Objective:To investigate the feasibility of applying the ArcherQA three-dimensional (3D) dosimetric verification system in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 105 NPC patients′ IMRT plans developed using the Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS). Dose verification was conducted using the ArcherQA system and through portal dosimetry (PD). Moreover, this study compared γ passing rates (criteria: 3 mm/3%, TH = 10%) between ArcherQA and PD and the doses delivered to the target volume ( Dmean, D90%) and organs at risk (OARs) ( Dmean) between ArcherQA and TPS, and analyzed the 3D γ passing rates of each organ at risk calculated by ArcherQA. Results:The average 3D γ passing rate calculated by ArcherQA was (99.04±1.01)%, and the average 2D γ passing rate measured by PD was (99.49±0.78)%, with statistically significant differences ( t=-3.35, P< 0.05). The dosimetric differences to the target volume between ArcherQA and TPS were as follows: the average difference in Dmean to the gross tumor volume (GTV) was (0.57±0.48)%, and the average difference in D90% was (0.65±0.56)%. For the target volume, the average γ passing rate was (97.67±3.43)% for GTV, (97.80±4.35)% for GTVnd-L, (97.82±4.07)% for GTVnd-R, (97.88±2.44)% for CTV1, and (96.64±4.32)% for CTV2. The mean dose difference of each target volume was CTV1 (0.57±0.46)%, GTVnd-L (0.85±0.55)%, GTVnd-R (0.73±0.55)%, and CTV2 (0.88±0.52)%. For OARs, the mean γ passing rate was (99.93±0.22)% for the brainstem, (99.17±2.82)% for the optic chiasm, (100±0)% for the lens, (99.56±1.05)% for the spinal cord, (99.00±2.06)% for the thyroid, and (87.86±10.42)% for the trachea. Statistically significant differences in the average doses to OARs were observed ( t=-14.62 to 4.82, P<0.05), except for those to the left optic nerve, the right hippocampus, and the right parotid gland. Conclusions:Based on the high-performance GPU platform and the Monte Carlo dose algorithm, ArcherQA can provide accurate 3D dose distribution and 3D γ passing rates inside patients according to CT images and provide the dose volume histogram (DVH) of various regions of interest (ROIs). Therefore, the ArcherQA three-dimensional dose verification system can be applied to IMRT plans for NPC. Moreover, it is inducive to improve the treatment efficiency since it does not occupy the accelerator operation time.

Recently,immunologists have payed the attention to the effects of ionizing radiation on tumor immunity,and attempted to induce and improve anti-tumor immune effects with it.More and more evidences showed that exact radiotherapy scheme and irradiation dose,particularly combined with immunotherapy,could induce or regulate systemic immune response and contributed to tumor control and inflammatory occurrence.This paper reviewed the effects and mechanisms of radiotherapy on tumor immune and the results in combination with immunotherapy here for guiding the effective combined application of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Objective To establish the MCF-7 cell models of Beclin 1 over-and low-expressions,and to detect the autophagic and apoptotic changes after 4 Gy irradiation,and to explore their molecular regulation mechanisms. Methods MCF-7,MCF-7 + 4Gy,MCF-7-Beclin 1 + 4Gy and MCF-7-Belcin 1 RNAi+ 4Gy groups were set up. Molecular biology method was used to construct Beclin 1 over-expression vector pcDNA3.1-Beclin 1,and to estabilish the Beclin 1 over- and low-expression cell models.After the cells were irradiated with 4 Gy, the autopahgic cell percentages were measured by fluorescence microscope with MDC staining, the apoptotic cell percentages were measured by FCM with AnnexinⅤ-FITC and PI staining,and the expressions of Beclin1,P53, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured by Western blotting method.Results Compared with MCF-7 group,the autophagic and apoptotic cell percentages in MCF-7+4 Gy,MCF-7 Beclin 1 +4 Gy and MCF-7-Beclin 1 RNAi+4 Gy groups were significantly increased (P <0.05 or P <0.001 ),especially in MCF-7 Beclin 1+4 Gy group which was significantly higher than those in MCF-7 + 4 Gy (P < 0.05);while there was significant difference in the necrotic cell percentages between various groups. After 4 Gy irradiation, compared with MCF-7 group, the expression levels of Beclin 1,P53 and Bax proteins in MCF-7 + 4 Gy and MCF-7-Beclin 1 + 4 Gy groups were increased,but the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were decreased,especially in MCF-7-Beclin 1 + 4 Gy group. Conclusion The MCF-7 cell models of Beclin 1 over-and low-expressions are successfully established,and ionizing radiation could induce the autophagy and apoptosis of MCF-7 cells,which is more obvious in Beclin 1 over-expression MCF-7 cells.Beclin 1 can activate P53,inhibit Bcl-2 and activate Bax,which forms the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis by P53 .

Objective To construct the conditionally replicative adenovirus vector pAd-Egr1-TRAIL-hTERT-E1A-E1Bp-E1B55K carrying early growth response gene-1 (Egr1)promoter and tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)gene, and to observe the effects of the vector combined with 2 Gy irradiation on the TRAIL expression in MDA-MB-231 cells.Methods Egr-1 promotor sequence was cloned from pMD18 T-Egr1, TRAIL was constructed the downstream of Egr1 promoter, pShuttle-Egr1-TRAIL-hTERT-E1A-E1Bp-E1B55K (CRAd.pEgr1-TRAIL)was constructed,after the adenovirus vector was packaged successfully,MDA-MB-231 cells were infected with them and irradiated with X-rays.Real time PCR method and ELISA were used to detect the expression levels of TRAIL mRNA and protein, respectively. Six groups in the experiment were set up:control, 2 Gy,CRAd.p,CRAd.pEgr1-TRAIL,CRAd.p + 2 Gy and CRAd.pEgr1-TRAIL + 2 Gy. Results The recombinant adenovirus vector pAd-Egr1-TRAIL-hTERT-E1A-E1Bp-E1B55K was constructed and packaged successfully.The expression level of TRAIL mRNA in MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with the vector of 5 MOI for 24 h following 2.0 Gy X-rays irradiation began to increase and arrived to the top 8 h later in various groups,then declined.The expression level of TRAIL protein in MDA-MB-231 cells began to increase 6 h after irradiation and reached to the peak 24 h later,then declined 48 h later.There were significant differences in the expression levels of TRAIL protein between CRAd.pEgr1-TRAIL + 2.0 Gy and other groups at the same time point (P<0.01). Conclusion The recombinant adenovirus vector is obtained successfully, and the TRAIL mRNA and protein expression levels in MDA-MB-231 cells can be increased significantly by the vector combined with 2.0 Gy X-rays irradiation.

Objective To construct the pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac plasmid and transfect human breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells,and to observe its radiotherapy enhancing effect on tumor cells.Methods The empty vector pshuttle and pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac plasmid were transfected into MDA-MB-435 cells by liposomal.At different time(4,8,12,24 and 48 h)after irradiation with 2.0 Gy X-ray and 24 h after irradiation with 0.5 -5.0 Gy,the total RNA and protein were collected and extracted from these cells to analyze the Smac mRNA and protein expression levels with RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. The cells were divided into control, pshuttle, pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac,2.0 Gy irradiation group, pshuttle + 2.0 Gy irradiation and pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac+2.0 Gy irradiation groups.MTT method was used to evaluate cell proliferation,and the cell survival ability was measured with clone formation assay;Annexin Ⅴ/PI double staining and PI single staining were used to examine the apoptosis and cell cycle of MDA-MB-435 cells. Results There was no Smac mRNA expression in MDA-MB-435 cells in control and pshuttle groups,but the Smac mRNA expression levels in MDA-MB-435 cells in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac plasmid group were gradually increased with the time prolongation, and reached the maximum at 24 and 48 h;the Smac mRNA expression levels in MDA-MB-435 cells were increased gradually 24 h after irradiation of 0.5 - 5.0 Gy X-ray with the increasing of irradiation doses, and reached the maximum after 2.0 and 5.0 Gy irradiation. The Smac protein expression levels in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac plasmid group were increased gradually with the time prolongation,and reached the maximum at 24 h.The Smac protein expression lervels were increased 24 h afer irradiation of 0,0.5,1.0,2.0 and 5.0 Gy X-ray,especially in 5.0 Gy group. The MTT results showed that the A490 values in 2.0 Gy,pshuttle+2.0 Gy and pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac groups 24, 48,and 72 h after irradiation were lower than those in control group(P<0.01);the A490 values of MDA-MB-435 cells in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac group after 1.0-5.0 Gy X-ray irradiation were lower than those in 0 Gy group (P<0.05 or P<0.01);the survival fraction(SF)in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac group was lower than those in control group (P<0.01).The percentages of the cells at G0/G1 and S phase in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac group were lower than those in 2.0 Gy group(P<0.01),the percentage of the cells at G2/M phase was higher than that in 2.0 Gy group (P<0.01);the apoptotic rate of the cells in pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac group was higher than that in 2.0 Gy group (P<0.01).Conclusion X-ray irradiation can significantly increase the Smac mRNA and protein expression levels in MDA-MB-435 cells transfected with pshuttle-Egr-1-hSmac plasmid,inhibit the cell survival rate,and induce G2/M arrest and apoptotic increasing;Smac gene combined with radiotherapy could significantly increase the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells.

Objective To explore the mechanism of radio-resistance of breast cancer stem cells by investigating the effects of ionzing radiation on the reactive oxygen species (ROS),apoptosis and cycle distribution.Methods The breast cancer MCF-7 cells were suspension cultured in serum-free medium containing a variety of growth factors. There were MCF-7 (breast cancer cells),MCF-7-S (breast cancer stem cells),MCF-7+8 Gy and MCF-7-S+8 Gy groups in the experiment. 4-24 h after 8 Gy irradiation, the ROS levels, percentages of apoptotic cells and percentages of the cells at each cycle phage were measured by FCM with 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA ), Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI and PI staining, respectively. Results The breast cancer stem cell microsphere accumulated hundreds of cells were obtained successfully at 7 d after suspension culture with serum-free medium containing a variety of growth factors;the FCM results showed that CD44+CD24- phenotype breast stem cells were up to 75.20%.With the time prolongation,the ROS levels and apoptosis in MCF-7 group and MCF-7-S group showed increasing trendency, and reached for the maximum values at 12 and 24 h;the ROS levels in MCF-7-S group were significantly lower than those in MCF-7 group at 4,8,12 and 24 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the percentage of apoptotic cells in MCF-7-S group was significantly higher than that in MCF-7 group only at 8 h(P<0.05);the ROS levels (4,8,12 and 24 h)and percentage of apoptotic cells(12 h)were significantly increased in MCF-7+8 Gy group (P<0.05),and the percentages of apoptotic cells (4,8,12 and 24 h)in MCF-7-S +8 Gy group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),but the ROS levels had no obvious change in MCF-7-S+8 Gy.At 12 h,as compared with MCF-7 group,the percentages of the cells at G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase in MCF-7-S group were significantly decreased (P<0.05),and the percentage of the cells at S phase was significantly increased (P<0.05 );the percentage of the cells at G2/M phase in MCF-7+8 Gy group was significantly increased (P<0.05 ), but there were no significant changes in MCF-7-S+ 8 Gy group. Conclusion Ionizing irradiation can cause the increasing of ROS level and apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest in breast cancer cells,but has no obvious effects on the breast cancer stem cells;it indicates that radio-resistance might be related to ROS level,apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest.

This study examined the effects of TRAIL-endostatin-based gene-radiotherapy on cellular growth, apoptosis and cell cycle progression in human vascular endothelial cells ECV304 in vitro. The expression of TRAIL and endostatin protein in ECV304 cells was detected by ELISA after the transfection of recombinant plasmid pshuttle-Egr1-shTRAIL-shES and X-ray irradiation. Then MTT assay was used for determining the cellular proliferation, and flow cytometry (FCM) plus Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) double-staining or PI single-staining were employed for the detection of apoptosis and cell cycle progression. The results showed that expression of TRAIL and endostatin protein exhibited a time- and dose-dependent change in ECV304 cells after pshuttle-Egr1-shTRAIL-shES transfection in conjunction with irradiation. In the TRAIL-endostatin-based single- or double-gene-radiotherapy, the cell viability declined in a time- and dose-dependent manner, the percentage of cells at G(2)/M phase and apoptotic rate was increased, and the percentage of cells at G(0)/G(1) phase was lowered as compared with those receiving radiotherapy alone. Moreover, TRAIL-endostatin-based double-gene-radiotherapy demonstrated better effects on growth inhibition, promotion of apoptosis and induction of cell cycle arrest in ECV304 cells than single-gene-radiotherapy.

This study examined the effects of TRAIL-endostatin-based gene-radiotherapy on cellular growth,apoptosis and cell cycle progression in human vascular endothelial cells ECV304 in vitro.The expression of TRAIL and endostatin protein in ECV304 cells was detected by ELISA after the transfection of recombinant plasmid pshuttle-Egrl-shTRAIL-shES and X-ray irradiation.Then MTT assay was used for determining the cellular proliferation,and flow cytometry (FCM) plus Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) double-staining or PI single-staining were employed for the detection of apoptosis and cell cycle progression.The results showed that expression of TRAIL and endostatin protein exhibited a time- and dose-dependent change in ECV304 cells after pshuttle-Egrl-shTRAIL-shES transfection in conjunction with irradiation.In the TRAIL-endostatin-based single- or double-gene-radiotherapy,the cell viability declined in a time- and dose-dependent manner,the percentage of cells at G2/M phase and apoptotic rate was increased,and the percentage of cells at G0/G1 phase was lowered as compared with those receiving radiotherapy alone.Moreover,TRAIL-endostatin-based double-gene-radiotherapy demonstrated better effects on growth inhibition,promotion of apoptosis and induction of cell cycle arrest in ECV304 cells than single-gene-radiotherapy.

The discovery of quorum sensing (QS) system and its critical role in bacterial virulence have revealed a new way to attack pathogenic bacterium. The pathogenecity of QS deletion mutants decreases significantly. Targeting bacterial QS system is a promising therapeutic approach to control infections and anti-microbial resistance. To obtain natural QS inhibitors from marine organisms, marine fungi (69 strains) were isolated from marine mollusca, and their extracts were screened using improved QSIS2 (Quorum Sensing Inhibitor Selector 2) assay and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. To improve the efficiency of QSIS2 screening, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method was used. Extract from strain QY013 was found to have QS inhibitory activity. Further experiment indicated that pyocyanin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAOI and violacein in C. violaceum CV026 were reduced by QY013 extract, without affecting bacterial growth. Morphological and 18S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that strain QY013 was most closely related to Penicillium species. The above results suggest that active constituents from QY013 may be used as novel antimicrobial agents against bacterial infection.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Marine Biology ; Mollusca ; microbiology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; Virulence ; drug effects

Objective To detect the inhibiting effects of ionizing radiation combined with inhibitors or inducer of autophagy and apoptosis on MCF7 cell line,and to provide the evidence for human breast cancer therapy radiation.Methods MCF7 cells were exposed to X-rays and randomly divided into 4 groups,including 0 Gy,4 Gy,4 Gy+rapamycin,4 Gy+3-MA,and 4 Gy+z-VAD-fmk groups,including 0 Gy,4 Gy,4 Gy+rapamycin,4 Gy+3-MA,and 4 Gy+z-VAD-fmk groups,respectively.The growth doubling time was calculated by MTT method.The specific protein expressions of LC3 autophagy and beclinl were detected by using Western blot and the difference of Drotein contents wasLC3 autophagy and beclinl were detected by using Western blot and the difference of Drotein contents was compared.The percentage of apoptosis of MCF7 cells was measured by flow cytometry (FCM).Resuits The growth doubling time of MCF7 cells in 4 Gy group wag longer than that in O Gy group(t=4.41,P