全國中小學科展

醫學與健康科學

以粒線體轉移治療動脈血管內皮細胞功能失調及動脈粥狀硬化疾病

動脈粥狀硬化疾病的風險因子及血管擾流會造成血管內皮細胞內的粒線體失去功能,導致內皮細胞功能失調,進而引起動脈粥狀硬化疾病的後續病程,如斑塊形成。本研究主要探討粒線體轉移療法,是否能改善受到擾流影響的血管內皮細胞功能失調。首先,我們分別觀察並比較擾流與順流下的人類動脈血管內皮細胞,兩者細胞形態與內皮相關功能基因表現量的差異。其次,我們從順流處理的細胞中分離取得健康的粒線體,轉移入擾流處理的細胞中。接著以生物能量代謝分析儀,檢測轉移粒線體後內皮細胞呼吸鏈與代謝的功能是否隨粒線體的轉移而有所改善。實驗結果確認,粒線體轉移處理可改善擾流組細胞的呼吸鏈功能,細胞的有氧呼吸與產能代謝皆有改善。本先驅性研究希望有助於開創以粒線體轉移技術作為心血管疾病治療的創新療法。

白花蛇舌草免疫抗癌新機轉及活性物質分析

白花蛇舌草是中醫常使用的抗癌中藥,本研究主要探究白花蛇舌草治療大腸癌的可能效應、機轉及活性物質。本研究利用大腸癌動物實驗搭配次世代基因定序,期望發現白花蛇舌草的新穎免疫抗癌標靶,並利用氣相層析質譜儀搭配新穎免疫抗癌標靶分子對接,分析主要的活性物質。結果顯示,白花蛇舌草可以減少小鼠結直腸增生組織的數量及大小,將被影響的基因進行生物資訊程式分析,發現白花蛇舌草會干擾與免疫細胞趨化有關的基因群組以及與上皮細胞增生有關的白細胞介質IL-17訊息路徑,而且存在於白花蛇舌草的阿魏酸可以阻斷IL-17與IL-17受體的結合,減緩小鼠的大腸直腸癌。本研究將古老知識透過現代科學證實有用,呈現與發炎或與上皮細胞增生有關的細胞激素可以作為免疫抗癌標靶,也發現白花蛇舌草的免疫抗癌新機制,並由免疫抗癌新機轉成功求證白花蛇舌草的主要活性物質。

上皮細胞黏附因子(EpCAM)對腫瘤增生影響之機制探討

上皮細胞黏附因子 (EpCAM) 參與了細胞的黏附、信息傳遞、增殖及分化等功能,並在惡性腫瘤組織中大量表達。另外抗EpCAM中和性抗體可以阻斷EpCAM訊息傳遞,進而引起癌細胞PD-L1的表現量降低並促進T細胞的毒殺活性。為了觀察EpCAM是否會對癌細胞的增生、轉移以及侵入能力造成影響,我們將細胞分為野生型 (wild type) 和EpCAM基因剔除細胞株 (EpCAM knockout) 進行實驗。首先,我們以Western-blotting和qRT-PCR確認EpCAM基因剔除組的EpCAM基因有確實被剔除,再進一步利用細胞存活率及細胞群落實驗證實EpCAM會促進癌細胞的增生能力,並分別藉由EGFR的抑制劑Afatinib與HGFR的抑制劑Crizotinib對於癌細胞存活率的實驗證實EpCAM 對於EGFR與HGFR的訊息傳遞扮演重要角色。接著分析EpCAM對癌細胞轉移及侵入能力的影響,γ-secretase和ADAM17皆為裁剪EpCAM進行訊息傳遞的重要酵素,實驗中的癌細胞分別以γ-secretase和ADAM17的抑制劑DAPT和TAPI-1處理,證實EpCAM的訊息傳遞與癌細胞轉移與侵入能力有關。接著我們以EpCAM中和性抗體處理癌細胞後,證實EpCAM中和性抗體確實會促使癌細胞凋亡。最後我們利用Western blotting分析EpCAM對於不同激酶磷酸化的蛋白質表現量之影響,找出EpCAM下游訊息傳遞的完整路徑,期望能找到治療癌症的關鍵。

Analysis of lncRNA, miRNA , mRNA-associated ceRNA networks include in promoting glioma cancer

The ceRNAs as a class of RNAs act by competitively binding to miRNAs and limiting their regulatory effect on the target genes. Increasing evidences point to the role of ceRNAs in glioma cancer. So far, limited studies have been reported on the role of ceRNA in the development in glioma cancer. In this study, we have analyzed online RNA sequencing data in order to predict the ceRNAs which are putative regulators of in glioma cancer.

由誘導性多功能幹細胞篩選新生抗原用於大腸直腸癌之抗癌應用

癌症治癒方式成效有限,在iPSC中找出具有潛力的蛋白製成大腸直腸癌疫苗是本研究目的。 實驗先以C57BL/6小鼠之股骨及脛骨骨髓中造血幹細胞分化成為未活化的樹突細胞。放入安慰劑、CpG佐劑、CpG+MC38、CpG+iPSC等抗原物來進行免疫細胞活化測試,流式細胞儀分析結果驗證能否減緩小鼠大腸直腸癌的腫瘤生成。接著,利用質譜儀及大數據分析從iPSC中找出促使樹突細胞活化的抗原物蛋白成分,選出3個候選,透過西方墨點法確認其專一性。查詢候選蛋白TTW1、2、3在The Human Protein Atlas 網站對大腸直腸癌之表現數據。 結果 iPSC的抗原物促使樹突細胞的MHC1標記物活化,助於毒殺性 CD8+T細胞的產生進而透過免疫系統預防大腸直腸癌的產生。TTW1只有在iPSC細胞株表現出專一性,同時資料庫顯示TTW1在大腸直腸癌中具有高表現量。 目前未有文獻探討抗原疫苗的應用,團隊未來專注合成iPSC中TTW1蛋白,進一步開發成大腸直腸癌疫苗。

基因突變與骨硬化症之相關

本研究由骨硬化症(osteosclerosis)個案報告開始,進行基因變異的探查,先針對骨生成主要調控機制WNT pathway上的SOST、LRP5、LRP6基因,進行基因定序與分析。在此3個基因沒有發現異常位點後,轉而以全外顯子組定序(whole exome sequencing),進行次世代基因定序(next generation sequencing)。結果顯示病患帶有CTNNB1 c.1982G>A (p.Arg661Gln)之異合子(heterozygous)誤義變異(missense mutation),並證實是CTNNB1基因的原發突變(de novo mutation),該突變影響後續蛋白質表現,影響了ICAT對WNT/beta-catenin訊息傳遞鏈的抑制,繼而穩定beta-catenin,造成骨質異常增生、並導致全身骨硬化。此案例為全世界第二例、亞洲首例的CTNNB1基因功能增強突變(gain-of-function mutation)的病例報告。

Silver Moringa Cloth: Silver Nanoparticle Fabric Based on Moringa Extract (Moringa oleifera) as Antibacterial Against Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is addressed as one of the most common pathogens in hospital settings and in the community. This pathogen causes invasive infections, sepsis, and death. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is due to bacterial mutations and the use of antibiotic drugs that are not by procedures. Resistance makes MRSA infections difficult to treat, resulting in high healthcare costs. These problems lead to an urgent need to find alternative drugs to control MRSA infection. Therefore, developing new drugs and procedures such as antibacterial nanoparticles, are particularly promising. Indonesia has many medicinal plants with antibiotic activity, including Moringa oleifera. Moringa oleifera contains several active compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins which are known to have antibiotic activity. Silver nanoparticles or AgNPs are currently used as antimicrobial agents because they are toxic to prokaryotic cells (bacteria) but relatively safe for eukaryotic cells. AgNP synthesis mediated by M. oleifera extract has the advantages of being non-toxic, pollution-free, and environmentally friendly. Sisal is a potential source of naturally derived fabric and a prospective source of multifunctional textiles. Recent studies have utilized and functionalized sisal to develop composite materials. However, functionalizing of sisal using nanosilver-based materials has not been studied yet. Bioactive chemicals from plant-extracted nanoparticles also provide additional antimicrobial properties. This study aims to produce AgNPs mediated by M. oleifera leaf extract and to analyze its antimicrobial effect on MRSA growth. The powdered Moringa (4g) was boiled with 100 ml of distilled water (550 C) for 15 minutes. The mixture was filtered through Whatman No 1 filter paper and store refrigerated. The nanoparticle was synthesized by rinsing sisal fabric cloth to several concentrations of AgNO3 (1mM, 10mM, and 20mM) with Moringa extract. Nanoparticle synthesis from AgNO3 done with the help of Moringa oleifera extract. The resulting AgNPs have MIC values (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bacteriocidal Concentration) of 1.25 mg/ml. The resulting silver nanoparticles showed antibiotic activity against MRSA with an average inhibition zone diameter of 15.677 mm. XRD and SEM studies are going to be held to support the data.

Overcoming Motion Disorders

Helping in overcoming the motion disorders is an important thing which deserve striving for. Every year number of people who have MS or paresis (paraparesis) is increasing. The device has effective results for the patients and it backs to finding the conditions of natural treatments in the device. Obviously, this device helps them to keep standing and achieve the required exercises the movement like normal people by using their hands. The degree of improvement differs from person to another as depends on the hardness of the disease and injury kind.