FUT4-siRNA增强5-aza-dC对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制

岩藻糖基转移酶IV（fucosyltransferase IV,FUT4）是催化蛋白质岩藻糖基化的关键酶．已经证明,FUT4-siRNA能够抑制鳞癌细胞的增殖．5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-dC）是临床常用化疗药物,但5-aza-dC是否对鳞癌有治疗作用,以及与FUT4-siRNA联合使用能否加强对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制尚不清楚．本研究以鳞癌细胞系A431和SCC12为对象,探讨5-aza-dC及其与FUT4-siRNA联合使用对细胞增殖和迁移的影响．MTT结合流式细胞周期分析显示,5-aza-dC处理A431和SCC12细胞4 d后,细胞增殖被明显抑制,抑制率分别为18%和20% (P<0.05);与对照组比较,加药处理组G1期细胞数量减少,S期细胞数量明显增加．Western印迹结果揭示,A431细胞FUT4表达水平较SCC12细胞高．经5-aza-dC处理后SCC12细胞FUT4表达有所增加,但仍低于A431细胞中的表达．FUT4-siRNA转染结合台盼蓝活细胞记数证明,FUT4-siRNA明显降低细胞FUT4表达,5-aza-dC处理同时转染FUT4-siRNA的A431和SCC12细胞增殖进一步被抑制,抑制率分别为54%和60% (P<0.05)．细胞划痕法显示,5-aza-dC与FUT4-siRNA联合使用,对细胞迁移能力的抑制作用比5-aza-dC单独使用增强．上述结果提示,5-aza-dC通过诱导细胞S期阻滞抑制鳞癌细胞增殖,FUT4-siRNA与5-aza+dC联合使用可加强对细胞增殖和迁移的抑制．     

HaCaT细胞中FUT4表达与其启动子区甲基化的相关性分析

岩藻糖基转移酶Ⅳ(Fucosyltransferase Ⅳ,FUT4)在正常细胞中表达量很低,但其低表达的调控机制以及是否受其启动子甲基化调控并不十分清楚。文章采用Western blot、免疫荧光和Real-time PCR的方法检测正常人永生化表皮细胞系HaCaT细胞FUT4的表达,观察DNA甲基转移酶抑制剂5-aza-dC处理对FUT4表达的影响。应用甲基化特异性PCR方法分析HaCaT细胞中FUT4启动子甲基化状态。结果表明,HaCaT细胞中FUT4的表达水平明显低于人表皮鳞癌细胞A431和SCC12。5 μmol/L的5-aza-dC处理72 h的HaCaT细胞,其FUT4 mRNA水平明显升高,并且与未经5-aza-dC处理的对照组相比,U引物扩增检测到的产物量增加,M 引物扩增检测到的产物量明显减少。这些结果表明,HaCaT细胞中FUT4的低表达可能与其启动子区CpG岛甲基化有关。     

过表达外源FUT8增加乳腺癌细胞的迁移和侵袭能力

核心岩藻糖的修饰被认为是对糖蛋白进行转录后加工和功能调控的一种重要方式, 与肿瘤的发生发展密切相关, 但其在乳腺癌恶性转化过程中所发挥的生物学功能尚不明确. 本文构建了α1,6-岩藻糖基移转酶（FUT8）基因真核表达载体,将其转染人乳腺癌细胞Bcap-37, 实时PCR及Western印迹检测FUT8 mRNA和蛋白质表达, 通过细胞划痕实验和Transwell小室观察FUT8过表达对细胞体外迁移、侵袭能力的影响, 免疫共沉淀和Western印迹检测肿瘤细胞整合素、基质金属蛋白酶（matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs）家族相关蛋白质表达水平变化. 结果显示,外源FUT8基因在mRNA水平和蛋白质水平的表达均显著增加, FUT8过表达组细胞迁移和侵袭能力明显增强;上调FUT8基因表达可使Bcap-37细胞中核心岩藻糖基化的整合素-α3β1、MMP-2和MMP-9在蛋白质水平呈不同程度升高. 上述研究表明,FUT8可通过核心岩藻糖化修饰正性调控整合素-α3β1的功能, 诱导MMP-2、MMP-9的表达, 促进乳腺癌细胞的迁移和侵袭.     

FUT4过表达促进胚胎细胞与子宫内膜细胞的黏附

胚胎与子宫内膜上皮细胞之间的黏附是胚胎成功植入的关键. 岩藻糖基转移酶Ⅳ （FUT4）对胚胎细胞与子宫内膜细胞黏附的影响未见报道.本研究以人子宫内膜细胞 (HEC-1A)和胚胎细胞(JAR)为体外着床模型,观察上调HEC-1A细胞中FUT4表达对JAR细 胞与HEC-1A细胞黏附的影响.RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学检测结果显示,FUT4过表达增加 HEC-1A细胞中FUT4基因及蛋白的表达;免疫细胞化学及Western印迹结果表明,上调HEC-1A细胞中FUT4增加细胞表面LeY的合成;细胞黏附实验结果显示,与未转染组相比较,FUT4过表达增加了JAR细胞与HEC-1A细胞的黏附率.本研究证明,FUT4过表达可以增加细胞表面LeY寡糖抗原的合成,从而促进胚胎细胞与子宫内膜细胞的黏附.     

卵巢激素对小鼠围着床期子宫内膜Le^y寡糖表达的调控

研究表明Le^y寡糖介导了胚胎与子宫内膜之间的识别与粘附,在胚胎植入中起重要作用。其α1,2、α1,3岩藻糖基的合成分别与α1,2岩藻糖基转移酶（FUT1）、α1,3岩藻糖基转移酶（FUT4）的催化作用密切相关,应用Western印迹、免疫组化和半定量RT-PCR方法,观察小鼠妊娠早期、去卵巢后雌孕激素处理的子宫内膜Le^y寡糖抗原以及其合成相关的FUT1、FUT4基因的表达,分析卵巢激素对Le^y寡糖表达的调控,结果显示：妊娠早期,FUT1、FUT4基因的转录水平随孕激素水平上程式而呈下降的趋势,这与Le^y寡糖抗原表达一致。进一步观察发现,去卵巢后经孕激素处理,FUT1、FUT4基因及Le^y寡糖抗原表达均较对照组降低,雌激素处理组表达则明显升高;雌孕激素联合作用介于雌激素组和孕激素组之间,结果表明,孕激素能下调FUT1、FUT4基因的表达。雌激素对其有上调作用,两种激素之间表现为相互拮抗,提示雌孕激素可能通过FUT1、FUT4基因转录水平调控Le^y寡糖抗原在小鼠子宫内膜上皮的表达。     

人FUT4基因近端启动子结构的初步分析

LeY是一种双岩藻糖化寡糖,在大多数上皮来源的肿瘤细胞（包括乳腺癌、卵巢癌等）中高表达.岩藻糖基转移酶Ⅳ（fucosyltransferase Ⅳ, FUT4）是合成LeY的关键酶. 前期工作发现,FUT4通过增加LeY糖的合成来促进细胞的增殖. 但有关FUT4的转录调控机制尚不清楚. 本文通过对人FUT4基因近端启动子进行生物信息学分析,并构建不同长度启动子序列荧光虫荧光素酶报告基因表达载体,分析其转录活性. 使用First EF程序分析并获得FUT4近端启动子序列,采用PCR 法扩增FUT4基因近端不同长度的启动子序列,定向克隆,获得不同长度的启动子重组质粒. 重组质粒经双酶切及测序鉴定正确. 荧光素酶活性分析不同长度的FUT4 基因启动子片段的转录活性.结果显示,pGL6-FUT4-1.2 kb在MCF-7和MDA- MB-231细胞中转录活性明显升高（P<0.05）.说明FUT4基因启动子区域定位于转 录起始位点上游的-800～-1 600 bp的区域内.     

α-1,6岩藻糖基转移酶的研究进展

当细胞糖蛋白的糖链发生α-1,6岩藻糖基化时,这种改变直接关系到细胞一系列的生物学特性。本就α-1,6岩藻糖基转移酶编码基因及其蛋白质的结构与表达特征,其底物蛋白的糖链结构,与肿瘤及白细胞黏附缺陷症等疾病的关系诸方面予以综述。     

α1,3—岩藻糖基转移酶及其相关产物

α１,３┐岩藻糖基转移酶及其相关产物陈继华陈惠黎（上海医科大学卫生部糖复合物重点实验室,上海２０００３２）关键词α１,３－岩藻糖基转移酶Ｌｅｗｉｓ（Ｌｅ）系抗原细胞表面的糖蛋白或糖脂的一部分含有外链岩藻糖（Ｆｕｃｏｓｅ,Ｆｕｃ）化的乙酰乳糖胺糖链,常...     

小鼠α1，2岩藻糖基转移酶基因的克隆及表达

本文报告小鼠GDP岩藻糖：β半乳糖苷α1,2-岩藻糖基转移酶（α1,2-fucosyltansferase,α1,2-FT）基因的克隆,并进行功能鉴定。利用RT—PCR方法克隆小鼠α1,2-岩藻糖基转移酶基因编码区MFUT-II,测序后将其插入表达载体pcDNA3．1的多克隆位点,构建表达载体pcDNA3．1-MFUT-II;采用磷酸钙法将其转染于COS-7细胞进行表达,通过对底物特异性比较研究酶的性质;应用Northern印迹杂交法研究基因在小鼠组织中的表达情况;应用Southern印迹杂交法分析基因存在状态。结果证实MFUT-II为小鼠α1,2-岩藻糖基转移酶基因家族的新成员。含有一个完整的开放读码框。可编码347个氨基酸。其估计分子质量为39kDa,和小鼠日及Sec1基因具有序列同源性。分别与人类Se基因（79．O％）、大鼠Ratrrs（89％）基因、兔Rabbit FT-III基因（77％）具有较高的序列同源性。用MFUT-II基因转染的COS-7细胞具有α1,2-FT活性。MFUT-II可在多种组织中产生3．5kb大小的mRNA转录产物。基因Southern印迹杂交分析结果显示：基因MFUT-II仅为一个拷贝。这些结果证明MFUT-II为小鼠的Se基因。     

CK8寡糖链结构及翻译水平改变与人肝癌细胞转移相关性研究

糖组学方法筛查人肝癌细胞转移过程中发挥重要作用的核心岩藻糖基化蛋白质分子,解析比较筛出的差异蛋白——细胞角蛋白8(CK8)翻译及糖基化修饰改变与人肝癌细胞转移潜能的关系.应用双向电泳(2-DE)、凝集素亲和印迹、凝集素亲和沉淀联合质谱分析技术,筛查并验证与肝癌转移相关的核心岩藻糖基化蛋白;应用细胞免疫荧光和蛋白质免疫印迹检测CK8的蛋白质表达情况;应用免疫沉淀结合多种凝集素亲和印迹,推测其与肝癌转移相关的寡糖链结构改变.研究发现,3种不同转移潜能人肝癌细胞Hep3B、MHCC97-L和MHCC97-H的扁豆凝集素(LCA)亲和印迹表达谱中,分子质量55～60ku、等电点4～6区域处有核心岩藻糖基化蛋白呈差异表达,质谱鉴定为CK8.LCA亲和沉淀及蛋白质印迹进一步验证CK8异常核心岩藻糖基化与肝癌转移相关;研究发现,CK8分布于细胞浆内,在MHCC97-L和MHCC97-H细胞中蛋白质表达水平较Hep3B高,在MHCC97-H中与LCA和蓖麻凝集素(RCA-1)的亲和力较Hep3B强.以上结果提示,2-DE和凝集素印迹技术联合MALDI-TOF-MS/MS分析可用于筛查疾病过程相关的异常糖基化蛋白质分子,CK8蛋白水平、核心岩藻糖基化及β-1,4末端半乳糖基化的增加均与肝癌细胞转移潜能相关.     

Suppression of FUT1/FUT4 expression by siRNA inhibits tumor growth

Lewis Y (LeY) antigen is highly expressed in a variety of human carcinomas of epithelial cell origin. Recent studies suggest functional blockade of LeY may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancers. However, suppressing LeY expression by genetic manipulation and its impact on neoplastic cell proliferation has not been investigated. We report here that different fucosyltransferases (FUTs) were expressed with the greatest expression of fucosyltransferase I or IV (FUT1/4), the two key enzymes for the synthesis of LeY in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Knocking down FUT1/4 expression by short interfering RNA technique dramatically reduced the expression of FUT1/4 and LeY and inhibited cell proliferation through decreasing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. Treatment of A431 cells that were inoculated into the nude mice with FUT1 siRNA or FUT4 siRNA greatly impeded tumor growth. Suppressing FUT1/4 expression also blocked EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In conclusion, suppressing the expression of FUT1/4 by RNAi technology reduces the synthesis of LeY and inhibits cancer growth. It may serve as a potential methodology for the treatment of cancers that express LeY glycoconjugates.     

Partial silencing of fucosyltransferase 8 gene expression inhibits proliferation of Ishikawa cells,a cell line of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and is associated with increased morbidity each year, including young people. However, its mechanisms of proliferation and progression are not fully elucidated. It is well known that abnormal glycosylation is involved in oncogenesis, and fucosylation is one of the most important types of glycosylation. In particular, fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) is the only FUT responsible for α1, 6-linked fucosylation (core fucosylation), and it is involved in various physiological as well as pathophysiological processes, including cancer biology. Therefore, we aimed to identify the expression of FUT8 in endometrial endometrioid carcinoma and investigate the effect of the partial silencing of the FUT8 gene on the cell proliferation of Ishikawa cells, an epithelial-like endometrial cancer cell line. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that FUT8 gene expression was significantly elevated in the endometrial endometrioid carcinoma, compared to the normal endometrium. The immunostaining of FUT8 and Ulex europaeus Agglutinin 1 (UEA-1), a kind of lectin family specifically binding to fucose, was detected endometrial endometrioid carcinoma. The proliferation assay showed FUT8 partial knockdown by transfection of siRNA significantly suppressed the proliferation of Ishikawa cells, concomitant with the upregulation in the gene expressions associated with the interesting pathways associated with de-ubiquitination, aspirin trigger, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) et al. It was suggested that the core fucosylation brought about by FUT8 might be involved in the proliferation of endometrial endometrioid carcinoma cells.     

Cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis in A431 cells is inhibited by fucosyltransferase IV

Fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of difucosylated oligosaccharide LeY which is overexpressed in the cancers derived from the epithelial tissues. Our previous studies have shown that FUT4 overexpression promotes A431 cell proliferation through the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, but the relationship between FUT4 and apoptosis remained unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of FUT4 overexpression on cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced apoptosis in A431 cells. Western blot analysis showed that FUT4 overexpression decreased expression of Bax, Caspase 3, and PARP proteins, and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein in A431 cells. The anti-apoptosis effect of FUT4 was confirmed both by Annexin-V/PI and JC-1 assays. The results showed that FUT4 overexpression up-regulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt which was inhibited by CPA in dose-dependent manner. By blocking the ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways with specific inhibitors, we demonstrated that these two pathways were required in mediating the anti-apoptosis effect of FUT4. We concluded that FUT4 inhibited cell apoptosis induced by CPA through decreasing the expression of apoptotic proteins Bax, Caspase 3, and PARP and increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 via the ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in A431 cells.     

IL-18通过调节TRPV4/Smad7信号通路促进皮肤鳞状细胞癌的增殖

目的:探讨白介素18(Interleukin-18,IL-18)对皮肤鳞状细胞癌(Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma,CSCC)增殖的影响及可能分子机制。方法:采用外源性IL-18刺激皮肤鳞状细胞癌A431细胞和Colo-16细胞24 h、48 h和72 h,通过CCK-8检测细胞的增殖能力;48 h后qRT-PCR和Western blot检测刺激前后瞬时感受器电位离子通道家族蛋白4(Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4,TRPV4)和Smad7以及p-Smad7的表达。外源性IL-18刺激皮肤鳞状细胞癌A431细胞和Colo-16细胞12 h后,采用TRPV4激动剂G3给药处理A431细胞和Colo-16细胞36 h,通过MMT检测细胞增殖能力,qRT-PCR和Western blot检测刺激前后TRPV4的表达和Smad7以及p-Smad7的表达。结果:外源性IL-18刺激A431细胞和Colo-16细胞可显著促进其增殖,抑制TRPV4的表达而激活p-Smad7的表达;TRPV4激动剂G3可以部分抵消外源性IL-18对A431细胞和Colo-16细胞的增殖作用。结论:IL-18可能通过下调TRPV4激活Smad7信号通路促进皮肤鳞状细胞癌增殖作用。     

Bromodomain protein BRD4 promotes cell proliferation in skin squamous cell carcinoma

The present study examined the expression and biological functions of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. Our results show that BRD4 mRNA and protein expression was upregulated in human skin SCC cells, as compared to its level in the normal skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Treatment with BRD4 inhibitors, JQ1 and CPI203, resulted in proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in both established (A431 cell line) and primary skin SCC cells. Furthermore, BRD4 knockdown (by targeted shRNAs) or knockout (by CRISPR/Cas9) largely inhibited A431 cell proliferation. Reversely, forced-overexpression of BRD4 in A431 cells facilitated cell proliferation. We show that BRD4 is required for the expression of several oncogenes, including cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and MYC. BRD4 inhibition, knockdown or knockout significantly decreased above oncogene expression in SCC cells. In vivo, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated BRD4 knockout significantly suppressed A431 xenograft tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Together, our results suggest that BRD4 could be a novel and pivotal oncogenic protein of skin SCC.     

α1,6-Fucosyltransferase contributes to cell migration and proliferation as well as to cancer stemness features in pancreatic carcinoma

BackgroundPancreatic carcinoma is one of the deadliest malignant diseases, in which the increased expression of α1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8), a sole enzyme responsible for catalyzing core fucosylation, has been reported. However, its pathological roles and regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we use two pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells, as cell models, to explore the relationship of FUT8 with the malignant transformation of PDAC.MethodsFUT8 knockout (FUT8-KO) cells were established by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell migration was analyzed by transwell and wound-healing assays. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT and colony-formation assays. Cancer stemness markers and spheroid formations were used to analyzed cancer stemness features.ResultsDeficiency of FUT8 inhibited cell migration and proliferation in both MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells compared with wild-type cells. Moreover, the expression levels of cancer stemness markers such as EpCAM, CXCR4, c-Met, and CD133 were decreased in the FUT8-KO cells compared with wild-type cells. Also, the spheroid formations in the KO cells were loose and unstable, which could be reversed by restoration with FUT8 gene in the KO cells. Additionally, FUT8-KO increased the chemosensitivity to gemcitabine, which is the first-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.ConclusionsFUT8-KO reduced the cell proliferation and migration. Our results are the first to suggest that the expression of FUT8 is involved in regulating the stemness features of pancreatic cancer cells.General significanceFUT8 could provide novel insights for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.     

Functional analysis of α1,3/4-fucosyltransferase VI in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The α1,3/4-fucosyltransferases (FUT) subfamily are key enzymes in cell surface antigen synthesis during various biological processes. A novel role of FUTs in tumorigenesis has been discovered recently, however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we characterized FUT6, a member of α1,3/4-FUT subfamily, in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In HCC tissues, the expression levels of FUT6 and its catalytic product SLe(x) were significantly up-regulated. Overexpression of FUT6 in HCC cells enhanced S-phase cell population, promoted cell growth and colony formation ability. Moreover, subcutaneously injection of FUT6-overexpressing cells in nude mice promoted cell growth in vivo. In addition, elevating FUT6 expression markedly induced intracellular Akt phosphorylation, and suppressed the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitor p21. Bath application of the PI3K inhibitor blocked FUT6-induced Akt phosphorylation, p21 suppression and cell proliferation. Our results suggest that FUT6 plays an important role in HCC growth by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.