Genetic factors in the pathogenesis of cardio-oncology.

In recent years, with advancements in medicine, the survival period of patients with tumours has significantly increased. The adverse effects of tumour treatment on patients, especially cardiac toxicity, have become increasingly prominent. In elderly patients with breast cancer, treatment-related cardiovascular toxicity has surpassed cancer itself as the leading cause of death. Moreover, in recent years, an increasing number of novel antitumour drugs, such as multitargeted agents, antibody‒drug conjugates (ADCs), and immunotherapies, have been applied in clinical practice. The cardiotoxicity induced by these drugs has become more pronounced, leading to a complex and diverse mechanism of cardiac damage. The risks of unintended cardiovascular toxicity are increased by high-dose anthracyclines, immunotherapies, and concurrent radiation, in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and obesity. However, these factors do not fully explain why only a subset of individuals experience treatment-related cardiac toxicity, whereas others with similar clinical features do not. Recent studies indicate that genetics play a significant role in susceptibility to the development of cardiovascular toxicity from cancer therapies. These genes are involved in drug metabolism, oxidative damage, cardiac dysfunction, and other processes. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that epigenetics also plays a role in drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity. We conducted a review focusing on breast cancer as an example to help oncologists and cardiologists better understand the mechanisms and effects of genetic factors on cardiac toxicity. In this review, we specifically address the relationship between genetic alterations and cardiac toxicity, including chemotherapy-related genetic changes, targeted therapy-related genetic changes, and immune therapy-related genetic changes. We also discuss the role of epigenetic factors in cardiac toxicity. We hope that this review will improve the risk stratification of patients and enable therapeutic interventions that mitigate these unintended adverse consequences of life-saving cancer treatments.

Endothelial cell-derived exosomes boost and maintain repair-related phenotypes of Schwann cells via miR199-5p to promote nerve regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Schwann cells (SCs) respond to nerve injury by transforming into the repair-related cell phenotype, which can provide the essential signals and spatial cues to promote axonal regeneration and induce target reinnervation. Endothelial cells (ECs) contribute to intraneural angiogenesis contributing to creating a permissive microenvironment. The coordination between ECs and SCs within injury sites is crucial in the regeneration process, however, it still unclear. As the intercellular vital information mediators in the nervous system, exosomes have been proposed to take a significant role in regulating regeneration. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to determine the facilitative effect of ECs-derived exosomes on SCs and to seek the underlying mechanism. RESULTS: In the present study, we collected exosomes from media of ECs. We demonstrated that exosomes derived from ECs possessed the favorable neuronal affinity both in vitro and in vivo. Further research indicated that EC-exosomes (EC-EXO) could boost and maintain repair-related phenotypes of SCs, thereby enhancing axonal regeneration, myelination of regenerated axons and neurologically functional recovery of the injured nerve. MiRNA sequencing in EXO-treated SCs and control SCs indicated that EC-EXO significantly up-regulated expression of miR199-5p. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that EC-EXO drove the conversion of SC phenotypes in a PI3K/AKT/PTEN-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our research indicates that the internalization of EC-EXO in SCs can promote nerve regeneration by boosting and maintaining the repair-related phenotypes of SCs. And the mechanism may be relevant to the up-regulated expression of miR199-5p and activation of PI3K/AKT/PTEN signaling pathway.

Predictors for quality of life in older adults: network analysis on cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) of older adults has become a pivotal concern of the public and health system. Previous studies found that both cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) can affect QoL in older adults. However, it remains unclear how these symptoms are related to each other and impact on QoL. Our aim is to investigate the complex network relationship between cognitive and NPS symptoms in older adults, and to further explore their association with QoL. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 389 older individuals with complaints of memory decline. The instruments included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, the Mini Mental State Examination, and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Data was analyzed using network analysis and mediation analysis. RESULTS: We found that attention and agitation were the variables with the highest centrality in cognitive and NPS symptoms, respectively. In an exploratory mediation analysis, agitation was significantly associated with poor attention (ß = -0.214, P < 0.001) and reduced QoL (ß = -0.137, P = 0.005). The indirect effect of agitation on the QoL through attention was significant (95% confidence interval (CI) [-0.119, -0.035]). Furthermore, attention served as a mediator between agitation and QoL, accounting for 35.09% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS: By elucidating the NPS-cognition-QoL relationship, the current study provides insights for developing rehabilitation programs among older adults to ensure their QoL.

Increased susceptibility of irradiated mice to Aspergillus fumigatus infection via NLRP3/GSDMD pathway in pulmonary bronchial epithelia.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillus fumigatus infection is difficult to diagnose clinically and can develop into invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which has a high fatality rate. The incidence of Aspergillus fumigatus infection has increased die to widespread application of radiotherapy technology. However, knowledge regarding A. fumigatus infection following radiation exposure is limited, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we established a mouse model to explore the effect of radiation on A. fumigatus infection and the associated mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, a mouse model of A. fumigatus infection after radiation was established by irradiating with 5 Gy on the chest and instilling 5 × 107/ml Aspergillus fumigatus conidia into trachea after 24 h to explore the effect and study its function and mechanism. Mice were compared among the following groups: normal controls (CON), radiation only (RA), infection only (Af), and radiation + infection (RA + Af). Staining analyses were used to detect infection and damage in lung tissues. Changes in protein and mRNA levels of pyroptosis-related molecules were assessed by western blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Protein concentrations in the serum and alveolar lavage fluid were also measured. An immunofluorescence colocalization analysis was performed to confirm that NLRP3 inflammasomes activated pyroptosis. RESULTS: Radiation destroyed the pulmonary epithelial barrier and significantly increased the pulmonary fungal burden of A. fumigatus. The active end of caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) were highly expressed even after infection. Release of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) provided further evidence of pyroptosis. NLRP3 knockout inhibited pyroptosis, which effectively attenuated damage to the pulmonary epithelial barrier and reduced the burden of A. fumigatus. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes following radiation exposure increased susceptibility to A. fumigatus infection. Due to pyroptosis in lung epithelial cells, it resulted in the destruction of the lung epithelial barrier and further damage to lung tissue. Moreover, we found that NLRP3 knockout effectively inhibited the pyroptosis and reducing susceptibility to A. fumigatus infection and further lung damage. Overall, our results suggest that NLRP3/GSDMD pathway mediated-pyroptosis in the lungs may be a key event in this process and provide new insights into the underlying mechanism of infection. Video abstract.

LncRNA DLEU2 promotes tumour growth by sponging miR-337-3p in human osteosarcoma.

According to statistics, abnormal regulation of lncRNAs pivotally influences multiple malignant tumours. DLEU2, as one of these lncRNAs, is detected to be related to growth and development of tumours. The molecular mechanisms of DLEU2 in osteosarcoma, however, are still unknown. QRT-PCR was adopted to analyse the correlations of clinicopathological features and prognosis of osteosarcoma cases with DLEU2. The influences of DLEU2 on cell migration and viability were evaluated independently by experiments in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the specific binding of DLEU2 to miR-337-3p. Moreover, rescue experiments were carried out to further evaluate the regulatory association between miR-337-3p expression and DLEU2. In osteosarcoma tissues and cells, DLEU2 expression level was raised remarkably in comparison with that in para-carcinoma normal tissues, and DLEU2 high expression had associations with poor prognosis, tumour stages, and TS of osteosarcoma cases. Cell migration ability and viability were blocked by DLEU2 knockdown but enhanced by ectopic DLEU2 expression in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, DLEU2 was found to sponge miR-337-3p and trigger the stimulating effect in osteosarcoma cells, which would be suppressed by miR-337-3p mimics. Furthermore, a negative correlation existed between miR-337-3p expression and DLEU2 in osteosarcoma tissues. This study manifests that DLEU2 sponges miR-337-3p to accelerate tumour growth and is confirmed to be a factor for poor prognosis of osteosarcoma cases. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: LncRNA DLEU2 has been reported to be dysregulated in many tumours; however, the functions and underlying mechanism of DLEU2 in osteosarcoma pathogenesis are still unknown. This study is the first to demonstrate the roles of DLEU2 in osteosarcoma and revealed that DLEU2 may serve as a ceRNA to sponge miR-337-3p and then promote the progression of osteosarcoma, providing a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Pathogenic Gene Screening of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Literature Data Mining and Information Pathway Enrichment Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have unraveled mutations which have led to changes in the original conformation of functional proteins targeted by frontline drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These mutations are likely responsible for the emergence of drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. Identification of new therapeutic targets is fundamental to the development of novel anti-TB drugs. METHODS: Boost evolution analysis of interactome data with use of high-throughput biological experimental technologies provides opportunities for identification of pathogenic genes and for screening out novel therapeutic targets. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 584 proven pathogenic genes of M. tuberculosis and new pathogenic genes via bibliometrics and relevant websites such as PubMed, KEGG, and DOOR websites. We identified 13 new genes that are most likely to be pathogenic. CONCLUSIONS: This study may contribute to the discovery of new pathogenic genes and help unravel new functions of known pathogenic genes of M. tuberculosis.

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the determination of hinokiflavone in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Hinokiflavone has drawn a lot of attention for its multiple biological activities. In this study, a sensitive and selective method for determination of hinokiflavone in rat plasma was developed for the first time, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Amentoflavone was used as an internal standard. Separation was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C18 column with isocratic elution using methanol-water (65:35, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in the negative electrospray mode with selected reaction monitoring was used to detect the transitions of m/z 537 → 284 for hinokiflavone and m/z 537 → 375 for IS. The LOQ was 0.9 ng/mL with a linear range of 0.9-1000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy (RE%) ranged from -3.75 to 6.91% and from -9.20 to 2.51% and the intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) was between 0.32-14.11 and 2.85-10.04%. The validated assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of hinokiflavone in rats. The half-life of drug elimination at the terminal phase was 6.10 ± 1.86 h, and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the time of last measurable concentration and to infinity values obtained were 2394.42 ± 466.86 and 2541.93 ± 529.85 h ng/mL, respectively.

Quantitative bioanalysis of bavachalcone in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in a pharmacokinetics study.

This study aims to develop and validate a simple and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for investigating the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bavachalcone. Liquid-liquid extraction was used to prepare plasma sample. Chromatographic separation of bavachalcone and IS was achieved using a Venusil ASB C18 (2.1 × 50 mm, 5 µm) column with a mobile phase of methanol (A)-water (B) (70:30, v/v). The detection and quantification of analytes was performed in selected-reaction monitoring mode using precursor → product ion combinations of m/z 323.1 → 203.2 for bavachalcone, and m/z 373.0 → 179.0 for IS. Linear calibration plots were achieved in the range of 1-1000 ng/mL for bavachalcone (r2 > 0.99) in rat plasma. The recovery of bavachalcone ranged from 84.1 to 87.0%. The method was precise, accurate and reliable. It was fully validated and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of bavachalcone.

[Distribution of Schmorl's nodes in lumbar spine and their relationship with lumbar disc degeneration].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution of Schmorl's nodes (SN) in normal adult lumbar spine and determine the association of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar spine motion. METHODS: A total of 1 179 individuals underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. They had an age range of 15-85 years and were grouped by 10 years. The distribution of SNs along lumbar spine and their relationship with age and gender were examined by single factor analysis of variance chi-square test. Spine specialists performed lumbar disc degeneration evaluations through the Pfirrmann's classification system. The relationship between SNs, age group, disc location and overall grades of lumbar disc degeneration were analyzed by multiple Logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of SNs was 28.4%. And SNs were observed more frequently in males than females (34.6% vs 20.2%) (P < 0.01). No significant inter-group difference existed in the incidence of SNs (P = 0.18). SNs were more common at L2 and L3 vertebral bodies (14.3% vs 14.4%) while least common at S1 vertebral body (1.5%). The highest incidence of SNs was found in discs with degeneration grades III (41.9%) and IV (45.3%). The occurrence of SN, aging and disc location were positively correlated with lumbar disc degeneration grade. CONCLUSION: With a high incidence in healthy individuals, SNs occur in discs at all degrees of degeneration. And the occurrence of SNs is positively associated with lumbar disc degeneration.

Peripheral nervous system lymphatic vessels: A simple delivery route to promote nerve regeneration.

The structural and functional features of lymphatic vessels in the peripheral nervous system (pLVs) is still unclear. Here, we clarify the existence of pLVs in rats, PROX1-EGFP transgenic mice and human, and exhibit a clear three-dimensional structure for helping understand its structural features. Moreover, two specific phenotypes of lymphatics endothelial cells (Rnd1Hi LECs and Ccl21Hi LECs) in peripheral nerves are well characterized by single-cell sequencing. Subsequently, the ability of trans-lymphatic delivery to peripheral nerves via pLVs has been dynamically demonstrated. After peripheral nerve injury (PNI), extensive lymphangiogenesis occurs in the lesion area and further enhances the efficiency of retrograde lymphatic-nerve transport. In PNI animal models, subcutaneously footpad-injected exosomes are efficiently delivered to sciatic nerve via pLVs which can promote nerve regeneration. The trans-lymphatic delivery to peripheral nerves via pLVs can subtly bypass BNB which provides an easy and alternative delivery route for PNI treatment.

Real time monitoring peripheral nerve function with ICG and BDA-ICG by NIR-II fluorescence imaging.

Neuroanatomical tract tracers are important for studying axoplasmic transport and the complex interconnections of the nervous system. Though traditional fluorescent tracers are widely used, they have several prominent drawbacks when imaging, including low resolutions and low tissue penetrations and inability to be supervised dynamically within a long peripheral nerve during the long term. Here, we explored the potential of ICG as a neural tracer for axoplasmic transport and for the first time demonstrated that ICG could be used to detect transport function within peripheral nerve by near-infrared region II (NIR-II) imaging. On basis of this finding, a novel bi-directional neural tracer biotinylated dextran amine-indocyanine green (BDA-ICG) was prepared and characterized with better long-term stability and higher nerve-to-background ratio than ICG in vivo, and successfully imaged the injured peripheral nerve from the healthy one within 24 h. Our results show that BDA-ICG are promising neural tracers and clinically available dyes with NIR-II emission tail characteristics as ICG.

Netrin-1-engineered endothelial cell exosomes induce the formation of pre-regenerative niche to accelerate peripheral nerve repair.

The formation of vascular niche is pivotal during the early stage of peripheral nerve regeneration. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of vascular niche in the regulation of peripheral nerve repair remain unclear. Netrin-1 (NTN1) was found up-regulated in nerve stump after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Herein, we demonstrated that NTN1-high endothelial cells (NTN1+ECs) were the critical component of vascular niche, fostering angiogenesis, axon regeneration, and repair-related phenotypes. We also found that NTN1+EC-derived exosomes (NTN1 EC-EXO) were involved in the formation of vascular niche as a critical role. Multi-omics analysis further verified that NTN1 EC-EXO carried a low-level expression of let7a-5p and activated key pathways associated with niche formation including focal adhesion, axon guidance, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. Together, our study suggested that the construction of a pre-regenerative niche induced by NTN1 EC-EXO could establish a beneficial microenvironment for nerve repair and facilitate functional recovery after PNI.

Isofraxidin attenuates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis through inhibiting pyroptosis by upregulating Nrf2 and reducing reactive oxidative species.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC), a non-specific gastrointestinal disease, is commonly managed with aminosalicylic acids and immunosuppressive agents to control inflammation and relieve symptoms, despite frequent relapses. Isofraxidin is a coumarin compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; however, its alleviating effect on UC remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of isofraxidin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell inflammation in human intestinal epithelial cell (HIEC) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2), as well as in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. METHODS: We established colitis models in HIEC and Caco-2 cells and mice with LPS and DSS, respectively. Additionally, NLRP3 knockout mice and HIEC cells transfected with NLRP3 silencing gene and ML385 illustrated the role of isofraxidin in pyroptosis and oxidative stress. Data from cells and mice analyses were subjected to one-way analysis of variance or a paired t-test. RESULTS: Isofraxidin significantly alleviated LPS-induced cell inflammation and reduced lactic dehydrogenase release. Isofraxidin also reversed DSS- or LPS-induced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro, increasing the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins. Moreover, isofraxidin alleviated oxidative stress induced by DSS or LPS, reducing reactive oxidative species (ROS), upregulation nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and promoting its entry into the nucleus. Mechanistically, ML385 reversed the inhibitory effect of isofraxidin on ROS and increased pyroptosis. CONCLUSION: Isofraxidin can inhibit pyroptosis through upregulating Nrf2, promoting its entry into the nucleus, and reducing ROS, thereby alleviating DSS-induced UC. Our results suggest isofraxidin as a promising therapeutic strategy for UC treatment.

Differential expression and correlation of immunoregulation related piRNA in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Although PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have recently been associated with germline development and many human diseases, their expression pattern and relationship in autoimmune diseases remain indistinct. This study aimed to investigate the presence and correlation of piRNAs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We first analyzed the expression profile of piRNAs using small RNA sequencing in peripheral leukocytes of three new-onset untreated RA patients and three healthy controls (HCs). We then selected piRNAs related to immunoregulation by bioinformatics analysis and verified them in 42 new-onset RA patients and 81 HCs by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to quantify the diagnostic performance of these piRNAs. A correlation analysis was conducted to observe the link between piRNA expression and RA clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 15 upregulated and 9 downregulated piRNAs among 1,565 known piRNAs were identified in peripheral leukocytes of RA patients. Dysregulated piRNAs were enriched in numerous pathways related to immunity. After selection and validation, two immunoregulation piRNAs (piR-hsa-27620 and piR-hsa-27124) were significantly elevated in RA patients and have good abilities to distinguish patients from controls, which have the potential to serve as biomarkers. PIWI and other proteins implicated in the piRNA pathway were also associated with RA.

Fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerve function and structure.

Peripheral nerve injuries are common and can cause catastrophic consequences. Although peripheral nerves have notable regenerative capacity, full functional recovery is often challenging due to a number of factors, including age, the type of injury, and delayed healing, resulting in chronic disorders that cause lifelong miseries and significant financial burdens. Fluorescence imaging, among the various techniques, may be the key to overcome these restrictions and improve the prognosis because of its feasibility and dynamic real-time imaging. Intraoperative dynamic fluorescence imaging allows the visualization of the morphological structure of the nerve so that surgeons can reduce the incidence of medically induced injury. Axoplasmic transport-based neuroimaging allows the visualization of the internal transport function of the nerve, facilitating early, objective, and accurate assessment of the degree of regenerative repair, allowing early intervention in patients with poor recovery, thereby improving prognosis. This review briefly discusses peripheral nerve fluorescent dyes that have been reported or could potentially be employed, with a focus on their role in visualizing the nerve's function and anatomy.

Exosome-based regenerative rehabilitation: A novel ice breaker for neurological disorders.

Neurological disorders affect a large population, often leading to different levels of disability and resulting in decreased quality of life. Due to the limited recovery obtained from surgical procedures and other medical approaches, a large number of patients with prolonged dysfunction receive neurorehabilitation protocols to improve their neural plasticity and regeneration. However, the poor neural regeneration ability cannot effectively rebuild the tissue integrity and neural functional networks; consequently, the prognoses of neurorehabilitation remain undetermined. To increase the chances of neural regeneration and functional recovery for patients with neurological disorders, regenerative rehabilitation was introduced with combined regenerative medicine and neurorehabilitation protocols to repair neural tissue damage and create an optimized biophysical microenvironment for neural regeneration potential. With the deepening of exosome research, an increasing number of studies have found that the systemic therapeutic effects of neurorehabilitation approaches are mediated by exosomes released by physically stimulated cells, which provides new insight into rehabilitative mechanisms. Meanwhile, exosome therapy also serves as an alternative cell-free therapy of regenerative medicine that is applied in partnership with neurorehabilitation approaches and formulates exosome-based neurological regenerative rehabilitation. In this study, we review the current state of exosome-associated neurorehabilitation. On the one hand, we focus on presenting the varied mediating effects of exosomes in neurorehabilitation protocols of specific neurological pathologies; on the other hand, we discuss the diverse combinations of exosome therapies and neurorehabilitation approaches in the field of neurological regenerative rehabilitation, aiming to increase the awareness of exosome research and applications in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders.

Autophagy induced by PP121 alleviates MSU crystal-induced acute gouty arthritis via inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is a frequent self-limiting inflammatory condition produced by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints and periarticular tissues of patients with hyperuricemia. However, no effective interventional measures currently exist for AGA. Pyroptosis, a kind of pro-inflammatory programmed cell death, plays a crucial role in MSU crystal-induced inflammation and represents a potential treatment target for AGA. Therefore, we determined the therapeutic benefits and mechanism of PP121, a pyroptosis-related compound, on AGA. First, we injected an MSU crystal solution intra-articularly into the left foot pad of C57BL/6 mice to create an AGA mouse model. Subsequent treatment with PP121 substantially decreased tissue damage, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by MSU crystals in the ankle joint. Consistent with these observations, the beneficial effects of PP121 on AGA were cancelled in Beclin1+/-(Becn1+/-) mice. Furthermore, after PP121 treatment, super-resolution microscopy revealed a strong relationship between lysosome-connected membrane protein/light chain 3 positive vesicles and the nucleotide-binding domain of leucine-rich family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLPR3), demonstrating that PP121 promotes phagocytosis of the NLPR3 inflammasome. In summary, PP121-mediated autophagy can improve degradation of the NLRR3 inflammasome in AGA, which suggests the therapeutic potential of PP121 in AGA.

Dipeptidase­2 is a prognostic marker in lung adenocarcinoma that is correlated with its sensitivity to cisplatin.

Lung cancer accounts for the highest percentage of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype. Although numerous therapies have been developed for lung cancer, patient prognosis is limited by tumor metastasis and more effective treatment targets are urgently required. In the present study, gene expression profiles were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and mRNA expression data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. In addition, TIMER 2.0 database was used to analyze the expression of genes in normal and multiple tumor tissues. Protein expression was confirmed using the Human Protein Atlas database and LUAD cell lines, sphere formation assay, western blotting, and a xenograft mouse model were used to confirm the bioinformatics analysis. Dipeptidase­2 (DPEP2) expression was significantly decreased in LUAD and was negatively associated with prognosis. DPEP2 overexpression substantially inhibited epithelial­mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as LUAD cell metastasis, and limited the expression of the cancer stem cell transformation markers, CD44 and CD133. In addition, DPEP2 improved LUAD sensitivity to cisplatin by inhibiting EMT; this was verified in vitro and in vivo. These data indicated that DPEP2 upregulates E­cadherin, thereby regulating cell migration, cancer stem cell transformation, and cisplatin resistance, ultimately affecting the survival of patients with LUAD. Overall, the findings of the present suggest that DPEP2 is important in the development of LUAD and can be used both as a prognostic marker and a target for future therapeutic research.

Fast and versatile electrostatic disc microprinting for piezoelectric elements.

Nanoparticles, films, and patterns are three critical piezoelectric elements with widespread applications in sensing, actuations, catalysis and energy harvesting. High productivity and large-area fabrication of these functional elements is still a significant challenge, let alone the control of their structures and feature sizes on various substrates. Here, we report a fast and versatile electrostatic disc microprinting, enabled by triggering the instability of liquid-air interface of inks. The printing process allows for fabricating lead zirconate titanate free-standing nanoparticles, films, and micro-patterns. The as-fabricated lead zirconate titanate films exhibit a high piezoelectric strain constant of 560 pm V-1, one to two times higher than the state-of-the-art. The multiplexed tip jetting mode and the large layer-by-layer depositing area can translate into depositing speeds up to 109 µm3 s-1, one order of magnitude faster than current techniques. Printing diversified functional materials, ranging from suspensions of dielectric ceramic and metal nanoparticles, to insulating polymers, to solutions of biological molecules, demonstrates the great potential of the electrostatic disc microprinting in electronics, biotechnology and beyond.