Effect of baicalin on signal transduction and activating transcription factor expression in ulcerative colitis patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the intervention of baicalin on signal transduction and activating transcription factor expression of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were UC patients at Outpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Inpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Center for Digestive Endoscopy of College City Branch, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Southern Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from June 2010 to January 2011. They were assigned to the UC group (33 cases) and the diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) group (30 cases). Another 30 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were taken from UC patients. IL23R gene expressions in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were detected using Q-PCR. Expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) , STAT6, phosphorylated-STAT4 (p-STAT4), and p-STAT6 were detected using Western blot. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Effects of different concentrations baicalin on expressions of PBMCs, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 of UC patients were also detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the negative control group, 40 µmol baicalin obviously decreased IL23R gene expression of UC patients (P <0. 01). Compared with the healthy control group and the IBS-D group, p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios increased, p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios decreased, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 all increased in the US group (all P <0. 05). Compared with the negative control, 5 and 10 µmol baicalin groups, 20 and 40 moL baicalin obviously decreased p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously increased p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously lowered levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and elevated IL-10 levels (all P <0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>40 µmoL baicalin could in vitro inhibit p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios, adjust p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios and related cytokines, thereby balancing the immunity and relieving inflammatory reactions of UC.</p>

Analysis of BRCA1 gene mutations in patients with early-onset breast cancer and their affected relatives in Guangdong province / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the BRCA1 mutations in patients with early-onset breast cancer and their affected relatives in Guangdong province and explore the relationship between BRCA1 mutation and the expressions of estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR), HER2 and ALN.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 58 patients with early-onset breast cancer and their affected relatives, the genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the coding regions of the BRCA1 gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction. BRCA1 gene mutations were screened by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and subsequent direct DNA sequencing. The expression of ER, PR, HER2 and ALN were detected with immunohistochemistry and their relations with the gene mutation were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Disease-related BRCA1 mutations were detected in 2 of the 58 patients, who were younger than 35 years old, including 1 with a novel splice-site mutation (IVS5-1 G-->A). No association was found between this novel mutation and the expressions of ER, PR, HER2 and ALN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of BRCA1 mutation is significantly lower in patients with early-onset breast cancer and their affected relatives in Guangdong province than in the Western populations. The novel mutation identified in BRCA1 gene may represent a mutation characteristic of the patients in Guangdong province. BRCA1 gene mutations may not have any relation with the expression of ER, PR, HER2 and ALN.</p>

Vector-mediated HER-2 RNA interference against HER-2-positive breast cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the feasibility of vector-mediated RNA interference for HER-2-positive breast cancer therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A plasmid vector capable of mediating HER-2 RNA interference was constructed, and HER-2-positive breast cancer cell line SKBR-3 was transfected with this constructed vector. The expression of HER-2 mRNA and protein was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the growth and apoptosis of SKBR-3 cells was analyzed after transfection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of HER-2 mRNA and HER-2 protein was downregulated in response to vector-mediated HER-2 RNA interference, which also resulted in tumor cell growth inhibition and increased number apoptotic cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HER-2 is a good target for RNA interference and RNA interference targeting HER-2 can lead to HER-2 breast cancer cell apoptosis and growth inhibition.</p>