TP63, SOX2, and KLF5 Establish a Core Regulatory Circuitry That Controls Epigenetic and Transcription Patterns in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We investigated the transcriptome of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, activity of gene regulatory (enhancer and promoter regions), and the effects of blocking epigenetic regulatory proteins.

METHODS

We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing with antibodies against H3K4me1, H3K4me3, and H3K27ac and an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin to map the enhancer regions and accessible chromatin in 8 ESCC cell lines. We used the CRC_Mapper algorithm to identify core regulatory circuitry transcription factors in ESCC cell lines, and determined genome occupancy profiles for 3 of these factors. In ESCC cell lines, expression of transcription factors was knocked down with small hairpin RNAs, promoter and enhancer regions were disrupted by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, or bromodomains and extraterminal (BET) family proteins and histone deacetylases (HDACs) were inhibited with ARV-771 and romidepsin, respectively. ESCC cell lines were then analyzed by whole-transcriptome sequencing, immunoprecipitation, immunoblots, immunohistochemistry, and viability assays. Interactions between distal enhancers and promoters were identified and verified with circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing. NOD-SCID mice were given injections of modified ESCC cells, some mice where given injections of HDAC or BET inhibitors, and growth of xenograft tumors was measured.

RESULTS

We identified super-enhancer-regulated circuits and transcription factors TP63, SOX2, and KLF5 as core regulatory factors in ESCC cells. Super-enhancer regulation of ALDH3A1 mediated by core regulatory factors was required for ESCC viability. We observed direct interactions between the promoter region of TP63 and functional enhancers, mediated by the core regulatory circuitry transcription factors. Deletion of enhancer regions from ESCC cells decreased expression of the core regulatory circuitry transcription factors and reduced cell viability; these same results were observed with knockdown of each core regulatory circuitry transcription factor. Incubation of ESCC cells with BET and HDAC disrupted the core regulatory circuitry program and the epigenetic modifications observed in these cells; mice given injections of HDAC or BET inhibitors developed smaller xenograft tumors from the ESCC cell lines. Xenograft tumors grew more slowly in mice given the combination of ARV-771 and romidepsin than mice given either agent alone.

CONCLUSIONS

In epigenetic and transcriptional analyses of ESCC cell lines, we found the transcription factors TP63, SOX2, and KLF5 to be part of a core regulatory network that determines chromatin accessibility, epigenetic modifications, and gene expression patterns in these cells. A combination of epigenetic inhibitors slowed growth of xenograft tumors derived from ESCC cells in mice.

[The value of muscle biopsy in rhabdomyolysis]

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic value of skeletal muscle biopsy in patients with rhabdomyolysis. Methods: Clinical and pathological data of 26 patients with rhabdomyolysis from January 2002 to December 2018 undergoing muscle biopsy were collected. Results: Eighteen males and 8 females were finally recruited with median age of 6-73 (37.3±19.6) years. The average time from onset to biopsy was 44 days (median course was 30 days). All patients had acute manifestations with muscle pain and/or weakness. Serum creatine kinase was between 1 648-92 660 U/L. Muscle biopsies showed nonspecific changes in 12 cases (a few with type 2 muscle fiber atrophy, slight deposition of lipid droplets), 10 cases with necrotizing myopathy (muscle fiber necrosis and regeneration). Toxic neurogenic damages were seen in 2 cases (type 1 and type 2 angular atrophic muscle fibers with group change), lipid storage disease in 1 case (lipid droplets deposit significantly) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in 1 case (muscle fiber necrosis and regeneration, with lymphocyte infiltration). The etiology of non-specific pathological changes included short-term strenuous exercise in 6 patients, poisoning in two, chronic kidney disease in one, viral infection in one, hypothyroidism in one and unknown reason in one. As to patients with necrotizing myopathy, seven were poisoning or drug-related, one with hyperthyroidism, two with unknown reason. Conclusions: Among the numerous causes of rhabdomyolysis, exercise usually links nonspecific skeletal muscle changes and poisoning or drug-related disorders are commonly associated with necrotic myopathy. Rhabdomyolysis induced by primary myopathy is rare.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum L1-cell adhesion molecule in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) has been found to be dysregulated in several types of human cancers. Here, we aimed to determine the level of soluble L1CAM in serum of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Serum levels of L1CAM were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 191 patients with ESCC and 94 normal controls. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) was employed to calculate diagnostic accuracy. Cumulative survival time was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by the logrank test.

RESULTS

Levels of L1CAM were significantly lower in all ESCC patients than in normal controls (P < 0.001). Detection of serum L1CAM provided a sensitivity of 28.3%, a specificity of 90.4% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.644 (95% CI: 0.579-0.710) in diagnosing ESCC. Similar results were observed in the diagnosis of early-stage ESCC (26.2% sensitivity, 90.4% specificity, and an AUC of 0.629). Moreover, decreased level of L1CAM was correlated with depth of tumor invasion (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that lower serum L1CAM level was significantly related to shorter overall survival time (P = 0.036) and disease-free survival time (P = 0.021) of ESCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that serum L1CAM might serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.

[Application of digital 3D technique combined with nanocarbon-aided navigation in endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical value of digital 3D technique combined with nanocarbon-aided navigation in endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.

METHODS

Thirty-nine female patients with stage I/II breast cancer admitted in our hospital between September 2014 and September 2015 were recruited. CT lymphography data of the patients were segmented to reconstruct digital 3D models, which were imported into FreeForm Modeling Surgical System Platform for visual simulation surgery before operation. Endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy and endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection were then carried out, and the accuracy and clinical value of digital 3D technique in endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy were analyzed.

RESULTS

s The 3D models faithfully represented the surgical anatomy of the patients and clearly displayed the 3D relationship among the sentinel lymph nodes, axillary lymph nodes, axillary vein, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor muscle and latissimus dorsi. In the biopsy, the detection rate of sentinel lymph nodes was 100% in the patients with a coincidence rate of 87.18% (34/39), a sensitivity of 91.67% (11/12), and a false negative rate of 8.33% (1/12). Complications such as limb pain, swelling, wound infection, and subcutaneouseroma were not found in these patients 6 months after the operation.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy assisted by digital 3D technique and nanocarbon-aided navigation allows a high detection rate of sentinel lymph nodes with a high sensitivity and a low false negative rate and can serve as a new method for sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.

Medium range order of bulk metallic glasses determined by variable resolution fluctuation electron microscopy

Variable resolution fluctuation electron microscopy (FEM) experiments are implemented with hollow-cone dark-field transmission electron microscopy. Medium range order lengths of zirconium and iron based bulk metallic glasses and amorphous silicon nitride are determined from the FEM results. It shows that maximum normalized intensity variances of FEM images occur when their nominal resolution approaches the correlation length Λ of the amorphous materials. Additionally, differences in the length and magnitude of medium range order are compared between metallic and covalent bond amorphous materials.

Comparison of adverse reactions of combination chemotherapy: lobaplatin versus oxaliplatin

AIM: To compare the adverse effects of lobaplatin with that of oxaliplatin in combination chemotherapy.

METHODS: From 2006 to 2007, 52 colorectal cancer patients after surgery were randomly separated into two groups. A total of 85 courses were completed for 26 patients in the lobaplatin combination chemotherapy group. A total of 73 courses were completed for 26 patients in the oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy group. The drug regimens were: lobaplatin 50 mg/m² (or oxaliplatin, 80 mg/m²), iv in 500 mL D5W over 2 h on day 1; calcium leucovorin 200 mg/m², iv in D5W over 2 h on day 1 and day 2; fluorouracil 400 mg/m², iv bolus, after calcium leucovorin, then 600 mg/m², iv over 22 h on day 1 and day 2.

RESULTS: The adverse reactions that occurred frequently were myelosuppression and gastrointestinal tract reaction. In the lobaplatin group, white cell count was decreased to grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ in 60.0% of courses, and grade Ⅲ in 6.7% of courses (P < 0.01). Platelet count was decreased to grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ in 66.7% of courses, and grade Ⅲ in 10.0% of courses (P < 0.01). Nausea was seen in 16.7% and vomiting in 3.3% of courses (P < 0.01). Peripheral neuropathy was seen in 5.9% of courses (P < 0.01). In the oxaliplatin group, white cell count was decreased to grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ in 50.7% of courses, grade Ⅲ or IV in 41.3% of courses. Platelet count was decreased to grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ in 21.3% of courses. Nausea was 37.3% and vomiting was seen in 6.7% of courses (P < 0.01). Peripheral neuropathy of grade I or II was seen in 42.7% of courses, and grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in 9.3% of courses. Hemoglobin, GPT, diarrhea, urea nitrogen and alopecia did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy in combination with lobaplatin and oxaliplatin or in combination with fluorouracil or calcium leucovorin is safe. Platelet count is significantly decreased during myelosuppression in patients treated with lobaplatin combination therapy. Leukocyte count is significantly decreased with oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Gastrointestinal tract reactions and neurotoxicity are less frequent in patients treated with lobaplatin rather than oxaliplatin chemotherapy.

[Construction of recombinant antisense RNA IgG2aVH region of murine systemic lupus erythematous]

OBJECTIVE

To construct recombinant plasmid of IgG2aVH region antisense RNA of systemic lupus erythematous.

METHODS

Total RNA was isolated from spleen cell of BWF1 mice. Using spleen cell total RNA as the template, We designed specific primers from A6.1 region sequences, and amplified the IgG2aVH region 375 bp DNA fragments by RT-PCR. The IgG2aVH cDNA was cloned by T/A and inserted into pcDNA 3.1 plasmid of vector.

RESULTS

The IgG2aVH antisense RNA plasmid expressing recombinant was identified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequence analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is IgG2aVH gene in F1 mice spleen cell; the IgG2aVH antisense RNA expressing recombinants is constructed successfully.