BackgroundNuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like (Nrf)2 and metallothionein have been implicated in carcinogenesis. This study investigated the expression of Nrf2 and of Nrf2-targeted genes (NQO1 and GCLC) and the genes for the metallothionein (MT) isoforms (MT-1A and MT-2A) in human lung cancer and cancer-surrounding tissues.MethodsSurgically removed lung cancer samples (n = 80) and cancer-surrounding tissues (n = 38) were collected from Zunyi Medical College Hospital, China. Total RNA was extracted, purified, and used for real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis of interested genes.ResultsExpression of the Nrf2-targed genes NQO1 and GCLC tended to be higher (30 to 60%) in lung cancers, but was not significantly different from that in peri-cancer tissues. By contrast, expression of the genes for M)-1A, MT-2A, and the metal transcription factor MTF-1 were three-fold to four-fold lower in lung cancers.ConclusionIn surgical samples of lung cancer, MT expression was generally downregulated, whereas Nrf2 expression tended to be upregulated. These changes could play an integral role in lung carcinogenesis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is regarded as the most superior alternative treatment approach for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who are associated with high surgical risk, whereas the effectiveness of TAVR vs surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low to intermediate surgical risk patients remained inconclusive. This study aimed to determine the best treatment strategies for AS with low to intermediate surgical risk based on published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Vein graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is primarily caused by intimal hyperplasia, which results from the phenotypic switching of venous smooth muscle cells (SMCs). This study investigates the role and underlying mechanism of miR-16-5p in the phenotypic switching of venous SMCs. In rats, neointimal thickness and area increased over time within 28 days after CABG, as did the time-dependent miR-16-5p downregulation and SMC phenotypic switching. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced miR-16-5p downregulation in HSVSMCs was accompanied by and substantially linked with alterations in phenotypic switching indicators. Furthermore, miR-16-5p overexpression increased SMCs differentiation marker expression while suppressing HSVSMCs proliferation and migration and drastically inhibiting neointimal development in vein grafts. The miR-16-5p inhibited zyxin expression, which was necessary for HSVSMCs phenotypic switching. The miR-16-5p/zyxin axis is a novel, potentially therapeutic target for preventing and treating venous graft intimal hyperplasia. Graphical abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-α induced protein 8 like 2 (TIPE2) is one of the newly discovered negative regulators for body's immune balance. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of TIPE2 gene-modified human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) on immune tolerance. In this study, the TIPE2 over-expressed and the non-transfected hAD-MSCs were severally co-cultured with injured cardiomyocytes. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell viability was measured by MTT, and expressions of immune-related factors were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. When compared with the empty vector-transfected hAD-MSCs, the TIPE2-overexpression hAD-MSCs co-cultured with injured cardiomyocytes show accelerated cell viability and declined apoptosis. After TIPE2 over-expression, the mRNA and protein levels of p38, extracellular signalregulated kinases (ERK) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) notably decreased, whereas those of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased in a converse trend. This study suggested that TIPE2 may enhance the cellular immune tolerance in co-culture systems of hAD-MSCs and injured cardiomyocyte, providing a theoretical basis for the allogeneic heart transplantation.