The molecular role of the Rothmund-Thomson-, RAPADILINO- and Baller-Gerold-gene product, RECQL4: recent progress

The RecQ family of DNA helicases is highly conserved throughout evolution and plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability in all organisms. Mutations in three of the five known family members in humans, BLM, WRN and RECQL4, give rise to disorders that are characterized by predisposition to cancer and premature aging, emphasizing the importance of studying the RecQ proteins and their cellular activities. Interestingly, three autosomal recessive disorders have been associated with mutations in the RECQL4 gene: Rothmund-Thomson, RAPADILINO, and Baller-Gerold syndromes, thus making RECQL4 unique within the RecQ family of DNA helicases. To date, however, the molecular function of RECQL4 and the possible cellular pathways in which it is involved remain poorly understood. Here, we present an overview of recent findings in connection with RECQL4 and try to highlight different directions the field could head, helping to clarify the role of RECQL4 in preventing tumorigenesis and maintenance of genome integrity in humans. Received 31 October 2006; received after revision 4 January 2007; accepted 5 February 2007     

用于盐酸阿霉素增敏的双给药水凝胶体系制备

多药耐药型乳腺癌细胞对抗癌药物盐酸阿霉素(DOX·HCl)敏感性下降,需要设计和制备一种实现抗癌药物增敏的给药体系.提出一种同时负载DOX·HCl和齐墩果酸(OA)的双给药聚乙二醇水凝胶体系.该体系基于具有亲水和疏水性的聚乙二醇水凝胶,实现DOX·HCl和OA的共包封和共释放.两种药物的释放通过氧-迈克尔加成反应和醇修...     

原子力显微镜在癌细胞观察和研究中的应用

原子力显微镜(AFM),能够在接近生理条件下以具有原子级的分辨率对活细胞进行表面成像和超微结构观察,同时可以研究细胞的生物过程、细胞与药物之间和细胞之间的相互作用,成为细胞生物学研究的一种有效工具.近年来AFM在细胞生物学研究中的应用进展很快,许多研究成果在生物医学和临床医学方面有良好的应用前景.本文分析了原子力显微镜的成像机理、工作模式和技术要点,综述了原子力显微镜在癌细胞的研究应用现状和前景.     

GC/MS法测定尿中的8-羟基脱氧鸟苷

利用气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)法测定尿中的8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8OHdG)含量.根据MS的定性结果,强峰m/z 383对应的碱基 1(B 1)为8OHdG的特征离子峰.利用选择性离子扫描方式(SIM)进行定量分析,测定结果重复性较好,整个分析流程的系内相对标准偏差为4.23%,系间相对标准偏差为8.25%.该方法的检测限可达0.5 nmol/L,线性范围为5~10 000 nmol/L.分析尿样的相对标准偏差为5.12%,并测定了正常人和癌症病人尿中8OHdG的排放水平,癌症病人尿中8OHdG的排放水平明显高于正常人.     

Galectin-3 stabilizes heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein Q to maintain proliferation of human colon cancer cells

Comparative analysis of proteomes using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human colon cancer cell line revealed that decreased galectin-3 expression was significantly associated with retarded proliferation. However, in the presence of 5-FU proliferation rate of cells with suppressed galectin-3 expression did not differ from that of cells with normal galectin-3 expression, even galectin-3 suppression augmented apoptosis. Mechanism by which galectin-3 regulates cancer cell proliferation has been identified in immunoprecipitates of the anti-galectin-3 antibody. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein Q (hnRNP Q) was identified as a protein interacting with galectin-3. Interestingly, while galectin-3 protein was not affected by the hnRNP Q level, its suppression was accompanied by a decrease in hnRNP Q expression. The present study demonstrates that galectin-3 stabilizes hnRNP Q via complex formation, and reduction in the hnRNP Q level leads to slow proliferation and less susceptibility to 5-FU. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. B.C.Yoo; S-H.Hong; These two authors contributed equally to this work. Received 10 September 2008; received after revision 19 October 2008; accepted 07 November 2008     

Cancer and blood coagulation

In human patients, blood coagulation disorders often associate with cancer, even in its early stages. Recently, in vitro and in vivo experimental models have shown that oncogene expression, or inactivation of tumour suppressor genes, upregulate genes that control blood coagulation. These studies suggest that activation of blood clotting, leading to peritumoral fibrin deposition, is instrumental in cancer development. Fibrin can indeed build up a provisional matrix, supporting the invasive growth of neoplastic tissues and blood vessels. Interference with blood coagulation can thus be considered as part of a multifaceted therapeutic approach to cancer. Received 30 November 2005; received after revision 7 February 2005; accepted 8 February 2006     

Antizyme inhibitor: mysterious modulator of cell proliferation

In contrast to the considerable interest in the oncogene ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and in the family of antizymes with regard to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, the endogenous antizyme inhibitor (AZI) has been less well studied. AZI is highly homologous to the enzyme ODC but does not possess any decarboxylase activity. Elevated ODC activity is associated with most forms of human malignancies. Antizymes bind ODC, inhibit ODC activity and promote the ubiquitin-independent degradation of ODC. Consequently they are proposed as tumor suppressors. In particular, the most studied member of the antizyme family, antizyme 1, has been demonstrated to play a role in tumor suppression. AZI inactivates all members of the antizyme family, reactivates ODC and prevents the proteolytic degradation of ODC, which may suggest a role for AZI in tumor progression. Received 9 December 2005; received after revision 13 April 2006; accepted 1 June 2006     

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: clinicopathology and molecular alterations

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS, OMIM 175200) is an unusual inherited intestinal polyposis syndrome associated with distinct peri-oral blue/black freckling [1–9]. Variable penetrance and clinical heterogeneity make it difficult to determine the exact frequency of PJS [4]. PJS is a cancer predisposition syndrome. Affected individuals are at high risk for intestinal and extra-intestinal cancers. In 1997, linkage studies mapped PJS to chromosome 19p [10, 11], and subsequently a serine/threonine kinase gene defect (LKB1) was noted in a majority of PJS cases [12, 13]. A phenotypically similar syndrome has been produced in an LKB1 mouse knockout model [14–18]. Several PJS kindred without LKB1 mutations have been described, suggesting other PJS loci [19–22]. The management of PJS is complex and evolving. New endoscopic technologies may improve management of intestinal polyposis. Identification of specific genetic mutations and their targets will more accurately assess the clinical course, and help gage the magnitude of cancer risk for affected individuals. Received 20 February 2006; received after revision 5 May 2006; accepted 15 June 2006     

蝙蝠葛酚性碱对胃癌细胞SGC-7901 COX-2表达的影响

为探讨蝙蝠葛酚性碱(PAMD)抗胃癌的作用机理,通过实时定量PCR观察PAMD对胃癌细胞株SGC-7901 COX-2 mRNA表达的影响.结果表明,PAMD各剂量组均能下调COX-2 mRNA的表达,其中PAMD(20)剂量组下调COX-2的作用有统计学差异,且优于阳性对照组.PAMD抗胃癌的作用机理可能与其抑制COX-2基因表达有关.