Fluorofenidone Inhibits the Proliferation of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Background: Lung carcinoma is the leading cause of malignant tumor related mortality in China in recent decades, and the development of new and effective therapies for patients with advanced lung carcinoma is needed. We recently found that fluorofenidone (FD), a newly developed pyridine compound, reduced the activation of Stat3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) in fibroblasts. Stat3 plays a crucial role in the development of lung cancer and may represent a new therapeutic target. In this study, we examined the effect of FD on human lung adenocarcinoma cells in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The effect of FD on the growth of lung cancer cells was measured with a CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and xenograft tumor model. A flow cytometry analysis was performed to study cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the expression of Stat3. Changes in the expression of RNA induced by FD were assessed using gene chip and real-time RT-PCR assays. Results: In vitro, FD inhibited the growth of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and SPC-A1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment with FD, the A549 and SPC-A1 cells were arrested in the G1 phase, and apoptosis was induced. In vivo, this compound significantly inhibited the growth of tumors that were subcutaneously implanted in mice. Moreover, FD decreased Stat3 activity in lung cancer cells and xenograft tumor tissue, and microarray chip results showed that FD altered the gene expression profile of lung cancer cells. Specifically, NUPR1, which plays a significant role in cancer development, was down-regulated by FD in lung cancer cells. Conclusion: Our study supports the clinical evaluation of FD as a potential lung adenocarcinoma therapy.

Transcriptional Factor Snail Mediates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Induced by Silica.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in fibrotic diseases. We have previously showed that silica induces EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells (BECs); however, the underlying mechanism of silica-induced EMT is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of Snail in silica-induced EMT in human BECs in vitro. Human BECs were treated with silica at various concentrations and incubation times. Then MTT assay, western blot, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection were performed. We found that silica increased the expression and DNA binding activity of Snail in human BECs. SNAI siRNA inhibited the silica-induced expression of Snail. Moreover, SNAI siRNA upregulated the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin, but attenuated the expression of mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin in silica-stimulated cells. These results suggest that Snail mediates the silica-induced EMT in human BECs.

Roles of Rho/Rock signaling pathway in silica-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human bronchial epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roles of Rho/Rock signaling pathway in silica-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) in vitro. METHODS: Human BEC were incubated with silica with various concentrations for indicated times. Cell viability was assayed by MTT test. Morphologic Changes were observed by microscope. Mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin (Vim), and epithelial marker E-cadherin (E-cad) were analyzed by Western Blot. The pull-down assay was used to measure Rho activity. In the prevention experiments, the specific inhibitor for Rho effector ROCK (Y27632) was used to inhibit the activity of Rho. RESULTS: Human BEC stimulated with silica were converted from a "cobblestone" epithelial structure into an elongated fibroblast-like shape structure. Incubation of human BEC with silica induced de novo expression of α-SMA and Vim, and loss of E-cad. Also, silica treatment resulted in Rho activation in human BEC. Y27632 up-regulated the E-cad expression but attenuated α-SMA and Vim expression in silica-stimulated cells. CONCLUSION: The activation of Rho/ROCK signaling pathways is most likely involved in Silica-induced EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells.

[Changes of neuroglobin in the pathologic process of contusion and laceration of brain in children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of neuroglobin (Ngb) in the pathologic process of contusion and laceration of brain in children. METHODS: The proteins in the brain tissue were extracted by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in 3 children undergoing brain ventricular neoplasms resection (normal brain tissue) and in 8 children with contusion and laceration of brain. The image analysis was done using the PDQuest 7.0 software. The differential protein spots were detected and analyzed with Applied Biosystems Voyager System 4307 MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer and bioinformatical skills. Ngb expression in the brain tissue was measured using immunohistochemisty. Ngb expression in plasma was measured using ELISA in 15 children with contusion and laceration of brain and 10 healthy children. RESULTS: Expression maps of the brain tissue were established by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in children with contusion and laceration of brain and healthy children. Six differential protein spots were found and 5 of them were identified by mass spectrum. Immunohistochemisty assay showed that Ngb expression in the brain tissue in children with contusion and laceration of brain was significantly higher than in normal controls (P<0.05). ELISA results showed that Ngb expression in the plasma increased significantly 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours after trauma in children with contusion and laceration of brain compared with healthy children (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ngb may play an important role in the pathologic process of contusion and laceration of brain in children.

TRX is up-regulated by fibroblast growth factor-2 in lung carcinoma.

We have previously shown that exogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) inhibits apoptosis of the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line NCI-H446, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, the protein profiles of FGF-2-treated and untreated NCI-H446 cells were determined by 2-D gel electrophoresis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Differential expression analysis of the protein profiles after FGF-2 treatment identified a total of 24 protein spots, of which nine were up-regulated and 15 were down-regulated. Four proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS: thioredoxin (TRX), visfatin, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD). Western blotting revealed that TRX was up-regulated in NCI-H446 and A549 cells treated with FGF-2. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining confirmed that both FGF-2 and TRX were overexpressed in lung cancer tissues and could be correlated with both lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. These data indicate that TRX may be involved in the FGF-2 signaling pathway.

[Expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma and its biological significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma and explore its biological significance. METHODS: The expression of EVEC in 22 specimens of normal ovarian tissues and 63 specimens of ovarian cancers was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis, respectively. RESULTS: RT-PCR showed that the expression level of EVEC in stage I-II ovarian cancer (0.199 ± 0.014) was significantly higher than that in stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.155 ± 0.015, P < 0.05), and significantly lower than that in normal ovarian tissues (0.415 ± 0.055, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the expression levels of EVEC in primary sites and that in corresponding metastatic sites of ovarian cancer (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the results of Western blot also showed that the protein expression level of EVEC in stage I-II ovarian cancer was also significantly lower than that in normal ovarian tissues (0.179 ± 0.026 vs. 0.543 ± 0.032, P < 0.05), and higher than that in stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.179 ± 0.026 vs. 0.115 ± 0.023, P < 0.05). The EVEC expression level in the epiploic metastasis of stage I-II ovarian cancer was significantly higher than that of stage III-IV ovarian cancer (0.201 ± 0.028 vs. 0.101 ± 0.037, P < 0.05). The expression of EVEC in ovarian carcinoma had no correlation with age, pathologic classification and histological grade (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EVEC is closely related with carcinoma metastasis. The expression of EVEC in ovarian cancer and its metastatic sites was remarkably decreased. EVEC may play a negative role in the development and metastasis of ovarian cancer and may be a valuable marker in estimation of the prognosis for patients.

[Effect of FGF-2 on survivin and subcellular location of Smac in human small cell lung cancer cell NCI-H446].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)on survivin and subcellular location of Smac in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell NCI-H446. METHODS: Western blot was used to detect the expression of survivin protein induced by FGF-2. The release of Smac from mitochondria to cytoplasm affected by FGF-2 was observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis of NCI-H446 cells was detected with flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: The expression of survivin could be up-regulated in response to FGF-2 treatment in NCI-H446 cells, and the level of survivin expression is related to the concentration and time of FGF-2 treatment. FGF-2 could inhibit the release of Smac from the mitochondria to cytoplasm induced by serum starving. FGF-2 could inhibit the apoptosis induced by serum starving. CONCLUSION: FGF-2 up-regulates the expression of survivin protein in NCI-H446 cells, and blocks the release of Smac from mitochondria cytoplasm. Survivin and Smac might play important roles in the apoptosis inhibited by FGF-2.

Activator protein-1 involved in growth inhibition by RASSF1A gene in the human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901.

AIM: To investigate the role of Ras association domain family protein 1 isoform A (RASSF1A) in gastric tumorigenesis. METHODS: Through over-expression of RASSF1A gene in the SGC7901 cell line which was induced by a lipofectamine-mediated gene transfer approach. Activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Compared with the control clones, cells over-expressing RASSF1A exhibited significant inhibition of cell growth with G1 cell cycle arrest in vitro and in vivo. The over-expression of RASSF1A significantly inhibited AP-1 activity in SGC7901 cells (0.981+/-0.011 vs 0.354+/-0.053, P<0.001). In addition, both Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that RASSF1A down-regulated the expression of c-Fos (0.975+/-0.02 vs 0.095+/-0.024, P<0.001) but not c-Jun. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of RASSF1A inhibits the growth of SGC7901 cells by negatively regulating the AP-1 activity, the latter in turn negatively signals cell proliferation.

[Expression and significance of Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF in human non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expressions of Notch1, Jagged1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore its clinical pathological significance. METHODS: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expressions of Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF in 65 patients with NSCLC and 15 normal epithelial tissues of the lung, and the relationship between them and clinic-pathological parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rates of Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF in NSCLC were 81.5%, 83.1% and 93.8%, respectively, higher than those in normal epithelial tissues of the lung (P<0.05). The positive expression levels of Notch1 and VEGF were closely associated with the tumor stage and the lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The positive expression levels of Jagged1 was positively correlated with the pathological type and lymph node metastasis. There was a positive correlation between Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF. CONCLUSION: Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF protein may play an important role in the pathway of carcinogenesis and progression of NSCLC. The up-regulation of Notch1, Jagged1 and VEGF protein expression probably predict NSCLC carrying relatively strong permeation and metastasis.

Effect of DPC4 gene on invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma cells.

To investigate the effect of DPC4 gene on invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma cells, the expression of DPC4 was detected in sixty-three samples of colorectal tumors and seven cases of colorectal mucosa. The biological behavior of tumors expressing DPC4 was evaluated (including tumor staging, differentiation degree and metastasis). pcDNA3.1-DPC4 plasmid was constructed and transferred into HCT116 cells not expressing DPC4. The cell models (DPC4(+)-HCT116) steadily expressing DPC4 were obtained. Compared with HCT116 and pcDNA3.1-HCT116 cells, the doubling time of DPC4(+)-HCT116 cells was lengthened obviously (P<0.01), the apoptosis rate of DPC4(+)-HCT116 cells was significantly increased (PP<0.01), the cloning efficiency, cell adherency, migration and invasion ability of DPC4+-HCT116 cells were dropped obviously (P<0.01). The number of cancer nodules was decreased significantly in abdominal cavity and liver of the nude mice inoculated with DPC4(+)-HCT116 cells. The activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2 was detected by gelatin zymography. In comparison with HCT116 and pcDNA3.1-HCT116 cells, the activity of MMP-9 was decreased in DPC4(+)-HCT116 cells. Therefore, the down-regulation of DPC4 expression may be associated with the carcinogenesis of colorectal carcinoma. DPC4 may inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cell by restraining growth and inducing apoptosis, and the invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma cells. MMP-9 may be one of the downstream target genes regulated by DPC4.

[Expression of survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in human non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expressions of survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to explore its clinical pathological significance. METHODS: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expressions of survivin and PCNA in 43 patients with NSCLC and 15 normal epithelial tissues of the lung. PCNA labeling proliferative index was assessed. Forty-three patients with NSCLC were followed up for more than 5 years. RESULTS: The positive expression of survivin in NSCLC (79.1%) was significantly higher than that in normal epithelial tissues of the lung (P < 0.01). The survivin expression in Stage I + II was lower than in Stage III (P < 0.05). The overall survival time was significantly shorter in patients with high survivin expression than that in patients with absent or low survivin expression. The survivin expression was not related to sex, age, tumor size and site, histological type, grade, and lymphoid node metastasis (P > 0.05). The mean proliferative index of PCNA in NSCLC was much higher than that in normal epithelial tissues of the lung (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was present between the proliferative index and the tumor size, lymph node metastase, and clinical stage (P <0.01), while a negative correlation between the proliferative index and survival time (P <0.01). There was no correlation between proliferative index and age, sex, site, histological type and grade. The proliferative index was larger in patients with moderate or strong positive survivin expression than that in patients with negative or weak survivin expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over expression of survivin and PCNA is closely correlated to the progression and prognosis of patients with NSCLC, which is helpful to evaluate the progression of cancer and to predict the prognosis of NSCLC. The up-regulation of survivin expression and its close relationship with the cell proliferation in NSCLC suggest that survivin may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of lung cancer.

[Proliferation inhibition of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 transfected by RASSF1A gene].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of exogenous RASSF1A gene on the proliferation and expression of P65 and subunit of NF-kappaB, in lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. METHODS: pcDNA3.0-RASSF1A and pcDNA3. 0 were introduced into A549 cell line by lipofectin transfection, and the A549 cells stably expressing RASSF1A gene were established by G418 selection. The expression of RASSF1A was detected by Western blotting. The cytobiologic characterizations of the positive clone were analyzed by methythiazoletertraolium (MTT) assay and cytometry. The expressing of P65 was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: A549 cells stably expressing RASSF1A protein were established by lipofection mediated transfection and selected for further study. Compared with the nontransfected and vector transfected cells, the positive clone cells grew more slowly. Flow cytometric data showed that more positive clone cells went into phase G0/G1 and fewer cells went into phase S. The expression of P65 in nuclear protein in positive clone cells was lower than that of the control group while there was no obvious difference between the expression of p65 mRNA and P65 protein in total protein among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: RASSF1A gene might suppress the proliferation of A549 cells through blocking the activity of P65 protein.