Animals ; Binding Sites ; Cochlea ; Homeodomain Proteins/chemistry* ; Mice ; Transcription Factors ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/chemistry*

To investigate the relationship between the expression of RASSF1A protein and promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A gene, RASSF1A protein expression was measured by Western blotting in 10 specimens of normal bladder tissues and 23 specimens of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). The promoter methylation in BTCC and normal bladder tissues was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The results showed that the expression level of RASSF1A protein was significantly lower in BTCC tissues than that in normal bladder tissues. However, it was not correlated with its clinical stages and pathological grades. The frequency of promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene was higher in BTCC tissues than that in normal bladder tissues. In 14 patients with the aberrant promoter methylation, 13 showed loss or low expression of RASSF1A protein. It is concluded that RASSF1A gene promoter methylation may contribute to the low level or loss of RASSF1A protein expression, the inactivation of RASSF1A gene and the genesis of BTCC. But, it may bear no correlation with its clinical stages and pathological grades.
Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Primers/chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/*genetics ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*metabolism

This article is to summarize the molecular and functional analysis of the gene "suppression of tumorigenicity 13" (ST13). ST13 is in fact the gene encoding Hsp70 interacting protein (Hip), a co-factor (co-chaperone) of the 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsc/Hsp70). By collaborating with other positive co-factors such as Hsp40 and the Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein (Hop), or competing with negative co-factors such as Bcl2-associated athanogen 1 (Bag1), Hip facilitates may facilitate the chaperone function of Hsc/Hsp70 in protein folding and repair, and in controlling the activity of regulatory proteins such as steroid receptors and regulators of proliferation or apoptosis. Although the nomenclature of ST13 implies a role in the suppression of tumorigenicity (ST), to date available experimental data are not sufficient to support its role in cancer development, except for the possible down-regulation of ST13 in gastric and colorectal cancers. Further investigation of this gene at the physiological level would benefit our understanding of diseases such as endocrinological disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration commonly associated with protein misfolding.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Folding ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology

This study was aimed to shed light on the biological and pharmaceutical characterization of the complexes of FUS1/hIL-12 double gene with cationic liposome, and to assess such complexes' transfection efficiency, stability and cytotoxicity; for they have the potential for use as drugs in gene therapy of lung cancer. Gel retardation assay, diameter measurement, and surface charge by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) were employed to select the appropriate ratio of "cationic liposome to DNA" of the double-gene and liposome complexes. The plasmid EGFP and plasmid PVITO2-hIL12-FUS1 mediated by cationic liposome were transfected into A549 lung cancer cells respectively, and the expression levels of EGFP and FUS1 and hIL-12 were determined by inverted fluorescence microscope and immunohistochemical and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed to detect the stability of the double-gene and liposome complexes, after they were incubated with serum and Dnase I respectively. After the erythrocytes being incubated with the complexes of FUS1/hIL-12 with cationic liposome, the morphology of erythrocyte was observed by microscopy. The result of this study provides a basis for the use of the complexes of FUS1/hIL-12 with cationic liposome in gene therapy of lung cancer.
Cations ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Transfection ; methods ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; drug effects ; Small Molecule Libraries ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo report the clinical characterization of a large Chinese kindred with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and to evaluate the role of VHL genetic testing in diagnosis of VHL disease and clinical screening for members in VHL disease family.

METHODSA large kindred with VHL disease was studied. DNA extracted from peripheral blood was amplified by PCR to three exons of VHL gene in 27 members. PCR products were directly sequenced. The data on involvement of multi-organs in the VHL disease kindred were obtained by medical history taking and radiography.

RESULTSThere were 47 members in the four generations of the Chinese VHL kindred; among them, 18 members were patients with diagnostically proven VHL disease. Their clinical manifestations included: central nervous system(CNS) hemangioblastoma (n=5), renal cell carcinomas and CNS hemangioblastoma (n=3), renal cell carcinomas and retinal angiomas (n=3), renal cell carcinomas and multiple pancreatic cysts (n=1), renal cell carcinomas and retinal angiomas and multiple pancreatic cysts (n=2), renal cell carcinomas and CNS hemangioblastomas and multiple pancreatic cysts (n=1), and multiple pancreatic cysts and multiple renal cysts (n=1), and multiple pancreatic cysts (n=2). The common lesions of 18 patients in the large kindred were: renal cell carcinomas (56%), CNS hemangioblastomas(50%),retinal angiomas(28%), and multiple pancreatic cysts(39%). Of the 27 members who volunteered for genetic analysis, all 11 affected family patients who are still alive, including 9 affected family patients and 2 asymptomatic patients, presented a codon 78 from Asn to Ser change at nucleotide 446(A to G) in exon 1. Four members were carriers with the same VHL gene mutation. Two asymptomatic cases were initially diagnosed by genetic testing and subsequently confirmed by radiological imaging and surgery. Members not having the gene mutation had no clinical evidence of VHL disease.

CONCLUSIONThe large Chinese kindred with VHL disease was classified as type . The main characteristics of the kindred are higher incidence of renal cell carcinomas and lower incidence of retinal angiomas. The genetic testing played an important role in early detecting asymptomatic patients and the carriers in clinical screening for members in the VHL families. Also, it is important to prevent the transmission of VHL disease to the offspring in the kindred.

Base Sequence ; China ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and significance of apoptosis-related protein p53, Bcl-2, and Bax during the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODSThe expression was observed in 10 normal oral epithelia, 48 dysplasia epithelia and 42 SCC by immunohistochemical evaluation.

RESULTSIn normal mucosa, the positive rate of p53, Bcl-2 and Bax were 0%, 20% and 60%. In dysplasia epithelia, the positive rate of p53 is increased (P < 0.05), the positive rate of Bcl-2 and Bax remained no significant change (P > 0.05), but the positive intensity in severe dysplasia was higher than in mild group. In SCC, the positive rate of Bcl-2 increased significantly (compared with dysplasia, P < 0.05), while the expression of Bax was decreased with the increase of SCC histological grade. Further analysis showed the correlation was evident in p53 and Bax in dysplasia, and in p53 and Bcl-2 in SCC.

CONCLUSIONSIn dysplasia, p53 gene mutation results in accumulation of dysplasia cells. In SCC, the cooperation of p53, Bcl-2 and Bax results in the progression of SCC. Apoptosis genes could work either independently or cooperatively.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemistry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mouth Mucosa ; chemistry ; pathology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a key regulator of cell division in eukaryotic cells. In this short review, we briefly summarized the well-established functions modulated by Plk1 during mitosis. Beyond mitosis, we focused mainly on the unexpected processes in which Plk1 emerges as a critical player, including microtubule dynamics, DNA replication, chromosome dynamics, p53 regulation, and recovery from the G2 DNA-damage checkpoint. Our discussion is mainly based on the critical substrates targeted by Plk1 during these cellular events and the functional significance associated with each phosphorylation event.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Chromosomes ; metabolism ; DNA Replication ; Humans ; Microtubules ; metabolism ; Mitosis ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

In recent years, human cancer genome projects provide unprecedented opportunities for the discovery of cancer genes and signaling pathways that contribute to tumor development. While numerous gene mutations can be identified from each cancer genome, what these mutations mean for cancer is a challenging question to address, especially for those from less understood putative new cancer genes. As a powerful approach, in silico bioinformatics analysis could efficiently sort out mutations that are predicted to damage gene function. Such an analysis of human large tumor suppressor genes, LATS1 and LATS2, has been carried out and the results support a role of hLATS1//2 as negative growth regulators and tumor suppressors.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Humans ; LIM Domain Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mutation ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Phosphoproteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo discuss the value of P53mt and BCL-2 proteins in screening skin carcinoma due to arseniasis.

METHODSP53mt and BCL-2 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining. chi(2) test was used to analyze the difference of positive rate between two groups. Screening value of the two biomarkers was also evaluated through the analysis of relative indexes.

RESULTSPositive percentages of P53mt and BCL-2 in carcinoma group were 88.89% and 94.44% respectively, both were higher than those of 36.0% and 66.0% in non-carcinoma group (for P53mt, P < 0.01; for BCL-2, P < 0.05). ORs of P53mt and BCL-2 were 14.22 (2.93 - 68.97) and 8.76 (1.07 - 71.51), respectively. Youden's Index and specificity of P53mt were 0.529 and 64.0%, which were much higher than those of BCL-2. Serial tests improved the value of screening with Youden's Index 0.569, but parallel test lowered it to 0.244.

CONCLUSIONSP53mt and BCL-2 were practical biomarkers to screen skin carcinoma due to arseniasis, and the former was better than the latter. The value of screening can be improved by a series of tests.

Arsenic Poisoning ; complications ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mass Screening ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Skin ; chemistry ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism