Periostin is down-regulated in high grade human bladder cancers and suppresses in vitro cell invasiveness and in vivo metastasis of cancer cells

We have previously reported that expression of periostin mRNA is markedly reduced in a variety of human cancer cell lines, suggesting that downregulation of periostin mRNA expression is correlated with the development of human cancers. In our study, to clarify the role of the periostin in human bladder carcinogenesis, we examined the expression of periostin mRNA in normal bladder tissues, bladder cancer tissues and bladder cancer cell lines by Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR analysis. Although the expression of periostin mRNA was detected in 100% (5/5) of normal bladder tissues, it was not detected in 3 human bladder cancer cell lines examined. It was also detected in 81.8% (9/11) of grade 1, 40.0% (4/10) of grade 2 and 33.3% (4/12) of grade 3 bladder cancer tissues, indicating that downregulation of periostin mRNA is significantly related to higher grade bladder cancer (p<0.05). To assess the tumor suppressor function of periostin, we investigated the ability of periostin gene to suppress malignant phenotypes of a bladder cancer cell line, SBT31A. Ectopic expression of periostin gene by a retrovirus vector suppressed in vitro cell invasiveness of the bladder cancer cells without affecting cell proliferation and tumor growth in nude mice. Periostin also suppressed in vivo lung metastasis of the mouse melanoma cell line, B16-F10. Mutational analysis revealed that the C-terminal region of periostin was sufficient to suppress cell invasiveness and metastasis of the cancer cells. Periostin may play a role as a suppressor of invasion and metastasis in the progression of human bladder cancers.     

Reduction of TSG101 protein has a negative impact on tumor cell growth

TSG101 was defined originally as a tumor-suppressor gene, raising the expectation that absence of the encoded protein should lead to increased tumor cell growth and, perhaps, increased tumor cell aggressiveness. We have used the RNA interference (RNAi) technique to downregulate TSG101 in PC3 (prostate cancer) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) cells. An approximately 85% selective downregulation at the protein level was achieved in both cell lines over a period of 12 days as detected by Western blotting. This treatment resulted in inhibition of tumor cell growth, with a decreased level of TSG101 causing partial cell cycle arrest at the G(1)/S boundary and a reduction in the rate at which cells passed from G(2) through mitosis and back into G(1). In both cell lines, the percentage of cells in S-phase was reduced significantly at day 4 after the TSG101 siRNA transfection (27% vs. 41% in MDA-MB-231 cells; 22% vs. 39% in PC3 cells). Additionally, RNAi-mediated downregulation of TSG101 reduced the colony formation capacities of both cancer cell lines. Rather more surprisingly, TSG101 downregulation affected the migratory activity of the MDA-MB-231 cells, independent of any effect on proliferation. Thus, in a Transwell assay, after 4-hr incubation, 36.0% of control MDA-MB-231 cells had migrated to the lower chamber vs. 7.3% of TSG101-downregulated cells (p < 0.001; scrambled control, 36.5%). These results show that the TSG101 gene does not comply with the usual characteristics of a tumor-suppressor gene; rather, its expression may be necessary for activities associated with aspects of tumor progression.     

葡萄糖对卵巢癌细胞生长增殖影响体外研究

目的 葡萄糖是维持肿瘤细胞存活的重要能量来源,有关研究表明低糖与无糖条件有可能抑制肿瘤细胞生长,成为潜在的肿瘤治疗方式.本研究通过给予不同浓度葡萄糖刺激SKOV3与A2780卵巢癌细胞系,分析其细胞增殖、细胞周期与细胞凋亡的改变,探讨葡萄糖对卵巢癌细胞生长增殖的影响.方法 在体外配制含不同葡萄糖浓度(0、2.5、 5.5、 25.0 mmol/L)的培养基,分别模拟无糖、低血糖、正常血糖及高血糖水平的体内环境,观察不同葡萄糖浓度对卵巢癌细胞的增殖、凋亡与细胞周期的影响.结果 高糖促进卵巢癌细胞SKOV3和A2780的增殖,干预48 h后,增殖幅度约为无糖组的1.841~1.942倍;低糖与无糖条件诱导卵巢癌细胞发生G1期阻滞,与高糖组相比,SKOV3细胞G1期比例以(40.699±1.131)%增加至(58.619±2.643)%,A2780细胞以(46.348±2.150)%增加至(54.770±2.475)%;低糖与无糖条件亦诱导细胞凋亡,SKOV3与A2780细胞无糖组中凋亡细胞比例分别为(14.015±0.827)%和(12.930±1.127)%.结论 本研究通过探讨葡萄糖对卵巢癌细胞生长与增殖的影响,证明低糖与无糖条件诱导卵巢癌细胞发生G1期阻滞、细胞凋亡并抑制其生长增殖.若进一步给予相应葡萄糖抑制剂干预,可能为卵巢癌的临床治疗提供新思路.     

The axon guidance molecule semaphorin 3F is a negative regulator of tumor progression and proliferation in ileal neuroendocrine tumors

Gastro-intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs) are rare neoplasms, frequently metastatic, raising difficult clinical and therapeutic challenges due to a poor knowledge of their biology. As neuroendocrine cells express both epithelial and neural cell markers, we studied the possible involvement in GI-NETs of axon guidance molecules, which have been shown to decrease tumor cell proliferation and metastatic dissemination in several tumor types. We focused on the role of Semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F) in ileal NETs, one of the most frequent subtypes of GI-NETs.SEMA3F expression was detected in normal neuroendocrine cells but was lost in most of human primary tumors and all their metastases. SEMA3F loss of expression was associated with promoter gene methylation. After increasing endogenous SEMA3F levels through stable transfection, enteroendocrine cell lines STC-1 and GluTag showed a reduced proliferation rate in vitro. In two different xenograft mouse models, SEMA3F-overexpressing cells exhibited a reduced ability to form tumors and a hampered liver dissemination potential in vivo. This resulted, at least in part, from the inhibition of mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways.This study demonstrates an anti-tumoral role of SEMA3F in ileal NETs. We thus suggest that SEMA3F and/or its cellular signaling pathway could represent a target for ileal NET therapy.     

Truncated APC is required for cell proliferation and DNA replication

The tumour suppressor APC is truncated in most colon cancers, which leads to the stabilization of beta-catenin and to the constitutive activation of Wnt signalling. However, it is not clear why colon cancer cells retain the truncated APC fragment. Here, we show that a decrease of APC levels achieved by RNA interference impairs cell proliferation and DNA replication, not only in 293 cells that express a wild-type protein, but also in SW480 colon cancer cells that express exclusively a truncated APC fragment. This correlates with a reduction of the levels of cyclin A, cyclin A-dependent kinase activity, p27(kip1) and the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase delta. Thus, our data suggest that colon cancer cells retain a truncated APC fragment because it is essential for cell proliferation.     

shRNA-CXCR4对人乳腺癌细胞增殖活性的影响

背景与目的：CXCR4足趋化细胞因子SDF—l（基质细胞衍生因子-1）的受体：CXCR4／SDF-1轴在肿瘤侵袭，转移中具有重要作用．阻断CXCR4／SDF-1轴，有可能成为一个新的肿瘤治疗标靶，本研究拟探讨shR-NA—CXCR4对人乳腺癌细胞株MCF-7、MDA—MB-231，MDA．MB435s细胞增殖活性的影响。方法：通过质粒shRNA—CXCR4沉默CXCR4基因后．RT—PCR，Weslernblot检测3株人乳腺癌细胞的CXCR4mRNA及其蛋白的表达；MTT．流式细胞仪检洲它们的增殖结果：质粒shRNA—CXCR4作用于3株人乳腺癌细胞后能明显抑制其CXCR4基因的tuRNA（MDA—MB-23l：实验组CXCR4／GAPDH为0．152．空白组和阴性对照组分圳为0．40及0．45．MDA-MB-435s：实验组为0．198，空白对照组和阴性对朋组分别为0．690及0．775，MCF-7：实验组为0．089，空白对照组和阴性对照组分别为0．327及0．313）及蛋白表达水平（MDA—MB-231：实验组CXCR4／β-actin为0．153，空白组和阴性对照组分圳为0．829及0．878，MDA—MB-435s：实验组为0．173，空白对照组和阴性对照组分别为0．877及0．906，MCF-7：实验组为0．177，空白对照组和阴性对照组分别为0．911及0．874）（P〈0．05）；MTT显示能明显抑制3株人乳腺癌细胞的增殖（P〈0．05）；流式细胞仪显示3株人乳腺癌细胞S期细胞数量明显减少（P〈0．05），将更多的细胞阻滞在G0／G1朗（P〈0．05）结论：shRNA—CXCR4作用于CXCR4基因后能明显抑制人乳腺癌细咆生长和增殖一可能是治疗乳腺癌的一个潜在治疗耙点。     

Aberrant methylation of HIN-1 (high in normal-1) is a frequent event in many human malignancies

HIN-1 (high in normal-1) is a putative cytokine with growth inhibitory activities and is downregulated by aberrant methylation in breast cancers. We studied HIN-1 methylation status in many types of adult and pediatric malignancies and cell lines. We examined the expression of HIN-1 mRNA in 52 cell lines and the promoter methylation status in the cell lines and in over 800 primary tumors representing 17 tumor types using methylation specific PCR. Promoter methylation was observed in 73% of breast cancer, 67% of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 30% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 57% of malignant mesothelioma (MM) cell lines, and methylation was completely correlated with loss of expression. Expression negative cell lines restored HIN-1 expression after treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Promoter methylation of HIN-1 was found in 90% of retinoblastomas, 73% of Wilms' tumors, 61% of rhabdomyosarcomas, 57% of breast cancers, 52% of prostate cancers, 40% of MMs, 28% of NSCLCs and 27% of lymphomas. Methylation frequencies in colorectal cancers, cervical cancers, bronchial carcinoids, SCLCs, neuroblastomas, osteosarcomas, leukemia, medulloblastomas and bladder cancers were lower (4-21%), while hepatoblastomas lacked methylation. HIN-1 methylation was rarely detected in nonmalignant tissues (8 of 165, 5%). Aberrant methylation of HIN-1 with loss of expression is a common event and may contribute to the pathogenesis of many types of human malignancies.     

抑癌基因PTEN对肝癌细胞增殖的抑制及作用机制

目的探讨抑癌基因PTEN对肝癌细胞增殖和细胞周期的调控作用。方法构建野生型PTEN基因和突变型PTEN基因的真核表达载体pEGFP—WT—PTEN和pEGFP—PTEN;G129R。采用脂质体介导的基因转染法,分别将上述载体转染不表达PTEN蛋白的人肝细胞肝癌细胞系HHCC,经G418筛选,获得稳定表达PTEN蛋白的细胞克隆。以流式细胞仪测定细胞周期,以Western blot法分析稳定表达PTEN蛋白的肝癌细胞内源性的磷酸化AKT表达水平,同时与未进行基因转染和转染空载体pEGFP-C1的HHCC细胞进行对照。结果稳定表达野生型PTEN蛋白的肝癌细胞,细胞生长受到明显抑制,与转染空载体的HHCC细胞比较,G1期细胞比例显著增高,G2期和S期细胞比例显著降低,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;而转染突变型PTEN基因的HHCC细胞,与转染空载体的HHCC细胞比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。与转染空载体的HHCC细胞比较,稳定表达野生型PTEN蛋白的HHCC细胞,其内源性磷酸化AKT水平明显减低;而转染突变型PTEN基因的HHCC细胞,其AKT水平无明显变化。结论野生型PTEN基因对肝癌细胞周期具有调控作用,而突变型PTEN基因丧失对肝癌细胞周期的调控作用;野生型PTEN基因可能通过降低AKT的活化而实现对肝癌细胞周期的调控。     

Identification of Fat4 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast cancers

Fat, a candidate tumor suppressor in Drosophila, is a component of Hippo signaling pathway involved in controlling organ size. We found that a ～3 Mbp deletion in mouse chromosome 3 caused tumorigenesis of a non‐tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line. The expression of Fat4 gene, one member of the Fat family, in the deleted region was inactivated, which resulted from promoter methylation of another Fat4 allele following the deletion of one Fat4 allele. Re‐expression of Fat4 in Fat4‐deficient tumor cells suppressed the tumorigenecity whereas suppression of Fat4 expression in the non‐tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line induced tumorigenesis. We also found that Fat4 expression was lost in a large fraction of human breast tumor cell lines and primary tumors. Loss of Fat4 expression in breast tumors was associated with human Fat4 promoter methylation. Together, these findings suggest that Fat4 is a strong candidate for a breast tumor suppressor gene. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

miR-1297 inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and growth by targeting CCND2

Cyclin D2 (CCND2) is abnormally overexpressed in many tumor types and has been associated with tumor cell proliferation. Although the important role of miR-1297 is well established, the molecular mechanism between CCND2 and miR-1297 in osteosarcoma (OS) has not been determined. In the present study, we found CCND2 was highly expressed in OS cells, and its downregulation suppressed cell proliferation, resulting in G1 phase cell cycle arrest. In contrast, miR-1297 was lowly expressed in OS compared to normal tissue. Several data platforms predicted that CCND2 was a target of miR-1297, which was validated by a dual-luciferase reporter assay that revealed miR-1297 could bind with CCND2-3’UTR. miR-1297 overexpression greatly inhibited CCND2 protein expression and exerted the same phenotypic effect as CCND2 downregulation in OS cells. Furthermore, miR-1297 inhibition could also be rescued by CCND2. Nude mice injected cells stable overexpressing miR-1297 OS cells showed lower size and tumor weight. Moreover, lower fluorescence activity recorded by in vivo imaging system and bone erosion revealed by microCT in the miR-1297 group demonstrated miR-1297 inhibited OS tumor growth via CCND2. Our findings demonstrated that miR-1297 can inhibit proliferation and tumor growth in OS by directly targeting CCND2, which indicates that miR-1297 may represent a novel therapeutic target for OS.     

Alterations in cell proliferation and apoptosis in colon cancers with microsatellite instability

Colon cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI) demonstrate a host immune response characterized by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) that may exert effects upon tumor cell apoptosis and cell proliferation. Accordingly, we compared rates of apoptosis and cell proliferation in colon cancers with defective DNA mismatch repair and their association with phenotypic features and clinical outcome. Primary Astler-Coller stage B2 and C colon carcinomas (n = 329) were analyzed for MSI and for hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein expression. Apoptosis (TUNEL assay) and p53 expression were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and TILs were quantified by morphology. DNA ploidy and proliferation (PI: S phase + G(2)M) were evaluated using flow cytometry. MSI-H (n = 58) colon cancers showed increased TILs that were significantly associated with increased apoptosis, higher apoptosis to proliferation (AI/PI) ratios, reduced proliferative indices (PI) and diploid DNA content. Increased TILs (p = 0.036) and reduced PI (p = 0.042), but not AI or AI/PI, were associated with improved disease-free survival. Tumors with MSI-H (p = 0.032) or loss of hMLH1 or hMSH2 proteins (p = 0.040), or diploidy (p = 0.0015), had better adjusted overall survival rates. Interestingly, similar rates of cell turnover and overlapping survival rates were found in diploid MSS/MSI-L tumors and in MSI-H cases. In conclusion, higher apoptosis/proliferation ratios and reduced cell proliferation are phenotypic features of MSI-H tumors that are associated with increased TILs, indicating an activated immune response that may contribute to their favorable survival rates.     

慢病毒介导的TPX2基因沉默对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞系增殖、迁移和细胞周期的影响及机制

目的：研究慢病毒介导的TPX2基因沉默对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞系增殖、迁移和细胞周期的影响及其机制。方法：构建4种靶向TPX2基因的慢病毒表达载体（LV-TPX2-shRNA-1/2/3/4）,同时构建阴性对照质粒,将5种质粒分别转染到293T细胞中制备慢病毒。慢病毒感染宫颈癌HeLa细胞后,实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot分别检测TPX2 mRNA和蛋白的沉默效果。选择沉默效果最佳的重组慢病毒进行后续功能实验。分别采用CCK-8法、Transwell迁移实验及流式细胞术检测各组细胞的增殖、迁移及细胞周期分布情况。Western blot检测TPX2-shRNA转染前后Ki-67、cyclin B2、Aurora-A及P53的表达。结果：与对照组比较,构建的靶向TPX2基因的RNA干扰慢病毒载体均可持续稳定的抑制HeLa细胞TPX2基因的表达,尤其以LV-TPX2-shRNA-1最为明显（P < 0.01）,故选择LV-TPX2-shRNA-1进行后续实验。与对照组比较,沉默TPX2基因的表达能降低HeLa细胞增殖及迁移能力（P < 0.05）,使G2及S期细胞比例明显增加（P < 0.05）,且上调P53蛋白的表达水平,下调Ki-67、cyclin B2及Aurora-A蛋白的表达水平（P均 < 0.05）。结论：沉默TPX2基因蛋白表达能抑制宫颈癌细胞的增殖及迁移能力,可能与其改变细胞周期分布及下调Ki-67、cyclin B2、Aurora-A蛋白表达水平,上调P53蛋白表达水平有关。     

