AIM:To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA(siRNA)-mediated progranulin(PGRN) gene silencing on the proliferation and migration abilities of human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells and its mecha-nism.METHODS:The mRNA and protein expression levels of PGRN in the A 549 cells and human bronchial epithelial (HBE)cells were detected by qPCR and Western blot.A549 cells were transfected with PGRN-siRNA by liposome meth-od.The expression of PGRN at mRNA and protein levels in the A 549 cells transfected with PGRN-siRNA was detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively.The cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The cell proliferation ability was measured by living cells counting and crystal violet staining assays.The cell migration ability was measured by wound-heal-ing and Transwell assays.The protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),cyclin D1,Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot.The protein levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt)were also determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The expression of PGRN at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the A 549 cells than that in the HBE cells(P<0.05).The expression of PGRN at mRNA and protein levels in the A549 cells transfected with PGRN-siRNA was significantly decreased,and the cell pro-liferation and migration abilities were significantly decreased.The protein expression levels of PCNA,cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 were significantly reduced and the protein expression level of Bax was significantly increased(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the protein levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-Akt were down-regulated(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:PGRN gene silencing obviously inhibits the proliferation and migration abilities of human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells.The PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways may play an important role in these processes.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group. Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed to measure end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) to determine the recovery of hibernating myocardium and cardiac function in all patients before treatment and after 3-month follow-up. The study was to investigate the effects of safflower on hibernating myocardial revascularization and cardiac function. It was found that LVEF was significantly improved, while the ESV and WMSI were significantly reduced after 2-week treatment in safflower and PCI treatment groups. No significant differences were found between safflower and PCI treatment groups in ESV, EDV, WMSI and LVEF after treatment Safflower injection effectively improved hibernating myocardial function.
Aged ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Myocardial Stunning ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function

OBJECTIVETo construct four expression vectors carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under the control of different HBV promoters, and to detect and analyze their expressions in hepatoma cell lines.

METHODSFour HBV promoters were amplified using PCR, and they were inserted into the T-vector and identified using restriction enzymes and sequencing, then cloned into the expression vector pEGFP-1. The four recombinant plasmids were transfected into human hepatoma cell line HepG2 by lipofectamine2000, and the positive cell clones were detected using fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTSAll target fragments were separately obtained and successfully cloned into the expression vector. The expressions of EGFP under the control of the four promoters were detected. The expressions of EGFP controlled by different promoters had some differences.

CONCLUSIONSReporter gene EGFP under the control of four HBV promoters can be specifically expressed in hepatoma cell line HepG2, and different promoters give different results; this may provide another option in gene therapy of liver diseases.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HeLa Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transfection

Apoptosis of abnormal oocytes is essential for defective oocyte elimination during prepubertal ovary development, and the ubiquitin system regulates the cell apoptosis via the degradation of specific proteins. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is a component of the ubiquitin system, and the UCH-L1-dependent apoptosis is important for spermatogenesis. In the present study, the change in the number of follicles and the expression of UCH-L1 in oocytes were determined in prepubertal mouse ovaries by immunohistochemical techniques. A significant decrease in the follicular pool was found in prepubertal mouse ovaries during the period of day 21 to day 28 after birth, and accordingly, the UCH-L1 protein expression was increased, to some degree in association with Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kipl). The increased UCH-L1 protein, together with the corresponding changes of Jab1 was detected in morphologically abnormal oocytes of prepubertal ovaries. Through the immunofluorescent colocalization, UCH-L1 was shown concentrating in abnormal oocytes, and a parallel change in Jab1 was also seen. The affinity analysis confirmed the interaction between UCH-L1 and Jab1 in ovaries. These results suggest that UCH-L1 plays an important role, possibly in association with Jab1 and p27(Kipl), in selective elimination of abnormal oocytes during mouse prepubertal development.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Mice ; Oocytes ; cytology ; Ovary ; enzymology ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) on cultured hippocampal neuron and its intracellular mechanism. METHODS: The hippocampal neurons were dissociated from E18 rats and cultured in neurobasal medium, and then the cells were treated with proBDNF, preBDNF(propeptide of proBDNF) and proBDNF antiserum,respectively. Thirty minutes, 1 hour or 48 hours later, the cells were stained with Nissl solution, and the immunocytochemistry methods of ELK-p (Ets domain protein), ErK2(extracellular signal regulated kinase) and c-fos were performed. RESULTS: The expressions of ELK-p, ErK and c-fos were significantly upregulated in the cultured hippocampal neurons after they were treated with proBDNF protein,and the immuno-positive staining was also obvious in some nuclei. While the endogenous proBDNF was neutralized by proBDNF antiserum treatment, the expressions of ELK-p, ErK and c-fos were downregulated and many cells showed swelling and vasoculation. The immunoreactivity in preBDNF treated cells was similar to that in normal cultured cells. CONCLUSION proBDNF plays an important role in sustaining the hippocampal neuron survival through upregulating the ELK and ErK pathways.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Protein Precursors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo construct a plasmid expressing human imprinted gene PEG10 and to study the effect of overexpression of PEG10 in a stable transfected human normal liver cell line L02 and in non-liver derived cell line 293.

METHODSFull length cDNA of PEG10 open reading frame 1 was amplified and subcloned into a mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1hisC. Recombinant plasmid was stably transfected into L02 cells and control cells via Lipofectamine 2000. The expression and the function of PEG10 in L02 cells and control group cells were examined using RT-PCR, Western blot, MTT and TUNEL.

RESULTSRecombinant plasmid was successfully constructed and confirmed through DNA sequencing and restriction digesting. PEG10 gene accelerated the growth of L02 cells and inhibited their apoptosis but it had no conspicuous effect on the non-liver derived cells.

CONCLUSIONThe constructed expressing vector pcDNA3.1hisC-PEG10 provides a useful tool for further study on the effects and mechanisms of PEG10. Over-expression of PEG10 may promote L02 cells' proliferation and inhibit their apoptosis, but not in the non-liver derived cell line 293.

Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Genomic Imprinting ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection

To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx) on CtBP-interacting protein(CtIP) which is an important repair factor of DNA double strand break damage in HepG2 cells induced by bleomycin. A HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and a control HepG2 cell line with empty vector transfected were established. After the double strand break (DSB) damage occurred, the mRNA and protein levels of CtIP were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot assay respectively, cell cycle profiles and apoptotic cell death were determined by a flow cytometry, and the position of CtIP in cells was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. It showed that HepG2 cells transfected with hepatitis B virus X gene could stably express HBx protein. After being induced by bleomycin, the percentage of apoptotic cell was 16.90%+/-0.89% in HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and 15.30%+/-0.86% in control cell line, respectively (q = 2.074, P is more than to 0.05). While the percentage of death cell was 8.71%+/-0.74% in HBx stably expressing HepG2 cell line and 4.90%+/-0.46% in control cell line, respectively (q = 7.126, P is less than to 0.01). The two cell lines manifested the increase of G2/M arrest and significant difference existed between the two cell lines. HBx down regulated the expression levels of CtIP and its mRNA. The CtIP level was 0.66+/-0.04 in HepG2-HBx cell and 0.73+/-0.05 in HepG2-vec cell, respectively (t = 2.314, P is less than to 0.05). The relative mRNA level was 1.00+/-0.06 in HepG2-HBx cell and 1.23+/-0.08 in HepG2-vec cell, respectively (t = 2. 732, P is less than to 0.05). We also found that CtIP was concentrated in the cell nucleus. The research suggests that HBx may affect DNA-repair pathways by disrupting the expression of CtIP.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study was aimed to clarify whether valproic acid (VPA) induces apoptosis of leukemia HL-60 cell line and its possible mechanism. The effect of different concentrations and treatment time of VPA on HL-60 cell proliferation was assayed by cytotoxicity test (CCK-8 method) and fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expressions of telomerase subunit h-tert mRNA and apoptosis-related protein as well as caspase-3 activity were detected by real time-quantitative PCR, Western blot and ELISA respectively. The results indicated that VPA inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced cell apoptosis in a dose dependent manner (r = -0.87). The expressions of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 and h-tert mRNA were significantly decreased while the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and caspase-3 activity increased after treatment with VPA. The apoptosis rate of HL-60 cell was negatively correlated with expression of h-tert mRNA. It is concluded that VPA can inhibit leukemia HL-60 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The VPA displays anti-leukemia activity possibly through reducing h-tert mRNA and BCL-2 protein expression, increasing BAX expression and activity of caspase-3.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To noninvasively assess the neurodegenerative changes in the brain of patients with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease by measuring the lesion tissue with the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least square estimation-iron quantification (IDEAL-IQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine brain MRI, IDEAL-IQ and 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS, served as control) were performed on 12 patients with type C Niemann-Pick disease (4 males and 8 females; age range, 15–61 years; mean age, 36 years) and 20 healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females; age range, 20–65 years; mean age, 38 years). The regions with lesion and the normal appearing regions (NARs) of patients were measured and analyzed based on the fat/water signal intensity on IDEAL-IQ and the lipid peak on 1H-MRS. RESULTS: Niemann-Pick type C patients showed a higher fat/water signal intensity ratio with IDEAL-IQ on T2 hyperintensity lesions and NARs (3.7–4.9%, p < 0.05 and 1.8–3.0%, p < 0.05, respectively), as compared to healthy controls (HCs) (1.2–2.3%). After treatment, the fat/water signal intensity ratio decreased (2.2–3.4%), but remained higher than in the HCs (p < 0.05). The results of the 1H-MRS measurements showed increased lipid peaks in the same lesion regions, and the micro-lipid storage disorder of NARs in NPC patients was detectable by IDEAL-IQ instead of 1H-MRS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that IDEAL-IQ may be useful as a noninvasive and objective method in the evaluation of patients with NPC; additionally, IDEAL-IQ can be used to quantitatively measure the brain parenchymal adipose content and monitor patient follow-up after treatment of NPC.
Brain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Methods ; Niemann-Pick Diseases ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Water

AIM: To investigate the effects of marrow stromal cell line HS-5 on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells in the tumor microenvironment.METHODS:The effects of HS-5 cell-conditioned medium(HS-5-CM)on the viability and migration ability of A549 cells were detected by MTT assay and wound-healing assay.After treatment with HS-5-CM,the expression of CX3C chemokine receptor 1(CX3CR1)at mRNA level in the A549 cells was examined by qPCR. The protein levels of p-ERK and ERK in the A549 cells treated with MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor U0126 were observed by Western blot,the migration ability of the A549 cells was measured by wound-healing assay,and the protein expression of CX3CR1 was determined by Western blot.RESULTS: HS-5-CM promoted the viability and migration ability of the A549 cells(P<0.01).The expression of CX3CR1 at mRNA level in the A549 cells was increased after treatment with HS-5-CM.MAPK/ERK inhibitor U0126 inhibited the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway(P<0.01), and re-duced the migration ability(P<0.01)and the expression of CX3CR1(P<0.05)in the A549 cells.CONCLUSION:HS-5-CM significantly promotes the A549 cell viability and migration ability.Activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and the expression of CX3CR1 may play a important role in this process.