Women with recurrent spontaneous abortion have decreased 25(OH) vitamin D and VDR at the fetal-maternal interface

Immunological mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Vitamin D has a potent immunomodulatory effect, which may affect pregnancy outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] concentration and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in the decidual tissues of RSA patients. Thirty women with RSA (RSA group) and thirty women undergoing elective abortion (control group) were recruited during 2016 from gynecology outpatient clinics. We measured 25(OH) D, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), VDR and 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in decidual tissues collected during the abortion procedure. In the RSA group, 25(OH) D and TGF-β were significantly decreased while IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly increased compared with the control group. VDR expression was significantly decreased in the RSA group compared with the control group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between 25(OH) D in decidual tissues and RSA. These results indicated that vitamin D concentrations in the decidua are associated with inflammatory cytokine production, suggesting that vitamin D and VDR may play a role in the etiology of RSA.

Primary cultures of mouse small intestinal epithelial cells using the dissociating enzyme type I collagenase and hyaluronidase

The epithelium is a highly dynamic system, which plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of the intestinal tract. However, studies on the physiological and pathophysiological functions of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have been hampered due to lack of normal epithelial cell models. In the present study, we established a reproducible method for primary culture of mouse IECs, which were isolated from the viable small intestinal crypts of murine fetuses (on embryonic day 19), using type I collagenase and hyaluronidase in a short span of time (≤20 min). With this method, continuously growing mouse IECs, which can be subcultured over a number of passages, were obtained. The obtained cell lines formed a tight cobblestone-like arrangement, displayed long and slender microvilli, expressed characteristic markers (cytokeratin 18 and Notch-1), and generated increasing transepithelial electrical resistance and low paracellular permeability during in vitro culture. The cells also had enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase and sucrase-isomaltase, and secreted various cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), responding to the stimulation of Escherichia coli. These results show that the primary-cultured mouse IECs obtained by the method established here had the morphological and immunological characteristics of IECs. This culture system can be a beneficial in vitro model for studies on mucosal immunology and toxicology.

Relationship of hyponatremia with degree of liver injury and prognosis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between hyponatremia and degree of liver injury, complications and survival time, and the prognostic value of hyponatremia in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. MethodsA total of 218 patients who were diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis for the first time in The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2000 to March 2005 were enrolled in this study, and according to the serum sodium concentration, these patients were divided into group Ⅰ with a serum sodium concentration of ≥130 mmol/L (n=51), group Ⅱ with a serum sodium concentration of ≥120 and ＜130 mmol/L (n=97), group Ⅲ with a serum sodium concentration of ＜120 mmol/L (n=70). The patients′sex, age, serum sodium concentration, Child-Pugh class, and complications were analyzed, and the survival time was calculated. The one-way analysis of variance was applied for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was applied for comparison between any two patients; the chi-square test was applied for comparison of categorical data between groups; the Kaplan-Meier method was applied for survival analysis, and the Cox regression model was applied for regression analysis. ResultsCompared with groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, group Ⅲ had the highest proportion of patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis. With the increasing Child-Pugh score, the serum sodium concentration decreased; the serum sodium concentration showed significant differences across the patients with Child-Pugh A, B, and C cirrhosis (F=17.336, P＜0001), and differed significantly between any two groups of these patients (all P ＜0.05). Compared with groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, group Ⅲ had the highest incidence rate of complications, and the incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy and hepatorenal syndrome showed significant differences across the three groups (χ2=17.718 and 6.277, both P＜0.05). Group Ⅲ had a significantly shorter survival time than groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (both P＜0.05). ConclusionIn patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, the severity and incidence rate of hyponatremia increase significantly as liver injury becomes more severe, which suggests that hyponatremia can be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Prognostic role of s‑phase kinase‑associated protein 2 in breast cancer: A meta‑analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence has shown that the F‑box protein S‑phase kinase‑associated protein 2 (Skp2) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC). Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of Skp2 in BC patients using meta‑analysis based on the published studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible studies were identified by searching the online databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to October 2015. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to clarify the correlation between Skp2 expression and indicators of BC clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease‑free survival (DFS), and BC‑specific survival. RESULTS: In total, nine studies with 1820 BC patients were included for final analysis. The meta‑analysis suggested that Skp2 overexpression was associated with poor OS (HR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.83–3.63, P = 0.000) and poor DFS (HR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.48–3.05, P = 0.000) in BC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This meta‑analysis indicates that enhanced Skp2 is an independent prognostic factor for poor cancer survival.

Expression of intronic miRNAs and their host gene Igf2 in a murine unilateral ureteral obstruction model

The objective of this study was to determine the expression of miR-483 and miR-483* and the relationship among them, their host gene (Igf2), and other cytokines in a murine model of renal fibrosis. The extent of renal fibrosis was visualized using Masson staining, and fibrosis was scored 3 days and 1 and 2 weeks after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Expression of miR-483, miR-483* and various cytokine mRNAs was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of miR-483 and miR-483* was significantly upregulated in the UUO model, particularly miR-483 expression was the greatest 2 weeks after surgery. Additionally, miR-483 and miR-483* expression negatively correlated with Bmp7 expression and positively correlated with Igf2, Tgfβ, Hgf, and Ctgf expression, as determined by Pearson's correlation analysis. Hgf expression significantly increased at 1 and 2 weeks after the surgery compared to the control group. This study showed that miR-483 and miR-483* expression was upregulated in a murine UUO model. These data suggest that miR-483 and miR-483* play a role in renal fibrosis and that miR-483* may interact with miR-483 in renal fibrosis. Thus, these miRNAs may play a role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis and coexpression of their host gene Igf2.

Notch ligand Delta-like 1 promotes the metastasis of melanoma by enhancing tumor adhesion

Notch signaling plays a vital role in tumorigenicity and tumor progression by regulating proliferation, invasion, and the tumor microenvironment. Previous research by our group indicated that Notch ligand Delta-like 1 (Dll1) is involved in angiogenesis in melanoma, and we noticed that it took a longer time to trypsinize Dll1-expressing B16 melanoma cells than the control cells. In this article, we extended our study to investigate the effects of Dll1 on tumor cell adhesion and metastasis. Dll1 overexpression activated Notch signaling in B16 tumor cells and significantly enhanced the adhering capacity of B16 tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. B16-Dll1 cells also had a higher metastatic potential than their counterpart in the mouse model of lung metastasis. Along with increased Dll1 expression, N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin, was upregulated in B16-Dll1 cells. These data suggested that Notch ligand Dll1 may enhance the adhesion and metastasis of melanoma cells by upregulation of N-cadherin.

RNAi-mediated knockdown of FANCF suppresses cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance potential of breast cancer cells

Fanconi anemia complementation group F protein (FANCF) is a key factor, which maintains the function of FA/BRCA, a DNA damage response pathway. However, the functional role of FANCF in breast cancer has not been elucidated. We performed a specific FANCF-shRNA knockdown of endogenous FANCF in vitro. Cell viability was measured with a CCK-8 assay. DNA damage was assessed with an alkaline comet assay. Apoptosis, cell cycle, and drug accumulation were measured by flow cytometry. The expression levels of protein were determined by Western blot using specific antibodies. Based on these results, we used cell migration and invasion assays to demonstrate a crucial role for FANCF in those processes. FANCF shRNA effectively inhibited expression of FANCF. We found that proliferation of FANCF knockdown breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435S) was significantly inhibited, with cell cycle arrest in the S phase, induction of apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation. Inhibition of FANCF also resulted in decreased cell migration and invasion. In addition, FANCF knockdown enhanced sensitivity to doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. These results suggest that FANCF may be a potential target for molecular, therapeutic intervention in breast cancer.