High-level mRNA quantification of proliferation marker pKi-67 is correlated with favorable prognosis in colorectal carcinoma

Antiproliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Polyphenols Phloretin and Balsacone C in a Coculture of T Cells and Psoriatic Keratinocytes

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease causing red inflamed lesions covered by scales. Leukocytes, including dendritic cells and T cells, participate in the inflammation of the skin by producing multiple cytokines, thus contributing to the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Lack of effectiveness and toxic side effects are the main concerns with conventional treatments, and research involving new antipsoriatic molecules is essential. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of two natural polyphenols, phloretin and balsacone C, were investigated using the coculture of T cells and psoriatic keratinocytes. Phloretin exerted antiproliferative activity by regulating the expression of antigen Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). These effects were comparable to those of methotrexate, a reference treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. With balsacone C, the expression of Ki67 was also reduced. Additionally, phloretin decreased the levels of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines: monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The increased interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels with phloretin and methotrexate also represented anti-inflammatory activity. Balsacone C and methotrexate decreased the levels of IL-1α and IL-1β, but methotrexate exerted a higher reduction. In summary, the anti-inflammatory effects of phloretin were more pronounced than those of methotrexate and balsacone C. In addition, the expression of lymphocyte common antigen (CD45) was more similar to that of the healthy condition after using phloretin or methotrexate. Finally, phloretin stood out from the other compounds and appears promising for psoriasis treatment.

Impact of cisplatin administration on cerebellar cortical structure and locomotor activity of infantile and juvenile albino rats: the role of oxidative stress

The central neurotoxicity of cisplatin (CisPt) has always raised questions especially during development, but few studies are available. Hence, this work was designed to assess the CisPt's impacts on the postnatal rat cerebellum via evaluation of locomotor activity, histological and immunohistochemical studies, and to focus on cerebellar oxidative stress-related alterations. Eighty newborn pups were divided into 2 equal experimental groups: the control group was kept without any treatment and CisPt-treated group received a single subcutaneous injection of CisPt (5 μg /g b.w.) in their nape at PD10. Ten rats at PD11, PD17, and PD30 ages were weighed, then deeply anesthetized and sacrificed. For locomotor assessment, 20 pups were divided equally into control and CisPt-treated groups and tested at PD11-13, PD15-17, and PD28-30 ages. CisPt-treated rats suffered from decreased motor activity and showed decreased body and cerebellar weights, reduced levels of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and CAT), and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense (GSH), and increase of lipid peroxidation marker (MDA). Histopathologically, CisPt sowed deleterious changes within cerebellar cortical layers in the form of vacuolations, decreased thickness, and hemorrhage (in PD17), while Purkinje cells exhibited profound degenerative changes in the form of swelling, disrupted arrangement, distortion, and nuclear shrinkage. In CisPt-treated rats, GFAP demonstrated upregulated, hypertrophied, and branched Bergmann glial fibers and reactive astrogliosis. Immuno-localization of Ki-67-positive cells revealed defective migration associated with decreased proliferation in early ages in addition to glial proliferation in PD30. In conclusion, CisPt causes oxidative stress-related deleterious effects on structure of developing cerebellar cortex and affects locomotor activity.

Hepatic Tumor Cell Morphology Plasticity under Physical Constraints in 3D Cultures Driven by YAP-mTOR Axis

Recent studies undoubtedly show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the Hippo–Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) pathways are important mediators of mechanical cues. The crosstalk between these pathways as well as de-regulation of their signaling has been implicated in multiple tumor types, including liver tumors. Additionally, physical cues from 3D microenvironments have been identified to alter gene expression and differentiation of different cell lineages. However, it remains incompletely understood how physical constraints originated in 3D cultures affect cell plasticity and what the key mediators are of such process. In this work, we use collagen scaffolds as a model of a soft 3D microenvironment to alter cellular size and study the mechanotransduction that regulates that process. We show that the YAP-mTOR axis is a downstream effector of 3D cellular culture-driven mechanotransduction. Indeed, we found that cell mechanics, dictated by the physical constraints of 3D collagen scaffolds, profoundly affect cellular proliferation in a YAP–mTOR-mediated manner. Functionally, the YAP–mTOR connection is key to mediate cell plasticity in hepatic tumor cell lines. These findings expand the role of YAP–mTOR-driven mechanotransduction to the control hepatic tumor cellular responses under physical constraints in 3D cultures. We suggest a tentative mechanism, which coordinates signaling rewiring with cytoplasmic restructuring during cell growth in 3D microenvironments.

Effect of cancer/testis antigen NY-SAR-35 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells

NY-SAR-35 is a cancer/testis (CT) antigen that was identified by serological analysis of recombinant complementary DNA expression libraries. The gene encoding NY-SAR-35 is located on the × chromosome and is aberrantly expressed in a number of cancer types and germ cells, such as those in the testes, but not in normal tissue. It has been reported that treatment with a demethylating agent induced the expression of NY-SAR-35 in several types of cancer cells. However, the function of NY-SAR-35 in cancer remains undetermined. In present study, the role of NY-SAR-35 in human lung adenocarcinoma (SK-LC-14) and hepatocellular carcinoma (SNU-449) cells was investigated following stable transfection of the NY-SAR-35 gene. NY-SAR-35 was observed to be expressed in the cytoplasm of the cells. In addition, the bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay and immunofluorescence staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 demonstrated that proliferation was increased in cells transfected with NY-SAR-35. In addition, the trypan blue exclusion assay indicated that NY-SAR-35 increased cancer cell viability. Furthermore, NY-SAR-35 increased the migration and invasion of the cells. These results indicate that NY-SAR-35 increases cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion.

Molecular biomarkers of cell proliferation in ameloblastomas

Cell proliferation is a vital biological process that is important for all living organisms because of its role in growth and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The control of this important process differs greatly among benign and malignant neoplasms, and the evaluation of cell proliferation in neoplasms has become a common tool used by pathologists to provide useful information pertaining to diagnosis, clinical behavior, and treatment. The usefulness of information regarding cell proliferation has led to numerous studies on the value of these methods for diagnosing different types of tumors and for clinical decision making. Ameloblastomas are no exception. This review discusses the use of several classical molecular proliferation markers, including Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1 and DNA topoisomerase II alpha, to characterize ameloblastomas and proposes the use of new proliferation markers used previously to characterize other neoplasms. The use of these biomarkers offers valuable opportunities to evaluate the biological behavior of this type of odontogenic tumor.

Comparison of the value of PCNA and Ki-67 as markers of cell proliferation in ameloblastic tumors

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare among PCNAand Ki-67 as the most reliable immunohistochemical marker for evaluating cell proliferation in ameloblastic tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational, retrospective, and descriptive study of a large series of ameloblastic tumors, composed of 161 ameloblastomas and four ameloblastic carcinomas, to determine and compare PCNA and Ki-67 expression using immunohistochemistry techniques.

RESULTS

When analyzing Ki-67 positivity, the desmoplastic ameloblastoma demonstrated a significantly lower proliferation rate (1.9%) compared with the solid/multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas and ameloblastic carcinomas (p<0.05), whereas the ameloblastic carcinomas displayed a significantly higher rate compared with all of the other ameloblastomas (48.7%) (p<0.05). When analyzing cell proliferation with PCNA, we found significant differences only between the ameloblastic carcinomas (93.3%) and the desmoplastic ameloblastomas (p<0.05). When differences between the immunopositivity for PCNA and Ki-67 were compared, the percentages were higher for PCNA in all types of ameloblastomas and ameloblastic carcinomas. In all cases, the percentages were greater than 80%, whereas the immunopositivity for Ki-67 was significantly lower; for example, the ameloblastic carcinoma expressed the highest positivity and only reached 48.7%, compared to 93.3% when we used PCNA.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, when we used the proliferation cell marker Ki-67, the percentages of positivity were more specific and varied among the different types of ameloblastomas, suggesting that Ki-67 is a more specific marker for the proliferation of ameloblastic tumor cells.

Multiplexed detection of mRNA using porosity-tuned hydrogel microparticles

Transcriptional profiling, which is directly or indirectly associated with expressed protein levels, has been used in various applications including clinical prognosis and pharmaceutical investigation of drug activities. Although the widely used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allows for the quantification of absolute amounts of mRNA (mRNA) from inputs as small as a single cell, it is an indirect detection method that requires the amplification of cDNA copies of target mRNAs. Here, we report the quantification of unmodified full-length transcripts, using poly(ethylene) glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microparticles synthesized via stop flow lithography (SFL). We show that PEG600 serves as an effective porogen to allow for the capture of large (∼1000-3700 nt long) mRNAs. Our relatively simple hydrogel-based mRNA detection scheme uses a multibiotinylated universal label probe and provides assay performance (limit of detection of ∼6 amol of an in-vitro-transcribed model target) comparable to an existing commercial bead-based technology that uses branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification. We also demonstrate a 3-plex mRNA detection, without cross-reactivity, using shape-encoded "intraplex" hydrogel microparticles. Our ability to tune the porosity of encoded hydrogel microparticles expands the utility of this platform to now quantify biomacromolecules ranging in size from large mRNAs to small miRNAs.

Helicobacter pylori in Thai patients with cholangiocarcinoma and its association with biliary inflammation and proliferation

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether Helicobacter spp. infection and the cagA of H. pylori are associated with hepatobiliary pathology, specifically biliary inflammation, cell proliferation and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODS

Helicobacter species including H. pylori, H. bilis and H. hepaticus were detected in the specimens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Biliary inflammation of the liver and gallbladders was semi-quantitatively graded on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides. Biliary proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the Ki-67-labelling index.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori was found in 66.7%, 41.5% and 25.0% of the patients in the CCA, cholelithiasis and control groups (P < 0.05), respectively. By comparison, H. bilis was found in 14.9% and 9.4% of the patients with CCA and cholelithiasis, respectively (P > 0.05), and was absent in the control group. The cagA gene of H. pylori was detected in 36.2% and 9.1% of the patients with CCA and cholelithiasis, respectively (P < 0.05). Among patients with CCA, cell inflammation and proliferation in the liver and gallbladder were significantly higher among those DNA H. pylori positive than negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that H. pylori, especially the cagA-positive strains, may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary diseases, especially CCA through enhanced biliary cell inflammation and proliferation.

[(18)F]FLT: an imaging biomarker of tumour proliferation for assessment of tumour response to treatment

The paradigm of drug development is shifting towards early use of imaging biomarkers as surrogate end-points in clinical trials. Quantitative Imaging in Cancer: Connecting Cellular Processes (QuIC-ConCePT) is an initiative to qualify complementary imaging biomarkers (IB) of proliferation, cell death and tumour heterogeneity as possible tools in early phase clinical trials to help pharmaceutical developers in 'go, no-go' decisions early in the process of drug development. One of the IBs is [(18)F]3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine with Positron Emission Tomography (FLT-PET). We review results of recent clinical trials using FLT-PET for monitoring tumour response to drug treatment and discuss the potential and the possible pitfalls of using this IB as a surrogate end-point in early phase clinical trials for assessing tumour response to drug treatment. From first human trial results it seems that the degree of FLT accumulation in tumours is governed not only by the tumour proliferation rate but also by other factors. Nevertheless FLT-PET could potentially be used as a negative predictor of tumour response to chemotherapy, and hence evaluation of this IB is granted in multi-centre clinical trials.

Helicobacter pylori in Thai patients with cholangiocarcinoma and its association with biliary inflammation and proliferation

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether Helicobacter spp. infection and the cagA of H. pylori are associated with hepatobiliary pathology, specifically biliary inflammation, cell proliferation and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODS

Helicobacter species including H. pylori, H. bilis and H. hepaticus were detected in the specimens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Biliary inflammation of the liver and gallbladders was semi-quantitatively graded on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides. Biliary proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the Ki-67-labelling index.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori was found in 66.7%, 41.5% and 25.0% of the patients in the CCA, cholelithiasis and control groups (P < 0.05), respectively. By comparison, H. bilis was found in 14.9% and 9.4% of the patients with CCA and cholelithiasis, respectively (P > 0.05), and was absent in the control group. The cagA gene of H. pylori was detected in 36.2% and 9.1% of the patients with CCA and cholelithiasis, respectively (P < 0.05). Among patients with CCA, cell inflammation and proliferation in the liver and gallbladder were significantly higher among those DNA H. pylori positive than negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that H. pylori, especially the cagA-positive strains, may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary diseases, especially CCA through enhanced biliary cell inflammation and proliferation.

The accuracy of survival time prediction for patients with glioma is improved by measuring mitotic spindle checkpoint gene expression

Identification of gene expression changes that improve prediction of survival time across all glioma grades would be clinically useful. Four Affymetrix GeneChip datasets from the literature, containing data from 771 glioma samples representing all WHO grades and eight normal brain samples, were used in an ANOVA model to screen for transcript changes that correlated with grade. Observations were confirmed and extended using qPCR assays on RNA derived from 38 additional glioma samples and eight normal samples for which survival data were available. RNA levels of eight major mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) genes (BUB1, BUB1B, BUB3, CENPE, MAD1L1, MAD2L1, CDC20, TTK) significantly correlated with glioma grade and six also significantly correlated with survival time. In particular, the level of BUB1B expression was highly correlated with survival time (p<0.0001), and significantly outperformed all other measured parameters, including two standards; WHO grade and MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index. Measurement of the expression levels of a small set of SAC genes may complement histological grade and other clinical parameters for predicting survival time.

Mouse trophoblastic cells exhibit a dominant invasiveness phenotype over cancer cells

Invasion process occurs both in mammalian embryo implantation during development and malignant cancer cell metastasis. We investigated the interactions between trophoblasts and metastatic cancer cells and found the phenomenon that mouse trophoblastic cells invaded the monolayer of malignant cancer cells in vitro and appeared the general trait of invasiveness to more than 30 types of malignant cancer cell lines which were derived from different histological origins and with different invasive or metastatic potential. We further investigated the cellular and molecular changes in the process of mouse trophoblastic cells invading human ovarian cancer HO-8910 cells. The results show that the invasion of trophoblastic cells lead HO-8910 cells near mouse embryo to apoptosis, and expression of cell-cycle-related protein cyclinD1 and Ki-67 mRNA were steadily remained both in mouse blastocysts and human ovarian cancer HO-8910 cells, which in part explain the proliferation activities of these cells. Our study also shows that expression of some proteins including MMP-9, FAK and Integrinαvβ3 was changeable in trophoblastic cells and HO-8910 cells in the process of blastocyst invasion, which suggested temporal expression of these molecules may involved in the invasive behavior of trophoblasts cells to cancer cells.

Is Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR an Adjunct to Immunohistochemistry for the Evaluation of ErbB2 Status in Transitional Carcinoma of the Bladder?

OBJECTIVE

To test different approaches of evaluation of the ErbB2 status in a large series of human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder with the prospect of finding targeted therapies.

METHODS

ErbB2 status of 73 human TCC samples was analyzed by both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and by quantification of mRNA levels of expression using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Additionally, 18 bladder samples were studied for ERBB2 gene amplification by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

Twenty-five tumors (34.2%) overexpressed ERBB2 mRNA compared to normal bladder samples; this alteration appeared in low-grade and low-stage tumors (pTaG1). Twenty-four (32.9%) tumors showed moderate (++) or strong (+++) immunostaining. A very strong agreement was found between the two methods (kappa = 0.97, 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1). ErbB2 status was not associated with tumor stage. Of the 18 bladder samples tested for ERBB2 gene amplification, only one showed ERBB2 DNA amplification.

CONCLUSIONS

ErbB2 overexpression occurs in about one third of bladder TCCs. This overexpression can be detected by RT-PCR with a very good correlation with IHC. RT-PCR can therefore be used for cases considered doubtful on IHC rather than gene amplification studies because, in TCC, gene amplification is not the predominant mechanism of both mRNA and protein overexpression. Accurate quantification of ErbB2 status is mandatory for the use of anti-ErbB2-targeted therapies in bladder TCC.