Integrins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The integrin α4 subunit is widely expressed by cells from the immune system and its expression ...Integrins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The integrin α4 subunit is widely expressed by cells from the immune system and its expression by non-hematopoietic cells is scarce. In the present study, gene and protein expression of this integrin subunit was characterized in proliferating and quiescent human RPE cells. Immunofluorescent studies confirm that the α4 subunit is expressed in vitro by RPE cells, a result that has been validated by immunofluorescence and FACS analyses. The accumulation of the α4 integrin at cell-cell junctions in post-confluent RPE cell cultures negatively correlated with the level of expression of the mRNA transcript. Accordingly, transient transfection analyses reveal that the α4 promoter activity is considerably reduced when RPE cells form a confluent monolayer. Moreover, transfection of recombinant constructs bearing 5’-deletions of the α4 promoter segment allows the localization of strong negative regulatory elements on the -76 to -300 region of the α4 gene suggesting that its expression is intimately linked to the proliferative state of primary cultured RPE cells.展开更多
The prognostic value of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3CA) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the prognost...The prognostic value of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3CA) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in patients with ESCC. EMBASE, Pub Med, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception through Oct. 3, 2016. The hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were calculated using a random effects model for overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS). Seven studies enrolling 1505 patients were eligible for inclusion of the current meta-analysis. Results revealed that PIK3CA mutation was not significantly associated with OS(HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.63–1.30, P=0.591), with a significant heterogeneity(I^2=65.7%, P=0.012). Additionally, subgroup analyses were further conducted according to various variables, such as types of specimen, the sample size, technique and statistical methodology. All results suggested that no significant relationship was found between PIK3CA mutation and OS in patients with ESCC. For DFS, there was no significant association between PIK3CA mutation and DFS in patients with ESCC(HR: 1.00, 95% CI=0.47–2.11, P=0.993, I2=73.7%). Publication bias was not present and the results of sensitivity analysis were very stable in the current meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that PIK3CA mutation has no significant effects on OS and DFS in ESCC patients. More well-designed prospective studies with better methodology for PIK3CA assessment are required to clarify the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in ESCC patients.展开更多
文摘Integrins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The integrin α4 subunit is widely expressed by cells from the immune system and its expression by non-hematopoietic cells is scarce. In the present study, gene and protein expression of this integrin subunit was characterized in proliferating and quiescent human RPE cells. Immunofluorescent studies confirm that the α4 subunit is expressed in vitro by RPE cells, a result that has been validated by immunofluorescence and FACS analyses. The accumulation of the α4 integrin at cell-cell junctions in post-confluent RPE cell cultures negatively correlated with the level of expression of the mRNA transcript. Accordingly, transient transfection analyses reveal that the α4 promoter activity is considerably reduced when RPE cells form a confluent monolayer. Moreover, transfection of recombinant constructs bearing 5’-deletions of the α4 promoter segment allows the localization of strong negative regulatory elements on the -76 to -300 region of the α4 gene suggesting that its expression is intimately linked to the proliferative state of primary cultured RPE cells.
文摘The prognostic value of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3CA) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in patients with ESCC. EMBASE, Pub Med, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception through Oct. 3, 2016. The hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were calculated using a random effects model for overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS). Seven studies enrolling 1505 patients were eligible for inclusion of the current meta-analysis. Results revealed that PIK3CA mutation was not significantly associated with OS(HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.63–1.30, P=0.591), with a significant heterogeneity(I^2=65.7%, P=0.012). Additionally, subgroup analyses were further conducted according to various variables, such as types of specimen, the sample size, technique and statistical methodology. All results suggested that no significant relationship was found between PIK3CA mutation and OS in patients with ESCC. For DFS, there was no significant association between PIK3CA mutation and DFS in patients with ESCC(HR: 1.00, 95% CI=0.47–2.11, P=0.993, I2=73.7%). Publication bias was not present and the results of sensitivity analysis were very stable in the current meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that PIK3CA mutation has no significant effects on OS and DFS in ESCC patients. More well-designed prospective studies with better methodology for PIK3CA assessment are required to clarify the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in ESCC patients.
