PTPN11 Knockdown Prevents Changes in the Expression of Genes Controlling Cell Cycle, Chemotherapy Resistance, and Oncogene-Induced Senescence in Human Thyroid Cells Overexpressing BRAF V600E Oncogenic Protein

Role of mitochondrial metabolism in immune checkpoint inhibitors-related myocarditis

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis is the deadliest complication of immunotherapy. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of its occurrence and development remain unclear. Due to the long-term lack of effective early diagnosis and treatment options, it is of great significance to understand the pathophysiological mechanism of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis.

Methods

Tissue samples from three patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis and three control tissue samples were collected for protein analysis. Differentially expressed proteins were screened out using quantitative proteomics technology based on TMT markers. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analyses of cross-factors were subsequently performed. Combined with the PD-L1 subcellular organelle- level protein interaction network, we searched for hub proteins involved in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis and explored potential drug sensitivity and disease correlation.

Results

A total of 306 differentially expressed proteins were identified in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis. Enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were closely related to mitochondrial metabolism. By analyzing mitochondria-related proteins and PD-L1-related proteins, we found four hub proteins, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11), and Mitofusin 2 (MFN2), indicating that they are closely related to immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis. Finally, we explored potential drugs for the treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis.

Conclusion

Mitochondrial metabolism is involved in the process of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis, and we identified four hub proteins, which may become new biomarkers for the early diagnosis and treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis.

Bioinformatics analysis identifies potential biomarkers involved in the metastasis of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the malignant epithelial tumors with a high metastasis rate. This study aimed to screen potential novel biomarkers involved in NPC metastasis. Microarray data of locoregionally advanced NPC (LA-NPC; GSE103611) were obtained from the database of Gene Expression Omnibus. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LA-NPC tissues with and without distant metastasis after radical treatment were screened. Functional analysis was performed and the protein-protein interaction and submodule were analyzed. The univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify prognostic genes in NPC in the validation microarray dataset GSE102349. The drug-gene interactions and key genes were identified. Totally, 107 DEGs were identified. The upregulated DEGs and the key nodes in the protein-protein interaction network were associated with pathways or biological processes related to the cell cycle. Four genes including CD44, B2M, PTPN11, and TRIM74 were associated with disease-free survival in NPC. The drug-gene interaction analysis revealed that upregulated genes CXCL10, CD44, B2M, XRCC5, and RPL11 might be potential druggable genes for patients with LA-NPC metastasis by regulating cell cycle, autophagy, and drug resistance. Upregulated CXCL10, CD44, B2M, XRCC5, and RPL11 might play important roles in LA-NPC metastasis by regulating cell cycle-related pathways.

SHP2's gain-of-function in Werner syndrome causes childhood disease onset likely resulting from negative genetic interaction

Prompt diagnosis of complex phenotypes is a challenging task in clinical genetics. Whole exome sequencing has proved to be effective in solving such conditions. Here, we report on an unpredictable presentation of Werner Syndrome (WRNS) in a 12 year-old girl carrying a homozygous truncating variant in RECQL2, the gene mutated in WRNS, and a de novo activating missense change in PTPN11, the major Noonan syndrome gene, encoding SHP2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase positively controlling RAS function and MAPK signaling, which have tightly been associated with senescence in primary cells. All the major WRNS clinical criteria were present with an extreme precocious onset and were associated with mild intellectual disability, severe growth retardation and facial dysmorphism. Compared to primary fibroblasts from adult subjects with WRNS, proband's fibroblasts showed a dramatically reduced proliferation rate and competence, and a more accelerated senescence, in line with the anticipated WRNS features occurring in the child. In vitro functional characterization of the SHP2 mutant documented its hyperactive behavior and a significantly enhanced activation of the MAPK pathway. Based on the functional interaction of WRN and MAPK signaling in processes relevant to replicative senescence, these findings disclose a unique phenotype likely resulting from negative genetic interaction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Effect of High-Quality Nursing Management on Thyroid Tumor Patients after Bipolar Coagulation

Objective

To evaluate the effect of high-quality nursing on thyroid tumor patients after bipolar coagulation and its impact on nursing satisfaction.

Methods

From January 2019 to January 2020, 90 patients with thyroid tumors treated with bipolar coagulation in our hospital were identified as the study objects and randomized to the control group (n = 45) and the experimental group (n = 45) random number table method. Both groups received conventional nursing, and the experimental group additionally adopted high-quality nursing. The incidence of postoperative complications and nursing satisfaction between the two groups was compared. The Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA) was used to assess the self-care ability of patients after the intervention, and the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) was used to evaluate the quality of life of the two groups of patients after the intervention. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale was adopted to evaluate the emotional state of the patient before and after the intervention, and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was employed to evaluate the pain intensity of the patient after the intervention. Counting data was analyzed by the X2 test, and the measurement data was analyzed by t-test.

Results

After the intervention, the total incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (11.11% versus 33.33%, P < 0.05). The experimental group obtained remarkably higher nursing satisfaction (93.33% versus 71.11%), ESCA scores, and GQOLI-74 scores than the control group (P < 0.05). Lower HAD scores were observed in the experimental group than those of the control group (P < 0.001). Lower HAD scores were observed in the experimental group than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The NRS score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group 12 h and 24 h after the intervention (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

High-quality nursing for patients with thyroid tumors can effectively alleviate the negative emotions, improve the quality of life, and contribute to a harmonious nurse-patient relationship, which is worthy of promotion and application.

BRAFnon-V600E more frequently co-occurs with IDH1/2 mutations in adult patients with gliomas than in patients harboring BRAFV600E but without a survival advantage

BACKGROUND

The effects of BRAF^non-V600E and BRAF^V600E on the outcomes and the molecular characteristics of adult glioma patients are unknown and need to be explored, although BRAF^V600E has been extensively studied in pediatric glioma.

METHODS

Co-occurring mutations and copy number alterations of associated genes in the MAPK and p53 pathways were investigated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) public database retrieved by cBioPortal. The prognosis of available adult glioma cohorts with BRAF^V600E and BRAF^non-V600E mutations were also investigated.

RESULTS

Ninety patients with BRAF^V600E or BRAF^non-V600E were enrolled in this study, and data from 52 nonredundant patients were investigated. Glioblastoma multiform was the most common cancer type, with BRAF ^non-V600E and BRAF^V600E. TP53 (56.00% vs. 7.41%), IDH1/2 (36.00% vs. 3.70%), and ATRX (32.00% vs. 7.41%) exhibited more mutations in BRAF^non-V600E than in BRAF^V600E, and TP53 was an independent risk factor (56.00% vs. 7.41%). Both BRAF^non-V600E and BRAF^V600E frequently overlapped with CDKN2A/2B homozygous deletions (HDs), but there was no significant difference. Survival analysis showed no difference between the BRAF ^non-V600E and BRAF^V600E cohorts, even after excluding the survival benefit of IDH1/2 mutations and considering the BRAF^non-V600E mutations in the glycine-rich loop (G-loop) and in the activation segment. The estimated mean survival of patients with BRAF^non-V600E & IDH1/2^WT with mutations in the G-loop groups was the shortest.

CONCLUSIONS

BRAF^non-V600E exhibited a stronger association with IDH1/2 mutations than BRAF^V600E, but no survival advantage was found.