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Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of birth defect in humans, and remains a leading non‑infectious cause of infant mortality worldwide. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that genetic defects serve a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of CHD, and mutations in >60 genes have been causally associated with CHD. CHD is a heterogeneous disease and the genetic basis of CHD in the majority of patients remains poorly understood. In the present study, the coding exons and flanking introns of the mesoderm posterior 1 (MESP1) gene, which encodes a basic helix‑loop‑helix transcription factor required for normal cardiovascular development, were sequenced in 178 unrelated patients with CHD. The available relatives of the index patient carrying an identified mutation and 200 unrelated, ethnically‑matched healthy individuals, who were used as controls, were genotyped for MESP1. The functional characteristics of the MESP1 mutation were determined using a dual‑luciferase reporter assay system. As a result, a novel de novo heterozygous MESP1 mutation, p.Q118X, was identified in an index patient with double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and a ventricular septal defect. The nonsense mutation was absent in the 400 reference chromosomes and the altered amino acid was completely conserved evolutionarily across species. Functional assays indicated that the mutant MESP1 protein had no transcriptional activity when compared with its wild‑type counterpart. The present study firstly provided experimental evidence supporting the concept that a MESP1 loss‑of‑function mutation may contribute to the development of DORV in humans, which presents a significant insight into the molecular pathogenesis of CHD. The results highlight the potential implications for the genetic counseling and personalized treatment of patients with CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate alterations in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), and evaluate whether these factors may be associated with a sustained virological response (SVR) among patients with hepatitis C virus genotype-1 (HCV-1) who were treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN-RBV). A total of 31 Chinese patients infected with HCV-1 were enrolled in the present study and 25 patients obtained SVR. The expression levels of IP-10 declined significantly during PEG-IFN-RBV therapy at the 24 and 48 week time-points, compared with the baseline (P<0.005, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). In addition, it was observed that IRF5 mRNA expression and the number of TLR4+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibited similar correlations with IP-10 concentration (R²=0.0726, P=0.001, R²=0.1634, P<0.0001, respectively) in the SVR group patients; however, these correlations were not observed to be present in the non-SVR group patients. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that marked alterations in IP-10, TLR4 and IRF5 expression may serve as indicators for the development of SVR in patients with HCV-1 treated with PEG-IFN-RBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNA (miRNA) and cellular miRNA in compromising the immune system, which contributes to the development of Burkitt lymphoma (BL). The present study selected cellular miR-197 as the focus of the experiments due to the previous report that it is differentially expressed and the observation that interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) is a virtual target of miR-197 and EBV-BamHI A region rightward transcript (BART)-6-3p. In the present study, IL-6R was confirmed as a target of cellular miR-197 using a luciferase assay, and the negative regulatory association between miRNA (miR-197 and EBV-BART-6-3p) and mRNA (IL-6R) was confirmed by the observation that IL-6R was downregulated in EBV-positive Burkitt lymphoma and that miR-197 was upregulated. Additionally, mimics of EBV-BART-6-3p and miR-197 were introduced into lymphoma cells, and it was found that EBV-BART-6-3p and miR-197 synergistically reduced the expression of IL-6R. These findings improved current understanding of the role of miR-197/ EBV-BART-6-3p and their target, IL-6R, in the development of EBV-positive BL, and they may offer potential as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of EBV-positive malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high glucose-induced activation of protein kinase C-β2 (PKC-β2) has an essential role in the pathophysiology of diabetes-associated vascular disease. In the present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in high and normal glucose conditions prior to being infected with a recombinant adenovirus to induce the overexpression of PKC-β2. The activity of PKC-β2 was also decreased using a selective PKC-β2 inhibitor. A series of two-dimensional electrophoresis images detected ~800 spots in the nuclei, and ~600 spots in the cytosol. Following intra- and inter-group cross-matching, 38 significantly altered spots were identified as high glucose-induced and PKC-β2-associated nuclear proteins. In addition to the observation that the regulation of key proteins involved in the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling cascade occurred in the cytosol, various transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPAR-δ), were also altered in the nuclei. A human protein-protein interaction network of potential connections of PKC-β2-associated proteins was constructed in the proteomics investigation using Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets. The results indicated that PKC-β2 may be involved in high glucose-induced glucose and lipid crosstalk by regulating PPAR-δ. In addition, NF-κB inhibitor-interacting Ras-like protein 1 may be important in the PKC-β2-NF-κB inhibitor-NF-κB signaling pathway in HUVECs under high-glucose conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported that physical exercise may exert a neuroprotective effect in humans as well as animals. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of exercise has remained to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible signaling pathways involved in the protective effect of pre-ischemic treadmill training for ischemic stroke in rats. A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into three groups as follows (n=12 for each): Sham surgery group; middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group; and exercise with MCAO group. Following treadmill training for three weeks, the middle cerebral artery was occluded for 90 min in order to induce ischemic stroke, followed by reperfusion. Following 24 h post-reperfusion, six rats from each group were assessed for neurological deficits and then sacrificed to calculate the infarct volume. The remaining rats (n=6 for each group) were sacrificed and the expression levels of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT-2) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were detected using western blot analysis. The results of the present study demonstrated that rats that underwent pre-ischemic exercise intervention had a significantly decreased brain infarct volume and neurological deficits; in addition, the pre-ischemic exercise group showed decreased overexpression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and increased expression of EAAT-2 following ischemic stroke. In conclusion, treadmill training exercise prior to ischemic stroke alleviated brain damage in rats via regulation of EAAT-2 and ERK1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), neopterin, nitric oxide (NO) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of Hcy. The effect of various doses of FA on Hcy, BH4, neopterin and NO concentrations in HUVECs was then assessed. In the 5 and 10 nmol/l FA treatment groups, FA was found to significantly increase the levels of BH4 (10.56±3.86 and 11.23±2.1919 pmol/g vs 6.32+2.87 nmol/g; P<0.05 vs. control) and NO production (37.86±12.34 nmol/l, 38.45±11.23 nmol/l vs 26.21±9.24 nmol/l; P<0.001 vs. paired Hcy group), but reduce the levels of Hcy (132.87±29.67 and 140.87±26.76 nmol/l vs. 165.23±30.56 nmol/l; P<0.05 vs. Hcy group). No significant differences were observed in neopterin levels among the different groups of HUVECs. In conclusion, high doses of FA may be capable of protecting endothelial cells through reducing levels of Hcy and increasing BH4 and NO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous study demonstrated that particulate matter (≤2.5 µm in diameter; PM2.5) may promote atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of PM2.5 in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC‑1) remain to be elucidated. It has been reported that inflammation and oxidative stress can be reduced by curcumin, and in the present study, the aim was to investigate the protective effects of curcumin on PM2.5‑induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response in HMEC‑1. HMEC‑1 were stimulated with curcumin and PM2.5. The HMEC‑1 viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT and annexin V‑fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assays. The levels of oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (oxLDL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL)‑8 were detected by ELISA. The intracellular reactive oxygen species formation in HMEC‑1 was detected using flow cytometry and 2',7'‑dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Nuclear factor (NF)‑κB, caspase 3 activity and adhesion molecule expression were also investigated. The results suggested that curcumin reduced PM2.5 (300 µg/ml)‑induced cell apoptosis and intracellular caspase 3 activity in HMEC‑1. ELISA analysis demonstrated that curcumin reduced PM2.5‑induced oxLDL, TNF‑α and IL‑8 levels. Curcumin induced NF‑κB, cell adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion protein 1 expression. Thus, curcumin treatment may reduce PM2.5‑induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HMEC‑1. In summary, it was indicated that the effects of PM2.5 are associated with oxLDL via the NF‑κB signaling pathway, thereby inducing PM2.5 mediated oxidative and inflammatory responses. The results also suggested that curcumin may be able to reduce the oxidative and inflammatory effects of PM2.5 in HMEC‑1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies demonstrated that herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) could phosphorylate non-toxic gancyclovir (GCV) efficiently to produce phosphorylated products that result in cell apoptosis, to kill tumor cells. The present study aimed to construct a plasmid vector, pcDNA3.1-pAFP-TK, carrying the suicide gene driven by the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter, to investigate the cytotoxicity of HSVtk/GCV suicide gene system on hepatoma carcinoma cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting results demonstrated that the HSVtk gene was effectively expressed in HepG2 hepatoma carcinoma cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-pAFP-TK plasmid, whereas HSVtk gene expression was not detected in normal HL-7702 liver cells. In addition, MTT assays indicated that cell viability of HepG2 cells with the plasmid pcDNA3.1-pAFP-TK decreased in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with GCV for 48 h. Flow cytometry also revealed that the cell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential reduction rate in the HepG2 cells treated with HSVtk/GCV suicide gene system were significantly higher than in the control group. Apoptosis rates in the control group and the pcDNA3.1-pAFP-TK group were (1.00±0.62%) and (38.70±6.03%), respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential reduction rates in the control group and the pcDNA3.1-pAFP-TK group were (0.57±0.11%) and (22.84±5.79%), respectively. Caspase-3 staining demonstrated that activated caspase-3 increased significantly in the HepG2 cells treated with HSVtk/GCV suicide gene system, whereas in the control group activated caspase-3 increase was not observed. The results of the present study, therefore, indicated that HSVtk suicide gene was obviously expressed in the HepG2 cells and that the HSVtk/GCV system was effective at killing HepG2 hepatoma carcinoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycopene has been shown to be associated with anticancer effects in numerous tumor types. However, the underlying mechanisms of lycopene in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of lycopene overload and the cytotoxic effects of lycopene on HNSCC cells, and to determine the possible mechanisms involved. Treatment with lycopene at a dose of >10 μM for >24 h inhibited the growth of FaDu and Cal27 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The clearest increase in growth inhibition was due to the apoptotic population being significantly increased. The invasion abilities decreased with 25 μM lycopene exerting significant inhibitory effects (P<0.01). Mechanistic studies revealed that lycopene induced the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma-associated X protein, and therefore, resulted in the inhibition of the protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. These data provided insights into the antitumor activity of lycopene in HNSCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in tumor‑associated stroma of pregnancy‑associated breast cancer (PABC). By analyzing Affymetrix microarray data (GSE31192) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, DEGs between tumor asso­ciated stromal cells and normal stromal cells in PABC were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) function and pathway enrichment analyses for the DEGs were then performed, followed by construction of a protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network. A total of 94 upregulated and 386 downregulated DEGs were identified between tumor associated stromal cells and normal stromal cells in patients with PABC. The upregulated DEGs were primarily enriched in the cytokine‑cytokine receptor interaction pathway and GO terms associated with the immune response, which included the DEGs of interleukin 18 (IL18) and cluster of differentiation 274 (CD274). The downregulated DEGs were primarily involved in GO terms associated with cell surface receptor linked signal transduction and pathways of focal adhesion and pathways in cancer. In the PPI network, nodes of jun proto‑oncogene (JUN), FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (FOS), V‑myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC), and alpha‑smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) had higher degrees. The hub genes of JUN, FOS, MYC and ACTA2, as well as the DEGs IL18 and CD274 that were associated with the immune response in GO terms may exert important functions in the molecular mechanisms of PABC. These genes may be used as new molecular targets in the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophilic airway inflammation in chronic lung infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with T helper (Th)17 responses. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is the major negative modulator of Th17 function through the suppression of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 activation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of SOCS3 in lung CD4+ T cells in a mouse model of chronic PA lung infection and the effect of exogenous SOCS3 on Th17-mediated neutrophil recruitment in vitro. A mouse model of chronic PA lung infection was established and the activation of STAT3 and Th17 response in lung tissues and lung CD4+ T cells was assessed. The protein and mRNA expression of SOCS3 in lung CD4+ T cells was analyzed by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The authors constructed a recombinant lentivirus carrying the SOCS3 gene and transferred it into lung CD4+ T cells isolated from a mouse model. These transfected cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-23 in vitro a nd t he p rotein l evel of p-STAT3 and retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR)γt was determined by western blotting. The expression of IL-17A+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry and the level of IL-17A in cell culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. The mouse lung epithelial cell line, MLE-12, was cocultured with lung CD4+ T cells that overexpressed the SOCS3 gene and the culture supernatant was harvested and used for a chemotaxis assay. Compared with control mice, mice with chronic PA lung infection had significantly higher level of p-STAT3 and Th17 response in both lung tissues and lung CD4+ T cells. The protein and mRNA level of SOCS3 in lung CD4+ T cells increased as the chronic PA lung infection developed. Exogenous SOCS3 gene transfer in PA-infected lung CD4+ T cells decreased p-STAT3 and RORγt expression and suppressed the level of IL-17A+ cells in vitro. MLE-12 cells cocultured with SOCS3-overexpressing lung CD4+ T cells expressed a significantly lower level of neutrophil chemoattractants chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1 and CXCL5, and recruited significantly smaller numbers of migrating neutrophils than those cocultured with control cells. SOCS3 was upregulated in lung CD4+ T cells following the activation of STAT3/Th17 axis in a mouse model of chronic PA lung infection. Exogenous SOCS3 transfer in PA-infected lung CD4+ T cells suppresses Th17-mediated neutrophil recruitment in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate differential modules (DMs) between uveal melanoma (UM) and normal conditions by examining differential networks. Based on a gene expression profile collected from the ArrayExpress database, the inference of DMs involved three steps: The first step was construction of a differential co-expression network (DCN); second, the module algorithm was adapted to identify the DMs presented in DCN; finally, the statistical significance of DMs were assessed based on the null score distribution of DMs generated using randomized networks. A DCN with 309 nodes and 3,729 edges was obtained, and 30 seed genes from the DCN were examined. Subsequently, one DM, which had 179 nodes and 3,068 edges, was investigated. By utilizing randomized networks, the P-value for DM was 0.034, therefore, the DM was statically significant between UM and baseline conditions. In conclusion, the present study successfully identified one DM in UM based on DCN and module algorithm, and this DM may be beneficial in revealing the pathological mechanism of UM and provide insight for future investigation of UM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slit homolog 2 (Slit2) is distributed in various tissues and participates in numerous cellular processes; however, the role of Slit2 in the regulation of angiogenesis remains controversial, since it has previously been reported to exert proangiogenic and antiangiogenic activities. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Slit2 on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and to reveal the possible underlying signaling pathway. Aortic endothelial cells were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats and cultured. Cell proliferation assay, cell migration assay, immunocytochemistry and small interfering RNA transfection were subsequently performed. The results demonstrated that exogenous Slit2 administration markedly suppressed TNF-α-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In addition, TNF-α application upregulated the protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Notch in RAECs, whereas Slit2 administration downregulated VEGF and Notch expression in RAECs cultured in TNF-α conditioned medium. Further studies indicated that knockdown of VEGF suppressed the effects of TNF-α on the induction of RAEC proliferation and migration. VEGF knockdown-induced inhibition of RAEC proliferation and migration in TNF-α conditioned medium was also achieved without Slit2 administration. Furthermore, VEGF knockdown markedly decreased Notch1 and Notch2 expression. These results indicated that Slit2 suppresses TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro by inhibiting the VEGF-Notch signaling pathway. Therefore, Slit2 may inhibit the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells during vascular development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate whether overexpression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) affects drug resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) in glioma cells. To do this, a plasmid containing the ILK gene was transfected into the SHG-44 human glioma cell line, and cells were subsequently cultured in the absence or presence of TMZ. The expression levels of ILK, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and multi-drug resistance protein (MDR) were assessed in these cells. Cell growth and apoptosis were measured by MTT and Hoechst staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated x protein (Bax), and caspase-3 activity, were evaluated. The ILK-overexpressing SHG-44 cell was successfully constructed, and demonstrated increased expression levels of ILK, MDR and MRP compared with untransfected cells. Cell growth in the ILK+TMZ group was significantly greater, and the percentage of apoptotic cells in the ILK+TMZ group was significantly reduced, compared with the p enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-C1+ TMZ empty vector control group. Expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were significantly increased and those of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the ILK+TMZ group compared with the pEGFP-C1+TMZ group. In addition, the activity of caspase-3 in ILK+TMZ group was significantly decreased compared with the pEGFP-C1+TMZ group (P<0.01). Overexpression of ILK therefore promoted the proliferation of SHG-44 human glioma cells, reduced apoptosis and reduced sensitivity to TMZ via decreasing the activity of caspase-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of functional deterioration in older adults, and altered chondrogenesis is the most common pathophysiological process involved in the development of OA. MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has been shown to regulate chondrocyte homeostasis. However, the function of miR-145 in OA remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the expression levels of miR-145 were examined in cartilage specimens from 25 patients with knee OA using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effects of miR-145 on the proliferation and fibrosis of the C-20/A4 and CH8 cell lines were also investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylth-iazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and western blot assays in vitro. The results revealed that the expression of miR-145 was decreased in the OA cartilage tissues, compared with normal cartilage tissues. The overexpression of miR-145 by transfection of cells with miR-145 mimics significantly inhibited C-20/A4 and CH8 cell proliferation and fibrosis. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11b (TNFRSF11B) was identified as a direct target of miR-145 in chondrocytes, which was confirmed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression level of TNFRSF11B was markedly upregulated in the patients with OA, and the ectopic expression of miR-145 was capable of suppressing the expression of TNFRSF11B. In addition, the knock down of TNFRSF11B using specific small interfering RNA also inhibited the proliferation and fibrosis of C-20/A4 and CH8 cells in vitro. These data provide the first evidence, to the best of our knowledge, to suggest the critical function of miR-145 in regulating the expression of TNFRSF11B, which may have important implications on the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and fibrosis in OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study revealed that miR-148a, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein-modulated microRNA that promotes adipocyte differentiation by inhibiting Wnt1, is a biomarker of obesity in human subjects and a mouse model. The present study investigated the expression of miR-148a in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs-Ad) in response to inflammatory cytokines and adipokines to clarify its underlying mechanism. miR-148a expression was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and its promoter activity was detected with a luciferase assay. miR-148a expression levels decreased when differentiated hMSCs-Ad were exposed to inflammatory cytokines or adipokines, which suggested that miR-148a may be important in adipocyte metabolism and inflammation. Furthermore, the promoter activity of miR-148a decreased following treatment of cells with inflammatory cytokines or adipokines. The results of the present study indicated a novel role of miR-148a in adipocyte inflammation; therefore, miR-148a may be involved in obesity complications via its own underlying transcriptional mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the resistant mechanisms and homology of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). A total of 46 non-duplicate imipenem-resistant A. baumannii clinical isolates were collected from three tertiary hospitals between July, 2011 and June, 2012. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antimicrobial agents were determined using the agar dilution method. Phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide was used to detect the presence of the efflux pump-mediated resistant mechanism. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to amplify genes associated with drug resistance, including β-lactamase genes, efflux pump genes and outer membrane protein gene CarO. A few amplicons were randomly selected and sequenced. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLST) was employed in typing A. baumanni. A. baumannii was resistant to imipenem, simultaneously showing resistance to several other antimicrobials. In addition, 13 A. baumannii were found to mediate drug resistance through operation of the efflux pump. Of the various drug resistance genes tested, blaOXA-51 was present in 46 isolates, blaOXA-23 gene was present in 44 isolates and blaNDM gene was found in only one strain. Other drug resistant-associated genes, including blaKPC, blaIMP, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-58, blaSHV, blaGIM and blaVIM were not detected. Mutation of adeS and outer membrane protein gene CarO were found in a few of the imipenem-resistant isolates. The MLST analysis revealed that all 46 clinical isolates were clustered into 11 genotypes and the most frequent genotype was ST208. In conclusion, β-lactamase genes, genes involved in efflux pump and mutation of outer membrane protein encoding gene may be important in mediating imipenem resistance in A. baumannii. Of the 11 different genotypes, ST11 was shared by the majority of A. baumannii, which may be due to horizontal transfer of patients from hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous genome-wide association studies have demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms in T-box (TBX)5 are associated with increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation (AF), and a recent study has causally linked a TBX5 mutation to atypical Holt-Oram syndrome and paroxysmal AF. However, the prevalence and spectrum of TBX5 mutations in patients with AF remain to be elucidated. In the present study, a cohort of 190 unrelated patients with idiopathic AF were prospectively recruited, with 400 unrelated healthy individuals recruited as controls. The coding exons and flanking introns of the TBX5 gene were sequenced in the participants. The functional characteristics of the mutant TBX5 were delineated in contrast with its wild-type counterpart using a dual-luciferase reporter assay system. As a result, a novel heterozygous TBX5 mutation, p.P132S, was identified in an index patient with AF, with a mutational prevalence of ~0.53%. Genetic analysis of the proband's family showed that the mutation co-segregated with AF, and was transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern. The missense mutation was absent in the 800 control chromosomes, and the altered amino acid was completely evolutionarily conserved across species. Functional analyses revealed that the mutant TBX5 had significantly reduced transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the mutation markedly decreased the synergistic activation between TBX5 and NK2 homeobox 5, another transcription factor which has been causatively linked to AF. The present study was the first, to the best of our knowledge, to report on the association between a TBX5 loss-of-function mutation and increased susceptibility to AF. These results provide novel insight into the molecular mechanism underpinning AF, and have potential implications in the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for AF, the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatoblastoma is the most common type of malignant liver tumor in children. While outcomes have been greatly improved in the past decades, the treatment of advanced hepatoblastoma has remained challenging. Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), a member of the polycomb group regulators of gene activity, is amplified and overexpressed in a variety of cancers. However, the role of EZH2 in hepatoblastoma has remained to be fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression patterns of EZH2 in hepatoblastoma cells and to assess the anti-cancer effects of EZH2 depletion. Western blot analysis revealed that EZH2 expression was significantly higher in hepatoblastoma specimens compared with that in peri-tumor tissues, while p27 was reduced in hepatoblastoma. Suppression of EHZ2 using lentiviral small hairpin RNA inhibited hepatoblastoma cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and enhanced the expression of G1/S-phase checkpoint protein p27. These results suggested that EZH2 may represent a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatoblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, which is the effective component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has previously been shown to exert potent antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanism underlying the protective effects of curcumin against oxidative damage in endothelial cells remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine the effects of curcumin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis and autophagy in EA.hy926 cells, and to determine the underlying molecular mechanism. Cultured EA.hy926 cells were treated with curcumin (5-20 μmol/l) 4 h prior to and for 4 h during exposure to H2O2 (200 μmol/l). Oxidative stress resulted in a significant increase in the rate of cell apoptosis, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression levels of caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax), and a decrease in the expression levels of Bcl-2. Treatment with curcumin (5 or 20 μmol/l) significantly inhibited apoptosis, and reversed the alterations in caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax expression. Furthermore, curcumin induced autophagy and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3-II expression, and suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These results indicated that curcumin may protect cells against oxidative stress-induced damage through inhibiting apoptosis and inducing autophagy via the Akt/mTOR pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is a DNA-binding nuclear protein, which is overexpressed in leukemia cells. Cordycepin is characterized by strong antileukemic properties and is regarded as an effective natural compound for leukemia therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of HMGB1 knockdown and cordycepin treatment on proliferation, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adhesion of K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The Cell Counting kit-8 assay was used to determine the proliferation of K562 cells. The cell cycle and apoptosis of K562 cells was determined using flow cytometric analysis. In addition, a cell adhesion assay was performed. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression of cyclooxygenase 2, Bax, receptor for advanced glycation end-products and Bcl-2. The data collected demonstrated that HMGB1 knockdown combined with cordycepin treatment had significant anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. In addition, it increased the ROS levels and reduced the adhesion of K562 cells. It was also identified that HMGB1 knockdown had synergistic effects with cordycepin, which aided in accelerating apoptosis, and inhibiting proliferation and adhesion in chronic myeloid leukemia cells. These results indicated that HMGB1 may be used as a potential therapeutic target, with cordycepin having potential as an auxiliary drug. Therefore, it is suggested that HMGB1 knockdown and corycepin treatement may present a promising therapeutic strategy for leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of primary myocardial disease. It is the most common cause of chronic congestive heart failure and the most frequent reason for heart transplantation in young adults. There is increasing evidence demonstrating that genetic defects are involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic DCM. Recent studies have shown that genetically defective LRRC10 predisposes animals to DCM. However, the association of LRRC10 with DCM in humans has not been reported. In the current study, the whole coding region and flanking splice junction sites of the LRRC10 gene were sequenced in 220 unrelated patients with idiopathic DCM. The available relatives of the index patients harboring identified mutations and 200 unrelated ethnically matched healthy individuals used as controls were also genotyped for LRRC10. The functional effect of the LRRC10 mutations was analyzed in silico. As a result, two novel heterozygous LRRC10 mutations, p.L41V and p.L163I, were identified in two families with DCM, respectively, with a mutational prevalence of ~0.91%. Genetic analyses of the pedigrees showed that in each family, the mutation co-segregated with DCM was transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with complete penetrance. The missense mutations were absent in 400 control chromosomes and the altered amino acids were completely conserved evolutionarily across various species. Functional analysis in silico indicated that the LRRC10 mutations were causative. This study firstly reports the association of LRRC10 mutations with enhanced susceptibility to DCM in humans, which provides novel insight into the molecular mechanism underpinning DCM, and contributes to the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been extensively investigated. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the expression and role of miR-204 in B-cell lymphoma. The present study demonstrated that miR-204 is downregulated in B-cell lymphoma. Using in vitro studies, overexpression of miR-204 was shown to inhibit growth in Daudi and Raji B-cell lymphoma cell lines. Furthermore, miR-204 could bind the 3'-untranslated region of signal transducer activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), a transcription factor that promotes B-cell lymphoma oncogenesis. Re-introduction of STAT5 reversed the antiproliferative roles of miR-204, confirming the specific importance of STAT5 for miR-204 action in cell proliferation. The present study suggests a novel mechanism for dysregulated miRNAs in the progression of B-cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is one of the most common infectious disease worldwide and a leading cause of death. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has previously been proven to be a steady biomarker that may be used to predict clinical outcomes. The amount of circulating HBsAg has been reported to reflect the number of infected hepatocytes. An advantage of pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN-α) is that as a finite course of therapy, it can potentially lead to sustained disease remission in subsequent decades. HBsAg seroclearance can reportedly be achieved in some hepatitis B patients treated with peg-IFN-α; this is a major advantage of IFN-α, as compared with nucleoside analogue treatment. In the present study, a random phage display peptide library was used to screen for potential serum peptide biomarkers in predicting which patients with CHB would exhibit HBsAg seroclearance, following 48 weeks of peg-IFN-α therapy. A total of 30 patients with CHB who achieved HBsAg seroclearance following peg-IFN-α therapy and an additional 30 age-, gender-, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status- and hepatitis B virus genotype-matched patients with CHB without HBsAg seroclearance following peg-IFN-α therapy, were enrolled as a discovery cohort. In the discovery/screening phase, 17/20 of the randomly selected phage clones, exhibited a specific reaction with purified sera immunoglobulin G from the HBsAg clearance group, and 13/17 positive phage clones came from the same phage clone, with the inserted peptide sequence ETCRASCINESA (named IFNC1). In the validation phase, phage-ELISA results showed that the positive reaction rate of the IFNC1 peptide phage clone was 92.0% with the HBsAg seroclearance group (n=50), which was significantly higher, as compared with the randomly selected HBsAg non-clearance group (12.0%, n=50) and the healthy control group (8.0%, n=50). In conclusion, the newly identified mimic peptide IFNC1 showed a high predictive validity HBsAg seroclearance in patients with CHB, following peg-IFN-α therapy. Therefore IFNC1 may be a potential serum biomarker, which could be used to predict the treatment outcomes of peg-IFN-α therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) E prostanoid (EP)1 receptor shown to be associated with lung cancer cell invasion. However, the mechanism of EP1 receptor-mediated cell migration remains to be elucidated. β1 integrin is an essential regulator of the tumorigenic properties of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells. To date, little is known regarding the association between the EP1 receptor and β1 integrin expression. The present study investigated the effect of EP1 receptor activation on β1 integrin expression and cell migration in NSCLC cells. A total of 34 patients with clinical diagnosis of NSCLC and 10 patients with benign disease were recruited for the present study. The expression levels of the EP1 receptor and β1 integrin expression were studied in resected lung tissue using immunohistochemistry. A statistical analysis was performed using Stata sel2.0 software. The effects of PGE2, EP1 agonist 17-phenyl trinor-PGE2 (17-PT-PGE2) and the nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) inhibitor on β1 integrin expression were investigated on A549 cells. The expression of (31 integrin and the phosphorylation of NF-κB-p65 Ser536 was investigated by western blot analysis. Cell migration was assessed by a transwell assay. The results demonstrated that (31 integrin and EP1 receptor expression exhibited a positive correlation of evident significance in the 44 samples. The in vitro migration assay revealed that cell migration was increased by 30% when the cells were treated with 5 μM 17-PT-PGE2 and that the pre-treatment of β1 integrin monoclonal antibody inhibited 17-PT-PGE2-mediated cell migration completely. PGE2 and 17-PT-PGE2 treatment increased β1 integrin expression. RNA interference against the EP1 receptor blocked the PGE2-mediated β1 integrin expression in A549 cells. Treatment with 17-PT-PGE2 induced NF-κB activation, and the selective NF-kB inhibitor pyrrolidin-edithiocarbamate inhibited 17-PT-PGE2-mediated β1 integrin expression. In conclusion, the present study indicated that the PGE2 EP1 receptor regulates β1 integrin expression and cell migration in NSCLC cells by activating the NF-kB signaling pathway. Targeting the PGE2/EP1/β1 integrin signaling pathway may aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of this type of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to determine the mechanism by which low-intensity intermittent negative pressure affects the differentiation and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type I collagen and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected to analyze differentiation. MTT and flow cytometry were employed to measure proliferation and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to examine endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated factors. This study was divided into two groups, including a normal group (without any treatment) and vacuum group (treated with a vacuum). There was a significant decrease in the proliferation of cells in the vacuum group. The number of cells in S phase was reduced significantly, while the rate of apoptosis and the activity of ALP were markedly increased under vacuum conditions. Expression of collagen type I and VEGF was significantly increased, and the ratio of osteoprotegrin to osteoprotegrin ligand was decreased significantly in the vacuum group. ER stress-associated proteins, p-PRKR-like ER kinase, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 and cleaved activating transcription factor 6, as well as the downstream factors, were activated when treated with negative pressure. In conclusion, treatment with low-intensity and intermittent negative pressure may inhibit the proliferation of MSCs and trigger ER stress-associated cellular apoptosis, further enhancing osteogenesis activity and inducing differentiation to osteoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]