Expression of Foxp3+ Tregs and PD1 in gastric cancer tissues and their correlation with clinicopathological factors and prognosis

AIM: To investigate the expression of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Foxp3⁺ Tregs) and programmed death receptor 1 (PD1) in gastric cancer tissues and their association with clinicopathological factors and prognosis of the patients. The correlation between the 2 molecules was also analyzed at the same time. METHODS: The tumor sections from 111 gastric cancer patients were stained for Foxp3 and PD1 by the method of immunohistochemistry. The associations of the expression levels of these 2 molecules with clinicopathological factors involved in the disease progression and prognosis were statistically analyzed. The relationship of their expression was detected. RESULTS: Foxp3⁺ Tregs and PD1 were expressed in the gastric cancer tissues, and PD1 was expressed in the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The expression of Foxp3 and PD1 was correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinicopathological stage and prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The expression of these 2 determinants in the patients with lymph node metastasis and an advanced clinicopathological stage was distinctly higher (P <0.05). The patients with positive expression of the 2 indexes presented a lower overall survival rate and worse prognosis (P <0.05). A significantly positive correlation between the infiltration of Foxp3⁺ Tregs and the expression of PD1⁺ TILs was also observed (P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Foxp3⁺ Tregs and PD1⁺ TILs co-infiltrate in the gastric cancer tissues, which can be used as biological markers to predict the disease progression and prognosis.     

Notch signaling in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells induced by lipopolysaccharide

AIM: To investigate the roles of Notch signaling in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proliferation and secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chemokine CXCL1 in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).METHODS: BMSCs were isolated by whole bone marrow culture. The expression levels of Notch signaling pathway receptors and ligands in the BMSCs treated with LPS were measured by qPCR and Western blot. The proliferation of BMSCs was analyzed by MTT assay and viable cell counting. The secretion levels of IL-6 and CXCL1 induced by LPS were measured by ELISA.RESULTS: Treatment with LPS at 1 mg/L effectively induced the proliferation of BMSCs and the secretion of IL-6. Obvious expression of Notch receptors and ligands in the BMSCs was observed, and LPS had little effect on the mRNA and protein levels of Notch receptors and ligands, but LPS increased the protein levels of Hes1 and Hey1, the target genes of Notch signaling. LPS at 1 mg/L increased the proliferation of BMSCs, whereas DAPT (Notch signal inhibitor) reduced the basal and LPS-induced proliferation of BMSCs (P<0.01). LPS treatment robustly increased the secretion of IL-6 and CXCL1 as assessed by ELISA. However, inhibition of Notch signaling almost completely abolished LPS-induced secretion of IL-6 and CXCL1 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Inhibition of Notch signaling reduced not only the proliferation of BMSCs but also IL-6 and CXCL1 secretion induced by LPS.     

Mechanism of dimerization and activation of CB1 and CB2 receptor

Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB₁) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB₂) are important members of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Numerous studies have shown that CB₁ receptor can form heterodimers with dopamine receptors (D₂), μ-opioid receptor (μOR), orexin-1 receptor, adenosine receptor (A_2A) or β2 adrenergic receptors, and then forming an essential functional entity. This review summarizes the research progress on heterodimers of cannabinoid CB₁ or CB₂, the function of heterodimers as well as the downstream signalings. The different pharmacological properties of the receptor heterodimer lead to bringing a change in receptor pharmacology, which will have a profound impact on drug development.     

Chemokine receptors in regulating immune response and therapy

Although adhesion molecules have long been recognized to be differentially expressed on naive and effector/memory T cells, it has recently been found that a number of chemokine receptors are also differentially expressed on T cells, depending on their Ag experience and type of polarizat ion. Recent data suggests that chemokines and their receptors are essential elements that regulate the positioning of T cells and their partners for priming and T helper 1 (Th1)- or Th2-mediated responses, therefore, are probably the most promising targets for treating immune diseases.     

Correlation between expression of ALDH1/ABCG2 and microvessel formation in epithelial ovarian cancer

AIM: To elucidate the correlation between the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1)/ATP-binding cassette subfaminly G member 2 (ABCG2) and microvessel density (MVD) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).METHODS: In 198 specimens of EOC and 60 specimens of ovarian benign epithelial tumor tissues, the protein expression of ALDH1/ABCG2 and CD105 (microvessel marker) was detected by immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS: The positive rates of ALDH1 and ABCG2 in the EOC were 64.1% and 61.6%, respectively, while the positive rates in benign epithelial tumor tissues were 8.3% and 6.7%, respectively, and there were significant differences between them (P<0.05). In EOC and benign epithelial tumor tissues, the MVD were 22.6±9.7 and 5.03±3.35, respectively, and the difference was also significant (P<0.05). The expression of ALDH1 and ABCG2 in EOC was significantly related to differentiation, FIGO stage,and abdominal organ and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). MVD had correlation with differentiation, FIGO stage, ascite, and abdominal organ and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). MVD had positive correlation with the expression of ALDH1 and ABCG2 (P<0.01). There was also a positive correlation between the expression of ALDH1 and ABCG2 (P<0.01). Over-expression of ALDH1/ABCG2 and MVD≥23 were related to the poor prognosis. The survival rates in ALDH1/ABCG2 positive and MVD≥23 groups were significantly lower than those in ALDH1/ABCG2 negative and MVD<23 groups (P<0.05). The FIGO stage, the expression of ALDH1/ABCG2 and MVD were indepen-dent prognosis factors of EOC (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the expression of ALDH1/ABCG2 and MVD in EOC are related to differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and prognosis. Combined detection of these indexes may play an important role in predicting the progression and prognosis of EOC.     

DNA ploidy analysis and the expression of TIMP-2 and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma

AIM:To investigate DNA ploidy and the expression of TIMP-2 and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma in order to understand its molecular basis and probable mechanism of invasion and metastasis. METHODS:Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression for TIMP-2 and E-cadherin in 99 cases of gastric carcinoma, 16 cases of adjacent noncancerous mucosa, 16 cases of distant metastases and 25 cases of metastatic lymph nodes. Flow cytometry DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) analysis was performed on 47 cases of gastric cancer, 6 cases of adjacent noncancerous mucosa and 4 cases of distant metastasis cancer with the use of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded specimens. RESULTS:The expression of TIMP-2 was significantly correlated with Borrmann’s classification, LN metastasis and the depth of invasion. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with tumor cell differentiation, Lauren’s classification, Borrmann’s classification, LN metastasis and the depth of invasion. There was a positive relationship between DNA aneuploid rate and differentiation and LN metastasis. There was a positive relationship between SPF that is higher than 15% and tumor size, differentiation and LN metastasis. And there was a significantly difference between carcinoma and noncarcinoma when the expression of E-cadherin, DNA aneuploid rate and SPF were analyzed. There was no correlation between TIMP-2 and E-cadherin. There was a positive relationship between DNA ploidy or SPF and the expression of E-cadherin. CONCLUSION:As the development of tumor progression and heterogeneity, the abnormal expression of TIMP-2 or E-cadherin or the rate of DNA aneupoid or higher SPF gradually correspondingly increases, suggesting that they play a crucial role in gastric carcinoma progression. Furthermore, each factor influences one another and further accelerates the process of tumor progression.     

Expression of bFGF in malignant tumor and its clinical pathological significance

AIM: To detect basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in clinical common malignant tumor (non-small-cell lung cancer,breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma), and to identify relationship between the expression and tumor clinicopathological characteristics.METHODS: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of bFGF at protein level in 208 cases of paraffin-embedded tissue of primary malignant tumor patients (68 cases of lung cancer, 80 cases of breast carcinoma, 41 cases of colon cancer and 19 cases of melanoma).RESULTS: The bFGF protein expression levels were significantly higher in low differentiated non-small-cell lung cancer with lymph node metastasis, and were positively correlated with TNM. In addition, no significant influence of the bFGF protein expression on the patients with median survival period was observed. The protein expression of bFGF was higher in advanced breast cancer with lymph node metastasis and was commonly found in the middle/higher differentiated colon cancer with regional lymph node metastasis. Meanwhile, bFGF protein was highly expressed in advanced melanoma patients with lymph node metastasis.CONCLUSION: bFGF may participate in the process of occurrence and progression of malignant tumor. Expression of bFGF protein may be an effective parameter for evaluating metastasis and prognosis of malignant tumor.     

Advances in research of phage peptide library

Phage peptide libraries are collections of the specific length of short peptides, and they are based on phages as their carriers. They include mimotope libraries and pept ide antibody libraries. Phagedisplayed pept ide libraries have been used to isolate specific ligands for numerous protein targets, and they have been proven useful in defining antigen momitopes, rapid determination of binding energetics at protein-protein interfaces, designing of vaccine and tumor research aspects. This review summarized the research progression of phage peptide library.     

Expression of chemokine receptor CCR7 and VEGF-C is associated with prognosis of breast carcinoma

AIM: To explore the protein levels of chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C in breast carcinoma, and to investigate the effects of CCR7 and VEGF-C on prognosis of breast carcinoma. METHODS: The protein expression levels of CCR7 and VEGF-C in the breast carcinoma tissues and normal breast tissues were detected by the method of immunohistochemistry. At the same time, the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics and the protein expression of CCR7 and VEGF-C in the breast carcinoma tissues was analyzed. The relationship between the protein expression of CCR7 and VEGF-C and survival time of the breast cancer patients was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS: The positive expression rates of CCR7 and VEGF-C in the breast carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal breast tissues (P<0.01). A positive correlation was observed between the protein expression of CCR7 and the protein expression of VEGF-C in the breast carcinoma tissues (r=0.613, P<0.01). The protein expression of CCR7 and VEGF-C was correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05), but both were not related to patients' age, primary tumor size, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. The survival time of the patients with CCR7 and VEGF-C positive expression was significantly shorter than that of the patients without the expression (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The positive expression of CCR7 and VEGF-C proteins is associated with the prognosis of breast cancer, and combined detection of CCR7 and VEGF-C protein expression levels may be helpful to judge the prognosis of breast cancer.     

Expression of chemokine CXCL17 and its clinical relevance in gastric carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression and distribution of chemokine CXCL17 in gastric cancer and its clinical significance.METHODS: The CXCL17 expression was detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the CXCL17 expression and clinicopathological features was statistically analyzed and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the prognosis.RESULTS: A lower expression levels of CXCL17 were observed in the tumor tissues compared with the paired normal tissues (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of CXCL17 was associated with the degree of tumor differentiation and the size of tumor at primary site (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that increased CXCL17 in the tumor tissues was associated with longer survival time.CONCLUSION: The result might illustrate that CXCL17 acts as a key factor in the prognosis of gastric cancer and is closely associated with the progression of gastric cancer.     

Expression and clinical significance of chemokine receptor CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer and determine the association between CXCR6 expression and synchronous liver metastasis/prognosis. METHODS: The colorectal cancer tissues from 143 patients were collected from August 2004 to December 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Twenty-night cases of the adjacent normal colorectal tissues were enrolled as controls. The expression of CXCR6 was detected by immunohistochemistry and the mean intergrated absorbance ( mIA ) was calculated by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. The relationship between CXCR6 expression and synchronous liver metastasis/prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: The CXCR6 staining was mainly positive in colorectal cancer tissues but not in adjacent normal colorectal tissues. The mIA of CXCR6 in colorectal cancer was 1.54±0.04 (range: 0.41~2.84), and was 1.63±0.05 and 1.41±0.08 (P<0.05) in the cases with (n=83) or without (n=60) synchronous liver metastasis, respectively. According to the mean mIA of CXCR6 (1.54), the cases was divided into high CXCR6 group (mIA≥1.54) and low CXCR6 group ( mIA <1.54). The overall survival rate in high CXCR6 group was significantly lower than that in low CXCR6 group (P<0.05). In multivariate Cox regression models, age (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and synchronous liver metastasis (P<0.01) but not CXCR6 were identified as independent risk factors for poor outcome. In subgroup analysis, high CXCR6 expression was associated with poorer survival in the patients with stage I~III colorectal cancer (P<0.01) but not those with synchronous liver metastasis (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer tissues is associated with liver metastasis. It may become a potential target for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.     

Measures of cell turnover (apoptosis and proliferation) and their association with survival in gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the ratio of apoptotic index and proliferative index (AI/PI) in gastric cancer and their association with survival. METHODS: The apoptotic population and the proliferative population were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry. The proliferative cells were identified by confocal microscope and Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival. RESULTS: AI and PI were strongly correlated with a Pearson coefficient of 0.58 (P<0.01). A stepwise decrease trend in AI/PI was noted in clinical pathological variables, including lymph node metastasis and beyond metastasis (P<0.05 for each). No statistically significant difference in AI/PI expression based on different survival times was observed. Using the median AI/PI of 0.245, the cells were divided into two groups (greater than and less than the median AI/PI). Using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Log-rank test, no statistic difference was found in two groups. The high expression of Ki-67 in tumor was found by confocal microscope. CONCLUSION: AI and PI are significantly correlated. A stepwise decrease trend in AI/PI may exist in tumor progression. AI/PI may not be good as a prognostic factor for cancer evaluation.     

Relationship between expression level of TIMP-3 and invasion/metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To detect the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in both plasma and the tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to elucidate their association with clinical features.METHODS: Plasma protein levels of TIMP-3 in 56 HCC patients and 30 cases of controls were detected by ELISA.The mRNA and protein levels of TIMP-3 in 30 HCC tissue samples with their portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues, and in normal liver tissues from 30 controls were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The relationship between mRNA and protein levels and their clinic-pathological data were analyzed.RESULTS: The plasma TIMP-3 protein levels in the extrahepatic metastasis patients were obviously lower than those in the non-extrahepatic metastasis patients (P<0.05).The mRNA levels of TIMP-3 in normal liver, carcinoma in situ, portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues were 0.78±0.09, 0.52±0.09, 0.42±0.07 and 0.40±0.08, respectively, with significant differences among them (P<0.05).The protein levels of TIMP-3 in these 4 kinds of tissues were 115.08±8.60, 77.04±8.83, 64.43±3.80 and 62.80±3.73, respectively, also with significant differences among them (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression of TIMP-3 significantly decreases in the carcinoma in situ tissues of HCC patients, and decreases more obviously in the portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues, indicating that low expression of TIMP-3 may play an important role in HCC invasiveness and metastasis.     

Microarray analysis of tumor metastasis-related gene expression in PSMA-silencing prostate cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the functions of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in prostate cancer metastasis. METHODS: Specific siRNA to knock down PSMA expression was designed and transfected into LNCaP cells. The tumor metastasis gene chip was also used to analyze the differential expression of 84 genes related to cancer metastasis. RESULTS: Specific siRNA was successfully designed and constructed and the gene expression of PSMA in LNCaP cells was knocked down. The RNAi efficiency was more than 75% at mRNA level and more than 68% at protein level. The results of the tumor metastasis gene chip indicated that 10 genes were up-regulated (such as CDH6 and CXCL12) and 4 genes were down-regulated (such as CCL7 and MDM2) in the LNCaP cells treated with PSMA siRNA. CONCLUSION: The PSMA is involved in the regulatory pathways in prostate cancer metastasis.     

Expression of miR-143 and its clinicopathologic significance in gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of miR-143 and its association with clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer.METHODS: The expression level of miR-143 in 32 cases of gastric cancer and matched non-tumor adjacent tissue specimens was examined using stem-loop real-time RT-PCR. The relationship between the expression of miR-143 and its clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed.RESULTS: The expression level of miR-143 was significantly lower in the tumor tissues than that in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Down-regulated miR-143 expression was associated with the cell differentiation (P<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) in gastric cancer patients. No significant association was found between the expression of miR-143 and the status of gender, age, blood type, tumor location, tumor size, depth of tumor invasion and tumor node metastasis stage.CONCLUSION: It is possible that miR-143 plays an important role in the generation and progression of gastric cancer. The expression level of miR-143 may be a valuable adjuvant parameter for predicting the poorly differentiated gastric cancer.     

MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway mediates alcohol-induced angiogenesis in breast cancer

AIM To investigate the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in ethanol-promoted breast cancer angiogenesis and the underlying mechanism. METH?ODS: A mouse model of transplanted breast tumor with moderate alcohol consumption was established. The correlations between the expression of MCP-1/CCR2 and the expression of angiogenesis markers [platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] in tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, a 3D tumor-endothelial co-culture system was established to observe tumor angiogenesis and the role of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway in alcohol-mediated angiogenesis. The cell migration ability was detected to clarify whether MCP-1/CCR2 enhanced cell mobility to form new vessels. RESULTS MCP-1 and CCR2 were both highly expressed in the breast tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice consuming alcohol, and their expression levels were consistent with the angiogenic markers PECAM-1 and VEGF (P<0.05). The interaction between mouse breast cancer E0771 cells and endothelial cells was observed to promote angiogenesis in the 3D tumor-endothelial co-culture system with or without alcohol stimulation. MCP-1 promoted this kind of tumor angiogenesis, while CCR2 antagonist effectively inhibited the tumor angiogenesis and especially blocked alcohol-induced angiogenesis. Activation of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway enhanced the migration ability of endothelial cells. CONCLUSION The MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway plays an important role in promoting the angiogenesis of breast cancer stimulated by alcohol. The mechanism might be that MCP-1 improves the migration of endothelial cells and then promotes angiogenesis.     

Expression of Tpl-2 in colorectal carcinogenesis

AIM: To analyze the relationship between Tpl-2 (tumor progression locus 2)expression and clinicopathological parameters of colorectal carcinoma by investigating the expression of Tpl-2 in adjacent normal mucosa, colorectal adenomas and colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Tpl-2 expression in normal mucosa, adenoma and carcinoma was examined and compared in a set of tissue microarrays by immunohistochemistry. The potential relationship between Tpl-2 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. RESULTS: The expression of Tpl-2 in carcinoma was significantly increased compared to the adenoma and normal mucosa (P<0.01). No significant difference was detected between the adenoma and normal mucosa (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the correlation between Tpl-2 expression and lymph node metastasis (N stage) and TNM stage (P<0.05) was observed. However, the correlation between the Tpl-2 expression and clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, histological differentiation, invasive depth (T stage),distant metastasis(M stage) and K-ras mutation (P>0.05) was not found. CONCLUSION: Tpl-2 has a relevance to the development of colorectal cancer as a promotive factor in the colorectal carcinogenesis.     

Specific surface markers of Th1/Th2 subsets and their identification

CD4+Tcells can be divided into Th1/Th2 subsets.Th1/Th2 imbalance participates many disease processes.A stable surface marker distinguishing Th1 and Th2 will greatly facilitate the investigation of Th1/Th2 interaction.Several surface molecules have been reported to be differentialy expressed between Th1 and Th2 cells.LAG-3, active ligands for P-and E-selectin, IL-18R, IL-12Rβ2, CC chemokine receptor(CCR5)were shown to be dominantly expressed on Th1 cells, whereas expression of CD30, ST2L, CRTH2, CCR3, CCR4 was reported to be preferential to Th2 cells.In this review, several surface molecules were mainly discussed.     

《中国蔬菜品种志》

本书由中国农业科学院蔬菜花卉研究所主编,已于2002年9月出版发行。全书分上、下卷,1～6章为上卷,包括根菜类、白菜类、芥菜类、甘蓝类、绿叶菜类及葱蒜类,计2263个品种,1347页;7～12章为下卷,包括瓜类、茄果类、豆类、薯芋类、水生蔬菜类和多年生蔬菜类,计2550个品种,1177页。入志的品种中,地方品种占     

Study on mutations of exon BH of the androgen receptor gene in 45 cases of patients with prostate cancer

AIM and METHODS: To learn more about the mechanism of prostate cancer (PC) development and progression to androgen independence, the exons BH of the androgen receptor (AR) gene of forty-five patients with prostate cancer, six puncture tissues and thirty-nine slide tissues, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation technique (PCR-SSCP). RESULTS: Seven abnormal mobility shifts were found in five patients by PCR-SSCP. Combining the method with direct DNA cycle sequencing, two distinct missense (Glu872Gln, Met886Ile) point mutations were identified in puncture tissues from two patients of advanced prostate cancer with distant metastasis. These two point mutations represented two novel mutations. CONCLUSION: AR gene mutations might play an important role in the development and progression of prostate cancer.