AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide(Camp)gene in lung tumors in mice and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.METHODS:We conducted histological examinations and survival anal-yses using a KrasG12D spontaneous lung cancer mouse model with Camp gene knockout.This model was utilized to assess the impact of Camp on tumor nodule count,volume,and survival rate in mice.At the cellular level,we constructed A549-Camp and H1975-Camp cell lines to evaluate the effects of Camp on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of lung ade-nocarcinoma cells through soft agar colony formation assays,Scratch assays for cell migration rates,and Transwell assays.Additionally,we performed angiogenesis experiments to assess vascular development.At the molecular level,qRT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of angiogenic factors VEGF,bFGF,and TGF-β.Western blot analysis was utilized to examine the effects of Camp on the expression of EMT-related proteins(E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Snail)and pro-teins associated with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway(TGF-β,p-TGF-β,Smad3,and Smad7).RESULTS:Camp gene knockout significantly suppressed lung tumorigenesis in mice,resulting in a decrease in tumor nodule count and vol-ume,as well as an enhancement in survival rates.In vitro,overexpression of Camp stimulated the proliferation,migra-tion,and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells.CONCLUSION:Molecular mechanism studies indicated that Camp modulated the expression of EMT-related proteins by influencing the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the role of cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide(Camp)gene in lung tumors in mice and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.METHODS:We conducted histological examinations and survival anal-yses using a KrasG12D spontaneous lung cancer mouse model with Camp gene knockout.This model was utilized to assess the impact of Camp on tumor nodule count,volume,and survival rate in mice.At the cellular level,we constructed A549-Camp and H1975-Camp cell lines to evaluate the effects of Camp on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of lung ade-nocarcinoma cells through soft agar colony formation assays,Scratch assays for cell migration rates,and Transwell assays.Additionally,we performed angiogenesis experiments to assess vascular development.At the molecular level,qRT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of angiogenic factors VEGF,bFGF,and TGF-β.Western blot analysis was utilized to examine the effects of Camp on the expression of EMT-related proteins(E-cadherin,N-cadherin,and Snail)and pro-teins associated with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway(TGF-β,p-TGF-β,Smad3,and Smad7).RESULTS:Camp gene knockout significantly suppressed lung tumorigenesis in mice,resulting in a decrease in tumor nodule count and vol-ume,as well as an enhancement in survival rates.In vitro,overexpression of Camp stimulated the proliferation,migra-tion,and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells.CONCLUSION:Molecular mechanism studies indicated that Camp modulated the expression of EMT-related proteins by influencing the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Anmeidan （AMD） on cognitive function， cytochrome C （Cyt C） signaling pathway protein expression， and apoptosis in a geriatric sleep deprivation model. MethodSixty aged C57 mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， AMD high， medium， and low dose （26.26， 13.13， 6.565 g·kg^-1·d^-1） groups， and a melatonin group （1.3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. Continuous sleep deprivation was performed for 4 weeks using a homemade sleep deprivation box. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze， and morphological changes in pyramidal cells in the CA1 area of the hippocampus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial morphology and structure of hippocampal neurons. Western blot was used to detect Cyt C， cysteine-aspartate protease-3 （Caspase-3）， cysteine-aspartate protease-9 （Caspase-9）， brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， mitochondrial transcription factor A （TFAM）， and voltage-dependent anion channel 1 （VDAC1） protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expression levels of Cyt C， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9， and immunofluorescence was used to detect the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2） and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed prolonged platform latency （P<0.01）， reduced number of platform crossings， and reduced time and distance in the target quadrant （P<0.01）. The mitochondrial structure was damaged， with disappearance or breakage of cristae， and increased swelling and deformation. The protein expression levels of Cyt C， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， Bax， and VDAC1 were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while BDNF， TFAM， and Bcl-2 protein expression levels were decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the AMD high， medium， and low dose groups improved spatial exploration and navigation abilities in geriatric sleep-deprived mice （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated mitochondrial damage， and increased the number of Nissl bodies. Additionally， the expression levels of Cyt C， Caspase-3， Caspase-9， Bax， and VDAC1 proteins were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression levels of BDNF， TFAM， and Bcl-2 proteins were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAMD improved the cognitive function of geriatric sleep-deprived mice， and its effect may be related to the reduction of apoptosis mediated by the Cyt C signaling pathway.

To explore the expression of p62 protein in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, a cross-sectional study was adopted. From December 2011 to May 2013, 60 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who were diagnosed and treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai were selected for paraffin embedding and tissue chip preparation, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) technology was used to detect the expression of p62 in lung adenocarcinoma patients′ cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, and analyze the relationship between p62 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma; at the same time, 6 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were selected by random sampling cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by Western Blot (WB) to detect p62 protein and analyzed by gray value. Preoperative examination specimens of inpatients with lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed from April 2018 to early October 2019, and plasma specimens of healthy subjects were collected, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect lung adenocarcinoma patients and healthy patients. The expression of p62 in the plasma of the subjects was statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The results of IHC showed that the positive expression rate of p62 in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=5.593, P<0.001). Similarly, WB results showed that the expression of p62 protein in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. It is statistically relevant ( t=2.238, P=0.049). The expression of p62 was statistically correlated with tumor size, clinicopathological stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (all P<0.05). The overall survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma with high p62 expression was worse than that of patients with low p62 expression (95 %CI was 0.238-0.870, P=0.028), suggesting that the high expression of p62 is related to the poor prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The level of p62 protein in the plasma of patients with lung adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group. The difference was statistically significant ( t=8.533, P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.835 (95 %CI was 0.779-0.891, P<0.001), which is significantly higher than CEA, CA125, CA153 and other single traditional indicators, and the combined detection of four indicators has the highest diagnostic efficiency. p62 was strongly expressed in cancer tissues and serum, which is related to the poor prognosis and overall survival rate of LUAD patients.

To explore the expression of p62 protein in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, a cross-sectional study was adopted. From December 2011 to May 2013, 60 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who were diagnosed and treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai were selected for paraffin embedding and tissue chip preparation, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) technology was used to detect the expression of p62 in lung adenocarcinoma patients′ cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, and analyze the relationship between p62 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma; at the same time, 6 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were selected by random sampling cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by Western Blot (WB) to detect p62 protein and analyzed by gray value. Preoperative examination specimens of inpatients with lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed from April 2018 to early October 2019, and plasma specimens of healthy subjects were collected, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect lung adenocarcinoma patients and healthy patients. The expression of p62 in the plasma of the subjects was statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The results of IHC showed that the positive expression rate of p62 in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=5.593, P<0.001). Similarly, WB results showed that the expression of p62 protein in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. It is statistically relevant ( t=2.238, P=0.049). The expression of p62 was statistically correlated with tumor size, clinicopathological stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (all P<0.05). The overall survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma with high p62 expression was worse than that of patients with low p62 expression (95 %CI was 0.238-0.870, P=0.028), suggesting that the high expression of p62 is related to the poor prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The level of p62 protein in the plasma of patients with lung adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group. The difference was statistically significant ( t=8.533, P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.835 (95 %CI was 0.779-0.891, P<0.001), which is significantly higher than CEA, CA125, CA153 and other single traditional indicators, and the combined detection of four indicators has the highest diagnostic efficiency. p62 was strongly expressed in cancer tissues and serum, which is related to the poor prognosis and overall survival rate of LUAD patients.

Objective To explore the structure and component changes of colonization bacterium in colorectal cancer (CRC) and analyze the relationship between the colonization bacteria and the development of CRC.Methods Clinical data of this retrospective study were obtained from Tongji Hospital of Tongji University (1/2016-10/2017).Forty matching tissues,including normal intestinal mucosa tissues (n=12) and CRC tissues (n=28),were collected in the present study.The V3-V4 region of bacteria 16S rRNA gene was detected using Illumina Miseq sequencing technologies.The colonized bacterium structure and composition were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results It was found that there is significant difference in structure of the colonized bacterium between the two groups.In the level of Phylum,the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were significant lower (Z=-1.964,P＜0.05),and Proteobacteria was significant higher (Z=-1.997,P＜0.001) in the tissues of CRC.In the level of genus,Bacteroides,Blautia,Prevotella,and Faecalibacterium were significant lower in the tissues of CRC (Z=-3.008,P＜0.05).Buchnera,Prevotella,and Prevotellaceae only existed in normal intestinal mucosa tissues and the abundance was top three.Catonella,Kurthia,and Brachymonas only existed in CRC tissues and the abundance was top three.Conclusions The overall structure and component were significant difference between the two groups.Some bacterium disappeared or reduced,and others new emerged or increased.The change of colonized bacterium structure and component in intestinal mucosa may play an important role in the development of CRC.Therefore,it may be an,accurate and low cost of early diagnosis marker by identifing the structure and component change of intestinal mucosa colonized bacterium for CRC,which may find a new way for prevention and treatment of CRC.

Objective: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of antimicrobial peptide LL-37 secreted by stromal cells on the growth of colorectal cancer cells. Methods: Colorectal cancer cells SW480 or HCT116 were co-cultured with human macrophages using Transwell^® maxicell inserts to mimic the tumor microenvironment. The effect of macrophages on the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells was detected by Bromodeoxyuridine and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BrdU-ELISA). The expression of LL-37 mRNA and protein in macrophages and colorectal cancer cells was evaluated by reverse transcription-real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. LL-37 neutralizing antibody was added to abrogate the LL-37 activation. Additionally, macrophages were transfected with LL-37 shRNA plasmids to inhibit LL-37 expression. And then, the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells was observed. Furthermore, the growth-related signaling pathways were detected by Western blot. Results: The BrdU-ELISA results showed that the absorbance of SW480 cells increased from 1.072±0.097 to 5.121±0.407 after co-culture (P<0.001), and that of HCT116 cells increased from 1.229±0.073 to 3.495±0.228 (P<0.001). RT-qPCR results showed that LL-37 mRNA expression in macrophages significantly increased from 2.682±0.191 to 6.117±0.768 after co-incubation (P<0.05), whereas that in SW480 had no significant difference. Consistently the protein expression of LL-37 in macrophages was significantly increased by Western blot, while it did not change in SW480. The proliferation rate of SW480 cells was repressed by adding LL-37 neutralizing antibody or LL-37 shRNA plasmid. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that the expression of non-phosphorylated (activated) β-catenin and its target genes cyclin D1 as well as c-myc were distinctly increased in co-cultured SW480 cells, which could be reversed by anti-LL-37 antibodies. Conclusion Macrophages promote the in vitro proliferation of colorectal cancer cells by enhancing the expression and secretion of antimicrobial peptides LL-37, and it seems that LL-37 activates colorectal cancer cells via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective: To isolate and identify exosomes from human serum, explore the feasibility of exosomal CEA for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Methods: Retrospective study.64 cases with colorectal cancer patients(41 cases with normal CEA results and 23cases with high CEA results), 20 cases with benign colorectal diseases patients and 40 cases with healthy people of department of physical examination from October 2015 to December 2016 in Tongji Hospital of Tongji University. Exosomes were isolated from these serum using ExoQuick, and then identified by using transmission electron microscopy, and Western Blot for morphology and molecular phenotype.The serum level of CEA and exosomal CEA was measureed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The diagnostic efficacy of serum Exosomal CEA concentration in the colorectal cancer by using U test and the subject work characteristic curve (ROC). Results: Exosomes in human serum was successfully extracted with ExoQuick kit.Exosomal CEA concentration in 64 cases with colorectal cancer patients (1 056.36-28 637.78)pg/ml was significantly higher than in cases with benign colorectal diseases patients (394.61-2 437.83)pg/ml and healthy controls(610.89-2 076.70)pg/ml(U=124.000, U=119.000, P<0.01). Exosomal CEA concentration in 41 colorectal cancer patients with normal serum CEA concentration(1 056.36-5 832.07)pg/ml was significantly higher than in benign colorectal diseases patients and healthy controls(U=113.000, U=119.000; P<0.01). ROC analysis of exosomal CEA yielded an AUC(area under the ROC curve)of 0.954(95% CI=0.919-0.988), which was higher than the serum CEA.The area under the ROC curve of serum Exosomal CEA concentration for colorectal cancer diagnosis is 0.954(95% CI=0.919-0.988), which is superior to the serum CEA concentration[0.636 (95% CI=0.531-0.742)]. Conclusions Isolation and detection of serum Exosomal CEA concentrations have a good diagnostic efficacy in colorectal cancer. It′s possible to be a marker for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.(Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 503-508)

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of the antibacterial peptide cathelicidin secreted by tumor associated macrophages on the growth of colorectal cancer in mice. Methods: Azoxymethane (AOM)/ dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) method was used to establish a mouse model of colitis associated colon cancer. To induce tumor formation, cathelicidin antibody, IgG antibody (positive control) or PBS (negative control) was respectively injected into mice once every 3 days and lasted one month. Then the pictures of mice colon were taken, and the numbers of tumor were counted and evaluated. Expressions of cathelicidin in tumor associated macrophages isolated from tumor and adjacent normal tissues of mice were examined by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Expressions of the tumor proliferating antigen Ki-67, macrophage marker CD68 and cathelicidin in tumor and non-tumor tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis. Apoptosis of cells from tumor tissues was analyzed by using TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Results: In colon tumor tissues, cathlicidin strongly expressed in inflammatory cells (macrophages), but weakly expressed in tumor cells. The tumor number and size in mice injected with cathelicidin neutralizing antibody were 4.50±1.18 and (1.74±0.18) mm, respectively, significantly lower than 13.88±1.98 and (3.74±0.38) mm of mice injected with PBS (t=4.07, t=4.72; P< 0.01) and 15.25±1.82 and (3.40±0.36) mm of mice injected with IgG antibody (t=4.96, t=4.08; P<0.01). The Ki-67 positive rate of cells in tumor tissues of mice injected with cathelicidin neutralizing antibody was (28.20±3.44) %, significantly lower than (68.20±3.51) % of mice injected with PBS (t=8.135, P<0.01) and (69.20±3.41) % of mice injected with IgG antibody (t=8.461, P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry analyses showed that the expression of CD68 in tumor tissues of mice injected with cathelicidin antibody was significantly lower than that of mice injected with IgG antibody or PBS. TUNEL result showed that treatment with cathelicidin neutralizing antibody had negligible effect on the apoptosis of tumor cells. Conclusions Cathelicidin secreted by tumor associated macrophages can promote the growth of colorectal cancer in mice, and neutralizing cathelicidin activity can inhibit the growth and proliferation of colorectal cancer. Cathelicidin mediated promotion of colon cancer proliferation may mainly be exerted by recruiting inflammatory cells such as macrophages into the tumor microenvironment.

Objectve To evaluate the serum level of antimicrobial peptide human cationic antimicrobial protein 18 (hCAP18) in colorectal patients and it auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis value.Methods Case-control study was used.The serum level of hCAP18 was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 68 cases with colorectal patients of department of gastrointestinal surgery and 40 cases healthy people of department of physical examination from January 2014 to Junc 2015 in Tongji Hosptial of Tongji University.The concentrations of hCAP18 in serum of colorectal patients before and surgery were analyzed.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect hCAP18 expression in colorectal carcinoma.The effect of hCAP18 on colon carcinoma cell proliferation was detected by BrdU-ELISA and soft agar colony formation assay.The sensitivity and specificity of serum hCAP18 for the diagnosis of eolorectal were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curves(ROC).Date was analyzed by using the ttest and one-way analysis of variance.Results hCAP18 serum levels in colon cancer of stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,llⅢ and Ⅳ patients were (0.46 ± 0.18) mg/L,(0.65 ± 0.45) mg/L,(1.26 ± 0.68) mg/L and (2.35 ± 1.06)mg/L.Mean value was(1.16 ±0.88) mg/L,which was significantly higher than in normal people (0.19 ±0.07) mg/L (t =5.290,P ＜ 0.05).hCAP18 levels had significantly decreased in serum of colorectal patients after 30 d surgery compared to preoperative results [from (1.16 ± 0.88) mg/L to (0.26 ± 0.06) mg/L;t =3.971,P ＜ 0.05].Immunohistochemistry results showed hCAP18 was high expression in colon cancer tissue compared with adjacent tissues;BrdU-ELISA assay results showed HCTll6 and SW480 cell proliferation increased significantly after 0.05-1 mg/L of hCAP18 treatment;Soft agar clone formation experiment proved hCAP18 could significant enhance clone formation of HCT116 and SW480 colon cancer cell lines.The size of clonal cluster of HCT116 was increased from (145.40 ± 35.20) μm to (370.80 ± 32.65) μm (t =10.50,P ＜ 0.05) and SW480 was increased from (101.00 ± 27.10) μm to (369.00 ± 27.29) μm (t =15.58,P ＜0.05);The numbers of clonal cluster of HCT116 was increased from 8.50 ± 2.30 to 42.80 ± 6.60 (t =3.945,P ＜ 0.05) and SW480 was increased from 6.20 ± 1.70 to 46.00 ± 7.20 (t =4.775,P ＜ 0.05).ROC analysis of serum hCAP18 yielded an AUC (area under the ROC curve) of 0.93 (95％ CI =0.859-0.999)with 91.17％ sensitivity and 80.00％ specificity,which was higher than the CEA[0.78 (95％ CI =0.699-0.933)].Conclousions Detection of serum hCAP18 shows a good sensitivity and specificity for the auxiliary diagnosis of colon cancer.It is possible to be potential detection index for noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring progression of colon cancer.hCAP18 could promote the proliferation of colon cancer cells,it played an important role in the progression of colon cancer.