BRD4在喉鳞状细胞癌病灶转移过程中的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨溴样结构域蛋白4 (Bromoid Domain Protein 4,BRD4)在喉鳞状细胞癌病灶转移过程中的作用及其机制。方法:收集本院2016年4月-2018年4月收治的87例喉鳞状细胞癌患者手术标本。qRT-PCR、Western blot和免疫组化染色检测患者肿瘤组织(Tumor Tissue)、癌旁组织(Adjacent Tissue)和正常组织(Normal Tissue)中BRD4表达;BRD4拮抗剂GSK525762A(500nmo L/L)处理喉鳞状细胞癌Hep2细胞,24、48和72 h后CCK-8检测细胞增殖;Trans-well细胞迁移实验和侵袭实验分别检测GSK525762A给药前后Hep2细胞迁移和侵袭能力;qRT-PCR和Western blot检测GSK525762A给药前后Hep2细胞BRD4、E-Cadherin、N-Cadherin和Twist蛋白表达。结果:喉鳞状细胞癌肿瘤组织中BRD4表达高于癌旁组织和正常卵巢组织(P0.05);GSK525762A给药处理后Hep2细胞增殖能力、迁移和侵袭能力及BRD4和上皮间质转化相关蛋白N-Cadherin和Twist表达均明显低于阴性对照组(P0.05),而E-Cadherin表达的表达明显升高(P0.05)。结论:BRD4可能通过抑制E-Cadherin的表达,增加N-Cadherin和Twist的表达,进而激活上皮间质转化,促进喉鳞状细胞癌转移。     

赶黄草总黄酮对活化的肝星状细胞 TGF-β1/Smads信号通路的影响

为研究赶黄草总黄酮对TGF-β1(transforming growth factor beta 1)活化的肝星状细胞的作用及可能的机理,采用TGF-β1诱导人肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cell LX-2,HSC-LX-2)活化,给予不同浓度赶黄草总黄酮后,MTT法检测赶黄草总黄酮对活化后的LX-2增殖的影响,划痕实验检测细胞迁移率,胶原收缩实验检测胶原收缩情况,酶联免疫吸附实验(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测细胞培养液中一型胶原(collagenⅠ,ColⅠ)及纤连蛋白(fibronectin,FN)等细胞外基质的沉积,进一步采用Western blot法检测TGF-β1/Smads信号通路相关蛋白Smad2、Smad3、p-Smad2、p-Smad3、Smad7的表达。结果显示,赶黄草浓度在为5、9、13 mg/L均可抑制TGF-β1活化后的LX-2的增殖和迁移,且13 mg/L时效果最显著(P0.01);另外,赶黄草总黄酮可减少ColⅠ及FN等细胞外基质(extracellular matrix,ECM)的沉积(P0.01),并抑制胶原收缩;Western blot结果显示,赶黄草总黄酮作用后Smad3、p-Smad2和p-Smad3的表达均显著减少(P0.05),Smad7的表达明显增加。赶黄草总黄酮能明显抑制LX-2的增殖,减少ECM的分泌,其作用机制可能与与其抑制TGF-β1/Smads信号通路传导有关。     

Smad7对肝癌细胞增殖和迁移的影响及其临床意义

目的:探究Smad7对肝癌细胞增殖和迁移的影响及其临床意义。方法:通过转染pcDNA3.1(+)-Smad7质粒或Smad7的小干扰RNA使得Smad7在肝癌细胞系HepG2和Huh7中过表达或敲减,应用MTT法检测Smad7对肝癌细胞增殖的影响,采用细胞划痕实验以及Transwell实验探讨Smad7对肝癌细胞迁移的影响。采用qRT-PCR检测9例肝癌癌患者手术切除的组织样本中Smad7的表达。结果:过表达Smad7的肝癌细胞增殖能力与对照组相比有明显的下降,而敲减smad7能够促进肝癌细胞的增殖。过表达smad7的肝癌细胞穿过Transwell小室底膜的能力显著下降,而敲减Smad7能够促进这种能力。Smad7在肝癌癌旁组织中的表达显著高于癌组织。结论:Smad7能够在肝细胞肝癌的进展中发挥负向调控作用。     

人β防御素-2通过TGF-β/Smad信号通路对胃癌SGC7901细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响

该文探讨了人β防御素-2(hBD2)对胃癌SGC7901细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响。将真核表达载体pCMV-hBD2转染于人胃癌SGC7901细胞。采用qPCR和免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测转染效率。Western blot检测TGF-β1、p-Smad2/3、Smad2/3、MMP9的蛋白表达水平。Transwell法检测SGC7901细胞迁移和侵袭能力。EdU法和流式细胞术分别检测增殖能力与细胞周期。结果显示,转染真核表达载体pCMV-hBD2的SGC7901细胞, hBD2的表达水平明显高于SGC7901和转染pCMV-Blank的SGC7901细胞。SGC7901-hBD2细胞中TGF-β1、p-Smad2/3和MMP9的蛋白表达水平均低于SGC7901和SGC7901-Blank细胞,而Smad2/3表达水平不变。同时,其迁移侵袭和增殖能力均受到抑制,细胞周期G0/G1期阻滞。该实验结果表明, hBD2可能通过下调TGF-β/Smad信号通路调控SGC7901细胞的迁移侵袭以及增殖能力。     

胎盘间充质干细胞治疗小鼠烫伤愈合的相关研究

目的:观察胎盘间充质干细胞对TGF-β1/Smad信号通路的调控作用,探讨胎盘间充质干细胞对烫伤愈合及瘢痕形成的影响。方法:构建小鼠烫伤模型,注射人胎盘间充质干细胞(hPMSCs),荧光显微镜观察小鼠创伤皮肤组织中hPMSCs细胞的存活情况;HE和Masson染色观察小鼠创伤皮肤的变化;Western blot检测观察创伤皮肤TGF-β1、p-Smad3、Smad7、α-SMA、collagen I、Collagen III蛋白表达变化。结果:注射hPMSCs细胞后,小鼠创伤面积逐渐减小,创伤愈合率逐渐增加;hPMSCs细胞分布在小鼠创伤皮肤组织中,存活状况较好。进一步研究发现烫伤模型组皮肤表层细胞受损脱落,真皮层组织疏松,毛囊、皮脂腺等附属器坏死,可见明显的毛细血管扩张,并伴有炎性细胞渗出,同时可见大量的成纤维细胞增生和胶原纤维形成;注射hPMSCs细胞治疗后,病理改变、纤维增生和胶原形成明显减轻;此外,烫伤模型组创伤皮肤组织中TGF-β1、p-Smad3表达明显上调,Smad7蛋白表达明显下调,α-SMA、collagen I、Collagen III表达明显上调。经hPMSCs细胞治疗后,TGF-β1、p-Smad3蛋白表达明显下调,Smad7蛋白表达明显上调,α-SMA、collagen I、Collagen III蛋白表达明显下调。结论:胎盘间充质干细胞可能通过抑制TGF-β1/Smad信号通路,发挥促进烫伤愈合且抑制瘢痕形成的作用。     

芳姜黄酮对人皮肤鳞状细胞癌A431细胞迁移、侵袭及凋亡的影响和机制研究

为研究芳姜黄酮(Ar-Turmerone)对人鳞状细胞癌A431细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭和凋亡的影响及机制。实验采用CCK-8法检测抑制率,吉姆萨染色观察细胞形态,划痕实验和Transwell小室实验研究细胞迁移和侵袭能力的变化,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。此外,通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(Real-time PCR)与蛋白质印迹法(western blot)法检测mRNA和蛋白表达。siRNA阻断Notch1,Hes1和PTEN,检测相应的下游mRNA和蛋白的表达变化,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率。结果发现,芳姜黄酮可以抑制A431细胞增殖,使细胞形态发生改变,抑制细胞体外迁移和侵袭能力,促进细胞凋亡。经过芳姜黄酮处理后,Notch1,Hes1,PTEN的mRNA和蛋白表达升高。沉默Notch1,Hes1 mRNA和蛋白表达低于单纯给药组,而沉默Hes1,PTEN mRNA和蛋白表达也低于单纯给药组;沉默PTEN后,与单纯给药组相比,细胞死亡率降低。总之,芳姜黄酮可以抑制人鳞状细胞癌A431细胞的增殖并促进其凋亡,且具有抑制体外迁移和侵袭的作用,其促进细胞凋亡的机制是通过Notch1/Hes1/PTEN途径实现的。     

Smurf1对增生性瘢痕纤维化形成的影响及分子机制

摘要 目的：探究Smurf1对增生性瘢痕形成中纤维化进程的影响及分子机制。方法：收集2021年6月至2022年6月空军军医大学第二附属医院烧伤整形科行增生性瘢痕切除手术患者的瘢痕组织及正常皮肤标本各12例,采用HE和Masson染色进行病理学检查。取增生性瘢痕组织无菌处理后,采取组织块法分离培养获取人增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞（HSF）。将HSF细胞按照实验方案分组,（1）Smurf1过表达分组：对照1组（Con-1组）,空载体组（Vector组）和Smurf1过表达组（OE-Smurf1组）;（2）Smurf1干扰表达分组：对照2组（Con-2组）,阴性组（si-NC组）,Smurf1干扰表达组（si-Smurf1组）。再分别将pcDNA3.1空质粒、pcDNA3.1+Smurf1质粒、si-NC和si-Smurf1转染至Vector组、OE-Smurf1组、si-NC组和si-Smurf1组HSF细胞。通过qRT-PCR检测Smurf1表达水平,Western blot检测蛋白表达水平,CCK-8检测细胞增殖水平,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡水平,Transwell实验检测细胞侵袭水平,细胞划痕实验检测细胞迁移水平。结果：HE染色和Masson染色结果显示,与正常皮肤组织相比,增生性瘢痕组织的真皮层厚度显著增加,真皮层中存在大量被染成蓝色的胶原纤维,排列紊乱且致密。与正常皮肤组织相比,增生性瘢痕组织中TGF-β1、α-SMA、COL1、COL3、TβR-I、p-Smad3和Smad7的蛋白表达水平均升高（P<0.05）,Smurf1表达水平降低（P<0.05）。与Con-1或Vector组比较,OE-Smurf1组HSF细胞中TGF-β1、α-SMA、COL1、COL3、TβR-I、p-Smad3和Smad7蛋白的表达水平均降低（P<0.05）,HSF细胞增殖、侵袭和迁移水平降低（P<0.05）,凋亡水平升高（P<0.05）。与Con-2组或si-NC组比较,si-Smurf1组HSF细胞中TGF-β1、α-SMA、COL1、COL3、TβR-I、p-Smad3和Smad7蛋白的表达水平均升高（P<0.05）,HSF细胞增殖、侵袭和迁移水平升高（P<0.05）,凋亡水平降低（P<0.05）。结论：Smurf1可能通过抑制TGF-β1/Smad通路,进而抑制增生性瘢痕的纤维化进程。     

MiR-5047在乳腺癌细胞增殖迁移中的作用及表达调控*

探讨miR-5047在乳腺癌细胞中的表达及其在乳腺癌细胞增殖和迁移中的作用,并明确地西他滨在miR-5047表达调控中的作用。通过实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测人乳腺癌细胞系和正常乳腺上皮细胞MCF10A中miR-5047的表达水平;将miR-5047模拟物(mimic),阴性对照(NC)分别转染至MDA-MB-231和MCF7细胞,经平板克隆实验、MTT实验、划痕愈合实验检测乳腺癌细胞的增殖和迁移能力,通过qRT-PCR和Western blot检测相关基因表达及蛋白水平。使用浓度5 μmol/L和10 μmol/L的地西他滨分别处理MDA-MB-231和MCF-7细胞,经qRT-PCR检测不同浓度和处理时间条件下地西他滨对miR-5047表达的影响。同时,通过形态观察和Western blot检测地西他滨对乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化的影响。与正常乳腺上皮细胞MCF-10A相比,miR-5047在乳腺癌细胞中表达均显著下调。miR-5047过表达可显著抑制乳腺癌细胞的增殖和迁移,促进上皮细胞标志物E-cadherin的表达,抑制间质细胞标志物Vimentin的表达。不同浓度地西他滨处理MDA-MB-231和MCF7细胞后,miR-5047表达均增强,且10 μmol/L作用48 h效果最显著。地西他滨可诱导MDA-MB-231细胞向上皮样转变。miR-5047在乳腺癌细胞系中表达显著下调,过表达miR-5047可抑制乳腺癌细胞的增殖和迁移,地西他滨可促进乳腺癌细胞中miR-5047的表达,并诱导细胞向上皮样转变。     

METTL3对皮肤鳞状细胞癌细胞的增殖和分化的影响研究

皮肤鳞状细胞癌来源于表皮干细胞的自我更新和分化的平衡失调。近来研究表明,甲基转移酶3(METTL3)介导的m6A修饰在多种癌症研究中成为前沿热点。然而, METTL3在皮肤鳞状细胞癌中的作用尚未报道。该研究目的在于了解METTL3在皮肤鳞状细胞癌发生中的作用。通过构建shRNA敲低皮肤鳞状细胞癌中METTL3,研究其对WTAP、METTL14以及m6A修饰水平的作用。此外,应用免疫组化、免疫印迹、qPCR以及裸鼠荷瘤实验,在体外和体内水平研究敲低METTL3对鳞状细胞癌增殖、分化和自我更新的影响。结果显示, METTL3在鳞状细胞癌细胞中表达上调。敲低METTL3能降低METTL14以及m6A修饰水平。敲低METTL3促进癌细胞的分化,并增加IKKα的表达;同时抑制癌细胞的增殖和自我更新,降低自我更新相关基因的表达。综上,该实验证明了METTL3在调节皮肤鳞状细胞癌细胞分化和自我更新中的关键作用。该研究也为皮肤鳞状细胞癌的治疗提供一个新的靶点。     

氧化应激下角质形成细胞中YTHDC1升高促进IL-1β表达

摘要 目的：探讨氧化应激下角质形成细胞内m6A甲基化修饰酶YTHDC1异常对促炎因子的调控机制。方法：通过Western blot和qRT-PCR实验检测氧化应激下角质形成细胞中YTHDC1蛋白和mRNA表达水平。siRNA转染至角质形成细胞以干涉YTHDC1表达,随后继续给予300 μM过氧化氢处理,通过Western blot和qRT-PCR实验检测角质形成细胞中促炎因子IL-1β蛋白和mRNA表达,进一步通过ELISA检测细胞上清中IL-1β分泌,通过CCK8法检测细胞存活水平。结果：1）过氧化氢刺激后人角质形成细胞系HaCaT细胞中YTHDC1表达水平较未处理组明显升高;2）干涉YTHDC1可以显著降低HaCaT细胞中IL-1β表达和上清中分泌;3）干涉YTHDC1后IL-1β mRNA稳定性下降,并且细胞存活率下降。结论：氧化应激下角质形成细胞中m6A甲基化修饰酶YTHDC1表达水平升高,通过提高mRNA稳定性促进IL-1β表达,可能是外界环境应激引起各种免疫性皮肤病的重要机制。     

FUT4-siRNA增强5-aza-dC对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制

岩藻糖基转移酶IV（fucosyltransferase IV,FUT4）是催化蛋白质岩藻糖基化的关键酶．已经证明,FUT4-siRNA能够抑制鳞癌细胞的增殖．5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-dC）是临床常用化疗药物,但5-aza-dC是否对鳞癌有治疗作用,以及与FUT4-siRNA联合使用能否加强对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制尚不清楚．本研究以鳞癌细胞系A431和SCC12为对象,探讨5-aza-dC及其与FUT4-siRNA联合使用对细胞增殖和迁移的影响．MTT结合流式细胞周期分析显示,5-aza-dC处理A431和SCC12细胞4 d后,细胞增殖被明显抑制,抑制率分别为18%和20% (P<0.05);与对照组比较,加药处理组G1期细胞数量减少,S期细胞数量明显增加．Western印迹结果揭示,A431细胞FUT4表达水平较SCC12细胞高．经5-aza-dC处理后SCC12细胞FUT4表达有所增加,但仍低于A431细胞中的表达．FUT4-siRNA转染结合台盼蓝活细胞记数证明,FUT4-siRNA明显降低细胞FUT4表达,5-aza-dC处理同时转染FUT4-siRNA的A431和SCC12细胞增殖进一步被抑制,抑制率分别为54%和60% (P<0.05)．细胞划痕法显示,5-aza-dC与FUT4-siRNA联合使用,对细胞迁移能力的抑制作用比5-aza-dC单独使用增强．上述结果提示,5-aza-dC通过诱导细胞S期阻滞抑制鳞癌细胞增殖,FUT4-siRNA与5-aza+dC联合使用可加强对细胞增殖和迁移的抑制．     

MicroRNA-486-5p suppresses TGF-β<Subscript>2</Subscript>-induced proliferation,invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells by targeting Smad2

The pathological development of lens epithelial cells (LECs) leads to posterior capsular opacification (PCO). This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of microRNA-486-5p (miR-486-5p) on TGF-β₂-induced proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lens epithelial cell line SRA01/04, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of miR-486-5p in TGF-β₂-induced SRA01/04 cells was down-regulated, and the expression of Smad2, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 was up-regulated. A dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-486-5p directly targets the 3′-UTR of Smad2. MiR-486-5p mimic transfection markedly down-regulated the expression levels of Smad2, thus inhibiting the expression of p-Smad2 and p-Smad3. MiR-486-5p overexpression in SRA01/04 cells markedly suppressed TGF-β₂-induced proliferation and invasion, inhibited protein expression of CDK2 and CDK4, down-regulated fibronectin, α-SMA and vimentin and up-regulated E-cadherin; these effects were partly reversed by Smad2 overexpression. In short, these data show that miR-486-5p overexpression can inhibit TGF-β₂-induced proliferation, invasion and EMT in SRA01/04 cells by repressing Smad2/Smad3 signalling, implying that miR-486-5p may be an effective target to interfere in the progression of PCO.     

鳞癌细胞增殖能力与岩藻糖基转移酶表达水平及糖蛋白岩藻糖基化修饰有关

岩藻糖基转移酶（fucosyltransferases,FUTs）是一类催化糖蛋白和糖脂发生岩藻糖基化（修饰）酶,主要包括FUT1~FUT9。已有研究证明,很多癌组织中都有不同FUT基因表达升高的现象。本研究证明,表皮鳞癌细胞的增殖能力与几种FUT基因表达水平有关。本文比较研究了人表皮鳞癌A431和SCC12细胞的增殖速度和几种FUT的表达状况,以揭示鳞癌细胞增殖能力与几种FUT基因表达水平的关系。细胞倍增时间结合MTT法揭示,鳞癌A431细胞的倍增时间约为26 h,而鳞癌SCC12细胞的倍增时间约为33 h（P < 0.05）,提示A431细胞增殖速度比SCC12细胞明显加快。与增殖速度一致的是,Western 印迹显示,A431细胞中与DNA合成相关的增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA）蛋白表达水平比SCC12细胞高。实时定量PCR（qPCR）检测FUT1-9基因 mRNA转录本,揭示A431细胞中几种FUT基因的mRNA水平均显著高于SCC12细胞。凝集素免疫印迹法和Western 印迹法进一步证明,A431细胞中总蛋白的岩藻糖基化水平比SCC12细胞中的明显升高。敲低FUT4基因表达后,A431细胞中LeY寡糖的表达水平下调,细胞增殖被明显抑制。这些结果证明,较强的表皮鳞癌细胞增殖能力可能与几种FUT基因的高表达,以及糖蛋白的岩藻糖基化（修饰）相关。岩藻糖基转移酶表达水平与临床表皮鳞癌的恶性增生的相关性有待进一步证明。     

Flouride Promotes Viability and Differentiation of Osteoblast-Like Saos-2 Cells Via BMP/Smads Signaling Pathway

The BMP/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in the viability and differentiation of osteoblast; however, it is not clear whether this pathway is involved in the fluoride-induced osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we investigated the role of BMP/Smad signaling pathway in fluoride-induced osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells differentiation. Cells were exposed to fluoride of different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM), and cell proliferation was determined using WST assays. The expression of osteoblast marker genes such as osteocalcin (BGP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were detected by qRT-PCR. We found that fluoride enhanced the proliferation of Saos-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and 0.2 mM of fluoride resulted in a higher expression of osteoblast marker genes. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that the promotion effects of 0.2 mM of fluoride on Saos-2 cells differentiation were associated with the activation of the BMP/Smad pathway. Expression of phosphorylated Smad1/5(p-Smad1/5) was higher in cells exposed to 0.2 mM of fluoride. Plasmid expression vectors encoding the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting Smad4 gene were used to block the BMP/Smad pathway, which resulted in a significantly reduced expression of BGP and BALP as well as their corresponding mRNA. The mRNA levels after transfection remained low even in the presence of fluoride. The present results reveal that BMP/Smad signaling pathway was altered during the period of osteogenesis, and that the activities of p-Smad1/5 were required for Saos-2 cells viability and differentiation induced by fluoride.     

Bromodomain protein BRD4 promotes cell proliferation in skin squamous cell carcinoma

The present study examined the expression and biological functions of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. Our results show that BRD4 mRNA and protein expression was upregulated in human skin SCC cells, as compared to its level in the normal skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Treatment with BRD4 inhibitors, JQ1 and CPI203, resulted in proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in both established (A431 cell line) and primary skin SCC cells. Furthermore, BRD4 knockdown (by targeted shRNAs) or knockout (by CRISPR/Cas9) largely inhibited A431 cell proliferation. Reversely, forced-overexpression of BRD4 in A431 cells facilitated cell proliferation. We show that BRD4 is required for the expression of several oncogenes, including cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and MYC. BRD4 inhibition, knockdown or knockout significantly decreased above oncogene expression in SCC cells. In vivo, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated BRD4 knockout significantly suppressed A431 xenograft tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Together, our results suggest that BRD4 could be a novel and pivotal oncogenic protein of skin SCC.     

Squamous cell carcinoma and mammary abscess formation through squamous metaplasia in Smad4/Dpc4 conditional knockout mice

Smad4 is a central mediator for TGFbeta signals, which play important functions in many biological processes. To study the role of Smad4 in mammary gland development and neoplasia, we disrupted this gene in mammary epithelium using a Cre-loxP approach. Smad4 is expressed in the mammary gland throughout development; however, its inactivation did not cause abnormal development of the gland during the first three pregnancies. Instead, lack of Smad4 gradually induced cell proliferation, alveolar hyperplasia and transdifferentiation of mammary epithelial cells into squamous epithelial cells. Consequently, all mutant mice developed squamous cell carcinoma and/or mammary abscesses between 5 and 16 months of age. We demonstrated that absence of Smad4 resulted in beta-catenin accumulation at onset and throughout the process of transdifferentiation, implicating beta-catenin, a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway, in the development of squamous metaplasia in Smad4-null mammary glands. We further demonstrated that TGFbeta1 treatment degraded beta-catenin and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in cultured mammary epithelial cells. However, such actions were blocked in the absence of Smad4. These findings indicate that TGFbeta/Smad4 signals play a role in cell fate maintenance during mammary gland development and neoplasia.