Pygopus2的表达下调抑制肺癌细胞的增殖能力

目的:探讨肺癌细胞中Pygopus2（Pygo2）的表达及意义。方法:Western Blot明确肺癌细胞系中Pygo 2的表达后,应用 siRNA、MTT、流式细胞术等方法检测及其表达对肺癌细胞增殖凋亡能力的影响。结果:肺癌细胞系中存在Pygo2的过表达,其表达下调能够通过阻滞细胞周期及促进细胞凋亡,进而抑制肺癌细胞的增殖能力。结论:Pygo2的异常表达是导致肺癌发生发展的重要因素。     

PTEN基因转染对卵巢癌A2780细胞周期和增殖能力影响的研究

目的:研究外源性PTEN基因稳定转染对人卵巢癌A2780细胞周期和增殖能力的影响。方法:构建PTEN基因的野生型真核表达质粒pEGFP-C1-WT-PTEN和突变型表达质粒pEG-FP-C1-C124A-PTEN,以脂质体介导法转染体外培养的人卵巢癌细胞株A2780,同时转染空载体pEGFP-C1质粒,以未转染细胞为对照(转染成功后分别命名为WT-PTEN/A2780组、C124A-PTEN/A2780组、pEGFP-C1/A2-780组和A2780组。应用RT-PCR、Western blot方法分析目的基因及其蛋白表达,并采用MTT法和流式细胞术检测细胞增殖和细胞周期。结果:与对照细胞相比,WT-PTEN/A2780组和C124A-PTEN/A2780组PTEN mRNA及PTEN蛋白出现明显的高表达,与对照组细胞相比差异有统计学意义(t=5.300,P=0.034;t=11.963,P=0.007;t=7.869,P=0.016;t=22.421,P=0.002);WT-PTEN/A2780组细胞生长速度明显慢于未转染A2780细胞,然而C124A-PTEN/A2780组和pEGFP-C1/A2780组细胞生长速度无明显变化。流式细胞术显示WT-PTEN/A2780细胞G1期细胞数增加到(71.18±4.34)%,S期细胞数变为(17.48±1.96)%,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(t=19.508,P=0.003;t=25.354,P=0.002),提示从G1期到S期发生抑制。结论:野生型PTEN可依赖其磷酸酶活性使A2780细胞在G1/S期发生细胞周期阻滞,并抑制A2780细胞增殖。     

UHRF1 promotes proliferation of gastric cancer via mediating tumor suppressor gene hypermethylation

Epigenetic changes play significant roles in cancer development. UHRF1, an epigenetic regulator, has been shown to be overexpressed and to coordinate tumor suppressor gene (TSG) silencing in several cancers. In a previous study, we found that UHRF1 promoted gastric cancer (GC) invasion and metastasis. However, the role and underlying mechanism of UHRF1 in GC carcinogenesis remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated UHRF1 expression and function in GC proliferation and explored its downstream regulatory mechanism. The results demonstrated that UHRF1 overexpression was an independent and significant predictor of GC prognosis. Downregulation of UHRF1 suppressed GC proliferation and growth in vitro and in vivo, and UHRF1 upregulation showed opposite effects. Furthermore, downregulation of UHRF1 reactivated 7 TSGs, including CDX2, CDKN2A, RUNX3, FOXO4, PPARG, BRCA1 and PML, via promoter demethylation. These results provide insight into the GC proliferation process, and suggest that targeting UHRF1 represents a new therapeutic approach to block GC development.