Met receptor overexpression and oncogenic Ki-ras mutation cooperate to enhance tumorigenicity of colon cancer cells in vivo

We have investigated the influence of Ki-ras oncogene on Met/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor signaling in human carcinoma cells. The model system used in these studies included the DLD-1 colon cancer cell line with a mutated Ki-ras allele, and the DKO-4 cell line generated from DLD-1, with its mutant Ki-ras allele inactivated by targeted disruption. These cell lines were transduced with cDNAs of either active Met receptor or dominant negative Met receptor. As compared to the DLD-1 cells, constitutive overexpression of Met receptor in this cell line (DLD-1-Met) resulted in increased tumorigenicity in SCID mice. In contrast, overexpression of Met in DKO-4 cells (DKO-4-Met) that have lost oncogenic Ras activity demonstrated suppressed tumorigenicity with respect to the parent DKO-4 cell line. Tumors formed by the DLD-1-Met cells showed increased levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and lower levels of apoptosis compared to the DKO-4-Met tumors. Overexpression of the dominant negative Met receptor cDNA decreased the Met phosphorylation levels in both DLD-1 and DKO-4 cells, but only suppressed tumorigenicity in the DKO-4 cell line. In vitro, HGF stimulation of DLD-1 cells resulted in a prolonged duration of MAPK activation, while DKO-4 cells exhibited a rapid attenuation of MAPK phosphorylation. The results suggest that Ki-ras mutations and HGF signaling cooperate to enhance tumor growth by increased duration of MAPK activation and decreased apoptosis in human carcinoma cells.     

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Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of the neural recognition molecules L1, NCAM,and its isoform NCAM180, the NCAM‐associated polysialic acid,beta1 integrin and the extracellular matrix molecule tenascin‐R in synapses of the adult rat hippocampus

We have investigated the possibility that morphologically different excitatory glutamatergic synapses of the “trisynaptic circuit” in the adult rodent hippocampus, which display different types of long‐term potentiation (LTP), may express the immunoglobulin superfamily recognition molecules L1 and NCAM, the extracellular matrix molecule tenascin‐R, and the extracellular matrix receptor constituent beta1 integrin in a differential manner. The neural cell adhesion molecules L1, NCAM (all three major isoforms), NCAM180 (the largest major isoform with the longest cytoplasmic domain), beta1 integrin, polysialic acid (PSA) associated with NCAM, and tenascin‐R were localized by pre‐embedding immunostaining procedures in the CA3/CA4 region (mossy fiber synapses) and in the dentate gyrus (spine synapses) of the adult rat hippocampus. Synaptic membranes of mossy fiber synapses where LTP is expressed presynaptically did not show detectable levels of immunoreactivity for any of the molecules/epitopes studied. L1, NCAM, and PSA, but not NCAM180 or beta1 integrin, were detectable on axonal membranes of fasciculating mossy fibers. In contrast to mossy fiber synapses, spine synapses in the outer third of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, which display postsynaptic expression mechanisms of LTP, were both immunopositive and immunonegative for NCAM, NCAM180, beta1 integrin, and PSA. Those spine synapses postsynaptically immunoreactive for NCAM or PSA also showed immunoreactivity on their presynaptic membranes. NCAM180 was not detectable presynaptically in spine synapses. L1 could not be found in spine synapses either pre‐ or postsynaptically. Also, the extracellular matrix molecule tenascin‐R was not detectable in synaptic clefts of all synapses tested, but was amply present between fasciculating axons, axon‐astrocyte contact areas, and astrocytic gap junctions. Differences in expression of the membrane‐bound adhesion molecules at both types of synapses may reflect the different mechanisms for induction and/or maintenance of synaptic plasticity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 49: 142–158, 2001     

Efficient and cost-effective single nucleotide polymorphism detection with different fluorescent applications.

Three methods-5'nuclease assay with TaqMan, minisequencing, and oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA)-were compared to detectfive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three separate genes. Each method had advantages and disadvantages. The 5' nuclease assay was the fastest and required only a single step. OLA was the most time consuming to optimize, but once running it was the least expensive method. Minisequencing was universal; however, the technique was also the most expensive. All three methods were reliable and highly effective. Investigators must consider their goals in terms of time, sample number, and expense when selecting among these genotyping techniques.     

