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Abstract The northwestern portion of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion is one of the most disturbed and fragmented areas in the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the local avifauna. In this study, we have described the composition and diversity of the aquatic avifauna of this region and analyzed the patterns of similarity with respect to the seasonal as well as spatial distribution. We used the line transect sampling technique in six distinct humid areas (including lentic and lotic water bodies) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species of waterfowl were recorded. The species richness of the studied areas was surprisingly distinct; only seven waterfowl species, namely Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764), were common to these six studied areas. This indicated that the other bird species that were observed might be habitat selective. Moreover, the analysis of the composition of birds in the two seasons (dry and rainy) combined with their spatial distributions showed significant dissimilarities between the areas with lotic (river and constructed wetland) and lentic (lagoons) characteristics. Nevertheless, despite the small extent and low total richness of the entire study area, it was found to be home to 1/3 of all freshwater aquatic birds documented in the state of São Paulo, with the record of 5 migratory species and 11 new species added to the northwest of the state. The heterogeneity of local aquatic environments, habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings can explain the diversity and distribution of these birds in the water bodies of this uninvestigated Atlantic Forest ecoregion.
Resumo A porção noroeste da ecorregião Floresta Atlântica do Alto Paraná é uma das mais alteradas e fragmentadas da Mata Atlântica, da qual pouco se sabe sobre a avifauna local. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a diversidade e composição da avifauna aquática, bem como analisar os padrões de similaridade quanto a distribuição temporal e espacial destas aves nesta ecorregião. Utilizamos a transecção linear para amostragem em seis áreas úmidas (corpos d'água lênticos e lóticos), nos períodos de seca e chuva entre 2012 e 2013. Registramos 52 espécies de aves aquáticas e as riquezas das áreas mostraram-se distintas, pois apenas Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764) foram comuns às seis áreas, o que indica seleção de habitat. Quando analisada a composição das aves nos dois períodos aliada à distribuição espacial, encontramos dissimilaridades temporais acentuadas entre os ambientes com características lóticas (rio e aterro) e lênticas (lagoas). Isto mostra que, além das diferentes épocas sazonais, é necessário analisar separadamente os diferentes tipos de áreas úmidas. Por fim, apesar da extensão pequena e baixa riqueza total, a área amostrada abrigou 1/3 das aves aquáticas de água doce para o estado de São Paulo, cinco espécies migratórias e 11 novas espécies para o noroeste do estado. A heterogeneidade de ambientes aquáticos locais, forte seleção de habitat aliada à sazonalidade e ausência de outros locais úmidos em seu entorno, explicam a diversidade e distribuição destas aves estreitamente relacionadas aos corpos d'água desta desconhecida ecorregião da Mata Atlântica.
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Animales , Aves , Biodiversidad , Estaciones del Año , Brasil , Bosques , EcosistemaRESUMEN
Abstract The northwestern portion of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion is one of the most disturbed and fragmented areas in the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the local avifauna. In this study, we have described the composition and diversity of the aquatic avifauna of this region and analyzed the patterns of similarity with respect to the seasonal as well as spatial distribution. We used the line transect sampling technique in six distinct humid areas (including lentic and lotic water bodies) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species of waterfowl were recorded. The species richness of the studied areas was surprisingly distinct; only seven waterfowl species, namely Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764), were common to these six studied areas. This indicated that the other bird species that were observed might be habitat selective. Moreover, the analysis of the composition of birds in the two seasons (dry and rainy) combined with their spatial distributions showed significant dissimilarities between the areas with lotic (river and constructed wetland) and lentic (lagoons) characteristics. Nevertheless, despite the small extent and low total richness of the entire study area, it was found to be home to 1/3 of all freshwater aquatic birds documented in the state of São Paulo, with the record of 5 migratory species and 11 new species added to the northwest of the state. The heterogeneity of local aquatic environments, habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings can explain the diversity and distribution of these birds in the water bodies of this uninvestigated Atlantic Forest ecoregion.
Resumo A porção noroeste da ecorregião Floresta Atlântica do Alto Paraná é uma das mais alteradas e fragmentadas da Mata Atlântica, da qual pouco se sabe sobre a avifauna local. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a diversidade e composição da avifauna aquática, bem como analisar os padrões de similaridade quanto a distribuição temporal e espacial destas aves nesta ecorregião. Utilizamos a transecção linear para amostragem em seis áreas úmidas (corpos dágua lênticos e lóticos), nos períodos de seca e chuva entre 2012 e 2013. Registramos 52 espécies de aves aquáticas e as riquezas das áreas mostraram-se distintas, pois apenas Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764) foram comuns às seis áreas, o que indica seleção de habitat. Quando analisada a composição das aves nos dois períodos aliada à distribuição espacial, encontramos dissimilaridades temporais acentuadas entre os ambientes com características lóticas (rio e aterro) e lênticas (lagoas). Isto mostra que, além das diferentes épocas sazonais, é necessário analisar separadamente os diferentes tipos de áreas úmidas. Por fim, apesar da extensão pequena e baixa riqueza total, a área amostrada abrigou 1/3 das aves aquáticas de água doce para o estado de São Paulo, cinco espécies migratórias e 11 novas espécies para o noroeste do estado. A heterogeneidade de ambientes aquáticos locais, forte seleção de habitat aliada à sazonalidade e ausência de outros locais úmidos em seu entorno, explicam a diversidade e distribuição destas aves estreitamente relacionadas aos corpos dágua desta desconhecida ecorregião da Mata Atlântica.
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Abstract Objectives We aimed to explore the heterogeneity and differentiation trajectories of epithelial cells and NK/T-cells in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC). Methods We downloaded the GSE150321 data set containing LSCC01 and LSCC02 samples single cell RNA data from Gene Expression Omnibus. The UMAP analysis was performed to identify the cell subpopulations and cell locations of subpopulations. Seurat package was used to analyze the differential expression of genes. The function of differential expression genes was analyzed using DAVID database. The monocle2 package was used to analyze differentiation trajectories. We used the CellChat package to observe the signaling pathways and ligand-receptor pairs for epithelial cells and NK/T-cells. Results All the LSCC cells were divided into 16 subpopulation that included 7 epithelial cell subsets, 3 T-cell subsets. The function analysis indicated that epithelial cells and NK/T-cells mainly participated in different process, such as cell cycle, immune response, and cell migration. Then, the results of differentiation trajectory indicated that the ability of migration, and the activation of the immune system increases, while the ability of apoptosis, and glucose metabolic process decreases as pseudotime. Migration-related epithelial cells act on all T-cells via the CNTN2-CNTN2 ligand-receptor pair, which suggested that CNTN2 might be an important biomarker for regulating migration of epithelial cells. Conclusions Our study characterized the heterogeneity of LSCC, which provided novel insights into LSCC and identified a new mechanism and target for clinical LSCC threapies. Evidence IV.
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Background: Much controversies have been associated with the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma hominis but little has been done to unravel the mystery behind the different views. This study aimed at investigating the genetic variants abounding within M. hominis and the distribution of the virulent genes among the variants. Methodology: Twenty (20) M. hominis isolates from high vaginal swabs of women (11 from pregnant women and 9 from women presenting with infertility) attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria, were sequenced using 16S rRNA universal gene target for the purpose of phylogenetic analysis and epidemiological typing. The isolates were also screened for the presence of M. hominis variable adherence antigen (vaa) and p120 virulent genes using primer constructs from the respective genes in a conventional PCR protocol. Results: Of the 20 M. hominis vaginal isolates, 4 phylogenetic strains were detected; strain MHS43 constituted 10/20 (50.0%) [2/9 (22.2%) from infertile women and 8/11 (72.7%) from pregnant women]; strain MHBS constituted 3/20 (15%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 0/11 (0%) from pregnant women]; strain MHSWP2 constituted 4/20 (20.0%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 1/11 (9.1%) from pregnant women]; while strain MHKC87 constituted 3/20 (15%) [1/9 (11.1%) from infertile women and 2/11 (18.2%) from pregnant women].Each of vaa and p120 genes was detected in 14 of 20 isolates, while 6 isolates did not carry the genes. A 2-way ANOVA test showed that none of the genes was significantly associated with a particular strain (p=0.8641). Conclusions: The different views regarding the pathogenicity of M. hominis may be linked to the heterogeneity within the species and lack of homogeneity in the virulent genes as witnessed both in the intra species and intra strain levels.
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Humanos , Mycoplasma hominis , Factores de Virulencia , Esguinces y Distensiones , Virulencia , Características de la Población , Mujeres EmbarazadasRESUMEN
Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is an advanced technology to study the transcriptome information at the single cell level. The application of this technology can attribute to analyze the heterogeneous map of cells in the process of disease development, and precisely identify the specific cell subsets that are responsive to pharmacological therapy. Currently, scRNA-seq technology has been widely applied in the field of drug research, including studies on therapeutic targets, drug-induced adverse reactions, drug resistance and vaccine. This work reviews the application of scRNA-seq technology in drug discovery, which offers a scientific basis for personalized and accurate medication therapy.
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Abstract In Latin America, despite an apparent convergence on the relation between female labor force participation (FLFP) and total fertility rates (TFR), there are differences between and within countries that must be considered. This paper aimed to understand the heterogeneity in the relation between the FLFP rate and the TFR in Latin American from 1990 to 2018 in order to identify cross-country patterns. Using World Bank data for the 20 countries in Latin America, clustering longitudinal data was performed, and mixed-effect models were fitted to quantify the heterogeneity. Three patterns of relationship were observed in Latin American countries: low TFR and intermediate FLFP, high TFR and high FLFP, and high TFR and low FLFP. The heterogeneity identified suggests the diversity of socio-economic and cultural factors influences the dynamics of the relation between FLFP and TFR in Latin America.
Resumo Na América Latina, apesar de uma aparente convergência na relação entre taxas de fecundidade total (TFT) e participação feminina na força de trabalho (PFFT), existem diferenças entre e dentro dos países que devem ser consideradas. Este artigo objetiva entender a heterogeneidade na relação entre a PFFT e a TFR na América Latina de 1990 a 2018, a fim de identificar padrões entre países. Usando dados do Banco Mundial para os 20 países da América Latina, dados de agrupamento longitudinal foram realizados e modelos de efeito misto foram ajustados para quantificar a heterogeneidade. Três padrões de relacionamento foram observados nos países latino-americanos: TFT baixa e PFFT intermediária; TFT alta e PFFT alta; e TFR alta e PFFT baixa. A heterogeneidade identificada sugere que a diversidade de fatores socioeconômicos e culturais influencia a dinâmica da relação entre PFFT e TFT na América Latina.
Resumen En América Latina, a pesar de una aparente convergencia en la relación entre las tasas globales de fecundidad (TGF) y la participación de femenina en la fuerza de trabajo (PFFT), hay diferencias entre y dentro de los países de la región, que deben ser consideradas. El objetivo de este trabajo es entender la heterogeneidad en la relación entre la tasa de PFFT y la TGF en América Latina desde 1990 hasta 2018, con el fin de identificar patrones entre países. Utilizando datos del Banco Mundial para los veinte países de América Latina, se agruparon datos longitudinales y se ajustaron modelos de efectos mixtos para cuantificar la heterogeneidad. Se observaron tres patrones de relación en los países de América Latina: baja TGF y PFFT intermedia; alta TGF y alta PFFT, y alta TGF y baja PFFT. La heterogeneidad identificada sugiere que la diversidad de factores socioeconómicos y culturales influye en la dinámica de la relación entre la PFFT y la TGF en América Latina.
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Humanos , Factores Socioeconómicos , Mujeres Trabajadoras , Índice de Fecundidad , Políticas Inclusivas de Género , América Latina , Política Pública , Trabajo , Factores Culturales , Factores EconómicosRESUMEN
Objective To explore heterogeneous subtypes of psychological and behavioral adaptation characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation and the characteristics differences of different types of children after liver transplantation. Methods Seven hundred and forty-one children who underwent living-related liver transplantation were enrolled. The self-designed general information questionnaire, Chinese version of 5-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were filled out by their guardians. The scores of five dimensions of SDQ were used as the manifest variables of the model. The classification model of psychological and behavioral adaptation characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation was constructed by latent profile analysis. The latent categories of psychological and behavioral adaptation characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation were analyzed. The influencing factors of latent categories were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression model. Results There were three latent categories of psychological and behavioral adaptation characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation, including peer communication problem group (n=302), psychological and behavioral adaptation group (n=145) and psychological and behavioral adjustment difficulty group (n=294). The first two groups were merged into the psychological and behavioral health group (n=447), which had significant differences in the five dimensions and the total score of difficulties of SDQ compared with the psychological and behavioral adjustment difficulty group (n=294) (all P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age≤5 years old, primary disease of non-cholestatic liver disease, stem family were the risk factors for psychological and behavioral adjustment difficulties in pediatric recipients after liver transplantation. Female gender, high education levels of parents and high WHO-5 score of guardians were the protective factors for psychological and behavioral adjustment difficulties in pediatric recipients after liver transplantation (all P<0.05). Conclusions The psychological and behavioral adaptation characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation are heterogeneous. Medical staff should pay extensive attention to different characteristics of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation with different psychological and behavioral adaptation categories and adopt targeted screening and intervention strategies, aiming to improve psychological and behavioral adaptation outcomes of pediatric recipients after liver transplantation.
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@#Objective Establish quality control methods for critical quality attribute of bispecific antibody against programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4(CTLA-4).Methods The biological activity of PD-1 target was determined by reporter gene assay,and the competitive binding activity of CTLA-4 target was determined by flow cytometry;The antibody molecular size variants were controlled by reducing/non-reducing capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfonate(CE-SDS) and size exclusion chromatography-high performance liquid chromatography(SEC-HPLC);Charge heterogeneity was determined by imaging capillary isoelectric focusing electrophoresis(iCIEF);Bispecific anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 antibody was identified by peptide map analysis;Glycosylation was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)Results The concentration for 50% of maximal effect(EC_(50)) of PD-1target was(6.91±0.78) nmol/L,and the relative biological potency to the reference was(103.50±13.08)% with the RSD of 12.64%;The EC_(50) of CTLA-4 target activity was(0.35±0.28) nmol/L,and the relative biological potency was(99.30±9.15)% with the RSD of 8.32%.The percentage of peak area of light chain and heavy chain of reducing CE-SDS was(98.86±0.02)%.The main peak area percentage of non-reducing CE-SDS was(93.07±0.13)%,fragment percentage was(4.44±0.13)%,and polymer percentage was(2.49±0.15)%.The peak area percentage of SEC-HPLC monomer and polymer were(97.20±0.01)% and(2.68±0.01)%,respectively.The area percentage of peak A group,peak B group,peak C group and peak D group were(38.43±0.54)%,(43.26±0.32)%,(11.31±0.14)% and(7.00±0.17)%,respectively.Peptide mapping showed the specific spectrum of the bispecific anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 antibody,which could be adopted for identification test.The highest proportion of glycotype was GOF,with a content of(41.06±0.11)%,There were three types of glycan containing sialic acid,namely G2F+G1F-NANA,G2F-NANA and G2F-2NANA,with the content of(12.44±0.12)%,(12.00±0.05)% and(5.37±0.05)%,respectively.The total content of glycan containing sialic acid was(29.80±0.20)%.Conclusion The critical quality attributes of bispecific anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 antibody were studied and the corresponding quality control methods were established to ensure its safety,effectiveness and quality control,which provides a reference for the quality control methods and strategies of this type of monoclonal antibody products.
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@#Objective To develop and verify a whole-column image capillary isoelectric focusing(iCIEF) electrophoresis method to analyze the charge heterogeneity of recombinant human growth hormone Fc fusion protein(Fc-rhGH).Methods The iCIEF analysis method of Fc-rhGH was developed by optimizing the target protein concentration,cosolvent(urea)concentration and focusing time.The target protein was simultaneously analyzed by this method and traditional flat plate isoelectric focusing(IEF) electrophoresis,and the results were compared;The specificity,accuracy,precision,limit of quantitation(LOQ) and durability of the developed method were verified.Results The optimized method was using the mixed solution of 8 mol/L urea,0.35% methyl cellulose(MC),4% amphoteric electrolyte and 0.5% isoelectric point marker as the sample buffer,and the focusing condition was 1 500 V 1 min,3 000 V 5.5 min.IEF was not suitable for analyzing the charge heterogeneity of Fc-rhGH solution.Using the optimized iCIEF for analysis,the target protein was significantly different from the unrelated protein,and the baseline of blank reagent was stable;The recovery rate of accuracy verification was within 90%～110%,and the linear range was 0.25～0.75 mg/mL(50%～150% of the target loading volume);The RSD of each isomer pI in the repeatability verification was less than 0.3%,and the RSD of peak area percentage was less than 5%;The LOQ was 0.04 mg/ml.The sample storage time durability,amphoteric electrolyte pharmalyte 3-10 durability and MC durability of this method were good.Using this method to analyze the charge heterogeneity of Fc-rhGH physicochemical reference substance,eight charge heterogeneities of the reference substance were effectively separated,and the pI ranged from 5.9 to 6.4.Conclusion The developed iCIEF method had good specificity,accuracy,precision and durability,and was more suitable for efficient analysis of charge heterogeneity of Fc-rhGH than traditional flat plate IEF,which was of great significance for the quality control of Fc-rhGH and other Fc fusion proteins.
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Global developmental delay/intellectual disability (GDD/ID) is an enormous group of neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse clinical and genetic heterogeneity. The estimated prevalence of GDD/ID was 1%-3%, affecting about 150 million people. GDD/ID is one of the leading causes of disability in children worldwide. The causes of GDD/ID are complex, comprising genetic and environmental factors. It is often co-morbid with a variety of psychiatric behavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Owing to the improvement of genetic technology, monogenic GDD/ID has been one of the hot-spot research in genomic era, and the relevant preventive measures deserve extensive attention. In this review, we summarized the advances in genetics and prevention of monogenic GDD/ID.
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Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases, due to an expanded CAG repeat in a coding region of the respective genes leading to neurodegenerative phenotypes by selective neuronal loss. Overall, only part of variance (50%-70%) in age at onset is explained by (CAG)n length, suggesting genetic modifying factors independent of (CAG)n size may contribute to clinical heterogeneity. Here, the research history of genetic modifiers in polyQ diseases is reviewed, and the major findings and current research status are discussed.
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Primary liver cancer includes three types: Hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, mixed hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Among them, hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 75% to 85%, posing a serious threat to human life and health. The screening and monitoring of high-risk populations for hepatocellular carcinoma is crucial for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as for improving the prognosis of liver cancer. Serum biomarkers play an important role in monitoring and diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, new serum biomarkers such as AFP heterogeneity, abnormal prothrombin/de-γ-carboxyprothrombin, Golgi protein 73, Dickkopf-associated protein 1, aldehyde ketone reductase-AKR1B10, gypican 3, liquid biopsies and microRNAs have been recommended for screening and monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma, and some have been included as auxiliary diagnostic measures in liver cell carcinoma guidelines. This article summarizes the progress of relevant basic research and clinical evaluation of these novel biomarkers, which may provide a reference for future clinical application.
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The liver is a highly proliferative organ. As the liver injured, the hepatocytes can quickly enter the cell cycle to restore the volume and function of liver. Liver regeneration involves complex processes that depend on the interaction of many different cell types. As limited by the average cell change level in tissues, traditional sequencing methods can only acquire the average genetic information reflecting dominant cell subpopulations, but ignore the secondary cell subpopu-lations, which leads to the loss of cellular heterogeneity information. Single-cell sequencing tech-nology can analyze the biological behavior of single cell, which helps to better understand the distri-bution, interaction and cell heterogeneity of different cells during liver regeneration. The authors review the application of single cell sequencing technology in liver regeneration.
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Single-cell sequencing (SCS) sequences the genetic information of a single cell to better understand the differences amongst cells and reveal the unique changes of each cell type. The specific analysis of cell subsets at the single-cell level can accurately evaluate tumor cells and microenvironment cells to reveal the complexity of molecular components and the difference from the corresponding components in non-malignant tissues. Lymphoma is highly heterogeneous, some have unknown pathological types, etiology and poor prognosis. SCS is helpful to clarify the molecular mechanisms of lymphomagenesis and pathological staging, and guide clinical practice. This article reviews SCS and its application in lymphoma.
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The carcinogenesis and progression of cancer not only depend on the feature of tumor cell themselves, but also rely on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Numerous studies have shown that TME plays a crucial role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important stromal cells in TME containing multiple functions, such as remodeling the extracellular matrix, regulating angiogenesis, interacting with adjacent tumor cells, and releasing a variety of molecules (such as cytokines, growth factors and exosomes) to regulate cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. CAFs exhibit heterogeneity of origin and phenotype, and play dual roles in tumor progression. Recent studies have shown that CAFs are also involved in chemoresistance, suggesting that CAFs themselves and their downstream molecules and signal pathways could be the potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarized the role of CAFs in chemoresistance and underlying mechanism, and discussed the potential of targeting CAFs in overcoming drug resistance. However, the exploration of strategy for targeting CAFs is still at an early stage and requires further in-depth research.
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Pericytes are essential components of vessel mural cells that function to regulate blood flow, clear or phagocytose debris, and are contractile cells enwrapping capillaries throughout the body. It controls vascular permeability and is involved in the development of blood vessels and is an important regulator and potential drug target of angiogenesis and vascular function. Pericytes are also thought to play a key role in the tumor microenvironment, especially during tumor growth and distal metastasis. Therefore,in this review we discuss the relationship between pericytes involved in tumor angiogenesis and tumor metastasis, as well as the use of targeted pericytes to treat tumors,with a view to providing a basis for subsequent studies.
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Aim To investigate the effect of AICAR on the expression of the proto-oncogene c-Myc and cell proliferation rates in specific cancer cell lines. Methods The mRNA levels of c-Myc were evaluated using fluorescence-based qRT-PCR to examine the effect of AICAR treatment on c-Myc mRNA expression levels. Western blot was used to evaluate the protein levels of c-Myc following AICAR treatment. RNA interference was employed to determine whether the regulatory effect of AICAR on c-Myc was dependent on AMPK and the downstream metabolic enzymes relating to AICAR. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide were used to assess the effect of AICAR on the stability of cMyc mR-NA and protein. Western blot was used to examine the regulatory effect of AICAR on c-Myc in various cancer cell lines. The MTT assay was used to determine the effect of AICAR on cell viability in these cell lines. Results AICAR significantly up-regulated c-Myc at both mRNA and protein levels. The protein level of c-Myc reached a plateau 12 h after the AICAR treatment. The up-regulatory effect of c-Myc induced by AICAR was not dependent on either the AMPK signaling pathway or the downstream metabolites of AICAR. AICAR could significantly enhance the mRNA stability of c-Myc but did not affect the protein stability. The up-regulation of c-Myc induced by AICAR was cell-type specific. AICAR up-regulated c-Myc in SW1990, 786-0, and A549, while down-regulated c-Myc in HepG2, MCF7, and U20S. In HepG2 cells, AICAR treatment decreased cell viability. However, in SW1990 and A549 cells, AICAR treatment did not lead to any significant difference in cell viability. AICAR decreased the cell viability only when c-Myc was knocked down in SW1990 and A549 cells. Conclusions AICAR directly up-regulates c-Myc expression in an AMPK-independent manner. The up-regulation effect is cell-type dependent. The regulation of c-Myc expression by AICAR is linked to the inhibitory effect of AICAR on tumor cell proliferation.
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The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is broadly composed of various immune cells, and its heterogeneity is characterized by both immune cells and stromal cells. During the course of tumor formation and progression and anti-tumor treatment, the composition of the TIME becomes heterogeneous. Such immunological heterogeneity is not only present between populations but also exists on temporal and spatial scales. Owing to the existence of TIME, clinical outcomes can differ when a similar treatment strategy is provided to patients. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of TIME heterogeneity is essential for developing precise and effective therapies. Facilitated by advanced technologies, it is possible to understand the complexity and diversity of the TIME and its influence on therapy responses. In this review, we discuss the potential reasons for TIME heterogeneity and the current approaches used to explore it. We also summarize clinical intervention strategies based on associated mechanisms or targets to control immunological heterogeneity.
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【Objective】 To explore the characteristics of white matter degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with different onset and spreading patterns by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). 【Methods】 We enrolled 86 ALS patients and 44 healthy controls. The patients were divided into bulbar- and spinal-onset subgroups according to their onset site, as well as horizon, vertical, interpose/skip, and caudal-rostral subgroups based on the spreading direction of the involved regions. The white matter fiber tracts corresponding to the motor network were set as the region of interest. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate differences between the above groups and the normal controls, with family-wise error (FWE) correction and P<0.05 as statistical significance. 【Results】 The white matter degeneration of ALS patients with bulbar onset was mainly limited to the corona radiation part of the corticospinal tract, while those with spinal onset showed extensive degeneration of corticospinal tract and corpus callosum Ⅲ area (FWE correction, P<0.05). In patients with horizontal and vertical dissemination, decreased integrity of the entire corticospinal tract was found, with patients in the latter group showed extra degeneration in the Ⅲ part of the corpus callosum. Restricted degeneration of the corticospinal tract within bilateral corona radiata was detected in patients with caudal-rostral and interposed/skip spreading pattens (FWE correction, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Different onset and disease spread patterns of ALS patients correspond to divergent brain degeneration patterns. The diagnosis, treatment, and management of ALS should fully consider the heterogeneity of the disease.
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Objective: To observe the clinical pathology features, and immune microenvironment of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneity breast cancer. Methods: Thirty cases of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneous breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from November 2017 to June 2020. HER-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and verified by dual color silver-enhanced in-situ hybridization (D-SISH). HER-2 intratumoral positive and negative regions were divided. The pathological characteristics, subtype, and the level of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were evaluated respectively. Results: The proportion of HER-2 positive cells of the breast cancer ranged from 10% to 90%. The pathological type was mainly invasive non-special typecarcinoma. Six cases presented different pathological types between HER-2 positive and negative regions. The HER-2-positive areas included 2 cases of carcinoma with apocrine differentiation, and the negative areas included 2 cases of invasive micropapillary carcinoma, 1 case of invasive papillary carcinoma, and 1 case of carcinoma with apocrine differentiation. In HER-2 positive regions, 17 cases were Luminal B and 13 cases were HER-2 overexpressed types. There were 22 cases of Luminal B and 8 cases of triple negative tumors in the HER-2 negative areas. The levels of TILs in HER-2 positive and negative areas accounted for 53.3% (16/30) and 26.7% (8/30), respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.035). The positive expression of PD-L1 in HER-2 positive area and HER-2 negative area were 6 cases and 9 cases, respectively. Among 8 cases with HER-2 negative regions containing triple negative components, 4 cases were positive for PD-L1 expression. Conclusions: In the case of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneity, it is necessary to pay attention to both HER-2 positive and negative regions, and evaluate subtype separately as far as possible. For HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneous breast cancer containing triple negative components, the treatment mode can be optimized by refining the intratumoral expression of PD-L1.