Identification and diagnostic potential of hsa_circ_101303 in colorectal cancer: unraveling a regulatory network.

BACKGROUND: The role of novel circular RNAs (circRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains to be determined. This study aimed to identify a novel circRNA involved in CRC pathogenesis, assess its diagnostic value, and construct a regulatory network. METHODS: Differential expression analysis was conducted using circRNA datasets to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs. The expression of selected circRNAs was validated in external datasets and clinical samples. Diagnostic value of plasma circRNA levels in CRC was assessed. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed for the circRNA using TCGA dataset. RESULTS: Analysis of datasets revealed that hsa_circ_101303 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues compared to normal tissues. The upregulation of hsa_circ_101303 in CRC tissues was further confirmed through the GSE138589 dataset and clinical samples. High expression of hsa_circ_101303 was associated with advanced N stage, M stage, and tumor stage in CRC. Plasma levels of hsa_circ_101303 were markedly elevated in CRC patients and exhibited moderate diagnostic ability for CRC (AUC = 0.738). The host gene of hsa_circ_101303 was also found to be related to the TNM stage of CRC. Nine miRNAs were identified as target miRNAs for hsa_circ_101303, and 27 genes were identified as targets of these miRNAs. Subsequently, a ceRNA network for hsa_circ_101303 was constructed to illustrate the interactions between the nine miRNAs and 27 genes. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies hsa_circ_101303 as a highly expressed circRNA in CRC, which is associated with the progression of the disease. Plasma levels of hsa_circ_101303 show promising diagnostic potential for CRC. The ceRNA network for hsa_circ_101303 provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying CRC.

lncRNA SNHG4 inhibits ferroptosis by orchestrating miR-150-5p/c-Myb axis in colorectal cancer.

LncRNAs have shown to regulate ferroptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC), but the mechanism remains largely unknown. This study unveiled the mechanism of SNHG4 underlying ferroptosis in CRC. RNA-seq and RT-PCR assay confirmed SNHG4 was decreased after Erastin treatment in CRC cells. Overexpression of SNHG4 inhibited and silence promoted CRC cells ferroptosis. SNHG4 was positively correlated to c-Myb in CRC tissues and both located in cytoplasm of CRC cells. RIP and RNA pull-down assays verified the interaction between SNHG4 and c-Myb. Silence of c-Myb alleviated the suppressing effect on ferroptosis by SNHG4 in CRC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that SNHG4 sponging miR-150-5p in CRC cells. Overexpression of SNHG4 decreased the miR-150-5p and increased c-Myb expression. c-Myb was a direct target gene of miR-150-5p in CRC cells. Moreover, effect of CDO1 on ferroptosis was regulated transcriptionally by c-Myb, overexpression of c-Myb reduce CDO1 expression and enhance the GPX4 levels. The animal models confirmed that regulatory effect of SNHG4 on miR-150-5p and c-Myb after inducing ferroptosis. We concluded that SNHG4 inhibited Erastin-induce ferroptosis in CRC, this effect is via sponging miR-150-5p to regulate c-Myb expression, and activated CDO1/GPX4 axis. These findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanism of SNHG4 on ferroptosis.

Targeting SLC22A5 fosters mitophagy inhibition-mediated macrophage immunity against septic acute kidney injury upon CD47-SIRPα axis blockade.

Efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils (PMNs) by macrophages is helpful for inflammation resolution and injury repair, but the role of efferocytosis in intrinsic nature of macrophages during septic acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unknown. Here we report that CD47 and signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα)-the anti-efferocytotic 'don't eat me' signals-are highly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with septic AKI and kidney samples from mice with polymicrobial sepsis and endotoxin shock. Conditional knockout (CKO) of SIRPA in macrophages ameliorates AKI and systemic inflammation response in septic mice, accompanied by an escalation in mitophagy inhibition of macrophages. Ablation of SIRPA transcriptionally downregulates solute carrier family 22 member 5 (SLC22A5) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages that efferocytose apoptotic neutrophils (PMNs). Targeting SLC22A5 renders mitophagy inhibition of macrophages in response to LPS stimuli, improves survival and deters development of septic AKI. Our study supports further clinical investigation of CD47-SIRPα signalling in sepsis and proposes that SLC22A5 might be a promising immunotherapeutic target for septic AKI.

Pellino1 orchestrates gut-kidney axis to perpetuate septic acute kidney injury through activation of STING pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome.

AIMS: Intestinal barrier dysfunction is the initial and propagable factor of sepsis in which acute kidney injury (AKI) has been considered as a common life-threatening complication. Our recent study identifies the regulatory role of Pellino1 in tubular death under inflammatory conditions in vitro. The objective of our current study is to explore the impact of Pellino1 on gut-kidney axis during septic AKI and uncover the molecular mechanism (s) underlying this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to evaluate Pellino1 and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels in renal biopsies from critically ill patients with a clinical diagnosis of sepsis. Functional and mechanistic studies were characterized in septic models of the Peli-knockout (Peli1-/-) mice by histopathological staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, biochemical detection, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and intestinal organoid. KEY FINDINGS: Pellino1, together with NLRP3, are highly expressed in renal biopsies from critically ill patients diagnosed with sepsis and kidney tissues of septic mice. The Peli1-/- mice with sepsis become less prone to develop AKI and have markedly compromised NLRP3 activation in kidney. Loss of Peli1 endows septic mice refractory to intestinal inflammation, barrier permeability and enterocyte apoptosis that requires stimulator of interferons genes (STING) pathway. Administration of STING agonist DMXAA deteriorates AKI and mortality of septic Peli1-/- mice in the presence of kidney-specific NLRP3 reconstitution. SIGNIFICANCE: Our studies suggest that Pellino1 has a principal role in orchestrating gut homeostasis towards renal pathophysiology, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for septic AKI.

SNHG4-mediated PTEN destabilization confers oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Oxaliplatin resistance poses a significant challenge in colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy, necessitating further investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms. This study aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of SNHG4 in oxaliplatin resistance and ferroptosis in CRC. Our findings revealed that treatment with oxaliplatin led to downregulation of SNHG4 expression in CRC cells, while resistant CRC cells exhibited higher levels of SNHG4 compared to parental cells. Silencing SNHG4 attenuated oxaliplatin resistance and reduced the expression of resistance-related proteins MRD1 and MPR1. Furthermore, induction of ferroptosis effectively diminished oxaliplatin resistance in both parental and resistant CRC cells. Notably, ferroptosis induction resulted in decreased SNHG4 expression, whereas SNHG4 overexpression suppressed ferroptosis. Through FISH, RIP, and RNA pull-down assays, we identified the cytoplasmic localization of both SNHG4 and PTEN, establishing that SNHG4 directly targets PTEN, thereby reducing mRNA stability in CRC cells. Silencing PTEN abrogated the impact of SNHG4 on oxaliplatin resistance and ferroptosis in CRC cells. In vivo experiments further validated the influence of SNHG4 on oxaliplatin resistance and ferroptosis in CRC cells through PTEN regulation. In conclusion, SNHG4 promotes resistance to oxaliplatin in CRC cells by suppressing ferroptosis through instability of PTEN, thus serves as a target for patients with oxaliplatin-base chemoresistance.

Effects of driving pressure-guided ventilation on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with COVID-19 undergoing abdominal surgery: A post-hoc propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Application of individualized positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) based on minimum driving pressure facilitates to prevent from postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Whether lung protective ventilation strategy can reduce the risk of PPCs in COVID-19 patients remains unclear. In this study, we compared the effects of driving pressure-guided ventilation with conventional mechanical ventilation on PPCs in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Patients infected COVID-19 within 30-day before surgery were retrospectively enrolled consecutively. Patients were divided into two group: driving pressure-guided lung protective ventilation strategy group (LPVS group) and conventional mechanical ventilation group (Control group). Propensity score matching for variables selected was used by logistic regression with the nearest-neighbor method. The outcomes were the incidence of PPCs and hypoxemia in post-anesthesia care unit. Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline data between both groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of PPCs (12.73 % vs 36.36 %, χ2 = 7.068, P = 0.008) and hypoxemia [18.18 % vs 38.18 %, χ2 = 4.492, P = 0.034], and lung ultrasound scores [4.68 ± 1.60 vs 8.39 ± 1.87, t = 8.383, P < 0.001] in LPVS group were lower than control group. The PEEP, airway pressure and plateau pressure in LPVS group were higher than control group, but driving pressure and tidal volume was lower than control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Individualized PEEP ventilation strategy guided by minimum driving pressure could improve oxygenation and reduce the incidence of PPCs in surgical patients with COVID-19.

Evaluation of transrectal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy as a complementary method for predicting pathological complete response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant treatment: a phase II prospective and diagnostic trial.

IMPORTANCE: Patients with pCR of rectal cancer following neoadjuvant treatment had better oncological outcomes. However, reliable methods for accurately predicting pCR remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether transrectal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy (TRUS-TCB) adds diagnostic value to conventional modalities for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study evaluated data of patients with rectal cancer who were treated with neoadjuvant treatment and reassessed using TRUS-TCB and conventional modalities before surgery. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was accuracy, along with secondary outcomes including sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value in predicting tumor residues. Final surgical pathology was used as reference standard. RESULTS: Between June 2021 and June 2022, a total of 74 patients were enrolled, with 63 patients ultimately evaluated. Among them, 17 patients (28%) exhibited a complete pathological response. TRUS-TCB demonstrated an accuracy of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58-0.82) in predicting tumor residues. The combined use of TRUS-TCB and conventional modalities significantly improved diagnostic accuracy compared to conventional modalities alone (0.75 vs. 0.59, P=0.02). Furthermore, TRUS-TCB correctly reclassified 52% of patients erroneously classified as having a complete clinical response by conventional methods. The occurrence of only one mild adverse event was observed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Transrectal ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy (TRUS-TCB) proves to be a safe and accessible tool for reevaluation with minimal complications. The incorporation of TRUS-TCB alongside conventional methods leads to enhanced diagnostic performance.

Corrigendum: Effects of Xiao Chengqi formula on slow transit constipation by assessing gut microbiota and metabolomics analysis in vitro and in vivo.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.864598.].

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1 is a tubular mitophagy-dependent apoptosis inhibitor against septic acute kidney injury.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1) is an alcohol-oxidizing enzyme with poorlydefined biology. Here we report that ADH1 is highly expressed in kidneys of mice with lethal endotoxemia and is transcriptionally upregulated in tubular cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimuli through TLR4/NF-κB cascade. The Adh1 knockout (Adh1KO) mice with lethal endotoxemia displayed increased susceptibility to acute kidney injury (AKI) but not systemic inflammatory response. Adh1KO mice develop more severe tubular cell apoptosis in comparison to Adh1 wild-type (Adh1WT) mice during course of lethal endotoxemia. ADH1 deficiency facilitates the LPS-induced tubular cell apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Mechanistically, ADH1 deficiency dampens tubular mitophagy that relies on PINK1-Parkin pathway characterized by the reduced membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release of fragmented mtDNA to cytosol. Kidney-specific overexpression of PINK1 and Parkin by adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9) delivery ameliorates AKI exacerbation in Adh1KO mice with lethal endotoxemia. Our study supports the notion that ADH1 is critical for blockade of tubular apoptosis mediated by mitophagy, allowing the rapid identification and targeting of alcohol-metabolic route applicable to septic AKI.

Unveiling mitophagy-mediated molecular heterogeneity and development of a risk signature model for colorectal cancer by integrated scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq analysis.

Background: Accumulating researchers have recognized mitophagy as a key player in tumors, but few studies have investigated its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Advances in the technology of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have allowed unveiling the concealed features of the TME at cellular resolution. This study aimed to elucidate the role of mitophagy within the TME of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to establish a mitophagy-mediated risk model. Methods: We assessed mitophagy-related pathway activities at both single-cell and tissue levels. Subsequently, an unsupervised clustering algorithm was employed to identify mitophagy-mediated subtypes. Furthermore, we developed a mitophagy-mediated risk signature (MMRS) using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analysis and constructed a MMRS model incorporating the risk score and clinical variables. Subsequently, we used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis to verify the expression of the screened genes. Results: We retrieved and annotated a total of 14,719 cells from eight samples in the scRNA-seq GSE132465 data set. The activities of mitophagy-related pathways were uniformly upregulated in cancer cells. Integrating with bulk RNA-seq data, we identified two mitophagy-mediated clusters (C1 and C2) with distinct characteristics and prognoses. C2 was identified as a mitophagy-high cluster. Then, we developed a five-gene MMRS via LASSO Cox analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. We utilized the GSE39582 cohort to validate the efficacy of our model. The expression of CX3CL1 and INHBB was upregulated in CRC tissues. Conclusions: The present study identified two mitophagy-mediated CRC subtypes with distinct features. Our MMRS may provide potential therapeutic strategies for CRC. The findings of our work offer novel insights into the involvement of mitophagy in CRC.

Unraveling dynamic interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and consensus molecular subtypes in colorectal cancer: An integrative analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA transcriptome.

Background: Accumulating research substantiated that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a significant impact on the tumorigenesis, progression, and distant metastasis, representing a novel target for various cancers. However, the underlying dynamic changes and interactions between TAMs and tumor cells remain largely elusive in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: We depicted the dynamic changes of macrophages using sing-cell RNA-seq data and extracted TAM differentiation-related genes. Next, we utilized the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to acquire CMS-related modular genes using bulk RNA-seq data. Finally, we utilized univariate Cox and Lasso Cox regression analyses to identify TAM differentiation-related biomarkers and established a novel risk signature model. We employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on CRC tissue samples and used immunohistochemistry (IHC) data frome the HPA database to validate the mRNA and protein expression of prognostic genes. The interaction of TAMs and each consensus molecular subtype (CMS) subpopulation was analyzed at the cellular level. Results: A total of 47,285 cells from single-cell dataset and 1197 CRC patients from bulk dataset were obtained. Among those, 6400 myeloid cells were re-clustered and annotated. RNASE1, F13A1, DAPK1, CLEC10A, RPN2, REG4 and RGS19 were identified as prognostic genes and the risk signature model was established based on the above genes. The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of RNASE1 and DAPK1 were significantly up-regulated in CRC tumor tissues. The cell-cell communication analysis demonstrated complex interactions between TAMs and CMS malignant cell subpopulations. Conclusion: This study presents an in-depth dissection of the dynamic features of TAMs in the tumor microenvironment and provides promising therapeutic targets for CRC.

Tumor microenvironment characterization in colorectal cancer to identify prognostic and immunotherapy genes signature.

