1.NG2-Glia Cause Diabetic Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption by Secreting MMP-9
Xiaolong LI ; Yan CAI ; Zhu ZHONG ; Maolin LI ; Dong HUANG ; Zhifei QIAO ; Hongli ZHOU ; Zuo ZHANG ; Jiyin ZHOU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2026;50(1):47-61
Background:
Disorders of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) arising from diabetes mellitus are closely related to diabetic encephalopathy. Previous research has suggested that neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2)-glia plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the BBB. However, the mechanism by which NG2-glia regulates the diabetic BBB remains unclear.
Methods:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) db/db mice and db/m mice were used. Evans-Blue BBB permeability tests and transmission electron microscopy techniques were applied. Tight junction proteins were assessed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. NG2-glia number and signaling pathways were evaluated by immunofluorescence. Detection of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in serum was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
In T2DM db/db mice, BBB permeability in the hippocampus significantly increased from 16 weeks of age, and the structure of tight junction proteins changed. The number of NG2-glia in the hippocampus of db/db mice increased around microvessels from 12 weeks of age. Concurrently, the expression of MMP-9 increased in the hippocampus with no change in serum. Sixteen- week-old db/db mice showed activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hippocampal NG2-glia. Treatment with XAV-939 improved structural and functional changes in the hippocampal BBB and reduced MMP-9 secretion by hippocampal NG2-glia in db/db mice. It was also found that the upregulation of β-catenin protein in NG2-glia in the hippocampus of 16-week-old db/db mice was significantly alleviated by treatment with XAV-939.
Conclusion
The results indicate that NG2-glia can lead to structural and functional disruption of the diabetic BBB by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling, upregulating MMP-9, and degrading tight junction proteins.
2.Study on the Anti-Colorectal Cancer Mechanism of Budi Shenlian Recipe in Regulating Gut Microbiota to Induce TAMs Phe-notype Transformation
Hongli ZHOU ; Haibin CHEN ; Yupei ZHUANG ; Wenli QIU ; Yuwei LIANG ; Hongguang ZHOU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):442-455
OBJECTIVE To investigate of the regulatory effects of Budi Shenlian Recipe on gut microbiota and the phenotypic transition of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)in colorectal cancer(CRC)mice.METHODS Forty male BALB/c mice were divided into blank control group,model group,positive control group,high-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group,and low-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group(n=8).CRC-bearing models were established by subcutaneous injection of CT26 cells.Additionally,10 male BALB/c mice were divided into the Budi Shenlian Recipe fecal microbiota transplantation(BFMT)group and model fecal microbiota transplantation(MFMT)group(n=5).The gut microbiota of these mice was cleared using a mixed solution of quadruple antibiotics,followed by subcutaneous injection of CT26 cells to construct pseudo-germ-free CRC-bearing mice.Fecal samples from the model group and high-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group were collected to prepare fecal microbiota solutions.The BFMT group received gavage with fecal microbiota solution from the high-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group,while the MFMT group received gavage with fecal micro-biota solution from the model group.Tumor volume changes were observed and recorded.HE staining was used to assess pathological changes in tumor tissues.16S sequencing was performed to analyze changes in gut microbiota.Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the proportion of M1/M2 type TAMs in tumor tissues.ELISA was used to detect differences in TNF-α and IL-10 levels in tumor tissues.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the tumor volume of mice in the positive control group,high-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group,and low-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group grew more slowly(P<0.01).HE staining showed necrotic areas in tumor tissues and reduced mitotic figures in the positive control and Budi Shenlian Recipe groups compared to the model group.16S rRNA sequencing showed no significant differences in Chao1 and ACE indices between the high-dose Budi Shenlian Recipe group and the model group.PCoA analysis indicated a distinct microbial community structure between the blank group and mod-el group,with the microbial structure of CRC mice in the Budi Shenlian Recipe group closer to that of the blank group.Compared to the blank group,the model group showed a significant decrease in the proportion of Muribaculaceae,Muribaculum,Alloprevotella,and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001,and a significant increase in Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,Bacteroides,and Helicobacter.After admin-istering Budi Shenlian Recipe to CRC mice,the community structure of some mice partially reverted to the level of the blank group.Transcriptome sequencing revealed that the most significant biological process(BP)among upregulated genes was the negative regulation of macrophage migration,suggesting that Budi Shenlian Recipe can reduce macrophage migration.Moreover,compared to the model group,the proportion of TAMs cells in the tumor tissues of the Budi Shenlian Recipe group significantly decreased(P<0.001).Simultaneously,compared to the model group,the proportion of M1 type TAMs in the Budi Shenlian Recipe group significant-ly increased(P<0.000 1),while the proportion of M2 type TAMs significantly decreased(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence analysis showed the same trend as flow cytometry.The content of TNF-α in tumor tissues of the Budi Shenlian Recipe group significantly in-creased(P<0.001),and IL-10 content significantly decreased(P<0.001).Additionally,compared to the MFMT group,the tumor volume in the BFMT group grew more slowly(P<0.0001).HE staining showed increased necrotic areas,sparser cell arrangement,and reduced pathological mitosis in the BFMT group.Furthermore,compared to the MFMT group,the proportion of TAMs cells in the tumor tissues of the BFMT group significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared to the MFMT group,the proportion of M1 type TAMs cells in the BFMT group increased(P<0.000 1),while the proportion of M2 type TAMs cells decreased(P<0.01).Immunofluores-cence analysis further confirmed that Budi Shenlian Recipe fecal microbiota transplantation can reduce the proportion of TAMs in the tumor tissues of CRC mice and promote the conversion from M2 to M1 type,thereby reducing immune suppression in the tumor micro-environment.CONCLUSION Budi Shenlian Recipe can improve gut microbiota dysbiosis in CRC mice and exert anti-CRC effects by reducing tumor infiltration of TAMs and modulating the phenotypic transition of TAMs.There may be a certain correlation between these two effects.
3.The Influence of Gender Factors on Subjects Screening in Bioequivalence Test
Yunshan HE ; Jianjun ZHOU ; Lilan PENG ; Hongli ZOU ; Guojiang PENG ; Niuxiu LI
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(5):834-839
Objective To explore the impact of gender factors in participant selection during bioequivalence studies,and to provide insights for improving the screening success rate in subsequent trials.Methods A retrospective study was con-ducted to summarize the screening information of healthy subjects in the bioequivalence study conducted in the Phase Ⅰ Clinical Trial Laboratory of the Affiliated Hospital of Xiangnan University from July 2021 to July 2023.The number of failed screening ca-ses in different stages of screening for each project was counted,and the influence of gender factors on subject screening was ana-lyzed.Results A total of 32 bioequivalence studies involving 2 794 subjects,including 1 816 males and 978 females,were in-cluded in the study.The proportion of males was higher in vital signs and BMI abnormalities,and the proportion of females was higher in ECG abnormalities and active withdrawal,and the pass rate was lower in males than in females(40.0% vs.45.8%),and the existence of the two was statistically significant(P<0.05).The results of PC A showed that the distribution of data in males was more dispersed,and the distribution of data in females was centralized,and the two could be clearly differentiated.Binary lo-gistic regression analysis showed significant differences between males and females in laboratory test screening failures and BMI(P<0.05).Further analysis showed that the screening failure rates of blood biochemistry,urine routine,coagulation function and blood transfusion were higher in males than in females,but the screening failure rates of blood routine were lower than those of fe-males.Conclusions Gender is an important influencing factor in the screening process of bioequivalence studies.Including subjects with appropriate gender ratios can help improve enrollment speed and reduce clinical trial costs.
4.Relation between parental psychological control and depressive symptoms among secondary school students: the pathway of negative perfectionism and academic stress
Haiping ZENG ; Qiang ZHOU ; Yuan FANG ; Hongli NIU ; Yanzhen REN
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):71-77
BackgroundDepression is a prevalent emotional problem in adolescents, and parental psychological control is an important predictor of adolescent depression. However, existing research on the acting mechanism between the two is not adequate. ObjectiveTo explore the pathway of negative perfectionism and academic stress between parental psychological control and depressive symptoms among secondary school students, so as to provide references for reducing the incidence risk of depression in such population. MethodsFrom February to April 2023, 1 100 students across 2 middle schools and 2 high schools in Zhongshan city were selected as subjects. The survey was conducted adopting Parental Psychological Control Questionnaire, Chinese Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (CFMPS), sense of academic stress subscale in Mental Health Inventory of Middle School Student (MMHI-60) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation between scores of all scales above, and Amos 24.0 was used to test the mediating path of negative perfectionism and academic stress between parental psychological control and depressive symptoms among secondary school students. ResultsAmong the 1 009 valid questionnaires withdrew (91.73% of the total), 261 students were detected to have depressive symptoms (25.87%). As the results of Spearman correlation analysis showed, the scores of the Parental Psychological Control Questionnaire, score of negative perfectionism dimension in CFMPS, score of sense of academic stress subscale in MMHI-60 and CES-D score were positively correlated with each other (r=0.323~0.644, P<0.05 or 0.01). The direct effect value of parental psychological control on depressive symptoms in secondary school students was 0.128 (95% CI: 0.061~0.201), accounting for 31.37% of the total effect. Negative perfectionism and academic stress played independently as intermediatory roles between parental psychological control and depressive symptoms in secondary school students, and the indirect effect values were 0.099 (95% CI: 0.068~0.133) and 0.100 (95% CI: 0.060~0.143), accounting for 24.27% and 24.51% of the total effect, respectively. Negative perfectionism and academic stress acted combinedly as the chain effect pathway between parental psychological control and depressve symptoms in secondary school students, with the indirect effect value of 0.081 (95% CI: 0.060~0.106) accounting for 19.85% of the total effect. ConclusionParental psychological control can affect the depressive symptoms among secondary school students directly, and through independent or chain paths of negative perfectionism and academic stress indirectly. [Funded by Zhongshan Social Welfare Technology Research Project (number, 2022B1060)]
5.Clinical Safety Monitoring of 3 035 Cases of Juvenile Feilike Mixture After Marketing in Hospital
Jian ZHU ; Zhong WANG ; Jing LIU ; Jun LIU ; Wei YANG ; Yanan YU ; Hongli WU ; Sha ZHOU ; Zhiyu PAN ; Guang WU ; Mengmeng WU ; Zhiwei JING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):194-200
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical safety of Feilike Mixture (FLK) in the real world. MethodsThe safety of all children who received FLK from 29 institutions in 12 provinces between January 21,2021 and December 25,2021 was evaluated through prospective centralized surveillance and a nested case control study. ResultsA total of 3 035 juveniles were included. There were 29 research centers involved,which are distributed across 12 provinces,including one traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital and 28 general hospitals. The average age among the juveniles was (4.77±3.56) years old,and the average weight was (21.81±12.97) kg. Among them,119 cases (3.92%) of juveniles had a history of allergies. Acute bronchitis was the main diagnosis for juveniles,with 1 656 cases (54.46%). FLK was first used in 2 016 cases (66.43%),and 142 juvenile patients had special dosages,accounting for 4.68%. Among them,92 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred,including 73 cases of gastrointestinal system disorders,10 cases of metabolic and nutritional disorders,eight cases of skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases,two cases of vascular and lymphatic disorders,and one case of systemic diseases and various reactions at the administration site. The manifestations of ADRs were mainly diarrhea,stool discoloration,and vomiting,and no serious ADRs occurred. The results of multi-factor analysis indicated that special dosages (the use of FLK)[odds ratio (OR) of 2.642, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.105-6.323],combined administration: spleen aminopeptide (OR of 4.978, 95%CI of 1.200-20.655),and reason for combined administration: anti-infection (OR of 1.814, 95%CI of 1.071-3.075) were the risk factors for ADRs caused by FLK. Conclusion92 ADRs occurred among 3 035 juveniles using FLK. The incidence of ADRs caused by FLK was 3.03%,and the severity was mainly mild or moderate. Generally,the prognosis was favorable after symptomatic treatment such as drug withdrawal or dosage reduction,suggesting that FLK has good clinical safety.
