ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum （LDP） on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） and the expression of cancer stem cell （CSC） properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）. MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups， which were given 0.39， 1.94， 3.89 g·kg^-1·d^-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days， respectively， to prepare low-， medium-， and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry （FC）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay， Transwell invasion assay， and plate colony-forming assay， respectively. Western blot （WB） was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 （CXCL2）， E-cadherin， and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells， but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs， as well as the expression of TGF-β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased （P<0.05）. After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP， followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells， the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced （P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） in 4T1 cells. However， the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β， NF-κB， and CXCL2， reverse EMT， and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum （LDP） on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） and the expression of cancer stem cell （CSC） properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）. MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups， which were given 0.39， 1.94， 3.89 g·kg^-1·d^-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days， respectively， to prepare low-， medium-， and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry （FC）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay， Transwell invasion assay， and plate colony-forming assay， respectively. Western blot （WB） was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 （CXCL2）， E-cadherin， and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells， but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs， as well as the expression of TGF-β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased （P<0.05）. After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP， followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells， the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced （P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） in 4T1 cells. However， the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β， NF-κB， and CXCL2， reverse EMT， and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells.

Objective : To explore the role of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3(LPCAT3) in Erastin-induced ferroptosis of acute myeloid leukemia(AML) cells and its related molecular regulatory mechanisms. Methods : Tetrazolium salt(MTS) method was used to detect the sensitivity of different AML cells to the classic ferroptosis inducer Erastin, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) was used to detect the basal expression level ofLPCAT3mRNA, and the correlation between them was analyzed. Lentivirus-mediatedLPCAT3overexpression AML cell lines(OE group) and negative control lines(NC group) were constructed. After Erastin intervention, MTS, flow cytometry, and micromethods were used to detect cell viability, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS), and Malondialdehyde(MDA), respectively. qPCR and Western blot were used to detect unfolded protein response(UPR) classic pathway signaling molecules(PERK, ATF4, GRP78, etc.) expression levels. The above ferroptosis-related indicators were detected after combined intervention with the UPR inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA), and the regulatory relationship was analyzed. Results : Four different types of AML cells had different sensitivities to ferroptosis, among which K562 cells were relatively insensitive. The IC50of the four types of AML cells to Erastin was negatively correlated with the expression level ofLPCAT3(r=-0.919,P<0.001). After Erastin intervention, the cell viability of K562 cells in the OE group was significantly inhibited by Erastin compared with the NC group(P<0.001), and the levels of lipid ROS and MDA increased(P<0.001). The results of qPCR and Western blot showed that, compared with the NC group, the mRNA and protein expression of UPR classic pathway moleculesPERK,ATF4, andGRP78mRNA and protein increased in the OE group(P<0.01). After inhibiting the UPR pathway by 4-PBA, the viability of K562 cells decreased(P<0.01), and lipid ROS and MDA levels increased(P<0.01) compared with the uninhibited state. Conclusion Overexpression ofLPCAT3can promote ferroptosis in K562 cells, and this process is negatively regulated by the classical UPR pathway PERK/ATF.

Objective To explore the application of plasma 7 microRNA (miR7) testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study is a multicenter real-world study. Patients with single hepatic lesion (maximum diameter≤2 cm) who underwent plasma miR7 testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, and Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into very early-stage HCC group and non-HCC group, and the clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared. The value of plasma miR7 levels, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). In patients with both negative AFP and DCP (AFP＜20 ng/mL, DCP＜40 mAU/mL), the diagnostic value of plasma miR7 for very early-stage HCC was analyzed. Results A total of 64 528 patients from 4 hospitals underwent miR7 testing, and 1 682 were finally included, of which 1 073 were diagnosed with very early-stage HCC and 609 were diagnosed with non-HCC. The positive rate of miR7 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in non-HCC patients (67.9% vs 24.3%, P＜0.001). ROC curves showed that the AUCs for miR7, AFP, and DCP in distinguishing HCC patients from the non-HCC individuals were 0.718, 0.682, and 0.642, respectively. The sensitivities were 67.85%, 43.71%, and 44.45%, and the specificities were 75.70%, 92.78%, and 83.91%, respectively. The pairwise comparison of AUCs showed that the diagnostic efficacy of plasma miR7 detection was significantly better than that of AFP or DCP (P＜0.05). Although its specificity was slightly lower than AFP and DCP, the sensitivity was significantly higher. Among patients negative for both AFP and DCP, miR7 maintained an AUC of 0.728 for diagnosing very early-stage HCC, with 67.82% sensitivity and 77.73% specificity. Conclusions Plasma miR7 testing is a potential molecular marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of small hepatic nodules. In patients with very early-stage HCC lacking effective molecular markers (negative for both AFP and DCP), miR7 can serve as a novel and effective molecular marker to assist diagnosis.

