Research progress towards interferon stimulated genes and its clinical signifi-cance / 中国免疫学杂志

Interferon (IFN) acts on the surface of the target cell receptors and activate the expression of interferon stimulated genes(interferon stimulated genes,ISGs) through a series of signal transduction.ISGs have antiviral and immunomodulation and other biological functions,indicating ISGs are important molecules for interferon to function and have some potential clinical significance.A large number of research results showed that ISGs may predict the antiviral effect of IFN-α;specific expression of ISGs in patients with autoimmune diseases in vivo may be used as a new biomarker for clinical diagnosis of the diseases;ISGs may act as a new target for cancer treatment and have other potential applications.This review mainly focuses on the induction,the biological functions like antiviral effects and the potential clinical significance of ISGs.

Correlation between the Incidence of Allergic Rhinitis and the Environmental Air Quality in Zibo Area / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the correlation between the incidence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the air quality in Zibo area. Methods The number of AR cases in the outpatient departments of eight hospitals in five districts and three counties of Zibo city from January 2014 to December 2016 and the monthly change of the air pollution index (API) in Zibo area provided by Zibo Environment Protection Bureau during the same period were analyzed.Results The highest AR visit rates were recorded in April,May,and December,and the API was the highest in November,December,and January. The average AR visit rate in 2014,2015 and 2016 was 0.180±0.059,0.230±0.085,and 0.220±0.059 (F=2.251,P=0.123),and the average API was 113.26±20.152,126.81±30.688,and 112.58±22.934 (F=1.237,P=0.303). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the AR visit rate was positively correlated with the API (r=0.467,P=0.004). Conclusion The diagnostic rate of AR in Zibo area is positively correlated with the severity of air pollution.

Downregulation of PTTG1 expression inhibits the proliferation and invasiveness and promotes the apoptosis of human prostate cancer LNCaP-AI cells / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effects of down-regulation of PTTG1 expression on the proliferation, invasiveness and apoptosis of androgen-independent human prostate cancer LNCaP-AI cells and their sensitivity to androgen antagonists.@*METHODS@#Human prostate cancer LNCaP-AI cells were transfected with siRNA targeting the PTTG1 gene using the Lipofectamine 2000 transfection reagent. The proliferation, invasiveness and apoptosis of the cells were detected by MTT, Transwell assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The protein expressions of PTTG1, p-Akt, and p-ERK were determined by Western blot and the mRNA expression of PTTG1 measured by agarose gel electrophoresis.@*RESULTS@#The siRNA expression vector markedly down-regulated the expression of PTTG1, which effectively suppressed the proliferation of the LNCaP-AI cells, with the inhibition rates of (19.47 ± 2.12), (24.01 ± 2.13) and (48.02 ± 2.22)% at 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively, after transfection, with statistically significant differences among the three groups (P <0.05). The number of the cells passing through the polycarbonate film was remarkably decreased at 24, 48 and 72 hours (74.67 ± 9.85, 56.44 ± 8.66 and 37.33 ± 6.14) as compared with the baseline (111.11 ± 13.47) (P <0.01), while the apoptosis rate of the cells was significantly increased at 24, 48 and 72 hours (18.32 ± 0.94), (19.94 ± 1.30) and (21.73 ± 1.88)% in comparison with the baseline (［2.17 ± 0.49］%)， (P <0.05). PTTG1 siRNA combined with androgen antagonist flumatide exhibited even more significant effects in inhibiting the proliferation and promoting the apoptosis of the LNCaP-AI cells than either used alone, and in a flumatide dose-dependent manner. The inhibition and apoptosis rates of the LNCaP-AI cells treated with 50 nmol/L flumatide were (27.13 ± 3.52) and (3.94 ± 0.48)%, and those treated with siRNA + 50 nmol/L flumatide were (67.51 ± 5.13) and (19.93 ± 1.72)%, respectively, both with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P <0.05). The inhibition and apoptosis rates of the cells treated with 100 nmol/L flumatide were (43.72 ± 3.90) and (5.33 ± 0.66)%, and those treated with siRNA + 100 nmol/L flumatide were (73.19 ± 4.78) and (23.43 ± 1.76)%, respectively, both with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P <0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The siRNA expression vector can down-regulate the expression of PTTG1, which can inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of LNCaP-AI cells, promote their apoptosis, and increase their sensibility to androgen antagonists. Suppressing the expression of PTTG1 may enhance the effect of androgen-deprivation therapy on advanced prostate cancer.

Expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 during the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To explore the expression of pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) during the transformation of prostate cancer from androgen-dependent (ADPC) to androgen-independent (AIPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established an AIPC cell model LNCaP-AI by culturing the androgen-dependent LNCaP cell line in the hormone-deprived medium for over 3 months. The cell model was verified and the PTTG1 expression in the LNCaP cells was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR during hormone deprivation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AIPC cell model LNCaP-AI was successfully established. The PTTG1 expression was gradually increased in the LNCaP cells with the prolonged time of hormone deprivation and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and -9 were elevated at the same time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of PTTG1 is increased gradually in AIPC, which may be a target of gene therapy for advanced prostate cancer.</p>