Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals distinct transcriptomic profiles and evolutionary patterns in lung cancer brain metastasis.

Background: Lung cancer metastasis to the brain presents significant clinical challenges. Therefore, elucidating its underlying mechanisms and characterizing its transcriptomic landscape is essential for developing therapeutic interventions. Methods: We analyzed two distinct single-cell RNA sequencing datasets of lung cancer metastasis to analyze the evolutionary trajectory of brain metastatic tumors. In addition, a systematic comparison of cell-cell interaction between tumor cells and lymphocytes was conducted within primary and brain metastatic tumors. Results: The brain metastatic tumors showed greater transcriptomic changes (reflected by a higher pseudotime) than tumors in the lymph nodes and primary tumors. Furthermore, our investigation has not only revealed specific shared ligand-receptor pairs in both mLN and mBrain, exemplified by the interaction between SPP1 and CD99 in T cells, but has also unveiled a diverse array of ligand-receptor pairs exclusive to the mBrain. Notably, this includes distinctive pairs such as APP and IL1 observed specifically in myeloid cells. Conclusion: The distinct microenvironment in the brain may influence the observed transcriptomic changes in tumors, emphasizing the significance of the specific environment in determining tumor behavior and therapeutic response.

Expression characteristics and in vitro antibacterial properties of C-type lysozyme in crucian carp infected with Aeromonas salmonicida.

Aeromonas salmonicida is an ancient fish pathogen. Lysozymes are important molecules in the innate immune system that fight bacterial infections. The expression characteristics of C-type lysozyme in crucian carp infected with A. salmonicida and its antibacterial effect against A. salmonicida had not been investigated. Thus, we used bioinformatics to analyze the gene and protein characteristics of C-type lysozymes in crucian carp. Changes in C-type lysozyme expression before and after crucian carp infection with A. salmonicida were detected, and the in vitro antibacterial effect of recombinant carp C-type lysozyme on A. salmonicida was validated. The results showed that the coding DNA sequence region of the lysozyme gene sequence was 438 bp long, encoding 145 amino acids and containing two conserved catalytic sites: Glu53 and Asp69. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that crucian carp C-type lysozymes clustered with Cyprinus carpio lysozyme C. After crucian carp were infected with A. salmonicida, the gene and protein expression of C-type lysozymes in the liver, spleen, kidney, and hindgut were significantly upregulated, with the liver showing the highest upregulation that was 15 times higher than that in the uninfected group. In addition, recombinant C-type lysozyme exhibited significant antibacterial activity against A. salmonicida, with an average inhibition zone radius of 0.92 cm when using 40 µg recombinant lysozyme. In conclusion, this study reveals the important role of C-type lysozymes in the innate immune response of crucian carp and provides a theoretical basis for preventing crucian carp infection with A. salmonicida.

Nucleoporin 93, a new substrate of the E3 ubiquitin protein ligase HECTD1, promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression.

Nucleoporin 93 (NUP93) is an important component of the nuclear pore complex, exhibiting pro-tumorigenic properties in some cancers. However, its function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NUP93 in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms involved. Through analysis of public human cancer datasets, we observed higher expression of NUP93 in esophageal cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Stable ESCC cell lines with NUP93 overexpression or knockdown were established by lentiviral vector transduction and puromycin selection. NUP93 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle transition, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells, while the overexpression of NUP93 displayed opposite effects. NUP93 positively regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and AKT signaling transduction in ESCC cells. In addition, NUP93 increased the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in ESCC cells and attenuated NK cell-mediated lysis of ESCC cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that NUP93 promotes the growth of ESCC in nude mice, enhances Ki67 and PD-L1 expression, and promotes AKT signaling transduction in xenografts. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the HECT domain E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (HECTD1) contributes to the ubiquitination and degradation of NUP93 and acts as a tumor suppressor in ESCC. To conclude, this study has shown that NUP93 has pro-tumor properties in ESCC and that HECTD1 functions as an upstream regulator of NUP93 in ESCC. These findings may contribute to the investigation of potential therapeutic targets in ESCC.

Analysis of multiple programmed cell death-related prognostic genes and functional validations of necroptosis-associated genes in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a lethal malignancy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed great clinical benefits for patients with ESCC. We aimed to construct a model predicting prognosis and response to ICIs by integrating diverse programmed cell death (PCD) forms. METHODS: Genes related to 14 PCDs were collected to generate multi-gene signatures, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. Bulk and single-cell RNA transcriptome datasets were used to develop and validate the model. We assessed the functions of two necroptosis-related genes in ESCC cells by Western blot, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), LDH release assay, CCK-8, and migration assay, followed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining on samples of patients with ESCC (n = 67). FINDINGS: We built and validated a 16-gene prognostic combined cell death index (CCDI) by combining immunogenic cell death (ICD) and necroptosis signatures. The CCDI could also predict response to ICIs in cancer, as shown by Tumour Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) analysis, confirmed in four independent ICI clinical trials. Trajectory analysis revealed that HOOK1 and CUL4A might affect ESCC cell fate. We found that HOOK1 induced necroptosis and inhibited the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, while CUL4A exhibited the opposite effects. Co-IP assay confirmed that HOOK1 and CUL4A promoted and reduced necrosome formation in ESCC cells. Data from patients with ESCC further supported that HOOK1 and CUL4A might be a tumour suppressor and oncogene, respectively. INTERPRETATION: We constructed a CCDI model with potential in predicting prognosis and response to ICIs in cancer. HOOK1 and CUL4A in the CCDI model are crucial prognostic biomarkers in ESCC. FUNDING: The Natural Science Foundation of China [82172786], The National Cancer Center Climbing Fund of China [NCC201908B06], The Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province [LH2021H077].

Neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with paclitaxel and nedaplatin for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A single-arm phase 2 study (cohort study).

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy demonstrated promising efficacy and manageable safety in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This prospective, single-arm, phase 2 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy with camrelizumab plus paclitaxel and nedaplatin for 2-4 cycles in ESCC. METHODS: Patients with locally advanced stage IIa-IIIb ESCC were enrolled in the study and received camrelizumab (200 mg), paclitaxel (155 mg/m2), and nedaplatin (80 mg/m2) intravenously on day one every three weeks. Patients underwent surgery after 2-4 cycles of treatment regimes. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Secondary endpoints included the major pathological response (MPR) rate, R0 resection rate, tumor regression, objective response rate (ORR), and disease-free survival (DFS). Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor tissues was measured and quantified using immunohistochemistry staining and combined positive score (CPS), respectively. RESULTS: In total, 75 patients were enrolled and received neoadjuvant treatment. Of them, 45 (60%) received two cycles, 18 (24%) received three cycles, and 10 patients (13.3%) received four cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. Ultimately, 62 (82.7%) patients underwent surgery. Patients achieved a pCR of 27.4% (95% CI 16.9-40.2), an MPR of 45.2% (95% CI 33.1-59.2), and an ORR of 48.4% (95% CI 35.5-61.4); all patients had an R0 resection. T and N downstaging occurred in 55 (88.7%) and 27 patients (43.5%). Moreover, ESCC patients with CPS ≥ 10 tended to have enhanced ORR, pCR, and MPR compared to those with CPS < 10. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of grade 1-2 occurred in 59 (78.7%) patients, grade 3 TRAEs in four (5.3%), and one patient (1.3%) experienced a grade 4 TRAE. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy showed promising efficacy in locally advanced ESCC, with a manageable safety profile, when administered flexibly in two to four cycles.

Thermal runaway features of large-format power lithium-ion cells under various thermal abuse patterns and capacities.

Herein, a comprehensive investigation is performed to research the thermal runaway features of large-format power lithium-ion cells under various heating patterns (2 kW electric heating oven and 600 W electric heating plate) and capacities (60, 150, and 180 Ah). Although the electric heating plate induces the cell to encounter thermal runaway earlier in comparison with the electric heating oven, the combustion does not appear for the former case since the compact stacking of the electric heating plate restrains the heat release of the heater such that the surrounding temperature is too low to induce the ignition of the thermal runaway combustibles. Besides that, it is interesting to find that the color of the ejected products under the electric heating plate condition becomes shallower as the thermal runaway proceeds, which implies that the ejecta in the initial of thermal runaway is mixed with quantities of solid particles and the proportion would gradually decrease. With the increase of the cell capacity, thermal runaway emerges later as a result of the greater cell height which delays the cell temperature rise, when exposed to an electric heating oven. In addition, the cell with a larger capacity demonstrates a lower peak temperature, a lower maximum temperature rise rate, a shorter combustion, a lower flame temperature, and a weaker radiation heat strength during thermal runaway; that is, less heat is released due to its violent thermal runaway behaviour. Finally, the severe explosion risk for the larger-capacity cell should be especially noted considering the larger amount of explosive gases released.

Experimental and Numerical Study on Deflagration Characteristics of Large-Scale Propane-Air Mixture.

Seven deflagration tests of a propane-air mixture were carried out in a 22.5 m3 large-scale chamber. The effects of initial volume, gas concentration, and initial turbulence intensity on deflagration characteristics were analyzed. The main frequency of the explosion wave was quantitatively determined by the combination of the wavelet transform and energy spectrum analysis. The results show that the explosive overpressure is formed by the discharge of combustion products and secondary combustion, and the effects of turbulence and gas concentration on the explosive overpressure are higher than the initial volume. Under the condition of weak initial turbulence, the main frequency of gas explosion wave is between 32.13 and 48.33 Hz. Under strong initial turbulence conditions, the main frequency of the gas explosion wave increases with the increase of overpressure, and the empirical formula of the relationship between the main frequency and overpressure is summarized, which could provide theoretical support for the design of mechanical metamaterials for oil and gas explosion. Finally, the flame acceleration simulator numerical model was calibrated through tests, and the overpressure simulation values were in good agreement with the experimental data. The leakage, diffusion, and explosion of a liquefied hydrocarbon loading station in a petrochemical enterprise were simulated. The lethal distance and explosion overpressure at key buildings are predicted for different wind speed conditions. The simulation results can provide a technical basis for evaluating personnel injury and building damage.

Development of a cuproptosis-related signature for prognosis prediction in lung adenocarcinoma based on WGCNA.

Background: Cuproptosis is a novel mitochondrial respiration-dependent cell death mechanism induced by copper that can kill cancer cells via copper carriers in cancer therapy. However, the clinical significance and prognostic value of cuproptosis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods: We performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the cuproptosis gene set, including copy number aberration, single-nucleotide variation, clinical characteristics, survival analysis, etc. Cuproptosis-related gene set enrichment scores (cuproptosis Z-scores) were calculated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD cohort using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Modules significantly associated with cuproptosis Z-scores were screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The hub genes of the module were then further screened by survival analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, in which TCGA-LUAD (497 samples) and GSE72094 (442 samples) were used as the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Finally, we analyzed the tumor characteristics, immune cell infiltration levels, and potential therapeutic agents. Results: Missense mutation and copy number variant (CNV) events were general in the cuproptosis gene set. We identified 32 modules, of which the MEpurple (107 genes) and MEpink (131 genes) modules significantly positively and negatively correlated with cuproptosis Z-scores, respectively. We identified 35 hub genes significantly related to overall survival and constructed a prognostic model consisting of 7 cuproptosis-related genes in patients with LUAD. Compared with the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group had a worse overall survival and gene mutation frequency, as well as significantly higher tumor purity. In addition, infiltration of immune cells was also significantly different between the 2 groups. Furthermore, the correlation between the risk scores and half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of antitumor drugs in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) v. 2 database was explored, revealing differences in drug sensitivity across the 2 risk groups. Conclusions: Our study provided a valid prognostic risk model for LUAD and improved understanding of its heterogeneity, which may aid in the development of personalized treatment strategies.

Improvement of ACK1-targeted therapy efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma using chloroquine or bafilomycin A1.

BACKGROUND: Activated Cdc42-associated kinase 1 (ACK1) is a promising druggable target for cancer, but its inhibitors only showed moderate effects in clinical trials. The study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and improve the antitumor efficacy of ACK1 inhibitors. METHODS: RNA-seq was performed to determine the downstream pathways of ACK. Using Lasso Cox regression analysis, we built a risk signature with ACK1-related autophagy genes in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. The performance of the signature in predicting the tumor immune environment and response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy were assessed in LUAD. CCK8, mRFP-GFP-LC3 assay, western blot, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell migration assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of the ACK1 inhibitor on lung cancer cells. A subcutaneous NSCLC xenograft model was used for in vivo study. RESULTS: RNA-seq revealed the regulatory role of ACK1 in autophagy. Furthermore, the risk signature separated LUAD patients into low- and high-risk groups with significantly different prognoses. The two groups displayed different tumor immune environments regarding 28 immune cell subsets. The low-risk groups showed high immune scores, high CTLA4 expression levels, high immunophenoscore, and low DNA mismatch repair capacity, suggesting a better response to immunotherapy. This signature also predicted sensitivity to commonly used chemotherapy and targeted drugs. In vitro, the ACK1 inhibitors (AIM-100 and Dasatinib) appeared to trigger adaptive autophagy-like response to protect lung cancer cells from apoptosis and activated the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, partially explaining its moderate antitumor efficacy. However, blocking lysosomal degradation with chloroquine/Bafilamycine A1 or inhibiting AMPK signaling with compound C/shPRKAA1 enhanced the ACK1 inhibitor's cytotoxic effects on lung cancer cells. The efficacy of the combined therapy was also verified using a mouse xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting signature from ACK1-related autophagy genes robustly predicted survival and drug sensitivity in LUAD. The lysosomal degradation inhibition improved the therapeutic effects of the ACK1 inhibitor, suggesting a potential role for autophagy in therapy evasion.

Response to neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy in Chinese patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: the role of tumor immune microenvironment.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) through programmed cell death 1 blockade improve the survival outcomes of patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, the use of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for the treatment of ESCC has been gradually increasing. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment of ICIs with chemotherapy and explore tumor microenvironment (TME) immune profiles of ESCC samples during neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: Patients with previously untreated, resectable, locally advanced ESCC (stage II or III) in Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital were enrolled. Each patient received two to four cycles of neoadjuvant ICIs combined with chemotherapy before surgical resection. The TME immune profiles of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples at baseline and after surgery were evaluated by multiplex staining and multispectral imaging. RESULTS: In all, 18 patients were enrolled, and all patients received surgery with R0 resection. The postoperative pathological evaluation indicated that 7 (38.9%) patients had a pathological complete response (pCR) and 11 (61.1%) patients had a partial response. The neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens had acceptable side effect profiles. The TME immune profiles at baseline observed higher densities of stroma CD3 + , PD-1 + , and PD-1 + CD3 + cells in pCR patients than in non-pCR patients. Comparing TME immune profiles before and after neoadjuvant treatment, an increase in CD8 + T cells and a decrease in CD163 + CD68 + M2-like macrophage cells were observed after neoadjuvant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant ICIs combined with chemotherapy produced a satisfactory treatment response, demonstrating its anti-tumor efficacy in locally advanced ESCC. Further large-scale studies are required to understand the role of tumor immunities and ICIs underlying ESCC.

Pan-cancer analysis of UBE2T with a focus on prognostic and immunological roles in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) is a potential oncogene. However, Pan-cancer analyses of the functional, prognostic and predictive implications of this gene are lacking. METHODS: We first analyzed UBE2T across 33 tumor types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. We investigated the expression level of UBE2T and its effect on prognosis using the TCGA database. The correlation between UBE2T and cell cycle in pan-cancer was investigated using the single-cell sequencing data in Cancer Single-cell State Atlas (CancerSEA) database. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network analysis (WGCNA), Univariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were applied to assess the prognostic impact of UBE2T-related cell cycle genes (UrCCGs). Furthermore, the consensus clustering (CC) method was adopted to divide TCGA-lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients into subgroups based on UrCCGs. Prognosis, molecular characteristics, and the immune panorama of subgroups were analyzed using Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Results derived from TCGA-LUAD patients were validated in International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)-LUAD data. RESULTS: UBE2T is highly expressed and is a prognostic risk factor in most tumors. CancerSEA database analysis revealed that UBE2T was positively associated with the cell cycle in various cancers(r > 0.60, p < 0.001). The risk signature of UrCCGs can reliably predict the prognosis of LUAD (AUC1 year = 0.720, AUC3 year = 0.700, AUC5 year = 0.630). The CC method classified the TCGA-LUAD cohort into 4 UrCCG subtypes (G1-G4). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that G2 and G4 subtypes had worse survival than G3 (Log-rank test PTCGA training set < 0.001, PICGC validation set < 0.001). A comprehensive analysis of immune infiltrates, immune checkpoints, and immunogenic cell death modulators unveiled different immune landscapes for the four subtypes. High immunophenoscore in G3 and G4 tumors suggested that these two subtypes were immunologically "hot," tending to respond to immunotherapy compared to G2 subtypes (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: UBE2T is a critical oncogene in many cancers. Moreover, UrCCG classified the LUAD cohort into four subgroups with significantly different survival, molecular features, immune infiltrates, and immunotherapy responses. UBE2T may be a therapeutic target and predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy sensitivity.

LncRNA HAR1A Suppresses the Development of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Inactivating the STAT3 Pathway.

It is imperative to advance the understanding of lung cancer biology. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used for bioinformatics analysis. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and western blot were performed in vitro, followed by in vivo study. We found that lncRNA Highly Accelerated Region 1A (HAR1A) is significantly downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and negatively associated with prognosis. We improved the prognostic accuracy of HAR1A in LUAD by combining genes regulating cell apoptosis and cell cycle to generate a 23-gene signature. Nomogram and decision curve analysis (DCA) confirmed that the gene signature performed robustly in predicting overall survival. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) demonstrated several significantly upregulated malignancy-related events in the high-risk group, including DNA replication, DNA repair, glycolysis, hypoxia, MYC targets v2, and mTORC1. The risk signature distinguished LUAD patients suitable for chemotherapies or targeted therapies. Additionally, the knockdown of HAR1A accelerated NSCLC cell proliferation but inhibited apoptosis and vice versa. HAR1A regulated cellular activities through the STAT3 signaling pathway. The tumor-suppressing role of HAR1A was verified in the mouse model. Overall, the gene signature was robustly predictive of prognosis and sensitivity to anti-tumor drugs. HAR1A functions as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC by regulating the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in gills of scaleless carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii).

Scaleless carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii) are well adapted to low oxygen environment, but their specific adaptation mechanism to hypoxic condition remains unclear. The gill is an important respiratory organ that plays a crucial role in regulating hypoxic stress. Here, we established fish hypoxic stress model, as well as investigated oxidative stress, apoptotic responses, and relative enzyme activities in the gills of scaleless carp after exposure to various levels of hypoxic stress. The results demonstrated that gill lamellar height and basal length increased significantly under severe hypoxic stress, and interval lengths between lamellae increased significantly under hypoxic stress. Furthermore, lamellar epithelial cells underwent apoptosis, cytoplasmic contraction, and mitochondrial expansion, and the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly after exposure to severe hypoxic stress for 24 h. Subsequently, Bcl-2 and Caspase 3 mRNA levels, as well as Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio were significantly increased after exposure to severe hypoxic stress for 24 h, indicating upregulation of anti-apoptotic processes. Moreover, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly increased after exposure to hypoxic stress for 24 h. Superoxide dismutase activity increased significantly after exposure to severe hypoxia for 8 h and then decreased, while glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity increased significantly under hypoxic stress. Taken together, the results indicated that scaleless carp gills respond to acute hypoxic conditions by undergoing lamellar morphology remodeling, enhanced apoptosis, and increased antioxidant enzymatic activity. The study findings provided new insight into the adaptation mechanisms of scaleless carp in response to hypoxic challenge.

Identification and validation of an eight-lncRNA signature that predicts prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is correlated with worse clinical prognosis and lacks available targeted therapy. Thus, identification of reliable biomarkers is required for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC. METHODS: We downloaded the GSE53625 dataset as a training dataset to screen differentially expressed RNAs (DERs) with the criterion of false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 and |log2fold change (FC)| > 1. A support vector machine classifier was used to find the optimal feature gene set that could conclusively distinguish different samples. An eight-lncRNA signature was identified by random survival forest algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used for external validation. The predictive value of the signature was assessed using Kaplan-Meier test, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and dynamic area under the curve (AUC). Furthermore, a nomogram to predict patients' 3-year and 5-year prognosis was constructed. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were conducted in ESCC cells. RESULTS: A total of 1136 DERs, including 689 downregulated mRNAs, 318 upregulated mRNAs, 74 downregulated lncRNAs and 55 upregulated lncRNAs, were obtained in the GES53625 dataset. From the training dataset, we identified an eight-lncRNA signature, (ADAMTS9-AS1, DLX6-AS1, LINC00470, LINC00520, LINC01497, LINC01749, MAMDC2-AS1, and SSTR5-AS1). A nomogram based on the eight-lncRNA signature, age, and pathologic stage was developed and showed good accuracy for predicting 3-year and 5-year survival probability of patients with ESCC. Functionally, knockdown of LINC00470 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, G1/S transition, and migration in two ESCC cell lines (EC9706 and TE-9). Moreover, knockdown of LINC00470 downregulated the protein levels of PCNA, CDK4, and N-cadherin, while upregulating E-cadherin protein level in EC9706 and TE-9 cells. CONCLUSION: Our eight-lncRNA signature and nomogram can provide theoretical guidance for further research on the molecular mechanism of ESCC and the screening of molecular markers.

Long Non-coding RNA SNHG16 Facilitates Esophageal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Self-renewal through the microRNA-802/PTCH1 Axis.

OBJECTIVE: This research sought to explore the effect and mechanism of long non-coding RNA SNHG16 on esophageal cancer (EC) cell proliferation and self-renewal. METHODS: SNHG16 expression was measured in EC9706 and KYSE150 cells. EC9706 and KYSE150 cells were transfected with Lenti-SNHG16, sh-SNHG16, Lenti-protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1), miR-802 mimic, or miR-802 inhibitor. Flow cytometry was used to sort cancer stem cells (CSCs) in EC9706 and KYSE150 cells. Cell proliferation in EC cells was measured, in addition to colony and tumorsphere numbers. The possible interactions among SNHG16, PTCH1, and miR-802 were identified by dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The expression of the genes in the Hedgehog pathway was detected. Nude mice were injected with SNHG16-silenced EC9706 cells to observe the tumorigenicity of EC9706 cells. RESULTS: Upregulated SNHG16 expression was found in CSCs, whose expression was decreased during the differentiation of CSCs. SNHG16 or PTCH1 overexpression or miR-802 inhibition promoted the proliferation, colony formation, and tumorsphere formation of EC9706 and KYSE150 cells as well as SOX2, OCT4, Bmi-1, and PTCH1 expression. Consistently, SNHG16 knockdown or miR-802 overexpression inhibited EC progression. Moreover, SNHG16 and PTCH1 were competitively bound to miR-802, and SNHG16 orchestrated the miR-802/PTCH1 axis to activate the Hedgehog pathway. SNHG16 silencing repressed the tumorigenicity of EC9706 in nude mice. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, SNHG16 acts as a sponge of miR-802 to upregulate PTCH1 and activate the Hedgehog pathway, thus promoting EC cell proliferation and selfrenewal.

TMEM139 prevents NSCLC metastasis by inhibiting lysosomal degradation of E-cadherin.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases and has the highest mortality rate among all solid tumors. It is characterized by early metastasis, and investigations of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression and metastasis of NSCLC are urgently needed for the development of therapeutic targets. Here, we report that the transmembrane protein TMEM139 is significantly downregulated in NSCLC and that reduced expression of TMEM139 is correlated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, we found that TMEM139 directly interacts with E-cadherin at the plasma membrane and at focal adhesion sites. Moreover, TMEM139 can prevent the lysosomal degradation of E-cadherin, which inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Our study not only expands our understanding of NSCLC metastasis but also provides a foundation to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

The presence of polystyrene nanoplastics enhances the MCLR uptake in zebrafish leading to the exacerbation of oxidative liver damage.

The accumulation of diminutive plastic waste in the environment, including microplastics and nanoplastics, has threatened the health of multiple species. Nanoplastics can adsorb the pollutants from the immediate environment, and may be used as carriers for pollutants to enter organisms and bring serious ecological risk. To evaluate the toxic effects of microcystin-LR (MCLR) on the liver of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) in the presence of 70 nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs), zebrafish were exposed to MCLR alone (0, 0.9, 4.5 and 22.5 µg/L) and a mixture of MCLR + PSNPs (100 µg/L) for three months. The results indicated that groups with combined exposure to MCLR and PSNPs further enhanced the accumulation of MCLR in the liver when compared to groups only exposed to MCLR. Cellular swelling, fat vacuolation, and cytoarchitectonic damage were observed in zebrafish livers after exposure to MCLR, and the presence of PSNPs exacerbated these adverse effects. The results of biochemical tests showed the combined effect of MCLR + PSNPs enhanced MCLR-induced hepatotoxicity, which could be attributed to the altered levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and glutathione, and activities of catalase. The expression of genes related to antioxidant responses (p38a, p38b, ERK2, ERK3, Nrf2, HO-1, cat1, sod1, gax, JINK1, and gstr1) was further performed to study the mechanisms of MCLR combined with PSNPs aggravated oxidative stress of zebrafish. The results showed that PSNPs could improve the bioavailability of MCLR in the zebrafish liver by acting as a carrier and accelerate MCLR-induced oxidative stress by regulating the levels of corresponding enzymes and genes.

Development of immune gene pair-based signature predictive of prognosis and immunotherapy in esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the deadliest solid malignancies, mainly consisting of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and adenocarcinoma (EAC). Robust biomarkers that can improve patient risk stratification are needed to optimize cancer management. We sought to establish potent prognostic signatures with immune-related gene (IRG) pairs for ESCC and EAC. METHODS: We obtained differentially expressed IRGs by intersecting the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort) with the transcriptome data set of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ESCC and EAC cohorts. A novel rank-based pairwise comparison algorithm was applied to select effective IRG pairs (IRGPs), followed by constructing a prognostic IRGP signature via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model. We assessed the predictive power of the IRGP signatures on prognosis, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in EC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to evaluate the clinical significance of IRGPs. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of overall survival (OS) with IRGPs and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: We built a 19-IRGP signature for ESCC (n=75) and a 17-IRGP signature for EAC (n=78), with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.931 and 0.803, respectively. IRGP signature-derived risk scores stratified patients into low- and high-risk groups with significantly different OS in ESCC and EAC (P<0.001). Nomogram and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the clinical relevance of the prognostic signatures, achieving a C-index of 0.973 in ESCC and 0.880 in EAC. The risk scores were associated with immune and ESTIMATE (Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data) scores and the composition of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. The association between risk score and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and immune checkpoint molecules demonstrated its predictive value for ICI response. Differential immune characteristics and predictive value of the risk score were observed in EAC. CONCLUSIONS: The established immune signatures showed great promise in predicting prognosis, tumor immunogenicity, and immunotherapy response in ESCC and EAC.

Dihydroartemisinin mediating PKM2-caspase-8/3-GSDME axis for pyroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Pyroptosis is a novel type of pro-inflammatory programmed cell death that has been strongly reported to be related to inflammation, immune, and cancer. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has good anti-tumor properties. However, the exact mechanism by which DHA induces pyroptosis to inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. After applying DHA treatment to ESCC, we found that some dying cells exhibited the characteristic morphology of pyroptosis, such as blowing large bubbles from the cell membrane, accompanied by downregulation of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2), activation of caspase-8/3, and production of GSDME-NT. Meanwhile, it was accompanied by an increased release of LDH and inflammatory factors (IL-18 and IL-1ß). Both knockdown of GSDME and application of caspase-8/3 specific inhibitors (z-ITED-FMK/Ac-DEVD-CHO) significantly inhibited DHA-induced pyroptosis. However, the former did not affect the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, overexpression of PKM2 inhibited caspase-8/3 activation as well as GSDME-N production. Furthermore, both si-GSDME and OE-PKM2 inhibited DHA-induced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, the results suggest that DHA can induce pyroptosis of ESCC cells via the PKM2-caspase-8/3-GSDME pathway. Implication: In this study, we identified new mechanism of DHA in inhibiting ESCC development and progression, and provide a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ESCC.