Repair of DNA lesion O 6-methylguanine in hepatocellular carcinogenesis

Evidence from both experimental carcinogenesis and studies in human cirrhotic liver suggest that defective repair of the promutagenic DNA base lesion,O⁶-methylguanine, is a factor in the multistep process of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Ubiquitous environmental alkylating agents such as N-nitroso compounds can produce O⁶-methylguanine in cellular DNA. Unrepaired,O⁶-methylguanine can lead to the formation of G → A transition mutations, a known mechanism of human oncogene activation and tumour suppressor gene inactivation. Combined treatment of rodents with an agent producing O⁶-methylguanine in DNA, and an agent promoting cell proliferation, leads to development of hepatic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cell division, hence DNA replication, being required for the propagation of tumorigenic mutation(s) in hepatocyte DNA. The paramount importance of O⁶-methylguanine in hepatocellular carcinogenesis is indicated by the observation that transgenic mice engineered to have increased hepatic levels of repair enzyme O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) are significantly less prone to hepatocellular carcinogenesis following alkylating agent treatment. Cirrhosis is a universal risk factor for development of human HCC, and a condition that is characterized by increased hepatocyte proliferation as a result of tissue regeneration. Levels of the human repairing enzyme for O⁶-methylguanine were found to be significantly lower in cirrhotic liver than in normal tissue. In accord with findings from animal models, this suggested a mechanism in which persistence of O⁶-methylguanine due to defective DNA repair by MGMT, together with increased hepatocyte proliferation, might lead to specific gene mutation(s) and hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Screening for the presence and persistence of O⁶-methylguanine in human DNA presently involves formidable technical difficulty. Indications are that such limitations might be overcome by the use of an ultrasensitive method such as immuno-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This approach should allow parallel measurement of DNA adduct and repair enzyme in routine liver biopsy samples. It might also enable investigation of O⁶-methylguanine in human genes specifically associated with hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Given the wide variation in human MGMT levels observed between individuals, tissues, and cells, this technology should be adapted to permit the ultrasensitive localisation and measurement of adducts and repairing enzyme in liver biopsy tissue sections. Ability to ultrasensitively measure O⁶-methylguanine, and its repair enzyme, should prove valuable in the risk assessment of cirrhotic patients for developing hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Acute Ethanol Exposure Suppresses the Repair of O6-Methylguanine DNA Lesions in Castrated Adult Male Rats

Alcohol has clearly been associated with an increase of cancers in numerous tissues, including the respiratory tract, colon, rectum, liver, but especially the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, and mouth. Alcohol alone has not been shown to be a mutagen until it is converted to acetaldehyde and, therefore, alcohol presumably acts as a cocarcinogen. Previous data has shown that alcohol concentrations of 2% or greater inhibits DNA repair, and in light of the widespread consumption of alcoholic beverages with alcohol contents ranging from 4 to 5% (beer and wine coolers) to 50% (whiskey), interest in determining the mechanism(s) responsible for alcohol-induced carcinogenesis has heightened. Although previous studies, in intact rats, have investigated the effects of chronic alcohol exposure on some aspects of DNA repair, we have begun to address the effects of acute or "binge" alcohol exposure on mammalian DNA repair. Toward this end, we report the inhibition of O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) by a single intraperitoneal injection of 30% ethanol in adult male castrated rats. This inhibition lasted for at least 24 hr. We also observed a dose-response effect of ethanol on MGMT activity, again only in the castrated rats. The finding of ethanol's effect on MGMT activity in castrated and not intact rats implies a hormonal component of MGMT DNA repair response, which has only been alluded to in past research.     

Effect of Alcohol Drinking on Gene Expression of Hepatic O6-Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase in Chronic Liver Diseases

O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a repair protein that transfers methyl groups from O⁶-methylguanine to a cysteine acceptor in its own molecule, and restores DNA to its undamaged state. If left unrepaired, O⁶-methylguanine can pair with either a thymine or a cytosine, causing a C-G to T-A transition, which is considered to be one of the molecular mechanisms of both mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. The expression of MGMT mRNA in liver tissue was quantitatively assessed by the competitive reverse transcrip-tion-polymerase chain reaction method in patients with chronic liver diseases with or without alcohol drinking. MGMT mRNA expression was 1.4 ± 0.9 pg/μg RNA in control livers. Its expression in chronic hepatitis was 3.8 ± 0.7 in alcoholics and 2.7 ± 0.8 in nonalcoholics, which were not statistically different. MGMT mRNA expression in liver cirrhosis was significantly low, compared with that in chronic hepatitis, and 0.8 ± 0.3 in alcoholics and 0.5 ± 0.1 in nonalcoholics, which also were not significantly different. The present study shows that MGMT mRNA was not decreased in patients with chronic liver diseases with alcohol drinking, compared with those without alcohol drinking.     

非小细胞肺癌DNA甲基转移酶及基因p53表达与预后的关系

Objective To investigate the expression and role of O~6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferas(MGMT) and p53 in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLc)and the association with prognosis. Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to investigate the expression of MGMT and p53 in NSCLC specimens from 110 cases and in 20 cages of benign lung diseases as the control.The association of their expression with the prognosis of the 110 patients was evaluated. Results The positive expression of MGMT in NSCLC and benign lung diseases was 41.8%(46/110)and 80%(16/20)(x2=9.89,P<0.05),respectively.The positive expression of p53 in NSCLC and benign lung diseases were 56.4%(62/110)and 0%(0/20)(x2=21.551,P<0.05),respectively.There was a significant association between expression of MGMT with smoking,and lymph node metastasis (x2=12.107,P<0.05;x2=6.512P<0.05).There was also a significant association between expression of p53 with smoking and lymph node metastasis(x2=6.330,P<0.05;x2=7.909,P<0.05).A negative correlation was observed between the expression of MGMT and that of p53 protein in NSCLC(R_S=-0.592,P<0.05).The 5-year survival rate and median survival time of 110 cages was 10.9%(12/110),and(30.4±0.6)months.In 46 cases with positive expression of MGMT the 5-year survival rate was 0%(0/110)and median survival was(25.9±0.4)months,which were lower than those in the 64 patients with negative expression of MGMT [18.8%(12/64),(32.4 ±0.7)months],Log rank test x2=23.569,P<0.05.in the 62 patients with positive expression of p53.the 5-year survival rate and modian survival were 4.8%(3/62)and(30.4±1.2)months,which were lower than those in the 48 cases with negative expression of p53[18.8%(9/48),(30. 5± 1.1 ) months], Log rank test X2 =5. 521, P <0. 05. Conclusion The loss of expression of MGMT may lead to activation of the wild-type p53. They may participate in lung carcinomatosis, and may predict prognosis in patients with NSCLC.     

非小细胞肺癌DNA甲基转移酶及基因p53表达与预后的关系

Objective To investigate the expression and role of O~6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferas(MGMT) and p53 in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLc)and the association with prognosis. Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to investigate the expression of MGMT and p53 in NSCLC specimens from 110 cases and in 20 cages of benign lung diseases as the control.The association of their expression with the prognosis of the 110 patients was evaluated. Results The positive expression of MGMT in NSCLC and benign lung diseases was 41.8%(46/110)and 80%(16/20)(x2=9.89,P<0.05),respectively.The positive expression of p53 in NSCLC and benign lung diseases were 56.4%(62/110)and 0%(0/20)(x2=21.551,P<0.05),respectively.There was a significant association between expression of MGMT with smoking,and lymph node metastasis (x2=12.107,P<0.05;x2=6.512P<0.05).There was also a significant association between expression of p53 with smoking and lymph node metastasis(x2=6.330,P<0.05;x2=7.909,P<0.05).A negative correlation was observed between the expression of MGMT and that of p53 protein in NSCLC(R_S=-0.592,P<0.05).The 5-year survival rate and median survival time of 110 cages was 10.9%(12/110),and(30.4±0.6)months.In 46 cases with positive expression of MGMT the 5-year survival rate was 0%(0/110)and median survival was(25.9±0.4)months,which were lower than those in the 64 patients with negative expression of MGMT [18.8%(12/64),(32.4 ±0.7)months],Log rank test x2=23.569,P<0.05.in the 62 patients with positive expression of p53.the 5-year survival rate and modian survival were 4.8%(3/62)and(30.4±1.2)months,which were lower than those in the 48 cases with negative expression of p53[18.8%(9/48),(30. 5± 1.1 ) months], Log rank test X2 =5. 521, P <0. 05. Conclusion The loss of expression of MGMT may lead to activation of the wild-type p53. They may participate in lung carcinomatosis, and may predict prognosis in patients with NSCLC.     

Liver as an ideal target for gene therapy: expression of CTLA4Ig by retroviral gene transfer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Liver has been a target organ for gene therapy as it plays a central role in metabolism and production of serum proteins. Many metabolic disorders result from a deficiency of liver-derived protein products. In transplantation settings, modulation of the immune responses caused by CTLA4Ig protein has been shown to be an attractive direction. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of hepatocyte transduction via introduction of the exogenous CTLA4Ig gene to the rat liver graft by retrovirus vector, and examined the presence of target serum protein after gene transfers. METHODS: We constructed a replication defective retroviral vector that contained the CTLA4Ig gene. The liver graft regeneration index was first examined by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibodies to determine the optimal time of gene transduction. The liver graft was then perfused with the retroviral vector, and animals were killed at constant time points to examine for the presence of CTLA4 protein in the graft and peripheral blood. RESULTS: CTLA4 protein was detected on postoperative days 5, 9 and 14, with liver graft tissue transduction indexes of 7.2, 10.9 and 1.8, respectively. Blood protein levels were at 151.6, 26.5 and 21.4 rhog/mL, respectively. A transduction index reaching 22.1 was observed in the graft with the most rapid liver regeneration. CONCLUSIONS: We had established the gene delivery model in rat with auxiliary partial liver transplantation. Expression of the exogenous gene delivered by retrovirus was demonstrated in the liver with secretion of diffusible protein in the bloodstream. The present study provides important information for gene transfer using the liver to produce the target protein in situ and as serum protein. This will also be applicable to the treatment of other metabolic diseases.     

Hypermethylation of CpG island in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene was associated with K-ras G to A mutation in colorectal tumor

AIM:To investigate the functions of promoter hypermethylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene in colorectal tumorigenesis and progression. METHODS: The promoter hypermethylation of MGMT gene was detected in 27 sporadic colorectal adenomas, 62 sporadic colorectal carcinomas and 20 normal colorectal mucosa tissues by methylation-specific PCR. At the same time, the expression of MGMT protein was carried out in the same samples using immunohistochemistry. Mutant-allele-specific amplification was used to detect K-rasG to A point mutation in codon 12. RESULTS: None of the normal colorectal mucosa tissues showed methylated bands. Promoter hypermethylation was detected in 40.7% (11 of 27) of adenomas and 43.5% (27 of 62) of carcinomas. MGMT proteins were expressed in nucleus and cytoplasm of normal colorectal mucosa tissues. Loss of MGMT expression was found in 22.2% (6 of 27) of adenomas and 45.2% (28 of 62) of carcinomas. The difference between them was significant (P= 0.041). In the 6 adenomas and 28 carcinomas losing MGMT expression, 5 and 24 cases presented methylation, respectively (P = 0.027, P<0.001). Thirteen of the 19 colorectal tumors with K-rasG to A point mutation in codon 12 had methylated MGMT(P= 0.011). The frequencies of K-rasG to A point mutation were 35.3% (12 of 34) and 12.7% (7 of 55) in tumors losing MGMT expression and with normal expression, respectively. CONCLUSION: Promoter hypermethylation and loss of expression of MGMT gene were common events in colorectal tumorigenesis, and loss of expression of MGMT occurs more frequently in carcinomas than in adenomas in sporadic patients. Hypermethylation of the CpG island of MGMT gene was associated with loss of MGMT expression and K-rasG to A point mutation in colorectal tumor. The frequency of K-rasG to A point mutation was increased in tumors losing MGMT expression. It suggests that epigenetic inactivation of MGMT plays an important role in colorectal neoplasia.     

Promoter methylation status of hMLH1, MGMT, and CDKN2A/p16 in colorectal adenomas

AIM:To investigate aberrant DNA methylation of CpG islands and subsequent low-or high-level DNA microsatellite instability(MSI)which is assumed to drive colon carcinogenesis. METHODS:DNA of healthy individuals,adenoma(tu-bular or villous/tubulovillous)patients,and colorectal carcinoma patients who underwent colonoscopy was used for assessing the prevalence of aberrant DNA methylation of human DNA mismatch repair gene mutator L homologue 1(hMLH1),Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A(CDKN2A/p16),and O-6-methy...     

Efficient and persistent expression of β-glucuronidase gene in CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood by retroviral vector

Abstract: We succeeded in efficiently transferring the β-glucuronidase gene in a retroviral vector to human hematopoietic progenitor cells using a centrifugation enhancement protocol. The transduction efficiency in CFU–GM was highly variable (23–100%) with an average of 66.8%. In the case of BFU–E, efficiency was 83% and 76% in 2 separate experiments. In LTCIC (long-term culture-initiating cell), transduction efficiency were 20% and 50% in 2 experiments. The enzymatic activity of β-glucuronidase in transduced cells were increased above the control level up to 5 wk. Considering that correction of the enzyme deficiency in a small number of hematopoietic cells can be therapeutic for the Sly disease mouse, our data provide encouragement that human trials of gene therapy based on transferring β-glucuronidase gene to hematopoietic cells may be efficacious.     

亚砷酸钠对HaCaT细胞MGMT基因启动子区甲基化CpG结合蛋白-2、DNA甲基转移酶1、组蛋白去乙酰化酶1结合的影响

目的 观察亚砷酸钠(NaAsO2)对人肤角质形成细胞株(HaCaT细胞)MGMT基因启动子区甲基化CpG结合蛋白-2(MeCP2)、DNA甲基转移酶1(DNMT1)及组蛋白去乙酰化酶1(HDAC1)结合情况的影响,为深化阐释砷毒作用机制提供依据.方法 分别以0.00(空白对照)、3.13、6.25、12.50、25.00 μmol/L NaAsO2重复间隔处理HaCaT细胞72 h(NaAsO2处理24h,隔天再次相同处理,重复3次),以人表皮鳞癌细胞株(A431)作为阳性对照,定量染色质免疫共沉淀技术(Q-ChIP)检测MGMT基因转录调控区ChIP1、ChIP2区域及MGMT基因编码区ChIP3区域MeCP2、DNMT1、HDAC1结合情况.结果 各组HaCaT细胞MGMT基因转录调控区ChIP1、ChIP2区域MeCP2、DNMT1、HDAC1蛋白结合水平比较,差异有统计学意义(F值分别为7.387、84.634、78.442和19.263、69.649、26.546,P均＜0.05);其中各NaAsO2处理组ChIP1、ChIP2区域MeCP2、DNMT1、HDAC1蛋白结合水平[3.13 μmol/L NaAsO2处理组:(136.00±16.97)％、(145.00±2.83)％、(88.50±19.09)％和(106.50±37.48)％、(112.34±8.73)％、(59.71±8.49)％;6.25 μmol/L NaAsO2处理组:(130.00±42.43)％、(154.50±4.95)％、(101.00±1.27)％和(88.50±3.54)％、(134.32±2.82)％、(102.75±19.91)％;12.50 μmol/LNaAsO2处理组:(141.50±23.33)％、(161.50±7.78)％、(125.00±11.31)％和(119.50±24.75)％、(171.59±3.54)％、(167.61±10.61)％;25.00 μmol/NaAsO处理组:(134.50±43.13)％、(472.50±50.20)％、(383.50±30.41)％和(180.09±12.73)％、(348.50±27.58)％、(158.45±12.02)％]均高于空白对照组[(51.50±9.19)％、(82.00±12.73)％、(25.03±2.91)％和(37.02±4.24)％、(91.56±26.16)％、(19.09±2.90)％,P均＜0.05].各组HaCaT细胞MGMT基因编码区ChIP3区域MeCP2蛋白结合水平比较,差异无统计学意义(F=1.670,P＞0.05),而DNMT1、HDAC1蛋白结合水平比较,差异有统计学意义(F值分别为4.404、9.863,P均＜0.05),其中25.00 μmol/L NaAsO2处理组DNMT1、HDAC1蛋白结合水平[(615.85±29.63)％、(306.09±59.40)％]与空白对照组[(99.70±12.02)％、(92.45±48.79)％]比较,差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).结论 MeCP2可结合于砷所致高甲基化MGMT基因转录调控区,通过招募DNMT1及HDAC1使组蛋白去乙酰化,同时DNMT1可结合于MGMT基因编码区,以非甲基化DNA结合蛋白(MBD)依赖的方式招募HDAC1,通过染色质重塑方式导致MGMT基因沉默,可能是砷毒性表现的早期分子事件.     

DNA damage and repair induced by diazoacetyl derivatives of amino acids with different mechanism of cytotoxicity. Correlations with mutagenicity and carcinogenicity

Summary Eight synthetic N-diazoacetyl amino acids, prepared by inserting a diazoacetyl group onto the -nitrogen of a natural amino acid, and two natural diazoazetyl amino acids, azaserine (O-diazoacetyl-L-serine) and DON (6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine), have been studied by autoradiography for their capacity to induce DNA repair synthesis in mouse cells cultivated in vitro. Dose-dependent unscheduled DNA synthesis was present in cells treated with the eight N-diazoacetyl derivatives, and was absent in cells exposed to approximately equitoxic concentrations of azaserine and DON. Azaserine and DON, unlike N-diazoacetyl derivatives, did not alkylate -(4-nitrobenzyl) pyridine at an appreciable extent. When DNA damage (single stranded breaks or weak points in alkali) was measured by the sensitive technique of alkaline elution, DGA was found about 4 times as potent as azaserine and about 12 times as DON on a molar basis, but about 800 and 17,000 times as potent as azaserine and DON respectively by extrapolating to equitoxic concentrations. Carcinogenicity and mutagenicity seem to follow mainly the capability of inducing DNA damage.This investigation was supported in part by a grant of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche     

Melatonin and its derivatives cyclic 3-hydroxymelatonin, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine and 6-methoxymelatonin reduce oxidative DNA damage induced by Fenton reagents

Abstract: Free radicals are generated in vivo and they oxidatively damage DNA because of their high reactivities. In the last several years, hundreds of publications have confirmed that melatonin is a potent endogenous free radical scavenger. Some of the metabolites produced as a result of these scavenging actions have been identified using pure chemical systems. This is the case with both N¹‐acetyl‐N²‐formyl‐5‐methoxykynuramine (AFMK), identified as a product of the scavenging reaction of H₂O₂ by melatonin, and cyclic 3‐hydroxymelatonin (C‐3‐OHM) which results when melatonin detoxifies two hydroxyl radicals (?OH). In the present in vitro study, we investigated the potential of two different derivatives of melatonin to scavenger free radicals. One of these derivatives is C‐3‐OHM, while the other is 6‐methoxymelatonin (6‐MthM). We also examined the effect of two solvents, i.e., methanol and acetonitrile, in this model system. As an endpoint, using high‐performance liquid chromatography we measured the formation of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OH‐dG) in purified calf thymus DNA treated with the Fenton reagents, chromium(III) [Cr(III)] plus H₂O₂, in the presence and in the absence of these molecules. The 8‐OH‐dG is considered a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing concentrations of Cr(III) (as CrCl₃) and H₂O₂ was earlier found to induce progressively greater levels of 8‐OH‐dG in isolated calf thymus DNA because of the generation of ?OH via the Fenton‐type reaction. We found that C‐3‐OHM reduces ?OH‐mediated damage in a dose‐dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ = 5.0 ± 0.2 μm ; melatonin has an IC₅₀ = 3.6 ± 0.1 μm . These values differ statistically significantly with P < 0.05. In these studies, AFMK had an IC₅₀ = 17.8 ± 0.7 μm (P < 0.01). The 6‐MthM also reduced DNA damage in a dose‐dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ = 4.2 ± 0.2 μm ; this value does not differ from the ICs for melatonin and C‐3‐OHM. We propose a hypothetical reaction pathway in which a mole of C‐3‐OHM scavenges 2 mol of ?OH yielding AFMK as a final product. As AFMK is also a free radical scavenger, the action of melatonin as a free radical scavenger is a sequence of scavenging reactions in which the products are themselves scavengers, resulting in a cascade of protective reactions.     

Generation and functional characterization of human dendritic cells derived from CD34+ cells mobilized into peripheral blood: comparison with bone marrow CD34+ cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful professional antigen-presenting cells (APC), specializing in capturing antigens and stimulating T-cell-dependent immunity. In this study we report the generation and characterization of functional DCs derived from both steady-state bone marrow (BM) and circulating haemopoietic CD34⁺ cells from 14 individuals undergoing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) mobilization and transplantation. Clonogenic assays in methylcellulose showed an increased frequency and proliferation of colony-forming unit-dendritic cells (CFU-DC) in circulating CD34⁺ cells, compared to that of BM CD34⁺ precursors in response to GM-CSF and TNF-α with or without SCF and FLT-3L. Moreover, peripheral blood (PB) CD34⁺ cells generated a significantly higher number of fully functional DCs, as determined by conventional mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), than their BM counterparts upon different culture conditions. DCs derived from mobilized stem cells were also capable of processing and presenting soluble antigens to autologous T cells for both primary and secondary immune response. Replacement of the early-acting growth factors SCF and FLT-3L with IL-4 at day 7 of culture of PB CD34⁺ cells enhanced both the percentage of total CD1a⁺ cells and CD1a⁺CD14^? cells and the yield of DCs after 14 d of incubation. In addition, the alloreactivity of IL-4-stimulated DCs was significantly higher than those generated in the absence of IL-4. Furthermore, autologous serum collected during G-CSF treatment was more efficient than fetal calf serum (FCS) or two different serum-free media for large-scale production of DCs. Thus, our comparative studies indicate that G-CSF mobilizes CD34⁺ DC precursors into PB and circulating CD34⁺ cells represent the optimal source for the massive generation of DCs. The sequential use of early-acting and intermediate-late-acting colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) as well as the use of autologous serum greatly enhanced the growth of DCs. These data may provide new insights for manipulating immunocompetent cells for cancer therapy.     

四氯化碳诱导的肝纤维化小鼠肝组织和HSC-T6细胞NOX4基因及其蛋白表达的变化

目的 探讨四氯化碳(CCl₄)诱导的肝纤维化小鼠和肝星状细胞(HSC-T6)还原型辅酶烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸氧化酶家族氧化酶4(NOX4)基因及其蛋白表达的变化。方法 采用腹腔注射四氯化碳(CCl₄)构建10只小鼠肝纤维化模型,采用qRT-PCR法和Western Blot法检测小鼠肝组织NOX4基因和蛋白表达水平。将肝星状细胞(HSC-T6)分为对照组、无意干预组和NOX4-siRNA干预组,后两组分别采用脂质体2000将无意义序列或NOX4-siRNA转染HSC-T6细胞,采用qRT-PCR法和Western Blot法检测HSC-T6细胞NOX4、α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、I 型胶原(Col1a I)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂1(TIMP-1)、金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)、转化生长因子 β1(TGF-β1)、Smad2和Smad3水平,采用DCFH-DA荧光探针法检测细胞活性氧(ROS)含量,采用MTT法检测细胞增殖,使用流式细胞术检测细胞周期和凋亡情况。结果 模型小鼠肝组织出现明显的病理学损伤,有大量的胶原纤维沉积;模型组小鼠肝组织NOX4 mRNA水平显著高于对照组(P＜0.05);与对照组细胞比,NOX4-siRNA干预组细胞NOX4 mRNA及其蛋白、ROS、增殖活性、S期细胞比例、α-SMA、Col1a I、TIMP-1、MMP-2、TGF-β1、p-Smad2/Smad2、p-Smad3/Smad3表达水平显著降低,而G0/G1期细胞比例和细胞凋亡率显著升高(P＜0.05)。结论 肝纤维化组织NOX4呈高水平,下调NOX4可抑制肝星状细胞的增殖和活化,并促进其凋亡,可能是通过下调TGF-β/Smad信号通路实现的。     

Direct and reversible inhibition of platelet factor 4 on megakaryocyte development from CD34+ cord blood cells: comparative studies with transforming growth factor β1

Mechanisms of the action of platelet factor 4 (PF4) on the growth of megakaryocyte (MK) progenitor cells in CD34⁺ cord blood (CB) cells were studied in comparison with transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). Development of MK from CD34⁺ CB cells in both plasma clot culture and liquid culture was significantly inhibited by either purified human PF4 and by recombinant human TGFβ1. Inhibition of MK colony formation by PF4 was reversible, because CD34⁺ cells preincubated with PF4 could regenerate colonies after washing and replating into secondary cultures. In contrast, TGFβ1-preincubated CD34⁺ cells gave rise to few colonies following replating. Moreover, incubation of CD34⁺ cells with PF4 in liquid culture caused the increased number of both stem cell factor (SCF)-binding cells and CD34 antigen-bearing cells. In addition, PF4-preincubated CD34⁺ cells exibited a higher potential in MK colony formation in the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5FU). These results demonstrate that both PF4 and TGFβ1 inhibit MK development from CD34⁺ CB cells by different mechanisms, and suggest that PF4, unlike TGFβ1, exerts its inhibitory effect on the growth of the target cells in a reversible manner which results in a preservation of a more immature and 5FU-resistant cell population.