Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies have shown that salidroside can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells directly into neuron-like cells, and Ca2+signal is one important way to achieve its biological signal transduction. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of the calcium/calmodulin (Ca 2+/CaM) signaling pathway inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into nerve cells. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were divided into two groups:control groups and salidroside groups. Salidroside groups were induced with different concentrations of salidroside (5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/L) for 24 hours and 100 mg/L salidroside was added to culture cells for different time (12, 24, 48 and 72 hours). Western blot assay was used to detect the expression levels of neural cellmarker, microtubule-associated protein 2, and the important protein of Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway:CaM and calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMK II). Then Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway specific blockers were applied to cells respectively for 30 minutes, including 500 μmol/L EGTA (Ca 2+chelator), 1 mmol/L Nifedipine(L-type Ca2+channel blocker) and 10 mmol/L LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). Then, 100 mg/L salidroside was added and cultured for 24 hours. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of neuron-specific enolase and CaM in the Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) After inducing with salidroside, the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 were upregulated (P<0.01), indicating that salidrosid can induce the neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. (2) After different concentrations of salidrosid induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for 24 hours, the expressions of CaM and CaMK II were significantly upregulated in the 10 mg/L group ( P<0.01);For the 100 mg/L salidrosid that was added for cellinduction for different time, the expressions of CaM and CaMK II were significantly downregulated in 72-hour group (P<0.01). (3) After blocking extracellular Ca2+and PI3K signaling pathway, the expressions of neuron-specific enolase and CaM were higher than those in salidrosid groups (P<0.05). These results suggest that salidrosid can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellto directly differentiate into nerve cells by inhibiting the Ca2+/CaM signaling pathway.

Obj ectiev The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of bone metastasis on survival in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),Which were treated with gefitinib for more than 6 months,and to identify the prognostic factors of patients with NSCLC presenting bone metastasis .Methods We compared the overall survival(OS), progression-free survival(PFS),1-year2,-year and 3-year survival rates between two cohorts based on bone metastasis ,as well as the prognostic factors in the patients with bone metastasis .Results In total, 76 patients were included in the study ,in which there are44 patients with no bone metastasis and32 patients with bone metastasis.The cohorts were similar in OS (19.000 ±3.317 months vs.26.000 ±2.121 months,P =0.625)as well as PFS (14.000 ±1.843 months vs.16.000 ±1.411 months,P=0.328).The 1-year survival rate was 63.6%in no bone metastasis cohort,but was increased to 96.9%in the other cohort.The survival rates at 2 years(34.1%vs.56.3%,P=0.054)and 3 years(18.2%vs.18.4%,P=0.950)were similar.The univa-riate analysis showed that a worse prognosis was more likely existed in elderly patients ( aged >60 years) and with pulmonary progression ,whereby factors including gender ,pathology s,moking index ,brain metastases ,bone related events and the application of radiotherapy ,bisphosphonates might not be independently associated with the surviv -al late.Analysis of multiple variables indicated a favorable prognosis for patients with no pulmonary progression . Conclusion This retrospective study shows that bone metastasis may not shorten the survival in patients whose pulmonary lesion was controlled by gefitinib .On the contrary ,pulmonary progression may be more likely the cause of death in patients with bone metastasis .Non suggestion is given to discontinue gefitinib when the bone metastasis appears.

BACKGROUND:Although there is a certain progress in the preparation of tissue-engineered bone tissue using a variety of materials, some deficiencies have appeared such as mismatching between scaffold degradation rate and new bone formation rate, slow tissue growth, toxic metabolites.
OBJECTIVE:To build a new type of inducible bone repair composite scaffold with bionic bone structurematerials and to evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties.
METHODS: Icarin encapsulated by chitosan was used to prepare drug-loaded microspheres, and the drug release rate of the microspheres was detected. Chitosan microspheres were mixed with colagen to build the core part of scaffold materials. Hydroxyapatite (HA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and colagen were mixed in hexafluoride isopropanol (HFIP) to prepare the HA/PCL/colagen outer part of composite scaffold material at the rate of 0:3:3, 1:3:3, 2:3:3, 3:3:3. Each proportional electrospinning was used for one layer, and finaly the 4-layer outer tube of the scaffold was produced. The tube core and outer tube were crosslinked by 1% genipin. Universal material testing machine, surface contact angle meter, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, water absorption, permeability, porosity,in vitro degradation tests for cross-linked and uncross-linked were used to observe the structure and characteristics of tubular materials. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were seeded on the surface of cross-linked and uncross-linked bone repair materials to evaluate the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. Cross-linked and uncross-linked bone repair materials were implanted subcutaneously into Wistar rats to evaluate the histocompatibility of the scaffolds.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The drug in the scaffold had a suitable release; the bone scaffold material had good uniformity, and cross-linked scaffolds materials had better mechanical properties, water absorption and permeability than the uncross-linked(P < 0.05). The degradation rate of the cross-linked group was significantly lower than that of the uncross-linked group (P< 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels could adhere wel to the cross-linked and uncross-linked materials. No inflammatory reactions occurred after subcutaneous implantation of cross-linked and uncross-linked materials. These findings indicate that the cross-linked scaffold for inducible bone tissue engineering has good biocompatibility and mechanical properties.

Carcinoma ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of p300/CBP on histone acetylation of Foxp3 gene and its roles in the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods Forty-six children with KD and twenty-eight age-matched health children were consented to participate in this study.Co-immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR were performed to detect Foxp3-associated acetylation levels of histone H4 and binding abilities of p300, CBP, pSmad3 (phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) and NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) with Foxp3 gene in CD4+ T cells.The percentages of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+ cells (Treg) and the expression of Foxp3, CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4), p300, CBP, TGF-βRⅡ (transforming growth factor β receptor Ⅱ) and pLAT1 at protein level were analyzed by flow cytometry.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of Foxp3, IL-10, TGF-β, TGF-βRⅠ, Egr-1 (early growth response protein 1), RARα (retinoic acid receptor α) and PLCγ1 (phospholipase C-γ1) in Treg cells at mRNA level.Plasma concentrations of TGF-β and retinol acid (RA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results (1) The percentages of Treg cells, levels of Foxp3 and molecules associated with suppressive function of Treg cells (TGF-β, IL-10 and CTLA4), acetylation levels of histone H4 associated with promoter, conserved non-coding DNA sequence 1 (CNS1) and CNS2 of Foxp3 gene decreased remarkably during acute KD (P<0.05), but were restored after IVIG therapy (P<0.05).Meanwhile, all of the aforementioned items in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL+) were lower than those without coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL-) (P<0.05).No significant differences in histone H4 acetylation associated with CNS3 were found among different groups (P>0.05).(2) The levels of p300 and CBP in Treg cells and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene were down-regulated significantly during acute KD (P<0.05), but were restored to some extent after IVIG treatment (P<0.05).The Foxp3-associated histone acetylation was positively correlated with the expression of p300 and CBP at mRNA level during acute KD (r=0.65, 0.42, P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of p300 and CBP and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0.05).(3) Compared with healthy subjects, plasma concentrations of TGF-β and RA and the expression of TGF-βRⅠ/Ⅱ/Egr-1, RARα and pLAT1/PLCγ1 were down-regulated during acute KD (P<0.05);the binding abilities of pSmad3 and NFAT with Foxp3 gene were reduced remarkably in patients with acute KD (P<0.05).All the items mentioned above were restored after IVIG treatment (P<0.05).Moreover, the ten items aforementioned in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0.05).(4) Higher acetylation levels of histone H4 associated with promoter, CNS1 and CNS2, and enhanced binding abilities of p300 and CBP with Foxp3 gene were found in CD4+ T cells isolated from patients with acute KD after co-stimulation with TGF-β, RA and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies as compared with those in CD4+ T cells without stimulation (P<0.05).However, no statistical difference in the acetylation level of histone H4 associated with CNS3 was found between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Hypoacetylation of histone H4 associated with Foxp3 gene caused by insufficient expression of p300/CBP and their impaired binding abilities might be involved with immune dysfunction in KD.IVIG therapy regulates the expression of p300/CBP and their binding abilities with Foxp3 gene through up-regulating TGF-β signal.

BACKGROUNDCellular cardiomyoplasty by transplantation of various cell types has been investigated as potential treatments for the improvement of cardiac function after myocardial injury. A major barrier for the clinical application of cell transplantation is obtaining sufficiently large quantities of suitable cells. Allogeneic cellular cardiomyoplasty may provide an alternative source of abundant, transplantable, myogenic cells by in vitro manipulation of cardiac fibroblasts using chemicals including 5-azacytidine. This study evaluated cardiomyogenic differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts, their survival in myocardial scar tissue, and the effect of the implanted cells on heart function.

METHODSPrimary cardiac fibroblasts from neonatal rats were treated with 5-azacytidine (10 µmol/L) or control. Treatment of 5-azacytidine caused myogenic differentiation of cultured cardiac fibroblasts, as defined by elongation and fusion into multinucleated myotubes with sarcomeric structures as identified by electron microscopy, and positive immunostaining for cardiac specific proteins, troponin I and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) and the gap junction protein connexin 43. The myogenic cells (1.0 × 10⁶) were transplanted into the infarcted myocardium 2 weeks after coronary artery occlusion.

RESULTSBy 1 month after transplantation, the converted fibroblasts gave rise to a cluster of cardiac-like muscle cells that in the hearts occupied a large part of the scar with positive immunostaining for the myogenic proteins troponin I and β-MHC. Engrafted cells also expressed the gap junction protein connexin 43 in a disorganized manner. There was no positive staining in the control hearts treated with injections of culture medium. Heart function was evaluated at 6 weeks after myocardial injury with echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements. Improvement in cardiac function was seen in the hearts transplanted with the 5-azacytidine-treated cardiac fibroblasts which was absent in the hearts treated with control.

CONCLUSIONThe 5-azacytidine has a unique capacity to induce myogenesis in cardiac fibroblasts in vitro and transplantation of cardiac-like muscle cells into ventricular scar tissue improves myocardial function.

Animals ; Azacitidine ; therapeutic use ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Rats

Objective To investigate the changes and significances of IL-17-associated histone methylation in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods Forty-two children with KD and 28 age-matched healthy children were recruited in this study. Co-immunoprecipitation and real-time PCR were performed to detect the IL-17-associated histone methylation in CD4+ T cells. The percentages of CD4+IL-17+ T cells (Th17) and the expression of IL-17 and pSTAT3 at protein level were analyzed by flow cytome-try. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of IL-17, IL-6Rα, gp130, IL-23R, IL-23Rβ1, ETV5, SOCS1, SOCS3, TLR4, MyD88/TRIF, TNFR1 and RIP1 at mRNA level and the expres-sion of miR155 in CD4+ T cells. The levels of IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-αin plasma samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results (1) The children with acute KD showed increased percenta-ges of Th17 cells and enhanced expression of IL-17 and H3K4me3, but inhibited expression of H3K27me3 [H3K4me3:(3.79±1. 45)% vs (1. 93±0. 31)%, H3K27me3: (54. 51±13. 60)% vs (73. 96± 22. 32)%;P<0. 05]. Moreover, the three former indexes in KD patients complicated with coronary artery lesions ( KD-CAL+) were higher than those in KD patients without coronary artery lesions ( KD-CAL-) , while the levels of H3K27me3 in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group [ H3K4me3:(5. 11±1. 68)% vs (2. 98±0. 99)%, H3K27me3:(45. 02±14. 83)% vs (60. 35±12. 51)%;P<0. 05]. A positive correlation was observed between the ratio of H3K4me3/H3K27me3 and IL-17 at transcriptional level in patients with acute KD (r=0. 69, P<0. 05). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) restored Th17 cells, expression of IL-17 and methylation levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 to normal levels [H3K4me3:(2. 44 ± 0. 77)% vs (3. 79 ± 1. 45)%, H3K27me3: (66. 52 ± 15. 73)% vs (54. 51 ± 13. 60)%;P<0. 05]. (2) The expressions of pSTAT3, ETV5 and miR155 increased significantly in pa-tients with acute KD, while the expressions of negative regulators of pSTAT3 ( SOCS1 and SOCS3 ) were down-regulated. The expressions of pSTAT3, ETV5 and miR155 in KD-CAL+ group were higher than those in KD-CAL- group (P<0. 05), while the levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in KD-CAL+ group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group (P<0. 05). IVIG therapy restored the indexes mentioned above to some extent (P<0. 05). (3) Compared with the healthy subjects, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α) in plasma and the expressions of surface receptors (TLR4, IL-6Rα/gp130, IL-23R/IL-23Rβ1 and TNFR1) and its downstream adaptors (MyD88, TRIF, RIP1) in CD4+T cells were up-regulated in patients with acute KD (P<0. 05), but were down-regulated significantly after IVIG treatment (P<0. 05). Moreo-ver, all of the indexes mentioned above in KD-CAL+ group were found to be higher than those in KD-CAL-group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Aberrant patterns of IL-17-associated histone methylation might be related to the immune dysfunction in patients with KD.

