Characterization of unique pattern of immune cell profile in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma through flow cytometry and machine learning.

In patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the alteration of immune responses in peripheral blood remains unclear. In this study, we established an immune cell profile for patients with NPC and used flow cytometry and machine learning (ML) to identify the characteristics of this profile. After isolation of circulating leukocytes, the proportions of 104 immune cell subsets were compared between NPC group and the healthy control group (HC). Data obtained from the immune cell profile were subjected to ML training to differentiate between the immune cell profiles of the NPC and HC groups. We observed that subjects in the NPC group presented higher proportions of T cells, memory B cells, short-lived plasma cells, IgG-positive B cells, regulatory T cells, MHC II+ T cells, CTLA4+ T cells and PD-1+ T cells than subjects in the HC group, indicating weaker and compromised cellular and humoral immune responses. ML revealed that monocytes, PD-1+ CD4 T cells, memory B cells, CTLA4+ CD4 Treg cells and PD-1+ CD8 T cells were strongly contributed to the difference in immune cell profiles between the NPC and HC groups. This alteration can be fundamental in developing novel immunotherapies for NPC.

Nephroprotective effects of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) leaves aqueous extracts in aristolochic acid-intoxicated zebrafish embryos.

Coriander is a notable medicinal plant known for its diverse properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, analgesic, and anti-diabetic effects. Despite its recognized health benefits, research on its nephroprotective properties is limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential nephroprotective properties of an aqueous extract derived from coriander leaves using an aristolochic acid-intoxicated zebrafish model. To assess kidney abnormalities induced by aristolochic acid (AA), we utilized the transgenic line Tg(wt1b:egfp), which expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the kidney. Our previous report indicated that AA exposure leads to acute renal failure in zebrafish characterized by kidney malformation and impaired renal function. However, pretreatment of coriander extract (CE) can mitigate kidney malformations induced by AA. In addition, CE pretreatment reduces the accumulation of red blood cells in the glomerular region. To verify the nephroprotective effects of CE, we analyzed renal function by measuring the glomerular filtration rate in zebrafish embryos. Results indicate that CE partially mitigates renal function impairment caused by AA exposure, suggesting its potential to attenuate AA-induced renal failure. Mechanistically, pretreatment with CE reduces the expression of proinflammatory and proapoptotic genes induced by AA. This suggests that CE likely alleviates acute renal failure by reducing inflammation and apoptosis. As a result, we regard zebrafish as a valuable model for screening natural compounds that have the potential to alleviate AA-induced nephrotoxicity.

Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer Stem Cells of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death globally. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) of HCC are responsible for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, chemoresistance, target therapy resistance and radioresistance. The reported main surface markers used to identify liver CSCs include epithelial cell adhesion/activating molecule (EpCAM), cluster differentiation 90 (CD90), CD44 and CD133. The main molecular signaling pathways include the Wnt/ß-catenin, transforming growth factors-ß (TGF-ß), sonic hedgehog (SHH), PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Notch. Patients with EpCAM-positive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive HCC are usually young but have advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages. CD90-positive HCCs are usually poorly differentiated with worse prognosis. Those with CD44-positive HCC cells develop early metastases. Those with CD133 expression have a higher recurrence rate and a shorter overall survival. The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway triggers angiogenesis, tumor infiltration and metastasis through the enhancement of angiogenic factors. All CD133+ liver CSCs, CD133+/EpCAM+ liver CSCs and CD44+ liver CSCs contribute to sorafenib resistance. SHH signaling could protect HCC cells against ionizing radiation in an autocrine manner. Reducing the CSC population of HCC is crucial for the improvement of the therapy of advanced HCC. However, targeting CSCs of HCC is still challenging.

Persistent TLR4 Activation Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth through Positive Feedback Regulation by LIN28A/Let-7g miRNA.

Chronic inflammation caused by liver damage or infection plays an important role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The activation of Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) is involved in HCC tumorigenesis. Moreover, high TLR4 expression in HCC has been linked to poor prognosis. Although the expression of TLR4 in HCC is relatively low compared to hematopoietic cells, it is important to explore the molecular mechanism leading to the elevation of TLR4 in HCC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the positive regulating loop for TLR4 expression in HCC in response to chronic inflammation. Our results confirm that the mRNA expression of TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 6 (IL6) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), positively correlate in human HCC samples. High TLR4 expression in HCC is more susceptible to lipopolysaccharide (LPS); TLR4 activation in HCC provides growth and survival advantages and thus promotes tumorigenesis. It has been shown that the LIN28/let-7 microRNA (miRNA) axis is a downstream effector of the TLR4 signal pathway, and let-7 miRNA is a potential post-transcriptional regulator for TLR4. Thus, we investigated the correlation between TLR4 and LIN28A mRNA and let-7g miRNA in HCC clinical samples and found that the expression of TLR4 was positively correlated with LIN28A and negatively correlated with let-7g miRNA. Moreover, by culturing PLC/PRF5 (PLC5) HCC cells in low-dose LPS-containing medium to mimic chronic inflammation for persistent TLR4 activation, the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and LIN28A were elevated, and let-7g miRNA was decreased. Furthermore, the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TLR4 mRNA was shown to be the target of let-7g miRNA, suggesting that inhibition of let-7g miRNA is able to increase TLR4 mRNA. While parental PLC5 cells have a low susceptibility to LPS-induced cell growth, long-term LPS exposure for PLC5 cells leads to increased proliferation, cytokine expression and stemness properties. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate positive feedback regulation for chronic TLR4 activation in the modulation of TLR4 expression level through the LIN28A/let-7g pathway in HCC and suggest a connection between chronic inflammation and TLR4 expression level in HCC for promoting tumorigenesis.

The Role of Endoglin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Endoglin (CD105) is a type-1 integral transmembrane glycoprotein and coreceptor for transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) ligands. The endoglin/TGF-ß signaling pathway regulates hemostasis, cell proliferation/migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis contributes to early progression, invasion, postoperative recurrence, and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most widespread malignancies globally. Endoglin is overexpressed in newly formed HCC microvessels. It increases microvessel density in cirrhotic and regenerative HCC nodules. In addition, circulating endoglin is present in HCC patients, suggesting potential for use as a diagnostic or prognostic factor. HCC angiogenesis is dynamic and endoglin expression varies by stage. TRC105 (carotuximab) is an antibody against endoglin, and three of its clinical trials were related to liver diseases. A partial response was achieved when combining TRC105 with sorafenib. Although antiangiogenic therapy still carries some risks, combination therapy with endoglin inhibitors or other targeted therapies holds promise.

Rathke's cleft cyst presenting as incomplete cavernous sinus syndrome and disc edema: a case report with literature review.

PURPOSE: To report a Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) presenting as unilateral incomplete cavernous sinus syndrome and disc edema METHOD: Case report with literature review RESULTS: We present an 18-year-old girl who has been experiencing intermittent binocular diplopia for 1 month. Upon examination, the best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 (OU). Pronounced limitation of ocular motility with ptosis in her right eye was noted. Her pupil constricted normally. However, a relative afferent pupillary defect in the right eye was observed. Fundus examination showed disc edema in the right eye without peripapillary hemorrhage. Moreover, her thyroid function and acetylcholine receptor antibody levels were normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1.6-cm mass at the suprasellar fossa and optic nerve sheath of right eye enhancement. She underwent transsphenoidal surgery, and pus-like formation was noted. Pathological findings were consistent with RCCs. After the cyst was removed, her ocular motility remarkably improved and ptosis subsided. CONCLUSION: A case of RCC presenting as multiple cranial nerve palsy was reported. RCCs are benign and usually asymptomatic. Symptomatic RCCs often manifest as headache or visual problems, such as reduced visual acuity and visual field defect. Multiple cranial nerve involvement is uncommon and indicates inflammation or compression of the cavernous sinus and optic nerve. Neuropathy may resolve after surgery; therefore, surgery is indicated for symptomatic RCCs. Further, RCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with disc edema.

Effect of Orthokeratology Lens on Contrast Sensitivity Function and High-Order Aberrations in Children and Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Overnight orthokeratology (OOK) lenses are used to temporarily decrease myopic refractive error and improve uncorrected vision. Overnight orthokeratology lenses significantly increase ocular and corneal high-order aberrations (HOAs) and compromise contrast sensitivity function (CSF) to a degree correlated with myopic correction achieved. In Taiwan, OOK lenses are mainly used in children for myopia control. However, information regarding its effects in this population remains limited. This study discusses the change in HOAs and CSF after 28 nights of OOK lens use in children compared with that in adults. METHODS: In total, 46 children (9-18 years) and 26 adults (>18 years) who visited Ophthalmology Department of Mackay Memorial Hospital from October to December 2013 were enrolled. Contrast sensitivity and ocular/corneal total high-order, coma, and spherical aberrations (SA) were tested before OOK treatment. After 28 days of overnight use, CSF and topography were reexamined, and data were collected and analyzed using t test and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: In total, 23 eyes of 23 children and 14 eyes of 14 adults were evaluated. The treatment resulted in a significant increase in ocular total HOA, coma, and SA in both groups. However, CSF declined more in adults than children. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that OOK lenses decrease CSF to a greater extent in adults than that in children despite no significant differences in the change of ocular HOAs between both subject groups. We proposed children may have better neural adaptation to compensate for optical aberrations induced by OOK lens use.

Liver Fibrosis and Inflammation under the Control of ERK2.

Chronic liver injury could lead the formation of liver fibrosis, eventually some would develop to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the leading malignancies worldwide. The aim of the study is to dissect the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) signaling in liver fibrosis and inflammation. The choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet could lead to fatty livers and generate oval cells, activate hepatocyte stellate cell (HSC) and recruit immune cells as the liver fibrosis model mice. WT and ERK2 deficient (ERK2-/-) mice were compared in terms of liver weight/body weight, liver function, liver fibrosis markers and the differential gene expression in hepatotoxicity. ERK2-/- mice display the less degree of liver fibrosis when compared to WT mice. The protein level of alpha smooth muscle (α-SMA) was reduced and several hepatocellular carcinoma-related genes such as MMP9, FoxM1 were down-regulated. In addition, the cell proliferation and the percentages of activated T cells were reduced in ERK2-/- mice upon liver injury. Therefore, ERK2 plays an important role in regulating liver cirrhosis and inflammation.

Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Organogenesis, Tumors, and Tumor Microenvironments.

During mammalian embryonic development, primary cilia transduce and regulate several signaling pathways. Among the various pathways, Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is one of the most significant. SHH signaling remains quiescent in adult mammalian tissues. However, in multiple adult tissues, it becomes active during differentiation, proliferation, and maintenance. Moreover, aberrant activation of SHH signaling occurs in cancers of the skin, brain, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, colon, breast, lung, prostate, and hematological malignancies. Recent studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment or stroma could affect tumor development and metastasis. One hypothesis has been proposed, claiming that the pancreatic epithelia secretes SHH that is essential in establishing and regulating the pancreatic tumor microenvironment in promoting cancer progression. The SHH signaling pathway is also activated in the cancer stem cells (CSC) of several neoplasms. The self-renewal of CSC is regulated by the SHH/Smoothened receptor (SMO)/Glioma-associated oncogene homolog I (GLI) signaling pathway. Combined use of SHH signaling inhibitors and chemotherapy/radiation therapy/immunotherapy is therefore key in targeting CSCs.

The Role of Smoothened in Cancer.

Smoothened (SMO) belongs to the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway, which regulates cell growth, migration, invasion and stem cells in cancer. The HH signaling pathway includes both canonical and noncanonical pathways. The canonical HH pathway functions through major HH molecules such as HH ligands, PTCH, SMO and GLI, whereas the noncanonical HH pathway involves the activation of SMO or GLI through other pathways. The role of SMO has been discussed in different types of cancer, including breast, liver, pancreatic and colon cancers. SMO expression correlates with tumor size, invasiveness, metastasis and recurrence. In addition, SMO inhibitors can suppress cancer formation, reduce the proliferation of cancer cells, trigger apoptosis and suppress cancer stem cell activity. A better understanding of the role of SMO in cancer could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

Embryonic exposure to 4-methylimidazole leads to zebrafish myofibril misalignment.

4-methylimidazole (4-MI) is an imidazole-derived organic chemical compound that can be used as a raw material in the manufacture of diverse chemicals and has been identified as an ingredient of caramel color in soybean sauce, beers, and other soft drinks. The aim of the present study was to investigate the teratogenic effects of 4-MI during zebrafish embryogenesis. Zebrafish embryos were treated with different dosages of 4-MI (0-120 mM) for different exposure durations (12-60 hours). The percentages of embryos with malformed phenotypes increased as the exposure dosages and duration time of 4-MI increased. We also used immunofluorescence and transmission microscopy to evaluate the subtle changes in the myofibril alignment and ultrastructure of muscle organization. Our data showed that 4-MI treatment disturbs muscle fiber alignment. Electron microscopy data indicated that Z-lines were undetectable in the 4-MI-treated embryos. Although the thick and thin filaments were visible, they were all disorganized. In addition, zebrafish embryos treated by 4-MI exhibited aberrant expression of 2 muscle-specific genes, myod and myogenin. Taken together, we concluded that early exposure to 4-MI affects zebrafish myogenesis, especially in myofibril alignment.

Glioma-Associated Oncogene Homolog Inhibitors Have the Potential of Suppressing Cancer Stem Cells of Breast Cancer.

Overexpression of Sonic Hedgehog signaling (Shh) pathway molecules is associated with invasiveness and recurrence in breast carcinoma. Therefore, inhibition of the Shh pathway downstream molecule Glioma-associated Oncogene Homolog (Gli) was investigated for its ability to reduce progression and invasiveness of patient-derived breast cancer cells and cell lines. Human primary breast cancer T2 cells with high expression of Shh signaling pathway molecules were compared with breast cancer line MDA-MB-231 cells. The therapeutic effects of Gli inhibitors were examined in terms of the cell proliferation, apoptosis, cancer stem cells, cell migration and gene expression. Blockade of the Shh signaling pathway could reduce cell proliferation and migration only in MDA-MB-231 cells. Hh pathway inhibitor-1 (HPI-1) increased the percentages of late apoptotic cells in MDA-MB-231 cells and early apoptotic cells in T2 cells. It reduced Bcl2 expression for cell proliferation and increased Bim expression for apoptosis. In addition, Gli inhibitor HPI-1 decreased significantly the percentages of cancer stem cells in T2 cells. HPI-1 worked more effectively than GANT-58 against breast carcinoma cells. In conclusion, HPI-1 could inhibit cell proliferation, reduce cell invasion and decrease cancer stem cell population in breast cancer cells. To target Gli-1 could be a potential strategy to suppress breast cancer stem cells.

N-Glycosylation of Human R-Spondin 1 Is Required for Efficient Secretion and Stability but Not for Its Heparin Binding Ability.

R-spondin 1 (Rspo1) plays an essential role in stem cell biology by potentiating Wnt signaling activity. Despite the fact that Rspo1 holds therapeutic potential for a number of diseases, its biogenesis is not fully elucidated. All Rspo proteins feature two amino-terminal furin-like repeats, which are responsible for Wnt signal potentiation, and a thrombospondin type 1 (TSR1) domain that can provide affinity towards heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Using chemical inhibitors, deglycosylase and site-directed mutagenesis, we found that human Rspo1 and Rspo3 are both N-glycosylated at N137, a site near the C-terminus of the furin repeat 2 domain, and Rspo2 is N-glycosylated at N160, a position near the N-terminus of TSR1 domain. Elimination of N-glycosylation at these sites affects their accumulation in media but have no effect on the ability towards heparin. Introduction of the N-glycosylation site to Rspo2 mutant at the position homologous to N137 in Rspo1 restored full glycosylation and rescued the accumulation defect of nonglycosylated Rspo2 mutant in media. Similar effect can be observed in the N137 Rspo1 or Rspo3 mutant engineered with Rspo2 N-glycosylation site. The results highlight the importance of N-glycosylation at these two positions in efficient folding and secretion of Rspo family. Finally, we further showed that human Rspo1 is subjected to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control in N-glycan-dependent manner. While N-glycan of Rspo1 plays a role in its intracellular stability, it had little effect on secreted Rspo1. Our findings provide evidence for the critical role of N-glycosylation in the biogenesis of Rspo1.

Pro-Angiogenic Effects of Chalcone Derivatives in Zebrafish Embryos in Vivo.

