[Retracted] Effects of cyclin E gene silencing on the proliferation of esophageal cancer cell lines, EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30.

Subsequently to the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to our attention the fact that the six panels shown in Fig. 6 shared several areas of identity among them. Following an internal investigation, a laboratory technician, who was responsible for editing the pictures, admitted that the data as presented in the figure had been manipulated after having mislaid some of the original data. The corresponding author of the article takes responsibility for this oversight, and therefore the paper is to be retracted from publication. All of the named authors agree to this retraction. We deeply regret that these errors were allowed to remain in the paper, and extend our apologies to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published in Molecular Medicine Reports 7: 799-804, 2013; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1280].

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor contribute to chemoresistance in leukemia.

The soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) have been proposed as useful biomarkers of tumor progression. Recently, suPAR was associated with chemoresistance in lung cancer. However, its clinical significance in leukemia has not previously been investigated. The present study examined the plasma levels of suPAR and the expression of the uPAR on bone marrow (BM) cells in 86 patients with leukemia at diagnosis prior to chemotherapy and 26 normal subjects (control group). The plasma suPAR levels were measured using ELISA, whilst uPAR expression was assayed by flow cytometry analysis. In addition, cell surface uPAR expression on K562 and multidrug-resistant K562/ADM cell lines was studied by western blotting. On admission and follow-up, the levels of suPAR in patients with leukemia were significantly increased compared with controls. Systemic levels of suPAR were strongly associated with the numbers of white blood cells. A case was defined as uPAR-positive (uPAR+) if >20% of the gated cells expressed uPAR. In comparison with 26 healthy BM samples that were negative for uPAR expression, 48 (55.8%) of the 86 leukemia patients were uPAR+. uPAR expression on the cell surface of multidrug-resistant K562/ADM cells was increased compared with that on K562 cells. In conclusion, plasma suPAR expression may be a useful marker for subtype classification of patients with leukemia and cell surface uPAR may be associated with resistance to chemotherapy or disease progression.

Vinpocetine Attenuates the Osteoblastic Differentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Vascular calcification is an active process of osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells; however, its definite mechanism remains unknown. Vinpocetine, a derivative of the alkaloid vincamine, has been demonstrated to inhibit the high glucose-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells; however, it remains unknown whether vinpocetine can affect the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. We hereby investigated the effect of vinpocetine on vascular calcification using a beta-glycerophosphate-induced cell model. Our results showed that vinpocetine significantly reduced the osteoblast-like phenotypes of vascular smooth muscle cells including ALP activity, osteocalcin, collagen type I, Runx2 and BMP-2 expression as well as the formation of mineralized nodule. Vinpocetine, binding to translocation protein, induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase and Akt and thus inhibited the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B into the nucleus. Silencing of translocator protein significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of vinpocetine on osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Taken together, vinpocetine may be a promising candidate for the clinical therapy of vascular calcification.

[Progress of Research on 6-Thioguanine versus 6-Mercaptopurine in childhood ALL].

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children. Despite good remission rate has achieved nowadays, the patients still face a substantial risk of relapse. It has long been recognized that thiopurines are critical components in the treatment for prevention of recurrence in childhood ALL, the 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) has usually been used in daily long-term maintenance therapy, and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) limited to the reinforcement of therapy. However, there is no optimal regimen for 6-TG or 6-MP. The related research advances on the clinical effectiveness of the two thiopurines are reviewed.

Prognostic role of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in gastric and colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Although the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is expressed in gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), its evaluation as a prognostic biomarker remains controversial. In this study, we performed a literature review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association of uPAR expression with the prognosis of patients with GC and CRC. METHOD: The PubMed database was searched for material published in English, and data were then extracted and assessed by two reviewers independently. Correlations between uPAR expression and clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) of patients with GC or CRC were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2,082 patients with GC and CRC from ten studies were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the uPAR expression rate in GC and CRC tissues was higher than that in normal tissues (odds ratio [OR] =3.385; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.605-4.400; P=0.000). Our meta-analysis also revealed a significant association between uPAR expression and lymph node metastasis (OR =1.366; 95% CI =1.086-1.718; P=0.008) and tumor stage (OR =3.076; 95% CI =2.330-4.061; P=0.000). Furthermore, we found that high uPAR expression correlated with poor OS (OR =1.937; 95% CI =1.570-2.930; P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The uPAR expression may serve as a novel disease marker in GC and CRC, as well as a therapeutic target.

[Spectroscopic study of laser induced breakdown plasma spectroscopy in air and semi-empirical simulation].

A laser induced breakdown spectroscopy experiment was carried out using Nd:YAG laser in air, and time-resolved spectra were measured. Based on local thermodynamic equilibrium assumption, a method used to simulate LIBS spectra is proposed. A LIBS spectrum of air in the wavelength range of 700~900 nm was simulated using this method. A good agreement between experiment and simulation was obtained, and moreover, the relative concentrations of the N, O and Ar in air were obtained.

MiR-21 down-regulation suppresses cell growth, invasion and induces cell apoptosis by targeting FASL, TIMP3, and RECK genes in esophageal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: miR-21 is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and is thought to be correlated with the development of the cancer. The target gene of miR-21 including FASL, TIMP3 and RECK is revealed by researchers. miR-21 may be involved in the tumorgenesis of ESCC by targeting FASL, TIMP3 and RECK. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of miR-21 in the development of ESCC. METHODS: miR-21 expression in ESCC and the matched non-malignant adjacent tissues (NMATs) was examined by qRT-PCR. Cell growth, cell apoptosis and cell invasion ability of EC9706 and EC-1 cells was examined after the cells were transfected with miR-21 inhibitor. The potential target genes of miR-21 including FASL, TIMP3 and RECK were examined by western blot and Luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: miR-21 expression was increased significantly in ESCC tissues compared with NMAT. miR-21 down-regulation inhibits cell growth, cell invasion and induces cells to apoptosis. FASL, TIMP3 and RECK are direct targets of miR-21. CONCLUSIONS: miR-21 down-regulation inhibits cell growth, invasion and induces cells to apoptosis by targeting FASL, TIMP3 and RECK genes.

Effects of cyclin E gene silencing on the proliferation of esophageal cancer cell lines, EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30.

In order to observe the effects of cyclin E gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the growth, proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of esophageal cancer cell lines, including EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30, siRNA vectors targeting cyclin E gene were constructed and then transfected into the EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30 human esophageal cancer cell lines. Cyclin E mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation and clonality were detected using a CCK-8 test and soft agar colony formation assay. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and invasion of EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30 cells were evaluated with flow cytometry and a transwell culture system. After siRNA vectors targeting the cyclin E gene were transfected into EC9706, Eca109 and KYSE30 cell lines, compared with blank and negative control groups, the expression of cyclin E mRNA and protein (P<0.01), colony-forming units and the number of cells penetrating the transwell membrane (P<0.05) were significantly decreased, the cells in the S and G2/M phase were reduced, the cells in the G0/G1 phase were increased and the apoptosis rate was increased (P<0.01) in the experimental groups. Cyclin E gene silencing effectively inhibits growth, proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells.

A potential in vitro and in vivo anti-HIV drug screening system for Chinese herbal medicines.

Chinese herbal medicines are often applied as an alternative therapy for viral diseases. However, the development of anti-HIV herbal drugs has proceeded slowly, partly because of the lack of a high-throughput system for screening these drugs. The present study evaluated 16 herbal medicines for anti-HIV activities in vitro and in vivo. Herbal medicines were first screened for the ability to regulate C-X-C receptor 4 (CXCR4) and C-C receptor 5 (CCR5) promoter activities. A single-round pseudotyped HIV-luciferase reporter virus system (HIV-Luc) was used to identify potential anti-HIV mechanisms. CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers were examined for changes in CXCR4 and CCR5 levels. HIV-1 replication was evaluated by ELISA. Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis were found to down-regulate the activities of both the CXCR4 and CCR5 promoters. Also, Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis (>1000 µM) inhibited HIV-1 in a dose-dependent manner. CXCR4 and CCR5 levels were reduced in CD4+ T cells from healthy volunteers (p<0.05). Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis (EC50: 3.18 and 5.49 µg/mL, respectively) could suppress cell fusion and decrease p24 antigen. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis possessed anti-HIV-1 capabilities, perhaps through the inhibition of the CXCR4 and CCR5 promoters and HIV-1 replication.

Isolation and characterization of ZZ1, a novel lytic phage that infects Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates.

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant nosocomial pathogen, has evolved resistance to almost all conventional antimicrobial drugs. Bacteriophage therapy is a potential alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, one lytic bacteriophage, ZZ1, which infects A. baumannii and has a broad host range, was selected for characterization. RESULTS: Phage ZZ1 and 3 of its natural hosts, A. baumanni clinical isolates AB09V, AB0902, and AB0901, are described in this study. The 3 strains have different sensitivities to ZZ1, but they have the same sensitivity to antibiotics. They are resistant to almost all of the antibiotics tested, except for polymyxin. Several aspects of the life cycle of ZZ1 were investigated using the sensitive strain AB09V under optimal growth conditions. ZZ1 is highly infectious with a short latent period (9 min) and a large burst size (200 PFU/cell). It exhibited the most powerful antibacterial activity at temperatures ranging from 35°C to 39°C. Moreover, when ZZ1 alone was incubated at different pHs and different temperatures, the phage was stable over a wide pH range (4 to 9) and at extreme temperatures (between 50°C and 60°C). ZZ1 possesses a 100-nm icosahedral head containing double-stranded DNA with a total length of 166,682 bp and a 120-nm long contractile tail. Morphologically, it could be classified as a member of the Myoviridae family and the Caudovirales order. Bioinformatic analysis of the phage whole genome sequence further suggested that ZZ1 was more likely to be a new member of the Myoviridae phages. Most of the predicted ORFs of the phage were similar to the predicted ORFs from other Acinetobacter phages. CONCLUSION: The phage ZZ1 has a relatively broad lytic spectrum, high pH stability, strong heat resistance, and efficient antibacterial potential at body temperature. These characteristics greatly increase the utility of this phage as an antibacterial agent; thus, it should be further investigated.