COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib in epithelial ovarian cancer attenuates E-cadherin suppression through reduced Snail nuclear translocation.

Elevated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) closely associates with tumor progression and distant metastasis in various human cancers. However, the role of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and its mechanistic details, remain poorly understood. In the present study, we tested hypothesis that COX-2 induces loss of expression of E-cadherin, with resulting promotion of cancer cells' invasiveness in ovarian cancer. First, we observed an inverse relationship between COX-2 and E-cadherin expression as COX-2 was enhanced but E-cadherin was decreased in surgically-resected specimens of EOC. Depletion of COX-2, by celecoxib treatment, resulted in attenuated nuclear translocation of Snail, and, in turn, significantly increased E-cadherin in EOC cell line SKOV3, which was established to be due to the reduced binding of Snail onto E-cadherin promoter. Such COX-2 inhibition resulted in reduced invasion of EOC cells, similar to what was achieved through Snail silencing in SKOV as well as ES-2 EOC cells. These results suggest that COX-2-Snail signaling plays a critical role in regulation of E-cadherin and might provide insights into mechanisms for paracrine inflammation-mediated aggressiveness in EOC.

Effects of PTHrP on chondrocytes of sika deer antler.

Parathyroid-hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is an important regulator of chondrocyte differentiation in growth plates but little is known about its role in deer antler cartilage. The aim of the present study was to use the deer antler as a model to determine the possible role of PTHrP in regulating chondrocyte differentiation of deer antler. PTHrP and its receptor PTH1R mRNA were highly expressed in the perichondrium and cartilage of sika deer antler, as shown by in situ hybridization. Chondrocytes of deer antler were identified by toluidine blue staining of glycosaminoglycan and immunocytochemical staining of type II collagen (Col II). Treatment with PTHrP (1-34) reduced the expression of prehypertrophic chondrocyte marker Col IX and hypertrophic chondrocyte marker Col X. In order to confirm the mechanism of action of PTHrP, we initially examined the expression of cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in sika deer antler by in situ hybridization and found that cyclin D1, Runx2 and Bcl-2 mRNA were also expressed in antler chondrocytes. Exogenous PTHrP induced the expression of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 mRNA by various signalling pathways, whereas it inhibited Runx2 expression through PKA, p38MAPK, MEK and PI3K signalling pathways. Thus, PTHrP might promote the proliferation of antler chondrocytes and prevent their differentiation; it might furthermore influence the growth and development of sika deer antler.

[Optimization of real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR system in detecting cytochrome b gene of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu].

To quantitatively detect the cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu in the filed samples, a specific primer was designed, and the quantities of the RNA templates added into the reaction system for reverse transcription as well as the reaction conditions of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RFQ-PCR) were optimized. The results illustrated that the designed primer had good specificity, being able to be used to differentiate different algal species effectively. In detecting the filed samples, the suitable qualities of the templates for the 20 microL reverse transcription system were 50-200 ng. 10-fold diluting the templates or adding the bovine serum albumin (BSA) with a final concentration 0.2 microg.microL-1 into the RFQ-PCR system could effectively decrease the inhibitory effect of the inhibitors in the filed samples, and thus, decrease the interferences. The established real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RFQ-PCR) assay would facilitate us to study the intrinsic mechanisms of P. donghaiense outbreak and extinction at molecular level.

Differential expression and regulation of Cryab in mouse uterus during preimplantation period.

The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of the crystallin, alpha B (Cryab) gene in mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period by in situ hybridization and real-time PCR. There was no detectable Cryab mRNA signal on days 1-4 of pregnancy. On day 5 of pregnancy when embryo implanted, a high level of Cryab mRNA signal was found in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst. On days 6-8, Cryab mRNA was strongly expressed in the primary decidua. By real-time PCR, a high level of Cryab expression was detected on days 7 and 8 of pregnancy, although Cryab expression was seen from days 1 to 8. Under in vivo and in vitro artificial decidualization, Cryab expression was significantly elevated. Compared with the progesterone-primed delayed implantation uterus, a high level of Cryab mRNA expression was observed in estrogen-activated implantation uterus. In the uterine stromal cells, cAMP, estrogen, and progesterone could induce the expression of Cryab gene. In the ovariectomized mouse uterus, estrogen could also induce the expression of Cryab while progesterone inhibited its expression. Our data suggest that Cryab may play an important role during mouse embryo implantation and decidualization and that estrogen and progesterone can regulate the expression of Cryab gene.

Expression and regulation of Runx3 in mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression and regulation of Runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3) in mouse uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation by steroid hormones using in situ hybridization. There was a low level of the Runx3 mRNA expression in the mouse uterus on days 1-4 of pregnancy. On day 5 when embryo implanted, Runx3 mRNA signal was obviously observed in the stromal cells surrounding the implanting blastocyst. From day 6 to 8 of pregnancy, Runx3 mRNA was highly expressed in the decidual cells and mesometrial decidual beds. Similarly, Runx3 mRNA was strongly expressed in decidualized cells under artificial decidualization. Compared with the delayed uterus, a high level of Runx3 mRNA signal was detected in the uterus with activated implantation. In the ovariectomized mouse uterus, estrogen could induce the expression of Runx3, while progesterone had no effects. These results suggest that Runx3 may play an important role during mouse implantation and decidualization. Estrogen can induce the expression of Runx3 in the ovariectomized mouse uterus.

Differential expression and regulation of PNA and UEA-1 bindings in rabbit uterus during preimplantation period.

Peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1) were used as probes to study the distribution of ß-gal (1→3) ga1Nac and α-L-Fucose in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy. PNA binding was mainly localized on the surface of uterine glandular and luminal epithelium. There were no positive signals on day 1 of pregnancy. PNA binding gradually increased from day 2 and reached its highest level on days 3 and 4. The distribution of PNA binding gradually declined from day 5 and reached a low level on day 7. However, UEA-1 binding was only localized on the luminal epithelial during early pregnancy. A high level of UEA-1 binding had been found on the luminal epithelium on day 1 of pregnancy and low level of positive signals had been found in the uterus on days 2 and 3. UEA-1 binding increased gradually and reached its highest level on day 4. Then the distribution of UEA-1 binding sharply declined and no positive signals were found on days 5-7. The distribution of PNA and UEA-1 bindings in pseudopregnant uterus was similar to that in normal pregnant uterus. During estrus cycle, there was no detectable PNA binding signal in uterus. But, a high level of UEA-1 binding was found in the luminal epithelium of estrus uterus. In ovariectomized rabbit uterus, progesterone significantly induced the expression of PNA binding, while estrogen stimulated UEA-1 binding expression. These results suggested that the distribution of PNA and UEA-1 bindings in rabbit uterus may be related to rabbit implantation.