AIM: To study the protective effects of n on -mitogenic human fibroblast growth factor (nm-haFGF) on cardiomyocytes injured b y reactive oxygen free radicals. METHODS: The cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal SD mouse by trypsin digestion. The cardiomyocytes injury model was established by expos ing the cells to hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2), and the injury status in cardiomy ocytes were evaluated by examining the cellular viability, measuring cell apopto sis and observing the change of cellular morphology. nm-haFGF was added to the c ulture medium, and the changes of cellular viability, superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA) and celluar apoptosis were observed. RESULTS: A dose-dependence relation between the concentration of H 2O 2 and the cardiomyocytes injury was observed. 10-80 ?g/L nm-haFGF dose -dependently increased cardiomyocyte viability and the general SOD activity, as well as decreased the content of MDA and the quantity of cardiomyocyte apoptosis . CONCLUSION: The higher the concentration of H 2O 2, the mor e serious the cardiomyocyte injury. nm-haFGF may have a good protective effects on cardiomyocytes treated with H 2O 2.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the interferon-induced transmembrane-1 (IFITM1) gene in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue and the serum anti-IFITM1 antibody responses of the patients and assess their value in clinical diagnosis of CRC.

METHODSSemi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect IFITM1 mRNA expression in the specimens of normal colonic mucosa, CRC tissue, inflammatory polyps, adenomatous polyps, gastric cancer, esophageal carcinoma and liver cancer tissues. Serum samples were collected from the patients to detect anti-IFITM1 antibody responses using Western blotting. The clinicopathological features of the carcinoma expressing IFITM1 gene were analyzed.

RESULTSIFITM1 mRNA was expressed in 47.4 % (18/38) of the CRC specimens, a rate significantly higher than that in adenomatous polyps [15% (3/20)] and gastric cancer [4.8% (1/21)]; no obvious IFITM1 expression was found in normal colonic mucosa, inflammatory polyp, esophageal carcinoma or liver cancer tissues (P<0.001 or P<0.05). IFITM1 mRNA was strongly expressed in CRC at the expression level of 0.8048-/+0.2273, which was significantly higher than that in adenomatous polyps (0.4447-/+0.0989, P<0.001). No anti-IFITM1 antibody response was detected in healthy human sera, but in the CRC patients, the serum antibody response was detected at the rate of 36.8% (14/38), significantly higher than the rate of 9.5% (2/21) in gastric cancer (P<0.05). No antibody response was detected in esophageal carcinoma, liver cancer, inflammatory polyp or adenomatous polyps. Most of the IFITM1-expressing CRC had a diameter exceeding 5 cm, often invading the serous membrane with metastasis to the lymph nodes and the distant organs; these tumors were identified mostly as well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in Dukes stage C or D.

CONCLUSIONIFITM1 gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis, development and metastasis of CRC, and may serve as a potential biomarker for clinical diagnosis of CRC.

Antibodies ; blood ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism