IGF2BPs: a family as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in digestive system tumors

The highest morbidity and mortality in the world are attributed to digestive system tumors,such as stomach cancer,liver cancer,and pancreatic cancer.Exploring potential biomarkers is a crucial direction of tumor research.We use bioinformatics methods to explore potential biomarkers of the digestive system.Mining and analyzing data from Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA),Kaplan-Meier,cBioPortal,and Metabolic gEne RApid Visualizer(MERAV)to explore the correlation between IGF2BP(insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein)family expression and immune infiltration in digestive system tumors,and further probe the prognostic value of IGF2BP family in digestive system tumors.Esophageal cancer tissues showed a significantly higher expression of IGF2BP2 than normal tissues,while IGF2BP3 was notably more expressed in esophageal cancer,pancreatic cancer,and stomach cancer.In the prognosis evaluation,the IGF2BP1 gene in patients with liver cancer and the IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP3 genes in patients with stomach cancer and liver cancer of the low gene expression level groups were better.Multivariate COX regression analysis further suggested that tumor stage,CD8 positive T cells,macrophages,dendritic cell infiltration,and IGF2BP3 expression were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with stem cell liver cancer.The IGF2BP family may be a potential marker for immunotherapy and the prognosis of digestive system tumors.

Exogenous nerve growth factor protects the hypoglossal nerve against crush injury

Studies have shown that sensory nerve damage can activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase（MAPK）pathway,but whether the same type of nerve injury after exercise activates the p38MAPK pathway remains unclear.Several studies have demonstrated that nerve growth factor may play a role in the repair process after peripheral nerve injury,but there has been little research focusing on the hypoglossal nerve injury and repair.In this study,we designed and established rat models of hypoglossal nerve crush injury and gave intraperitoneal injections of exogenous nerve growth factor to rats for 14 days.p38MAPK activity in the damaged neurons was increased following hypoglossal nerve crush injury;exogenous nerve growth factor inhibited this increase in acitivity and increased the survival rate of motor neurons within the hypoglossal nucleus.Under transmission electron microscopy,we found that the injection of nerve growth factor contributed to the restoration of the morphology of hypoglossal nerve after crush injury.Our experimental findings indicate that exogenous nerve growth factor can protect damaged neurons and promote hypoglossal nerve regeneration following hypoglossal nerve crush injury.