Identification and validation of DNA methylation-driven gene PCDHB4 as a novel tumor suppressor for glioblastoma diagnosis and prognosis.

Aberrant DNA methylation is a critical regulator of gene expression in the development and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). However, the impact of methylation-driven gene PCDHB4 changes on GBM occurrence and progression remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the PCDHB4 gene for early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation and clarify its functional role in GBM. Methylation-driven gene PCDHB4 was selected for GBM using the multi-omics integration method based on publicly available data sets. The diagnostic capabilities of PCDHB4 methylation and 5-hydroxymethylcytosines were validated in tissue and blood cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples, respectively. Combined survival analysis of PCDHB4 methylation and immune infiltration cells evaluated the prognostic predictive performance of GBM patients. We identified that the PCDHB4 gene achieved high discriminative capabilities for GBM and normal tissues with an area under the curve value of 0.941. PCDHB4 hypermethylation was observed in cfDNA blood samples from GBM patients. Compared with GBM patients with PCDHB4 hypermethylation level, patients with PCDHB4 hypomethylation level had significantly poorer overall survival (p = 0.035). In addition, GBM patients with PCDHB4 hypermethylation and high infiltration of CD4+ T cell activation level had a favorable survival (p = 0.026). Moreover, we demonstrated that mRNA expression of PCDHB4 was downregulated in GBM tissues and upregulated in GBM cell lines with PCDHB4 demethylation, and PCDHB4 overexpression inhibited GBM cell proliferation and migration. In summary, we discovered a novel methylation-driven gene PCDHB4 for the diagnosis and prognosis of GBM and demonstrated that PCDHB4 is a tumor suppressor in vitro experiments.

[Contrast of growth characteristics of different germplasm and correlation between morphologic and individual yield of Isatis indigotica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the growth characteristics of different germplasm and analyze the correlation between morphologic and individual yield of Isatis indigotica. METHOD: The planting samples were collected during the growth period, morphological characteristics and root yield per plant in 13 germplasm of I. indigotica from all over the country were determined by correlation and path analysis. RESULT: The growth characteristics of various I. indigotica germplasm were consistent. The difference of morphological characteristics and root yield with various germplasm were significant. The root yield per plant was positively correlated to the main root length and the number of individual plant leaves. CONCLUSION: The number of leaves per plant and root length are selected for high-yield lines, meanwhile, leaf length and leaf diameter are important factors for breeding high-yield lines as well.

[Effects of sowing date on morphologic characteristics, yield and quality of Radix isatidis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of sowing date on morphologic characteristics, yield and quality of Radix Isatidis, in order to provide a basis for selection of the suitable sowing date. METHOD: The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design arranged in split plot, the phonological period of Isatis indigotica was investigated and the morphological indexes, yield and quality at harvest were measured and determined by correlation and variance analysis. RESULT: The different sowing dates showed a great effect on phonological period of I. indigotica. The biological characteristics, yield and active components of Radix Isatidis were negatively correlated with the sowing date, and the difference of morphological characteristics, yield and active compositions with sowing date was significant. CONCLUSION: The suitable sowing date of I. indigotica was during the period of time from late March to beginning of the April in Fuyang area, and considering the factors of rational rotation, the time cloud delayed until late May to the beginning of June.