Ethanol synthesis via catalytic CO2 hydrogenation over multi-elemental KFeCuZn/ZrO2 catalyst.

Technological enablers that use CO2 as a feedstock to create value-added chemicals, including ethanol, have gained widespread appeal. They offer a potential solution to climate change and promote the development of a circular economy. However, the conversion of CO2 to ethanol poses significant challenges, not only because CO2 is a thermodynamically stable and chemically inert molecule but also because of the complexity of the reaction routes and uncontrollability of C-C coupling. In this study, we developed an efficient catalyst, K-Fe-Cu-Zn/ZrO2 (KFeCuZn/ZrO2), which enhances the EtOH space time yield (STYEtOH) to 5.4 mmol gcat -1 h-1, under optimized conditions (360 °C, 4 MPa, and 12 L gcat -1 h-1). Furthermore, we investigated the roles of each constituent element using in situ/operando spectroscopy such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). These results demonstrate that all components are necessary for efficient ethanol synthesis.

Low-Temperature Methane Combustion Using Ozone over Coß Catalyst.

Catalytic methane (CH4) combustion is a promising approach to reducing the release of unburned methane in exhaust gas. Here, we report Co-exchanged ß zeolite (Coß) as an efficient catalyst for CH4 combustion using O3. A series of ion-exchanged ß zeolites (Co, Ni, Mn, Fe, and Pd) are subjected to the catalytic test, and Coß exhibits a superior performance in a low-temperature region (<100 °C). The results of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and catalytic tests for Coß with different Co loadings indicate the isolated Co species is the plausible active site. The reaction mechanism of CH4 combustion over the isolated Co2+ cation is theoretically investigated by the single-component artificial force-induced reaction (SC-AFIR) method to thoroughly search for possible reaction routes. The resulting path toward CO2 formation shows an activation energy of 73 kJ/mol for the rate-determining step and an exothermicity of 1025 kJ/mol, which supports the experimental results. During a long-term catalytic test for 160 h without external heating, the CH4 conversion gradually decreases from 80 to 40%, but the conversion fully recovers after dehydration at 500 °C (0.5 h). The copresence of H2O and CO exhibits a negative impact on the catalytic activity, while NO and SO2 do not markedly change the catalytic activity.

Inhibition of mitochondrial citrate shuttle alleviates metabolic syndromes induced by high-fat diet.

The mitochondrial citrate shuttle, which relies on the solute carrier family 25 member 1 (SLC25A1), plays a pivotal role in transporting citrate from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. This shuttle supports glycolysis, lipid biosynthesis, and protein acetylation. Previous research has primarily focused on SLC25A1 in pathological models, particularly high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. However, the impact of SLC25A1 inhibition on nutrient metabolism under HFD remains unclear. To address this gap, we used zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to evaluate the effects of inhibiting Slc25a1. In zebrafish, we administered Slc25a1-specific inhibitors (CTPI-2) for 4 wk, whereas Nile tilapia received intraperitoneal injections of dsRNA to knock down slc25a1b for 7 days. Inhibition of the mitochondrial citrate shuttle effectively protected zebrafish from HFD-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. Of note, glucose tolerance was unaffected. Inhibition of Slc25a1 altered hepatic protein acetylation patterns, with decreased cytoplasmic acetylation and increased mitochondrial acetylation. Under HFD conditions, Slc25a1 inhibition promoted fatty acid oxidation and reduced hepatic triglyceride (TAG) accumulation by deacetylating carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (Cpt1a). In addition, Slc25a1 inhibition triggered acetylation-induced inactivation of Pdhe1α, leading to a reduction in glucose oxidative catabolism. This was accompanied by enhanced glucose uptake and storage in zebrafish livers. Furthermore, Slc25a1 inhibition under HFD conditions activated the SIRT1/PGC1α pathway, promoting mitochondrial proliferation and enhancing oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. Our findings provide new insights into the role of nonhistone protein acetylation via the mitochondrial citrate shuttle in the development of hepatic lipid deposition and hyperglycemia caused by HFD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The mitochondrial citrate shuttle is a crucial physiological process for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. In the present study, we found that inhibition of mitochondrial citrate shuttle (Slc25a1) could alleviate metabolic syndromes induced by high-fat diet (HFD) through remodeling hepatic protein acetylation modification. Briefly, Slc25a1 inhibition reduces hepatic triglyceride deposition by deacetylating Cpt1a and reduces glucose oxidative catabolism by acetylating Pdhe1α. Our study provides new insights into the treatment of diet-induced metabolic syndromes.

Inhibiting mitochondrial citrate shuttling induces hepatic triglyceride deposition in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through lipid anabolic remodeling.

The solute carrier family 25 member 1 (Slc25a1)-dependent mitochondrial citrate shuttle is responsible for exporting citrate from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm for supporting lipid biosynthesis and protein acetylation. Previous studies on Slc25a1 concentrated on pathological models. However, the importance of Slc25a1 in maintaining metabolic homeostasis under normal nutritional conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the mechanism of mitochondrial citrate shuttle in maintaining lipid metabolism homeostasis in male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). To achieve the objective, we blocked the mitochondrial citrate shuttle by inhibiting Slc25a1 under normal nutritional conditions. Slc25a1 inhibition was established by feeding Nile tilapia with 250 mg/kg 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid hydrate for 6 weeks or intraperitoneal injecting them with dsRNA to knockdown slc25a1b for 7 days. The Nile tilapia with Slc25a1 inhibition exhibited an obesity-like phenotype accompanied by fat deposition, liver damage and hyperglycemia. Moreover, Slc25a1 inhibition decreased hepatic citrate-derived acetyl-CoA, but increased hepatic triglyceride levels. Furthermore, Slc25a1 inhibition replenished cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA through enhanced acetate pathway, which led to hepatic triglycerides accumulation. However, acetate-derived acetyl-CoA caused by hepatic Slc25a1 inhibition did not activate de novo lipogenesis, but rather modified protein acetylation. In addition, hepatic Slc25a1 inhibition enhanced fatty acids esterification through acetate-derived acetyl-CoA, which increased Lipin1 acetylation and its protein stability. Collectively, our results illustrate that inhibiting mitochondrial citrate shuttle triggers lipid anabolic remodeling and results in lipid accumulation, indicating the importance of mitochondrial citrate shuttle in maintaining lipid metabolism homeostasis.

Intratumoral injection of interferon gamma promotes the efficacy of anti-PD1 treatment in colorectal cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) offer new options for the treatment of patients with solid cancers worldwide. The majority of colorectal cancers (CRC) are proficient in mismatch-repair (pMMR) genes, harboring fewer tumor antigens and are insensitive to ICIs. These tumors are often found to be immune-deserted. We hypothesized that forcing immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment followed by immune ignition by PD1 blockade may initiate a positive immune cycle that can boost antitumor immunity. Bioinformatics using a public database suggested that IFNγ was a key indicator of immune status and prognosis in CRC. Intratumoral administration of IFNγ increased immune cells infiltration into the tumor, but induced PD-L1 expression. A combined treatment strategy using IFNγ and anti-PD-1 antibody significantly increased T cell killing of tumor cells in vitro and showed synergistic inhibition of tumor growth in a mouse model of CRC. CyTOF found drastic changes in the immune microenvironment upon combined immunotherapy. Treatment with IFNγ and anti-PD1 antibody in CT26 tumors significantly increased infiltration of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs). IFNγ had a more pronounced effect in decreasing intratumoral M2-like macrophages, while PD1 blockade increased the population of CD8+Ly6C + T cells in the tumor microenvironment, creating a more pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Additionally, PD1 induced increased expression of lymphocyte activating 3 (LAG3) in a significant fraction of CD8+ T cells and Treg cells, indicating potential drug resistance and feedback mechanisms. In conclusion, our work provides preclinical data for the Combined immunotherapy of CRC using intratumoral delivery of IFNγ and systemic anti-PD1 monoclonoal antibody.

Development and verification of a combined immune- and cancer-associated fibroblast related prognostic signature for colon adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: To better understand the role of immune escape and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), an integrative analysis of the tumor microenvironment was performed using a set of 12 immune- and CAF-related genes (ICRGs). Methods: Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses were used to establish a prognostic signature based on the expression of these 12 genes (S1PR5, AEN, IL20RB, FGF9, OSBPL1A, HSF4, PCAT6, FABP4, KIF15, ZNF792, CD1B and GLP2R). This signature was validated in both internal and external cohorts and was found to have a higher C-index than previous COAD signatures, confirming its robustness and reliability. To make use of this signature in clinical settings, a nomogram incorporating ICRG signatures and key clinical parameters, such as age and T stage, was developed. Finally, the role of S1PR5 in the immune response of COAD was validated through in vitro cytotoxicity experiments. Results: The developed nomogram exhibited slightly improved predictive accuracy compared to the ICRG signature alone, as indicated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC, nomogram:0.838; ICRGs:0.807). The study also evaluated the relationships between risk scores (RS) based on the expression of the ICRGs and other key immunotherapy variables, including immune checkpoint expression, immunophenoscore (IPS), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Integration of these variables led to more precise prediction of treatment efficacy, enabling personalized immunotherapy for COAD patients. Knocking down S1PR5 can enhance the efficacy of PD-1 monoclonal antibody, promoting the cytotoxicity of T cells against HCT116 cells ((p<0.05). Discussion: These findings indicate that the ICRG signature may be a valuable tool for predicting prognostic risk, evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy, and tailoring personalized treatment options for patients with COAD.

Continuous Unsteady-State De-NOx System via Tandem Water-Gas Shift, NH3 Synthesis, and NH3-SCR under Periodic Lean/Rich Conditions.

The development of urea-free and platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalytic systems for automotive emission control is a challenging task. Herein, we report a new de-NOx system using cyclic feeds of rich and lean gas mixtures with PGM-free catalysts. Initial catalyst screening tests showed that Cu/CeO2 with 5 wt % Cu loading was the most suitable for the water-gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H2O → CO2 + H2), followed by the selective NH3 synthesis by the NO + H2 reaction. The unsteady-state system under alternating feeds of rich (0.1% NO + 0.5% CO + 1% H2O) and lean (0.1% NO + 2% O2 + 1% H2O) gas mixtures over a mixture of Cu/CeO2 and Cr-exchanged mordenite (CrMOR) showed higher NOx conversion than the steady-state (0.1% NO + 0.35% CO + 0.6% O2 + 1% H2O) reaction between 200 and 500 °C. The de-NOx mechanism under periodical rich/lean conditions was studied by operando infrared (IR) experiments. In the rich period, the WGS reaction on the Cu/CeO2 catalyst yield H2, which reduces NO to NH3 on the Cu/CeO2 catalyst. NH3 is then captured by the Brønsted acid sites of CrMOR. In the subsequent lean period, the adsorbed NH3 acts as a reductant for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx catalyzed by the Cr sites of CrMOR. This study demonstrates a new urea-free and PGM-free catalytic system that can provide an alternative de-NOx technology for automotive catalysis under periodic rich/lean conditions.

Secretome of EMSCs neutralizes LPS­induced acute lung injury via aerosol administration.

