Biomedical subjects

Yan Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Yan Chen.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Therapy of murine squamous cell carcinomas with 2-difluoromethylornithine.

Targeted overexpression of an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) transgene to mouse skin (the K6/ODC mouse) significantly enhances susceptibility to carcinogenesis. While in most strain backgrounds the predominant tumor type resulting from initiation-promotion protocols is benign squamous papilloma, K6/ODC mice on a FVB/N background develop malignant squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) rapidly and in high multiplicity after carcinogen treatment. We have investigated the utility of polyamine-based therapy against SCCs in this model using the ODC inhibitor 2-difluoromethylornithine delivered orally. At a 2% concentration in drinking water, DFMO caused rapid tumor regression, but in most cases, tumors eventually regrew rapidly even in the presence of DFMO. The tumors that regrew were spindle cell carcinomas, an aggressive undifferentiated variant of SCC. At 1% DFMO in the drinking water, tumors also responded rapidly, but tumor regrowth did not occur. The majority of DFMO-treated SCCs were classified as complete responses, and in some cases, apparent tumor cures were achieved. The enzymatic activity of ODC, the target of DFMO, was substantially reduced after treatment with 1% DFMO and the high SCC polyamine levels, especially putrescine, were also significantly lowered. Based on the results of BrdUrd labeling and TUNEL assays, the effect of DFMO on SCC growth was accompanied by a significant reduction in tumor proliferation with no increase in the apoptotic index. These results demonstrate that SCCs, at least in the mouse, are particularly sensitive to polyamine-based therapy.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Combination of adeno-associated virus and adenovirus vectors expressing bone morphogenetic protein-2 produces enhanced osteogenic activity in immunocompetent rats.

We have previously shown that gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) is a promising strategy for new bone formation in vivo in SD rats. However, it had a relatively low transduction efficiency. We investigate here whether enhanced osteogenic activity can be achieved without eliciting a severe immune response, using a cocktail of AAV-BMP2 and adenovirus (Ad)-BMP2 as a vector system. The muscles of SD rats were injected with either AAV-BMP2, Ad-BMP2, or an AAV-BMP2/Ad-BMP2 cocktail, and the in vivo bone formation was determined at eight weeks post-injection. Radiographic examination demonstrated that the addition of a low level of Ad-BMP2 to AAV-BMP2 produced significantly higher new bone formation than the use of AAV-BMP2 alone. Histological and immunohistological analysis revealed an enlarged bone-forming area and a long-term BMP2 expression, without pronounced infiltration of lymphocytes. Our results provide the first evidence that the introduction of a low level of adenovirus in vivo in immunocompetent subjects can greatly enhance AAV-mediated gene transfer, without inducing severe immune responses. This cocktail vector system may offer an attractive way of improving the efficiency of AAV-based gene delivery.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Role of caspase activation in butyrate-induced terminal differentiation of HT29 colon carcinoma cells.

Colon epithelial cells have a defined life span and undergo terminal differentiation as they mature and migrate to the luminal surface. The differentiation process can be induced in cultured colon cancer cells by sodium butyrate, which induces expression of various differentiation markers followed subsequently by cell death. In the present study, HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells were shown to undergo butyrate-induced caspase activation that was mainly produced through a mitochondrial pathway. Inhibition of caspase activation, either by peptide pan caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, by caspase 9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK, or by overexpression of Bcl-XL, also inhibited the expression of differentiation markers. These findings suggest (a) that terminal differentiation of HT29 colon carcinoma cells is tightly linked to caspase activation and (b) that increased expression of anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, as well as other inhibitors of caspase activation, has the potential to inhibit terminal differentiation and thereby may contribute to the progression of colon cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Surface amplification of invasive cleavage products.

A major focus of current efforts in genomics is to elucidate the genetic variations extent within the human population, and to study the effects of these variations upon the human system. The most common type of genetic variations are the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which occur every 500-1000 nt in the genome. Large-scale population association studies to study the biological or medical significance of such variations may require the analysis of hundreds of thousands of SNPs on thousands of individuals. We are pursuing development of an approach to large-scale SNP analysis that combines the specificity of invasive cleavage reactions with the parallelism of high density DNA arrays. A surface-immobilized probe oligonucleotide is specifically cleaved in the presence of a complementary target sequence in unamplified human genomic DNA, yielding a 5' phosphate group. High sensitivity detection of this reaction product on the surface is achieved by the use of rolling circle amplification, with an approximate concentration detection limit of 10 fM target DNA. This combination of very specific surface cleavage and highly sensitive surface detection will make possible the rapid and parallel analysis of genetic variations across large populations.

DNA↗

PubMed2004

States of local moment induced by nonmagnetic impurities in cuprate superconductors.

By using a model Hamiltonian with d-wave superconductivity and competing antiferromagnetic (AF) orders, the local staggered magnetization distribution due to nonmagnetic impurities in cuprate superconductors is investigated. We show that the net moment induced by a single impurity corresponds to a local spin with S(z)=0 or 1/2 depending on the strength of the AF interaction U and the impurity scattering strength epsilon. Phase diagram of epsilon versus U for the moment formation is presented. We discuss the connection of this result with the Kondo problem. When two impurities are placed at the nearest neighboring sites, the net moment is always zero, unusually robust to parameter changes. For two neighboring strong impurities, separated by a Cu-ion site, the induced net moment has S(z)=0, 1/2, or 1.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Recognition through self-assembly. A quadruply-hydrogen-bonded, strapped porphyrin cleft that binds dipyridyl molecules and a [2]rotaxane.

Quadruply-hydrogen-bonded porphyrin homodimer Zn1.Zn1 has been designed, assembled, and evaluated as a supramolecular cleft-featured receptor for its ability to bind dipyridyl guests in chloroform-d. Monomer Zn1 consists of a 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit, which was initially reported by Meijer et al., and a zinc porphyrin unit. The zinc porphyrin is strapped with an additional aliphatic chain for controlling the atropisomerization of porphyrin. The 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit dimerizes exclusively in chloroform even at the dilute concentration of 10(-)(4) M, while the two "strapped" zinc porphyrin units of the homodimer provide additional binding sites for selective guest recognition. (1)H NMR studies indicate that the new homodimer Zn1.Zn1 adopts an S-type conformation due to strong donor-acceptor interaction between the electron-rich porphyrin units and the electron-deficient 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit. (1)H NMR, UV-vis, and vapor pressure osmometry investigations reveal that Zn1.Zn1 could function as a new generation of assembled supramolecular cleft, to be able to not only efficiently bind linear dipyridyl molecules 14-17, resulting in the formation of stable termolecular complexes, with K(aasoc) values ranging from 3.8 x 10(6) to 8.9 x 10(7) M(-)(1), but also strongly complex a hydrogen-bond-assembled [2]rotaxane, 18, which consists of a rigid fumaramide thread and a pyridine-incorporated tetraamide cyclophane, with K(aasoc) = 1.2 x 10(4) M(-)(1). (1)H NMR competition experiments reveal that complexation to the dipyriyl guests also promotes the stability of the quadruply-hydrogen-bonded dimeric receptor.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Tumor-derived C-terminal mutations of Smad4 with decreased DNA binding activity and enhanced intramolecular interaction.

Smad4 is a critical component in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling and frequently mutated in pancreatic and colorectal cancers. Smad4 has two important functional domains, MH1 and MH2, that are involved in different biological processes. The MH1 domain comprises a DNA binding domain and the MH2 domain is mainly implicated in transcriptional activation and homo- and heteromeric complex formation among Smad proteins. In the present study, a total of nine Smad4 mutations at both MH1 and MH2 domains were analysed and all of them had a reduced activity to stimulate transcription of a TGF-beta-responsive reporter gene. All four MH1 mutations had a markedly reduced ability to bind a consensus Smad binding element by an in vitro assay using GST fusion proteins. Among the MH2 mutations, R497H, K507Q, and R515G mutations of Smad4 gave rise to a reduced DNA binding capacity. The R497H mutation had a slightly reduced interaction with Smad2 upon activation of TGF-beta receptor. However, the K507Q and R515G mutations greatly lost their ability to associate with Smad2. Using a GST pull-down assay, it was found that the Smad4 MH2 domain bearing R497H and R515G mutations had an enhanced interaction with the MH1 region of the Smad4 protein, indicating that an increased intramolecular interaction by these mutations may alleviate the DNA binding activity at the MH1 domain. Consistent with these observations, the MH2 domain with R497H mutation had an enhanced ability to inhibit TGF-beta receptor-mediated transcription. In addition, the full-length R497H mutation was able to antagonize TGF-beta signaling in a dominant-negative manner. Therefore, these studies revealed novel mechanisms by which the Smad4 mutations utilize to abrogate their functions in transducing the signaling of TGF-beta, which plays an important role in various stages of cancer formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Functional silencing of hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase gene expression in vivo by adenovirus-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA.

An expression cassette containing mouse U6 polymerase III promoter directing expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting murine microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) transcript was generated. This construct was packaged into an adenoviral (AdV) backbone and viral stocks generated. Mice injected intravenously with AdV-G6PshRNA exhibited a significant reduction in postprandial glucose levels and had significantly elevated steady-state hepatic glycogen stores. Target gene silencing was confirmed by measurements demonstrating a significant reduction in both hepatic G6P transcript level and phosphohydrolase activity. These findings provide evidence that AdV delivery of expressed shRNA can be a productive tool to explore gene function in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Effects of POH in combination with STI571 on the proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cells.

The effects of monoterpene perilly alcohol (POH) alone or in combination with STI571 on the proliferation and apoptosis of the cell line K562 positive for Bcr/Abl were investigated. By using cell culture, the effect of the drugs on the proliferation of the cells was studied. TUNEL and flow cytometry assay of FITC-Annexin V and PI labeled cells were applied to detect the effects of the drugs on the apoptosis of the cells. The results showed that at 36 h, IC50 of POH on K562 positive for Bcr/Abl and HL-60 negative for Bcr/Abl were 81.0 +/- 11.3 micromol/L and 113.6 +/- 23.4 micromol/L respectively (P>0.05). POH could inhibit the proliferation of K562 in a time- and dose-dependent manner with the inhibitory rate of 100 micromol/L POH on K562 cells at 36 h being (53.2 +/- 3.65)%. K562 cells were more sensitive to STI571 than POH. IC50 of STI571 on K562 cells in 36 h was (0.256 +/- 0.054) micromol/L. In a time- and dose-dependent manner, POH induced the apoptosis of K562 cells with the percentage of apoptotic cells by 100 micromol/L POH at 40 h being (21.0 +/- 3.3)%. Both 100 micromo/L POH and 0.2 micromol/L STI571 had the same inhibitory effects on the K562 cells at 36 h. But at 12 and 24 h, the inhibitory rate of POH was significantly higher than that of STI571 (P<0.05) and the ability of STI571 inducing apoptosis at 36 h was greater than that of POH. 50 micromol/L, 100 micromol/L and 200 micromol/L POH in combination with 0.2 micromol/L STI571 could obviously increase the inhibitory effects on the cellular proliferation. Combined use of 50 micromol/L, 100 micromol/L, 200 micromol/L with 0.2 micromol/L STI571 could strongly induced apoptosis, especially 200 micromol/L POH in combination with 0.2 micromol/L STI571. It was concluded that the antileukemia effect of POH had no obvious Bcr/Abl positive selectivity. POH can inhibit the proliferation of K562 and induce the apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. K562 cells were more sensitive to STI571 than POH. POH in combination with STI571 could obviously enhance the abilities of STI571 inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of K562 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Analysis of SRY gene in 8 cases of sex abnormality.

In order to investigate the relationship between sex dysplasia and sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene, 8 patients with sexual abnormality were analyzed by cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using PY3.4, X alpha satellite, and SRY probes was performed in each case to analyze the sex chromosome translocation and gene translocation. SRY gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its mutation was detected by direct sequencing. The results showed that among 8 patients, 5 were positive for SRY and the remaining negative for SRY. In the patients positive for SRY genes, 3 presented testes and the left 2 streak ovaries. In the patients negative for SRY, only one case presented testes, while 2 ovaries. Direct sequencing demonstrated that all SRY genes were normal in the patients positive for SRY genes. FISH technique demonstrated that SRY genes translocated from Ypter to Xpter in 2 46,XX phenotypic males positive for SRY genes. It was concluded that SRY gene is strongly involved in male sex determination, while a sequence of other genes may be taken into account in sexual development.

Female↗

PubMed2004

Comparative studies on the biochemical characteristics of natural actomyosin isolated from PSE and normal pork.

Biochemical changes of natural actomyosin from fresh pale, soft, exudative (PSE) and normal pork were studied, and the effects of different storage temperatures and different incubation temperature and times on sample superprecipitation, total sulfhydryl (-SH) content, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) sensitivity were investigated. The results demonstrated that ATPase activity and thermal stability of PSE actomyosin were lower than those of normal pork; and that PSE actomyosin had higher -SH content than that of normal pork at all incubation temperatures and times tested.

Actomyosin↗

PubMed2004

Effect of N-tosyl-L-phenylalanylchloromethyl ketone on tumor necrosis factor-alpha -induced NF-kappaB activation and apoptosis in U937 cell line.

To investigate the effect of N-tosyl-L-phenylalanylchloromethyl ketone (TPCK) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation and apoptosis in U937 cell line, changes and subcellular localization of NF-kappaB/p65 and IkappaB-alpha were observed by fluorescencemicroscopy and expression and degradation of IkappaB-alpha by flow cytometry. The apoptosis of U937 cells was measured by flow cytometry and electrophoresis of DNA. Immunolfluorescence assay showed that NF-kappaB/p65, IkappaB-alpha only localized in cytoplasm. After TNF-alpha stimulation, p65 was localized only in nuclei, and IkappaB-alpha was only localized in cytoplasm and decreased. The changes of TNF-alpha stimulation were specifically inhibited by TPCK. Flow cytometry also revealed the downregulation of IkappaB-alpha protein during TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis and the down-regulation was specifically inhibited by TPCK. Flow cytometry also showed the apoptosis of U937 cells after TNF-alpha induction. DNA ladder can be detected in cells treated by TNF-alpha. It is concluded that degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein and NF-kappaB/p65 translocation occur during TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of U937 cells, suggesting the activation of NF-kappaB TPCK-sensitive protease plays an important role in the degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein induced by TNF-alpha in U937 cells. TPCK sensitive protease also plays an important role in the apoptosis of U937 cells induced by TNF-alpha.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2004

Regulation of histone acetylation and apoptosis by trichostatin in HL-60 cells.

In order to examine the strong anticancer action and low toxicity of Trichostatin A (TSA), the effect of TSA was examined on the growth inhibition, acetylation of histone H3 and apoptosis in HL-60 cells by employing MTT, immunocytochemical techniques, and Annexin-V-FITC/ PI assay. Our results showed that TSA could inhibit proliferation of HL- 60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 at the 36th h was 100 ng/ml. The apoptosis-inducing effect of TSA on HL-60 cells was also time- and dose-dependent. But it didn't demonstrate apparent apoptosis induction in NPBMNCs within specific dose and time range. Both of the acetylation of histone H3 in HL-60 cells and NPBMNCs increased significantly (P<0.05) after treated with 100 ng/ml TSA for 4 h. However, there was no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). It is concluded that TSA can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and is able to selectively induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells but does not respond in NPBMNCs under the same conditions. The difference of TSA between HL-60 cells and NPBMNCs can't be explained by the regulation of histone acetylation.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2004

Neuroprotection by pergolide against levodopa-induced cytotoxicity of neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are currently considered very hopeful candidates for cell replacement therapy in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Parkinson's disease (PD), but like embryonic neural tissue transplantation, levodopa medication may still be required to improve symptoms even after cell transplantation. The issues of whether levodopa induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis of NSCs following transplantation, as well as the means to prevent these processes from occurring remain to be elucidated. In this study, the possible cytotoxicity of levodopa at different doses on C17.2 neural stem cells and subsequent neuroprotection by pergolide were investigated. The cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Cell proliferation was assayed by BrdU labeling, while apoptosis was detected by Annexin-V-FLUOS staining and flow cytometry. Levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, NFkB, cytochrome c, caspase-3 as well as cleavage of caspase-3 were measured by western blotting. We found levodopa induced a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability and proliferation. Apoptotic cells were observed at different stages, specifically 12 and 24 h following exposure to levodopa (200 microM). Elevated p53, Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and active fragments of caspase-3 protein were observed in the cells exposed to levodopa. These alterations were partly inhibited by pergolide, a dopamine receptor agonist, while Bcl-2 and NFkB p65 levels remained constant at the various time-points in all the groups examined. These observations indicate that levodopa at high concentrations (> or = 200 microM) was neurotoxic to C17.2 neural stem cells via inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Activation of the mitochondria-dependent pathway and caspase-3 protease may contribute to the mechanism by which levodopa induces apoptosis. Pergolide, an anti-Parkinson drug, has a neuroprotective effect and partly blocks levodopa-induced cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The association of calmodulin with central spindle regulates the initiation of cytokinesis in HeLa cells.

Calmodulin is a major cytoplasmic calcium receptor that performs multiple functions in the cell including cytokinesis. Central spindle appears between separating chromatin masses after metaphase-anaphase transition. The interaction of microtubules from central spindle with cell cortex regulates the cleavage furrow formation. In this paper, we use green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged calmodulin as a living cell probe to examine the detailed dynamic redistribution and co-localization of calmodulin with central spindle during cytokinesis and the function of this distribution pattern in a tripolar HeLa cell model. We found that calmodulin is associated with spindle microtubules during mitosis and begins to aggregate with central spindle after anaphase initiation. The absence of either central spindle or central spindle-distributed calmodulin is correlated with the defect in the formation of cleavage furrow, where contractile ring-distributed CaM is also extinct. Further analysis found that both the assembly of central spindle and the formation of cleavage furrow are affected by the W7 treatment. The microtubule density of central spindle was decreased after the treatment. Only less than 10% of the synchronized cells enter cytokinesis when treated with 25 microM W7, and the completion time of furrow regression is also delayed from 10 min to at least 40 min. It is suggested that calmodulin plays a significant role in cytokinesis including furrow formation and regression, The understanding of the interaction between calmodulin and microtubules may give us insight into the mechanism through which calmodulin regulates cytokinesis.

Anaphase↗

PubMed2004

Spatiotemporal pattern of calmodulin and [Ca2+]i is related to resumption of meiosis in mouse oocytes.

During meiotic maturation, mammalian oocytes undergo a series of morphological and physiological changes that prepare them for fertilization. Calcium-initiated signaling is thought to trigger these processes. In this study, we examine the spatio-temporal pattern of calcium and calmodulin (CaM), its downstream receptor, in order to investigate their association with meiotic maturation. Intracellular free calcium and activated CaM levels were measured using the fluorescent probes Calcium Green-1 and TA-CaM, respectively. The distribution patterns were examined using confocal microscopy. Both calcium and activated CaM showed a dynamic spatiotemporal distribution during meiotic maturation. After release from IBMX buffer, calcium was found to periodically translocate from the perinuclear region to the germinal vesicle (GV) in 90 s intervals. After 90 min, calcium stopped oscillating and became concentrated within the GV. After a further 60 min, the GV broke down and calcium dispersed into the ooplasm, but calcium levels were slightly lower here than in the original nuclear region. Activated CaM also showed a dynamic patterning process similar to calcium. Taking the data from calcium chelation and CaM inhibition together, our results suggest that the dynamic distribution patterns of calcium and activated CaM are crucial for oocyte maturation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A molecular phylogeny of eurytomid wasps inferred from DNA sequence data of 28S, 18S, 16S, and COI genes.

Using partial DNA sequence data from nuclear 28S and 18S genes and mitochondrial 16S and COI genes, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the family Eurytomidae. Both maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods were employed. The analysis revealed a significant incongruence between the mitochondrial genes and the nuclear genes, and we chose the results from the nuclear genes as our preferred hypothesis. Our phylogeny suggested that the family Eurytomidae is not a monophyletic group; neither are the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus. The monophyly of genera Sycophila and Plutarchia was well supported, as was the close association of the genera Aiolomorphus, Tenuipetiolus, Bephratelloides, and Phylloxeroxenus. Our phylogeny also revealed an anticipated pattern, in which species groups from the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus are often more closely related to other small genera than to other species groups of the same genus. Subsequent taxonomic revisions include elevating the subfamily Rileyinae to a family status and the divisions of the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Arsenite causes DNA damage in keratinocytes via generation of hydroxyl radicals.

Arsenic is an environmental and occupational toxin. Dermatologic toxicities due to arsenic exposure are well-documented and include basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. However, the mechanism of arsenic-induced skin cancer is not well-understood. Recent studies indicate that arsenic exposure results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. Here, we examined the chemical nature of the specific ROS, studied the interrelationship among these species, and identified the specific species that is responsible for the subsequent DNA damage in a spontaneously immortalized keratinocyte cell line. We detected the formation of O(2)(*)(-) and H(2)O(2) in keratinocytes incubated with arsenite [As(III)] but not with arsenate. As(III)-induced DNA damage was detected in a concentration-dependent manner and evident at low micromolar concentrations. Catalase, an H(2)O(2) scavenger, eliminated H(2)O(2) and reduced the As(III)-mediated DNA damage. Superoxide dismutase, by enhancing the production of H(2)O(2) and (*)OH, significantly increased the As(III)-mediated DNA damage. Sodium formate, a competitive scavenger for (*)OH, and deferoxamine, a metal chelator, both reduced the DNA damage. These results suggest that exposure to arsenite generates O(2)(*)(-) and H(2)O(2), and (*)OH, derived from H(2)O(2), is responsible, at least in part, for the observed DNA damage. These findings demonstrate arsenic-induced formation of specific ROS and provide the direct evidence of (*)OH-mediated DNA damage in keratinocytes, which may play an important role in the mechanism for arsenic-induced skin carcinogenicity.

Animals↗