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, progression, and therapeutic response in many cancers. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the role of TME in colorectal cancer (CRC) by generating a TMEscore based on gene expression. METHODS: The TME patterns of CRC datasets were investigated, and the TMEscores were calculated. An unsupervised clustering method was used to divide samples into clusters. The associations between TMEscores and clinical features, prognosis, immune score, gene mutations, and immune checkpoint inhibitors were analyzed. A TME signature was constructed using the TMEscore-related genes. The results were validated using external and clinical cohorts. RESULTS: The TME pattern landscape was for CRC was examined using 960 samples, and then the TMEscore pattern of CRC datasets was evaluated. Two TMEscore clusters were identified, and the high TMEscore cluster was associated with early-stage CRC and better prognosis in patients with CRC when compared with the low TMEscore clusters. The high TMEscore cluster indicated elevated tumor cell scores and tumor gene mutation burden, and decreased tumor purity, when compared with the low TMEscore cluster. Patients with high TMEscore were more likely to respond to immune checkpoint therapy than those with low TMEscore. A TME signature was constructed using the TMEscore-related genes superimposing the results of two machine learning methods (LASSO and XGBoost algorithms), and a TMEscore-related four-gene signature was established, which had a high predictive value for discriminating patients from different TMEscore clusters. The prognostic value of the TMEscore was validated in two independent cohorts, and the expression of TME signature genes was verified in four external cohorts and clinical samples. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a comprehensive description of TME characteristics in CRC and demonstrates that the TMEscore is a reliable prognostic biomarker and predictive indicator for patients with CRC undergoing immunotherapy.

Systematic analyzing a five- miRNA panel and its diagnostic value of plasma expression in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant expression of miRNAs have been implicated in cancers, but the role of miRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains need to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify miRNAs that related to colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis and determine the diagnostic value. METHODS: Three GEO datasets (GSE128449, GSE35602 and GSE49246) with 131 samples were used to screen miRNAs that differential expression between tumor and control tissues. The expression of the identified miRNAs was validated in 50 clinical tissue samples and the GSE35834 dataset. The clinical significance of these miRNAs was analyzed in the TCGA dataset and clinical tissue samples. The expression of miRNAs in tissues and plasma samples were tested by RT-PCR assay in clinical samples, and their diagnostic value was determined. RESULTS: The analysis of three GEO datasets revealed that miR-595 and miR-1237 were upregulated, while miR-126, miR-139, and miR-143 were downregulated in CRC tissues compared to control tissues. The differential expression of the five miRNAs in CRC tissues was confirmed using clinical tissue samples and GEO databases. There was no significant correlation between the TNM stage and tumor stage of CRC and any of the five miRNAs. Plasma expression of the miRNAs differed significantly between CRC and non-cancer patients, and each miRNA had moderate diagnostic value for CRC. Combining the five miRNAs provided better diagnostic potential for CRC than a single miRNA. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that five miRNAs were related to the pathogenesis of CRC, but independent of the stage of CRC; Plasma expression of these miRNAs have moderate diagnostic value, and combination of these miRNAs showed better diagnostic ability in CRC.

Oxaliplatin related lncRNAs prognostic models predict the prognosis of patients given oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in chemotherapy sensitivity. This study aimed to identify lncRNAs related to oxaliplatin sensitivity and predict the prognosis of CRC patients underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Data from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) was used to screen for lncRNAs related to oxaliplatin sensitivity. Four machine learning algorithms (LASSO, Decision tree, Random-forest, and support vector machine) were applied to identify the key lncRNAs. A predictive model for oxaliplatin sensitivity and a prognostic model based on key lncRNAs were established. The published datasets, and cell experiments were used to verify the predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 805 tumor cell lines from GDSC were divided into oxaliplatin sensitive (top 1/3) and resistant (bottom 1/3) groups based on their IC50 values, and 113 lncRNAs, which were differentially expressed between the two groups, were selected and incorporated into four machine learning algorithms, and seven key lncRNAs were identified. The predictive model exhibited good predictions for oxaliplatin sensitivity. The prognostic model exhibited high performance in patients with CRC who underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapies. Four lncRNAs, including C20orf197, UCA1, MIR17HG, and MIR22HG, displayed consistent responses to oxaliplatin treatment in the validation analysis. CONCLUSION: Certain lncRNAs were associated with oxaliplatin sensitivity and predicted the response to oxaliplatin treatment. The prognostic models established based on the key lncRNAs could predict the prognosis of patients given oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Auto- and paracrine rewiring of NIX-mediated mitophagy by insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 in septic AKI escalates inflammation-coupling tubular damage.

