Mechanism of elemene enhancing radiosensitivity of human glioma U251 cells

AIM To investigate the effect of elemene on the radiosensitivity of human glioma U251 cells and its mechanism. METHODS The U251 cells were used as a glioma model in vitro, and were exposed to different concentrations of elemene and different doses of radiation. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the related protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Elemene inhibited the viability of U251 cells in vitro and enhanced the radiosensitivity of the cells. The cells in radiotherapy combined with elemene group had higher rates of early apoptosis, secondary necrosis and total cell death than those in radiation group. Elemene induced G₂/M phase arrest in the U251 cells. Elemene reduced the protein expression of cell division cycle protein 2 （Cdc2）, which resulted in the decrease in cyclin B1 expression induced by radiotherapy, thereby inhibiting the formation of cyclin B-Cdc2 complex. Elemene reduced Cdc2 activity by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Cdc2 protein at threonine 161, thereby inducing G₂/M phase arrest in the cells. It also mediated apoptosis by down-regulating survivin expression. CONCLUSION Elemene may increase the sensitivity of U251 cells to radiotherapy by down-regulating Cdc2 protein, decreasing cyclin B1 expression, inhibiting the formation of cylcin B-Cdc2 complex and down-regulating the expression of survivin.     

Molecular mechanisms of Belinostat inhibiting viability of osteosarcoma cells

AIM: To observe the effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Belinostat on the viability of osteosarcoma cells and to study the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Osteosarcoma cell lines SAOS-2 and U2OS were incubated with Belinostat at different concentrations in vitro. The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay. The activity of caspase-3/-7 and the DNA fragmentation were detected by fluorescence probe and ELISA, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the levels of histone acetylation, expression of PTEN, caspase-3, Bcl-xL and Akt, and phosphorylation of glycogen synthetase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and Akt. Finally, the cells were incubated with Belinostat and doxorubicin at different concentrations, and then the combination index (CI) was calculated by MTT. RESULTS: Belinostat at 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L inhibited the viability of U2OS cells and SAOS-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced DNA fragmentation, enhanced caspase-3/-7 activity, and promoted the activation of caspase-3. At the same time, in the SAOS-2 cells, the expression of Bcl-xL was reduced, and the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 was increased. The results of Western blot showed that phosphorylation levels of Akt and GSK-3β in U2OS cells and SAOS-2 cells were decreased significantly after treatment with Belinostat (P<0.05). MTT results showed that combination of Belinostat and doxorubicin further reduced the viability of U2OS and SAOS-2 cells (CI<1). CONCLUSION: Belinostat inhibits the viability of osteosarcoma cells treated with doxorubicin, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Akt signaling pathway.     

mTOR kinase inhibitor CC-223 suppresses human breast cancer cell viability

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of CC-223, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, on the viability of human breast cancer cells and its mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of CC-223 on the viability of MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution of breast cancer cells was examined by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle-related proteins and oncoproteins c-Myc and survivin was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: CC-223 significantly inhibited the viability of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). CC-223 induced cell cycle arrest in both G₁ phase and G₂/M phase in the MCF-7 cells (P<0.05). However, low concentration of CC-223 treatment resulted in the accumulation of MDA-MB-231 cell cycle in the G₂/M phase, and the cell number in G₁ phase was unaffected. Treatment with CC-223 for 24 h clearly inhibited the protein levels of cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and phosphorylated cell division cycle protein 2 in the breast cancer cells (P<0.05). CC-223 suppressed the expression of c-Myc and survivin in both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CC-223 inhibits cell viability by blocking cell cycle progression and down-regulating expression of c-Myc and survivin in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.     

Expression and function of circular RNA_0000231 in non-small-cell lung cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression and function of circular RNA_0000231 (circ_0000231) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of circ_0000231 in the NSCLC tissues and cell lines. circ_0000231 small interfering RNA (si-circ_0000231) or negative control siRNA of circ_0000231 (NC) was transfected into the NSCLC cells. The proliferation and apoptosis of the NSCLC cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: The expression of circ_0000231 in the NSCLC tissues and cell lines was significantly up-regulated compared with precancerous tissues and lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B (P<0.05). After transfection of NSCLC cells with si-circ_0000231, the cell viability, colony formation numbers were significantly decreased, and the apoptotic rate in si-circ_0000231 group was significantly increased as compared with NC group (P<0.01). In addition, the results of RT-qPCR and Western blot showed that transfection of si-circ_0000231 inhibited the expression of CCND1 and Bcl-2 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression of circ_0000231 is significantly increased in the NSCLC tissues and cells. Knock-down of circ_0000231 expression significantly inhibits the proliferation of NSCLC cells.     

PEDV N蛋白的原核表达纯化及B细胞抗原表位预测分析

本研究旨在对猪流行性腹泻病毒(porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)N基因进行克隆构建、表达与其B细胞抗原表位性质的预测。将PEDV的N基因进行PCR扩增,克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中,经酶切验证获得阳性克隆,将阳性克隆在表达菌E. coli BL21(DE3)中表达。通过对表达条件及纯化条件的优化,获得高纯度表达蛋白。利用生物信息同源模型化软件Swiss-Pdb Viewer建立PEDV-N蛋白的3D结构,并根据生物信息学软件DNA-Star预测PEDV-N蛋白的二级结构、抗原性、亲水性和表面可及性分析,综合分析预测其B细胞抗原表位。经预测PEDV-N蛋白氨基酸序列中存在13个B细胞优势抗原表位区域。研究结果将进一步为PEDV-N蛋白体外表达产物的应用及研制基因工程疫苗提供理论基础。     

一株高病毒载量 PCV2 毒株的基因组特征及序列分析

【目的】了解广东省某猪群中猪圆环病毒 2 型（Porcine circovirus type 2,PCV2）流行毒株的遗传进化情况,丰富 PCV2 分子流行病学数据,为当地 PCV2 疫苗候选株的选用和研发提供参考。【方法】使用 qPCR 方法对疑似 PCV2 的样品进行检测,发现 1 株具有高病毒载量的 PCV2 毒株,命名为 GD222858。通过 PCR 方法进行全基因组分子克隆及遗传进化分析。使用 MegAlign 软件将该毒株 ORF1、ORF2 基因编码的氨基酸序列与 PCV2 同亚型参考毒株进行比对,分析氨基酸序列的相似性;采用 DNAStar 预测该毒株的 Cap 蛋白二级结构及 B 细胞表位,并与 4 株疫苗株 DBN-SX07-2（HM641752）、LG（HM038034）、SH（HM038027）、ZJ（AY686764）的 Cap 蛋白抗原指数进行比对分析。【结果】GD222858 毒株基因组长度为 1 767 bp。遗传进化分析表明该毒株属于 PCV2d 亚型。与国内外 82 株参考毒株的核苷酸相似性为 91.4%~99.6%,与越南毒株 Han8（GenBank 登录号：JQ181600）的亲缘关系最近。在 ORF1 编码的 Rep 蛋白处发现多个特异性突变位点 F70Y、F77L、W202R、N256S;ORF2 编码的Cap 蛋白相对保守。Protean 预测 Cap 蛋白的氨基酸第 5~18、24~25、39~41、48~49、57~65、99、101、112~114、139~140、145~150、162~165、175~181、188~189、205~211、227~232 位 置 处 均 可 能 存 在 潜 在 的 B 细 胞 表 位。GD222858 毒株的 Cap 蛋白抗原指数与 4 株疫苗株均有差异,在氨基酸 45~57、124~132、223~233 位置处抗原指数明显高于 4 株疫苗株,且与疫苗株 HM038034 差异最大。【结论】GD222858 毒株感染猪群的原因可能是 Rep 蛋白多个位点发生特异性突变及疫苗株选用不当所致。     

草鱼mst2在免疫应答中的作用机制

为了初步阐明草鱼哺乳动物STE20样蛋白激酶2基因(mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 2, mst2)在机体免疫中的作用机制,实验采用RNA-Seq技术对干扰mst2后经脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)应激的草鱼肾细胞系(Ctenopharyngodon idella kidney cell lines,CIK)进行了转录组测序与验证分析。测序原始数据经De novo拼接与组装后共获得22 374个独立功能基因(unigenes),其中已知功能基因为21 199个,预测的新基因为1 175个。干扰mst2后经LPS应激的unigenes表达差异分析表明,对照组与实验组之间共存在38个差异基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs),其中上调基因16个,下调基因22个。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术(quantitative real-time PCR, qRT-PCR)对38个DEGs的RNASeq结果进行验证,结果显示,qRT-PCR和RNA-Seq分析一致,说明RNA-Seq分析结果可靠。采用RNA干扰技术干扰mst2后经LPS处理,CIK细胞转录组中DEGs参与免疫代谢的途径主要有MAPK信号通路、内吞作用途径、自噬途径和细胞因子受体相互作用途径。凋亡相关基因检测结果显示,干扰mst2并经LPS处理后,促凋亡基因(fas、bad1、bad2、caspase-3、caspase-8和caspase-9)转录水平上调,抗凋亡基因(bcl2)转录水平下调,证明干扰mst2后经LPS处理会诱发细胞发生凋亡。综上所述,mst2可通过调控凋亡相关过程参与机体免疫反应。本研究结果初步阐明了草鱼mst2参与机体免疫应答的分子机理,可为草鱼细菌性疾病防控提供一定的基础理论参考。     

草鱼肾组织细胞系CIK的建立及其生物学特性

作者于1982年1月开始进行草鱼肾组织单层细胞培养，至今已连续培养32个月，传至120多代，建立了细胞系，定名为草鱼肾组织细胞系(CIK)。本文介绍了原代和传代培养、细胞形态、细胞生长速度和分裂指数、细胞的保存和对温度的适应性、细胞染色体分析以及细胞系对病毒敏感性的试验和研究结果。CIK生长迅速、适应性强、以20℃-38℃生长较好，28℃左右生长稳定，pH为6．5时仍能保持致密单层，染色体数为非整倍体，众数为55。对草鱼出血病左右病毒FRV具敏感性。     

显微注射技术在制备鱼类嵌合体和转基因海水鱼上的应用

以鱼类胚胎细胞和胚胎干细胞为核供体进行细胞移植构建鱼类嵌合体研究方面,现有的成功报道均采用显微注射方法;在转基因海水鱼类研究中,显微注射也是最为常用的技术,本实验室在花鲈胚胎干细胞嵌合体构建和外源基因向花鲈胚胎的转移研究中取得的结果也充分证实,显微注射技术是开展海水鱼类细胞移植和转基因研究的首选技术。     

Effect of transketolase-like protein 1 on proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) on proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro. METHODS: The siRNA against TKTL1 mRNA was constructed and transfected into human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE cell line). The activity of transketolase was detected before and after RNA interference.Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of transketolase (TKT) gene family in the CNE cells.Flow cytometry and MTT test were used to detect the effect of anti-TKTL1 siRNA on cell proliferation and cell cycle in the CNE cells. RESULTS: The total transketolase activity was significantly decreased in the CNE cells transfected with siRNA TKTL1 construct compared with the cells transfected with control vector or untransfected CNE cells. No significant difference in the expression level of TKT and TKTL2 gene between the CNE cells transfected with siRNA TKTL1 construct and the cells transfected with control vector or untransfected CNE cells was observed (P>0.05). However, the expression level of TKTL1 gene was significantly downregulated in the CNE cells transfected with siRNA TKTL1 construct compared with the cells transfected with control vector.Cancer cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase, and cancer cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in the CNE cells transfected with siRNA TKTL1 construct. CONCLUSION: TKTL1 plays an important role in the total transketolase activity and cell proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. TKTL1 may be considered as a potential target for novel anti-cancer therapy.