OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of X-ray exposure on the release of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-p75 (sTNFR-p75) in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the levels of sTNFR-p75 in the supernatants of HepG2 cells before and after X-ray exposure. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope(TEM), and the morphological changes of the cells were examined under optical microscope and transmission electron microscope(TEM).

RESULTSX-ray exposure of the cells resulted in a strong increase of cell apoptosis (P<0.05) and sTNFR-p75 production in the cells as compared with the those before the exposure (P<0.01). Optical microscopy revealed apoptotic changes of HepG2 cell after the exposure, shown as cell shrinkage, spherical cell morphology, cytoplasmic and nuclear condensation. Apoptotic bodies were detected by TEM.

CONCLUSIONX-ray exposure induces HepG2 cells apoptosis by inhibiting the release of sTNFR-p75 into the supernatant.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; secretion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; secretion ; Microscopy ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; secretion ; Solubility ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVE: To study the expressions of DSCR1 gene in laryngopharynx cancer and peri-cancerous tissues, to understand the relationship between its expression and tumor clinical features, to discussed the influence of DSCR1 gene on the biological behaviours of laryngopharynx squamous cell carcinoma. METHOD: Immunohistochemical p-V9000 method,used rabbit DSCR1 antibody DCT3, detected the expressions of DSCR1 gene protein in laryngopharynx cancer and peri-cancerous tissues, between them and clinical data were statistically analyzed. RESULT: Positive rates of DSCR1 gene expression in the tumor tissues was 94.9%, normal tissues was 35.9%, there was a statistically significant (t = 23.69, P < 0.01); There was significant difference of DSCR1 gene expressions in different pathological degree and TNM staging (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in different age, gender, site, growth mode, lymph node metastasis and smoking history. CONCLUSION DSCR1 gene has an important role in the occurrence and development process of laryngopharynx squamous cell carcinoma, and can influence the biological behavior of tumors.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; pathology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo construct a vector expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Rac1 gene and observe its effect on soft agar colony formation of SW480 cells in vitro.

METHODSOligos of 64 base pairs for hairpin RNA targeting Rac1 were chemically synthesized and annealed. The siRNA constructs for Rac1, produced by inserting the annealed oligos into the downstream of H1 promoter of linearized pSUPER, were confirmed by restriction digestion and DNA sequencing. The constructed Rac1-siRNA was transfected into SW480 cells and Western blotting was performed to assess the expression and interference efficiency of siRNAs against Rac1.The soft agar colony formation assay was used to study the effect of Rac1 gene silencing on SW480 cells.

RESULTSRestriction digestion and DNA sequencing showed that the siRNA targeting Rac1 gene was successfully constructed. The siRNA could effectively down-regulate the expression of Rac1 in SW480 cells. Soft agar colony formation assay showed that the colony number and diameter of SW480 cells was reduced after siRNA transfection.

CONCLUSIONA vector expressing hairpin RNA against Rac1 gene are successfully produced, which significantly reduces the colony numbers and size of SW480 cells in vitro, suggesting that Rac1 plays an important role in the growth of colorectal cancer in vitro.

Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the role of activation of Rac1 in colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion.

METHODSRac1 L61 plasmid and control plasmid were transfected into colorectal cancer cell line SW480 cells. Pull down assay by Western blotting was carried out to measure the amount of activited Rac1, and transwell permeable supports were used to assess the migration and invasion of SW480 cells with different activitivity of Rac1.

RESULTSThe transfection ratio of SW480 cells was more than 80%. Pull down assay showed that the activited Rac1 was significantly higher in the SW480 cells transfected with Rac1 L61 plasmid than that in the control, and the amount of migrating and invasing SW480 cells transfected with Rac1 L61 plasmid in the Transwell permeable supports were significantly more than those in controls (migrating cell numbers: 43 +/- 9 vs. 22 +/- 5, P < 0.01; invasing cell numbers: 73 +/- 13 vs. 38 +/- 1, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe activation of Rac1 plays an important role in the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Enzyme Activation ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of peptide mass fingerprinting for non-invasive differential diagnosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) from the non-IgA nephropathy (IgAN).?

METHODSAccording to the results of renal biopsy, 56 patients were divided into IgAN group (n=28) and non-IgAN group (n=28), and peptide mass fingerprints were acquired from these patients using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSNine different peptides were identified between IgAN and non-IgAN. The two most distinctive differentially expressed peptides, with peptide peak values of 4476.46 and 1968.10, showed area under curve values of 86.18% and 79.77%. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the accumulated explained variance of the first 8 differential peptides reached 95%, suggesting the feasibility of differential diagnosis of IgAN from non-IgAN. Comparison with the Matrix protein database identified the peptide with a relative molecular mass of 5338.08 as a fragment of mucin 4 inform and the 2082.77 peptide as fragment of α1-II type collagen inform.

CONCLUSIONMALDI-TOF MS is feasible for differential diagnosis of IgAN and non-IgAN and also has great potentials in the classification of the subtypes of other systemic diseases.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Mapping ; methods ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate SiO2-induced EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells HBE in vitro.

METHODSHBE cells were cultured and then stimulated with indicated doses of SiO2 (0, 50, 100, 200, 300 µg/ml). The morphological changes were observed by microscope. In addition, Western blot was per-formed to detect the expression of E-cad, α-SMA and Vim. The changes of migration ability were examined by wound-healing assay in vitro.

RESULTS(1) After exposure to SiO2, HBE cells lost contact with their neighbor and displayed a spindle-shape, fibroblast-like morphology. (2) Compared with the control, the E-cad (300 µg/ml group) expression downregulated 2.98 fold (P < 0.05), and the Vim (300 µg/ml group) and α-SMA (200 µg/ml group) expression upregulated 4.46 fold and 3.55 fold (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between 100, 200, 300 µg/ml groups and the control group (P < 0.05). (3) In the test group, the percentage of wound-healing areas/wound areas were larger than those in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSiO2 could induce EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Humans ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of electroporation mediated gene transfer in rat incisional wound.

METHODS12 Sprague-Dawley rat's dorsal skins were electroporated (800 voltages in amplitude with 6 square wave pulses, each lasting 20 milliseconds with 200 millisecond interval) after injection of plasmid DNA (1 microg/microl, in 100 microl PBS) containing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene. Electroporated skins were incisionally wounded 24 hours after electroporation. Specimens were harvested at day 2, 4, 6, 14, then EGFP expression in dermis was observed and quantitatively analyzed with integrated optical density (IOD) followed by H&E staining.

RESULTSElectroporation can mediate EGFP expression in epidermis, dermis and panniculus muscle. The expression level in dermis was the highest at day 2 (IOD = 3.50 +/- 1.45) and disappeared at day 14. EGFP expression was not found in dermis if no electroporation applied after plasmid injection (IOD = 0).

CONCLUSIONElectroporation can mediate plasmid gene expression in incisional wound efficiently and widely.

Animals ; Electroporation ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; injuries ; metabolism ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDSerum tumor markers have always been of clinical importance in the diagnosis, monitoring disease progression and therapy efficacy for patients with malignant diseases. However, elevated serum tumor markers are found in some benign conditions, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The elevation of them in CKD might cause confusion and misuse of these tumor markers. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate which of the five widely used tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) are affected markedly by CKD, in order to use them more effectively.

METHODSSerum tumor marker concentrations, biochemical, hematological parameters, and urinalysis were measured in CKD patients and healthy controls. The positive rate and median tumor markers' level in CKD patients and controls, and those in CKD patients stratified by CKD grade were compared using nonparametric rank tests. Correlation analysis of serum tumor markers and other parameters in CKD patients were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the important variables that caused elevated serum concentrations of these markers in CKD patients.

RESULTSThe overall positive rates and serum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA in CKD group were significantly higher than those in control group. Positive rate and serum concentrations of those tumor markers increased as kidney function decreased. Both univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis showed that the elevations of those tumor markers were not only associated with kidney function, but also with nutritional status.

CONCLUSIONSSerum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA are significantly influenced by kidney function, as well as nutritional status. Therefore, in clinical work, the indices of kidney function and nutritional status could be simultaneously measured to improve interpretation of the results of those tumor marker concentrations.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Serpins ; blood ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

To investigate theological properties of common hydrophilic gel excipients such as Carbopol based on viscosity, the viscosity was determined by rotation method and falling-ball method. Linear regression was made between ln(eta) and concentration, the slope of which was used to explore the relation between viscosity and concentration of different excipients. The viscosity flow active energy (E(eta)) was calculated according to Arrhenius equation and was used to investigate the relation between viscosity and temperature of different excipients. The results showed that viscosities measured by two methods were consistent. Concentration of guargum (GG) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) solution had a great influence on the viscosity, k > 5; while concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone-K30 (PVP-K30) and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000) exerted a less effect on viscosity, k < 0.2; viscosity flow active energy of different excipients were close, which ranged from 30 to 40 kJ x mol(-1). Therefore, theological properties study could provide the basis for application of excipients and establish a foundation for the research of relation between excipients structure, property and function.
Excipients ; chemistry ; Gels ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyvinyls ; chemistry ; Povidone ; chemistry ; Rheology ; Temperature ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP 60) in rats without electric marks after electric injury, to identify the relationship of the CK-MB, HSP 60 and the time of electric injuries, and to evaluate the damage to cells after electric injury. METHODS: The animal model of electric injury without electric marks was established by alternating current (voltage 110 V). Automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detect the serum CK-MB and immunohistochemical staining technology was used to analyze the tissues of myocardium and left lobe of liver. RESULTS: The amount of serum CK-MB was increased when the rats were injuried, and reached the peak at 30min. Then the amount of CK-MB began to decrease and showed a slight downward trend in 3-5 h after electric injury, and leveled off at 6 h. Immunohistochemistry staining also showed the changes of HSP 60 of rats' myocardial cells and hepatic cells regularly after electric injury. CONCLUSION The regular changes of serum CK-MB and tissular HSP 60 in rats can be used to diagnosis electric injury and assess the injury of internal organs after the electric injury without electric marks.
Animals ; Chaperonin 60/metabolism* ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form/metabolism* ; Electric Injuries/complications* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats