IL-2RG as a possible immunotherapeutic target in CRC predicting poor prognosis and regulated by miR-7-5p and miR-26b-5p.

Despite advances in treatment strategies, colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality, with mounting evidence a close link between immune system dysfunctions issued. Interleukin-2 receptor gamma (IL-2RG) plays a pivotal role as a common subunit receptor in the IL-2 family cytokines and activates the JAK-STAT pathway. This study delves into the role of Interleukin-2 receptor gamma (IL-2RG) within the tumor microenvironment and investigates potential microRNAs (miRNAs) that directly inhibit IL-2RG, aiming to discern their impact on CRC clinical outcomes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a significant upregulation of IL-2RG mRNA in TCGA-COAD samples and showed strong correlations with the infiltration of various lymphocytes. Single-cell analysis corroborated these findings, highlighting IL-2RG expression in critical immune cell subsets. To explore miRNA involvement in IL-2RG dysregulation, mRNA was isolated from the tumor tissues and lymphocytes of 258 CRC patients and 30 healthy controls, and IL-2RG was cloned into the pcDNA3.1/CT-GFP-TOPO vector. Human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK-293T) were transfected with this construct. Our research involved a comprehensive analysis of miRPathDB, miRWalk, and Targetscan databases to identify the miRNAs associated with the 3' UTR of human IL-2RG. The human microRNA (miRNA) molecules, hsa-miR-7-5p and hsa-miR-26b-5p, have been identified as potent suppressors of IL-2RG expression in CRC patients. Specifically, the downregulation of hsa-miR-7-5p and hsa-miR-26b-5p has been shown to result in the upregulation of IL-2RG mRNA expression in these patients. Prognostic evaluation of IL-2RG, hsa-miR-7-5p, and hsa-miR-26b-5p, using TCGA-COAD data and patient samples, established that higher IL-2RG expression and lower expression of both miRNAs were associated with poorer outcomes. Additionally, this study identified several long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), such as ZFAS1, SOX21-AS1, SNHG11, SNHG16, SNHG1, DLX6-AS1, GAS5, SNHG6, and MALAT1, which may act as competing endogenous RNA molecules for IL2RG by sequestering shared hsa-miR-7-5p and hsa-miR-26b-5p. In summary, this investigation underscores the potential utility of IL-2RG, hsa-miR-7-5p, and hsa-miR-26b-5p as serum and tissue biomarkers for predicting CRC patient prognosis while also offering promise as targets for immunotherapy in CRC management.

The molecular mechanism of actions and clinical utilities of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in gastrointestinal cancers: a comprehensive review and future prospects toward personalized medicine.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a significant global health burden, accounting for a substantial number of cases and deaths. Regrettably, the inadequacy of dependable biomarkers hinders the precise forecasting of patient prognosis and the selection of appropriate therapeutic sequencing for individuals with GI cancers, leading to suboptimal outcomes for numerous patients. The intricate interplay between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has been shown to be a pivotal determinant of response to anti-cancer therapy and consequential clinical outcomes across a multitude of cancer types. Therefore, the assessment of TILs has garnered global interest as a promising prognostic biomarker in oncology, with the potential to improve clinical decision-making substantially. Moreover, recent discoveries in immunotherapy have progressively changed the landscape of cancer treatment and significantly prolonged the survival of patients with advanced cancers. Nonetheless, the response rate remains constrained within solid tumor sufferers, even when TIL landscapes appear comparable, which calls for the development of our understanding of cellular and molecular cross-talk between TIME and tumor. Hence, this comprehensive review encapsulates the extant literature elucidating the TILs' underlying molecular pathogenesis, prognostic significance, and their relevance in the realm of immunotherapy for patients afflicted by GI tract cancers. Within this review, we demonstrate that the type, density, and spatial distribution of distinct TIL subpopulations carries pivotal implications for the prediction of anti-cancer treatment responses and patient survival. Furthermore, this review underscores the indispensable role of TILs in modulating therapeutic responses within distinct molecular subtypes, such as those characterized by microsatellite stability or programmed cell death ligand-1 expression in GI tract cancers. The review concludes by outlining future directions in TIL-based personalized medicine, including integrating TIL-based approaches into existing treatment regimens and developing novel therapeutic strategies that exploit the unique properties of TILs and their potential as a promising avenue for personalized cancer treatment.

Investigation of ERG Gene Expression in Iranian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neuro-inflammatory disease arising from interplay of multiple genetic and nongenetic factors. The complex etiology of MS highlights the importance of investigation in various populations exposed to different genetic and environmental risk factors and combination of the results of these studies for elucidation of the MS underlying mechanisms and management of this disease. The role of ETS-related gene (ERG) in inflammation and immune response has been suggested by different investigations. However, a very limited number of studies have been performed about the contribution of this gene in pathogenesis and risk of MS. METHODS: The present study investigated the association of ERG mRNA expression with MS by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for the first time in peripheral blood samples of 50 Iranian MS patients and 50 controls. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of the ERG between patients and controls. Also, no correlation was detected between the expression of this gene and age of onset, disease duration and Expanded Disability Status Scale. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study revealed no association between ERG expression and MS, at least in the Iranian patients studied. However, more in-depth and comprehensive investigations should be included to evaluate the exact relevance of this gene to the development of autoimmune diseases such as MS.

TRAF family member-associated NF-KB activator (TANK) gene polymorphism in chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis patients.

UNLABELLED: This study sought to determine TANK (rs1921310, rs3820998) gene polymorphism in patients suffering from chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis among an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 77 chronic periodontitis and 40 peri-implantitis patients, along with 89 periodontally healthy subjects, were evaluated. A 5 cc venous blood sample was obtained from subjects. DNA was extracted using Miller's salting-out method and polymorphisms were determined by the use of KBioscience's Competitive Allele-Specific PCR (CASP) genotyping system. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5 software. Differences in allele and genotype frequencies among patients and controls were evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between understudy groups in distribution of CC and CA genotypes and alleles when evaluating rs3820998 polymorphism or in distribution of GA and AG genotypes and alleles when assessing rs1921310 polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it seems that these two polymorphisms do not play a significant role in pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis or peri-implantitis among the Iranian population. However, we recommend performing similar studies with larger sample sizes among the Iranian population and other communities.