CircMAN1A2 promotes vasculogenic mimicry of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through upregulating ERBB2 via sponging miR-940

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is the most prevalent human primary malignancy of the head and neck,and the presence of vasculogenic mimicry(VM)renders anti-angiogenic therapy ineffective and poorly prognostic.However,the underlying mechanisms are unclear.In the present study,we used miR-940 silencing and overexpression for in vitro NPC cell EdU staining,wound healing assay and 3D cell culture assay,and in vivo xenograft mouse model and VM formation to assess miR-940 function.We found that ectopic miR-940 expression reduced NPC cell proliferation,migration and VM,as well as tumorigenesis in vivo.By bioinformatic analysis,circMAN1A2 was identified as a circRNA that binds to miR-940.Mechanistically,we confirmed that circMAN1A2 acts as a sponge for miR-940,impairs the inhibitory effect of miR-940 on target ERBB2,and then activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway using RNA-FISH,dual luciferase reporter gene and rescue analysis assays.In addition,upregulation of ERBB2 expression is associated with clinical staging and poor prognosis of NPC.Taken together,the present findings suggest that circMAN1A2 promotes VM formation and progression of NPC through miR-940/ERBB2 axis and further activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.Therefore,circMAN1A2 may become a biomarker and therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on expression of biomarkers during aflatoxin B_1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in Wistar rats

Objective： The aim of this study was to study the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract （EGb761） on metabolism of afiatoxin B1 （AFB1） in Wistar rats. Methods： Seventy one Wistar rats were assigned at random to groups A, B and C. Rats in groups A, B were injected with AFB1 （intraperitoneal, 100-200 ug/kg body weight, 1-3 times/week）. Group C was normal control. Rats in group B were fed in food with EGb761, while rats in groups A, C were given normal food. Blood samples were collected and liver biopsies were performed on the 14th, 28th and 42nd week. All the rats were sacrificed on the 64th week. The incidence of hepatocarcinoma was investigated. The hepatic phase I drug-metabolizing enzyme Cytochrome-P450 （CYP450） and phase II metabolizing enzyme glutathione S-transferase （GST） were analyzed with spectrometry. Serum AFB1- lysine adduct levels were assessed with high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. The expression of 8-hydroxydeoxy- guanosine （8-OHdG） was measured with immunohistochemistry. Results： The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） in group B was significantly lower than that in group A （26.92% vs 76.00%, P 〈 0.001）. No HCC developed in group C. EGb761 showed no effects on the activities of CYP450 and GST in rat liver tissues. The level of AFB1-lysine adduct reached the peak （4356.01 pg/mg albumin） at the 14th week in group A. EGb761 significantly inhibited the formation of AFB1-lysine adduct in serum by 13.07% at the 14th week （P = 0.033）, and 73.63% at the 42nd week （P = 0.002）. The expression of 8-OHdG protein in rat liver tissues in group B was significantly lower than that in group A at the 28th, 42nd, and 64th week （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The main mechanism underlying the effect of EGb761 in blocking hepatocarcinogenesis induced by AFB1 may not be fully attributable to its influence on the activity of liver phase I and phase II metabolizing enzymes. EGb761 inhibits the production of AFB1-lysine adducts, decreases the expression of 8-OHdG protein, and finally alleviates the DNA oxidative injury, which may be one of the mechanisms for the effects of EGb761 in inhibiting or delaying AFB1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Research of the relationship between radiotherapy and microRNAs

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are endogenous short non-coding RNAs,and play a pivotal role in regulating a variety of cellular processes,including proliferation and apoptosis,both of which are cellular responses to radiation treatment.In response to radiation,multiple miRNAs show altered expression,which act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.Recent evidence has also shown that some miRNAs have radiotherapy sensitization or radiation resistance role in malignant tumors.This review focuses on analysis of these characteristics and mechanisms of miRNAs,and will provide some insight into the therapeutic application of radiation.

DNA repair genes BRCA1 and DNA-PKcs have great potential in radiation therapy

Radiotherapy is a part of the front-line treatment regime for many cancers. The mechanisms of radiation-induced effects in cancers mainly involves double-strand breaks (DBS) which plays very important role in maintaining the stability of gene. As DNA repair gene breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) can act to maintain genetic stability though two distinct and complementary mechanisms for DNA DSB repair-homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Therefor, BRCA1 and DNA-PKcs are closely associated with radiation sensitivity, which means that they may be used as a useful tool to predict radio sensitivity in human tumour cells.

新型城镇化进程中的产业集聚和福利分析

为了考察新型城镇化进程中产业集聚对居民福利的影响及作用机制,本文基于2003-2015年中国省际面板数据,运用模糊数学方法测算居民福利水平,通过门槛模型实证分析了产业集聚对居民福利的影响效果。研究发现,从全国层面看,新型城镇化进程中的产业集聚与居民福利之间存在着倒"U"型关系,这在一定程度上说明产业集聚对居民福利的影响存在一个最优的集聚区间,位于该区间内的产业集聚对居民福利有显著的促进作用;分地区层面看,产业集聚显著地促进了东部地区居民福利的提升,而与中部地区的居民福利呈倒"U"型关系,对于西部地区,产业集聚初期对居民福利表现为促进作用,但在后期这种促进效果并不显著。研究结论为政府调整产业布局,进而提升居民福利水平提供政策启示。