OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of nucleolin (NCL) involved in lymphoma proliferation by regulating thymidine kinase 1 (TK1). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were selected and divided into initial treatment group (14 cases) and relapsed/refractory group (9 cases). Serum TK1 and C23 protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected. Cell models of CA46-NCL-KD (CA46-NCL-knockdown) and CA46-NCL-KNC (CA46-NCL-knockdown negative control) were established by lentivirus vector mediated transfection in Burkitt lymphoma cell line CA46. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of CA46-NCL-KD, CA46-NCL-KNC, and CA46 to adriamycin were detected by cell proliferation assay (MTS). The expression of NCL mRNA and protein in CA46-NCL-KD and CA46-NCL-KNC cells were dectected by Q-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The cell cycle of CA46-NCL-KD, CA46-NCL-KNC, and CA46 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of TK1 protein in CA46-NCL-KD and CA46-NCL-KNC cells was detected by an enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) dot blot assay. RESULTS: The level of serum TK1 in the initial treatment group was 0.43(0-30-1.01) pmol/L, which was lower than 10.56(2.19-14.99) pmol/L in the relapsed/refractory group (P<0-01), and the relative expression level of NCL protein in peripheral blood was also significantly lower. The IC₅₀ of CA46-C23-KD cells to adriamycin was (0.147±0.02) μg/ml, which was significantly lower than (0.301±0.04) μg/ml of CA46-C23-KNC cells and (0.338±0.05) μg/ml of CA46 cells (P<0.05). Compared with CA46-NCL-KNC cells, the expression of NCL mRNA and protein, TK1 protein decreased in CA46-NCL-KD cells, and the proportion of S phase and G₂/M phase also decreased, while G0/G1 phase increased in cell cycle. CONCLUSION The increased expression of NCL in DLBCL and CA46 cells indicates low sensitivity to drug. NCL may participate in regulation of lymphoma proliferation by affecting TK1 expression, thereby affecting the drug sensitivity.
Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Lymphoma ; Thymidine Kinase/pharmacology* ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology* ; Cell Division ; RNA, Messenger/genetics*

BACKGROUNDAs the clinical value of cytokeratin-19 (CK19) and thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) in advanced gastrointestinal cancer remains controversial, we investigated their expression and clinical significance in this disease.

METHODSA total of 171 advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. The mRNA level of CK19 was detected using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all patients, along with a control group of fifty healthy individuals. Furthermore, detection of TK1 protein was carried out in 96 patients using a chemiluminescence dot blot assay. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) time.

RESULTSPositive CK19 mRNA expression was detected in 74 (43.3%) of the 171 patients and positive TK1 expression was detected in 66 (68.8%) of the 96 patients. Furthermore, of the 96 patients, 36 (37.5%) were positive for both TK1 protein and CK19 mRNA, 30 (31.3%) were negative for TK1 protein, and 15 (15.6%) were negative for TK1 protein and positive for CK19 mRNA. The results indicated that patients who were positive for CK19 mRNA expression had significantly shorter OS times than those who were negative for it (median OS 7.7 vs. 9.7 months, respectively; P = 0.02). Moreover, patients who were positive for CK19 mRNA and TK1 protein expression had shorter OS times (median OS 6.1 months) than those who were positive for CK19 mRNA and negative for TK1 protein expression (median OS 9.1 months; P = 0.028). Positive CK19 mRNA expression was significantly associated with shorter OS in the univariate analysis (P = 0.027). Based on a multivariate Cox regression analysis, CK19 mRNA together with TK1 protein expression (P = 0.024) was an independent predictor for OS in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that positive expression of CK19 mRNA and TK1 protein is closely correlated with poor prognosis in advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Furthermore, both CK19 and TK1 are possible gastrointestinal cancer biomarkers.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; mortality ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Thymidine Kinase ; blood ; genetics

BACKGROUND: The cell cycle-dependent enzyme thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is known to increase during cancer cell proliferation and has been reported as a prognostic marker for various hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. This study aimed to determine the reference interval in Korean healthy controls and to evaluate the usefulness of TK1 as a biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients. METHODS: We enrolled 72 previously untreated patients with B-cell lymphoma and 143 healthy controls. Serum TK1 levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison(R), DiaSorin, USA). We established the reference intervals in healthy controls. The diagnostic performance of serum TK1 was studied using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the correlation between the cutoff level for serum TK1 and clinical characteristics of B-cell lymphoma was evaluated. RESULTS: The reference range (95th percentile) of serum TK1 in healthy controls was 5.4-21.8 U/L. There was a clear difference in TK1 levels between patients with B-cell lymphoma and healthy controls (40.6+/-68.5 vs. 11.8+/-4.4 U/L, P<0.001). The area under the curve of serum TK1 for the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was 0.73 (cutoff, 15.2 U/L; sensitivity, 59.7%; specificity, 83.2%). An increased TK1 level (> or =15.2 U/L) correlated with the advanced clinical stage (P<0.001), bone marrow involvement (P=0.013), international prognostic index score (P=0.001), lactate dehydrogenase level (P=0.001), low Hb level (<12 g/dL) (P=0.028), and lymphocyte count (P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The serum TK1 level could serve as a useful biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Proliferation ; Diagnosis ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Luminescence ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Reference Values ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thymidine Kinase* ; Thymidine*

OBJECTIVETo study the killing effects of the liposome-mediated thymidine kinase (TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) system on MG-63 osteosarcoma (OS) cells and its bystander effects.

METHODSLiposome-mediated TK gene transfected into MG-63 OS cells, the efficiency of transfection was analyzed by flow cytometry and observed under inverted fluorescence microscope. Non-transfected osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were divided into three groups,in the experimental group 1 transfected TK/GCV cells cultured in solutiona liquid mixture by supernatant by 1/10,1/7,1/5,1/2 ratio to original broth; in the experimental group 2 transfected cells cultured in solutiona liquid mixture of supernatant filtered through 0.22 microm filter by 1/10,1/7, 1/5, 1/2 ratio to original broth, in control group the transfection cells cultured in original culture solution. Cell growth inhibition rate and osteosarcoma cell sensitivity to TK/GCV system were measured by MTT assay in each group.

RESULTSThe TK gene was transfected into MG-63 OS cells successfully by liposome-mediated, flow cytometry instrument detection TK gene transfection cell transfection efficiency can reach 75.5%. Six days later the MTT assay showed that in the experimental group 1 inhibition rate of all concentration ratio of the mixed culture fluid were statistically significant as compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and in the experimental group 2 that of the 1/10 and 1/7 of concentration ratio of mixed culture medium was not statistically significant as compared with the control group (P > 0.05). TK gene transfected MG-63 cells increased with the the GCV concentration,the cell apoptosis rate increased.

CONCLUSIONThe experiment demonstrated that the MG-63 OS cells are sensitive to the liposome-mediated TK/GCV system and bystander effects are significant.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Bystander Effect ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Ganciclovir ; toxicity ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; toxicity

Alveolar epithelial type II (AT II) cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells (fibroblasts). Progenitor cells are believed to possess capability of multi-potent transdifferentiation, which is closely related to the niche, suggesting the importance of establishment of a lung progenitor cell niche model. We hypothesized that pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A (SPA) suicide gene system would cause AT II cell to kill itself through apoptosis and leave its niche. In vitro, the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors-SPA-thymidine kinase (rAAV-SPA-TK) system was established to get targeted apoptotic AT II cells. The apoptosis of AT II cells was detected by using MTT. The results showed that cloned SPA gene promoter had specific transcriptional activity in SPA high expression cells, and SPA high expression cells (H441) transfected with TK gene had higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV) than SPA low expression cells (A549). In vivo, increased apoptosis of AT II cells induced by GCV in rAAV-SPA-TK system was observed by TUNEL. Finally, the successful packaging and application of rAAV-SPA-TK system provide experimental basis to get specific lung progenitor cell (AT II) niche in vitro and in vivo.
Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To determine the application of serum thymidine kinase 1 (STK1) in general health screening for early detection of premalignant/early malignant tumors. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out in 26 055 health screenings from 8 centers of Changsha in 2011. The concentration of STK1 was determined by a sensitive chemiluminescent dot blot ECL assay. RESULTS: In the elevated STK1 group 60.35% showed diseases with a higher risk of premalignant/ early cancerous progression. The positive rate of elevated STK1 (>2.0 pmol/L) was 2.61%. There was a significantly higher rate with moderate/severe type of hyperplasia of breasts and prostate with elevated STK1 than people with normal STK1 values. CONCLUSION STK1 may be a reliable marker for risk assessment of premalignant/early malignant tumors.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Breast ; pathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; Prostate ; pathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; blood

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to investigate the clinical significance of serum thymidine kinase 1 (STK1) level change in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Peripheral blood samples of 60 newly diagnosed AML patients were collected and the STK1 levels were determined by enhanced chemiluminescent dot-blot method before and at two weeks after start of inductive treatment and in consolidatory treatment. Using non-parametric test, the differences between groups were analyzed. Then the correlation between STK1 level and clinical characteristics was explored by a way of chi-square test. The results indicated that the serum TK1 level in complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR) AML patients decreased in varying degree as compared to pretreatment (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference of TK1 level in non-remission (NR) ones (P > 0.05). The serum TK1 level in CR patients remained low level but increased noticeably after relapse into progressive disease (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between STK1 level and chromosomal abnormalities, serum LDH level as well as whether had fever in de novo AML patients (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the serum TK1 level change may be applied for reflecting the aggressiveness of disease, monitoring the clinical response to chemotherapy, evaluating the prognosis and predicating the relapse risk. The decrease of TK1 level suggests effective treatment and tumor burden reduction, while its increase indicate poor prognosis and relapse risk.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thymidine Kinase ; blood ; Young Adult

Telbivudine is an L-nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Clinical trials have shown that telbivudine has a more potent and sustained antiviral activity with a lower frequency of viral resistance than lamivudine. Although there are several reports concerning the safety profile of telbivudine, most adverse events are described as mild and transient in nature. Here we report two cases of telbivudine-induced myopathy in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were siblings.
Adult ; Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Electromyography ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/pathology ; Muscular Diseases/etiology ; Siblings ; Thymidine/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the effection of suppression murine melanoma growth by Intratumor injection of recombinant attenuated salmonella carrying heat shock protein 70 and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase genes.

METHODSPlasmids PCMV-mtHSP70-IRES-TK were electro-transferred into salmonella typhimurium SL7207 to construct recombinant salmonella typhimurium. In vivo, Recombinant bacteria were injected into the mouse melanoma and the antitumor effection was observed. The survival period was recorded and safety analysis for this vaccine in each group.

RESULTSIn vivo, the mtHSP70/HSV-tk recombinant bacteria can suppress tumor growth significantly and extend survival. After recombinant Salmonella, 10(9) CFU/mL, was administered as an intratumoral injection, No diarrhea were observed. During therapy, body weight did not change markedly.

CONCLUSIONResults of the animal experiment suggests intratumor injection of recombinant attenuated salmonella typhimurium containing mtHSP70 and HSV-tk genes, has targeting ability against B16 tumor cell and could significantly inhibit tumor growth .

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Cancer Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Melanoma, Experimental ; microbiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; Salmonella typhimurium ; genetics ; immunology ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Skin Neoplasms ; therapy ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; pharmacology