The aim of this study was to investigate novel chalcones with potent angiogenic activities in vivo. Chalcone-based derivatives were evaluated using a transgenic zebrafish line with fluorescent vessels to real-time monitor the effect on angiogenesis. Results showed that the chalcone analogues did not possess anti-angiogenic effect on zebrafish vasculatures; instead, some of them displayed potent pro-angiogenic effects on the formation of the sub-intestinal vein. Similar pro-angiogenic effects can also be seen on wild type zebrafish embryos. Moreover, the expression of vegfa, the major regulator for angiogenesis, was also upregulated in their treatment. Taken together, we have synthesized and identified a series of novel chalcone-based derivatives as potent in vivo pro-angiogenic compounds. These novel compounds hold potential for therapeutic angiogenesis.

Polar opposites: Erk direction of CD4 T cell subsets.

Effective immune responses depend upon appropriate T cell differentiation in accord with the nature of an infectious agent, and the contingency of differentiation depends minimally on TCR, coreceptor, and cytokine signals. In this reverse genetic study, we show that the MAPK Erk2 is not essential for T cell proliferation in the presence of optimum costimulation. Instead, it has opposite effects on T-bet and Gata3 expression and, hence, on Th1 and Th2 differentiation. Alternatively, in the presence of TGF-ß, the Erk pathway suppresses a large program of gene expression, effectively limiting the differentiation of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. In the latter case, the mechanisms involved include suppression of Gata3 and Foxp3, induction of Tbx21, phosphorylation of Smad2,3, and possibly suppression of Socs2, a positive inducer of Stat5 signaling. Consequently, loss of Erk2 severely impeded Th1 differentiation while enhancing the development of Foxp3(+)-induced T regulatory cells. Selected profiles of gene expression under multiple conditions of T cell activation illustrate the opposing consequences of Erk pathway signaling.

Reappraisal of the Roles of the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

HCC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death globally. The main challenges in treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) primarily arise from high rates of postoperative recurrence and the limited efficacy in treating advanced-stage patients. Various signaling pathways involved in HCC have been reported. Among them, the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is crucial. The presence of SHH ligands is identified in approximately 60% of HCC tumor tissues, including tumor nests. PTCH-1 and GLI-1 are detected in more than half of HCC tissues, while GLI-2 is found in over 84% of HCC tissues. The SHH signaling pathway (including canonical and non-canonical) is involved in different aspects of HCC, including hepatocarcinogenesis, tumor growth, tumor invasiveness, progression, and migration. The SHH signaling pathway also contributes to recurrence, metastasis, modulation of the cancer microenvironment, and sustaining cancer stem cells. It also affects the resistance of HCC cells to chemotherapy, target therapy, and radiotherapy. Reappraisal of the roles of the SHH signaling pathway in HCC may trigger some novel therapies for HCC.

Aldo-keto reductase family member C3 (AKR1C3) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth by producing prostaglandin F2α.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Current therapies are effective for HCC patients with early disease, but many patients suffer recurrence after surgery and have a poor response to chemotherapy. Therefore, new therapeutic targets are needed. We analyzed gene expression profiles between HCC tissues and normal adjacent tissues from public databases and found that the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was significantly different. The analysis showed that AKR1C3 was upregulated in tumors, and high AKR1C3 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in HCC patients. In vitro, assays demonstrated that the knockdown of AKR1C3 or the addition of the AKR1C3 inhibitor indomethacin suppressed the growth and colony formation of HCC cell lines. Knockdown of AKR1C3 in Huh7 cells reduced tumor growth in vivo. To explore the mechanism, we performed pathway enrichment analysis, and the results linked the expression of AKR1C3 with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) downstream target genes. Suppression of AKR1C3 activity reduced the production of PGF2α, and supplementation with PGF2α restored the growth of indomethacin-treated Huh7 cells. Knockdown of the PGF receptor (PTGFR) and treatment with a PTGFR inhibitor significantly reduced HCC growth. We showed that indomethacin potentiated the sensitivity of Huh7 cells to sorafenib. In summary, our results indicate that AKR1C3 upregulation may promote HCC growth by promoting the production of PGF2α, and suppression of PTGFR limited HCC growth. Therefore, targeting the AKR1C3-PGF2α-PTGFR axis may be a new strategy for the treatment of HCC.

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer and Liver Cirrhosis.

The extended scope of upper gastrointestinal cancer can include esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer. A higher incidence rate of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer in patients with liver cirrhosis has been reported. It is attributable to four possible causes which exist in cirrhotic patients, including a higher prevalence of gastric ulcers and congestive gastropathy, zinc deficiency, alcohol drinking and tobacco use and coexisting gut microbiota. Helicobacter pylori infection enhances the development of gastric cancer. In addition, Helicobacter pylori, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans also contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients (especially those with alcoholic liver cirrhosis) who undergo liver transplantation have a higher overall risk of developing de novo malignancies. Most de novo malignancies are upper gastrointestinal malignancies. The prognosis is usually poor. Considering the surgical risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer among those with liver cirrhosis, a radical gastrectomy with D1 or D2 lymph node dissection can be undertaken in Child class A patients. D1 lymph node dissection can be performed in Child class B patients. Endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric cancer or esophageal cancer can be undertaken safely in selected cirrhotic patients. In Child class C patients, a radical gastrectomy is potentially fatal. Pancreatic radical surgery should be avoided in those with liver cirrhosis with Child class B or a MELD score over 15. The current review focuses on the recent reports on some factors in liver cirrhosis that contribute to the development of upper gastrointestinal cancer. Quitting alcohol drinking and tobacco use is important. How to decrease the risk of the development of gastrointestinal cancer in those with liver cirrhosis remains a challenging problem.

Liver collision tumor of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma: A rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can occasionally develop with other non-HCC cell types, either in a combined type or collision type. A collision tumor is defined as two histopathologically distinct tumors of the same organ lacking a clear transition zone. Hepatic collision tumors are rare. Among them, "hepatocellular carcinoma-hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma" (HCC-NEC) collision tumors are especially rare and information about them is rarely published. CASE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old man with typical findings of HCC underwent consecutive therapies, including radiofrequency ablation and embolization prior to resection. Diagnosis of the HCC-NEC collision tumor in the right liver and another HCC in the left liver was established following surgical resection. The patient displayed NEC metastasis following resection and succumbed to septicemia after 2 more rounds of chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the 25th reported case of mixed HCC-NEC tumor. The rarity of HCC-NEC collision tumors and the absence of diagnostic criteria make it difficult to differentiate this condition from simple liver tumors, especially in patients with chronic liver disease. CONCLUSION: Our case highlights the difficulty in accurately diagnosing HCC-NEC in the absence of histological evidence. The prognosis is poor for this condition, although ultrasound-guided liver biopsy can be helpful to establish a prompt diagnosis. Further accumulation of such cases could help establish an accurate diagnosis earlier. Early discovery of NEC may allow for better treatment strategies and better prognoses.

MXD3 Promotes Obesity and the Androgen Receptor Signaling Pathway in Gender-Disparity Hepatocarcinogenesis.

Obesity is closely linked to metabolic diseases, particularly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ultimately leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms of NASH-associated HCC (NAHCC) remain elusive. To explore the impact of Max dimerization protein 3 (MXD3), a transcription factor that regulates several cellular functions in disorders associated with metabolic diseases, we conditionally expressed Mxd3 proteins using Tet-on mxd3 transgenic zebrafish (MXs) with doxycycline (MXs + Dox) or without doxycycline (MXs - Dox) treatment. Overexpression of global MXD3 (gMX) or hepatic Mxd3 (hMX) was associated with obesity-related NAFLD pathophysiology in gMX + Dox, and liver fibrosis and HCC in hMX + Dox. Oil Red O (ORO)-stained signals were seen in intravascular blood vessels and liver buds of larval gMX + Dox, indicating that Mxd3 functionally promotes lipogenesis. The gMX + Dox-treated young adults exhibited an increase in body weight and visceral fat accumulation. The hMX + Dox-treated young adults showed normal body characteristics but exhibited liver steatosis and NASH-like phenotypes. Subsequently, steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and NAHCC were found in 6-month-old gMX + Dox adults compared with gMX - Dox adults at the same stage. Overexpression of Mxd3 also enhanced AR expression accompanied by the increase of AR-signaling pathways resulting in hepatocarcinogenesis in males. Our results demonstrate that global actions of Mxd3 are central to the initiation of obesity in the gMX zebrafish through their effects on adipogenesis and that MXD3 could serve as a therapeutic target for obesity-associated liver diseases.