采用蛋白质组学技术筛选鼻咽癌细胞的甲基化沉默基因

为筛选鼻咽癌的甲基化沉默基因,采用二维凝胶电泳(2-DE)技术分离甲基转移酶抑制剂5-杂氮-2'-脱氧胞苷(5-aza-2-dC)处理与未处理鼻咽癌细胞5-8F的蛋白质,PDquest图像分析软件识别差异蛋白质点,基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)鉴定差异蛋白质.然后采用Western blotting和RT-PCR检测差异蛋白质nm23-H1在药物处理与未处理5.8F细胞中的表达水平,采用甲基化特异性PCR(MS-PCR)检测nm23-H1基因在药物处理与未处理5-8F细胞中的甲基化水平.建立了5-aza-2-dC处理与未处理5.8F细胞蛋白质的2-DE图谱,识别了49个差异表达的蛋白质点,鉴定了33个差异表达的蛋白质,其中包括rim23.H1在内的15个蛋白质在5-aza-2-dC处理后的5-8F细胞中表达上调,而18个蛋白质表达下调.Western blotting和RT-PCR结果显示,nm23-H1在5-aza-2-dC处理5-8F细胞后表达上调,MS-PCR结果显示,在5-aza-2-dC处理5-8F细胞后nm23-H1基因甲基化水平下降,结果证实,nm23-H1基因是5-8F细胞中的甲基化沉默基因.15个5-aza.2-dC处理后表达上调的基因可能是5-8F细胞中的甲基化沉默基因,为筛选鼻咽癌甲基化失活基因提供了科学依据.     

5-杂氮-2′-脱氧胞苷诱导鼻咽癌细胞株Syk基因启动子去甲基化的研究

利用5-杂氮-2′-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine,5-aza-CdR）处理体外培养的鼻咽癌细胞株CNE-1、CNE-2及永生化非癌性人鼻咽上皮细胞株NP-69,采用BS-PCR、Q-RT-PCR及Westernblot方法分别检测经5μmol/L的5-aza-CdR处理前后,各细胞株中Syk基因启动子甲基化状况及SykmRNA和蛋白质表达情况。探讨去甲基化药物5-杂氮-2′-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-CdR）对鼻咽癌细胞株中脾酪氨酸激酶（spleen tyrosine kinase,Syk）启动子甲基化水平及其表达的影响。结果显示,Syk基因启动子甲基化水平与鼻咽癌细胞分化程度呈负相关,两种鼻咽癌细胞株的Syk mRNA和蛋白质表达水平显著低于NP-69细胞（P〈0.01）;经5-aza-CdR处理后两种鼻咽癌细胞株的Syk基因启动子甲基化水平降低,Syk mRNA及蛋白质表达升高（P〈0.05）;高分化鼻咽癌细胞株对药物敏感性高于低分化鼻咽癌细胞株（P〈0.01）。由此可见,两种鼻咽癌细胞株中存在不同程度的Syk基因启动子甲基化状态,5-aza-CdR能有效逆转鼻咽癌细胞株Syk基因启动子的甲基化状态,升高Syk mRNA及蛋白质表达,同时鼻咽癌细胞分化程度越高恢复Syk基因表达的比率越高。     

DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制探究

目的：探究DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制。方法：应用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）检测人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的DLC-1基因甲基化状态,不同浓度的5-氮杂-2＇-脱氧胞嘧啶（5-Aza-CdR）处理人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,RT-PCR及Real-time PCR定量检测用药前后细胞中DLC-1基因mRNA表达水平变化。结果：DLC-1基因启动子区CpG岛呈甲基化状态,经过5-Aza-CdR处理后,DLC-1基因启动子区呈去甲基化状态,并且其mRNA恢复表达。结论：抑癌基因DLC-1 CpG岛甲基化是导致该基因低表达的原因之一,5-Aza-CdR能逆转DLC-1基因甲基化状态。     

DLC-1 基因在MCF-7 人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制探究

目的:探究DLC-1基因在MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞系中低表达的机制。方法:应用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)检测人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7的DLC-1基因甲基化状态,不同浓度的5-氮杂-2’-脱氧胞嘧啶(5-Aza-CdR)处理人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7,RT-PCR及Real-time PCR定量检测用药前后细胞中DLC-1基因mRNA表达水平变化。结果:DLC-1基因启动子区CpG岛呈甲基化状态,经过5-Aza-CdR处理后,DLC-1基因启动子区呈去甲基化状态,并且其mRNA恢复表达。结论:抑癌基因DLC-1 CpG岛甲基化是导致该基因低表达的原因之一,5-Aza-CdR能逆转DLC-1基因甲基化状态。     

