Correlation Between Low Cytoplasmic Expression of XBP1 and the Likelihood of Surviving Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Our objectives in this study were to (i) evaluate the clinical significance of X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) expression in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and (ii) assess the potential of XBP1 to be used as a prognostic biomarker.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression of XBP1 protein in 267 HCC tissue specimens was measured using immunohistochemistry in order to characterize the associations among XBP1 expression, clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes. Survival analysis using follow-up data was used to assess the prognostic value of XBP1 in cases of HCC. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression in HCC tumor tissue.

RESULTS

Immunoreactivity results showed that low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression was significantly associated with vascular invasion, as well as poor 5-year overall survival and long-term disease-specific (DSS) and disease-free (DFS) survival rates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves further confirmed a significant association between low cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression and poor DSS and DFS. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that XBP1 expression, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, tumor stage, and the rate of recurrence were linked to DSS, while low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression remained an independent predictor of poor DSS. Our analysis also revealed that XBP1 expression, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, and T classification were linked to DFS, while low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression remained an independent predictor of poor DFS.

CONCLUSION

Low cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCC, which suggests that XBP1 could potentially be targeted to benefit therapeutic strategies for HCC.

Molecular Hydrogen as a Promising Therapy Could Be Linked With Increased Resting Treg Cells or Decreased Fas+ T Cell Subsets in a IgG4-PF-ILD Patient: A Case Report

BACKGROUND/AIM

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) refers to a group of chronic lung conditions commonly associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disorders. It is characterized by progressive scarring (fibrosis) within the pulmonary interstitium, resulting in respiratory failure and early mortality. Some patients do not respond to standard therapeutic interventions. Numerous studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of molecular hydrogen in various disease models.

CASE REPORT

In this report, we present a case study of an 85-year-old female diagnosed with suspected IgG4-related PF-ILD complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia. On the fourth day of hydrogen-assisted therapy, a noticeable improvement in lung infiltrations was observed in chest X-rays as the patient gradually progressed towards weaning off mechanical ventilation. To assess treatment responses, we compared immune phenotypes before and after hydrogen treatment. A marked increase was observed in resting regulatory T cell levels after treatment, accompanied by a notable decrease in Fas+ helper T cell and cytotoxic T cell subtypes.

CONCLUSION

This case study highlights the effectiveness of hydrogen-assisted therapy in managing PF-ILD complicated by pneumonia, warranting further research in the future.

Evaluation of the clinical significance of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 genetic variants in human lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most frequent histological subtype of lung cancer, which is the most common malignant tumor and the main cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Recent reports revealed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and metastasis development in lung cancer. However, the contribution of MALAT1 genetic variants to the development of LUAD is unclear, especially in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status. In this study, 272 LADC patients with different EGFR status were recruited to dissect the allelic discrimination of the MALAT1 polymorphisms at rs3200401, rs619586, and rs1194338. The findings of the study showed that MALAT1 polymorphisms rs3200401, rs619586, and rs1194338 were not associated to LUAD susceptibility; however, rs3200401 polymorphisms was significantly correlated to EGFR wild-type status and tumor stages in LUAD patients in dominant model (p=0.016). Further analyses using the datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that lower MALAT1 mRNA levels were associated with the advanced stage, and lymph node metastasis in LADC patients. In conclusion, our results showed that MALAT1 rs3200401 polymorphisms dramatically raised the probability of LUAD development.

IVIG as a Promising Therapy for Methotrexate-induced Life-threatening Neutropenic Enterocolitis in an Elderly Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND/AIM

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with the functional impairment of multiple joints and the destruction of bone and cartilage. Methotrexate (MTX) is a first-line drug commonly used to treat RA; however, even low doses of MTX can potentially cause rare but severe adverse reactions, such as neutropenic enterocolitis (NE), a life-threatening disease characterized by intestinal mucosal damage and immunodeficiency.

CASE REPORT

Here, we report on an 82-year-old RA patient who developed life-threatening NE after ten years of low-dose MTX treatment. The condition of the patient rapidly worsened, requiring emergency electrical cardioversion and intravenous treatment with immunoglobulin (IVIG). Immunophenotypic responses were analyzed before and after treatment to evaluate therapeutic efficacy.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of monitoring elderly patients with RA receiving low-dose MTX treatment for the potential accumulation of MTX toxicity. Our findings also illustrate the importance of providing timely IVIG therapy for MTX-induced NE.

Virucidal activity of trehalose 6-monolaurate against dengue virus in vitro

Dengue fever is an acute febrile disease caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection. Over the past 60 years, DENV has spread throughout tropical regions and currently affects more than 50% of the world's population; however, there are as of yet no effective anti-DENV drugs for clinical treatment. A number of research teams have investigated derivatives of glycolipids as possible agents for the inhibition of DENV. Our objective in this research was to study the antiviral effects of trehalose 6-caprate (TMC), trehalose 6-monolaurate (TML), and trehalose 6-monooleate (TMO), based on reports that the corresponding glycosyl, trehalose, reduces the transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV). We also sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying inhibition using the RNA isolation and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50 ) assay, and immunofluorescence assay and immunochemistry staining, in vitro. This is the first study to demonstrate the TML-induced inhibition of DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of TML in the pretreated, cotreated, and full-treated groups were confirmed using time of addition assays. We determined that TML restricted viral binding, entry, replication, and release. We also confirmed the efficacy of TML against three clinical isolates of DENV serotypes 1, 3, and 4 (DENV-1, DENV-3, and DENV-4). The findings obtained in this study identify TML as a promising candidate for the development of drugs to treat DENV infection.

Anti-leukemia effects of omipalisib in acute myeloid leukemia: inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis

Omipalisib (GSK2126458), a potent dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, is reported to exhibit anti-tumor effect in several kinds of cancers. More than 50% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients display a hyperactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. We investigated the anti-proliferative effect of omipalisib in AML cell lines with varied genetic backgrounds. The OCI-AML3 and THP-1 cell lines had a significant response to omipalisib, with IC50 values of 17.45 nM and 8.93 nM, respectively. We integrated transcriptomic profile and metabolomic analyses, and followed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and metabolite enrichment analysis. Our findings showed that in addition to inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, omipalisib also suppressed mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis. Furthermore, omipalisib downregulated several genes associated with serine, glycine, threonine, and glutathione metabolism, and decreased their protein and glutathione levels. In vivo experiments revealed that omipalisib significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival without weight loss. Gedatolisib and dactolisib, another two PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, exerted similar effects without affecting mitochondria biogenesis. These results highlight the multifaceted anti-leukemic effect of omipalisib, revealing its potential as a novel therapeutic agent in AML treatment.

Using Treg, Tr1, and Breg Expression Levels to Predict Clinical Responses to csDMARD Treatment in Drug-naive Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a crucial role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases. Recent data also indicate that type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) and regulatory B (Breg) cells play an inhibitory (i.e., protective) role in autoimmune diseases. Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD) are a first-line therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and our aim was to predict clinical responses of this treatment using immunophenotyping.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We first detected the presence of immune cells in fresh blood from 16 healthy controls (HC) and 26 patients with RA (14 drug-naive and 12 csDMARD-experienced). Then, we recorded immunophenotypic changes in 14 drug-naive RA (naive RA) patients prior to csDMARD treatment (i.e., day 0) and after receiving treatment for 6 months. The observed changes were also compared with other clinical indicators, including the presence of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

RESULTS

Naive RA patients had significantly lower Tregs than HC and csDMARD-experienced patients (both p<0.0001) and the number of Tregs correlated with the diagnosis of RA and therapeutic efficacy of csDMARD treatment. Furthermore, lower baseline levels of Treg, memory Treg, Tr1, and higher PD-1+ Marginal B, Breg cells were significantly associated with decreased development of the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) (all p<0.05), revealing better medical response. Multiple regression and principal component analysis identified Treg, Tr1, and Breg as potential predictors of csDMARD responses (Area under curve: 0.9; Accuracy: 92.86%). Furthermore, elevated Treg, Tr1, and Breg cells were associated with decreased DAS28, ESR, and CRP (all p<0.05); changes in Treg and Breg cell expression were also more pronounced among double negative anti-CCP and RF in RA patients with better outcomes (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Immunophenotyping can be an adjunct clinical tool to identify patients who are poor candidates for csDMARD therapy. Alternative therapeutic interventions in the early stages of disease should be formulated for these patients.

Predicting the clinical efficacy of JAK inhibitor treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on Fas+ T cell subsets

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) have been approved for the treatment of RA; however, the impact of JAKi on immune cells remains inconclusive. This study investigated the response of immune cells to JAKi treatment to identify biomarkers by which to evaluate and predict clinical outcomes. Blood samples were collected from RA patients before and after JAKi treatment for the analysis of immunophenotypes. Our results revealed that JAKi mainly inhibited Fas+ T cell subsets. The percentage changes of Th Fas+ and Naive Th Fas+ cells were positively correlated with the 28-joint Disease Activity Score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) values. Following treatment, moderate response (MR) RA patients presented a decrease in the number of Naive Th Fas+ cells (p = 0.0001). Initial percentages of 14 T cell and 20 B cell subsets were correlated with percentage changes in DAS28-ESR. Overall, 16 cell subsets presented significant differences between the non-response (NR) and MR groups. Excluding the multicollinearity of the immune cells, we constructed a JAKi treatment response prediction index (JRPI) using 5 subsets of T/B cells, the results of which were strongly correlated with percentage changes in DAS28-ESR (receiver operating characteristic curve of 1). Note that the NR group was clearly distinguished from the MR group (p = 0.0167). In conclusion, the efficacy of JAKi can be attributed mainly to the suppression of Fas+ T cell subsets. A positive correlation was shown between the therapeutic efficacy of JAKi and the percentage changes in both Th Fas+ cells and Naive Th Fas+ cells. Furthermore, the proposed JRPI could potentially be used as an indicator to predict the efficacy of JAKi prior to treatment in RA patients. These findings may contribute to the development of personalized treatment strategies for RA patients using JAKi.

Anti-Inflammatory and Chondro-Protective Effects of Acidic Polysaccharide from Enteromorpha Prolifera in Experimental Models of Osteoarthritis In-Vitro and In-Vivo

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) progression has been shown to increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines in joints, leading to the destruction of cartilage matrix. Interleukin (IL)-1β is a potent inflammatory cytokine associated with osteoarthritic synovial fluid. The protective effects of polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera against acute hepatic injury was reported.

DESIGN

In this study, we examined the effects of Enteromorpha polysaccharide extracts (EPEs) in the treatment of OA. The effects of the EPEs were assessed using an IL-1β-stimulated SW1353 and SW982 cells. The expression levels of specific mRNA and proteins were evaluated using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (sqRT-PCR) and western immunoblotting. An OA animal study involving C57BL/6J mice was also conducted to assess the effects on tactile sensitivity and anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT).

RESULTS

Acidic polysaccharide extract (APE) was shown to significantly reduce cytokine and chemokine mRNA levels in IL-1β-stimulated SW1353 and SW982 cells and attenuate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and p38/AP-1 in SW1353 cells. APE was also shown to minimize the effect of osteolytic lesions in the knee joints of ACLT-induced osteoarthritic mice.

CONCLUSIONS

APE is a potent inhibitor of joint degeneration associated with OA.

Propagation rules of shock waves in confined space under different initial pressure environments

In this paper, an initial pressure adjustable explosion vessel was developed, and the effect of negative pressure, positive pressure (0.2–1.8 atm) different initial ambient pressure on the explosive shock wave generated by the explosion of explosives was studied. The relationships between the specific impulse, shock wave velocity, the amount of explosive gas products and the ambient pressure were analyzed for different initial pressure environments. It was found that: the overpressure of the blast shock wave decreases with the initial ambient pressure of the explosion, and there exists a negative pressure environment with a dramatic pressure decrease near 0.6 atm, defined as the super-sensitive negative pressure P_cr. The propagation velocity of an explosive wave increases with a decrease in the ambient pressure, and the propagation velocity at a pressure of 1.8 atm is four times less than the velocity at a pressure of 0.2 atm. The production of explosive gas products did not change. The greater the initial pressure of the environment where the explosive is located, the smaller the ratio of the gas generated by the explosion to the initial force gas in the explosion vessel is, and the greater the impact on the propagation of shock waves is. The maximum attenuation of the first specific impulse i₁ is 72.97% and the maximum attenuation of the second specific impulse i₂ is 72.39%. The experiments provide reference data for high-altitude military confrontation, high-altitude weapons and ammunition development, and deep-earth protection engineering.

[Status of HVPG clinical application in China in 2021]

Objective: The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China. Methods: This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems. Results: According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%). Conclusion: Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Systematic Characterization of the Disruption of Intestine during Liver Tumor Progression in the xmrk Oncogene Transgenic Zebrafish Model

The crosstalk between tumors and their local microenvironment has been well studied, whereas the effect of tumors on distant tissues remains understudied. Studying how tumors affect other tissues is important for understanding the systemic effect of tumors and for improving the overall health of cancer patients. In this study, we focused on the changes in the intestine during liver tumor progression, using a previously established liver tumor model through inducible expression of the oncogene xmrk in zebrafish. Progressive disruption of intestinal structure was found in the tumor fish, displaying villus damage, thinning of bowel wall, increase in goblet cell number, decrease in goblet cell size and infiltration of eosinophils, most of which were observed phenotypes of an inflammatory intestine. Intestinal epithelial cell renewal was also disrupted, with decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death. Analysis of intestinal gene expression through RNA-seq suggested deregulation of genes related to intestinal function, epithelial barrier and homeostasis and activation of pathways in inflammation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix organization, as well as hemostasis. Gene set enrichment analysis showed common gene signatures between the intestine of liver tumor fish and human inflammatory bowel disease, the association of which with cancer has been recently noticed. Overall, this study represented the first systematic characterization of the disruption of intestine under the liver tumor condition and suggested targeting intestinal inflammation as a potential approach for managing cancer cachexia.

Effect of Lipopolysaccharides on Liver Tumor Metastasis of twist1a/krasV12 Double Transgenic Zebrafish

The poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is directly associated with the multi-step process of tumor metastasis. TWIST1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is the most important epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene involved in embryonic development, tumor progression, and metastasis. However, the role that TWIST1 gene plays in the process of liver tumor metastasis in vivo is still not well understood. Zebrafish can serve as a powerful model for cancer research. Thus, in this study, we crossed twist1a+ and kras+ transgenic zebrafish, which, respectively, express hepatocyte-specific mCherry and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP); they also drive overexpression of their respective transcription factors. This was found to exacerbate the development of metastatic HCC. Fluorescence of mCherry and EGFP-labeled hepatocytes revealed that approximately 37.5% to 45.5% of the twist1a+/kras+ double transgenic zebrafish exhibited spontaneous tumor metastasis from the liver to the abdomen and tail areas, respectively. We also investigated the inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the hepatocyte-specific co-expression of twist1a+ and kras+ in double transgenic zebrafish. Following LPS exposure, co-expression of twist1a+ and kras+ was found to increase tumor metastasis by 57.8%, likely due to crosstalk with the EMT pathway. Our results confirm that twist1a and kras are important mediators in the development of metastatic HCC. Taken together, our in-vivo model demonstrated that co-expression of twist1a+/kras+ in conjunction with exposure to LPS enhanced metastatic HCC offers a useful platform for the study of tumor initiation and metastasis in liver cancer.

Cytoplasmic IGF2BP2 Protein Expression in Human Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic and Clinical Implications

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is particularly prevalent in Taiwan. The goal of this study was to determine the clinicopathological role of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) proteins as an indicator of clinical outcomes in OSCC patients. In this study, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was used to examine IGF2BP2 protein expression in 244 OSCC patients. We investigated the relationships among IGF2BP2 expression, clinicopathological variables, and patient survival. Our results showed that IGF2BP2 cytoplasmic protein expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, cancer stage, and patient survival. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that elevated cytoplasmic IGF2BP2 expression levels in OSCC patients were associated with poor overall survival. Moreover, multivariate cox proportional hazard models revealed that cytoplasmic IGF2BP2 expression, T status, and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors for survival. In conclusion, IGF2BP2 protein was found to be a helpful predictive marker for OSCC patients, as well as a possible therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

Synergistic in-vitro antiviral effects of combination treatment using anidulafungin and T-1105 against Zika virus infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) has been the cause of some epidemics since 2007. The correlations of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome with ZIKV have been noticed. Unfortunately, researchers have yet to develop an effective vaccine or drug approved for ZIKV infection. Anidulafungin is a member of echinocandins that is used to treat candida infections. This study assessed the antiviral capability of anidulafungin against ZIKV. Anidulafungin was shown to significantly decrease viral RNA levels, protein expression levels, viral yields, and the rate of infection. In time of addition assays, anidulafungin exhibited inhibitory activities in the early stages of ZIKV infection. In binding and entry assays, administering anidulafungin did not lead to a corresponding decrease in quantity of viral RNA, but a significant decrease in ZIKV infectivity was observed in virucidal assays. This indicated that anidulafungin interferes directly with virions. T-1105 is a viral polymerase inhibitor, which functions in the late stage of ZIKV infection. When anidulafungin was administered in combination with T-1105, an obvious synergistic effect was observed, resulting in a combination index (CI) value of 0.85 ± 0.13. Finally, we evaluated the effects of echinocandins in terms of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀), calculation of cytotoxicity concentration 50% (CC₅₀), selectivity index (SI), and Patchdock score. Among the tests, anidulafungin bears the lowest IC₅₀ and highest Patchdock score. Although anidulafungin is classified as a pregnancy category C agent; however, combination therapy of anidulafungin with a viral RNA replication inhibitor could expand treatment options for ZIKV infection.

Attenuative Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on 30 kDa Fibronectin Fragment-Induced MMP-13 Expression Associated with TLR2 Signaling in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes and Synovial Fibroblasts

Proteolytic fragments of fibronectin can have catabolic effects on cartilage, menisci, and synovium. Previous studies have reported that Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways might be associated with joint inflammation and joint destruction. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly being used to treat a range of joint conditions; however, it has yet to be determined whether PRP influences fibronectin fragment (FN-f) procatabolic activity and TLRs. In this study, human primary culture cells were treated with 30 kDa FN-f with/without PRP co-incubation, and then analyzed using real-time PCR to determine gene expression levels in articular chondrocytes, meniscal fibrochondrocytes, and synovial fibroblasts. Protein levels were evaluated by Western immunoblotting. This study observed an increase in the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS2), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in articular chondrocytes, meniscal fibrochondrocytes, and synovial fibroblasts following insult with 30 kDa FN-f. Upregulation of these genes was significantly attenuated by PRP treatment. TLR2 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) were also significantly attenuated by cotreatment with 30 kDa FN-f + PRP + TLR2 inhibitor. PRP treatment was shown to attenuate the 30 kDa FN-f-induced MMP-13 expression associated with the decreased expression of TLR2 in osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. PRP treatment was also shown to attenuate procatabolic activity associated with MMP-13 expression via the TLR2 signaling pathway.

Ameliorative Effects of Cardamonin on Monosodium Urate-Induced Gouty Arthritis through Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Mediation

Background and Objectives: Gouty arthritis is an acute inflammatory response caused by the precipitation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints. The triggering of MSU leads to increased production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, which in turn lead to the formation of macromolecular complexes, referred to as inflammasomes. Thorough characterization of the NLRP3 inflammasome can be used as an indicator of an immune response against harmful stimuli. Cardamonin is a chalcone, mainly found in the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai, and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. However, the mechanism by which cardamonin treatment alleviates gouty arthritis has yet to be fully elucidated. Materials and Methods: In vitro or in vivo models were used to study whether cardamonimn inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation or suppressed gouty inflammation. Results: In the current study, we determined that most NLRP3 was released passively after MSU stimulation, and this release of NLRP3 promoted caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion. Cardamonin was shown to decrease both the activity of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1β in J774A.1 macrophage cells subjected to MSU stimulation. Cardamonin was also shown to attenuate the production of COX-2 in MSU-stimulated J774A.1 macrophage cells. Finally, cardamonin reduced the thickness of the synovial lining and the infiltration of gouty arthritis in a rat model. Conclusions: Overall, cardamonin significantly attenuated IL-1β secretion, caspase-1 activity, and COX-2 production stimulated by MSU. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of cardamonin treatment for gouty arthritis.

Lipopolysaccharides Enhance Epithelial Hyperplasia and Tubular Adenoma in Intestine-Specific Expression of krasV12 in Transgenic Zebrafish

Intestinal carcinogenesis is a multistep process that begins with epithelial hyperplasia, followed by a transition to an adenoma and then to a carcinoma. Many etiological factors, including KRAS mutations and inflammation, have been implicated in oncogenesis. However, the potential synergistic effects between KRAS mutations and inflammation as well as the potential mechanisms by which they promote intestinal carcinogenesis remain unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of kras^V12, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and/or dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) on inflammation, tumor progression, and intestinal disorders using transgenic adults and larvae of zebrafish. Histopathology and pathological staining were used to examine the intestines of kras^V12 transgenic zebrafish treated with LPS and/or DSS. LPS and/or DSS treatment enhanced intestinal inflammation in kras^V12 transgenic larvae with concomitant increases in the number of neutrophils and macrophages in the intestines. The expression of kras^V12, combined with LPS treatment, also enhanced epithelial hyperplasia and tubular adenoma, demonstrated by histopathological examinations and by increases in cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and downstream signaling of phosphorylated AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and histone. We also found that kras^V12 expression, combined with LPS treatment, significantly enhanced changes in intestinal morphology, specifically (1) decreases in goblet cell number, goblet cell size, villi height, and intervilli space, as well as (2) increases in villi width and smooth muscle thickness. Moreover, kras^V12 transgenic larvae cotreated with DSS and LPS exhibited exacerbated intestinal inflammation. Cotreatment with DSS and LPS in kras^V12-expressing transgenic adult zebrafish also enhanced epithelial hyperplasia and tubular adenoma, compared with wild-type fish that received the same cotreatment. In conclusion, our data suggest that kras^V12 expression, combined with LPS and/or DSS treatment, can enhance intestinal tumor progression by activating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway and may provide a valuable in vivo platform to investigate tumor initiation and antitumor drugs for gastrointestinal cancers.

Cytoplasmic CK1ε Protein Expression Is Correlated With Distant Metastasis and Survival in Patients With Melanoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Casein kinase 1 epsilon (CK1ε) is a member of the casein kinase 1 family, which includes highly conserved and ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinases. Recent research has revealed that CK1ε plays an important role in a variety of human cancer types; however, its role in human melanoma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical role of CK1ε in patients with melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Samples from 34 patients with melanoma were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue microarrays were also examined by two histopathologists to assess CK1ε protein expression in humans.

RESULTS

Cytoplasmic CK1ε protein expression was significantly lower in tumor tissue than in normal tissue. Lack of cytoplasmic CK1ε protein was significantly correlated with distant metastasis (p=0.022) and poorer survival (p=0.030). However, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that elevated expression of cytoplasmic CK1ε protein was not significantly associated with the overall survival of patients with melanoma. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that lack of cytoplasmic CK1ε protein expression was related to distant metastasis (p<0.001 and p=0.004), showing that CK1ε was a prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

CK1ε protein expression might serve as a prognostic indicator in the treatment of patients with melanoma.

Prognostic and Clinical Implications of WNK Lysine Deficient Protein Kinase 1 Expression in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a particularly malignant form of cancer prevalent throughout the world; however, there is a pressing need for HCC biomarkers to facilitate prognosis and risk assessment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This paper reports on the potential prognostic value of WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1 (WNK1) in cases of HCC. We analyzed the expression of WNK1 at the mRNA level using omics data from the UALCAN database. We then verified our findings through the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of various human cancer tissue as well as 59 HCC samples paired with corresponding normal tissues. The prognostic value of mRNA or protein expression by WNK1 was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Initial screening results revealed significantly higher WNK1 expression levels in HCC tissue compared to normal tissue. Verification using the paired HCC samples confirmed that the expression of WNK1 was indeed significantly higher in HCC tissue samples than in adjacent normal tissues. High WNK1 expression levels were significantly correlated with clinicopathological variables, including gender and histologic grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that high WNK1 expression levels were associated with poor HCC prognosis. Finally, univariate and multivariate analysis identified WNK1 as a prognostic factor for TNM stage in cases of HCC.

CONCLUSION

In summary, WNK1 is overexpressed at the mRNA and protein levels, and correlated with poor prognosis. Thus, WNK1 expression could potentially be used as a biomarker in HCC prognosis.

[The role Epstein-Barr virus played in the outcome of skin diseases]

Since the discovery of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus from the cultured cells in Burkitt lymphoma tissue in African children in 1964, we have gradually taken in its oncogenicity and the link between this virus and multiple mucocutaneous diseases. This review exhibits the process of EB virus infection and summarizes the clinical manifestations and varied prognosis of EB virus-associated skin diseases. The cases of common skin diseases including psoriasis, dermatomyositis, pemphigus, pemphigoid, parapsoriasis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, panniculitis,erythema multiforme and vasculitis coinciding with EB virus infection were collected for the analysis of their EB virus-associated complications, treatments and outcomes.

Cytoplasmic phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression in patients with melanoma is associated with tumor stage and metastasis

Melanoma is the cause of most deaths from skin cancer. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway has been reported to participate in progression of melanoma in fair skinned populations. ERK1/2 is found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 has been implicated in tumor progression. We investigated the relation between melanoma progression and expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear phosphorylated ERK1/2. We examined 34 surgically resected melanomas and investigated their clinicopathologic characteristics. We found immunostaining of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in all melanomas and faint staining in benign nevi. We found expression of cytoplasmic phosphorylated ERK1/2 in most melanomas; however, nuclear phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression was found in only five melanomas. Expression of cytoplasmic phosphorylated ERK1/2 was related to the tumor stage in melanoma. Nine of 10 cases of distant metastasis were positive for cytoplasmic phosphorylated ERK1/2. Our findings suggest that phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression is relevant to clinical pathology and that in melanoma patients, phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression is found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Our findings suggest that cytoplasmic phosphorylated ERK1/2 participates in progression of melanoma and that it could be a useful target for clinical treatment of melanoma.

Prognostic Significance of Cytoplasmic SPNS2 Expression in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background and Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant disease with a particularly high incidence in Taiwan. Our objective in this study was to elucidate the involvement of sphingolipid transporter 2 (SPNS2) expression and SPNS2 protein expression in the clinicopathological indexes and the clinical outcomes of OSCC patients. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed for SPNS2 protein expression in samples from 264 cases of OSCC. Correlations of SPNS2 expression with clinicopathological variables and patient survival were analyzed. Results: Our results revealed that the cytoplasmic protein expression of SPNS2 in OSCC tissue specimens was lower than in normal tissue specimens. Negative cytoplasmic protein expression of SPNS2 was significantly correlated with T status and stage. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis revealed that negative cytoplasmic SPNS2 expression was predictive of poorer overall survival of OSCC patients in stage III/IV. We also determined that low SPNS2 expression was an independent prognostic factor related to overall survival among OSCC patients in stage III/IV from univariate Cox proportional hazard models. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models revealed that cytoplasmic SPNS2 expression, T status, lymph node metastasis, and histological grade were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions: Overall, this study determined that SPNS2 protein may be a useful prognostic marker for OSCC patients and potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

Decreased Cytoplasmic Expression of ADAMTS14 Is Correlated with Reduced Survival Rates in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 14 (ADAMTS14) is a member of the zinc-dependent protease family that is implicated in the occurrence and progression of tumors. Oral cancer (OC) is a common cancer worldwide, but it is particularly prevalent in Taiwan. However, whether the expression of ADAMTS14 is correlated with the carcinogenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not yet been investigated. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to examine 250 OSCC specimens in order to identify correlations between the cytoplasmic expression of ADAMTS14 and (1) clinicopathological features of OSCC as well as (2) clinical outcomes of OSCC. Our results indicate that cytoplasmic expression of ADAMTS14 was lower in OSCC tissues than in normal tissues. In analyzing correlations between ADAMTS14 expression and clinicopathological features, we found that negative cytoplasmic expression of ADAMTS14 was significantly associated with higher frequencies of lymph node metastasis and more advanced AJCC stages (III/IV). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that negative cytoplasmic expression of ADAMTS14 was also associated with significantly worse OSCC survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed that cytoplasmic expression of ADAMTS14 was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and tumor grade and also indicated that cytoplasmic ADAMTS14 expression may be an independent prognostic factor for OSCC. This is the first study to report that the cytoplasmic expression level of ADAMTS14 is associated with OSCC prognosis and tumor progression. Our data indicate that ADAMTS14 can serve as a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A overexpression promotes liver cancer development in transgenic zebrafish via activation of ERK and β-catenin pathways

Dysregulation of the enzymes involved in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is known to promote tumorigenesis. Our recent study demonstrated that ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPIA), a key regulator of the PPP, regulates hepatoma cell proliferation and colony formation. Our studies in zebrafish reveal that RPIA-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis requires extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and β-catenin signaling. To further investigate RPIA-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis, two independent lines of transgenic zebrafish expressing human RPIA in the liver were generated. These studies reveal that RPIA overexpression triggers lipogenic factor/enzyme expression, steatosis, fibrosis and proliferation of the liver. In addition, the severity of fibrosis and the extent of proliferation are positively correlated with RPIA expression levels. Furthermore, RPIA-mediated induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) requires the ERK and β-catenin signaling pathway but is not dependent upon transaldolase levels. Our study presents a mechanism for RPIA-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis and suggests that RPIA represents a valuable therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Cephalotaxine inhibits Zika infection by impeding viral replication and stability

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has reemerged as a serious public health problem around the world. Syndromes of infected people range from asymptomatic infections to severe neurological disorders, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. Screening anti-ZIKV drugs derived from Chinese medicinal herbs is one method of identifying antiviral agents. In this paper, we report that (1) Cephalotaxine (CET), an alkaloid isolated from Cephalotaxus drupacea, was effective in inhibiting ZIKV activity in vitro (i.e., in Vero and A549 cell lines) and (2) the mechanisms which underlie these effects involve virucidal activity and a decrease in viral replication. Specifically, CET was found to decrease ZIKV RNA and viral protein expression, inhibit ZIKV replication, and inhibit ZIKV mRNA/protein production. We also determined that CET is effective in inhibiting dengue virus 1–4 (DENV1-4). Taken together, our findings indicate that CET could be an effective lead compound in the treatment of ZIKV and also suggest that further investigation and development of CET-derived drugs may lead to a new class of anti-Flavivirus medications.

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CET against ZIKV infection via inhibiting replication and stability.

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CET was identified as a potent inhibitor of ZIKV infection.

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CET as a candidate compound for potential ZIKV treatment.

A Novel Zebrafish Model of Metastasis Identifies the HSD11β1 Inhibitor Adrenosterone as a Suppressor of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastatic Dissemination

Metastasis of cancer cells is multi-step process and dissemination is an initial step. Here we report a tamoxifen-controllable Twist1a-ER^T2 transgenic zebrafish line as a new animal model for metastasis research, and demonstrate that this model can serve as a novel platform for discovery of antimetastasis drugs targeting metastatic dissemination of cancer cells. By crossing Twist1a-ER^T2 with xmrk (a homolog of hyperactive form of EGFR) transgenic zebrafish, which develops hepatocellular carcinoma, approximately 80% of the double transgenic zebrafish showed spontaneous cell dissemination of mCherry-labeled hepatocytes from the liver to the entire abdomen region and the tail region. The dissemination is accomplished in 5 days through induction of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Using this model, we conducted in vivo drug screening and identified three hit drugs. One of them, adrenosterone, an inhibitor for hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11β1), has a suppressor effect on cell dissemination in this model. Pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of HSD11β1 suppressed metastatic dissemination of highly metastatic human cell lines in a zebrafish xenotransplantation model. Through downregulation of Snail and Slug, adrenosterone-treated cells recovered expression of E-cadherin and other epithelial markers and lost partial expression of mesenchymal markers compared with vehicle-treated cells. Taken together, our model offers a useful platform for the discovery of antimetastasis drugs targeting metastatic dissemination of cancer cells. IMPLICATIONS: This study describes a transgenic zebrafish model for liver tumor metastasis and it has been successfully used for identification of some drugs to inhibit metastatic dissemination of human cancer cells.

Effects of sex hormones on liver tumor progression and regression in Myc/xmrk double oncogene transgenic zebrafish

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows clear sex disparity with men being more prone to developing HCC and having higher mortality than women. Previous studies have indicated that sex hormones play important roles in HCC initiation and development, but the effects of sex hormones on HCC in clinical trials remain inconsistent. Using zebrafish liver tumor model co-induced by oncogenes Myc and xmrk, we observed similar sex disparity between male and female zebrafish in liver tumor progression and regression; i.e. male Myc/xmrk transgenic zebrafish developed HCC significantly faster and regressed HCC significantly slower than female Myc/xmrk transgenic zebrtafish. To investigate the effects of sex hormones on liver tumor progression and regression, Myc/xmrk fish were treated with either androgen or estrogen, we observed that androgen promoted HCC progression and retarded HCC regression in females, while estrogen attenuated HCC progression and accelerated HCC regression in males. Furthermore, androgen promoted cell proliferation while estrogen inhibited it. Overall, the present study suggested that sex hormones affected liver tumor progression and regression in the Myc/xmrk transgenic zebrafish.

Chondroprotective Effects of Genistein against Osteoarthritis Induced Joint Inflammation

Genistein is an isoflavone extracted from soybean (Glycine max). This compound has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-cancer effects; however, the mechanism underlying the effects of genistein on IL-1β-stimulated human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes remains unknown. Our objectives in this study were to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of genistein on IL-1β-stimulated human OA chondrocytes and to investigate the potential mechanisms which underlie them. Our results from an in-vitro model of osteoarthritis indicate that genistein inhibits the IL-1β-induced expression of the catabolic factors nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Genistein was shown to stimulate Ho-1 expression, which has been associated with Nrf-2 pathway activation in human chondrocytes. In a rat model, genistein was also shown to attenuate the progression of traumatic osteoarthritis. Taken together, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of genistein in mediating the inflammation associated with joint disorders. Our results also indicate that genistein could potentially serve as an alternative therapeutic treatment for OA.

A green and facile synthesis for rGO/Ag nanocomposites using one-step chemical co-reduction route at ambient temperature and combined first principles theoretical analyze

Recently, graphene decorated with various inorganic nanoparticles, such as Pt, Au, Ag, TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄, among which Ag nanocomposites are good candidates for electronics, optics, electrochemistry and catalysis. However, preparation techniques for Ag nanoparticles/carbon matrix hybrids require tedious multi-step processes often involving toxic reducing agents/high temperatures which is not viable for scalable production. Here, a facile, one step and eco-friendly chemical co-reduction route was utilized to synthesis of a new nanocomposites by Ag nanoparticle anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) at ambient temperature and combined first principles theoretical analyze their interfacial adsorption behavior, is reported. In this way, graphene oxide (GO) and Ag⁺ simultaneously reduced by thiourea dioxide (TD) without using any additional reduced reactants. Results indicated that GO was successfully reduced to rGO and well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles with sizes of 6-7 nm, anchored on the surface of rGO sheets. Reduction mechanism was attributed to the synergistic effect of its hydrolysis products in aqueous media. The experiment and theoretical calculation results obtained demonstrate this method to be applicable to the synthesis of other metals on rGO sheets in order to improve wettability and interfacial bonding between rGO and metal and may possibly find various forthcoming medicinal, industrial and technological applications.

Observation of Weakened V-V Dimers in the Monoclinic Metallic Phase of Strained VO_{2}

Emergent order at mesoscopic length scales in condensed matter can provide fundamental insight into the underlying competing interactions and their relationship with the order parameter. Using spectromicroscopy, we show that mesoscopic stripe order near the metal-insulator transition (MIT) of strained VO_{2} represents periodic modulations in both crystal symmetry and V-V dimerization. Above the MIT, we unexpectedly find the long-range order of V-V dimer strength and crystal symmetry become dissociated beyond ≈200  nm, whereas the conductivity transition proceeds homogeneously in a narrow temperature range.

Inducible Intestine-Specific Expression of krasV12 Triggers Intestinal Tumorigenesis In Transgenic Zebrafish

KRAS mutations are a major risk factor in colorectal cancers. In particular, a point mutation of KRAS of amino acid 12, such as KRAS^V12, renders it stable activity in oncogenesis. We found that kras^V12 promotes intestinal carcinogenesis by generating a transgenic zebrafish line with inducible kras^V12 expression in the intestine, Tg(ifabp:EGFP-kras^V12). The transgenic fish generated exhibited significant increases in the rates of intestinal epithelial outgrowth, proliferation, and cross talk in the active Ras signaling pathway involving in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These results provide in vivo evidence of Ras pathway activation via kras^V12 overexpression. Long-term transgenic expression of kras^V12 resulted in enteritis, epithelial hyperplasia, and tubular adenoma in adult fish. This was accompanied by increased levels of the signaling proteins p-Erk and p-Akt and by downregulation of the EMT marker E-cadherin. Furthermore, we also observed a synergistic effect of kras^V12 expression and dextran sodium sulfate treatment to enhance intestinal tumor in zebrafish. Our results demonstrate that kras^V12 overexpression induces intestinal tumorigenesis in zebrafish, which mimics intestinal tumor formation in humans. Thus, our transgenic zebrafish may provide a valuable in vivo platform that can be used to investigate tumor initiation and anticancer drugs for gastrointestinal cancers.

Correlation between high expression levels of jumonji domain-containing 4 and short survival in cases of colon adenocarcinoma

In this study, we investigated the expression of jumonji domain-containing 4 (JMJD4) in colon adenocarcinoma (CA) look for evidences for future studies on clinical diagnostic and prognostic value. The immunohistochemical (IHC) reactivity of JMJD4 was assessed in human tissue microarrays using monoclonal antibodies. An initial investigation revealed that the expression of JMJD4 protein was significantly higher in tumor tissue of the colon and liver than in normal tissue. Upon further investigation, we observed significant positivity of JMJD4 between 59 paired samples from CA tissue and adjacent normal tissue. JMJD4 protein expression in CA differed significantly according to the histological grade and M-class (distant metastasis). We also determined that the mRNA or protein expression of JMJD4 was significantly associated with poor survival in patients with CA. Finally, univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that JMJD4 expression could be a prognostic indicator for patients with CA and may provide a new target for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of CA.

In vitro corrosion behavior and biocompatibility of nanostructured Ti6Al4V

Ti6Al4V (TC4) alloy has long been used as a bone interfacing implant material in dentistry and orthopedics due to its excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The performance of TC4 can be further tailored by altering its grain structures. In this study, by means of sliding friction treatment (SFT), a nano-grained (NG) surface layer with an average grain size of ≤100 nm on the topmost surface was successfully generated on coarse-grained (CG) TC4 alloy sheet. It was shown that the NG surface possessed notably enhanced corrosion resistance in physiological solution compared to the CG surface, due to the formation of thicker and denser passive film facilitated by surface nanocrystallization. Additionally, the NG surface with stronger hydrophilicity favorably altered the absorption of anchoring proteins such as fibronectin (Fn) and vitronectin (Vn) that can mediate subsequent osteoblast functions. The in vitro results indicated that the NG surface exhibited remarkable enhancement in osteoblast adherence, spreading and proliferation, and obviously accelerated the osteoblast differentiation as compared to CG surface. Moreover, the NG surface also demonstrated good hemocompatibility. These findings suggest that SFT can endure bio-metals with advanced multifunctional properties for biomedical applications.

Identification of a noncanonical function for ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A promotes colorectal cancer formation by stabilizing and activating β-catenin via a novel C-terminal domain

Altered metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancers. Deregulation of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A (RPIA) in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is known to promote tumorigenesis in liver, lung, and breast tissues. Yet, the molecular mechanism of RPIA-mediated colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. Our study demonstrates a noncanonical function of RPIA in CRC. Data from the mRNAs of 80 patients’ CRC tissues and paired nontumor tissues and protein levels, as well as a CRC tissue array, indicate RPIA is significantly elevated in CRC. RPIA modulates cell proliferation and oncogenicity via activation of β-catenin in colon cancer cell lines. Unlike its role in PPP in which RPIA functions within the cytosol, RPIA enters the nucleus to form a complex with the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and β-catenin. This association protects β-catenin by preventing its phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and subsequent degradation. The C-terminus of RPIA (amino acids 290 to 311), a region distinct from its enzymatic domain, is necessary for RPIA-mediated tumorigenesis. Consistent with results in vitro, RPIA increases the expression of β-catenin and its target genes, and induces tumorigenesis in gut-specific promotor-carrying RPIA transgenic zebrafish. Together, we demonstrate a novel function of RPIA in CRC formation in which RPIA enters the nucleus and stabilizes β-catenin activity and suggests that RPIA might be a biomarker for targeted therapy and prognosis.

The pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH, pentose, and ribose-5-phosphate by RPIA for nucleotide synthesis. Deregulation of RPIA is known to promote tumorigenesis in liver, lung, and breast tissues; however, the molecular mechanism of RPIA-mediated CRC is unknown. Here, we demonstrate a role of RPIA in CRC formation distinct from its role in these other tissues. We showed that RPIA is significantly elevated in CRC. RPIA increased cell proliferation and oncogenicity via activation of β-catenin, with RPIA entering the nucleus to form a complex with APC and β-catenin. Further investigation suggested that RPIA protects β-catenin by preventing its phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and subsequent degradation. In addition, the C-terminus of RPIA (amino acids 290 to 311), a portion of the protein not previously characterized, is necessary for RPIA-mediated tumorigenesis. Finally, we observed that transgenic expression of RPIA increases the expression of β-catenin and its target genes and induces tumorigenesis. Our findings suggest that RPIA can enter the nucleus and associate with APC/β-catenin, and suggest precise treatment of human CRC by targeting its nonenzymatic domain.

Prognostic significance of high YY1AP1 and PCNA expression in colon adenocarcinoma

To investigate the relationship between YY1AP1 and various clinicopathological features of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), we conducted immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of human tissue microarrays. We found that YY1AP1 protein expression was significantly higher in tumor tissue of the colon and liver, and was significantly lower in tumor tissue of the kidney. An analysis that employed the SurvExpress database indicated that increased expression of YY1AP1 mRNA was significantly associated with the overall survival of COAD patients. To clarify the validity of YY1AP1 or PCNA as determined by the IHC analysis was performed on 59 paired samples from COAD and adjacent normal tissue. Statistically significant differences of immunoreactivity for YY1AP1 or PCNA protein expression was observed between COAD tissue and adjacent normal tissue. High protein expression levels of YY1AP1 and PCNA were also found to be significantly correlated with M-class and distant metastasis. We also determined that YY1AP1 was correlated with PCNA expression in COAD samples, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that YY1AP1 protein expression was significantly associated with poor survival. Finally, a univariate analysis demonstrated that YY1AP1 protein expression was related to YY1AP1 score, and multivariate analysis revealed that the YY1AP1 protein expression level was an independent risk factor of overall COAD survival. Taken together, our findings indicate that YY1AP1 expression plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and progression of COAD and could serve as a clinical prognostic indicator for COAD.

Significance of histone methyltransferase SETDB1 expression in colon adenocarcinoma

This study investigated the clinical implications of SETDB1 (also known as KMT1E) in human colon adenocarcinoma. Expression levels of SETDB1 proteins were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining, and tissue microarrays were used to examine expression profiles in human patients. Our results revealed that SETDB1 protein expression was significantly higher in tumor tissue than in normal tissue for the breast, colon, liver, and lung (p < 0.05). Moreover, an analysis with SurvExpress software suggested that elevated expression of SETDB1 mRNA was significantly associated with the overall survival of colon adenocarcinoma patients (p < 0.05); and additional analysis involving 90 paired samples of colon adenocarcinoma tissue and normal tissue revealed that SETDB1 protein expression was 82% higher in cancerous cells (p < 0.001). High SETDB1 expression was also found to be significantly correlated with histological grade (p = 0.005), TNM stage (p = 0.003), T-class/primary tumor (p = 0.001), and N-class/regional lymph nodes (p = 0.017); and Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that SETDB1 protein expression was significantly associated with poor survival. Finally, univariate analysis demonstrated that SETDB1 protein expression was related to TNM stage (p = 0.004) and SETDB1 score (p = 0.001), whereas multivariate analysis showed that the influence of SETDB1 on overall colon adenocarcinoma survival was independent from other risk factors. Taken together, our results suggest that the SETDB1 protein could serve as a clinical prognostic indicator for colon adenocarcinoma.

Up-regulation of golgi α-mannosidase IA and down-regulation of golgi α-mannosidase IC activates unfolded protein response during hepatocarcinogenesis

α‐1,2 mannosidases, key enzymes in N‐glycosylation, are required for the formation of mature glycoproteins in eukaryotes. Aberrant regulation of α‐1,2 mannosidases can result in cancer, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we report the distinct roles of α‐1,2 mannosidase subtypes (MAN1A, MAN1B, ERMAN1, MAN1C) in the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinicopathological analyses revealed that the clinical stage, tumor size, α‐fetoprotein level, and invasion status were positively correlated with the expression levels of MAN1A1, MAN1B1, and MAN1A2. In contrast, the expression of MAN1C1 was decreased as early as stage I of HCC. Survival analyses showed that high MAN1A1, MAN1A2, and MAN1B1 expression levels combined with low MAN1C1 expression levels were significantly correlated with shorter overall survival rates. Functionally, the overexpression of MAN1A1 promoted proliferation, migration, and transformation as well as in vivo migration in zebrafish. Conversely, overexpression of MAN1C1 reduced the migration ability both in vitro and in vivo, decreased the colony formation ability, and shortened the S phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in cell cycle/proliferation and migration was increased in MAN1A1‐overexpressing cells but decreased in MAN1C1‐overexpressing cells. MAN1A1 activated the expression of key regulators of the unfolded protein response (UPR), while treatment with endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitors blocked the expression of MAN1A1‐activated genes. Using the MAN1A1 liver‐specific overexpression zebrafish model, we observed steatosis and inflammation at earlier stages and HCC formation at a later stage accompanied by the increased expression of the UPR modulator binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP). These data suggest that the up‐regulation of MAN1A1 activates the UPR and might initiate metastasis. Conclusion: MAN1A1 represents a novel oncogene while MAN1C1 plays a role in tumor suppression in hepatocarcinogenesis. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:230‐247)

Antiviral activities of niclosamide and nitazoxanide against chikungunya virus entry and transmission

Chikungunya disease results from an infection with the arbovirus, chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Symptoms of CHIKV include fever and persistent, severe arthritis. In recent years, several antiviral drugs have been evaluated in clinical trials; however, no registered antivirals have been approved for clinical therapy. In this study, we established a high-throughput screening (HTS) system based on CHIKV 26S mediated insect cell fusion inhibition assay. Our screening system was able to search potential anti-CHIKV drugs in vitro. Using this system, four compounds (niclosamide, nitazoxanide, niflumic acid, tolfenamic acid) were identified. These compounds were then further analyzed using a microneutralization assay. We determined that niclosamide and nitazoxanide exhibit ability to against CHIKV-induced CPE. The anti-CHIKV abilities of these compounds were further confirmed by RT-qPCR and IFA. Moreover, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were found to (1) limit virus entry, (2) inhibit both viral release and cell-to-cell transmission, and (3) possess broad anti-alphavius activities, including against two clinical CHIKV isolates and two alphaviruses: Sindbis virus (SINV) and Semliki forest virus (SFV). In conclusion, our findings suggested that niclosamide and nitazoxanide were able to inhibit CHIKV entry and transmission, which might provide a basis for the development of novel human drug therapies against CHIKV and other alphavirus infections.

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Fusion inhibition assay was successfully established an anti-CHIKV drugs HTS system.

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Niclosamide and nitazoxanide were found and verified their ability to against CHIKV entry and transmission.

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Both of niclosamide and nitazoxanide also possessed broad anti-alphavirus abilities.

Cabozantinib is selectively cytotoxic in acute myeloid leukemia cells with FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD)

Cabozantinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that exhibits anti-tumor activity in several cancers. We found that cabozantinib was significantly cytotoxic to MV4-11 and Molm-13 cells that harbored FLT3-ITD, resulting in IC50 values of 2.4 nM and 2.0 nM, respectively. However, K562, OCI-AML3 and THP-1 (leukemia cell lines lacking FLT3-ITD) were resistant to cabozantinib, showing IC50 values in the micromolar range. Cabozantinib arrested MV4-11 cell growth at the G0/G1 phase within 24 h, which was associated with decreased phosphorylation of FLT3, STAT5, AKT and ERK. Additionally, cabozantinib induced MV4-11 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (as indicated by annexin V staining and high levels of cleaved caspase 3 and PARP-1), down-regulated the anti-apoptotic protein survivin and up-regulated the pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Thus, cabozantinib is selectively cytotoxic to leukemia cells with FLT3-ITD, causing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. In mouse xenograft model, cabozantinib significantly inhibited MV4-11 and Molm-13 tumor growth at a dosage of 10 mg/kg and showed longer survival rate. Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of cabozantinib in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3-ITD are warranted.

Tissue microarray-based study of hepatocellular carcinoma validating SPIB as potential clinical prognostic marker

Currently, the prognostic significance of SPIB protein overexpression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of SPIB expression in human HCC in order to determine possible correlations between SPIB expression and clinicopathological findings. The expression of SPIB proteins was detected using immunohistochemical staining in commercial multiple-tissue microarrays as a means of examining expression profiles in patients. Using online biomarker validation tool SurvExpress, we focused on the correlation between SPIB overexpression and survival as well as relapse-free survival (RFS). Results show that SPIB protein expression levels were significantly higher in colon, liver, and stomach tumors than in non-tumor tissues (p<0.05). SPIB overexpression in patients with HCC was also significantly higher than that of the normal samples (p<0.001). Among patients with liver disease, SPIB protein expression levels differ significantly according to the stage of liver disease, specifically between stages I, II, and III of HCC (p<0.05). SPIB expression was also shown to be significantly correlated with age (p=0.046) and histological grade (p=0.027). Furthermore, the SurvExpress analysis suggested that high SPIB and KI-67 mRNA expression were significantly associated with the poor survival of patients with HCC (p<0.05). Our results indicate that cross-talk in the expression of SPIB and KI-67 may be associated with poor prognosis and may potentially serve as a clinical prognostic indicator of HCC. This is the first time that such an association has been reported.

Zebrafish as a disease model for studying human hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer is one of the world’s most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary hepatic cancer, accounts for 90%-95% of liver cancer cases. The pathogenesis of HCC consists of a stepwise process of liver damage that extends over decades, due to hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and cirrhosis before developing fully into HCC. Multiple risk factors are highly correlated with HCC, including infection with the hepatitis B or C viruses, alcohol abuse, aflatoxin exposure, and metabolic diseases. Over the last decade, genetic alterations, which include the regulation of multiple oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes and the activation of tumorigenesis-related pathways, have also been identified as important factors in HCC. Recently, zebrafish have become an important living vertebrate model organism, especially for translational medical research. In studies focusing on the biology of cancer, carcinogen induced tumors in zebrafish were found to have many similarities to human tumors. Several zebrafish models have therefore been developed to provide insight into the pathogenesis of liver cancer and the related drug discovery and toxicology, and to enable the evaluation of novel small-molecule inhibitors. This review will focus on illustrative examples involving the application of zebrafish models to the study of human liver disease and HCC, through transgenesis, genome editing technology, xenografts, drug discovery, and drug-induced toxic liver injury.

MK-2206 induces apoptosis of AML cells and enhances the cytotoxicity of cytarabine

Genetic alterations in the PI3K/AKT cascade have been linked to various human cancers including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and have emerged to be promising targets for treatment. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism and clinical implication of a specific allosteric AKT inhibitor, MK-2206, in the treatment of AML. Four leukemia cell lines, MV-4-11, MOLM-13, OCI/AML3, and U937, were used. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometry analysis. Expression of anti-apoptotic protein family and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) signaling was determined by western blotting. Drug combination effects of MK-2206 with cytarabine were evaluated by cell proliferation assay, and the combination index values were calculated by CompuSyn software. MK-2206 had no effect on normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but induced G1-phase arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Among anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, only myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) was significantly suppressed. Mcl-1 suppression by MK-2206 was closely associated with decreased GSK3β phosphorylation at Ser9, an event leads to GSK3β activation. Furthermore, the effect of MK-2206 on Mcl-1 downregulation was abolished by GSK3β inhibitor, lithium chloride and proteasome inhibitor, MG-132, suggesting that MK-2206 acted through a GSK3β-mediated, proteasome-dependent protein degradation. In addition, co-administration of MK-2206 with cytarabine could enhance the cytotoxic efficacy of cytarabine in leukemia cell lines. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that MK-2206 is an active agent in AML and its efficacy as in combination with cytarabine is implicated.

JMJD2B as a potential diagnostic immunohistochemical marker for hepatocellular carcinoma: a tissue microarray-based study

The purpose of this study was to examine JMJD2B expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and elucidate relationships between various expression patterns and clinicopathological parameters of HCC patients. Immunohistochemical techniques were performed to detect JMJD2B expression in a tissue microarray from patients with breast, cerebrum, colon, esophagus, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, stomach, and uterus cancers. We performed immunohistochemical staining of a multiple tissue array to examine the expression profile of JMJD2B. Our results demonstrate that JMJD2B protein levels were upregulated in malignant human tumors, including breast, colon, liver, and lung. Immunohistochemistry staining examination of liver tumor tissue microarray revealed that the expression of JMJD2B is significant according to the histological grade and TNM stage of liver tumor. Moreover, JMJD2B was also correlated with Ki-67 expression in HCC samples. These results reveal that JMJD2B is dramatically upregulated in HCC, making it a potential diagnostic marker for the further development of HCC treatment therapies.

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A regulates hepatocarcinogenesis via PP2A and ERK signaling

The deregulated nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is known to promote oncogenesis, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we report that human ribose-5-phosphate isomerase A (RPIA) plays a role in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A significant increase in RPIA expression was detected both in tumor biopsies of HCC patients and in a liver cancer tissue array. Importantly, the clinicopathological analysis indicated that RPIA mRNA levels were highly correlated with clinical stage, grade, tumor size, types, invasion and alpha-fetoprotein levels in the HCC patients. In addition, we demonstrated that the ability of RPIA to regulate cell proliferation and colony formation in different liver cancer cell lines required ERK signaling as well as the negative modulation of PP2A activity and that the effects of RPIA could be modulated by the addition of either a PP2A inhibitor or activator. Furthermore, the xenograft studies in nude mice revealed that the modulation of RPIA in liver cancer cells regulated tumor growth and that NIH3T3 cells overexpressing RPIA exhibited increased proliferation, enhanced colony formation, elevated levels of p-ERK1/2 and accelerated tumor growth. This study provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms by which RPIA overexpression can induce oncogenesis in HCC. Furthermore, it suggests that RPIA can be a good prognosis biomarker and a potential target for HCC therapy.

H3K9 histone methyltransferase, KMT1E/SETDB1, cooperates with the SMAD2/3 pathway to suppress lung cancer metastasis

Aberrant histone methylation is a frequent event during tumor development and progression. KMT1E (also known as SETDB1) is a histone H3K9 methyltransferase that contributes to epigenetic silencing of both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cancer cells. In this report, we demonstrate that KMT1E acts as a metastasis suppressor that is strongly downregulated in highly metastatic lung cancer cells. Restoring KMT1E expression in this setting suppressed filopodia formation, migration, and invasive behavior. Conversely, loss of KMT1E in lung cancer cells with limited metastatic potential promoted migration in vitro and restored metastatic prowess in vivo. Mechanistic investigations indicated that KMT1E cooperates with the TGFβ-regulated complex SMAD2/3 to repress metastasis through ANXA2. Together, our findings defined an essential role for the KMT1E/SMAD2/3 repressor complex in TGFβ-mediated lung cancer metastasis.

Direct observation of decoupled structural and electronic transitions and an ambient pressure monocliniclike metallic phase of VO2

We report the simultaneous measurement of the structural and electronic components of the metal-insulator transition (MIT) of VO2 using electron and photoelectron spectroscopies and microscopies. We show that these evolve over different temperature scales, and are separated by an unusual monocliniclike metallic phase. Our results provide conclusive evidence that the new monocliniclike metallic phase, recently identified in high-pressure and nonequilibrium measurements, is accessible in the thermodynamic transition at ambient pressure, and we discuss the implications of these observations on the nature of the MIT in VO2.

Zebrafish WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1 (wnk1) affects angiogenesis associated with VEGF signaling

The WNK1 (WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1) protein is a serine/threonine protein kinase with emerging roles in cancer. WNK1 causes hypertension and hyperkalemia when overexpressed and cardiovascular defects when ablated in mice. In this study, the role of Wnk1 in angiogenesis was explored using the zebrafish model. There are two zebrafish wnk1 isoforms, wnk1a and wnk1b, and both contain all the functional domains found in the human WNK1 protein. Both isoforms are expressed in the embryo at the initiation of angiogenesis and in the posterior cardinal vein (PCV), similar to fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (flt4). Using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides against wnk1a and wnk1b, we observed that wnk1 morphants have defects in angiogenesis in the head and trunk, similar to flk1/vegfr2 morphants. Furthermore, both wnk1a and wnk1b mRNA can partially rescue the defects in vascular formation caused by flk1/vegfr2 knockdown. Mutation of the kinase domain or the Akt/PI3K phosphorylation site within wnk1 destroys this rescue capability. The rescue experiments provide evidence that wnk1 is a downstream target for Vegfr2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) and Akt/PI3K signaling and thereby affects angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (flk1/vegfr2) or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (flt4/vegfr3) results in a decrease in wnk1a expression, as assessed by insitu hybridization and q-RT-PCR analysis. Thus, the Vegf/Vegfr signaling pathway controls angiogenesis in zebrafish via Akt kinase-mediated phosphorylation and activation of Wnk1 as well as transcriptional regulation of wnk1 expression.