[A Case of Carcinomatosis of the Bone Marrow Due to Rectal Cancer]

A 33-year-old man was admitted due to dyschezia and melena. Colonoscopy revealed a circulating type 4 rectal tumor. Further examination revealed intestinal obstruction due to rectal cancer, paraaortic lymph node metastasis, and multiple bone metastases, and an ileus tube was transanally inserted for decompression. Bone scintigraphy revealed multiple abnormal uptake regions in the entire skeleton. We planned to perform primary tumor resection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy administration. Peritoneal signs in the lower abdomen appeared after 6 days of tube insertion. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated intestinal perforation, and emergency surgery was performed. During the surgery, tube penetration in the anterior abdominal wall was observed in the sigmoid colon proximal to the tumor. Postoperatively, the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC). The patient had multiple bone metastases and juvenile cells in peripheral blood figure analysis; therefore, we concluded that DIC was caused by carcinomatosis of the bone marrow. After an informed consent was obtained, FOLFOX4 with simultaneous DIC treatment was initiated, and DIC remission was observed. The patient was transferred to a different hospital near his home, but died 35 days postoperatively.

[Successful Control of Hyperammonemia with BRTO of a Splenorenal Shunt Induced by CAPOX Therapy]

Among portosystemic shunts, splenorenal shunts can cause increased portal pressure, which in turn can bring about hyperammonemia, resulting in hepatic encephalopathy. In recent years, it has been reported that oxaliplatin(OX), a key chemotherapy drug in colorectal cancer, can precipitate splenorenal shunts due to sinusoidal injury. We report a case of hyperammonemia post oxaliplatin therapy. A 72-year-old male patient who had undergone surgical resection for(RS)rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis had been receiving capecitabine plus OX(CAPOX)as adjuvant chemotherapy. During his 7th course of treatment, he visited the outpatient clinic with complaints of weakness, dysarthria, and urinary incontinence. Laboratory findings showed an elevated NH3 level (200 μg/dL), and subsequent abdominal computed tomography revealed a splenorenal shunt, which was attributed to OX. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration(BRTO)was then performed. The patient has been routinely followed up in the outpatient clinic and has had no recurrence of hyperammonemia or cancer 14 months after the procedure. In retrospect, the splenorenal shunt was present on his first visit, therefore, hyperammonemia could have been prevented at the time of commencement of chemotherapy. We report our case, along with the relevant literature.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival of a Patient with a Nodal Recurrence of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Who Attained Complete Remission with S-1 Monotherapy]

An 82-year-old man was referred to our hospital after a hepatic tumor was identified on ultrasonography.Computed tomography(CT)revealed a hypovascular tumor measuring 3 cm in diameter in the lateral section.He was diagnosed as having intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC), and a left hemihepatectomy was performed in November 2012. During the postoperative follow-up in August 2013, CT revealed swollen lymph nodes around the greater curvature of the stomach and upper edge of the pancreas.By using endoscopic ultrasonography fine-needle aspiration(EUS-FNA), lymph node metastases of the ICC was diagnosed.S -1 monotherapy was initiated instead of gemcitabine and cisplatin regimens because of renal dysfunction.In July 2014, CT revealed that both lymph nodes were shrinking, and in January 2015, S-1 administration was discontinued upon the patient's request.However, the patient survived for 4 years without S-1 administration, and no recurrent tumors were recognized on CT in November 2018.O ur diagnosis indicates complete remission.

Lactation persistency as a component trait of the selection index and increase in reliability by using single nucleotide polymorphism in net merit defined as the first five lactation milk yields and herd life

We first sought to clarify the effects of discounted rate, survival rate, and lactation persistency as a component trait of the selection index on net merit, defined as the first five lactation milks and herd life (HL) weighted by 1 and 0.389 (currently used in Japan), respectively, in units of genetic standard deviation. Survival rate increased the relative economic importance of later lactation traits and the first five lactation milk yields during the first 120 months from the start of the breeding scheme. In contrast, reliabilities of the estimated breeding value (EBV) in later lactation traits are lower than those of earlier lactation traits. We then sought to clarify the effects of applying single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on net merit to improve the reliability of EBV of later lactation traits to maximize their increased economic importance due to increase in survival rate. Net merit, selection accuracy, and HL increased by adding lactation persistency to the selection index whose component traits were only milk yields. Lactation persistency of the second and (especially) third parities contributed to increasing HL while maintaining the first five lactation milk yields compared with the selection index whose only component traits were milk yields. A selection index comprising the first three lactation milk yields and persistency accounted for 99.4% of net merit derived from a selection index whose components were identical to those for net merit. We consider that the selection index comprising the first three lactation milk yields and persistency is a practical method for increasing lifetime milk yield in the absence of data regarding HL. Applying SNP to the second- and third-lactation traits and HL increased net merit and HL by maximizing the increased economic importance of later lactation traits, reducing the effect of first-lactation milk yield on HL (genetic correlation (rG) = -0.006), and by augmenting the effects of the second- and third-lactation milk yields on HL (rG = 0.118 and 0.257, respectively).

MO-F-213AB-04: Biological Effect of Dose Shadowing by Fiducial Markers in Spot Scanning Proton Therapy with a Limited Number of Fields

PURPOSE

In spot scanning proton therapy, accurate patient positioning before and during treatment is essential. A small gold ball marker is suitable as a fiducial for prostate treatment. However, it has been pointed out that the marker causes dose shadowing because the protons are scattered with their energy quickly diminished. In this research we explore the possibility that the biological effect of dose shadowing can be mitigated with a limited number of fields.

METHODS

The proton dose distribution in prostate was simulated using Geant4. The simulations include the Hokkaido University spot scanning nozzle and a water phantom positioned isocentrically. The PTV was delineated at the center of the phantom and a gold ball of 2 mm in diameter was placed at the middle of the PTV. The plan was created by single-field optimization and each of the following beam arrangements was investigated; (1) single lateral field (2) two lateral fields (3) two lateral + one anterior fields (4) four-field box. The dose prescription was D95 = 74 GyE (37 fr). The minimum dose and tumor control probability (TCP) were compared for the four beam arrangements.

RESULTS

For (1)-(4), the minimum dose values were 55%, 77%, 78%, and 84% of the prescribed dose, respectively. The reduction of the TCP values from those in the absence of the gold marker were 50%, 2%, 1.1%, and 0.7%, using the TCP model by Wang et al. (Int.J.Radiat.Oncol.Biol.Phys. 55, 2003) and 2%, 0.7%, 0.5%, and 0.4%, using the biological parameters in Levegrün et al. (Int.J.RadiatOncol.Biol.Phys. 51, 2001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although dose shadowing by the gold marker is locally non-negligible, the size of the affected domain is tiny. It was found that with a minimum number of fields, the TCP nearly recovers to the value without the gold marker.

Formation of a three-dimensional network of V trimers in A2V13O22 (A=Ba, Sr)

We found that in A2V13O22 (A=Ba, Sr), which contains a trilayer slab of VO in the sodium-chloride structure with periodically missing ions, the trimerization of V ions occurs at 290 K (A=Ba) and 380 K (A=Sr). V trimers form a three-dimensional network, but some V ions remain untrimerized in these compounds. The suppression of magnetic susceptibility with trimerization and the existence of a Curie tail at low temperatures, together with the result of NMR measurement, indicate that the V trimers are spin singlet, whereas the untrimerized V ions have a magnetic moment; i.e., there is a spontaneous separation between nonmagnetic and magnetic ions in the crystal.

[5-FU/LV therapy for a rectal cancer patient undergoing continuous hemodialysis with multiple hepatic metastases--a case report]

Chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer is standardized as oxaliplatin/5-FU/LV therapy (FOLFOX)and irinotecan/5-FU/LV therapy(FOLFIRI). It is difficult to introduce cancer chemotherapy to hemodialysis patients, and limited chemotherapeutics are available. The case was a 57-year-old man who was undergoing continuous hemodialysis when rectal cancer was found with multiple hepatic metastases. After rectum elevation and anterior resection, we treated him with 5-FU/LV therapy. After three courses the number of hepatic metastatic foci decreased, and the ascites disappeared. Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)decreased from 837 ng/mL to 29 ng/mL; carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9)decreased from 79.6 U/mL to 14.2 U/mL, and cancer-related antigen 72-4 (CA72-4)was reduced from 33.3 U/mL to 7.4 U/mL. Partial remission was achieved following the chemotherapy. We used 5-FU/LV therapy according to the Roswell Park Memorial Institute method. Our patient was able to undergo treatment safely without serious adverse drug response, except that he exhibited diarrhea and hand-foot syndrome of grade 2.

Quantitative trait loci analysis on Sus scrofa chromosome 7 for meat production, meat quality, and carcass traits within a Duroc purebred population

Many QTL analyses related to meat production and meat quality traits have been carried out using an F(2) resource population produced by crossing 2 genetically different breeds. This experiment was intended to investigate whether these QTL were segregating in a purebred Duroc population that had been selected for meat production and meat quality traits during 7 generations. Sus scrofa chromosome 7, for which significant QTL of intramuscular fat and many other traits have already been reported, was studied. The polymorphism of 10 microsatellite markers that were arranged at about 20-cM intervals was investigated on 1,004 pigs. In the selected population, 954 progeny were produced from mating of 99 sires and 286 dams. The QTL analysis for a full-sib family population was examined with the multigeneration pedigree structure of the population. Variance component analysis was used to detect QTL in this population and was examined for the multigeneration pedigree population. In this study, multigenerational pedigree estimated identical by descent coefficients among sibs were produced using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The maximum likelihood of odds score was found at the 70-cM position for the LM area, at the 0-cM position for the pork color standard, and at the 120-cM position for the number of thoracic vertebra, but no significant QTL for intramuscular fat were detected on SSC 7. These results indicate that QTL analysis via a variance component method within a purebred population was effective to determine that QTL were segregating in a population of purebred Durocs.

Non-transcallosal ipsilateral area 3b responses to median nerve stimulus

We report two patients with left hemisphere lesions who had no normal left hemispheric responses to right median nerve stimulus on magnetoencephalography but displayed right area 3b responses. One patient had suffered a severe left hemispheric contusion and the other left hemispheric infarction. Equivalent current dipoles of these ipsilateral responses were detected on the central sulcus adjacent to the location of the N20m response to left median nerve stimulus. The somatosensory afferent pathway from the hand may extend directly to the ipsilateral area 3b without following the transcallosal pathway in at least part of the population.

Randomized controlled trial of the effect of hysterectomy or LNG-IUS use on bone mineral density: a five-year follow-up

A 72-year-old female with scirrhous-type advanced gastric cancer was treated with TS-1/CDDP as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. TS-1 (80 mg/m(2)/day) was orally administered for 3 weeks and CDDP (60 mg/m(2)) was administered by intravenous drip on day 8. Partial response (PR) was obtained after the first course, and total gastrectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis revealed complete disappearance of cancer cells in the stomach and a few regional lymph node metastases (3/67). The patient has now been in good health without a recurrence for 1 year and 9 months after surgery.

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting body weight, egg character and egg production in F2 intercross chickens

Phenotypic measurements of chicken egg character and production traits are restricted to mature females only. Marker assisted selection of immature chickens using quantitative trait loci (QTL) has the potential to accelerate the genetic improvement of these traits in the chicken population. The QTL for 12 traits (i.e. body weight (BW), six for egg character, three for egg shell colour and two for egg production) of chickens were identified. An F2 population comprising 265 female chickens obtained by crossing White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red breeds and genotyped for 123 microsatellite markers was used for detecting QTL. Ninety-six markers were mapped on 25 autosomal linkage groups, and 13 markers were mapped on one Z chromosomal linkage group. Eight previous unmapped markers were assigned to their respective chromosomes in this study. Significant QTL were detected for BW on chromosomes 4 and 27, egg weight on chromosome 4, the short length of egg on chromosome 4, and redness of egg shell colour (using the L*a*b* colour system) on chromosome 11. A significant QTL on the Z chromosome was linked with age at first egg. Significant QTL could account for 6-19% of the phenotypic variance in the F2 population.

