基于Wnt/β-catenin信号通路探讨miR-613对宫颈癌SiHa细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响

摘要 目的：研究基于Wnt/β-catenin信号通路探讨微小RNA（miR）-613对宫颈癌SiHa细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。方法：体外培养宫颈癌SiHa细胞和正常宫颈上皮细胞H8,检测细胞中miR-613表达。根据转染miR-613 mimic浓度不同,将SiHa细胞分为0 μmol/L组,100 μmol/L和200 μmol/L组。MTT法检测细胞增殖情况,划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力,Transwell实验检测细胞侵袭能力。蛋白免疫印迹法检测miR-613表达对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路蛋白β-catenin、Vimentin、E-cadherin和MMP9表达的影响。结果：宫颈癌SiHa细胞中miR-613表达水平均显著低于正常宫颈上皮细胞H8,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。转染miR-613 mimic后,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L 组SiHa细胞中miR-613表达水平显著上调,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。与0 μmol/L组相比,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L组的SiHa细胞增殖,迁移,侵袭能力均明显下降,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。免疫印迹结果,与0 μmol/L组相比,100 μmol/L、200 μmol/L各浓度组的SiHa细胞Wnt/β-catenin信号通路蛋白β-catenin、Vimentin和MMP9表达显著下调,E-cadherin表达显著上调,并且具有浓度依赖性(P<0.05)。结论：miR-613能通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制人宫颈癌细胞系SiHa细胞的增殖,迁移和侵袭。     

环状RNA circMRPS35通过miR-130a-3p/ZNRF3轴调节胃癌细胞的增殖、凋亡、迁移和侵袭

摘要 目的：探讨环状RNA MRPS35（circMRPS35）对胃癌（GC）细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移和侵袭的调控机制。方法：体外培养人GC细胞系（HGC-27、MGC-803、MKN45和AGS）和正常胃上皮GES-1细胞,实时荧光定量PCR（RT-qPCR）检测circMRPS35、miR-130a-3p和锌环指蛋白3（ZNRF3）mRNA表达。另取MGC-803细胞,分为对照组、pc-NC组、pc-circMRPS35组、pc-circMRPS35+miR-NC组、pc-circMRPS35+miR-130a-3p组,采用Lipofectamine 3000进行质粒转染。RT-qPCR检测circMRPS35、miR-130a-3p和ZNRF3 mRNA表达,Western blot检测ZNRF3蛋白表达,CCK-8法、流式细胞术检测细胞增殖与凋亡,划痕实验和Transwell小室实验检测细胞迁移与侵袭能力,裸鼠移植瘤实验探究circMRPS35对GC细胞体内生长的影响。双荧光素酶报告基因检测miR-130a-3p与circMRPS35或ZNRF3的靶标关系。结果：GC细胞系中circMRPS35和ZNRF3 mRNA呈低表达,miR-130a-3p呈高表达（均P＜0.05）。过表达circMRPS35可降低miR-130a-3p,上调ZNRF3 mRNA和蛋白水平,抑制细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭,并促进细胞凋亡（均P＜0.05）;circMRPS35过表达对GC细胞恶性行为和裸鼠移植瘤生长的抑制作用可被miR-130a-3p mimic逆转（P＜0.05）。双荧光素酶实验结果显示,过表达miR-130a-3p可降低circMRPS35-WT和ZNRF3-WT的荧光素酶活性（P＜0.05）。结论：circMRPS35可能通过miR-130a-3p/ZNRF3轴抑制GC细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭,并促进细胞凋亡。     

余甘子提取物调控LINC01772/miR-153对肺癌细胞A549生物学行为的影响

摘要 目的：探讨余甘子提取物对肺癌细胞A549增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响及机制。方法：体外培养A549细胞,分为对照组、不同剂量（低、中、高剂量）余甘子提取物组、si-NC组、si-LINC01772组、高剂量余甘子提取物+pcDNA组和高剂量余甘子提取物+pcDNA-LINC01772组,细胞计数试剂盒（CCK-8）法和克隆形成实验检测细胞增殖,划痕实验检测细胞迁移,嵌入式细胞共培养法（Transwell）检测细胞侵袭,免疫印迹法（Western Blot）检测细胞中上皮型钙黏蛋白（E-cadherin）和神经型钙黏蛋白（N-cadherin）蛋白表达水平,实时荧光定量PCR（RT-qPCR）检测LINC01772和miR-153表达水平。双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证LINC01772和miR-153调控关系。结果：与对照组相比,不同剂量余甘子提取物组A549细胞中LINC01772表达降低,且光密度值（OD值）、克隆形成数、迁移以及侵袭细胞数减少（P<0.05）,而miR-153含量与E-cadherin蛋白表达升高（P<0.05）,且呈剂量依赖性（P<0.05）。LINC01772在A549细胞中负调控miR-153表达。与si-NC组相比,si-LINC01772组A549细胞增殖,侵袭及迁移能力受到抑制（P<0.05）。与高剂量余甘子提取物+pcDNA组相比,高剂量余甘子提取物+pcDNA-LINC01772组A549细胞增殖,侵袭及迁移能力增强（P<0.05）。结论：余甘子提取物可能通过调控LINC01772/miR-153轴抑制肺癌细胞A549增殖、迁移和侵袭,其可能通过下调LINC01772进而上调miR-153表达发挥作用,具有开发为治疗肺癌药物的潜在价值。     

miR-142通过靶向HMGB1对宫颈癌细胞生物学行为影响的实验研究

摘要 目的：通过实验探究miR-142靶向高迁移率族蛋白1（high-mobility group box 1 protein,HMGB1）对宫颈癌（cervical cancer,CC）细胞生物学行为的影响及其潜在的作用机制。方法：采用实时荧光定量PCR（RT-PCR）和蛋白质免疫印迹法（Western Blot）检测CC组织和正常组织中miR-142和HMGB1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平,采用荧光素酶报告实验分析miR-142与HMGB1的靶向关系,CCK-8法检测CC细胞生存能力,克隆形成实验检测CC细胞增殖能力,划痕修复实验检测CC细胞迁移能力,基质胶侵袭实验检测CC细胞侵袭能力。结果：CC组miR-142 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著低于正常组（P<0.05）,HMGB1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著高于正常组（P<0.05）,且CC癌组织中miR-142和HMGB1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平均呈显著负相关（r=-0.399,P=0.002;r=-0.429,P=0.001）;miR-142与HMGB1存在靶向关系;CCK-8法实验、克隆形成实验、划痕修复实验和基质胶侵袭实验结果显示,miR-142 mimic组细胞生存、增殖、迁移和侵袭能力显著低于miR-NC组（P<0.05）,miR-142 inhibitor组细胞生存、增殖、迁移和侵袭能力显著高于miR-NC组;Western Blot实验结果显示,HMGB1过表达时miR-142 mimic+plasmid组HMGB1蛋白表达水平显著高于miR-142 mimic+control plasmid组（P<0.05）,显著低于miR-NC+plasmid组（P<0.05）;CCK-8法实验、克隆形成实验、划痕修复实验和基质胶侵袭实验结果显示,HMGB1过表达时miR-142 mimic+plasmid组细胞生存、增殖、迁移和侵袭能力显著高于miR-142 mimic+control plasmid组（P<0.05）,显著低于miR-NC+plasmid组（P<0.05）。结论：miR-142可通过靶向负调控HMGB1表达,进而抑制CC细胞生存、增殖、迁移和侵袭。     

miR-181c-5p在颅内动脉瘤中通过靶向PTPN4调节血管平滑肌细胞的机制研究

摘要 目的：探讨miR-181c-5p在颅内动脉瘤血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）表型调节中的生物学功能及其潜在的调控机制。方法：采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（RT-qPCR）检测miR-181c-5p mRNA在颅内动脉瘤（IA）患者血清中的表达水平。 采用药物细胞毒性实验（CCK8）、集落形成、transwell迁移和流式细胞仪检测过表达miR-181c-5p介导的VSMC细胞表型的变化。采用双荧光素酶报告基因检测miR-181c-5p的潜在靶标。结果：IA患者血清中的miR-181c-5p表达水平高于健康体检者（P<0.05）。miR-181c-5p的过表达显着抑制了VSMC增殖、克隆形成和迁移,同时刺激了细胞凋亡（P<0.05）。PTPN4被证实是miR-181c-5p的直接靶标,而miR-181c-5p的过表达导致PTPN4在VSMC中低表达。结论：miR-181c-5p / PTPN4介导的VSMC表型调节可能部分导致IA病变。     

miR-375靶向MMP13抑制骨肉瘤细胞的迁移和侵袭

目的 为了探究miR-375是否通过影响基质金属蛋白酶13（MMP13）的表达来调控骨肉瘤（osteosarcoma,OS）恶性特征。方法 用Lipofectamine 3000试剂盒将质粒、miRNA转染至骨肉瘤细胞和HEK293细胞中。实时定量聚合酶链反应（real-time quantitative PCR,RT-qPCR）检测OS患者和OS细胞中miR-375和MMP13的表达。蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）分析OS患者和OS细胞中MMP13蛋白的表达。双荧光素酶法分析miR-375与MMP13的靶向关系。伤口愈合和transwell实验分别分析OS细胞的迁移和侵袭。结果 OS组织中miR-375的表达低于正常组织。MMP13在OS组织中表达上调。在OS患者中,MMP13的表达与miR-375呈负相关。与转染miRNA对照的OS细胞相比,转染miR-375模拟物OS细胞的迁移和侵袭明显被抑制。MMP13能部分逆转miR-375对OS细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制作用。结论 在OS细胞中,过表达miR-375通过调控MMP13的表达抑制细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

微小RNA-451a对胰腺癌BxPc3细胞增殖、侵袭及迁移的影响

摘要 目的：研究微小RNA（miR）-451a对胰腺癌BxPc3细胞增殖、侵袭和迁移的影响。方法：体外培养BxPc3细胞,将不同浓度（50、100 和 200 μmol/L）miR-451a模拟物（mimic）转染至胰腺癌细胞株BxPc3中,利用荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（ PCR）法检测miR-451a的表达,MTT增殖实验检测不同浓度miR-451a对细胞增殖的影响,细胞划痕实验检测不同浓度miR-451a对细胞迁移能力的影响,Transwell实验检测不同浓度miR-451a对细胞侵袭能力的影响。Western blot法检测不同浓度 miR-451a转染后BxPc3细胞p-PI3K、p-AKT、TGF-β和p-smad2/3 蛋白的表达情况。结果：转染不同浓度miR-451a mimic后,胰腺癌BxPc3细胞内miR-451a的相对表达量明显升高,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。过表达miR-451a后,BxPc3细胞的增殖能力明显减弱,细胞迁移能力明显减弱,细胞侵袭能力明显减弱,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。相比于0 μmol/L 组,转染50、200 μmol/L miR-451a后BxPc3 细胞p-PI3K、p-AKT、TGF-β和p-smad2/3蛋白表达水平明显降低（P<0.05）,并且p-PI3K、p-AKT、TGF-β和p-smad2/3蛋白表达水平变化具有浓度依耐性。结论：miR-451a能抑制胰腺癌BxPc3细胞株的增殖、迁移、侵袭能力。     

上调miR-216a-5p通过靶向双特异性磷酸酶10抑制胃癌细胞自噬并增强放射敏感性

摘要 目的：探究miR-216a-5p对胃癌细胞自噬和放射敏感性的调控机制及其对双特异性磷酸酶10（DUSP10）的调控作用。方法：采用直线加速器6-MV X射线照射SGC-7901细胞,剂量率为0.8Gy/min,总剂量为8Gy。用Lipofectamine 2000试剂将miR-216a-5p mimic、NC mimic、pcDNA DUSP10或pcDNA NC转染到SGC-7901细胞中。转染后,将细胞分为miR-216a-5p mimic组和NC mimic组,每组又分为0Gy和8Gy两个亚组。在拯救实验中,将细胞分为miR-216a-5p mimic+pcDNA DUSP10组和miR-216a-5p mimic+pcDNA NC组。通过qRT-PCR检测miR-216a-5p和DUSP10 mRNA水平。通过5-乙炔基-2''-脱氧尿苷（EdU）掺入实验和集落形成测定检测细胞增殖。通过流式细胞仪评估细胞凋亡。通过Western blot检测DUSP10、Bax、Bad、Bcl-2、LC3和p62的蛋白表达。通过免疫荧光法检测γH2AX的表达,用于评估细胞中的DNA双链断裂（DSB）。通过荧光素酶报告基因检测miR-216a-5p和DUSP10的靶向关系。通过GFP-mRFP-LC3检测自噬体。结果：与8Gy NC-mimic组相比,8Gy miR-216a-5p-mimic组的集落数量、EdU阳性率和Bcl-2蛋白表达水平降低,而γH2AX阳性率、细胞凋亡率和Bax和Bad蛋白表达水平升高（P<0.01）。与8Gy NC-mimic组相比,8Gy miR-216a-5p-mimic组的自噬体数量和LC3II蛋白表达水平降低,而p62蛋白表达水平升高（P<0.001）。与miR-216a-5p-mimic共培养后,与DUSP10-3''-UTR-MUT组相比,DUSP10-3''-UTR-WT的相对荧光素酶活性显著降低（P<0.001）。与NC-mimic组相比,miR-216a-5p-mimic组的DUSP10 mRNA和蛋白表达水平均降低（P<0.001）。与miR-216a-5p mimic+pcDNA NC组相比,miR-216a-5p mimic+pcDNA DUSP10组的集落数量和自噬体数量升高,而细胞凋亡率降低（P<0.001）。结论：miR-216a-5p通过抑制DUSP10来抑制细胞增殖、增加放射诱导的细胞凋亡并抑制放射诱导的自噬,从而增强胃癌细胞的放射敏感性。     

MicroRNA-520e通过靶向抑制AEG-1发挥抗结直肠癌特性

摘要 目的：探究MicroRNA-520e（miR-520e）在结直肠癌中的表达模式及其对细胞功能的影响。方法：采用qRT-PCR方法检测47例结直肠癌患者的癌组织和癌旁组织中miR-520e和星形胶质细胞上调基因-1（AEG-1）的mRNA表达水平。将SW480细胞分为对照组、miR-520e-mimic组、NC-mimic组、miR-520e-inhibitor组、NC-inhibitor组、miR-520e-mimic+AEG-1-pcDNA3.1组和miR-520e-mimic+NC-pcDNA3.1组。通过MTT法检测SW480细胞的增殖,通过Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色试剂盒检测细胞凋亡,通过Transwell检测细胞迁移和侵袭,通过双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证miR-520e和AEG-1的靶向关系,通过qRT-PCR或Western blotting检测AEG-1、基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP2）、MMP9、NF-κB p65（p65）和磷酸化的NF-κB p65（p-p65）的表达。结果：与癌旁组织相比,结直肠癌组织中miR-520e的表达水平降低（t=9.353,P<0.001）。与对照组相比,miR-520e-mimic组的OD_490nm 值降低,细胞凋亡率升高,细胞迁移和侵袭数量降低,MMP2、MMP9和p-p65蛋白表达水平降低（P<0.001）。与对照组相比,miR-520e-inhibitor组的OD_490nm 值升高,细胞凋亡率降低,细胞迁移和侵袭数量升高,MMP2、MMP9和p-p65蛋白表达水平升高。与NC-mimic组相比,miR-520e-inhibitor组的相对荧光素酶活性降低（P<0.001）。与对照组相比,miR-520e-mimic组的AEG-1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均降低,而miR-520e-inhibitor组均升高（P<0.001）。与miR-520e-mimic+NC-pcDNA3.1组相比,miR-520e-mimic+AEG-1-pcDNA3.1组的AEG-1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平升高,OD_490nm 值升高,细胞凋亡率降低,迁移和侵袭细胞数增加,MMP2和MMP9的蛋白表达水平及p65的磷酸化水平均增加（P<0.001）。结论：miR-520e在结直肠癌中表达降低,可通过靶向抑制AEG-1来发挥抗结直肠癌特性,其抗癌机制可能通过NF-κB信号通路介导。     

circ_0001461靶向抑制miR-30a-5p对骨肉瘤细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

摘要 目的：探讨circ_0001461对骨肉瘤细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及调控机制。方法：采用实时荧光定量聚合酶反应（qRT-PCR）检测检测circ_0001461在骨肉瘤组织和细胞中的表达水平。在U2OS和HOS细胞中转染sh-NC和sh-circ_0001461后,采用CCK8检测细胞增殖情况,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡情况,qRT-PCR检测增殖相关分子Ki-67 mRNA的表达水平,Western Blot检测凋亡相关分子Cleaved-caspase-3蛋白的表达水平。采用双荧光素酶报告基因检测circ_0001461和miR-30a-5p的结合情况。结果：circ_0001461在骨肉瘤组织中的表达水平明显高于癌旁正常组织（P<0.05）,circ_0001461在骨肉瘤细胞U2OS和HOS中的表达水平均明显高于成骨细胞NHOst（P<0.05）。低表达circ_0001461能够抑制骨肉瘤细胞U2OS和HOS的增殖和增殖相关分子Ki-67的表达（P<0.05）;促进骨肉瘤细胞U2OS和HOS的凋亡和凋亡相关分子Cleaved-caspase-3蛋白的表达（P<0.05）。双荧光素酶结果显示circ_0001461能够靶向结合miR-30a-5p。低表达circ_0001461能够促进miR-30a-5p的表达（P<0.05）,circ_0001461和miR-30a-5p在骨肉瘤组织中的表达呈负相关（P<0.05）。在U2OS细胞中共转染sh-circ_0001461和miR-30a-5p mimics后能够进一步加强单独转染sh-circ_0001461对U2OS细胞增殖和凋亡的影响（P<0.05）;在HOS细胞中共转染sh-circ_0001461和miR-30a-5p inhibitors后能够逆转单独转染sh-circ_0001461对U2OS细胞增殖和凋亡的影响（P>0.05）。结论：circ_0001461在骨肉瘤组织和细胞中明显高表达,低表达circ_0001461能够靶向促进miR-30a-5p的表达进而抑制骨肉瘤细胞增殖和促进细胞凋亡。     

Polarization and Migration of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Rely on the RhoA/ROCK I Pathway and an Active Reorganization of the Microtubule Network

Understanding the physiological migration of hematopoietic progenitors is important, not only for basic stem cell research, but also in view of their therapeutic relevance. Here, we investigated the role of the Rho kinase pathway in the morphology and migration of hematopoietic progenitors using an ex vivo co-culture consisting of human primary CD34⁺ progenitors and mesenchymal stromal cells. The addition of the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 led to the abolishment of the uropod and microvillar-like structures of hematopoietic progenitors, concomitant with a redistribution of proteins found therein (prominin-1 and ezrin). Y-27632-treated cells displayed a deficiency in migration. Time-lapse video microscopy revealed impairment of the rear pole retraction. Interestingly, the knockdown of ROCK I, but not ROCK II, using RNA interference (RNAi) was sufficient to cause the referred morphological and migrational changes. Unexpectedly, the addition of nocodazole to either Y-27632- or ROCK I RNAi-treated cells could restore their polarized morphology and migration suggesting an active role for the microtubule network in tail retraction. Finally, we could demonstrate using RNAi that RhoA, the upstream regulator of ROCK, is involved in these processes. Collectively, our data provide new insights regarding the role of RhoA/ROCK I and the microtubules in the migration of stem cells.     

LRP16影响宫颈癌Siha细胞对化疗药物的敏感性

目的:探讨抑制LRP16的表达对宫颈癌Siha细胞的化疗药物敏感性的影响。方法:将抑制LRP16表达的小干扰RNA:negativecontrol-si RNA(NC)、si RNA-374(si374)转染入Siha宫颈鳞癌细胞系中,通过顺铂(DDP)和紫杉醇(TAX)的处理后,采用CCK-8检测不同浓度紫杉醇、顺铂作用宫颈癌细胞系Siha48 h后,计算出细胞被抑制一半时顺铂、紫杉醇的药物浓度(IC50);使用Hoechst33342染色观察细胞凋亡,采用流式细胞仪检测顺铂IC50作用Siha细胞48小时后的细胞凋亡情况,紫杉醇IC50作用Siha细胞之后的细胞周期分布情况。结果:CCK-8检测转染的Siha细胞增殖活性受到抑制,Hoechst33342染色观察转染的Siha细胞凋亡明显增加,流式细胞仪检测凋亡显示,si374+顺铂的早期凋亡率22.15±2.24,NC+顺铂12.45±2.72,流式细胞仪检测周期显示G2/M(%),si374+紫杉醇29.94±1.87,NC+紫杉醇17.66±2.32。结论:LRP16基因表达下调之后,抑制Siha细胞的增殖、促进其凋亡,使细胞周期滞留于G2/M期,从而提高Siha细胞的化疗敏感性。     

miR-125a-5p转染对肝癌细胞增殖、侵袭、迁移的影响及相关机制研究

摘要 目的：探究miR-125a-5p转染对肝癌细胞增殖、侵袭、迁移的影响及相关机制。方法：将肝癌细胞分为对照组、下调组和上调组,并通过细胞转染建立稳定转染的下调组和上调组。MMT法检测细胞增殖能力,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡能力,Transwell小室实验检测细胞侵袭能力,细胞划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力,Western blot法检测P13K/Akt通路中AKT、Bax、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量。结果：与上调组相比,下调组24、48、72 h细胞增殖率,细胞侵袭、迁移细胞数,AKT、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量显著降低,具有统计学差异（29.67±9.87 vs 17.34±5.71,t=5.192,P＜0.05、34.75±11.56 vs 15.17±5.04,t=7.365,P＜0.05、38.48±12.81 vs 12.51 ±4.13,t=9.153,P＜0.05,72.53±24.17 vs 36.28±12.07,t=6.365,P＜0.05、86.51±28.75 vs 46.28±15.32,t=5.858,P＜0.05,1.26±0.41 vs 0.81±0.26,t=4.397,P＜0.05、1.35±0.44 vs 0.76±0.24,t=5.584,P＜0.05、1.48±0.46 vs 0.79±0.26,t=6.194,P＜0.05、1.22±0.39 vs 0.73±0.24,t=5.584,P＜0.05）;与上调组相比,下调组24、48、72h细胞凋亡率,Bax蛋白表达量显著升高,具有统计学差异（17.62±5.84 vs 29.31±9.75,t=4.879,P＜0.05、14.97±4.65 vs 34.19±11.36,t=7.427,P＜0.05、11.26±3.74 vs 38.62±12.86,t=9.690,P＜0.05,0.75±0.24 vs 1.33±0.43,t=5.587,P＜0.05）。结论：下调miR-125a-5p的表达,可通过作用于P13K/Akt通路,调控AKT、Bax、Bcl-2、P13K、P-AKT蛋白表达量,进而起到抑制肝癌细胞增殖、促进肝癌细胞凋亡以及抑制肝癌细胞的侵袭、迁移能力。     

An overview of the KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinase family

Members of the KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinase family are conserved from yeast to humans and share a similar primary structural organization. Several kinases of this family appear to be at the crossroads of various biological functions including cell polarity, cell cycle control, intracellular signalisation, microtubules stability and protein stability. Here we present an overview of known roles of KIN1/PAR-1/MARK kinases including pEg3 a newly identified member which is regulated during the cell cycle and is a potential regulator of the cell cycle progression. Some common modes of action can be deciphered for this protein kinase family.     

Natural Pesticide Dihydrorotenone Arrests Human Plasma Cancer Cells at the G0/G1 Phase of the Cell Cycle

Dihydrorotenone (DHR) is a natural pesticide used for farming including organic produces. We recently found that DHR induces human plasma cell apoptosis by provoking endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the present study, we found that DHR arrested human plasma cancer cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Mechanistical studies demonstrated that cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulated cell cycle promotors including cyclin D2, cyclin D3, cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDK4, CKD6), and phosphorylated‐Rb. DHR inhibited cyclin D2 transactivation, thus inhibiting its mRNA expression. In addition, DHR upregulated the cell cycle repressors p21 and p53. DHR also increased the phosphorylation level of p53, suggesting the upregulated transactivation function of p53, which was confirmed by the induction of p21, a substrate of activated p53. Moreover, DHR downregulated AKT and ERK phosphorylation, an incentive of cell cycle progression. Therefore, these results collectively demonstrated that DHR disrupts the cell cycle progress, which suggests that DHR is toxic to human plasma cells. Caution is thus suggested when handling with this agent.     

Neural crest and placode interaction during the development of the cranial sensory system

In the vertebrate head, the peripheral components of the sensory nervous system are derived from two embryonic cell populations, the neural crest and cranial sensory placodes. Both arise in close proximity to each other at the border of the neural plate: neural crest precursors abut the future central nervous system, while placodes originate in a common preplacodal region slightly more lateral. During head morphogenesis, complex events organise these precursors into functional sensory structures, raising the question of how their development is coordinated. Here we review the evidence that neural crest and placode cells remain in close proximity throughout their development and interact repeatedly in a reciprocal manner. We also review recent controversies about the relative contribution of the neural crest and placodes to the otic and olfactory systems. We propose that a sequence of mutual interactions between the neural crest and placodes drives the coordinated morphogenesis that generates functional sensory systems within the head.     

From modeling the kinetics of cell enlargement to building tracheidograms of Larix gmelinii Rupr. (Rupr.) in the permafrost zone in Siberia

Boreal forest ecosystems are a crucial element in the global climate balance. In harsh environments functioning lateral meristems of trees are more regulated by the exogenous (included local climate) than endogenous factors. This information is encoded in the tree-ring structure which can be effectively decomposed by the process-based tree-ring growth simulations. Moreover, the process-based modeling can be used to describe non-linear processes linking climate variables with tree-ring formation. In this study, we applied the Vaganov-Shashkin model to simulate seasonal cell production and cell enlargement of Larix gmelinii Rupr. (Rupr.) growing in the permafrost zone of Central Siberia. We developed a procedure for calculating the radial cell diameter based on specific Gompertz function combined with the “instantaneous tracheidogram” approach to estimate effectively seasonal cell production and timing of cell enlargement under climate control. Simulated cell number and cell size matched well with direct xylogenesis observations. The developed procedure demonstrate strong relationships between seasonal simulated growth rate and measured tracheid radial size (the average correlation is 0.64, $p$ < 0.01). A highly significant correlation ($p$ < 0.01) between simulated and observed cell profiles was obtained for 71% of the growing seasons over the period 1950–2011. The strong exponential relationship (R² = 0.67) was obtained between the day of the year (DOY) when cambial cell transfers into enlargement zone and simulated time intervals of cell enlargement. Based on the strong exponential relationship it was possible to reproduce the basic pattern of the observed tracheidograms over 1950–2011 with a systematic overestimation of final cell sizes at the beginning of the growing season, which will be possible to eliminate by using more anatomical data (trees) and longer period. The proposed approach of simulating intra-annual cell dynamics (cell production) has a great potential for studying how climate affects tree-ring formation.     

A new method for the preperative and analytical electrophoresis of cells

In this paper, a new method is described for the horizontal electrophoresis of cells on a density cushion under near-isopycnic conditions. When cell sedimentation is minimized, the electrophoresis of red blood cells (RBC) used as model cells within an anti-convective porous matrix (with pores over 300 μm in diameter) was capable of separating a mixture of human and chicken RBC according to their electrophoretic mobilities. Samples taken from the separated RBC bands show over 90% purity for each species. The simultaneous electrophoresis of several RBC samples carried out under identical conditions permitted the use of comparative data based on the electrophoretic mobility of cells which differ in their surface properties. We believe that this relatively simple system, in which cell sedimentation and convection are minimized, has the potential to be modified and adapted for the separation of other cell types/organelles.     

BMP-signaling regulates the generation of hair-cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are diffusible molecules involved in a variety of cellular interactions during development. Bmp4 expression accompanies the development of the ear sensory organs during patterning and specification of sensory cell fates, yet there is no understanding of the role of BMP4 in this process. The present work was aimed at exploring the effects of BMP-signaling on the development of hair-cells. For this purpose, we studied gene expression, cell proliferation and cell death in isolated chick otic vesicles that were grown in vitro in the presence of recombinant BMP4 or the BMP-inhibitor Noggin. Cath1 was used as a marker for hair-cell specification. BMP4 reduced the number of Cath1-cells and, conversely, Noggin increased the size of the sensory patches and the number of Cath1-positive cells. The effect of BMP4 was irreversible and occurred before hair-cell specification. Lfng and Fgf10 were expressed in the prosensory domain before Cath1, and their expression was expanded by Noggin. At these stages, modifications of BMP activity did not respecify non-sensory epithelium of the otic vesicle. The expression of Bmp4 at sensory patches was suppressed by BMP4 and induced by Noggin suggesting an autoregulatory loop. Analysis of BrdU incorporation during 6 and 18 h indicated that the effects of BMP4 were due to its ability to reduce the number of actively proliferating progenitors and inhibit cell fate specification. BMP4 induced cell death within the prosensory domain of the otic vesicle, along with the expression of Msx1, but not Msx2. On the contrary, BMP-inhibition with Noggin favored hair-cell specification without changes in the overall cell proliferation. We propose that about the stage of terminal division, the balance between BMP and BMP-inhibitory signals regulates survival and specification of hair-cell precursors, the final number of sensory hair-cells being limited by excess levels of BMPs. The final size of sensory patches would hence depend on the balance between BMP4 and opposing signals.     

Preliminary Study towards the Use of In‐situ Microscopy for the Online Analysis of Microcarrier Cultivations

In order to apply newly developed non‐invasive in‐situ microscope systems for the monitoring of microcarrier‐based cultivations, appropriate image analysis systems must be available. Thus a simple, but effective greyscale distribution scan algorithm was tested for the evaluation of images generated by either a standard phase‐contrast microscope or an in‐situ microscope. The images were analyzed according to their greyscale pattern in order to examine whether the greyscale distribution is a possibility to gain information about the covering ratio. The mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH–3T3) was grown on different microcarrier spheres. At first, different microcarriers were tested with respect to their suitability for microscopic observation. In a second part, the phase‐contrast pictures and in‐situ microscope pictures of the microcarrier were separately analyzed using the histogram function of CorelPhotopaint, which analyzes the greyscale distribution within the chosen area. Due to the low optical density of the polydextrin matrix, the images of Cytodex 1 microcarriers proved to be an ideal model for the image analysis. Significant differences in the greyscale distribution of this microcarrier without cells and with increased cell density were observed. Therefore a relationship between the cell density on the microcarriers and the greyscale pattern can be assumed. After automating this image analysis and calibrating the cell number/greyscale pattern relationship, it should be possible to analyze the plating efficiency/covering ratio on the microcarrier online by in‐situ microscopy.