Silencing of polo-like kinase 2 increases cell proliferation and decreases apoptosis in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells.

Polo‑like kinase 2 (PLK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase, which has vital roles during mitosis and the centrosome cycle. In acute myeloblastic leukemia and hepatocarcinogenesis, PLK2 acts as a tumor suppressor; however, the function of PLK2 in gastric cancer remains to be elucidated. In the present study, PLK2 was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues and three types of gastric cancer cells, SGC‑7901, MKN‑45 and BGC‑823.

Proteomic Profiling of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) using Magnetic Beads-based Serum Fractionation and MALDI-TOF MS.

Aim: To reveal the serum proteomic profiling of intraductal carcinoma (IDC) patients in China, establish a serum proteome fractionation technique for choosing magnetic beads for proteomic analysis in breast cancer research; and identify differentially expressed peptides (m/z; P < 0.0001) as potential biomarkers of early IDCs.

Methods: We used two different kinds of magnetic beads (magnetic bead-based weak cation exchange chromatography (MB-WCX) and immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (MB-IMAC-Cu)) to analyze 32 patients with early stage (stages I-II) IDC and 32 healthy control serum samples for proteomic profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis.

Mir-126 inhibits growth of SGC-7901 cells by synergistically targeting the oncogenes PI3KR2 and Crk, and the tumor suppressor PLK2.

MicroRNA (miRNA)-126 (miR-126) was reported to be downregulated and to act as a tumor suppressor in cancers of the lung, cervix, bladder and prostate. However, the functions of miR-126 in gastric cancer appear to be diverse and are largely unknown. MiR-126 was reported to act as a tumor suppressor by targeting the Crk gene, or as an oncogene by targeting the SOX2 gene in gastric cancer.

miR-638 suppresses cell proliferation in gastric cancer by targeting Sp2.

Background: MicroRNAs play important roles in the development and progression of various cancers. Recent studies have shown that miR-638 was downregulated in several tumors; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) has not been investigated in detail.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of miR-638 and to elucidate its regulatory mechanism in GC.

Proteomics reveals intersexual differences in the rat brain hippocampus.

It is widely accepted that intersexual differences occur in cognitive domains, e.g., in spatial learning and memory.

Identification of novel low molecular weight serum peptidome biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Aim: To identify discriminating protein patterns in serum samples among non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and healthy controls. To discover specific low molecular weight (LMW) serum peptidome biomarkers and establish a diagnostic pattern for NSCLCby using proteomic technology.

Methods: We used magnetic bead-based separation followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify patients with NSCLC, COPD, and pneumonia.

Serum peptidome profiling in patients with gastric cancer.

To identify discriminating protein patterns in serum samples between gastric cancer patients (early and advanced stages) and healthy controls. We used magnetic bead-based separation followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) to identify patients with gastric cancer. In total, serum samples from 62 gastric cancer patients (32 in the training set and 30 in the test set; 19 of which had early-stage tumors and 43 of which had advanced-stage tumors) and 64 healthy controls (32 in the training set and 32 in the test set) were analyzed.

[Progress of polymorphism in microRNA and microRNA target sites].

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are evolutionarily well-conserved, 21- to 23-nucleotide-long, small non-coding RNAs, are widely involved in the regulation of multiple biological processes, such as development, organogenesis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that polymorphism in miRNAs and their target sites are closely related to various diseases, such as tumor and cardiological diseases. This review introduces recent progresses on polymorphism in microRNAs and their targeting sites and the related diseases.

[STAT1 and STAT2 participate in growth inhibition of human hepatoma HepG2 cells induced by phosphatidylethanolamine].

Objective: To investigate the roles of STAT1 and STAT2 in growth inhibition induced by phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Methods: The growth of HepG2 cells exposed to 0.125, 0.

The EGFP/hERG fusion protein alter the electrophysiological properties of hERG channels in HEK293 cells.

EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) tagged to either the N (amino)-terminus [EGFP/hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene)] or C (carboxyl)-terminus (hERG/EGFP) of hERG channel is used to study mutant channel protein trafficking for several years. However, it has been reported that the process can alter hERG channel properties. The aim of the study was to determine whether EGFP tagged to N-terminus of hERG channels would alter the cellular localizations and the electrophysiological properties of hERG channels compared with untagged hERG channels.

Serum peptidome profiling in patients with lung cancer.

Serum peptide profiling is a promising approach for classification of cancer versus noncancer samples. In this study, we aimed to search for discriminating peptide patterns in serum samples between lung cancer patients and healthy controls. The magnetic beads-based weak cation-exchange chromatography followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used in this study to identify patients with lung cancer.

Small-interfering RNA-mediated silencing of the MAPK p42 gene induces dual effects in HeLa cells.

The genesis and progression of cervical cancer involve the mutation or deviant expression of numerous genes, including the activation of oncogenes (Ha-ras, C-myc, C-erbB2 and Bcl-2) and inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes (p53 and Rb). Previous studies showed that small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting the MAPK p42 gene partly inhibit proliferation and increase apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Results of a microarray analysis showed that MAPK p42 siRNA inhibited cell growth through the regulation of cell cycle control and apoptosis and induced interferon-like response in HeLa cells.

MicroRNA profiling of human gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression. The de-regulation of microRNA expression has been found in several types of cancer. To study the role of microRNAs in gastric cancer (GC), we analyzed the expression profile of 847 microRNAs in GC from Chinese patients.

Breviscapine improves functions of spatial learning and memory of focal cerebral ischemia rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of breviscapine on the functions of spatial learning and memory of focal cerebral ischemia rats.

Methods: Rots withl the left middle cerebral artery occluded were made by an intraluminal filament. Then breviscapine (20 mg/kg,40 mg/kg) in experimental group and 10% glucose in control group were administered intraperitoneally once a day for 2 weeks, and the Morris water maze tasks were carried out for 5 days.

Exogenous phosphatidylethanolamine induces apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells via the bcl-2/Bax pathway.

Aim: To investigate the signaling pathways implicated in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Methods: Inhibitory effects of PE on human hepatoma HepG2 cells were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell cycle, apoptosis and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi m) were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Effects of small interfering RNAs targeting MAPK1 on gene expression profile in HeLa cells as revealed by microarray analysis.

The mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling cascade plays an important role in cell life. We proved that small interfering RNAs targeting MAPK1 (siRNA-2) could inhibit HeLa cell growth, but the effects of siRNA-2 on gene expression profile were unclear. Using Affymetrix GeneChip HG-U133A 2.

[Small interfering RNA-mediated nuclear factor-kappaB P65 suppression induces apoptosis of hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells].

Objective: To study the mechanism of hepatic carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) P65 silencing.

Methods: Hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells were exposed to liposome-mediated transfection with NF-kappaB P65 siRNA synthesized by in vitro transcription, and the cells with empty liposome transfection and those without particular treatment served as the control groups. The expression of NF-kappaB P65 in the cells was detected by Western blotting, the cell viability examined by MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis assessed by flow cytometry.

[Inheritance instability of chromosome 6q in patients with gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the possible correlation between the microsatellite DNA instability (MSI), loss of heterozygosity (LOH ) on the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q) and the clinicopathologic features in Chinese patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: PCR-SSLP-Silver Stain method was used to detect four loci MSI and LOH in gastric tumor and paired normal control tissues of twenty and seven cases.

Results: In our study, the positive of MSI at one or more loci were observed in 16 out of 27 informative individuals (59.

[A comparison study for differentiation between human fetal retinal progenitor cells and brain neural stem cells in vitro].

Objective: Investigating the potential of differentiation of human fetal retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) and brain neural stem cells (hBNSCs) in vitro.

Methods: hRPCs and hBNSCs were isolated from human fetuses (8-12 weeks of gestation) and cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 culture medium with N2 supplement, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or culture medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) but without EGF and bFGF. Immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence studies were conducted for identification of neural stem cells, retinal progenitors or the subtypes of neurons, astrocytes, retinal ganglion cells and rod photoreceptors with the specific antibodies for Nestin, Pax6, Map2, GFAP, Thy-1 and Rhodopsin, respectively.

[New progress of the highly efficient siRNA design].

RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved evolutionary mechanism widely found in living nature, is considered for defending the alien gene and virus infection. RNAi can induce gene silencing by prohibiting the translation of the target mRNA, which is specially recognized by the corresponding siRNA, and finally degraded by the RISC. So RNAi can be applied as a new technology tool for the functional gene research and gene therapy.

[Inhibition of the expression of p42MAPK in HeLa cell line by RNA interference].

Objective: To screen for siRNAs that inhibit the expression of p42(MAPK) in HeLa cell line.

Methods: Three p42(MAPK) siRNAs and one random siRNA were synthesized using Silencer siRNA Construction Kit, and labeled with Cy-3 for measurement of transfection effect. SiRNAs were transfected into HeLa cells by Lipofectamin 2000.

Cytokinin- and auxin-induced stomatal opening involves a decrease in levels of hydrogen peroxide in guard cells of Vicia faba.

Previous studies have shown that cytokinins and auxins can induce the opening of stomata. However, the mechanism of stomatal opening caused by cytokinins and auxins remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between hydrogen peroxide (HO) levels in guard cells and stomatal opening induced by cytokinins and auxins in Vicia faba.

[Small interfering RNA-mediated MAPK p42 silencing induces apoptosis of HeLa cells].

Objective: To observe the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced MAPK p42 silencing on the survival of HeLa cells.

Methods: Two siRNAs targeting at the MAPK p42 gene and one random siRNA were synthesized respectively by Silencer siRNA Construction Kit and transfected into HeLa cells by Lipofectamin 2000. The expression of p42(MAPK) in the transfected HeLa cells was analyzed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, and the morphology of cells were observed with electron microscope.

Fibroblast growth factor-4 and hepatocyte growth factor induce differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes.

Aim: To investigate the differentiation of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into hepatocytes by induction of fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and to find a new source of cell types for therapies of hepatic diseases.

Methods: MSCs were isolated by combining gradient density centrifugation with plastic adherence. When HUCB-derived MSCs reached 70% confluence, they were cultured in Iscove modified Dulbecco medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10 mL/L FBS, 20 ng/mL HGF and 10 ng/mL FGF-4.