Neutrophil extracellular traps promote invasion and metastasis via NLRP3-mediated oral squamous cell carcinoma pyroptosis inhibition.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are reticular structures composed of neutrophil elastase (NE), cathepsin G (CG) and DNA-histone enzyme complexes. Accumulating evidence has revealed that NETs play important roles in tumor progression, metastasis, and thrombosis. However, our understanding of its clinical value and mechanism of action in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is limited and has not yet been systematically described. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of NETs in OSCC and the mechanisms by which they affect its invasive and metastatic capacity. Our results demonstrated that high enrichment of NETs is associated with poor prognosis in OSCC, and mechanistic studies have shown that NE in NETs promotes invasion and metastasis via NLRP3-mediated inhibition of pyroptosis in OSCC. These findings may provide a new therapeutic approach for OSCC.

DEAD-box RNA Helicase 39 Promotes Invasiveness and Chemoresistance of ER-positive Breast Cancer.

Purpose: DDX39 is a DEAD-box RNA helicase that unwinds double-stranded RNA in an ATP-dependent manner. This study evaluated the prognostic and predictive significance of DDX39 in breast cancer (BC). Methods: The cellular proliferation, invasion, and drug cytotoxicity by DDX39 siRNA were evaluated in MCF7 (ER-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (ER-negative) cell lines. A total of 27 datasets (total 8110 accessible cases) with following-up information were collected from Asia, Europe, and North America to explore associations between DDX39 gene expression and clinical parameters of BC patients. Results: Down-regulation of DDX39 by siRNA significantly reduce the cell growth and invasion ability in MCF7 cells, but only slightly in MDA-MB-231 cells. The DDX39 mRNA level was elevated in breast adenocarcinoma compared with normal breast tissue (p<0.01). Higher DDX39 level was significantly correlated with larger tumor size (p<0.01) and poorer tumor differentiation (p<0.01). The prognostic significance of DDX39 for BC was assessed by pooled-analysis and meta-analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that increased DDX39 mRNA expression was associated with poor outcomes significantly in a dose-dependent manner in ER-positive BC. The prognostic performance of DDX39 mRNA was comparable to 21-gene, 70-gene, and wound-response gene signatures, and it was superior to the TNM stage. Lower DDX39 expression was associated with reduced relative risk death on ER-positive BC with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Inhibition of DDX39 by siRNA could significantly enhance the sensitivity of MCF-7 to doxorubicin. Conclusion: DDX39 may be a potential novel prognostic and predictive biomarker for BC patients with ER-positive status.

Sequence analysis of α-(1, 2)-fucosyltransferase gene in nine Chinese individuals with Para-Bombay phenotype.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the sequence of α-(1, 2)-fucosyltransferase gene (FUT1) in nine individuals with Para-Bombay phenotype. METHODS: Para-Bombay phenotype was defined according to the serologic characteristics and ABO genotypes. The full coding region of FUT1 was amplified, genotype and haplotype were analyzed by direct and TOPO cloning sequencing which was used to discriminate heterozygous mutations of FUT1. RESULTS: These nine individuals were identified as three Para-Bombay A (Ah), six Para-Bombay B (Bh) according to serologic characteristics and ABO genotypes. According to the direct and cloning sequencing results of the full coding region of FUT1, five genotypes and five haplotypes were found in these nine individuals. CONCLUSION: Two complex mutations of FUT1 were discovered, which were h1h547 - 552delAG + 814A > G (c.547 - 552delAG, p.Arg183Argfs ∗ 86; c.547 - 552delAG, p.Arg183Argfs ∗ 86 + c.814A > G, p.lle272Val) and h755G > Ch547 - 552delAG + 755G > C (c.755G > C, p.Arg183Argfs ∗ 86; c.547 - 548delAG, p.Arg183Argfs ∗ 86 + c.755G > C, p.Arg253Pro), the genotype of h755G > Ch547 - 552delAG + 755G > C was reported for the first time, and three kinds of known genotype (h1h1, h3h3, h1h3) were found also in these nine Chinese individuals with Para-Bombay phenotype in the present study. In this way, the FUT1 mutation showed a distinct geographic and ethnic range.

The Effects of Fungicides on Human 3ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1 and Aromatase in Human Placental Cell Line JEG-3.

Placenta secretes a large amount of progesterone and estradiol, which are critical for maintaining pregnancy. In human placenta, 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD3B1) catalyzes pregnenolone to form progesterone, and aromatase (CYP19A1) catalyzes testosterone into estradiol. Fungicides display antifungal activities and are widely used to prevent fungal infections in agricultural plants. These chemicals include azoles, such as tebuconazole (TEB), triadimefon (TRI), and vinclozolin (VCZ) or organotins, such as tributyltin (TBT) and tetrabutyltin (TTBT). Fungicides may disrupt the activities of these 2 enzymes. In the present study, we investigated the effects of these fungicides on steroid production in a human placental cell line JEG-3 and on HSD3B1 and CYP19A1 activities. Of all fungicides tested at 100 µmol/L, only TBT inhibited pregnenolone-mediated progesterone production in JEG-3 cells by over 50%. Except TTBT, all other 4 fungicides inhibited testosterone-mediated estradiol production by over 50%. TBT was a moderate HSD3B1 inhibitor with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 45.60 ± 0.12 µmol/L. When pregnenolone was used to determine the mode of inhibition, TBT was a competitive inhibitor of HSD3B1. The IC50 values of TEB, TRI, VCZ, and TBT for CYP19A1 were 56.84 ± 0.13, 58.73 ± 0.14, 57.42 ± 0.171, and 4.58 ± 0.048 µmol/L, respectively. TEB, TRI, and VCZ were noncompetitive inhibitors of CYP19A1, while TBT was a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme. Therefore, they are endocrine disruptors.

Effects of butylated hydroxyanisole on the steroidogenesis of rat immature Leydig cells.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic antioxidant used for food preservation. Whether BHA affects testosterone biosynthesis is still unclear. The effects of BHA on the steroidogenesis in rat immature Leydig cells were investigated. Rat immature Leydig cells were isolated from 35-old-day rats and cultured with BHA (50 µM) for 3 h in combination with 22R-OH-cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, and the concentrations of 5α-androstanediol and testosterone in the media were measured. Leydig cells were cultured with BHA (0.05-50 µM) for 3 h. Q-PCR was used to measure the mRNA levels of following genes: Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1, Hsd17b3, Srd5a1 and Akr1c14. The testis microsomes were prepared to detect the direct action of BHA on 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD3B1), 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1) and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 activities. In Leydig cells, BHA (50 µM) significantly inhibited LH- and 8Br-cAMP-mediated androgen production. BHA directly inhibited rat testis CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 activities. At 50 µM, it also reduced the expression levels of Hsd17b3 and Srd5a1 and their protein levels. In conclusion, BHA directly inhibits the activities of CYP17A1 and HSD3B1, and the expression levels of Hsd17b3 and Srd5a1, leading to the lower production of androgen in Leydig cells.

Suppression of rat and human androgen biosynthetic enzymes by apigenin: Possible use for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Apigenin is a natural flavone. It has recently been used as a chemopreventive agent. It may also have some beneficial effects to treat prostate cancer by inhibiting androgen production. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of apigenin on the steroidogenesis of rat immature Leydig cells and some human testosterone biosynthetic enzyme activities. Rat immature Leydig cells were incubated for 3h with 100µM apigenin without (basal) or with 1ng/ml luteinizing hormone (LH), 10mM 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8BR), and 20µM of the following steroid substrates: 22R-hydroxychloesterol (22R), pregnenolone (P5), progesterone (P4), and androstenedione (D4). The medium levels of 5α-androstane-3α, 17ß-diol (DIOL), the primary androgen produced by rat immature Leydig cells, were measured. Apigenin significantly inhibited basal, 8BR, 22R, PREG, P4, and D4 stimulated DIOL production in rat immature Leydig cells. Further study showed that apigenin inhibited rat 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase, and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 with IC50 values of 11.41±0.7, 8.98±0.10, and 9.37±0.07µM, respectively. Apigenin inhibited human 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 with IC50 values of 2.17±0.04 and 1.31±0.09µM, respectively. Apigenin is a potent inhibitor of rat and human steroidogenic enzymes, being possible use for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole Potently Inhibits Rat and Human 11ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a widely used antioxidant for food preservation. 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, isoforms 1 (HSD11B1) and 2 (HSD11B2) have been demonstrated to be the regulators of the local level of active glucocorticoid, which has a broad range of physiological actions. In this study, the potency of BHA was tested for the inhibition of HSD11B1 and HSD11B2 in rat and human tissues. BHA showed potent inhibition of HSD11B2 with the half maximal inhibitory concentration calculated at 13.99 and 69.25 µmol/l for the rat and human, respectively. Results showed that BHA competitively inhibited HSD11B2 when a steroid substrate was used. However, it served as a mixed inhibition factor when the cofactor NAD+ was used. In contrast, the potency of BHA to inhibit both rat and human HSD11B1 was diminished, with the concentration of 100 µmol/l causing no inhibitory effect on the isoform. In conclusion, we observed that BHA is a selective inhibitor of HSD11B2, implying that this agent may cause excessive glucocorticoid action in local tissues such as kidney and placentas.

[Combination therapy of azintamid and domperidone in functional dyspepsia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety of combined therapy of compound azintamid and domperidone in functional dyspepsia. METHODS: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Two hundred and eight patients with functional dyspepsia were randomly grouped into group A (experimental group, 102 cases) and group B (control group, 106 cases). The patients in the group A were given 2 tablets of compound azintamid 3 times a day in addition to domperidone 10 mg 3 times per day for four weeks. The patients in the group B were only given domperidone 10 mg 3 times per day for 4 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by modified Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment (mSODA) and Global Patient Assessment (GPA). RESULTS: Subscore in mSODA: the change of bloating/pain intensity score in group A is -12.35 ± 5.48 while group B is -10.52 ± 4.65 (P = 0.009), the change of non-bloating/pain symptoms score in group A is -5.75 ± 3.31 while group B is -4.86 ± 2.65 (P = 0.033), and the change of satisfaction score in group A is 7.09 ± 3.78 while group B is 5.62 ± 3.54 (P = 0.004). The response rate in group A is 89.2% which is significantly higher than 76.4% in group B (P = 0.015). Other symptoms for response assessment included loss of appetite, early satiety, fullness after meal, diarrhea. No severe side-effect was found in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy of compound azintamid and domperidone may lead to bigger improvement in overall efficacy and health related quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia than use of motility medicine alone. Potential mechanisms that may account for the efficacy of compound azintamide in functional dyspepsia include modulation of visceral sensitivity and/or gastrointestinal motility.

[Effects of vascular endothelial growth factor on apoptosis of sinusoidal endothelial cells caused by ethanol: experiment with rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cell death pattern of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) caused by ethanol and the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on this cell death, as well as the underlying mechanism involving Ets-1 and Caspase-8. METHODS: SECs were isolated from male Wistar rats and cultured in medium containing ethanol (25 - 100 mmol/L). VEGF (20 - 30 ng/ml) was added into the medium to be co-incubated for up to 6 h. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated d-uridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. The protein expression of Ets-1, prototype of anti-apoptotic Ets family, was determined by Western blotting and the Caspase-8 was measured by FLICE/caspase-8 colorimetric protease assay kit. RESULTS: Three days after culture, the SECs showed spindle-like shapes and nearly confluent, however, the cells tended to shrink and die during the time course of ethanol incubation under phase contrast microscope. The control SECs contained only a few percent of TUNEL-positive cells; however, the TUNEL-positive cells started to increase 2 hours after the addition of ethanol (100 mmol/L), and about 75% of the cells were TUNEL-positive 6 hours after ethanol incubation (P < 0.05) under fluorescent microscope. Again, TUNEL-positive cells increased 6 hours after ethanol (25 - 100 mmol/L) incubation in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). Six hours after VEGF (20 - 30 ng/ml) was added into the medium with ethanol (100 mmol/L) the percentage of TUNEL positive SECs decreased in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05), the level of ethanol-induced apoptotic cells in the presence of VEGF (30 ng/ml) being around 71% 6 hours after ethanol incubation alone. The Ets-1 protein level of the SECs decreased 6 hours after ethanol (100 mmol/L) incubation, which was prevented almost completely by VEGF (30 ng/ml). The Caspase-8 activity level was significantly increased to 44.9 +/- 14.3 2 hours after ethanol (100 mmol/L) incubation, and decrease to 30.4 +/- 2.0 and 25.2 +/- 2.2 respectively after the addition of VEGF (20 - 30 ng/ml) (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF prevents the apoptosis of primary cultured SECs induced by ethanol, through at least in part, inhibition of ethanol-induced down-regulation of Ets-1 protein expression and ethanol-induced up-regulation of Casepase-8 activity in SECs.

[The detection and significance of human papilloma virus 11b virus like particles and its serum antibody in juvenile larynx papilloma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between human papilloma virus 11b virus like particles (HPV11bVLPS) serum antibody and the development and prognosis of juvenile larynx papilloma (JLP). METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum HPV11bVLP antibody (Ab) of 46 JLP's samples in different stage and 20 controls using HPV11bVLPS which was produced by recombinant bacilovirus in insect cells. Grouping: A: control group (n = 20); B: the time of onset was 1 years (n = 15); C: the time of onset was 2 years (n = 15); the patients were followed-up 1 year without recurrence (n = 8); E: The patients were followed-up 2 years without recurrence (n = 8). RESULTS: A value of HPV11bVLP Ab among A, B, C, D, E. group were: (0.073 +/- 0.035); (0.120 +/- 0.049); (0.137 +/- 0.057); (0.518 +/- 0.122); (0.557 +/- 0.144). There was a significant difference between JLP patients and the control group (P < 0.05). The level of HPV11bVLP Ab in (D + E) group (0.534 +/- 0.132) was higher than (B + C) group (0.128 +/- 0.053) (t = 14.90, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that HPV serum antibody was produced in JLP with HPV infection. There is close relationship between the development and prognosis of the disease and the level of HPV11Ab in serum. The assay of serum HPV11bVLPAb and HPV-VLP could be used as immunological study of HPV11-infection associated disease.