A brain-tumor neural circuit controls breast cancer progression in mice.

Tumor burden, considered a common chronic stressor, can cause widespread anxiety. Evidence suggests that cancer-induced anxiety can promote tumor progression, but the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used neuroscience and cancer tools to investigate how the brain contributes to tumor progression via nerve-tumor crosstalk in a mouse model of breast cancer. We show that tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety-like behaviors and that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central medial amygdala (CeM) were activated. Moreover, we detected newly formed sympathetic nerves in tumors, which established a polysynaptic connection to the brain. Pharmacogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) circuit significantly alleviated anxiety-like behaviors and slowed tumor growth. Conversely, artificial activation of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit increased anxiety and tumor growth. Importantly, we found alprazolam, an antianxiety drug, to be a promising agent for slowing tumor progression. Furthermore, we show that manipulation of the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit directly regulated the activity of the intratumoral sympathetic nerves and peripheral nerve-derived norepinephrine, which affected tumor progression by modulating antitumor immunity. Together, these findings reveal a brain-tumor neural circuit that contributes to breast cancer progression and provide therapeutic insights for breast cancer.

A Chinese family of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease identified by whole exome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is an autosomal recessive hepatorenal fibrocystic syndrome. The majority of ARPKD patients progress to end-stage renal disease. Precise molecular diagnosis of ARPKD has proven valuable for understanding its mechanism and selecting optimal therapy. METHODS: A Chinese family with ARPKD was recruited in current study. The clinical characteristics of ARPKD patient were collected from medical records and the potential responsible genes were studied by the whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate pathogenic variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Both renal manifestation and hepatobiliary phenotype were observed. WES revealed compound heterozygous mutations of polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 genes, NM_138694: c.751G>T, (p.Asp251Tyr) and c.3998_4004delACCTGAA (p.Asn1333Thr fs × 13), which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Moreover, the mutations in the proband and its affected sib were co-segregated with the phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The novel mutation in polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 gene identified by WES might be molecular pathogenic basis of this disorder.

Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism with polycystic ovary syndrome risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis update.

OBJECTIVES: To re-estimate the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) risk by critically reviewing, analyzing and updating the current evidence. MTHFR C677T polymorphism has been studied as a possible risk factor for a variety of common conditions including heart disease, stroke and hypertension. Its association with PCOS was negative in a previous meta-analysis which had possible shortcomings. More studies have now been done but their results remain inconclusive. STUDY DESIGN: Available case-control studies containing genotype frequencies of MTHFR C677T were chosen, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of the association. Statistical analyses were performed using software Review Manager (Version 5. 2) and Stata (Version 11.0). RESULTS: Nine case-control studies including 638 PCOS and 759 healthy controls were identified. Meta-analysis showed a significant effect in the dominant model (TT+CT vs. CC: OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.28-2.12, P<0.0001) and heterozygote comparison (CT vs. CC: OR=1.83, 95%CI=1.17-2.87, P=0.008). In subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity, MTHFR C677T variant was statistically significantly relevant to PCOS risk in European populations (TT+CT vs. CC: OR=2.16, 95%CI=1.50-3.12, P<0.0001; CT vs. CC: OR=2.11, 95%CI=1.15-3.87, P=0.02) but not in Asian populations (TT+CT vs. CC: OR=1.29, 95%CI=0.91-1.82, P=0.15; CT vs. CC: OR=1.31, 95%CI=0.91-1.90, P=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicates that the 677T allele increases PCOS susceptibility, and this relevance seems to be more intense in Europeans than in Asians.

Association between NADPH oxidase p22(phox) C242T polymorphism and ischemic cerebrovascular disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase p22(phox) C242T polymorphism and risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD), but the results remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis was therefore designed to clarify these controversies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Systematic searches of electronic databases Embase, PubMed and Web of Science, as well as hand searching of the references of identified articles and the meeting abstracts were performed. Statistical analyses were performed using software Review Manager (Version 5.1.7) and Stata (Version 11.0). The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were performed. Fixed or random effects model was separately used depending on the heterogeneity between studies. Publication bias was tested by Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression test. A total of 6 studies including 1,948 cases and 2,357 controls were combined showing no statistical evidence of association between NADPH oxidase p22(phox) C242T polymorphism and overall ICVD (allelic model: OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 0.93-1.26; additive model: OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 0.81-2.17; dominant model: OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.86-1.15; recessive model: OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.77-1.45). Significant association was found in large-artery atherosclerotic stroke subgroup (allelic model: OR = 1.12, 95%CI = 0.88-1.41; additive model: OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 0.60-3.09; dominant model: OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 0.74-2.11; recessive model: OR = 2.17, 95%CI = 1.11-4.23). No statistical evidence of significant association was observed for small-vessel occlusive stroke, as well as Asian subgroup and Caucasian subgroup. Statistical powers on the combined sample size (total and subgroup) were all lower than 80%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This meta-analysis indicates that NADPH oxidase p22(phox) C242T polymorphism is more associated with large-artery atherosclerotic stroke than small-vessel occlusive stroke. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. Larger sample-size studies with homogeneous ICVD patients and well-matched controls are required.