ObjectiveTo detect the expression of Prox1 (prospero-related homeobox 1) gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to analyze the correlation of Prox1 gene expression with pathological grade and clinical stage of HCC. MethodsThe expressions of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancerous tissues in HCC as well as normal liver tissues were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, then the correlation of Prox1 gene expression with HCC pathological grade and clinical stage were analyzed. ResultsThe expression of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues (0.243±0.102) and adjacent cancerous liver tissues (0.537±0.235) was significantly lower than that in normal liver tissue (0.812±0.372), respectively （ Plt;0.01 or Plt;0.05）. Furthermore, the expression of Prox1 gene in carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that adjacent cancerous liver tissues (Plt;0.05). The expressions of Prox1 gene in different pathological grade (F=97.950, Plt;0.001) and clinical stage were significantly different (F=228.300, Plt;0.001), and when compared with each other, the differences of pathological grade and clinical stage were also significant (Plt;0.001 or Plt;0.01). The expressions of Prox1 gene in HCC carcinoma tissue were negatively correlated with pathological grade (r=-0.930, Plt;0.01) and clinical stage (r=-0.980, Plt;0.01) of HCC. ConclusionsExpression of Prox1 gene may be related to the initiation and development of HCC, however, that whether Prox1 gene functions as tumor suppressor in HCC needs further investigation.
One of the major clinical characteristics of congenital stationary night blindness(CSNB)is dysfunction of rod photoreceptors of the retina.Rhodopsin,the photosensitive pigment of the rods,is essential for maintaining the normal function of rod photoreceptors.It is resonable to hypothesize that mutations or deletions of rhodopsin gene may be involved in the molecular defect of CSNB.To test this hypothesis,we are searching for rhodopsin gene mutations in patients with autosomal dominant CSNB.In this study,DNA fragments containing the coding sequences in exon 5 of rhodopsin gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)in 15 patients and 5 unaffected members from a large family with autosomal dominant CSNB.RFLP analysis of these DNA fragments demonstrated that in comparison with a control group of 12 normal persons,there is no obvious deletion in exon 5 of rhodopsin gene,and that mutations or deletions do not exist in codon 314,codon 347,and the third base of codon 313 as well as the first base of codon 348 of the rhodopsin gene in these CSNB patients,which suggest the molecular pathogenesis of autosomal dominant CSNB not involve mutations or deletions of these codons of the rhodopsin gene. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1993,9:66-69）
Objective To analyze the variation of intestinal microflora in patients with colorectal cancer by SYBR GreenⅠreal-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and reveal the role and significance of intestinal microflora in the colorectal cancer-associated molecular pathogenesis. Methods A set of 16S rRNA gene group of species-specific primers for Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus group, Escherichia coli, and ddl gene-targeted species-specific primers for Enterococcus faecalis and feces Enterococcus were designed. Patients with colorectal cancer (colorectal cancer group, n=30) and healthy volunteers (normal control group, n=30) were included and whose feces were collected to extract bacterial genome DNA. SYBR GreenⅠ real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to analyze the five mentioned bacterial amounts. Results Level of Bifidobacterium spp. (4.52±0.49) and Lactobacillus group (5.46±0.12) in colorectal cancer group were significantly lower than those （9.25±0.83 and 7.45±0.37） of normal control group (Plt;0.05), whereas levels of Escherichia coli (5.82±0.47), Enterococcus faecalis (10.6±0.30) and feces Enterococcus (5.74±0.16) in colorectal cancer group were significantly higher than those （4.68±0.32, 4.95±0.24, and 5.03±0.43） of normal control group (Plt;0.05). Conclusions The fecal microflora composition of patients with colorectal cancer is significantly decreased in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus group, whereas increased in Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and feces Enterococcus. These data underline that the occurrence and progress of colorectal cancer may be related to intestinal microflora.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of detection of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutations in pleural effusion fromnon-small-cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) patients by mutant enriched PCR assay. Methods The mutations of exon 19 and 21 of EGFR gene in pleural samples fromthirty NSCLC patients were analyzed using both the mutant-enriched PCR assay and the non-enriched PCR assay. Results Ten ( 33. 3% , 10/ 30) exon 19 deletions and five ( 16. 7% , 5/30) exon 21 L858R mutation were detected by the mutant-enriched PCR assay, while only 6 cases ( 20. 0% ) and 1 case ( 3. 3% ) were detected by the non-enriched PCR assay respectively. The difference of mutation detection rate of EGFR gene between the two methods was statistically significant ( P = 0. 032) . Mutations were detected in all of partial responders ( 2 /4) among the four patients who received gefitinib therapy. Conclusions Mutant-enriched PCR assay can detect EGFR exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutation in pleural effusion from NSCLC patients effectively, economically and accurately. It may be a valuable biomarker for gefitinib therapy in advanced NSCLC.
