Molecular mediators of breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate of malignancy in women worldwide. A major clinical challenge faced by patients with breast cancer treated by conventional therapies is frequent relapse. This relapse has been attributed to the cancer stem cell (CSC) population that resides within the tumor and possess stemness properties. Breast CSCs are generated when breast cancer cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition resulting in aggressive, highly metastatic, and invasive phenotypes that exhibit resistance towards chemotherapeutics. Metastasis, a phenomenon that aids in the migration of breast CSCs, occurs through any of three different routes: hematogenous, lymphatic, and transcoelomic. Hematogenous dissemination of breast CSCs leads to metastasis towards distant unrelated organs like lungs, liver, bone, and brain causing secondary tumor generation. Activation of metastasis genes or silencing of metastasis suppressor genes often leads to the advancement of metastasis. This review focuses on various genes and molecular factors that have been implicated to regulate organ-specific breast cancer metastasis by defying the available therapeutic interventions.     

结直肠癌肿瘤组织中TMPRSS4、c-Met、KIF18A表达水平与其病理特性和生存状态的关系

目的探讨结直肠癌肿瘤组织中跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶4(TMPRSS4)、间质表皮转化因子(c-Met)、驱动蛋白家族成员18A(KIF18A)表达水平与其病理特性和生存状态的关系。方法选取该院于2015年3月至2017年6月确诊的102例结直肠癌患者作为研究对象,比较癌变组织和癌旁组织TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平的差异,不同病理状态及生存状态患者的TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平的差异,分析患者的病理状态及生存状态与TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率和KIF18A水平的相关性。结果癌变组织TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平明显高于癌旁组织(P<0.05);不同性别、年龄患者TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),而不同病程、TNM分期、临床分型患者之间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);通过对患者的随访,生存患者61例,死亡患者41例,生存组TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平明显低于死亡组(P<0.05);患者的TNM分期、临床分型、病程及生存状态与TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A的水平呈正相关(r=0.165~0.998,P<0.05)。结论结直肠癌肿瘤组织中TMPRSS4、c-Met阳性率及KIF18A水平与其病理特性和生存状态存在一定的相关性,可作为结直肠癌患者诊断辅助参考之一。     

An update of the pathogenesis of frontal fibrosing alopecia: What does the current evidence tell us?

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a primary patterned cicatricial alopecia with a complicated pathogenesis yet to be fully understood. FFA appears to be increasing in incidence worldwide, especially in the last decade. In order to consider current treatment options, we reviewed current evidence for its pathogenesis comprising immune-mediated, genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. Th1-mediated inflammation with collapse of hair follicle immune privilege and bulge epithelial stem cell destruction, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) depletion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition are key events leading to permanent hair follicle destruction in FFA. Although the vast majority of cases are sporadic, familial reports of FFA implicate genetic or epigenetic mechanisms in its pathogenesis. The frequent onset of FFA in post-menopausal women, similar patterning and co-existence with female pattern hair loss, together with a reportedly good response to 5α-reductase inhibitors suggest a role for sex steroid hormones. The reported increasing incidence invites speculation for, yet unproven, environmental triggers such as sun exposure and topical allergens. More robust research into this unique entity is required to help understand the complexity of the pathogenesis of FFA in order to find satisfactory therapeutic targets for this often distressing condition.     

Nutrition transition – Pattern IV: Leads Bangladeshi youth to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity

Fast food and soft drinks consumption leading to excess calorie intake coupled with lack of acceptable physical activity has augmented the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the world population for the past few eras. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 475 youth selected by systematic random sampling attending in 27 established public and private universities and colleges of Bangladesh. The study was aimed to evaluate habitual facts associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Bangladeshi youth. The rates of fast food consumption (once/week) are 50.6%, 43.7%, and 53.3% in overweight, pre-obese and obese-1 respondents accordingly and the rates of soft drinks consumption (4–6 times/week) are 40.5%, 59.2%, and 73.3% respectively for the same subjects. Moreover, approximately 40.8% of the youth went to fast food restaurants at least once per week and 27.2% went regularly (2 times/week). Youth having fast foods 2 times/week, consuming soft drinks 3–4 times/week were more likely to be obese. Besides, obesity epidemic was observed among those who have not the habit of doing physical exercise. This study provides evidence of increasing trend and threat to overweight and obesity for the Bangladeshi youth.     

Thy-1 通过调控Notch1 通路促进肝癌细胞EMT进程

目的: 探索细胞表面抗原Thy-1 通过调控Notch1 通路促进肝癌HepG2 和MHCC-97 细胞上皮间质转化（EMT）。方法：选用具有高转移特性的MHCC-97 细胞和低转移特性的HepG2 细胞作为研究对象，WB检测细胞内Thy-1、Notch1 蛋白表达水平。用重组慢病毒转染MHCC-97 和HepG2 细胞，构建高表达与低表达Thy-1 蛋白的细胞，再分别用Notch1 激动剂rhNF-κB（1gsu/ml）和Notch1 抑制剂MW167（100 μmol/L）处理细胞24 h。Transwell 实验检测Thy-1 表达变化、rhNF-κB和MW167 处理对细胞侵袭能力的影响，qPCR检测对Notch1 mRNA表达的影响，WB实验检测细胞内EMT相关蛋白表达的影响。结果：MHCC-97细胞中Thy-1、Notch1 蛋白表达量均高于HepG2 细胞（P<0.05）。成功构建Thy-1 过表达的HepG2 细胞和Thy-1 低表达的MHCC-97 细胞。与亲本HepG2 细胞相比，Thy-1 过表达HepG2 细胞侵袭能力显著增强[ （475.78±80.37）vs（183.23±55.34）个，P<0.05）]、波形蛋白表达显著升高（P<0.05）、上皮钙黏素蛋白表达显著降低（P<0.05）、Notch1 mRNA表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）；与亲本MHCC-97 细胞相比，Thy-1 沉默的MHCC-97 细胞侵袭能力显著降低[ （237.44±62.18）vs（543.56±77.94）个，P<0.05）]、波形蛋白表达显著降低（P<0.05）、上皮钙黏素蛋白表达显著升高（P<0.05）、Notch1 mRNA表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。而Notch1 激活剂或抑制剂处理上述肝癌细胞可逆转由于Thy-1 沉默或过表达所造成的改变。结论：Thy-1 可通过调控Notch1 表达影响肝癌HepG2和MHCC-97 细胞的EMT。     

Profilin 1, negatively regulated by microRNA-19a-3p,serves as a tumor suppressor in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Profilin 1 (PFN1) is a critical actin-regulatory protein; however, its functional role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains to be further elucidated. In the present study, we observed that the expression levels of PFN1 were significantly decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Low PFN1 expression was significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of PFN1 remarkably inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells. Moreover, we also found that PFN1 was a direct target gene of miR-19a-3p, and in HCC tissues, and there was a significantly inverse correlation between PFN1 mRNA and miR-19a-3p expression. Collectively, our results showed that PFN1 functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC, and might serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC patients.