Congenital hydrocephalus is a major neurological disorder with high rates of morbidity and mortality; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Reproducible animal models mirroring both embryonic and postnatal hydrocephalus are also limited. Here, we describe a new mouse model of congenital hydrocephalus through knockout of β-catenin in Nkx2.1-expressing regional neural progenitors. Progressive ventriculomegaly and an enlarged brain were consistently observed in knockout mice from embryonic day 12.5 through to adulthood. Transcriptome profiling revealed severe dysfunctions in progenitor maintenance in the ventricular zone and therefore in cilium biogenesis after β-catenin knockout. Histological analyses also revealed an aberrant neuronal layout in both the ventral and dorsal telencephalon in hydrocephalic mice at both embryonic and postnatal stages. Thus, knockout of β-catenin in regional neural progenitors leads to congenital hydrocephalus and provides a reproducible animal model for studying pathological changes and developing therapeutic interventions for this devastating disease.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocephalus/genetics* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; beta Catenin/genetics*

The study was aimed to investigate the synergistically effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) and homoharringtonine (HHT) on the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle of K562 cells and the expression of &beta;-catenin. The proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and &beta;-catenin mRNA expression of K562 cells treated with IFN-α and/or HHT were assayed with MTT, flow cytometry or RT-PCR respectively. The results showed that HHT alone, but not IFN-α alone, displayed a proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, G(0)/G(1) phase block and down-regulation of &beta;-catenin expression in K562 cells with concentration- and time-dependent manners. The expression level of &beta;-catenin mRNA after being treated with HHT was 0.5576 ± 0.0373, which were lower than that in control group (0.9369 ± 0.0142). The down-regulation of &beta;-catenin expression in group of IFN-α combined with HHT was higher significantly than that in HHT group (0.3737 ± 0.0529 vs 0.5576 ± 0.0373, P < 0.05). Otherwise, HHT combined with IFN-α did not demonstrate obvious toxicologic effect on bone marrow mononuclear cells. It is concluded that IFN-α combined with HHT can enhance the cytotoxic effect of HHT on K562 cells, which may be associated with down-regulation of &beta;-catenin expression.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effecr of siRNA-interfering β-catenin expression on drug-resistance of multiple myeloma cells. METHODS: The multiple myeloma cell line RPMI-8226 was cultured in vitro. The maphalan-resistant cell model was established by concentration gradient ascending of durg, then the drug-resistant cell line was instantaneously transfected with β-catenin siRNA, the sensitivity of RPMI 8226 cells to maphalan was detected by CCK-8 meltod before and after the transfection with siRNA; the mRNA and protein expression of β-catenin was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot respectively, the apoptosis of cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: IC of maphalan decreased from (5.29±0.19) μmol/L to (1.88±0.64) μmol/L, suggesting that the deplation of β-eatenin restored the sensitivity of drug-resistant cell line RPMI-8226 to malphalan. The Western blot showed that after the instaintaneous transfection with β-catenin siRNA, the β-catenin protein expression level obviously decreased, compared with level before transfection. After transfection, the maplalan-inducing apoptosis rate of cells increased from (35±0.5)% to (54±0.4)%, suggesting that the β-catinin gene may correlated with drug-resistance of cells. Interfering the expression of β-catenin gene could enhance the sensitivity of drug-resistant RPMI-8226 cells to maphalan. CONCLUSION The β-catenin siRNA interfereuce can inhisit the β-catenin gene expression in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suppress the cell proliferation, enhence the toxicity of maphalan on drug-resistant RPMI-8226 cells, thus result in increase of cell apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; RNA, Small Interfering ; beta Catenin ; genetics

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and to analyze the effects of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signaling pathways. METHODS: PBMCs were collected from 19 patients with SSc (SSc group) and 18 healthy persons (control group). Among SSc patients, there were 10 patients with ILD (SSc with ILD subgroup) and 9 patients without ILD (SSc without ILD subgroup). The genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression level were analyzed by using Illumina 450K methylation chip and Illumina HT-12 v4.0 gene expression profiling chip. The effect of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signal pathways was investigated. RESULTS: Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identified 71 hypermethylated CpG sites and 98 hypomethylated CpG sites in the SSc with ILD subgroup compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. Transcriptome analysis distinguished 164 upregulated genes and 191 downregulated genes in the SSc with ILD subgroup as compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. In PBMCs of the SSc group, 35 genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while frizzled-1 (FZD1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9), mothers against DPP homolog 2 (SMAD2), transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5B (WNT5B) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of dickkopf homolog 2 (DKK2), FZD1, MAPK9 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In PBMCs of the SSc group, 38 genes in chemokine signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FGR, and neutrophil cytosolic factor 1C (NCF1C) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of ARRB1, CXCL10, CXCL16 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are differences in DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles between SSc with ILD and SSc without ILD. The expression levels of multiple genes in Wnt/β- catenin and chemokine signaling pathways are upregulated, which might be associatea with the pathogenesis of SSc.
Humans ; DNA Methylation ; Transcriptome ; beta Catenin ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Ligands ; DNA ; RNA, Messenger/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo study the potential mechanism of the new steroidal drug NSC67657 induced leukemic cells differentiation.

METHODSCell proliferation was assayed by MTT assay. Surface antigen CD14 on THP-1 cells treated by NSC67657 at different time different concentration, was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of beta-catenin- interacting protein 1 (ICAT) gene and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Eukaryotic expressing vector pDsRed-ICAT was constructed and transfected into HL60 cell line. FCM, Wright's staining and electronmicroscope were employed to analyse the differentiation of transfected THP-1 cells after they were treated with NSC67657 for 24 hours.

RESULTSThe proliferation of THP-1 cells was significantly inhibited by NSC67657 treatment. The level of CD14 expression was elevated in line with the increasing drug concentration and treatment time. 10 µmol/L NSC67657 treatment for five days was the optimal condition for the induction of THP-1 cells differentiation, when the CD14(+) THP-1 cells were more than 90%. Morphological study indentified the THP-1 cells of monocytic differentiation. The eukaryotic expressing vector pDSRed-ICAT was successfully constructed, and almost 90% positive clone could be obtained after G418 screening. Electro-transfection was employed for transfecting the vector into THP-1 cells. After the transfection the expression of ICAT gene and protein was increased. On the NSC67657 treatment, there was not significant difference in CD14 expression on transfected THP-1 cells compared to that on the control groups. After 24 h treatment, the transfected THP-1 cells remained in early differentiated stage.

CONCLUSIONNSC67657 can induce THP-1 cell to monocytic differentiation and activate the expression of ICAT gene, but overexpression of ICAT itself is not sufficient to induce such differentiation.

Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection ; beta Catenin ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for the regulation of lipid production and improvement in obesity by mediating Wnt/β-catenin pathway through activating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1). METHODS: Of 75 Wistar male rats, 10 rats were selected randomly as the normal group and fed with standard diet. The rest rats were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish the obesity model. Forty rats of successful modeling were randomized into a model group, an EA group, an EA plus inhibitor group (EA+I group) and an agonist group, 10 rats in each one. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40), with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency and around 1 mA in intensity. The needles were retained for 20 min. In the EA+I group, sirtinol solution was injected from caudal vein and EA was exerted simultaneously. In the agonist group, resveratrol solution was given by intragastric administration. The intervention of the above three groups was given once every two days, 3 times a week, consecutively for 8 weeks. Before and after intervention, body mass and Lee's index were recorded in the rats of each group. After intervention, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) were detected in the rats of each group. After intervention, the mass of white adipose tissue (WAT) and the area of adipocytes were compared in the rats among the 5 groups. Using Western blot method, the protein expressions of SIRT1, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), β-catenin, cyclin D1 and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were detected in WAT in the rats of each group. RESULTS: After intervention, compared with the model group, the body mass and Lee's index were reduced in the rats of the EA group and the agonist group ( CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture remarkably improves the body mass, Lee's index and blood lipid metabolism and reduces WAT mass and adipocyte size in obesity model rats, which is probably related to up-regulating the protein expression of SIRT1 in WAT, activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway and inhibiting the expression of PPARγ of downstream lipogenic gene so as to affect lipid production.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Obesity/therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; Triglycerides ; beta Catenin/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of Long noncoding RNA UFC1 (lincRNA-UFC1) in modulating the metastasis and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Human HCC cell line Huh7 was infected with the lentiviral vector carrying lincRNA-UFC1 to obtain a cell line with lincRNA-UFC1 overexpression. A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting lincRNA-UFC1 was delivered in human HCC BEL-7402 cells via a lentiviral vector to obtain a cell line with lincRNA-UFC1 knockdown. Expression levels of lincRNA-UFC1 in the two HCC cell lines were detected using real-time PCR, and the changes in the cell invasion and migration in response to lincRNA-UFC1 overexpression or knockdown were analyzed using Transwell and wound-healing assays. The expressions of GSK-3β/β-catenin-related proteins in the cells were detected with Western blotting. XAV-939, a GSK-3β/β-catenin inhibitor, was used for assessing the impact of lincRNAUFC1 overexpression on the invasion and migration of the HCC cells through Transwell and wound-healing assays. RESULTS: Overexpression of lincRNA-UFC1 significantly promoted the invasion and migration of Huh7 cells as compared with the control cells ( < 0.001), while lincRNA-UFC1 knockdown obviously suppressed the invasion and migration of BEL-7402 cells ( < 0.001). The results of Western blotting showed that the expressions of proteins associated with the cell invasion and migration, namely β-catenin and P-GSK-3β, were significantly upregulated in response to lincRNA-UFC1 overexpression, and were obviously lowered after lincRNA-UFC1 knockdown. Treatment of the cells with XAV-939 significantly reversed the effect of lincRNA-UFC1 overexpression on the cell invasion and migration ( < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS lincRNA-UFC1 overexpresison promotes cell invasion and migration through the GSK-3β/β-catenin axis in HCC cells .
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; beta Catenin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of miR-532-3p and resibufogenin (RES) by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling on diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells proliferation. METHODS: DLBCL tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from patients had been diagnosed with DLBCL at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from October 2019 to October 2021. Four groups including mimics-NC, miR-532-3p mimics, RES control and RES treatment in SU-DHL-4 cells were designed. The expression level of miR-532-3p was detected by RT-qPCR. The protein content of β-catenin was detected by Western blot. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation activity of SU-DHL-4 cells. RESULTS: miR-532-3p expression was significantly decreased in DLBCL tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P<0.001). The miR-532-3p content in lymphoma cells was significantly lower than that in normal lymphocytes (P<0.001). After overexpression of miR-532-3p, the viability of SU-DHL 4 cells was significantly decreased (P<0.001), with a reduced expression of β-catenin (P<0.05). RES treatment inhibited the proliferation of SU-DHL-4 cells and decreased β-catenin expression in SU-DHL-4 cells compared with the control group. CONCLUSION Overexpression of miR-532-3p reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inhibited the proliferation of lymphoma cells. Moreover, RES treatment inhibited lymphoma cells growth partially through Wnt/β-catenin signaling suppression.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a previously uncharacterized function of Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) in inhibition of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). METHODS: MKN74 and MKN45, two CD44 positive gastric cancer cell lines with stem cell properties were used. The cells were divided into 2 groups. Treatment group was treated with SJZD (1-5 mg/mL) for indicated time (48 h-14 days). The control group was treated with equal volume of phosphate buffered saline. Cell Counting Assay Kit-8 were used to measure cell viability. Spheroid colony formation and GCSCs marker expression were performed to determine GCSCs stemness. Cell fractionation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to assess the distribution and DNA-binding activity of β-catenin after SJZD treatment, respectively. RESULTS: SJZD treatment repressed cell growth and induced apoptosis in MKN74 and MKN45 cell lines (P<0.05). Moreover, SJZD dramatically inhibited formation of spheroid colony and expression of GCSC markers in GC cells (P<0.05). Mechanistically, SJZD reduced nuclear accumulation and DNA binding activity of β-catenin (P<0.05), the key regulator for maintaining CSC stemness. CONCLUSION SJZD inhibits GCSCs by attenuating the transcriptional activity of β-catenin.
Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/genetics* ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein ; genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Codon ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; beta Catenin ; genetics