Association between genetic variants at 9p21 locus with risk of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent tumor in women and genetic factors are among the main risk factors contributing to this malignancy. Chromosome 9p21 contains important regulatory non-coding RNAs and is associated with multiple malignancies including BC. The current meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between genetic variants within the 9p21 locus and risk of breast cancer. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus and Clinical key databases. Nine studies containing 23,726 subjects were eligible for the final analysis and specific odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) were evaluated to assess the strength of the associations. In the pooled analysis, there was an association between the genetic variations in 9p21 locus (CDKN2A/2B) with risk of breast cancer with a standard OR of 1.22 (95% CI: 1.04–1.45, P = 0.016; random-effects model), supporting the significance of this locus as a novel risk factor for breast cancer patients. In conclusion, our results showed that 9p21 region is positively associated with risk of BC and its polymorphisms may be a candidate marker for BC susceptibility.     

黄连碱上调miR-146a-5p后通过PI3K/AKT通路减轻由MPP+诱导的帕金森病细胞模型损伤

目的探讨黄连碱对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子(MPP+)诱导的帕金森病(PD)细胞损伤的影响及其机制。方法用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理SK-N-SH细胞作为PD细胞模型,记为MPP+组,以正常培养的细胞作为空白对照组。用浓度分别为10μmol/L、20μmol/L、40μmol/L的黄连碱预处理4h后再用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理作为不同浓度黄连碱处理组。将miR-con、miR-146a-5p转染至SK-N-SH细胞后再用0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理记为MPP++miR-con组、MPP++miR-146a-5p组;将anti-miR-con、anti-miR-146a-5p转染至SK-N-SH细胞后用20μmol/L的黄连碱预处理4h及0.3 mmol/L的MPP+处理记为MPP++Cop+anti-miR-con组、MPP++Cop+anti-miR-146a-5p组。四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法(MTT)检测细胞存活率;Western blotting实验检测活化的半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)、细胞周期蛋白D1(Cyclin D1)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B(p-AKT)、磷酸化磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(p-PI3K)蛋白表达水平;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测miR-146a-5p表达水平。结果与空白对照组比较,MPP+处理后SK-N-SH细胞存活率显著降低,活化caspase-3表达水平显著升高,细胞凋亡率显著升高,CyclinD1、miR-146a-5p表达水平显著降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。黄连碱处理及miR-146a-5p过表达后MPP+诱导的SK-N-SH细胞中细胞存活率显著升高,活化caspase-3表达水平显著降低,细胞凋亡率显著降低,CyclinD1、miR-146a-5p表达水平显著升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。低表达miR-146a-5p逆转了黄连碱对SK-N-SH细胞增殖促进和凋亡抑制的作用。黄连碱处理后MPP+诱导的SK-N-SH细胞中p-AKT、p-PI3K表达水平显著升高,低表达miR-146a-5p逆转了黄连碱对p-AKT、p-PI3K表达水平的促进作用。结论黄连碱可促进细胞存活,抑制MPP+诱导的细胞凋亡,其机制可能与miR-146a-5p及PI3K/AKT信号通路有关。     

枸杞多糖对大鼠角膜缘干细胞体外增殖的影响研究

目的通过体外分离和培养大鼠角膜缘干细胞(Limbal Stem Cells, LSCs)，观察枸杞多糖(Lyciumbarbarum Polysaccharide, LBP)对LSCs体外增殖的影响，为中药体外培养LSCs的研究提供实验资料。 方法体外分离和培养LSCs，显微镜观察LSCs的细胞形态特征，通过免疫荧光检测转录因子p63初步鉴定大鼠LSCs；分对照组和枸杞多糖处理组，每组20例，免疫印迹检测增殖细胞核抗原(Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, PCNA)，初步探讨枸杞多糖对LSCs的增殖影响。 结果镜下观察LSCs体积小，呈多边形或椭圆形，胞核较大，核质比例大，免疫荧光结果显示体外分离的LSCs可表达p63(阳性率为76.41±1.66%)；枸杞多糖处理后LSCs的PCNA蛋白的表达水平高于对照组，并且随着枸杞多糖浓度的增加，PCNA蛋白的表达升高(P<0.05)。 结论枸杞多糖对LSCs的增殖和生长具有促进和维持的作用。     

脂肪和肥胖相关基因通过TLR2/p38信号通路促进异位子宫内膜间质细胞纤维化

目的：探讨脂肪和肥胖相关基因（FTO）对异位子宫内膜间质细胞（eESCs）纤维化的影响及其机制。方法：采用实时定量聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）检测子宫内膜异位症（EMs）患者病变组织中m6A相关基因的表达；通过慢病毒载体过表达FTO，在eESCs中检测纤维化相关基因的表达；通过m6A2 Target数据库和MeRIP-qPCR预测和验证eESCs中FTO与Toll样受体2（TLR2）的关系；Western blot法检测p38的蛋白表达变化。结果：FTO在EMs中表达下调（P ＜0.05）；FTO过表达促进eESCs纤维化并抑制其增殖（P ＜0.05）；在eESCs中，FTO通过TLR2 的m6A修饰途径上调其蛋白水平（P ＜0.05）；FTO在eESCs中经TLR2/p38 信号通路促进细胞纤维化（P ＜0.05）。结论：FTO在EMs中低表达，上调FTO可能通过TLR2/p38信号通路促进eESCs纤维化。     

Polyglobulie rare par mutation du gène EGLN1 : à propos d’un cas et revue de la littérature

IntroductionThe origin of polycythemia is often simple to detect. Sometimes it is necessary to look for hereditary forms, the decisive parameters being the dosage of erythropoietin and the measurement of the oxygen dissociation curve (P50). These rare diseases are related to high oxygen-affinity haemoglobins, abnormalities of the erythropoietin receptor or dysfunction of the HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) pathway.Case reportWe report the case of a 56-year-old patient with unexplained polycythemia associated with normal serum erythropoietin and normal P50, in whom the never previously described mutation c.400C>T (p.Gln134*) on exon 1 in the EGLN1 gene (encoding PHD2) was found.ConclusionIn the face of an unexplained polycythemia a good cooperation between clinicians and biologists is necessary to be able to characterize rare hereditary pathologies.     

miR-26b-3p靶向调控TRA2B表达抑制神经胶质瘤细胞的增殖和转移

目的探讨miR-26b-3p在神经胶质瘤细胞中的表达,以及其对神经胶质瘤细胞增殖和转移的影响。方法采用荧光实时定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测神经胶质瘤组织与癌旁组织中miR-26b-3p与TRA2B的表达水平;通过向神经胶质瘤细胞细胞系中转染miR-26b-3p mimic和inhibitor干扰内源miR-26b-3p的表达,同时检测其靶基因TRA2B蛋白的表达变化;采用CCK-8法检测各组神经胶质瘤细胞增殖能力的变化,以及划痕实验对癌细胞迁移能力进行评估。结果神经胶质瘤患者组织与癌旁组织比较,miR-26b-3p的表达水平显著上调,TRA2B的表达水平显著下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);Pearson相关性分析显示,在32例神经胶质瘤患者神经胶质瘤组织中,TRA2B的表达水平与miR-26b-3p表达呈显著负相关(r=-0.510;P<0.05);SHG-44细胞体外转染实验结果发现,降低细胞内源miR-26b-3p的表达时,TRA2B的表达水平显著升高,细胞的增殖活性以及转移能力会被抑制;而上调细胞内源miR-26b-3p的表达时,TRA2B的表达水平显著下降,细胞的增殖活性与转移能力会显著提高,相比于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 miR-26b-3p在神经胶质瘤组织中高表达,其可能靶向调控TRA2B的表达抑制神经胶质瘤细胞的增殖活性与转移能力,在神经胶质瘤的发生发展过程中起着重要的生理功能。     

Association of expression of p53, livin,ERCC1, BRCA1 and PARP1 in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue with drug resistance and prognosis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation between expression of p53, Livin, Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1), BRCA1 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP 1) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues with platinum-based chemotherapy and prognosis in patients who received either comprehensive surgical staging or cytoreductive surgery.MethodsThe protein expressions level of five potential regulators involved in chemo-resistance, including p53, Livin, ERCC1, BRCA1 and PARP1 in EOC tissues from 66 patients were evaluated using immunohistochemistry method. We also measured preoperative CA125 level measured by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) in all patients. Cox proportional hazard regression model was established to identify whether these proteins are associated with overall survival.ResultsChemo-resistance and poor overall survival were shown to be significantly related with positive expressions of p53, Livin, ERCC1, BRCA1 and PARP1. The evaluation of risk factors on the chemo-resistance showed that ERCC1 and BRCA1 are strong risk factors (OR: 21.12 and 21.61, all P < 0.01), while the positive expression of ERCC1, BRCA1 and PARP1 was significantly highly associated with the overall survival (HR: 3.9, 3.7 and 2.6, all P < 0.05, respectively). CA125 levels were significantly higher in patients with positive expression of P53, BRCA1, ERCC1 or Livin compared with those with negative expression (471:146, 667:260, 494:261 and 4589:89 U/ml, respectively, all P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe elevated expression levels of ERCC1 and BRCA1 were identified as significant risk factors for chemo-resistance in EOC. Reduced expression levels of ERCC1, BRCA1 and PARP1 were significantly associated with better overall survival. The CA125 levels were significantly higher in patients with EOC specimens that were positive of p53, BRCA1, ERCC1 and Livin.     

Paeoniflorin suppresses IL-33 production by macrophages

Abstract

Objective: Interleukin (IL)-33 has been attracting more and more attention as a new member of theIL-1 cytokine family in recent years. However, the underlying mechanisms referred to the regulation of endogenous IL-33 production are not fully illustrated. Paeoniflorin (PF) has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammation and anti-allergy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of PF on IL-33 production by macrophages and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: In vivo, IL-33 production in mice after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection together with PF application was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro, MTT, Real-time PCR, ELISA, Calcium (Ca²⁺) imaging and Western blot were used to assess the cytotoxicity of PF, IL-33 expression at mRNA and protein levels, Ca²⁺ influx, protein kinase C (PKC) activity, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages with PF administration.

Results: Our results indicated that PF (5 and 25?mg/kg) significantly reduced the production of TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-33 in the peritoneal exudate of LPS-treated mice. In vitro assay, upregulation of PF concentration (≥ 20?μM) showed an increased cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 cells during the 24-h cell culture. PF (10?μM) inhibited IL-33 production, Ca²⁺ influx, PKC activity, NF-κB (p65) activation, and P38MAPK phosphorylation in LPS-treated macrophages. Notably, NF-κB inhibitor (BAY 11-7085), P38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), and Ca²⁺ blocker (NiCl₂) also curbed LPS-induced IL-33 production, respectively.

Conclusions: PF suppresses IL-33 production by macrophages via inhibiting NF-κB and P38MAPK activation associated with the regulation of Ca²⁺ mobilization.     

Human papillomavirus and urinary bladder cancer revisited

This review aims to present data on the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and urinary bladder cancer (BC), especially of the subtype squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Furthermore, the current data on the relation between p16, HPV, and BC are reviewed. PubMed was searched for ‘Humans’ [MESH] AND ‘Papillomaviridae’ [MESH] AND ‘Urinary Bladder Neoplasms’ [MESH], resulting in 157 potential articles. After profound reviewing, 18 articles were included in this review. Only original articles in English were included. A variable number of HPV genotypes in a small number of cases have been investigated in several studies with various methodology. HPV was present in 0–100% of cases depending on inclusion and exclusion criteria. SCC studies are mostly hampered by low number of cases whereas the few studies with a high number show a slightly higher prevalence of different HPV genotypes compared to pure urothelial carcinoma. Studies on p16 status in HPV positive cases are even more scarcely reported and show conflicting results. Most studies fail to prove clear-cut relevance of HPV in BC irrespectively of histological subtype. Negative p16 staining cannot rule out positive HPV status.