[Regulatory role of Shh signaling pathway in lung development in fetal mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory role of classical Shh signaling pathway in the development of the epithelium and mesenchyme (bronchial cartilage and smooth muscles) during lung development in fetal mice. METHODS: Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of Shh signaling pathway receptor Smo and Pdgfr-α in murine fetal lungs to explore the spatial and temporal characteristics of their expression. Based on the interstitial specificity of Pdgfr-α expression, we constructed a Pdgfr-α-cre to establish a E12.5 - E16.5 transgenic mice with specific knockout of the key Shh signaling molecule Smo in the pulmonary interstitium with tamoxifen induction. Immunofluorescence technique was used to observe the epithelium and mesenchyme (bronchial cartilage and smooth muscle) during fetal lung development in the transgenic mice to assess the role of Shh signaling pathway in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition during the lung development. RESULTS: Smo was highly expressed in the epithelial and stromal lung tissues in the pseudoglandular stage and was gradually lowered over time with its distribution mainly in the interstitial tissues. Pdgfr-α was enriched in the distal lung epithelial and mesenchy tissues in early embryonic lungs and gradually migrated to the proximal stroma until becoming concentrated around the main bronchial proximal stroma. We successfully specific established mouse models of specific mesenchymal Smo knockout. Compared with the control group, the transgenic mice during E12.5-E16.5 showed significantly reduced lung the volume and bronchial branching with also decreased expression of the proximal epithelial P63 (P<0.05). The transgenic mice exhibited alterations in the expression of α-smooth muscle actin with delayed bronchial cartilage development and decreased expression of mucoprotein. CONCLUSION: The temporospatial specific expression of Shh signaling pathway plays an important role in developmental regulation of mouse embryonic lung epithelium and mesenchyme (bronchial cartilage and smooth muscle).

[Construction and identification of recombinant adenoviruses containing the gene fragments encoding Her2/neu extracellular and transmembrane domains].

OBJECTIVE: To construct eukaryotic expression vectors using recombinant adenovirus containing the gene fragments encoding Her2/neu extracellular first ligand-binding domain (Her2-ECD), full-length extracellular domain (Her2-ECD), and extracellular and transmembrane domain (Her2-TM). METHODS: The cDNAs were amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into shuttle pAdTrack-CMV plasmids. Viral plasmids were obtained from homologous recombination in E. coli BJ5183, and transfected into 293 cells via liposome. Formation of viral plaque and expression of green fluorescent protein were observed by fluorescence microscopy, and the target proteins were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The target cDNA fragments were amplified by PCR with expected lengths and the DNA sequences were confirmed against Genbank. Formation of viral plaque, expression of green fluorescent protein and the target proteins were detected in 293 cells transfected by the viral plasmids, which showed elevated expression of Her2/neu protein with the increase of multiplicity of infection (MOI). CONCLUSION: The eukaryotic expression vectors using recombinant adenovirus have been successfully constructed for expression of Her2/neu extracellular and transmembrane domains.

[Changes in immune function of dendritic cells infected by recombinant adenovirus containing Her2/neu gene of extracellular and transmembrane domain proteins].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the functional changes of dendritic cells (DCs) infected in vitro by 3 recombinant adenoviruses encoding Her2/neu extracellular first-receptor domain (Her2-ECDs), full-length extracellular domain (Her2-ECD), and extracellular and transmembrane domain (Her2-TM) proteins (rAdHer2-ECDs, rAdHer2-ECD and rAdHer2-TM, respectively). METHODS: The expressions of the target proteins were detected with Western blotting. The level of both interleukin (IL)-12 in the supernatant of in vitro cultured DCs infected with recombined adenoviruses and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the supernatant of the lymphocyte populations co-cultured with DCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The capacity of the DCs to stimulate allogeneic T lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by mixed lymphocyte reaction, and the activity of cellular toxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were investigated by MTT assay. RESULTS: Her2-ECDs, ECD and TM proteins were detected in the transfected DCs. Compared with the untransfected DCs, more abundant IL-12 production was detected in the supernatant of the DCs 5 days after transfection, but the IL-12 level showed no significant difference between the DCs infected with the 3 recombinant adenoviruses. IFN-gamma production increased gradually with passage of the time following DC-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation irrespective of infection of the DCs, and only the DCs infected with rAdHer2-TM seemed to result in significant difference in DC-mediated allogeneic T lymphocyte proliferation. The killing of breast cancer cell line with Her2 overexpression was more efficient with infected DCs priming autologous T lymphocyte to generate CTL than with uninfected DCs and those modified by SK-OV-3 cell fragment. CTL activity induced by rAdHer2-TM-infected DCs was the strongest, and breast cancer cell-killing activity was more efficient against cell line with Her2/neu-overexpression. CONCLUSION: The DCs infected with the recombinant adenovirus encoding Her2/neu extracellular and transmembrane domains show enhanced anti-tumor effect and induce Her2/neu-specific CTL activity.

[Clinical value of combined detection of LDH, TPS, CEA and beta2-MG in patients with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical value of combined detection of 4 tumor markers, namely lactic dehydrogenate (LDH), tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: The serum level of LDH was determined with automatic biochemical analyzer and TPS, CEA and beta2-MG levels were determined by enzyme-linked immumosorbent assay (ELISA) in 59 patients with NHL and 40 healthy adults. RESULTS: The levels of the 4 tumor markers were significantly higher in NHL patients than in the healthy control subjects (P<0.05). After chemotherapy, the serum levels of TPS and beta2-MG were significantly lowered in the patients who showed favorable response to the treatment (P<0.05), but the levels of LDH and CEA showed no significant change (P>0.05). The serum levels of LDH, TPS, CEA and beta2-MG in the patients in a stable or progressive phase did had no significant changes after chemotherapy (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined detection of LDH, TPS, CEA and beta2-MG can be helpful to assist diagnosis of NHL and treatment evaluation.

[Effect of XK469 and adriamycin on the growth of H460 cells in vitro and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of XK469 on the in vitro growth of H460 cells and its mechanism. METHODS: The survival curves of H460 cells treated with XK469, XN472 and adriamycin, respectively, were obtained by MTT analysis, and the effect of XK469 and adriamycin on the cell cycle of H460 cells examined by flow cytometry. Western blotting was adopted for detecting the expression of cdc2 and phos-cdc2 induced by XK469 and adriamycin. RESULTS: Different concentrations of XK469 and adriamycin could significantly inhibit the growth of H460 cells, induce their G2/M phase arrest, and increase phos-cdc2 expression; XN472 had a lesser effect on the growth of H460 cells. CONCLUSION: XK469 can increase phos-cdc2 expression and induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest of H460 cells, resulting in inhibition of H460 cell growth. The inhibitory effect of XK469 on H460 cell growth is attributed to the chlorine in the 7-positon of its structure.