Transcription factor Egr1 acts as an upstream regulator of beta-catenin signalling through up-regulation of TCF4 and p300 expression during trans-differentiation of endometrial carcinoma cells

The beta-catenin/TCF4/p300 pathway is involved in early signalling for trans-differentiation towards the morular phenotype of endometrial carcinoma cells, but little is known about the upstream regulators. Here we show that transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr1) acts as an initial mediator through up-regulating the expression of TCF4 and p300. In an endometrial carcinoma cell line with abundant oestrogen receptor alpha, Egr1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased by serum and 17beta-oestradiol stimuli. Serum-stimulated cells also showed increased expression of TCF4 and p300, while inhibition of Egr1 by specific siRNAs resulted in decreased expression. Transfection of Egr1 led to transactivation of TCF4 as well as p300 genes, through specific binding to a promoter region, and thus in turn resulted in nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin mediated by the up-regulating TCF4. The overexpression also caused inhibition of beta-catenin/TCF4/p300-mediated transcription, probably through sequestration of p300. Egr1 promoter activity was increased by serum but not 17beta-oestradiol, in contrast to the marked repression associated with TCF4, p300, and Egr1 itself, indicating that the regulation involves several feedback loops. In clinical samples, cells immunopositive for nuclear Egr1, as well as beta-catenin and TCF4, were found to be sporadically distributed in glandular components of endometrial carcinoma with morules. A significant positive correlation between nuclear beta-catenin and TCF4 was observed, but no such link was evident for Egr1, probably due to the existence of negative feedback regulation. Together, these data indicate that Egr1 may participate in modulation of the beta-catenin/TCF4/p300 signalling pathway as an initial event during trans-differentiation of endometrial carcinoma cells, through its impact on several signalling networks.

Polarization splay as the origin of modulation in the B1 and B7 smectic phases of bent-core molecules

We report a generalized scenario for the formation of modulated smectic phases of bent-core molecules based on locally ferroelectric layering and spontaneous splay of the polarization. Twelve phases are proposed, distinguished by neighboring splay stripes with either syn- or antiorder of the polarization and undulation slope, in addition to layer continuity versus layer discontinuity at the intervening defects. We outline the experimental techniques necessary to differentiate among the phases and interpret previous results in the present context, using high resolution x-ray scattering diffraction and block and undulation models of the layer organization to distinguish among the three 2D lattice types which emerge.

Genetic analysis of multifocal superficial urothelial cancers by array-based comparative genomic hybridisation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accumulation of genetic alterations during metachronous and/or synchronous development of multifocal low-grade superficial urothelial tumours in the same patient, by using array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (array-CGH) and FGFR mutation analysis. We analysed 24 tumours (pTa-1 G1-2) from five patients. We had previously identified a clonal relationship among the tumours of each patient by microsatellite analysis. This time, unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the tumours from each patient were clustered together independently of the tumours from the other patients. All of the tumours from a single patient showed a set of 2–7 identical regional or whole-arm chromosomal changes. In addition, several individual alterations were also found. Cladistic diagrams revealed that the accumulation of genetic alterations could not be explained by a linear model, and the existence of a hypothetical precursor cell was assumed in four patients. In some cases, FGFR mutation seemed to occur later during multifocal tumour development. Taken together, these findings suggest that low-grade superficial urothelial tumours accumulate minor genetic alterations during multifocal development, although these tumours are genetically stable.

Novel Immunosuppressant Agents Targeting Activated Lymphocytes by Biocompatible MPC Polymer Conjugated with Interleukin-2

The immunopharmacological profile of novel biocompatible water-soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2)-conjugated 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer immunosuppressive agents was established. MPC-co-n- butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-p-nitrophenylcarbonyloxyethyl methacrylate (NPMA) (PMBN) was prepared as a backbone for these novel agents. PMBN contained MPC as a biocompatible unit, BMA as a hydrophobic domain in water, and NPMA as an immobilizable unit with IL-2. This research showed that proliferation of cell lines with high-affinity IL-2 receptors derived from T cell malignancies were suppressed by the PMBN conjugated with IL-2 (PMBN-IL2 conjugate) incorporating paclitaxel (PTX) and cyclosporin A at lower concentrations than used conventionally. PMBN-IL2 conjugates incorporating PTX also inhibited the proliferation of responder cells in a human mixed lymphocyte culture at a lower concentration than unconjugated drug. However, PMBN-IL2 conjugates incorporating FK506 inhibited proliferation no more than FK506 alone. The PMBN-IL2 conjugate with PTX may therefore be useful for selectively eliminating activated lymphocytes that hyperproduce high-affinity IL-2 receptors. As an entirely human 'immunotoxin analogue' it may not be associated with the dose-limiting toxicity and immunogenicity of conventional immunotoxins.

Appearance of a liquid crystalline nematic-isotropic critical point in a mixture system of rod- and bent-shaped molecules

Heat capacity measurements have been made on a liquid-crystal mixture system formed from bent-shaped molecule 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4-8-alkoxyphenyliminomethyl)benzoates] (P-8-O-PIMB) and rod-shaped molecule n-pentyl-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). The obtained results can be understood assuming that the addition of P-8-O-PIMB molecules to the 5CB system affects as a field conjugate to the nematic order parameter. The B(X)-B(4) transition can be viewed as the nematic-isotropic transition of 5CB, which is embedded in a framework of the B(4) structure of P-8-O-PIMB molecules. The present mixture system offers a rare example of the nematic-isotropic critical point, whose critical behavior has not been studied yet in detail.

Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

We reported that p27 induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) may be involved in the progestin-induced growth suppression of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. This study aimed at investigating whether p27 expression could be a predicting marker to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA therapy. The clinical responses of 15 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with MPA were examined. p27 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Percentage of positive nuclear staining was expressed as a strongly positive (SP) labeling index (LI). Before MPA treatment, SP LIs in the effective and noneffective groups were 22.6 +/- 14.3% and 9.1 +/- 9.2%. At 1-6 weeks in the MPA treatment, SP LIs increased in both groups and were significantly higher than those before the therapy. At 7-12 weeks, SP LIs in both groups decreased to the level of pretherapy. At 13-18 weeks, SP LIs in the effective group were 14.9 +/- 5.7%, whereas in the noneffective group, 1.1 +/- 2.0%. The former was significantly higher than the latter. p27 expression could predict the effectiveness of MPA treatment for endometrial carcinoma at an early stage of the 4-month period in MPA therapy and could be a useful predicting marker for MPA.

Gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens by affecting the mucosal barrier in mice

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS

Controversy still exists as to whether gastrointestinal colonisation by Candida albicans contributes to aggravation of atopic dermatitis. We hypothesised that Candida colonisation promotes food allergy, which is known to contribute to a pathogenic response in atopic dermatitis. We tested this using a recently established murine Candida colonisation model.

METHODS

Candida colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract was established by intragastric inoculation with C albicans in mice fed a synthetic diet. To investigate sensitisation against food antigen, mice were intragastrically administered with ovalbumin every other day for nine weeks, and antiovalbumin antibody titres were measured weekly. To examine gastrointestinal permeation of food antigen, plasma concentrations of ovalbumin were measured following intragastric administration of ovalbumin.

RESULTS

Ovalbumin specific IgG and IgE titres were higher in BALB/c mice with Candida colonisation than in normal mice. Gastrointestinal permeation of ovalbumin was enhanced by colonisation in BALB/c mice. Histological examination showed that colonisation promoted infiltration and degranulation of mast cells. Candida colonisation did not enhance ovalbumin permeation in mast cell deficient W/Wv mice but did in congenic littermate control +/+ mice. Reconstitution of mast cells in W/Wv mice by transplantation of bone marrow derived mast cells restored the ability to increase ovalbumin permeation in response to Candida colonisation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens, at least partly due to mast cell mediated hyperpermeability in the gastrointestinal mucosa of mice.

Dicoumarol potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis mediated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase in p53 wild-type urogenital cancer cell lines

3-3'-Methylene-bis [4-hydroxycoumarin] (dicoumarol), an inhibitor of NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase 1, has been reported to possess potential antineoplastic effects and the ability to abrogate p53 protein. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of dicoumarol in combination with cisplatin (CDDP), using four bladder (RT112, 253J, J82 and UMUC3) and two prostate (LNCap and PC3) cancer cell lines. Single treatment with 100 microM dicoumarol suppressed cell proliferation but did not induce apoptosis at 24 h in all cell lines examined. On the other hand, pretreatment with dicoumarol enhanced cytotoxicity of CDDP in three cell lines with wild type of p53 (RT112, 253J and LNCap), but not in three other cell lines with mutant p53 or in RT112 stable transfectants with a dominant-negative mutant of p53. In RT112 and LNCap, CDDP induced p53 and p21 expression, while pretreatment of dicoumarol suppressed induction of p53/p21 and resulted in sequential activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK, using SP600125, completely suppressed activity of caspases and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, leading to suppression of enhancement of CDDP-mediated apoptosis by dicoumarol. These results suggested that dicoumarol could enhance cytotoxicity of CDDP in urogenital cancer cells with wild-type p53 through the p53/p21/JNK pathways.

Neuroendocrine features in poorly differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinomas of the endometrium

This study aimed to clarify neuroendocrine features (NEF) in poorly differentiated (G3) endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and to evaluate its prognostic significance. Forty cases with G3 carcinoma were investigated for NEF immunohistochemically. The histopathologic specimens were immunostained with chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and leu-7, using the labeled streptavidin-biotin method. The staining pattern was classified into diffuse, partial, or focal. The NEF was compared with clinicopathologic variables, including patients' survival. Chromogranin A was positive diffusely in 1 patient (2.5%), partially in 8 (20%), and focally in 13 (32.5%). Synaptophysin was positive diffusely in one (2.5%), partially in three (7.5%), and focally in nine (22.5%). Leu-7 was focally positive in 10 (25%) patients. The overall positive rate of the three neuroendocrine markers was 62.5%. A patient with diffusely positive staining for both chromogranin A and synaptophysin was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma. One or more neuroendocrine markers were positive in 25 cases (62.5%). Positive NEF was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters such as stage and myometrial invasion. The survival of the patients with positive NEF, especially with positive leu-7, was significantly lower than that without NEF. NEF was detected immunohistochemically in approximately 63% of the G3 carcinomas, and these patients had a poor prognosis.

An optical spectrum of the afterglow of a γ-ray burst at a redshift of z = 6.295

The prompt gamma-ray emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) should be detectable out to distances of z > 10 (ref. 1), and should therefore provide an excellent probe of the evolution of cosmic star formation, reionization of the intergalactic medium, and the metal enrichment history of the Universe. Hitherto, the highest measured redshift for a GRB has been z = 4.50 (ref. 5). Here we report the optical spectrum of the afterglow of GRB 050904 obtained 3.4 days after the burst; the spectrum shows a clear continuum at the long-wavelength end of the spectrum with a sharp cut-off at around 9,000 A due to Lyman alpha absorption at z approximately 6.3 (with a damping wing). A system of absorption lines of heavy elements at z = 6.295 +/- 0.002 was also detected, yielding the precise measurement of the redshift. The Si ii fine-structure lines suggest a dense, metal-enriched environment around the progenitor of the GRB.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the endometrium is a biologically distinct entity from endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the endometrium has a poor prognosis, although the biologic features of this rare tumor are not clear. In this study, we analyzed the expression of biologic markers relating to carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and progression. Thirteen cases of CCA were compared with cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EMA) of the endometrium. Immunohistochemical staining for p53; Ki-67; cyclins A, D1, and E; E-cadherin; progesterone receptor (PR)-A and PR-B; P-glycoprotein; MLH1; and MSH2 was performed. Labeling indices of p53, Ki-67, and cyclins A, D1, and E in CCA were 46.4 +/- 24.3%, 52.1 +/- 20.5%, 37.9 +/- 21.4%, 12.3 +/- 27.9%, and 8.2 +/- 22.9%, respectively. E-cadherin was expressed in only 1 case (7.7%) of CCA, as compared to 39 cases (61.0%) of EMA. No CCAs were positive for PR-A and PR-B. P-glycoprotein was detected in seven cases (53.8%). Loss of either MLH1 or MSH2 expression occurred in eight cases (61.5%). High-level expression of p53, cyclin A, and P-glycoprotein, and low-level or no expression of cyclin E, E-cadherin, PR-A, and PR-B was observed in CCA compared with EMA. The mechanism of cell-cycle regulation in endometrial CCA is different from that in EMA and may influence its malignant potential. Endometrial CCA is a distinct entity from EMA.

Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Watanabe J, Watanabe K, Jobo T, Kamata Y, Kawaguchi M, Imai M, Okayasu I, Kuramoto H. Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006;16(Suppl. 1): 452–457.

We reported that p27 induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) may be involved in the progestin-induced growth suppression of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. This study aimed at investigating whether p27 expression could be a predicting marker to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA therapy. The clinical responses of 15 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with MPA were examined. p27 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Percentage of positive nuclear staining was expressed as a strongly positive (SP) labeling index (LI). Before MPA treatment, SP LIs in the effective and noneffective groups were 22.6 ± 14.3% and 9.1 ± 9.2%. At 1–6 weeks in the MPA treatment, SP LIs increased in both groups and were significantly higher than those before the therapy. At 7–12 weeks, SP LIs in both groups decreased to the level of pretherapy. At 13–18 weeks, SP LIs in the effective group were 14.9 ± 5.7%, whereas in the noneffective group, 1.1 ± 2.0%. The former was significantly higher than the latter. p27 expression could predict the effectiveness of MPA treatment for endometrial carcinoma at an early stage of the 4-month period in MPA therapy and could be a useful predicting marker for MPA.

Angiopoietin-1, 2 and Tie2 expressions in endometrial adenocarcinoma--the Ang2 dominant balance up-regulates tumor angiogenesis in the presence of VEGF

We investigated Ang1, Ang2 and Tie2 expressions including balance and intratumoral vessels in the role of angiogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 133 patients with endometrial (endometrioid) adenocarcinoma, including 73 with G1, 34 with G2, and 26 with G3. The levels of Ang1, Ang2 and Tie2 expressions were expressed as staining score. Total vessel count (TVC), microvessel count (MVC) and mean vessel diameter (VD) in the CD34-stained tissues were measured in five hot spot areas at x 200 magnification by image cytometry. These results were compared with high and low vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions. Ang1, Ang2, Tie2 and CD34 were expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. A significant correlation was found among Ang1, Ang2 and Tie2 expressions. In high VEGF cases, Ang1 expression was correlated negatively with TVC and MVC, but positively with VD, and the Angl < Ang2 group was significantly higher in TVC and MVC and tended to be smaller in VD than the Ang1 > Ang2 group. VD was significantly larger in G3 than in G1. The Ang1 < Ang2 balance may be one of the key factors for angiogenesis of endometrial carcinoma in the presence of high VEGF expression.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate stimulates cdk inhibitors, p21 and p27, in endometrial carcinoma cells transfected with progesterone receptor-B cDNA

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

Progestin is reported to suppress the growth of endometrial carcinomas, although its precise mechanism of action is not clear. This study aimed to transfect progesterone receptor-B (PRB) cDNA into endometrial carcinoma cells and investigate the effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on cell growth, and p21 and p27 expression in the transfectant.

METHODS

Immunoblotting for p21 and p27 was performed at predetermined times after the administration of MPA.

RESULTS

PR expression was maximally induced in Ishikawa cells at 24 hrs after the transfection. At 1 x 10(-6) M, MPA suppressed the growth of the transfectant by 34% on day 6 and stimulated p21 accumulation at 48 to 72 hrs and p27 accumulation at 48 to 96 hrs after its administration. PRB cDNA was effectively transfected and in the transfectant MPA at 1 x 10(-6) M, the dosage suppressing growth, induced p21 and p27expression.

CONCLUSION

p21 and p27 may be related to progesterone-induced growth suppression in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Subaru Telescope Observations of Deep Impact

The impact cratering process on a comet is controversial but holds the key for interpreting observations of the Deep Impact collision with comet 9P/Tempel 1. Mid-infrared data from the Cooled Mid-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (COMICS) of the Subaru Telescope indicate that the large-scale dust plume ejected by the impact contained a large mass (approximately 10(6) kilograms) of dust and formed two wings approximately +/-45 degrees from the symmetric center, both consistent with gravity as the primary control on the impact and its immediate aftermath. The dust distribution in the inner part of the plume, however, is inconsistent with a pure gravity control and implies that evaporation and expansion of volatiles accelerated dust.

Deep Impact: observations from a worldwide Earth-based campaign

On 4 July 2005, many observatories around the world and in space observed the collision of Deep Impact with comet 9P/Tempel 1 or its aftermath. This was an unprecedented coordinated observational campaign. These data show that (i) there was new material after impact that was compositionally different from that seen before impact; (ii) the ratio of dust mass to gas mass in the ejecta was much larger than before impact; (iii) the new activity did not last more than a few days, and by 9 July the comet's behavior was indistinguishable from its pre-impact behavior; and (iv) there were interesting transient phenomena that may be correlated with cratering physics.