Expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein following with age and serum lipids levels in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To detect steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice at different ages and serum lipid levels. Methods Nighty-six C57BL/6J and apoE-/- mice were enrolled, which were divided into 16 groups with 6 mice per group according to age (1 day, 1, 3, 5 months), sex and genotype (C57BL/6J and apoE-/-). The serum lipid levels in C57BL/6J and apoE-/- mice were detected by commercial kits. StAR mRNA and protein expressions in liver were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. Results ApoE-/- mice had higher LDL-cholesterol and lower HDL-cholesterol compared with C57BL/6J mice of the same age and sex. StAR mRNA and protein expressions were decreased following with aging in C57BL/6J mice. However, in apoE-/- mice with higher lipid levels, StAR mRNA and protein expressions were changed with the lipid levels other than ages. StAR mRNA and protein increased in the early stage, and then decreased with the increasement of lipids levels. Conclusions StAR could affect lipids levels and may be an effective regulator for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

In situ transduction of cytosine deaminase gene followed by systemic use of 5-fluorocytosine inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in orthotopic prostate cancer mouse models / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antitumor and anti-metastatic effect of in situ transduction of adenovirus encoding cytosine deaminase (AdCD) followed by the systemic use of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) in the orthotopic (o.t.) prostate cancer mouse model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The o.t. prostate cancer model of C57BL/6 mouse was developed by o.t. inoculation of RM-1 cells to the subcapsular area of the prostate gland. In situ transduction of the CD gene, followed by systemic use of 5-FC at a daily dosage of 300 mg/kg for 14 days, was performed two days later.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with mice treated with Adbeta-gal/5-FC, 5-FC and PBS, mice of the o.t. model receiving in situ treatment of AdCD/5-FC had significant prolongation of survival and suppression of local tumor growth. More importantly, pathological observations showed that metastatic activity occurred in all mice of the PBS, 5-FC and Adbeta-gal groups including metastasis to the iliac lymph node (10/10, 10/10, 10/10) and the lung (8/10, 7/10, 7/10). However, only two out of ten had iliac lymphatic metastasis in the AdCD/5-FC group with no systemic or preaotic lymphatic metastasis, suggesting a strong metastatic inhibitory effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In situ transduction of AdCD followed by systemic use of 5-FC leads to the inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastatic activity in the o.t. mouse model of prostate cancer. Clinically, it may be possible to treat metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer with a novel gene therapy using in situ injection techniques in future.</p>

Role of protein kinase B in tryptase-induced gene expression / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To study the role of protein kinase B (PKB) in tryptase-induced gene expression on ECV304 cells. METHODS: The expression of PKB, transcript factor AP-1 and NF-?B P65, IL-8, JNK, p38MAPK, and the activity of PKB were measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Tryptase at concentration of 1 ?g/L increased the activity of PKB by promoting PKB phosphorylation, promoted the expression of PKB, chemokine IL-8, transcription factor AP-1 and NF-?B P65, however, no changes of JNK and p38MAPK was observed. PI3K specific inhibitor (LY294002) abolished the augment of PKB, NF-?B P65 and IL-8 expression. Antisense PKB cDNA transfection also abolished the augment of PKB, AP-1, NF-?B P65 and IL-8 expression. Though PAR2 antibody did not inhibit PKB expression, it did inhibit the phosphorylation by tryptase in ECV304 cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that tryptase can activate PKB through PAR2 receptor and subsequently NF-?B, AP1, IL-8 and PKB expression.

Hypoxia upregulates CD73 expression in mouse microvascular endothelial cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To study the effect of hypoxia on CD73 expression in mouse microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd.3. METHODS: ① bEnd.3 cells were exposed to different periods of hypoxia. ② Concentration of LDH released by bEnd.3 cells into the culture medium was detected. ③ Surface CD73 activity in bEnd.3 cells was measured by HPLC according to the conversion of E-AMP to E-ADO. ④ CD73 mRNA expression were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. ⑤ Cell surface proteins were biotinylated and CD73 was detected by avidin blots of immunoprecipitation with mAb TY23. RESULTS: ① bEnd.3 cells exposed to hypoxia for 24 h demonstrated a significant increase in LDH release (P

Transfer of siRNA against CD73 suppresses human breast cancer cell line MB-MDA-231 adhesion to extracellular matrix / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To study the effect of CD73 on breast cancer cell line MB-MDA-231 adhesion to extracellular matrix.METHODS: ① CD73 siRNA plasmid was constructed and transfected into MB-MDA-231 cells by lipofectamine 2000.② The transfection efficiency was analyzed by flow cytometry using eGFP as a marker gene.Stable transfected MB-MDA-231 cells were selected using G418.③ RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis of CD73 expression in MB-MDA-231 cells was performed.④ The effects of CD73 on MB-MDA-231 cells adhesion to extracellular matrix were assessed by cell adhesion assay.RESULTS: ① Transfection of MB-MDA-231 cells with CD73 siRNA plasmid significantly inhibited CD73 expression at mRNA level.The efficiency was up to 91%.② Transfection of MB-MDA-231 cells with CD73 siRNA plasmid significantly inhibited CD73 expression at a protein level.The efficiency was up to 79.3%.③ Treatment of MB-MDA-231 cells with CD73 siRNA resulted in diminished adhesion to extracellular matrix.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that CD73 siRNA effectively inhibits CD73 gene expression in MB-MDA-231 cells leading to adhesion to extracellular matrix suppression.