Correlation of TGF beta 1 overexpression with down-regulation of proliferation-inducing molecules in HPV-11 transformed human tissue xenografts

The epidemiologic association of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with dysplasia and cervical cancer is well established. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) has regulatory effects on a broad spectrum of cell types and is a growth inhibitory protein for epithelial cells. To examine the phenotype of experimentally generated, HPV-11 transformed human tissues, we looked at expression of TGF beta 1 and a number of proliferation-enhancing molecules which are known to be regulated by TGF beta 1, including bcl-2, c-myc, c-Ha-ras, c-jun and NFkB. HPV-11 transformed xenografts showed up-regulation of TGF beta 1 expression and down-regulation of the expression levels of bcl-2, c-myc, c-Ha-ras, c-jun and NFkB. These results suggest that TGF beta 1 may exert antiproliferative effects on HPV-11 transformed papillomas by down-regulating different proliferation-enhancing molecules.

Academic surgeons, take heart: the story of a student, his mentor, and the discovery of the etiology of angina pectoris

Edward Jenner is renowned for developing a vaccination for smallpox. He trained as a surgeon and was an ardent anatomist and naturalist. Part of his formal training was directed by John Hunter, the father of scientific surgery. Jenner diagnosed Hunter as suffering from angina pectoris and correctly identified the cause of angina pectoris from a series of autopsies he conducted. After Hunter died during an altercation in committee, his postmortem examination proved Jenner correct. Jenner can be recognized as the first to correctly ascribe the etiology of angina pectoris to coronary atherosclerosis.