Future directions in managing aniridia-associated keratopathy

Congenital aniridia is a panocular disorder that is typically characterized by iris hypoplasia and aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). AAK results in the progressive loss of corneal transparency and thereby loss of vision. Currently, there is no approved therapy to delay or prevent its progression, and clinical management is challenging because of phenotypic variability and high risk of complications after interventions; however, new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of AAK may help improve its management. Here, we review the current understanding about the pathogenesis and management of AAK. We highlight the biological mechanisms involved in AAK development with the aim to develop future treatment options, including surgical, pharmacological, cell therapies, and gene therapies.     

Evaluation of circulating cell free DNA in plasma as a biomarker of different thyroid diseases

IntroductionMany studies have been done on proteomics, genomics, epigenetic, immunogenetics in many body fluids. Among these, circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) entered the literature in 1948, but it has not been studied for many years due to technological deficiencies. Following recent advances, geno-metastasis has been mentioned and new research is needed in this area. ccfDNA is known to be an important biomolecule in this regard.ObjectiveThe presence of cell-free DNA in the circulatory system may offer a tremendous opportunity to provide novel biomarkers for thyroid diseases. This experimental study was conducted to determine the amount of ccfDNA in different thyroid diseases, then to evaluate whether the ccfDNA concentration varied between the disease groups and control group.MethodsIn total, we included 121 individuals in the present study. We collected blood samples and then determined the ccfDNA concentration in plasma of collected blood samples from three groups: thyroiditis (n = 33), benign (n = 37), and malignant (n = 30) and from a control group (n = 21).ResultsThe median values of the ccfDNA groups were found as 1610, 1665, 1685 and 576 ng/mL for the thyroiditis, benign, malign, and control groups, respectively. Findings showed that the ccfDNA of the three groups was significantly higher than the control (p < 0.0001). Each group was compared in terms of ccfDNA and the p-values of benign-thyroiditis, benign-malign, and thyroiditis-malign were 0.09, 0.65, and 0.29, respectively.ConclusionsThe clear differences between thyroid diseases and controls suggest that ccfDNA is worthy of attention as a biomarker for further evaluation of different thyroid diseases. Likewise, it might indicate a clear tendency that ccfDNA can also be used to distinguish different thyroid diseases.     

Nidogen 1 regulates proliferation and migration/invasion in murine claudin-low mammary tumor cells

Nidogen 1 (NID1) is a glycoprotein found in basement membranes involved in cross-linking collagen IV and laminin. The role of NID in breast cancer has only been evaluated in a small number of studies and the findings of these studies have been inconsistent. Our previous work revealed that highly tumorigenic murine mammary tumor cells express high levels of Nid1 while weakly tumorigenic mammary tumor cells express low levels of Nid1. To investigate Nid1, two stable knockdown lines were created, and Nid1 knockdown was confirmed at both the mRNA and protein level. Nid1 knockdown significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration/invasion and these reductions in proliferation and migration/invasion could be rescued by conditioned media containing NID1 protein. The reduced migration/invasion observed in the Nid1 knockdown cells was not associated with significant alterations in the epithelial gene Cdh1 or the mesenchymal genes Snai1, Snai2, Twist1, Twist2, Zeb1 and Zeb2. Therefore, suppression of Nid1 expression reduces proliferation and migration/invasion in claudin-low murine mammary tumor cells.     

BCAN基因在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的以基因表达数据集资料为研究对象,分析BCAN基因在肾透明细胞癌中的表达情况以及对患者预后的影响。方法在Oncomine数据库中挖掘BCAN在肾透明细胞癌(ccRCC)中的表达情况。从TCGA数据库中获取ccRCC患者临床资料和目的基因的表达信息并进行统计分析。利用GEO数据库中GSE73731数据集的ccRCC样本进行基因富集分析。利用String数据库分析与BCAN相关的蛋白。结果BCAN低表达组的ccRCC患者在病理分期及T分期方面低于高表达组(P<0.001;P=0.001);N分期及M分期差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。BCAN低表达组患者的总生存期优于高表达组(P=0.033)。BCAN基因高表达组的样本主要富集在KRAS信号通路。结论BCAN可以通过多种途径来促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭能力,有望成为ccRCC不良预后的重要生物标志物之一。     

Immunisation with the BCG and DTPw vaccines induces different programs of trained immunity in mice

In addition to providing pathogen-specific immunity, vaccines can also confer nonspecific effects (NSEs) on mortality and morbidity unrelated to the targeted disease. Immunisation with live vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine, has generally been associated with significantly reduced all-cause infant mortality. In contrast, some inactivated vaccines, such as the diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell pertussis (DTPw) vaccine, have been controversially associated with increased all-cause mortality especially in female infants in high-mortality settings. The NSEs associated with BCG have been attributed, in part, to the induction of trained immunity, an epigenetic and metabolic reprograming of innate immune cells, increasing their responsiveness to subsequent microbial encounters. Whether non-live vaccines such as DTPw induce trained immunity is currently poorly understood. Here, we report that immunisation of mice with DTPw induced a unique program of trained immunity in comparison to BCG immunised mice. Altered monocyte and DC cytokine responses were evident in DTPw immunised mice even months after vaccination. Furthermore, splenic cDCs from DTPw immunised mice had altered chromatin accessibility at loci involved in immunity and metabolism, suggesting that these changes were epigenetically mediated. Interestingly, changing the order in which the BCG and DTPw vaccines were co-administered to mice altered subsequent trained immune responses. Given these differences in trained immunity, we also assessed whether administration of these vaccines altered susceptibility to sepsis in two different mouse models. Immunisation with either BCG or a DTPw-containing vaccine prior to the induction of sepsis did not significantly alter survival. Further studies are now needed to more fully investigate the potential consequences of DTPw induced trained immunity in different contexts and to assess whether other non-live vaccines also induce similar changes.     

Cytotoxic Effects of Betel Quid and Areca Nut Aqueous Extracts on Mouse Fibroblast,Human Mouth-Ordinary-Epithelium 1 and Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

Background: Betel quid chewing is more common among the older generation in rural areas of Malaysia. Oral cancer in Asia has been associated with the habit of chewing betel quid and areca nut. Objective:  This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic effects of betel quid and areca nut extracts on the fibroblast (L929), mouth-ordinary-epithelium 1 (MOE1) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) cell lines. Methods: L929, MOE1 and HSC-2 cells were treated with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/ml of betel quid and areca nut extracts for 24, 48 and 72 h. MTT assay was performed to assess the cell viability. Results: Both extracts, regardless of concentration, significantly reduced the cell viability of L929 compared with the control (P<0.05). Cell viability of MOE1 was significantly enhanced by all betel quid concentrations compared with the control (P<0.05). By contrast, 0.4 g/ml of areca nut extract significantly reduced the cell viability of MOE1 at 48 and 72 h of incubation. Cell viability of HSC-2 was significantly lowered by all areca nut extracts, but 0.4 g/ml of betel quid significantly increased the cell viability of HSC-2 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Areca nut extract is cytotoxic to L929 and HSC-2, whereas the lower concentrations of areca nut extract significantly increased the cell viability of MOE1 compared to the higher concentration and control group. Although betel quid extract is cytotoxic to L929, the same effect is not observed in MOE1 and HSC-2 cell lines. Further investigations are needed to clarify the mechanism of action.     

头颈部恶性肿瘤嗜神经侵袭临床诊治现状

嗜神经侵袭是肿瘤通过神经扩散与转移的一种独特的生物学行为,与复发、转移、预后密切相关。随着研究的不断深入,人们普遍认识到嗜神经侵袭的临床意义。但由于头颈部肿瘤发病率相对较低,不同解剖部位、不同病理类型嗜神经发生率各不相同,故缺乏高级别的循证医学证据。目前嗜神经侵袭的病理学机制尚未完全阐明,也无针对神经侵犯的特异性治疗手段,因此头颈部肿瘤嗜神经侵袭的治疗对于临床医师是一个巨大的挑战。本文就头颈部恶性肿瘤中嗜神经侵袭的临床诊治现状做一综述。     

基因间长链非编码RNA152靶向微小RNA?103a?3p对非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖和侵袭迁移的影响

目的探讨基因间长链非编码RNA 152(LINC00152)靶向调控微小RNA-103a-3p(miR-103a-3p)表达及对非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)细胞增殖和侵袭迁移的影响。方法采用实时定量PCR(QPCR)检测正常肺上皮细胞BEAS-2B及NSCLC细胞(ANIP-973、NCI-H157、A549和NCI-H1975)的LINC00152水平。选取LINC00152水平最高的细胞分别转染LINC00152特异性小干扰RNA(si-LINC00152组)或无关序列(si-NC组),另设未转染细胞为对照组。QPCR检测LINC00152水平,活细胞计数CCK-8法、Transwell小室和划痕实验测定细胞增殖、侵袭和迁移能力,Western blotting检测基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)-2、MMP-9和第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶及张力蛋白同源基因(PTEN)的水平;荧光素酶报告实验验证LINC00152靶向结合miR-103a-3p的能力。结果NSCLC细胞的LINC00152水平均高于BEAS-2B细胞(P<0.05),尤其是NCI-H1975细胞的最高。si-LINC00152组的LINC00152水平为0.352±0.087,低于对照组的1.058±0.219和si-NC组的1.126±0.139(P<0.05)。与si-NC组和对照组相比,si-LINC00152组NCI-H1975细胞转染48、72 h的增殖活力下降(P<0.05);si-LINC00152组的划痕愈合率和穿膜细胞数分别为(27.386±2.428)%和(78.840±5.031)个,低于si-NC组的(77.675±4.803)%和(179.208±13.264)个及对照组的(76.371±5.385)%和(174.003±15.678)个(P<0.05);与si-NC组和对照组相比,si-LINC00152组的MMP-2和MMP-9水平均降低,而PTEN水平升高(P<0.05)。对照组和si-NC组上述指标的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。双荧光素酶报告分析证实,miR-103a-3p模拟物降低了野生型LINC00152的荧光素酶活性(P<0.05),但对突变型无影响(P>0.05)。结论LINC00152在NSCLC细胞中高表达并发挥促癌作用,与NSCLC的迁移侵袭密切相关,LINC00152与miR-103a-3p间的相互作用在NSCLC靶向治疗中有一定潜能。     

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate,reduces corneal damage secondary from experimental grade II alkali burns in mice

Background

Since recent reports have shown that (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could be used for treating proliferative and inflammatory disorders, we explored its use for the management of corneal chemical burns.