Regulation of erythropoietin production in a human hepatoblastoma cell line

Production of immuno and biologically active erythropoietin was documented to occur in the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG-2. The expression of the erythropoietin gene was further verified by Northern blot analysis using a single stranded RNA probe. In vitro studies showed that erythropoietin production by these cells was not stimulated by hypoxia or cobalt chloride, but was related to the proliferative activity of the cells in culture. In addition it was found that the secretion of erythropoietin was almost completely abrogated by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. This effect of tunicamycin was also observed in a permanently transfected cell line that secretes erythropoietin in large quantities.     

赛拉嗪对麻醉大鼠海马CA1区乙酰胆碱含量的影响

应用乙酰胆碱选择性微电极技术,观察到小剂量赛拉嗪(2.0和6.0mg·kg^-1)可显著增加大鼠海马CA1区ACh的含量,而大剂量赛拉嗪(10.0mg·kg^-1)及咪唑克生(0.6mg·kg^-1)则作用相反。咪唑克生虽可明显拮抗赛拉嗪的作用,但海马CA₁区ACh的含量仍显著低于正常水平。在去兰斑核的大鼠上,赛拉嗪(2.0和6.0mg·kg^-1)及咪唑克生(0.6mg·kg^-1)分别对海马CA₁区ACh的含量具有减少和增加作用,且咪唑克生拮抗赛拉嗪的作用后,海马CA₁区ACh的含量基本恢复至正常水平。结果提示,赛拉嗪对麻醉大鼠海马CA₁区ACh含量呈双相性影响,咪唑可生虽能显著拮抗赛拉嗪的作用,但海马CA₁区ACh的含量仍明显低于正常水平,可能分别与赛拉嗪和咪唑克生降低或提高中枢NE能系统的功能有关。     

Differential kinetic features by tumour topography in cutaneous small-cell neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) carcinomas

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) reveal epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation, but its topographic cell kinetics remains unknown. This study analyses proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA ploidy by topography, features that can help planning therapeutic protocols. This study topographically analyses proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA ploidy. METHODS: We selected 27 small-cell MCCs (expressing one epithelial and two neural markers, with consistent ultrastructural findings) to evaluate mitotic figure counting, Ki-67 index, apoptosis index based on the in situ end labelling of fragmented DNA (using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, Klenow fragment), DNA ploidy, and BCL2 and TP53 immuno-expression. At least 50 high-power fields were screened per topographic compartment (superficial or papillary dermis, and deep or reticular dermis), recording average and standard deviation for each variable. Variables were statistically compared in each tumour compartment using analysis of variance and Student's t-test (significant if P < 0.05). RESULTS: MCCs revealed superficial aneuploid DNA content, and no topographic differences for proliferation markers. Apoptosis showed significantly lower values in the deep compartment (average, P = 0.0050, and standard deviation, P = 0.0074), correlating with increased BCL2 and TP53 immuno-expressions. CONCLUSIONS: High homogeneously distributed proliferation and superficial aneuploid DNA content defines MCCs. Apoptosis follows proliferation in superficial compartments, being less variable and proliferation independent in deep compartments, where it is inversely correlated with BCL2/TP53 expression.