OBJECTIVE To investigate the permeability of gap junction composed of connexin 43 (Cx43) for microRNAs (miRNAs) and the impact of gap junction-mediated transfer of miRNAs in glioma U87 cells. METHODS Co-culture assay demonstrated the transmission of miRNAs through gap junction channel into adjacent cells. U87 cells were labeled with green fluorescein protein (GFP) as receivers and cells were transfected miRNAs as donors. Receiver cells and donor cells were mixed together in a ratio of 1:1. After 12 h co-culture, cells were separated using a BD influx flow cytometer based on the GFP labeled. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied detect to the expressions of miRNAs and Cx43 mRNA. Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of Cx43 and GFP in U87 cells. CCK-8 assay is used to detect cell growth. RESULTS Co-culture assays demonstrated miR-34a could transfer between U87 cells. The role of the contact independent could also transfer of miR-34a. Gap junctions inhibitor (CBX and 18-α-GA) showed lower miR-34a expression than co-culture group, whereas gap junctions enhancer (RA and Galanglin) enhanced miR-34a expression. Knockdown of Cx43 could significantly decrease the transferring of miR-34a between U87 cells. Different length of miRNAs (miR-1827, miR-144, miR-203a and miR-1183) were similar to the expression of miR-34a between U87 cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that gap junctions mediate the effect of antiproliferation mediated by miR- 34a in U87 cells. The functional inhibition of gap junctions using either siRNA or inhibition eliminated the miR- 34a mediated antiproliferation, whereas the enhancement of gap junctions treatment augmented this miR34a-mediated antiproliferation. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that gap junction composed of Cx43-mediated transfer miRNAs in different length of nucleotides and gap junction-mediated transfer of miR-34a enhance the antiproliferative effect in glioma U87 cells.

Objective:This study aimed to identify the morphology of mast cells by using a modified toluidine blue staining scheme,so as to provide a powerful reference for the experimental basis research of mast cells.Methods:Bone marrow-derived mast cells were induced in vitro.After 4 weeks,the cells were collected,fixed,and stained.Mast cells were fixed at different temperature during different time.The optimum condition was determined by comparing the effects of toluidine blue staining.Results:Bone marrow cells were induced to differentiate into mast cells by SCF and IL-3 in vitro.When mast cells were stained with modified toluidine blue staining,the staining effect was better.Mast cells were round or oval and the cell membrane was complete and the cytoplasm was filled with a large number of purple particles.Conclusion:In this study,we successfully applied a modified toluidine blue staining method to mast cells cultured in vitro.The results showed that the condition at 37 ℃ full fixation with staining could reduce the degeneration of mast cells.This method was easy to operate with good stability.It was suitable for the morphological observation of mast cells cultured in vitro.

Prostate cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of male urogenital system, and the incidence of prostate cancer in China has increased significantly in the past decade. At present, endocrine therapy based on androgen blockade is the main method of clinical treatment except radical surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy for prostate cancer. However, the clinical benefit can only be obtained in the early stage of treatment, and nearly 90% of patients will develop to the castration resistance, and among them, nearly 90% of patients will have bone metastasis. The quality of life decreases sharply with the progression of disease for patients. In addition to the androgen signal pathway, studies have shown that many other oncogenic signal pathways have involved in the development of castration resistance, including classic cancer signaling pathways, immune and inflammatory signaling pathways, etc. Understanding the mechanism of androgen independent signal pathway in the formation of castration resistance will help to understand the off-target effect of androgen blocking therapy and introduce new treatment targets or strategies to get rid of the "no drug available" dilemma for clinical treatment of castration resistance.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) on inhibiting angiogenesis.

METHODSThe H22 hepatoma tumor model was established by subcutaneously implanting H22 hepatoma cells into mice. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the control group, the high dose PESV group, the low dose PESV group, and the 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) group, 10 mice in each group. The intervention was lasted for 14 days. The growth curve of the tumor volume was drawn and the inhibition rate calculated. Pathological changes of the tumors were observed by HE staining. The microvessel density (MVD) was detected using SP method. The protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13K), phosphoprotein kinase B (P-Akt), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 )alpha, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSThe tumor inhibitory rate was 64.8%, 43.7%, and 32.4% in the 5-Fu group, the high dose PESV group, and the low dose PESV group. Compared with the control group, the protein expression of PI3K, P-Akt, HIF-1alpha, and VEGF-A were obviously inhibited by PESV and 5-Fu (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). The MVD also decreased in the high and low dose PESV groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPESV could inhibit the angiogenesis of H22 hepatoma. The mechanisms might be associated with suppressing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt, HIF-1 alpha, and VEGF-A.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different fertilization, measure of breeding seedling, breeding and sowing density on seedlings of Psoralea corylifolia.

METHODThe combination of field sowing and indoor test was applied.

RESULTAll agricultural measures showed positive effect on the growth and development of seedling of P. corylifolia.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable sewing time should be the first and second ten days in March. The suitable sowing density is 150 kg x hm(-2). The combined of application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer is better than using one of them alone.

Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; Animals ; Breeding ; Fertilizers ; Manure ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Psoralea ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seasons ; Seedlings ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

Objective To explore the proliferation characteristics of primary small intestinal epithelial cells of tree shrews and the characteristics of human rotavirus(RV) G1P[8] infection to these cells,and establish a model of tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells infected with human rotavirus G1P[8].Methods The primary small intestinal epithelial cells were obtained by collagenase Ⅺ and dispase I digestion from tree shrew.After purification and identification,the obtained primary small intestinal epithelial cells were infected with RV.Then,culture supernatants of infected cells were collected every 12 hours after infection.Viral titer and viral load were subsequently determined.Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence observation were used to detect the expression of RV protein VP6 in the primary cells.The infectivity of RV to the tree shrew primary cells was finally evaluated.Results After purification and identification of primary epithelial cells from the tree shrew,high purity above 90% primary tree shrew small intestinal epithelial cells was obtained.These primary small intestinal epithelial cells could be infected with RV virus by comparing the virus infectivity to primary renal cells,HCT116 cells and MA104 cells.The virus titer reached to 2.0×105TCID 50/mL at 72 h after infection.Using Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence observation,the specific viral protein of VP6 was determined to be expressed in the tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells,and were located in the cytoplasm from days 1 to 5.Conclusions The separation,purification and cultivation methods of tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells are successful,and the tree shrew model of RV-infected the tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells is successfully established.

OBJECTIVETo study the histopathological changes of livers in idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH).

METHODSLiver specimens from 29 cases with idiopathic portal hypertension were studied. Histological preparations of the livers were stained with haematoxylin eosin and Masson's trichrome; reticular fibers in the liver tissues were demonstrated. The slides were also stained using some immunohistochemistry methods, and the pathological changes of the livers were analyzed.

RESULTSThe characteristic changes found in these IPH livers were dense portal fibrosis; obliteration, with or without phlebitis, of the branches of the portal vein; dilatation of the sinusoids; atrophy and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells.

CONCLUSIONSHistopathological changes of the livers in IPH are dense portal fibrosis, portal vein branch obliteration and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells. These are the main features for a histopathological diagnosis of IPH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe enhanced effects of polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) combined Rapamycin on autophagy of H22 hepatoma cells in mice and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe H22 hepatocarcinoma cell suspension was subcutaneously inoculated into 40 Kunming mice. Then tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the control group,the high dose PESV group, the low dose PESV group, and the combination group (high dose PESV + Rapamycin), 10 in each group. Mice in high and dose PESV groups were administered with 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg PESV respectively by gastrogavage. Mice in the combination group were administered with 2 mg/kg rapamycin and 20 mg/kg PESV by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 14 successive days. The tumor volume was measured once every other day, the tumor growth curve was drawn, and then the tumor inhibitory rate calculated. Pathological changes of the tumor tissue were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of mammal target of rapamycin (mTOR), UNC-51-like kinase-1 (ULK1), microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 (MAPILC3A), and Beclin1 were detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSThe growth of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor was inhibited in high and low dose PESV groups and the combination group (P < 0.05). And there was statistical difference in tumor weight and tumor volume between the combination group and high and low dose PESV groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in tumor weight or tumor volume between the high dose PESV group and the low dose PESV group (P > 0.05). lmmunohistochemical assay showed that the protein expression of mTOR was higher, but protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, Beclin1 were lower in the control group than in the rest 3 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the high dose PESV group, protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1 were obviously lower (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPESV combined Rapamycin might inhibit the development of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor in mice possibly through inhibiting the activity of mTOR, enhancing expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Peptides ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of wt1 gene and the changes of gene expression in minimal residual disease (MRD) models (K562, HL-60 cell lines) and acute leukemia (AL) patients through inhibiting the expression of wt1 gene by antisense oligonucleotides (ASO). The bone marrow (BM) of 56 AL patients with complete remission (CR) was collected, then the BM samples with positive expression of wt1 gene were screened by RT-PCR. The cells of MRD model and screened wt1 gene positive samples were cultured and treated by ASO, then the changes of wt1 gene expression were detected. The results indicated that the sensitivity of wt1 gene was 10(-3)-10(-4), and the positive rate of BM wt1 gene expression in 56 AL patients with CR was 16%. After BM of 9 AL CR patients with MRD and MRD model (K562, HL-60 cells) expressing wt1 gene were treated by ASO, it was found that the wt1 expression in ASO group was blocked, while wt1 gene could be still detected in both sense oligonucleotides (SO) and control groups. It is concluded that ASO can obstruct the expression of wt1 gene on the residual leukemia cells in vitro.
Gene Expression ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Neoplasm, Residual ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics

The flavonoids were investigated from the whole plants of Lagopsis supina. The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Two flavones were isolated from the CH2Cl2 layer of Lagopsis supina extract and identified as genkwanin (1) and 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (2), respectively. Ten flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the water layer of Lagopsis supina and elucidated as kaempferol-3-O-6" (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (3), quercetin-3-O-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside(5), kaempferol-3-Of3-D-glucoside ( 6), isorhamnetin-3-O-/-D-glycopyranoside (7), apigenin-7-O-6-D-glucoside (8), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (9), chrysoeriol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (10), rutin (11 ), and kaempferol-3-β-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucoside (tiliroside, 12). Compounds 3 and 4 were firstly isolated from Lamiaceae family, and compounds 1-12 were isolated from the plants of Lagopsis genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization