Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in repairing cisplatin-induced acute renal injury.Methods The rats were injected 6 mg/kg of cisplatin intraperitoneally,and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs group) or PBS (PBS group) were injected respectively via tail vein after 24 hours.The rats without injecting cisplatin were selected as a normal control group.The repair effect of BM-MSCs on renal injury was observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry.In addition,NRK-52E cells were cultured in vitro and treated with cisplatin for 6 hours.Then,NRK-52E cells were continued to culture for 48 hours or co-cultured with BM-MSCs for 48 hours,and NRK-52E cells untreated with cisplatin were used as a control.The expression levels of miR-92b and its target gene PTEN were detected by qRT-PCR,and the expression level of p-Akt by western blot.Results HE staining showed that the tubular protein casts in BM-MSCs group were significantly less than that in PBS group,and that the renal tubular structure was significantly improved in BM-MSCs group.Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the number of cells expressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in BM-MSCs group (131.0 ± 14.4) was significantly higher than that in PBS group (42.2 ±6.1,t =11.28,P ＜0.01).qRT-PCR results showed that in the vivo experiment,compared with the expression level of miR-92b and PTEN in the normal control group (1.11 ± 0.78,1.01 ± 0.21),PBS group were (4.64 ± 1.06) and (0.61 ± 0.2),respectively (all P ＜ 0.05);BM-MSCs group were (2.27 ± 0.81) and (1.1 ± 0.1),respectively (all P ＜ 0.05).In vitro experiment,compared with the expression level of miR-92b and PTEN in the negative control group (1.12 ± 0.77,1.02 ± 0.13),cisplatin group were (7.64 ± 0.72) and (0.58 ± 0.2),respectively (all P ＜ 0.05),cell group were (4.38 ± 0.50) and (1.15 ± 0.23),respectively (all P ＜ 0.05).Western blot results showed that compared with the expression level of p-Akt in cisplatin group (0.96 ± 0.18),p-Akt expression in cell group was (2.11 ± 0.11,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion BM-MSCs may repair the cisplatin-induced acute renal injury via down-regulating the expression level of miR-92b.

Objective To explore the expression and significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in lupus nephritis (LN) in mice. Methods Female MRL/lpr lupus mice (n=36) were randomly divided into the experimental group and intervention group, and female Kunming mice (n =18) served as controls. Each mice in the intervention group received intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg anti-mice interleukin (IL)-17 antibody. The serum concentrations of NGAL, IL-17,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And the protein expressions of NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemisty. One-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) or nonparametric rank sum test was used for the comparisons between the three groups. Associations between these factors were analyzed by Pearson′s test. Results The levels of serum NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the experimental group were obviously increased as compared to those in the control group and intervention group [NGAL: (30.31±1.22) ng/ml vs (11.36±0.14) ng/ml, (20.09±0.35) ng/ml, F=986.524, P<0.001]. The protein expression of NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells in the experimental group was increased as compared to the control group and intervention group[NGAL:(11.27±0.58) vs(0.45±0.19),(9.22±0.67), H=15.158, P =0.001]. In the experimental group, a positive correlation was found between the level of serum NGAL
and the serum levels of IL-17, MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1(r=0.899, 0.789, 0.925, P<0.01). The protein expression of NGAL in renal tissue was positively correlated with IL-17, MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels (r=0.929, 0.899, 0.723, P<0.01). Conclusion The level of NGAL in the serum and renal tissue is signifi-cantly increased in the MRL/lpr lupus mice. And it is closely correlated with the levels of IL-17 and MMP-9. Our results suggest the potential role of NGAL in the inflammation of lupus nephritis.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the expression of calprotectin ( CALP) in the rats with renal ischemia-reperfu-sion injury ( IRI) .METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation and IRI group ( n=25 in each group) .Blood samples and the kidneys were obtained at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after reperfusion.The pathological changes of the kidneys were observed.The serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum cre-atinine (SCr) were measured.The serum levels of CALP, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA, and the expression of CALP, Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4) and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissues were de-termined by the methods of immunohistochemistry and Western blot.RESULTS: Different serial ischemia changes were observed in the renal tissues, mainly in the renal tubular epithelial cells and the mesenchyma, with the infiltration of in-flammatory cells.The serum levels of BUN, SCr, CALP, TNF-αand IL-6 in IRI group were markedly increased as com-pared with sham group (P<0.05).The protein expression of CALP, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tubular epithelial cells in IRI group was greatly enhanced in comparison with that in sham group ( P<0.05) .CONCLUSION:The serum concentrations of CALP, TNF-αand IL-6, and the protein expression levels of CALP, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissue are significantly increased in the rats with IRI, suggesting that calprotectin plays an important role in the inflamma-tion in rats with IRI.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of the Notch pathway in Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 )-mediated in-flammatory response in renal ischemia reperfusion injury ( IRI) in rats.METHODS: A total of 75 male sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group , IRI group and DAPT treatment group .Blood samples and the kid-neys were obtained at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after reperfusion .The concentrations of blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured.The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissues was assessed by im-munohistochemistry and Western blot .RESULTS: The serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 in IRI group were markedly increased as compared with sham group (P<0.05).The protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in re-nal tubular epithelial cells in IRI group was significantly enhanced as compared with sham group ( P<0.05 ) .In DAPT group, the serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 were significantly reduced compared with IRI group (P<0.05), and the protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were apparently less than those in IRI group (P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:Significant changes of renal function , a rise of serum inflammatory factor including TNF-αand IL-6 and en-hanced expression of Notch 1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissue occurred in the rats with IRI .γ-Secretase inhibitor DAPT attenuates TLR4-mediated inflammatory response in the renal IRI through the inhibition of Notch 1 and down-regula-tion of NF-κB.

