Clinical significance of common leukemia gene mutations in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore whether multiple common gene mutations of leukemia synergistically involved in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) pathogenesis, and to investigate their relevance to clinical features, cytogenetics and molecular risk stratification. 84 specimens of admitted de novo APL patients from February 2005 to October 2010 were collected, the gene mutations of bone marrow mononuclear cells and clinical features of mutation-positive patients were analyzed by genomic DNA-PCR. The results indicated that the prevalence of mutations was 60.7% (51/84), in which the mutations with the highest incidence were found as FLT3-ITD, reaching 27.4% (23/84). Next, there were 12 cases WT1 mutation, 9 for FLT3-TKD, 7 for TET2, 5 for N-RAS, 4 for ASXL1, 2 for EZH2 mutation and 1 positive case in MLL-PTD, IDH1 and CBL mutation respectively. No mutation was found in other JAK1, DNMT3, c-Kit, NPM1, IDH2, RUNX1 and JAK2 (V617F) common leukemia-related genes. Combined analysis with clinical data demonstrated that the patients with FLT3-ITD mutation displayed higher white blood cell counts, while the patients with N-RAS mutation showed lower platelet counts. Overall survival of these patients was obviously shorten as compared with patients with wild-type. This difference between mutant and wild-type of all above mentioned cases was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The difference between APL with simple t (15;17) and additional abnormal karyotype was not statistically significant. It is concluded that the FLT3-ITD mutation is recurrent genetic change in APL, and together with N-RAS mutation indicates poor prognosis. Additional abnormal karyotype does not associate with prognosis of APL.

Dynamic changes of alpha-AR, beta1-AR and beta2-AR expression during hepatic fibrogenesis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic changes of a-AR, b1-AR and b2-AR expression in hepatic fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat hepatic fibrosis model was established by bile duct ligation (BDL). HE and Masson staining were used to determine hepatic fibrosis levels. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect alpha -smooth muscle actin (alpha -SMA), a marker of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation; Western blot and real-time RT-PCR were used to measure the dynamic changes of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR expression on protein and mRNA levels, respectively, during the development of hepatic fibrosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) HE and Masson trichrome staining showed that the liver fibrosis models were established successfully. (2) At 1, 2, 3, 4 wk after BDL, alpha -SMA positive area density of the model group (10.58% +/- 1.75%, 24.14% +/- 2.02%, 29.74% +/- 2.59%, 34.28% +/- 2.01%) was significantly higher than that of the sham operation group (4.12% +/- 1.51%), P less than 0.01. (3) The expression of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR protein and mRNA was increased with the development of the hepatic fibrosis (P less than 0.05). (4) alpha -SMA expression was positively associated with alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR, beta(2)-AR, r values were 0.564, 0.753 and 0.606, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of alpha -SMA is increased dramatically during the fibrosis, and is positively associated with the expression of alpha -AR, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR.</p>

The dynamic expression of PTEN in fibrogenic rat liver tissues and its relation to the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic expression of PTEN in fibrogenic liver tissue of rats and its effect on the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by common bile duct ligation (BDL). The expressions of PTEN in the rat liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining, Western blot and real-time PCR assay. The expressions of PTEN in activated HSC in the rat liver tissues were detected by immunofluorescence double labeling confocal laser scanning microscopy. The alpha-SMA in the rat liver tissues was determined by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The immunohistochemical staining indicated that there was extensive expression of PTEN in the liver tissues of normal rats, it was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of the HSC. With the aggravation of hepatic fibrosis, the expression of PTEN in the hepatic tissues decreased gradually (P less than 0.01), while the alpha-SMA positive cells in the hepatic tissues increased significantly (P less than 0.01). The expressions of PTEN protein and mRNA in the rat liver tissues at week 1, 2, 3 and 4 after BDL were all lower than those in the sham operation group (P less than 0.01), and the expressions gradually decreased with the development of hepatic fibrosis (P less than 0.01). Immunofluorescence double labeling confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that PTEN were expressed extensively in activated HSC, especially in the cytoplasm, and with the development of hepatic fibrosis, the PTEN-expressing activated HSC accounted for an increasingly smaller percentage of total activated HSC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expressions of PTEN mRNA and protein in rat fibrogenic liver tissues were downregulated, and their expressions in HSC in vivo also decreased. The dynamic expressions of PTEN in liver tissues had a significant negative correlation with the activation and proliferation of HSC.</p>

Effects of norepinephrine on hepatic stellate cell proliferation and apoptosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured HSCs were used in 6 groups: (1) a control group; (2) a NE group; (3) a phentolamine plus propranolol group; (4) a phentolamine (an alpha-AR antagonist) group; (5) a CGP20712A (a beta1-AR antagonist) group; and (6) a ICI118551(a beta2-AR antagonist) group. After NE and the antagonists of adrenoceptor subtypes were administered to the cultured HSCs, MTT assay was used to evaluate the cell proliferation at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell apoptosis. An inverted microscope was used to observe the morphological changes of HSCs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) MTT assay indicated that NE significantly induced HSCs proliferation in a time-dependent manner, which were reduced by antagonist of alpha-AR, beta1-AR and beta2-AR. (2) At 24 h after HSCs exposure to NE, apoptosis rates decreased significantly compared with that of the control group (6.60%+/-3.05% vs 12.60%+/-4.76%). In the antagonists of adrenoceptor subtypes groups, especially of a and beta2 adrenoceptor subtypes, the apoptosis was less. (3) Apoptosis rate of the NE group was significantly lower than that of the control group (2.29%+/-0.22% vs 3.06%+/-0.57%). In the antagonists of alpha and b2 adrenoceptor groups the apoptosis was less. (4) No obvious morphological changes of HSCs were found after administration of NE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sympathetic neurotransmitter NE can induce proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of the cultured HSCs.</p>