The fundus lesions caused by high myopia (HM) often lead to irreversible visual impairment or even blindness. However, the pathogenesis of HM and its fundus lesions is still unclear, the intraocular fluid detection technology of micro samples has brought new prospects for the early diagnosis, monitoring and intervention of the fundus lesions. The molecules associated with HM are various and functionally diverse, intermolecular interactions are staggered and the specific mechanism is complex. With the development of intraocular fluid detection technology, while gradually revealing the role of each molecule in the pathogenesis of HM, it is expected to successfully assist clinical work in the future, providing outpost markers for the progress of myopia and targets for early intervention, or providing a new therapy choice for HM fundus lesions at the molecular level targeting pathogenesis, which is expected to provide more accurate and effective treatment for HM patients in the future.
Objective To observe the effects of bevacizumab on aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression in human retinal Muuml;ller cells in vitro under hypoxia. To explored the mechanism of treating retinal edema with bevacizumab. Methods Human Muuml;ller cells were cultured using the enzymatic digestion method. Transmission electron microscopic analysis and immunofluorescence staining identified Muuml;ller cells. With semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression of AQP4 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） mRNA in Muuml;ller cells cultured under different concentration of COCl2 for different hours were observed. The expression of AQP4 mRNA in Muuml;ller cells cultured using CoCl2 precultured with 200 mu;g/ml bevacizumab was measured. Results More than 95% of primary cells showed positive reaction to glial fibrillary acidic protein, glutamine synthetase, vimentin and alpha;-smooth muscle actin with immunofluorescence staining. Characteristic 8-10 nm intracellular filaments could be seen in the cytoplasm viewed with transmission electron microscopy. The results using RT-PCR showed that CoCl2 increased the AQP4 and VEGF mRNA expression in Muuml;ller cells in a dose and time dependent manner (r=0.952, 0.954;P＜0.05). The expression of AQP4 mRNA in Muuml;ller cells was increased by VEGF (F=12.43,P＜0.05). The expression of AQP4 mRNA was significantly decreased by bevacizumab (F=2 370.37，P＜0.05). Conclusion Bevacizumab can down-regulate the expression of AQP4 mRNA in human Muuml;ller cells under hypoxic conditions partially by VEGF path, which may be a mechanism for treating retinal edema with bevacizumab.
Objective To investigate the expression of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) in human gastric cancer, and to find out the relations between its expression and carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods The expression of PGP9.5 was detected by immunohistochemistry (SP) and Western blot in 80 samples of gastric cancer and 8 samples of normal gastric tissues. Results ①Of 80 gastric cancer specimens examined, 56 cases (70.0％) showed staining with PGP9.5 in most tumor cells, whereas no PGP9.5 expression was detected in normal epithelium, which was consistent with the results of Western blot. ②The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that there were significantly correlations between the expression of PGP9.5 and the depth of invasion, the degree of differentiation, and the occurrence of lymph node metastasis (Plt;0.05), respectively; yet, there were no relation between the expression of PGP9.5 and age, gender, histopathologic type and TNM stage (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion PGP9.5 may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer, and the invasion of gastric cancer could be detected by PGP9.5, which may be a useful molecular marker.
Objective
To describe cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells transdifferentiation and investigate the effects of human vitreous fluid on the morphologic and cytoskeleton changes of RPE cells in vitro.
Methods
Cytoskeleton characteristics in the 2nd, 5th, 8th passage of RPE cells in normal culture, which included cytokeratin 18 (CK18) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were analyzed by Western blot. RPE cells were cultured in human vitreous-conditioned medium (VCM) at the concentration of 1∶4 for 6 days, morphologic changes were examined by light and electron microscopy, and cytoskeleton characteristics were analyzed by imunocytochemistry and Western blot.
Results
During culture in vitro, RPE cells lost epithelial characteristics and aquired fibroblast-like phenotype. The expression of CK18 was the highest at the 5th passage, and it decreased in the following passage, but α-SMA increased gradually. The morphologic transdifferentiation from epithelial to fibroblast-like cells of RPE was accelerated by VCM. Ultrastructural changes such as decreased microvilli and gradually increased rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex were found during the cultivation. CK18 produced by RPE cells decreased in VMC (P＜0.05), and α-SMA increased (P＜0.01).
Conclusion
Morphologic changes in epithelialmesenchymal transdifferenetiation of RPE cells are stimulated by VCM and accomplied by the shift of cytoskeleton proteins, The results imply that cells migration may be decreased and contraction may be enhanced in VCM. It may suggest that vitreous accelerates the pathogenesis of PVR and RPE cells play an important role.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 289-292)
Objective To investigate the cellular viability and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of the Müller cells under high glucose condition, and explore the protection role of the 5,6-dihydrocyclopenta-1, 2-dithiole-3-thione (CPDT) on Müller cells. Methods Müller cells from Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups randomly, including 25 mmol/L normal glucose group (group A) and 65 mmol/L high glucose group (group B). High glucose group with 45, 60, 70 μmol/L CPDT and cultured them 72 hour was set as group C, D and E. Water soluble tetrazolium salt (WST)-8 was used to measure the cellular viability. Flow cytometry was used to measure the active oxygen and apoptosis index. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bcl-2 and Bax protein were measured by Western blot. Results Compared with group A, the WST-8 showed that the viability of Müller cells apparently decreased in group B (t=39.59,P＜0.05). Compared with the group B, the viability of Müller cells had changes in group C (t=0.97,P＞0.05), but recovered in group D and E (t=?4.17, ?7.52;P＜0.05). Compared with group A, the FCM showed that the mitochondrial ROS levels was higher in group B (t=?30.99,P＜0.05). Compared with group B, the mitochondrial ROS levels were decreased in group D (t=27.68,P＜0.05). Compared with group A, Bax, Nrf2 and HO-1 increased (t=–11.03, –63.17, –11.44;P＜0.05), while the bcl-2 decreased in group B (t=7.861,P＜0.05). Compared with the group B, Nrf2, HO-1 and Bax decreased (t=15.11, 26.59, 6.27;P＜0.05), while the bcl-2 increased in group D (t=?6.53,P＜0.05). Conclusions Under the high glucose, CPDT may reduce the mitochondrial ROS levels and the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and Bax protein of Müller cells. It may inhibit apoptosis through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and balancing of level of Bcl-2 protein and mitochondrial ROS.
Lung cancer is one of the most malignant common tumor worldwidely and it's the most popular cancer in China. Both the prevalence and mortality of it are higher than other cancers. And its 5-year survival rate is 15%. Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) accounts for about 85% lung cancer and its pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Therefore, early prediction and detection are very important for improving the effect of treatment and prognosis. Recently, dysregulation and excessive activity of the C4.4A as a member of the LY6/uPAR family of membrane proteins has been shown to associate with multiple cancer types. And previous studies suggest that the C4.4A participates in the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC. At the same time, circumstantial evidence proves that C4.4A and liver kinase B1(LKB1) tumor suppressor gene have a negative regulatory relationship. This article will briefly summarize the recent research progresses of C4.4A in NSCLC.
Objective To explore the regulating mechanism of hepatic injury in obstructive jaundice (OJ). Methods①Rat hepatocytes were isolated by in situ collagenase perfusion and primary culture. Hepatocytes were pretreated with various concentrations of protein kinase C (PKC) agonist parsmeae (PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine for 20 min. After pretreatment, 50 μmol/L glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) was added. Cells were next detected by FCM and TUNEL.②Experimental obstructive jaundice was induced by double ligation of the bile duct (BDL), BDL for 3, 7, 14, 21days.We detected apoptotic status in liver with TUNEL and PKC protein in liver with immunohistochemistry method. Results①PMA increased GCDCinduced apoptosis and chelerythrine decreased GCDCinduced apoptosis in a concentrationdependent manner. ②The apoptotic rate of liver was related to time of OJ. Apoptosis index (AI) was the highest in 14day bile duct ligation. The ber PKC expression, the more number of apoptotic cells in OJ.Conclusion PKC takes part in the regulation and the occurrence and progression of hepatic injury in OJ.
Objective To explore the expression of survivin gene in retinoblastoma (RB) and its relationship with the stages and histodifferentiation degree of RB and the expression of p53、bcl-2 proteins. Methods Expression of survivin, p53 and bcl-2 proteins in 38 RB conventional paraffin samples were detected with survivin, p53 and bcl-2 monoclonal antibodies respectively by immunohistochemical assay. The expression of survivin of normal retina in 6 control samples was observed. Results In 38 cases of RB, positive expression of survivin was found in 20 (52.6%); while none of the 6 normal retinal tissue expressed survivin, which had significant difference between the two group (P＜0.05). The positive expression of survivin did not correlate with sex of patient, disease stages and histological type (P＞0.05). In 38 RB cases, positive expression of p53 was in 25 with the rate of 65.8%, and of bcl-2 in 18 with the rate of 47.4%. The positive-expressed rates were much higher in positive-expressed p53 and bcl-2 group than those in the negative-expressed p53 and bcl-2 group(P＜0.05). Conclusion The increase of the expression of survivin implies that it may take part in the occurrence and development of RB; the interaction among survivin, p53 and bcl-2 may participate in the access and the course of RB. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：215-217)
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a neurovascular complication of diabetes, presents a multifaceted pathogenesis that encompasses numerous biological processes and molecular mechanisms. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a critical role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and diabetic neuro-microangiopathy is driven by high glucose, which activated ERS through the promotion of protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and disturbances in calcium homeostasis. ERS activates the unfolded protein response, thereby influencing the onset and progression of DR through modulating mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes, autophagy, apoptosis, microvascular function, oxidative stress, and inflammation pathways. Currently, the principal interventions against ERS comprise the modulation of the ERS signalling axis and its interactions with associated pathological processes such as autophagy, oxidative stress, and inflammation, through pharmacological and molecular mechanisms. These interventions are directly or indirectly shown to inhibit persistent ERS and are demonstrated to ameliorate DR. With the in-depth study of ERS and the research and development of various drugs for ERS, it is expected to bring novel insights and strategies for DR management in the future.
Objective To investigate the alteration of protein kinase C (PKC) and endothelin system in early diabetic rats, and the effect of specific PKC inhibitor on the expression of retinal endothelin-1 (ET-1). Methods The rats model with streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes were set up. The expression of retinal PKC was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of retinal ET-1, ET-3, ET-A and ET-B receptor mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The alteration of retinal ET-1 mRNA after intravitreal injection of PKC inhibitor GF109203X in diabetic rats was also observed. Results The activities of membranous PKC were significantly increased in 2-week diabetic rats compared with that in normal rats（t=3.296 , P=0.008）, while activities of cytosolic PKC were unchangeable（t=0.138, P=0.894）. The expression of retinal ET-1 mRNA was significantly increased（P=0.008）, while no change was found in expression of ET-3, ET-A and ET-B mRNA（P=0.918，P=0.889，P=0.500）. After intravitreal in jection of 10-5、10-6、10-7 mol/L PKC inhibitor GF109203X in diabetic rats, the expression of retinal ET-1 mRNA was decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control rats. Conclusion Activation of PKC and increased expression of ET-1 could be found in the retina of early diabetic rats, and PKC inhibitor could inhibit the expression of retinal ET-1. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：168-171)
