Objective To investigate the expressions of microRNA-21 in cholangiocarcinoma tissues and the relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the prognosis of patients.Methods Forty-one samples of cholangiocarcinoma and 10 samples of adjacent tissues from 10 patients who received radical resection of cholangiocarcinoma at the Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2005 to January 2010 were collected.The expressions of microRNA-21,E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry,and effect of their expressions on the prognosis was analyzed.Enumeration data were analyzed using chi-square test.The correlation between microRNA-21 and EMT markers was analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient.The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival rate was analyzed using the Log-rank test.Results The expression rate of microRNA-21 in the cholangiocarcinoma tissues was 63％,which was significantly higher than 30％ of that in the adjacent tissues (x2 =0.324,P ＜ 0.05).The expression of microRNA-21 was closely related with the tumor differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis,perineural invasion (x2 =6.365,0.552,11.896,P ＜ 0.05),but not with gender,age,tunor location and tumor type (x2 =0.322,0.588,0.510,0.256,P ＞ 0.05).The expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin were related with lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion (x2 =4.630,5.512;6.600,7.152,P ＜0.05),but not with gender,age,tumor location,tumor differentiation degree and tumor type (x2 =0.266,0.013,0.067,0.666,0.003; 1.036,0.997,1.808,2.997,0.812,P ＞0.05).A positive correlation between the expression of microRNA-21 and EMT related markers E-cadherin and N-cadherin was detected (r =0.373,0.614,P ＜0.05).The results of survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate and tumor-free survival rate of patients with low expression of microRNA-21 were significantly higher than those of high expression of microRNA-21 (x2 =3.999,4.376,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Over expression of microRNA-21 in cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic lymph nodes may accelerate the invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma through inducing EMT,microRNA-21 might predict the prognosis of patients.

The effects of targeted silencing of heparanase gene by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells (MG63 cells) were investigated in the present study. Two complementary oligonucleotide strands were synthesized and inserted into pGenesil-1 vector based on the mRNA sequence of heparanase gene. The expression vector containing short hairpin RNA (pGenesil-shRNA) was constructed successfully. MG63 cells were randomly allocated into 3 groups: blank group, empty vector (pGenesil) transfected group and expression vector (pGenesil-shRNA) transfected group. Under the induction of Lipofectamine 2000, the recombinants were transfected into MG63 cells. Heparanase gene expression level was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Cell invasiveness and metastasis were examined by cell adhesion and Transwell-ECM assays. HUVECs migration assay was applied for the detection of angiogenesis. As compared with negative controls, the mRNA and protein expression levels of heparanase were down-regulated by 76.1% (P<0.01) and 75.3% (P<0.01) respectively in the pGenesil-shRNA transfected group. Meanwhile, the proliferation, adhesiveness, invasiveness and angiogenesis properties of MG63 cells were all significantly inhibited. It was suggested that targeted silencing of heparanase gene by siRNA could dramatically inhibit the invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.

Objective To analyze the virologic and immunologic properties during SHIV-XJ02170passage in vivo and construct the clade C SHIV/Chinese origin Rhesus macaques AIDS model . Methods SHIV-XJ02170 cell-free virus tranfected in 293T was adapted by serial passage in nine Chinese-origin Rhesus macaques. CD4/CD8 ratio was detected by flow cytometry to analyze the changes in viral pathogenicity. Real-time RT-PCR and IFN-γsecreting ELISPOT methods were used to analyze changes in characteristics of virology and immunology. Results During in vivo passage, CD4/CD8 ratio did not deeply decline. However,the peak and setpoint viral load in the line 3 show a continuous upward trend. The strong humoral and cellular immune responses were induced after SHIV-XJ02170 infection. Meanwhile, there was significant positive correlation between the viral load and binding antibody titer. Conclusion There were no pathogenic viral strains, and upward trend in virulence of SHIV-XJ02170 was found during in vivo passaging. SHIVXJ02170/Chinese origin Rhesus macaques model will play an important role in effect evaluation of candidate AIDS vaccines in China.

Objective To identify the variation in the Env region of SHIV-XJ02170 during passaging in Chinese origin Rhesus Macaques.Methods Fragments of the SHIV-XJ02170 gp160 and gp120 gene were amplified by PCR and RT-PCR separately from the blood samples of SHIV-XJ02170 infected animals at the peak viral load time point.Purified RT-PCR product was ligated into T easy vector and transformed into JM109 competent cells,18 clones were selected by PCR method and sequenced by ABI 3730DNA sequencers.The gene distances(divergence,diversity)were calculated using DISTANCE.Results In all,the SHTV-XJ02170 gp120 gene evolved forward along the virus passaging.It could be found that viral divergence from the founder strain serially enhanced during in vivo passaging,but in the early phase of each passage,SHIV-XJ02170 gp120 gene evolved toward ancestral state upon transmission to a new host.All of the SHIV-XJ02170 strains had V3 loop central motif(GPGQ)and were predicted to be using CCR5 on the basis of the critical amino acids within V3 loop.Conclusion There was significant increase in the genetic distance during serial passaging,and SHIV-XJ02170 gp120 gene evolved forward along passaging.This could partly explain why the virus infectivity was enhanced during in vivo passaging.

