Lentiviral miR30-based RNA interference against heparanase suppresses melanoma metastasis with lower liver and lung toxicity.

AIM: To construct short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and miR30-based shRNAs against heparanase (HPSE) to compare their safety and their effects on HPSE down-modulation in vitro and in vivo to develop a more ideal therapeutic RNA interference (RNAi) vector targeting HPSE. METHODS: First, we constructed shRNAs and miR30-based shRNAs against HPSE (HPSE-shRNAs and HPSE-miRNAs) and packed them into lentiviral vectors. Next, we observed the effects of the shRNAs on knockdown for HPSE expression, adhesion, migration and invasion abilities in human malignant melanoma A375 cells in vitro. Furthermore, we compared the effects of the shRNAs on melanoma growth, metastasis and safety in xenograft models. RESULTS: Our data showed that these artificial miRNAs targeting HPSE could be effective RNAi agents mediated by Pol II promoters in vitro and in vivo, although these miRNAs were not more potent than the HPSE-shRNAs. It was noted that obvious lung injuries, rarely revealed previously, as well as hepatotoxicity could be caused by lentivirus-mediated shRNAs (LV shRNAs) rather than lentivirus-mediated miRNAs (LV miRNAs) in vivo. Furthermore, enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TGF-ß1 and endogenous mmu-miR-21a-5p were detected in lung tissues of shRNAs groups, whereas the expression of mmu-let-7a-5p, mmu-let-7b-5p and mmu-let-7c-5p were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that artificial miRNAs display an improved safety profile of lowered lung injury or hepatotoxicity relative to shRNAs in vivo. The mechanism of lung injuries caused by shRNAs may be correlated with changes of endogenous miRNAs in the lung. Our data here increase the flexibility of a miRNA-based RNAi system for functional genomic and gene therapy applications.

[The morphology features of bone marrow in the prefibrotic-early primary myelofibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the morphologic features of bone marrow (BM) between the prefibrotic-early primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET). METHOD: Seven cases of prefibrotic-early PMF were selected and analyzed. Based on the diagnostic standard of prefibrotic-early PMF by WHO, BM aspirate smears, trephine biopsy sections and imprints of 156 uncertain ET cases conducted simultaneously were recruited into this study, the BM morphologic features between the prefibrotic-early PMF and ET groups were analyzed. The morphological difference in 22 cases of prefibrotic-early PMF and 27 ET were compared between the JAK2V617F mutation positive and negative groups. RESULTS: Of the 156 uncertain ET cases, it was reclassified 61 prefibrotic-early PMF (34 MF-0, 27 MF-1), 12 PMF and 83 ET. The platelet count and LDH level in MF-1 group were obviously higher than that of ET group (P < 0.05). The blast percentage of BM smear in MF-1 group was also higher than that of ET group (P < 0.05). As to BM section, cases with increased nucleated cells (granulocyte), compact megakaryocytic cluster, megakaryocyte near bone trabecula, cloud-like megakaryocyte, small bare nucleus of megakaryocyte and large ball-like megakaryocyte in MF-0 and MF-1 group were significantly higher than that of ET group (all P < 0.05), cases with megakaryocytic cluster of various size in MF-1 group were significantly higher than that of MF-0 and ET groups (P < 0.05). The JAK2V617F mutation rate in prefibrotic-early PMF and ET groups were 54.5% and 48.1%, respectively. Hb level in JAK2V617F mutation positive group was obviously higher than the negative group (P < 0.05), no special change with megakaryocytic morphology was found between the positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: Morphology of BM section, especially megakaryocytic morphologic characteristics are the main basis in distinguishing prefibrotic-early PMF from ET. The importance of morphologic index were megakaryocytic cluster with various size, cloud-like megakaryocyte, large ball-like megakaryocyte, increased nucleated cells (granulocyte), small bare nucleus, megakaryocyte near bone trabecula and compact megakaryocytic cluster in order. JAK2V617F mutation provides no specific effect on the megakaryocytic morphology.

[Expression of GADD153 in follicular tumors of thyroid and comparison with CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1].

OBJECTIVE: To study immunohistochemical expression of GADD153 and assess its usefulness as markers in the differential diagnoses in follicular tumors of the thyroid. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue of 34 cases of follicular thyroid adenomas (FTA), 46 cases of follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), 29 cases of follicular variant papillary carcinomas (FVPC). RESULTS: (1) GADD153 was expressed in cell nucleus with positive or strong positive expression in FTC, and no or weak expression in FTA and FVPC. The positive expressions of GADD153 were present in 38 of 46(82.6%) in FTC, 11 of 34(32.4%) in FTA and three of 29(10.3%) in FVPC, the positive expression rate in FTC was obviously higher than that in FTA and in FVPC, the differences were statistically significant (χ² = 20.80 and 37.48; P < 0.01). (2) CK19, Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and HBME-1 were all expressed in the cytoplasm, the positive expressions of CK19, Gal-3 and HBME-1 were present in 54.3% (25/46), 67.4% (31/46) and 58.7% (27/46) in FTC; 50.0% (17/34), 29.4% (10/34) and 32.4% (11/34) in FTA; 100% (29/29), 93.1% (27/29) and 89.7% (26/29) in FVPC, the differences were statistically significant as well (χ² = 21.20 and 8.22; P < 0.01). (3) According to the expressions of CK19, Gal-3, HBME-1 and GADD153, we divided the results into low expression group (0 or 1+) and high expression group (2+ or 3+), the sensitivity and the specificity were calculated. in FTA, the sensitivity were 26.5%, 8.8%, 2.9% and 11.8%; the specificity were 50.7%, 52.0%, 54.7% and 58.7%. in FTC, the sensitivity were 19.6%, 26.1%, 23.9% and 65.2%; the specificity were 41.3%, 57.1%, 62.0% and 92.1%. in FVPC, the sensitivity were 96.6%, 82.8%, 79.3% and 3.4%; the specificity were 77.5%, 81.3%, 85.0% and 57.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and the specificity of GADD153 expression are well for diagnosing FTC, and CK19, Gal-3, HBME-1 are well for FVPC. The four markers when used in combination, are better to identify the follicular tumors of the thyroid.