Baicalin Induces Apoptosis in Leukemia HL-60/ADR Cells via Possible Down-regulation of the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Zheng, Jing,Hu, Jian-Da,Chen, Ying-Yu,Chen, Bu-Yuan,Huang, Yi,Zheng, Zhi Hong,Liu, Ting-Bo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: The effect and possible mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine, baicalin, on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in drug-resistant human myeloid leukemia HL-60/ADR cells have been investigated in this current study. Methods: HL-60/ADR cells were treated by 20, 40, $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin followed by cell cycle analysis at 24h. The mRNA expression level of the apoptosis related gene, Bcl-2 and bad, were measured by RT-PCR on cells treated with $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin at 12, 24 and 48hr. Western blot was performed to detect the changes in the expression of the proteins related to HL-60/ADR cell apoptosis and the signaling pathway before and after baicalin treatment, including Bcl-2, PARP, Bad, Caspase 3, Akt, p-Akt, NF-${\kappa}B$, p-NF-${\kappa}B$, mTOR and p-mTOR. Results: Sub-G1 peak of HL-60/ADR cells appeared 24 h after $20\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin treatment, and the ratio increased as baicalin concentration increased. Cell cycle analysis showed 44.9% G0/G1 phase cells 24 h after baicalin treatment compared to 39.6% in the control group. Cells treated with $80\;{\mu}mol/L$ baicalin displayed a trend in decreasing of Bcl-2 mRNA expression over time. Expression level of the Bcl-2 and PARP proteins decreased significantly while that of the PARP, Caspase-3, and Bad proteins gradually increased. No significant difference in Akt expression was observed between treated and the control groups. However, the expression levels of p-Akt, NF-${\kappa}B$, p-NF-${\kappa}B$, mTOR and p-mTOR decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: We conclude that baicalin may induce HL-60/ADR cell apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Lipophillic Pigments of Fresh Green Tea Liquor

Jian-Liang Lu,Zhan-Bo Dong,Shun-Shun Pan,Chen Lin,Xin-Qiang Zheng,Borthakur Devajit,Yue-Rong Liang 한국식품과학회 2009 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.18 No.3

Changes in lipophillic pigments concentration and its relation to color of fresh green tea liquor during heat treatment were studied. The results showed liquor greenness decreased markedly with extension of incubation time at 55℃, while the brightness and yellowness changed a little. Significant increase in ‘a’ and ‘b’ values of tea liquor was observed at 95℃. Color change of liquor at 55℃ was accompanied by a decrease in the level of chlorophylls, lutein and neoxanthin, and an increase in the pheophytins and β-carotene levels. However, all pigments except β-carotene decreased with time extension at 95℃. Significant correlation was found between pigments and color difference index. The browning of fresh green tea liquor was attributed to vicissitudes of lipophillic pigments during heat treatment, especially to the change of chlorophylls/pheophytins ratio. Result also showed addition of Zn²? at 1.6 μ㏖/ℓ could partially alleviate the decrease in greenness during heat treatment.

Comparison Study of the Band-gap Structure of a 1D-Photonic Crystal by Using TMM and FDTD Analyses

Jian-Bo Chen,Yan Shen,Wei-Xi Zhou,Yu-Xiang Zheng,Hai-Bin Zhao,Liang-Yao Chen 한국물리학회 2011 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.58 No.42

A variety of numerical methods has been developed to demonstrate the nature of photons propagating in an artificially-composed periodic structure. Differences will be generated by different kinds of numerical approaches. In this work, we carry out two types of numerical calculations, TMM (transfer matrix method) and FDTD (finite different time domain) calculations. In terms of the 1D-photonic crystal structures with two different structures, we illustrate the energy band spectra, and the results show dispersive characteristics for the optical transmission and reflection of the crystal material. Through a discussion of the mechanism, detailed comparison studies are preformed based on the different physical conditions. The results given in the work will help in better understanding the ways in which photons propagate in an artificially-composed periodic structure.

CXCL12-CXCR4 Promotes Proliferation and Invasion of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Shen, Bo,Zheng, Ma-Qing,Lu, Jian-Wei,Jiang, Qian,Wang, Tai-Hong,Huang, Xin-En Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Objective: CXCL12 exerts a wide variety of chemotactic effects on cells. Evidence indicates that CXCL12, in conjunction with its receptor, CXCR4, promotes invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Our objective was to explore whether the CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis might influence biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: Miapaca-2 human pancreatic cancer cells were cultured under three different conditions: normal medium (control), medium + recombinant CXCL12 (CXCL12 group), or medium + CXCR4-inhibitor AMD3100 (AMD3100 group). RT-PCR was applied to detect mRNA expression levels of CXCL12, CXCR4, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Additionally, cell proliferation and invasion were performed using CCK-8 colorimetry and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Results: CXCL12 was not expressed in Miapaca-2 cells, but CXCR4 was detected, indicating that these cells are capable of receiving signals from CXCL12. Expression of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA was upregulated in cells exposed to exogenous CXCL12 (P<0.05). Additionally, both proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells were enhanced in the presence of exogenous CXCL12, but AMD3100 intervention effectively inhibited these processes (P<0.05). Conclusions: The CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis plays an important role in promoting proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells.

Aberrant microRNAs Expression in CD133+/CD326+ Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Initiating Cells from A549

Sheng Lin,Zheng-tang Chen,Jian-guo Sun,Jing-bo Wu,Hai-xia Long,Cong-hui Zhu,Tong Xiang,Hu Ma,Zhong-quan Zhao,Quan Yao,An-mei Zhang,Bo Zhu 한국분자세포생물학회 2012 Molecules and cells Vol.33 No.3

Increasing evidence demonstrates that miRNAs are in-volved in the dysregulation of tumor initiating cells (TICs) in various tumors. Due to a lack of definitive markers, cell sorting is not an ideal separation method for lung adeno-carcinoma initiating cells. In this study, we combined pa-clitaxel with serum-free medium cultivation (inverse-induc-tion) to enrich TICs from A549 cells, marked by CD133/ CD326, defined features of stemness. We next investigated aberrant microRNAs in this subpopulation compared to normal cells with miRNA microarray and found that 50 miRNAs exhibited a greater than 2-fold change in expres-sion. As further validation, 10 miRNAs were chosen to perform quantitative RT-PCR on the A549 cell line and primary samples. The results suggest that aberrant ex-pression of miRNAs such as miR-29ab, miR-183, miR-17-5p and miR-127-3P may play an important role in regulat-ing the bio-behavior of TICs.

Triterpenoid Saponins from the Seeds of Caragana microphylla

Gui-Lin Jin,Cheng-Jian Zheng,Wen-Bo Xin,Zhu-Jun Mao,Pei-Xin Sun,Zhi-Xin Zeng,Lu-Ping Qin 대한약학회 2011 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.34 No.6

Two new triterpenoid saponins, namely caraganoside C (1) and caraganoside D (2), were isolated from the seeds of Caragana microphylla. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation NMR experiments (COSY, HSQC and HMBC). Both 1 and 2 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC_50 values of 26.4 μM and 32.2 μM, respectively. In addition, 1 showed weak cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HL-60, HCT116, and A549 cell lines.

An association study between IL1RAPL2 gene and non-specific mental retardation in Chinese children

Ke-Jin Zhang,Bo He,Ping-Yuan Gong,Xiao-Cai Gao,Zi-Jian Zheng,Shao-Ping Huang,Fu-Chang Zhang 한국유전학회 2010 Genes & Genomics Vol.32 No.2

Non-specific mental retardation (NSMR) is one of common children psychiatric diseases with a high prevalence (1−3%). Here we investigated the association between the genetic variants of IL1RAPL2 gene and NSMR in the children of QinBa region of China. We chose five common SNPs of IL1RAPL2,examined their individual genotype frequencies using the conventional polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method, and evaluated the association between these genetic polymorphisms and NSMR with the suitable biostatistic software. The allele and genotype distributions of two SNPs (rs5962298 and rs9887672) showed significant differences between the control and NSMR groups (allele: p = 0.020 and 0.017; genotype: p =0.025 for rs9887672 respectively). The distribution differences became more significant in girls, but disappeared in boys, suggesting a gender effect. Taken together, we provide substantial evidence that IL1RAPL2 conferred a NSMR susceptibility to children of Qinba region in China. In future, further work should be carried out to scan mutations and to investigate the specific-gender effect in this gene.

Study of the Band-gap Structure of a 1D-photonic Crystal by Using Different Numerical Approaches

Liang-Yao Chen,Jian-Bo Chen,Yue-Rui Chen,Yan Shen,Wei-Xi Zhou,Jiu-Chun Ren,Yu-Xiang Zheng 한국물리학회 2010 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.56 No.4

Comparative studies between the transfer matrices method (TMM) and plane wave method (PWM) approaches have been performed on 1D photonics crystal under different conditions to show the differences between these two kinds of calculations. TMM is suitable for the design of 1D photonic crystal device with high precision and is in good agreement with experimental results, but is not suitable for the 2D and 3D photonic structures which are limited by the complicated boundary conditions at micro interfaces. The result based on the PWM approach to deal approximately with the photonic structure in approximation has not yet been strictly verified by experiment, not even for 1D photonic crystal structures. More efforts will be required to explore its validation under all physical conditions to enhance its application.

Cancer Research Advances Regarding the CKLF-like MARVEL Transmembrane Domain Containing Family

Lu, Jia,Wu, Qian-Qian,Zhou, Ya-Bo,Zhang, Kai-Hua,Pang, Bing-Xin,Li, Liang,Sun, Nan,Wang, Heng-Shu,Zhang, Song,Li, Wen-Jian,Zheng, Wei,Liu, Wei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.6

The CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family (CMTM) is a novel family of genes first reported at international level by Peking University Human Disease Gene Research Center. The gene products act between chemokines and the transmembrane-4 superfamily. Located in several human chromosomes, the CMTMs CKLF and CMTM1 to CMTM8 may be unregulated in tumors and act as potential tumor suppressor genes with important roles in the immune, male reproductive and hematopoietic systems. In-depth studies in recent years established a close relation between CMTMs and tumorigenesis and metastasis. The CMTM family has a significant clinical value in diagnosis and treatment of diseases linked to tumors and the immune system.

Methylated Alteration of SHP1 Complements Mutation of JAK2 Tyrosine Kinase in Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Yang, Jun-Jun,Chen, Hui,Zheng, Xiao-Qun,Li, Hai-Ying,Wu, Jian-Bo,Tang, Li-Yuan,Gao, Shen-Meng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

SHP1 negatively regulates the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK2/STAT) signaling pathway, which is constitutively activated in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and leukemia. Promoter hypermethylation resulting in epigenetic inactivation of SHP1 has been reported in myelomas, leukemias and other cancers. However, whether SHP1 hypermethylation occurs in MPNs, especially in Chinese patients, has remained unclear. Here, we report that aberrant hypermethylation of SHP1 was observed in several leukemic cell lines and bone marrow mononuclear cells from MPN patients. About 51 of 118 (43.2%) MPN patients including 23 of 50 (46%) polycythaemia vera patients, 20 of 50 (40%) essential thrombocythaemia and 8 of 18 (44.4%) idiopathic myelofibrosis showed hypermethylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. However, SHP1 methylation was not measured in 20 healthy volunteers. Hypermethylation of SHP1 was found in MPN patients with both positive (34/81, 42%) and negative (17/37, 45.9%) JAK2V617F mutation. The levels of SHP1 mRNA were significantly lower in hypermethylated samples than unmethylated samples, suggesting SHP1 may be epigenetically inactivated in MPN patients. Furthermore, treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA) in K562 cells showing hypermethylation of SHP1 led to progressive demethylation of SHP1, with consequently increased reexpression of SHP1. Meanwhile, phosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3 were progressively reduced. Finally, AZA increased the expression of SHP1 in primary MPN cells with hypermethylation of SHP1. Therefore, our data suggest that epigenetic inactivation of SHP1 contributes to the constitutive activation of JAK2/STAT signaling. Restoration of SHP1 expression by AZA may contribute to clinical treatment for MPN patients.