Recombinant Klotho protein protects pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells against sepsis-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation-induced apoptosis of alveolar type II epithelial cells is a primary contributor to sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Klotho is a single-pass transmembrane protein with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. However, the role and mechanism of Klotho in the development of ARDS remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Klotho on sepsis-induced apoptosis in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs) together with the potential mechanism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were performed to generate an in vivo sepsis model, and HPAEpiCs were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic sepsis in vitro. Both models were administered recombinant Klotho protein. The morphology of the lung tissue was observed, and apoptotic cells and cell viability were detected. Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 was detected with western blotting. RESULTS: Klotho reversed the CLP-induced decrease in mouse survival in vivo (p < 0.001) and increased inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory substance exudation in the lung tissue of mice with sepsis (both p < 0.001). Klotho also suppressed apoptosis (p < 0.001) as demonstrated by IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α expression (all p < 0.001), and Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway activation (p < 0.001). Klotho pretreatment significantly prevented LPS-induced apoptosis in vitro (p < 0.001), as demonstrated by IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α upregulation (all p < 0.001); and Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway activation in HPAEpiCs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that Klotho can ameliorate acute lung injury (ALI) induced by sepsis by inhibiting inflammatory responses and exerting anti-apoptotic effects by suppressing Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway activation.

Risk Factors, Incidence, and Prognosis of Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the standard treatment option for tumors. With the widespread application of ICIs, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have gradually attracted the attention of researchers. Owing to the characteristics of ICIs, irAEs can affect each organ of the human body. Thromboembolism is uncommon in cancer patients receiving ICIs, but it may affect their survival. Most thromboembolic events do not cause serious effects after early prediction and treatment, but life-threatening toxic reactions are also observed. This condition should not be ignored because of vague and atypical symptoms, which make early diagnosis more challenging. This article focuses on the high-risk factors, underlying mechanisms, incidence, and prognosis of thromboembolism in patients using ICIs and briefly describes the intervention and treatment measures. This information would allow patients to effectively manage the side effects of thromboembolism during Immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment, ensuring the efficacy of ICIs and reducing mortality.

Scutellarin-induced A549 cell apoptosis depends on activation of the transforming growth factor-ß1/smad2/ROS/caspase-3 pathway.

Scutellarin plays an anti-tumor role in A549 lung cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, scutellarin was used to treat A549 cells for 12, 24, and 48 h, followed by the addition of Tempo, a selective scavenger of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and SB431542, a transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 receptor inhibitor. A dihydroethidium fluorescence probe was used to measure the intracellular ROS level, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to examine apoptosis. Western blots were used to detect the total protein level of TGF-ß1, p-smad2, and cleaved caspase-3 in A549 cells. The results showed that scutellarin significantly inhibited cell viability and increased apoptosis. Scutellarin also promoted intracellular ROS production, TGF-ß1/smad2 signaling pathway activation, and cleaved caspase-3 expression, which was partly reversed by Tempo. Moreover, scutellarin-induced intracellular ROS production and cleaved caspase-3 expression were inhibited by blocking the TGF-ß1/smad2 pathway with SB431542. In conclusion, scutellarin promoted apoptosis and intracellular ROS accumulation, which could be abrogated by Tempo and SB431542 treatment in A549 cells. Our study indicated that scutellarin induced A549 cell apoptosis via the TGF-ß1/smad2/ROS/caspase-3 pathway.

Prognostic Value of Neoantigen Load in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have made great progress in the field of tumors and have become a promising direction of tumor treatment. With advancements in genomics and bioinformatics technology, it is possible to individually analyze the neoantigens produced by somatic mutations of each patient. Neoantigen load (NAL), a promising biomarker for predicting the efficacy of ICIs, has been extensively studied. This article reviews the research progress on NAL as a biomarker for predicting the anti-tumor effects of ICI. First, we provide a definition of NAL, and summarize the detection methods, and their relationship with tumor mutation burden. In addition, we describe the common genomic sources of NAL. Finally, we review the predictive value of NAL as a tumor prediction marker based on various clinical studies. This review focuses on the predictive ability of NAL's ICI efficacy against tumors. In melanoma, lung cancer, and gynecological tumors, NAL can be considered a predictor of treatment efficacy. In contrast, the use of NAL for urinary system and liver tumors requires further research. When NAL alone is insufficient to predict efficacy, its combination with other indicators can improve prediction efficiency. Evaluating the response of predictive biomarkers before the treatment initiation is essential for guiding the clinical treatment of cancer. The predictive power of NAL has great potential; however, it needs to be based on more accurate sequencing platforms and technologies.

PLA2G10 facilitates the cell-cycle progression of soft tissue leiomyosarcoma cells at least by elevating cyclin E1/CDK2 expression.

Soft tissue leiomyosarcoma (STLMS) is a major histological subtype of adult sarcoma. Although the molecular mechanisms ofLMS have been gradually revealed, no valid therapeutic targets have been identified. In this study, we performed a systematic screening to explore relapse-associated genes in STLMS, using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas-Sarcoma (TCGA-SARC). Then, we investigated the functional role of the gene with the best relapse-prediction value in STLMS by both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Results showed that AMH and PLA2G10 were two genes with area under curve (AUC) values higher than 0.80 in ROC analysis when detecting relapse. Patients in the high AMH or PLA2G10 expression group had significantly worse relapse-free survival (RFS) compared to the respective low expression group. PLA2G10 was highly expressed in STLMS, but not in other sarcoma subtypes. PLA2G10 overexpression promoted SK-LMS-1 cell growth and G1/S transition, while PLA2G10 knockdown slowed the growth and resulted in G1 phase arrest. PLA2G10 overexpression markedly increased the expression of CDK2 and cyclin E1, but did not influence CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1, CDK1 or cyclin A expression. PLA2G10 overexpression enhanced SK-LMS-1 cell-derived xenograft tumor growth in nude mice, while PLA2G10 inhibition slowed the growth. Mutation of two critical catalyzing amino acid residues (p.H88A and p.D89A) abrogated the capability of PLA2G10 to catalyze the production of arachidonic acid (AA), and also canceled the regulatory effects on cyclin E1 and CDK2 expression, as well as G1/S transition. In conclusion, PLA2G10 was a specific relapse-associated gene in STLMS. It facilitated the cell-cycle progression of STLMS cells at least by elevating the expression of cyclin E1 and CDK2. The hydrolytic activity was crucial for its oncogenic properties.

[Effects of propofol combined with indomethacin on contraction of isolated human pulmonary arteries].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of propofol combined with indomethacin on the contractile function of isolated human pulmonary arteries. METHODS: Human pulmonary artery preparations were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for lung carcinoma. The intrapulmonary arteries were dissected and cut into rings under microscope for treatment with propofol or propofol combined with indomethacin. In each group, the rings were divided into endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded groups and mounted in a Multi Myograph system. In propofol group, the rings were preconstricted by U46619 to induce a sustained contraction, and propofol (10-300 mmol/L) was then applied cumulatively. In the combined treatment group, the rings were pretreated with indomethacin (100 µmol/L) for 30 min before application of U46619 to induce sustained contraction, and propofol (10-300 µmol/L) was added cumulatively after the tension became stable. RESULTS: Propofol (10-100 µmol/L) induced constrictions at low concentrations and caused relaxations at higher concentrations (100-300 µmol/L) in the pulmonary artery rings with prior U46619-induced contraction. Propofol caused stronger constrictions in endothelium-intact rings [EC50=4.525∓0.37, Emax=(30.44∓2.92)%] than in endothelium-denuded rings [EC50=4.699∓0.12, Emax=(31.19∓5.10)%, P<0.05]. Pretreatment of the rings with indomethacin abolished constrictions, and the relaxation was more obvious in endothelium-intact group [pD2=3.713∓0.11, Emax=(98.72∓0.34)%] than in endothelium- denuded group [pD2=3.54∓0.03, Emax=(94.56∓0.53)%, P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: Propofol induces constriction at low concentrations and relaxation at high concentrations in human intrapulmonary arteries with U46619-induced contraction. Indomethacin abolishes the constriction induced by propofol in isolated intrapulmonary arteries, suggesting that propofol potentiates U46619-mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction by promoting the concomitant production of prostaglandin by cyclooxygenase in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, and the mechanism for its relaxation effect may partly depend on the endothelium.