The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AEG-1 gene silencing on the chemoresistance of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM and its possible mechanism. MCF-7/ADM cells were incubated in the medium containing adriamycin (ADM). The recombinant pLKO.1-shAEG-1 plasmid was constructed to silence AEG-1 expression in human breast cancer MCF-7/ADM cells. MTT assay was employed to detect the anti-tumor effect of ADM on MCF-7/ADM cells, and IC50 value of ADM was calculated according to MTT. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis. Western blot was used to analyze the expression levels of AEG-1, p-Akt, p-MDM2, p-Bad, p53 and MDR1. The result showed MCF-7/ADM had a significantly higher expression level of AEG-1 compared with that of MCF-7 (P < 0.05), however, the expression of AEG-1 was decreased after AEG-1 gene silencing. The IC50 value of ADM in shAEG-1 group was significantly lower than that in shcontrol group. AEG-1 gene silencing induced cell apoptosis and enhanced the pro-apoptotic effect of ADM on MCF-7/ADM cells. After AEG-1 gene silencing, the phosphorylation of Akt, MDM2 and Bad was inhibited (P < 0.05), the protein levels of p53 and MDR1 were up-regulated (P < 0.05) and down-regulated (P < 0.05) respectively, compared with control. In conclusion, the results suggest that AEG-1 gene silencing can reverse the ADM resistance in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM by means of inducing apoptosis and down-regulating the protein level of MDR1.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells

A simple, sensitive and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been validated for determining concentrations of glutamate, glycine, and alanine in human plasma. Proteins in plasma were precipitated with perchloric acid, followed by derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC). Simultaneous analysis of glutamate, glycine, and alanine is achieved using reversed-phase HPLC conditions and ultraviolet detection. Excellent linearity was observed for these three amino acids over their concentration ranges with correlation coefficients (r)>0.999. The intra- and inter-day precision were below 10%. This method utilizes quality control samples and demonstrates excellent plasma recovery and accuracy. The developed method has been successfully applied to measure plasma glutamate, glycine, and alanine in twenty volunteers.
Alanine ; Amino Acids ; Aminoquinolines ; Carbamates ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Glutamic Acid ; Glycine ; Humans ; Perchloric Acid ; Plasma ; Proteins ; Quality Control

This study was purposed to screen the drugs for regulating tissue factor (TF) gene expression through establishing stable cell line with luciferase gene having TF promoter transcription activity, so as to provide the basis for further studying the molecular mechanism of screened drugs. A series of luciferase reporter gene plasmids under control of 5'-truncated TF promoter (including -2174 bp - +128 bp, -684 bp - +128 bp, -247 bp - +128 bp and -201 bp - +128 bp) were constructed. The above plasmids were separately electroporated into U937 cells to establish stably transfected sublines. The function of stable cell line was testified by treatment with ATRA, the luciferase gene activity was analyzed by treating established cell line with bortezomib (BTZ) and CDA-II, and drugs for regulating TF gene expression were screened. The results indicated that the BTZ of 5 nmol/L could activate TF gene transcription activity, up-regulate the expression level of TF transcripts; CDA-II of 1 mg/ml could suppress TF gene transcription activity, down-regulate the expression level of TF transcripts. The functional analysis of TF promoter transcription revealed that the region of regulating TF promoter transcription activity by BTZ and CDA-II was between -201 to 0 bp. It is concluded that stable cell line U937 expressing luciferase activity of TF promoters is established, the novel drugs regulating TF gene expression are screened out by means of this established cell line. This study provides basis for screening the new drugs and further studying their molecular mechanisms.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Boronic Acids ; pharmacology ; Bortezomib ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; U937 Cells

The present study was to investigate the effects of exogenous insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-453 and its possible mechanism. By means of MTT method in vitro, the results showed exogenous IGFBP7 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-453 cells (IC50 of IGFBP7 = 8.49 μg/mL) in time- and concentration-dependent manner. SB203580, p38(MAPK) inhibitor, blocked the anti-proliferative effect of exogenous IGFBP7. The flow cytometry assay showed that exogenous IGFBP7 remarkably induced G0/G1 arrest in MDA-MB-453 cells. The Western blot showed that exogenous IGFBP7 promoted phosphorylation of p38(MAPK), up-regulated expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1), and inhibited phosphorylation of Rb. SB203580 restrained exogenous IGFBP7-induced regulation of p21(CIP1/WAF1) and p-Rb in MDA-MB-453 cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that exogenous IGFBP7 could activate the p38(MAPK) signaling pathway, upregulate p21(CIP1/WAF1) expression, inhibit phosphorylation of Rb, and finally induce G0/G1 arrest in MDA-MB-453 cells.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Somatomedins ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

This study was aimed to establish a stable subline of K562 cells (K562-HMGB1) overexpressing HMGB1 protein and K562-HMGB1 sublines served as control, so as to provide a basis for exploring the role of hmgb1 gene in occurrence and development of leukemia and their mechanism. Protein-coding gene of hmgb1 was amplified by PCR with cDNA as template, which was synthesized by reverse transcription from total RNA extracted from U937 cells. The PCR-amplified hmgb1 gene was ligated into PMD18-T vector (PMD18-T-HMGB1 vector), and then transformed into E. coli strain DH5α. DH5α containing PMD18-T-HMGB1 vector were grown on LB agar plate supplemented with 100 µg/ml ampicillin overnight. The single ampicillin-selected DH5α clone was picked for culturing overnight and then harvested for plasmid extraction. The extracted plasmid was characterized to contain hmgb1 gene digested with the desired restriction enzymes of KpnI/XhoI. The correctness of hmgb1 sequence was confirmed with DNA sequencing. The insert of hmgb1 gene contained in PMD18-T-HMGB1 vector was cut out with restriction enzymes of KpnI/XhoI and then ligated into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 to form pcDNA3.1-HMGB1 vector. 10µg of pcDNA3.1-HMGB1 or pcDNA3.1 plasmid was separately electroporated into K562 cells. At 48 hours after electroporation the cells were cultured with G418 at a final concentration of 800 µg/ml for over 2 weeks. Finally stably transfected sublines of K562 cells containing hmgb1 gene (K562-HMGB1), and of K562 containing pcDNA3.1 vector (K562-pcDNA3.1) served as a control, were obtained. The transcriptional or translational expression of hmgb1 gene was detected with RT-PCR or Western blot, respectively, to testify transfected efficiency and validity of stable subline of K562-HMGB1. The results indicated that the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-HMGB1 plasmid was successfully constructed and was electroporated into K562 cells. The transcriptional or translational expression of hmgb1 gene in the stable subline of K562 cells containing hmgb1 gene was overexpressed. It indicated that stable subline of K562-HMGB1 cells was successfully established. It is concluded that the stable sublines of K562-HMGB1 cells or K562-pcDNA3.1 cells are successfully established, which provides a basis for exploring the roles and mechanisms of hmgb1 gene in leukemogenesis and development of leukemia.
Gene Expression ; Genes, Regulator ; Genetic Vectors ; HMGB1 Protein ; genetics ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Transformation, Genetic

[Objective]To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on infected state of human alve?olar type Ⅱ epithelial cells.[Methods]Human alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells A549(1×105/mL)2 mL and PA(3×104 CFU/mL)2 mL has grown after 6 hours,add hUCMSC(1 × 106/mL)2 mL as the experimental group,add equal amounts of phosphate buffer (PBS)for infection,A549 and PBS and the medium has grown as the control group. A549 cells morphological changes between the compared groups(Transmission electron microscope,TEM),A549 cell viability(new CCK-8 cell proliferation assay Kit),A549 cells apoptosis(Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry)and the expression of A549 pulmonary surfactant A(SP-A) (Western blot).[Results]Transmission electron microscope cell morphology observation displayed ,infection group A549 cell dam?aged obviously,cell quality appeared empty bubble degeneration,chromatin height agglutination,visible apoptosis bodies;experi?ment group cell package film structure full,nuclear film full,nucleolus obviously,nuclear chromatin electronic density low,chroma? tin uniform,no apoptotic bodies;control group A549 cell structure full,membrane surface micro-fluff rich,nuclear film full,nucle?ar week clearance structure normal,chromatin uniform;infection group and control group compared,Infection group A549 cell sur?vival significantly reduced[(70.35±2.89)% and(97.37±2.07)%,n=3,P<0.01],apoptosis rate significantly increased[(8.63%± 0.16)%and(2.55±0.11)%,n=3,P<0.01],In the infected group,PA could damage A549 cells and decrease the amount of SP-A ex?pression(n=5,P<0.05). In the experiment group,the protective effect of hUCMSC on the A549 cells after infection may increase the expression of SP-A(n=5,P<0.05);[Conclusions]HUCMSC inhibits the infection of A549 cells apoptosis and protection of A549 cells secrete SP-A.

Aim To investigate the role of mechano- sensitive ion channel Piezol in regulating electrical re-modeling of atrial myocytes induced by hypertension and to further explore the potential mechanisms.Methods Spontaneously hypertensive rats ( SHR ) aged 30 - 32 weeks treated with or without valsartan (30 mg • kg 1 • d 1 ) were used.Wistar rats were used as control.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Piezol , Src and Cavl.2 in atrial appendages of rats and in atrial myocytes ( HL-1 cells) exposed to different levels of high hydrostatic pressure (20 and 40 mmHg) , Piezol inhibitor (GsmTx4) and agonist ( Yodal ) in vitro.Whole-cell patch clamp technique was employed to detect L-tvpe calcium current (ICa, ) and action potential duration ( APD) of atrial myocytes.Results Compared with Wistar rats in control group, the protein expressions of Piezol and Src significantly increased and the expression of Cavl.2 decreased in SHR group (P < 0.05 ), while the a- bove changes could he reversed in SHR treated with valsartan( P < 0.05 ) .Meanwhile, higher hydrostatic pressure (40 mniHg) could increase the expressions of Piezol and Src in HL-1 cells( P <0.05) and decrease the protein expression of Cavl.2 (P <0.05 ) , accompanied by a shortened APD and a decreased ICa,.GsmTx4 could significantly reverse the above changes.In addition, Piezol agonist Yodal could simulate electrical remodeling and related signal molecule changes in atrial myocytes induced by the high hydrostatic pressure.Conclusions Mechanosensitive ion channel Piezol participates in electrical remodeling induced by hypertension via activating Src kinase signaling pathway and then leading to the decrease of ICa ,.

Objective: To investigate whether inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is involved in the electrical remodeling of cardiomyocytes by regulating ultra-rapid delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(kur)) and the role of Src kinase. Methods: H9c2 cells, embryonic cardiomyocytes of rat, were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and atrium-derived HL-1 cells were cultured in Claycomb medium. Both H9c2 and HL-1 cells were cultured at 37 ℃ with 5% CO(2). Cells cultured in normal conditions without additional treatment served as control group. Experimental groups were treated with different concentration of TNF-α (25 or 50 or 100 ng/ml) for 24 hours. To study whether Src specific inhibitor PP1 could abrogate the effect of TNF-α, cells were pre-treated with 10 μmol/L PP1 for 1 hour, followed by TNF-α (100 ng/ml) for 24 hours. Western blot and the whole cell patch clamp technique were used to detect the protein expression of Kv1.5 and Src and I(kur) in each group. Results: (1) In H9c2 cells, high concentration of TNF-α treatment (100 ng/ml) significantly reduced the Kv1.5 protein expression compared with control group and TNF-α 25 ng/ml group (both P<0.05). Compared with control group, the expression of p-Src protein was higher in 25 ng/ml, 50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml TNF-α group (all P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the expression of Src protein among groups (P>0.05). In addition, the current density of I(kur) was decreased in 50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml TNF-α group (both P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of Kv1.5 protein and the current density of I(kur) were increased in PP1+TNF-α group compared with TNF-α 100 ng/ml group (both P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of Kv1.5 protein and the current density of I(kur) between the control group and PP1+TNF-α group (both P>0.05). (2) In atrium-derived HL-1 cells, the expression of Kv1.5 protein was reduced in 100 ng/ml TNF-α group compared with control group and TNF-α 25 ng/ml group (both P<0.01). In addition, the expression of p-Src protein was increased in TNF-α 100 ng/ml group compared with control group (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the protein expression of Src among groups (P>0.05). The expression of Kv1.5 protein was increased in PP1+TNF-α group compared with TNF-α 100 ng/ml group (P<0.05). Conclusion: TNF-α is involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation, probably via decreasing I(kur) current density in atrium-derived myocytes through the activation of Src kinase.
Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Heart Atria ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; src-Family Kinases

Aim To explore the role of cotranscriptional activator p300 in regulating the electrical remodeling of atrial myocytes in aging mouse, which resulted in atrial fibrillation. Methods The left atrial appendage tissues of 5 , 13 and 18monthold C57BL/6 mice were collected respectively. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of p300, L type calcium channel (Cavl. 2) and aging related protein p53/p21. Acute enzymatic hydrolysis was used to isolate single atrial myocytes, and the wholecell patchclamp technique was used to detect the Ltype calcium current (I

Aim To observe whether the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 was involved in the senescence of atrial fibroblasts by activating β-catenin based on our previous study which found marked increase of Piezo1 mRNA in senescent atrial fibroblasts. Methods Primary mouse atrial fibroblasts (MAFs) were isolated from male C57BL/6 mice (3-4 weeks) by enzyme digestion, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was used to induce the senescence of cells. The ratio of senescent cells was detected by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining. The protein levels of Piezo1, β-catenin/p-β-catenin, senescence-associated proteins p53 and p21 in the cells treated with TBHP (100 μmol · L