Background and purpose:Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) play key roles in hepatocarcinogenesis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Positive correlation on the expression of these 2 proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues has been found, whereas the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study focused on the role of HBx in regulating HIF-1α and the underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Methods:The expression plasmids were transfected into Huh7 cells with LipofectemineTM 2000. Western blot analysis was applied to detect the expressions of HIF-1αand HIF-1β protein. The transcriptional activity of HIF-1α was detected by the commercial analysis kits. The mRNA levels of HIF-1αand its target genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and multi-drug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Immunoprecipitation analysis was applied to detect the interaction of HIF-1α, HBx and protein von Hippel-Lindau (pVHL). Results:Huh7 cells transfected with HBx plasmid led to sharp increase of HIF-1αprotein and transcriptional activity, as well as the mRNA of VEGF and MDR1 (P<0.05). However, the mRNA level of HIF-1αwas not obviously changed after HBx transfection (P>0.05). Meanwhile, HBx also signiifcantly impaired the function of pVHL in mediating the degradation of HIF-1αby ubiquitin hydrolase. This finding was further confirmed by the immunoprecipitation analysis, which showed that HBx could directly bind to pVHL, but not to HIF-1α. Conclusion:HBx may inhibit the inter-activation between pVHL and HIF-1αthrough directly binding to pVHL, and thus enhance the stability and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α.

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of asparaginase-loaded sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin supramolecule lipidic nanoparticles (ASLN) in rats and its inhibitory effect on the proliferation of small cell lung cancer cells. Methods ASLN were prepared by a reverse phase evaporation method,and their physicochemical properties,including morphology,particle size,zeta potential,and drug entrapment efficiency,were characterized. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups,with 6 rats in each group. After intravenous injection of ASLN and free asparaginase (Aase) 2 kU/kg,the activity of Aase in plasma samples was measured at different time points in 48 h,and the activity-time curve was drawn. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by software DAS 2.1.1. The cytotoxicity of ASLN on H446 cells was explored by the MTT method. Results ASLN showed a spherical shape with a mean particle size of (321.27±1.42) nm,zeta potential of (-9.31±0.42) mV,and entrapment efficiency of (66.46±1.57)％. Pharmacokinetic parameters of ASLN and Aase were as follows:the area under curve (AUC(0-48 h)) (199.48±2.18) U·mL-1·h,(57.63±3.89) U·mL-1·h;the mean residence time (MRT(0-48 h)) (4.40±0.05) h,(2.09±0.07) h;and the peak concentration (Cmax) (35.49±1.11) U/mL,(27.58±1.28) U/mL. The relative bioavailability of ASLN to Aase was 325.96％. The cytotoxicity results indicated that ASLN had a proliferation inhibitory effect on H446 cells,and there was a positive correlation between the inhibition rate and the dose. Conclusion ASLN can improve the pharmacokinetics of Aase,enhance the bioavailability of Aase,and inhibit the proliferation of small cell lung cancer cells.

Objective To clone,express and purify thioredoxin (named as N5),a specific diagnostic antigen of hepatitis E virus (HEV),and to initially evaluate its antigenicity and serological test performance.Methods Based on the gene sequences of HEV-ORF2 and carboxyl terminal ORF3 on GenBank,the codon was optimized by the Escherichia coli codon preference,inserted it into prokaryotic expression vector M48 following total gene synthesization,and expressed in Escherichia coli fusion protein N5 recombined with Thioredoxin (TRX).Fusion protein was purified in affinity chromatography,evaluating its antigenicity with Western blot technology,then evaluating its serological test performance using the negative and positive serum samples confirmed of HEV infection with laboratory and clinical tests.Results The recombinant plasmid expressing N5 diagnostic antigen was successfully established; high-level expression and purification to obtain soluble diagnostic antigens; Western blot results indicating fusion protein N5 can be bound specifically with the serum of HEV IgM antibody positive,showing satisfactory antigencity; using fusion protein N5 as the capture antigen to build indirect ELISA,testing 40 serum samples of HEV cases confirmed by pathogen detection and clinical diagnosis and 40 serum samples of healthy people,with the sensitivity and specificity of 95％ (38/40) and 90％ (36/40) respectively.Conclusion Recombinant plasmid expressing the HEV diagnostic antigen recombined with thioredoxin was successfully established,and soluble fusion protein N5 was obtained with high expression and strong antigenicity,promising in its future applications.

Objective To prepare indocyanine green(ICG)-loaded platelet membrane biomimetic liposome(ICG-PLP)for tumor photothermal therapy,and to preliminarily evaluate its in vitro characteristics.Methods ICG-PLP was prepared by an ultrasound method,and its particle size and zeta potential were determined using a laser particle size analyzer.The encapsulation efficiency of ICG-PLP was detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.The photothermal properties of ICG-PLP were investigated under 808 nm near-infrared ray irradiation(2 W/cm2),and the retention of platelet membrane proteins was observed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The uptake of ICG-PLP by mouse macrophage RAW264.7,human non-small cell lung cancer cell A549,mouse melanoma cell B16-F10,and mouse breast cancer cell 4T1 was observed by a laser confocal microscope.Furthermore,the phototoxicity of ICG-PLP was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay,and the safety of ICG-PLP was preliminarily evaluated according to hemolysis rate and cytocompatibility.Besides,the in vivo retention time of ICG,ICG-loaded liposome and ICG-PLP in healthy SD rats was observed after tail vein injection.Results ICG-PLP was successfully prepared and its encapsulation efficiency,particle size,zeta potential,and the polydispersity index were(97.68±0.01)％,(109.77±0.76)nm,(-21.23±0.84)mV,and 0.22±0.01,respectively.ICG-PLP well retained the proteins on platelet membrane and showed good photothermal properties.Platelet membrane enhanced the uptake of biomimetic nanoparticles by tumor cells A549,B16-F10,and 4T1,and reduced the phagocytosis of biomimetic nanoparticles by macrophages.ICG-PLP exhibited a favorable photothermal therapy effect and could kill tumor cells.Additionally,ICG-PLP displayed a good safety.After intravenous administration,ICG-PLP prolonged the in vivo retention time of ICG in healthy SD rats.Conclusion ICG-PLP has been successfully constructed.It has a great potential in targeted drug delivery and tumor photothermal therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic significance of clonal gene mutations using next-generation sequencing in patients with core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) who achieved first complete remission after induction chemotherapy.Methods:The study, which was conducted from July 2011 to August 2017 in First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, comprised 195 newly diagnosed patients with CBF-AML, including 190 patients who achieved first complete remission after induction chemotherapy. The cohort included 134 patients with RUNX1-RUNXIT1 + AML and 56 patients with CBFβ-MYH11 + AML. The cohort age ranged from 15 to 64 years, with a median follow-up of 43.6 months. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by the log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine the effects of clinical factors and genetic mutations on prognosis. Results:The most common genetic mutations were in KIT (47.6% ) , followed by NRAS (20.0% ) , FLT3 (18.4% ) , ASXL2 (14.3% ) , KRAS (10.7% ) , and ASXL1 (9.7% ) . The most common mutations involved genes affecting tyrosine kinase signaling (76.4% ) , followed by chromatin modifiers (29.7% ) . Among the patients receiving intensive consolidation therapy, the OS tended to be better in patients with CBFβ-MYH11 + AML than in those with RUNX1-RUNXIT1 + AML ( P=0.062) . Gene mutations related to chromatin modification, which were detected only in patients with RUNX1-RUNXIT1 + AML, did not affect DFS ( P=0.557) . The patients with mutations in genes regulating chromatin conformation who received allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) achieved the best prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified KIT exon 17 mutations as an independent predictor of inferior DFS in patients with RUNX1-RUNXIT1 + AML ( P<0.001) , and allo-HSCT significantly prolonged DFS in these patients ( P=0.010) . Conclusions:KIT exon 17 mutations might indicate poor prognosis in patients with RUNX1-RUNXIT1 + AML. Allo-HSCT may improve prognosis in these patients, whereas allo-HSCT might also improve prognosis in patients with mutations in genes related to chromatin modifications.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.