Hsa-miR-1 downregulates long non-coding RNA urothelial cancer associated 1 in bladder cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to mainly target protein-coding genes at post-transcriptional level, resulting in mRNA destabilization and/or translational repression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a novel set of targets for miRNAs. Here, we report that downregulated hsa-miR-1 and upregulated lncRNA urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) were inversely expressed in bladder cancer. Hsa-miR-1 decreased the expression of UCA1 in bladder cancer cells in an Ago2-slicer-dependent manner. The binding site between UCA1 and hsa-miR-1 was confirmed. Overexpression of hsa-miR-1 inhibited bladder cancer cell growth, induced apoptosis, and decreased cell motility. Knockdown of UCA1 expression phenocopied the effects of upregulation of hsa-miR-1. Transfection of UCA1 expression vector partly reversed the changes caused by transfection of pre-miR-1 plasmids. This study provides evidence for hsa-miR-1 to play tumor suppressive roles via downregulating lncRNA UCA1 in bladder cancer, which may have potential therapeutic significance.

Monoclonal antibody based colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay for the visual and rapid screening of profenofos.

Profenofos (PFF) is a commonly used organophosphorus insecticide that requires strict monitoring due to its potential environmental, ecological, and human health risks originating from residues in soil and water systems, as well as accumulation in crops. In this study, a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to PFF was prepared for the first time and the recognition mechanism was investigated through molecular simulation. Subsequently, a mAb-based colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) was developed for the rapid screening of PFF in fruit and vegetable samples. The mAb exhibited an IC50 value of 12.9 ng/mL, and limit of detection (LOD) of 4.6 ng/mL, respectively in indirect competitive immunosorbent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). After optimization, the developed GICA exhibited a visual limit of detection (vLOD) of 20 ng/mL and a quantitative of detection (qLOD) of 5.2 ng/mL, with a linear range from 10.0 to 83.8 ng/mL. Good correlation was observed between the results of GICA and standard Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) in matrix and recovery test. The developed GICA can be used for rapid sample detection within 15 min, which is an excellent tool for screening PFF in foods and environmental samples.

Design, synthesis and biological activity of cell-penetrating peptide-modified octreotide analogs.

Four novel octreotide analogs with cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) at the N-terminus or C-terminus were synthesized by a stepwise Fmoc solid-phase synthesis strategy. The synthesized peptides were analyzed and characterized using reverse phase HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The antiproliferative activity of the analogs was tested in vitro on human gastric (SGC-7901) and hepatocellular cancer (BEL7402) cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Interestingly, these analogs showed a higher anticancer activities than the parent octreotide except CMTPT03 analog. The results demonstrate that the designed octreotide analogs enhance their anticancer activity after linking together the CPPs to octreotide at the N-terminus, and are potential molecules for future use in cancer therapy and drug targeting.

Tetracycline-inducible shRNA targeting long non-coding RNA PVT1 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells.

Recent studies show that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be significant functional regulators in tumor development, including bladder cancer. Here, we found that PVT1 was upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells. Further experiments revealed that PVT1 promoted cell proliferation and suppressed cell apoptosis. Furthermore we also used the emerging technology, synthetic biology, to create tetracycline-inducible small hairpin RNA (shRNA) vectors which silenced PVT1 in a dosage-dependent manner to inhibit the progression of bladder cancer. In conclusion, data suggest that PVT1 could be an oncogene and may be a therapeutic target in bladder cancer. Synthetic "tetracycline-on" switch system can be used to quantitatively control the expression of PVT1 in bladder cancer in response to different concentration of doxycycline to suppress the progression of bladder cancer.

[Protective effects of bactericidal/permeability increasing protein simulated peptide on murine acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of bactericidal/permeability increasing protein simulated peptide (bactericidal neutralizing endotoxin protein, BNEP) on murine acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: A murine model of ALI was reproduced by lipopolysaccharide via intranasal instillation. The Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control (n = 20, with nasal instillation of isotonic saline), LPS instillation (n = 20, with nasal instillation of isotonic saline and LPS) and BNEP treatment (n = 20, with nasal instillation of isotonic saline plus LPS and BNEP) groups. The ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight, the permeability of pulmonary capillary vessels and the histopathology of pulmonary tissue were determined in all groups. The change in the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2/4) in the pulmonary tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with LPS instillation group, the ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight and the permeability of pulmonary capillary vessel was decreased significantly in the BNEP group, and the inflammatory infiltration in the pulmonary tissue induced by neutrophil influx was alleviated markedly with BNEP treatment. The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, macrophages and alveolar type II epithelial cells in BNEP group were lower than those in LPS group (TLR2: 128 +/- 10 vs 214 +/- 12, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: BNEP, as a simulated peptide of BPI, exerted a remarkable protective effect on ALI induced by LPS.

[An experimental study of the LPS release from gram-negative bacteria induced by antibiotics (Part two)].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of different beta-lactam antibiotics on the inducing of LPS release from gram-negative bacteria and on the protection of infected animals. METHODS: Wistar rats were employed as the model and were inflicted by 30% TBSA III degree scalding and sepsis caused by PA103. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. simple antibiotic treatment group (A), treatment after sensitization with galactosamine (GalN) group (G) and treatment after blocking with carrageenan (CGN) group (C). The rats were injected intra-peritoneally with imipenem (IMP, 5 mg) and ceftazidime (CTZ, 10 mg) for single time, respectively. Same amount of aseptic normal saline was injected in the control group, and GalN (50 mg) was added in G and CGN (1 mg) in C groups. The blood bacterial concentration and plasma LPS levels were determined at different time points after the treatment by antibiotics. The mortality was observed in G and C groups at 10 days after treatment. RESULTS: The blood bacterial amount could be decreased by both IMP and CTZ evidently. Large amounts of LPS released from PA103 could be induced by IMP and CTZ during their bactericidal process. But the plasma LPS level in rats treated by CTZ was markedly higher than that by IMP (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01). The mortality in G group treated by CTZ was much higher than that by IMP (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the mortality in C groups was the same no matter CTZ or IMP was applied (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no difference of the bactericidal power between IMP and CTZ. But CTZ was more powerful in inducing LPS release from bacteria than IMP. It was implied by the difference between these two antibiotics that IMP might be better choice in clinical application for burn infection due to its lower potential of inducing LPS release from the bacteria.

[Influence of intra-abdominal hypertension on the intestinal permeability and endotoxin/bacteria translocation in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe different degrees of intra-abdominal pressure and different duration on the intestinal permeability and endotoxin/bacteria translocation in rabbit model, so as to explore the mechanism of the development of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and MODS. METHODS: Rabbit model of intra-abdominal hypertension was established by injection of gaseous nitrogen into the peritoneal cavity. Thirty-nine New Zealand white rabbits were employed in the study. The change in intestinal permeability was determined by fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D) and two kinds of molecular probes of type II horseradish peroxidase (HRP-II). The effects of intra-abdominal hypertension on the endotoxin/bacteria translocation were also detected. RESULTS: The contents of FITC-D and HRP-II in portal veins increased evidently (P < 0.01) when intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was higher than 20 mmHg. The endotoxin (ET) content in portal vein in rabbits with IAP of 10 mmHg for 1, 2 and 4 hours exhibited no difference compared with that in normal control, while the ET content increased obviously after 1 hour with IAP of 20 mmHg and increased thereafter along with the prolongation of IAP, and increase in pressure. The bacterial translocation rates were 33.3%, 66.7% and 100% when IAP was maintained at 20 mmHg for 1, 2 and 4 hours, respectively, and there was evidence of bacterial translocation to the liver. The rate of bacterial translocation to intestinal mesenteric lymph nodes was 100% when IAP was 30 mmHg for 1 and 2 hours. There was no bacterial translocation to the spleen in all experimental rabbits. CONCLUSION: Intestinal mucosal permeability increased significantly with increased endotoxin content in portal vein when IAP was higher than 20 mmHg. At the sane time, the bacteria could be translocate to intestinal mesenteric lymph nodes and liver, which might be constitute one of the important factors leading to the development of ACS and MODS.