银杏内生真菌菌株R2的鉴定及其抑菌活性

以金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)和枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)3种微生物为指示菌,采用杯碟法对分离自药用植物银杏(Ginkgo biloba L.)的36株内生真菌进行抗菌活性检测。并通过形态学特征观察和ITS-rDNA序列系统发育分析对强抑菌活性菌株进行鉴定。结果发现,菌株L1、L4、L5、L7、T2、T3、R1和R2等8株内生真菌的发酵粗提物具有抑菌活性,其中以内生真菌R2的抑菌活性最高,抑菌圈直径分别为20 mm、20 mm和21 mm。结合形态学特征和ITS-rDNA序列分析确定菌株R2为尖孢枝孢菌(Cladosporium oxysporum)。     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of TLR4 locus in Chinese Cantonese population

AIM: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was an important pathogen recognition receptor in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of TLR4 polymorphisms in the general population of China. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 191 unrelated healthy Chinese Cantonese individuals. The functional regions of TLR4 locus, including promoter region and all three exons with their surrounding intronic regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction. After purified, the amplified products were directly sequenced on both strands. RESULTS: A total of eight single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, five of which were novel. The most common SNP were -1607 C/T with the minor allele frequency of 0.283. Two nonsynonymous substitutions Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile, which were common in Caucasus, were not detected in Cantonese. Neutrality test revealed that TLR4 in Chinese Cantonese was not significantly deviated from the neutral model. CONCLUSION: This is the new finding on the distribution of TLR4 SNPs in the general population of China. It provides several ethnic specific SNPs for further disease association studies of TLR4 polymorphisms in Chinese populations.     

Establishment and biological characteristics of a new human endometrial carcinoma

AIM: To establish a new human endometial carcinoma cell line for basic and clinical study. METHODS: The minced tumor tissues were inoculated subcutaneously into the back of nude mice. After forming solid tumor, the mice were killed and the transplant was taken out for primery culture. RESULTS: The established cell line was maintained by serial passages, named EAC. EAC cell line grew rapidly,steadily, and it had similar microscopic morphology to adenocarcinoma cell. Chromosome analysis reveal EAC chromosome counts ranging in hyperdiploid. The expression of ER, PR, P53, MDM2 were negative by SP immunohistochemistry. Tumorigenicity of EAC in nude mice was 100%. CONCLUSION: A new human endometrial carcinoma, EAC, is established successfully, which is helpful for the basic and clinical study of endometrial carcinoma.     

Cytocompatibiltiy of degradable calcium metaphosphate with human marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM: To screen the cytotoxicity of degradable calcium metaphosphate (dCMP) compared with hydroxyapatite (HA). The proliferation and differentiation abilities of human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were used to exhibit the cytotoxicity. METHODS: The cell morphology of MSC was analysed after direct contact with dCMP at different time points by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The degradation products of dCMP and HA were analysed with inductively coupled plasma torch and ion chromatography. The cytotoxic effect of degradation products of dCMP was evaluated by FACS, quantitative assay of ALP and ARS, respectively. RESULTS: dCMP enhanced the proliferation of MSC, but didn't interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC and its mineralization. HA inhibited the proliferation of MSC and the mineralization of osteogenic differentiated MSC, while it did not interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC. CONCLUSION: dCMP had a better cytocompatibility with MSC than HA, which might allow for its use as skeleton scaffolds.     

Expression of nerve growth inhibiting factor Nogo-A mRNA and protein in the brain ischemic infarction rats

AIM: To investigate the changes of expression of Nogo-A at different time points in brain ischemic infarct rats. METHODS: The model of 80 cases of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats was established. The expression of Nogo-A mRNA and protein were determined by Western blotting and hybridization, and the relationship between functional scoring and Nogo-A was also evaluated. RESULTS: In the brain of MCAO rats, Nogo-A mRNA expression was decreased on day 3 and increased significantly on day 7. The highest level was observed at the 21th d, keeping the same level at the 28th d. Nogo-A protein expression showed the same results. These results were correlated with the brain function scoring. CONCLUSION: Expression of Nogo-A does not increase in the early stage, but increases significantly in the late stage of MCAO, suggesting that Nogo-A expression may play an important role in the nerve regeneration of brain ischemic injury.     

The anticancer activity of genistein on implanted tumor of human primary gastric carcinoma cells in nude mice

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis of implanted tumor of primary human gastric cancer cells in nude mice induced by genistein and the relation between this apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 and bax.METHODS: Establishing a transplanted tumor model by injecting human primary gastric cancer cells into subcutaneous tissue of nude mice.The different doses of genistein (0.5mg/kg,1mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg ) were directly injected beside tumor body respectively,for six times at an interval of two days.Then changes of tumor volume were measured continuously and tumor inhibition rate of each group was calculated.We observed the morphologic alteration by electron microscope,measured the apoptotic rate by TUNEL staining method,detected the expression of apoptosis-regulated gene bcl-2 and bax by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR.RESULTS: Genistein could significantly inhibit carcinoma growth when it was injected near the carcinoma.Genistein induced implanted tumors cells to undergo apoptosis with apoptotic characteristics by transmission electron microscope.The apoptosis index of above three groups was increased progressively.Positive rate of Bcl-2 protein of above three groups was decreased progressively and positive rate of Bax protein of above three groups was increased progressively by immunohistochemical staining.The density of bcl-2 mRNA decreased progressively and the density of bax mRNA increased progressively with elongation of time by RT-PCR.CONCLUSION: Genistein is able to induce the apoptosis of transplanted tumor cells.This apoptosis may be mediated by down-regulating bcl-2 and up-regulating bax mRNA and its protein.     

Differentiation of human bone marrow-derived stem cells into insulin-producing cells in vitro and in vivo

AIM: To explore the possibility of differentiating functional insulin-producing cells from human BM-derived stem cells. METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from human bone marrow. Then these cells were induced with epidermal growth factor, β-mercaptoethanol and high concentration of glucose. The gene expression related to islet β cells was detected by RT-PCR. Insulin in the treated cells was examined by immunocytochemistry. In addition, the levels of insulin secretion and glucose-stimulated insulin release were examined by microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Finally, the induced cells were implanted into the right renal subcapsular space of diabetic mice. Blood glucose levels were monitored 16 d after implantation. The right kidneys of the treated mice were harvested for immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The key genes related to pancreatic β cells had been confirmed to express by PCR and insulin was detected by immunocytochemistry in differentiated human BM-derived stem cells induced by high glucose, which responded to glucose challenge. Furthermore, implantation of the cells in renal subcapsular space was able to lower the glucose levels in hyperglycemic mice. After 16 days, the implanted cells were determined still to be insulin positive cells by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: These results indicate human BM-derived stem cells are capable of differentiating into functional insulin-producing cells and may represent a pool of cells for the treatment of diabetes.     

The effect of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand on the activity of nuclear kappa B in prostate cancer cell line PC-3M

AIM: To investigate the activation and inactivation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) when tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is applied to induce the apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3M.METHODS: After the treatment of TRAIL or LPS at different doses, we tested the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by cell immunohistochemical staining and electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA), and evaluated the level of IκB by RT-PCR under pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment. RESULTS: EMSA and cell immunohistochemical analysis showed that the translocation of NF-κB was significantly activated when PC-3M cells were treated with TRAIL or LPS (P<0.05). The pretreatment of PDTC upregulated the expression of IκB and blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κB.CONCLUSION: TRAIL remarkably stimulates the activation of nuclear NF-κB in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. On the other hand, the translocation of NF-κB can be significantly and efficiently inhibited in PC-3M cells by pretreatment with PDTC. The increased expression of IκB might be a clue for this inhibition, which means the possible way to enhance the effect of TRAIL in the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.