This study examined the possible role of p120ctn in the pathogenesis and development of pancreatic cancer. PANC-1 cells, a kind of human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, were cultured in this study. p120ctn was immunocytochemically detected in PANC-1 cells. The recombinant lentivirus vector was constructed to knock down the p120ctn expression of PANC-1 cells. Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of p120ctn and E-cadherin in PANC-1 cells after p120ctn knockdown. The adhesion, invasion and migration capacity of PANC-1 cells after p120ctn knockdown was detected by cell adhesion, invasion and migration assays. Cell growth was measured by the MTT method. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The results showed that p120ctn knockdown led to significantly down-regulated E-cadherin and a reduced cell-to-cell adhesion ability in PANC-1 cells. shRNA-mediated knockdown of p120ctn reduced invasion and migration capacity of PANC-1 cells, inhibited cell growth, caused a significant decrease in the percentage of cells in G(1), an increase in S, and promoted apoptosis of PANC-1 cells. It was concluded that p120ctn plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma, suggesting that p120ctn is a novel target for pancreatic carcinoma treatment.
Catenins ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics

To investigate the relationship and significance of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway with caspase-3, XIAP, HSP27and Grp-78. The HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against b-catenin. After 72 and 96 h, protein was extracted and the protein expressions of b-catenin, caspase-3, XIAP, Grp-78 and HSP27 were detected by Western blot. b-catenin protein expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (F = 160.72, P is less than to 0.01). Interestingly, Caspase-3 protein expression was decreased at 72 h and increased to normal at 96 h (F = 136.10, P is less than to 0.01), while p-caspase-3 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h (F = 98.65, P is less than to 0.01). XIAP protein expression decreased at 72 h (F = 37.29, P is less than to 0.01) and increased at 96 h. Grp-78 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h ( F = 58.72, P is less than to 0.01). HSP27 protein expression showed no change following transfection ( F = 1.91, P is more than to 0.05). Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway is related to the protein expressions of caspase-3, XIAP and Grp-78, but not related to HSP27 protein expression in HCC. Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway may participate in the regulation of HCC apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation through affecting these factors.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Catenins ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe main goal is to investigate the role of P120-catenin (P120ctn) in cadherin switching, as well as migration and invasion, of oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) cells.

METHODSThe plasmid pGFP-V-RS-P120ctn shRNA was used to transfect TSCCA cells and significantly reduce the expression of P120ctn in these cells. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were conducted to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of P120ctn, E-cadherin (E-cad), and N-cadherin (N-cad). By contrast, the Transwell cell invasion and cell migration assay was used to determine the invasion and migration capacities before and after the transfection.

RESULTSAfter the plasmid pGFP-V-RS-P120ctn shRNA was transfected into the TSCCA cells, we found that as the P120ctn expression significantly decreased, E-cad mRNA and protein expression decreased significantly. Moreover, N-cad mRNA and protein expression increased significantly (P<0.05). Lastly, the cell migration and invasion capacities were augmented significantly (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn OSCC cells, P120ctn may be involved in cadherin switching and promote metastasis and invasion.

Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Catenins ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Transfection

Animals ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Catenins ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the expression of P120 catenin in pancreatic carcinoma and to explore the association between P120 catenin gene polymorphism at T755G position and pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODSThe expression of P120 catenin in 52 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and normal pancreatic tissues on the mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western Blot methods respectively. P120 catenin gene polymorphism at T755G position of in 52 patients and 60 healthy controls were examined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of P120 catenin in pancreatic carcinoma tissues were significantly lower than normal pancreatic tissues (P=0.000, P=0.002). Reduced expression of P120 catenin mRNA was significantly correlated with differentiated (P=0.033), lymph node metastasis (P=0.004), vascular invasion (P=0.022), and pTNM stage (P=0.003). Additionally, there were significant difference of P120 catenin gene polymorphism genotypes and alleles at T755G position between patients and healthy controls (P=0.008, P=0.016). The GG genotype of P120 catenin gene was associated with higher risk of incidence for pancreatic carcinoma compared with the TT genotype (OR=2.765, 95%CI=1.312-3.958).

