Background Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament associated protein 1 antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1) is oriented in an antisense direction to the protein-coding gene AFAP1 in the opposite strand. ...Previous studies showed that lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was upregulated and acted as an oncogene in a variety of tumors. However, the expression and biological functions of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) are still unknown. Methods The expression level of AFAP1-AS1 was measured in 103 pairs of human TSCC tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tongue mucous tissues. The correlation between AFAP1-AS1 and the clinicopathological features was evaluated using the chi-square test. The effects of AFAP1-AS1 on TSCC cells were determined via a CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. Furthermore, the effect of AFAP1-AS1 knockdown on the activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was investigated. Finally, CAL-27 cells with AFAP1-AS1 knockdown were subcutaneously injected into nude mice to evaluate the effect of AFAP1-AS1 on tumor growth in vivo. Results In this study, we found that lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was increased in TSCC tissues and that patients with high AFAP1-AS1 expression had a shorter overall survival. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated AFAP1-AS1 knockdown significantly decreased the proliferation of TSCC cells. Furthermore, AFAP1-AS1 silencing partly inhibited cell migration and invasion. Inhibition of AFAP1-AS1 decreased the activity of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and suppressed the expression of EMT-related genes (SLUG, SNAIL1, VIM, CADN, ZEB1, ZEB2, SMAD2 and TWIST1) in TSCC cells. In addition, CAL-27 cells with AFAP1-AS1 knockdown were injected into nude mice to investigate the effect of AFAP1-AS1 on tumorigenesis in vivo. Downregulation of AFAP1-AS1 suppressed tumor growth and inhibited the expression of EMT-related genes (SLUG, SNIAL1, VIM, ZEB1, NANOG, SMAD2, NESTIN and SOX2) in vivo. Conclusions Taken together, our findings present a road map for targeting the newly identified lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 to suppress TSCC progression, and these results elucidate a novel potential therapeutic strategy for TSCC. Keywords: Long non-coding RNA, AFAP1-AS1, TSCC, Proliferation, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this paper, a novel color image hiding scheme that is capable of hiding two color secret images into a color host image is proposed. The secret images to be embedded are first compressed by the ...single bit map block truncation coding. DES encryption is then conducted on the compressed message before the secret image is embedded into the rightmost 3, 2, 3 bits of the R, G, B channels of every pixel in the host image. The experimental results show that our scheme provides an average secret image quality of 29.220 dB. In addition to the improved quality of both host images and retrieved secret images, our scheme further strengthens the protection of the secret images by conducting image compression and DES encryption on the secret image in advance. Therefore, our scheme not only extends the hiding capability of host images, but also is practical and secure.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
An evaluation index is a prerequisite for the scientific evaluation of a public meteorological service. This paper aims to explore a technical method for determining and screening evaluation ...indicators. Based on public satisfaction survey data obtained in Wafangdian, China in 2010, this study investigates the suitability of fuzzy clustering analysis method in establishing an evaluation index. Through quantitative analysis of multilayer fuzzy clustering of various evaluation indicators, correlation analysis indicates that if the results of clustering were identical for two evaluation indicators in the same sub-evaluation layer, then one indicator could be removed, or the two indicators merged. For evaluation indicators in different sub-evaluation layers, although clustering reveals attribute correlations, these indicators may not be substituted for one another. Analysis of the applicability of the fuzzy clustering method shows that it plays a certain role in the establishment and correction of an evaluation index.
Main conclusion : The Ycf46 mutant of Synechocystis showed growth inhibition under low dissolved CO sub( 2 ) conditions, suggesting a role for the Ycf46 protein in the process of photosynthetic CO ...sub( 2 ) uptake and utilization. Abstract: Hypothetical chloroplast open reading frame Ycf46 proteins are highly conserved in all cyanobacterial lineages and most algal chloroplast genomes, but their exact function is still unknown. In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the Ycf46 encoding gene slr0374 is part of an operon (with slr0373 and slr0376) and responds to many environmental stresses. Transcript levels of the slr0373, slr0374 and slr0376 genes were increased under a low concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon (C sub(i)). Compared with the wild type, the mutant lacking slr0374 showed growth arrest under C sub(i)-deficient conditions but not under iron-deficient or low-light conditions. In addition, the mutant grew more slowly than the wild type under pH 6.0 conditions in which CO sub(2) was the dominant C sub(i) source, indicating the mutant cells had weak CO sub(2) uptake and/or utilization ability. Supplying a high concentration of CO sub(2) (5 %, v/v) to the mutant restored its phenotype to the wild type level. The photosynthetic activity of the mutant was inhibited to a lesser extent by a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor than that of the wild type, which specifically blocked CO sub(2) uptake. Inactivation of slr0374 decreased expression of the ecaB gene and reduced carbonic anhydrase activity. A subcellular localization assay indicated that the Ycf46 protein was soluble. By co-immunoprecipitation assay using Slr0374 as a bait-protein, potential interacting proteins in the size range of 30 kDa were identified. These results suggest that the Ycf46 protein plays a role in the regulation of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria, especially in CO sub(2) uptake and utilization.
