不同恶化程度胃癌细胞系的细胞间隙连接通讯功能及Cx43表达的差异

以人正常胃黏膜上皮细胞系GES-1和不同恶化程度的人胃癌细胞系(低恶化AGS细胞系、中恶化SGC-7901细胞系、高恶化BGC-823细胞系)为研究对象,采用激光共聚焦显微镜的荧光漂白恢复技术及划痕标记荧光染料示踪技术研究不同恶化程度的胃癌细胞系细胞间隙连接通讯(Gap junctional intercellular communication,GJIC)功能的差异;采用荧光定量PCR技术和间接免疫荧光技术检测间隙连接蛋白(Connexin43,Cx43)基因在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达差异,探求其与胃癌恶性程度的相关性.结果表明,在正常胃细胞系和低、中及高恶化胃腺癌细胞系中,细胞间的GJIC功能随着恶性程度的升高而减弱(AGS、SGC-7901)或消失(BGC-823),且Cx43蛋白及mRNA的表达量随着恶性程度的升高而下调(AGS、SGC-7901)或缺失(BGC-823).这提示胃癌恶性程度与胃癌细胞的GJIC功能显著相关(P<0.05),GJIC在胃癌发生中起重要作用.     

LAGE-1DNA肿瘤疫苗的抗肿瘤治疗效果研究

以LAGE-1转染EMT6构建小鼠乳腺癌肿瘤模型;将BalB/c小鼠随机分为4组,以pcDNA3.1/LAGE-1及对照pcDNA3.1分别接种实验组和对照组各三次.于末次免疫后10 d在小鼠左背部、右背部皮下分别种植EMT6肿瘤细胞和EMT6/LAGE1肿瘤细胞．荷瘤后观察成瘤时间、肿瘤大小,并对小鼠脾细胞进行CTL细胞杀伤活性实验来观察DNA疫苗引起的免疫反应.结果显示LAGE-1DNA疫苗在体内能诱导有效的特异性肿瘤免疫应答,该疫苗简便有效.     

转录靶向性KDR启动子调控双自杀基因治疗肺癌的实验研究

从人肺癌细胞株中克隆KDR基因的启动子(kinasedomainreceptorpromotor,KDRp),构建KDR基因启动子调控的双自杀基因(CDglyTK)真核表达质粒pcDNA3-KDRp-CdglyTK,将其导入ECV304、L9981和NL9980细胞,建立相应的转基因细胞系,并应用不同的前药处理。体内、外实验结果显示:KDR启动子调控的双自杀基因在KDR高表达人肺癌细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞靶向表达,而在KDR不表达的正常细胞或正常血管内皮细胞中未检测到双自杀基因表达;联合应用5-FC和GCV处理,对转双自杀基因细胞的杀伤作用显著高于单独应用5-FC或GCV,且二者显示了良好的药物协同作用。     

Combining immune cell and viral therapy for the treatment of cancer

A variety of viral-based and immune cell therapies have been proposed for use in the treatment of cancer. One possible approach to improve the effectiveness of these biological agents may be to combine them such that we can take advantage of natural immune cell-pathogen relationships. Here we discuss these potential approaches with particular emphasis on the use of immune cells as carrier vehicles to deliver viral therapies to the tumor. Received 15 December 2006; received after revision 28 January 2007; accepted 5 March 2007     

Common Molecular Mechanisms of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

During its lifetime, the mammary gland undergoes many phases of development and differentiation. Much of this occurs during puberty, when the ductal epithelium expands by branching morphogenesis, invading the surrounding fat pad to form an organised mammary tree. Throughout its existence, the epithelium will go through several cycles of proliferation and cell death during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Many of the signalling mechanisms which control the initial invasion of the fat pad by the epithelium, and regulate its continuing plasticity, can be harnessed or corrupted by tumour cells in order to support their aberrant growth and progression towards invasion. This is true not just for the epithelial cells themselves but also for cells in the surrounding microenvironment, including fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes. This review examines the complex web of signalling and adhesion interactions controlling branching morphogenesis, and how their alteration can promote malignancy. Current in vivo and in vitro mammary gland models are also discussed. (Part of a Multi-author Review)     

Targeted inhibition of Livin resensitizes renal cancer cells towards apoptosis

Cancer cells are typically characterized by apoptosis deficiency. In order to investigate a possible role for the anti-apoptotic livin gene in renal cell cancer (RCC), we analyzed its expression in tumor tissue samples and in RCC-derived cell lines. In addition, we studied the contribution of livin to the apoptotic resistance of RCC cells by RNA interference (RNAi). Livin gene expression was detected in a significant portion of RCC tumor tissue specimens (13/14, 92.9%) and tumor-derived cell lines (12/15, 80.0%). Moreover, targeted inhibition of livin by RNAi markedly sensitized RCC cells towards proapoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or the chemotherapeutic drugs etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and vinblastine. These effects were specific for livin expressing tumor cells. We conclude that livin can contribute significantly to the apoptosis resistance of RCC cells. Targeted inhibition of livin could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to increase the sensitivity of renal cancers towards pro-apoptotic agents. Received 30 November 2006; received after revision 22 February 2007; accepted 20 March 2007     

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     

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.