Study on DNA methylation in HEB cells exposed to PM(2.5) by application of methylation chip technology / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To screen the differential methylation sites, genes and pathways of air pollution fine particles (PM(2.5)) on human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells by methylation chip and bioinformation technology, so as to provide scientific basis for further study of the toxicological mechanism of PM(2.5) on HBE cells. Methods: In August 2020, HBE cells were infected with 10 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml PM(2.5) aqueous solution for 24 h, namely PM(2.5) 10 μg/ml exposure group (low dose group) and PM(2.5) 50 μg/ml exposure group (high dose group) ; uninfected HBE cells were used as control group. The DNA fragments were hybridized with the chip, the chip scanned and read the data, analyzed the data, screened the differential methylation sites, carried out GO analysis and KEGG analysis of the differential methylation sites, and analyzed the interaction relationship of the overall differential methylation sites by functional epigenetic modules (FEMs). Results: Compared with the control group, 127 differential methylation sites were screened in the low-dose group, including 89 genes, including 55 sites with increased methylation level and 72 sites with decreased methylation level. The differential methylation sites were mainly concentrated in the Body region and UTR region. Compared with the control group, 238 differential methylation sites were screened in the high-dose group, including 168 genes, of which 127 sites had increased methylation level and 111 sites had decreased methylation level. The differential heterotopic sites were mainly concentrated in the Body region and UTR region. Through FEMs analysis, 8 genes with the most interaction were screened, of which 6 genes had significant changes in methylation level. MALT1 gene related to apoptosis was found in the heterotopic site of methylation difference in low-dose group; PIK3CA and ARID1A genes related to carcinogenesis were found in the heterotopic sites of methylation difference in high-dose group; TNF genes related to tumor inhibition were found in the results of FEMs analysis. Conclusion: After PM(2.5) exposure to HBE cells, the DNA methylation level is significantly changed, and genes related to apoptosis and carcinogenesis are screened out, suggesting that the carcinogenic mutagenic effect of PM(2.5) may be related to DNA methylation.

Analysis of various potential prognostic markers and survival data in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

ABSTRACT Purpose Clear cell renal cell cancers frequently harbor Von Hippel-Lindau gene mutations, leading to stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and their target genes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), HIF-1α, HIF-2α, p53 positivity, microvessel density, and Ki-67 rates with prognostic histopathologic factors (Fuhrman nuclear grade, stage, and sarcomatoid differentiation) and survival in clear cell renal cell carcinomas. Material and Methods Seventy-two nephrectomy specimens diagnosed as clear cell renal cell carcinoma between 2000 and 2012 were reevaluated. Immunohistochemically VEGF, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, p53, CD34 (for microvessel density evaluation), and Ki-67 antibodies were applied to the tumor areas. The relationships of these antibodies with prognostic factors and survival rates were evaluated with statistical analyses. Results Mean survival time was 105.6 months in patients with ccRCC. Patients with high expression of VEGF, HIF-1α and HIF-2α positivity, a high Ki-67 proliferation index, and a high microvessel density evaluation score had a shorter survival time (p<0.05). Conclusions Our findings supported that with the use of these immunohistochemical markers, prognosis of renal cell carcinoma may be predicted at the first step of patient management. New treatment modalities targeted to HIF-1α and HIF-2α might be planned as well as VEGF-targeted therapies in the management of clear cell renal cell carcinomas.

Quercetin alleviates pulmonary angiogenesis in a rat model of hepatopulmonary syndrome

Quercetin shows protective effects against hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), as demonstrated in a rat model. However, whether these effects involve pulmonary vascular angiogenesis in HPS remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of quercetin on pulmonary vascular angiogenesis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g underwent sham operation or common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Two weeks after surgery, HIF-1α and NFκB levels were assessed in rat lung tissue by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Then, CBDL and sham-operated rats were further divided into 2 subgroups each to receive intraperitoneal administration of quercetin (50 mg/kg daily) or 0.2% Tween for two weeks: Sham (Sham+Tween; n=8), CBDL (CBDL+Tween; n=8), Q (Sham+quercetin; n=8), and CBDL+Q (CBDL+quercetin; n=8). After treatment, lung tissue specimens were assessed for protein (immunohistochemistry and western blot) and/or gene expression (quantitative real-time PCR) levels of relevant disease markers, including VEGFA, VEGFR2, Akt/p-Akt, HIF-1α, vWf, and IκB/p-IκB. Finally, arterial blood was analyzed for alveolar arterial oxygen pressure gradient (AaPO2). Two weeks after CBDL, HIF-1α expression in the lung decreased, but was gradually restored at four weeks. Treatment with quercetin did not significantly alter HIF-1α levels, but did reduce AaPO2 as well as lung tissue NF-κB activity, VEGFA gene and protein levels, Akt activity, and angiogenesis. Although hypoxia is an important feature in HPS, our findings suggest that HIF-1α was not the main cause for the VEGFA increase. Interestingly, quercetin inhibited pulmonary vascular angiogenesis in rats with HPS, with involvement of Akt/NF-κB and VEGFA/VEGFR-2 pathways.

Parallel determination of NeuroD1, Chromogranin-A, KI67 and androgen receptor expression in surgically treated prostate cancers

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine differentiation is a hallmark of prostate cancer. The aim of our study was the detection of the parallel expression of neuroendocrine related markers using a prostate tissue microarray (TMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was aimed at detecting the parallel expression of NeuroD1, Chromogranin-A (ChrA), Androgen Receptor (AR) and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry on prostate cancer tissue microarray. The data was analyzed using SAS version 8.2 (SAS Inc, Cary, NC). The relationships between NeuroD1, ChrA and AR expressions and patients' characteristics were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Progression and Overall Survival (OS) distributions were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Tissue reactivity for NeuroD1, ChrA and AR concerned 73 percent, 49 percent and 77 percent of the available cases, respectively. Regarding overall survival, there were 87 deaths and 295 patients alive/censored (6 years of median follow-up). Seventy-seven disease progressions occurred at the median follow-up 5.4y. A significant correlation between NeuroD1, ChrA and AR expression was observed (p < 0.001 and p < 0.03, respectively). Additionally, ChrA was strongly associated in multivariate analysis to Gleason score and Ki67 expression (p < 0.009 and p < 0.0052, respectively). Survival analysis showed no association between markers neither for overall nor for cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight that NeuroD1, Chromogranin-A and Androgen Receptor are strongly associated, however their expression does not correlate with overall survival or disease progression.

Mecanismos de diferenciação neuroendócrina no carcinoma brônquico de pequenas células / Mechanisms of neuroendocrine differentiation in small cell lung cancer

Neoplasias malignas do pulmão são classificadas em dois principais grupos histológicos: carcinomas de pequenas células (SCLC) e carcinomas de não pequenas células (NSCLC). Entre estes, alguns carcinomas são subdivididos em tumores neuroendócrinos do pulmão. Segundo a OMS, os tumores neuroendócrinos do pulmão incluem: os carcinóides típicos e atípicos,carcinomas neuroendócrinos de grandes células e os SCLC. Células neuroendócrinas são diferenciadas para produzir, estocar e liberar grandes quantidades de peptídeos secretórios. Diversos membros dos fatores de transcrição hélice-alça-hélice básicos((bHLH) são importantes reguladores da expressão gênica de neuropepetídeos em células diferenciadas. Mash 1, emroedores, ou seu homólogo no homem hASH1, é um importante fator de transcrição bHLH no desenvolvimento precocede células neurais e neuroendócrinas em tecidos diversos, incluindo o pulmão. O significado dos fatores bHLH foi revisado, neste trabalho, em SCLC e em células pulmonares neuroendócrinas (PNECs). PNECs são positivas para Mash 1 na imunohistoquímica. Não PNECs são positivas para Hes1, um repressor de bHLHs. PNECs e hASH1 estão upregulated em tecidospulmonares neoplásicos e não neoplásicos. Estudos de SCLC sugerem que a diferenciação neuroendócrina pode ser regulada por hASH1.

Lung cancers are classified into two main histological groups: small cell carcinomas (SCLC) and non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLC). Among these, some carcinomas are subdivided into neuroendocrine (NE) lung tumours. According WHO NE lung tumours include typical carcinoids, atypical carcinoids, large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) and SCLC. All of whichshow histological features of NE morphology. Neuroendocrine cells are specialized to produce, maintain and release large stores of secretory peptides. A fundamental question in the development and regulation of neuroendocrine systems is thecontrol of cellular secretory capacity. Achaete–scute homolog-1 (termed Mash1 in rodents, hASH1 in humans) is a basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor important in early development of neural and neuroendocrine (NE) progenitor cells in multiple tissues, including the lung. Several members of the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors are importantregulators of neuropeptide gene expression in differentiating cells. We review the significance of a network of basic helixloop-helix (bHLH) factors in SCLC and pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs). Immunohistochemically, PNECs are positive for Mash1 and non-PNECs are positive for Hes1, one of the repressor bHLHs. PNECs and hASH1 are upregulated in diseased lung tissues (neoplastics and nonneoplastics). Studies of small cell carcinoma suggest that neuroendocrine differentiationcould be regulated by hASH1.