Carcinoma ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Spectral Karyotyping ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of antioxidant stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of rat hepatocytes. METHODS: The BRL cells (rat hepatocyte cell line) were cultured. The hepatocytes were treated with LPS, LPS+HO-1 siRNA, HO-1 siRNA and PBS solution, respectively. The cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion test. The apoptosis cells were detected by the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258. Expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and HO-1 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: LPS caused an increase of HO-1 protein expression of rat hepatocytes in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, a up-regulation of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12, a decrease in cell viability, and an increase in apoptosis rate of hepatocytes. Pretreatment of HO-1 siRNA inhibited the up-regulation of LPS-induced HO-1, however, aggravated ERS and cellular injury. CONCLUSION HO-1 inhibites ERS-mediated cellular injury of rat hepatocytes induced by LPS.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/physiology* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/pharmacology* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Rats

Toll like receptor ( TLRs) is a highly conserved transmembrane protein expressed in epithelial cells and immune cells,which is a kind of important receptor to identify the damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). TLRs and DAMP produced by tumor cells after chemotherapy combine to produce the corresponding biological effects via MyD88 dependent and independent path-ways. At present,the research application of TLRs identifying DAMP clinically is mainly focused on promoting the release of the DAMP and enhancing the expression of TLRs to strengthen the immune effect of chemotherapy drugs.

Objective To evaluate the effects of amino acids (AA) on the development of in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos of Kunming mice, and define the optimal AA concentration for embryo culture. Methods Totally 630 zygotes were collected from the oviducts of superovulated female Kunming mice, which were cultured in protein-free potassium simplex optimized medium (mKSOM) supplemented with Eagle's essential amino acids and Eagle's non-essential amino acids of different concentrations (mKSOM, mKSOM+1/16AA, mKSOM+1/8AA, mKSOM+1/4AA, mKSOM+1/2AA, mKSOM+AA, and mKSOM+2AA). Results The embryos cultured with the amino acids showed higher development rate to both 8-cell embryo stage and blastocyst stage than those cultured without amino acids. The correlation of amino acid concentration with 8-cell and blastocyst development rates conformed to the cubic model, with the highest development rate to both of the two stages observed at half of the amino acid concentration. Conclusion Amino acids can promote the development of preimplantation Kunming mouse embryos, but excessively high concentration of amino acids impair embryo development possibly because of metabolic and osmotic pressure changes of the embryos as well as toxicity of ammonium resulting from the metabolism of amino acids.

Objective To evaluate the effects of amino acids (AA) on the development of in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos of Kunming mice, and define the optimal AA concentration for embryo culture. Methods Totally 630 zygotes were collected from the oviducts of superovulated female Kunming mice, which were cultured in protein-free potassium simplex optimized medium (mKSOM) supplemented with Eagle's essential amino acids and Eagle's non-essential amino acids of different concentrations (mKSOM, mKSOM+1/16AA, mKSOM+1/8AA, mKSOM+1/4AA, mKSOM+1/2AA, mKSOM+AA, and mKSOM+2AA). Results The embryos cultured with the amino acids showed higher development rate to both 8-cell embryo stage and blastocyst stage than those cultured without amino acids. The correlation of amino acid concentration with 8-cell and blastocyst development rates conformed to the cubic model, with the highest development rate to both of the two stages observed at half of the amino acid concentration. Conclusion Amino acids can promote the development of preimplantation Kunming mouse embryos, but excessively high concentration of amino acids impair embryo development possibly because of metabolic and osmotic pressure changes of the embryos as well as toxicity of ammonium resulting from the metabolism of amino acids.

Objective To analyze the clinical diagnosis and treatment data of 20 children with hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) in order to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HR.Methods The retrospective analysis of clinical data of 20 cases with HR who were hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May,2010 to April,2016 was performed to summarize the clinical characteristics.All patients were analyzed for the phosphate regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidase on the X chromosome(PHEX) gene by direct sequencing.If no mutations were detected,multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was performed.Results All of the 20 cases with HR showed different degrees of growth retardation and typical X-ray rickets.After treatment,the clinical features were improved.Height standard deviation score (HSDS) was improved significantly with longer treatment time,and the difference was statistically significant(P =0.027).There was a correlation between the blood phosphorus fluctuation and secondary hyperparathyroidism(P ＜ 0.05).Nineteen cases had PHEX gene mutations.Truncating mutations was the most frequent mutation type,and 4 new mutations were found.Conclusions Clinical characteristics,laboratory test results and X-ray examination are important clinical index for the diagnosis of HR,and PHEX gene test can be used as an important auxiliary diagnostic tool.Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the clinical manifestations of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between loss of Y chromosome and development of pancreatic cancer.

METHODThe status of Y chromosome was analyzed by two color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. performed on paraffin sections of pancreatic cancer tissues from 15 Chinese males. The probes located on the heterochromatin region of chromosome Y (maps to Yq12) and on the alpha satellite of X chromosome (maps to centromeric region) were selected for testing and as control respectively.

RESULTSThe cancer cells from 10 out of the 15 pancreatic cancer patients studied showed loss of chromosome Y. The Y chromosome in the cells of surrounding non-neoplastic pancreatic tissues was intact.

CONCLUSIONSLoss of chromosome Y occurs non-randomly in tumor cells of Chinese male patients with pancreatic cancer. This cytogenetic aberration, which happens in high frequency, may serve as one of the markers for pancreatic malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the HER2 gene status (by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in breast cancer with HER2 protein overexpression, the correlation between gene amplification and protein overexpression, as well as the rate and significance of chromosome 17 aneusomy.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty archival cases of breast cancer with formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissues with 2+ (42 cases) and 3+ (78 cases) HER2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC, HercepTest, Dako) were tested by FISH (PathVysion, Vysis) for HER2 gene status. The rate of chromosome 17 aneusomy was also analyzed.

RESULTSAmongst the 42 samples with IHC 2+, HER2 gene amplification was identified in 32 cases (76.19%), which included 11 cases with low amplification (ratio 2 approximately 4), 20 cases with moderate amplification (ratio 4 approximately 10) and 1 case with high amplification (ratio>10). Amongst the 78 samples with IHC 3+, HER2 gene amplification was identified in 71 cases (91.03%), which included 9 cases with low amplification, 48 cases with moderate amplification and 14 cases with high amplification. Chromosome 17 aneusomy was found in 83 cases (83/120, 69.17%), in which 14 cases (11.67%) showed hypodisomy (chromosome 17 copy number per cellor=3.76). Amongst the 42 cases with IHC 2+, 25 samples (59.52%) had chromosome 17 aneusomy, including 3 cases with hypodisomy, 18 cases with low polysomy and 4 cases with high polysomy. Amongst the 78 cases with IHC 3+, 58 samples (74.36%) had aneusomy 17, including 11 cases with hypodisomy, 34 cases with low polysomy and 13 cases with high polysomy. Most of IHC 2+ and FISH-positive cases had low or moderate HER2 gene amplification, while most of the IHC 3+ and FISH-positive cases had moderate or high gene amplification (P=0.0003). Six of the 7 samples with IHC 3+ and FISH-negativity had chromosome 17 aneusomy and 5 of the 10 samples with IHC 2+ and FISH-negativity had such aneusomy.

CONCLUSIONSA high concordance rate is noted between IHC 3+ and FISH positive results. The rate of FISH positive in IHC 2+ patients was higher than reported in other studies. Low or moderate HER2 gene amplification in IHC 2+ and moderate or high gene amplification in IHC 3+ occurs quite frequently. Chromosome 17 aneusomy (including hypodisomy, low polysomy and high polysomy) is also a relatively common phenomenon in our cohort with HER2 overexpression, with predominance of low polysomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneuploidy ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the gain of chromosome 8 and c-myc gene and lipoprotein lipase gene status in prostatic adenocarcinoma of Chinese patients, and to analyze the relationship between chromosome 8 alterations and Gleason score of prostatic cancer.

METHODSFormalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded prostatic biopsy tissues from 34 Chinese patients with untreated prostatic adenocarcinoma were studied by three-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using ProVysion(TM) probe kit. The materials included 1 case with Gleason score 5, 10 cases with Gleason score 6, 14 cases with Gleason score 7, 4 cases with Gleason score 8 and 5 cases with Gleason score 9. The relationship between Gleason score and chromosome 8 aneusomy, c-myc and lipoprotein lipase gene copy number, including gene amplification or deletion, were analyzed.

RESULTSSeventeen (50%) of the 34 cases studied had gain of chromosome 8, while 21 cases (61.8%) had gain of c-myc gene copy number, 15 cases (44.1%) had lipoprotein lipase gene monosomy, 23 cases (67.6%) had c-myc gene amplification, 21 cases (61.8%) had deletion of lipoprotein lipase gene and 16 cases (47.1%) had lipoprotein lipase gene deletion coupled with c-myc gene amplification. In general, at least one type of chromosome 8 alteration was identified in 85.3% of cases (29/34). Gain of chromosome 8 was strong significant associated with Gleason score (P = 0.0006). A positive correlation between increased c-myc copy number and high Gleason score was also noted (P = 0.0035). On the other hand, loss of lipoprotein lipase gene was negatively correlated with high Gleason score (P = 0.0383). In addition, the association of c-myc gene amplification with high Gleason score was noted after age adjustment (P = 0.0462).

CONCLUSIONSAlterations in chromosome 8 are common in prostatic adenocarcinoma occurring in Chinese patients. There is a correlation between Gleason score and gain of chromosome 8, increased c-myc gene copy number, c-myc gene amplification and lipoprotein lipase gene deletion. C-myc gene amplification accompanied by lipoprotein lipase gene deletion is also a common occurrence in prostatic cancer. Our data suggest that chromosome 8 alterations may play some roles in the development and progression of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; genetics ; pathology ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 gene status, to assess the correlation between EGFR and HER2 gene status, and to investigate the role of copy number increase and amplification of EGFR gene and HER2 gene in the tumorigenesis and disease progression of non-small-cell lung cancer.

METHODSUsing Path Vysion kit and LSI EGFR SpectrumOrange/CEP7 Spectrum Green probes, EGFR gene and HER2 gene status were evaluated by fluorescence insitu hybridization (FISH) using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from 31 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, including 20 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 large cell carcinoma, 4 bronchoalveolar carcinomas and 3 adenosquamous carcinomas. The correlation between EGFR and HER2 gene status was analyzed.

RESULTSSix of thirty-one carcinomas showed EGFR gene amplification. Of 25 cases without EGFR gene non-amplification, four tetrasomy and 5 polysomy were detected. Overall, 15 out of 31 carcinomas demonstrated either EGFR gene copy number increase or gene amplification (15/31). HER2 gene amplification was seen in 2 of the 31 cases. Four trisomy, one tetrasomy and nine polysomy cases were found in 29 tumors that had no HER2 gene amplification. Overall, 16 of 31 cases showed either HER2 gene copy number increase and/or amplification (16/31). Synchronous EGFR and HER2 gene numerical changes, i.e. gene copy number increase and gene amplification, were found in 12 of 31 cases (12/31), and almost all such patients had either clinical stage III or IV tumor. EGFR gene numerical changes significantly correlated with HER2 gene abnormality (chi(2)(Adj) = 7.3045, P = 0.0069).

CONCLUSIONSEGFR or HER2 copy number increase is much more frequent than gene amplification in no-small-cell lung cancer. Our data based on gene alterations indicate, for the first time, that there is a significant correlation between EGFR alterations and HER2 abnormalities. Both genes are involved in the tumorigenesis and development of lung cancer. EGFR/HER2 dimer is one of the predominant heterodimerization types in lung cancer. The interactions between EGFR and HER2 may play a rule in the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Genes, erbB-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Polyploidy