LMP2 and TAP2 impair tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and EMT in cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: The roles of low molecular mass polypeptide 2 (LMP2) and transporter-associated with antigen processing (TAP2) in tumorigenesis are controversial. Here we aimed to explore the effect of LMP2 and TAP2 on the oncogenesis and metastasis of cervical cancer cells. METHODS: The expressions of LMP2 and TAP2 in cervical cancer and normal tissues were determined by qPCR. Plate colony formation, cell counting kit-8 analysis and in vivo tumor xenograft assays were used to detect the tumor growth. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to detect the metastasis of cervical cancer. Gelatin zymography and western blotting assays were used to detect the effect of LMP2 and TAP2 on the EMT and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in cervical cancer cells. RESULTS: In the present study, we reported that LMP2 and TAP2 levels were overexpressed in cervical cancer. Overexpression of LMP2 and TAP2 impaired the proliferation of Hela cells. In vivo studies substantiated that LMP2 and TAP2 antagonized tumor growth. Likewise, LMP2 and TAP2 overexpression decreased the migration and invasion ability of Hela cells by regulating the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanically, LMP2 and TAP2 subverted the protein abundance of Wnt1 and ß-catenin, thereby downregulating their downstream targets Cyclin D1 and c-Myc. In addition, Wnt1 overexpression partially rescued the observed consequences of ectopic expression of LMP2 and TAP2 in cervical cancer cells. Taken together, our study revealed that LMP2 and TAP2 suppress the oncogenesis and metastasis of cervical cancer cells by Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and altering EMT. CONCLUSION: LMP2 and TAP2 may inhibit the oncogenesis and metastasis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the process of EMT and the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, which may provide important insight into prospective targets for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Role of exosome-mediated molecules SNORD91A and SLC40A1 in M2 macrophage polarization and prognosis of ESCC.

BACKGROUND: Exosome-mediated interaction serves as a significant regulatory factor for M2 macrophage polarization in cancer. METHODS: All accessible data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and analyzed using R software. Molecules implicated in exocrine secretion were amassed from the ExoCarta database. Our research initially quantified the immune microenvironment in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) patients based on the expression profile sourced from the TCGA database. Additionally, we delved into the biological role of M2 macrophages in ESCC via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). RESULTS: We observed that patients with high M2 macrophage infiltration typically have a poorer prognosis. Subsequently, a total of 1457 molecules were identified, with 103 of these molecules believed to function through exocrine mechanisms, as supported by data from the ExoCarta database. SNORD91A and SLC40A1 were ultimately pinpointed due to their correlation with patient prognosis. Moreover, we investigated their potential roles in ESCC, including biological enrichment, immune infiltration, and genomic instability analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified exosome-associated molecules, namely SNORD91A and SLC40A1, which notably impact ESCC prognosis and local M2 macrophage recruitment, thereby presenting potential therapeutic targets for ESCC.

Validity and reliability of a simplified food frequency questionnaire: a cross sectional study among physical health examination adults in southwest region of China.

BACKGROUND: In China, many people are regarded suitable for participating in regular physical examination for diagnosis and prevention of diseases. Some simplified food frequency questionnaires have been designed and used; however, the accuracy of the questionnaire is absent. This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of simplified food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) used among adults undergoing physical examination in southwest region of China. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among physical health examination adults in the Southwest region of China. A total of 239 participants aged 20-65 were included from February 2019 to June 2019. The performance of SFFQ was evaluated by means of a three-day 24-h dietary record (3R24). The relative validity and agreement was assessed by Pearson's correlation and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. RESULTS: The median energy-adjusted ICC of food groups between SFFQ2 and SFFQ1 was 0.59 (range: 0.49-0.73) and the ICC of nutrients was 0.47(range: 0.39-0.76). The Pearson correlation showed a valid comparisons between SFFQ1 and 3R24, ranging from -0.086 to 0.93 for food and 0.21 to 0.71 for nutrition, respectively. The energy-adjustment slightly increased the correlation coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability and validity of SFFQ was acceptable, and it could be an appropriate dietary assessment tool for the future epidemiological studies conducted among physical health examination adults of southwest China. Trial registration CHiCTR, ChiCTR1900020934, Registered 22 January 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=35414&htm=4 .

Effect of dexmedetomidine-etomidate-fentanyl combined anesthesia on somatosensory- and motor-evoked potentials in patients undergoing spinal surgery.

This aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the intraoperative monitoring of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in patients undergoing spinal surgery. A total of 36 patients who received spinal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups (n=18 per group), group C, the test group and group D, the control group, and these groups were subjected to a matching anesthesia induction. In brief, the anesthesia was administered via injection of etomidate and fentanyl; once the patients were unconscious, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted, SEPs and MEPs were monitored and the collected data were considered to be basic data. Cisatracurium was subsequently injected and an endotracheal tube (7#) was inserted to replace the LMA. The following procedures were conducted for anesthesia maintenance: Group C, the anesthesia was maintained via target-controlled infusion of etomidate and intermittent injection of fentanyl; and group D, DEX (0.5 µg/kg) was injected over a duration of 10 min and then pumped at a rate of 0.5 µg/kg/h. In the two groups, all of the other drugs used were the same and a muscle relaxant was not administered. The bispectral index was maintained between 45 and 55 during surgery, and the SEPs and MEPs were monitored continuously until the surgery was completed. No significant difference in duration and amplitude of the SEPs (P15-N20) was identified between group C and D (P>0.05). Furthermore, the MEPs were monitored in the two groups at specific durations and no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). The SEPs and MEPs were maintained in the patients who were administered with the DEX-etomidate-fentanyl combined anesthesia during spinal surgery.