OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of millimeter wave (MMW) exposure on apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells and explore the mechanisms. METHODS: Through electromagnetic field calculation we simulated MMW exposure in cells and calculated the specific absorption rate (SAR). The optimal irradiation parameters were determined according to the uniformity and intensity of the SAR. A375 cells were then exposed to MMV for 15, 30, 60, or 90 min, with or without pretreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor AC-DEVD-fmk (10 μmol/L) for 1 h at 90 min before the exposure. CCK-8 assay was used to assess the changes in the viability and Annexin-V/ PI staining was used to detect the apoptosis of the cells following the exposures; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of caspase-3 in the cells. RESULTS: The results of electromagnetic field calculation showed that for optimal MMV exposure, the incident field needed to be perpendicular to the bottom of the plastic Petri dish with the antenna placed below the dish. CCk-8 assay showed that MMW exposure significantly inhibited the cell viability in a time-dependent manner ( < 0.05); exposures for 15, 30, 60, and 90 min all resulted in significantly increased apoptosis of the cells ( < 0.05). The cells with MMW exposure showed significantly increased expression of caspase-3. The inhibitory effect of MMW on the cell viability was antagonized significantly by pretreatment of the cells with AC-DEVD-fmk ( < 0.05), which increased the cell viability rate from (36.7±0.09)% to (59.8±0.06)% ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS 35.2 GHz millimeter wave irradiation induces apoptosis in A375 cells by activating the caspase-3 protein.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Enzyme Activation ; Humans ; Magnetic Field Therapy ; Melanoma ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression profile of miR-122-5p in melanoma tissues and the effect of miR-122-5p on the proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of human melanoma cell lines SK-MEL-110 and A375. METHODS: The expression profiles of miR-122-5p in melanoma and pigmented nevus tissues were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). SK-MEL-110 and A375 cells transfected with miR-122-5p inhibitor or negative control inhibitor (NC) I were examined for miR-122- 5p expression using qRT-PCR and changes in cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis using MTT assay or flow cytometry. NOP14 mRNA and protein expressions in the cells were detected using qRT- PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the identity of NOP14 as the direct target of miR-122-5p. RESULTS: The relative expression of miR-122-5p in human pigmented nevus tissues and melanoma tissues was 1.23±0.270 and 7.65 ± 1.37, respectively. The relative expression of miR-122-5p in SK-MEL-110 and A375 cells transfected with miR-122-5p inhibitor was 0.21 ± 0.08 and 0.17 ± 0.05, respectively. miR-122-5p inhibitor obviously inhibited the cell proliferation and increased the percentage of cells in G1 stage in both SK-MEL-110 and A-375 cells, but did not cause obvious changes in the apoptosis of the two cells. miR-122-5p inhibitor did not significantly affect the expression level of NOP14 mRNA, but obviously increased the expression level of NOP14 protein. Luciferase reporter assay revealed a significantly lower luciferase activity in cells co-transfected with miR-122-5p mimics and wild-type psi-CHECK2-3'UTR plasmid than in the cells cotransfected with NC and wild-type psi-CHECK2-3'UTR plasmid (0.21 ± 0.14 0.56 ± 0.1, < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS miR-122-5p expression is upregulated in melanoma tissues, indicating its involvement in the development of melanoma. miR-122-5p inhibits the proliferation of SK-MEL-110 and A-375 cells possibly by affecting the cycle through NOP14.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Melanoma ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Nevus, Pigmented ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo test the effect of bifunctional molecule IL2-GMCSF in promoting the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) cultured in tumor conditioned medium.

METHODSWe prepared a tumor conditioned medium using mouse melanoma cell line B16F10 supplemented with IL2-GMCSF, GM-CSF, IL-2, or the combination of the latter two. After culturing mouse DC cell line DC2.4 in the conditioned medium for 24 h, the DCs were examined for phagocytosis, proliferation, maturation phenotype, cytokine secretion, and signal pathway activation.

RESULTSDC2.4 cells displayed characteristics of immature DCs. After cell culture in the conditioned medium, the cells showed enhanced phagocytosis but significantly suppressed cell proliferation activity. Culture in the conditioned medium also promoted DC cell maturation and secretion of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), but inhibited IL-12 secretion. Supplementation of the conditioned medium with IL2-GMCSF promoted phagocytosis, proliferation, maturation, and cytokine (including both IL-12 and MDC) secretion of DC2.4 cells. Compared with GM-CSF, IL2-GMCSF induced a higher level of NF-κB signal pathway activation but suppressed STAT3 activation.

CONCLUSIONCompared with GM-CSF, IL2-GMCSF can better promote DC activation in the context of tumor-induced immune suppression, and thus shows potentials in anti-tumor therapy.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CCL22 ; metabolism ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Immune Tolerance ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leg ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and differential diagnosis of the metastases to the breast from non-mammary malignancies.

METHODSTwenty-eight cases were collected from 2004 to 2012;microscopic pathologic examinations and immunohistochemistry (EnVision method) were performed.

RESULTS(1) All except one patients were female, ranging from 16 to 77 years old (average 45.8 years). Twenty-six (92.9%) patients initially presented with the primary site lesions; while the other two (7.1%) patients initially presented with breast lesions. The mean interval from primary diagnosis to detection of metastatic breast lesions was 32 months (0-228 months). Fifteen patients (53.6%) had other metastases detected simultaneously or preceded the breast lesions. (2) Macroscopically, all the tumors were relatively circumscribed, with a mean diameter of 4.0 cm (0.6-12.0 cm). The histological types of the corresponding primary tumors were as follows: eight (28.6%) cases from lung adenocarcinoma, five (17.8%) from high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma, three (10.7%) from gastric adenocarcinoma, two (7.1%) from rectal adenocarcinoma, one (3.6%) from pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, one (3.6%) from prostatic carcinoma, four (14.3%) from melanoma, and four (14.3%) from mesenchymal malignant tumors (three rhabdomyosarcomas and one epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, MPNST). (3) Histologically, the metastatic tumors showed the morphologic characteristics of the primary tumors. Lymph-vascular invasion was observed in 19 cases. Immunohistochemical features of metastatic tumors were consistent with the primary tumors. Molecular markers for breast such as GCDFP15 and mammaglobin were negative. Metastatic tumors from lung adenocarcinoma expressed TTF-1 (8/8). Ovarian serous carcinoma metastases were positive for PAX8 (5/5) and WT1 (4/5). Gastric adenocarcinoma metastases were positive for CDX2 (3/3) and villin (1/3). Rectal adenocarcinoma metastases were positive for CDX2 (2/2). Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor metastasis was positive for Syn and CgA (both 1/1). Prostate carcinoma metastasis was positive for AR, PSA and P504S (all 1/1). Melanoma metastases were positive for HMB45 (2/3) and S-100 protein (3/3). Rhabdomyosarcoma metastases were positive for vimentin, desmin and myoD1 (all 3/3). MPNST metastasis was positive for S-100 protein (1/1). (4) Follow-up data was available in 17 patients, with median follow-up time 54 months. The median survival from diagnosis to breast metastasis was 24 months.Seven of 17 patients died.

CONCLUSIONSMetastases to the breast from non-mammary malignancies are rare and show pathologic features of primary tumors. It is usually presumed to be a primary breast carcinoma. Histopathologic features and clinical history in conjunction with the immunohistochemical results should be considered in differentiating a secondary mass from a primary breast carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; secondary ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Breast Neoplasms, Male ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; secondary ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; secondary ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mastectomy ; Melanoma ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism of gambogenic acid (GNA) in inducing the apoptosis of melanoma B16 cells.

METHODThe inhibitory effect of GNA on the proliferation of B16 cells was measured by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effect of GNA on B16 cells was detected by the Hoechst 33258 staining. The transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultra-structure changes of B16 cells. The changes in PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, p-mTOR, PTEN proteins were detected by the Western blotting to discuss the molecular mechanism of GNA in inducing the apoptosis of B16 cells.

RESULTGNA showed a significant inhibitory effect in the growth and proliferation of melanoma B16 cells. The cell viability remarkably decreased with the increase of GNA concentration and the extension of the action time. The results of the Hoechst 33258 staining showed that cells processed with GNA demonstrated apparent apoptotic characteristics. Under the transmission electron microscope, B16 cells, after being treated with GNA, showed obvious morphological changes of apoptosis. The Western blot showed a time-dependent reduction in the p-PI3K and p-Akt protein expressions, with no change in p-PI3K and p-Akt protein expression quantities. The p-mTOR protein expression decreased with the extension of time, where as the PTEN protein expression showed a time-dependent increase.

CONCLUSIONGNA could inhibit the proliferation of melanoma B16 cells and induce their apoptosis within certain time and concentration ranges. Its mechanism in inducing the cell apoptosis may be related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Terpenes ; pharmacology ; Xanthenes ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, histological diagnosis and prognosis of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma.

METHODSClinical data of 25 cases of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma were collected along with follow-up study of the patients. The pathological features were documented and immunohistochemical study of various markers was performed with an emphasis on diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

RESULTSHepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma was more commonly found in young women without characteristic clinical symptoms. Its morphological features were characterized by marked cytological atypia, relatively rare mitotic figures; radial distribution of tumor cells around the thin-walled blood vessels or muscular vessels; and the presence of common multinucleated giant cells and large ganglion-like tumor cells. The tumor cells expressed both melanoma cell markers (HMB45, MART-1) and smooth muscle cell markers (SMA). Tumor cells expressed various other markers including ER 16% (4/25), PR 32% (8/25), TFE3 24% (6/25) and p53 60% (15/25).

CONCLUSIONSHepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma has variable morphological features and characteristic immunohistochemical phenotype. The differential diagnoses include a variety of tumors. The biological behavior of the tumor tends to be benign.

Age Factors ; Angiomyolipoma ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunophenotyping ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of targeting miRNA on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cell proliferation in malignant melanoma (MM) SKmel-28 cells.

METHODSRecombination miRNA plasmid vectors targeting VEGF gene were transfected into SKmel-28 cells via Lipofectamine 2000. The integrity of the inserted fragments was detected using colony PCR and sequence analysis. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in SKmel-28 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. MTS assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of a selected targeting miRNA on SKmel-28 cell proliferation, and the apoptosis of SKmel-28 cells was detected using flow cytometry.

RESULTSTransfection with the targeting miRNAs significantly down-regulated the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein in SKmel-28 cells (P<0.01), and the miRNA construct X-26-2n-1 showed the highest inhibitory effect. The miRNA X-26-2n-1 significantly suppressed SKmel-28 cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01) and increased the early, late and overall apoptosis rates of the cells (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe targeting miRNA we constructed can effectively suppress the cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SKmel-28 cells by down-regulating the expressions of VEGF gene.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Skin Neoplasms ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to enhance the antitumor efficacy of recombinant Newcastle disease virus, rNDV-IL15 was rescued in this study. Recombinant plasmid prNDV-IL15 was constructed, and BHK21 cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid. Finally, the recombinant Newcastle disease virus rNDV-IL15 was successfully rescued. The growth curves of these two recombinant viruses were determined. Murine melanoma B16F10 cells were infected with rNDV-IL15 at MOI of 0.1, and the expression level of IL15 in the supernatant was detected by ELISA. The antitumor efficacy of rNDV-IL15 and rNDV was compared in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that prNDV-IL15 was constructed and recombinant virus rNDV-IL15 was successfully rescued. The growth curve of rNDV-IL15 showed that the growth of rNDV-IL15 had not been changed after insertion of IL15 gene. Results showed that there was high level of IL15 expression in the supernatant of rNDV-IL5-infected B16F10 cells (1 044.3 +/- 27.7 ng x mL(-1)). rNDV-IL15 and rNDV significantly inhibited the growth of B16F10 cells in vitro in a time-dependent manner. However, there was no significant difference between them. In animal experiments, rNDV-IL15 efficiently suppressed tumor growth in vivo when compared with rNDV, and the difference was statistically significant. The results suggested that rNDV-IL15 is a more effective antitumor agent.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chick Embryo ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Interleukin-15 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Newcastle disease virus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUNDMicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to tumorigenesis by acting as either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-145 in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma.

METHODSExpression profiles of miRNAs in uveal melanoma were performed using Agilent miRNA array. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to screen the expression levels of miR-145 in normal uveal tissue, uveal melanoma tissue, and uveal melanoma cell lines. Lenti-virus expression system was used to construct MUM-2B and OCM-1 cell lines with stable overexpression of miR-145. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis of these miR-145 overexpression cell lines were examined by MTT assay and flow cytometry respectively. The target genes of miR-145 were predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed using a luciferase reporter assay. The expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) proteins was determined by Western blotting analysis. IRS-1 was knocked down in OCM-1 cells. TUNEL, BrdU, and flow cytometry assay were performed in IRS-1 knocked down OCM-1 cell lines to analyze its function.

RESULTSForty-seven miRNAs were up regulated in uveal melanoma and 61 were down regulated. miR-145 expression was significantly lower in uveal melanoma sample and the cell lines were compared with normal uveal sample. Overexpression of miR-145 suppressed cell proliferation by blocking the G1 phase entering S phase in uveal melanoma cells, and promoted uveal melanoma cell apoptosis. IRS-1 was identified as a potential target of miR-145 by dual luciferase reporter assay. Knocking down of IRS-1 had similar effect as overexpression of miR-145.

CONCLUSIONmiR-145 might act as a tumor suppressor in uveal melanoma, and downregulation of the target IRS-1 might be a potential mechanism.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uveal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology