BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) has been suggested to be involved in the inactivation of Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), a known gastric carcinoma tumor suppressor gene. It remains unclear how H. pylori CagA initiates or maintains RUNX3 promoter methylation and inactivates its protein expression in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: RUNX3 promoter methylation status, RUNX3 expression, and H. pylori CagA were investigated in 76 sample pairs of gastric carcinoma tissue. The patients' medical records were reviewed. The association between RUNX3 methylation or loss of RUNX3 expression and clinicopathologic variables according to H. pylori CagA status were investigated. RESULTS: In gastric carcinoma patients with H. pylori CagA-positive infection, RUNX3 methylation did not show association with lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and TNM stages. However RUNX3 methylation was observed more frequently in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma (77.8% vs. 20.0%, p=0.023) in early stage. In gastric carcinoma patients with H. pylori CagA-positive infection, loss of RUNX3 expression did not show association with lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and TNM stages. However loss of RUNX3 expression was observed more frequently in early gastric carcinoma than in advanced gastric carcinoma (84.2% vs. 75.0%, p=0.51), but this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In gastric carcinoma patients with H. pylori CagA-positive infection, RUNX3 methylation or loss of RUNX3 expression did not show correlation with lymphovascular invasion and TNM stages. In early gastric carcinoma patients with H. pylori CagA-positive infection, RUNX3 methylation was observed more in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit/genetics/*metabolism ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Methylation ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications/microbiology/*pathology

OBJECTIVETo amplify mouse prostate stem cell antigen (mPSCA) gene and construct a recombinant plasmid to obtain mPSCA protein and identify its antigenicity.

METHODSThe gene of mPSCA was amplified by RT-PCR from mouse prostate cancer cell line RM-1 with the signal peptide sequence removed. The PCR product was cloned into pET-42a prokaryotic expression vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pET-42a-mPSCA, which was transformed into BL21 (DE3) for mPSCA expression. The fusion protein was purified and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The antigenicity of the purified protein was characterized by ELISA.

RESULTSThe mPSCA gene was obtained with an identical sequence to that retrieved in GenBank. The prokaryotic expression vector for mPSCA was successfully constructed as confirmed by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Both Western blotting and ELISA demonstrated the antigenicity of the purified mPSCA protein.

CONCLUSIONThe purified mPSCA obtained possesses good antigenicity, which will facilitate further study of immunotherapy for prostate cancer targeting PSCA.

Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Plasmids ; Prostate ; cytology

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of GST-CML28 in Escherichia Coli and to prepare its antibody. The constructed recombinant expression vectors CML28-pGEX-3X were transformed into Escherichia Coli BL21 under IPTG induction. The protein was abstracted from the transformers, and purified by a GSTrap FF column. The rabbits were immunized by the purified fusion protein to produce serum with anti-CML28 antibody. The serum was purified by chromatographic column stuffed with glutathione Sephamse 4B to get the antibody. The specific antibody against CML28 was further identified by ELISA, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and quantum dot luminescence. The results indicated that GST-CML28 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and its specific polyclonal antibody was obtained. It is concluded that the anti-CML28 polyclonal antibodies with high titer and specificity are successfully prepared. These antibodies provide an useful experimental tool to profoundly research the physiological significance and biological function of the CML28 gene.
Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cells, Cultured ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Exosome Multienzyme Ribonuclease Complex ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features of EB virus positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (EBV + DLBCL) of the elderly.

METHODSFour hundred and ninety-six cases of DLBCLs were retrospectively studied by in situ hybridization (ISH) to detect the EBV in tumor cells, and by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of CD10, CD20, CD30, CD79a, bcl-6, bcl-2, MUM-1, CD5, CD3, TIA-1 and Ki-67 protein. Their clinicopathological correlations were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 59 cases of EBV + DLBCL, 48 cases were EBV positive. The median age of these EBV + DLBCLs was 73 years with male predominance (1.4:1). There were 11 cases with nodal presentation only, 18 cases with extra-nodal presentation and 19 cases with both lymph nodal and extra-nodal involvements, whereas about one third cases with more than one extra-nodal involvement. Thirty-five patients presented with advanced disease (Ann Arbor stage III/IV). A performance status was available in 36 cases and 5 cases had performance status of more than 1. Seven of 30 patients were found with high lactate dehydrogenase value (more than twice of the normal). An IPI-score was calculated in 30 cases and 18 cases had an intermediate/high IPI-score (3-5). The median survival for these patients was 35 months. Morphologically, EBV + DLBCLs of the elderly generally showed a diffuse and polymorphic proliferation of large lymphoid cells with varying degrees of reactive components including small lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, and epithelioid cells. These tumor cells were frequently characterized by a broad range of B-cell maturation, containing centroblasts, immunoblasts, and Hodgkin- and Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like giant cells. The study cohort was further morphologically divided into large cell lymphoma subtypes (n = 33) and polymorphic lymphoma subtypes (n = 14) and one case with mixed subtype. Immunohistochemical studies showed that tumor cells were positive for CD20 (47/48) and/or CD79a (45/45) in almost cases. Tumor cells were MUM-1-positive in the majority of the cases (44/47) and were stained for CD10 or bcl-6 in a few cases. Expression of bcl-2 and CD30 was observed in 80.0% (28/35) and 28.9% (11/38) cases, respectively, and most of the cases (33/39) had a high proliferative index (by Ki-67 with a 50% cut-off point). Compared with other EBV + DLBCLs, except the older age and low frequency of bcl-6 staining, no other significant differences were observed in EBV + DLBCLs of the elderly.

CONCLUSIONSEBV + DLBCLs of the elderly constitute a distinct clinicopathologic subtype of DLBCL, although many clinical and histological features with EBV + lymphomas are similar with that of younger ages. Differential diagnosis from other types of lymphomas should also be considered.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD79 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Recent studies reported that thymoquinone (TQ), a component derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin), exhibited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of many cancer cell lines. This study was performed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of thymoquinone on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that thymoquinone suppressed the migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells in a does-dependent manner. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, Western blotting analysis was performed, and found that thymoquinone significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in Panc-1 cells. In addition, metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotropic implantation of histologically intact pancreatic tumor tissue into the pancreatic wall of nude mice. And administration of thymoquinone significantly reduced tumor metastasis compared to untreated control. Furthermore, the expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in tumor tissues was also suppressed after treatment with thymoquinone. Taken together, the results indicate that thymoquinone exerts anti-metastatic activity on pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to down-regulation of NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as MMP-9 protein. Consequently, these results provide important insights into thymoquinone as an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzoquinones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Nigella sativa ; chemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinomas in Guangzhou, their clinicopathologic features and related protein expressions including DNMT1, p16, and cyclin D1.

METHODA total of 676 cases of EBV-associated gastric carcinoma were included in the study. The presence of EBV-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1), a marker for EBV infection, was analyzed by in-situ hybridization using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor samples. Expression of EBV-encoded proteins, DNMT1, p16 and cyclin D1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSForty-five of 676 gastric carcinomas showed EBER intranuclear positivity in all tumor cells. EBV involvement was significantly more frequent among the male than the female patients, especially in tumors of less differentiated types (diffuse type) and involving the upper stomach (P < 0.05). EBNA1 and LMP2A expression were detected in 42 (93.3%) and 24 (53.3%) cases, respectively. None expressed EBNA2, LMP1, and ZEBRA. Among 45 cases of EBV associated gastric carcinomas, DNMT1, p16 and cyclin D1 expression were seen in 35 (77.8%), 10 (22.2%), and 29 (64.4%) cases, respectively. In contrast, among 40 EBV negative gastric carcinomas, expression of the three proteins were 20 (50.0%), 25 (62.5%) and 12 (30.0%), respectively. The difference of expression of the three proteins between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Expression of p16 correlated with the depth of the tumor invasion. Correlated protein expression was seen between LMP2A and DNMT1, between DNMT1 and p16, and between p16 and cyclin D1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEBV associated gastric carcinoma accounts for 6.7% of gastric carcinomas in Guangzhou with the Latency I pattern in some cases and between Latency I and II in others. The correlated expression of LMP2A, DNMT1, p16 and cyclin D1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of EBV associated gastric carcinomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens ; metabolism ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Sex Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo screen and obtain the validate immunogenic membrane antigens in pancreatic cancer.

METHODSPancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 membrane protein was extracted and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). One of the three parallel 2-DE gels underwent Coomassie blue staining while the other two underwent immunoblot. Serum IgG was purified from clinically collected sera of 66 pancreatic cancer patients and 24 chronic pancreatitis patients and used as the primary antibody of the immunoblot. Positive dots of immunoblot were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and PMF matching. The candidate membrane antigens were further validated respectively in cell lines and tissues by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, Western blot, and their different expression level of gene and protein between pancreatic cancer cell line and normal pancreatic tissue were compared studied.

RESULTSThe immunoblot of SW1990 membrane protein with serum IgG from cancer patients showed nine positive dots which were not the same as those from immunoblot with serum IgG from chronic pancreatitis patients. One talent dot was identified with MALDI and PMF as VDAC2. RT-PCR and real-time PCR showed that the gene of VDAC2 was expressed in the pancreatic cancer cell line. Western blot showed that the expression of protein level of VDAC2 in the pancreatic cancer cell line was obviously higher than in normal pancreatic tissue.

CONCLUSIONSVDAC2 might be the candidate immunogenic membrane antigens of pancreatic cancer, and its gene is all expressed in the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, AsPc and P3. The protein level of VDAC2 is significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cell line than in normal pancreatic tissue.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; immunology ; Proteomics ; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 2 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To search for the differentially expressed proteins of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC),and provide scientific evidence for identifying molecular biomarkers for NPC. METHODS: Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to purify the target cells from NPC and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues (NNET). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to separate the total proteins of microdissected NPC and NNET, PDQuest software was applied to analyze 2-DE images,and the differential proteins between the 2 types of tissues were identified by both MALDI-TOF-MS and ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Western blot and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray were used to detect the expression of the differential protein SCCA1 in NPC and NNET. RESULTS: 2-DE patterns of microdissected NPC and NNEC were established,and 36 differential proteins in the NPC and NNEC were identified,20 of which only expressed or up-regulated in NPC and 16 only expressed or up-regulated in NNET. The differentially expressed level of SCCA1 in the NPC and NNET was confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray. CONCLUSION Thirty-six differentially expressed proteins identified in this study may be associated with the carcinogenesis of NPC,and may be candidate molecular biomarkers for NPC.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; isolation & purification ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; isolation & purification ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemistry ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Humans ; Lasers ; Microdissection ; methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Neoplasm Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Proteomics ; methods ; Serpins ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo identify a naturally presented HLA-A2-restricted epitope of MAGE-A3 antigen, FLWGPRALV (MAGE-A3(271 - 279)), on the surface of a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HLE.

METHODSSynthetic peptide FLWGPRALV, served as positive control target, was analyzed by HPLC and HPLC-ESI-TOF-MSMS, in order to determine its HPLC elution time, mass-spectrometric characteristics and the lowest detection limitation by the two approaches. 3 x 10(9) HLE cells were collected, peptides naturally presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the cell surface were isolated by mild acid elution, and concentrated by lyophilization, then the mixtures of peptides were fractioned by HPLC. The ingredient ranged from 2 min before the elution time determined by the synthetic peptide to 2 min after that was collected, concentrated by lyophilization, and analyzed by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MSMS, to identify the existence of the MAGE-A3(271 - 279) peptide.

RESULTSThe HPLC-ESI-TOF-MSMS detection provided an evidence for the existence of a doubly charged ion of (m/z)(2) 529.9, which was further analyzed by collision induced dissociation. The doubly charged ion was ultimately identified as the MAGE-A3(271 - 279) peptide, its amino sequence was FLWGPRALV and its molecular weight was 1058.4 Da.

CONCLUSIONSMAGE-A3(271 - 279) epitope could be naturally presented by HLA-A2 molecules to the surface of HCC cell line and MAGE-A3(271 - 279) peptide may have potential immunotherapeutic value in HCC patients.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigen Presentation ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo construct the recombinant plasmid of RCAS1, to express and purify its fusion protein GST-RCAS1, and to investigate its biological function.

METHODSRCAS1 encoding gene was amplified by RT-PCR from total RNA extract of MCF-7 cells and was ligated with expression plasmid vector pGEX-2T by T4 DNA ligase after digested by the restricted endonucleases BamH I and EcoR I. Then the ligated products were inserted into competence JM109 E. Coli and the positive recombinants were identified by restriction endonuclease digestion assay and DNA sequencing. The GST-RCAS1 fusion protein expression was induced by IPTG in BL21 E. Coli and was purified with GST column and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting with anti-GST monoclonal antibody, anti-RCAS1 (N-18) and anti-RCAS1 (C-20) polyclonal antibody. The apoptosis of activated T cells induced by GST-RCAS1 fusion protein was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining.

RESULTA 642 bp product was cloned by RT-PCR and the recombinant plasmid was constructed successfully. The GST-RCAS1 fusion protein was recognized by GST monoclonal antibody and RCAS1(N-18 and C-20) polyclonal antibody. FACS analysis showed that GST-RCAS1 fusion protein induced apoptosis in activated T cells.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant plasmid of RCAS1 has been successfully constructed and the GST-RCAS1 fusion protein expressed and purified. The apoptosis inducing effect of GST-RCAS1 fusion protein on activated T cells is demonstrated.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; Tumor Cells, Cultured