Expression and clinical significance of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma based on bioinformatics methods / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the role of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) in tumorigenesis and its potential post-translational modification sites were investigated by bioinformatics method and molecular biology experimental techniques, in order to provide evidence for PGK1 as a hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Methods From pan-cancer's point of view, 10 967 samples were obtained from the cancer genome database TCGAs, and the expression of PGK1 in different tumors was explored by using cBioPortal and UALCAN analysis tools; Focusing on HCC, the expression differences of PGK1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tumor tissues and normal tissues were further analyzed by using GEO database analysis, Real-time PCR, Western blotting and cell invasion assay;The String database was used to analyze the protein-protein interaction network and gene set enrichment analysis; The CSS-Palm database and bioinformatics method were used to predict protein post-translational modification sites on PGK1. Results The PGK1 gene was abnormally amplified and overexpressed in various solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma, and overexpression of PGK1 was correlated with a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Multiple novel posttranslational modifications were existed on PGK1. Conclusion PGK1 is closely related to the occurrence and development of various cancers including HCC and glycolytic metabolism abnormalities. Epigenetic modifications can regulate PGK1 and affect its cellular function in HCC.

A qualitative and semi-quantitative study of Salvia miltiorrhiza aqueous extracts / 中草药

Objective: To qualitative research the composition of Salvia miltiorrhiza aqueous extracts by using Q-TOF-MS and to establish a semi-quantitative analysis method of some active components in S. miltiorrhiza aqueous extracts based on Q-Trap-MS. Methods: The chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min, and the column temperature was 30 ℃. In Q-TOF-MS, electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in negative ion mode. The capillary voltage was set at 2.5 kV. The nebulization gas was set to 800 L/h at 400 ℃, and the source temperature was 100 ℃. In Q-Trap-MS, electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in negative ion mode. The ionspray voltage was set to -4 500 V at 450 ℃. The pressure of source gas 1 (GS1, N2) and source gas 2 (GS2, N2) were both 45 psi, and the pressure of curtain gas (N2) was 20 psi. Semi-quantification analysis was performed with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Results: A total of 26 components of S. miltiorrhiza aqueous extracts were identified, of which 15 components were common phenolic acids. The two reference substances had good linearity ranges (r ≥ 0.997 6), and the values of precision, repeatability, stability and recovery met the demand of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The content of 11 unknown compositions was determined. Conclusion: The composition identification of S. miltiorrhiza aqueous extracts was realized with a high effective and rapid method, and a new idea for the content determination of unknown components was provided.

Correlation between microRNA-21 and expression of Th17 and Treg cells in microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: To study the correlation between miR-21 and Treg/Th17 ratio in the microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Diethylnitrosamine was used to build the hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats; the content of Treg cells and Th17 cells and the expression of miR-21 in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma were detected. The statistical analysis was performed on the correlation between miR-21 expression and Treg/Th17 ratio. Results: Hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats was successfully constructed. The proportion of Th17 cells among all CD4

Correlation between microRNA-21 and expression of Th17 and Treg cells in microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE@#To study the correlation between miR-21 and Treg/Th17 ratio in the microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma.@*METHODS@#Diethylnitrosamine was used to build the hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats; the content of Treg cells and Th17 cells and the expression of miR-21 in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma were detected. The statistical analysis was performed on the correlation between miR-21 expression and Treg/Th17 ratio.@*RESULTS@#Hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats was successfully constructed. The proportion of Th17 cells among all CD4(+)T cells in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma was 5.319%, which was higher than the control group; while the proportion of Treg cells was 9.472%, which was higher than the control group. Treg/Th17 ratio in the model group was 1.781, compared with 1.478 in the control group. The expression of miR-21 was increased in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma and it showed a positive correlation with the ratio of Treg/Th17.@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is a positive correlation between the expression level of miR-21 and the ratio of Treg/Th17.

Phloroglucinol protects the urinary bladder via inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of cyclophosphamide-induced interstitial cystitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Phloroglucinol plays an important role in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. The effects of phloroglucinol have been proven in various disease models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and possible mechanisms of phloroglucinol in the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. IC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP). Rats were randomly allocated to one of four groups (n = 8 per group): A control group, which was injected with saline (75 mg/kg; i.p.) instead of CYP on days 1, 4, and 7; a chronic IC group, which was injected with CYP (75 mg/kg; i.p.) on days 1, 4, and 7; a high-dose (30 mg/kg) phloroglucinol-treated group; and a low-dose (15 mg/kg) phloroglucinol-treated group. On day 8, the rats in each group underwent cystometrography (CMG), and the bladders were examined for evidence of oxidative stress and inflammation. Statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by least square difference multiple comparison post-hoc test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological evaluation showed that bladder inflammation in CYP-treated rats was suppressed by phloroglucinol. CMG revealed that the CYP treatment induced overactive bladder in rats that was reversed by phloroglucinol. Up-regulated tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 expression in the CYP-treated rats were also suppressed in the phloroglucinol treated rats. CYP treatment significantly increased myeloperoxidase activity as well as the decreased activities of catalase of the bladder, which was reversed by treatment with phloroglucinol.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The application of phloroglucinol suppressed oxidative stress, inflammation, and overactivity in the bladder. This may provide a new treatment strategy for IC.</p>

Combination of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is an optimal way to evaluate rheumatoid arthritisin rats dynamically / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Many methods have been used to observe the progress of RA. The purpose of this study was to observe the progress of RA in rats with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arthritis score, and analyze the relationships among different methods in evaluation of RA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats about 8-week old were randomly assigned to a RA group and a control group. Bovine type II emulsified incomplete Freud's adjuvant was used to induce arthritis in the RA group. Arthritis score of the rats in two groups were recorded, and (18)F-FDG PET/CT, MR imaging were performed both on the corresponding rats every 3 days. All the rats were sacrificed at week 5, and histopathological examination was performed on rat knees stained with haematoxylin and eosin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The arthritis score and the standard uptake value (SUV) of knee joints in RA rats increased with the progression of arthritis gradually. Both peaks of arthritis score and SUV appeared at 21 days after the first immune injection, then the arthritis score and SUV of knee joints decreased slowly. The arthritis scores of knee joints in RA rats were positively correlated with their SUV changes. The MR images were confirmed by the histopathological studies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PET/CT can detect the earliest molecular metabolism changes of RA, and MR imaging can follow up the dynamical anatomical changes of RA, all of which indicated that PET/CT and MR imaging may be applied as useful tools to monitor the progress of RA.</p>

Quantitative T2 mapping evaluation for articular cartilage lesions in a rabbit model of anterior cruciate ligament transection osteoarthritis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Quantitative T2 mapping has been a widely used method for the evaluation of pathological cartilage properties, and the histological assessment system of osteoarthritis in the rabbit has been published recently. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of quantitative T2 mapping evaluation for articular cartilage lesions of a rabbit model of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) osteoarthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were divided into ACLT surgical group and sham operated group equally. The anterior cruciate ligaments of the rabbits in ACLT group were transected, while the joints were closed intactly in sham operated group. Magnetic resonance (MR) examinations were performed on 3.0T MR unit at week 0, week 6, and week 12. T2 values were computed on GE ADW4.3 workstation. All rabbits were killed at week 13, and left knees were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Semiquantitative histological grading was obtained according to the osteoarthritis cartilage histopathology assessment system. Computerized image analysis was performed to quantitate the immunostained collagen type II.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average MR T2 value of whole left knee cartilage in ACLT surgical group ((29.05±12.01) ms) was significantly higher than that in sham operated group ((24.52±7.97) ms) (P=0.024) at week 6. The average T2 value increased to (32.18±12.79) ms in ACLT group at week 12, but remained near the baseline level ((27.66±8.08) ms) in the sham operated group (P=0.03). The cartilage lesion level of left knee in ACLT group was significantly increased at week 6 (P=0.005) and week 12 (P<0.001). T2 values had positive correlation with histological grading scores, but inverse correlation with optical densities (OD) of type II collagen.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrated the reliability and practicability of quantitative T2 mapping for the cartilage injury of rabbit ACLT osteoarthritis model.</p>