垂体瘤转化基因1研究进展

垂雄瘤转化基因1（PTTG1）,也被称为分离酶抑制蛋白基因,是近几年从大鼠垂体肿瘤中发现的癌基因。它不但可以与分离酶结合,使分离酶失活,从而抑制姐妹染色单体的分离,还具有转录激活活性。已有的染色质免疫共沉淀结合芯片数据显示,PTTG1不仅可以直接调控基因的转录,也可以与其他蛋白,如PTTG1结合因子（PBF）、p53、Spl、上游刺激因子1（USF1）等相互作用来调控下游基因的转录。在NIH3T3细胞中,PTTG1激活c-Mvc的转录,增强NIH3T3细胞在裸鼠体内的成瘤能力。PTTG1也能激活肿瘤细胞中成纤维细胞生长因子2（FGF2）的转录,从而促进肿瘤血管生成。PTTG1结合p53、抑制p21表达、激活周期蛋白D3的能力,提示它在凋亡、细胞周期和衰老方面廿．发挥作用。另外,PTTG1在肿瘤转移和肝癌的发生发展中也发挥着重要作用。我们简要综述了PTTG1的靶基因,及其在肝癌及肿瘤转祷中的研究进展。     

Hypoxia induces p53-dependent transactivation and Fas/CD95-dependent apoptosis

p53 triggers apoptosis in response to cellular stress. We analyzed p53-dependent gene and protein expression in response to hypoxia using wild-type p53-carrying or p53 null HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. Hypoxia induced p53 protein levels and p53-dependent apoptosis in these cells. cDNA microarray analysis revealed that only a limited number of genes were regulated by p53 upon hypoxia. Most classical p53 target genes were not upregulated. However, we found that Fas/CD95 was significantly induced in response to hypoxia in a p53-dependent manner, along with several novel p53 target genes including ANXA1, DDIT3/GADD153 (CHOP), SEL1L and SMURF1. Disruption of Fas/CD95 signalling using anti-Fas-blocking antibody or a caspase 8 inhibitor abrogated p53-induced apoptosis in response to hypoxia. We conclude that hypoxia triggers a p53-dependent gene expression pattern distinct from that induced by other stress agents and that Fas/CD95 is a critical regulator of p53-dependent apoptosis upon hypoxia.     

Pituitary tumor transforming gene causes aneuploidy and p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis

The pituitary tumor transforming gene, PTTG, is abundantly expressed in several neoplasms. We recently showed that PTTG overexpression is associated with apoptosis and therefore have now studied the role of p53 in this process. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells that express wild type p53, PTTG overexpression caused apoptosis. p53 was translocated to the nuclei in cells expressing PTTG. Overexpression of p53, along with PTTG, augmented apoptosis, whereas expression of the human papillomavirus E6 protein inhibited PTTG-induced apoptosis. In MG-63 osteosarcoma cells that are deficient in p53, PTTG caused cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis that was inhibited by caspase inhibitors. A proteasome inhibitor augmented PTTG expression in stable PTTG transfectants, suggesting that down-regulated PTTG expression is required for cell survival. Finally, MG-63 cells expressing PTTG showed signs of aneuploidy including the presence of micronuclei and multiple nuclei. These results indicate that PTTG overexpression causes p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis. In the absence of p53, PTTG causes aneuploidy. These results may provide a mechanism for PTTG-induced tumorigenesis whereby PTTG mediates aneuploidy and subsequent cell transformation.