Exosome-mediated transfer of circRNA563 promoting hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the microRNA148a-3p/metal-regulatory transcription factor-1 pathway

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)exert anti-oncogenic effects via exosomes containing non-coding RNA(ncRNA),which play important roles in tumor biology.Our preliminary study identified the interaction of the ncRNA hsa_-circ_0000563(circ563)and the circ563-associated miR-148a-3p in exosomes,as miR-148a-3p and its target metal-regulatory transcription factor-1(MTF-1)are implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)progression.AIM To identify the clinical significance,functional implications,and mechanisms of circ563 in HCC.METHODS The expression levels of miR-148a-3p and MTF-1 in exosomes derived from MSC and HCC cells were compared,and their effects on HCC cells were assessed.Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay,miR-148a-3p was identified as an associated microRNA of circ563,whose role in HCC regulation was assessed in vitro and in vivo.RESULTS The silencing of circ563 blocked the HCC cell proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis.Co-culturing of HCC cells with MSC-derived exosomes following circ563 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and metastasis and elicited changes in miR-148a-3p and MTF-1 expression.The tumor-promoting effects of circ563 were partially suppressed by miR-148a-3p overexpression or MTF-1 depletion.Xenograft experiments performed in nude mice confirmed that circ563-enriched exosomes facilitated tumor growth by upregulating the expression of MTF-1.In HCC tissues,circ563 expression was negatively correlated with miR-148a-3p expression but positively correlated with MTF-1 levels.CONCLUSION MSCs may exhibit anti-HCC activity through the exosomal circ563/miR-148a-3p/MTF-1 pathway,while exosomes can transmit circ563 to promote oncogenic behavior by competitively binding to miR-148a-3p to activate MTF-1.

Mechanism of ELL-associated factor 2 and vasohibin 1 regulating invasion,migration,and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND As a novel endogenous anti-angiogenic molecule, vasohibin 1(VASH1) is not only expressed in tumor stroma, but also in tumor tissue. Moreover, studies have shown that VASH1 may be a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer(CRC). Knockdown of VASH1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smad3 pathway activity and type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen production. Our previous findings suggest that ELL-associated factor 2(EAF2) may play a tumor suppressor and protective role in the development and progression of CRC by regulating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)/TGF-β1 signaling pathway. However, the functional role and mechanism of VASH1-mediated TGF-β1 related pathway in CRC has not been elucidated.AIM To investigate the expression of VASH1 in CRC and its correlation with the expression of EAF2. Furthermore, we studied the functional role and mechanism of VASH1 involved in the regulation and protection of EAF2 in CRC cells in vitro.METHODS We collected colorectal adenocarcinoma and corresponding adjacent tissues to investigate the clinical expression of EAF2 protein and VASH1 protein in patients with advanced CRC. Following, we investigated the effect and mechanism of EAF2 and VASH1 on the invasion, migration and angiogenesis of CRC cells in vitro using plasmid transfection.RESULTS Our findings indicated that EAF2 was down-regulated and VASH1 was upregulated in advanced CRC tissue compared to normal colorectal tissue. KaplanMeier survival analysis showed that the higher EAF2 Level group and the lower VASH1 Level group had a higher survival rate. Overexpression of EAF2 might inhibit the activity of STAT3/TGF-β1 pathway by up-regulating the expression of VASH1, and then weaken the invasion, migration and angiogenesis of CRC cells.CONCLUSION This study suggests that EAF2 and VASH1 may serve as new diagnostic and prognostic markers for CRC, and provide a clinical basis for exploring new biomarkers for CRC. This study complements the mechanism of EAF2 in CRC cells, enriches the role and mechanism of CRC cellderived VASH1, and provides a new possible subtype of CRC as a therapeutic target of STAT3/TGF-β1 pathway.

TTF-1 is useful for primary site determination in duodenal metastasis

We report here on a case of duodenal metastasis from primary lung adenocarcinoma. A 69-year old man was diagnosed with primary lung adenocarcinoma. Four courses of combined chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel associated with irradiation of 60 Gy shrunk the lung tumor. However, soon after,the para-aortic lymph node became swollen. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed three duodenal tumors. Differential diagnosis between malignant lymphoma and metastatic duodenal cancer was endoscopically difficult. The histology of biopsied specimens was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a positive reaction for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). Thus, we concluded that these were metastatic duodenal tumors from lung adenocarcinoma. Two courses of gemcitabine led to a complete remission in this duodenal metastasisand para-aortic lymph node swelling with only scarring remaining in computed tomography. He is now on the continuous generalized chemotherapy. In conclusion, duodenal metastasis from primary lung adenocarcinoma is rare and hard to diagnose. In such an instance, TTF-1 immunostaining is crucial to obtain the correct diagnosis.

