Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/metabolism*

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disease dominated by the proliferation of Langerhans cells, which is inflammatory myeloid neoplasms. Its clinical manifestations are variable, occurring at any age and at any site, and it is rarer in adults than in children. The gold standard for diagnosis is histopathological biopsy. Due to the rarity of adult LCH and the heterogeneity of this disease, treatment of adult LCH should be developed according to the extent of the disease and risk stratification. With the discovery of MAPK, PI3K and c-KIT signaling pathway activation, especially BRAF V600E and MAP2K1 mutations, targeted therapy has become a hot spot for therapeutic research. Meanwhile, the discovery of high expression of M2-polarized macrophages and Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg) in LCH has provided an important basis for the immunotherapy. In this article, we will focus on reviewing the latest research progress in the treatment of adult LCH in recent years, and provide a reference for clinical research on the treatment of adult LCH patients.
Adult ; Child ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell/therapy* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/pathology*

<b>OBJECTIVEb>we aimed to investigate the mutation and expression of BRAF gene in mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and cell lines, explore the correlation between gene alterations and clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes of mature T/NK cell lymphoma.

<b>METHODSb>Firstly, we detected common mutant sites of BRAF (locus 1 799 mutation in exon 15 and loci 463, 465 and 468 mutation in exon 11) in lymphoma Jurkat, Hut-78 and YTS cell lines, normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, different types of mature T/NK cell lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia lymph nodes by direct sequencing. Then we measured the expression of BRAF in Jurkat, Hut-78, YTS cells and normal peripheral blood lymphocytes by real time-PCR and Western-blot detection. We also used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect the expression of BRAF in mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and reactive hyperplasia lymph nodes, and to analyze the correlation between the expression of BRAF and clinocopathological features and clinical outcomes.

<b>RESULTSb>We did not find common BRAF mutation in mature T/NK cell lymphoma tissues and cell lines, and the relatively expression of BRAF gene mRNA in normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, YTS, Hut-78 and Jurkat cells were 1.000, 5.207±0.013, 8.412±0.615 and 36.720±1.797, respectively, and protein expressions were 0.051±0.003, 0.102±0.013, 0.113±0.017 and 0.304±0.010, respectively, and the expression of BRAF in peripheral T cell lymphoma Jurkat cells was significantly higher than that of Hut-78, YTS cells and normal lymphocytes (P<0.05). Only 6 of 58 peripheral T cell lymphomas (10.3%) had positive BRAF expression, and were the subgroups of peripheral T cell lymphoma-unspecified type. The statistical data did not show any correlation between positive expression of BRAF and gender, age, clinical stage, location, lactate dehydrogenase in the 21 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma-unspecified type (P<0.05), but the positive rate of BRAF in the effective treatment group (8.3%) was significantly lower than that of the invalid group (55.6%, P<0.05).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The expression of BRAF gene may become a marker of malignant biological characteristics and clinical therapeutic target of peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Exons ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pseudolymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) interference on SW579 cell lines in thyroid cancer. METHODS: We designed 2 pairs of siRNA interference sequences, transfected them into SW579 cell line with liposome, and detected the interference with RT-PCR method. For successfully interfered cell lines, the changes in cell proliferation, cell cycle, and the expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein signal-regulated kinase /extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ ERK) signal pathway were detected. RESULTS: After 2 pairs of siRNA transfection, the expressions of BRAF mRNA and protein of SW579 cell lines were significantly inhibited (P<0.01). The proliferation was inhibited, the cell cycle was changed, G1/S phase increased, and MEK/ERK signal pathway was inhibited. CONCLUSION Inhibition of growth and proliferation of SW579 cell lines by BRAF may be functioned by de-activating MEK/ERK signal pathway.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology

Odontogenic tumors are rare lesions with unknown etiopathogenesis. Most of them are benign, but local aggressiveness, infiltrative potential, and high recurrence rate characterize some entities. The MAP-kinase pathway activation can represent a primary critical event in odontogenic tumorigenesis. Especially, the BRAF V600E mutation has been involved in 80-90% of ameloblastic lesions, offering a biological rationale for developing new targeted therapies. The study aims to evaluate the BRAF V600E mutation in odontogenic lesions, comparing three different detection methods and focusing on the Sequenom MassARRAY System. 81 surgical samples of odontogenic lesions were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis, Sanger Sequencing, and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry (Sequenom). The BRAF V600E mutation was revealed only in ameloblastoma samples. Moreover, the presence of BRAF V600E was significantly associated with the mandibular site (ρ = 0.627; P value <0.001) and the unicystic histotype (ρ = 0.299, P value <0.001). However, any significant difference of 10-years disease-free survival time was not revealed. Finally, Sequenom showed to be a 100% sensitive and 98.1% specific, suggesting its high-performance diagnostic accuracy. These results suggest the MAP-kinase pathway could contribute to ameloblastic tumorigenesis. Moreover, they could indicate the anatomical specificity of the driving mutations of mandibular ameloblastomas, providing a biological rational for developing new targeted therapies. Finally, the high diagnostic accuracy of Sequenom was confirmed.
Ameloblastoma/pathology* ; Carcinogenesis ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Mutation ; Odontogenic Tumors/pathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/metabolism* ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Objective:b> To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, pathological diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) with H3K27 alteration in adults. Methods:b> Twenty cases of H3K27-altered adult DMG diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled from 2017 to 2022. All cases were evaluated by clinical and imaging presentations, HE, immunohistochemical staining and molecular genetics; and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results:b> The ratio of male to female was 1∶1, and the median age was 53 years (range from 25 to 74 years); the tumors were located in the brainstem (3/20, 15%) and non-brainstem (17/20, 85%; three in thoracolumbar spinal cord and one in pineal region). The clinical manifestations were non-specific, mostly dizziness, headache, blurred vision, memory loss, low back pain, limb sensation and/or movement disorders, etc. Microscopically, the tumors showed infiltrative growth, with WHO grade 2 (3 cases), grade 3 (12 cases), and grade 4 (5 cases). The tumors showed astrocytoma-like and oligdendroglioma-like, pilocytic astrocytoma-like and epithelioid-like patterns. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for GFAP, Olig2 and H3K27M, and H3K27me3 expression was variably lost. ATRX expression was lost in four cases, p53 was strongly positive in 11 cases. Ki-67 index was about 5%-70%. Molecular genetics showed p. k27m mutation in exon 1 of H3F3A gene in 20 cases; BRAF mutation in two cases: V600E and L597Q mutation in one case each. Follow up intervals ranged from 1 to 58 months, and the survival time for brainstem (6.0 months) and non-brainstem (30.4 months) tumors was significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusions:b> DMG with H3K27 alteration is uncommonly found in adults, mostly occurs in non-brainstem, and can present in adults of all ages. Owing to the wide histomorphologic features, mainly astrocytic differentiation, routine detection of H3K27me3 in midline glioma is recommended. Molecular testing should be performed on any suspected cases to avoid missed diagnosis. Concomitant BRAF L597Q mutation and PPM1D mutation are novel findings. The overall prognosis of this tumor is poor, with tumors located in the brainstem showing worse outcome.
Humans ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Histones/genetics* ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/metabolism* ; Glioma/pathology* ; Astrocytoma/pathology* ; Mutation

Neuronal atrophy is a common pathological feature occurred in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. A variety of abnormalities including motor protein malfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the loss of neuronal architecture; however, less is known about the intracellular signaling pathways that can protect against or delay this pathogenic process. Here, we show that the DYNC1I1 deficiency, a neuron-specific dynein intermediate chain, causes neuronal atrophy in primary hippocampal neurons. With this cellular model, we are able to find that activation of RAS-RAF-MEK signaling protects against neuronal atrophy induced by DYNC1I1 deficiency, which relies on MEK-dependent autophagy in neuron. Moreover, we further reveal that BRAF also protects against neuronal atrophy induced by mitochondrial impairment. These findings demonstrate protective roles of the RAS-RAF-MEK axis against neuronal atrophy, and imply a new therapeutic target for clinical intervention.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cytoplasmic Dyneins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; metabolism ; ras Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem, which has a grave morbidity and mortality. Over the past few decades, no effective systemic therapeutic modalities have been established for patients with the unresectable HCC in advanced stage. Sorafenib is a small molecule that blocks cancer cell proliferation by targeting the intracellular signaling pathway at the level of Raf-1 and B-Raf serine-threonine kinases, and exerts an anti-angiogenic effect by targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1, 2 and 3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta tyrosine kinases. Recently, two clinical successful applications, SHARP and Asia-Pacific trial, of multikinase inhibitor sorafenib represent a significant advance in the treatment of advanced HCC patients without a curative chance. However, because the results of clinical trials show diverse responses in a subset of HCC patients, a molecular classification of HCC through the excavation of specific biomarkers related to its biological behavior is necessary for sorting HCC patients to each group with a biological homogeneity, ultimately leading to the most suitable individualization of molecular targeted therapy in HCC.
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Benzenesulfonates/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology/secondary/*therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply/pathology/*therapy ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Pyridines/therapeutic use ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Signal Transduction

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To study the effect of Mps1 on BRAFWT/MEK/ERK pathway in the presence of wild type BRAF or BRAFV600E in melanoma.

<b>METHODSb>Melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype were transfected either with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT or pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression. The melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT and BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pSUPER-Mps1 retrovirus to knockdown the endogenous Mps1 protein, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression. Meanwhile, melanoma cells harboring BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1 and Western blot was performed to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression.

<b>RESULTSb>In melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype and transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels were notably reduced as compared to either negative control or empty vector. However, cells transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels did not change significantly compared with either negative control or empty vector. Knockout of Mps1 in BRAF wild-type cell lines led to an increased ERK activity. However, there was no significant change of ERK activity in BRAFV600E cell lines in the absence of Mps1. The expression of p-ERK in BRAFV600E mutant cell lines infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT did not show any significant difference from either negative control or empty vector.

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Based on these findings, it suggests that there exists an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop between the Mps1 kinase and BRAFWT/ERK signaling. Oncogenic BRAFV600E abrogates the regulatory negative feedback loop of Mps1 on the MAPK pathway.

Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To evaluate the application of mismatch repair (MMR) genes proteins expression to screen for Lynch syndrome in colorectal cancer patients.

<b>METHODSb>One hundred consecutive colorectal cancers cases collected from 2012 to 2013 were tested immunohistochemically for the protein expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, and also by the ARMS method for the mutation status of BRAF genes in those cases lacking protein expression for MLH1.

<b>RESULTSb>The result of MMR immunocytochemistry showed that nine of 100 cases lacked MMR protein expression, including three cases each that were MLH1-/PMS2- and MSH2-/MSH6- respectively, two cases were MLH6- and one case was PMS2-; overall, the majority of these cases lacked protein expression of MLH1 and MSH2. The BRAF genes mutation test showed one case of mutation, indicating that the patient might have MLH1 gene methylation as a result of the mutation of BRAF genes, and that was a sporadic case. The age of onset for patients lacking MMR protein expression was lower than patients with sporadic colorectal cancer (P = 0.011). Colorectal cancers associated with the lack of MMR protein expression mostly occurred in the right colon (P = 0.001), and histomorphologically were often accompanied by mucinous adenocarcinoma (P = 0.010) and tumor lymphocytic infiltration.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Immunohistochemical staining for MMR proteins in patients with colorectal cancer, accompanied by testing for BRAF genes mutation, may be an effective approach to screen for Lynch syndrome.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; metabolism