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Jian Ma

Publications and source records attributed to Jian Ma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Docosahexaenoic acid changes lipid composition and interleukin-2 receptor signaling in membrane rafts.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), modulate immune responses and exert beneficial immunosuppressive effects, but the molecular mechanisms inhibiting T-cell activation are not yet elucidated. Lipid rafts have been shown to play an important role in the compartmentalization and modulation of cell signaling. We investigated the role of DHA in modulating the lipid composition in lipid rafts and membrane subdomain distribution of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor signaling molecules. We found that DHA altered lipid components of rafts and modified the IL-2-induced Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway by partially displacing IL-2 receptors from lipid rafts. We fractionated plasma membrane subcellular compartments and discovered that certain amounts of STAT5a and STAT5b existed in detergent-resistant plasma membrane fractions of T-cells. After DHA treatment, STAT5a and STAT5b were not detected in lipid raft fractions and were located in detergent-soluble fractions. These data demonstrate for the first time that DHA alters the lipid composition of membrane microdomains and suppresses IL-2 receptor signaling in T-cells. Thus, our data provide evidence for a functional modification in lipid rafts by DHA treatment and explain PUFA-mediated immunosuppressive effects.

Cell Membrane↗

[Comparison of therapeutic effects of low-dose versus high-dose interferon alpha-2b treatment on chronic myelocytic leukemia: a prospective randomized study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of low-dose and high-dose interferon alpha-2b (IFN) treatment on chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). METHODS: A real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RQ-PCR) method was established to detect the fusion gene bcr-abl expression, thereby studying the reduction of leukemic cells. Thirty newly diagnosed CML patients, 21 males and 9 females, aged 14 - 69, were treated with hydroxyurea to keep the white blood cell count less than 20 x 10(9)/L, and then randomized into 2 groups: high-dose IFN group receiving IFN alpha-2b 5MIU 6 times per week for 3 - 6 months and low-dose IFN group receiving IFN alpha-2b 3MIU every other day for 3 - 6 months. Bone marrow was collected every month to Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of bcr-abl mRNA. Mononuclear cells were isolated and RNA was extracted to detect the expression of fusion gene bcr-abl and a control gene GAPDH. The results were reported as the number of bcr-abl copies/GAPDH copy. RESULTS: The established real-time quantitative PCR method could detect the bcr-abl molecules as low as 50 copies. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was less than 5% and the inter-assay CV was 5.13%. The median bcr-abl fusion gene expression level of 30 CML patients before IFN therapy was 0.098 (range: 0.010 - 5.799). The bcr-abl expression level decreased by 19.37% and 24.86% in the low-dose and high-dose IFN groups respectively after 3 months' therapy. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.398). Relatively more side effects were observed in the high-dose IFN group than in low-dose group. CONCLUSION: RQ-PCR is a reliable method to monitor CML therapy by analyzing fusion gene bcr-abl expression. There is a difference in bcr-abl fusion gene expression levels among the newly diagnosed patients, and low-dose IFN is as effective as high-dose IFN in reducing bcr-abl expression but with less side effects.

Adolescent↗

NGX6 gene inhibits cell proliferation and plays a negative role in EGFR pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common cancer in South China but is rare in other parts of the world. A novel NPC-related gene was isolated by location candidate cloning strategy, whose expression was down-regulated in NPC. This gene was designated human NGX6 (Genbank accession AF188239) and encoded a predicted protein of 338 amino acids that harbors an EGF-like domain. The effects of NGX6 on cells from human NPC cell line HNE1 were investigated. The cells transfected with NGX6 had a markedly high expression of NGX6, leading to significant decrease in cell proliferation and the capability to form colonies in soft agar, delaying the G0-G1 cell cycle progression. Flow cytometry assay indicated that the expression of cyclin D1 significantly decreased in NGX6-transfected HNE1 cells as well as cyclin A and E. There was a delay in tumor formation and a dramatic reduction in tumor size when cells transfected with NGX6 were injected into nude mice. In another way, we found NGX6 played a negative role in EGFR Ras/Mek/MAPK pathway. We propose that NGX6, as an EGF-like domain gene, could delay cell cycle G0-G1 progression and thus inhibit cell proliferation by negatively regulating EGFR pathway in NPC cells and down-regulating the expression of cyclin D1 and E.

Animals↗

rAAV-mediated stable expression of heme oxygenase-1 in stellate cells: a new approach to attenuate liver fibrosis in rats.

Liver fibrosis is the consequence of activation of hepatic stellate cells mediated by persistent or recurrent liver injury, where oxidative stress or inflammatory response resulting from immune cells and cytokines are involved. Targeting of hepatic stellate cells could be an important strategy for the therapy of liver fibrosis. In this study, we showed a tropism of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV, serotype 2) with high efficiency in transduction of a homeostatic gene, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), to activated stellate cells. The binding of rAAVs to stellate cells increased significantly after serum-stimulated activation compared with quiescent status. Portal injection of rAAVs to normal or carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis showed a distinct distribution of rAAV binding. The majority of injected rAAVs bound to the cells in fibrotic areas that were associated with higher expression levels of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1alpha at 2 hours after administration. Isolation of different types of cells from CCl(4)-induced fibrotic livers showed predominant expression of transgene in stellate cells after rAAV/HO-1 administration on day 3 and remained stable for 12 weeks. In addition, HO-1-transduced stellate cells showed reduced transcript levels of type 1 collagen and impaired proliferative ability compared with controls. With this approach, the severity of established micronodular cirrhosis was markedly reduced. In conclusion, these findings suggest a new approach for the treatment of liver fibrosis using adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer.

Animals↗

[Effect of NGX6 on gene expression profile of colon carcinoma cell line HT-29].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Colon cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, but the mechanism involved in its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Under the foundation of early study, we intended to explore the effects of NGX6 on the gene expression profile of colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. METHODS: pcDNA3.1-NGX6-transfected HT-29 cells were used as the test, and empty vector-transfected HT-29 cells were used as the control. Differentially expressed genes were screened with high-throughout BiostarH-80sx1 DNA microarray; part of the results of DNA microarray was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: NGX6 transfection induced wide changes of the gene expression profile of HT-29 cells. A total of 377 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated by more than 3 folds, which were involved in cell signal transduction, cell cycle controlling, cell apoptosis, cytokinetics, gene transcription and translation, DNA damage and repairing, protein synthesis, metabolism, and so on. Some of them belonged to some important signal pathways related with cell proliferation and metastasis, such as DDK1, ILK, MMP-1 and COL11A1 in Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway, ILK in ILK signal pathway, EpHB2 in Eph-Ephrins signal pathway, ROCK2 in RhoA signal pathway, RANBP1 in RanGTPase signal pathway, and RBBP1 in RB/RBBP1 signal pathway. CONCLUSION: NGX6 transfection leads to molecular changes of some important signal pathways, and may suppress cell proliferation and metastasis of tumor by regulating these signal pathways.

Cell Proliferation↗

[Expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN/CD147) in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and the relationship between the expressions and the clinical features. METHOD: The expressions of EMMPRIN were detected by the method of immunohistochemical SP in 42 specimens taken from the patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 28 specimens from precancerous lesion and 20 specimens from normal laryngeal tissues. RESULT: Positive expressions rates of EMMPRIN in the specimens from laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, precancerous lesion and normal laryngeal tissues were 88.1%, 57.1% and 5.0%, the intensive expressions rates were 52.4%, 10.7% and 0%. There were significant differences among laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, precancerous lesion and normal laryngeal tissues. In laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the expressions of EMMPRIN had a significant relevance to clinical phases and lymph node metastasis. The intense expressions rate in phase II-IV was much higher than that in phase I-II, while the intense expressions rate in cases with lymph node metastasis was higher than in those cases without lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: The expression of EMMPRIN has relationship with the pathological type of laryngeal tumor and has relevance to clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma.

Adult↗

Mulan: multiple-sequence local alignment and visualization for studying function and evolution.

Multiple-sequence alignment analysis is a powerful approach for understanding phylogenetic relationships, annotating genes, and detecting functional regulatory elements. With a growing number of partly or fully sequenced vertebrate genomes, effective tools for performing multiple comparisons are required to accurately and efficiently assist biological discoveries. Here we introduce Mulan (http://mulan.dcode.org/), a novel method and a network server for comparing multiple draft and finished-quality sequences to identify functional elements conserved over evolutionary time. Mulan brings together several novel algorithms: the TBA multi-aligner program for rapid identification of local sequence conservation, and the multiTF program for detecting evolutionarily conserved transcription factor binding sites in multiple alignments. In addition, Mulan supports two-way communication with the GALA database; alignments of multiple species dynamically generated in GALA can be viewed in Mulan, and conserved transcription factor binding sites identified with Mulan/multiTF can be integrated and overlaid with extensive genome annotation data using GALA. Local multiple alignments computed by Mulan ensure reliable representation of short- and large-scale genomic rearrangements in distant organisms. Mulan allows for interactive modification of critical conservation parameters to differentially predict conserved regions in comparisons of both closely and distantly related species. We illustrate the uses and applications of the Mulan tool through multispecies comparisons of the GATA3 gene locus and the identification of elements that are conserved in a different way in avians than in other genomes, allowing speculation on the evolution of birds. Source code for the aligners and the aligner-evaluation software can be freely downloaded from http://www.bx.psu.edu/miller_lab/.

Animals↗

Role of a novel EGF-like domain-containing gene NGX6 in cell adhesion modulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain is involved in receptor-ligand interactions, extracellular matrix formation, cell adhesion and chemotaxis. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma associated gene 6 (NGX6) is a novel EGF-like domain-containing gene located at the high frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) region 9p21-22 associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). It is down-regulated in NPC and its over-expression can delay the cell cycle G(0)-G(1) progression in NPC cells. In the present study, in situ hybridization analysis, using NPC tissue microarrays, showed that loss of NGX6 expression was associated with NPC lymph node metastasis. The Tet-on gene expression system and cDNA array techniques were used to profile the potential targets of NGX6. We found that NGX6 can influence the expression of some cell adhesion molecules in NPC cells. NGX6 can associate with ezrin, a linkage between the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. The NGX6 protein was expressed on the cell surface as a glycoprotein. Ectopic induction of NGX6 can impair NPC cell migration and invasive ability as well as improve cell adhesion and gap junctional intercellular communication, and can suppress tumor formation in vivo. The data revealed that NGX6 plays a role in cell adhesion modulation in NPC cells.

Animals↗

A susceptibility locus at chromosome 3p21 linked to familial nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses one of the serious health problems in southern Chinese, with an incidence rate ranging from 15 to 50/100,000. Chromosome translocation t(1;3) and frequent loss of heterogeneity on short arms of chromosome 3 and 9 have been reported to be associated with NPC, and a genome-wide scan identified an NPC susceptibility locus on chromosome 4p15.1-q12 recently. In our study, we collected samples from 18 families at high risk of NPC from the Hunan province in southern China, genotyped with a panel of polymorphic markers on short arms of chromosomes 3, 9, and 4p15.1-q12. A locus on 3p21 was identified to link to NPC with a maximum logarithm of odds for linkage score of 4.18. Fine mapping located the locus to a 13.6-cM region on 3p21.31-21.2, where a tumor suppressor gene cluster resided. Our findings identified a novel locus for NPC and provided a map location for susceptibility genes candidates. In contrast to a recent study, no significant evidence for NPC linkage to chromosomes 4 and 9 was observed.

China↗

BRD7, a novel bromodomain gene, inhibits G1-S progression by transcriptionally regulating some important molecules involved in ras/MEK/ERK and Rb/E2F pathways.

Bromodomain is a 110 amino acid domain. It is evolutionally conserved and is found in proteins strongly implicated in signal-dependent transcriptional regulation. BRD7 is a novel bromodomain gene and it is downexpressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsies and cell lines; its function is poorly understood. In the present study, tet-on inducible expression system was used to investigate the role of BRD7 in cell growth and cell cycle progression. We found that ectopic expression of BRD7 in NPC cells inhibited cell growth and cell cycle progression from G1 to S. We further performed cell cycle cDNA array to screen potential transcriptional targets of BRD7 in cell cycle. Thirteen important signaling molecules, mainly implicated in ras/MEK/ERK and Rb/E2F pathways, were differentially expressed by induction of BRD7. Moreover, we observed that BRD7 could regulate the promoter activity of E2F3, one of its targets. Taken together, the present study indicated that BRD7 inhibited G1-S progression by transcriptionally regulating some important molecules involved in ras/MEK/ERK and Rb/E2F pathways and suggested that BRD7 may present a promising candidate of NPC trade mark associated tumor suppressor gene.

Blotting, Western↗

Radiofrequency catheter ablation at the left coronary cusp in treatment of repetitive monomorphic tachycardia of the left ventricular outflow tract.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to clarify the electrocardiographic characteristics of repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (RMVT) originating from the left ventricular outflow tract, and to describe the results of treatment with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). METHODS: Routine 12-lead surface electrocardiography and electrophysiological studies were performed on 11 RMVT patients with no organic heart disease, who were subsequently treated with RFCA directed at targets identified by pace mapping. RESULTS: The surface electrocardiogram QRS characteristics of RMVT included an atypical left bundle branch block and right axis deviation, with a low amplitude "rs" or "rS" pattern in lead I, an "rS" or "RS" pattern in V1, and a precordial R wave transition zone in V2 or V3. In 1 patient, a small S wave was observed in V5. Using pace mapping techniques, we selected the left coronary cusp as the ablation target. RMVT was eliminated in all 11 patients immediately after radiofrequency energy delivered. During a follow-up of 13 +/- 7 months, RMVT recurred in only 1 patient. CONCLUSION: RMVT originating from the left ventricular outflow tract has specific electrocardiographic characteristics, and can be successfully and safely cured using RFCA directed at the left coronary cusp.

Adolescent↗

[Relationship between mycoplasma infection and germ cell sulfogalactosylglycerolipid].

It is well known that mycoplasma can cause infection in the male reproductive tract. Some studies indicate that Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), a species of mycoplasma, is associated with male infertility. Sulfogalactosylglycerolipid(SGG) is the major mammalian male germ cell glycolipid, synthesized via sulfation of galactosylglycerolipid in early primary spermatocytes. Some experiments have proved that SGG is implicated in sperm-egg binding by linking arylsulfatase A (AS-A), SGG's ligand on the egg. SGG can be desulfated by binding mycoplasmas and transformed galactosylglycerolipid, which doesn't bind AS-A. So the binding and degradation of the sperm SGG by mycoplasmas may play a role in the induction of male infertility. As a kind of mycoplasma, Uu can also bind SGG, which offers another explantion for the association of Uu infection with male infertility caused by Uu infection.

Female↗

The automaticity of Mahaim fibre and its response to effective ablation.

BACKGROUND: Typical accessory pathways (APs) of Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome have been widely discussed in recent decades. However, the characteristics of the special AP, Mahaim fibre, are not so clear. It is known that these fibres have antegrade conduction only, long conduction time, decremental node-like conduction and automaticity properties. This study was to elucidate the automaticity of Mahaim fibre and its response to effective ablation. METHODS: Thirteen patients with Mahaim fibre (ten atrioventricular and three atriofascicular accessory pathways) were subjected to electrophysiological study and radiofrequency ablation via catheter. The incidence and characteristics of anautomatic rhythm originating from Mahaim fibre were observed during the whole procedure, especially during radiofrequency current delivery. RESULTS: Repetitive and short-run automatic rhythm (rate: 65-72 beats per minute), with a QRS morphology similar to that of clinical pre-excited atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT), occurred in two patients during sinus rhythm. Conduction via Mahaim fibre was successfully eliminated by radiofrequency current. Fourteen applications of RF were associated with irregularly accelerated automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre (with a sensitivity of 78%), lasting for 1.2-14 seconds. However, such automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre did not occur during 54 failed applications of radiofrequency current. CONCLUSIONS: Mahaim fibre has the function of automaticity. The accelerated automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre occur red during radiofrequency catheter ablation can be used as a predictor for successful procedure.

Adolescent↗

Cloning, expression, and mutation analysis of NOR1, a novel human gene down-regulated in HNE1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.

PURPOSE: To investigate cloning, expression, and mutation analysis of the putative candidate tumor suppressor gene related with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: We studied the expression profiles in the NPC cell line HNE(1) with the normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cell as control by using cDNA array representing 11,000 cDNA clusters. EST W95442 was found down-regulated in HNE(1). Subsequently, the corresponding gene sequence including this EST was established by cDNA cloning and the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA end) procedure. The expression pattern of this gene was examined by using Northern blot analysis in various human tissues. Furthermore, we screened the mutations of the coding sequence of the gene using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphisms (RT-PCR-SSCP) as well as direct sequencing analysis. RESULTS: A novel gene (GenBank accession No. AF462348) was cloned and named NOR(1) standing for oxidored-nitro domain-containing protein 1 (Human Gene Nomenclature Committee-approved symbol). Northern blot analysis revealed that the NOR(1) gene had two transcripts (1.2 kb, 1.6 kb), and expressed ubiquitously in human tissues. Moreover, a Glu58Gly mutation in the exon 1 of NOR(1) was detected in two of 25 NPC biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: We cloned a novel gene NOR(1), and the Glu58Gly polymorphism of NOR(1) may be involved in the development and/or progression of NPC suggesting that NOR(1) could be a candidate tumor repressor gene related with NPC.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Direct evidence of collagenolysis in chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: There is no previous evidence that collagenases in chronic periodontitis excessively cleave collagen fibrils. OBJECTIVES: In this study the eventual presence of neoepitopes produced in such a cleavage were looked for. METHODS: A polyclonal antibody, which recognizes collagenase-cleaved collagen type I 3/4 carboxy-terminal neoepitope (COL1-3/4C), was used in avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex staining. RESULTS: In addition, moderate staining was seen in connective tissue bordering to the sulcular and junctional epithelium, surrounding some of the fibroblasts and in some areas infiltrated by inflammatory mononuclear cells. COL1-3/4C staining in chronic periodontitis was more extensive (6.3 +/- 1.2%, n = 10) and intense than that observed in controls (1.6 +/- 0.7%, n = 10, Unpaired Student's t-test, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that collagenases produced by host cells contribute to periodontal tissue destruction and attachment loss.

Adolescent↗