Reactive oxygen species-induced activation of Yes-associated protein-1 through the c-Myc pathway is a therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The Hippo signaling pathway regulates organ size by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis with terminal effectors including Yes-associated protein-1(YAP-1).Dysregulation in Hippo pathway has been proposed as one of the therapeutic targets in hepatocarcinogenesis.The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS)increase during the progression from early to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To study the activation of YAP-1 by ROS-induced damage in HCC and the involved signaling pathway.METHODS The expression of YAP-1 in HCC cells(Huh-7,HepG2,and SNU-761)was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting.Human HCC cells were treated with H2O2,which is a major component of ROS in living organisms,and with either YAP-1 small interfering RNA(siRNA)or control siRNA.To investigate the role of YAP-1 in HCC cells under oxidative stress,MTS assays were performed.Immunoblotting was performed to evaluate the signaling pathway responsible for the activation of YAP-1.Eighty-eight surgically resected frozen HCC tissue samples and 88 nontumor liver tissue samples were used for gene expression analyses.RESULTS H2O2 treatment increased the mRNA and protein expression of YAP-1 in HCC cells(Huh-7,HepG2,and SNU-761).Suppression of YAP-1 using siRNA transfection resulted in a significant decrease in tumor proliferation during H2O2 treatment both in vitro and in vivo(both P<0.05).The oncogenic action of YAP-1 occurred via the activation of the c-Myc pathway,leading to the upregulation of components of the unfolded protein response(UPR),including 78-kDa glucoseregulated protein and activating transcription factor-6(ATF-6).The YAP-1 mRNA levels in human HCC tissues were upregulated by 2.6-fold compared with those in nontumor tissues(P<0.05)and were positively correlated with the ATF-6 Levels(Pearson’s coefficient=0.299;P<0.05).CONCLUSION This study shows a novel connection between YAP-1 and the UPR through the c-Myc pathway during oxidative stress in HCC.The ROS-induced activation of YAP-1 via the c-Myc pathway,which leads to the activation of the UPR pathway,might be a therapeutic target in HCC.

肺癌表皮生长因子受体突变与甲状腺转录因子-1表达的相关性探讨

目的探讨肺癌中表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)突变状态与甲状腺转录因子-1(thyroid transcription factor-1,TTF-1)表达,以及与临床病理特征之间的关系。方法收集40例手术切除肺癌标本,采用扩增阻滞预编系统(ARMS)法和PCR技术检测肺癌组织中EGFR基因的突变情况。分析肺癌的临床病理特征、肿瘤组织学类型与EGFR突变的关系。结果 40例中,EGFR基因突变概率为57.5%(23/40),且突变率因性别、吸烟史、肿瘤组织学类型及TTF-1表达的不同而具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。结论肺癌中EGFR基因的突变状态与TTF-1表达、组织学类型、患者性别、吸烟史有关。TTF-1强表达的女性、不吸烟的腺癌患者中EGFR具有更高的突变率。

Optimized thyroid transcription factor-1 core promoter-driven microRNA-7 expression effectively inhibits the growth of human non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Targeted gene therapy has become a promising approach for lung cancer treatment.In our previous work,we reported that the targeted expression of microRNA-7(miR-7)operated by thyroid transcription factor-1(TTF-1)promoter inhibited the growth of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo;however,the intervention efficiency needed to be further improved.In this study,we identified the core promoter of TTF-1(from-1299 bp to-871 bp)by 5’deletion assay and screened out the putative transcription factors nuclear factor-1(NF-1)and activator protein-1(AP-1).Further analysis revealed that the expression level of NF-1,but not AP-1,was positively connected with the activation of TTF-1 core promoter in human non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)cells.Moreover,the silencing of NF-1 could reduce the expression level of miR-7 operated by TTF-1 core promoter.Of note,we optimized four distinct sequences to form additional NF-1-binding sites(TGGCA)in the sequence of TTF-1 core promoter(termed asTTF-1 promoter),and verified the binding efficiency of NF-1 on theTTF-1 promoter by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).As expected,theTTF-1 promoter could more effectively drive miR-7 expression and inhibit the growth of human NSCLC cells in vitro,accompanied by a reduced transduction of NADH dehydrogenase(ubiquinone)1αsubcomplex 4(NDUFA4)/protein kinase B(Akt)pathway.Consistently,TTF-1 promoter-driven miR-7expression could also effectively abrogate the growth and metastasis of tumor cells in a murine xenograft model of human NSCLC.Finally,no significant changes were detected in the biological indicators or the histology of some important tissues and organs,including heart,liver,and spleen.On the whole,our study revealed that the optimized TTF-1 promoter could more effectively operate miR-7 to influence the growth of human NSCLC cells,providing a new basis for the development of microRNA-based targeting gene therapy against clinical lung cancer.

Correlation of TTF-1 and Napsin A expression in CT-guided percutaneous puncture tissue with the malignant biology of cancer cells

Objective: To study the correlation of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and Napsin A expression in CT-guided percutaneous puncture tissue with the malignant biology of cancer cells. Methods: The lung tissues that were obtained from CT-guided percutaneous puncture in Tongchuan People's Hospital between March 2015 and December 2017 were selected and pathologically diagnosed with lung cancer tissues (n=78) and benign tissues (n=40), the RNA was extracted, and then the expression levels of TTF-1, NapsinA, oncogenes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes were determined. Results: TTF-1, Pim1, C-myc, Nr4a1, KLF4 and N-cadherin mRNA expression levels in lung cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in benign tissues whereas NapsinA, Rb, LKB1, HIPK2 and E-cadherin mRNA expression levels were significantly lower than those in benign tissues;Pim1 and C-myc mRNA expression levels in lung cancer tissues with high TTF-1 expression were significantly higher than those in lung cancer tissues with low TTF-1 expression whereas Rb and LKB1 mRNA expression levels were significantly lower than those in lung cancer tissues with low TTF-1 expression;HIPK2 and E-cadherin mRNA expression levels in lung cancer tissues with high NapsinA expression were significantly higher than those in lung cancer tissues with low NapsinA expression whereas Nr4a1, KLF4 and N-cadherin mRNA expression levels were significantly lower than those in lung cancer tissues with low NapsinA expression. Conclusion: The high expression of TTF-1 and the low expression NapsinA in CT-guided percutaneous puncture tissue can promote the cancer cell proliferation and EMT respectively.

Regulation Mechanism of TFP on TGF-β1/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Immune-mediated Liver Injury in Mice

[Objectives]To study the effect of total flavonoids extracted from Polygonum perfoliatum L.(TFP)on immune-mediated liver injury induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus lipopolysaccharide(BCG+LPS)in mice,and to explore its action mechanism.[Methods]60 Kunming mice were divided into normal group,model group,control group(bifendate)and TFP low,medium and high dose groups according to random number table method,with 10 mice in each group.On the first day of modeling,mice were injected with 0.2 mL of BCG solution(12.5 mg/mL)through the tail vein,and on the eleventh day,0.2 mL of LPS(37.5μg/mL)were injected into the tail vein to prepare a mouse model of immune-mediated liver injury;from the first day of modeling,the normal group and the model group were administered intragastrically with the corresponding volume of distilled water,and the bifendate group and the TFP high,medium,and low dose groups were administered intragastrically with the corresponding doses once a day for 11 d.After the last time administration,fasting but giving water for 16 h,took blood from eyes,then collected the liver tissue.The levels of alanine transaminase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)in serum were detected by biochemical method;transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)expression levels in liver tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);phosphorylated protein tyrosine kinase JAK-2(p-JAK2),phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(p-STAT3)protein expression levels were detected by Western Blot method;the degree of liver tissue lesions was detected by HE staining.[Results]Compared with the model group,the levels of ALT and AST in the serum of mice in each dose group of TFP(high dose 600 mg/kg,medium dose 400 mg/kg,and low dose 200 mg/kg)were reduced,and the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px were increased;the content or expression ofβ1,ICAM-1,IL-6,IL-1βdecreased,and the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein decreased;pathological sections showed that the degree of inflammatory necrosis and the degree of lesions in the liver tissues of each dose group of TFP were reduced by varying degrees.[Conclusions]TFP has a protective effect on BCG+LPS-induced immune-mediated liver injury in mice.The mechanism may be related to regulating the phosphorylation level of JAK2 and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction,thereby regulating the TGF-β1/STAT3 signaling pathway and improving the immune-mediated liver injury.

Cloning of human XAF1 gene promoter and assay of its transcription activity in a variety of cell lines

To investigate the regulation of tumor sup-pressor XAF1 gene expression in digestive system cancers,we studied XAF1 gene promoter transcription activity and mRNA level in digestive system cancer cell lines(human hepatoma cell line HepG2,human colon cancer cell line LoVo,and human gastric cancer cell line AGS)and nontumor cell lines(human embryonic liver cell line L02(L02 cells)and human embryonic kidney 293 cells[HEK293 cells])as controls.1395-bp-promoter fragment of XAF1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and cloned into pGL3-basic vector and pEGFP-1 vector to assay its promoter transcription activity.The plasmids were transfected into a variety of cell lines by lipofectamine 2000.The promoter transcription activity was determined by dual-luciferase report assay,and enhanced greenfluorescent protein(EGFP)-positive cells were detected byfluorescence microscope.The expression of XAF1 mRNA in HEK293 and L02 were significantly higher than that in any of the three digestive system cancer cell lines.The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the promoter transcription activity in digestive system tumor cell lines transfected with pGL3-XAF1p promoter was apparently lower than that of both HEK293 and L02 cells.Expression of greenfluorescent protein(GFP)under the control of XAF1 promoter in the three digestive system cancer cell lines was lower than that of both HEK293 and L02 cells.The activities of pGL3-XAF1p in the three digestive system cancer cell lines after treatment with heat stress were significantly lower than those in the unstressed cells.The results suggested that remarkably down-regulated XAF1 mRNA expression in digestive system cancer cell lines may be due to loss of transcription activity of XAF1 promoter.

Microglial cathepsin B as a key driver of inflammatory brain diseases and brain aging

Interleukin-1βis a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the brain aging and diverse range of neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,stroke and persistent pain.Activated microglia are the main cellular source of interleukin-1βin the brain.Cathepsin B is associated with the production and secretion of interleukin-1βthrough pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammasome-independent processing of procaspase-3 in the phagolysosomes.The leakage of cathepsin B from the endosomal-lysosomal system during aging is associated with the proteolytic degradation of mitochondrial transcription factor A,which can stabilize mitochondrial DNA.Therefore,microglial cathepsin B could function as a major driver for inflammatory brain diseases and brain aging.Orally active and blood-brain barrier-permeable specific inhibitors for cathepsin B can be potentially effective new pharmaceutical interventions against inflammatory brain diseases and brain aging.

Overexpression of parathyroid pituitary-specific transcription factor （Pit）-I in hyperphosphatemia-induced hyperparathyroidism of chronic renal failure rats

Background Hyperphosphatemia in renal failure has been identified as a major role in the pathogenesis of hyperparathyroidism that is independent of changes in serum calcium and 1,25（OH）203. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of parathyroid Pit-1 in hyperphosphatemia-induced secondary hyperparathyroidism （SHPT） of chronic renal failure （CRF） rats. Methods Wistar rats with CRF induced by 5/6 nephrectomy were ramdomly fed with diet containing 1.2% inorganic phosphate （Pi, high phosphate （HP） group, n=-9） or 0.2% Pi （low phosphate （LP） group, n=9） for 10 weeks starting from the fourth week after the surgery. Another 7 nephrectomy rats with HP diet were intraperitoneally injected with phosphonoformic acid （PFA, the specific inhibitor of Pit-l, HP＋PFA group） 0.15 g/kg every other day for 10 weeks starting from HP diet. Another 6 HP rats injected with the same amount of normal saline as the control of the HP＋PFA group （HP＋saline group）. At the same time, 9 rats with sham surgery received HP diet as the controls. At the 4th week and 14th week, blood was taken for measurement of serum creatinine （SCr）, serum calcium （SCa）, serum phosphorus （SPi）, 1,25（OH）2D3 and intact parathyroid hormone （iPTH）. At the 14th week, two parathroid glands （PTGs） of each rat were removed by microsurgery, one gland for immunohistochemistry analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）, the other one for detection of Pit-1 by Western blotting, and for the measurement of Pit-1 mRNA and PTH mRNA by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results In nephrectomy rats, high dierary phosphate induced a marked increase in serum phosphate, iPTH, PTH mRNA and PCNA parathyroid cells, accompanying Pit-1 and its mRNA in parathyroid gland increased significantly. However, serum Ca and 1,25（OH）2D3 remained unchanged. PFA decreased Pit-1 and its mRNA levels to reduce intact PTH, PTH mRNA and PCNA-positive parathyroid cells. Conclusions Expression of parathyroid Pit-1 in hyperphosphatemia-induced SHPT of CRF rats was upregulated. Pit-1 may mediate the stimulation to parathyroid gland by hyperphosphatemia.

Runx3 might participate in regulating dendriti cell function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Objective:To evaluate the expression levels and correlations among the expressions of transforming growth factor-β_1(TGF-β_1),Kunx3 and CD83 in colonic mucosal specimens from IBS patients.Methods:A total of 40 patients were selected,who were confirmed as IBS by Rome III standard and 40 healthy volunteers served as control.Colonic mucosal specimens of each subject were collected from colon sigmoideum with biopsy forceps.Runx3,TGF-β_1?and CD83(the marker for immunecompetent mature dendritic cells(DCs)mRNA in the sigmoid colon tissue were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results:Compared with the control group,CD83 mRNA expressions were higher in patients with IBS than in healthy controls(P<0.05)and were associated with runt-related transcription factor 3(Runx3)mRNA levels(r=-0.361,P<0.05).Meanwhile,Runx3 mRNA levels were associated with TGF-β_1,mRNA expressions in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)patients(r=0.402,P<0.05).However,there was no correlation between the mRNA expressions of TGF-β_1 and CD83(P>0.05).Conclusions:The increase of abnormal dendritic cells might influence the occurrence and development of IBS.TGF-β_1 signal pathway might not be involved in Runx 3-regulated maturation of dendritic cells in IBS.

A Case of Struma Ovarii Diagnosed by Cytology during Laparoscopic Surgery

We report a case of pure struma ovarii tumor diagnosed by cytology during laparoscopic surgery. The patient was a 34-year-old Japanese woman, gravida 1, para 1, who had the left adnexal mass, and was pre-operatively diagnosed as left ovarian endometriotic cyst or mature cystic teratoma by magnetic resonance imaging findings. She underwent laparoscopy, and the content of the left ovarian cystic tumor was found to be yellow gelatinous material, suggesting mature cystic teratoma. The imprint cytology of the tumor showed benign glandular pattern, suggesting struma ovarii. Histopathological findings led us to the diagnosis of pure struma ovarii with positive reactions for thyroglobulin and thyroid transcription factor-1. No metastases or disseminated lesions were detected. The patient has no recurrent signs 7 months after the operation.

Gastric metastasis by primary lung adenocarcinoma

The diagnosis of gastric metastasis from lung cancer is relatively rare in living patients.We describe a case of Type 4 tumor-like metastasis due to primary lung cancer diagnosed with immunohistochemical staining while the patient was alive.A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of epigastric pain.Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a Type 4 tumor and the histological examination showed poorly differentiated adenocar-cinoma.His chest X-ray showed mass shadow in the right upper lung field.The resected specimens showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.,The diagnosis of gastric metastasis from lung cancer was made by immunohistochemical staining of the lung and gastric tumors which showed positive staining for Thyroid transcriptional factor-1.Diagnosis of gastric metastasis,especially Type 4 metastasis by lung cancer is diff icult.However,immunohistochemical staining is very helpful for diagnosis of primary lung cancer metastasis at sites such as the gastrointestinal tract which are not normally prone to metastatis.

Overexpression of ELL-associated factor 2 suppresses invasion,migration,and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The androgen responsive gene,ELL-associated factor 2(EAF2),expressed in benign prostate tissues,has been shown to play an important role in tumor suppression in a variety of malignant tumors.In addition,some scholars found that EAF2 frameshift mutations are associated with intratumor heterogeneity in colorectal cancer(CRC)and inactivation of EAF2 in microsatellite instability-high CRC.However,the molecular mechanism by which EAF2 is involved in CRC invasion and metastasis remains unclear.AIM To determine the clinical value of expression of EAF2 protein in CRC,and to study the effects of EAF2 on the invasion,migration,and angiogenesis of CRC cells in vitro.METHODS In this study,we collected colorectal adenocarcinoma and corresponding adjacent tissues to investigate the clinical expression of EAF2 protein in patients with advanced CRC.Subsequently,we investigated the effect of EAF2 on the invasion,migration,and angiogenesis of CRC cells in vitro using plasmid transfection.RESULTS EAF2 protein was lowly expressed in cancer tissues of patients with advanced CRC.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the survival rate of the high EAF2 level group was higher than that of the low EAF2 level group.CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that EAF2,as a tumor suppressor,may inhibit the invasion,metastasis,and angiogenesis of CRC cells by regulating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/transforming growth factor-β1 crosstalk pathway,and play a cancer suppressive and protective role in the occurrence and development of CRC.Our findings are of great significance to provide a new idea and theoretical basis for the targeted diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

初发1型糖尿病患儿外周血单个核细胞FOXP3和CTLA-4表达的研究

目的：研究初发1型糖尿病患儿外周血叉状头转录因子（ FOXP3）和细胞毒性T细胞相关抗原-4（CTLA-4）表达水平,探讨它们在1型糖尿病发病中的作用。方法选取50例初发1型糖尿病患儿和30例健康儿童,采用real-time PCR法研究FOXP3和CTLA-4 mRNA表达；ELISA方法检测血清中可溶性FOXP3（ sFOXP3）和CTLA-4（ sCTLA-4）蛋白水平；分别应用免疫印记法、高效液相离子层析法和电化学发光法测量糖尿病抗体、HbA1C及C肽。结果1型糖尿病患儿FOXP3 mRNA及蛋白表达低于对照组[0.95±0.48 vs.2.11±0.79,（6.27±1.49） ng/ml vs.（9.02±2.37） ng/ml,均P〈0.01],而CTLA-4 mRNA及蛋白表达高于对照组[2.43±0.83 vs.1.94±0.84,（77.88±22.34） ng/ml vs.（65.97±12.11） ng/ml,P〈0.01]；1型糖尿病患儿FOXP3和CTLA-4基因与蛋白表达均呈正相关（r＝0.758、0.396,均P〈0.05）；FOXP3与CTLA-4蛋白表达具有相关性（r＝－0.624,P〈0.05）。结论初发1型糖尿病患儿外周血FOXP3和CTLA-4的基因及蛋白表达异常,FOXP3调控CTLA-4在调节性T 细胞的表达,提示免疫机制参与1型糖尿病的发生。

TGF-β1-regulated miR-3691-3p targets E2F3 and PRDM1 to inhibit prostate cancer progression

Transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)acts as a tumor promoter in advanced prostate cancer(PCa).We speculated that microRNAs(miRNAs)that are inhibited by TGF-β1 might exert anti-tumor effects.To assess this,we identified several miRNAs downregulated by TGF-β1 in PCa cell lines and selected miR-3691-3p for detailed analysis as a candidate anti-oncogene miRNA.miR-3691-3p was expressed at significantly lower levels in human PCa tissue compared with paired benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue,and its expression level correlated inversely with aggressive clinical pathological features.Overexpression of miR-3691-3p in PCa cell lines inhibited proliferation,migration,and invasion,and promoted apoptosis.The miR-3691-3p target genes E2F transcription factor 3(E2F3)and PR domain containing 1,with ZNF domain(PRDM1)were upregulated in miR-3691-3p-overexpressing PCa cells,and silencing of E2F3 or PRDM1 suppressed PCa cell proliferation,migration,and invasion.Treatment of mice bearing PCa xenografts with a miR-3691-3p agomir inhibited tumor growth and promoted tumor cell apoptosis.Consistent with the negative regulation of E2F3 and PRDM1 by miR-3691-3p,both proteins were overexpressed in clinical PCa specimens compared with noncancerous prostate tissue.Our results indicate that TGF-β1-regulated miR-3691-3p acts as an anti-oncogene in PCa by downregulating E2F3 and PRDM1.These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which TGF-β1 contributes to the progression of PCa.

Emerging targets in cancer drug resistance

Drug resistance is a complex phenomenon that frequently develops as a failure to chemotherapy during cancer treatment.Malignant cells increasingly generate resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs through distinct mechanisms and pathways.Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in drug resistance remains an important area of research for identification of precise targets and drug discovery to improve therapeutic outcomes.This review highlights the role of some recent emerging targets and pathways which play critical role in driving drug resistance.