ADAMTS Gene-Derived circRNA Molecules in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Expression Profiling, Clinical Correlations and Survival Analysis

The present study examines the relationship between circular RNA (circRNA) derived from three genes of the family a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs): ADAMTS6, ADAMTS9 and ADAMTS12 and the host gene expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with regard to various clinical factors. Notably, an association was identified between ADAMTS12 expression and specific circRNA molecules, as well as certain expression patterns of ADAMTS6 and its derived circRNA that were specific to histopathological subtypes. The survival analysis demonstrated that a lower ADAMTS6 expression in squamous cell carcinoma was associated with extended survival. Furthermore, the higher ADAMTS9 expression was linked to prolonged survival, while the overexpression of ADAMTS12 was correlated with a shorter survival. These findings suggest that circRNA molecules may serve as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC, highlighting the importance of considering molecular patterns in distinct cancer subtypes.

Carvacrol as a Stimulant of the Expression of Key Genes of the Ginsenoside Biosynthesis Pathway and Its Effect on the Production of Ginseng Saponins in Panax quinquefolium Hairy Root Cultures

The accumulation of ginsenosides (triterpenic saponins) was determined in Panax quinquefolium hairy root cultures subjected to an elicitation process using carvacrol at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 μM concentrations during 24 and 72 h exposure. This study was the first one in which carvacrol was applied as an elicitor. The content of eight ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg1, Rg2, and Re, was determined using HPLC analysis. Moreover, the quantitative RT-PCR method was applied to assess the relative expression level of farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase, and dammarenediol synthase genes in the studied cultures. The addition of carvacrol (100 μM) was an effective approach to increase the production of ginsenosides. The highest content and productivity of all detected saponins were, respectively, 20.01 mg∙g-1 d.w. and 5.74 mg∙L-1∙day-1 after 72 h elicitation. The production profile of individual metabolites in P. quinquefolium cultures changed under the influence of carvacrol. The biosynthesis of most examined protopanaxadiol derivatives was reduced under carvacrol treatment. In contrast, the levels of ginsenosides belonging to the Rg group increased. The strongest effect of carvacrol was noticed for Re metabolites, achieving a 7.72-fold increase in comparison to the control. Saponin Rg2, not detected in untreated samples, was accumulated after carvacrol stimulation, reaching its maximum concentration after 72 h exposure to 10 μM elicitor.

ABCG2 Gene and ABCG2 Protein Expression in Colorectal Cancer-In Silico and Wet Analysis

ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2) is a cell membrane pump encoded by the ABCG2 gene. ABCG2 can protect cells against compounds initiating and/or intensifying neoplasia and is considered a marker of stem cells responsible for cancer growth, drug resistance and recurrence. Expression of the ABCG2 gene or its protein has been shown to be a negative prognostic factor in various malignancies. However, its prognostic significance in colorectal cancer remains unclear. Using publicly available data, ABCG2 was shown to be underexpressed in colon and rectum adenocarcinomas, with lower expression compared to both the adjacent nonmalignant lung tissues and non-tumour lung tissues of healthy individuals. This downregulation could result from the methylation level of some sites of the ABCG2 gene. This was connected with microsatellite instability, weight and age among patients with colon adenocarcinoma, and with tumour localization, population type and age of patients for rectum adenocarcinoma. No association was found between ABCG2 expression level and survival of colorectal cancer patients. In wet analysis of colorectal cancer samples, neither ABCG2 gene expression, analysed by RT-PCR, nor ABCG2 protein level, assessed by immunohistochemistry, was associated with any clinicopathological factors or overall survival. An ABCG2-centered protein-protein interaction network build by STRING showed proteins were found to be involved in leukotriene, organic anion and xenobiotic transport, endodermal cell fate specification, and histone methylation and ubiquitination. Hence, ABCG2 underexpression could be an indicator of the activity of certain signalling pathways or protein interactors essential for colorectal carcinogenesis.

Correlation of TIMP1-MMP2/MMP9 Gene Expression Axis Changes with Treatment Efficacy and Survival of NSCLC Patients

In the course of lung cancer, normal cells are transformed into cancerous ones, and changes occur in the microenvironment, including the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is not only a scaffold for cells, but also a reservoir of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are among the elements that enable ECM remodeling. The publication focuses on the problem of changes in the gene expression of MMP2, MMP9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP1) in the blood of NSCLC patients during therapy (one year after surgical resection of the tumor). The paper also analyzes differences in the expression of the studied genes in the tumor tissue, as well as data collected in publicly available databases. The results of blood tests showed no differences in the expression of the tested genes during therapy; however, changes were observed in cancerous tissue, which was characterized by higher expression of MMP2 and MMP9, compared to non-cancerous tissue, and unchanged expression of TIMP1. Nevertheless, higher expression of each of the studied genes was associated with shorter patient survival. Interestingly, it was not only the increased expression of metalloproteinase genes, but also the increased expression of the metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP1) that was unfavorable for patients.

Assessment of the Influence of 5-Fluorouracil on SMAD4 and TGFB1 Gene Expression, Apoptosis Induction and DNA Damage in Human Cell Lines

PURPOSE

Suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD family member 4, SMAD4) is involved in the adenoma-carcinoma pathway, leading to the development of colon cancer. The encoded protein is a key downstream signaling mediator in the TGFβ pathway. This pathway has tumor-suppressor functions, including cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Its activation in late-stage cancer can promote tumorigenesis, including metastasis and chemoresistance. Most colorectal cancer patients receive chemotherapy based on 5-FU as an adjuvant treatment. However, the success of therapy is hampered by multidrug resistance by neoplastic cells. In colorectal cancer, resistance to 5-FU-based therapy is influenced by SMAD4 gene expression, as patients with decreased SMAD4 gene expression probably have a higher risk of developing 5-FU-induced resistance. The mechanism leading to the development of this phenomenon is not fully understood. Therefore, the present study assesses the possible influence of 5-FU on changes in the expression of the SMAD4 and TGFB1 genes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The effect of 5-FU on the expression of SMAD4 and TGFB1 in colorectal cancer cells derived from the CACO-2, SW480 and SW620 cell lines was evaluated using real-time PCR. The cytotoxicity of 5-FU on colon cancer cells was assessed by the MTT method, and its effect on the induction of cell apoptosis and the initiation of DNA damage using a flow cytometer.

RESULTS

Significant changes in the level of SMAD4 and TGFB1 gene expression were noted in the CACO-2, SW480 and SW620 cells treated with 5-FU at various concentrations during 24 h and 48 h exposure. The use of 5-FU at a concentration of 5 µmol/L resulted in a decrease in the expression of the SMAD4 gene in all cell lines at both exposure times, while the concentration of 100 µmol/L increased the expression of the SMAD4 gene in CACO-2 cells. The level of expression of the TGFB1 gene was higher for all cells treated with 5-FU at the highest concentrations, while the exposure time was extended to 48 h.

CONCLUSION

The observed in vitro changes in CACO-2 cells caused by 5-FU may be of clinical relevance when choosing the drug concentration for treating patients with colorectal cancer. It is possible that 5-FU has a stronger effect on colorectal cancer cells at the higher concentrations. Low concentrations of 5-FU may not have a therapeutic effect and may also influence drug resistance in cancer cells. Higher concentrations and prolonged exposure time may affect SMAD4 gene expression, which may increase the effectiveness of therapy.

Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox Family: Non-Coding RNA and Epigenetic Regulation in Gliomas

Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumours. Among them, glioblastoma (GBM) is a grade four tumour with a median survival of approximately 15 months and still limited treatment options. Although a classical epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is not the case in glioma due to its non-epithelial origin, the EMT-like processes may contribute largely to the aggressive and highly infiltrative nature of these tumours, thus promoting invasive phenotype and intracranial metastasis. To date, many well-known EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) have been described with clear, biological functions in glioma progression. Among them, EMT-related families of molecules such as SNAI, TWIST and ZEB are widely cited, well-established oncogenes considering both epithelial and non-epithelial tumours. In this review, we aimed to summarise the current knowledge with a regard to functional experiments considering the impact of miRNA and lncRNA as well as other epigenetic modifications, with a main focus on ZEB1 and ZEB2 in gliomas. Although we explored various molecular interactions and pathophysiological processes, such as cancer stem cell phenotype, hypoxia-induced EMT, tumour microenvironment and TMZ-resistant tumour cells, there is still a pressing need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which EMT-TFs are regulated in gliomas, which will enable researchers to uncover novel therapeutic targets as well as improve patients' diagnosis and prognostication.

Analysis of the Presence of the Virulence and Regulation Genes from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and the Influence of the Staphylococcal Cross-Talk on Their Functions

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly becoming a public health issue worldwide due to their growing resistance to antibiotics and common involvement in complications related to invasive surgical procedures, and nosocomial and urinary tract infections. Their behavior either as a commensal or a pathogen is a result of strict regulation of colonization and virulence factors. Although functionality of virulence factors and processes involved in their regulation are quite well understood in S. aureus, little is known about them in CoNS species. Therefore, the aim of our studies was to check if clinical CoNS strains may contain virulence factors and genes involved in resistance to methicillin, that are homologous to S. aureus. Moreover, we checked the presence of elements responsible for regulation of genes that encode virulence factors typical for S. aureus in tested isolates. We also investigated whether the regulation factors produced by one CoNS isolate can affect virulence activity of other strains by co-incubation of tested isolates with supernatant from other isolates. Our studies confirmed the presence of virulence factor and regulatory genes attributed to S. aureus in CoNS isolates and indicated that one strain with an active agr gene is able to affect biofilm formation and δ-toxin activity of strains with inactive agr genes. The cognition of prevalence and regulation of virulence factors as well as antibiotic resistance of CoNS isolates is important for better control and treatment of CoNS infections.

Differential Expression of AP-2 Transcription Factors Family in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Bioinformatics Study

Members of the activator protein 2 (AP-2) transcription factor (TF) family are known to play a role in both physiological processes and cancer development. The family comprises five DNA-binding proteins encoded by the TFAP2A to TFAP2E genes. Numerous scientific reports describe differential expression of these TF and their genes in various types of cancer, identifying among them a potential oncogene or suppressor like TFAP2A or TFAP2C. Other reports suggest their influence on disease development and progression, as well as response to treatment. Not all members of this AP-2 family have been comprehensively studied thus far. The aim of the present article is to gather and discuss knowledge available in bioinformatics databases regarding all five members of this family and to differentiate them in relation to the two most common lung cancer subtypes: adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). In addition, to assess the difference in levels depending on a number of clinicopathological factors, the impact on patient survival and interactions with tumor-infiltrating immune cells. This article may help to identify the target for further original research that may contribute to the discovery of new diagnostic biomarkers and define the molecular differences between LUAD and LUSC, which may affect the therapy effectiveness improvement and longer survival.

Effects of the SLCO1B1 A388G single nucleotide polymorphism on the development, clinical parameters, treatment, and survival of multiple myeloma cases in a Polish population

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma is one of the most common hematological malignancies worldwide. Genetic alterations may lead to the progression from monoclonal gammopathy to multiple myeloma. Additionally, the genetic background of the disease might influence therapy outcomes, including survival time. SLCO1B1, belonging to the OATPs family, is a membrane protein that mediates the uptake of a wide range of endogenous and exogenous (including drugs) compounds.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, the A388G single nucleotide polymorphism in the SLCO1B1 gene in Polish multiple myeloma patients was determined. This polymorphism affects the amino acid change of the protein, so it may be responsible for treatment effectiveness or risk of disease development. A388G was evaluated by the PCR-RFLP method. The presented study showed a statistically significant association between the GG genotype with longer survival of patients with multiple myeloma with Melphalan-Prednisone therapy compared to other treatment regimens (p = 0.0271). There was no statistically significant association in the frequency of genotypes (p = 0.8211) and alleles: allele A (p = 0.5442); allele G (p = 0.8020) between multiple myeloma patients and a control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The A388G polymorphism does not seem to affect the increased risk of the development of multiple myeloma. However, the occurrence of the GG genotype may prolong of patients overall survival in the case of Melphalan-Prednisone therapy.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Fibrosis, Thrombosis and Surfactant Dysfunction in the Lungs of Severe COVID-19 Patients

The global scope and scale of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to huge amounts of important data from clinical observations and experimental analyses being collected, in particular, regarding the long-term impact of COVID-19 on lung tissue. Visible changes in lung tissue mainly relate to the destruction of the alveolar architecture, dense cellularity, and pulmonary fibrosis with myofibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. These changes are the result of infection, mainly with virus variants from the first pandemic waves (Alpha to Delta). In addition, proper regulation of immune responses to pathogenic viral stimuli is critical for the control of and recovery from tissue/organ damage, including in the lungs. We can distinguish three main processes in the lungs during SARS-CoV-2 infection: damage or deficiency of the pulmonary surfactant, coagulation processes, and fibrosis. Understanding the molecular basis of these processes is extremely important in the context of elucidating all pathologies occurring after virus entry. In the present review, data on the abovementioned three biochemical processes that lead to pathological changes are gathered together and discussed. Systematization of the knowledge is necessary to explore the three key pathways in lung tissue after SARS-CoV-2 virus infection as a result of a prolonged and intense inflammatory process in the context of pulmonary fibrosis, hemostatic disorders, and disturbances in the structure and/or metabolism of the surfactant. Despite the fact that the new Omicron variant does not affect the lungs as much as the previous variants, we cannot ignore the fact that other new mutations and emerging variants will not cause serious damage to the lung tissue. In the future, this review will be helpful to stratify the risk of serious complications in patients, to improve COVID-19 treatment outcomes, and to select those who may develop complications before clinical manifestation.

HMGA1 gene expression level in cancer tissue and blood samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: preliminary report

The study aimed to assess the HMGA1 gene expression level in NSCLC patients and to evaluate its association with selected clinicopathological features and overall survival of patients. The expression of the HMGA1, coding non-histone transcription regulator HMGA1, was previously proved to correlate with the ability of cancer cells to metastasize the advancement of the disease. The prognostic value of the HMGA1 expression level was demonstrated in some neoplasms, e.g., pancreatic, gastric, endometrial, hepatocellular cancer, but the knowledge about its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still limited. Thus, the HMGA1 expression level was evaluated by real-time PCR method in postoperative tumor tissue and blood samples collected at the time of diagnosis, 100 days and 1 year after surgery from 47 NSCLC patients. Mean HMGA1 expression level in blood decreased systematically from the time of cancer diagnosis to 1 year after surgery. The blood HMGA1 expression level 1 year after surgery was associated with the tobacco smoking status of patients (p= 0.0230). Patients with high blood HMGA1 expression levels measured 100 days after surgery tend to have worse overall survival than those with low expression levels (p= 0.1197). Tumor HMGA1 expression level was associated with neither features nor the overall survival of NSCLC patients. Moreover, no correlation between HMGA1 expression level measured in tumor tissue and blood samples was stated. Blood HMGA1 mRNA level could be a promising factor in the prognostication of non-small cell lung cancer patients.

A potential link between AQP3 and SLC14A1 gene expression level and clinical parameters of maintenance hemodialysis patients

Background

The transport of water and urea through the erythrocyte membrane is facilitated by aquaporins such as aquaglyceroporin (AQP3), and type B urea transporters (UT-B). As they may play an important role in osmotic balance of maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients, the aim of the present study was to determine whether any relationship exists between the expression of their genes and the biochemical / clinical parameters in HD patients.

Methods

AQP3 and UT-B (SLC14A1) gene expression was evaluated using RT-qPCR analysis in 76 HD patients and 35 participants with no kidney failure.

Results

The HD group demonstrated significantly higher median expression of AQP3 and UT-B (Z = 2.16; P = 0.03 and Z = 8.82; p < 0.0001, respectively) than controls. AQP3 negatively correlated with pre-dialysis urea serum concentration (R = -0.22; P = 0.049) and sodium gradient (R = -0.31; P = 0.04); however, no significant UT-B correlations were observed. Regarding the cause of end-stage kidney disease, AQP3 expression positively correlated with erythropoietin dosages in the chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) subgroup (R = 0.6; P = 0.003), but negatively in the diabetic nephropathy subgroup (R = -0.59; P = 0.004). UT-B positively correlated with inter-dialytic weight gain% in the GN subgroup (R = 0.47; P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Maintenance hemodialysis seems significantly modify AQP3 and UT-B expression but their link to clinical and biochemical parameters needs further large-scale evaluation.

The Expression Profiles of the Salvia miltiorrhiza 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A Reductase 4 Gene and Its Influence on the Biosynthesis of Tanshinones

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a medicinal plant that synthesises biologically-active tanshinones with numerous therapeutic properties. An important rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of their precursors is 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR). This study presents the organ-specific expression profile of the S. miltiorrhiza HMGR4 gene and its sensitivity to potential regulators, viz. gibberellic acid (GA₃), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA). In addition, it demonstrates the importance of the HMGR4 gene, the hormone used, the plant organ, and the culture environment for the biosynthesis of tanshinones. HMGR4 overexpression was found to significantly boost the accumulation of dihydrotanshinone I (DHTI), cryptotanshinone (CT), tanshinone I (TI) and tanshinone IIA (TIIA) in roots by 0.44 to 5.39 mg/g dry weight (DW), as well as TIIA in stems and leaves. S. miltiorrhiza roots cultivated in soil demonstrated higher concentrations of the examined metabolites than those grown in vitro. GA₃ caused a considerable increase in the quantity of CT (by 794.2 µg/g DW) and TIIA (by 88.1 µg/g DW) in roots. In turn, IAA significantly inhibited the biosynthesis of the studied tanshinones in root material.

Methyl Jasmonate Activates the 2C Methyl-D-erithrytol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate Synthase Gene and Stimulates Tanshinone Accumulation in Salvia miltiorrhiza Solid Callus Cultures

The present study characterizes the 5′ regulatory region of the SmMEC gene. The isolated fragment is 1559 bp long and consists of a promoter, 5′UTR and 31 nucleotide 5′ fragments of the CDS region. In silico bioinformatic analysis found that the promoter region contains repetitions of many potential cis-active elements. Cis-active elements associated with the response to methyl jasmonate (MeJa) were identified in the SmMEC gene promoter. Co-expression studies combined with earlier transcriptomic research suggest the significant role of MeJa in SmMEC gene regulation. These findings were in line with the results of the RT-PCR test showing SmMEC gene expression induction after 72 h of MeJa treatment. Biphasic total tanshinone accumulation was observed following treatment of S. miltiorrhiza solid callus cultures with 50–500 μM methyl jasmonate, with peaks observed after 10–20 and 50–60 days. An early peak of total tanshinone concentration (0.08%) occurred after 20 days of 100 μM MeJa induction, and a second, much lower one, was observed after 50 days of 50 μM MeJa stimulation (0.04%). The dominant tanshinones were cryptotanshinone (CT) and dihydrotanshinone (DHT). To better understand the inducing effect of MeJa treatment on tanshinone biosynthesis, a search was performed for methyl jasmonate-responsive cis-active motifs in the available sequences of gene proximal promoters associated with terpenoid precursor biosynthesis. The results indicate that MeJa has the potential to induce a significant proportion of the presented genes, which is in line with available transcriptomic and RT-PCR data.

Changes in the expression of membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases genes (MMP14, MMP15, MMP16, MMP24) during treatment and their potential impact on the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

The analysis concerned the comparison of the expression of membrane type matrix metalloproteinases genes in the blood and tissue of NSCLC patients during the course of the disease and comparison to the control group. Blood and neoplastic tissue taken from 45 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer was a research material. The expression level of MMP14, MMP15, MMP16 and MMP24 was evaluated by qPCR and the results were compared with controls. The expression of MMP14 and MMP24 before tumor removal surgery and 100 days after was lower than in the control group. Interestingly, one year after surgery the levels of expression of these genes were identical to those in the control group. This suggests that the expression of metalloproteinase genes changes in the course of cancer and that effective treatment results in the normalization of gene expression. Lower expression of MMP15 in the blood of patients with more advanced cancer disease was observed, confirming the suppressive nature of changes in the blood. It has also been demonstrated that higher expression of MMP14 and MMP15 in the tissue is associated with more advanced stage of disease development or more invasive nature of the lesion. There is a noticeable increase of expression level in the environment surrounding the tumor, while a lower can be observed in the blood. This may indicate that changes in the expression of metalloproteinases in cancer are much more complex than merely the tumor tissue, which may also account for the inadequacies of metalloproteinase inhibitors.

Preliminary investigation of two promoter region polymorphisms of the TNFA gene in patients with recurrent depressive disorder

Immune system dysregulation plays a role in the pathogenesis of complex human diseases, including psychiatric disorders. In addition, elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) may be conditioned by the presence of specific polymorphic variants. The present case-controlled preliminary study evaluated the prevalence of TNFA gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) G-308A (rs1800629) and T-1031C (rs1799964) in 83 Polish patients with depression by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results were compared with the frequencies of genotypes in a geographically- and ethnically-matched group of individuals without depression. No statistically significant difference in genotype/allele frequency was observed for either SNP between the two groups. No association was found between the particular genotypes and selected demographic/clinical features, including sex, age at diagnosis or severity of depressive symptoms before/after pharmacotherapy. Thus, there does not appear to be any connection between the studied SNPs and the development and progression of depression; however, further studies are required with larger cohorts to better understand this aspect of depression.

The influence of CYP2C19*2 and CYP3A5*3 variants on the development of depression and effectiveness of therapy: A preliminary study

The most common mental illness is depression; however, its pathogenesis is not fully understood. One of the factors that may influence its development and the effectiveness of therapy are the cytochromes of the p450 complex. CYP3A5 and CYP2C19 are involved in the metabolism of drugs used in the treatment of depression. These cytochromes can also generate reactive oxygen species, which are known to participate in the pathogenesis of depression. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of CYP3A5*3 and CYP2C19*2 variants among a group of patients with depression to identify any potential association with disease development and progression, and the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. A group of 103 patients suffering from recurrent depressive disorder and another of 93 healthy individuals were investigated using RFLP. It was found that the CYP3A5*3 allele may have a protective role in the development of depression (p = 0.0036). Heterozygous CYP3A5*1/*3 was more common in controls than the patients (p = 0.0300). Homozygotes were associated with an earlier onset than heterozygotes (p = 0.0292). For CYP2C19, patients with at least one CYP2C19*2 allele revealed better treatment results expressed as percentage change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (p = 0.0239). The identification of CYP3A5 and CYP2C19 allelic variants may be useful when assessing the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.

Clinical significance of HRAS and KRAS genes expression in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer - preliminary findings

Background

The RAS family protooncogenes, including KRAS, NRAS and HRAS, encode proteins responsible for the regulation of growth, differentiation and survival of many cell types. The HRAS and KRAS oncogene mutations are well defined, however, the clinical significance of RAS expressions in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still uncertain.

Methods

A total of 39 whole blood samples of NSCLC (the investigated group), collected at three points of time: at the time of diagnosis, 100 days and 1 year after the surgery as well as 35 tissue samples obtained during the surgery were included in this study. HRAS and KRAS genes mRNA expression were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques.

Results

Increased relative HRAS mRNA level in blood was found significantly more frequently in the group of smokers (p = 0.008). Patients with squamous cell carcinoma subtypes of NSCLC were more likely to show an overexpression of HRAS gene in blood, but not statistically significant (p = 0.065). In tumor tissue overexpression of HRAS gene was associated with adenocarcinoma subtype (p = 0.049). No statistically significant associations were found for the expression of KRAS with any clinicopathological parameters, except the age of patients, within the study. There were no differences between the relative HRAS and KRAS genes expression levels in blood samples taken from the same patients during the 3 observation points, as well as between blood collected from patients before surgery and tissue samples obtained during operation.

Conclusion

The potential associations between high HRAS expression levels, age, smoking status and histological type of cancer were observed, which emphasizes the need for further study of the RAS family. Therefore, subsequent research involving larger numbers of patients and a longer follow-up, as well as multicenter study are necessary to confirm our findings.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07858-w.

Assessment of the Role of Selected SMAD3 and SMAD4 Genes Polymorphisms in the Development of Colorectal Cancer: Preliminary Research

Background

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumor worldwide. The molecular mechanism of colorectal carcinogenesis is very complex and not yet fully understood. The TGFβ (transforming growth factor β) signaling pathway plays a significant role in the development of many cancers, including colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Changes in TGFβ pathway are associated with increased colorectal cancer risk, because this pathway participates in the control of important cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis. The family of SMAD (similar to mother against decapentaplegic) proteins is closely correlated to this pathway. SMADs genes expression affects modulation of the transcription of many genes, which leads to the inhibition of cell-growth and apoptosis in colon epithelial cells. The presence of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in SMADs genes encoding proteins involved in the control of biological processes important for the cell may play a significant role in the predisposition to the development of colorectal cancer, or in the regulation of the severity of changes related to tumor growth. Extension of data in this field may provide clinically significant conclusions influencing the implementation of personalized treatment based on specific changes characteristic of a patient with colorectal cancer.

Purpose

The subject of this research was genotyping polymorphisms of SMAD3 (rs6494629) and SMAD4 (rs10502913, rs12968012, rs1057520801) genes in the group of patients with colorectal cancer and in the control group, and comparing the genotypic frequency distributions with clinical-pathological features within the study group and between the groups.

Materials and Methods

SNP genotyping analysis was performed on genomic DNA isolated from 84 frozen tissue sections of colorectal cancer and from 60 peripheral blood samples of patients without cancer. To evaluate the polymorphic variants of SMAD genes, the restricted fragment length of a polymorphism reaction (PCR-RFLP) was used.

Results

The results obtained in the study showed no significant association between the examined polymorphisms and the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Conclusion

More extensive studies to confirm the results obtained in this study are needed. Further studies on a larger study group divided according to the clinical stage and histological differentiation may allow finding or excluding the significance of the studied SNPs as potential markers of colorectal cancer in relation to the clinico-pathological data.

Association between the CEBPA and c-MYC genes expression levels and acute myeloid leukemia pathogenesis and development

CEBPA and c-MYC genes belong to TF and play an essential role in hematologic malignancies development. Furthermore, these genes also co-regulate with RUNX1 and lead to bone marrow differentiation and may contribute to the leukemic transformation. Understanding the function and full characteristics of selected genes in the group of patients with AML can be helpful in assessing prognosis, and their usefulness as prognostic factors can be revealed. The aim of the study was to evaluate CEBPA and c-MYC mRNA expression level and to seek their association with demographical and clinical features of AML patients such as: age, gender, FAB classification, mortality or leukemia cell karyotype. Obtained results were also correlated with the expression level of the RUNX gene family. To assess of relative gene expression level the qPCR method was used. The expression levels of CEBPA and c-MYC gene varied among patients. Neither CEBPA nor c-MYC expression levels differed significantly between women and men (p=0.8325 and p=0.1698, respectively). No statistically significant correlation between age at the time of diagnosis and expression of CEBPA (p=0.4314) or c-MYC (p=0.9524) was stated. There were no significant associations between relative CEBPA (p=0.4247) or c-MYC (p=0.4655) expression level and FAB subtype and mortality among the enrolled patients (p=0.5858 and p=0.8437, respectively). However, it was observed that c-MYC and RUNX1 expression levels were significantly positively correlated (rS=0.328, p=0.0411). Overall, AML pathogenesis involves a complex interaction among CEBPA, c-MYC and RUNX family genes.

The impact of ABCB1 gene polymorphism and its expression on non-small-cell lung cancer development, progression and therapy - preliminary report

The ABCB1 gene belongs to ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes that has been previously implicated in cancer progression and drug response. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the SNP 3435 and the expression of the ABCB1 gene in lung cancer patients in the Polish population in comparison to clinicopathological parameters and treatment. 150 RNA and 47 DNA samples were isolated from 49 lung cancer cases including both tissue samples and blood taken from the same patients at three time points: diagnosis, 100 days and one year after the surgical intervention. Qualitative and real-time PCR analysis of expression were done, also genotyping by PCR-RFLP. Mutant homozygous TT and allele T are present statistically significantly more frequently in the group of patients with lung cancer. There is no difference with expression level in lung cancer tissue and blood sample taken from the same patients before surgical treatment. On the basis of blood samples analysis it was observed that the expression level of ABCB1 mRNA was growing in time. Higher levels were marked after 100 days and one year after the surgical intervention. The complementary pharmacological treatment induced higher expression levels of ABCB1. The presented data suggest an important role of ABCB1 in lung cancer, the increasing level of ABCB1 mRNA which can be connected with induction of multidrug resistance mechanism is also significant, that observation must be confirmed in further analysis.

NFKB2 gene expression in patients with peptic ulcer diseases and gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common worldwide types of cancer. It is a multifactorial disease and both environmental and genetic factors play an important role in its etiology. Evaluation of the relative expression level of NFKB2 gene in two groups of patients: peptic ulcer and gastric cancer and its role in the pathomechanism of these diseases was the aim of this study. RNA was isolated from: 79 samples of peptic ulcer, 22 gastric cancer and 11 control tissue. The real-time PCR technique was used to study the expression of NFKB2 gene. The relative expression level of NFKB2 gene was a variable in all three studied groups. The relative NFKB2 gene expression depends on the type of a disease. Peptic ulcer cases showed the increased relative NFKB2 gene expression to control group (p = 0.0000). Cancer cases presented decreased relative NFKB2 gene expression to normal stomach tissue (p = 0.0183). There are statistically important differences in the investigated gene expression between peptic ulcer, where the expression level is higher comparing to gastric cancer and control tissue which confirmed that such an activation is connected with an inflammatory process. The relative expression level of NFKB2 is decreased in cancer cases as opposed to control tissue and peptic ulcer cases which could suggest that during carcinogenesis of gastric cancer inhibition of NF-kB pathway takes place which could be a promising factor for patients.

Staphylococcal species less frequently isolated from human clinical specimens - are they a threat for hospital patients?

Background

Coagulase-negative staphylococci belonging to S. haemolyticus, S. hominis subsp. hominis, S. simulans, and S. warneri are often described as etiological factors of infections. Staphylococci are a phylogenetically coherent group; nevertheless, there are differences among the species which may be important to clinicians.

Methods

We investigated selected virulence factors and antibiotic resistance that were phenotypically demonstrated, the presence and expression of genes encoding the virulence factors, and the type of the SCCmec cassette.

Results

The differences between the tested species were revealed. A great number of isolates produced a biofilm and many of them contained single icaADBC operon genes. Clear differences between species in the lipolytic activity spectrum could be related to their ability to cause various types of infections. Our studies also revealed the presence of genes encoding virulence factors homologous to S. aureus in the analysed species such as enterotoxin and pvl genes, which were also expressed in single isolates of S. simulans and S. warneri. S. haemolyticus and S. hominis subsp. hominis isolates were resistant to all clinically important antibiotics including ß-lactams. The identified SCCmec cassettes belonged to IV, V, VII, and IX type but most of the detected cassettes were non-typeable. Among the investigated species, S. hominis subsp. hominis isolates accumulated virulence genes typical for S. aureus in the most efficient way and were widely resistant to antibiotics.

Conclusions

Our results clearly indicated significant differences between the tested species, which might be a result of the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and can lead to the formation and selection of multi-drug resistant strains as well as strains with new virulence features. Such strains can have a new clinical relevance.

Expression level of CEBPA gene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia individuals

Currently, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has an overall survival of nearly 80% when it occurs in children, however cure rates among adults are far reduced. Leukemogenesis can be driven up by a slight change in the expression or function of certain transcription factors. CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha (CEBPA) is a transcription factor with role in cell cycle regulation, granulocytic differentiation and more. Some studies suggest its oncogenic function. The potential role of CEBPA as an oncogene in ALL development has not been completely elucidated so far. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate mRNA level of CEBPA gene in 60 adult patients diagnosed with ALL. Quantitative analysis was performed by qPCR reaction. Analysis revealed that men tended to have higher and more variable CEBPA expression levels (P = 0.032). No associations for other parameters (ALL subtype, age, leukocytosis, blast percentage, Philadelphia chromosome presence, CD10 marker presence) were found. When comparing the results of CEBPA expression with patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia, ALL cases showed statistically significant lower levels of CEBPA (P < 0.0000). It may seem that CEBPA expression level itself has potentially no effect on arising and progression of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, although it is a matter that needs further investigation.

Estimation of CYP3A4*1B single nucleotide polymorphism in patients with recurrent Major Depressive Disorder

Background

Major depression is the most common mental illness in the world. Failures in treatment may occur due to the presence of a subtype of depression called TRD (Treatment‐ Resistant Depression). CYP3A4 polymorphism (rs2740574) can increase the activity of Cytochrome P450 3A4, contributing to faster metabolism of xenobiotics and reduced response to treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of CYP3A4*1B in study and control group and to estimate the influence of particular genotypes on parameters such as: age at onset, severity of symptoms before treatment and on the effectiveness of therapy.

Methods

Total of 192 patients were enrolled in this study (102 patients suffering from recurrent Major Depression Disorder, 90 healthy blood donors). PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method with MboII enzyme was performed. The presence of CYP3A4*1B allele was evaluated on the basis of agarose gel electrophoresis.

Results

There was a tendency in frequency of genotypes distribution in the study group in comparison with the control group (p = 0.050). There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution mutant allele among these two groups, but there was a tendency for mutant allele to occur more often in the study group (p = 0.050). No significant correlations were found between the specific genotype and the studied parameters: age at onset (p = 0.232), severity of the symptoms (p = 0.946), and efficacy of treatment (p = 0.882).

Conclusion

The study suggests that CYP3A4*1B polymorphism have no influence on the predisposition to depression, the severity of depressive symptoms and the efficiency of antidepressant therapy.

Abscisic Acid Regulates the 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA Reductase Gene Promoter and Ginsenoside Production in Panax quinquefolium Hairy Root Cultures

Panax quinquefolium hairy root cultures synthesize triterpenoid saponins named ginsenosides, that have multidirectional pharmacological activity. The first rate-limiting enzyme in the process of their biosynthesis is 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR). In this study, a 741 bp fragment of the P. quinquefoliumHMGR gene (PqHMGR), consisting of a proximal promoter, 5′UTR (5′ untranslated region) and 5′CDS (coding DNA sequence) was isolated. In silico analysis of an isolated fragment indicated a lack of tandem repeats, miRNA binding sites, and CpG/CpNpG elements. However, the proximal promoter contained potential cis-elements involved in the response to light, salicylic, and abscisic acid (ABA) that was represented by the motif ABRE (TACGTG). The functional significance of ABA on P. quinquefolium HMGR gene expression was evaluated, carrying out quantitative RT-PCR experiments at different ABA concentrations (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg·L⁻¹). Additionally, the effect of abscisic acid and its time exposure on biomass and ginsenoside level in Panax quinquefolium hairy root was examined. The saponin content was determined using HPLC. The 28 day elicitation period with 1 mg·L⁻¹ ABA was the most efficient for Rg2 and Re (17.38 and 1.83 times increase, respectively) accumulation; however, the protopanaxadiol derivative content decreased in these conditions.

Does the expression of the ACVR2A gene affect the development of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer has become a serious problem, especially in highly developed countries. As reported by the World Health Organization, the number of colon cancer cases in the world in 2012 amounted to 1.36 million. It is the second most common cancer in females (614,000 cases, 9.2% of the total) and the third in males (746,000 cases, 10.0% of the total) worldwide. It is believed that TGFβ pathway elements are involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. This study assessed one of these elements, the ACVR2A gene. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the ACVR2A gene in 84 patients with colorectal cancer was performed. There was no statistically significant association between ACVR2A gene expression and age, gender, histological type, grading of tumor, vascular invasion, and presence of lymphocytes in tumor tissue. No association was observed between the ACVR2A gene expression level and the presence of metastases in regional lymph nodes and distant metastases. In this study, larger tumors (T3 and T4) were characterized by higher ACVR2A expression compared to smaller tumors (T1 and T2). This may indicate an association between ACVR2A expression and the severity of pathological changes in the tumor growth process.

The contribution of ABCG2 G34A and C421A polymorphisms to multiple myeloma susceptibility

Background

Breast cancer resistance protein BCRP, belonging to superfamily G of the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, is an efflux pump and plays a critical role in protecting cells against xenobiotics and toxic compounds including (pro)carcinogens. BCRP is expressed in many tissues, including hematopoietic stem cells. Genetic variants such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can change the gene expression and/or reduce their products’ activity which may affect an individual’s susceptibility to xenobiotics and the development of carcinoma. These changes may affect the exposure of blood cells to toxic compounds, which increases the risk of multiple myeloma. The aim of this study was to determine polymorphisms at positions G34A and C421A of the ABCG2 gene in multiple myeloma in the Polish population for the first time.

Materials and methods

Material for the study included DNA isolated from nucleus of cells of peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (investigated group N=181) and from healthy people (control group N=97). Research into the polymorphisms was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.

Results

The present study showed a statistically significant association between SNP C421A of the ABCG2 gene and the risk of developing multiple myeloma (P=0.0218). No statistically significant relationship was found for the other parameters analyzed, such as age, gender, or type of secreted immunoglobulin.

Conclusion

Preliminary studies indicate that SNP C421A may become a potential predictor for the development of multiple myeloma.

Bendamustine alone or with rituximab modifies expression of apoptosis-regulating genes and proteins of CLL cells, depending on IGVH mutational status

We studied whether bendamustine (BENDA) alone or with rituximab (RIT) modifies in vitro expression of apoptosis-involved genes and proteins of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells depending on IGVH mutational status. Circulating lymphocytes from 34 untreated patients (18 IGVH-MUT and 16 IGVH-UNMUT) were incubated with above drugs to evaluate proteins expression. Microarray analysis of 93 genes was performed in 14 patients. BENDA and BENDA + RIT increased expression of BAX and BBC3 in IGVH-MUT and IGVH-UNMUT groups, and significant differences in expression of above genes after BENDA + RIT were observed between both groups. Additionally, BENDA + RIT decreased NFκB and BCL-2 genes in IGVH-UNMUT patients and increased expression of P53, BAX and PUMA proteins in IGVH-MUT and UNMUT subjects. However, no significant differences were found between these groups. In conclusion, BENDA + RIT modified gene expression profile in CLL cells and affected expression of some apoptosis-regulating proteins in vitro. Expression of BAX and BBC3 depends on action of drugs and IGVH mutational status.

Expression levels of the runt-related transcription factor 1 and 3 genes in the development of acute myeloid leukemia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mRNA expression level of the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) and runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) genes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The etiology of AML is not yet fully known, but certain genetic factors may contribute to its manifestation. The RUNX1 and RUNX3 genes have been demonstrated to serve a role in the transcription process. The group investigated in the present study included 43 patients diagnosed with AML, and the relative RUNX1 and RUNX3 expression levels were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that RUNX1 and RUNX3 expression was associated with clinicopathological features, including sex and mortality risk. Expression levels of the RUNX1 gene were higher and more variable among females (P=0.044), and mortality was more frequent among patients with a higher RUNX3 expression level (P=0.036). The data obtained from the present study suggested that RUNX3 expression may have potential value as a prognostic factor; furthermore, sex is potentially a factor that may affect the difference in RUNX1 gene expression level among females and males. Further analyses in this field will aid in the identification and elucidation of the molecular basis of leukemia.

Virus-directed enzyme prodrug therapy and the assessment of the cytotoxic impact of some benzimidazole derivatives

Virus-directed enzyme prodrug therapy is one of the major strategy of increasing cytotoxicity of bioreductive agents. This research intended to examine new selected benzimidazole derivatives as a substrate for nitroreductase, the enzyme involved in nitroreduction which is responsible to the production of cytotoxic metabolites. In this way, the selectivity and strength of cytotoxicity can be raised. The effect of benzimidazoles on virus transfected cells and non-virus transfected cells A549 cell line was established by Annexin V + propidium iodide test, western blot, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of specific pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in the corresponding gene expression and additionally nitroreductase gene expression. Our results proved the pro-apoptotic properties of all tested compounds in normoxia and hypoxia, especially according to virused A549 cells where the time of exposition was reduced from 48 to 4 h. In this shorten period of time, the strongest activity was shown by N-oxide compounds with nitro-groups. The apoptosis was confirmed by generation of BAX gene and protein and reduction of BCL2 gene and protein.

SMAD-4 gene expression in human colorectal cancer: Comparison with some clinical and pathological parameters

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of SMAD-4 gene in cases of colorectal cancer and to link the obtained data with the development of this disease. SMAD-4 gene is responsible for the control of many important cellular processes, for example prevention of excessive epithelial cell growth and divisions. This suppressor gene is located on chromosome 18 within the region with frequent genetic losses in colorectal cancer. Inactivation of this gene is commonly found in pancreatic cancer where the SMAD-4 gene lost in the expression has been associated with a poor prognosis in this cancer. However, the role of SMAD-4 gene in other cancers has not been completely explained, therefore in the present study we tried to find the role of this gene in colon cancer. The relative expression level of SMAD-4 gene was determined by real-time PCR for 80 cases of colorectal cancer. The obtained results for SMAD-4 expression were compared with many clinical and pathological variables (such as the size and depth of primary tumour penetration, presence of the metastases, stage of cancer, histological grade or overall survival). It was found that the level of SMAD-4 gene expression was not associated with the analyzed parameters of clinical staging. The lack of dependence can be caused by slight differences within the study group in view of parameters correlated with invasive colon cancer. Further analysis in this direction is needed.

Assessment of TNFA polymorphisms at positions -857 and -863 in Polish peptic ulcer patients

PURPOSE

Peptic ulceration connected with chronic inflammation in gastrointestinal mucosa could be induced by Helicobacter pylori infection. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) encoded by TNFA gene is a key mediator in the inflammation process. There are several polymorphisms in the promoter of TNFA influencing its transcriptional activity. -857C>T (rs1799724) and -863C>A (rs1800630) substitutions may be responsible for increased TNFA transcription and TNF-α production. The association of these two polymorphisms with peptic ulceration and the development of H. pylori infection in peptic ulcer patients in Poles were evaluated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Polymorphisms were assessed by PCR-RFLP in 203 peptic ulcer patients. H. pylori infection was confirmed by rapid urease test. The results of genotyping were compared with those obtained for 248 healthy Polish individuals.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies for both investigated polymorphisms between peptic ulcer patients and healthy individuals. No associations between frequencies of particular genotypes and alleles for both SNPs and the presence of H. pylori infection in peptic ulcer patients and in subgroups of peptic ulcer women and men were confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigated SNPs are not risk factors for peptic ulcer development. They are not risk factors for H. pylori infection in ulcer patients.

[Characterisation of selected molecular mechanisms influencing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antidepressants]

Over 350 millions of people suffer from depression worldwide, and an increase in the incidence of the disease is expected in the coming years. Therefore, there is a strong need of knowing the mechanisms of development this disease and its effective treatment. Pharmacological therapy is an essential element of antidepressant therapy and its failure is a serious problem in clinical psychiatry. In spite of large number of available medicines, only 50% of patients achieved remission after single-drug treatment. Genetic factors which predispose to depression development and predict an outcome of its pharmacotherapy, probably play a substantial role in these phenomena. In spite of this, they are still not characterized enough and applied in practice. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present the current knowledge of the impact of selected genes on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antidepressants by changing function and/or structure of encoded proteins. In the review the best known polymorphisms of selected genes encoding isoenzymes of cytochrome P-450, responsible for metabolism of popular antidepressant drugs, namely CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4/5 are described. Further, 4 polymorphisms of ABCB1 gene (rs 1045642, rs 2032582, rs 1128503 and rs 2032583) encoding glycoprotein P, which play a key role in transportation of large number of drugs used in treatment of depression. For benefit of treatment of patients with depression, it is worthy to estimate and to take on the board all so far known mechanisms of planning therapy.

Extract from Ribes nigrum leaves in vitro activates nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increases CD39 expression in human endothelial cells

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether blackcurrant leaf extract (BLE) modulates endothelium antithrombotic function, namely increases the expression/activity of ADPase (CD39) and augments the production of nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). It was found that BLE with proanthocyanidins (60 % of the total polyphenol content) increased the CD39-positive endothelial cell fraction (up to 10 % for 2.5 μg/ml, and up to 33 % for 15 μg/ml, p < 0.05 or less) in a concentration-dependent manner, and enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation (T495 phosphorylation decreased by 31 ± 6 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 48 ± 6 % for 15 μg/ml; S1177 phosphorylation increased by 13 ± 3 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 18 ± 7 % for 15 μg/ml, compared to untreated cells, p < 0.05 or less). Additionally, incubation for 24 or 48 h with BLE at a lower range of polyphenol concentrations, significantly increased cell viability with a maximal effect at 2.5 μg/ml (viability increased by 24.8 ± 1.0 % for 24 h and by 32.5 ± 2.7 % for 48-h time incubation, p < 0.0001). The increased CD39 expression and the increased eNOS activation in HUVEC can be regarded as the beneficial markers of the improvement of antiplatelet action of endothelial cells. Unexpectedly, these assumptions were not confirmed in the experimental model of platelet-endothelial cell interactions. These observations lead to the conclusion that BLE may improve endothelial cell viability at low physiological concentrations without affecting the antiplatelet action of endothelium.

Investigation of -308G>A and -1031T>C polymorphisms in the TNFA promoter region in Polish peptic ulcer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) encoded by TNFA is a key mediator in inflammation, a precursor condition for peptic ulceration. Promoter polymorphisms of TNFA that influence its transcriptional activity and TNF-α production are known. TNFA-308G>A (rs1800629) and TNFA-1031T>C (rs1799964), which are responsible for increased TNFA transcription, could influence the risk of peptic ulceration. This study aimed to investigate these polymorphisms and to evaluate their association with peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori infection in the Polish population.

METHODS

Gastric mucosa specimens obtained from 177 Polish peptic ulcer patients were used to conduct rapid urease tests and to assess the investigated polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotyping data were compared with the results obtained from healthy individuals of Polish origin.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequency of the investigated polymorphisms between peptic ulcer patients and healthy individuals. No associations between the frequencies of particular genotypes and alleles for both single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the presence of H. pylori infection in peptic ulcer patients and in subgroups of men and women with peptic ulcer disease were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigated SNPs are not risk factors for either peptic ulcer or H. pylori infection development in the Polish population. The results require verification in a larger cohort.

Is the ABCB1 gene associated with the increased risk of gastric cancer development?--preliminary research

One of the most common malignant diseases, both worldwide and in Poland, is gastric cancer. The pathogenesis of gastric cancer development is not entirely clear. Next to the environmental risk factors, such as Helicobacter pylori infection or dietary habits, the host genetic factors as predispositions to gastric cancer development are discussed. A transmembrane protein that could be associated with predisposition to cancer development is P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Physiologically, P-gp is present in normal tissue of the gastrointestinal tract, where it plays a protective role by transporting xenobiotics from a cell into extracellular environment. P-gp is encoded by the highly polymorphic ABCB1 gene. The most frequent polymorphisms at positions 1236, 2677, and 3435 may affect both the function and amount of protein, thereby leading to a loss of its physiological function, which could increase the predisposition to development of many diseases, including cancer. In this study, the potential significance of the ABCB1 gene in the development and progression of gastric cancer was evaluated. In 19 tissue samples collected from patients with gastric cancer, the ABCB1 gene polymorphisms were identified at positions 1236 and 2677 by automated sequencing and SNP 3435 by the RFLP method. The relative level of ABCB1 expression was measured in 10 samples of gastric cancer and morphologically normal tissues by real-time PCR. For SNPs at positions 1236, 2677, and 3435, no statistically significant differences in genotype frequencies between gastric cancer patients and healthy individuals were found. However, genotype TT for all studied polymorphisms occurred more frequently in the group of gastric cancer patients (31.6, 26.3, 42.1%, respectively) than in the group of healthy individuals (14.6, 13.5, 21.9%, respectively). The lowest relative expression levels of ABCB1 mRNA were observed for genotypes CC of SNP 1236, CC of SNP 3435, and GG of SNP 2677 (median: 0.215, 0.160, 0.160, respectively). There was a tendency that mutant homozygote TT for SNPs at positions 1236, 2677, and 3435 occurred more frequently in the subgroup of patients with Tis or stage I of TNM classification (SNP 1236 p = 0.0760; SNP 2677 p = 0.0813; SNP 3435 p = 0.0760) than in the subgroup of patients with stage II or III. Also the expression levels were lowest (median 0.740) in the group of patients with the less advanced clinical stage of cancer (Tis or I). Preliminary research showed that the ABCB1 gene polymorphisms at positions 1236, 2677, and 3435 were not related to an increased susceptibility of gastric cancer development. However, they may be associated with the inhibition of gastric cancer progression.

ABCB1 expression in peptic ulcer patients and its connection with H. pylori Infection

Glycoprotein P, encoded by the ABCB1 gene, plays an important role in gastric mucosa homeostasis and can influence the eradication therapy outcome in H. pylori-infected individuals. In the study we examined the ABCB1 expression level in 128 peptic ulcer patients by real-time PCR. There was no correlation between gene expression and the presence of H. pylori or the H. pylori infection intensity. The expression level did not differ between women and men. However, the levels were higher in patients who were over 54 years old than those who were aged up to 54 years old. As ABCB1 expression is largely determined by genetic polymorphisms, in the future, expression data will be related to the patients' ABCB1 genotypes.

Investigation of FJ 194940.1 gene alternative splicing in colon cancer and its association with clinicopathological parameters

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent neoplasms and is responsible for the second highest mortality rate of all cancers in the more developed regions of the world. The molecular mechanisms of CRC are relatively well characterized and are correlated to the accumulation of genetic mutations and certain patterns of gene expression/over-expression. There are a number of possible molecular factors involved in CRC progression in the aforementioned pathways, which are as yet not well described. One of these factors appears to be the gene FJ 194940.1, previously termed P65. FJ 194940.1 consists of 6 exons and probably undergoes alternative splicing in malignant tissues. In this study, tissue samples from 102 patients with colon cancer were investigated to confirm alternative splicing and to correlate results obtained with clinicopathological parameters. A total of 18 splice variants, which arise from various combinations of 4 exons (II, III, IV and V) and exon-exon junctions between exons 1 and 2 (I/II); 2 and 3 (II/III); 3 and 4 (III/IV), as well as 4 and 5 (IV/V), were found. For statistical analysis the full length transcript was divided into parts A and B. Part A consisted of exons II and III, as well as I/II and II/III exon-exon junctions, whereas part B comprised exons IV and V, as well as III/IV and IV/V exon-exon junctions. The expression of part B of the FJ 194940.1 gene transcript is correlated with well-differentiated (G1) and moderately differentiated cases (G2). Lymphocytic tumor infiltration, a good prognostic factor in CRC, was significantly correlated to the presence of all elements in part A of the FJ 194940.1 gene transcript. Patients who had all elements in part A of the transcript survived for a shorter duration. Investigation of the FJ 194940.1 gene revealed that the gene had undergone alternative splicing. However, the role of its transcripts and potential proteins should be examined in detail.

Investigation of ABCB1 1236 and 2677 SNPs in patients with peptic ulcer

OBJECTIVE

P-gp, encoded by ABCB1 gene, is an ATP-binding membrane pump, which exports substrates from the cell including drugs and xenobiotics. Changes in the function of P-gp as a result of polymorphism could have an impact in some diseases' risks and treatment outcomes. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of the ABCB1 gene SNPs: 1236 and 2677 for peptic ulcer risk and development of Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and ninety-five biopsy specimens obtained from peptic ulcer patients (investigated group) were genotyped using sequencing for common SNPs of ABCB1: 1236 and 2677. Genotyping data were compared with the results from healthy subjects (control) and with the presence of H. pylori infection, which was estimated by urease test.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference in frequency of genotypes and alleles for the SNPs were found between the investigated group and the control. However, in the peptic ulcer patients, mutant TT homozygotes and those who carried at least one allele T for the polymorphisms 1236 and 2677 were observed more frequently than the control group. In the peptic ulcer group, there were no significant dependences between the presence of H. pylori infection and the investigated polymorphisms other than more frequent occurrence of TT 1236 homozygous in the group of infected women (p = 0.0298).

CONCLUSIONS

The TT genotype and the mutated allele T for the polymorphisms 1236 and 2677 could increase peptic ulcer risk. ABCB1 1236 polymorphism may also be associated with an increased likelihood of H. pylori infection development, especially in women.

Maspin and Nm23-H1 expression in colorectal cancer

The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of Nm23-H1 and maspin proteins in a series of colorectal adenocarcinoma and to assess their applicability as prognostic factors in this type of cancer. 102 specimens of colorectal carcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with the use of anti-Nm23-H1 and anti-maspin monoclonal antibodies. Cytoplasmic expression of Nm23-H1 and maspin was found in 90 of all investigated cases. In 60 cases maspin protein was found also in nucleus. Medium/high Nm23-H1 cytoplasmic expression level was associated with tubular type of adenocarcinoma with deeper invasion of cancer into intestinal wall (T3, T4) and presence of vascular invasion. Medium/high expression level of maspin was connected uniformly with bad prognostic features: low differentiation of tumors (G3), deeper invasion of cancer (T3, T4) presence of nodular and distant metastases, higher Astler-Coller stage (C1, C2, D) and presence of vascular invasion. No statistically significant associations between presence of nuclear maspin expression and any clinicopatological and biological features were stated. Cytoplasmic medium/high expression level of maspin but no Nm23-H1 and no presence of maspin nuclear expression was found as independent bad prognostic factor in the investigated group of patients. Measurement of level and cellular pattern of maspin expression could be valuable for predicting disease course in patients suffering from colorectal cancer.

Quantitative analysis of the p65 gene expression in patients with coloroctal cancer

P65 gene expression level was determined in colon cancer cases by means of real-time PCR. 51 cases of colorectal carcinomas showing positive RT-PCR signals for P65 gene expression selected from 109 frozen samples were further investigated by quantitative real-time PCR. P65 levels were higher in cancer with metastases to lymph nodes and distant metastases. Higher levels were observed in more advanced cases classified as III and IV according to pTNM classification. In two groups of patients with vessel invasion and absence of lymphocytes in tumour tissue, the presence of P65 expression correlated with shorter survival time. Quantitative results confirmed that P65 gene expression in colon cancer is engaged in the process of metastasis formation and could be correlated with worse prognosis for the patients.

Human leukocyte antigens HLA DRB1 influence clinical outcome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

We investigated HLA DRB1 correlations with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) outcome in 90 patients. Neither of the alleles was associated with B-CLL clinical characteristics or mortality. HLA DRB1*01 and HLA DRB1*02-null were associated with shorter overall survival (p=0.007, p=0.002). Our results suggest that HLA-restricted adaptive immunity influences CLL outcome.

No influence of 3435C>T ABCB1 (MDR1) gene polymorphism on risk of adult acute myeloid leukemia and P-glycoprotein expression in blast cells

Inherited differences in xenobiotic transport and metabolism may play an important role in the development of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and response to the chemotherapy. An ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp or ABCB1), encoded by ABCB1 (MDR1) gene, is involved in the protection against xenobiotics and multi-drug resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of the ABCB1 gene exon 26 3435C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the genetic susceptibility to AML and regulation of P-gp expression and activity in AML cells. A total of 180 adult AML patients and 180 sex-matched controls were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. Moreover, in 40 AML patients ABCB1 gene expression was studied by real-time RT-PCR and P-gp expression and activity were assessed by flow cytometry assays. The prevalence of 3435C>T ABCB1 polymorphism was similar in patient and control cohorts (P = 0.16). Furthermore, the carriers of different ABCB1 genotypes did not differ significantly according to ABCB1 gene expression (P = 0.99), P-gp expression (P = 0.42) and P-gp activity (P = 0.83) in leukemic cells. The authors conclude that isolated 3435C>T ABCB1 SNP is not a major factor of the genetic susceptibility to adult AML, and that genotyping of this polymorphism does not allow predicting P-gp expression or activity in AML cells.