ObjectiveTo understand the seropositivity of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and low-level NAb against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community residents, and to explore the impact of COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the levels of NAb in human serum. MethodsOn the ground of surveillance cohort for acute infectious diseases in community populations in Shanghai, a proportional stratified sampling method was used to enroll the subjects at a 20% proportion for each age group (0‒14, 15‒24, 25‒59, and ≥60 years old). Blood samples collection and serum SARS-CoV-2 NAb concentration testing were conducted from March to April 2023. Low-level NAb were defined as below the 25^th percentile of NAb. ResultsA total of 2 230 participants were included, the positive rate of NAb was 97.58%, and the proportion of low-level NAb was 25.02% (558/2 230). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, infection history and vaccination status were correlated with low-level NAb (all P<0.05). Individuals aged 60 years and above had the highest risk of low-level NAb. There was a statistically significant interaction between booster vaccination and one single infection (aOR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.19‒0.77). Compared to individuals without vaccination, among individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 once, both primary immunization (aOR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.16‒0.35) and booster immunization (aOR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.08‒0.17) significantly reduced the risk of low-level NAb; among individuals without infections, only booster immunization (aOR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.14‒0.52) showed a negative correlation with the risk of low-level NAb. ConclusionsThe population aged 60 and above had the highest risk of low-level NAb. Regardless of infection history, a booster immunization could reduce the risk of low-level NAb. It is recommended that eligible individuals , especially the elderly, should get vaccinated in a timely manner to exert the protective role of NAb.

Objective:To explore the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) C10orf25 on the proliferation and invasion ability of prostate cancer cells and the possible role of miRNA-671-5p (miR-671-5p).Methods:Data from the Gene expression omnibus (GEO) database (data updated in January 2023) were used to analyze the differences in the expression levels of C10orf25 in 137 cases of prostate cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues. Prostate cancer C4-2B, DU-145, 22Rv1, PC-3, LNCaP cell lines and immortalized prostate epithelial RWPE-1 cell lines were selected, and then real-time quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression levels of C10orf25 in cell lines. The 22Rv1 cells with the lowest relative expression level of C10orf25 were selected and divided into the control group (transfected with negative plasmid) and the C10orf25 group (transfected with C10orf25 plasmid); the CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activity of 22Rv1 cells in both groups at day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (expressed as absorbance value); the Transwell method was used to detect the invasion ability of 22Rv1 cells. Linc2GO software was used to predict miR-671-5p with binding sites for C10orf25. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between C10orf25 and miR-671-5p. qRT-PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of C10orf25 and miR-671-5p. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to the NF-κB signaling pathway of 22Rv1 cells in the both groups.Results:In the GEO database, the relative expression level of C10orf25 in prostate cancer tissues was lower than that in paracancerous tissues ( P < 0.01). The relative expression levels of C10orf25 in immortalized prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 and prostate cancer cell lines C4-2B, DU-145, 22Rv1, PC-3, and LNCaP were 1.00±0.05, 0.63±0.04, 0.42±0.03, 0.18±0.04, 0.81±0.02, 0.50±0.07, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 43.29, P < 0.05). The proliferation ability of 22Rv1 cells in C10orf25 group was lower than that in the control group from the second day, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The number of invasive cells in the control group and C10orf25 group were (97±11) and (36±9), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 4.15, P < 0.01). Linc2GO software prediction results showed that C10orf25 had a binding site for miR-671-5p. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the relative luciferase activity of miR-671-5p and C10orf25 wild plasmid co-transfecting 22Rv1 cells was lower than that of miR-NC and C10orf25 wild plasmid co-transfecting 22Rv1 cells, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.01); when miR-671-5p or miR-NC was co-transfected with C10orf25 mutant plasmid, the difference in the luciferase activity of 22Rv1 cells was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The relative expression levels of miR-671-5p in 22Rv1 cells were 7.33±0.99 and 0.98±0.16, respectively in the control group and C10orf25 group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 6.32, P < 0.01). The results of Western blot showed that the expression levels of NF-κB signaling pathway protein p50, matrix metalloproteinase 9, c-myc, and vascular endothelial growth factor protein in 22Rv1 cells in C10orf25 group were lower than those in the control group. Conclusions:The overexpression of C10orf25 may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells through the miR-671-5p-NF-κB axis.

Purpose/Significance To reveal secondary infection knowledge related to infectious diseases by mining public literature data,and to promote the research and construction of the secondary infection monitoring platform,so as to improve the prevention and control level of infectious diseases in China.Method/Process The literature based discovery method is firstly adopted to mine and ana-lyze the secondary diseases from large-scale biomedical literature data,taking viral hepatitis,human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection and tuberculosis infection as the examples.Result/Conclusion 3 kinds of secondary diseases including infectious diseases,non-infectious diseases and even tumors,are found from more than 36.8 million PubMed literature.The research results not only validate that this method provides a new approach for systematically and comprehensively reveal secondary infection knowledge related to infectious diseases,but also provide more powerful literature evidences for effective monitoring and early intervention of secondary diseases.

Objective:To screen ferroptosis genes related to prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM),explore the relationship between ferroptosis and tumor immune microenvironment and provide a new perspective for targeting and immunotherapy of MPM patients.Methods:The differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in MPM tumor group and normal group were analyzed in GEO database;intersection of DEGs and ferroptosis genes to obtain differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes(DE-FRGs).GO,KEGG function enrichment and protein protein interaction(PPI)were used to identify the signal pathways mainly involved by DE-FRGs.The prognosis related ferroptosis genes were identified by univariate COX analysis.LASSO regression analysis was used to screen the best DE-FRGs for establishing the risk prediction model,and a risk prognosis model based on the best DE-FRGs was estab-lished by multivariate cox analysis to verify the prediction effect of the model.Finally,CIBERSORT and other algorithms were used to analyze tumor immune cell infiltration and evaluate immune microenvironment.Results:Twenty-four prognosis related DE-FRGs were screened,which were mainly concentrated in ferroptosis,transcriptional regulation and response to inorganic substances.A MPM risk prediction model based on five ferroptosis-related genes(ALDH3A2,CAV1,HRAS,CDCA3 and RRM2)was established and vali-dated.In the model,the proportion of CD8+T cells and macrophages in high-risk group were higher,while the proportion of B lympho-cytes was lower.In addition,PD-1,CTLA-4 and their ligands at immune checkpoint had higher expression status in high-risk group.Conclusion:The MPM risk prediction model based on five ferroptosis-related genes is established,and the immune status in the model is clarified.It provides a certain research basis for targeting and immunotherapy of MPM.The predictive ability of this model in MPM needs to be further verified in clinical practice to better predict disease stratification and treatment management.

Objective:To investigate effect of SARI expression induced by IFN-β on proliferation and apoptosis of acute myelo-blastic leukemia(AML)cells,and to explore its potential regulatory molecules.Methods:qPCR and Western blot were used to screen AML cells with low SARI expression as experimental cell lines.AML cells were treated with different concentrations of IFN-β,and expression of SARI was detected by qPCR and Western blot at different time to select appropriate concentration and time of IFN-β.RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to preliminarily screen potential regulatory molecules of IFN-β-induced SARI expression in AML cells.AML cells were treated with corresponding molecular inhibitors combined with IFN-β,cell proliferation was detected by MTS assay,and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.To clear this molecule was involved in IFN-β-induced SARI expression on AML cell proliferation and apoptosis.Results:SARI expression in HL60 and NB4 cells were rela-tively decreased,so they were selected as experimental cell lines.After treatment with 1 ng/ml IFN-β for 12 h,SARI expression in AML cells was increased,cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis were increased.STAT1 was screened as a potential regulatory mole-cule for IFN-β-induced SARI expression.After inhibiting STAT1,effects of IFN-β on SARI expression,proliferation inhibition and apop-tosis promotion of AML cells were reversed significantly.Conclusion:IFN-β can promote SARI expression in AML cells by STAT1,in-hibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis.