EZH2 promotes tumor progression by increasing VEGF expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The present study is to evaluate the expression level of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and analyze their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). The effect of EZH2 on apoptosis and cell proliferation in 786-O renal cancer cell line is investigated. METHODS: The expression level of EZH2 and VEGF was detected in 185 primary CCRCC patients' tissues using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Small interfering RNA or enhanced green fluorescent protein transfection was employed to investigate the effect of EZH2 inhibition or overexpression on VEGF expression, apoptosis and cell proliferation in 786-O cells using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: High expression level of EZH2 and VEGF was observed in advanced CCRCC and correlated with the TNM stage (p = 0.013, p = 0.001) and distant metastasis (p = 0.011, p = 0.038), respectively. EZH2 was positively correlated with VEGF in CCRCC tissues (correlation coefficient = 0.850, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with positive EZH2 expression had a shorter overall survival time compared to patients with negative EZH2 expression (34.3 vs. 67.2, p < 0.001). In 786-O cells, EZH2 silencing inhibited VEGF expression and cell proliferation while increasing apoptosis (p < 0.001). EZH2 overexpression promoted VEGF expression and cell proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EZH2 correlates positively with VEGF and associates with adverse clinicopathologic characteristics and shorter survival time in CCRCC patients. EZH2 accelerates antiapoptosis and cell cycle in 786-O cells.

The diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin, IL-10 and C-reactive protein in community acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis.

AIM: To explore the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and tuberculosis (PTB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 113 CAP cases patients and 78 PTB cases were enrolled from May 2011 to March 2012. Routine blood test, serum PCT, CRP, IL-10 and ESR of patients within 24 hours were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients with CAP were 0.35±0.017 mg/mL, 0.095±0.004 mg/L, 59.80±5.12 mg/L and 35.00±4.81 mm/1h, respectively, significantly higher than patients with PTB (p < 0.01); According to the result of ROC curve analysis in CAP and PTB, the PTC area under ROC curve is 0.715 (95% CI 0.647-0.782), the sensitivity and specific degree of serum PTC were significant better than CRP and IL10 (p < 0.05). In tuberculosis sputum culture, the serum concentrations of IL-10 and ESR in TB positive group were 0.045±0.013 mg/L and 62.50±8.69 mm/1h, significantly higher than that of TB negative group (p < 0.05); whereas, the concentrations of serum PCT and CRP in TB positive and negative groups had no significant difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients are higher than that in PTB patients. Therefore, the serum PCT, IL10, CRP and ESR level is benefit to distinguish between CAP and PTB. This could provide a comprehensible evidence for both diagnosis and prognosis.