The therapeutic effects of Yougui pill on knee osteoarthritis and the expression of Wnt signal pathway related factors in rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To observe the effects of Yougui pill (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the related factors of Wnt signal pathway of rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and explore its protective mechanism.@*METHODS@#Sixty SPF SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, model group, glucosamine sulfate group, high-dose, middle-dose, low-dose of Yougui pill treated group (=10). KOA model was established by modified Hulth method for six weeks. The rats in the high, middle and low-dose of Yougui pill group were treated with Yougui pills at the doses of 20,10 and 5 g/kg respectively by gastrogavage once a day for 8 weeks, while equal volume of normal saline was given to those in the sham and model control group and an equal volume of glucosamine sulfate (1.7 g/kg·d) was given to those in glucosamine sulfate group for 8 weeks. The knee joint was removed after the last dose of drug. The pathological changes of cartilaginous tissues were observed under a microscope. The mRNA levels of Dickkopf homolog 1(DKK1), Wnt induced secreted protein 1(WISP1), Wnt1, low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 5(LRP5) and beta -catenin in rats cartilaginous tissues were analyzed by using RT-PCR method, and the protein contents of DKK1, WISP1, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin in cartilaginous tissues were detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the sham group, the articular cartilage was severely damaged, the Mankin score was increased significantly (<0. 05), the mRNA and protein expression levels of DKK1 in cartilaginous tissue were markedly decreased(<0.05), while those of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin were increased significantly in model group(<0.05). Compared with model group, the articular cartilage lesions was light (<0.05), the Mankin Score was decreased significantly(<0.05), and the mRNA and protein levels of DKK1 in cartilaginous tissue were increased(<0.05), while those of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin were decreased in Yougui pill high-dose group and glucosamine sulfate group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Yougui pill has protective effects on the KOA by inhibiting the expressions of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5, beta-catenin and increasing the expression of DKK1 cytokine in the Wnt signaling pathway.

Effects of propofol on pulmonary metastasis of intravenous injected tumor cells and expressions of MTA1 and Wnt1 in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of different doses of propofol on pulmonary metastasis of intravenous injected tumor cells and expression of MTA1 and Wnt1 in the metastatic tumor in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male Fischer344 rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups for intravenous administration of normal saline, intralipid, or propofol at the dose of 30 or 50 mg/kg pumped via the femoral vein. One hour after the infusion, MADB106 tumor cells (2×10) were injected intravenously in the rats. Pulmonary metastasis of the tumor cells was observed and the expression of MTA1 and Wnt1 in the metastatic tumor detected by immunohistochemistry 3 weeks later.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rats receiving saline and intralipid treatments showed a comparable number of pulmonary metastasis and similar expression levels of MTA1 and Wnt1 in the metastatic tumor (P>0.05); the tumor number and MTA1 and Wnt1 were significantly lower in the two propofol groups (P<0.01). The doses of propofol was inversely correlated with the number of pulmonary metastasis (r=-0.879) and expressions of MTA1 (r=-0.980) and Wnt1 (r=-0.916) (P<0.01), and MTA1 and Wnt1 expression levels in the metastatic tumors were closed correlated (r=0.902, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Propofol can dose-dependently suppress pulmonary metastasis of intravenously injected tumor cells and down-regulate MTA1 and Wnt1 expressions in the metastatic tumor tissue.</p>

Effect of total glucosides of paeony on Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway expression in kidney of diabetic rats / 中国中药杂志

The study is to explore the effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP)on Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway expression in kidney of diabetic rats, and discuss the protection of TGP in diabetic nephropathy and possible mechanism. Ninety male SD rats of 8 weeks age were randomly divided into normal control group (n = 10) and model group (n = 80). Rats of the normal control group were fed with regular diet, while rats of the model group were fed with high-fat high-sugar diet and 4 weeks later were given an intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg x kg(-1) streptozotocin (STZ). The successfully induced type 2 diabetic rat models were then randomly divided into DM group, three TGP (50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) treatment group and tripterygium wilfordii glycosides (8 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) control group. Rats of DM group and each treatment group were given high-fat high-sugar diet. At week 14, the levels of blood sugar, 24 hour urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were tested. The rats were then sacrificed. Renal pathological changes were examined. Renal tissue Wnt-1 and β-catenin expressions were detected by immunohistochemical assay. Wnt-1 mRNA and β-catenin mRNA expression was semi-quantified by RT-PCR. Wnt-1 protein and β-catenin protein expression was semi-quantified by Western blot. The Result show that Wnt-1 and β-catenin expression increased in kidney of high-fat high-sugar induced type 2 diabetic rats. Compared with diabetic group, the level of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, 24 h urine protein, mean glomerular area and mean glomerular volume were decreased, renal histopathology were improved, expression of Wnt-1 and β-catenin mRNA and protein was reduced in TGP group. Tripterygium wilfordii glycosides had the similar effect. In conclusion, these results showed that Wnt/β-catenin abnormal activation in kidney of type 2 diabetic rats, TGP can improve kidney damage in diabetic rats and delay the development of diabetic nephropathy by inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Identificação e validação de marcadores moleculares das vias de sinalização WNT, PI3K e processo EMT para risco de progressão de carcinoma ductal in situ de mama / Identification and validation of molecular markers of WNT and PI3K signaling pathway and EMT process for the risk of progression of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

O carcinoma ductal da mama é o tipo histológico mais freqüente, sendo que o in situ (CDIS) representa uma neoplasia com incidência crescente, devido aos métodos de detecção precoce de lesões mamárias não palpáveis. Essa neoplasia da mama inclui um grupo heterogêneo de tumores pré-invasivos, com potencial maligno distinto, que podem progredir rapidamente para a forma invasiva, ou não apresentarem evolução, após um longo período da doença. Um estudo prévio (CASTRO et al. 2008) aplicou o conceito de divergência molecular em grupos de lesões que mimetizam a progressão do câncer de mama [epitélio normal (EN), carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) puro, componente in situ de lesão que coexiste com invasão (CDIS-CDI) e do carcinoma ductal invasivo (CDI)], utilizando as metodologias de microdissecção a laser e cDNA microarray. O padrão de expressão gênica do grupo de células epiteliais tumorais do componente in situ do CDIS-CDI é semelhante ao grupo de células tumorais do CDI e diferente do grupo de células CDIS puro, cujos aspectos morfológicos são semelhantes ao componente in situ do CDIS-CDI. Isso sugeriu que as modificações moleculares das células do componente in situ do CDIS-CDI, já estejam presentes antes da manifestação morfológica de invasão e que os genes diferentemente expressos entre os dois grupos de células de lesões pré-invasivas, sejam potenciais preditores de risco de progressão do CDIS puro. Assim, nós avaliamos 28 genes das vias de sinalização WNT, PI3K e processo EMT, previamente selecionados do estudo anterior (CASTRO et al. 2008) através de RT-PCR quantitativo (RT-qPCR), em células tumorais capturadas de amostras congeladas do CDIS puro e do componente in situ do CDIS-CDI. Esse trabalho confirmou a diferença de expressão em células epiteliais entre os dois grupos de lesões pré-invasivas, em 14 (70%) de 20 genes avaliados, que apresentaram dados confiáveis nos ensaios de TLDA, sendo que 13 genes apresentaram maior expressão em CDIS...

Among breast tumors, ductal breast carcinoma is the most common histologic type. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increasing incidence, mainly due to early detection methods of non-palpable breast lesions. DCIS includes a heterogeneous group of pre-invasive tumors, with distinct malignant potential, which can either rapidly progress to the invasive form, or show no progression after a long period of surveillance. In a previous study from the group (CASTRO et al. 2008) based on the expression pattern of epithelial cells, using laser capture microdissection and cDNA microarray, the concept of molecular divergence was applied to groups of breast lesions which mimic the progression of breast cancer [cells from normal epithelium, cells from pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), cells from in situ component that coexists with invasive lesion (DCIS-IDC) and cells from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)]. The gene expression pattern of the cells from the in situ component of DCIS-IDC is more similar to the group of IDC tumor cells other than to the group of pure DCIS of cells, which presents higher similarity in terms of morphological features to the in situ component of DCIS-IDC. This suggests that the molecular changes of the cells from the in situ component of DCIS-IDC are already present before morphological manifestations of invasion and that the genes differentially expressed between the two groups of cells of pre-invasive lesions, are potential predictors of risk of progression of pure DCIS. Thus, we evaluated 28 previously selected genes of WNT signaling pathway, PI3K and EMT process (CASTRO et al. 2008) by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in tumor cells captured from in situ lesions of pure DCIS and DCIS-IDC from frozen samples. This work confirmed the difference in expression of epithelial cells between the two groups of preinvasive lesions, in 14 (70%) of the 20 genes evaluated, by reliable TLDA assays. Most genes (13 genes) showed higher expression in pure...

