简介：AbstractObjective:To identify potential early diagnostic markers for hepatitis B progression to primary liver carcinoma using routine immunological tests based on 6 cytokine combinations.Methods:Eight hundred and ninety-nine patients with hepatitis B progressing to early primary liver carcinoma admitted to and treated at Changhai Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China between March 2015 and June 2017 were included in this observational study, including 666 patients with HBsAg+, HBeAb+, HBcAb+ liver carcinoma and 233 patients with HBsAg+, HBeAg+, HBcAb+ liver carcinoma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the efficiency of the different cytokine in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis B. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Changhai Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, China (approval No. CHEC2020-080) on June 6, 2020.Results:Changed levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2R, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Youden index for the diagnosis of primary liver carcinoma using the combination of IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α were 0.938, 79.2%, 96.7%, 96%, 82.0%, 0.759, respectively. The serum alpha-fetoprotein level in patients with primary liver carcinoma was positively correlated with IL-2R (r=0.3502, P < 0.001), IL-8 (r=0.1558, P=0.0273), and TNF-α (r=0.2544, P < 0.001) levels. The equation fitted to the results was logit(P)=0.086+ 0.01 × IL-2R-0.001 × IL-8-0.033 × TNF-α-0.041 × IL-1β.Conclusion:Our study establishes a novel, potentially valuable diagnostic model based on four cytokines related to the early stages of liver carcinoma.

简介：AbstractObjective:Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the culprits of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and recurrence. Only by eliminating tumor stem cells can malignant tumors be fundamentally cured. This study aimed to identify the role and underlying mechanism of aberrant Collagen Type XIV Alpha 1 Chain (COL14A1) overexpression in liver CSCs, and improve understanding of the molecular basis of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and recurrence.Methods:First, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm aberrant high-expression of COL14A1 in liver CSCs. Next, interference experiments were performed to determine the key role of COL14A1. To explore the mechanism of COL14A1 overexpression in liver CSCs, putative microRNA (miRNAs) targeting COL14A1 were analyzed using the miRTarBase database. Next, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the interaction between miR-7108-3p and COL14A1. Lastly, key target proteins of the COL14A1-extracellular-regulated signal kinase (ERK) signaling pathway were identified through western blotting analysis. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, China (approval No. 2019tjdx17) on February 21, 2019.Results:COL14A1 is abnormally highly expressed in liver CSCs, which is necessary for liver CSCs to maintain their self-renewal capability. Mechanistically, COL14A1 is post-transcriptionally regulated by miR-7108-3p in a negative manner. Low expression of miR-7108-3p increased translation of COL14A1, which subsequently activated ERK signaling, ultimately maintaining the self-renewal and stem cell-like properties of liver CSCs.Conclusion:COL14A1, which is negatively regulated by miR-7108-3p, was found to play a crucial role in maintaining the self-renewal and stem cell-like properties of liver CSCs through activation of ERK signaling.