Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gastric Mucosa ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism

In this study, the expressions of growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a) in the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and nodose ganglion (NG) were investigated by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results clearly showed the presence of GHS-R1a mRNA and GHS-R1a-positive neurons in the rat DRG and NG. GHS-R1a was also co-localized with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in some DRG and NG neurons, indicating the existence of subpopulations of the visceral afferents. The extrinsic primary afferent visceroceptive DRG and NG neurons from the stomach were identified by retrograde tracing fluorogold and stained for GHS-R1a and CGRP. Some neurons both positive for CGRP and GHS-Rla were labled by fluorogold. Our results not only demonstrate the expression of GHS-R1a in the vagal afferents but also provide the first and direct morphological evidence for its presence in the spinal visceral afferents, and gherin might have a modulatory role in the visceral afferent signaling.
Afferent Pathways ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons, Afferent ; cytology ; Nodose Ganglion ; cytology ; Rats ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; metabolism ; Stomach ; innervation

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Gastric Mucosa ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Fluoride Poisoning ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fluorosis, Dental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hedgehog Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and integrin beta(1) in peritoneal mesothelial cells during laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy(LARG) and to explore the possible effects of LARG on the peritoneal metastasis.

METHODSFrom April to August 2008, LARG was performed for 26 patients with gastric cancer (laparoscopy group), while 20 cases underwent open radical gastrectomy(open group). Peritoneum of right upper belly was collected at 3 operation time points(the beginning, 2 hours, 4 hours). The expressions of ICAM-1 and integrin beta(1) in peritoneal mesothelial cells at 3 time points were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSWith the operation prolonging, the expression of ICAM-1 and integrin beta(1) was increased gradually in both LARG and open groups. The expression of integrin beta(1) in two groups was obviously increased at 4-hour time point as compared to the beginning(P<0.05). Besides, there were no significant differences of these two adhesion molecules among the three operation time points between two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with open surgery, LARG is not associated with a greater effect on the expression of ICAM-1 and integrin beta(1) in peritoneal mesothelial cells, and may not promote peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer through increasing the expression of adhesion molecule in peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneum ; cytology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

CpG-island margins and non-island-CpG sites round the transcription start sites of CpG-island-positive and -negative genes are methylated to various degrees in a tissue-specific manner. These methylation-variable CpG sites were analyzed to delineate a relationship between the methylation and transcription of the tissue-specific genes. The level of tissue-specific transcription was estimated by counting the number of the total transcripts in the SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) database. The methylation status of 12 CpG-island margins and 21 non-island CpG sites near the key tissue-specific genes was examined in pluripotent stromal cells obtained from fat and bone marrow samples as well as in lineage-committed cells from marrow bulk, stomach, colon, breast, and thyroid samples. Of the 33 CpG sites examined, 10 non-island-CpG sites, but none of the CpG-island margins were undermethylated concurrent with tissue-specific expression of their nearby genes. The net methylation of the 33 CpG sites and the net amount of non-island-CpG gene transcripts were high in stomach tissues and low in stromal cells. The present findings suggest that the methylation of the non-island-CpG sites is inversely associated with the expression of the nearby genes, and the concert effect of transitional-CpG methylation is linearly associated with the stomach-specific genes lacking CpG-islands.
Adipose Tissue/cytology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Adult Stem Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Aged ; CpG Islands/*genetics ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach/cytology/*metabolism ; Stromal Cells/metabolism ; Transcription Initiation Site ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo detect bcl-2 gene expression in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1 for understanding the role of bcl-2 gene in the carcinogenesis of EBV-associated gastric carcinoma.

METHODSAkata 1061 cells producing recombined EBV carrying neomycin resistance gene (NEOr) was used to mediate the EBV infection of human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1 via close contact, with the empty plasmid pcDNA3-transfected GES-1 cells via lipofectamine method as a control. The EBV-infected and pcDNA3-transfected cells were cloned by limited dilution and the positive clones selected with G418. Immunocytochemical staining was performed to detect the expressions of EBNA1 and Bcl-2 protein.

RESULTSBcl-2 protein expression was detected in EBV-infected cells but not in the control cells.

CONCLUSIONEBV infection can increase Bcl-2 expression in gastric epithelial cells, and such cell transformation effect of EBV is related to the overexpression of bcl-2 gene.

Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; Stomach ; cytology

AIMTo study the influence of acetylcholine (ACh) on nicotinic receptor(N receptor) beta-subunit of the gastric epithelia and the gastric adenocarcinoma cells, and the difference of both cells.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry method was used to examine the number, number density and surface density of N receptor beta-subunit in both cells cultured in vitro.

RESULTSThe number and number density of N receptor beta-subunit in the gastric adenocarcinoma cells were much more than that in the gastric epithelia (P < 0.05). But surface density of N receptor beta-subunit in the gastric adenocarcinoma cells were lower than that in the gastric epithelia (P < 0.05). ACh at 10(6) mol/L could increase the number, number density and surface density of N receptor beta-subunit in the gastric epithelia (P < 0.01). The increase effect could not be blocked by atropine. ACh had no effect on N receptor beta-subunit in the gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONACh at low concentration initiates N receptor desensitization in the gastric epithelia. ACh has no effect on sensitivity of N receptor beta-subunit in the gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Gastric Mucosa ; cytology ; Humans ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo verify if mutated polyadenylation signal retroviruses can produce viral-host readthrough transcripts (Rth) and have the ability to transform human gastric epithelial GES-1 cells, and to discuss the new functions of retroviruses in gastric cancer related gene research.

METHODSThe polyadenylation signal-deficient retrovirus vector mutated by PCR site-directed mutagenesis was used to make polyadenylation signal-deficient retroviruses by PA317 packaging cells. The GES-1 cells were infected by the viruses and selected by G418. Viral-host readthrough RNAs were checked by Northern blot. The cell growth and soft agar assay were run to test the transformed cells.

RESULTSpolyadenylation signal-deficient retroviruses could be packaged by PA317 packaging cells. The viruses had the ability to infect GES-1 cells. Northern blot analysis of viral RNA from infected pools and individual G418-resistant clones demonstrated that mutation of consensus LTR polyadenylation signals generated Rth viral RNA in the infected GES-1 cells. Phenotypic analysis results showed that the GES-1 cells infected with plyadenylation signal mutant viruses tended to grow in a cluster manner. Pools of PA317 cells infected with mutant viruses were able to form colonies in soft agar with a higher efficiency than control or uninfected cells.

CONCLUSIONHost readthrough transcripts generated by polyadenylation signal mutant viruses may contribute to transformation GES-1 cell phenotypes. The mutant vectors and the method described in the present work may be useful as tools to trap and identify genes involved in retroviral insertion mediated cell transformation.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; virology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; RNA 3' Polyadenylation Signals ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Stomach ; cytology ; Terminal Repeat Sequences

Adenocarcinoma ; blood supply ; physiopathology ; Capillaries ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; physiopathology