Objective To establish heterologous expression system of Na+-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) gene.Methods Human SGLT2 cDNA from normal kidney, generated by RT-PCR,was subclonedintoPEXL-GFP vector andtransfectedinto HEK293cells. After 24hours of incubation, the expression of SGLT2-GFP fusion protein was detected by Western blotting and laser confocal microscopy.Transport activity of SGLT2-GFP fusion proteins in cultured human HEK293 cells was evaluated with the uptake test of glucose analogue.ResultsSGLT2-GFP fusion protein was expressed in cultured human HEK293 cells.Furthermore, confocal microscopy using green fluorescent protein(GFP) revealed a punctate membrane pattern of SGLT2.Glucose analogue uptake increased in HEK293 cells transfected with SGLT2-GFP at least by 3.5 folds compared with HEK293 cells transfected with GFP vector only(P＜0.01).Conclusion Heterologous expression of SGLT2 gene in HEK293 cells is successfully established, which provides valuable approach for the functional and pathological study of SGLT2 gene.

Objective:This study aimed to compare rectal cancer tumor volume parameters measured by MRI sequences (T1WI, T2WI, and DWI) and/or CT with those by pathological specimen. Methods:Twenty-two patients with rectal cancer were prospectively enrolled. MRI sequences including T1WI, T2WI, and DWI, and/or CT of the pelvis were performed before operation. Volume parameters, such as tumor length along the rectal axis, maximum tumor width perpendicular to rectal axis, and tumor actual area in that perpendicular plane, were measured on T1WI, T2WI, DWI, and CT, respectively, for each patient. The respective pathological parameters were further measured in surgical specimen after total mesorectal excision. The two kinds of parameter values measured in imaging and pathology were statistically compared and accuracy appraisal was performed. Results:The mean Lpath-L was 4.06±1.14 cm. The mean LT1-L, LT2-L, LDWI-L, and LCT-L were 3.91± 1.51, 4.62±1.41, 3.39±1.05, and 3.94±1.23 cm, respectively. Correlation coefficients were 0.688, 0.635, 0.688, and 0.720 (P<0.05). An average 6 mm overestimation was found in T2WI, and 1 to 6 mm underestimation in T1WI, DWI, and CT in length values compared with those measured in surgical specimen. The mean Lpath-W was 2.56 ±0.94 cm. The mean LT1-W, LT2-W, LDWI-W, and LCT-W were 3.62±0.99, 3.66±0.76, 3.23±0.58, and 3.64±1.04 cm, respectively. The magnitude of mean overestimation ranged from 5.1 to 11.1 mm. The Apath was 4.30 ±2.83 cm2. AT1, AT2, ADWI, and ACT were 8.98±3.90, 8.99±3.43, 8.41±3.09, and 9.63±4.40 cm2, respectively, which double overestimated the tumor area in the perpendicular rectal plane. Conclusion:The difference in longitudinal length between MRI sequences/CT and pathological specimen was in the range of?6 mm to 6 mm. The mean maximum tumor width and areas in the maximum tumor perpendicular plane were overestimated. This study indicated that gross tumor volume delineation based on CT or MRI for rectal cancer irradiation should be conservative in the axial images of rectum, and meticulous consideration is required along the rectum.

Objective:To define more information for familial hematuria by genetic screening in a pedigree with familial hematuria.Methods:This was a 4 generation pedigree included 20 family members. The clinical data and laboratory manifestations of the family members were reviewed and collected from medical records. Meanwhile, the peripheral blood samples of 11 family members of the pedigree were collected, and then DNA samples were extracted by salting out method for genetic analysis. For genetic analysis, firstly, three family members including the proband were selected for whole exome sequencing, and the genetic variations were screened according to the sequence variation interpretation guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) for diagnostic sequence interpretation. Then PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to verify the identified pathogenic variants in all family members in the pedigree.Results:In the pedigree, 6 female members had persistent hematuria. Among them, 2 died due to end-stage renal disease, 2 died due to non-renal diseases, and 2 maintained stable renal function. One of the two members with stable renal function was diagnosed as IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy. Moreover, diffuse basement membrane lesions were identified in her renal biopsy sample after the electron microscope examination, which resulted in the suspected diagnosis of Alport syndrome. Genetic testing in this pedigree revealed two novel mutations in COL4A4 gene (NM_000092), c.G446T:p.G149V in exon 7 and c.G1249A:p.G417R in exon 20. Conclusion:Two novel mutations of COL4A4 gene (c.G446T:p.G149V in exon 7 and c.G1249A:p.G417R in exon 20) in a hematuria pedigree are related with phenotype of familial hematuria.

Objective To investigate the expression of regulators of G protein signaling(RGS), including RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 in OLETF rats, as well as the effects of metformin on these expressions. Methods LETO rats were used as control group. Eight-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to two guoups randomly:model and trial(metfomin dose during 8~(th) to 22~(nd) weeks:300mg kg~(-1)·d~(-1);during 23rd to 28th weeks:400 mg·kg~(-1) ·d~(-1))groups. Expressions of RGS mRNA in aorta and heart werequantified by real-time PCR. Results RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA of the thoracic aorta and left ventricle were significantly higher in model group than in control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, metformin significantly reduced their mRNA in trial group (P<0.01). Conclusions Upregulation of RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta and left ventricle of OLETF rats is in correlation with cardiovascular lesions; while downregulation of their expression is in correlation with the action of metformin.

Objective: To measure the distance of the lateral, inferior, and superior microfoci from a gross tumor in a pathological speci-men and to provide scientific evidence for margin extension to form the clinical target volume (CTV) in high-dose radiotherapy for rec-tal cancer. Methods: Twenty-eight surgical specimens were collected from patients with rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) in Hunan Cancer Hospital between October 2016 and April 2017. The nearest distance of the farthest peripheral micro-foci from the gross tumor was measured. The in vivo-in vitro tumor retraction factor (R1) was calculated by measuring the ratio of the tumor's perpendicular depth based on magnetic resonance imaging and immediate surgical specimens. The retraction factor (R2) in the process of pathological specimen makeup was calculated by knot labeling. The distance of microfoci extension was calculated based on that measured in pathological specimens including corrections with R1 and R2 and record as microcarcinoma extension mea-sured in vivo,MEin vivo. Results: Among the 28 pathological specimens, lateral, inferior, and superior microfoci were found in 17 (60.7%), 3 (10.7%), and 0 cases, respectively. The mean R1 was 0.913 and mean R2 was 0.803. The farthest distance measured inferiorly was 28 mm in vivo after correction. The maximum, minimum, and mean measured lateral distances were 12.03 mm, 3.03 mm, and 7.50 mm after correction, respectively. The 95% frequency value was within 10 mm. Conclusions: The lateral microfoci extension was within 10 mm for 95% of the rectal cancer patients. The margin expansion to form the CTV was suggested to be 10 mm for a late-course boost of high-dose radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Objective:Through the investigation of the pathogenicity of COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations and the genotype-phenotype correlation in autosomal dominant Alport syndrome (ADAS), to better understand the impact of COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations on ADAS. Methods:The study was a case series analysis. Patients from 5 ADAS families with COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations detected by whole exome sequencing were recruited by three hospitals. In vivo transcriptional analysis and/or in vitro minigene splicing assay were conducted to determine the splicing patterns and assess the pathogenicity of COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations. Results:In the five ADAS pedigrees carrying COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations, four novel ADAS splicing patterns were described. In pedigree 1-4, most patients presented with continuous hematuria or/and microalbuminuria. Otherwise,the proband in pedigree 4 presented with macroalbuminuria and the proband in pedigree 1 had progressed to chronic kidney disease stage 2 at the age of 70 years old. In pedigree 5, all patients developed end-stage renal disease between 28 and 41 years old. c.735+3A>G detected in pedigree 1 and pedigree 2 and c.694-1G>C detected in pedigree 3 both led to exon 12 skipping in COL4A4, resulting in 42 nucleotides in-frame deletion (c.694_735del). c.2056+3A>G detected in pedigree 4 led to COL4A4 exon 26 skipping, which caused in-frame deletion of 69 nucleotides (c.1988_2056del). c.2716+5G>T detected in pedigree 5 led to a 360 nucleotides large in-frame deletion, including 100 bp sequence at the 3'end of exon 29,the whole sequence of exon 30 and 89 bp sequence at the 5'end of exon 31 (c.2446_2805del). Conclusions:Renal prognosis differs significantly for patients with small in-frame deletions versus large in-frame deletion splicing abnormalities. Determination of the pathogenicity and the splicing patterns of COL4A4 heterozygous splicing mutations using in vivo and in vitro transcriptional analysis may provide renal prognostic information.

Objective To explore the sensitivity of HER-2-positive BT474 breast cancer cells to trastuzumab after knockdown or overexpression of RNA binding protein 38 ( RNPC1 ) .Methods The expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expressions of RNPC1, HER-2 and PI3K/AKT proteins were detected by Western blot after transfected with RNPC1 lentiviral vector, respectively.The experimental groups were treated with different concentration of trastuzumab, and cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by 7-AAD/APC double staining flow cytometry, and cell growth inhibition rate was tested by cell counting kit 8 ( CCK-8) .The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot assay.Results The results of qRT-PCR showed that overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA, and the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 were decreased after RNPC1 knockdown.The knockdown of RNPC1 decreased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2.Moreover, overexpression of RNPC1 decreased and knockdown of RNPC1 increased the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT while the total protein expressions of both were marginally changed.The results of analysis using a cell counting CCK-8 kit showed that the RNPC1 overexpressed group had a higher growth inhibition rate [(20.33± 1.25)%,(35.38±2.05)%,(50.43±2.12)%,(65 .35±2.08)%and(76.00±2.16)%, respectively] than that of the control group [(13.67±1.24)%,(27.86±2.05)%,( 39.72±1.69)%,(53.33±1.70)%and(62.68± 2.07)%] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 μg/ml).The cell apoptosis rates in the RNPC1-overexpressed group [ ( 19.46 ±1.06 )%, ( 30.87 ±0.98 )%, ( 50.45 ± 1.1)3%, respectively] were also increased compared with that in the control group [(14.38±0 .64)%,(21.65± 1.24)%,(38.03±0.85)%] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (0, 10, 20 and 30μg/ml) ( P<0.05 for all).Reverse results were observed in the RNPC1 knockdown experiments [ experimental groups:(9.67±1.18)%, ( 21.67 ±1.23)%, ( 30.33 ±1.25)%, ( 40.33 ±1.69)%, and ( 53.00 ± 1.63)%] compared with those of control groups:[(14.00±0.82)%, (27.67±1.25)%, (39.67±1.79)%, (53.67±1.50)%, and (63.33±1.52)%];and experimental groups:[(11.64±0.68)%, (16.60±1.01)%, and (25.14±3.12)%] compared with those of the control groups: [(14.71±0.61)%, (22.65±0.96)%, and (39.03±0.85)%].The overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expression levels of Bim and Bad and decreased the level of Bcl-xl, and reverse result was observed after knockdown of RNPC1.Conclusion RNPC1 may promote the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to trastuzumab through the increased expression of HER-2 in the BT474 breast cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of RNA binding motif protein 38 (RNPC1) on the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer cell line ZR?75?1. Methods Lentiviral vector was used to induce overexpression of RNPC1 in ZR?75?1 cells. qRT?PCR and Western blot were used to assess the regulatory effect of RNPC1 on PR expression. Actinomycin was used to detect the regulatory mechanism involved. Immunohistochemical ( IHC) staining was used to determine the protein expression of RNPC1 and PR in 80 breast cancer tissues. Results IHC staining showed that the expression of RNPC1 was significantly higher in the PR positive breast cancer tissues than that in the PR negative breast cancer tissues ( P<0.05) . The qRT?PCR results showed that overexpression of RNPC1 in ZR?75?1 cells significantly upregulated the mRNA level of PR (1.764±0.028 vs. 1.001±0.037, P<0.01), whereas knockdown of RNPC1 did the opposite (0.579± 0.007 vs. 1.000±0.002, P<0.01).The Western blot results also showed that overexpression of RNPC1 up?regulated PR levels, while knockdown of RNPC1 resulted in down?regulation of PR levels in the ZR?75?1 cells. The actinomycin assay showed that overexpression of RNPC1 increased the mRNA stability of PR. The half?life of PR mRNA was increased from 4. 0 h to 6. 5 h. Knockdown of RNPC1 decreased the mRNA stability of PR and the half?life of PR transcript was decreased from 4.1 h to 3.0 h. Conclusion RNPC1 plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of PR in breast cancer ZR?75?1 cells.

Objective To explore the sensitivity of HER-2-positive BT474 breast cancer cells to trastuzumab after knockdown or overexpression of RNA binding protein 38 ( RNPC1 ) .Methods The expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expressions of RNPC1, HER-2 and PI3K/AKT proteins were detected by Western blot after transfected with RNPC1 lentiviral vector, respectively.The experimental groups were treated with different concentration of trastuzumab, and cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by 7-AAD/APC double staining flow cytometry, and cell growth inhibition rate was tested by cell counting kit 8 ( CCK-8) .The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot assay.Results The results of qRT-PCR showed that overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA, and the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 were decreased after RNPC1 knockdown.The knockdown of RNPC1 decreased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2.Moreover, overexpression of RNPC1 decreased and knockdown of RNPC1 increased the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT while the total protein expressions of both were marginally changed.The results of analysis using a cell counting CCK-8 kit showed that the RNPC1 overexpressed group had a higher growth inhibition rate [(20.33± 1.25)%,(35.38±2.05)%,(50.43±2.12)%,(65 .35±2.08)%and(76.00±2.16)%, respectively] than that of the control group [(13.67±1.24)%,(27.86±2.05)%,( 39.72±1.69)%,(53.33±1.70)%and(62.68± 2.07)%] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 μg/ml).The cell apoptosis rates in the RNPC1-overexpressed group [ ( 19.46 ±1.06 )%, ( 30.87 ±0.98 )%, ( 50.45 ± 1.1)3%, respectively] were also increased compared with that in the control group [(14.38±0 .64)%,(21.65± 1.24)%,(38.03±0.85)%] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (0, 10, 20 and 30μg/ml) ( P<0.05 for all).Reverse results were observed in the RNPC1 knockdown experiments [ experimental groups:(9.67±1.18)%, ( 21.67 ±1.23)%, ( 30.33 ±1.25)%, ( 40.33 ±1.69)%, and ( 53.00 ± 1.63)%] compared with those of control groups:[(14.00±0.82)%, (27.67±1.25)%, (39.67±1.79)%, (53.67±1.50)%, and (63.33±1.52)%];and experimental groups:[(11.64±0.68)%, (16.60±1.01)%, and (25.14±3.12)%] compared with those of the control groups: [(14.71±0.61)%, (22.65±0.96)%, and (39.03±0.85)%].The overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expression levels of Bim and Bad and decreased the level of Bcl-xl, and reverse result was observed after knockdown of RNPC1.Conclusion RNPC1 may promote the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to trastuzumab through the increased expression of HER-2 in the BT474 breast cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of RNA binding motif protein 38 (RNPC1) on the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer cell line ZR?75?1. Methods Lentiviral vector was used to induce overexpression of RNPC1 in ZR?75?1 cells. qRT?PCR and Western blot were used to assess the regulatory effect of RNPC1 on PR expression. Actinomycin was used to detect the regulatory mechanism involved. Immunohistochemical ( IHC) staining was used to determine the protein expression of RNPC1 and PR in 80 breast cancer tissues. Results IHC staining showed that the expression of RNPC1 was significantly higher in the PR positive breast cancer tissues than that in the PR negative breast cancer tissues ( P<0.05) . The qRT?PCR results showed that overexpression of RNPC1 in ZR?75?1 cells significantly upregulated the mRNA level of PR (1.764±0.028 vs. 1.001±0.037, P<0.01), whereas knockdown of RNPC1 did the opposite (0.579± 0.007 vs. 1.000±0.002, P<0.01).The Western blot results also showed that overexpression of RNPC1 up?regulated PR levels, while knockdown of RNPC1 resulted in down?regulation of PR levels in the ZR?75?1 cells. The actinomycin assay showed that overexpression of RNPC1 increased the mRNA stability of PR. The half?life of PR mRNA was increased from 4. 0 h to 6. 5 h. Knockdown of RNPC1 decreased the mRNA stability of PR and the half?life of PR transcript was decreased from 4.1 h to 3.0 h. Conclusion RNPC1 plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of PR in breast cancer ZR?75?1 cells.