Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal carcinoma

Among the numerous signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis, PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR is a key one that regulates diverse cellular functions. However, its prognostic value in esophageal carcinoma remains unclear. In our study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of phosphorylated (p‐) AKT, mTOR, p70S6K and 4E‐BP1 along with the mutational status of PIK3CA and AKT1 genes by High Resolution Melting Analysis and Pyrosequencing in 44 esophageal carcinomas. The results were correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients in an effort to define their possible prognostic significance. Total p‐mTOR cytoplasmic expression, assessed in 10 random areas, was positively correlated with tumor stage (Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, I/II vs III/IV, p = 0.0500). Μoreover, maximum p‐mTOR cytoplasmic immunoexpression, estimated in hot spot areas, was positively associated with tumor grade (Mann–Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0565). Interestingly, p‐4E‐BP1 immunoreactivity was negatively correlated with tumor histological grade (Mann–Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0427). No mutation was observed in exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA gene and in exon 4 of AKT1 gene. In conclusion, our findings depict the presence of activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal cancer bringing forward p‐mTOR and p‐4E‐BP1 for their potential role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Additional studies are warranted to validate our findings.     

Antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activity of Indian toad (Bufo melanostictus, Schneider) skin extract on U937 and K562 cells.

The antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities of Bufo melanostictus (Indian common toad) skin extract (TSE) on U937 and K562 leukemic cell line has been investigated. TSE significantly (P<0.001) reduced the time-dependent cell proliferation and decreased MTT values in U937 and K562 cells. TSE (IC50 doses) suppressed the proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in both the cells. It was demonstrated that, TSE (IC50 doses) primarily arrested the U937 and K562 cells at G1 phase of the cell cycle. Confocal microscopy showed the altered fragmented nuclei and apoptotic bodies formation in TSE (IC50 doses) treated U937 and K562 cells. Membrane blebbing, cell surface shrinkage and perforation were observed through scanning electron microscope. TSE-induced DNA fragmentation in U937 and K562 cells was reflected in single-cell gel electrophoresis. TSE significantly (P<0.001) increase the length-width ratio of DNA mass as compared to control in comet assay. The flow cytometric analysis of annexin-V binding to the cancer cells further supported the apoptotogenic activity of TSE. The effect of TSE on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells viability and cytotoxicity was studied in culture and found to be less cytotoxic than on the U937 and K562 cells. The findings from the present study suggested that TSE might possess potent antineoplastic agent having antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activity against U937 and K562 myeloid leukemic cells.     

As2O3处理前后K562细胞基因表达变化的基因芯片检测

目的应用基因芯片研究三氧化二砷(As2O3)处理前后K562细胞基因表达的变化.方法提取As2O3处理前后K562细胞的总RNA,纯化为mRNA后再反转录为cDNA.cDNA经限制性内切酶Sau3AI切割后,cDNA片段分别用Cy3和Cy5标记,与自制的包含348个基因片段的胎盘库芯片杂交.结果杂交结果经扫描和软件分析,发现了11个差异表达的基因片段,其中有3个基因片段与细胞凋亡密切相关.结论我们构建的胎盘库基因芯片可以成功地用于研究药物作用前后基因表达的变化.     

三尖杉酯碱诱导慢性髓系白血病K-562细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的阐明三尖杉酯碱（HT）作用于K562细胞的机制。方法应用细胞形态、DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞仪等检测,观察HT对K562细胞株的作用方式,进一步用RT-PCR方法研究bcr/abl基因在转录水平的改变。结果0.01～100.00μg/ml浓度HT可诱导K562细胞凋亡,并呈时间和剂量依赖性。随着药物作用时间的延长,bcr/abl基因的转录下调。结论低浓度HT就可通过抑制bcr/abl基因的表达,诱导K562细胞凋亡。     

Depressed levels of circulating menaquinones in patients with osteoporotic fractures of the spine and femoral neck

Vitamin K₁ functions in the conversion of glutamate residues, present in certain bone peptides, into the putatively active γ-carboxyglutamate form. We have shown previously that the circulating levels of vitamin K₁ are depressed in osteoporotic patients. However, it is known that menaquinones (vitamin K₂:MK) may be more effective than vitamin K₁ in this conversion of the inactive to active form of glutamate residues. A procedure for measuring such menaquinones has now demonstrated a marked deficiency of MK-7 and MK-8 in patients with osteoporotic fractures. It is suggested that estimates of circulating levels of K₁, MK-7, and MK-8 might provide a biochemical risk marker of osteoporotic fractures.     

高活性的人白细胞介素-3突变体的构建与表达

目的:在大肠杆菌中构建表达高活性的人白细胞介素-3(hIL-3)突变体。方法:通过定点突变的方法构建hIL-3突变体K116V和K116W的表达载体,并实现hIL-3突变体在大肠杆菌中的表达。对所得包涵体蛋白依次溶解、纯化、透析复性。用Westernblot检测hIL-3突变体的特异性。单溶液细胞增殖(MTS)测定hIL-3突变体的生物学活性。结果:hIL-3在大肠杆菌中高效表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的40%以上,主要以包涵体的形式存在。将包涵体溶解在8mol/L脲中,经Ni-NTA-Sepharose柱纯化后纯度达90%以上。MTS法测定hIL-3突变体K116V的活性为野生型的5倍,K116W的生物学活性也有所增加。结论:获得了高活性的hIL-3突变体K116V,有望成为hIL-3的替代品,也证明了hIL-3第116位的赖氨酸残基对于hIL-3的生物学活性很重要。     

Novel azapeptide inhibitors of cathepsins B and K. Structural background to increased specificity for cathepsin B

Abstract: We have designed and synthesized a new series of azapeptides which act as potential inhibitors of cathepsin B and/or cathepsin K. Their structures are based upon the inhibitory sites of natural cysteine protease inhibitors, cystatins. For the synthesized azapeptides, the equilibrium constants for dissociation of inhibitor–enzyme complex, K_i, were determined. Comparison of these values indicated that all of the azainhibitors act much stronger toward cathepsin B. Z‐Arg‐Leu‐His‐Agly‐Ile‐Val‐OMe ( 7 ) proved to be approximately 500 times more potent for cathepsin B than for cathepsin K. To be able to explain the obtained experimental values we used the molecular dynamics procedures to analyze the interactions between cathepsin B and compound 7 . We also determined the structure of the most potent and selective cathepsin B azainhibitor by means of NMR studies and theoretical calculations. In this report, we describe SAR studies of azapeptide inhibitors indicating the influence of the conformational flexibility of the examined compounds on inhibition of cathepsins B and K.     

白细胞介素-15对骨髓增生异常综合征骨髓造血干/祖细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察白细胞介素(IL-15)对体外培养的骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)患者CD34^ 细胞增殖作用。方法：应用单克隆抗体免疫磁珠分离系统提取MDS患者CD34^ 细胞，以加IL-15组为实验组，不加IL-15组为对照组，进行液体和甲基纤维素半固体集落培养，计算培养后细胞数和CFU—E、BFU—E、CFU—GM、CFU—GEMM等集落数，并用MTT比色法检测IL-15对MDS患者CD34^ 细胞增殖的抑制作用，流式细胞术检测上述培养细胞周期的变异情况。结果：11例MDS对象平均CD34^ 细胞比例、回收率、纯度和富集倍数均达要求，MTT比色法检测IL-15对CD34^ 细胞的增殖作用呈最佳浓度效应，最佳浓度为20μg／L，细胞增殖抑制最低峰值时间为8d。用0μg／L IL-15(对照组)和20μg／L IL-15(实验组)作用MDS CD34^ 细胞，计数显示培养细胞最大增殖倍数和集落形成比率实验组均较对照组明显增加，IL-15作用后各细胞周期G1、S、G2期比例有明显改变，与对照组比较，差异有统计学意义。结论：IL-15对MDS CD34^ 细胞有促增殖效应，与其它造血生长因子具有协同作用，对MDS治疗可能有一定的应用前景。