Explore the vast range of titles available.

Endometrial carcinoma is a cancer derived from oncogenesis of the regenerating uterine cavity, in which cytokine stimulation shapes cell differentiation and tissue remodeling. Expression of the stem cell factors SOX2 , OCT4 , NANOG , and MYC has been linked to tumor malignancy in several cancers. However, how these stem cell factors crosstalk with cytokine signaling to promote malignancy in endometrial carcinoma is still elusive. Here we report that the expression of SOX2 and MYC , but not that of OCT4 and NANOG , correlate with poor histological differentiation and prognosis, while SOX2 expression is negatively associated with MYC level. We found that SOX2 -high endometrial carcinoma cells possessed a higher colony-forming ability than their SOX2 -low counterparts, and knockdown of SOX2 attenuated the colony-forming ability. We observed that SOX2 regulated EGFR expression in a SOX2–EGFR positive feedback loop. EGF stimulation induced SOX2 expression and promoted migration of endometrial carcinoma cells, whereas TGF-β stimulation inhibited SOX2 expression and attenuated the colony-forming ability. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that SOX2 expression correlated with lymph node infiltration of endometrial carcinoma. Our findings support that cytokine-induced stem cell factor SOX2 possesses oncogenic properties, with the potential to serve as a prognostic biomarker in endometrial carcinoma.

Signaling elicited by the stem cell factors SOX2, OCT4, KLF4, and MYC not only mediates reprogramming of differentiated cells to pluripotency but has also been correlated with tumor malignancy. In this study, we found SOX2 expression signifies poor recurrence-free survival and correlates with advanced pathological grade in bladder cancer. SOX2 silencing attenuated bladder cancer cell growth, while its expression promoted cancer cell survival and proliferation. Under low-serum stress, SOX2 expression promoted AKT phosphorylation and bladder cancer cells’ spheroid-forming capability. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of AKT phosphorylation, using MK2206, inhibited the SOX2 -mediated spheroid formation of bladder cancer cells. Gene expression profiling showed that SOX2 expression, in turn, induced IGF2 expression, while SOX2 silencing inhibited IGF2 expression. Moreover, knocking down IGF2 and IGF1R diminished bladder cancer cell growth. Lastly, pharmacological inhibition of IGF1R, using linsitinib, also inhibited the SOX2 -mediated spheroid formation of bladder cancer cells under low-serum stress. Our findings indicate the SOX2–IGF2 signaling affects the aggressiveness of bladder cancer cell growth. This signaling could be a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder cancer intervention.

Hypoxia, the reduction of oxygen levels in cells or tissues, elicits a set of genes to adjust physiological and pathological demands during normal development and cancer progression. OCT4, a homeobox transcription factor, is essential for self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, but little is known about the role of OCT4 in non-germ-cell tumorigenesis. Here, we report that hypoxia stimulates a short isoform of OCT4, called OCT4B, via a HIF2α-dependent pathway to induce the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and facilitate cancer dissemination. OCT4B overexpression decreased epithelial barrier properties, which led to an increase in cell migration and invasion in lung cancer cells. OCT4B knockdown attenuated HIF2α-induced EMT and inhibited cancer dissemination in cell-line and animal models. We observed that OCT4B bound the SLUG promoter and enhanced its expression, and SLUG silencing inhibited OCT4B-mediated EMT, accompanied with decreased cell migration and invasion. Correlation analysis revealed that OCT4B expression was significantly associated with the SLUG level in lung tumors. These results provide novel insights into OCT4B-mediated oncogenesis in cancer dissemination.

CEACAM family proteins have been extensively studied as cell adhesion molecules, yet the biological and clinical significance of CEACAM6 remains relatively unexplored. Our research identifies a significant increase in CEACAM6 expression in lung adenocarcinoma, particularly correlating with EGFR mutation status. In EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells, CEACAM6 knockdown induced apoptosis and reduced p-ERK1/2 signaling downstream of EGFR. Treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) decreased CEACAM6 levels, leading to TKI-resistant lung cancer cells that exhibited reduced p-ERK1/2 and increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics. Co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed an interaction between CEACAM6 and EGFR. Although CEACAM6 expression was lost in EGFR-TKI resistant cells, its re-expression stabilized EGFR and increased sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. TGF-β treatment, which induced EMT, also decreased CEACAM6 expression and improved EGFR-TKI resistance. Further analysis showed that EGFR-TKI resistant lung cancer cells had lower H3K27ac epigenetic modification levels at the CEACAM6 locus than EGFR-TKI sensitive cells. Treatment with HDAC1/2 inhibitors in EGFR-TKI sensitive cells reduced CEACAM6 expression, induced EMT and TGF-β-ligand/receptor gene expression, and enhanced EGFR-TKI resistance. These data highlight the crucial role of CEACAM6 in maintaining oncogenic EGFR signaling and its regulation by cytokine stimulation and epigenetic modification, influencing EGFR-TKI sensitivity. Our findings underscore CEACAM6’s potential as a valuable biomarker in EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma and its intricate involvement in EGFR-related pathways.

