MiR-105 inhibits gastric cancer cells metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting SOX9.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancy, which is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. MicroRNA-105 (miR-105) was downregulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of miR-105 and sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) in gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Western blot was performed to display the protein level of E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, Vimentin and SOX9. Transwell assay was utilized to measure the capacity of migration and invasion. We employed the Luciferase reporter assay to determine miR-105 targeting to SOX9 in gastric cancer. RESULTS: MiR-105 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells; it suppressed gastric cancer cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in gastric cancer. SOX9 was upregulated in gastric cancer cells and had a negative correlation with miR-105. Moreover, the knockdown of SOX9 could inhibit gastric cancer cell migration, invasion and EMT. Furthermore, SOX9 was a target gene of miR-105 and mediated by miR-105. SOX9 could reverse the partial function of miR-105 on cell migration and invasion. In addition, miR-105 downregulation or SOX9 upregulation predicted a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that miR-105 was downregulated and inhibited cell migration, invasion and EMT in gastric cancer by binding to SOX9. In addition, we demonstrated that miR-105 downregulation or SOX9 upregulation predicted a poor prognosis. The newly discoverable miR-105/SOX9 axis provides novel insight into gastric cancer treatment.

Spatial and temporal variations of eutrophication in Western Chaohu Lake, China.

Chaohu Lake is one of the five largest fresh lakes in China. Now it is one of the three most eutrophic lakes of China attracting more and more attention in the world-wide-concern. From Zhongmiao Temple to Qitouzui Cape, the lake is divided into two parts. The eutrophication state of the lake western part is more serious than that of the eastern part, mainly because the former is the final place of industrial and municipal wastewater from Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province. Through six routine national sampling sites of the Western Chaohu Lake, we analyzed the yearly variation of eutrophication from 1984 to 2004, the monthly variation from 2001 to 2004 and the spatial distribution and variation of the six sampling sites in the year 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 with Trophic State Index (TSI). The main reasons for Chaohu Lake eutrophication and the spatial and temporal variations of eutrophication in Western Chaohu Lake were discussed.