OBJECTIVE: To prevent the senescence of ’seed cells’ for tissue engineering, the life span of human fibroblasts is extended by reconstitution of telomerase activity, and the osteogenic potential of these fibroblasts are tested. METHODS: The pGRN145 plasmids encoding human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) were introduced into the normal human primary fibroblasts by electroporation. Telomerase activity was analyzed by TRAP-PCR assay. The beta-galactosidase stain was used to indicate the signs of cell senescence. The hTERT positive fibroblasts were then induced to form bone nodules. The bone nodules were stained by tetracycline and Alizarin Red S. RESULTS: Stable telomerase activity could be detected in the transfected fibroblasts and no signs of cell senescence were found in the fibroblasts cultured for more than 50 doublings. The hTERT positive fibroblasts could form bone nodules when they were cultured in vitro induced by bone morphogentic protein 2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. CONCLUSION: The fibroblasts with reconstituted telomerase activity reserve their osteogenic potential.
Objective To investigate the variety of telomerase activity in the course of liver cancer development, and the possibility of using telomerase as a marker of HCC. Methods Human liver specimens, comprising 22 HCC and adjacent peritumoral tissues, 12 liver cirrhosistissues, 6 nodulat regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) tissues and 10 normal liver tissues, were examined for telomerase activity by TRAP assay based on PCR. Results Twenty of 22 HCC and 14 of 22 adjacent tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 90.9% and 63.6% respectively. Ten of 12 liver cirrhosis tissues were positive with a positive rate of 83.3%. 5 of 6 NRH were positive with a positive rate of 83.3%. Telomerase activity was negative in 10 normal liver tissues. Conclusion Telomerase may occur in the progress of hepatocarcinogenesis. Telomerase can be used as a tumor marker of HCC.
OBJECTIVE: To analysis the proliferation properties and telomerase activity of human embryonic tendon cells transformed by ptsA58H plasmid cultured in vitro continuously. METHODS: The 40th, 70th, and 75th passages of transformed human embryonic tendon cells (THETC) were adopted. The collagen secretion of THETC was detected by immunohistochemical methods, the growth curve of different passages of THETC was compared, and chromosome karyotype was analyzed. Total RNA of THETC were extracted to detect human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression by RT-PCR technique. RESULTS: When THETC were subcultured to 70 passages, the morphological characteristics of cells changed and began replicative senescence. THETC still could secret type I collagen normally. The chromosome of THETC was heteroploid (2n = 94). There were no hTERT mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: SV40 transfection can not make human embryonic tendon cells immortalization, on the other hand, human embryonic tendon cells transformed by ptsA58H plasmid has no tendency of malignant transformation.
Objective To investigate the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and cell apoptosis in neonatal rats with hypoxia ischemia brain damage (HIBD). Methods A total of 42 7-day-old SD rats (12-18 g, male or female) were randomly allocated into sham-operation group (n=6) and hypoxia-ischemia (HI) group (n=36). In HI group, the rats were anesthetized with ethylether. The right common carotid artery (CCA) was exposed and permanently l igated with a 7-0silk suture through a midl ine cervical incision. A duration of 2.5 hours of hypoxia (8%O2 / 92%N2) was used to produce HIBD model. For sham-operation group, the CCA was exposed without l igation or hypoxia. The brain tissues were harvested at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after completion of an HI insult. The expressions of TERT and CC3 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis cells were detected with TUNEL staining method. Results The expression of TERT was increased at 4 hours after HI injury, significantly increased at 24-48 hours and then decreased at 72 hours. The expression of CC3 was increased at 4 hours after HI injury, significantly increased at 24 hours and still maintained high expression at 48 hours and 72 hours. However, in the sham-operation group, both the expressions of TERT and CC3 were extremely low. The expression of TERT and CC3 were higher in the HI group than in the sham-operation group at different time points, and the differences were significant (P lt; 0.05). The TUNEL staining showed that the positive cells in hippocampus and cortical areas were increased at 4 hours after HI injury, significantly increased at 24-48 hours and maintained a high level at 72 hours. However, there was few positive cells in the sham-operation group. There were significant differences between the HI group and the sham-operation group at different time points (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion TERT could be induced by HI in neonatal rats, and might have a protective role in regulating the cell apoptosis in the neonatal HIBD.
ObjectiveTo build a lentiviral expression vector regulated by two targets 5 copies of HREs and hTERTp, express the target gene CDX2, and to test the activity of hTERT promoter by using LoVo cells for transfection. MethodsAfter the primer sets were designed, the hTERT promoter was cloned by PCR amplification from the genome of colon cancer. The CEA promoter was removed from the original vector pLEGFP-5HRE-CEAp by double digestion and PCR method, and then the hTERTp was introduced into the vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pLEGFP-5HRE-hTERTp. 5HRE-hTERTp was obtained by PCR, while the CMV promoter was removed from the original vector pLVX-EGFP-3FLAG by double digestion and PCR method, and then the 5HRE-hTERTp was introduced into the vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG. The CDX2 was cloned by PCR amplification from GV230-CDX2-EGFP, and the EGFP was removed from the vector pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG by double digestion, and then the CDX2 was introduced into the vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-CDX2-3FLAG. LoVo cells ex vivo was transiently transfected by pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG to evaluate the activity of hTERTp by detecting the expression of green fluorescence protein EGFP. ResultsPCR and sequencing analyzing showed that pLEGFP-5HRE-hTERTp, pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG, and pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-CDX2-3FLAG were sequenced correctly and the same as our designed. pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG was successfully transfected into LoVo cells ex vivo and expressed green fluorescence protein EGFP, which showed that hTERTp was activated and promoted the expression of downstream gene. ConclusionThe lentiviral expression vector, pLVX-5HREhTERTp-EGFP-3FLAG and pLVX-5HRE-hTERTp-CDX2-3FLAG are successfully constructed, which lays the foundation of further research. But the function of dual-target regulation needs further proof.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the SV40-mediated immortalization, the related factors and their roles in cell immortalization. METHODS: The original articles about cell immortalization and replicative senescence in recent decade were reviewed. RESULTS: Cell immortalization was a multifaceted phenomenon, it was involved in viral DNA integration, activation of telomerase, inactivation of growth suppressors, and so on, and their roles were closely related. CONCLUSION: The research on cell immortalization may be expected to provide important insights into a broad range of cellular biological phenomenon, and the immortalized cells can play important roles in the research of cell engineering and tissue engineering as standard cells.
Objective To introduce telomeres, telomerase and their expression in gastric carcinoma.MethodsThe related literatures were collected and reviewed.Rsults In summary, telomerase activity could be detected in 85%-90% of gastric cancer. Moreover, the patient with telomerase-positive tumors showed poorer prognosis than those with telomerase-negative tumours, indicating that telomerase-positive gastric cancer might have more malignant potential. ConclusionKnowledge of telomerase activity in gastric cancer may be useful in cancer diagnosis, as well as a prognostic indicator of clinical outcome. Future development of drugs aimed at telomerase inhibition may potentially provide a therapy with relatively less side effects.
【Abstract】Objective To study the difference of telomerase activity in the common thyroid lesions . Methods The telomerase activity was detected in 19 patients with thyroid carcinomas, 15 samples adjacent to thyroid carcinomas，21 specimens of thyromas, 17 cases of nodular goiters and 13 pieces of normal thyroid tissues by telomeric repeat amplification protocol（TRAP). Results Eighteen of 19 samples of thyroid carcinoma, 1 of 15 samples adjacent to the cancer and 1 of 21 adenoma of the thyroid specimens showed positive telomerase activity, all 17 cases of nodular goiters and 18 samples of normal thyroid tissues exhibited negative telomerase activity, and the rate of positive telomerase activity of thyroid carcinomas was significantly higher than that of the other tissues (P＜0.0001). Conclusion The telomerase is an important qualitative marker of thyroid carcinoma and a useful index in differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.
Objective To explore the values of telomerase in the diagnosis, therapy and prognostic parameter of colorectal cancer. Methods Telomerase activity in colorectal cancer, peri-cancerous and normal mucosa was detected by PCRTRAP-ELISA assay. Results The positive rates of telomerase in colorectal cancer, peri-cancerous and normal mucosa were 84.8%, 20.0% and 0% respectively. 66.7% of the early stage colorectal cancer expressed telomerase. Telomerase activity was reversely correlated with tumor differentiation.Conclusion Telomerase may be an earlier event of malignant progression in colorectal cancer. It might be a parameter for diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the expression of PCNA in gastric cancer and its relationship with telomerase activity of peritoneal washings and peritoneal dissemination, and to compare the efficacy of telomerase activity and cytology of peritoneal washings for prediction of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. MethodsTelomeric repeated amplification protocol (TRAP)enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the telomerase activity of peritoneal washings collected from 60 patients with gastric cancer. Exfoliate cytologic analysis of the corresponding samples was used for comparison.Expression of PCNA was measured with immunohistochemical staining.Their relationship with clinicopathologic features were evaluated. ResultsThe positive rate of telomerase activity in peritoneal washing collected from patients with gastric cancer was 41.7%,which well related to serosal invasion, histology types, depth of infiltration and peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. The positive rate of telomerase activity increased with the increased depth of infiltration and serosal involvement areas (P＜0.05).The positive rate of exfoliative cytology was 25.0%, which was obviously high in the group with macroscopic peritoneal metastasis (the group of P1-3). The positive rate of exfoliative cytology also increased with the increased depth of infiltration and serosal involvement areas (P＜0.05). Although the positive rate of telomerase activity in peritoneal washing collected from patients with gastric cancer was not significantly higher than that of exfoliative cytology in general, it was significantly higher than that of exfoliative cytology in the group of pT4, P1-3 and undifferentiated type.The PCNA proliferation index (PI) of positive telomerase activity group was significantly higher than that of negative. The PCNA PI was significantly higher in the group of P1-3 and serosal invasion thanthat of P0 and without serosal invasion. ConclusionTo detect telomerase activity in peritoneal washings and to detect tumor cells by cytologic method are useful to predict subclinical metastasis to the peritoneum in patients with gastric cancer,but telomerase activity is more sensitive than the other one.Telomerase activity is well related to proliferating activity of gastric cancer,which was the very important reason of peritoneal metastasis and serosal invasion.