Objective:To explore the effects of breast cancer mesenchymal stem cells (BC-MSC) on the proliferation and migration of breast cancer MCF-7 cells and the related mechanisms.Methods:The resected cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues were taken from breast cancer patients after surgery, and the bone marrow samples of healthy people were selected. BC-MSC, breast cancer paracancerous mesenchymal stem cells (BCN-MSC) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) of healthy people were isolated and cultured by tissue adhesion method, and their differentiation ability was induced by the addition of osteogenic and lipogenic induction, and their surface markers were detected by flow cytometry. The supernatants of BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM-MSC of healthy people cultured for 48 h were collected and used for the culture of MCF-7 cells as BC-MSC group, BCN-MSC group and BM-MSC group, respectively, and the control group was the conventional cultured MCF-7 cells. The proliferation ability of MCF-7 cells in each group was detected by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the clone formation ability of MCF-7 cells was detected by plate cloning assay, the migration ability of MCF-7 cells was detected by Transwell assay, and the mRNA relative expressions of interleukin (IL)-6 and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes (E-cadherin, vimentin, snail) were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in MCF-7 cells. Western blotting was used to detect expressions of p-STAT3, E-cadherin, vimentin and snail proteins in MCF-7 cells. Luminex liquid microarray technology was used to detect cytokine levels in culture supernatants of different mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). IL-6 neutralizing antibody was added into the supernatant of BC-MSC, MCF-7 cells were cultured with the supernatant (BC-MSC+IL-6 neutralizing antibody group), and then the proliferation and migration abilities of MCF-7 cells were tested, as well as the expression changes of related genes and proteins.Results:BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM-MSC were successfully isolated; BC-MSC had positive expressions of CD29, CD44 and CD90 and negative expressions of CD14, CD34 and CD45, which were in line with the characteristics of MSC. MTT assay showed that the absorbance values of MCF-7 cells cultured for 48 h in the control group, BC-MSC group, BCN-MSC group and BM-MSC group were 0.31±0.02, 0.54±0.03, 0.43±0.02 and 0.42±0.02, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 56.52, P < 0.05); the results of plate cloning experiments showed that the number of clones in each petri dish of the four groups were 180±9, 439±17, 319±16 and 306±19, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 222.70, P < 0.05); Transwell assay showed that the numbers of membrane-penetrating cells in the four groups were 6.5±1.0, 23.2±2.4, 16.0±1.3 and 14.8±2.0, respectively, with the statistically significant difference ( F = 49.44, P < 0.05); qRT-PCR assay showed that the relative expressions of IL-6 mRNA in the control group, BC-MSC group, BCN-MSC group and BM-MSC group were 1.07±0.11, 13.79±3.80, 6.68±1.66 and 6.12±1.52, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 107.60, P < 0.05), and the relative expression of E-cadherin mRNA in MCF-7 cells of BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM-MSC groups was lower than that of the control group, while the relative expressions of vimentin and snail mRNA were higher than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Western blotting assay showed that the relative expression of E-cadherin mRNA in MCF-7 cells of BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM-MSC groups was lower than that of the control group. Western blotting showed that the level of E-cadherin protein in BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM-MSC groups was lower than that in the control group, and the levels of vimentin and snail proteins were higher than those in the control group; Luminex liquid microarray technology showed that the content of IL-6 cytokine in the supernatants of BC-MSC, BCN-MSC and BM -MSC cultures were higher, and the relative expressions were 1.75±0.21, 1.00±0.10 and 0.96±0.08, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 43.22, P < 0.05). The results of MTT assay showed that the absorbance values of MCF-7 cells in BC-MSC group and BC-MSC+IL-6 neutralizing antibody group were 0.56±0.05 and 0.42±0.04, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = -3.11, P < 0.05); the results of Transwell assay showed that the numbers of membrane-penetrating cells in the two groups were 30.3±1.5 and 17.3±2.1, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = -7.12, P < 0.05); qRT-PCR assay showed that the relative expressions of E-cadherin mRNA were 0.44±0.05 and 0.76±0.05 ( t = 6.40, P < 0.01), the relative expressions of vimentin mRNA were 2.90±0.21 and 1.79±0.21 ( t = 5.29, P < 0.01), and the relative expressions of snail mRNA were 3.20±0.20 and 1.91±0.30 ( t = 2.16, P < 0.01); Western blotting assay showed that the degrees to down-regulate the expression of E-cadherin protein and up-regulate the expressions of vimentin and snail proteins in the BC-MSC+IL-6 neutralizing antibody group were weakened compared with the BC-MSC group. Conclusions:BC-MSC can promote the proliferation and migration of breast cancer MCF-7 cells probably through activating IL-6-STAT3 signaling pathway-induced EMT by its secretion of IL-6.

Objective To compare the set up errors derived from different registration methods of the X-ray volume imaging (XVI) system for radiotherapy in the treatment of middle/lower-segment esophageal cancer, and to provide a reference for radiation treatment of esophageal cancer. Methods We randomly selected 63 patients with middle/lower-segment esophageal cancer, and obtained their reconstructed XVI images at the first therapy to perform automatic registration with gray-value and bone registration methods. We acquired and compared the three translation errors (along x [left to right], y [head to feet], and z [front to back] axes) and three rotation errors (around the x, y, and z axes) derived from the two registration methods. Results Gray-value registration had significantly smaller translation errors along the x and z axes than bone registration (x azes t = −2.78, z azes t = −2.15, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference along the y axes (P > 0.05). The rotation errors around the three axes were all smaller than 1°, and were smaller with gray-value registration than with bone registration, but without significant differences (P > 0.05). Conclusion We recommend gray-value registration for radiotherapy in the treatment of middle/lower-segment esophageal cancer. Manual verification or fine-tuning is recommended after automatic registration in clinical practice. Besides translation errors, rotation errors should also be paid attention to.

Objective: To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on apoptosis of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 induced by cisplatin (DDP), MSCs derived from breast cancer (BC-MSCs) or adjacent non-cancerous tissues (BN-MSCs) were isolated, cultured and identified. Methods: BC-MSCs and BN-MSCs were isolated and cultured by tissue adherent method. The differentiation potential of BC-MSCs was detected by osteogenic and adipogenic induction, and cell surface markers of BC-MSCs and BN-MSCs were evaluated by flow cytometry. MCF-7 cells were co-treated with DDP and conditioned medium (CM) collected from BC-MSCs and BN-MSCs after being cultured for 48 hours, respectively. Inhibition rate of cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT. Cell apoptosis and viability were detected by MUSE cell analyzer. Cytokines in MSC-CM were detected by Luminex liquid chip. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cells with different treatment were detected by RT-PCR. Results: The morphology of BC-MSCs and BN-MSCs successfully isolated and cultured was uniform fibroblast-like clusters under the microscope. These cells expressed high levels of CD29 and CD44, but neither CD14 nor CD34 were detected. MSCs could also differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes after specific induction. After treatment with 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μmol/L DDP, the inhibitory rates of proliferation of MCF-7 cells in DDP group were (17.33±2.00)%, (22.37±0.73)%, (30.77±1.23)%, (44.93±1.27)%, (62.03 ±1.97)% and (73.93±1.10)%, respectively. While the inhibitory rates of DDP+ BC-MSCs group were (8.27±0.63)%, (11.50±1.30)%, (20.57±0.93)%, (32.60 ±1.90)%, (52.27±0.73)% and (62.13±2.17)%, respectively. The inhibitory rates of DDP+ BN-MSCs group were (12.90±1.60)%, (16.53±2.87)%, (25.90±1.50)%, (39.40±2.40)%, (57.40±0.70)% and (69.03±1.07)%, respectively. The inhibitory rates of DDP+ BC-MSCs group were significantly lower than those of DDP group (P<0.05). The apoptotic rates of MCF-7 cells in DDP group, DDP+ BC-MSCs group and DDP+ BN-MSCs group were (47.77±1.98)%, (29.20±2.12)% and (37.92±2.21)%, respectively. The apoptotic rates of DDP group was significantly higher than that of DDP+ BC-MSCs group (P<0.05). The cell viabilities of MCF-7 in DDP group, DDP+ BC-MSCs group and DDP+ BN-MSCs group were 0.52±0.02, 0.72±0.02 and 0.64±0.02, respectively. The cell viability of DDP group was significantly lower than that of DDP+ BC-MSCs group (P<0.05). The result of Luminex liquid chip analysis showed that, the level of IL-6 in BC-MSCs group increased 2.50±0.68 fold when compared with BN-MSCs group (P<0.05). The relative expressions of IL-6 mRNA in DDP group and DDP+ BC-MSCs group were 1.02±0.10 and 7.58±0.55, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). The apoptotic rates of MCF-7 cells in DDP+ BC-MSCs group with or without IL-6 neutralizing antibody were (27.41±1.95)% and (42.45±2.87)%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The cell viabilities of MCF-7 cells in DDP+ BC-MSCs group with or without IL-6 neutralizing antibody were (72.40±2.60)% and (59.76±3.89)%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions BC-MSCs and BN-MSCs have been isolated and cultured successfully. Compared with BN-MSCs, BC-MSCs could attenuate the effect of DDP on MCF-7 cells, evidently decrease the apoptosis and increase the proliferation and vitality in an IL-6 dependent manner.