The Krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) network in HEC-1-A endometrial carcinoma cells suggests the carcinogenic potential of dys-regulated KLF9 expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) is a transcriptional regulator of uterine endometrial cell proliferation, adhesion and differentiation; processes essential for pregnancy success and which are subverted during tumorigenesis. The network of endometrial genes controlled by KLF9 is largely unknown. Over-expression of KLF9 in the human endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1-A alters cell morphology, proliferative indices, and differentiation, when compared to KLF9 under-expressing HEC-1-A cells. This cell line provides a unique model for identifying KLF9 downstream gene targets and signaling pathways.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HEC-1-A sub-lines differing in relative levels of KLF9 were subjected to microarray analysis to identify differentially-regulated RNAs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>KLF9 under-expression induced twenty four genes. The KLF9-suppressed mRNAs encode protein participants in: aldehyde metabolism (AKR7A2, ALDH1A1); regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and cell motility (e.g., ANK3, ITGB8); cellular detoxification (SULT1A1, ABCC4); cellular signaling (e.g., ACBD3, FZD5, RAB25, CALB1); and transcriptional regulation (PAX2, STAT1). Sixty mRNAs were more abundant in KLF9 over-expressing sub-lines. The KLF9-induced mRNAs encode proteins which participate in: regulation and function of the actin cytoskeleton (COTL1, FSCN1, FXYD5, MYO10); cell adhesion, extracellular matrix and basement membrane formation (e.g., AMIGO2, COL4A1, COL4A2, LAMC2, NID2); transport (CLIC4); cellular signaling (e.g., BCAR3, MAPKAPK3); transcriptional regulation [e.g., KLF4, NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor), RXRα], growth factor/cytokine actions (SLPI, BDNF); and membrane-associated proteins and receptors (e.g., CXCR4, PTCH1). In addition, the abundance of mRNAs that encode hypothetical proteins (KLF9-inhibited: C12orf29 and C1orf186; KLF9-induced: C10orf38 and C9orf167) were altered by KLF9 expression. Human endometrial tumors of high tumor grade had decreased KLF9 mRNA abundance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>KLF9 influences the expression of uterine epithelial genes through mechanisms likely involving its transcriptional activator and repressor functions and which may underlie altered tumor biology with aberrant KLF9 expression.</p

Microstructural evolution of carbon fiber reinforced SiC-based matrix composites during laser ablation process

In this work, four different carbon fiber reinforced SiC-based matrix composites (C/SiC) were prepared, and microstructure evolution during laser ablation process was characterized. Laser irradiation provided a special high-temperature environment up to 3500 degrees C. For all four composites, different morphologies can be obtained in the transition region due to the oxidation of different matrices. While only needle-shaped carbon fiber and nanolayered carbon without any matrix remained in the central region, indicating that graphitization process occurred in the center, resulting from the high-temperature and low-oxygen environment in the laser process. Therefore, the laser ablation of C/SiC composites is controlled by chemical and physical erosion, and mainly by the physical erosion in the center. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science &amp; Technology.</p

High energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation facility at IMP

<span style="color: rgb(46, 46, 46); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;, &quot;Microsoft Sans Serif&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;, STIXGeneral, &quot;Cambria Math&quot;, &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.944px; word-spacing: -1.32px;">A high energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation facility was designed and installed in the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It can deliver well-focused ions into the targets at exact locations. With the advantage of allowing vertical irradiation as well as focusing ions from Carbon to Uranium with high energies in a broad energy range (7&nbsp;MeV/u to 100&nbsp;MeV/u for Carbon ions), this setup is able to deliver a preset number of ions into pre-selected target positions. Material specimens in vacuum and living cells in air can also be irradiated by this facility. Detailed description of this microbeam facility as well as its beam optics is presented in this paper. Some preliminary test results are also given.</span