Latest Issue

    2010 Year 25 Volume 4 Issue

      • Original Article •

    • Guo-wei Zhao, Rui-feng Yang, Xiang Lü, Mitchell J. Weiss, De-pei Liu and Chih-chuan Liang
      2010(4): 193-198.
      Abstract:Objective To investigate whether α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), the α-globin-specific molecular chaperone, is regulated by erythroid transcription factor NF-E2. Methods We established the stable cell line with NF-E2p45 (the larger subunit of NF-E2) short hairpin RNA to silence its expression. Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis were performed to detect the expression of AHSP, the histone modifications at AHSP gene locus, and the binding of GATA-1 at the AHSP promoter with NF-E2p45 deficiency. ChIP was also carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced DS19 cells and estrogen-induced G1E-ER4 cells to examine NF-E2 binding to the AHSP gene locus and its changes during cell erythroid differentiation. Finally, luciferase assay was applied in HeLa cells transfected with AHSP promoter fragments to examine AHSP promoter activity in the presence of exogenous NF-E2p45. Results We found that AHSP expression was highly dependent on NF-E2p45. NF-E2 bound to the regions across AHSP gene locus in vivo, and the transcription of AHSP was transactivated by exogenous NF-E2p45. In addition, we observed the decrease of H3K4 trimethylation and GATA-1 occupancy at the AHSP gene locus in NF-E2p45-deficient cells. Restoration of GATA-1 in G1E-ER4 cells in turn led to increased DNA binding of NF-E2p45. Conclusion NF-E2 may play an important role in AHSP gene regulation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the erythroid-specific expression of AHSP as well as new possibilities for β-thalassemia treatment.  
      Keywords:α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein;NF-E2;erythropoiesis;GATA-1;H3K4trimethylation   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Lei Li, Lu Lu, Xiang Lü, Xue-song Wu, De-pei Liu and Chih-chuan Liang
      2010(4): 199-205.
      Abstract:Objective To study the regulatory mechanism of SATB1 repression in cells other than T cells or erythroid cells, which have high expression level of SATB1. Methods HeLa epithelial cells were treated with either histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) trichostatin A (TSA) or DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-C before detecting SATB1 expression. Luciferase reporter system was applied to measure effects of EZH2 on SATB1 promoter activity. Over-expression or knockdown of EZH2 and subsequent quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed to determine the effect of this Polycomb group protein on SATB1 transcription. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was applied to measure enrichment of EZH2 and trimethylated H3K27 (H3K27me3) at SATB1 promoter in HeLa cells. K562 cells and Jurkat cells, both having high-level expression of SATB1, were used in the ChIP experiment as controls. Results Both TSA and 5-Aza-C increased SATB1 expression in HeLa cells. Over-expression of EZH2 reduced promoter activity as well as the mRNA level of SATB1, while knockdown of EZH2 apparently enhanced SATB1 expression in HeLa cells but not in K562 cells and Jurkat cells. ChIP assay Results suggested that epigenetic silencing of SATB1 by EZH2 in HeLa cells was mediated by trimethylation modification of H3K27. In contrast, enrichment of EZH2 and H3K27me3 was not detected within proximal promoter region of SATB1 in either K562 or Jurkat cells. Conclusion SATB1 is a bona fide EZH2 target gene in HeLa cells and the repression of SATB1 by EZH2 may be mediated by trimethylation modification on H3K27.  
      Keywords:SATB1;EZH2;Polycomb group protein;gene silencing;trimethylated H3K27   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Peng Jin, Jian-qiu Sheng, Ying-hui Zhang, Ai-qin Li, Zi-tao Wu and Shi-rong Li
      2010(4): 206-210.
      Abstract:Objective To investigate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and its relationship with mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression and microsatellite instability (MSI) in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Methods A total of 28 cases of colorectal adenoma and 14 cases of colorectal carcinoma were collected between July 2003 and July 2007 from 33 HNPCC families. Sporadic colorectal adenoma (n=32) and carcinoma patients (n=24) served as controls. With samples of tumor tissues and normal colonic mucosa collected from the patients, the protein expressions of COX-2 and MMR (hMLH1, hMSH2, and hMSH6) were examined with immunohistochemical assay. Frequency of MSI in five standard MSI loci BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250 were analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction. Results The rate of COX-2 high-expression was 53.6% (15/28) and 42.9% (6/14) in HNPCC adenoma and carcinoma; 62.5% (20/32) and 91.7% (22/24) in sporadic adenoma and carcinoma, respectively. That rate was lower in HNPCC carcinoma than in sporadic carcinoma (P<0.05). MMR-deletion rate and percentage of high-frequency MSI (MSI-H) in HNPCC carcinoma were higher than those in sporadic colorectal carcinoma [both 71.4% (10/14) vs. 12.5% (3/24), both P<0.01]. Among the 10 MMR-deficient HNPCC carcinoma patients, COX-2 low-expression was observed in 8 cases (80.0%), while COX-2 high-expression was observed in all of the 4 MMR-positive HNPCC carcinoma cases (P<0.05). In comparison to MMR positive HNPCC carcinoma, HNPCC adenoma, and sporadic carcinoma, COX-2 expression was significantly lower in corresponding MMR-deficient cases (all P<0.05). The rates of COX-2 low-expression in HNPCC adenoma, HNPCC carcinoma, and sporadic carcinoma with MSI-H were significantly higher than those in the cases with microsatellite stability (all P<0.05). Conclusion COX-2 is expressed at a low level in HNPCC carcinoma, different from the high COX-2 expression in sporadic carcinoma.  
      Keywords:colorectal cancer;hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer;cyclooxygenase-2;mismatch repair;microsatellite instability   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Shuang-zhi Huo, Ping Shi and Xi-ning Pang
      2010(4): 211-214.
      Abstract:Objective To establish the method of isolation, purification, and identification of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Methods hAMSCs were isolated from human amniotic membrane by trypsin-collagenase digestion, and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medinm/F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Phenotypic characteristics of these cells were analyzed by means of immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Results The cells successfully isolated from human amniotic membrane expressed representative mesenchymal cell surface markers CD44, CD90, and vimentin, but not CD45. Conclusions This study establishes a potential method for isolation of hAMSCs from human amnion,in vitro culture, and identification. The isolated cells show phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells.  
      Keywords:amniotic mesenchymal stem cell;cell isolation;cell culture;cell identification   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Yu-jing Sun, Ming-wu Fang, Wen-quan Niu, Guang-ping Li, Jing-liang Liu, Shou-quan Ding, Ying Xu, Guo-shu Yu, Jian-qun Dong, Yun-jun Pan, Wei-ya Dong, Tian Wang, Jing-wen Cao, Xiao-bo Li, Zhong-xiang Wang, Guang-xue Yu, Hui-cheng Sun, Zhong-hou Jia, Jun Liu, Xiao-ming Wang, Qin Si, Qi-xia Wu, Wen-yu Zhou, Tong-chun Zhu and Chang-chun Qiu
      2010(4): 215-222.
      Abstract:Objective To examine whether the polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene are associated with the susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in Chinese railway construction workers at Qinghai-Tibet where the altitude is over 4 500 m above sea level. Methods A case-control study was conducted including 149 HAPE patients in the construction workers and 160 healthy controls randomly recruited from their co-workers, matching the patients in ethnicity, age, sex, lifestyle, and working conditions. Three polymorphisms of eNOS gene, T-786C in promoter, 894G/T in exon 7, and 27bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 4, were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and confirmed with DNA sequencing. Results The frequencies of 894T allele and heterozygous G/T of the 894G/T variant were significantly higher in HAPE patients group than in the control group (P=0.0028 and P=0.0047, respectively). However, the frequencies of the T-786C in promoter and the 27bp VNTR in intron 4 were not significantly different between the two groups. Haplotypic analysis revealed that the frequencies of two haplotypes (H3,T-T-b, b indicates 5 repeats of 27 bp VNTR; H6, C-G-a, a indicates 4 repeats of 27 bp VNTR) were significantly higher in HAPE patients (both P<0.0001). On the contrary, the frequencies of H1 (T-G-b) and H2 (T-G-a) were lower in HAPE patients than in healthy controls (both P<0.001). Conclusions Two haplotypes (T-T-b and C-G-a) may be strongly associated with susceptibility to HAPE. Compared with the individual alleles of eNOS gene, the interaction of multiple genetic markers within a haplotype may be a major determinant for the susceptibility to HAPE.  
      Keywords:high altitude pulmonary edema;nitric oxide synthase;gene polymorphism;haplotype   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Zhu-qin Zhang, Hou-zao Chen, Rui-feng Yang, Ran Zhang, Yu-yan Jia, Yang Xi, De-pei Liu and Chih-chuan Liang
      2010(4): 222-227.
      Abstract:Objective To verify the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT 2), which is associated with cholesterol metabolism, by saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Methods Palmitic acid (PA), the most abundant saturated fatty acid in plasma, and oleic acid (OA), a widely distributed unsaturated fatty acid, were used to treat hepatic cells HepG2, HuH7, and mouse primary hepatocytes. In addition, PA at different concentrations and PA treatment at different durations were applied in HepG2 cells. In in vivo experiment, three-month male C57/BL6 mice were fed with control diet and SFA diet containing hydrogenated coconut oil rich of SFAs. The mRNA level of ACAT2 in those hepatic cells and the mouse livers was detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results In the three types of hepatic cells treated with PA, that SFA induced significant increase of ACAT2 expression (P<0.01), whereas treatment with OA showed no significant effect. That effect of PA was noticed gradually rising along with the increase of PA concentration and the extension of PA treatment duration (both P<0.05). SFA diet feeding in mice resulted in a short-term and transient increase of ACAT2 expression in vivo, with a peak level appearing in the mice fed with SFA diet for two days (P<0.05). Conclusion SFA may regulate ACAT2 expression in human and mouse hepatic cells and in mouse livers.  
      Keywords:acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 2;gene expression;saturatedfatty acid   
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      Updated:2024-04-10
    • Peng Jin, Xiao-ming Meng, Jian-qiu Sheng, Zi-tao Wu, Lei Fu, He-juan An, Ying Han and Shi-rong Li
      2010(4): 228-232.
      Abstract:Objective To explore the clinicopathological features of non-familial colorectal cancer with high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Methods One hundred and fifty patients with colorectal cancer who had no family history were enrolled in this study from June 2006 to June 2008. Five standard microsatellite loci including BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250 were amplified with immunofluorescent polymerase chain reaction. The patient information including age, sex, and tumor location was recorded. Pathological features including differentiation, mucinous differentiation, histological heterogeneity, and Crohn’s-like reaction were observed under light microscope. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TLs, CD4+ and CD8+) was detected by means of immunohistochemistry. A regression equation was obtained by stepwise logistic regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between MSI-H phenotype in colorectal cancer ands pathological features. Results MSI-H phenotype occurred in 13.33% of the 150 patients with non-familial colorectal cancer. Poor differentiation, histological heterogeneity, Crohn’s-like reaction, and presence of TLs were found to be independent factors to identify MSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer. Logistic regression equation showed an overall sensitivity of 70.0%, specificity of 99.2%, and accuracy of 95.3% in identifying MSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer. Conclusion MSI-H non-familial colorectal cancer manifests specific pathological features, which may be relied upon for effective identification of that disease.  
      Keywords:colorectal cancer;microsatellite instability;phenotype;clinical pathology   
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    • Yue-hong Zheng, Kun Yu, Jie-feng Zhang, Nim Choi, Hong-ru Deng and Furtado Rui
      2010(4): 233-236.
      Abstract:Objective To investigate the application of the retroperitoneal approach in aortic surgery. Methods We collected and analyzed data of 7 patients in Macau who presented with aortic diseases from 2007 to 2008 and were treated with aorta repair through retroperitoneal approach. Demographic features as well as intraoperative and postoperative data were analyzed. One case of thoracoabdominal aneurysm and 4 cases of abdominal aneurysm received artificial graft, among which hybrid iliac artery reconstruction with Zenith stent covering the ostium of the left subclavian artery was performed in 2 cases of infrarenal abdominal aneurysm. Aortic-iliac artery bypass was performed in 2 cases of aortoiliac occlusion. Results No operative or early postoperative death was observed. No perioperative intestinal adhesion or ureteral obstruction was found. One case reported delayed paraplegia and graft infection as postoperative complications. The complications were partially removed 3 months later after rehabilitation. Conclusion Retroperitoneal approach is a safe and feasible technique, which associated with a low incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.  
      Keywords:aorta;retroperitoneal approach;revascularization   
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    • Na Liu, Jun-tian Liu and Qiang-zong Zhang
      2010(4): 237-242.
      Abstract:Objective To establish and evaluate a hypercoagulable animal model for the assessment of anticoagulants. Methods Forty mice, thirty-two rats, and twenty-four rabbits were randomly and equally divided into control group (saline) and three ellagic acid (EA)-treated groups (low, middle, and high doses). In the mice, bleeding time (BT) was estimated with tail transaction, and clotting time (CT) with template method. Prothrombin time (PT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in rats and rabbits were measured by means of Quick’s one-stage assay and modified APTT assay respectively. In addition, thrombin activity was estimated in rats with PT assay using a hemagglutination analyzer. The circulating platelet aggregates were detected in rabbits through platelet counting and presented as the circulating platelet aggregate ratio (CPAR). Results EA shortened BT and CT in mice, PT and APTT in rats, and increased thrombin activity and CPAR, all in a dose-dependent manner. EA also brought reduction of PT and APTT in rabbits in dose- and time-dependent manners. Conclusion EA could induce hypercoagulable state through activating coagulation system and platelets in mice, rats, and rabbits.  
      Keywords:ellagic acid;hypercoagulablestate;coagulation;platelet aggregation   
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    • Zhi-qiang Wang, Xiao-hong Dong, Bai-zhi Yang and Xiu-hong Wang
      2010(4): 243-245.
      Keywords:heminephroureterectomy;hydroureteronephrosis;inguinal hernia   
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    • Da-ming Zhang and Nai-shi Li
      2010(4): 246-249.
        
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