Comprehensive in silico analysis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol- anchored protein (GPI-AP) related genes expression profiles in human normal and cancer tissues.

In human cells, there are more than 146 glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), including receptors, ligands, adhesion molecules and enzymes. The proteins are associated with membrane microdomains called lipid rafts through GPI, and plays a variety of important biological functions. At present, plenty of studies have been carried out on the biosynthesis of GPI-APs. The biosynthesis of GPI-APs requires at least 20 steps, and more than 40 GPI biosynthetic genes have been identified. However, it remains unclear how expression of GPI-AP related genes is regulated in normal and cancer tissues. In this study, we utilized gene expression data from both the TCGA database and GTEx portal to analysis the gene expression involved in GPI-AP biosynthesis and encoding GPI-APs in normal and cancer tissues. In order to perform a comprehensive analysis, we employed the GlycoMaple, a tool that is specifically designed to analyze glycosylation pathways. The results showed that compared with normal tissues, the expression of genes involved in GPI-AP biosynthesis in cancer tissues such as early glioma, glioblastoma multiforme, pancreatic cancer, testicular germ cell carcinoma, skin primary cutaneous melanoma and skin metastatic cutaneous melanoma, was changed significantly. Particularly, the expression of PIGY in these six cancers was increased. In addition, the expression of CD14, a GPI-AP gene, was increased in these six cancers. The expression of GAS1, GPC2 and GPC4 was increased only in early glioma and glioblastoma multiforme indicating that some GPI-APs such as GAS1 can be used as biomarkers of glioma. This study provides new insights into the expression of GPI-AP related genes in normal and cancer tissues, and lays a solid foundation for the development of GPI-APs as biomarkers.

Cranial and lumbosacral hypertrophic pachymeningitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammatory hypertrophy and fibrosis of dura mater. It can be divided into cranial and spinal forms depending on the location of the lesion. HP involving 2 separate sites simultaneously is quite uncommon. CASE SUMMARY: This study presents a case of a 49-year-old woman with pathologically confirmed cranial and lumbosacral hypertrophic pachymeningitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a rare etiology of HP. She experienced persistent numbness and pain of the left lower limb, followed by headache and seizures. In laboratory tests, levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were elevated, and antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-strand deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) antibodies were detected. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed dural thickening with homogenous gadolinium enhancement both at lumbosacral level and over cerebral convexities. Histology suggested chronic inflammation in spinal dura mater with extensive fibrosis, dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and focal vasculitis. Treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide was started with significant clinical and radiological improvement. CONCLUSION: HP is etiologically heterogeneous. Despite its rarity, SLE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of HP. Early recognition and therapy may provide an optimal outcome.