Yong-Tai Hou

Publications of Yong-Tai Hou

• Silencing of heparanase by siRNA inhibits tumor metastasis and angiogenesis of human breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

  Authors: Zhong-Hua Zhang, Yi Chen, Hua-Jun Zhao, Cheng-Ying Xie, Jian Ding, Yong-Tai Hou

  Cancer biology & therapy. 05/2007; 6(4):587-95.

  Expression of the heparanase gene is associated with invasive, angiogenic and metastatic potential of diverse malignant tumors and cell lines. Here we used RNA interference strategies to evaluate theExpression of the heparanase gene is associated with invasive, angiogenic and metastatic potential of diverse malignant tumors and cell lines. Here we used RNA interference strategies to evaluate the role of human heparanase in breast malignancy and to explore the therapeutic potential of its specific targeting. The siRNA targeting human heparanase almost completely inhibited the expression of heparanase in human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435 cells, whereas the mismatched siRNA showed no effect. Cells transfected with heparanase siRNA expressed significantly less heparanase and profoundly reduced invasion and adhesion in vitro. In MDA-MB-435 cell xenograft model, tumors treated with siRNA were less vascularized and less metastatic than those treated with saline and the mismatched controls. The association of reduced levels of heparanase and altered tumorigenic properties in cells with anti-heparanase siRNA indicates that heparanase is important in cancer progress and has potential use as a target for anticancer drug development.

• Growth arrest induced by C75, A fatty acid synthase inhibitor, was partially modulated by p38 MAPK but not by p53 in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

  Authors: Yan Gao, Li-Ping Lin, Cai-Hua Zhu, Yi Chen, Yong-Tai Hou, Jian Ding

  Cancer biology & therapy. 09/2006; 5(8):978-85.

  C75, a well-known fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor, has been shown to possess potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we reveal that C75 is a cell cycle arrest inducer andC75, a well-known fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor, has been shown to possess potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we reveal that C75 is a cell cycle arrest inducer and explore the potential mechanisms for this effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with abundant FAS expression: HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells with wt-p53, and Hep3B cells with null p53. The results showed FAS protein expression and basal activity levels were higher in HepG2 cells than in the other two HCC cell lines. Treatment with C75 inhibited FAS activity within 30 min of administration and induced G(2) phase arrest accompanied by p53 overexpression in HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells. By contrast, C75 triggered G(1) phase arrest in Hep3B cells, and RNA interference targeting p53 did not attenuate C75-induced G(2) arrest in HepG2 cells. Similarly, p53 overexpression via p53 plasmid transfection did not affect C75-induced G(1) phase arrest in Hep3B cells. However, we observed a clear correlation between p38 MAPK activation triggered by C75 and the induction of cell cycle arrest in all three HCC cells. Furthermore, treatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 reduced p38 MAPK activity and cell cycle arrest, and also partially restored cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and p21 protein levels. Collectively, it was p38 MAPK but not p53 involved in C75-mediated tumor cell growth arrest in HCC cells.

• Identification of genes responsive to apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

  Authors: Wei Jin, Le-Feng Qu, Ping Min, Shan Chen, Hong Li, He Lu, Yong-tai Hou

  Acta pharmacologica Sinica. 04/2004; 25(3):319-26.

  AIM: To identify genes responsive to apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated by homoharringtonine. METHODS: cDNA microarray technology was used to detect gene expression and the result of microarrays forAIM: To identify genes responsive to apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated by homoharringtonine. METHODS: cDNA microarray technology was used to detect gene expression and the result of microarrays for genes (TIEG and VDUP1) was confirmed by Northern analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-five individual mRNAs whose mass changed significantly were identified. Among these genes (25 were up-regulated and 50 were down-regulated), most are known related to oncogenes and tumor suppressor. Some genes were involved in apoptosis signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: TGF beta and TNF apoptosis signaling pathways were initiated during apoptosis in HL-60 cells. TIEG and VDUP1 play important roles in mediating apoptosis.

• [Fatty acid synthase: specific target for cancer therapy]

  Authors: Xiang-Hong Li, Yong-Tai Hou

  Sheng wu hua xue yu sheng wu wu li xue bao Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica. 02/2003; 35(1):1-5.

  Fatty acids, the products of fatty acid synthesis, are essential components and forms of energy for cancer growth. Compared to normal human tissues, many common human cancers express elevated levelsFatty acids, the products of fatty acid synthesis, are essential components and forms of energy for cancer growth. Compared to normal human tissues, many common human cancers express elevated levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), the important enzyme responsible for the synthesis of fatty acid, suggesting FAS can be a specific target for cancer therapy.