Inflammatory endotypes of adenoidal hypertrophy based on a cluster analysis of biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: To identify adenoid inflammatory endotypes based on inflammatory markers, match endotypes to phenotypes, and predict endotypes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 72 children with adenoid hypertrophy. Thirteen inflammatory markers and total immunoglobulin E (TIgE) in adenoid tissue were analyzed using Luminex and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for performing cluster analysis. Correlation analysis was used to examine the characteristics of each cluster. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to screen for preoperative characteristic data with predictive value for adenoid inflammation endotype. RESULTS: The patients were divided into four clusters. Cluster 1 exhibited non-type 2 signatures with low inflammatory marker concentrations, except for the highest expression of Th1-related cytokines. Cluster 2 showed a non-type 2 endotype with the highest concentration of interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-22. Cluster 3 exhibited moderate type 2 inflammation, with the highest concentration of neutrophil factors. Cluster 4 demonstrated significant type 2 inflammation and moderate neutrophil levels. The proportions of AR and serum TIgE levels increased from clusters 1 to 4, and there was a gradual increase in the prevalence of chronic sinusitis from low to high neutrophilic inflammation. The area under the ROC curve for serum TIgE was higher than those for combined or other separate preoperative characteristics for predicting non-type 2 and type 2 inflammation in the adenoid tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of cytokines in adenoid tissue revealed four endotypes. Serum TIgE level was an important indicator of the endotype of adenoid inflammation. Identification of adenoid inflammatory endotypes can facilitate targeted treatment decisions.

CENPN suppresses autophagy and increases paclitaxel resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by inhibiting the CREB-VAMP8 signaling axis.

Chemotherapeutic resistance is one of the most common reasons for poor prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We found that CENPN can promote the growth, proliferation and apoptosis resistance of NPC cells, but its relationship with chemotherapeutic resistance in NPC is unclear. Here we verified that the CENPN expression level in NPC patients was positively correlated with the degree of paclitaxel (PTX) resistance and a poor prognosis through analysis of clinical cases. VAMP8 expression was significantly increased after knockdown of CENPN by transcriptome sequencing. We found in cell experiments that CENPN inhibited macroautophagy/autophagy and VAMP8 expression and significantly increased PTX resistance. Overexpression of CENPN reduced the inhibitory effects of PTX on survival, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis resistance in NPC cells by inhibiting autophagy. In turn, knockdown of CENPN can affect the phenotype of NPC cells by increasing autophagy to achieve PTX sensitization. Sequential knockdown of CENPN and VAMP8 reversed the PTX-sensitizing effect of CENPN knockdown alone. Experiments in nude mice confirmed that knockdown of CENPN can increase VAMP8 expression, enhance autophagy and increase the sensitivity of NPC cells to PTX. Mechanistic studies showed that CENPN inhibited the translocation of p-CREB into the nucleus of NPC cells, resulting in the decreased binding of p-CREB to the VAMP8 promoter, thereby inhibiting the transcription of VAMP8. These results demonstrate that CENPN may be a marker for predicting chemotherapeutic efficacy and a potential target for inducing chemosensitization to agents such as PTX.Abbreviations: 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ATG5: autophagy related 5; CENPN: centromere protein N; CQ: chloroquine; CREB: cAMP responsive element binding protein; ChIP: chromatin immunoprecipitation assay; IC50: half-maximal inhibitory concentration; LAMP2A: lysosomal associated membrane protein 2A; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; NPC: nasopharyngeal carcinoma; NPG: nasopharyngitis; oeCENPN: overexpressed CENPN; PTX: paclitaxel; RAPA: rapamycin; RNA-seq: transcriptome sequencing; shCENPN: small hairpin RNA expression vector targeting the human CENPN gene; shCENPN-shVAMP8: sequential knockdown targeting the human CENPN gene and VAMP8 gene; shVAMP8: small hairpin RNA expression vector targeting the human VAMP8 gene; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TIR: tumor inhibitory rate; VAMP8: vesicle associated membrane protein 8.

LncRNA FAM225A activates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway by combining FUS to promote CENP-N expression and regulates the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in NPC development. Nevertheless, the role of lncRNA FAM225A in NPC remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the effect of FAM225A on NPC cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). METHODS: Levels of FAM225A and CENP-N in NPC tissues and cells were measured using RT-qPCR. Western blot assessed CENP-N, Snail, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, cGAS and p-STING levels. FAM225A expression was knocked down by sh-FAM225A or overexpressed by pcDNA-FAM225A. RIP and RNA pull-down verified the binding between FAM225A, CENP-N and FUS. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated by CCK8, colony formation and transwell assays. RESULTS: FAM225A and CENP-N expression levels were evaluated in NPC tissues and cell lines. FAM225A knockdown inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration and EMT. FAM225A stabilized CENP-N mRNA by recruiting FUS. FAM225A activated cGAS-STING by regulating the expression of CENP-N to promote NPC cell proliferation, migration and EMT. CONCLUSION: FAM225A regulates NPC progression via FUS/CENP-N mediated cGAS-STING signaling pathway, which provides new therapeutic targets for developing new NPC treatments.

Integrated Analysis of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA Network in Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive cardiac response that accommodates the variable hemodynamic demands of the human body during extended periods of preload or afterload increase. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have pointed to a potential connection between myocardial hypertrophy and abnormal expression of non-coding RNAs. Circular RNA (circRNA), as one of the non-coding RNAs, plays an essential role in cardiac hypertrophy. However, few studies have systematically analyzed circRNA-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks associated with cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we used public databases from online prediction websites to predict and screen differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs and ultimately obtained circRNAs related to cardiac hypertrophy. Based on this result, we went on to establish a circRNAs-related ceRNA regulatory network. This study is the first to establish a circRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory network associated with myocardial hypertrophy. To verify the results of our analysis, we used PCR to verify the differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in animal myocardial hypertrophy model samples. Our findings suggest that three mRNAs (Col12a1, Thbs1, and Tgfbr3), four miRNAs (miR-20a-5p, miR-27b-3p, miR-342-3p, and miR-378a-3p), and four related circRNAs (circ_0002702, circ_0110609, circ_0013751, and circ_0047959) may play a key role in cardiac hypertrophy.

MiR-214 Mediates Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Through Targeting Both WWOX and PTEN.

Background: This study aimed to investigate interactions between miR-214, PTEN, and WWOX and their effect on AKT signaling during the NPC progression. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was highly prevalent with poor prognosis among the patients. MiR-214 reported as an important NPC biomarker was associated with regulation of biological functions. Methods: 5-8F and 6-10B NPC cells were transfected with miR-214 inhibitor. MTT and colony formation assays were performed to assess cell proliferation. PI staining assay was performed to determine distribution of cell cycle. Annexin-V/PI staining assay was used to evaluate cell apoptosis in NPC. The effects of miR-214 inhibitor on the expression levels of PTEN, WWOX, AKT signaling pathway, cell-cycle-, and apoptosis-associated proteins were assessed by Western blotting or qRT-PCR assay. PTEN and WWOX were knocked down using the corresponding shRNA to investigate their effects on miR-214 inhibitor involved in proapoptosis and antiproliferation mechanisms in NPC. Results: Inhibition of miR-214 suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis of 5-8F and 6-10B cells. MiR-214 regulated the expression of both PTEN and WWOX through targeting the 3'-UTR. Inhibition of miR-214 promoted WWOX and PTEN expression, inactivated AKT signaling pathway, and regulated cell-cycle- and apoptosis-associated proteins. Knockdown of PTEN or WWOX reversed effects of miR-214 inhibitor on AKT signaling, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Conclusion: MiR-214 was suggested to induce cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis of NPC through directly targeting both PTEN and WWOX, which provided a novel therapeutic target for clinical treatment of NPC.

Placenta specific 8 gene induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via the TGF-ß/Smad pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of PLAC8 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The expression of PLAC8 in NPC and nasopharyngitis (NPG) tissues from 150 patients was determined using immunohistochemistry. The levels of PLAC8 in five NPC cell lines and nasopharyngeal permanent epithelial cell line were measured using western blotting. We then knocked out or overexpressed PLAC8 in CNE2 cells. Cell proliferation, wound healing, migration, and invasion assays were used to analyze the effects of PLAC8 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion in vivo and vitro. The results showed that the expression of PLAC8 was much higher in NPC tissues than in NPG tissues. The expression of PLAC8 was higher in all the cell lines than in the nasopharyngeal permanent epithelial cells. PLAC8 knockout resulted in significant decreases in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; associated with lower protein levels of N-cadherin; and increased levels of E-cadherin. Overexpression of PLAC8 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, knockout of PLAC8 inactivated TGF-ß/SMAD signaling pathway and suppressed the growth of NPC xenografts. PLAC8 may promote the carcinogenesis and EMT of NPC via the TGF-ß/Smad pathway, which suggests that PLAC8 may be a potential biomarker for NPC.