6.Prevention and Treatment Principles of Virus-Associated Malignant Tumors under the Guidance of the"Cancer Toxin"Pathogenesis Theory
Hongli ZHOU ; Luyu CHEN ; Yuanyuan QIN ; Wenting LI ; Hongguang ZHOU ; Mianhua WU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(11):1414-1428
The development of malignant tumors is influenced by multiple factors,including genetics,environment,lifestyle,and pathogen infection.Viral infection plays a significant role in tumor development and progression.This article integrates the common pathways of seven oncogenic viruses(HPV,EBV,HBV,HCV,KSHV,HTLV-1,and HIV)based on the theory of cancer toxin pathomechanism.The findings reveal that cancer toxin formation is influenced by both internal factors(healthy qi deficiency,viscus dysfunction,and qi,blood,and body fluid stagnation)and external factors(viral infection,environmental factors,and the six exogenous pathogens),driving tumor development,metastasis,and recurrence.Viral infection not only provides the material foundation for cancer toxin but also accelerates its maturation and spread through chronic inflammation and immune imbalance,forming a complex pathogen-esis of"viral toxicity-endogenous cancer toxin",which translates into a three-stage strategy of"prevention,treatment,and post-recovery prevention".This article systematically discusses the pathogenesis of major cancer toxins and their associated tumors.Inte-grating the cancer toxin theory,the article explores preventive and therapeutic strategies for virus-associated malignancies,providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for the integrated prevention and treatment of tumors using traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
7.Retrospective epidemiological analysis of fungal infection of a hospital from 2018 to 2024
Zhihao LIU ; Yali LIU ; Lina GUO ; Yao WANG ; Ying ZHAO ; Xiuli XIE ; Wenjing LIU ; Renyuan ZHU ; Hongli SUN ; Hongtao DOU ; Dingding LI ; Lingli LIU ; Shuying YU ; Menglan ZHOU ; Qiwen YANG ; Yingchun XU ; Li ZHANG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(21):2588-2594
Objective To analyze the main epidemiological characteristics of fungal infection in this hospital in the past 7 years,and to provide reference for clinical treatment and prevention and control strategies of fun-gal infection.Methods The fungal data and clinical data of related patients isolated from clinical samples in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from early January 2018 to the end of May 2024 were selected,and the main epidemiological characteristics of fungal infection in this hospital were identified and described through multi-angle statistical analysis.Results A total of 4 479 patients with filamentous fungal infection were en-rolled.The proportion of male patients[57.5%(2 576/4 479)]was higher than that of female patients[42.5%(1 903/4 143)],mainly distributed in internal medicine,Intensive Care Unit(ICU)and emergency de-partment,among which internal medicine accounted for the highest proportion[50.0%(2 241/4 479)].About 90.0%of the specimens were from the lower respiratory tract,in addition to specimens from skin and soft tis-sue,tissue,ear and blood culture.In terms of seasonal distribution,there are more patients in winter.The fun-gi were mainly composed of Aspergillus,Mucor,Cerdosporium,Fusarium and Penicillium,among which As-pergillus was the most abundant,accounting for 74.6%of the total.Aspergillus fumigatus was the most a-bundant Aspergillus,accounting for 42.5%of the total Aspergillus(1 418/3 340).Among the related infec-tions caused by mold,Aspergillus was the most common in the lower respiratory tract,accounting for 76.8%.Among them,Aspergillus fumigatus accounted for the highest proportion(33.6%).98.6%of the molds infected the ear were Aspergillus,of which Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus were the most common.Skin infections are mainly caused by Sporothrix schenckii,Trichophyton rubrum,Microsporum ca-nis.The results of in vitro drug sensitivity test showed that the four common Aspergillus isolated in this hos-pital were sensitive to voriconazole,and amphotericin B had better antifungal activity against Mucorales in vitro.Conclusion Based on the main epidemiological characteristics of fungal infections in this hospital,it is recommended that special attention be paid to the admission of patients in the respiratory department during the peak infection period in autumn and winter.In the treatment of fungal infections in different regions and on different body parts,attention should be paid to the differences in the distribution of bacterial species.
8.The Influence of Gender Factors on Subjects Screening in Bioequivalence Test
Yunshan HE ; Jianjun ZHOU ; Lilan PENG ; Hongli ZOU ; Guojiang PENG ; Niuxiu LI
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(5):834-839
Objective To explore the impact of gender factors in participant selection during bioequivalence studies,and to provide insights for improving the screening success rate in subsequent trials.Methods A retrospective study was con-ducted to summarize the screening information of healthy subjects in the bioequivalence study conducted in the Phase Ⅰ Clinical Trial Laboratory of the Affiliated Hospital of Xiangnan University from July 2021 to July 2023.The number of failed screening ca-ses in different stages of screening for each project was counted,and the influence of gender factors on subject screening was ana-lyzed.Results A total of 32 bioequivalence studies involving 2 794 subjects,including 1 816 males and 978 females,were in-cluded in the study.The proportion of males was higher in vital signs and BMI abnormalities,and the proportion of females was higher in ECG abnormalities and active withdrawal,and the pass rate was lower in males than in females(40.0% vs.45.8%),and the existence of the two was statistically significant(P<0.05).The results of PC A showed that the distribution of data in males was more dispersed,and the distribution of data in females was centralized,and the two could be clearly differentiated.Binary lo-gistic regression analysis showed significant differences between males and females in laboratory test screening failures and BMI(P<0.05).Further analysis showed that the screening failure rates of blood biochemistry,urine routine,coagulation function and blood transfusion were higher in males than in females,but the screening failure rates of blood routine were lower than those of fe-males.Conclusions Gender is an important influencing factor in the screening process of bioequivalence studies.Including subjects with appropriate gender ratios can help improve enrollment speed and reduce clinical trial costs.
9.Impact of induction chemotherapy sensitivity on prognosis in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study
Yujie SHEN ; Tian WANG ; Hongli GONG ; Changding HE ; Hao DING ; Changwen ZHAI ; Ming ZHANG ; Lei TAO ; Liang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(10):1215-1222
Objective:To assess the impact of induction chemotherapy sensitivity on the prognosis and larynx preservation rates in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer and to identify risk factors influencing induction chemotherapy sensitivity.Methods:This study included patients with locally advanced (stage III-IV) hypopharyngeal cancer who received induction chemotherapy as initial treatment at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University between August 2017 and September 2022. Based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, enrolled patients were classified into the sensitive group and the resistant group according to their response to induction chemotherapy. Chi-square tests and Log-rank tests were used to compare the objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and laryngeal preservation rate (LPR) between groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to accurately evaluate the impact of induction chemotherapy sensitivity on prognosis in real-world settings. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for induction chemotherapy resistance in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.Results:A total of 197 patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer who received induction chemotherapy as initial treatment were included in, comprising 195 males and 2 females, with ages ranging from 36 to 74 years. Among them, 155 patients (78.68%) were classified into the sensitive group and 42 patients (21.32%) into the resistant group. The overall response rate (ORR) of induction chemotherapy in this cohort was 78.68%, with a five-year OS rate of 63.7%. The sensitive group had significantly better OS (mOS 6.32 vs. 5.05 year), PFS (mPFS 5.71 vs. 3.09 year) and a significantly higher LPR (91.6% vs. 69.0%) ( P<0.05). After propensity score matching, all covariates were balanced between the two groups, and the sensitive group showed significant improvement in OS ( P<0.05), while, no significant difference was observed in PFS and LPR between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for induction chemotherapy failure in locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer included: smoking status ( OR [95% CI]=4.751 [1.887-11.961]), tumor location in the posterior pharyngeal wall ( OR [95% CI]=2.988 [1.264-7.063]), and cN2-3 stage ( OR [95% CI]=3.641 [1.109-11.954]) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Induction chemotherapy sensitivity significantly affects the prognosis of locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer, which is influenced by various risk factors, including smoking status, tumor sublocation, and clinical N stage.
10.Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression, Prognosis and Function of TRAF Family Proteins in NSCLC.
Yixuan WANG ; Qiang CHEN ; Yaguang FAN ; Shuqi TU ; Yang ZHANG ; Xiuwen ZHANG ; Hongli PAN ; Xuexia ZHOU ; Xuebing LI
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(3):183-194
BACKGROUND:
Currently, lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with a high morbidity and mortality all over the world. However, the exact mechanisms underlying lung cancer progression remain unclear. The tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF) family members are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins, which function as both adaptor proteins and ubiquitin ligases to regulate diverse receptor signalings, leading to the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) signaling. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of TRAFs in different tissues and cancer types, as well as its mRNA expression, protein expression, prognostic significance and functional enrichment analysis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in order to provide new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.
METHODS:
RNA sequencing data from the The Genotype-Tissue Expression database was used to analyze the expression patterns of TRAF family members in different human tissues. RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia database was used to analyze the expression patterns of TRAF family members in different types of cancer cell lines. RNA sequencing data from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze the mRNA levels of TRAF family members across different types of human cancers. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses from HPA database were used to analyze the TRAF protein levels in NSCLC [lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC)]. Overall survival analysis was performed by Log-rank test using original data from Kaplan-Meier Plotter database to evaluate the correlation between TRAF expressions and prognosis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the TRAF family-related genes using RNA sequencing data from the TCGA database for NSCLC. The correlation between the expression levels of TRAF family members and the tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed using the ESTIMATE algorithm based on RNA sequencing data from the TCGA database.
RESULTS:
The TRAF family members exhibited significant tissue-specific expression heterogeneity. TRAF2, TRAF3, TRAF6 and TRAF7 were widely expressed in most tissues, while the expressions of TRAF1, TRAF4 and TRAF5 were restricted to specific tissues. The expressions of TRAF family members were highly specific among different types of cancer cell lines. In mRNA database of LUAD and LUSC, the expressions of TRAF2, TRAF4, TRAF5 and TRAF7 were significantly upregulated; while TRAF6 did the opposite; moveover, TRAF1 and TRAF3 only displayed a significant upregulation in LUAD and LUSC, respectively. Except for TRAF3, TRAF4 and TRAF7, other TRAF proteins displayed an obviously deeper IHC staining in LUAD and LUSC tissues compared with normal tissues. Additionally, patients with higher expression levels of TRAF2, TRAF4 and TRAF7 had shorter overall survival; while patients with higher expression levels of TRAF3, TRAF5 and TRAF6 had significantly longer overall survival; however, no significant difference had been observed between TRAF1 expression and the overall survival. TRAF family members differentially regulated multiple pathways, including NF-κB, immune response, cell adhesion and RNA splicing. The expression levels of TRAF family members were closely associated with immune cell infiltration and stromal cell content in the tumor immune microenvironment, with varying positive and negative correlations among different members.
CONCLUSIONS
TRAF family members exhibit highly specific expression differences across different tissues and cancer types. Most TRAF proteins exhibit upregulation at both mRNA and protein levels in NSCLC, whereas, only upregulated expressions of TRAF2, TRAF4 and TRAF7 predict worse prognosis. The TRAF family members regulate processes such as inflammation, immunity, adhesion and splicing, and influence the tumor immune microenvironment.
Humans
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology*
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Lung Neoplasms/mortality*
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Prognosis
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins/metabolism*

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