ShRNA knock‐down of CXCR7 inhibits tumour invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

To investigate the effects of lentiviral vector‐mediated shRNA suppressing CXCR7 on tumour invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). HCCLM3 cell lines were cultured and assigned into the CXCR7‐shRNA, negative control (NC) and blank groups. The qRT‐PCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of CXCR7, CXCR4 and MMP‐2 in HCCLM3 cells. Cell proliferation and invasion were evaluated by MTT and Transwell assays. A Buffalo rat model of HCC was established. Fifty model rats were divided into the CXCR7‐shRNA + TACE, CXCR7‐shRNA, TACE, NC and control groups. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of CXCR7, MMP‐2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and intratumoral CD31‐positive vessel count in tumour tissues of mice. Compared with the blank and NC groups, the mRNA and protein expressions of CXCR7 and MMP‐2 were decreased in the CXCR7‐shRNA group. The cell proliferation and invasion rates of the CXCR7‐shRNA group were lower than the blank and NC groups. At the 4th week after TACE, tumour weight of the CXCR7‐shRNA + TACE group increased continuously. The CXCR7‐shRNA + TACE group showed longer survival time and smaller tumour sizes than other groups. Compared with other groups, the CXCR7‐shRNA + TACE and CXCR7‐shRNA groups had less number of lung metastatic nodules and lower expressions of CXCR7, MMP‐2, VEGF and CD31‐positive vessel count. CXCR7‐shRNA inhibits tumour invasion and metastasis to improve the efficacy of TACE in HCC by reducing the expressions of CXCR7, MMP‐2 and VEGF.     

The plasticity of germ cell cancers and its dependence on the cellular microenvironment

So far, the understanding of germ cell cancer (GCC) pathogenesis is based on a model, where seminomas and non‐seminomas represent distinct entities although originating from a common precursor termed germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS). Embryonal carcinomas (ECs), the stem cell population of the non‐seminomas, is pluri‐ to totipotent and able to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers, giving rise to teratomas or tumours mimicking extraembryonic tissues (yolk sac tumours, choriocarcinomas). With regard to gene expression, (epi)genetics and histology, seminomas are highly similar to GCNIS and primordial germ cells, but limited in development. It remains elusive, whether this block in differentiation is controlled by cell intrinsic mechanisms or by signals from the surrounding microenvironment. Here, we reviewed the recent literature emphasizing the plasticity of GCCs, especially of seminomas. We propose that this plasticity is controlled by the microenvironment, allowing seminomas to transit into an EC or mixed non‐seminoma and vice versa. We discuss several mechanisms and routes of reprogramming that might be responsible for this change in the cell fate. We finally integrate this plasticity into a new model of GCC pathogenesis, allowing for an alternative view on the dynamics of GCC development and progression.     

STAT3, beta-catenin 在原发性肝细胞癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理参数的关系

目的：探讨信号转导子和转录激活子3（STAT3）及beta- 连环素蛋白（beta-catenin）在原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）中的表达及其与临床 病理特征的关系。方法：使用免疫组化SP两步法检测120例HCC、30 例癌旁肝组织、30例肝硬化组织及30 例肝血管瘤标本中正 常肝组织的STAT3 蛋白及beta-catenin的表达,分析STAT3 蛋白和beta-catenin 表达与HCC 临床病理特征的关系,并采用Spearman 等级相关分析法探讨HCC 组织中STAT3 蛋白与beta-catenin 的相关性。结果：STAT3 蛋白在HCC、癌旁组织、肝硬化组织、正常肝 组织中的阳性率分别为64.17%、13.33%、43.33％及0.00%,阳性表达主要位于细胞质,茁-catenin 在HCC、癌旁组织、肝硬化组织、 正常肝组织中的阳性率分别为62.50%、16.67%、33.33%及0.00%,阳性表达亦主要位于细胞质。STAT3 及beta-catenin 在上述各类组 织中阳性率,差异均具有显著性（P<0.05）。HCC中STAT3蛋白阳性率在不同年龄、肿瘤大小、甲胎蛋白（AFP）、病理分化程度及门 脉癌栓组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。HCC 中STAT3 与beta-catenin 表达呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。结论：STAT3 及beta-catenin 在 HCC 的发生、发展中起着重要作用,且二者表达强度呈显著正相关。     

腹腔镜肾癌根治术治疗肾癌的疗效观察

目的:观察腹腔镜肾癌根治术治疗肾癌的疗效。方法:选取2013年12月~2015年12月于我院诊治的肾细胞癌并行肾癌根治术患者70例,其中42例患者行腹腔镜肾癌根治术,纳入微创组;28例患者行开放性肾癌根治术,纳入对照组。比较两组患者围手术期情况、术后第3天炎症指标与肾功能、围术期并发症。结果:与对照组相比,微创组患者手术时间、住院时间、手术切口较短,术后下床走动时间、术后停止禁食时间较早,手术出血量、手术费用较少(P0.001)。与对照组相比,微创组患者WBC、CRP水平较低(P0.001)。微创组患者围术期总并发症发生率为4.8%,低于对照组(21.5%),差异有统计学意义(x~2=4.610,P=0.032)。结论:腹腔镜肾癌根治术治疗肾癌较开放性肾癌根治术有疗效佳、安全性好、术后恢复快及并发症少的优势,值得临床推广。     

不同剂量右美托嘧啶对胸腔镜下食管癌根治术患者心肌氧供及血流动力学的影响

目的:探讨不同剂量右美托嘧啶(DEX)对胸腔镜下食管癌根治术患者心肌氧供及血流动力学的影响。方法:选取66例我院拟行腔镜下食管癌根治术患者,随机分为三组,每组各22例:低剂量右美托嘧啶组(L组)(0.5μg/kg)、高剂量右美托嘧啶组(H组)(1.0μg/kg)、对照组(N组)(与L组和H组同等速率输注生理盐水),而后H组和L组均以0.5μg/kg/h维持输注DEX。记录各组输注前(T1)、输注后5 min(T2)、输注后10 min(T3)、输注后15 min(T4)、输注后30 min(T5)各组血流动力学指标:心率(HR)、收缩压(SBP)、平均动脉压(MAP)、每搏输出量(SV)、中心静脉压(CVP)、心排量(CO),计算HR与SBP的乘积RPP,抽取挠动脉和肺动脉血进行动脉血气分析,采用反向FICK法计算氧供(DO2)和氧耗(VO2)。结果:HR:H组和L组患者HR随时间的推移呈下降趋势,H组T3、T4、T5时间点HR较T1时间点显著降低(P0.05);与N组相比,H组和L组T3、T4、T5时间点HR显著降低(P0.05)。MAP:H组T3、T4、T5时间点MAP显著低于L组(P0.05);H组T3、T4时间点MAP显著低于N组(P0.05);H组T5时间点MAP显著低于同组T1、T2时间点(P0.05)。SBP:H组T3、T4、T5时间点SBP与L组和N组比较显著降低(P0.05);H组T5时间点SBP较同组T1、T2时间点显著降低(P0.05)。RPP:H组T3、T4、T5时间点RPP与同组T1、T2时间点和N组比较显著降低(P0.05)。DO2:H组T5时间点DO2与L组和N组比较显著降低(P0.05)。VO2:L组患者VO2T3、T4、T5时间点与组内T1、T2时间点和N组相比显著降低(P0.05);H组VO2T3、T4、T5时间点与组内T1、T2时间点和N组相比显著降低(P0.05)。结论:小剂量(0.5μg/kg)输注DEX能降低胸腔镜下食管癌患者心肌氧耗,维持血流动力学稳定,高剂量(1.0μg/kg)输注DEX降低心肌氧耗的同时会降低心肌氧供,存在一定风险,对于患有冠心病以及心肺功能低下的老年患者,建议给予小剂量输注DEX,并监测血流动力学指标,及时调整DEX用量。     

Modeling spatial distribution of oxygen in 3d culture of islet beta‐cells

Three‐dimensional (3D) scaffold culture of pancreatic β‐cell has been proven to be able to better mimic physiological conditions in the body. However, one critical issue with culturing pancreatic β‐cells is that β‐cells consume large amounts of oxygen, and hence insufficient oxygen supply in the culture leads to loss of β‐cell mass and functions. This becomes more significant when cells are cultured in a 3D scaffold. In this study, in order to understand the effect of oxygen tension inside a cell‐laden collagen culture on β‐cell proliferation, a culture model with encapsulation of an oxygen‐generator was established. The oxygen‐generator was made by embedding hydrogen peroxide into nontoxic polydimethylsiloxane to avoid the toxicity of a chemical reaction in the β‐cell culture. To examine the effectiveness of the oxygenation enabled 3D culture, the spatial‐temporal distribution of oxygen tension inside a scaffold was evaluated by a mathematical modeling approach. Our simulation results indicated that an oxygenation‐aided 3D culture would augment the oxygen supply required for the β‐cells. Furthermore, we identified that cell seeding density and the capacity of the oxygenator are two critical parameters in the optimization of the culture. Notably, cell‐laden scaffold cultures with an in situ oxygen supply significantly improved the β‐cells' biological function. These β‐cells possess high insulin secretion capacity. The results obtained in this work would provide valuable information for optimizing and encouraging functional β‐cell cultures. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:221–228, 2017     

长链非编码RNA与性激素依赖性肿瘤

随着基因测序技术与核酸定量分析技术的发展,近年的大量研究表明,长链非编码RNA (long non-coding RNA,LncRNA) 通过多种途径调控基因表达,具有调节细胞功能的重要作用。LncRNA的异常表达与肿瘤发生发展之间的联系被广泛关注。其中,关于LncRNA与3种最常见的性激素依赖性肿瘤乳腺癌、子宫内膜癌和前列腺癌的研究,揭示其在肿瘤细胞或组织中扮演着类似于原癌基因或抑癌基因的双重角色。并通过多种调控机制,参与癌细胞的侵袭、增殖、转移等过程。因性激素受体分布的特异性,使得与之相关的多种LncRNA的表达也具有较高的特异性。本文总结LncRNA与乳腺癌、子宫内膜癌和前列腺癌的相关研究进展,包括涉及到的LncRNA种类、表达差异、作用机制及作为生物标志物或治疗靶点的可行性评价。     

沉默单核细胞趋化蛋白-1基因降低人食管癌EC109细胞的迁移及侵袭能力

单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,MCP-1)是白色脂肪细胞分泌的炎症趋化刺激因子,属于趋化因子CC亚族,可促进肿瘤血管形成和细胞外基质降解,从而促进肿瘤细胞的浸润与转移。沉默MCP-1基因可显著抑制恶性肿瘤生长及转移,但其作用的分子机制尚不完全清楚。本研究应用小干扰RNA技术沉默人食管癌EC109细胞中MCP-1表达。细胞划痕试验显示,与对照组相比,沉默MCP-1基因可明显抑制食管癌EC109细胞迁移能力。Transwell 侵袭实验显示,沉默MCP-1基因后,EC109细胞侵袭能力降低。Western 印迹试验和RT-PCR试验揭示,沉默MCP-1基因后,细胞中MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达水平显著下降。研究结果提示,沉默MCP-1基因可通过抑制MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达,降低癌细胞迁移及侵袭能力。     

Genetic and epigenetic alterations in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Its chronic infection can lead to chronic liver inflammation and the accumulation of genetic alterations to result in the oncogenic transformation of hepatocytes. HBV can also sensitize hepatocytes to oncogenic transformation by causing genetic and epigenetic changes of the host chromosomes. HBV DNA can insert into host chromosomes and recent large-scale whole-genome sequencing studies revealed recurrent HBV DNA integrations sites that may play important roles in the initiation of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. HBV can also cause epigenetic changes by altering the methylation status of cellular DNA, the post-translational modification of histones, and the expression of micro RNAs. These changes can also lead to the eventual hepatocellular transformation. These recent findings on the genetic and epigenetic alterations of the host chromosomes induced by HBV opened a new avenue for the development of novel diagnosis and treatments for HBV-induced HCC.