SNHG16 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development via activating ECM receptor interaction pathway.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating data have suggested that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in regulating tumor cell growth. This study was designed to investigate the role of SNHG16 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: SNHG16 expression was detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cutoff value of SNHG16 for tumor-free survival (TFS) was determined with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Small interfering RNA was used to inhibit the expression of SNHG16 in HCC cell lines. The biologic behavior of HCC cell was determined with cell viability assay and Transwell assay in vitro. The potential predictive value of SNHG16 on prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: SNHG16 expression was upregulated in tumor tissues and HCC cell lines. High expression of SNHG16 was associated with tumor recurrence and poor prognosis after surgery. Multivariate analysis revealed that SNHG16 was an independent prognostic factor for poor recurrence-free survival. Moreover, inhibition of SNHG16 in HepG2, Hep3B, and BEL-7402 cells significantly reduced cell invasiveness and proliferation. Mechanistic analyses indicated that the ECM-receptor interaction pathway was remarkably activated by SNHG16. CONCLUSIONS: SNHG16 might be a promising biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in HCC patients after surgery and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

A high frequency of CD8+CD28- T-suppressor cells contributes to maintaining stable graft function and reducing immunosuppressant dosage after liver transplantation.

CD8+CD28-T cells (CD8Ts) exert immunosuppressive effects in various autoimmune diseases. The current study was designed to investigate the role of defects in CD8Ts in liver transplantation (LT). The proportion of CD8Ts in peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry. The mean proportion of CD8Ts was 23.39% in recipients with stable graft function and 16.64% in those with graft dysfunction following LT compared with 19.86% in the healthy cohort. After receiving enhanced immunosuppressive therapy, patients in the rejection group who achieved recovery of graft function showed an increase in the proportion of CD8Ts (from 17.39% to 25.55%), but those in the group with refractory graft dysfunction showed no significant change (12.49% to 10.30%). Furthermore, in the first year after LT, recipients longer removed in time from the LT date exhibited a higher proportion of CD8Ts. Patients benefited most from tacrolimus concentrations of 5-10 ng/ml in the first year after LT and 0-5 ng/ml thereafter. Moreover, the change in the proportion of CD8Ts (ΔCD8Ts) was significantly higher in recipients with stable graft function than in those with graft dysfunction. These results suggest that a high frequency of CD8Ts prevents rejection and contributes to reduce immunosuppressant dosage and even induces tolerance.

[Field trial on rapid detection of echinococcosis by dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) with whole blood sample].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid, simple and reliable assay with samples of whole blood for diagnosis and epidemiological study on hydatidosis. METHODS: The dot immunogold filtration assay kit was developed and potato agglutinin was applied to blot blood quickly. RESULTS: Among 1 678 persons from prevalent area, the positive rate of DIGFA was 8.469 while that of image examination was 3.04%. Both DIGFA and image technique showed positive results in 43 cases. 8 cases with positive image but negative DIGFA were followed up for 16 months, which turned out that 3 cases with necrotic hydatid cysts, 2 cases with calcified hydatid cysts and 2 cases with benign hepatic cysts. 99 cases with positive DIGFA but negative image were also followed up for 16 months, 3 pulmonary hydatid cases were confirmed. Among 38 cases proved by operation and histopathology, the positive rate of DIGFA was 89.5%. 52 samples from non-prevalent area all showed negative DIGFA. Another 40 non-hydatidosis cases (10 samples of hepatic hemangioma, 10 of non-parasitic cysts of liver, 10 of primary hepatic carcinoma, 6 of pulmonary tuberculosis, 4 of lung cancer) also showed negative DIGFA. 190 samples were selected randomly and detected blindly by DIGFA with whole blood, DIGFA with serum and ELISA with serum to evaluate their diagnostic effect with no statistical difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The DIGFA kit is rapid, simple and reliable in epidemiological study of hydatid disease, with an advantage of using whole blood sample instead of serum.