Acute liver failure and end-stage liver diseases are llfe-threatening.So far,orthotopic liver transplantation is the unique treatment available for these late-stage liver diseases,which,however,is limited by the lack of donor liver.While hepatocyte transplantation,bioartificial liver and tissue engineered liver are potential alternative treatments,the limited availability of functional hepatoeytes is the major hurdle.Due to their extensive capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency to differentiate into cells,embryonic stem cells represent a potential unlimited cell source for therapy.The clinical application of embryonic stem cells in liver diseases requires well-defined and efficient protocols for differentiation,characterization and purification in vitro.Hepatic differentiation of embryonic stem cells in different culttire systelns and the problems remained are reviewed in this article.

Stathmin, a ubiquitously expressed cytosolic protein(Mr=19×10~3), is also called oncogene protein 18 (Op18). Stathmin is involved in the assembly of microtubule (MT) and spindle by binding the tubulin protein. It plays a key role in cell proliferation, differentiation, regeneration, and migration and has regulatory effects on the signal transduction. Recently, it is reported that stathmin is overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies. It induces tumor cell migration and invasion by regulating MT depolymeri-zation. Its post-translational modification influences the interaction with p53 protein and is involved in the initiation and progression of malignant tumor. Stathmin alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics has been used for tumor therapy. The internal association of stathmin with cancer etiology is still unknown. So, further studies are needed to determine the role of stathmin as potential tumor biomarker and a drug target in tumor therapy.

Objective:To explore the regulation mechanism of fibronectin expression by studying the fefiects of cytokines on the expression of Fn in the endometrium of early pregnant mouse. Methods: The early pregnant mice were injected with cytokines, such as interlukin-l.inter-lukin-1ra, leukemia inhibitory factor, at different concentration.The levels of Fn protein and mRNA in endometrium were measured by immunob-lot and RT-PCR method.Results: Fn protein and mRNA level of LIF groups, other low or high concentration, were higher than that of control group( P

Objective To detect the mutations of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) gene in a human malignant melanoma cell line A375. Methods A375 cells and control melanocytes obtained from circumcised prepuce were cultured, genomic DNA was extracted from these cells. All eight exons of PEDF gene were scanned by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis ofpolymerase chain reaction products (PCR-SSCP) in both A375 cells and control melanocytes. DNA sequencing was performed for the PCR products separated into electrophoretic bands with altered mobility. Results Altered mobility was observed with SSCP analysis in amplicons of exon 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, with the most obvious alteration occurred in exon 5 and 6. DNA sequencing revealed mutations in both exon 5 and 6. The common type of mutations was single base-deletion in exon 5 and single base-substitution in exon 6. Conclusion Mutations of PEDF gene may contribute to the development of human malignant melanoma.

Objective; To study the effect of embryos on the regulation of integrin ?3 in cultured mice endometrial cells with a three-dimensional model. Methods: The mice blastocysts on day 4 of pregnany were cultured on a three-dimensional endometrium in vitro,the level of integrin ?3 mRNA was measured with RT-PCR and prtein measured with immuno-blot method. Results:The level of integrin ?3 mRNA and protein expression was significantly increased by embryos( 1.021?0.022 vs 0.434?0. 154,126. 83?8.27 vs 69.90?6.16) (P

Objective:To study regulation of external leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF) and interlukin 1(IL 1) on the expression of integrin ? 3 in the mouse endometrium during peri implantation period and explore the mechanism which LIF participate in embryonic implantation.Methods:The mice were injected peritoneally with LIF,IL 1 or IL 1ra at different administration on day 2～4 of pregnancy.The level of integrin ? 3 protein was measured with Westernblot method and mRNA measured with RT PCR.Results:The levels of integrin ? 3 protein and mRNA were increased by LIF and IL 1(P

Purpose:To study the difference in gene expression profile between HCC cell strains with high and low metastatic potential.Methods:The gene expression profile of high and low metastatic HCC cell strains were analyzed by cDNA microarray, and genes with differential expression were further verified by RT PCR.Results:384 differentially expressed genes were detected between high and low metastatic HCC strains, making up 32% of the total genes studied. RT PCR analysis on 4 genes chosen demonstrated the same results as those revealed by the array technique.Conclusions:Obvious difference in gene expression patterns was observed between high and low metastatic HCC cell strains, chromosome 8p may contain metastasis promote and inhibitory genes.

Objective:To study effects of E selectin and ligand on adhesion and implantation of embryo.Methods:The mouse hatched blastocysts were cultured in vitro and the effects of E selectin and anti sLe x on the attachment of embryos were observed. The implantation rates of embryos were observed after anti sLe x at differential concentrations was injected to uterine cavity of mouse from pregnant day 2 to day 4.Results:The attachment rate of embryos (88 0%、87 2%) at concentrations of 25 ng/ml and 50 ng/ml E selectin was significantly higher than control group (74 0%) ( P

Objective:In order to explore the function and regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM 1)in the early pregnancy.Methods:The expression of ICAM 1 mRNA in endometrium of day 1～8 normal pregnant mice and day 4 pregnant mice injected with leukemia inhibitory factor interleukin 1? were detected with RT PCR.Results:Levels of ICAM 1 in endometrium of various periods of pregnancy mice began to increase on day 2 of pregnancy, went up to the highest on day 4, then decrease slowly. The expression of ICAM 1 in endometrium of day 4 pregnancy was improved by administration of LIF,IL 1? in vivo(P

Background and purpose:As a tumor suppressor gene, ribosomal S6 kinase 4 (RSK4) plays important roles in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and inducing cell apoptosis. However, the proteins interacting with RSK4 are still unknown. This study aimed to screen proteins interacting with RSK4 in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 by lfag-tag affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry).Methods:The pcDNA3.1/EGFP-RSK4-Flag eukaryotic expression vector was constructed by inserting full lengthRSK4 gene into vector pcDNA3.1/EGFP-Flag. And then the recombinant plasmids were transferred into MDA-MB-231 cells. Real-timelfuorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of RSK4 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS were applied to screen proteins interacting with RSK4, and the related action mechanism of RSK4 with its interacted proteins was detected based on bioinformatics gene ontology (GO) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA).Results:Twenty-four proteins, such as serine/threonine-pro-tein kinase 38 (STK38)/serine/threonine-protein kinase 38-like (STK38L), MOB kinase activator 2 (MOB2) and protein arginineN-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), were successfully identiifed by Flag-tag affnity puriifcation followed by LC-MS/MS analysis, which probably interacted with RSK4. Bioinformatics analysis of the identiifed proteins suggested the proteins interacting with RSK4 were involved in diverse biological pathways, such as apoptosis and cell migration. Conclusion:According to bioinformatics results of proteins interacting with RSK4 identiifed by affnity puriifcation and LC-MS/MS, biological networks of RSK4 are involved in apoptosis and migration in breast cancer cells.