Functional Analysis of Membrane-Associated Scaffolding Tight Junction (TJ) Proteins in Tumorigenic Characteristics of B16-F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells.

Tight junction (TJ) proteins (Tjps), Tjp1 and Tjp2, are tight junction-associated scaffold proteins that bind to the transmembrane proteins of tight junctions and the underlying cytoskeleton. In this study, we first analyzed the tumorigenic characteristics of B16-F10 melanoma cells, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastatic potential, and the expression patterns of related proteins, after the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) of Tjp genes. The proliferation of Tjp1 and Tjp2 KO cells significantly increased in vitro. Other tumorigenic characteristics, including migration and invasion, were significantly enhanced in Tjp1 and Tjp2 KO cells. Zonula occludens (ZO)-associated protein Claudin-1 (CLDN-1), which is a major component of tight junctions and functions in controlling cell-to-cell adhesion, was decreased in Tjp KO cells. Additionally, Tjp KO significantly stimulated tumor growth and metastasis in an in vivo mouse model. We performed a transcriptome analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to elucidate the key genes involved in the mechanisms of action of Tjp1 and Tjp2. Among the various genes affected by Tjp KO-, cell cycle-, cell migration-, angiogenesis-, and cell-cell adhesion-related genes were significantly altered. In particular, we found that the Ninjurin-1 (Ninj1) and Catenin alpha-1 (Ctnna1) genes, which are known to play fundamental roles in Tjps, were significantly downregulated in Tjp KO cells. In summary, tumorigenic characteristics, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth, and metastatic potential, were significantly increased in Tjp1 and Tjp2 KO cells, and the knockout of Tjp genes significantly affected the expression of related proteins.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonist antibody for treating chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is a common complication in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) leads to dose reduction and treatment delays, lowering chemotherapy efficacy and survival rate. Thus, rapid recovery and continuous maintenance of platelet count during chemotherapy cycles are crucial in patients with CIT. Thrombopoietin (TPO) and its receptor, myeloid proliferative leukemia (MPL) protein, play a major role in platelet production. Although several MPL agonists have been developed to regulate thrombopoiesis, none have been approved for the management of CIT due to concerns regarding efficacy or safety. Therefore, the development of effective MPL agonists for treating CIT needs to be further expanded. METHODS: Anti-MPL antibodies were selected from the human combinatorial antibody phage libraries using phage display. We identified 2R13 as the most active clone among the binding antibodies via cell proliferation assay using BaF3/MPL cells. The effect of 2R13 on megakaryocyte differentiation was evaluated in peripheral blood CD34+ cells by analyzing megakaryocyte-specific differentiation markers (CD41a+ and CD42b+) and DNA ploidy using flow cytometry. The 2R13-induced platelet production was examined in 8- to 10-week-old wild-type BALB/c female mice and a thrombocytopenia mouse model established by intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil (150 mg/kg). The platelet counts were monitored twice a week over 14 days post-initiation of treatment with a single injection of 2R13, or recombinant human TPO (rhTPO) for seven consecutive days. RESULTS: We found that 2R13 specifically interacted with MPL and activated its signaling pathways. 2R13 stimulated megakaryocyte differentiation, evidenced by increasing the proportion of high-ploidy (≥ 8N) megakaryocytes in peripheral blood-CD34+ cells. The platelet count was increased by a single injection of 2R13 for up to 14 days. Injection of 5-fluorouracil considerably reduced the platelet count by day 4, which was recovered by 2R13. The platelets produced by 2R13 sustained a higher count than that achieved using seven consecutive injections of rhTPO. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that 2R13 is a promising therapeutic agent for CIT treatment.

GNAQ-Regulated ZO-1 and ZO-2 Act as Tumor Suppressors by Modulating EMT Potential and Tumor-Repressive Microenvironment in Lung Cancer.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the development and progression of lung cancer by promoting its invasiveness and metastasis. Using integrative analyses of the public lung cancer database, we found that the expression levels of the tight junction proteins, zonula occluden (ZO)-1 and ZO-2, were lower in lung cancer tissues, including both lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma than in normal lung tissues analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Although the ectopic expression or knockdown of ZO-1 and ZO-2 did not affect the growth of lung cancer cells, they significantly regulated cell migration and invasion. When M0 macrophages were co-cultured with ZO-1 or ZO-2 knockdown Calu-1 cells, M2-like polarization was efficiently induced. Conversely, co-culture of M0 THP-1 cells with A549 cells stably expressing ZO-1 or ZO-2 significantly reduced M2 differentiation. We also identified G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ) as a potential ZO-1- and ZO-2-specific activator through analysis of correlated genes with the TCGA lung cancer database. Our results suggest that the GNAQ-ZO-1/2 axis may play a tumor-suppressive role in lung cancer development and progression and highlight ZO-1 and ZO-2 as key EMT- and tumor microenvironment-suppressive proteins. These findings provide new insights for the development of targeted therapies for lung cancer.

Glucose deprivation enhances resistance to paclitaxel via ELAVL2/4-mediated modification of glycolysis in ovarian cancer cells.

The dysregulation of glycolysis regardless of oxygen availability is one of the major characteristics of cancer cells. While the drug resistance of ovarian cancer cells has been extensively studied, the molecular mechanism of anticancer drug resistance under low-glucose conditions remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the pathway mediating drug resistance under low-glucose conditions by examining the relationship between embryonic lethal abnormal vision Drosophila homolog-like (ELAVL) protein and glycolysis-related enzymes. Ovarian cancer cells resistant to 2.5 nM paclitaxel were exposed to low-glucose media for 2 weeks, and the expression levels of ELAVL2, ELAVL4, glycolytic enzymes, and drug resistance-related proteins were elevated to levels comparable to those in cells resistant to 100 nM paclitaxel. Gene silencing of ELAVL2/4 using small interfering RNA prevented the upregulation of glycolysis-related enzymes, reduced lactate production, and sensitized 2.5 nM paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cells to anticancer agents under hypoglycemic conditions. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of glycolytic enzymes with 2-deoxyglucose, a specific inhibitor of glycolysis, triggered caspase-dependent apoptosis, reduced lactate generation, and blocked the expression of drug resistance-related proteins under low-glucose conditions. These results suggest that the level of ELAVL2/4 is responsible for the development of chemoresistance through activation of the glycolysis pathway under glucose deprivation conditions.

Early transplantation-related mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with acute leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation-related mortality (TRM) is a major obstacle in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Approximately 60-80% of TRM occurs early, within 100 days of transplantation. METHODS: This was a nationwide population cohort study involving 5395 patients with acute leukemia who underwent allo-HCT between 2003 and 2015. Patient data were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. We investigated the cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) of early TRM at 50 and 100 days. RESULTS: The CIRs of early TRM at 50 and 100 days were 2.9 and 8.3%, respectively. There was no decrease in the CIRs of early TRM over time. The early mortality was significantly higher in patients with more than 9 months between the diagnosis and transplantation (CIRs of TRM at 50, 100 days; 6.0, 13.2%), previous transplantations (CIRs of TRM at 50, 100 days; 9.4, 17.2%), and cord blood transplantation (CIRs of TRM at 50, 100 days; 6.1, 8.3%). The early TRM was significantly lower in patients who received iron chelation before transplantation (CIRs of TRM at 50, 100 days; 0.3, 1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the overall CIR of early TRM was less than 10%. The predictable factors for early TRM included age, time from diagnosis to transplantation, the number of prior transplantations, the graft source, and previous iron chelation therapy.

GLUT5 regulation by AKT1/3-miR-125b-5p downregulation induces migratory activity and drug resistance in TLR-modified colorectal cancer cells.

In cancer, resistance to chemotherapy is one of the main reasons for therapeutic failure. Cells that survive after treatment with anticancer drugs undergo various changes, including in cell metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of AKT-mediated miR-125b-5p alteration on metabolic changes and examined how these molecules enhance migration and induce drug resistance in colon cancer cells. AKT1 and AKT3 activation in drug-resistant colon cancer cells caused aberrant downregulation of miR-125b-5p, leading to GLUT5 expression. Targeted inhibition of AKT1 and AKT3 restored miR-125b-5p expression and prevented glycolysis- and lipogenesis-related enzyme activation. In addition, restoring the level of miR-125b-5p by transfection with the mimic sequence not only significantly blocked the production of lactate and intracellular fatty acids but also suppressed the migration and invasion of chemoresistant colon cancer cells. GLUT5 silencing with small interfering RNA attenuated mesenchymal marker expression and migratory activity in drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Additionally, treatment with 2,5-anhydro-d-mannitol resensitized chemoresistant cancer cells to oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil. In conclusion, our findings suggest that changes in miR-125b-5p and GLUT5 expression after chemotherapy can serve as a new marker to indicate metabolic change-induced migration and drug resistance development.

Modified TLR-mediated downregulation of miR-125b-5p enhances CD248 (endosialin)-induced metastasis and drug resistance in colorectal cancer cells.

CD248, also called endosialin or tumor endothelial marker-1, is markedly upregulated in almost all cancers, including colon cancers. Changes in microRNA profiles are one of the direct causes of cancer development and progression. In this study, we investigated whether a change in CD248 expression in colon cancer cells could induce drug resistance after chemotherapy, and we explored the relationship between miR-125b-5p levels and CD248 expression in Toll-like receptor (TLR)-modified chemoresistant colon cancer cells. TLR2/6 and TLR5 upregulation in drug-resistant colon cancer cells contributed to miR-125b-5p downregulation and specificity protein 1 (Sp1)-mediated CD248 upregulation via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Exposure to specific TLR2/6 or TLR5 ligands enhanced the expression of mesenchymal markers as well as the migratory activity of oxaliplatin- or 5-fluorouracil-resistant colon cancer cells. The transfection of a synthetic miR-125b-5p mimic into chemoresistant cells prevented Sp1 and CD248 activation and significantly impaired invasive activity. Furthermore, Sp1 or CD248 gene silencing as well as miR-125b-5p overexpression markedly reversed drug resistance and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in miR-125b-5p levels play an important role in Sp1-mediated CD248 expression and the development of drug resistance in TLR-mutated colon cancer cells.

The effects of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on the management of chemotherapy-induced anemia and tumor growth in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), such as erythropoietin (EPO) and darbepoetin, may alleviate anemia in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. However, many cancer cells express EPO receptors (EPOR), through which exogenously administered ESAs potentially promote cancer cell growth. We conducted preclinical/phase II studies to investigate the safety and efficacy of ESAs for managing chemotherapy-related anemia in DLBCL patients. We examined EPOR expression in germinal center B-cell (GCB)- and activated B-cell (ABC)-DLBCL cell lines, and investigated the effects of ESAs on cell proliferation, and rituximab-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The clinical study enrolled 50 histologically confirmed DLBCL patients receiving rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisolone (R-CHOP) who had hemoglobin levels <10.0 g/dl after a maximum of three R-CHOP cycles and received ≥4 doses of fixed-dose darbepoetin (360 µg) once every 3 weeks. EPOR mRNA was detected in all GCB-DLBCL cell lines, but little/none was detected in ABC-DLBCL cell lines. GCB-DLBCL and ABC-DLBCL cell proliferation was unaffected by EPO or darbepoetin. Rituximab-mediated CDC of DLBCL cell lines with/without EPOR expression was not affected adversely by EPO. In the clinical study, baseline mean hemoglobin was 9.19 g/dl; the overall mean change in hemoglobin was 1.59 ± 1.3 g/dl (16 weeks). Forty-eight percent of enrolled patients achieved a hematopoietic response. Our study shows that ESAs do not affect the growth of DLBCL cells or rituximab-mediated CDC under the experimental conditions that we used, and the appropriate use of ESAs may be effective and safe for DLBCL patients with anemia after R-CHOP.

Correlation between 5-α reductase type 2 protein expression and methylation of 5-α reductase type 2 promotor gene of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: The enzyme 5-α reductase type 2 (5-AR 2) plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the prostate gland. We evaluated the level 5-AR 2 protein expression and the relationship between methylation of the 5-AR 2 gene-promoter and 5-AR 2 protein expression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 prostate samples were evaluated. These included 22 samples from men undergoing transurethral prostate resections and 15 non-cancerous transition-zone human prostate tissue samples taken following radical prostatectomy. We quantified 5-AR 2 protein expression and gene-promoter methylation status using common assay procedures. Clinical variables included age, body mass index (BMI), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, lipid profiles, and prostate volumes. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed followed by stepwise logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: We were able to extract DNA from 36 of the 37 tissue samples and 10 of these (28%) did not express the 5-AR 2 protein. In total, 26 patients (72%) had methylated 5-AR 2 promoter-regions. There was a strong correlation between methylation of the 5-AR 2 promoter-regions and low-absent 5-AR 2 protein expression (p = 0.0003). Increasing age significantly predicted methylation status and protein expression level (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The level of 5-AR 2 protein expression varies among prostate tissue samples. Methylation of the 5-AR 2 gene-promoter may account for low or absent expression of 5-AR 2 in adult human prostate tissues. Increased age correlates with increased 5-AR 2 gene-promoter methylation and decreased protein expression in men with BPH.

SAR optimization studies on a novel series of 2-anilinopyrimidines as selective inhibitors against triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468.

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) account for approximately 15% of breast cancer cases and exhibit an aggressive clinical behavior. In this study, we designed and synthesized two series of 2-anilinopyrimidines based on the structure of our previously reported compound 1 that act as a selective inhibitor of the basal-like TNBC cell line MDA-MB-468. Through the fine-tuning of 1, cyclic and acyclic amines at 4-position of the pyrimidine core were turned out to be crucial for the selectivity. An extensive analysis of structure-activity relationships of the analogs revealed that aminoalkyl groups at the end of the propyl chain are amenable to modification. Among the newly synthesized analogs, compound 38, bearing 4-chloropiperidinyl and cyclohexyl groups, was found to be the most potent and selective, and was about three times more potent and selective than 1 was against the TNBC cells.

Discovery and SAR studies of novel 2-anilinopyrimidine-based selective inhibitors against triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468.

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are characterized as an invasive and intractable subtype of breast cancers. Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been considered to be an important target for TNBC therapy, but efficacies of EGFR inhibitors in clinical trials are elusive. In this study, novel series of 2-anilinopyrimidines were synthesized in an effort to identify selective inhibitors against an EGFR-overexpressing TNBC cell line. Biological evaluation demonstrated that compounds 21 and 38, with a 4-methylpiperidine group and a high ClogP value, exhibited good potency and selectivity for the TNBC cell line. This study has provided evidence to support further development of 2-anilinopyrimidine-based TNBC selective inhibitors and investigation of the targets of compounds 21 and 38.

Gliotoxin Enhances Autophagic Cell Death via the DAPK1-TAp63 Signaling Pathway in Paclitaxel-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) expression induced by diverse death stimuli mediates apoptotic activity in various cancers, including ovarian cancer. In addition, mutual interaction between the tumor suppressor p53 and DAPK1 influences survival and death in several cancer cell lines. However, the exact role and connection of DAPK1 and p53 family proteins (p53, p63, and p73) in drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells have not been studied previously. In this study, we investigated whether DAPK1 induction by gliotoxin derived from marine fungus regulates the level of transcriptionally active p63 (TAp63) to promote apoptosis in an autophagy-dependent manner. Pre-exposure of paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cells to gliotoxin inhibited the expression of multidrug resistant-associated proteins (MDR1 and MRP1-3), disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through autophagy induction after subsequent treatment with paclitaxel. Gene silencing of DAPK1 prevented TAp63-mediated downregulation of MDR1 and MRP1-3 and autophagic cell death after sequential treatment with gliotoxin and then paclitaxel. However, pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, had no effect on the levels of DAPK1 and TAp63 or on the inhibition of MDR1 and MRP1-3. These results suggest that DAPK1-mediated TAp63 upregulation is one of the critical pathways that induce apoptosis in chemoresistant cancer cells.

Echinochrome A Promotes Ex Vivo Expansion of Peripheral Blood-Derived CD34+ Cells, Potentially through Downregulation of ROS Production and Activation of the Src-Lyn-p110δ Pathway.

Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). HSPCs are difficult to be expanded ex vivo while maintaining their stemness when they are exposed to oxidative damage after being released from the bone marrow. There have been efforts to overcome this limitation by using various cytokine cocktails and antioxidants. In this study, we investigated the effects of echinochrome A (Ech A)-a well-established and non-toxic antioxidant-on the ex vivo expansion of HSPCs by analyzing a CD34+ cell population and their biological functions. We observed that Ech A-induced suppression of ROS generation and p38-MAPK/JNK phosphorylation causes increased expansion of CD34+ cells. Moreover, p38-MAPK/JNK inhibitors SB203580 and SP600125 promoted ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. We also demonstrated that the activation of Lyn kinase and p110δ is a novel mechanism for Ech A to enhance ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. Ech A upregulated phospho-Src, phospho-Lyn, and p110δ expression. Furthermore, the Ech A-induced ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells was inhibited by pretreatment with the Src family inhibitor PP1 and p110δ inhibitor CAL-101; PP1 blocked p110δ upregulation and PI3K/Akt activation, whereas CAL-101 and PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002 did not block Src/Lyn activation. These results suggest that Ech A initially induces Src/Lyn activation, upregulates p110δ expression, and finally activates the PI3K/Akt pathway. CD34+ cells expanded in the presence of Ech A produced equal or more hematopoietic colony-forming cells than unexpanded CD34+ cells. In conclusion, Ech A promotes the ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells through Src/Lyn-mediated p110δ expression, suppression of ROS generation, and p38-MAPK/JNK activation. Hence, Ech A is a potential candidate modality for the ex vivo, and possibly in vivo, expansion of CD34+ cells.

IL-1ra Secreted by ATP-Induced P2Y2 Negatively Regulates MUC5AC Overproduction via PLCß3 during Airway Inflammation.

Mucus secretion is often uncontrolled in many airway inflammatory diseases of humans. Identifying the regulatory pathway(s) of mucus gene expression, mucus overproduction, and hypersecretion is important to alleviate airway inflammation in these diseases. However, the regulatory signaling pathway controlling mucus overproduction has not been fully identified yet. In this study, we report that the ATP/P2Y2 complex secretes many cytokines and chemokines to regulate airway inflammation, among which IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) downregulates MUC5AC gene expression via the inhibition of Gαq-induced Ca(2+) signaling. IL-1ra inhibited IL-1α protein expression and secretion, and vice versa. Interestingly, ATP/P2Y2-induced IL-1ra and IL-1α secretion were both mediated by PLCß3. A dominant-negative mutation in the PDZ-binding domain of PLCß3 inhibited ATP/P2Y2-induced IL-1ra and IL-1α secretion. IL-1α in the presence of the ATP/P2Y2 complex activated the ERK1/2 pathway in a greater degree and for a longer duration than the ATP/P2Y2 complex itself, which was dramatically inhibited by IL-1ra. These findings suggest that secreted IL-1ra exhibits a regulatory effect on ATP/P2Y2-induced MUC5AC gene expression, through inhibition of IL-1α secretion, to maintain the mucus homeostasis in the airway. Therefore, IL-1ra could be an excellent modality for regulating inflamed airway microenvironments in respiratory diseases.

Up-regulation of translation eukaryotic initiation factor 4E in nucleophosmin 1 haploinsufficient cells results in changes in CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α activity: implications in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

NPM1 is a ubiquitously expressed nucleolar phosphoprotein, the gene for which maps to chromosome 5q35 in close proximity to a commonly deleted region associated with (del)5q, a type of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This region is also a frequent target of deletions in de novo and therapy-related MDS/acute myeloid leukemia. Previous studies have shown that Npm1(+/-) mice develop an MDS-like disease that transforms to acute myeloid leukemia over time. To better understand the mechanism by which NPM1 haploinsufficiency causes an MDS phenotype, we generated factor-dependent myeloid cell lines from the bone marrow of Npm1(+/+) and Npm1(+/-) mice and demonstrated compromised neutrophil-specific gene expression in the MNPM1(+/-) cells. We attribute these observations to increased levels of the shorter, dominant negative leukemogenic isoform (p30) of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). We show that this increase is caused, in part, by elevated levels of the activated translation initiation factor eIF4E, overexpression of which also increases translation of C/EBPαp30 in HEK293 cells. In a positive feedback loop, eIF4E expression is further elevated both at the mRNA and protein levels by C/EBPαp30 but not by the full-length C/EBPαp42. Re-expression of C/EBPαp42 or NPM1 but not C/EBPαp30 in MNPM1(+/-) cells partially rescues the myeloid phenotype. Our observations suggest that the aberrant feed-forward pathway that keeps eIF4E and C/EBPαp30 elevated in NPM1(+/-) cells contributes to the MDS phenotype associated with NPM1 deficiency.

A polymorphism in the leptin gene promoter is associated with anemia in patients with HIV disease.

To study factors associated with anemia and its effect on survival in HIV-infected persons treated with modern combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), we characterized the prevalence of anemia in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) and used a candidate gene approach to identify proinflammatory gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with anemia in HIV disease. The study comprised 1597 HIV(+) and 865 HIV(-) VACS subjects with DNA, blood, and annotated clinical data available for analysis. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria (hemoglobin < 13 g/dL and < 12 g/dL in men and women, respectively). The prevalence of anemia in HIV(+) and HIV(-) subjects was 23.1% and 12.9%, respectively. Independent of HIV status, anemia was present in 23.4% and 8% in blacks and whites, respectively. Analysis of our candidate genes revealed that the leptin -2548 G/A SNP was associated with anemia in HIV(+), but not HIV(-), patients, with the AA and AG genotypes significantly predicting anemia (P < .003 and P < .039, respectively, logistic regression). This association was replicated in an independent cohort of HIV(+) women. Our study provides novel insight into the association between genetic variability in the leptin gene and anemia in HIV(+) individuals.

A New Understanding of Long Non-Coding RNA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma-From m6A Modification to Blood Biomarkers.

With recent advancements in biological research, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with lengths exceeding 200 nucleotides have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression and cellular phenotypic modulation. Despite initial skepticism due to their low sequence conservation and expression levels, their significance in various biological processes has become increasingly apparent. We provided an overview of lncRNAs and discussed their defining features and modes of operation. We then explored their crucial function in the hepatocarcinogenesis process, elucidating their complex involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The influential role of lncRNAs within the HCC tumor microenvironment is emphasized, illustrating their potential as key modulators of disease dynamics. We also investigated the significant influence of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on lncRNA function in HCC, enhancing our understanding of both their roles and their upstream regulators. Additionally, the potential of lncRNAs as promising biomarkers was discussed in liver cancer diagnosis, suggesting a novel avenue for future research and clinical application. Finally, our work underscored the dual potential of lncRNAs as both contributors to HCC pathogenesis and innovative tools for its diagnosis. Existing challenges and prospective trajectories in lncRNA research are also discussed, emphasizing their potential in advancing liver cancer research.

