ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions and clinical significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and γglutamyl transpeptidase mRNA-H (GGT mRNA-H) in the peripheral blood of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MethodsThe expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were detected in the peripheral blood of thirty patients with small HCC by RT-PCR, eighteen patients with benign liver diseases, and twelve normal volunteers. ResultsThe positive rate of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression in patients with small HCC were 80.0% (24/30) and 46.7%(14/30), respectively. In patients with hepatitic cirrhosis the positive rate of hTERT mRNA expression was 33.3% (6/18), while the expression of GGT mRNA was not detected. Both the expressions of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H were negative in all normal volunteers. The combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H expression achieved positive rate of 86.7% in the diagnosis of small HCC, which was significantly higher than the positive rate of AFP (26.7%)， Plt;0.05. ConclusionThe hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H are significantly expressed in small HCC patients, the combination analysis of hTERT mRNA and GGT mRNA-H seems to be useful in the early diagnosis of small HCC.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the expressions of B-cell-specific monoclonal leukemia virus insert site 1 (Bmi1) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) genes and the proliferative capacity of stem cells. MethodsCord blood CD34+ cells were cultured in IMDM medium containing fetal bovine serum, stem cell growth factor, thrombopoietin, and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand during a 28-day ex vivo expansion process, while the expansion fold, specific growth rate, and the colony-forming efficiency were monitored. Then the Bmi1 and hTERT mRNA expressions in CD34+ cells were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the relations between the expressions and the cell proliferative capacity were analyzed. ResultsCD34+ cells expanded (20.1 ± 3.5) folds during the 28-day culture, while the proportion declined from 95.5% ± 2.6% before culture to 2.1% ± 0.4%. Both the specific growth rate and colony-forming efficiency of CD34+ cells declined significantly after 7 days, while the expression levels of Bmi1 and hTERT mRNA in CD34+ cells reached top at 7 days and declined gradually thereafter. ConclusionThe expressions of Bmi1 and hTERT genes may have a close relation to the proliferative capacity of CD34+ cells.
OBJECTIVE: To construct a plasmid which has a reporter gene for exploring the role of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTRT) in in-vitro cell cultivation. METHODS: hTRT was cut by restricted enzyme from plasmid pGRN145 and inserted to plasmid pEGFP-C1 (enhanced green fluorescent protein). RESULTS: Restricted enzyme analysis and DNA sequencing showed that the sequence of the pEGFP -hTRT transgenic plasmid was correct. CONCLUSION: The recombinant vector pEGFP-hTRT has been successfully constructed, and it can be used as a transgenic plasmid in generating immortalized cell lines.
OBJECTIVE: To elongate the proliferation life-span of human umbilicus vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). METHODS: We synthesized the human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT mRNA) by in vitro transcription, then transferred the hTERT mRNA into HUVEC in quicent stage by lipofect introduction. RESULTS: Telomerase expressed transiently in HUVEC, and the cell life-span was elongated for 7 population doublings. CONCLUSION: Telomerase can be reconstructed controllably and transiently in HUVEC by hTERT mRNA introduction, this method has the potential to be used to elongate the lifespan of cells cultured in vitro.
Objective To investigate the expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the correlations of each other in the development of carcinoma. Methods The expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma were detected by S-P immunohistochemical staining, 20 cases of normal liver tissues were collected as contrast, and to compare the relations between expression and prognosis or survival rate. Results The positive rate of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein in hepatocellular carcinoma group were obviously higher than that in contrast group（P＜0.05）, which was 63.9% vs. 0, 52.8% vs.5.0%, and 47.2% vs.0, respectively. The positive rate of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein were higher in UICC Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage group than that in UICC stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ group（P＜0.05）, which was 79.2% vs.33.3%, 70.8% vs.16.7%, and 62.5% vs.16.7%, respectively. There was a statistically significant positive correlation observed between the expressions of CD90 and IGF1R protein （Kendall’s tau-b=0.563 1, P＜0.05）, so it was with CD90 and hTERT protein （Kendall’s tau-b=0.363 6, P＜0.05）. The survival rates of positive expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT protein were lower than negative expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT（P＜0.05）, which was 21.7% vs.50.0%, 17.6% vs.43.8%, and 20.0% vs.38.9%, respectively. Conclusions The expressions of CD90, IGF1R, and hTERT may have correlations with the progress of HCC, and may serve as a marker for HCC prognosis potentially.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of exogenous estrogen receptor β1 (ERβ1) gene on the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as the changes of proliferation ability in MDA-MB-231 cell line by transfecting recombinant eukaryotic expressing vector containing ERβ1 cDNA into human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell. MethodsRecombinant eukaryotic expressing vector containing ERβ1 cDNA was transfected into human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell by using cationic liposome as transfecting agent (acted as pcDNA3.1ERβ1 transfection group), empty vector group and non-transfection group acted as controls. The expression levels in both the mRNA and protein of both the ERβ1 and hTERT were tested by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The change of proliferation ability in MDA-MB-231 cell was displayed by cell growth curve, and the change of cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. ResultsThe expression level of ERβ1 mRNA in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfection group (0.449±0.077) significantly increased as compared with the nontransfection group (0.153±0.035) or the empty vector group (0.160±0.020), P=0.001 or P=0.000. The expression level of ERβ1 protein in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfection group (0.847±0.065) significantly increased as compared with the non-transfection group (0.356±0.050) or the empty vector group (0.390±0.030), P=0.001 or P=0.000. The expression level of hTERT mRNA in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfection group (0.127±0.020) significantly decreased as compared with the non-transfection group (0.283±0.025) or the empty vector group (0.283±0.049), P=0.001 or P=0.002. The expression level of hTERT protein in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfection group (0.147±0.023) significantly decreased as compared with the non-transfection group (0.783±0.025) or the empty vector group (0.802±0.019), P=0.001 or P=0.002. The rate of cell apoptosis in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfection group 〔(6.15±0.94)%〕 was higher than that in the non-transfection group 〔(1.41±0.42)%〕， P=0.001. Cell proliferation curve showed that proliferation ability significantly decreased in the pcDNA3.1-ERβ1 transfected groups as compared with the non-transfection group (Plt;0.05). ConclusionERβ1 could inhibit cell growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell by down-regulating the expression of hTERT.