OBJECTIVETo study the subcellular localization of human endothelial-overexpressed lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1) protein in endothelial cells.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cell strain ECV304 were cultured in vitro. The fusion protein of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-EOLA1 expressing plasmid was constructed. Empty plasmid with EGFP at N side (pEGFP-N2) and fusion protein expressing plasmid EGFP-EOLA1 was respectively transfected into ECV304 cells with liposome. After being cultured for 48 hours, the expression levels of EGFP and fusion protein EGFP-EOLA1 in cells were detected with Western blot. The subcellular localization of EOLA1 protein was detected by laser scanning confocal microscope and immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTSThe EGFP-EOLA1 coexpression plasmid was verified to be successfully constructed by enzyme cutting and gene sequencing. The fusion protein of EGFP-EOLA1 was observed to express in transfected cells through Western blot. Green fluorescence scattered all over the ECV304 cells transfected with empty plasmid and cells transfected with fusion protein expressing plasmid, and it gathered obviously in the nuclei in the latter cells. Immune deposits were observed in the matrix of cells transfected with fusion protein expressing plasmid but not in the cells transfected with empty plasmid.

CONCLUSIONSEOLA1 protein is localized in the nucleus and the matrix of ECV304 cell, and it plays its role as a signal transduction factor.

Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of inhibiting the expression of endothelial-overexpressed lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1) on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell line ECV304.

METHODSAfter constructing and transfecting EGFP-EOLA1 fusion protein expressive vector into ECV304 cells, the transfected cells was cultured in M199 containing G418 for 5 weeks to screen the cell line stable expression EGFP-EOLA1 fusion protein. Oligonucleotides targeting EOLA1 at different sites were synthesized and inserted into pSinencer3.1/H1 vector. Then, the recombinant vector was transfected into the cultured ECV304 cells and the inhibiting effect to target gene EOLA1 was investigated by observing the green fluorescence in transfected cells under inverted fluorescent microscope and by Western blot assay. The proliferation of ECV304 cells was numbered when the expression of EOLA1 in ECV304 cells was inhibited by RNA interference.

RESULTSThe ECV304 cell line stably expressing EGFP-EOLA1 fusion protein was constructed and the siEOLA1 interfere vectors can knock down EOLA1 gene expression specially. When blocking the expression of EOLA1 in ECV304 cells,the proliferation of cells slowed down.

CONCLUSIONEOLA1 maybe has a role on the proliferation of cells.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Phenotype ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study regulation of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (KCa) of mesenteric artery smooth muscle cell (SMC) from 21 old patients with essential hypertension (EH) by endothelin-1 (ET-1) and prostagl E(1) (PGE(1)).

METHODSMesenteric artery branch from EH was digested by enzyme. Patch clamp technique was used to pull cell-attached and inside-out patches on mesenteric artery SMC from EH and the normotensive patients respectively. The signal channel open probability (Po), open dwell-time (To) and close dwell-time (Tc), open channel number per patch were recorded. After adding Ca(2+) (10(-8) approximately 10(-6) mol/L), ET-1(2 approximately 8 x 10(9) mol/L) and PGE(1) (10, 20, 40, 100, 200, 400 nmol/L) to cytoplasm respectively. The parameters above were observed again.

RESULTSCompared to that of normotensive patients, the activities of KCa channels of patients with EH was higher. After adding Ca(2+) to cytoplasm,the Po of KCa channels in normotensive patients increased significantly. But it was few changes in EH group. KCa channels has dual reaction to ET-1 in normotensive patients. We have found no statistics difference when ET-1 present on KCa channels of EH cases. Whereas PGE(1) can affect KCa channels current and channels kinetic significantly in side-out patches. The Po of KCa channels increased. The To protracted and the Tc curtailed in EH.

CONCLUSIONSThe activities of KCa channels of patients with EH increased significantly. but the sensitive to Ca(2+) decreased. ET-1 were few effect to KCa channels. The PGE(1) can activated KCa channels of patients with EH.

Aged ; Alprostadil ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; cytology ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo clone the differentially expressed genes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSTwo-directional (forward and backward) suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed on HUVEC cultured in either standard media or treated for 6 hours with LPS (100 ng/ml). To restrict the number of false-positive clones, colony dot hybridization was used to further verify the differentially expressed cDNA clones. Positive clones were sequenced.

RESULTSThese analyses have identified both novel and known genes whose expression is influenced by LPS. The known genes include a group related to proinflammatory events, a group related to cellular apoptosis and proliferation, a group related to protein synthesis and cytoskeletal rearrangment, and a group related to energy metabolism and signal transduction.

CONCLUSIONSSSH is a powerful technique of high sensitivity for the detection of differential gene expression in HUVEC stimulated by LPS.

Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; methods ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Umbilical Veins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo amplify the full-length cDNA and characterize the structure and biological function of a novel expression sequence tag ST55 (GenBank Accession No. BM121646).

METHODSRapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to clone the full-length of cDNA of ST55 in this study. Then, its tissue distribution was checked by Northern blots, and the associated protein was screened by GAL 4-based yeast two-hybrid. The effect of stable transfection of the cDNA on cell proliferation was evaluated in ECV304 cells.

RESULTSA full-length 1404 bp cDNA was cloned, and it was accepted as a novel human mRNA by GenBank (No. AY074889), named endothelial-overexpressed lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1). Bioinformatic analysis found that the EOLA1 encoded 158 amino acids, 17.89 kDa protein, and mapped to chromosome Xq27.4 with 5 exons. EOLA1 expressed in different human normal tissues and cancer cell lines. Using the EOLA1 cDNA as bait, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening of a human liver cDNA library and identified metallothionein 2A (MT2A) as associated protein. The interaction between EOLA1 and MT2A was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Stable transfection of EOLA1 was noted to stimulate ECV304 cell proliferation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that EOLA1 is a novel gene and the interaction of EOLA1 and MT2A may play an important role in cell protection in inflammation reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Metallothionein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Sequence Alignment ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Objective To establish a quantitative RT-PCR method with self-quenched fluorogenic probe for detection of bcr/abl mRNA in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia for providing a useful tool for diagnosis of CML,evaluation of therapeutic effect and monitoring of minimal residual disease(MRD). Methods bcr/abl gene from cultured K562 cells was amplified by conventional RT-PCR.The standard quantitative plasmid was constructed by A-T clone method.The self-quenched fluorogenic quantitative RT- PCR method(FQ-RT-PCR)for determination of bcr/abl mRNA was established successfully using the ABI PRISM 7000 PCR Detector.The linear range,sensitivity,stability,and repetitiveness of the method were determined.The marrow samples from 25 CML patients and 3 ALL patients were assessed.Results The sensitivity of the FQ-RT-PCR was 10 copies/?l recombined plasmid,and bcr/abl mRNA can be detected from 1 K562 cell in 10~5 normal cells.The linear range was 10~2-10~9 copies/?l recombined plasmid.The coefficient variation(CV)value was 2.1% in intra-assay and 6.1% in inter-assay.The median ber/abl mRNA expression level was 4.50?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-89.00)?10~4],5.45?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(2.95-19.30)?10~4 ],13.00?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(4.10-89.00)?10~4] and 2.35?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-5.12)?10~4] in 25 CML patients,11 patients in the incipient chronic phase,6 patients in blastic crisis,8 patients in chronic period after treatment,respectively.The bcr/abl mRNA level in blastic crisis was significantly higher than that in chronic phase(q= 3.41,P

Objective: To observe the effects of laurocapram and borneol as transdermal penetration enhancers applied to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver lipids, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods: Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with a normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not given any intervention. After the model was prepared successfully, rabbits in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal penetration enhancers; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum was isolated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase. The liver tissues were isolated, and total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured by enzymatic methods. One-step method was applied for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) detection, and transmission turbidimetry was for apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) detection. Results: The serum concentrations of the drugs in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (both P<0.05); all drug penetrations in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the laurocapram group (both P<0.05), except for tanshinone ⅡA. Compared with the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group, the HSL was significantly increased while the HMG-CoA reductase was significantly decreased in the laurocapram and the borneol groups (both P<0.05); between groups, the HSL in the borneol group was significantly higher than that in the laurocapram group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in rabbit liver were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); between groups, the TG and TC in the laurocapram group and the LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05), and the TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the laurocapram group (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly decreased in the model group (both P<0.05), while compared with the model group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly increased in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups (all P<0.05). Between groups, the Apo-A1 in the laurocapram group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05).Conclusion: The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal penetration enhancers, in herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can promote the penetration of the drugs in the herbal cake, increase the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1, improve the metabolism of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase, and also simultaneously reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the liver. The transdermal penetration enhancement effect of borneol is slightly better than or equivalent to that of laurocapram.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of surgical treatment for cervical esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 82 patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma undergone surgical treatment in Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital from Dec. 1993 to Dec. 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The difference of the therapeutic regimen and 5-year survival rate of these patients were evaluated.

RESULTSBefore 1997, patients mainly underwent surgical therapy solely (27 cases). After 1997, 50 cases received surgical therapy following neoadjuvant radiotherapy (multimodality group), except 5 early-stage cases received surgical therapy solely. Seventy-three patients underwent esophagectomy without thoracotomy, including 21 cases of invert-stripping of the esophagus, and 52 cases of blunt denudation of esophagus. Nine patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. Concurrent monolateral or bilateral cervical lymph node dissection accounted for 14 cases and combined organ resection 12 cases. No serious hemorrhage and tracheal or bronchial tearing occurred. No hospital death occurred. Postoperative complications were found in 14 patients, and the incidence of complication was 19.5%. In sole surgery group, upper incised margins of 5 patients were confirmed to be positive. The laryngeal function of 26 patients in sole surgery group was preserved, while 47 patients in multimodality group preserved. Lymph node metastasis occurred in 14 cases, including 13 cases cervical lymph node metastasis (monolateral 9, bilateral 4) and 1 case of upper mediastinal lymph node metastasis. During follow-up, 3 patients were lost. The total 5-year survival rate was 43%. The patients in multimodality group had higher 5-year survival rate as compared to those in sole surgery group. (50.2% vs 33.9%,chi(2 )=7.17,P=0.007). The 5-year survival rates of patients with transthoracic esophagectomy, esophagectomy plus concurrent monolateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes dissection or combined organ resection were 36.5%, 45.8% and 33.3% respectively. All the 5-year survival rates of these subgroups were lower as compared to multimodality group.

CONCLUSIONSFor patients with early stage cervical esophageal carcinoma and with proximal end of residual normal esophagus longer than 2 cm, the optimal therapy should be surgery. For most of the patients, surgery combined with neoadjuvant radiotherapy is the ideal therapeutic strategy, which can lower the risk of positive revised margin, improve the possibility of preserving the laryngeal function and result in the improvement of 5-year survival rate. Esophagectomy without thoracotomy should be preferred. Combined organ resection or bilateral lymph node dissection should be chosen carefully because these operating procedures may lead to severe injury and function lose.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo measure the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (PKB) in liver tissue among low-birth-weight newborn rats treated with L-arginine (L-Arg) in early life, and to investigate the effect of L-Arg on insulin resistance.

METHODSEighteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and intervention (n=6 each). The control group was fed with normal protein feed (protein content=21%) during pregnancy to establish a normal-birth-weight newborn rat model, and the model and intervention groups were fed with low-protein feed (protein content=10%) during pregnancy to establish a low-birth-weight newborn rat model. Newborn rats from the three pregnant rat groups were also assigned to control, model and intervention groups. During 21 days of lactation, maternal rats in the control and model groups were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water, while maternal rats in the intervention group were fed with normal protein feed and drinking water rich in L-Arg (200 mg/kg·d). After ablactation, the three groups of newborn rats were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water. Liver tissue samples were collected from these newborn rats at 1, 3 and 8 weeks after birth. Protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSAt 1 week after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PI3K than in the model group (P=0.045), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P=0.503). At 8 weeks after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PKB than the model group (P=0.039), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA supplement of L-Arg in early life can boost protein synthesis, increase protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue, promote insulin signaling and reduce insulin resistance.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Phosphorylation ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of obtaining of a highly pure protein of human endothelial overexpressed lipopolysaccharide-associated factor 1 (EOLA1) with metal chelation chromatography.

METHODSInclusion bodies of the E. coli transformed with EOLA1 gene were extracted and washed with BugBuster Protein Extraction Reagent. The primary purified products were purified by His. Bind Resin Chromatography under denaturing condition and dialyzed for renaturation, and then were analyzed with SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF).

RESULTSEOLA1 was mainly expressed in E. coli as insoluble inclusion bodies. The protein content in the primary extracted inclusion bodies accounted for over 75%, and it accounted for more than 90% after chromatography and renaturation. It was indicated by PMF that the targeted protein peptide overlaid many of designed protein peptide.

CONCLUSIONThe method of EOLA1 protein purification and renaturation was convenient and efficient, and by this method sufficient amount of highly pure EOLA1 protein could be obtained for the preparation of EOLA1 monoclonal antibody and for the study of its gene function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism