Relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum, inflammatory mediators and microRNAs in colorectal carcinogenesis

AIM To examine the effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) on the microenvironment of colonic neoplasms and the expression of inflammatory mediators and microRNAs (miRNAs). METHODS Levels of F. nucleatum DNA, cytokine gene mRNA (TLR2, TLR4, NFKB1, TNF, IL1B, IL6 and IL8), and potentially interacting miRNAs (miR-21-3p, miR-22-3p, miR-28-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-135b-5p) were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) TaqMan® assays in DNA and/or RNA extracted from the disease and adjacent normal fresh tissues of 27 colorectal adenoma (CRA) and 43 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. KRAS mutations were detected by direct sequencing and microsatellite instability (MSI) status by multiplex PCR. Cytoscape v3.1.1 was used to construct the postulated miRNA:mRNA interaction network. RESULTS Overabundance of F. nucleatum in neoplastic tissue compared to matched normal tissue was detected in CRA (51.8%) and more markedly in CRC (72.1%). We observed significantly greater expression of TLR4, IL1B, IL8, and miR-135b in CRA lesions and TLR2, IL1B, IL6, IL8, miR-34a and miR-135b in CRC tumours compared to their respective normal tissues. Only two transcripts for miR-22 and miR-28 were exclusively downregulated in CRC tumour samples. The mRNA expression of IL1B, IL6, IL8 and miR-22 was positively correlated with F. nucleatum quantification in CRC tumours. The mRNA expression of miR-135b and TNF was inversely correlated. The miRNA:mRNA interaction network suggested that the upregulation of miR-34a in CRC proceeds via a TLR2/TLR4-dependent response to F. nucleatum. Finally, KRAS mutations were more frequently observed in CRC samples infected with F. nucleatum and were associated with greater expression of miR-21 in CRA, while IL8 was upregulated in MSI-high CRC. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that F. nucleatum is a risk factor for CRC by increasing the expression of inflammatory mediators through a possible miRNA-mediated activation of TLR2/TLR4We thank Lucas Trevizani Rasmussen for kindly donating some miRNA probes. We are grateful to the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, NO. 2015/21464-0) for the support for English revision, the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the doctoral scholarship, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, NO. 310120/2015-2) for the productivity research scholarship.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alteração da expressão da Anexina-A1 e Galectina-1 na progressão do câncer colorretal esporádico

Alterações nos níveis de expressão de moduladores da resposta inflamatória, como a Anexina-A1 (AnxA1/ANXA1) e a Galectina-1 (Gal-1/LGALS1) têm sido observadas em diversos tipos de câncer. O câncer colorretal, um dos modelos da associação inflamação-câncer progride, na sequência, do epitélio normal para adenoma (AD) e adenocarcinoma (ADC). Objetivos: Avaliar a expressão gênica e proteica da AnxA1 e Gal-1 e o índice de proliferação celular (IP) em amostras de AD, ADC esporádico e das mucosas normais adjacentes, assim como investigar a ocorrência de correlação entre os níveis de expressão de ambos os mRNA e de associação com fatores de risco (idade, gênero, tabagismo e etilismo) e sítio anatômico de origem da lesão. Materiais e Métodos: As análises foram realizadas pelas técnicas de PCR quantitativa em tempo real (qPCR), para quantificar os níveis de mRNA de ANXA1 e LGALS1 em 70 biópsias de lesão (27AD e 43ADC) e 58 de mucosa normal adjacente (19 e 39 respectivamente), e de imuno-histoquímica, para caracterizar a expressão proteica da AnxA1 e Gal-1 em 25 biópsias de lesão (10AD e 15ADC) e 16 de mucosa normal adjacente (6 e 10 respectivamente), como também investigar o IP pela detecção do antígeno Ki-67 em 44 biópsias de lesão (19AD e 25ADC) e 16 de mucosa normal adjacente (8 em ambas). Resultados: A expressão relativa de ANXA1 apresentou-se elevada em comparação à mucosa normal tanto no AD (RQ=1,11; P=0,040), como no ADC (RQ=2,33; P<0,001). Contudo, LGALS1 apresentou expressão relativa aumentada apenas no ADC em comparação à mucosa normal (RQ=1,85; P<0,001), enquanto no grupo AD foi observada expressão basal (RQ=0,90; P=0,319). A comparação entre as lesões mostrou que ambos os genes apresentam-se significantemente mais expressos no ADC em comparação...Changes in expression levels of inflammatory response modulators, such as Annexin-A1 (AnxA1/ANXA1) and Galectin-1 (Gal-1/LGALS1) have been observed in several types of cancer. Colorectal cancer, one of the models of inflammation-cancer association, progresses, in sequence, from normal epithelium to adenoma (AD) and adenocarcinoma (ADC). Objectives: To evaluate the gene and protein expression of AnxA1 and Gal-1 and the cell proliferation index (IP) in samples of AD, sporadic ADC and adjacent normal mucosa, as well as to investigate the occurrence of correlation between the mRNA expression levels and association with risk factors (age, gender, smoking and drinking habits) and anatomic site of lesion origin. Materials and Methods: The analyzes were performed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technique to quantify the levels of ANXA1 and LGALS1 mRNA in 70 biopsies of lesions (27AD and 43ADC) and 58 adjacent normal mucosa (19 and 39 respectively), and immunohistochemistry technique to characterize the protein expression of AnxA1 and Gal-1 in 25 biopsies of lesions (10AD and 15ADC) and 16 adjacent normal mucosa (6 and 10 respectively), and also to investigate the IP by detection of Ki-67 antigen in 44 biopsies of lesions (19AD and 25ADC) and 16 adjacent normal mucosa (8 in both). Results: The relative expression of ANXA1 showed higher compared to adjacent normal mucosa in both AD (RQ=1.11; P=0.040) and ADC (RQ=2.33; P<0.001). However, LGALS1 mRNA showed overexpression only in ADC compared to normal mucosa (RQ=1.85; P<0.001), while in AD group it was observed basal expression (RQ=0.90; P=0.319). The comparison between lesions showed that both genes were significantly more expressed in ADC compared to AD (ANXA1: P=0.039; LGALS1: P=0.019). In both lesion groups it was observed positive correlation between the mRNA expression of these genes... (Complete abstract click electronic access below

Alterations of the TP53 Gene in Gastric and Esophageal Carcinogenesis

TP53 genes is one of more important tumor suppressor gene, which acts as a potent transcription factor with fundamental role in the maintenance of genetic stability. The development of esophageal and gastric cancers is a multistep process resulting in successive accumulation of genetic alterations that culminates in the malignant transformation. Thus, this study highlights the participation of the main genetic alterations of the TP53 gene in esophageal and gastric carcinogenesis. Among these changes, high frequency of TP53 mutations, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), overexpression of the p53 protein, and consequently loss of p53 function, which would be early events in esophageal and gastric cancers, as well as an important biomarker of the prognosis and treatment response. Furthermore, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of TP53 have been implicated in the development and prognosis of several cancers, mainly TP53 codon 72 polymorphism whose role has been extensively studied in relation to susceptibility for esophageal and gastric cancer development.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Spermatogenesis in Triatoma williami Galvao, Souza and Lima (1965) (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Cytogenetics has proven to be an important tool in the study of triatomine taxonomy. Triatoma williami is a triatomine that has been classified within the Matogrossensis subcomplex. In this study, the cytogenetic technique of lacto-aceto-orcein was used to confirm the karyotype of this species, which was found to be 2n = 22 (20A + XY). In this study, metaphases I and II were analyzed and the heteropyknotic pattern during the spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis was described, with results that corroborated the classification of T. williami in the Matogrossensis subcomplex.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Systemic effects of nonylphenol on tadpoles of Lithobates catesbeianus: gonadal, genotoxic and color alterations

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are one of the most important factors contributing to worldwide amphibian decline since they alter hormonal regulation, affecting reproduction and development of organisms. One of the most used estrogenic compounds is the 4-nonylphenol (NP), which is a degradation product of lubricants, antioxidants, detergents, paints, and pesticides such as insecticides and herbicides. Here, we conducted an experiment to test the effects of NP on oogenesis, blood cell abnormalities, and body darkness of pre-metamorphic tadpoles of Lithobates catesbeianus. Tadpoles were exposed for 14 days to three concentrations of NP (1 µg/L, 10 µg/L, and 100 µg/L). Even though most animals were females, with ovarian-like cavity, oocytes or oogonia, intersex tadpoles were observed in control and treated groups. We found atretic oocytes in treated groups, characterized by nuclear picnosis, cytoplasmic retraction, and vacuolization. We found that NP increased body darkness and that it had genotoxic effects, increasing the number of nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes. These results suggest that oogenesis can be disrupted or altered by exposure to NP, and that pigmentation can be used as a biomarker of exposure to this compound.<br

Head and neck carconogenesis: impact of MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphism

OBJETIVO: Investigar o polimorfismo MTHFD1 G1958A envolvido no metabolismo do folato no risco para o câncer de cabeça e pescoço e verificar a associação entre esse polimorfismo com fatores de risco e características clínico-histopatológicas. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo que avaliou o polimorfismo MTHFD1 G1958A em 694 indivíduos (240 pacientes e 454 controles), por meio da técnica de análise de polimorfismo de comprimento de fragmento de restrição. Para análise estatística foram utilizados os testes de regressão logística múltipla e qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Tabagismo e idade superior a 42 anos foram preditores da doença (p < 0,05). Os genótipos MTHFD1 1958GA ou AA foram associados ao tabagismo (p = 0,04) e etilismo (p = 0,03) e estão presentes em maior proporção em tumores com estádios mais avançados (p = 0,04) e em pacientes com menor sobrevida (p = 0,03). CONCLUSÃO: A presença do polimorfismo MTHFD1 G1958A associada aos hábitos tabagista e etilista aumenta o risco para desenvolvimento de câncer de cabeça e pescoço.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphism involved in the folate metabolism as a risk for head and neck cancer, and to find the association of the polymorphism with the risk factors and clinical and histopathological characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective study investigating MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphism in 694 subjects (240 patients in the Case Group and 454 in the Control Group) by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Analysis. Multiple logistic regression and chi-square tests were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis showed that smoking and age over 42 years were disease predictors (p < 0.05). MTHFD1 1958GA or AA genotypes were associated with smoking (p = 0.04) and alcoholism (p = 0.03) and were more often found in more advanced stage tumors (p = 0.04) and in patients with a shorter survival (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The presence of MTHFD1 G1948A polymorphism associated with smoking and alcoholism raises the head and neck cancer risk