Objective:To investigate the effect of PIK3CA mutations on the tumor immune microenvironment in Luminal breast cancer and evaluate the potential of Alpelisib-loaded pH-responsive polymer micelles in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.Methods:PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer were analyzed using bioinformatics tools.A mouse xenograft model of Luminal breast cancer harboring a PIK3CA mutation was established,and alterations in the tumor immune microenvironment were examined using mass cytometry(CyTOF).During the period from August 2004 to December 2008 in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital,tissue biopsies of 62 Luminal breast cancer patients in the BRCA cohort were collected Study the relationship between PIK3CA mutations and tumor immune microenvironment at the organizational level.Alpelisib-loaded polymer micelles(Alpelisib@MSPM)were synthesized,characterized,and evaluated for thera-peutic efficacy in Luminal breast cancer with PIK3CA mutations.Results:PIK3CA is one of the most frequently mutated genes in breast can-cer,with the highest prevalence in Luminal subtypes.CyTOF analysis demonstrated that PIK3CA mutations contribute to a tumor immun-osuppressive microenvironment in xenografts.Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that PIK3CA-mutated tumors exhib-ited more infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)and less infiltration of CD8? T cells.The synthesized Alpelisib-loaded pH-re-sponsive polymer micelles had an average size of approximately 127 nm.Treatment with Alpelisib and Alpelisib@MSPM reduced tumor growth in mice with PIK3CA-mutated Luminal breast cancer.Notably,the proportion of MDSCs decreased,whereas CD8? T cell infiltration in-creased significantly,with the more pronounced effect observed in the Alpelisib@MSPM treatment group.Conclusions:PIK3CA mutations drive the formation of a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment in Luminal breast cancer.Targeted Alpelisib delivery via pH-respons-ive polymer micelles significantly enhances therapeutic efficacy in PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of 23 children with pathogenic ACAN gene variants, enhance the understanding of this disorder, and explore possible regulatory mechanisms. Methods:A retrospective case series summary.The clinical characteristics and genetic analysis results of 23 children with ACAN gene variants treated in the Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 and September 2024 were analyzed retrospectively.Transcriptome sequencing was performed on peripheral blood samples from 3 of affected children and 3 age-matched healthy children as controls.Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the peripheral blood transcriptome profiles were identified.Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the potential signaling pathways involved. Results:Among the 23 cases, there were 13 males and 10 females, aged from 2 years and 8 months to 12 years old, with 11 cases presenting advanced bone age.Thirteen cases were treated with growth hormone (GH), including 6 cases who received concomitant gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy.The treatment duration ranged from 3 to 70 months, resulting in varying degrees of height improvement in all treated patients.Transcriptomic analysis identified 811 DEGs, with 516 up-regulated and 295 down-regulated.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the heterozygous ACAN variants were significantly associated with FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, the intestinal immune network for IgA production, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus signaling pathways. Conclusions:The predominant clinical manifestations of patients with ACAN gene variants are short stature and advanced bone age.Although GH provocation tests may indicate normal GH levels, GH therapy can be effective in improving height.Immune-related factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of 23 children with pathogenic ACAN gene variants, enhance the understanding of this disorder, and explore possible regulatory mechanisms. Methods:A retrospective case series summary.The clinical characteristics and genetic analysis results of 23 children with ACAN gene variants treated in the Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 and September 2024 were analyzed retrospectively.Transcriptome sequencing was performed on peripheral blood samples from 3 of affected children and 3 age-matched healthy children as controls.Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the peripheral blood transcriptome profiles were identified.Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the potential signaling pathways involved. Results:Among the 23 cases, there were 13 males and 10 females, aged from 2 years and 8 months to 12 years old, with 11 cases presenting advanced bone age.Thirteen cases were treated with growth hormone (GH), including 6 cases who received concomitant gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy.The treatment duration ranged from 3 to 70 months, resulting in varying degrees of height improvement in all treated patients.Transcriptomic analysis identified 811 DEGs, with 516 up-regulated and 295 down-regulated.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the heterozygous ACAN variants were significantly associated with FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, the intestinal immune network for IgA production, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus signaling pathways. Conclusions:The predominant clinical manifestations of patients with ACAN gene variants are short stature and advanced bone age.Although GH provocation tests may indicate normal GH levels, GH therapy can be effective in improving height.Immune-related factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Objective:To investigate the effect of PIK3CA mutations on the tumor immune microenvironment in Luminal breast cancer and evaluate the potential of Alpelisib-loaded pH-responsive polymer micelles in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.Methods:PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer were analyzed using bioinformatics tools.A mouse xenograft model of Luminal breast cancer harboring a PIK3CA mutation was established,and alterations in the tumor immune microenvironment were examined using mass cytometry(CyTOF).During the period from August 2004 to December 2008 in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital,tissue biopsies of 62 Luminal breast cancer patients in the BRCA cohort were collected Study the relationship between PIK3CA mutations and tumor immune microenvironment at the organizational level.Alpelisib-loaded polymer micelles(Alpelisib@MSPM)were synthesized,characterized,and evaluated for thera-peutic efficacy in Luminal breast cancer with PIK3CA mutations.Results:PIK3CA is one of the most frequently mutated genes in breast can-cer,with the highest prevalence in Luminal subtypes.CyTOF analysis demonstrated that PIK3CA mutations contribute to a tumor immun-osuppressive microenvironment in xenografts.Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that PIK3CA-mutated tumors exhib-ited more infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)and less infiltration of CD8? T cells.The synthesized Alpelisib-loaded pH-re-sponsive polymer micelles had an average size of approximately 127 nm.Treatment with Alpelisib and Alpelisib@MSPM reduced tumor growth in mice with PIK3CA-mutated Luminal breast cancer.Notably,the proportion of MDSCs decreased,whereas CD8? T cell infiltration in-creased significantly,with the more pronounced effect observed in the Alpelisib@MSPM treatment group.Conclusions:PIK3CA mutations drive the formation of a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment in Luminal breast cancer.Targeted Alpelisib delivery via pH-respons-ive polymer micelles significantly enhances therapeutic efficacy in PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer.

BACKGROUND:To investigate the research focus and follow-up research trend of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease,in order to provide a corresponding reference basis for the future research of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease,and promote the development of this field. OBJECTIVE:To conduct a bibliometric analysis of relevant studies in each database painstakingly until now for public publication on exosome diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease,to explore the current state and trend of the field in this discipline,and to predict future research directions. METHODS:A computerized search was performed on WanFang,CNKI,CBM,VIP,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,PubMed,and Embase databases from inception to December 2022 for published literature related to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease by exosomes.The literature transcripts were screened by NoteExpress for co-occurrence,clustering and mutational analysis among authors,institutions,and keywords through CiteSpace 6.1R4 and VOSviewer software,and the visual knowledge map was plotted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 804 articles,including 133 in Chinese and 671 in English,were included,and the volume of publications climbed year by year with a rapid trend.We included 3 649 literature authors,including 326 Chinese authors and 3 323 English authors,and the field has formed a core team centered on scholars such as Liu Bicheng,Wang Bin,Lyu LinLi,Wang Xiaonan and Wang Haidong,and has formed a stable multicenter collaboration platform among institutions.Research focuses on the three functions of exosomes:carrier,diagnosis and therapy.(2)As a form of extracellular vesicles,exosomes have important mechanisms for carrying,transferring molecular mediators and signal transduction,and have an important role in the physiopathological development of chronic kidney disease,which can provide important health surveillance data for epidemiological studies and clinical decision-making.In recent years,the development of relevant studies on exosome-based diagnosis of chronic kidney disease has expanded dramatically,forming a development layout of collaborative cooperation among multiple institutions worldwide,led by our scientific research institutions.However,at present,the study of the specific function and mechanism of action of exosomes and contents in the disease process has not been fully validated.Their significance for the early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of chronic kidney disease is not very clear.The intrinsic mechanism of action-related research is still relatively poor.Isolation and purification techniques still need to be improved,and high-quality evidence-based clinical trials with multicenter and large samples have not yet appeared,which still need to be verified by further studies.

BACKGROUND:Autophagy and ferroptosis play important roles in the development of chronic kidney disease,but the molecular mechanisms and gene targets related to autophagy and ferroptosis in renal tissue of chronic kidney disease are still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To screen differentially expressed genes in chronic kidney disease-related datasets based on bioinformatics,and to explore potential key biomarkers suitable for screening renal function progression in patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS:(1)The GSE137570 dataset was obtained from GEO database to screen the differentially expressed genes by Networkanalyst database analysis.Ferroptosis and autophagy related targets were obtained by OMIM,GENECARD,FerrDb and HAMdb databases.The respective data were intersected to obtain autophagy-ferroptosis related differentially expressed genes in chronic kidney disease for parallel enrichment analysis.The STRING website was used to construct the protein-protein interaction network of differentially expressed genes,which was imported into Cytoscape software and analyzed by MCODE and Cytohubba plug-in to screen potential core targets.Enrichment analysis was performed to obtain the functions of these potential core targets.(2)In the in vitro experiment,mouse renal tubular epithelial cells were divided into two groups:the control group received no intervention,while the model group was stimulated with 5 ng/mL transforming growth factor β1 for 24 hours to induce mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells.Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of reactive oxygen species and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential in the cells.RT-PCR was employed to assess ferroptosis,autophagy-related markers,and the mRNA expression of potential core targets in the cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After screening the GSE137570 dataset,a total of 480 differentially expressed genes were obtained,including 104 upregulated genes and 376 downregulated genes(log2|(FC)|>1,P<0.05).There were 562 ferroptosis-related targets and 1 266 autophagy-related targets obtained from the OMIM,GENECARD,FerrDb,and HAMdb databases.Intersection of differentially expressed genes with ferroptosis-and autophagy-related targets yielded 15 ferroptosis-related targets and 18 autophagy-related targets,respectively.The enrichment analysis results indicate that ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes are primarily involved in biological processes such as sulfur amino acid metabolism,neutrophil degranulation,and ferroptosis signaling pathways.Autophagy-related differentially expressed genes are mainly enriched in biological processes such as platelet degranulation,extracellular matrix degradation,and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.After screened by MCODE and CytoHubba,key genes were identified in the protein-protein interaction network,including CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,CCL2,and DPP4.Immune infiltration analysis results indicate that immune cells such as B cells,CD4+ T cells,NK cells,and monocytes show significant differential expression in renal tissue after chronic kidney disease,and the core targets are also significantly correlated with these immune cells(P<0.05).The results of receiver operator characteristic curve analysis further demonstrate that the pathological progression of chronic kidney disease can be effectively diagnosed by CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,CCL2,and DPP4.Single-cell sequencing results show that,except for PLG,the expression of target genes in the renal tissue of mice in each model group is generally consistent with the results of this experiment.RT-PCR results demonstrate that,for the validation of autophagy and ferroptosis phenotypes,compared with the control group,the model group shows a significant decrease in mRNA expression of LC3B,Nrf2,and SLC7A11(P<0.05),and a significant increase in P62 mRNA expression(P<0.05).Regarding the validation of potential core targets,compared with the control group,the model group exhibits a significant decrease in mRNA expression of ALB and PLG(P<0.05),and a significant increase in TIMP1 and CCL2 mRNA expression(P<0.05).Overall,these findings indicate that,through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation,CD44,ALB,TIMP1,PLG,and CCL2 are abnormally expressed in the renal tissue of patients with chronic kidney disease,closely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate and tubulointerstitial fibrosis,and maybe play a predictive role in the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and management status of children with Turner syndrome (TS) in China.Methods:As a cross-sectional study, 1 089 TS patients were included in the database of the National Collaborative Alliance for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Turner Syndrome from August 2019 to November 2023. Clinical characteristics (growth development, sexual development, organ anomalies, etc.), karyotypes, auxiliary examinations, and treatments were collected and analyzed.Results:Among the 1 089 TS cases, 809 were recorded karyotypes. The karyotype distribution was as follows: 45, X in 317 cases (39.2%), X chromosome structural variants (including partial deletions of p or q arm, ring chromosome, and marker chromosome) in 89 cases (11.0%), 45, X/46, XX mosaicism in 158 cases (19.5%), mosaicism with X chromosome structural variants in 209 cases (25.8%), and presence of Y chromosome material in 36 cases (4.4%). Among the 824 TS cases, the age of diagnosis was 9.7(6.4, 12.2) years, with a height standard deviation score (HtSDS) of -3.1±1.2. Five hundred and fifty three cases underwent growth hormone (GH) stimulation test, and 352 cases (63.7%) had GH peak values <10 μg/L and 75.9% (577/760) had low IGF1 levels, with IGF1 SDS ≤-2 accounting for 38.2% (290 cases). Among 471 cases aged ≥8 years, 132 cases (28.0%) showed spontaneous sexual development (mean bone age (11.0±1.7) years), 10 cases had spontaneous menarche (mean bone age (12.0±2.2) years), and 2 cases had regular menstrual cycles. Common physical features included cubitus valgus (311 cases (28.5%)), neck webbing (188 cases (17.2%)), low posterior hairline (185 cases (17.0%)), shield chest (153 cases (14.0%)), high arched palate (127 cases (11.6%)), short fourth metacarpal (43 cases (3.9%)), and spinal abnormalities (38 cases (3.5%)). Congenital cardiovascular and urogenital anomalies occurred in 91 cases (19.4%) and 66 cases (12.0%)respectively. Abdominal ultrasound in 33 cases (7.2%) indicated fatty liver, hepatomegaly, intrahepatic bile duct stones, and splenomegaly. Among 23 cases undergoing oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) test, 2 were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 4 with impaired glucose tolerance. Following diagnosis, 669 cases (80.7%) received rhGH treatment at a chronological age of (9±4) years and bone age of (8.3±3.2) years. Additionally, 112 cases (19.4%) received sex hormone replacement therapy starting at the age of (14±4) years and bone age of (12.6±1.2) years.Conclusions:The karyotypes of 45, X and mosaicism were most common in Chinese children with TS. The clinical manifestations were mainly short stature and gonadal dysplasia. However, a few TS children could be in the normal range of height, and some cases among those aged of ≥8 years old had spontaneous sexual development. Some exhibited physical features, congenital cardiovascular and urogenital anomalies, and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-IGF1 axis. Moreover, a few of them developed impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus. Following diagnosis, most of the patients received rhGH treatment, and a few of them received sex hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of patients with congenital central hypothyroidism due to variants of IGSF1 gene. METHODS: Clinical data, results of genetic testing, and follow-up of four patients admitted to Children's Hospital of Soochow University during 2017 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All of the four patients were males. Patient 1 had presented neonatal jaundice, patients 2 and 3 were admitted for growth retardation during childhood, and thyroid function test indicated slightly low free thyroxine (FT4), patient 4 was found to have reduced FT4 in the neonatal period. Genetic testing revealed that all of the four patients have harbored pathogenic variants of the IGSF1 gene, which were all inherited from their mothers. The thyroid functions in all patients were well controlled with oral levothyroxine and regular follow-up. CONCLUSION Pathogenic variants of the IGSF1 gene probably underlay the congenital central hypothyroidism with a variety of clinical manifestations, and genetic testing can facilitate the diagnosis at an early stage.
Child ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hypothyroidism/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Mothers ; Immunoglobulins/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic characteristics of a child with Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGS) due to a homozygous variant of the ORC6 gene. METHODS: A child who was admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University on March 25, 2019 due to growth retardation was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child. Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: The child, a 8-year-and-3-month-old male, has featured short stature, small ears, bilateral cryptorchidism and patellar dysplasia. His parents were of first cousins. The child was found to harbor a homozygous c.712A>T (p.K238*) missense variant of the ORC6 gene, which may lead to premature termination of protein translation. Sanger sequencing confirmed that both of his parents were heterozygous carriers. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1_Moderate+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The homozygous c.712A>T (p.K238*) variant probably underlay the MGS in this child.
Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Computational Biology ; Congenital Microtia/genetics* ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Growth Disorders/genetics* ; Origin Recognition Complex/genetics*

To analyze the clinical features and genetic variants of a child with type 4 familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD4) and the initial manifestation of diabetes.The male patient with the age of 13 years and 5 months, and the diabetes course was about 3 years, the patient was admitted to Children′s Hospital of Soochow University on November 10, 2021(4 th hospitalization at the hospital), in the course of diabetes, the children repeatedly suffered from diabetes ketoacidosis, and lipid metabolism complications gradually emerged.The gene sequencing showed that the proband and his mother carried dual gene mutations of PLIN1 c. 1325delG(p.G442Afs*99) and SPINK1 c. 194+ 2T>C(p.? ). The PLIN1 gene was the causal gene of FPLD4.The mutations of c. 1325delG in the PLIN1 gene had not been previously reported.Based on the clinical phenotype, family history and genetic testing findings, the patient was diagnosed as FPLD4.In addition, the mutation of SPINK1 c. 194+ 2T>C(p.? ) might increase the risk of chronic pancreatitis.This case report enriched the clinical characteristics and genotype data of FPLD4.Gene sequencing assisted the accurate diagnosis of the type of diabetes.The effects of dual gene mutations on disease progression should be concerned, which were of great significance to develop treatment regimen and disease management.