ADAR1 shRNA对人胶质瘤U87细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:研究ADAR1 shRNA对人胶质瘤细胞U87细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:通过构建ADAR1-shRNA的干扰质粒,经脂质体法转染胶质瘤U87细胞系,通过荧光倒置显微镜观察转染效率,选择转染效率最高的细胞系。取转染48h细胞,采用RT-PCR和Western-blot分别检测ADAR1 mRNA及蛋白的表达,流式细胞仪检测其细胞凋亡率,MTT法检测细胞增殖情况。结果:①经ADAR1-shRNA转染48h后的转染效率最高,此时U87细胞系中ADAR1 mRNA及蛋白的表达均被显著抑制,较阴性对照组及空白组均明显降低(P0.05)。②在转染ADAR1-shRNA后,细胞凋亡率为(28.14%±3.76%),明显高于阴性对照组(3.20%±1.57%)和空白组(2.80%±1.49%),细胞增殖率较阴性对照组及空白组明显下降(P0.05)。结论:通过shRNA抑制ADAR1的表达能明显促进人胶质瘤细胞U87细胞的凋亡和抑制其增殖,ADAR1基因可能成为治疗治疗胶质瘤的新靶点。     

MicroRNA-424 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition of endometrial carcinoma by directly targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor

Although numerous miRNAs are reported to contribute to the carcinogenesis of malignant tumor, the specific role of miR-424 in endometrial carcinoma is seldom reported. To explore the effect of miR-424 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and its underlying mechanism, we detected miR-424 expression in endometrial carcinoma tissue and cells. We found that miR-424 was significantly downregulated in endometrial carcinoma tissues and cells, especially in HEC-1B cells. To perform the functional analysis, we transfected HEC-1B with miR-424-mi, miR-424-inh, mi-control, and inh-control, respectively. We found that overexpression of miR-424 significantly decreases cell proliferation and migration, accompanied with the increased E-cadherin/Vimentin expression and the transition of mesenchymal to epithelial cell phenotype. We identified that insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) was a potential target of miR-424 by computational analysis followed by luciferase reporter assays. Of note, we found that the downregulation of miR-424 in HEC-1B cells enhanced endogenous IGF-1R expression. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that forced expression of IGF-1R in miR-424-mim transfected cells remedied the weakened migration resulting from overexpression of IGF-1R. Taken together, the results of the current study demonstrated that miR-424 was a tumor suppressor for endometrial carcinoma and a favorable factor against tumor progression through targeting IGF-1R, thus providing a target for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma.     

Tissue distribution and cancer growth inhibition of magnetic lipoplex-delivered type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor shRNA in nude mice

The targeted delivery of therapeutic genes into specific tissues, as well as the determination of the biological fate and potential toxicity of nanoparticles, remains a highly relevant challenge for gene-based therapies. Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R), an important oncogene, is frequently over-expressed in lung cancer and mediates cancer cell proliferation as well as tumor growth. In our previous studies, we have successfully applied gene delivery mediated by commercially available nanoparticles (CombiMAG) under a magnetic field, which suppresses IGF-1R expression in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549) in vitro. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the biological distribution and target tumor suppression of magnetofection, as well as its potential toxicity via CombiMAG-carrying plasmids expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting IGF-1R (pGFPshIGF-1Rs) in tumor-bearing mice. The peak expression in various organs appeared 48 h after transfection. Transgene expression via magnetofection was 3-fold improvement than via lipofection. On the 30th day after injection, the tumor size and weight of the CombiMAG-treated group (789.32 ± 39.43 mm(3), 105.5 ± 6.1 mg) were significantly decreased compared with those of the lipofection group (893.83 ± 31.23 mm(3), 164.5 ± 9.1 mg; P< 0.05), and the suppression rate was ～36%. After a 30-day observation, the injection of CombiMAG did not cause any apparent toxicity. Therefore, IGF-1R shRNA nanoparticles can be valuable and safe delivery agents for RNA interference therapy to tumors in vivo.     

miR-184通过抑制EPB41L5调控大鼠肾癌细胞增殖及迁移

为了探讨miR-184对肾癌细胞的影响及机制,本研究选取肾癌细胞株786-0细胞,随机分为对照组、空白转染组和miR-184转染组,其中miR-184转染组转染miR-184 mimic,空白转染组转染空白mimic,采用CCK-8细胞增殖实验检测各组细胞增殖,流式细胞仪检测各组细胞凋亡,划痕实验检测各组细胞迁移,Western blotting检测各组EPB41L5蛋白表达。研究结果表明miR-184转染组培养48 h和培养72 h时OD值分别为(0.964±0.103)和(1.011±0.121),明显低于对照组和空白转染组(p<0.05);miR-184转染组培养72 h后细胞凋亡率为(18.22±2.26)%,明显高于对照组和空白转染组(p<0.05);miR-184转染组培养24 h后细胞迁移数为(17.21±3.06)个,明显低于对照组和空白转染组(p<0.05);miR-184转染组细胞EPB41L5蛋白相对表达量为(0.241±0.061),明显低于对照组和空白转染组(p<0.05)。本研究初步表明:miR-184可抑制肾癌786-0细胞增殖和迁移,促进细胞凋亡,其可能与其抑制EPB41L5蛋白表达有关。     

miR-195通过下调IGF-1R的表达抑制胶质母细胞瘤的增殖和迁移

目的:探讨miR-195对胶质母细胞瘤(Glioblastoma,GBM)增殖和迁移的影响,并阐明其分子调控机制。方法:采用qRT-PCR检测不同级别胶质瘤中miR-195的表达。将miR-195转染至胶质瘤U251细胞后,应用qRT-PCR验证转染效率,MTT及划痕实验检测U251细胞的增殖及迁移能力的改变,qRT-PCR及Western blot检测胰岛素样生长因子1受体(Insulin-like growth factor 1receptor, IGF-1R)的mRNA和蛋白表达;利用质粒转染过表达miR-195后,同时过表达IGF-1R,再应用MTT及划痕实验检测U251细胞的增殖及迁移能力的变化。结果:随着胶质瘤级别的增加,miR-195的表达逐渐降低,各级别胶质瘤中miR-195的表达差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。体外转染miR-195至U251细胞24、48、72 h后,转染组细胞活力和迁移能力均较对照组显著降低(P0.05),细胞中IGF-1R的mRNA和蛋白的表达也明显减少(P0.05);通过转染IGF-1R过表达质粒可显著逆转miR-195过表达对U251细胞增殖及迁移的抑制作用。结论:miR-195可能通过下调IGF-1R的表达,进而抑制胶质母细胞瘤的增殖和迁移。     

Dual apoptotic effect of Xrel3 c-Rel/NF-kappaB homolog in human cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting a woman's reproductive organs. Despite its frequency and recurrence, the death rate has been declining over the past 40 years, due to early detection and treatment. In a previous report [Shehata Marlene, Shehata Marian, Shehata Fady, Pater Alan. Apoptosis effects of Xrel3 c-Rel/Nuclear factor-kappa B homolog in human cervical cancer cells. Cell Biology International, in press], we studied the role of the NF-kappaB gene family in HeLa human cervical cancer cells, using the Xrel3 c-Rel homologue of Xenopus laevis. These results showed that the expression of Xrel3/c-Rel slowed cell growth, consistent with an upregulated expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and the activated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) apoptosis effector. However, in this report, we examined more apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors acting upstream and downstream in apoptosis pathways after cisplatin treatment of HeLa cervical cancer cells. After 1 microM cisplatin treatment, Xrel3 had an anti-apoptotic effect, based on significantly lower levels of apoptotic proteins, including caspase-8, caspase-3 and p21. Anti-apoptotic BAG-1 isoforms were upregulated. After 5 microM cisplatin treatment, expression of HeLa Xrel3 had an apoptotic effect, based on significantly increased expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and apoptotic proteins, including cleaved PARP, caspase-8, and caspase-3. However, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) were elevated and the cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 was slightly upregulated with both 1 and 5 microM cisplatin treatment. The HPV E6 oncoprotein showed no significant changes. These results support previous conclusions on the potential anti-apoptotic effects of c-Rel/NF-kappaB in mild stress environments, as opposed to the apoptotic effects associated with high stress conditions [Lake BB, Ford R, Kao KR. Xrel3 is required for head development in Xenopus laevis. Development 2001; 128(2), 263-73.]. Thus, c-Rel/NF-kappaB may potentially be of clinical significance in chemotherapy.     

PLK1基因沉默抑制HeLa细胞凋亡

以高表达Polo样激酶1（Polo-like kinase 1,PLK1）的宫颈癌细胞系HeLa细胞为模型,观察针对PLK1基因的短发夹状RNA（short hairpin RNA,shRNA）对其凋亡和增殖的影响.设计并合成了针对PLK1的shRNA,将其导入构建的携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）的RNAi（RNA interference）表达载体中.通过 RT-PCR和Western 印迹分别检测HeLa细胞PLK1基因和蛋白水平的表达,以流式细胞仪和PI-Hochest双染法测细胞凋亡,MTT法检测细胞的增殖水平.成功构建了携带EGFP的RNAi表达载体pEGFP-H1.转染shRNA后,HeLa细胞PLK1的表达降低至30%.与对照组和空载体转染组相比,shRNA转染组的HeLa细胞凋亡率明显增加,其增殖活性则明显降低.本课题构建的RNAi表达载体便于观察靶基因的转染情况,且不影响H1启动子的体内转录.PLK1的基因沉默能明显增加HeLa细胞的凋亡,抑制该细胞的增殖,有可能为未来肿瘤的治疗找到新的靶点和有效途径.     

Tumor-targeting magnetic lipoplex delivery of short hairpin RNA suppresses IGF-1R overexpression of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells in vitro and in vivo

Liposomal magnetofection potentiates gene transfection by applying a magnetic field to concentrate magnetic lipoplexes onto target cells. Magnetic lipoplexes are self-assembling ternary complexes of cationic lipids with plasmid DNA associated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Type1insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R), an important oncogene, is frequently overexpressed in lung cancer and mediates cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. In this study, we evaluated the transfection efficiency (percentage of transfected cells) and therapeutic potential (potency of IGF-1R knockdown) of liposomal magnetofection of plasmids expressing GFP and shRNAs targeting IGF-1R (pGFPshIGF-1Rs) in A549 cells and in tumor-bearing mice as compared to lipofection using Lipofectamine 2000. Liposomal magnetofection provided a threefold improvement in transgene expression over lipofection and transfected up to 64.1% of A549 cells in vitro. In vitro, IGF-1R specific-shRNA transfected by lipofection inhibited IGF-1R protein by 56.1 ± 6% and by liposomal magnetofection by 85.1 ± 3%. In vivo delivery efficiency of the pGFPshIGF-1R plasmid into the tumor was significantly higher in the liposomal magnetofection group than in the lipofection group. In vivo IGF-1R specific-shRNA by lipofection inhibited IGF-1R protein by an average of 43.8 ± 5.3%; that by liposomal magnetofection inhibited IGF-1R protein by 43.4 ± 5.7%, 56.3 ± 9.6%, and 72.2 ± 6.8%, at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, after pGFPshIGF-1R injection. Our findings indicate that liposomal magnetofection may be a promising method that allows the targeting of gene therapy to lung cancer.     

FXYD6 shRNA表达载体的构建及其在体外对胰腺癌细胞增殖的影响

目的：构建FXYD6短发夹RNA（shRNA）表达载体,体外评价其对胰腺癌细胞sw1990的增殖与FXYD6蛋白表达的抑制效果。方法：基于microRNA mir-30天然结构,设计表达4对FXYD6 shRNA的互补DNA序列,克隆入pCGM30质粒载体,连接产物转化感受态大肠杆菌DH5α,PCR法筛选阳性克隆,经酶切和基因测序鉴定;利用LipofectAMINE2000将pCGM30-FXYD6shRNA转染至胰腺癌细胞sw1990,MTT法检测转染后胰腺癌细胞增殖的变化,Western blot检测胰腺癌细胞中FXYD6蛋白表达水平的变化。结果：设计合成了4对表达FXYD6 shRNA的互补DNA序列,构建了4个表达FXYD6 shRNA的重组质粒;基因测序证实shRNA编码序列与设计的片段完全一致,酶切鉴定证实载体构建成功;体外实验表明,转染胰腺癌细胞sw1990的增殖能力和FXYD6蛋白表达水平明显降低（P〈0．05）,FXYD6蛋白表达水平随时间延长逐渐降低（P〈O．01）,但细胞增殖能力无明显变化（P〉0．05）。结论：构建了4个表达FXYD6 shRNA的重组质粒载体,可有效抑制FXYD6的表达;抑制胰腺癌细胞sw1990中FXYD6的表达可以抑制细胞的增殖,提示FXYD6可能是一个具有潜在临床应用价值的基因治疗靶点。     

雷诺嗪对高糖高脂诱导的NIT-1细胞凋亡的保护作用

目的 研究雷诺嗪对高糖高脂诱导的NIT-1胰岛β细胞凋亡的保护作用及Cleaved caspase-3表达的影响,探讨雷诺嗪保护胰岛β细胞的机制.方法 采用CCK-8法测定不同浓度的雷诺嗪对体外培养及高糖高脂诱导的NIT-1胰岛β细胞的增殖能力的影响,同时应用流式细胞术检测NIT-1细胞凋亡,Western blot检测凋亡因子Caspase-3活化片段Cleaved caspase-3蛋白的表达.结果 不同浓度的雷诺嗪对NIT-1胰岛β细胞保护作用呈剂量依赖性:低浓度雷诺嗪对细胞凋亡无明显保护作用,随浓度升高保护作用明显.在培养基中加入高脂高糖及高浓度的雷诺嗪(5μmol/L)共同培养24h,雷诺嗪组细胞凋亡率明显低于高脂高糖单独作用组(P＜0.01),同时相对于高糖高脂组,激活型Caspase3表达明显降低(P＜0.05).结论 雷诺嗪能抑制高糖高脂诱导的NIT-1胰岛β细胞凋亡,其分子机制可能是雷诺嗪对Caspase-3的激活作用.     

Silencing of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor increases the sensitivity to apoptosis and inhibits invasion in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R), which is over-expressed or activated in many human cancers, including lung cancer, mediates cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Several studies indicate that blocking IGF-1R expression can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. In this study, inhibition of the endogenous IGF-1R by recombinant adenoviruses encoding short hairpin RNAs against IGF-1R was found to significantly suppress IGF-1R expression, arrest the cell cycle, enhance the apoptotic response, and inhibit proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration in A549 cells. Moreover, silencing IGF-1R decreases the expression of invasive-related genes including matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA), and the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the silencing of IGF-1R has the potential to be an effective cancer gene therapy strategy for human lung cancer.     

Regulatory role of osteopontin in malignant transformation of endometrial cancer

Osteopontin (OPN) involves in the tumor-promoting or metastasis in human endometrial cancer. Depletion of OPN gene expression in endometrial cancer cells was significantly decreased in cell viability and the cells undergo apoptotic cell death. The status of OPN in THESC, RL95, Hec1A and Ishikawa cell lines were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot. After OPN-siRNA transfection, mRNA and protein expression levels of OPN were determined in Hec1A and Ishikawa cells. Cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution were observed by MTT and flow cytometry analysis. DNA fragmentation assay was used to measure cell apoptosis. Cell migration was assessed by wound healing assay. Depletion of OPN gene expression in endometrial cancer cell lines (Hec1A and Ishikawa cells) reproducibly changed their ability of proliferation. Concomitant changes were seen in the expression of OPN binding cell surface receptors, cell cycle-regulatory genes, cell invasion and colony formation nature of the tumor cells. Decreased colonizing potential in the absence of OPN was reversed in the presence of recombinant OPN. Inhibition of anchorage-independent growth was observed in the presence of metabolic inhibitors of the PI3K, Src and integrin signaling cascades, which was ameliorated in the presence of exogenously added OPN. Our result showed the role of OPN in endometrial cancer, in particular on the malignancy-promoting aspects of OPN that may pave way for new approaches to the clinical management of endometrial cancer.     

鼻咽癌联合基因治疗的体外研究

目的:探讨人端粒酶逆转录酶(hTERT),癌基因蛋白(C-myc),存活素(Survivin),血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)基因对人类鼻咽癌细胞生长的影响,以及同时编码四个基因的短发夹重组质粒对人鼻咽癌细胞生长抑制作用及机制。方法:利用基因重组技术构建一个同时靶向作用四个基因的短发夹双链RNA(shRNA)真核表达载体和靶向单独作用hTERTmRNA的shRNA真核表达载体,脂质体法转染人CNE-2Z细胞;试验分组:空白对照组BC组(不进行干扰),阴性对照组NC组(加入阴性质粒),A组(hTERT单基因质粒组),B组(多基因联合质粒组)。激光共聚焦显微镜观察转染情况;MTT法检测细胞增殖活性;RT-PCR和Western blot法分别检测转染后细胞内各基因mRNA和蛋白表达情况。结果:MTT法检测,与BC相,NC组相比,A组和B组的细胞增殖活性均降低,与A组相比,B组的增殖活性降低更显著;RT-PCR,Western blot法,A组和B组mRNA和蛋白表达水平均降低,B组降低更显著。结论:四个基因共同参与了鼻咽癌细胞的发生和发展。多个基因的联合干扰与单基因干扰相比,能更高效下调各基因蛋白在鼻咽癌细胞的表达水平,更好抑制鼻咽癌细胞的增殖。     

SiRNA-VEGF对子宫内膜癌ishikawa细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的:研究针对VEGF的RNAi技术对人子宫内膜癌细胞系ishikawa细胞中VEGF的抑制作用及对细胞生长、增殖的影响。方法:设计并合成针对VEGF序列特异性siRNA及阴性对照siRNA,转染ishikawa细胞,分别于转染后12h、24h、48h、72h、7d后提取细胞RNA,应用实时荧光定量PCR检测其对VEGF mRNA表达水平的影响,MTT法检测细胞增殖的情况,于转染后48h收集细胞软琼脂培养检测细胞克隆形成能力。结果:转染针对siRNA-VEGF的ishikawa细胞,于转染后12h、24h、48h、72h VEGF mRNA表达水平明显下降、细胞增殖受到明显的抑制,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),于转染后7天这种抑制作用消失(P>0.05)。转染后48h实验组细胞克隆形成率低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:针对VEGF的RNAi技术可有效抑制子宫内膜癌细胞系ishikawa细胞中VEGF基因的表达,抑制细胞生长增殖及细胞集落形成能力,提示VEGF基因在子宫内膜癌的发生、发展中可能具有重要作用,为进一步利用RNAi技术抑制肿瘤生长、血管形成及局部侵袭和远处转移提供研究基础。     

三氧化二砷对肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721凋亡及 Smac caspase-9、caspase-3 蛋白表达的影响

目的：研究三氧化二砷（As203）对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的促凋亡作用及对Smac、caspase-9、caspase-3表达的影响。方法：人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721经As20,处理,共分为四组,分别为空白对照组、低剂量组、中等剂量组、高剂量组。分别采用MTT、Hoechst33258染色法、Annexin V-FITC／PI双染法观察其对SMMC．7721细胞增殖的抑制,凋亡细胞核的形态学变化,以及诱导凋亡作用;采用Westemblot法检测凋亡相关蛋白Smac、caspase-9、caspase-3表达的变化。结果：MTT显示：As203在体外能明显抑制SMMC-7721的生长,具有时间剂量依赖关系,与空白对照组相比,其余三组细胞生存率明显下降,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;Hoechst33258显示细胞呈明显的凋亡细胞形态学特征,具有剂量依赖性;AnnexinV-FITC／PI双染法显示：As203作用24小时可诱导SMMC-7721细胞凋亡,且呈剂量依赖性,与空白对照组相比（2．69±0．58）,其余三组（4．01±0．58）、（5．99±1．69）、（9．26±2．34）差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;Westernblot显示：As2O3作用SMMC-7721细胞24小时,Smac、caspase-9、caspase-3表达上升,呈剂量依赖性,与空白对照组相比,其余三组蛋白表达量明显增加,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：-定量的As203能抑制SMMC-7721细胞增殖,促进其凋亡,其机制可能与调控Smac、caspase-9、caspase-3表达有关。     

RNA干扰PLCε诱导人膀胱癌BIU-87细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的探讨以RNA干扰沉默人源磷脂酶Ce(phospholipase Cepsilon,PLCε)基因表达后诱导人膀胱癌细胞株BIU-87细胞凋亡的作用和机制。方法脂质体介导重组阳性质粒pGenesil-PLCε(以下简称P)和阴性质粒pGenesil-NP(以下简称NP)转染BIU-87细胞48h后,用RT-PCR和Western blot检测转染前后PLCεmRNA和蛋白表达,流式细胞术检测细胞周期和细胞凋亡率,电镜观察细胞形态改变。结果转染P质粒后可明显抑制PLCεmRNA和蛋白表达水平,抑制率分别为78.7%和76.6%;流式细胞术显示P质粒转染组细胞周期发生改变呈明显G0/G1期阻滞,并出现亚二倍体凋亡峰,细胞凋亡率增加(P0.05);电镜观察P质粒转染组细胞可见凋亡小体。结论:RNA干扰沉默PLCε基因表达可诱导膀胱癌BIU-87细胞凋亡,其作用机制与细胞周期分布的改变有关。     

Diosgenin induces apoptosis in IGF-1-stimulated human thyrocytes through two caspase-dependent pathways

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a growth factor of the thyroid that has been shown in our previous study to possess proliferative and antiapoptotic effects in FRTL-5 cell lines through the upregulation of cyclin D and Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme (FLICE)-inhibitory protein (FLIP). Diosgenin, a natural steroid sapogenin from plants, has been shown to induce apoptosis in many cell lines, with the exception of thyroid cells. In this report, we investigated the apoptotic effect and mechanism of diosgenin in IGF-1-stimulated primary human thyrocytes. Primary human thyrocytes were preincubated with or without IGF-1 for 24h and subsequently exposed to varying concentrations of diosgenin for different times. We found that diosgenin induced apoptosis in human thyrocytes pretreated with IGF-1 in a dose-dependent manner through the activation of caspase cascades. Moreover, diosgenin inhibited FLIP and activated caspase-8 in the FAS-related apoptotic pathway. Diosgenin increased the production of ROS, regulated the balance of Bax and Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-9 in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results indicate that diosgenin induces apoptosis in IGF-1-stimulated primary human thyrocytes through two caspase-dependent pathways.     

Role of caspase‐9 in the effector caspases and genome expressions,and growth of bovine skeletal myoblasts

Caspase‐9 has been reported as the key regulator of apoptosis, however, its role in skeletal myoblast development and molecular involvements during cell growth still remains unknown. The current study aimed to present the key role of caspase‐9 in the expressions of apoptotic caspases and genome, and cell viability during myoblast growth using RNA interference mediated silencing. Three small interference RNA sequences (siRNAs) targeting caspase‐9 gene was designed and ligated into pSilencer plasmid vector to construct shRNA expression constructs. Cells were transfected with the constructs for 48 h. Results indicated that all three siRNAs could silence the caspase‐9 mRNA expression significantly. Particularly, the mRNA expression level of caspase‐9 in the cells transfected by shRNA1, shRNA2 and shRNA3 constructs were reduced by 37.85%, 68.20% and 58.14%, respectively. Suppression of caspase‐9 led to the significant increases in the mRNA and protein expressions of effector caspase‐3, whereas the reduction in mRNA and protein expressions of caspase‐7. The microarray results showed that the suppression of caspase‐9 resulted in significant upregulations of cell proliferation‐, adhesion‐, growth‐, development‐ and division‐regulating genes, whereas the reduction in the expressions of cell death program‐ and stress response‐regulating genes. Furthermore, cell viability was significantly increased following the transfection. These data suggest that caspase‐9 could play an important role in the control of cell growth, and knockdown of caspase‐9 may have genuine potential in the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.     

Butyric acid alleviated chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced lipid formation and inflammation through up-regulating HuR expression and inactivating AMPK pathways

To investigate whether butyric acid could alleviate chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced lipid formation in human preadipocytes-subcutaneous (HPA-s) through accumulation of human antigen R (HuR) and inactivation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, HPA-s were obtained and divided into three groups: Control group: cells were cultured under normal conditions; CIH group: cells were cultured in a three-gas incubator (10% O₂); Butyric acid group: 10 mmol/l butyric acid added into cell culture medium. HuR-siRNA was futher transfected into CIH group for verification the function of HuR. Oil Red O was implemented for observation of lipid droplets within cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was used for detecting cell viability. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay as well as flow cytometry analysis was employed for determining cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used for measurement of protein expression levels. RT-qPCR analysis was used for detecting mRNA expression. CIH treatment increased adipocytes proliferation, while butyric acid inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. The treatment of butyric acid in CIH group down-regulated expression of inflammatory factors and increased cell apoptotic rate. Butyric acid treatment increased HuR expression in both cytoplasm and nucleus and decreased the level of p-AMPK and p-ACC, while transfection of AMPK activator or HuR-siRNA would down-regulate HuR expression. Moreover, butyric acid alleviated CIH-induced cell proliferation, lipid formation and inflammatory status and promoted cell apoptosis through regulating related genes including p21, PPARγ, C/EBPa, IL-1β, IL-6, TLR4, caspase-8 and caspase-3. In conclusion, butyric acid could alleviate CIH-induced inflammation, cell proliferation and lipid formation through accumulation of HuR and inactivation of AMPK pathway.