Background and Objectives: PIN1 is overexpressed in several human cancers, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and oral squamous carcinomas. Juglone (J), derived from walnut, was reported to selectively inhibit PIN1 by modifying its sulfhydryl groups. In this study, the potential effects of juglone, also known as PIN1 inhibitor, on oral cancer and carcinogenesis were investigated at the molecular level. Materials and Methods: 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide (4-NQO) was used to create an oral cancer model in animals. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, NQO, Juglone, NQO+J, and NQO+J*. The control group received the basal diet and tap water throughout the experiment. The NQO group received 4-NQO for 8 weeks in drinking water only. The Juglone group was administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks (1 mg/kg/day). The NQO+J group received 4-NQO in drinking water for 8 weeks, starting 1 week after the cessation of 4-NQO treatment. They were then administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks. (1 mg/kg/day). NQO+J* group: received 4 NQO for 8 weeks in drinking water and administered intraperitoneally in a juglone solution for 10 weeks (1 mg/kg/day). They were sacrificed at the end of the 22-week experimental period. The tongue tissues of the rats were isolated after the experiment, morphological changes were investigated by histological examinations, and the molecular apoptotic process was investigated by rt-qPCR and western blot. Results: Histological results indicate that tumors are formed in the tongue tissue with 4-NQO, and juglone treatment largely corrects the epithelial changes that developed with 4-NQO. It has been determined that apoptotic factors p53, Bax, and caspases are induced by the effect of juglone, while antiapoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 are suppressed. However, it was observed that the positive effects were more pronounced in rats given juglone together with 4-NQO. Conclusions: The use of PIN1 inhibitors such as juglone in place of existing therapeutic approaches might be a promising and novel approach to the preservation and treatment of oral cancer and carcinogenesis. However, further research is required to investigate the practical application of such inhibitors.

Objective: To investigate the role of an inflammatory microenvironment induced by Porphyromonasgingivalis (P. gingivalis) in the occurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in mice. Methods: A total of 180 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. control group, P. gingivalis group, 4NQO group, 4NQO + P. gingivalis group, 4NQO + P. gingivalis + celecoxib group, and 4NQO + P. gingivalis + antibiotic cocktail (ABC, including metronidazole, neomycin, ampicillin, and vancomycin) group, with 30 mice in each group, using the random number table. All mice were normalized by treatment with ABC in drinking water for 2 weeks. In the following 2 weeks, the mice in the control group and the P. gingivalis group were given drinking water, while the other 4 groups were treated with 30 μg/ml 4NQO in the drinking water. In weeks 11-12, the mice in the P. gingivalis group, the 4NQO + P. gingivalis group, the 4NQO + P. gingivalis + celecoxib group, and the 4NQO + P. gingivalis + ABC group were subjected to ligation of the second molar in oral cavity followed by oral P. gingivalis infection thrice weekly for 24 weeks in weeks 11-34. In weeks 13-34, the mice in 4NQO + P. gingivalis+celecoxib group and 4NQO + P. gingivalis + ABC group were administered with celecoxib and ABC for 22 weeks, respectively. At the end of 34 weeks, gross and microscopic alterations were examined followed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry to examine the expression profiles of inflammatory- and tumor-molecules in esophagi of mice. Results: At 34 weeks, 4NQO treatment alone did not affect the foci of papillary hyperproliferation, diseased area, and the thickness of the esophageal wall, but significantly enhanced the foci of hyperproliferation (median 1.00, P＜0.05) and mild/moderate dysplasia (median 2.00, P＜0.01). In addition, the expression levels of IL-6 [8.35(3.45,8.99)], IL-1β [6.90(2.01,9.72)], TNF-α [12.04(3.31,14.08)], c-myc [2.21(1.80,3.04)], pSTAT3, Ki-67, and pH2AX were higher than those in the control group. The pathological changes of the esophageal mucosa were significantly more overt in the 4NQO + P. gingivalis group in terms of the foci of papillary hyperproliferation (median 2.00), diseased area (median 2.51 mm2), the thickness of the esophageal wall (median 172.52 μm), the foci of hyperproliferation (median 1.00, P＜0.05), and mild/moderate dysplasia (median 1.00, P＜0.01). In mice of the 4NQO + P. gingivalis group, the expression levels of IL-6 [12.27(5.35,22.08)], IL-1β [13.89(10.04,15.96)], TNF-α [19.56(6.07,20.36)], IFN-γ [11.37(8.23,20.07)], c-myc [2.62(1.51,4.25)], cyclin D1 [4.52(2.68,7.83)], nuclear pSTAT3, COX-2, Ki-67, and pH2AX were significantly increased compared with the mice in the control group. In mice of the 4NQO + P. gingivalis group, the diseased area, invasive malignant foci as well as pSTAT3 and pH2AX expression were significantly blunted by celecoxib. Treatment with ABC markedly reduced the papillary hyperproliferative foci, invasive malignant foci, and pSTAT3 expression but not pH2AX. Conclusions: P. gingivalis promotes the occurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in mice by inducing an inflammatory microenvironment primed with 4NQO induced DNA damage. Clearance of P. gingivalis with ABC or anti-inflammatory intervention holds promise for prevention of esophageal squamous cell malignant pathogenesis via blockage of IL-6/STAT3 signaling and amelioration of inflammation.
目的： 探讨牙龈卟啉单胞菌诱发食管炎症微环境在小鼠食管鳞状细胞癌发生过程中的作用。 方法： 采用数字表法随机将180只C57BL/6小鼠分为对照组、牙龈卟啉单胞菌组、4-硝基喹啉-1-氧化物（4NQO）组、4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌组、4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+塞来昔布组和4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+抗生素（甲硝唑、新霉素、氨苄青霉素和万古霉素，ABC）组，每组30只。给予ABC饮水2周，之后8周，对照组和牙龈卟啉单胞菌组小鼠饮用纯水，其余4组给予含30 μg/ml 4NQO的饮水。第11～12周，牙龈卟啉单胞菌组、4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌组、4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+塞来昔布组和4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+ABC组小鼠行上颌第2磨牙结扎；第11～34周，每周3次口腔感染牙龈卟啉单胞菌。第13～34周，4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+塞来昔布组和4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+ABC组小鼠分别接受塞来昔布和ABC处理。34周后处死小鼠，观察小鼠食管黏膜大体和形态学变化，采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）和免疫组化检测小鼠食管组织中炎症和肿瘤相关分子表达。 结果： 34周时，4NQO单独处理未能显著增加小鼠食管黏膜乳头状增生病灶数、病变面积和食管壁厚度，单纯性增生病灶数（中位数为1.00个，P＜0.05）和轻、中度不典型增生病灶数（中位数为2.00个，P＜0.01）显著增加，小鼠食管组织中白细胞介素6（IL-6）、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、c-myc mRNA的表达量［分别为8.35（3.45，8.99）、6.90（2.01，9.72）、12.04（3.31，14.08）、2.21（1.80，3.04），均P＜0.05］和磷酸化信号转导和转录激活因子3（pSTAT3）、Ki-67、磷酸化组蛋白2A变异体（pH2AX）蛋白的表达明显高于对照组。4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌组小鼠食管黏膜病变显著，乳头状增生病灶数（中位数为2.00个）、病变面积（中位数为2.51 mm2）和食管壁厚度（中位数为172.52 μm）最大，且均与对照组差异有统计学意义（均P＜0.01），单纯性增生病灶数（中位数为1.00个，P＜0.05）和轻、中度不典型增生病灶数（中位数为1.00个，P＜0.01）显著增加，小鼠食管组织中IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α、γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）、c-myc、cyclin D1 mRNA的表达量［分别为12.27（5.35，22.08）、13.89（10.04，15.96）、19.56（6.07，20.36）、11.37（8.23，20.07）、2.62（1.51，4.25）和4.52（2.68，7.83），P＜0.05或P＜0.01］和pSTAT3、环氧合酶2（COX-2）、Ki-67、pH2AX蛋白的表达均高于对照组。塞来昔布干预明显减少了4NQO联合牙龈卟啉单胞菌引起的黏膜病变面积（4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+塞来昔布组中位数为1.84 mm2，P＜0.05）和浸润癌病灶数（4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+塞来昔布组中位数为0.00个，P＜0.01），降低了pSTAT3和pH2AX的表达。ABC干预明显减少了4NQO联合牙龈卟啉单胞菌所诱导的乳头状增生病灶数（4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+ABC组中位数为1.00个，P＜0.05）和浸润癌病灶数（4NQO+牙龈卟啉单胞菌+ABC组中位数为0.00个，P＜0.01），降低了pSTAT3的表达，但对pH2AX的表达无明显影响。 结论： 在4NQO诱导的基因组损伤基础上，牙龈卟啉单胞菌能通过诱发炎症微环境促进食管鳞状细胞癌的发生，使用COX-2抑制剂或ABC可以通过阻断IL-6/STAT3信号通路，减轻食管组织的炎症反应，抑制食管鳞状细胞癌的发生。.

