Biology subjects

Liu, Z.-G.

Publications and source records attributed to Liu, Z.-G..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Exploring the mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of Ferroptosis Related Genes in ankylosing spondylitis

BackgroundFerroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death, and there is growing evidence that it is directly associated with the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relevance of iron Ferroptosis-related genes to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to propose a novel targeted therapy for AS patients. MethodsAS samples were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE41038). Ferroptosis-related genes were obtained from the FerrDb database, and differential expression analysis was performed using the GEO2R tool. Additionally, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identified the central genes using Cytoscape. A neural network model was developed utilizing the data mining software Clementine. cMap technology was used to screen potential pharmacological compounds that target the central gene,and a predictive model was built by machine learning methods. ResultsWe discovered 786 differentially expressed genes in AS samples compared to normal tissue, including 359 up-regulated and 427 down-regulated genes. The intersection of ferroptosis-related genes and differential genes yielded 20 overlapping genes. We constructed a hub gene co-expression network with 20 nodes and 14 edges and obtained the ten most recommended drugs for AS. ConclusionBioinformatics analysis identified 20 potential genes associated with Ferroptosis in AS. Genes such as CAV1, NOX4, and NQO1 were revealed to influence the development of AS by regulating Ferroptosis. Our study provides new insights into the function of iron Ferroptosis-related genes in AS, suggesting that targeting Ferroptosis may be a potential therapeutic option for AS.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

Nanosecond pulsed electric field ablates rabbit VX2 liver tumors in a non-thermal manner versus radiofrequency ablation

BackgroundLiver tumor remains an important cause of cancer-related death. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are advantageous in the treatment of melanoma and pancreatic cancer, but their therapeutic application on liver tumors need to be further studied. MethodsHep3B cells were treated with nsPEFs. The biological behaviors of cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assays. In vivo, rabbit VX2 liver tumor models were ablated by ultrasound-guided nsPEFs and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to evaluate the ablation effect. HE staining and Masson staining were used to evaluate the tissue morphology after ablation. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and -smooth muscle actin at different time points after ablation. ResultsThe cell viability of Hep3B cells was continuously lower than that of the control group within 3 days after pulse treatment. The proliferation of Hep3B cells was significantly affected by nsPEFs. TEM showed that Hep3B cells underwent significant morphological changes after pulse treatment. In vivo, CEUS imaging showed that nsPEFs could completely ablate model rabbit VX2 liver tumors. After nsPEFs ablation, the area of tumor fibrosis and the expression of Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and -smooth muscle actin were decreased. However, after RFA, rabbit VX2 liver tumor tissue showed complete necrosis, but the expression of PCNA and -smooth muscle actin did not decrease compared to the tumor group. ConclusionsnsPEFs can induce Hep3B cells apoptosis and ablate rabbit VX2 liver tumors in a non-thermal manner versus RFA. The ultrasound contrast agent can monitor immediate effect of nsPEF ablation. This study provides a basis for the clinical study of nsPEFs ablation of liver cancer.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Human macrophages survive and adopt activated genotypes in living zebrafish

The inflammatory response, modulated both by tissue resident macrophages and recruited monocytes from peripheral blood, plays a critical role in human diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we sought a model to interrogate human immune behavior in vivo. We determined that primary human monocytes and macrophages survive in zebrafish for up to two weeks. Flow cytometry revealed that human monocytes cultured at the physiological temperature of the zebrafish survive and differentiate comparable to cohorts cultured at human physiological temperature. Moreover, key genes that encode for proteins that play a role in tissue remodeling were also expressed. Human cells migrated within multiple tissues at speeds comparable to zebrafish macrophages. Analysis of gene expression of in vivo educated human macrophages confirmed expression of activated macrophage phenotypes. Here, human cells adopted phenotypes relevant to cancer progression, suggesting that we can define the real time immune modulation of human tumor cells during the establishment of a metastatic lesion in zebrafish.

developmental biology↗