Search

Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to play important roles in the development and progression of various tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the molecular role of lncRNAs in GC progression remains unclear. Aim To investigate the differential expression of lncRNAs in human GC and elucidate the function and regulatory mechanism of LINC02407. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to investigate the involvement of lncRNAs in GC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to estimate the relative expression level of LINC02407 in GC tissues and cells. Functional experiments including CCK8 assay, apoptosis assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were used to investigate the effect of LINC02407 on GC cells. Some microRNAs were predicted and verified via bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase reporter system. Predictive analysis and Western blot assay were used to analyze the expression of related proteins. Results Many differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in GC, and some of them including LINC02407 can affect the survival. LINC02407 was upregulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues. HGC-27 cells showed the highest LINC02407 expression and HaCaT cells exhibited the lowest expression. Different experiment groups were constructed using LINC02407 overexpressing plasmids and related siRNAs. The results of functional experiments showed that LINC02407 can promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells but inhibit apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa-miR-6845-5p and hsa-miR-4455 was downstream regulated by LINC02407. Western blot analysis showed that adhesion G protein-coupled receptor D1 (ADGRD1) was regulated by the LINC02407-miR-6845-5p/miR-4455-ADGRD1 pathways. Conclusion LINC02407 plays a role in GC through the LINC02407-miR-6845-5p/miR-4455-ADGRD1 pathways, and thus, it may be an important oncogene and has potential value in GC diagnosis and treatment.

Aim To investigate the activation of autophagy in rat retina after optic nerve crush (ONC) and evaluate its relationship with apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Methods The ONC model was established. Western blots were performed to investigate expression of p62, LC3 and Beclin-1. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to discover the autophagosomes in the retina after ONC. Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the distribution of LC3. TUNEL was performed to confirm the relationship between autophagy and RGC apoptosis. Results p62/Beclin-1 ratio was declined shortly after ONC until to day 7 after ONC and then restored to a normal level at day 21. There was an opposite change in the LC3-II/LC3I ratio in the retina compared to the p62/Beclin-1 ratio. Increased autophagosomes were found after ONC using transmission electron microscopy, and most of the LC3-stained cells were colocalized with RGCs and Muller cells. More LC3-immunoreactive cells and apoptotic RGCs were found on day 7 following ONC. Conclusion Possible activation of autophagy in RGCs after ONC; autophagy mainly occurred in RGCs and Muller cells, and the apoptosis of RGCs after ONC may be partly associated with autophagic activation.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the application of transesophageal echocardiography, left atrial appendage angiography, cardiac computed tomography angiography, and three-dimensional reconstruction model in the left atrial appendage occlusion. Methods: A total of 53 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation hospitalized from January 2015 to February 2019 were selected. Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography angiography were performed simultaneously before operation, and three-dimensional reconstruction of the left atrial appendage model was performed based on the cardiac computed tomography angiography findings. The morphology and size of the left atrial appendage were displayed by the left atrial appendage angiography during the operation. Results: Cardiac computed tomography angiography revealed filling defects in the left atrial appendage in four patients, whereas transesophageal echocardiography revealed thrombosis in two patients of the four patients. According to the cardiac computed tomography angiography results, the morphology of the left atrial appendage was classified into chicken wing–like, cauliflower-like, wind vane–like, and cactus-like. The diameters and depths of the left atrial appendage measured by cardiac computed tomography angiography and three-dimensional reconstruction model were found to be the greatest, and the orifice sizes and depths of the left atrial appendage measured by the left atrial appendage angiography were the smallest. Conclusion: Transesophageal echocardiography, left atrial appendage angiography, cardiac computed tomography angiography, and three-dimensional reconstruction model can evaluate the morphology and size of the left atrial appendage. The cardiac computed tomography angiography and three-dimensional reconstruction model could demonstrate the internal structure of the left atrial appendage more clearly.

This study sought to identify sources of the reduced fertility of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Significant reductions in semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count were observed in diabetic individuals, while transmission electron microscopy revealed that the structure of mitochondria in the tail of sperm from diabetic patients was damaged. Proteins potentially associated with these sperm defects were identified using proteomics. Isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry allowed us to identify 357 proteins significantly differentially expressed in diabetic versus control semen (>1.2 or

The decomposition of nitramines explosives have been of great interest for a long time. However, theoretical investigations have concentrated mainly on unimolecular decomposition whereas bimolecular reactions have received only little attention. In this paper, the bimolecular reaction between NO2 with s-triazine (TAZ), which is an initial product during the decomposition process of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) is investigated. The structures and potential energy surface (PES) are explored at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and B3P86/6-31G(d,p) levels, and the energies are refined using the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ methods. The mechanism of the reaction is analyzed. Quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the title reactions possess small barriers that can be similar to, or smaller than that of initial decomposition reactions of RDX, which suggests that bimolecular reactions are also of great importance, and should be further investigated. Moreover, the kinetics were investigated to verify the proposed mechanism of the reaction.

Three novel strains, RITF741T, RITF1220 and RITF909, isolated from root nodules of Acacia melanoxylon in Guangdong Province of China, have been previously identified as members of the genus Mesorhizobium, displaying the same 16S rRNA gene RFLP pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the three strains belong to the genus Mesorhizobium and had highest similarity (100.0 %) to Mesorhizobium plurifarium LMG 11892T. Phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII revealed that these strains represented a distinct evolutionary lineage within the genus Mesorhizobium. Strain RITF741T showed >73 % DNA–DNA relatedness with strains RITF1220 and RITF909, but Mesorhizobium. They differed from each other and from their closest phylogenetic neighbours by presence/absence of several fatty acids, or by large differences in the relative amounts of particular fatty acids. While showing distinctive features, they were generally able to utilize a wide range of substrates as sole carbon sources based on API 50CH and API 20NE tests. The three strains were able to form nodules with the original host Acacia melanoxylon and other woody legumes such as Acacia aneura, Albizia falcataria and Leucaena leucocephala. In conclusion, these strains represent a novel species belonging to the genus Mesorhizobium based on the data obtained in the present and previous studies, for which the name Mesorhizobium acaciae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RITF741T ( = CCBAU 101090T = JCM 30534T), the DNA G+C content of which is 64.1 mol% (T m).

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a well-known calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein widely distributed in the nucleus, cytoplasm and extracellular surface of various eukaryotic cells. It has been recognized as a pleiotropic protein affecting a wide range of molecular and cellular processes. Dysregulation and abnormal expression of ANXA2 are linked to a large number of prevalent diseases, including autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease, antiphospholipid syndrome, inflammation, diabetes mellitus and a series of cancers. Accumulating data suggest that ANXA2 is aberrantly expressed in a wide spectrum of cancers, and exerts profound effects on tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis as well as tumor neovascularization via different modes of action. However, despite significant research, our knowledge of the mechanism by which ANXA2 participates in cancer development remains fragmented. The present review systematically summarizes the effects of ANXA2 on tumor progression, in an attempt to gain an improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to provide a potential effective target for cancer therapy.

The mechanisms for the acetylene hydrochlorination reaction on pristine Au7 and Au8 clusters and on the Si-doped Au clusters Au6Si and Au7Si were systematically investigated via density functional theory using the PBE functional. The band gap (∆Eg) of the Au7Si cluster was found to smaller than that of its undoped equivalent (Au8), thus enhancing its catalytic activity, and Au7Si presented a significantly reduced activation barrier (16.69 kcal mol−1) for the acetylene hydrochlorination reaction compared with the pristine Au8 cluster (21.83 kcal mol−1). On the other hand, the activation barrier for the acetylene hydrochlorination reaction was not lower for the Au6Si cluster than for the pristine Au7 cluster because the band gap (∆Eg) of Au6Si was found to be larger than that of Au7. Hence, the current work shows that the catalytic activities of gold clusters can be systematically modified by doping them. Our findings also suggest how to enhance the acetylene hydrochlorination reaction by doping foreign atoms into Au clusters.

Three slow-growing rhizobial strains, designated RITF806T, RITF807 and RITF211, isolated from root nodules of Acacia melanoxylon grown in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi Province, China, had been previously defined, based on amplified 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis, as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium . To clarify their taxonomic position, these strains were further analysed and compared with reference strains of related bacteria using a polyphasic approach. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates formed a group that was closely related to ‘Bradyrhizobium rifense’ CTAW71, with a similarity value of 99.9 %. In phylogenetic analyses of the housekeeping and symbiotic gene sequences, the three strains formed a distinct lineage within the genus Bradyrhizobium , which was consistent with the results of DNA–DNA hybridization. In analyses of cellular fatty acids and phenotypic features, some differences were found between the novel group and related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium , indicating that these three strains constituted a novel group distinct from any recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium . Based on the data obtained in this study, we conclude that our strains represent a novel species of the genus Bradyrhizobium , for which the name Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense sp. nov. is proposed, with RITF806T ( = CCBAU 101088T = JCM 19881T) as the type strain. The DNA G+C content of strain RITF806T is 64.6 mol% (T m).

Accumulating evidence suggests that peroxiredoxins (Prx) are key molecules in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases and are potential therapeutic targets for major diseases such as cancers. In this study, we report a peroxiredoxin IV (Prx IV) in Marsupenaeus japonicus, designated as MjPrx IV, which exhibited peroxidase activity and participated in the anti-white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) immune response. MjPrx IV is a 245-amino acid polypeptide with a predicted 19-amino acid signal peptide, an Ahpc-TSA domain, and a 1-Cys PrxC domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the protein belongs to the Prx IV subfamily. MjPrx IV transcripts were detected in the gills, hepatopancreas, heart, stomach, ovaries, spermary, and intestine tissues, and are upregulated in the gonads, gills and hemocytes of shrimp after WSSV challenge. The mature MjPrx IV peptide was recombinantly expressed in an Escherichia coli system. The protein exhibited peroxidase activity. Furthermore, dsRNA suppression of MjPrx IV increased WSSV replication in shrimp, whereas rMjPrx IV injection into shrimp decreased WSSV replication. These data suggest that MjPrx IV has an important role in shrimp antiviral immunity. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report a shrimp Prx IV that has anti-WSSV activity.

Death-associated protein 1 (DAP1) is a small proline-rich cytoplasmic protein that functions both in the apoptosis and autophage process of mammalian and in the clinical cancer of human. However, little knowledge is known about the homologue gene of DAP1 and its roles in the physiological process of invertebrates. In this paper, we report a novel function of DAP1 in the antivirus immunity of shrimp. A homologue gene of DAP1 was cloned from Marsupenaeus japonicus and named as Mjdap-1. The full-length of Mjdap-1 was 1761 bp with a 309 bp open reading frame that encoded 102 amino acids. Reverse transcription-PCR results showed that Mjdap-1 was expressed in all tested tissues, including hemocytes, gills, intestines, stomach, heart, hepatopancreas, testes, and ovaries. In shrimp, Mjdap-1 transcripts were up-regulated by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection; Mjdap-1 knockdown decreased the virus copy in vivo and the mortality of M. japonicus to WSSV challenge. Conversely, injecting the purified recombinant MjDAP1 protein promoted the amplification of virus in shrimp. Flow cytometric assay showed, the virus infection-induced apoptosis of hemocytes was enhanced by MjDAP1 protein injection and inhibited in MjDAP1 knockdown shrimp. Furthermore, the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was regulated by Mjdap-1, but the caspase transcripts were not affected. Our results suggested that MjDAP1 facilitated the amplification of virus in shrimp, which may be attributed to the promotion of hemocyte apoptosis in an AIF-dependent manner. These results provided a new insight into the function of this protein that may be used for virus disease control.

