Cell Patterning on Photolithographically Defined Parylene-C: SiO2 Substrates

Cell patterning platforms support broad research goals, such as construction of predefined in vitro neuronal networks and the exploration of certain central aspects of cellular physiology. To easily combine cell patterning with Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs) and silicon-based ‘lab on a chip’ technologies, a microfabrication-compatible protocol is required. We describe a method that utilizes deposition of the polymer parylene-C on SiO₂ wafers. Photolithography enables accurate and reliable patterning of parylene-C at micron-level resolution. Subsequent activation by immersion in fetal bovine serum (or another specific activation solution) results in a substrate in which cultured cells adhere to, or are repulsed by, parylene or SiO₂ regions respectively. This technique has allowed patterning of a broad range of cell types (including primary murine hippocampal cells, HEK 293 cell line, human neuron-like teratocarcinoma cell line, primary murine cerebellar granule cells, and primary human glioma-derived stem-like cells). Interestingly, however, the platform is not universal; reflecting the importance of cell-specific adhesion molecules. This cell patterning process is cost effective, reliable, and importantly can be incorporated into standard microfabrication (chip manufacturing) protocols, paving the way for integration of microelectronic technology.     

Structured PDMS Chambers for Enhanced Human Neuronal Cell Activity on MEA Platforms

Structured poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chambers were designed and fabricated to enhance the signaling of human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) - derived neuronal networks on Microelectrode Array (MEA) platforms.The structured PDMS chambers enable cell seeding on restricted areas and thus,reduce the amount of needed coating materials and cells.In addition,the neuronal cells formed spontaneously active networks faster in the structured PDMS chambers than that in control chainbers.In the PDMS chambers,the neuronal networks were more active and able to develop their signaling into organized signal trains faster than control cultures.The PDMS chamber design enables much more repeatable analysis and rapid growth of functional neuronal network in vitro.Moreover,due to its easy and cheap fabrication process,new configurations can be easily fabricated based on investigator requirements.     

Modulation of the Plasminogen Activator Activity of a Transformed Cell Line by Cell Density

The effects of variations in cell density on the expression of the plasminogen activator activity of a tumorigenic rat cell line were analyzed. At low cell densities, the plasminogen activator activity per cell was high and independent of cell density. As the cell density increased, the plasminogen activator activity per cell decreased until it eventually became inversely proportional to cell density. Inhibition of the plasminogen activator activity per cell by increases in cell density was not the result of the presence of a soluble inhibitor but seemed to require cell-to-cell contact. The V_max per cell for the activation of plasminogen changed at high cell densities, but the K_m did not change. This change in the V_max per cell was in part the result of a change in the catalytic rate constant for the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. This was inferred from studies on the kinetics of inhibition of plasminogen activator activity by diisopropyl fluorophosphate as a function of cell density. For cells growing at high densities, the rate of inhibition was constant, exhibiting a second-order rate constant of 2.6 × 10⁻²M⁻¹ s⁻¹. For cells growing at low densities, the plasminogen activator activity was inhibited at two different rates, one exhibiting a second-order rate constant of 2.6 × 10⁻²M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the other exhibiting a second-order rate constant of 9.4 × 10⁻²M⁻¹ s⁻¹. We discuss the importance of cell density in assays of the plasminogen activator activity of cells, the use of this cell line to study the biochemical basis of the density dependence of plasminogen activator activity, and the density-dependent role of plasminogen activator activity in tumor formation and metastasis.     

