Early circulating erythroid progenitors (BFU-E) in sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SS) patients can be divided into two sub-populations according to peripheral HbF levels. Patients with low (<9%) HbF levels (LFSS) are characterized by an increased number of circulating BFU-E in active DNA synthesis, and release of burst promoting activity (BPA) by unstimulated low density (LD) adherent cells. In contrast, circulating BFU-E from SS patients with high (>9%) HbF levels (HFSS) are normal in number, largely in resting phase, and their LD cells do not release BPA-like activity.More recently further heterogeneity has been found among these two groups. In LFSS patients GM-CSF is constitutively produced by unstimulated monocytes. In contrast, HFSS patients' adherent cell depletion increases cycling of BFU-E in culture. CM from HFSS patients inhibits BFU-E expression in culture. Hence, LD adherent cells from HFSS patients may release an inhibitory factor(s). The nature of this factor has to be determined.In addition, there are distinct subpopulations of BFU-E responsiveness to growth factor (GM-CSF, IL-3): a) LFSS patients have a homogeneous BFU-E population, equally responsive to GM-CSF and IL-3; b) HFSS patients, in addition to this subpopulation, have a subset of BFU-E dependent exclusively on IL-3 which is 20 to 40% of the total number of circulating BFU-E. This is similar to BFU-E from normal individuals. Hence, LFSS BFU-E represent an actively proliferating population, equally responsive to GM-CSF and IL-3, controlled by at least constitutively produced GM-CSF and possibly other factors.These observations suggest a significant modification in BFU-E behavior in the subset of SS patients with low HbF levels and high hemopoietic stress. The heterogenous regulation of BFU-E in SS disease seems to be an epiphenomenon of HbF levels, and not vice-versa.     

HAb18G/CD147-mediated calcium mobilization and hepatoma metastasis require both C-terminal and N-terminal domains

HAb18G/CD147 is a heavily glycosylated protein containing two immunoglobulin superfamily domains. Our previous studies have indicated that overexpression of HAb18G/CD147 enhances metastatic potentials in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry by nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP. In the present study, we investigated the structure-function of HAb18G/CD147 by transfecting truncated HAb18G/CD147 fragments into human 7721 hepatoma cells. The inhibitory effect of HAb18G/CD147 on 8-bromo-cGMP-regulated thapsigargin-induced Ca²⁺ entry was reversed by the expression of either C or N terminus truncated HAb18G/CD147 in T7721C and T7721N cells, respectively. The potential effect of HAb18G/CD147 on metastatic potentials, both adhesion and invasion capacities, of hepatoma cells was abolished in T7721C cells, but not affected in T7721N cells. Release and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, were found to be enhanced by the expression of HAb18G/CD147, and this effect was abolished by both truncations. Thapsigargin significantly enhanced release and activation of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in non-transfected 7721 cells, and this effect was negatively regulated by SNAP. However, no effects of thapsigargin or SNAP were observed in T7721 cells, and expression of HAb18G/CD147 enhanced secretion and activation of MMPs at a stable and high level. Taken together, these results suggest that both ectodomain and intracellular domains of HAb18G/CD147 are required to mediate the effect of HAb18G/CD147 on the secretion and activation of MMPs and metastasis-related processes in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of NO/cGMP-sensitive intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization although each domain may play different roles.Received 1 April 2004; received after revision 15 June 2004; accepted 22 June 2004     

EGF-induced programmed cell death of human mammary carcinoma MDA-MB-468 cells is preceded by activation of AP-1

MDA-MB-468 is a human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line that overexpresses the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and undergoes programmed cell death (apoptosis) in response to EGF treatment. Programmed cell death was shown to be greatly enhanced when cells were growth-arrested prior to EGF treatment. Apoptosis was characterized by an initial rounding up and detachment of the cells from their substrate starting about 12 h after EGF treatment, followed by chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of the DNA at about 24 to 48 h. Cell death was dependent on de novo protein synthesis. We found a rapid induction of c-fos, c-jun and junB at the mRNA level after about 30 min of EGF treatment and a more delayed upregulation of fosB and fra-1. The junD gene was expressed in the absence of EGF, and it was moderately induced within 30 min of growth factor addition. The increase of the different fos and jun mRNAs were paralleled by an increase of activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity. A characterization of the AP-1 complex revealed similar levels of several Fos and Jun proteins. Based on the kinetics of AP-1 accumulation and cell death, it seems likely that AP-1 contributes to the apoptotic cell death of EGF receptor-overexpressing MDA-MB-468 cells. Received 21 July 1997; received after revision 6 November 1997; accepted 6 November 1997     

Epigenetic regulation of mmp-9 gene expression

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is one of the most studied enzymes in cancer. MMP-9 can cleave proteins of the extracellular matrix and a large number of receptors and growth factors. Accordingly, its expression must be tightly regulated to avoid excessive enzymatic activity, which is associated with disease progression. Although we know that epigenetic mechanisms play a central role in controlling mmp-9 gene expression, predicting how epigenetic drugs could be used to suppress mmp-9 gene expression is not trivial because epigenetic drugs also regulate the expression of key proteins that can tip the balance towards activation or suppression of MMP-9. Here, we review how our understanding of the biology and expression of MMP-9 could be exploited to augment clinical benefits, most notably in terms of the prevention and management of degenerative diseases and cancer.     

Fank1 interacts with Jab1 and regulates cell apoptosis via the AP-1 pathway

Regulation of apoptosis at various stages of differentiation plays an important role in spermatogenesis. Therefore, the identification and characterisation of highly expressed genes in the testis that are involved in apoptosis is of great value to delineate the mechanism of spermatogenesis. Here, we reported that Fank1, a novel gene highly expressed in testis, functioned as an anti-apoptotic protein that activated the activator protein 1 (AP-1) pathway. We found that Jab1 (Jun activation domain-binding protein 1), a co-activator of AP-1, specifically interacted with Fank1. Reporter analyses showed that Fank1 activated AP-1 pathway in a Jab1-dependent manner. Fank1 overexpression also increased the expression and activation of endogenous c-Jun. Further study showed that Fank1 inhibited cell apoptosis by upregulating and activating endogenous c-Jun and its downstream target, Bcl-3. This process was shown to be Jab1 dependent. Taken together, our results indicated that by interacting with Jab1, Fank1 could suppress cell apoptosis by activating the AP-1-induced anti-apoptotic pathway.     

甘氨双唑钠对鼻咽癌移植瘤的时辰放射增敏作用

目的 观察甘氨双唑钠（CMNa）联合时辰放疗对鼻咽癌祼鼠移植瘤的时辰放射增敏作用,并探讨其作用机制.方法 将荷瘤裸鼠随机分为3组：放疗组、放疗＋CMNa组、空白对照组,每组分3HALO（光照后小时,hours after light onset）、9HALO、15HALO、21HALO四个时辰进行相应处理.测定肿瘤再生长延长时间（regrowth delay time,TGD）,绘制生长曲线.用免疫组化法检测各组肿瘤标本中HIF-1α、γ-H2AX和凋亡蛋白的表达.结果 通过对各组TGD的比较.以放疗＋CMNa组对肿瘤的抑制效果最好.在该组中,TGD：15HALO＞21HALO＞9HALO＞3HALO,15HALO与3HALO的TGD比较有统计学意义 15HALO与3HALO的HIF-1α、γ-H2AX及凋亡蛋白的表达水平比较有统计学意义.结论 甘氨双唑钠联合时辰放疗对鼻咽癌裸鼠移植瘤有明显的时辰放射增敏作用,以15HALO放疗＋CMNa组对肿瘤的抑制效果最佳.其机制可能与HIF-1α的表达.DNA双链损伤,凋亡有关.     

PPARδ inhibits IL-1β-stimulated proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via up-regulation of IL-1Ra

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ by GW501516, a specific PPARδ ligand, significantly inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β-induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This effect of GW501516 was dependent on transforming growth factor-β, and was mediated through the up-regulation of IL-1 receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of GW501516 on VSMC proliferation was associated with cell cycle arrest at the G1 to S phase transition, which was accompanied by the induction of p21 and p53 along with decreased cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression. Inhibition of cell migration by GW501516 was associated with the down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in IL-1β-treated VSMCs. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase significantly reduced the GW501516-mediated inhibition of IL-1β-stimulated VSMC proliferation. These results suggest that PPARδ plays an important role in the pathophysiology of diseases associated with the proliferation and migration of VSMCs.     

RNA干扰靶向沉默COX 2基因对MG 63骨肉瘤细胞生物学特性的研究

目的 通过构建小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)降低MG 63骨肉瘤细胞环氧合酶 2(COX 2)基因的表达,并进一步研究其对MG 63骨肉瘤细胞增值、侵袭、迁移能力的影响及分子机制。方法 设计靶向干扰COX 2基因的siRNA,通过脂质体转染MG 63骨肉瘤细胞,使其抑制MG 63骨肉瘤细胞COX 2基因的表达,后采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法、Transwell小室实验研究其对MG 63骨肉瘤细胞增殖、侵袭、迁移能力的影响,采用RFQ PCR和Western blot分别从基因和蛋白的水平检测MG 63骨肉瘤细胞侵袭性相关因子基质金属酶(MMP 9)的表达及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达。结果 转染MG 63骨肉瘤细胞后,实验组与阴性对照组和空白对照组比较,通过RFQ PCR和Western blot检测COX 2基因表达降低约90%(P0.05),MTT检测MG 63骨肉瘤细胞增值能力明显受到抑制(P0.05),Transwell实验检测MG 63骨肉瘤细胞侵袭、迁移能力明显下降(P0.05),经RFQ PCR、Western blot检测侵袭性相关因子MMP 9和血管内皮生长因子VEGF的mRNA及蛋白表达降低(P0.05)。空白对照组和阴性对照组比较无明显变化,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 人MG 63骨肉瘤细胞COX 2基因被抑制后,MG 63骨肉瘤细胞增值、侵袭、迁移能力明显下降。     

darbufelone对胃癌SGC-7901细胞裸鼠移植瘤血管生成的影响

目的观察环氧合酶-2／5-脂氧合酶双重抑制剂darbufelone对人胃癌皮下移植瘤血管生成的影响，并初步探讨其机制。方法建立裸鼠实体瘤模型，随机分为darbufelone组和对照组，darbufelone及生理盐水分别连续灌服4周。测量肿瘤质量、体积，计算抑瘤率；免疫组化检测CD34并计算微血管密度；RT—PCR法及Western blot法分析移植瘤组织中MMP-9、VEGF的表达。结果darbufelone可明显抑制裸鼠移植瘤的生长，质量抑瘤率为58．42％，体积抑瘤率为67．13％。darbufelone组的微血管密度（MVD）（15．36±0．30）明显低于对照组（29．47±0．63）（P〈0．05）；darbufelone组肿瘤组织中VEGF及MMP-9在基因水平及蛋白水平的表达（P〈0．05）。结论darbufelone能有效抑制裸鼠移植瘤的生长，减少移植瘤组织中VEGF及MMP-9的表达，抑制肿瘤的微血管生成，具有抗血管生成的作用。     

Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响

目的 观察基膜聚糖(Lumican)基因过度表达对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响.方法 以携带人Lumican基因的重组慢病毒感染A549细胞,用嘌呤霉素(puromycin)筛选法建立稳定细胞株.分别用Real-time PCR和Western blotting方法检测A549细胞组、空载体组及Lumican感染组目的基因mRNA和蛋白的表达.运用MTT法研究Lumican基因对A549细胞增殖的影响.运用Transwell法检测Lumican基因对A549细胞侵袭的影响.结果 ①各组Lumican mRNA表达差异显著(x2=21.60,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=102.86,P＜0.000 1),Lumican感染组的蛋白表达水平高于其它两组.②Lumican感染组在不同时间(1、2、3、4、5 d)OD(吸光度)值与A549细胞组和空载体组差异不显著(P＞0.05).③各组穿膜细胞数差异显著(x2=23.49,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=73.92,P＜0.001).结论 成功构建了Lumican高表达的人肺腺癌A549稳定细胞株,Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞的体外增殖能力无影响,但能增强人肺腺癌细胞的体外侵袭能力.