Role of NRP1 in Bladder Cancer Pathogenesis and Progression.

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BC) is a fatal invasive malignancy and the most common malignancy of the urinary system. In the current study, we investigated the function and mechanisms of Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), the co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, in BC pathogenesis and progression. The expression of NRP1 was evaluated using data extracted from GEO and HPA databases and examined in BC cell lines. The effect on proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion of BC cells were validated after NRP1 knockdown. After identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by NRP1 silencing, GO/KEGG and IPA® bioinformatics analyses were performed and specific predicted pathways and targets were confirmed in vitro. Additionally, the co-expressed genes and ceRNA network were predicted using data downloaded from CCLE and TCGA databases, respectively. High expression of NRP1 was observed in BC tissues and cells. NRP1 knockdown promoted apoptosis and suppressed proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Additionally, after NRP1 silencing the activity of MAPK signaling and molecular mechanisms of cancer pathways were predicted by KEGG and IPA® pathway analysis and validated using western blot in BC cells. NRP1 knockdown also affected various biological functions, including antiviral response, immune response, cell cycle, proliferation and migration of cells, and neovascularisation. Furthermore, the main upstream molecule of the DEGs induced by NRP1 knockdown may be NUPR1, and NRP1 was also the downstream target of NUPR1 and essential for regulation of FOXP3 expression to activate neovascularisation. DCBLD2 was positively regulated by NRP1, and PPAR signaling was significantly associated with low NRP1 expression. We also found that NRP1 was a predicted target of miR-204, miR-143, miR-145, and miR-195 in BC development. Our data provide evidence for the biological function and molecular aetiology of NRP1 in BC and for the first time demonstrated an association between NRP1 and NUPR1, FOXP3, and DCBLD2. Specifically, downregulation of NRP1 contributes to BC progression, which is associated with activation of MAPK signaling and molecular mechanisms involved in cancer pathways. Therefore, NRP1 may serve as a target for new therapeutic strategies to treat BC and other cancers.

PK and tissue distribution of docetaxel in rabbits after i.v. administration of liposomal and injectable formulations.

A simple and sensitive HPLC method was established and validated for the determination of docetaxel (DTX) in rabbit plasma and tissue samples. Biosamples were spiked with paclitaxel as an internal standard and pre-treated by solid phase extraction (SPE). Sample separation was performed on a reverse-phase HPLC column at 30 degrees C by using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-0.02 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) (20:47.5:32.5, v/v/v) at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min The UV absorbance of the samples was measured at the wavelength of 230 nm. The standard curves were linear over the ranges of 0.02525-2.525 microg/mL for plasma, 1.010-202.00 microg/g for lung, 0.202-20.20 microg/g for spleen, liver and kidney, 0.202-10.10 microg/g for heart and stomach, 0.0505-2.02 microg/g for brain, respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 10.0 ng/mL in the plasma samples and 20.0 ng/g in the tissue samples, respectively. The analysis method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies of DTX liposomes and DTX injection after i.v. administration to the rabbits. The results showed that the liposome carrier led to a significant difference in pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution profile compared to the conventional DTX injection.

[Application of superparamagnetic iron oxide labeled antisense oligodeoxynucleotide probe in cellular magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To prepare the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) probe and evaluate the application of this probe in cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We prepared the SPIO-labeled ASODN probe using chemical cross linking method to conjugate SPIO to ASODN, detected its configuration by atomic force microscopy, determined the conjugating rate and biology activation by high performance liquid chromatography, and detected the stability by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After that, we transfected the SK-Br3 oncocytes which had over-expression of the c-erbB2 oncogene by this probes, observed the intracellular iron distribution by optical microscope, measured iron content by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and observed the signal change by MRI. RESULTS: Atomic force microscope showed that the SPIO-labeled ASODN probe was mostly spherical and well-distributed, with a diameter of 25-40 nm and a conjugating rate of 100%. This probe had inhered biological activity and stability. In addition, light microscopy revealed an intracellular uptake of iron oxides in the transfected SK-Br3 oncocyte, and the iron content of the group of transfected SK-Br3 oncocytes was significantly higher than those of other contrast groups (all P < 0.01). MRI showed that transfected SK-Br3 oncocyte had the lowest signal among all other cells (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We prepared the SPIO-labeled ASODN probe successfully. It can effectively transfect SK-Br3 oncocyte and enter SK-Br3 oncocyte, and thus reduce the signal intension in MRI.