Int J Med Sci
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The function of the uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is different for each cancer cell. However, the mechanism of expression is still unclear. DNA methylation affects protein expression and is one factor that transforms normal cells into cancer cells. ⋯ The UCP2 promoter in Hep3B cells has numerous methylated regions compared with HT-29 and HepG2 cells. The results of the present study revealed that inhibition of UCP2 expression in Hep3B cells was due to methylation of the promoter region. Investigating the mechanism that induces UCP2 expression in cancer cells is important to understand the function of UCP2, which could aid in cancer treatment.
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Observational Study
The impact of Aurora kinase A genetic polymorphisms on cervical cancer progression and clinicopathologic characteristics.
The aims of this study were to explore the involvement of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in uterine cervical cancer that has not yet been investigated. One hundred and six patients with cervical invasive cancer and 94 patients with precancerous lesions, and 302 Taiwanese female individuals were included. AURKA SNPs rs2273535, rs6024836, rs2064863 and rs1047972 were analyzed for genotypic distributions using real-time polymerase chain reaction. ⋯ There were no associations among AURKA SNPs and clinicopathologcal variables and recurrence and survival events. However, in a multivariate analysis, cervical cancer patients with adenocarcinoma (HR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.23-8.23; p=0.017) and larger tumor (HR: 5.61, 95% CI: 2.10-14.95; p=0.001) had poorer recurrence-free survival. In conclusion, tumor size and pelvic lymph node status rather than AURKA SNPs were the most obvious independent parameter that could significantly predict 5 years survival rate in Taiwanese women with cervical cancer.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) confers cancer cells with immune evasive ability by modulating the expression of immune checkpoints in many cancers. Thus, the aim of our study is to examine the interplay between EMT and immune checkpoint molecules in HCC. ⋯ In addition, TGF-β1 driven EMT was reversed following knockdown of B7-H3 in both HCC cells further validating the interplay between TGF-β1-mediated EMT and immune checkpoint expression in HCC. Furthermore, the coordinate expression of TGF-β1 with PD-L1 (p=0.01487) and B7-H3 (p=0.009687) was correlated with poor overall survival in 422 HCC patients. Our study has demonstrated a close association between TGF-β1-mediated EMT and regulation of immune checkpoints in HCC.
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Raddeanin A (RA), an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin derived from Anemone raddeana Regel, has been found to suppress the viability and metastasis of several cancers, including GBM, through various signaling pathways. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-GBM properties of RA have not been fully elucidated. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis are important for the genesis and progression of GBM. ⋯ Finally, we demonstrated that RA inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival time in an intracranial U87 xenograft mouse model. Similar to the results in vitro, RA downregulated the expression of β-catenin, EMT makers and VEGF, and decreased vessel density in vivo. In summary, our results demonstrated that RA repressed GBM via downregulating β-catenin-mediated EMT and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.
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Farfarae Flos is a traditional Chinese medicine that has long been used to treat allergies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of a petroleum extract of Farfarae Flos (PEFF) in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR) and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of action. An animal model of AR was established by sensitization and challenge of BALB/c mice with ovalbumin (OVA). ⋯ PEFF significantly decreased serum concentrations of OVA-specific IgE (P<0.01) and IL-4 (P<0.05) and significantly increased IFN-γ (P<0.01). PEFF also upregulated the expression of T-bet protein (P<0.05) but downregulated GATA3 protein (P<0.05) in nasal mucosa and spleen tissues. In conclusion, PEFF effectively reduces AR nasal symptoms and serum IgE levels in a mouse model and may act by correcting the imbalance between Th1 and Th2 responses.