Objective To investigate the effects of SMYD3 and MLL5 on histone methylation of Transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) gene and its roles in the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods Forty-two children with KD and 26 age-matched healthy children were consented to participate in this study. Co-Immunoprec-ipitation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine Foxp3-associated histone methylation levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3, and binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in CD4+T cells. The proportion of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+cells (Treg) and protein levels of Foxp3, cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4), TGF-βRⅡand pSmad3 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate levels of Foxp3, interleukin (IL)-10, GITR, TGF-βRⅠand RARαmRNA in CD4+T cells. Plasma concentrations of TGF-βand retinol acid (RA) were measured by enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay. Independent-samples t-test was used as the statistical method in this study. Results ① The proportion of Treg, expression levels of Foxp3 and molecules associated with suppressive function of Treg cells(IL-10, GITR and CTLA4), and histone methylation levels of H3K4me3 associating with promoter, conserved non-coding DNA sequence (CNS) 1 and CNS2 of Foxp3 gene decreased remarkably during acute KD [Promoter:(5.4±1.8)%vs (9.1±2.2)%;CNS1:(2.6±0.9)% vs (3.8±1.1)%; CNS2: (2.4±0.8)% vs (4.2±1.0)%; t=5.50, 6.02, 9.56, 7.92, 7.97, 4.76, 7.73, 5.01, 8.66; P<0.05], and restored after intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) therapy [Promoter: (7.2 ±2.1)% vs (5.4 ±1.8)%; CNS1:(3.6±1.4)% vs (2.6±0.9)%; CNS2: (3.6±1.4)% vs (2.4±0.8)%; t=5.56, 4.59, 7.01, 6.04, 5.89, 4.83, 4.45, 4.00, 5.12; P<0.05]. Meanwhile, the nine former items in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL+) were lower than those without coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL-) [Promoter: (4.11±1.45)% vs (6.16±1.93)%; CNS1:(1.99±0.87)%vs (2.96±1.10)%;CNS2: (1.75±0.63)%vs (2.72±1.16)%;t=6.28, 3.24, 4.56, 3.69, 3.38, 4.40, 3.65, 3.00, 3.51; P<0.05]. No significant difference of H3K4me3 associated with CNS3 and H3K27me3 were found among the groups (t=1.03, 0.91, 1.48 and 0.79, 0.82, 1.53; P>0.05). ② Binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in CD4+T cells were down-regulated significantly during acute KD (t=6.63, 6.15; P<0.05), and restored to some extent after IVIG treatment (t=5.36, 4.56; P<0.05). Positive correlations between binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 and expression level of Foxp3 mRNA were detected in patients with acute KD (r=0.62、0.45, P<0.05). Furthermore, Binding levels of SMYD3 and MLL5 with Foxp3 gene in KD-CAL+group were lower than those in KD-CAL- group (t=4.11, 4.31; P<0.05). ③ Compared with healthy controls, plasma concentration of TGF-β and RA, and expressions of TGF-βRⅡ, TGF-βRⅠ, pSmad3 and RARα were down-regulated during acute KD (t=11.54, 12.81, 7.43, 16.10, 8.25, 12.06; P<0.05), and elevated remarkably after IVIG treatment (t=8.40, 6.24, 5.94, 11.78, 6.27, 8.30; P<0.05). Simultaneously, all the items aforementioned in KD-CAL+ group were found to be lower than those in KD-CAL-group (t=3.58, 3.30, 3.82, 5.27, 4.71, 3.78; P<0.05). Conclusion Hypomethylation of H3K4me3 associated with Foxp3 gene caused by insufficient binding levels of SMYD3/MLL5 may be involved with immune dysfunction in Kawasaki disease.

Objective To investigate the clinical and biochemical metabolic features of 12 patients with systemic primary carnitine deficiency(CDSP) and to identify the SLC22A5 gene mutation types of the disease. Method The clinical and biochemical data were collected by retrospective analysis. DNA direct sequencing and multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification(MLPA)were applied for SLC22A5 gene analysis. Result Among 12 patients with CDSP, 3 cases had evident infection factors, 6 cases with convulsions, 5 cases manifested liver hypertrophy, 8 cases with hyperammonemia, and 9 cases showed myocardial damage. All CDSP patients were detected biallelic pathogenic mutation in SLC22A5 gene by direct sequencing. The gene types include IVS2+1G>T, c.3G>T(p.Met1Ile), c.760C>T(p.Arg254X), c.1400C>G(p.Ser467Cys), c.844dupc(p.Arg282fs), c.338G>A(p.Cys113Tyr), c.51C>G(p.Phe17Leu), c.659A>T(p.Glu220Val), and c.1365dupC(p.Thr456fs). c.659A>T(p.Glu220Val) and c.1365dupC(p.Thr456fs)are novel mutations. One female patient was maternal CDSP, her child had abnormal newborn screening. The allele frequency of c.760C>T(p.Arg254X) and c.1400C>G(p.Ser467Cys) were 37.5%(9/24)and 29.2%(7/24)respectively. The MLPA test results of all patients were negative. Conclusion The clinical manifestations are complex and various in patients with CDSP. Point and small InDel(insertions/deletions)mutation constitute the major alteration in SLC22A5 gene. c.1400C>G(p.Ser467Cys) might be another prevalence mutation type in Chinese CDSP patient.