AIMS: Inflammation-coupling tubular damage (ICTD) contributes to pathogenesis of septic acute kidney injury (AKI), in which insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) serves as a biomarker for risk stratification. The current study aims to discern how IGFBP-7 signalling influences ICTD, the mechanisms that underlie this process and whether blockade of the IGFBP-7-dependent ICTD might have therapeutic value for septic AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo characterization was carried out in B6/JGpt-Igfbp7em1Cd1165/Gpt mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, ELISA, RT-qPCR and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to determine mitochondrial functions, cell apoptosis, cytokine secretion and gene transcription. KEY FINDINGS: ICTD augments the transcriptional activity and protein secretion of tubular IGFBP-7, which enables an auto- and paracrine signalling via deactivation of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R). Genetic knockout (KO) of IGFBP-7 provides renal protection, improves survival and resolves inflammation in murine models of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), while administering recombinant IGFBP-7 aggravates ICTD and inflammatory invasion. IGFBP-7 perpetuates ICTD in a NIX/BNIP3-indispensable fashion through dampening mitophagy that restricts redox robustness and preserves mitochondrial clearance programs. Adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9)-NIX short hairpin RNA (shRNA) delivery ameliorates the anti-septic AKI phenotypes of IGFBP-7 KO. Activation of BNIP3-mediated mitophagy by mitochonic acid-5 (MA-5) effectively attenuates the IGFBP-7-dependent ICTD and septic AKI in CLP mice. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings identify IGFBP-7 is an auto- and paracrine manipulator of NIX-mediated mitophagy for ICTD escalation and propose that targeting the IGFBP-7-dependent ICTD represents a novel therapeutic strategy against septic AKI.

SPINK4 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and inhibits ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the role of serine peptidase inhibitor Kazal type 4 (SPINK4) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and ferroptosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of SPINK4 on CRC pathogenesis and ferroptosis. METHODS: SPINK4 expression was analyzed in public datasets and examined using immunohistochemistry. The biological function of SPINK4 in CRC cell lines and its effect on ferroptosis were tested. An immunofluorescence assay was performed to determine the location of SPINK4 in cells, and mouse models were established to determine the effects of SPINK4 in vivo. RESULTS: CRC datasets and clinical samples analysis revealed that SPINK4 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in CRC tissues compared to control tissues (P < 0.05). Two CRC cell lines (HCT116 and LoVo) were selected, and the in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that overexpression of SPINK4 greatly promotes the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells and tumor growth (P < 0.05). The immunofluorescence assay indicated that SPINK4 is mainly located in the nucleoplasm and nucleus of CRC cells. Furthermore, SPINK4 expression was reduced after cell ferroptosis induced by Erastin, and overexpression of SPINK4 greatly inhibited ferroptosis in CRC cells. The results of mouse model further demonstrated that SPINK4 overexpression inhibited CRC cell ferroptosis and facilitated tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: SPINK4 was decreased in CRC tissues and promoted cell proliferation and metastasis; overexpression of SPINK4 inhibited CRC cell ferroptosis.

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells based TMEscore and related gene signature is associated with the survival of CRC patients and response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy.

Background: Tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) are associated with chemotherapy response. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of a TIIC-related tumor microenvironment score (TMEscore) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who underwent chemotherapy and construct a TMEscore-related gene signature to determine its predictive value. Methods: Gene profiles of patients who underwent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy were collected, and their TIIC fractions were calculated and clustered. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between clusters were used to calculate the TMEscore. The association between the TMEscore, chemotherapy response, and survival rate was analyzed. Machine learning methods were used to identify key TMEscore-related genes, and a gene signature was constructed to verify the predictive value. Results: Two clusters based on the TIIC fraction were identified, and the TMEscore was calculated based on the DEGs of the two clusters. The TMEscore was higher in patients who responded to chemotherapy than in those who did not, and was associated with the survival rate of patients who underwent chemotherapy. Three machine learning methods, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), identified three TMEscore-related genes (ADH1C, SLC26A2, and NANS) associated with the response to chemotherapy. A TMEscore-related gene signature was constructed, and three external cohorts validated that the gene signature could predict the response to chemotherapy. Five datasets and clinical samples showed that the expression of the three TMEscore-related genes was increased in tumor tissues compared to those in control tissues. Conclusions: The TIIC-based TMEscore was associated with the survival of CRC patients who underwent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, and predicted the response to chemotherapy. The TMEscore-related gene signature had a better predictive value for response to chemotherapy than for survival.

Factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with septic shock.

PURPOSE: To investigate risk factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) of patients with septic shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with septic shock concomitant with or without LVDD were retrospectively enrolled and divided into the LVDD group (n = 17) and control without LVDD (n = 85). The clinical and ultrasound data were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant (P < 0.05) difference existed between the two groups in serum creatinine, APACHE II score, serum glucose, triglyceride, BUN, FT4, LAVI, mitral E, average e', E/average e', septal e', septal e'/septal s', E/septal e', lateral s', lateral e', and E/lateral e'. LAVI > 37 mL/m2, septal e' < 7 cm/s (OR 11.04, 95% CI 3.38-36.05), septal e'/septal s' < 0.8 (OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.37-12.25), E/septal e' > 15 (OR 22.86, 95% CI 6.09-85.79), lateral e' < 8 cm/s (OR 9.16, 95% CI 2.70-31.07), E/lateral e' > 13 (OR 52, 95% CI 11.99- 225.55), lateral s' < 10 (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.13-9.99), average e' > 10, E/average e' > 10 (OR 9.53, 95% CI 2.49-36.46), APACHE II score > 16 (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.00-11.03), SOFA > 5 (or 3.43, 95% CI 1.11-10.60), BUN > 12 mmol/L (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.15-9.87), serum creatinine > 146 µmol/L (OR 5.08, 95% CI 1.69-15.23), serum glucose > 8 mmol/L (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.09-10.40), and triglyceride > 1.8 mmol/L were significant (P < 0.05) risk factors for LVDD. LAVI > 37 ml/m2, lateral e' < 8 cm/s, E/lateral e' > 13, and SOFA > 5 were significant (P < 0.05) independent risk factors for LVDD. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the cut-off value and AUC were 37.09 mL/m2 and 0.85 for LAVI, 8.00 cm/s and 0.89 for lateral e', 12.86 and 0.82 for E/lateral e', and 5.00 and 0.69 for SOFA, respectively. CONCLUSION: Left atrial volume index, mitral lateral e', E/lateral e', and SOFA score are significant independent risk factors for predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with septic shock.

Effects of Xiao Chengqi Formula on Slow Transit Constipation by Assessing Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics Analysis in vitro and in vivo.

The Xiao Chengqi (XCQ) formula is a newly constituted traditional Chinese medicine prescription in the treatment of intestinal motility deficiency and is effective in patients with slow transit constipation (STC). XCQ formula was reconstructed based on a "Chengqi" decoction. Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, and cooked ground Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were added to the prescription to enhance. An STC rat model was constructed and treated with the formula to understand the detailed mechanism by which XCQ promotes intestinal peristalsis. The effects of the XCQ formula on intestinal microflora and metabolic levels and the possible molecular mechanism of its regulation were explored using 16S rDNA sequencing, metabolomics sequencing, and tissue RNA sequencing. The results showed a significant decrease in the abundance of Roseburia spp. in the feces of STC rats, a significant decrease in the content of butyl aminobenzene (BAB) in feces, and an increase in the number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the colon of STC rats. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that BAB could activate IL-21R on the ICC surface, upregulate the phosphorylation of the downstream molecules STAT3 and ERK, and inhibit loperamide-induced ICC apoptosis. Therefore, the XCQ formula can improve the defecation status of patients with STC by protecting ICC activity, promoting the colonization of Roseburia spp. to promote peristalsis, and increasing the BAB content after metabolism.