Choline Transporters in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma： Expression and Functional Implications

Choline is an essential nutrient for cell survival and proliferation, however, the expression and function of choline transporters have not been well identified in cancer. In this study, we detected the mRNA and protein expression of organic cation transporter OCT3, carnitine/cation transporters OCTN 1 and OCTN2, and choline transporter-like protein CTL1 in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549, H 1299 and SPC-A-1. Their expression pattern was further confirmed in 25 human primary adenocarcinoma tissues. The choline uptake in these cell lines was significantly blocked by CTL1 inhibitor, but only partially inhibited by OCT or OCTN inhibitors. The efficacy of these inhibitors on cell proliferation is closely correlated with their abilities to block choline transport. Under the native expression of these transporters, the total choline uptake was notably blocked by specific PI3K/AKT inhibitors. These results describe the expression of choline transporters and their relevant function in cell proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma, thus providing a potential ＂choline-starvation＂ strategy of cancer interference through targeting choline transporters, especially CTL1.     

抑制消减杂交技术在肿瘤转移调控研究中的应用

为探讨肿瘤转移发生的分子生物学机制奠定基础,通过使用抑制消减杂交技术从一对同一新本、转移表型不同的人肺巨细胞癌细胞株中分离转移抑制相关基因可核苷酸片段。结果获得５个在低转移肺巨细胞癌中高表达的、均与已知的人类基因片段有很高同源性的核苷酸片段,它们可能在维持肿瘤细胞自身稳定防止转移中起重要作用。     

Expression and methylation status of 14-3-3 sigma gene can characterize the different histological features of ovarian cancer

We hypothesize that 14-3-3 sigma gene expression and its regulation by methylation can characterize histological types of primary human epithelial ovarian cancer. To test this hypothesis, ovarian cancer cell lines and 54 ovarian cancer tissue samples were analyzed for expression and methylation of 14-3-3 sigma gene using methylation specific PCR. The results of our experiments demonstrate that 14-3-3 sigma gene was methylated and inactivated in ES-2 ovarian cell line, which was derived from clear cell adenocarcinoma. Treatment of this cell line with demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored the expression of 14-3-3 sigma gene. In human ovarian cancer tissues, the expression of 14-3-3 sigma protein was inactivated in most of the ovarian clear cell carcinoma tissues. Interestingly, 14-3-3 sigma protein expression was positive in significantly higher percentages of serous (89.5%), endometrioid (90%), and mucinous (81.8%) ovarian adenocarcinoma tissues. The ovarian clear cell carcinoma samples with inactivated 14-3-3 sigma protein were highly methylated, suggesting that inactivation of 14-3-3 sigma gene is through DNA methylation. Using direct DNA sequencing, 14-3-3 sigma gene methylation on all the 17 CpG sites was significantly higher in ovarian clear cell carcinoma as compared to other histological types of ovarian cancer (serous, endometrioid, and mucinous). This is the first report suggesting that 14-3-3 sigma gene expression and methylation status can characterize histological features of different types of ovarian cancer.     

人肺腺癌细胞A—549和正常细胞HBE的蛋白质组差异分析

为了研究人肺腺癌细胞A 5 49和正常细胞HBE的蛋白质组差异 ,用固相pH梯度双向凝胶电泳分离人肺腺癌细胞系A 5 49和正常细胞HBE的总蛋白质 ,银染显色 ,PDQuest 2 DE软件分析 ,对部分差异蛋白质点进行基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱 (MALDI TOF MS)测定其胶内酶解后的肽质指纹图谱 ,用PeptIdent软件查询SWISS PROT数据库。结果获得了分辨率和重复性均较好的双向电泳银染图谱 ,图象分析探测到A 5 492 DE图谱的平均蛋白质点数为 (890± 38)个 ,HBE的平均蛋白质点数为 (75 7± 2 7)个 ,不同胶间蛋白质点的位置偏差在IEF方向为 (2 .85± 0 .48)mm ,在SDS PAGE方向为 (2 .6 9± 0 .37)mm。差异表达分析发现A 5 49和HBE图谱有5 35个蛋白质点相互匹配 ,其中A 5 49有 35 5个未被匹配 ,HBE中有 2 2 2个未被匹配 ;对A 5 49和HBE中的 18个差异蛋白质点分别进行肽质指纹分析 ,经数据库查询 ,初步鉴定为一些与物质代谢、细胞因子、信号转导有关的蛋白质。提示人肺腺癌细胞A 5 49和正常细胞HBE的蛋白质组具有差异 ,这种蛋白质组的差异分析有助于进一步研究肺腺癌的相关蛋白质及分子标记物     

Reciprocal influence of connexins and apical junction proteins on their expressions and functions

Membranes of adjacent cells form intercellular junctional complexes to mechanically anchor neighbour cells (anchoring junctions), to seal the paracellular space and to prevent diffusion of integral proteins within the plasma membrane (tight junctions) and to allow cell-to-cell diffusion of small ions and molecules (gap junctions). These different types of specialised plasma membrane microdomains, sharing common adaptor molecules, particularly zonula occludens proteins, frequently present intermingled relationships where the different proteins co-assemble into macromolecular complexes and their expressions are co-ordinately regulated. Proteins forming gap junction channels (connexins, particularly) and proteins fulfilling cell attachment or forming tight junction strands mutually influence expression and functions of one another.     

HBME-1在恶性上皮性间皮瘤的表达及其意义

目的　通过研究HBME 1在恶性上皮性间皮瘤 (MEM )的表达及其与DNA含量的关系 ,探讨HBME 1在MEM与转移性卵巢腺癌 (OA)和转移性结直肠腺癌 (CA)的鉴别诊断中的意义。方法　采用免疫组化SP法染色 ,观察MEM、OA和CA组织标本中HBME 1的表达 ;同时利用图象分析仪对MEM的细胞DNA含量进行定量分析。结果　HBME 1的表达在MEM与CA两组间的差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1) ,在MEM与OA两组间的差异无显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但着色方式不同 ;在MEM中 ,HBME 1表达阳性组与阴性组之间的DNA含量差异无显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　HBME 1的表达与否与MEM的DNA含量无关 ,HBME 1可作为MEM与CA鉴别的阳性标记物的参考指标 ,在MEM与OA的鉴别中也有一定参考价值。     

Selective gene therapy for human lung adenocarcinoma by tumor-specific expression of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene

According to the fact that CEA gene expressed only in lung adenocarcinoma but not in normal lung cells, a retroviral expression vector (pCEATK) of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene regulated by CEA promoter was constructed and introduced into CEA-producing human lung adenocarcinoma cells GL and non-CEA-producing HeLa cells. The expression of pCEATK and Ganciclovir (GCV) sensitivity of the transfected cells were tested in vitro and in vivo . pCEATK expressed only in CEA-producing GL cells but not in non-CEA-producing HeLa cells. The sensitivity to GCV of pCEATK-transfected GL was 992 times higher compared with that of the parental cell line and there was obvious "bystander effect" in vitro. HeLa cells transfected wtih pCEATK were still resistant to GCV. Injection of GCV resulted in significant regression of pCEATK-transfected GL tumors in nude mice. In addition, all mice with any fraction of GL cells expressing HSV-TK exhibited a significant reduction in tumor growth, including mice     

Prediction of potential drivers connecting different dysfunctional levels in lung adenocarcinoma via a protein–protein interaction network

Lung cancer is a serious disease that threatens an affected individual's life. Its pathogenesis has not yet to be fully described, thereby impeding the development of effective treatments and preventive measures. “Cancer driver” theory considers that tumor initiation can be associated with a number of specific mutations in genes called cancer driver genes. Four omics levels, namely, (1) methylation, (2) microRNA, (3) mutation, and (4) mRNA levels, are utilized to cluster cancer driver genes. In this study, the known dysfunctional genes of these four levels were used to identify novel driver genes of lung adenocarcinoma, a subtype of lung cancer. These genes could contribute to the initiation and progression of lung adenocarcinoma in at least two levels. First, random walk with restart algorithm was performed on a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network constructed with PPI information in STRING by using known dysfunctional genes as seed nodes for each level, thereby yielding four groups of possible genes. Second, these genes were further evaluated in a test strategy to exclude false positives and select the most important ones. Finally, after conducting an intersection operation in any two groups of genes, we obtained several inferred driver genes that contributed to the initiation of lung adenocarcinoma in at least two omics levels. Several genes from these groups could be confirmed according to recently published studies. The inferred genes reported in this study were also different from those described in a previous study, suggesting that they can be used as essential supplementary data for investigations on the initiation of lung adenocarcinoma. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Accelerating Precision Medicine through Genetic and Genomic Big Data Analysis edited by Yudong Cai & Tao Huang.     

无线粒体DNA的人肺腺癌A549细胞系的构建

目的:建立无线粒体DNA(mtDNA)的人肺腺癌ρ~0A549细胞系。方法:在含50 ng/mL溴化乙锭(EB)、100μg/mL丙酮酸钠和50μg/mL尿嘧啶核苷的RPMI1640细胞培养基中传代培养A549细胞;用低剂量EB连续诱导培养35 d后,采用光镜观察、TaqMan探针法实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)和Western印迹鉴定无mtDNA的ρ~0A549细胞系;采用MTT法测定ρ~0A549细胞增殖曲线。结果:倒置显微镜下野生型ρ^+A549细胞为多角形,ρ~0A549细胞形态呈拉长枝状;qPCR结果显示,低剂量EB诱导35 d的ρ~0A549细胞中无mtDNA的存在。Western印迹结果显示,ρ^+A549细胞中能表达核基因编码的线粒体蛋白SDHA和ATP5A,也能表达线粒体基因组编码的蛋白MT-COXI和MT-ATP6;ρ~0A549细胞中无MT-COXI和MT-ATP6蛋白表达,但核基因编码的SDHA和ATP5A蛋白能够正常表达。MTT结果显示,与ρ^+A549细胞相比,ρ~0A549细胞生长速度明显减慢,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:构建和鉴定了无mtDNA的人肺腺癌ρ~0A549细胞系,为后续探讨mtDNA缺失或突变与人肺腺癌发生之间的关系奠定了实验基础。