OBJECTIVETo observe the expression levels of hippocampal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (flt-1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor receptor (bFGF-r) in vascular dementia (VD) rats, thus studying the angiogenesis mechanism of moxibustion in VD.

METHODSSixty male elderly Wistar rats were selected. The VD rat model was prepared by bilateral carotid artery occlusion and reperfusion of sodium nitroprusside injection. The model rats were divided into 3 groups by the random digit table, i. e., the moxibustion group, the Western medicine group, and the model group. A sham-operation control group was also set up. In the moxibustion group rats was acupunctured at Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV14), and Dazhui (GV24). Aniracetam was given to rats in the Western medicine group by gastrogavage for 2 therapeutic courses, 15 days as one course. The learning and memory results were observed by the neuroethological score in combination of step-down avoidance test before treatment and by the end of the 2nd course respectively. The expression levels of hippocampal VEGF, flt-1, bFGF, and bFGF-r of all rats were detected using immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSAfter 2 courses of treatment, statistical difference existed in the latent period, the error times, and the neuroethological score in the moxibustion group and the Western medicine group when compared with the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Statistical difference existed in the latent period and the neuroethological score between the moxibustion group and the Western medicine group (P < 0.05), which indicated that moxibustion and Western medicine showed significant effects in improving the latent period, decreasing the error times and the neuroethological score. Better results were obtained in the moxibustion group than in the Western medicine group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Statistical difference of the average grey level (AGL) of hippocampal VEGF, flt-1, and bFGF existed in the moxibustion group and the Western medicine group when compared with the model group. Statistical difference of the bFGF-r expression existed only between the moxibustion group and the model group. Statistical difference of the VEGF and flt-1 expressions existed between the moxibustion group and the Western medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMoxibustion showed confirmative effects in improving the behavioral score and memory performance in VD rats. Its mechanisms might lie in that moxibustion regulated and controlled the expression levels of hippocampal VEGF, flt-1, bFGF, and bFGF-r in VD rats. Particularly it up-regulated the expression levels of key factors VEGF and flt-1, promoted the angiogenesis in the vital parts, and ultimately stimulated the repairing mechanisms of cerebral nerve injury.

Animals ; Dementia, Vascular ; metabolism ; therapy ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the potential significance and clinical application of FGFR1 gene abnormality in the diagnosis, clinical features, pathological mechanism and treatment in hematological tumors. METHODS: Clinical data of total of 29 patient with chromosome of 8 short arm (8P) abnormality who had more comprehensive medical history from 2013 to 2018 were collected. The karyotype analysis of bone marrow chromosomes in patients was carried out by using chromosome R band banding technique. FGFR1 gene was detected by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Seven cases of FGFR1 gene abnormalities were decteted, including 3 cases of FGFR1 gene amplification, 2 cases of translocation, and 2 cases of deletion. Five patients with FGFR1 gene amplification or deletion not accompaned with eosinophilia, moreover the chromosome was a complex karyotype with poor prognosis; Two cases of FGFR1 gene translocation were non-complex chromosomal translocation and one of which survived for 6 years after bone marrow transplantation, the other chromosome karyotype showed no rearrangement of 8 short arm. However, FGFR1 gene rearrangement was confirmed by FISH analysis, which was a rare insertional translocation. CONCLUSION FGFR1 gene amplification or deletion often occur in cases with complex karyotype, which not accompany eosinophilia, moreover have poor prognosis. The patients with FGFR1 gene translocation accompany eosinophilia which is consistent with the clinical characteristics of myeloid / lymphoid neoplasms with FGFR1 abnormality. Karyotype analysis combined with FISH method can improve the detection of abnormal clones.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 ; genetics ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: Study on the pattern of changes of bFGF and FGFR1 immunoreactivity occurred in the experimental brain injury model for the purpose of providing the scientific basis for molecular pathological diagnosis, forensic identification, clinical treatment as well as further ascertaining the molecular mechanism of brain injury. METHODS: Male SD rats were divided into normal control, sham operation control and injury groups. The rats of injury groups were subjected to moderate lateral fluid percussion brain injury (0.2 mPa). The injury groups were then subdivided into 30 min, 1, 3, 6, 12 h, 1, 3, 7 d groups according to the time elapsed after injury. The SP immunohistochemistry method was used to examine the expression of both bFGF and FGFR1 factors in rat brain. RESULTS: In the brain of normal control and sham operation control groups, the low expression levels of bFGF and FGFR1 were observed. The increase of bFGF and FGFR1 immunoreactivity could be observed 6 h after injury in cortex and brain stem, reached to the peak at 1 d and remained at the high level up to 3 d, then partly declined at 7 d. In hippocampus, however, the increase occur as early as 3 h after injury, reached to the peak at 1 d and then decreased progressively, and returned to basal level at 7 d. CONCLUSION The results suggested that brain injury induced the gene expressions of bFGF and FGFR1. The bFGF may contribute to maintenance of nerve cell survival and the repair of damaged neural tissues after CNS injury and the patterns of their level change were quite regular and can be used for timing of injury in forensic medicine aspect.
Animals ; Brain/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism*

BACKGROUNDAfter myocardial infarction, specific growth factors promote cardiac angiogenisis, leading to a therapeutic effect. Although this effect is mediated by specific receptors in the endothelium of the cardiac microvasculature, few studies have investigated dynamic changes in their expression. We explored this phenomenon in a murine model.

METHODSWe observed the mRNA expression of receptors by specific angiogenesis gene microarray at day 3 and day 7 after infarction. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flk-1 was observed at the protein level at day 3 and day 7 by immunohistochemistry. The dynamic expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) mRNA in the border zone and the noninfarcted zone at day 3, day 7, day 14, and day 42 was investigated by real-time PCR. Statistical significance was analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSThree days after infarction, 9 receptors in the border zone and 7 receptors in the noninfarcted zone were down-regulated. Two receptors in the infarct edge and 5 receptors in the distant myocardium were up-regulated. However, at day 7, 11 receptors in the border zone were up-regulated, and only one was down-regulated. In the border zone, Flk-1 levels decreased at day 3 but increased significantly at day 7. Real-time PCR showed that FGFR-1 mRNA decreased markedly in the border zone at day 3 but increased afterward for at least 6 weeks. In the early stage (3 days) after infarction, the expression of receptors had decreased to some extent. However, at day 7, receptor expression was active and had moved from the distant noninfarcted zone to the border zone as a part of the acute repair process.

CONCLUSIONSelecting the proper growth factors to target receptors with protective activity, and determining appropriate therapeutic timing may be important to the success of therapeutic angiogenesis.

Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; analysis

This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of Juanbi Qianggu Formula(JBQGF), an empirical formula formulated by the prestigious doctor in traditional Chinese medicine, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology and cell function experiments. The main active components and targets of JBQGF were obtained through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) and Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine(ETCM), and the core targets underwent functional enrichment analysis and signaling pathway analysis. Cytoscape 3.6.0 was used to construct a visualized "active component-target-signaling pathway" network of JBQGF. After screening, nine potential pathways of JBQGF were obtained, mainly including G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway and tyrosine kinase receptor signaling pathway. As previously indicated, the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1) signaling pathway was highly activated in active fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis, and cell and animal experiments demonstrated that inhibition of the FGFR1 signaling pathway could significantly reduce joint inflammation and joint destruction in collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) rats. In terms of the tyrosine kinase receptor signal transduction pathway, the analysis of its target genes revealed that FGFR1 might be a potential target of JBQGF for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The biological effect of JBQGF by inhibiting FGFR1 phosphorylation was preliminarily verified by Western blot, Transwell invasion assay, and pannus erosion assay, thereby inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP2) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL) and suppressing the invasion of fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis and erosive effect of pannus bone. This study provides ideas for searching potential targets of rheumatoid arthritis treatment and TCM drugs through network pharmacology.
Rats ; Animals ; Synoviocytes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism* ; Network Pharmacology ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/therapeutic use* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; Fibroblasts ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Papilloma/genetics* ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism* ; Gene Amplification ; Carrier Proteins ; Cytoskeletal Proteins

PURPOSE: To examine the usefulness of various receptor tyrosine kinase expressions as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in muscle invasive urothelial cancer (UC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 98 patients with muscle invasive UC who underwent radical cystectomy between 2005 and 2010 in Yonsei Cancer Center. Using formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues of primary tumors, immunohistochemical staining was done for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). RESULTS: There were 41 (41.8%), 44 (44.9%), and 14 (14.2%) patients who have over-expressed HER2, FGFR1, and FGFR3, respectively. In univariate analysis, significantly shorter median time to recurrence (TTR) (12.9 months vs. 49.0 months; p=0.008) and overall survival (OS) (22.3 months vs. 52.7 months; p=0.006) was found in patients with FGFR1 overexpression. By contrast, there was no difference in TTR or OS according to the HER2 and FGFR3 expression status. FGFR1 remained as a significant prognostic factor for OS with hazard ratio of 2.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.27-3.90, p=0.006) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our result showed that FGFR1 expression, but not FGFR3, is an adverse prognostic factor in muscle invasive UC patients after radical cystectomy. FGFR1 might be feasible for prognosis prediction and a potential therapeutic target after thorough validation in muscle invasive UC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma/*metabolism/*mortality/surgery ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Muscles/pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/*metabolism ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*metabolism/*mortality/surgery ; Urothelium/pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between invasive growth and the angiogenesis factors and their receptors in keloid.

METHODSBiopsies from 17 keloid (Ke) were divided into atrophy group (Ke-A, n = 9), proliferating group (Ke-P, n = 13), infiltrating group (Ke-I, n = 9), normal skin around Ke (Ke-N, n = 10) and normal skin (NS, n = 10). The histology, immunohistochemistry and computerized imaging analysis were used for the study. The levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptor-Flg, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF/KDR complex (11B5), and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-A) and its receptor-PDGFR-alpha, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were determined in specimens with immuneohistochemical staining.

RESULTSIn all 5 groups, bFGF, Flg, VEGF, 11B5, PDGF-A, and PDGFR-alpha were all expressed in fibroblasts (Fb), monocyte-phagocytes, vascular endothelial cells, adventitial cells, epidermal (cells and epithelial cells in appendage. The intensities of staining ranked as follows: Ke-I > Ke-N approximately equal to Ke-P > Ke-A approximately equal to NS, Flg > hFGF approximately equal to PDGFR-alpha > PDGF-A approximately equal to 11B5 > VEGF (P < 0.05 to approximately 0.01). 11B5 and VEGF were expressed (intensively in alpha-SMA positive myofibroblasts only in Ke-I group. The histological observation showed hyperplasia of endothelial cells and obliteration of microvessels.

CONCLUSIONThe invasive growth of keloid may be related to the overexpression of angiogenesis factors and their receptors. The abnormal expression of 11B5 in myofibroblasts may be one of the important factors associated with tumor-like growth feature in the invasive parts sites of keloid. The results suggest that inhibition of these biological activities would be of significance in clinical therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; analysis ; Fibroblasts ; chemistry ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; analysis ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; analysis ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; analysis ; Receptors, Growth Factor ; analysis ; Skin ; chemistry ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Amino Acid Substitution ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/genetics* ; Mutation, Missense ; Receptor, ErbB-3/metabolism* ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism*