Despite seminal studies in the 1920s by Warburg showing a characteristic metabolic pattern for tumors, cancer bioenergetics has otfen been relegated to the backwaters of cancer biology. Recent studies have shown that metabolism in the tumor tissue is far more complicated than we previously knew. Despite vigorous glycolysis, in fact, the tumor tissue still retains mitochondrial aerobic metabolism. Mitochondria is one of the main sites of the biosynthesis process of tumor cells. Recent studies revealed that abnormal fatty acid metabolism. Amino acid metabolism plays a key role in the tumorigenesis. The metabolic network in tumor cells was reprogrammed, leading to nutrition lfux reorganization and re-direction. Metabolism reprogramming in tumor cells facilitates the balance between the needs of energy supply and the synthesis of biological macromolecules. Targeting cell metabolism is not intended to interfere the energy supply of tumor cells but to affect the synthesis of metabolic rate, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of the tumor. hTe review focuses on the importance of metabolic reprogramming in tumor development and cancer therapy. We summarize what is currently known about metabolic reprogramming and establish a framework to understanding its contribution to the altered metabolism of cancer cells.

Objective To analyze the distribution and subcellular localization of NOR1 alternative splice isoforms in human tissues and cell lines. Methods NOR1 open reading frame(ORF) was amplified from human fetal brain cDNA library and subcloned into pCMV/myc vector. The level of NOR1 mRNA in human tissues was determined by real-time RT-PCR. Region spanning exon 2 was amplified from cDNA or genomic DNA by specific primers and sequenced. The expression plasmids of NOR1 were transfected into cells and immunofluoresence assay was performed to determine the subcellular localization of NOR1 protein isoforms in human cells. Results The expression of NOR1 mRNA was high in human adult testis, moderate in human fetus nasopharynx, trachea, brain, and kidney tissues, and weak or undetectable in other tissues. Two splice variants of human NOR1 gene resulted from alternative splicing at exon 2 were identified. Both of isoform 1 and isoform 2 mRNA were detected in human fetus brain. Isoform 2 was the sole isoform in other tissues but brain. Only isoform 2 mRNA was detected in cell lines used in this study, though no genomic deletion of exon 2 could be found in all these cell lines. Immunofluoresence assay showed both isoform 1 and isoform 2 proteins were distributed in cytoplasm. Conclusion Alternative splice isoforms of tumor suppressor gene NOR1 are identified. NOR1 isoform 1 and isoform 2 are both detected in fetus brain. NOR1 isoform 2 lacking of exon 2 is the sole isoform in multiple tissues except for brain. The exon 2 encoded peptide does not affect the subcellular location of NOR1 protein.

AIM: To examine the expression of gap junction protein family genes, including thirteen independent genes, in normal human nasophryngeal epithelial tissue and to conjecture the possible roles of gap junction proteins in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: With synthesized primers, the expression of thirteen genes encoding different gap junction proteins in human normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: In 18 samples of normal human nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue, 16 of them were found the expression of Cx 30, 31 1, 17 of them were found the expression of Cx 37 and Cx 43, and Cx 40 expression were detected in 15 samples. Also the expression of Cx 26, 31, 32, 36, 45, 46, 46 6, 50 were detected respectively in 10, 11, 9, 1, 9, 0, 1,3 samples of the 18 cases. CONCLUSION: In normal human nasopharyngeal tissue, Cx 30, 31, 31 1,37, 40, 43 might be the key gap junction proteins.

Objective To investigate the function and mechanism of miR-149 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods The expression of miR-149 was examined by real-time PCR and calculated by 2-△△Ct method. The cell proliferation was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell migration and invasion were shown by the wound healing assay and transwell migration assay, and the expression of E-cadherin was detected by Western blot. Results The expression of miR-149 was higher in NPC cell lines 5-8F and 6-10B than that in normal immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69. MTT assay showed that miR-149 promoted the proliferation of NPC cell lines. The wound healing assay showed miR-149 promoted the mobility and invasion of NPC cell lines. Inhibition of miR-149 reduced the ability of NPC cell lines to proliferate and invade. miR-149 downregulated the expression of E-cadherin, whereas antagomir which mediated knockdown of miR-149 significantly upregulated the expression of E-cadherin. Conclusion miR-149 might be involved in the invasion and metastasis of NPC through regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

The link between nonresolving inflammation and cancer is well documented. On the one hand, epidemiologic evidence supports that approximately 25% of all human cancer worldwide is caused by nonresolving inflammation. On the other hand, inflammatory cells are found in the microenvironment of most, if not all, tumors. In the tumor micro-environment, inflammatory cells and molecules influence almost every aspect of cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the initiation and progression of nonresolving inflammation-related cancer by regulating the key genes and related signaling pathways. Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs carry out their functions will be of great value in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of tumors.
Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; genetics ; immunology ; Inflammation Mediators ; immunology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Tumor Microenvironment

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the induction condition of human NOR1 gene expression in E.coli. and purify NOR1 recombinant proteins. METHODS: A full-length cDNA of human NOR1 was inserted into the corresponding region of pET28b expression vector to yield recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET28b-NOR1. The prokaryotic expression vector pET28b-NOR1 was introduced into the bacterial host E.coli Rosettablue(DE3). Recombinant NOR1 protein was induced at different conditions. Induction condition was optimized to obtain high yield of recombinant protein. At last, the recombinant NOR1 protein was purified by Ni-IDE chromatography resin. RESULTS: Recombinant NOR1 protein was induced by IPTG in a dose-dependent manner. Increase of kanamycin concentration and induction temperature resulted in high yield of recombinant protein. The most recombinant protein was found in inclusion bodies. The recombinant His-NOR1 protein was purified with Ni-IDE chromatography resin under denature condition. CONCLUSION IPTG, kanamycin concentration and temperature can affect the expression of recombinant NOR1 protein in pET28b system. High yield of recombinant NOR1 protein is achieved by inducing 1 mmol/L IPTG and 200 μg/mL kanamycin at 37 degree. Recombinant His-NOR1 protein with high purity is purified.
Base Sequence ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; pharmacology ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of DNA hypermethylation on NOR1 promoter activity and expression. METHODS: NOR1 promoter plasmids were treated with SssI methyltransferase. The plasmids were modified by sodium bisulfite and purified. Sodium bisulfite-modified plasmids were subjected to PCR with primers designed to analyze the methylation status of 26 CpG sites in a 311-bp region of the NOR1 promoter. Cells were transfected by methylated or mock-methylated promoter plasmids. The promoter activities were assessed by the luciferase levels of cell lysates or by directly observing GFP expression under fluorescence microscope. HL60 cells were treated with different concentrations of 5-aza-dC. Total RNA was isolated from harvested cells. Real-time RT-PCR was used to measure the expression level of NOR1 mRNA. RESULTS: Bisulfite sequencing confirmed that SssI methyltransferase treatment successfully resulted in intensive hypermethylation of the NOR1 promoter plasmids. The promoter activity of NOR1 promoter plasmids was totally blocked by SssI methyltransferase treatment. NOR1 expression levels in HL60 cells were restored by 5-aza-dC treatment. CONCLUSION NOR1 promoter plasmids are intensively hypermethylated by SssI methyltransferase treatment. The promoter activity of NOR1 promoter plasmids are totally blocked by SssI methyltransferase treatment. The 5-aza-dC treatment may restore the endogenous NOR1 mRNA level in HL60 cells.
Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; DNA-Cytosine Methylases ; pharmacology ; Decitabine ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Silencing ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the oxidored nitro domain containing protein 1 (NOR1) gene knockdown on the biological behavior of HeLa cells in cervical carcinoma. METHODS: The recombinant plasmids pSUPER-shNOR1-1, pSUPER-shNOR1-2 and pSUPERscramble, which targeted to NOR1 gene, were constructed by pSUPER.neo+GFP vector, transfected into HeLa cells respectively using Lipofectamine 2000 reagent, and followed by G418 selection. The expression level of NOR1 mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to determine the growth curve of cell viability. The stable transfectants were treated with H₂O₂ and cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression levels of Bcl-2, cleaved caspase 9 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: NOR1- knockdown HeLa cells were successfully constructed by transfection of pSUPER-shNOR1-1 or pSUPER-shNOR1-2 plasmids into HeLa cells. MTT assay showed that the silence of endogenous NOR1 in HeLa cells could lead to the increase in cell viability and proliferation, and the inhibition of H₂O₂-induced apoptosis compared with the negative control. Western blot showed that the expression level of active caspase 9 and cleaved PARP was inhibited in NOR1-knockdown cells when they were treated with H₂O₂ while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein increased. CONCLUSION Silence of endogenous NOR1 facilitates the cell viability and growth of HeLa cells, and attenuates HeLa cells apoptosis induced by H₂O₂, which might be mediated by up-regulation of Bcl-2 level and down-regulation of the cleaved caspase 9 cascade.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation

The research team on the National Key Scientific Program of China: "Transcriptomic regulation and molecular mechanism research of polygenic tumor at different stages" has focused on the field of transcriptomics of 4 common polygenic tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC), breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and glioma. Extensive laboratory work has been carried out on the expression and regulation of tumor transcriptomics; identification of tumor suppressor/susceptible genes; mechanism of tumor epigenetics including miRNAs, and comparative study of specific gene/protein cluster of tumor transcriptomics and proteomics. Genes including SPLUNC1, LTF, BRD7, NOR1, BRCA1/2, PALB2, AF1Q, SOX17, NGX6, SOX7, and LRRC4 have been identified as the key transcriptional regulation genes during the stage of tumor initiation and invasion. Accordingly,the NPC gene signal regulation network of "SPLUNC1-miR-141-target genes", the breast cancer interaction signal pathway of "miR-193b-uPA",the glioma signal network of "miR-381- LRRC4-MEK/ERK/AKT", and the miRNA-target gene network of colorectal cancer metastasis related gene NGX6 have been thoroughly elucidated. These fruitful Results imply that the changes of key molecules in crucial signal pathway will cause severe dysfunction in signal transduction and gene regulation network in polygenic tumors, indicating that in the category of pathogenesis,these tumors may further classify as the "Disease of gene signal transduction and gene regulation network disorder". The researches have laid solid foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism and transcriptomic regulation of polygenic tumors at different stages.
Animals ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Glioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Lymphoma is one of the most common malignant tumor of the hematologic system. The genome instability is not only an important molecular basis for the development of lymphoma, but also has important value in the diagnosis and prognosis of lymphoma. There are 2 types of genome instability: Microsatellite instability (MSI/MIN) at gene level and chromosomal instability at chromosome level. Through the study on genes associated with lymphoma, the unstable genes associated with lymphoma could be found, meanwhile the mechanism of its occurrence and development of lymphoma could be explored, and the important basis of molecular biology could also be provided in the field of current hot lymphoma precision medical research.
Genomic Instability ; Humans ; Lymphoma/genetics* ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoplasms