Effect of fragile histidine triad gene transduction on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM:To evaluate the inhibitory effects of human fragile histidine triad(FHIT) gene on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma line Hep3B in vitro. METHODS:A recombinant pcDNA3.1(+) /FHIT including the functional region of FHIT gene was constructed and transferred into human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. mRNA and protein expression of the FHIT gene in the transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. The effect of FHIT on proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Changes in cell cycle and apoptosis were assayed by flow cytometry. Five mice received subcutaneous transplantation of Hep3B-FHIT;5 mice received subcutaneous transplantation of normal Hep3B and Hep3B-C as controls. The body weight of nude mice and tumor growth were measured. RESULTS:RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the expression level of FHIT-mRNA and FHIT protein was higher in Hep3B cells after infection withpcDNA3.1(+) /FHIT. The growth of Hep3B cells treated with pcDNA3.1(+) /FHIT was significantly inhibited. The pcDNA3.1(+) /FHIT-transfected Hep3B cells showed a significantly higher cell rate at G0-G1 phase and increased apoptosis in comparison with controls(P < 0.05) . The growth of transplanted tumor was inhibited markedly by FHIT. Tumors arising from the Hep3B-FHIT cells occurred much later than those arising from the Hep3B and Hep3B-C cells. The growth of Hep3B-FHIT cells was slow and the tumor volume was low. CONCLUSION:Transduction of FHIT gene inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and induces cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.

Pancreatic stellate cells promote proliferation and invasiveness of human pancreatic cancer cells via galectin-3

AIM: To investigate the role of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and galectin-3 (GAL-3) in the proliferation and infiltration of pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990. METHODS: Human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 and PSCs were cultured in vitro . Supernatant fluid of cultured PSCs and SW1990 cells was collected. Expression of GAL-3 in SW1990 cells and PSCs was detected by ELISA, RT-PCR and Western blotting. Proliferation of cultured PSCs and SW1990 cells was measured by 3-(4, 5-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. Infiltration of SW1990 cells was detected by a cell infiltration kit. RESULTS: SW1990 cells expressed GAL-3 and this was up-regulated by the supernatant fluid of cultured PSCs. PSCs did not express GAL-3. SW1990 cells stimulated proliferation of PSCs via GAL-3. GAL-3 antibody inhibited SW1990 cell proliferation, while the supernatant fluid of PSCs stimulated proliferation of SW1990 cells through interaction with GAL-3 protein. The supernatant fluid of PSCs enhanced the invasiveness of SW1990 cells through interaction with GAL-3. CONCLUSION: GAL-3 and PSCs were involved in the proliferation and infiltration process of pancreatic cancer cells.

Observations on Therapeutic Effect of Back-Shu Acupoint in Treatment of Asthma

Objective： To investigate the therapeutic effect of Back-Shu acupoint in treating asthma. Methods： Sixty-one patients were randomly divided into a Back-Shu acupoint group, a acupuncture-moxibustion group and a acupuncture group. All the three groups were treated twice a week, 10 times made up a treatment course. The therapeutic effect was evaluated after three courses of treatment. Results and conclusion： The control and marked effective rate were significantly higher in the Back-Shu acupoint group and acupuncture-moxibustion groups than in the acupuncture group （P〈0.05）. They were slightly higher in the acupuncture-moxibustion group than in the Back-Shu acupoint group, but there was no statistically significant difference. The results indicated that the Back-Shu acupoints have a good therapeutic effect in treating asthma.

An experimental study of a modified Dahuang Zhechong pill on theangiogenesis of RF/6A cells in vitro

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of a modified Dahuang Zhechong Pill(MDZP) on the angiogene sis of rhesus choroid-retina endothelial(RF/6A cells and its preliminary mechanism.METHODS:A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-car boxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazol ium(MTS) method was used to assess the effect o a MDZP on RF/6A cell proliferation induced by vas cular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Transwell in serts were used to assess the effect of the MDZP on RF/6A cell migration.Matrigel was used to asses the effect of the MDZP on the tube formation of RF 6A cells.Western blotting and quantitative re al-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reac tion(RT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression,respectively,of VEGF and matri metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) in RF/6A cells treatedwith the MDZP.RESULTS:RF/6A cell proliferation induced by VEGF was inhibited by 0.2 mg/mL MDZP.At 0,12.5,25 and 50 mg/mL MDZP,the number of cells that migrated through Transwell membranes was 73.33± 4.51,61.33±4.04,28.67±6.66 and 17.67±4.16,respectively,and the number of tubes formed in Matrigel was 20.33±0.58,13.33±1.53,11.00±1.00 and 1.33±0.58,respectively.At 100 and 200 mg/mL MDZP,the protein and mRNA expression of VEGF and MMP-2 were inhibited in RF/6A cells.At 400 mg/mL MDZP,the expression of VEGF mRNA and MMP-2 protein were inhibited in RF/6A cells.CONCLUSIONS:MDZP inhibits the angiogenesis of RF/6A cells via the suppression of proliferation,migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells.Inhibition of the protein and mRNA expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in RF/6A cells may be an important mechanism.

Clinical Comparative Study on Massage Therapy and Cisapride in Treating Functional Dyspepsia

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of massage therapy and Cisapride in the treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD）. Methods： Eighty subjects were randomized into two groups： treatment group in which 40 cases were treated by massage therapy and control group in which 40 cases were treated by Cisapride, with a course of 4 weeks; meanwhile, another 40 healthy people were taken as normal group. Abdominal fullness, acid regurgitation, diminished appetite and anorexia, nausea and vomiting and health survey were observed; symptom scores were recorded. Results： These two treatment methods were effective for FD. Conclusion： Mental disorder is one cause of FD; massage therapy is quite effective for it.