OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cytokeratins and ret in thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) and their diagnostic value.

METHODSDuring the period of October 1999 to March 2002, 69 cases of TPC (42 cases with adjacent normal thyroid tissue) and 14 cases of nodular goiter with papillary hyperplasia were enrolled into the study. Immunohistochemistry for CK19, CK17, CK8, CK20 and ret was performed in all cases using EnVision and LSAB methods respectively.

RESULTSThe positive rates for CK19 and ret in TPCs were 85.5% and 68.1% respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in nodular goiter and normal thyroid tissue (25.0% and 5.4% respectively). The expression of CK17 was also observed in a few cases of TPCs (11/69, 15.9%), which was mainly localized in areas of squamous metaplasia, poorly differentiated carcinoma and/or in the small infiltrative foci. The positive rates for CK8 were 75.4% and 26.8% in TPCs and benign thyroid tissue respectively. All cases were negative for CK20.

CONCLUSIONSCK19, CK17 and ret expressions are significantly higher in TPCs than benign thyroid tissue; and this characteristic can have important diagnostic value.

Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDA new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.

RESULTSAfter one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Neostriatum ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This article reviews the specific expression of many proto-oncogenes during male germ cell development. The normal expression of proto-oncogenes plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogonial mitosis, spermatocyte meiosis as well as spermiogenesis and sperm maturation.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogenes ; genetics ; Spermatocytes ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Neuropeptides ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

T lymphocytes from patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) show reduced immune function and impaired activation of the transcription factor, NF-kappaB. We determined the mechanism of NF-kappaB suppression in T cells of RCC patient and determined whether supernatant fluid from RCC explants (RCC-S) induced the same phenotype of NF-kappaB suppression in normal T cells that is observed in patient T cells. The pattern of kappaB-binding activity in T cells of RCC patient was altered as compared to that seen in T cells obtained from normal volunteers. In some patients, no activation of RelA/NFkappaB1-binding activity was detectable, while in others kappaB-binding activity was modestly induced but the duration was reduced. IkappaBalpha was degraded normally following stimulation in both normal controls and T cells from RCC patients. RCC-S did not alter the cytoplasmic levels of RelA and NF-kappaB1 but did suppress their nuclear localization and inhibited the activation of RelA/NF-kappaB1 binding complexes. These results show that RCC-S can induce in normal T cells the same phenotype of impaired NF-kappaB activation that is detected in T cells of RCC patient. It also appears that NF-kappaB suppression by RCC-S may contribute to the immunosuppression of host immunity.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism* ; Culture Media, Conditioned/metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis ; Human ; Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Tissue Culture

deltaFosB, a naturally occurring truncated isform of fosB gene, existed in many tissues stably and played an important role in formation and differentiation of adipocyte and osteoblast. deltaFosB may be related to the metabolism of calcium in bone and mammary gland and regulate the signal pathway of calcium transfer from bone to mammary gland. We first sub-cloned deltafosB gene of goat into the vector pET32a to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-deltafosB. Then we induced for deltafosB gene expression efficiently by IPTG. Finally we immunized the adult rabbits with purified recombinant deltaFosB to prepare rabbit anti-goat deltaFosB polyclonal antibody. iELISA analysis showed the antibody with the titer of 1:51 200, and Western blotting result showed that the antibody could specifically detect the deltaFosB protein expressed in prokaryotic cell and HEK-293 cell, respectively. Further Western blotting assay showed that deltaFosB expressed in various tissues of goat in vivo.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Goats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

To investigate the expression of KLF6mRNA in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), nomal liver tissues and the tissues adjacent to the cancers, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to investigate the expression of the KLF6 gene in HCC, the corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal liver tissue. Our results showed that an amplified fragment of 427 bp DNA was detected in 18 of 19 (94.7%) adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal liver tissue, and in 12 (85.7%) of 14 HCC. There were no significant differences in the levels of KLF6 mRNA between normal liver and liver tumors (P>0.05). It is concluded that KLF6 mRNA is generally expressed in HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*metabolism ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/*biosynthesis ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics ; Liver/metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The stress environment regulates the factors of growth, resorption and remolding in bone tissue. Mechanical stimulation at cell physical level affects the physiological activity of osteoblasts, including proliferation, ALP activity and osteocalcin production. Mechanotransduction is a procedure which transduces the biophysical force into biochemical responses. It is also the basis of many physiological functions. The early response genes (c-fos, c-jun), the second message systems (Ca2+, NO, cAMP) and the mechano-sensitive cation channel are involved in the mechanotransduction course when osteoblasts respond to the mechanical stimulation.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Calcium ; physiology ; Humans ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular ; Osteoblasts ; physiology ; Osteocalcin ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the expression of tanscription factor Ets-1 mediated by EB virus encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.

METHODSLMP1-expressing NPC HNE2 cells regulated by Tet-on system (pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2) were used. Expression of LMP1 and Ets-1 was observed after induction with Doxycycline (Dox). Expression of Ets-1 mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The phosphorylation level of Ets-1 protein was examined by co-immunoprecipitation. The DNA binding activity of Ets-1 was detected by electrophoretic-mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSAfter induction with Dox in pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2 cells, to some extent, the expression of Ets-1 mRNA and protein, its phosphorylation level and DNA binding activity were increased with enhancement of LMP1 expression.

CONCLUSIONLMP1 induces transcriptional activation and expression of Ets-1 which may contribute to the development of NPC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possible signal transduction mechanism of the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure in osteocytes.

METHODSAn animal model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis in rabbits was established. The expressions of c-fos, OPG and OPGL were detected by ultrasensitive S-P immunohistochemical method.

RESULTAt 4 and 8 days after distraction, distraction zone showed strong positive staining of c-fos, which were apparently higher than that in distraction zone of 2, 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. At 4 and 8 days after distraction and 2 weeks after consolidation, the expression of OPG was strong, and then wore off gradually at 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. Weak signals of OPGL could be detected at 6 weeks after consolidation only.

CONCLUSIONc-fos, OPG and OPGL are important regulators in distraction osteogenesis. c-fos is interrelated with the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure closely, OPG promotes new bone formation, while OPGL plays a more active role in bone remodeling.

Animals ; Mandible ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteocytes ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteoprotegerin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RANK Ligand ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation