ObjectiveTo summarizes the mechanisms of carcinogenesis of colorectal cells, the occurrence and development of cancer cells, and their interactions with the tumor niche of colorectal cancer (CRC) from the perspective of the tumor niche, exploring new ideas for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CRC. MethodThe relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years on the researches of mechanism of the occurrence and development of CRC and its relation with the tumor niche of CRC was searched and reviewed. ResultsThe theory of tumor ecology indicates that the human normal body can be regarded as a relatively closed and perfect ecosystem. Each normal tissue and organ within the body represent a niche in this ecosystem, which interact, affect, and symbiotically coexist with each other, forming a dynamic ecological balance. Tumor cells, being a “new species” distinct from normal tissue cells, “invade” the ecological system of the normal body under specific conditions and interact with the surrounding microenvironment, which is defined as the tumor niche. Analysis of current literature retrieved from the perspective of the tumor niche suggested that, although genetic factors are involved in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cells, the majority of such carcinogenesis stems from the continuous stimulation of the colorectal niche. Current research primarily focuses on the conclusion that the carcinogenesis of colorectal cells is associated with factors such as chronic inflammatory response, intestinal microorganisms, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis. After carcinogenesis and the eventual formation of CRC, the growth of cancer cells and tissues first requires breaching the defense of the immune system in the colorectal niche. Immune cells in the immune system play a crucial role in the tumor niche during the occurrence and development of CRC. ConclusionsThe proposal of the tumor niche concept enables researchers, when studying the mechanisms of tumor occurrence and development, to no longer merely focus on the tumor and its microenvironment. Instead, the tumor as a part of the body’s ecosystem was studied. Components of the tumor niche, such as chronic inflammatory responses, intestinal microorganisms, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and immune system, have a significant impact on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis of most colorectal cells, as well as the occurrence and development of cancer cells. These factors influence the progression of CRC in various aspects.
Objective To investigate relationship between hypoxia microenvironment and occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Method The relevant literatures on researches of the relationship between the hypoxic microenvironment and the HCC were review and analyzed. Results The hypoxia microenvironment played an important role in inducing the drug resistance and angiogenesis of the HCC cells, and it was an important factor of affecting the ability of tumor metabolism, invasion, and migration. The hypoxia microenvironment could up-regulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and promote its transcriptional activity, promote the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene, and regulate the neovascularization in the tumor. Among them, the HIF-1α played a major role in regulating the angiogenesis, immune escape, tumor invasion and metastasis-related gene expression, participating in the glycolysis, regulating lysyl oxidase 2 and thus regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition, then promoted the invasion and metastasis of the HCC; HIF-2α was a key regulator of the malignant phenotype involving in the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metabolism, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. The hypoxia microenvironment posed some difficulties for the treatment of HCC, but it was also a potential therapeutic breakthrough. Conclusion Hypoxia microenvironment can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC through various mechanisms, which provides new targets and strategies for clinical treatment of HCC.
Objective To study the influence of different mechanical environments on repair cartilage defect with marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells. Methods The rabbit marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured. The cartilage defects were repaired by autologous tissue engineered cartilage with the marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells. Fifteen rabbits with cartilage defect were divided into 3 groups: dislocation group with cell-free scaffold(controlgroup), dislocation group with cartilaginous construct and normal mechanical environment group with cartilaginous construct. The repaired tissue was harvested and examined 6 weeks postoperatively. Results The repair tissue in normal mechanical environment group with cartilaginous construct showed cartilage-like tissue in superficial layer and subchondral bone tissue in deep layer 6 weeks postoperatively. The defect was filled with bone tissue in dislocation group with cartilaginous construct 6 weeks postoperatively. The surrounding normal cartilage tissue showed vascular invasion from subchondral area and the concomitant thinningof the normal cartilage layer. The cartilaginous construct left in the femoral trochlea groove formed hyaline cartilage-like tissue. The defect was repaired byfibrous tissue in control group. Conclusion The repaired tissue by tissue engineered cartilage with marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells showed the best result in normal mechanical environment group, which indicates that it will be essential for the formation and maintenance of tissue engineered cartilage to keep the normal mechanical stress stimulus.
Glioma is one of the most common primary tumors in the human brain with poor prognosis. The local and systemic immunosuppressive environment created by glioma cells enables them to evade immunosurveillance. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a critical component of the immunosuppression system. They are a heterogeneous cell population composed of early myeloid progenitor cells and precursor cells. Although the cells are diverse in phenotypes and functions, they all have strong immunosuppressive functions. MDSCs are extensively infiltrated into tumor tissues and play an important role in the glioma immunosuppressive microenvironment, which also hinders the immunotherapeutic effects of glioma. This article will review the phenotypic characteristics of MDSCs in the glioma microenvironment and their role in the progression of glioma. It is of positive significance to better understand the pathogenesis of glioma and explore effective comprehensive treatments.
ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship between integrins, tumor metabolism, and tumor cells with pancreatic stellate cells in the tumor microenvironment, in order to provide targets and ideas for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.MethodTo review the literatures on pancreatic stellate cells, integrins, and amino acid metabolism as therapeutic targets for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the domestic and overseas.ResultsThe drug research for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was currently under vigorous development, but remain in the animal and clinical test stage. As a new therapeutic protein, ProAgio could inhibit the expression of integrin αvβ3, activation and secretion of pancreatic stellate cells, and alanine metabolism in the microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, so as to achieve the dual effects of anti-fibrosis and anti-tumor.ConclusionsThe roles of activated pancreatic stellate cells, ProAgio, integrin αvβ3, and alanine metabolism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have been partially elucidated, but the specific mechanism still needs further investigation and may become a completely new therapeutic target someday.
Unhealthy diet, habits and drug abuse cause a variety of liver diseases, including steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which seriously affect human health. The fabrication of highly simulated cell models in vitro is important in the treatment of liver diseases and drug development. This article summarized the common strategies for the construction of liver pathology models in vitro. It introduced four typical cell models in vitro related to liver disease and provided a reference for the study of liver disease models.
ObjectiveTo understand the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and its research progress in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of breast cancer, in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and treatment of breast cancer. MethodThe development of scRNA-seq technology and its related research literature in breast cancer TME at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed. ResultsThe scRNA-seq was a quantum technology in high-throughput sequencing of mRNA at the cellular level, and had become a powerful tool for studying cellular heterogeneity when tissue samples were fewer. While capturing rare cell types, it was expected to accurately describe the complex structure of the TME of breast cancer. ConclusionsAfter decades of development, scRNA-seq has been widely used in tumor research. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with high heterogeneity. The application of scRNA-seq in breast cancer research can better understand its tumor heterogeneity and TME, and then promote development of personalized diagnosis and treatment.
ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between the molecular biological information of SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer (SMARCA4-dNSCLC) and its clinical prognosis, and to explore the spatial features and molecular mechanisms of interactions between cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of SMARCA4-dNSCLC. MethodsUsing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), this study conducted functional enrichment analysis on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SMARCA4-dNSCLC and depicted its genomic variation landscape. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and a combination of 10 different machine learning algorithms, patients in the training group were divided into a low-risk group and a high-risk group based on a median risk score (RiskScore). A corresponding prognostic prediction model was established, and on this basis, a nomogram was constructed to predict the 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates of patients. K-M survival curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and time-dependent ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive ability of the model. External datasets from GEO further validated the prognostic value of the prediction model. In addition, we also evaluated the immunological characteristics of the TME of the prognostic model. Finally, using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptome (ST), we explored the spatial features of interactions between cells in the TME of SMARCA4-dNSCLC, intercellular communication, and molecular mechanisms. ResultsA total of 56 patients were included in the training group, including 38 males and 18 females, with a median age of 62 (56-70) years. There were 28 patients in both the low-risk and high-risk groups. A total of 474 patients were included in the training group, including 265 males and 209 females, with a median age of 65 (58-70) years. A risk score model composed of 8 prognostic feature genes (ELANE, FSIP2, GFI1B, GPR37, KRT81, RHOV, RP1, SPIC) was established. Compared with patients in the low-risk group, those in the high-risk group showed a more unfavorable prognostic outcome. Immunological feature analysis revealed differences in the infiltration of various immune cells between the low-risk and high-risk groups. ScRNA-seq and ST analyses found that interactions between cells were mainly through macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling pathways (MIF-CD74+CXCR4 and MIF-CD74+CD44) via ligand-receptor pairs, while also describing the niche interactions of the MIF signaling pathway in tissue regions. ConclusionThe 8-gene prognostic model constructed in this study has certain predictive accuracy in predicting the survival of SMARCA4-dNSCLC. Combining the ScRNA-seq and ST analyses, cell-to-cell crosstalk and spatial niche interaction may occur between cells in the TME via the MIF signaling pathway (MIF-CD74+CXCR4 and MIF-CD74+CD44).
ObjectiveTo explore the status of clinical learning environment in undergraduate nursing students in the late clinical practice stage in Sichuan Province. MethodThe sampling was performed in a layered-randomized and geometric proportional way. A total of 1 027 nursing students from 6 nursing schools in Sichuan Province between May and July 2012 were included. Data were collected by the self-rating questionnaires, including demographic sheet, and the nursing clinical learning environment scale. ResultsThe general score of evaluation for clinical learning environment by the nursing undergraduates was 144.99±26.60, and the average score of the items was 3.45±0.63. The average scores were 3.41±0.74, 3.59±0.64, 3.43±0.69, 3.45±0.73, 3.35±0.77, and 3.49±0.69, representing the personality, task orientation, working atmosphere and team spirit, innovation, interpersonal relation, and student participation, respectively. ConclusionsThe assessments about clinical learning environment of nursing undergraduates in Sichuan province are medium grade and the evaluation dimensions of personality and interpersonal relationships low. It is necessary to improve clinical learning environment in the future.