Identification of serum differential proteins in colorectal adenoma and early malignantly transformed adenoma by proteomics

AIM: To investigate the associated proteins and sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma by comparing the results of differential proteomic analysis between colorectal adenoma and early malignantly transformed adenoma. METHODS: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to define patterns of protein expressions of colorectal adenoma and early malignantly transformed adenoma. Proteins expressed differentially among groups were detected, cut out and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Two-dimensional protein maps of colorectal adenoma and early malignantly transformed adenoma were analyzed with gel-analysis software, an average of 1 672 spots in adenoma, 1 732 in early malignantly transformed adenoma were observed. 28 spots of a 1.5-fold change were found, including 15 proteins down-regulated and 13 up-regulated in early malignantly transformed adenoma, in which 23 proteins were identified by mass spectrometry, the rate of identification was 82.14%. 13 differential proteins were attained, 8 were up-regulated and 5 were down-regulated, which was classified to 6 categories, including protease inhibitor, complement, immunoglobulin, keratoproteins, signal transduction protein and function-unknown proteins. CONCLUSION: The changes of serum proteins in early malignantly transformed adenoma from adenoma can be identified by proteomic technology. Proteins detected in the study may provide new biomarkers correlated with biological behavior of colorectal adenocarcinoma.     

Effect of inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B on TNF-α-induced expression of angiotensinogen and production of angiotensinⅡ in glomerular mesangial cells

AIM: To study the effect of inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity on the expression of angiotensinogen (AGT) and the production of angiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ) induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) of SD rats. METHODS: The MCs of SD rats were isolated and divided into three groups as follows: control; MCs treated with TNF-α, and the MCs treated with TNF-α + pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC). The activity of nuclear factor-kappa B was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The expression of AGT was determined by RT-PCR for mRNA and Western blotting for protein. The concentration of angiotensinⅡ in supernatant was measured by RIA. RESULTS: The NF-κB activity in the MCs treated with TNF-α (20.67±9.14)×102 μg/cell was significantly higher than that in control cells ［(8.25±4.35)×102 μg/cell, P<0.01］ and the MCs treated with TNF-α+PDTC ［(7.20±4.57)×102 μg/cell, P<0.01］, and no significant difference was found between control and the MCs treated with TNF-α＋PDTC (P>0.05). The AGT mRNA level in the MCs treated with TNF-α (0.27±0.05) was higher than that in the control cells (0.20±0.05, P<0.05), and no significant difference was observed when compared with that in the MCs treated with TNF-α＋PDTC (0.22±0.06, P>0.05). The expression of AGT protein in the MCs treated with TNF-α (0.60±0.19) μg/cell was higher than that in the control ［(0.37±0.15)μg/cell, P＜0.05］ and the MCs treated with TNF-α＋PDTC ［(0.37±0.17)μg/cell, P<0.05］, and no significance was found between the MCs treated TNF-α＋PDTC and the control (P>0.05). The AngⅡ level in supernatant of cultured MCs treated with TNF-α ［(9.73±2.38)×10-5 ng·L-1/cell］ was significantly higher than that in the control ［(7.50±1.51)×10-5 ng·L-1/cell, P<0.05］ and in the MCs treated with TNF-α＋PDTC ［(6.94±1.46)×10-5 ng·L-1/cell, P<0.05］, however, the difference between the MCs treated with TNF-α＋PDTC and the control was of no significance (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: TNF-α activates the NF-κB in glomerular MCs, induces the AGT expression and the production of AngⅡ. Inhibition of NF-κB decreases the AGT expression and the production of AngⅡ. Therefore, the effects of TNF-α on AGT and AngⅡ may be mediated by NF-κB.     

Effect of angiontensin-(1-7) on development of monocrotaline induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and vascular remodeling

AIM: To investigate the effect of angiotensin-(1-7) ［Ang-(1-7)］ on the development of monocrotaline (MCT) induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and vascular remodeling.METHODS: 60 Sprgue-Dawely rats were randomly assigned into three groups: control group, PAH group and PAH+Ang-(1-7) group. Rats in PAH group and PAH +Ang-(1-7) group received 60 mg/kg MCT injection subcutaneously and after 24 h received either saline or 24 μg·kg-1·h-1 of Ang-(1-7) injection via osmotic minipumps for 4 weeks. These rats in control group were firstly injected saline subcutaneously and then received saline injection via osmotic minipumps.RESULTS: After 4 weeks, in PAH group, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), percentage of wall thickness (WT%) and percentage of wall area (WA%) of pulmonary artery were significantly increased and NO concentration, the level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), eNOS Ser1177-phosphorylation were significantly decreased compared with control group. However, RVSP, RVHI, WT %, WA % were dramatically decreased in PAH +Ang-(1-7) group and NO concentration, the level of eNOS protein, eNOS Ser1177-phosphorylation were significantly increased compared with PAH group.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) could prevent the development of monocrotaline induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and vascular remodeling, which appears to be associated with up-regulation of NO concentration and the level of eNOS protein, eNOS Ser1177-phosphorylation.     

Protective effect of rAAV2-NTF2 on blood-retinal barrier damage in diabetic rats

AIM: To explore the effect of rAAV2-NTF2 on the blood-retinal barrier damage in early stage diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Retinal vasculature was observed by Evans blue. NTF2 gene was cloned into adeno-associated virus vector pSNAV. The recombinant pSNAV-NTF2 was transfected into BHK cells. After purification, high-titer rAAV2-NTF2. rAAV2-NTF2 at dose of 4 μL (titer 1.0×1012) were injected into left eyes and rAAV2-EGFP at the same does and titer were injected into the right eyes of 36 rats. After 1 month, diabetes mellitus were induced by STZ. One month after onset of diabetes, EB at a dose of 45 mg/kg was intravenously injected into the rats. Two hours later, both eyes were enucleated immediately after perfusion of 1% PFA-citric acid buffer solution. The retinas were then dissected away and placed in formamide to extract the dye. The concentration of dye was measured by spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Evans blue was contained in normal retinal vessels without leakage, with a very low level of background fluorescence. The vessels staining of diabetic rats’ retina showed increasing fluorescence, indicating the retina-blood barrier damage. Dye concentration, representing the degree of the BRB injury, was higher in retina of 1 month diabetic rats than that in normal rats (4.67 times, P<0.01), indicating retina-blood barrier break-down. Diabetic rats with rAAV2-NTF2 intravitreal injection showed decreased BRB breakdown (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High expression of NTF-2 decreases the BRB dysfunction in DM rats.     

富士苹果AFLP体系的优化及其在鉴定早熟芽变中的应用

 以‘长富2号’苹果为材料,采用优化的AFLP技术对其早熟芽变与母株进行初步研究,筛选了64对引物,其中43对引物扩增结果理想,共产生了2,700条带。有4对引物在芽变与母株之间产生了7条差异片段,主要集中在350~800 bp之间。研究表明早熟芽变是由于遗传物质改变造成的,同时也说明利用该体系对苹果芽变进行分析和鉴定获得成功。     

Overexpression of SSTR2 inhibits growth of SSTR2-positive tumors via multiple signaling pathways

AIM: To study the anti-proliferation effect of overexpressed SSTR2 in experimental cancer with different profiles of endogenous SSTRs expressions and the possible signaling pathways involved. METHODS: In the first experiment, the growth of the tumor xenografts of the inoculated capan-2 cells and A549 cells overexpressing SSTR2 or LacZ was investigated in nude mice. In the second experiment, the adenoviral vector expressing SSTR2 were introduced into experimental capan-2 xenografts by intratumoral injection. The growth inhibition of these experiment tumors was observed and the potential influences on different signaling pathways were analyzed by immunoassays. RESULTS: Overexpression of SSTR2 inhibited the growth of tumors with different profiles of endogenous SSTRs, including experimental capan-2 xenografts that had endogenous SSTR2 expression. Overexpression significantly affected a number of components in apoptotic pathway, MAPK pathway and angiogenesis. CONCLUSION: SSTR2 is a promising candidate for gene therapy in a wide spectrum of cancers.     

Mechanism of RhoA on vascular reactivity following hemorrhagic shock in rats

AIM: To observe the mechanisms of RhoA on vascular reactivity following hemorrhagic shock (HS) in rats. METHODS: The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock was adopted to assay the vascular reactivity via observing the contraction initiated by norepinephrine (NE) with isolated organ perfusion system. Meanwhile, the effects of Rho kinase, myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP), myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) on RhoA regulating vascular reactivity were observed. The effects of RhoA agonist U-46619 and inhibitor C3 enzyme on the activities of Rho kianse, MLCP, MLCK and phosphorylation of MLC20 in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with hypoxia were also measured. RESULTS: As compared to control group, the cumulative dose-response curves of SMA to NE at 2 h after shock shifted to the right, the maximal contractions (Emax) of NE was significantly decreased. RhoA agonist U-46619 increased the vascular reactivity in the late period of shock. C3 enzyme abolished U-46619 induced the increase in the contractile response of SMA to NE. Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 decreased U-46619-induced the increase in the vascular reactivity, MLCP inhibitor calyculin further promoted the increase in the vascular reactivity. However, MLCK inhibitor had no effect on the U-46619-induced change of vascular reactivity. After hypoxia, the activities of Rho kinase and MLCK, and the level of MLC20 phosphorylation were decreased, MLCP activity was increased. RhoA agonist U-46619 increased the activity of Rho kinase and phosphorylation of MLC20, decreased the activity of MLCP, but had no effects on MLCK activity. CONCLUSION: RhoA plays an important role in the regulation of vascular reactivity following shock. The mechanism is closely related to regulating the activities of Rho kinase and MLCP, and increasing the phosphorylation of MLC20 in VSMC.     

Effect of fractalkine on the expression and secretion of MMP-2 in human monocytes

AIM: To study the effect of fractalkine (CX3CL1, Fkn) on the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in cultured human monocyte line U937 cells. METHODS: The cultured U937 cells were incubated with recombinant human Fkn, the supernatant of human renal mesangial cells (HRMC) and Fkn neutralizing antibodies for 24 h. The mRNA expression of MMP-2 was analyzed by RT-PCR. The production of MMP-2 in the supernatant was analyzed by gelatin zymography. RESULTS: The level of MMP-2 mRNA and protein in the cells incubated with recombinant human Fkn decreased compared to control group. Similarly, the level of MMP-2 mRNA in the cells incubated with the supernatant of HRMC reduced compared to control group. However, the level of MMP-2 mRNA and protein in the cells incubated with the supernatant of HRMC adding Fkn neutralizing antibodies increased compared to that incubated with the supernatant of HRMC. CONCLUSION: Fkn inhibits the expression and secretion of MMP-2 in cultured U937 cells. HRMC might mediate the expression and secretion of MMP-2 in U937 cells through Fkn.     

Inhibitory effect of T-bet gene transfer on airway inflammation in a established murine allergic asthmatic model

AIM: To investigate the effect of T-bet plasmid gene transfer to airway on allergen induced airway inflammation in a murine asthmatic model. METHODS: A mouse asthma model was established by sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA). Forty C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups (10 mice in each group): the normal control group (group A), the asthmatic model group (group B), the pcDNA3 plasmid group (group C), and the pcDNA3-T-bet group (group D). The animals in group B, C and D were sensitized and challenged with OVA. The animals in group A were applied with normal saline. pcDNA3 plasmid at dose of 50 μg was intranasally administered at 24 h before intranasal challenges to the mice in group C, and the 50 μg pcDNA3-T-bet plasmid for the mice in group D. Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected and lung tissues were resected at 48 h after OVA challenge for later assay. RESULTS: After administration with pcDNA3-T-bet plasmid, high level of T-bet expression at 48 h was detected in the lung tissue by Western blotting. In pcDNA3-T-bet treated asthmatic models, histological evaluation revealed the significant suppression of eosinophil peribronchial and perivascular infiltration, and reduction of epithelial damage. The numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF from pcDNA3-T-bet treated mice were significantly reduced compared to those in asthmatic control group (P<0.05). The level of IL-4 in BALF was significantly decreased in pcDNA3-T-bet group compared to that in asthmatic control group (P<0.05), while the level of IFN-γ in BALF was significantly increased in pcDNA3-T-bet group. No significant change of inflammation cells and cytokines in pcDNA3 plasmid group and asthmatic control group was observed (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intranasal pcDNA3-T-bet plasmid transfer inhibits asthmatic airway inflammation in the murine asthmatic model, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy for allergic asthma.