Impact of variant histology on upstaging and survival in patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Variant histology (VH) of urothelial carcinoma is uncommon and frequently presents at the muscle-invasive stage. VH is considering a significant risk factor for progression among patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). While there is some debate, expert opinion is generally that upfront radical cystectomy (RC) should be consider for these patients. Limited data exists to support this position. In this study, we sought to examine the rate of upstaging and overall survival for patients with VH NMIBC against patients with pure urothelial NMIBC who underwent RC, to help clarify the optimal treatment strategy for these patients.

METHODS

The institutional REDCap database was utilized to identify all patients with T1 and Ta bladder cancer that underwent RC over the study period (2004-2022). Matched-pair analysis was performed between patients with VH and pure urothelial NMIBC; 42 pairs were matched on prior intravesical therapy, presence of muscularis propria on transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), any carcinoma in situ presence on prior TURBTs, and final tumor staging on TURBT. The primary outcomes of interest were pathologic tumor upstaging rate at RC and overall survival. Secondary outcomes of interest included association of demographic or pretreatment variables with upstaging, and upstaging rates for specific variant histologies.

RESULTS

Patients with VH NMIBC undergoing RC were upstaged at a significantly higher rate than a matched cohort of patients with pure urothelial NMIBC (73.8% vs. 52.4%, P = 0.0244) and among those upstaged, had significantly higher rates of pT3 to pT4 (54.7% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.0088). Rate of node positivity at RC for VH NMIBC was also higher compared to pure urothelial NMIBC (40.5% vs. 21.4%, P = 0.0389). Among histologic variants, patients with plasmacytoid and sarcomatoid subtypes demonstrated the highest rates of upstaging; differences were not statistically significant. The overall median survival was 28.4 months for patients with VH after RC compared to 155.1 months for patients with pure urothelial NMIBC (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Patients with VH NMIBC undergoing RC are at significantly higher risk of upstaging at RC when compared to patients with pure urothelial NMIBC and have worse overall survival. While this study supports the concept of an aggressive treatment approach for patients with VH NMIBC, improvements in understanding of the disease are necessary to improve outcomes.

A retrospective analysis of 335 Japanese lung cancer patients who responded to initial gefitinib treatment

BACKGROUND

Gefitinib treatment results in considerably better progression-free survival compared with that of platinum doublets in the first line treatment of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying an activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. Some patients who respond to gefitinib have an overall survival (OS) of more than 5 years, whereas other initial responders do less well. Although there has been considerable effort made to elucidate the mechanisms of acquired resistance, there have only been a few studies that addressed the effect of clinical backgrounds and treatment histories on the survival of the patients who had responded to an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). In this study, we especially focused on the clinical benefit of EGFR-TKI administration after progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who were diagnosed before October 2010, treated with gefitinib after July 2002, and responded to it. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how clinical backgrounds and treatment histories influence survival of the patients who respond to gefitinib. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the safety of long-term gefitinib use and to establish the optimal treatment sequence using a dynamic treatment regimen analysis (DTRA).

RESULTS

A total of 335 patients were recruited. Twenty-eight (8.4%) patients survived more than 5 years. Sixty-five and 93 patients received gefitinib as rechallenge and beyond progressive disease (BPD), respectively. A statistically significant difference in OS was observed between the patients who underwent gefitinib rechallenge and those who did not rechallenge (median: 1272 days vs. 774 days; p < 0.001), a result supported by a DTRA. Patients treated with gefitinib BPD also showed a tendency of longer survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Gefitinib rechallenge and BPD played a central role in long term survival of the patients who initially responded to gefitinib.

Improvement of anti-Hu-associated paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy after chemoradiotherapy in a small cell lung cancer patient

A 66-year-old man developed progressive painful dysesthesia in his hands and feet over 3 months. His vibration sense was impaired and sensory nerve action potentials of the limbs were not evoked. Biopsy of the peroneal nerve revealed sensory neuropathy. Positive anti-Hu antibody facilitated delineation of a right hilar mass and a metastatic lymph node in thoracic CT scan. He was diagnosed as small cell lung cancer associated with paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy. A complete response was achieved through chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) and subsequent radiation therapy. Notably, his neurological conditions, although not changed during the hospitalization, gradually improved afterwards.

Gene therapy utilizing the Cre/loxP system selectively suppresses tumor growth of disseminated carcinoembryonic antigen-producing cancer cells

Recent clinical trials of cancer gene therapy have shown encouraging results for controlling localized tumors. However, to control metastatic or disseminated tumor cells, further modification of vectors is required to enhance specificity and infectivity against targets. We investigated whether utilization of the Cre recombinase(Cre)/loxP system contributes to enhanced antitumor effects together with minimal adverse reactions in specific gene therapy against disseminated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice. CEA-producing cancer would be a good therapeutic target because it is found in lung, stomach and colon sites, which account for most cancers. We constructed a pair of recombinant adenoviral vectors (Ads), one of which expresses the Cre gene under the control of the CEA promoter (Ad.CEA-Cre); the other expresses the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene (Ad.lox-TK), or the beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal) by Cre (Ad.lox-beta-gal). Intraperitoneal coinjection of Ad.CEA-Cre and Ad.lox-beta-gal into mice with peritonitis carcinomatosa by CEA-producing tumor cells showed selective expression of the beta-gal gene in tumor foci. Coinfection of Ad.CEA-Cre and Ad.lox-TK followed by ganciclovir (GCV) administration significantly suppressed the total tumor weight in the peritoneal cavity of the mice to 13% of that of the untreated mice and 22% of that of the mice treated with Ad.CEA-TK/GCV, an Ad that expressed the HSV-TK gene driven by the CEA promoter alone. Moreover, treatment with Ad.CEA-Cre and Ad.lox-TK/GCV completely suppressed tumors in 4 of 10 (40%) mice without significant weight loss, although 2 of 10 mice treated with Ad.CAG-TK/GCV, an adenovirus vector that strongly but nonspecifically expressed the TK gene, died due to severe side effects including diarrhea, weight loss and liver dysfunction. These findings suggest that cell type-specific gene therapy using the Cre/loxP system is effective against disseminated cancer cells without significant side effects.

PTEN mutation, EGFR amplification, and outcome in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme

BACKGROUND

Survival of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma is highly variable. Prognostic markers would thus be useful to identify clinical subsets of such patients. Because specific genetic alterations have been associated with glioblastoma, we investigated whether similar genetic alterations could be detected in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and used to identify those with particularly aggressive disease.

METHODS

Tissue specimens were collected from 174 patients enrolled in Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and North Central Cancer Treatment Group clinical trials for newly diagnosed gliomas, including 63 with anaplastic astrocytoma and 111 with glioblastoma multiforme. Alterations of the EGFR, PTEN, and p53 genes and of chromosomes 7 and 10 were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction, and DNA sequencing. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Mutation of PTEN, amplification of EGFR, and loss of the q arm of chromosome 10 were statistically significantly less common in anaplastic astrocytoma than in glioblastoma multiforme (P =.033, P =.001, and P<.001, respectively), and mutation of p53 was statistically significantly more common (P<.001). Univariate survival analyses of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma identified PTEN (P =.002) and p53 (P =.012) mutations as statistically significantly associated with reduced and prolonged survival, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma showed that PTEN mutation remained a powerful prognostic factor after adjusting for patient age, on-study performance score, and extent of tumor resection (hazard ratio = 4.34; 95% confidence interval = 1.82 to 10.34). Multivariate classification and regression-tree analysis of all 174 patients identified EGFR amplification as an independent predictor of prolonged survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme who were older than 60 years of age.

CONCLUSION

PTEN mutation and EGFR amplification are important prognostic factors in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and in older patients with glioblastoma multiforme, respectively.

Microsatellite instability in transforming growth factor-beta 1 type II receptor gene in alveolar lining epithelial cells of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

It has been reported that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, which plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), suppresses proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. Although hyperplastic lesions of alveolar lining epithelial cells (ALECs) are characteristic pathologic features of IPF, the mechanism of their involvement in the pathogenesis has not yet been extensively studied. On the assumption that the hyperplastic ALECs have escaped from the growth-inhibitory effects of TGF-beta, we searched for mutations in the microsatellite of the TGF-beta receptor type II (T beta RII) gene. To detect a deletion in the polyadenine tract in exon 3 of the T beta RII gene, cells were isolated by microdissection from lung sections of IPF patients, and DNA was extracted from these cells and amplified by high-fidelity polymerase chain reaction. A total of 121 sites of hyperplastic ALECs from 11 IPF patients were analyzed, and a one-base-pair deletion was detected in nine sites from five patients. The mutation was also detected in smooth muscle-like cells of the thickened pulmonary artery. In some tissue areas where the deletion was detected, low T beta RII expression was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. These data suggest that microsatellite instability in the T beta RII gene occurred in some lesions of hyperplastic ALECs in IPF, although at a low incidence, and that this genetic disorder might play a partial role in the pathologic changes of IPF.

Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy specific for small cell lung cancer cells using a Myc-Max binding motif

Recent clinical trials of gene therapy for patients with thoracic cancers have shown that these treatments were well tolerated with minimal side effects and that we need to further enhance specificity as well as efficiency of gene transfer to target cancer cells. We previously reported that myc-overexpressing SCLC cell lines became selectively sensitive to ganciclovir (GCV) by transducing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene under the control of the Myc-Max response elements (a core nucleotide sequence, CACGTG) and that this construct (MycTK) could be utilized to develop a novel treatment against chemo-radio-resistant SCLC. We report here in vivo antitumor effects and safety of a replication-deficient adenoviral vector containing the Myc-Max binding motif (AdMycTK) on SCLC cells. In vitro infection with AdMycTK selectively rendered myc-overexpressing SCLC cell lines 63- to 307-fold more sensitive to GCV. In vivo injections with AdMycTK followed by GCV administration markedly suppressed the growth of myc-overexpressing tumors established in the subcutis or in the peritoneal cavity of athymic mice. On the other hand, infection with AdMycTK did not significantly affect either in vitro GCV sensitivity of the cells expressing very low levels of the myc genes or the growth of their subcutaneous tumors. Moreover, we observed no apparent side effects of this treatment including body weight loss or biochemical abnormalities in contrast to the treatment with AdCATK that conferred strong but nonspecific expression of the HSV-TK gene. These results suggested that AdMycTK/GCV therapy is effective on SCLC patients whose tumors overexpress myc family oncogenes.

Mapping of the chromosome 19 q-arm glioma tumor suppressor gene using fluorescence in situ hybridization and novel microsatellite markers

Allelic loss of chromosome arm 19q is a frequent event in human diffuse glioma, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. Previous loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses have mapped this gene to a 1.4-megabase interval, between the genetic markers D19S412 and STD. Further narrowing of this interval has been limited by the resolution of mapped polymorphic markers. In the present study, we have used genomic clones mapped to 19q as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes to map the breakpoints of 13 gliomas with 19q13.3 deletion boundaries. In addition, we have developed three new polymorphic microsatellite markers (D19S1180, D19S1181, and D19S1182) that map between D19S412 and STD and have used these new markers to identify two gliomas with small deletions between the D19S412 and STD markers. Collectively, these data suggest that the region of common deletion may be as narrow as 150 kb and should facilitate future efforts to identify the glioma 19q tumor suppressor gene.

Investigation of germline PTEN, p53, p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF), and CDK4 alterations in familial glioma

Epidemiological studies suggest that some familial aggregations of glioma may be due to inherited predisposition. Many genes involved in familial cancers are frequently altered in the corresponding sporadic forms. We have investigated several genes known to be altered in sporadic gliomas for their potential contribution to familial glioma. Fifteen glioma patients with a family history of brain tumors were identified through the Mayo Clinic Department of Neurology (nine diffuse astrocytomas, two oligodendrogliomas, two mixed oligoastrocytomas, one pilocytic astrocytoma, and one pineal glioma). Eleven of the propositi had one or more first degree relative with a glioma. Lymphocyte DNA was derived from each of the patients and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing of the PTEN, p53, p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF), and CDK4 genes. In addition, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on EBV-transformed lymphocytes from each affected individual to detect germline copy number of the p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF) tumor suppressor region. A p53 germline point mutation was identified in one family with some findings of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and a hemizygous germline deletion of the p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF) tumor suppressor region was demonstrated by FISH in a family with history of both astrocytoma and melanoma. Thus, whereas germ-line mutations of PTEN, p53, p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF), and CDK4 are not common events in familial glioma, outside of familial cancer syndromes, point mutations of p53 and hemizygous deletions and other rearrangements of the p16(INK4A)/p14(ARF) tumor suppressor region may account for a subset of familial glioma cases. Collectively, these data lend genetic support to the heritable nature of some cases of glioma.

Introduction of the interleukin-10 gene into mice inhibited bleomycin-induced lung injury in vivo

Interleukin (IL)-10 has been shown to reduce many inflammatory reactions. We investigated the in vivo effects of IL-10 on a bleomycin-induced lung injury model. Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposomes containing a human IL-10 expression vector (hIL10-HVJ) or a balanced salt solution as a control (Cont-HVJ) was intraperitoneally injected into mice on day -3. This was followed by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (0.8 mg/kg) on day 0. Myeloperoxidase activity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells on day 7 and hydroxyproline content of the whole lung on day 21 were inhibited significantly by hIL10-HVJ treatment. However, Cont-HVJ treatment could not suppress any of these parameters. We also examined the in vitro effects of IL-10 on the human lung fibroblast cell line WI-38. IL-10 significantly reduced constitutive and transforming growth factor-beta-stimulated type I collagen mRNA expression. However, IL-10 did not affect the proliferation of WI-38 cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor. These data suggested that exogenous IL-10 may be useful in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

A transcript map of the chromosome 19q-arm glioma tumor suppressor region

Allelic loss of the chromosome 19q arm is a frequent event in human diffuse gliomas, suggesting that it contains a tumor suppressor gene. Recent deletion mapping studies have broadly implicated a 1.6-Mb interval between D19S241E and D19S596, with a limited subset of tumors, suggesting that the region may be as narrow as 150 kb. Focusing on this smaller interval, we have used cDNA selection, exon amplification, and genomic sequencing to identify three novel transcripts (EHD2, GLTSCR1, and GLTSCR2) and to map two known genes (SEPW1 and CRX). A partial transcript map of 19 transcripts and two EST markers has been constructed for the 1.6-Mb interval D19S241E-D19S596. Ten of these transcripts, including the 5 mapped to the 150-kb deletion interval, have been examined for alterations in a panel of gliomas with allelic loss of 19q. Tumor-specific alterations have not been identified in the transcripts examined thus far. Collectively, these data should facilitate subsequent efforts to identify and characterize the remaining transcripts in the 1.6-Mb interval.

EHD2, EHD3, and EHD4 encode novel members of a highly conserved family of EH domain-containing proteins

Exon trapping from a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC 78138) mapping to the 19q13.3 glioma tumor suppressor candidate region yielded two exons that recognized a 3.6-kb transcript on Northern blot. Screening of a human fetal brain cDNA library with these exons identified three novel genes, designated EHD2, EHD3, and EHD4, which are homologous to the recently characterized human EHD1 (testilin/HPAST) and its mouse homolog Ehd1, as well as to homologs in Drosophila (Past1) and Caenorhabditis elegans. Alignment of the predicted peptide sequences revealed striking similarities, with multiple conserved regions that include a nucleotide-binding consensus site at the N-terminus, a bipartite nuclear localization signal, and an eps15 homology (EH) protein-binding domain with an EF-hand motif at the C-terminus. The genes are specifically expressed, with EHD2 highly expressed in heart, EHD3 in brain and heart, and EHD4 in heart and pancreas. EHD2 was confirmed to originate from BAC 78138 at 19q13.3; radiation hybrid mapping localized EHD3 and EHD4 to 2p21 and 15q11.1, respectively; EHD1 has been previously mapped to 11q13. The three EHD1 paralogs therefore represent novel members of a family of human EH domain-containing proteins that may play a role in endocytosis and signaling. Mutation analysis of the five coding exons of EHD2 in gliomas failed to detect any tumor-specific alterations, thus indicating that EHD2 is an unlikely candidate for the 19q tumor suppressor gene.

Augmented cardiac cardiotrophin-1 in experimental congestive heart failure

BACKGROUND

Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a potent hypertrophic factor discovered by coupling expression cloning in a mouse embryonic stem cell-based model of cardiogenesis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The present study was designed to investigate the potential activation of atrial and ventricular CT-1 expression in pacing-induced experimental congestive heart failure (CHF) and its relationship to left ventricular hypertrophy by the method of Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. We used a canine model of pacing-induced experimental CHF based on hemodynamic and neurohumoral characteristics that closely mimic human dilated cardiomyopathy. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that CT-1 gene expression was present in normal atrium and ventricle and was increased in CHF hearts. There was a positive correlation between ventricular CT-1 mRNA and left ventricular mass index. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive immunostaining in the atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes from both normal and CHF hearts. CT-1 immunoreactivity was more intense in the atrium and ventricle from CHF hearts than in normal hearts.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that both atrium and ventricle synthesize CT-1 and that cardiac production of CT-1 is augmented in a canine model of experimental CHF. This study also demonstrates that ventricular CT-1 mRNA correlates with left ventricular hypertrophy, suggesting that CT-1 plays an important role in the structural remodeling that characterizes CHF.

Application of the Cre recombinase/loxP system further enhances antitumor effects in cell type-specific gene therapy against carcinoembryonic antigen-producing cancer

A considerable number of studies of cancer have shown that the cell type-specific promoter is an effective tool for selective expression of foreign genes in tumor cells. However, few reports have demonstrated significant in vivo antitumor effects using this strategy thus far, possibly because the low activity of such a promoter results in insufficient expression of genes in cancer cells as well as in insignificant antitumor effects, even when the cells are infected by highly efficient gene transfer methods. To overcome this problem, we used the Cre/loxP system for the cell type-specific gene therapy against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing cancer. We constructed a pair of recombinant Ads. One expresses the Cre recombinase (Cre) gene under the control of the CEA promoter (Ad.CEA-Cre). The other contains the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene separated from the strong CAG promoter by insertion of the neomycin resistance (neo) gene (Ad.lox-TK). The HSV-TK gene of the latter Ad is designed to be activated through excisional deletion of the neo gene by Cre enzyme released from the former one only when CEA-producing cells are infected simultaneously with these Ads. Coinfection by these Ads rendered a human CEA-producing cancer cell line 8.4-fold more sensitive to ganciclovir (GCV) compared with infection by Ad.CEA-TK alone, the HSV-TK gene of which is directly regulated by the CEA promoter. On the other hand, coinfection with these Ads did not significantly change the GCV sensitivity of non-CEA-producing cells. Intratumoral injection of Ad.CEA-Cre combined with Ad.lox-TK followed by GCV treatment almost completely eradicated CEA-producing tumors established in the subcutis of athymic mice, whereas intratumoral injection of Ad.CEA-TK with GCV administration at most retarded the growth of inoculated tumors. These results suggest distinct advantages of the Cre/loxP system applied in the conventional cell type-specific gene therapy against cancer.

The human glia maturation factor-gamma gene: genomic structure and mutation analysis in gliomas with chromosome 19q loss

Human glia maturation factor-gamma (hGMF-gamma) is a recently identified gene that may be involved in glial differentiation, neural regeneration, and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. The gene maps to the long arm of chromosome 19 at band q13.2, a region that is frequently deleted in human malignant gliomas and is thus suspected to harbor a glioma tumor suppressor gene. Given the putative role of hGMF-gamma in cell differentiation and proliferation and its localization to chromosome 19q13, this gene is an interesting candidate for the chromosome 19q glioma tumor suppressor gene. To evaluate this possibility, we determined the genomic structure of human hGMF-gamma and performed mutation screening in a series of 41 gliomas with and without allelic loss of chromosome 19q. Mutations were not detected, which suggests that hGMF-gamma is not the chromosome 19q glioma suppressor gene. However, the elucidation of the genomic structure of hGMF-gamma may prove useful in future investigations of hGMF-gamma in the normal adult and developing human nervous system.

Cloning of a human ortholog (RPH3AL) of (RNO)Rph3al from a candidate 17p13.3 medulloblastoma tumor suppressor locus

Allelic loss of 17p13.3 is observed in approximately 40% of medulloblastomas, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene in this region. Deletion mapping has defined a region of common loss flanking the telomeric marker D17S34, and a recent report delineated a 9-kb homozygous deletion within the D17S34 locus in one such tumor. Using cDNA selection, we have identified a transcript spanning this deletion, designated (HSA)RPH3AL (rabphillin-3A-like), based on its 77% overall amino acid identity with a recently cloned rat gene, (RNO)Rph3al (originally termed Noc2), a gene putatively involved in regulated endocrine exocytosis through its interactions with the cytoskeleton. We determined the exon-intron boundaries of RPH3AL and screened the coding region for mutations by direct sequencing in DNA extracted from 33 tumor samples with allelic loss of 17p13, including 10 medulloblastoma, 14 follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), and 9 ovarian cancer specimens. No mutations were identified. Thus, despite its location in a homozygously deleted 17p13.3 locus, it is unlikely that RPH3AL is a gene involved in the oncogenesis of medulloblastoma, FTC, or ovarian cancer.

Effects of in vivo soluble selectin gene introduction of lps-induced leukocyte accumulation in the murine lung

The selectin family adhesion molecules exert a crucial role in accumulation of leukocytes at the site of inflammation. To test the biological effects of soluble selectin on lung inflammation, we introduced an expression plasmid vector of soluble selectin gene via HVJ-liposome into a murine model of LPS-induced lung injury. The myeloperoxidase activity in LPS-injected mice was suppressed by the in vivo injection of soluble P-selectin gene relative to control mice. On the contrary, soluble E- or L-selectin genes did not exert suppressive effects. Our observations suggest that P-selectin plays a crucial role in the initial steps of lung inflammation, and exogenous introduction of soluble P-selectin by in vivo gene transfer method may be a useful strategy for regulating inflammation of the lung.

Identification and functional characterization of a novel human protein highly related to the yeast dynamin-like GTPase Vps1p

Dynamin proteins containing a GTPase domain, a pleckstrin homology motif and a proline-rich tail participate in receptor-mediated endocytosis in organisms ranging from insects to vertebrates. In addition, dynamin-related GTPases, such as the yeast Golgi protein Vps1p, which lack both the pleckstrin homology motif and the proline-rich region, participate in vesicular transport within the secretory pathway in lower eukaryotes. However, no data is available on the existence of Vps1p-like proteins in mammalian cells. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel gene encoding a human dynamin-related protein, DRP1, displaying high similarity to the Golgi dynamin-like protein Vps1p from yeast and to a Caenorhabditis elegans protein deposited in the databank. These proteins are highly conserved in their N-terminal tripartite GTPase domain but lack the pleckstrin homology motif and proline-rich region. Northern blot analysis reveals that the DRP1 mRNA is detected at high levels in human muscle, heart, kidney and brain. Immunolocalization studies in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using an epitope-tagged form of DRP1 and confocal microscopy show that this protein is concentrated in a perinuclear region that labels with the endoplasmic reticulum marker DiOC6(3) and the Golgi marker C5-DMB-Cer. In addition, the localization of DRP1 is highly similar to the localization of the endoplasmic reticulum and cis-Golgi GTPase Rab1A, but not to the staining for the trans-Golgi GTPase Rab6. Furthermore, overexpression of a cDNA encoding a GTP binding site mutant of DRP1 (DRP1(K38E)) in CHO cells decreases the amount of a secreted luciferase reporter protein, whereas the overexpression of wild-type DRP1 increases the secretion of this marker. Together, these results constitute the first structural and functional characterization of a mammalian protein similar to the yeast dynamin-related GTPase Vps1p and indicate that the participation of these proteins in secretion has been conserved throughout evolution.

NAG-2, a novel transmembrane-4 superfamily (TM4SF) protein that complexes with integrins and other TM4SF proteins

Transmembrane-4 superfamily (TM4SF) proteins form complexes with integrins and other cell-surface proteins. To further characterize the major proteins present in a typical TM4SF protein complex, we raised monoclonal antibodies against proteins co-immunoprecipitated with CD81 from MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells. Only two types of cell-surface proteins were recognized by our 35 selected antibodies. These included an integrin (alpha6beta1) and three different TM4SF proteins (CD9, CD63, and NAG-2). The protein NAG-2 (novel antigen-2) is a previously unknown 30-kDa cell-surface protein. Using an expression cloning protocol, cDNA encoding NAG-2 was isolated. When aligned with other TM4SF proteins, the deduced amino acid sequence of NAG-2 showed most identity (34%) to CD53. Flow cytometry, Northern blotting, and immunohistochemistry showed that NAG-2 is widely present in multiple tissues and cell types but is absent from brain, lymphoid cells, and platelets. Within various tissues, strongest staining was seen on fibroblasts, endothelial cells, follicular dendritic cells, and mesothelial cells. In nonstringent detergent, NAG-2 protein was co-immunoprecipitated with other TM4SF members (CD9 and CD81) and integrins (alpha3beta1 and alpha6beta1). Also, two-color immunofluorescence showed that NAG-2 was co-localized with CD81 on the surface of spread HT1080 cells. These results confirm the presence of NAG-2 in specific TM4SF.TM4SF and TM4SF-integrin complexes.

Overexpression of the TGFbeta-regulated zinc finger encoding gene, TIEG, induces apoptosis in pancreatic epithelial cells

Members of the TGFbeta family of peptides exert antiproliferative effects and induce apoptosis in epithelial cell populations. In the exocrine pancreas, these peptides not only regulate normal cell growth, but alterations in these pathways have been associated with neoplastic transformation. Therefore, the identification of molecules that regulate exocrine pancreatic cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death in response to TGFbeta peptides is necessary for a better understanding of normal morphogenesis as well as carcinogenesis of the pancreas. In this study, we have characterized the expression and function in exocrine pancreatic epithelial cells of the TGFbeta-inducible early gene (TIEG), a Krüppel-like zinc finger transcription factor encoding gene previously isolated from mesodermally derived osteoblastic cells. We demonstrate that this gene is expressed in both acinar and ductular epithelial cell populations from the exocrine pancreas. In addition, we show that the expression of TIEG is regulated by TGFbeta1 as an early response gene in pancreatic epithelial cell lines. Moreover, overexpression of TIEG in the TGFbeta-sensitive epithelial cell line PANC1 is sufficient to induce apoptosis. Together, these results support a role for TIEG in linking TGFbeta-mediated signaling cascades to the regulation of pancreatic epithelial cell growth.

Role of endogenous cholecystokinin and cholecystokinin-A receptors in the development of acute pancreatitis in rats

Recent studies provide significant evidence that cholecystokinin (CCK) is involved in the induction and development of acute pancreatitis in experimental animals. However, the results obtained with specific CCK-A (peripheral) receptor antagonists are still controversial. The present studies were undertaken to evaluate the involvement of endogenous CCK and the CCK-A receptors in the development of severe acute pancreatitis induced in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats that have a selective defect in the CCK-A receptor. Three models of severe acute pancreatitis were induced by retrograde intraductal infusion of 4% sodium taurocholate, by the closed duodenal loop, or by a single intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/100 g body weight of L-arginine in OLETF rats and control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Plasma CCK levels rose up to 4- to 14-fold over the preloading values after the onset of acute pancreatitis in all three models in both groups of rats. However, histologic alterations as well as the magnitudes of increase in serum amylase and lipase activity and the pancreatic wet weight were significantly less in the OLETF rats than those in the LETO rats. In addition, 72 h after the onset of arginine pancreatitis, massive destruction of pancreatic parenchyma with a significant reduction in serum amylase and lipase activities and pancreatic wet weight was observed in the LETO rats, whereas these changes were not seen in OLETF rats. These results suggest that endogenous CCK and CCK-A receptors play a role in the development of severe acute pancreatitis in rats.

Pharmacological profile of a new serine derivative cholecystokinin receptor antagonist TP-680 on pancreatic, biliary and gastric function

The in vivo pharmacological effects of the newly developed serine derivative [(R)-1-[3-(3-carboxypyridine-2-yl)thio-2-(indol-2-yl) carbonylamino]propionyl-4-diphenyl-methyl-piperazine] (TP-680), a cholecystokinin type-A (CCK-A) receptor antagonist, on pancreatic, biliary and gastric function were examined in rats and mice. The i.v. infusion of TP-680 in rats caused a parallel rightward shift of the entire dose-response curve for cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion without altering the maximal response (ID50 = 480 nmol/kg). TP-680 also antagonized CCK-8-stimulated pancreatic secretion in mice (ID50 = 600 nmol/kg). Secretion of pancreatic juice and protein elicited by intraduodenal infusion of casein was also antagonized by TP-680. The CCK antagonism produced by i.v. TP-680 persisted for 16 h. Specificity for CCK was demonstrated by the inability of TP-680 (1000 nmol/kg) to antagonize either secretin- or bombesin-stimulated pancreatic secretion in rats. Moreover, specificity for CCK-A receptor was also demonstrated by the inability of TP-680 to antagonize pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion. Administered i.v., TP-680 was highly potent in antagonizing CCK-8-induced inhibition of gastric emptying (ID50 = 40 nmol/kg) but was less potent in antagonizing the contractile effects of CCK-8 on the gallbladder in mice (ID50 = 4000 nmol/kg). TP-680 also antagonized gallbladder contraction elicited by p.o. administered peptone. In the absence of exogenously administered CCK-8, TP-680 had no effect on any of the assay systems studied, which indicates a lack of CCK-like agonist properties. These results indicate that TP-680 is a potent, competitive and specific CCK-A receptor antagonist with long duration of action. The selectivity of TP-680 action depends on anatomical location of the CCK receptors (gastric emptying > pancreatic secretion > gallbladder contraction). This may provide a potentially valuable new tool for evaluating the role of CCK as a physiological mediator of GI function and its possible involvement in pathological states.

Ethanol inhibits CCK-induced enzyme secretion by affecting calcium-pump activity in isolated rat pancreatic acini

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of ethanol on stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic exocrine secretion. We investigated the effects of 600 mM ethanol on cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release, cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and Ca2+ fluxes using in vitro isolated rat pancreatic acini. Ethanol, given alone, stimulated both the initial and the sustained phases of amylase release. On the other hand, ethanol inhibited only the sustained phase of amylase release stimulated by CCK-8. Ethanol also inhibited amylase release in response to fluoride, a direct activator of guanine nucleotide-binding protein, suggesting that ethanol affects intracellular signal transduction molecules. Ethanol had no influences on the initial rise but increased the sustained rise in [Ca2+]i stimulated by CCK-8 and inhibited CCK-8-stimulated Ca2+ outflux without affecting Ca2+ influx. 8-Bromoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, a membrane-permeable analogue of cGMP regulating membrane Ca(2+)-pump activity in various cells, completely reversed the ethanol-induced inhibition of amylase release and Ca2+ outflux in response to CCK-8 as well as fluoride. Given that Ca2+ plays a critical role in stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic exocrine secretion, our results indicate that 600 mM ethanol inhibits CCK-8-stimulated amylase release by inhibiting Ca(2+)-pump activity on the plasma membrane.

Pancreatic cancer and hypercalcemia associated with von Recklinghausen's disease

A 44-year-old man with von Recklinghausen's disease was admitted to our hospital presenting with left hypochondralgia. Computed tomography showed a large mass at the body and tail of the pancreas, with metastatic liver tumors. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed an obstruction of the main pancreatic duct at the body. In the course of the illness, the patient's serum calcium concentration increased gradually to 13.6 mg/dl, although bone scan with 99mtechnetium demonstrated no accumulation in the bones. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone related-protein and tumor necrosis factor were also elevated. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer with liver metastases and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Postmortem examination revealed a solid tumor, measuring 6.0 x 6.0 x 8.0 cm, in the body and tail of the pancreas. Histologically, the tumor was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The association of von Recklinghausen's disease with malignant neurogenic neoplasms is well established, whereas the association with non-neurogenic malignant neoplasm is considered to coincidental. Our current case suggests a possible relationship between von Recklinghausen's disease and pancreatic cancer.

A 100-kDa protein tyrosine phosphorylation is concurrent with beta 1 integrin-mediated morphological differentiation in neuroblastoma and small cell lung cancer cells

IMR32, a neuroblastoma cell line, and CADO LC6, a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line, extended neurite-like processes when cultured on fibronectin (FN)-coated surfaces or cultured in a serum-free medium. Monoclonal antibodies against the integrin beta 1 subunit inhibited this process formation, suggesting that their morphological change is initiated by beta 1 integrin-dependent signal transduction to the cell interior. Anti-phosphorylation level of a 100-kDa protein, but not 125-kDa focal adhesion kindase, correlated well with the morphological change in both cell lines. This 100-kDa protein phosphorylation did not accompany FN-induced morphological changes in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts or A549 adenocarcinoma cells. These findings suggest that neuroblastoma and SCLC may share beta 1 integrin-mediated signaling events distinct from nonneuronal cells.

Defect in pancreatic exocrine and endocrine response to CCK in genetically diabetic OLETF rats

Clinical as well as experimental studies in insulinopenic diabetes mellitus have demonstrated abnormal pancreatic exocrine responses to cholecystokinin (CCK). In the present study, we examined pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function in the recently developed genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats and compared them with those in the control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats of the same age. Stepwise increasing doses of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8; 0.027-7.0 nmol.kg-1.h-1) evoked a characteristic biphasic dose-response curve for pancreatic juice and protein output in the LETO rats, whereas the OLETF rats were totally insensitive to CCK-8 stimulation. However, the responsiveness and the sensitivity to both carbamylcholine and secretin were similar in the two groups. Intraduodenal infusion of casein (500 mg/h) failed to stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretion in the OLETF rats despite a greater CCK response than in the LETO rats (peak response: 8.43 +/- 0.97 vs 5.12 +/- 0.30 pmol/l in LETO, P < 0.01). Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 (4.4 nmol.kg-1.20 min-1) caused a significant increase in serum insulin concentrations and a concomitant decrease in glucose levels in the LETO rats but not in the OLETF rats. On the other hand, an intravenous bolus injection of 1.1 mmol/kg glucose caused a greater insulin release in the OLETF rats than in the LETO rats. In contrast, gastric acid secretion in the OLETF rats was significantly high in basal and in response to intravenous infusion of CCK-8 compared with that in the LETO rats. Four subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg caerulein at hourly intervals over 3 h induced acute pancreatitis in the LETO rats but did not elicit any significant increase in serum amylase or lipase activities and pancreatic wet weight or histological evidence of acute pancreatitis in the OLETF rats. These results indicate that the exocrine and endocrine pancreas of the recently developed genetically diabetic OLETF rats are totally and specifically insensitive to exogenous and endogenous CCK stimulation, whereas parietal cells in these rats are sensitive to CCK stimulation.

Pharmacological profile of TP-680, a new cholecystokininA receptor antagonist

1. The pharmacological characteristics of a newly developed serine derivative (R)-1-[3-(3-carboxypyridine-2-yl) thio-2-(indol-2-yl)carbonylamino]propionyl-4-diphenylmethyl- piperazine (TP-680), a cholecystokinin type A (CCKA) receptor antagonist, were studied and compared with those of MK-329 and loxiglumide. 2. TP-680 showed approximately 2 and 22 times greater selectivity for peripheral CCKA receptors relative to brain CCK (CCKB) receptors than MK-329 and loxiglumide, respectively, when IC50 values for inhibition of [125I]-CCK-8 binding in isolated acini and cerebral cortex were compared. 3. TP-680 was approximately 17 times less potent than MK-329, but was 106 times more potent than loxiglumide in inhibiting 100 pM CCK-8-stimulated amylase release from rat pancreatic acini. The antagonism produced by TP-680 was specific for CCK in that the effects of other receptor secretagogues or agents bypassing receptors were not altered. 4. TP-680 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release as did MK-329 and loxiglumide. However, in contrast to MK-329 and loxiglumide, TP-680 suppressed the maximal responses of CCK-8-induced amylase release in a concentration-dependent fashion, indicating that TP-680 is an unsurmountable antagonist. 5. Repeated washing of acini after a 30 min treatment with TP-680 restored the responsiveness but not the sensitivity, causing a residual inhibition on the action of CCK-8. 6. The addition of loxiglumide prior to or together with application of TP-680 protected CCK receptors from unsurmountable and irreversible antagonism by TP-680. 7. Our results indicate that TP-680 is a potent and the most selective CCKA receptor antagonist for the pancreas reported to date.

Effects of MCI-727 on pancreatic exocrine secretion and acute pancreatitis in two experimental rat models

The effects of a newly developed compound having antiulcer action, (Z)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1-[4-(2-phenyl-ethyl)phenyl]-eth anone oxime hydrochloride monohydrate (MCI-727), on pancreatic exocrine secretion were studied in anesthetized rats and evaluated its preventive and therapeutic effects on acute pancreatitis in two experimental rat models. Intraduodenal administration of MCI-727 [25, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight (wt)] stimulated a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic juice and bicarbonate output without increasing the protein output or plasma cholecystokinin concentration. MCI-727-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion was completely abolished by antisecretin serum but not by the cholecystokinin receptor antagonist loxiglumide (50 mg/kg body wt/h) or cholinergic receptor antagonist atropine (100 mu g/kg body wt/h). In rats with acute pancreatitis induced by four subcutaneous injections of 20 mu g/kg body wt cerulein at hourly intervals over 3 h, MCI-727 administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt 30 min before the first cerulein injection significantly reduced the increases in serum amylase and lipase activity and pancreatic wet weight and induced improvements in the results of histologic examination. Moreover, when given 30 min before and 90 min after the first cerulein injection, MCI-727 had even more dramatic protective effects on all these parameters. In addition, even when administered immediately after the last cerulein injection, MCI-727 effectively ameliorated all these alterations of acute pancreatitis. However, MCI-727 had no apparent beneficial effects on the biochemical and histologic alterations of acute pancreatitis in the severe form induced by retrograde intraductal injection of 1.0 ml/kg body wt of 4% sodium taurocholate. These findings suggest that oral administration of MCI-727 stimulates pancreatic exocrine secretion by endogenous secretin release and that it has therapeutic as well as preventive effects on mild forms of acute pancreatitis in rats.

High-fat hypercaloric diet induces obesity, glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia in normal adult male Wistar rat

There is strong evidence that genetic factors contribute to the development of obesity in humans as well as laboratory animals. Another important factor leading to obesity is an increase in energy intake. However, it is difficult to make normal rats obese by controlling daily food intake. There is no report of normal adult male Wistar rats becoming obese and diabetic on a high-fat diet. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to make normal adult Wistar rats obese by infusing high fat and hypercaloric diet through the cannula without disturbing the free movement and to investigate the influence of an increase in the caloric intake on body weight and glucose metabolism. High-fat hypercaloric diet (360 kcal/kg body wt./day; H group) or control diet (180 kcal/kg body wt./day; C group) was continuously infused into the stomach of normal adult male Wistar rats weighing approximately 300 g through gastric cannulas for 27 days. On day 28 after a 24-h fasting, serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, and free fatty acids (FFA) were determined, and intragastric glucose loading test (2 g/kg body wt.) was performed. The average weekly body weight gain in the H group was twice as much as that of the C group (40.0 +/- 2.4 vs. 19.4 +/- 1.9 g/week, P < 0.001). Serum levels of triglyceride, phospholipid, total cholesterol, and FFA were significantly elevated in the H group compared to those in the C group. Liver weight in the H group was significantly higher than that in the C group and showed steatosis. Pancreas weight (-13%) as well as protein (-12%), amylase (-53%) and trypsin content (-26%) were all reduced, whereas pancreatic DNA content was significantly increased in the H group compared to those in the C group. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations before and after glucose loading in the H group were significantly higher than those in the C group. Moreover, the insulin response relative to glucose response in the H group was significantly high compared to that in the C group, indicating the presence of insulin resistance. These results indicate that feeding of high-fat hypercaloric diet makes normal Wistar male adult rat obese associated with hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance.

Eradication of Myc-overexpressing small cell lung cancer cells transfected with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene containing Myc-Max response elements

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene was ligated with four repeats of the Myc-Max response elements (a core nucleotide sequence CACGTG), and its utility for gene therapy was examined by the treatment of either c-, L- or N-myc-overexpressing the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line with ganciclovir (GCV). The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay demonstrated that the overexpression of any myc genes activated transcription from the CAT gene depending on the Myc-Max binding sites. The transduction of the HSV-TK gene ligated with the CACGTG core rendered all three SCLC lines to be more sensitive to GCV than parental ones in vitro. In addition, the growth of c- or L-myc-overexpressing SCLC cells containing the hybrid HSV-TK gene were significantly suppressed by GCV in vivo. When parental SCLC cells were mixed with HSV-TK-expressing tumor cells at a ratio of 1:3, GCV treatment inhibited tumor growth by 90% compared with parental cells only, indicating the existence of the "bystander effect." These data suggest that the CACGTG-driven HSV-TK gene may be useful for the treatment of SCLC overexpressing any type of myc family oncogenes.

Effects of tetraprenylacetone on pancreatic exocrine secretion and acute pancreatitis in two experimental models in rats

The effects of tetraprenylacetone (TPN), an acyclic polyisoprenoid with antiulcer actions, on pancreatic exocrine secretion, and its preventive and therapeutic effects on acute pancreatitis in two experimental models were studied in rats. Intraduodenal administration of TPN (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/h) caused dose-dependent increases in pancreatic juice and bicarbonate output without increasing protein output and plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations. TPN-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion was completely abolished by antisecretin serum but it was not by CCK receptor antagonist loxiglumide (50 mg/kg/h). In acute pancreatitis induced by four subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg cerulein at hourly intervals over, 3 h, TPN (400 mg/kg) given by an oral route either 1 h before the first cerulein injection or immediately after the last injection significantly reduced the increases in serum amylase and lipase activities and pancreatic wet wt. Pretreatment with TPN caused histologic improvements, whereas posttreatment failed to ameliorate histologic alterations. In severe type of acute pancreatitis induced by retrograde intraductal injection of 1.0 mL/kg of 4% sodium taurocholate, TPN exerted no apparent beneficial effects on biochemical and histologic alterations of acute pancreatitis. It is concluded that TPN given by an oral route stimulates pancreatic exocrine secretion through an increase in endogenous secretin release and causes beneficial effects on the experimental model of mild acute pancreatitis in rats.

Effect of the cholecystokinin receptor antagonist loxiglumide on pancreatic exocrine function in rats after acute pancreatitis

Recent studies have demonstrated that cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists not only reduce the severity of pancreatitis but also inhibit pancreatic regeneration after pancreatitis. This study was undertaken, therefore, to examine the effects of the CCK receptor antagonist loxiglumide on the exocrine pancreas when given after an episode of acute pancreatitis that was induced in rats by a 4-h subcutaneous infusion of 20 micrograms/kg body weight/h cerulein. Biochemical changes and secretory function in response to 100 ng/kg body weight cerulein were determined after a 6-day treatment with saline, loxiglumide (50 mg/kg body weight), or CCK-8 (2.5 micrograms/kg body weight), which was given three times a day starting 24 h after the induction of acute pancreatitis. In the saline-treated rats, pancreatic enzyme contents and pancreatic juice and protein output were significantly low, whereas the pancreatic weight and protein and DNA contents were comparable to those of the controls without pancreatitis. Loxiglumide treatment, although significantly decreasing protein output, had no influence on pancreatic weight, protein and DNA contents, or pancreatic juice flow but increased the amylase and lipase contents compared to those of the saline-treated postpancreatitic rats. CCK-8 treatment also had no influence on pancreatic weight or protein and DNA contents but significantly increased the pancreatic enzyme contents and pancreatic juice and protein output compared to those of the saline-treated postpancreatitic rats. These results suggest that loxiglumide does not significantly inhibit the recovery of exocrine function but appears to accelerate the increase in pancreatic amylase and lipase contents even when given after an attack of acute pancreatitis.

A case of mesenteric venous thrombosis after endoscopic variceal band ligation

A rare case of isolated superior mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) after endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL) is reported. A 64-year-old woman with a history of idiopathic portal hypertension presented at the emergency room with vomiting, increasing cramping abdominal pain, and low-grade fever. She had undergone EVL for esophageal varices 4 months before and had had intermittent attacks of mild abdominal pain after the EVL. Ultrasonogram of the abdomen demonstrated marked concentric wall thickening of the ileal loop. Enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a central lucency in the lumen of the superior mesenteric vein, surrounded by a high-density vein wall, corresponding to a thrombus. An isolated MVT and venous collateral network in the splanchnic area were confirmed by angiography. Supportive therapy, i.e., water and electrolyte replacement, and anticoagulation improved the clinical condition and radiologic status. This case of MVT after EVL suggests a possible relationship between EVL and MVT. It is necessary for clinicians to be aware of this relationship for the early diagnosis of MVT.

Loss of sensitivity to cholecystokinin stimulation of isolated pancreatic acini from genetically diabetic rats

Pancreatic exocrine function of a new inbred strain Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat that develops spontaneous persistent hyperglycemia was evaluated in in vitro isolated pancreatic acini and compared with that in the control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rat. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations in the OLETF rats were significantly high (glucose: 270 +/- 12 vs. 208 +/- 10 mg/100 ml, P < 0.01; insulin: 12.4 +/- 1.7 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, P) < 0.01), whereas pancreatic wet weight was significantly low (803 +/- 20 vs. 1,138 +/- 17 mg, P < 0.01) compared with those in the LETO rat. Pancreatic acini isolated from the OLETF rat were totally insensitive to cholecystokinin (CCK)-8 stimulation at concentrations of up to 100 nM. However, neither the responsiveness nor the sensitivity to carbamylcholine, bombesin, and secretin of the acini from the OLETF rat was altered or even increased, probably due to the larger amylase content in the OLETF rat acini compared with those of the LETO rat acini (31.5 +/- 2.0 vs. 13.0 +/- 1.1 Somogyi units/micrograms DNA, P < 0.01). The responsiveness to fluoride, a direct activator of guanine nucleotide-binding protein, in the OLETF rat acini was similar to that in the LETO rat, suggesting that the transmembrane signaling and effectors and subsequent intracellular signal transduction molecules in the OLETF rat acini are normal. Moreover, 125I-CCK binding to the acini prepared from the OLETF rat was totally absent. These present results indicate that the OLETF rat has a selective defect in the binding of CCK to its receptors on the acinar cell surface.

Gene therapy for carcinoembryonic antigen-producing human lung cancer cells by cell type-specific expression of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene

A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing human lung cancer cell line (A549), a nonproducing human lung cancer cell line (CADO-LC9), and a human uterine cervical cancer (HeLa) were transfected with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene regulated by 445 nucleotides upstream from the translational start of CEA gene. Fifty % growth inhibitory concentration of ganciclovir (GCV) was 0.57 micron for HSV-TK-transfected A549; relative sensitivity to GCV was more than 1000 times higher compared to the 50% growth inhibitory concentration of the parental cell line. Both CADO-LC9 and HeLa transfected with HSV-TK were still resistant to GCV. There was no difference in either morphology or doubling time between HSV-TK-transfected and parental clones. Injections (i.p.) of GCV resulted in significant regression of HSV-TK-transfected A549 tumors in nude mice. These data show the possibility of gene therapy using the cell type-specific promoter of CEA gene against CEA-producing adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Treatment with cholecystokinin receptor antagonist loxiglumide enhances insulin response to intravenous glucose stimulation in postpancreatitic rats

Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function in postpancreatitic rats treated with cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist loxiglumide was compared with that treated with saline and CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) or with that in normal control rats. Treatment with loxiglumide (50 mg/kg body weight), CCK-8 (2.5 micrograms/kg body weight), or saline (2.5 ml/kg body weight) was given three times a day for 6 days starting 1 day after the induction of acute pancreatitis by a 4-h subcutaneous infusion of 20 micrograms/kg body weight/h of caerulein. On day 8, pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function was simultaneously determined following an intravenous injection of a mixed solution of 0.2 g/kg body weight glucose plus 100 ng/kg body weight caerulein. Basal pancreatic juice flow was significantly increased in all of the postpancreatitic rats irrespective of the treatment, whereas the maximal juice flow in the loxiglumide- and saline-treated rats was significantly low compared with the CCK-8-treated and the control rats. Basal and the peak protein outputs in the loxiglumide-treated rats were comparable to those in saline-treated rats, but were lower than those in the control or the CCK-8-treated rats. Although serum glucose concentrations in all of the postpancreatitic rats were similar to those in the control rats, stimulated as well as basal insulin release tended to be high compared with the control rats. In particular, loxiglumide-treated rats showed the exaggerated insulin response compared with other groups of rats. These present observations indicate that administration of high dose of loxiglumide for a long period decreases pancreatic enzyme output and causes insulin resistance.

Effects of cholecystokinin receptor antagonist loxiglumide on rat exocrine pancreas

Effects of long-term administration of the cholecystokinin receptor antagonist loxiglumide on exocrine pancreas were studied in adult rats. Plasma concentrations of loxiglumide at 8 h after a single subcutaneous injection of 50 mg/kg body weight of loxiglumide were 3.2 +/- 0.8 microgram/ml, which were comparable to those at 12 h after oral administration of the same dose (3.7 +/- 0.9 microgram/ml). Eight hours' prior subcutaneous injection of loxiglumide (50 mg/kg body weight) significantly suppressed pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by an intravenous bolus injection of 50 ng/kg body weight caerulein compared with the control rats. Based on these results, in the first experiment, loxiglumide at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight was given subcutaneously three times a day (low dose) for 6 days to adult rats fed a standard laboratory diet. Low dose of loxiglumide significantly decreased pancreatic wet weight (-14%) and pancreatic contents of protein (-26%), trypsin (-38%), and lipase (-68%), while having no significant effect on pancreatic contents of DNA and amylase. In the second experiment, three times higher dose of loxiglumide (150 mg/kg body weight) was given by an orogastric tube twice daily for 6 days. High dose of loxiglumide significantly decreased pancreatic weight (-11%) and contents of protein (-20%) and DNA (-22%), whereas it significantly increased amylase (+92%) and trypsin content (+20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)