Inhibitory effect of Qilan Capsules on the expressions of vasculogenic mimicry-related proteins in prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the effect of Qilan Capsules (QLC) on the expressions of the related proteins HIF-1α, VEGF-α, EphA2 and MMP-1 in the formation of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Prostate cancer PC-3 cells were cultured, transfected with siRNA, and divided into eight groups, blank control, HIF-1α siRNA, VEGF-α siRNA, EphA2 siRNA, QLC intervention, QLC + HIF-1α siRNA, QLC + VEGF-α siRNA, and QLC + EphA2 siRNA. The expressions of the HIF-1α, VEGF-α and EphA2 proteins in the pathway of VEGF were determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the blank control group, the expression of HIF-1α was evidently decreased in the HIF-lα siRNA and QLC + HIF-lα siRNA groups (0.624 7 ± 0.042 8 vs 0.032 8 ± 0.002 5 and 0.036 8 ± 0.018 1, P < 0.05), so were that of VEGF-α in the VEGF-α siRNA and QLC + VEGF-α siRNA groups (0.068 9 ± 0.005 1 vs 0.016 9 ± 0.000 7 and 0.010 9 ± 0.000 8, P < 0.05), that of EphA2 in the EphA2 siRNA and QLC + EphA2 siRNA groups though with no statistically significant difference (0.1684 ± 0.0126 vs 0.134 5 ± 0.028 6 and 0.165 4 ± 0.039 8, P > 0.05), and that of MMP-1 in the HIF-lα siRNA, VEGF-α siRNA and EphA2 siRNA groups (1.696 1 ± 0.152 7 vs 0.435 9 ± 0.036 9, 0.198 7 ± 0.009 0 and 0.0218 ± 0.000 7, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Qilan Capsules can suppress VM formation in prostate cancer by inhibiting the expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF-α and MMP-1, which plays a role in the clinical treatment of prostate cancer by checking the growth and development of the blood supply system in the tumor tissue.</p>

EXPRESSION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF HYPOXIA INDUCIBLE FACTOR 1α IN RAT MODEL OF HETEROTOPIC OSSIFICATION AFTER Achilles TENOTOMY / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role and significance of hypoxia inducible factor lα (HIF-lα) and hypoxia microenvironment in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic heterotopic ossification by detecting the expression of HIF-lα in rat model of heterotopic ossification after Achilles tenotomy. METHODS: A total of 140 male Sprague Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, and weighing (210.1±10.6) g, were randomly divided into experimental group (n=70) and control group (n=70). In experimental group, the Achilles tendon was cut off and clamped to prepare post-traumatic heterotopic ossification model; in control group, only Achilles tendon was exposed. The general condition of rats was observed after operation, and at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after operation, the Achilles tendon tissue was harvested from 6 rats for gross observation, histological observation, and immunohistochemical staining observation, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of HIF-lα gene and protein at different time points in 2 groups. The X-ray films were taken and histological examination was done at 10 weeks after operation to evaluate the formation of heterotopic ossification. RESULTS: During the experiment, 1 rat died in experimental group at 3 days after operation, and the other rats survived to the end of the experiment. Gross and histological staining showed that the Achilles tendon had no obvious change, with normal tendon structure in control group at each time point. In experimental group, atrophy and necrosis of Achilles tendon stump were observed, with infiltration of inflammatory cells; and the hardness of Achilles tendon tissue gradually increased with the time; there were a large number of irregular connective tissue and cartilage cells. When compared with control group, the HIF-lα mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in experimental group at each time point (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that HIF-lα was positive in experimental group. According to the results of X-ray films and histological examination at 10 weeks after operation, heterotopic ossification was found in experimental group, but no heterotopic ossification in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of HIF-lα significantly increases at early stage of post-traumatic heterotopic ossification after Achilles tenotomy, suggesting that the local hypoxia microenvironment plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heterotopic ossification.

Pulmonary vascular remodeling after left lung pneumonectomy in rats / 中国实验动物学报

Objective To investigate the existence of pulmonary vascular remodeling after left pneumonectomy in rats and the role of hypoxia inducible factor-lα( HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) in pulmonary vascular remodeling.Methods Twenty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, 12 in each group.The rat models of pulmonary vascular remodeling were created by open-chest left pneumonectomy.After 12 weeks of feeding, the mean pulmonary artery pressure ( mPAP) and partial pressure of arterial oxygen ( PaO2 ) of each rat were measured.The ultrastructure of small arteries in the lung specimens were examined by e-lectron microscopy.Muscularized degree of three kinds of small pulmonary vessels ( muscularized artery MA, partially mus-cularized artery PMA, and non-muscularized artery NMA) were observed by light microscopy, and the percentage of each kind of pulmonary arteries ( MA%, PMA%, NMA%) were calculated.Arterial external diameter, media thickness of ves-sel ( MTV) , total vascular area, media area of vessel ( MAV) , MTV%and MAV%were calculated as indicators of pul-monary vascular remodeling.The expressions of HIF-1αand VEGF in artery were detected by immunohistochemistry.Re-sults The values of mPAP, MA%, PMA%, MTV, MAV, MTV% and MAV% in the experimental group were signifi-cantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), but the value of PaO2 and NMA%were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01).The IOD value of HIF-1αand VEGF expressed in the pulmonary arterial wall of the experimental group were 26.47 ±4.16 and 42.04 ±3.79, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control group (6.12 ±2.14 and 11.53 ±2.29, P<0.01).Linear correlation analysis showed that the expression of HIF-1αand VEGF was positively correlated with MTV% and MAV%, negatively correlated with PaO2 , and the HIF-1αexpression was posi-tively correlated with VEGF expression.Conclusions A rat model of pulmonary vascular remodeling can be successfully established by left pneumonectomy.Hypoxia is a key factor in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling, HIF-1αand VEGF may play an important role in its pathogenesis.

The role of hepatitis B virus X protein in regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1αand the underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国癌症杂志

Background and purpose:Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) play key roles in hepatocarcinogenesis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Positive correlation on the expression of these 2 proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues has been found, whereas the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study focused on the role of HBx in regulating HIF-1α and the underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Methods:The expression plasmids were transfected into Huh7 cells with LipofectemineTM 2000. Western blot analysis was applied to detect the expressions of HIF-1αand HIF-1β protein. The transcriptional activity of HIF-1α was detected by the commercial analysis kits. The mRNA levels of HIF-1αand its target genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and multi-drug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Immunoprecipitation analysis was applied to detect the interaction of HIF-1α, HBx and protein von Hippel-Lindau (pVHL). Results:Huh7 cells transfected with HBx plasmid led to sharp increase of HIF-1αprotein and transcriptional activity, as well as the mRNA of VEGF and MDR1 (P0.05). Meanwhile, HBx also signiifcantly impaired the function of pVHL in mediating the degradation of HIF-1αby ubiquitin hydrolase. This finding was further confirmed by the immunoprecipitation analysis, which showed that HBx could directly bind to pVHL, but not to HIF-1α. Conclusion:HBx may inhibit the inter-activation between pVHL and HIF-1αthrough directly binding to pVHL, and thus enhance the stability and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α.

The prognostic value of HIF-1α and VEGF expression in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between HIF-1αt and VEGF expression and the clinicopathological characteristics in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression status of HIF-1α and VEGF were examined by immunohistochemistric method (IHC) in 62 tumor tissue and 19 paracancerous normal tissue.The relationships between the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF and clinicopathological characteristic were analyzed. Results HIF-1αt and VEGF expression were higher in hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues than those in paracancerous normal tissues (66. 1％:26. 3％ ;x2 =18. 02,P ＜0. 05 ;67. 7％ : 31.6％ ; x2 =19.22, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The expression intensity of HIF-1 α was related to T stage, N stage and TNM stage ( x2 =4. 23,5.83,9.94,all P ＜0. 05). The expression intensity of VEGF was related to metastasis, T stage, N stage and TNM stage (x2 =5.62,7. 38,15.75,4. 29 ,all P ＜0. 05 ). There was minus relationship between overall survival and expression level of HIF-1 α and/or VEGF (x2 =29. 25, P＜0.01; x2 =24.88, P＜ 0.01 ).On multivariate analysis,HIF-1α expression and T stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (x2 =4.80,5.74, all P＜0. 05).ConclusionsHIF-1α and VEGF may be considered as a parameter in evaluation of progression, metastasis and prognosis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and also may be a direction of molecular target therapy.