were selected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay validation. The validation results were consistent with the proteomics analyses. Compared with the GCS group, the GCR group exhibited a significantly reduced the plasma concentration of MYH9 and elevated the plasma concentration of FETUB. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, and clinical decision curve analysis demonstrated good diagnostic efficacy of these validated biomarkers.

Conclusion

This study contributes to the establishment of objective biological indicators for precision therapy in children with ITP. More importantly, the proteins MYH9 and FETUB hold potential as a foundation for making informed decisions regarding alternative treatments for drugresistant patients, thereby preventing treatment delays.

Incidence and mortality of second primary malignancies after lymphoma: a population-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Second primary malignancies (SPMs) account for an increasing proportion of human malignancies. We estimated the incidence, risk factors and outcomes in lymphoma survivors with SPMs.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with SPMs after primary lymphoma from 2010 to 2021 were included in this study. The incidence, mortality and clinical characteristics of SPMs in our center and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were delineated and analyzed. Standardized incidence ratio quantified second cancer risk.

RESULTS

A total of 2912 patients of lymphoma were included, 63 cases of SPM met the inclusion criteria, with the prevalence of SPMs after lymphoma was 2.16%. The male-to-female ratio of 2.32:1. The majority of these patients were older (≥60 years old, 61.90%) and previously treated with chemotherapy (68.25%). The common types among SPMs were digestive system tumors (42.86%), respiratory system tumors (20.63%) and urinary system tumors (12.70%). Additionally, cancer risks were significantly elevated after specific lymphoma though calculating the expected incidence. In terms of mortality, the diagnosis of SPMs was significantly associated with an increased risk of death over time. Moreover, although the outcome was favorable in some SPM subtypes (thyroid and breast cancer), other SPMs such as stomach and lung tumors had a dismal prognosis.

CONCLUSION

With the improvement of medical standards, the survival of lymphoma patients has been prolonged. However, the incidence of SPM is increasing, particularly among men and older lymphoma survivors. Therefore, more attention should be invested in the SPM to further improve the prognosis of these patients.

Ferroptosis-related STEAP3 acts as predictor and regulator in diffuse large B cell lymphoma through immune infiltration

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a usual-seen hematological malignant tumor possessing molecular and genetic heterogeneity. Ferroptosis induction has been increasingly acknowledged to be an advantageous therapeutic method in tumor treatment by triggering cell death of tumor cells. However, studies on the function of ferroptosis in DLBCL remain scarce, especially the interaction with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The clinical and biological functions of ferroptosis-related genes in DLBCL were still warranted to be explored. A ferroptosis-related risk model was constructed, followed by functional enrichment analyses and evaluation of immune profile. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were conducted to examine the RNA and protein levels. Dysregulated expression of the major ferroptosis-related genes was found in DLBCL. A prognostic risk model based on 10 ferroptosis-related genes was constructed. The risk score served as an independent prognostic indicator for DLBCL patients in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Patients with low-risk scores presented a more favorable prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that immune-related pathways were significantly enriched, and the high-risk group exhibited less immunocyte infiltration, lower immunoscore, and downregulated PD-L1 expression relative to the low-risk group. Two molecular subtypes were determined through consensus clustering of the expression of ferroptosis-related genes. Cluster 1 was relevant to favorable prognosis, higher immunoscore, and elevated PD-L1 expression. More importantly, STEAP3 was screened as a reliable biomarker for DLBCL, and its enhanced expression levels of mRNA and protein were verified in public databases and clinical specimens. Our study demonstrated the crucial role of ferroptosis-related genes including STEAP3 in the TIME of DLBCL and identified promising novel molecular targets for DLBCL treatment.

Targeting MYH9 represses USP14-mediated NAP1L1 deubiquitination and cell proliferation in glioma

Myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) plays an important role in a number of diseases. Nevertheless, the function of MYH9 in glioma is unclear. The present research aimed to investigate the role of MYH9 in glioma and determine whether MYH9 is involved in the temozolomide chemoresistance of glioma cells. Our results showed that MYH9 increased the proliferation and temozolomide resistance of glioma cells. The mechanistic experiments showed that the binding of MYH9 to NAP1L1, a potential promoter of tumor proliferation, inhibited the ubiquitination and degradation of NAP1L1 by recruiting USP14. Upregulation of NAP1L1 increased its binding with c-Myc and activated c-Myc, which induced the expression of CCND1/CDK4, promoting glioma cell temozolomide resistance and proliferation. Additionally, we found that MYH9 upregulation was strongly related to patient survival and is therefore a negative factor for patients with glioma. Altogether, our results show that MYH9 plays a role in glioma progression by regulating NAP1L1 deubiquitination. Thus, targeting MYH9 is a potential therapeutic strategy for the clinical treatment of glioma in the future.

Anaplastic large cell lymphomas with the 6p25.3 rearrangement are a heterogeneous group of tumours with a diverse molecular background

ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) cases with 6p25.3 rearrangement are characterized by peculiar morphological and immunohistochemical features compare to 6p25.3-negative ALK-negative ALCL cases. A subgroup of 6p25.3-positive ALK-negative ALCL cases show the t(6,7) (p25.3;q32.3) rearrangement. Aims: To analyse the differences between 6p25.3-rearranged cases with and without t(6,7) (p25.3;q32.3). Using RNA-sequencing we studied a series of 17 samples showing 6p25.3-rearrangement, identified by FISH, consisting of seven systemic and eight primary cutaneous cases including two examples of secondary skin involvement by systemic ALCL. RNA-sequencing exclusively detected a translocation involving a gene in the 6p25.3 region (either IRF4 or DUSP22) in 7/14 cases (50%). In six of these seven cases the partner proved to be the LINC-PINT region in chromosome 7, while an EXOC2::DUSP22 rearrangement was found in one case. All cases but one were primary cutaneous ALCLs. They all were CD3 positive and BCL2 negative, while most of them expressed p-STAT3. On the contrary, cases without the t(6,7) (p25.3;q32.3) were mainly systemic (71%, 5/7) against just two pcALCL. In general, they lose CD3 (50% positive) and p-STAT3 (25% positive) expression, being all of them BCL2 positive. Moreover, in 60% of them other gene fusions were found. At the transcriptional level, they were characterized by the overexpression of TCF3 (TCF7L1/E2A), DLL3, CD58 and BCL2 genes 75%(6/8) of pcALCL with 6p25.3 rearrangement featured the so-called "biphasic morphologic pattern, which was not found in cutaneous involvement from systemic ALCL. 83% (5/6) of the pcALCL cases with the "biphasic morphologic pattern" showed the t(6,7) (p25.3;q32.3) rearrangement. ALK-negative ALCL cases with 6p25.3 rearrangement are a subgroup of tumours that are heterogeneous with respect to the presence or absence of the t(6,7) (p25.3;q32.3) translocation.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis profiles the expression features of TMEM173 in BM cells of high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND

As an essential regulator of type I interferon (IFN) response, TMEM173 participates in immune regulation and cell death induction. In recent studies, activation of TMEM173 has been regarded as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, transcriptomic features of TMEM173 in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) remain elusive.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) were applied to determine the mRNA and protein levels of TMEM173 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). TMEM173 mutation status was assessed by Sanger sequencing. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to explore the expression of TMEM173 in different types of bone marrow (BM) cells.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein levels of TMEM173 were increased in PBMCs from B-ALL patients. Besides, frameshift mutation was presented in TMEM173 sequences of 2 B-ALL patients. ScRNA-seq analysis identified the specific transcriptome profiles of TMEM173 in the BM of high-risk B-ALL patients. Specifically, expression levels of TMEM173 in granulocytes, progenitor cells, mast cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were higher than that in B cells, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). Subset analysis further revealed that TMEM173 and pyroptosis effector gasdermin D (GSDMD) restrained in precursor-B (pre-B) cells with proliferative features, which expressed nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), CD19, and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) during the progression of B-ALL. In addition, TMEM173 was associated with the functional activation of NK cells and DCs in B-ALL.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide insights into the transcriptomic features of TMEM173 in the BM of high-risk B-ALL patients. Targeted activation of TMEM173 in specific cells might provide new therapeutic strategies for B-ALL patients.

KIAA1429-mediated m6A modification of CHST11 promotes progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by regulating Hippo-YAP pathway

BACKGROUND

N⁶-methyladenosine (m6A) has been shown to participate in various essential biological processes by regulating the level of target genes. However, the function of m6A modification mediated by KIAA1429 [alias virus-like m6A methyltransferase-associated protein (VIRMA)] during the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains undefined.

METHODS

The expression and clinical significance of KIAA1429 were verified by our clinical data. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated KIAA1429 deletion, and CRISPR/dCas9-VP64 for activating endogenous KIAA1429 was used to evaluate its biological function. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, luciferase activity assay, RNA stability experiments, and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of KIAA1429 in DLBCL. Tumor xenograft models were established for in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

Dysregulated expression of m6A regulators was observed, and a novel predictive model based on m6A score was established in DLBCL. Additionally, elevated KIAA1429 expression was associated with poor prognosis of patients with DLBCL. Knockout of KIAA1429 repressed DLBCL cell proliferation, facilitated cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, induced apoptosis in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11 (CHST11) was identified as a downstream target of KIAA1429, which mediated m6A modification of CHST11 mRNA and then recruited YTHDF2 for reducing CHST11 stability and expression. Inhibition of CHST11 diminished MOB1B expression, resulting in inactivation of Hippo-YAP signaling, reprogramming the expression of Hippo target genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed a new mechanism by which the Hippo-YAP pathway in DLBCL is inactivated by KIAA1429/YTHDF2-coupled epitranscriptional repression of CHST11, highlighting the potential of KIAA1429 as a novel predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for DLBCL progression.

Phospholipase A and acyltransferase 4/retinoic acid receptor responder 3 at the intersection of tumor suppression and pathogen restriction

Phospholipase A and acyltransferase (PLAAT) 4 is a class II tumor suppressor with phospholipid metabolizing abilities. It was characterized in late 2000s, and has since been referred to as 'tazarotene-induced gene 3' (TIG3) or 'retinoic acid receptor responder 3' (RARRES3) as a key downstream effector of retinoic acid signaling. Two decades of research have revealed the complexity of its function and regulatory roles in suppressing tumorigenesis. However, more recent findings have also identified PLAAT4 as a key anti-microbial effector enzyme acting downstream of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and interferons (IFNs), favoring protection from virus and parasite infections. Unveiling the molecular mechanisms underlying its action may thus open new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of both cancer and infectious diseases. Herein, we aim to summarize a brief history of PLAAT4 discovery, its transcriptional regulation, and the potential mechanisms in tumor prevention and anti-pathogen defense, and discuss potential future directions of PLAAT4 research toward the development of therapeutic approaches targeting this enzyme with pleiotropic functions.

Identification and validation of key genes associated with atrial fibrillation in the elderly

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure (HF), contributing to a higher mortality rate. Increasing age is a major risk factor for AF; however, the mechanisms of how aging contributes to the occurrence and progression of AF remain unclear. This study conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify key modules and hub genes and determine their potential associations with aging-related AF.

Materials and methods

WGCNA was performed using the AF dataset GSE2240 obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus, which contained data from atrial myocardium in cardiac patients with permanent AF or sinus rhythm (SR). Hub genes were identified in clinical samples. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were also performed.

Results

Green and pink were the most critical modules associated with AF, from which nine hub genes, PTGDS, COLQ, ASTN2, VASH1, RCAN1, AMIGO2, RBP1, MFAP4, and ALDH1A1, were hypothesized to play key roles in the AF pathophysiology in elderly and seven of them have high diagnostic value. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the green module was associated with the calcium, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathways, and the pink module may be associated with the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway in myocardial fibrosis.

Conclusion

We identified nine genes that may play crucial roles in the pathophysiological mechanism of aging-related AF, among which six genes were associated with AF for the first time. This study provided novel insights into the impact of aging on the occurrence and progression of AF, and identified biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for AF.

An immune risk score predicts survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

PURPOSE

Providing accurate prognostic models is necessary for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but there are still many uncertainties. So far, none of the models include immune cells. Therefore, an immune risk score was constructed to predict the survival of patients.

METHODS

CIBERSORTx was chosen to estimate the proportion of 22 human immune cell subsets from public datasets and generate an immune risk score to predict patients' survival in a training cohort using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model.

RESULTS

The prognostic model had high predictive ability in the training and validation cohorts. Subjects in the training cohort with high scores had a worse prognosis compared with subjects with low scores. The same result was also found in the three validation cohorts. Multivariable analysis suggested that the immune risk score was an independent prognostic factor. The merged score, including the immune risk score and the international prognostic index (IPI) risk category, had better predictive accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our immune risk score promises to be a complement to current prognostic models.

PGD2 displays distinct effects in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma depending on different concentrations

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), an arachidonic acid metabolite, has been implicated in allergic responses, parasitic infection and tumor development. The biological functions and molecular mechanisms of PGD2 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are still undefined. In this study, we firstly found the high concentration of serum PGD2 and low expression of PGD2 receptor CRTH2 in DLBCL, which were associated with clinical features and prognosis of DLBCL patients. Interestingly, different concentration of PGD2 displayed divergent effects on DLBCL progression. Low-concentration PGD2 promoted cell growth through binding to CRTH2 while high-concentration PGD2 inhibited it via regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and invasion. Besides, high-concentration PGD2 could induce ROS-mediated DNA damage and enhance the cytotoxicity of adriamycin, bendamustine and venetoclax. Furthermore, HDAC inhibitors, vorinostat (SAHA) and panobinostat (LBH589) regulated CRTH2 expression and PGD2 production, and CRTH2 inhibitor AZD1981 and high-concentration PGD2 enhanced their anti-tumor effects in DLBCL. Altogether, our findings demonstrated PGD2 and CRTH2 as novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in DLBCL, and highlighted the potency of high-concentration PGD2 as a promising therapeutic strategy for DLBCL patients.

Longitudinal Plasma Proteomics-Derived Biomarkers Predict Response to MET Inhibitors for MET-Dysregulated NSCLC

MET inhibitors have shown promising efficacy for MET-dysregulated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, quite a few patients cannot benefit from it due to the lack of powerful biomarkers. This study aims to explore the potential role of plasma proteomics-derived biomarkers for patients treated with MET inhibitors using mass spectrometry. We analyzed the plasma proteomics from patients with MET dysregulation (including MET amplification and MET overexpression) treated with MET inhibitors. Thirty-three MET-dysregulated NSCLC patients with longitudinal 89 plasma samples were included. We classified patients into the PD group and non-PD group based on clinical response. The baseline proteomic profiles of patients in the PD group were distinct from those in the non-PD group. Through protein screening, we found that a four-protein signature (MYH9, GNB1, ALOX12B, HSD17B4) could predict the efficacy of patients treated with MET inhibitors, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93, better than conventional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests. In addition, combining the four-protein signature with FISH or IHC test could also reach higher predictive performance. Further, the combined signature could predict progression-free survival for MET-dysregulated NSCLC (p < 0.001). We also validated the performance of the four-protein signature in another cohort of plasma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In conclusion, the four plasma protein signature (MYH9, GNB1, ALOX12B, and HSD17B4 proteins) might play a substitutable or complementary role to conventional MET FISH or IHC tests. This exploration will help select patients who may benefit from MET inhibitors.

Knockdown of TMEM132A restrains the malignant phenotype of gastric cancer cells via inhibiting Wnt signaling

Transmembrane protein 132 A (TMEM132A) has been recently reported to be a novel regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is a cancer-associated cascade. However, the role of TMEM132A in cancer is not well characterized. Here, we used bioinformatics analysis to analyze the differential expression of TMEM132A in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and determine its diagnostic and prognostic value. Results showed that TMEM132A expression was upregulated in GC tissues. TMEM132A was also found to have diagnostic and prognostic roles in patient with GC. Furthermore, as evaluated by in vitro assays, knockdown of TMEM132A restrained cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells, while overexpression of TMEM132A exerted opposite effects. However, the effects of TMEM132A silencing and overexpression on GC cells were reversed by treatment with LiCl and ICG-001 (the Wnt signaling activator and inhibitor), respectively. In addition, in vivo assays showed that knockdown of TMEM132A suppressed GC tumorigenesis. Hence, our results provide new insights into the oncogenic role of TMEM132A in regulating GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as its prognostic and therapeutic roles in patients with GC. These data highlight the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of TMEM132A in GC.