MicroRNA-363-3p inhibits colorectal cancer progression by targeting interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1

BACKGROUND The molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer development and progression are far from being elucidated.AIM To investigate the role of microRNA-363-3p(miR-363-3p)in the progression of colorectal cancer.METHODS Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect miRNA expression in human colorectal cancer tissues and paired normal colorectal tissues.PITA 6 was utilized to predict the targets of miR-363-3p.Dual-luciferase reporter system was used to validate the target of miR-363-3p.Plate colony formation assay and wound-healing assay were performed to evaluate cancer cells’clonogenic survival ability and migration ability,respectively.Cell proliferation was examined by cell counting kit-8 assay.Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression level of interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1(IFITM1)in colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent tissues.The TCGA and GTEx databases were used to compare the expression levels of IFITM1 mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissues and analyze the correlation between the expression levels of IFITM1 mRNA and overall survival and disease-free survival of patients.A colorectal cancer cell line with a deficiency of IFITM1 was constructed,and the regulation effect of IFITM1 on the clonogenic growth of colorectal cancer cells was clarified.RESULTS MiR-363-3p was decreased in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal colorectal tissues.IFITM1 was characterized as a direct target of miR-363-3p.Overexpression of miR-363-3p led to decreased clonogenic survival,proliferation,and migration of colorectal cancer cells,which could be reversed by forced IFITM1 expression.CONCLUSION MiR-363-3p can constrain clonogenic survival,proliferation,and migration of colorectal cancer cells via targeting IFITM1.

Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of SKIV Infection of Interferon-Induced Protein with Tetratricopeptide Repeats 1(IFIT1) in Epinephelus lanceolatus

Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1(IFIT1), also known as interferon-induced protein 56(IFI56) or Interferon-stimulated protein 56(ISG56), was originally identified as a protein induced upon treatment with interferon and inhibited by viral replication and translational initiation. In this study, Epinephelus lanceolatus IFIT1(ELIFIT1) gene was cloned for the first time. The complete cDNA of El IFIT1 gene includes 2921 nucleotides, and encodes a 437-amino acid(AA) protein. The putative ELIFIT1 protein has 9 TRP domains and is highly similar with IFIT1 proteins in other teleosts. In healthy fish, ELIFIT1 gene was highly expressed in the blood, which indicate its specific function in the peripheral immune system. Its expression was also observed in various immunity-related tissues including spleen, intestine, and kidney, Inducted with spotted knifejaw iridovirus(SKIV), ELIFIT1 gene expression was upregulated in the spleen, kidney, and liver 24 h after induction and reached its peak at 72 h, indicating that ELIFIT1 may play an important role in antivirus. These findings contribute to the understanding of the antiviral regulation of ELIFIT1 gene in teleost.

Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1(IFIT1) polymorphism as a genetic marker of cerebral malaria in Thai population

Objective:To know whether the effect of interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats(IFIT)1 polymorphism influences the susceptibility of cerebral malaria outcome.Methods:Case-control association study was performed among 314 Thai patients(110 with cerebral malaria and 204 with uncomplicated malaria)infected with Plasmodium falciparum.Genotyping for five tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms of IFIT1 was performed by endpoint genotyping.Results:Genotype frequencies of all tag-SNPs(single nucleotide polymorphisms)showed no association with malaria outcome.However,C allele of rs11203109 was associated with the protection from cerebral malaria(OR=0.62,95%CI=0.38-0.99,P=0.048).Two single nucleotide polymorphisms(rs5786868 and rs57941432)were in linkage disequilibrium with rs11203109.Conclusions:This suggests that our associated single nucleotide polymorphism(rs11203109)might be a genetic marker of cerebral malaria progression in the Thai population.

Evaluation of IFIT3 and ORM1 as Biomarkers for Discriminating Active Tuberculosis from Latent Infection

Objective Current commercially available immunological tests cannot be used for discriminating active tuberculosis(TB)from latent TB infection.To evaluate the value of biomarker candidates in the diagnosis of active TB,this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)between patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection by transcriptome sequencing.Methods The differentially expressed genes in unstimulated PBMCs and in Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)antigen-stimulated PBMCs from patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection were identified by transcriptome sequencing.Selected candidate genes were evaluated in cohorts consisting of 110 patients with TB,30 individuals with latent TB infections,and 50 healthy controls by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was performed to calculate the diagnostic value of the biomarker candidates.Results Among the differentially expressed genes in PBMCs without Mtb antigen stimulation,interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3(IFIT3)had the highest area under curve(AUC)value(0.918,95%CI:0.852-0.984,P<0.0001)in discriminating patients with active TB from individuals with latent TB infection,with a sensitivity of 91.86%and a specificity of 84.00%.In Mtb antigen-stimulated PBMCs,orosomucoid 1(ORM1)had a high AUC value(0.833,95%CI:0.752-0.915,P<0.0001),with a sensitivity of 81.94%and a specificity of 70.00%.Conclusion IFIT3 and ORM1 might be potential biomarkers for discriminating active TB from latent TB infection.

Association of mRNA Expression Level of IP-10 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells with HBV-associated Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure and Its Prognosis

HBV-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure is prevalent in China's Mainland. The prognosis of HBV-ACLF is poor. The mortality of HBV-ACLF is approximately 80%. Therefore, a prognostic indicator was needed in order to allow us to intervene as soon as possible. The model for end-stage liver disease（MELD） scoring system is widely used to predict the prognosis of liver failure. However, the assessment is too complex to restrict its application. This study aimed to investigate the expression of IP-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells（PBMC）, in order to explore the relationship between the expression and prognosis of patients with HBV-ACLF. The mRNA level of IP-10 in PBMCs were analyzed in 80 patients with HBV-ACLF, 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B（CHB） and 40 healthy people by fluorescent quantitative PCR. IP-10 mRNA level was significantly higher in the HBV-ACLF group than in the other two groups（P〈0.01）. Group with MELD score below 30 had lower IP-10 mRNA level than group with MELD score over 30（P〈0.05）. The IP-10 mR NA level in PBMCs in positive group was higher than that in negative group（P〈0.01）. With a threshold of 0.925, the area under the receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curves was 0.815. These findings suggest that assessment of IP-10 mRNA level in the PBMCs would be helpful for evaluating the disease severity and prognosis in patients with HBV-ACLF.

Cytokines predict virological response in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a therapy

BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus infection remains a major global public health problem.Peginterferon-alpha-2a(PEG-IFN)has direct antiviral and immunoregulatory effects,and it has become one of the first choice drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Cytokines play an important role in immunity,and they directly inhibit viral replication and indirectly determine the predominant pattern of the host immune response.AIM To determine the correlation between cytokine/chemokine expression levels and response to PEG-IFN treatment in patients with CHB.METHODS Forty-six kinds of cytokines were analyzed before PEG-IFN therapy and at 24 wk during therapy in 26 CHB patients.RESULTS The monokine induced by INF-γ(CXCL9)and serum interferon-inducible protein 10(IP-10)levels at baseline were higher in virological responders than in nonvirological responders(NRs)and decreased during treatment,whereas the NRs did not exhibit significant changes.The macrophage inflammatory protein 1d(MIP-1d)levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly higher in the virological responders than in the NRs,while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine(TARC)levels at baseline and during treatment were significantly lower in the virological responders than in the NRs.The CXCL9,IP-10,MIP-1d,and TARC baseline levels exhibited the expected effects for interferon treatment.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of CXCL9,IP-10,MIP-1d,and TARC for predicting virological responses were 0.787,0.799,0.787,and 0.77(P=0.01,0.013,0.01,and 0.021),respectively.CONCLUSION We found that cytokine levels before and during treatment may represent potential biomarkers to select CHB patients who can respond to PEG-IFN.Therefore,cytokines can be used as an indicator of antiviral drug selection before CHB treatment.

Influences of the interferon induced transmembrane protein I on the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of the colorectal cancer SW480 cell lines

Background Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 （IFITM1） has been identified as a molecular marker of the colorectal tumors; however its influences on the biological behaviors of the colorectal cancer cells are currently unknown.We aimed to study the influences of IFITM1 on the proliferation,invasion,and metastasis of the colorectal cancer SW480 cell lines.Methods We constructed IFITM1/pEGFP-C3 recombinant plasmids and transfected them into the colorectal cancer SW480 cell lines.IFITM1/pEGFP-C3 recombinant plasmids were identified by means of immunofluorescence,laser confocal scanning microscopy,and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.IFITM1/SW480 cells with stable over-expression of IFITM1 were confirmed by G418 screening.The influences of IFITM1 on the proliferation of the SW480 cell lines were investigated by MTT assay and tumor transplantation experiments in nude mice.Cell invasion experiments were performed to determine the invasion capacity of the IFITM1/SW480 cells.Matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP-2） and MMP-9 activities were detected by the gelatin zymographic analysis,and MMP-9 expression by the Western blotting analysis.Results IFITM1/pEGFP-C3 recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed in this study,and the IFITM1/SW480 cells with stable IFITM1 gene over-expression were confirmed by G418 screening.MTT results showed that the proliferation of the IFITM1/SW480 cells was significantly enhanced （P 〈0.01）.Tumors were harvested from four weeks old mice.Tumor volumes were （1347.00±60.94） mm3,（1032.40±111.38） mm3 and （1018.78±28.83） mm3; and tumor weights were （1522.34±62.76） mg,（1137.78±97.22） mg and （1155.76±133.31） mg for mice inoculated with the IFITM1/SW480 cells,pEGFP-C3/SW480 cells and SW480 cells,respectively.Tumor volumes and weights from mice inoculated with the IFITM1/SW480 cells were significantly increased （P 〈0.01）.In addition,the numbers of the SW480 cells and IFITM1/SW480 cells that migrated through Matrigel were 448.64±38.09 and 540.45±44.61,respectively; so the invasive ability of the SW480 cells transfected with IFITM1 gene was significantly greater than that of the SW480 cells （P 〈0.01）.Gelatin zymographic analysis showed that MMP-9 and MMP-2 protein activities in the IFITM1/SW480 cells were significantly enhanced,and Western blotting analysis showed that MMP-9 expression in the IFITM1/SW480 cells was also increased.Conclusion IFITMl can enhance the proliferation,invasion,and metastasis of the colorectal cancer SW480 cell lineS.

Pentoxifylline attenuates cigarette smoke-induced overexpression of CXCR3 and IP-10 in mice

Background Cigarette smoke-induced emphysema is associated with overexpression of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands. Previously, we have demonstrated that pentoxifylline （PTX） alleviated cigarette smoke-induced emphysema. The aim of this study was to determine if the overexpression of CXCR3 and its ligand interferon-inducible protein-10 （IP-10） that was elicited by smoke exposure were attenuated by PTX. Methods （1） The study in vitro： a given number of RAW264.7 macrophages with decreasing concentrations of PTX in the culture medium were challenged with cigarette smoke extract （CSE）; （2） The study in vivo： male BALB/c mice were randomized into four groups, i.e., sham-smoke, smoke only, smoke with 2 mg/kg PTX, and smoke with 10 mg/kg PTX. The smoke exposure time was 90 minutes once a day, 6 days a week for 16 weeks. PTX was given intraperitoneally before each episode of smoke exposure. Interferon （IFN）-y and IP-10 in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and in culture medium were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. IP-10 mRNA in lung tissue was assessed by RT-PCR. CXCR3 positive cells in lung sections were visualized by immunochemistry staining. Results Up-regulation of IFN-γ and IP-10 in the culture medium of macrophages elicited by CSE was inhibited by PTX in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic cigarette smoke exposure led to overexpression of IFN-γ and IP-10 in BALF, upregulation of IP-10 mRNA and increased infiltration of CXCR3^＋ cells into lung parenchyma. Administration of PTX decreased the level of IFN-y from （6.26±1.38） ng/ml to （4.43±0.66） ng/ml by low dose PTX or to （1.74±0.28） ng/ml by high dose PTX. IP-10 was reduced from （10.35±1.49） ng/ml to （8.19±0.79） ng/ml by low dose PTX or to （7.51±0.60） ng/ml by high dose PTX. The expression of IP-10 mRNA was also down-regulated （P 〈0.05）. But only with a high dose of PTX was the ratio of CXCR3^＋ cells decreased; 15.2±7.3 vs. 10.4±1.8 （P 〈0.05）. Conclusion PTX attenuates cigarette smoke-induced overexpression of chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligand IP-10, which is relevant to its inhibitory effect on pulmonary emphysema.

New insights into the structural basis of DNA recognition by HINa and HINb domains of IFI16

Interferon gamma-inducible protein 16(IFI16)senses DNA in the cytoplasm and the nucleus by using two tandem hematopoietic interferon-inducible nuclear(HIN)domains,HINa and HINb,through the cooperative assembly of IFI16 filaments on double-stranded DNA(dsDNA).The role of HINa in sensing DNA is not clearly understood.Here,we describe the crystal structure of the HINa domain in complex with DNA at 2.55A°resolution and provide the first insight into the mode of DNA binding by the HINa domain.The structure reveals the presence of two oligosaccharide/nucleotide-binding(OB)folds with a unique DNA-binding surface.HINa uses loop L45 of the canonical OB2 fold to bind to the DNA backbone.The dsDNA is recognized as two single strands of DNA.Interestingly,deletion of HINb compromises the ability of IFI16 to induce IFN-b,while HINa mutants impaired in DNAbinding enhance the production of IFN-b.These results shed light on the roles of IFI16 HIN domains in DNA recognition and innate immune responses.

Transmembrane domain of IFITM3 is responsible for its interaction with influenza virus HA_(2) subunit

Interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3(IFITM3)inhibits influenza virus infection by blocking viral membrane fusion,but the exact mechanism remains elusive.Here,we investigated the function and key region of IFITM3 in blocking influenza virus entry mediated by hemagglutinin(HA).The restriction of IFITM3 on HAmediated viral entry was confirmed by pseudovirus harboring HA protein from H5 and H7 influenza viruses.Subcellular co-localization and immunocoprecipitation analyses revealed that IFITM3 partially co-located with the full-length HA protein and could directly interact with HA_(2) subunit but not HA_(1) subunit of H5 and H7 virus.Truncated analyses showed that the transmembrane domain of the IFITM3 and HA_(2) subunit might play an important role in their interaction.Finally,this interaction of IFITM3 was also verified with HA_(2) subunits from other subtypes of influenza A virus and influenza B virus.Overall,our data demonstrate for the first time a direct interaction between IFITM3 and influenza HA protein via the transmembrane domain,providing a new perspective for further exploring the biological significance of IFITM3 restriction on influenza virus infection or HA-mediated antagonism or escape.