Macrophages Promote Coal Tar Pitch Extract-induced Tumorigenesis of BEAS-2B Cells and Tumor Metastasis in Nude Mice Mediated by AP-1

Zhang, Peng,Jin, Yue-Fei,Zhang, Qiao,Wu, Yi-Ming,Wu, Wei-Dong,Yao, Wu,Wu, Yong-Jun,Li, Zhi-Tao,Zhao, Yong,Liu, Yu,Feng, Fei-Fei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: We sought to evaluate the role of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on the promotion of coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and tumor metastasis in nude mice, and related mechanisms. Materials and Methods: BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 mg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. THP-1 cells were used as macrophage-like cells. BEAS-2B cells under different conditions (n=6/group) were injected into the back necks of nude mice, and alterations of tumor xenograft growth, indicative of tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis were determined. Pathological changes (tumor nests and microvascular lesions) of HE-stained tumor tissues were also evaluated. The expression of AP-1(c-Jun) in xenografts and metastatic tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Tumor size and weight in nude mice transplanted with the mixture of CTPE-induced passage 30 BEAS-2B and THP-1 cells (2:1) were increased compared to those from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 alone at different observation time points. Tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and liver was only detected after transplantation of a mixture the two kinds of cells. The numbers of tumor nests and microvascular lesions, and the expression levels of AP-1 (c-Jun) in tumors from the mixture of two kinds of cells were increased apparently in contrast to those in tumor from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells of passage 30 alone. In addition, there was positive correlation between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and the number of microvascular lesions, or between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and tumor metastasis in these two groups. Conclusions: TAMs not only facilitate tumorigenesis transformation of CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells, but also promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice in vivo, which may be mediated by AP-1.

Visible Light Photoelectrocatalytic Properties of Novel Yttrium Treated Carbon Nanotube/Titania Composite Electrodes

Zhang, Feng-Jun,Chen, Ming-Liang,Zhang, Kan,Oh, Won-Chun Korean Chemical Society 2010 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.31 No.1

Photoelectrocatalytic decolorization of methlene blue (MB) in the presence of two types of carbon nanotube/titania and yttrium-treated carbon nanotube/titania electrodes in aqueous solutions were studied under visible light. The prepared composite electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and photoelectrocatalytic activity. The photoelectrocatalytic performances of the supported catalysts were evaluated for the decolorization of MB solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that yttrium incorporation enhanced the decolorization rate of MB. It was found that the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of a MB solution could be attributed to the combined effects caused by the photo-degradation of titania, the electron assistance of carbon nanotube network, the enhancement of yttrium and a function of the applied potential. The repeatability of photocatalytic activity was also tested. The presence of yttrium enhanced the hydrophillicity of yttrium-carbon nanotubes/titania electrode because more OH groups can be adsorbed on the surface.

<i>Haloactinopolyspora alkaliphila</i> sp. nov., and emended description of the genus <i>Haloactinopolyspora</i>

Zhang, Yong-Guang,Liu, Qing,Wang, Hong-Fei,Zhang, Dao-Feng,Zhang, Yuan-Ming,Park, Dong-Jin,Kim, Chang-Jin,Li, Wen-Jun International Union of Microbiological Societies 2014 International journal of systematic and evolutiona Vol.64 No.6

<P>A facultatively alkaliphilic actinomycete strain, designated EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP>, was isolated from a saline-alkali soil sample from Xinjiang province, north-west China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization. Strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> formed fragmented aerial hyphae and short spore chains, and rod-like spores aggregated at maturity. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the isolate contained <SMALL>ll</SMALL>-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, and glucosamine, mannose, galactose, glucose and rhamnose as the marker sugars. The major fatty acids identified (>5 %) were anteiso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>, iso-C<SUB>15 : 0</SUB>, summed feature 4 (iso-C<SUB>17 : 1</SUB>I/anteiso-C<SUB>17 : 1</SUB>B), iso-C<SUB>16 : 0</SUB> and anteiso-C<SUB>17 : 0</SUB>. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H<SUB>4</SUB>). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> was 70.6 mol%. EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to its closest phylogenetic neighbour <I>Haloactinopolyspora alba</I> YIM 93246<SUP>T</SUP> (98.5 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness value of the strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> and <I>H. alba</I> YIM 93246<SUP>T</SUP> was 59.3±5.2 %. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> represents a novel species of the genus <I>Haloactinopolyspora</I>, for which the name <I>Haloactinopolyspora alkaliphila</I> sp. nov. (type strain EGI 80088<SUP>T</SUP> = BCRC 16946<SUP>T</SUP> = JCM 19128<SUP>T</SUP>) is proposed. The description of the genus <I>Haloactinopolyspora</I> has also been emended.</P>

Visible Light Photoelectrocatalytic Properties of Novel Yttrium Treated Carbon Nanotube/Titania Composite Electrodes

Feng-Jun Zhang,Ming-Liang Chen,Kan Zhang,오원춘 대한화학회 2010 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.31 No.1

Photoelectrocatalytic decolorization of methlene blue (MB) in the presence of two types of carbon nanotube/titania and yttrium-treated carbon nanotube/titania electrodes in aqueous solutions were studied under visible light. The prepared composite electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and photoelectrocatalytic activity. The photoelectrocatalytic performances of the supported catalysts were evaluated for the decolorization of MB solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that yttrium incorporation enhanced the decolorization rate of MB. It was found that the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of a MB solution could be attributed to the combined effects caused by the photo-degradation of titania, the electron assistance of carbon nanotube network, the enhancement of yttrium and a function of the applied potential. The repeatability of photocatalytic activity was also tested. The presence of yttrium enhanced the hydrophillicity of yttrium-carbon nanotubes/titania electrode because more OH groups can be adsorbed on the surface.

Nanosheets of copolymerized ionic liquid-based polyelectrolyte complexes regulated at oil–water interface and their emulsification capability

He Zhang,Jun Bo Zhang,Qing Bo Meng,Wei Guo,Ming Yang,Shuyao Wu,Qiong Wu,Daliang Liu,Xi-Ming Song 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.97 No.-

The emulsification by polyelectrolyte complexes is easy to handle, and could be considered as an effectivestrategy for introducing functional materials to liquid–liquid interfaces, but the related studies are stillinsufficient. Herein, a kind of copolymerized ionic liquid (PIL-co-PVIm) which is synthesized from 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide and 1-vinylimidazole, are used as polycation to form polyelectrolytecomplexes type Pickering emulsifiers with sodium alginate, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) and poly(acrylic acid) sodium salt respectively as polyanion. For toluene-water emulsion systems andhydrophobic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm]PF6)-watersystem, the polyelectrolyte complexes formed by PIL-co-PVIm and sodium alginate or poly (sodium4-styrenesulfonate) showed best emulsification capability. The emulsions stabilized by the polyelectro-lyte complexes at stoichiometric ratio are relatively less stable compared to non-stoichiometriccomplexes, while PIL-co-PVIm without complexation has no emulsification capability. The polyelectro-lyte complexes based on homopolymerized PIL give an unsatisfied emulsification capability, while theemulsification performance could be remarkably improved by copolymerizing ionic liquids with theuncharged comonomer, but excessive contents of the uncharged unit make the polyelectrolytecomplexes less interface active. The sheet-like PECs are formed in aqueous dispersions, and theirthickness is remarkably reduced at oil–water interface after emulsification, approximately ranging from200 nm to 10 nm by manipulating the polyanion.

Generation and Immunity Testing of a Recombinant Adenovirus Expressing NcSRS2-NcGRA7 Fusion Protein of Bovine Neospora caninum

Li-Jun Jia,Shou-Fa Zhang,Nian-Chao Qian,Xue-Nan Xuan,Long-Zheng Yu,Xue-Mei Zhang,Ming-Ming Liu 대한기생충학열대의학회 2013 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.51 No.2

Neospora caninum is the etiologic agent of bovine neosporosis, which affects the reproductive performance of cattle worldwide. The transmembrane protein, NcSRS2, and dense-granule protein, NcGRA7, were identified as protective antigens based on their ability to induce significant protective immune responses in murine neosporosis models. In the current study, NcSRS2 and NcGRA7 genes were spliced by overlap-extension PCR in a recombinant adenovirus termed Ad5-NcSRS2-NcGRA 7, expressing the NcSRS2-NcGRA7 gene, and the efficacy was evaluated in mice. The results showed that the titer of the recombinant adenovirus was 109TCID50/ml. Three weeks post-boost immunization (w.p.b.i.), the IgG antibody titer in sera was as high as 1:4,096. IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were significantly different from the control group (P<0.01). This research established a solid foundation for the development of a recombinant adenovirus vaccine against bovine N. caninum.

Elevated expression of WSB2 degrades p53 and activates the IGFBP3-AKT-mTOR-dependent pathway to drive hepatocellular carcinoma

Li Xun,Zhang Cheng-Cheng,Lin Xiao-Tong,Zhang Jie,Zhang Yu-Jun,Yu Hong-Qiang,Liu Ze-Yu,Gong Yi,Zhang Lei-Da,Xie Chuan-Ming 생화학분자생물학회 2024 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.56 No.-

Dysregulation of wild-type p53 turnover is a key cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we report that WD repeat and SOCS box containing protein 2 (WSB2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is an independent adverse prognostic factor in HCC patients. WSB2 drives HCC tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, WSB2 is a new p53 destabilizer that promotes K48-linked p53 polyubiquitination at the Lys291 and Lys292 sites in HCC cells, leading to p53 proteasomal degradation. Degradation of p53 causes IGFBP3-dependent AKT/mTOR signaling activation. Furthermore, WSB2 was found to bind to the p53 tetramerization domain via its SOCS box domain. Targeting mTOR with everolimus, an oral drug, significantly blocked WSB2-triggered HCC tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. In clinical samples, high expression of WSB2 was associated with low wild-type p53 expression and high p-mTOR expression. These findings demonstrate that WSB2 is overexpressed and degrades wild-type p53 and then activates the IGFBP3-AKT/mTOR axis, leading to HCC tumorigenesis and lung metastasis, which indicates that targeting mTOR could be a new therapeutic strategy for HCC patients with high WSB2 expression and wild-type p53.

Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential Melastain 7 Enhances Apoptosis Induced by TRAIL in PC-3 cells

Lin, Chang-Ming,Ma, Ji-Min,Zhang, Li,Hao, Zong-Yao,Zhou, Jun,Zhou, Zhen-Yu,Shi, Hao-Qiang,Zhang, Yi-Fei,Shao, En-Ming,Liang, Chao-Zhao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

Transient receptor potential melastain 7 (TRPM7) is a bifunctional protein with dual structure of both ion channel and protein kinase, participating in a wide variety of diseases including cancer. Recent researches have reported the mechanism of TRPM7 in human cancers. However, the correlation between TRPM7 and prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential the role of TRPM7 in the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which is the key cell of advanced metastatic PCa. In this study, we demonstrated the influence and potential function of TRPM7 on the PC-3 cells apoptosis induced by TNF-related apoptosis inducing-ligand (TRAIL). The study also found a novel up-regulated expression of TRPM7 in PC-3 cells after treating with TRAIL. Suppression of TRPM7 by TRPM7 non-specific inhibitors ($Gd^{3+}$ or 2-aminoethoxy diphenylborate (2-APB) ) not only markedly eliminated TRPM7 expression level, but also increased the apoptosis of TRAIL-treated PC-3 cells, which may be regulated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway accompany with up-regulated expression of cleaved Caspase-3, (TRAIL-receptor 1, death receptors 4) DR4, and (TRAIL-receptor 2, death receptors 5) DR5. Taken together, our findings strongly suggested that TRPM7 was involved in the apoptosis of PC-3 cells induced by TRAIL, indicating that TRPM7 may be applied as a therapeutic target for PCa.

The effect of introduced method of titania and applied potential on the photoelectrocatalytic properties of CNT/TiO₂ electrodes

Zhang, Feng-Jun,Chen, Ming-Liang,Oh, Won-Chun The Korea Association of Crystal Growth 2010 韓國結晶成長學會誌 Vol.20 No.1

In this paper, three types of CNT/$TiO_2$ composite electrodes were prepared with different methods. The changes in XRD patterns showed that the Electrode A contained a mixed phase of anatase and rutile while the Electrode B and Electrode C contained a typical single and clear anatase crystal structure. From SEM micrographs, $TiO_2$ particles were adhered on the surface of the CNT network in the forms of small clusters. The results of chemical elemental analysis indicated that the main elements such as C, O and Ti were existed. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation for methylene blue (MB) was higher than that of photocatalytic (PC) oxidation. There was a clear enhancement trend of the MB degradation using the prepared CNT/$TiO_2$ composite electrodes with an increase of applied potential. Finally, the prominent PEC activities of the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites could be attributed to combination effects of photo-degradation of $TiO_2$, electron assistant of CNT and function of applied potential.

Electro-chemical Preparation of TiO₂/CNT Electrodes with TNB Electrolyte and Their Photoelectrocatalytic Effect

Zhang, Feng-Jun,Chen, Ming-Liang,Oh, Won-Chun The Korean Ceramic Society 2009 한국세라믹학회지 Vol.46 No.6

We investigate a method for the electrochemical preparation of titanium dioxide/carbon nanotube ($TiO_2$/CNT) composites involving the electroplating of Ti in a titanium n-butoxide (TNB) electrolyte into a CNT matrix. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas of $TiO_2$/CNT composites decrease as the electrochemical operating time increases. Changes in XRD patterns show a typical anatase type on the $TiO_2$/CNT composite prepared with a CNT matrix by the electroplating method in a TNB solution. In SEM micrographs, the titanium complex particles are uniformly distributed on the CNT surface. The results of chemical elemental analysis for the $TiO_2$/CNT composites show that most of the spectra for these samples produce stronger peaks for carbon and Ti metal than for any other element. Finally, the prominent photoelectrocatalytic activities of the $TiO_2$/CNT composites can be attributed to the combined effects of photodegradation of $TiO_2$, electron assistance of CNT, and the application of a sufficient voltage.