Quantum entanglement and interference at 3 µm.

Given the important advantages of the mid-infrared optical range (2.5 to 25 µm) for biomedical sensing, optical communications, and molecular spectroscopy, extending quantum information technology to this region is highly attractive. However, the development of mid-infrared quantum information technology is still in its infancy. Here, we report on the generation of a time-energy entangled photon pair in the mid-infrared wavelength band. By using frequency upconversion detection technology, we observe the two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel interference and demonstrate the time-energy entanglement between twin photons at 3082 nm via the Franson-type interferometer, verifying the indistinguishability and nonlocality of the photons. This work is very promising for future applications of optical quantum technology in the mid-infrared band, which will bring more opportunities in the fields of quantum communication, precision sensing, and imaging.

Tumor Cell-Secreted ISG15 Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Immune Suppression by Inducing the Macrophage M2-Like Phenotype.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is known to be involved in tumor progression. We previously reported that ISG15 expressed on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and related to poor prognosis of patients with NPC. We further observed that ISG15 can be secreted by NPC cell and expressed on the macrophages in situ. However, the role of ISG15 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) remains poorly understood. In the present study, we found that ISG15 treatment induces macrophages with M2-like phenotype, and the enhancement of NPC cell migration and tumorigenicity. Mechanically, ISG15-induced M2-like phenotype is dependent on the interaction with its receptor, LFA-1, and engagement of SRC family kinase (SFK) signal, and the subsequent secretion of CCL18. Blocking LFA-1, or SRC signal with small molecular inhibitors, or neutralizing with anti-CCL18 antibody can impede the activation of LFA-1-SFK-CCL18 axis in ISG15-treated macrophages. Clinically, ISG15+ CD163+ TAMs related to impaired survival of patients and advanced tumor stage of NPC. Furthermore, we found ISG15+ CD163+ macrophages inhibited antitumor CD8+ cells responses in NPC. Together, our findings suggested tumor cell-secreted ISG15, which acted as a tumor microenvironmental factor, induces M2-like phenotype, promoting tumor progression and suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte response.

CRLF1 promotes malignant phenotypes of papillary thyroid carcinoma by activating the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the one of the most common types of endocrine cancer and has a heterogeneous prognosis. Tumors from patients with poor prognosis may differentially express specific genes. Therefore, an analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was performed and revealed that cytokine receptor-like factor 1 (CRLF1) may be a potential novel target for PTC treatment. The objective of the current study was to explore the expression of CRLF1 in PTC and to investigate the main functions and mechanisms of CRLF1 in PTC. PTC tissues exhibited higher CRLF1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels than it did with normal thyroid tissues. High CRLF1 levels were associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor disease-free survival rates. By using loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays, we found that CRLF1 not only increased cell migration and invasion in vitro but also promoted tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CRLF1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transitions. Overexpression of CRLF1 activated the ERK1/2 and AKT pathways. The oncogenic effects induced by CRLF1 were suppressed by treating the cells with the MEK inhibitor U0126 or the AKT inhibitor MK-2206. These results suggest that CRLF1 enhances cell proliferation and metastasis in PTC and thus may therefore be a potential therapeutic target for PTC.

Novel chimeric transcript RRM2-c2orf48 promotes metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Recently, chimeric transcripts have been found to be associated with the pathogenesis and poor prognosis of malignant tumors. Through our preliminary experiment, a novel chimeric transcript called chimeric transcript RRM2-c2orf48 was detected in C666-1, a classical cell line of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Therefore, the objective of this study was to demonstrate the existence and expression of novel chimeric transcript RRM2-c2orf48 and to explore the main functions and mechanisms of RRM2-c2orf48 in NPC. In this study, the expression of RRM2-c2orf48 was evaluated in NPC cells and specimens. Effects of RRM2-c2orf48 on migration and invasive capacities were detected in vivo and vitro. Moreover, ways in which RRM2-c2orf48 increases the invasive capacities of NPC were explored. As a result, the presence of novel chimeric transcript RRM2-c2orf48 was confirmed in C666-1 by RT-PCR and sequencing, and it was a read-through between RRM2 and c2orf48 through the transcription of interchromosome. Higher expressions of novel RRM2-c2orf48 were detected in NPC cell lines and NPC tissue specimens relative to the controls and its expression was be statistically relevant to TNM staging. High level of RRM2-c2orf48 could increase the migration and invasive capacities of NPC cells, potentially as a result of NPC cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition. RRM2-c2orf48 could also enhance resistance of chemotherapy. In vivo, RRM2-c2orf48 could enhance lung and lymph node metastasis in nude mice. These results demonstrate that high levels of RRM2-c2orf48 expression may be a useful predictor of NPC patients of metastatic potency, presenting potential implications for NPC diagnosis and therapy.

[Expression of Aquaporin 4 in Diffuse Brain Injury of Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in diffuse brain injury (DBI) of rats and to explore the corresponding effect of AQP4 for brain edema. METHODS: The rat model of DBI was established using Marmarou's impact-compression trauma model. Brain water content was measured by dry-wet weight method. Blood-brain barrier permeability was evaluated by Evans blue (EB) staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of AQP4. RESULTS: Brain water content increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI. Brain EB content significantly increased and peaked at 12 h after DBI. The expression of AQP4 significantly increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI, and the number of AQP4 positive astrocytes increased. CONCLUSION: The increment of the permeability of blood-brain barrier and the expression of AQP4 may contribute to the development of brain edema in rat DBI. The change of AQP4 expression in astrocytes may also contribute to determine DBI.

ISG15 predicts poor prognosis and promotes cancer stem cell phenotype in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), the first identified ubiquitin-like protein, is known for its anti-viral capacity. However, its role in tumorigenesis remains controversial. Here, using RNA-seq profiling analysis, we identified ISG15 as a differentially expressed gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and validated its overexpression in NPC samples and cells. High ISG15 levels in NPC tissues were correlated with more frequent local recurrence and shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. ISG15 overexpression promoted a cancer stem cell phenotype in NPC cells, including increased colony and tumorsphere formation abilities, pluripotency-associated genes expression, and in vivo tumorigenicity. By contrast, knockdown of ISG15 attenuated stemness characteristics in NPC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of ISG15 increased NPC cell resistance to radiation and cisplatin (DDP) treatment. Our study demonstrates a protumor role of ISG15, and suggests that ISG15 is a prognostic predictor and a potential therapeutic target for NPC.

Decreased Expression of FADS1 Predicts a Poor Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

FADS1 (fatty acid desaturase 1) plays a crucial role in fatty acid metabolism, and it was recently reported to be involved in tumorigenesis. However, the role of FADS1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated the expression and clinical pathologic and prognostic significance of FADS1 in ESCC. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that 58.2% (146/251) of the ESCC tissues had low levels of FADS1 expression, whereas 41.8% (105/251) exhibited high levels of FADS1 expression. In positive cases, FADS1 expression was detected in the cytoplasm of cells. Correlation analyses demonstrated that FADS1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor location (p=0.025) but not with age, gender, histological grade, tumor status, nodal status or TNM staging. Furthermore, patients with tumors expressing high levels of FADS1had a longer disease-free survival time (p<0.001) and overall survival time (p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that, along with nodal status, FADS1 expression was an independent and significant predictive factor (p<0.001). In conclusion, our study suggested that FADS1 might be a valuable biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ESCC.