Metabolic alterations provide insights into Stylosanthes roots responding to phosphorus deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major constraints limiting plant growth, especially in acid soils. Stylosanthes (stylo) is a pioneer tropical legume with excellent adaptability to low P stress, but its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, the physiological, molecular and metabolic changes in stylo responding to phosphate (Pi) starvation were investigated. Under low P condition, the growth of stylo root was enhanced, which was attributed to the up-regulation of expansin genes participating in root growth. Metabolic profiling analysis showed that a total of 256 metabolites with differential accumulations were identified in stylo roots response to P deficiency, which mainly included flavonoids, sugars, nucleotides, amino acids, phenylpropanoids and phenylamides. P deficiency led to significant reduction in the accumulation of phosphorylated metabolites (e.g., P-containing sugars, nucleotides and cholines), suggesting that internal P utilization was enhanced in stylo roots subjected to low P stress. However, flavonoid metabolites, such as kaempferol, daidzein and their glycoside derivatives, were increased in P-deficient stylo roots. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR analysis showed that a set of genes involved in flavonoids synthesis were found to be up-regulated by Pi starvation in stylo roots. In addition, the abundances of phenolic acids and phenylamides were significantly increased in stylo roots during P deficiency. The increased accumulation of the metabolites in stylo roots, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and phenylamides, might facilitate P solubilization and cooperate with beneficial microorganisms in rhizosphere, and thus contributing to P acquisition and utilization in stylo. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that stylo plants cope with P deficiency by modulating root morphology, scavenging internal Pi from phosphorylated metabolites and increasing accumulation of flavonoids, phenolic acids and phenylamides. This study provides valuable insights into the complex responses and adaptive mechanisms of stylo roots to P deficiency.

Bioinformatic Profiling of Prognosis-Related Genes in Malignant Glioma Microenvironment.

BACKGROUND Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the brain and spinal cord. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the cellular environment in which tumors exist. This study aimed to identify the role of the TME and the effects of genes involved in the TME of malignant glioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The ESTIMATE algorithms in the R package were used to calculate the immune and stromal scores of samples in the TCGA and GSE4290 datasets. The associations of stromal and immune scores with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival of malignant glioma patients were assessed by analysis of variance and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained through the median immune and stromal score using the R package "limma". Functional enrichment analysis and the PPI network MCODE were used to analyze DEGs. RESULTS Increased immune and stromal scores were closely related with advanced glioma grade and poor prognosis (all P<0.01). In total, 558 DEGs were found and most were related to tumor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were associated with cell-matrix regulation and immune response. Four hub modules related to tumor angiogenesis, collagen formation, and immune response were found and analyzed. Previously overlooked microenvironment-related genes such as LAMB1, FN1, ACTN1, TRIM, SERPINH1, CYBA, LAIR1, and LILRB2 showed prognostic values in malignant glioma patients. CONCLUSIONS The glioma stromal/immune scores are closely related to glioma grade, histology, and survival time. Some glioma microenvironment-related genes including LAMB1, FN1, ACTN1, TRIM6, SERPINH1, CYBA, LAIR1, and LILRB2 show prognostic values in malignant gliomas and serve as potential biomarkers.

Mechanical properties of intercellular tunneling nanotubes formed by different mechanisms.

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) that connect cells have been recognized as a pathway for long-range intercellular transport of diverse cargoes, including viruses, lysosomes or other organelles, Ca2+ and electrical signals. TNTs can initially be formed from thin finger-like actin assembly-driven protrusions or cell contacts and dislodgment. However, it remains unclear whether the mechanical properties of TNTs formed by these two mechanisms are the same. Here, we developed novel microoperation methods to investigate the mechanical properties of TNTs in HEK293 cells, in which the TNTs form from thin finger-like actin assembly-driven protrusions and C2C12 cells, in which the TNTs form through contact and cell dislodgment. We found that TNTs formed by the two mechanisms represent elastic elements with similar tensile strength. In both the HEK and C2C12 cells, the tensile strength of TNTs exhibited a distinct size dependence on their lengths and diameters. Disturbing the cytoskeleton or removing extracellular Ca2+ also changed their tensile strength. In addition, the stiffening of the extracellular matrix (ECM) enhanced the length, diameter and tensile strength of TNTs both in both HEK and C2C12 cells. Finally, a theoretical model was established to reveal the changes in the TNT's mechanical properties with its length, diameter and individual tunneling nanotubes (iTNT) number. This work not only gains insights into the properties of TNTs but also helps understand the dynamics of various cells.

TUG1 exacerbates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through miR-340-5p-mediated PTEN.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play a substantial role in the process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). The present work aimed to determine the probable mechanism by which LncRNA TUG1 exacerbates CIRI via the miR-340-5p/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) pathway. After developing a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model, pcDNA-TUG1 together with miR-340-5p agomir were administrated in vivo. Furthermore, the neurologic defects in rats were assessed by a modified neurological severity score. Moreover, 2,3,5-Triphenyl-2 H-tetrazolium chloride stain-step was performed to determine the brain's infarct size. In addition, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR experiments were utilized for gauging the proteomic/genomic expression-profiles. Luciferase reporter assay validated correlations across TUG1, miR-340-5p, together with PTEN. The results indicated relatively reduced miR-340-5p levels in MCAO/R models, while upregulated TUG1 levels. The pcDNA-TUG1-treated rats indicated increasing neurological dysfunction, whereas the miR-340-5p agomir-treated rats showed improvement. Furthermore, miR-340-5p was determined to be the expected and confirmed TUG1 target. All things considered, the findings suggested that PTEN can serve as the target of miR-340-5p. In addition, TUG1 served as a miR-340-5p ceRNA, which promotes PTEN modulation. Furthermore, TUG1 overexpression decreased miR-340-5p's capacity to fend against CIRI. Conclusively, this work proved that in CIRI, targeting the TUG1/miR-340-5p/PTEN regulatory axis is a viable approach for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

3D Slicer combined with neuroendoscopic surgery for the treatment of basal ganglia hemorrhage after cranioplasty: A case report and literature review.

The minimally invasive surgery through transcranial endoscopic keyhole approach has become the main surgical method for treating cerebral hemorrhage. This method has the advantages of small trauma, short surgical time, low bleeding volume, and fast postoperative recovery. However, this method is not suitable for cases where cerebral hemorrhage occurs again after skull repair surgery. Our team used 3D Slicer reconstruction combined with virtual reality technology to find a suitable keyhole surgical approach and successfully completed a neuroendoscopic removal of basal ganglia hemorrhage through the eyebrow arch keyhole approach in a case of recurrent cerebral hemorrhage after cranioplasty.

Clinical application of transcranial neuroendoscopy combined with supraorbital keyhole approach in minimally invasive surgery of the anterior skull base.

To explore the techniques, safety, and feasibility of minimally invasive neurosurgery through the supraorbital eyebrow arch keyhole approach by neuroendoscopy. Retrospective analysis of clinical data of patients with various cranial diseases treated by transcranial neuroendoscopic supraorbital eyebrow keyhole approach in our hospital from March 2021 to October 2023. A total of 39 complete cases were collected, including 21 cases of intracranial aneurysms, 9 cases of intracranial space occupying lesions, 5 cases of brain trauma, 3 cases of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, and 1 case of cerebral hemorrhage. All patients' surgeries were successful. The good prognosis rate of intracranial aneurysms was 17/21 (81%), and the symptom improvement rate of intracranial space occupying lesions was 8/9 (88.9%). Among them, the initial symptoms of one patient with no improvement were not related to space occupying, while the total effective rate of the other three types of patients was 9/9 (100%). The average length of the craniotomy bone window of the supraorbital eyebrow arch keyhole is 3.77 ± 0.31 cm, and the average width is 2.53 ± 0.23 cm. The average postoperative hospital stay was 14.77 ± 6.59 days. The average clearance rate of hematoma by neuroendoscopy is 95.00% ± 1.51%. Our results indicate that endoscopic surgery through the supraorbital eyebrow arch keyhole approach is safe and effective for the treatment of anterior skull base lesions and cerebral hemorrhage. However, this retrospective study is a single center, small sample study, and the good surgical results do not exclude the subjective screening of suitable patients by clinical surgeons, which may have some bias. Although the clinical characteristics such as indications and contraindications of this surgical method still require further prospective and multicenter clinical research validation, our study still provides a new approach and choice for minimally invasive surgical treatment of anterior skull base lesions.

3D Slicer reconstruction combined with neuroendoscopic keyhole approach for the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea：2 cases report and literature review.

Background and importance: Explore the techniques, advantages and disadvantages of 3D Slicer reconstruction combined with transcranial neuroendoscopy in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea surgery. Clinical presentation: We collected complete clinical data of two patients with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea who underwent minimally invasive surgery using 3D Slicer reconstruction combined with transcranial neuroendoscopy through the supraorbital eyebrow arch keyhole approach in our hospital from June 2022 to May 2023. The patients were one male and one female, aged 50 and 63 years old. At the same time, a retrospective summary of relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years was conducted. 1 case had spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea with secondary cribriform plate lesion, and the other 1 case had traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Both 2 patients were ineffective after long-term conservative treatment, and ultimately recovered after detailed preoperative evaluation and preparation and surgical treatment. Conclusion: Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is a challenging disease in neurosurgery, and improper management can lead to serious complications such as meningitis. Our team used 3D Slicer reconstruction combined with transcranial endoscopic minimally invasive keyhole surgery to treat cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, achieving good results, proving that this combined technology has certain advantages and is a new surgical technique worth promoting. However, the widespread application and promotion of this technology in anterior skull base surgery still require comprehensive and reliable prospective clinical studies to test.

3D Slicer and 3D printing localization combined with neuroendoscopic surgery for the treatment of deep cerebral cavernous hemangioma.

To explore the advantages and disadvantages of 3D Slicer reconstruction and 3D printing localization combined with transcranial neuroendoscope in the surgical treatment of deep cerebral micro cavernous hemangiomas. Method The clinical data of patients with deep cerebral micro cavernous hemangiomas treated by our hospital from June 2022 to February 2023 using 3D Slicer reconstruction and 3D printing localization technology combined with transcranial endoscopic surgery were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 5 cases with complete data were collected, including 2 males and 3 females, aged 9-59 years. All 5 patients had deep supratentorial cavernous hemangiomas with a diameter of less than 1.5 cm, and had clinical symptoms such as headache or epilepsy, and had been diagnosed by CT or MRI. Repeated bleeding from small cavernous hemangiomas in the deep brain can lead to clinical symptoms such as recurrent headache and epilepsy, and is required surgical treatment. However, cavernous hemangiomas often have smaller lesions and are difficult to locate in the deep part. Without neuronavigation, surgery can become extremely difficult. Our team's newly developed 3D Slicer reconstruction and 3D printing localization technology which could provide new options for surgical treatment of small cavernous hemangiomas or other small lesions in the deep brain, but its accuracy and safety still need to be verified by further clinical research.

TUG1 aggravates intracerebral hemorrhage injury by inhibiting angiogenesis in an miR-26a-dependent manner.

Long non-coding RNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) plays pivotal roles in angiogenesis, an important mechanism of neural repair after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the role of TUG1 in angiogenesis following ICH is not clear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role and the underlying mechanism of TUG1 in neurologic impairment and cerebral angiogenesis following ICH. The ICH rat model was established and then rats were injected with TUG1-expressing plasmid (pcDNA-TUG1) or miR-26a mimic, a critical regulator of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. We confirmed the overexpression of TUG1 and miR-26a by qRT-PCR. The neurological deficits of ICH rats were evaluated by modified neurological severity scores. The expression of angiogenesis markers VEGF and CD31 were examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The interaction between TUG1 and miR-26a was determined by luciferase reporter assay. Our results showed that ICH caused a marked upregulation of TUG1 and a significant downregulation of miR-26a. TUG1 overexpression led to the deterioration of neurologic function and inhibited cerebral angiogenesis in ICH rats. In contrast, overexpression of miR-26a alleviated the neurologic damage and promoted cerebral angiogenesis in ICH rats, but these could be attenuated by TUG1 overexpression. Furthermore, TUG1 directly bound to miR-26a and inhibited its expression. Importantly, TUG1 overexpression inhibited the expression of VEGF by targeting miR-26a. In conclusion, our results indicated that TUG1 aggravated ICH-mediated injury by suppressing angiogenesis by downregulating miR-26a. This suggests a rationale for targeting TUG1/miR-26a in the therapy of ICH.

[Corrigendum] HHLA2 is a novel prognostic predictor and potential therapeutic target in malignant glioma.

Following the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that, in Fig. 1F on p. 2311 showing a representative high­grade glioma specimen, the data were either duplicated or overlapping with the data featured in Fig. 1D, which showed a low­grade glioma specimen. After having consulted their original data, the authors have realized that the data for Fig. 1D were inadvertently selected incorrectly. The corrected version of Fig. 1, now showing the correct data for the high­magnification high­grade glioma specimen in Fig. 1F, is shown on the next page. The authors sincerely apologize for the error that was introduced during the preparation of this figure, thank the Editor of Oncology Reports for granting them the opportunity to publish a Corrigendum, and are grateful to the reader for alerting them to this issue. The authors also regret any inconvenience that this mistake may have caused. [Oncology Reports 42: 2309-2322, 2019; DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7343].

3D slicer combined with neuroendoscope in treatment of a distal segment aneurysm of the anterior choroidal artery complicated intraventricular hemorrhage: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Pure ventricular hemorrhage is often secondary to Moyamoya disease, rarely caused by rupture of ventricular aneurysm. The surgical treatment of the latter is very challenging. 3D Slicer reconstruction technology can accurately locate small intracranial lesions and combined with minimally invasive surgery with transcranial neuroendoscope is a new attempt to treat the above diseases. Case presentation: We report a case of pure intraventricular hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a distal segment aneurysm of the anterior choroidal artery. Brain computed tomography (CT) before admission showed pure ventricular hemorrhage, and brain CT angiography (CTA) before operation showed a distal segment aneurysm of the anterior choroidal artery. We used 3D Slicer reconstruction and precise location of the focus before the operation and used the minimally invasive surgery technique with transcranial neuroendoscope to completely remove the hematoma in the ventricle, and found the responsible aneurysm located in the ventricle. Conclusion: Pure intraventricular hemorrhage requires vigilance against the distal segment aneurysm of the anterior choroidal artery. At present, conventional microscopic craniotomy and intravascular interventional therapy have limitations, and 3D Slicer reconstruction and precise positioning technology combined with transcranial neuroendoscope minimally invasive surgery may be a good choice.

Treatment of brainstem and fourth ventricle lesions by the full neuroendoscopic telovelar approach.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical techniques, advantages, and disadvantages of neuroendoscopic telovelar approach in the treatment of brainstem and fourth ventricle lesions. METHODS: The clinical data of 5 patients treated by neuroendoscopic telovelar approach from March 2020 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 5 patients, there were 3 cavernous hemangiomas in pontine arm and 2 tumors in brainstem and fourth ventricle. All patients could successfully complete the operation, and 4 patients recovered well, other 1 patient discharged automatically for serious complications of other systems after the operation. CONCLUSION: The telovelar approach has gained popularity as a safe and effective strategy for lesions in fourth ventricular and brainstem. However, without removing the posterior arch of the atlas, it is difficult to enter the upper part of the fourth ventricle under a microscope. Transcranial neuroendoscopy can effectively compensate for the shortcomings of microscopy, whether used as an auxiliary measure for microsurgery or alone with proficient endoscopic techniques, it will provide greater application in minimally invasive surgery for fourth ventricle and brainstem lesions. By utilizing the excellent degree of freedom of transcranial neuroendoscopy, there is no need to open the posterior arch of the atlas, making the surgery more minimally invasive. However, the sample size of this study is small, and it was completed under the very mature neuroendoscopic technology of our team. Its general safety and practicality still require extensive clinical research validation.

Multi-functional topology optimization of Victoria cruziana veins.

The growth and development of biological tissues and organs strongly depend on the requirements of their multiple functions. Plant veins yield efficient nutrient transport and withstand various external loads. Victoria cruziana, a tropical species of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies, has evolved a network of three-dimensional and rugged veins, which yields a superior load-bearing capacity. However, it remains elusive how biological and mechanical factors affect their unique vein layout. In this paper, we propose a multi-functional and large-scale topology optimization method to investigate the morphomechanics of Victoria cruziana veins, which optimizes both the structural stiffness and nutrient transport efficiency. Our results suggest that increasing the branching order of radial veins improves the efficiency of nutrient delivery, and the gradient variation of circumferential vein sizes significantly contributes to the stiffness of the leaf. In the present method, we also consider the optimization of the wall thickness and the maximum layout distance of circumferential veins. Furthermore, biomimetic leaves are fabricated by using the three-dimensional printing technique to verify our theoretical findings. This work not only gains insights into the morphomechanics of Victoria cruziana veins, but also helps the design of, for example, rib-reinforced shells, slabs and dome skeletons.

Taurine-Upregulated Gene 1 Attenuates Cerebral Angiogenesis following Ischemic Stroke in Rats.

Objective: Angiogenesis is one of the therapeutic targets of cerebral infarction. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the pathological process of angiogenesis following ischemic stroke. Taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1), an lncRNA, is correlated to ischemic stroke. We intended to determine the effect of TUG1 on angiogenesis following an ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was adopted to build a focal ischemic model of the rat brain, and pcDNA-TUG1 and miR-26a mimics were injected into rats. Neurological function was estimated through modified neurological severity scores. The volume of focal brain infarction was calculated through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The level of TUG1 and miR-26a was measured by PCR. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31 was checked using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The correlation between miR-26a and TUG1 was verified through a luciferase reporter assay. Results: TUG1 increased noticeably while miR-26a was markedly reduced in MCAO rats. Overexpression of miR-26a improved neurological function recovery and enhanced cerebral angiogenesis in MCAO rats. TUG1 overexpression aggravated neurological deficits and suppressed cerebral angiogenesis in MCAO rats. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-26a was one of the predicted targets of TUG1. Furthermore, TUG1 combined with miR-26a to regulate angiogenesis. TUG1 overexpression antagonized the role of miR-26a in neurological recovery and angiogenesis in MCAO rats. Conclusions: TUG1/miR-26a, which may act as a regulatory axis in angiogenesis following ischemic stroke, can be considered a potential target for cerebral infarction therapy.

Circulating Tumor Cells for Glioma.

Liquid biopsy has entered clinical applications for several cancers, including metastatic breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer for CTC enumeration and NSCLC for EGFR mutations in ctDNA, and has improved the individualized treatment of many cancers, but relatively little progress has been made in validating circulating biomarkers for brain malignancies. So far, data on circulating tumor cells about glioma are limited, the application of circulating tumor cells as biomarker for glioma patients has only just begun. This article reviews the research status and application prospects of circulating tumor cells in gliomas. Several detection methods and research results of circulating tumor cells about clinical research in gliomas are briefly discussed. The wide application prospect of circulating tumor cells in glioma deserves further exploration, and the research on more sensitive and convenient detection methods is necessary.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Tryptophan Metabolism in the Glioma Tumor Microenvironment.

Gliomas are the most common primary malignant tumor in adults' central nervous system. While current research on glioma treatment is advancing rapidly, there is still no breakthrough in long-term treatment. Abnormalities in the immune regulatory mechanism in the tumor microenvironment are essential to tumor cell survival. The alteration of amino acid metabolism is considered a sign of tumor cells, significantly impacting tumor cells and immune regulation mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. Despite the fact that the metabolism of tryptophan in tumors is currently discussed in the literature, we herein focused on reviewing the immune regulation of tryptophan metabolism in the tumor microenvironment of gliomas and analyzed possible immune targets. The objective is to identify potential targets for the treatment of glioma and improve the efficiency of immunotherapy.

Hsa_circ_0072309 inhibits proliferation and invasion of glioblastoma.

Increasing literature reported that circRNAs play vital roles in the occurrence and progression of GBM and regulate GBM cell proliferation, metastases, and chemosensitivity. However, the expression pattern and function of circRNAs in GBM still need further studies. In our work, hsa_circ_0072309 was remarkably downregulated in GBM. Hsa_circ_0072309 inhibits proliferation and invasion of glioblastoma and affects cytoskeletal of GBM cells. Moreover, we found that the function of hsa_circ_0,072,309 in GBM was associated with HSP27, which was reported to be an important regulator of cell proliferation, invasion and cytoskeletal. Our study provides a novel view of hsa_circ_0072309 in GBM cell proliferation and invasion, indicating that hsa_circ_0072309 may act as a potential therapeutic target for GBM comprehensive treatment.

An Externally Validated Dynamic Nomogram for Predicting Unfavorable Prognosis in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) leads to severe disability and functional dependence. However, no reliable method exists to predict the clinical prognosis after aSAH. Thus, this study aimed to develop a web-based dynamic nomogram to precisely evaluate the risk of poor outcomes in patients with aSAH. Methods: Clinical patient data were retrospectively analyzed at two medical centers. One center with 126 patients was used to develop the model. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis was used to select the optimal variables. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify independent prognostic factors and construct a nomogram based on the selected variables. The C-index and Hosmer-Lemeshow p-value and Brier score was used to reflect the discrimination and calibration capacities of the model. Receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve (1,000 bootstrap resamples) were generated for internal validation, while another center with 84 patients was used to validate the model externally. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curves (CICs) were used to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. Results: Unfavorable prognosis was observed in 46 (37%) patients in the training cohort and 24 (29%) patients in the external validation cohort. The independent prognostic factors of the nomogram, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p = 0.005), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade (p = 0.002), and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) (p = 0.0003), were identified using LASSO and multivariable logistic regression. A dynamic nomogram (https://hu-ping.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/) was developed. The nomogram model demonstrated excellent discrimination, with a bias-corrected C-index of 0.85, and calibration capacities (Hosmer-Lemeshow p-value, 0.412; Brier score, 0.12) in the training cohort. Application of the model to the external validation cohort yielded a C-index of 0.84 and a Brier score of 0.13. Both DCA and CIC showed a superior overall net benefit over the entire range of threshold probabilities. Conclusion: This study identified that NLR on admission, WFNS grade, and DCI independently predicted unfavorable prognosis in patients with aSAH. These factors were used to develop a web-based dynamic nomogram application to calculate the precise probability of a poor patient outcome. This tool will benefit personalized treatment and patient management and help neurosurgeons make better clinical decisions.

SAA1 knockdown promotes the apoptosis of glioblastoma cells via downregulation of AKT signaling.

Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) is an inflammatory associated high-density lipoprotein. And It is also considered as a predictor and prognostic marker of cancer risk. However, its role and mechanisms in glioblastoma (GBM) still unclear. In this study, we validate that SAA1 is up-regulated in GBM, and its high expression predicts poor prognosis. SAA1 knockdown promotes the apoptosis of GBM cell. Mechanistically, SAA1 knockdown can inhibit serine/threonine protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, thereby regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl2 and Bax, leading to GBM cell death. Moreover, Gliomas with low SAA1 expression have increased sensitivity to Temozolomide (TMZ). Low SAA1 expression segregated glioma patients who were treated with Temozolomide (TMZ) or with high MGMT promoter methylation into survival groups in TCGA and CGGA dataset. Our study strongly suggested that SAA1 was a regulator of cells apoptosis and acted not only as a prognostic marker but also a novel biomarker of sensitivity of glioma to TMZ.

Downregulation of LUZP2 Is Correlated with Poor Prognosis of Low-Grade Glioma.

BACKGROUND: LUZP2 is a protein limitedly expressed in the brain and spinal cord, while there are few studies on it in brain tumors. Low-grade glioma (LGG) is one of the most common brain tumors. However, the biological behavior of LGG is not very clear at present. This study was aimed at exploring the role of LUZP2 in LGG. METHODS: By data mining in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), the expression, clinical characteristics, and potential regulatory mechanism of LUZP2 in LGG were assessed. The regulatory miRNAs of LUZP2 were predicted using miRDB, TargetScan, and miRTarBase. Meanwhile, the potential biological function of coexpressed genes was investigated by GO and KEGG analyses. RESULTS: LUZP2 expression was downregulated with the increase of tumor grade (p < 0.05). Low LUZP2 expression independently predicted poor OS in LGG in TCGA cohort and the CGGA part B and part C cohorts (all p < 0.001). Additionally, LUZP2 was targeted by miR-142-5p according to 2 prediction databases and 1 validated database, which was negatively related to LUZP2 mRNA expression (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analyses demonstrated that low miR-142-5p expression was significantly associated with poor OS (p < 0.001). Furthermore, coexpression genes of LUZP2 were significantly involved in nervous system development and metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS: LUZP2 may be crucial for nervous system extracellular matrix development and serve as an important clinical biomarker for LGG patients. miR-142-5p upregulation could be the upstream regulator that contributed to LUZP2 downregulation.