Feifei Feng

The Effect of Artificial Neural Network Model Combined with Six Tumor Markers in Auxiliary Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

To evaluate the diagnosis potential of artificial neural network (ANN) model combined with six tumor markers in auxiliary diagnosis of lung cancer, to differentiate lung cancer from lung benign disease, normal control, and gastrointestinal cancers. Serum carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), gastrin, neurone specific enolase (NSE), sialic acid (SA), Cu/Zn, Ca were measured through different experimental procedures in 117 lung cancer patients, 93 lung benign disease patients, 111 normal control, 47 gastric cancer patients, 50 patients with colon cancer and 50 esophagus cancer patients, 19 parameters of basic information were surveyed among lung cancer, lung benign disease and normal control, then developed and evaluated ANN models to distinguish lung cancer. Using the ANN model with the six serum tumor markers and 19 parameters to distinguish lung cancer from benign lung disease and healthy people, the sensitivity was 98.3%, the specificity was 99.5% and the accuracy was 96.9%. Another three ANN models with the six serum tumor markers were employed to differentiate lung cancer from three gastrointestinal cancers, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of distinguishing lung cancer from gastric cancer by the ANN model of lung cancer-gastric cancer were 100%, 83.3% and 93.5%, respectively; The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of discriminating lung cancer by lung cancer-colon cancer ANN model were 90.0%, 90.0%, and 90.0%; And which were 86.7%, 84.6%, and 86.0%, respectively, by lung cancer-esophagus cancer ANN model. ANN model built with the six serum tumor markers could distinguish lung cancer, not only from lung benign disease and normal people, but also from three common gastrointestinal cancers. And our evidence indicates the ANN model maybe is an excellent and intelligent system to discriminate lung cancer.

Analysis of coal tar pitch and smoke extract components and their cytotoxicity on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Coal tar pitch and its smoke are considered hazardous by-products and common pollutant generated from coal industry processing. In this study, coal tar pitch and its smoke extracts were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with dimethylsulfoxide. We identified only 0.3025% of components in the total coal tar pitch using GC/MS. Among 18 identified compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has the highest relative abundance (0.19%). The remaining components were composed of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds and alkenes. In contrast, among 38 coal tar pitch smoke extract constituents that have been profiled, 87.91% were PAHs, and the remaining 12.09% were composed of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds and alkenes. The cytotoxic effect of coal tar pitch and its smoke extracts on BEAS-2B cells were also evaluated by MTT assay. BEAS-2B cells exposed to coal tar pitch showed a non dose-dependent U-shaped cytotoxicity with a dosage for maximal inhibitory of 3.75 mg/L. In contrast, BEAS-2B cells exposed to coal tar pitch smoke extracts showed a dose dependent cytotoxicity with a LC(50) of 8.64 mg/L. Our study demonstrated the significant different composition and cytotoxicity of coal tar pitch and its extracts, suggesting two different underlying mechanisms that are pending future investigation.

Quantitative assessment of lung cancer associated with genes methylation in the peripheral blood.

ABSTRACT Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide due mainly to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Aberrant promoter methylation is an important mechanism for silencing of tumor suppressor genes during carcinogenesis and a promising tool for the development of molecular biomarkers. Methods: We evaluated the p16, RASSF1A, and FHIT genes promoter methylation status in peripheral blood DNA between 200 lung cancer patients and 200 normal controls by using SYBR green-based quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). Results: There were statistically significant differences in the methylation status of p16, RASSF1A, and FHIT between the cancer cases and controls (p16: P = .008, RASSF1A: P = .038, FHIT: P = .002). When the subjects were categorized into quartiles based on the genes methylation status, the risk of lung cancer was found to increase as methylation status increased (p16: Ptrend = .002, RASSF1A: Ptrend = .014, FHIT: Ptrend = .001). When the median of methylation status was used as the cutoff between high and low methylation status, individuals with high methylation status were at a significantly higher risk of lung cancer than those with low methylation status (p16: adjusted odds ratio = 1.597, P = .028; RASSF1A: adjusted odds ratio = 1.551, P = .039; FHIT: adjusted odds ratio = 1.763, P = .008). In addition, there were no significant correlations between p16, RASSF1A, or FHIT methylation status and gender (P > .05), age (P > .05), smoking history (P > .05), histological type (P > .05), or clinical stage (P > .05). Conclusions: These results suggest that the high methylation statuses of p16, RASSF1A, or FHIT genes were associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer; the risk of lung cancer increased as the methylation status increased. Further investigation of their definitive usefulness in clinical practice is warranted.

Involvement of EGF receptor signaling and NLRP12 inflammasome in fine particulate matter‐induced lung inflammation in mice

Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with respiratory diseases. Lung inflammation is a central feature of many pulmonary diseases, which can be induced by PM2.5 exposure. However, the mechanisms underlying PM2.5‐induced lung inflammation remain unclear. To characterize the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inflammasome in PM2.5‐induced lung inflammation in mice, 30 BALB/c mice were intrabroncheally instilled with saline and PM2.5 suspension (4.0 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 consecutive days, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was conducted and BAL fluid (BALF) was collected. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), epidermal growth factor (EGF), CXCL1, interleukin (IL)−1β, and IL‐18 in BALF were determined using ELISA. mRNA levels of IL‐6, IL‐1β, IL‐18, CXCL1, IL‐10, NLRP3, Caspase‐1, and NLRP12 in lung tissues were determined by RT‐PCR. Phospho‐EGFR (Tyr1068) and phospho‐Akt (Thr308) in lung tissues were examined using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting, respectively. Protein levels of Caspase‐1, NLRP3, NF‐κB‐p52/p100, and NF‐κB‐p65 in bronchial epithelium were examined using immunohistochemical staining. It was shown that PM2.5 exposure induced lung inflammation. Levels of total protein, ROS, iNOS, EGF, and CXCL1 and cell number in the BALF of mice exposed to PM2.5 were markedly elevated relative to the control. mRNA levels of CXCL1, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 in lung tissues of PM2.5‐exposed mice were increased in comparison with the control. However, level of NLRP12 mRNA in lung tissues of PM2.5‐exposed mice was reduced. Phospho‐EGFR (Tyr1068) and phospho‐Akt (Thr308) levels in the lungs of PM2.5‐instilled mice were higher than those in the lungs of the control. The protein levels of NF‐κB‐p52/p100 and NF‐κB‐p65 in bronchial epithelium of PM2.5‐exposed mice were also increased compared with the control. This study suggests that EGF‐EGFR‐Akt‐NF‐κB signaling and NLRP12 inflammasome may be associated with PM2.5‐induced lung inflammation in mice.

Macrophages Facilitate Coal Tar Pitch Extract-Induced Tumorigenic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Mediated by NF-κB

Objective Chronic respiratory inflammation has been associated with lung cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a critical role in the formation of inflammation microenvironment. We sought to characterize the role of TAMs in coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells and the underlying mechanisms. Methods The expression of TAMs-specific CD68 in lung cancer tissues and paired adjacent tissues from cancer patients was determined using immunostaining. Co-culture of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and macrophage-like THP-1 cells were conducted to evaluate the promotive effect of macrophages on CTPE-induced tumorigenic transformation of BEAS-2B cells. BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 µg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured either with or without THP-1 cells and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. Alterations of cell cycle, karyotype, colony formation in soft agar and tumor xenograft growth in nude mice of BEAS-2B cells at passages 10, 20 and 30, indicative of tumorigenecity, were determined, respectively. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB in BEAS-2B cells were measured with RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. B(a)P was used as the positive control. Results The over-expression of TAMs-specific CD68 around lung tumor tissues was detected and associated with lung cancer progression. The tumorigenic alterations of BEAS-2B cells including increase in cell growth rate, number of cells with aneuploidy, clonogenicity in soft agar, and tumor size in nude mice in vivo occurred at passage 10, becoming significant at passages 20 and 30 of the co-culture following CTPE removal in compared to BEAS-2B cells alone. In addition, the expression levels of NF-κB in BEAS-2B cells were positively correlated to the malignancy of BEAS-2B cells under different conditions of treatment. Conclusion The presence of macrophages facilitated CTPE-induced tumorigenic transformation of BEAS-2B cells, which may be mediated by NF-κB.

An Improved PCR-RFLP Assay for the Detection of a Polymorphism rs2289487 of PLIN1 Gene.

In recent research, it has been shown that rs2289487 within the PLIN1 gene has different variants that have been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases. However, the isochizomers such as the BsmI enzyme required for detection of this polymorphism through polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method are expensive. In this study, we aimed to explore a novel PCR‐RFLP method for identifying the single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of rs2289487 of PLIN1 gene.

Regulation of ozone‐induced lung inflammation by the epidermal growth factor receptor in mice

Human exposure to the highly reactive oxidant gas Ozone (O3) is associated with inflammatory responses in the airway epithelium. The mechanisms responsible have not been fully elucidated. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has previously been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation. To define the role of EGFR in O3‐induced lung inflammation in mice. 40 BALB/c mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or (0.25, 0.5, 1.00 ppm) O3 for 3 h per day for 7 consecutive days. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), EGF, and transforming growth factor α (TGF‐α) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice were measured using ELISA. BALB/c mice were intratracheally instilled with the EGFR kinase inhibitor PD153035 2 h prior to O3 exposure and every other day thereafter. Phosphorylation of EGFR (Y1068) in lung sections was determined using immunohistochemical staining and western blot 24 h after exposure. Inhalation of O3 induced pronounced lung inflammation in a dose‐dependent manner. Levels of ROS, TGF‐α, and total proteins and cells in the BALF of mice exposed to 0.5 ppm or 1.0 ppm of O3 were markedly elevated relative to those in the BALF of the mice exposed to FA. In addition, exposure to O3 induced EGFR(Y1068) phosphorylation in the airway epithelium. Administration of PD153035 resulted in a significantly reduced lung inflammation as well as EGFR phosphorylation induced by O3 exposure. Inhalation of O3 leads to inflammatory responses that are dependent on the activation the EGFR in the airway epithelium.

Establishment of two data mining models of lung cancer screening based on three gene promoter methylations combined with telomere damage

Objective To identify the significance of a support vector machine (SVM) model and a decision tree (DT) model for the diagnosis of lung cancer combined with the detection of fragile histidine triad (FHIT), RAS association domain family 1 (RASSF1A) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) promoter methylation levels and relative telomere length (RTL) of white blood cells from peripheral blood DNA. Methods The levels of p16, RASSF1A and FHIT promoter methylation and the RTL of white blood cells in peripheral blood DNA of 200 healthy individuals and 200 lung cancer patients were analyzed by SYBR Green-based quantitative methylation-specific PCR and quantitative PCR. Based on the 4 biomarkers, SVM and DT models were developed. Results The levels of FHIT, RASSF1A and p16 promoter methylation were 3.33 (1.86-6.40) and 2.85 (1.39-5.44) (p = 0.002); 27.62 (9.09-52.86) and 17.17 (3.86-50.87) (p = 0.038); and 0.59 (0.16-4.50) and 0.36 (0.06-4.00) (p = 0.008) in cases and controls, respectively. RTL was 0.93 ± 0.32 and 1.16 ± 0.57 (p<0.001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the Fisher discriminant analysis, SVM and DT models were 0.670 (0.569-0.761), 0.810 (0.719-0.882) and 0.810 (0.719-0.882), respectively. Conclusions The SVM and DT models for diagnosing lung cancer were successfully developed through the combined detection of p16, RASSF1A and FHIT promoter methylation and RTL, which provided useful tools for screening lung cancer.

Association of EGF Receptor and NLRs signaling with Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice Exposed to Fine Particulate Matter.

ЄAmbient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could induce cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the mechanism remains unknown. To investigate the roles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and NOD‐like receptors (NLRs) in PM2.5‐induced cardiac injury, we set up a BALB/c mice model of PM2.5‐induced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis with intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 suspension (4.0 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 consecutive days (once per day). After exposure, we found that mRNA levels of CXCL1, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐18 were elevated, but interestingly, mRNA level of NLRP12 was significant decreased in heart tissue from PM2.5‐induced mice compared with those of saline‐treated mice using real‐time PCR. Protein levels of phospho‐EGFR (Tyr1068), phospho‐Akt (Thr308), NLRP3, NF‐κB‐p52/p100, and NF‐κB‐p65 in heart tissue of PM2.5‐exposed mice were all significantly increased using immunohistochemistry or Western blotting. Therefore, PM2.5 exposure could induce cardiac inflammatory injury in mice, which may be involved with EGFR/Akt signaling, NLRP3, and NLRP12.

Application of Created Restriction Site PCR-RFLP to Identify POT1 Gene Polymorphism.

Protection of telomeres protein 1 (POT1) plays pivotal roles in protection of chromosome ends and regulation of telomere length with other telomere binding proteins; its genetic polymorphisms are associated with many diseases. In this study, we explored a novel PCR-RFLP method for typing the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1034794 of the human POT1 gene. A new restriction enzyme site was introduced into a POT1 gene amplification product by created restriction site PCR (CRS-PCR). One primer was designed based on changed sequence; after PCR amplification, a new restriction enzyme site for AluI was introduced into the PCR products. One hundred and seventy eight samples from Han Chinese individuals were tested to evaluate this new method. The 3′-end of the forward primer was next to the polymorphic site, and the third base from the 3′-end was the mismatched base A. The final PCR product contained the AGCT sequence (AluI recognition site) when the ancestral POT1 alleles were amplified. The data obtained with the new method perfectly matched those obtained with the sequencing method. Thus, CRS-PCR is a new low-cost and high-efficiency alternative for rs1034794 typing.