Xuzhou Medical College

About: Xuzhou Medical College is a education organization based out in Xuzhou, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Cell growth. The organization has 12721 authors who have published 7802 publications receiving 102970 citations.

A novel mouse CD133 binding-peptide screened by phage display inhibits cancer cell motility in vitro.

Abstract: Increased expression of CD133 (Prominin-1), an important cancer stem cell-associated marker, has been observed in the cancer stem cells of a variety of human and mouse cancers. However, no natural ligand of CD133 has yet been identified and little is known about its function. In the present study, LS-7 (amino acid sequence: LQNAPRS), a specific binding peptide targeting mouse CD133, was screened and identified for the first time by phage-displayed peptide library technology. The in vitro and in vivo affinity and specificity of LS-7 were determined, and MTT, adhesion, and migration assays were performed to evaluate the effects of LS-7 on the biological behaviors of cancer cells. To determine which signaling pathways are affected by LS-7, HMGB1, S-100A4, CXCR7, uPAR, AMFR, STAT3, and c-Met gene and protein expression were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays showed specific, high-affinity binding of the peptide to mCD133 in vitro. Confocal microscopy confirmed the co-localization of LS-7 positive cells and CD133-positive cells. Migration and wound-healing assays showed that LS-7 significantly inhibited the migration of colon and breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo experiments also confirmed the high specificity and affinity of LS-7 to mCD133. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expressions of only c-Met and STAT3 decreased obviously in colon and breast cancer cells exposed to LS-7. These findings may provide a novel tool for anti-motility and anti-metastasis strategies in cancer research and cancer stem cell therapy.

The conformational, electronic and spectral properties of chalcones: A density functional theory study

Abstract: The ground-state geometries and electronic spectra of trans-chalcone and its derivatives have been studied with the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). A wide panel of theoretical methods has been used, with various basis sets and DFT functionals, to assess a level of theory that would lead to converged excitation energies. Solvent effects on the excitation energies were computed through the integral equation formalism of the polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM). It turns out that PCM-TD-PBE1PBE/6-31G//PBE1PBE /6-31G(d) approach provides reliable λmax. The calculated absorption spectral properties are in good agreement with the experimental results. The results suggest the assignments for the lowest five electronic transitions observed experimentally for trans-(s-cis)-chalcone in solution. Calculated substitution shifts for trans-(s-cis)-chalcone derivatives are in qualitatively agreement with experimental data.

Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR enhances radioresistance in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the radiosensitizing effects of homeobox (HOX) transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) long non-coding RNA on breast cancer tumor cells and examine the underlying mechanisms. Recombinant plasmid vectors containing HOTAIR gene were constructed and MDA-MB231 cells were transfected with these plasmids using liposomes. The cells were treated with radiation and cell apoptosis, proliferation, and double-stranded DNA breaks were examined. HOXD10, phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and p-BAD expression levels were measured using western blot analysis. The results showed a higher expression of HOTAIR in advanced tumor cells. HOTAIR efficiently enhanced radioresistance in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells and accelerated proliferation through the Akt pathway by targeting HOXD10. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated that HOTAIR gene is a valid therapeutic target for the reversal of radiotherapy resistance in breast cancer.