The prognostic predictive value of systemic immune index and systemic inflammatory response index in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To study the predictive value of systemic immune index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) in the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Two researchers independently searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases (until March 18, 2022) for all studies on SII, SIRI, and prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Quality assessment of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). In addition, a bivariate mixed-effects model was used to explore predictive value. Results: A total of 9 studies that satisfied the requirements were included, involving, 3187 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The results of the meta-analysis showed that SII could be an independent predictor of OS (HR=1.78, 95%CI [1.44-2.20], Z=5.28, P<0.05), and SII could also be an independent predictor of PFS (HR=1.66, 95%CI [1.36-2.03], Z=4.94, P<0.05). In addition, SIRI could also serve as an independent predictor of OS (HR=2.88, 95%CI [1.97-4.19], Z=5.51, P<0.05). The ROC area was 0.63, the sensitivity was 0.68 (95%CI [0.55-0.78]), and the specificity was 0.55 (95%CI [0.47-0.62]), all of which indicated that SII had a certain predictive value for OS. Conclusion: SII and SIRI can be used as independent predictors to predict the prognosis and survival status of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and have certain predictive accuracy. Therefore, SII and SIRI should be considered in studies that update survival risk assessment systems. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.ytyhdyy.com/, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42022319678).

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into light condition effect on paclitaxel biosynthesis in yew saplings.

BACKGROUND: Taxus is a rare gymnosperm plant that is the sole producer of the anticancer drug paclitaxel. The growth and development of Taxus is affected by environmental factors such as light. However, little is known about how light conditions affect growth and metabolic processes, especially paclitaxel biosynthesis. RESULTS: In this study, we applied three different light conditions to Taxus chinensis young saplings and investigated the physiological response and gene expression. Our observations showed that exposure to high light led to oxidative stress, caused photoinhibition, and damaged the photosynthetic systems in T. chinensis. The paclitaxel content in T. chinensis leaves was significantly decreased after the light intensity increased. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that numerous genes involved in paclitaxel biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways were downregulated under high light. We also analyzed the expression of JA signaling genes, bHLH, MYB, AP2/ERF transcription factors, and the CYP450 families that are potentially related to paclitaxel biosynthesis. We found that several CYP450s, MYB and AP2/ERF genes were induced by high light. These genes may play an important role in tolerance to excessive light or heat stress in T. chinensis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study elucidates the molecular mechanism of the effects of light conditions on the growth and development of T. chinensis and paclitaxel biosynthesis, thus facilitating the artificial regeneration of Taxus and enhancing paclitaxel production.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via miR-195-5p/LOXL2 axis.

Background: Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) is a widely used herbal medicine in China, with various pharmacological effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer. This work is aimed to investigate the tumor-suppressive effect of SB in cervical cancer (CC) and to identify its underlying mechanisms. Methods and materials: CC cell lines (HeLa and HT-3) were treated with different concentrations of SB chloroform extract (ECSB) (0, 0.2, 0.5 mg/ml). MiR-195-5p and LOXL2 mRNA expression in CC cell lines and tissue samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell counting kit-8 experiment was utilized to examine cell viability; TUNEL assay and Transwell experiment was executed to examine cell apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Western blotting experiments were implemented to detect LOXL2 protein expression. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment were executed to examine the binding relationship between miR-195-5p and LOXL2. Results: ECSB repressed the viability, migration, and invasion of HeLa and HT-3 cells, and promoted cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. MiR-195-5p was remarkably under-expressed in CC tissues and cells, and ECSB up-regulated miR-195-5p expression. MiR-195-5p inhibitors partially counteracted the suppressive effects of ECSB on the malignant phenotypes of HeLa and HT-3 cells. LOXL2 was a downstream target of miR-195-5p, and ECSB up-modulated LOXL2 expression by specifically repressing miR-195-5p. Conclusion: SB restrains CC cell proliferation and metastasis and promotes cell apoptosis via miR-195-5p/LOXL2, which may be a potential therapeutic agent for CC treatment.

De novo transcriptome analysis provides insights into the salt tolerance of Podocarpus macrophyllus under salinity stress.

BACKGROUND: Soil salinization is causing ecosystem degradation and crop yield reduction worldwide, and elucidation of the mechanism of salt-tolerant plants to improve crop yield is highly significant. Podocarpus macrophyllus is an ancient gymnosperm species with a unique environmental adaptation strategy that may be attributed to its lengthy evolutionary process. The present study investigated the physiological and molecular responses of P. macrophyllus plants to salt stress by analyzing its photosynthetic system and antioxidant enzyme activity. We also analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in P. macrophyllus under salt stress using RNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly. RESULTS: Salt treatment significantly affected the photosynthetic system in P. macrophyllus seedlings, which decreased chlorophyll content, altered chloroplast ultrastructure, and reduced photosynthesis. The activities of antioxidant enzymes increased significantly following salt stress treatment. Transcriptome analysis showed that salt stress induced a large number of genes involved in multiple metabolic and biological regulation processes. The transcription levels of genes that mediate phytohormone transport or signaling were altered. K+ and Ca2+ transporter-encoding genes and the MYB transcription factor were upregulated under salt stress. However, the genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism were downregulated. CONCLUSION: Our research identified some important pathways and putative genes involved in salt tolerance in P. macrophyllus and provided clues for elucidating the mechanism of salt tolerance and the utilization of the salt tolerance genes of P. macrophyllus for crop improvement.