Diphthamide deficiency promotes association of eEF2 with p53 to induce p21 expression and neural crest defects.

Diphthamide is a modified histidine residue unique for eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), a key ribosomal protein. Loss of this evolutionarily conserved modification causes developmental defects through unknown mechanisms. In a patient with compound heterozygous mutations in Diphthamide Biosynthesis 1 (DPH1) and impaired eEF2 diphthamide modification, we observe multiple defects in neural crest (NC)-derived tissues. Knockin mice harboring the patient's mutations and Xenopus embryos with Dph1 depleted also display NC defects, which can be attributed to reduced proliferation in the neuroepithelium. DPH1 depletion facilitates dissociation of eEF2 from ribosomes and association with p53 to promote transcription of the cell cycle inhibitor p21, resulting in inhibited proliferation. Knockout of one p21 allele rescues the NC phenotypes in the knockin mice carrying the patient's mutations. These findings uncover an unexpected role for eEF2 as a transcriptional coactivator for p53 to induce p21 expression and NC defects, which is regulated by diphthamide modification.

Validation of an established TW3 artificial intelligence bone age assessment system: a prospective, multicenter, confirmatory study.

Background: In 2020, our center established a Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) artificial intelligence (AI) system using a convolutional neural network (CNN), which was built upon 9059 radiographs. However, the system, upon which our study is based, lacked a gold standard for comparison and had not undergone thorough evaluation in different working environments. Methods: To further verify the applicability of the AI system in clinical bone age assessment (BAA) and to enhance the accuracy and homogeneity of BAA, a prospective multi-center validation was conducted. This study utilized 744 left-hand radiographs of patients, ranging from 1 to 20 years of age, with 378 boys and 366 girls. These radiographs were obtained from nine different children's hospitals between August and December 2020. The BAAs were performed using the TW3 AI system and were also reviewed by experienced reviewers. Bone age accuracy within 1 year, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were statistically calculated to evaluate the accuracy. Kappa test and Bland-Altman (B-A) plot were conducted to measure the diagnostic consistency. Results: The system exhibited a high level of performance, producing results that closely aligned with those of the reviewers. It achieved a RMSE of 0.52 years and an accuracy of 94.55% for the radius, ulna, and short bones series. When assessing the carpal series of bones, the system achieved a RMSE of 0.85 years and an accuracy of 80.38%. Overall, the system displayed satisfactory accuracy and RMSE, particularly in patients over 7 years old. The system excelled in evaluating the carpal bone age of patients aged 1-6. Both the Kappa test and B-A plot demonstrated substantial consistency between the system and the reviewers, although the model encountered challenges in consistently distinguishing specific bones, such as the capitate. Furthermore, the system's performance proved acceptable across different genders and age groups, as well as radiography instruments. Conclusions: In this multi-center validation, the system showcased its potential to enhance the efficiency and consistency of healthy delivery, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract Plus Rosiglitazone on Serum Leptin and Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract (MOLE) plus rosiglitazone (RSG) on glucose and lipid metabolism, serum leptin, and the Akt/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats. Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the RSG group, the low- and high-dose MOLE group, and the MOLE+RSG group. The normal group was fed a standard rat diet, while the other groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozomycin (STZ) (35 mg/kg) and fed a high-sugar and high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, the treatment outcomes were evaluated by measuring key parameters of blood glucose and lipid metabolism and the protein kinase B (AKT) / Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3ß) /ß-Catenin signaling pathway in the T2D rats. Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, free fatty acid (FFA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Compared with the model group, the RSG, low-dose MOLE, and high-dose MOLE groups displayed effective control of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, FFA, and TNF-α. The MOLE+RSG group surpassed the RSG group in regulating glucose, lipid metabolism, and serum leptin levels in T2D rats. In addition, the MOLE+RSG group also had superiority over the RSG group in activating the AKT/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin pathway. Conclusion: MOLE plus RSG can effectively reduce blood glucose and blood lipids in T2DM rats.

Fulvivirga marina sp. nov. and Fulvivirga sediminis sp. nov., two novel Bacteroidetes isolated from the marine sediment.

Two novel, designated strains 29W222T and 2943T, were isolated from the marine sediment from Aoshan Bay, Jimo, PR China. Growth was observed at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) for strain 29W222T, and pH 5.5-8.5 (pH 7.0) for strain 2943T. Both strains displayed growth in 0.5-6 % NaCl with an optimum at 1 % for 29W222T; 0.5 % for 2943T. Both strains grew optimally at 33 °C. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that 29W222T and 2943T represented members of the genus Fulvivirga and strain 29W222T was most closely related to Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T (97.9 % sequence similarity) and Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T (95.0 %), and 2943T to Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T (95.7 %) and Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T (94.8 %). The genomic DNA G+C contents of 29W222T and 2943T were 39.9 and 37.7 mol%, respectively. The results of chemotaxonomic analysis indicated that the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7), and the major fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0 for both strains. Average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values between strain 29W222T and Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T were 78.9 and 83.6 %, respectively; the corresponding values between 2943T and Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T were 69.8 and 63.6 %, respectively. Therefore, strains 29W222T and 2943T represent to two novel species of the genus Fulvivirga, for which the names Fulvivirga marina sp. nov. (29W222T=KCTC 62848T=MCCC 1K05194T) and Fulvivirga sediminis sp. nov. (2943T=KCTC 62847T= MCCC 1K05144T) are proposed, respectively.

Clinical Profiles and Genetic Spectra of 814 Chinese Children With Short Stature.

CONTEXT: Data and studies based on exome sequencing for the genetic evaluation of short stature are limited, and more large-scale studies are warranted. Some factors increase the likelihood of a monogenic cause of short stature, including skeletal dysplasia, severe short stature, and small for gestational age (SGA) without catch-up growth. However, whether these factors can serve as predictors of molecular diagnosis remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of the associated risk factors and their exome sequences for screening. METHODS: We defined and applied factors that increased the likelihood of monogenic causes of short stature in diagnostic genetic tests based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 814 patients with short stature and at least 1 other factor. RESULTS: Pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in genes, copy number variations, and chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 361 patients. We found P/LP variants among 111 genes, and RASopathies comprised the most important etiology. Short stature combined with other phenotypes significantly increased the likelihood of a monogenic cause, including skeletal dysplasia, facial dysmorphism, and intellectual disability, compared with simple severe short stature (<-3 SD scores). We report novel candidate pathogenic genes, KMT2C for unequivocal growth hormone insensitivity and GATA6 for SGA. CONCLUSION: Our study identified the diagnostic characteristics of NGS in short stature with different risk factors. Our study provides novel insights into the current understanding of the etiology of short stature in patients with different phenotypes.

Novel compound heterozygous variant of TOE1 results in a mild type of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 7: an expansion of the clinical phenotype.

The target of EGR1 protein 1 (TOE1) is a 3-exonuclease belonging to the Asp-Glu-Asp-Asp deadenylase family that plays a vital role in the maturation of a variety of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Bi-allelic variants in TOE1 have been reported to cause a rare and severe neurodegenerative syndrome, pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 7 (PCH7) (OMIM # 614,969), which is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, developmental delay, and ambiguous genitalia. Here, we describe the case of a 5-year-6-month-old female Chinese patient who presented with cerebral dysplasia, moderate intellectual disability, developmental delay, and dystonia. Trio whole-exome sequencing revealed two previously unreported heterozygous variants of TOE1 in the patient, including a maternal inherited splicing variant c.237-2A > G and a de novo missense variant c.551G > T, p.Arg184Leu. TA clone sequencing showed trans status of the two variants, indicating the missense variant occurred on the paternal strand in the patient. Clinical features of the patient were mostly concordant with previous reports but brain deformities (enlarged lateral ventricle and deepened cerebellum sulcus without microcephaly and reduced cerebellar volume) were less severe than in typical PCH7 patients. Moreover, the patient had no gonadal malformation, which is common and variable in patients with PCH7. In summary, we report the case of a Chinese patient with atypical PCH7 caused by a novel TOE1 compound variant. Our work suggests that variations in the TOE1 gene can lead to highly variable clinical phenotypes.

Rapid and high-capacity loading of IgG monoclonal antibodies by polymer brush and peptides functionalized microspheres.

Fast-throughput and cost reduction of current purification platforms are becoming increasing requests during antibody manufacture. The macroporous-matrix absorbents have presented extensive potentiality in improving operational throughput during purification of macromolecule. And meanwhile the peptide ligand has become a promising alternative to recombinant protein ligands for cost reduction of chromatographic purification. Therefore, here we designed a functionalized microspheres resin with both macroporous matrix of polymerized glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PGMA-EDMA) and peptide ligand of hexapeptide (FYEILH). In order to circumvent the steric effect of peptides and amplify the binding sites on macroporous matrix, the peptide ligand was coupled on a liner PGMA polymer brushes grafted on microspheres. Comparing to the conventional agarose-matrix resin and the general peptide-grafted microspheres, the functionalized microspheres presented excellent permeability and high capacity to rapid loading hIgG by maintaining a stable level of dynamic binding capacity at fast flow rate above 110 column volume per hour (cv/h) and very short residence time below 0.5 min. Such functionalized microspheres provide a facile and broadly applicable strategy to develop the attractive candidate for rapid and cost-reduced purification of antibody.

Aeromicrobium piscarium sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of Collichthys lucidus.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, whitesmoke-coloured and aerobic bacterium, designated strain Co35T, was isolated from the intestine of Collichthys lucidus collected from the Jiangmen Guangdong Chinese White Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve. Strain Co35T was able to grow at 15-35 °C (optimal 28 °C), at pH 7.0-8.5 (optimal 8.0) and with 0-9 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal 0.5-1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Co35T was a member of the genus Aeromicrobium within the family Nocardioidaceae. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Co35T was 68.4 mol%. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone 9 (MK-9), and the major fatty acids included 10-methyl C18 : 0. The polar lipids were found to consist of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1-2) and two unidentified glycolipids (GL1-2). On the basis of its phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and genomic characteristics presented in this study, strain Co35T represents a novel species in the genus Aeromicrobium, for which the name Aeromicrobium piscarium sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Co35T (=KCTC 49280T=MCCC 1K03754T).

Quench-Type Electrochemiluminescence Immunosensor Based on Resonance Energy Transfer from Carbon Nanotubes and Au-Nanoparticles-Enhanced g-C3N4 to CuO@Polydopamine for Procalcitonin Detection.

A new type of sandwich electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor dependent on ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) to achieve sensitive detection of procalcitonin (PCT) has been designed. In brief, carbon nanotubes (CNT) and Au-nanoparticles-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4-CNT@Au) and CuO nanospheres covered with polydopamine (PDA) layer (CuO@PDA) were synthesized and applied as ECL donor and receptor, respectively. g-C3N4-CNT nanomaterials were in situ prepared on the basis of π-π conjugation, and the CNT content in the composite were optimized to achieve a strong and stable ECL signal. At the same time, Au nanoparticles were used to functionalize g-C3N4-CNT to further increase the ECL intensity and the loading amount of primary antibody (Ab1). Moreover, CuO@PDA was first used to successfully quench the ECL signal of g-C3N4-CNT@Au. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linear detection range for PCT concentration was within 0.0001-10 ng mL-1 and the detection limit was 25.7 fg mL-1 (S/N = 3). Considering prominent specificity, reproducibility, and stability, the prepared immunosensor was used to assess recovery rate of PCT in human serum according to the standard addition method and the result was satisfactory. In addition, it is worth mentioning that a novel ECL-RET pair of g-C3N4-CNT@Au (donor)/CuO@PDA (acceptor) was first developed, which offered an effective analytical tool for sensitive detection of biomarkers in early disease diagnostics.

Cell Membrane Camouflaged Hydrophobic Drug Nanoflake Sandwiched with Photosensitizer for Orchestration of Chemo-Photothermal Combination Therapy.

Many candidate anticancer drugs have suffered from their intrinsic hydrophobicity, which poses several obstacles for clinical application. To overcome this challenge and further improve the performance, herein a nanocrystal-based biomimetic formulation with a sandwich structure is developed. As the core, flake shaped nanocrystals (NCs) with high loading of the hydrophobic drug hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) are synthesized via a mild nanoprecipitation process by exploring the template effect of serum albumin. Meanwhile, the camouflaged cancer cell membrane (CM) composed of plentiful membrane proteins endows the NCs with homotypic targeting capacity at tumor sites. In addition, the photosensitizer indocyanine green sandwiched between NCs and CM not only converts near infrared light to heat for photothermal treatment but also improves the dissolution of HCPT NCs for chemotherapy. These features corporately achieve the orchestration of chemo-photothermal combination therapy and completely inhibit tumor growth with few adverse effects, showing promise as a new modality for the utilization of hydrophobic drugs to treat cancer.

A de novo variant in MMP13 identified in a patient with dominant metaphyseal anadysplasia.

Metaphyseal anadysplasia 1 (MIM# 602111) belongs to a heterogeneous group of skeletal diseases characterized by an autosomal dominant form of growth defects due to metaphyseal changes with epiphyseal involvement similar to other metaphyseal disorders. Matrix metalloproteinase 13 encoded by MMP13 presumably plays important roles in bone formation and growth, and pathogenic variants in MMP13 have been identified to cause metaphyseal anadysplasia 1. Only six pathogenic variants in MMP13 have been previously reported worldwide. The genotype-phenotype correlation of MMP13-related disorders has not been fully understood. Here we reported the identification of a previously unreported pathogenic heterozygous de novo variant NM_002427.3:c.212T > C/p.Met71Thr in MMP13 in a Chinese male pediatric patient with metaphyseal anadysplasia 1 and additional phenotypes, including mild rickets-like changes observed on upper long bone metaphyses and patchy bone defects on the spine vertebrae particularly resolved by childhood. Our findings not only expand genotype and phenotype spectrums of MMP13-related disorders but also offer further information for precise diagnosis and classification of metaphyseal anadysplasia disorders.

[Effect of GnRHa controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on mouse embryo implantation and its mechanism].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on embryo implantation in mice. Forty female Kunming mice aged 9 weeks were randomly divided into two groups (control and COH groups). The COH group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of aminocyclin acetate (GnRHa), human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), while the control group was given equal amount of physiological saline by i.p. injection. One male mouse and two female mice were put into the same cage at 16:00 on the hCG injection day, and on the fourth day of pregnancy, 10 mice from each group were killed. The levels of serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured by radioimmunoassay; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ovarian and endometrial tissues. The protein expression levels of endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and glycodelin A were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Ten mice from each group were sacrificed on the eighth day of pregnancy, and the status of the uterus and the average number of blastocysts were observed. The results showed that, compared with control group, the serum E2 level in COH group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the P level was increased significantly (P < 0.05); the ovarian follicles at different developmental stages were rare, corpus lutea (CL) were visible and multiple, the endometrium was thinned, and the number of endometrial glands was reduced (P < 0.05); the contents of LIF, p-STAT3, HB-EGF and glycodelin A in the endometrium were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) on the fourth day of pregnancy; mouse blastocysts developed slowly and were decreased in number on the eighth day of pregnancy (P < 0.05). The above results suggest that GnRHa COH can affect embryo implantation in mice. The mechanism may be related to the imbalance of gonadal hormone, the changes in the structure of the endometrium and the expressions of LIF, p-STAT3, HB-EGF and glycodelin A in the implantation stage, which may lead to the decrease of endometrial receptivity and the abnormal dialogue between the embryo and the uterus.

Description of the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WDSTS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by facial gestalt, neurodevelopmental delay, skeletal anomalies and growth retardation, which is caused by variation of KMT2A gene. To date, only 2 Chinese WDSTS patients have been reported. Here, we report the phenotypes and KMT2A gene variations in 14 unrelated Chinese WDSTS patients and investigate the phenotypic differences between the Chinese and French cohorts. METHODS: Next generation sequencing was performed for each patient, and the variants in the KMT2A gene were validated by Sanger sequencing. The phenotypes of 16 Chinese WDSTS patients were summarized and compared to 33 French patients. RESULTS: Genetic sequencing identified 13 deleterious de novo KMT2A variants in 14 patients, including 10 truncating, 2 missenses and 1 splicing variants. Of the 13 variants, 11 are novel and two have been reported previously. One of the patients is mosaic in the KMT2A gene. The variation spectra and phenotypic profiles of the Chinese WDSTS patients showed no difference with patients of other ethnicities; however, differ in the frequencies of several clinical features. We demonstrated that variations in the KMT2A gene can lead to both advanced and delayed bone age. We identified 6 novel phenotypes, which include microcephaly, deep palmar crease, external ear deformity, carpal epiphyseal growth retardation, dyslipidemia, and glossoptosis. In addition, patients harbored missense variants in the CXXC zinc finger domain of KMT2A showed more severe neurophenotypes. CONCLUSION: Our study consists of the largest cohort of Chinese WDSTS patients that continues to expand the WDSTS phenotypic and variation spectrum. Our results support the notion that the CXXC zinc finger domain of KMT2A gene is a hotspot for missense variants associated with more severe neurophenotypes.

Impacts of exposure to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation on liver function in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impacts of exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on liver function in rats. METHODS: Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group and radiated group. The rats in normal group were not radiated, those in radiated group were exposed to EMR 4 h/ d for 18 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed immediately after the end of the experiment. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and those of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue were evaluated by colorimetric method. The liver histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the protein expression of bax and bcl- 2 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick and labelling (TUNEL) method was used for analysis of apoptosis in liver. RESULTS: Compared with the normal rats, the serum levels of ALT and AST in the radiated group had no obvious changes (P>0.05), while the contents of MDA increased (P < 0.01) and those of GSH decreased (P < 0.01) in liver tissues. The histopathology examination showed diffuse hepatocyte swelling and vacuolation, small pieces and focal necrosis. The immunohistochemical results displayed that the expression of the bax protein was higher and that of bcl-2 protein was lower in radiated group. The hepatocyte apoptosis rates in radiated group was higher than that in normal group (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The exposure to 900 MHz mobile phone 4 h/d for 18 days could induce the liver histological changes, which may be partly due to the apoptosis and oxidative stress induced in liver tissue by electromagnetic radiation.

[Effect of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe containing serum on FSH/cAMP-PKA pathway in in vitro cultured human ovarian granular cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential molecular mechanisms for Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) improving the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by observing the effect of BTR containing serum on follicle stimulating hormone/cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (FSH/ cAMP-PKA) pathway in in vitro cultured human ovarian granular cells. METHODS: The primary ovarian granular cells collected from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer patients were cultured for 24 h. The human and rat serum containing different concentrations of BTR (low, medium, high dose), and their normal serums were co-incubated with ovarian granular cells for 48 h respectively, and then they were divided into the low, medium, high dose BTR groups and the control group. The levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the culture medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The protein expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells was detected by Western Blot. The mRNA expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) in ovarian granular cells were detected by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: In human BTR containing serum groups: Compared with control group, the levels of E2 and cAMP in the culture medium were higher (both P < 0.05) in the medium and high dose BTR groups; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells increased (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expressions of P450arom in ovarian granular cells were higher (P < 0.05, P< 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR groups. In rat BTR containing serum groups: Compared with the control group, the levels of E2 in the culture medium were higher (all P < 0.01), cAMP in the culture medium were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR group; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells were higher (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expression of P450arom in ovarian granular cells increased in the medium and high dose BTR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: BTR could possibly improve the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by regulating main effector molecules FSHR, cAMP, P450arom, and E2 in FSH/cAMP-PKA pathway of ovarian granular cells.

Is leptin a predictive factor in patients with lung cancer?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and clinical significance of leptin in lung cancer. METHODS: 126 patients with lung cancer ranged from 30 to 83years of age were studied. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The mRNA and protein levels of leptin in normal and lung cancer tissues were measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between leptin levels and clinicopathological factors were evaluated by Wilcoxon rank sum or Kruskal-Wallis H test. RESULTS: Serum leptin levels in lung cancer patients were significantly higher compared to those in controls and leptin expression in lung cancer tissue was markedly increased than that in normal lung tissue (both P<0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of leptin levels might provide useful predictive information for lung cancer.

The induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells by ruthenium(II) asymmetric complexes.

Four ruthenium(ii) asymmetric complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(PAIDH)](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, PAIDH = 2-pyridyl-1H-anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione, ), [Ru(phen)2(PAIDH)](2+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, ), [Ru(dmp)2(PAIDH)](2+) (dmp = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, ) and [Ru(dip)2(PAIDH)](2+) (dip = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, ), have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes displayed potent anti-proliferation activity against various cancer cell lines and had high selectivity between tumor cells and normal cells. HeLa cells exhibited the highest sensitivity to complex , accounting for the greatest cellular uptake. Complex was shown to accumulate preferentially in the mitochondria of HeLa cells and induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, which involved ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential depolarisation, and Bcl-2 and caspase family members activation. These results demonstrated that complex induced cancer cell apoptosis by acting on mitochondrial pathways.