Frizzled7 as an emerging target for cancer therapy

Wnt proteins are secreted glycoproteins that bind to the N-terminal extra-cellular cysteine-rich domain of the Frizzled (Fzd) receptor family. The Fzd receptors can respond to Wnt proteins in the presence of Wnt co-receptors to activate the canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways. Recent studies indicated that, among the Fzd family, Fzd7 is the Wnt receptor most commonly upregulated in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer. Fzd7 plays an important role in stem cell biology and cancer development and progression. In addition, it has been demonstrated that siRNA knockdown of Fzd7, the anti-Fzd7 antibody or the extracellular peptide of Fzd7 (soluble Fzd7 peptide) displayed anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo mainly due to the inhibition of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of Fzd7 by small interfering peptides or a small molecule inhibitor suppressed β-catenin-dependent tumor cell growth. Therefore, targeted inhibition of Fzd7 represents a rational and promising new approach for cancer therapy.     

Functional polymorphism in the EpCAM gene is associated with occurrence and advanced disease status of cervical cancer in Chinese population

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was originally identified as a tumor associated antigen, attributable to its high expression on rapidly proliferating tumors of epithelial origin. EpCAM plays vital roles in carcinogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis in most tumors. A non-synonymous polymorphism (rs1126497 C/T) was found in exon 3 of EpCAM, which cause a transition from 115 Met to 115 Thr. Another polymorphism (rs1421 A/G) in the 3'UTR causes loss of has-miR-1183 binding. We performed a multiple independent case-control analysis to assess the association between EpCAM genotypes and cervical cancer risk. Genotyping a total of 518 patients with cervical cancer and 723 control subjects in a Chinese population, we observed that the variant EpCAM genotypes (rs1126497 CT, and TT) were associated with substantially increased risk of cervical cancer. Compared with the rs1126497 CC genotype, CT genotype had a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer (Crude OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.33-2.20; adjusted OR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.33-2.22), the TT carriers had a further increased risk of cervical cancer (Crude OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.01-3.72; adjusted OR = 1.96; 95%CI = 1.01-3.81), and there was a trend for an allele dose effect on risk of cervical cancer (P < 0.001). Moreover, the allele T increases the risk for invasive disease or metastatic disease, compared with C allele. However, there exists no significant difference in genotype frequencies of rs1421 A/G site between cases and controls (P = 0.798). These findings suggest that rs1126497 C/T polymorphism in EpCAM may be a genetic modifier for developing cervical cancer.     

Preparation of chondroitin sulfate nanocapsules for use as carries by the interfacial polymerization method

In this paper, the method of interfacial polymerization in emulsion was employed to fabricate chondroitin sulfate-methacrylate (ChSMA) nanocapsules, in which poor water-soluble drug of indomethacin (IND) could be effectively encapsulated. The morphology and the size distribution of synthesized nanocapsules were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The quantitative drug loading was investigated. The IND/ChSMA noodle-like self-assemblies were observed with the increase of IND feed concentration, and the interactions between IND and ChSMA were illuminated by FT-IR and XRD measurements. The in vitro drug release of IND-loaded nanocapsules and IND/ChSMA self-assemblies were also carried out in simulated body fluid pH 7.4 at 37 °C.     

Expression of α2-macroglobulin receptor-associated protein in normal human epidermal melanocytes and human melanoma cell lines

α₂-Macroglobulin receptor/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein is a multifunctional cell surface receptor known to bind and internalize a large number of ligands. α₂-Macroglobulin receptor-associated protein acts as an intracellular “chaperone” for this receptor, and it has been shown to inhibit binding of all its known ligands. In this paper, we characterize the expression of the receptor-associated protein in both normal human epidermal melanocytes and in six different human melanoma cell lines, by the use of flow cytometry and Western blotting analysis. We show that all the melanoma cell lines and the normal melanocytes express the receptor-associated protein at similar levels, with most located intracellularly. No receptor-associated protein was detected at the cell surface in the melanocytes or in three of the cell lines. However, in two of the melanoma cell lines, large amounts of receptor-associated protein were found on the cell surface, these having the largest amounts of it reported to date; in a further melanoma cell line, there was a small amount at the cell surface. We have also shown that the melanocytes and all the melanoma cell lines express the receptor itself at a wide range of levels, the highest levels of both the cell surface receptor and the cell surface receptor-associated protein being found in one particular melanoma cell line. By growing the cell lines under controlled conditions, we have demonstrated that, although the total cellular content of the receptor is markedly increased at high cell culture density, this treatment has no effect on the level of expression of the receptor-associated protein. J. Cell. Biochem. 71:149–157, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mesd is a general inhibitor of different Wnt ligands in Wnt/LRP signaling and inhibits PC-3 tumor growth in vivo

Mesd is a specialized chaperone for Wnt co-receptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 (LRP5) and LRP6, which contain four β-propeller/epidermal growth factor modules, named E1 to E4 from N- to C-terminal, in their extracellular domains. Herein, we demonstrated that recombinant Mesd protein is a general Wnt inhibitor that blocks Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced not only by LRP6 E1-E2-binding Wnts but also by LRP6 E3-E4-binding Wnts. We also found that Mesd suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced by Wnt1 in prostate cancer PC-3 cells, and inhibited tumor growth in PC-3 xenograft model. Our results indicate that Mesd is a universal inhibitor of Wnt/LRP signaling on the cell surface.     

成人腹泻轮状病毒的提纯及其高价免疫血清的制备

本文采用交叉免疫电泳技术,首先提纯了成人腹泻轮状病毒(Adult DiarrhoeaRotavirus简称:ADRV),并经电镜确认,用作免疫抗原,首次制备了高价兔与豚鼠抗ADRV血清和小鼠抗ADRV腹水,其特异性经交叉免疫电泳和对流免疫电泳鉴定,其效价经酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测均在1:2,000以上。     

微生物耐砷机理及其在砷地球化学循环中的作用北大核心CSCD

砷是一种无处不在的有毒类金属,其强致癌性引起了人类的广泛关注。在自然环境中,砷的转化存在物理化学过程和生物过程,其中微生物介导的砷转化是环境砷行为的主要影响因素。微生物的耐砷特性与砷吸收、氧化还原、甲基化、区隔化和外排等过程密切相关。砷在微生物体内的转运转化主要与砷解毒有关,但某些微生物可利用氧化还原过程产生的能量以维持其生长需求。本文综述了微生物介导的砷吸收、转化、区隔化和外排机制,这对阐明砷的地球化学循环过程及指导砷污染土壤和水体修复、阻控农作物砷吸收等方面具有重要意义。     

负荷时间和类型对糖代谢、脂肪代谢、蛋白质代谢的影响

２５名运动员在相同的时间里承受３种不同类型的负荷和在不同的时间里承受相同的负荷,测定负荷后血浆ＴＣＡ循环产物、ＦＦＡ组成和尿液尿素氮、尿肌酐、游离氨基酸组分含量。结果表明：同一时间里采用运动量相近但类型不同的负荷,会产生不同的生理效应,同一负荷内容安排在下午比安排在早晨或上午更容易导致人体内蛋白质分解代谢加强;耐力负荷以及早晨训练对ＴＣＡ循环和ＦＦＡ及其组分影响较大;下午训练利于发展速度、力量等项目的素质     

成人腹泻轮状病毒ELISA方法的建立和应用

本文通过特异性试验、阻断试验、交叉试验、敏感度试验和重复性试验,建立了成人腹泻轮状病毒一酶联免疫吸附试验法(ADRV—ELISA)。应用此法检测了全国20多个省区202份病人腹泻标本,检出率为91％。采用本ELISA、核酸电泳、电镜三种方法对48份病人腹泻标本进行了双盲法检测比较,结果三种方法的阳性检出率分别为100％、85.4％、56.25％(P<0.05)。实验结果表明,本ELISA应用于检测成人腹泻轮状病毒(ADRV),具有敏感度高。特异性强等优点。