Abstract only
e23029
Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTC) play a prognostic role in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Studies investigating detection of CTC in peripheral blood ...(PB) showed limited clinical sensitivity. This study compares clinical sensitivity of CTC analysis in mesenteric venous blood (MVB) vs PB. PD-L1 expression on isolated CTCs was also characterized in various stages of CRC patients. Methods: 8mL PB and MVB samples were collected into K
2
EDTA-containing vacationer tubes and subsequently performed CTC enumeration and PD-L1 analysis by MiSelect R system. CTC is defined as EpCAM
+
, cytokeratin
+
and CD45
-
with intact nuclei. CTC and PD-L1
+
CTC number were counted and correlated to the patients’ clinical manifestations. Results: Blood samples were collected from 75 CRC patients with various stages. In MVB, CTC detection rate was 20%, 33%, 44% and 58% for stage I, II, III, and IV respectively, and the overall detection rate is 41%. In PB, CTC only detected in sporadic cases (7%). Also, the amount of CTC detected in MVB was more abundant than that in PB ( P < 0.001) In addition, preoperative serum CEA levels were significantly associated with presence of CTC in MVB ( P= 0.011). PD-L1 expression was detected in 32% of the isolated CTCs, and was more abundant in those from late stage patients. The expression level of PD-L1 showed heterogeneity among CTCs. Conclusions: CTC enumeration in MVB could potentially increase the clinical sensitivity for CTC analysis in CRC. The CTC level in MVB significantly correlated with CEA levels which could serve as an important biomarker information for post-operative management. In additions, using MiSelect R System to determine PD-L1 expression on CTC could provide a promising approach for both patient selection or therapeutic monitoring of immunotherapies for CRC.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide which is closely related to metastasis. But the exact molecular mechanism of ERalpha-36 and STAT3 on metastasis is still not ...fully understood. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines and MCF-10A were overexpressioned or knockdown ERalpha-36 and STAT3 and tested for migration, invasion and proliferation assays. Direct interaction of STAT3 and ERalpha-36 were analyzed by coimmunoprecipitation assays. The effect of STAT3 and ERalpha-36 on MMP2/9 expression was analyzed by qPCR and western blotting. STAT3 phospholyation and acetylation by ERalpha-36 and p300 were observed and quantified by coimmunoprecipitation assays and western blotting. Cross-talk between ERalpha-36 and STAT3 was demonstrated to mediate through a direct physical association between the two proteins. Furthermore, the interaction between ERalpha-36 and STAT3 was demonstrated to give rise to functional changes in their signaling events. Both MMP2 and MMP9 expression require the binding of the newly identified protein complex, ERalpha-36-STAT3, to its promoter, the second phase, which is more robust, depends on ERalpha-mediated recruitment of p300 onto the complex and the subsequent acetylation of STAT3. In addition, STAT3 is tyrosine-phosphorylated in a biphasic manner, and the late phase requires ERalpha-36-mediated p300-dependent acetylation. Furthermore, interference with acetylation of STAT3 by overexpression of acetylation null STAT3 mutant led to the loss of MMP2 and MMP9 expression. ChIP analysis and reporter gene assays revealed that ERalpha-36-STAT3 complex binding to the MMP2 and MMP9 promoter led to an enhanceosome formation and facilitated MMP2 and MMP9 expression. Our studies demonstrate for the first time that the function of MMP2 and MMP9 in breast cancer cell migration, which is mediated by interactions between ERalpha-36 and STAT3.
Summary
A recent study indicated that Lectin‐type oxidized LDL receptor‐1 (LOX‐1) was a distinct surface marker for human polymorphisms myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (PMN‐MDSC). The present study ...was aimed to investigate the existence LOX‐1 PMN‐MDSC in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. One hundred and twenty‐seven HCC patients, 10 patients with mild active chronic hepatitis B, 10 liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B, 10 liver dysplastic node with hepatitis B and 50 health control were included. LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSC were significantly elevated in HCC patients compared with healthy control and patients with benign diseases. LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSC in circulation were positively associated with those in HCC tissues. LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSCs significantly reduced proliferation and IFN‐
γ
production of T cells with a dosage dependent manner with LOX‐1
−
CD15
+
PMNs reached negative results. The suppression on T cell proliferation and IFN‐
γ
production was reversed by ROS inhibitor and Arginase inhibitor. ROS level and activity of arginase of LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN were higher in LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSCs than LOX‐1
−
CD15
+
PMNs, as well as the expression of the NADPH oxidase NOX2 and arginase I. RNA sequence revealed that LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSCs displayed significantly higher expression of spliced X‐box ‐binding protein 1 (sXBP1), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker. ER stress inducer induced LOX‐1 expression and suppressive function for CD15
+
PMN from health donor. For HCC patients, LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSCs were positively related to overall survival. Above all, LOX‐1
+
CD15
+
PMN‐MDSC were elevated in HCC patients and suppressed T cell proliferation through ROS/Arg I pathway induced by ER stress. They presented positive association with the prognosis of HCC patients.
We study the sidereal and solar time modulation of multi-TeV cosmic rays using the east-west method with Tibet air shower array data taken from November 1999 to December 2008. The statistics are ...twice the amount used in our previous paper. In this analysis, the amplitude of the observed sidereal time modulation is about 0.1%, and the modulation shows an excess from about 4 to 7 hours and a deficit around 12 hours in local sidereal time. The sidereal time modulation has a weak dependence on the primary energy of the cosmic rays. However, the solar time modulation shows a large energy dependence. We find that the solar time modulation is fairly consistent with the prediction of the Compton-Getting effect for high-energy samples （6.2TeV and 12.0TeV）, but exceeds the prediction for the low-energy sample （4.0TeV）. Such a discrepancy may be due to the solar modulation or the characteristics of the experimental device in the near threshold energy.
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