The prognostic value of GLUT1 in cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Increased glycolysis is one of the hallmarks of cancer. The abnormal expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) was reported to be associated with resistance to current therapy and poor prognosis. Numerous studies have investigated the correlation between GLUT1 expression and prognosis in cancers, but the conclusions are still controversial. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the association between GLUT1 and survival in human cancers. PubMed, Springer, Medline, and Cochrane Library were searched carefully to identify eligible studies evaluating prognostic value of GLUT1 in cancers. Twenty-seven studies with 4079 patients were included in the present study. Our pooled results identified that increased expression of GLUT1 was associated with unfavorable overall survival (HR = 1.780, 95% CI = 1.574-.013, p < 0.001)) and poorer disease-free survival (HR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.229-3.095, p = 0.003). Furthermore, overexpression of GLUT1 linked with poor differentiated tumors (RR = 1.380, 95% CI = 1.086-1.755, p = 0.009; I2 = 72.0%, p < 0.001), positive lymph node metastasis (RR = 1.395, 95% CI = 1.082-1.799, p = 0.010; I2 = 70.8%, p = 0.002) and larger tumor size (RR = 1.405, 95% CI = 1.231-1.603, p < 0.001; I2 = 37.3%, p = 0.093). This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the GLUT1 may serve as an ideal prognostic biomarker in various cancers.

Targeting microRNA-mediated suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression and proliferation in malignant melanoma cells in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the inhibitory effect of targeting miRNA on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cell proliferation in malignant melanoma (MM) SKmel-28 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recombination miRNA plasmid vectors targeting VEGF gene were transfected into SKmel-28 cells via Lipofectamine 2000. The integrity of the inserted fragments was detected using colony PCR and sequence analysis. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in SKmel-28 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. MTS assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of a selected targeting miRNA on SKmel-28 cell proliferation, and the apoptosis of SKmel-28 cells was detected using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transfection with the targeting miRNAs significantly down-regulated the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein in SKmel-28 cells (P<0.01), and the miRNA construct X-26-2n-1 showed the highest inhibitory effect. The miRNA X-26-2n-1 significantly suppressed SKmel-28 cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01) and increased the early, late and overall apoptosis rates of the cells (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The targeting miRNA we constructed can effectively suppress the cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SKmel-28 cells by down-regulating the expressions of VEGF gene.</p>

Analysis of allergens in 167 pateints with allergic contact dermatitis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To assess the environmental contact allergens in patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).Methods Totally,167 patients with ACD were included in this study.All the patients underwent patch test.Results Of these patients,92 (55.1％) were diagnosed as facial ACD,and 148 showed positive patch test results (88.6％).The six most common allergens in a decreasing order were nickel sulfate,fragrance mix,paraphenylenediamine,thimerosal,octanoates and amerchol L 101.Conclusion Patch test may be an efficient way to confirm the cause of ACD.

Effects of BRAFV600E mutation on the invasion capacity of human melanoma cells / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of BRAFV600E mutation on the invasion capacity of a human melanoma cell line, A375. Methods Plasmids containing short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) specific for BRAF gene were prepared in previous study, and used to transfect A375 cells. Those cells transfected with negative plasmid and untransfected cells served as the controls. Transwell chambers were used to examine the invasion ability of melanoma cells in vitro. RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively, before and after the transfection. The activity of MMP-2 was also studied with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results Compared with the negative control, the specific shRNA decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2 by 35% and 85%, respectively, and those of VEGF by 45% and 14%, respectively. Additionally, the number of cells invading through Matrigel chambers reduced by 69% in those cells transfected with the positive plasmid. Conclusions The mutant BRAFV600E has the potential to enhance the invasion capacity of melanoma cells, whereas specific shRNA could suppress the increase in metastasis capacity likely by inhibiting the production of VEGF and MMP.

Mutated BRAFV599E gene enhances the growth of malignant melanoma cell line A375 / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the role of mutated BRAFV599E gene in the growth of malignant melanoma cells. Methods In the previous study, plasmids containing small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), braf1 and braf2 specific for mutated BRAFV599E gene, were designed and used to transfect A375 cells to inhibit the expression of BRAF gene in these cells. In this study, four kinds of A375 cells, including Abraf1 (transfect ed with braf1), Abraf2 (transfected with braf2), Aneg (transfected with negative plasmid) and A375 (untransfected) cells, were chosen and cultured in 96-well plate. MTT assay, plate clone forming assay, flow cytometry were applied to test the growth, clone formation, cell cycle and apoptosis of these cells respectively. Results Compared with A375 and Aneg cells, inhibited proliferation (F=25.48, P<0.001) and clone-forming rate (F=90.06, P<0.001) were observed in Abraf1 and Abraf2 cells; furthermore, flow cytometry showed a decrease in S-phase population(F=147.87, P<0.001) but an increase in G1-phase population (F=9.14, P<0.05)in Abraf1 and Abraf2 cells. However, neither Abrafl nor Abraf2 cells exhibited a significant increase in apoptosis ratio (F=2.27, P>0.05). Conclusions Mutated BRAFV599E gene could induce the switch from G1 phase to S phase in melanoma cells, subsequently accelerate the growth of melanoma cells, but it has no obvious influence on the apoptosis of these cells.

Silence of BRAF gene in human melanoma cells by plasmid mediated shRNA / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To construct the short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-expressing plasmid vectors specific for BRAF gene, and to test their effects in BRAF knockdown in human melanoma cell lines. Methods Two pairs of specific BRAF shRNA oligoes and a pair of randomly synthesized non-specific shRNA oligo were synthesized and inserted into plasmid pGenesil-1. Their fidelity was confirmed by double endonuclease digestion and sequencing. The constructed plasmids were transfected into human melanoma cell lines A375 and M14. The expression of BRAF mRNA and BRAF protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results The designed shRNA oligoes were precisely cloned into the plasmid pGenesil-1. The expression of BRAF mRNA and protein were down-regulated by specific plasmid braf 1 and braf 2, except to non-specific plasmid neg. The plasmid braf 1 was more effective, reducing BRAF gene expression by 90 per cent. Conclusions Plasmid mediated shRNA could successfully knockdown BRAF expression in human melanoma cells, and the suppression of the gene expression could maintain for 1 month at least.