热疗对SW1990胰腺癌细胞上皮间质转化（EMT）的影响及其作用机制

目的：探讨热疗对化疗诱导的人胰腺癌细胞株SW1990细胞上皮间质转化（EMT）的影响及其可能的作用机制。方法：分别用不同浓度吉西他滨（0,5,10,20,30wM）作用于SW1990细胞不同时间（24,48,72小时）及30μM吉西他滨作用24h联合热疗43℃1h,观察细胞的形态学变化,通过四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTT）法检测细胞的增殖情况。采用Westernblot方法检测细胞内E-cadherin蛋白和剪切的Notchl蛋白的表达。结果：①吉西他滨在一定浓度范围内可明显抑制SW1990细胞的增殖（P〈0．05）,并呈浓度和时间依赖性。吉西他滨作用前24h给予43℃1h热疗预处理可显著增强吉西他滨对SW1990细胞的抑制作用（P〈0．05）②吉西他滨作用SW1990细胞24小时后,细胞数目减少,细胞形态变大,细胞呈梭形,且细胞间连接减少;而热疗预处理的联合能够逆转此种形态学变化。③吉西他滨作用24小时后,细胞内E-cadherin蛋白的表达下调、CleavedNotchl的蛋白表达上调,热疗预处理可明显上调吉西他滨诱导的E-cadherin蛋白表达下调、并下调CleavedNotchl蛋白表达的上调。结论：热疗预处理显著逆转吉西他滨所诱导的人胰腺癌细胞株sW1990细胞的EMT现象,其机制可能与Notch信号通路有关。     

放疗与吉西他滨治疗对肺癌A549细胞自噬相关基因Beclin1表达的影响

目的:探讨放疗与吉西他滨(Gemcitabine,GEM)治疗对人肺腺癌A549细胞中自噬相关基因Beclin1表达的影响。方法:使用60Coγ照射(6Gy)人肺腺癌A549细胞,细胞继续培养6、12和24h。使用人剂量吉西他滨处理人肺腺癌A549细胞,细胞继续培养24 h后,以未处理的A549细胞为对照,用RT-PCR和Western blotting法检测A549细胞中Beclin1 m RNA和蛋白的表达。结果:经过放射线照射后,三组A549细胞内Beclin1 m RNA和蛋白的表达量均增加,且在24小时末表达量达到最大。经过吉西他滨处理后,吉西他滨处理组A549细胞内Beclin1 m RNA和蛋白的表达量均增加。结论:放射治疗与吉西他滨治疗均可导致A549细胞内自噬相关基因Beclin1表达上调。     

miR-451a促进胰腺癌细胞对吉西他滨的敏感性

目的:探究miR-451a在胰腺癌吉西他滨耐药中的功能。方法:通过低浓度梯度递增法建立胰腺癌吉西他滨耐药细胞株,microRNA(miRNA)测序筛选耐药相关miRNA;细胞存活曲线、克隆形成实验及流式凋亡实验分析miR-451a对胰腺癌细胞耐药的影响;裸鼠成瘤实验检测在动物体内模型中miR-451a对胰腺癌吉西他滨耐药的调控作用;调取TCGA数据分析miR-451a表达水平与胰腺癌病人预后的相关性。结果:胰腺癌吉西他滨耐药细胞株中miR-451a表达水平明显下调;miR-451a过表达增加胰腺癌细胞对吉西他滨的敏感性,增强了吉西他滨抑制细胞增殖和诱导细胞凋亡的作用;miR-451a诱导了裸鼠皮下肿瘤对吉西他滨敏感;miR-451a低表达与胰腺癌患者不良预后相关。结论:miR-451a增强了胰腺癌细胞对吉西他滨的敏感性。     

幽门螺杆菌致炎症微环境促进结肠癌SW620细胞发生EMT

该文探讨了幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori, HP)炎症微环境对结肠癌SW620细胞发生上皮-间质转化(epithelial mesenchymal transformation, EMT)的影响。使用ELISA方法检测HP干预U937细胞后上清中炎症因子MIF、IL-1β等的变化;采用RT-PCR方法检测MIF、IL-1β、NF-κB基因水平的变化;细胞划痕实验检测炎症上清处理SW620细胞后SW620细胞的侵袭迁移能力; CCK-8方法检测HP处理U937细胞后炎症上清对SW620细胞增殖活性的影响;免疫荧光实验检测炎症上清处理SW620细胞后SW620细胞EMT相关蛋白Vimentin的荧光变化; Western blot实验检测脂多糖(LPS)上清干预SW620细胞后EMT相关蛋白Vimentin、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的变化; Western blot实验检测HP干预U937细胞后NF-κB蛋白,炎症上清处理SW620细胞后EMT相关蛋白Vimentin、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的变化。结果显示, HP干预U937细胞后引起巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和NF-κB等相关炎症因子及基因表达升高; CCK-8结果表明HP干预U937细胞后, U937细胞毒性增强;划痕实验结果表明在12 h、24 h、36 h时,随着时间点的推移, SW620细胞的侵袭迁移能力有所增强;免疫荧光实验结果显示SW620细胞Vimentin绿色点状聚集显著增加; Western blot结果显示在16 h、24 h时间点U937细胞NF-κB蛋白表达明显升高; LPS上清干预SW620细胞后Vimentin蛋白表达无明显变化,N-cadherin蛋白24 h组表达减少, E-cadherin蛋白增多, HP炎症微环境上清干预SW620细胞后12 h、24 h、36 h时,随着时间点推移SW620细胞Vimentin蛋白表达显著增加, E-cadherin和N-cadherin蛋白表达显著减少。该实验研究结果表明,幽门螺杆菌致炎症微环境可以促进SW620细胞发生EMT。     

HSP27 特异性shRNA 表达载体的构建及在耐吉西他滨人胰腺癌细胞株 SW1990/Gem 中的表达

目的:构建HSP27基因的短发夹RNA(short hairpin RNA,shRNA)真核表达载体及观察其在耐吉西他滨人胰腺癌细胞株SW1990/Gem中的表达,为进一步探索肿瘤的基因治疗打下前期基础。方法:参考文献及shRNA设计原则,设计并合成2条能转录shRNA的DNA序列,退火连接后,插入含绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescence protein,GFP)基因和U6启动子的真核表达载体pRNAT-U6.3中,构建重组载体pRNAT-shHSP27。重组载体经鉴定后转染SW1990/Gem,倒置荧光显微镜观察转染情况,RT-PCR、Western Blot从mRNA及蛋白水平探讨转染对耐吉西他滨人胰腺癌细胞株SW1990/Gem的影响。结果:成功构建了针对HSP27基因的shRNA表达载体。倒置荧光显微镜下显示转染48h后SW1990/Gem细胞内存在GFP表达。RT-PCR、WesternBlot结果提示转染后HSP27的mRNA及蛋白表达水平较对照组有明显抑制(P<0.05)。结论:成功构建针对HSP27基因的特异性shRNA真核表达载体,转染细胞后可抑制HSP27表达,为进一步研究HSP27与胰腺癌生物学行为及化疗耐药等相关性奠定了基础。     

西妥昔单抗联合低温热疗诱导CNE细胞凋亡的研究

目的:观察西妥昔单抗联合低温热疗诱导人鼻咽癌细胞株CNE凋亡的效果,并初步探讨其可能的机制.方法:试验分对照组、单靶组、单热组及热靶组,MTT法测定西妥昔单抗对CNE细胞株48h20～30%抑制的药物浓度;以该浓度药物与低温热疗(43℃,30分钟)联合,Hoechst33258荧光染色法观察细胞凋亡形态学变化;流式细胞术检测24h、48h凋亡率;Western blot检测Bax、Bcl-2、EGFR蛋白的表达.结果:以48h20～30%抑制率的药物浓度(IC20～30)为试验的工作浓度,确定西妥昔单抗对CNE细胞株的工作浓度为10 ug/ml;荧光染色法观察到热靶组CNE细胞发生典型的凋亡形态学改变;流式凋亡检测显示24、48 h热靶组凋亡率显著高于相应单靶组、单热组及对照组(P＜0.05). western blot检测显示各处理组较之对照组都有上调Bax、下调Bcl-2、EGFR蛋白表达的作用,以热靶组最为显著(P＜0.05);热疗后EGFR蛋白表达逐渐下调.结论:西妥昔单抗联合低温热疗能显著增加CNE细胞的凋亡率,这可能与EGFR的下调与受抑,进而上调Bax、下调Bcl-2蛋白的表达促进凋亡有关.     

RNA干扰Mcl-1基因表达对淋巴瘤Raji细胞增殖和凋亡的机制研究

目的:探讨抑制Mcl-1基因表达对淋巴瘤Raji细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及机制。方法:NC-siRNA、Mcl-1-siRNA转染Raji细胞,以不作任何处理的细胞作为空白对照组,48h后Western blot检测各组细胞中Mcl-1的蛋白表达;CCK8实验和流式细胞仪分别检测细胞的增殖和凋亡情况;Western blot检测Cleaved caspase3、Notch1、Hes1蛋白表达。结果:转染Mcl-1-siRNA后Mcl-1的蛋白表达显著降低;与对照组及NC-siRNA组比较,Mcl-1-siRNA组细胞存活率显著降低,细胞凋亡率显著升高,Cleaved caspase3蛋白显著上调表达,Notch1和Hes1蛋白显著下调表达。结论:RNA干扰抑制Mcl-1基因表达可显著降低Raji细胞增殖及诱导细胞凋亡,其机制与抑制Notch1信号通路有关。     

环状GMP-AMP合成酶高表达对乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化的影响*

目的: 探讨环状GMP-AMP合成酶(cGAS)高表达对乳腺癌MCF7细胞发生上皮间质转化(EMT)的影响。方法: 构建稳定高表达cGAS的慢病毒载体并转染MCF7细胞;转染后细胞分别培养12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h,每组实验重复三次,采用MTT检测cGAS对MCF7细胞增殖的影响; transwell法检测高表达cGAS对MCF7细胞迁移能力的影响;蛋白免疫印迹(Western blot)法分析EMT相关蛋白E-cadherin和N-cadherin的表达情况。结果: 与对照组比较,cGAS上调后MCF7细胞增殖能力显著增强(P＜0.05);细胞形态学观察显示cGAS上调后诱导MCF7细胞EMT发生,细胞形态由鹅卵石样变为梭形;transwell实验结果显示,cGAS上调导致MCF7细胞迁移能力增强(P＜0.05);Western blot结果表明,cGAS上调后上皮标记蛋白E-cadherin表达下降(P＜0.05),间质标记蛋白N-cadherin表达增加(P＜0.05)。结论: cGAS上调可增强乳腺癌细胞的增殖和迁移能力,诱导乳腺癌细胞EMT发生。     

沉默FOXQ1可逆转SW480细胞的上皮-间质转化

FOXQ1是FOX家族的的重要成员之一,其参与了多种人类肿瘤的上皮间质转化(epithelial- mesenchymal transition,EMT).本研究设计合成了FOXQ1基因的shRNA（short hairpin RNA）,用此转染SW480细胞,通过显微镜观察细胞形态,Transwell小室、细胞黏附试验检测转移能力及黏附能力,以探索FOXQ1与结直肠癌细胞EMT的关系.结果显示,沉默FOXQ1后,SW480细胞顶底极性及细胞间紧密连接增加,侵袭、迁移的细胞数目减少,同种黏附能力增加,异种黏附能力降低.进一步的机制研究表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以导致SW480细胞的上皮标志因子E-cadherin表达显著增高,而间质细胞标志因子N-cadherin、Vimentin及MMP2表达均降低.以上结果表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以逆转SW480细胞EMT,其机制可能与E-cadherin的上调和N cadherin、Vimentin、MMP2的下调有关,这为进一步研究FOXQ1在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用提供实验基础.     

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。     

Hypoxia Activated EGFR Signaling Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Metastasis is a multi-step process which requires the conversion of polarized epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells, Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). EMT is essential during embryonic morphogenesis and has been implicated in the progression of primary tumors towards metastasis. Hypoxia is known to induce EMT; however the molecular mechanism is still poorly understood. Using the A431 epithelial cancer cell line, we show that cells grown under hypoxic conditions migrated faster than cells grown under normal oxygen environment. Cells grown under hypoxia showed reduced adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) probably due to reduced number of Vinculin patches. Growth under hypoxic conditions also led to down regulation of E-cadherin and up regulation of vimentin expression. The increased motility of cells grown under hypoxia could be due to redistribution of Rac1 to the plasma membrane as opposed to increased expression of Rac1. EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) is a known inducer of EMT and growth of A431 cells in the absence of oxygen led to increased expression of EGFR (EGF Receptor). Treatment of A431 cells with EGF led to reduced cell adhesion to ECM, increased cell motility and other EMT characteristics. Furthermore, this transition was blocked by the monoclonal antibody Cetuximab. Cetuximab also blocked the hypoxia-induced EMT suggesting that cell growth under hypoxic conditions led to activation of EGFR signaling and induction of EMT phenotype.     

上皮间质转化与干细胞自我更新和分化

上皮间质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT）是指上皮细胞失去连接和极性转变为间质细胞的过程,这一现象普遍存在于胚胎发育、创伤愈合、器官纤维化以及肿瘤转移。在胚胎早期发育和晚期发育过程,例如着床、原肠运动、心血管发育等事件中有EMT和间质上皮转化（mesenchymal-epithelial transition,MET）的参与。EMT和MET参与调控干细胞表型变化、细胞迁移运动,是细胞差异分化和三维组织构建的重要机制。EMT的重要标志是细胞黏附分子表达由E-钙黏着蛋白(E-cadherin)向N-钙黏着蛋白(N-cadherin)转换。E-钙黏着蛋白通过与β-联蛋白、p120-联蛋白、α-联蛋白联合,影响Wnt、小GTP酶超家族等信号通路活化,调控细胞骨架运动。TGFβ、Notch、Wnt、BMP、FGF等信号通路,Snail、Twist、Zeb等转录因子,联合表观修饰酶,协同参与EMT的启动和调控。体外研究模型表明,E-钙黏着蛋白参与干细胞自我更新;而体细胞重编程可视为MET,重编程因子辅助体细胞获得E 钙黏着蛋白表达。体外研究发现,EMT及相关分子（例如E-钙黏着蛋白、Snail、Twist、Zeb等）参与了早期三胚层分化及晚期特定细胞类型的形成。对EMT机制的研究有助于理解和改善干细胞体外诱导分化效率,促进类器官的构建和诱导。     

Transformation of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Stemlike Cells into Mesenchymal Lineage via EMT Results in Cellular Heterogeneity and Supports Tumor Engraftment

Ovarian cancers are heterogeneous and contain stemlike cells that are able to self-renew and are responsible for sustained tumor growth. Metastasis in the peritoneal cavity occurs more frequently in ovarian cancer than in other malignancies, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. We have identified that ovarian cancer stemlike cells (CSCs), which were defined as side population (SP) cells, were present in patients’ ascitic fluid and mesenchymally transformed cell lines, ES-2 and HO-8910PM. SP cells, which were sorted from both cell lines and implanted into immunocompromised mice, were localized to the xenografted tumor boundary. In addition, SP cells exhibited an epithelial phenotype and showed a distinct gene expression profile with reduced expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), indicating that SP cells exert an important role in ovarian cancer progression on the basis of their delicate interaction with the surrounding microenvironment and anatomical localization in tumors. In contrast, non-SP cells exhibited a more mesenchymal phenotype and showed more increased invasive potential than SP cells. This heterogeneity was observed as an endogenous transformation via the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Inhibition of the EMT process by Snail1 silencing reduced the SP cell frequency, and affected their invasive capacity and engraftment. These findings illustrate the interplay between epithelial ovarian CSCs and the EMT, and exert a link to explain tumor heterogeneity and its necessity for ovarian cancer maintenance, metastasis and progression.     

Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Genes Can Selectively Differentiate Eribulin Sensitive Breast Cancer Cells

Objectives

Eribulin mesylate is a synthetic macrocyclic ketone analog of the marine sponge natural product halichondrin B. Eribulin is a mechanistically unique inhibitor of microtubule dynamics. In this study, we investigated whether selective signal pathways were associated with eribulin activity compared to paclitaxel, which stabilizes microtubules, based on gene expression profiling of cell line panels of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer in vitro.

Results

We determined the sets of genes that were differentially altered between eribulin and paclitaxel treatment in breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer cell line panels. Our unsupervised clustering analyses revealed that expression profiles of gene sets altered with treatments were correlated with the in vitro antiproliferative activities of the drugs. Several tubulin isotypes had significantly lower expression in cell lines treated with eribulin compared to paclitaxel. Pathway enrichment analyses of gene sets revealed that the common pathways altered between treatments in the 3 cancer panels were related to cytoskeleton remodeling and cell cycle regulation. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway was enriched in genes with significantly altered expression between the two drugs for breast and endometrial cancers, but not for ovarian cancer. Expression of genes from the EMT pathway correlated with eribulin sensitivity in breast cancer and with paclitaxel sensitivity in endometrial cancer. Alteration of expression profiles of EMT genes between sensitive and resistant cell lines allowed us to predict drug sensitivity for breast and endometrial cancers.

Conclusion

Gene expression analysis showed that gene sets that were altered between eribulin and paclitaxel correlated with drug in vitro antiproliferative activities in breast and endometrial cancer cell line panels. Among the panels, breast cancer provided the strongest differentiation between eribulin and paclitaxel sensitivities based on gene expression. In addition, EMT genes were predictive of eribulin sensitivity in the breast and endometrial cancer panels.     

Sonic Hedgehog-Gli1 Signaling Pathway Regulates the Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) by Mediating a New Target Gene,S100A4, in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Aims

The hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in EMT of pancreatic cancer cells, but the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Because S100A4 as a key EMT moleculer marker was found to be upregulated upon Gli1 in pancreatic cancer cells, we focused on the relationship between Shh-Gli1 signals and S100 genes family.

Methods

On the base of cDNA microarray data, we investigated regulating mechanism of Gli1 to some members of S100A genes family in pancreatic cancer cell lines firstly. Then, the regulation of Gli1 to S100A4 gene was studied by molecular biology assays and the pro-metastasis effection of Gli1-dependent S100A4 was investigated in vitro. Finally, the expressions of Shh, Gli1, S100A4 and E-cadherin in pancreatic cancer tissues were studied by using immunohistochemistry assays.

Results

Five members of the S100 genes family, S100A2, S100A4, S100A6, S100A11, and S100A14 were found to be downregulated significantly upon Gli1 knockdown. Gli1 enhancer prediction combining with in vitro data demonstrated that Gli1 primarily regulates S100A family members via cis-acting elements. Indeed, the data indicate S100A4 and vimentin genes were upregulated significantly by Shh/Gli1-expression increasing and E-cadherin was significantly reduced at the same time. Migration of PC cells was increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner of Gli1 expression (P<0.05) and siS100A4 significantly reversed the response of PC cells induced by L-Shh transduction (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Our data establish a novel connection between Shh-Gli1 signaling and S100A4 regulation, which imply that S100A4 might be one of the key factors in EMT mediated by Shh-Gli1 signaling in pancreatic cancer.     

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for proper morphogenesis during development. Misregulation of this process has been implicated as a key event in fibrosis and the progression of carcinomas to a metastatic state. Understanding the processes that underlie EMT is imperative for the early diagnosis and clinical control of these disease states. Reliable induction of EMT in vitro is a useful tool for drug discovery as well as to identify common gene expression signatures for diagnostic purposes. Here we demonstrate a straightforward method for the induction of EMT in a variety of cell types. Methods for the analysis of cells pre- and post-EMT induction by immunocytochemistry are also included. Additionally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this method through antibody-based array analysis and migration/invasion assays.     

高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生EMT

目的:观察高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生上皮-间质转分化(epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT)。方法:将人晶状体上皮细胞HLE-B3系分别培养在正常葡萄糖浓度(5.5 mmol/L)DMEM培养基和高浓度葡萄糖(35.5 mmol/L)的DMEM培养基中24小时,于培养的0 h、3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h在倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化,采用免疫荧光染色检测晶状体上皮细胞中EMT相关蛋白E-cadherin及α-SMA的表达变化。结果:与正常糖浓度组相比,随着时间的延长高糖组细胞逐渐丢失上皮细胞形态,细胞变细、变长,向纤维细胞的形态转变;同时随着时间的延长,高糖组晶状体上皮细胞中E-cadherin染色的荧光强度在各时间点均低于正常糖浓度组,而α-SMA的荧光强度却明显高于正常糖浓度组,在6 h和12 h时差异显著,有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:高浓度葡萄糖诱导人晶状体上皮细胞发生上皮-间质转分化。