In-depth Profiling and Quantification of the Lysine Acetylome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Trapped Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide with limited therapeutic options. Comprehensive investigation of protein posttranslational modifications in HCC is still limited. Lysine acetylation is one of the most common types of posttranslational modification involved in many cellular processes and plays crucial roles in the regulation of cancer. In this study, we analyzed the proteome and K-acetylome in eight pairs of HCC tumors and normal adjacent tissues using a timsTOF Pro instrument. As a result, we identified 9219 K-acetylation sites in 2625 proteins, of which 1003 sites exhibited differential acetylation levels between tumors and normal adjacent tissues. Interestingly, many novel tumor-specific K-acetylation sites were characterized, for example, filamin A (K865), filamin B (K697), and cofilin (K19), suggesting altered activities of these cytoskeleton-modulating molecules, which may contribute to tumor metastasis. In addition, we observed an overall suppression of protein K-acetylation in HCC tumors, especially for enzymes from various metabolic pathways, for example, glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid metabolism. Moreover, the expression of deacetylase sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) was upregulated in HCC tumors, and its role of deacetylation in HCC cells was further explored by examining the impact of SIRT2 overexpression on the proteome and K-acetylome in Huh7 HCC cells. SIRT2 overexpression reduced K-acetylation of proteins involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including energy metabolism. Furthermore, cellular assays showed that overexpression of SIRT2 in HCC cells inhibited both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings provide valuable information to better understand the roles of K-acetylation in HCC and to treat this disease by correcting the aberrant acetylation patterns.     

Increase in hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation mediated by α-adrenergic system under cold stress and noradrenaline treatment

A membrane protein recognized by monoclonal antibody SQM1 was identified in human squamous carcinomas, including those originating in the head and neck (SqCHN), lung and cervix. Cell lines derived from SqCHN of previously untreated patients expressed high amounts of this protein. In contrast, many cell lines established from SqCHN of patients previously treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation showed diminished amounts of this SQM1 protein. The expression of SQM1 antigen was determined in several SgCHN cell lines made resistant by exposure to methotrexate (MTX) in vitro. The parent cell lines all exhibited strong binding to SQM1 antibody. The MTX-resistant sublines showed much lower membrane binding of SQM1. The lowest SQM1 reactivity was found in cell lines with high resistance to MTX and with diminished rate of MTX transport. Some highly MTX-resistant cell lines which had high levels of dihydrofolate reductase, but which retained a high rate of MTX transport, also retained high levels of SQM1 binding. Reduced SQM1 protein was also found in SgCHN cells which developed resistance to the alkylating drug cis-platinum (CDDP) and which showed reduced membrane transport of CDDP. Cell growth kinetics and non-specific antigenic shifts were not responsible for the differences in SQM1 binding between the parent cell lines and their drug-resistant sublines. The finding of a novel protein which is reduced in cells resistant to MTX and CDDP could contribute to our understanding of the basic mechanisms of drug resistance. By detecting SQM1 protein in clinical specimens, it may be possible to monitor the development of drug resistance in tumors.Abbreviations SqCHN Squamous Carcinoma of the Head and Neck - MTX Methotrexate - CDDP Cis-Platinum - DHFR Dihydrofolate Reductase     

Expression of several growth factors and their receptor genes in human colon carcinomas

We have examined the expression of mRNAs for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), EGF receptor (EGFR), PDGF-A chain (PDGFA), PDGF-B chain (PDGFB) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) genes in seven human colorectal carcinoma cell lines and 18 human colorectal carcinomas. In surgically resected specimens of the 18 colorectal tumors, TGF-α, EGFR, PDGFA, PDGFB and PDGFR mRNAs were detected at various levels in 15 (83%), 9 (50%), 18 (100%), 8 (44%) and 12 (67%), respectively. They were also detected in normal tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in only five (28%) of the tumors, but not in normal mucosa. Expression of EGF was also confirmed immunohistochemically in tumor cells. Of the five tumors expressing EGF, four expressed EGFR mRNA and showed a tendency to invade veins and lymphatics. All the colorectal carcinoma cell lines expressed TGF-α mRNA, and five cell lines expressed EGFR mRNA simultaneously. Production of TGF-α protein by DLD-1 and CoLo320DM cells was confirmed by TGF-α specific monoclonal antibody binding assay. The spontaneous³H-thymidine uptake by DLD-1 was suppressed by an anti-TGF-α monoclonal antibody. PDGFA and PDGFB mRNA were also expressed in four cell lines, but PDGFR and EGF mRNA was not detected. These results suggest that human colorectal carcinomas express multi-loops of growth factors and that TGF-α produced by tumor cells functions as an autocrine growth factor in human colonic carcinoma.     

Proteoglycan synthesis by normal and neoplastic human transitional epithelial cells

Metabolically 35S-labeled proteoglycans were isolated from cell-associated matrices and media of confluent cultures of human normal transitional epithelial cells and HCV-29T transitional carcinoma cells. On Sepharose CL-4B columns, the cell-associated proteoglycans synthesized from both cell types separated into three identical size classes, termed CI, CII, and CIII. Normal epithelial cell C-fractions eluted in a 22:34:45 proportion and contained 64%, 64%, and 72% heparan sulfate, whereas corresponding HCV-29T fractions eluted in a 29:11:60 proportion, and contained 91%, 77%, and 70% heparan sulfate, respectively. Medium proteoglycans from normal cells separated into two size classes in a proportion of 6:94 and were composed of 35% and 50% heparan sulfate. HCV-29T medium contained only one size class of proteoglycans consisting of 23% heparan sulfate. The remaining percentages were accounted for by chondroitin/dermatan sulfate. On isopycnic CsCl gradients, proteoglycan fractions from normal cells had buoyant densities that were higher than the corresponding fractions from HCV-29T cells. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography showed that cell and medium associated heparan sulfate from HCV-29T cells was consistently of lower charge density (undersulfated) than that from normal epithelial cells. In contrast, the chondroitin/dermatan sulfate of HCV-29T was of a charge density similar to that of normal cells. These as well as other structural and compositional differences in the proteoglycan may account, at least in part, for the altered behavioral traits of highly invasive carcinoma cells.     

应用蛋白印迹法检测鼻咽癌病人血清中抗Epstein—Barr病毒IgA/EA抗体

曾毅等建立了一系列检测EB病毒IgA/VCA和IgA/EA抗体的鼻咽癌早期诊断方法,取得了满意的结果。为了进一步提高对鼻咽癌诊断更为特异的IgA/EA抗体的检出率,我们建立了检测EB病毒IgA/EA抗体的蛋白印迹法。方法敏感特异,结果令人满意。 本法中所用的两个质粒系由本实验室与西德Pettenkofer研究所Wolf教授的实验室合作构建。pUCARG1140和pUC9MBcE3.2质粒均为表达质粒,前者携带着来源于EB病毒Bam     

小鼠Lewis肺癌组织中层粘连蛋白受体的分离及其性质的研究

层粘连蛋白(Laminin,LN)是基膜(basement membrane)中的一种主要大分子糖蛋白。一些研究资料表明肿瘤细胞的浸润转移可能与LN有关。肿瘤细胞与LN的作用可能是通过细胞表面LN受体进行的。本文采用亲和层析法从小鼠Lewis肺癌组织中分离LN受体并对其理化性质进行研究。Lewis肺癌LN受体的表观分子量为70,000,还原后SDS电泳图为一条较宽的条带。氨基酸组成中疏水氨基酸占38％,苏氨酸、絲氨酸、门冬氨酸(包括门冬酰胺)占23.5％,通过硝酸纤维素膜片法用HRP-LN测定受体与LN的结合特性,证明具有配基结合专一性,饱和性及高亲和性(Kd=0.95×10~(-9)mol/L)。     

Human renal clear cell carcinoma: Establishment and characterization of a new cell line (G-2101)

Summary A human cell line has been established from a renal adenocarcinoma rib metastasis of a 58-y-old male. This cell line has been maintained in continuous culture for 20 mo. through more than 50 passages. It displays simulataneous expression of the intermediate filaments cytokeratin and vimentin. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content reveals a major hyperdiploid population. This work was supported in part by a grant from Triton Biosciences, Inc.     

NCI-H716 cells as a model for endocrine differentiation in colorectal cancer

In colonic neoplasms, endocrine differentiation is encountered not only in carcinoid tumors but also in adenocarcinomas, where endocrine cells may represent a distinct line of differentiation in the tumor. The significance of endocrine differentiation in colorectal cancer is not well established, partly because of the paucity of tumor cell lines which can serve as a model for studying endocrine differentiation. In this report we describe the properties of NCI-H716 cells, a cell line derived from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the caecum, under various in vitro conditions and as xenografts in athymic mice. Phenotypical properties were immunohistochemically assessed using a panel of differentiation related antibodies, and also by Northern blot analysis and by electron microscopy. Receptors for biogenic amines and peptide hormones were analyzed by ligand binding assay. These studies show that:

Serial studies of autologous antibody reactivity to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Summary In previous studies we evaluated the incidence and specificity of autologous antibody reactivity against squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We were able to demonstrate that autologous antibody reactivity is present in native sera but was usually of too low a titer to allow further analysis. Dissociation of immune complexes by acidification and ultrafiltration of serum augmented autologous antibody reactivity in nine out of nine autologous systems tested. Native antibody and antibody derived from immune complexes produced by the host and reactive with autologous tumor cells may be directed against physiologically relevant antigens. Therefore, correlations of antibody titers with clinical course may provide insight into the nature of the host response to cancer. In the present analysis, serological studies of six patients with SCCHN were performed with serum samples obtained over many months. Results of serial serological assays were correlated to tumor progression and clinical course. Fluctuations in autologous antibody reactivity were noted over time. In four cases, rises in autologous antibody titers preceded the clinical diagnosis of recurrence by several months. Drops in autologous antibody reactivity were noted in two cases following surgery or radiation therapy. In two cases of long-term survivors, no correlation between antibody reactivity and clinical course was noted. Specificity analysis of the six autologous systems demonstrated reactivity against autologous and allogeneic SCCHN as well as melanoma cell lines. These sera did not react with glioma, neuroblastoma, renal cell, breast, bladder and colon carcinoma cell lines nor with fetal calf serum, pooled lymphocytes, red blood cells and platelets. Autologous serial serological studies may provide a means by which to evaluate the host/tumor relationship in patients with SCCHN.     

In search of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes infiltrating or accompanying human ovarian carcinoma

Summary Lymphocytes infiltrating human ovarian carcinoma obtained directly from the tumour mass (tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, TIL) or from the carcinomatous ascites (tumour-associated lymphocytes, TAL) were expanded in vitro in long-term cultures with interleukin-2 and tested for their specific cytolytic activity. Killing of the autologous tumour was detected only in a proportion of the patients, less frequently in TIL compared to TAL. In fact two out of ten TIL and four out of nine TAL cultures tested showed significant levels of lysis against the autologous tumour. This cytotoxic activity was not restricted to the autologous tumour, as other tumour cell lines, including non-ovarian ones, were lysed as well. The cultures that were not cytotoxic against the autologous tumour were in most cases able to lyse other tumour cell lines of ovarian or other histology. Cloning of TIL from one patient was performed: of 22 clones tested, 4 displayed higher cytotoxicity against the autologous tumour compared to the uncloned population and 3 out of these 4 did not kill an irrelevant carcinoma cell line. In order to stimulate the expansion of putative specific effectors we performed mixed lymphocyte/tumour cultures (MLTC) with autologous or allogeneic tumour cells. No stimulation of cytotoxicity against the autologous tumour was detected after MLTC in nine different TAL populations, using autologous or allogeneic tumours as stimulators. On the contrary, peripheral blood lymphocytes from two patients after MLTC with the autologous tumour showed increased killing of the autologous and decreased killing of an allogeneic target. In conclusion TIL and TAL from ovarian carcinoma expanded in vitro with interleukin-2 usually have non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity and variable degrees of reactivity against the autologous tumour. A preferential killing for the autologous tumour was not observed even after MLTC. These results do not exclude the existence of tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in ovarian carcinoma; nevertheless they suggest that putative specific effectors have very low frequency and that culture techniques for expanding their growth more selectively are still to be optimized.