Identification of a Novel Long Non-coding RNA, lnc-ATMIN-4:2, and its Clinicopathological and Prognostic Significance in Advanced Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as significant regulators of gene expression and a novel promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This study identified a novel, differentially expressed lncRNA in advanced gastric cancer (AGC), Inc-ATMIN-4:2, and evaluated its clinicopathological and prognostic significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in AGC tissue samples. We also analyzed lnc-ATMIN-4:2 expression in 317 patients with AGC using RNA in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

High (>30 dots) lnc-ATMIN-4:2 expression significantly correlated with younger age, poorly differentiated histology, diffuse type, deeper invasion depth, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, and higher stage group. In addition, high lnc-ATMIN-4:2 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival in patients with AGC.

CONCLUSION

This study elucidated the significance of lncRNAs in AGC and indicated the value of lnc-ATMIN-4:2 expression as a predictive biomarker for the overall survival of patients with AGC.

Characterization of IL-2-stimulatory factor produced from dendritic cells stimulated with a sesquiterpene compound TG651 (95.19)

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been known to produce cytokines such as IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-α and IFN-γ. None of those cytokines has been shown to activate T cells to produce IL-2 by itself. Here, we show that DCs stimulated with TG651, a sesquiterpene compound, produce a cytokine that induces IL-2 production from T cells. The cytokine, termed as IL-2SF, activated both CD4 and CD8 T cells to produce IL-2. IL-2SF was produced from DCs as a membrane bound form as well as a soluble form. Both form of IL-2SF was produced from DCs within 5 min after TG651 stimulation, and did not require new protein synthesis, although presence of approximately 10% fetal bovine serum was required for optimal production. Soluble form of IL-2SF appeared to be stable at neutral pH, but destroyed readily at alkaline pH when treated at 56°C for 30 min. The molecular weight of IL-2SF was estimated to be 60 KD - 70 KD by gel filtration chromatography. Although the molecular entity of IL-2SF remains to be elucidated, the present study demonstrates that DCs produce a cytokine that induces IL-2 production from T cells.