Relative biological effectiveness of 12C and 28Si radiation in C57BL/6J mice

Study of heavy ion radiation-induced effects on mice could provide insight into the human health risks of space radiation exposure. The purpose of the present study is to assess the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of (12)C and (28)Si ion radiation, which has not been reported previously in the literature. Female C57BL/6J mice (n = 15) were irradiated using 4-8 Gy of (28)Si (300 MeV/nucleon energy; LET 70 keV/μm) and 5-8 Gy of (12)C (290 MeV/nucleon energy; LET 13 keV/μm) ions. Post-exposure, mice were monitored regularly, and their survival observed for 30 days. The LD(50/30) dose (the dose at which 50 % lethality occurred by 30-day post-exposure) was calculated from the survival curve and was used to determine the RBE of (28)Si and (12)C in relation to γ radiation. The LD(50/30) for (28)Si and (12)C ion is 5.17 and 7.34 Gy, respectively, and the RBE in relation to γ radiation (LD(50/30)-7.25 Gy) is 1.4 for (28)Si and 0.99 for (12)C. Determination of RBE of (28)Si and (12)C for survival in mice is not only important for space radiation risk estimate studies, but it also has implications for HZE radiation in cancer therapy.     

Response of colony-forming units-spleen to heavy charged particles

Survival of colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S) was measured after single doses of photons or heavy charged particles from the BEVALAC. The purposes were to define the radiosensitivity to heavy ions used medically and to evaluate relationships between relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET infinity). In in vitro irradiation experiments. CFU-S suspensions were exposed to 220 kVp X rays or to 20Ne (372 MeV/micron) or 40Ar (447 MeV/micron) particles in the plateau portion of the Bragg curve. In in vivo irradiation experiments, donor mice from which CFU-S were harvested were exposed to 12C (400 MeV/micron). 20Ne (400 or 670 MeV/micron), or 40Ar (570 MeV/micron) particles in Bragg peaks spread to 4 or 10 cm by spiral ridge filters. Based on RBE at 10 survival, the maximum RBE of 2.1 was observed for 40Ar particles characterized by an LET infinity of approximately 100 keV/micron. Lower RBEs were determined at lower or higher estimated values of LET infinity and ranged from 1.1 for low energy 40Ar particles to 1.5-1.6 for low energy 12C and 20Ne. The responses of CFU-S are compared with responses of other model systems to heavy charged particles and with the reported sensitivity of CFU-S to neutrons of various energies. The maximum RBE reported here, 2.1 for high energy 40Ar particles, is somewhat lower than values reported for fission-spectrum neutrons, and is appreciably lower than values for monoenergetic 0.43-1.8 MeV neutrons. Low energy 12C and 20Ne particles have RBEs in the range of values reported for 14.7 MeV neutrons.     

RBE of 25 kV X-rays for the survival and induction of micronuclei in the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-12A

The broad application of low energy X-rays below about 50 keV in radiation therapy and diagnostics and especially in mammography substantiates the precise determination of their relative biological effectiveness (RBE). A quality factor of 1 is stated for photons of all energies in the International Commission on Radiological Protection Recommendations. However, the RBE of low-energy X-rays compared to high-energy photons was found to be dependent on photon energy, cell line and endpoints studied, hence varying from less than one up to about four. In the present study, the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-12A has been chosen due to the implementation of the results in the estimation of risk from mammography procedures. The RBE of 25 kV X-rays (W anode, 0.3 mm Al filter) relative to 200 kV X-rays (W anode, 0.5 mm Cu filter) was determined for clonogenic survival in the dose range 1–10 Gy and micronuclei (MN) induction in the range 0.5–3.5 Gy. The RBE for clonogenic survival was found to be significantly higher than 1 for surviving fractions in the range 0.005 < S < 0.2. The RBE decreased with increasing survival, with an RBE_0.1 at 10% survival of 1.13 ± 0.03. The effectiveness of soft X-rays for MN induction was found to be 1.40 ± 0.07 for the fraction of binuclear cells (BNC) with MN and 1.44 ± 0.17 for the number of MN per BNC. In contrast, the RBE determined from the number of MN per MN-bearing BNC was found to be 1.08 ± 0.32. This indicates that the effectiveness of 25 kV X-rays results from an increase in the number of damaged cells, which, however, do not have higher number of MN per cell.     

Recoil proton, alpha particle, and heavy ion impacts on microdosimetry and RBE of fast neutrons: analysis of kerma spectra calculated by Monte Carlo simulation

Fast neutrons (FN) have a higher radio-biological effectiveness (RBE) compared with photons, however the mechanism of this increase remains a controversial issue. RBE variations are seen among various FN facilities and at the same facility when different tissue depths or thicknesses of hardening filters are used. These variations lead to uncertainties in dose reporting as well as in the comparisons of clinical results. Besides radiobiology and microdosimetry, another powerful method for the characterization of FN beams is the calculation of total proton and heavy ion kerma spectra. FLUKA and MCNP Monte Carlo code were used to simulate these kerma spectra following a set of microdosimetry measurements performed at the National Accelerator Centre. The calculated spectra confirmed major classical statements: RBE increase is linked to both slow energy protons and alpha particles yielded by (n,alpha) reactions on carbon and oxygen nuclei. The slow energy protons are produced by neutrons having an energy between 10 keV and 10 MeV, while the alpha particles are produced by neutrons having an energy between 10 keV and 15 MeV. Looking at the heavy ion kerma from <15 MeV and the proton kerma from neutrons <10 MeV, it is possible to anticipate y* and RBE trends.     

Radiobiological evaluation of the suitability of negative pions in tumor therapy; facts and theories

Summary A successful cancer radiotherapy consists mainly in sparing normal tissues and killing malignant cells. Negative pions seem to have several and unique gain factors, as Fowler and Perkins 1961 proposed. With the biomedical pion channel of the 590 MeV proton-accelerator of the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN) we had since several years the opportunity to test some theoretical conceptions in comparison to several preliminary experiments performed with pions of low dose rate (Berkeley, CERN, Nimrod). The dosimetric measurements showed for the momentum of 180 MeV/c and a ratio e^–/ ^– of 0.1 an excellent depth curve with p. ex: a peak/plateau ratio of 2.5. Besides this important gain factor for radiotherapy, negative pions have the unique particularity to act on the tissues in the same treatment with two different types of radiations, in the peak (treatment volume) with high LET radiation (presumably high RBE) and low LET radiation in the plateau. Following systems have been used: Inactivation of single mammalian cells, induction of chromatid aberrations in Chinese hamster cells; small intestine of mouse (early and late effects); early and late effects in mouse foot; induction of anomalies in mouse embryos; induction of cerebral microvascular damages in neonatal rats; proliferation of Ehrlichascites carcinoma cells; induction of different types of mutation in different stages of male germ cells and somatic cells (Drosophila). The RBE-values in the peak region vary between 0.7–3.3, and are different even in the same system with the same end point but at different cell stages and conditions. For the plateau region the RBE-values lie mostly under 1 (compared with 140 kV-photons) and can be identical with 29 MeV-photons. The clinically important peak/plateau relation lies in every experiment over 1 and reaches even the value of 4.2. The unexpected RBE-values in peak under 1 lead to a new conception of RBE, the two system theory. In intrinsic radiosensitive euoxic systems (healthy tissue) the RBE of peak (star) pions can be under 1, in intrinsic radioresistant hypoxic systems (tumor cells) in contrary over 1. The two systems can also have different vulnerability of repair svstem.Invited paper, presented at the 14th Annual Meeting of European Society of Radiation Biology, Jülich, Germany, October 8–14, 1978Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 3.682-0.75)Prof. Dr. A. Prader dedicated on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Silencing of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1β Induces Anti-Tumor Effects in Hepatoma Cell Lines under Tumor Hypoxia

Dimerization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 beta (HIF-1β) [aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT)] with HIF-1α is involved in various aspects of cancer biology, including proliferation and survival under hypoxic conditions. We investigated the in vitro mechanism by which silencing of HIF-1β leads to the suppression of tumor cell growth and cellular functions. Various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (Huh-7, Hep3B, and HepG2) were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) against HIF-1β (siHIF-1β) and cultured under hypoxic conditions (1% O₂ for 24 h). The expression levels of HIF-1β, HIF-1α, and growth factors were examined by immunoblotting. Tumor growth was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and tumor activity was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, tumor cell invasion, and migration assays. Under hypoxic conditions, silencing of HIF-1β expression suppressed tumor cell growth and regulated the expression of tumor growth-related factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor. Suppression of tumor cell invasion and migration was also demonstrated in HIF-1β-silenced HCC cell lines. Silencing of HIF-1β expression may induce anti-tumor effects under hypoxic conditions in HCC cell lines.     

Image-Guided Radiotherapy Using a Modified Industrial Micro-CT for Preclinical Applications

Purpose/ObjectiveAlthough radiotherapy is a key component of cancer treatment, its implementation into pre-clinical in vivo models with relatively small target volumes is frequently omitted either due to technical complexity or expected side effects hampering long-term observational studies. We here demonstrate how an affordable industrial micro-CT can be converted into a small animal IGRT device at very low costs. We also demonstrate the proof of principle for the case of partial brain irradiation of mice carrying orthotopic glioblastoma implants.Methods/MaterialsA commercially available micro-CT originally designed for non-destructive material analysis was used. It consists of a CNC manipulator, a transmission X-ray tube (10–160 kV) and a flat-panel detector, which was used together with custom-made steel collimators (1–5 mm aperture size). For radiation field characterization, an ionization chamber, water-equivalent slab phantoms and radiochromic films were used. A treatment planning tool was implemented using a C++ application. For proof of principle, NOD/SCID/γc^−/− mice were orthotopically implanted with U87MG high-grade glioma cells and irradiated using the novel setup.ResultsThe overall symmetry of the radiation field at 150 kV was 1.04±0.02%. The flatness was 4.99±0.63% and the penumbra widths were between 0.14 mm and 0.51 mm. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) ranged from 1.97 to 9.99 mm depending on the collimator aperture size. The dose depth curve along the central axis followed a typical shape of keV photons. Dose rates measured were 10.7 mGy/s in 1 mm and 7.6 mGy/s in 5 mm depth (5 mm collimator aperture size). Treatment of mice with a single dose of 10 Gy was tolerated well and resulted in central tumor necrosis consistent with therapeutic efficacy.ConclusionA conventional industrial micro-CT can be easily modified to allow effective small animal IGRT even of critical target volumes such as the brain.     

Preclinical Radiobiology with Pions: RBE — Values for Mouse Skin Damage as a Function of Single Doses of Pions

Summary The macroscopic reaction of the mouse skin was used to derive RBE values for negative-Mesons. Hind limbs of mice were irradiated with pions or X-rays. The pions were produced by the 590 MeV accelerator of the Schweizerisches Institut für Nuklearforschung (SIN). Early skin reaction was assessed over a period of 6–30 days after irradiation with single doses (20–45 Gy). The radiation damage was scored using an arbitrary scale of effect. The time pattern of development of the skin reaction and the subsequent healing after exposure both to pions and X-rays were similar, indicating that depletion and repopulation of the basal cells of the skin were comparable, both after pions and X-rays. RBE values as a function of pion doses at the peak (dose maximum), plateau and at the postpeak (12 mm downstream of the dose maximum) were computed with nonparametric statistical methods. The RBE at the peak and at the plateau relative to X-rays of the same dose rate was 1.15–1.25 and 0.85, respectively. The RBE of peak pions manifested a marked dependence on dose, when plateau pions were chosen as reference radiation. In this experiment there was no significant difference in RBE between peak and postpeak. The importance of some experimental condition (dose rate, irradiation volume) is discussed.Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 3.682-0.75)     

A microdosimetric interpretation of the radiobiological effectiveness of125I and the problem of quality factor

Summary When considering the microdosimetric energy deposition in small biological targets the Auger electron emitter¹²⁵I behaves like a high-LET radiation. For a specific incorporation in sensitive biological volumes of 20 nm in diameter a mean lineal energy of keV µm^–1 has been evaluated. Experimental data on transformation, mutation and chromosome aberration from DNA-bound¹²⁵I are interpreted to yield RBE-values, relative to 200 kV X rays, of 32 to 38 (transformations), 1 to 16 (mutations) and 6 to 77 (chromosome aberrations). Thus the RBE for transformation and chromosome aberration tends to be larger than the ICRP recommended high-LET quality factor (Q=20). The implications of these results for the functionQ(L) applied in radiation protection will be discussed.Dedicated to Prof. L.E. Feinendegen on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Different genetic and cellular responses to negative pimesons (peak and plateau) in dependence on intrinsic properties of reaction systems: A new concept of RBE

Summary The biological effectiveness of negative pions from the 590 MeV proton accelerator of the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN) has been studied and the results of experiments with different end points obtained since the starting of operation of the biomedical ^–-beam are presented. The dose rate of the ^–-beam (180 MeV/c) in the Bragg peak was 3–5 rad/min, contamination with electrons and myons 13.5%. 140 kV X-rays with the same dose rate have been used for comparison. To avoid complications introduced by protracted irradiation, only very sensitive systems have been chosen. The normal reaction systems included embryonic damages in mice and inhibition of mitotic activity in mouse jejunum. As a sensitive tumor system Ehrlich carcinoma cells were irradiated in vitro and reinoculated into mice. The RBE-values depending on dose were between 1.3–1.7. The ratios of the effects of same doses in peak and plateau showed clinically desired values of 1.4–1.5. Genetic damages (as possible events leading to cell death) were extensively studied at different stages of development of Drosophila germ cells. Nine different types of mutations such as chromosome loss, loss of definite chromosome regions, lethals, translocations etc. were determined. The RBE values varied between 0.4 and 3.3 depending on mutation type and cell stage. The existence of some RBE values for peak pions under 1 have suggested a new concept of high LET action namely the two system theory which gives more importance to the intrinsic properties of the irradiated biological systems. They can be divided in two groups corresponding to their reaction to high LET radiation: 1. The euoxic and modifiable system which is characterized by intrinsic radiosensitivity, high oxygen tension (euoxic cells), high OER values and low RBE values even under 1; and 2. The anoxic and rigid system with high RBE values for high LET ( 1), which is characterized by natural radioresistance and (or) hypoxia.Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation     

Diverse Basis of β-Catenin Activation in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications in Biology and Prognosis

Aimβ-catenin signaling is a major oncogenic pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since β-catenin phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and casein kinase 1ε (CK1ε) results in its degradation, mutations affecting these phosphorylation sites cause β-catenin stabilization. However, the relevance of missense mutations in non-phosphorylation sites in exon 3 remains unclear. The current study explores significance of such mutations in addition to addressing the clinical and biological implications of β-catenin activation in human HCC.MethodsGene alteration in exon3 of CTNNB1, gene expression of β-catenin targets such as glutamate synthetase (GS), axin2, lect2 and regucalcin (RGN), and protein expression of β-catenin were examined in 125 human HCC tissues.ResultsSixteen patients (12.8%) showed conventional missense mutations affecting codons 33, 37, 41, and 45. Fifteen additional patients (12.0%) had other missense mutations in codon 32, 34, and 35. Induction of exon3 mutation caused described β-catenin target gene upregulation in HCC cell line. Interestingly, conventional and non-phosphorylation site mutations were equally associated with upregulation of β-catenin target genes. Nuclear localization of β-catenin was associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.0461). Of these patients with nuclear β-catenin localization, loss of described β-catenin target gene upregulation showed significant poorer overall survival than others (p = 0.0001).ConclusionThis study suggests that both conventional and other missense mutations in exon 3 of CTNNB1 lead to β-catenin activation in human HCC. Additionally, the mechanism of nuclear β-catenin localization without upregulation of described β-catenin target genes might be of clinical importance depending on distinct mechanism.     

Neoplastic cell transformation by heavy ions

We have studied the induction of morphological transformation by heavy ions. Golden hamster embryo cells were irradiated with 95 MeV 14N ions (530 keV/microns), 22 MeV 4He ions (36 keV/microns), and 22 MeV 4He ions with a 100-microns Al absorber (77 keV/microns) which were generated by a cyclotron at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan. Colonies were considered to contain neoplastically transformed cells when the cells were densely stacked and made a crisscross pattern. It was shown that the induction of transformation was much more effective with 14N and 4He ions than with gamma or X rays. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) relative to 60Co gamma rays was 3.3 for 14N ions, 2.4 for 4He ions, and 3.3 for 4He ions with a 100-microns Al absorber. The relationship between RBE and linear energy transfer was qualitatively similar for both cell death and transformation.     

Effect of high linear energy transfer radiation on biological membranes

Cellular membranes are vital elements, and their integrity is extremely essential for the viability of the cells. We studied the effects of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation on the membranes. Rabbit erythrocytes (1×10⁷ cells/ml) and microsomes (0.6 mg protein/ml) prepared from liver of rats were irradiated with ⁷Li ions of energy 6.42 MeV/u and ¹⁶O ions of energy 4.25 MeV/u having maximum LET values of 354 keV/μm and 1130 keV/μm, respectively. ⁷Li- and ¹⁶O-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation was found to increase with fluence. The ¹⁶O ions were more effective than ⁷Li ions, which could be due to the denser energy distribution in the track and the yield of free radicals. These findings suggested that the biological membranes could be peroxidized on exposure to high-LET radiation. Inhibition of the lipid peroxidation was observed in the presence of a membrane-active drug, chlorpromazine (CPZ), which could be due to scavenging of free radicals (mainly HO⋅ and ROO⋅), electron donation, and hydrogen transfer reactions. The ⁷Li and ¹⁶O ions also induced hemolysis in erythrocytes. The extent of hemolysis was found to be a function of time and fluence, and showed a characteristic sigmoidal pattern. The ¹⁶O ions were more effective in the lower fluence range than ⁷Li ions. These results were compared with lipid peroxidation and hemolysis induced by gamma-radiation. Received: 10 March 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 6 July 1998     

Cancer risk after breast proton therapy considering physiological and radiobiological uncertainties

BackgroundThe reduced normal tissue dose burden from protons can reduce the risk of second cancer for breast cancer patients. Breathing motion and the impact of variable relative biological effectiveness (RBE) are however concerns for proton dose distributions. This study aimed to quantify the impact of these factors on risk predictions from proton and photon therapy.Materials and methodsTwelve patients were planned in free breathing with protons and photons to deliver 50 Gy (RBE) in 25 fractions (assuming RBE = 1.1 for protons) to the left breast. Second cancer risk was evaluated with several models for the lungs, contralateral breast, heart and esophagus as organs at risk (OARs). Plans were recalculated on CT-datasets acquired in extreme phases to account for breathing motion. Proton plans were also recalculated assuming variable RBE for a range of radiobiological parameters.ResultsThe OARs received substantially lower doses from protons compared to photons. The highest risks were for the lungs (average second cancer risks of 0.31% and 0.12% from photon and proton plans, respectively). The reduced risk with protons was maintained, even when breathing and/or RBE variation were taken into account. Furthermore, while the total risks from the photon plans were seen to increase with the integral dose, no such correlation was observed for the proton plans.ConclusionsProtons have an advantage over the photons with respect to the induction of cancer. Uncertainties in physiological movements and radiobiological parameters affected the absolute risk estimates, but not the general trend of lower risk associated with proton therapy.     

长链非编码RNA HIT在肝癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨长链非编码RNA HIT(lncRNA-HIT)在原发性肝癌中的表达及其与患者临床病理特征的相关性,寻找肝癌治疗的新靶点。方法:收集并筛选2015年1月至2018年1月在空军军医大学第一附属医院行手术治疗的80例经病理证实的肝细胞癌患者的肝癌组织和癌旁组织。采用实时定量聚合酶连反应(q RT-PCR)法检测患者手术切除的肝癌组织及相应的癌旁组织中lncRNA-HIT的表达,并分析HIT与患者临床病理参数之间的关系。结果:原发性肝癌组织中lncRNA-HIT的表达(6.17±4.38)明显高于癌旁组织(2.81±2.58),约为癌旁组织的2.20倍(P0.05),肝癌组织中HIT的表达与肝癌TNM分期、肿瘤大小和数量显著相关(P0.05),而与性别、年龄、肝硬化、HBV、AFP无显著相关性(P0.05)。结论:lncRNA-HIT在肝癌组织中呈高表达,可能在肝癌发生发展过程起重要作用,并可能作为肝癌治疗的新靶点。     

Heavy ion induced membrane damage: Hemolysis of erythrocytes and changes in erythrocyte membrane fluidity

Human erythrocytes were irradiated with heavy ions of energies between 4 and 18 MeV/u having linear energy transfer (LET) values between 92 and 14000 keV/µm. Hemolysis has been studied as a macroscopic parameter for membrane damage and changes of the fluidity as a more microscopic parameter. The membrane fluidity changed in a characteristic dose-dependent manner as detected by electron spin resonance employing 12-doxylstearic acid methyl ester spin label (SL 12). Lysis cross sections and RBE values were determined from dose effect curves. The results demonstrate a high hemolytic efficiency of heavy ions compared to X rays. With increasing LET values the measured relative biological efficiency (RBE) values increase continuously. In the complete LET range the cross sections formed one common curve as function of LET and no saturation effects are observed. This is in direct contrast to other biological endpoints such as cell inactivation or DNA damage.     

Relative biological effectiveness of 144 keV neutrons in producing dicentric chromosomes in human lymphocytes compared with 60Co gamma rays under head-to-head conditions

The RBE for neutrons was assessed in a head-to-head experiment in which cultures of lymphocytes from the same male donor were irradiated simultaneously with 144 keV neutrons and with 60Co gamma rays as the reference radiation and evaluated using matched time, culture conditions, and the end point of chromosomal aberrations to avoid potential confounding factors that would influence the outcome of the experiment. In addition, the irradiation time was held constant at 2 h for the high-dose groups for both radiation types, which resulted in rather low dose rates. For the induction of dicentric chromosomes, the exposure to the 144 keV neutrons was found to be almost equally as effective (yield coefficient alpha(dic) = 0.786 +/- 0.066 dicentrics per cell per gray) as that found previously for irradiation with monoenergetic neutrons at 565 keV (alpha(dic) = 0.813 +/- 0.052 dicentrics per cell per gray) under comparable exposure and culture conditions (Radiat. Res. 154, 307-312, 2000). However, the values of the maximum low-dose RBE (RBE(m)) relative to 60Co gamma rays that were determined in the present and previous studies show an insignificant but conspicuous difference: 57.0 +/- 18.8 and 76.0 +/- 29.5, respectively. This difference is mainly due to the difference in the alpha(dic) value of the 60Co gamma rays, the reference radiation, which was 0.0138 +/- 0.0044 Gy(-1) in the present study and 0.0107 +/- 0.0041 Gy(-1) in the previous study. In the present experiment, irradiations with 144 keV neutrons and 60Co gamma rays were both performed at 21 degrees C, while in the earlier experiment irradiations with 565 keV neutrons were performed at 21 degrees C and the corresponding reference irradiation with gamma rays was performed at 37 degrees C. However, the temperature difference between 21 degrees C and 37 degrees C has a minor influence on the yield of chromosomal alterations and hence RBE values. The large cubic PMMA phantom that was used for the gamma irradiations in the present study results in a larger dose contribution from Compton-scattered photons compared to the mini-phantom used in the earlier experiments. The contribution of these scattered photons may explain the large value of alpha(dic) for gamma irradiation in the present study. These results indicate that the yield coefficient alpha(dic) for 144 keV neutrons is similar to the one for 565 keV neutrons, and that modification of the alpha(dic) value of the low-LET reference radiation, due to changes in the experimental conditions, can influence the RBE(m). Consequently, alpha(dic) values cannot be shared between cytogenetic laboratories for the purpose of assessment of RBM(m) without verification of the comparability of the experimental conditions.     

Intracameral Interleukin 1β, 6, 8, 10, 12p,Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Axial Length in Patients with Cataract

ObjectiveTo assess associations between the aqueous humour concentration of interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and axial length in eyes with cataract.MethodsThe hospital-based investigation included patients who underwent cataract surgery between March 2014 and April 2014. Using aqueous humour collected at the start of cataract surgery, the interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, TNF-α and VEGF were examined using a cytometric bead array. Axial length was determined by partial coherence laser interferometry (IOL Master).ResultsThe study included 33 patients with cataract (33 eyes) with a mean age of 69.2±10.8 years (range:50–87 years) and a mean axial length of 24.7±1.9 mm (range:22.6–31.5 mm). Lower aqueous concentration of VEGF was significantly associated with longer axial length (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = -5.12 x Axial Length (mm) + 163; correlation coefficient r = -0.41; P<0.001) and more myopic refractive error (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = 1.27xspherical equivalent (diopters)+44.8; r = 0.383; P = 0.002). The aqueous concentrations of all other substances were not significantly (all P>0.10) associated with axial length or refractive error.ConclusionsHigher intravitreal concentrations of VEGF were measured in eyes with a longer axial length, while the intraocular concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p and TNF-α were not correlated with axial length. The lower concentration of VEGF in axially elongated eyes may be one of the reasons for the lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy in myopic eyes.     

Gamma-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression Is Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Stem-Like Properties in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Aims

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is hampered by frequent tumour recurrence and metastases. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is now recognized as a key process in tumour invasion, metastasis and the generation of cancer initiating cells. The morphological identification of EMT in tumour samples from the expression of novel mesenchymal markers could provide relevant prognostic information and aid in understanding the metastatic process.

Methods

The expression of Smooth Muscle Actins was studied using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays in cultured liver cells during an induced EMT process and in liver specimens from adult and paediatric HCC series.

Results

We report here that in HCC cell lines treated with TGF-β and in HCC specimens, the expression of αSMA, a known mesenchymal marker of EMT, could never be detected. In addition, our in vitro studies identified the enteric form of SMA, γSMA, as being a marker of EMT. Moreover, this SMA isoform was expressed in 46% of 58 tumours from 42 adult HCC patients and in 90% of 16 tumours from 12 paediatric HCC patients. Interestingly, this expression was significantly correlated with poor tumour differentiation and progenitor cell features characterized by the expression of EpCAM and K19.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results support the conclusion that γSMA expression in HCC is strongly correlated with the EMT process, HCC aggressiveness and the identification of cancer stem cells. This correlation suggests that γSMA represents a novel and powerful marker to predict HCC progression.     

C1GALT1 Promotes Invasive Phenotypes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Modulating Integrin β1 Glycosylation and Activity

Cancer cell invasion and metastasis are the primary causes of treatment failure and death in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We previously reported that core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase (C1GALT1) is frequently overexpressed in HCC tumors and its expression is associated with advanced tumor stage, metastasis, and poor survival. However, the underlying mechanisms of C1GALT1 in HCC malignancy remain unclear. In this study, we found that overexpression of C1GALT1 enhanced HCC cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, migration, and invasion, whereas RNAi-mediated knockdown of C1GALT1 suppressed these phenotypes. The promoting effect of C1GALT1 on the metastasis of HCC cells was demonstrated in a mouse xenograft model. Mechanistic investigations showed that the C1GALT1-enhanced phenotypic changes in HCC cells were significantly suppressed by anti-integrin β1 blocking antibody. Moreover, C1GALT1 was able to modify O-glycans on integrin β1 and regulate integrin β1 activity as well as its downstream signaling. These results suggest that C1GALT1 could enhance HCC invasiveness through integrin β1 and provide novel insights into the roles of O-glycosylation in HCC metastasis.