Effects of JAG1 gene silencing on proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of Jagged 1 (JAG1) gene silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. METHODS:The specific recombinant vector pRS-JAG1 was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells with lipofectamine. The protein expression of JAG1 was observed by Western blotting after transfection. MTT assay was used to detect the effect of JAG1 gene silencing on the growth of the cells. The apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of cyclin D1, p21CIP1/WAF1, p27KIP1, p-Rb, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xL and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the expression level of JAG1 was reduced by pRS-JAG1 transfection for 72 h (P<0.05). The growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in shJAG1 group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). The percentages of G 0/G 1-phase cells and early apoptotic rate were obviously higher in shJAG1 group than those in control group (P<0.05). The shRNA-mediated JAG1 silencing decreased the protein levels of cyclin D1, p-Rb, Bcl-2 and Bax, and increased the protein levels of p21CIP1/WAF1, p27KIP1, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:JAG1 silencing effectively inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human breast cancer cells, suggesting that JAG1 might serve as a therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer.     

Sodium valproate induces cycle arrest,apoptosis and elevates p21WAF1 mRNA expression in chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562

AIM:To investigate the effects of sodium valproate (VPA) on the cell cycle and apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS:K562 cells were treated with VPA. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of p21WAF1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS:After treatment with VPA, cell cycle was arrested obviously at G0/G1 phase ［(82.30±9.41)% vs (40.13±2.12)%, P<0.05］. The apoptotic rate was significantly higher in the cells treated with VPA than that in untreated cells ［(11.47%±0.25%) vs (4.77%±0.40%), P<0.05］. The level of p21WAF1 mRNA was increased ［(1.65±0.91) vs (0.25±0.04), P<0.05］. CONCLUSION:VPA induces elevated expression of p21WAF1 mRNA in K562 cells, resulting in G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in vitro.     

Effect of cerebral ischemic preconditioning on NOS activity and NO content in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in rats

AIM: To explore the role of NO in the induction of brain ischemic tolerance (BIT) by observing changes of NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content following a transient cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The rat 4-vessel occluding brain ischemic model was used. 140 male Wistar rats were divided into sham, cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP), ischemic insult and CIP+ischemic insult groups. An occlusion of the 4 vessels for 3 min was normally used as CIP, and a relative long one for 10 min was used as ischemic insult. When CIP was followed by ischemic insult, the interval between them was 3 d. The CA1 region of the hippocampus of rats was dissected out at 0 h, 2 h, 16 h, 24 h, 36 h, 72 h and 7 d after the last time of ischemia to assay its NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content. RESULTS: The NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content began to increase at 16 h, peaked at 24 h and decreased to basal level at 36 h of reperfusion after CIP. The duration of the up-regulation of NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content was much shorter than that of BIT, which usually takes place 1-7 d after CIP. The pattern of upregulation of the NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content was similar to the CIP group, but the maximum (24 h) was much more than that in CIP group (P<0.05). In the CIP＋ischemic insult group, the NOS activity and NO2-/NO3- content increased at 2 h of reperfusion, but the maximum (24 h) were much lower than that in ischemic insult group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A moderate increase in NOS activity and NO production after CIP might participate in the induction of BIT by triggering a series of cellular signal transduction. In addition, inhibiting effect of CIP on over-production of NO caused by ischemic insult might be another way to induce BIT.     

Relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism -229C/T in P1 promoter of furin gene and functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis

AIM: To study the influences of P1 promoter activity of furin gene on the functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: The patients with liver cirrhosis of 180 cases were recruited. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP -229 C/T) in P1 promoter of furin gene was genotyped using competitively differentiated polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between the promoter activity based on genotyping and the serum levels of liver enzymes, total bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin were observed. RESULTS: The distribution frequencies of allele C and T were 75.3% (271/360) and 24.7% (89/360). Those of genotypes CC, CT and TT were 62.2% (112/180), 26.1% (47/180) and 11.7% (21/180), respectively. The distribution frequencies of the genotypes were not related to the serum levels of major liver enzymes, albumin, total bilirubin and prothrombin, except for alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase. CONCLUSION: The activity of furin promoter exerts no effects on the main functions of hepatocytes, suggesting that furin may be a new therapeutic target for HBV infection.     

Effect of IGFBP7 on proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

AIM: To investigate the mechanism that insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. METHODS: Plasmid pCMV6-IGFBP7 or empty plasmid was transfected into MCF-7 cells. The expression of IGFBP7 in MCF-7 cells after transfection was detected by Western blotting. The effects of IGFBP7 on the colony-forming efficiency and the cell cycle were studied by soft agar colony formation assay and flow cytometry,respectively. The effects of IGFBP7 on the expression of ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, cyclin D1, CDK4, cyclin E, CDK2, p21^CIP1/WAF1, p27^KIP1, p53, Rb and p-Rb in MCF-7 cells were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Only the transfectant of pCMV6-IGFBP7 expressed IGFBP7. IGFBP7 remarkably reduced colony-forming efficiency (P<0.01) and G₀/G₁ arrest (P<0.01), inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (P<0.01), down-regulated cyclin D1 and cyclin E (P<0.01), up-regulated p27^KIP1, p21^CIP1/WAF1 and p53 (P<0.01), and inhibited phosphorylation of Rb (P<0.01) in MCF-7 cells. PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2, imitated part of the tumor-suppressing activity of IGFBP7. CONCLUSION: IGFBP7 inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 by down-regulating cyclin D1 and cyclin E, up-regulating p27^KIP1, p21^CIP1/WAF1 and p53 and inhibiting phosphorylation of Rb. ERK1/2 signaling pathway might be involved in the regulation of cyclin D1 and p27^KIP1 by IGFBP7.