Aim To detect the effects of cetuximab combined with adriamycin on the proliferation and ap-optosis of triple-negative breast cancer cells.Methods Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay.The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with propidi-um iodide staining.JC-1 staining was used to deter-mine mitochondrial membrane potential.The expres-sions of glucose regulated protein78 (GRP-78),Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were measured with Western blot.Re-sults MTT assay showed that cetuximab had inhibi-tion effect on the breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 growth,and the effect was related to concentration of drug.The inhibition effect of adriamycin on MDA-MB-231 had remarkabe relationship with time and concen-tration.When combined with each other,they could re-markably increase inhibition effect.The viability of cells in combination group for 1 2 h,24 h,48 h,sig-nificantly lower than that in cetuximab or adriamycin group (P <0.05 or P <0.01 ).Apoptosis results showed that cell apoptosis was significantly increased when cetuximab combined with adriamycin,reached (43.93 ±3.59)% for 24 h,had remarkably statistical significance compared to cetuximab or adriamycin
group (P <0.01 ).JC-1 staining indicated that cetux-imab or adriamycin could reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential,but the reduction effect was more remarkable in the combination group.Western blot re-vealed that cetuximab could reduce the expression of GRP-78 and Bcl-2,and increased the expression of Caspase-3 and its activity.The expressions of Bcl-2, Caspase-3 had no significant change in adriamycin group,but GRP-78 was increased.In combination group,the expression of GRP-78 and Bcl-2 was signifi-cantly decreased,but Caspase-3 was increased nota-blely compared to adriamycin group.Conclusions The combination of cetuximab and adriamycin enhances the inhibition effect on the triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,and increases cell apoptosis.The mechanism may be that cetuximab reduces the endo-plasmic reticulum stress level,then activates the mito-chondrial pathways by decreasing the expression of Bcl-2,reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential,and promoting cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE:To study the antioxidant activity in vitro of neutral polysaccharides and its graded component from 3samples of white ginseng and red ginseng. METHODS:The decoction method was used to extract the crude polysaccharides fromwhite ginseng,100 ℃ and 120 ℃ processed red ginseng;the crude polysaccharides were further separated through ion exchangecolumn to extract neutral polysaccharides;Sephadex G-75 gels filter column was used to grade the neutral polysaccharides accordingto the molecular weight,antioxidant activity in vitro of 9 samples in 3 neutral polysaccharides and were detected by DPPH andOH free radical scavenging test and reduction capacity test(FRAP value),and vitamin C was used as positive control. RESULTS:The 3 neutral polysaccharides all obtained component Ⅰ and component Ⅱ after grading. Neutral polysaccharides and its gradedcomponent showed certain antioxidant activity in vitro in a certain concentration range,and increased by concentration increasing.The activity of neutral polysaccharides and component Ⅱ from 120 ℃ processed red ginseng was the strongest,of which 50% inhibitoryconcentration(IC50)on DPPH free radical was 0.258 g/L and 0.253 g/L,on OH free radical was 7.157 g/L and 6.845g/L,FRAP values were 2.8 and 3.0 mmol/L(when concentration was 1.2 g/L),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The antioxidant activityin vitro from 120 ℃ processed red ginseng is higher than that of 100 ℃ processed red ginseng and white ginseng,in whichcomponent Ⅱ makes important contribution to the antioxidant activity.

Professor WEI Pin-kang has engaged in prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors through intrgrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for more than forty years. According to the characteristics of the gastric cancer development and using the philosophy thinking of TCM comparative states, combined with the ancient theory of phlegm syndrome in TCM, Professor WEI Pin-kang put foward his original theory that is the concept of phlegm differentiation of gastric cancer theory, and built the theory of the stomach sputum pollution, which can renovate the body's environment, eradicating the cause and improving the quality of life for cancer patients.

The rice gall dwarf disease, caused by the Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) is a serious disease occurring in rice in many regions of Guangdong province. As a basis to control the disease we have studied the genomic diversity of a variety of isolates from different locations. Genome segment 8(S8), encoding a main outer capsid protein (Pns8) of RGDV five isolates (BL, CH, DQ, GZ, XY) from Guangdong province was cloned and sequenced. The results revealed that all the S8 segments of the five isolates consisted of 1 578 nucleotides and had a single open reading frame (ORF) extending for 1 301 nucleotides from nucleotide 21 which encoded a polypeptide of 426 amino acids with an estimated molecular weight of 47.4 kDa. The S8 full-length sequence and the ORF sequence shared 97.3%-98.8% and 97.3%-99.1% nucleotide sequence identities within the five Chinese isolates, and shared 94.8%-95.6% and 95.0%-96.0% identities with those of the Thailand isolate respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pns8 in GZ isolate was identical to that in the Thailand isolate, while the amino acid sequence variability of Pns8 within five Chinese isolates ranged from 0.5% to 2.1%. These results indicate that the S8 segment of RGDV is highly conserved in different isolates from different locations. The S8 cDNA from the XY isolate was cloned into the plasmid vector pET-28b(+) and a fused expression protein with an apparent molecular mass of 51kDa was specifically detected in an analysis of Escherichia coli Rossetta(DE3)Ⅱcells. To our knowledge, this is the first report on analysis of the RGDV segment 8 sequence and genetic comparison of different RGDV isolates and their protein expression.

Objective To explore the mutation of androgen receptor(AR)gene in a patient with 46,XY disorder of sex development(DSD)and to improve the diagnostic level and understanding of androgen insensitivity syndrome(AIS).Methods The clinical data of the child was analyzed,including physical examination,relevant laboratory examination,karyotype,pelvic B ultrasound,pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and AR gene mutation.The peripheral blood of the child and his parents were drawn,and peripheral blood DNA was extracted.The polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-DNA sequencing method was used to amplify all exons of the AR gene in the child and his parents.Then,they were directly sequenced.Results A 7-years and 2-months old child who suffered from DSD,revealed physical examination that the child had normal female external genitalia,as the clitoris length was 2.0 cm×0.8 cm,with visible vaginal opening,and there were masses at bilateral inguinal region,with a size of 1.5 cm×0.8 cm.The results of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)stimulation test:testosterone was 0 nmol/L,androstenedione was 1.78 nmol/L,dihydrotestosterone was 0.07 nmol/L before HCG was injected;but testosterone was 4.69 nmol/L,androstenedione was 2.10 nmol/L,dihydrotestosterone was 0.33 nmol/L after HCG was injection.Sex chromosome analysis reported 46,XY karyotype.Pelvic B ultrasound revealed the absence of a uterus and ovaries and the presence of bilateral testes like gonad at each side of internal inguinal ring,with a size of 1.4 cm×1.0 cm×0.8 cm in the left,1.5 cm×0.7 cm×0.8 cm in the right;but the kidney,ureter,urinary bladder,adrenal gland and retroperitoneal for B ultrasound revealed no abnormality.Pelvic MRI(non-enhanced and enhanced)showed the presence of a blind ending vagina between rectum and urinary bladder(40 mm in depth)and the absence of uterus and ovarian tissue.DNA sequencing found one c.1685T>C heterozygous mutation(p.Ile562Thr)on exon 2 of AR gene in the child.But retrieving and summarzing documents of the domestic and foreign information databases and websites,the locus mutation of AR gene had never been reported.The structure prediction of the mutated protein(Polyohen2 and SIFT software)was significantly changed.By verifying the locus site of the parents of this child,it was found that his mother carried the same mutation,but his father was found to be normal.Conclusions A c.1685 T>C mutation(p.Ile562Thr)on exon 2 of AR gene is a novel mutation.Combined with the patient's clinical manifestations and computer prediction results,it may suggest that the novel mutation of AR gene can lead to the occurrence of AIS.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.

METHODSeparation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

RESULTIn 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

CONCLUSIONFingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygala ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

To obtain a number of extracellular penicillinase,the gene(penp)encoding penicillinse of Bacillus cereus ATCC10987 was cloned into expression vector in Bacillus subtilis,transformed into Bacillus subtilis DB104 deficient in two proteases.When recombinant bacteria was cultured in LB medium for 24 hours,the result of SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the protein was 28kDa and the penicillinase activity reached 339U/ml.By screening seven different fermentation media,the result showed that 4# medium is favorable to producing penicillinase by the recombinant cells than the others,with the yield of the enzyme being 1580U/ml.When the recombinant cells was cultured in 7 liter fermentor for 24h,the penicillinase activity reached 1255.8U/ml.

Opioid receptor, is classified into three subtypes, mu, kappa and delta, with the mu-type receptor plays important roles in opioid analgesia and opioid addiction. The cDNA encoding mu-type receptor was obtained by RT-PCR from human brain RNA and was cloned into pcDNA3.1(+). The resultant recombinant plasmid pcDNAMORs were transfected into CHO cells by liposome. After PCR identification, the positive clone were treated with agonist and antiagonist were tested for their competence of signal transduction. CHO cells that contained mu-opioid receptor in the expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) acquired naloxone-blockable high-affinity specific binding of morphine and DAMGO. The concentration of cAMP in CHO cells transfected with pcDNAMOR was reduced after binding to morphine and DAMGO, and increased after binding naloxone. These results indicate that the mu-type receptor expreesd on the CHO cell has similar biological property as the nature receptor. The availability of these specific cell lines will facilitate the drug development and promote our understanding the mechanism underlying opiate addiction.
Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; DNA, Complementary ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Receptors, Opioid, mu ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether antisense Bmi-1 plasmid could inhibit the proliferation of Jurkat cells.

METHODSThe antisense plasmid was constructed by PCR amplification of a 171 bp segment spanning Bmi-1 start codon and zinc finger structure and the PCR product was subsequently inserted reversely to plasmid pLNCX2. The final construct was confirmed through restriction enzyme digestion. G418 was added into the medium after the plasmid was successfully introduced into Jurkat cells by using lipofectin-mediated DNA transfection. The proliferation of Jurkat cells were determined by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. The p16 expression of Jurkat cells was studied by immunofluorescent histochemistry.

RESULTSThe growth rate of antisense Bmi-1 transfected Jurkat cells was significantly lower than that of the controls, and the colony forming capacity of the transfected cells decreased significantly (P < 0.01), the colony numbers being (90.7 +/- 9.07)/10(3) cells, (83.3 +/- 6.11)/10(3) cells and (56.0 +/- 5.56)/10(3) cells for control cells, empty plasmid transfected Jurkat cells and antisense Bmi-1 transfected Jurkat cells, respectively. The percentage of G, phase cells was increased and the p16 expression of antisense Bmi-1 transfected cells was significantly upregulated than that of control cells.

CONCLUSIONAntisense Bmi-1 can inhibit the growth and upregulate the expression of p16 of Jurkat cells in vitro.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection