Screening of feature genes of the renal cell carcinoma with DNA microarray

AIM

To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by using the microarray expression profiles of normal kidney and RCC tissue for early diagnosis and treatment of RCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The gene expression profile of GES781 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, including including nine tissue samples of RCC tissues removed from nine patients and eight adjacent normal renal tissue samples. We identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by Multtest package in R software. The screened DEGs were further analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Firstly, the comparison of the DEGs expression degree was performed by cluster analysis. Secondly, DAVID was used to perform functional analysis of up- and down- regulated genes and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed by prePPI. Finally, the pathways of genes in PPI networks were discovered by WebGestalt.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, we screened 648 down-regulated and 681 up-regulated DEGs. And the down- and up-regulated DEGs with maximum expression degree were UMOD (uromodulin) and FABP7 (fatty acid binding protein 7), respectively. There was significant difference in the gene expression between the normal kidney and RCC tissue. The up-regulated DEGs in RCC tissue were significantly related to the immune responses and the down-regulated DEGs were significantly related to the oxidation reduction. The most significant pathway in the PPI network of UMOD was cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The screened DEGs have the potential to become candidate target molecules to monitor, diagnose and treat the RCC, and might be beneficial for the early diagnosis and medication control of RCC.

Autologous stem cell transplantation as the first-line treatment for peripheral T cell lymphoma: results of a comprehensive meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

In view of the poor prognosis of most peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) subtypes treated with conventional chemotherapy such as CHOP/CHOP-like regimens, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) seems a reasonable option in eligible patients. Nevertheless, owing to the small size of the study and the heterogeneity of most published series, a consensus on the role of ASCT as the first-line consolidation therapy for high-risk PTCL patients has not been reached so far.

STUDY DESIGN

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov and the Cochrane Library. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by a fixed/random effect model.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies were eligible. Although no statistical significance was observed in these studies, there was a trend toward survival advantage for the HDT/ASCT group as compared to the historical control group (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.31-2.13). Statistical differences were confirmed in terms of overall survival (OS) between complete remission (CR) and non-CR patients (HR 3.17, 95% CI 0.92-5.42), patients with good and poor risk according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI; HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22-0.60, I(2) 49%) and Prognostic Index for PTCL (PIT; HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.17-0.58; HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.54).

CONCLUSION

The clear and convincing proof of the effects of up-front HDT/ASCT still depends on sufficient large PTCL-restricted randomized trials in the future. Patients who failed to attain CR before transplant exhibited a worse prognosis; patients with good risk of IPI or PIT had a substantially better OS after ASCT.

Mechanism research on combination of decoction for reinforcing lung qi and argon helium lancet in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of decoction for reinforcing lung Qi on T-lymphocytic function, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer after operation with argon helium lancet in order to explore its mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 76 patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer without surgical indication were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with decoction for reinforcing lung Qi and argon helium lancet and a control group treated with argon helium lancet only to observe lymphocytic proliferation, detect the percentage of positive cells in the T-lymphocyte CD28 with flow cytometry and detect the expression of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in peripheral blood with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Proliferation of T-lymphocytes and expression of CD28, IL-2 and TNF-alpha in peripheral blood after treatment in the treatment group were more obviously strengthened than those before treatment and those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of using decoction for reinforcing lung Qi and argon helium lancet to treat lung cancer may be realized through promoting T-lymphocytic proliferation, up-regulating expression of CD28, IL-2 and TNF-alpha, and activating T-cells.

Overexpression of nuclear distribution protein (hNUDC) causes pro-apoptosis and differentiation in Dami megakaryocytes

OBJECTIVES

Overexpression of hNUDC, a member of the nuclear distribution protein family, reduces cell population growth in prostate cancer cell lines, concurrent with induced morphological change and enhanced polyploidization. These phenomena are also closely associated with terminal phases of megakaryocyte maturation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In Dami cells, MTT and trypan blue assays were used to investigate cell viability and proliferation effects of hNUDC, and flow cytometry was used to analyse cell cycle and DNA content. Real-time RT-PCR was employed to detect mRNA expression. Activations of caspase-3, ERK, Akt and Stat-5 were determined by immunoblotting. May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining was performed to reveal cell morphology.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Functional studies using adenovirus-mediated hNUDC overexpression led to inhibition of megakaryocyte proliferation via cell cycle arrest in G2/M transition phase. This process could have been be mediated by upregulation of p21 and downregulation of its downstream targets, including cyclin B1, cyclin B2 and c-myc. Enhanced apoptosis in turn ensued, characterized by increased caspase-3 activation, upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Furthermore, hNUDC overexpression elevated the level of megakaryocyte maturation, associated with increased polyploidy, cell morphological changes and increased expression of cell surface differentiation markers, including CD10, CD44, CD41 and CD61. Our results further suggest that the ERK signalling pathway was involved in hNUDC overexpression-induced apoptosis. Taken together, this study provides experimental evidence for overexpression of hNUDC in Dami cells and suggests that activation of apoptotic machinery may be involved in megakaryocytic differentiation.

Anti-inflammatory effect of purified dietary anthocyanin in adults with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and previous studies have demonstrated that anthocyanin inhibits atherosclerosis. In the present study, we explored the effects of anthocyanins on inflammatory cytokines in hypercholesterolemic adults and cell lines.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 150 subjects with hypercholesterolemia consumed a purified anthocyanin mixture (320 mg/d) or a placebo twice a day for 24 weeks in a randomized, double-blind trial. Anthocyanin consumption significantly decreased the levels of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (-21.6% vs. -2.5%, P = 0.001), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) (-12.3% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.005) and plasma IL-1β (-12.8% vs. -1.3%, P = 0.019) compared to the placebo. We also found a significant difference in the LDL-cholesterol (-10.4% vs. 0.3%, P = 0.030) and HDL-cholesterol level changes (14.0% vs. -0.9%, P = 0.036) between the two groups. In cell culture assays in vitro, purified anthocyanin mixture, delphinidin-3-Ο-β-glucoside (Dp-3g) and cyanidin-3-Ο-β-glucoside (Cy-3g) inhibited IL-6 and IL-1β-induced CRP production (P < 0.05) in HepG2 cell line and LPS-induced VCAM-1 secretion (P < 0.05) in porcine iliac artery endothelial cell line respectively in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the reduction of inflammatory cytokines associated with anthocyanin mixture was stronger when compared with the effects of Dp-3g and Cy-3g separately (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Anthocyanin mixture reduced the inflammatory response in hypercholesterolemic subjects. In addition, different anthocyanin compounds were found to have additive or synergistic effects in mediating anti-inflammatory responses in vitro cell culture assays.

Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous 125I seed implantation for safe, effective and real-time monitoring radiotherapy of inoperable stage T1-3N0M0 non-small-cell lung cancer

The management of inoperable lung cancer remains a challenge. It has been proven that computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) seed implantation is a safe and efficient method for treating lung cancer. Computed tomographic fluoroscopy (CTF) is superior to traditional CT for percutaneous management of lung lesions, due to the real-time guidance and accurate localization of the lesions. The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of CTF-guided percutaneous permanent implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds for the treatment of selected patients with inoperable stage T1-3N0M0 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 24 patients with resectable but inoperable stage T1-3N0 NSCLC, with a total of 28 lesions, underwent CTF-guided percutaneous implantation of radioactive ¹²⁵I seeds. A prescription dose of 100-120 Gy was delivered to each lesion. The complications and local tumor control rates were documented. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. All the patients successfully completed the procedure, with a mean procedure duration of 45.7 min (range, 30-75 min). No severe complications occurred. Small asymptomatic pneumothorax with lung volume compression of <10% and minor hemorrhage along the needle track without hemoptysis occurred immediately after the procedure in 3 (12.5%) and 4 (16.7%) of the 24 patients, respectively. At a median follow-up of 31.5 months (range, 8-46 months), the local control rate (LCR) of the lesions was 78.6% (22/28). The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rate was 95.8, 78 and 55%, respectively. In conclusion, CTF is the favourable imaging guidance method for the percutaneous implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds. CTF-guided brachytherapy with implantation of ¹²⁵I seeds is a safe, feasible and effective modality for the treatment of inoperable early-stage NSCLC and may be considered an alternative option in selected patients with medically inoperable NSCLC.

Microparticle-associated tissue factor is recycled by endothelial cells resulting in enhanced surface tissue factor activity

In this study the uptake of tissue factor (TF)-positive microparticles by endothelial cells and the recycling of the TF component were examined. Human dermal blood endothelial cells (HDBEC) were incubated with microparticles derived from cancer cell lines for up to 6 hours. Measurement of HDBEC cell surface TF antigen revealed two distinct peaks at 30 and 180-240 minutes post-incubation with TF-positive, but not TF-deficient microparticles. However, only the second peak was concurrent with high TF activity as determined by a chromogenic thrombin-generation assay. Annexin V-labelling of HDBEC showed phosphatidylserine exposure following 90 minutes incubation with microparticles, which explains the high TF activity associated with the second antigen peak. Analysis of TF mRNA levels revealed no de novo expression of TF mRNA in response to microparticles, and pre-incubation of cells with cycloheximide did not prevent the appearance of TF. However, blocking endocytosis with a dynamin inhibitor prolonged the disappearance and prevented the reappearance of TF antigen on the cell surface. Incubation of HDBEC with microparticles containing TF-GFP revealed the early co-localisation of TF with Rab4 and Rab5, followed by co-localisation with the late endosomal/trans-Golgi network marker Rab9, and the recycling endosome marker Rab11. siRNA-mediated suppression of Rab11 reduced the reappearance of TF on the cell surface. These data suggest a mechanism by which TF-containing microparticles are internalised by endothelial cells and the TF moiety recycled to the cell surface. Together with the exposure of phosphatidylserine, this is capable of inducing a substantial increase in the procoagulant potential of the surface of endothelial cells.

CMTM3 is frequently reduced in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and exhibits tumor suppressor activities

PURPOSE

CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing member 3 (CMTM3) is silenced in many kinds of cancers and inhibits tumor cells growth. We investigated the expression and role of CMTM3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

METHODS

The expression of CMTM3 was detected in ccRCC tissue microarray, specimens, and cell lines by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. After transfected with CMTM3 plasmid or vector, the proliferation and migration of ccRCC 786-0 cells were determined by MTT assay and transwell assay, respectively. Furthermore, the anchorage-independent growth of transfected cells was assessed using soft agar colony formation assay.

RESULTS

CMTM3 was down-regulated in 84 % (63/75) of ccRCC tissues and its expression had no correlation with the gender, age, clinical staging and histologic grade. CMTM3 protein was undetectable by western blot in most detected ccRCC specimens and two RCC cell lines (786-0 and ACHN). qRT-PCR analysis showed that CMTM3 mRNA was dramatically down-regulated in 40 ccRCC cancer tissues as compared with the paired adjacent normal ones. Restoration of CMTM3 significantly suppressed the anchorage-independent growth, proliferation and migration of 786-0 cells.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CMTM3 is significantly down-regulated in ccRCC and exerts remarkable tumor-suppressive functions in 786-0 cells. Reduction of CMTM3 expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of ccRCC and CMTM3 may be a potentially target for therapeutic strategy.

Antiproliferation and anti-migration induced by gypenosides in human colon cancer SW620 and esophageal cancer Eca-109 cells

Gypenosides (Gyp), found in Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino, has attracted more attention owing to its wide bioactivities. However, the effects of Gyp on esophageal cancer cells and colon cancer cells are still unknown. The present study was to investigate the possible anti-proliferative and anti-migration activity of Gyp on human colon cancer cells SW620 and esophageal cancer cells Eca-109. Cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell membrane integrity was evaluated using flow cytometry following propidium iodide staining. Apoptotic cell death was determined by nuclear 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. Generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ ψm) was analyzed by flow cytometry using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein–diacetate and rhodamine 123 staining, respectively. Wound healing assay was carried out to investigate Gyp-inhibited migration of SW620 and Eca-109 cells. The results indicated that Gyp inhibited cell proliferation and migration in SW620 and Eca-109 cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. Gyp elevated intracellular ROS level, decreased the Δ ψm, and induced apoptotic morphology such as cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation, suggesting oxidative stress and mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis that might be involved in Gyp-induced cell viability loss in SW620 and Eca-109 cells. The findings indicate Gyp may have valuable application in clinical colon cancer and esophageal cancer treatments.

Direct observation of low energy nuclear spin excitations in HoCrO3 by high resolution neutron spectroscopy

We have investigated low energy nuclear spin excitations in the strongly correlated electron compound HoCrO3. We observe clear inelastic peaks at E = 22.18 ± 0.04 μeV in both energy loss and gain sides. The energy of the inelastic peaks remains constant in the temperature range 1.5-40 K at which they are observed. The intensity of the inelastic peak increases at first with increasing temperature and then decreases at higher temperatures. The temperature dependence of the energy and intensity of the inelastic peaks is very unusual compared to that observed in other Nd, Co, V and also simple Ho compounds. Huge quasielastic scattering appears at higher temperatures presumably due to the fluctuating electronic moments of the Ho ions that get increasingly disordered at higher temperatures. The strong quasielastic scattering may also originate in the first Ho crystal-field excitations at about 1.5 meV.