The level of transgelin related to the function of dendritic cells pulsed with liver cancer / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationships between the expression of transgelin in dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with hepatocellular carcinoma lysates and the functions of the DCs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DCs derived from healthy human white blood cells were divided into 3 groups: one was pulsed with high metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (MHCC97H) lysates, one with lysates of a low metastatic potential cell line (MHCC97L), and one un-pulsed DCs served as the control. The morphology of the DCs was observed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phenotypes of the DCs were detected by flowcytometric analysis. The mixed leucocyte reaction (MLR) test and IL-12 secretion of DCs in the supernatants of MLR were employed to determine the functions of the DCs; the expression of transgelin was detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no morphological changes in the different DCs, but the levels of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83, CD86, MLR and IL-12 and transgelin were significantly higher in the two pulsed groups than those in the control group (P less than 0.01). In MHCC97H pulsed DCs, their CD80, CD83, CD86, and the expression of transgelin were also higher than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). The expression of transgelin was significantly higher in the MHCC97H pulsed group than in the MHCC97L loaded group, but CD80, CD83, CD86 and the level of IL-12 were all lower in the MHCC97H loaded DC group in comparison with those in the MHCC97 pulsed group (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of transgelin in DCs pulsed with HCC lysates is related to the functions of the DCs.</p>

Screening low molecular weight protein biomarkers relevant to portal vein tumor thrombi in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen low molecular weight protein biomarkers relevant to portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT) in serum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum samples were obtained from 12 healthy volunteers, 12 HCC patients without PVTT and 12 HCC patients with PVTT. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in which the second dimension was 16% SDS-PAGE, serum protein images of the 3 groups were analyzed by ImageMaster software. The differential protein spots were further identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparing the results using 12.5% SDS-PAGE gel, there were more protein bands (between 3 x 10(3) and 20 x 10(3)) and low molecular weight (MW) protein spots (less than 20 x 10(3)) were clearly shown in the 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Fifteen differential protein spots representing 5 proteins were found in the 3 groups by inter-class comparison and they were then identified. Compared with those in the healthy group, apolipoprotein A-I, lipoprotein CIII, transthyretin and DNA topoisomerase II were all down regulated in HCC groups and haptoglobin-2 was over expressed. All 5 proteins decreased more in the PVTT group than in the non-PVTT group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of low MW serum protein obviously changes in the beginning and in the progressive stage of HCC, and differentially expressed low MW proteins might be potential biomarkers in an early prognostic prediction and surveillance in the treatment for HCC and PVTT.</p>