MicroRNA-206, down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, suppresses cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: MicroRNA-206 has been proven down-regulated in many human malignancies and correlated with tumor progression. However, the expression and functions of miR-206 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of miR-206 in HCC tumorigenesis and development. METHODOLOGY: The expression levels of miR-206 were quantified by qRT-PCR in 147 surgically resected HCC and matched adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and correlated with clinicopathological factors. MTT, flow cytometric assay, and Transwell invasion and migration assays were used to test the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of HepG2 HCC cells transfected with miR-206 mimics or negative control (NC) RNA-oligonucleotides. RESULTS: MiR-206 expression was significantly downregulated in HCC compared with matched non-cancerous liver tissues. Low level of miR-206 was associated with poor tumor differentiation, multiple tumor nodes, lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage. In addition, transfection of miR-206 mimics in HepG2 cells was able to reduce cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promote cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that miRNA-206 could not only be useful as a novel biomarker but also serve as a potential target for gene therapy of HCC.

The expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase in the skeletal muscles of mice with emphysema and its significance / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To study any change in the expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in the skeletal muscles of mice with emphysema.MethodsTwenty Kunming male mice were divided into a normal control group and an emphysema group (n =10 in each ).An emphysema model was established by passive cigarette smoking in 8 of the emphysema group mice.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptotic skeletal muscle cells.Im munohistochemical assays were used to determine the protein level of γ-GCS synthetase.ResultsThe average optical density of apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the skeletal muscles of the mice with emphysema compared with the normal controls,and their average γ-GCS synthetase levels were also significantly higher.Conclusions Apoptotic cells increase in skeletal muscle during emphysema,which may be caused by an oxidation/antioxidant imbalance mediated by γ-GCS synthetase.

Relationship between structure of β-D-glucan derivatives from Poria cocos sclerotium and anti-gastric cancer activities of elderly rats / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the correlation between structure of b D -glucan derivatives from Poria cocos sclerotiuma and anti gastric cancer activities of elderly rats.Methods A water insoluble (1→3)-β-D-glucan (PCS3-Ⅱ ) isolated from fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos was sulfated,carboxymethylated,methylated,hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated,respectively,to prepare five water-soluble derivatives.Their activities of the native β-glucan and five derivatives against gastric cancer cell strains of MKN-45,SGC 7901and MKN-28 were tested in vitro and in vivo.Results The native β-glucan did not show any anti-gastric cancer activity,while the sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives significantly exhibited the anti gastric cancer activity against MKN-45,SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells in vitro,and elderly rats with MKN-45 transplanted tumor,especially.The gastric cancer inhibition rates of elderly rats were 32.7％ and 36.4％ for the 100 mg/kg sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives,respectively.Conclusions The fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos polysaccharides can not show any anti gastric cancer activity in vitro,but the sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives may increase the inhibition effect.Water-solubility,higher chain stiffness and relatively molecular weight would be benefit to increase anti-elderly gastric cancer activity of polysaccharides from Poria cocos sclerotiuma.

The expression and significance of ubiquitin in skeletal muscle of mouse with emphysema / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the changes in mRNA and protein expression of ubiquitin and to explore the relationship of apoptosis in the skeletal muscle of mouse with emphysema.Methods Emphysema model was established by passive cigarette smoking in mouse.Apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining.The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical assay were used to determine the mRNA and protein level of ubiquitin.Results Apoptotic cells were increased in skeletal muscle of mouse with emphysema.The mRNA and protein level of ubiquitin were significantly higher in mouses with emphysema (0.48±0.02 and 0.23+0.05,respectively) than in control group (0.17±0.01 and 0.14+0.01,t=6.223、4.093,both P ＜0.05).Conclusions The increase of apoptosis in skeletal muscle of mouses with emphysema may be associated with high expression of ubiquitin.