A cyclodextrin-based nanoformulation achieves co-delivery of ginsenoside Rg3 and quercetin for chemo-immunotherapy in colorectal cancer

The immune checkpoint blockade therapy has profoundly revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy. However, despite great promise for a variety of cancers, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is still low in colorectal cancer (CRC). This is mainly due to the immunosuppressive feature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Emerging evidence reveals that certain chemotherapeutic drugs induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), demonstrating great potential for remodeling the immunosuppressive TME. In this study, the potential of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) as an ICD inducer against CRC cells was confirmed using in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. The ICD efficacy of Rg3 could be significantly enhanced by quercetin (QTN) that elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS). To ameliorate in vivo delivery barriers associated with chemotherapeutic drugs, a folate (FA)-targeted polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticle (NP) was developed for co-encapsulation of Rg3 and QTN. The resultant nanoformulation (CD-PEG-FA.Rg3.QTN) significantly prolonged blood circulation and enhanced tumor targeting in an orthotopic CRC mouse model, resulting in the conversion of immunosuppressive TME. Furthermore, the CD-PEG-FA.Rg3.QTN achieved significantly longer survival of animals in combination with Anti-PD-L1. The study provides a promising strategy for the treatment of CRC.

Expression and Clinical Significance of CTGF in Patients with Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To detect the relationship between CTGF in the bone marrow of MM patients and osteolytic lesion of myeloma, moreover, to investigate the clinical significance of CTGF in MM.@*METHODS@#Fifity-four MM patients treated in our hospital from March 2019 to April 2020 were enrolled, and 28 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. The plasma in bone marrow of the patients was collected, and the ELISA was used to detect the level of CTGF in bone marrow plasma and the relationship between its and clinical characteristics were statistically analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The CTGF level of MM patients was significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (P<0.001); the CTGF level in male patients was higher than that in female patients (P=0.007); the CTGF level in MM patients with osteolytic lesions was significantly higher than patients without osteolytic lesions and controls (P=0.007, P=0.001). The CTGF level in MM patients was positively correlated with the number of bone lesions (P<0.001, r=0.52). CTGF levels in patients with ≥3 bone lesions were significantly higher than those with <3 bone lesions and without bone lesions (P=0.014, P=0.002). ROC curve result showed that CTGF expression level shows a significant diagnostic value for MM bone disease (P<0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#The abnormally high expression of CTGF level in MM patients is related to the degree of myelomas osteolytic lesions and can reflect the progress of MM.

Expression and Clinical Significance of STAT3 Genes in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of STAT3 gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and its correlation with clinical characteristics.@*METHODS@#The real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the level of STAT3 mRNA in bone marrow samples from 38 newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML), and its relevance with clinical characteristics and prognosis were statistically analyzed. Western blot was employed to detect the STAT3 protein level in AML patients. The bone marrow cells from 15 healthy subjects were used as control.@*RESULTS@#At the mRNA level, the expression level of STAT3 in the AML group was significantly higher than that in control group (P0.05). The median survival time of patients in STAT3 low expression group was logner than that in high expression group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.005). The level of STAT3 protein in AML patients was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05）.@*CONCLUSION@#The STAT3 gene is highly expressed in AML patients, which may be used as a predictor for high-risk of AML.

Expression of LNK Genes in Patients with Acute Leukemia and Its Clinical Significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of LNK gene in patients with acute leukemia (AL) and its correlation with the clinical characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the level of LNK mRNA in bone marrow samples from 80 patients diagnosed as AL(42 cases of ALL, and 38 cases of AML), and its relevance with clinical indicators was statistically analyzed. Western blot was used to detect the expression of LNK protein. The bone marrow samples of 16 healthy volunteers were used as the controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The LNK mRNA levels in ALL and AML groups were significantly higher than that in control group (P=0.007, P=0.021) and there was no statistical difference between ALL and AML groups. The LNK levels in ALL and AML groups possitively correlated with the risk of patients (P=0.000, P=0.04, r=0.5, r=0.386), And the LNK levels in high risk ALL and AML groups were significantly higher than that in control group (P=0.035, P=0.032), the LNK levels in intermediate risk of AML and ALL groups (P=0.239,P=0.609) and the LNK level in standard risk (P=0.974, P=1) were all higher than that in control group, there was no statistianl significance. but the risks of different groups showed no statistical significance. The LNK protein level in patients with acute leukemia was higher than that in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of LNK gene in AL patients is higher than that in healthy people, and the expression level of LNK gene positively correlates with the risk of patients.</p>

Variation and Clinical Significance of LNK Gene in Essential Thrombocytosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mutation and single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) of LNK gene in the patients with essential thrombocytosis (ET), and to analyze the relationship between LNK gene variation and the occurrence of ET.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>JAK2V617F mutation was identified by allele-specific PCR. The whole exon of LNK gene was amplified by PCR. The amplified sequences included the Rs3184504 (C/T) and Rs78894077 (A/C/G/T) affecting the expression of amino acids in LNK gene, and the Rs7973120 (A/T) unaffecting the expression of amino acids. The mutation and SNP of LNK gene were analyzed by DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six cases of ET had LNK mutation, including four types: A300V, R425C, V402L and R426Q. T allele distribution of SNP Rs78894077 Ser in ET group was statistically significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). T allele frequency of SNP Rs3184504 Ser in ET group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LNK mutations exist in ET patients, and the T allele gene carrying LNK SNP Rs78894077 Ser and Rs3184504 Ser in persons may increase the risk of ET.</p>

Change of G6PD Activity in Children with Acute Leukemia and Its Clinical Significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the change of G6PD activity in children with acute leukemia（AL）and its correlation with the clinical characteristics.@*METHODS@#The G6PD activity in peripheral blood samples from 74 children disagnosed as AL (50 cases of ALL, and 24 cases of AML) was detected by Zinkham method recommended by WHO in 1967, and its relevance with clinical indicators was statistically analyzed. The peripheral blood samples of 70 healthy children were used as the controls.@*RESULTS@#The G6PD activity in ALL and AML groups was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.000, P=0.000) and there was no statistical difference between ALL and AML groups. The G6PD activity in bacterial, fungal infection and non-infection groups (no bacterial and fungal infection) were statistically different from control group (P=0.02, P=0.001, P=0.001), respectively. The G6PD activity in bacterial infection group and non-infection group was statistically different from with fungal infection group (P=0.004, P=0.019), respectively. The G6PD activity linearly correlated with leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage in AL children (P=0.000, P=0.001, r=0.465, r=0.434), respectively. The median survival time of G6PD activity deficiency group was higher than that in the normal group, but without statistically significant difference (P=0.4149).@*CONCLUSION@#The G6PD activity in AL children is significantly lower than that in healthy children, and the G6PD activity linearly relates with leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage of AL children. The patients with G6PD activity deficiency is more susceptible to fungal infection, moreover the infection is more serious.

Chemical constituents from Magnolia grandiflora / 中成药

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Magnolia grandiflora L..METHODS The ethyl acetate fracion of 70％ acetone extract from M.grandiflora leaves was isolated and purified by silica,Sephadex LH-20 and MCI column,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by spectral data.RESULTS Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as 10α-methoxyalloaromadendra-4β-ol (1),spathulenol (2),aromadendra-4β,10β-diol (3),aromadendra-4β,10α-diol (4),9-oxonerolidol (5),9-hydroxynerolidol (6),3,7-dimethylocta-1,5E-diene-3,7-diol (7),phytol (8),α-tocopherol (9),elemicin (10),syringaresinol (11),yangambin (12).CONCLUSION Compounds 1,3-6,8 are isolated from genus Magnolia for the first time,compounds 7,9,10,12 are first isolated from this plant.

LNK Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Acute Leukemia Susceptibility / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b></b>To investigate the relationship between the LNK(SH2B3) gene single nucleotide polymorphism and risk of acute leukemia (AL) in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from 31 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 70 cases of acute myeloid leukemia and 130 healthy persons as the controls were collected. Genotype of LNK SNP Rs3184504(c.784T>C) and Rs78894077(c.724C>T) were determined by PCR-RFLP, and were confirmed by gel electrophoresis and sequencing. The NB4, THP-1 and Raji leukemia cell line models were cultured, the leukemia cell line LNK Rs3184504 and Rs78894077 polymorphism were detected by using direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The CC genotype frequencies of Rs3184504 SNP were higher in ALL and AML patients than those in control (P<0.01), but there was no different between the groups in AML and ALL. The frequency of LNK gene Rs3184504 C allele was higher in AL as compared with control (P<0.01). The LNK gene Rs78894077 locus genotype distribution was not significantly different between the AL and the normal control group (P>0.05). Both Rs3184504 and Rs78894077 sites were detected as CC genotype in NB4, THP-1 and Raji cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The persons carrying C allele of LNK gene Rs3184504 are more prone to develop acute leukemia.</p>

Application of Next Generation Sequencing to Screen the Neonatal Thalassemia Genes / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS) to screen the neonatal thalassemia genes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plantar blood of 206 cases of neonatal born in our hospital were randomly collected to be made into dried blood, which can be screened for thalassemia genes by next-generation sequencing, and then a further analysis would be performed on the basis on the detection results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 206 cases of neonates tested, the thalassemia gene mutations in 22 cases were screened, including 11 cases of alpha-thalassemia, 11 cases of beta-thalassemia, 5 cases of new mutations. Out of 11 cases of alpha-thalassemia 7 cases were proved to be the gene deletion, accounting for 64% (7/11), and the specific genotype distribution was as follows: 4 cases of αα/-α(3.7), 2 cases of αα/-SEA, 1 case of αα/-α(4.2), the remaining 4 cases with point mutations (4/11, 36%): Hb Part-Dieu hybrid, Hb Quong Sze hybrid, Hb Westmead hybrid, HBA1: c. 95 + 9 c > T (rewly discovered gene mutation). The whole 11 cases of β-thalassemia are proved to be with beta chain point mutations, 7 kinds of mutation genotype were detected , CD17 (A->T) is the most common point locus mutation, accounted for 27% (3/11), and 50 G>A hybrid in 2 cases, 1 cases of Hb Hamilton hybrid, IVS-II-654 (C->T) in 1 case. The remaining 4 cases are of the new gene point mutation, they are as follows respectively: HBB: c. 316-116 c>A, HBB: c.316-248G>T, HBB: c.315 + 63 T>c, HBB: c. -23 A>G.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The next-generation sequencing technology can be used to screen neonatal plantar dried blood for the thalassemia genetic mutation, which not only can effectively detect thalassemia gene types, but also can look for new gene mutations. The advantages of this method include easy collecting samples, precise result and wide use for clinical diagnosis, thus possibly give an early diagnosis for thalassemia.</p>

MCPIP1 mediates MCP-1-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation / 生理学报

The aim of the present study is to investigate whether monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is mediated via monocyte chemotactic protein-1 induced protein-1 (MCPIP1). MCPIP1 expressions in cultured VSMC were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot following MCP-1 incubation. After MCPIP1 was silenced by siRNA, cell number was counted by hemocytometer, VSMC activity was analyzed by CCK-8 kit, percentage of DNA synthesis was detected by EdU kit, percentage of S phase cell numbers were measured by flow cytometry, and c-fos mRNA expression induced by MCP-1 or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was detected by real-time PCR. The results showed MCP-1 increased MCPIP1 mRNA and up-regulated MCPIP1 protein expression in dose- and time-dependent manners. Cell counts, cellular activity, the percentage of DNA synthesis, and the percentage of S phase cell numbers were remarkably decreased in MCPIP1 siRNA group, compared with those in MCP-1 group. The enhancing effect of MCP-1 or PDGF on c-fos mRNA expression was inhibited by MCPIP1 siRNA. These results suggest that MCP-1-induced VSMC proliferation is mediated via MCPIP1, and the underlying mechanism may involve c-fos expression up-regulation.

Expression and significance of MMP-26, TIMP-4 and MMP-9 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 26 (MMP-26), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their correlations with pathogenesis and development of DLBCL. A total of 95 specimens excised from DLBCL patients were prepared. Expression of MMP-26, TIMP-4 and MMP-9 were tested by SABC immunohistochemistry method and its correlation to clinicopathology indexes were analyzed. The results showed that as compared with reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes, the high expression of MMP-26, TIMP-4 and MMP-9 were found in different types of DLBCL. The positive expression rate of MMP-26 was related to immune typing (P < 0.05). The expression level of MMP-26 in GCB was lower than that in non-GCB, and did not relate to clinical staging, age, sex, diseased region (P > 0.05). The positive expression rate of MMP-9 was related to clinical staging, the positive expression rate of MMP-9 proteins in patient at III and IV stage was obviously higher than that in patients at I and II stage, but did not relate to immune type, age, sex and diseased region of DLBCL (P > 0.05). The expression of TIMP-4 did not relate to immune type, clinical stage, age, sex, disease region (P > 0.05). The expression of MMP-26 in pathologic tissue of DLBCL did not relate to expression of TIMP-4, but positively related to expression of MMP-9 protein (r = 0.486, P < 0.05). It is concluded that MMP-26 and MMP-9 synergically express in DLBCL. MMP-26 may be involve in pathogenesis and invasiveness of DLBCL, the expression of MMP-26 relates to subtypes of DLBCL. The MMP-26 may serve as an indicator for typing of DLBCL and contributes to predict the invasion and metastasis of DLBCL and itself may become a potential target for therapy.