Shuai Nie

Glioblastoma is highly proliferative and invasive. However, the regulatory cytokine networks that promote glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasion into other areas of the brain are not fully defined. In the present study, we define a critical role for the IL-11/IL-11Rα signalling axis in glioblastoma proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and invasion. We identified enhanced IL-11/IL-11Rα expression correlated with reduced overall survival in glioblastoma patients using TCGA datasets. Proteomic analysis of glioblastoma cell lines overexpressing IL-11Rα displayed a proteome that favoured enhanced proliferation and invasion. These cells also displayed greater proliferation and migration, while the knockdown of IL-11Rα reversed these tumourigenic characteristics. In addition, these IL-11Rα overexpressing cells displayed enhanced invasion in transwell invasion assays and in 3D spheroid invasion assays, while knockdown of IL-11Rα resulted in reduced invasion. Furthermore, IL-11Rα-overexpressing cells displayed a more mesenchymal-like phenotype compared to parental cells and expressed greater levels of the mesenchymal marker Vimentin. Overall, our study identified that the IL-11/IL-11Rα pathway promotes glioblastoma cell proliferation, EMT, and invasion.

Due to the widespread use of shellfish ingredients in food products, accurate food labelling is urgently needed for consumers with shellfish allergies. Most crustacean allergen detection systems target the immunorecognition of the allergenic protein tropomyosin. However, this mode of detection may be affected by an origin-dependent protein composition. This study determined if the geographic location of capture, or aquaculture, influenced the allergenic protein profiles of Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon), one of the most farmed and consumed shrimp species worldwide. Protein composition was analysed in shrimp from nine different locations in the Asia–Pacific by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry. Ten of the twelve known shrimp allergens were detected, but with considerable differences between locations. Sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein, myosin light chain, and tropomyosin were the most abundant allergens in all locations. Hemocyanin-specific antibodies could identify up to six different isoforms, depending on the location of origin. Similarly, tropomyosin abundance varied by up to 13 times between locations. These findings suggest that allergen abundance may be related to shrimp origin and, thus, shrimp origin might directly impact the readout of commercial crustacean allergen detection kits, most of which target tropomyosin, and this should be considered in food safety assessments.