circ_0067934 promotes the progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells through miR-1301-3p/HMGB1 axis

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent form of thyroid cancer (TC). There is increasing evidence that circular RNAs play a role in the tumorigenesis of PTC. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential function of circ_0067934 in PTC and the underlying molecular mechanism. In our study, cell viability assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, Transwell invasion assay, western blot, soft agar assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), dual-luciferase reporter assay, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and tumor xenograft formation were conducted to evaluate the effects of circ_0067934 in PTC cells. We found that circ_0067934 was upregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circ_0067934 inhibited growth, colony formation, migration, invasion, EMT, and tumor xenograft growth, and induced apoptosis of PTC cells. Moreover, circ_0067934 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-1301-3p, and depletion of miR-1301-3p abrogated the effects of circ_0067934 knockdown in PTC cells. In addition, HMGB1 was a target of miR-1301-3p, and miR-1301-3p overexpression inhibited the malignant effects of PTC cells via suppressing HMGB1. Furthermore, knockdown of circ_0067934 suppressed HMGB1 expression, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK activation by sponging miR-1301-3p. In nude mice, circ_0067934 depletion repressed tumor xenograft growth of PTC cells. In conclusion, our results provided a novel insight into circ_0067934 in the tumorigenesis and progression of PTC. Circ_0067934 might be a prognostic marker or therapeutic target for PTC treatment.

[Influence of Toll-like receptor 7 on CD8(+) T lymphocytes in patients with breast cancer]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) in CD8(+) T cells activity from patients with breast cancer. Methods: Thirty-three patients with breast cancer, twenty-three patients with benign breast tumor, and twenty healthy individuals were collected from The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between December 2017 and March 2018. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and CD8(+) T cells were purified. TLR7 protein and mRNA relative expression in CD8(+) T cells was measured using flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. mRNA relative expressions corresponding to perforin, granzyme B, and FasL in CD8(+) T cells were measured in response to TLR7 agonist stimulation. Direct/indirect contact co-culture system of CD8(+) T cells and breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was also used to assess cytolytic and noncytolytic function in response to TLR7 agonist CL097 stimulation. Results: The mean fluorescence intensity corresponding to TLR7 protein in CD8(+) T cells from breast cancer patients was 124.0±15.32, which was significantly down-regulated in comparison with benign breast tumor patients (255.5±54.91) and healthy individuals (261.9±68.65) (P<0.000 1). TLR7 mRNA relative level was also remarkably reduced in CD8(+) T cells from breast cancer patients (1.97±1.18) in comparison with benign breast tumor patients (4.84±1.01) and healthy individuals (4.75±1.40) (P<0.000 1). TLR7 agonist CL097 stimulation notably increased mRNA relative levels of perforin and granzyme B mRNA in CD8(+) T cells (P<0.01), but not elevated FasL mRNA (P>0.05).Furthermore, TLR7 agonist CL097 stimulation enhanced the cytolytic and noncytolytic function of CD8(+) T cells to MCF-7 cells, which presented as the elevation of target cell death and increase of interferon-γ production in direct and indirect contact co-culture system. Conclusion: TLR7 agonist promoted CD8(+) T cells function from breast cancer patients.

Influence of personal character on quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer in north Henan province and influencing factors

The aim of this study was to investigate QoL (quality of life) of patients with esophageal cancer in northern Henan province, China, and to accurate evaluate and reflect the relationship between patient characteristics and QoL. In the high risk area of esophageal cancer in the north of Henan province, 735 patients with esophageal cancer were investigated. The Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) and QoL were analyzed by using the questionnaire of general situation, EPQ, QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18. The effects of personal character on the QoL of esophageal carcinoma patients were analyzed by SPSS 11.0 software. The QoL of esophageal cancer patients in Northern Henan region was significantly affected by character. The difference between choleric and type of melancholic temperament types was significant (P<0.01), also in OESEAT, OESTA, OESCO and OESSP (P<0.05). Differences in personal character can thus influence the quality of esophageal cancer patient lives.

[The protective effect of puerarin on cultured rat cerebral cortical astrocytes]

AIM

To study the effects of puerarin (Pue) on impairment of rat astrocytes in primary cell culture induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) or sodium glutamate (Glu).

METHODS

Astrocyte damage induced by (OGD), Glu or (+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD), as well as the action of Pue was measured by determining the intracellular water space (as measured by 3-O-methyl-[1- 3H]D-glucose uptake) of astrocytes and the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from astrocytes.

RESULTS

Following the exposure to OGD for 5 h, 0.5 mmol/L Glu or 1 mmol/L trans-ACPD for 1 h, the astrocyte volume and LDH leakage from astrocytes were increased. 0.1 mmol/L Pue, when co-incubated with OGD, Glu or trans-ACPD, reduced astrocytic swelling and the LDH leakage.

CONCLUSION

Pue had protective effects on astrocytes damaged by OGD, Glu or trans-ACPD.

Effects of puerarin against glutamate excitotoxicity on cultured mouse cerebral cortical neurons

AIM

To study the effects of puerarin (Pue) against injury of cultured neurons by sodium glutamate (Glu).

METHODS

Neuronal damage induced by Glu, N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA), and kainic acid (KA), as well as the actions of Pue and some excitatory amino acid antagonists (EAAA), were measured by determining the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from nerve cells.

RESULTS

The 24-h leakage of LDH was increased from cells exposed either to Glu 100 and 500 mumol.L-1 for 15 min (from 20 +/- 4 kU/g protein in control group to 35 +/- 3 kU/g protein in Glu 100 mumol.L-1 group and to 46 +/- 6 kU/g protein in Glu 500 mumol.L-1 group) or to NMDA 500 mumol.L-1 or KA 500 mumol.L-1 for 45 min (from 19 +/- 4 kU/g protein in control group to 27 +/- 3 kU/g protein in NMDA group and to 30 +/- 5 kU/g protein in KA group). Pre and post-treatment with Pue (100 mumol.L-1) decreased the leakage of LDH, which was similar to the effects of EAAA kynurenic acid (from 35 +/- 3 kU/g protein in Glu 100 mumol.L-1 to 20 +/- 5 kU/g protein in kynurenic acid group and to 22 +/- 3 kU/g protein in Pue group), DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) (from 27 +/- 3 kU/g protein in NMDA damaged group to 183 kU/g protein in APV group and to 19 +/- 5 kU/g protein in Pue group) or 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-diane (DNQX) (from 30 +/- 5 kU/g protein in KA damaged control to 22 +/- 5 kU/g protein in DNQX group and to 20 +/- 4 kU/g protein in Pue group). Post-treatment with Pue (100 mumol.L-1) was able to reduce 24-h leakage of LDH from neurons expos ed to Glu 100 mumol.L-1 for 15 min (from 35 +/- 3 kU/g protein to 27 +/- 4 kU/g protein).

CONCLUSION

Pue had protective effects on neurons damaged by Glu, NMDA, or KA.

[Effects of carbamazepine on hypoxic and ischemic brain damage in mice]

When carbamazepine (Car) was injected ip 13.0-50.0 mg.kg-1 30 min before inhaling 96% N2 + 4% O2, the survival time of mice was prolonged (from 54 +/- 8 s in control group to 119 +/- 35 s). The survival time of mice subjected to bilateral carotid artery ligation was markedly prolonged by Car (25.0-50.0 mg.kg-1), medians were 4, 6, and 15 min, respectively. Car (25.5-70.0 mg.kg-1) alleviated the reduction of ATP (from 1.0 +/- 0.3 mumol.g-1 in control group to 1.9 +/- 0.5 mumol.g-1) and phosphocreatine (PC) contents (from 0.8 +/- 0.2 mumol.g-1 in control group to 1.2 +/- 0.3 mumol.g-1) and the accumulation of lactic acid (LA) (from 9.6 +/- 1.3 mumol.g-1 in control group to 6.7 +/- 0.7 mumol.g-1) in mouse brain 30 s after decapitation. These results indicated that Car was effective against hypoxia and brain ischemia in mice.

[Effect of mexiletine on energy metabolism of ischemic brain in mice]

After 30 s ischemia induced by decapitation, the contents of ATP and phosphocreatine (PC) in mouse brain reduced, while that of lactic acid (LA) increased. When mexiletine (3.1-50 mg.kg-1) was injected ip 30 min before decapitation, the brain ATP and PC reduction, and LA accumulation were both alleviated in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggested that mexiletine was effective in ameliorating the energy exhaustion in the ischemic brain.