Harmonization of distributed multi-center analysis based on dried blood spot reference materials supporting the screening of neonatal inherited metabolic disorders.

BACKGROUND: The standardization of quantification data is critical for ensuring the reliability and measurement traceability in the screening of neonatal inherited metabolic disorders. However, the availability of national certified reference materials is limited in China. METHODS: In this study, we developed a series of dried blood spot (DBS) reference materials containing 9 amino acids (AA) and 10 acylcarnitines (AC) for neonatal screening. Four levels of the reference materials were measured with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) by seven laboratories using different commercial In Vitro Diagnostic Device (IVD) kits. Then, 100 clinical samples were measured using both derivatization and non-derivatization methods by the same laboratory. RESULTS: We found high homogeneity and stability at all levels of the reference materials, with the coefficient of variation (CV) of the analytes less than 15%. These reference materials can be used to assess the testing capabilities of different laboratories. Our test also revealed that the correction factors (CF) calculated by the reference materials, along with clinical samples, could increase the consistency for different kits. CONCLUSION: The DBS reference materials proposed in this study provide reliability for the harmonization in multi-center analysis for the screening of neonatal inherited metabolic disorders. And applying our correction method for the screening could improve the data consistency of the DBS samples prepared by different methods.

Knockdown of GRHL3 inhibits activities and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells.

The Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is involved in epidermal barrier formation, neural tube closure and wound repair. Previous studies have suggested that GRHL3 has been linked to many different types of cancers. However, to date, its effects on human colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clarified yet. Our microarray analysis has indicated predominant GRHL3 expression in CRC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and significance of GRHL3 in CRC tumorigenesis using CRC tissues and paired paracancerous tissues, as well as using distinct CRC cell lines (HT29 and DLD1). We observed increased GRHL3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Moreover, silencing GRHL3 with siRNA could suppress CRC cell proliferation, viability and migration in vitro. We also found that knockdown of GRHL3 could promote cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in HT29 cells and DLD1 cells, and induce cell apoptosis in HT29 cells. Together, our study revealed the down-regulation of GRHL3 in vitro could inhibit CRC cell activity and trigger cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.

Inhibition of adhesion and metastasis of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro by DNA aptamer against sialyl Lewis X.

The sialyl Lewis X (SLex) antigen encoded by the FUT7 gene is the ligand of endotheliam-selectin (E-selectin). The combination of SLex antigen and E-selectin represents an important way for malignant tumor metastasis. In the present study, the effect of the SLex-binding DNA aptamer on the adhesion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro was investigated. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to detect the expression of FUT7 at both transcriptional and translational levels. The SLex expression in HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of SLex-binding DNA aptamer was detected by flow cytometry. Besides, the adhesion, migration, and invasion of HepG2 cells were measured by cell adhesion assay, and the Transwell migration and invasion assay. The results showed that the FUT7 expression was up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 cells. SLex-binding DNA aptamer could significantly decrease the expression of SLex in HepG2 cells. The cell adhesion assay revealed that the SLex-binding DNA aptamer could effectively inhibit the interactions between E-selectin and SLex in the HepG2 cells. Additionally, SLex-binding DNA aptamers at 20 nmol/L were found to have the similar effect to the monoclonal antibody CSLEX-1. The Transwell migration and invasion assay revealed that the number of penetrating cells on the down-side of Transwell membrane was significantly less in cells treated with 5, 10, 20 nmol/L SLex-binding DNA aptamer than those in the negative control group (P<0.01). Our study demonstrated that the SLex-binding DNA aptamer could significantly inhibit the in vitro adhesion, migration, and invasion of HepG2 cells, suggesting that the SLex-binding DNA aptamer may be used as a potential molecular targeted drug against metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Inhibition of Adhesion and Metastasis of HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro by DNA Aptamer against Sialyl Lewis X / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The sialyl Lewis X (SLex) antigen encoded by the FUT7 gene is the ligand of endotheliam-selectin (E-selectin).The combination of SLex antigen and E-selectin represents an important way for malignant tumor metastasis.In the present study,the effect of the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer on the adhesion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro was investigated.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to detect the expression of FUT7 at both transcriptional and translational levels.The SLex expression in HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of SLeX-binding DNA aptamer was detected by flow cytometry.Besides,the adhesion,migration,and invasion of HepG2 cells were measured by cell adhesion assay,and the Transwell migration and invasion assay.The results showed that the FUT7 expression was up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 cells.SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could significantly decrease the expression of SLex in HepG2 cells.The cell adhesion assay revealed that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could effectively inhibit the interactions between E-selectin and SLex in the HepG2 cells.Additionally,SLeX-binding DNA aptamers at 20 nmol/L were found to have the similar effect to the monoclonal antibody CSLEX-1.The Transwell migration and invasion assay revealed that the number of penetrating cells on the down-side of Transwell membrane was significantly less in cells treated with 5,10,20 nmol/L SLeX-binding DNA aptamer than those in the negative control group (P＜0.01).Our study demonstrated that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could significantly inhibit the in vitro adhesion,migration,and invasion of HepG2 cells,suggesting that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer may be used as a potential molecular targeted drug against metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Knockdown of GRHL3 Inhibits Activities and Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is involved in epidermal barrier formation,neural tube closure and wound repair.Previous studies have suggested that GRHL3 has been linked to many different types of cancers.However,to date,its effects on human colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clarified yet.Our microarray analysis has indicated predominant GRHL3 expression in CRC.The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and significance of GRHL3 in CRC tumorigenesis using CRC tissues and paired paracancerous tissues,as well as using distinct CRC cell lines (HT29 and DLD1).We observed increased GRHL3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.Moreover,silencing GRHL3 with siRNA could suppress CRC cell proliferation,viability and migration in vitro.We also found that knockdown of GRHL3 could promote cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in HT29 cells and DLD1 cells,and induce cell apoptosis in HT29 cells.Together,our study revealed the down-regulation of GRHL3 in vitro could inhibit CRC cell activity and trigger cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.