IL-17A and TNF-α inhibitors induce multiple molecular changes in psoriasis.

Adalimumab and secukinumab are commonly used for moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris (PV). Although distinct individual responses to and impaired effectiveness of these biological agents occur occasionally, little is known about the underlying reasons. Here, we report a proteomic analysis of psoriatic lesions from patients treated with these drugs using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS). Thousands of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) changed over 12 weeks of treatment. Network analysis showed that DEPs could interact and induce transformation in matrix components, metabolic regulation, and immune response. The results of parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis suggested that S100s, STAT1, KRT2, TYMP, SOD2, HSP90AB1, TFRC, and COL5A1 were the most significantly changed proteins in both groups. There was a positive association between the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and three proteins (TFRC, IMPDH2, KRT2). Our study findings suggest that inhibition of IL-17A and TNF-α can induce changes in multiple molecules in psoriatic lesions and have an overlapping influence on the immune response and process through direct or indirect effects.

LPS-TLR4/MD-2-TNF-α signaling mediates alcohol-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Liver fibrosis results from liver inflammation and progresses to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is known that nonalcoholic liver disease is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2)-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether alcoholic liver disease is also mediated by this pathway. To this end, we first established rat models of liver fibrosis by administering alcohol. Next, the rats were injected with anti-TLR4 and anti-MD-2 antibodies. Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the activation of the TLR4/MD-2-TNF-α signaling pathway and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Moreover, the expression of molecules related to liver fibrosis was estimated. The morphology of rat liver tissue was observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. For in vitro studies, Kupffer cells (KCs) isolated from the liver were transfected with si-TLR4 and si-MD-2 and co-cultured with HSCs to determine the activity of HSCs. It was found that alcohol treatment activated the TLR4/MD-2-TNF-α signaling pathway and upregulated the molecules associated with liver fibrosis. However, inhibition of TLR4 and MD-2 partially reversed this trend. Notably, in vitro studies indicated that knockdown of TLR4 and MD-2 in KCs partially inhibited LPS-induced activation of KCs and HSCs. Overall, this study showed that alcohol induces liver fibrosis via the LPS-TLR4/MD-2-TNF-α signaling pathway.

Efficacy of concentrated growth factors combined with mineralized collagen on quality of life and bone reconstruction of guided bone regeneration.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) combined with mineralized collagen (MC) in guided bone regeneration (GBR). A retrospective study involving 29 patients treated with GBR technique, which was performed either CGF and MC complexes or MC alone. Implants were inserted simultaneously and cone-beam computed tomography was taken immediately, at 3 and 6 months postoperation. Questionnaires were completed by all patients so as to evaluate the main symptoms and daily activities during the first week after surgery. The outcomes of the two groups were statistically compared. All implants healed uneventfully. Patients in both groups suffered from different levels of discomfort for the reason of swelling, pain and chewing impairment on 1-2 days. Meanwhile, swelling of the Trial group was weaker than the Control group. When compared with the Control group, pain levels in Trial group were more rapidly reduced and patients took fewer analgesics from Day 3. Furthermore, the reconstitution mean value of the graft was thicker at 3 and 6 months in Trial group. CGFs complex with MC were beneficial to relieve the clinical symptoms, promote the peri-implant bone regeneration and shorten the healing time.

[Evaluation of dental and craniofacial characteristics in patients with mild skeletal facial asymmetry].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dental and craniofacial morphological characteristics in patients with mild skeletal facial asymmetry, and to investigate the relationship between mild skeletal facial asymmetry and dental anomalies. METHODS: Thirty patients with mild skeletal facial asymmetry (experimental group) and 30 patients with normal faces (control group) were selected. All patients were scanned by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and X-ray machine, Winceph software was used to measure the posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs, NNT software was used to measure the CBCT data. The results were analyzed by Chi-square test, paired t test and independent sample t test using SPSS 19.0 software package. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the left and right sides of faces, teeth and alveolar bone of the first molar in the experimental group. The angle of mandibular dental midline and facial midline, the inclination of the frontal mandibular plane, the inclination of the first molar, the inclination of alveolar bone of the mandibular first molar, the width of alveolar bone of the mandibular first molar showed significant differences between the experimental group and the control group (P<0.05). There are some correlations among menton deviation, inclination of the first molar and alveolar bone of the first molar. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mild skeletal facial asymmetry showed some specific skeletal and dental characteristics. There could be some correlations between these features．.

Interleukin-17A and -17F single nucleotide polymorphisms associate with susceptibility of asthma in Chinese Han population.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays important roles in the progression of asthma. Genetic variants in the Il-17 may influence the immunopathogenesis of many diseases. Many studies have investigated the relevance of IL-17 polymorphism with cancers or immune diseases, including asthma. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-17 were explored by PCR-RFLP and verified by sequencing method. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles were analyzed. Haplotypes were analyzed with the SHEsis online program. The relationship between the genotypes of SNPs and IgE level was also investigated. The False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction was performed (P-adjusted < 0.05). The frequencies of A allele, GA and (GA + AA) genotype of rs3748067 were significantly higher in asthma patients. As for rs763780, the C allele in patients was more frequent than healthy controls. In addition, we found C carriers (CT + CC) were significantly higher in asthma patients. We further found that the haplotype CT for IL-17F (rs763780/rs2397084) was associated with an increased susceptibility of asthma, but this association did not survive after FDR correction. The level of serum total IgE in mutant group (GA + AA) of rs3748067 was significantly higher than the wild genotype (GG) group and control group. These results suggested that IL-17 SNPs, but not haplotypes may be associated with the susceptibility of asthma in Chinese Han population from central China.

Early hepatitis B viral DNA clearance predicts treatment response at week 96.

AIM: To investigate whether hepatitis viral DNA load at 24 wk of treatment predicts response at 96 wk in patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: A total of 172 hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients who received initial treatment at 16 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China were enrolled in this study. All patients received conventional doses of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir dispersible tablets, or entecavir tablets for 96 wk. Patients who used other antiviral drugs or antitumor and immune regulation therapy were excluded. Patients were stratified into three groups according to their viral DNA load at 24 wk: < 10 IU/mL (group 1), 10-103 IU/mL (group 2), and > 103 IU/mL (group 3). Correlations of 24-wk DNA load with HBeAg negative status and HBeAg seroconversion at 96 wk were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to test the predictive value of the HBV DNA load at 24 wk for long-term response. RESULTS: The rates of conversion to HBeAg negative status and HBeAg seroconversion rates were 53.7% and 51.9%, respectively, in group 1; 35.21% and 32.39% in group 2; and 6.38% and 6.38% in group 3. The receiver operating characteristic curves for the three subgroups revealed that the lowest DNA load (< 10 IU/mL) was better correlated with response at 96 wk than a higher DNA load (10-103 IU/mL). Nested PCR was used for amplifying and sequencing viral DNA in patients with a viral DNA load > 200 IU/mL at 96 wk; resistance mutations involving different loci were present in 26 patients, and three of these patients had a viral DNA load 10-103 IU/mL at 96 wk. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B viral DNA load at 24 wk of antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B is a predictor of the viral load and response rate at 96 wk.

Association between rs2431697 T allele on 5q33.3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: case-control study and meta-analysis.

rs2431697 is located on 5q33.3, between pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 and miR-146a. Several studies have estimated the association between rs2431697 and systemic lupus erythematosus risk. However, the results were inconsistent. A case-control study was carried out to explore the association between rs2431697 and systemic lupus erythematosus risk in a central Chinese population. Meta-analyses combining present with previous studies were conducted to further explore the association. Our case-control study included 322 cases and 353 controls. rs2431697 T allele was associated with increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (odds ratios (ORs) = 1.461, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.091-1.957, P = 0.011). The association was stronger between T allele and the risk of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (OR = 2.510, 95% CI 1.545-4.077, P < 0.001). The meta-analyses included 8648 systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 10947 controls. rs2431697 T allele had an overall OR of 1.262 (95% CI 1.205-1.323, P < 0.001) under fixed-effects model. After stratified by ethnicity, I (2) reduced from 24.3 to 0 %. T allele had an OR of 1.213 (95% CI 1.145-1.284, P < 0.001) in European descendant and 1.365 (95% CI 1.259-1.480, P < 0.001) in Asian under fixed-effects model. Data on women were also extracted, and T allele had an OR of 1.337 (95% CI 1.162-1.539, P < 0.001) under random-effects model. The pooled ORs were not influenced by each study in sensitivity analyses. There were no publication biases observed in these analyses. The results from our case-control study and the meta-analyses indicate that rs2431697 T allele significantly associates with the increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tax is involved in up-regulation of HMGB1 expression levels by interaction with C/EBP.

The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is a multifunctional cytokine-like molecule that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tumors. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reactions and Western blot assays indicated that HMGB1 transcriptional activity and protein level are increased in Tax+-T cells (TaxP). To clarify the mechanisms, a series of HMGB1 deletion reporter plasmids (pHLuc1 to pHLuc6) were transfected into Tax--T cells (TaxN, Jurkat) and Tax+-T cells (TaxP). We found that promoter activity in Tax+-T cells to be higher than that in Tax--T cells, indicating a significant increase in pHLuc6. Bay11-7082 (NF-κB inhibitor) treatment did not block the enhancing effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Tax was retained on a HMGB1 promoter fragment encompassing -1163 to -975. Bioinformatics analysis showed six characteristic cis-elements for CdxA, AP-1, AML-1a, USF, v-Myb, and C/EBP in the fragment in question. Mutation of cis- elements for C/EBP reduced significant HMGB1 promoter activity induced by Tax. These findings indicate that Tax enhances the expression of HMGB1 gene at the transcriptional level, possibly by interacting with C/EBP.

miR-22 is down-regulated in gastric cancer, and its overexpression inhibits cell migration and invasion via targeting transcription factor Sp1.

Accumulating evidence has shown that microRNAs are involved in multiple processes in cancer development and progression. Recently, miR-22 has been identified as a tumor-suppressing microRNA in many human cancers. However, the specific function of miR-22 in gastric cancer is unclear at this point. In this study, we first measured miR-22 expression level in 30 pairs of gastric cancer and matched normal tissues, two normal and six gastric cancer cell lines by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We found that the expression of miR-22 in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines was much lower than that in normal control, respectively. Transfection of miR-22 expression plasmid could significantly inhibit the cell migration and invasion in SGC-7901 and NCL-N87 gastric cancer cell lines. Moreover, we also showed that Sp1 was negatively regulated by miR-22 at the posttranscriptional level, via a specific target site within the 3'UTR by luciferase reporter assay. The expression of Sp1 was inversely correlated with miR-22 expression in gastric cancer tissues, and knockdown of Sp1 by siRNA inhibited cell malignant behaviors. Thus, our findings suggest that miR-22 acts as tumor suppressor by targeting the Sp1 gene and inhibiting gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. The findings of this study contribute to current understanding of the functions of miR-22 in gastric cancer.

Autoimmune regulator regulates autophagy in THP-1 human monocytes.

The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a crucial factor for the induction of central tolerance, and mutations in this gene lead to abnormal immune responses. However, the role of AIRE in autophagy in immune cells, especially in monocytes, is obscure. In the present study, we found that overexpression of AIRE in THP-1 human monocytes resulted in increased endogenous light chain 3 (LC3)-II level and elevated LC3 positive vesicles. Moreover, an autophagy inhibitor or knockdown of AIRE by small interference RNA attenuated these effects. In contrast, the expression of p62/SQSTM1 remained unchanged in THP-1 cells after the corresponding treatment. Our findings indicate that AIRE plays a role in the regulation of autophagy in THP-1 human monocytes.

[Diagnostic value of BRCA1 and p16 gene methylation in sporadic breast cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aberrant DNA methylation has the potential of being a tumor marker. This study was to evaluate the methylation statuses of BRCA1 and p16 gene promoter in tumor tissue and serum of breast cancer patients, and explore their diagnostic value. METHODS: The methylation statuses of BRCA1 and p16 genes in 63 specimens of sporadic breast cancer and corresponding serum samples were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The serum level of CA15-3 was detected by immunofluorescent method. RESULTS: The methylation rates of BRCA1 and p16 were 34.9% and 28.6% in tumor tissues, and were 31.7% and 25.4% in corresponding serum samples; the methylation rate of BRCA1 and/or p16 was 60.3% in tumor tissues, and was 54.0% in serum samples. The methylation rate of BRCA1 and/or p16 was related with tumor histological type, lymph node metastases and living area of patients (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of CA15-3 as a diagnostic index for breast cancer were 47.6% and 93.1%; while the sensitivity and specificity of gene methylation and CA15-3 detection in combination were 84.1% and 93.1%. Univariate analysis showed that the methylation of BRCA1 and/or p16, tumor type and living area of patients were related to tumor recurrence with relative risk of 14.0, 6.7 and 5.14 (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that only the methylation of BRCA1 and/or p16 and tumor type were related to tumor recurrence with relative risk of 6.7 and 5.1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Detecting the methylation of BRCA1 and p16 gene together with CA15-3 is helpful for specific diagnosis of breast cancer, and has a predictive value for tumor recurrence.

[The effect of p21 on transcription of survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and its regulation mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effect of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 on regulation of survivin transcription in human liver cancer HepG cells, and explore the related mechanisms. METHODS: Doxorubicin (DOX) was used to treat HepG cells. Eukaryotic vector pEGFP-C2-p21 was transfected into HepG cells by lipofectamine and positive clones were screened out by G418. The mRNA expression of p21, p53 and survivin were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). Flow cytometry was used to determine the cell cycle phases, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the levels of E2F-1 or p300. RESULTS: After treatment with DOX, the expression of p53 and p21 was increased, whereas that of survivin was reduced during 24 hours of the treatment. After transfection the p21 level was 2100.1-fold or 980.9-fold enhanced in comparison with that in HepG2 cells or HepG2-pEGFP cells. Survivin level was markedly down-regulated to 0.5% or 0.6% relative to that in the other two groups, nevertheless, significant p53 changes were not observed. Overexpression of p21 resulted in G1/G0 phase arrest (F = 31.59, P < 0.01), meanwhile, E2F-1 mRNA or p300 mRNA were less expressed compared with that in the other controls (F(E2F-1) = 125.28, P < 0.05; Fp300 = 46.01, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: p21 could be a potential mediator of survivin suppression at transcription level in HepG2 cells, which might be through the block at G1/G0 phase and down-regulation of transcription factors E2F-1 and p300.

[Inhibitory effect of adriamycin combined P21CIP1 gene transfection on proliferation of human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy protocols using adriamycin (ADM) is a standard treatment for hepatoblastoma, but the treatment results became unsatisfied because of drug resistance. Recently, ADM combined gene therapy is a developing alternative treatment for hepatoblastoma. This study was to investigate the effect of ADM combined human p21CIP1 transfection on the proliferation of hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2. METHODS: HepG2 cells were divided into empty control group (no treatment), ADM group (treated with 0.5 microg/mL ADM), blank control group (transfected with blank plasmid pcDNA3), p21 group (transfected with plasmid pcDNA3-p21), and combination group (ADM treatment plus p21 transfection). The proliferation of HepG2 cells was observed by MTT assay. The mRNA levels of p21 and survivin were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: After transfection, the mRNA level of p21 in p21 group was increased by 155 folds of that in empty control group (P<0.05). p21 inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells at Day 3 and Day 4 after transfection (P<0.01). The proliferation inhibition rate was significantly higher in combination group than in ADM group and p21 group (43.92% vs. 32.97% and 35.77% at Day 3, P<0.01; 59.86% vs. 39.35% and 40.96% at Day 4, P<0.01; 51.81% vs. 33.91% and 10.68% at Day 5, P<0.01). This effect was enhanced along with the increasing time of co-treatment from Day 1 to Day 4 (r=0.91, P<0.05), and it was obvious at Day 4 (Q =1.07). The mRNA level of survivin was significantly lower in combination group than in p21 group and ADM group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: p21 gene transfection plus ADM can inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and down-regulate the level of survivin mRNA, thus may be a potential therapeutic strategy against human hepatoblastoma.

[Correlation of -31G/C polymorphisms of survivin promoter to tumorigenesis of gastric carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Survivin, a bifunctional protein that regulates cell division and suppresses apoptosis, may play an important role in tumorigenesis. This study was to determine the correlations of survivin gene 31-GC polymorphisms to the occurrence of gastric carcinoma and survivin mRNA expression. METHODS: The -31G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of survivin promoter in peripheral blood samples from 96 gastric carcinoma patients and 67 healthy subjects was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and gene sequencing. Survivin mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma tissues was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RQ-RT-PCR). RESULTS: The genotype frequencies for -31G/G, -31G/C and -31C/C were 20.84%, 39.58% and 39.58% in gastric carcinoma patients, and 46.26%, 41.80% and 11.94% in healthy subjects, respectively. The frequencies of survivin-31C allele and C/C genotype were significantly higher in gastric carcinoma patients than in healthy subjects [59.37% vs. 32.84%, Chi2 = 22.26, P<0.005, odds ratio (OR)=2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.96-4.51; 39.58% vs. 11.94%, Chi2 =14.88, P<0.005, OR=4.83, 95% CI=2.91-8.03], but survivin mRNA was overexpressed with no significant difference in gastric cancer tissues subgrouped by genotypes. CONCLUSION: The -31C genotype of survivin promoter is associated with gastric cancer, and may be a risk factor of gastric carcinoma.

[Construction, identification and expression of recombinant eukaryotic vector pEGFP-BMI-1].

This study was purposed to construct and identify the mammalian expression vector of pEGFP-BMI-1 and to detect whether it could express in human cervix cancer cell line HeLa. The cDNA fragment of BMI-1 obtained by RT-PCR was inserted into pEGFP-N1. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion, PCR and DNA sequencing. pEGFP-BMI-1 was transfected into HeLa cells with lipofectamine 2000. The expression of pEGFP-BMI-1 was determined by EGFP fluorescence and Western blot analysis. SYBR Green I real-time RT-PCR was used to quantitate P16INK4a mRNA. The results showed that the correct construction of the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-BMI-1 has been shown by restriction enzyme digestion, PCR and DNA sequencing. pEGFP-BMI-1 could express BMI-1-EGFP fusion protein in HeLa cells. Real-time RT-PCR showed that P16INK4a mRNA expression was reduced to 9.2%. It is concluded that the vector of pEGFP-BMI-1 has been successfully constructed and it can be expressed in HeLa cells. This work has laid foundations for further study on biological functions and potential application of BMI-1.

The TKTL1 gene influences total transketolase activity and cell proliferation in human colon cancer LoVo cells.

A plasmid carrying DNA to be transcribed into a small interfering RNA against transketolase-like-1 mRNA was constructed and transfected into a human colon cancer cell line. The mRNA expression of transketolase gene family in the human colon cell line was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effect of anti-transketolase-like-1 small interfering RNA on cell proliferation and cell cycle in the human colon cancer cell line cells was detected by flow cytometry and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. The transketolase-like-1 gene was significantly downregulated in human colon cancer cell line cells transfected with small interfering RNA transketolase-like-1 constructs compared with the cells transfected with control vector and the cells without transfection. In addition, the anti-transketolase-like-1 small interfering RNA construct significantly decreased the level of transketolase in the transfected human colon cancer cell line cells, arrested them in G0/G1 phase and substantially inhibited cell proliferation. No significant difference was found in the other two genes (transketolase and transketolase-like-2 genes) between the transfected human colon cancer cell line cells and the controls (P>0.05). Our data demonstrated that the transketolase-like-1 gene plays an important role in total transketolase activity and in the cell proliferation of human colon cancer. Transketolase-like-1 may serve as a target for novel anticancer therapies.

[Effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase on intracellular gsh level in Raji cells during oxidative stress].

AIM: To explore a role of G6PD in replenishment of intracellular GSH during oxidative stress. METHODS: In vitro Raji cell was cultured, intracellular GSH levels and G6PD, GR, GPX activities were determined at different time points after PMS treatment when G6PD activity was inhibited or not by DHEA. RESULTS: Intracellular GR, GPX, G6PD activities elevated significantly combined with GSH level decreased dramatically before 30 minutes, replenished gradually after 30 minutes and restore normal levels about 6 h after PMS treatment when G6PD was not inhibited. No change in GR and significant increase in GPX activity were shown following depleted GSH after PMS treatment when G6PD was inhibited by DHEA. CONCLUSION: G6PD contributes to replenish intracellular GSH and is a critical factor regulating GSH levels during oxidative stress.