OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sensitive to ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death that occurs in most tumor types. However, the mechanism through which ferroptosis modulates HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role and prognostic value of FANCD2 and provide novel insights into the prognostic assessment and prediction of immunotherapy. METHODS: Using clinicopathological parameters and bioinformatic techniques, we comprehensively examined the expression of FANCD2 macroscopically and microcosmically. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic value of FANCD2 in HCC and elucidated the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of FANCD2 in oncogenesis by promoting iron-related death. RESULTS: FANCD2 was significantly upregulated in digestive system cancers with abundant immune infiltration. As an independent risk factor for HCC, a high FANCD2 expression level was associated with poor clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that FANCD2 was mainly involved in the cell cycle and CYP450 metabolism. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively elucidate the oncogenic role of FANCD2. FANCD2 has a tumor-promoting aspect in the digestive system and acts as an independent risk factor in HCC; hence, it has recognized value for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis and may be a potential biomarker for poor responsiveness to immunotherapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis* ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Immunotherapy ; Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*

Synthetic cannabinoids(SCs)are synthetic psychoactive substances that can pose a public health risk.The SCs are structurally variable and susceptible to structural modification.The rapid emergence of structurally unknown synthetic cannabinoids has led to new challenges in their identification.In recent years,machine learning has made great progress and has been widely applied to other fields,providing new strategies for the identification of unknown synthetic cannabinoids and the inference of possible sources.This paper describes the principles of commonly used machine learning methods and the application of machine learning techniques to mass spectrometry,Raman spectroscopy,metabolomics and quantitative conformational relationships of synthetic cannabinoids,aiming to provide new ideas for the identification of unknown synthetic cannabinoids.

Objective To investigate whether cisplatin induces tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)secretion in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells to trigger RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis of the cells.Methods HNSCC cell lines HN4 and SCC4 treated with cisplatin(CDDP)or the combined treatment with CDDP and z-VAD-fmk(a caspase inhibitor)or Nec-1(a necroptosis inhibitor)for 24 h were examined for changes in cell viability using CCK8 assay and expressions of caspase-8 and necroptosis pathway proteins(RIP1/RIP3/MLKL)using Western blotting.The changes in migration of the cells were assessed with cell scratch assay,and the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)marker proteins N-cadherin,vimentin,and E-cadherin as well as the expressions of NF-κB(p65)and TNF-α were detected with Western blotting.Results The IC50 of cisplatin was 10 μg/mL in HN4 cells and 15 μg/mL in SCC4 cells.Cisplatin treatment significantly decreased the expressions of caspase-8,N-cadherin and vimentin and increased the expressions of E-cadherin,the necroptosis pathway proteins(RIP1/RIP3/MLKL),TNF-α,and NF-κB(p65),and these changes were obviously inhibited by treatment with Nec-1.Cisplatin stimulation also significantly lowered migration of the cells,and this inhibitory effect was strongly attenuated by Nec-1 treatment.Conclusion Cisplatin activates nuclear factor-κB signaling in HNSCCs to promote TNF-α autocrine and induce RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis,thus leading to inhibition of cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate whether cisplatin induces tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)secretion in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells to trigger RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis of the cells.Methods HNSCC cell lines HN4 and SCC4 treated with cisplatin(CDDP)or the combined treatment with CDDP and z-VAD-fmk(a caspase inhibitor)or Nec-1(a necroptosis inhibitor)for 24 h were examined for changes in cell viability using CCK8 assay and expressions of caspase-8 and necroptosis pathway proteins(RIP1/RIP3/MLKL)using Western blotting.The changes in migration of the cells were assessed with cell scratch assay,and the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)marker proteins N-cadherin,vimentin,and E-cadherin as well as the expressions of NF-κB(p65)and TNF-α were detected with Western blotting.Results The IC50 of cisplatin was 10 μg/mL in HN4 cells and 15 μg/mL in SCC4 cells.Cisplatin treatment significantly decreased the expressions of caspase-8,N-cadherin and vimentin and increased the expressions of E-cadherin,the necroptosis pathway proteins(RIP1/RIP3/MLKL),TNF-α,and NF-κB(p65),and these changes were obviously inhibited by treatment with Nec-1.Cisplatin stimulation also significantly lowered migration of the cells,and this inhibitory effect was strongly attenuated by Nec-1 treatment.Conclusion Cisplatin activates nuclear factor-κB signaling in HNSCCs to promote TNF-α autocrine and induce RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-dependent necroptosis,thus leading to inhibition of cell proliferation.

The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is one of the morphologically and functionally defined centers that engage in the autonomic regulation of cardiovascular activity. Phenotypically-characterized NTS neurons have been implicated in the differential regulation of blood pressure (BP). Here, we investigated whether phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)-expressing NTS (NTS^PNMT) neurons contribute to the control of BP. We demonstrate that photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons has variable effects on BP. A depressor response was produced during optogenetic stimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and caudal ventrolateral medulla. Conversely, photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla produced a robust pressor response and bradycardia. In addition, genetic ablation of both NTS^PNMT neurons and those projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla impaired the arterial baroreflex. Overall, we revealed the neuronal phenotype- and circuit-specific mechanisms underlying the contribution of NTS^PNMT neurons to the regulation of BP.
Solitary Nucleus/metabolism* ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism*