PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Q S Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Q S Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular cloning of nuclear receptor coactivator-1 gene in pig.

Nuclear receptor coactivator-1 (NCOA-1) as a member of Steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family can interact with some DNA-bound nuclear receptors and enhance their transcriptional activation function, which is physiologically and pathologically important for animals and human. Much work has been done on the gene in human and mouse, but few in pig. Here we cloned and sequenced full length cDNA of NCOA-1 gene in pig. The putative protein includes 1440 amino acids. Sequences alignment showed that pig NCOA-1 gene cDNA sequence has identity of 93.73% with human and mouse, and putative pig NCOA-1 protein has identity of 94.99% with human, mouse and rat. The motifs, LXXLL, which have been demonstrated to be important for NCOA-1 mediating ligand-dependent and direct interaction with nuclear receptor, were conserved in pig.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of two telephone survey methods on the level of reported risk behaviours.

OBJECTIVE: Reporting bias due to social desirability is an important consideration in carrying out surveys on sensitive issues. The study compared the frequency of self reported sensitive behaviours and response rates between the conventional "telephone interviewer method" (TIM) and a combined interviewer and computerised data capturing method (telephone interviewer and computerised questionnaire method, or TICQM). METHODS: A total of 580 males and 582 females were recruited and randomly assigned to either of the two methods in a cross sectional study. The overall response rate was about 51.6%. RESULTS: While the two methods both had high completion and low item non-response rates, the TICQM respondents reported higher frequencies of sensitive risk behaviours. Sexually active female respondents interviewed by the TICQM were more likely to report that their sex partners were their steady boyfriend, instead of their husband; and were also more likely to admit that they had had "one night stand" experiences or had undergone an HIV antibody test, when compared with their counterparts in the TIM group. Similar contrasts were observed for sexually active male respondents, that the TICQM group were more likely to report that they had had sexual intercourse with female sex workers or non-regular sex partners. Sex differences in the strength of association were observed between some studied behaviours (for example, HIV testing and substance abuse) and modes of data collection. CONCLUSION: The choice of data collection method has a significant impact on the results of sensitive studies; special attention should be given to designing the study and interpreting the results.

Adolescent↗

A phospholipase C inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, ameliorates ischemic injury to brain mitochondria in rats.

AIM: To study the effect of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), a phospholipase C inhibitor, on ischemic injury to brain mitochondria in rats. METHODS: The phospholipid level, membrane fluidity, and respiratory control ratio of brain mitochondria were measured. The effect of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride was tested. RESULTS: The phospholipid level, membrane fluidity, and respiratory control ratio of brain mitochondria in ischemia group decreased but increased in the PMSF treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PMSF ameliorated ischemic injury to brain mitochondria in rats.

Animals↗

[Enantiomeric separations of 1-1,2,4-triazole compounds by micro-high performance liquid chromatography].

The enantiomeric separations of sixteen novel 1-1,2,4-triazole chiral compounds were investigated by micro-HPLC with a 200 mm x 100 microns i.d. capillary chiral OD column. The detection was performed at 223 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of iso-propyl alcohol and n-hexane(20:80, V/V) at a flow rate of 30 microL/min and column head pressure of 6.9 MPa. Some of the enantiomers could be separated on baseline. In comparing with the separation results by the conventional HPLC method, the micro-HPLC method had the advantages of high-speed, economy, environmental friendliness etc. The effect of solute structure on enantio-selectivity was investigated and the chiral recognition mechanism was also discussed. It was found that the main separation mechanisms involve the pi-pi association and inclusion between the substituent R and the spiral pocket of OD-CSP.

2-Propanol↗

Differential expression of p16(INK4a) in azoxymethane-induced mouse colon tumorigenesis.

Alterations in the p16(INK4a) gene have been implicated in the pathogenesis of different human cancers and animal tumors. We postulated that alterations in the p16(INK4a) gene may also be involved in mouse colon tumorigenesis induced by the chemical carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). In the present study, p16(INK4a) deletion status and its expression were examined in an AOM-induced mouse colon tumor model. Polymerase chain reaction-based deletion analysis of p16(INK4a) exon 2 showed no deletions in the colon tumors. The expression and localization of p16(INK4a) and its gene product were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. The p16(INK4a) mRNA levels were low, and in some cases undetectable, in control colon tissue. However, colon tumors exhibited an eightfold increase in p16(INK4a) mRNA level when compared with control colon tissue (P < 0.01). Whereas control colon epithelium was uniformly negative for p16(INK4a) immunoreactivity, p16(INK4a)-immunoreactive cells were markedly increased in preneoplastic lesions and adenomas isolated from AOM-treated mice. To further examine the p16(INK4a) regulatory pathway, the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor protein (Rb) was also examined immunohistochemically in these tissues. A heterogeneous Rb immunostaining was observed in preneoplastic lesions and adenomas. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed a reciprocal relationship between p16(INK4a) and Rb protein expression. These findings suggest that alterations in the p16(INK4a)/Rb pathway may play an important role in AOM-induced mouse colon tumorigenesis. Mol. Carcinog. 28:139-147, 2000.

Adenocarcinoma↗

IkappaBbeta-related proteins in normal and transformed colonic epithelial cells.

The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) regulates genes that can influence cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. Since these events can contribute to carcinogenesis, we examined the expression of NF-kappaB inhibitory proteins (IkappaBs) in normal and transformed colonic epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of the mouse colon revealed a high level of IkappaBbeta expression in epithelial cells relative to the rest of the tissue, whereas IkappaBalpha was found primarily in cells of the lamina propria. Mouse colon tumors showed a similar cell-specific staining pattern. Immunoblot analysis of IkappaBbeta from mouse colonocytes and the human HT-29 colon cancer cell line indicated that most of the IkappaBbeta in these cells was similar to the C-terminal-truncated IkappaBbeta2 isoform. Cell fractionation studies were consistent with IkappaBbeta being a major regulator of p65-p50 NF-kappaB complexes in HT-29 cells. Interestingly, two larger proteins specifically recognized by IkappaBbeta antibodies (p106 and p112) were found in HT-29 cells and in colon tissue of carcinogen-exposed mice. The p106 and p112 proteins bound to NF-kappaB, and their levels changed during the transient interleukin-1beta activation of NF-kappaB in HT-29 cells. Evidence was obtained indicating that p106 and p112 are stably ubiquitinated forms of IkappaBbeta. We propose that deficiencies in the proteasomal degradation of IkappaBbeta lead to p106 and p112 accumulation, which in turn alter NF-kappaB regulation in colon cancer cells.

Animals↗

Expression analysis of the group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) in mice with differential susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis.

The murine non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) has been proposed as a tumor modifier of multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min). A genetic polymorphism in the mouse gene that causes a disruption in exon 3 results in loss of functional protein. Mouse strains with a disrupted sPLA(2) gene are susceptible to the Min phenotype and develop numerous intestinal polyps, whereas mice with normal sPLA(2) develop only a limited number of polyps. The following study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that sPLA(2) plays an equivalent role in murine susceptibility to the colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). sPLA(2) status was confirmed by sequencing in mice that are highly susceptible (A/J), susceptible (SWR/J) and resistant (AKR/J) to AOM-induced tumorigenesis. Constitutive expression of sPLA(2) mRNA was compared in small intestine and colon of untreated mice using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Whereas mRNA expression was nearly absent in A/J mice, AKR/J mice exhibited extensive expression throughout the intestine. Despite the wild-type sPLA(2) gene, colonic mRNA expression in SWR/J mice was significantly lower relative to AKR/J. Immunohistochemical analysis of sPLA(2) protein confirmed the mRNA data. The effect of AOM on colonic sPLA(2) expression was also examined. Twenty-four weeks after the last of six weekly injections of AOM (10 mg/kg i.p.), RT-PCR analysis of distal colons revealed a significant increase in mRNA in normal-appearing epithelium and tumor tissue from AOM-treated mice relative to controls. However, there was no corresponding increase in protein expression in A/J mice. The absence of sPLA(2) expression within control colons of tumor-susceptible A/J mice together with low expression in SWR/J colons is consistent with its potential role as an intestinal tumor modifier, but the carcinogen-induced increase in expression raises doubts as to the significance of sPLA(2) in inhibiting carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Transcription factor NF-kappaB participates in regulation of epithelial cell turnover in the colon.

The transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB regulates the expression of genes that can influence cell proliferation and death. Here we analyze the contribution of NF-kappaB to the regulation of epithelial cell turnover in the colon. Immunohistochemical, immunoblot, and DNA binding analyses indicate that NF-kappaB complexes change as colonocytes mature: p65-p50 complexes predominate in proliferating epithelial cells of the colon, whereas the p50-p50 dimer is prevalent in mature epithelial cells. NF-kappaB1 (p50) knockout mice were used to study the role of NF-kappaB in regulating epithelial cell turnover. Knockout animals lacked detectable NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in isolated epithelial cells and had significantly longer crypts with a more extensive proliferative zone than their wild-type counterparts (as determined by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining and in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling). Gene expression profiling reveals that the NF-kappaB1 knockout mice express the potentially growth-enhancing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nerve growth factor-alpha genes at elevated levels, with in situ hybridization localizing some of the TNF-alpha expression to epithelial cells. TNF-alpha is NF-kappaB regulated, and its upregulation in NF-kappaB1 knockouts may result from an alleviation of p50-p50 repression. NF-kappaB complexes may therefore influence cell proliferation in the colon through their ability to selectively activate and/or repress gene expression.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Expression of transforming growth factor beta1 and its type II receptor in mouse colon tumors induced by azoxymethane.

Alterations in transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its type II receptor (TbetaR-II) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers and animal tumor models. We postulated that TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II alterations may also be involved in mouse colon tumorigenesis induced by the chemical carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). In the present study, normal colon tissues and AOM-induced colon tumors from SWR/J mice were analyzed for mutational changes in the TbetaR-II gene, and the expression and localization of TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemisty. Direct DNA sequencing of the coding sequence of the TbetaR-II gene revealed no mutational changes in tumors induced by AOM when compared with the sequence from normal colon tissue. However, TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II mRNA levels in tumor samples were increased 1.8-fold (p<0.01) and 1.3-fold (p<0.01), respectively, when compared with control mouse colon tissue. The results of immunohistochemical analysis of TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II were correlated with mRNA expression data. An increase in staining intensity of both TGF-beta and TbetaR-II were observed in colon tumors. These findings suggest that alterations in the expression of TGF-beta1 and TbetaR-II may be involved in the pathogenesis of colon tumors induced by AOM in mice.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Azoxymethane induces KI-ras activation in the tumor resistant AKR/J mouse colon.

A differential susceptibility phenotype to the organotropic colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM) has been described in mice. The following studies were undertaken to test the hypothesis that intraspecific susceptibility can be accounted for by the specific complement of genetic alterations acquired by precancerous colon lesions referred to as aberrant crypt foci (ACF). As an initial approach to this question, mutations in codons 12 and 13 of the Ki-ras proto-oncogene were assessed in ACF, normal-appearing AOM-treated colonic epithelium, and tumors from A/J and SWR/J (susceptible) as well as AKR/J (resistant) mice. Four-week-old male mice were injected intraperitonealy, with AOM once a week for a total of 6 wk and killed 4 and 24 wk after the last injection. DNA was isolated from microdissected tissue, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified products of Ki-ras exon 1 (codons 12 and 13) were directly sequenced from microdissected tissues. At 4 wk after AOM exposure, there was no significant difference in the frequency of Ki-ras activation (20-33%) between the three strains. Ki-ras mRNA expression was also evaluated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis and was comparably reduced (40-50%) in all three strains at the 4 wk time point. However, Ki-ras expression returned to normal by 24 wk after treatment. Finally, to gain further insight into the molecular pathogenesis underlying this experimental tumor model, analysis of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein within the colonic epithelium was undertaken by using an immunohistochemical approach. Although the APC protein was lost to a varying extent in tumors from A/J and SWR/J mice, the full-length form of the protein was still present in precancerous ACF isolated from each of the three strains, regardless of the degree of dysplasia of the lesion. A further molecular genetic analyses of ACF will be required to gain a more complete understanding of the molecular basis of tumor susceptibility phenotype in this murine model.

Animals↗

Sequential and morphological analyses of aberrant crypt foci formation in mice of differing susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, are early morphological changes induced by the colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). Although inbred mice differ markedly in their susceptibility to AOM carcinogenesis, we have previously shown that ACF develop in both resistant and sensitive mouse strains after AOM treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the sequential development and identify the morphological characteristics of ACF induced by AOM in the distal colon of sensitive and resistant mice. A/J (highly susceptible), SWR/J (relatively susceptible) and AKR/J (resistant) mice were treated with 10 mg/kg AOM or saline i.p. once a week for 6 weeks and were killed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 24 weeks after the last injection. The distal colons were stained with methylene blue and the numbers of ACF and tumors determined. Tumors were present as early as 4 weeks after AOM exposure in SWR/J and A/J mice and increased in frequency throughout the study in both strains. No tumors developed in the AKR/J mice. ACF, however, formed in all strains of mice. The greatest difference between susceptible and resistant strains was in the number of large ACF that developed at later time points. Furthermore, morphometric analysis revealed that A/J mice had the highest percentage of dysplastic ACF, followed by SWR/J mice. These data indicate that the difference in cancer risk from AOM may be due to the lack of progression of smaller ACF in the resistant mice and to the development of dysplasia in a higher percentage of ACF from susceptible strains.

Animals↗

Quantitative assessment of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in inbred mice.

Heritable differences in tumor susceptibility are observed in mice after repetitive exposures to the organotropic colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). The following study was undertaken to determine whether early morphological alterations within the colonic epithelium correlate with subsequent cancer risk. A/J and SWR/J (susceptible) and AKR/J (resistant) mice were injected once a week with AOM at a dose of 10 mg/kg, i.p., for a total of 6 weeks. Four weeks after the last injection, methylene blue-stained whole-mount colons were examined for the presence of colonic epithelial lesions referred to as aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Putative lesions identified under low magnification were further characterized by H&E staining of corresponding sections. AOM produced a treatment-related increase in ACFs in each of the mouse lines examined. The tumor-susceptible SWR/J and A/J mice developed on average between three- and sixfold more ACFs in the distal colon (32 and 15/cm of colon, respectively) than the resistant AKR/J mice (5/cm colon). The size distribution of ACFs was further analyzed in each of the strains. In SWR/J and A/J, 20-35% of lesions were classified as large ACFs, consisting of 5 or more aberrant crypts per focus. This is in striking contrast to the size distribution of lesions identified in the AKR/J colons, where fewer than 5% of grossly identified lesions were classified as large. In fact, the majority (> 80%) of ACFs in AKR/J mice consisted of only 1-2 aberrant crypts@focus. In addition, there was no evidence of dysplasia in any of the AKR/J lesions examined, whereas the lesions in susceptible mice were dysplastic (adenomas). Our data indicate that tumorigenic response is associated with the extent and multiplicity of ACFs that form within the colonic epithelium at an early time point after carcinogen exposure. These studies further support the use of this morphological biomarker as a short-term endpoint of colon tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Preliminary analysis of azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis in mouse aggregation chimeras.

Inbred mice exhibit differential susceptibility to colon carcinogens. The following study addresses the possibility that differences are intrinsic to colonic mucosa (cell autonomous) or are mediated by extracolonic systemic factors (e.g. liver activation of carcinogens). Our approach was to construct mouse aggregation chimeras, mice whose tissues are a mosaic of cells derived from two parental genotypes, from a susceptible (SWR) and a resistant (DBA/2) strain. Forty-five embryo aggregations yielded 11 viable pups, four of which were chimeric by coat color. Six-week-old SWR<-->BA/2 chimeras were injected i.p. with azoxymethane (AOM) once a week for 8 weeks (5 and 7.5 mg/kg body wt for 2 weeks followed by 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks) and tumor incidence in distal colon was evaluated 15 weeks after the last injection. Additional groups of parental mice received the same treatment. In the parental SWR treatment group, 1.7 +/- 0.82 tumors/colon were found. No tumors were observed in AOM-treated DBA/2 mice. In SWR<-->DBA/2 chimeras exposed to AOM, 2.8 +/- 2.1 tumors/colon were found. Tumor lineage was examined in paraffin sections stained with Dolichos biflorus agglutinin-peroxidase, a cell surface specific marker that stains intestinal endothelial cells of SWR and epithelial cells of DBA/2. Cellular lineage of tumors was further evaluated by microsatellite analysis of DNA isolated by microdissection. There was no significant difference in tumor incidence between SWR parental and chimera treatment groups. Histochemical analysis of tumor tissue in chimeras suggested that most tumors were derived from SWR. However, subsequent genetic analysis of tumors indicated mixed parental composition. These preliminary studies suggest that DBA/2 resistance mechanisms are not sufficient to protect adjacent SWR-derived epithelium from the tumorigenic effects of AOM.

Animals↗

Lipophilicity determination of some potential photosystem II inhibitors on reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography.

The retention characteristics of 25 2-cyano-3-methylthio-3-substituted amine-acrylates are determined using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP-TLC) with methanol-water mixtures as eluents. The relationship between Rm values and partition coefficients (C log P) are established. The Rm values decrease linearly with increasing methanol concentration in the eluent. The Rm values extrapolated to zero organic modifier concentration (Rm0) in the eluent are highly related to C log P. The Rm0 value can be used to evaluate the lipophilicity of this kind of compound.

Acrylates↗

Azoxymethane-induced colon tumors and aberrant crypt foci in mice of different genetic susceptibility.

Azoxymethane (AOM) is an organotropic colon carcinogen that is commonly used to induce colon tumors in rodents. Unlike its parent compound, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a tumor susceptibility phenotype in inbred mice with respect to AOM has not been established. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine whether genetic susceptibility extends to this carcinogen. SWR/J, A/J (both susceptible to DMH carcinogenesis) and AKR/J (resistant) mice were treated with 10 mg/kg AOM i.p. once a week for 8 weeks. Twenty-five weeks after the initial injection, tumor yield was determined. With a single exception, only SWR/J and A/J mice developed tumors, with a distribution that was limited to the distal colon (16.3+/-1.1 and 36.4+/-2.4. respectively). The formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, was also assessed in whole-mount colons using Methylene Blue staining. Consistent with tumor multiplicity, the total number of ACF was highest in A/J mice, followed by SWR/J mice. In addition, A/J mice had a significantly greater number of large ACF (five or more crypts per foci) than the other strains. Despite the absence of colon tumors, however, AKR/J mice did develop a significant number of ACF. This finding suggests that ACF in resistant mice are persistent but do not progress to tumors.

Animals↗

Altered expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 in azoxymethane-induced mouse colon tumorigenesis.

Alterations in the expression of the cell cycle regulators, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), have been implicated in malignancies of both humans and experimental animal models. We hypothesize that altered expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 may also be involved in mouse colon tumorigenesis induced by the chemical carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). In the present study, SWR/J mice were given AOM by i.p. injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg once a week for 8 weeks, and colonic tissue and tumors were isolated 18 weeks later. The expression and localization of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analyses. Cyclin D1 and Cdk4 mRNA levels in tumor samples were increased 1.3-fold (P < 0.01) and 1.2-fold (P < 0.01), respectively, when compared with control mouse colon tissue. Control colon epithelium was uniformly negative for cyclin D1 immunoreactivity, whereas minimal Cdk4 nuclear staining was confined to the lower portion of the crypts within the control tissue. Both cyclin D1 and Cdk4 immunoreactive cells were markedly increased in preneoplastic lesions and in adenomas isolated from AOM-treated mice. Furthermore, some morphologically normal colon crypts from AOM-treated mice showed positive cyclin D1 immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that overexpression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 occurs early in the AOM-induced mouse colon tumorigenesis and may contribute to tumor progression in this model.

Animals↗

p53-independent down-regulation of cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 in the process of immortalization of human esophageal epithelial cells.

Immortalization is considered to be an initial critical step in the process of multistage cell transformation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this event are not well understood. Our laboratory previously established the immortalized human esophageal epithelial cell line, HET-1A, by SV40 T-antigen transfection. In the present study, we investigated the role of G1 cyclins and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, in the process of immortalization. By using immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis, sequential changes in the expression of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 were detected during the conversion of precrisis esophageal epithelial cells to immortalized HET-1A cells. Reduced expression levels of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 were found in early passage and late passage immortalized cells when compared to levels in precrisis cells. In addition, continued subculture of the immortalized cells led to increased expression levels of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1. No significant changes in the expression of either cyclin E or p53 were observed in early or late passage immortalized cells when compared to precrisis cells. These results suggest that changes in the expression levels of cyclin D1 and p21Waf1, but not cyclin E, may be important for immortalization and continued propagation of human esophageal epithelial cells, and these changes are not dependent on regulation by p53.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