Ectodermal mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) are cells harvested from the stem cell niche (nasal mucosa) with high therapeutic potential. To the best of our knowledge, however, the anti­inflammatory properties of these neural crest­derived EMSCs have been rarely reported. The present study aimed to explore the effects of aerosolized EMSC­Secretome (EMSC­Sec) and clarify underlying mechanisms in treating acute lung injury (ALI). EMSCs were isolated by adherent method and identified by immunofluorescence staining. EMSC­Sec was collected and evaluated using western blotting, BCA and ELISA tests. Then, mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE­12) were used to mimic inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After developing an ALI model through intraperitoneal injection of LPS, mice were treated with an EMSC­Sec spray. The lung in each group underwent an observation and measurement to preliminarily assess the extent of damage. H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence and western­blotting were utilized to further access the impacts of EMSC­Sec. The results showed that EMSC­Sec had great anti­inflammatory potential and was highly successful in vitro and in vivo. EMSC­Sec mitigated LPS­induced ALI with low inflammatory cell inflation and mild damage. EMSC­Sec could regulate inflammation via the NF­κB(p50/p65)/NLRP3 pathway. Overall, the present study demonstrated that EMSC­Sec regulated inflammation, hoping to provide a novel strategy for ALI treatment.

High cholesterol intake remodels cholesterol turnover and energy homeostasis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The roles of dietary cholesterol in fish physiology are currently contradictory. The issue reflects the limited studies on the metabolic consequences of cholesterol intake in fish. The present study investigated the metabolic responses to high cholesterol intake in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which were fed with four cholesterol-contained diets (0.8, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.2%) and a control diet for eight weeks. All fish-fed cholesterol diets showed increased body weight, but accumulated cholesterol (the peak level was in the 1.6% cholesterol group). Then, we selected 1.6% cholesterol and control diets for further analysis. The high cholesterol diet impaired liver function and reduced mitochondria number in fish. Furthermore, high cholesterol intake triggered protective adaptation via (1) inhibiting endogenous cholesterol synthesis, (2) elevating the expression of genes related to cholesterol esterification and efflux, and (3) promoting chenodeoxycholic acid synthesis and efflux. Accordingly, high cholesterol intake reshaped the fish gut microbiome by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. and Mycobacterium spp., both of which are involved in cholesterol and/or bile acids catabolism. Moreover, high cholesterol intake inhibited lipid catabolic activities through mitochondrial ß-oxidation, and lysosome-mediated lipophagy, and depressed insulin signaling sensitivity. Protein catabolism was elevated as a compulsory response to maintain energy homeostasis. Therefore, although high cholesterol intake promoted growth, it led to metabolic disorders in fish. For the first time, this study provides evidence for the systemic metabolic response to high cholesterol intake in fish. This knowledge contributes to an understanding of the metabolic syndromes caused by high cholesterol intake or deposition in fish. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00158-7.

The dysfunction of hormone-sensitive lipase induces lipid deposition and reprogramming of nutrient metabolism in fish.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is one of the rate-determining enzymes in the hydrolysis of TAG, playing a crucial role in lipid metabolism. However, the role of HSL-mediated lipolysis in systemic nutrient homoeostasis has not been intensively understood. Therefore, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technique and Hsl inhibitor (HSL-IN-1) to establish hsla-deficient (hsla-/-) and Hsl-inhibited zebrafish models, respectively. As a result, the hsla-/- zebrafish showed retarded growth and reduced oxygen consumption rate, accompanied with higher mRNA expression of the genes related to inflammation and apoptosis in liver and muscle. Furthermore, hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish both exhibited severe fat deposition, whereas their expressions of the genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation were markedly reduced. The TLC results also showed that the dysfunction of Hsl changed the whole-body lipid profile, including increasing the content of TG and decreasing the proportion of phospholipids. In addition, the systemic metabolic pattern was remodelled in hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish. The dysfunction of Hsl lowered the glycogen content in liver and muscle and enhanced the utilisation of glucose plus the expressions of glucose transporter and glycolysis genes. Besides, the whole-body protein content had significantly decreased in the hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish, accompanied with the lower activation of the mTOR pathway and enhanced protein and amino acid catabolism. Taken together, Hsl plays an essential role in energy homoeostasis, and its dysfunction would cause the disturbance of lipid catabolism but enhanced breakdown of glycogen and protein for energy compensation.

An epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify susceptibility modules and genes for colorectal cancer (CRC) using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). METHODS: Four microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We divided the tumor samples into three subgroups based on consensus clustering of gene expression, and analyzed the correlations between the subgroups and clinical features. The genetic features of the subgroups were investigated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A gene expression network was constructed using WGCNA, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was used to identify the key genes. Gene modules were annotated by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. RESULTS: We divided the cancer cases into three subgroups based on consensus clustering (subgroups I, II, III). The green module identified by WGCNA was correlated with clinical characteristics. Ten key genes were identified according to their degree of connectivity in the protein-protein interaction network: FYN, SEMA3A, AP2M1, L1CAM, NRP1, TLN1, VWF, ITGB3, ILK, and ACTN1. CONCLUSION: We identified 10 hub genes as candidate biomarkers for CRC. These key genes may provide a theoretical basis for targeted therapy against CRC.

The Disulfiram/Copper Complex Induces Autophagic Cell Death in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting ULK1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent worldwide, but there has been limited development of efficient and affordable treatment. Induced autophagy has recently been recognized as a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment, and disulfiram (DSF), a well-known antialcohol drug, is also found to inhibit tumor growth in various malignancies. Recently, DSF has been reported to induce excessive autophagy in oral squamous cells; however, little is known about whether it can induce autophagy and suppress proliferation in CRC. In this study, we investigate the effect of DSF with copper (DSF/Cu) on CRC both in vitro and in vivo and find that the combination significantly inhibits CRC cell viability and mainly induces autophagy instead of apoptosis. Furthermore, we use whole genome CRISPR library screening and identify a new mechanism by which DSF triggers autophagy by ULK1. Overall, these findings provide a potential CRC treatment.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial and anticancer properties using two novel yeasts.

AgNPs are nanomaterials with many potential biomedical applications. In this study, the two novel yeast strains HX-YS and LPP-12Y capable of producing biological silver nanoparticles were isolated. Sequencing of ribosomal DNA-ITS fragments, as well as partial D1/D2 regions of 26S rDNA indicated that the strains are related to species from the genus Metschnikowia. The BioAgNPs produced by HX-YS and LPP-12Y at pH 5.0-6.0 and 26 °C ranged in size from 50 to 500 nm. The antibacterial activities of yeast BioAgNPs against five pathogenic bacteria were determined. The highest antibacterial effect was observed on P. aeruginosa, with additional obvious effects on E. coli ATCC8099 and S. aureus ATCC10231. Additionally, the BioAgNPs showed antiproliferative effects on lung cancer cell lines H1975 and A579, with low toxicity in Beas 2B normal lung cells. Therefore, the AgNPs biosynthesized by HX-YS and LPP-12Y may have potential applications in the treatment of bacterial infections and cancer.

Lipolysis and lipophagy play individual and interactive roles in regulating triacylglycerol and cholesterol homeostasis and mitochondrial form in zebrafish.

Neutral lipases-mediated lipolysis and acid lipases-moderated lipophagy are two main processes for degradation of lipid droplets (LDs). However, the individual and interactive roles of these metabolic pathways are not well known across vertebrates. This study explored the roles of lipolysis and lipophagy from the aspect of neutral and acid lipases in zebrafish. We established zebrafish strains deficient in either adipose triglyceride lipase (atgl-/-; AKO fish) or lysosomal acid lipase (lal-/-; LKO fish) respectively, and then inhibited lipolysis in the LKO fish and lipophagy in the AKO fish by feeding diets supplemented with the corresponding inhibitors Atglistatin and 3-Methyladenine, respectively. Both the AKO and LKO fish showed reduced growth, swimming activity, and oxygen consumption. The AKO fish did not show phenotypes in adipose tissue, but mainly accumulated triacylglycerol (TAG) in liver, also, they had large LDs in the hepatocytes, and did not stimulate lipophagy as a compensation response but maintained basal lipophagy. The LKO fish reduced total lipid accumulation in the body but had high cholesterol content in liver; also, they accumulated small LDs in the hepatocytes, and showed increased lipolysis, especially Atgl expression, as a compensatory mechanism. Simultaneous inhibition of lipolysis and lipophagy in zebrafish resulted in severe liver damage, with the potential to trigger mitophagy. Overall, our study illustrates that lipolysis and lipophagy perform individual and interactive roles in maintaining homeostasis of TAG and cholesterol metabolism. Furthermore, the interactive roles of lipolysis and lipophagy may be essential in regulating the functions and form of mitochondria.

Prognostic Risk Model of Immune-Related Genes in Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: We focused on immune-related genes (IRGs) derived from transcriptomic studies, which had the potential to stratify patients' prognosis and to establish a risk assessment model in colorectal cancer. SUMMARY: This article examined our understanding of the molecular pathways associated with intratumoral immune response, which represented a critical step for the implementation of stratification strategies toward the development of personalized immunotherapy of colorectal cancer. More and more evidence shows that IRGs play an important role in tumors. We have used data analysis to screen and identify immune-related molecular biomarkers of colon cancer. We selected 18 immune-related prognostic genes and established models to assess prognostic risks of patients, which can provide recommendations for clinical treatment and follow-up. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in human. Several studies have investigated whether IRGs and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) could be indicators of CRC prognoses. This study aimed to develop an improved prognostic signature for CRC based on IRGs to predict overall survival (OS) and provide new therapeutic targets for CRC treatment. Based on the screened IRGs, the Cox regression model was used to build a prediction model based on 18-IRG signature. Cox regression analysis revealed that the 18-IRG signature was an independent prognostic factor for OS in CRC patients. Then, we used the TIMER online database to explore the relationship between the risk scoring model and the infiltration of immune cells, and the results showed that the risk model can reflect the state of TIME to a certain extent. In short, an 18-IRG prognostic signature for predicting CRC patients' survival was firmly established.

Establishment of a Risk Signature Based on m6A RNA Methylation Regulators That Predicts Poor Prognosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications represent one of the most common methylation modifications, and they are mediated by m6A RNA methylation regulators. However, their functions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the regulators in RCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of the 13 main m6A RNA methylation regulators in RCC were detected and consensus clustering was performed to explore their relationships with RCC. Thereafter, a risk signature based on the regulators was established. This risk model was fully verified by conducting prognostic analyses using two datasets (The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA] and Gene Expression Omnibus [GEO] datasets) and a ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Of the 13 main m6A regulators, six were significantly upregulated and four were significantly downregulated in 893 RCC cases compared to 128 normal controls in the TCGA database. Consensus clustering based on the regulators identified two clusters of RCC cases, which were significantly associated with a pathological characteristic (T status). Thus, these results indicated that m6A RNA methylation regulators were associated with RCC. Thereafter, a risk model involving two of the regulators (METTL14 and WTAP) was established. The alterations in the mRNA and protein expression levels of these two regulators were further confirmed based on Human Protein Atlas data and real-time PCR in RCC and normal cell lines. The results indicated that the risk model may serve as an independent prognostic marker of overall survival, and it was also associated with clinicopathological characteristics (T status, M status, pathological stage, and gender) in RCC. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results of this study indicated that the risk model (based on two m6A RNA methylation regulators) may serve as an independent prognostic indicator of RCC, which may aid further investigation into m6A RNA modification in RCC.

Exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuates colorectal cancer liver metastasis by regulating Kupffer cell secretion pattern and impeding MMP9 induced vascular leakiness.

