Role of LncRNA MIR99AHG in breast cancer: Bioinformatic analysis and preliminary verification.

Objective: This research was aimed to preliminarily explore the clinical roles and potential molecular mechanisms of MIR99AHG and its significant transcripts in breast cancer (BRCA).

Methods: Public databases were utilized to analyze the expression and prognostic roles of MIR99AHG and its transcripts. Relationships between MIR99AHG expression and immune cells infiltration were analyzed in Xiantao platform.

Pan-cancer analysis of LncRNA XIST and its potential mechanisms in human cancers.

Background: X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), it has been found, is abnormal expression in various neoplasms. This work aims to explore its potential molecular mechanisms and prognostic roles in types of malignancies.

Methods: This research comprehensively investigated XIST transcription across cancers from Oncomine, TIMER 2.

RFX5 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through transcriptional activation of KDM4A.

Regulatory factor X-5 (RFX5) represents a key transcription regulator of MHCII gene expression in the immune system. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms and biological significance of RFX5. Firstly, by analyzing ENCODE chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq in HepG2 and TCGA RNA-seq data, we discovered lysine-specific demethylase 4A (KDM4A), also named JMJD2A, to be a major downstream target gene of RFX5.

Roles of eIF3m in the tumorigenesis of triple negative breast cancer.

Background: Without targets, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis in all subtypes of breast cancer (BC). Recently, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 m (eIF3m) has been declared to be involved in the malignant progression of various neoplasms. The aim of this study is to explore biological functions of eIF3m in TNBC.

Regulatory factor X5 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by transactivating tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein theta and suppressing apoptosis.

Background: Our previous studies have shown that regulatory factor X5 (RFX5), a classical transcription regulator of MHCII genes, was obviously overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. However, the role of RFX5 in the carcinogenesis and progress of HCC remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal its biological significance and the underlying mechanism in HCC.

Overexpression of PLK3 Mediates the Degradation of Abnormal Prion Proteins Dependent on Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy.

Polo-like kinase 3 (PLK3) is the main cause of cell cycle reentry-related neuronal apoptosis which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Previous work also showed the regulatory activity of exogenous PLK3 on the degradation of PrP (prion protein) mutants and pathogenic PrP; however, the precise mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we identified that the overexpression of PLK3-mediated degradation of PrP mutant and PrP was repressed by lysosome rather than by proteasomal and macroautophagy inhibitors.

Activation of the AMPK-ULK1 pathway plays an important role in autophagy during prion infection.

AMPK is a serine/threonine protein kinase that acts as a positive regulator of autophagy, by phosphorylating ULK1 at specific sites. A previous study demonstrated activation of the macroautophagic system in scrapie-infected experimental rodents and in certain human prion diseases, in which the essential negative regulator mTOR is severely inhibited. In this study, AMPK and ULK1 in the brains of hamsters infected with scrapie strain 263 K and in the scrapie-infected cell line SMB-S15 were analysed.

Fish Oil-Rich Diet Promotes Hematopoiesis and Alters Hematopoietic Niche.

The self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow are essential to replenish all blood cell types, but how this process is influenced by diet remains largely unclear. Here we show that a diet rich in fish oils promotes self-renewal of HSCs and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Chronic intake of a fish oil-rich diet increases the abundance of HSCs, alters the hematopoietic microenvironment, and, intriguingly, induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) in the bone marrow.

Polo-like kinase 3 (PLK3) mediates the clearance of the accumulated PrP mutants transiently expressed in cultured cells and pathogenic PrP(Sc) in prion infected cell line via protein interaction.

Polo-like kinases (PLKs) family has long been known to be critical for cell cycle and recent studies have pointed to new dimensions of PLKs function in the nervous system. Our previous study has verified that the levels of PLK3 in the brain are severely downregulated in prion-related diseases. However, the associations of PLKs with prion protein remain unclear.

Abortive cell cycle events in the brains of scrapie-infected hamsters with remarkable decreases of PLK3/Cdc25C and increases of PLK1/cyclin B1.

Polo-like kinases (PLKs) consist of a family of kinases which play critical roles during multiple stages of cell cycle progression. Increase of PLK1 and decrease of PLK3 are associated with the developments and metastases of many types of human malignant tumors; however, the situations of PLKs in prion diseases are less understood. Using Western blots and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent assays, marked increase of PLK1 and decrease of PLK3 were observed in the brains of scrapie strain 263K-infected hamsters, presenting obviously a time-dependent phenomenon along with disease progression.

Doxycycline up-regulates the expression of IL-6 and GM-CSF via MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways in mouse thymic epithelial cells.

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) constitute a major component of the thymic stroma which provides a microenvironment critical for developing thymocytes. We have previously demonstrated that doxycycline (Dox), a tetracycline derivative, enhances the proliferation of the mouse thymic epithelial cell line 1 (MTEC1) via MAPK/ERK signal pathway. Herein we provide evidence that Dox also has profound impact on the cytokine production by MTEC1.

[The expression, identification of human HMGB1 B box and preparation of monoclonal antibodies against HMGB1 B box].

Aim: To express human HMGB1 B box protein and obtain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against HMGB1 B box for further study of the function of human HMGB1 protein.

Methods: pET28-HMGB1 B box plasmid transfected the DH5α, then expressed. And the extracted protein was purified by protein purification system.

Immunosuppressive effects of mesenchymal stem cells in collagen-induced mouse arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in the treatment of arthritis.

Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells were injected intravenously into mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Arthritic indexes were evaluated, and the levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum or splenic cells were determined using real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[Construction of MyD88-Pseudomonas aeruginosa epitope DNA vaccine and its expression in eukaryotic cells].

Aim: To construct the MyD88-Pseudomonas aeruginosa epitope vaccine and study its expression in eukaryotic cells.

Methods: To design and synthesize an epigene containing three B cell epitopes of OprF and one foreign "promiscuous" T cell epitope by overlapping extension PCR. tPA signal encoding sequence was amplified by PCR and then it was inserted into the 5' terminus of the epigene to construct tPA-OprF.

[Cloning and expression of human Runx3 gene obtained from human peripheral blood CD8(+) T lymphocyte].

Aim: Runx3, a type of Runt family member, plays an important role in immune regulation. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the cDNA encoding human Runx3 from T lymphocyte, expressed Runx3 protein in E.coli system, and studied the relation between Runx3 and some immune disorders or tumors.

[Construction and identification of the recombination adeno-associated virus carrying murine FoxP3 gene].

Aim: To construct the recombination adeno-associated virus (rAAV) carrying murine forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) gene, and then detect the expression in NIH3T3 cells.

Methods: The recombination adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector containing internal ribosome entry site which could coordinate the expression of FoxP3 gene and enhance green fluorescent protein gene was constructed. HEK293 cells were transfected by the transfection cocktail containing the constructed rAAV vector, trans plasmid and helper plasmid by the calcium phosphate method.

Cutting edge: generation of splenic CD8+ and CD8- dendritic cell equivalents in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand bone marrow cultures.

We demonstrate that functional and phenotypic equivalents of mouse splenic CD8(+) and CD8(-) conventional dendritic cell (cDC) subsets can be generated in vitro when bone marrow is cultured with fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (flt3) ligand. In addition to CD45RA(high) plasmacytoid DC, two distinct CD24(high) and CD11b(high) cDC subsets were present, and these subsets showed equivalent properties to splenic CD8(+) and CD8(-) cDC, respectively, in the following: 1) surface expression of CD11b, CD24, and signal regulatory protein-alpha; 2) developmental dependence on, and mRNA expression of, IFN regulatory factor-8; 3) mRNA expression of TLRs and chemokine receptors; 4) production of IL-12 p40/70, IFN-alpha, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES in response to TLR ligands; 5) expression of cystatin C; and 6) cross-presentation of exogenous Ag to CD8 T cells. Furthermore, despite lacking surface CD8 expression, the CD24(high) subset contained CD8 mRNA and up-regulated surface expression when transferred into mice.

Development of the dendritic cell system during mouse ontogeny.

Based on the view that the efficacy of the immune system is associated with the maturation state of the immune cells, including dendritic cells (DC), we investigated the development and functional potential of conventional DC and plasmacytoid pre-DC (p-preDC) in spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes during mouse development. Both CD11c+ DC and CD45RA+ p-preDC were detected in small numbers in the thymus as early as embryonic day 17. The ratio of DC to thymocytes reached adult levels by 1 wk, although the normal CD8alpha+ phenotype was not acquired until later.