Association of p73 G4C14?A4T14 and p53 codon 72 polymorphism with cervical cancer in Chinese population

Background: Cervical cancer is known to be the fourth most common cancer among women globally. In various factors, genetic factors have been considered as one major risk factor for cervical cancer. The research of genetic susceptibility to cervical cancer can be greatly helpful in studying the complex mechanism. This study was conducted to identify whether polymorphic variants of p73 G4C14-A4T14 and tumor protein p53 (p53) codon 72, either independently or jointly, might be associated with the risk of cervical cancer. Methods: The genotypes of p73 G4C14-A4T14 and p53 codon 72 polymorphisms of peripheral blood DNA from 190 cervical cancer patients and 210 controls were investigated using polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively. Results: The frequency of p73 G4C14-A4T14 AT/AT (P = 0.013) or p53 codon 72 GG (P = 0.026) genotype was associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer by comparing with the p73 G4C14-A4T14 GC/GC or p53 codon 72 CC genotype, respectively. In addition, the interaction between the p73 G4C14-A4T14 and p53 codon 72 polymorphisms increased the risk of cervical cancer in a multiply manner, with the odds ratio being 3.692 (95% confidence interval =2.106-6.473) for subjects carrying both p73 G4C14-A4T14 GC/AT+AT/AT and p53 codon 72 GG genotypes. Conclusion: These results suggest that there is a statistical difference between p73 and p53 gene polymorphism and the risk of cervical cancer in Chinese women, and there is a potential gene-gene interaction in the incidence of cervical cancer.

Expression of CPEB1 gene affects the cycle of ovarian granulosa cells from adult and young goats

Background: CPEB is considered as an RNA-binding protein first identified in Xenopus oocytes. Although CPEB1 was involved in the growth of oocyte, its role in goat follicular granulosa cell has not been fully elucidated. To clarify the functions of this gene in goat follicular granulosa cells, CPEB1-overexpressing vector and interference vector were structured and transfected into follicular granulosa cells from Jiangsu native white goats of Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China. The expression levels of differentiation-related genes including CDK1, Cyclin B1, and C-mos were determined 24 h after administration of CPEB1 by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting methods. Results: The expression levels of CDK1, Cyclin B1, and C-mos were significantly upregulated after overexpression and significantly downregulated after interference with CPEB1. Conclusions: The CPEB1 gene expression could affect the transcription of genes related to early cleavage divisions, which provided a reference for further research on its role in the growth and maturation of oocytes.

Overexpression of CDC25C affects the cell cycle of ovarian granulosa cells from adult and young goats

Background: CDC25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that was first identified in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a cell cycle-defective mutant. Although CDC25 is involved in the cell cycle of ovarian granulosa cells, the CDC25 signaling pathway has not been clarified fully. To explore the role of CDC25C in the cell cycle of goat ovarian granulosa cells, a CDC25C-overexpressing vector, pCMV-HA-CDC25C, was constructed and transfected into granulosa cells from adult and young white goats from Jiangsu Nantong. RT-PCR was used to measure CDC25C, CDK1, and WEE1 gene expression levels, and flow cytometry was used to distinguish ovarian granulosa cells in different phases of the cell cycle. Progesterone and estradiol levels in transfected ovarian granulosa cells were also measured. Results: In adult goat follicular granulosa cells transfected with pCMV-HA-CDC25C, CDC25C expression increased significantly, which greatly increased the relative gene expression levels of both CDK1 and WEE1. Additionally, progesterone and estradiol levels were increased in goat follicular granulosa cells overexpressing CDC25C. And the cell cycle results showed that transfection of pCMV-HA-CDC25C leads to a higher proportion of cells in S phase compared to the no vector-transfected groups. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the overexpression of CDC25C may increase the gene expression levels of both WEE1 and CDK1 in S phase and accelerate the transition of cells from G1 phase to S phase.

Effects of telmisartan on angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and p-ERK1/2 phosphorylation in rat cultured cardiomyocytes.

Background: Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is a common complication of hypertension, and is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Up to now, no study has been made on the effects of telmisartan on Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Objective: Investigate the effects of telmisartan on angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) in rat-cultured cardiomyocytes. Methods: Rat myocardial cells were cultured. Beating rates of the cardiomyocytes, cell volumes, total protein contents, protein synthesis rates, and ERK activity were measured. The phosphorylation of p-ERK1/2 was analyzed by Western blot. Results: Treatment of cultured cardiomyocytes with telmisartan inhibited angiotensin II-induced increases in cell volume, beating rate, total protein content and protein synthesis rate. Telmisartan markedly inhibited p-ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Telmisartan could suppress cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II. The mechanism might be related to the inhibition of p-ERK1/2 phosphorylation.