Circ_0000284 Promoted Acute Pancreatitis Progression through the Regulation of miR-10a-5p/Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be involved in the progression of acute pancreatitis (AP). The objective of our study was to investigate the effects of circ_0000284 on caerulein-induced AR42J cell injury. To mimic AP in vitro, rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were treated with caerulein. The expression of circ_0000284 and miR-10a-5p was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the content of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Western blotting was applied to analyze the levels of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related and apoptosis-related proteins. Cell viability and apoptosis were monitored by Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The target connection between circ_0000284 and miR-10a-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. AP induced inflammation in patients, and caerulein treatment increased apoptosis and inflammation in AR42J cells. Circ_0000284 was upregulated in serum of AP patients and caerulein-induced AR42J cells, while Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was inactivated. Knockdown of circ_0000284 could decrease apoptosis and inflammation in caerulein-induced AR42J cells, which was attenuated by miR-10a-5p inhibition or Wnt signaling pathway antagonist Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). MiR-10a-5p was sponged by circ_000028 and was downregulated in caerulein-induced AR42J cells. Circ_0000284 depletion could protect caerulein-induced AR42J cells from apoptosis and inflammation by upregulating miR-10a-5p expression and activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, underscoring a potential target for AP therapy.

Accuracy of conventional and novel scoring systems in predicting severity and outcomes of acute pancreatitis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, several novel scoring systems have been developed to evaluate the severity and outcomes of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of novel and conventional scoring systems in predicting the severity and outcomes of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Patients treated between January 2003 and August 2020 were reviewed. The Ranson score (RS), Glasgow score (GS), bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), pancreatic activity scoring system (PASS), and Chinese simple scoring system (CSSS) were determined within 48 h after admission. Multivariate logistic regression was used for severity, mortality, and organ failure prediction. Optimum cutoffs were identified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1848 patients were included. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of RS, GS, BISAP, PASS, and CSSS for severity prediction were 0.861, 0.865, 0.829, 0.778, and 0.816, respectively. The corresponding AUCs for mortality prediction were 0.693, 0.736, 0.789, 0.858, and 0.759. The corresponding AUCs for acute respiratory distress syndrome prediction were 0.745, 0.784, 0.834, 0.936, and 0.820. Finally, the corresponding AUCs for acute renal failure prediction were 0.707, 0.734, 0.781, 0.868, and 0.816. CONCLUSIONS: RS and GS predicted severity better than they predicted mortality and organ failure, while PASS predicted mortality and organ failure better. BISAP and CSSS performed equally well in severity and outcome predictions.

Ghrelin inhibits IKKß/NF-κB activation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells treated with cerulein.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have provided conflicting results regarding whether the serum ghrelin concentration can reflect the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The present study examined the correlation between the serum ghrelin concentration and AP severity in animal models and investigated whether altered ghrelin expression in pancreatic acinar cells influences IKKß/NF-κB signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. METHODS: Mild or severe AP was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein or retrograde cholangiopancreatic duct injection of sodium taurocholate, respectively. After successful model induction, serum ghrelin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IKKß/NF-κB activation was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, stable overexpression or knockdown of ghrelin in AR42J cells was achieved by lentiviral transfection. After transfected cells and control cells were treated with cerulein for 24 h, the TNF-α and IL-1ß levels in the supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression levels of p-p65, IKKß, and p-IKKß were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: In rat AP models, AP severity was correlated with increased IKKß/NF-κB activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and ghrelin secretion. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß as well as IKKß/NF-κB signaling activity were increased upon knockdown of ghrelin in the AP acinar cell model and decreased with ghrelin overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ghrelin is related to the severity of AP. Ghrelin may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of AP by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of the IKKß/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Role of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway agonist SKL2001 in Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

The goal of this study was to clarify the protective role of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway agonist SKL2001 in a rat model of Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. AR42J cells and rats were divided into 4 groups: control, Caerulein, SKL2001 + Caerulein, and SKL2001 + control. Cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe pathological changes in pancreatic and small intestinal tissues. Inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while genes related to the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. In vitro results showed that Caerulein promoted cell necrosis, inhibited the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, and increased the level of inflammatory cytokines. However, SKL2001 reduced cell necrosis and inflammatory cytokines and activated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Additionally, in vivo results demonstrated the accumulation of fluid (i.e., edema), hemorrhage, inflammation and necrosis of the pancreatic acini occurred 6 h after the final Caerulein induction, with the damage reaching a maximal level 12 h after the final Caerulein induction; meanwhile, the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was evidently inhibited with an enhanced level of inflammatory cytokines. The aforementioned damage was further aggravated 12 h later. Nevertheless, the pancreatic and small intestinal tissue damages were alleviated in Caerulein-induced rats treated with SKL2001. In conclusion, activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway could inhibit Caerulein-induced cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine release, thus improving pancreatic and intestinal damage in rats with acute pancreatitis.

The relationship between serum triglyceride levels and acute pancreatitis in an animal model and a 14-year retrospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to evaluate influence of serum triglyceride levels on the course of acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Rats models of hypertriglyceridemic were used in animal experiments. Following induction of acute pancreatitis, amylase, and pancreas histological scores were all compared. In addition, in a clinical study, clinical data were collected from 1681 AP patients admitted from 2003 to 2016 who were divided into 4 groups based on their serum triglyceride (TG) levels. The clinical features among these 4 groups were compared, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed on TG values to estimate their relationship with severity. RESULTS: In animal experiments, the hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) group had markedly higher serum amylase, and histological scores relative to the other animal groups. In the clinical study, we identified significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), cost, and incidence of partial complications among the 4 TG-based groups. Importantly, the TG levels on day 3-4 after admission could be used to accurately predict disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) can aggravate pancreatic injury, and hypertriglyceridemia patients are more likely to suffer from severe pancreatic injury with a higher possibility of complications. In addition, triglyceride levels are correlated with the severity of AP positively.

Diagnosis of Genus Helicobacter through a hemi-nested PCR assay of 16S rRNA.

The present study aimed to establish a genus-specific PCR-based assay to detect helicobacters using 16S rRNA gene as the target template. We designed the hemi-nested primers based on sequences of 16S rRNA gene of 34 types of Helicobacter species. The inclusivity, sensitivity, and specificity of the PCR assay using these primers were examined in three different models, comprising feces simulated samples, BLAB/c mice infection model and clinic patients samples. The detection sensitivity of Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter hepaticus and Helicobacter bilis strains from feces simulated samples was all 102 CFU/ml. We successfully detected H. hepaticus and H. bilis in the liver, cecum and feces of experimentally infected mice. H. pylori was successfully detected in the feces samples from 3 patients infected with H. pylori while not in the feces samples from 3 healthy human. However, the C97/C05-C97/C98 PCR assay detected H. pylori in the 2 positive samples. Due to the PCR assay's excellent inclusivity, high sensitivity and specificity it may be used to detect the presence of Helicobacters.

MZB1 regulates cellular proliferation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation and targets the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a pathological condition characterized by the premature release and activation of trypsinogens and other enzyme precursors. In severe cases, the mortality rates are in the range of 20-30% and may even be as high as 50%. Though various prophylaxes are available for AP, the mechanism of its progression is unclear. Marginal zone B and B-1 cell-specific protein 1 (MZB1) is found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it is expressed exclusively in the B cells there. MZB1 promotes proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, invasion, and inflammation, and mitigates mitochondrial damage in cells. However, the importance of MZB1 in AP has not yet been determined. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between healthy pancreatic cells and those affected by AP were identified using datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Relative differences in MZB1 expression between normal and diseased tissues and cells were validated in vivo using a rat AP model induced with 4% (w/v) sodium taurocholate and in vitro using the AR42J rat pancreatic cell line exposed to caerulein (CAE). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2`-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were performed to detect and compare normal and pathological cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was employed to assess and compare cellular apoptosis. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) were applied to evaluate the apoptotic factors Bax and Bcl. The inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1ß were quantified using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qRT-PCR techniques. Mitochondrial function was evaluated using assays for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM). WB and qRT-PCR were utilized to measure the expression levels of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, followed by a rescue experiment involving the inhibitor of wortmannin. RESULTS: MZB1 was upregulated in the AP cases screened from the GEO datasets, the rat AP model, and the AR42J cells exposed to CAE. Overexpression of MZB1 enhanced the growth and supressed the cell death of AR42J cells while also activating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. MZB1 knockdown led to mitochondrial dysfunction and exacerbated inflammation. The rescue experiment demonstrated that MZB1 enhanced proliferation and inhibited apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in pancreatic cells through the PI3K-Akt pathway. CONCLUSIONS: AP cells and tissues exhibited markedly elevated levels of MZB1 expression compared to their healthy counterparts. MZB1 overexpression promoted proliferation and supressed apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in pancreatic cells through the positive regulation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Biological effect of ETV4 and the underlying mechanism of its regulatory effect on epithelial­mesenchymal transition in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly invasive malignant tumor. The prognosis of patients with ICC after radical surgical resection remains poor, due to local infiltration, distant metastasis, a high recurrence rate and lack of effective treatment strategies. E26 transformation-specific sequence variant 4 (ETV4) is a pro-carcinogenic factor that is upregulated in several tumors; however, the role of ETV4 in ICC is relatively unknown. The present study aimed to determine the role of ETV4 in the Hccc9810 ICC cell line and to assess how it contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ICC. Hccc9810 cells were infected with lentiviruses to construct stable ETV4-overexpressing cells, stable ETV4 knockdown cells and corresponding control groups. The Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays were used to quantify cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and the effects on cell cycle progression and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. ETV4 was identified as a driver of cell growth, invasion, migration and cell cycle progression, while restraining apoptosis in Hccc9810 cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting revealed that increased ETV4 levels may drive EMT by triggering the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway. This cascade, in turn, may foster tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle advancement, and hinder apoptosis.

A new sight to acute pancreatitis through paracolic gutter exudation, a multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: Paracolic gutter exudation (PGE) may influence the severity of acute pancreatitis, but no study has explored it extensively. The objective of this study was to evaluate PGE for assessing the severity of disease. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 488 patients from three tertiary hospitals in Guangxi, China. General clinical information, severity, and clinical courses were recorded. The PGE score were classified as follows: 0 for no exudation, 1 for unilateral exudation, and 2 for bilateral exudation. We used ROC curves to assess the predictive value of the PGE score, and logistic regression analysis to determine risk factors associated with death, ICU admission, and the occurrence of MODS. Results: This study included 352 patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and 136 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Patients who had PGE experienced higher total hospitalization costs, longer hospital stays, a higher incidence of SAP, higher mortality rates, higher ICU admission rates, a higher incidence of MODS, and higher incidence of infections than those without (P < 0.05). Diagnostic efficacy in predicting severity in patients with MSAP and SAP increased after BISAP, MCTSI, modified Marshall, and SOFA scores combined with PGE score respectively. The PGE score of >1 is an independent risk factor for ICU admission and MODS occurrence. (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The PGE provides reliable and objective information for assessing severity and clinical course of patients with MSAP and SAP.

Liproxstatin-1 attenuates acute hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis through inhibiting ferroptosis in rats.

Ferroptosis is closely associated with inflammatory diseases, including acute pancreatitis (AP); however, the involvement of ferroptosis in hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the relationship between lipid metabolism and ferroptosis in HTGP and the alleviating effect of liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) in vivo. This study represents the first exploration of lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in HTGP, targeting ferroptosis as a key factor in HTGP. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) was induced under high-fat diet conditions. Cerulein was then injected to establish AP and HTGP models. Lip-1, a specific ferroptosis inhibitor, was administered before the induction of AP and HTGP in rats, respectively. Serum triglyceride, amylase, inflammatory factors, pathological and ultrastructural structures, lipid peroxidation, and iron overload indicators related to ferroptosis were tested. Moreover, the interaction between ferroptosis and ERS was assessed. We found HTG can exacerbate the development of AP, with an increased inflammatory response and intensified ferroptosis process. Lip-1 treatment can attenuate pancreatic injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through lipid metabolism and further resisting activations of ERS-related proteins. Totally, our results proved lipid metabolism can promote ferroptosis in HTGP by regulating ACSL4/LPCAT3 protein levels. Additionally, ERS may participate in ferroptosis via the Bip/p-EIF2α/CHOP pathway, followed by the alleviating effect of Lip-1 in the rat model.

LARP1 knockdown inhibits cultured gastric carcinoma cell cycle progression and metastatic behavior.

This study aimed to clarify the role of la-related protein 1 (LARP1) in cell cycle progression and metastatic behavior of cultured gastric carcinoma (GC) cells. To do that, LARP1 expression was detected in clinical GC tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. The cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, invasion, and cell growth were examined using a Cell Counting Kit-8, Annexin V-FITC staining, propidium iodide staining, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and colony formation assays after LARP1 knockdown. Phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT1 mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K, p-AKT1, AKT1, p-BAD, p-mTOR, and p21 in si-LARP1 transfected GC cells were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Here, we've shown that LARP1 expression was upregulated in human GC tissues and KATO III cells. LARP1 knockdown inhibited GC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, and colony formation and promoted apoptosis. In si-LARP1-transfected KATO III cells, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and AKT1, PI3K protein expression, and the p-AKT1/AKT1 ratio were significantly suppressed. p-mTOR and p-BAD were significantly decreased, whereas p21 was significantly increased in si-LARP1-transfected KATO III cells. In conclusion LARP1 knockdown induces apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression and metastatic behavior via PI3K/AKT1 signaling in GC cells.

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter promotes mitophagy by regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway in caerulein­treated pancreatic ductal epithelial cells in vitro.

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a major protein for the uptake of mitochondrial calcium to regulate intracellular energy metabolism, including processes such as mitophagy. The present study investigated the effect of the MCU on mitophagy in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) in acute pancreatitis (AP) in vitro. The normal human PDECs (HPDE6-C7) were treated with caerulein (CAE) to induce AP-like changes, with or without ruthenium red to inhibit the MCU. The mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs) and mitochondrial Ca2+ levels were analyzed by fluorescence. The expression levels of MCU, LC3, p62, and translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane complex subunit 20 (TOMM20), putative kinase 1 (PINK1), and Parkin were measured by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Mitophagy was observed by confocal fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that CAE increased the MCU protein expression, mitochondrial Ca2+ levels, MMP depolarization and the protein expression of mitophagy markers including the LC3II/I ratio, PINK1, and Parkin. CAE decreased the protein expression of p62 and TOMM20, and promoted the formation of mitophagosomes in HPDE6-C7 cells. Notably, changes in these markers were reversed by inhibiting the MCU. In conclusion, an activated MCU may promote mitophagy by regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway in PDECs in AP.

[Sphingosine kinase 1 enhances the proliferation and invasion of human colon cancer LoVo cells through up-regulating FAK pathway and the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of human colon cancer LoVo cells, and to explore the related mechanisms. METHODS: Human colon cancer LoVo cells were divided into three groups: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the activation of SphK1 in the PMA group, N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) used to suppress the activity of SphK1 in DMS group, and the cells treated with equal amount of 0.9 % NaCl instead of drugs served as the control group. The activity of SphK1 was assayed by autoradiography, the cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, cell migration and invasion were examined by Boyden chamber assay, concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were assayed by ELISA, and RT-PCR and Western blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression in the cells. RESULTS: The activity of SphK1 was efficiently induced by PMA and significantly suppressed by DMS. PMA induced cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. On the contrast, DMS suppressed cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After treating with PMA, the number of migrating and invasing cells were increased to 143.36 ± 8.73 and 118.46 ± 6.25, significantly higher than those of the control group (75.48 ± 6.12 and 64.19 ± 5.36). After treating with DMS, the number of migrating and invasing cells were decreased to 38.57 ± 3.24 and 32.48 ± 4.27, significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). The relative expression levels of FAK, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA in the PMA group were 0.82 ± 0.06, 0.74 ± 0.05 and 0.89 ± 0.09, and those in the DMS group were 0.23 ± 0.02, 0.26 ± 0.03 and 0.37 ± 0.04, with significant differences between the PMA, DMS and control groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of FAK and p-FAK proteins in the PMA group (0.52 ± 0.06 and 0.51 ± 0.06) were significantly elevated, and those of the DMS group (0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.09 ± 0.02) were significantly decreased. In addition, the concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated with the activation of SphK1. On the contrary, those of the DMS group were significantly reduced with the suppression of SphK1 (Both P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SphK1 may enhance the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer LoVo cells through activating FAK pathway and up-regulating the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.

Gelsolin inhibits autophagy by regulating actin depolymerization in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells in acute pancreatitis.

Gelsolin (GSN) can sever actin filaments associated with autophagy. This study investigated how GSN-regulated actin filaments control autophagy in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDECs) in acute pancreatitis (AP). AP was produced in a rat model and PDECs using caerulein (CAE). Rat pancreatic duct tissue and HPDE6-C7 cells were extracted at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after CAE treatment. HPDE6-C7 cells in the presence of CAE were treated with cytochalasin B (CB) or silenced for GSN for 24 h. Pancreatic histopathology and serum amylase levels were analyzed. Cellular ultrastructure and autophagy in PDECs were observed by transmission electron microscopy after 24 h of CAE treatment. The expression of GSN and autophagy markers LC3, P62, and LAMP2 was evaluated in PDECs by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Actin filaments were observed microscopically. Amylase levels were highest at 6 h of AP, and pancreatic tissue damage increased over time. Mitochondrial vacuolization and autophagy were observed in PDECs. CAE increased GSN expression in these cells over time, increased the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and LAMP2 expression at 24 and 6 h of treatment, respectively, and decreased P62 expression at all time points. CB treatment for 24 h decreased the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and LAMP2 expression, increased P62 levels, but had no impact on GSN expression in CAE-treated PDECs. CAE induced actin depolymerization, and CB potentiated this effect. GSN silencing increased the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and LAMP2 expression and reduced actin depolymerization in CAE-treated PDECs. GSN may inhibit autophagosome biogenesis and autophagosome-lysosome fusion by increasing actin depolymerization in PDECs in AP.

Sphingosine kinase 1 enhances colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating the production of MMP-2/9 and uPA via MAPK pathways.

PURPOSE: Sphingosine kinase (SphK) 1 is an oncogenic enzyme promoting transformation, proliferation, and survival of a number of human tumor cells. However, its effect on colon cancer cell behavior has not been fully clarified. METHODS: SphK1 plasmid or SphK1 shRNA transfection and N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) was used to regulate the expression and activity of SphK1 in colon cancer line LOVO. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and protein expression were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, transwell chambers model, and western blot. The levels of metalloproteinases-2/9 (MMP-2/9) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Overexpression of SphK1 after plasmid transfection markedly enhanced LOVO cell viability and invasiveness and reduced cell apoptosis. In contrast, inhibition of SphK1 by DMS and shRNA significantly suppressed cell viability and invasiveness but promoted cell apoptosis. SphK1 increased the constitutive expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) but reduced the constitutive expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Blocking ERK1/2 pathway inhibited the biological effects induced by overexpression of SphK1. Blocking p38 MAPK pathway reversed the effects of DMS and SphK1 shRNA. Moreover, SphK1 was required for the production of MMP-2/9 and uPA in tumor cells, which was suppressed by ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126, but enhanced by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. CONCLUSIONS: SphK1 enhances colon cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness, meanwhile suppressing cell apoptosis. SphK1 promoting the secretion of MMP-2/9 and uPA via activation of ERK1/2 and suppression of p38 MAPK pathways maybe the molecular mechanisms for its regulation of the malignant behavior of colon cancer cell.

[The expression and clinical significance of SphK1 and nuclear factor-κB p65 in human colon carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and NF-κB in colon carcinoma tissues and their correlation with clinicopathologic features. METHODS: Sixty-six paraffin-embedded colon carcinoma samples and 66 fresh colon carcinoma samples were tested using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In 66 fresh colon carcinoma samples, the positive rate of SphK1 and NF-κB mRNA expression were 84.85%(56/66) and 74.24% (49/66), while the positive rate of SphK1 and NF-κB protein detected by Western blot were 78.79% (52/66) and 69.70% (46/66). The positive rates were higher than those in the adjacent tissues [mRNA: 63.64% (42/66), 48.49% (32/66); protein: 57.58% (38/66), 45.45% (30/66)] and the normal mucosa [mRNA: 42.42% (28/66), 25.76% (17/66); protein: 36.36% (24/66), 24.24% (16/66)], with statistical significances (all P values < 0.05). The mean expressive levels of SphK1 and NF-κB mRNA and protein in colon carcinoma were both significantly higher than those in the adjacent tissues and the normal mucosa (mRNA: 0.55 ± 0.06 vs 0.35 ± 0.05 vs 0.25 ± 0.05, 0.75 ± 0.06 vs 0.43 ± 0.05 vs 0.30 ± 0.04; protein: 0.77 ± 0.05 vs 0.38 ± 0.06 vs 0.12 ± 0.03, 0.45 ± 0.08 vs 0.23 ± 0.05 vs 0.13 ± 0.03; all P values < 0.05). There was a close correlation between SphK1 and NF-κB expression levels (r = 0.459, P = 0.036). The results of immunohistochemistry were similar to those of RT-PCR and Western blot. Overexpression of SphK1 and NF-κB in colon carcinoma was related with depth of invasion, distant and lymph node metastasis and Dukes' stages (all P values < 0.05). The expression of SphK1 was also related with differentiation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of SphK1 and NF-κB may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of colon carcinoma. Moreover, SphK1 and NF-κB may be correlated with the invasion and metastasis of colon carcinoma.

Identification and Validation of Hub Genes in Acute Pancreatitis and Hypertriglyceridemia.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) and the relationship between acute pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia are complex and not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the hub genes along with common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between acute pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: We downloaded three gene expression profiles of AP and one gene expression profile of hypertriglyceridemia from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and filtered the DEGs based on the above four datasets. Next, we identified the hub genes by performing the Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) construction. We also constructed the miRNA-hub gene network and established mouse models with hypertriglyceridemia and AP using a high-fat diet and injection of caerulein (CAE), respectively. Finally, the immunohistochemical analysis was used to verify the differential expressions of hub genes in AP, hypertriglyceridemia, and normal pancreatic tissue. RESULTS: A total of 105 DEGs associated with AP and 149 DEGs associated with hypertriglyceridemia were identified. Additionally, we identified six hub genes of AP, all of which were closely related to the cytoskeleton while two DEGs genes were common in both AP and hypertriglyceridemia. We also verified their expression in mouse models. Finally, a network of miRNA-mRNA was also constructed, and the top seven interactive miRNAs (hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-5195-3p, hsa-mir-145-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-mir-10b-5p, hsa-mir-206, and hsa-mir-613) targeting the most hub genes were identified. CONCLUSION: Overall, we identified six hub genes associated with AP and two common DEGs associated with AP and hypertriglyceridemia along with seven miRNAs that may regulate AP. This study could provide new ideas for further elucidation of the pathogenesis of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis in the future.

BGN May be a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Associated With Immune Cell Enrichment of Gastric Cancer.

