Effects of mTOR-STAT3 on the migra=tion and invasion abilities of hepatoma cell and mTOR-STAT3 expression in liver cancer

Objective:To investigate the effects of mT0R-STAT3 pathway on the invasion and migration of hepatoma cell.Methods:mTOR and STAT3 expresssion in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and normal liver cell line L02 were detected by reverse transcription PCR(RTPCR) and western blotting.The migration and invasion abilities of cells and expression of STAT3were detected by scratch adhesion test and transwell migration assays,after siRNA transfection blocking mTOR expression of HepG2 cells.Results:The HepG2 cells expression is higher compared with normal cells L02 expression.Western blotting assay showed the mTOR expression was blocked,while STAT3 expression was also decreased,after the siRNA transfection of HepC2cells.The migration(scratch adhesion test) and invasion(transwell assays) abilities of HepG2 cells which the mTOR expression was blocked by siRNA interference were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:mT0RSTAT3 expression in hepatoma cells HepG2 was significantly higher than that in normal liver cells.mTOR blocking can reduce the expression of STAT3,which is also closely related to the invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells.

Soil water content and nitrogen differentially correlate with multidimensional leaf traits of two temperate broadleaf species

The variation and correlation of leaf economics and vein traits are crucial for predicting plant ecological strategies under different environmental changes.However,correlations between these two suites of traits and abiotic factors such as soil water and nitrogen content remain ambiguous.We measured leaf economics and vein traits as well as soil water and nitrogen content for two different shade-tolerant species(Betula platyphylla and Acer mono)in four mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests along a latitudinal gradient in Northeast China.We found that leaf economics traits and vein traits were decoupled in shade-intolerant species,Betula platphylla,but significantly coupled in a shadetolerant species,A.mono.We found stronger correlations among leaf traits in the shade tolerant species than in the shade intolerant species.Furthermore,leaf economic traits were positively correlated with the soil water gradient for both species,whereas vein traits were positively correlated with soil water gradient for the shade intolerant species but negatively correlated in the shade tolerant species.Although economic traits were positively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade intolerant species but not correlated in shade tolerant species,vein traits were negatively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade tolerant species but not correlated in shade intolerant species.Our study provides evidence for distinct correlations between leaf economics and vein traits and local abiotic factors of species differing in light demands.We recommend that the ecological significance of shade tolerance be considered for species when evaluating ecosystem functions and predicting plant responses to environmental changes.