Increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with esophageal cancer after perioperative treatment with G-CSF

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to effectively stimulate granulopoiesis, in both neutropenic and in non-neutropenic patients. Recently, other effects of G-CSF on the immune system have attracted interest in treating non-neutropenic patients with a high risk of severe infection. In this phase II trial, we measured the effects of G-CSF on the serum cytokine levels in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. Twenty subsequent patients (study group, 19 evaluable) received G-CSF (rhG-CSF, Filgrastim) at standard doses (300 microg or 480 microg) subcutaneously 2 days before and up to 7 days after surgery. G-CSF was well tolerated. Leukocytes increased from 7600/microl at study entry (day -2) to a maximum of 45 100/microl (day 6). In the study patients, we found a highly significant (P<0.001) postoperative increase of G-CSF, IL-1ra, sTNFRp55 and sTNFRp75 as compared with the baseline level. In contrast, IL-8 levels were decreased by a factor of 6.8; there were no changes in the very low TNF-alpha levels. The comparison of the study group with a control group of 21 cancer patients undergoing major surgery who were not treated with G-CSF showed significant differences in the serum levels of G-CSF, sTNFRp55, sTNFRp75, and IL-1ra, respectively. There was no infection in the study group up to 10 days after surgery as compared with 29.9% in a historical control group (P=0.008). Thus, the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines by G-CSF might be a promising adjuvant treatment of infectious complications in patients undergoing esophagectomy.     

Dependence of alignment direction on magnitude of strain in esophageal smooth muscle cells

The response of cells in vitro to mechanical forces has been the subject of much research using devices to exert controlled mechanical stimulation on cultured cells or isolated tissue. In this study, esophageal smooth muscle cells were seeded on flexible polyurethane membranes to form a confluent cell layer. The cells were then subjected to uniform cyclic stretch of varying magnitudes at a frequency of approximately five cycles per minute in a custom made mechatronic bioreactor, providing similar strains experienced in the in vivo mechanical environment of the esophagus. The results show that the orientation response is dependent on the magnitude of cyclic stretch applied. Smooth muscle cells showed parallel alignment to the force direction at low cyclic strains (2%) compared to the hill‐valley morphology of static controls. At higher strains (5% and 10% magnitude), the cells exhibited a consistent alignment perpendicular to the strain. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the alignment direction's dependence on strain magnitude has been demonstrated. MTS analysis indicated that cell metabolism was reduced when mechanical strain was applied, and proliferation was inhibited by mechanical strain. Protein expression indicates a decrease in smooth muscle α‐actin, indicative of changes in cell phenotype, an increase in vimentin, which is associated with increased cell motility, and an increase in desmin, indicating differentiation in stimulated cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 1703–1711. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

microRNA与食管癌关系的研究进展

肿瘤的发生、发展是多基因共同参与的多步骤的复杂过程,包括癌基因的异常激活和抑癌基因的失活。MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一组真核细胞内源性产生的单链小RNA分子,研究发现miRNAs的表达异常与人类肿瘤发生有着密切的关系。食管癌是我国常见的恶性肿瘤之一,近来miRNA与食管癌的相关研究也日渐报道,因此本文就此作一综述。     

鼻咽癌相关新基因NPCEDRG表达对CNE2细胞生长的影响

为研究鼻咽癌相关新基因NPCEDRG的功能,探讨其对鼻咽癌细胞生长特性的影响,利用Tet-on调控系统,建立受强力霉素(deoxycycline,Dox)诱导NPCEDRG基因表达的CNE2细胞系.运用RT-PCR选择背景表达低、诱导活性高的细胞克隆,以不同浓度Dox诱导CNE2/Tet/TRE-NPCEDRG细胞,确定Dox的最佳诱导浓度.借助形态学观察、细胞生长曲线、软琼脂克隆形成试验和流式细胞仪分析等方法,对Dox诱导NPCEDRG高表达后CNE2细胞的生物学行为进行了检测.结果显示,NPCEDRG高表达后CNE2细胞增殖速度显著减慢(P<0.05),克隆形成能力显著降低(P<0.01),瘤细胞群体中处于G0/G1期细胞数增加,S期细胞数减少,细胞阻滞于G0/G1期.Tet调控NPCEDRG基因表达CNE2细胞系成功建立,恢复NPCEDRG表达能部分逆转CNE2的恶性表型,证明NPCEDRG是一个鼻咽癌相关的抑瘤基因.     

Antagonistic effects of vasotocin and isotocin on the upper esophageal sphincter muscle of the eel acclimated to seawater

The effects of isotocin (IT) and vasotocin (VT), which are fish analogues of mammalian oxytocin and vasopressin respectively, were examined in the isolated upper esophageal sphincter (UES) muscle. IT relaxed and VT constricted the UES muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. The relaxation by IT and the contraction by VT were completely blocked by H-9405 (an oxytocin receptor antagonist) and by H-5350 (a V₁-receptor antagonist), respectively, suggesting that the eel UES possesses both IT and VT receptors. Truncated fragments of VT did not show any significant effects, indicating that all nine residues are essential for the VT and IT actions. IT may relax the UES muscle through enhancing cAMP production, since similar relaxation was also observed after treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine, forskolin and 8-bromoadenosine, 3′, 5′-cyclic mono-phosphate (8BrcAMP). Although 8-bromoguanosine, 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate also relaxed the UES, its effect was less than 1/3 of that 8BrcAMP, suggesting minor contribution of nitric oxide (NO) in the relaxation of the UES muscle. Both peptides seem to act directly on the UES muscle, not through release of other substances from the epithelial cells, since similar relaxation and contraction were observed even in the scraped UES preparations. When IT and VT were intravenously administrated (in vivo experiments), the drinking rate of the seawater eel was enhanced by IT and was inhibited by VT. These effects correspond to the in vitro results described above, relaxation by IT and contraction by VT in the UES muscle. The significance of the relaxing effect by IT is discussed with respect to controlling the drinking behavior of the eel.     

在子宫颈上皮内瘤变和鳞癌组织中CyclinE、Rb基因表达的研究

目的 探讨细胞周期素E（CyclinE）、视网膜母细胞瘤（Rb）基因与上皮内瘤变（CIN）和宫颈鳞癌的关系,及其在癌变过程中的意义。方法 应用免疫组化技术（S-P法）,检测CyclinE和Rb基因产物在各级别CIN77例和宫颈鳞癌40例中的表达状况,并以正常子宫颈鳞状上皮20例做对照。结果 在正常宫颈鳞状上皮、CINⅠ、CINⅡ、CINⅢ及宫颈鳞癌中,CyclinE的阳性表达率呈逐渐增强趋势,分别为：0．0％、30．0％、75．0％、65．0％、60．0％。正常宫颈鳞状上皮与各级别CIN和宫颈鳞癌之间差异均有显著性（P〈0．01或〈0．005）,CINⅠ与CINⅡ、CINⅢ、宫颈鳞癌组间差异均有显著性（P〈0．005或〈0．01）;Rb基因蛋白的表达率逐渐下调,分别为：100．0％、55．0％、20．0%、24．3%、23．5％,在正常宫颈鳞状上皮与各级别CIN和宫颈鳞癌组间差异均有显著性（P〈0．005）;CINI与CINHI、宫颈鳞癌组间差异有显著性（P〈O．005）。结论CyclinE在正常子宫颈鳞状上皮表达阴性,随着发生CIN从轻到重至宫颈鳞癌,表达呈逐渐增强趋势;表明CyclinE在子宫颈癌变过程中起到重要作用,CyclinE参与CIN的进展及子宫颈癌癌变机制。Rb基因蛋白在正常子宫颈鳞状上皮100％阳性,随着发生CIN从轻到重至宫颈鳞癌,表达呈逐渐下调趋势,甚至消失;表明Rb基因可能主要通过功能性失活参与宫颈鳞癌的发生,并且其在癌变过程中起重要作用。发现CyclinE表达增强和RB基因表达下调或消失,有助于宫颈鳞癌发生的判断及CIN程度和级别的确定。     

食管癌患者手术前后免疫功能改变对外周血细胞凋亡的影响

为探讨食管癌手术前后患者外周血细胞的凋亡情况。利用流式细胞仪对70例食管癌手术前及其手术后10天~14天患者外周血细胞的DNA和CD4,CD8和CD16/56含量进行了分析。结果显示:手术前后患者外周血细胞的凋亡有差异(P<0.05),但血细胞的DNA合成期细胞比率(S-phage fraction,SPE)、细胞增长指数无明显的差异(P>0.05)。两组的CD4/CD8比值或CD16/56比例有明显差异(P<0.001)。实验数据表明:手术前患者的细胞凋亡增加可能有利于平衡肿瘤细胞的恶性增殖;而外周血细胞的CD8、NK(自然杀伤细胞,natural killer cells)增高,可能有助于这种平衡作用。但手术后患者肿瘤负荷减轻,免疫功能恢复常态,细胞凋亡率相应降低。     

Reversal of multidrug resistance of vincristine-resistant gastric adenocarcinoma cells through up-regulation of DARPP-32

Here we investigated the roles of DARPP-32 in multidrug resistance (MDR) of gastric cancer cells and the possible underlying mechanisms. We constructed the eukaryotic expression vector of DARPP-32 and transfected it into human vincristine-resistant gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR. Up-regulation of DARPP-32 could significantly enhance the sensitivity of SGC7901/VCR cells towards vincristine, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, and could decrease the capacity of cells to efflux adriamycin. What's more, the results of subrenal capsule assay confirmed that DARPP-32 might play a certain role in MDR of gastric cancer. DARPP-32 could significantly down-regulate the expression of P-gp and zinc ribbon domain-containing 1 (ZNRD1), but not alter the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) or the glutathione S-transferase (GST). DARPP-32 could also significantly decrease the anti-apoptotic activity of SGC7901/VCR cells. Further study of the biological functions of DARPP-32 might be helpful for understanding the mechanisms of MDR in gastric cancer.     

miR-223 regulates migration and invasion by targeting Artemin in human esophageal carcinoma

Background

Artemin (ARTN) is a neurotrophic factor belonging to the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family of ligands. To develop potential therapy targeting ARTN, we studied the roles of miR-223 in the migration and invasion of human esophageal carcinoma.

Methods

ARTN expression levels were detected in esophageal carcinoma cell lines KYSE-150, KYSE-510, EC-9706, TE13, esophageal cancer tissues and paired non-cancerous tissues by Western blot. Artemin siRNA expression vectors were constructed to knockdown of artemin expression mitigated migration and invasiveness in KYSE150 cells. Monolayer wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were applied to observe cancer cell migration and invasion. The relative levels of expression were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR.

Results

ARTN expression levels were higher in esophageal carcinoma tissue than in the adjacent tissue and was differentially expressed in various esophageal carcinoma cell lines. ARTN mRNA contains a binding site for miR-223 in the 3'UTR. Co-transfection of a mir-223 expression vector with pMIR-ARTN led to the reduced activity of luciferase in a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, suggesting that ARTN is a target gene of miR-223. Overexpression of miR-223 decreased expression of ARTN in KYSE150 cells while silencing miR-223 increased expression of ARTN in EC9706 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-223 in KYSE150 cells decreased cell migration and invasion. Silencing of miR-223 in EC9706 cells increased cell migration and invasiveness.

Conclusions

These results reveal that ARTN, a known tumor metastasis-related gene, is a direct target of miR-223 and that miR-223 may have a tumor suppressor function in esophageal carcinoma and could be used in anticancer therapies.