Comprehensive single cell transcriptomics analysis of murine osteosarcoma uncovers Skp2 function in metastasis, genomic instability and immune activation and reveals additional target pathways.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary pediatric bone malignancy. One promising new therapeutic target is SKP2, encoding a substrate recognition factor of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of substrate p27, thus driving cellular proliferation. We have shown previously that knockout of Skp2 in an immunocompetent transgenic mouse model of OS improved survival, drove apoptosis, and induced tumor inflammation. Here, we applied single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to study primary OS tumors derived from Osx-Cre driven conditional knockout of Rb1 and Trp53. We showed that murine OS models recapitulate the tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment complexity observed in patient tumors. We further compared this model with OS models with functional disruption of Skp2: one with Skp2 knockout and the other with the Skp2-p27 interaction disrupted (resulting in p27 overexpression). We found reduction of T cell exhaustion and upregulation of interferon activation, along with evidence of replicative and endoplasmic reticulum-related stress in the Skp2 disruption models, and showed that interferon induction was correlated with improved survival in OS patients. Additionally, our scRNA-seq analysis uncovered decreased activities of metastasis-related gene signatures in the Skp2-disrupted OS, which we validated by observation of a strong reduction in lung metastasis in the Skp2 knockout mice. Finally, we report several potential mechanisms of escape from targeting Skp2 in OS, including upregulation of Myc targets, DNA copy number amplification and overexpression of alternative E3 ligase genes, and potential alternative lineage activation. These mechanistic insights into OS tumor biology and Skp2 function suggest novel targets for new, synergistic therapies, while the data and our comprehensive analysis may serve as a public resource for further big data-driven OS research.

TOP CAR with TMIGD2 as a safe and effective costimulatory domain in CAR cells treating human solid tumors.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy shows impressive efficacy treating hematologic malignancies but requires further optimization in solid tumors. Here, we developed a TMIGD2 optimized potent/persistent (TOP) CAR that incorporated the costimulatory domain of TMIGD2, a T and NK cell costimulator, and monoclonal antibodies targeting the IgV domain of B7-H3, an immune checkpoint expressed on solid tumors and tumor vasculature. Comparing second- and third-generation B7-H3 CARs containing TMIGD2, CD28, and/or 4-1BB costimulatory domains revealed superior antitumor responses in B7-H3.TMIGD2 and B7-H3.CD28.4-1BB CAR-T cells in vitro. Comparing these two constructs using in vivo orthotopic human cancer models demonstrated that B7-H3.TMIGD2 CAR-T cells had equivalent or superior antitumor activity, survival, expansion, and persistence. Mechanistically, B7-H3.TMIGD2 CAR-T cells maintained mitochondrial metabolism; produced less cytokines; and established fewer exhausted cells, more central memory cells, and a larger CD8/CD4 T cell ratio. These studies demonstrate that the TOP CAR with TMIGD2 costimulation offered distinct benefits from CD28.41BB costimulation and is effective against solid tumors.

scDAPP: a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomics analysis pipeline optimized for cross-group comparison.

Single-cell transcriptomics profiling has increasingly been used to evaluate cross-group differences in cell population and cell-type gene expression. This often leads to large datasets with complex experimental designs that need advanced comparative analysis. Concurrently, bioinformatics software and analytic approaches also become more diverse and constantly undergo improvement. Thus, there is an increased need for automated and standardized data processing and analysis pipelines, which should be efficient and flexible too. To address these, we develop the single-cell Differential Analysis and Processing Pipeline (scDAPP), a R-based workflow for comparative analysis of single cell (or nucleus) transcriptomic data between two or more groups and at the levels of single cells or "pseudobulking" samples. The pipeline automates many steps of pre-processing using data-learnt parameters, uses previously benchmarked software, and generates comprehensive intermediate data and final results that are valuable for both beginners and experts of scRNA-seq analysis. Moreover, the analytic reports, augmented by extensive data visualization, increase the transparency of computational analysis and parameter choices, while facilitate users to go seamlessly from raw data to biological interpretation. Availability and Implementation: scDAPP is freely available for non-commercial usage as an R package under the MIT license. Source code, documentation and sample data are available at the GitHub (https://github.com/bioinfoDZ/scDAPP).

KDM5-mediated transcriptional activation of ribosomal protein genes alters translation efficiency to regulate mitochondrial metabolism in neurons.

Genes encoding the KDM5 family of transcriptional regulators are disrupted in individuals with intellectual disability (ID). To understand the link between KDM5 and ID, we characterized five Drosophila strains harboring missense alleles analogous to those observed in patients. These alleles disrupted neuroanatomical development, cognition and other behaviors, and displayed a transcriptional signature characterized by the downregulation of many ribosomal protein genes. A similar transcriptional profile was observed in KDM5C knockout iPSC-induced human glutamatergic neurons, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved role for KDM5 proteins in regulating this class of gene. In Drosophila, reducing KDM5 changed neuronal ribosome composition, lowered the translation efficiency of mRNAs required for mitochondrial function, and altered mitochondrial metabolism. These data highlight the cellular consequences of altered KDM5-regulated transcriptional programs that could contribute to cognitive and behavioral phenotypes. Moreover, they suggest that KDM5 may be part of a broader network of proteins that influence cognition by regulating protein synthesis.

Tenascin-C expressing touch dome keratinocytes exhibit characteristics of all epidermal lineages.

The touch dome (TD) keratinocytes are specialized epidermal cells that intimately associate with the light touch sensing Merkel cells (MCs). The TD keratinocytes function as a niche for the MCs and can induce de novo hair follicles upon stimulation; however, how the TD keratinocytes are maintained during homeostasis remains unclear. scRNA-seq identified a specific TD keratinocyte marker, Tenascin-C (TNC). Lineage tracing of Tnc-expressing TD keratinocytes revealed that these cells maintain themselves as an autonomous epidermal compartment and give rise to MCs upon injury. Molecular characterization uncovered that, while the transcriptional and chromatin landscape of the TD keratinocytes is remarkably similar to that of the interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes, it also shares certain molecular signatures with the hair follicle keratinocytes. Our study highlights that the TD keratinocytes in the adult skin have molecular characteristics of keratinocytes of diverse epidermal lineages.

[Shenfu Injection alleviates sepsis-associated lung injury by regulating HIF-1α].

Shenfu Injection(SFI) is praised for the high efficacy in the treatment of septic shock. However, the precise role of SFI in the treatment of sepsis-associated lung injury is not fully understood. This study investigated the protective effect of SFI on sepsis-associated lung injury by a clinical trial and an animal experiment focusing on the hypoxia-inducing factor-1α(HIF-1α)-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. For the clinical trial, 70 patients with sepsis-associated lung injury treated in the emergency intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included. The levels of interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were measured on days 1 and 5 for every patient. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was performed to determine the mRNA level of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs). For the animal experiment, 32 SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice(5-6 weeks old) were randomized into 4 groups: sham group(n=6), SFI+sham group(n=10), SFI+cecal ligation and puncture(CLP) group(n=10), and CLP group(n=6). The body weight, body temperature, wet/dry weight(W/D) ratio of the lung tissue, and the pathological injury score of the lung tissue were recorded for each mouse. RT-qPCR and Western blot were conducted to determine the expression of HIF-1α, mitochondrial DNA(mt-DNA), and autophagy-related proteins in the lung tissue. The results of the clinical trial revealed that the SFI group had lowered levels of inflammatory markers in the blood and alveolar lavage fluid and elevated level of HIF-1α in the PBMCs. The mice in the SFI group showed recovered body temperature and body weight. lowered TNF-α level in the serum, and decreased W/D ratio of the lung tissue. SFI reduced the inflammatory exudation and improved the alveolar integrity in the lung tissue. Moreover, SFI down-regulated the mtDNA expression and up-regulated the protein levels of mitochondrial transcription factor A(mt-TFA), cytochrome c oxidase Ⅳ(COXⅣ), HIF-1α, and autophagy-related proteins in the lung tissue of the model mice. The findings confirmed that SFI could promote mitophagy to improve mitochondrial function by regulating the expression of HIF-1α.

Levetiracetam alleviates cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease animal model by ameliorating the dysfunction of the neuronal network.

Background: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have a significantly higher risk of seizures than other individuals in an age-matched population, suggesting a close association between epilepsy and AD. We aimed to examine the effects of levetiracetam (LEV)-a drug for treating seizures-on learning and memory and the neuropathological features of AD. Methods: We crossbred APP23 mice with microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) transgenic mice to generate APP23/MAPT mice. These mice were treated with different concentrations of LEV in the presence of kainic acid (KA) for 3 months. Results: Low doses of LEV alleviated the effects of KA on memory defects in APP23/MAPT mice. Mechanistic investigations showed that low concentrations of LEV decreased tau phosphorylation by reducing the activities of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and glycogen synthase kinase 3α/ß, thus rescuing neurons from synaptic dystrophy and apoptosis. Low doses of LEV inhibited the effects of KA (i.e., inducing neuroinflammation and impairing the autophagy of amyloid ß-peptide), thus improving cognitive decline. High concentrations of LEV decreased the production and deposition of amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) by reducing the expression of ß-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 and presenilin 1. However, high concentrations of LEV also induced neuronal apoptosis, decreased movement ability in mice, and did not alleviate cognitive decline in AD mice. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that aberrant network activity contributes to the synaptic and cognitive deficits in APP23/MAPT mice. A low concentration of LEV may help ameliorate abnormalities of AD; however, a high LEV concentration did not induce similar results.

Application of Antibody Fragments Against Aß With Emphasis on Combined Application With Nanoparticles in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and accumulating evidences suggest a key role of amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide in the pathogenesis of AD. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, the imbalance of producing and clearing Aß is the beginning of neurodegeneration and dementia. Consequently, immunotherapy becomes popular through using antibodies against Aß. However, many studies of monoclonal antibodies were stopped because adverse effects appeared or there were no evident benefits observed. Some antibody fragments have many advantages over monoclonal antibodies, such as small sizes, lack of the crystallizable fraction (Fc) and so on. There are three main antibody fragments, including single chain variable fragments (scFvs), Fab fragments and single-domain antibody fragments. Nanoparticles can facilitate the entry of drug molecules across the blood-brain barrier, making them become excellent carriers. Various kinds of nanoparticles have been applied in the treatment of AD. The combination of nanoparticles and antibody fragments against amyloid-ß can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we summarize the progress of antibody fragments against amyloid-ß in AD, focusing on the combined application with nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of AD.

Kainic acid hyperphosphorylates tau via inflammasome activation in MAPT transgenic mice.

The excitotoxicity induced by kainic acid (KA) is thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the mechanisms underlying this excitotoxicity remain unknown. In the current study, we investigated the dynamic changes in tau phosphorylation and their associations with the excitotoxicity induced by intraperitoneal injection of KA in the mouse brain. We found that KA-induced excitotoxicity led to sustained hyperphosphorylation of tau in MAPT transgenic (Tg) mice. By using cultured microglia and mouse brains, we showed that KA treatment specifically induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which was characterized by activation of the major biomarkers of ER, such as ATF6, GRP78, and IRE1, and resulted in stimulation of inflammasomes. KA receptors (KARs), such as Girk1, were determined to be involved in this KA-induced ER stress. ER stress was also shown to activate inflammasomes by stimulating the expression of the two major components of inflammasomes, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) protein 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and eventually causing the production of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Inhibition of NLRP3 or NF-κB by Bay11-7082 resulted in reduction of KA-induced IL-1ß production. Our results also revealed the positive effects of IL-1ß on tau phosphorylation, which was blocked by Bay11-7082. Notably, the results indicate that Bay11-7082 acts against KA-induced neuronal degeneration, tau phosphorylation, and memory defects via inflammasomes, which further highlight the protective role of Bay11-7082 in KA-induced neuronal defects.

Kainic acid Induces production and aggregation of amyloid ß-protein and memory deficits by activating inflammasomes in NLRP3- and NF-κB-stimulated pathways.

Kainic acid (KA) treatment causes neuronal degeneration, which is a feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms such as amyloid ß-protein production and memory deficits. Inflammasomes are known to be critical for the progression of AD. However, the underlying mechanism by which inflammasomes influence AD progression remains unknown. The present study investigated the damaging effect of KA on neurons by focusing on the inflammasome-mediated signaling pathways. Assessments using cultured microglia and mouse brains demonstrated that KA treatment specifically induced inflammasome activation. Mechanistic evaluations showed that KA activated two major components of inflammasomes, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) protein 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, which resulted in the production of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Inhibition of NLRP3 or NF-κB by Bay11-7082 caused a reduction in the KA-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß and BDNF. Moreover, knockdown of the expression of KA receptors (KARs) such as Grik1 and Grik3 induced suppression of NLRP3 and NF-κB, suggesting that KARs function upstream of NLRP3 and NF-κB to mediate the effects of KA on regulation of IL-1ß and BDNF expression. Notably, IL-1ß was shown to exert positive effects on the expression of BACE1, which is blocked by Bay11-7082. Overall, our results revealed that Bay11-7082 acts against KA-induced neuronal degeneration, amyloid ß-protein (Aß) deposition, and memory defects via inflammasomes and further highlighted the protective role of Bay11-7082 in KA-induced neuronal defects.

RUNX proteins desensitize multiple myeloma to lenalidomide via protecting IKZFs from degradation.

Ikaros family zinc finger protein 1 and 3 (IKZF1 and IKZF3) are transcription factors that promote multiple myeloma (MM) proliferation. The immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) lenalidomide promotes myeloma cell death via Cereblon (CRBN)-dependent ubiquitylation and proteasome-dependent degradation of IKZF1 and IKZF3. Although IMiDs have been used as first-line drugs for MM, the overall survival of refractory MM patients remains poor and demands the identification of novel agents to potentiate the therapeutic effect of IMiDs. Using an unbiased screen based on mass spectrometry, we identified the Runt-related transcription factor 1 and 3 (RUNX1 and RUNX3) as interactors of IKZF1 and IKZF3. Interaction with RUNX1 and RUNX3 inhibits CRBN-dependent binding, ubiquitylation, and degradation of IKZF1 and IKZF3 upon lenalidomide treatment. Inhibition of RUNXs, via genetic ablation or a small molecule (AI-10-104), results in sensitization of myeloma cell lines and primary tumors to lenalidomide. Thus, RUNX inhibition represents a valuable therapeutic opportunity to potentiate IMiDs therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Kainic Acid Impairs the Memory Behavior of APP23 Mice by Increasing Brain Amyloid Load through a Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Dependent Mechanism.

Kainic acid (KA) was recently identified as an epileptogenic and neuroexcitotoxic agent that is responsible for inducing learning and memory deficits in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism by which KA acts upon AD remains unclear. To this end, we presently investigated the roles of KA in processing amyloid-ß protein precursor (AßPP) and amyloid-ß protein (Aß) loads during the course of AD development and progression. Specifically, KA treatment clearly caused the upregulation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) via activation of the PI3-K/AKT, ERK1/2, and p65 pathways in glial cells. TNF-α secreted from glial cells was then found to be responsible for stimulating the expression of BACE-1 and PS1/2, which resulted in the production and deposition of Aß in neurons. Finally, the accumulation and aggregation of Aß lead to the cognitive decline of APP23 mice. These results indicate that KA accelerates the progression of AD by inducing the crosstalk between glial cells and neurons.

Feasibility study of a human papillomavirus E6 and E7 oncoprotein test for the diagnosis of cervical precancer and cancer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncoprotein (HPV E6/E7) detection in the early screening of cervical cancer. Methods This prospective study evaluated all patients with suspected cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) as identified by the presence of at least one positive indicator from a ThinPrep cytologic test (TCT) and/or a Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) HPV DNA test. The levels of E6/E7 oncoproteins were determined using Western blot analysis. The diagnostic value of the HPV E6/E7 protein assay was compared with the clinical diagnosis from TCT, HC2 and the gold standard of cervical biopsy histology. Results A total of 450 patients were enrolled in the study and based on histological findings, 102 patients were diagnosed with CIN1 (22.7%), 241 with CIN2 (53.6%), 96 with CIN3 (21.3%) and 11 with squamous cell carcinoma (2.4%). For a diagnosis of CIN2+, although the sensitivity of the HPV E6/E7 assay was lower than HC2 (65.5% versus 96.6%, respectively), the specificity was higher (38.2% versus 5.9%, respectively). The sensitivity of the HPV E6/E7 assay was higher than TCT (65.5% versus 36.2%, respectively). Conclusion Measuring HPV E6/E7 oncoprotein levels is a potential new biomarker for HPV type 16.

Anti-N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A Severe, Potentially Reversible Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is potentially lethal, but it is also a treatable autoimmune disorder characterized by prominent psychiatric and neurologic symptoms. It is often accompanied with teratoma or other neoplasm, especially in female patients. Anti-NMDAR antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum are characteristic features of the disease, thereby suggesting a pathogenic role in the disease. Here, we summarize recent studies that have clearly documented that both clinical manifestations and the antibodies may contribute to early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care. The clinical course of the disorder is reversible and the relapse could occur in some patients. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis coexisting with demyelinating disorders makes the diagnosis more complex; thus, clinicians should be aware of the overlapping diseases.

Prognostic significance of CD30 expression in nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma.

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (CD30) in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) using immunohistochemistry, and to evaluate the association between CD30 and clinicopathological and prognostic significance. CD30 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections obtained from 122 patients with ENKTL prior to treatment. In total, 70 of these patients with complete clinical data were collected for prognostic analysis. The level of CD30 expression, of the 122 patients with ENKTL, was grouped on the basis of a 5-tiered scale as follows: 0%, no staining; 1+, <25% positive cells; 2+, 25-50% positive cells; 3+, 50-75% positive cells; and 4+, >75% positive cells). In total, 36 (29.5%) were classified as 0; 46 (37.7%) as 1+; 22 (18.0%) as 2+; 12 (9.8%) as 3+; and 6 (4.9%) as 4+. Among the 86 patients with scores between 1+ and 4+, the membranous staining patterns of CD30 expression were sporadic (33.7%), focal (43.2%), diffuse (15.1%) and angiocentric (8.1%). When considering a score of ≥3+ as CD30 positivity (CD30+), the CD30+ group had significantly shorter overall survival rates (P=0.0023) and progression-free survival rate (P=0.0008) compared with CD30 negative group. However, no statistically significant association was found between CD30 expression and clinicopathological features (P<0.05). The present study found that the expression of CD30 (≥3+) was significantly associated with poor prognosis but was not associated with clinical and histopathological parameters in ENKTL. Therefore, CD30 may be a useful prognostic marker in ENKTL.

Association between IL-6 Gene (-174 & -572 G/C) Polymorphisms and Endometrial Adenocarcinoma Risk.

We aimed to evaluate the association of IL-6 gene polymorphisms at positions of -174 and -572 and predisposition of endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC) in a Chinese population. EAC patients have remarkably higher frequency of IL-6 -174 CC genotype [odds ratio (OR) =1.56, 95 % confidence interval (CI) =1.07-2.23; P = 0.03], IL-6 -572 CC genotype (OR =1.93, 95%CI =1.17-3.15; P = 0.01) and IL-6 -174 C allele (OR =1.22, 95 % CI =1.03-1.46; P = 0.04) compared with healthy controls. When stratified with FIGO stage, patients with III-IV EAC have a significantly higher frequency of IL-6 -174 CC genotype (OR =1.66, 95% CI =1.06-2.58; P = 0.02) than healthy controls. The CC genotype of IL-6 gene polymorphisms at positions of -174 and -572 may denote potential high risk of EAC.

Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cytokines in Guillain-Barré syndrome and experimental autoimmune neuritis.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated acute inflammatory disorder in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of humans characterized by inflammatory infiltration and damage to myelin and axon. Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a useful animal model for GBS. Although GBS and EAN have been widely studied, the pathophysiological basis of GBS/EAN remains largely unknown. Immunocompetent cells together with cytokines produced by various cells contribute to the inflammatory process of EAN by acting as mediators or effectors. Both GBS and EAN have hitherto been attributed to T helper (Th)1 cells-mediated disorders, however, some changes in GBS and EAN could not be explained by the pathogenic role of Th1 cells and a disturbance of the Th1/Th2 balance, which has previously been considered to be important for the homeostatic maintenance of the immune responses and to explain the adaptive immunity and autoimmune diseases. The Th1/Th2 paradigm in autoimmune diseases has been greatly challenged in recent years, with the identification of a particular T cell subset Th17 cells. Studies on the associations between Th17 cells/cytokines and GBS/EAN are reviewed. But some of them occasionally yield conflicting results, indicating an intricate network of cytokines in immune response.

Possible protecting role of TNF-α in kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity via down-regulation of NFκB signaling pathway.

We have shown previously, that mice lacking tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptor 1 (TNFR1) exhibit greater hippocampal neurodegeneration, suggesting that TNFR1 may be protective in kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity. Here, we aim to clarify the role of TNF-α in neurodegenerative disorders and to elucidate its potential signaling pathways. TNF-α knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with KA intranasally and, seizure severity measures obtained, Behavioral tests, including Elevated Plus-Maze™, open-field, Y-maze were also performed. Five days following KA treatment, immunohistochemical methods were used to assess neuronal degeneration and glial activation. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) and AKT in the hippocampus were also measured. Compared with WT mice, TNF-α KO mice were more susceptible to KA-induced neurotoxicity, as demonstrated by more severe seizures, measurable behavior changes, greater neuronal degeneration in hippocampus, elevated glial activation and NO production. Additionally, KA-treatment up-regulated the expression of NFκB in TNF-α KO mice to a greater degree than in KA-treated WT mice. We conclude that TNF-α deficiency adversely influences KA-induced neurotoxicity and that TNF-α may play a protective role in KA-induced neurotoxicity via the down-regulation of NFκB signaling pathway.

[Expression of substance P and vascular endothelial growth factor in human normal and inflammatory dental pulps].

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression and relationship of substance P(SP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human dental pulp under the normal and pathological conditions, so as to study their role in pulp microcirculation. METHONDS: Ten teeth extracted for orthodontic or impacted reason were chosen as normal group. Twenty-nine traumatic teeth from the same age group needing root canal therapy were divided to initial-stage trauma group, early-stage inflammation group, later-stage inflammation group. Immunohistochemical technique was applied to determine the expression and distribution of SP and VEGF in each group. The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis with SPSS13.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with normal group,SP expression in other groups was significantly down-regulated(P<0.05). The VEGF expression in early-stage inflammation group was significantly up-regulated compared with the other groups (P<0.05), but down-regulated in later-stage inflammation group (P<0.05). The expression of SP and VEGF had negative correlation in different groups(r=-0.378,P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SP may induce the pulp microcirculation change by regulating VEGF, and participate in pulp neurogenic inflammation.

[Relationship between methylation status of promoter and expression of XAF1 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between methylation status of XAF1 (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein associated factor-1) gene promoter and its protein expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and immunohistochemical substance P (SP) technique were used to detect the methylation status of XAF1 gene promoter and its protein expression in 70 PTC cases and their matched adjacent non-cancerous epithelium (NCE). RESULTS: In NCE, there was no promoter methylation of XAF1 gene while the rate was 35.7% (25/70) in PTC (χ(2) = 27.206, P < 0.01). And it was correlated with tumor TNM stage, pathological grade and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The positive rates of XAF1 protein expression in NCE and PTC were 100% (70/70) and 55.7% (39/70) respectively. And there was significant difference (χ(2) = 36.458, P < 0.01). In PTC, the positive rates of XAF1 protein expression in Grades I and II were 67.5% (27/40) and 40.0% (12/30) respectively. And they were 35.7% (10/28) and 69.0% (29/42) in the lymph node metastasis and non-metastasis groups respectively. And there were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.05). Futhermore, there was distinct correlation between methylation of XAF1 gene promoter and its protein expression (χ(2) = 8.864, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Methylation of promoter may be one of the important inactivating factors of XAF1 gene. And it plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of PTC.