用流式细胞计检测表皮生长因子对肝细胞DNA合成的刺激作用

用流式细胞术和单克隆抗溴脱氧脲嘧啶抗体标记 DNA 技术检测了表皮生长因子、胰高血糖素和胰岛素对大鼠初代培养肝细胞 DNA 合成的刺激作用。结果表明表皮生长因子对肝细胞DNA 合成具有明显的增强作用,并且这种作用可以被胰岛素进一步加强。当表皮生长因子、胰岛素和胰高血糖素三者联合使用时,肝细胞 DNA 合成显著增强。提示表皮生长因子,特别是它与胰岛素和胰高血糖素联合使用可以明显刺激肝细胞的再生。

Effects of epidermal growth factor on the growth of human gastric cancer cell and the implanted tumor of nude mice

AIM: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in the regulation of gastrointestinal tissue growth and development, and it can stimulate epithelial proliferation, cell differentiation and growth. It has been established that the EGF can promote gastric cytoprotection and ulcer healing. But the potential ability of EGF to regulate the gastric cancer growth is unknown. This study is to investigate the influence of EGF on human gastric cancer cell and the implanted tumor growth of nude mice. METHODS: The cell growth rates of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines MKN-28, MKN-45, SGC-7901 and normal human gastric epithelial cells 3T3 were assessed when incubated with recombinant human EGF (rhEGF, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 10, 50, 100 mg.L(-1)) using MTT method. The cells of MKN-28, MKN-45, SGC-7901 (gastric cancer tissue 1.5mm(3)) were implanted in the BALB/cA nude mice for 10 days.The EGF was given intraperitoneally (15, 30, 60 microg.kg(-1)) for 3 weeks. The body weights of the tumor-bearing animals and their tumor mass were measured afterwards to assess the mitogenic effect of rhEGF in the nude mice. RESULTS: Within the concentration range of 0.05-100mg.L(-1), rhEGF could increase the cell growth of normal 3T3 cells (cell growth rate 100% vs 102.8%, P【0.05), but partially restrain the gastric cancer cell growth. The latter effect was related to cell differentiation. In 15-60 microg/kg rhEGF groups, the mean implanted tumor mass of MKN-28 cell were 1.75 g, 1.91 g, 2.08 g/NS group 1.97 g (P】0.05), the mean tumor mass of SGC-7901 cell were 1.53 g, 1.07 g, 1.20 g/NS group 1.07 g (P】0.05), and for MKN-45 cell, the tumor mass were respectively 1.92 g, 1.29 g, 1.77 /NS group 1.82 g (P】0.05). So rhEGF had no obvious effect on implanted MKN-28, SGC-7901 and MKN-45 tumor growth. CONCLUSION: EGF has no stimulating effect on the human gastric cancer cell growth neither in vitro nor in vivo.

EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR PREVENTS INCREASED PERMEABILITY AND BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION IN RATS WITH ACUTE PANCREATITIS

To evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in rats with acute pancreatitis during total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Methods. Thirty- two male Sprague- Dawley rats that underwent injection of 3.5％ sodium taurocholate solution into the pancreatic duct were randomly divided into one of the following two groups: (1) received only TPN (control group) or (2) received TPN with EGF at a dose of 0.2 mg· kg- 1· day- 1 (Egf group). On fifth day of total parenteral nutrition, samples from mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, liver and spleen were harvested for cultures. Water, protein and DNA content in jejunal mucosa were determined. D- xylose and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- dextran were instilled into the lumen of a ligated segament of small intestine. Thirty minutes later, superior mesenteric vein D- xylose and plasma FITC- dextran concentration were measured. Results. Positive cultures in liver and spleen, as well as FITC- dextran concentration in the Egf group were significantly lower than in the control group. Protein and DNA content in jejunal mucosa in the Egf group were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion. The results indicate that EGF may prevent increased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in rats with acute pancreatitis during TPN.

Identification of EGFR kinase domain mutations among lung cancer patients in China:implication for targeted cancer therapy

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death with one of the lowest survival rates. However, a subset of lung cancer patients who are of Asian origin and carry somatic mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR have responded remarkable well to two tyrosine kinase inhibitors, gefitinib and erlotinib. While EGFR mutation profiles have been reported from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, there is no such report from mainland of China where the largest pool of patients reside. In this report, we identified ten somatic mutations from a total of 41 lung cancer patients in China. Among them, seven mutations were found in 17 adenocarcinomas. In contrast to previous reports, eight of these mutations are deletions in exon 19 and two of these deletions are homozygous. These results suggest that a large portion of Chinese adenocarcinoma patients could benefit from gefitinib or erlotinib. This unique mutation profile provides a rationale to develop the next generation of EGFR inhibitors more suitable for the Chinese population.

EGFR antisense RNA blocks expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and partially reverse the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells

The effects of human EGFR to the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were investigated experimentally. A retroviral vector containing a 5'1350bp fragment of the human EGFR cDNA in the antisense orientation was transfected into targeted cells by lipofectamine. The effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle and adherent ability to extracellular matrix (ECM) components were studied after the expression of antisense transcripts to EGFR 5'1350bp fragment in target cells. In vitro studies showed that the growth ability of the transfected cells was partialy inhibited in comparison to parental cells and to cells transfected with the plasmid containing the neomycin resistance gene only. It was found that EGF (10ng/ml) had an augmenation effect on the growth of transfected MDA-AS10 cells but not MDA-MB-231 cells.Flow cytometric analysis showed that the cell cycle of the transfected cells was abnormal with a decrease of cells in G2/M and S phases and an increase of cells in G1 phase,indicating a blockage in phase G1. Immunofluorescence of EGFR expression in transfectants stained with an antiEGFR antibody was decreased and their growth in soft agarose was also severely impaired. The transfected cells showed less adherence to laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN). In short, EGFR antisense RNA decreases the expression of EGFR on MDA-MB-231 cells and partially reverses their malignant phenotype as well.Effects of antisense EGFR on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells

Effect of EGFR-TKI retreatment following chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who underwent EGFR-TKI

Objective： Non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） patients with epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）-activating mutations have higher response rate and more prolonged survival following treatment with single-agent EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor （EGFR-TKI） compared with patients with wild-type EGFR. However, all patients treated with reversible inhibitors develop acquired resistance over time. The mechanisms of resistance are complicated. The lack of established therapeutic options for patients after a failed EGFR-TKI treatment poses a great challenge to physicians in managing this group of lung cancer patients. This study evaluates the influence of EGFR-TKI retreatment following chemotherapy after failure of initial EGFR-TKI within at least 6 months on NSCLC patients. Methods： ＇i-he data of 27 patients who experienced treatment failure from their initial use of EGFR-TKI within at least 6 months were analyzed. After chemotherapy, the patients were retreated with EGFR-TKI （gefitinib 250 mg qd or erlotinib 150 mg qd）, and the tumor progression was observed. The patients were assessed for adverse events and response to therapy. Targeted tumor lesions were assessed with CT scan. Results： Of the 27 patients who received EGFR-TKI retreatment~ 1 （3.7%） patient was observed in complete response （CR）, 8 （29.6%） patients in partial response （PR）, 14 （51.9%） patients in stable disease （SD）, and 4 （14.8%） patients in progressive disease （PD）. The disease control rate （DCR） was 85.2% （95% CI： 62%-94%）. The median progression-free survival （mPFS） was 6 months （95% CI： 1-29）. Of the 13 patients who received the same EGFR-TKI, 1 patient in CR, 3 patients in PR, 8 patients in SD, and 2 patients in PD were observed. The DCRwas 84.6%, and the mPFS was 5 months. Of the 14 patients who received another EGFR-TKI, no patient in CR~ 6 patients in PR, 6 patients in SD, and 2 patients in PD were observed. The DCRwas 85.7%, and the mPFS was 9.5 months. Significant difference was found between the two groups in PFS but not in response rate or D CR. Conclusion： Retreatment of EGFR-TKIs can be considered an option after failure of chemotherapy for patients who were previously controlled by EGFR-TKI treatment.

Effect of intraarterial chemotherapy on vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvessel density in carcinoma of the cervix

Objective: To clarify the effect of intraarterial chemotherapy on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expres- sion and microvessel density (MVD) count in carcinoma of the cervix. Methods: Before intraarterial chemotherapy and after 2–3 weeks of therapy, the expression of VEGF and MVD count in 36 carcinoma tissues of locally advanced cervical cancer were determined by CD34. Results: Before intraarterial chemotherapy and after 2–3 weeks, the expression of VEGF were 75% (27/36) and 30.6% (11/36) respectively, and MVD were reduced obviously (P<0.001). Conclusion:?The intraarterial chemotherapy can reduce the expression of VEGF and MVD, and adjust malignancy of cervical cancer, and cut down the postoperative metastasis.

Antisense EGFR sequence reverses the growth properties of human liver carcinoma cell line BEL-7404 in vitro

A recombinant plasmid containing a full length human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cDNA sequence in antisense orientation was transferred into cells of a human liver carcinoma cell line BEL-7404. Compared with the control cell clone JX-0 transferred with the vector plasmid and the parent BEL-7404 cells, the antisense EGFR transferred cell clone JX-1 showed a decreased EGFR gene expression and reduced significantly the growth potential either in anchorage-dependent or anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore. JX-1 cells appeared to be distinctly dependent on serum concentration for monolayer growth. The results suggested that antisense EGFR could partly block the EGFR gene ex-pression and reverse the malignant growth properties of human liver carcinoma cells in vitro.

ERK1/2 contributes negative regulation to STAT3 activity in HSS-transfected HepG2 cells

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a recently characterized transcription factor which is essential to liver regeneration. We have previously reported that hepatic stimulator substance (HSS), a novel growthpromoting substance, phosphorylated the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and activated downstream RasMAP kinase (extracellular signal-regulated kinases, ERK1/2) cascade. However, whether HSS signal is related to STAT3pathway remains unclear. The present study is aiming to explore the regulatory effect of activation of ERK1/2 evoked by HSS on STAT3 phosphorylation and STAT3 signaling. Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was stably transfected with HSS cDNA and HSS expression was measured by Northern blot. The results showed that the transfection of HSS into HepG2 resulted in remarkable increase in cellular proliferation as compared with the non-transfected cells, and it was further proved that the cellular proliferation in the HSS-transfected cells was related to ERK1/2 activation. Treatment of the cells with 50 μM of PD98059, an ERK1/2 specific upstream inhibitor, resulted in ERK1/2 inactivation completely.Inhibition of ERK1/2 allowed the tyrosine of STAT3 to be phosphorylated in a dose-dependent manner to PD98059.Furthermore, transient transfection of STAT3 mutant (STAT3S727A) into HSS-bearing cells could remarkably reverse the inhibitory effect of ERK1/2 on STAT3 phosphorylation. Based upon these results, it is concluded that ERK1/2negatively modulates STAT3 phosphorylation and this function is dependent on residual serine-727 (S727) of STAT3.

Differential phosphorylation of p38 induced by apoptotic and anti-apoptotic stimuli in murine hepatocytes

AIM: To investigate the differential phosphorylation and activation of p38 in hepatocytes by pro-apoptotic Transforming Growth Factor-βi (TGF-β1), pro-survival factors Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and 12-0- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the potential mechanisms. METHODS: The phosphorylation and activation of p38 were determined by immunoblotting. Apoptosis was analyzed by morphological staining and observation, FACS analysis of sub-G1 content and DNA fragmentation assay. To quantitatively determine caspase activation, caspase activity assay was performed in vitro. RESULTS: TGF-β1-induced apoptosis was associated with the phosphorylation of p38, and SB202190, a specific inhibitor of p38, which was able to inhibit TGF-β1-induced caspase activation and apoptosis. TPA and EGF also blocked apoptosis induced by TGF-β1. Both of them induced the phosphorylation of p38. The results showed SB202190 had no effect on TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of p38, but effectively inhibited both EGF and TPA-induced phosphorylation of p38. CONCLUSION: Pro-apoptotic TGF-β1, anti-apoptotic TPA and EGF induce the phosphorylation of p38 through different mechanisms that can be distinguished by SB202190. The data suggest that TPA and EGF-induced p38 phosphorylation is through an autophosphorylation-dependent mechanism. Since p38 phosphorylation induced by TGF-β1 plays an important role in caspase activation and apoptosis, TPA and EGF-induced p38 phosphorylation may not be requisite for their anti-apoptotic function.

The current situation of Sunitinib in treating non-small cell lung cancer

Sunitinib malate is one of the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor,which are being used in clinic.It can inhibit more than 80 kinds of receptor`s tyrosine kinase,including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR),platelet-derived growth factor receptors,vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR),etc.And tyrosine kinase inhibitor is involved in connection with the generation and progression of many kinds of cancer including lung cancer.Several studies have evaluated the effect of Sunitinib on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),by single agent,continuous daily dosing or in combination with chemotherapeutics (with docetaxel or gemcitabine plus cisplatin),which all showed certain effect.The test of Sunitinib in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin for advanced NSCLC shown that at the maximum tolerated dose:oral Sunitinib 37.5 mg/day intermittently (Schedule 2/1:2 weeks on treatment,1 week off treatment) schedule with intravenous infusions of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 days 1,8) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2 day 1),administered in 3-week cycles,66.7% patients achieved partial responses.And adverse effects were mild to moderate in severity (grades 1 to 2).Therapy was generally well tolerated.In summary,all the evidence above suggests that Sunitinib may play an important role in the treating of NSCLC.

Plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective： The plasma fibrinogen levels had not only been used as an independent prognostic parameter for the patients with non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）, but also as a promising biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the plasma fibrinogen levels and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） gene mutation and clinical-pathological characteristics of Chinese patients with NSCLC. Methods： In this retrospective study, NSCLC specimens collected from 352 patients between November 2009 and November 2011 were selected to detect EGFR gene mutation with real-time polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. In these specimens, 308 ones were also detected EGFR gene copy number with fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH）. Coagulation makers were examined prior to the operations. The association between the plasma fibrinogen levels and EGFR gene mutation and clinical-pathological characteristics were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software. Results： The median pre-operation plasma fibrinogen level was 3.55 g/L （109/352） patients with higher plasma fibrinogen level （〉 4.0 g/L）. The lower plasma fibrinogen levels correlated significantly with EGFR gene mutations （P 〈 0.001）, the similar result was seen in platelet counts （P = 0.026）. A linear correlation was found between the plasma fibrinogen levels and the platelet counts in NSCLC patients （R^2 = 0.209, P 〈 0.001）. Pre-peration plasma fibrinogen levels correlated with gender （P 〈 0.001）, smoking status （P 〈 0.001 ）, and histology （P 〈 0.001 ）. There were significant link between the above clinical-pathological characteristics and EGFR gene mutations. In addition, EGFR gene mutation was correlated with FISH-positive status （P 〈 0.001）. Moreover, both plasma fibrinogen level （P = 0.024） and the EGFR gene copy number （P = 0.040） had significant relationships with the pathological TNM stage. Conclusion： This study showed that a significant relevance between plasma fibrinogen levels and EGFR gene mutations. The plasma fibrinogen level might be as a clinical decision parameter for evaluating the efficacy of anti-EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors （TKIs） in NSCLC. The patients of NSCLC had higher indicate have poor benefits from anti-EFGR TKIs. In addition, pre-operation plasma fibrinogen level could be used as an indepedent prognostic biomarker for the patients with NSCLC.

In vitro effect of p2l^(WAF-1/CIP1) gene on growth of human glioma cells mediated by EGFR targeted non-viral vector GE7 system

Objective: To construct the EGFR targeted non-viral vector GE7 system and explore the in vitro effect of p21WAF-1/CIPI gene on growth of human glioma cells mediated by the GE7 system. Methods: The EGFR targeted non-viral vector GE7 gene delivery system was constructed. The malignant human glioma cell line U251MG was transfected in vitro with β-galactosidase gene ( reporter gene) and p21WAF-1/CIPI gee (therapeutic gene) using the GE7 system. By means of X-gal staining, MTS and FACS, the transfection efficiency of exogenous gene and apoptosis rate of tumor cells were examined. The expression of p21WAF-1/ CIPI gene in transfected U251MG cell was examined by immunohistochemis-try staining. Results: The highest transfer rate of exogenous gene was 70% . After transfection with p21WAF-1/CIPI gene, the expression of WAF-1 increased remarkably and steadily; the growth of U251MG cells were inhibited evidently. FACS examination showed G1 arrest. The average apoptosis rate was 25.2%. Conclusion: GE7 system has the ability to transfer exogenous gene to targeted cells efficiently, and expression of p21WAF-1/CIPI gene can induce apoptosis of glioma cell and inhibit its growth.

A preliminary study on K-ras,EGFR,and B-raf mutations of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: Molecular targeted drugs have been widely used in clinical application which has successfully prolonged some patients' life. Meanwhile, molecular targeted drug therapy for esophageal cancer are attracting more and more attention from doctors and experts. However, little study has been done towards the effect of this approach for treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. This paper, therefore, intends to explore the possibilities of applying EGFR-TKI inhibitors or anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by studying the mutations of EGFR, K-ras and B-raf in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Methods: Thirty-five cases of resected specimens of diagnosed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with complete clinical and pathological data from January to April 2009 were collected. Pyrophosphate was used for observing the mutations of EGFR, K-ras and B-raf in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Results: Examinations were undertaken respectively to the codon segment 746-754 of exon 19 in EGFR genes, codon 12 and 13 in K-ras genes as well as condon 600 in B-raf genes. No mutation was found in EGFR and B-raf genes with mutation rate 0% (0/35), all of codon 12 in K-ras genes were wild-type without any mutation, while 2 specimens of codon 13 had mutations with mutation rate of 5.71% (2/35). Conclusion: In treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, all K-ras genes are expressed as wild type due to low mutation rate; cetuximab is effective due to low mutation rate of B-raf while EGFR-TKI inhibitor will not be effective enough because of low mutation rate of EGFR genes.

Prognostic factors to predict survival in non-small-celllung cancer with brain metastasis

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess prognostic factors to predict overall survival(OS) and progression-free survival(PFS) in non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) with brain metastasis(BM). Methods: From November 2011 to March 2013, the clinical data of 31 NSCLC cases with BM treated with multiple modalities including brain radiotherapy alone, systemic chemotherapy, whole brain radiotherapy(WBRT) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKIs). The efficacy and adverse reaction were evaluated after treatment. Results: In terms of intracranial lesions, the objective response rate(ORR) and the disease control rate(DCR) were 22.6% and 90.3%, respectively. As for systemic disease, ORR and DCR were 32.3% and 93.5%, respectively. The median time to progression-free survival(PFS) was 298 days(95% CI: 258.624–337.376 days), whereas in the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) mutation patients was 331 days. Patients who received EGFR-TKIs combined with brain radiation had better response rate(RR) than those only brain radiation. Univariate analysis showed that the EGFR-mutations could predictive factors for PFS, and not to other clinical pathological features. The most common toxicities were rash and diarrhea, but all were well-tolerated. Conclusion: EGFR-mutations is the independent prognostic factors affecting the survival rates of NSCLC patients with BM. Through the clinical observation, icotinib combined with WBRT may be effective on brain metastases in NSCLC patients, and toxicities are tolerable, which worth further study.

Effects of the serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at different meridian acupoints on EGFR signal transduction pathway in gastric mucosal cells

Objective To study the effect of the serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupunctre at Stomach Meridian acupoints on the EGFR signal transduction pathway in gastric mucosal cells. Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups： model group, Stomach （ST） Meridian group, Gallbladder （GB） Meridian group, ST＋ PD153035 group and GB＋ PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress method was adopted for preparation of the stress-induced gastric ulcer rat model, and the gastric mucosa cells were separated by using pronase digestion method. Gastric mucosa cells were incubated respectively with PD153035, EGFR inhibitor and the serum; PLCγ-1＇s expression level in gastric mucosa cells was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay （ELISA）, and PKC activity by isotope mingling method; and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay （RT-PCR） was used for testing expression level of c-myc gene. Results The expression levels of PLCγ-1 ,PKC and c- myc gene were lower in gastric mucosa cells in the model group; there were relatively high expression levels of PLCγ-1 ,PKC and c-myc gene in the ST Meridian group and the GB Meridian group, with the highest expression levels of PLCγ-1 ,PKC and c-myc gene in the ST Meridian, and with a significant difference between the ST Meridian group and the GB Meridian group （P〈0.01 ） ; and relative lower expression levels of PLCγ-1, PKC and c-myc gene were seen in the ST ＋ PD153035 group and the GB ＋ PD153035 group; and there was a significant difference between the ST Meridian group and the ST ＋ PD153035 group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion There was a close correlation between the healing effect of electroacupuncture and activation of the EGFR signal transduction pathway in the impaired gastric mucosa cells, which was also one proof for the TCM theory： ＂There is relative specificity between the meridians and viscera＂.

Effect of moxibustion on VEGF and EGF expressions in tumor tissues of rats with gastric tumor

Objective:To explore the inhibitory effect of moxibustion on tumor growth and metastasis, and also its possible mechanism, in gastric tumor-bearing rats by investigating the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Methods:Fifty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (half male and half female) were routinely housed for 1 week. A total of 20 rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a sham operation group, with 10 rats in each group. The remaining 30 rats were used to make gastric cancer models by implantation of ascites-type Walker-256 cancer cells. After successful modeling, rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and an infrared group, with 10 rats in each group. From the day of modeling, the body weight of each group was weighed every 4 days. Warm moxibustion was alternately performed at two-group acupoints [Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) in one group, and bilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) in another group] in the moxibustion group. The body surface projection area of the stomach was irradiated with short-wave infrared rays in the infrared group, once a day, 20 min per time for 21 d. At the end of the treatment, the gastric tumor was completely dissected, and the tumor volume and tumor growth inhibition rate were calculated. Then the gastric tumor cell metastasis was recorded. The levels of VEGF and EGF in rat gastric tumor tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Compared with the blank group, the body weight of the model group decreased significantly after modeling (P<0.05);compared with the model group, the rats in the moxibustion group had increased body weight during the middle and late stages (bothP<0.05). The tumor volumes of rats in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were smaller than the volume in the model group (bothP<0.05). The tumor growth inhibition rate in the moxibustion group was significantly higher than that in the infrared group (P<0.05). The case number of tumor metastasis in the moxibustion group was smaller than that in the model group and the infrared group. The VEGF level in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly higher than that in the blank group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the VEGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly lower (bothP<0.05). The EGF levels in the tumor tissues of the model group was statistically significantly lower than that in the blank group (P<0.05);compared with the model group, the EGF levels in the moxibustion group and the infrared group were statistically significantly increased (bothP<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion can increase the body weight, inhibit the tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in gastric tumor-bearing rats, which may be related to the regulation of VEGF and EGF expressions in tumor tissues.

Regulation of intestinal stem cell fate specification

The remarkable ability of rapid self-renewal makes the intestinal epithelium an ideal model for the study of adult stem cells. The intestinal epithelium is organized into villus and crypt, and a group of intestinal stem cells located at the base of crypt are responsible for this constant self-renewal throughout the life. Identification of the intestinal stem cell marker Lgr5, isolation and in vitro culture of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and the use of transgenic mouse models have significantly facilitated the studies of intestinal stem cell homeostasis and differentiation, therefore greatly expanding our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the intestinal stem cell fate determination. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how signals of Wnt, BMP, Notch and EGF in the stem cell niche modulate the intestinal stem cell fate.

Effects of moxibustion pretreatment on extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling transduction pathway in the gastric tissues of rats with gastric mucosal damage

Objective： To observe the effects of moxibustion pretreatment on the protein expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）, phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase I/2 （p-ERKI/2） and activated protein-1 （AP-2）, the key factors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling transduction pathway in gastric tissue of rats with stress-induced gastric mucosal damage, and to discuss the mechanisms of moxibustion therapy in promoting the restoration of damaged gastric mucosa. Methods： Thirty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and a moxibustion group using the random digits table, 10 in each group. Except the rats in the normal group, rats in the other two groups were used to make stress-induced gastric mucosal damage model using restraint and cold stress. Before modeling, rats in the moxibustion group were alternately treated with moxibustion a/t Zusanli （ST 36） and Zhongwan （CV 12）, or Pishu （BL 20） and Weishu （BL 22）, once a day, for a total of 8 d. Histolo^cal changes of gastric mucosa were observed under the light microscopy, the expression of gastric tissue p-ERKI/2 was detected by immunohistochemistry assay, and the protein levels of EGFR and AP-I were measured by Western blots. Results： Compared with rats in the normal group, gastric mucosal damage was more serious, and protein expressions of gastric tissue EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 increased in the model group （P〈0.01, P〈O.05, P〈0.05）. Compared with rats in the model group, gastric mucosal damage was milder, and protein expressions of gastric tissue EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 increased in the moxibustion group （all P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36）, Zhongwan （CV 12）, Pishu （BL 20） and Weishu （BL 21） could increase EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 expression levels in gastric tissue of stress-induced gastric mucosal damage rats, maintain the information transfer function of ERK signaling transduction pathway, and promote restoration of gastric mucosal damage.

The molecular biology in wound healing ＆ non-healing wound

The development of molecular biology and other new biotechnologies helps us to recognize the wound healing and non-healing wound of skin in the past 30 years. This review mainly focuses on the molecular biology of many cytokines （including growth factors） and other molecular factors such as extracellular matrix （ECM） on wound healing. The molecular biology in cell movement such as epidermal cells in wound healing was also discussed. Moreover many common chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot wounds, venous stasis ulcers, etc. usually deteriorate into non-healing wounds. Therefore the molecular biology such as advanced glycation end products （AGEs） and other molecular factors in diabetes non-healing wounds were also reviewed.