Effect of FGF-2 on survivin and subcellular location of Smac in human small cell lung cancer cell NCI-H446 / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)on survivin and subcellular location of Smac in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell NCI-H446.@*METHODS@#Western blot was used to detect the expression of survivin protein induced by FGF-2. The release of Smac from mitochondria to cytoplasm affected by FGF-2 was observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis of NCI-H446 cells was detected with flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining.@*RESULTS@#The expression of survivin could be up-regulated in response to FGF-2 treatment in NCI-H446 cells, and the level of survivin expression is related to the concentration and time of FGF-2 treatment. FGF-2 could inhibit the release of Smac from the mitochondria to cytoplasm induced by serum starving. FGF-2 could inhibit the apoptosis induced by serum starving.@*CONCLUSION@#FGF-2 up-regulates the expression of survivin protein in NCI-H446 cells, and blocks the release of Smac from mitochondria cytoplasm. Survivin and Smac might play important roles in the apoptosis inhibited by FGF-2.

Antioxidation of melatonin against spinal cord injury in rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The iron catalyzed lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the autodestruction of the injured spinal cord. This study was to detect the antioxidation of melatonin against spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sity Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A (n = 15) for laminectomyanly, group B (n = 15) for laminectomy with SCI, group C (n = 15) for SCI and intraperitoneal injection of a bolus of 100 mg/kg melatonin, and group D (n = 15) for SCI and intraperitoneal injection of saline containing 5% ethanol. The SCI of animal model was made using modified Allen's method on T12. Six rats of each group were sacrificed 4 hours after injury, and the levels of free iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the involved spinal cord segments were measured by the bleomycin assay and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) separately. Functional recovery of the spinal cord was assessed by Modified Tarlov's scale and the inclined plane method at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days after SCI. The histologic changes of the damaged spinal cord were also examined at 7 days after SCI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After SCI, the levels of free iron and MDA were increased significantly and the modified Tarlov's score and inclined plane angle decreased significantly in groups B and D. In group C, the Tarlov's score and inclined plane angle were increased significantly at 7, 14 and 21 days, with histological improvement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Melatonin can reduce the level of lipid peroxidation and prevent damage to the spinal cord of rat.</p>

Changes of free iron contents and its correlation with lipid peroxidation after experimental spinal cord injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the dynamic changes of free iron contents and its relationship to the changes of lipid peroxidation after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n=6) received no operation; Group B (n=48) received only laminectomy (sham); and Group C (n=48) received both laminectomy and traumatic injury (SCI model). The SCI animal models were made by using an modified Allen's weight-drop device (50 g.cm) on T(12). Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after injury. The levels of free iron involved in spinal cord segments at different time points were measured by bleomycin assay. The malondialdehyde (MDA) was also measured by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After SCI in Group C, the level of free iron showed a significant increase at 0.5 hour compared to Groups B and A, restored to the control level at 6 h; the level of MDA was increased at 0.5 hour, peaked at 3 hours, returned to the control level at 12 hours; the concentrations of free iron and lipid peroxidation in injured rats were significantly and positively correlated at 0.5-3 hours.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After SCI the levels of free iron are increased quickly and might be a major contributor to lipid peroxidation in injured spinal cord.</p>

Growth suppression of colon cancer cells in vitro by DPC4 gene expression and its mechanism / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of DPC4 gene expression on the growth of colon cancer cells and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-DPC4 was constructed and transfected into the colon cancer cell line SW620 by use of lipofectamine gene transfer technique. DPC4 protein expression was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. The effect of DPC4 gene on the growth of SW620 cells was monitored by population doubling time (PDT) and cloning efficiency. The influence of DPC4 expression on p21WAF1 transcription was investigated by RT-PCR to detect p21WAF1 mRNA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Successful expression of DPC4 protein was detected in the transfected SW620 cells. Compared with the control cells, PDT (74 h) of the DPC4 expressing cells was prolonged and the cloning efficiency (21%) decreased. In addition, the mRNA level of p21(WAF1) in DPC4 transfected cells was increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overexpression of DPC4 gene inhibits the growth of colon cancer in vitro, and induction of p21(WAF1) expression may be an important functional aspect of DPC4.</p>

Effects of long-term swimming exercise on iron status of rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To observe the effects of different periods of exercise on the iron status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Female rats were randomly divided into 3-, 6-, 12-month swimming exercise groups and their corresponding sedentary groups. The hematological indices of iron status and the non-heme iron (NHI) and total NHI (TNHI) of the organs were determined at the end of the desired period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with the corresponding sedentary groups, plasma iron and transferrin-iron saturation of three exercise groups were decreased without significant changes of blood hemoglobin and hematocrit. The NHI contents and TNHI of the liver, spleen and kidney were decreased. Although the NHI contents of the heart decreased, TNHI was not significantly changed. TNHI of the organs in both the exercised and sedentary rats were found to increase with age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The exercise-induced low iron status with depleted iron storage is similar to the iron-deficiency status, but it could not be explained using the hypothesis of iron deficiency. Both the NHI redistribution and the maintained iron storage suggests the adaptation of low iron status to exercise. Therefore, the so-called exercise-induced iron deficiency could not exist.</p>