Expression of voltage-dependent anion channels in endometrial cancer and its potential prognostic significance.

The exchange of metabolites between mitochondria and cytosol occurs through pores formed by voltage-dependent anion channel proteins. Voltage-dependent anion channels appear to be master regulators of mitochondrial bioenergetics and the intracellular flow of energy. Deregulation of voltage-dependent anion channels expression is thought to be related to mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of VDAC1, VDAC2, and VDAC3 in relation to clinicopathological characteristics of endometrial cancer as well as the prognostic significance of voltage-dependent anion channels expression for overall survival. VDAC1 and VDAC3 expressions were significantly higher in cancer compared to normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that high expression of all VDAC genes or high VDAC2 protein level predicted poor overall survival. Multivariate analysis identified the VDAC1 and VDAC2 mRNA levels as well as VDAC2 protein level as independent prognostic factors. Our results suggest that increased expression of voltage-dependent anion channels correlates with tumor progression and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in endometrial cancer.

BGP-15 improves contractile function of regenerating soleus muscle.

This study investigated the effect of the heat shock protein inducer O-[3-piperidino-2-hydroxy-1-propyl]-nicotinic amidoxime (BGP-15) on the morphology and contractile function of regenerating soleus muscles from mice. Cryolesioned soleus muscles from young mice treated daily with BGP-15 (15 mg/Kg) were evaluated on post-cryolesion day 10. At this time point, there was a significant decrease in the cross-sectional area of regenerating myofibers, maximal force, specific tetanic force, and fatigue resistance of regenerating soleus muscles. BGP-15 did not reverse the decrease in myofiber cross-sectional area but effectively prevented the reduction in tetanic force and fatigue resistance of regenerating muscles. In addition, BGP-15 treatment increased the expression of embryonic myosin heavy chain (e-MyHC), MyHC-II and MyHC-I in regenerating muscles. Although BGP-15 did not alter voltage dependent anion-selective channel 2 (VDAC2) expression in cryolesioned muscles, it was able to increase inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) expression. Our results suggest that BGP-15 improves strength recovery in regenerating soleus muscles by accelerating the re-expression of adult MyHC-II and MyHC-I isoforms and HSP70 induction. The beneficial effects of BGP-15 on the contractile function of regenerating muscles reinforce the potential of this molecule to be used as a therapeutic agent.

[Proteomic study of the effect of recombinant hFGF-10 adenovirus on HaCat cells].

This study is to investigate the effect of recombinant hFGF-10 adenovirus on the proteome of HaCat cells, and to speculate further the possible mechanism of the effect of hFGF-10 on HaCat cells via differentially expressed proteins identified. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to identify the differentially expressed protein spots on the 2-DE maps of the whole-cell proteins from Ad infected and rAd-hFGF-10 infected HaCat cells. The mRNA and protein levels of the differentially expressed proteins were confirmed with semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the 2-DE maps with high resolution were obtained, and four selected differentially expressed proteins involved in cell apoptosis, cytoskeleton regulation and protein degradation were identified with MALDI-TOF/TOF. The mRNA and protein levels of one of the differentially expressed proteins, VDAC2, were up-regulated in HaCat cells infected with the recombinant hFGF-10 adenovirus. The differentially expressed protein, VDAC2, may be related to the bioactivities of hFGF-10.