Highly Sensitive Temperature Sensor Based on Coupled-Beam AlN-on-Si MEMS Resonators Operating in Out-of-Plane Flexural Vibration Modes.

This paper reports a type of highly sensitive temperature sensor utilizing AlN-on-Si resonators with coupled-beam structures of double- and triple-ended-tuning-fork (D/TETF). For both resonators, the out-of-plane flexural mode is adopted as it favors the effect of thermal mismatch between the composite layers inherent to the AlN-on-Si structure and thus helps attain a large temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF). The analytical model to calculate TCF values of D/TETF AlN-on-Si resonators is provided, which agrees well with the finite-element simulation and experimental results. The resonant temperature sensor is built by closing the loop of the AlN-on-Si resonator, a transimpedance amplifier, a low-pass filter, and a phase shifter to form an oscillator, the output frequency of which shifts proportionally to the ambient temperature. The measured sensitivities of the temperature sensors using D/TETF resonators are better than -1000 ppm/°C in the temperature range of 25°C~60°C, showing great potential to fulfill the on-chip temperature compensation scheme for cofabricated sensors.

The role of eco-tourism in ecological conservation in giant panda nature reserve.

Eco-tourism is rapidly developing in giant panda nature reserves in China, and is considered a popular tool for biodiversity conservation and the welfare of local communities. However, there is lack of empirical evidence on whether eco-tourism promotes the conservation behavior of local communities members, who live around nature reserves. To this end, this study constructed a framework to measure households' forest conservation activities, and conducted a questionnaire survey in 12 giant panda nature reserves in Sichuan Province, China. A total of 686 valid samples were obtained. A logit model was used to confirm whether income from community-based ecotourism (CBET) could enhance households' conservation behavior. The results show that households prefer three types of conservation practices, and CBET could significantly improve the income of households engaged in it. Income from CBET has motivated local households to participate in conservation activities; however, but the effects are different. In all three conservation activities, income from CBET has shown significant effects on promoting forest maintenance and protection activities, but not on reforestation ones. The results of this research could help us better understand the relationship between CBET and local households' conservation behavior. It also provides information for policymakers seeking for the best way to balance conservation and development.

Effects of polaprezinc on gastric mucosal damage and neurotransmitters in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced vomiting.

Objective To investigate the effects of polaprezinc (PZ) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)- or cisplatin (DDP)-induced gastric mucosal injury and on a rat model of neurotransmitter-mediated vomiting. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into Control, CTX, DDP, PZ+CTX, and PZ+DDP groups. After 20 days, brain tissues and sera were analyzed for the levels of dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of stomach, intestine, and brain tissues were examined using light microscopy. Results The levels of DA, 5-HT, and NF-κB in brain and serum samples of rats treated with CTX or DDP were significantly increased compared with those of rats in the Control group. There was a significant decrease in these values in the PZ group. Moreover, PZ reduced damage to brain tissue caused by CTX or DDP. Conclusions PZ decreased the levels of DA, 5-HT, and NF-κB in blood and brain tissues caused by CTX or DDP and reduced the chemotherapy-induced damage to the small intestine, stomach, and brain. These findings can be translated to the clinic to enhance the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy.

Performance of electrokinetic stacking enhanced paper-based analytical device with smartphone for fast detection of fluorescent whitening agent.

Quantification is a fundamental aspect of performance of an analytical system. Paper-based analytical device (PAD) as an on-site detection platform has drawn wide attention mainly due to its portability and cost effectiveness. In this work, a portable and low-cost PAD for online preconcentration and sensitive determination of fluorescent whitening agent (FWA) was demonstrated, which was consisted of ultra violet light-emitting diode (UV LED), macro-focusing lens, smartphone and miniaturized DC voltage source. Taking a widely used FWA component VBL as the analyte, the performance of the PAD enhanced with electrokinetic stacking (ES) and fluorescence imaging detection was systematically investigated. With ES, the sensitivity of the PAD system was 160-fold enhanced, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 µg mL-1 was achieved. The dynamic range was 0.1-10.0 µg mL-1 (linear in 0.1-0.7 µg mL-1, R2 = 0.99). With manual operation, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra-day and inter-day were all below 15%. Eventually, VBL from different napkin samples and toilet paper was determined with average recovery rates in the range of 90%-95% (RSD = 8.0%-12.0%). This work shows that with ES, the sensitivity of PAD can be greatly improved, and a LOD close to a desktop fluorescent spectrophotometer can be achieved as demonstrated by the detection of FWA component.

Mineralized Collagen: Rationale, Current Status, and Clinical Applications.

This paper presents a review of the rationale for the in vitro mineralization process, preparation methods, and clinical applications of mineralized collagen. The rationale for natural mineralized collagen and the related mineralization process has been investigated for decades. Based on the understanding of natural mineralized collagen and its formation process, many attempts have been made to prepare biomimetic materials that resemble natural mineralized collagen in both composition and structure. To date, a number of bone substitute materials have been developed based on the principles of mineralized collagen, and some of them have been commercialized and approved by regulatory agencies. The clinical outcomes of mineralized collagen are of significance to advance the evaluation and improvement of related medical device products. Some representative clinical cases have been reported, and there are more clinical applications and long-term follow-ups that currently being performed by many research groups.

Dual effects of molybdenum on mouse oocyte quality and ovarian oxidative stress.

A sub-acute toxicity test was performed to investigate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) on ovarian function. ICR adult female mice were exposed to Mo by free access to distilled water containing the Mo at 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L for 14 days. Compared to the control group, M II oocyte morphology, ovary index, and ovulation improved within the 5 mg/L Mo group, but were negatively affected by Mo at 40 mg/L. Morphologically abnormal ovarian mitochondria were observed at ≥ 20 mg/L. These alterations accompanied the changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidise (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in ovaries. In conclusion, Mo affects oocyte quality possibly through regulating ovarian oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. It appears that Mo may improve ovarian function at a suitable concentration, which might be a candidate for the treatment of female infertility.

Autophagy negatively regulates cancer cell proliferation via selectively targeting VPRBP.

There have been multiple lines of evidence suggesting that autophagy selectively targets signalling proteins and regulates cancer cell signalling in addition to bulk clearance of long-lived proteins and organelles. Protein degradation through autophagy requires receptor protein LC3B to sequester the substrates into the autophagosome. In the present study, we screened LC3B (light-chain 3B)-binding partners and identified autophagic substrates in cancer cells. With lung cancer NCI-H1975 and oesophageal cancer KYSE30 cell lines as models, we found that VPRBP (viral protein R-binding protein) was a novel LC3B-binding protein through GST (glutathione transferase)-LC3B pull-down combined with LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem MS) methods. Co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that VPRBP-LC3/p62 were in the same protein complex as the two cell lines. Induction of autophagy led to a down-regulation of VPRPB, which could be rescued by the inhibition of autophagy degradation by BFA1 (bafilomycin A1) and by the disruption of autophagy through ATG5-knockdown. We also found that induction of autophagy promotes VPRBP-LC3/p62 interaction. Immunohistochemical examination of human NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) tissues showed that VPRBP was positively correlated with p62 and negatively correlated with LC3B. Moreover, p62 and VPRBP were associated with poor prognosis in lung ADC (adenocarcinoma) (p62, P=0.019; VPRBP, P=0.005). Patients with low expression of both p62 and VPRBP showed the best prognosis.

Lung fluorescence imaging to evaluate tumor metastasis induced by AQP5 expression in murine model.

Our recent study, by up-regulation of AQP5 expression, showed enhanced proliferation and migration potential in lung cancer. However, so far none of the in vivo study of gene silencing of AQP5 has been tested. In this study, we tested roles of AQP5 on lung cancer metastasis potential by gene silencing of AQP5 in two lung cancer cell lines and tried to monitor lung metastases with EGFP marker. Lungs were imaged at different time points and allowed an accurate evaluation of tumor burden over time. Our results showed significantly decreased metastasis potential in AQP5 gene-silencing cells. Lung imaging confirmed the frequency of metastasis in mice. These data provide more evidence that AQP5 plays important roles in the metastasis potential of lung cancer. Lung fluorescence imaging provides rapid monitoring for tumor growth and metastasis, and it also offers quantitative and sensitive analysis of tumor growth and metastasis, compared to the traditional histology technique.

Aquaporin 5 expression increases mucin production in lung adenocarcinoma.

Our recent studies have demonstrated that AQP5 is involved in the metastatic potential of lung cancer. Here, our aim was to explore the effects of AQP5 expression on mucin production in lung adenocarcinoma. We tested MUC5AC and MUC5B mucin production induced by AQP5 expression in lung adenocarcinoma metastasis. Lung adenocarcinoma cells with different levels of AQP5 expression were used in this study. In another set of experiments, deletion of AQP5 was studied using AQP5 (-/-) mice. Significantly increased expression of MUC5AC and MUC5B mucin was found in AQP5 high-expressing tumor cells, which suggested that mucin production induced by AQP5 may contribute to the enhanced metastatic potential in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Our results also showed that AQP5 expression increases MUC5AC and MUC5B mucin production and that this may be partly through the EGFR signaling pathway. In brief, our results provide evidence that mucin production induced by AQP5 expression may play important roles in enhanced metastasis potential in lung adenocarcinoma.

Deletion of aquaporin 5 aggravates acute lung injury induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Aquaporin (AQP) is a membrane protein that facilitates osmotic water transport. Aquaporin 5 (AQP5) expresses at type I alveolar epithelia of apical membrane that confers high osmotic water permeability. Osmosis or stretch challenge in alveoli significantly up-regulates AQP5 expression, which suggests that AQP5 may play a role in the maintenance of epithelia barrier function. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a leading gram-negative bacterial frequently isolated from ventilation-associated pneumonia patients, disrupts alveolar and airway epithelial cells and subsequently leads to blood dissemination. In this study, we hypothesized that AQP5 might be protective in acute lung injury induced by PA, and deletion of AQP5 might lead to aggravated lung injury. METHODS: Lung injury model was induced by intratracheal instillation of PA (1 × 10(6) colony-forming unit) in wild-type and AQP5 knockout mice, 2 hours and 6 hours later, blood and lung lysate were cultured to detect blood dissemination, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue were collected for histology analysis. Lung injury assessment, wet/dry weight ratio, protein leakage, and Evan's blue dye extravasation were evaluated for pulmonary barrier function. RESULTS: AQP5 deficiency led to increased bacterial blood dissemination and aggravated lung injury during PA infection, and AQP5 deletion also reduced mucin production in lung. Moreover, AQP5 deficiency showed declined activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B pathways in lungs before and after PA infection. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that AQP5 plays a protective role in the maintenance of pulmonary barrier function against PA infection.

[Anti-tumor efficacy of interventional chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin for hepatic metastasis of pancreatic cancer in nude mouse model].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of interventional chemotherapy with liposome doxorubicin for hepatic metastasis of pancreatic tumor in nude mice. METHODS: After the establishment of hepatic metastatic model of pancreatic tumor, the nude mice received various formulations via a spleen injection to imitate the interventional chemotherapy. In each of two following experiments, 42 nude mice were randomly divided into 6 groups. They received liposomal doxorubicin (including high, intermittent and low-dose), free doxorubicin, gemcitabine plus cisplatin and control respectively. In the first experiment, the doses were 6, 3, 1.5, 3, 3 mg/kg and 100 µl 10% glucose for each group respectively. And in the second experiment, 9, 6, 3, 6, 6 mg/kg, and 100 µl 10% glucose respectively. The efficacies of interventional injection of liposomal doxorubicin with different doses were examined in terms of tumor growth retardation for the hepatic metastatic foci of pancreatic tumor. RESULTS: In the first experiment, the difference of median hepatic tumor volume was significant among the three groups of mice receiving liposomal doxorubicin with incremental doses in a dose-dependent manner [high dose: (3 ± 1) mm(3), middle dose: (55 ± 18) mm(3), low dose: (90 ± 23) mm(3), P < 0.05]. The liposomal doxorubicin led to a substantial delay of tumor growth as compared to the free drug or gemcitabine plus cisplatin at the same dose (both P < 0.05). In addition, all animals were well-tolerated with no obvious acute toxicity. In the second experiment, significant difference was obtained for the mice injected with different doses of liposomal doxorubicin [(11 ± 4) mm(3), (13 ± 4) mm(3), (50 ± 18) mm(3), P < 0.05]. It was correlated with tumor growth delay. The mice administered with either 9 mg/kg or 6 mg/kg were more efficacious to retard tumor growth than those given 3 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Despite its enhanced effectiveness as compared to mice in gemcitabine plus cisplatin group (P < 0.05), the liposomal doxorubicin at a dose of 6 mg/kg resulted in a marginally delayed tumor growth compared to those of free doxorubicin at the same dose (P > 0.05). No evident acute toxic response was observed for each group of mice receiving liposomal doxorubicin. In contrast, approximately half of the animals receiving either free doxorubicin or gemcitabine plus cisplatin died of toxic responses. CONCLUSION: Liposomal doxorubicin may be a potential interventional chemotherapeutic agent for hepatic metastasis of pancreatic tumor because of improved anti-tumor efficacy and reduced toxicity in comparison to free doxorubicin and gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

[Prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk: two years follow up results].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the prevalence, blood pressure change in prehypertensive population and associated cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Data from a prehypertensive cohort defined with the JNC-7 prehypertension diagnostic criteria were obtained in the employees of kailuan group during the health examination between 2006 to 2007 and the same population was revisited between 2008 to 2009 to observe the change of blood pressure and the associated determinants for blood pressure change. RESULTS: (1) There were 25 474 prehypertensive during the 1(st) visit and 8361 subjects developed hypertension during the 2(nd) visit (35.3% in men and 23.3% in women, 27.2% with baseline blood pressure 120 - 129/80 - 84 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and 43.8% with baseline blood pressure 130 - 139/85 - 89 mm Hg, 34.3% with risk factors and 19.9% without risk factors). (2) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of blood pressure progression with a RR (95%CI) of 1.052 (1.048 - 1.056), 1.009 (1.006 - 1.013), 1.023 (1.021 - 1.026), 1.063 (1.052 - 1.074), 1.554 (1.442 - 1.675), 1.036 (1.029 - 1.043), 1.064 (1.037 - 1.093), 1.043 (1.024 - 1.062), 1.041 (1.021 - 1.062) and 1.035 (1.000 - 1.072), respectively. CONCLUSION: A third (32.8%) prehypertensive population progressed into hypertension after two years, baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of predicting blood pressure progression.

[The distribution and influential factors of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein in general population].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the distribution and influence factors of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in general population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional population survey, a total of 101 510 subjects who were employed by Kailuan Group had been carried out a healthy examination in the period of 2006 to 2007. In the statistical analysis, we observed 91 123 subjects (males 72 805, females 18 318) who had full information and met the inclusion criteria of the study. RESULTS: (1) The geometric means of hs-CRP were 0.70 mg/L, 0.70 mg/L and 0.73 mg/L in all subjects, males and females, respectively, the 95th percentiles were 6.28 mg/L, 6.20 mg/L and 6.49 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of hs-CRP increased with age in both males and females (P trend = 0.001). Serum hs-CRP geometric mean was 0.54 mg/L and the 95th percentile was 5.40 mg/L in health group, while the geometric mean was 0.80 mg/L and the 95th percentile was 6.57 mg/L in non-health group. (2) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that concentrations of hs-CRP were positively associated with gender, age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, smoking history, history of coronary heart disease and stroke history, but concentrations of hs-CRP were inversely related with diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and alcohol history. CONCLUSION: Serum concentrations of hs-CRP level increased with age, concentrations of hs-CRP were higher in females than males; a variety of cardiovascular factors effected the concentrations of hs-CRP.

Suppression of anoikis by SKP2 amplification and overexpression promotes metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The gene of SKP2, located on chromosome 5p13, plays a critical role in cell cycle progression, especially at the G(1)-S transition, putatively through its control of several cell cycle regulator proteins including p27(kip1), p21(cip1), p57(kip2), p130, cyclin E, and c-Myc. Previous studies in this laboratory revealed that gain of chromosome 5p was often seen in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In the present study, we examined the amplification status and expression level of SKP2 in ESCC and investigated its clinicopathologic significance. Amplification and elevated expression of SKP2 correlated significantly with tumor stage and positive lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The SKP2 protein expression level as determined by immunohistochemical staining showed a significant inverse correlation with p27 protein. In vivo assay showed that inhibition of SKP2 expression also decreased tumor growth and lung metastasis of ESCC cells. At the molecular level, knockdown of SKP2 by RNA interference inhibited cell migration and invasion ability. Knockdown of SKP2 expression sensitized cancer cells to anoikis, and a wobble mutant of SKP2 that is resistant to SKP2 small interfering RNA can rescue this effect. Expression level of pAkt decreased after SKP2 knockdown. Treatment of cells with phosphoinositidyl 3-kinase inhibitor (LY294002) and constitutively activator (insulin-like growth factor I) had significant effects on the anoikis of SKP2 RNA interference cells. These results show for the first time that SKP2 is amplified and overexpressed in ESCC. Elevated expression of SKP2 protected cancer cells from anoikis, and this effect was mediated, at least in part, by the phosphoinositidyl 3-kinase-Akt pathway.

Overexpression of PLK1 is associated with poor survival by inhibiting apoptosis via enhancement of survivin level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PLK1 is essential for the maintenance of genomic stability during mitosis. In our study, we found that overexpression of PLK1 was an independent prognostic factor (RR=4.253, p=0.020) and significantly correlated with survivin, an antiapoptotic protein, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed upregulation of PLK1 mRNA and amplification of PLK1 gene, respectively. Depletion of PLK1 activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which was substantiated by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduction of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 as well as activation of caspase-9. Coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy displayed that PLK1 was associated with survivin and PLK1 depletion led to downregulation of survivin. Cotransfection of survivin constructs could partially reverse PLK1-depletion-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that PLK1 might be a useful prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC. Survivin is probably involved in antiapoptotic function of PLK1.

Experimental and theoretical studies on the inclusion complexation of syringic acid with alpha-, beta-, gamma- and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin.

Intermolecular interactions of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (CD) with syringic acid (Syr) in aqueous solution are investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence intensity of Syr gradually increases with the addition of the CDs. The formation constants (K) of the host-guest inclusion complexes are determined using a nonlinear analysis. The association abilities of Syr with the CDs decrease in the order gamma->beta->alpha- approximately DMbeta-CD. Both the intrinsic binding abilities of the CDs and the structural effect of Syr are taken into consideration when comparing the K values. Based on the results of NMR experimental and theoretical PM3 calculations both in vacuo and in water, it is found that Syr stays near the wider rim of alpha-CD cavity. Both the number of substituted groups (NSG) in a guest and the molar volume ratio of the guest to host cavity (MVR) play an important role in forming the CD supramolecular complexes of a homologous series of phenol derivatives, such as 2-methoxylphenol (2-Mop), eugenol (Eug) and Syr, i.e., an appropriate NSG or MVR in an inclusion system, such as in 2-Mop-alpha-CD, Eug-beta-CD and Syr-gamma-CD systems, can maximize the intermolecular interaction between host and guest.

[Effect of vinblastine nanoparticles on antiproliferation in human glioma cell lines BT325].

OBJECTIVE: To compare antiproliferation effects of vinblastine nanopraticles and vinblastine water solution in human glioma cell lines BT325. METHOD: Vinblastine nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion polymerization process and using dextran as a stabilizing agent. It was characterized by means of morphology, size, drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency. Human glioma cell lines BT325 were treated with different concentrations of vinblastine nanoparticles and vinblastine water solution for 48 h, Antiproliferation effect was measured by MTT method. Morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. RESULT: Mean diameter of VLB-PBCA-NP was about 74.4 nm, and drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency was 78.47% and 39.24%, respectively. Cell growth inhibition rate of vinblastine nanoparticles group and vinblastine water solution group in a concentration range (5-5 000 g x L(-1)) for 48 h was 41%, 49%, 73%, 83% and 28%, 33%, 54%, 60% respectively. Entrapment of VLB in NPS may distinctly degrade absorbency as compared to free drugs. Glioma cell BT325 which treated with VLB water solution were initial stage of apoptosis, and apoptosis body were forming. But VLB NPS-treated BT325 cells were intermediate or end stage, and missed structure integrality. CONCLUSION: VLB-PBCA-NP and VLB water solution could inhibit the growth of human glioma cell lines BT325, and VLB nanoparticles have stronger inhibition effect compared with VLB water solution in the same dose. PBCA may be effective as promising carrier for the transport of vinblastine into the glioma cells.

[Over-expression of osteopontin in non-small cell lung cancers: its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: Data obtained from a differentially expressed cDNA library constructed previously in this laboratory demonstrated that the extracellular matrix molecule osteopontin (OPN) is one of most considerably over-expressed genes in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The purpose of the present study was to explore the expression status of OPN in a large scale NSCLC tissue samples, and estimate its significance in progression of the malignant disease. METHODS: RT-PCR was performed with the tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 35 patients with NSCLC, at transcriptional levels of OPN. To determine the expression of OPN protein in the tumor tissues, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was subsequently carried out on paraffin-embedded sections in tissue microarrays containing 662 samples derived from NSCLC cases. The correlation between the expression level of OPN and clinical characteristics was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Comparing with the paired normal lung tissue, high level RNA of OPN was detected in 80.0% (28/35) of the NSCLC tumor tissues by RT-PCR, which confirmed the information obtained previously by our differentially expressed cDNA library. The results of IHC analysis showed that positively stained OPN protein was observed in 59.6% (331/555) of the tumor tissues, which was remarkably higher than that (25.2%, 27/107) detected in the normal control tissues (P < 0.001). Among the NSCLCs investigated, over-expressed OPN was more frequently found in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than in adenocarcinomas. A further analysis on SCCs demonstrated that the rate of over-expressed OPN was significantly different between the primary tumors with and without lymphatic metastases (68.6% vs. 49.7%, P = 0.001), but similar in the primary tumors and their corresponding metastases in lymph nodes (68.6% vs. 75.5%, P = 0.171). CONCLUSION: Expression of OPN protein is distinctly increased in NSCLCs, particularly in SCCs. OPN over-expression is considerably correlated with lymph node metastasis, increasing the risk of tumor metastasis (OR = 2.212). The resulting data suggest that OPN facilitates the progression of NSCLCs.

[Antitumor effect of gene gun-mediated DNA vaccine pWRG-neu immunization in C57BL/6 mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of DNA vaccine immunization on neu-overexpressed melanoma growth in prophylactic treatment and anti-lung-metastasis experiments in C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: pcDNA-neu transfected into B16F10 with transfection reagent Fugene 6, neu-overexpressed cell clone B16F10-neu was selected with limited dilution method. The growth curve was drawn to analyse its proliferating character in vitro. With Helios gene gun system, DNA vaccine pWRG-neu was immunized to 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice in the shaved abdominal skin for 3 times at two-weekly interval. After immunization, the life span was analyzed. Using MTT assay, the cytolysis activity of the DNA immunized mice spleen cells was compared. RESULTS: One clone of neu-overexpressed B16F10-neu was selected and its proliferating character was the same as B16F10 and B16F10-pcDNA. In prophylactic, treatment and anti-lung-metastasis experiments, gene gun-mediated pWRG-neu immunization could exhibit antitumor effects. The growth and metastasis of neu-overexpressed melanoma was reduced dramatically. The spleen cells of the immuned mice showed cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. CONCLUSION: Gene gun-mediated gene transfer is effective and practicable. DNA vaccine pWRG-neu is potent in preventing subsequent tumor cells challenge, inhibiting the tumor growth and metastasis.