Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process of normal cell physiological development, in which epithelial cells transform into mesenchyme cells through a specific program. EMT plays a key role in inflammatory reaction, cell development, tumor invasion, and metastasis and has an interrelation with prostate cancer stem cells. Recent researches show the involvement of EMT in the development and metastasis of prostate cancer. This article reviews the specific roles and action mechanisms of EMT in the progression of prostate cancer.
Biomedical Research ; Cell Differentiation ; Disease Progression ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

The activation of the proto-oncogene STAT3 is strongly controlled under physiological conditions. However, obtained evi-dence revealed that STAT3 is persistently activated in cancer cells and contributes to cancer initiation and progression. Studies demon-strated the various functions of activated STAT3 in promoting cancer development and aggravation, including cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, drug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulation of the tumor microenvironment, and promo-tion of the self-renewal and differentiation of cancer stem cells. Canonically, STAT3 is regulated by signaling pathways mediated by cy-tokines and growth factors. Many studies determined that STAT3 was also regulated by G protein-coupled receptors, cadherin engage-ment, Toll-like receptors, microRNA, and acetylation. We summarized the recent developments in the research on the regulation of STAT3 activation.

Objective To study the responsible genes of psoriasis vulgaris on chromosome 1q21 in Chinese Han population.Methods Thirty-six families with psoriasis vulgaris,including 92 patients and 98 normal relatives,aged from 12 to 81 years with an average age at 44 years,were enrolled in this study.Blood samples were obtained from all the participants and subjected to DNA extraction.A genome scan was performed with eight microsatellites distributing over chromosome 1q21-1q23.1.Evidence for linkage disequilibrium was assessed with extended transmission disequilibrium test(ETDT)program and Genehunter software.Results Three short tandem repeat markers were found to be associated with psoriasis vulgaris.With Genehunter,evidence for linkage disequilibrium between D1S2345 and psoriasis was found with the NPL value being 1.735(P=0.0329).Moreover,ETDT revealed that the 97-bp allele of D1S2346 and 283-bp allele of D1S484 were preferentially delivered to affected descendants(P＜0.05).Conclusion Chromosome 1q21 contains genes associated with psoriasis vulgaris in Chinese Han population.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 and inflammatory factors (CRP ,IL‐17) in elderly patients with colorectal carcinoma .Methods The expression of sICAM‐1 ,CRP and IL‐17 in 76 ca‐ses of elderly patients and 32 cases of youg patients with colorectal cancer were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay be‐fore and after surgery ,and to analyze its clinical significance correlated with pathological parameters .Meanwhile ,60 cases of healthy were controls .Results The serum levels of IL‐17 and sICAM‐1 were higher in patients with different ages of colorectal cancer than those of the normal control group (P<0 .05) ,and the concentrations of the two group after operation were significantly lower than those of the normal control group (P<0 .05) .The CRP levels of the young group and old group were similar to that of the normal control group (P>0 .05) .The level of CRP before operation in the young group was higher than that in the normal control group (P<0 .05) .The levels of serum IL‐17 and sICAM‐1 were significantly different between the young and the old group(P<0 .05) , while the CRP level was similar in the two groups (P>0 .05) .The serum levels of sICAM‐1 and IL‐17 in colorectal cancer patients were associated with the degree of differentiation ,depth of invasion ,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P<0 .05) .The level of CRP was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion ,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The serum levels of sICAM‐1 ,CRP and IL‐17 reflect the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer in a certain extent ,which play important roles in predicting the development and prognosis of colorectal cancer .

Objective To investigate the effects of acitretin on T helper cell (Th) 1/Th2 balance and Th17 cells in psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients. Methods A total of 13 men and 17 women with PV were investigated. 10 mg of acitretin was administered twice a day for 8 weeks for intervention therapy. Serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells in skin biopsies were counted with double-labeled immunofluorescence. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was calculated before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results Before treatment PV patients had higher serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17, and increased T, Th1 and Th17 cells in skin biopsies. After treatment, both serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17, and T, Th1 and Th17 cells infiltrating in PV skin decreased significantly. Th1/Th2 balance was restored to normal. However, their IL-4 and Th2 cells showed no significant change throughout the therapy. Conclusion Acitretin exerts influence on dermal Th1/Th2 balance and Th17 cell infiltration, so does it on production of systematic inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17 in PV patients. However, Th2 cells and its derivative cytokine-IL-4 are not affected.

Objective To investigate the association of SPRR2E gene and psoriasis vulgaris by sequencing the DNA of Chinese Han psoriatic families. Methods DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood cells of thirty-two Chinese psoriatic families. The sequence of the SPRR2E encoding region was measured by ABI377 DNA Sequencer. The linkage disequilibrium was assessed by extended transmission disequilibrium test (ETDT) and GENEHUNTER software. Results An A/G polymorphism at nucleotide 156 of the SPRR2E encoding region was identified. There were three genotypes, including AA, GG and AG. Although the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) did not change the encoding of amino acid, the single nucleotide polymorphism locus was associated with psoriasis vulgaris by the ETDT analyzing. The A-allele was found to be transmitted more frequently than that of the G-allele. GENEHUNTER analysis was concordant with the results of the ETDT. Conclusion A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in SPRR2E gene encoding region is associated with psoriasis vulgaris in Han Chinese population.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effect of recombinant IFN-alpha-2b-BCG on mouse bladder cancer MB49 cells in vitro, and to explore its antitumor mechanisms.

METHODSMB49 cells were co-cultured with recombinant BCG or wild BCG, and than were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The cell growth was assessed by MTT assay, and apoptosis rate and MHC-I of the MB49 cells was detected by flow cytometry using AO and Hoechst33258 fluorescence immunostaining.

RESULTSThe hIFN-alpha-2b-BCG-treated tumor cells showed slow growth, detachment of some cells, and various degree of degeneration. Light microscopy revealed organelle disorganization, chromatin aggregation, nuclear pyknosis, and cytolysis in some cells. Cellular membrane bulged and some bubbles were seen under fluorescence microscope using AO staining. Hoechst33258 assay also depicted frequent apoptosis in the tumor cells. The MTT assay showed that rBCG more actively than the wild BCG inhibited the proliferation of MB49 cells. The apoptosis rate of the recombinant BCG group was 19.7% and 46.6% at the time point of 24 h and 48 h, respectively, significantly higher than 10.8% and 20.9%, respectively, in the wild BCG group. The results of flow cytometry indicated that both types of BCG enhanced the expression of MHC-I in the MB49 cells, but more effective in the recombinant BCG group.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant hIFN-alpha-2b-BCG has more strong immuno-modulatory properties, anti-tumor effect on MB49 cells and induces apparent cytotoxicity in the bladder cancer cells in vitro.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; BCG Vaccine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the Pim-1 gene in the LNCaP cells of the animal model of orthotopically implanted prostate cancer by surgical castration simulating androgen-deprivation therapy.

METHODSWe equally allocated 32 male BALBc-nu mice into 4 groups, androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC), androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) , castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and blank control, and established the models of orthotopically implanted tumor using human prostate cancer LNCaP cells. We detected and ,compared the expressions of Pim-1, PSA, and androgen receptor (AR) in the tumor tissues of different groups by RT-PCR. qRT-PCR, ELSIA and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe relative gray scales in the ADPC and CRPC groups were 0.59 ± 0.01 and 1.14 ± 0.02, with statistically significant differences from 0.62 ± 0.03 in the ADT group (P < 0.05), and the Δ Ct values of Pim-1 were 6.15 ± 0.34 and 4.56 ± 0.23 in the former two groups, also with significant differences from 5.11 ± 0.21 in the latter (P < 0.05). The results of 2-ΔΔ Ct relative quantification analysis showed that the amplification products of Pim-1 in the ADT and CRPC groups increased 2.05 and 3.01 times respectively that of the ADPC group. The concentration of PSA was significantly higher in the ADPC ([480 ± 25] pg/ml) and CRPC ([870 ± 23] pg/ml) than in the ADT ([170 ± 32] pg/ml) and blank control groups (0 µg/L) (P < 0.01). The mean optical densities of Pim-1 and AR proteins were 0.017 ± 0.002 and 0.032 ± 0.009 in the ADPC group and 0.024 ± 0.002 and 0.040 ± 0.011 in the CRPC group, both with significant differences from those in the ADT group (0.018 ± 0.001 and 0.019 ± 0.006) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPim-1 is highly expressed in nude mice with prostate cancer receiving androgen-deprivation therapy and plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer.

Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Progression ; Gene Expression ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent ; metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism

Sox5 gene is located on 12p12.1 containing 29 exons.The gene can transcript 5 variants, thus produce 5 isoforms.L-SOX5A is an isoform with multiple functions , include regulate embryonic development , and determine cell differentiation .Sox5 also plays a role in pathogenesis of prostate cancer , breast cancer and lymphoma .

Objective To observe the expression of vimentin (Vim) after silence of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rats with spinal cord contusion (SCC). Methods The model of SCC was established in 30 Sprague-Dawley rats with Allen's method. The rats were randomized into vector group (n=15) and silence group (n=15), which were injected blank lentivirus vector and vector of IL-1β siRNA, respectively; and divided in three, seven and 28 days subgroups. The relationship between IL-1βand Vim was predicted with GeneMANIA bioinformatics. The expression of Vim protein and mRNA in spinal cord was detected with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results GeneMANIA bioinformatic analysis indicated that there was some direct and indirect relationship between IL-1β and Vim. The Vim protein and mRNA expressed in the spinal cord, and was less in the silence group than in the vector group (t>2.875, P<0.05). Conclusion Silence of IL-1β can inhibit the expression of Vim in SCC rats, which may promote the recovery of spinal cord function.