细胞内微丝骨架的变化对人肝癌Bel-7402细胞形态的影响

癌细胞的形态及癌细胞的生物学行为(如粘附、迁移和浸润)与细胞内骨架系统密切相关,本研究利用Phalloidin-FTTC标记人肝癌Bel-7402细胞内F-肌动蛋白(F-aetin),使用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观测细胞微丝骨架与癌细胞形态的关系,及Cyt-B处理Bel-7402细胞后,癌细胞内微丝骨架的变化。结果显示：癌细胞内F-aedn解聚,F-aetin小体的聚集重组是癌细胞的形态变化的主要因素之一。     

肿瘤抑素抗肿瘤相关肽对肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

肿瘤抑素抗肿瘤相关肽-19肽是由肿瘤抑素185~203位氨基酸组成, 具有直接抑制黑色素瘤细胞生长作用, 但其对肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡是否有影响, 对肝癌是否具有治疗作用还需进一步研究。本研究中采用基因工程技术将合成19肽基因与载体pTYB2重组后进行蛋白表达、纯化获得19肽。通过MTT法、生长曲线观察19肽对人肝癌细胞生长抑制作用; TUNEL标记法、流式细胞仪细胞周期检测法、透射电镜观察19肽对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响; 小鼠H22腹水型转移型肝癌实体瘤抑瘤实验证明其体内的抑瘤作用。MTT实验和生长曲线实验表明随着19肽浓度的增加肝癌细胞的存活率下降。在相同19肽浓度下, 随着作用时间延长存活细胞逐渐减少。电镜观察治疗组细胞出现明显凋亡, 流式细胞仪可检测到前G1峰, TUNEL标记法也证实治疗组可见明显的凋亡细胞, 体内19肽作用的小鼠H22腹水型转移型肝癌的抑瘤率达48.46%。可见, 肿瘤抑素19肽可抑制肝癌细胞生长, 促进肝癌细胞凋亡, 对肝癌具有一定的治疗作用。     

怀化医学高等专科学校医学形态学实验中心

目的:探讨抑癌基因p16对肝癌细胞生长的抑制作用及其机制。方法:将p16 cDNA亚克隆至pcDNA3.1真核表达载体上,并经脂质体介导转染至人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721。用MTT法和Western blot分析转染细胞的生长情况。结果:成功构建重组表达质粒pcDNA3.1-p16,转染pcDNA3.1-p16的SMMC-7721细胞生长速度受到明显抑制;转染后有外源p16蛋白的表达,且伴随Bax上调,Bcl-2和cIAP2的下调。结论:重组pcDNA3.1-p16质粒能在人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721内表达,且能抑制SMMC-7721的生长,其机理与诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡相关。     

抑癌基因p16对人肝癌细胞生长抑制的机制研究

目的：探讨抑癌基因p16对肝癌细胞生长的抑制作用及其机制。方法：将p16cDNA亚克隆至pcDNA3．1真核表达载体上,并经脂质体介导转染至人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721：用MTT法和Western blot分析转染细胞的生长情况。结果：成功构建重组表达质粒pcDNA3．1-p16,转染pcDNA3．1-p16的SMMC-7721细胞生长速度受到明显抑制;转染后有外源p16蛋白的表达,且伴随Bax上调,Bcl-2和cIAP2的下调。结论：重组pcDNA3．1-p16质粒能在人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721内表达,且能抑制SMMC-7721的生长,其机理与诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡相关。     

槲皮素下调hTERT表达对肝癌HepG2细胞生长影响研究

目的观察槲皮素对肝癌HepG2细胞生长及对hTERT基因表达的影响。方法以台盼蓝拒染法计数肝癌细胞的生长抑制率,透射电镜从形态变化上了解凋亡的发生,流式细胞术检测细胞周期变化,western-blot、RT-PCR检测hTERT基因表达改变,PCR-TRAP法检测端粒酶活性。结果台盼蓝拒染法计数显示槲皮素抑制肝癌HepG2细胞增殖的作用明显,且呈浓度和时间依赖性,槲皮素处理48h后的Ic50为25.5μm。形态学检测显示出细胞凋亡的特征变化,流式细胞仪检测表明经10～20μm/L的槲皮素处理,肝癌HepG2细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期,且HepG2细胞hTERT蛋白和mRNA表达降低,端粒酶活性受抑制。结论槲皮素能抑制肝癌细胞的生长,呈时间、剂量依赖性,能诱导HepG2细胞发生凋亡,其抑制增生与诱导凋亡的机制可能与下调hTERT基因表达,抑制端粒酶活性,破坏端粒稳定性有关。     

Modulation of Dendritic Cell Activation and Subsequent Th1 Cell Polarization by Lidocaine

Dendritic cells play an essential role in bridging innate and adaptive immunity by recognizing cellular stress including pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns and by shaping the types of antigen-specific T cell immunity. Although lidocaine is widely used in clinical settings that trigger cellular stress, it remains unclear whether such treatment impacts the activation of innate immune cells and subsequent differentiation of T cells. Here we showed that lidocaine inhibited the production of IL–6, TNFα and IL–12 from dendritic cells in response to toll-like receptor ligands including lipopolysaccharide, poly(I:C) and R837 in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the differentiation of Th1 cells was significantly suppressed by the addition of lidocaine while the same treatment had little effect on the differentiation of Th17, Th2 and regulatory T cells in vitro. Moreover, lidocaine suppressed the ovalbumin-specific Th1 cell responses in vivo induced by the adoptive transfer of ovalbumin-pulsed dendritic cells. These results demonstrate that lidocaine inhibits the activation of dendritic cells in response to toll-like receptor signals and subsequently suppresses the differentiation of Th1 cell responses.     

Modulation of DMT1 Activity by Redox Compounds

Iron(II) exacerbates the effects of oxidative stress via the Fenton reaction. A number of human diseases are associated with iron accumulation including ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammation and certain neurodegenerative diseases. The functional properties and localization in plasma membrane of cells and endosomes suggest an important role for the divalent metal transporter DMT1 (also known as DCT1 and Nramp2) in iron transport and cellular iron homeostasis. Although iron metabolism is strictly controlled and the activity of DMT1 is central in controlling iron homeostasis, no regulatory mechanisms for DMT1 have been so far identified. Our studies show that the activity of DMT1 is modulated by compounds that affect its redox status. We also show that both iron and zinc are transported by DMT1 when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Radiotracer uptake and electrophysiological measurements revealed that H₂O₂ and Hg²⁺ treatments result in substantial inhibition of DMT1. These findings may have a profound relevance from a physiological and pathophysiological standpoint. Present address for D.T.: Department of Neurology, Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA     

MG132抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404生长的机制研究

MG132(Z-Leu-leu-leu-CHO) 是一种蛋白酶体抑制剂,它可逆地抑制蛋白酶体活性,从而抑制泛素-蛋白酶体通路所介导的蛋白质降解,诱导细胞凋亡．实验研究MG132抑制肝癌细胞Bel-7404生长的机制．采用不同浓度梯度和时间梯度,通过荧光显微镜、透射电子显微镜、Hoechst33342染色、MTT检测、AnnexinⅤ/PI流式细胞术、Western blot分别检测MG132 对Bel-7404细胞的形态学变化、细胞内质网压力变化、自噬泡形成、凋亡小体形成、细胞存活率、细胞凋亡水平、凋亡及自噬信号途径中相关蛋白质表达的影响．结果显示,MG132能明显抑制Bel-7404细胞生长．通过增加内质网压力激活Caspase-12,也可通过线粒体途径调节Bcl-2/Bax水平,促进细胞色素c的释放,两者皆可激活下游效应Caspase-3,剪切PARP,诱导细胞凋亡．同时,MG132可诱导Beclin 1 和LC3B的上调,促使Bel-7404细胞发生自噬,可在透射电镜下观察到自噬泡形成．上述结果表明,MG132作用Bel-7404细胞涉及两类细胞程序性死亡途径：细胞凋亡和自噬．     

细胞内F-actin的聚合与解聚对肝癌Bel-7402细胞的影响

目的：为探讨癌细胞内F—actin的解聚与聚合对癌细胞的形态、迁移、侵入的影响。方法：利用激光共聚焦显微镜对贴附培养的人肝癌：Bel-7402细胞形态及其细胞内F-actin进行观察;使用流式细胞仪对贴附的Bel一7402细胞及其脱落细胞与Cyt—B处理后Bel-7402细胞内F-actin的含量进行分析。结果：Bel-7402细胞在培养的过程中,癌细胞形态伸展,出现侵入性生长,细胞内F-actin聚合形成粗大的贯通细胞内的F-actin束,F-acfin含量增高;癌细胞在生长过程中,常出现重叠生长,细胞变圆,F_actin解聚变短,F-acfin小体增高,细胞有脱落的趋势,其脱落细胞内的F-actin含量低于贴附细胞。结论：人肝癌：Bel-7402细胞内F-actin的聚合可增加癌细胞的贴附和侵入性：细胞内F-actin的解聚,及Gactin重新聚合形成F-aefin小体可影响到癌细胞脱落及迁移。     

佛波酯对SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞粘附及整合蛋白基因表达的调控作用

用促癌剂佛波酯（ＰＭＡ）作用于ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１人肝癌细胞,研究细胞表面的主要粘附分子α５β１整合蛋白基因表达及相应细胞粘附行为的改变．用１００ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ作用ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１人肝癌细胞,发现其作用因时间的长短而异,作用３０、６０、１２０ｍｉｎ分别增加细胞与纤连蛋白（Ｆｎ）粘附１８．８％、３８．７％和５６．６％,作用６、１２ｈ分别降低４４．０％、３７．４％,而不影响与多聚赖氨酸的粘附．使用足量的抗α５和／或抗β１单抗预先封闭细胞与Ｆｎ的结合点,再将细胞与Ｆｎ粘附,发现α５单抗单独使用可将ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１细胞与Ｆｎ的粘附抑制２０％左右,β１单抗则抑制１４％,两者联合使用时可封闭４０％左右的粘附,提示该细胞表面存在除α５β１外的其它整合蛋白在介导着细胞与Ｆｎ的粘附．进一步应用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ方法,分析整合蛋白基因表达,发现１００ｎｍｏｌ／ＬＰＭＡ抑制α５亚基转录,以３０ｍｉｎ最明显,抑制达８３．１％,作用６、１２ｈ抑制率仍为４６．６％、４３．６％．还就ＰＭＡ影响细胞粘附和整合蛋白基因表达的可能机理作了讨论．     

Regulation of Multidrug Resistance Proteins by Genistein in a Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line: Impact on Sorafenib Cytotoxicity

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent cancer worldwide. Sorafenib is the only drug available that improves the overall survival of HCC patients. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), Multidrug resistance-associated proteins 2 and 3 (MRP2 and 3) and Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are efflux pumps that play a key role in cancer chemoresistance. Their modulation by dietary compounds may affect the intracellular accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of drugs that are substrates of these transporters. Genistein (GNT) is a phytoestrogen abundant in soybean that exerts its genomic effects through Estrogen-Receptors and Pregnane-X-Receptor (PXR), which are involved in the regulation of the above-mentioned transporters. We evaluated the effect of GNT on the expression and activity of P-gp, MRP2, MRP3 and BCRP in HCC-derived HepG2 cells. GNT (at 1.0 and 10 μM) increased P-gp and MRP2 protein expression and activity, correlating well with an increased resistance to sorafenib cytotoxicity as detected by the methylthiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay. GNT induced P-gp and MRP2 mRNA expression at 10 but not at 1.0 μM concentration suggesting a different pattern of regulation depending on the concentration. Induction of both transporters by 1.0 μM GNT was prevented by cycloheximide, suggesting translational regulation. Downregulation of expression of the miR-379 by GNT could be associated with translational regulation of MRP2. Silencing of PXR abolished P-gp induction by GNT (at 1.0 and 10 μM) and MRP2 induction by GNT (only at 10 μM), suggesting partial mediation of GNT effects by PXR. Taken together, the data suggest the possibility of nutrient-drug interactions leading to enhanced chemoresistance in HCC when GNT is ingested with soy rich diets or dietary supplements.     

RNA干扰技术对肝癌细胞内源survivin基因表达的影响

应用RNA干扰技术（RNAi）研究针对凋亡抑制因子survivin的siRNA抑制肝癌细胞株内源survivin基因的表达.转染重组质粒pshRNA-survivin至肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721,通过免疫荧光、蛋白质印迹和半定量RT-PCR检测survivin蛋白表达及mRNA转录水平的变化.结果表明：构建的三种重组质粒pshRNA-survivin1/2/3均能明显抑制survivin基因的表达;应用免疫荧光检测survivin基因的表达,转染重组质粒pshRNA-survivin的实验组survivin荧光强度明显低于转染载体pTZU6＋1和pshRNA-GFP对照组;蛋白质印迹结果表明,重组质粒pshRNA-survivin明显抑制survivin蛋白的表达,抑制率为62%～78％,通过半定量RT-PCR检测到survivin基因mRNA转录明显减少,抑制率为57%～64％.由上述结果可以得出结论：重组质粒pshRNA-survivin可明显抑制SMMC-7721细胞内源survivin的表达和mRNA的转录,为survivin介导的肿瘤基因沉寂疗法提供实验基础.     

Bidirectional Modulation of Substantia Nigra Activity by Motivational State

A major output nucleus of the basal ganglia is the substantia nigra pars reticulata, which sends GABAergic projections to brainstem and thalamic nuclei. The GABAergic (GABA) neurons are reciprocally connected with nearby dopaminergic neurons, which project mainly to the basal ganglia, a set of subcortical nuclei critical for goal-directed behaviors. Here we examined the impact of motivational states on the activity of GABA neurons in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and the neighboring dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the pars compacta. Both types of neurons show short-latency bursts to a cue predicting a food reward. As mice became sated by repeated consumption of food pellets, one class of neurons reduced cue-elicited firing, whereas another class of neurons progressively increased firing. Extinction or pre-feeding just before the test session dramatically reduced the phasic responses and their motivational modulation. These results suggest that signals related to the current motivational state bidirectionally modulate behavior and the magnitude of phasic response of both DA and GABA neurons in the substantia nigra.     

Modulation of Chloroplast Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase Activity by Light

Inhibitor experiments indicate that light effect mediator_II which is reductively activated by transfer of electrons from the photosynthetic electron transport system at or beyond ferredoxin, is involved in activation by light of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in the pea plant. Activation proceeds optimally when the pH is low and Mg²⁺ is 10 millimolar. Modulation by light results in increases in maximal velocity, apparently as a result of changes in enzyme conformation. Pea leaf thylakoids are effective in modulating the activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase but not of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Kalanchoë stromal extracts. There is apparently species specificity for modulation of some, but not all, of the modulatable enzymes.     

Modulation of Human Glutamate Transporter Activity by Phorbol Ester

Abstract: Termination of synaptic glutamate transmission depends on rapid removal of glutamate by neuronal and glial high-affinity transporters. Molecular biological and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that at least five subtypes of Na⁺-dependent mammalian glutamate transporters exist. Our study demonstrates that Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells express a single Na⁺-dependent glutamate uptake system with a K _m of 1.7 ± 0.42 µ M that is inhibited by dihydrokainate and dl - threo -β-hydroxyaspartate (IC₅₀ = 0.29 ± 0.17 µ M and 2.0 ± 0.43 µ M , respectively). The protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of glutamate uptake (IC₅₀ = 0.56 ± 0.05 n M ), but did not affect Na⁺-dependent glycine uptake significantly. This inhibition of glutamate uptake resulted from a fivefold decrease in the transporter's affinity for glutamate, without significantly altering the V _max. 4α-Phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, a phorbol ester that does not activate protein kinase C, did not alter glutamate uptake significantly. The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced inhibition of glutamate uptake was reversed by preincubation with staurosporine. The biophysical and pharmacological profile of the human glutamate transporter expressed by the Y-79 cell line indicates that it belongs to the dihydrokainate-sensitive EAAT2/GLT-1 subtype. This conclusion was confirmed by western blot analysis. Protein kinase C modulation of glutamate transporter activity may represent a mechanism to modulate extracellular glutamate and shape postsynaptic responses.