Surface Activity and Aggregation Behavior of Siloxane-Based Ionic Liquids in Aqueous Solution

Six novel siloxane-based surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs)siloxane ammonium carboxylate [Si­(<i>n</i>)­N­(2)-CA­(1), (<i>n</i> = 3, 4)]were designed and synthesized. Their melting points, surface activities, and self-aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were studied. The results showed that because of the bulky hydrophobic siloxane chains at the end of the tail, all six siloxane-based SAILs are room-temperature ionic liquids (RT-SAILs). The introduction of the siloxane group can reduce the melting point of ionic liquids to below room temperature and can promote the micellization and aggregation behavior more efficiently. These siloxane-based SAILs can greatly reduce the surface tension of water, as shown by the critical aggregation concentration (γ_CAC) values of 20 mN·m^–1; all six siloxane RT-SAILs can form a vesicle spontaneously in aqueous solution, indicating potential uses as model systems for biomembranes and vehicles for drug delivery

qRT-PCR validation of five genes (COL4A2, BMF, DUSP1, FOXA1and MLPH) in seven breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-453, MCF-7, BT-474 and SK-BR-3).

<p>qRT-PCR validation of five genes (COL4A2, BMF, DUSP1, FOXA1and MLPH) in seven breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-453, MCF-7, BT-474 and SK-BR-3).</p

Top 15 enriched KEGG pathway of DEGs.

<p>Top 15 enriched KEGG pathway of DEGs.</p

The top 15 enriched GO terms of differentially expressed genes.

<p>A. molecular functions for DEGs (p value ≤ 9.35E-06); B. biological process for DEGs (p value ≤ 1.92E-07); C. cellular component for DEGs (p value ≤ 2.98E-09).</p

Molecular Features of Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Microarray Evidence and Further Integrated Analysis

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease usually including four molecular subtypes such as luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is more aggressive than other breast cancer subtypes. Despite major advances in ER-positive or HER2-amplified breast cancer, there is no targeted agent currently available for TNBC, so it is urgent to identify new potential therapeutic targets for TNBC.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We first used microarray analysis to compare gene expression profiling between TNBC and non-TNBC. Furthermore an integrated analysis was conducted based on our own and published data, leading to more robust, reproducible and accurate predictions. Additionally, we performed qRT-PCR in breast cancer cell lines to verify the findings in integrated analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>After searching Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), two microarray studies were obtained according to the inclusion criteria. The integrated analysis was conducted, including 30 samples of TNBC and 77 samples of non-TNBC. 556 genes were found to be consistently differentially expressed (344 up-regulated genes and 212 down-regulated genes in TNBC). Functional annotation for these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that the most significantly enriched Gene Ontology (GO) term for molecular functions was protein binding (GO: 0005515, P = 6.09E-21), while that for biological processes was signal transduction (GO: 0007165, P = 9.46E-08), and that for cellular component was cytoplasm (GO: 0005737, P = 2.09E-21). The most significant pathway was Pathways in cancer (P = 6.54E-05) based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). DUSP1 (Degree = 21), MYEOV2 (Degree = 15) and UQCRQ (Degree = 14) were identified as the significant hub proteins in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Five genes were selected to perform qRT-PCR in seven breast cancer cell lines, and qRT-PCR results showed that the expression pattern of selected genes in TNBC lines and non-TNBC lines was nearly consistent with that in the integrated analysis.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study may help to understand the pathogenesis of different breast cancer subtypes, contributing to the successful identification of therapeutic targets for TNBC.</p></div

Heat-map image representing 66 genes that were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated (p<0.003) in TNBC compared with other breast cancer subtypes including LuminalA, LuminalB and HER2+.

<p>Heat-map image representing 66 genes that were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated (p<0.003) in TNBC compared with other breast cancer subtypes including LuminalA, LuminalB and HER2+.</p

The constructed PPI network of the top 10 up- and down-regulated DEGs.

<p>Nodes denote proteins, edges denote interactions between two proteins.</p

Top 15 most significantly up- or down-regulated DEGs.

<p>Top 15 most significantly up- or down-regulated DEGs.</p

Characteristics of the individual studies for integrated analysis.

<p>Characteristics of the individual studies for integrated analysis.</p