Homoharringtonine induces apoptosis of endothelium and down－regulates VEGF expression of K562 cells

Homoharringtonine (HHT) has currently been used successfully in the treatment of acute and chronic myeloid leukemias and has been shown to induce apoptosis of different types of leukemic cells in vitro. Emerging evidence suggests that angiogenesis may play an important role in hematological malignancies, such as leukemia. However, whether HHT can relieve leukemia by anti-angiogenesis is still unknown. We investigated the anti-angiogenesis potential of HHT with the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304) and leukemic cell line (K562) in vitro. Cellular proliferation was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assessed by RT-PCR and VEGF protein production was detected by Western blot. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by HHT were discovered in ECV304 cells, and appeared in a dose- and time-dependent manner, Also, treatment with HHT caused down-regulation of VEGF mRNA expression in K562 cells in similar dose- and time-dependent manner and inhibition of VEGF protein production in K562 cells in response to the enhancing concentration of HHT. The results demonstrated that HHT could also induce apoptosis in endothelium and down-regulate VEGF expression in K562 cells. In conclusion, we believe HHT has anti-angiogenesis potential and speculate that HHT might exert its anti-leukemia effects via reduction of angiogenesis.     

Anti-TOSO antibody treatment promotes T cell activation-induced cell death （AICD） in vitro and in vivo

T cell activation-induced cell death （AICD）, that involves the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis, is very important for the maintenance of immune homeosta- sis. TOSO was firstly described as an inhibitor of Fas- mediated apoptosis and overexpressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Recently, TOSO was identified as IgM FcR. In this study, we produced anti-TOSO monoclonal antibody （mAb） that could block the binding of IgM to TOSO and found that T cell apoptosis is negatively cor- related with TOSO expression during T cell activation. Treatment of activated T cells with anti-TOSO blocking mAb promoted T cell AICD in in vitro AICD model, and treatment of xenogeneic-GVHD mice with the antibody also increased the sensitivity of activated T cells to Fas- induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by reduction of c-FLIPL expression and up-regulation of AP-1 complex. In summary, our data indicate the anti-apoptotic effect of TOSO in T cell AICD and open up new therapeutic prospects for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and immune disorders.     

MSH2 is required for cell proliferation, cell cycle control and cell invasiveness in colorectal cancer cells

We have investigated the role of MSH2,a mismatch repair gene in cell proliferation,cell cycle control and cell invasiveness in the SW480 human colorectal cancer cell line.RNAi-mediated inhibition of MSH2 expression was achieved using MSH2 shRNA lentiviral expression vectors.Effective knockdown of endogenous MSH2 expression was determined by real-time PCR analysis.The most efficient MSH2 knockdown vector was selected for subsequent studies using SW480 cells.Endogenous MSH2 mRNA levels decreased after lentiviral delivery of the MSH2-RNAi,indicating efficient silencing of MSH2 expression in SW480 cells.Cell proliferation,cell cycle progression and cell invasiveness were quantified by MTT assays,flow cytometry and transwell assays,respectively.RNAi-mediated inhibition of MSH2 expression in SW480 cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation,cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and decreased cell invasiveness.Taken together,these results provide evidence that MSH2 stimulates cell proliferation,promotes cell cycle progression and positively regulates cell invasiveness.     

Effects of Genistein on Cell Cycle and Apoptosis of Two Murine Melanoma Cell Lines

The effects of genistein on several tumor cell lines were investigated to study the effects of gen- istein on cell growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis of two murine melanoma cell lines, B16 and K1735M2. These two closely related murine melanoma cell lines, however, have different responses to the genistein treat- ment. Genistein inhibits the growth of both the B16 and K1735M2 cell lines and arrests the growth at the G2/M phase. After treatment with 60 μmol/L genistein for 72 h, apoptosis and caspase activities were de- tected in B16 cells, while such effects were not found in K1735M2. Further tests showed that after genistein treatment the protein content and mRNA levels of p53 increased in B16, but remained the same in K1735M2. The protein content and mRNA levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 increased in both cell lines after treatment. The results show that genistein might induce apoptosis in B16 cells by damaging the DNA, inhibiting topoi- somerase II, increasing p53 expression, releasing cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and activating the caspases which will lead to apoptosis.     

Partial inhibition of CDK4 gene expression leads to the extension of G1 phase of V79-8 cells

V79-8 is an abnormal cell line which does not have detectable G1 and G2 phases in its cell cycle. This cell line is derived from V79 cell line which has Gl phase but lacks G2 phase. By using an anti-sense approach, CDK4 gene expression was partially inhibited to find whether CDK4 might contribute to the lack of Gl phase in V79-8 cells. Anti-CDK4 anti-sense plasmid was constructed and used to transfect V79-8 cells. Clones of transfected cells (V79-8-asCDK4) were examined, in comparison with V79-8 cells, to determine its growth curve, cell doubling-time (GT), the level of CDK4 gene expression and the levels of expression of some other growth related genes. V79-8-asCDK4 cells showed a slower growth rate with a doubling time 2.5-h longer than that of V79-8 cells. A flow cytometry (FCM) analysis demonstrated that the 2.5 h increase of the doubling time of V79-8-asCDK4 cells was mainly due to the appearance of Gl phase because its G2 + M phase was not significantly different from that of V79-8 cells. The decrease of CDK4 gene expression in V79-8-asCDK4 cells was shown by Northern-blot. Changes in the expression levels of the growth-related genes TGF-β, cyclin D1 and Rb were also detected in V79-8-asCDK4 cells. CDK4 functions mainly in G1 and at the transition between G1 and S phases. Expression of an anti-sense CDK4 gene fragment reduces the levels of endogenous CDK4, CDK4/cyclinD kinase activity and the phosphorylation of Rb. These events may postpone the inactivation of the check-point leading to the delay of entry into S phase and the reappearance of G1 phase in V79-8-asCDK4 cells.     

Monitoring p21 mRNA expression in living cell based on molecular beacon fluorescence increasing rate

Studying the expression level of mRNA in living cells will offer tremendous opportunities for advancement in cell biology research, disease diagnostics, and drug discovery. In this paper, a molecular beacon （MB） specific for the important tumor suppressor gene p21 has been designed and synthesized. The fluorescence signal was detected in real-time after the MB entered the cytoplasm of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. After injecting the p21MB into nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell and p33-transfected nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell, the consistent increase of fluorescent signal intensity was detected in both cell lines, and maximum fluorescence intensity achieved in about 15 min. In about 4 min following microinjection, the fluorescence increasing rate was significantly different between these two cell lines, which indicate the different p21 mRNA expression levels. The results obtained in the real-time detection were also validated by RT-PCR. Analysis of the initial fluorescence increasing rate can efficiently reduce the side effect of enzyme and improve the accuracy in living cell mRNA detection.     

Germ cell transplantation in infertility mouse

This work investigated the spermatogenesis in an infertility BALB/c-nu mouse model by reinfusing germline stem cells into seminiferous tubules. Donor germ cells were isolated from male FVB/NJ-GFP trensgenic mice. Seminiferous tubule microinjection was applied to achieve intratubular germ cell transfer. The germ cells were injected into exposed testes of the infertility mice. We used green fluorescence and DNA analysis of donor cells from GFP transgenic mice as genetic marker. The natural mating and Southern blot methods were applied to analyze the effect of sperm cell transplantation and the sperm function after seminiferous tubule microinjection. The spermatogenesis was morphologically observed from the seminiferous tubules in 41/60 （68.33%） of the injected recipient mice using allogeneic donor cells. In the colonized testes, matured spermatozoa were seen in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In this research, BALB/c-nu infertility mouse model, the recipient animal, was used to avoid immunological rejection of donor cells, and germ cell transplantation was applied to overcome infertility caused by busulfan treatment. These results demonstrate that this technique of germ cell transplantation is of great use. Germ cell transplantation could be potentially valuable to oncological patients.     

Metformin targets liver tumor-initiating cells through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR survival pathway

Liver tumor-initiating cells （T-ICs） are thought to be inherently resistant to the cytotoxic effects of chemo- therapy, and can self-renewal and maintain tumor-initiating potential. Therefore, effective anticancer research strategies should target the unique properties of T-ICs. In this study, we found that metformin, a first-line drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, inhibited liver T-ICs both in vivo and in vitro. Metformin inhibited the formation of hepato- spheres and epithelial-specific antigen-positive （ESA, CD133＋） cell colonies by hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） cell lines. Metformin also downregulated the expression of several T-IC-related genes which are involved in the signal- ing pathways, governing the self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of T-ICs. Furthermore, the targeting of liver T-ICs by metformin was PI-3-kinase-Akt-mTOR （PI3K/Akt/ mTOR）-pathway dependent. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitorLY294002 and rapamycin abolished the inhibitory effect of metformin on CD133＋ cells, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR stimulator EGF promoted the inhibitory effect of mefformin on CD 133＋ cells. Metformin also dramatically decreased the tumor volume and number of CD133 expressing tumor cells in a xenograft mouse model. Mefformin exerted a synergistic effect with cisplatin to target both T-ICs and non-T-ICs, and resulted in the smallest tumor volume and lowest number of CD133 expressing tumor cells. This study indicates that the antidiabetic drug metformin could potentially be used in combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agents to improve the treatment of liver cancer.     

Effects of STAT3 antisense RNA on IL-6-induced differentiation and growth arrest of Ml leukemia cells

To investigate the biological roles of STAT3 in the regulation of growth and differentiation of leukemia cells, we modified a murine myeloid leukemia cell line Ml with STAT3 antisense RNA. The effects of STAT3 antisense RNA on the growth arrest and terminal differentiation of Ml cells induced by interleukin 6 (IL-6) were determined. It was found that STAT3 antisense RNA blocked the activation of STAT3, and reduced the growth arrest and terminal differentiation of IL-6-induced Ml leukemia cells. These results indicate that STAT3 activation is a necessary process for IL-6-induced growth arrest of Ml cells and for the differentiation of Ml cells into macrophage.     

Mechanism Research of Reducing Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance in the White Adipose Tissue by Knockdown of Neuropeptide Y Expression in the Dorsomedial Hypothalamus

This study investigated the specific mechanism of knockdown of neuropeptide Y(NPY) in reducing obesity-induced insulin resistance in the white adipose tissue. Adeno-associated virus(AAV)-mediated RNAi was utilized to downregulate NPY expression in rats fed either regular chow or high fat diet. By investigating the differences in rat body weight and food intake, we assessed the effect of knockdown of NPY expression on insulin sensitivity and β-cell proliferation. Glucose consumption and 2-[3 H]DG uptake in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes were assessed to determine the molecular mechanisms. The results showed that knockdown of NPY expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamus(DMH) reduced obesity-induced insulin resistance, increased glucose consumption, and decreased 2-[3 H]DG uptake in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes via the PI3 K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathways and the NPY Y5 receptor.     

3-MA 对阿霉素诱导 K562、K562 / ADM 细胞凋亡及其相关基因 mRNA 表达的影响

目的：通过自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-MA）对阿霉素（ADM）诱导白血病K562细胞及K562／ADM细胞的细胞效应和自噬基因Beclinl、凋亡抑制基因SurvivinmR．NA表达的变化观察,探讨自噬在细胞凋亡中的作用和机制．方法：体外培养K562和K562／ADM细胞,采用MTT法分别检测ADM及3-MA预处理对K562、K562／ADM细胞增殖的影响,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,实时RT—PCR法检测细胞自噬及凋亡相关基因（Beclinl、Survivin）mRNA表达的变化．结果：ADM可抑制K562与K562／ADM细胞增殖,且抑制作用呈现浓度与时间依赖性．ADM诱导组K562与K562／ADM细胞在24h、48h、72h细胞凋亡率均较空白对照组明显提高（P〈0．05）．在ADM诱导前,经3-MA预处理可使ADM诱导的K562与K562／ADM细胞抑制率和细胞凋亡率均较单用ADM显著提高（尸〈0．05）,Bedin1、SurvivinmRNA相对表达量均较单用ADM明显下降（P〈0．05）,呈正相关（r=0．827,P〈0．01）．结论：ADM可抑制K562、K562／ADM细胞的生长,并诱导细胞凋亡．3-MA通过抑制细胞的自噬可增强ADM诱导白血病细胞K562、K562／ADM的凋亡,其机制可能与下调BeclinlmRNA表达,而使Survivin表达受抑制有关．     

灵芪胶囊含药血清对K562白血病细胞影响

观察灵芪胶囊含药血清在体外对K562白血病细胞增殖的影响.采用血清药理学方法制备灵芪胶囊含药血清,以不同浓度的含药血清处理体外培养的K562白血病细胞,采用MTT比色法观察灵芪胶囊含药血清对K562细胞增殖的影响,采用Wright-Giemsa染色观察肿瘤细胞形态学变化.不同浓度灵芪胶囊含药血清对K562细胞增殖具有抑制作用,并呈剂量依赖关系.当含药血清作用96h后,其抑制作用开始减弱.高剂量LQC含药血清对K562细胞形态学有明显的影响.灵芪胶囊含药血清具有抑制K562白血病细胞增殖作用,其作用强度与时间-浓度呈正相关,其作用机理可能与其直接细胞毒作用有关.     

重组人促红细胞生成素对K562/A02多药耐药和K562药物敏感细胞增殖的影响

用ＭＴＴ法测定了重组人促红细胞生成素（ｒｈｕ－ＥＰＯ）对Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２多药耐药细胞系细胞和Ｋ５６２药物敏感细胞增殖的影响。研究发现,Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２与浓度为００７８、０１５６Ｕ／ｍＬ的促红素分别孵育时,其增殖活力比无ｒｈｕ－ＥＰＯ因子组低（Ｐ＜００１）;而Ｋ５６２与上述同样浓度的ｒｈｕ－ＥＰＯ孵育条件下,其增殖活力与无因子组比较差异无显著性意义（Ｐ＞０２０）。以上结果表明,ｒｈｕ－ＥＰＯ可能有抑制Ｋ５６２／Ａ０２细胞增殖的作用,而对Ｋ５６２细胞增殖无影响,提示ｒｈｕ－ＥＰＯ可能对多药耐药白血病的治疗有一些效果     

反义基因逆转肿瘤细胞多药耐药性和诱导细胞凋亡的研究

探讨克服肿瘤细胞多药耐药（ＭＤＲ１）性的方法,提高化疗效果。本文采用多药耐药反义基因（ＭＤＲ１－ＲＳＰＳ－ＯＤＮ）逆转Ｋ５６２／ＡＤＭ肿瘤细胞的ＭＤＲ１,诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,发现ＭＤＲ１－ＡＳＰＳ－ＯＤＮ诱导Ｋ５６２／ＡＤＭ细胞株细胞产生大量ＤＮＡ断片,ＦＡＣＳ检测发现几乎全部ＭＲＤ＋Ｋ５６２／ＡＤＭ细胞发生凋亡。其结果表明ＤＭＤＲ１－ＡＳＰＳ－ＯＤＮ能有效、特异地抑制ＭＤＲ１基因表达,逆转肿瘤细胞的ＭＤＲ１,促进阿霉素诱导ＭＤＲ＋１Ｋ５６２／ＡＤＭ细胞凋亡,为其临床应用提供理论依据     

mdr1介导的获得性多药耐药性在胃癌细胞SGC7901的自然逆转

目的:探讨mdr1介导的获得性多药耐药在胃癌细胞SGC7901的自然逆转情况.方法:将培养细胞分为SGC7901、加长春新碱(VCR)的SGC7901/VCR和停VCR 6个月的SGC7901/VCR(设为SGC7901/VCR-)3组,用RT-PCR和原位杂交检测mdr1 mRNA的表达,免疫印迹和免疫组化检测P-gp的表达,流式细胞仪检测阿霉素在细胞内的蓄积和潴留,MTT法检测细胞对化疗药物的敏感性.结果:SGC7901/VCR-组mdr1 mRNA和P-gp表达水平介于SGC7901和SGC7901/VCR之间.SGC7901/VCR-阿霉素蓄积和潴留均高于SGC7901/VCR,低于SGC7901(P<0.05).SGC7901/VCR-对化疗药物的IC50小于SGC7901/VCR,大于SGC7901(P<0.01);对DDP和ADR的耐药指数低于SGC7901/VCR(P<0.05).结论:停化疗药物6个月后,胃癌耐药细胞亚系SGC7901/VCR的多药耐药性降低,但未降到亲本SGC7901水平.     

辛伐他汀联合5-FU对K562细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的:探讨辛伐他汀(Sim)联合5-FU对白血病K562细胞增殖及凋亡的影响,探讨其作用机制。方法:体外培养人白血病K562细胞,用MTT法观察Sim联合5-FU对细胞的增殖抑制作用,实时荧光定量RT-PCR观察对bcr/abl融合基因mRNA表达水平的影响。流式细胞术、Hoechst33258染色观察Sim与5-FU联合应用诱导细胞凋亡的作用。结果:低浓度的Sim与5-FU联合应用在抑制细胞的增殖,诱导细胞凋亡,均较各单一高浓度用药组的作用明显增强,并且下调bcr/abl融合基因mRNA表达。结论:Sim与5-FU联用具有明显的协同抑制细胞增殖的作用,其作用机制可能与诱导细胞凋亡,下调bcr/abl融合基因的表达有关。     

血管内皮生长因子反义核酸增强HL60和K562细胞对As_2O_3的敏感性

目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)反义核酸能否提高HL60和K562细胞对三氧化二砷(As2O3)的敏感性。方法:采用经筛选所得的最优反义核酸(A7),20个碱基经过全硫代修饰;以脂质体介导转染细胞,反义核酸和As2O3联合作用72h以后,用MTT法检测细胞生长情况,求IC50值;用ELISA法检测培养液中VEGF蛋白的浓度,用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡百分数。结果:VEGF反义核酸可显著降低HL60、K562细胞对As2O3的IC50值,下调VEGF蛋白的表达,增加As2O3诱导的HL60、K562细胞凋亡作用。结论:VEGF反义核酸具有增强HL60和K562细胞对As2O3的敏感性,增强As2O3诱导的HL60和K562细胞凋亡作用;提示内源性VEGF蛋白具有使细胞产生耐药性的作用。     

菠萝蛋白酶诱导K562细胞分化及其对P53基因表达的影响

为进一步证实菠萝蛋白酶对肿瘤细胞的诱导分化作用,采用形态观察计数、血红蛋白定量测定、发光法测定细胞吞噬能力和Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ原位杂交法观察和检测了菠萝蛋白酶诱导Ｋ５６２细胞分化及其ｐ５３基因表达变化．结果显示,菠萝蛋白酶可诱导Ｋ５６２细胞向红系和粒／巨噬系两个方向分化;在菠萝蛋白酶作用下,ｐ５３基因于给药后８ｈ转录表达增强,２４ｈ达高峰,此后又下降,其时相变化先于分化发生．这些结果提示ｐ５３基因在Ｂｒｏｍｅｌａｉｎ诱导Ｋ５６２细胞分化过程中可能起启动分化的重要作用,有关机制尚待深入研究．     

BGC-823细胞中慢病毒途径针对HIF-1α基因的RNAi实验

目的：构建人HIF-1α基因的shRNA慢病毒载体、包装生产重组慢病毒颗粒,病毒途径高效感染胃癌细胞株BGC-823,并验证基因沉默效率。方法：在NCBI数据查找人HIF-1α基因序列,然后使用siRNA在线设计软件,设计针对基因CDS区的3条siRNA序列及Negative序列。根据设计好的siRNA序列设计双链互补的shRNA-Oligo DNA,退火形成双链后与线性化载体链接,构建shRNA重组表达载体。经由293TN细胞包装shRNA重组慢病毒颗粒,随后使用重组病毒感染BGC-823,通过荧光标记蛋白GFP确定感染效率后收集细胞样本,分别采用Real-time PCR和Western blot方法检测靶基因在mRNA和蛋白质水平的沉默效率。结果：shRNA重组表达载体测序结果与设计序列完全一致,包装病毒后滴度达到1×104 ifu/μL。慢病毒感染BGC-823细胞取得了极高的基因转导效率。mRNA检测结果显示,siRNA3对于对与目的基因的沉默效果最好,较阴性对照序列组相比较,mRNA的表达量下降了92%,Western blot检测的结果与mRNA检测结果完全相符合。结论：通过慢病毒途径,可以在BGC-823细胞中高效的进行HIF-1α基因的沉默。