Background: Biglycan (BGN) plays a role in the occurrence and progression of several malignant tumors, though its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate BGN expression, its role in GC prognosis, and immune infiltration. Material and Methods: Gene expression data and corresponding clinical information were downloaded from TCGA and GTEx, respectively. We compared the expression of BGN in GC and normal tissues and verified the differential expression via Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. BGN-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Additionally, the relationships between BGN gene expression and clinicopathological variables and survival in patients with GC were also investigated through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Finally, we established a predictive model that could well predict the probability of 1-, 3-, and 5-years survival in GC. Results: We found a significantly higher expression of BGN in GC than that in normal tissues (p < 0.001), which was verified by Real-Time PCR (p < 0.01) and immunohistochemistry (p < 0.001). The 492 identified DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways related to tumor genesis and metastasis, including extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, focal adhesion pathway, Wnt signaling, and signaling by VEGF. BGN expression was positively correlated with the enrichment of the NK cells (r = 0.620, p < 0.001) and macrophages (r = 0.550, p < 0.001), but negatively correlated with the enrichment of Th17 cells (r = 0.250, p < 0.001). BGN expression was also significantly correlated with histologic grade (GI&G2 vs. G3, p < 0.001), histologic type (Diffuse type vs. Tubular type, p < 0.001), histologic stage (stage I vs. stage II and stage I vs. stage III, p < 0.001), T stage (T1 vs. T2, T1 vs. T3, and T1 vs. T4, p < 0.001) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection (yes vs. no, p < 0.05) in GC. High BGN expression showed significant association with poor overall survival (OS) in GC patients (HR = 1.53 (1.09-2.14), p = 0.013). The constructed nomogram can well predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-years overall survival probability of GC patients (C-index = 0.728). Conclusion: BGN plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of GC and is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

THBS2 is Closely Related to the Poor Prognosis and Immune Cell Infiltration of Gastric Cancer.

Background: The potential functions of Thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) in the progression and immune infiltration of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of THBS2 in GC prognosis and the relationship between THBS2 and GC immune cell infiltration. Material and Methods: The differential expression levels of THBS2 in the GC and cancer-adjacent tissues were identified using the TCGA databases and verified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemical staining and two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). THBS2 related differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and used for further functional enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Furthermore, a THBS2-related immune infiltration analysis was also performed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were utilized to illustrate the effects of THBS2 on the prognosis and clinical variables of GC. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival probability of patients with GC. Results: The THBS2 expression in GC was significantly higher than that in cancer-adjacent tissues (p < 0.001), which was verified using real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining and datasets from GEO. The 599 identified DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways related to tumorigenesis and tumor progression, including the focal adhesion pathway, signaling by vascular endothelial growth factor, and Wnt signaling. THBS2 expression was positively correlated with the enrichment of the macrophages (r = 0.590, p < 0.001), which was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry; however, negatively correlated with the enrichment of Th17 cells (r = 0.260, p < 0.001). The high expression of THBS2 was significantly correlated with the pathological grade (p < 0.01), histological grade (p < 0.05), histological type (p < 0.05), T stage (p < 0.001), and poor overall survival (OS) (P = 0.003) of GC. The constructed nomogram can well predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-years OS probability of patients with GC (C-index [95% confidence interval] = 0.725 [0.701-0.750]). Conclusion: THBS2 is closely related to the poor prognosis and immune infiltration of gastric cancer.

Red cell distribution width to serum albumin ratio as an early prognostic marker for severe acute pancreatitis: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The ability to predict severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) at an early stage is crucial for reducing the associated complications and mortality. In this study, we compared the ratio of red cell distribution width to albumin (RDW-to-ALB) using predictive scoring systems, such as the Ranson score, BISAP, and MCTSI, to develop a simple and accurate method of predicting SAP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 212 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 89 with SAP between January 2013 and December 2018. The differences in the general characteristics and biochemical analysis as well as the various predictive scores were compared between the two groups. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity between the RDW-to-ALB ratio, RDW, ALB, and multiple predictive scores in patients with early acute pancreatitis (AP) by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The RDW-to-ALB ratio (%) of patients with SAP was higher than that of patients with MAP (0.43 ± 0.08 vs. 0.32 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). Patients with SAP had higher Ranson, BISAP, and MCTSI scores than those with MAP. The ROC curve revealed that, when the RDW-to-ALB ratio (%) was >0.36, the sensitivity and specificity of the predicted SAP were 80.0% and 80.7%, respectively. Further statistical analysis found that the RDW-to-ALB ratio and Ranson, BISAP, and MCTSI scores were consistent in predicting SAP effectiveness (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The RDW-to-ALB ratio has a promising predictive power for SAP, and its effectiveness is comparable with those of Ranson, BISAP, and MCTSI scores.