Dl-3-n-butylphthalide promotes angiogenesis in ischemic stroke mice through upregulating autocrine and paracrine sonic hedgehog.

Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is a small-molecule drug used in the treatment of ischemic stroke in China, which is proven to ameliorate the symptoms of ischemic stroke and improve the prognosis of patients. Previous studies have shown that NBP accelerates recovery after stroke by promoting angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the angiogenesis-promoting effects of NBP in ischemic stroke models in vitro and in vivo. OGD/R model was established in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), while the tMCAO model was established in mice. The cells were pretreated with NBP (10, 50, 100 µM); the mice were administered NBP (4, 8 mg/kg, i.v.) twice after tMCAO. We showed that NBP treatment significantly stimulated angiogenesis by inducing massive production of angiogenic growth factors VEGFA and CD31 in both in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke. NBP also increased the tubule formation rate and migration capability of HUVECs in vitro. By conducting the weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we found that these effects were achieved by upregulating the expression of a hedgehog signaling pathway. We demonstrated that NBP treatment not only changed the levels of regulators of the hedgehog signaling pathway but also activated the transcription factor Gli1. The pro-angiogenesis effect of NBP was abolished when the hedgehog signaling pathway was inhibited by GDC-0449 in HUVECs, by Sonic Hedgehog(Shh) knockdown in HUVECs, or by intracerebroventricular injection of AAV-shRNA(shh)-CMV in tMCAO mice. Furthermore, we found that HUVECs produced a pro-angiogenic response not only to autocrine Shh, but also to paracrine Shh secreted by astrocytes. Together, we demonstrate that NBP promotes angiogenesis via upregulating the hedgehog signaling pathway. Our results provide an experimental basis for the clinical use of NBP.

[Association between the interaction polymorphisms of interleukin-10 and smoking on patients with bladder cancer risk from a case-control study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between both polymorphisms of interleukin-10 (IL-10), smoking and the susceptibility to bladder cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to study the promoter polymorphisms of IL-10 gene by allele specific PCR amplification (AS-PCR) and to explore the possible genetic and environmental factors on bladder cancer, based on data from a hospital which included 400 patients with bladder cancer and another 400 healthy controls. RESULTS: The genotypes of IL-10 gene might be associated with the susceptibility to bladder cancer. Homozygous mutant of IL-10 gene at the point of 1082, 819 and 592 could enhance the risk of bladder cancer (OR value is 2.058, 1.979, 1.979, respectively). No statistically significant correlation was found between the divergence of IL-10 genotype and the different clinical stages and pathological grade of bladder cancer (P > 0.05). Interactions were noticed between polymorphisms in IL-10 gene and their correlation with smoking on bladder cancer. The positive interaction of 1082 site homozygous variant (AA), 819 site homozygous variant (TT), 592 site homozygous variant (AA) and smoking were revealed in the occurrence rates of bladder cancer (OR = 2.264, γ = 10.213; OR = 2.438, γ = 6.750; OR = 2.438, γ = 6.750). CONCLUSION: Our research findings showed that the significant interactions between IL-10 gene with homozygous mutant and smoking might increase the risk of bladder cancer.

[Changes of platelet aggregation function of apheresis collected platelets and soluble P-selectin during storage].

The objective of this study was to explore the changes of aggregation function of apheresis platelets and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) during storage. 20 samples of apheresis platelets were collected, and the aggregation function were examined by function test and the level of sP-selectin every day in storage of 5 days. The results showed that the aggregation function of platelets declined obviously during storage, there were significant differences between the first-day group and any of the other groups (p < 0.01). The max platelet aggregation rate was < or = 3% in the fourth-day group; sP-selectin level in plasma increased with prolong of storage time; there were significant differences between the first-day group and any of the other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, platelets were activated continuously during storage, while its aggregation function declines significantly. The ability of platelet aggregation to response to ADP loses almost completely since the fourth day during platelet storage. It should be paid more attention to the damage of apheresis collected platelets during storage.

[Frequency and transcript variant analysis of gene fusions between TMPRSS2 and ETS transcription factor genes in prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequencies and types of fusions between the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), ETS-related gene (ERG), ETS variant-1 (ETV1), and ETS variant-4 (ETV4) genes in prostate cancer (PCa) and significance thereof. METHODS: Biopsy samples of prostate were obtained under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) from 32 PCa patients, aged (74 +/- 8) and 34 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Nested RT-PCR and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect the fusion genes of TMPRSS2/ERG, TMPRSS2/ETV1, and TMPRSS2/ETV4. The association between the fusion-positive tumor rate and Gleason grading was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 32 PCa patients, TMPRSS2/ERG fusion was detected in 17 cases (53.1%), including 5 variant fusion transcripts one of which was newly discovered with the GenBank accession number of EU090248. TMPRSS2/ETV1 fusion was detected in only 2 cases (6.3%), including one newly discovered variant fusion transcripts with the GenBank accession number of EU090249. TMPRSS2/ETV4 fusion was not detected. The positive rates of TMPRSS2/ERG and TMPRSS2/ETV1 fusions showed no statistical association with the Gleason grade (P = 0.169). No fusion between the TMPRSS2 and ETS transcription factor genes was detected in the 34 BPH samples. CONCLUSION: TMPRSS2/ERG and TMPRS22/ETV1 fusion genes with different subtypes exist in the tissues of PCa. TMPRSS2/ERG and TMPRSS2/ETV1 fusion genes may be used as diagnostic tools for PCa.