Progress in research on the reciprocal effects between tumor and nerve fibers / 肿瘤

Development and progression of tumor is regarded as a result of mutual interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment. As one of the most important regulation system of the human body, the nervous system is inevitably involved. It is confirmed that the regenerated nerve fibers are distributed in gastric cancer. On one hand, tumor cells can release some factors to promote nerve regeneration, which is similar to neoangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis; on the other hand, tumor cells can exploit the advantage of the factors released by newborn nerves to influence biological behaviors of tumor. The mechanism of relationship between nerve system and tumor needs further study, which may undoubtedly enrich the theory of tumor biology and provide a new way for prevention and treatment of tumor.

Effects of esophageal cancer on the nerve fiber growth and guidance / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the co-culture model of cancer cells and nerve, and to study the influence of esophageal cancer on nerve fibers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was cultured in sterile conditions by primary isolation. Co-culture model was established using matrigel matrix-embedded DRG and EC109 (esophageal cancer cell line) transfected with green fluorescent protein. Morphological changes of DRG, number and area of neurites were quantified with microscopy and image analysis. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of nerve growth factor(NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) was detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In mixture cultivation model of EC109 and DRG cells, directional outgrowth of neurite projecting to EC109 was observed, and the length of neurite was markedly longer in proximal field compared to distal field. The number and area of neurite were 87 and 346 μm(2) in proximal field respectively, and 23 and 141 μm(2) in distal field on the 7th day. The expressions of NGF and BDNF were up-regulated in esophageal cancer cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The esophageal cancer may play an important role in nerve fiber growth and guidance, which may be associated with the up-regulation of NGF and BDNF expressions.</p>

Effect of human neural progenitor cells on injured spinal cord / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study whether human neural progenitor cells can differentiate into neural cells in vivo and improve the recovery of injured spinal cord in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human neural progenitor cells were transplanted into the injured spinal cord and the functional recovery of the rats with spinal cord contusion injury was evaluated with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale and motor evoked potentials. Additionally, the differentiation of human neural progenitor cells was shown by immunocytochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Human neural progenitor cells developed into functional cells in the injured spinal cord and improved the recovery of injured spinal cord in both locomotor scores and electrophysiological parameters in rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Human neural progenitor cells can treat injured spinal cord, which may provide a new cell source for research of clinical application.</p>