OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of potassium channel blocker (tetraethylammonium [TEA], aminopyridine [4-AP], glibenclamide [Glib]) on the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells in vitro.

METHODSThe primary culture was prepared by collagenase dissociation of minced prostatic tissues. Cells were cultured in serum-free prostate epithelial cell growth media and identified by immunocytochemical studies. TEA and 4-AP at the concentration of 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L and Glib at the concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mol/L were added, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours of culturing, a cell column diagram was drawn and the cell number counted. The post-passage cell growth was observed by MTT assay and Hoechst33258 nucleus staining.

RESULTSThe cultured cells showed the typical morphological features of epithelia, with positive stain. MTT assay and Hoechst33258 staining showed that TEA, 4-AP and Glib at the increasing concentration effected different degrees of proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells after 24, 48 and 72 h (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe potassium channel blocker is a direct physiological regulator of the proliferation of SD rat prostatic epithelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the killing effect of adenovirus(Ad)-mediated double suicide gene driven by kinase domain-containing receptor (KDR) promoter on gastric cancer MGC-803 cells.

METHODSThe 293 packaging cells were transfected by the plasmids pAdEasy-KDR-CDglyTK to generate infectious viruses. The gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were infected by the Ad followed by treatment with 5-FC and/or ganciclovir at different concentrations. The cell-killing effects were evaluated and the bystander effects analyzed after coculture of the cells without AdKDR-CDglyTK infection with the infected cells at different ratios. The cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry and the pathological changes of the cells were observed by electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe infection rate of the resultant recombinant Ad in the cells increased gradually with increment of the multiplicity of infection (MOI) of the Ads. The killing effect of CD/TK fusion gene on the MGC-803 cells was much stronger than that of either of the single suicide gene (P<0.001), and considerable bystander effect was observed. The Ad infection caused MGC-803 cell growth arrest at G(1) phase with onset of apoptotic and necrotic morphologies of the cells as seen under electron microscope.

CONCLUSIONThe CD/TK fusion gene system driven by the KDR promoter possesses effective killing effect on the KDR-expressing gastric cancer MGC-803 cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

AIMTo assess the spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in male mouse germ cells during postnatal development and in sperm before and after capacitation.

METHODSThe indirect immunofluorescence method with anti-GCNF antiserum was used to investigate the GCNF expression in mice at day 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 28, 35, 70, and 420 after birth and in sperm before and after capacitation.

RESULTSWith the proceeding of spermatogenesis, GCNF was first detected in the nuclei of spermatogonia and a few early stage primary spermatocytes at day 8, which was increased gradually at day 10 to 14 inclusive. From day 17 to day 20, the GCNF was concentrated in round spermatids, while both spermatogonia and early stage primary spermatocytes became GCNF negative. From day 28 until day 420, strong GCNF expression was shown in round spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia, early primary spermatocytes and elongating spermatids were all GCNF negative. In addition, it was also found that GCNF was localized on the acrosomal cap region of spermatozoa and there was a big change in GCNF expression during capacitation, from 98 % GCNF positive before capacitation to about 20 % positive following capacitation. The localization of GCNF in caput and cauda spermatozoa was similar.

CONCLUSIONGCNF may play important roles in spermatogenesis, capacitation and fertilization.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Epididymis ; physiology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1 ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; genetics ; Sperm Capacitation ; Spermatids ; physiology ; Spermatocytes ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

AIMTo investigate the spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in mouse and rat epididymis during postnatal period.

METHODSThe epididymal sections from different postnatal days were stained for GCNF by the indirect immunofluorescence technique and digital photographs were taken by a Carl Zeiss confocal microscope.

RESULTSGCNF was first detected on day 12 in mouse epididymis and day 14 in rat epididymis. The highest expression of GCNF was observed on day 35 in both mouse and rat epididymis. In adults, GCNF exhibited a region-specific expression pattern, i.e., it was expressed predominantly in the initial segment, caput and proximal corpus of rat epididymis and was abundant in the proximal corpus of mouse epididymis. GCNF could be found in the nuclei of the principal, apical, narrow, clear and halo cells.

CONCLUSIONGCNF may play an important role in epididymal differentiation and development and in sperm maturation.

Aging ; Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; Epididymis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1 ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; analysis ; Tissue Distribution

Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is an autosomal dominant disorder which is mainly caused by JAG1 gene mutation and can affect multiple systems including the liver, heart, eyes, skeleton and face. This paper reports the clinical and genetic features of an ALGS patient. A 2-year-and-9-month-old boy was referred to the hospital with the complaint of abnormal liver function and heart murmur discovered over two years. Jaundice of the skin and sclera was not observed. The child had a prominent forehead, left esotropia, depressed nasal bridge and micromandible. The two lungs were clear on auscultation, but a systolic cardiac murmur of grade 2/6 could be heard between the 2nd and 3rd intercostal space at the left sternal border. Neither abdominal distension nor enlarged liver or spleen was discovered. X-ray radiography uncovered butterfly malformation of the 6th and 8th thoracic vertebrae. Serum biochemistry analysis revealed elevation of total bile acids, bilirubin and transaminases. Based on the clinical characteristics and the consultation opinion of the ophthalmologist, the child was diagnosed to have ALGS with Duane retraction syndrome. DNA direct sequencing detected a novel JAG1 mutation c.2419delG(p.Glu807AsnfsX819) in the child. Symptomatic and supportive therapy was performed thereafter and clinical follow-up was conducted until he was 4 years and 2 months. In the follow-up visits, his general condition remained stable, but the facial malformations, left esotropia, cardiac murmur and abnormal liver function persistend. The long-term outcome needed to be observed.
Alagille Syndrome ; genetics ; therapy ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Jagged-1 Protein ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between occupational stress, social support, and occupational unintentional injuries.

METHODSA 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted in 151 cases of occupational unintentional injuries who were admitted to 6 occupational injury-admitted hospitals in Zhongshan City from October 2013 to December 2013 and 151 matched controls without unintentional injuries in the last year who had matched age, sex, and occupation. Their demographic characteristics, occupational stress (by the effort-reward imbalance questionnaire), and social support were investigated with a structured questionnaire.

RESULTSAnalysis of the data showed that there were significant differences in the score of each dimension of occupational stress, the ratio of effort to reward, and the score of superior support between the case group and the control group (P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis results showed that more extrinsic efforts (OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.20∼1.80) and over commitment (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.08∼1.55) were the risk factors for occupational unintentional injuries, while more superior supports (OR = 0.64, 95%CI = 0.48∼0.84) and higher earnings (>3 000 yuan each month) (OR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.54∼0.84) were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONOccupational stress and social support have an influence on the occurrence of occupational injuries.

Accidents, Occupational ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Injuries ; epidemiology ; Reward ; Risk Factors ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A new stem rot disease is found to occur naturally on Arabidopsis plants in greenhouses of Fuzhou, China. In order to identify its pathogen, we conducted a series of fungal isolation and purification, plant reinoculation, and ascus and ascospore induction from the sclerotia. The isolate caused typical water-soaked lesions after reinoculation and produced sclerotia both on Arabidopsis plants and culture medium plates, and the sclerotia could be induced to produce discal apothecia and 8 binucleate ascospores per ascus. These disease symptom and fungal morphology data revealed that the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary was the pathogen for Arabidopsis stem rot. To confirm this, we further amplified its large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and compared the sequence with the known LSU rDNA sequences in GenBank. The results show that the sequence shares the highest identities with the LSU rDNAs of different S. sclerotiorum strains. Taking all these data together, we concluded that the fungus that caused the Arabidopsis stem rot is S. sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. This is the first report that Arabidopsis is naturally infected by S. sclerotiorum.
Arabidopsis ; microbiology ; Ascomycota ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plant Stems ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the specific killing effects of combination of recombinant adenovirus mediated double suicide gene driven by KDR promoter and survivin antisense oligonucleotide(ASODN) on colorectal cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSThe 293 packaging cells were transfected with the plasmids of pAdEasy-CDglyTK and the recombinant adenovirus were generated. The KDR expressive cells of SW620, ECV304 were infected with adenovirus, meanwhile survivinASODN was transferred into the same cells. The infection rate of adenovirus and transfection efficiency of survivinASODN were observed and the expression of CDglyTK was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of survivin was measured by Western blot. The killing effects and bystander effects on SW620, ECV304 were examined through MTT method.

RESULTSThe cells which were infected with the adenovirus mediated double suicide gene could be transfected with the survivin ASODN and the infection rate was not affected as well as the transfection efficiency. The high expression of CDglyTK gene was found in SW620, ECV304 cells infected with recombinant adenovirus and survivin ASODN decreased the survivin protein level. The survival rate of gene therapy group was significantly lower than that of negative group. The combination of survivin ASODN and AdKDR-CDglyTK gene therapy showed significantly lower survival rate of SW620 and ECV304 cells as compared with the AdKDR-CDglyTK or survivin ASODN used alone (P<0.05). The survival rate was slightly lower in GCV 100 microg/ml, 5-FC 2000 microg/ml than that AdKDR-CDglyTK used alone (P>0.05). The combined therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK and survivin ASODN showed synergistic killing efficacy and more significant bystander effects.

CONCLUSIONThe combined gene therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK system and survivin ASODN has stronger specific killing effects on colorectal cancer cells and vein endothelial cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; Transcription Initiation Site

BACKGROUNDThis study was undertaken to obtain differentially expressed genes related to human glioma by cDNA microarray and the characterization of a novel full-length gene.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted form human glioma and normal brain tissue, and mRNA was used as a probe. The results of hybridization procedure were scanned with the computer system. The gene named 507E08 cone was subsequently analyzed by northern blot, bioinformatic approach, and protein expression.

RESULTSFifteen differentially expressed genes were obtained from human glioma by hybridization and scanning for four times. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the 507E08 clone was low expressed in human brain tissue and over expressed in human glioma tissues. The analysis of BLASTn and BLASTx showed that the 507E08 clone was a novel full-length gene, which codes 203 amino acid of protein and is called human ribosomal protein 14.22 gene. The nucleotide sequence had been submitted to the GenBank with the accession number of AF329277. After expression in E. coli., protein yielded a major band of apparent molecular mass 22 kDa on an SDS-PAGE gel.

CONCLUSIONScDNA microarray technology can be successfully used to identify differentially expressed genes. The novel full-length gene of human ribosomal protein 13.22 may be correlated with the development of human glioma.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Glioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of adenovirus (Ad)-mediated fusion gene system driven by KDR promoter on the proliferation of human stomach adneocarcinoma SCG7901.

METHODSThe KDR-expressing SCG7901 cells and HepG2 cells that did not express KDR were both transfected with AdEasy-KDR-CDglyTK followed by treatment with the prodrugs 5-FC and/or GCV at different concentrations. The killing effects of the transfection on the cells were evaluated.

RESULTSThe expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed in 95% of the infected SCG7901 and HepG2 cells with the multiple of infection (MOI) of the Ads of 100. Transfection of SCG7901 and HepG2 cells did not produce significant changes in the cell growth, and the infected cells exhibited different sensitivities to the two prodrug: SCG7901 cells infected with rAd were highly sensitive to the prodrugs, but the infected HepG2 cells were not (P<0.01). The killing effect of CDglyTK fusion gene on the target cells was much stronger than that of either the single suicide gene (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCDglyTK fusion gene system driven by KDR promoter selectively kills the KDR-CDglyTK SCG7901 cells and inhibits their proliferation.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prodrugs ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics