Metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1 encodes peptide ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor

Metastasis is a major cause of death in cancer patients and involves a multistep process including detachment of cancer cells from a primary cancer, invasion of surrounding tissue, spread through circulation, re-invasion and proliferation in distant organs. KiSS-1 is a human metastasis suppressor gene, that suppresses metastases of human melanomas and breast carcinomas without affecting tumorigenicity. However, its gene product and functional mechanisms have not been elucidated. Here we show that KiSS-1 (refs 1, 4) encodes a carboxy-terminally amidated peptide with 54 amino-acid residues, which we have isolated from human placenta as the endogenous ligand of an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (hOT7T175) and have named 'metastin'. Metastin inhibits chemotaxis and invasion of hOT7T175-transfected CHO cells in vitro and attenuates pulmonary metastasis of hOT7T175-transfected B16-BL6 melanomas in vivo. The results suggest possible mechanisms of action for KiSS-1 and a potential new therapeutic approach.     

RNA sequencing of pancreatic circulating tumour cells implicates WNT signalling in metastasis

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) shed into blood from primary cancers include putative precursors that initiate distal metastases. Although these cells are extraordinarily rare, they may identify cellular pathways contributing to the blood-borne dissemination of cancer. Here, we adapted a microfluidic device for efficient capture of CTCs from an endogenous mouse pancreatic cancer model and subjected CTCs to single-molecule RNA sequencing, identifying Wnt2 as a candidate gene enriched in CTCs. Expression of WNT2 in pancreatic cancer cells suppresses anoikis, enhances anchorage-independent sphere formation, and increases metastatic propensity in vivo. This effect is correlated with fibronectin upregulation and suppressed by inhibition of MAP3K7 (also known as TAK1) kinase. In humans, formation of non-adherent tumour spheres by pancreatic cancer cells is associated with upregulation of multiple WNT genes, and pancreatic CTCs revealed enrichment for WNT signalling in 5 out of 11 cases. Thus, molecular analysis of CTCs may identify candidate therapeutic targets to prevent the distal spread of cancer.     

Gene expression profiling predicts clinical outcome of breast cancer

Breast cancer patients with the same stage of disease can have markedly different treatment responses and overall outcome. The strongest predictors for metastases (for example, lymph node status and histological grade) fail to classify accurately breast tumours according to their clinical behaviour. Chemotherapy or hormonal therapy reduces the risk of distant metastases by approximately one-third; however, 70-80% of patients receiving this treatment would have survived without it. None of the signatures of breast cancer gene expression reported to date allow for patient-tailored therapy strategies. Here we used DNA microarray analysis on primary breast tumours of 117 young patients, and applied supervised classification to identify a gene expression signature strongly predictive of a short interval to distant metastases ('poor prognosis' signature) in patients without tumour cells in local lymph nodes at diagnosis (lymph node negative). In addition, we established a signature that identifies tumours of BRCA1 carriers. The poor prognosis signature consists of genes regulating cell cycle, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. This gene expression profile will outperform all currently used clinical parameters in predicting disease outcome. Our findings provide a strategy to select patients who would benefit from adjuvant therapy.     

Blockade of RAGE-amphoterin signalling suppresses tumour growth and metastases

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a multi-ligand member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules, interacts with distinct molecules implicated in homeostasis, development and inflammation, and certain diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Engagement of RAGE by a ligand triggers activation of key cell signalling pathways, such as p21ras, MAP kinases, NF-kappaB and cdc42/rac, thereby reprogramming cellular properties. RAGE is a central cell surface receptor for amphoterin, a polypeptide linked to outgrowth of cultured cortical neurons derived from developing brain. Indeed, the co-localization of RAGE and amphoterin at the leading edge of advancing neurites indicated their potential contribution to cellular migration, and in pathologies such as tumour invasion. Here we demonstrate that blockade of RAGE-amphoterin decreased growth and metastases of both implanted tumours and tumours developing spontaneously in susceptible mice. Inhibition of the RAGE-amphoterin interaction suppressed activation of p44/p42, p38 and SAP/JNK MAP kinases; molecular effector mechanisms importantly linked to tumour proliferation, invasion and expression of matrix metalloproteinases.     

Involvement of chemokine receptors in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer is characterized by a distinct metastatic pattern involving the regional lymph nodes, bone marrow, lung and liver. Tumour cell migration and metastasis share many similarities with leukocyte trafficking, which is critically regulated by chemokines and their receptors. Here we report that the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR7 are highly expressed in human breast cancer cells, malignant breast tumours and metastases. Their respective ligands CXCL12/SDF-1alpha and CCL21/6Ckine exhibit peak levels of expression in organs representing the first destinations of breast cancer metastasis. In breast cancer cells, signalling through CXCR4 or CCR7 mediates actin polymerization and pseudopodia formation, and subsequently induces chemotactic and invasive responses. In vivo, neutralizing the interactions of CXCL12/CXCR4 significantly impairs metastasis of breast cancer cells to regional lymph nodes and lung. Malignant melanoma, which has a similar metastatic pattern as breast cancer but also a high incidence of skin metastases, shows high expression levels of CCR10 in addition to CXCR4 and CCR7. Our findings indicate that chemokines and their receptors have a critical role in determining the metastatic destination of tumour cells.     

Progress in Research on the Role of Angiomotins in Cancer

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and its overall morbidity and mortality have been increasing every year. The growth, invasion and metastasis of cancer are vital traits of malignancy causing extreme difficulties in therapeutic management. These behavioral characteristics of cancer are closely related to tumor angiogenesis. The argument was put forward that tumorigenesis depended on the formation of new blood vessels, which gained insight into a promising treatment strategy for cancer based on the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. To date, many new therapeutic strategies targeting tumor vessels are universally accepted and become a hotspot in oncology research. Angiomotin(Amot), encoded by Amot gene, is expressed predominantly in endothelial cells of capillaries as well as larger vessels of the placenta. During the formation of new blood vessels, Amot may play an inhibitory effect of angiostatin on tube formation and the migration of endothelial cells toward growth factors. In this review, we summarized the structure and function of Amot, and its mechanism and research progress in cancer.     

RhoE促进胃癌转移及其分子机制

摘要：目的 探讨RhoE对胃癌转移的影响及可能的机制。方法 Western Blot(WB)和免疫组织化学检测RhoE蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达;WB,半定量PCR检测RhoE 蛋白和mRNA在转移潜能不同的胃癌细胞系中的表达;利用RhoE的正义表达载体稳定转染胃癌细胞系SGC7901,通过迁移实验、侵袭实验检测其对胃癌细胞体外迁移、侵袭能力的影响。WB检测改变胃癌细胞中RhoE表达后基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）表达变化。结果 RhoE蛋白在胃癌组织和细胞系中的表达与胃癌转移相关联;上调RhoE表达能促进胃癌细胞的体外迁移能力和侵袭能力MMP9表达也随之上调。结论 本实验率先证实RhoE能够促进胃癌转移,这一作用可能是通过上调MMP9实现的。     

Aneuploidy and cancer

In contrast to normal cells, aneuploidy--alterations in the number of chromosomes--is consistently observed in virtually all cancers. A growing body of evidence suggests that aneuploidy is often caused by a particular type of genetic instability, called chromosomal instability, which may reflect defects in mitotic segregation in cancer cells. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to aneuploidy holds promise for the development of cancer drugs that target this process.     

储层损害对致密砂岩气体传质效率影响实验研究

在致密砂岩储层流体敏感性、工作液损害评价基础上,利用岩心流动仪开展储层损害后致密岩样气体传质实验,探讨储层损害程度与类型对致密砂岩气体传质影响.实验结果表明,外来液相、固相侵入储层造成不可逆的储层损害,损害程度越高气体传质效率越低,即使增大驱替压差也不能恢复致密砂岩气体传质能力.研究揭示,实现全过程储层保护将是致密砂岩气藏经济开发的重要保证.     

人肽基脯氨酰顺反异构酶基因的克隆、表达、纯化及热变性交联

蛋白质分子间交联是普遍存在的现象．然而，蛋白质交联的分子机理还不太清楚．为了进一步探测蛋白质交联的分子机理，以及交联能否在异源肽链间发生，本实验室克隆了人肽基脯氨酰顺反异构酶(human Peptidylproly-Cis-trans-isomerase，hPPI)cyclophilin cDNA基因，并纯化出了PPI蛋白．最后，将PPI和．lysozyme蛋白进行热变性交联实验，结果显示在同源和异源肽链间都有二聚体和多聚体形成．并证实蛋白质交联可经三步完成：1)蛋白质构象包括二级结构改变；2)形成分子间二硫键；3)形成分子间异肽键．     

华南地区严重危害入侵植物薇甘菊和五爪金龙入侵机制研究

 薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha H.B.K.）和五爪金龙（Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet）是近年来在华南地区造成严重入侵危害的2种恶性杂草.该文综述了它们与入侵性相关的生理生态特征以及化感作用.同时,根据2种植物在入侵机理方面的研究现状,分析和展望了后续研究中值得关注的研究方向.     

绿茶提取物EGCG治疗乳腺癌分子机制的生物信息学分析

在PubChem数据库中查找绿茶提取物茶多酚(EGCG)活性靶蛋白,从Gene数据库中查找乳腺癌相关基因,运用Ingenuity Pathway Analysis(IPA)软件,构建二者信号通路和分子网络并进行分析.结果显示:二者共同作用的通路有235条,排在前面的主要是癌症分子机制通路、炎症反应通路、糖皮质激素受体信号通路、NF-κB信号通路;共同的分子网络有5个,也主要体现在"转录后修饰与调控,细胞生长、发育,DNA的复制、重组、修复,细胞死亡与生存"等生物学功能上.     

药物诱导肿瘤细胞有丝分裂灾难机制研究

有丝分裂灾难是一种发生在细胞有丝分裂期,由于细胞分裂出现异常而造成的细胞死亡的现象,它通常伴随着细胞周期检查点异常或纺锤体结构的损伤而发生.近年来诱导肿瘤细胞发生有丝分裂灾难成为开发抗肿瘤药物的新分子靶向目标,为对传统化疗药物具有耐药性的肿瘤治疗开辟新的途径.对近年来有关有丝分裂灾难的特征以及药物诱导肿瘤细胞发生有丝分裂灾难机制的研究进展进行全面综述,为发现抗肿瘤新靶点和抗肿瘤新药提供参考依据.     

Transcriptional regulation of a metastasis suppressor gene by Tip60 and beta-catenin complexes

Defining the molecular strategies that integrate diverse signalling pathways in the expression of specific gene programmes that are critical in homeostasis and disease remains a central issue in biology. This is particularly pertinent in cancer biology because downregulation of tumour metastasis suppressor genes is a common occurrence, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well established. Here we report that the downregulation of a metastasis suppressor gene, KAI1, in prostate cancer cells involves the inhibitory actions of beta-catenin, along with a reptin chromatin remodelling complex. This inhibitory function of beta-catenin-reptin requires both increased beta-catenin expression and recruitment of histone deacetylase activity. The coordinated actions of beta-catenin-reptin components that mediate the repressive state serve to antagonize a Tip60 coactivator complex that is required for activation; the balance of these opposing complexes controls the expression of KAI1 and metastatic potential. The molecular mechanisms underlying the antagonistic regulation of beta-catenin-reptin and the Tip60 coactivator complexes for the metastasis suppressor gene, KAI1, are likely to be prototypic of a selective downregulation strategy for many genes, including a subset of NF-kappaB target genes.     

Snail的结构及功能与肿瘤生长侵袭的研究进展

Snail为锌指蛋白超家族的第一个成员,在转录调控、形成抑制性染色质结构、细胞信号和发育过程中发挥积极作用。也可以由于放松管制而导致疾病。有研究表明,Snail可促使上皮-间质转化及E-cadherin和桥粒芯糖蛋白的降解,在胃癌、结肠癌、肝癌、卵巢癌、头颈部鳞状细胞癌等许多肿瘤组织中呈中高表达,被认为是促进肿瘤侵袭转移的因素。对Snail的深入研究不仅能更进一步阐明Snail的作用机制,并且为进一步研究以Snail为靶点的肿瘤治疗策略提供理论依据。本文对Snail的结构、功能以及Snail与肿瘤生长与侵袭进行了综述。     

Proton-sensing G-protein-coupled receptors

Blood pH is maintained in a narrow range around pH 7.4 mainly through regulation of respiration and renal acid extrusion. The molecular mechanisms involved in pH homeostasis are not completely understood. Here we show that ovarian cancer G-protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1), previously described as a receptor for sphingosylphosphorylcholine, acts as a proton-sensing receptor stimulating inositol phosphate formation. The receptor is inactive at pH 7.8, and fully activated at pH 6.8-site-directed mutagenesis shows that histidines at the extracellular surface are involved in pH sensing. We find that GPR4, a close relative of OGR1, also responds to pH changes, but elicits cyclic AMP formation. It is known that the skeleton participates in pH homeostasis as a buffering organ, and that osteoblasts respond to pH changes in the physiological range, but the pH-sensing mechanism operating in these cells was hitherto not known. We detect expression of OGR1 in osteosarcoma cells and primary human osteoblast precursors, and show that these cells exhibit strong pH-dependent inositol phosphate formation. Immunohistochemistry on rat tissue sections confirms the presence of OGR1 in osteoblasts and osteocytes. We propose that OGR1 and GPR4 are proton-sensing receptors involved in pH homeostasis.     

库车山前致密砂岩气藏储层伤害分析及控制对策研究

库车山前致密砂岩气藏目前有效解决顺利钻进问题;而钻完井过程中并未形成配套的储层保护技术。以大北区块为例,分析岩性物性、裂缝、温压等的储层特征,进行岩石敏感性、液相圈闭、钻井液动态损害评价等实验;并在对钻井液中固相颗粒、滤液、处理剂吸附原因分析的基础上,确定当前储层伤害的主要机理。依据储层损害机理,提出应对策略,主要包括:提高抑制能力和减少工作液侵入能够有效的减小岩石敏感性和液相圈闭损害;应用高效的暂堵和快速封堵技术可有效减少渗流通道堵塞损害;调整完井工艺措施是当前减小应力敏感性损害的主要方法。     

Global histone modification patterns predict risk of prostate cancer recurrence

Aberrations in post-translational modifications of histones have been shown to occur in cancer cells but only at individual promoters; they have not been related to clinical outcome. Other than being targeted to promoters, modifications of histones, such as acetylation and methylation of lysine and arginine residues, also occur over large regions of chromatin including coding regions and non-promoter sequences, which are referred to as global histone modifications. Here we show that changes in global levels of individual histone modifications are also associated with cancer and that these changes are predictive of clinical outcome. Through immunohistochemical staining of primary prostatectomy tissue samples, we determined the percentage of cells that stained for the histone acetylation and dimethylation of five residues in histones H3 and H4. Grouping of samples with similar patterns of modifications identified two disease subtypes with distinct risks of tumour recurrence in patients with low-grade prostate cancer. These histone modification patterns were predictors of outcome independently of tumour stage, preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels, and capsule invasion. Thus, widespread changes in specific histone modifications indicate previously undescribed molecular heterogeneity in prostate cancer and might underlie the broad range of clinical behaviour in cancer patients.     

井底压差对岩石破碎的影响机制

综合地层应力、井底压力、孔隙压力以及牙齿吃入地层引起的应力,建立牙齿吃入深度的表达式,依据摩尔-库伦准则建立钻头牙齿吃入地层的岩石破碎模型。将综合地层和钻井参数因素的误差函数β与深度x的比值作为欠平衡钻井的应用参考参数,计算各种压差和β/x条件下的吃入深度,并分析其变化规律。结果表明:在压差的作用下,具有渗透率和孔隙度的待破碎薄地层内的孔隙压力并非原始地层孔隙压力,而是随时间和位置的变化而变化,其分布规律可以用一维不稳定渗流来表示和计算;牙齿吃入深度的表达式可以将压力、流体等因素对岩石破碎的作用清楚地表达出来;所建模型可以解释欠平衡钻井提高钻速的力学机制,以及定量描述随钻地层压力监测dc指数法的适用范围。