A Novel Prognostic Risk Model for Cervical Cancer Based on Immune Checkpoint HLA-G-Driven Differentially Expressed Genes.

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a potential checkpoint molecule that plays a key role in cervical carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to construct and validate a prognostic risk model to predict the overall survival (OS) of cervical cancer patients, providing a reference for individualized clinical treatment that may lead to better clinical outcomes. HLA-G-driven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from two cervical carcinoma cell lines, namely, SiHa and HeLa, with stable overexpression of HLA-G by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The biological functions of these HLA-G-driven DEGs were analysed by GO enrichment and KEGG pathway using the "clusterProfiler" package. The protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were assessed using the STRING database. The prognostic relevance of each DEG was evaluated by univariate Cox regression using the TCGA-CESC dataset. After the TCGA-CESC cohort was randomly divided into training set and testing set, and a prognostic risk model was constructed by LASSO and stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis in training set and validated in testing set or in different types of cervical cancer set. The predictive ability of the prognostic risk model or nomogram was evaluated by a series of bioinformatics methods. A total of 1108 candidate HLA-G-driven DEGs, including 391 upregulated and 717 downregulated genes, were obtained and were enriched mostly in the ErbB pathway, steroid biosynthesis, and MAPK pathway. Then, an HLA-G-driven DEG signature consisting of the eight most important prognostic genes CD46, LGALS9, PGM1, SPRY4, CACNB3, PLIN2, MSMO1, and DAGLB was identified as a key predictor of cervical cancer. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that this signature is an independent risk factor for the overall survival of CESC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 5-year overall survival rate is 23.0% and 84.6% for the high-risk and low-risk patients, respectively (P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of this prognostic model with an area under the curve (AUC) was 0.896 for 5 years, which was better than that of other clinical traits. This prognostic risk model was also successfully validated in different subtypes of cervical cancer, including the keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell neoplasms, non-squamous cell neoplasms set. Single-sample gene set enrichment (ssGSEA) algorithm and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) analysis confirmed that this signature influence tumour microenvironment and immune checkpoint blockade. A nomogram that integrated risk score, age, clinical stage, histological grade, and pathological type was then built to predict the overall survival of CESC patients and evaluated by calibration curves, AUC, concordance index (C-index) and decision curve analysis (DCA). To summarize, we developed and validated a novel prognostic risk model for cervical cancer based on HLA-G-driven DEGs, and the prognostic signature showed great ability in predicting the overall survival of patients with cervical cancer.

Identification and Validation of a Novel DNA Damage and DNA Repair Related Genes Based Signature for Colon Cancer Prognosis.

Backgrounds: Colorectal cancer (CRC) with high incidence, has the third highest mortality of tumors. DNA damage and repair influence a variety of tumors. However, the role of these genes in colon cancer prognosis has been less systematically investigated. Here, we aim to establish a corresponding prognostic signature providing new therapeutic opportunities for CRC. Method: After related genes were collected from GSEA, univariate Cox regression was performed to evaluate each gene's prognostic relevance through the TCGA-COAD dataset. Stepwise COX regression was used to establish a risk prediction model through the training sets randomly separated from the TCGA cohort and validated in the remaining testing sets and two GEO datasets (GSE17538 and GSE38832). A 12-DNA-damage-and-repair-related gene-based signature able to classify COAD patients into high and low-risk groups was developed. The predictive ability of the risk model or nomogram were evaluated by different bioinformatics- methods. Gene functional enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the co-expressed genes of the risk-based genes. Result: A 12-gene based prognostic signature established within 160 significant survival-related genes from DNA damage and repair related gene sets performed well with an AUC of ROC 0.80 for 5 years in the TCGA-CODA dataset. The signature includes CCNB3, ISY1, CDC25C, SMC1B, MC1R, LSP1P4, RIN2, TPM1, ELL3, POLG, CD36, and NEK4. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the prognosis of the risk status owns more significant differences than T, M, N, and stage prognostic parameters. A nomogram was constructed by LASSO regression analysis with T, M, N, age, and risk as prognostic parameters. ROC curve, C-index, Calibration analysis, and Decision Curve Analysis showed the risk module and nomogram performed best in years 1, 3, and 5. KEGG, GO, and GSEA enrichment analyses suggest the risk involved in a variety of important biological processes and well-known cancer-related pathways. These differences may be the key factors affecting the final prognosis. Conclusion: The established gene signature for CRC prognosis provides a new molecular tool for clinical evaluation of prognosis, individualized diagnosis, and treatment. Therapies based on targeted DNA damage and repair mechanisms may formulate more sensitive and potential chemotherapy regimens, thereby expanding treatment options and potentially improving the clinical outcome of CRC patients.

Synthesis and biological activity of new bisbenzofuran-imidazolium salts.

A series of novel bisbenzofuran-imidazolium salts were designed and prepared. The in vitro antitumor activity of these derivatives was evaluated against a panel of human tumor cell lines (A549, HL-60, MCF-7, SMMC-7721 and SW480). Results demonstrated that 2-methyl-benzimidazole ring and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a 4-methoxyphenacyl or 2-naphthylacyl substituent were important for promoting cytotoxic activity. Notably, compound 23 was found to be the most potent compound with IC50 values of 0.64-1.47 µM against five human tumor cell lines, and exhibited higher selectivity to MCF-7 and SW-480 cell lines with IC50 values 15.3-fold and 9.1-fold lower than DDP.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 3-benzylcoumarin-imidazolium salts.

A series of novel 3-benzylcoumarin-imidazolium salts were prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results showed that the existence of 5,6-dimethyl-benzimidazole ring and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a naphthylacyl group were vital for modulating cytotoxic activity. Notably, compound 38 was found to be the most potent derivative with IC50 values of 2.04-4.51 µM against five human tumor cell lines, while compound 34 were more selective to SW-480 cell lines with IC50 value 40.0-fold lower than DDP. Mechanism of action studies indicated that compound 38 can cause the G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cell lines.

Efficient construction of C-N and C-S bonds in 2-iminothiazoles via cascade reaction of enaminones with potassium thiocyanate.

A novel and highly efficient protocol has been developed for the regioselective synthesis of 2-iminothiazole derivatives with potential biochemical interest by the reaction of enaminones, potassium thiocyanate (KSCN), and N-bromo succinimide (NBS) under mild conditions. The reaction proceeds via the formation of α-bromo enaminones as a versatile intermediate followed by thiocyanation/intramolecular cyclization in a one pot manner. The developed method is particularly attractive due to various advantages including operational simplicity, mild conditions, being catalyst free, and high bond-forming efficiency. The proposed protocol explores the synthetic routes of thiazoles by using various functional enaminones.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel N-substituted carbazole imidazolium salt derivatives.

A series of novel N-substituted carbazole imidazolium salt derivatives has been prepared and investigated for their cytotoxic activity against five human tumor cell lines by MTS assay. The results indicated that the existence of 5,6-dimethyl-benzimidazole ring, substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a 2-bromobenzyl or naphthylacyl group, as well as alkyl chain length between carbazole and imidazole ring were important for the antitumor activity. Compound 61, bearing a 2-bromobenzyl substituent at position-3 of the 5,6-dimethyl-benzimidazole, showed powerful inhibitory activities and was more selective to HL-60, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and SW480 cell lines with IC50 values 0.51-2.48 µM. Mechanism of action studies revealed that this new compound could remarkably induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. This work provides alternative novel way for future drug development based on carbazole and imidazolium salt scaffolds.

Synthesis and antitumor activities of novel dibenzo[b,d]furan-imidazole hybrid compounds.

A series of novel hybrid compounds between dibenzo[b,d]furan and imidazole has been prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the existence of benzimidazole ring, and the substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a naphthylacyl or 4-methoxyphenacyl group, were vital for modulating cytotoxic activity. In particular, hybrid compound 60 was found to be the most potent derivatives against all of human tumor cell lines investigated, while compound 49 was found to be more selective against breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and myeloid liver carcinoma (SMMC-7721). Compound 60 can induce the G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of novel hybrid 2-phenyl-3-alkylbenzofuran and imidazole/triazole compounds.

A series of novel hybrid compounds of 2-phenyl-3-alkylbenzofuran and imidazole or triazole were prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the 2-ethyl-imidazole ring, and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a 2-bromobenzyl or naphthylacyl group, were vital for modulating inhibitory activity. In particular, hybrid compound 31 was found to be the most potent derivative with IC50 values of 0.08-0.55 µM against five strains human tumor cell lines and was found to be more selective against breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and colon carcinoma (SW480) (IC50 values 40.8-fold and 40.1-fold lower than cisplatin (DDP)).

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel hybrid compounds of imidazole scaffold-based 2-benzylbenzofuran as potent anticancer agents.

A series of novel hybrid compounds between 2-benzylbenzofuran and imidazole has been prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the existence of benzimidazole ring and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a naphthylacyl or 4-methoxyphenacyl group were vital for modulating cytotoxic activity. In particular, hybrid compounds 46 and 47 were found to be the most potent derivatives against 5 strains human tumor cell lines and more active than cisplatin (DDP), and exhibited cytotoxic activities selectively against breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and myeloid liver carcinoma (SMMC-7721), respectively.

Design, synthesis and cytotoxic activities of novel hybrid compounds between dihydrobenzofuran and imidazole.

A series of novel hybrid compounds between dihydrobenzofuran and imidazole has been prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that substitution of the imidazolyl-1-position with an electron-donating dihydrobenzofuran, and the imidazolyl-3-position with a naphthylacyl or electron-rich phenacyl group, were vital for modulating cytotoxic activity.

Influences of urinary pH on the pharmacokinetics of three amphetamine-type stimulants using a new high-performance liquid chromatographic method.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method after precolumn derivatization with 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonyl chloride (ASC) has been developed and validated for the analysis of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in biological samples. Based on this method, we investigated the impact of urinary pH on the pharmacokinetics of phenylpropanolamine (PPA), pseudoephedrine (PSE), and fenfluramine (FEN) in rats. The drugs were orally administrated to rats, which had been induced, by repeated oral doses of ammonium chloride or sodium bicarbonate, to excrete urine at lower or higher pH than the normal value, respectively. Results revealed that as the increase of urinary pH, the mean elimination half-life (t(1/2)), the mean residence time (MRT) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of PPA, PSE, and FEN were greatly raised, while the total plasma clearance (CL/F) decreased considerably. These findings have important clinical implications.

[Effects of artificial Ulmus pumila forest on plant diversity of temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia].

Based on field survey, the effects of artificial Ulmus pumila forest on the species diversity of temperate grassland in Siziwang Banner of Inner Mongolia were studied. The results showed that U. pumila forest had obvious effects on the species diversity of grassland. With increasing density of U. pumila, the Patrick's richness, Pielou's evenness and Shannon-Wiener index of grass species under the forest had a decreasing trend, and were higher nearby the forest than far from the forest. The habitat inside the forest was favorable to Silene jenisseensis, while that nearby the forest was favorable to Heteropappus altaicus, Pocockia ruthenia, Potentilla bifurca, Leymus secalinus and Cleistogenes squarrosa, suggesting that to blindly exclude forestation on grassland could be less scientific, while properly afforesting U. pumila on the sides with relatively abundant soil moisture should be available to the conservation of plant diversity in temperate grassland regions.