A novel MCT1 and MCT4 dual inhibitor reduces mitochondrial metabolism and inhibits tumour growth of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) support tumour growth by regulating the transport of metabolites in the tumour microenvironment. High MCT1 or MCT4 expression is correlated with poor outcomes in human patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, drugs targeting these transporters have been developed and may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy resembling advanced or recurrent HNSCC. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of a previously characterized dual MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitor, MD‐1, in OSCC as a novel treatment approach for feline oral cancer. We also sought to determine the potential of feline OSCC as a large animal model for the further development of MCT inhibitors to treat human HNSCC. In vitro, MD‐1 reduced the viability of feline OSCC and human HNSCC cell lines, altered glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and synergized with platinum‐based chemotherapies. While MD‐1 treatment increased lactate concentrations in an HNSCC cell line, the inhibitor failed to alter lactate levels in feline OSCC cells, suggesting an MCT‐independent activity. In vivo, MD‐1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and prolonged overall survival in an orthotopic model of feline OSCC. Our results show that MD‐1 may be an effective therapy for the treatment of feline oral cancer. Our findings also support the further investigation of feline OSCC as a large animal model to inform the development of MCT inhibitors and future clinical studies in human HNSCC.     

In vitro neuronal and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capabilities for self-renewal and differentiation into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, neurons and fat cells. These features of MSCs have attracted the attention of investigators for using MSCs for cell-based therapies to treat several human diseases. Because bone marrow-derived cells, which are a main source of MSCs, are not always acceptable due to a significant drop in their cell number and proliferative/differentiation capacity with age, human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are good substitutes for BMCs due to the immaturity of newborn cells. Although the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells from UCB has been well established, the isolation and characterization of MSCs from UCB still need to be established and evaluated. In this study, we isolated and characterized MSCs. UCB-derived mononuclear cells, which gave rise to adherent cells, exhibited either an osteoclast or a mesenchymal-like phenotype. The attached cells with mesenchymal phenotypes displayed fibroblast-like morphologies, and they expressed mesenchym-related antigens (SH2 and vimentin) and periodic acid Schiff activity. Also, UCB-derived MSCs were able to transdifferentiate into bone and 2 types of neuronal cells, in vitro. Therefore, it is suggested that the MSCs from UCB might be a good alternative to bone marrow cells for transplantation or cell therapy.     

乙酸钠对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性的影响及机制分析

通过向油酸诱导的大鼠肝成纤维细胞(BRL-3A)脂肪变性模型中添加不同浓度(2、4、8 mmol·L^-1)的乙酸钠,探讨其对脂肪变性细胞模型脂代谢的调控机理及细胞损伤的修复作用。试验方法：1)用不同浓度的油酸(0、0.03、0.06、0.12、0.24、0.48) mmol·L^-1刺激BRL-3A细胞24 h后,分别检测细胞相对活力、总脂滴面积、三酰甘油(TG)含量、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)及丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)活性,建立脂肪变性细胞模型;2)向BRL-3A细胞中添加不同浓度的乙酸钠,通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;3)用不同浓度的乙酸钠和0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸共同孵育BRL-3A细胞,试验分为4组,分别为油酸处理组、2 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组、4 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组和8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠+油酸处理组,分别对细胞脂滴、TG含量、AST、ALT活性、AMPK信号通路蛋白以及脂代谢关键基因进行检测。结果显示:1)用0.12 mmol·L^-1油酸处理BRL-3A细胞24 h,成功建立BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型。2)不同浓度的乙酸钠对BRL-3A细胞凋亡率没有影响;3)4、8 mmol·L^-1乙酸钠处理脂肪变性细胞模型后,与油酸处理组相比,细胞总脂滴面积、每平方毫米脂滴数、TG含量、AST和ALT活性均显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)下降,P-AMPK表达水平显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)上升;脂合成代谢相关基因ACC、FAS以及SCD-1 mRNA表达水平均有一定程度下降;脂分解代谢相关基因CPT-1、CPT-2以及ACO mRNA表达水平均有一定程度上升。本研究表明,乙酸钠会通过AMPK通路激活脂分解代谢,减轻肝细胞脂质蓄积,并且对油酸诱导的BRL-3A细胞脂肪变性模型的损伤具有一定缓解作用。     

Multifocal cutaneous histiocytic sarcoma in a young dog and review of histiocytic cell immunophenotyping

A 9‐month‐old male Great Dane had progressive generalized nodular dermatopathy for several months. There were > 100 raised, alopecic, firm, painful nodules throughout the skin. Aspirates from several lesions yielded moderate numbers of irregularly round or polygonal to spindle‐shaped cells with mild to moderate anisocytosis and few inflammatory cells, and the cytologic interpretation was proliferation of mesenchymal or histiocytic cells. On histopathologic examination, nodules were composed of densely packed sheets of round to spindle‐shaped cells with mild anisokaryosis and low mitotic activity. Multifocal histiocytic sarcoma with a spindle‐cell pattern was diagnosed based on morphologic features and intense expression of CD18. Additional immunophenotypic analysis on frozen sections of tissue confirmed the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma; expression of CD18, CD45, CD1a, CD11b, and CD11c, limited expression of Thy‐1 (CD90) and CD80, and lack of expression of CD4, CD11d, and CD86 indicated that the cells were likely interstitial dendritic cells; a review of reactive and neoplastic dendritic cells is provided. Based on staging, internal organs were not affected. Sequential treatment with lomustine and doxorubicin failed to prevent progression of the cutaneous lesions, and the dog died 3 months after initial diagnosis. At necropsy, a focus of neoplastic cells was present in one lymph node, but except for skin other organs were not involved. The clinical presentation of histiocytic sarcoma may be unusual, and neoplastic cells may lack overt features of malignancy on cytologic and histopathologic examination. In some instances, immunophenotyping is required to differentiate histiocytic sarcoma from other histiocytic disorders.     

Sertoli cell tumors associated with feminizing syndrome and spermatic cord torsion in two cryptorchid dogs

The association of cryptorchidism, functional Sertoli cell tumors, and spermatic cord torsion has been rarely reported in the literature. Two dogs were admitted for bilateral skin alopecia and weight loss. Both animals were cryptorchid and displayed a pendulous preputial sheath, prostate hypertrophy, and increased levels of circulating oestrogen. Transabdominal palpation and ultrasonography revealed the presence of neoplastic retained gonads. During surgery, spermatic cord torsion was also detected in the enlarged neoplastic testes of both dogs. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of Sertoli cell tumors that were primarily responsible for the feminizing syndrome. Complete remission of all symptoms occurred within 3 months after orchiectomy.     

Radiosensitivity and capacity for radiation-induced sublethal damage repair of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines

Understanding the inherent radiosensitivity and repair capacity of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) can aid in optimizing radiation protocols to treat this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF(2) ), α/β ratio and capacity for sublethal damage repair (SLDR) in response to radiation. Dose-response and split-dose studies were performed using the clonogenic assay. The mean SF(2) for three established TCC cell lines was high at 0.61. All the three cell lines exhibited a low to moderate α/β ratio, with the mean being 3.27. Two cell lines exhibited statistically increased survival at 4 and 24 h in the dose-response assay. Overall, our results indicate that the cell lines are moderately radioresistant, have a high repair capacity and behave similarly to a late-responding normal tissue. These findings indicate that the radiation protocols utilizing higher doses with less fractionation may be more effective for treating TCC.     

鸟氨酸脱羧酶抗酶1基因的结构和功能

鸟氨酸脱羧酶抗酶1(OAZ1)基因可通过特殊的+1移码机制翻译全长的功能蛋白.研究发现,OAZ1能与鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ODC)结合并降解ODC,负调控细胞内多胺的水平;OAZ1还能降解Cyclin D1、Cyclin E1和Smad1周期蛋白,阻滞细胞周期;此外,近年来研究表明,OAZI还具有抗肿瘤效应和调控动物繁殖的功能.抗酶抑制因子能竞争性结合ODC-OAZ1复合体中的OAZ1,从而阻止ODC降解;天门冬酰胺也能通过抑制OAZ1的翻译来调节ODC的活性.本文就OAZ1基因结构和功能的研究现状作一综述.     

细胞色素C在生物医学方面的研究进展

综合论述了细胞色素C的研究简史和结构性质,探讨了细胞色素C与细胞线粒体呼吸链、生物进化细胞凋亡的关系,并对细胞色素C的应用前景作了展望。     

多浪绵羊骨骼肌卫星细胞的分离培养、鉴定及成肌诱导分化

为了在体外细胞水平模拟多浪绵羊肌肉生长发育过程,本研究以多浪绵羊为试验动物,采用胶原酶和胰酶两步酶消化法分离多浪绵羊骨骼肌卫星细胞（satellite cells,SCs）,并利用差速贴壁的方法纯化分离得到的SCs。利用免疫荧光技术检测SCs标记基因Desmin、Pax7和MyoD1的表达情况,鉴定分离得到的SCs。采用血清撤离的方法诱导SCs向成肌方向分化。通过显微镜观察和成肌分化标记基因肌球蛋白重链（myosin heavy chain,MHC）的免疫荧光,检测肌管的形成情况。通过对SCs标记基因Desmin、Pax7和MyoD1的免疫荧光鉴定,确认本研究成功分离得到多浪绵羊SCs。采用血清撤离的方法诱导SCs成肌分化,显微镜观察和MHC免疫荧光可以明显观察和检测到肌管的形成。本研究对多浪绵羊SCs成功地进行了分离和鉴定,并建立了体外培养条件下多浪绵羊SCs的成肌诱导分化。