Methods for Culturing Human Femur Tissue Explants to Study Breast Cancer Cell Colonization of the Metastatic Niche

Bone is the most common site of breast cancer metastasis. Although it is widely accepted that the microenvironment influences cancer cell behavior, little is known about breast cancer cell properties and behaviors within the native microenvironment of human bone tissue.We have developed approaches to track, quantify and modulate human breast cancer cells within the microenvironment of cultured human bone tissue fragments isolated from discarded femoral heads following total hip replacement surgeries. Using breast cancer cells engineered for luciferase and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression, we are able to reproducibly quantitate migration and proliferation patterns using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), track cell interactions within the bone fragments using fluorescence microscopy, and evaluate breast cells after colonization with flow cytometry. The key advantages of this model include: 1) a native, architecturally intact tissue microenvironment that includes relevant human cell types, and 2) direct access to the microenvironment, which facilitates rapid quantitative and qualitative monitoring and perturbation of breast and bone cell properties, behaviors and interactions. A primary limitation, at present, is the finite viability of the tissue fragments, which confines the window of study to short-term culture. Applications of the model system include studying the basic biology of breast cancer and other bone-seeking malignancies within the metastatic niche, and developing therapeutic strategies to effectively target breast cancer cells in bone tissues.     

P42 Ebp1 functions as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer

Although the short isoform of ErbB3-binding protein 1 (Ebp1), p42 has been considered to be a potent tumor suppressor in a number of human cancers, whether p42 suppresses tumorigenesis of lung cancer cells has never been clarified. In the current study we investigated the tumor suppressor role of p42 in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Our data suggest that the expression level of p42 is inversely correlated with the cancerous properties of NSCLC cells and that ectopic expression of p42 is sufficient to inhibit cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and invasion as well as tumor growth in vivo. Interestingly, p42 suppresses Akt activation and overexpression of a constitutively active form of Akt restores the tumorigenic activity of A549 cells that is ablated by exogenous p42 expression. Thus, we propose that p42 Ebp1 functions as a potent tumor suppressor of NSCLC through interruption of Akt signaling. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(3): 159-165]     

NMR study of in vivo RIF-1 tumors: Analysis of perchloric acid extracts and identification of 1H, 31P and 13C resonances

Perchloric acid extracts of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) tumors grown in mice have been analyzed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by various chromatographic methods. This analysis has permitted the unambiguous assignment of the ³¹P resonances observed in vivo to specific phosphorus-containing metabolites. The region of the in vivo spectra generally assigned to sugar phosphates has been found in RIF-1 tumors to contain primarily phosphorylethanolamine and phosphorylcholine rather than glycolytic intermediates. Phosphocreatine was observed in extracts of these tumor cells grown in culture as well as in the in vivo spectra, indicating that at least some of the phosphocreatine observed in vivo arises from the tumor itself and not from normal tissues. In the ³¹P-NMR spectra of the perchloric acid extract, resonances originating from purine and pyrimidine nucleoside di- and triphosphate were resolved. HPLC analyses of the nucleotide pool indicate that adenine derivatives were the most abundant components, but other nucleotides were present in significant amounts. The ¹H and ¹³C resonance assignments of the majority of metabolites present in RIF-1 extracts have also been made. Of particular importance is the ability to observe lactate, the levels of which may provide a noninvasive measure of glycolysis in these cells in both the in vivo and in vitro states. In addition, the aminosulfonic acid, taurine, was found in high levels in the tumor extracts.     

WWOX蛋白在皮肤血管瘤中的异常表达及意义

目的应用免疫组织化学方法检测不同时期血管瘤组织中WWOX蛋白的表达,探讨其在血管瘤发生、发展过程中的作用机制。方法收集武汉大学人民医院病理科2005年9月-2009年12月皮肤毛细血管瘤存档蜡块50例,其中男性25例,女性25例。采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例皮肤血管瘤增生期、退化期及正常皮肤组织WWOX蛋白的表达水平,采用HPIAS-1000图文报告管理系统对WWOX蛋白的表达进行定量分析,并用SPSS11.5软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单因素方差分析和SNK(q)检验。结果在增生期血管瘤血管内皮细胞中可见少量的棕黄色颗粒,WWOX蛋白弱表达。正常皮肤组及退化组血管内皮细胞中可见密集分布的棕黄色颗粒,WWOX蛋白高表达。增生期组WWOX蛋白的表达明显低于退化期组和正常皮肤组(P<0.05)。结论 WWOX蛋白在增生期血管瘤组织中表达减少或缺失,可能与血管瘤的发生发展有密切关系。     

间充质干细胞影响肿瘤细胞增殖及其分子机理

间充质干细胞MSCs(mesenchymal stem cells)与肿瘤细胞间的相互作用是近年来肿瘤领域的研究热点之一.MSCs是一种多能干细胞,具有分化为成骨细胞、软骨细胞、脂肪细胞、纤维母细胞或肌肉细胞等多种间充质细胞的能力.MSCs在肿瘤细胞中表现出的归巢和转移能力为其成为潜在的抗肿瘤工具奠定了基础,MSCs转移到肿瘤细胞后参与重塑肿瘤微环境,并对其增殖、侵袭和转移等生物学行为产生重要影响.MSCs重塑肿瘤微环境后对肿瘤细胞的增殖究竟是促进还是抑制,相关文献报道有很大的争议.基于相关研究近况,主要综述骨髓间充质干细胞BMSCs(bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells)参与重塑肿瘤微环境对肿瘤细胞增殖的影响,并就已知的分子机理做一简要介绍.     

