OBJECTIVETo identify novel human gastric cancer-associated susceptibility gene for early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

METHODSA primer was designed for 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA end(RACE) and amplified fragments were cloned, then they were analyzed by sequencing. Compared with ESTs in Genbank, the EST fragment represented a novel gene. Combination of Northern blot and virtual Northern and multiple tissues Northern blot, expression of the cDNA in multiple normal and carcinoma tissues were analyzed.

RESULTSOne of the important cDNA bands with poly(A) tail was cloned. This band was named W41. Sequence analysis showed that W41 consists of 533 bp. Basic local alignment search tool analysis revealed that W41 has low identity with any genes from GenBank. This sequence data was submitted to GenBank with accession No. AF 325202. Northern blot revealed that W41 presented higher expression in gastric cancer tissue than in normal tissue. Multiple tissue Northern blot revealed that W41 presented higher expression in multiple cancers than in normal tissues. Virtual Northern revealed that the cDNA presented higher expression in tumor series analysis of gene expression libraries than in normal.

CONCLUSIONA novel human gastric cancer-associated cDNA fragment was identified.

Blotting, Northern ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; HL-60 Cells ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To probe into the expression of alpha subunit for IL-6R at both mRNA and protein levels in human leukemic cells and to discuss its implication in targeted treatment for leukemia with recombinant IL-6-PE40 exotoxin fusion protein mediated by IL-6/IL-6R system, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, sequencing and FCM were used to analyze the gene and protein expression levels of alpha subunit for IL-6R in leukemic cells. Our results showed that not only mRNA but also protein of alpha subunit for IL-6R are highly expressed in the myelogenous leukemic cell lines, the relative expression levels of mRNA were KG-1(1.22) > (1.02) > U266(1.00) > U937(0.99) > HL-60(0.76). Among lymphoblastic leukemic cell lines, Raji expressed a certain amount of alpha subunit mRNA (0.77), whereas its alpha subunit protein was not detected. Expression of alpha subunit mRNA and protein were negative in lymphoblastic leukemic cell lines, HuT28 and CEM, and chronic myelocytic leukemic cell line K562. These results correlate with those of FCM highly. Noteworthily, normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressed hardly protein of IL-6R alpha subunit. So this study provides sufficient experimental evidence that the targeted treatment by recombinant IL-6-PE40 can specifically kill leukemic cells highly expressing IL-6R without toxicity to normal hematopoietic cells.
Base Sequence ; DNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Gene Expression ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Subunits ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Receptors, Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of gelatinases, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9, gelatinase B) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, gelatinase A), in CD(34)(+) cells and leukemic cell lines, and explore the significance of gelatinase in migrating and homing capacity of CD(34)(+) cells, as well as the role of gelatinase in leukemia pathogenesis.

METHODSCD(34)(+) cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and normal bone marrow by Mini MACS system. By zymogram analysis, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected in the serum free condition medium of CD(34)(+) cells and cell lines.

RESULTSOne brilliant band with molecular weight of 92 x 10(3) was detected in condition medium of cord blood CD(34)(+) cells. No band was detected in condition medium of bone marrow CD(34)(+) cells. Brilliant bands with molecular weight of 92 x 10(3) and 72 x 10(3) were detected in the condition medium of U937, KG-1a and HL-60 cell lines, but not in that of HEL, Namalva, CEM, K562 and LCL-H cell lines. In the condition media of J6-1 and J6-2 cells only the 92 x 10(3) band was detected.

CONCLUSIONSCord blood CD(34)(+) cells produced MMP-9, but bone marrow CD(34)(+) cells did not, partly explains the fact that cord blood CD(34)(+) cells possessed higher migrating capacity in comparison with bone marrow CD(34)(+) cells. The expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in leukemic cell lines varied.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; enzymology ; immunology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; enzymology ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; U937 Cells