ObjectiveAllopurinol, an antihyperuricaemic agent, is one of the common causes of life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR), including drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN). The prognostic factors for allopurinol-related SCAR remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of dosing, renal function, plasma levels of oxypurinol and granulysin (a cytotoxic protein of SJS/TEN), the disease severity and mortality in allopurinol-SCAR.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 48 patients with allopurinol-SCAR (26 SJS/TEN and 22 DRESS) and 138 allopurinol-tolerant controls from 2007 to 2012. The human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B*58:01 status, plasma concentrations of oxypurinol and granulysin were determined.ResultsIn this cohort, HLA-B*58:01 was strongly associated with allopurinol-SCAR (p<0.001, OR (95% CI) 109 (25 to 481)); however, the initial/maintenance dosages showed no relationship with the disease. Poor renal function was significantly associated with the delayed clearance of plasma oxypurinol, and increased the risk of allopurinol-SCAR (p<0.001, OR (95% CI) 8.0 (3.9 to 17)). Sustained high levels of oxypurinol after allopurinol withdrawal correlated with the poor prognosis of allopurinol-SCAR. In particular, the increased plasma levels of oxypurinol and granulysin linked to the high mortality of allopurinol-SJS/TEN (p<0.01), and strongly associated with prolonged cutaneous reactions in allopurinol-DRESS (p<0.05).ConclusionsImpaired renal function and increased plasma levels of oxypurinol and granulysin correlated with the poor prognosis of allopurinol-SCAR. Allopurinol prescription is suggested to be avoided in subjects with renal insufficiency and HLA-B*58:01 carriers. An early intervention to increase the clearance of plasma oxypurinol may improve the prognosis of allopurinol-SCAR.

A detailed understanding of the metabolic processes governing rapid growth in early life is still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the age-related metabolic changes in healthy children throughout early childhood. Healthy children from a birth cohort were enrolled in this study from birth through 4 years of age. Urinary metabolites were assessed at 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 yr of age by using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis including principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Metabolic pathway analysis was performed using the MetPA web tool. A total of 105 urine samples from 30 healthy children were collected and analyzed. Metabolites contributing to the discrimination between age groups were identified by using supervised PLS-DA (Q2 = 0.60; R2 = 0.66). A significantly higher urinary trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine level was found in children aged 6 months. Urinary glycine and glutamine levels declined significantly after 6 months of age and there was a concomitant compensatory increase in urinary creatine and creatinine. Metabolic pathway analysis using MetPA revealed similar nitrogen metabolism associated energy production across all ages assessed. Pathways associated with amino acid metabolism were significantly different between infants aged 6 months and 1 year, whereas pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism were significantly different between children at ages 2 and 3 years. Urine metabolomics ideally represents dynamic metabolic changes across age. Urinary metabolic profiles change significantly within the first year of life, which can potentially provide crucial information about infant nutrition and growth.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in plasma fatty acids proportions and estimated desaturase activities for variable grading of liver steatosis in children. In total, 111 schoolchildren (aged 8-18 years) were included in the analysis from March 2015 to August 2016. Anthropometric evaluation, liver ultrasound examination and scoring for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD score = 0-6), and biochemical and plasma fatty acids analysis were performed. We compared the composition ratio of fatty acids between children with high-grade liver steatosis (NAFLD score = 4-6), low-grade liver steatosis (NAFLD score = 1-3), and healthy controls (NAFLD score = 0). In addition, correlation coefficients (r) between NAFLD score, metabolic variables, and estimated activity of desaturase indices (stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD1), delta-5 and delta-6 desaturase) were calculated. Compared with healthy controls, children with liver steatosis showed a higher proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids (21.16 ± 2.81% vs. 19.68 ± 2.71%, p = 0.024). In addition, children with high- grade liver steatosis exhibited higher proportions of palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6), adrenic acid (C22:4n-6), and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-6); and lower proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) (P< 0.05). In all subjects, the NAFLD score was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) (r = 0.696), homeostasis model of assessment ratio-index (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.510), SCD1(16) (r = 0.273), and the delta-6 index (r = 0.494); and inversely associated with the delta-5 index (r = -0.443). Our current data suggested that children with liver steatosis was highly associated with obesity, and insulin resistance. In addition, increased endogenous lipogenesis through altered desaturase activity may contribute to the progression of liver steatosis in children.

A correct interpretation of sensitization to common allergens is critical in determining susceptibility to allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of sensitization to food and inhalant allergens, and their relation to the development of atopic diseases in early childhood. Children aged 0 through 4 years from a birth cohort in the Prediction of Allergies in Taiwanese Children (PATCH) study were enrolled. Specific IgE antibody against food and inhalant allergens were measured and their association between total serum IgE levels and atopic diseases were assessed. A total of 182 children were regular followed up at clinics for a four-year follow-up period. The prevalence of food allergen sensitization increased markedly after 6 months of age, reaching up to 47% at 1.5 years of age and then declined significantly to 10% in parallel with a considerable increase in the prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens up to 25% at age 4. Food allergen sensitization appeared to be mainly associated with the elevation of serum total IgE levels before age 2. A combined sensitization to food and inhalant allergens had an additive effect on serum IgE levels after age 2, and was significantly associated with the risk of developing atopic diseases at age 4. Sensitization to food occurs early in life, in parallel with the rising prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens at older age. A combined sensitization to food and inhalant allergens not only has an additive increase in serum IgE antibody production but also increases the risk of developing allergic respiratory diseases in early childhood.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of infectious diseases such as pneumonia and sepsis. Its colonization is thought to be the first step in the development of invasive pneumococcal diseases. This study aimed to investigate pneumococcal colonization patterns in early childhood. A longitudinal birth cohort study was conducted for investigating nasopharyngeal colonized pneumococci at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age, particularly focusing on the serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibilities. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) effect on nasopharyngeal colonization was also assessed. During 2013-2017, 855 infants were enrolled and a total of 107 isolates were recovered from 95 infants during the first three years of life. In this period, the prevalence of pneumococcal colonization increased, with values ranging from 0.2% (2/834) at 1 month of age to 5.9% (19/323) at 36 months of age. The investigation of serotype revealed that 81.1% (73/90) belonged to the non-PCV13 serotypes-23A, 15A, 15C, and 15B. Moreover, PCV13 serotypes significantly decreased during 2014-2015, when routine PCV13 vaccination was initiated in Taiwan. PCV13 introduction may lead to the reduction in the rates of pneumococcal isolates resistant (R) to penicillin. Under conditional PCV13 vaccination, pneumococcal isolates primarily belonged to non-PCV13 serotypes. This non-PCV13 serotype replacement exhibited lower rates of penicillin R isolates, suggesting that PCV13 administration may reduce the antibiotic-nonsusceptible pneumococcal disease burden and antibiotic use.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are traditionally regarded as professional phagocytic and acute inflammatory cells that engulf the microbial pathogens. However, accumulating data have suggested that PMNs are multi-potential cells exhibiting many important biological functions in addition to phagocytosis. These newly found novel activities of PMN include production of different kinds of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET)/ectosomes/exosomes and trogocytosis (membrane exchange) with neighboring cells for modulating innate, and adaptive immune responses. Besides, PMNs exhibit potential heterogeneity and plasticity in involving antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), cancer immunity, autoimmunity, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, PMNs may also play a role in ameliorating inflammatory reaction and wound healing by a subset of PMN myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC). Furthermore, PMNs can interact with other non-immune cells including platelets, epithelial and endothelial cells to link hemostasis, mucosal inflammation, and atherogenesis. The release of low-density granulocytes (LDG) from bone marrow initiates systemic autoimmune reaction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In clinical application, identification of certain PMN phenotypes may become prognostic factors for severe traumatic patients. In the present review, we will discuss these newly discovered biological and pathobiological functions of the PMNs.