miR-221 changes resistance of lung cancer cells to gefitinib by regulating PTEN

AIM: To explore the effect of microRNA-221 (miR-221) on resistance of lung cancer cells to gefitinib, and to investigate its related mechanism. METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to detect the levels of miR-221 expression between gefitinib-sensitive cell line PC9 and gefitinib-resistant cell line PC9/GR. The PC9/GR cells were transfected with miR-221 inhibitor by Lipofectamine 2000. The drug sensitivity of these cells to gefitinib was determined by CCK-8 assay. The protein expression level of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) was determined by Western blot. The 3'-UTR of PTEN was cloned into luciferase reporter vector and its luciferase activity was detected to verify whether miR-221 targets PTEN. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-221 in the PC9/GR cells was significantly higher than that in the PC9 cells (P<0.05). The protein expression level of PTEN in the PC9/GR cells was lower than that in the PC9 cells (P<0.05). The IC₅₀ of gefitinib was significantly reduced in the PC9/GR cells after transfection with miR-221 inhibitor (P<0.05). The protein expression level of PTEN in the cells transfected with miR-221 inhibitor was increased as compared with control group and blank group (P<0.05). Inhibition of miR-221 expression enhanced the enzymatic activity of luciferase reporter vector of PTEN. CONCLUSION: miR-221 enhances the resistance of lung cancer cells to gefitinib by down-regulating the protein expression of PTEN.     

miR-130b reverses temozolomide resistance in glioma

AIM:To investigate the expression level of microRNA-130b (miR-130b) and the molecular me-chanisms of miR-130b in temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant glioma. METHODS:The relative levels of miR-130b in 3 glioma cell lines (U251, SHG-44 and U87) were assessed by RT-qPCR. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of TMZ for the glioma cell lines was analyzed. To establish the TMZ-resistant glioma cell line, U251 cells were exposed to gradually increasing concentrations of TMZ. The IC₅₀ and resistance index (RF) were calculated with GraphPad Prism software. miR-130b-overexpressing U251/TR cells and miR-130b-knockdown U251 cells were established by transient transfection with miR-130b mimics and miR-130b inhibitor, respectively. The viability of the glioma cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis of glioma cells was analyzed by Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay. Bioinformatics software was used to predict the potential target gene of miR-130b, and such prediction was validated by luciferase reporter assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to detect the DNA binding ability of NF-κB. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Bcl-2, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and survivin in the glioma cells. RESULTS:The IC₅₀ values of TMZ for the giloma cell lines U251, SHG-44 and U87 were 54.8, 94.8 and 149.6 μmol/L, respectively. U251/TR cells were approximately 8.1 times resistant to TMZ as compared with its parental cells. Up-regulation of miR-130b significantly reduced the resistance of U251/TR cells to TMZ. On the contrary, down-regulation of miR-130b dramatically increased the tolerance of U251 cells to TMZ. The overexpression of miR-130b promoted apoptosis induced by TMZ in the U251/TR cells. However, the knockdown of miR-130b expression decreased the percentage of apoptotic cells in the U251 cells induced by TMZ (P<0.05). Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that TNF-α was a direct target gene of miR-130b. Knockdown of miR-130b in the U251 cells significantly promoted, while overexpression of miR-130b in the U251/TR cells reduced the DNA binding ability of NF-κB as well as the levels of TNF-α, Bcl-2, XIAP and survivin. Furthermore, NF-κB inhibitor Bay 11-7082 enhanced TMZ-induced apoptosis in the U251/TR cells. CONCLUSION:The expression of miR-130b is significantly decreased in TMZ-resistant glioma cells. miR-130b inhibits resistance of glioma to TMZ by targeting TNF-α/NF-κB pathway.     

4E-BP1 regulates sensitivity of human glioma cells to carmustine

AIM：For finding new target to overcome acquired drug resistance of glioma, the relationship between eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and acquired drug resistance to carmustine ［1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea,BCNU］ in human glioma cells was investigated. METHODS：Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of 4E-BP1 and phosphorylated 4E-BP1 （p-4E-BP1） in SWOZ2 cells and BCNU-resistant SWOZ2 (SWOZ2-BCNU) cells. The siRNA targeting to human 4E-BP1 mRNA was transfected into SWOZ2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect the sensitivity of the cells to BCNU before and after transfection. The location of 4E-BP1 and p-4E-BP1(T70) in SWOZ2 cells and SWOZ2-BCNU cells was observed by the method of immunofluorescence. RESULTS：The expression of 4E-BP1 in SWOZ2-BCNU cells was significantly lower than that in SWOZ2 cells. Down-regulation of 4E-BP1 expression in SWOZ2 cells decreased the sensitivity of the cells to BCNU. The expression of p-4E-BP1(T70) in the nucleus of SWOZ2-BCNU cells was significantly higher than that in the cytosol. CONCLUSION：4E-BP1 is involved in human glioma acquired drug resistance as a translation key protein.     

Up/down-regulation of miR-21 changes biological function of colon can-cer cells and sensitivity to cetuximab

AIM: To explore the effects of miR-21 on biological behavior of colon cancer cells and their sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab. METHODS: Lentiviral vectors were constructed to generate up- and down-regulations of miR-21 lentiviruses (LV-miR-21 and LV-anti-miR-21, respectively), and the corresponding negative control viruses (LV-miR-21 NC and LV-anti-miR-21 NC, respectively) were also constructed. The viruses were used to infect human colon cancer RKO cells. The changes of the miR-21 expression level, the cell proliferation, the colony-forming ability, the cell apoptosis and the sensitivity of the cells to cetuximab were detected by real-time PCR, MTT assay, soft agar colony assay, flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay. RESULTS: The lentivirus titers of LV-miR-21, LV-miR-2 NC, LV-anti-miR-21 and LV-anti-miR-21 NC were 3.0×1012 TU/L, 6.0×1011 TU/L, 2.0×1012 TU/L and 8.0×1011 TU/L, respectively. The infection efficiency was over 80% by the observation of green fluorescence. The miR-21 expression level, the cell proliferation, and the colony-forming ability in LV-miR-21 group were significantly higher than those in LV-anti-miR-21 group. The early apoptotic rate and the inhibitory rate of cetuximab for the cells in LV-anti-miR-21 group were higher than those in LV-miR-21 group. CONCLUSION: miR-21 promotes the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Down-regulation of miR-21 enhances the sensitivity of the colon cancer cells to the targeted therapy drug cetuximab.     

Effect of sorcin expression on sensitivity of human glioma cells to cisplatin

AIM：To investigate the effect of sorcin expression on the sensitivity of human glioma cells to cisplatin. METHODS：pSilencerTM 3.1-H1-sorcin siRNA recombinant plasmid was constructed, and transfected into human glioma U251 cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of sorcin at mRNA and protein levels after transfection. The viability of U251 cells was measured by MTT assay. The protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) in U251 cells was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS：The plasmid pSilencerTM 3.1-H1-sorcin siRNA was successfully constructed, and was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and sequence analysis. The expression of sorcin at mRNA and protein levels was significantly decreased after sorcin siRNA was transfected into U251 cells (P<0.05). Inhibition of sorcin expression significantly decreased the viability of U251 cells treated with cisplatin (P<0.05), and the expression of P-gp and MRP1 proteins was also inhibited (P<0.05). CONCLUSION：Inhibition of sorcin expression increases the sensitivity of U251 cells to cisplatin by decreasing the expression of resistance-related proteins P-gp and MRP1, suggesting that sorcin may be associated with the resistance of glioma cells to cisplatin.     

Effect of low expression of miR-21 on apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by matrine

AIM: To explore whether miR-21 low expression enhances the effect of matrine (MAT) on the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.METHODS: Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-21 in the HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of MAT. The effect of miR-21 on MAT-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the HepG2 cells treated with MAT was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS: The expression of miR-21 increased with the increasing concentration of MAT. Low expression of miR-21 promoted MAT-induced apoptosis, and enhanced the expression of Bax at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05), while inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Low expression of miR-21 enhances MAT-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 and promoting Bax expression.     

Diagnostic value of serum miR-21 for diabetic nephropathy

AIM:To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum miR-21 as a molecular biomarker in the patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS:Twenty-five patients with DN, 50 patients with type II diabetes ［divided into DMA group and DMB group base on urinary microalbumin (UmAlb), 25 in each group］, 25 patients with diabetic nephropathy-induced uremia (UM) and 25 normal controls (NC) were included in the study. Total RNA was extracted from the serum samples for determining the miR-21 level using real-time PCR. The relationship between miR-21 level and clinical parameters of the patients with diabetic nephropathy was analyzed. RESULTS:The relative expression level of serum miR-21 was significantly lower in DN group than that in DMA group, DMB group and NC group, and was significantly higher than that in UM group (all P<001). The serum miR-21 level showed significant negative correlation with cystatin C, UmAlb, UmAlb/urinary creatinine in DN patients (P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.05). For discriminating the DN patients from NC, DMA, DMB, DMA＋NC, DMB＋NC and DMA＋DMB, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for serum miR-21 were 0848 (95% CI: 0737~0959), 0896 (95% CI: 0812~0980), 0782 (95% CI: 0641~0922), 0838 (95% CI: 0743~0933), 0796 (95% CI: 0675~0917) and 0808 (95% CI: 0704~0911), and the sensitivity and specificity were 800% and 720%, 720% and 880%, 720% and 840%, 760% and 770%, 760% and 820%, 700% and 860%, respectively. For discriminating the DN patients from DMA＋DMB＋NC, the AUC-ROC was 0845 (95% CI: 0752~0939), and the sensitivity and specificity were 760% and 773%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum miR-21 can serve as a molecular diagnostic marker for diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.     

miR-205 inhibits invasion of glioma cells via targeting TBX18

AIM: To explore the expression pattern of microRNA-205 (miR-205) in glioma tissues and its role in the invasion of glioma cells. METHODS: The expression of miR-205 and TBX18 was detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical observation, respectively. Transwell assay was used to examine the invasion change of U251 glioma cells after miR-205 overexpression via miR-205 mimics or decrease in miR-205 expression by miR-205 inhibitor. The target of miR-205 was searched by bioinformatics analysis combined with experimental analysis. The protein level of TBX18 was determined by Western blotting after siRNA transfection and Transwell assay was conducted. RESULTS: miR-205 expression was downregulated in 82.6% of detected glioma tissues and TBX18 was significantly overexpressed in glioma tissues compared with normal tissues. miR-205 overexpression remarkably inhibited the invasion potential of U251 glioma cells with a decrease in the invasive cells (P<0.01), while inhibition of miR-205 significantly enhanced the invasion ability of U251 cells. Mechanically, miR-205 directly targeted TBX18 and downregulation of TBX18 also significantly inhibited the invasion potential of U251 cells with a decrease in the invasive cells (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: miR-205 expression is decreased in glioma, and miR-205 inhibits glioma cell invasion via targeting TBX18. Our research contributes to the mechanisms responsible for glioma invasion and provides theoretical base for developing new therapeutic strategy to treat glioma.     

miR-155-specific siRNA enhances chemosensitivity of Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells to cytosine arabinoside by inducing apoptosis

AIM：To investigate the effect of miR-155-specific siRNA alone or in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) on the growth and apoptosis of Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells. METHODS：miR-155-specific siRNA and/or Ara-C were used to treat the cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR-155. The growth of the cells was analyzed by CKK-8 assay. The cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS：The miR-155 expression level of the cells transfected with miR-155 siRNA was significantly lower than that in the 2 control groups. Ara-C or miR-155 siRNA alone inhibited the growth of Raji cells in a dose-depend manner. miR-155 siRNA combined with Ara-C produced more inhibition of cell proliferation (P<0.05). After treatment for 48 h, the apoptotic rate of Raji cells in miR-155 siRNA+Ara-C group ［(38.4±1.4)%］ was higher than that in Ara-C group ［(16.5±0.3)%］ and miR-155 siRNA group ［(14.6±0.3)%］, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The expression of caspase-3 in Ara-C+miR-155 siRNA group was increased significantly as compared with Ara-C group and miR-155 siRNA group. CONCLUSION：miR-155-specific siRNA enhances the chemosensitivity of Raji cells to Ara-C by inducing apoptosis through the caspase-3 pathway.     

miR-21 inhibits apoptosis of Schwann cells following peripheral nerve injury

AIM: To explore the relationship and molecular mechanism between microRNA-21(miR-21) and Schwann cells (SC) following peripheral nerve injury. METHODS: The mRNA expression of miR-21 and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in animal model were detected by real-time PCR. The over-expression of miR-21 and inhibition of miR-21 expression in the Schwann cells according to transfection of lentiviral vectors were performed, the nonspecific miRNA was used as a negative control (NC). The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of miR-21 and PTEN in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The level of miR-21 was significantly higher and the mRNA level of PTEN was significantly lower in the model of nerve injury than those in control group. miR-21 over-expression decreased the number of apoptotic Schwann cells compared with NC-SC. The mRNA expression of PTEN was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21. The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-21 may play an important role in the peripheral nerve injury through inhibiting apoptosis of Schwann cells by down-regulating the expression of PTEN.     

Changes of aquaporin expression in blood-brain barrier induced by glioma cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of glioma cells on aquaporin expression in blood-brain barrier and their importance in pathophysiology.METHODS:A blood-brain barrier model was established by coculture of ECV304 and astrocytesin vitro. HPLC was used to determine the change of water transport ofin vitroblood-brain barrier model after the influence of glioma cells. The expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 were analyzed by semiquatitative RT-PCR.RESULTS:Glioma cells decreased expression level of AQP4 of astrocytes and induced abnormal expression of aquaporin-1 in endothelial cell line. The water transport ofin vitroblood-brain barrier model from luminal side to abluminal side was increased after coculture with glioma cells.CONCLUSION:The vasogenic brain edema induced by glioma cells may not be the result of hyperpermeability of blood-brain barrier to macromolecules in plasma. The changes of aquaporin expression may be the molecular basis of brain edema induced by glioma cells.     

miR-125a-5p reverses cisplatin resistance of non-small-cell lung cancer A549/DDP cells by targeting LIMK1

AIM:To explore the effect of microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a-5p) on cisplatin (DDP) resistance of non-small-cell lung cancer A549/DDP cells and its related mechanisms. METHODS:The expression levels of miR-125a-5p and LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) in non-small-cell lung cancer tissues, A549 cells and A549/DDP cells were detected by RT-qPCR. The A549/DDP cell viability, apoptotic rate and expression of drug resistance-related proteins after over-expression or knockdown of miR-125a-5p and/or LIMK1 expression were detected by MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot, respectively. The targeting relationship between miR-125a-5p and LIMK1 was verified by TargetScan online prediction and dual-luciferase reporter system. The cell viability, apoptotic rate and expression of drug resistance-related proteins after co-expression of miR-125a-5p and LIMK1 were also determined. RESULTS:The expression level of miR-125a-5p was down-regulated and LIMK1 expression was up-regulated in non-small-cell lung cancer tissues and cell lines (P<0.05). The results of dual-luciferase assay indicated that miR-125a-5p negatively regulated the expression of LIMK1. The expression of drug resistance-related proteins and the viability of A549/DDP cells were inhibited after over-expression of miR-125a-5p or knockdown of LIMK1, while the apoptosis was enhanced. Over-expression of LIMK1 attenuated the inhibitory effect of miR-125a-5p on A549/DDP cell viability and drug resistance-related protein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:miR-125a-5p reverses the resistance of A549/DDP cells to DDP by inhibiting the expression of LIMK1 and drug resistance-related proteins.     

Effects of chemotherapy on free radicals in the rat glioma

AIM: To observe the role of free radicals in the inhibitory effect of chemotherapy on glioma cells. METHODS: C6 glioma cells were cultured in vitro, and treated with carmustine (B), teniposide (V), or/and nimodipine (N). Furthermore, the glioma-bearing rats were treated with B plus N, B+V+lisplatin (D)+N, or B+V+D+N+angiotensin Ⅱ. The MDA content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the culture supernatant and cortical brain tissue were assayed. RESULTS: B, V and N significantly decreased MDA content and SOD activity in the supernatant of glioma cell culture and C6 glioma cells. Chemotherapy reduced MDA content and increased SOD activity in the cortical brain tissue of tumor-bearing rats, with highest efficiency in B+V+D+N+angiotensin Ⅱ group. The survival time of tumor-bearing rats in B+V+D+N+angiotensin Ⅱ group was longer than that in other chemotherapy group. CONCLUSION: The antitumor effects of combined chemotherapy may be involved in the free radical metabolism.     

miR-134 regulates cisplatin resistance of human lung adenocarcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the roles of microRNA-134 (miR-134) in the cisplatin resistance of lung adenocarcinoma cells. METHODS: miRNA microarray was applied to compare the miRNA expression profile between A549/CDDP and A549 cells. Real-time PCR was used to confirm the expression of miR-134. miR-134 mimics and inhibitors were transfected into A549/CDDP and A549 cells, respectively. MTT assay was used to detect the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to cisplatin. Western blot was applied to test whether miR-134 regulated forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) and multidrug-associated protein 1 (MRP1) expression. RESULTS: Based on the data of miRNA microarray, 13 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in A549/CDDP cells compared with A549 cells, among which miR-134 was the most significantly down-regulated one. Compared with control group, A549/CDDP cells transfected with miR-134 mimics showed greatly enhanced sensitivity to cisplatin as indicated by IC₅₀ values (P<0.01). In contrast, suppression of the miR-134 level in the A549 cells resulted in a decreased sensitivity to cisplatin (P<0.01). FOXM1 siRNA down-regulated the protein levels of FOXM1. A549/CDDP cells transfected with si-FOXM1 showed enhanced sensitivity to cisplatin (P<0.01). In addition, the result of Western blot showed that miR-134 repressed MRP1 protein expression. CONCLUSION: miR-134 effectively increases the sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin, and this effect of miR-134 may be partly due to its regulation of FOXM1 and MRP1 expression.     

miR-221 promotes proliferation of lung cancer A549 cells by down-regulating PTEN

AIM: To explore the effect of microRNA-221 (miR-221) on the proliferation of lung cancer A549 cells, and to investigate its mechanism. METHODS: The A549 cells were transfected with miR-221 mimics by Lipofectamine 2000. The expression of miR-221 was detected by RT-qPCR. The expression of PTEN at mRNA and protein le-vels was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay. The 3'-UTR of PTEN was cloned into luciferase reporter vector and its enzymatic activity was detected to verify whether miR-221 targeted to PTEN. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-221 in the A549 cells was significantly increased after transfection with miR-221 mimics as compared with negative control group and blank group (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of PTEN were significantly down-regulated compared with control group and blank group (P<0.05). In addition, miR-221 over-expression significantly promoted the proliferation of A549 cells (P<0.05). Moreover, miR-221 inhibited the enzymatic activity of luciferase reporter vector of PTEN. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of miR-221 significantly promotes the proliferation ability of human lung cancer A549 cells by down-regulation of PTEN.     

