Preparation of Highly Swelling/Antibacterial Cross-Linked N-Maleoyl-Functional Chitosan/Polyethylene Oxide Nanofiber Meshes for Controlled Antibiotic Release.

Due to the cell affinity of chitosan (CS) and the hydrophilicity of polyethylene oxide (PEO), CS/PEO composited nanofiber meshes (NFMs) have been extensively used as wound healing dressings for skin tissue regeneration. Nonetheless, numerous innate drawbacks of the NFM system such as the use of toxic spinning solvents and cross-linkers, moderate water regain capacity, and lack of triggered release function significantly hampered their biomedical applications. In order to enhance their performances in promoting cell growth and preventing bacterial infection, highly swelling cross-linked N-maleoyl-functional chitosan (MCS)/PEO NFMs have been developed as the next-generation CS/PEO NFM system through an acid-free electrospinning process and a UV-irradiated cross-linked treatment without the use of aldehyde-containing cross-linkers. With the simultaneous introduction of ethylene oxide chains and disulfide bonds in the cross-linkages, this new NFM system displays enhanced swelling capability, antibacterial ability, triggered antibiotic release, and high biocompatibility. These biomedical merits enable the new NFM systems to be utilized as tissue scaffolds, especially for functional wound healing dressings.

Long noncoding RNA MRCCAT1 promotes metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma via inhibiting NPR3 and activating p38-MAPK signaling.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences showed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are frequently dysregulated and play important roles in various cancers. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the leading cause of cancer-related death, largely due to the metastasis of ccRCC. However, the clinical significances and roles of lncRNAs in metastatic ccRCC are still unknown. METHODS: lncRNA expression microarray analysis was performed to search the dysregulated lncRNA in metastatic ccRCC. quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression of lncRNAs in human ccRCC samples. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the biological roles of lncRNAs on ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and in vivo metastasis. RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and western blot were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of lncRNAs. RESULTS: The microarray analysis identified a novel lncRNA termed metastatic renal cell carcinoma-associated transcript 1 (MRCCAT1), which is highly expressed in metastatic ccRCC tissues and associated with the metastatic properties of ccRCC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that MRCCAT1 is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC patients. Overexpression of MRCCAT1 promotes ccRCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Depletion of MRCCAT1 inhibites ccRCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and ccRCC metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, MRCCAT1 represses NPR3 transcription by recruiting PRC2 to NPR3 promoter, and subsequently activates p38-MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: MRCCAT1 is a critical lncRNA that promotes ccRCC metastasis via inhibiting NPR3 and activating p38-MAPK signaling. Our results imply that MRCCAT1 could serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ccRCC.

A novel urinary long non-coding RNA transcript improves diagnostic accuracy in patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) PCA3 has been a well-established urine biomarker for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Our previous study showed a novel LncRNA FR0348383 is up-regulated in over 70% of PCa compared with matched benign tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of urinary FR0348383 for men undergoing prostate biopsy due to elevated PSA (PSA > 4.0 ng/ml) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE). METHODS: Post-DRE first-catch urine specimens prior to prostate biopsies were prospectively collected. After the whole transcriptome amplification, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was applied to quantify urine FR0348383 and PSA levels. The FR0348383 score was calculated as the ratio of PSA and FR0348383 mRNA (PSA mRNA/FR0348383 mRNA × 1000). The diagnostic value of FR0348383 score was evaluated by logistic regression and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: 213 cases with urine samples containing sufficient mRNA were included, 94 cases had serum PSA level 4.0-10.0 ng/ml. PCa was identified in 72 cases. An increasing FR0348383 score was correlated with an increasing probability of a positive biopsy (P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic analysis indicated FR0348383 score (P < 0.001), PSA (P = 0.004), age (P = 0.007), prostate volume (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of PCa. ROC analysis demonstrated FR0348383 score outperformed PSA, %free PSA, and PSA Density in the prediction of PCa in the subgroup of patients with grey area PSA (AUC: 0.815 vs. 0.562 vs. 0.599 vs. 0.645). When using a probability threshold of 30% in the grey zone cohort, The FR0348383 score would save 52.0% of avoidable biopsies without missing any high grade cancers. CONCLUSIONS: FR0348383 transcript in post-DRE urine may be a novel biomarker for detection of PCa with great diagnostic value, especially in the grey zone cohort. The application of FR0348383 score in clinical practice might avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies and increase the specificity of PCa diagnosis.

Exosome-Transmitted lncARSR Promotes Sunitinib Resistance in Renal Cancer by Acting as a Competing Endogenous RNA.

Sunitinib resistance is a major challenge for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective strategies against sunitinib resistance are highly desired in the clinic. Here we identified an lncRNA, named lncARSR (lncRNA Activated in RCC with Sunitinib Resistance), which correlated with clinically poor sunitinib response. lncARSR promoted sunitinib resistance via competitively binding miR-34/miR-449 to facilitate AXL and c-MET expression in RCC cells. Furthermore, bioactive lncARSR could be incorporated into exosomes and transmitted to sensitive cells, thus disseminating sunitinib resistance. Treatment of sunitinib-resistant RCC with locked nucleic acids targeting lncARSR or an AXL/c-MET inhibitor restored sunitinib response. Therefore, lncARSR may serve as a predictor and a potential therapeutic target for sunitinib resistance.