MicroRNA-221 promotes papillary thyroid carcinoma cell migration and invasion via targeting RECK and regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the effects and potential mechanisms of microRNA-221 on a series of biological behaviors of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: First, we analyzed the relationship between the expression of miR-221 and several clinicopathological features of PTC patients and then detected the expression of the miR-221 in tumor tissues and cell lines. The effects of miR-221 on proliferation and invasion of PTC cells were verified by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides promotes in vivo proliferation of adult rat retinal progenitor cells.

Lycium barbarum is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine prescription for protection of optic nerve. However, it remains unclear regarding the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, the main component of Lycium barbarum, on in vivo proliferation of adult ciliary body cells. In this study, adult rats were intragastrically administered low- and high-dose Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (1 and 10 mg/kg) for 35 days and those intragastrically administered phosphate buffered saline served as controls.

Development of gene and stem cell therapy for ocular neurodegeneration.

Retinal degenerative diseases pose a serious threat to eye health, but there is currently no effective treatment available. Recent years have witnessed rapid development of several cutting-edge technologies, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and tissue engineering. Due to the special features of ocular structure, some of these technologies have been translated into ophthalmological clinic practice with fruitful achievements, setting a good example for other fields.

[Screening of key genes and inflammatory signalling pathway involved in the pathogenesis of HLA-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis by gene expression microarray].

Objective: To investigate the genes and signalling pathways located upstream of the inflammatory processes in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis by gene expression microarray.

Methods: Experimental study. HLA-B27-positive and-negative monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood were stimulated with Vibrio cholera lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Enhanced expression of proneurotrophins in elevated introcular pressure-induced rat retinal ischemia.

Background: Proneurotrophins such as the precursor of nerve growth factor (proNGF) and the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) interacted with sortilin and p75(NTR) to form a complex capable of activating an apoptotic signaling. We found that the expression of p75(NTR) and sortilin was increased in ischemic retina induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in the same situation were not clear. This study aimed to ascertain the protein expression changes of proNGF and proBDNF in ischemic retina induced by elevated IOP.

Metformin inhibits growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis via mitochondrion-mediated pathway.

Recently, population-based studies of type 2 diabetes patients have provided evidence that metformin treatment is associated with a reduced cancer incidence and mortality, but its mode of action remains unclear. Here we report effects of metformin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Hep-G2 cells and details of molecular mechanisms of metformin activity. Our research indicates that metformin displays anticancer activity against HCC through inhibition of the mTOR translational pathway in an AMPK-independent manner, leading to G1 arrest in the cell-cycle and subsequent cell apoptosis through the mitochondrion-dependent pathway.

Triptolide regulates T cell-mediated immunity via induction of CD11c(low) dendritic cell differentiation.

Triptolide(TPT) isolated from one of the Chinese herbs, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. (TWHF), are known to have a variety of immunomodulatory activities.

Association between EGF, TGF-β1 and TNF-α gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Up to present, EGF 61*A/G, TGF-β1 -509*T/C and TNF-α -308*A/G gene polymorphisms have been analysed in other cancer entities than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We here investigated the frequency of these gene polymorphisms among HCC patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 73 HCC patients and 117 cancer-free healthy people were recruited at the Surgical Department of Zhongshan Hospital.

Gene expression profile changes caused by the dysfunction of Mer during retinal pigment epithelium phagocytosis.

Background: Studies indicated that Mer might be the main contributor to the specific internalization of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is very important to understand the mechanism of POS phagocytosis under the pathway of Mer and its ligands. The objective of this study was to identify changes in gene expression profiles caused by Mer gene knockout (Mer-/-) during phagocytosis of POS in RPE.

The role of CCR1 expression in the retinal degeneration in rd mice.

Purpose: Chemokine receptors are reported to be involved in neuronal cell death and CNS neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression of CCR1, a major chemokine receptor for CC chemokines in retinal dystrophy in rd (retinal degeneration) mice and further explore its role in photoreceptor degeneration.

Materials And Methods: The expression levels of CCR1 mRNA in the whole control and rd retinas at postnatal days (P) 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 were determined by RT-PCR assay.

Expressions of Axl and Tyro-3 receptors are under regulation of nerve growth factor and are involved in differentiation of PC12 cells.

Objective: Tyro-3 and Axl receptors are expressed in brain in a region-specific manner and their bioactivities in the central nervous system remain still elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate their functions in neuronal differentiation.

Methods: PC12 cells overexpressing Tyro-3 or Axl were established by transfection with full-length CMV-Tyro-3-eCFP or CMV-Axl-eGFP plasmid, respectively.

Prostaglandin induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in ciliary melanocytes.

Background: Latanoprost, a prostaglandin F2alpha analog, has been shown to be an effective intraocular pressure lowering agent which acts by inducing ciliary muscle cells to synthesise matrix metalloproteinases. However, the response of ciliary melanocytes to latanoprost has never been reported. This research has investigated the ability of latanoprost to induce matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in human ciliary melanocytes, and thereby advance the understanding of the mechanism of PGF(2alpha) in decreasing intraocular pressure.

Loss of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in a rat glaucoma model.

Background: Glaucoma can cause progressive damage to retinal ganglion cells. These cells can be classified as cells projecting to the superior colliculus and melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells, which project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This study was to investigate the effects of chronic intraocular pressure elevation on melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in rats.

Effects of seawater immersion on the functions of mitochondria of myocardium and hepatocyte in hemorrhagic shock rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of seawater immersion on the function of myocardium and hepatocyte mitochondria in experimental hemorrhagic shock rats.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=8 in each group): control group, HSL group (hemorrhagic shock group on land) and HSS group (hemorrhagic shock group in seawater). The hemodynamic parameters, activities of H(+)-ATPase (adenosinetriphosphatase), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase, the calcium contents in myocardium and hepatocyte mitochondria were measured and the changes of proton translocation across the inner mitochondrial membrane were analyzed.