ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression features and clinical significance of the microRNA-888 (miRNA-888) gene family members in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsA total of 72 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who were treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2012 to December 2017 were enrolled, and 72 liver tissue samples collected from healthy volunteers were enrolled as normal control group. Quantitative real-time PCR and in situ hybridization were used to measure the expression of miRNA-888 family members (miRNA-888, miRNA-891a, miRNA-891b, miRNA-892a, and miRNA-892b) in HCC tissue, and the association of the expression of miRNA-888, miRNA-891b, and miRNA-892a with the clinicopathological features of HCC was analyzed. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsHCC tissue had significantly higher expression of miRNA-888, miRNA-891b, and miRNA-892a than normal liver tissue (miRNA-888: 2.53±0.75 vs 0.46±0.08, t=14.02, P＜0.001; miRNA-891b: 2.26±0.38 vs 1.19±0.21, t=7.75, P＜0.001; miRNA-892a: 5.44±1.01 vs 1.06±0.30, t=35.27, P＜0001). According to the results of in situ hybridization, the miRNAs of miRNA-888, miRNA-891b, and miRNA-892a were mainly located in the cell nucleus of HCC tissue, and there were significant differences in the expression of these miRNAs between HCC tissue and normal tissue (miRNA-888: 3.91±0.92 vs 1.21±0.42, t=22.65, P＜0.001; miRNA-891b: 2.92±0.76 vs 0.83±0.21, t=2292, P＜0001; miRNA-892a: 3.81±0.99 vs 1.30±0.32, t=20.47, P＜0001). There were significant differences in the expression of miRNA-888 and miRNA-891b between the patients with different histological grades and clinical stages (χ2=6.25, 4.44, 4.76, and 6.05, all P＜0.05), and there was a significantly higher expression of miRNA-892a in stage III/IV tumors (χ2=8.50, P＜0.001). ConclusionThere are significant increases in the expression of miRNA-888, miRNA-891b, and miRNA-892a in HCC tissue, and such increases are closely associated with the malignancy of HCC.
ABSTRACT
Background The pathological basis of human primary open angle glaucoma mainly is the degeneration of trabecular meshwork and Schlemm canal.As the outflow pathway of aqueous humor, the tissue origin and characteristics of trabecular meshwork remain less clear.Studying the characteristics of trabecular meshwork may contribute a new thought to the treatment of primary open angle glaucoma.Objective This study was to explore the histological property of trabecular meshwork by detecting the expression of D2-40, a lymphatic biomarker,and CD31,CD34 and smooth muscle actin (SMA), some vascular endothelial biomarkers.Methods Twenty specimens of adult eyeballs were collected from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University,including l0 eyeballs from accident death donors,3 enucleated eyeballs due to posterior segment of choroidal malignant melanoma and 7 orbital exenterated eyeballs.The series ocular meridian sections with the thickness of 4 μm were prepared for the haematoxylin-eosin staining.Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of D2-40,CD31 ,CD34 and SMA in trabecular meshwork and Schlemm canal.Results Intact structure of chamber angle was observed under the optical microscope by haematoxylin-eosin staining.Human trabecular meshwork tissue was presented with meshlike structure,while Schlemm canal showed the lumen structure.No abnormal substance and periphery synechia were found.D2-40 was strongly expressed in the trabecular meshwork endothelial cells with staining score for 3 points, but CD31, CD34 and SMA were negatively expressed.In contrast, CD31, CD34 and SMA rather than D2-40 were positively expressed in the Schlemm canal.In addition, CD31 and CD34 were also positively expressed in the vascular endothelial cells around the trabecular meshwork.Conclusions The trabecular meshwork expresses lymphatic biomarker rather than vascular biomarkers.This result indicates that trabecular meshwork of human eyes is lymphatic vessel-like tissue.