The effect of Jiaweidaochi powder on Th1/Th2 in rats with recurrent aphthous ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of Jiaweidaochi powder on the Th1/Th2 ratio in rats with recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU). DESIGN: 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this study, randomly divided into a control group, a model group, and three treatment groups (0.5 g/ ml, 1 g/ml, 2 g/ml Jiaweidaochi powder). The RAU model of rats was established by autoantigen injection. The effects of Jiaweidaochi powder on the expression of INFG, IL-4, TBX21, and GATA3 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR. The expression of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IFN-γ/IL-4 proteins in oral ulcer tissue and serum of rats were analyzed by Western blot and ELISA, respectively. The proportion of Th1 cells and Th2 cells in RAU rats was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Jiaweidaochi powder reduced the number, diameter, and duration of oral ulcers in RAU rats. Real-time PCR showed that middle and high-dose Jiaweidaochi powder decreased the expression of INFG TBX21 mRNA and increased the expression of IL-4 and GATA3 mRNA in the oral tissue of RAU rats. ELISA and western blot confirmed that the expression of IFN-γ protein was significantly decreased, and the level of IL-4 protein was increased both in oral tissue and serum of RAU rats treated with middle or high doses of Jiaweidaochi powder. Flow cytometry found that the Jiaweidaochi powder decreased the proportion of Th1 cells and increased the proportion of Th2 cells in RAU rats. CONCLUSION: This study found that Jiaweidaochi powder promoted the balance of Th1/Th2 in RAU rats, contributing to the healing of RAU.

Fibroblast activating protein promotes the proliferation, migration, and activation of fibroblasts in oral submucous fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: Fibroblast activating protein (FAP) is associated with various organ fibrosis. However, the expression and molecular function of FAP in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The high-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect the presence of alkaloids in areca nut extract (ANE). Real-time qPCR, Western blot, and Immunohistochemistry assay were used to analyze the expression of FAP mRNA or protein in OSF and normal oral tissue. A chi-squared test analyzed the relationship between FAP protein expression and clinicopathological data of OSF patients. CCK-8, Wound-healing, and Transwell migration assay were employed to assess the effect of the proliferation and migration ability of hOMF cells with FAP overexpression or knockdown. The expression level of a-SMA, FSP1, and P13K-Akt signaling pathways-related protein in hOMF cells transfected with FAP overexpression or knockdown plasmid was verified by western blot assay. RESULTS: The four specific areca alkaloids (Arecoline, Guvacine, Arecaidine, and Guvacoline) were successfully detected in the ANE. The viability of hOMF cells was significantly improved in the 50 µg/mL ANE group and was inhibited in the 5 and 50 mg/mL ANE groups. The expression of FAP was upregulated in OSF tissues, and hOMF cells treated with 50 µg/mL ANE and was related to pathology grade, clinical stage, and history of chewing betel nut. Additionally, FAP may promote the proliferation, migration, and activation of hOMF cells through the P13K-Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that ANE had a bidirectional effect on the viability of hOMF cells, and the FAP gene was a potential therapeutic target in OSF.

ADAMTS12, a novel prognostic predictor, promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The prognostic significance and potential carcinogenic mechanism of ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 12 (ADAMTS12) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the correlation between ADAMTS12 protein expression and clinicopathological factors in tumor samples from 195 patients with HNSC. Based on clinicopathological data of patients, Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to identify the prognostic significance of the ADAMTS12 expression. The carcinogenicity of the ADAMTS12 in HNSC cells was analyzed by CCK-8 assay, the wound-healing assay, and transwell assays after transfection of ADAMTS12 overexpression or knock-down vector. RESULTS: The expression of ADAMTS12 was up-regulated in HNSC compared with normal tissue, related to pathology grade and lymph node metastasis of patients with HNSC, which was an independent prognostic factor. ADAMTS12 overexpression facilitated cell viability, invasion, and migration of HNSC cells, while ADAMTS12 knock-down had inverse results. Moreover, enrichment analysis, ADAMTS12 overexpression assay, and ADAMTS12 knock-down assay confirmed that ADAMTS12 mediated the activation of P13K/Akt pathway in HNSC. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies indicated that ADAMTS12 was a novel prognostic biomarker and potentially therapeutic target in HNSC.

Accuracy analysis of MRI in the depth of invasion assessment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#To analyze the accuracy of the infiltrating depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using pathological sections under a light microscope to provide a clinical reference.@*Methods @#Seventy-three patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma who visited the Department of Stomatology of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital from January 2018 to September 2020 were selected. Preoperative MRI was performed to evaluate the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and intraoperative frozen pathological sections were used to confirm the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measurement. @*Results @#The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by T1-weighted imaging was 1.11 mm (95% CI=0.51-1.70; t=3.72; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient r was 0.95. The T2-weighted average overestimation was 2.17 mm (95% CI=1.32-3.02; t=5.10; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient was 0.92. The Bland-Altman plot showed good consistency between T1- and T2-weighted images and pathologic measurements.@*Conclusion @#The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by MRI is more accurate, with an average overestimation of 1-2 mm compared with pathological measurements, and T1-weighted images are better than T2-weighted images.