LDL-C/HDL-C Ratio Predicts Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression Better Than HDL-C or LDL-C Alone

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are strong predictors of atherosclerosis. Statin-induced changes in the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C (LDL-C/HDL-C) predicted atherosclerosis progression better than LDL-C or HDL-C alone. However, the best predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate this issue by measuring changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). A total of 1,920 subjects received health examinations in 1999, and were followed up in 2007. Changes in IMT (follow-up IMT/baseline IMT × 100) were measured by ultrasonography. Our results showed that changes in IMT after eight years were significantly related to HDL-C (inversely, P < 0.05) and to LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.05). When the LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were divided into quartiles, analysis of covariance showed that increases in the ratio were related to IMT progression (P < 0.05). This prospective study demonstrated the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is a better predictor of IMT progression than HDL-C or LDL-C alone

卵巣癌の新規予後因子の同定、機能解析、そして臨床応用に関する研究

2020(令和2)年

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase overexpression enhances aggressive phenotypic characteristics of endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Background Although anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is overexpressed in several primary solid tumor types, its role in endometrial carcinoma (Em Ca) remains unclear. Methods We evaluated expression of ALK and its related molecules in clinical samples consisting of 168 Em Ca tissues. We also used Em Ca cell lines to evaluate the functional role of ALK. Results Cytoplasmic ALK immunoreactivity in the absence of chromosomal rearrangement was positively correlated with ALK mRNA expression, and was significantly higher in Grade (G) 3 Em Ca than in G1 or G2 tumors. ALK immunoreactivity was also significantly associated with expression of cancer stem cell (CSC)-related molecules (cytoplasmic CD133, ALDH1, Sox2) and neuroendocrine markers (CD56 and synaptophysin). Although the proliferative index was significantly higher in ALK-positive Em Ca when compared to ALK- negative malignancies, there was no association between ALK expression and other clinicopathological factors in this disease. In Em Ca cell lines, full-length ALK overexpression increased proliferation, decreased susceptibility to apoptosis, enhanced cancer stem cell features, and accelerated cell mobility, whereas these phenotypes were abrogated in ALK-knockdown cells. Finally, patients with tumors harboring either wild-type ALK or high ALK mRNA expression had a poorer prognosis than those with either mutant ALK or low ALK mRNA expression. Conclusion Full-length ALK overexpression occurs in a subset of Em Ca, particularly in G3 tumors, and contributes to the establishment and maintenance of aggressive phenotypic characteristics through modulation of several biological processes

Nucleobindin 2 inhibits senescence in gastric carcinoma

Abstract Here, we focused on the role of Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), a multifunctional protein, in gastric carcinoma (GC) progression. NUCB2 expression was investigated in 150 GC cases (20 non-invasive (pT1) and 130 invasive (pT2/pT3/pT4) tumors) by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and in situ hybridization for detection of the mRNA in 21 cases. Using GC cell lines, we determined whether NUCB2 expression was associated with specific cellular phenotypes. In GC clinical samples, NUCB2 was transcriptionally upregulated when compared to normal tissues. High NUCB2 expression was associated with clinicopathological factors including deep tumor invasion, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and advanced clinical stages, and was a significant independent predictor of unfavorable progression-free survival in 150 non-invasive and invasive GC patients. Similar findings were also evident in 72 invasive GC cases in which patients received post-operative chemotherapy, but not in 58 invasive tumors from patients who did not receive the chemotherapy. In cell lines, NUCB2 knockout inhibited proliferation, susceptibility to apoptosis, and migration capability by inducting cellular senescence; this was consistent with higher proliferation and apoptotic indices in the NUCB2 IHC-high compared to NUCB2 IHC-low GC cases. NUCB2-dependent inhibition of senescence in GC engenders aggressive tumor behavior by modulating proliferation, apoptosis, and migration

Interaction between membranous EBP50 and myosin 9 as a favorable prognostic factor in ovarian clear cell carcinoma

Ezrin‐radixin‐moesin‐binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) is a scaffold protein that is required for epithelial polarity. Knockout (KO) of membranous EBP50 (Me‐EBP50) in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) cells induced an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like phenotype, along with decreased proliferation, accelerated migration capability, and induction of cancer stem cell (CSC)‐like properties. Shotgun proteomics analysis of proteins that co‐immunoprecipitated with EBP50 revealed that Me‐EBP50 strongly interacts with myosin 9 (MYH9). Specific inhibition of MYH9 with blebbistatin phenocopied Me‐EBP50 KO, and blebbistatin treatment potentiated the effects of Me‐EBP50 KO. In OCCC cells from clinical samples, Me‐EBP50 and MYH9 were co‐localized at the apical plasma membrane. Patients with a combination of Me‐EBP50‐high and MYH9‐high scores had the best prognosis for overall and progression‐free survival. Our data suggest that Me‐EBP50 has tumor‐suppressive effects through the establishment and maintenance of epithelial polarization. By contrast, loss of Me‐EBP50 expression induces EMT‐like phenotypes, probably due to MYH9 dysfunction; this results in increased cell mobility and enhanced CSC‐like properties, which in turn promote OCCC progression

Additional file 7: Figure S5. of A functional role of LEFTY during progesterone therapy for endometrial carcinoma

Cell cycle analysis and reporter assay for several cell cycle-related genes. (TIFF 786 kb

Additional file 6: Figure S4. of A functional role of LEFTY during progesterone therapy for endometrial carcinoma

mRNA expression of ovarian hormone receptors in endometrial carcinoma cell lines. (TIFF 1467 kb

Additional file 5: Table S2. of A functional role of LEFTY during progesterone therapy for endometrial carcinoma

Relationship between LEFTY and pSmad2 expression as detected by western blot assay in endometrial carcinomas. (XLSX 9 kb

Additional file 9: Figure S7. of A functional role of LEFTY during progesterone therapy for endometrial carcinoma

Association between TGF-β and Akt/GSK-3β pathways in endometrial carcinoma cells. (TIFF 1083 kb