Radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy could improve the immune infiltration of melanoma in mice and enhance the abscopal effect

Yufeng Zheng(Yufeng Zheng),Xue Liu(Xue Liu),Na Li(Na Li),Aimei Zhao(Aimei Zhao),Zhiqiang Sun(Zhiqiang Sun),Meihua Wang(Meihua Wang),Judong Luo(Judong Luo) 대한방사선종양학회 2023 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.41 No.2

Purpose: To analyze the gene mutation, immune infiltration and tumor growth of primary tumor and distant tumor under different treatment modes. Materials and Methods: Twenty B16 murine melanoma cells were injected subcutaneously into the of both sides of the thigh, simulating a primary tumor and a secondary tumor impacted by the abscopal effect, respectively. They were divided into blank control group, immunotherapy group, radiotherapy group, and radiotherapy combined immunotherapy group. During this period, tumor volume was measured, and RNA sequencing was performed on tumor samples after the test. R software was used to analyze differentially expressed genes, functional enrichment, and immune infiltration. Results: We found that any treatment mode could cause changes in differentially expressed genes, especially the combination treatment. The different therapeutic effects might be caused by gene expression. In addition, the proportions of infiltrating immune cells in the irradiated and abscopal tumors were different. In the combination treatment group, T-cell infiltration in the irradiated site was the most obvious. In the immunotherapy group, CD8+ T-cell infiltration in the abscopal tumor site was obvious, but immunotherapy alone might have a poor prognosis. Whether the irradiated or abscopal tumor was evaluated, radiotherapy combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy produced the most obvious tumor control and might have a positive impact on prognosis. Conclusion: Combination therapy not only improves the immune microenvironment but may also have a positive impact on prognosis.

Norepinephrine/β2-Adrenergic Receptor Pathway Promotes the Cell Proliferation and Nerve Growth Factor Production in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Meihua Jin,Yan Wang,Tingting Zhou,Wenzhe Li,Qingping Wen 한국유방암학회 2023 Journal of breast cancer Vol.26 No.3

Purpose: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) accounts for 90% of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). IDC is mainly derived from the breast ductal epithelium which is innervated by the 4th to 6th thoracic sympathetic nerves. However, little is known about the contribution of the interactions between sympathetic nerves and breast cancer cells to the malignant progression of TNBC. Methods: The expression levels of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR, encoded by ADRB2 gene), nerve growth factor (NGF), and tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). NGF expression levels in the serum were compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The β2-AR, NGF, p-ERK, and p-CERB expression levels were determined using western blotting. TNBC cells and neuronal cells of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in 2-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were co-cultured. Using norepinephrine (NE), NGF, and β2-AR, NGF/TrkA blocker pretreatments, the axon growth of each group of DRG neuron cells was detected by immunofluorescence analysis. Results: The sympathetic adrenergic neurotransmitter NE activated the ERK signaling pathway in TNBC cells. NE/β2-AR signaling promotes NGF secretion. NGF further facilitates the malignant progression of TNBC by increasing sympathetic neurogenesis. In the co-culture assay, the sympathetic adrenergic NE/β2-AR signal pathway also enhanced NGF secretion. NGF binds TrkA in DRG neurons and promotes axonal growth. Conclusion: These results suggest that NE/β2-AR pathway promotes cell proliferation and NGF production in triple-negative breast cancer.

Health Information Literacy in Crisis: A Novel Perspective on College Students Response to Health Emergencies

Aoqi Wang,Haoming Ma,Meihua Piao 한국간호과학회 2023 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2023 No.11

The biocompatibility and mechanical properties of plasma sprayed zirconia coated abutment

Huang, Zhengfei,Wang, Zhifeng,Yin, Kaifeng,Li, Chuanhua,Guo, Meihua,Lan, Jing The Korean Academy of Prosthodonitics 2020 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.12 No.3

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance and reliability of plasma sprayed nanostructured zirconia (NSZ) coating. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This study consisted of three areas of analysis: (1) Mechanical property: surface roughness of NSZ coating and bond strength between NSZ coating and titanium specimens were measured, and the microstructure of bonding interface was also observed by scanning election microscope (SEM). (2) Biocompatibility: hemolysis tests, cell proliferation tests, and rat subcutaneous implant test were conducted to evaluate the biocompatibility of NSZ coating. (3) Mechanical compatibility: fracture and artificial aging tests were performed to measure the mechanical compatibility of NSZ-coated titanium abutments. RESULTS. In the mechanical study, 400 ㎛ thick NSZ coatings had the highest bond strength (71.22 ± 1.02 MPa), and a compact transition layer could be observed. In addition, NSZ coating showed excellent biocompatibility in both hemolysis tests and cell proliferation tests. In subcutaneous implant test, NSZ-coated plates showed similar inflammation elimination and fibrous tissue formation processes with that of titanium specimens. Regarding fatigue tests, all NSZ-coated abutments survived in the five-year fatigue test and showed sufficient fracture strength (407.65-663.7 N) for incisor teeth. CONCLUSION. In this study, the plasmasprayed NSZ-coated titanium abutments presented sufficient fracture strength and biocompatibility, and it was demonstrated that plasma spray was a reliable method to prepare high-quality zirconia coating.

Genetic Diversity of Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the South and East Regions of Kazakhstan and Northwestern China

Yicheng Yang,Jin Tong,Hongyin Ruan,Meihua Yang,Chunli Sang,Gang Liu,Wurelihazi Hazihan,Bin Xu,Sandor Hornok,Kadyken Rizabek,Kulmanova Gulzhan,Zhiqiang Liu,Yuanzhi Wang 대한기생충학열대의학회 2021 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.59 No.1

To date, there is no report on the genetic diversity of ticks in these regions. A total of 370 representative ticks from the south and east regions of Kazakhstan (SERK) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were selected for molecular comparison. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene, ranging from 631 bp to 889 bp, was used to analyze genetic diversity among these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated 7 tick species including Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Haemaphysalis erinacei from the SERK clustered together with conspecific ticks from the XUAR. The network diagram of haplotypes showed that i) Hy. asiaticum from Almaty and Kyzylorda Oblasts together with that from Yuli County of XUAR constituted haplogroup H-2, and the lineage from Chimkent City of South Kazakhstan was newly evolved; and ii) the R. turanicus ticks sampled in Israel, Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Usu City, Ulugqat and Baicheng Counties of XUAR were derivated from an old lineage in Alataw City of XUAR. These findings indicate that: i) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei shared genetic similarities between the SERK and XUAR; and ii) Hy. marginatum and D. reticulatus show differences in their evolution.

Molecular cloning of the Bombus terrestris bumblebee venom protein phospholipase A2 and its anti-leukemia effects on K562 cells

Yuling Qiu,Yali Chen,Haiyang Yu,Qianxiang Zhou,Ran Wang,Meihua Jin,Dexin Kong 한국응용곤충학회 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.20 No.2

Bee venom has been used for treating various diseases for a long time. However, the bioactive constituents of bee venom and its mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, phospholipase A2 (Bt-PLA2) cDNA was cloned, and a mature form of Bt-PLA2 was purified from bumblebee venom (Bombus terrestris). The differentiation induction and apoptosis induction activities of Bt-PLA2 on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cells were also evaluated. Bt-PLA2 cDNA has 540 nucleotides that encode a 180-amino-acid protein. The purified, mature form of Bt-PLA2 was an 18-kDa protein, and it inhibited K562 cell growth, determined by an IC50 value of 29.5 ng/μl. Moreover, Bt-PLA2 induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and this was supplemented with the upregulation of glycophorin A (GPA) mRNA expression. Bt-PLA2- induced apoptosis, analyzed by DAPI staining, was correlated with the result analyzed by AnnexinV-FITC/PI binding. Furthermore, activation of caspase 3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and inhibition of p-Akt, determined by western blot, further demonstrated that Bt-PLA2 induced apoptosis mainly through the Akt pathway. The parallel induction of erythroblasts differentiation of K562 cells and apoptosis due to Bt-PLA2 treatment demonstrated the potential use of Bt-PLA2 as an anti-leukemia drug lead.