Effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on induced differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells in vitro

BACKGROUND： Previous studies have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） promotes neural differentiation. However, the mechanisms involved in cell cycle-related protein regulation, which highly correlates to neural proliferation and apoptosis, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of various concentrations of BDNF on cycle-related protein mRNA expression in induce-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells in vitro prior to and following G2 phase, and to analyze the neuroprotective effects of BDNF. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A comparison, observational study, based on cell biology, was performed at the Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Tongji University, from March 2005 to October 2006. MATERIALS： SH-SY5Y cells were provided by Shanghai Institute of Cytology, Chinese Academy of Science; BDNF by Alomone Labs, Israel; all-trans retinoic acid （ATRA） by Sigma-Aldrich, USA. METHODS： SH-SY5Y cells were randomly divided into three groups： blank control [cells were treated in Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium （ITS） solution for 7 days], ATRA （cells were treated with ITS solution containing 10 μmol/L ATRA for 7 days）, and BDNF （cells were treated identical to the ATRA group for 5 days, and then respectively treated in ITS solution containing 1, 10, and 100 μg/L BDNF for 2 days）. The experiment was repeated three times for each group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： mRNA expression levels of cyclin A1, B1, B2, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, and 5 were detected using quantitative real-time RT-PCR; percentage of cells in G1, S, and G2 phases were detected using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. RESULTS： mRNA expression levels of cyclin A1 in the high-dose BDNF group was significantly less than the ATRA group （P 〈 0.05）.mRNA expression levels of cyclin B1 was significantly less in the different BDNF concentration groups compared with the control and ATRA groups （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. mRNA expression levels of cyclin B2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 were significantly decreased in the high-dose BDNF group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 mRNA expression was significantly greater in the low-dose and moderate-dose BDNF groups compared with the ATRA group （P 〈 0.05）. The percentage of cells in G1 phase was significantly greater in the different BDNF concentration groups compared with the ATRA and control groups （P 〈 0.01）. Moreover, the percentage of cells in S phase was significantly less in the three BDNF groups compared with the ATRA group （P 〈 0.01）. However, the percentage of cells in S phase was significantly less in the low-dose and high-dose BDNF groups compared with the control group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： BDNF enhanced the percentage of cells in G1 phase, but did not alter mRNA expression of cell cycle-related proteins prior to or following G2 phase. These results suggested that BDNF was not a risk factor for inducing apoptosis.

Effects of compound 209 on colorectal cancer cell HT-29 in vivo and in vitro

Compound 209 is a newly synthesized dithiocarbamate derivative with antiproliferation activity in vitro, however, its antitumor effect in vivo and the underlying mechanisms have yet to be identified. We explored the antitumor effect of compound 209 and the possible mechanisms for its inhibition of the growth of HT-29 xenograff tumor and proliferation of HT-29 cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated with SRB assay in vitro. The results showed that compound 209 had significant antiproliferation activity on HT-29 cells. Furthermore, the xenograff HT-29 nude mouse model was used to study the antitumor effect of compound 209 in vivo. We found that compound 209 significantly inhibited tumor growth and did not cause loss of body weight or leukocytopenia. Analysis by flow cytometry indicated that compound 209 arrested HT-29 cell cycle in G~ phase. Western blotting analysis suggested that compound 209 increased the expression of p27, cyclin E, CDK2, cyclin D1 and CDK4. These results demonstrated the antitumor effect of compound 209 and its potential use as an anticancer drug.

Enhanced antitumor effect of TM208 in combination with 5-fluorouracil in H_(22) transplanted mice

4-Methylpiperazine-l-carbodithioc-acid-3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl ester hydrochloride（TM208）,a newly synthesized dithiocarbamate derivative,exhibits antitumor effect in vivo with low toxicity.However,the antitumor effect of TM208 in combination with drugs in clinical use for cytotoxic chemotherapy has not been identified.In our study,the antitumor effects and toxicities of TM208 in combination with cisplatin（DDP）,cyclophosphamide（CTX） and 5-fluorouracil（5-Fu）,respectively,were evaluated in vivo using a transplanted solid-type hepatocarcinoma H_（22） mice model.The results suggested that 5-Fu（5 mg/kg/2d） potentiated the antitumor effect of TM208（100 mg/kg/d） with significantly higher tumor inhibition rates（P0.01） and a slight elevation of toxicity;however,DDP and CTX in combination with TM208 did not exhibit similar enhanced antitumor effect.For further investigation,we found that the TM208 and 5-Fu combination therapy led to G_2/M cell cycle arrest of tumor cells in vivo by downregulating the protein expression of cyclin Bl,cdc2,cdk7,and upregulating the expression of p21 and p53.The protein expression levels of cyclin Dl and cyclin E were also downregulated in tumor cells treated with TM208 and 5-Fu,while those of cdk4 and cdk2 remained unchanged.The change of mRNA expression level of cdc2 was consistent with that of its protein in each group,while the mRNA expression of cyclin B1 remained unchanged among each group.These results demonstrated the dosage regimen of TM208 for combination therapy and could serve as evidence for clinical use of TM208 as an antineoplastic drug.

Decreased nitrous oxide emissions associated with functional microbial genes under bio-organic fertilizer application in vegetable fields

Bio-organic fertilizers enriched with plant growth-promoting microbes(PGPMs)have been widely used in crop fields to promote plant growth and maintain soil microbiome functions.However,their potential effects on N_(2)O emissions are of increasing concern.In this study,an in situ measurement experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of organic fertilizer containing Trichoderma guizhouense(a plant growth-promoting fungus)on soil N_(2)O emissions from a greenhouse vegetable field.The following four treatments were used:no fertilizer(control),chemical fertilizer(NPK),organic fertilizer derived from cattle manure(O),and organic fertilizer containing T.guizhouense(O+T,referring to bio-organic fertilizer).The abundances of soil N cycling-related functional genes(amoA)from ammonium-oxidizing bacteria(AOB)and archaea(AOA),as well as nirS,nirK,and nosZ,were simultaneously determined using quantitative PCR(qPCR).Compared to the NPK plot,seasonal total N_(2)O emissions decreased by 11.7%and 18.7%in the O and O+T plots,respectively,which was attributed to lower NH_(4)^(+)-N content and AOB amoA abundance in the O and O+T plots.The nosZ abundance was significantly greater in the O+T plot,whilst the AOB amoA abundance was significantly lower in the O+T plot than in the O plot.Relative to the organic fertilizer,bio-organic fertilizer application tended to decrease N_(2)O emissions by 7.9%and enhanced vegetable yield,resulting in a significant decrease in yield-scaled N_(2)O emissions.Overall,the results of this study suggested that,compared to organic and chemical fertilizers,bio-organic fertilizers containing PGPMs could benefit crop yield and mitigate N_(2)O emissions in vegetable fields.