Effect of peroxisome proliferators on the methylation and protein level of the c-myc protooncogene in B6C3F1 mice liver

Peroxisome proliferators in general are nongenotoxic mouse liver carcinogens for which DNA hypomethylation and altered gene expression are proposed mechanisms. Therefore, the peroxisome proliferators 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), gemfibrozil, and Wy-14,643 were evaluated for the ability to alter the methylation and expression of the c-myc protooncogene. Male B6C3F1 mice were administered for 6 days in their diet Wy-14,643 (5-500 ppm), 2,4-D (1,680 ppm), DBP (20,000 ppm), or gemfibrozil (8,000 ppm). All four peroxisome proliferators caused hypomethylation of the c-myc gene in the liver. Wy-14,643 appeared to be the most efficacious with a threshold between 10 and 50 ppm. The level of the c-myc protein was increased by Wy-14,643, but not the other peroxisome proliferators. When female B6C3F1 mice received a two-thirds partially hepatectomy and 16 h later were administered 50 mg/kg Wy-14,643 by gavage, hypomethylation of the gene occurred 24 h later. Hypomethylation was not found in mice that received Wy-14,643 following a sham operation. Hypomethylation of the c-myc gene within 24 h of administering Wy-14,643 after a partial hepatectomy but not after a sham operation supports the hypothesis that the peroxisome proliferators prevent methylation of hemimethylated sites formed by DNA replication.     

BimEL-dependent apoptosis induced in peripheral blood lymphocytes with n-butyric acid is moderated by variation in expression of c-myc and p21(WAF1)

We have examined the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on the viability of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in vitro and the effect of this agent on the expression of 20 apoptosis-related genes. Data suggest that PBL treated with 2 mmol L(-1) SB resisted for at least 8 h the destructive activity of the agent, but eventually 30% of cells died within 72 h. As documented by flow cytometry and cytochrome c release study, cells underwent mitochondrial-derived apoptosis. While the expression of the majority of genes examined by RT-PCR and Western blots remained indifferent to 2 mmol L(-1) SB, the cellular levels of BimEL, c-myc, p53, and p21(WAF1) varied profoundly with the time of SB treatment. The Bax activator BimEL increased rapidly, driving cells toward apoptosis likely controlled by c-myc and p21(WAF1) activities. The c-myc, exercising the role of mediator of the function of BimEL and inhibitor of p21(WAF1) expression, decreased significantly for several hours after adding SB but within 48 h it returned to close to its original value. An apoptosis inhibitor and executive caspase substrate p21(WAF1) increased early at the beginning of treatment but subsequently, within a time frame of 72 h, profoundly dropped in terms of both a caspase-dependent and caspase-independent way. We suggest that variations in c-myc and p21(WAF1) expression delay apoptosis making PBL resistant to SB for several hours, and together with fast catabolism of SB in vivo protect PBL against the destructive activity of this anti-cancerous metabolite of colonic bacteria.     

应用差异PCR技术研究MTX耐药细胞的遗传学改变

基因扩增是介导细胞产生耐药性的一种普遍性机制。为探讨MTX耐药的小鼠细胞中与耐药机制形成有关的分子遗传学背景,应用差异PCR技术,检测了MTX耐药细胞中DHFR基因的扩增和过表达,并对c-myc及p53基因状态与dhfr扩增之间的相关性进行了探讨。结果表明：dhfr的扩增和过表达直接介导细胞耐药。未检测到c-myc的扩增和p53拷贝数的变化;也未检测到c-myc mRNA水平的改变,但p53基因的mRNA水平明显升高,显示p53可正常表达。这些结果表明dhfr的扩增与这两个侯选基因的状态无关,提示该耐药细胞中可能存在其他的分子遗传学改变允许基因大量扩增。     

重组RA-538及反义c-myc腺病毒对人胃癌、食管癌和bcl-2高表达细胞系的作用及其分子机制的体内外研究

本课题研究RA53 8、反义c ymc重组腺病毒对人胃癌 (SGC790 1 )、食管癌(EC1 0 9、EC871 2 )、正常人胚肺 2BS ( 2BS)及bcl 2高表达细胞系的体内外生物学作用及其分子机制。结果显示Ad RA53 8及Ad ASc myc对SGC790 1细胞体内外均具有明显的生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用 ,并能抑制其c myc、bcl 2、cyclinD1基因的表达及刺激bax基因的表达。对EC1 0 9、EC871 2、2BS及bcl 2基因高表达细胞系均无明显的生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用 ,对这些细胞系中c myc、bcl 2基因的表达均无调节作用。结果表明Ad RA53 8、Ad ASc myc对胃癌细胞具有显著的体内外生长抑制及凋亡诱导作用 ,其作用是c myc、bcl 2、bax、cyclinD1等一系列基因表达变化及其相互作用的结果。对食管癌、2BS及bcl 2高表达细胞系则无类似作用。     

Glucocorticoids, oxysterols, and cAMP with glucocorticoids each cause apoptosis of CEM cells and suppress c-myc

In clones of the CEM human acute lyumphoblastic leukemic cell line, glucocorticoids, oxysterols and activators of the cAMP pathway acting synergistically with glucocorticoids, each can cause apoptotic cell death. Morphologically and kinetically, these deaths resemble one another. The kinetics are striking: in each case, after addition of the lethal compound(s), an interval of approximately 24 h follows, during which cell growth continues unabated. During this “prodromal” period, removal of the apoptotic agent leaves the cells fully viable. We hypothesize that a sequence of biochemical events occurs during the prodrome which eventually results in the triggering of the full apoptotic response as evidenced by the activation of caspases and DNA fragmentation. At some point, the process is irreversible and proceeds relatively rapidly to cell death. Suppression of c-Myc seems a universal early event evoked by each of these lethal compounds or combinations, and we conclude that the negative regulation of this proto-oncogene is an important aspect of the critical pre-apoptotic events in these cells.