OBJECTIVETo determine the CARD11 expression and its prognostic value in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSThis retrospective study included previously untreated patients diagnosed with DLBCL from January 2007 to December 2012. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of these patients were collected. Tissue microarray was built and expression of CARD11 was examined immunohistochemically. Subtype of DLBCL was determined by Hans algorithm (CD10, BCL6, MUM1). The pattern of CARD11 was further studied and their correlation with outcome was analyzed.

RESULTS79 patients with DLBCL were enrolled and two reactive lymph nodes were used as control. The positive rate of high CARD11 expression in DLBCL was 65.33%, which showed no significant associations with patients' characteristics. Positive CARD11 expression was associated with an inferior event free survival (EFS)(2- year EFS: 52.03%vs 86.12%,P=0.036). Even in patients with a high international prognostic index (IPI, 3-5 points), this difference still remained significant (Median EFS not reached vs 557 days,P=0.033).

CONCLUSIONDLBCL patients with high CARD11 expression had a shorter EFS compared with low level of CARD11. This difference remained significant when patients were in high IPI (3-5 points), which might indicate the value of CARD11 in stratification of high-risk DLBCL patients.

CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Guanylate Cyclase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The expression of natriuretic peptides in the neural bundles of the anterior portion of the optic nerves and their functions in regulating vessel tone and blood flow may suggest a possible role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between normal-tension glaucoma and the genetic variations of atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa) and natriuretic peptide receptor A (Npr1) gene. METHODS: Sixty-seven Korean normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients and 100 healthy subjects (as normal controls) were enrolled. DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was extracted, and the genotypes of five polymorphisms (c.94G>A, c.454T>C, IVS1+16C>T, IVS2+701G>A, and c.-764C>G) in the Nppa gene and one polymorphism (c.1023G>C) in the Npr1 gene were determined using the restriction fragment length polymorphism and the SNaPshot methods. The genotype and allele frequencies of these polymorphisms in patients with NTG and normal controls were compared using the Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test. RESULTS: In both groups, the genotype distributions were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant difference in the frequency of the Nppa and Npr1 alleles or genotypes in the normal-tension glaucoma group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Nppa and Npr1 gene polymorphisms are not associated with normal-tension glaucoma, suggesting that this gene does not have an important role in the pathogenesis of optic neuropathy in this disease.
Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Middle Aged ; Male ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Humans ; Guanylate Cyclase/*genetics ; Glaucoma/genetics/*physiopathology ; Genotype ; Gene Frequency ; Female ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor/*genetics ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the correlation between the expression of CARMA1 mRNA and MUM1 protein, as well as its effects on clinicopathological features and prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSThe immunophenotype (CD20, CD79a, CD10, MUM1, Bcl6) and proliferation index of DLBCL cells were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). CARMA1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCARMA1 mRNA was detected in 76 of 89 (85.40%) cases with DLBCL. The level of CARMA1 mRNA was higher in MUM1-postive group than in MUM1-negative group. No correlation was found in the expression intensity between the two molecules (P = 0.084). Ki67 positive rate was higher in MUM1(+) cases than in MUM1(-) ones (P = 0.030). There was no difference between MUM1(+) and MUM1(-) cases in sex, median age, staging, primary site and other clinicopathological features. In 58 CARMA1 mRNA positive cases, low expression cases showed more in earlier stage and more males. No difference in survival status was identified between cases with and without MUM1 expression, over- and low-expression of CARMA1 mRNA, as well as over- and low-expression of CARMA1 mRNA among 58 cases with MUM1 expression.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of CARMA1 mRNA is likely associated with the expression of MUM1 and shows male predominance in DLBCL. The expression of CARMA1 may be involved with pathogenesis and progression of ABC-like DLBCL. The two molecules correlated somewhat with some clinicopathological features, but not with survival of DLBCL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Guanylate Cyclase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Young Adult

Curcumin, an active ingredient of dietary spice used in curry, has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Using EB directed differentiation protocol of H-9 human embryonic stem (ES) cells; we evaluated the effect of curcumin (0-20 μmol/L) in enhancing such differentiation. Our results using real time PCR, western blotting and immunostaining demonstrated that curcumin significantly increased the gene expression and protein levels of cardiac specific transcription factor NKx2.5, cardiac troponin I, myosin heavy chain, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase during ES cell differentiation. Furthermore, an NO donor enhanced the curcumin-mediated induction of NKx2.5 and other cardiac specific proteins. Incubation of cells with curcumin led to a dose dependent increase in intracellular nitrite to the same extent as giving an authentic NO donor. Functional assay for second messenger(s) cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) revealed that continuous presence of curcumin in differentiated cells induced a decrease in the baseline levels of cAMP but it significantly elevated baseline contents of cGMP. Curcumin addition to a cell free assay significantly suppressed cAMP and cGMP degradation in the extracts while long term treatment of intact cells with curcumin increased the rates of cAMP and cGMP degradation suggesting that this might be due to direct suppression of some cyclic nucleotide-degrading enzyme (phosphodiesterase) by curcumin. These studies demonstrate that polyphenol curcumin may be involved in differentiation of ES cells partly due to manipulation of nitric oxide signaling.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Embryoid Bodies ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Enzyme Activators ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Guanylate Cyclase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5 ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitroso Compounds ; pharmacology ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Second Messenger Systems ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Troponin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism