Multiple endometrial polyps is associated with higher risk of chronic endometritis in reproductive-aged women.

AIM: To determine whether single endometrial polyp (EP) or multiple EP (polyp number ≥ 6) are associated with chronic endometritis (CE). METHODS: From June 2017 to December 2018, this study enrolled a total of 277 patients, including 92 patients with multiple EP, 82 patients with a single EP and 103 patients without polyps who underwent hysteroscopic examination and polypectomy. Polyps and endometrium samples were obtained and subjected to immunohistochemistry for CD138 to identify plasma cells and CE was diagnosed as CD138-positive plasma cells greater than or equal to 5/high power field. The prevalence of CE was compared and analyzed using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: All baseline parameters were comparable among the three groups except that the prevalence of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) was much higher in both polyp groups than the non-polyp control. The prevalence of CE was significantly higher in the multiple EP group than in the single EP group (58.7% vs 28.0%, P < 0.001). There was no difference on the prevalence of CE between the single EP and the non-polyp groups (28.0% vs 29.1%, P = 0.872). Multivariable analysis revealed that AUB (adjusted OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.35-5.87) and multiple EP (adjusted OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.38-4.82) were independently associated with CE, while the single EP did not increase the odds of CE compared to the non-polyp group (adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.38-1.45). CONCLUSION: Multiple EP were positively associated with CE among reproductive-aged women, suggesting a possible hidden etiopathogenetic link between chronic inflammation and multiple EP.

Increased copy number of syncytin-1 in the trophectoderm is associated with implantation of the blastocyst.

BACKGROUND: A key step in embryo implantation is the adhesion to and invasion of the endometrium by the blastocyst trophectoderm. The envelope proteins of HERV-W and -FRD (human endogenous retrovirus-W and -FRD), syncytin-1 and syncytin-2, are mainly distributed in the placenta, and play important roles in the development of the placenta. The placenta originates from the trophectoderm of the blastocyst. It is unclear whether the envelope proteins of HERV-W and -FRD have an effect on the development of the trophectoderm and whether they have any association with the implantation of the blastocyst. METHODS: The whole-genome amplification products of the human blastocyst trophectoderm were used to measure the copy number of syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 using real time qPCR. In addition, clinical data associated with the outcome of pregnancies was collected, and included age, body mass index (BMI), basic follicle stimulating hormone(bFSH), rate of primary infertility and oligo-astheno-teratospermia, the thickness of the endometrium on the day of endometrial transformation, the levels of estrogen and progestin on the transfer day, the days and the morphological scores of the blastocysts. The expression of mRNA and the copy numbers of syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 in H1 stem cells, and in differentiated H1 cells, induced by BMP4, were measured using real time qPCR. RESULTS: The relative copy number of syncytin-1 in the pregnant group (median: 424%, quartile: 232%-463%, p < 0.05) was significantly higher than in the non-pregnant group (median: 100%, quartile: 81%-163%). There was a correlation (r s  = 0.681, p < 0.001) between the copy number of syncytin-1 and blastocyst implantation after embryo transfer. As the stem cells differentiated, the expression of NANOG mRNA decreased, and the expression of caudal type homeobox 2(CDX2) and ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) mRNAs increased. Compared to the undifferentiated cells, the relative expression of the syncytin-1 mRNA was 1.63 (quartile: 0.59-6.37, p > 0.05), 3.36 (quartile: 0.85-14.80, p > 0.05), 10.85 (quartile: 3.39-24.46, p < 0.05) and 67.81 (quartile: 54.07-85.48, p < 0.05) on day 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively, after the differentiation. The relative expression of syncytin-2 was 5.34 (quartile: 4.50-10.30), 7.90 (quartile: 2.46-14.01), 57.44 (quartile: 38.35-103.87) and 344.76 (quartile: 267.72-440.10) on day 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively, after the differentiation (p < 0.05). The copy number of syncytin-1 increased significantly during differentiation. CONCLUSION: Preceding the transfer of frozen embryos, the increased copy number of syncytin-1 in the blastocyst trophectoderm was associated with good outcomes of pregnancies.

The Dual Role of HIV-1 gp120 V3 Loop-Induced Autophagy in the Survival and Apoptosis of the Primary Rat Hippocampal Neurons.

HIV-1 gp120, an important subunit of the envelope spikes that decorate the surface of virions, is known to play a vital role in neuronal injury during HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), although the pathological mechanism is not fully understood. Our previous studies have suggested that the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 (HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop) can induce neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus, resulting in impairment in spatial learning and memory in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this study, we demonstrated that autophagy was significantly increased in rat primary hippocampal neurons in response to treatment of HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop. Importantly, HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop-induced autophagy played a dual role in the cell survival and death. An increase in autophagy for a short period inhibited apoptosis of neurons, while persistent autophagy over an extended period of time played a detrimental role by augmenting the apoptotic cascade in rat primary hippocampal neurons. In addition, we found that the HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop induced autophagy via AMPK/mTOR-dependent and calpain/mTOR-independent pathways, and the ERK/mTOR pathway plays a partial role. These findings provide evidence that HIV-1-induced autophagy plays a dual role in the survival and apoptosis of the primary rat hippocampal neurons and persistent autophagy may contribute to the pathogenesis of HAND, and autophagy modulation may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing neuronal damage in HAND.

Overexpression of long non-coding RNA RP11-396F22.1 correlates poor prognosis of patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The expression level and clinical significances of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are presently unknown in the early-stage cervical cancer (CC). This study was aimed to explore the expression signatures of lncRNAs between normal and cervix carcinoma tissues and the prognostic value of LncRNAs in early-stage CC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients diagnosed with FIGO stage I-IIb CC of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1st 2006 and December 31st 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Molecular microarray was conducted to identify differentially expression profiles of LncRNAs. In situ hybridization was applied for detection of candidate lncRNAs in cervical tissues. RESULTS: A total of 2574 upregulated lncRNAs and 3270 downregulated lncRNAs with significantly differential expression (≥2.0-fold) were identified. Among the differentially expressed lncRNAs, RP11-396F22.1 expression was one of the most significantly overexpressed in the CC tissues compared to nomal cervical tissues (P<0.001). In situ hybridization confirmed RP11-396F22.1 expression was highly expressed in cancerous tissues. The results of Scratch and Transwell test showed that the migration ability decreased remarkably in transfected group (P<0.001). Moreover, the coding gene cpne8 was significantly upregulated by RP11-396F22.1 knockdown (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that LncRNA RP11-396F22.1 might be a potent biomarker for CC progression.

Identification of lncRNAs by microarray analysis reveals the potential role of lncRNAs in cervical cancer pathogenesis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been acknowledged to serve a significant role in cancer biology and abnormal expression in tumors is frequently observed. However, their mechanisms in cervical cancer remain unclear. With a genome-wide analysis of lncRNA expression in cervical cancer tissues, the present study aimed to identify lncRNA targets for the further study of cervical cancer. To elucidate the specific role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of this type of cancer, 6 cervical cancer samples paired with normal cervical tissues were obtained. Expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs were constructed through microarray analysis and confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed with computational methods. On the basis of correlations between the differential expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs, a coding-non-coding gene co-expression network (CNC network) was established. The differential expression of 5,844 lncRNAs and 4,436 mRNAs were discovered in cervical cancer samples compared with normal cervical tissues. Among the differentially expressed lncRNAs, 14 were chosen at random and validated by RT-qPCR; the majority of the results measured were consistent with the microarray results. Furthermore, the lncRNA ENST00000551152 was found to be upregulated and TCO. NS_00001368 lncRNA was downregulated in cervical cancer cell lines. The CNC network included 592 network nodes and 934 associations between 12 lncRNAs and 580 protein-coding genes, indicating that one lncRNA could act on a maximum of 141 coding genes, and that one coding gene may corresponded with a maximum of 5 lncRNAs. Overall, the present study has provided a complete expression profile of lncRNAs and mRNAs in cervical cancer, which may now be used to establish a solid foundation for cervical cancer research. These results may provide significant information for improving the understanding of the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and indicate potential therapeutic targets.

LNMICC Promotes Nodal Metastasis of Cervical Cancer by Reprogramming Fatty Acid Metabolism.

Cancer spread to lymph nodes predicts poor survival but underlying mechanisms remain little understood. In this study, we show that overexpression of the long noncoding RNA LNMICC associates with lymph node metastasis of primary cervical cancer, where it serves as an independent high-risk factor in patient survival. Functional investigations demonstrated that LNMICC promoted lymph node metastasis by reprogramming fatty acid metabolism, by recruiting the nuclear factor NPM1 to the promoter of the fatty acid binding protein FABP5. We also found that the prometastatic effects of LNMICC were directly targeted and suppressed by miR-190. Our results establish a new mechanism of lymph node metastasis and highlight LNMICC as a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cervical cancer.Significance: These results establish the role of a novel long noncoding RNA in lymph node metastasis, with implications as a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cervical cancer. Cancer Res; 78(4); 877-90. ©2017 AACR.

Tripartite motif containing 62 is a novel prognostic marker and suppresses tumor metastasis via c-Jun/Slug signaling-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: TRIM62 (tripartite motif containing 62) has been found to act as a tumor suppressor of several cancers. However, its precise biological role and related mechanism remain unknown in cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: Quantitative Real-time PCR and western blot were adopted to detect the mRNA and protein expression level of TRIM62 in both human CC cell lines and tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the TRIM62 expression in 30 normal cervical and 189 CC tissues. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses performed to investigate the association between TRIM62 expression and CC patients' prognosis. The effect of TRIM62 on CC growth and metastasis was studied in vitro and in vivo. Multi-pathway reporter array were utilized to identify the potential signaling manipulated by TRIM62. RESULTS: TRIM62 was frequently down-regulated in both human CC cells and tissues. Low expression of TRIM62 in CC tissues was associated with aggressive clinicopathological features of CC patients. In addition, TRIM62 was also an independent poor prognostic factor for overall and disease-free survival of CC patients after surgery. Moreover, enforced expression of TRIM62 in CC cells significantly inhibited their abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Besides, subcutaneous xenograft tumor model and xenograft mouse metastatic model respectively displayed that TRIM62 impeded the growth and metastasis of CC in vivo. Furthermore, mechanism study exhibited that TRIM62 could suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting c-Jun/Slug signaling. The inhibitory role of TRIM62 in tumor proliferation might be through regulating cell cycle related proteins CyclinD1 and P27 by targeting c-Jun. CONCLUSION: TRIM62 is a potential prognostic biomarker in CC and suppresses metastasis of CC via inhibiting c-Jun/Slug signaling-mediated EMT.

Potential Role of Semaphorin 3A and Its Receptors in Regulating Aberrant Sympathetic Innervation in Peritoneal and Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis.

Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of nerve repellent factors in regulation of the imbalanced innervation of endometriosis. This prospective study aims to explore the role of Sema 3A in regulating aberrant sympathetic innervation in peritoneal and deep infiltrating endometriosis. Ectopic endometriotic lesion were collected from patients with peritoneal endometriosis (n = 24) and deep infiltrating endometriosis of uterosacral ligament (n = 20) undergoing surgery for endometriosis. Eutopic endometrial samples were collected from patients with endometriosis (n = 22) or without endometriosis (n = 26). Healthy peritoneum (n = 13) from the lateral pelvic wall and healthy uterosacral ligament (n = 13) were obtained from patients who had no surgical and histological proof of endometriosis during hysterectomy for uterine fibroids. Firstly, we studied the immunostaining of Sema 3A, Plexin A1 and NRP-1 in all the tissues described above. Then we studied the nerve fiber density (NFD) of endometriosis-associated (sympathetic) nerve and para-endometriotic (sympathetic) nerve by double immunofluorescence staining. Finally we analyzed the relationship between expression of Sema 3A in stromal cells of endometriotic lesion and the aberrant innervation of endometriosis. Semi-quantitative immunostaining demonstrated that (1) Higher immunostaining of Sema 3A were found in the eutopic endometrial glandular epithelial cells from patients with endometriosis (p = 0.041) than those without endometriosis; (2) Sema 3A immunostaining was higher in glandular epithelial cells of peritoneal endometriosis (P<0.001) and deep infiltrating endometriotic lesions of uterosacral ligament (P = 0.028)compared with glandular epithelial cells of the endometrium from women with endometriosis, while its expression in ectopic stormal cells in both groups were significantly lower than that from eutopic endometrium of women without endometirosis (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). NFDs of Anti-TH (+) endometriosis-associated sympathetic nerve of peritoneal endometriosis (p<0.001) and deep endometriosis of uterosacral ligament (p<0.001) were significantly lower than NFDs of para-endometriotic sympathetic nerve. Our results suggest that Sema 3A may contribute to the regulation of aberrant sympathetic innervation in peritoneal and deep infiltrating endometriosis.

The expression of S100P increases and promotes cellular proliferation by increasing nuclear translocation of ß-catenin in endometrial cancer.

There is increasing evidence suggesting that S100P has a significant role in cancer, and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. The expression of S100P mRNA and protein in endometrial cancer and normal endometrium tissues was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we reduced the expression of S100P in HEC-1A and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell lines by siRNA transfection. Based on the reduced S100P mRNA expression, we measured the effects of S100P on cellular proliferation by the cell-counting kit-8. Nuclear ß-catenin protein level was detected by western blotting. Cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA expression regulated by ß-catenin was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We found that the expression of S100P mRNA and protein increased in endometrial cancer tissues compared with the normal endometrium. Local S100P expression progressively increased from pathologic differenciation grade 1 to 3. After reducing the S100P expression, the cellular proliferation ability, nuclear ß-catenin protein level, cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA levels reduced. It indicated that S100P could promote cell proliferation by increasing nuclear translocation of ß-catenin. The expression of S100P mRNA and protein in endometrial cancer significantly increased and is associated with pathologic differenciation grade. S100P may promote endometrial cell proliferation by increasing nuclear translocation of ß-catenin.

Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR inhibits proliferation and invasion of endometrial carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: The overexpression of long noncoding RNA HOTAIR is associated with various aggressive solid carcinomas. However, its relationship with endometrial carcinoma has not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR in endometrial carcinoma, its relationship with the carcinoma's clinicopathologic features, and the biological function of HOTAIR in regulating endometrial cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The expression of HOTAIR was detected in different tissues and cell lines by real-time PCR. Lentivirus-mediated HOTAIR-specific shRNAvectors were transfected into endometrial cancer HEC-1A cells. Cell proliferation and colony formation were examined by CCK-8 assays and colony formation assays, respectively. Invasion and migration were examined by Transwell assays. Flow cytometry assay was used to examine the cell cycle. In addition, xenograft model assays were performed to analyze the growth of endometrial cancer cells in vivo. RESULTS: Our data showed that HOTAIR expression was higher in endometrial cancer cells and tissues than in normal endometrial tissues. HOTAIR expression was closely related to the tumor stage (P = 0.045), myometrial invasion (P = 0.014), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033). The down-regulation of HOTAIR resulted in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and in cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, HOTAIR depletion significantly suppressed the endometrial cancer tumorigenesis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to suggest that HOTAIR plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of endometrial cancer. Targeting HOTAIR may be a novel therapeutic strategy for endometrial cancer.

Curcumin protects microglia and primary rat cortical neurons against HIV-1 gp120-mediated inflammation and apoptosis.

Curcumin is a molecule found in turmeric root that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties and has been widely used as both an herbal drug and a food additive to treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases. To explore whether curcumin is able to ameliorate HIV-1-associated neurotoxicity, we treated a murine microglial cell line (N9) and primary rat cortical neurons with curcumin in the presence or absence of neurotoxic HIV-1 gp120 (V3 loop) protein. We found that HIV-1 gp120 profoundly induced N9 cells to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). HIV-1 gp120 also induced apoptosis of primary rat cortical neurons. Curcumin exerted a powerful inhibitory effect against HIV-1 gp120-induced neuronal damage, reducing the production of ROS, TNF-α and MCP-1 by N9 cells and inhibiting apoptosis of primary rat cortical neurons. Curcumin may exert its biological activities through inhibition of the delayed rectification and transient outward potassium (K(+)) current, as curcumin effectively reduced HIV-1 gp120-mediated elevation of the delayed rectification and transient outward K(+) channel current in neurons. We conclude that HIV-1 gp120 increases ROS, TNF-α and MCP-1 production in microglia, and induces cortical neuron apoptosis by affecting the delayed rectification and transient outward K(+) channel current. Curcumin reduces production of ROS and inflammatory mediators in HIV-1-gp120-stimulated microglia, and protects cortical neurons against HIV-1-mediated apoptosis, most likely through inhibition of HIV-1 gp120-induced elevation of the delayed rectification and transient outward K(+) current.

Growth differential factor-9 inhibits testosterone production in mouse theca interstitial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of growth differential factor-9 (GDF-9) alone on cell proliferation, cell viability, steroidogenesis, and hormone-stimulated gene expression in cultured mouse theca interstitial cells. DESIGN: Basic research. SETTING: University hospital. ANIMAL(S): Immature 3- to 4-week-old SPF KM mice obtained from the Laboratory Animal Center of Sun Yat-Sen University. INTERVENTION(S): Addition of GDF-9 at different dosages to primary culture of mouse theca interstitial cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cell number, cell viability, progesterone and testosterone levels, and hormone-stimulated gene mRNA abundance. RESULT(S): Growth differential factor-9 mildly increased the number of mouse theca interstitial cells and cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and mildly inhibited the production of progesterone in mouse theca interstitial cells. Administration of GDF-9 at the dosages of 200 ng/mL and 400 ng/mL resulted in a significant decrease in the testosterone level compared with the control group by 60.42% and 68.76%, respectively. Growth differential factor-9 significantly suppressed Lhcgr mRNA by 47.36%, Cyp11a1 mRNA by 62.30%, and Cyp17a1 mRNA by 55.39%, but had only a mild effect on Star gene expression. CONCLUSION(S): Growth differential factor-9 can inhibit the production of testosterone in mouse theca interstitial cells and suppress the corresponding gene expression.

Protective effects of curcumin against human immunodeficiency virus 1 gp120 V3 loop-induced neuronal injury in rats.

Curcumin improves the learning and memory deficits in rats induced by the gp120 V3 loop. The present study cultured rat hippocampal neurons with 1 nM gp120 V3 loop and 1 µM curcumin for 24 hours. The results showed that curcumin inhibited the gp120 V3 loop-induced mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, reduced the mRNA expression of the pro-apoptotic gene caspase-3, and attenuated hippocampal neuronal injury.