Transfection of the Human Sodium/Iodide Symporter(NIS) Gene with Liposomes and the Expression of the NIS Protein in Human Lung A549 Cancer Cells

OBJECTIVE To examine the possibility of human sodium iodide symporter （hNIS） protein expression in lung cancer cells. METHODS Human lung A549 cancer cells were thawed and cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into an experimental group transfected with a recombinant pcDNA3-hNIS plasmid and a control group transfected only with a pcDNA3 plasmid. The recombinant plasmid vector encoding the hNIS gene （pcDNA3-hNIS） was amplified, purified and identified. The hNIS gene was followed by DNA sequencing. A Western blot and an immunohistochemical assay were applied to detect the hNIS protein expression in the transfected human lung A549 cancer cells. RESULTS Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing results showed the size and direction of the inserted gene in the recombinant pcD- NA3-hNIS plasmid was correct. The Western blot method and immunohistochemical analysis showed a positive NIS protein expression in the experimental group. The NIS protein was detected mainly in the cell membranes showing a positive rate up to 70.6% with no expression of the NIS protein in the control group. There was a significant difference between two groups （P=0.000）. CONCLUSION The hNIS gene was transfected effectively into human lung A549 cancer cells mediated by Lipofectamine 2000, and was expressed with its protein in vitro.

Radiofrequency induction on sodium/iodide symporter expression of thyroid cancer

Objective; The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of radiofrequency treatment on sodium/iodide symporter expression of thyroid cancer ceils. Methods： In 29 thyroid cancer patients with low or no expression of soda ／ iodide symporter, the radio frequency combined 1311 therapy was used, the whole-body scintigraphy and serum Ig were detected before and after the radiofrequency treatment. Results： The whole-body scintigraphy showed that 4 cases （4/29） before radiofrequenc_y treatment had positive iodine uptake, 19 cases （19/29） two weeks after radiofrequency treatment had the positive iodine uptake, 12 cases （12/29） four weeks after radiofrequency treatment had the positive iodine uptake. Four weeks after radiofrequency treatment, 5 cases had increased serum Ig levels, 17 cases had decreased serum Ig levels, 7 cases showed no change. 25 cases （25/29） were effective, 15 cases （15/29） were cured. Conclusion： The radiofrequency induced the non-expressed the sodium/iodide symporter of thyroid cancer cells regain the iodine intake ability, it improved the clinical efficacy of 131I therapy in dedifferentiated thyroid cancer.

Correlation analysis between serum β2-MG and sodium/iodide symporter in patients with thyroid carcinoma

Objective： The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between the expression of sodium/iodide symporter, serum levels of β2-MG and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma patients. Methods： Ninty-five cases with thyroid carcinoma, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with double-antibody sandwich to detect the serum β2-MG levels and immunehistochemistry to detect NIS expression of thyroid cancer tissue. Results： Thirty-seven cases showed positive expression of sodium/iodide symporter （38.9%） and 30 cases showed positive expression of β2-MG （31.57%）. There were significant differences of NIS expression （X2 = 8.207, P = 0.017） and β2-MG expression （X2 = 10.121, P = 0.006） between different pathological types of thyroid carcinoma, but there was no correlation between the positive rate of the two research groups （r = -0.546, P = 0.633）. The significant differences was observed in expression of sodium/iodide symporter （X2 = 9.272, P=0.002） and expression of β2-MG （X2 = 4.441, P = 0.035） between the group with neck lymph node metastasis and the group without neck lymph node metastasis and both positive rate was significantly negatively correlated （r = -1.000, P = 0.000）. The significant differences was observed in expression of sodium/iodide symporter （X2 = 9.272, P = 0.002） and expression of β2-MG （X2 = 3.867, P = 0.043） between the group with distant organ metastasis and the group without distant organ metastasis （X2 = 11.985, P = 0.001） and both positive rate was significantly negatively correlated （r = -1.000, P = 0.000）. Conclusion： There are significantly negatively correlated between neck lymph node metastasis, distant organ metastasis and expression of sodium/iodide symporter and expression of β2-MG. Thyroid cancer lymph node and distant organ metastasis, the tumor tissue NIS expression and serum levels of β2-MG is significantly negatively correlated. The detection of serum β2-MG provides clinical reference value for the effects on radionuclide therapy and prognosis assessment of thyroid carcinoma. Serum β2-MG levels is negatively correlated with prognosis in thyroid cancer patients.

Baculovirus vector-mediated transfer of NIS gene into colon tumor cells for radionuclide therapy

AIM:To investigate the feasibility of radionuclide therapy of colon tumor cells by baculovirus vector-mediated transfer of the sodium/iodide symporter(NIS) gene.METHODS:A recombinant baculovirus plasmid carrying the NIS gene was constructed,and the viruses(BacNIS) were prepared using the Bac-to-Bac system.The infection efficiency in the colon cancer cell line SW1116 of a green fluorescent protein(GFP) expressing baculovirus(Bac-GFP) at different multiplicities of infection(MOI) with various concentrations of sodium butyrate was determined by flow cytometry.An in vitro cytotoxicity assay was also conducted after infection of SW1116 cells with Bac-NIS.Iodine uptake of Bac-NIS infected SW1116 cells and inhibition of this uptake by sodium perchlorate was examined,and the effect of Bac-NISmediated 131 I in killing tumor cells was evaluated by cell colony formation tests.RESULTS:Infection and transgene expression in SW1116with Bac-GFP were significantly enhanced by sodium butyrate,as up to 72% of SW1116 cells were infected with the virus at MOI of 400 and sodium butyrate at 0.5 mmol/L.No obvious cytotoxicity was observed under these conditions.Infection of SW1116 with Bac-NIS allowed uptake of 131 I in these tumor cells,which could be inhibited by sodium perchlorate.The viability of SW1116 cells infected with Bac-NIS was significantly lower than with Bac-GFP,suggesting that NIS gene-mediated 131 I uptake could specifically kill tumor cells.CONCLUSION:Baculovirus vector-mediated NIS gene therapy is a potential approach for treatment of colon cancer.

Primary lung cancer with radioiodine avidity: A thyroid cancer cohort study

BACKGROUND A proportion of lung cancers show sodium/iodide symporter(NIS)expression.Lung cancers with NIS expression may uptake radioiodine(RAI)and show RAIavid lesions on RAI scan for differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC)surveillance.AIM To investigate the possibility of RAI uptake by lung cancer in a cohort with thyroid cancer.METHODS RAI-avid lung cancers were analyzed using a prospectively maintained database of patients with thyroid cancer who were registered at a medical center between December 1,1976 and May 28,2018.NIS expression in lung cancer was assessed using immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS Of the 5000 patients with thyroid cancer from the studied dataset,4602 had DTC.During follow-up,33 patients developed primary lung cancer.Of these patients,nine received an iodine-131(131I)scan within 1 year before the diagnosis of lung cancer.One of these nine lung cancers was RAI-avid.NIS expression was evaluated,and three of the eight available lung cancers revealed NIS expression.The proportions of lung cancer cells with NIS expression were 60%,15%,and 10%.The RAI-avid lung cancer had the highest level of expression(60%).The RAI-avid lung cancer had a spiculated border upon single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography,which led to an accurate diagnosis.CONCLUSION A proportion of lung cancer demonstrates NIS expression and is RAI-avid.Clinicians should be aware of this possibility in the interpretation of RAI scintigraphy.

The effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone,estradiol and prolactin on sodium/iodide symporter mRNA expression in mouse lactating mammary gland cells under different iodine levels

Objective The present study investigated the sodium/iodide symporter mRNA expression in mouse lactating mammary gland cells under different iodine levels and the effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH),estradiol(E2)and prolactin(PRL)on NIS mRNA expression in mouse lactating mammary gland cells.

NES1/KLK10 and hNIS gene therapy enhanced iodine-131 internal radiation in PC3 proliferation inhibition

NES1 gene is thought to be a tumor-suppressor gene.Our previous study found that overexpression of NES1 gene in PC3 cell line could slow down the tumor proliferation rate,associated with a mild decrease in BCL-2 expression.The BCL-2 decrease could increase the sensitivity of radiotherapy to tumors.Thus,we supposed to have an“enhanced firepower”effect by combining overexpressed NES1 gene therapy and 131I radiation therapy uptake by overexpressed hNIS protein.We found a weak endogenous expression of hNIS protein in PC3 cells and demonstrated that the low expression of hNIS protein in PC3 cells might be the reason for the low iodine uptake.By overexpressing hNIS in PC3,the radioactive iodine uptake ability was significantly increased.Results of in vitro and in vivo tumor proliferation experiments and 18F-fluorothymidine(18F-FLT)micro-positron emission tomography/computed tomography(micro-PET/CT)imaging showed that the combined NES1 gene therapy and 131I radiation therapy mediated by overexpressed hNIS protein had the best tumor proliferative inhibition effect.Immunohistochemistry showed an obvious decrease of Ki-67 expression and the lowest BCL-2 expression.These data suggest that via inhibition of BCL-2 expression,overexpressed NES1 might enhance the effect of radiation therapy of 131I uptake in hNIS overexpressed PC3 cells.