Effect of decitabine on resistance of K562/A02 cells to adriamycin

AIM: To investigate the effect of decitabine (DAC) on the resistance of human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562/A02 to adriamycin (ADR), and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: The K562/A02 cell line and its parental cell line K562 were treated with different concentrations of ADR or DAC alone, or in combination. The cytotoxic effects of these 2 agents were determined by CCK-8 assay. The degree of DNA methylation was evaluated by Sequenom MassARRAY system and colorimetric method. The cell cycle distribution and the apoptotic rate were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: K562/A02 cells were more significantly resistant to ADR than K562 cells.The half maximal inhibitory concentration of ADR for 24 h of the K562/A02 cells was about 50 times higher than that of the K562 cells. To DAC, in the concentration range of 0.5~8 μmol/L, K562/A02 cells were more sensitive than K562 cells. As compared with the same concentrations (4.31 μmol/L and 17.24 μmol/L) of ADR alone, the combination with 1 μmol/L DAC significantly improved the sensitivity of K562/A02 cells to ADR. Both DAC and ADR affected the cell cycle progression and apoptotic rate of K562/A02 cells. DAC (1 μmol/L) treatment mainly showed S phase arrest and increased early apoptotic rate for 24 h, and G₂/M phase arrest and increased late apoptosis and necrosis for 48 h in a time-related manner. ADR treatment showed G₂/M phase arrest and increased late apoptosis and necrosis in a concentration-dependent manner. In combination with 1 μmol/L DAC, the effect of ADR on the cell cycle distribution was further enhanced, showing more obvious G₂/M phase arrest, but no significant difference of the apoptotic rate was observed. The degree of methylation in the genome had no significant difference between the 2 cells, and it before and after DAC treatment had no significant change. CONCLUSION: DAC enhances the sensitivity of K562/A02 cells to ADR, showing drug resistance-reversing potential. The mechanism may be related to regulating cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis and necrosis of K562/A02 cells.     

Induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro by dendritic cells pulsed with different glioma antigens

AIM: The goal of this study was to compare different methods for tumor antigen preparation, to observe the induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in rats by dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with different tumor antigens. METHODS: The precursors of dendritic cells were isolated from bone marrow of rats, stimulated in vitro with recombinent rat granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rrGM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (rrIL-4). Then rat DCs were pulsed with C6 tumor cell antigens prepared with different methods: freeze-thaw, boiling or total protein extracted from ultrasonic crushed tumor cell. Subsequently primed DCs were cocultured with T lymphocytes isolated from spleen to induce CTL. Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor from DCs and cytokine IFN-γ release were determined by ELISA, the cytotoxicity of CTL was assayed by JAM test. RESULTS: DCs pulsed with boiled tumor cell in vitro induced an enhanced ability of T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity.CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that DCs primed with boiled tumor cell may represent a method for inducing immune responses against the entire repertoire of tumor antigens of malignancies.     

Enhanced anti-leukemic activity of decitabine to leukemia HL-60 cells by anti-miR-21 oligonucleotide

AIM: To investigate the role of anti-miR-21 oligonucleotide (AMO) in the anti-leukemic activity of decitabine (DCA) in vitro.METHODS: AMO and scramble oligonucleotide (SCR) were constructed and transfected into HL-60 cells. The miR-21 expression was analyzed by real-time PCR to identify the transfection efficiency. The cells were treated with DCA at gradient concentrations (0.5, 2.0 and 4.0 μmol/L) for 48 h. The mRNA expression of human period circadian protein 3 (hPer3) was detected by real-time PCR. The early apoptotic rates were determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining. Mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of CD117 and CD11b were also measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The miR-21 relative expression level in AMO group was significantly lower than that in blank group and SCR group (P<0.01). IC₅₀ of DCA in AMO group was significantly lower than that in blank group and SCR group (P<0.01).With the same concentration of DCA, the early apoptotic rate, the mRNA expression of hPer3 and the MFI of CD11b in AMO group were significantly higher than those in blank group and SCR group (P<0.01). The MFI of CD117 in AMO group were significantly lower than those in blank group and SCR group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Activation of hPer3 expression plays an important role in enhanced anti-leukemic activity of decitabine by AMO in vitro.     

Advances on studies of miR-21 in vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)are a class of non-coding, endogenous, single-stranded small RNA molecules composed of 19~25 nucleotides. miRNAs are widely involved in the process of human life activities. Recent studies have shown that part of miRNAs regulate the vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis. High expression of miRNA-21 is found to play important roles in the cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell growth and death of vascular endothelial cells. This review will focus on the recent progress related to miRNAs in vascular endothelial function and angiogenesis, providing a new insight in cardiovascular disease prevention, clinical diagnosis, prognosis and target therapeutics.