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Objective To analyze tumor immune microenvironment and related mechanisms in liver cancer.Methods We included 10 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma,hepatitis B patients and healthy volunteers from January 2015 to December 2017 in Shanxi Grand Hospital.We first detected the peripheral and local GM-CSF level in each group,detected myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) GM-CSF and pathway-related protein expression.from liver cancer,tumor margin and normal liver tissue through flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry,Finally,we transfected the CCR4-NOT transcriptional complex subunit 7 (CNOT7) recombinant plasmid in the hepatoma cell line,and then detected the related protein expression.Results There was no significant difference for peripheral blood GM-CSF level between liver cancer group,hepatitis group and control group (P＞0.05).The level of local GM-CSF was (32.2±8.9) ng/L,which was higher than that of hepatocellular carcinoma (9.7±2.7) ng/L and normal liver tissue (11.6±2.9) ng/L.The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The proportion of MDSCs at the edge of the tumor was (9.9 ±3.6) ％,which was higher than that of liver cancer (4.0± 1.5) ％ and normal liver tissue (6.3±2.3) ％,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Immunohistochemistrydata was consistent with previous data.Compared with normal liver tissue,CNOT7 and STAT3 were highly expressed in liver cancer tissues,while STAT1 was lowly expressed.HepG2 human hepatoma cells were selected for transfection.Compared with the empty plasmid group,CNOT7 expression was decreased in the knocking out group at the same time STAT1 expression was increased,STAT3 and GM-CSF expression was decreased.Conclusion In hepatocellular carcinoma,the secretion of GM-CSF increased and the number of MDSCs increased.Knocking out CNOT7 reduced GM-CSF secretion and activate the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
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Objective To study the effect of human CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 7 (CNOT7) gene knockdown on the immune microenvironment of HepG2 cells and explore its significance. Methods We designed a cell transfection protocol and performed the experiment with three groups:CNOT7-targeted knockdown group, control group, and CNOT7 overexpression group. The transfection efficiency was assessed using inverted fluorescence microscopy, and the expression level of CNOT7, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 proteins was determined by Western blotting. The concentration of TGF-β1 secreted in the cell culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. The sensitivity of tumor cells to the killing function of natural killer (NK) cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the control group, the expression level of TGF-β1 and NF-κB p65 proteins was significantly decreased in the CNOT7-targeted knockdown group, and the TGF-β1 concentration in the culture supernatant was also significantly reduced. However, in the CNOT7 overexpression group, the expression level of the two proteins and TGF-β1 concentration were significantly increased. NK cells were co-cultured with tumor cells, and the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells transfected with CNOT7-specific shRNA was significantly increased. However, in the CNOT7 overexpression group, the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased. Conclusion CNOT7 forms the immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeted knockdown of CNOT7 can reduce TGF-β1 secretion and enhance the killing function of NK cells toward HepG2 cells.
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Objective To investigate the percentage,mature classification and Immune killing function of Vγ9Vδ2T cell in peripheral blood of HCC patients.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from HCC patients (n =25) and healthy donors (n =20) by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation.Proportion,mature and differentiate subtypes and IFN-γ and CD107a expressing of the delta 2 T cells were detect by using flow cytometry,δ2Tcell were selectively cultured with zoledronate and human IL-2.After 12-14 days cells were collected and tested for the second time.Results While the percentage of Vγ9Vδ2Tcell of total T cell in peripheral blood of HCC patients is lower than healthy people before culture (t =4.505,P ＜ 0.001),after augmentation in vitro the proportion increased significantly (t =8.782,P ＜ 0.001),to a level similar to healthy group (t =1.644,P =0.109).There was no statistically significant difference when differentiation subtypes of patient's Vγ9Vδ2Tcell were compared with healthy group before culturing (all P ＞ 0.05),after culture the proportion of Tn,Tcm and Temra decreased [t(Tn) =2.081,t(Tcm) =2.478,t(Temra) =2.953,all P ＜ 0.05],and the proportion of Tem,Tem+ Temra increased [t(Tem) =12.6,t (Tem + Temra) =9.843,all P ＜ 0.001].Cell culture did not alter the proportion of IFN-γ and CD107a secreting Vγ9Vδ2T cells in the peripheral blood in both HCC patients and healthy people (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions While the percentage of Vγ9Vδ2T cell of HCC patients in peripheral blood was lower than healthy people,its matured subtypes are similar to those of healthy people,and functions of expressing IFN-γ and CD107a are not different with healthy people.Applying ZOL + IL-2 can amplifyVγ9Vδ2T cells of patients with HCC.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To investigate the effect and complication of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for elderly patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty elderly patients with stage I-III NSCLC who were treated with 3D-CRT from January, 1998 to January, 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. In the 30 patients, 46 targets were treated with 3-5 Gy per fraction to a total dose of 42-66 Gy. The effect and complication were analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates and the median survival time were 65.8%, 41.2%, 20.6%, and 23 months respectively. The overall 1-, 2-, 3-year local control rates were 59.8%, 31.1%, and 28.3%. The overall incidence of radiation pneumonitis was 16.7% (15/30) with grade≥3 of 6.7%, and one case was died from rediation pneumonitis. The incidence of radiation pulmonary fibrosis was 10.0% (3/30), and the incidence of radiation esophagistis was 43.3% (13/30), but both two side effects were slight.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>3D-CRT can improved the survival in elderly patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer by escalating radiotherapy doses.</p>