OBJECTIVE: To determine the regulation effect of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat hepatic precursor cells. METHODS: We used Noggin (200 ng/mL) as the function blocking control of BMP-4, and the hepatic precursor cells of WB-F344 were treated with recombinant BMP-4 at 50 ng/mL at different time points. The proliferation of WB-F344 cells were tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. The ultrastructural characters of differentiated WB-F344 cells regulated by BMP-4 were observed under a transmission electron microscope. RT-PCR was used to examine mRNA expression of specific molecular markers for different cellular phenotypes potentially differentiated from the WB-F344 cells. RESULTS: At different time points, the absorbance values in the BMP-4 treatment groups were higher than those in the control groups of Noggin and blank treatment (P<0.01). The WB-F344 cells treated with BMP-4 exhibited typical ultrastructural characters of well-differentiated epithelial cells. The hepatocyte mRNA markers were more significantly promoted in the differentiated WB-F344 cells in the BMP-4 treatment group than those in the other 2 control groups. CONCLUSION BMP-4 can promote the proliferation and directional differentiation towards hepatocytes of rat hepatic precursor cells of WB-F344.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology ; Carrier Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; Stem Cells ; cytology

PURPOSE: KAI1 COOH-terminal interacting tetraspanin (KITENIN) has been found to act as a promoter of metastasis in murine models of colon cancer and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The suppression of tumor progression and metastasis of established colon cancer in mice was observed after intravenous delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting KITENIN. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of gene therapy targeting KITENIN in human head and neck SCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SNU-1041, a well-established human hypopharyngeal SCC cell line, was used. KITENIN expression in SNU-1041 was measured by Western blot analysis. The cells were prepared, maintained in culture dishes with media, and divided into two groups: the si-KITENIN group and the scrambled group (control). The siRNA targeting KITENIN (si-KITENIN) and scrambled DNA were transfected into the SNU-1041 cells in each group. The effect of gene therapy was compared by in vitro experiments to evaluate invasion, migration, and proliferation. RESULTS: KITENIN was strongly expressed in the SNU-1041 cells, and the number of invaded cells was reduced more in the si-KITENIN group than in the scrambled group (p<0.001). The speed for the narrowing gap, made through adherent cells, was lower in the si-KITENIN group (p<0.001), and the number of viable proliferating cells was reduced in the si-KITENIN group compared to the scrambled group (p<0.001, the third day). KITENIN protein expression was no longer identified in the si-KITENIN group. CONCLUSION: Gene therapy using an anti-KITENIN strategy might be effective for head and neck squamous carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics/pathology/*therapy ; Carrier Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; *Gene Therapy ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics/pathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics ; *RNA, Small Interfering

With the development of the quality of life, the morbidity of hyperuricemia is increasing year by year. At the same time, it appears that this disease attacks the young people currently. As the study of pathogenesis of hyperuricemia advanced, a series of uric acid transporters were found during this process. Meanwhile, the definition of transporterome was proposed. They were divided into three groups according to the functions: reabsorption proteins, excretion proteins and skeleton proteins. At moment, the drugs for hyperuricmia mainly include uric acid composition inhibitors and uric acid excretion promoters. Since the excretion of uric acid plays a leading role during the process of attack of hyperurecimia, it makes sense to explore Chinese medicines with clear mechanism targeting the transporterome. Therefore, this paper would focus on transporterome and summarize the mechanisms of Chinese medicines in treating hyperuricemia.
Animals ; Biological Transport ; Carrier Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Uric Acid ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDResistin, a newly discovered cysteine-rich hormone secreted mainly by adipose tissues, has been proposed to form a biochemical link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the resistin receptor has not yet been identified. This study aimed to identify resistin binding proteins/receptor.

METHODSThree cDNA fragments with the same 11 bp 5' sequence were found by screening a cDNA phage display library of rat multiple tissues. As the reading frames of the same 11 bp 5' sequence were interrupted by a TGA stop codon, plaque lift assay was consequently used to prove the readthrough phenomenon. The stop codon in the same 11 bp 5' sequence was replaced by tryptophan, and the binding activity of the coded peptide [AWIL, which was designated as resistin binding peptide (RBP)] with resistin was identified by the confocal microscopy technique and the affinity chromatography experiment. pDual GC-resistin and pDual GC-resistin binding peptide were co-transfected into 3T3-L1 cells to confirm the function of resistin binding peptide.

RESULTSThree cDNA fragments with the same 11 bp 5' sequence were found. The TGA stop codon in reading frames of the same 11 bp 5' sequence was proved to be readthroughed. The binding activity of RBP with resistin was consequently identified. The expression of the resistin binding peptide in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes expressing pDual GC-resistin significantly inhibited the adipogenic differentiation.

CONCLUSIONRBP could effectively rescue the promoted differentiation of resistin overexpressed 3T3-L1 preadipocyte.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Library ; Rats ; Resistin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

The zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a host factor that specifically inhibits the replication of certain viruses, including murine leukemia virus, Sindbis virus and Ebola virus, by targeting the viral mRNAs for degradation. ZAP directly binds to the target viral mRNA and recruits the cellular RNA degradation machinery to degrade the RNA. No significant sequence similarity or obvious common motifs have been found in the so far identified target viral mRNAs. The minimum length of the target sequence is about 500 nt long. Short workable ZAP-binding RNAs should facilitate further studies on the ZAP-RNA interaction and characterization of such RNAs may provide some insights into the underlying mechanism. In this study, we used the SELEX method to isolate ZAP-binding RNA aptamers. After 21 rounds of selection, ZAP-binding aptamers were isolated. Sequence analysis revealed that they are G-rich RNAs with predicted stem-loop structures containing conserved "GGGUGG" and "GAGGG" motifs in the loop region. Insertion of the aptamer sequence into a luciferase reporter failed to render the reporter sensitive to ZAP. However, overexpression of the aptamers modestly but significantly reduced ZAP's antiviral activity. Substitution of the conserved motifs of the aptamers significantly impaired their ZAP-binding ability and ZAP-antagonizing activity, suggesting that the RNA sequence is important for specific interaction between ZAP and the target RNA. The aptamers identified in this report should provide useful tools to further investigate the details of the interaction between ZAP and the target RNAs.
Aptamers, Nucleotide ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia Virus, Murine ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Protein Binding ; RNA ; chemistry ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Response Elements ; SELEX Aptamer Technique