WISP-1: a novel mediator of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBX) on expression of the host gene Wnt induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1) that is related to the pathogenic process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumor and paratumor tissues were collected from HCC patients, and normal liver tissues were collected from healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the in vivo presence and expression levels of HBX and WISP-1 in the three tissue types. HepG2 cells stably transfected with pc-DNA3.1(+)-HBX or with pc-DNA3.1(+) only (G0, control) were generated and used to examine in vitro the HBX-induced changes in WISP-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The HCC tissues showed significantly higher rates of positivity for WISP-1 expression than the non-tumor controls (76.6% vs. paratumor: 23.4% or normal tissues: 0%, x2= 35.967, P less than 0.01). HBX increased WISP-1 expression in HepG2 cells at both the mRNA (1170.33 +/- 41.26 vs. G0: 265.34 +/- 27.47, t = 31.63, P less than 0.01) and protein (240.33 +/- 11.37 vs. G0: 40.33 +/- 7.09, F = 600.57, P less than 0.01) levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBV may up-regulate expression of the host gene WISP-1 through its X protein and thus promote the development of HCC.</p>

Disturbed Osteoblastic Differentiation of Fibrous Hamartoma Cell from Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia Associated with Neurofibromatosis Type I

BACKGROUND: Fibrous hamartoma is the key pathology of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT), which was shown to have low osteogenicity and high osteoclastogenicity. This study further investigated the mechanism of impaired osteoblastic differentiation of fibrous hamartoma cells. METHODS: Fibroblast-like cells were obtained from enzymatically dissociated fibrous hamartomas of 11 patients with CPT associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). Periosteal cells were also obtained from the distal tibial periosteum of 3 patients without CPT or NF1 as control. The mRNA levels of Wnt ligands and their canonical receptors, such as Lrp5 and beta-catenin, were assayed using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Changes in mRNA expression of osteoblast marker genes by rhBMP2 treatment were assayed using quantitative real time RT-PCR. Changes in mRNA expression of transcription factors specifically involved in osteoblastic differentiation by rhBMP2 treatment was also assayed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: Wnt1 and Wnt3a mRNA expression was lower in fibrous hamartoma than in tibial periosteal cells, but their canonical receptors did not show significant difference. Response of osteoblastic marker gene expression to rhBMP2 treatment showed patient-to-patient variability. Col1a1 mRNA expression was up-regulated in most fibrous hamartoma tissues, osteocalcin was up-regulated in a small number of patients, and ALP expression was down-regulated in most fibrous hamartoma tissues. Changes in mRNA expression of the transcription factors in response to rhBMP2 also showed factor-to-factor and patient-to-patient variability. Dlx5 was consistently up-regulated by rhBMP2 treatment in all fibrous hamartoma tissues tested. Msx2 expression was down-regulated by rhBMP2 in most cases but by lesser extent than control tissue. Runx2 expression was up-regulated in 8 out of 18 fibrous hamartoma tissues tested. Osterix expression was up-regulated in 2 and down-regulated in 3 fibrous hamartoma tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia appears to be caused by fibrous hamartoma originating from aberrant growth of Nf1 haploinsufficient periosteal cells, which failed in terminal osteoblastic differentiation and arrested at a certain stage of this process. This pathomechanism of CPT should be targeted in the development of novel therapeutic biologic intervention.

The correlation between the expression of Wnt1 and prognosis in resected non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Wnt1 protein is the first factor in Wnt signaling pathway. It has been proven that high expression of Wnt1 protein was associated with malignant proliferation in many tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between Wnt1 protein overexpression, clinicopathologic features and survival in resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical staining of Envision was applied to investigate the expression of Wnt1 protein in specimens of 115 NSCLC and 19 benign pulmonary diseases. The correlation between the Wnt1 protein in specimens of 115 NSCLC and clinicopathologic features was analysed with chi2 test, and the correlation between the Wnt1 protein expression and the patient survival was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate ofWnt1 protein in specimens of NSCLC was 62.6%, which was significantly higher than 31.6% of benign pulmonary diseases (chi2 = 4.474, P = 0.034). But it was not correlated with clinicopathologic features. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test suggested that patients with Wnt1 protein overexpression had poor prognosis (P = 0.003). And Cox regression suggested Wnt1 protein expression was an independent prognostic factor of NSCLC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of Wnt1 was remarkably higher in specimens of resected NSCLC than that in benign pulmonary diseases. Overexpression of Wnt1 protein in NSCLC was correlated with prognosis and can be served as an independent prognostic factor of NSCLC.</p>

The Loss of E-cadherin is Associated with the Epigenetic Alteration of CDH1 in Breast Cancer and it is also Associated with an Abnormal beta-catenin Expression in Lobular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: APC and E-cadherin are the key molecules in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. We attempted to define the epigenetic alteration of APC and CDH1 (the E-cadherin gene) and the expression of Wnt-related molecules in human mammary carcinomas. METHODS: Sixty-four mammary carcinomas, including 52 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) and 12 invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs), were evaluated using methylation-specific PCR and immunohistochemistry. We performed immunohistochemistry for E-cadherin, beta-catenin, APC, Wnt1, cyclin D1, ER, PR and C-erb B2. RESULTS: Hypermethylation of APC and CDH1 was observed in 38 (59%) and 28 (44%) cases, respectively. CDH1 hypermethylation in ILCs was increased compared to that in IDCs (p=0.002) and it was associated with the loss of E-cadherin (p=0.02) and beta-catenin (p=0.042). APC methylation was positively correlated with the ER expression (p=0.021). Abnormal cytoplasmic localization of beta-catenin was found in 10 cases and any expression was not detected in six cases. In ILCs, the E-cadherin or beta-catenin expression was markedly decreased compared to that in IDCs (p<0.001 in both). CONCLUSIONS: Methylation of APC or CDH1 was relatively frequent in mammary carcinomas. The loss of E-cadherin in mammary carcinoma was associated with CDH1 methylation, and abnormal beta-catenin expression was related to the loss of E-cadherin in ILC.

Influence of Wnt-1 recombinant adenovirus on differentiation of human epidermal stem cells / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of Wnt-1 recombinant adenovirus on differentiation tendency of human epidermal stem cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wnt-1 recombinant adenovirus was transduced into hESCs (E group), while normal hESCs were used as control (C) group. The diameter, proliferation,and labeling molecular expression of hESC were determined. The content of MMP-2 and MMP-7 in supernate were also assayed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no obvious difference in diameter of hESC between two groups. The density of hESC in E group was (1.45 +/- 0.09) x 10(5)/mL, which was obviously higher than that in C group [(1.18 +/- 0.10) x 10(5)/mL, P < 0.05]. There were no obvious differences in expression of markers between two groups,including keratin 5 (KS), K6, K7, KS, K14, CD44, carcinoembryonic-like antigen (CEAA), ER, PR (P > 0.05) ,while the expression of K 10 was different among groups [(60 +/- 3)% in E group, 0 in C group], also K18 [(34.3 +/- 2.1)% in E group vs. (13.8 +/- 1.7)% in C group, P < 0.05], and K19 [(17.1 +/- 1.8)% in E group vs. (24.4 +/- 1.5)% in C group, P < 0.05].The contents of MMP-2 and MMP-7 in E group were higher than those in C group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Wnt-1 recombinant adenovirus can induce the differentiation of hESCs to glandular epithelium-like cells.</p>

Inhibitory effect of murine cytomegalovirus infection on neural stem cells' differentiation and its mechanisms / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital anomalies of the central nervous system caused by intrauterine infection. However, the exact pathogenesis of these brain abnormalities has not been fully elucidated. It has been reported that periependymitis, periventricular necrosis and calcification are the most frequent findings in the brains of congenital CMV infection. Because a number of multipotential neural stem cells (NSCs) have been identified from ventricular zone, it is possible that NSCs in this area are primary targets for viral infection, which seems to be primarily responsible for the generation of the brain abnormalities. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection on neural stem cells' differentiation in vitro and its role in the mechanisms of brain abnormalities caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NSCs were prepared from fetal BALB/c mouse and were infected with recombinant MCMV RM461 inserted with a report gene LacZ at 1 multiplicity of infection (MOI = 1). The effect of MCMV infection on neural stem cells' differentiation was observed by detecting the ratio of nestin, GFAP and NSE positive cells with immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry on day 2 postinfection. The effects of MCMV infection on gene expression of Wnt-1 and neurogenin 1 (Ngn1) related to neural differentiation were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NSCs isolated from embryonic mouse brains strongly expressed nestin, a specific marker of NSCs and had the capacity to differentiate into NF-200 and NSE positive neurons or GFAP positive astrocytes. At MOI = 1, the results of flow cytometry assay showed that nestin positive cells' proportion in the infection group [(62.2 +/- 1.8)%] was higher than that in the normal group [(37.2 +/- 2.4)%] (t = 4.62, P < 0.01). At the same time, the rates of GFAP and NSE positive cells' in the infection group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (P < 0.01). The scanning densities of Wnt-1 was 0.14 +/- 0.03 in the infection group while 0.32 +/- 0.04 in the control group (t = 7.21, P < 0.01). The scanning densities of Ngn1 were 0.09 +/- 0.01 and 0.21 +/- 0.02 in the two groups (t = 10.7, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggest that MCMV infection could inhibit neuronal differentiation, which may be primary causes of disorders of brain development in congenital CMV infection. The decreased expression of Wnt-1 and Ngn1 may be involved in the inhibitory effect of murine cytomegalovirus infection on neural stem cells' differentiation, which may lead to a new strategy for preventing and treating brain abnormalities caused by CMV infection through regulating these two signal pathways.</p>

Roles of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli in the differentiation and proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Surgical specimens from 66 OSCC patients were examined for Wnt-1, beta-catenin, APC and MIB-1 expressions by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among all the 37 cases of well differentiated OSCCs, there were 30, 25 and 31 cases of high expressions of Wnt-1, APC and beta-catenin, respectively, 7, 12 and 6 cases of low expressions. Among all the 29 cases of moderate and poor differentiated OSCCs, there were 6, 9 and 11 cases of high expressions of Wnt-1, APC and beta-catenin respectively, 23, 20 and 18 cases of low expressions. Among all the 66 cases of OSCCs, there were 32 cases of high expressions of MIB-1 and 34 cases of low expressions. Expressions of Wnt-1, beta-catenin and APC showed significant difference in different differentiation of OSCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Wnt-1, beta-catenin and APC expressions were related to the differentiation of OSCC.</p>

The wings of Bombyx mori develop from larval discs exhibiting an early differentiated state: a preliminary report.

Lepidopteran insects present a complex organization of appendages which develop by various mechanisms. In the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori a pair of meso- and meta-thoracic discs located on either side in the larvae gives rise to the corresponding fore- and hind-wings of the adult. These discs do not experience massive cell rearrangements during metamorphosis and display the adult wing vein pattern. We have analysed wing development in B. mori by two approaches, viz., expression of patterning genes in larval wing discs, and regulatory capacities of larval discs following explantation or perturbation. Expression of Nubbin is seen all over the presumptive wing blade domains unlike in Drosophila, where it is confined to the hinge and the wing pouch. Excision of meso- and meta-thoracic discs during the larval stages resulted in emergence of adult moths lacking the corresponding wings without any loss of thoracic tissues suggesting independent origin of wing and thoracic primordia. The expression of wingless and distal-less along the dorsal/ventral margin in wing discs correlated well with their expression profile in adult Drosophila wings. Partially excised wing discs did not show in situ regeneration or duplication suggesting their early differentiation. The presence of adult wing vein patterns discernible in larval wing discs and the patterns of marker gene expression as well as the inability of these discs to regulate growth suggested that wing differentiation is achieved early in B. mori. The timings of morphogenetic events are different and the wing discs behave like presumptive wing buds opening out as wing blades in B. mori unlike evagination of only the pouch region as wing blades seen in Drosophila.