Simple deterministic identity-by-descent coefficients and estimation of QTL allelic effects in full and half sibs

Accurate and rapid methods for the detection of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and evaluation of consequent allelic effects are required to implement marker-assisted selection in outbred populations. In this study, we present a simple deterministic method for estimating identity-by-descent (IBD) coefficients in full- and half-sib families that can be used for the detection of QTLs via a variance-component approach. In a simulated dataset, IBD coefficients among sibs estimated by the simple deterministic and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods with three or four alleles at each marker locus exhibited a correlation of greater than 0.99. This high correlation was also found in QTL analyses of data from an outbred pig population. Variance component analysis used both the simple deterministic and MCMC methods to estimate IBD coefficients. Both procedures detected a QTL at the same position and gave similar test statistics and heritabilities. The MCMC method, however, required much longer computation than the simple method. The conversion of estimated QTL genotypic effects into allelic effects for use in marker-assisted selection is also demonstrated.

p53 Phosphorylation at serine 15 is required for transcriptional induction of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene by the alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) is a widely spread environmental carcinogen that causes DNA lesions leading to cell killing. MNNG can also induce a cell-protective response by inducing the expression of DNA repair/transcription-related genes. We recently demonstrated that urokinase-type plasminogen activator, an extracellular protease to which no DNA repair functions have been assigned, was induced by MNNG. Here, we show that the physiological inhibitor of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, PAI-1, is also induced by MNNG in a p53-dependent fashion, because MNNG induced PAI-1 in p53-expressing cells but not in p53-/- cells. MNNG induced p53 phosphorylation at serine 15, resulting in stabilization of the p53 protein, and this phosphorylation event was central for p53-dependent PAI-1 transcription. Finally, we showed that PAI-1 transcriptional induction by MNNG required a p53-responsive element located at -136 base pairs in the PAI-1 promoter, because specific mutation of this site abrogated the induction. Because PAI-1 is a prognostic factor in many metastatic cancers, being involved in the control of tumor invasiveness, our finding that a genotoxic agent induces the PAI-1 gene via p53 adds a new feature to the role of the tumor-suppressor p53 protein. Our results also suggest the possibility that genotoxic agents contribute to tumor metastasis by inducing PAI-1 without involving genetic modification.

E2F1-mediated transcriptional inhibition of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 gene

Gene expression of the plasminogen activation system is cell-cycle dependent. Previously, we showed that ectopic expression of E2F1 repressed the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) promoter in a manner dependent on the presence of DNA-binding and transactivation domains of E2F1 but independent of binding to pocket-binding proteins, suggesting a novel mechanism for E2F-mediated negative gene regulation [Koziczak, M., Krek, W. & Nagamine, Y. (2000) Mol. Cell. Biol. 20, 2014-2022]. However, it remains to be seen whether endogenous E2F can exert a similar effect. We report here that down-regulation of PAI-1 gene expression correlates with an increase in endogenous E2F activity. When cells were treated with a cdk2/4-specific inhibitor, which maintains E2F in an inactive state, the decline of serum-induced PAI-1 mRNA levels was suppressed. In mutant U2OS cells expressing a temperature-sensitive retinoblastoma protein (pRB), a shift to a permissive temperature induced PAI-1 mRNA expression. In U2OS cells stably expressing an E2F1-estrogen receptor chimeric protein that could be activated by tamoxifen, PAI-1 gene transcription was markedly reduced by tamoxifen even in the presence of cycloheximide. These results all indicate that endogenous E2F can directly repress the PAI-1 gene. DNase I hypersensitive-site analysis of the PAI-1 promoter suggested the involvement of conformation changes in chromatin structure of the PAI-1 promoter. 5' deletion analysis of the PAI-1 promoter showed that multiple sites were responsible for the E2F negative regulation, some of which were promoter dependent. Interestingly, one of these sites is a p53-binding element.

Orotic acid, a new promoter for experimental liver carcinogenesis

Male Fischer 344 rats initiated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine 2HCl (100 mg/kg) given 18 hr after partial hepatectomy and exposed to a diet containing 1% orotic acid for 13 months developed a 100% incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. The creation of nucleotide pool imbalances by dietary orotic acid, for e.g., an increase in uridine nucleotides and a decrease in adenine nucleotides, was considered as a possible mechanism for the promotional effect of orotic acid on liver carcinogenesis. The significance of this hypothesis is that altered nucleotide pools affect both genomic as well as membrane organization. Consistent with this hypothesis is our finding that feeding rats with a diet containing 1% orotic acid for 10 weeks resulted in a liver DNA damage as monitored by its slower sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients compared to the corresponding controls. To assess the general applicability of this hypothesis, nucleotide pool imbalances were created by using methods other than feeding orotic acid and their effect on the incidence of gamma-glutamyltransferase positive foci in carcinogen initiated rats was determined. The results obtained indicated that rats initiated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.2HCl (100 mg/kg) given 18 hr after partial hepatectomy and exposed to diet deficient in arginine, a regimen that causes an increased synthesis and excretion of orotic acid, or were fed diets containing 1% thymidine or 1% thymine developed greater number of gamma-glutamyltransferase positive foci compared to the corresponding controls fed the basal diets. These results were interpreted to indicate that orotic acid exerts its promotional effect probably by creating an imbalance in nucleotide pools. One of the mechanisms by which an imbalance of nucleotide pools influences the pathogenesis of the carcinogenic process may be by inducing perturbations in the DNA.

Using the mixed model for interval mapping of quantitative trait loci in outbred line crosses

Interval mapping by simple regression is a powerful method for the detection of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in line crosses such as F2 populations. Due to the ease of computation of the regression approach, relatively complex models with multiple fixed effects, interactions between QTLs or between QTLs and fixed effects can easily be accommodated. However, polygenic effects, which are not targeted in QTL analysis, cannot be treated as random effects in a least squares analysis. In a cross between true inbred lines this is of no consequence, as the polygenic effect contributes just to the residual variance. In a cross between outbred lines, however, if a trait has high polygenic heritability, the additive polygenic effect has a large influence on variation in the population. Here we extend the fixed model for the regression interval mapping method to a mixed model using an animal model. This makes it possible to use not only the observations from progeny (e.g. F2), but also those from the parents (F1) to evaluate QTLs and polygenic effects. We show how the animal model using parental observations can be applied to an outbred cross and so increase the power and accuracy of QTL analysis. Three estimation methods, i.e. regression and an animal model either with or without parental observations, are applied to simulated data. The animal model using parental observations is shown to have advantages in estimating QTL position and additive genotypic value, especially when the polygenic heritability is large and the number of progeny per parent is small.

Chicken microsatellite primers are not efficient markers for Japanese quail

Domestic fowl or chicken (Gallus gallus) and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) belong to the family Phasianidae. The exchange of marker information between chicken and quail is an important step towards the construction of a high-resolution comparative genetic map in Phasianidae, which includes several poultry species of agricultural importance. We tested chicken microsatellite markers to see if they would be suitable as genetic linkage markers in Japanese quail. Twenty-six per cent (31/120) of chicken primers amplified individual loci in Japanese quail and 65% (20/31) of the amplified loci were found to be polymorphic. Eleven of the polymorphic loci were excluded as uninformative because of the lack of amplification in some individuals or high frequency of nonspecific amplification. The sequence information of the remaining nine loci revealed six of them to contain microsatellites that were nearly identical with those of the orthologous regions in chicken. For these six loci, allele frequencies were estimated in 50 unrelated quails. Although the very few chicken markers that do work well in quail could be used as anchor points for a comparative mapping, most chicken markers are not useful for studies in quail. Therefore, more effort should be committed to developing quail-specific markers rather than attempting to adapt chicken markers for work in quail.

Somatosensory evoked fields in comatose survivors after severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cortical function quantitatively in patients in the chronic phase of severe traumatic brain injury.

METHODS

Thirteen patients with severe traumatic brain injury due to traffic accident followed by persistent consciousness disturbance and disability were studied. Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) for unilateral median nerve stimulation were measured using a whole-head magnetoencephalography system. The latency and electrical current dipole (ECD) moment for the N20m, P30m, N45m and P60m components were calculated and compared with those of 14 age-matched healthy adults.

RESULTS

The peak latency of N20m was longer (P<0.05) and those of P30m and N45m were shorter (P<0.01) in the patients than in normal adults. The ECD moment of N20m and P30m was smaller and that of N45m and P60m was larger in the patients than in normal adults (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results can be explained by the hypothesis that diffuse brain injury induces decreased and delayed input of the somatosensory afferent and compensational amplification of the response in the primary somatosensory cortex. Middle-latency SEFs may be applicable as a cortical functional measure for patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Pocket protein-independent repression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene expression by E2F1

Expression of genes of the plasminogen activator (PA) system declines at the G(0)/G(1)-S-phase boundary of the cell cycle. We found that overexpression of E2F1-3, which acts mainly in late G(1), inhibits promoter activity and endogenous expression of the urokinase-type PA (uPA) and PA inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) genes. This effect is dose dependent and conserved in evolution. Mutation analysis indicated that both the DNA-binding and transactivation domains of E2F1 are necessary for this regulation. Interestingly, an E2F1 mutant lacking the pRB-binding region strongly repressed the uPA and PAI-1 promoters. An E2F-mediated negative effect was also observed in pRB and p107/p130 knockout cell lines. This is the first report that E2F can act as a repressor independently of pocket proteins. Mutation of AP-1 elements in the uPA promoter abrogated E2F-mediated transcriptional inhibition, suggesting the involvement of AP-1 in this regulation. Results shown here identify E2F as an important component of transcriptional control of the PA system and thus provide new insights into mechanisms of cellular proliferation.

Regulation by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase of adenylate- and uridylate-rich element-mediated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) messenger RNA stability and uPA-dependent in vitro cell invasion

MDA-MB-231 cells are highly metastatic breast tumor cells. Their high invasiveness is thought to be due to constitutively high levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor. Previously (R. Nanbu et al., C. Eur. J. Biochem., 247: 169-174, 1997), we showed that uPA mRNA in these cells is stable and that mRNA degradation mediated by an AU-rich element (ARE) is impaired. Here we report that treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with SB203580, an inhibitor of the stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, strongly destabilized uPA mRNA in an ARE-dependent manner. In contrast, in LLC-PK1 and HeLa cells, uPA mRNA is unstable, and an ARE present in the 3' untranslated region plays a role in its degradation. Enhanced ARE-mediated mRNA destabilization induced by SB203580 was also observed in both LLC-PK1 and HeLa cells with a globin chimeric mRNA harboring two copies of the ARE (globin-2ARE) from uPA mRNA. Overexpression of constitutively active MKK6, a p38 upstream activator kinase, increased the stability of the globin-2ARE message in LLC-PK1 cells, confirming the participation of p38 in the regulation of ARE-mediated mRNA decay. Interestingly, the half-life of the uPA mRNA in the three cell lines studied correlated with the basal levels of active p38. SB203580 treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells decreased cell-associated uPA activity and dramatically reduced in vitro cell invasiveness. These results suggest the participation of p38 in the control of invasiveness through regulation of the stability of uPA and uPA receptor mRNA, which is also destabilized by p38.

The plasminogen activator system: biology and regulation

The regulation of plasminogen activation involves genes for two plasminogen activators (tissue type and urokinase type), two specific inhibitors (type 1 and type 2), and a membrane-anchored urokinase-type plasminogen-activator-specific receptor. This system plays an important role in various biological processes involving extracellular proteolysis. Recent studies have revealed that the system, through interplay with integrins and the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin, is also involved in the regulation of cell migration and proliferation in a manner independent of proteolytic activity. The genes are expressed in many different cell types and their expression is under the control of diverse extracellular signals. Gene expression reflects the levels of the corresponding mRNA, which should be the net result of synthesis and degradation. Thus, modulation of mRNA stability is an important factor in overall regulation. This review summarizes current understanding of the biology and regulation of genes involved in plasminogen activation at different levels.

Cytoskeletal reorganization leads to induction of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene by activating FAK and Src and subsequently the Ras/Erk signaling pathway

Previously, we showed that cytoskeletal reorganization (CSR) induced by colchicine or cyochalasins leads to activation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene in LLC-PK(1) cells via the Ras/Erk signaling pathway [Irigoyen et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 1904]. It remained to be seen how CSR activates Ras/Erk signaling. Changes in cell morphology triggered by extracellular signals are often mediated by integrin-associated proteins, such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src. We found that CSR induced the activation of FAK and Src and the association of FAK and Shc, a signaling molecule linking growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase and Grb2. Furthermore, expression of either FRNK, a kinase-minus FAK-like molecule acting as a dominant negative FAK, or a dominant negative Src suppressed CSR-induced uPA gene promoter activation. These results suggest that cells respond to a morphology change, using the cytoskeleton as a sensor, by activating FAK and Src and subsequently the Ras/Erk signaling pathway.

Mode of action of anhydrofulvic acid against Candida utilis ATCC 42402 under acidic condition

The mode of action of anhydrofulvic acid against Candida utilis ATCC 42402 was investigated under acidic conditions. Anhydrofulvic acid inhibited the incorporation of radioactive precursors into DNA, RNA, protein and lipid fractions. Although it did not induce leakage of intracellular materials from the treated cells, it had inhibitory effects on both endogenous and exogenous cellular respiration. Moreover, it inhibited mitochondrial respiration of Candida utilis ATCC 42402 using both succinate and cytochrome c as respiratory substrates, but not using NADH. Unexpectedly, the inhibition against isolated mitochondria was observed at pH 7.0. These results suggested that the action site against the respiratory inhibition of anhydrofulvic acid might be involved in succinate dehydrogenase, complex II in the mitochondrial electron transport chain of the yeast cells. Judging from the inhibitory effect of anhydrofulvic acid on mitochondria detected at pH 7.0, it was postulated that the antifungal activity at a low pH level might depend on the elevation of drug permeability to the cell membrane under acidic conditions.

Detection of human papilloma virus type 56 in extragenital Bowen's disease

A case of Bowen's disease arising on the medial part of the first metatarsal bone of an 81-year-old Japanese woman is described. Histopathologically, proliferation of atypical cells was found throughout the epidermis. Electronmicroscopy revealed virus particles 40-50 nm in diameter in the nuclei of tumour cells at the granular cells just on or below the horny layer. Positive bands were obtained by polymerase chain reaction using a consensus primer of human papilloma virus L1 portion. Sequencing analysis of the amplified DNA revealed the same base sequences and homology as human papilloma virus 56. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report in which human papilloma virus 56 was found in a case of extragenital Bowen's disease. We consider it important to understand that human papilloma virus 56, often found in cervical lesions, can be detected in extragenital Bowen's diseases.

Multimodality treatment for large and critically located arteriovenous malformations

To define the current status of the multimodality treatment for large and critically located arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), we have made a retrospective review of 54 consecutive patients with Spetzler-Martin grade IV and V AVMs. The size of nidus is larger than 3 cm in diameter in all cases. Initially, all but one were treated by nidus embolization with the aim of size reduction. Only one patient had complete nidus occlusion by embolization alone. In 52 patients, the obliteration rate of nidus volume averaged 60% after embolization. Ten patients underwent complete surgical resection of AVMs following embolization with no postoperative neurological deterioration. Thirty-one patients underwent stereotactic radiosurgery following embolization. At the time of this analysis, 30 patients underwent follow-up angiography 2-3 years after radiosurgery. The results of radiosurgery correlated well with the preradiosurgical AVM volume. Of 16 patients with small residual AVMs (< 10 cm3, a mean volume of 4.7 cm3), nine (56%) had complete obliteration, and six (38%) had near-total or subtotal obliteration by 3 years after radiosurgery. In contrast, of 14 patients with large residual AVMs (> or = 10 cm3, a mean volume of 17.9 cm3), only two (14%) had complete obliteration, and eight (57%) had near-total or subtotal obliteration. Repeat radiosurgery was performed for the patients with remaining AVMs at 3-year follow-up review. This study indicates that a certain number of large and critically located AVMs can be safely treated by either microsurgery or radiosurgery following a significant volume reduction by nidus embolization. The present data also suggest the need and possible role of repeat radiosurgery in improving complete obliteration rate of large difficult AVMs, since many of those AVMs have significantly responded to initial radiosurgery.

Transcriptional regulation of the murine urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene in skeletal myoblasts

We have previously shown that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is highly expressed in murine C2C12 myoblasts and that antibodies against uPA are able to block both myoblast fusion and differentiation. Here we show the characterization of cis-acting elements in the mouse uPA promoter in vitro which are involved in uPA gene expression in C2C 12 myoblast cells. DNase I hypersensitive (HS) site analysis revealed the presence of three HS sites in myoblasts. Deletion analysis of stably transfected uPA-promoter constructs revealed that at least two of the three HS sites accounted for the high transcriptional expression in C2C12 cells. One was located at -2.4 kb and corresponded to a known PEA3/AP1A element and the other one was located at -4.9 kb and contained a CArG box and a CRE element. So far, no regulatory function had been assigned to this CRE/CArG element. Both HS sites alone were able to activate transcription of a heterologous promoter and showed a cooperative effect when placed together. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays using myoblast nuclear extracts and specific antibodies demonstrated that cJun, JunD and ATF2 bound to the PEA3/AP1A element, whereas the CRE/CArG element bound SRF. Altogether, these results suggest that high uPA expression in myoblasts is dependent on the cooperation of two regulatory sites in the uPA promoter.

A mammalian ortholog of Drosophila timeless, highly expressed in SCN and retina, forms a complex with mPER1

BACKGROUND

It is now becoming clear that the circadian rhythm of behaviours and hormones arises from a rhythm at the level of gene expression, and that mammals and Drosophila essentially use homologous genes as molecular gears in the control of circadian oscillation. In Drosophila, the period and timeless genes form a functional unit of the clock and its autoregulatory feedback loop for circadian rhythm. However, in mammals, the counterpart of timeless has not been found.

RESULTS

We have isolated a mammalian homologue of timeless, mTim, from the mouse brain. mTim is highly expressed, with a weak or absent rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the mammalian circadian centre. In the retina, mTim mRNA was found to be expressed with a circadian rhythm, and a particularly robust cycle was observed in the presence of light/dark cycles. We demonstrated that mTIM physically associates with mPER1 in vitro and in the nuclei of cultured COS7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We have reported the isolation of the mouse timeless cDNA, the expression of the mTim mRNA and an interaction of mTIM with mPER1. These results indicate that the autoregulatory feedback mechanism of circadian oscillation of the period gene may also be conserved in mammals.

Genetic relationships among Japanese native breeds of chicken based on microsatellite DNA polymorphisms

Genetic relationships among Japanese native breeds of chickens were studied on the basis of microsatellite DNA polymorphisms. DNA samples from 10 Japanese native breeds (Iwate-Jidori, Aizu-Jidori, Sadohige-Jidori, Siba-Tori, Onaga-Dori, Echigonankin, Hinai, Kinpa, Koeyoshi, and Tomaru) and one imported breed (White Leghorn) were analyzed using eight microsatellite markers that were isolated from a microsatellite DNA-enriched library of chickens (Takahashi et al. 1996). The PCR primers to detect (CA)n repeat length polymorphisms were synthesized based on the sequences of clones, and these markers were typed by PCR amplification and electrophoresis using a DNA sequencer. Since all eight microsatellite markers were polymorphic, genetic distance between the breeds could be calculated based on the frequencies of alleles of the microsatellites and phylogenetic relationships between the breeds could be estimated. Most Japanese native chickens were grouped into three groups that correspond to the origin breeds, Jidori, Shokoku, and Shamo. The results suggest that microsatellite DNA markers are a useful tool for studying the genetic relationships among chicken breeds.

