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ABSTRACT: HSulf-1 (heparan sulfate 6-O-endosulfatase 1), a commonly downregulated gene in the majority of ovarian cancer cell lines, has been identified to play an important role in regulating tumorigenesis. Our previous studies demonstrated that HSulf-1 could inhibit angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in vivo. The employment of polymeric nanoparticles to deliver functional gene holds much promise as an effective therapeutic strategy against ovarian cancer. To develop more effective therapy, in this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanogels delivering HSulf-1 combined with cisplatin (DDP) on ovarian cancer. Expression of HSulf-1 in vitro and in vivo was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. A SKOV3 intraperitoneal ovarian carcinomatosis model in nude mice was established to assess the antitumor efficacy. Mice were treated with NS, pEP/HPEI complexes, pHSulf-1/HPEI complexes, DDP or pHSulf-1/HPEI plus DDP, respectively. Intraperitoneal tumors were weighed. Antiangiogenic effect in vivo was evaluated by CD31 immunostaining and alginate-encapsulate tumor cell assay. Detection of the proliferative cells and apoptotic cells in tumor tissues were performed by Ki-67 staining and TUNEL assay. Stable expression of HSulf-1 was detected in the pHSulf-1/HPEI and pHSulf-1/HPEI plus DDP groups. The combination of pHSulf-1/HPEI complexes with DDP exhibited enhanced antitumor activity, compared with the monotherapy of HSulf-1 or DDP alone (P<0.01). the combination therapy exerted significant antitumor activity through enhanced antiangiogenesis, induction of apoptosis and suppression of cell proliferation. Collectively, these observations provide evidence that HPEI nanogels delivering HSulf-1 combined with DDP may have a promising application in the therapy of human ovarian cancer.
International Journal of Oncology 07/2012; · 2.40 Impact Factor
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Shengtao Zhou,
Tao Yi,
Rui Liu,
Ce Bian, Xiaorong Qi,
Xiang He,
Kui Wang,
Jingyi Li,
Xia Zhao,
Canhua Huang,
Yuquan Wei
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ABSTRACT: Adenomyosis is a common estrogen-dependent disorder of females characterized by a downward extension of the endometrium into the uterine myometrium and neovascularization in ectopic lesions. It accounts for chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia and infertility in 8.8-61.5% women worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms for adenomyosis development remain poorly elucidated. Here, we utilized a 2-DE/MS-based proteomics analysis to compare and identify differentially expressed proteins in matched ectopic and eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis patients. A total of 93 significantly altered proteins were identified by tandem MS analysis. Further cluster analysis revealed a group of estrogen-responsive proteins as dysregulated in adenomyosis, among which annexin A2, a member of annexin family proteins, was found up-regulated most significantly in the ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis compared with its eutopic counterpart. Overexpression of ANXA2 was validated in ectopic lesions of human adenomyosis and was found to be tightly correlated with markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and dysmenorrhea severity of adenomyosis patients. Functional analysis demonstrated that estrogen could remarkably up-regulate ANXA2 and induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in an in vitro adenomyosis model. Enforced expression of ANXA2 could mediate phenotypic mesenchymal-like cellular changes, with structural and functional alterations in a β-catenin/Tcf signaling-associated manner, which could be reversed by inhibition of ANXA2 expression. We also proved that enforced expression of ANXA2 enhanced the proangiogenic capacity of adenomyotic endometrial cells through HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway. In vivo, we demonstrated that ANXA2 inhibition abrogated endometrial tissue growth, metastasis and angiogenesis in an adenomyosis nude mice model and significantly alleviated hyperalgesia. Taken together, our data unraveled a dual role for ANXA2 in the pathogenesis of human adenomyosis through conferring endometrial cells both metastatic potential and proangiogenic capacity, which could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of adenomyosis patients.
Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. 06/2012;
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Shengtao Zhou,
Yuhua Li,
Fuqiang Huang,
Boya Zhang,
Tao Yi,
Zhengyu Li,
Hong Luo,
Xiang He,
Qian Zhong,
Ce Bian,
Xiaojuan Lin, Xiaorong Qi,
Ping Liu,
Canhua Huang,
Xia Zhao,
Yuquan Wei
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ABSTRACT: Herein we present a novel molecular mechanism of the antitumor effects of live-attenuated measles virus (MV) vaccine in ovarian cancer. Using a 2-DE/MS-based comparative proteomics strategy, we identified 17 proteins differentially expressed in live-attenuated MV vaccine-treated SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells, including oxidative stress-associated enzymes and cell contact-related proteins, which indicated that live-attenuated MV vaccine could induce aberrant ROS activation. It further mediated epigenetic silencing of E-cadherin via upregulating DNMT3a that conferred both cell-cell and cell-matrix contact loss and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. This process could be reversed through ROS inhibition. Our study lays the theoretical foundation for the clinical application of live-attenuated MV vaccine as a potential oncotherapeutic agent for ovarian cancer treatment.
Cancer letters 05/2012; 318(1):14-25. · 4.86 Impact Factor
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Shengtao Zhou,
Tao Yi,
Rui Liu,
Ce Bian, Xiaorong Qi,
Xiang He,
Kui Wang,
Jingyi Li,
Xia Zhao,
Canhua Huang,
Yuquan Wei
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Adenomyosis is a common estrogen-dependent disorder of females characterized by a downward extension of the endometrium into the uterine myometrium and neovascularization in ectopic lesions. It accounts for chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and infertility in 8.8-61.5% women worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms for adenomyosis development remain poorly elucidated. Here, we utilized a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/MS-based proteomics analysis to compare and identify differentially expressed proteins in matched ectopic and eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis patients. A total of 93 significantly altered proteins were identified by tandem MS analysis. Further cluster analysis revealed a group of estrogen-responsive proteins as dysregulated in adenomyosis, among which annexin A2, a member of annexin family proteins, was found up-regulated most significantly in the ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis compared with its eutopic counterpart. Overexpression of ANXA2 was validated in ectopic lesions of human adenomyosis and was found to be tightly correlated with markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and dysmenorrhea severity of adenomyosis patients. Functional analysis demonstrated that estrogen could remarkably up-regulate ANXA2 and induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition in an in vitro adenomyosis model. Enforced expression of ANXA2 could mediate phenotypic mesenchymal-like cellular changes, with structural and functional alterations in a β-catenin/T-cell factor (Tcf) signaling-associated manner, which could be reversed by inhibition of ANXA2 expression. We also proved that enforced expression of ANXA2 enhanced the proangiogenic capacity of adenomyotic endometrial cells through HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway. In vivo, we demonstrated that ANXA2 inhibition abrogated endometrial tissue growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis in an adenomyosis nude mice model and significantly alleviated hyperalgesia. Taken together, our data unraveled a dual role for ANXA2 in the pathogenesis of human adenomyosis through conferring endometrial cells both metastatic potential and proangiogenic capacity, which could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of adenomyosis patients.
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 04/2012; 11(7):M112.017988. · 7.40 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ɛ-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) hydrogel has been demonstrated to be biocompatible and thermosensitive. In this study, its potential efficacy and mechanisms of preventing postsurgical abdominal adhesions were investigated.
PECE hydrogel was transformed into gel state from sol state in less than 20 seconds at 37°C. None of the animals treated with the hydrogel (n = 15) developed adhesions. In contrast, all untreated animals (n = 15) had adhesions that could only be separated by sharp dissection (P < 0.001). The hydrogel adhered to the peritoneal wounds, gradually disappeared from the wounds within 7 days, and transformed into viscous fluid, being completely absorbed within 12 days. The parietal and visceral peritoneum were remesothelialized in about 5 and 9 days, respectively. The hydrogel prevented the formation of fibrinous adhesion and the invasion of fibroblasts. Also, along with the hydrogel degradation, a temporary inflammatory cell barrier was formed which could effectively delay the invasion of fibroblasts during the critical period of mesothelial regeneration.
The results suggested that PECE hydrogel could effectively prevent postsurgical intra-abdominal adhesions, which possibly result from the prevention of the fibrinous adhesion formation and the fibroblast invasion, the promotion of the remesothelialization, and the hydroflotation effect.
International Journal of Nanomedicine 01/2012; 7:547-57. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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ChangYang Gong,
Bing Yang,
ZhiYong Qian,
Xia Zhao,
QinJie Wu, XiaoRong Qi,
YuJun Wang,
Gang Guo,
Bing Kan,
Feng Luo,
YuQuan Wei
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ABSTRACT: The two major concerns after cytoreductive surgery of abdominal and pelvic malignancies are residual tumors and peritoneal adhesions, which are inevitable and have great impact on prognosis. Therefore, to improve the intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic effect and prevent postsurgical adhesions simultaneously after surgery, we developed a novel strategy that combines the controlled drug delivery system (CDDS) with an antiadhesion barrier. Biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PECE) copolymer formed micelles in water, which turned instantly into a nonflowing gel at body temperature as a result of micellar aggregation. Effectiveness of doxorubicin-loaded PECE micelles (Dox-M) in improving intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic effect and preventing adhesions was investigated. Subsequently, we established a novel mouse model for postsurgical residual tumors and peritoneal adhesions, in which Dox-M could improve intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic effect and prevent postsurgical peritoneal adhesions simultaneously. Thus, it is a promising strategy to combine the CDDS and barrier method to improve the intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic effect and prevent peritoneal adhesions simultaneously after surgery.
Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology, and medicine 11/2011; 8(6):963-73. · 5.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The HSulf-1 (heparan sulfate 6-O-endosulfatase 1) gene is an important element that modulates the sulfation status of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), leading to the interference of HSPG-related signal transduction pathways. HSulf-1 plays a key role in regulating cell proliferation, tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Recently, some studies have reported that HSulf-1 is a down-regulated gene in the majority of examined tumor types. In our present study, a recombinant plasmid DNA carrying HSulf-1-cDNA (pHSulf-1) was constructed. The antitumor effect of pHSulf-1 delivered by heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanogels on human ovarian cancer and the possible mechanisms of the antitumor efficacy in vivo were further investigated. Heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanogels, as a new safe non-viral gene delivery carrier, were prepared to deliver the plasmid expressing HSulf-1 into HSulf-1-deficient SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. pHSulf-1 could be efficiently transfected into SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells by HPEI nanogels in vitro and in vivo. Stable expression of HSulf-1 in vitro and in vivo was verified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, a SKOV3 intraperitoneal ovarian carcinomatosis model was established to investigate the growth inhibition function of pHSulf-1 in nude mice. Tumor weight was measured. An anti-angiogenesis effect of pHSulf-1 in vivo was detected by CD31 immunostaining and alginate-encapsulate tumor cell assay. Assessment of apoptotic cells and proliferation index in tumor tissues were performed by TUNEL assay and Ki‑67 immunostaining. Intraperitoneal injection of pHSulf-1/HPEI complexes efficiently reduced tumor weight by approximately 87% compared with control groups (P<0.01). Meanwhile, reduction in angiogenesis, inhibition of cell proliferation, as well as induction of tumor cell apoptosis were observed, without apparent systemic toxic effects. Collectively, these observations provide the first evidence that pHSulf-1 delivered by HPEI nanogels may become a promising therapeutic strategy against human ovarian cancer.
Oncology Reports 11/2011; 27(2):363-70. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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Chuntang Sun,
Tao Yi,
Xiangrong Song,
Shuangzhi Li, Xiaorong Qi,
Xiancheng Chen,
Honggang Lin,
Xiang He,
Zhengyu Li,
Yuquan Wei,
Xia Zhao
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ABSTRACT: Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecologic neoplasms. Even though various new chemotherapeutics have been developed for the treatment of ovarian cancer, drug resistance and undesired serious side effects remain unavoidable obstacles for chemotherapeutic approaches. New strategies to overcome the therapeutic dilemma are needed. Claudin-3 (CLDN3) is a recently discovered gene generally overexpressed in human ovarian cancers but not in normal ovarian tissue. Its high expression has been identified to associate with the invasion, proliferation and survival of cancer cells, making it a promising target for gene therapy of ovarian cancer. However, in gene therapy, traditional gene carriers such as virus or cationic liposomes suffer from distressing shortcomings of potential carcinogenicity, obvious cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. Nanoparticles (NPs) based on PLGA are a novel gene delivery system with good biodegradability, excellent biocompatibility and low toxcity for in vivo gene delivery compared with traditional gene carriers. We constructed a plasmid expressing shRNA targeted CLDN3 (pshCLDN3) encapsulated with PLGA-NPs, and administered it by i.p. injection to nude mice bearing intraperitoneal SKOV3 ovarian cancer, to investigate the antitumor potential of knocking down CLDN3. After 12 times of administration, the tumors of each group were compared. The underlying antitumor mechanisms were revealed by immunostaining of CD31, Ki-67 and TUNEL assay, to exhibit possible alterations in microvessel density, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis. Our study demonstrated that i.p. administration of pshCLDN3 effectively suppressed the expression of CLDN3 and, thus, inhibited the growth of ovarian tumors, significantly reducing tumor weight by 67.4% compared with blank controls (p<0.05). Immunostaining of CD31, Ki-67 and TUNEL assay demonstrated decreased angiogenesis (p<0.05), reduced proliferation (p<0.05) and increased apoptosis (p<0.05) in the pshCLDN3 treated group compared with controls. No obvious toxicity of PLGA-NPs was observed either in vitro or in vivo. Our results indicated that knockdown of CLDN3 by pshCLDN3 encapsulated in PLGA NPs may provide a promising approach for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Oncology Reports 07/2011; 26(1):193-200. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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Xiaorong Qi,
Xiangrong Song,
Ping Liu,
Tao Yi,
Shuangzhi Li,
Chuan Xie,
Yu Zheng,
Yu Bai,
Chuntang Sun,
Yuquan Wei,
Xia Zhao
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ABSTRACT: Human PNAS-4 (hPNAS-4), as a pro-apoptotic gene, can inhibit tumor growth when overexpressed in some malignant cells. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was used as a gene transfer vector due to the advantage of sustained release, nontoxicity and biodegradability. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating hPNAS-4 combined with cisplatin (DDP) on ovarian carcinoma. Expression of hPNAS-4 was determined by RT-PCR. Mice bearing intraperitoneal ovarian carcinomas were treated with PBS, pVAX-PLGA nanoparticles (P-P), pVAX-hPNAS-4-PLGA nanoparticles (PhP-P), DDP and PhP-P plus DDP, respectively. Intraperitoneal tumors were weighed to assess the antitumor efficacy. The percentage of proliferative cells and apoptotic cells was evaluated by Ki-67 staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. The anti-angiogenic effects were detected by CD31 staining and the alginate-encapsulate assay. Overexpression of hPNAS-4 was detected by RT-PCR in the PhP-P and PhP-P plus DDP groups. PhP-P exerted significant antitumor activity through induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation and suppression of angiogenesis, compared with treatment with P-P or PBS alone. The combination of PhP-P with DDP showed enhanced antitumor activity compared with therapy of PhP-P or DDP alone. PLGA encapsulating hPNAS-4 combined with DDP may have promising applications in the therapy of ovarian cancer.
Oncology Reports 06/2011; 26(3):703-10. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Post-operative peritoneal adhesions are common and serious complications for modern medicine. We aim to prevent post-surgical adhesions using biodegradable and thermosensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) hydrogel. In this work, we investigated the effect of PECE hydrogel on preventing post-surgical abdominal adhesions in mouse and rat models.
The PECE hydrogel in sol state could be transformed into gel in less than 20 s at 37°C. In addition, the PECE hydrogel could be easily adhered to the damaged peritoneal surfaces, and be gradually degraded and absorbed by the body within 14 days along with the healing of peritoneal wounds. A notable efficacy of the PECE hydrogel in preventing peritoneal adhesions was demonstrated in the animal models. In contrast, all untreated animals developed adhesions requiring sharp dissection. Furthermore, no significant histopathological changes were observed in main organs of the hydrogel-treated animals.
Our results suggested that the thermosensitive PECE hydrogel was an effective, safe, and convenient agent on preventing post-surgical intro-abdominal adhesions.
BMC Biotechnology 01/2010; 10:65. · 2.35 Impact Factor
