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Aim To investigate the effect of histamine H, receptor (HjR) on the immune responses in astrocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the regulatory mechanism of its signaling pathway. Methods LPS was used to establish an in vitro astrocyte inflammation model. Rat primary astrocytes were divided into the control group, LPS group, LPS + Hj R agonist group (2-pyridylethlamine, Pyri), and HjR agonist group. Astrocytes were treated with Pyri 100 p,mol • L~ for 1 h, then stimulated with LPS at 100 p,g • L~ for 24 h. Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay. The expression of GFAP and HjR was detected by immunofluorescence. Glial morphological changes were observed under a microscope. The levels of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-a and IL-6) were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of p-Akt, Akt, p-NF-KB p65, and NF-KB p65 were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the control group, more activated astrocytes with fewer cell processes and branches were observed in the LPS group. Besides, LPS enhanced the GFAP expression level, reduced the H,R expression level and stimulated the production of TNF-a and IL-6 from astrocytes. Pre treatment with Pyri for 1 h ameliorated the glial morphological changes stimulated by LPS, inhibited LPS-induced upregulation of GFAP level and the inflammatory factors secretion. In addition, LPS stimulated astrocytes showed a higher phosphorylation of Akt and NF-KB p65, which was also ameliorated by Pyri. Conclusions H, R agonist can inhibit LPS-induced astrocyte activation and inflammatory factor secretion, and the Akt/NF-KB signaling pathway may be an important pathway for the involvement of H,R in immune regulation.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of hsa-miRNA-200 c and its relationship with metastasis of EOC.METHODS: The expression of hsa-miRNA-200 c was detected by Stem-loop Real-time Quantitative PCR(TaqMan probe method)in 73 cases of EOC,30 cases of benign ovarian epithelial tumors and 30 cases of normal ovarian tissues,which were collected in gynecological operations from Guangdong General Hospital from October 2010 to May 2011.Meantime,the clinical pathologic features data were analyzed.The assessment of the correlation between hsa-miRNA-200 c and clinicopathological features,and the hierarchical analysis of hsa-miRNA-200 c level in 73 cases of ovarian epithelial cancer was further undertaken(Among 73 cases,13 patients suffered liver metastasis and 60 patients had non-liver metastasis).Overexpression or knockdown of hsa-miRNA-200 c,ovarian cancer cell invasion and migration abilitywas detected.RESULTS: The expression of miRNA-200 c in the EOC tissues was 382.18±15.22,which was significantly higher than that in the benign ovarian epithelial tumors(35.61 ± 1.42)and normal ovarian tissues(4.43 ±2.23)(P0.05).The expressions of miRNA-200 c were low in EOC with late clin-ical FIGO stage(670.91±16.88 vs. 129.52±33.3,P0.05).The transwell cabinet invasion experiment showed the expression of miRNA-200 c was negatively correlated with the invasion capability of ovarian cancer cells.CONCLUSION: MiRNA-200 c is likely to play a double regulation role in the development of EOC,whose low-expression has been associated with late EOC,lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,and poor prognosis.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) can reduce ceramide levels and help cells escape ceramide-induced apoptosis, thus leading to multidrug resistance (MDR). However, its expression and clinical significance in thyroid neoplasms still remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the expression of GCS and explore its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively investigated GCS protein expression level in tissue specimens obtained from 108 consecutive PTC patients by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GCS was weakly positive or negative in normal follicular cells, but it was frequently overexpressed in PTC cells. GCS overexpression was associated with primary tumor size, local infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and local recurrence, but not associated with gender, age, pathological variants, tumor multifocality, tumor stage or distant metastasis. Western blotting also showed that GCS protein levels were much higher in PTCs' tissues than in normal thyroid tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GCS was upregulated in PTCs and might be an independent factor affecting prognosis.</p>