Dural arteriovenous shunts at the craniocervical junction

OBJECT

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 10 patients (three women and seven men) who were treated for spinal dural arteriovenous shunts (AVSs) located at the craniocervical junction. This analysis was performed to evaluate the characteristics of this unusual location in contrast with those of the more common thoracic and lumbar AVSs.

METHODS

Seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and one with slowly progressive quadriparesis and dyspnea due to myelopathy. The other two cases were detected incidentally and included a transverse-sigmoid dural AVS and a cerebellar arteriovenous malformation. Angiographic studies revealed that the spinal dural AVSs at the C-1 and/or C-2 levels were fed by the dural branches of the radicular arteries that coursed from the vertebral artery and drained into the medullary veins. Venous drainage was caudally directed in the patient with myelopathy. In contrast, the shunt flow drained mainly into the intracranial venous system in patients with SAH. Furthermore, in four of these patients a varix was found on the draining vein. In all patients, the draining vein was interrupted surgically at the point at which this vessel entered the intradural space, using intraoperative digital subtraction angiography to monitor flow. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients and no recurrence was confirmed on follow-up angiographic studies obtained in seven patients at 6 months after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

If computerized tomography scanning shows SAH predominantly in the posterior fossa and no abnormalities are found on intracranial four-vessel angiographic study, proximal vertebral angiography should be performed to detect dural AVS at the craniocervical junction. The results of surgical intervention for this disease are quite satisfactory.

Persistent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42 and p44 and ets-2 phosphorylation in response to colony-stimulating factor 1/c-fms signaling

An antibody that specifically recognized phosphothreonine 72 in ets-2 was used to determine the phosphorylation status of endogenous ets-2 in response to colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1)/c-fms signaling. Phosphorylation of ets-2 was detected in primary macrophages, cells that normally express c-fms, and in fibroblasts engineered to express human c-fms. In the former cells, ets-2 was a CSF-1 immediate-early response gene, and phosphorylated ets-2 was detected after 2 to 4 h, coincident with expression of ets-2 protein. In fibroblasts, ets-2 was constitutively expressed and rapidly became phosphorylated in response to CSF-1. In both cell systems, ets-2 phosphorylation was persistent, with maximal phosphorylation detected 8 to 24 h after CSF-1 stimulation, and was correlated with activation of the CSF-1 target urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) gene. Kinase assays that used recombinant ets-2 protein as a substrate demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases p42 and p44 were constitutively activated in both cell types in response to CSF-1. Immune depletion experiments and the use of the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 indicate that these two MAP kinases are the major ets-2 kinases activated in response to CSF-1/c-fms signaling. In the macrophage cell line RAW264, conditional expression of raf kinase induced ets-2 expression and phosphorylation, as well as uPA mRNA expression. Transient assays mapped ets/AP-1 response elements as critical for basal and CSF-1-stimulated uPA reporter gene activity. These results indicate that persistent activation of the raf/MAP kinase pathway by CSF-1 is necessary for both ets-2 expression and posttranslational activation in macrophages.

Factors that cause the beta-anomeric preference of Na+/glucose cotransporter for intestinal transport of monosaccharide conjugates

The intestinal transport of glucose- and galactose-conjugated acetaminophen (APAP glycoside) by Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) was studied. SGLT1-mediated transport of APAP glycosides preferred glucoside>galactoside and beta-anomer>alpha-anomer. These preferences agree with previous studies. NMR spectroscopic and molecular modeling studies indicated that the conformation of the glucose ring of alpha- and beta-glucosides of APAP, as well as glycosides in previous studies, is in the 4C1 chair form, the same form as glucose itself. Molecular dynamics analysis also indicated that the glucose ring was in the 4C1 chair form, and that there are differences between the rotational spaces of aglycones and hydroxy groups of glucose moieties between anomers. Therefore, we conclude that the beta-anomeric preference of glucose conjugate transport by SGLT1 is not due to the conformation of the glucose ring, but to the configuration of the aglycone at C-1 of the monosaccharide moiety.

Interaction of the DNA modifying proteins VirD1 and VirD2 of Agrobacterium tumefaciens: analysis by subcellular localization in mammalian cells

Interaction between Agrobacterium tumefaciens and plants provides a unique example of interkingdom gene transfer. Agrobacterium, a plant pathogen, is capable to stably transform the plant cell with a segment of its own DNA called T-DNA (transferred DNA). This process depends, among others, on the specialized bacterial virulence proteins VirD1 and VirD2 that excise the T-DNA from its adjacent sequences. Subsequent to transfer to the plant cell, the virulence protein VirD2, through its nuclear localization signal (NLS), is believed to guide the T-DNA to the nucleus. The T-DNA then is integrated into the plant genome. Although both of these proteins are essential for bacterial virulence, physical interaction of them has not been analyzed so far. We studied associations between these proteins by expressing them in mammalian cells and by testing for intracellular localization and colocalization. When expressed in human cells [HeLa, human embryo kidney (HEK) 293], the VirD2 protein homogeneously distributed over the nucleoplasm. The presence of any of two NLSs, on the N and C termini of VirD2, was sufficient for its efficient nuclear localization whereas deletion of both NLSs rendered the protein cytoplasmic. However, this double NLS mutant was translocated to the nucleus in the presence of wild-type VirD2 protein, implying VirD2-VirD2 interaction. The VirD1 protein, by itself localized in the cytoplasm, moved to the nucleus when coexpressed with the VirD2 protein, suggesting VirD1-VirD2 interaction. This interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation tests. Of interest, both proteins coimported to the nucleus showed a similar, peculiar sublocalization. The data are discussed in terms of functions of the VirD proteins. In addition, coimport of proteins into nuclei is suggested as a useful system in studying individual protein-protein interactions.

Role of tissue-specific transcription factor LFB3 in a cyclic AMP-responsive enhancer of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene in LLC-PK1 cells

A cyclic AMP (cAMP)-inducible enhancer in the pig urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene located 3.4 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site is composed of three protein-binding domains, A, B, and C. Domains A and B each contain a CRE (cAMP response element)-like sequence but require the adjoining C domain for full cAMP responsiveness. A tissue-specific transcription factor, LFB3/HNF1beta/vHNF1, binds to the C domain. Mutation analyses suggest that the imperfect CRE and LFB3-binding sequences are required for tight coupling of hormonal and tissue-specific regulation. CREB and ATF1 bind to domains A and B, and this binding is enhanced upon phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A [PKA]). Analysis in a mammalian two-hybrid system revealed that CREB/ATF1 and LFB3 interact and that transactivation potential is enhanced by PKA activation. Interestingly, however, phosphorylation of CREB at Ser-133 does not contribute to its interaction with LFB3. The region of LFB3 involved in its interaction with CREB/ATF1 lies, at least partly, between amino acids 400 and 450. Deletion of this region removed the ability of LFB3 to mediate cAMP induction of the ABC enhancer but did not impair its basal transactivation activity on the albumin promoter. Thus, the two activities are distinct functions of LFB3.

UV irradiation induces the murine urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway: requirement of an AP1 enhancer element

UV irradiation leads to severe damage, such as cutaneous inflammation, immunosuppression, and cancer, but it also results in a gene induction protective response termed the UV response. The signal triggering the UV response was thought to originate from DNA damage; recent findings, however, have shown that it is initiated at or near the cell membrane and transmitted via cytoplasmic kinase cascades to induce gene transcription. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was the first protein shown to be UV inducible in xeroderma pigmentosum DNA repair-deficient human cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the induction were not elucidated. We have found that the endogenous murine uPA gene product is transcriptionally upregulated by UV in NIH 3T3 fibroblast and F9 teratocarcinoma cells. This induction required an activator protein 1 (AP1) enhancer element located at -2.4 kb, since deletion of this site abrogated the induction. We analyzed the contribution of the three different types of UV-inducible mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK, JNK/SAPK, and p38) to the activation of the murine uPA promoter by UV. MEKK1, a specific JNK activator, induced transcription from the uPA promoter in the absence of UV treatment, whereas coexpression of catalytically inactive MEKK1(K432M) and of cytoplasmic JNK inhibitor JIP-1 inhibited UV-induced uPA transcriptional activity. In contrast, neither dominant negative MKK6 (or SB203580) nor PD98059, which specifically inhibit p38 and ERK MAP kinase pathways, respectively, could abrogate the UV-induced effect. Moreover, our results indicated that wild-type N-terminal c-Jun, but not mutated c-Jun (Ala-63/73), was able to mediate UV-induced uPA transcriptional activity. Taken together, we show for the first time that kinases of the JNK family can activate the uPA promoter. This activation links external UV stimulation and AP1-dependent uPA transcription, providing a transcription-coupled signal transduction pathway for the induction of the murine uPA gene by UV.

[Long lasting epidural anesthesia for a morbidly obese patient]

A forty-six year old woman (136 cm, 115 kg), with body mass index (BMI) of 62.2, was scheduled for osteotomy because of postoperative infection and pseudoarthrosis of the right lower leg. During the post two years, the patient had received several orthopedic surgeries under spina anesthesia, which repeatedly accompanied intraoperative respiratory difficulties. At the age of thirty one, she weighted more than 100 kg and needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation during cesarean section under general anesthesia. Considering the past history of anesthesic complications, we decided to perform epidural anesthesia with a written informed consent from the patient. Due to technical difficulties, the operative procedures took six hours and forty-five minutes without complications related to anesthesia. This case demonstrates the necessity of safe and comfortable anesthesia for morbidly obese patients.

Rapamycin inhibition of the G1 to S transition is mediated by effects on cyclin D1 mRNA and protein stability

The immunosuppressant rapamycin has been shown previously to inhibit the G1/S transition in several cell types by prolonging the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This process appears to be controlled, in part, by the rapamycin-sensitive FK506-binding protein-rapamycin-associated protein-p70 S6 kinase (p70(S6k)) pathway and the cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk). We now show that in serum-stimulated NIH 3T3 cells, rapamycin treatment delays the accumulation of cyclin D1 mRNA during progression through G1. Rapamycin also appears to affect stability of the transcript. The combined transcriptional and post-transcriptional effects of the drug ultimately result in decreased levels of cyclin D1 protein. Moreover, degradation of newly synthesized cyclin D1 protein is accelerated by rapamycin, a process prevented by inclusion of the proteasome inhibitor, N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal. The overall effect of rapamycin on cyclin D1 leads, in turn, to impaired formation of active complexes with Cdk4, a process which triggers retargeting of the p27(Kip1) inhibitor to cyclin E/Cdk2. In view of this novel experimental evidence, we discuss a possible mechanism for the rapamycin-induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition.

[Differential diagnosis of hyponatremia following subarachnoid hemorrhage]

Hyponatremia is a common complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although the mechanism of hyponatremia is still controversial, cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSNS) is currently regarded as being more responsible than the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). The aim of our study was to assess the plasma volume status of a patient with hyponatremia following subarachnoid hemorrhage. In doing this it may be possible to indirectly differentiate its pathogenesis. Fifty patients with SAH were studied. Twenty patients demonstrated hyponatremia (serum sodium < 135 mEq/L) during day 7 to 13 after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients with hyponatremia were categorized on the basis of their daily body weight, and central venous pressure. Group A consisted of patients with hypovolemia (16 patients), with the onset time of hyponatremia being day 7 to 9. Group B included those with hypervolemia (4 patients); hyponatremia was observed during day 10 to 11 and was corrected in all patients within 72 hours after induction of fluid restriction. Our findings suggest that hyponatremia following subarachnoid hemorrhage usually occurs due to CSWS, although SIADH remains as a minor pathogenesis. We conclude that the combination of daily body weight and CVP measurements is a simple and practical method to distinguish promptly SIADH from CSWS.

Two patients with premature labour associated with Mycoplasma hominis infection

Because several reports have suggested that bacterial vaginosis causes premature labour and early rupture of the fetal membranes, the presence of a bacterial flora that causes bacterial vaginosis is thought to be a risk factor for premature labour. The present study investigated two patients with premature delivery and intra-uterine Mycoplasma hominis infection. In microbiological studies, Gram's staining of amniotic fluids revealed numerous neutrophils and epithelial cells but no micro-organisms. Culture of amniotic fluid before antibiotic therapy yielded only M. hominis under anaerobic conditions; aerobic culture was negative. Vaginal discharge taken on the day of delivery yielded no growth in case 1 and M. hominis and Enterococcus faecalis in case 2. Maternal sera showed specific antibodies to M. hominis by ELISA and immunoblotting. As no possible cause of premature labour other than M. hominis infection was detected, it is concluded that the intra-uterine M. hominis infection was associated with premature labour in these patients.

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate activates the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway upstream of SOS involving serine phosphorylation of Shc in NIH3T3 cells

We investigated the activation of the Ras/ERK signaling pathway by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Interestingly, the activation was suppressed not only by dominant negative Raf-1 but also by dominant negative Ras and SOS. Further analysis revealed that TPA treatment induced, dependently on protein kinase C, the mobility shift of p66(shc) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which could be prevented by treatment of the Shc immunoprecipitate with serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) or 2A (PP2A). Phosphoamino acid analysis of Shc showed that unlike growth factor-induced Shc phosphorylation, where Shc is mainly phosphorylated at tyrosine residues, TPA-induced phosphorylation was only at serine residues. Like growth factor-induced Shc phosphorylation, which leads to the association of Shc with Grb2, TPA also induced this association, but, correspondingly to the above results, the TPA-induced association was disrupted by in vitro treatment of the Shc immunoprecipitate with PP1. Taken together, these results suggest that the TPA signal was fed at or upstream of Shc to activate the Ras/ERK signaling pathway involving serine phosphorylation of Shc.

[Reliability and factorial structure of a rating scale for persistent vegetative state]

We developed a new rating scale, Kohnan Vegetative Score, to measure severity and small clinical changes in vegetative state patients. It has 7 items corresponding to the conditions of vegetative state by Japanese Society of Neurosurgery: motor function, food ingestion, urination and defecation, eye movement, vocalization, communication, and facial expression. Each item is rated in 5 ordinal categories: slight (score = 1), mild(2), moderate(4), and extreme(5). The sum of the scores is used as the summary score, which ranges from 7 to 35, and high score means 'severe'. We examined the reliability and the factorial structure of the Kohnan Vegetative Score. The subjects were 10 patients who met the conditions of vegetative state. Four neurosurgeons rated the subjects, and then 2 of them repeated the rating after one week interval. As a measure of reliability, the (weighted) Kappa coefficient proposed Cohen (1960, 1968) was calculated for each item, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for the summary score. To analyze the factorial structure, the factor analysis was carried out. The minimum and the maximum weighted Kappa values were 0.44 and 0.64 for intra-rater reliability, and 0.37 and 0.69 for inter-rater reliability, respectively. Concerning the factorial structure, the contribution of the first factor was 91.5% which indicated the unidimensionality of the scale. The ICC's estimate for the summary score were 0.90 (95% C.I.: 0.766-0.970). On the basis of these results, the Kohnan Vegetative Score has unidimensionality and high reliability enough for a practical use.

Cooperation of two PEA3/AP1 sites in uPA gene induction by TPA and FGF-2

We have previously shown in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts that treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) activates the Ras/Erk signaling pathway in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, leading to the induction of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene. In this study, we characterize cis-acting elements involved in this induction. DNase I hypersensitive (HS) site analysis of the uPA promoter showed that two regions were enhanced after TPA and FGF-2 treatment. One was located 2.4kb upstream of the transcription start site (-2.4kb), where a known PEA3/AP1 (AGGAAATGAGGTCAT) element is located. The other was located in a previously undefined far upstream region. Sequencing of this region revealed a similar AP1/PEA3 (GTGATTCACTTCCT) element at -6.9 kb corresponding to the HS site. Deletion analysis of the uPA promoter in transient transfection assays showed that both PEA3/AP1 elements are required for full inducibility, suggesting a synergism between the two elements. When the two sites were inserted together upstream of a minimal promoter derived from the thymidine kinase gene, expression of the reporter gene was more strongly induced by TPA and FGF-2 than with either of the two elements alone. Alone, the -6.9 element was more potent than the -2.4 element. The involvement of AP1 as well as Ets transcription factors was confirmed by examining different promoter constructs containing deletions in either the AP-1 or the PEA3 element, and by using an expression plasmid for dominant negative Ets-2. Electromobility shift analyses using specific antibodies showed that c-Jun and, JunD bind to both elements with or without induction. In addition, ATF-2 binds to the -2.4-kb element even without induction and c-Fos to the -6.9-kb element only after induction. Accordingly, overexpression of c-Fos caused induction from the -6.9-kb element, but reduced induction from the -2.4-kb element. The involvement of the Ets-2 transcription factor was shown by using expression plasmids for wild-type and dominant negative Ets-2.

Enhanced stability of urokinase-type plasminogen activator mRNA in metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and LLC-PK1 cells down-regulated for protein kinase C--correlation with cytoplasmic heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C

In LLC-PK1 cells, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA has a short half-life of 70 min. We have previously demonstrated that most of the regulatory regions responsible for the rapid turnover of uPA mRNA in LLC-PK1 cells reside in its 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), where there are at least three regulatory sites, one of which is A+U-rich. This A+U-rich sequence mediates uPA mRNA stabilization induced by protein kinase C (PKC) down-regulation. In this work, we found that uPA mRNA is rather stable in MDA-MB-231 cells with a half-life of 17 h. We compared the stability of hybrid globin mRNA containing different parts of uPA mRNA in its 3' UTR and found that the A+U-rich sequence of uPA mRNA renders otherwise stable globin mRNA unstable in LLC-PK1 cells but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. We identified a cytoplasmic protein of 40 kDa (p40) which specifically interacts with the A+U-rich sequence. Levels of p40 activity as detected by ultraviolet cross-linking were higher in MDA-MB-231 and PKC-down-regulated LLC-PK1 cells than in untreated LLC-PK1 cells. Prior treatment of the cytoplasm with a specific antibody against heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C) significantly reduced p40 activity. These results suggest a correlation between the A+U-rich sequence-dependent uPA mRNA stabilization in vivo and the binding of hnRNP C to the A+U-rich sequence in vitro.