To detect the expression of telomerase subunits (human telomerase reverse transcriptase, human telomerase associated protein 1 and human telomerase RNA) in gastric cancer and to examine the role that different telomerase subunits play in the gastric carcinogenesis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect telomerase subunits messenger RNA in 24 samples of gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous tissue. The results showed that the positive rate of hTERT mRNA from gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous tissues was 100% and 25%, respectively. The former was significantly higher than the latter (chi2 = 26.4, P < 0.01). The positive rate of hTEP1 mRNA from gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous tissues was 100% and 91.7%, respectively and no significant difference was found between them (chi2 = 2.1, P > 0.05). The positive rates of hTR for gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous tissues were both 100% and no significant difference existed between them. It is concluded that in contrast to hTEP1 and hTR, the up-regulation of hTERT mRNA expression may play a more important role in the development of gastric cancer.
Carrier Proteins/biosynthesis ; Carrier Proteins/genetics ; RNA/biosynthesis ; RNA/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Telomerase/*biosynthesis ; Telomerase/genetics

RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Ribonucleases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Virion ; chemistry ; genetics ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Glypicans ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct an N-2a cell line stably expressing PcDNA 3.1-platelet derived growth factor-galanin (GAL) and explore the effect of over-expressed GAL on proliferation and apoptosis of N-2a cell in vitro.

METHODSThe vector containing the target gene was transfected into N-2a cells by liposome, and cell clones stably over-expressing GAL was obtained via G418 screening. GAL mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse transcriotion-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. The proliferation of N-2a cells was detected by MTT.The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSRT-PCT and Western blot indicated that GAL genes were highly expressed in the transfected N-2a cells (i.e.GAL-N-2a). As shown by MTT, the proliferation of the N-2a cells transfected with PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL was significantly slower than the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the non-transfected cells in the control group, the N-2a cells with endogenously overexpressed GAL were arrested at the G0/G1 phases, and the over-expressed GAL protein significantly induced the N-2a cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSIONEukaryotic expression vector PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL can encode the expression of GAL in N-2a cells. Aslo, it can inhibit cell proliferation and promote the cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Galanin ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis

To construct an immortalized rat astrocyte strain genetically modified by rat preprogalanin gene (IAST/GAL) and detect its galanin (GAL) expression and secretion, a cDNA fragment of rat GAL in plasmid of pBS KS(+)-GAL was inserted into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+) by DNA recombinant technology, then the restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing were carried out to evaluate the recombinant. The pcDNA3.1 (+)-GAL and pcDNA3.1 (+) construct were transfected into immortalized rat astrocyte strain (IAST) by lipofectamine and the population of cells which stably integrated the construct was selected with 600 microg/mL G418. Individual clones were screened and expanded into clonal cell strains. Detection of Neo gene was used to validate the success of the transfection. Immunocytochemical staining, RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay were used to detect the expression and secretion level of GAL. The recombinant had been successfully constructed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Detection of Neo gene showed that the pcDNA3.1 (+)-GAL and pcDNA3.1 (+) have been successfully transfected into IAST. After selection by using G418, IAST/GAL and IAST/Neo cell strains were obtained. IAST/GAL, IAST/Neo and IAST were immunostained positively for GAL, but the GAL average optical density of IAST/GAL was significantly higher than that of IAST/Neo and IAST (P< 0.01). The level of GAL mRNA expression and the supernatant concentration of GAL in cultured IAST/GAL were significantly higher than those of IAST and IAST/Neo (P<0.01), but no significant differences were found between the IAST and IAST/Neo (P>0.05). It was concluded that IAST/GAL strain was constructed successfully and it might provide a basis for the further study of pain therapy.
Astrocytes/cytology ; Astrocytes/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cells, Cultured ; Galanin/*biosynthesis ; Galanin/genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Transfection

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have played a critical role in cellular biological functions. Recently, some peptides or proteins originating from annotated ncRNAs were identified in organism development and various diseases. Here, we briefly review several novel peptides translated by annotated ncRNAs and related key functions. In addition, we summarize the potential mechanism of bifunctional ncRNAs and propose a specific "switch" triggering the transformation from the noncoding to the coding state under certain stimuli or cellular stress. The coding properties of ncRNAs and their peptide products may provide a novel horizon in proteomic research and can be regarded as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of various diseases.
Animals ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Humans ; Open Reading Frames ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; RNA, Untranslated/physiology*

OBJECTIVETo study relation of the expression of hTERT mRNA and cyclin A, p53 protein, proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in ameloblastoma (AB) and to investigate clinical biological characteristics of AB.

METHODSThe hTERT mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization, cyclin A, p53 protein and PCNA by SP method. Normal oral mucosa and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) are comparition.

RESULTSThe positive ratio of hTERT mRNA was 1/7 cases in normal oral mucosa. The expression of cyclin A, p53 and PCNA in normal oral mucosa were similar, and the positive cells distributed in stratum basale. In OKC, the positive cells distributed in stratum basale and super-strrtum basale. And the positive ratio of hTERT, cyclin A, p53, PCNA in OKC was 14/16 cases, 4/32 cases, 11/25 cases, 5/9 cases, respectively. In AB, the positive ratio of hTERT mRNA, cyclin A, p53 protein and PCNA was 94.4% (51/54), 66.7% (40/60), 85.7% (42/49) and 78.1% (25/32), respectively. A strong correlation was found between hTERT mRNA with cyclin A, p53 protein and PCNA (r(s) = 0.914, 0.848, 0.804, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of hTETR mRNA, cyclin A, p53 and PCNA is different in different tissues and lesions, and correlates with cell differentiation and clinical biology behaviour. Telomerase activity is related to cumulation of p53 protein, related to cell proliferation and differentiation, regulated by cyclin A, and higher in S phase.

Ameloblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin A ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Jaw Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis

In order to investigate the relationship between the expression of heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) mRNA and the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD), total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted in the aganglionic and ganglionic segments of colon respectively from 15 cases of HD. The single-stranded cDNA of HO-2 was synthesized and further amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of HO-2 mRNA was normal in ganglionic segments, but absent in aganglionic segments. It is concluded that the absence of HO-2 mRNA expression may be an important mechanism responsible for HD.
Colon/enzymology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/biosynthesis ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/*genetics ; Hirschsprung Disease/*enzymology ; Hirschsprung Disease/etiology ; Hirschsprung Disease/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics

To study the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer, expression of the COX-2 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in cancerous tissues and paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 56 patients and benign lesions from 12 patients. Our results showed that expression of COX-2 gene was detected in a significantly greater proportion of cancerous tissues (60.7%) than adjacent noncancerous tissues (10.7%, P<0.01) and benign lesions (3/12, P<0.05). Expression of COX-2 gene was higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous carcinoma (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between COX-2 gene expression and patients' age, sex, histological type of tumors, differentiation degree and TNM stages (P>0.05). The up-regulation of COX-2 gene in lung cancer tissues especially in adenocarcinoma suggested that COX-2 may play a role in the lung carcinogenesis and COX-2 gene may serve as a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma/*enzymology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Lung Neoplasms/*enzymology ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/*biosynthesis ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To study whether cultured bovine trabecluar meshwork cells (BTMC) are capable of expressing tTG in protein and at mRNA level, BTMC were cultured in vitro and passaged three times, then the cells were transferred onto or cultured on sterile cover or submitted to isolation of RNA with Trizol, and the expression of tTG was detected by immunohistochemical technique and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively. Our results showed that tTG immunostaining was positive in the cytoplasm and rarely in the nucleus of cultured BTMC. No immunostaining was seen in the negative control. Moreover, a single RT-PCR amplified product whose sequence and size were in accordance with our known parameters was obtained. The expression of tTG in cultured BTMC was confirmed in protein and at mRNA level. BMTC is available more readily for the investigation of the relationship between tTG and primary open-angle glaucoma.
Cells, Cultured ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trabecular Meshwork/*metabolism ; Transglutaminases/*biosynthesis ; Transglutaminases/genetics