Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.

Objective:To explore the differences in the performance and tissue repair promotion effects of small intestinal submucosa membrane (SIS membrane) and Bio-Gide resorbable collagen membrane (Bio-Gide membrane) by performing the subcutaneous implantation models in mice.Methods:For in vivo studies, we stablished membrane implantation models using 6-8 week-old male C57BL/6 mice. The degradation rates were explored through HE staining analysis at different time points (1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 d, 3 mice/group/time point). The influences of the two membranes on local macrophages and neovasculum were evaluated by immunofluorescence detection of F4/80 and CD31, and the mobilization effects of the two membranes on local stem cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical detection of Ki67 and CD146. For in vitro studies, mice periodontal ligament stem cells (mPDLSCs) were co-cultured with these two membrane materials, and the cell morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the gene expressions of Ki67, Cxcl1, Ccl1, Tnfa were investigated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results:The results of in vivo studies showed that by day 28, there was no significant difference in degradation rate between these two membrane materials [SIS degradation rate: (16.84±4.00) %, Bio-Gide degradation rate: (24.07±3.97) %, P=0.090], illustrating that both of them could maintain the barrier effects for more than one month. In addition, there was no significant difference in the infiltration number of local F4/80 positive macrophages between these two groups by the day 3 after implantation [SIS: (20.67±5.69) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (25.33±2.52) cells/visual field, P=0.292]. However, compared with the Bio-Gide membrane, SIS membrane significantly promoted local CD31 +vascular regeneration [SIS: (4.67±1.15) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (1.00±1.00) cells/visual field, P=0.015] and CD146 +stem cell recruitment [SIS: (22.33±4.16) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (11.33±2.52) cells/visual field, P=0.025]. The RT-qPCR results also showed that SIS membrane promoted the gene expression of Cxcl1 (SIS vs Bio-Gide P<0.001) in mPDLSCs, but had no effect on the gene expression of Tnfa (SIS vs Bio-Gide P=0.885). Conclusions:SIS membrane showed a similar degradation rate compared with Bio-Gide membrane, and there was no significant difference in the effects of these two membranes on local inflammation or macrophages. Therefore, both of these membranes could meet the barrier effects required by guided tissue regeneration.

Objective To explore the effect of oridonin on the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in colonic epithelium of ulcerative colitis (UC) mice.Methods The UC mice model was established by sodium dextran sulfate (DSS),and the intervention group of oridonin and sulfasalazine was set up,the disease activity index (DAD was measured,the colonic tissue was evaluated by histopathologidscore (HPS),and RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory cytokines tumor factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin 6 (IL-6),cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2),glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78),transcription factor EBP homologous protein (CHOP),activator transcription factor 6 (ATF6),protein kinase R like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α).Results The expression of TNF-α,IL-6,COX-2,GRP78,ATF6,CHOP,PERK and IRE1α mRNA in the colonic epithelium of the model group were all up-regulated obviously as compared with the healthy control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).When compared with the model group,DAI and HPS in oridonin-treated group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05,P＜0.01),which the curative effect was similar to that of the sulfasalazine group(P＞0.05,P＜0.01).The expression of TNF-α,IL-6,COX-2,GRP78,CHOP,ATF6 and PERK mRNA levels were significantly reduced in oridonin-treated group(P＜ 0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Oridonin can alleviate colonic inflammation induced by DSS and its mechanism may be related to ERS of colonic epithelial tissue.

Objective The HPLC-MS/MS is used to comprehensively monitor the feeding conditions of raw materials in Yuanhu analgesic capsules, and the content of the index components can be detected at the same time. Methods The Inertsil ODS-3 (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) was used with the column temperature 40 ℃, Flow phase: 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile; the gradient elution program, active ingredients were separated by HPLC, and the Electrospray Ionization Mass (ESI) source was applied and operated in the negative ion mode, and reactions ion monitoring mode (MRM) for quantitative analysis were selected. Results Through analysis and contrast of the medicinal materials, reference substance of primary mass spectrogram showed the same characteristic peak, and the proprietary Chinese medicine can be judged by prescription feeding process. The tetrahydroxene and imperatorin had a good linear relationship in 5.08×10-5-30.45×10-5μg (r=0.999 4), 5.02×10-5-30.09×10-5μg (r=0.999 2). Precision test were 0.99% and 1.14%, the recovery rate were 97.02%-99.66%, 97.62%-99.94%. Conclusions The method is simple, accurate and reliable, high sensitive and fast. It is suitable to monitor the feeding condition and quality of yuanhu analgesic capsules.

AIM:To investigate the protective effects of astrocyte protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) up-regula-tion on APP/PS1 double transgenic mice.METHODS:An eGFP-wtPP2A lentivirus with glial fiber acidic protein promoter was constructed to specifically increase PP2A expression in the astrocytes.The mice were divided into wild -type mice +vector virus group (Con), APP/PS1 transgenic mice +vector virus group (APP/PS1) and APP/PS1 transgenic mice +eGFP-wtPP2A lentivirus group (PP2A) by lateral ventricular injection of the lentivirus.Four weeks after injection of the vi-rus, the immunofluorescence of brain slices were used to detect the level of β-amyloid protein ( Aβ) .Golgi staining was used to detect the changes of dendritic spine density and morphology.Electron microscopy was applied to detect the thickness of postsynaptic density (PSD).The Morris water maze test was applied to examine the learning and memory abilities of the mice.RESULTS: Up-regulation of PP2A in the astrocytes attenuated Aβlevel increasing in APP/PS1 group.Up-regulation of PP2A in the astrocytes significantly attenuated both decreases in the dendritic spine density and the percentage of mushroom-like dendritic spines in the hippocampal CA3 region of APP/PS1 mice.Up-regulation of PP2A in the astrocytes significantly attenuated the reduced thickness of PSD in APP/PS1 group.Up-regulation of PP2A in the astro-cytes attenuated the escape latency extending in APP/PS1 group .CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of PP2A in the astro-cytes reduces AD-like pathological changes, and attenuates synaptic impairment, synaptic plasticity deficits and cognitive impairment in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVETo modify the level set method for precise and fast segmentation of B-type ultrasound image lesions.

METHODSBased on the best of region level set method, entropy in the information theory was introduced into image processing to define a dynamic weighting factor that responded to the gradient change of the local gray levels to evaluate the dynamic degree of driven force on each pixel on the contour to the target and background areas. The dynamic weighting factors were reconciled into the regional level set model and led the contour to deform and move during the iterations. As lesion segmentation was classified as local segmentation of a specific area, the calculation was restrained to the local sphere abide by the contour, which greatly reduced the calculation complex.

RESULTSExperiments on B-type ultrasound images showed improved results of the proposed method with a better accuracy and less time consumption compared with several current level set methods.

CONCLUSIONLevel set method reconciled with dynamic weighting factor allows a better evaluation of the lesion contour pixels, and the local calculation strategy results in an enhanced segmentation efficiency.

Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Models, Theoretical ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mTOR signal transduction pathway and down-regulating anti-oncogene PTEN on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

METHODSMCF-7 cells were transfected with the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-mTOR and non-loaded plasmid, and the expression of mTOR in the cells was detected using Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of the transfected cells, and the expression of PTEN was detected after transfection.

RESULTSThe cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-mTOR showed a increased growth rate than those transfected with the non-loaded plasmid and those without transfection. The expression of the protein PTEN decreased obviously in the cells after mTOR trasnfection.

CONCLUSIONmTOR can regulate the expression of PTEN via PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways through a negative feedback mechanism. Increased mTOR expression promotes MCF-7 cell growth, suggesting the potential value of mTOR specific inhibitor in the treatment of breast cancer.

Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the effect of mTOR signal transduction pathway and down-regulating anti-oncogene PTEN on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Methods MCF-7 cells were transfected with the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-mTOR and non-loaded plasmid, and the expression of mTOR in the cells was detected using Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of the transfected cells, and the expression of PTEN was detected after transfection. Results The cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-mTOR showed a increased growth rate than those transfected with the non-loaded plasmid and those without transfection. The expression of the protein PTEN decreased obviously in the cells after mTOR trasnfection. Conclusion mTOR can regulate the expression of PTEN via PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways through a negative feedback mechanism. Increased mTOR expression promotes MCF-7 cell growth, suggesting the potential value of mTOR specific inhibitor in the treatment of breast cancer.

Objective To modify the level set method for precise and fast segmentation of B-type ultrasound image lesions. Methods Based on the best of region level set method, entropy in the information theory was introduced into image processing to define a dynamic weighting factor that responded to the gradient change of the local gray levels to evaluate the dynamic degree of driven force on each pixel on the contour to the target and background areas. The dynamic weighting factors were reconciled into the regional level set model and led the contour to deform and move during the iterations. As lesion segmentation was classified as local segmentation of a specific area, the calculation was restrained to the local sphere abide by the contour, which greatly reduced the calculation complex. Results Experiments on B-type ultrasound images showed improved results of the proposed method with a better accuracy and less time consumption compared with several current level set methods. Conclusion Level set method reconciled with dynamic weighting factor allows a better evaluation of the lesion contour pixels, and the local calculation strategy results in an enhanced segmentation efficiency.

Objective To investigate the effect of mTOR signal transduction pathway and down-regulating anti-oncogene PTEN on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Methods MCF-7 cells were transfected with the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-mTOR and non-loaded plasmid, and the expression of mTOR in the cells was detected using Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of the transfected cells, and the expression of PTEN was detected after transfection. Results The cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-mTOR showed a increased growth rate than those transfected with the non-loaded plasmid and those without transfection. The expression of the protein PTEN decreased obviously in the cells after mTOR trasnfection. Conclusion mTOR can regulate the expression of PTEN via PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways through a negative feedback mechanism. Increased mTOR expression promotes MCF-7 cell growth, suggesting the potential value of mTOR specific inhibitor in the treatment of breast cancer.