ObjectiveTo clone full-length cDNA of rat galectin-9 and construct recombinant adenovirus granule containing rat galectin-9 gene. MethodsThe galectin-9 gene was amplified by RT-PCR from rat liver tissue and inserted orientationally into plasmid pDC316-GFP digested by restriction endonucleases NotⅠ and HindⅢ. The recombinant pDC316-GFP-galectin-9 shuttle plasmid was identified by PCR, restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing, and then co-transfected with rescue plasmid pBHGlox△E1.3Cre into HEK-293 cells by liposome reagent. Recombinant adenovirus vector containing rat galectin-9 gene (Ad5-galectin-9) was generated by sitespecific recombination and confirmed by PCR, and then Ad5-galectin-9 was propagated in HEK-293 cells and purified. The infectious titer of viral stock was determined by TCID50 assay. ResultsConstruction of pDC316-GFP-galectin-9 shuttle plasmid was confirmed to be correct by PCR, restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. Construction of recombinant adenovirus Ad5-galectin-9 was confirmed to be correct by PCR. The infective titer of Ad5-galectin-9 was 1.4×109 U/ml. ConclusionRecombinant adenovirus vector containing rat galectin-9 gene (Ad5-galectin-9) is successfully constructed, which provides the foundation of further research on the function of galectin-9 gene.
ObjectiveTo determine the expression change of activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) in human rectal cancer tissue, and analyze the correlation between ATF5 expression and the clinicopathologic parameters of rectal cancer. MethodsNinetytwo paired samples of rectal cancer tissue and more than 5 cm distant normal rectal tissue were obtained from inpatients between March 2009 and October 2009 in this hospital. ATF5 mRNA and protein expressions were detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. ResultsThirty-three (35.9%) cases of rectal cancer showed ATF5 mRNA overexpression; however, the expression level of ATF5 mRNA in the rectal cancer tissue was not statistically different from that in the normal rectal tissue (P=0.363). There was no evidence for the relationship between the ATF5 mRNA expression and the patients’ age, gender, histological type, tumor differentiation degree, invasive depth, lymph node metastasis, distance metastasis, or TNM stage. In contrast, the positive expression rate of ATF5 protein in the rectal cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in the normal rectal tissue (P=0.000). Moreover, the ATF5 protein expression was correlated with the tumor differentiation degree (P=0.013), but not with other clinicopathologic features (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionsThe results suggest that ATF5 protein may be related to the carcinogenesis and differentiation of human rectal cancer. However, further researches are required to prove the correlation.
Objective To study the effect of chitosan (CS) mediated insul in-l ike growth factor 1 gene (igf-1) transfection on the repair of articular cartilage defect. Methods Twelve 3-month-old healthy male rabbits weighting 2.0-2.5 kg were randomly divided into 2 primary groups, control and intervention groups (n=6 per group). Control group was further divided into normal control (left knee) and normal saline (NS) control (right knee) groups. While, intervention group was divided into CS (left knee) and CS/igf-1 intervention (right knee) groups. Cartilage defects were created in the knee joints except normalcontrol. Intra-articular injections of CS/igf-1 complex was administrated 2 times a week for 4 weeks in CS/igf-1 interventiongroup, 0.5 mL CS in CS intervention group, and 0.5 mL sal ine solution in normal control and sal ine control groups. At 28days after treatments, the cartilage samples were collected for histological observation and collagen type II and aggrecan mRNA evaluation. Results HE staining and toluidine blue staining revealed that CS/igf-1 and CS intervention could significantly stimulated cartilage regeneration accompanied with fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, however, CS/igf-1 treatment resulted in the best repair of cartilage defect. In contrast, sal ine control group only showed fibrous tissue prol iferation and inflammatory cell infiltration without significant cartilage repairing. In terms of collagen type II and aggrecan gene expression, significant differences were observed in each pairwised comparison among 4 groups in the order of CS/igf-1 gt; CS gt; NS gt; normal control (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion In situ CS/ifg-1 complex transfection can enhance the formation of mesochondrium by upregulating collagen type II or aggrecan expression, which might enhance the repair of articular cartilage defect.
Objective To research the expressions of miR-196b and HoxB8 mRNA in colorectal cancer and theircorrelation with clinicopathologic features，and to explore the relationship between miR-196b and HoxB8 in vivo. Methods Expressions of RNA （including miR-196b and HoxB8 mRNA） and HoxB8 protein were detected respectively by using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blot in 30 cases of colorectal cancer and corresponding normalmucous membrane tissues. Results In colorectal cancer tissues，expressions of miR-196b and HoxB8 mRNA were higher than those of the corresponding normal mucous membrane tissues （P＜0.05）. Expression of miR196b mRNA was assoc-iated with lymph node metastasis，neoplasm stages （Ⅰ＋ⅡandⅢ＋Ⅳ），and distant metastasis （P＜0.05），on the otherhand，no significant differences were observed regarding tumor site，size，gross type，depth of invasion，tissue differentiation，age，and sex （P＞0.05）. Expression of HoxB8 mRNA was no significant differences concerning lymph node metastasis，tumor stages （Ⅰ＋Ⅱ，Ⅲ＋Ⅳ），distant metastasis，tumor site，size，gross type，depth of invasion，tissue differentiation，age，and sex （P＞0.05）. The expression of miR-196b mRNA was negatively correlated with HoxB8 mRNA expression （r=-0.458，P＜0.05），and HoxB8 protein expression with no obvious correlation （r=-0.236，P＞0.05） in colorectal cancer tissues. Conclusions The expressions of miR-196b and HoxB8 mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues are higher，the high expression of miR-196b mRNA is related to the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer as well as correlated with prognosis in colorectal cancer. The miR-196b inhibits the expression of HoxB8 mRNA by binding to the3′-UTR of target HoxB8 mRNA.
Objective To explore the relationship between the HBsAg positive patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HBV DNA genotype. Methods By using PCR type-specific primers combined with sequencing of genotype, we analyzed the genotype of HBV DNA in the serum of 500 patients with positive HBsAg in our hospital. Among them, 150 cases suffered from HCC. Results Genotype B and C were both predominant genotypes in HBsAg positive patients. But in HCC group, the rate of genotype C was 65.33% （98/150）, which was significantly higher than that in non-HCC group (88/350, 25.14%), while genotype B, in contrast, was 28.67% （43/150） and 68.86% （241/350）， χ2=75.45， Plt;0.05. The distribution of HBV DNA genotype B or genotype C in different gender or different age groups were not statistically significantly different in cases of HCC (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Genotype C of HBV DNA is more common in patients with HCC, and maybe there is relationship between genotype C and the occurrence of HCC.
Objective To detect expression of Ras association domain family 1A （RASSF1A） gene in the colonic carcinoma tissue and to analyze the relationship of this expression to its clinical features. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were employed for detecting the RASSF1A protein expressions in 34 colonic carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal colon tissues. RT-PCR was employed for detecting RASSF1A mRNA expression. Results ①The RASSF1A protein expression in the colonic carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal colontissues by using immunohistochemistry〔35.3% （12/34） versus 97.1% （33/34）， P＜0.05〕.There were significant relati-onships of RASSF1A protein expressions to the tumor differentiation and TNM stage （P＜0.05）， in other words， the positive rates of RASSF1A protein in the moderately and well differentiated andⅠ＋Ⅱof TNM colonic carcinoma tissues were all higher （P＜0.05）. ② The RASSF1A protein expression in the colonic carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal colon tissues by using Western blot 〔0.316 8±0.019 6 versus 0.914 4±0.177 6， P＜0.05〕， which was close to the result of RT-PCR〔0.158 9±0.223 7 versus 0.572 3±0.193 9， P＜0.05〕. Conclusions Absentexpre-ssion of RASSF1A gene in the colonic carcinoma tissue might play an important role in tumor genesis and tumor progre-ssion， and it might become useful early detection of the colonic carcinoma.