OBJECTIVETo screen the proteins interacting with inhibitor of differentiation 1(Id1) using yeast two-hybrid analysis in adult human lung cDNA libraries.

METHODSThe coding sequence of Id1 was amplified by PCR and cloned into the bait plasmid. The recombinant bait vector pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 was verified by restriction endonuclease digestion before transformation into the yeast strain EGY48/pSH18-34, which was tested subsequently for reporter genes Leu2 and LacZ activation. The pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 plasmid and the cDNA library plasmid were sequentially transformed into the yeast strains and screened to obtain Leu2(+) and Leu2(+)LacZ(+) clones, with the false positive clones excluded using positive and negative controls, and the plasmid of the true positive clone was sequenced and blasted for homological analysis.

RESULTSSuccessful construction of pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 was confirmed by enzyme digestion. After transformation of pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 into EGY48/pSH18-34, no specific reporter genes Leu2 and LacZ activation was found. The pHybLex/Zeo-Id1 plasmid and the cDNA library plasmid were sequentially transformed into yeast strain, and 198 Leu(+) clones and 19 Leu(+)LacZ(+) double positive clones were obtained. After elimination of the false positive clones, one true positive clone was obtained, whose plasmid analysis by sequencing and blasting indicated high homology (99.5%, 556/559) to AGGF1 (an angiogenic factor with G-patch and FHA domains 1). AGGF1 expression was confirmed in the true positive yeast cells by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONAGGF1 is confirmed to interact with Id1 by yeast two-hybrid analysis for screening adult human lung cDNA libraries.

Adult ; Angiogenic Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Lung ; cytology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of vasohibin-2 (VASH2) in regulation of proliferation and metastasis of cervical cancer cells. METHODS: We analyzed the differentially expressed genes between cervical cancer cells with flotillin-1 overexpression and knockdown by RNA-seq combined with analysis of public databases. The expression levels of VASH2 were examined in normal cervical epithelial cells (HcerEpic), cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, C-33A, Ca ski, SiHa and MS751) and fresh cervical cancer tissues with different lymph node metastasis status. We further tested the effects of lentivirus-mediated overexpression and interference of VASH2 on proliferation, migration, invasion and lymphatic vessel formation of the cervical cancer cells and detected the expression levels of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and TGF-β mRNA. RESULTS: RNA-seq and analysis of public databases showed that VASH2 expression was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer cells exogenously overexpressing flotillin-1 (P < 0.05) and downregulated in cells with flotillin-1 knockdown (P < 0.05), and was significantly higher in cervical cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). In cervical cancer cell lines Ca Ski, SiHa, and MS751 and cervical cancer tissue specimens with lymph node metastasis, VASH2 expression was also significantly upregulated as compared with HcerEpic cells and cervical cancer tissues without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Exogenous overexpression of VASH2 significantly promoted proliferation, migration, invasion and lymphatic vessel formation of cervical cancer cells, whereas these abilities were significantly inhibited in cells with VASH2 knockdown (P < 0.05). The cervical cancer cells overexpressing VASH2 showed significant down- regulation of e-cadherin and up- regulation of N-cadherin, Vimentin and VEGF-C, while the reverse changes were detected in cells with VASH2 knockdown (P < 0.05). TGF-β mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer cells overexpressing VASH2 and down-regulated in cells with VASH2 knockdown (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Flotillin-1 may participate in TGF-β signaling pathway-mediated EMT through its down-stream target gene VASH2 to promote the proliferation, migration, invasion and lymphatic vessel formation of cervical cancer cells in vitro.
Angiogenic Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic liver disease leads to liver fibrosis, and although the liver does have a certain regenerative capacity, this disease is associated with dysfunction of the liver vessels. C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced in the liver and circulated from there for metabolism. CRP was recently shown to inhibit angiogenesis by inducing endothelial cell dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of CRP levels on angiogenesis in a rat model of liver dysfunction induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). METHODS: The diameter of the hepatic vein was analyzed in rat liver tissues using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The expression levels of angiogenic factors, albumin, and CRP were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. A tube formation assay was performed to confirm the effect of CRP on angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with lithocholic acid (LCA) and siRNA-CRP. RESULTS: The diameter of the hepatic portal vein increased significantly with the progression of cirrhosis. The expression levels of angiogenic factors were increased in the cirrhotic liver. In contrast, the expression levels of albumin and CRP were significantly lower in the liver tissue obtained from the BDL rat model than in the normal liver. The CRP level was correlated with the expression of albumin in hepatocytes treated with LCA and siRNA-CRP. Tube formation was significantly decreased in HUVECs when they were treated with LCA or a combination of LCA and siRNA-CRP. CONCLUSION: CRP seems to be involved in the abnormal formation of vessels in hepatic disease, and so it could be a useful diagnostic marker for hepatic disease.
Angiogenic Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bile Ducts/surgery ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatic Veins/abnormalities ; Hepatocytes/cytology/metabolism ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lithocholic Acid/pharmacology ; Liver/metabolism/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology ; Liver Diseases/metabolism/*pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mitochondria/drug effects/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum Albumin/genetics/metabolism