Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a bile duct cancer often linked to liver fluke infections. In Thailand, it has a high incidence and mortality rate due to imprecise symptoms, late diagnosis, and limited treatments. Our previous research identified gene-splicing errors as a factor in CCA progression. This study focused on the role of serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) in CCA. SRSF1–SRSF12 expressions were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), confirming upregulation with RT quantitative PCR, western blotting, and dataset analysis. One SRSF was selected for silencing in CCA cell lines (KKU-055 and KKU-213A) using small interfering RNAs. Cell proliferation and survival were assessed through various assays, while apoptosis and autophagy markers were analyzed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Splicing errors in death-related genes were also examined. The results showed that SRSF1 was significantly overexpressed in CCA, especially among gastrointestinal cancers.Silencing SRSF1, particularly in KKU-213A cells, reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death. Apoptosis was marked by increased caspase-3 and BAX, decreased Bcl-2, and cytochrome C release. Autophagy was indicated by a higher LC3B-II/ LC3B-I ratio, lower p62, and increased Beclin-1 and ATG5. TEM further confirmed apoptotic and autophagic cell changes.Splicing errors in key death-related genes, including Δ133p53, AGR2vH, MKNK2-b, PKM2, MCL-1L, and BIN1+12a, were also detected. These findings suggest that SRSF1 plays a key role in CCA by regulating apoptosis and autophagy. Its silencing promotes cancer cell death, partly by correcting oncogenic splicing errors, making it a potential target for CCA treatment.

To increase public health awareness for prevention of opisthorchiasis caused by eating raw freshwater fish, the distribution and abundance of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae (OV MC) was investigated in freshwater fish obtained from 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand between April 2011 and February 2012. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 12,890 fish consisting of 13 species randomly caught from 26 rivers, 10 dams, and 38 ponds/lakes. Fish, were collected in each of the rainy and winter seasons from each province. Fish were identified, counted, weighed, and digested using pepsin-HCl. Samples were examined for OV MC by a sedimentation method, and metacercariae were identified under a stereomicroscope. OV MC were found in 6 species of fish; i.e., Cyclocheilichthys armatus, Puntius orphoides, Hampala dispar, Henicorhynchus siamensis, Osteochilus hasselti, and Puntioplites proctozysron from localities in 13 provinces. Among the sites where OV MC-infected fish were found, 70.0% were dams, 23.7% were ponds/lakes, and 7.7% were rivers. The mean intensity of OV MC ranged from 0.01 to 6.5 cysts per fish (or 1.3-287.5 cysts per kg of fish). A high mean intensity of OV MC per fish (>3 cysts) was found in 5 provinces: Amnat Charoen (6.5 cysts), Nakhon Phanom (4.3), Mukdahan (4.1), Khon Kaen, (3.5) and Si Sa Ket (3.4). In conclusion, OV MC are prevalent in natural cyprinid fish, with the infection rate varying according to fish species and habitats.
Animals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cyprinidae/*parasitology ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Metacercariae/*isolation & purification ; Microscopy ; Opisthorchiasis/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Opisthorchis/*isolation & purification ; Parasitology/methods ; Prevalence ; Thailand