Alterations in metastatic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cell following H-ras oncogene transfection

AIM: To demonstrate the relationship between H-ras oncogene and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. METHODS: Activated H-ras oncogene was transfected into SMMC 7721, a cell line derived from human HCC, by calcium phosphate transfection method. Some metastasis-related parameters were detected in vitro, including adhesion assay, migration assay, expression of collagenase IV(c IV ase) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). RESULTS: The abilities of H-ras-transfected cell clones in adhesion to laminin (LN) or fibronectin (FN), migration, c IV ase secretion increased markedly, and the expression of EGFR elevated moderately. More importantly, these alterations were consistent positively with the expression of p21, the protein product of H-ras oncogene. CONCLUSION: H-ras oncogene could induce the metastatic phenotype of HCC cell in vitro to raise its metastatic potential.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in normal mucosa,adenoma and adenocarcinoma of colon by SSH

AIM: To construct subtracted cDNA libraries and further identify differentially expressed genes that are related to the development of colorectal carcinoma(CRC). METHODS: Suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH) was done on cDNAs of normal mucosa, adenoma and adenocarcinoma tissues from the same patient. Three subtracted cDNA libraries were constructed and then hybridized with forward and backward subtracted probes for differential screening. Positive clones from each subtracted cDNA library were selected for sequencing and BLAST analysis. Finally, virtual Northern Blot confirmed such differential expression. RESULTS: By this way, there were about 3-4 X 10(2) clones identified in each subtracted cDNA library, in which about 85% positive clones were differentially screened. Sequencing and BLAST homology search revealed some clones containing sequences of known gene fragments and several possibly novel genes showing few or no sequence homologies with any known sequences in the database. CONCLUSION: All results confirmed the effectiveness and sensitivity of SSH. The differentially expressed genes during the development of CRC can be used to shed light on the pathogenesis of CRC and be useful genetic markers for early diagnosis and therapy.

Cloning of differentially expressed genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma and nontumor liver

INTRODUCTIONThe mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is still unclear,although some genes have been found to play a role in the transformation of liver cells,and a variety of studies have described differences in gene expression which distinguished tumor from nontumor[1-6].The new genes,especially the functional genes directly related with tumor are still worth being found.The purpose of our study is to find the different genes between human liver tumor and normal tissues using suppression subtractive hybridization.

Differential expression of a novel colorectal cancer differentiation-related gene in colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate SBA2 expression in CRC cell lines and surgical specimens of CRC and autologous healthy mucosa. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for relative quantification of SBA2 mRNA levels in 4 human CRC cell lines with different grades of differentiation and 30 clinical samples. Normalization of the results was achieved by simultaneous amplification of beta-actin as an internal control. RESULTS: In the exponential range of amplification, fairly good linearity demonstrated identical amplification efficiency for SBA2 and beta-actin (82%). Markedly lower levels of SBA2 mRNA were detectable in tumors, as compared with the coupled normal counterparts P【0.01). SBA2 expression was significantly (0.01】P 【 0.05) correlated with the grade of differentiation in CRC, with relatively higher levels in well-differentiated samples and lower in poorly-differentiated cases. Of the 9 cases with lymph nodes affected, 78% (7/9) had reduced SBA2 mRNA expression in contrast to 24% (5/21) in non-metastasis samples 0.01】P【0.05). CONCLUSION: SBA2 gene might be a promising novel biomarker of cell differentiation in colorectal cancer and its biological features need further studies.

Methylation status of c-fms oncogene in HCC and its relationship with clinical pathology

INTRODUCTIONThe mechanism that DNA hypomethylation leads toactivation of oncogene and occurrence of malignantneoplasm is being increasingly recognized byresearchers. Normal DNA methylation playsimportant role in stabilizing the phenotype of cell.DNA methylation status reduction and/or patternalteration are related to activation and abnormallyhigh expression of some oncogenes and cellularmalignancy[1-6]. c-fms oncogene encodes for colonystimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R)[7], c-fms/CSF-1R was highly expressed in hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) tissue, but the mechanismremained obscure[8,9].

Effect of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on the P16 tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2

INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the mostcommon human malignancies worldwide[1,2], and isclosely associated with infection of HBV and HCVand contamination of aflatoxin B1[3-6]. Althoughthe molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesisremain poorly understood, an increasing number ofgenetic abnormalities have been recognized[7-10],for example, the p16 gene[11,12] the p53gene[13-18], the E-cadherin gene[19], and the c-mycgene[20].

Differentially expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma induced by woodchuck hepatitis B virus in mice

INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the major causes of death in the word.The mechanism of carcinogenesis is unknown,although it is widely accepted that HBV and HCV are clsely related to liver cancer[1-5[1-5].Previously,a variety of studies have described the differences in gene expression which distinguished tumor from nontumor[6-11].Cloning of the genes,especially the genes associated with HBV and HCV,is still very important to account for the development of liver cancer.

Applying a highly specific and reproducible cDNA RDA method to clone garlic up-regulated genes in human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To develop and optimize cDNA representational difference analysis (cDNA RDA) method and to identify and clone garlic up-regulated genes in human gastric cancer (HGC) cells. METHODS: We performed cDNA RDA method by using abundant double-stranded cDNA messages provided by two self-constructed cDNA libraries (Allitridi-treated and paternal HGC cell line BGC823 cells cDNA libraries respectively). Bam H I and Xho I restriction sites harbored in the library vector were used to select representations. Northern and Slot blots analyses were employed to identify the obtained difference products. RESULTS: Fragments released from the cDNA library vector after restriction endonuclease digestion acted as good marker indicating the appropriate digestion degree for library DNA. Two novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and a recombinant gene were obtained. Slot blots result showed a 8-fold increase of glia-derived nexin/protease nexin 1 (GDN/PN1) gene expression level and 4-fold increase of hepatitis B virus x-interacting protein (XIP) mRNA level in BGC823 cells after Allitridi treatment for 72h. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of GDN/PN1 and XIP mRNAs induced by Allitridi provide valuable molecular evidence for elucidating the garlic's efficacies against neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Isolation of a recombinant gene and two novel ESTs further show cDNA RDA based on cDNA libraries to be a powerful method with high specificity and reproducibility in cloning differentially expressed genes.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in human uterine leiomyomas using differential display

In searching of differentially expressed genes in human uterine leiomyomas, differential display was used with twelve pairs of primers to compare human uterine leiomyomas with matched myometrium. False positives were eliminated by reverse Northern analysis. Positives were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Four of 69 cDNA fragments (3 up-regulated named L1, L2 and L3 and 1 down-regulated named M1 in leiomyoma) were confirmed by Northern analysis. Sequence comparison and Northern analysis proved that L1 is exactly the human ribosomal protein S19. It was present ubiquitously in 13 tissues tested but in various levels and even in different size. L1 was highly expressed in parotidean cystadenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer examined. No mutations have been found in human uterine leiomyomas (n=6). CONCLUSIONS: hRPS19 overexpression might be a universal signal in rapid cell growth tissues.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its role in oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma

AIM: To establish the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma more directly. METHODS: The expression of VEGF and its receptor kinase-domain insert containing receptor (KDR) in human gastric cancer tissue were observed by immunohistochemical staining. VEGF levels were manipulated in human gastric cancer cell using eukaryotic expression constructs designed to express the complete VEGF(165) complimentary DNA in either the sense or antisense orientation. The biological changes of the cells were observed in which VEGF was up-regulated or down-regulated. RESULTS: VEGF-positive rate was 50%, and VEGF was mainly localized in the cytoplasm and membrane of the tumor cells, while KDR was mainly located in the membrane of vascular endothelial cells in gastric cancer tissues and peri-cancerous tissue. In 2 cases of 50 specimens, the gastric cancer cells expressed KDR, localized in both the cytoplasm and membrane. Introduction of VEGF(165) antisense into human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, immunofluorescence intensity, 31.6%)) resulted in a significant reduction in VEGF-specific messenger RNA and total and cell surface VEGF protein (immunofluorescence intensity, 8.9%) (P【0.05). Conversely, stable integration of VEGF(165) in the sense orientation resulted in an increase in cellular and cell surface VEGF (immunofluorescence intensity, 75.4%) (P【0.05). Lowered VEGF levels were associated with a marked decrease in the growth of nude mouse xenografted tumor (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 345.40 +/- 136.31 mm3)(P【0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group: 1534.40 +/- 362.88 mm3), whereas up-regulation of VEGF resulted in increased xenografted tumor size (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 2350.50 +/- 637.70 mm3) (P【0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group). CONCLUSION: This study provides direct evidence that VEGF plays an important role in the oncogenesis of human gastric cancer.

DNA ploidy and c-Kitmutation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

AIM: To investigate the prognostic significance of c-Kitgen emutation and DNA ploidy in gastointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).METHODS: A total of 55 cases of GISTs were studied for the expression of c-Kit by immunohistochemistry, and the c-Kit gene mutations in exons 9, 11, 13, and 17 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand confirmation polymarphism (PCR-SSCP) and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (D-HPLC) techniques. DNA ploidy was determined by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Of the 55 cases of GISTs, 53 cases (96.4%) expressed c-Kit protein. The c-Kit gene mutations of exons 11 and 9 were found in 30 (54.5%) and 7 cases (12.7%),respectively. No mutations were found in exons 13 and 17.DNA aneuploidy was seen in 10 cases (18.2%). The c-Kit mutation positive GISTs were larger in size than the negative GISTs. The aneuploidy tumors were statistically associated with large size, high mitotic counts, high risk groups, high cellularity and severe nuclear atypia, and epithelioid type.There was a tendency that c-Kit mutations were more frequently found in aneuploidy GISTs.CONCLUSION: DNA aneuploidy and c-Kit mutations can be considered as prognostic factors in GISTs.

Relationship between Fas/ FasL expression and apoptosis of colon adenocarcinoma cell lines

INTRODUCTIONFas/ FasL system has been identified as a keymediator of apoptosis in tumor cells[1-4]. Theoccurrence and development of neoplasm are closelyrelated to apoptosis[5-7] Most chemotherapeuticdrugs kill cancer cells mainly by inducingapoptosis[8-14].'

Killing effect of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand regulated by tetracycline on gastric cancer cell line NCI-N87

AIM: To clone the cDNA fragment of human TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand) into a tetracycline-regulated gene expression system, the RevTet-On system, transduce expression vectors into a gastric carcinoma cell line-NCI-N87 and examine the effects of controlled expression of TRAIL in vitro on the gastric carcinoma cells. METHODS: The full-length cDNA of TRAIL was inserted into a vector under the control of the tetracycline-responsive element (TRE) to obtain the plasmid pRevTRE-TRAIL, which was transfected into a packaging cell line PT67. In addition, vector pRev-Tet On and pRevTRE were also transfected into PT67 separately. After hygromycin and G418 selection, the viral titer was determined. The medium containing retroviral vectors was collected and used to transduce a gastric carcinoma cell line NCI-N87. The resulting cell line NCI-N87-Tet On TRE-TRAIL and a control cell line, NCI-N87 Tet On-TRE, were established. TRAIL expression in the cell line was induced by incubating cells with doxycycline (Dox), which is a tetracycline analogue. The killing effect on gastric carcinoma cells was analyzed after induction. RESULTS: The recombinant plasmid pRev-TRE-TRAIL was constructed. After hygromycin or G418 selection, the producer cell lines PT67-TRE, PT67-TRE-TRAIL and PT67-Tet On were obtained,with titers of about 10(8)CFU.L(-1). By transducing NCI-N87 cells with retroviral vectors from these cell lines, stable cell lines NCI-N87-Tet-On TRE-TRAIL (NN3T) and control cell line NCI-N87-Tet-On-TRE (NN2T) were established. The growth curves of the selected cell lines were the same with the wild type NCI-N87. When Dox was added, cell death was obvious in the test groups (29%-77%), whereas no difference was observed in control and wild type cell lines. With the addition of a medium from the test group, human leukemia cell line Jurkat was activated till death (83%), indicating the secretion of active TRAIL proteins from the test cells to the medium. CONCLUSION: With the use of the RevTet-On system, a regulated expression system for TRAIL was constructed. Using this system, the selected killing effect of TRAIL on gastric carcinoma cell line NCI-N87 could be observed.

Experimental and clinic-opathologic study on the relationship between transcription factor Egr-1 and esophageal carcinoma

AIM: To observe the growth suppression effect of exogenous introduction of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1 gene) on esophageal carcinoma tissue as well as on esophageal carcinoma cell line Eca109 and to explore the potential application of Egr-1 gene in gene therapy of tumor. METHODS: Eukaryotic expression vector of PCMV-Egr-1 plasmid was introduced into Eca109 cell line which expressed no Egr-1 protein originally with lipofectamine transfection method. The introduction and expression of PCMV-Egr-1 plasmid into Eca109 cell line was confirmed by G418 selection culture, PCR amplification of neogene contained in the vector, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical analysis. The cell growth curve, soft agar colony formation rate and tumorigenicity in SCID mice were examined to demonstrate the growth suppression effect of exogenous Egr-1 gene on Eca109 cell line. The Egr-1 mRNA and Egr-1 protein were also detected in 50 surgical specimens of esophageal carcinoma by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Exogenous Egr-1 gene was introduced successfully into Eca109 cell line and expressed Egr-1 protein stably. The transfected Eca109 cell line grew more slowly than control Eca109 as shown by cell growth curves, the soft agar colony formation rate (4.0% vs 6.9%, P 【 0.01) and the average growth rate of tumor in SCID mice (35.5 +/- 7.6 vs 65.8 +/- 7.6, P 【 0.05). The expression level of Egr-1 mRNA and protein significantly increased in dysplastic epithelia adjacent to cancer rather than in cancer tissues (65.8% vs 20.0% by ISH and 57.9% vs 0.01). CONCLUSION: Exogenous Egr-1 gene shows the strong effect of growth inhibition in Eca109 cell line. Egr-1 in the cancer tissue shows down-regulated expression that supports the inhibited function of Egr-1 in cancer growth and suggests Egr-1 may have an important role in gene therapy of esophageal carcinoma.

The effect of adenovirus expressing wild-type p53 on 5-fluorouracil chemosensitivity is related to p53 status in pancreatic cancer cell lines

AIM:There are conflicting data about p53 function on cellular sensitivity to the cytotoxic action of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of adenovirus-mediated wild-type (wt) p53 gene transfer and 5-FU chemotherapy on pancreatic cancer cells with different p53 gene status. METHODS:Human pancreatic cancer cell lines Capan-1^(p53mut), Capan-2^(p53wt),FAMPAC^(p53mut),PANC1^(p53mut),and rat pancreatic cancer cell lines AS^(p53wt) and DSL6A^(p53null) were used for in vitro studies.Following infection with different ratios of Ad- p53-particles (MOI) in combination with 5-FU,proliferation of tumor cells and apoptosis were quantified by cell proliferation assay (WST-1) and FACS (PI-staining).In addition,DSL6A syngeneic pancreatic tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously in to Lewis rats for in vivo studies. Tumor size,apoptosis (TUNEL) and survival were determined. RESULTS:Ad-p53 gene transfer combined with 5-FU significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation and substantially enhanced apoptosis in all four cell lines with an alteration in the p53 gene compared to those two cell lines containing wt-p53.In vivo experiments showed the most effective tumor regression in animals treated with Ad-p53 plus 5-FU.Both in vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that a sublethal dose of Ad-p53 augmented the apoptotic response induced by 5-FU. CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that Ad-p53 may synergistically enhance 5-FU-chemosensitivity most strikingly in pancreatic cancer cells lacking p53 function.These findings illustrate that the anticancer efficacy of this combination treatment is dependent on the p53 gene status of the target tumor cells.

Adenovirus-mediated expression of pig α(1,3) galactosyltransferase reconstructs Gal α(1,3) Gal epitope on the surface of human tumor cells

Gal alpha(1, 3) Gal (gal epitope) is a carbohydrate epitope and synthesized in large amount by alpha(1, 3) galactosyltransferase [alpha(1, 3) GT] enzyme on the cells of lower mammalian animals such as pigs and mice. Human has no gal epitope due to the inactivation of alpha(1, 3) GT gene but produces a large amount of antibodies (anti-Gal) which recognize Gal alpha(1, 3) Gal structures specifically. In this study, a replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector Ad5sGT containing pig alpha(1, 3) GT cDNA was constructed and characterized. Adenoviral vector-mediated transfer of pig alpha(1, 3) GT gene into human tumor cells such as malignant melanoma A375, stomach cancer SGC-7901, and lung cancer SPC-A-1 was reported for the first time. Results showed that Gal epitope did not increase the sensitivity of human tumor cells to human complement-mediated lysis, although human complement activation and the binding of human IgG and IgM natural antibodies to human tumor cells were enhanced significantly after Ad5sGT transduction. Appearance of gal epitope on the human tumor cells changed the expression of cell surface carbohydrates reacting with Ulex europaeus I (UEA I) lectins, Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA), Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA), and Glycine max agglutinin (SBA) to different degrees. In addition, no effect of gal epitope on the growth in vitro of human tumor cells was observed in MTT assay.

Blockage of IGF-1R signaling sensitizes urinary bladder cancer cells to mitomycin-mediated cytotoxicity

A major problem which is poorly understood in the management of bladder cancer is low sensitivity to chemotherapy and high recurrence after transurethral resection. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling plays a very important role in progression, invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer cells. In this study, we investigated whether IGF-1R was involved in the growth stimulating activity and drug resistance of bladder cancer cells. The results showed: The mRNAs of IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGF-1R were strongly expressed in serum-free cultured T24 cell line, whereas normal urothelial cells did not express these factors/receptors or only in trace levels; T24 cell responded far better to growth stimulation by IGF-1 than did normal urothelial cells; blockage of IGF1R by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) significantly inhibited the growth of T24 cell and enhanced sensitivity and apoptosis of T24 cells to mitomycin (MMC). These results suggested that blockage of IGF-IR signaling might potentially contribute to the treatment of bladder cancer cells which are insensitive to chemotherapy.

Altered expression of nuclear matrix proteins in etoposide induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells

The events of cell death and the expression of nuclear matrix protein (NMP) have been investigated in a promyelocytic leukemic cell line HL-60 induced with etoposide. By means of TUNEL assay, the nuclei displayed a characteristic morphology change, and the amount of apoptotic cells increased early and reached maximun about 39% after treatment with etoposide for 2 h. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was observed after treatment for 4 h. The morphological change of HL-60 cells, thus, occurred earlier than the appearance of DNA ladder. Total nuclear matrix proteins were analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differential expression of 59 nuclear matrix proteins was found in 4 h etoposide treated cells. Western blotting was then performed on three nuclear matrix acssociated proteins, PML, HSC70 and NuMA. The expression of the suppressor PML protein and heat shock protein HSC70 were significantly upregulated after etoposide treatment, while NuMA, a nuclear mitotic apparatus protein, was down regulated. These results demonstrate that significant biochemical alterations in nuclear matrix proteins take place during the apoptotic process.

Renal cell carcinoma related novel gene, GYLZ-RCC18: cloning and functional studies

OBJECTIVE: To clone the full length of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) related novel gene GYLZ-RCC18 and study its function. METHODS: SMART RACE technology was used to clone the full length of GYLZ-RCC18. RT-PCR was used to detect its expression in renal cell carcinoma tissue at different stages and grades. We transfected the antisense oligonucleotide of GYLZ-RCC18 to renal cell carcinoma cell line, GRC-1, and analyzed proliferation activity, growth rate, apoptosis, and mortality changes. RESULTS: The full length of GYLZ-RCC18 (GenBank accession number: BE825133) cDNA was about 3.5 kb. GYLZ-RCC18 had a higher expression in higher grades and stages of renal cell carcinoma than in lower ones. The expression of GYLZ-RCC18 in renal cell carcinoma was much higher than in normal kidney. After the transfection of GYLZ-RCC18 antisense oligonucleotide, the mortality of GRC-1 increased significantly, while proliferative activity and growth rate were substantially inhibited at the same time. The antisense oligonucleotide induced apoptosis of GRC-1 through the entire observation time. CONCLUSION: GYLZ-RCC18 is an important novel gene related to renal cell carcinoma. Overexpression of this gene results in higher growth and proliferative activity and has an antiapoptosis effect on renal cell carcinoma cells. Transfection of the antisense oligonucleotide may inhibit the generation and development of renal cell carcinoma.

Expression of cyclin genes in human gastric cancer and in first degree relatives

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of these cyclins in human gastric cancer. METHODS: 38 gastric cancer patients, 29 first degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, as well as 18 healthy subjects were included. The mRNA expression of cyclins D1, D2, D3 and E in gastric biopsies was evaluated by RT-PCR analysis using specific primers. Histomorphological features such as intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, H. pylori infection and severity of gastritis were determined by the updated Sydney System. RESULTS: Significant mRNA overexpression was found for cyclins D2, D3 and E compared with healthy normal specimen, but cyclin D1 expression was not different between tumor and normal tissues. In addition, cyclin D2 and D3 overexpression was significantly more frequent in first degree relatives than in healthy controls (P