MMP-1/PAR-1 signal transduction axis and its prognostic impact in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP-1)/protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) signal transduction axis plays an important role in tumorigenesis. To explore the expression and prognostic value of MMP-1 and PAR-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), we evaluated the expression of two proteins in resected specimens from 85 patients with ESCC by immunohistochemistry. Sixty-two (72.9 percent) and 58 (68.2 percent) tumors were MMP-1- and PAR-1-positive, respectively, while no significant staining was observed in normal esophageal squamous epithelium. MMP-1 and PAR-1 overexpression was significantly associated with tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage and regional lymph node involvement. Patients with MMP-1- and PAR-1-positive tumors, respectively, had poorer disease-free survival (DFS) than those with negative ESCC (P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). Univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between TNM stage [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.836, 95 percent confidence interval (CI) = 1.866-4.308], regional lymph node involvement (HR = 2.955, 95 percentCI = 1.713-5.068), MMP-1 expression (HR = 2.669, 95 percentCI = 1.229-6.127), and PAR-1 expression (HR = 1.762, 95 percentCI = 1.156-2.883) and DFS. Multivariate analysis including the above four parameters identified TNM stage (HR = 2.035, 95 percentCI = 1.167-3.681), MMP-1 expression (HR = 2.109, 95 percentCI = 1.293-3.279), and PAR-1 expression (HR = 1.967, 95 percentCI = 1.256-2.881) as independent and significant prognostic factors for DFS. Our data suggest for the first time that MMP-1 and PAR-1 were both overexpressed in ESCC and are novel predictors of poor patient prognosis after curative resection. The MMP-1/PAR-1 signal transduction axis might be a new therapeutic target for future therapies tailored against ESCC.

Variation and regularity of volatile oil constituents in fruits of national medicine Cinnamomum migao / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the constituents of the volatile oil in Cinnamomum migao from different regions of southwest in China in order to evaluate the quality of C. migao.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>GC-MS was employed to analyze the constituents of the volatile oil in C. migao.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The volatile oil compositions of C. migao collected from 27 of cultivation regions were obviously different. Based on the chemical differences of the volatile oil compositions, C. migao was divided into four chemotype, they were eucalyptol, eucalyptol -cyclohexene, eucalyptol -alpha-terpineol, and eucalyptol -sabinene. The eucalyptol-type was cultivated in Luodian, guizhou province and Funing regions, Yunan province. The eucalyptol-cyclohexene-type was cultivated in Zhengfeng and Wangmo regions, Guizhou province. The type of eucalyptol, eucalyptol -sabinene and eucalyptol -alpha-terpineol were cultivated in Ceheng and Libo regions, Guizhou province.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined with the geographical distribution, It is indicated that the volatile oil compositions in fruit of C. migao may have some relations to the specie itself characteristics and different elevations environment.</p>

Genetic diversity of Polygonum capitatum from Guizhou populations by ISSR markers / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect genetic diversity of 48 population of Polygonum capitatum in Guizhou province.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The genetic diversity of 48 representational populations of P. capitatum including 240 individuals had been investigated by ISSR marker technique.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The genetic diversity had been revealed as follow: A total of 8 293 bands were produced in 240 individuals, of which 7 962 bands were common in the 48 population. The value of the average percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 79.09%, Nei's genetic diversity index (H(e)) was 0.245 8, Shannon's information index (I) was 0.396 2, and genetic differentiation index (G(st)) was 0.238 0 at population level, respectively. The genetic differentiation index (G(st)) was 0.072 2, genetic differentiation coefficient by Shannon's diversity (I(st)) was 0.044 2 within the population levels. Groups cluster analysis based on the UPGMA method indicated that although the 48 populations could be divided into 3 groups and the P. capitatum seed sources. The groups cluster showed that a cross clustering of P. capitatum between the southwest and southeast populations in Guizhou province, and no significant correlation was found between geographical and genetic distance among them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic diversity of P. capitatum is relatively high at the population levels, while low within the population levels, a significant degree of genetic differentiation occurs among the populations. The groups cluster analysis indicated they has not apparent genetic variation in regional pattern between the place of origin populations and the migrate populations.</p>

Chemokine-like factor 1, a novel cytokine, contributes to airway damage, remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) was recently identified as a novel cytokine. The full-length CKLF1 cDNA contains 530 bp encoding 99 amino acid residues with a CC motif similar to that of other CC family chemokines. Recombinant CKLF1 exhibits chemotactic activity on leucocytes and stimulates proliferation of murine skeletal muscle cells. We questioned whether CKLF1 could be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and proliferation in the lung. Therefore we used efficient in vivo gene delivery method to investigate the biological effect of CKLF1 in the murine lung.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CKLF1-expressing plasmid, pCDI-CKLF1, was constructed and injected into the skeletal muscles followed by electroporation. Lung tissues were obtained at the end of week 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively after injection. The pathological changes in the lungs were observed by light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A single intramuscular injection of CKLF1 plasmid DNA into BALB/c mice caused dramatic pathological changes in the lungs of treated mice. These changes included peribronchial leukocyte infiltration, epithelial shedding, collagen deposition, proliferation of bronchial smooth muscle cells and fibrosis of the lung.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The sustained morphological abnormalities of the bronchial and bronchiolar wall, the acute pneumonitis and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis induced by CKLF1 were similar to phenomena observed in chronic persistent asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome. These data suggest that CKLF1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of these important diseases and the study also implies that gene electro-transfer in vivo could serve as a valuable approach for evaluating the function of a novel gene in animals.</p>