Background: Type I diabetes is a global public health concern that affects young people of reproductive age and can damage oocytes, reducing their maturation rate and blocking embryonic development. Understanding the effects of type I diabetes on oocytes is important to facilitate the maintenance of reproductive capacity in female diabetic patients. Methods: To analyze the effects of type I diabetes on mammalian oocytes, protein profile changes in mice with streptozotocin-induced type I diabetes were investigated using proteomic tools; non-diabetic mouse oocytes were used as controls. Immunofluorescence analysis for the spindle and mitochondria of oocytes. Results: We found that type I diabetes severely disturbed the metabolic processes of mouse oocytes. We also observed significant changes in levels of histone H1, H2A/B, and H3 variants in diabetic oocytes (fold change: > 0.4 or < -0.4), with the potential to block activation of the zygotic genome and affect early embryo development. Furthermore, diabetic oocytes exhibited higher abnormal spindle formation and spatial remodeling of mitochondria than observed in the controls. Conclusion: Our results indicate that type I diabetes disrupts metabolic processes, spindle formation, mitochondria distribution and modulates epigenetic code in oocytes. Such effects could have a major impact on the reproductive dynamics of female patients with type I diabetes.

a series of new heteroleptic iridium(iii) complexes [ir(c?n)2(n?n)]pf6 (1-6) (each with two cyclometalating c?n ligands and one neutral n?n ancillary ligand, where c?n = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy), 5-methyl-2-(4-fluoro)phenylpyridine (f-mppy), and n?n = 2,2'-dipyridyl (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-dipyridy (dphphen) were found to have rich photophysical properties. theoretical calculations are employed for studying the photophysical and electrochemical properties. all complexes are investigated using density functional theory. excited singlet and triplet states are examined using time-dependent density functional theory. the low-lying excited-state geometries are optimized at the ab initio configuration interaction singles level. then, the excited-state properties are investigated in detail, including absorption and emission properties, photoactivation processes. the excited state of complexes is complicated and contains triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer, triplet ligand-to-ligand charge transfer simultaneously. importantly, the absorption spectra and emission maxima can be tuned significantly by changing the n?n ligands and c?n ligands. (c) 2011 wiley periodicals, inc. int j quantum chem, 2012

The vector correlations between products and reagents for the reactions C(1D) + H2 and C(1D) + HD at the collision energy of 16.0 kJ/mol have been studied by using the quasi-classical trajectories on an ab initio potential energy surface (Bussery-Honvault et al., J Chem Phys 2001, 115, 10701) of 1A′ symmetry. The isotope effect on the product rotational polarization for the C(1D) + H2 and its isotopic reactions is discussed in detail. The calculated results have shown that the product CH mainly tends to backward–forward symmetric for both reactions. Also, the product rotational angular momentum vector j′ is not only aligned but also preferentially oriented along the direction of the y-axis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011

The intriguing decompositions of nitro-containing explosives have been attracting interest. While theoretical investigations have long been concentrated mainly on unimolecular decompositions, bimolecular reactions have received little theoretical attention. In this paper, we investigate theoretically the bimolecular reactions between nitromethane (CH3NO2)—the simplest nitro-containing explosive—and its decomposition products, such as NO2, NO and CO, that are abundant during the decomposition process of CH3NO2. The structures and potential energy surface (PES) were explored at B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3P86/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-311 + G(d,p) levels, and energies were refined using CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ methods. Quantum chemistry calculations revealed that the title reactions possess small barriers that can be comparable to, or smaller than, that of the initial decomposition reactions of CH3NO2. Considering that their reactants are abundant in the decomposition process of CH3NO2, we consider bimolecular reactions also to be of great importance, and worthy of further investigation. Moreover, our calculations show that NO2 can be oxidized by CH3NO2 to NO3 radical, which confirms the conclusion reached formerly by Irikura and Johnson [(2006) J Phys Chem A 110:13974–13978] that NO3 radical can be formed during the decomposition of nitramine explosives.

Non-pasteurized soil or soil-based rooting media are being used to raise eucalypts in nurseries in south China. It is unclear whether these practices are optimal for the growth of eucalypt plants or the development of ectomycorrhizal associations. Therefore, there is a need to optimize nursery practices to meet the demand for high quality seedlings and clonal lines of Eucalyptus urophylla and hybrids, for outplanting in the region. Inoculation with spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi is accepted as desirable due to potential yield benefits in the field. Previous studies have shown that spores of some collections of Scleroderma are vigorous colonizers on E. urophylla seedlings. These could be used in inoculation programs in China if nursery conditions were suitable for ectomycorrhizal development and the fungi persisted in the field. Therefore, effects of rooting medium and inoculation with Scleroderma on the growth of E. urophylla were examined in a nursery in south China. A complete randomized block design consisting of five rooting media and eight fungal inoculation (six fungi in non-sterile media, two uninoculated controls either in non-sterile or sterile media) was used. Four types of soil taken from eucalypt plantations in south China were compared to a potting mix with vermiculite, peat and sand. Spores of six Scleroderma taxa were taken from basidiomes collected from under eucalypt plantations in Western Australia and south China. Soil substrates significantly affected the growth of seedlings with large variation in both height and biomass. Seedlings grown in the potting mix were larger (90–220% in shoot height, and 110–420% in total dry weight) than those in soil. Inoculation with spores of Scleroderma to non-sterile soil generally promoted the growth of seedlings and their nutrient acquisition. Inoculation increased the growth of seedlings by 19–55% in shoot height and 25–41% in total biomass, compared to uninoculated plants in each soil. Although the ability to form ectomycorrhizas varied considerably between spore collections, most Scleroderma taxa vigorously colonized roots. However, the potting media significantly influenced the extent of colonization by Scleroderma. Some 58% of short roots were infected by Scleroderma in the potting mix, whilst only 12–18% of short roots were ectomycorrhizal in the granitic loam and the red clay. The three Australian collections generally colonized a larger proportion of short roots of plants than those from China origin, especially when plants were grown in the potting mix or lateritic loam. In conclusion, the potting mix was better than soil in promoting growth of plants and mycorrhization from Scleroderma spores, and five collections of Scleroderma were able to form ectomycorrhizas in non-pasteurized field soil under nursery conditions. The inoculant Scleroderma were able to out-compete indigenous mycorrhizal fungi in the rooting media. Soils collected from the field were not optimal for the growth of plants or ectomycorrhizal development under nursery conditions. These results challenge the current practices in eucalypt nurseries and following nursery practices are recommended to be modified: (i) due to the low diversity of compatible fungal symbionts in field soil, inoculation with tested ectomycorrhizal fungi, such as Scleroderma in this study, is recommended for eucalypts prior to outplanting. (ii) Low cost potting mix of suitable porosity and organic matter content should be explored as alternatives to soil. (iii) The lateritic loam may be used as rooting medium in eucalypt nurseries, whilst other three types of field soil are not recommended. (iv) Rooting media should not necessarily be pasteurized when raising mycorrhizal plants in eucalypt nurseries in south China.

The intriguing decompositions of nitro-containing explosives have been attracting interest. While theoretical investigations have long been concentrated mainly on unimolecular decompositions, bimolecular reactions have received little theoretical attention. In this paper, we investigate theoretically the bimolecular reactions between nitromethane (CH3NO2)-the simplest nitro-containing explosive-and its decomposition products, such as NO2, NO and CO, that are abundant during the decomposition process of CH3NO2. The structures and potential energy surface (PES) were explored at B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3P86/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-311 + G(d,p) levels, and energies were refined using CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ methods. Quantum chemistry calculations revealed that the title reactions possess small barriers that can be comparable to, or smaller than, that of the initial decomposition reactions of CH3NO2. Considering that their reactants are abundant in the decomposition process of CH3NO2, we consider bimolecular reactions also to be of great importance, and worthy of further investigation. Moreover, our calculations show that NO2 can be oxidized by CH3NO2 to NO3 radical, which confirms the conclusion reached formerly by Irikura and Johnson [(2006) J Phys Chem A 110:13974-13978] that NO3 radical can be formed during the decomposition of nitramine explosives.

The Toll/Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway has an important role in the innate immunity of animals. Evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediate in Toll pathways (ECSIT) is a protein that functions as an adaptor protein for the Toll/TLR and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. ECSIT is also a key component in the macrophage bactericidal activity of mammals. However, the function of ECSIT in crustaceans remains unclear. In this study, we cloned and identified a functional ECSIT homologue, MjECSIT 1, from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus. The complementary DNA of MjEcsit 1 is 1442 base pairs long, with an open reading frame of 1221 base pairs that encodes a 407-residue polypeptide. Transcripts of MjEcsit 1 are detected in hemocytes, gills, hepatopancreas, stomach, heart, intestines, testes, and ovaries. Such transcripts are upregulated by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Vibrio anguillarum) injections. The knockdown of MjEcsit 1 by double-stranded RNA injection increases the sensitivity of M. japonicus to S. aureus challenge and weakens the bacterial clearance ability of M. japonicus in vivo. In addition, suppressing MjEcsit 1 restrains the upregulation of two anti-lipopolysaccharide factors by S. aureus injection. The results indicate that MjECSIT 1 is important in the antibacterial immunity of M. japonicus.

Plantation forestry with exotic trees in south China needs compatible symbionts to improve the growth of seedlings in nurseries and to enhance establishment and growth in the field. Scleroderma, a potentially suitable symbiont for inoculation, is not being used in containerized nurseries in the region due to poor knowledge of its host range. The ability of 15 collections of Scleroderma, nine from Australia and six from Asia, to colonize and promote growth of four important exotic plantation trees (Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus urophylla ST Blake, Pinus elliottii Engl., and Pinus radiata D. Don) was examined in a nursery potting mix. There was generally low host specificity of Scleroderma between tree genera. At 12 weeks after inoculation, 13 to 14 of the 15 spore collections formed ectomycorrhizas on seedlings of eucalypts or pines. The extent of colonization differed between spore treatments with two or four collections forming abundant mycorrhizas (50% fine roots colonized) on E. globulus or E. urophylla, respectively, and three or five on P. radiata or P. elliottii, respectively. Three collections from Australia strongly colonized all hosts resulting in 26 to 100% of short roots being colonized. Chinese Scleroderma collections resulted in fewer mycorrhizas on eucalypts than on pines. Inoculation stimulated the growth (shoot height and dry weight) of eucalypt and pine seedlings by up to 105% where Scleroderma mycorrhizas developed. The results suggest that there is a need to source Scleroderma from outside China for inoculating eucalypts in Chinese nurseries whereas Chinese collections of Scleroderma could be used in pine nurseries. Further screening of Australian and Chinese Scleroderma should be performed in Chinese nurseries and in the field before final commercial decisions are made.

To explore the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on the expression of costimulatory molecules in acute leukemia cells and its mechanism.The expression of CD86 and CD80 was examined on the surfaces of NB4, HL-60, Kasumi-1, U937 and Jurkat cells by flow cytometric analysis after treated by SB or not. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction was used to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of cells treated by SB. Activated NF-kappaB was measured with an NF-kappaB assay kit.Up-regulation of CD86 and CD80 at various levels was observed on these leukemia cells treated by SB. The ratio of CD86 expressing cell in NB4 cells treated by 0.5 mmol/L SB was 36.8 times higher than that in control. Up-regulation of NF-kappaB was similar to that of CD86. Allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation was strongly stimulated by the SB treated cells.SB can improve the expression of CD86 in acute leukemia cells. NF-kappaB was an important transcription factor involved in the up-regulation of CD86.

French-American-British (FAB) classification of acute leukemia with genetic heterogeneity is important for treatment and prognosis. However, the distinct protein profiles that contribute to the subtypes and facilitate molecular definition of acute leukemia classification are still unclear.The proteins of leukemic cells from 61 cases of acute leukemia characterized by FAB classification were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and the differentially expressed protein spots were identified by both matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and tandem electrospray ionization MS (ESI-MS/MS).The distinct protein profiles of acute leukemia FAB types or subtypes were successfully explored, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), its subtypes (M2, M3, and M5) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), which were homogeneous within substantial samples of the respective subgroups but clearly differed from all other subgroups. We found a group of proteins that were highly expressed in M2 and M3, rather than other subtypes. Among them, myeloid-related proteins 8 and 14 were first reported to mark AML differentiation and to differentiate AML from ALL. Heat shock 27 kDa protein 1 and other proteins that are highly expressed in ALL may play important roles in clinically distinguishing AML from ALL. Another set of proteins up-regulated was restricted to granulocytic lineage leukemia. High-level expression of NM23-H1 was found in all but the M3a subtype, with favorable prognosis.These data have implications in delineating the pathways of aberrant gene expression underlying the pathogenesis of acute leukemia and could facilitate molecular definition of FAB classification. The extension of the present analysis to currently less well-defined acute leukemias will identify additional subgroups.