An artificial intelligence (AI) model was designed to assist pathologists in diagnosing and quantifying structural changes in tongue lesions induced by chemical carcinogens. Using a tongue cancer model induced by 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide and treated with β-elemene, a total of 183 digital pathology slides were processed. The Segment Anything Model (SAM) was employed for initial segmentation, followed by conventional algorithms for more detailed segmentation. The epithelial contour area was computed using OpenCV\'s findcontour method, and the skeletonize method was used to calculate the distance map and skeletonized representation. The AI model demonstrated high accuracy in measuring tongue epithelial thickness and the number of papilla-like protrusions. Results indicated that the model group had significantly higher epithelial thickness and fewer papillae compared with the blank group. Furthermore, the treatment group exhibited reduced epithelial thickness and fewer papilla-like protrusions compared with the model group, though these differences were less pronounced. Overall, the SAM framework algorithm proved effective in quantifying tongue epithelial thickness and the number of papilla-like protrusions, thereby assisting healthcare professionals in understanding pathological changes and assessing treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the role of DNA methylation changes in tongue cancer through a comprehensive analysis of global DNA methylation alterations during experimental lingual carcinogenesis.
METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to 16-week oral administration of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO, 50 mg/L). Lingual mucosa samples, being representative of normal tissue (week 0) and early (week 12) and advanced (week 28) tumorigenesis, were harvested for microarray and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-Seq). The mRNA and promoter methylation of transforming growth factor-beta-signaling protein 1 (SMAD1) were evaluated with real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Massarray in human lingual mucosa and tongue cancer cell lines.
RESULTS: The cytosine guanine island (CGI) methylation level observed at 28 weeks surpassed that of both 12 weeks and 0 weeks. The promoter methylation level at 12 weeks exceeded that at 0 weeks. Notably, 208 differentially expressed genes were negatively correlated to differential methylation in promoters among 0, 12, and 28 weeks. The mRNA of SMAD1 was upregulated, concurrent with a decrease in promoter methylation levels in cell lines compared to normal mucosa.
CONCLUSIONS: DNA methylation changed during lingual carcinogenesis. Overexpression of SMAD1 was correlated to promoter hypomethylation in tongue cancer cell lines.
目的: 研究舌黏膜癌变过程中基因组甲基化特征，探讨舌癌中DNA甲基化的规律。方法: 用50 mg/L的4-硝基喹啉-1-氧化物（4NQO）饮水诱导C57BL/6J小鼠舌黏膜癌变，分别取第0、12、28周的舌黏膜（分别代表正常、癌前病变和癌变）进行基因芯片检测和甲基化DNA免疫沉淀测序（MeDIP-Seq），在人舌黏膜组织和人舌癌细胞系中，用实时定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）和飞行质谱检测验证转化生长因子贝塔信号蛋白1（SMAD1）的表达和启动子的甲基化。结果: 28周较12周和0周舌黏膜的胞嘧啶鸟嘌呤岛（CGI）甲基化水平均升高，12周时启动子甲基化水平高于0周。在0、12和28周期间，208个差异表达基因与启动子中的差异甲基化呈负相关。与正常黏膜相比，细胞系中SMAD1的mRNA上调，同时启动子甲基化水平降低。结论: 舌黏膜癌变中伴随DNA甲基化修饰异常，舌癌中SMAD1高表达伴启动子低甲基化。.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. Most ESCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage; however, current research on in vivo animal models accurately reflecting their clinical presentation is lacking. Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for ESCC and has been used in several disease models for disease induction. In this study, we used 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in combination with ethanol to induce an in vivo ESCC mouse model. Esophageal tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination and lesion scoring. In cellular experiments, cell adhesion and migration invasion ability were observed using phalloidin staining, cell scratch and transwell assays, respectively, and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related markers was detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The results showed that ethanol-exposed mice lost more weight and had an increased number of esophageal nodules. Histological examination revealed that the lesion scores of the ethanol-exposed esophageal samples were significantly higher than those of the unexposed esophageal samples. Furthermore, ethanol-exposed esophageal cancer samples had more severe lesions with infiltration of tumor cells into the muscularis propria. In vitro cellular experiments showed that ethanol exposure induced cytoskeletal microfilament formation, promoted cell migration invasion elevated the expression of N-cadherin and Snail, and decreased the expression of E-cadherin. In conclusion, ethanol exposure exacerbates ESCC, promotes tumor cell infiltration into the muscularis propria, and could be an effective agent for establishing innovative models of invasive carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Autophagy plays roles in esophageal pathologies both benign and malignant. Here, we aim to define the role of autophagy in esophageal epithelial homeostasis.
METHODS: We generated tamoxifen-inducible, squamous epithelial-specific Atg7 (autophagy related 7) conditional knockout mice to evaluate effects on esophageal homeostasis and response to the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) using histologic and biochemical analyses. We fluorescence-activated cell sorted esophageal basal cells based on fluorescence of the autophagic vesicle (AV)-identifying dye Cyto-ID and then subjected these cells to transmission electron microscopy, image flow cytometry, three-dimensional organoid assays, RNA sequencing, and cell cycle analysis. Three-dimensional organoids were subjected to passaging, single-cell RNA sequencing, cell cycle analysis, and immunostaining.
RESULTS: Genetic autophagy inhibition in squamous epithelium resulted in increased proliferation of esophageal basal cells under homeostatic conditions and also was associated with significant weight loss in mice treated with 4NQO that further displayed perturbed epithelial tissue architecture. Esophageal basal cells with high AV level (Cyto-IDHigh) displayed limited organoid formation capability on initial plating but passaged more efficiently than their counterparts with low AV level (Cyto-IDLow). RNA sequencing suggested increased autophagy in Cyto-IDHigh esophageal basal cells along with decreased cell cycle progression, the latter of which was confirmed by cell cycle analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing of three-dimensional organoids generated by Cyto-IDLow and Cyto-IDHigh cells identified expansion of 3 cell populations and enrichment of G2/M-associated genes in the Cyto-IDHigh group. Ki67 expression was also increased in organoids generated by Cyto-IDHigh cells, including in basal cells localized beyond the outermost cell layer.
CONCLUSIONS: Autophagy contributes to maintenance of the esophageal proliferation-differentiation gradient. Esophageal basal cells with high AV level exhibit limited proliferation and generate three-dimensional organoids with enhanced self-renewal capacity.

4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide (4-NQO) and its derivatives react with genomic DNA to form stable quinolone monoadducts, which are highly mutagenic and genotoxic. While the chronic high-dose exposure of epithelial cells to a carcinogen such as 4-NQO leads to tumor development, its effect on other cells has not been explored yet. Since the immunosuppression due to aberrant immunological profile is recognized as a significant cause in tumors, here we determine the interaction between 4-NQO and immune cells both in vivo and in vitro, and its effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression in a murine model. Immune cell profiling of the spleen and peripheral blood revealed a significant decrease in the B-cell population in 4-NQO-exposed mice than the untreated group. Additionally, γδ T and CD5+ B lymphocyte populations decreased at both pre- and post-cancerous stages of OSCC. These results suggested that 4-NQO induced tumor transition from pre-malignant lesions to OSCC by altering certain immune cells systemically. Next, to establish the effect of 4-NQO on immune cells, human B- and T-cell lines were subjected to 4-NQO; the reduction in cell viability, increase in DNA damage response marker, and induction of apoptosis were more pronounced in B than T cells. Altogether, our results indicated that in addition to the genotoxicity of oral epithelial cells, 4-NQO potentiates long-range effects on specific immune cells to induce cell death to cause very-early immunosuppressive response during oral carcinogenesis, and thus immunosuppression and tumor development are coevolved.

Autophagy has been proposed to play a dual role in cancer-as a tumor suppressor in early stages and oncogenic in late stages of tumorigenesis. This study investigated the role of autophagy in oral carcinogenesis using the model of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) induced by carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), mimicking molecular and histopathologic aspects of human OSCC. The induction of autophagy by spermidine (SPD) treatment reduced the severity of lesions and the incidence of OSCC in mice exposed to 4NQO. On the other hand, autophagy inhibition by chloroquine treatment had no protection. The comet assay indicated that SPD reduced 4NQO-induced DNA damage, likely related to the activation of DNA repair and the decrease of reactive oxygen species. As sphingolipid alterations have been reported in OSCC, sphingolipids in the tongue and plasma of animals were analyzed and plasma C16 ceramide levels were shown to increase proportionally to lesion severity, indicating its potential as a biomarker. Mice exposed to 4NQO plus SPD had lower levels of C16 ceramide than the 4NQO group, which indicated SPD\'s ability to prevent the 4NQO-induced carcinogenesis. Together, these data indicate that activation of autophagy has a tumor suppressor role during the early stages of oral carcinogenesis. Because of its ability to induce autophagy accompanied by reduced oxidative stress and DNA damage, SPD may have a protective action against chemically induced oral cancer.

To investigate the effects of dietary folate and sex on histopathology of oral squamous cell carcinoma in mice.
Mice (C57Bl/6, 30/sex) were fed either a deficient folate or sufficient folate diet. Vehicle or 4-nitroquinoline1-oxide (50 μg/mL) in vehicle were administered in drinking water for 20 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of regular drinking water. Oral lesions were observed weekly. Tongues were studied for histopathologic changes. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to measure cell proliferation (Ki67+), and to quantify expression of folate receptor, reduced folate carrier, and proton-coupled folate transporter. T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils were counted and normalized to area.
All 4NQO-treated mice developed oral tumors. Dietary folate level did not affect tumor burden. More tumors were observed on the ventral aspect of the tongue than in other locations within the oral cavity. 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-treated mice displayed 27%-46% significantly lower expression of all three folate transport proteins; diet and sex had no effect on folate transporter expression. T-cell and neutrophil infiltration in tongues were 9.1-fold and 18.1-fold increased in the 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-treated mouse tongues than in controls.
Treatment with 4NQO was the primary factor in determining cancer development, decreased folate transport expression, and lymphoid cell infiltration.

Ethanol is an important risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, the molecular mechanisms behind how ethanol promotes ESCC development remain poorly understood. In this study, ethanol-ESCC-associated target genes were constructed and screened using network pharmacology and subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and bioinformatics analysis. A mouse ethanol-exposed esophageal cancer model was constructed with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) to assess its survival and tumor lesion status, and the mechanism of ethanol-promoted ESCC lesions was verified by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that 126 ethanol-ESCC crossover genes were obtained, which were significantly enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Bioinformatics results showed that the target genes TNF, IL6, IL1β and JUN were highly expressed in esophageal tumor samples and positively correlated with tumor proliferation and apoptosis genes, and the genetic information of these genes was mutated to different degrees. Animal model experiments showed that ethanol decreased the survival rate and aggravated the occurrence of esophageal cancer in mice. qRT-PCR showed that ethanol promoted the expression of TNF, IL6, IL1β and JUN mRNA in mouse esophageal tumor tissues, and Western blotting showed that ethanol promoted p-PI3K and p-AKT protein expression in mouse esophageal tumor tissues. In conclusion, ethanol promotes esophageal carcinogenesis by increasing the expression of TNF, IL6, IL1β and JUN and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.