OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on immune mediators dysregulation in severe infection after chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 36 AML patients with severe infection (AML-SI) and 29 AML patients without infection (AML-NI) after chemotherapy were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from August 2022 to June 2023. In addition, the peripheral blood of 21 healthy subjects from the same period in our hospital was selected as the control group. The mRNA expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were detected by RT-qPCR technology, and the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Leukemia-derived THP-1 cells were selected and constructed as AML disease model. At the same time, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from AML-SI patients were co-cultured with THP-1 cells and divided into Mono group and Co-culture group. THP-1 cells were treated with different concentration gradients of HCQ. The cell proliferation activity was subsequently detected by CCK-8 method and apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels in the supernatant of the cell co-culture system, RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression changes of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis, and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis regulatory molecules and related signaling pathway proteins. RESULTS: CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCR7, as well as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were all abnormally increased in AML patients, and the increases were more significant in AML-SI patients (P <0.01). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between AML-NI patients and AML-SI patients (all P <0.05). HCQ could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of THP-1 cells, but the low concentration of HCQ had no significant effect on the killing of THP-1 cells. When THP-1 cells were co-cultured with BM-MSCs of AML patients, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the supernatance of Co-culture group were significantly higher than those of Mono group (all P <0.01). After HCQ intervention, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant of Mono group were significantly decreased compared with those before intervention (all P <0.01). Similarly, those of Co-culture group were also significantly decreased (all P <0.001). However, the expression of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis was weakly affected by HCQ. HCQ could up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, as well as simultaneously promote the hydrolytic activation of Caspase-3 when inhibiting the activation level of TLR4/NF-κB pathway, then induce the programmed death of THP-1 cells after intervention. CONCLUSION The core members of CXCL12-CXCR4/7 axis and related cytokines may be important mediators of severe infectious immune disorders in AML patients. HCQ can inhibit cytokine levels to reverse immune mediators dysregulation and suppress malignant biological characteristics of leukemia cells. The mechanisms may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, hydrolytically activating Caspase-3 and inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology* ; Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology* ; Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Receptors, CXCR/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; THP-1 Cells

Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between GPSM2 expression level and gastric cancer progression and analyze the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. METHODS: We analyzed GPSM2 expression levels in gastric cancer tumors based on data from the GEPIA database and the clinical data of 109 patients. Public databases enrichment analysis were used to assess the impact of GPSM2 expression level on survival outcomes and the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. We further observed the effects of GPSM2 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of MGC803 cells using CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and immunoblotting and on the growth of MGC803 cell xenografts in nude mice. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical staining of the clinical specimens both revealed high GPSM2 expressions in gastric cancer (P<0.01). A high GPSM2 expression was significantly correlated with T3-4 stages, N2-3 stages, a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥5 μg/L, and a carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level ≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis identified high GPSM2 expression as an independent risk factor affecting 5-year survival of the patients (P<0.05). Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that GPSM2 was involved in cell cycle regulation. In MGC803 cells, GPSM2 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and G1/S transition and xenograft growth in nude mice. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that GPSM2 executed its biological functions by regulating the p53 signaling pathway, which was confirmed by the results of immunoblotting experiments showing suppression of p53 signaling pathway activity in GPSM2-over expressing MGC803 cells. CONCLUSIONS GPSM2 is highly expressed in gastric cancer to affect patient prognosis by promoting tumor cell proliferation and G1/S transition possibly via inhibiting the p53 pathway.
Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; Prognosis ; Animals ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Cell Movement

Objective To investigate the activated phenotype and the expression of the receptor of advanced glycation endproducts(RAGE)of astrocytes after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)in neonatal rats and the effects of gastrodin(GAS)intervention on them.Methods Totally 48 neonatal 3 days SD rats were used to construct HIBD model and randomly divided into sham group,HIBD group and HIBD+GAS group(100 mg/kg),and the expressions of Al type astrocyte marker C3,A2 type astrocyte marker S100A10,RAGE,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),and insulin-like growth factor(IGF-1)in the corpus callosum of the ischemic side were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining on day 1 and day 3 after HIBD.TNC-1 cells were divided into control group,oxygen glucose deprivation(OGD)group,OGD+GAS(0.34 mmol/L)group and GAS group,and then the protein expressions of RAGE,TNF-α,BDNF and IGF-1 were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.Results In vivo,Western blotting showed that compared with the sham group,the protein expression levels of C3,S100A10,RAGE,TNF-α and IGF-1 in the 1 day and 3 days groups after HIBD group in 1 day group were significantly higher than those in the sham group(P＜0.05),but the protein expression level of BDNF decreased in 1 day group and increased in 3 days group(P＜0.05).Compared with the HIBD group,the C3,RAGE and TNF-α protein expression levels were significantly attenuated in the HIBD+GAS group(P＜0.05),and the protein expression levels of BDNF and IGF-1 further increased(P＜0.05).The protein expression of S100A10 in the 3 days group was higher than that in the HIBD group after GAS treatment(P＜0.05).The immunohistochemical staining results of C3,S100A10,and RAGE in the 1 day and 3 days groups after HIBD were consistent with Western blotting results.Furthermore,the protein expressions of RAGE and TNF-α were significantly enhanced in OGD-stimulated astrocytes(P＜0.05).After GAS intervention,while the expressions of both RAGE and TNF-α decreased significantly(P＜0.05),the expressions of BDNF and IGF-1 increased significantly(P＜0.05).Conclusion With inhibiting the up-regulation of RAGE signal in astrocyte after HIBD and expressions of A1 astrocyte and neuroinflammatory factors,gastrodin can promot the expressions of A2 astrocyte and nutritional factors,which play an important role in neuro-protective effect.

Objective To investigate the effects of 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation on intestinal tissue injury and intestinal microflora in mice.Methods C57BL/6N mice were irradiated with 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray at 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d after irradiation.Jejunum tissues were fixed and frozen,and feces were frozen.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological injury to jejunum after irradiation,ki67 immunohistochemical staining was adopted to detect the proliferation of jejunum crypt cells,and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling was employed to detect the apoptosis of jejunum crypt cells.The expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 cytokines in small intestines were detected via radioimmunoassay.The changes of intestinal flora in mice after irradiation were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing,and LEfSe analysis and ROC analysis were used to screen the bacteria with significant differences.Results After 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation,the proliferative cells of the jejunal crypt were significantly decreased at 1 d after irradiation(P＜0.05),while the apoptotic cells were significantly increased at 1 and 3 d after irradiation(P＜0.01).The expression of TNF-α at 7 and 14 d after irradiation,that of IL-1 β at 1,3,7 and 14 d after irradiation and that of IL-6 at 3,7 and 14 d after irradiation were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the expression of IL-10 at 7 and 14 d after irradiation was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).After 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation,intestinal flora composition changed significantly at phylum,genus and species levels,and Lactobacillus murinus,Lactobacillus johnsonii,Alistipes-unclassified,Mucispirillum schaedleri underwent the most significant changes and had higher LDA scores.Conclusion The whole body irradiation of 0.5 Gy 60Co γ-ray can cause intestinal tissue damage and change the composition of intestinal flora in mice.

Nutritional therapy is a core component of critically ill patient management,and the enteral route has become the preferred method due to its dual roles of nutrition and non-nutrition. The use of vasoactive medications makes enteral nutrition decisions more challenging for these patients. This review systematically examines the pathophysiological effects of vasoactive medications on gastrointestinal tract of critically ill patients,the current value and safety of enteral nutrition in this patient's population,summarizes the optimal strategies for implementing enteral nutrition in these patients for clinical reference.

OBJECTIVE To test and compare the median effective dose(ED50) of ciprofol for gastroscope in patients of different genders and ages. METHODS Patients who planed to undergo gastroscope examination and treatment from March 2023 to April 2023 were selected, and divided into four groups according to stratified random method: N1 group(non-elderly male patients), N2 group(non-elderly female patients), N3 group(elderly male patients), and N4 group(elderly female patients). All patients received intravenous injection of 0.1 μg·kg−1 sufentanil followed by injection of the test dose of ciprofol according to Dixon’s modified sequential method. Gastroscope was performed after the disappearance of the eyelash reflex. The initial dose of ciprofol in all four groups was 0.4 mg·kg−1, and the ratio of adjacent doses was 1∶1.1. The next patient would receive a 10% increase in the dose of ciprofol if the patient experienced positive reactions such as coughing, frowning, and body movements during the endoscopy process. Otherwise, it would be judged as a negative reaction, and the next patient would receive a 10% decrease in the dose of ciprofol. The transition from a positive reaction to a negative reaction was defined as a turning point, and the study was terminated when seven turning points occurred. Hemodynamic parameters, oxygen saturation and adverse reactions were recorded at different time points. The Probit regression analysis method was used to calculate the ED50 of ciprofol for four groups. RESULTS The ED50 of ciprofol combined with 0.1 μg·kg−1 sufentanil for gastroscope in the non-elderly men, non-elderly women, elderly men, and elderly women were 0.409, 0.373, 0.356, 0.327 mg·kg−1, respectively. The ED50 of ciprofol in the N1 group was significantly higher compared with the N2 group and N3 group(P<0.05). The ED50 of ciprofol in the N4 group was significantly lower compared with the N2 group and N3 group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The ED50 of ciprofol is significantly different among gastroscope patients of different genders and ages, which is lower in female patients than in male patients, and is lower in older patients than in non-elderly patients.

Objective:To compare the effects of different reference brain regions on the semi-quantitative SUV ratio (SUVR) of 18F-Florzolotau PET images of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Methods:The 18F-Florzolotau PET images of 28 (13 males, 15 females, age (57.3±9.5) years) normal controls (NC), 19 patients (4 males, 15 females, age (73.3±7.3) years) with β-amyloid (Aβ)-positive mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 40 patients (19 males, 21 females, age (61.9±9.1) years) with AD were collected from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between November 2018 and July 2020. Six semi-quantitative reference brain regions were defined, including whole cerebellum (WC), cerebellar gray matter (GM), cerebellar white matter (WM), parametric estimation of reference signal intensity (PERSI), WC after partial volume correction (WC_pvc), cerebellar GM after partial volume correction (GM_pvc). SUVR was calculated for 14 ROIs, which included the whole brain defined by the automated anatomical labeling (AAL) template, fusiform, inferior temporal, lingual, middle temporal, occipital, parahippocampal, parietal, posterior cingulate, precuneus defined by the AAL template, and Meta ROI composed of the above brain regions, and braak_Ⅰ-Ⅱ, braak_Ⅲ-Ⅳ, braak_Ⅴ-Ⅵ defined by the Desikan Killiany template. AUC was used to evaluate the classification ability of SUVR, and the correlation between SUVR and clinical scale scores were assessed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. Results:The SUVRs of most brain regions showed a steady upward trend in the AD disease spectrum. In the classification task of NC and MCI, the overall performance of SUVR based on WC_pvc was relatively optimal (AUCs: 0.975-1.000). In the classification task of NC and AD, SUVRs of 10 ROIs based on the WC_pvc method showed the relatively best performance (AUCs: 0.976-1.000). The correlation between SUVR of fusiform based on cerebellar WM and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score was the strongest ( rs=-0.72, P<0.001), and the SUVR of precuneus based on WC_pvc showed the strongest correlation with clinical dementia rating (CDR) score ( rs=0.78, P<0.001). Conclusion:The SUVR based on WC_pvc method performs well in classification and correlation tasks, and is recommended to be used in semi-quantification of 18F-Florzolotau PET images of AD.

Objective:A voxel-level quantification method based on the tau IQ algorithm and Braak staging, excluding β-amyloid (Aβ) imaging, was developed to achieve specific tau quantification. Methods:This cross-sectional study included 92 subjects (35 males, 57 females; age (62.9±10.4) years) from the Nuclear Medicine/PET Center of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between November 2018 and July 2020. The cohort comprised 28 cognitively normal (CN) individuals, 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 44 patients with Alzheimer′s disease (AD). All participants underwent 18F-florzolotau PET imaging, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scoring. A longitudinal tau dataset was constructed based on Braak staging. Voxel-level logistic regression fitting provided a baseline matrix, decomposed via least squares to yield the Tau load coefficient. One-way analysis of variance (with post hoc Tukey) was used to compare Tau load and SUV ratio (SUVR) among groups. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate classification between CN, MCI and AD. Spearman rank correlation was used to assess the relationships between Tau load, SUVR, and MMSE scores or CDR scores. Results:The Tau load in the CN group was close to 0 and significantly lower than that in the MCI and AD groups ( F=55.03, P<0.001; post hoc tests all P<0.001). Significant differences were also observed in the SUVR across all ROIs ( F values: 36.46-55.38, all P<0.001). Compared to SUVR, Tau load demonstrated greater intergroup differences. In ROC curve analyses between each pair of CN, MCI, and AD groups, Tau load consistently achieved the highest AUC (0.754-1.000). Both Tau load and SUVR for each ROI were negatively correlated with MMSE scores ( rs values: from -0.698 to -0.583, all P<0.05) and positively correlated with CDR scores ( rs values: 0.648-0.783, all P<0.05), with Tau load showing the highest absolute correlation coefficients. Conclusion:Compared to the traditional semi-quantitative SUVR method, the Braak-tau IQ algorithm does not require a specific reference brain region to achieve specific tau quantification.