Mitogen and stress- activated protein kinase regulated gene expression in cancer cells

The mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinases activated by the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and/or stress-activated protein kinase 2/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways are recruited to the regulatory region of a subset of genes termed immediate-early genes, often leading to their induction. These genes, many of which code for transcription factors, have been directly linked to the phenotypic events in carcinogenesis. In this paper, we focus on the mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinases; their discovery, activation, H3 phosphorylation and recent discoveries in their roles in cancer.

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary masquerading as a mucinous adenocarcinoma: a frozen section pitfall

Sertoli-Leydig cells tumors are rare ovarian neoplasms that can be managed with conservative resection given their generally excellent prognosis. Here we report a case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor mistakenly diagnosed as an invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma at time of intraoperative consultation because of its blue-mucinous appearance in the frozen section material. The patient subsequently underwent an extensive staging procedure revealing unilateral, ovarian confined disease. The mucinous features seen on frozen section were lost on the slides prepared from formalin fixed tissues. Immunohistochemical work up confirmed the diagnosis of a pure Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. No heterologous elements were identified in this tumor. This case illustrates a hitherto unrecognized frozen section pitfall in evaluation of ovarian neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well documented case of pure Sertoli-Leydig cells tumor which resembled a well differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma during frozen section.

Germ cells regulate 3-hydroxybutyrate production in rat Sertoli cells

Paracrine regulation of Sertoli cell function by germ cells is an outstanding characteristic of testicular physiology. It has been demonstrated that Sertoli cells produce ketone bodies and that germ cells may use them as energy source. The aim of the study was to analyze a possible regulation by germ cells of ketogenesis in Sertoli cells. Cultures of Sertoli cells (SC) obtained from 31-day-old rats were co-cultured with germ cells (GC). The results presented herein show that the presence of GC stimulated 3-hydroxybutyrate production and increased mRNA levels of two enzymes involved in ketogenesis-carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) and mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (mHMGCoA) synthase- in SC. Additionally, GC increased monocarboxylate transporter 4 (Mct4) expression in SC, a transporter involved in ketone bodies exit. To evaluate if the observed effects might be mediated by soluble factors, SC cultures were incubated with germinal cell-conditioned medium (GCCM) or with two growth factors, bFGF and IGF1, which are known to be secreted by GC. We observed that GCCM and bFGF stimulated ketone bodies production but that IGF1 did not modify it. Also, we observed that GCCM and bFGF increased Cpt1a and Mct4 mRNA levels. In summary, results presented herein demonstrate that Sertoli cells are able to produce ketone bodies and that its production is regulated in a paracrine way by germ cells. This study adds new information about communication between Sertoli cells and developing germ cells.