TGF-beta mediated Msx2 expression controls occipital somites-derived caudal region of skull development

Craniofacial development involves cranial neural crest (CNC) and mesoderm-derived cells. TGF-beta signaling plays a critical role in instructing CNC cells to form the craniofacial skeleton. However, it is not known how TGF-beta signaling regulates the fate of mesoderm-derived cells during craniofacial development. In this study, we show that occipital somites contribute to the caudal region of mammalian skull development. Conditional inactivation of Tgfbr2 in mesoderm-derived cells results in defects of the supraoccipital bone with meningoencephalocele and discontinuity of the neural arch of the C1 vertebra. At the cellular level, loss of TGF-beta signaling causes decreased chondrocyte proliferation and premature differentiation of cartilage to bone. Expression of Msx2, a critical factor in the formation of the dorsoventral axis, is diminished in the Tgfbr2 mutant. Significantly, overexpression of Msx2 in Myf5-Cre;Tgfbr2flox/flox mice partially rescues supraoccipital bone development. These results suggest that the TGF-beta/Msx2 signaling cascade is critical for development of the caudal region of the skull.     

宫颈癌患者人乳头瘤病毒感染分布情况及多重感染与临床病理特征的关系

目的:研究宫颈癌患者人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染的分布情况及多重感染与临床病理特征的关系。方法:选择2015年1月-2018年1月期间我院收治的118例宫颈癌患者,根据患者宫颈癌的病变程度分为I期组(n=21)、II期组(n=46)、III期组(n=49)、IV期组(n=2)。所有患者均进行HPV分型检测,比较不同程度的宫颈癌患者的HPV感染情况,分析不同宫颈癌病变程度患者的多重感染和临床病理特征关系。结果:118例患者中有97例患者感染了HPV,感染率为82.20%,且II期组、III期组、IV期组患者HPV感染率高于I期组(P0.05)。II期组、III期组、IV期组患者一重感染率低于I期组,IV期组二重感染率低于I期组,II期组、III期组、IV期组患者多重感染率高于I期组,且IV期组多重感染率高于II期组、III期组(P0.05)。多重感染患者类型有多种,其中尤以HPV16+18+53型最多,占比49.05%,其次是HPV16+18+68型感染,占比32.07%,HPV16+53+58型感染,占比13.21%。年龄在50岁以上、分期为III-IV期、鳞癌、淋巴结转移的患者HPV多重感染率更高(P0.05)。结论:HPV多重感染与宫颈癌病变程度和临床病理特征均有联系,对年龄较大且HPV多重感染的宫颈癌患者进行筛查,预防病情恶化。     

Host-cell DNA methylation patterns during high-risk HPV-induced carcinogenesis reveal a heterogeneous nature of cervical pre-cancer

Cervical cancer development following a persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is driven by additional host-cell changes, such as altered DNA methylation. In previous studies, we have identified 12 methylated host genes associated with cervical cancer and pre-cancer (CIN2/3). This study systematically analyzed the onset and DNA methylation pattern of these genes during hrHPV-induced carcinogenesis using a longitudinal in vitro model of hrHPV-transformed cell lines (n = 14) and hrHPV-positive cervical scrapings (n = 113) covering various stages of cervical carcinogenesis. DNA methylation analysis was performed by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and relative qMSP values were used to analyze the data. The majority of genes displayed a comparable DNA methylation pattern in both cell lines and clinical specimens. DNA methylation onset occurred at early or late immortal passage, and DNA methylation levels gradually increased towards tumorigenic cells. Subsequently, we defined a so-called cancer-like methylation-high pattern based on the DNA methylation levels observed in cervical scrapings from women with cervical cancer. This cancer-like methylation-high pattern was observed in 72% (38/53) of CIN3 and 55% (11/20) of CIN2, whereas it was virtually absent in hrHPV-positive controls (1/26). In conclusion, hrHPV-induced carcinogenesis is characterized by early onset of DNA methylation, typically occurring at the pre-tumorigenic stage and with highest DNA methylation levels at the cancer stage. Host-cell DNA methylation patterns in cervical scrapings from women with CIN2 and CIN3 are heterogeneous, with a subset displaying a cancer-like methylation-high pattern, suggestive for a higher cancer risk.     

Altered spinal kinematics and muscle recruitment pattern of the cervical and thoracic spine in people with chronic neck pain during functional task

Knowledge on the spinal kinematics and muscle activation of the cervical and thoracic spine during functional task would add to our understanding of the performance and interplay of these spinal regions during dynamic condition. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of chronic neck pain on the three-dimensional kinematics and muscle recruitment pattern of the cervical and thoracic spine during an overhead reaching task involving a light weight transfer by the upper limb. Synchronized measurements of the three-dimensional spinal kinematics and electromyographic activities of cervical and thoracic spine were acquired in thirty individuals with chronic neck pain and thirty age- and gender-matched asymptomatic controls. Neck pain group showed a significantly decreased cervical velocity and acceleration while performing the task. They also displayed with a predominantly prolonged coactivation of cervical and thoracic muscles throughout the task cycle. The current findings highlighted the importance to examine differential kinematic variables of the spine which are associated with changes in the muscle recruitment in people with chronic neck pain. The results also provide an insight to the appropriate clinical intervention to promote the recovery of the functional disability commonly reported in patients with neck pain disorders.     

DNA异常甲基化在宫颈癌中的研究进展

长期以来人们一直认为基因突变或基因缺失参与肿瘤的形成。近年来众多研究表明,表观遗传修饰对肿瘤的发展也具有非常重要的意义,它的主要表现形式有DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、微小RNA调节、染色质重组等。DNA异常甲基化可通过影响染色质结构、癌基因及抑癌基因表达而参与肿瘤的形成。了解目前宫颈癌中DNA甲基化的研究进展不仅有助于宫颈癌的早期诊断,对其分子靶向治疗及预后评估亦显示出良好的应用前景。     

Sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 promotes α5β1-mediated invasive migration and metastasis of cervical cancer cells

Sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) has been supposed to be correlated with the metastasis and poor prognosis of several malignancies. However, the effect of SIX1 on the metastatic phenotype of tumor cells and the underlying mechanisms were still unclear to date. Here we report that SIX1 can promote α5β1-mediated metastatic capability of cervical cancer cells. SIX1 promoted the expression of α5β1 integrin to enhance the adhesion capacity of tumor cells in vitro and tumor cell arrest in circulation in vivo. Moreover, higher expression of SIX1 in tumor cells resulted in the increased production of active MMP-2 and MMP-9, up-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes (BCL-XL and BCL2) and down-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes (BIM and BAX), thus promoting the invasive migration and anoikis-resistance of tumor cells. Importantly, blocking α5β1 abrogated the regulatory effect of SIX1 on the expression of these genes, and also abolished the promotional effect of SIX1 on invasive capability of tumor cells. Furthermore, knock-down of α5 could abolish the promoting effect of SIX1 on the development of metastatic lesions in both experimental and spontaneous metastasis model. Therefore, by up-regulating α5β1 expression, SIX1 not only promoted the adhesion capacity, but also augmented ECM-α5β1-mediated regulation of gene expression to enhance the metastatic potential of cervical cancer cells. These results suggest that SIX1/α5β1 might be considered as valuable marker for metastatic potential of cervical cancer cells, or a therapeutic target in cervical cancer treatment.     

葛根素对U14宫颈癌小鼠血液流变学、脾淋巴细胞增殖及细胞毒性影响

摘要 目的：研究葛根素治疗对U14宫颈癌小鼠血液流变学、脾淋巴细胞增殖活性及对宫颈癌细胞毒性的影响。方法：45只雌性昆明小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和葛根素组。模型组和葛根素组小鼠通过腋下注射U14小鼠宫颈癌细胞建立U14宫颈癌移植瘤小鼠,并且葛根素小鼠通过葛根素灌胃进行治疗,对照组和模型组小鼠给予等量生理盐水。比较各组小鼠血流变学、脾淋巴细胞增殖活性及对宫颈癌细胞毒性。结果：经葛根素治疗的葛根素组宫颈癌小鼠肿瘤重量显著低于模型组小鼠（P<0.05）,葛根素治疗宫颈癌小鼠的抑瘤率是（42.91±12.91）%。宫颈癌小鼠低切/高切全血粘度、血浆粘度值以及血细胞比容均显著升高（P<0.05）,而葛根素治疗可显著降低宫颈癌小鼠低切/高切全血粘度、血浆粘度值以及血细胞比容（P<0.05）。宫颈癌小鼠脾脏重量、脾脏指数和脾淋巴细胞体外增殖能力均显著下降（P<0.05）,而葛根素治疗可显著提高宫颈癌小鼠脾脏重量、脾脏指数和脾淋巴细胞体外增殖能力（P<0.05）。此外,经葛根素治疗的宫颈癌小鼠脾淋巴细胞对U14宫颈癌细胞细胞毒性显著高于模型组宫颈癌小鼠（P<0.05）。结论：葛根素治疗可降低U14宫颈癌小鼠血液粘度、改善血流变性质,并且可以提高脾淋巴细胞的增殖活性和对宫颈癌细胞的杀伤力。     

DACT2基因启动子甲基化与宫颈癌细胞化疗敏感性的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨与研究DACT2基因启动子甲基化与宫颈癌细胞化疗敏感性的相关性。方法：人宫颈癌顺铂耐药细胞系SIHA/DDP根据实验目的分为三组-对照组、DACT 1组与DACT 2组,组分别加入含0.0 μmol/L、1.0 μmol/L、10.0 μmol/L DACT2基因启动子甲基化抑制剂-5-aza-dC进行治疗,采用MTT法检测细胞增殖指数,流失细胞法检测细胞凋亡指数,PCR法检测甲基化水平,流式细胞仪检测胞周期,Western Blot检测Wnt蛋白与TGF-β1蛋白表达情况。结果：治疗后24 h、36 h的DACT 1组与DACT 2组DACT2基因启动子甲基化相对水平低于对照组(P<0.05),DACT 2组低于DACT 1组(P<0.05)。治疗后24 h、36 h的DACT 1组与DACT 2组细胞增殖指数低于对照组(P<0.05),细胞凋亡指数高于对照组(P<0.05),DACT 2组与DACT 1组对比差异都有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后24 h、36 h的DACT 1组与DACT 2组G2/M期细胞比例高于对照组(P<0.05),G0/G1期细胞比例低于对照组(P<0.05),DACT 1组与DACT 2组对比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后24 h、36 h的DACT 1组与DACT 2组的Wnt蛋白与TGF-β1蛋白相对表达水平低于对照组(P<0.05),DACT 2组低于DACT 1组(P<0.05)。结论：抑制DACT2基因启动子甲基化能抑制宫颈癌细胞的Wnt/TGF-β1信号通路的激活,能调节宫颈癌细胞周期平衡,能抑制顺铂耐药性宫颈癌细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡,并增强化疗敏感性,且在本研究设置范围内,作用剂量越高,效果越显著。     

P21蛋白在不同级别宫颈组织中的表达及其与高危HPV感染相关性的研究

目的通过检测宫颈组织中p21waf基因表达与高危HPV感染的情况,研究P21蛋白与高危HPV感染在宫颈组织恶性转化过程中的作用及其相互关系。方法应用免疫组化检测P21蛋白及基因杂交捕获Ⅱ代技术(HC-Ⅱ)检测高危HPV在正常宫颈组、宫颈炎、宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(CIN)及宫颈癌组这4组中的表达情况。结果在正常宫颈组、宫颈炎、宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(CIN)、及宫颈癌组中P21的阳性表达率分别为11.8%、15.4%、39.1%和57.7%;高危HPV的阳性表达率分别为20%、23.5%、65.2%和88.5%,这两项指标在CIN、宫颈癌组有明显的升高趋势且与正常宫颈和宫颈炎两组相比差异具有显著性统计学意义(P<0.05);各级别宫颈组织中高危HPV阳性组的P21蛋白阳性率明显高于阴性组的P21蛋白阳性率。差异在统计学上具有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论P21蛋白的表达和高危HPV感染与宫颈病变的恶化均有高度的相关性,其检出率和阳性表达率随着宫颈病变恶性程度的增加而升高。在CIN向宫颈癌恶性转化过程中,P21与高危HPV共同促进肿瘤的发生。