调强放疗+局部热疗对肝癌病灶内癌细胞凋亡及侵袭的影响

目的:探讨调强放疗+局部热疗对肝癌病灶内癌细胞凋亡及侵袭的影响。方法:选择2015年11月~2017年2月间在本院确诊并接受治疗的中晚期原发性肝癌患者94例,经随机数表法分为对照组、实验组,各47例。对照组患者接受调强放疗,实验组患者接受调强放疗+局部热疗。治疗前后对两组病灶进行腹腔穿刺活检,采用荧光定量PCR法检测标本组织中凋亡、侵袭基因的表达量。结果:治疗前,两组患者病灶组织中凋亡、侵袭基因表达量的差异无统计学意义。治疗后,实验组病灶组织中凋亡基因Fas、caspase-3、Bax、p53mRNA的表达量高于对照组,FasL、Bcl-2 mRNA的表达量低于对照组;实验组病灶组织中侵袭基因Cofilin-1、Bmi-1、STAT3、SOX18 mRNA的表达量低于对照组,Tip30、TP53IP1mRNA的表达量高于对照组。结论:中晚期原发性肝癌患者接受调强放疗+局部热疗,可有效促进癌细胞凋亡并抑制其侵袭活性。

下瘀血汤对肝癌细胞生物活性及Nanog信号通路表达的影响

目的:研究下瘀血汤对肝癌细胞的作用以及对Nanog信号通路的影响。方法:将HepG2细胞分为空白血清组、低剂量含药血清组、中剂量含药血清组;高剂量含药血清组,通过MTT、流式细胞仪、Transwell测肝癌细胞增殖、凋亡及侵袭情况,实时PCR、蛋白质印迹法测Nanog mRNA、Bcl-2、胱天蛋白酶-3水平。结果:空白血清组肝癌细胞的OD值及侵袭数量高于中剂量、高剂量含药血清组(P<0.05),肝癌细胞凋亡率低于低剂量、中剂量、高剂量含药血清组(P<0.05),高剂量含药血清组肝癌细胞OD值及侵袭数量最少、凋亡最高;空白血清组肝癌细胞中Nanog mRNA及Bcl-2蛋白表达高于低剂量、中剂量、高剂量含药血清组(P<0.05),胱天蛋白酶-3的蛋白表达水平低于低剂量、中剂量、高剂量含药血清组(P<0.05),与低剂量、中剂量剂量含药血清组比较,高剂量含药血清组肝癌细胞中Nanog mRNA及Bcl-2蛋白表达明显降低(P<0.05),胱天蛋白酶-3蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.05)。结论:下瘀血汤通可抑制肝癌细胞的活性及其侵袭力、促进癌细胞的凋亡,其作用机制可能调控与Nanog信号通路,从而促进胱天蛋白酶-3的表达、抑制Bcl-2水平有关。

NK4基因重组慢病毒载体的构建及在肝癌细胞中的表达

目的构建共表达人NK4基因和增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因的重组慢病毒载体,转染人高侵袭转移肝癌细胞LM3(HCCLM3),观察其转染效率及表达情况。方法采用DNA重组技术,将NK4基因克隆至带EGFP的慢病毒表达载体pLenti6.3-内部核糖体进入位点序列(IRES)-EGFP中,并用脂质体介导法将慢病毒包装系统和带NK4基因的质粒pLenti6.3-NK4-IRES-EGFP共转染293T细胞,包装慢病毒并测定滴度。以不同感染复数(MOI)的重组慢病毒感染293T细胞,筛选最适MOI,以最适MOI重组慢病毒感染HCCLM3细胞,观察转染效率。Western blot法测定细胞中NK4蛋白表达水平。结果成功构建共表达NK4基因和EGFP基因的慢病毒载体pLenti6.3-NK4-IRES-EGFP,并对其包装、纯化及浓缩后测定病毒滴度为1.08×108 TU/mL。重组慢病毒感染HCCLM3细胞筛选其最适MOI为7。转染后HCCLM3细胞中可见明显的NK4蛋白表达,而未转染细胞中无NK4蛋白的表达。结论成功构建了NK4基因的重组慢病毒载体,有效地转染HCCLM3细胞后可高表达NK4蛋白。

Suppression of Human Liver Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion via the GABA_A Receptor

Objective To investigate the roles of the y-aminobutyric acid （GABA） in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and to explore the potential of a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of HCC. Methods The expression levels of GABA receptor subunit genes in various HCC cell lines and patients＇ tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Transwell cell migration and invasion assays were carried out for functional analysis. The effects of GABA on liver cancer cell cytoskeletal were determined by immunofluorescence staining. And the effects of GABA on HCC metastasis in nude mice were evaluated using an in vivo orthotopic model of liver cancer. Results The mRNA level of GABA receptor subunits varied between the primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and the adjacent non-tumor liver tissue. GABA inhibited human liver cancer cell migration and invasion via the ionotropic GABAA receptor as a result of the induction of liver cancer cell cytoskeletal reorganization. Pretreatment with GABA also significantly reduced intrahepatic liver metastasis and primary tumor formation in vivo. Conclusions These findings introduce a potential and novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer patients based on the modulation of the GABAergic system.

GNAI1 Suppresses Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion and is Post-Transcriptionally Regulated by Mir-320a/c/d in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To explore the role and regulation of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G（i）, a-1 subunit （GNAI1） in hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Methods Expression of GNAI1 in HCC samples was determined by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical （IHC） staining. Huh-7 and SNU-387 cells stably expressing GNAI1 were established by the infection of lentivirus transducing unit containing GNAI1. siRNA against GNAI1 was transfected into SMMC-7721 cells to knock down the GNAI1 expression in HCC cells. Mir-320a/c/d mimics were transfected into SMMC-7721 and SK-Hep-1 cells and the expression of GNAll was determined by Western blot. The migration and invasion of Huh-7, SNU-387, SK-Hep-1 and SMMC-7721 cells were investigated by Transwell assays. Results The GNAI1 protein was significantly downregulated in HCC samples without changes in its mRNA levels. GNAI1 could inhibit the migration and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. Further investigations indicated that GNAI1 was a target of miR-320a/c/d in HCC cells. Transwell assays demonstrated that these microRNAs could promote the migratory ability and invasivesess of HCC cells in vitro. Conclusions GNAII is downregulated in HCC and inhibits the migration and invasion of HCC cells. This study is the first to investigate the role of GNAI1 in cancer. Regulation of GNAI1 by miR-320a/c/d indicates new therapeutic avenues for targeting HCC metastasis.

Axl glycosylation mediates tumor cell proliferation, invasion and lymphatic metastasis in murine hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the effects of Axl deglycosylation on tumor lymphatic metastases in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. METHODS: Western blotting was used to analyze the expression profile of Axl glycoprotein in mouse hepa-tocellular carcinoma cell line Hca-F treated with tunicamycin and PNGase F 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazol(-zyl)-3,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, extracellular matrix (ECM) invasion assay (in vitro ) and tumor metastasis assay (in vivo ) were utilized to evaluate the effect of Axl deglycosylation on the Hca-F cell proliferation, invasion and lymphatic metastasis. RESULTS: Tunicamycin and PNGase F treatment markedly inhibited Axl glycoprotein synthesis and expression, proliferation, invasion, and lymphatic metastasis both in vitro and in vivo . In the MTT assay, proliferation was apparent in untreated Hca-F cells compared with treated Hca-F cells. In the ECM invasion assay (in vitro ), treated cells passed through the ECMatrix gel in significantly smaller numbers than untreated cells (tunicamycin 5 μg/mL: 68 ± 8 vs 80 ± 9, P=0.0222; 10 μg/mL: 50 ± 6vs 80 ± 9,P=0.0003; 20 μg/mL: 41 ± 4 vs 80 ± 9, P=0.0001); (PNGase F 8 h: 66 ± 7 vs 82 ± 8, P=0.0098; 16 h: 49 ± 4 vs 82 ± 8, P=0.0001; 24 h: 34 ± 3 vs 82 ± 8, P=0.0001). In the tumor metastasis assay (in vivo ), average lymph node weights of the untreated Hca-F group compared with treated Hca-F groups (tunicamycin 5 μg/mL: 0.84 ± 0.21 g vs 0.72 ± 0.19 g, P=0.3237; 10 μg/mL: 0.84 ± 0.21 g vs 0.54 ± 0.11 g, P=0.0113; 20 μg/mL: 0.84 ± 0.21 g vs 0.42 ± 0.06 g, P=0.0008); (PNGase F 8 h: 0.79 ± 0.15 g vs 0.63 ± 0.13 g, P=0.0766; 16 h: 0.79 ± 0.15 g vs 0.49 ± 0.10 g, P=0.0022; 24 h: 0.79 ± 0.15 g vs 0.39 ± 0.05 g, P=0.0001). Also, average lymph node volumes of the untreated Hca-F group compared with treated Hca-F groups (tunicamycin 5 μg/mL: 815 ± 61 mm 3 vs 680 ± 59 mm 3 , P=0.0613; 10 μg/mL: 815 ± 61 mm 3 vs 580 ± 29 mm 3 , P=0.0001; 20 μg/mL: 815 ± 61 mm 3 vs 395 ± 12 mm 3 , P=0.0001); (PNGase F 8 h: 670 ± 56 mm 3 vs 581 ± 48 mm 3 , P=0.0532; 16 h: 670 ± 56 mm 3 vs 412 ± 22 mm 3 , P=0.0001; 24 h: 670 ± 56 mm 3 vs 323 ± 11 mm 3 , P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Alteration of Axl glycosylation can at-tenuate neoplastic lymphatic metastasis. Axl N-glycans may be a universal target for chemotherapy.

Expression of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2 is Negatively Associated with Invasive Potential in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Objective To investigate the association between plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI)-2 expression and invasive potential in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells.Methods The HCC cell lines with high,low,and non-metastatic potentials,namely MHCC97-H,MHCC97-L,and SMMC-7721 respectively,were cultured in vitro.Matrigel invasion assay and Western blot of PAI-2 protein expression were conducted.Results The number of invaded cells in MHCC97-L was significantly higher than that in SMMC-7721(P=0.005),whereas that in MHCC97-H was higher than in MHCC97-L(P=0.017) and SMMC-7721(P=0.001).Contrarily,PAI-2 protein expression was gradually reducing from SMMC-7721,MHCC97-L,to MHCC97-H(MHCC97-H vs.MHCC97-L,P<0.001;MHCC97-H vs.SMMC-7721,P=0.001;MHCC97-L vs.SMMC-7721,P=0.001).The Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between invaded cell number and PAI-2 expression(r= 0.892,P=0.001).Conclusion PAI-2 expression may be negatively associated with the invasive potential of HCC.

Octreotide inhibits proliferation and invasion of MHCC97-H cells in vitro and in vivo

Objective: To figure out the effect of somatostatin analogue Octreotide on proliferation and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell MHCC97-H and the underlying mechanism in vitro and in vivo. Methods: MHCC97-H cells were treated with Octreotide at the concentration of 0.2 ug/mL in vitro, proliferation related to time was evaluated. After treated with Octreotide at the concentration of 0.2 ug/mL for 48 h, MHCC97-H cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay after MHCC97-H cells were treated with Octreotide at different concentrations including 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ug/mL for 36 h in vitro. 27 nude mice, in which MHCC97-H tumor mass was planted orthotopically, were divided into 3 groups randomly including control group (intraperitoneal injection with equal volume normal saline; n=8), low dose treated group (intraperitoneal injection with Octreotide at 50 ug/kg?d; n=9) and large dose treated group (intraperitoneal injection with Octreotide at 200 ug/kg?d; n=10). All mice were raised for 35 d and sacrificed. The information about survival time, the weight at death point and the pathology change of liver and lung was collected. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) in mouse HCC tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry finally. Results: MTT assays showed that Octreotide inhibited the proliferation of MHCC97-H cells significantly. Apoptosis cells were found by transmission electron microscope after treatment with Octreotide at 0.2 ug/mL for 48 h in vitro. The proliferation was inhibited significantly by Octreotide in a dose-dependant manner (r=0.86, P<0.01). Compared with control group, the treated group had the heavier weight at death point and lower intrahepatic metastasis ratio (P<0.05), meanwhile, there was not significant difference in treated groups (P>0.05). The positive expression ratios of VEGF and MMP-2 in treated groups were lower than those in control group (P<0.05), while there was no apparent difference in treated groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Octreotide could inhibit the proliferation of MHCC97-H cells in vitro via inducing apoptosis and the inhibitory function acts in a dose-dependant manner. Octreotide could improve survival of mice with MHCC97-H cells and inhibit the metastasis of MHCC97-H cells in vivo. Regulation of VEGF and MMP-2 expression by Octreotide would be involved in its inhibition in vivo.