[Effect of adenovirus-mediated shRNA down-regulates SHP2 expression on the apoptosis of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2].

Objective: To investigate the effect of adenovirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) downregulating SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) on the apoptosis of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 cultured in vitro. Methods: The recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/SHP2 carrying shRNA targeted SHP2 and expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the empty control virus Ad-GFP expressing GFP were transfected into LX-2 cells cultured in vitro. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect SHP2 mRNA expression in LX-2 cells. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of SHP2, Bax, and Bcl-2 in LX-2 cells. TUNEL and annexin-V/propidium iodide dual-labeled flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Experimental group: (1) Control group: LX-2 cells were transfected with DMEM instead of adenovirus; (2) Ad-GFP group: transfected with empty virus Ad-GFP; (3) Ad-shRNA/SHP2 group: transfected with recombinant adenovirus Ad-shRNA/SHP2. The means between multiple groups were compared using a one-way ANOVA and the LSD test was used for inter group comparisons. Results: shRNA-targeted SHP2 significantly down-regulated the expression of SHP2 protein and mRNA in LX-2 cells (P < 0.05). The TUNEL and annexin-V/propidium iodide dual-labeled flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of LX-2 cells in the Ad-shRNA/SHP2 group (12.755%±1.606%, 19.340%±2.505%) (P < 0.05) was significantly higher compared to the control group (3.077%±0.731%, 9.438%±0.804%) and the Ad-GFP group (3.250%±0.851%, 8.893%±1.982%), with no statistically significant difference between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Western blot analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in LX-2 cells of each group revealed that the Bax protein expression was significantly higher in the Ad shRNA/SHP2 group (2.493 ± 0.203) (P < 0.05) compared to the control group and Ad-GFP group (1.989 ± 0.147, 1.999 ± 0.162), with no statistically significant difference between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05), while the Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased in the Ad-shRNA/SHP2 group (1.042±0.148) compared with the control group and the Ad-GFP group (1.707±0.146, 1.521±0.142), with no statistically significant difference between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: SHP2 expression down-regulation induces apoptosis of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 in vitro by reducing Bcl-2/Bax.

Expression analysis of VfDGAT2 in various tissues of the tung tree and in transgenic yeast.

The tung tree (Vernicia fordii Hemsl.; Vf) has great potential as an industrial crop owning to its seed oil that has multiple uses. Diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) catalyze the last and most committed step of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis. In order to examine the physiological role of the VfDGAT2 gene in the tung tree, we characterized its expression profiles in different tung tissues/organs and seeds at different developmental stages. Oil content and α-eleostearic acid production during seed development were also examined. Expression studies showed that VfDGAT2 was expressed in all tissues tested, with the highest expression in developing seeds where the expression was about 19-fold more than that in leaves. VfDGAT2 showed temporal-specific expression during seed development and maturation. Notably, the expression of VfDGAT2 in developing seeds was found to be consistent with tung oil accumulation and α-eleostearic acid production. The expression level of VfDGAT2 was lower in the early stages of oil accumulation and α-eleostearic acid biosynthesis, rapidly increased during the peak periods of fatty acid synthesis in August, and then decreased during completion of the accumulation period at the end of September. When the VfDGAT2 gene was transferred to the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula glutinis, its expression was detected along with fatty acid products. The results showed that VfDGAT2 was highly expressed in transgenic yeast clones, and the total fatty acid content in one of these clones, VfDGAT2-3, was 7.8-fold more than that in the control, indicating that VfDGAT2 contributed to fatty acid accumulation into TAG and might be a target gene for improving tung oil composition through genetic engineering.

LncRNA TSLNC8 inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cell through the miR-214-3p/FOXP2 axis.

OBJECTIVE: In multiple cancers, heterozygosity is frequently lost for the tumor-suppressive long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). The expression, function, and molecular mechanisms of tumor suppressive lncRNA on chromosome 8p12 (TSLNC8) in breast cancer are still unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: QRT-PCR assays were carried out to evaluate the level of TSLNC8 in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. MTT, colony formation, and anchorage-independent growth assays were performed to investigate the effect of TSLNC8 on cell proliferation, and flow cytometry assays were conducted to detect cell percent of different phases. Luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the interaction of different molecules. RESULTS: TSLNC8 is significantly increased in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Up-regulation of TSLNC8 reduces the proliferation capacity of breast cancer cells and the transition from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. Further analysis indicated that TSLNC8 could directly bind to miR-214-3p. Up-regulation of miR-214-3p may attenuate the suppressive role of TSLNC8 on the proliferation capacity of breast cancer cells. Moreover, miR-214-3p was found to directly interact with the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of Forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) in luciferase assays, suggesting that FOXP2 may be one of the downstream targets of miR-412-3p. CONCLUSIONS: TSLNC8 was found to inhibit the proliferation and G1/S phase transition of breast cancer cells, an effect mediated by miR-214-3p/FOXP2 axis. Our study provides evidence that TSLNC8 may act as a suppressive lncRNA and represent a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer therapy.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of resveratrol-loaded nanocapsules in colon cancer cells: physicochemical and biological characterization.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of present work was to prepare resveratrol-loaded lipid-core-nanocapsule (RSV-LNC) and to characterize its ability to target the colon cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lipid-core nanocapsule was prepared by precipitation method. The nanoparticle was prepared and evaluated regarding physical, chemical and biological parameters. RESULTS: The average size of optimized nanocapsule was ~159 nm with a uniform size distribution index of 0.15 (PDI). The RSV-LNC showed a controlled and sustained release pattern with maximum release up to ~70% by the end of 48h study period. LNC showed an excellent cellular uptake potential. LNC showed a typical endocytosis-mediated cellular internalization process and located in the cell cytoplasm. DISCUSSION: Importantly, RSV encapsulated in a nanocapsule showed a superior anticancer effect in HT29 cancer cells than compared to that of free RSV. Consistently, RSV-LNC showed a remarkable ~36% of cell apoptosis indicating its superior anticancer effect. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the in vitro studies, RSV encapsulated in a nanocapsule showed promising potential to increase the therapeutic efficacy in colon cancer cells; however, further studies on animal models are warranted to confirm the improved effects of RSV nanoformulations.

Alternative heterocycles for DNA recognition: a 3-pyrazole/pyrrole pair specifies for G.C base pairs.

Synthetic ligands comprising three aromatic amino acids, pyrrole (Py), imidazole (Im), and hydroxypyrrole (Hp), specifically recognize predetermined sequences as side-by-side pairs in the minor groove of DNA. To expand the repertoire of aromatic rings that may be utilized for minor groove recognition, three five-membered heterocyclic rings, 3-pyrazolecarboxylic acid (3-Pz), 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid (4-Pz), and furan-2-carboxylic acid (Fr), were examined at the N-terminus of eight-ring hairpin polyamide ligands. The DNA binding properties of 3-Pz, 4-Pz, and Fr each paired with Py were studied by quantitative DNase I footprinting titrations on a 283 bp DNA restriction fragment containing four 6-bp binding sites 5'-ATNCCTAA-3' (N = G, C, A, or T; 6-bp polyamide binding site is underlined). The pair 3-Pz/Py has increased binding affinity and sequence specificity for G.C bp compared with Im/Py.

Naloxone blocks the cardiac effects of myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion in the rat isolated heart.

The effects of naloxone on contractility and cardiac rhythm were studied in the rat isolated perfused heart during myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. Pretreatment of the rat isolated perfused heart with naloxone abolished the reduction in left ventricular pressures and attenuated greatly the arrhythmias due to myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. Administration of naloxone into the fibrillating rat isolated heart induced by myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion also attenuated the arrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate a possible involvement of the endogenous opioid peptides in the cardiac effects due to myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. The antiarrhythmic effect of naloxone has great clinical implications.