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that serve as a platform for caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) maturation as well as pyroptosis. Though a number of inflammasomes have been described, the NLRP3 inflammasome is the most extensively studied. NLRP3 inflammasome is triggered by a variety of stimuli, including infection, tissue damage and metabolic dysregulation, and then activated through an integrated cellular signal. Many regulatory mechanisms have been identified to attenuate NLRP3 inflammasome signaling at multiple steps. Here, we review the developments in the negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome that protect host from inflammatory damage.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Carrier Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Interferon Type I ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of methylated mismatch repair (MMR) genes (hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH3) in the carcinogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSSamples of 38 cases of HCC along with their corresponding noncancerous tissues, 2 samples of donated normal tissue and 6 cell lines were collected and subject to the methylation-specific PCR (MSP) to examine promoter methylation status of MLH1, MSH2 and MSH3. Six tumor cell lines were analyzed before and after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment. In addition, alterations of mRNA expression of MMRs were investigated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR.

RESULTSCpG island methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 was observed in 13.2% (5 of 38 samples) and 68.4% (26 of 38 samples) respectively in HCC, 2.6% (1 of 38 samples) and 55.3% (21 of 38) respectively in corresponding noncancerous tissues, but not in normal control tissues. Promoter methylation of the hMSH2 gene was present in 83.3% of cell lines tested (5/6), but none were observed for the hMLH1 gene. Promoter methylation of the hMSH3 gene was not identified in any tissue samples or cell lines. After 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment, hMSH2 methylation was induced or completely reversed, and its mRNA expression was increased in most cell lines.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that promoter hypermethylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes is common in HCC. Particularly, there is a high frequency of methylation of hMSH2 in both cancer and noncancerous tissues, but not in normal control tissue. Therefore, hypermethylation of MMR genes, especially hMSH2, may be involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC and may serve as an early diagnostic marker for HCC. The close correlation between hMSH2 methylation and low expression of its mRNA suggests that hMSH2 methylation is an important pathway in the regulation of gene expression.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Base Pair Mismatch ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; DNA Repair ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutL Proteins ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Pannexin-1 (Panx1) forms nonselective large channel in cell plasma membrane and has been shown to be associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ATP release and phagocytes recruitment. In the current study, by manipulation of Panx1 expression in human myeloid cells and application of Panx1 deficient mice, we failed to find a correlation between Panx1 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, although an interaction between these two proteins was evident. However, in thioglycollate induced peritonitis, Panx1 deficient mice showed much more phagocytes infiltration. Further analyses showed that mice deficient for Panx1 exhibited enlarged F4/80(low)Gr1(-)Ly6C(-)cell population in the peritonea. Our study thus reveals an important role for Panx1 in regulation of peritoneal cell population and peritonitis development.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Connexins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peritoneal Cavity ; cytology ; Peritonitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; metabolism ; Thioglycolates ; toxicity

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is known as one of the factors essential for osteoclast development. In the present study, we examined effects of M-CSF on the apoptotic pathway of osteoclast precursors and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Osteoclast precursors underwent apoptosis in the absence of M-CSF, even in the presence of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL). Active caspase-3 and -9 were detected in the osteoclast precursors and treatments of precursors with their specific inhibitors (Z- DEVD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) decreased the apoptosis. M-CSF decreased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner with decreasing in active caspases-3 and -9 levels and up-regulating Bcl-XL. Those effects of M-CSF on inhibiting apoptosis of osteoclasts precursor by regulating anti-apoptotic signals was more effective when combined with RANKL. These results demonstrate that M-CSF acts as a survival factor for the osteoclast precursors. Furthermore, it is believed that the apoptosis of osteoclast precursors may be involved in the activation of caspase-9 and that M-CSF may promote their survival through Bcl-XL-induced inhibition of caspase-9 activation.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects/physiology ; Carrier Proteins/pharmacology ; Caspases/antagonists & inhibitors/drug effects/metabolism ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Female ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/*pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins/pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oligopeptides/pharmacology ; Osteoclasts/*cytology/drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/drug effects/*metabolism ; Stem Cells/cytology/*drug effects ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo observe the sensitivity change of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with antisense DNMT1 gene fragment to tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its mechanism.

METHODSCell survival rate was measured by trypan blue, apoptosis rate by TUNEL method and the expression of bcl-2, bax and bad by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCell survival rate of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with antisense DNMT1 gene fragment was markedly lower than that transfected with sense DNMT1 gene fragment or empty vector (P < 0.05 and 0.01), but the apoptosis rate was on the contrary (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The expression of bax and bad (especially the former), but not bcl-2 of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with antisense DNMT1 gene fragment was markedly higher than those of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with sense DNMT1 gene fragment or empty vector.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity of SMMC-7721 cells to TRAIL can be enhanced by the transfection of antisense DNMT1 gene fragment, which may be related to the increase of bax and bad expression.

Antisense Elements (Genetics) ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Carrier Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; bcl-Associated Death Protein