KIF2C: a novel link between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC is refractory to many standard cancer treatments and the prognosis is often poor, highlighting a pressing need to identify biomarkers of aggressiveness and potential targets for future treatments. Kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C) is reported to be highly expressed in several human tumors. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of KIF2C in tumor development and progression have not been investigated. In this study, we found that KIF2C expression was significantly upregulated in HCC, and that KIF2C up-regulation was associated with a poor prognosis. Utilizing both gain and loss of function assays, we showed that KIF2C promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified TBC1D7 as a binding partner of KIF2C, and this interaction disrupts the formation of the TSC complex, resulting in the enhancement of mammalian target of rapamycin complex1 (mTORC1) signal transduction. Additionally, we found that KIF2C is a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and acts as a key factor in mediating the crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling. Thus, the results of our study establish a link between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling, which highlights the potential of KIF2C as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Novel aminoalkylated chalcone: Synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking simulation as potent antimalarial agents

Three chalcone derivatives with amine groups (4a–c) were synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity.Three aminoalkylated chalcone derivatives (4a–c) have been prepared through Claisen–Schmidt condensation reactionfrom vanillin and chloroacetophenone, followed by the Mannich reaction to add amine group. The structure of thecompounds was confirmed by the spectrophotometric analysis using mass spectrometers (MS) and proton and carbonnuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 13C-NMR) spectroscopy. Antimalarial activity of 4a–c was evaluated againstPlasmodium falciparum (3D7) strain, and the molecular docking of 4b was performed to understand the interactionagainst Pf DHFR-TS protein (1J3I.pdb). The prepared aminoalkylated chalcone (4a–c) was obtained in a yield of 80%,75%, and 70%. The addition of morpholine (4a), piperidine (4b), and diethylamine (4c) as amine groups significantlycould improve the antimalarial activity with IC50 of 0.62, 0.54, and 1.12 µM, respectively (strong activity), comparedwith the chalcone without amine group (3) with IC50 of 25.84 µM (moderate activity). The molecular docking ofcompound 4b exhibited strong hydrogen bond interaction with ILE112, ILE64, SER111, SER108, ASP54, TYR170,and PRO113 residues with CDOCKER interaction energy of −48.84 kcal/mol. Thus, aminoalkylated chalcone couldbe proposed for further studies and developed into antimalarial drug candidates

Chalcone analogue as potent anti-malarial compounds against Plasmodium falciparum:Synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking simulation study

Objective: To investigate in vitro antimalarial activity of chalcone derivative compounds against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (Pf3D7) strain and in silico antimalarial activity. Methods: Synthesis of the chalcone derivatives was conducted via Claisen-Schmidt method using NaOH 60％ base as catalyst. An in vitro antimalarial activity assay was carried out according to the Rieckmann method against the chloroquine-sensitive Pf3D7 strain. Molecular docking studies of the prepared compounds were performed using Discovery Studio 3.1 (Accelrys, Inc., San Diego, USA) software to dihydrofolate re-ductases–thymidylate synthase (PfDHFR-TS) protein with Protein Data Bank ID of 1J3I.pdb (sensitive-protein) and ID:4DP3.pdb (resistance-protein). Results: This work has successfully synthesized seven chalcone derivatives with a great antimalarial activity. It has been revealed that allyloxy, hydroxy and alkoxy functional groups could increase the antimalarial activity of the chalcone derivatives. The best antimalarial activity of the prepared compounds was possessed by 3b with an IC50 value of 0.59μM and categorized as an excellent antiplasmodial. Molecular docking studies of 3b showed binding interaction with the amino acid residues such as Ala16, Ile164, Phe58, Tyr170 of the 1J3I.pdb protein and also Ala16, Phe58, Ile112, Met55 of the 4DP3.pdb protein. Conclusions: An in vitro antimalarial assay of the prepared chalcone derivative (3a–g) showed an excellent and good antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive Pf3D7 strain. In silico antimalarial studies revealed that 3a–g made binding interaction with both sensitive-protein (1J3I.pdb) and resistance-protein (4DP3.pdb), which means that they were both active against chloroquine-sensitive and resistant plasmodium strain.

Chalcone analogue as potent anti-malarial compounds against Plasmodium falciparum: Synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking simulation study

Objective To investigate in vitro antimalarial activity of chalcone derivative compounds against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (Pf3D7) strain and in silico antimalarial activity. Methods Synthesis of the chalcone derivatives was conducted via Claisen-Schmidt method using NaOH 60% base as catalyst. An in vitro antimalarial activity assay was carried out according to the Rieckmann method against the chloroquine-sensitive Pf3D7 strain. Molecular docking studies of the prepared compounds were performed using Discovery Studio 3.1 (Accelrys, Inc., San Diego, USA) software to dihydrofolate reductases–thymidylate synthase (PfDHFR-TS) protein with Protein Data Bank ID of 1J3I.pdb (sensitive-protein) and ID: 4DP3.pdb (resistance-protein). Results This work has successfully synthesized seven chalcone derivatives with a great antimalarial activity. It has been revealed that allyloxy, hydroxy and alkoxy functional groups could increase the antimalarial activity of the chalcone derivatives. The best antimalarial activity of the prepared compounds was possessed by 3b with an IC

Preparados homeopáticos e ambiente de cultivo na produção e rendimento de quercetina em carqueja [Baccharis trimera (Less) DC. ] / Homeopathic preparations and crop environments through production and yield of quercetin on carqueja plants [Baccharis trimera (Less) DC. ]

A carqueja (Baccharis trimera) é uma espécie da família Asteraceae muito utilizada na medicina popular por apresentar várias atividades biológicas relacionadas à seus metabólitos secundários, entre eles os flavonoides. Este experimento teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de preparados homeopáticos e do ambiente de cultivo na produção e rendimento de flavonoides totais expressos em quercetina por plantas de carqueja. Foi adotado o esquema fatorial 6 x 2 no delineamento inteiramente casualisado, sendo 5 tratamentos homeopáticos: Silicea CH6, CH12, CH30, D7 e Equisetum D7 e controle (etanol 70%) x 2 ambientes de cultivo: estufa e tela de sombreamento 50%, com 4 repetições, totalizando 48 unidades experimentais. Os tratamentos homeopáticos foram aplicados na concentração de 25 gotas/500 mL de água destilada usando borrifadores manuais. Cada planta recebeu 10 mL da solução por aplicação, via foliar. As aplicações foram realizadas sempre pela manha, três vezes por semana, em dias alternados, durante dois meses (27/07/2010 a 27/09/2010). A interação entre os fatores, assim como os fatores independentes foram comparados pelo teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. O efeito dos preparados homeopáticos e dos dois ambientes de cultivo em plantas de carqueja foi avaliado pelas variáveis: massa fresca (MFPA), massa seca (MSPA) e teor de quercetina (QCT) na parte aérea das plantas. As variáveis MFPA e QCT foram influenciadas pelos ambientes de cultivo, pelos preparados homeopáticos e pela interação entre os dois fatores. A variável MSPA foi influenciada apenas pela interação dos fatores. Plantas cultivadas em ambiente com 50% de sombreamento associadas à aplicação dos preparados homeopáti-cos Silicea CH6 e D7, apresentaram maior rendimento em querceti-na. Plantas cultivadas na estufa associadas à aplicação do Equisetum D7 apresentaram menor rendimento em quercetina.

The carqueja plant (Baccharis trimera) is a specie of the family Asteraceae widely used in folk medicine for presenting various biological activities, due to the high content of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations and crop environments through production and yield of quercetina on carqueja plants. The experiment was a factorial scheme (6X2) on completely randomized design with 5 homeopathic treatments: Silicea CH6, CH12, CH30, D7 and Equisetum D7 e control (70% ethanol) x 2 crop environments: greenhouse and shade 50% and 4 replicates, totaling 48 experimental units. The treatments were applied at concentration of 25 drops/500 mL of distilled water using hand sprayers. Each plant received 10 mL via leaves. The prepara-tions were sprayed always on mornings, three times a week on alternate days during two months (27/09/2010 to 27/11/2010). The interaction between the factors as well as the independents factors were compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The effect of homeopathic preparations and the two crop environments on carqueja plants were evaluated through the variables: fresh matter of aerial part (FMAP), dry matter of aerial part (DMAP) and flavonoids content (QCT). The variables FMAP and QCT were significantly influenced by the crop environments, the preparations and interaction between the two factors. The DMAP was only influenced by the interaction of the two factors. The 50% shade environment associated with Silicea CH6 or D7 increased yield of quercetin. The greenhouse environment associated with Equisetum D7 decreased yield of quercetin.

Bone Marrow Cellularity Measurement by Myelocrit / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: The bone marrow (BM) cellularity has been used as a major index for the evaluation of hematologic diseases and malignancies. However, the microscopic evaluation lacks objectivity because of considerable variations among different observers. We measured myelocrit cellularity as an objective method to evaluate the cellularity. METHODS: Between November 2007 and January 2008, 489 consecutive BM aspirates including 25 cases of AML D7 marrow (7 days after initiation of chemotherapy) were examined. The conventional BM cellularity was evaluated using BM needle biopsies after hematoxylin-eosin stain. EDTA-anticoagulated BM aspirates were put into the Wintrobe tubes, centrifuged and the thickness of 5 layers from the bottom was measured: RBC, buffy coat (BC), plasma, BM particle, and fat layers. The myelocrit cellularity was defined as the ratio of BC to the BC plus fat layers. RESULTS: Both of the thickness of BC layer (r=0.721, P=0.000) and the myelocrit cellularity (r=0.735, P=0.000) correlated well with the conventional cellularity. However, the AML D7 BM cellularity correlated with BC layer (r=0.589, P=0.002), but not with the myelocrit cellularity (r=0.281, P=0.231). The cellularity of the BM other than AML D7 marrow showed a better correlation with the myelocrit cellularity (r=0.826, P=0.000) than the BC layer (r=0.713, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The myelocrit is a simple, reproducible and objective method to determine the BM cellularity. For accurate assessment of BM cellularity, measurement of the thickness of BC layer in AML D7 BM and of the myelocrit cellularity in other BM samples has better be used.

A Korean population study for the COfiler STR loci (D3S1358, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820) / 대한법의학회지

In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officially launched its national DNA database. This database, named the combined DNA Index System (CODIS), included one gender-determining amelogenin and 13 polymorphic short tandem repeats (STR) loci. To introduce a new STR system, a population database for the relevant population must be established for the statistical analysis of forensic cases. AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit (Profiler Plus Kit) and AmpFlSTR COfiler PCR Amplification Kit (COfiler Kit) are required to obtain information from all the 13 CODIS core STR loci. Study on 9 STR loci using Profiler Plus kit was already performed in a Korean population, but not yet on 6 STR loci using COfiler Kit. This study intends to evaluate usefulness of 6 COfiler STR loci (D3S1358, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820) in forensic identification. Buccal swab samples obtained from 300 randomly selected unrelated Koreans. DNA was extracted from the buccal swab samples and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the COfiler Kit to amplify it. And using automated DNA sequencer and computer program, the allele and genotype frequency distribution is investigated and statistical analysis was performed for the PCR products. The following results were obtained: 1. The observed heterozygosity at each STR locus ranged from 0.650 to 0.800 and the expected heterozygosity at each STR locus ranged from 0.642 to 0.787. 2. The polymorphism information content (PIC) at each STR locus ranged from 0.583 to 0.752 and is higher than 0.5 for all loci to have relatively high information content. 3. The power of discrimination (PD) at each STR locus ranged from 0.811 to 0.921 and the combined power of discrimination is calculated to be 0.999996. 4. The mean exclusion chance (MEC) at each STR locus ranged from 0.386 to 0.576 and the combined mean exclusion chance is calculated to be 0.98088. Based on the results of this study, 6 COfiler STR loci may be useful in forensic identification including finding an individual in relation to criminal case and paternity testing.

Effect of G-CSF on Myeloid Leukemic Cell Lines after Treatment with Ara-C / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: G-CSF or GM-CSF was frequently used in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia patients. But it has been argued whether this increases the apoptosis of tumor cells in synergy with chemotherapeutic agent, or decreases apoptosis of leukemic cells. We attempted to determine the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on leukemic cell line after cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) treatment. METHODS: KG-1 and HL60 cell lines were incubated with Ara-C for 48 hours, and then washed with media, divided into two groups, one being with the addition of G-CSF and the other being without G-CSF and incubated for another 48 hours. The controls were the same cell lines incubated without Ara-C. The absolute cell counts and apoptotic percentage measured by flowcytometry after stained with 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) were compared among three groups at 0, 48, and 96 hours. RESULTS: KG-1 cell line showed decreased cell count and increased apoptotic percent in Ara-C/G-CSF and Ara-C group compared with the control group at 48 and 96 hours, and did not showed significant difference between G-CSF group and nonG-CSF group. In HL60, control group showed higher cell count at 48 hours, and G-CSF/Ara-C group showed lower cell count and higher apoptosis than Ara-C group in all trials. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of G-CSF after Ara-C did not protect apoptosis nor increase the tumor cells in KG-1 and HL60 cell lines. We concluded it would be safe to use G-CSF after administration of chemotherapeutic drug.

Simultaneous Three Color Detection of Surface Antigen (My 7), Intracellular Antigen (c-myc), and DNA Content using Single Laser Flow Cytometry / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Flow cytometry, a useful tool for measuring DNA content and cell differentiation as expressed by cell surface markers, is utilized to measure multiple antigens, especially surface antigen, intracellular oncoprotein, and DNA content, simultaneously. For this simultaneous detection, several methods off ixation and permeabilization have been used with limited values. In this study, 20 ng/ml of lysolecithin in 1% paraformaldehyde solution was utilized for fixation and permeabilization of cultured promyelocytic leukemic cells(HL 60). The cells were first stained with phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated monoclonal antibody to the cell surface My 7 antigen and then were fixed and permeabilized with 20 ng/ml of lysolecithin in 1% partormaldehyde solution. After incubation, the fixed and permeabilized cells were stained with monoclonal antibody to intracellular c-myc antigen, which were followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody. The c-myc stained cells were finally stained for DNA content with 7-amino-actinomycin D(7-AAD). This procedure permits excellent staining for intracellular oncoproteins and preservation of surface antigens with relatively low cofficients of variation (CV) for the G0G1 peak of the DNA histograms and suggests that the sequential staining procedure of surface antigen, intracellular antigen, and DNA content will be extended for the study of correlations with cellular differentiation, expression of oncoproteins, and cell cycle analysis in the cells which are obtained from human malignant diseases using a 488 nm single laser flow cytometry.