Objective:To investigate the expression of TIP30 and its relationship with clinico-pathological characteristics in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC).Methods:The expression of TIP30 in 78 cases of ECC tissues and 78 cases of para-cancerous tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:The positive expression rate of TIP30 was 43.59％ and 75.64％ in ECC tissues and para-cancerous tissues,respectively.Differences were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).The expression levels of TIP30 were not correlated with age,gender,degree of differentiation and tumor size(P＞0.05),but correlated with lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis and TNM staging(P＜ 0.05).The median overall survival of 78 ECC cases was 14.8 months,and it of TIP30 positive expression cases was 20.3 months,statistically higher than 11.5 months in TIP30 negative expression cases(P＜ 0.01).Conclusion:The downregulation of TIP30 is closely correlated with the development,metastasis and prognosis of ECC.TIP30 may be used as a molecular marker to identify and predict the progression,metastasis and prognosis of ECC.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of exosomes derived from human-induced pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (iMSC-Exos) on alveolar macrophages (AM) pyroptosis.Methods:The exosomes in the culture supernatant of human-induced pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (iMSC) were extracted by rotating ultrafiltration, and the extracted exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting and high-resolution adjustable resistance pulse. The rat alveolar macrophage cells (NR8383 cells) were cultured in vitro and the logarithmic growth phase cells were divided into three groups: the control group was added with an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in the AM supernatant; in LPS/ATP group AM cells were stimulated with 500 μg/L LPS for 23 hours and then 5 mmol/L ATP was added for 1 hour to induce pyrolysis; iMSC-Exos group was incubated with AM and 100 mg/L iMSC-Exos for 3 hours before giving LPS and ATP. The cytotoxic activity was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analysis, the apoptosis and the expression of caspase-1 were observed by immunofluorescence, the levels of inflammatory factors interleukins (IL-1β and IL-18) released by AM were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway and the expression level of pyroptosis related protein gasdermin D (GSDMD) were detected by Western blotting. Results:The extracted exosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy as round vesicles, expressing exosomal markers CD63 and CD9 showed by Western blotting, high-resolution adjustable resistance pulse showed the average diameter of the particles was 130 nm, and could be uptaken by AM. Compared with the control group, the cell activity decreased [(0.56±0.05)% vs. (1.06±0.07)%, P < 0.01], the release of necrotic substance LDH increased (U/L: 1 218.86±22.73 vs. 188.30±1.61, P < 0.01), the expression levels of inflammatory factors increased [IL-1β (ng/L): 958.91±32.78 vs. 194.63±5.14, IL-18 (ng/L): 870.89±21.86 vs. 288.85±24.48, both P < 0.01], and the apoptosis rate [(55.35±6.19)% vs. (12.01±1.32)%, P < 0.01] and caspase-1 expression (fluorescence intensity: 41.06±3.65 vs. 2.80±0.54, P < 0.01) elevated in the AM after LPS/ATP stimulation, suggesting that LPS combined with ATP successfully induced alveolar pyroptosis. Compared with the LPS/ATP group, AM pretreated with iMSC-Exos showed increased cell viability [(0.81±0.05)% vs. (0.56±0.05)%, P < 0.01], decreased LDH secretion (U/L: 535.05±42.55 vs. 1 218.86±22.73, P < 0.01), decreased expression of inflammatory factors [IL-1β (ng/L): 381.82±19.50 vs. 958.91±32.78, IL-18 (ng/L): 533.77±31.54 vs. 870.89±21.86, both P < 0.01], and decreased apoptosis rate [(19.74±2.96)% vs. (55.35±6.19)%, P < 0.01] and caspase-1 expression (fluorescence intensity: 12.16±1.31 vs. 41.06±3.65, P < 0.01). At the same time, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway [NLRP3 protein (NLRP3/β-actin): 0.62±0.06 vs. 1.89±0.11; cleaved caspase-1 protein (cleaved caspase-1/β-actin): 0.42±0.07 vs. 1.22±0.17, both P < 0.01] and pyrolysis-related protein was significantly inhibited [GSDMD protein (GSDMD/β-actin): 0.57±0.05 vs. 1.22±0.05, P < 0.01]. Conclusion:iMSC-Exos successfully reversed the AM pyroptosis and inflammatory factor expression induced by LPS/ATP, which may be due to the targeted inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, suggesting that iMSC-Exos can exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the pyrolysis of AM.

SHIV-CN97001 played an important role in assessing the immune effect and strategy of the AIDS vaccine which included genes of the predominant prevalent HIV-1 strain in China. In this study, SHIV-CN97001 was in vivo passaged serially to construct pathogenic SHIV-CN97001/rhesus macaques model. To identify variation in the gp120 region of SHIV-CN97001 during passage, the fragments of gp120 gene were amplified by RT-PCR from the plasma of SHIV-CN97001 infected animals at the peak viral load time point and the gene distances (divergence, diversity) were calculated using DISTANCE. The analysis revealed that the genetic distances of SHIV-CN97001 in the third passage animals were the highest during in vivo passage. It had a relationship between viral divergence from the founder strain and viral replication ability. The nucleic acid sequence of the V3 region was highly conservative. All of the SHIV-CN97001 strains had V3 loop central motif (GPGQ) and were predicted to be using CCR5 co-receptor on the basis of the critical amino acids within V3 loop. These results show that there was no significant increase in the genetic distance during serial passage, and SHIV-CN97001 gp120 gene evolved toward ancestral states upon transmission to a new host. This could partly explain why there was no pathogenic viral strain obtained during in vivo passage.

Seventy-four men aged 20-50 years with normal glucose tolerance were divided into abdominal obese group(n=36),simple obese group(n=16),and normal body weight group(n=22).One-hour postload plasma glucose(1hPG)and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)were higher in abdominal obese group than those in simple obese group and control group(all P<0.01).IMT was positively correlated with 1hPG(P<0.05).In multiple regression analysis,waist circumference and triglycerides were independent predictors for IMT.

Objective:To determine the expression of BMP4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to study the role of BMP4 in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to analyze the effect of BMP4 on the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Methods: The expression of BMP4 in HCC specimens was examined by immunohistochemistry staining, and the correlations were analyzed between the expression of BMP4 and clinicopathological data. The BMP4 expression plasmid was transfected into HepG2 cells to induce exogenous overexpression of BMP4 protein. The changes of HepG2 cell morphology were detected after BMP4 transfection by using a microscope; the changes of the expression of BMP4, EMT-related protein (E-cadherin, Vimentin) in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blot after transfection of BMP4;the wound healing assay in vitro was used to detect the effects of BMP4 gene transfection on the ability of migration of HepG2 cells;the invasion assay was used to determine the role of transfection of BMP4 on the invasive potential of HepG2 cells. Results: Immunohistochemistry staining method displayed that BMP4 expression was positively associated with age, histological differentiation, stage, and poor prognosis. After BMP4 overexpression, the morphology of HepG2 cells showed significant changes from a paving stone structure with cell-cell adhesion to a fibroblastic shape, which showed typical EMT change; Western blot exhibited that the expression of E-cadherin was downregulated and the Vimentin expression was upregulated in HepG2 cells;the wound healing and invasion assay showed that the migration and invasion potentials of HepG2 cells were significantly enhanced. Conclusion: BMP4, which displayed a high expression in HCC specimens, was closely associated with clinicopathologic data, and BMP4 may promote migration and invasion of HCC cells by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Objective To investigate the relationship of omentin-1 with adiponectin and inflammatory cytokines in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods The serum levels of omentin-1 and adiponectin were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients of T2DM with NAFLD (group A, n=63), T2DM without NAFLD (group B, n=63)and normal control group (group C, n=70). At the same time the biochemical markers and inflammatory marker, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin 6(IL-6) were detected in three groups. The correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to de-tect the association of omentin-1 with adiponectin and inflammatory markers. The logistic regression was used to analyze fac-tors influencing NAFLD in patients with T2DM. Results The serum levels of omentin-1 and adiponectin were significant-ly lower in group A [ (27.02±2.82)μg/L and (11.98±3.63) mg/L] than those of group B [(31.52±2.81)μg/L and (15.85±3.28) mg/L] and group C [(35.92±2.80)μg/L and (19.88±3.44) mg/L], and there were significantly lower levels of them in group B than those of group C (P<0.01). The plasma omentin-1 level was positively correlated with adiponectin and high density li-poprotein (HDL-C) in group A. Also the plasma omentin-1 level was negatively correlated with TNF-α, IL-6, fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), visceral adipose tissue, waist, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and free fatty acid in group A (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that adipo-nectin, TNF-αand IL-6 were independent factors influencing the level of plasma omentin-1. Logistic regression analysis showed that omentin-1 was one of independent factors influencing T2DM combined with NAFLD (P<0.01). Conclusion The incident of NAFLD in T2DM patients is related to the lower level of omentin-1, which may be influenced by adiponectin and inflammatory factors.