A new primary culture system representative of the human gastric epithelium

The gastric pit-gland unit is a highly dynamic and compartimentalized structure which assumes important key functions such as acid secretion, digestion of dietary proteins and triglycerides, protection, and epithelial restitution following injury. However, in vitro models representative of the intact gastric epithelium are still lacking. The current study was undertaken to investigate the possibility of generating such primary cultures from human fetal stomach. The use of Matrisperse, a nonenzymatic solution, allowed complete dissociation of the epithelial layer and the maintenance for at least 7 days of all gastric epithelial cell types in primary culture on plastic. Indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses confirmed the purity of epithelial cultures, composed of 60% mucus-secreting cells, 25% zymogenic chief cells, 5% parietal cells, and a small proportion of mitotic precursors. Their functionality was demonstrated by the presence of zonulae occludens and adherens at cell to cell contacts, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, Periodic acid Schiff staining, and expression of growth factor receptors (EGF/TGFalpha, IGF1, HGF, KGF), gastric H(+)/K(+)-ATPase, pepsinogen (Pg5), and human gastric lipase (HGL). Chief cells were able to produce and secrete both Pg5 and HGL and to respond to EGF treatment. In conclusion, we developed a new primary culture system of human gastric epithelium characterized for the first time by the absence of added matrix and the maintenance of functional chief cells. It represents an experimental breakthrough that will serve applications in investigating the actions of hormones, mesenchymal growth factors, and basement membrane proteins on human gastric functions in vitro.     

Establishment of human gastric epithelial (HGE) cell lines exhibiting barrier function, progenitor, and prezymogenic characteristics

The unavailability of human cell lines representative of the gastric glandular epithelium while able to form a functional barrier restricts the application of a cell culture approach to the field of gastric epithelial physiology. In the current study, we have characterized new non-transfected clones isolated from gastric carcinoma cell lines known to express functional markers of the human gastric mucosa (J Cell Biochem 2001;81:241). Twenty-one clones exhibiting epithelial-type junctions (renamed HGE cell lines) were isolated from NCI-N87 (ATCC CRL 5822), whereas only squamous cell lines could be generated from other native strains. Of these 21 clones, HGE-17 and HGE-20 formed dense coherent monolayers and displayed true epithelial phenotype. E-cadherin and ZO-1 proteins were consistently localized at the periphery of all cells which also generated transepithelial electrical resistance. Moreover, growth factors known to be trophic for the gastric mucosa were able to stimulate mitogenesis at subconfluence. HGE-17 exhibited a poorly differentiated precursor-like status and responded strongly to EGF/TGFalpha treatment in restitution assays. HGE-20 cells, on the other hand, exhibited a higher degree of differentiation at the ultrastructural level as well as higher gastric lipase and pepsinogen levels. These latter zymogens were compartmentalized into granules which also contained mucin-6 (MUC6, prezymogenic-like status). Exogenous hormones, i.e., 1 mug/ml hydrocortisone and 5 microM retinoic acid, significantly increased enzyme levels in HGE-20. In conclusion, HGE-17 and HGE-20 represent the first human gastric cell lines with true epithelial characteristics, opening a venue to important applications for the study of re-epithelization, permeability, and regulation of digestive functions in the context of gastric physiology and pathology.     

The ErbB2-targeting antibody trastuzumab and the small-molecule SRC inhibitor saracatinib synergistically inhibit ErbB2-overexpressing gastric cancer

The anti-ErbB2 antibody trastuzumab has shown significant clinical benefits in ErbB2-overexpressing breast and gastric cancer, but resistance to the drug is common. Here, we investigated the antitumor activity of the combination of trastuzumab and the SRC inhibitor saracatinib in ErbB2-overexpressing trastuzumab-resistant gastric cancer. The ErbB2-overexpressing human gastric cancer cell line NCI-N87 was treated with trastuzumab to obtain the trastuzumab-resistant cell line NCI-N87R. The NCI-N87R cell line showed a marked increase in SRC activity and ErbB signaling compared with the NCI-N87 cell line. Our data demonstrated that trastuzumab plus saracatinib was much more potent than either agent alone in reducing the phosphorylation of ErbB3 and AKT in both NCI-N87 and NCI-N87R gastric cancer cell lines. Trastuzumab and saracatinib synergistically inhibited the in vitro growth of NCI-N87 and NCI-N87R cell lines. Further data showed that combination therapy of trastuzumab with saracatinib resulted in a significant benefit over either agent alone in both NCI-N87 and NCI-N87R xenograft models, suggesting its potential use for treating ErbB2-overexpressing gastric cancer.     

人EGFR显性负性突变体抑制胃癌细胞促血管形成能力

目的探讨人表皮生长因子显性负性突变体(dominant negative epidermal growth factor receptor,DNEGFR))对胃癌细胞促血管形成能力的影响及其分子机制,并检测其对裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的影响。方法选用2株人胃癌细胞,分为如下6组:SGC-7901及NCI-N87细胞未转染组(US组,UN组),SGC-7901及NCI-N87细胞pEGFP-N1质粒转染组(ES组,EN组),SGC-7901及NCI-N87细胞pEGFPN1-DNEGFR质粒转染组(DS组,DN组)。采用人脐静脉内皮细胞(humanumbilical vein endothelial cell,HUVEC)管腔结构形成实验检测体外促血管形成能力,采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定细胞培养液中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的水平,建立人胃癌细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型,标本微血管密度(microvessel density,MVD)检测体内促血管形成能力,标本体积检测其对裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的影响。结果转染pEGFPN1-DNEGFR质粒的人胃癌细胞株出现HUVEC管腔结构形成抑制,培养液中VEGF水平降低,MVD计数降低,裸鼠皮下移植瘤体积变小。结论 DNEGFR可能通过下调VEGF分泌抑制胃癌细胞体外及裸鼠体内促血管形成能力,最终抑制裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长。     

Down-regulation of thyroid hormone receptor β1 gene expression in gastric cancer involves promoter methylation

Hypermethylation has been shown in the promoter region of the thyroid hormone receptor β1 (TRβ1) gene in several human tumors. However, its role in gastric cancer formation is still unclear. In the study, we analyzed mRNA expression of TRβ1 gene using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). A quantitative methylation-specific PCR (Q-MSP) assay was used to determine the methylation status of the TRβ1 gene promoter region in 46 pair-matched gastric neoplastic and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The results showed that TRβ1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in gastric cancer specimens. The methylation of promoter of TRβ1 gene in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than in adjacent normal tissues. Promoter hypermethylation of the TRβ1 gene correlated with tumor infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis, but it was not associated with other clinicopathological characteristics. We treated gastric cancer cell lines MKN-45, MKN-28, SGC-7901, NCI-N87, and SNU-1 with 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC). The results showed the expression of TRβ1 mRNA was increased in MKN-45, MKN-28, SGC-7901, but not increased in NCI-N87 and SNU-1. These results suggest that the TRβ1 gene plays important roles in the development of gastric cancer partially through epigenetic mechanisms.     

Immunocytolocalization of human gastric lipase in chief cells of the fundic mucosa

Summary The presence in human gastric juice of a lipase secreted by the gastric mucosae has been reported previously, but its exact cellular origin has not yet been established. Polyclonal antibodies specific to human gastric lipase (HGL) were prepared, and used by an immunofluorescence technique to label cells producing HGL. This immunocytolocalization was correlated with that of pepsin (chief cells) and parietal cells using specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.Our results clearly establish that HGL is exclusively located in the chief cells of fundic mucosa; furthermore, it was found to be always co-located with pepsin. No HGL was observed in the parietal or mucus cells. HGL was always detected intracellularly, either in secretory granules of the apical region of the chief cells, or revealed by more diffuse cytoplasmic labelling.Abbreviations HGL Human gastric lipase - SDS PAGE Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyAcrylamid gel electrophoresis - PBS Phosphate buffer saline     

Immunocytolocalization of human gastric lipase in chief cells of the fundic mucosa

The presence in human gastric juice of a lipase secreted by the gastric mucosae has been reported previously, but its exact cellular origin has not yet been established. Polyclonal antibodies specific to human gastric lipase (HGL) were prepared, and used by an immunofluorescence technique to label cells producing HGL. This immunocytolocalization was correlated with that of pepsin (chief cells) and parietal cells using specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. Our results clearly establish that HGL is exclusively located in the chief cells of fundic mucosa; furthermore, it was found to be always co-located with pepsin. No HGL was observed in the parietal or mucus cells. HGL was always detected intracellularly, either in secretory granules of the apical region of the chief cells, or revealed by more diffuse cytoplasmic labelling.     

The NCI-N87 cell line as a gastric epithelial barrier model for drug permeability assay

The objective of this study was to evaluate the human NCI-N87 cell line as a model for gastric permeability drug studies under pH conditions of the stomach. The optimal conditions that led NCI-N87 cells to form a typical differentiated gastric epithelial barrier were a seeding density of 2.5 × 10⁵ cells/cm² on porous inserts and growth in serum-complemented RPMI-1640 medium until 18–27 days post-confluency. The resulting cell monolayers showed moderately high transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values of about 500 Ω cm², cells of polygonal morphology expressing E-cadherin and ZO-1 proteins at their contact surfaces, and production of mucus clusters. The monolayers withstood apical pH of 7.4 down to 3.0 with the basal pH fixed at 7.4. The apparent permeability coefficients (P_app) of model compounds were evaluated in the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions under different pH gradients. The monolayers were impermeable to the integrity marker Lucifer Yellow (low P_app of 0.3–1.1 × 10⁻⁶ cm/s). The furosemide P_app (0.4–1.5 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s) were slightly dependent on pH but remained moderate. The caffeine P_app (4.2–5.0 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s) were higher and insensitive to pH changes. The NCI-N87 cell line provides a useful in vitro tool to assess gastric drug permeability and absorption under physiologic conditions prevailing in the human stomach.     

Superior Antitumor Activity of Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in Experimental Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is the second common cause of cancer related death worldwide and lacks highly effective treatment for advanced disease. Nab-paclitaxel is a novel microtubule-inhibitory cytotoxic agent that has not been tested in gastric cancer as of yet. In this study, human gastric cancer cell lines AGS, NCI-N87 and SNU16 were studied. Nab-paclitaxel inhibited cell proliferation with an IC50 of 5 nM in SNU16, 23 nM in AGS and 49 nM in NCI-N87 cells after 72-hour treatment, which was lower than that of oxaliplatin (1.05 μM to 1.51 μM) and epirubicin (0.12 μM to 0.25 μM). Nab-paclitaxel treatment increased expression of the mitotic-spindle associated phospho-stathmin irrespective of the baseline total or phosphorylated stathmin level, and induced mitotic cell death as confirmed through increased expression of cleaved-PARP and caspase-3. After a two-week nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin or epirubicin treatment, the average in vivo local tumor growth inhibition rate was 77, 17.2 and 21.4 percent, respectively (p = 0.002). Effects of therapy on tumoral proliferative and apoptotic indices corresponded with tumor growth inhibition data, while expression of phospho-stathmin also increased in tissues. There was an increase in median animal survival after nab-paclitaxel treatment (93 days) compared to controls (31 days, p = 0.0007), oxaliplatin (40 days, p = 0.0007) or to docetaxel therapy (81 days, p = 0.0416). The strong antitumor activity of nab-paclitaxel in experimental gastric cancer supports such microtubule-inhibitory strategy for clinical application. Nab-paclitaxel benefits were observed independent from phosphorylated stathmin expression at baseline, putting into question the consideration of nab-paclitaxel use in gastric cancer based on this putative biomarker.     

Contribution of PGAP3 co-amplified and co-overexpressed with ERBB2 at 17q12 involved poor prognosis in gastric cancer

The locus at 17q12 erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) has been heavily amplificated and overexpressed in gastric cancer (GC), but it remains to be elucidated about the clinical significance of the co-amplification and co-overexpression of PGAP3 gene located around ERBB2 in GC. The profile of PGAP3 and ERBB2 in four GC cell lines and tissue microarrays containing 418 primary GC tissues was assessed to investigate the co-overexpression and clinical significance of the co-amplified genes, and to evaluate the impact of the co-amplified genes on the malignancy of GC. Co-amplification of PGAP3 and ERBB2 accompanied with co-overexpression was observed in a haploid chromosome 17 of NCI-N87 cells with double minutes (DMs). PGAP3 and ERBB2 were overexpressed and positively correlated in 418 GC patients. Co-overexpression of the PGAP3 and ERBB2 was correlated with T stage, TNM stage, tumour size, intestinal histological type and poor survival proportion in 141 GC patients. In vitro, knockdown of the endogenous PGAP3 or ERBB2 decreased cell proliferation and invasion, increased G1 phase accumulation and induced apoptosis in NCI-N87 cells. Furthermore, combined silencing of PGAP3 and ERBB2 showed an additive effect on resisting proliferation of NCI-N87 cells compared with targeting ERBB2 or PGAP3 alone. Taken together, the co-overexpression of PGAP3 and ERBB2 may be crucial due to its significant correlation with clinicopathological factors of GC. Haploid gain of PGAP3 co-amplified with ERBB2 is sufficient to facilitate the malignancy and progression of GC cells in a synergistic way.     

Aza-PBHA,a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor,inhibits human gastric-cancer cell migration via PKCα-mediated AHR-HDAC interactions

Recently, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have become widely used in anti-cancer treatment; however, due to acquired drug resistance and their relatively low specificity, they are largely ineffective against late-stage cancer. Thus, it is critical to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these issues, so as to identify novel therapeutic targets to prevent late-stage cancer progression and resistance acquisition. The present study investigated the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), that has been shown to mediate histone acetylation by regulating histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity during HDACi treatment in human gastric-cancer cell lines (i.e. AGS and NCI-N87 cells). The potent HDACi, Aza-PBHA, was thus shown to upregulate AHR expression in both AGS and NCI-N87 cell lines, and to increase histone acetylation levels by facilitating AHR/HDAC interactions. Conversely, AHR knockdown increased HDAC activity. Aza-PBHA also increased PKCα phosphorylation and membrane translocation; however, interestingly, PKCα inhibition reduced the Aza-PBHA-increased AHR and histone acetylation levels, and inhibited the formation of the AHR/HDAC complex, likely upregulating Aza-PBHA-inhibited cell migration. Thus, our results suggest that Aza-PBHA treatment increased AHR levels to suppress HDAC activity, and inhibited cell migration by activating PKCα activation. These findings support the use of drugs to control AHR-related epigenetic regulation as a promising potential method to prevent acquired resistance to cancer treatments.     

Combining trastuzumab and cetuximab combats trastuzumab-resistant gastric cancer by effective inhibition of EGFR/ErbB2 heterodimerization and signaling

The anti-ErbB2 antibody trastuzumab has currently been approved for ErbB2-positive gastric cancer. Despite the effectiveness of trastuzumab, resistance is common. Thus, there is an urgent need to overcome trastuzumab resistance. Here, we obtain a trastuzumab-resistant cell line, which is derived from the human gastric cancer NCI-N87 cell line, by modeling the development of acquired resistance in patients. Our data show that combining trastuzumab and cetuximab leads to a significant decrease in EGFR/ErbB2 heterodimers and signaling compared with either antibody alone, and the combination results in greater antitumor activity against the trastuzumab-resistant NCI-N87 cell line, both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that a combined EGFR/ErbB2 inhibition may overcome trastuzumab resistance.     

人EGFR显性负性突变体对胃癌细胞体内成瘤及淋巴结转移的影响

为了研究人表皮生长因子显性负性突变体(dominant negative mutant of EGFR, dnEGFR)对胃癌细胞体内成瘤及淋巴结转移的影响,用目的质粒pEGFPN1 dnEGFR,空质粒载体pEGFP N1分别转染胃癌细胞NCI-N87.筛选出稳定转染株,实验共分3组：NCI-N87细胞未转染组（untreated NCI-N87,UN组）,NCI-N87细胞pEGFP-N1转染组（EN组）;NCI-N87细胞pEGFPN1-dnEGFR转染组（DN组）.将3组细胞接种于裸鼠右后足垫,6周后测量移植瘤大小及对应腹股沟转移淋巴结数目,HE染色验证,real-time PCR和Western 印迹检测3组细胞中AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白的表达改变.结果发现,DN组移植瘤较UN、EN组明显缩小（P<0.05）,且右腹股沟转移淋巴结数目较UN、EN组减少（P<0.05）.DN组细胞中,AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白水平较UN、EN组降低（P<0.05）.提示pEGFPN1-dnEGFR可抑制裸鼠体内胃癌细胞成瘤及淋巴结转移,AKT1及MAPK3信号通路可能参与其中.     

Helicobacter pylori-induced downregulation of the secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in gastric epithelial cell lines and its functional relevance for H. pylori-mediated diseases

The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) exerts antiproteolytic activity towards serine proteases, as well as anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. To investigate its role in H. pylori-mediated diseases, SLPI expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry in clinical samples and gastric tumor cell lines. Determination of the mucosal SLPI levels in 126 patients confirmed the previously reported downregulation of SLPI in H. pylori-infected patients. The lower SLPI levels in antral biopsies of H. pylori-positive subjects were associated with a 30-fold increase (p<0.01) in neutrophil elastase activity, and a significant negative correlation was demonstrated for both parameters (R=-0.63, p=0.0002). Eradication of the bacterium in a long-term study (5-7 years) led to a recovery of mucosal SLPI expression. In vitro experiments using four gastric tumor cell lines (AGS, MKN-28, MKN-45, NCI-N87) generally confirmed the clinical findings. While the co-incubation of these cell lines with H. pylori resulted in lower or unchanged SLPI protein levels, the corresponding SLPI mRNA amounts were upregulated by up to five-fold (p=0.006) in all cell lines. Taken together, these results indicate that the reduction in antral SLPI levels in H. pylori-infected subjects has a functional relevance for gastric mucosa and the H. pylori-induced decrease in SLPI is primarily regulated at the posttranslational level.     

Biological Activities of Fractions from Methanolic Extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picrasma quassioides</Emphasis>

Antioxidant, antidiabetes, and anticancer activities of fractions (water, hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH) from methanolic (MeOH) extract of Picrasma quassioides were evaluated in vitro. Among the four fractions, BuOH fraction showed cytotoxic activity on the human stomach carcinoma cells (NCI-N87) without cytotoxic effect on the human normal kidney cells (293) by MTT assay. Considering these results, we adapted BuOH fraction of MeOH extract to the assessment of apoptosis by flow cytometry and mRNA expression levels of established apoptotic-related genes on NCI-N87 cells. The experiments showed that BuOH fraction could induce apoptosis on NCI-N87 cells significantly. Take together these results, P. quassioides showed that it could be used for potential pharmaceutical products.     

Immunochemical characterization and cellular localization of pepsinogens in cat and dog.

