CD44 collaborates with ERBB2 mediate radiation resistance via p38 phosphorylation and DNA homologous recombination pathway in prostate cancer.

CD44, a glycoprotein, has been reported to have relationship with resistance to radiation in prostate cancer (Cap) cells. However, its molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that inhibited CD44 enhanced the radiosentivity in Cap cells. It has been hypothesized that CD44 combine with ERBB2 and activate downstream phosphated protein to mediate DNA damage repair. Therefore, we conducted a detailed analysis of effects of radiation by clonogenic assay and immunofluorescence stain for p-H2AX foci. The downstream of CD44/ERBB2 and DNA damage repair proteins was detected by western blot. The results reveal that CD44 interacted with ERBB2, the downstream of CD44/ERBB2 was p-p38 when Cap cells were irradiated. Among the pathways, homologous recombination (HR) related proteins Mre11 and Rad50 were involved in CD44/ERBB2/p-p38 mediated radioresistance in Cap. In conclusion, CD44 could stabilize ERBB2 and co-activate p-p38 expression then promote the DNA damage repair by HR pathway, which finally contribute to the radioresistance of CaP.

miR-182-5p Promotes Growth in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting CAMK2N1.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emerging evidence suggests that the propagation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is influenced by the abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aimed to characterize the involvement of miR-182-5p in OSCC by targeting the calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor CAMK2N1. METHODS: miR-182-5p expression was quantified in OSCC tissues and cell lines with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Ki-67, and nude mouse xenograft assays were used to characterize the role of miR-182-5p in the proliferation of OSCC. A miR-182-5p target gene was identified with western blotting, RT-PCR, and luciferase activity assays. OSCC patient survival based on CAMK2N1 expression was also analyzed. RESULTS: miR-182-5p was up-regulated in in vitro cell lines and in vivo clinical OSCC samples. CCK-8, colony formation, and Ki-67 assays revealed that miR-182-5p promoted the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells. miR-182-5p directly targeted CAMK2N1, as evidenced by luciferase assays and target prediction algorithms. CAMK2N1 operated as a tumor suppressor gene in patients with OSCC. Down-regulating miR-182-5p expression in the CAL-27 cell line restored CAMK2N1-mediated OSCC cell proliferation. miR-182-5p expression inhibited the activation of AKT, ERK1/2, and NF-κB. Mice injected with CAL-27 cells transfected with miR-182-5p-inhibitor demonstrated a significant increase in tumor size and weight and increased CAMK2N1 mRNA and protein expression compared with the miR-negative control group. CONCLUSION: The miR-182-5p-CAMK2N1 pathway can be potentially targeted to regulate the proliferation of OSCC cells.

EGCG inhibits properties of glioma stem-like cells and synergizes with temozolomide through downregulation of P-glycoprotein inhibition.

RATIONAL: Combination therapy to inhibit cancer stem cells may have important clinical implications. Here, we examine the molecular mechanisms by which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a bioactive polyphenol in green tea, inhibits the stem cell characteristics of glioma stem-like cells (GSLCs) and synergizes with temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA-methylating agent commonly used as first-line chemotherapy in gliomas. GSLCs were enriched from the human glioblastoma cell line U87 using neurosphere culture. Cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, and western blotting. Compared to U87 cells, a higher percentage of U87 GSLCs remained in the G0/G1 phase, with downregulation of the cell-cycle protein CylinD1 and overexpression of stem cell markers CD133 and ALDH1. The drug-resistance gene ABCB1 (but not ABCG2 or MGMT) also showed high mRNA and protein expression. The resistance index of U87 GSLCs against TMZ and carmustine (BCNU) was 3.0 and 16.8, respectively. These results indicate that U87 GSLCs possess neural stem cell and drug-resistance properties. Interestingly, EGCG treatment inhibited cell viability, neurosphere formation, and migration in this cell model. EGCG also induced apoptosis, downregulation of p-Akt and Bcl-2, and cleaving PARP in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, EGCG treatment significantly downregulated P-glycoprotein expression but not that of ABCG2 or MGMT and simultaneously enhanced sensitivity to TMZ. Our study demonstrates that the use of EGCG alone or in combination with TMZ may be an effective therapeutic strategy for glioma.

4E-BP1 regulates the sensitivity of human glioma cells to chemotherapy through PI3K/Akt/mTOR-independent pathway.

Drug resistance is one of the most formidable obstacles for treatment of glioma. Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1), a key component in the rate-limiting step of protein translation initiation, is closely associated with poor prognosis in multiple tumor types. However, it is unclear whether 4E-BP1 is involved in the drug resistance of human glioma. Herein we show that the expression of 4E-BP1 in human SWOZ2-BCNU drug-resistant glioma cells is significantly lower than that of the parent SWOZ2 cell line. Moreover, down-regulation of 4E-BP1 by short interfering RNA significantly impaired the sensitivity of SWOZ2 and U251 cells to carmustine (BCNU). Furthermore, overexpression of 4E-BP1 with plasmid transfection regained this sensitivity. Clinical studies showed that the expression levels of 4E-BP1 in primary glioma tissues were markedly higher than those of recrudescent glioma tissues. Taken together, our results suggest that 4E-BP1 is a novel protein that contributes to acquired drug resistance and it may be a potential target for reversing drug resistance in human glioma.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is involved in BCNU resistance in human glioma cells.

Chemotherapy has been considered as an effective treatment for malignant glioma; however, it becomes increasingly ineffective with tumor progression. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process whereby cells acquire morphologic and molecular alterations that facilitate tumor metastasis and progression. Emerging evidence associates chemoresistance with the acquisition of EMT in cancer. However, it is not clear whether this phenomenon is involved in glioma. We used the previously established human glioma cell lines SWOZ1, SWOZ2 and SWOZ2-BCNU to assess cellular morphology, molecular changes, migration and invasion. We found that BCNU-resistant cells showed multiple drug resistance and phenotypic changes consistent with EMT, including spindle-shaped morphology and enhanced pseudopodia formation. Decreased expression of the epithelial adhesion molecule E-cadherin and increased expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin were observed in BCNU-resistant SWOZ1 and SWOZ2-BCNU cells compared to SWOZ2 cells. Migratory and metastatic potentials were markedly enhanced in SWOZ1 and SWOZ2-BCNU cells compared to SWOZ2 cells. These data suggest that there is a possible link between drug resistance and EMT induction in glioma cells. Gaining further insight into the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and EMT may enable the restoration of chemosensitivity or suppression of metastasis.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3ß Inhibitor (2'Z,3'E)-6-Bromo-indirubin- 3'-Oxime Enhances Drug Resistance to 5-Fluorouracil Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanism of glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß) inhibitor (2'Z,3'E)-6-bromo-indirubin-3'-oxime (BIO) on drug resistance in colon cancer cells. METHODS: The colon cancer SW480 and SW620 cells were treated with BIO, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and BIO/5-FU, separately. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis level and efflux ability of rhodamine 123 (Rh123) were detected by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2), thymidylate synthase (TS), ß-catenin, E2F-1 and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot. ß-catenin and P-gp were stained with double immunofluorescence and observed under a confocal microscope. RESULTS: BIO up-regulated ß-catenin, P-gp, MRP2 and TS, enhanced the efflux ability of Rh123, decreased Bcl-2 protein and gave the opposite effect to E2F-1 protein in SW480 and SW620 cells. Furthermore, BIO significantly inhibited cell apoptosis, increased S and G(2)/M phase cells, and reduced the cell apoptosis induced by 5-FU in SW480 cells, whereas the effects were slight or not obvious in SW620 cells. CONCLUSION: GSK-3ß was involved in drug resistance regulation, and activation of ß-catenin and inhibition of E2F-1 may be the most responsible for the enhancement of 5-FU chemotherapy resistance induced by GSK-3ß inhibitor BIO in colon cancer.

[Effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of paraquat-induced lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) in the treatment of lung injury caused by acute paraquat poisoning. METHODS: Thirteen patients with lung injury caused by acute paraquat poisoning, who were admitted to Guangzhou No. 12 People's Hospital from December 2008 to December 2012, were divided into HUCMSC group (n = 5) and control group (n = 8). All patients received conventional treatment, while the HUCMSC group was treated with HUCMSCs as an addition. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) system, which was created by the Infection Section of European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II were used to acquire the SOFA scores of patients. The lung injury was evaluated with lung injury score (LIS). The two groups were compared with respect to maximum SOFA scores at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 15 days after paraquat poisoning. RESULTS: The HUCMSC group showed significantly lower maximum SOFA scores than the control group at 15d after poisoning (1.80 ± 2.05 vs 13.50 ± 7.59, P < 0.05). The LISs of the HUCMSC group after treatment (0.45 ± 0.27) were significantly lower than those of the HUCMSC group before treatment (1.15 ± 0.34) and those of the control group after treatment (2.94 ± 1.20) (P < 0.01). In the HUCMSC group, all patients survived, and they complained no discomfort and showed normal liver, kidney, and lung functions in reexamination; one patient showed incompletely absorbed shadow in the posterior segment of the left lower lobe of the lung during lung CT scan, and no abnormal findings were seen in other patients. In the control group, one patient survived, and others died. No adverse reactions, such as chill and fever, were presented in the HUCMSC group. CONCLUSION: HUCMSCs show promise for clinical application in the treatment of lung injury caused by acute paraquat poisoning.

[Hepatocyte growth factor combined with autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treatment of silicosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) autograft for the treatment of silicosis. METHODS: Bone marrow (100 ml) was aspirated from a severe silicosis patient. BMSCs isolated, purified and cultured in vitro. When BMSC came to 70% confluence at passage 3, the culture medium was added liposomes (lipo2000) and plasmid-HGF (p-HGF) and cultured for 2 d. HGF-MSCSs (5 × 10(7) cells) were resuspended in 50 ml 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) and infused Intravenous drip at 3 consecutive times (once a week). Clinical follow-up were performed before and after treatment: (1) pulmonary high-kV X-ray, chest CT examination; (2) pulmonary function test; (3) determination of serum ceruloplasmin. RESULTS: The symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness disappeared at 12 months after treatment. Pulmonary function tests showed significant changes after treatment: forced vital capacity (FVC) increased from 64.6% to 81.0%, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1.0)) increased from 68.7% to 90.1%, 1 second rate (FEV(1.0)/FVC%) reduced from 111.6% to 107.1%, the maximum mid-expiratory flow (FEF(25%∼75%) decreased from 100.2% to 94.6%, forced expiratory vital capacity 75% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(75%)) increased from 99.2% to 113.5%, forced expiratory vital capacity 50% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(50%)) increased from 125.3% to 130.2%, forced expiratory vital capacity 25% of the moment bit of gas flow (MEF(25%)) reduced from 86.9% to 71.7%; serum ceruloplasmin levels decreased from 690 mg/L to 180.6 mg/L; lung high-kV X-ray at 1st review showed that diffuse lung nodules had been absorbed and getting smaller than before treatment; chest CT showed that the distribution and number of small nodules at double lung fields decreased than before treatment. CONCLUSION: HGF combined with BMSC transplantation may have some potential role for the treatment of silicosis patients.

[The comparative study of quartz dust and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pulmonary alveolitis and the early fibrosis of pulmonary fibrosis induced by quartz dust and bleomycin in rats, and investigate their mechanism. METHODS: The female rats were divided into three groups: control group exposed to normal saline by the trachea; SiO2 group exposed to SiO2 by the trachea; BLM group exposed to BLM A5 by the trachea. Each half of the animals were sacrificed on the 7th and 14th day after exposure. The lungs of rats were collected to observe pulmonary alveolitis by HE staining and to observe fibrosis by saturated picric acid sirius red staining. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and CD68 in pulmonary tissues were analyzed quantitatively by immunohistochemistry and image analysis system. RESULTS: (1) The alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis of rats in both SiO2 group and BLM group were became more serious gradually over time, HE staining under light microscope showed that BLM group on the 7th day had the most obvious alveolitis (2.814 +/- 0.832), the saturated picric acid sirius red staining under polarized light showed that BLM group on the 14th day had the worst pulmonary fibrosis (1284.57 +/- 554.72), which were significantly higher than those (103.69 +/- 18.29 and 111.78 +/- 37.45) in control group and SiO2 group on the 7th day (P < 0.05). (2) The results of immunohistochemistry examination indicated that the expression (17.100 +/- 1.831) of TNF-alpha in the BLM group on the 7th day was significantly higher than those (0.451 +/- 0.441, 7.909 +/- 1.275 and 13.506 +/- 1.454) in control group, SiO2 group on 7th day and BLM group on 14th day (P < 0.05). The expression (22.778 +/- 2.512) of TNF-alpha in the SiO2 group on the 14th day was significantly higher than those in control group, SiO2 group on 7th day and BLM group on 14th day (P < 0.05). The expression (134.941 +/- 35.951) of CD68 in the SiO2 group on the 14th day was significantly higher than those in control group, SiO2 group on 7th day and BLM group on 14th day (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The early alveolitis of BLM-induced lung injury model was more serious than that of SiO2-induced lung injury model, and the fibrosis process of BLM-induced lung injury model was earlier than that of SiO2-induced lung injury model. TNF-alpha plays an important role in the course of both models, but macrophages is involved in SiO2-induced pulmonary in a more continuous way than in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

[The experimental study of suppressing silicosis fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of effects on SiO(2)-induced alveolitis and early fibrosis between bone marrow-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells (BM-MSCs) and BM-MSCs transfected by pcDNA3.1-HGF and to explore the mechanism of this effects. METHODS: The Primary BM-MSCs from Wistar male young rats were cultured and labeled by 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:model group (10 rats),which was administered with SiO(2) by the trache, the next day,injected PBS via the tail vein; BM-MSCs group (20 rats),which was administered with SiO(2) by the trache, the next day,injected with 1 ml suspension of BM-MSCs via the tail vein; pcDNA3.1-HGF plus BM-MSC group (20 rats),which was administered with SiO(2) by the trache, the next day,injected with 1 ml suspension of BM-MSCs transfected by pcDNA3.1-HGF via the tail vein. On the 14th and 28th days after treatment, half of the animals were sacrificed, respectively, and the lungs were harvested for frozen section to observe the cell marked by DAPI. HE staining under a fluorescent microscope, and to observe the pulmonary alveolitis and fibrosis by HE and Masson staining under a light microscope. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of HGF in rat lungs. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in pulmonary tissues were analyzed quantitatively by ELISA. The contents of HYP in pulmonary tissues were analyzed quantitatively by sample hydrolysis method. RESULTS: On the 14th and 28th days after treatment, the scores of pulmonary alveolitis and early fibrosis in pcDNA3.1-HGF plus BM-MSCs group were 2.36 ± 0.17, 2.8 ± 0.14 and 0.1 ± 0.11, 1.16 ± 0.13, which were significantly lower than those (1.68 ± 0.17, 1.58 ± 0.31 and 0.54 ± 0.15, 1.36 ± 0.13) in BM-MSCs group, also which were significantly lower those (2.36 ± 0.17, 2.80 ± 0.14 and 0.64 ± 0.09, 1.84 ± 0.17) in model group (P < 0.05); On the 14th and 28th days after treatment, the TNF-α contents of pulmonary tissues in pcDNA3.1-HGF plus BM-MSCs group were 280.4 ± 23.11 and 249.78 ± 22.33 pg/mg, which were significantly lower than those (341.58 ± 35.34, 442.29 ± 36.76 pg/mg and 319.51 ± 17.84, 348.53 ± 33.95 pg/mg) in BM-MSCs and model groups (P < 0.05); On the 14th and 28th days after treatment, the HYP contents of pulmonary tissues in pcDNA3.1-HGF plus BM-MSCs group were 0.46 ± 0.04 and 0.65 ± 0.05 µg/mg, which were significantly lower than those (0.63 ± 0.04, 1.04 ± 0.07 µg/mg and 0.72 ± 0.60, 1.39 ± 0.60 µg/mg) in BM-MSCs and model groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The effects of BM-MSCs transfected by pcDNA3.1-HGF on suppressing pulmonary alveolitis and early fibrosis induced by SiO2 were better than those of BM-MSCs. The mechanism may be associated with the reduced pulmonary inflammation.

Role of DJ-1-induced PTEN down-regulation in migration and invasion of human glioma cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: DJ-1, a suppressor of PTEN, promotes metastasis of different tumors, but its function and mechanisms in glioma metastasis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the DJ-1 protein on the migration and invasion of human glioma cells, and to explore potential mechanisms. METHODS: The eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP/DJ-1 and small interfering RNA (siRNA) were constructed and transfected into human glioma SWO-38 cells. The expression of DJ-1 and PTEN in SWO-38 cells were detected by Western blot. Cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. RESULTS: After transfection of pEGFP/DJ-1, the expression of DJ-1 (1.28 ± 0.15 vs. 0.89 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation (0.76 ± 0.12 vs. 0.51 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) were increased, whereas the expression of PTEN (0.74 ± 0.2 vs. 1.04 ± 0.14, P < 0.05) was suppressed. After transfection of DJ-1 siRNA, both DJ-1 (0.33 ± 0.04 vs. 0.88 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) and p-FAK levels (0.33 ± 0.01 vs. 0.44 ± 0.05, P < 0.05) were decreased, but PTEN expression (1.1 ± 0.06 vs. 0.81 ± 0.12, P < 0.05) was increased. Transwell assay data showed that pEGFP/DJ-1 transfection promoted SWO-38 cell migration (57.2 ± 6.50 vs. 40.4 ± 5.0, P < 0.05) and invasion (54.6 ± 4.9 vs. 27 ± 6.7, P < 0.05), whereas DJ-1 siRNA transfection inhibited SWO-38 cells migration (54.4 ± 6.9 vs. 73.4 ± 7.6, < 0.05) and invasion (44.6 ± 5.8 vs. 69.2 ± 9.2, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over-expression of DJ-1 promotes SWO-38 cell migration and invasion possibly through the DJ-1 and the PTEN/FAK pathway.

Expression and significance of tumor drug resistance related proteins and beta-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As chemotherapy is generally used in the clinical treatment of cancer, the problem of multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumors against the chemotherapeutic agents becomes more and more serious. It has been the major cause for the failure of the chemotherapy. We detected the expressions of beta-catenin and tumor drug resistance related proteins, MRP2, P-gp, and Bcl-2, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to explore their function and correlation in the occurrence and development of MDR in ESCC. METHODS: We used the tissue microarray technique, immunohistochemistry, and image analysis methods to detect the expressions of MRP2, P-gp, beta-catenin, and Bcl-2 proteins and analyze their relationships with clinical data in a ESCC tissue microarray consisting of 582 specimens of ESCC, 294 specimens of normal mucosa, 92 specimens of basal cell hyperplasia, and 87 specimens of dysplasia adjacent to cancer tissue. RESULTS: The integral optical density (IOD) of MRP2 and Bcl-2, which was 195.7 +/- 175.9 x 10(3)) and 90.5 +/- 112.5 x 10(3)), respectively, was significantly higher in ESCC than in normal mucosa, which was 104.8 +/- 86.1 x103) and 25.2 +/- 46.6 x 10(3)), respectively (P < 0.01). The IOD of P-gp and beta-catenin, which was 57.7 +/- 75.5 x 10(3)) and 32.0 +/- 47.0 x 10(3)) respectively, was significantly lower in ESCC than in normal mucosa, which was 114.8 +/- 106.6 x 10(3)) and 46.1 +/- 35.7 x 10(3)), respectively (P < 0.01). According to the following order, well differentiated moderately differentiated poorly differentiated, the IOD of MRP2 increased in ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of beta-catenin was higher in poorly differentiated ESCC than in well or moderately differentiated ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of Bcl-2 was lower in well differentiated ESCC than in poorly and moderately differentiated ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of beta-catenin and Bcl-2 was higher in the ESCC of specimens with infiltration depths that were in membrane mucosa than those in the muscular layer or serous coat (P < 0.01). The IOD of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis than in cases without (P < 0.01). Positive correlations which were respectively between the expressions of P-gp and MRP2, the expressions of P-gp and Bcl-2 were found (r = 0.288 and r = 0.253, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MRP2, P-gp, and Bcl-2 may be taken as prognostic factors for MDR of ESCC. beta-catenin may play an important role in carcinogenesis and progression of ESCC.

[Effect of shenqi fuzheng injection for hemopoietic and immune function reconstruction in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) for hemopoietic and immune function reconstruction in patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) after chemotherapy. METHODS: Eighty HM patients at remission inducing stage of initial treatment were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group treated with SFI (250 mL daily) plus chemotherapy and the control group only treated with chemotherapy for 14 days, with same supportive treatments administered to both. Levels of blood routine test, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+) and B lymphocyte subsets CD3- CD19+ were determined before and after treatment, and the remission rate was assessed after treatment. RESULTS: The remission rates in the two groups showed no significant difference [90% (36/40) vs 82.5% (33/40), P > 0.05] statistically. Levels of peripheral leucocyte count and hemoglobin as well as levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+ /CD8+; were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was shown between groups in CD3- CD19+ level. CONCLUSION: SFI can lighten the inhibition of chemotherapy on hemopoietic function of bone marrow, and promote its recovery, enhance the immune function, and improve the quality of life in patients with HM undergoing chemotherapy.

Transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells overexpressing hHGF into cardiac tissue.

The delivery of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) for promoting tissue repair has become a potential new therapy, while hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an important growth factor with angiogenic, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Therefore, transplantation of ADSCs into acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may improve cardiac function through angiogenesis and anti-fibrosis, and that hHGF may enhance these effects. ADSCs were isolated from human subcutaneous adipose tissue. Lentivirus vector encoding human HGF (lenti-hHGF) was constructed and infected into ADSCs. Results indicated that transplantation of ADSCs led to improvement of left ventricular function, explained partly through their ability to differentiate into endothelial cells, resulting in increased blood flow and decreased fibrosis. Furthermore, hHGF enhanced these effects. This suggests that ADSCs combined with HGF gene transfer may be a useful strategy for the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease.

Differentiation of SWO-38 glioma cells induced by CDA-2 is mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Glioma remains one of the most lethal human tumors in spite of the progress in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical techniques. Cell differentiation agent-2 (CDA-2) is an extraction from healthy human urine consisting of primary organic acids and peptides, and it has been demonstrated to inhibit growth and induce differentiation in glioma and other cell lines. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) which are involved in cellular differentiation and proliferation. In this study, we investigated if CDA-2 induced differentiation of SWO-38 glioma cells is mediated by PPARgamma. CDA-2 induced differentiation of SWO-38 cells was characterized by typical morphological changes, increased expression of GFAP, inhibition of proliferation and G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest. CDA-2 also triggered up-regulation of PPARgamma, GFAP and PTEN protein and a reduction of COX-2 protein. However, the effects of CDA-2 on SWO-38 cells could be partly reversed by GW9662, an irreversible PPARgamma antagonist. Our investigation demonstrated that CDA-2 could be a potential drug for tumor differentiation therapy, and activation of the PPARgamma pathway might be a crucial factor in glioma differentiation induced by CDA-2.

Relationship between driver gene mutations, their relative protein expressions and survival in non-small cell lung carcinoma in Macao.

OBJECTIVES: We report the status of most common gene mutations in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in Macao, and explore the relationship between each gene mutation and clinicopathologic features and survival. METHODS: EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations were detected by PCR in 122 cases of NSCLC. ALK translocation and MET amplification were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). MET and thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Clinical data were collected for analyzing their correlation with the gene mutations. RESULTS: The mutation of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF was detected in 48 (39.3%), 13 (10.7%) and 3 (2.5%) of 122 cases of NSCLC, respectively. ALK translocation and MET amplification were detected in 7 (5.7%) and 3 cases (2.5%). The rate of EGFR mutation was significantly higher in female and non-smoker patients. In TTF-1 positive cases EGFR mutation was more frequent. Age of the patients over 62-year old was correlated with KRAS mutations. The concordance between ALK IHC and FISH was 58.3%. The MET protein in the cases with MET amplification was 100% positive. The survival was lower in the patients with positive MET protein than those with negative. MET protein was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutation occurred frequently in the female never smoke patients with NSCLC. KRAS mutation was more common in old patients. Negative MET protein expression could be used as a negative predictive marker of MET amplification. MET protein expression was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC.

[Effects of PTEN gene on human malignant glioma growth in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological effects of PTEN gene on the malignant glioma cell line SHG-44. Firstly, A recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing PTEN gene fused with EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) gene was constructed. Secondly, the expression of the recombinant vector in human glioma cells was detected. METHODS: (1) The human PTEN gene was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into pEGFP-N1 that was selected by T-A subclone, and the recombinant expression vector was obtained. After the recombinant plasmids were transfected into glioma SHG-44 cells by cation polymex, expression of fusion protein was tested. (2) The stable transfected cells were selected by G418 and amplified. Light microscopy and growth curve were used to measure the effects of PTEN expression on cell morphology and proliferation. Expression of GFAP (glial fibillary acidic protein) was detected immunohistochemically. RESULTS: (1) The positive recombinant was sequenced and demonstrated to have the same sequence as that of PTEN gene in GenBank. It was proved that the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-PTEN have been constructed successfully and expressed in SHG-44 cells. (2) The SHG-44 cell growth was changed obviously. The expression of GFAP was increased. CONCLUSION: The construction of PTEN eukaryotic expression vector containing green fluorescence protein gene will lay the basis for carrying out further studies on the function of PTEN gene.

Tetrandrine Exerts a Radiosensitization Effect on Human Glioma through Inhibiting Proliferation by Attenuating ERK Phosphorylation.

Tetrandrine (Tet), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, has been reported to have a radiosensitization effect on tumors. However, its effects on human glioma and the specific molecular mechanisms of these effects remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Tet has a radiosensitization effect on human glioma cells. It has been hypothesized that Tet has a radiosensitization effect on glioma cells by affecting the glioma cell cycle and DNA repair mechanism and that ERK mediates these activities. Therefore, we conducted detailed analyses of the effects of Tet on the cell cycle by performing flow cytometric analysis and on DNA repair by detecting the expression of phosphorylated H2AX by immunofluorescence. We used western blot analysis to investigate the role of ERK in the effect of Tet on the cell cycle and DNA repair. The results revealed that Tet exerts its radiosensitization effect on glioma cells by inhibiting proliferation and decreasing the expression of phosphorylated ERK and its downstream proteins. In summary, our data indicate that ERK is involved in Tet-induced radiosensitization of glioma cells via inhibition of glioma cell proliferation or of the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase.

Tetrandrine inhibits glioma stem-like cells by repressing ß-catenin expression.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in glioma are often responsible for relapse and resistance to therapy. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the self-renewal and migration inhibitory effects of tetrandrine (Tet), which is a compound extracted from the dried root of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, toward glioma stem-like cells (GSLCs) and to examine the associated molecular mechanisms. Using a neurosphere culture technique, we enriched the GSLC population from the human glioblastoma cell lines U87 and U251. Cells were analyzed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), western blotting, flow cytometry, transwell assay and immunofluorescence staining. GSLCs displayed properties of neural stem cells, including elevated expression of the cancer stem cell marker ALDH1 and ß-catenin. We found that Tet treatment decreased sphere formation in GSLCs in a dose-dependent manner using tumor spheroid formation assay. The GSK3ß inhibitor BIO maintained sphere formation and migration capacity in GSLCs, whereas the ß-catenin/TCF transcription inhibitor ICG-001 decreased sphere formation and the migration capacity of GSLCs. The proportion of apoptotic GSLCs also increased in response to ICG-001 treatment. These results indicate that ß-catenin activity is vital in maintaining neural stem cell traits of GSLCs. Tet inhibits cell viability, neurosphere formation and migration of GSLCs in vitro. Importantly, Tet treatment significantly repressed the nuclear translocation and expression of ß-catenin and induced apoptosis in GSLCs, as indicated in part by the upregulation of Bax, the cleavage of PARP and the downregulation of Bcl-2. The present study demonstrates that the inhibition of ß-catenin in CSCs by Tet could be an effective strategy for the treatment of glioma.

Tetrandrine suppresses human glioma growth by inhibiting cell survival, proliferation and tumour angiogenesis through attenuating STAT3 phosphorylation.

Tetrandrine (Tet), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, has been reported to possess anti-tumour activity. However, its effects on human glioma remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Tet inhibited human glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo. It has been hypothesised that Tet inhibits glioma growth by affecting glioma cell survival, proliferation and vasculature in and around the xenograft tumour in the chick CAM model and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mediated these activities. Therefore, we conducted a detailed analysis of the inhibitory effects of Tet on cell survival using a TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis; on cell proliferation based on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen; and on angiogenesis using a CAM anti-angiogenesis assay. We used western blotting to investigate the role of STAT3 on the anti-glioma activities of Tet. The results revealed that Tet inhibited survival and proliferation in human glioma cells, impaired tumour angiogenesis and decreased the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 and its downstream proteins. In sum, our data indicate that STAT3 is involved in Tet-induced the regression of glioma growth by activating tumour cell apoptosis, inhibiting glioma cell proliferation and inhibiting angiogenesis.