Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus that not only impairs vision and quality of life but has also emerged as a leading cause of blindness in working-age individuals. Long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LncMALAT1) is a non-coding RNA molecule that regulates gene expression and has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of DR. It exerts its effects through the modulation of various pathological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Notably, alterations in the expression levels of LncMALAT1 may serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of DR. Furthermore, interventions targeting LncMALAT1, employing antioxidants, anti-angiogenic agents, traditional Chinese medicine, and gene therapy, present promising avenues for its potential development as an effective therapeutic target for DR.
Objective To select relatively specific biomarkers in serum from lung adenocarcinoma patients using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) Protein Chip technology, and study the follow-up results of postoperative serum proteomic patterns. Methods Serum samples from 71 lung adenocarcinoma patients. 71 healthy volunteers with matched gender, age and history of smoking were analyzed by using weak cation exchange 2(WCX2) Protein Chip to select potentially biomarkers. Seventy-one patients were followed-up till 9 months after surgery. Compare the serum proteomic patterns 3,6 and 9 months after surgery. Results Five highly expressed potential biomarkers were identified with the relative molecular weights of 4 047.79, 4 203. 99, 4 959. 81, 5 329. 30 and 7 760. 12 Da. The postoperative serum proteomic patterns changed among individuals, and correlated with patients' clinical stage. Conclusions SELDI-TOF-MS Protein Chip technology is a quick, easy, convenient, and high-throughout analyzing method capable of selecting relatively specific, potential biomarkers from the serum of lung adenocarcinoma patients and may have attractive clinical value.
Objective To investigate the expression of SAPCD2 in the lung adenocarcinoma cells, and to study the effect of SAPCD2 regulating Hippo signaling pathway on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of the lung adenocarcinoma cells and its mechanism. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of SAPCD2 mRNA and protein in four types of lung cancer cells (HCC827, H1650, SK-MES-1, A549) and human normal lung epithelial cells (BESA-2B), respectively. Then, lung cancer cells with relatively high levels of SAPCD2 expression were selected for subsequent experiments. The experiment cells were divided into a normal control group (NC group), a si-SAPCD2 group, and a pathway inhibitor group (si-SAPCD2+XMU-MP-1 group). Firstly, SAPCD2 mRNA was silenced using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, and then qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of SAPCD2 in transfected lung cancer cells; using clone plate assay to detect the proliferation of lung cancer cells after silencing; using flow cytometry to detect the apoptosis of lung cancer cells after silencing; observe the number of lung cancer cells at different stages through cell cycle experiments; then Transwell experiment was used to analyze the effect of silencing SAPCD2 on the migration and invasion of lung cancer cell migration. Finally, Western blot was used to detect the expression of ki-67, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, NF2, P-MST1, P-LATS1, P-YAP, YAP, and TAZ proteins.Results SAPCD2 had the highest expression level in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells (P<0.01). Silencing SAPCD2 significantly decreased the proliferation ability of A549 cells (P<0.01), inhibited their migration (P<0.05) and invasion (P<0.01), and promoted A549 cell apoptosis (P<0.01); more than half of the cells remained in the G0/G1 phase. Compared with the NC group, A549 cells showed a significant increase in G0/G1 phase cells (P<0.01), a significant decrease in G2/M and S phase cells (P<0.01), and a significant increase in the proportion of early apoptotic cells (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that silencing SAPCD2 down-regulated the expression of ki-67, Bcl-2, YAP, and TAZ proteins compared to the NC group (P<0.01), and up-regulated the expression of Caspase-3, NF2, P-MST1, P-LATS1, and P-YAP proteins (P<0.01). Conclusions The expression of SAPCD2 in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells is significantly higher than that in normal lung epithelial cells (BESA-2B), which promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells and inhibits apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Hippo signaling pathway.
ObjectiveTo investigate the CT signs and clinicopathological features of peripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma with the largest diameter less than or equal to 3 cm.Methods From January 2015 to December 2017, the CT signs and clinicopathological fertures of 51 patients with ≤3 cm peripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by chest CT and surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, CT signs and clinicopathological features of thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma were compared. There were 29 males and 22 females at age of 62 (56, 67) years.ResultsThere were 27 thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and 24 thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma. Thick-walled cavitary adenocarcinoma had greater SUVmax [6.5 (3.7, 9.7) vs. 2.2 (1.4, 3.8), P=0.019], larger cavity wall thickness (11.8±4.6 mm vs. 7.6±3.7 mm, P=0.001), larger tumor tissue size [2.1 (1.7, 2.8) cm vs. 1.6 (1.2, 2.0) cm, P=0.006], and more solid nodules (17 patients vs. 8 patients, P=0.035). Thin-walled cavitary adenocarcinoma had more smoking history (12 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.038), larger cavity size [12.3 (9.2, 16.6) mm vs. 4.4 (2.8, 7.1) mm, P=0.000], and larger proportion of cavities [0.30 (0.19, 0.37) vs. 0.03 (0.01, 0.09), P=0.000]. On CT signs, there were more features of irregular inner wall (19 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.000), intra-cystic separation (16 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.001) and vessels through the cystic cavity (10 patients vs. 1 patient, P=0.001) in thin-walled caviraty lung adenocarcinoma.ConclusionPeripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma of ≤3 cm on chest CT has characteristic manifestations in clinical, imaging and pathology, and there is a statistical difference between thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma.
Objective To investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) on lung adenocarcinoma bone metastasis in nude mice by regulating phosphatase and tensin homology/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PTEN/PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Methods The bone metastasis model of lung adenocarcinoma in nude mice was established and mice were randomly divided into Control group, sh-NC group, sh-GDF15 group, sh-GDF15+sh-NC group and sh-GDF15+sh-PTEN group. The changes of 50% pain withdrawl threshold (PWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were observed. bone destruction was analyzed by Micro-CT. Bone morphology was observed by HE staining. The expression of osteoclast-related factors was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. Results The tibia tissue of nude mice in Control group and sh-NC group was destroyed, the continuity of bone cortex was interrupted, obvious bone tumor lesions were observed, the tumor cells were irregular in shape, densely distributed and disordered, and the nuclei were obviously deformed. Compared with sh-NC group, sh-GDF15 group had less tibial tissue destruction, the bone tumor cell density was significantly reduced, the pathological morphology was significantly improved, and 50% PWT, TWL, bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and PTEN expression were increased, the expressions of trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), cathepsin K (CTSK), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), p-PI3K PI3K and p-Akt/Akt were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with sh-GDF15+sh-NC group, sh-GDF15+sh-PTEN group had severe tibial tissue damage, the bone tissue tumor cells were dense and the pathological injury was aggravated, and 50%PWT, TWL, BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th and PTEN expression were decreased, the expressions of Tb.Sp, CTSK, MMP-9, p-PI3K /PI3K and p-Akt /Akt were increased (P<0.05). Conclusion GDF15 can promote bone metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in nude mice, and its mechanism is related to inhibition of PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MIR223HG affects the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. MethodsDNA damaging agent Zeocin was used to treat human embryo lung cell (MRC-5) and lung cancer cell (A549 and H1299), and the expression of MIR223HG was tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Moreover, the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein and ATM pathway downstream factor Cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), p53 tumor suppressor protein (p53) in the lung cancer cell (A549 and H1299) with Zeocin were also tested by qRT-PCR. Cell transfection and Transwell migration assay, colony formation assays, apoptosis assays were performed to verify the role of ATM in the expression of MIR223HG in lung adenocarcinoma. ResultsThe expression of MIR223HG was reduced markedly in the lung cancer cells (A549 and H1299) compared with human embryo lung cell (MRC-5) after treated with Zeocin. ATM protein and its downstream factors Chk2, p53 involved in the process, and ATM regulated the expression of MIR223HG in the lung cancer cells with Zeocin. Futhermore, ATM joined in the processes that MIR223HG regulated the lung cancer cells proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Conclusions The expression of MIR223HG is related to the DNA damage response in the lung cancer, and MIR223HG regulates lung cancer cells proliferation, migration and apoptosis by ATM/Chk2/p53 pathway. MIR223HG may be a potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma treatment.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) in the treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma with different chemotherapy regimens.MethodsA total of 126 patients with advanced lung cancer were divided into three groups according to the chemotherapy regimen, namely a pemetrexed+nedaplatin group (PEM+NDP group), a pemetrexed+cisplatin/carboplatin group (PEM+DDP/CBP group) and a third-generation (3G) chemotherapy+cisplatin/carboplatin group (3G agent+DDP/CBP group). The predictive value of TTF-1 in the above three treatment regimens was analyzed. The patients were followed up by telephone or outpatient visit until April 2017.ResultsThere were no significant differences in disease control rate or objective response rate between the three different chemotherapy regimens (all P>0.05). The survival rate of PEM+NDP group was significantly higher than that of PEM+DDP/CBP group and 3G agent+DDP/CBP group (9.68%vs. 5.56% and 6.80%, both P<0.05). ECOG score and brain metastasis were independent risk factors for the prognosis of chemotherapy regimens. TTF-1 was an independent risk factor for PEM+NDP therapy.ConclusionTTF-1 is an independent risk factor for PEM+NDP chemotherapy, but not for 3G agent + DDP/CBP or PEM+DDP/CBP regimens.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) in determining acquired epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) resistance in lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsA total of 144 lung adenocarcinoma EGFR sensitive patients in People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University diagnosed from January 2016 to December 2016 were recruited in the study. According to the different time of taking drugs, the patients were divided into a non-medication group (31 cases), a 1 to 3 month treatment group (25 cases), a 4 to 6 month treatment group (19 cases), a 7 to 12 month treatment group (25 cases), a drug-resistant group (24 cases), and a nonresistant group up to 1 year of treatment (20 cases). The serum levels of sCD146, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were measured by ELISA and chemiluminescence and compared between different period of medication. The relationship of serum sCD146 with tumor markers (CEA, NSE) and tumor related clinical parameters (age, gender, tumor stage, metastasis, tumor diameter, number of the lesions) were analyzed.ResultsThe serum sCD146 level was minimum in the non-medication group that did not receive pioglitazone treatment, highest in the 1 to 3 month treatment group (early treatment period), and declined with duration of medication until resistance occurred without significant difference (P>0.05). The level of sCD146 of the drug-resistant group was significantly lower than that of all nonresistant groups, with significant difference (allP<0.05), but still higher than that of the non-medication group (P<0.05). The serum sCD146 levels in the nonresistant patients with medication over 1 year and within 1 year were similar (P>0.05), and significantly higher than the non-medication group and drug-resistance group (allP<0.05). The serum CEA levels did not differ significantly between 6 groups (P>0.05). The serum NSE level of the 4 to 6 month treatment group was lower than that of the 7 to 12 month treatment group (P<0.05), but both in the normal reference range. The NSE levels did not differ in any other groups (P>0.05). Serum sCD146 was associated with metastasis (P<0.05), but not associated with serum CEA or NSE, nor with sex, age, tumor staging, tumor diameter or lesion number (allP>0.05).ConclusionsCD146 may be involved in the mechanism of TKI killing tumor cells and the mechanism of TKI resistance, and may be a serological marker for monitoring the efficacy of TKI and judging the resistance of TKI.