CONCLUSIONSThe reduced expressions of both P120 catenin mRNA and protein in pancreatic carcinoma suggest its association with pancreatic carcinoma development. Polymorphism of P120 catenin gene at T755G situation might be a risk factor for pancreatic carcinoma, and it may be used to diagnosis and prevent pancreatic carcinoma early.

Case-Control Studies ; Catenins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, and to investigate their relationship and the relation with clinico-pathological features. METHOD: Two-step immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the expression of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) in formalin fixation and paraffin-embedded specimens from 56 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 15 cases with normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. RESULT: The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) in the 56 cases of NPC tissues were 64.29% and 67.86% respectively, mainly with reduction of expression membrane and with the expression of cytoplasm; 6.67% of the 15 comparative normal cases of nasopharyngitis had abnormal expression of E-cadherin and P(120ctn). The differences were statistically significant. The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) in NPC tissues were 71.43% and 85.71% respectively in low differentiated cancer group, which was obviously higher than the rates-42.86% and 36.29%-in high and middle differentiated cancer group. The 80.00% and 85.00% abnormal expression rate in the group with cervical lymph node metastases was higher than that in the group without cervical lymph node metastases (52.78%, 58.33%). The abnormal expression rate of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) (76.92%, 84.62%) in the third and forth phases was higher than that in the first and second phases (46.66%, 53.33%). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were all together 12 co-expression cases of P120ctn) and E-cadherin and 28 abnormal co-expression cases in the 56 cases of NPC tissues, which was of obvious consistency and correlation, with the relevant indexes: rs = 0.5217 and P < 0.01. CONCLUSION The abnormal expression of E-cadherin and P(120ctn) is closely related to the degree of differentiation, clinical stage and cervical lymph node metastasis, and they join in the process of NPC initiation, progression, invasion and metastasis.
Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Catenins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of miR-221 on the biological activity of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and its mechanism. METHODS: Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) were isolated from bone marrow samples of ALL children diagnosed in our hospital from May 2018 to November 2018. The cells were divided into control group, miR-221-NC group and miR-221 group. After transfection according to the instructions of Lipofectamine 2000 kit, the levels of miR-221 in each group were detected by RT-PCR. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of miR-221 on cell cycle and apoptosis. Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion. Western blot was used to detect the effects of miR-221 on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Caspase 3, Cyclin D1 and MMP-9 proteins in BMNC. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the targeting relationship between miR-221 and Wnt gene. RESULT: The expression level of miR-221 in the miR-221 group was significantly higher than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). MTT assay showed that, after transfection for 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, the cell proliferation level in miR-221 group was significantly lower than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). The cell ratio of G/G phase was (73.25±8.1)% in the miR-221 group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05); moreover, the cell ratio of S phase in the miR-221 group was (12.37±1.6)%，which was significantly lower than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). The percentage of apoptotic cells in the miR-221 group was (24.68±3.87)%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). Transwell cell invasion experiment showed that the number of invasive cells in the miR-221 group was 23.42±3.62, which was significantly lower than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). Transwell cell migration assay showed that the number of migrating cells in the miR-221 group was 34.86±5.32, which was significantly lower than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). The relative level of PCNA, Cyclin D1 and MMP-9 in the miR-221 group was 0.26±0.03, 0.17±3.61 and 0.14±0.02, respectively, which was significantly lower than those in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05), while the relative level of Caspase-3 in the miR-221 group was 0.37±0.05, which was significantly higher than that in the control group and the miR-221-NC group (P＜0.05). Luciferase reporter assay showed that the activity of luciferase in Wnt wild type plasmid was significantly inhibited by miR-221 (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION miR-221 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of BMNC, moreover can promote cell apoptosis, which may be related with the inhibition of Wnt/β- catenin signaling pathway.
Catenins ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; supply & distribution ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Wnt Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVES: E-cadherin is a transmembrane protein that is one of the key players involved in cell to cell adhesion. Loss of E-cadherin expression is suggested to promote tumor invasion and distant metastasis in tumor development. Recently, it has been proposed E-cadherin function requires its linkage to the cytoskeleton through catenins. So defects in catenins may cause defective E-cadherin function and promote tumor invasion. We intend to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin in tissues of human endometrial carcinoma to analyze the patterns of cell adhesion molecules' expression in endometrial carcinoma and to investigate the relationship between status of cell adhesion molecules and various clinicopathological factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin in 33 paraffin embedded formalin fixed tissues of endometrial carcinomas. RESULTS: Aberrant E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin expression was observed in 33.3(11 of 33), 27.3(9 of 33), 18.2 (6 of 33), and 51.5(17 of 33) % of the specimens, respectively. Statistically significant correlation was found between aberrant expression of E-cadherin and lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Aberrant pattern of gamma- catenin expression also correlated with deep myometrial invasion. But alpha-, beta- catenin expression were not correlated with any clinicopathological parameters. Using Kaplan-Meier curves, abnormal expression of E-cadherin correlated closely with poor survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We revealed aberrant expression of these cell adhesion molecules in part of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Aberrant expression of E-cadherin was correlated with lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma and aberrant expression of gamma-catenin was related with deep myometrial invasion.
Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Catenins* ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cytoskeleton ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; gamma Catenin ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

N,N-Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) has been proved to have carcinogenic potential in the initiation or promotion stage and the transformed cells proliferate to form preneoplastic nodules which are positive for placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-P). E-Cadherin, a member of the cadherin family, is expressed in epithelial cells. To evaluate the role of adhesion molecules (E-Cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin), which have not been well understood in carcinogenesis, we investigated the changes of E-cadherin, alpha-Catenin and beta-Catenins by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis of rat liver. In addition, the sequential analysis of histopathology and the expression of GST-P were also examined. Immunoreactive areas for GST-P were gradually increased from early period of carcinogenesis and strong GST-P positive foci were noted in various lesions, especially in the clear cell and eosinophilic cell nodules. Immunohistochemically, the E-Cadherin expression was increased in DEN-treated preneoplastic nodules in 4 and 10 weeks and hepatocellular carcinomas displayed relatively reduced expression compared with the hyperplastic nodules. But alpha- and beta-catenin expression was increased in hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the level of alpha-catenin (cytosol and membranous fraction) was overexpressed in hyperplastic nodules as well as hepatocellular carcinomas, which showed markedly increased expression. The membranous fraction of beta-catenin was markedly increased in 10 weeks of DEN treatment and slightly reduced in hepatocellular carcinomas. These findings suggest that during DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, the clear cell and eosinophilic cell nodules expressing GST-P in their cytoplasm are early transformed cell nodules. The altered expression of E-Cadherin and catenins is closely related with tumor propagation. Loss or reduced expression of E-cadherin may play a role in the progression of late hyperplastic nodule to hepatocellular carcinoma in DEN-induced rat hepato carcinogenesis.
alpha Catenin ; Animals ; beta Catenin ; Cadherins* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catenins* ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver* ; Rats*

To evaluate the expression of P120ctn in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and to explore its clinical significance, immunohistochemistry stain method was applied to comparatively investigate the protein expression of P120ctn in paraffin-embedded lymph node tissue slices from 40 cases of NHL and 10 cases of reactive hyperplasia of lymph node. The results showed that P120ctn was not detected in reactive hyperplasia of lymph node, but was detected in 55% (22/40) cases of NHL. P120ctn expression increased with the tumor malignancy of NHL, there was a significant difference between the expression rates of P120ctn in low grade (16.7%, 2/12) and intermediate to high grade malignant (71.4%, 20/28) NHL (P < 0.001). Moreover, P120ctn was also detected in vascular endothelial cells of NHL. It is concluded that the level of P120ctn expression is closely related to the malignant grade of NHL, it suggests that P120ctn possibly plays an important role in the malignant proliferation of lymphoma with a certain significance in diagnosis and therapy of lymphoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Catenins ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins ; analysis ; biosynthesis