Objective:This work aims determine the expression of the neurotensin (NTS) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subgrouping using immunohistochemical staining (IHC) as well as to evaluate the correlation between the activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC and inflammatory response in microenvironment and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer and in the prognosis of patients. Methods:Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissue were collected from 64 cases of HCC patients. The expression levels of NTS protein and multiple inflammation and EMT-related proteins, including IL-8, VEGF, MMP9, CD68, E-Cadherin,β-Catenin, and Vimentin, were examined in 64 cases of paraffin-embedded HCC tissues using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. The clinical outcome and overall survival (OS) among 64 cases of HCC patients were compared. Results:We found that the frequency of NTS-expressing tissues among all HCC samples was 17.19%(11/64). Significantly increased IL-8 protein was confirmed in 90.91%of NTS+HCC samples and was positively correlated with the levels of NTS protein in cancer tissues (P=0.036), which implied the dysfunctional activation of NTS/IL-8 pathway in HCC. The levels of VEGF and MMP9 were significantly correlated with the co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in HCC. Evident features of EMT, including decreased membrane expression of E-Cadherin and increased accumulation of cytoplasmicβ-Catemin and Vimentin, were found in NTS+IL-8+samples. The co-expression of NTS and IL-8 in cancer was significantly correlated with the clinical outcomes of patients, as the mortality rate of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients is 2.5-fold higher than that of others after surgery (P=0.022).Accordingly, the OS of NTS+IL-8+HCC patients significantly decreased (24.65±4.45 m vs. 75.79±16.32 m, P=0.013), and these patients are at a higher risk of death at an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 3.457. Conclusion:The NTS/IL-8 pathway is dysfunctionally activated in a subgroup of HCC samples. Highly expressed NTS is associated with increased inflammatory response in microenvironment, enhanced EMT in cancer, and worse prognosis in HCC patients.

Objective To investigate and compare the clinical effects of radiochemotherapy alone or in combination with adoptive immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer ( CIK) cells in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods The clinical data of 125 patients with locally advanced NSCLC who were admitted from 2011 to 2012 and did not undergo surgery were analyzed retrospectively, and among these patients, 102 received radiochemotherapy alone ( control group) , and 23 received radiochemotherapy combined with adoptive immunotherapy with CIK cells ( multimodality therapy group) .The two groups were matched at a ratio of 1:2 using propensity score matching, and the factors considered included tumor stage, radiochemotherapy regimen, and outcome after radiochemotherapy.Then 59 patients ( 22 from the multimodality therapy group and 37 from the control group) were enrolled, and survival and tumor control were compared between the two groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis.Results The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival ( OS) rates were 73%, 32%, and 16%, respectively, in the control group, and 91%, 59%, and 41%, respectively, in the multimodality therapy group ( P=0.030) .The 1-, 2-, and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 61%, 21%, and 17%, respectively, in the control group, and 45%, 10%, and 10%, respectively, in the multimodality therapy group ( P=0.538) .As for the patients with stage ⅢB NSCLC, those in the multimodality therapy group had a significantly higher 3-year OS rate than those in the control group (47%vs.11%, P=0.026). In the patients receiving sequential chemoradiotherapy, those in the multimodality therapy group had a significantly higher 3-year OS rate than those in the control group ( 46%vs.11%, P=0.003) .As for the
patients with squamous cell carcinoma, those in the multimodality therapy group had a significantly higher 3-year distant metastasis-free survival rate than those in the control group ( 73%vs.22%, P=0.029) .The two groups showed similar incidence rates of adverse events, and compared with the control group, the multimodality therapy group had a lower incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis (9%vs.15%, P=0.889) and a higher incidence rate of radiation esophagitis (12%vs.7%, P=0.097).Conclusions Some patients with locally advanced NSCLC can benefit from radiochemotherapy combined with adoptive immunotherapy with CIK cells, but the intended population, timing, and dose safety still need further investigation.

Objective:To highlight the developmental process of 3D cell culture technology system, which is more suitable for isolating and identifying lung cancer stem-like cells than 2D cell culture technology system, and to explore the application of 3D cell cultures in the evaluation of proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and drug resistance of lung cancer. Methods:Cells (104/well) from the human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 and RPMI 1640 were cultured in complete medium containing 10%fetal bovine serum. Cell suspension was cultured in a BME basal medium. A growth curve was drawn after 7 d of culture. The stem-like cell was identified through a mammosphere culture, drug resistance and invasion assay, and flow cytometry. Data of A549 cells cultured in 3D and 2D tra-ditional cell culture technologies were compared. Results: Cells from the 3D cell culture had higher tumor formation rates [(20.75 ± 0.85) d vs. (60.25 ± 1.49) d, P<0.01)] and tumor sphere formation (28.50%± 1.17%vs. 8.67%± 0.80%, P<0.01) than those from the 2D cell culture. Moreover, cells from 3D cell culture were more invasive and resistant to therapy (58.17%± 2.19%vs. 41.70%±5.81%in 48 h, P<0.01;33.27%±5.76%vs. 27.30%±4.25%in 72 h, P<0.01). Phenotype experimental results demonstrated that the CD44 and CD326 cells were double-positive, whereas the CD24 cell was negative. Conclusion:The proportion of stem-like cells in A549 cell line after 3D cell culture significantly increased compared with 2D cell culture. The 3D cell culture can promote the proliferation of lung cancer stem cells.

BACKGROUND:How to improve the hematopoietic microenvironment is a hot topic in the treatment of aplastic anemia. OBJECTIVE:To explore the action mechanism of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide in the treatment of aplastic anemia by combining GEO sequencing analysis,network pharmacology,and experimental validation. METHODS:Aplastic anemia-related differentially expressed genes were obtained from GEO database,and gene ontology and gene set enrichment analysis were performed.The active components and targets of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide were obtained by combining the literature with PubChem,SwissTargetPrediction,and PharmMapper databases.After the intersection targets were taken,STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct protein-protein interaction network,and gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis was performed.Mouse model of aplastic anemia was established,and the effect and action mechanism of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide on aplastic anemia were verified by blood cell analyzer,flow cytometry,ELISA,immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence,and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 834 differentially expressed genes were screened,which were involved in biological processes such as cell development,hematopoiesis,and myeloid cell differentiation.(2)347 targets related to Angelica sinensis polysaccharide were retrieved and 77 potential therapeutic genes were screened.Among them,the degree values of angiogenic,apoptotic,and immune-related factors such as VEGFA,EGLN1,Bcl-2,interferon-γ,interleukin-2,interleukin-4,and interleukin-6 were significant.(3)KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the therapeutic targets were mainly enriched in Th17 cell differentiation,NK-related cytotoxicity,cell adhesion factors such as interferon-γ,interleukin-2,and interleukin-4 related signaling pathways.(4)Animal experiments showed that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide significantly improved bone marrow haematopoiesis,increased peripheral blood cell,and bone marrow single nucleated cell counts,and improved the survival rate of mice.Compared with the model group,mice in the Angelica sinensis polysaccharide group showed a significant decrease in the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells(P<0.01),a decrease in the expression level of interferon-γ(P<0.01),an increase in the level of interleukin-4(P<0.05),a significant increase in the level of VEGFA(P<0.01),a significant decrease in EGLN1(P<0.01),a significant decrease in apoptosis rate of bone marrow single nucleated cells and reactive oxygen species level(P<0.01),and a significant increase in cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression(P<0.01),and a significant decrease in Bcl-2/Bax ratio(P<0.01).(5)These findings show that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide can improve hematopoiesis of aplastic anemia mice by regulating aberrant T-cell subsets and promoting angiogenesis to improve hematopoietic microenvironment,and inhibiting apoptosis of bone marrow mononuclear cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of Angelica polysaccharides on the balance of Th17/T-regulatory(Treg)cells and the expression of related inflammatory factor proteins in the bone marrow of mice with aplastic anemia.Methods 50 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group,model group,cyclosporine A(CsA)group,and angelica polysaccharide low-(APS-L)and high-dose(APS-H)groups.A mouse model of aplastic anemia was prepared by combining irradiation with allogeneic lymphocyte infusion.After modeling,the mice were orally administered with corresponding drugs for 28 days.The general condition,weight changes,and spleen index of the mice were observed.Blood samples were taken to test for changes in basic hematological parameters of peripheral blood,and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes in mouse bone marrow tissue.An ELISA method was applied to detect bone marrow TGF-β1.The expression levels of proteins such as IL-10,IL-17A,and IL-6 were analyzed,and flow cytometry was used in detecting the bone marrow Th17/Treg cell ratio.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group mice showed clumsiness during activity;lethargy;pale eyelids,lips,and ears;and reduced food and water intake.Both body weight and spleen index were significantly decreased.Peripheral red blood cell,white blood cell,and platelet counts and hemoglobin concentration were significantly reduced.A disordered bone marrow tissue structure and significantly reduced proliferation of hematopoietic tissue were seen.The expression of IL-17A and IL-6 proteins was significantly upregulated,and the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10 protein was significantly downregulated.The proportion of Th17 cells in bone marrow significantly increased,the proportion of Treg cells significantly decreased,and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells significantly increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the general condition of the APS-L and APS-H groups improved,showing an increase in food and water intake;a significant increase in body weight and spleen index;a significant increase in peripheral red blood cells,white blood cells,platelets,and hemoglobin concentration(P＜0.05);an improvement in bone marrow tissue structure;and an increase in hematopoietic tissue proliferation(P＜0.05).The expression of IL-17A and IL-6 proteins was significantly downregulated.The expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10 protein was significantly upregulated(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The proportion of Th17 cells in bone marrow significantly decreased,the proportion of Treg cells significantly increased,and the ratio of Th17/Treg cells significantly decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Angelica polysaccharides can improve bone marrow hematopoietic function in aplastic anemia mice,and its mechanism of action may include the regulation of Th17/Treg cell balance.