OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and distribution of a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTS)-2 and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β1 in patients with or without cirrhosis, and to determine their relation. METHODS: The liver tissues from 16 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertensive and 8 patients with liver injury were collected in Wuhan General Hospital from March to June, 2010. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were applied to detect the protein expression of ADAMTS-2 and TGF-β1. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of ADAMTS-2 and TGF-β1 was significantly higher in the cirrhotic tissues than that in normal tissues (P<0.05). Western blot also showed the expression of ADAMTS-2 and TGF-β1 in the cirrhosis tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between ADAMTS-2 and TGF-β1 (r=0.862, P<0.01). CONCLUSION ADAMTS-2 and TGF-β1 may have a synergistic reaction in promoting liver cirrhosis.
ADAM Proteins ; metabolism ; ADAMTS Proteins ; ADAMTS4 Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; Procollagen N-Endopeptidase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of curcumin on viability of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and analyze its possible mechanism. METHODS: In cell lines of A498 and 786-O, the effects of curcumin (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μ mol/L) on the viability of ccRCC were analyzed at 24, 48 and 72 h by MTT assay. The protein expression levels of ADAMTS18 gene, p65, phosphorylation p65 (pp65), AKT, phosphorylation AKT (pAKT) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2) before and after curcumin (10 μ mol/L) treatment were examined by Western blotting. Real-time PCR and methylation specific PCR (MSP) were applied to analyze the expression and methylation level of ADAMTS18 gene before and after curcumin treatment (10 μ mol/L). RESULTS: Curcumin significantly inhibited the viability of A498 and 786-O cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.01). Up-regulation of ADAMTS18 gene expression with down-regulation of ADAMTS18 gene methylation was reflected after curcumin treatment, accompanied by down-regulation of nuclear factor κ B (NF-κ kB) related protein (p65 and pp65), AKT related protein (AKT and pAKT), and NF-κ B/AKT common related protein MMP-2. With ADAMTS18 gene overexpressed, the expression levels of p65, AKT and MMP2 were downregulated, of which were conversely up-regulated in silenced ADAMTS18 (sh-ADAMTS18). The expression of pp65, pAKT and MMP2 in sh-ADAMTS18 was down-regulated after being treated with PDTC (NF-κ B inhibitor) and LY294002 (AKT inhibitor). CONCLUSIONS Curcumin could inhibit the viability of ccRCC by down-regulating ADAMTS18 gene methylation though NF-κ B and AKT signaling pathway.
ADAMTS Proteins/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcumin/pharmacology* ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics* ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of curcumin on the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma and analyze its regulation mechanism. METHODS: In RCC cell lines of A498 and 786-O, the effects of curcumin (2.5, 5, 10 µ mo/L) on the proliferation were analyzed by Annexin V+PI staining. Besides, A498 was inoculated into nude mice to establish tumorigenic models, and the model mice were treated with different concentrations of curcumin (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), once daily for 30 days. Then the tumor diameter was measured, the tumor cells were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the protein expressions of miR-148 and ADAMTS18 were detected by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, after transfection of miR-148 mimics, miR-148 inhibitor or si-ADAMTS18 in cell lines, the expression of ADAMTS18 was examined by Western blotting and the cell survival rate was analyzed using MTT. Subsequently, Western blot analysis was again used to examine the autophagy phenomenon by measuring the relative expression level of LC3-II/LC3-I; autophagy-associated genes, including those of Beclin-1 and ATG5, were also examined when miR-148 was silenced in both cell lines with curcumin treatment. RESULTS: Curcumin could inhibit the proliferation of RCC in cell lines and nude mice. The expression of miR-148 and ADAMTS18 was upregulated after curcumin treatment both in vitro and in vivo (P<0.05). The cell survival rate was dramatically declined upon miR-148 or ADAMTS18 upregulated. However, si-ADAMTS18 treatment or miR-148 inhibitor reversed these results, that is, both of them promoted the cell survival rate. CONCLUSION Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma by regulating the miR-148/ ADAMTS18 axis through the suppression of autophagy in vitro and in vivo. There may exist a positive feedback loop between miR-148 and ADAMTS18 gene in RCC.
Animals ; Mice ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism* ; Curcumin/therapeutic use* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; ADAMTS Proteins/metabolism*

BACKGROUNDKeshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The etiology of KD is still under debate and there is no effective approach to preventing and curing this disease. Young women of child-bearing age are the most frequent victims in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between molecular pathogenic mechanisms in male and female KD sufferers.

METHODSWe extracted RNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KD patients (12 women and 4 men) and controls (12 women and 4 men). Then the isolated RNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Agilent human 4×44k whole genome microarrays. Gene expression was examined using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was also performed to validate our microarray results.

RESULTSAmong the genes differentially expressed in female KD patients we identified: HLA-DOA, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQA1 associated with spontaneous autoimmunity; BMP5 and BMP7, involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation defect; and ADAMTS 8, CCL23, and TNFSF15, implicated in anti-angiogenic activities. These genes are involved in the canonical pathways and networks recognized for the female KD sufferers and might be related to the pathogenic mechanism of KD.

CONCLUSIONOur results might help to explain the higher susceptibility of women to this disease.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; ADAMTS Proteins ; Adult ; Autoimmunity ; genetics ; physiology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5 ; genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; HLA-D Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; genetics ; HLA-DR alpha-Chains ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sex Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 ; genetics