Recently, the serum levels of YKL-40, a chitinase-like glycoprotein, have been shown to be significantly elevated in asthmatics and are associated with asthma severity. Although these studies raise the possibility that YKL-40 may influence asthma, the mechanisms remain unknown. This study firstly investigated the mechanisms involved in YKL-40–mediated inflammation in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and analyzed the soluble factors secreted by bronchial epithelial cells exposed to YKL-40 that were responsible for increasing proliferation and migration of primary normal human bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs). YKL-40–induced inflammation was assayed in two HBECs (BEAS-2B cell line and primary HBECs). In addition, we treated BEAS-2B cells and HBECs with YKL-40 and added the conditioned culture media to BSMCs. The proliferation and migration of BSMCs were determined by premixed WST-1 cell proliferation reagent (Clontech Laboratories) and QCM chemotaxis migration assay (Millipore), respectively. Bronchial epithelial cells treated with YKL-40 resulted in a significant increase of IL-8 production, which was dependent on MAPK (JNK and ERK) and NF-κB pathways activation. YKL-40–induced IL-8 was found to further stimulate proliferation and migration of BSMCs, and the effects were inhibited after neutralizing IL-8. Through investigating the interaction of airway epithelium and smooth muscle, our findings implicate that YKL-40 may be involved in the inflammation of asthma by induction of IL-8 from epithelium, subsequently contributing to BSMC proliferation and migration. Moreover, inhibition of IL-8 signaling is a potential therapeutic target for YKL-40–induced inflammation and remodeling of asthma.

The chitinase-like protein YKL-40, which binds chitin but lacks chitinase activity, has been found to be either the cause or a biomarker for asthma. The aim of our study was to investigate whether serum YKL-40 levels are increased in Chinese patients with asthma and identify its correlation to acute exacerbation, total serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils and lung function. We quantified serum YKL-40 levels, total IgE levels and peripheral blood eosinophil percentages in patients with asthma, as well as in controls from the communities surrounding our hospital. The lung function of asthma subjects was also measured. Our data showed that the serum YKL-40 levels were significantly elevated in patients with asthma compared with controls and, when the asthma subjects were stratified, serum YKL-40 levels in the exacerbation group were higher than those in the stable and control groups. In addition, serum YKL-40 levels correlated positively with total serum IgE levels and the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils, but correlated inversely with lung functions. Thus, we conclude that YKL-40 is found in increased quantities in the serum of Chinese patients with asthma, and its level correlates with exacerbation attacks, indicating that high levels of serum YKL-40 may be a biological characteristic of the exacerbation of asthma.

The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has provided insights into the initiation and recurrence of brain tumor. Specific identification and targeted elimination of these CSCs within the tumor mass represents a promising therapeutic strategy for refractory brain tumors. In this study, we attempted to identify CSCs in the rat C6 glioma cell line by three different identification methods. It is interesting to note that single-cell clonal analysis showed most C6 cells are cancer stem-like cells with characteristics of self-renewal, multilineage differentiation potentials in vitro, and tumorigenic capacity in vivo. It is surprising to note that CD133 failed to identify the total cancer stem-like cell population in the C6 line, since both CD133 (+) and CD133 (-) C6 cells have cancer stem-like cell fractions. Moreover, Hoechst 33342 staining, which is used in flow cytometry to isolate the side population (SP), was found to be harmful to C6 cells. Therefore, CD133 (-) and non-SP C6 cells may also harbor cancer stem-like cells. These results imply the limitation of using current identification methods in C6 line and underscore the importance of defining the genetic and molecular basis of CSCs.

The spleen is an infrequent metastatic organ of solid tumours, the prevalence of which ranges between 2.3% and 7.1% in populations with cancer as determined through autopsy. The most common sources of metastasis are breast, lung, colorectal and ovarian carcinoma and melanoma. Isolated metastasis of the spleen is rarely reported with only 93 cases from all sources having been reported up to 2007. Therefore, isolated splenic metastasis from primary lung cancer is exceedingly rare with only 11 cases reported to date.Herein, we report a rare case of isolated splenic metastasis in a 49-yr-old female 3 months after lobectomy for an undifferentiated large cell carcinoma in the right lung (pT 2a N 0 M 0 ). The only symptom the patient presented with was continuous high fever, which had never been previously reported. This patient presented diagnostic challenges due to the presentation of high fever, leukoapenia after chemotherapy and the cystic splenic mass, all of which led to the initial consideration of splenic abscess. The patient's high fever resolved rapidly after splenectomy and splenic metastasis was confirmed by pathological findings.We also reviewed all 11 reported previously cases and summarised the characteristics and appropriate management of isolated splenic metastasis from lung cancer.KEYWORDS: Fever, lung cancer, splenectomy, splenic metastasis ). Although the chemotherapy was thought to be responsible for myelosuppression and a secondary infection, no other symptoms existed to indicate the site of infection. The patient was admitted and treated with granulocyte colonystimulating factors and antibiotics. However, even though strong, broad spectrum anti-infection strategies were administered and the WBC recovered the patient's high fever was not resolved. Surprisingly, the abdominal ultrasonic inspection revealed a solid, cystic mass in the spleen 8.268.1 cm in size. A further abdominal CT scan also showed a 9.568.0 cm splenic mass with complex solid and cystic components ( fig. 1b). Splenic abscess was initially considered due to the manifestation of high fever only. However, percutaneous splenic puncture guided by ultrasound showed little fluid, which was cultured with no bacteria. Due to her history of lung cancer, splenic metastasis was considered; however, a chest CT

Background LncRNA PTCSC3 is a known tumor suppressor, while its roles in other human diseases are unclear. Methods All participants were admitted by The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 2016 to January 2018. RT-qPCR, Vectors, cell transfection, In vitro cell proliferation assay and western blot were using to carry out the experiment. Results In this study we found that PTCSC3 was downregulated, while toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was upregulated in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) isolated from periodontitis affected teeth that in PDLSCs isolated from healthy teeth. Expression levels of PTCSC3 and TLR4 were only significantly and inversely correlated in PDLSCs isolated from periodontitis affected teeth but not in PDLSCs isolated from healthy teeth. PTCSC3 overexpression led to the downregulation of TLR4 in PDLSCs isolated from periodontitis affected teeth, while TLR4 overexpression failed to significantly affect PTCSC3. PTCSC3 overexpression also led to the inhibited proliferation of periodontitis-affected PDLSCs. Conclusions Therefore, lncRNA PTCSC3 may regulate the proliferation of PDLSCs and TLR4 expression to improve periodontitis.