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Background Tumor cell heterogeneity mediated drug resistance has been recognized as the stumbling block of cancer treatment. Elucidating the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs at single-cell level in a high-throughput way is thus of great value for developing precision therapy. However, current techniques suffer from limitations in dynamically characterizing the responses of thousands of single cells or cell clones presented to multiple drug conditions. Methods We developed a new microfluidics-based “SMART” platform that is Simple to operate, able to generate a Massive single-cell array and Multiplex drug concentrations, capable of keeping cells Alive, Retainable and Trackable in the microchambers. These features are achieved by integrating a Microfluidic chamber Array (4320 units) and a six-Concentration gradient generator (MAC), which enables highly efficient analysis of leukemia drug effects on single cells and cell clones in a high-throughput way. Results A simple procedure produces 6 on-chip drug gradients to treat more than 3000 single cells or single-cell derived clones and thus allows an efficient and precise analysis of cell heterogeneity. The statistic results reveal that Imatinib (Ima) and Resveratrol (Res) combination treatment on single cells or clones is much more efficient than Ima or Res single drug treatment, indicated by the markedly reduced half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Additionally, single-cell derived clones demonstrate a higher IC50 in each drug treatment compared to single cells. Moreover, primary cells isolated from two leukemia patients are also found with apparent heterogeneity upon drug treatment on MAC. Conclusion This microfluidics-based “SMART” platform allows high-throughput single-cell capture and culture, dynamic drug-gradient treatment and cell response monitoring, which represents a new approach to efficiently investigate anticancer drug effects and should benefit drug discovery for leukemia and other cancers.

Background: To investigate the current status and trend of Helicobacter pylori（H. pylori）antibiotics resistance over 5 years in Nanjing area．Then we evaluated the primary and post-treatment antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in Nanjing area. Methods: During the period from July 2017 to December 2019, 1533 gastric mucosal specimens from patients with positive H. pylori confirmed by breath test or rapid urease test were collected for isolation and identify H. pylori. The agar dilution method was used for antibiotic resistance test. The antibiotic resistance of H. pylori were compared with that in the period from May 2014 to May 2015. Results: The result showed that the resistance rates of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, furazolidone, tetracycline and metronidazole were 2.74%, 47.03%, 33.59%, 0.91%, 0.52% and 80.76%, respectively in the period of July 2017 to December 2019. Compared with the period of May 2014 to May 2015, the resistance rate of metronidazole was the most obvious, from 60.5% to 80.76% in the period of July 2017 to December 2019, followed by clarithromycin from 29.5% to 47.03%, and levofloxacin from 14.7% to 33.59%. The resistance rates of H. pylori (primary Vs post-treatment) to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, furazolidone, tetracycline and metronidazole were 1.83% Vs 6.08%, 38.62% Vs 77.81%, 27.41% Vs 56.23%, 0.58% Vs 2.13%, 0.33% Vs 1.22%, 78.57% Vs 88.75%, respectively during the period of July 2017 to December 2019. Conclusions: Antibiotic resistance of H. pylori remained a problem for the effective eradication of this pathogen and its associated diseases in Nanjing area. For post-treatment eradication patients, clinicians should took into account regional antibiotic resistance rate, personal antibiotic exposure history, economic benefit ratio, adverse antibiotic reactions, antibiotic availability and other aspects．

Use of the conventional cancer chemotherapy (i.e. vincristine) is limited in tumor cells exhibiting pre-existing or acquired resistance. Here, we found that C6 ceramide (C6) dramatically sensitized vincristine's activity. In vitro, C6 and vincristine coadministration induced substantial necrosis and apoptosis in multiple human cancer cell lines, which were accompanied by a profound AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, subsequent p53 activation, mTORC1 inactivation and Bcl-2/HIF-1α downregulation. Such synergistic effects were attenuated by AMPK inactivation through genetic mutation or short hairpin RNA silencing. Coadministration-activated p53 translocated to mitochondria, and formed a complex with cyclophilin-D, leading to mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and cell necrosis. Disrupting p53-Cyp-D complexation through pharmacological or genetic means reduced costimulation-induced cytotoxicity. In vivo, a liposomal C6 was synthesized, which dramatically enhanced the antiproliferative activity of vincristine on HCT-116 or A2780 xenografts. Together, C6 sensitizes vincristine-induced anticancer activity in vivo and in vitro, involving activating AMPK-p53 signaling.

BACKGROUND The TCF7L2 (transcription factor 7 like 2) gene is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes risk. However, many people without the TCF7L2 at-risk allele develop T2D. The aim of this study was to investigate altered Tcf7l2 DNA methylation and gene expression caused by high-fat diets (HFDs). METHODS C57BL/6 mice were fed either an HFD or normal diet for 8 weeks, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests were performed. Pancreatic islets were sorted for bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction to determine DNA methylation status. We cloned the Tcf7l2 promoter, methylated it with methyltransferase, and transfected this construct into MIN-6 cells to confirm the effects of promoter methylation on Tcf7l2 expression. RESULTS Aberrant methylation at position -165 bp relative to the transcriptional start site of Tcf7l2 was present in mice fed an HFD. Accordingly, expression of Tcf7l2 mRNA and its corresponding protein was lower in the HFD group (P

There is a growing body of literature suggesting the role of interactions between genes and the environment in development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the interplay between environment and genetic in developing and progressing T2MD is not fully understood. To determine the effects of high-glucose-lipid on the status of DNA methylation in beta cells, and clarify the mechanism of glucolipotoxicity on beta-cell deterioration, the DNA methylation profile was detected in beta-cells cultured with high-glucose-lipid medium. We utilized a high throughput NimbleGen RN34 CpG Island & Promoter Microarray to investigate the DNA methylation profile in beta-cells cultured with high-glucose-lipid medium. To validate the results of microarray, the immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) PCR was used to test the methylation status of some selected genes. The mRNA and protein expression of insulin and Tcf7l2 in these cells were quantified by RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. We have identified a lot of loci which experienced aberrant DNA methylation in beta-cells cultured with high-glucose-lipid medium. The results of MeDIP PCR were consistency to the microarray. An opposite regulation in transcription and translation of Tcf7l2 gene was found. Furthermore, the insulin mRNA and protein expression in beta-cells also decreased after cultured with high-glucose-lipid medium compared with the control cells. We conclude that chronic glucolipotoxicity could induce aberrant DNA methylation of some genes and may affect these genes expression in beta-cells, which might contribute to beta-cell function failure in T2DM and be helpful to explain, at least partially, the mechanism of glucolipotoxicity on beta-cells deterioration.

To determine the changes in CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) and the Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood of children with asthma, in order to investigate its association with asthma.A total of 150 children with asthma were allocated into the acute phase group (n=94) and remission phase group (n=56) based on clinical manifestations. The acute phase group was subdivided into the mild group (n=54) and severe group (n=40). Flow cytometry was applied to determine CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg, CD4(+)IFN-γ(+) Th1 and CD4(+)IL-4(+) Th2 levels in peripheral blood of different groups, and the results were compared with normal children (control group, n=50).The Treg level was significantly lower in the asthma group than the control group (P0.01): the Treg level was significantly lower in the acute phase group than the remission phase group and control group (P0.01) and also significantly lower in the severe group than the mild group (P0.01). The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly lower in the asthma group than the control group (P0.01) and also significantly lower in the acute phase group than the remission phase group and control group (P0.01). The Treg level in peripheral blood of asthmatic children was negatively correlated with the severity of asthma (r=-0.737, P0.01) and the Th1/Th2 ratio was also negatively correlated with the severity of asthma (r=-0.615, P0.01), but the Treg level was positively correlated with the Th1/Th2 ratio (r=0.856, P0.01).The significantly decreased level of Treg in peripheral blood and Th subset imbalance in asthmatic children suggest the important roles of Treg and Th immunity in pathogenesis of asthma. The Treg level and Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood can be used to evaluate the severity asthma.

To investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and the risk and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer (PCa) in Chinese men.This case-control study included 155 PCa patients and 155 healthy male controls. Using Sequenom MassARRAY, we detected the genotypes of the DNMT1 polymorphisms rs16999593 and rs2228611 and the DNMT3B polymorphism rs2424908, followed by analysis of their association with the risk and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer by logistic regression.Significant differences were found in the frequency of the rs16999593 genotypes (P = 0.041) and that of the rs2424908 genotypes (P = 0.025) between the case and control groups. The frequencies of the genotypes rs16999593CT (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.99, P = 0.043) and rs16999593CT/CC (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.92, P = 0.017) were obviously higher in the control than in the case group, and so were those of rs2424908CT (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.91, P = 0.007) and rs2424908CT/CC (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.94, P = 0.023). The frequencies of rs16999593CT/CC (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.28-0.85, P = 0.008) and rs2424908CT/CC (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.85, P = 0.009) were evidently lower in the cases with Gleason score7 than in the controls. However, none of the three polymorphisms ex hibited any significant differences in the frequencies of their genotypes between the patients with Gleason score7 and the healthy con trols (P0.05).The rs16999593CT/CC genotype of DNMT1 and the rs2424908CT/CC genotype of DNMT3B are as sociated with decreased risk of prostate cancer and lower Gleason score in C.

To investigate the effect of Helicobacter Pylori lipopolysaccharide (Hp-LPS) on expression of Gli and Ptch-1 proteins in sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway of gastric mucosa GES-1 cells.The LPS was extracted from Hp by hot phenol water method, and then the concentration of LPS was detected by the kinetic turbidimetric assay. GES-1 cells were stimulated by different concentrations of Hp-LPS (0, 1, 10, 20, 30 and 40 μg/ml). The inhibition rates of cell growth were measured by MTT assay after treated with Hp-LPS for 24 h. The expression of Gli and Ptch-1 proteins were determined by Western Blot.MTT assay showed that the inhibition rates of GES-1 cell growth after treatment by different concentrations of Hp-LPS (1, 10, 20, 30 and 40μg/ml) were 25.8% ± 2.7%, 34.2% ± 3.1 %, 46.3% 3.4%, 60.8% ± 2.1% and 82.9% ± 2.8% respectively (r=0.985, P0.001). Western blot showed that the expressions of Gli and Ptch-1 proteins were decreased after Hp-LPS treatment (0, 1, 10, 20, 30 and 40 μg/ml): the relative expression values of Gli were 1.286 ± 0.180, 0.963 ± 0.067, 0.850 ± 0.085, 0.566 ± 0.058, 0.549 ± 0.056 and 0.377 ± 0.047, respectively (r=-0.945, P0.001); those of Ptch-1 were 1.688 ± 0.088, 1.466 ± 0.061, 1.170 ± 0.065, 1.042 ± 0.064, 0.648 ± 0.057 and 0.482 ± 0.074, respectively (r=-0.985, P0.001).Hp-LPS can decrease the related protein expression of Shh signaling pathway, which indicates that Hp may interfere with the function of Shh signaling pathway in gastric mucosa via the effect of its LPS.

Summary Multidrug resistance protein 3 (MPR3), encoded by the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C (CFTR/MRP), member 3 (ABCC3) gene, functions as an important drug efflux transporter. The ABCC3 –211C/T polymorphism is associated with decreased MRP3 mRNA expression, and low MRP3 mRNA expression is associated with increased clopidogrel response in patients. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the –211C/T polymorphism is associated with altered antiplatelet effects and clinical outcomes in clopidogrel-treated patients. A subcohort of 249 patients not carrying the CYP2C19*2, *3 or *17 variant was identified from a total of 617 consecutive clopidogrel-treated patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and then categorized into three groups on the basis of their ABCC3 –211C/T genotype. Baseline data, clinical characteristics and DNA samples were collected for all patients. Light transmittance aggregometry was used to determine ADP-induced maximum platelet aggregation (MPA) in blood samples obtained from patients on Day 3 after starting daily clopidogrel maintenance doses. Genotyping of CYP2C19*2, *3 and *17 variants and the ABCC3 –211C/T polymorphism was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The primary clinical end-point was a definite stent thrombosis (ST) episode, whereas secondary end-points were other major adverse cardiovascular events within 12 months after stenting. There were no differences in MPA values according to ABCC3 –211C/T genotype. A multiple linear regression model revealed that the ABCC3 –211C/T polymorphism was not independently associated with ADP-induced MPA measurements; a multiple logistic regression model revealed that carrying the ABCC3 –211C allele was not associated with the risk of developing an ST event in clopidogrel-treated patients not harbouring CYP2C19*2, *3 and *17 variants. In conclusion, the ABCC3 –211C/T polymorphism seems not to be associated with altered antiplatelet effects and clinical outcomes in clopidogrel-treated patients.

It is well known that CYP2C19*2/*2 is associated with attenuated response to clopidogrel, but recent findings indicated that in white patients, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) 192Q/Q was a major determinant of clopidogrel efficacy. The objective of this research was to assess the impact of PON1 Q192R polymorphism on the maximum platelet aggregation (MPA) and the anti-platelet effect of clopidogrel in clopidogrel-treated Chinese stroke patients. The study recruited 183 eligible Chinese stroke patients treated with a loading dose of 300-mg clopidogrel and a 75-mg daily maintenance dose. CYP2C19*2 and PON1 Q192R were genotyped, a subcohort of 13 patients with CYP2C19 *2/*2 genotype was excluded. Finally 170 patients with CYP2C19*1/*1 (wild-type homozygotes, n = 87) or CYP2C19*1/*2 (mutant heterozygotes, n = 83) were enrolled in the study population. These patients were divided into three groups according to their PON1 Q192R genotype: wild-type homozygotes, PON1 192QQ, n = 17; mutant heterozygotes, PON1 192QR, n = 81; mutant homozygotes, PON1 192RR, n = 72. MPA was measured by light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) to assess platelet function after seven 75-mg maintenance doses of clopidogrel before discharge. In those patients who were carriers of 1 mutant allele (PON1 Q/R192), ADP-induced MPA were not significantly different compared with wild-type homozygous patients [30.5% (IQR, 17.5 to 49.1%) versus 25.0% (IQR, 10.0 to 52.5%), respectively; P = 0.910]. In addition, in the patients who were carriers of the 2 mutant allele (PON1 R/R192), MPA were also not significantly different from wild-type homozygous patients [29.2% (IQR, 15.0 to 43.4%) versus 25.0% (IQR, 10.0 to 52.5%), respectively; P = 0.717]. Results of a multivariable linear regression model demonstrated that PON1 192R allele carriage was not independently associated with ADP-induced MPA measurements (P = 0.408). PON1 Q192R polymorphism does not seem to exhibit any impact on MPA and clopidogrel response at all.

Bleeding complications and delayed healing of gastric ulcer associated with use of clopidogrel is a common clinical concern; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. This study aimed to clarify whether clopidogrel could cause the damage of the human gastric epithelial cells and to further elucidate the mechanisms involved. After human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1 had been treated with clopidogrel (0.5-2.5 mM), the cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay, apoptosis was measured with DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis, and the barrier function of the tight junctions (TJ) was evaluated by permeability measurement and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, expression of the TJ proteins occludin and ZO-1 and the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38, ERK, and JNK were examined by western blot. In addition, three MAPK inhibitors specific to p38, ERK and JNK were used, respectively, to verify the signaling pathways responsible for regulating the expression of the TJ proteins being tested. Results showed that clopidogrel significantly increased dextran permeability, induced apoptosis, suppressed GES-1 cell viability, and reduced the expression of the TJ proteins (occludin and ZO-1), acting through p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, these observed effects were partially abolished by SB-203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), rather than by either U-0126 (an ERK inhibitor) or SP-600125 (a JNK inhibitor), suggesting that clopidogrel-induced disruption in the gastric epithelial cells is mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway. It is concluded that attenuated expression of the TJ proteins occludin and ZO-1 in human gastric epithelial cells could be involved in clopidogrel-induced gastric mucosal injury through activation of the p38 MAPK pathway.

To investigate the serum levels of sCD44v6 and sE-cadherin (sE-cad) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.The serum samples were collected from 65 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 32 cases of erosive esophagitis and 35 healthy subjects. Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The mean levels of serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients were significantly higher than those of erosive esophagitis patients and normal controls (both P0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels between erosive esophagitis patients normal controls (P=0.566 and P=0.708, respectively). Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels of esophageal cancer patients were not correlated with their clinicopathological features. Serum sCD44v6 level is not correlated with sE-cad level in squamous cell carcinoma patients(P=0.651).Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad might be a potential marker for screening of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

To explore the correlation between the polymorphism in the DNA methyltransferase-3B (DNMT3B) gene promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-149C→T (rs2424913) and-579G→T(rs1569686) and the genetic susceptibility to colorectal cancer in Jiangsu population.Genomic DNA was extracted from the leukocyte cell of blood samples collected from 544 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (including 280 cases of colon cancer and 264 cases of rectal cancer) since January 2009 and July 2010, in a hospital, Jiangsu Province. The same samples were collected from the other 533 control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing analysis were employed to assess the polymorphism of DNMT3B gene promoter-149C→T and-579G→T.For DNMT3B-149C→T, no significant deviation was observed in the genotype distributions of polymorphisms between CRC cases (TT: 98.90% (538/544); CT: 1.10% (6/544)) and controls (TT: 97.75% (521/533); CT: 2.25% (12/533)) (χ(2) = 2.07, P = 0.15). The CC genotype was not detected in either patients or control subjects. The DNMT3B-149CT genotype was not associated with the risk of CRC (adjusted OR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.18 - 1.30). For DNMT3B-579G→T, the genotype distributions of polymorphisms in CRC patients (TT: 90.07% (490/544); GT: 9.19% (50/544); GG: 0.74% (4/544)) were significantly different from those in control group (TT: 81.80% (436/533); GT: 17.82% (95/533); GG: 0.38% (2/533)) (χ(2) = 15.49, P0.05). The results showed that the-579 G allele could significantly decrease the risk of CRC (adjusted OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.35 - 0.72) in comparison with the -579 TT genotype. In addition, stratification analysis showed that for DNMT3B-579G→T, the genotype distributions of polymorphisms in colon cancer (TT: 92.50% (259/280); GT: 7.50% (21/280)) were significantly different from those in the controls (TT: 81.80% (436/533); GT: 17.82% (95/533); GG: 0.38% (2/533)) (χ(2) = 13.53, P0.05); and similar result was found in rectal cancer (TT: 87.50% (231/264); GT: 10.98% (29/264); GG: 1.52% (4/264)) and controls (TT: 81.80% (436/533); GT: 17.82% (95/533); GG: 0.38% (2/533)) (χ(2) = 5.64, P = 0.018). G allele carriers could decrease the risk of colon cancer (adjusted OR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.23 - 0.63), and the risk of rectal cancer (adjusted OR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.42 - 0.99). However, for DNMT3B-149C→T , there were no significant deviation in the genotype distributions of polymorphisms between colon cancer (TT: 98.57% (276/280); CT: 1.43% (4/280)) and controls (TT: 97.75% (521/533); CT: 2.25% (12/533)) (χ(2) = 0.82, P = 0.366); and there was no significant deviation between rectal cancer (TT: 99.24% (262/264); CT: 0.76% (2/264)) and controls (TT: 97.75% (521/533); CT: 2.25% (12/533)) either (χ(2) = 1.89, P = 0.169).Our research demonstrates that the-579 G allele is a potential protective factor for the occurrence of CRC, however, the polymorphism of DNMT3B-149 gene shows no close correlation with the occurrence and development of CRC among Chinese population.

To explore the feasibility of IGF2 imprinting system in target gene therapy for tumors.The mouse H19 enhancer, DMD and promoter H19 were amplified by PCR from mouse genomic DNA and then cloned into the plasmid pDC312. The EGFP and DT-A fragments were amplified by PCR and cloned into the recombinant plasmid, and then the shuttle plasmid were transfected into HEK293 cells together with the adenoviral vector Ad5, namely, Ad-EGFP and Ad-DT-A. Adenovirus hexon gene expression was applied to confirm the presence of adenovirus infections. The effect of the IGF2 imprinting system was tested by fluorescence microscopy. RT-PCR and Western blotting after transfection of the recombinant adenoviral vectors into cancer cells were used to show loss of IGF2 imprinting (LOI) and maintenance of IGF2 imprinting (MOI), respectively. The anti-tumor effect was assessed by MTT and flow cytometry after the HCT-8 (LOI). Human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 (MOI) and human normal gastric epithelial GES-1 (MOI) cell line were transfected with Ad-DT-A in vitro. The anti-tumor effect was detected by injecting the Ad-DT-A in nude mice carrying HCT-8 tumors.The expression of EGFP protein, DT-A mRNA and DT-A protein were seen to be positive only in the HCT-8 tumor cell line. Infection with Ad-DT-A resulted in obviously growth inhibition in HCT-8 cells (75.4 ± 6.4)% compared with that in the control group, and increased the percentage of apoptosis in the HCT-8 cells (20.8 ± 5.9)%. The anti-tumor effect was further confirmed by injecting the recombinant adenoviruses in HCT-8 tumor-bearing nude mice, and the results showed that the Ad-DT-A inhibited the tumor growth, with on inhibition rate of 36.4%.The recombinant adenoviruses carrying IGF2 imprinting system and DT-A gene have been successfully constructed, while Ad-DT-A can effectively kill the tumor cells showing loss of IGF2 imprinting. It might play an important role in future target gene therapy against malignant tumors based on loss of IGF2 imprinting.

ObjectiveIntrathyroid injection of dexamethasone (DEX) has been used to treat Graves' disease (GD); however, the mechanism of this treatment remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of DEX on the function of regulatory T (Treg) cells (CD4+CD25+T cells) in patients with GD.MethodsPeripheral blood was obtained from 20 patients with GD, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by Ficoll–Hypaque density gradient separation. CD4+CD25–/CD4+CD25+T cells were isolated by immunomagnetic selection and DEX was co-cultured with PBMCs or isolated T-cells for 72 h. Treg cell function was analyzed using the proliferation rate of CD4+CD25–T cells.ResultsThe proportion of Treg cells and the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) mRNA expression in PBMCs decreased in GD patients compared with healthy subjects, and Treg cell function was impaired in patients with GD. Although the proportion of Treg cells and FOXP3 mRNA expression in PBMCs did not increase, the function of Treg cells improved after the treatment with DEX. Moreover, the proportion of T-helper 2 (Th2) cells was decreased by the DEX treatment.ConclusionsDEX could effectively improve the function of Treg cells and set up a new balance of Th1/Th2 in GD patients. This study might help to further understand the immune mechanism of the intrathyroid injection of DEX in the treatment of GD and facilitate the potential use of this therapy.

To investigate the changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper cells (Th1/Th2) in peripheral blood and their roles in the severity evaluation in children with asthma.One hundred and fifty children with asthma were classified into acute attack (94 cases) and remission (56 cases) groups according to their clinical features, and the acute attack children were subdivided into mild asthma (54 cases) and severe asthma (40 cases) groups. Fifty healthy children were enrolled as a control group. The levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg, CD4+IFN-γ+ Th1 and CD4+IL-4+ Th2 in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometer.The mean levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in asthmatic children were lower than those in the control group (P0.01). The Treg levels and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in the acute attack group were lower than those in the remission group and in the control group (P0.01). The Treg levels in the severe asthma group were lower than those in the mild asthma group (P0.01). There was a remarkably negative correlation between Treg levels and the asthma severity (r=-0.737, P0.01), and the Th1/Th2 ratio was also negatively correlated with the asthma severity (r=-0.615, P0.01). The Treg levels were positively correlated with the Th1/Th2 ratio (r=0.856, P0.01).The Treg levels decrease remarkably and Th subsets imbalance occurs in children with asthma. This suggests that Treg and Th immunity play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. The Treg levels and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood may be useful in the evaluation of severity in children with asthma.

To explore the relationship of the endometriosis susceptibility and polymorphism of up stream of IL-10 promoter at the site of 1082(G→A), 819(C→T) and 592(C→A).A total of 214 patients with endometriosis and 160 healthy individuals were enrolled and divided into patient group and control group in this study. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was applied to detect the base transition in the up stream of IL-10 promoter at the site of 1082(G→A), 819(C→T) and 592(C→A). SPSS11.0 software was applied to analysis frequencies of all genotypes.There was no difference in polymorphism of IL-10-1082 between the endometriosis (AA: 87.90%, GA: 12.10%) and control group (AA: 87.50%, GA: 12.50%). The rate of TT, CT and CC genotype IL-10-819 was the same as the AA, CA and CC individually. There was no difference in the polymorphism of IL-10-819 or IL-10-592 between the endometriosis group (TT or AA: 41.12%, CT or CA: 47.66%, CC: 11.21%) and control group (χ(2) = 5.87, P = 0.053). However, there were significant difference in the genotype of CT of IL-10-819 or CA of IL-10-592 between the endometriosis group and control group (after adjust OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.10 - 3.21, χ(2) = 5.24, P = 0.021), and the allele C of IL-10-819 or IL-10-592 were close related with occurrence of endometriosis (OR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.04 - 1.95, χ(2) = 4.81, P = 0.028). The IL-10 level in the plasma of endometriosis group with genotype of CC (CC), CT (CA) of IL-10-819(-592) were significant higher than those with TT (AA) (CA/CT: (50.12 ± 82.40) pg/ml, CC: (91.00 ± 118.23) pg/ml, TT/AA: (21.45 ± 22.10) pg/ml) (F = 2.492, P = 0.048; F = 1.852, P = 0.008).The allele C of IL-10-819 or IL-10-592 was close related to the high level expression of IL-10, and it is the risk of the occurrence of endometriosis.

Background CD147 is a widely distributed cell surface glycoprotein that belongs to the Ig superfamily. CD147 has been implicated in numerous physiological and pathological activities. Enriched on the surface of many tumor cells, CD147 promotes tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis and confers resistance to some chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we investigated the possible role of CD147 in the progression of gastric cancer. Methods Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing vectors targeting CD147 were constructed and transfected into human gastric cancer cells SGC7901 and CD147 expression was monitored by quantitative realtime RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation, the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, the invasive potential and chemosensitivity to cisplatin of SGC7901 cells were determined by MTT, gelatin zymography, Transwell invasion assay and MTT, respectively. Results Down-regulation of CD147 by RNAi approach led to decreased cell proliferation, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and invasive potential of SGC7901 cells as well as increased chemosensitivity to cisplatin. Conclusion CD147 involves in proliferation, invasion and chemosensitivity of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901, indicating that CD147 may be a promising therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Chronic exposure to high levels of free fatty acid (FFA) has adverse effects on the function of pancreatic beta-cell, with a consequent increase in the production of reactive oxygen species. Poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) overactivation leads to massive NAD(+) consumption and ATP depletion with induction of cellular necrosis under high reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we investigated whether inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase were capable of protecting beta-cells from death induced by extended exposure to FFA.RINm5F cell line was cultured in the presence of FFA (palmitate) in order to induce apoptosis, and then cells were treated with low-potency poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (3-aminobenzamide) or potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PJ34). In order to explore whether poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors could inhibit the apoptosis induced by FFA, expression of PARP-1 was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot, while the apoptosis of RINm5F cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and Tdt-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling(TUNEL).Low-potency poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (3-aminobenzamide) significantly suppressed the impaired insulin secretion and FFA-induced apoptosis (P0.01). However, potent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PJ34) had no significant effects on FFA-induced apoptosis (P0.05). Moreover, low-potency inhibitors of PARP-1 increased PDX-1 expression down-regulated by FFA-treatment.These findings suggested that low-potency inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases could protect rat RINm5F cell line against free fatty acid-induced apoptosis, and it was through regulatory pathway of regulating PDX-1 expression.

To observe the sensitivity of the PC-3 cell lines transfected with the PCI-NEO-SNCG plasmid to Cisplatin (DDP), 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Adriamycin (ADM), Vincristine (VCR) and Paclitaxel (TAX), and to explore the influence of the SNCG expression on the effectiveness of anti-tumor drugs.The plasmids PCI-NEO and PCI-NEO-SNCG were transfected into the hormone-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC-3. RT-PCR was adopted to examine the expression of SNCG in the PC-3 cell lines. The MTT method was employed to detect the suppressive effects of different anti-tumor drugs (DDP, ADM, 5-FU, VCR and TAX) on the cell lines transfected with PCI-NEO and PCI-NEO-SNCG. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycles and apoptosis of the transfected cells treated with TAX.The 5 anti-tumor drugs suppressed the growth of the cell lines transfected with the plasmids PCI-NEO and PCI-NEO-SNCG in a time-dependant manner. The comparison between the growth-suppressing effects of different anti-tumor drugs on the PC-3 cell lines showed no significant differences between the group transfected with PCI-NEO and that with PCI-NEO-SNCG in DDP, 5-FU, ADM and VCR (P0.05), while the rate of suppression of TAX on the latter cell lines was significantly lower than that on the former (P0.01). Compared with the PCI-NEO-SNCG plasmid transfected cell lines, after treated with TAX for 48 hours, those transfected with the PCI-NEO plasmid exhibited a significantly larger proportion of cells remaining in the G2-M stage (P0.01), a smaller proportion in the G0-G1 and S stages (P0.01) and a significantly higher expression of Caspase-3 (P0.01).The significant reduction of the growth-suppressing effect of TAX in the SNCG-transfected PC-3 cell lines suggests that the expression of SNCG may restrain the effect of TAX. These findings have provided evidence and guide to the individual chemotherapy of prostate cancer.

To investigate the effects of the epidermal growth factor on the mRNA expression of endothelin-1 and its receptors (ET(A)R, ET(B)R) in hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) PC-3 cell lines.PC-3 cells were cultured in vitro. After the treatment with EGF, the mRNA expressions of endothelin-1, ET(A)R and ET(B)R were detected by RT-PCR in PC-3 cell lines. The levels of the mRNA expression of endothelin-1 and its receptors were examined at different time points by RT-PCR.The expressions of endothelin-1 and ET(A)R mRNA but not the mRNA expression of ET(B)R was observed in PC-3 cell lines. After 24 hours of treatment with EGF, the expressions of endothelin-1 and ET(A)R in PC-3 cell lines were both up-regulated and there was significant difference (P0.05) between the experimental and control groups. Different expression levels of endothelin-1 and ET(A)R mRNA were noted at different time points of EGF intervention, up-regulated with the increase of treatment time, and with significant difference (P0.05).EGF can up-regulate the mRNA expressions of endothelin-1 and ET(A)R in PC-3 cell lines and play a great role in prostate cancer progression, which may offer a substructure of molecular biology for the treatment of HRPC.