The milk protein α-casein functions as a tumor suppressor via activation of STAT1 signaling, effectively preventing breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis.

Here, we identified the milk protein α-casein as a novel suppressor of tumor growth and metastasis. Briefly, Met-1 mammary tumor cells expressing α-casein showed a ~5-fold reduction in tumor growth and a near 10-fold decrease in experimental metastasis. To identify the molecular mechanism(s), we performed genome-wide transcriptional profiling. Interestingly, our results show that α-casein upregulates gene transcripts associated with interferon/STAT1 signaling and downregulates genes associated with "stemness." These findings were validated by immunoblot and FACS analysis, which showed the upregulation and hyperactivation of STAT1 and a decrease in the number of CD44(+) "cancer stem cells." These gene signatures were also able to predict clinical outcome in human breast cancer patients. Thus, we conclude that a lactation-based therapeutic strategy using recombinant α-casein would provide a more natural and non-toxic approach to the development of novel anticancer therapies.

The effect of ischemia and reperfusion on energy transductional function of rat heart mitochondria / 中国病理生理杂志

Ischemia and reperfusion of rat hearts were produced by Langendorff per-fusion technique. The energy tranduction of the mitochondria isolated from the rat heartswas studied. The initial rate of proton ejection and eldectron transfering were measured.There was no significant difference of H~+/2_e ratio between the ischemic group and thecontrol group which was reduced only in the reperfusion group. The longer was the is-chemic period before reperfuaion, the smaller would be the H~+/2_e ratio. The lowering ofH~+/2_e ratio occurred earlier than that of the ADP/O ratio. RCR and ADP/O in shortperiod ischcmia group and reperfusion group were both much higher than that of the con-trol group.