NDRG2基因启动子甲基化与肺腺癌细胞中mRNA表达相关性的实验研究

目的:探讨肺腺癌细胞中NDRG2基因启动子甲基化状态及其与基因表达的关系。方法:甲基化焦磷酸测序技术检测启动子区域甲基化状态,荧光定量PCR技术检测不同药物浓度下培养细胞中NDRG2基因mRNA的表达水平,分析启动子区域甲基化与基因表达之间的关系。结果:在体外培养细胞中检测到NDRG2基因启动子区域呈现不同程度的甲基化,甲基化频率分别为肺癌A549细胞71.8%、GLC-82细胞86.1%、人脐静脉内皮ECV-304细胞36.8%、胃上皮GES-1细胞42.9%。NDRG2基因mRNA表达与其启动子甲基化程度成反比,甲基转移酶抑制剂5-杂氮-2-脱氧胞苷(5-Aza-CdR)作用于细胞后,A549和GLC-82细胞中NDRG2基因的mRNA转录明显上调,至72 h差异显著(P0.05)。结论:肺腺癌细胞中NDRG2基因启动子CpG岛存在高甲基化,甲基化程度与该基因的表达具有负相关性,5-Aza-CdR能在一定程度上提高NDRG2的转录水平。     

HDAC4基因甲基化对hMSCs向汗腺样细胞诱导转分化的影响

目的：探讨在诱导人骨髓间充质干细胞（hMSCs）转分化为汗腺样细胞过程中,组蛋白去乙酰化酶4（HDAC4）甲基化的改变及其对诱导转分化过程的影响。方法：选取人骨髓间充质干细胞系体外培养、扩增后,取第三代hMSCs与热休克处理的汗腺细胞进行Transwell+诱导因子的共培养。收集诱导后实验组的汗腺样细胞和同期对照组的hMSCs,采用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）和飞行质谱（Mass Array）法检测HDAC4基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态的变化,随后采用甲基化抑制剂5-氮杂-2'-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-CdR,10 μmol/L）处理实验组hMSCs,对照组为同期培养的hMSCs,RT-PCR测定两组细胞HDAC4基因和癌胚抗原（CEA）基因的mRNA表达量。结果：诱导前hMSCs中HDAC4基因整体甲基化水平较高,探针cg2463009处CpG位点甲基化程度为0.901,诱导转分化后汗腺样细胞中HDAC4基因整体甲基化水平下降37%,甲基化程度为0.531;探针cg14823429处CpG位点甲基化程度由诱导前的0.687下降到0.386。5-aza-CdR处理48 h后,实验组HDAC4基因mRNA表达水平上调,与诱导转分化相关的CEA mRNA同期表达量也增强,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：HDAC4基因的甲基化参与了hMSCs转分化为汗腺样细胞过程的调控。     

5-Aza-C 对鼻咽癌细胞端粒长度及细胞增殖的影响

目的：研究去甲基化药物5-氮杂胞嘧啶核苷（5-Azacytidine,5-Aza-C）对鼻咽癌细胞端粒长度及细胞生长增殖的影响。方法： 常规培养鼻咽癌CNE,CNE1,CNE2 及5-8F细胞系,5-Aza-C 处理鼻咽癌细胞后,甲基化测序聚合酶链反应(MSP)法检测亚端粒 区D4Z4 甲基化,端粒限制性片断检测端粒长度,CCK-8 检测细胞增殖。结果：2.5 uM浓度的5-Aza-C处理后,亚端粒区D4Z4 序 列的甲基化水平明显下降,约在15-20%之间,与处理前的甲基化水平（35-48%）有明显差异,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05)。在1 uM和2.5 uM浓度的5-Aza-C 处理后,四种细胞的端粒长度明显缩短,长度在2-4.5kb 之间,差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。5uM 的5-Aza-C处理72 h 后,CNE,CNE1,CNE2 和5-8F 的生存率分别为51.27%,50.46%,48.85%,48.83%,10 uM 的5-azaC 处理72 h 后,CNE,CNE1,CNE2 和5-8F的生存率分别为31.64%,32.34%,30.01%,32.10%,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。结 论：5-Aza-C 能缩短端粒长度,抑制鼻咽癌细胞生长增殖活性。     

5-Aza-dC对Molt-4细胞RASSF10基因启动子的去甲基化作用

探讨甲基化抑制剂5-氮杂-2’-脱氧胞苷(5-Aza-2’deoxycytidine,5-Aza-dC)对人急性淋巴细胞白血病Molt-4细胞的增殖抑制作用及对RASSF10基因启动子甲基化状态的影响。体外培养Molt-4细胞,采用不同浓度5-Aza-dC对Molt-4细胞进行处理。采用MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率,RT-PCR法检测RASSF10 mRNA表达的变化,Westernblot检测RASSF10蛋白表达的变化,COBRA实验检测RASSF10甲基化水平。一定浓度的5-Aza-dC作用Molt-4细胞后,细胞增殖抑制率显著升高,且具有时间和剂量依赖性。对照组Molt-4细胞未检出RASSF10 mRNA及蛋白表达,而5-Aza-dC处理组检出RASSF10基因重新表达。COBRA实验结果提示对照组Molt-4细胞中存在启动子高甲基化的现象,而5-Aza-dC处理组Molt-4细胞的RASSF10基因被部分去甲基化。甲基化抑制剂5-Aza-dC可通过对RASSF10基因的去甲基化作用,重新恢复RASSF10的表达,从而抑制Molt-4细胞的增殖。     

脾源性酪氨酸激酶基因启动子甲基化与髓母细胞瘤细胞侵袭转移的关系

目的：探讨甲基化转移酶抑制剂5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-CdR）抑制脾源性酪氨酸激酶（Syk）基因启动子的甲基化后对髓母细胞瘤Daoy细胞侵袭转移能力的影响。方法：用甲基化转移酶抑制剂5-aza-CdR处理体外培养的髓母细胞瘤Daoy细胞,通过甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）、Real time-PCR、Western blot及Transwell实验方法分别检测不同浓度5-aza-CdR处理后髓母细胞瘤Daoy细胞中脾源性酪氨酸激酶（Syk）基因启动子区甲基化、mRNA表达、蛋白表达及细胞穿膜数的变化。结果：髓母细胞瘤Daoy细胞中Syk基因启动子存在过甲基化,与对照组比较,经不同浓度5-aza-CdR处理后,其Syk基因启动子区甲基化受到不同程度抑制,Syk mRNA的表达量最高上调（3.40±0.24）倍（P<0.01）;Syk蛋白的表达量最高上调（3.23±0.19）倍（P<0.01）;细胞侵袭及转移能力降低（P<0.05）,差异有统计学意义。结论：髓母细胞瘤Daoy细胞中Syk基因启动子甲基化导致其表达下调,可能是髓母细胞瘤发生转移的机制之一;而甲基化转移酶抑制剂5-aza-CdR可抑制其启动子区的甲基化,使Syk的表达水平上调,抑制肿瘤细胞侵袭及转移能力。     

鼻咽癌细胞系CNE2中NPCEDRG基因mRNA剪接变异体的分析

NPCEDRG基因是采用基因定位候选克隆策略获得的1个鼻咽癌候选抑瘤基因. NPCEDRG在鼻咽癌细胞和组织中表达下调,重新恢复NPCEDRG基因在CNE2细胞系的表达,可部分逆转CNE2 的恶性表型. 本研究对CNE2细胞所表达的NPCEDRG基因mRNA剪接变异体克隆、鉴定,发现NPCEDRG基因至少有7个转录起始位点,其中NM_032316的TSS位于ATG上游-85 nt处,AF538150和AK094248的TSS位于-25 nt处;AF538150不存在第2外显子中6核苷酸序列（5′-TTGCAG-3′）的缺失,其CDs为516 bp,编码1种由171个氨基酸组成的蛋白质（而非GenBank中公布的CDs为510 bp,1种由169个氨基酸组成的蛋白质）. 本研究成功克隆得到1种新的NPCEDRG基因的mRNA剪接变异体V2,其TSS位于-23 nt处,其CDs为297 bp,编码1种由98个氨基酸组成的蛋白质.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.