OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic testing for an abortus suspected with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). METHODS: History of gestation and the family was taken. Combined with prenatal ultrasonography and the phenotype of the abortus, a diagnosis was made for the proband. Fetal tissue and peripheral blood samples of its parents were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect mutations related to the phenotype. Suspected mutations were verified in the parents through Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound found that the forearms and hands of the fetus were anomalous, in addition with poorly formed vermis cerebellum, slight micrognathia, and increased echo of bilateral renal parenchyma. Examination of the abortus has noted upper limb and facial malformations. Whole exome sequencing revealed that the fetus carried a heterozygous c.2118delG (p.Lys706fs) frameshift mutation of the NIPBL gene. The same mutation was not found in either parent. CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.2118delG (p.Lys706fs) frameshift mutation of the NIPBL gene probably underlies the CdLS in the fetus. Above finding has provided a basis for the genetic counseling for the family.
Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; De Lange Syndrome/pathology* ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVETo provide in vitro evidence of Psorinum treatment against cancer cells in a controlled study.

METHODSEffects of homeopathic Psorinum 6× on cell viability were initially determined in several cancer cell lines, including A549, HepG2 and MCF-7, using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and an ethanol 6× control. The cell line that exhibited highest inhibition was selected and used in the following experiments. A range of Psorinum 6× doses was used to explore treatment effects on cell cycle arrest, cell death (apoptosis), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and change in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Expression of several signal proteins related to apoptosis and cell survival were quantified with Western blotting and confocal microscopy. Further, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to determine possible drug-DNA interactions, as well as the induction of conformational changes.

RESULTSTreatment of cancer cell lines with Psorinum showed greater anticancer effects in A549 cells than in others. In A549 cells Psorinum treatment inhibited cell proliferation at 24 h after treatment, and arrested cell cycle at sub-G1 stage. It also induced ROS generation, MMP depolarization, morphological changes and DNA damage, as well as externalization of phosphatidyl serine. Further, increases in p53 expression, Bax expression, cytochrome c release, along with reduction of Bcl-2 level and caspase-3 activation were observed after Psorinum 6× treatment, which eventually drove A549 cells towards the mitochondria-mediated caspase-3-dependent pathway. CD spectroscopy revealed direct interaction of Psorinum with DNA, using calf thymus-DNA as target.

CONCLUSIONPsorinum 6× triggered apoptosis in A549 cells via both up- and down-regulations of relevant signal proteins, including p53, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2.

Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Homeopathy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

No abstract available.
Base Sequence ; Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/*genetics ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/*diagnosis/metabolism ; Male ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/*genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Septins/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

Objective To examine the expression of cell division cycle associated 2 (CDCA 2) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and investigate its role in prognosis of PDAC patients. Methods This retrospective study included 155 PDAC patients who underwent surgical treatment and complete post-operative follow-up. Clinicopathologic data were collected through clinical database. Tissue microarray was constructed and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect CDCA2 expression in the PDAC tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Clinicopathological characteristics between high and low CDCA2 expression were compared. Correlation of CDCA2 expressions with patients' survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Results Expression of CDCA2 in PDAC cells was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues (U=4056.5, P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that CDCA2 expression [hazard ratio (HR)=1.574, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.014-2.443, P=0.043] and node metastasis (HR=1.704, 95%CI=1.183-2.454, P=0.004) were significantly associated with prognosis. Cox regression analysis showed CDCA2 expression was not an independent prognostic risk factor (HR=1.418, 95%CI=0.897-2.242, P=0.135) for PDCA patients. Stratification survival analysis demonstrated CDCA2 expression as an independent prognostic risk factor in male patients (HR=2.554, 95%CI=1.446-4.511, P=0.003) or in non-perineural invasion patients (HR=2.290, 95%CI=1.146-4.577, P=0.012). Conclusions CDCA2 is highly expressed in PDAC tumor tissue. Although CDCA2 is not an independent prognostic risk factor for PDAC patients, it might be used to help predict prognosis of male or non-perineural invasion patients of PDAC.
Adenocarcinoma ; chemistry ; mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; chemistry ; mortality ; Carrier Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; chemistry ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies

Meiotic recombination is carried out through a specialized pathway for the formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) made by the Spo11 protein. The present study shed light on the functional role of cyclin, CYC2, in Tetrahymena thermophila which has transcriptionally high expression level during meiosis process. Knocking out the CYC2 gene results in arrest of meiotic conjugation process at 2.5-3.5 h after conjugation initiation, before the meiosis division starts, and in company with the absence of DSBs. To investigate the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon, a complete transcriptome profile was performed between wild-type strain and CYC2 knock-out strain. Functional analysis of RNA-Seq results identifies related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including SPO11 and these DEGs are enriched in DNA repair/mismatch repair (MMR) terms in homologous recombination (HR), which indicates that CYC2 could play a crucial role in meiosis by regulating SPO11 and participating in HR.
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cyclins ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair ; Endodeoxyribonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homologous Recombination ; Meiosis ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phenotype ; Protozoan Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Tetrahymena thermophila ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile and potential significance of PTEN and NBS1 mutations among patients with familial or at early onset breast cancer in Hunan province.
 METHODS: A total of 131 breast cancer patients with familial history or suffered from breast cancer at the age of less than 35 years old were included in this study. A comprehensive phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and nibrin (NBS1) mutation analysis was performed through denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and subsequent DNA direct sequencing.
 RESULTS: Among 131 patients, a reported mutation IVS4+109insTCTTA in PTEN gene were identified in two patients. The mutation frequency of IVS4+109insTCTTA was 1.15%. Two mutations in PTEN gene, 225 A>C (Thr 160 Pro) and IVS5+13T>C, was firstly discovered. Another reported missense mutation was rs121909229 G>A (Arg 130 Gln). Three mutations were detected in NBS1 gene, of which IVS6+43A>G and IVS6+127A>G were firstly discovered and another reported synonymous mutations was rs1805794 G>C (Glu 185 Gln).
 CONCLUSION The novel mutations in PTEN and NBS1 might be specific to the familial and early-onset breast cancer of Chinese Hunan population.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and apoptosis of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on leukemic U937 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODThe inhibitory effect of TMP on the proliferation of U937 cells was detected by CCK-8 assay. The cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were examined by the flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of bcl-2 and P27 were determined by the Real-time PCR. Western blot was carried out to detect bcl-2, caspase-3, cyclin E1, CDK2 and P27 expressions.

RESULTTMP inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose-and-time dependent manner, with IC50 value of 160 mg x L(-1) at 48 h. In addition, TMP could induce the apoptosis of U937 cells and block the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. According to the results of Real-time PCR and Western blot, TMP could down-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related molecule bcl-2, cycle-related protein cyclin E1 and CDK2 and up-regulate caspase-3 and P27.

CONCLUSIONTMP shows the effects in inhibiting the proliferation of leukemic U937 cells and inducing the apoptosis. Its mechanism may be related to the impacts on the cell cycle distribution, down-regulation of the bcl-2 expression, which finally activates caspase-3, starts the apoptosis path and causes the cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; analysis ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; U937 Cells

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved zinc finger protein and is best known as a transcription factor. It can function as a transcriptional activator, a repressor or an insulator protein, blocking the communication between enhancers and promoters. CTCF can also recruit other transcription factors while bound to chromatin domain boundaries. The three-dimensional organization of the eukaryotic genome dictates its function, and CTCF serves as one of the core architectural proteins that help establish this organization. The mapping of CTCF-binding sites in diverse species has revealed that the genome is covered with CTCF-binding sites. Here we briefly describe the diverse roles of CTCF that contribute to genome organization and gene expression.
Animals ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Repressor Proteins/analysis/*metabolism

Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) are highly lethal gynecological malignancies with a high recurrence rate. Therefore, developing prognostic markers for recurrence after chemotherapy is crucial for the treatment of ovarian cancers. As ovarian cancers frequently respond to DNA-damaging agents, we assessed the clinicopathological significance of key double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, BARD1, ATM, RAD51 and NBS1 in EOC cell lines and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 140 EOC patients treated with cytoreductive surgery, followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. These samples were analyzed for the clinicopathological impact of DSB genes by western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. Of the DSB repair genes, BRCA1, ATM and NBS1, which are involved in the homologous recombination-mediated repair pathway, were related to aggressive parameters in EOC. When survival analysis was performed, NBS1 expression exhibited an association with EOC recurrence. Specifically, increased NBS1 expression was found in 107 out of 140 cases (76.0%) and correlated with advanced stage (P=0.001), high grade (P=0.001) and serous histology (P=0.008). The median recurrence-free survival in patients with positive and negative expression of NBS1 was 30 and 78 months, respectively (P=0.0068). In multivariate analysis, NBS1 was an independent prognostic factor for the recurrence of EOC. Together, these results suggest that NBS1 is a marker of poor prognosis for the recurrence of EOC and is associated with aggressive clinicopathological parameters.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis/genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins/analysis/*genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; *DNA Repair ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/diagnosis/*genetics/*pathology ; Nuclear Proteins/analysis/*genetics ; Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics/*pathology ; Ovary/metabolism/*pathology ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous congenital anomaly. Mutations in the NIPBL gene account for a half of the affected individuals. We describe a family with CdLS carrying a novel pathogenic variant of the SMC1A gene identified by exome sequencing. The proband was a 3-yr-old boy presenting with a developmental delay. He had distinctive facial features without major structural anomalies and tested negative for the NIPBL gene. His younger sister, mother, and maternal grandmother presented with mild mental retardation. By exome sequencing of the proband, a novel SMC1A variant, c.3178G>A, was identified, which was expected to cause an amino acid substitution (p.Glu1060Lys) in the highly conserved coiled-coil domain of the SMC1A protein. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the three female relatives with mental retardation also carry this variant. Our results reveal that SMC1A gene defects are associated with milder phenotypes of CdLS. Furthermore, we showed that exome sequencing could be a useful tool to identify pathogenic variants in patients with CdLS.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/*genetics ; DNA ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; De Lange Syndrome/diagnosis/*genetics ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proteins/genetics ; Republic of Korea