Objective To establish a universal stem loop primer (USLP) based real-time PCR method to scan mature miR profile and quantify it's expression.Methods The common universal stem-loop primer pairs were re-designed; 8 random nucleotides were introduced at 3 ' end for reverse transcription of the mature miR,establishing a miR scanning and quantifying system based on SYBR Green Ⅰ PCR (improved USLP method).10-fold gradient diluted standard miRNA-155 cDNA ( 1 ～ 109 copies/μ1) were utilized to evaluate the sensitivity of this method.The specificity was verified by melting curve assay; the precision was assessed by intra-assay coefficient of variation (ICV) of threshold cycle (Ct value) through 20 repeated detections of the standard miR-155 cDNA (2 × 105,2 × 106,2 × 107 copies/μl) ; cost of the primers and time were evaluated,compared with that of the conventional USLP method.Peripheral blood samples were cultured with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) for0 h,16 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h,and 87 candidate miR that may be associated with human immunity from PubMed data were scanned and quantified from the cultured T cells.Results The sensitivity of the improved USLP method was 103 copies/μl of standard miR-155 cDNA.Melting curve assay showed a single melting peak at 80 ℃,suggesting the excellent PCR specificity of miR-155.Precision of our method quantifying miR-155 was acceptable (ICV ＜ 2.5％ ).Compared with the traditional stem loop primers,our method saved 75％ cost of primers ( 1 917 bp vs 7 851 bp) and 60％ test time of reverse transcription (85 min vs 205 min).By our method,85 of the 87 miR expression in T cells had no significant difference after the PHA stimulation; the expression of miR-150 (72 h) decreased by 10 times and that of miR-155 (48 h) increased 8 times after culture with PHA (Z =-2.032,P =0.042;Z =- 2.023,P =0.043,respectively ).Conclusions The improved USLP method is fast,precise,sensitive,and cost-effective.It could be used for miR profile scanning and quantifying in T cells.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect ofγ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophen?acetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester(DAPT)on phenotypic transformation and matrix accu?mulation induced by aristolochic acid(AA) in renal tubular epithelial cells(NRK-52E)and explore the mechanism. METHODS NRK-52E cells were divided stochastically into normal cell control group,AA 10 mg·L-1 group and AA 10 mg·L-1+DAPT 1 and 10μmol·L-1 group. After 24 h,the mRNA expressions of Notch1,Jagged1,Numb,E-cadherin,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),bone morphogenic protein 7 (Bmp7),typeⅠ a1 (Col1a1) and Ⅲ collagens a1 (Col3a1)were quantified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The protein expressions of Notch1,Jagged1,α-SMA,and Col3a1 in NRK-52E cel s were detected by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS In NRK-52E cells,AA enhanced the expression of TGF-β1,α-SMA and Col3a1 mRNA(P<0.05),reduced the expression of E-cadherin mRNA(P<0.05),up-regulated the mRNA expression of Notch1 mRNA(P<0.01)and Jagged1(P<0.05),and down-regulated the mRNA expression of Numb mRNA(P<0.05) compared with normal cell control group,indicating that phenotypic transformation and matrix accumu?lation occurred in AA-treated NRK-52E cells,accompanied by activated Notch signaling. Treatment with DAPT inhibited Notch signaling by decreasing the expression of Notch1 and Jagged1 (P<0.05),and increasing the expression of Numb mRNA(P<0.05). Furthermore, DAPT also down-regulated the expression levels of TGF-β1,α-SMA,Col1a1 and Col3a1 mRNA(P<0.05), and up-regulated the expression level of Bmp7 and E-cadherin mRNA(P<0.05) compared with AA group,suggesting that DAPT inhibited phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation in AA-treated NRK-52E cells. CONCLUSION AA induces phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation in renal tubular epithelial cells,which is inhibited by DAPT treatment. The possible mechanism is that DAPT suppresses the activation of Notch signaling,resulting in the reduction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and matrix deposition.

AIM:To investigate the effect of cyclopamine on Hedgehog (HH) signaling, phenotypic transfor-mation and matrix accumulation induced by aristolochic acid (AA) in renal tubular epithelial cell NRK-52E.METHODS:NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group (treated with solvent only), AA group (treated with AA at con-centrations of 1, 5, 10 mg/L) and cyclopamine group (treated with AA at concentration of 10 mg/L plus cyclopamine at concentrations of 1, 5, 10μmol/L).After cultured for 24 h, the mRNA expression of Ptch1, Smo,α-SMA, E-cadherin, ZO-1, BMP-7, type I collagen and type III collagen was quantified by real-time PCR.The protein levels of Shh and TGF-β1 were detected by ELISA .Immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the expression of Ptch 1, Smo,α-SMA, E-cadherin and type III collagen in the NRK-52E cells.RESULTS: AA increased the expression of TGF-β1, α-SMA and type III collagen, decreased the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 protein, and down-regulated the expression of Ptch1, Shh and Smo mRNA in the NRK-52E cells, indicating that AA activated HH signaling , and phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation occurred in AA-treated NRK-52E cells.Treatment with cyclopamine inhibited HH signaling by decrea-sing Smo expression and increasing Ptch 1 expression.Moreover, cyclopamine also down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1,α-SMA, type I collagen and III collagen , and up-regulated the expression of BMP-7, ZO-1 and E-cadherin.CON-CLUSION:AA induces phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation in renal tubular epithelial cells , which can be inhibited by cyclopamine treatment .The possible mechanism is that cyclopamine suppresses the activation of HH signaling , resulting in the reduction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and matrix deposition .

Objective To investigate the expression of monocyte-macrophage-related factors and interstitial fibrosis in kidney tissues of rats with ureter obstruction and recanalization .Methods Forty-eight male Spragur-Dawley rats were divided randomly into the obstructive group:sham (n=6), unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)3 days (n=6), UUO 7 days (n=6), and UUO 14 days (n=6) and recanalization group:bilateral ureteral obstruction(RBUO)0 day (n=6), 3 days after RBUO (n=6), 7 days after RBUO (n=6), and 14 days after RBUO (n=6).The kidneys were excised on day 3, 7, and 14, and the deposition of collagen fibers in kidney was detected with HE and Masson staining . Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the protein expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein -1 (MCP-1), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and activated-macrophage marker CD68.Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of MCP-1 and M-CSF.TGF-β1 levels were determined by ELISA .Results Fibrosis observed with HE and Masson staining was obviously increased in kidney tissue of UUO rats , and aggravated as time prolonged, but alleviated in rats with recanalization .TGF-β1 levels were increased obviously in the UUO group , but decreased in rats with recanalization compared with those in BUO rats .In UUO rats, mRNA and protein expression levels of MCP-1 and M-CSF were increased .MCP-1 and M-CSF expression was gradually decreased in rats with recanalization compared with those in BUO rats .The dynamic change in expression of MCP-1 and M-CSF in both UUO rats and recanalization rats was consistent with the change in expression of CD 68. Conclusion Dynamic change in expression of MCP-1 and M-CSF in kidney tissues reflects change of activated and accumulated monocyte -macrophages , which may be one of the major mechanisms contributing to fibrosis induced by ureter obstruction .Renal fibrosis is alleviated by down-regulated expression of monocyte-macrophages factors with recanalization operation .

Objective To investigate the effect of the polymorphisms of multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) C3435T and G2677T on Tacrolimus (Tac) individualized treatment and prognosis of grafts in the renal transplantation recipients (RTRs).Methods One hundred and twenty-seven RTRs who treated with Tac regimen and had a stable graft function were enrolled,and were divided into adjuvant treatment group and non-adjuvant treatment group according to whether given adjuvant drugs to raise Tac trough concentrations. MDR1 C3435T and G2677T SNPs were detected by using sequence specific primers PCR.Tac trough concentrations of whole blood were measured by using enzymelabeled immunosorbent assay.Tac concentration-to-dose ratio (C/D) standardized by body weight was compared according to the various genotypes and haplotypes of MDR1 C3435T and G2677TA SNPs.Results Adjuvant treatment group including 36 recipients had a higher frequency of C genotype of C3435T than un-adjuvant treatment group (68.05％ vs 48.35％,P ＜ 0.01 ). The frequency of G2677TA polymorphisms was of no significant difference between the two group recipients (P＞ 0.05).As to non-adjuvant treatment recipients,the mean Tac DD required and C/D were not significantly different among various polymorphisms of MDR1 G2677T/A and C3435T or various haplotypes (P＞0.05).During A follow-up period of 4 years,13 recipients suffered graft dysfunction in which 84.6％ (11/13) carried 3435C genotype (P＞0.05).Conclusion The frequency of MDR1 C3435T polymorphisms in RTRs is high in the recipients given adjuvant treatment to raise Tac concentrations.Recipients with 3435C genotype were prone to graft dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the efficiency of Trichostatin A (TSA) in inducing cell apoptosis and altering the Notch pathway genes expression in PANC-1 cells line.Methods The survival rate and apoptosis of PANC-1 cells were measured by MTT assay and Hoechst 33258 staining,respectively.mRNA expression levels of the genes,numb,gcn512,dll3,hes6,eaf2,cytohesins,in PANC-1 cells were assessed by real-time quantitive PCR.Western blot was used to measure the expression of bcl-2,bax,actived caspase-3 and NICD protein which was the biologically active form of Notch-1.Results After culturing with 0.1,0.2,and 0.4 μmol/L TSA for 24 hours,the cellular survival rate of PANC-1 cells significantly decreased to 72％,58％ and 39％,respectively.The survival rate of PANC-1 was negatively correlated to time length of culture with TSA.Increased apoptosis of PANC-1 cells after 12,24 and 36 h culture with TSA was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining.Western blotting showed that the expression of bax,actived caspase-3 and NICD protein increased while the bcl-2 protein decreased after culture with TSA.In real time quantitive PCR assessment,the mRNA expression of numb and hes6 in PANC-1 cells were upregulated by TSA (P ＜ 0.05),while the mRNA expression of gcn512 and dll3 were down-regulated by TSA (P ＜ 0.05).While mRNA expressions of eaf2 and cytohesin1,2,3,4 were not affected by TSA.Conclusions TSA induces apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1.The Notch signal pathway may be involved in inducing cellular apoptosis of PANC-1 when cultured with TSA.

In recent years,immunotherapy has become an important part of the treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Tumor cells can escape from the body's immune system by mediating various immune escape mechanisms,among which programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-1/ PD-L1) mediated immune escape plays an important role.Currently,chemotherapy,radiotherapy and molecular targeted therapy have certain limitations in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.Recent studies have found that the combined application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and other treatment methods has certain synergistic effect,thus enhances the anti-tumor effect and further prolongs the survival of patients.Immunotherapy brings not only changes in the treatment patterns of NSCLC,but also challenges in the screening of target population and the management of treatment-related adverse reactions.Summarizing the research progress on immune checkpoint inhibitors in the comprehensive treatment of advanced NSCLC can provide reference for the best treatment of NSCLC.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant adenovirus-p53(rAdp53) injection combined with radiotherapy and hyperthermia in the treatment of unresectable advanced soft tissue sarcoma.Methods In this retrospective study, we evaluated 76 patients with unresectable advanced primary or recurrent soft tissue sarcoma treated in our hospital from November 2005 to November 2012.These patients received radiotherapy and hyperthermia with rAdp53(p53 group, n=41) or without rAdp53(control group, n=35).rAdp53((1-2)×1012viral particles each time, once a week, 8 times on average) was injected into the tumor or infused into the pelvic cavity.Radiotherapy (2 Gy each time, 5 times a week) was performed for the planning target volume at 56.3±5.3 Gy in the p53 group and 58.1±4.2 Gy in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).Superficial or deep thermotherapy was employed 8 times on average (twice a week).Clinical features, response rate, time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were compared between the two groups (P>0.05).The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate OS;the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data.Results At 2 months after treatment, the p53 group had significantly increased response rate (partial response+ complete response+ stable disease)(85% vs.54%, P=0.003) and local control rate (49% vs.23%, P=0.020) as well as prolonged TTP (12 months vs.5 months, P=0.010) and OS (48 months vs.31 months, P=0.049), as compared with the control group.No adverse events caused by radiotherapy and hyperthermia except transient fever were seen in the two groups.Conclusions Concurrent radiotherapy and hyperthermia combined with rAdp53 injection is effective and safe for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.