Increased levels of systolic blood pressure within the normal range are associated with significantly elevated risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

A positive association between hypertension or high-normal blood pressure (BP) and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well-known; however, no data have been generated exploring the risk of NAFLD within the normal range of BP. We aimed to assess the association between normal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and risk of NAFLD.A total of 27,769 subjects from 2 separate medical centers were included. Subjects were divided into 4 groups (G1 to G4) by SBP levels: G1: 90-99 mmHg, G2: 100-109 mmHg, G3: 110-119 mmHg, and G4: 120-129 mmHg. The prevalence, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD were calculated across each group, using the G1 as reference.Higher SBP was observed in subjects with NAFLD than those without NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD in a cross-sectional population from G1 to G4 was 6.1%, 13.6%, 19.6%, and 25.8%, respectively. The HRs for NAFLD in the longitudinal population were 2.17 (95% CI 1.60-2.93), 3.87 (95% CI 2.89-5.16), 5.81 (95% CI 4.32-7.81) for G2, G3, and G4, respectively. After adjusting for known confounding variables, HRs of G2 to G4 were 1.44 (95% CI 1.06-1.96), 1.94 (95% CI 1.44-2.61), 2.38 (95% CI 1.75-3.23), respectively.This is the first study to demonstrate that increased levels of SBP within the normal range are associated with significantly elevated risks of NAFLD, independent of other confounding factors.

The efficacy of traditional Chinese Medicine as an adjunctive therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an adjunctive therapy to radiotherapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy (CT) for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with TCM to treat NPC were extensively searched in eight databases. Two researchers independently assessed the quality and validity of the included trials and extracted outcome data. Thirteen RCTs were included for analysis. RESULTS: Compared to using RT and/or CT, TCM combined with conventional cancer therapy had significantly improved Karnofsky performance status (KPS) [odds ratio (OR) 4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.06-7.56]. TCM as an adjunctive therapy significantly reduced the serious adverse effects of RT to the oral mucosa and skin so that grade I+II prevailed [OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.31-3.66; OR 8.63, 95% CI 3.28-22.70, respectively]. The combined therapy significantly enhanced immunoregulation, improving the levels of CD3, CD4 T cells (OR 10.08, 95% CI 1.38-18.78; OR 7.08, 95% CI 2.41-11.74, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggests that TCM as a therapy adjunctive to RT and/or CT vs only RT and/ or CT has significant efficacy in terms of improvement of quality of life (QoL), alleviation of acute adverse effects, and enhancement of immunoregulation.

γ-secretase inhibition combined with cisplatin enhances apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

The Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Although recent studies have shown that Notch plays a role in the mechanisms of cisplatin resistance, the mechanism by which Notch plays roles in intrinsic or acquired cisplatin resistance remains unclear. In the present study, poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells were treated with a γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT), which led to a decrease in the Notch intracellular domain and inhibition of Notch signaling. Treatment was not sufficient to induce pronounced apoptosis of CNE-2 cells, but did result in the down-regulation of the P-glycoprotein and ERCC1 protein. In contrast, the combined treatment of DAPT and cisplatin induced substantial cell apoptosis compared to cisplatin treatment alone.

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of tris-shRNAs induced apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell in vitro and in vivo.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionary conserved mechanism for specific gene silencing. There are currently numerous cancer therapy clinical trials based on RNAi technology. Using an adenoviral system as a delivery mediator of RNAi, we investigated the therapeutic effects of targeting three genes simultaneously in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we constructed an recombinant adenoviral shRNA expression system as Adv-pEGFP-shVEGF-shTERT-shBcl-xl for multi-genes silencing. Our results showed that the adenoviral vector can achieve above 90% of transfection efficiency and induced obvious apoptosis in CNE-2 cell both in vitro and in vivo compared with targeting the TERT alone or controlled group.