Effect of L158,809 and Cilazapril on the Expression of TGF-β_1 and Secretion of Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Cultured Human Mesangial Cells

Objective: To explore the effect of L158, 809 (angiatensin Ⅱ receptorMockers, ARBs) and Cilazapril (Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, ACEI) on the expression oftransforming growth factor-β_1 (TGF-β_1) and secretion of fibronectin, laminin and type Ⅳcollagen from the cultured human mesangial cells . Methods: Human mesangial cells were cultured indifferent glucose (5.6 mmol/L and 30 mmol/L) and agents (1, 10, 100 and 500 μmol/L) concentrations. The proliferation of mesangial cells were detected at 24, 48 and 72 h . Then the mesangial cellsare divided into four groups, low glucose (5.6 mmol/L) control group, high glucose (30 mmol/L)control group , L158, 809 (10 μmol/L) group and cilazapril (10 μmol/L) group. Forty- eight hourslater, the expression of TGF-β_1 were detected by RT-PCR. Concentrations of TGF-β_1 ,fibronection, laminin and type Ⅳ collagen in the su-pematants of the, mesangial cells weredetermined by EUSA and radioimmunoassay methods. Results: Compared with low glucose control group,the mesangial cells under high glucose medium show excessive proliferation and more TGF-β_1,fibronectin, laminin and type Ⅳ collagen in the supernatant. The expression of TGF-β_1 mRNA wasalso significantly increased under high glucose. The levels of TGF-β_1 and ECM (extracellularmatrix) proteins in the L158, 809 group and cilazapril group are obviously lower than that of thehigh glucose control group. The expression of TGF-β_1 mRNA was markedly decreased in the L158, 809group and cilazapril group compared with that of high glucose control group . Conclusion: Highglucose stimulated the cultured human mesangial cells to excessively proliferate, express TGF-β_1and secrete ECM proteins, and the high glucose-indeced changes were suppressed by either L158, 809and cilazapril.

Antitumor effects and radiosensitization of cytosine deaminase and thymidine kinase fusion suicide gene on colorectal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the killing effect and radiosensitization of double suicide gene mediated by adenovirus on colorectal carcinoma cells. METHODS: Colorectal carcinoma cell line SW480 was transfected with adenovirus expression vector containing cytosine deaminase (CD) and thymidine kinase (TK) fusion gene. The expression of CD-TK fusion gene was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The toxic effect of ganciclovir (GCV) and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) on infected cells was determined by MTT assay. The radiosensitization of double suicide gene was evaluated by clonogenic assay. RESULTS: After prodrugs were used, the survival rate of colorectal carcinoma cells was markedly decreased. When GCV and 5-FC were used in combination, the cytotoxicity and bystander effect were markedly superior to a single prodrug (X2 = 30.371, P<0.01). Both GCV and 5-FC could sensitize colorectal carcinoma cells to the toxic effect of radiation, and greater radiosensitization was achieved when both prodrug were used in combination. CONCLUSION: CD-TK double suicide gene can kill and radiosensitize colorectal carcinoma cells.

Avidin-biotin system pretargeting radioimmunoimaging and radioimmunotherapy and its application in mouse model of human colon carcinoma

AIM： To evaluate the multi-step pretargeting radioimmunoimaging （RII） and radioimmunotherapy （RTT） in nude mice bearing human colon carcinoma with avidin-biotin system labeled with 153^Sm. METHODS： Two- and three-step strategies for avidinbiotin system pretargeting techniques were established. In a three-step procedure, human colon carcinoma bearing nude mice were first injected with biotinylated monoclonal antibody （McAb-Bt） followed by cold avidin （Av） 48 h later and then 153^Sm-DB2 24 h thereafter; whereas the twostep procedure consisted of injection of 153^Sm-SA 48 h after pretargeting with biotinylated anti-CEA monoclonal antibody （CEA McAb-Bt）. SPECT imaging and biodistribution were performed at 4, 24, 48, or 72 h after injection of 153^Sm-labeled compounds. Five groups of nude mice subcutaneously grafted with human colon carcinoma were treated 3 d after grafting. One group received the injection with 100 μg CEA McAb-Bt followed by cold avidin （80 μg） after 2 d and 11.1 MBCl I53Sm-DB2 after 1 d. Four control groups were treated respectively with 11.1 MBq 153^Sm- CEA McAb, ii.i MBq 153^Sm-nmIgG, ii.i MBq 153^Sm-DB2, 100 μL normal saline. Toxicity was evaluated by changes of leukocyte count, and the efficacy by variation in tumor volume. Histological analyses of tumors were performed. RESULTS： The three-step procedure allowed faster blood clearance and yielded higher tumor blood ratios （5.76 at 4 h and 12.94 at 24 h） of the 153^Sm-DB2. The tumor was clearly visualized at 4 h in y-imaging after the injection of 153^Sm-DB2, while a significant accumulation of 153^Sm-SA in the tumor was observed only 24 h after the injection and tumor blood ratios at 4 and 24 h were 1.00 and 2.03, respectively, in the two-step procedure. Pretargeting RIT and 153^Sm-CEA McAb had a strong tumor-inhibiting effect.The tumor inhibitory rate was 80.67% and 78.44%, respectively, five weeks after therapy. Histopathological evidence also indicated radioactive damage in tumor tissues as necrosis of tumor cells, while in the other organs such as liver and kidney no radioactive damage was observed. Leukocyte counts showed significant decrease after treatment in groups of 153^Sm-CEA McAb and 153^Sm- nmIgG. CONCLUSION： The two kinds of pretargeting strategies can elevate the target-to-nontarget ratio, decrease the blood background and shorten the imaging time compared to 153^Sm-CEA McAb. Three-step pretargeting RIT is as effident as 153^Sm-CEA McAb, but markedly less toxic. This study provides experimental evidence for the clinical application of pretargeting RII and RIT.

Guava extract (Psidium guajava) alters the labelling of blood constituents with technetium-99m

Psidium guajava (guava) leaf is a phytotherapic used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory dis-turbances and is used as anti-inflammatory medicine. In nuclear medicine, blood constituents (BC) are labelled with techne-tium-99m (99mTc) and used to image procedures. However, data have demonstrated that synthetic or natural drugs could modify the labelling of BC with 99mTc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of guava leaves on the labelling of BC with 99mTc. Blood samples of Wistar rats were incubated with different concentrations of guava extract and labelled with 99mTc after the percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) in BC was determined. The results suggest that aqueous guava extract could present antioxidant action and/or alters the membrane structures involved in ion transport into cells, thus decreasing the radiolabelling of BC with 99mTc. The data showed significant (P<0.05) alteration of ATI in BC from blood incubated with guava extract.

Immunoscintigraphy of local recurrent rectal cancer with^(99m)Tc-labeled anti-CEA monoclonal antibody CL58

AIM: To explore a specific diagnostic method for local recurrent rectal cancer.METHODS: Immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (MoAb) CL-58 was performed for patients suspected of having a postoperative local recurrent rectal cancer and the findings were compared with the results of conventional imaging and pathology.RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with a suspected local recurrent rectal cancer underwent immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-conjugated CL58. Local recurrence of rectal cancer was identified in 31 patients and established in 30 during operation, endoscopy and pathological examination. No local recurrence was found in 5 patients without specific accumulation of 99mTc during the follow-up. Immunoscintigraphy had a positive rate of 86.11%, a specificity of 83.33%, and a sensitivity of 100%.CONCLUSION: Immunoscintigraphy has a highly specific and predictive value for detecting local recurrent rectal cancer, especially after abdominal perineal resection (APR).

Site-specific recombination in Escherichia coli mediated by actinomyces phage R4 integrase

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that actinomyces phage R4 integrase Sre protein efficiently mediate site-specific recombination in Escherichia coll. An intramolecular recombination assay system in E. coli was constructed. The plasmid pBZP contains attB and attP sites in direct orientation flanking a lacZ gene. When pBZP was introduced into E. coli cells, in which the plasmid pSREA containing sre gene was resident, Sre protein catalyzed integration of attP into attB site, resulting in excision of the lacZ gene. This integration changed bacteria colonies from blue to white on agar plates containing X-Gal, which showed that the lacZ was removed. The integrant DNAs were identified by enzyme digestion, PCR and DNA sequencing. The minimal sizes of attB and attP were 50 bp and 47 bp for 100% recombination efficiency. The phage recombinase Sre efficiently integrated attP into attB site to create attR and attL in E. coli host environment without Streptomyces specific cofactors. This intrmolecular assay system is a simple and efficient system for Sre-mediated recombination in E. coll.