Decreased miR-124 contributes to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype formation of lung adenocarcinoma cells via targeting enhancer of zeste homolog 2

IntroductionMiR-124, a tumor suppressor, is involved in regulating various cellular processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible function of miR-124 in LA (lung adenocarcinoma) cells.AimsMiR-124 expression levels in the 54 pairs of LA tissues (and corresponding non-tumor tissues) obtained at the Sixth People’s Hospital of Yancheng City and in LA cells were assessed by qRT-PCR. Colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assays, attachment/detachment, western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to assess the function of miR-124 on proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotypes in LA cells in vitro. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is identified as a target of miR-124 by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Rescue assays were applied to verify the relationship between miR-124 and EZH2.ResultsMiR-124 was down-regulated in LA tissues (compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues), and was down-regulated in 3 out of 4 lung cancer cell lines compared to immortalized, non-tumorigenic bronchial epithelial cells. Forced expression of miR-124 significantly suppressed tumor cell proliferation, migration and inhibited the EMT process. On the contrary, deletion of miR-124 could obviously promote cell proliferation, migration and facilitate the formation of EMT phenotype. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that EZH2 was a target gene of miR-124 and was negatively correlated with the level of miR-124 in cancer tissues.ConclusionOur current study suggested that miR-124 was a tumor suppressor in LA, and miR-124 was associated with LA cell EMT phenotype formation via targeting EZH2.     

The oncogenic impact of RNF2 on cell proliferation,invasion and migration through EMT on mammary carcinoma

Mammary carcinoma (MC) is one of most common malignancy in women, and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) possesses various roles in vast human tumors. In MC tissues as well as in cell lines RNF2 exhibited high expression, had significant association with tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage, patients’ poor survival, and promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion of MC cell lines which was mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin protein. These data reveal that RNF2 protein plays a vital role in the development of MC and may be a potential therapy target of MC.     

The RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL3 promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion

Epigenetic modifications are involved in carcinogenesis and METTL3 is involved in RNA methylation. This study aimed to explore the role of the RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL3 in pancreatic cancer cells. The m6A modification was analyzed in human pancreatic cancer and paracancerous specimens, as well as in the normal HPDE6-C7 pancreatic cell line and the MIA-PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting, and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of METTL3. Cell lines were transfected with siRNAs against METLL3. Proliferation, invasion, and migration were examined. The functions of METTL3 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. In the 40 patients included, high METTL3 expression was associated with high pathological stage (P = 0.02) and high N stage (P = 0.02). Survival was better in patients with low METTL3 expression compared with those with high MTTL3 expression (P < 0.01). METTL3 and CIITA expression levels were inversely correlated (r = ?0.71, P < 0.01). RNA m6A content in tumor specimens was significantly higher than that in paracancerous specimens. METTL3 protein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in tumor specimens compared with paracancerous specimens, as well as in cancerous cell lines vs. normal cells. METTL3 knockdown in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells decreased RNA m6A modifications. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were decreased by METTL3 knockdown in cancerous cell lines. A total of 673 differentially expressed genes were identified by bioinformatics: 659 were upregulated and 14 were downregulated. In conclusion, METTL3 is probably involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis. It could eventually be a prognostic marker or a treatment target.     

敲低DCLK1抑制神经胶质瘤细胞增殖、 迁移与侵袭CSCD

目的探讨双肾上腺皮质激素样激酶 1(DCLK1)对胶质瘤细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响及其机制。方法 RT-qPCR、免疫组织化学染色和Western blot检测胶质瘤组织和细胞(U87和A172)中DCLK1 mRNA和蛋白的表达情况;sh-DCLK1和阴性对照(sh-Con)转染U87和A172细胞;MTT和Transwell法分析敲低DCLK1对神经胶质瘤细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力的影响;蛋白印迹法检测敲低DCLK1对神经胶质瘤细胞中TGF-β/Smads信号通路相关蛋白TGF-β1、p-Smad2、p-Smad7表达的影响;将已转染sh-DCLK1或sh-Con的U87细胞注射到BALB/c裸鼠颈部皮下,定期测量瘤体体积,收集瘤体并称重。结果胶质瘤组织和细胞中DCLK1 mRNA和蛋白表达较癌旁正常组织和正常神经胶质细胞均显著升高(P<0.001)。与sh-Con组比,sh-DCLK1组的胶质瘤细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭能力及细胞中TGF-β1、p-Smad2和p-Smad7表达显著降低(P<0.01;P<0.001);sh-DCLK1组裸鼠体内的瘤体体积和瘤体质量明显降低(P<0.001)。结论敲低DCLK1能抑制胶质瘤细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭,其机制可能与抑制TGF-β/Smads信号活性有关。     

Gendered dimensions of population mobility associated with HIV across three epidemics in rural Eastern Africa

Mobility in sub-Saharan Africa links geographically-separate HIV epidemics, intensifies transmission by enabling higher-risk sexual behavior, and disrupts care. This population-based observational cohort study measured complex dimensions of mobility in rural Uganda and Kenya. Survey data were collected every 6 months beginning in 2016 from a random sample of 2308 adults in 12 communities across three regions, stratified by intervention arm, baseline residential stability and HIV status. Analyses were survey-weighted and stratified by sex, region, and HIV status. In this study, there were large differences in the forms and magnitude of mobility across regions, between men and women, and by HIV status.We found that adult migration varied widely by region, higher proportions of men than women migrated within the past one and five years, and men predominated across all but the most localized scales of migration: a higher proportion of women than men migrated within county of origin. Labor-related mobility was more common among men than women, while women were more likely to travel for non-labor reasons. Labor-related mobility was associated with HIV positive status for both men and women, adjusting for age and region, but the association was especially pronounced in women. The forms, drivers, and correlates of mobility in eastern Africa are complex and highly gendered. An in-depth understanding of mobility may help improve implementation and address gaps in the HIV prevention and care continua.     

低表达S100钙离子结合蛋白A6促进食管腺癌SK-GT-4细胞的增殖和迁移

目的 探讨S100钙离子结合蛋白A6（S100A6）对食管腺癌SK-GT-4细胞增殖和迁移的影响。 方法 慢病毒转染，构建稳定细胞系shNC和shS100A6，Real-time PCR检测S100A6 mRNA表达情况；倒置显微镜和MTT检测细胞的增殖能力，Transwell检测细胞的迁移能力及U0126（MER1/2的抑制剂）、LY294002（PI3K抑制剂）对细胞增殖、迁移的影响；Western blotting检测细胞中S100A6、p-ERK、p-Akt及其下游参与增殖、迁移的相关蛋白的表达情况，检测U0126、LY294002对p-ERK、p-Akt及其下游参与增殖、迁移的相关蛋白表达的影响。 结果 构建了敲低S100A6的稳定细胞系，敲低S100A6促进了细胞的增殖和迁移，p-ERK、p-Akt水平升高，细胞周期抑制蛋白p21表达量下降、细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclinD1）表达升高，间质细胞标志蛋白——波形蛋白（vimentin）、β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）表达升高；U0126处理shS100A6细胞后，对细胞的增殖无影响，抑制细胞的迁移，p-ERK、β-catenin表达下降；LY294002处理shS100A6细胞后，抑制细胞的增殖和迁移，p-Akt表达下降，p21表达量升高，cyclinD1表达量下降，β-catenin表达下降。 结论 低表达S100A6促进细胞的增殖和迁移，其可能机制是通过p-Akt调控细胞周期的进程促进细胞增殖，通过激活p-Akt/p-ERK调控β-catenin促进细胞的迁移。     

Taking stock of Roma health policies in Spain: Lessons for health governance

Roma health inequities are a wicked problem. Despite concerted efforts to reduce them under the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative, the health gap between Roma and non-Roma populations in Europe persists. To address this problem, the European Commission devised the National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS). This paper provides a critical assessment of the implementation of the NRIS’ health strand (NRIS-H) in Spain and proposes an evaluation tool to monitor Roma health policies – the Roma Health Integration Policy Index (RHIPEX). It also makes recommendations to promote Roma health governance. To achieve these goals, four community forums, 33 stakeholder interviews and a scoping review were conducted.Results show that the NRIS-H implementation is hindered by lack of political commitment and poor resource allocation. This has a negative impact on Roma’s entitlement to healthcare and on their participation in decision-making processes, jeopardising the elimination of the barriers that undermine their access to healthcare and potentially contributing to reproduce inequalities. These unintended effects point out the need to rethink Roma health governance by strengthening intersectional and intersectoral policies, enabling transformative Roma participation in policymaking and guaranteeing shared socio-political responsibility and accountability.     

二氢杨梅素对绒毛膜癌细胞增殖和迁移能力的影响

目的 探讨二氢杨梅素（DMY）对绒毛膜癌（绒癌）JEG-3及JAR细胞增殖和迁移能力的影响。 方法 MTT法检测不同浓度的二氢杨梅素(0 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 40 mg/L, 60 mg/L, 80 mg/L)作用一定时间后,对绒癌JEG-3和JAR细胞增殖能力的影响;细胞划痕实验和Transwell法检测不同浓度二氢杨梅素(0 mg/L, 40 mg/L, 60 mg/L, 80 mg/L)分别作用绒癌JEG-3细胞及JAR细胞一定时间后,对其迁移能力的影响;Real-time PCR和Western blotting方法分别检测不同浓度二氢杨梅素(0 mg/L, 40 mg/L, 60 mg/L, 80 mg/L)作用绒癌JEG-3及JAR细胞后,基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP-2）mRNA和蛋白表达水平的影响。 结果 不同浓度二氢杨梅素作用绒癌JEG-3和JAR细胞24 h和48 h后,随着二氢杨梅素浓度增加,对JEG-3和JAR细胞增殖抑制作用增强（P＜0.05）。二氢杨梅素作用绒癌JEG-3及JAR细胞后,显著抑制细胞迁移能力,且具有浓度依赖性（P＜0.05）。不同浓度二氢杨梅素作用JEG-3和JAR细胞后,MMP-2 的mRNA和蛋白表达水平明显下降（P＜0.05）。 结论 二氢杨梅素能够抑制JEG-3及JAR细胞的增殖能力且具有浓度依赖性,同时二氢杨梅素可能通过下调绒癌JEG-3及JAR细胞中MMP-2 mRNA和蛋白的表达,抑制绒癌细胞的侵袭迁移。