The high expression of tissue factor (TF) is related to the coagulation disorder in acute leukemia. TF in blood circulation is mainly expressed in cells, microparticles (MP) and alternatively spliced human tissue factor (asHTF). To elucidate the role of TF in the coagulation disorder of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), RT-PCR was performed on 6 common AML cell lines NB4, HL-60, Kasumi-1, U937, K562 and THP-1. The results showed that only NB4 and U937 cells expressed baseline full-length TF and asHTF which were proved by sequencing. The flow cytometric detection, TF activity and TF antigen tests in NB4 and U937 cells revealed that the asHTF was expressed in trace amount and almost had no activity, while the TF antigen and activity in microparticles were significantly higher than that in asHTF. It is concluded that asHTF may play an unimportant role in the coagulation disorder of AML. Microparticle associated tissue factor (MP-TF) is the predominant source of TF activity released from AML cells.
Alternative Splicing ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; U937 Cells

The activity of the mTOR pathway is frequently increased in acute myeloid leukemia, and is tightly related with cellular proliferation. Leucine is tightly linked to the mTOR pathway and can activate it, thereby stimulating cellular proliferation. LAT3 is a major transporter for leucine, and suppression of its expression can reduce cell proliferation. Here, we show that suppression of LAT3 expression can reduce proliferation of the acute leukemia cell line, K562. We investigated the mRNA and protein expression of LAT3 in several leukemia cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) using RT-PCR and Western blotting. We also evaluated cell viability using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay after blocking LAT3 expression with either shRNA targeted to LAT3 or a small molecular inhibitor BCH (2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid). LAT3 mRNA and protein expression was detected in leukemia cell lines, but not in normal PBMNCs. Using K562 cells, it was found that cellular proliferation and mTOR pathway activity were significantly reduced when LAT3 was blocked with either shRNA or BCH. Our results suggest that leukemia cell proliferation can be significantly suppressed by blocking LAT3. This finding may lead to a new strategy to develop clinical therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.
Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acids, Cyclic ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; genetics ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect mutations of human telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TERF1) gene in 11 malignant hematopoietic cell lines, which have positive telomerase activity, and evaluate the significance of the mutations.

METHODSGenome structure of TERF1 was predicted by using biology information program, and verified by PCR and sequencing. Telomerase activity was detected by telomeric repeat amplification (TRAP)-ELISA. PCR and sequencing were used to detect mutation of each exon of TERF1 in 11 cell lines, including myelogenous leukemia cell lines K562, HL-60, U-937, NB4, THP-1, HEL and Dami; lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines 6T-CEM, Jurkat and Raji and MDS-RAEB cell line MUTZ-1. Five DNA samples from healthy volunteers were detected as normal controls.

RESULTSTERF1 gene has 10 exons and spans 38.6 kb. All the 11 cell lines showed positive telomerase activity. No mutation was found in all exons of TERF1 in the 11 cell lines. However, 4 variants were found in intron1, 2 and 8 near exon1, exon2 and exon9, respectively. The variants in MUTZ-1 was different from those in leukemia cell lines; but no difference was found between the variants in myelogenous and lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines.

CONCLUSIONTERF1 mutation is probably not among the main factors of the gene dysfunction in malignant hematopoietic diseases.

Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exons ; genetics ; HL-60 Cells ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; K562 Cells ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Telomere-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; U937 Cells

To study the effects of supernatant derived from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines on proliferation and apoptosis of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets and to investigate the mechanism by which AML escapes from immune recognition, lymphocytes were labeled with CFSE and were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 in presence or absence of supernatants from three AML cell lines (HL-60, NB4, U937). After culture, cell suspensions were labeled with 7AAD and CD4 PE (or CD8 PE). Cells were then detected by flow cytometry and their proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed. The results showed that supernatants from two of three cell lines (HL-60 and NB4) inhibited the proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and the degree of inhibition showed a dose-dependent way. Similarly, the apoptosis of stimulated CD4(+) T cells was inhibited, but stimulated CD8(+) T cells remained unaffected by supernatant from HL-60 and NB4. In contrary, the apoptosis of proliferative CD8(+) T cells were increased significantly by HL-60 and NB4 supernatant. It is concluded that soluble factors derived from AML cell lines inhibit the proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and induce the apoptosis of proliferative CD8(+) T cells, that may be one of the mechanisms by which the immunity was suppressed.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; U937 Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells and autologous dendritic cells-CIK (DC-CIK) cells co-cultured with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) and CIK cells are commonly used for immunotherapy recently. We compared the anti-tumor immune response of CIK cells, autologous DC-CIK cells, and semi-allogeneic DC-CIK cells to explore a more effective anti-tumor adoptive immunotherapy approach.

METHODSPeripheral monocytes were isolated from patients with renal carcinoma, lung cancer, or maxillary squamous cell carcinoma and their healthy adult children. Isolated cells were cultured and induced as DCs and CIK cells in vitro. CIK cells from patients were co-cultured with autologous DCs and DCs from their children respectively, generating DC-CIK cells and semi-allogeneic DC-CIK cells. The anti-tumor activities of autologous CIK cells, autologous DC-CIK cells, and semi-allogeneic DC-CIK cells were measured by LDH assay. Intracellular staining was used to test the secretion of cytokines. Flow cytometry was applied for detecting the phonotype changes of these three types of cells. Cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were detected by 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) and Annexin V/PI respectively.

RESULTSCompared with autologous CIK cells and DC-CIK cells, semi-allogeneic DC-CIK cells significantly enhanced the anti-tumor activity and IFN-gamma secretion, reduced IL-4 secretion, increased the ratio of CD3(+)CD56(+) cells and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells, decreased the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells, promoted cell proliferation, and lessened cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSSemi-allogeneic DC-CIK cells had a stronger anti-tumor effect than did autologous CIK cells and DC-CIK cells. Our results provided experimental evidence for clinical application of DC-CIK cells.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-4 ; secretion ; K562 Cells ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Maxillary Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression, characteristics and roles of macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSF-R) in human leukemia cell lines.

METHODSPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from 3 healthy persons, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) collected from 5 healthy persons and 4 human myelomonocytic leukemia cell lines including J6-1, J6-2, K562 and HL-60 were studied by using ABC immunoperoxidaes assay, indirect immunofluorescene staining, flow cytometry, and Western blot.

RESULTSM-CSF-R was noticed to be localized in the cytoplasm, nucleus and at the membrane in 4 human leukemia cell lines; expression of M-CSF-R was not detected in normal human PBMCs without PHA stimulation. Human PBMCs stimulated by PHA expressed a low level of M-CSF-R. Frequencies of membrane bound M-CSF-R (M-CSF-mR) expression in J6-1, J6-2, K562 and HL-60 were 78.9%, 72.6%, 54.9% and 58.0% respectively. Frequencies of cytoplasm and nucleus associated M-CSF-R (M-CSF-cnR) were 52.3%, 44.3%, 28.0% and 65.3% respectively. One form of M-CSF-R with a molecular weight of 120 000 was detected both in the cytoplasm and nucleus of HL-60 cells. The half-life of M-CSF-cnR in leukemia cells mentioned above was longer than that of corresponding M-CSF-R in stimulated CBMCs, and the half-life of M-CSF-mR in leukemia cells was extended except that of M-CSF-mR in K562 cells. Both anti-M-CSF-R monoclonal antibody and recombinant human M-CSF soluble receptor could cause the growth arrest of HL-60 cell in G(0)/G(1) phase, and could inhibit the formation of colony of HL-60 cell in soft agarose.

CONCLUSIONSExpression of M-CSF-R in leukemia cells is heterogeneous. The accumulation of cellular M-CSF-R results in the low degradation rate of cellular M-CSF-R in leukemia cells, which could be a potential mitotic signal. Signal mediated by M-CSF-R is important and necessary for the growth of HL-60 cell.

Cell Line ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the marine sponge Rhabdastrella aff. distincta.

METHODCompounds were obtained by normal phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, reverse phase chromatogrophy and methylation method. These structures were determined on the basis of IR, MS, NMR spectral analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated from bioactive CH3Cl fraction and identified as geoditin A (1), geoditin B (2), stellettin A (5), stellettin B (4), stellettin C (3), stellettinE (7), rhabdastrellic acid A (8) and the methyl ester of stellettin E (6).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were obtained from this species for the first time.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Porifera ; chemistry ; Resorcinols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; drug effects