Objectives:To evaluate the potent role of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and its tissue inhibitors(TIMPs) in the processes of metastasis and local invasiveness of Chinese human ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas,and to evaluate the possible biologic association between its gene expression and the clinical manifestations.Methods:Northern-blot and in-situ hybridization has shown MMPs and TIMPs gene expression in the pancreas and alterations associated with neoplastic transformation.Fifteen cases of surgical pancreatic specimens were examined with cDNA probes to MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1,findings were correlated with the size of tumor section,CA19-9,pathological classification,thrombosis and infiltration of capsule and lymph nodes.Results:Increased levels of genes mRNA from MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 were found in the examined pancreatic cancer tissues,MMP2≈MMP9＜TIMP1,whereas low levels of transcripts for MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 were detectable in pancreata of organ donors.Transcripts coding for MMP2,MMP9,TIMP1 were found in both stroma and tumor cells.Gene expression of MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP1 has shown an obvious correlation with the infiltration of capsule cells,surrounding lymph nodes and the specific histopathological features.Conclusions:Imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs may help physicians to assess the metastatic potential and the prognosis of individual patients.

To evaluate the practical photodynamic therapy (PTD) efficiency on tumor of en-dogenous ALA-induced PP Ⅸ. Methods: Morphoraglcal alterations were observed after PDT 0f protopor-phyrin Ⅸ (PP Ⅸ) by application of endogenous 6-aminolaevulinic acid(ALA) in Kunming mice bearing H22hepatic carcinoma. Results: After PDT, the tumor cells showed degeneration, deformation and nuclearnecrosis and the tumor tissues were defused with hemorrhage and necrosis. The ultrastructural pathologyindicated that mitochondria in tumor cells were injured and destroyed. C0nclusi0n: The pathological alter-ations suggest that PDT of ALA on H22 hepatic carcinoma was conducted by the destruction of mitochon-dria.

Objective To investigate the relationship between adiponectin and the first-phase of pancreatic P-cell insulin secretion in subjects with different statuses of glucose tolerance. Methods Thirty-seven patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) , 30 patients with abnormal glucose tolerance (IGR) , and 40 normal control subjects (NGT) underwent intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Fasting adiponectin and proinsulin (PI) was assayed by EL1SA. Fasting free fatty acid ( FFA) was measured by colorimetry. Insulin area under the curve ( AUC ) , incremental AUC (iAUC) from 0 min to 10 min, AIR3-5, homeostasis model assessment for insnlin resistance (HOMA-IR) , and for β cell function ( HOMA-p) were calculated. The relationship between adiponectin and AUC, iAUC, AIR3-5, proinsulin, FFA, and HOMA-IR was explored. Results (1) The levels of AUC, iAUC, AIR3-5, and adiponectin in DM group and IGR group were significantly lower than those in NGT group (P<0.05), reduced in DM group than those in IGR group(P<0.05). (2) The levels of PI in DM group and IGR group were significantly higher than that in NGT (P<0.05). (3) Adiponectin was positively correlated with HOMA-p,AUC,iAUC,AIR3-5, and HDL-C,while negatively correlated with proinsulin, HOMA-IR, and LDL-C. (4) Proinsulin was positively correlated with HOMA-IR. (5 ) Multiple regression stepwise analysis showed that adiponectin was independently associated with AUC. Conclusions Adiponectin was an independent factor affecting the first phase of pancreatic p-cell insulin secretion. Low adiponectin level could predict the dysfunction of the first phase pancreatic p-cell secretion as well as insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the expression of endothelial differentiation gene/lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors (Edg/LPA) and its clinical significance in human pancreatic cancer.MethodsFifty cases of pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues were collected,and Real-time PCR,Western blot and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of Edg-2/LPA1,Edg-4/LPA2 and Edg-7/LPA3 receptors mRNA and protein,and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.Results The expressions of Edg-2/LPA1,Edg-4/LPA2,Edg-7/LPA3 receptor mRNA were (0.142 ± 0.042 ) ％,(0.471 ±0.064)％,(0.231 ±0.043)％ in pancreatic cancer,and the corresponding values were (0.132 ±0.029)％,(0.027 ±0.015)％,(0.163 ±0.046)％ in adjacent normal tissues.The expressions of Edg-4/LPA2 receptor mRNA in pancreatic cancer were significantly lower than that in adjacent normal tissues ( P ＜0.05 ).The expressions of Edg-4/LPA2 receptor protein in pancreatic cancer were significantly lower than that in adjacent normal tissues ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The expressions of three types of Edg /LPA receptor mRNA in pancreatic cancer were parallel to serum CA19-9 levels.The expressions of Edg-4/LPA2 receptor mRNA were associated with tumor size,differentiation degree,and invasive ability and metastasis.While the expressions of Edg-2/LPA1,Edg-7/LPA3 receptor mRNA was associated with invasive ability and metastasis only.ConclusionsEdg-4/LPA2 receptor is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer,which suggesting the malignant biological behavior of pancreatic cancer.

AIM:To explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats.METHODS: Lewis rats were randomly allocated to a myocin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) group receiving saline (n=10), a DCM group receiving PTX (PTX group; 25 mg?kg-1?d-1, ip, for 30 days, n=10) or healthy control group (n=10). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 in the blood plasma were analyzed by ELISA. The extent of fibrosis was estimated using Masson's staining and immunohistochemistry analyses. Cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography.RESULTS: PTX decreased plasma levels of TNF-? and IL-6, and increased IL-10 level in DCM animals compared with DCM group [TNF-?: (7.21?0.24) ?g/L vs (19.30?1.31) ?g/L, P

[摘 要] 目的：探讨白术（Atractylodes macrocephala）水提物抑制胃癌SGC-7901细胞活性的潜在机制。方法：分别使用蒸馏水（对照）和白术水提物（白术治疗组）灌胃SD大鼠后，采集静脉血后分离其血清、过滤并分别命名为对照组血清（CON-S）和白术组血清（AM-S）。将胃癌SGC7901细胞分为对照组、10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组，其中两个AM-S组细胞分别在相应浓度的AM-S血清中培养24 h，对照组细胞用正常培养基培养相同时间，收取SGC7901细胞和上清液用于进一步分析。使用MTT法检测各组细胞活力，通过商业试剂盒测定乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、丙二醛（MDA）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的水平，采用ELISA试剂盒检测各组细胞中IL-6和TNF-α的含量，采用WB法评估各组细胞中PI3K-Akt-NF-κB信号通路相关蛋白的表达。结果：10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组的SGC7901胃癌细胞增殖活力相较于对照组分别降低48.9%和53.25%（P<0.05或P<0.01）；胃癌细胞上清液中，相较于对照组，10% AM-S组和20% AM-S组LDH水平分别升高29.25%和123%、SOD活性分别升高18%和54.60%、MDA水平分别降低27.8%和40.0%，IL-6水平分别降低15%和17.5%、TNF-α水平分别降低29.71%和40.16%（P<0.05或P<0.01）。相较于对照组，AM-S组中PI3K-Akt-NF-κB信号相关蛋白的水平显著下降（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：白术水提物可以通过抑制癌细胞增殖活力、促进凋亡、抑制肿瘤微环境中的促炎因子分泌以及改变细胞内的氧化应激水平等方式抑制胃癌，其机制可能是通过抑制PI3K-Akt-NF-κB通路来实现这些抗癌作用的。

[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the function and mechanism of ferroptosis in the radiation resistance of colorectal tumor-repopulating cells. Methods: Human colorectal tumor cells HCT116 (defined as Control cells) were cultured in two-dimensional normal conditions, and tumor regenerative cells with high tumorigenicity (defined as TRCs) were cultured and screened in three-dimensional fibrin soft gels by the mechanical force method. Both the control group and TRC group cells were exposed to X-rays with different doses (2, 4, 6, 8 Gy) and MTS and the clone formation assay were used tomeasure the cell viability rate and proliferation ability. After the Control cells and TRCs were treated with ferroptosis inducer (Erastin) and X-rays respectively, they were stained with C11-BODIPY reagent, and the lipid peroxidation level of the cells was observed and determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. qPCR was used to determine the effects of Erastin and X-rays treatments on the expressions of ferroptosis-related genes glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) in the Control cells and TRCs; WB assay was performed to determine the effects on the expressions of ferroptosis-related proteins GPX4 and ACSL4. Results: Colorectal TRCs with high stemness were cultured and screened out from soft fibrin gels. After irradiation with different doses (2, 4, 6, 8 Gy) of X-rays, the viability rate, the clone sizeand the number of clones in the control group were significantly lower than those in the TRC group (all P<0.05). After the cells in the control group were irradiated with different doses of X-rays (4, 8 Gy) and treated with Erastin, the lipid peroxidation level of the cells in the X-ray treated group was significantly higher than that in the untreated group (P<0.05). The lipid peroxidation level of the cells in the Erastin-treated group was significantly higher than that in the DMSO-treated group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference among all treatment subgroups in the TRC group (all P>0.05). The mechanism study indicated that compared with those in control cells, GPX4 and ACSL4 in TRCs under ferroptosis-inducing conditions (X-ray radiation and Erastin treatment) presented expressions that contributed more to radiation resistance, i.e., continued upregulation of GPX4 and downregulation of ACSL4 and their expressions were dependent on the doses of Erastin. Conclusion: Colorectal TRCs may resist ferroptosis through a high expression of GPX4 and a low expression of ACSL4, which in turn induces radiation resistance.