RESUMO
Background: Mini chromosome maintenance protein 4 (MCM4) belongs to the family of mini chromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs) that plays a crucial role in DNA replication and cell cycle regulation. Given that MCM4 has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumor tissues, and is strongly associated with poor patient prognosis, it has rarely been reported in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). Methods: We explored the role of MCM4 in UCEC through multi-omics analysis, including gene expression levels, survival prognosis, the biological function of interacting proteins, immune infiltration, and diagnostic value. Finally, these results were confirmed by biological experiments. Results: MCM4 was highly expressed in various malignancies including UCEC compared to normal samples and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with UCEC [including OS (HR = 1.74, p = 0.009), PFI (HR = 1.73, p = 0.002), PFI (HR = 2.23, p = 0.003)]. In the Cox regression analysis, MCM4 was an independent prognostic biomarker. Further studies showed those interacting proteins of MCM4 were enriched in DNA repair and cell cycle. Moreover, high expression of MCM4 was accompanied by lower infiltration of immune cells such as Treg cells and B cells. The distribution of MCM4 expression in molecular and immune subtypes was significantly different (p < 0.05), with high expression in the copynumber high (CN_HIGH) molecular subtype and the IFN-gamma dominant (C2) immune subtype. RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry results also showed that MCM4 expression was significantly upregulated in endometrial cancer tissues and negatively correlated with patient prognosis (p < 0.05). Subsequent biological experiments confirmed that MCM4 promoted cell growth and invasion and inhibited apoptosis in vitro. Conclusion: Therefore, MCM4 could be a new potential biomarker for UCEC.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the levels of inhibin (INH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in maternal plasma and umbilical cord plasma of patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, and to explore their influence on the disease and fetal growth. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect maternal and umbilical cord plasma INH and EGF levels in 65 patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (test groups) and 21 normal pregnant women (control group). RESULTS: Plasma level of INH in test groups (499 +/- 52) ng/L was significantly higher than that (421 +/- 36) ng/L in control group (P < 0.01); however, the umbilical cord plasma level of INH had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Plasma level of EGF in test groups (408 +/- 60) ng/L was significantly lower than that (463 +/- 87) ng/L in control group (P < 0.05), also there was significant difference in umbilical cord plasma level of two groups (232 +/- 99) ng/L vs (380 +/- 97) ng/L (P < 0.01). The level of EGF in umbilical cord blood was positively correlated with newborn's body weight and placental weight. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of INH and EGF in pregnancy women are related with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy. EGF level of umbilical cord blood affects the growth of fetus and placenta.