Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of MMP-7 in peripher- al blood and esophageal cancer.Methods By using Real time RT-PCR, blood samples from 82 cases with postoperative esophageal cancer were detected.Results 37.8 %(32/82)patients were positive for MMP-7 mRNA expression.MMP-7 mRNA positivity significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis,stage,and hematogeneous metastasis.Recurrent disease was found in 28 of 82 cases. Of 28 patients experiencing re- lapse,15 patients were serially follow-up in every three months.The number positive of MMP-7 mRNA be- fore detection by imaging,at the same time of detection by imaging,and after detection by imaging was 5 cas- es,8 cases and 2 cases respectively.Conclusion Examination of MMP-7 mRNA in peripheral blood during follow-up is useful for early detection of occult recurrence.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To compare the features of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML), and to explore their relationship with pathologic findings. Methods Thirty patients with 31 resected or punctured and pathologically proved hepatic angiomyolipomas in Southwest Hospital of Third Military Medical University from January 2006 to December 2012 were selected in this retrospective study. CEUS and CECT features were evaluated and analyzed with pathology findings in 30 patients with HAML preoperatively. The proportion of typical performance by CEUS compared with CECT in this group was analyzed with Fisher exact propability. Results Seventeen lesions were inhomogeneous hyperechoic under conventional ultrasound observation. Twenty lesions demonstrated typical imaging characteristics by CEUS, eleven lesions showed atypia CEUS imaging characteristics. There were seventeen lesions on CT indicates the presence of fat. Seven lesions demonstrated typical imaging characteristics by CECT, twenty-four lesions presented atypical CECT imaging characteristics. The proportion of showing typical imaging characteristics by CEUS was higher than by CECT (64.5%vs 22.6%, P=0.002). Among the eleven mixed type HAML lesions, seven lesions showed typical CEUS imaging characteristics and two lesions demonstrated typical CECT imaging characteristics. In the ten myomatous type HAML lesions, six lesions displayed typical CEUS imaging characteristics and two lesions revealed typical CECT imaging characteristics. Among the eight lipomatous type HAML lesions, six lesions showed typical CEUS imaging characteristics and three lesions displayed typical CECT imaging characteristics. Conclusions Conventional ultrasound combining with CEUS can demonstrate the echoic and blood perfusion characteristics of HAML in most cases. The features of CEUS and CECT were varied in different histological types.

Objective To explore the relationship between NF-kB1-94ins/delATTG gene polymorphism and acute progressive cerebral infarction(APCD ofChinese Hart population in Qingdaodistrict Methods We detected the polymorphism of NF-κB1 -94ins/delA TTG gene in 100 patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI group) and 99 patients with acute progressive cerebral infarction (APCI group) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)analysis. The changes of expression of NF-κBp65 in PBMC cellular nucleus in the 2 groups were detected by cell immunohistochemistry. Results The frequency of TT genetype and T allele in the APCI group was significantly higher than that in the ACI group (P<0.05). Analysis on the relative risk of allele frequency showed that patients with T allele had 1.622 times of risk in having APCI than patients with C allele; logistic regressive analysis indicated that NF-κB1 TT genotype was independently related to the attacking of APCI (OR=2.14, 95% CI: 2.654-8.296, P<0.05). The expressions of NF-κBp65 of PBMC cellular nucleus of TT genotypic individuals in APCI group were significantly higher than those in ACI group (P<0.05); logistic regressive analysis indicated that the expressions of NF-KBp65 in PBMC cellular nucleus of TT genotypic individuals were independently related to the attacking of APCI (OR=1.96; 95% CI: 2.267-7.691; P<0.05). Conclusion The NF-κB1 gene polymorphism might participate in the onset of APCI and T allele of NF-κB1 gene might be a genetic risk factor of getting APCI for Chinese Han populations in Qingdao district. The NF-κB1 T allele carrier might increase the happening of APCI through up regulating the expression of NF-kB1.

Objective To make a parallel mining the data of expression differences of a crucial gene XPA involved in nucleotide excision repair pathway of human skin microarrays by bioinformatics from the system level.Methods Using the ScanGEO, the data of microarrays which included the significant differences expression level of XPA were screened and analyzed from 59 human skin samples in the GEO database. Results There were 7 samples with the down-regulated expression of XPA: cutaneous malignant melanoma, epidermal injury model, DNA damage and UV radiation, foreskin fibroblast response to Toxoplasma gondii RH type 1 (ROP5) mutant infection, interleukin-20 subfamily cytokines effect on epidermal keratinocytes, Egr-1 overexpression effect on skin fibroblasts in vitro: time course, in vitro model for inflammatory dendritic cells.Present expression down. Conclusion Based on the GEO database and ScanGEO, high-throughput shared data can be screened and analyzed efficiently.

OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between the expression level of DLC-1 mRNA (located in 8p) and the invasion/metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFifty-one surgical specimens of human HCC were divided into high-invasive and low invasive groups according to their clinicopathological features. DLC-1 mRNA expression was studied in the 51 HCC specimens as well as 5 different metastasis potential cell lines using real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression level of DLC-1 mRNA in HCC specimens with high invasiveness was significantly lower than that with low invasiveness (P < 0.05). The expression levels of DLC-1 mRNA were significantly different between non-metastatic (Hep3B and HepG2) and metastatic (MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L and HCCLM3) cell lines (P < 0.05). From MHCC97-L to HCCLM3, with an increase of invasiveness and metastatic potentials, the expression level of DLC-1 decreased correspondingly, and its expression level in HCCLM3 was significantly lower than that in MHCC97-L (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of DLC-1 mRNA may play an important role in inhibiting the invasiveness and metastasis of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the tumor cell killing function of T lymphocytes stimulated by dendritic cells (DC) and to analyze the differences of protein contents of exosomes in each type of cell.

METHODSThe exosomes of hepatic cell lines with high (P group) or low (F group) metastatic potentials were isolated by a process of four-step centrifugation and the collected exosomes were observed under an electron microscope (EM). The tumor cell killing experiment was performed by adding T lymphocytes activated by DC loaded with exosomes from corresponding P and F group cells and was studied using 3H-TdR experiments. The proteomic analysis was performed by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS ) on the exosomes of P and F group cells.

RESULTSThe density distribution and content of exosomes in the P group were not equal to those in the F group observed by EM. The CD80, CD86, MHC-I and MHC-II in the P group were 64.27+5.00, 44.89+10.11, 84.35+19.89 and 59.03+19.37, and those in the F group were 71.53+4.85, 50.01+9.50, 80.68+29.87 and 58.86+21.11, respectively (P>0.05, compared with the control group). The counts per minute value in the P group was 528.40+179.06 and 78.80+24.44 in the F group after being loaded with exosomes (P<0.01, compared with the control group). There were significant differences between the proteins in the exosomes of hepatic cancer cell lines with high or low metastatic potentials.

CONCLUSIONExosomes have potential values of application in immunotherapy and in biotherapy for recurrences and metastases of hepatic carcinomas.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Exosomes ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the associations between schizophrenia and six functional genes: dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2), dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4), 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor gene (5-HT2A), 5-HT6 receptor gene (5-HT6), catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) and dopamine transporter gene (DAT1).

METHODSWith the techniques of Amp-RFLP and Amp-FLP, association analysis was made between schizophrenia and the six genes in 67 schizophrenic patients from Chinese Han population.

RESULTS(1) Neither genotypes nor alleles of DRD2, 5-HT2A, 5-HT6 and COMT gene showed significant differences between patients and controls (P>0.05). (2) Six repeats (6R) in DRD4 gene, the allele of 480 bp and the genotype of 480/520 in DAT1 gene were found to be of significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). (3) Only one negative association was observed between the 480 bp allele of DAT1 gene and schizophrenia (OR=0.441, 95% CI:0.202-0.963, Z=2.05, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe 480 bp allele of DAT1 gene is negatively associated with schizophrenia in Chinese Han population, which stands for the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Adult ; Alleles ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; genetics ; Receptors, Dopamine D4 ; Receptors, Serotonin ; genetics ; Schizophrenia ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of osteopontin (OPN) on the phenotypes of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721.

METHODSHuman hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with plasmid pcDNA 3.1(-)/OPN and cells transfected with a mock plasmid served as controls. OPN expression was verified by RT-PCR and Western blot, and concentrations of OPN, MMP-2, MMP-9 and uPA were measured by ELISA. A series of functional assays in vitro were used to monitor the changes of SMMC-7721 malignant phenotypes.

RESULTSOPN expression of SMMC-7721 cells was elevated after transfection. Concentrations of OPN, MMP-2 and uPA in the medium of SMMC-7721 cells after transfection were higher than those of the controls [(3.02+/-0.12) ng/ml vs (1.43+/-0.07) ng/ml, (43.04+/-3.06) ng/ml vs (22.15+/-4.34) ng/ml, and (4.78+/-0.70) ng/ml vs (1.61+/-0.34) ng/ml respectively, P less than 0.01], but MMP-9 concentration did not increase [(7.82+/-2.25) ng/ml vs (7.70+/-1.92) ng/ml]. Functional assays in vitro indicated that SMMC-7721 cells after transfection showed higher adhesive, migrant and invasive capabilities than those of the controls (cell adhesion rates were 75.33%+/-10.59% vs 57.34%+/-2.52%; number of outer surface cells in migrant assay was 14.33+/-2.51 vs 6.34+/-1.53; cell number in the invasive assay was 8.23+/-1.53 vs 4.12+/-1.29 respectively, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOPN might enhance the expression of MMP-2 and uPA to promote malignant phenotypes of SMMC-7721 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; secretion ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; secretion

OBJECTIVEWe previously showed that introduction of a normal, neomycin-tagged human chromosome 8 reduced the metastatic capacity of C5F rat liver cancer cell line, which had high metastatic potential without affecting tumorigenicity, suggesting the presence of one or more metastasis suppressor genes encoded on human chromosome 8. We proceeded to define further the region harboring the metastasis suppressor gene(s) and to determine the random loss of human chromosome 8 by PCR amplification of sequence tag site (STS) markers.

METHODSThe national Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases were used as references of the relative genetic distances of the STS markers. C5F genomic DNA and A9/neo8 genomic DNA were used as negative and positive controls for chromosome 8 amplification, respectively. Genomic DNA was isolated and quantified from cultured hybrid clones (A9/C5F-1 and A9/C5F-2 microcell hybrid clones served as metastasis-unsuppressed groups; A9/C5F-4, A9/C5F-8 and A9/C5F-10 microcell hybrid clones served as metastasis suppressed groups). STS-PCR products were separated by electrophoresis through 2% agarose gel.

RESULTSMetastasis-suppressed microcell hybrid clones (A9/C5F-4, A9/C5F-8 and A9/C5F-10) conserved STS markers between D8S542 --> D8S1973 (8p21.1-23.1). In contrast, metastasis-unsuppressed clones (A9/C5F-1 and A9/C5F-2) lacked several markers in this region. In attempts to refine the region retained in the microcell suppressed clones, more densely spaced STS markers in the human chromosome 8p21.1-23.1 were used. We found that the metastasis-suppressed clones retained 18cM region between D8S542 and D8S1973 (8P21.1-23.1), where as the metastasis-unsuppressed clones lacked the region.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that a metastasis suppressor gene is located within the interval between D8S542 and D8S1973 on human chromosome 8p21.1-23.1.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sequence Tagged Sites