Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor inhibits apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant pancreatic cancer cells via upregulation of EGFR and ERCC 1 expressions

Purpose: To investigate the influence of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) on apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant pancreatic cancer cells, as well as its mechanism of action. Methods: Pancreatic cancer cisplatin-resistant cells (BXPC-3/CDDP) were transfected with HB-EGF small interfering RNA (siRNA). The cells were randomly assigned to four groups, namely, BXPC-3 group (group A), BXPC-3/CDDP group (group B), transfected group A (group Asi) and transfected group B (group Bsi). Cell proliferation was determined using MTT assay, and the levels of expression of HBEGF, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC 1) were determined using Western blotting. The extent of apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Cell proliferation was increased in group B, relative to group A, but was significantly decreased after transfection with HB-EGF siRNA (p < 0.05). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of group Bsi was reduced, relative to group Asi (p < 0.05). The expression of HB-EGF was significantly upregulated in group B, relative to group A (p < 0.05). In contrast, HB-EGF siRNA transfection of the cells significantly down-regulated HB-EGF expression (p < 0.05). Early apoptosis was significantly higher in group A than in groups B and Bsi. Higher levels of apoptosis were seen in group Bsi, relative to group B after inhibition of HB-EGF expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that HB-EGF is resistant to cisplatin, and it inhibits apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via the upregulation of EGFR and ERCC 1 expressions

Inhibition of PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF)/granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) decreased cell proliferation and invasion through downregulation of cyclin D and CDK 4 and inactivation of MMP-2

BACKGROUND: PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF), also called epithelin/granulin precursor (GEP), is an 88-kDa secreted glycoprotein with the ability to stimulate cell proliferation in an autocrine fashion. In addition, some studies indicated that PCDGF participated in invasion, metastasis and survival of cancer cells by regulating cell migration, adhesion and proliferation. Yet the effects of PCDGF on proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and the mechanisms by which PCDGF mediates biological behaviors of ovarian cancer have rarely been reported. In the present study we investigated whether and how PCDGF/GEP mediated cell proliferation and invasion in ovarian cancer. METHODS: PCDGF/GEP expression level in three human ovarian cancer cell lines of different invasion potential were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. Effects of inhibition of PCDGF expression on cell proliferation and invasion capability were determined by MTT assay and Boyden chamber assay. Expression levels of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and MMP-2 activity were evaluated in a pilot study. RESULTS: PCDGF mRNA and protein were expressed at a high level in SW626 and A2780 and at a low level in SKOV3. PCDGF expression level correlated well with malignant phenotype including proliferation and invasion in ovarian cancer cell lines. In addition, the proliferation rate and invasion index decreased after inhibition of PCDGF expression by antisense PCDGF cDNA transfection in SW626 and A2780. Furthermore expression of CyclinD1 and CDK4 were downregulated and MMP-2 was inactivated after PCDGF inhibition in the pilot study. CONCLUSION: PCDGF played an important role in stimulating proliferation and promoting invasion in ovarian cancer. Inhibition of PCDGF decreased proliferation and invasion capability through downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and inactivation of MMP-2. PCDGF could serve as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer

Orientation-dependent optic-fiber accelerometer based on excessively tilted fiber grating

An orientation-dependent optic-fiber accelerometer based on the excessively tilted fiber grating (ExTFG) inscribed in SM28 fiber is demonstrated, which is based on the optical power demodulation scheme. Without any complicated processing, the cladding mode resonances of the bare ExTFG show high sensitivity to slight perturbation of bending. Due to its excellent azimuth-related bending properties, such a bare ExTFG fixed on a simple cantilever beam has exhibited strong orientation-dependent vibration properties. The experimental results show that a TE mode of the sensor can provide a maximum acceleration sensitivity of 74.14 mV/g at 72 Hz and maximum orientation sensitivity of 9.1 mV/deg while, for a TM mode, a maximum acceleration sensitivity of 57.85 mV/g at 72 Hz and maximum orientation sensitivity of 7.4 mV/deg could be achieved. These unique properties enable the sensor to act as a vector accelerometer for applications in many vibration measurementfields

Food Frontiers : An academically sponsored new journal

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Developmenrt of EST-SSR and genomic-SSR markers to assess genetic diversity in Jatropha Curcas L.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Jatropha curcas L. </it>has attracted a great deal of attention worldwide, regarding its potential as a new biodiesel crop. However, the understanding of this crop remains very limited and little genomic research has been done. We used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that could be transferred from <it>Manihot esculenta </it>(cassava) to analyze the genetic relationships among 45 accessions of <it>J. curcas </it>from our germplasm collection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 187 out of 419 expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR and 54 out of 182 genomic (G)-SSR markers from cassava were polymorphic among the <it>J. curcas </it>accessions. The EST-SSR markers comprised 26.20% dinucleotide repeats, 57.75% trinucleotide repeats, 7.49% tetranucleotide repeats, and 8.56% pentanucleotide repeats, whereas the majority of the G-SSR markers were dinucleotide repeats (62.96%). The 187 EST-SSRs resided in genes that are involved mainly in biological and metabolic processes. Thirty-six EST-SSRs and 20 G-SSRs were chosen to analyze the genetic diversity among 45 <it>J. curcas </it>accessions. A total of 183 polymorphic alleles were detected. On the basis of the distribution of these polymorphic alleles, the 45 accessions were classified into six groups, in which the genotype showed a correlation with geographic origin. The estimated mean genetic diversity index was 0.5572, which suggests that our <it>J. curcas </it>germplasm collection has a high level of genetic diversity. This should facilitate subsequent studies on genetic mapping and molecular breeding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We identified 241 novel EST-SSR and G-SSR markers in <it>J. curcas</it>, which should be useful for genetic mapping and quantitative trait loci analysis of important agronomic traits. By using these markers, we found that the intergroup gene diversity of <it>J. curcas </it>was greater than the intragroup diversity, and that the domestication of the species probably occurred partly in America and partly in Hainan, China.</p

Cassava genome from a wild ancestor to cultivated varieties

Cassava is a major tropical food crop in the Euphorbiaceae family that has high carbohydrate production potential and adaptability to diverse environments. Here we present the draft genome sequences of a wild ancestor and a domesticated variety of cassava and comparative analyses with a partial inbred line. We identify 1,584 and 1,678 gene models specific to the wild and domesticated varieties, respectively, and discover high heterozygosity and millions of single-nucleotide variations. Our analyses reveal that genes involved in photosynthesis, starch accumulation and abiotic stresses have been positively selected, whereas those involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism, including cyanogenic glucoside formation, have been negatively selected in the cultivated varieties, reflecting the result of natural selection and domestication. Differences in microRNA genes and retrotransposon regulation could partly explain an increased carbon flux towards starch accumulation and reduced cyanogenic glucoside accumulation in domesticated cassava. These results may contribute to genetic improvement of cassava through better understanding of its biology