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Objective To investigate the effect of elemene on mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and caspase-8 in tumor tissues of mice bearing hepatoma H22.Methods Forty BALB/c mice models bearing hepatoma H22 were established by subcutaneous inoculating tumor cells.Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:model group,low-and high-elemene dosage groups,and cisplatin group.The tumors after executing mice were weighted.The mRNA expressions of TRAF6 and caspase-8 in tumor tissues were detected by quantitative real-time reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The dosage of elemene could inhibit tumor growth.The inhibition ratio of cancer in the low-and high-elemene dosage and cisplatin group was 24.2％,27.4％,and 28.2％,respectively.It reduced significantly tumor weights(P ＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the expression level of TRAF6 mRNA on tumors was decreased significantly,while the expression level of caspase-8 mRNA was increased significantly in the other groups(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The present results indicated that molecular mechanism of inhibition of liver cancer growth treated by elemene might be through down-regulating mRNA expressions of TRAF6 and caspase-8,promoting tumor cells apoptosis,and achieving the anti-tumor effect.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the expression characteristics of Caspase-8 in gastric carcinoma tissues and its correlation with clinical pathological features.Methods The mRNA and protein of Caspase-8 in gastric carcinoma and its surrounding tissues were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry,respectively.ResultsThe Caspase-8 mRNA in gastric carcinoma tissues was obviously lower than that in its surrounding ones (0.154±0.065 vs 0.394±0.107,t =14.04,P ＜0.01),which was correlated with lymph node metastasis,tumor stage,differentiation grade (P＜0.01).The Caspase-8 protein in gastric carcinoma tissues was also significantly lower than that in its surrounding ones (31.48％ vs 85.19％,x2 =32.04,P ＜ 0.01),which was correlated with tumor stage,differentiation grade (P＜0.05).ConclusionsCaspase-8 is low-expressed in gastric carcinoma,which may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma.
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Objective To study the relationship between serum HBV DNA level and apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) , and the relationship between serum HBV DNA level and the activity of caspase-8 in the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Method 30 CHB patients were selected as experimental group, and it was divided into three subgroups according to the serum HBV DNA level, subgroup A (high serum HBVDNA), subgroup B (medium serum HBVDNA), and subgroup C (low serum HBVDNA). 10 healthy adults were random selected as control group. PBMC were isolated from two groups by separating medium of lymphocytic cell and culturing it with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro for 72 hours. The PBMC was stained with PI and the apoptosis was assayed with flow cytometry. At the same time, the aetivity of caspase-8 of PBMC was assayed by color matching. Results The apoptosis rate of PBMC of experimental group ( 26. 88 ± 7.37 ) % were higher than that of the control group ( 14. 95 ±2. 53)% ( P <0. 01 ). In the experimental group, the apoptosis rate of PBMC of subgroups A, B and C showed decreasing order (34. 75 ± 4. 59)%, (25.63 ± 3.55 )%, ( 18. 91 ± 3. 81 )%. The activity of caspase-8 of experimental group 2. 99 ±0. 82 were higher than that of the control group 1.43 ±0. 91 ( P <0. 01 ). The activity of caspase-8 of subgroup A, B and C showed the same decreasing order: 3. 87 ±0. 35,2. 95 ± 0. 36, 1.95 ± 0. 29. There was a positive correlation between the apoptosis level of PBMC and the activity of caspase-8 in experimen tal group ( r = 0. 610, P < 0. 01 ). Conclusion AICD of PBMC was found in patients with CHB. The activity of caspase-8 increased in that process, and it may participate in the transduction of apoptosis signal. Serum HBV DNA level was related with the apoptosis rate of PBMC and the activity of caspase-8, and it may be one of the reasons of apoptosis in PBMC.