Long non-coding RNAs: Key regulators in oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in the world with high relapse and mortality rates. Although oxaliplatin (OXA), a platinum-based anticancer drug, is widely used in CRC treatment, the resulting chemoresistance dramatically attenuates the drug efficacy and increases the failure rate of this therapy. Thus, the study on OXA-induced chemoresistance is extremely urgent. In recent years, emerging evidence has shown that lncRNAs play irreplaceable roles in drug resistance. However, we only have a limited knowledge of the lncRNAs that are closely related to oxaliplatin resistance in CRC. In present study, we identify and characterize these lncRNAs, including their functions, underlying mechanisms and possible applications.

Berberine inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes apoptosis of tumour-associated fibroblast-induced colonic epithelial cells through regulation of TGF-ß signalling.

Tumour-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) mediate the differentiation of adjacent stromal cells. Berberine (BBR), a monomer of traditional Chinese herbs, exhibits a potent therapeutic effect against cancer. However, the effects of BBR on the differentiation of normal colonic epithelial cells induced by TAFs have not been determined. In the present study, we selected the TAF-like myofibroblast cell line CCD-18Co. CCD-18Co-derived conditioned medium (CM) and co-culture induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) changes in colonic epithelial HCoEpiC cells with decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin and α-SMA expression. In addition, CCD-18Co stimulated the expression of ZEB1 and Snail and promoted motility. We used LY364947, a TGF-ß receptor kinase type I (TßRI) inhibitor, and BBR. Our results showed that LY364947 and BBR inhibited these phenomena. BBR decreased the expression of ZEB1 and Snail, and this effect was concentration dependent. BBR also downregulated the expression of TßRI, TßRII, Smad2/p-Smad2 and Smad3/p-Smad3. In addition, BBR induced apoptosis in EMT-like HCoEpiC cells in a concentration-dependent manner with upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2. However, VX-702, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, significantly suppressed the apoptosis rate. BBR promoted the expression of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK. In conclusion, berberine inhibits EMT and promotes apoptosis in TAF-induced colonic epithelial cells through mediation of the Smad-dependent and SMAD-independent TGF-ß signalling pathways.

Optimization of an A(2)/O process for tetracycline removal via response surface methodology coupled with a Box-Behnken design.

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the operating conditions of an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A(2)/O) process by maximizing the removal efficiency of tetracycline (TC). Solid retention time (SRT), hydraulic retention time (HRT) and initial TC concentration (CTC, in) were selected as independent variables for incorporation in the Box-Behnken design. The results showed SRT and CTC, in were more significant parameters than HRT for the removal efficiency of TC. TC could be completely removed under the optimal conditions of an SRT of 15.5 days, an HRT of 9.9 h and a CTC, in of 283.3 µg L(-1). TC removal efficiencies of 99% and 96% were attained for synthetic and real wastewater, respectively, under the optimal conditions. This indicated the constructed model was validated and reliable for optimizing the A(2)/O process for TC removal.

Effect of trace tetracycline concentrations on the structure of a microbial community and the development of tetracycline resistance genes in sequencing batch reactors.

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of different concentrations of tetracycline (TC) on the microbial community and development of tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the structural changes of the microbial community and the variations of eight TC resistance genes tet(A), tet(B), tet(C), tet(E), tet(M), tet(O), tet(S) and tet(X), respectively. The results indicated that, trace TC could substantially change the structure of the microbial community. Bacteria which could not adapt to environment with TC were gradually replaced by those adapting to tetracycline. Shannon's diversity index (H) and Simpson's index (D) reached maximum values when the concentration of TC was 1 µg L(-1). The resistance genes in the activated sludge proliferated under the pressure of trace TC.