1.Correlation between activation of transforming growth factor signal in muscle fibers and inflammatory response to acute muscle injury
Zekai WU ; Tao HUANG ; Zhaohong LIAO ; Jiangwei XIAO ; Haiqiang LAN ; Jingwen HUANG ; Jijie HU ; Hua LIAO
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2021;23(3):254-261
Objective:To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor (TGF- β) signal in muscle fiber itself during inflammation/immunity response on intramuscular inflammation. Methods:Sixteen wild C57BL/6 mice (wild group) and sixteen mice with skeletal muscle-specific deficiency of T βRⅡ (knock-out group) between 4-8 weeks of age were selected for this study. Acute muscle injury in mice was induced by injection of myotoxin cardiotoxin (CTX) into gastrocnemius. The differences in intramuscular inflammation were compared between the wild and knock-out groups on 0, 4, 7 and 10 d after CTX injection by observing exudation of mononuclear phagocytes, macrophages, M1 type macrophages, CD4 +T cells and helpers T cells (Th1, 2&17). Two newborn C57BL/6 wild mice and 2 SM TGF- βr2-/- knock-out mice were selected to culture primary myoblasts in vitro which were divided into 2 groups: an interferon group subjected to interferon simulation and a control group subjected to addition of an equal amount of solvent. The differences in expression of IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, H-2K b, H2-Ea, Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and TLR7 were compared between the interferon and control groups, as well as between the wild and knock-out groups. Results:On 4&7 d after CTX injection, the ratios of mononuclear/macrophage (75.73%±3.62%, 45.27%± 2.32%), macrophages (38.67%±2.76%, 24.87%±2.19%), M1 macrophages (43.21%±0.11%, 30.43%±2.19%), CD4 +T cells (20.13%±1.62%, 5.67%±0.32%) in the muscle tissue from the knock-out mice were significantly higher than those from the wild mice (58.52%±2.43%, 29.21%±2.45%; 20.63%±2.32%, 16.23%±1.25%; 24.98%±0.35%, 14.23%±1.69%; 10.70%±0.43%, 2.50%±0.45%), with a majority of Th1&Th17 ( P<0.05). In vitro results showed that the levels of IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1α, H-2K b, H2-Ea and TLR3 were significantly upregulated in the interferon group compared with the control group and that such upregulation in the nock-out mice was more significant than in the wild mice ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Endogenous TGF- β signal activation plays a role in the functional recovery after muscle trauma, because it is involved in the regulation of immune behavior of muscle fibers, thus affecting intramuscular inflammation and muscle regeneration.
2.Study on the mechanism of genistein inhibiting the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer
Wenzhan LIU ; Qiliang CAI ; Baojun WU ; Siwei YANG ; Zhili YAO ; Zekai HOU ; Binxu SUN
Tianjin Medical Journal 2023;51(12):1288-1292
Objective To investigate the effect of genistein on the proliferation,migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods Prostate cancer LNCaP and CWR22RV1 cells were divided into the control group(conventional culture)and the experimental group(50μmol/L genistein treatment).The effect of genistein on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells were analyzed by MTT assay.The effect of genistein on the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells were analyzed by cell scratch assay and Transwell assay.The protein levels of epithelial interstital transformation(EMT)intermediate markers E-Cadherin,N-Cadherin,Vimentin,and tumor stem cell markers CD44 and Oct-4 were detected by Western blot assay.Results MTT assay showed that genistein could inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells.The scratch closure rates of LNCaP and CWR22RV1 cells were significantly reduced in the experimental group compared with those in the control group,and the number of cells passing through the Transwell membrane was significantly reduced(P<0.05).Western blot assay showed that genistein could down-regulate the expression levels of N-Cadherin,Vimentin,CD44 and Oct4 in prostate cancer cells,and up-regulate the expression of E-Cadherin in epithelial cells(P<0.01).Conclusion Genistein reduces the dryness of prostate cancer cells by inhibiting the EMT process,thus reducing the proliferation,migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells.
3.Establishment of a Predictive Model for Chronic Cough after Pulmonary Resection
CHEN ZHENGWEI ; WANG GAOXIANG ; WU MINGSHENG ; WANG YU ; ZHANG ZEKAI ; XIA TIANYANG ; XIE MINGRAN
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2024;27(1):38-46
Background and objective Chronic cough after pulmonary resection is one of the most common complications,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients after surgery.Therefore,the aim of this study is to explore the risk factors of chronic cough after pulmonary resection and construct a prediction model.Methods The clinical data and postoperative cough of 499 patients who underwent pneumonectomy or pulmonary resection in The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were randomly divided into training set(n=348)and validation set(n=151)according to the principle of 7:3 randomization.According to whether the patients in the training set had chronic cough after surgery,they were divided into cough group and non-cough group.The Mandarin Chinese version of Leicester cough questionnare(LCQ-MC)was used to assess the severity of cough and its impact on patients'quality of life before and after surgery.The visual analog scale(VAS)and the self-designed numerical rating scale(NRS)were used to evaluate the postoperative chronic cough.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the independent risk factors and construct a model.Receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of the model,and calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency of the model.The clinical application value of the model was evaluated by decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Multivariate Logistic analysis screened out that preoperative forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),surgical procedure,upper mediastinal lymph node dissection,subcarinal lymph node dissection,and postoperative closed tho-racic drainage time were independent risk factors for postoperative chronic cough.Based on the results of multivariate analysis,a Nomogram prediction model was constructed.The area under the ROC curve was 0.954(95%CI:0.930-0.978),and the cut-off value corresponding to the maximum Youden index was 0.171,with a sensitivity of 94.7%and a specificity of 86.6%.With a Bootstrap sample of 1000 times,the predicted risk of chronic cough after pulmonary resection by the calibration curve was highly consistent with the actual risk.DCA showed that when the preprobability of the prediction model probability was be-tween 0.1 and 0.9,patients showed a positive net benefit.Conclusion Chronic cough after pulmonary resection seriously af-fects the quality of life of patients.The visual presentation form of the Nomogram is helpful to accurately predict chronic cough after pulmonary resection and provide support for clinical decision-making.
4.Correlation analysis between coronary artery calcifications and cardiovascular disease in patients with breast cancer after radiotherapy
Buzhi SONG ; Ziyi XIAO ; Zekai ZENG ; Yingshan GAO ; Qingyu WU ; Yingying ZHOU ; Hongmei WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(1):85-89
Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been revealed that this condition can be automatically quantified through computerize tomographic (CT) scan contained in radiotherapy plan for patients with breast cancer, with which, physicians can identify the patients with increased risk of CVD after radiotherapy prematurely and take intervention measures in advance. In this article, the current literature and research progress on the correlation between CAC and cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer after radiotherapy were reviewed, expecting to provide a strategy to reduce the CVD risk in patients with breast cancer after radiotherapy.
5.Expression of MiR-148b-3p in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Its Correlation with Prognosis.
Zekai HUANG ; Shaolei LI ; Yuanyuan MA ; Nan WU ; Yue YANG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2019;22(5):306-311
BACKGROUND:
MiR-148b-3p is an important microRNA that has been reported to be significantly related to various types of cancer, but its role in lung adenocarcinoma remains elusive. The purpose of this study is to detect the expression level of miR-148b-3p in lung adenocarcinoma specimens, and to analyze its correlation with the clinicopathological features as well as the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
METHODS:
A total of 123 tumor specimens from lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent surgical resection in our department from January 2011 to December 2012 were collected. The expression of miR-148b-3p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and its correlation with clinicopathological features of patients with lung adenocarcinoma was analyzed. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze independent predictors of overall survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The overall survival (OS) of patients in miR-148b-3p high expression group and miR-148b-3p low expression group were estimated by means of the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the Log-rank test method.
RESULTS:
Of the 123 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, 71 were in miR-148b-3p high expression group and 52 in low expression group. MiR-148b-3p was significantly associated with tumor grade (P=0.001) and tumor size (P=0.007), but not with age, gender, smoking history, history of alcohol, tumor thrombus, pleural invasion, node status or metastasis status. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed that tumor size (P=0.032), node status (P=0.005) and miR-148b-3p expression level (P=0.047) were significant independent predictors of overall survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival of patients with high expression of miR-148b-3p was significantly better than that of patients with low expression (P=0.010).
CONCLUSIONS
MiR-148b-3p was significantly associated with tumor grade and tumor size in lung adenocarcinoma, and served as an independent predictor of overall survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The overall survival of patients with high expression level of miR-148b-3p was significantly better than that of patients with low expression.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung
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diagnosis
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genetics
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pathology
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Humans
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Kaplan-Meier Estimate
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Male
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MicroRNAs
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genetics
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Middle Aged
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Neoplasm Grading
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Prognosis
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Tumor Burden
6.Single-cell analysis reveals an Angpt4-initiated EPDC-EC-CM cellular coordination cascade during heart regeneration.
Zekai WU ; Yuan SHI ; Yueli CUI ; Xin XING ; Liya ZHANG ; Da LIU ; Yutian ZHANG ; Ji DONG ; Li JIN ; Meijun PANG ; Rui-Ping XIAO ; Zuoyan ZHU ; Jing-Wei XIONG ; Xiangjun TONG ; Yan ZHANG ; Shiqiang WANG ; Fuchou TANG ; Bo ZHANG
Protein & Cell 2023;14(5):350-368
Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans
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Mice
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Rats
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Cell Proliferation
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Heart/physiology*
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Mammals
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Myocardial Infarction/metabolism*
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Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
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Pericardium/metabolism*
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Single-Cell Analysis
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Zebrafish/metabolism*