High long non-coding LIFR-AS1 expression correlates with poor survival in gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Abundant evidence has demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in the development of human neoplasms. A novel cancer-related lncRNA, leukemia inhibitory factor receptor antisense RNA 1 (LIFR-AS1), has been reported to be under-expressed in breast cancer and associated with poor prognosis, but its significance in gastric cancer (GC) remains to be determined. Therefore, we assessed the prognostic and diagnostic value of LIFR-AS1 in GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative RT-PCR assay was used to detect the expression levels of LIFR-AS1 in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The correlation between LIFR-AS1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed by Pearson's χ2-test. The disease-free survival and overall survival rates of GC patients were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to assess factors related to survival. RESULTS: In this study, levels of LIFR-AS1 were significantly higher in GC tumor samples relative to adjacent normal tissue samples. A ROC analysis suggested LIFR-AS1 expression could be reliably used to differentiate between normal and GC tumor tissue. In addition, elevated LIFR-AS1 expression was positively correlated with more advanced and aggressive GC features, such as larger tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, and more advanced TNM stage. Survival analyses revealed that elevated LIFR-AS1 expression was correlated with worse overall survival and disease-free survival. Multivariate analysis further confirmed the relevance of LIFR-AS1 as an independent predictor of GC patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these results indicate that the lncRNA LIFR-AS1 is a promising prognostic indicator in GC patients.

Effect of miR-26a-5p on gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting COL10A1.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effect of miR-26a-5p on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer by targeting COL10A1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, differentially expressed genes were identified from microarray GSE103236 data of human gastric cancer. Then, qRT-PCR was carried out to detect the expression levels of COL10A1 and miR-26a-5p in gastric cancer cells and normal cases. The CCK-8 method was used to test cell proliferation. The colony formation assay was performed for the examination of the cell colony-forming ability, and transwell was applied for the detection of cell migration and invasion. Subsequently, the targeted relationship between miR-26a-5p and COL10A1 was identified by bioinformatics methods and further verified by Dual-Luciferase assay. The rescue experiment was finally conducted to validate the miR-26a-5p-dependent mechanism on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via targeting COL10A1. RESULTS: COL10A1 was found to be highly expressed in gastric cancer cells, while miR-26a-5p was poorly expressed. Silencing COL10A1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer. Besides, miR-26a-5p could function on gastric cancer cells by reducing COL10A1. As well, the rescue experiment suggested that the down-regulation of COL10A1 could reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-26a-5p on gastric cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, miR-26a-5p can potentiate proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells by targeting COL10A1.

Effect of all-trans retinoic acids (ATRA) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the lung tissues of rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was studied, and the mechanism of the effect of ATRA on PAH was proposed. Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, monocrotaline (MCT) model, and ATRA [30 mg/(kg.day)]intervention groups (N = 10 each). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was recorded. Right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated (weight of right ventricle: total weight of left ventricle and interventricular septum). The percentages of wall thickness of pulmonary arteriole (WT) to external diameter of artery (WT%) and vascular wall area (WA) to total vascular area (WA%) were determined. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR and western blot analyses were employed to detect the α-SMA mRNA and protein expressions. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure, RVHI, WT%, and WA% were all obviously higher in the model group than in the control and intervention groups. The values of these indicators in the intervention group were also higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of α-SMA were significantly higher in the lung tissue of model rats than those in the control and intervention groups. However, the intervention group showed no statistically significant differences in α-SMA mRNA and protein expression levels compared to the control (P < 0.05). ATRA inhibited the α-SMA mRNA and protein expressionin the lung tissues of rats with MCT-induced PAH, and could be used to treat PAH.

Over-expression of protein kinase C isoforms (α, δ, θ and ζ) in squamous cervical cancer.

Protein kinase C was found to be significantly over-expressed in cancer samples compared to adjacent normal cervical tissues by proteomics in our previous study. The aim of this study was to examine protein kinase C expression and to analyze the expression patterns of protein kinase C isoforms in squamous cervical cancer at the protein levels and their associations with clinical and pathologic factors of squamous cervical cancer. First, Western blotting was used to examine protein kinase C expression in the specimens of tumors and matched adjacent normal tissues which were collected from 12 patients with squamous cervical cancer. Protein kinase C isoforms (α, δ, θ and ζ) expression were then detected by immunohistochemistry in other 43 cases of squamous cervical cancer tissues, 32 cases of corresponding adjacent normal cervical squamous epithelial tissue and 31 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Western blot analysis revealed that protein kinase C expression was positive in squamous cervical cancer while it was not expressed in normal cervical tissues. On the other hand, immunohistochemical analysis suggested that, protein kinase C isoforms (α, δ, θ and ζ) expression was significantly higher in squamous cervical cancer compared to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, as well as in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia compared with normal tissues, respectively.High levels of protein kinase C α expression were associated with cellular differentiation(P<0.05). Protein kinase C δ was significantly associated with tumor stage (P<0.05) and protein kinase C ζ was associated with lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that protein kinase C isoforms expression in cervical lesions was associated with carcinogenesis and might play important roles throughout the process of cervical cancer development.

Characterization of complete genome sequence of the spring viremia of carp virus isolated from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in China.

The complete genome of spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) strain A-1 isolated from cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in China was sequenced and characterized. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) derived clones were constructed and the DNA was sequenced. It showed that the entire genome of SVCV A-1 consists of 11,100 nucleotide base pairs, the predicted size of the viral RNA of rhabdoviruses. However, the additional insertions in bp 4633-4676 and bp 4684-4724 of SVCV A-1 were different from the other two published SVCV complete genomes. Five open reading frames (ORFs) of SVCV A-1 were identified and further confirmed by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing of their respective RT-PCR products. The 5 structural proteins encoded by the viral RNA were ordered 3'-N-P-M-G-L-5'. This is the first report of a complete genome sequence of SVCV isolated from cultured carp in China. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that SVCV A-1 is closely related to the members of the genus Vesiculovirus, family Rhabdoviridae.