OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of miR-144 to the biological behavior of multiple myeloma cells and its mechanism. METHODS: RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-144 in multiple myeloma cells and plasma of MM patients. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation and cloning ability of myeloma cells transfected by miR-144. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle distribution of myeloma cells with over-expression of miR-144. Apoptosis of myeloma cells with over-expression of miR-144 was detected by TUNEL assay. Transwell cell invasion and migration assay was used to detect the invasion and migration ability of myeloma cells with overexpressing on miR-144.Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in myeloma cells with over expression of miR-144, as well as the expression levels of proteins related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-144 in MM cell lines and blood of MM patients was significantly lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). The proliferation, invasion and migration of myeloma cells with over-expression of miR-144 were significantly decreased (P＜0.05), and the apoptosis level was increased (P＜0.05). The expression levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in myeloma cells with over-expression of miR-144 were significantly lower than those in control group (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION MiR-144 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of multiple myeloma cells and induce cell apoptosis. The specific mechanism may be related with the activity of inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Apoptosis ; Biological Products ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Multiple Myeloma ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Wnt4 Protein ; beta Catenin

Wnt proteins are a family of secreted glycoproteins that are evolutionarily conserved and considered to be involved in extensive developmental processes in metazoan organisms. The characterization of wnt genes may improve understanding the parasite's development. In the present study, a wnt4 gene encoding 491amino acids was amplified from cDNA of metacestodes of Taenia solium using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Bioinformatics tools were used for sequence analysis. The conserved domain of the wnt gene family was predicted. The expression profile of Wnt4 was investigated using real-time PCR. Wnt4 expression was found to be dramatically increased in scolex evaginated cysticerci when compared to invaginated cysticerci. In situ hybridization showed that wnt4 gene was distributed in the posterior end of the worm along the primary body axis in evaginated cysticerci. These findings indicated that wnt4 may take part in the process of cysticerci evagination and play a role in scolex/bladder development of cysticerci of T. solium.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cysticercosis/pathology ; Cysticercus/enzymology/*genetics ; DNA, Helminth/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sus scrofa ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; Taenia solium/embryology/enzymology/*genetics ; Wnt4 Protein/*genetics

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays important roles in learning, memory and mood regulation. External factors, such as physical exercise, have been found to modulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Voluntary running enhances cell proliferation in subgranular zone (SGZ) and increases the number of new born neurons in rodents, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we used BrdU assay to identify proliferating cells in 2-month-old C57BL/6 mice after 15 days of voluntary wheel running test. mRNA and protein levels for several neural factors in dentate gyrus, Ammon's horn, and cortex were also analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blot assay after 15 days of voluntary wheel running. Our data show that voluntary wheel running for 15 days elevated the number of proliferation cells in dentate gyrus and significantly up-regulated the mRNA levels of Bdnf, Igf1 and Wnt4. The protein levels of BDNF and IGF1 in dentate gyrus were also increased after voluntary wheel running. These results indicate that the increase of adult hippocampal neurogenesis caused by voluntary wheel running for 15 days might be through up-regulating BDNF, IGF1 and WNT4 in dentate gyrus.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Motor Activity ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; cytology ; Wnt4 Protein ; metabolism

Neointimal proliferation after vascular injury is a key mechanism of restenosis, a major cause of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty failure and artery bypass occlusion. Emodin, an anthraquinone with multiple physiological activities, has been reported to inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that might cause intimal arterial thickening. Thus, in this study, we established a rat model of balloon-injured carotid artery and investigated the therapeutic effect of emodin and its underlying mechanism. Intimal thickness was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Expression of Wnt4, dvl-1, beta-catenin and collagen was determined by immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting. The proliferation of VSMC was evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and electron microscopy. MicroRNA levels were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Emodin relieved injury-induced artery intimal thickness. Results of western blots and immunohistochemistry showed that emodin suppressed expression of signaling molecules Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin as well as collagen protein in the injured artery. In addition, emodin enhanced expression of an artery injury-related microRNA, miR-126. In vitro, MTT assay showed that emodin suppressed angiotensin II (AngII)-induced proliferation of VSMCs. Emodin reversed AngII-induced activation of Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin signaling by increasing expression of miR-126 that was strongly supported by transfection of mimic or inhibitor for miR-126. Emodin prevents intimal thickening via Wnt4/Dvl-1/beta-catenin signaling pathway mediated by miR-126 in balloon-injured carotid artery of rats.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Carotid Artery Injuries/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Emodin/*therapeutic use ; Male ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Tunica Intima/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Wnt4 Protein/*metabolism ; beta Catenin/*metabolism