Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is recognized as the main cause of cervical cancer and other malignant cancers. Although early detection and treatment can be achieved by effective HPV screening methods and surgical procedures, the disease load has not been adequately mitigated yet, especially in the underdeveloped areas. Vaccine, being regarded as a more effective solution, is expected to prevent virus infection and the consequent diseases in the phases of both prevention and treatment. Currently, there are three licensed prophylactic vaccines for L1-VLPs, namely bivalent, quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccine. About 90% of HPV infections have been effectively prevented with the implementation of vaccines worldwide. However, no significant therapeutic effect has been observed on the already existed infections and lesions. Therapeutic vaccine designed for oncoprotein E6/E7 activates cellular immunity rather than focuses on neutralizing antibodies, which is considered as an ideal immune method to eliminate infection. In this review, we elaborate on the classification, mechanism, and clinical effects of HPV vaccines for disease prevention and treatment, in order to make improvements to the current situation of HPV vaccines by provoking new ideas.

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The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has emerged as a novel player in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypoxia is a common characteristic of the microenvironment of HCC. This study aimed to investigate whether lncRNA-NEAT1 is induced by hypoxia in HCC, and the mechanism that underlies LncRNA-NEAT1 function. Methods: The expression changes of lncRNA-NEAT1 in HCC cell lines under hypoxic conditions were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The regulatory effect of HIF-1α on lncRNA-NEAT1 was confirmed with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays. The function of lncRNA-NEAT1 on HCC cell growth under hypoxic conditions was determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. lncRNA-NEAT1 was predicted to serve as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) within microRNA (miRNA)/mRNA axes based on microarray data, public HCC-related datasets and integrative bioinformatics analysis, and the miR-199a-3p/UCK2 axis was selected and validated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter analyses. The role of miR-199a-3p/UCK2 in HCC and its functional association with lncRNA-NEAT1 were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Results: LncRNA-NEAT1 expression was significantly induced by hypoxia in SNU-182 and HUH7 cells. HIF-1α was shown to regulate lncRNA-NEAT1 transcription. Under hypoxic conditions, lncRNA-NEAT1 maintained the growth of HCC cells and inhibited apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. LncRNA-NEAT1 was predicted to regulate a panel of HCC-associated miRNA-mRNA pairs consisting of 8 miRNAs and 13 mRNAs. LncRNA-NEAT1 was shown to function as a ceRNA of miR-199a-3p/UCK2 both in HCC cells under hypoxic conditions and in an animal model. Conclusion: LncRNA-NEAT1 is a hypoxia-responsive lncRNA in HCC cell lines Insilico evidence suggested that LncRNA-NEAT1 may sustainthe growth of HCC cells by Zhang et al. LncRNA-NEAT1 in HCC Under Hypoxia regulating HCC-associated mRNAs that interact with tumor-suppressive miRNAs. The lncRNA-NEAT1/miR-199a-3p/UCK2 pathway may contribute to the progression of HCC cell lines in a hypoxic microenvironment and therefore may represent a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Hepatic steatosis is the beginning phase of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a significant risk factor. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) hydrolyzes epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and other epoxy fatty acids, attenuating their cardiovascular protective effects. However, the involvement of sEH in HHcy-induced hepatic steatosis is unknown. The current study aimed to explore the role of sEH in HHcy-induced lipid disorder. We fed 6-wk-old male mice a chow diet or 2% (wt/wt) high-metnionine diet for 8 wk to establish the HHcy model. A high level of homocysteine induced lipid accumulation in vivo and in vitro, which was concomitant with the increased activity and expression of sEH. Treatment with a highly selective specific sEH inhibitor (0.8 mg·kg−1·day−1 for the animal model and 1 μM for cells) prevented HHcy-induced lipid accumulation in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of sEH activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), as evidenced by elevated β-oxidation of fatty acids and the expression of PPAR-α target genes in HHcy-induced hepatic steatosis. In primary cultured hepatocytes, the effect of sEH inhibition on PPAR-α activation was further confirmed by a marked increase in PPAR-response element luciferase activity, which was reversed by knock down of PPAR-α. Of note, 11,12-EET ligand dependently activated PPAR-α. Thus increased sEH activity is a key determinant in the pathogenesis of HHcy-induced hepatic steatosis, and sEH inhibition could be an effective treatment for HHcy-induced hepatic steatosis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In the current study, we demonstrated that upregulation of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is involved in the hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-caused hepatic steatosis in an HHcy mouse model and in murine primary hepatocytes. Improving hepatic steatosis in HHcy mice by pharmacological inhibition of sEH to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α was ligand dependent, and sEH could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major risk factor for early recurrence and poor survival after curative surgical therapies. However, MVI can only be diagnosed by pathological examination following resection. The aim of this study is to identify serologic biomarkers for predicting MVI preoperatively to help facilitate treatment decisions. We used the sero-proteomic approach to identify antigens that induce corresponding antibody responses either specifically in the serum from MVI (+) patients or from MVI (−) patients. Six antigens were subsequently identified as HSP 70, HSP 90, alpha-enolase (Eno-1), Annexin A2, glutathione synthetase and beta-actin by mass spectrometry. The antibodies titers in sera corresponding to four of these six antigens were measured by ELISA and compared between 35 MVI (+) patients and 26 MVI (−) patients. The titers of anti-HSP 70 antibodies were significantly higher in MVI (−) patients than those in MVI (+) patients; and the titers of anti-Eno-1 antibodies were significantly lower in MVI (−) patients than those in MVI (+) patients. The results were subjected to multivariate analysis together with other clinicopathologic factors, suggesting that antibodies against HSP 70 and Eno-1 in sera are potential biomarkers for predicting MVI in HCC prior to surgical resection. These biomarkers should be further investigated as potential therapeutic targets.

Background/Aims: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of biological processes and they contribute to the pathological developments of various diseases, including autoimmune diseases. To gain the further understanding, we estimate the expression of lncRNAs in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Methods: In this study, microarray studies were performed to characterize expression profiles of various lncRNAs and mRNAs in blood samples collected from ITP patients. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to confirm the results, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and gene ontology analysis were used to provide functional annotations, co-expression network construction (CNC) analysis was made to reveal the relations between lncRNAs and their targeted genes. Results: A total of 1177 and 632 lncRNAs were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively, in “newly diagnosed ITP” patients versus healthy individuals. In addition, 1182 genes and 737 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively, in “chronic recurrent ITP” patients versus healthy individuals. In a KEGG analysis, “TNF signaling pathway-Homo sapiens (human)” was a key result. In a gene ontology analysis, “Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production (GO: 0032604, ontology: Biological process, P = 1.69577E-05)” and “coreceptor activity (GO: 0015026, ontology: molecular function, P = 4.67594E-06)” were the two most critical results. Data from qRT-PCR and receiver operating characteristic curves further demonstrated that ENST00000440492, ENST00000528366, NR_038920, and ENST00000552576 can efficiently distinguish different stages of ITP, especially NR_038920 and ENST00000528366. In a CNC analysis, four lncRNAs were emphasized, and NR_038920 and ENST00000528366 were both associated with proteins with important roles in autoimmune diseases. Conclusions: These results suggest that lncRNAs act through targeted genes to mediate their functions and to mediate their functions and affect the pathogenesis of ITP.

Background & AimsNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular damage. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been investigated extensively in the context of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of mTORC1 in NASH remains largely unknown.MethodsmTORC1 activity in macrophages in human mild and severe NASH liver was compared. Mice with macrophage-specific deletion of the regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor) subunit and littermate controls were fed a high-fructose, palmitate, and cholesterol diet for 24 weeks or a methionine- and choline-deficient diet for 4 weeks to develop NASH.ResultsWe report that in human beings bearing NASH, macrophage mTORC1 activity was lower in livers experiencing severe vs mild NASH liver. Moreover, macrophage mTORC1 disruption exacerbated the inflammatory response in 2 diet-induced NASH mouse models. Mechanistically, in response to apoptotic hepatocytes (AHs), macrophage polarization toward a M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype was inhibited in Raptor-deficient macrophages. During the digestion of AHs, macrophage mTORC1 was activated and coupled with dynamin-related protein 1 to facilitate the latter’s phosphorylation, leading to mitochondrial fission-mediated calcium release. Ionomycin or A23187, calcium ionophores, prevented Raptor deficiency–mediated failure of lysosome acidification and subsequent lipolysis. Blocking dynamin-related protein 1–dependent mitochondria fission impaired lysosome function, resulting in reduced production of anti-inflammatory factors such as interleukins 10 and 13.ConclusionsPersistent mTORC1 deficiency in macrophages contributes to the progression of NASH by causing lysosome dysfunction and subsequently attenuating anti-inflammatory M2-like response in macrophages during clearance of AHs.

Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is considered a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in pregnant women worldwide. Eicosanoids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might play an important role in the occurrence and development of PE. Omega‐3 PUFAs are nutrients that are popular supplements for pregnant women and can reduce blood pressure. However, the levels of eicosanoids derived from omega‐3 PUFAs in women with PE is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the eicosanoid metabolic signature of PE. We performed a case–control study using data for pregnant women (n = 10) with PE and normotensive pregnant women (n = 10). We investigated the difference in eicosanoid profile between the groups by LC‐MS/MS‐based metabolomics. The plasma levels of arachidonic acid metabolites and some of the lipoxygenase metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) showed an increasing trend, and those of the cytochrome P450 metabolites of EPA and DHA were decreased in women with PE. Levels of leukotriene B4, 14,15‐dihydroxy‐eicosatetraenoate, 16‐hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid and 8,9‐epoxy eicosatetraenoic acid were significantly correlated with PE occurrence. These eicosanoids might take part in the progression of PE in pregnant women.