Objective:To investigate the effects of clinically achievable dose of lovastatin on prostate cancer PC3 cells.Methods:PC3 prostate cancer cells were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO),or lovastain only,or lovastatin with mevalonic acid for 24,48 and 72 hours respectively.MTT assay was used to detect the cell viability.By means of [3H] thymidine incorporation tests,the effects of lovastatin on cell proliferation were analyzed.Western blot was used to detect activated casepase3,caspase7,and cleaved PARP(cPARP),the important molecules on the apoptosis pathway.Results:Cell proliferation of PC3 was significantly inhibited by 39.29%[(63.69%?3.69%) vs(102.98%?6.84%),P=0.000] after 48 h treatment with lovastatin at its clinically achievable dose of 2 ?mol/L.After 72 hours the cell proliferation was inhibited by 44.24% [(52.79%?9.88%) vs(97.03%?0.87%),P=0.048].The cell number was also markedly decreased(4.86?105 ? 0.10?105) vs(9.66?105?0.10?105),P=0.000] after 72 h treatment at this low concentration of 2 ?mol/L.The viability of PC3 cells was significantly decreased 50.12%(56.52%?6.40%) vs(106.64%?5.27%),P=0.000] and 60.05%(41.99%?11.64%) vs(102.94%?8.49%),P=0.000] after 48 h and 72 h treatment,respectively.In addition,2 ?mol/L lovastatin induced activation of casepase7 and led the death substrate PARP to cleavage.Conclusion:Clinically achievable dose of lovastatin inhibits prostate cancer PC3 cell proliferation and induces PC3 cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo measure levels of cytokines including IL-1β, IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-α in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and to analyze their correlation with clinical indices such as infection and onset time.

METHODSA total of 33 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were assigned to the case group, and 27 healthy children to the control group. The case group was further divided into increased white blood cell (WBC) and normal WBC subgroups according to peripheral WBC level. The serum levels of cytokines including IL-1β, IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood pH, blood sugar, blood lactate, fructosamine, peripheral leukocytes and neutrophils and some other clinical indices were also measured.

RESULTSThe level of IL-12 in the case group was higher than in the control group (P<0.001). In the case group, the level of IL-18 was negatively correlated with onset time (r=0.413, P=0.015), the neutrophil count was positively correlated with IL-1β level (r=0.413, P=0.023) and the WBC count was positively correlated with IL-18 level (r=0.352, P=0.038). IL-1β, IL-12 and IL-18 levels in the increased WBC subgroup were higher than in the normal WBC subgroup (P<0.05 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONSCytokine secretion disorders of Th1 cells exist in children with type 1 diabetes. Infections may induce cytokine secretion and might contribute to the early onset of diabetes.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Th1 Cells ; immunology