荧光素酶标的人肝癌细胞裸鼠异种移植瘤模型的生物发光成像和PET-CT成像比较

目的利用荧光素酶基因标记的人肝癌细胞株BEL-7402建立裸鼠肝原位移植模型,及小鼠肝原位移植模型的生物发光和小动物PET-CT成像的比较。方法构建表达荧光素酶基因的真核表达载体并将其转入人肝癌细胞BEL-7402,经梯度浓度G418筛选获得稳定表达荧光素酶基因的细胞克隆并扩大培养。BALB/cA-nu裸鼠肝门静脉接种5×105个发光细胞使其成瘤,活体荧光成像和小动物PET-CT成像系统观察肿瘤的生长情况。结果获得了稳定表达Luc的人肝癌细胞株,将其接种到裸鼠体内,活体荧光成像系统观察发现能够成瘤,小动物PET-CT影像观察发现小鼠肝脏边缘对18 F-FDG有高摄取区域。结论利用荧光素酶基因标记的人肝癌细胞BEL-7402成功建立了原位肝癌裸鼠模型,小动物活体成像结合小动物PET-CT技术为原位肿瘤模型的建立提供了一种新的可靠的技术,为进一步研究肝癌生长转移机制和药物开发提供了新的有用工具。     

肿瘤干细胞的研究进展

肿瘤干细胞(cancer/tumor stem cell,CSC/TSC)假说认为肿瘤组织中存在极少量的瘤细胞充当着干细胞的角色,它们具有自我更新能力、无限增殖能力,且能驱动肿瘤的形成和生长。近年来,随着在血液肿瘤和实体瘤中相继发现CSC/TSC存在的相关证据,对CSC/TSC的生物学特性的认识不断深入,对肿瘤的复发、转移、耐药性等特点也有了新的观点和研究方向,就近年来该方面的进展作一综述。     

IL-17F deficiency inhibits small intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc mice

IL-17 plays an important role in gut homeostasis. However, the role of IL-17F in intestinal tumorigenesis has not been addressed. Here we demonstrate that ablation of IL-17F significantly inhibits spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the small intestine of Apc^Min/+ mice. IL-17F ablation decreased IL-1β and Cox-2 expression as well as IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) expression, which were increased in tumors from Apc^Min/+ mice. Lack of IL-17F did not reverse the splenomegaly but partially restored thymic atrophy, suggesting a local effect of IL-17F in the intestine. IL-17F deficient Apc^Min/+ mice showed a significant decrease in immune cell infiltration in the lamina propria. Interestingly, the expression of IL-17A from CD4 T cells in the lamina propria remains unchanged in the absence of IL-17F. Collectively, our results suggest the proinflammatory and essential role of IL-17F to develop spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc^Min/+ mice in the presence of IL-17A.     

急性颅脑损伤大鼠脑组织ATP酶活性及TNF-α的变化及意义

目的 观察大鼠急性颅脑损伤后脑组织ATP酶活性及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的变化,探讨急性颅脑损伤后脑水肿的发病机制.方法 将72只SD大鼠随机分为正常组（N组）、假手术对照组（S组）、急性颅脑损伤模型组（ACI组）,其中S组和ACI组于造模后分为2、6、24、72 h时间点,每个时间点8只大鼠;取大鼠伤灶区脑组织测定Na＋-K＋-ATP酶和Ca2＋-ATP酶活性、TNF-α含量及脑组织含水量.结果 急性颅脑损伤后脑组织Na＋-K＋-ATP酶、Ca2＋-ATP酶活性降低（P〈0.05）,TNF-α含量升高（P〈0.05）;颅脑损伤后24 h脑水肿较严重.相关性分析提示,Ca2＋-ATP酶活性与TNF-α含量呈负相关（P〈0.05）.结论 急性颅脑损伤后可引起脑组织ATP酶活性降低、TNF-α含量增加,两者可能协同参与了急性颅脑损伤后脑水肿.     

上海交通大学附属第一人民医院普外科

RAS相关结构域家族(Ras Association Domain Family,RASSFs)由10个成员组成,参与不同的细胞内机制如凋亡、细胞周期控制、微管稳定性等,一些家族成员表现出肿瘤抑制功能。目前发现RASSF6在肺癌、宫颈癌等实体瘤中表达下调,可能与肿瘤形成有关,并可作为肿瘤治疗的潜在靶点。本文就RASSF6与肿瘤的研究进展进行综述。