The antigenic relationships and cellular localization of cat and dog pepsinogens were investigated by electrophoretic analysis, immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, immunoabsorption, and by immunofluorescence, respectively. Rabbit antiserum to human and hog group I (Pg I) and group II pepsinogens (Pg II) had been previously prepared. Electrophoretic analysis revealed at least eight distinct proteases in extracts of gastric and proximal duodenal mucosa, resistant to alkalinization but destroyed by sequential accidification and neutralization. Rabbit antiserum to Pg I (anti-Pg I) and Pg II (anti-Pg II) produced a single precipitin arc against each extract forming a line of nonidentity. Immunoelectrophoresis of extracts produced a single precipitin arc against anti-Pg I or anti-Pg II. The specificity of the antibodies for the group I or group II pepsinogens was confirmed by immunoabsorption. By immunofluorescnece, both Pg I and Pg II were present in mucous neck and chief cells in fundic mucosa, in the pyloric gland cells in antral mucosa, and Brunner's glands in the proximal duodenum. The results indicate that canine and feline pepsinogens are electrophoretically heterogenous, that canine and feline Pg I share antigenic determinants with each other but not with Pg II, that a similar positive relationship exists for Pg II, and that both Pg I and Pg II are localized to the peptic cell mass, consisting of four types of cells.     

Laminins and TGF-beta maintain cell polarity and functionality of human gastric glandular epithelium

The human gastric glandularepithelium produces a gastric lipase enzyme (HGL) that plays animportant role in digestion of dietary triglycerides. To assess theinvolvement of extracellular matrix components and transforming growthfactor-1 (TGF-1) in the regulation of this enzymic function,normal gastric epithelial cells were cultured on collagen type I,Matrigel, and laminins (LN)-1 and -2 with or without TGF-1.Epithelial morphology and HGL expression were evaluated usingmicroscopy techniques, enzymic assays, Western blot, Northernhybridization, and RT-PCR. A correlation was observed between the cellpolarity status and the level of HGL expression. TGF-1 alone orindividual matrix components stimulated cell spreading and caused adownfall of HGL activity and mRNA. By contrast, Matrigel preserved themorphological features of differentiated epithelial cells andmaintained HGL expression. The combination of LNs with TGF-1 (twoconstituents of Matrigel) exerted similar beneficial effects onepithelial cell polarity and evoked a 10-fold increase of HGL levelsthat was blunted by a neutralizing antibody against the₂-integrin subunit and by mitogen-activated proteinkinase (MAPK) inhibitors PD-98059 (p42/p44) or SB-203580 (p38). Thisinvestigation demonstrates for the first time that a powerful synergismbetween a growth factor and basement membrane LNs positively influencescell polarity and functionality of the human gastric glandularepithelium through an activation of the₂₁-integrin and effectors of two MAPK pathways.

     

miR-195通过靶向调控趋化因子5促进胃癌细胞增殖、转移及侵袭的实验研究

目的:研究miR-195通过靶向调控趋化因子5促进胃癌细胞增殖、转移及侵袭的分子机制。方法:选取MGC803及NCI-N87细胞,根据转染不同分为:miR-NC组(空质粒),miR-195-mimics组(模拟序列)。实时荧光定量PCR法检测miR-195表达;MTT检测细胞增殖能力;Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞侵袭力;细胞划痕实验检测细胞转移能力;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡情况;Western blot检测chemokine 5表达水平;Spearman相关分析miR-195及chemokine 5相关性。荧光素酶实验验证miR-195与chemokine 5的靶向关系。结果:miR-195-mimics组细胞miR-195水平高于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195 mimics组第1、2、3、4 d细胞活力低于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195 mimics组G1细胞高于miR-NC组,G2期、S期细胞低于miR-NC组,G2/S期细胞比值低于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195 mimics组划痕距离大于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195 mimics组细胞侵袭数低于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195-mimics组细chemokine 5蛋白含量低于miR-NC组(P0.05);miR-195 m RNA水平与chemokine 5蛋白含量负相关(r=-0.398,P=0.00);miR-195可直接靶向chemokine 5。结论:miR-195可通过靶向chemokine 5促进胃癌MGC803及NCI-N87细胞的增殖、转移及侵袭。