1.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
2.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
3.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
4.Mitigative effect and mechanism of nootkatone on depression-like behavior in mild blast traumatic brain injury rat
Xiao-Lin FAN ; Hong WANG ; Qi WANG ; Cun-Zhi LI ; Qing LU ; Liang LI ; Ning MA ; Jun-Hong GAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(6):694-700
Objective To investigate the mechanism of nootkatone(NKT)in mitigating depression-like behavior caused by blast traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods The rat bTBI depression-like model was established by simulating the shock wave parameters of blast overpressure(BOP of 60 kPa,90 kPa,and 120 kPa)with a biological shock wave tube.After 14 days of exposure,we evaluated the depression-like behavior of rats using the tail suspension test and forced swimming test.We identified that the BOP(120 kPa)condition caused the most noticeable depressive behavior and used this condition for subsequent experiments.Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,bTBI group(BOP of 120 kPa),and bTBI+NKT group[at 1 d after exposure to BOP of 120 kPa,giving NKT 10 mg/(kg·d)orally for 14 days],10 in each group.After 14 days of exposure,the depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by tail suspension test and forced swimming test.The expression levels of protein kinase A(PKA),phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate effector binding protein(pCREB),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the hippocampus of rat were determined by Western blotting.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the generation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)-labeled neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG).Results BOP of 90 kPa can cause depression-like in rats and BOP of 120 kPa can cause the most noticeable depressive behavior(P<0.05).Therefore,we selected the BOP exposure of 120 kPa for subsequent experiments.After 14 days of BOP exposure,compared with sham operation group,the immobility time of tad suspension test in bTBI group was prolonged(P<0.05),the latency of for ced swimming test was shortened,the immobility time was prolonged(P<0.05),the expression levels of PKA,pCREB and BDNF protein in hippocampus were lowered(P<0.05),and the number of PCNA-labeled neurons in hippocampal DG area was reduced(P<0.05);compared with the bTBI group,the immobility time of tail suspension test in bTBI+NKT group was shortened(P<0.05),the latency of forced swimming test was prolonged,the immobility time was shortened(P<0.05),the expression levels of PKA,pCREB and BDNF protein in hippocampus were increased(P<0.05),and the number of PCNA-labeled neurons in hippocampal DG area was increased(P<0.05).Conclusions Early treatment with NKT can improve depression-like behavior in mild bTBI rats.The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of the PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway and increased expression levels of pCREB and BDNF in the hippocampus,which results in increased neuron numbers in the DG region of the hippocampus.
5.Clinical efficacy of endoscopic Delta large channel unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression in treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis
Zan YUAN ; Xin-Ning HE ; Zhi-Yong DU ; Shui-Qing ZHANG ; Hao-Hong QI
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(6):517-520
Objective To investigate the efficacy of endoscopic Delta large channel unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression(ULBD)in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS),and the postoperative complications was analyzed.Methods A total of 100 patients with LSS in our hospital from January 2021 to February 2023 were selected and divided into the control group and the observation group according to random number table method,with 50 cases in each group.Patient in the control group were treated with bilateral or unilateral decompression through the median incision adjacent to the lateral spinous process,and patients in the observation group were treated with endoscopic Delta large channel ULBD.The visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)scores,Oswestry disability index(ODI)scores before surgery and 1 month,3 months,6 months after surgery,as well as clinical efficacy and incidence of postoperative complications of patients between the two groups were compared.Results Compared with preoperative results,the VAS scores of leg pain and low back pain and ODI scores of patients 1 month,3 months and 6 months after surgery in both groups were significantly lower(P<0.05),and JOA scores were significantly higher(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the control group,the VAS scores of leg pain and low back pain and ODI scores of patients 1 month,3 months and 6 months after surgery in the observation group were lower(P<0.05),the JOA scores were higher(P<0.05).The total effective rate in the observation group was 98.00%,which was higher than 72.00%in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 4.00%,which was lower than 24.00%in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Endoscopic Delta large channel ULBD in the treatment of LSS can effectively reduce postopera-tive leg pain and low back pain,improve lumbar function,improve clinical therapeutic effect,and reduce postoperative complications.
6.The Effects of RNF213 on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia THP-1 Cells
Xiao-Qi SHI ; Ping-Ping ZHANG ; Ya-Ning GUAN ; Zuo-Chen DU ; Yan CHEN ; Pei HUANG ; Zhi-Xu HE
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1365-1371
Objective:To discover the relationship between the RNF213 gene and acute myeloid leukemia(AML),and explore the effect of RNF213 on the proliferation and apoptosis of THP-1 cells.Methods:Analyze the expression of RNF213 gene in AML and its relationship with prognosis through the GEPIA database.Collecting 30 AML patients and non-tumor hematological patients who went to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from January 2017 to January 2022.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of RNF213 mRNA and protein.Perform survival of patients was analysed by Kaplan-Meier.Meanwhile,the expression levels of RNF213 mRNA and protein were detected in AML cell lines(THP-1,OCI-AML2).CRISPR-Cas9 was used to knockdown the RNF213 gene in THP-1 cells;flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis rate of cell.CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation.Western blot was used to detect the expression level of Cleaved-Caspase 3 protein.Results:Compared with the control group,the expression level of RNF213 in AML patients was significantly increased,and patients with high expression of RNF213 have a worse prgnosis.Higher expression level of RNF213 protein in THP-1 cells.After knocking down the RNF213 gene of THP-1 cells,cell proliferation was significantly reduced,and the apoptosis rate and expression of apoptosis related protein Cleared-Caspase3 were significantly increased.Conclusion:AML patients have high expression of RNF213,and the prognosis of high expression patients is poor.The RNF213 gene affects AML cell proliferation and apoptosis,and may be a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for AML.
7.Development and validation of a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Yu-Hang YE ; Hao-Yang XIN ; Jia-Li LI ; Ning LI ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Peng-Cheng WANG ; Chu-Bin LUO ; Rong-Qi SUN ; Jia FAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(4):914-928
Background:
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly desmoplastic tumor with poor prognosis even after curative resection. We investigated the associations between the composition of the ICC stroma and immune cell infiltration and aimed to develop a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC.
Patients and methods:
We recruited 359 ICC patients and performed immunohistochemistry to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD3, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, CD68, and CD66b. Aniline was used to stain collagen deposition. Survival analyses were performed to detect prognostic values of these markers. Recursive partitioning for a discrete-time survival tree was applied to define a stromal-immune signature with distinct prognostic value. We delineated an integrated stromal-immune signature based on immune cell subpopulations and stromal composition to distinguish subgroups with different recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) time.
Results:
We defined four major patterns of ICC stroma composition according to the distributions of α-SMA and collagen: dormant (α-SMAlow/collagenhigh), fibrogenic (α-SMAhigh/collagenhigh), inert (α-SMAlow/collagenlow), and fibrolytic (α-SMAhigh/collagenlow). The stroma types were characterized by distinct patterns of infiltration by immune cells. We divided patients into six classes. Class I, characterized by high CD8 expression and dormant stroma, displayed the longest RFS and OS, whereas Class VI, characterized by low CD8 expression and high CD66b expression, displayed the shortest RFS and OS. The integrated stromal-immune signature was consolidated in a validation cohort.
Conclusion
We developed and validated a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC. These findings provide new insights into the stromal-immune response to ICC.
8.A new dihydrochalcone from Humulus scandens.
Yuan-Ning WU ; Biao SUN ; Jun-Ya WANG ; De-Zhi WANG ; Min SONG ; Xiao-Qi ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(7):1885-1891
To study the chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Humulus scandens, this study isolated thirteen compounds by different chromatographic methods including silica gel column, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Based on comprehensive analysis, the chemical structures were elucidated and identified as citrunohin A(1), chrysosplenetin(2), casticin(3), neoechinulin A(4), ethyl 1H-indole-3-carboxylate(5), 3-hydroxyacetyl-indole(6),(1H-indol-3-yl) oxoacetamide(7), inonotusic acid(8), arteannuin B(9), xanthotoxol(10), α-tocopherol quinone(11), eicosanyl-trans-p-coumarate(12), and 9-oxo-(10E,12E)-octadecadienoic acid(13). Among them, compound 1 was a new dihydrochalcone, and the other compounds were obtained from H. scandens for the first time.
Humulus
;
Chalcones
;
Indoles
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
9.Clinical study of using basement membrane biological products in pelvic floor reconstruction during pelvic exenteration.
Guo Liang CHEN ; Yu Lu WANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Yu TAO ; Ya Huang SUN ; Jun Nan CHEN ; Si Qi WANG ; Ning SU ; Zhi Guo WANG ; Jian ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2023;26(3):268-276
Objective: To investigate the value of reconstruction of pelvic floor with biological products to prevent and treat empty pelvic syndrome after pelvic exenteration (PE) for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer. Methods: This was a descriptive study of data of 56 patients with locally advanced or locally recurrent rectal cancer without or with limited extra-pelvic metastases who had undergone PE and pelvic floor reconstruction using basement membrane biologic products to separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities in the Department of Anorectal Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University from November 2021 to May 2022. The extent of surgery was divided into two categories: mainly inside the pelvis (41 patients) and including pelvic wall resection (15 patients). In all procedures, basement membrane biologic products were used to reconstruct the pelvic floor and separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The procedures included a transperitoneal approach, in which biologic products were used to cover the retroperitoneal defect and the pelvic entrance from the Treitz ligament to the sacral promontory and sutured to the lateral peritoneum, the peritoneal margin of the retained organs in the anterior pelvis, or the pubic arch and pubic symphysis; and a sacrococcygeal approach in which biologic products were used to reconstruct the defect in the pelvic muscle-sacral plane. Variables assessed included patients' baseline information (including sex, age, history of preoperative radiotherapy, recurrence or primary, and extra-pelvic metastases), surgery-related variables (including extent of organ resection, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and tissue restoration), post-operative recovery (time to recovery of bowel function and time to recovery from empty pelvic syndrome), complications, and findings on follow-up. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: The median age of the 41 patients whose surgery was mainly inside the pelvis was 57 (31-82) years. The patients comprised 25 men and 16 women. Of these 41 patients, 23 had locally advanced disease and 18 had locally recurrent disease; 32 had a history of chemotherapy/immunotherapy/targeted therapy and 24 of radiation therapy. Among these patients, the median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to resolution of empty pelvic syndrome were 440 (240-1020) minutes, 650 (200-4000) ml, 3 (1-9) days, and 14 (5-105) days, respectively. As for postoperative complications, 37 patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and four had ≥ grade III complications. One patient died of multiple organ failure 7 days after surgery, two underwent second surgeries because of massive bleeding from their pelvic floor wounds, and one was successfully resuscitated from respiratory failure. In contrast, the median age of the 15 patients whose procedure included combined pelvic and pelvic wall resection was 61 (43-76) years, they comprised eight men and seven women, four had locally advanced disease and 11 had locally recurrent disease. All had a history of chemotherapy/ immunotherapy and 13 had a history of radiation therapy. The median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to relief of empty pelvic syndrome were 600 (360-960) minutes, 1600 (400-4000) ml, 3 (2-7) days, and 68 (7-120) days, respectively, in this subgroup of patients. Twelve of these patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and three had ≥ grade III postoperative complications. Follow-up was until 31 October 2022 or death; the median follow-up time was 9 (5-12) months. One patient in this group died 3 months after surgery because of rapid tumor progression. The remaining 54 patients have survived to date and no local recurrences have been detected at the surgical site. Conclusion: The use of basement membrane biologic products for pelvic floor reconstruction and separation of the abdominal and pelvic cavities during PE for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer is safe, effective, and feasible. It improves the perioperative safety of PE and warrants more implementation.
Male
;
Humans
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Pelvic Exenteration
;
Biological Products/therapeutic use*
;
Pelvic Floor/pathology*
;
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery*
;
Rectal Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Postoperative Complications/prevention & control*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Treatment Outcome
10.A new xanthone from hulls of Garcinia mangostana and its cytotoxic activity.
Feng-Ning ZHAO ; Qi NIU ; Die XIAO ; Hao-Nan XU ; Hao-Xin WANG ; Rong-Lu BI ; Hong-Ping HE ; Zhi-Yong JIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(21):5817-5821
Eight compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of 80% ethanol extract of the hulls of Garcinia mangostana by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as prep-HPLC methods. By HR-ESI-MS, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral analyses, the structures of the eight compounds were identified as 16-en mangostenone E(1), α-mangostin(2), 1,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-methy-lbut-2-enyl)-3-methoxyxanthone(3), cratoxyxanthone(4), 2,6-dimethoxy-para-benzoquinone(5), methyl orselinate(6), ficusol(7), and 4-(4-carboxy-2-methoxyphenoxy)-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid(8). Compound 1 was a new xanthone, and compound 4 was a xanthone dimer, compound 5 was a naphthoquinone. All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time except compounds 2 and 3. Cytotoxic bioassay suggested that compounds 1, 2 and 4 possessed moderate cytotoxicity, suppressing HeLa cell line with IC_(50) va-lues of 24.3, 35.5 and 17.1 μmol·L~(-1), respectively. Compound 4 also could suppress K562 cells with an IC_(50) value of 39.8 μmol·L~(-1).
Humans
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Garcinia mangostana/chemistry*
;
HeLa Cells
;
Antineoplastic Agents
;
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
;
Xanthones/pharmacology*
;
Garcinia/chemistry*
;
Plant Extracts/chemistry*
;
Molecular Structure

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