摘要目的 探讨Notch信号转导对小细胞肺癌的调控作用及可能机制.方法 应用重组质粒转染的方法,在小细胞肺癌细胞株NCI-H446中表达组成性活化的Notch1(NIC转染组),同时设立转染空质粒组和未转染组作为对照组,待筛选出稳定细胞株后,以MTT法检测细胞活力,应用半定量RT-PCR技术测定Notch1及其下游基因(HES1和hASH1)表达,并应用免疫细胞化学标记和Westernblot技术对神经内分泌标志物嗜铬粒素A(CgA)、神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)的表达行半定量[阳性单位(PU)值]分析.结果 未转染组和转染空质粒组Notch1及其下游基因HES1表达不明显,而hASH1表达显著,转染组细胞Notch1及HES1表达升高,同时伴有hASH1表达明显降低.与两对照组比较,转染组细胞增殖速度显著降低,连续6 d测得的吸光度(A)值均小于未转染组和转染空质粒组(均P<0.05).免疫细胞化学染色显示,NIC转染组、转染空质粒组、未转染组的CgA染色的PU值分别为8.81±0.77、38.10±1.55、38.97±0.80,NSE染色的PU值分别为7.21±0.59、28.25±1.46、30.57±1.31,NIC转染组CgA和NSE的PU值均小于转染空质粒组和未转染组(均P<0.01).Western blot检测结果中,将未转染组的条带灰度值设为1.00,NIC转染组、转染空质粒组的CgA条带灰度值分别为0.54±0.03、0.99±0.05,NSE条带灰度值分别为0.43±0.02、1.07±0.09,NIC转染组cgA和NSE条带的灰度值均小于转染空质粒组和未转染组(均P<0.01).结论 Notch信号途径对小细胞肺癌的调控可能是通过靶基因HES1对分化效应基因hASH1的转录抑制来实现的;Notch信号途径可以抑制小细胞肺癌细胞的增殖,降低其神经内分泌标志物的表达.

abstractsObjective To investigate the status of Notch signaling pathway in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods Expression plasmids of pEFBOS-NIC-MYC and pEFBOS-neo were transfected into NCI-H446 cells. Stably transfected cell lines were selected and their growth rates were examined by MTT method. Expression of downstream genes along the Notch signaling pathway were studied by RT-PCR.Protein expression of euroendocrine markers of CgA and NSE were detected by Western blot analysis and immanocytochemistry. Results The expression of HES1 was increased in the pEFBOS-NIC-MYC group, but the expression of hASH in the pEFBOS-NIC-MYC group was decreased significantly. The transfected cells with pEFBOS-NIC-MYC plasmid showed a significantly slower growth rate compared with that of two control groups(P<0.05,Student's t-test). Immunocytochemistry of NSE showed that PUs in the NIC transfected group, sham group and negative control group were 7. 21±0.59, 28.25±1.46, 30.57±1.31 respectively,the former one was smaller than the values of the latter two significantly (P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed the grave scales of CgA in NIC transfected group and sham group to be 0. 54±0. 03 and 0. 99±0. 05 respectively (grave scales of the negative control was set as 1.00), the former one significantly smaller than that of the other two groups (P<0.01). The grave scales of NSE in the NIC transfected group and sham group were 0. 43±0. 02 and 1.07±0. 09 respectively (grave scales of the negative control was set as 1.00) and the former one was significantly smaller than the other two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Notch signaling pathway regulates SCLC cells through its inhibitory effect on hASH1 transcription via HES1 along with an expression inhibition of neuroendocrine markers in SCLC.