Tianjin Medical University

About: Tianjin Medical University is a education organization based out in Tianjin, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Metastasis. The organization has 19345 authors who have published 13942 publications receiving 241709 citations. The organization is also known as: Tiānjīn Yīkē Dàxué.

Analysis of miR-205 and miR-155 expression in the blood of breast cancer patients.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify and validate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma for use as breast cancer (BC) biomarkers and to analyze their relationship to clinicopathologic features and its preliminary biological function. Genome-wide expression profiling of miRNAs in BC was investigated by microarray analysis. miR-155 was up-regulated greater than two-fold in BC compared with Normal Adjacent Tissue (NAT), whereas let-7b, miR-381, miR-10b, miR-125a-5p, miR-335, miR-205 and miR-145 were down- regulated greater than two-fold. Our hypothesis was that circulating miRNAs are also present and differentially expressed in the serum of BC patients compared to controls. Using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), we analyzed miR-205 and miR-155 in archived serum from 30 participants, 20 with breast cancer and 10 healthy people. miR-205 was down-regulated in BC patient serum while miR-155 was up-regulated. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between the expression levels of these two miRNAs and the clinicopathologic parameters of BC patients. High expression of miR155 was associated with clinical stage, molecular type, Ki-67 and p53 in BC patients (P<0.05). By contrast, we found no significant correlation between miR-205 and BC patient clinicopathologic parameters. Functional analysis showed that ectopic expression of miR-205 significantly inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis. miR-205 was down-regulated and miR-155 was up-regulated in BC patient serum. miR-155 was positive correlated with clinical stage and ki-67 and negatively correlated with p53 status.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Mediated by a Small-Molecule Nanoinhibitor Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway Synergizes with Photodynamic Therapy to Elicit Antitumor Immunity and Antimetastatic Effects on Breast Cancer

Abstract: Targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunologic checkpoint blockade with monoclonal antibodies has achieved recent clinical success in antitumor therapy. However, therapeutic antibodies exhibit several issues such as limited tumor penetration, immunogenicity, and costly production. Here, Bristol-Myers Squibb nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared using a reprecipitation method. The NPs have advantages including passive targeting, hydrophilic and nontoxic features, and a 100% drug loading rate. BMS-202 is a small-molecule inhibitor of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction that is developed by BMS. Transfer of BMS-202 NPs to 4T1 tumor-bearing mice results in markedly slower tumor growth to the same degree as treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (α-PD-L1). Consistently, the combination of Ce6 NPs with BMS-202 NPs or α-PD-L1 in parallel shows more efficacious antitumor and antimetastatic effects, accompanied by enhanced dendritic cell maturation and infiltration of antigen-specific T cells into the tumors. Thus, inhibition rates of primary and distant tumors reach >90%. In addition, BMS-202 NPs are able to attack spreading metastatic lung tumors and offer immune-memory protection to prevent tumor relapse. These results indicate that BMS-202 NPs possess effects similar to α-PD-L1 in the therapies of 4T1 tumors. Therefore, this work reveals the possibility of replacing the antibody used in immunotherapy for tumors with BMS-202 NPs.

Elevated serum chemerin levels are associated with the presence of coronary artery disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: Objective Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at a high risk for developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of chemerin have been found elevated in subjects with MetS and are associated with several cardiovascular factors. This study was undertaken to determine whether serum chemerin levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with MetS. Methods A total of 112 patients with MetS (66 patients with CAD and 46 without CAD) and 52 healthy subjects who underwent coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of chemerin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Serum chemerin levels were significantly elevated in MetS patients with CAD compared to in those without CAD and healthy subjects. MetS patients without CAD also had higher serum chemerin levels compared with healthy subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum chemerin levels were significantly associated with the presence of CAD in patients with MetS. Simple linear regression analysis showed that the serum levels of chemerin were positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with MetS. Only BMI and CRP remained significantly associated with serum chemerin after multiple stepwise regression analysis. Conclusion Elevated serum chemerin levels could be considered as an independent predictive marker of the presence of CAD in patients with MetS.