HOX gene belongs to a highly conserved subgroup of the homeobox superfamily .The HOX genes constitute a family of transcription factors that play key roles in embryonic development , regulating numerous processes , such us cellular growth, differentiation, apoptosis, motility and angiogenesis.The present review shows that there is a close relationship between aberrant expression of HOX genes and malignancy .This article summarizes briofly the advances in the research on HOX genes and their roles in tumor genesis .

Objective To determine levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, interleukin (IL)-10, and visfatin in adipocytes treated by different degrees of intermittent hypoxia (IH), and to investigate the mechanism of IH leading to insulin resistance (IR). Methods The cell model of intermittent hypoxia/re-oxygenation (IH/ROX) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was established. Differentiation mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, were randomly divided into 10 groups including four different-frequency intermittent hypoxia groups(IH1-4, fixed intermittent hypoxia scheme for 1.5%O2 45 s and then re-oxygen 21%O2 for 2 min 15 s, 4 min 15 s, 5 min 45 s and 8 min 45 s, 60 times circulation), and their normal oxygen control groups (SC1-4, instead each IH group 1.5%O2 to 21%O2, the rest groups were treated as same as IH group), continuous hypoxia group (CH, 10%O2 for 6 h) and normal oxygen control group (CC, 21%O2 for 6 h). ELISA method was used to determine the levels of IL-10 and visfatin in the supematant of adipocytes. Western blot method was used to determine the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and visfatin. Real-time PCR method was used to determine the mRNA levels of IL-10 and visfatin. Results The protein and mRNA expressions of IL-10 were significantly lower in IH group and CH group than those of control groups (P<0.01). The levels of NF-κB p65 protein were significantly increased in IH group and CH group than those of control group. The protein and mRNA expressions of visfatin were significantly higher in IH1, IH2 and CH groups than those of control group (P<0.01). Conclusion As a prominent feature of OSA pathophysiology, IH may take part in insulin resistance of OSA patients by abnormally secreting NF-κB, IL-10 and visfatin in adipocytes.

Objective To study the relationship of the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with insulin resistance in normal glucose tolerant first-degree relatives (NGT) of type 2 diabetics.Methods A total of 218 normal glucose tolerance subjects , including 136 NGT of type 2 diabetes , and 82 normal control ( NC) without type 2 diabetes family history were enrolled.The levels of blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid, insulin, IL-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured.Results ⑴Compared with NC, the levels of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), hs-CRP , and IL-6 in NGT were significantly increased [1.03~1.94 vs 0.42~0.95 , P <0.01;0.46~2.78 mg/L vs 0.39~1.56 mg/L, P <0.01;(13.6 ±8.99) pg/ml vs (8.08 ±3.67) pg/ml, P <0.01];⑵In NGT, hs-CRP was positively correlated with HOMA-IR and IL-6 ( r =0.326 , P <0.01;r =0.258 , P <0.05 );IL-6 was positively correlated with HOMA-IR ( r =0.350 , P <0.01).Conclusions IL-6 and CRP may correlate with the degree of insulin resistance in NGT of type 2 diabetics.

Objective To study the role of ganoderma lucidum spore oil and ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil in neovascularization of human high malignant breast cancer .Methods Human high malignant breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 and tumor-bearing nude mice established with MDA-MB-231 were treated with different doses of ganoderma lucidum spore oil and ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil .Epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) expression level was examined by Western blotting and the RNA expression levels of neovascularization related molecules such as EGFR , vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinases(MMPs), thrombospondin(TSP-1), platelet derived growth factor( PDGF) , fibroblast growth factor ( FGF) were detected by Real-time PCR.Results Both ganoderma lucidum spore oil and ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil inhibited the expression of EGFR in vitro and in vivo in a dose-dependent way.Both compounds induced down-regulation of VEGF and up-regulation of TSP-1 at RNA level.The effect of Ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil was more significant than that of ganoderma lucidum spore oil .Conclusion Both ganoderma lucidum spore oil and ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil inhibite the expression of neovascularization related molecules and increase the expression of molecules inhibiting neovascularization , whereas the effect of ganoderma lucidum extraction spore oil is more obvious .

OBJECTIVETo study responses of physiological ecology and quality evaluation of Rehmannia glutinosa in continuous cropping.

METHODThe potted plant R. glutinosa which consists of first cropping, 1 year continuous cropping and 2 year continuous cropping were used as experimental materials. The photosynthetic activity, descending axis vitality, the protective enzymes system and MDA content were measured, the quality was evaluated by FTIR and HPLC.

RESULTContinuous cropping reduced the content of chlorophyll in the non-first cropping R. glutinos, the photosynthetic activity and descending axis vitality were weakened. Because of the increase of the free radical in the R. glutinos due to the continuous cropping, the activity of protective enzymes including POD, SOD and CAT were enhanced and MDA content were increased, more importantly the medical potency declined . And along with the increasing years of the continuous cropping, this effect becomes even stronger.

CONCLUSIONContinuous cropping affects the descending axis ability of absorbing water and nutrition and photosynthesis are inhibited R. glutinosa, at the same time, it also causes the disorders of antioxidation systems in R. glutinos, resulting in continuous cropping obstacle and decline of the medicinal materials quality.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Ecology ; Photosynthesis ; physiology ; Rehmannia ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an efficient and high resolution 2-DE (two-dimensional electrophoresis) protocol for root tuber proteome analysis of Rehmannia glutinosa.

METHODProteins from root tuber of R. glutinosa were extracted by using five different methods and their productivity and profiles were assessed by means of SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis.

RESULTThe trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-phenol extraction method was found most effective for the extraction with the highest protein yield, the most spots in protein patterns, and the highest resolution of proteins, and the clearest background could be achieved simultaneously. A 1:5 solution of ampholine pH 3-10 and pH 5-8 for a nonlinear gel and the 170 microg of protein loading dosage obtained maps with more protein spots and higher resolution of separation patterns.

CONCLUSIONThis study based on the optimized root tuber proteome preparation and the 2-DE protocol gets a high resolution and reproducibility 2-DE image, which will be expected to have excellent applications in proteomics studies of R. glutinosa tuber root.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Plant Proteins ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Proteome ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rehmannia ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore effects on allelopathic autotoxicity of Rehmannia glutinosa of different abatement measures.

METHODThe experiments for abating allelopathic effects of R. glutinosa were designed with the reducing rate as a indication, three measures of the treating soil with lime nitrogen, and water washing were employed, R. glutinosa- Achyranthes bidentata rotation system and using Achyranthes bidentata as green manure, and seedling transplant were also studied for the abatement effect.

RESULTEffect of seedling transplant was the best, reducing rate of transplant and bare root transplant on the 20th day after emergence was 76.80%, 71.70%, respectively. The reducing rate of the treating soil with microorganism reached 54.25%. The effects of water washing and R. glutinosa-A. bidentata rotation system and using A. bidentata as green manure were not satisfied. Especially only using A. bidentata as green manure without rotation system worsened the allelopathic effects of R. glutinosa.

CONCLUSIONAll measures can abate allelopathic effects of R. glutinosa to some extent except only using A. bidentata as green manure.

Crops, Agricultural ; Rehmannia ; growth & development ; toxicity ; Seedlings ; physiology ; Soil Microbiology

Effects of the leaf-clipped treatment on growth and physiological properties of Rehmannia glutinosa were studied. Result showed that with the increase of the cutting leaves degree, growth rates of shoots and roots were decreased, sugar contents declined, chlorophyll contents decreased and root activities also inhibited. Compared with the normal plant (CK), the root inhibit rates in T1, T2, T3 were 17.53%, 33.41%, 59.47%, respectively. Physiological indexes including chlorophyll contents, root activities and sugar contents also were impacted by the leaf-clipped treatment. The results indicate that to balance source-sink relationship is a very essential method for improving production of R. glutinosa.
Agriculture ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Chlorophyll ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology

Objective:To investigate the relationship between YES-related protein 1(YAP1)and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)in human castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC), and explore the regulation mechanism of YAP1 on PSA.Methods:The luciferase reporter gene was used to detect the activity change of the PSA gene promoter region after the over expression of YAP1 in LNCaP and C4-2 cells.The effect of over expression of YAP1 gene on PSA protein in different prostate cancer cell lines was detected by Western blot(WB)method, and the effect of YAP1 silencing on PSA protein in C4-2 cells was observed.The Q-PCR method was used to further verify the expression change of PSA mRNA affected by YAP1 gene over expressed in C4-2 cells.Meanwhile, WB was used to explore the effect of YAP1 on androgen receptor(AR)in C4-2 cells.Results:After over expression YAP1 in CRPC, the luciferase experiment showed that the average C4-2 cell ratio of experimental group to control group was 3.17815892(>2 times, P<0.001). After Q-PCR detection of all over-expressed YAP1 gene fragments, the measured PSA mRNA values in the experimental groups were 2.306667, 1.553333333, 2.613333333, and 2.673333333, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group(1 time, P<0.001), indicating that the PSA expression was significantly increased.WB analysis showed that after C4-2 cells over expressed YAP1, the AR band was significantly enhanced in the experimental group compared with the control group, suggesting that the AR protein expression in the nucleus was significantly increased in the YAP1 over expression group. Conclusions:YAP1 might positively regulate the PSA expression in CRPC and have an ability to promote AR translocation into the nucleus.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are thought to serve as potential biomarkers in various cancers, including breast cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the miRNA expression profiles in 1,083 breast cancer samples and 104 normal breast tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. We used the edgeR package of R software to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs in normal and cancer tissues, and screened survival-related miRNAs by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to evaluate the accuracy of these miRNAs as molecular markers for breast cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, the functional role of these miRNAs was verified using cell experiments. Targets of candidate miRNAs were predicted using 9 online databases, and Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and pathway analyses were conducted using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online tool. RESULTS: A total of 68 miRNAs showed significantly different expression patterns between the groups (p < 0.001), and 13 of these miRNAs were significantly associated with poor survival (p < 0.05). Three miRNAs with high specificity and sensitivity, namely, miR-148b-3p, miR-190b, and miR-429, were selected. In vitro experiments showed that the overexpression of these 3 miRNAs significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-468 and T47D cells and reduced the apoptosis of T47D cells. GO and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the targets of these dysregulated miRNAs were involved in many critical cancer-related biological processes and pathways. CONCLUSION: The miR-148b-3p, miR-190b, and miR-429 may serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for breast cancer. This study demonstrated the roles of these 3 miRNAs in the initiation and progression of breast cancer.
Apoptosis ; Biological Phenomena ; Biological Processes ; Biomarkers ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gene Ontology ; Genome ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; MicroRNAs ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity