Notch受体在胰腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨胰腺癌及癌旁组织中Notch1～4蛋白和mRNA表达及临床意义。方法:应用免疫组化方法检测40例胰腺癌组织及对应的癌旁组织石蜡标本中Notch1～4蛋白的表达情况;分析Notch1～4受体表达水平与胰腺癌临床病理特征关系;应用实时逆转录聚合酶链反应(Real-time RT PCR)检测冰冻胰腺癌组织及对应的癌旁组织手术标本中Notch1～4的mRNA表达情况。结果:免疫组化结果显示:Notch1、Notch2在胰腺癌组织中蛋白表达明显比胰腺癌旁组织低(P0.05);Notch3在胰腺癌组织中蛋白表达比胰腺癌旁组织高,但是差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Notch4在胰腺癌组织中蛋白表达比胰腺癌旁组织高(P0.05)。Notch1～4受体的表达与肿瘤分化程度和临床分期呈负相关(P0.05)。Real-time RT PCR结果显示:与胰腺癌旁组织相比,癌组织中Notch1,Notch2的mRNA相对表达水平显著下调;胰腺癌癌组织中Notch3,Notch4的mRNA相对表达水平显著上调。结论:Notch家族的Notch1～4受体在胰腺癌组织及其旁组织的蛋白和mRNA表达不同,Notch蛋白表达可以作为胰腺癌的风险预测因子。     

FGFR4 mRNA及蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究乳腺癌组织与乳腺癌癌旁组织中FGFR4 mRNA及蛋白的表达及其临床意义。方法:分别以实时荧光定量RT-PCR、Western blot的方法检测52例乳腺癌组织和52例癌旁正常组织中FGFR4 mRNA和蛋白的表达,分析FGFR4 mRNA和蛋白的表达与临床病理特征的相关性。结果:在乳腺癌组织中,FGFR4 mRNA及蛋白的表达均高于在乳腺癌癌旁正常组织(P0.05),并且FGFR4的表达与患者淋巴结转移和Her-2相关,而与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、分化程度、ER和PR无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论:FGFR4 mRNA及蛋白在乳腺癌组织中表达升高,与淋巴结转移和Her-2有关,有望成为预测乳腺癌的转移和预后的参考指标之一。     

Nucleostemin基因在非小细胞肺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨Nucleostemin(NS,核干细胞因子)基因在非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)组织中的表达及临床意义。方法利用RT-PCR法检测13对NSCLC组织和癌旁正常组织中NS mRNA的表达;采用免疫组织化学SP法检测73例NSCLC组织和13例癌旁正常组织中NS蛋白的表达,并分析与NSCLC患者临床病理特征的关系。结果 NSCLC组织中NS mRNA相对表达强度(0.848±0.305)显著高于癌旁正常组织(0.153±0.020)(t=8.712,P0.01)。NS蛋白在NSCLC中的表达率为58.9%(43/73)显著高于癌旁正常组织中的表达率0%(0/13)(χ2=15.315,P0.01)。NS蛋白的表达率与NSCLC的组织类型及分化程度相关,腺癌组织的表达率为76.5%(26/34)明显高于鳞癌组织的表达率43.6%(17/39)(χ2=8.113,P0.01);低分化组织的表达率81.5%(22/27)明显高于高、中分化组织的表达率45.7%(21/46)(χ2=9.023,P0.01),而与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、TNM分期及淋巴结转移无关(P0.05)。结论 NS基因mRNA及蛋白在NSCLC组织中高表达,对肿瘤细胞的恶性增殖起了重要作用,是一个新的有应用价值的肿瘤分子标志物。     

食管鳞状细胞癌中DICKKOPF-3基因的甲基化状态及表达

目的检测食管鳞状细胞癌(esophageal squamous cell cancer,ESCC)中Wnt通路拮抗基因DICKKOPF-3(DKK3)的甲基化状态,探讨其与ESCC发生的关系。方法应用甲基化特异性PCR(methylation specificPCR,MSP)及RT-PCR的方法检测78例ESCC及相应癌旁非肿瘤组织中DKK3基因的甲基化状态及mRNA表达情况,应用免疫组化的方法检测通路中心因子-βcatenin蛋白及下游靶基因cyclinD1的表达,并分析其与食管癌发生的关系。结果在ESCC组织中,DKK3基因的甲基化频率为37.2%(29/78),明显高于癌旁非肿瘤组织(χ2=35.622,P=0.000);癌组织中该基因的甲基化率与肿瘤患者临床分期相关(χ2=4.705,P=0.030),而与组织学分级无关;食管癌中DKK3基因mRNA的阳性表达率为65.4%(51/78),明显低于癌旁非肿瘤组织(χ2=13.298,P=0.000)。在发生甲基化的食管癌组织中该基因的mRNA表达缺失及-βcatenin蛋白的异质表达率均明显高于未发生甲基化的癌组织,且差异有统计学意义(χ2mRNA=29.141,P=0.000;χ2-βcatenin=6.245,P=0.012)。食管癌中cyclinD1的表达明显高于癌旁组织,且癌组织中该蛋白的表达与DKK3基因的甲基化状态相关(χ2=4.921,P=0.027)。结论 ESCC组织中DKK3基因高甲基化导致的转录沉默可能与食管癌的发生有关,并可能通过活化Wnt/-βcatenin信号转导通路促进下游靶基因cyclinD1的过表达发挥作用。     

应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测宫颈癌及其外周血中VEGF表达的研究

目的:研究血管内皮生长因子在宫颈癌患者癌和癌旁组织及外周血循环细胞中的表达情况,分析其在肿瘤生长与转移中的作用。方法:采用基于TaqMan探针技术的实时荧光定量RT-PCR法检测了50例宫颈癌患者癌及癌旁组织和40例正常宫颈组织标本中VEGF mRNA的表达情况及其对应的外周血中的VEGF mRNA表达,分析其与临床病理参数之间的关系。结果:宫颈癌组织及癌旁组织中VEGF mRNA的表达水平无明显差异,但均与正常宫颈组织的表达水平差异有显著性;宫颈癌组织中VEGF mRNA的表达与肿瘤的组织学类型无明显的相关性;而与肿瘤的临床病理分期、病理分化程度、淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径、深肌层浸润间均呈显著的正相关。宫颈癌患者外周血中VEGF的表达明显高于对照组水平,与淋巴结是否转移密切相关,但与其他临床病理参数无关。结论:实时荧光定量RT-PCR可以敏感且特异性的检测出宫颈癌组织及外周血中VEGF mRNA的表达,且方法准确可靠,操作方便,在肿瘤的微转移的诊断监测方面有一定的应用价值。VEGF有可能成为治疗恶性肿瘤的一个潜在的分子靶点。     

神经纤毛蛋白1在卵巢癌组织标本中的表达及临床意义

目的检测神经纤毛蛋白1(neuropilin 1, NRP1)在卵巢癌组织中的表达水平与病理特征的关系,为其治疗和预后提供理论指导。方法选取2013年至2019年于西安交通大学第一附属医院治疗的120例卵巢癌患者及配对的癌旁组织23例,利用实时荧光定量PCR、蛋白免疫印迹分析、免疫组织化学染色分别检测NRP1在卵巢癌组织中的mRNA及蛋白表达水平,并分析NRP1免疫反应性与临床病理特征的关系。同时利用免疫荧光检测NRP1在卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3中的表达水平。结果 NRP1蛋白在卵巢癌组织中表达水平显著高于癌旁组织,在卵巢癌组织中阳性表达率(76.67%)明显高于癌旁组织(47.83%)。NRP1的高阳性表达率与肿瘤组织低分化相关,与肿瘤组织高分期相关,与淋巴结转移及CA125血清表达水平均呈正相关。NRP1在卵巢癌细胞系中表达水平也较高。结论 NRP1蛋白在卵巢癌中高表达,与卵巢癌的病理分级分期密切相关,可作为一个预后指标指导卵巢癌治疗。     

UBC9在人肺癌组织中高表达及其临床意义(英文)

目的:由于Ubc9在肿瘤的发生于恶化中发挥巨大作用,本研究目的是对泛素结合酶(Ubc9)mRNA和Ubc9蛋白在非小细胞肺癌组织中表达进行检测,评估Ubc9在肺癌预后中的指导意义。方法:通过荧光定量PCR、免疫组织化学法、Western-blot检测100例非小细胞肺癌病人中Ubc9 mRNA、蛋白水平的表达进一步研究Ubc9的表达与肺癌临床特征的关系。结果:实验结果显示在肺癌细胞中Ubc9阳性表达显示为黄棕色颗粒,与癌旁组织比较,Ubc9 mRNA、蛋白在肺癌组织中高表达,并且与肺癌的临床分型(分期、淋巴结转移、吸烟、分化)有关。Ubc9 mRNA、蛋白在肺癌中的表达癌组织高于癌旁、有淋巴结转移的高于无转移、吸烟高于不吸烟者、低分化组织高于高分化组织。结论:由此可见Ubc9 mRNA、蛋白水平的高表达可能对肺癌临床特征的评估,以及预测术后生存率都有重要指导意义。     

结肠癌组织RASSF1A基因转录表达和启动子区甲基化研究

目的:研究Ras相关区域家族1A基因(ras association domain family 1A,RASSF1A)启动子区甲基化对结肠癌组织中该基因转录和表达的影响.方法:应用甲基化特异性PCR(Methylation-special PCR,MSP)、RT-PCR和Western blot方法检测30例结肠癌组织和癌旁组织中的RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化状态、mRNA和蛋白表达水平.结果:①RASSF1A基因启动子区在结肠癌纽织和正常组织中的甲基化频率分别为57%(17/30)和20%(6/30),甲基化频率在两组具有统计学差异(p＜0.01),,结肠癌组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化频率显著高于癌旁正常组织(x2=8.531,p＜0.01);②结肠癌组织中RASSF1A基因mRNA和蛋白袁达均显著低于癌旁组织(癌组织和癌旁正常组织中mRNA相对表达量分别为0.2836±0.0493和0.5092±0.0433,P＜0.001;以上组织中蛋白相对表达量分别为0.3124±0.0472和0.5320±0.0440,P＜0.01);③在结肠癌组织中,甲基化组RASSF1A基因mRNA和蛋白表达明显低于非甲基化组(甲基化组和非甲基化组mRNA相对表达量分别为0.0686±0.0174和0.5511±0.0486,P＜0.0001;以上组中蛋白相对表达量分别为0.1219±0.0326和0.5614±0.0380,P＜0.0001).结论:结肠癌组织中RASSF1A基因启动子区甲基化明显增高,与该基因蛋白表达减少显著相关,这可能是导致结肠癌中RASSF1A抑癌基因失活的主要因为.     

EBP50和EGFR在食管癌中的表达和临床意义

为了探讨抑癌基因磷酸化蛋白(EBP50)和表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)在食管癌中的表达及临床预后关系,本研究采用免疫组化方法检测66例食管癌及癌旁组织中EBP50和EGFR蛋白的表达。研究发现,EBP50在食管癌组织中的表达低于癌旁正常食管组织(p0.05);EGFR在食管癌中的表达较癌旁正常食管组织上调(p0.05);EGFR高表达和EBP50低表达与食管鳞癌的大小、浸润、分期及淋巴结转移密切相关(p0.05);食管癌组织中EBP50与EGFR的蛋白表达呈负相关(r=0.969, p0.05),而联合EBP50低表达、EGFR高表达的患者存在比较差的预后(p0.05)。本研究表明,EBP50蛋白的低表达和EGFR蛋白的高表达可能参与了食管癌的发展、侵袭和转移的过程,可作为预测食管癌预后的重要指标。     

MT1F mRNA在结肠癌组织中的表达及其临床病理意义

目的:探讨MT1F mRNA在结肠癌组织中的表达及其临床病理意义。方法:采用Taq Man探针实时荧光定量Real-time PCR检测40例结肠癌及对应正常粘膜组织中MT1F mRNA的表达,并通过免疫组化检测Metallothionein(MT)的蛋白表达。结果:82.5%(33/40例)的结肠癌组织MT1F mRNA表达较对应正常组织明显下调,降低2.4倍至113倍不等。MT1F mRNA水平与结肠癌患者的年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、肉眼形态、直径、分化及Dukes分期无关。在MT1F mRNA低表达的病例中,癌组织MT蛋白表达低于对应正常组织(P0.05)。结论:结肠癌组织MT1F mRNA水平显著下调,但与结肠癌的临床病理特征无关。     

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.