AIM: To further characterize the possible relationship between the molecular changes and prognosis of ESC and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved.METHODS: 114 specimens of ESC were collected from Linzhou cit...AIM: To further characterize the possible relationship between the molecular changes and prognosis of ESC and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved.METHODS: 114 specimens of ESC were collected from Linzhou city, and all patients were followed up for more than 5 years after resection. Histopathological analysis and immunohistochemical staining (ABC) were employed to detect the alteration of MUC1.RESULTS: The positive immunostaining rate for MUC1 was 79 % (90/114), and the high-expression rate was 63 %(72/114). The mean survival periods (months) of those with high- and low-expression rates of MUC1 were 41 (95 % CI:35, 47) and 52 (95 % CI: 45, 59), respectively. Patients in the low-expression group obviously survived longer than those in high-expression group, and the difference was significant (P＜0.05). The expression of MUC1 protein in the esophageal carcinoma specimens with metastasis was stronger than those without metastasis, the difference was also significant (P＜0.05). The stepwise multivariate analysis showed that 'differentiation', 'expression of MUC1' and 'TNM staging' were the most important factors affecting the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma patients (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: A good correlation between the alteration of MUC1 and the regional lymph node metastasis was observed. Furthermore, high-expression of MUC1 was associated with poor prognosis for esophageal cancer patients. These results indicated that MUC1 is a promising biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis and prognosis in esophageal cancer.展开更多
Gap junctions, consisting of connexins, allow the exchange of small molecules (<1 kD) between adjacent cells, thusproviding a mechanism for synchronizing the responses of groups of cells to environmental stimuli. C...Gap junctions, consisting of connexins, allow the exchange of small molecules (<1 kD) between adjacent cells, thusproviding a mechanism for synchronizing the responses of groups of cells to environmental stimuli. Connexin 31 is amember of the connexin family. Mutations on connexin 31 are associated with erythrokeratodermia variabilis, hearingimpairment and peripheral neuropathy. However, the pathological mechanism for connexin 31 mutants in these diseasesare still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the assembly, trafficking and metabolism of connexin 31 in HeLa cellsstably expressing connexin 31. Calcein transfer assay showed that calcein transfer was inhibited when cells weretreated with Brefeldin A or cytochalasin D, but not when treated with nocodazole or α-glycyrrhetinic acid, suggestingthat Golgi apparatus and actin filaments, but not microtubules, are crucial to the trafficking and assembly of connexin31, as well as the formation of gap junction intercellular communication by connexin 31. Additionally, α-glycyrrhetinicacid did not effectively inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication formed by connexin 31. Pulse-chase assayrevealed that connexin 31 had a half-life of about 6 h. Moreover, Western blotting and fluorescent staining demonstratedthat in HeLa cells stably expressing connexin 31, the amount of connexin 31 was significantly increased after these cellswere treated with proteasomal or lysosomal inhibitors. These findings indicate that connexin 31 was rapidly renewed,and possibly degraded by both proteasomal and lysosomal pathways.展开更多
基金National Outstanding Young Scientist Award of China ,NO.30025016NCI CA65871(U.S.A.)
文摘AIM: To further characterize the possible relationship between the molecular changes and prognosis of ESC and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved.METHODS: 114 specimens of ESC were collected from Linzhou city, and all patients were followed up for more than 5 years after resection. Histopathological analysis and immunohistochemical staining (ABC) were employed to detect the alteration of MUC1.RESULTS: The positive immunostaining rate for MUC1 was 79 % (90/114), and the high-expression rate was 63 %(72/114). The mean survival periods (months) of those with high- and low-expression rates of MUC1 were 41 (95 % CI:35, 47) and 52 (95 % CI: 45, 59), respectively. Patients in the low-expression group obviously survived longer than those in high-expression group, and the difference was significant (P＜0.05). The expression of MUC1 protein in the esophageal carcinoma specimens with metastasis was stronger than those without metastasis, the difference was also significant (P＜0.05). The stepwise multivariate analysis showed that 'differentiation', 'expression of MUC1' and 'TNM staging' were the most important factors affecting the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma patients (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: A good correlation between the alteration of MUC1 and the regional lymph node metastasis was observed. Furthermore, high-expression of MUC1 was associated with poor prognosis for esophageal cancer patients. These results indicated that MUC1 is a promising biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis and prognosis in esophageal cancer.
基金supported by "the National High Tech-nology Research and Development Program of China, No.2002BA711A07-03, 08the Major State Basic ResearchDevelopment Program of China, No. 2001CB510302 and2004CB518800the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China, No. 30370737.
文摘Gap junctions, consisting of connexins, allow the exchange of small molecules (<1 kD) between adjacent cells, thusproviding a mechanism for synchronizing the responses of groups of cells to environmental stimuli. Connexin 31 is amember of the connexin family. Mutations on connexin 31 are associated with erythrokeratodermia variabilis, hearingimpairment and peripheral neuropathy. However, the pathological mechanism for connexin 31 mutants in these diseasesare still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the assembly, trafficking and metabolism of connexin 31 in HeLa cellsstably expressing connexin 31. Calcein transfer assay showed that calcein transfer was inhibited when cells weretreated with Brefeldin A or cytochalasin D, but not when treated with nocodazole or α-glycyrrhetinic acid, suggestingthat Golgi apparatus and actin filaments, but not microtubules, are crucial to the trafficking and assembly of connexin31, as well as the formation of gap junction intercellular communication by connexin 31. Additionally, α-glycyrrhetinicacid did not effectively inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication formed by connexin 31. Pulse-chase assayrevealed that connexin 31 had a half-life of about 6 h. Moreover, Western blotting and fluorescent staining demonstratedthat in HeLa cells stably expressing connexin 31, the amount of connexin 31 was significantly increased after these cellswere treated with proteasomal or lysosomal inhibitors. These findings indicate that connexin 31 was rapidly renewed,and possibly degraded by both proteasomal and lysosomal pathways.
