Distinct genomic traits of acral and mucosal melanomas revealed by targeted mutational profiling

The incidence of melanoma is rising globally including China. Comparing to Caucasians, the incidence of non‐cutaneous melanomas is significantly higher in Chinese. Herein, we performed genomic profiling of 89 Chinese surgically resected primary melanomas, including acral (n = 54), cutaneous (n = 22), and mucosal (n = 13), by hybrid capture‐based next‐generation sequencing. We show that mucosal melanomas tended to harbor more pathogenic mutations than other types of melanoma, though the biological significance of this finding remains uncertain. Chromosomal arm‐level alterations including 6q, 9p, and 10p/q loss were highly recurrent in all subtypes, but mucosal melanoma was significantly associated with increased genomic instability. Importantly, 7p gain significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in non‐cutaneous melanomas, representing an intriguing prognostic biomarker of those subtypes. Furthermore, focal amplification of 4q12 (KIT, KDR, and PDGFRα) and RAD51 deletion were more abundant in mucosal melanoma, while NOTCH2 amplification was enriched in acral melanoma. Additionally, cutaneous melanomas had higher mutation load than acral melanomas, while mucosal melanomas did not differ from other subtypes in mutation burden. Together, our data revealed important features of acral and mucosal melanomas in Chinese including distinctive driver mutation pattern and increased genomic instability. These findings highlight the possibilities of combination therapies in the clinical management of melanoma.     

Active interfacial dynamic transport of fluid in a network of fibrous connective tissues throughout the whole body

Fluid in interstitial spaces accounts for ~20% of an adult body weight and flows diffusively for a short range. Does it circulate around the body like vascular circulations? This bold conjecture has been debated for decades. As a conventional physiological concept, interstitial space is a micron‐sized space between cells and vasculature. Fluid in interstitial spaces is thought to be entrapped within interstitial matrix. However, our serial data have further defined a second space in interstitium that is a nanosized interfacial transport zone on a solid surface. Within this fine space, fluid along a solid fibre can be transported under a driving power and identically, interstitial fluid transport can be visualized by tracking the oriented fibres. Since 2006, our data from volunteers and cadavers have revealed a long‐distance extravascular pathway for interstitial fluid flow, comprising at least four types of anatomic distributions. The framework of each extravascular pathway contains the longitudinally assembled and oriented fibres, working as a fibrorail for fluid flow. Interestingly, our data showed that the movement of fluid in a fibrous pathway is in response to a dynamic driving source and named as dynamotaxis. By analysis of previous studies and our experimental results, a hypothesis of interstitial fluid circulatory system is proposed.     

Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

右归丸对大鼠膝骨关节炎的干预作用及其机制*

目的: 探讨右归丸对膝骨关节炎(KOA)模型鼠关节软骨组织骨诱导因子(OGN)、骨黏连蛋白(ON)和纤维蛋白原2(FBN2)的影响。方法: 将大鼠随机分为假手术组,模型组,硫酸氨基葡萄糖组(硫酸氨基葡萄糖),右归丸(高、中、低剂量)组,每组10只。采用改良Hulth法制备大鼠KOA模型,假手术组和模型组给予等体积生理盐水灌胃,右归丸高、中、低剂量组分别灌胃给予右归丸4.8,2.4,1.2 g/kg,硫酸氨基葡萄糖组灌胃给予硫酸氨基葡萄糖 0.17 g/kg,连续给药8周。干预结束24 h后取鼠膝关节软骨,采用HE染色法观察各组软骨的病理改变,并进行Mankin评分;免疫组化法检测各组关节软骨组织中OGN、ON和FBN2的表达;Western blot法检测各组关节软骨组中糖原合成酶激酶-3β(GSK-3β)的表达。结果: 与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠软骨组织Makin 评分显著升高,软骨组织FBN2蛋白表达水平上显著增加,OGN、ON和GSK-3β蛋白表达水平上的显著降低(P＜0.01);模型组关节软骨边缘严重破坏,软骨细胞排列紊乱。与模型组比较,右归丸高剂量干预组大鼠软骨组织Makin 评分和FBN2蛋白表达水平显著降低,GSK-3β蛋白表达水平上显著增加,且右归丸中、高剂量组OGN、ON蛋白表达水平均显著增加(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),软骨结构趋于正常,软骨细胞分布仅偶见不均,关节软骨表面欠光滑。结论: 右归丸能够延缓关节软骨退变,其可能机制是通过提高骨诱导因子和骨粘连蛋白的表达水平来促进关节软骨的骨化和重构。