The variety of human cancers in which the retinoblastoma protein pRb is inactivated reflects both its broad importance for tumor suppression and its multitude of cellular functions. Accumulating evidence indicates that pRb contributes to a diversity of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and genome stability. pRb performs these diverse functions through the formation of large complexes that include E2F transcription factors and chromatin regulators. In this review we will discuss some of the recent advances made in understanding the structure and function of pRb as they relate to tumor suppression, and highlight research using Drosophila melanogaster that reveals important, evolutionarily conserved functions of the RB family.
Animals ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; metabolism

Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Repressor Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 4 ; chemistry ; metabolism

The research was aimed to detect the expression levels of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) in child acute leukemia cells, and to explore its possible association with leukemia cells cycle, the risk of disease, minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring and prognosis of B-ALL. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the expression of pRb in 89 cases of acute leukemia (including 25 AML, 10 T-ALL and 54 B-ALL) and bone marrows from 7 normal children (control group). Meanwhile the cell cycle in some cases was analyzed. The results showed that (1) the FCM could accurately detect the expression of pRb in acute leukemia cells; (2) the high level of pRb expression was frequent in all types of child acute leukemias. In the same case, the expression of pRb was significantly increased in leukemia cells when compared with non-leukemia cells. And no detectable pRb protein was found in partial cases of acute leukemia; (3) there was a close relation between expression of pRb and the cell cycle of leukemia cells, the number of G(1) phase cells in pRb positive case of B-ALL was more than that in pRb negative case (92% vs 77%); (4) in B-ALL, the level of pRb expression in MRD positive group was significantly lower than that in MRD negative group (P < 0.05), but pRb expression was stable in non-leukemia cells during therapy; (5) pRb expression was related to the early response to therapy in B-ALL, the expression of pRb was significantly increased in sensitive group when compared with insensitive group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that high level or absence of pRb expression can be found in child acute leukemia cells. The expression of pRb is positively related to cell cycle of leukemia cells, MRD monitoring and the early response to therapy. In short, the detection of pRb expression level can guide the therapy and the evaluation of prognosis in B-ALL.
Burkitt Lymphoma ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prognosis ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Aged ; Anthracosis ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; metabolism

Cellular senescence is a tumor-suppressive process instigated by proliferation in the absence of telomere replication, by cellular stresses such as oncogene activation, or by activation of the tumor suppressor proteins, such as Rb or p53. This process is characterized by an irreversible cell cycle exit, a unique morphology, and expression of senescence-associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal). Despite the potential biological importance of cellular senescence, little is known of the mechanisms leading to the senescent phenotype. p41-Arc has been known to be a putative regulatory component of the mammalian Arp2/3 complex, which is required for the formation of branched networks of actin filaments at the cell cortex. In this study, we demonstrate that p41-Arc can induce senescent phenotypes when it is overexpressed in human tumor cell line, SaOs-2, which is deficient in p53 and Rb tumor suppressor genes, implying that p41 can induce senescence in a p53-independent way. p41-Arc overexpression causes a change in actin filaments, accumulating actin filaments in nuclei. Therefore, these results imply that a change in actin filament can trigger an intrinsic senescence program in the absence of p53 and Rb tumor suppressor genes.
Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism ; Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex/*metabolism ; *Cell Aging ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Fibroblasts/physiology ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Retinoblastoma Protein/*deficiency/genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*deficiency/genetics

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of the expression of p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) gene products in cases of curatively resected gastric adenocarcinoma, by immunohistochemical analysis. METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2001, 736 curatively resected gastric cancer patients underwent immunohistochemical staining for p53 or Rb proteins (pRb), and we retrospectively analyzed the correlation of our results with the clinical outcomes of these cases. RESULTS: High levels of expression of p53 (> 25% p53-positive cells) and Rb (> 50% Rb-positive cells) proteins were detected in 40.1% and 43.7% of cases, respectively. Tubular type was found to frequently exhibit higher levels of p53 expression (high expression in 44.2%) than signet ring cell type (high expression in 26.0%) (p=0.042). The incidence of vascular invasion was lower in the high pRb expressors (43.2%) than in the pRb low expressors (56.8%), but this was not a statistically significant discrepancy (p=0.063). Preoperative CEA levels were found to be low in high pRb expressors: initial CEA level in the high pRb expressors was 2.31 +/- 3.30 ng/mL, and was 5.18 +/- 24.80 ng/mL in the low pRb expressors (p=0.033). Tumor depth and node metastasis were both independent of the levels of expression of p53 and Rb proteins. The seven-year overall survival rate and relapse-free survival rates of patients were 87.2% and 75.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that tumor stage, tumor size, patient age and pRb expression were the significant prognostic factors with regard to overall survival, and tumor stage and age were both significant factors with regard to relapse-free survival. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining of retinoblastoma gene products was an independent prognostic factor for the prediction of overall survival in curatively resected gastric cancer patients.
Adenocarcinoma/*genetics/metabolism/mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Protein p53/*metabolism ; Retinoblastoma Protein/*metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/mortality

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of retinoblastoma-associated protein 46 (RbAp46) or RbAp 46 mRNA in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) of acute leukemia (AL) patients and determine whether the expression is related to the classification and prognosis of ALs.

METHODSThe expression of RbAp46 protein in BMMNC was detected by Western blot in 46 AL patients and the expression of RbAp46 mRNA in BMMNC by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in 22 AL patients. The indirect immunofluorescence staining technique was applied to the localization of RbAp46 protein in BMMNC both in leukemia patients and control subjects.

RESULTS(1) Both RbAp46 protein and mRNA were expressed in AL BMMNC and no significant difference was found among different leukemia types. (2) The expression of RbAp46 protein was lower in AL patients with high-degree tumor burden than in those with low-degree tumor burden (mean A, 93.4 +/- 37.2 vs 127.2 +/- 15.8, P < 0. 05). (3) The expression of RbAp46 protein was lower in refractory leukemia than those in non-refractory leukemia (mean A, 87.1 +/- 33.8 vs 126.6 +/- 21.2, P < 0. 05). (4) The expression of RbAp46 mRNA was lower in AL patients with high-degree tumor burden than in those with low-degree tumor burden (mean A R, 0.19 +/- 0.08 vs 0.31 +/- 0.12, P < 0. 05). (5) RbAp46 protein was mainly localized in nucleus of BMMNC in both AL patients and control subjects.

CONCLUSIONBoth RbAp46 protein and mRNA are expressed in AL patients BMMNC. The downregulation of RbAp46 expression is associated with high leukemic burden and refractory to treatment. RbAp46 gene might be a tumor suppressor gene for leukemia.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 7 ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

MDM2 is a substrate of caspase-3 in p53-mediated apoptosis. In addition, MDM2 mediates its own ubiquitination in a RING finger-dependent manner. Thus, we investigated whether MDM2 is degraded through a ubiquitin-dependent proteasome pathway in the absence of p53. When HL-60 cells, p53 null, were treated with etoposide, MDM2 was markedly decreased prior to caspase-3-dependent retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) and poly (ADP- ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavages. Moreover, down-regulation of MDM2 level was not coupled with its mRNA down-regulation. However, the level of MDM2 was partially restored by proteasome inhibitors such as LLnL and lactacystin, even in the presence of etoposide. Our results suggest that, in the p53 null status, MDM2 protein level is decreased by proteasome-mediated proteolysis prior to caspase-3-dependent PARP and pRb cleavages.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects/physiology ; Caspases/*metabolism ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/*metabolism ; Down-Regulation (Physiology)/physiology ; Etoposide/pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Human ; Multienzyme Complexes/*metabolism ; NAD+ ADP-Ribosyltransferase/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/*metabolism ; Retinoblastoma Protein/*metabolism

To explore the potential of the anti-sense nucleic acid of CyclinD1 in lung cancer therapy, the expression vector containing the anti-sense nucleic acid of CyclinD1 was constructed and named pcDNA3.1-CyclinD1. The A549 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-CyclinD1 vectors. After being screened by G418, the stable expression positive clones were obtained. MTT method and flow cytometry technique were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The results showed the transfected cells exhibited significantly increased apoptosis and inhibited cell growth, compared with negative control and empty vector groups. To investigate the mechanism for anti-sense nucleic acid of CyclinD1 inducing A549 cells apoptosis, the expression levels of retinoblastoma protein (pRb), adenovirus E2 factor-1 (E2F-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were detected by Western blot, and the results showed the expressions of these proteins were all decreased significantly in anti-sense nucleic acid of CyclinD transfected group, compared with those in negative control and empty vector groups. In a word, anti-sense nucleic acid of CyclinD1 induces the apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cancer cells, and the depressions of pRb, E2F-1, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions may be the possible mechanism.
Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin D1 ; genetics ; DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

The latest findings of our laboratory showed that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) showed a definite effect in regulating the aging of hematopoietic stem cells. Leukemia is a type of malignant hematopoietic tumor in hematopoietic stem cells. There have been no relevant reports about ASP's effect in regulating the aging of leukemia cells. In this study, human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) KG1alpha cell lines in logarithmic growth phase were taken as the study object, and were divided into the ASP group, the cytarabine (Ara-C) group, the ASP + Ara-C group and the control group. The groups were respectively treated with different concentration of ASP, Ara-C and ASP + Ara-C for different periods, with the aim to study the effect of ASP combined with Ara-C in regulating the aging of human acute myeloid leukemia KG1alpha cell lines and its relevant mechanism. The results showed that ASP, Ara-C and ASP + Ara-C could obviously inhibit KG1alpha cell proliferation in vitro, block the cells in G0/G1 phase. The cells showed the aging morphological feature. The percentage of positive stained aging cells was dramatically increased, and could significantly up-regulate the expression of aging-related proteins P16 and RB, which were more obvious in the ASP + Ara-C group. In conclusion, the aging mechanism of KG1alpha cell induced by ASP and Ara-C may be related to the regulation of the expression of aging-related proteins, suggesting that the combined administration of ASP and anticancer drugs plays a better role in the treatment of leukemia .
Aging ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured