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ABSTRACT: This study investigated the "homing" phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The "homing" specificity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) by establishing an orthotopic implantation model in nude mice. EPCs harvested from the marrow cells were separated by density gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence microscope, flow cytometry (FCM) and double fluorescence staining with FITC-UEA-I and DiI-ac-LDL, were employed to identify the cells. 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) labelling and real-time PCR were used for detecting the expression of CD133 and chemokines to trace and observe the distribution of EPCs. Our results showed that the distribution rate of EPCs was obviously higher than that in other important organs and the negative control group. Detection of CD133 and chemokines yielded similar results in difference tissues. Our experiment confirmed that the chemotaxis of EPCs does exist in HCC. Moreover, HIF-1α, SDF-1 and VEGF might play important roles in the "homing" of EPCs in HCC. EPCs might be a potential candidate for targeting vector of HCC for gene therapy.
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology 10/2012; 32(5):675-9. · 0.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: By means of distillation precipitation polymerization, the silica-hybrid particles with polyazobenzene shell (PAzo@SiO2) microspheres were prepared with 6-(4-methoxy-4′-oxy-azobenzene) hexyl methacrylate (Azo-M) as monomer, divinylbenzene (DVB)
as cross-linker, and ∼250 nm vinylated sol-gel silica particles as template. Hollow polyazobenzene microspheres were further
developed after selective removal of the silica cores with HF solution. When the content of DVB related to Azo-M is 20 wt%,
the acetonitrile is 200 mL, and the polymerization time is 4.5 h, the hollow PAzo microspheres with about 20 nm shell are
successfully fabricated. These hollow PAzo microspheres have excellent reversible photoisomerization, and their first-order
rate constant of trans-cis isomerization only decreases 11.8% compared with homopolymer of azobenzene (Homo-PAzo).
Keywordshollow micro-spheres-azobenzene-photoresponsive behavior
Chinese Science Bulletin 04/2012; 55(30):3441-3447. · 1.32 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A novel ABA triblock copolymer containing electroactive tetraaniline [(ANI)(4)] and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO600, M(n) = 600), (ANI)(4)-b-PEO600-b-(ANI)(4), was synthesized by coupling tetraaniline and PEO600 with tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate. FTIR, NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy were combined to characterize the chemical structure of (ANI)(4)-b-PEO600-b-(ANI)(4). The electrochemical properties, self-assembly, and acidity response of copolymer in aqueous solution were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Different from pure tetraaniline and polyaniline, the triblock copolymer in 1.0 M sulfuric acid solution only exhibits one oxidation peak in cyclic voltammetry. In a neutral aqueous solution, the triblock copolymer self-assembled into vesicles with diameter of about 258 nm. Upon acidification with HCl, the size of the vesicles increases to 471 nm and 1.19 microm when the concentration of HCl changes to 10(-3) and 10(-1) M, respectively. With addition of aqueous 1.0 M HCl to the triblock copolymer solution in THF, hollow spheres and bowl-like aggregates were obtained. A bilayer model was proposed for the vesicle formation, and the mechanism of acidity response was discussed.
Langmuir 06/2010; 26(12):9386-92. · 4.19 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Two isolation methods for sorting of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs): from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD133(+) enriched cells were compared, by defining the cell morphology, phenotype, reproductive activities and function in vitro, to provide a reference for clinical application of EPCs. PBMCs from healthy subjects were used either directly for cell culture or for CD133(+) sorting. The two groups of cells were cultured in complete medium 199 (M199) for 7 to 14 days and the phenotypes of EPCs were analyzed by FACS. The proliferation of differentiated EPCs was studied by MTT assay, and the VEGF concentration was measured using an ELISA kit. ECM gel experiment and migration assay were performed in vivo. The results showed that PBMCs produced more colony-forming units (CFU) than CD133(+) enriched cells from the same volume of blood (P<0.01). From day 7 to 14, the two groups showed decreased expression of hematopoietic stem cell markers and increased level of endothelial markers, but CD144(+) cells in CD133(+) group were less than in PBMCs group (P<0.01). PBMCs group secreted more VEGF than CD133(+) group on the day 7 (P<0.01). As compared with CD133(+) group, PBMCs group had more potent potential of proliferation and vascularization in vitro. It was concluded that CD133(+) sorted cells showed a lower capacity of differentiation, secretion, proliferation and vascularization in vitro, suggesting that CD133-negative cells may be a preferential way to get EPCs for clinical therapy.
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology 02/2010; 30(1):18-24. · 0.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In view of the global problems caused by drug-resistant bacteria and pathogenic viruses, current methods are not satisfying. It is urgent need for novel antimicrobial strategies. It has now been confirmed that illumination of the photosensitizers (PS) by light at an appropriate wavelength can lead to inactivation of the pathogen through the production of highly reactive free radical species, which induce oxidative damage to lipid, proteins and DNA/RNA; But for the limited tissue penetration of visible light and the problems of systemic light delivery, the use of light in treatment of microbial diseases is still in its infancy. Recently, it has been found that some PS also produces free radicals on irradiation with ultrasound whose mechanism is similar to Laser. Ultrasound can penetrate into tissue more deeply than light and can be focused into a small region to activate some PS. Due to the unique advantage of ultrasound and mechanism of producing free radicals similar to light, we hypothesized that ultrasound may be exploited for the treatment of bacterial and virus infectious diseases. We proposed a new concept of "sonodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (SACT)", and hypothesized that it may be a promising novel antimicrobial strategy.
Medical Hypotheses 04/2009; 73(1):18-9. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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Journal of Polymer Science Part A Polymer Chemistry 12/2008; 47(2):467 - 484. · 3.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The newly developed insulin sensitizer-thiazolidinediones have the potential to downregulate inflammation and autoimmune response. The objective of this study was to observe the beneficial effects on beta-cell function in the LADA patients treated with rosiglitazone. 54 LADA patients were assigned to oral hypoglycemic agents group (GAD-Ab<175 U/mL and FCP>0.3 nmol/L) or early insulin administration group (GAD-Ab>or=175 U/mL or GAD-Ab<175 U/mL and FCP<or=0.3 nmol/L). Then, those patients were randomly assigned to receive sulfonylureas (SUs group) or rosiglitazone (RSG group) therapy, or to receive insulin alone (INS group) or rosiglitazone plus insulin (INS+RSG group). Plasma glucose, HbA1c, fasting C-peptide (FCP) and C-peptide after 2h 75-g glucose load (PCP) were determined every 6 months. The levels of PCP and delta CP were higher in RSG group compared with those in SUs group after the 18th month. The PCP level (after the 12th month) and delta CP level (after the 18th month) in INS+/-RSG group were higher than those in INS group. Rosiglitazone combined with insulin wherever or not preserved beta-cell function in LADA patients after 3 years.
Diabetes research and clinical practice 12/2008; 83(1):54-60. · 2.16 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The self-assembly behaviors of the rod-coil-rod (PANI)98−(PEG)136−(PANI)98 triblock copolymer are investigated in different solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl formamide (DMF), ethanol and water. The effects of solvents, concentration and ultrasonic
irradiation on self-assembly are discussed. The results indicate that the triblock copolymer forms particles, rods, fiber,
networks and fiber bands in the above solvents, respectively. Especially, the triblock copolymer can form a multi-layer, tri-dimensional
fibrous network and a petaline structure from the mono-layer fibrous network with the increase of its concentration in ethanol.
Also, the ultrasonic irradiation has a great effect on the self-assembly of the triblock copolymer.
Frontiers of Chemical Engineering in China 02/2008; 2(1):85-88.
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ABSTRACT: Hyperbranched poly(urea−urethane)s (HPU) were covalently grafted onto the surfaces of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) terminated with multihydroxyl groups by a grafting-from technique using one-pot polycondensation of diethanolamine (DEOA) and tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). Core−shell nanostructures with MWNT as the hard core and HPU trees as the soft shell were formed after the latter was attached to the former. The grafted-HPU thickness on MWNT could be well-controlled by adjusting the feed ratio of TDI to DEOA. The solution rheology of the HPU-functionalized MWNTs was investigated for the first time by steady shear measurements. Large numbers of proton-donor and proton-acceptor groups were located in the HPU-functionalized MWNT; intra- and intermolecular H-bonds were easily formed by their interactions. At low temperature, shearing forces induce the conversion from intra- to intermolecular H-bonds. Therefore, these solutions exhibited typical shear-thickening behaviors at low shear rates and behaved as Newtonian fluids at high shear rates. At high temperature, H-bonds in the HPU-functionalized MWNT were destroyed, and the packed structures of HPU trees became more loosed. Thereby, the entanglements between two HPU chains, HPU chains and MWNT, and two neighboring MWNTs were formed, which results in an increase in the connectivity and intensity of associated networks with an enhancement in the initial viscosity. With increasing shear rates, disentanglements and orientation of polymer chains and MWNTs lead to shear-thinning at low shear rates and Newtonian behavior at high shear rates. The rheological behaviors of the HPU-functionalized MWNT solutions showed a strong dependence on concentration, temperature, and thermal and shearing prehistory. A mechanism based on H-bond-driven interactions was proposed to account for the novel rheological behaviors of the HPU-functionalized MWNT solutions.
07/2007;
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ABSTRACT: Two kinds of photoresponsive azobenzene polyurethane-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (AzoPU-MWNTs) were successfully synthesized by in situ polycondensation of azobenzene monomer containing bis-hydroxyl (AzoM) with two types of diisocyanates, an aliphatic diisocyanate (HDI) as soft monomer and an aromatic diisocyanate (TDI) as rigid monomer, in the presence of MWNTs with terminated multihydroxyl groups (MWNT−OH), and their photochemical behaviors were investigated. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and 1H NMR spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that azobenzene polyurethanes were covalently grafted onto the surfaces of MWNTs, forming core−shell structures with MWNT as hard core and polymer layer as soft shell, and the average thickness of the grafted polymers was about 7−10 nm. Thereby, evident improvements in the solubility of insoluble MWNTs and thermal stability of the azo polyurethanes were simultaneously obtained. The AzoPU-MWNTs showed reversible photoisomerism behavior. When they were compared to their parent polymers (AzoPUs), the photoisomerization rate constants of AzoPU-MWNTs decreased due to the heat sinks and steric effects of MWNTs. However, the responsive rate constant of AzoPU-MWNT could be effectively controlled by adjusting the main-chain flexibility of the grafted polyurethanes on MWNTs. This would play a key role in developing novel high-performance optic and photonic nanodevices.
07/2007;
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ABSTRACT: The latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a subgroup of type 1 diabetes, which procession of autoimmune destruction of beta-cells was slower than classic type 1 diabetes. To investigate the pathogenesis of LADA, we examined the lymphocyte subsets including the CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cells in 60 LADA patients and 30 patients of type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy individuals by FACS. And we compared the expression of FOXP3 mRNA in CD4(+) T-cell between 10 patients of LADA and 10 matched healthy individuals by real time PCR. The percent of CD4(+)CD25(+) T-cells were higher (11.89+/-4.96% versus 8.16+/-3.65%, P<0.01), and the percent CD8(+) T-cells elevated (24.58+/-6.80% versus 19.39+/-7.12, P<0.01) in LADA patients than healthy individuals. While the expression of FOXP3 mRNA in CD4(+) T-cell was markedly decreased in LADA patients (0.52-fold, n=10, P=0.004) compared with normal subjects. In addition, the percent of CD8(+) T-cells related with GAD-Ab titers in LADA patients (r=0.292, P=0.03). Our results showed that there were cellular immune disorder and decreased CD4(+) regulatory T-cells in LADA patients. The adoptive transfer regulatory T-cells seem to be a potential therapeutics for LADA.
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 04/2007; 76(1):126-31. · 2.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: 1. The serotoninergic system is known to be involved in the control of multiple behavioural and physiological functions. The serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine; 5-HT) transporter (SERT), which controls the synaptic 5-HT concentration through re-uptake of this neurotransmitter into presynaptic terminals, has been a primary therapeutic target for various psychiatric and peripheral disorders. The aim of the present study was to identify the regulatory mechanism(s) of the human SERT (hSERT) in heterologously expressed oocytes. 2. The hSERT cRNA was transcribed in vitro and injected into Xenopus oocytes. The 5-HT-induced transporter currents were measured by voltage clamp. The effects of extracellular sodium or chloride were studied by replacement perfusion with tetramethylammonium-chloride (96 mmol/L) or sodium acetate (96 mmol/L). In addition, to alter the internal calcium concentration, CaCl2 (50 micromol/L) and inositol triphosphate (IP3; 50 micromol/L), with or without EGTA (2.5 mmol/L), were injected into oocytes. The specificity of 5-HT-sensitive currents was determined by the use of the SERT antagonist desipramine and niflumic acid to block background chloride currents. 3. The hSERT-expressing oocytes displayed voltage-dependent, 5-HT-induced currents that increased at negative potentials. Replacing extracellular sodium or chloride significantly decreased the hSERT currents by 89 and 45%, respectively (P < 0.05, n = 7 each). Injection of IP3 or CaCl2 increased the hSERT currents by approximately 65% (P < 0.05; n = 10 each) and the effect of IP3 was abolished by preinjection of EGTA. 4. These results demonstrate that hSERT activity is not only voltage dependent, but is also affected by intracellular calcium and extracellular sodium and chloride.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 12/2006; 33(11):1088-92. · 1.85 Impact Factor
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Macromolecular Rapid Communications 09/2006; 27(19):1695 - 1701. · 4.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the difference in expression of hTERT gene between HbsAg-positive human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HbsAg-negative HCC and to explore the relationship between HBV infection and hTERT gene expression in HCC. The expression of hTERT protein in 30 cases of HbsAg positive HCC and 17 cases of HbsAg negative HCC was detected by immunohistochemistry (SP method), and the expression of hTERT mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). t-test, Chi-squared test and cochran- armitage trend test were used to see whether there was an interrelation between HBsAg and hTERT gene in HCC. The expression of hTERT protein was mostly located in plasm and occasionally in the nucleus of liver cancer cells. The positive rate of hTERT protein and hTERT mRNA in HbsAg positive HCC- 93.33% (28/30) and 83.33% (25/30) respectively which were much higher than those in HbsAg negative HCC- 52.94% (9/17), 47.06% (8/17) (P<0.01) respectively. HbsAg is related to hTERT gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma. The hTERT gene activated by the efficacious ingredient of HBV may play an important role in hepatocellular transformation and carcinogenesis.
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01/2005; 25(3):303-6. · 0.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The clinical significance of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) protein expression and the correlation between the expression of PTEN and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated. The expression of PTEN and phospho-AKT was detected by SP immunohistochemical technique and Western blotting in 35 cases of HCC, 15 cases of liver cirrhosis and 8 cases of normal tissues. The correlation between the expression of PTEN and PKB/AKT in HCC was analyzed. The results showed that the positive expression of PTEN in HCC (62.9%, 0.085 +/- 0.021) was significantly lower than that in liver cirrhosis and normal tissues (P < 0. 01). The expression level of PTEN was related to the differentiation degree of HCC and the status of metastasis (P < 0.05). Western blotting revealed a significant inverse correlation between PTEN and phospho-AKT (r = -0.818, P < 0.01). These results demonstrated that down-regulation or loss of PTEN, which may not be able to effectively inhibit the hyper-phosphorylation of PKB/AKT, might play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression of HCC.
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01/2005; 25(1):45-7. · 0.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The slow component of the delayed rectifier K+ current IKs modulates repolarization of the cardiac action potential (AP), and the loss of IKs is known to cause long QT1 (LQT1) syndrome by prolonging action potential duration (APD). In this study, we generated a guinea pig LQT1 syndrome model using the IKs blocker chromanol 293B and then assayed the electrophysiologic effects of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel IK,ATP opener nicorandil on this model.
Transmembrane action potentials of perfused right ventricular papillary muscle preparations and both in vitro and in vivo ECGs of guinea pigs were recorded. Blockade of IKs by chromanol 293B (30 microM) prolonged the action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD90) by 8.5% and QT interval by 16.5% of control values. In addition, proarrhythmic early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and ventricular fibrillation were observed. Venoinjection of chromanol 293B (1 mg/kg) revealed 10.9% QT prolongation. Nicorandil (5-30 microM) dose-dependently shortened APD90 under the control condition, whereas it reversed the AP prolongation effect of chromanol 293B by 7.4% at the 30 microM concentration. Moreover, nicorandil shortened QT intervals both in vitro and in vivo and displayed an inhibitory effect on EADs and ventricular fibrillation.
The ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener nicorandil may be an effective drug in the therapy of LQT1 syndrome by shortening APD and the QT interval.
Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology 08/2004; 15(7):815-20. · 3.06 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In order to investigate the changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in residual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF expression in specimens surgically removed from 48 HCC patients were detected by immunohistochemical methods, and staining intensity of VEGF and bFGF was assessed by a computer-assisted image-analyzer. Among the 48 patients, 25 underwent partial hepatectomy alone (single operating group), and 23 were subjected to second stage surgical resection after TACE (TACE group). The results showed that the average absorbance value (A) of VEGF was higher in TACE group than that in single operating group (0.152 +/- 0.021 vs 0.131 +/- 0.012, P < 0.01). The Average A of bF-GF in TACE group was 0.127 +/- 0.023, higher than in single operating group (0.111 +/- 0.016, P < 0.05). These results suggested that TACE of HCC can up-regulate the expression of VEGF and bFGF in HCC tissues possibly due to anoxia and ischemia.
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01/2003; 23(3):280-2. · 0.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the expression profile of DJ-1 gene and its clinical relevance and prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Specimens from 149 HCC patients were applied for DJ-1 expression through immunohistochemistry. The correlation of DJ-1 levels with clinicopathologic variables and prognosis was analyzed. 32 paired HCC and para-carcinomatous liver tissue (PCLT) specimens from 149 HCC patients plus 10 hepatic cirrhosis specimens and 10 normal liver specimens were detected by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot.
DJ-1 was up-regulated significantly in HCC by semi-quantitative PCR and Western blot. DJ-1 expression closely correlated with preoperative AFP, liver cirrhosis, vein invasion, differentiation and Edmondson grade in HCCs by Pearson Chi-square test. Both of tumor-free survival time and overall survival time in the DJ-1 high expression group were shorter than those in the low expression group. DJ-1 was adopted as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of HCC patients through multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis (HR, 2.568; p = 0.003). Additionally, immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that expression of DJ-1 negatively correlated with expression of tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in HCC (r = -0.836; p < 0.001).
DJ-1 expression is significantly upregulated in HCC, and its expression level correlates with clinicopathological variables and prognosis of HCC patients, which suggests that DJ-1 maybe a candidate prognostic biomarker of HCC.
Hepato-gastroenterology 57(102-103):1247-56. · 0.66 Impact Factor