BACKGROUND: Angiopoietin-like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) has been proved to suppress tumor metastasis in several cancers. However, its extracellular effects on the pre-metastatic niches (PMNs) are still unclear. ANGPTL1 has been identified in exosomes, while its function remains unknown. This study was designed to explore the role of exosomal ANGPTL1 on liver metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation. The ANGPTL1 level was detected in exosomes derived from human CRC tissues. The effects of exosomal ANGPTL1 on CRC liver metastasis were explored by the intrasplenic injection mouse model. The liver PMN was examined by vascular permeability assays. Exosomal ANGPTL1 localization was validated by exosome labeling. The regulatory mechanisms of exosomal ANGPTL1 on Kupffer cells were determined by RNA sequencing. qRT-PCR, Western Blot, and ELISA analysis were conducted to examine gene expressions at mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: ANGPTL1 protein level was significantly downregulated in the exosomes derived from CRC tumors compared with paired normal tissues. Besides, exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuated liver metastasis and impeded vascular leakiness in the liver PMN. Moreover, exosomal ANGPTL1 was mainly taken up by KCs and regulated the KCs secretion pattern, enormously decreasing the MMP9 expression, which finally prevented the liver vascular leakiness. In mechanism, exosomal ANGPTL1 downregulated MMP9 level in KCs by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuated CRC liver metastasis and impeded vascular leakiness in the liver PMN by reprogramming the Kupffer cell and decreasing the MMP9 expression. This study suggests a suppression role of exosomal ANGPTL1 on CRC liver metastasis and expands the approach of ANGPTL1 functioning.

An Autophagy-Related Long Noncoding RNA Signature Contributes to Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant primary tumors, prone to metastasis, and associated with a poor prognosis. As autophagy is closely related to the development and treatment of colorectal cancer, we investigated the potential prognostic value of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) associated with autophagy in colorectal cancer. METHODS: In this study, we acquired information on the expression of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and found that 860 lncRNAs were associated with autophagy-related genes. Subsequently, univariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate 32 autophagy-related lncRNAs linked to colon cancer prognosis. Subsequently, eight of the 32 autophagy-related lncRNAs (i.e., long intergenic nonprotein coding RNA 1503 [LINC01503], ZEB1 antisense RNA 1 [ZEB1-AS1], AC087481.3, AC008760.1, AC073896.3, AL138756.1, AL022323.1, and TNFRSF10A-AS1) were selected through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Based on these autophagy-related lncRNAs, a risk signature was constructed, and the patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups. RESULTS: The high-risk group's overall survival time was significantly shorter than that of the low-risk group (p < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to further confirm the validity of the model (area under the curve: 0.689). Moreover, multivariate regression suggested that the risk score was a significant prognostic risk factor in colorectal cancer. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that these gene sets are significantly enriched in cancer-related pathways, such as Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) signaling. CONCLUSION: The risk signature of eight autophagy-related lncRNAs has prognostic potential for colorectal cancer. These autophagy-related lncRNAs may play a vital role in the biology of colorectal cancer.

Optimal Factors of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Predicting Corticospinal Tract Injury in Patients with Brain Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal factors in diffusion tensor imaging for predicting corticospinal tract (CST) injury caused by brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 33 patients with motor weakness and 64 patients with normal motor function. The movement of the CST, minimum distance between the CST and the tumor, and relative fractional anisotropy (rFA) of the CST on diffusion tensor imaging, were compared between patients with motor weakness and normal function. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the optimal factor predicting motor weakness. RESULTS: In patients with motor weakness, the displacement (8.44 ± 6.64 mm) of the CST (p = 0.009), minimum distance (3.98 ± 7.49 mm) between the CST and tumor (p < 0.001), and rFA (0.83 ± 0.11) of the CST (p < 0.001) were significantly different from those of the normal group (4.64 ± 6.65 mm, 14.87 ± 12.04 mm, and 0.98 ± 0.05, respectively) (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001). The frequencies of patients with the CST passing through the tumor (6%, p = 0.002), CST close to the tumor (23%, p < 0.001), CST close to a malignant tumor (high grade glioma, metastasis, or lymphoma) (19%, p < 0.001), and CST passing through infiltrating edema (19%, p < 0.001) in the motor weakness group, were significantly different from those of the patients with normal motor function (0, 8, 1, and 10%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that decreased rFA and CST close to a malignant tumor were effective variables related to motor weakness. CONCLUSION: Decreased fractional anisotropy, combined with closeness of a malignant tumor to the CST, is the optimal factor in predicting CST injury caused by a brain tumor.