Objective:To investigate the effect of Ureaplasma spp.lipid-associated membrane proteins(LAMPs)on macro-phage M1 polarization,and clarify how LAMPs resist to ferroptosis by regulating macrophage M1 polarization.The overall goal is to contribute to a better understanding of pathogenesis of non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma spp.Methods:ELISA,qPCR and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effect of LAMPs on M1 polarization of macrophages;Western blot to detect how LAMPs stimulates NF-κB pathway during M1 polarization of macrophages;gene interference technology was used to elucidate how LAMPs affects macrophage M1 polarization through regulating NF-κB pathway;CCK8 and Western blot were used to find out how LAMPs affects macrophage ferroptosis by regulating NF-κB pathway.Results:ELISA,qPCR and flow cytometry results showed that LAMPs promoted macrophage polarization to M1;Western blot results showed that LAMPs increased levels of p-p65 in macrophages;interfering with p65 expression could inhibit M1 polarization process of macrophages that mediated by LAMPs,and inhibition of macrophage ferroptosis that mediated by LAMPs could be significantly reversed.Conclusion:LAMPs inhibits ferroptosis by accelerating macrophage M1 po-larization,which is one of the important pathogenic factors of non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma spp.

Background and purpose:Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 8(TNFAIP8),also called TIPE,plays critical regulatory roles in various malignancies,yet its molecular mechanisms in metabolic reprogramming of triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)remain elusive.This study aimed to elucidate how TIPE regulates the expression of the glycolytic key enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A to influence TNBC cell proliferation and glycolytic reprogramming,thereby providing potential molecular targets for TNBC therapy.Methods:Stable TIPE-knockdown MDA-MB-231 cell lines were established using a lentiviral shRNA system and selected with puromycin.Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze TIPE's impact on TNBC glycolytic pathways.Extracellular acidification rate(ECAR)was measured using the Seahorse XF Analyzer,complemented by lactate production assays to evaluate glycolytic capacity.Co-IP/MS was carried out to identify TIPE-interacting proteins,with subsequent validation of TIPE-LDHA interaction through co-transfection of TIPE-Myc and LDHA-Flag plasmids in HEK-293T cells.Protein stability was assessed via cycloheximide(CHX)chase and ubiquitination assays.The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay and animal experiments(Approval Number for Animal Ethics:202212007)were conducted to investigate how TIPE affects the proliferation and glucometabolic reprogramming of TNBC by mediating LDHA.Results:TIPE promoted glycolytic metabolic reprogramming in TNBC.Knockdown of TIPE significantly inhibited TNBC glycolytic activity and glycolytic capacity(P＜0.001).TIPE interacted with the key glycolytic enzyme LDHA and suppressed its degradation rate through a ubiquitination-dependent mechanism.Cellular experiments demonstrated that TIPE mediated LDHA to enhance TNBC cell proliferation(P＜0.001)and glycolytic activity(P＜0.001).Animal studies confirmed that TIPE knockdown significantly suppressed tumor volume(P＜0.05)and weight(P＜0.01),with a positive correlation between TIPE and LDHA expression levels in tumor tissues.Conclusion:TIPE enhances TNBC cell proliferation and glycolytic capacity by inhibiting LDHA ubiquitination-mediated degradation.

Background and purpose:Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 8(TNFAIP8),also called TIPE,plays critical regulatory roles in various malignancies,yet its molecular mechanisms in metabolic reprogramming of triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)remain elusive.This study aimed to elucidate how TIPE regulates the expression of the glycolytic key enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A to influence TNBC cell proliferation and glycolytic reprogramming,thereby providing potential molecular targets for TNBC therapy.Methods:Stable TIPE-knockdown MDA-MB-231 cell lines were established using a lentiviral shRNA system and selected with puromycin.Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze TIPE's impact on TNBC glycolytic pathways.Extracellular acidification rate(ECAR)was measured using the Seahorse XF Analyzer,complemented by lactate production assays to evaluate glycolytic capacity.Co-IP/MS was carried out to identify TIPE-interacting proteins,with subsequent validation of TIPE-LDHA interaction through co-transfection of TIPE-Myc and LDHA-Flag plasmids in HEK-293T cells.Protein stability was assessed via cycloheximide(CHX)chase and ubiquitination assays.The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay and animal experiments(Approval Number for Animal Ethics:202212007)were conducted to investigate how TIPE affects the proliferation and glucometabolic reprogramming of TNBC by mediating LDHA.Results:TIPE promoted glycolytic metabolic reprogramming in TNBC.Knockdown of TIPE significantly inhibited TNBC glycolytic activity and glycolytic capacity(P＜0.001).TIPE interacted with the key glycolytic enzyme LDHA and suppressed its degradation rate through a ubiquitination-dependent mechanism.Cellular experiments demonstrated that TIPE mediated LDHA to enhance TNBC cell proliferation(P＜0.001)and glycolytic activity(P＜0.001).Animal studies confirmed that TIPE knockdown significantly suppressed tumor volume(P＜0.05)and weight(P＜0.01),with a positive correlation between TIPE and LDHA expression levels in tumor tissues.Conclusion:TIPE enhances TNBC cell proliferation and glycolytic capacity by inhibiting LDHA ubiquitination-mediated degradation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Ureaplasma spp.lipid-associated membrane proteins(LAMPs)on macro-phage M1 polarization,and clarify how LAMPs resist to ferroptosis by regulating macrophage M1 polarization.The overall goal is to contribute to a better understanding of pathogenesis of non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma spp.Methods:ELISA,qPCR and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effect of LAMPs on M1 polarization of macrophages;Western blot to detect how LAMPs stimulates NF-κB pathway during M1 polarization of macrophages;gene interference technology was used to elucidate how LAMPs affects macrophage M1 polarization through regulating NF-κB pathway;CCK8 and Western blot were used to find out how LAMPs affects macrophage ferroptosis by regulating NF-κB pathway.Results:ELISA,qPCR and flow cytometry results showed that LAMPs promoted macrophage polarization to M1;Western blot results showed that LAMPs increased levels of p-p65 in macrophages;interfering with p65 expression could inhibit M1 polarization process of macrophages that mediated by LAMPs,and inhibition of macrophage ferroptosis that mediated by LAMPs could be significantly reversed.Conclusion:LAMPs inhibits ferroptosis by accelerating macrophage M1 po-larization,which is one of the important pathogenic factors of non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma spp.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and genetic features of patients with mitochondrial pyruvate carrier deficiency (MPYCD). Methods: This was a case series research. The clinical data, genetic characteristics, and glutamine treatment efficacy of 3 patients diagnosed with MPYCD at the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University and Department of Pediatrics, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, from August 2019 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected. A literature search with "MPC1 gene" "MPC2 gene and" "mitochondrial pyruvate carrier deficiency" as keywords was conducted at the Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed (up to June 2023). Clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with MPYCD were summarized. Results: Case 1 was a 3 years and 11 months old boy, while case 2 was a 4 years and 10 months old boy and case 3 was an 8 years and 9 months old girl. Case 2 and case 3 were siblings from one consanguineous family. All 3 patients presented with general developmental delay, growth failure and elevated serum lactate. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed subtle bilateral symmetrical T2 signal hyperintensity in basal ganglia and thalamus in case 1, but normal in case 2 and 3. Trio-WES revealed case 1 harboring compound heterozygous missense variants c.208G>A (p.Ala70Thr) and c.290G>A (p.Arg97Gln) in MPC1 gene, while case 2 and 3 revealed a homozygous variant c.290G>A (p.Arg97Gln) in the same gene. All 3 cases were diagnosecl as MPYCD. Clinical symptoms including motor ability, cognition and activity endurance were improved in these 3 patients after taking glutamine for 2 years. A total of 5 articles published in English were reviewed, and no Chinese literature was found. Including these 3 cases, 15 cases were enrolled for analysis. Eleven patients carried MPC1 gene variants and 4 cases carried MPC2 gene variants. Except for 3 cases died during prenatal period, 9 of 12 enrolled born cases were onset before 6 months old. The most common clinical symptoms were mental and motor general developmental delay, microcephaly, growth failure and hypotonia. All patients had elevated blood lactate and pyruvate, but the ratio of lactate/pyruvate was normal. Seven patients performed cranial MRI, 3 exhibited non-specific changes, 2 showed bilateral symmetrical T2 signal hyperintensity in basal ganglia and thalamus, and 3 were normal. A total of 5 MPC1 gene missense variants and 2 MPC2 gene variants were identified in 15 cases. Conclusions: Onset age of patients with MPYCD is usually within 6 months. The main clinical characteristics are developmental delay, microcephaly and growth failure, accompanied by increased serum lactate and pyruvate. Glutamine supplement could lead to clinical improvements.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Glutamine ; Lactates ; Microcephaly ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters ; Pyruvates ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients who progress to metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC) mostly have poor outcomes due to the lack of effective therapies. Our recent study established the orphan nuclear receptor ROR

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and prognostic factors of comprehensive treatment of undifferentiated high grade pleomorphic sarcoma (UHGPS) in extremities and trunk, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis and follow-up of 131 UHGPS cases with clinical stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ in extremities and trunk soft tissue was performed to analyze the prognostic factors. Survival data were collected through follow-up. The survival rate was calculated with life table method and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn. Survival rate between the two groups was compared using Log rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression model. Results: The median survival time of 131 patients was 41.6 months. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 95.0%, 82.0%, and 77.0%, respectively. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 81.0%, and the 5-year metastasis-free survival rate was 72.0%. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor size, initial or recurrence, surgical margin, AJCC stage, and with/without standard treatment were associated with overall survival (all P<0.05). Stratification analysis according to the American Joint Committee of Cancer (AJCC) stage showed that 5-year survival rate of stage Ⅱ patients with radiotherapy was 100.0%, which was higher than that of patients without radiotherapy (79.6%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.010); but no statistical significance of radiotherapy for stage Ⅲ and chemotherapy for stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients (all P>0.05). The multivariate analysis showed surgical margin (HR=4.220, P=0.002), with/without standard treatment (HR=4.040, P=0.030) were independent risk factors associated with prognosis of UHGPS patients. Conclusions For UHGPS with stage Ⅱ or stage Ⅲ in extremities and trunk soft tissue, patients with complete resection and standard treatment have improved prognosis. Therefore, standard treatment, including extensive resection for the first surgery, should be performed according to expert consensus in order to increase the long-term survival rate. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be performed for stage Ⅱ patients.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of preoperative ¹⁸F-Fludeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT) in lymphatic metastasis diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma on extremities and trunk. Methods: 112 patients with cutaneous melanoma pathologically of extremities and trunk from January 2006 to December 2016, who received ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT examination preoperatively, were retrospectively reviewed. The correlations between the maximal diameters of lymph nodes, the maximal standard uptake value (SUV) and the diagnostic impression grades of PET-CT examination, and the final pathological diagnosis were analyzed. The correlations between Breslow thickness of primary lesions and the diagnostic impression of PET-CT examination were also analyzed. All the above were analyzed with Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve to get the cut-off value. Based on the final results of pathological diagnosis of lymph nodes as the golden standard, the statistically significant indicators of ROC curve analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic effect, as well as to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. With gender, age, maximal diameter of lymph nodes, maximal SUV, diagnosis impressions, and Breslow thickness as the independent variables and pathological diagnosis results of lymph nodes as the dependent variable, two-class stepwise Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independence of diagnostic indicators. ROC curve analysis and log rank test were used to analyze the relationship between Breslow thickness and patient survival. Results: To evaluate melanoma patients′ lymph node status, the results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of lymph node maximal diameter, maximal SUV, diagnosis impression of PET-CT examinations were 0.789, 0.786 and 0.816, respectively (all P<0.05). The cut-off values were 0.85 cm, 1.45 and 2.5, respectively. The sensitivity of the cut-off values to determine the status of lymph nodes in melanoma patients were 71.4%, 64.9% and 72.1% respectively, and the specificities were 85.2%, 88.7% and 87.0% respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that PET-CT diagnosis impressions had independent diagnostic significance for the lymph node status of melanoma patients (OR=11.296, 95%CI: 2.550~50.033). The area under the curve of Breslow thickness evaluating PET-CT diagnostic impression is 0.664 (P=0.042) and the cut-off value was 4.25 mm. The survival rate of the patients with Breslow thickness ≥ 4.25 mm was lower than that in the group <4.25 mm (P=0.006). Conclusions ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT can help to evaluate metastases and make treatment decisions for cutaneous melanoma of extremities and trunk, especially for patients whose primary lesion′s Breslow thickness has reached more than 4.25 mm. For the patients whose maximal SUV of regional lymph node is higher than 1.45 and short diameter of the largest lymph node is larger than 0.85cm, the possibility of metastases should be considered.

[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the effect of Tim-4 on invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms. Methods：The expression levels of Tim-4 in cervical cancer cell lines Siha, Hela and cervical epithelial immortalized cell line H8 were detected by Real-time PCR. The Tim-4 lentiviral vector was transfected into Siha cell line. The over-expression of Tim-4 in Siha cell line was detected by fluorescence microscopy. The effects of Tim-4 on the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cell line were detected by Transwell and scratches methods. The changes of MMP2, MMP9, E-cadherin and N-cadherin in Siha cells were detected by Western blotting. Results：The expression of Tim-4 was higher in Siha and Hela cell lines compared to that in the H8 cell line. The Siha cell line burdening Tim-4 lentiviral vector was successfully constructed. Over-expression of Tim-4 significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cell line, and affected the expression of MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin and E-cadherin. Conclusion：Over-expression of Tim-4 promotes the invasion and migration by regulating the EMT transformation in cervical cell carcinoma.

Objective To construct eukaryotic expression vector of small hairpin RNA vector targeting hepatitis B virus core protein in HepG2.2.15 cells,and to verify the interfering effect.Methods To design and synthesize small interfering RNA sequence against HBc gene (ayw subtype) which locates between 2147 bp to 2165 bp in the HBV genome.The siRNA fragment were inserted into pSilencer3.1-H1 neo vector.The recombinants were transformed into E.coli DHSα successfully.The recombinant plasmids were identified by Eco RI enzyme digestion and sequenced.Finally,The HepG2.2.15 cells were transfected with the vector by using lipofectamine method to identify its interfering effect.Results The eukaryotic expression vector containing small hairpin RNA targeting HBV core protein was constructed successfully and named as pshRNA-HBc.The recombinant plasmids were identified by SalI or EcoRI enzyme digestion and sequenced.The silencing effect was detected by using revere transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant of HepG2.2.15 cells.The result showed that the interfering effect was specific and efficient.Conclusion The small interfering RNA targeting HBV core protein in HepG2.2.15 cells was constructed successfully,which may be useful for studying the biological functions of HBc in the future.