miR-21 inhibitor suppresses proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through down-regulation of BCL2 expression

This study is to investigate the expression of miR-21 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, and the effect of miR-21 in the biological behavior and expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) in NPC cells. Paired NPC and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained from 53 patients who underwent primary surgical resection of NPC tissues. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to test whether BCL2 is a direct target of miR-21. Methylthiazolyl blue tetrazolium assay and colony assay were used to evaluate the effect of miR-21 on NPC cell proliferation. Transwell and wound-healing assays were carried out to test the effect of low expression of miR-21 on cancer cell migration and invasion. QRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the levels of mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Tumor tissues showed a positive correlation between the levels of miR-21 and BCL2 protein expression. Cells transfected with miR-21 inhibitor healed slower compared the control (P < 0.05). In addition, cell migration was notably inhibited by the down-regulation of miR-21 in vitro (P < 0.05). The reduction in miR-21 expression showed a remarkable effect on the biological behavior of NPC cell clone formation (P < 0.05). Low expression of miR-21 by transfection with miRNA expression plasmid led to a decrease in BCL2 expression, which was accompanied by reduced migration and proliferation of the cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that miR-21 inhibitor down-regulated BCL2 expression level, suggesting that BCL2 might be a target gene for the initiation and development of NPC cells.     

21-羟化酶缺乏症患者CYP21基因点突变研究

目的 了解CYP21基因编码区的常见突变谱和突变热点,并分析基因型和表现型的关系。方法 对来自51个家庭的52例21-羟化酶缺乏症患者的全长CYP21基因分两个片断进行特异性聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增,在此基础上进行相应的巢式PCR扩增,再根据突变的特点分别采用限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)和扩增产生酶切位点(ACRS)的方法,检测6种突变：P30L、12g(内含子2的nt656a／c→g剪切突变)、E3△8nt(外显子3第111～113密码子的8bp缺失)、I172N、V281L和Q318X。结果 在102个等位基因中,除了27个等位基因外都能够确定基因型。最常见的突变为12g,其发生频率为31％,其次为I172N(23％),Q318x(14％),V281L(9％),P30L(3％),E3△8nt(2％),其中有2个以上复合突变的等位基因占6％。失盐型患者最常见的突变为12g(45．7％)和Q318X(26％)。单纯型最常见的突变为I172N(40．7％)和12g(18．5％)。结论 本组52例患者中,73％的等位基因突变为上述6种突变,以12g和I172N为突变热点,2种突变占54％。上述结果为进一步的遗传咨询和产前诊断服务提供了有用的信息。     

Prospective feasibility study of a mindfulness-based program for breast cancer patients in the southeastern US

BackgroundMindfulness interventions can improve psychological distress and quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors. Few mindfulness programs for cancer recovery exist in Southeastern U.S. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for breast cancer patients in Birmingham, Alabama. The secondary objective was to explore potential program effects on mindfulness skills and QoL.MethodsThis study was a prospective, quasi-experimental feasibility study conducted over 10 months at a university hospital. Feasibility was achieved if 80% of eligible patients screened enrolled in the study and 70% of enrolled patients attended all 8 program sessions. Effectiveness was estimated by changes in mindfulness and QoL indicators measured with validated scales administered at 3 time points and assessed with a non-parametric Friedman test. Sessions included meditation, yoga, and an attention practice called body scan. There were 3 groups of 2–5 patients.ResultsThe sample totaled 12 patients. Forty-four percent (12/27) of eligible patients enrolled in the study, and two out of 12 enrolled patients completed 8 program sessions, resulting in 16.7% (2/12) retention. However, more than half (66.7%) of participants completed at least 7 sessions. Between baseline and 8-week follow-up, patients demonstrated statistically significant improvements in distress, general wellbeing, and fatigue-related QoL.ConclusionsFeasibility objectives were not achieved. However, a majority of participants (66.7%) completed 7 of 8 program sessions. Program effects were promising for distress, fatigue, and wellbeing. Results warrant further research on MBSR-like programs for breast cancer patients in Alabama.     

反义端粒酶RNA对SMMC7721细胞P16、P21表达的增强作用

目的 观察反义端粒酶RNA对SMMC7721细胞周期的影响,检测P16和P21的表达,探讨端粒酶与细胞期调控间的关系及反义端粒酶RNA在肝癌基因治疗中的意义。方法 经脂质体介导,将反义端粒RNA真核表达载体pBBS212－hTR导入SMMC7721细胞中。细胞克隆转移扩大培养后,采用流式细胞仪、TRAP－PCR－ELISA及免疫组化技术,结合图像分析,在检测SMMC7721／pBBS212－hTR细胞端粒酶活性的同时,检测P16和P21的表达。结果 与对照组相比较,反义端粒酶RNA在抑制SMMC7721／pBBS212－hTR细胞端粒酶活性的同时,检测P16和P21的表达。结果 与对照组相比较,反义端粒酶RNA在抑制SMMC7721细胞端粒酶活性的同时,P16和P21蛋白的表达水平显著增高。结论 转染反义端粒酶RNA在封闭细胞端粒活性表达的同时,伴发P21与P16表达水平的升高。本实验研究为探讨肝癌发病机制及治疗提供了一定的依据。     

TGF-β1 induction of p21<Superscript>WAF1/cip1</Superscript> requires smad-independent protein kinase C signaling pathway

Although it has been demonstrated that p21WAF1/Cip1 could be induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in a Smad-dependent manner, the cross-talk of Smad signaling pathway with other signaling pathways still remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated a possible role of protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway in TGF-beta1 induction of p21WAF1/Cip1 in human keratinocytes HaCaT cells. Our data show that PKC is required for TGF-beta1 induction of p21WAF1/Cip1, as evidenced by the fact that specific inhibition of PKC leads to a decrease in p21WAF1/Cip1 protein and mRNA expression induced by TGF-beta1. And this notion is further supported by the observation that activation of p21WAF1/Cip1 promoter activity is dramatically attenu ated by treatment with PKC inhibitor. However, PKC signaling pathway is not associated with TGF-beta1 activation of Smad signaling pathway, because inhibition of PKC signaling pathway does not affect nuclear translocation of Smads induced by TGF-beta1. Taken together, our data suggest that PKC signaling pathway is required for p21WAF1/Cip1 expression by TGF-beta1, which is independent of Smad signaling pathway.     

大黄素甲醚对白血病耐药细胞系K562/ADM耐药性的影响及机制研究

目的 评价大黄素甲醚对慢性粒细胞白血病（CML）耐药细胞系K562/ADM 多药耐药的逆转作 用及其机制。方法 CCK-8、克隆形成实验检测细胞的增殖变化,流式细胞仪、Hoechst 染色检测细胞的凋亡, 实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）、Western blot 检测各相关基因的表达,迁移实验检测细胞的侵袭 能力。结果 大黄素甲醚能增强K562/ADM 细胞对ADM 的敏感性,耐药逆转倍数在2 和5 μmol/L 的浓度下 分别为2.03 和5.30 倍。miRNA-146a 在K562 耐药细胞系中低于K562 细胞,而其在K562/ADM 细胞中过 表达能恢复细胞对ADM 的敏感性。大黄素甲醚可以通过诱导miRNA-146a 的表达抑制CXCL12/CXCR4 信 号通路从而能增强ADM 抗肿瘤细胞增殖的作用。结论 大黄素甲醚可以通过上调miRNA-146a 的表达抑制 CXCL12/CXCR4 信号从而逆转K562/ADM 细胞对ADM 的耐药性。     

Distant cortical locations of the upper and lower quadrants of the visual field represented by neurons with elongated and radially oriented receptive fields

In our previous study of the cytoarchitectonic field 7 of cat cortex we had described neurons with extremely elongated receptive fields (RFs). The long axes of these RFs were oriented radially, towards the centre of the retina. These neurons represented only the lower contralateral part of visual field. They were surrounded from all sides by neurons with clearly different RF properties. We proposed that neurons with a similar radial organization and with RFs in the upper visual field also exist in the cortex but are localized in the area that was distant from the representation of the corresponding lower visual field. We expected to find these neurons in front of the representation of the upper visual field in areas V1, V2 and V3 (fields 17, 18 and 19), behind the central representation in area 21a. This cortical region was studied in five behaving cats. In all animals, neurons with radial RFs in the upper visual field were found in the expected location. As in the lower visual field, their RFs always spared the central visual field. Other RF properties of these neurons were also very similar to those found previously in the lower visual field. It became obvious that neurons with radial RFs are included into the fourth extrastriate crescent with complete contralateral representation. However, in the fourth crescent, RF properties in the central visual field differed significantly from those on the periphery. As a result, neurons with similar radial RFs in the upper and lower visual fields were located in the distant cortical regions, and were separated by the representation of the central visual field presented by the non-radial neurons of the cytoarchitectonic area 21a.     

Detection of a familial 21q22.3 microduplication in a fetus associated with congenital heart defects

ObjectiveWe present a familial 21q22.3 microduplication in a fetus associated with prenatally detected congenital heart defects (CHD).Case reportA 38-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 22 weeks of gestation because of sonographic findings of double outlet of right ventricle, ventricular septal defect and transposition of great artery in the fetus. Her husband was 42 years old, and there was no CHD and congenital malformation in the family. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a karyotype of 46,XY in the fetus. Simultaneous array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis using uncultured amniocytes revealed a 0.56-Mb microduplication of 21q22.3 or arr 21q22.3 (47,482,210-48,043,704)×3.0 [GRCh37 (hg19)] encompassing nine Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genes of FTCD, SPATC1L, LSS, MCM3AP, YBEY, PCNT, DIP2A, S100B and PRMT2. aCGH analysis of the parental bloods revealed that the phenotypically normal father carried the same microduplication. The parents decided to continue the pregnancy, and a 3168-g male baby was delivered at term without Down syndrome phenotype except CHD. Mutational analysis of the CRELD1 gene on the DNA extracted from the cord blood showed no mutation in CRELD1. Postnatal molecular cytogenetic analysis of the cord blood confirmed the prenatal diagnosis. The infant underwent a successful heart surgery to correct the CHD and was doing well without psychomotor or developmental delay at six months of age.ConclusionPrenatal diagnosis of 21q22.3 microduplication associated with CHD should include a differential diagnosis of Down syndrome.     

TGF-β1和p21WAF1在中耳胆脂瘤中的表达及其意义

［收稿日期］ ［基金项目］ ［作者简介］ 刘继丽（1980-）,女，吉林省龙井市人，医学硕士，主要从事中耳胆脂瘤的研究。 目的： 探讨TGF-β1和p21WAF1在中耳胆脂瘤中的表达，了解两者在胆脂瘤发病中的作用。方法： 应用免疫组化技术检测20例中耳胆脂瘤组和10例正常对照组中TGF-β1和p21WAF1的表达。结果： ①p21WAF1定位于细胞核，呈棕黄色颗粒状；TGF-β1主要胞浆着色，呈棕黄色颗粒状。②中耳胆脂瘤组p21WAF1阳性表达率65％，分布于上皮的全层，以靠近基底层的棘细胞层和颗粒层显著，阳性指数（LI）均值为28.9%±6.7%；而正常对照组未见p21WAF1阳性表达。p21WAF1在中耳胆脂瘤上皮中的表达高于对照组（P<0.05）。③中耳胆脂瘤组TGF-β1阳性表达率90％， 位于上皮全层， LI为 32.3%±5.7%；在正常外耳道皮肤中阳性表达率为50％，LI 为13.3%±4.9%，两组比较差异有显著性（P<0.05）。④在中 耳胆脂瘤组p21WAF1与TGF-β1表达LI均值比较差异无显著性（P>0.05），p21WAF1表达LI均值与TGF-β1表达LI均值呈正相关关系（r＝0.913，P<0.01）。结论：TGF-β1和p21WAF1蛋白促进胆脂瘤发生发展，并具有相关性。 ［关键词］ 转化生长因子β;p21WAF1;中耳胆脂瘤;细胞凋亡 ［中图分类号］ ［文献标识码］ A  （）     

新生儿外周血B淋巴细胞CD21表达的免疫学意义

目的：通过测定小儿外周血中B淋巴细胞CD21的表达,探讨新生儿体液免疫功能低下、免疫球蛋白合成不足的原因。方法：对不同年龄组小儿,利用流式细胞仪对外周血B淋巴细胞及CD21的表达进行检测;同时测定其血清免疫球蛋白水平。结果：新生儿组的外周血中表达CD21的B淋巴细胞比例和数目明显低;B淋巴细胞表达CD21位点的平均荧光强度（MFI）也明显降低,说明新生儿B淋巴细胞表达CD21的表达量低下。除了新生儿组IgG水平高于婴幼儿组外,血清免疫球蛋白水平也随着年龄的增长,呈逐渐升高的趋势。结论：新生儿乃至小婴幼儿体液免疫功能不足、免疫球蛋白水平低下的原因与B淋巴细胞功能及CD21的低表达有关。［中国当代儿科杂志,2007,9（6）：546-548］