Assessment of a panel of miRNAs in serum and pleural fluid for the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis between malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and benign pleural effusion (BPE) remains a clinical challenge. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of the serum and pleural fluid (PF) miRNA panels in distinguishing MPE from BPE. METHODS: Fourteen candidate miRNAs which were shown aberrant expression in lung cancer based on previous studies were tested by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in 20 MPE patients and 20 BPE patients. Significantly aberrantly expressed miRNAs were further assessed by qRT-PCR in all patients enrolled in this study. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluated the diagnostic performance of the miRNAs. RESULTS: miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 were found to be significantly aberrantly expressed in the serum and PF of MPE patients. The AUCs for the combination of miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 in serum and PF were 0.832 and 0.89 respectively in distinguishing MPE from infection-associated PE including tuberculous pleurisy and parapneumonia PE, and 0.866 and 0.919 respectively for differentiating MPE from heart failure-associated PE, which were superior to AUC of each individual miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: miR-21, miR-29c and miR-182 in serum and PF could be useful biomarkers for diagnosis of MPE.

Synergistic killing effect of paclitaxel and honokiol in non-small cell lung cancer cells through paraptosis induction.

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel is an anticancer drug for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, drug-resistance remains a major problem. Honokiol is a natural component which has been found to exhibit anti-tumor activity. Paclitaxel and honokiol have been reported to be able to induce paraptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether honokiol can reverse paclitaxel resistance by inducing paraptosis in NSCLC cells. METHODS: NSCLC cell lines H1650 (paclitaxel-sensitive), H1299 and H1650/PTX (intrinsic and acquired paclitaxel-resistant, respectively) were used to assess the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel and honokiol. Light and transmission electron microscopy were performed to detect cytoplasmic vacuolation. In vitro cell viability and clonogenic survival assays, as well as in vivo xenograft assays were conducted to test synergistic killing effects of paclitaxel and honokiol on NSCLC cells. Western blotting, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were performed to evaluate paraptosis-regulating mechanisms. RESULTS: We found that combination treatment with paclitaxel and honokiol synergistically killed H1650, H1299 and H1650/PTX cells by inducing paraptosis, which is characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation. Moreover, paclitaxel/honokiol treatment resulted in a significant growth delay in H1299 xenograft tumors that showed extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation. Mechanistically, proteasomal inhibition-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein responses leading to ER dilation, and the disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload resulting in mitochondrial disfunction, were found to be involved in paclitaxel/honokiol-induced paraptosis. Cellular protein light chain 3 (LC3) may play an important role in paclitaxel/honokiol induced cytoplasmic vacuolation and NSCLC cell death. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of honokiol and paclitaxel may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin Enhances the Sensitivity of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Icotinib via Dual Induction of Autophagy and Apoptosis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type is intrinsic resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this study, we assessed whether the combination of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) and icotinib could surmount primary EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC cells and investigated its molecular mechanism. Results showed that the combination of BDMC and icotinib produced potently synergistic growth inhibitory effect on primary EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC cell lines H460 (EGFR wild-type and K-ras mutation) and H1781 (EGFR wild-type and Her2 mutation). Compared with BDMC or icotinib alone, the two drug combination induced more significant apoptosis and autophagy via suppressing EGFR activity and interaction of Sp1 and HDCA1/HDCA2, which was accompanied by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), induction of DNA damage, and inhibition of cell migration and invasion. ROS inhibitor (NAC) and autophagy inhibitors (CQ or 3-MA) partially reversed BDMC plus icotinib-induced growth inhibitory effect on the NSCLC cells. Meanwhile, co-treatment with NAC attenuated the two drug combination-induced autophagy, apoptosis, DNA damage and decrease of cell migration and invasion ability. Also, 3-MA or CQ can abate the combination treatment-induced apoptosis and DNA damage, suggesting that there is crosstalk between different signaling pathways in the effect produced by the combination treatment. Our data indicate that BMDC has the potential to improve the treatment of primary EGFR-TKI resistant NISCLC that cannot be controlled with single-target agent, such as icotinib.

YM155 sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors through the mechanism of autophagy induction.

Resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as erlotinib and gefitinib, is a major clinical problem in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). YM155 is a survivin small molecule inhibitor and has been demonstrated to induce cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy. EGFR-TKIs have been known to induce cancer cell autophagy. In this study, we showed that YM155 markedly enhanced the sensitivity of erlotinib to EGFR-TKI resistant NSCLC cell lines H1650 (EGFR exon 19 deletion and PTEN loss) and A549 (EGFR wild type and KRAS mutation) through inducing autophagy-dependent apoptosis and autophagic cell death. The effects of YM155 combined with erlotinib on apoptosis and autophagy inductions were more obvious than those of YM155 in combination with survivin knockdown by siRNA transfection, suggesting that YM155 induced autophagy and apoptosis in the NSCLC cells partially depend on survivin downregulation. Meanwhile, we found that the AKT/mTOR pathway is involved in modulation of survivin downregulation and autophagy induction caused by YM155. In addition, YM155 can induce DNA damage in H1650 and A549 cell lines. Moreover, combining erlotinib further augmented DNA damage by YM155, which were retarded by autophagy inhibitor 3MA, or knockdown of autophagy-related protein Beclin 1, revealing that YM155 induced DNA damage is autophagy-dependent. Similar results were also observed in vivo xenograft experiments. Therefore, combination of YM155 and erlotinib offers a promising therapeutic strategy in NSCLC with EGFR-TKI resistant phenotype.

In-situ determination of metallic variation and multi-association in single particles by combining synchrotron microprobe, sequential chemical extraction and multivariate statistical analysis.

Due to the heterogeneity of metal distribution, it is challenging to identify the speciation, source and fate of metals in solid samples at micro scales. To overcome these challenges single particles of air pollution control residues were detected in situ by synchrotron microprobe after each step of chemical extraction and analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. Results showed that Pb, Cu and Zn co-existed as acid soluble fractions during chemical extraction, regardless of their individual distribution as chlorides or oxides in the raw particles. Besides the forms of Fe2O3, MnO2 and FeCr2O4, Fe, Mn, Cr and Ni were closely associated with each other, mainly as reducible fractions. In addition, the two groups of metals had interrelations with the Si-containing insoluble matrix. The binding could not be directly detected by micro-X-ray diffraction (µ-XRD) and XRD, suggesting their partial existence as amorphous forms or in the solid solution. The combined method on single particles can effectively determine metallic multi-associations and various extraction behaviors that could not be identified by XRD, µ-XRD or X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results are useful for further source identification and migration tracing of heavy metals.

Development of an epitope-based competitive ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Tibetan peste des petits ruminants virus.

AIMS: To develop an effective diagnostic kit, based on a competitive ELISA-based system (cELISA), for detecting serum antibody against peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). METHODS: Epitope peptides of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of Tibetan PPRV were synthesized chemically and injected into rabbits to prepare hyperimmune antisera. Test sera were incubated simultaneously with hyperimmune antisera and added to the wells of ELISA plates coated previously with recombinant N protein. Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibody was employed to detect the quantity of hyperimmune antisera combined with recombinant N protein. RESULTS: A cELISA has been developed for monitoring PPRV infections with a cutoff value of 35. Relative sensitivity and specificity values of the epitope-based cELISA were 96.18 and 91.29%, respectively, when compared with a commercial cELISA kit in a test involving 1,039 serum samples. CONCLUSION: We report an efficient method for preparing antibody suitable for incorporation into a cELISA that can be used routinely for the detection of PPRV antibodies in serum samples. The method eliminated the requirement for virus culture and monoclonal antibody preparation, reduced the biorisk posed by virus-dependent manipulations, and the performance of the resultant cELISA compared favorably with a commercially available cELISA kit.

Development of an indirect ELISA with artificially synthesized N protein of PPR virus.

The full-length gene encoding the nucleocapsid (N) protein of the virus (PPRV) responsible for an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Tibet in 2007 was synthesized in two stages using overlapping PCR without the need for viral genomic cDNA as template. The full-length N gene was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified gene product bound to monoclonal antibody raised against PPRV N protein. Furthermore, it was able to replace recombinant B-N antigen as the coating antigen in a commercial ELISA kit prepared with another PPRV strain. Recombinant protein was employed as the coating antigen to develop an indirect ELISA for PPRV antibody detection in the sera of infected small ruminants. Antibody detection was optimal at a 1:200 serum dilution and an antigen concentration of 3.2 µg/ml, and the positive threshold (cutoff) value of the assay was 2.18. Analysis of 697 serum samples revealed the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect ELISA to be 96.7 and 96.1%, respectively, compared with a commercially available ELISA test.

[Quasispecies investigation on swine hepatitis E viruses].

The objective of current study was to investigate the quasispecies of hepatitis E virus in swine. The partial ORF2 region of HEV envelope gene from four swine HEV strains was amplified by RT-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). After cloning and transformation of PCR products, 20 positive clones of each HEV isolate were subject to sequencing and DNA analysis. The homology among the different clones of each isolates was 96.8%-99.7%, 98.8%-99.7%, 98.8%-99.7% and 100%, respectively, while there was 96.8%-100% sequence identity at the nucleotide level compared with HEV strains isolated in Shanghai (SAAS-JDY5). This study confirmed that there existed quasispecies of HEV in swine.

Full genomic sequence analysis of swine genotype 3 hepatitis E virus isolated from Shanghai.

The full genomic nucleotide sequence of a previously identified genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV), strain SAAS-JDY5, was obtained using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The genome consisted of 7225 nucleotides, excluding a poly-A tail at the 3' terminus, and contained three open reading frames (ORFs), ORF-1, ORF-2 and ORF-3, encoding 1702, 660 and 113 amino acids, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that SAAS-JDY5 belonged to genotype 3 HEV and was most closely related to the Japanese isolate wbJYG1 (AB222184). SAAS-JDY5 shared approximately 87% nucleotide similarity to human and swine strains from the United States, compared with 74-75% similarity to Asian (genotype 4) and Mexican strains (genotype 2). Alignment of the SAAS-JDY5 genomic sequence with reference sequences of the same genotype revealed one nucleotide substitution and one deletion at positions 5145 and 7189 (3' UTR), respectively. Moreover, SAAS-JDY5 contained two additional nucleotides (AC) at the very end of the 3'-terminus preceding the poly-A tail of the genome. Comparison of the putative amino acid sequence encoded by the SAAS-JDY5 genome with sequences of other genotype 3 isolates revealed 15 unique amino acid substitutions and one deletion in ORF-1, and three substitutions in ORF-2.

Evaluation of the changes of immune cells during lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in rats, changes in peripheral blood immune cells and mammary tissue after an intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results of the study showed that infusion of LPS induced a rapid migration of neutrophils (PMNs) from the blood to mammary alveoli, increased the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mammary tissues, decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase in serum and reduced the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. This is the first report of changes in peripheral blood immune cells and mammary tissue in rat mastitis.

CpG-ODN enhances mammary gland defense during mastitis induced by Escherichia coli infection in goats.

Seven healthy native goats in early lactation, weighing 30-40 kg, were used in this study. The right mammary gland of the seven does were infused with CpG-ODN at a dosage of 100 microg kg(-1) body weight on the day 5 postpartum (PP). The left glands were used as controls and infused with sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). On day 8 PP, the same dosage of CpG-ODN or PBS was again infused. On day 9 PP, the mammary glands (both right and left) of the seven does were infused with 6 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) Escherichia coli and, at 0, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h postinfection (PI), milk samples were collected from all glands. Goats were euthanized at 72 h PI and the mammary tissue harvested. Infusion with 6 x 10(6)CFU ml(-1)E. coli induced acute mastitis. Histopathological evaluations showed that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were still present in alveoli at 72 h PI, but PMNs in the CpG-ODN-treated glands has disappeared. Bacteria counts in milk peaked at 16 h PI and CpG-ODN induced a significant decrease in viable bacteria from 16 h PI until the end of the experiment. This study showed that CpG-ODN promoted the expression of its specific receptor (TLR-9 mRNA) in mammary tissue, stimulated IL-6 production, reduced bacteria counts in milk, attenuated the impact of inflammation mediators on cells and significantly shortened the inflammation course. These results suggest that the CpG-ODN improved mammary gland defense and, thereby, had a beneficial effects against mastitis caused by E. coli infection in goats.

[Genomic instability in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of genomic instability on prognostics in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Genomic instability was assessed by inter-simple sequence repeats polymerase chain reaction (inter-SSR PCR) in 38 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Characterization and verification of band alterations shared in different tumors were carried out by sequencing and nest PCR. RESULTS: Thirty-one (81.6%) of the 38 patients showed genomic altercations, and genomic instability index ranged 0 to 16.2 percent. A gain-based genomic damage shared in 6 tumors was identified on chromosome 6q27. Genomic alteration was significantly more in patients less than 5-year survival than those with more than 5-year survival (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Genomic instability can be an early event marker in carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Aggravation of genomic alterations is a poor prognosis for cancer recovery.

Protective effect of CpG-DNA against mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus infection in a rat model.

A mastitis model in rats, induced by Staphylococcus aureus infection, was established and the protective effect of CpG-DNA on this model was determined. A S. aureus suspension containing 2 x 10(3) CFU.mL(-1) (SL group), 2 x 10(5) CFU.mL(-1) (SH group) or 100 microL PBS (CON group) was inoculated into the mammary glands of rats 72 h after parturition. The rats were euthanized at 24 h post-infection. The histopathologic changes in mammary tissue from SL were mild, whereas the structural changes of the mammary gland from SH were severe and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) accumulated in mammary alveoli. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and N-acetyl-beta-d-Glucosaminidase (NAGase) in mammary tissue from SH were significantly increased, however, those from SL were not significantly changed. Therefore, 2 x 10(5) CFU.mL(-1) was selected to test the potential protective effect of CpG-DNA on mammary glands. CpG-DNA (200 microg) or PBS (100 microL) controls were intramuscularly injected right after parturition of rats. At 72 h post-partum, 2 x 10(5) CFU.mL(-1)of S. aureus (100 microL) were inoculated into the mammary gland of all rats and at pre-infection (0 h), 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h after inoculation six rats were euthanatized. CpG-DNA induced more rapid migration of PMNs from blood to mammary tissue at the initial stage of infection, stimulated the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-alpha at different time points, reduced viable S. aureus in mammary tissue and decreased the activity of NAGase. CpG-DNA also promoted the expression of its specific receptor TLR-9 mRNA in mammary tissue. In conclusion, CpG-DNA protected against S. aureus mastitis in a rat model.