Tumor Endothelial Cells-Associated Integrin Alpha-6 as a Promising Biomarker for Early Detection and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

HCC remains a lethal cancer type, with early detection being critical for improved patient outcomes. This study introduces a comprehensive methodological approach to identify the ITGA6 gene as a potential blood marker for early HCC (eHCC) detection. We initially analyzed the GSE114564 dataset encompassing various stages of liver disease, identifying 972 differentially expressed genes in HCC. A refined analysis yielded 59 genes specifically differentially expressed in early HCC, including ITGA6. Subsequent validation in multiple datasets confirmed the consistent upregulation of ITGA6 in HCC. In addition, when analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) within the entire patient cohort and overall survival (OS) specifically among patients classified as tumor grade G1, the group of patients characterized by high expression levels of ITGA6 displayed an elevated risk ratio in relation to prognosis. Further analyses demonstrated the predominant expression of ITGA6 in TECs and its enrichment in angiogenesis-related pathways. Additionally, positive correlations were found between ITGA6 expression and pro-tumorigenic immune cells, but not with anti-tumorigenic immune cells. Our study elucidates the potential of ITGA6 as a blood-based marker for HCC early detection and diagnosis and its complex interplay with the tumor microenvironment. Further research may lead to novel strategies for HCC management and patient care.

Optimization of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplantation for bone marrow repopulation following irradiation.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow (BM) suppression is one of the most common side effects of radiotherapy and the primary cause of death following exposure to irradiation. Despite concerted efforts, there is no definitive treatment method available. Recent studies have reported using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), but their therapeutic effects are contested. AIM: We administered and examined the effects of various amounts of adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) in mice with radiation-induced BM suppression. METHODS: Mice were divided into three groups: Normal control group, irradiated (RT) group, and stem cell-treated group following whole-body irradiation (WBI). Mouse ADSCs (mADSCs) were transplanted into the peritoneal cavity either once or three times at 5 × 105 cells/200 µL. The white blood cell count and the levels of, plasma cytokines, BM mRNA, and BM surface markers were compared between the three groups. Human BM-derived CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells were co-cultured with human ADSCs (hADSCs) or incubated in the presence of hADSCs conditioned media to investigate the effect on human cells in vitro. RESULTS: The survival rate of mice that received one transplant of mADSCs was higher than that of mice that received three transplants. Multiple transplantations of ADSCs delayed the repopulation of BM hematopoietic stem cells. Anti-inflammatory effects and M2 polarization by intraperitoneal ADSCs might suppress erythropoiesis and induce myelopoiesis in sub-lethally RT mice. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that an optimal amount of MSCs could improve survival rates post-WBI.

Chronic Hepatitis B Viral Activity Enough to Take Antiviral Drug Could Predict the Survival Rate in Malignant Lymphoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection carries a risk of liver cancer and extrahepatic malignancy. However, the incidence trend and clinical course of malignant lymphoma (ML) in HBV patients are not well known. Data about ML newly diagnosed in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients from 2003 to 2016 were collected from National Health Insurance Service claims. A total of 13,942 CHB patients were newly diagnosed with ML from 2003 to 2016. The number of patients increased 3.8 times, from 442 in 2003 to 1711 in 2016. The 2-year survival rate of all patients was 76.8%, and the 5-year survival rate was 69.8%. The survival rate of patients taking antivirals due to high viral activity before their diagnosis with ML was significantly lower than that of patients with lower viral activity without antivirals (1 yr-77.3%, 3 yr-64.5%, and 5 yr-58.3% vs. 1 yr-84.0%, 3 yr-73.4%, and 5 yr-68.0%, respectively). The survival rate of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) at baseline was significantly lower than that of those without LC. Cirrhotic patients taking antivirals before ML diagnosis had a worse prognosis than who did not. High viral activity in CHB patients with ML seems to be useful in predicting the prognosis for survival.