CXC Chemokines Function as a Rheostat for Hepatocyte Proliferation and Liver Regeneration

Background

Our previous in vitro studies have demonstrated dose-dependent effects of CXCR2 ligands on hepatocyte cell death and proliferation. In the current study, we sought to determine if CXCR2 ligand concentration is responsible for the divergent effects of these mediators on liver regeneration after ischemia/reperfusion injury and partial hepatectomy.

Methods

Murine models of partial ischemia/reperfusion injury and hepatectomy were used to study the effect of CXCR2 ligands on liver regeneration.

Results

We found that hepatic expression of the CXCR2 ligands, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), was significantly increased after both I/R injury and partial hepatectomy. However, expression of these ligands after I/R injury was 30-100-fold greater than after hepatectomy. Interestingly, the same pattern of expression was found in ischemic versus non-ischemic liver lobes following I/R injury with expression significantly greater in the ischemic liver lobes. In both systems, lower ligand expression was associated with increased hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration in a CXCR2-dependent fashion. To confirm that these effects were related to ligand concentration, we administered exogenous MIP-2 and KC to mice undergoing partial hepatectomy. Mice received a “high” dose that replicated serum levels found after I/R injury and a “low” dose that was similar to that found after hepatectomy. Mice receiving the “high” dose had reduced levels of hepatocyte proliferation and regeneration whereas the “low” dose promoted hepatocyte proliferation and regeneration.

Conclusions

Together, these data demonstrate that concentrations of CXC chemokines regulate the hepatic proliferative response and subsequent liver regeneration.     

A Simple Retroelement Based Knock-Down System in Dictyostelium: Further Insights into RNA Interference Mechanisms

Characteristics of DIRS-1 Mediated Knock-Downs

We have previously shown that the most abundant Dictyostelium discoideum retroelement DIRS-1 is suppressed by RNAi mechanisms. Here we provide evidence that both inverted terminal repeats have strong promoter activity and that bidirectional expression apparently generates a substrate for Dicer. A cassette containing the inverted terminal repeats and a fragment of a gene of interest was sufficient to activate the RNAi response, resulting in the generation of ~21 nt siRNAs, a reduction of mRNA and protein expression of the respective endogene. Surprisingly, no transitivity was observed on the endogene. This was in contrast to previous observations, where endogenous siRNAs caused spreading on an artificial transgene. Knock-down was successful on seven target genes that we examined. In three cases a phenotypic analysis proved the efficiency of the approach. One of the target genes was apparently essential because no knock-out could be obtained; the RNAi mediated knock-down, however, resulted in a very slow growing culture indicating a still viable reduction of gene expression.

Advantages of the DIRS-1–RNAi System

The knock-down system required a short DNA fragment (~400 bp) of the target gene as an initial trigger. Further siRNAs were generated by RdRPs since we have shown some siRNAs with a 5’-triphosphate group. Extrachromosomal vectors facilitate the procedure and allowed for molecular and phenotypic analysis within one week. The system provides an efficient and rapid method to reduce protein levels including those of essential genes.     

Molecular Characterization of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the Philippines, 2012-2013

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children worldwide. We performed molecular analysis of HRSV among infants and children with clinical diagnosis of severe pneumonia in four study sites in the Philippines, including Biliran, Leyte, Palawan, and Metro Manila from June 2012 to July 2013. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and screened for HRSV using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were tested by conventional PCR and sequenced for the second hypervariable region (2^nd HVR) of the G gene. Among a total of 1,505 samples, 423 samples were positive for HRSV (28.1%), of which 305 (72.1%) and 118 (27.9%) were identified as HRSV-A and HRSV-B, respectively. Two genotypes of HRSV-A, NA1 and ON1, were identified during the study period. The novel ON1 genotype with a 72-nucleotide duplication in 2^nd HVR of the G gene increased rapidly and finally became the predominant genotype in 2013 with an evolutionary rate higher than the NA1 genotype. Moreover, in the ON1 genotype, we found positive selection at amino acid position 274 (p<0.05) and massive O- and N-glycosylation in the 2^nd HVR of the G gene. Among HRSV-B, BA9 was the predominant genotype circulating in the Philippines. However, two sporadic cases of GB2 genotype were found, which might share a common ancestor with other Asian strains. These findings suggest that HRSV is an important cause of severe acute respiratory infection among children in the Philippines and revealed the emergence and subsequent predominance of the ON1 genotype and the sporadic detection of the GB2 genotype. Both genotypes were detected for the first time in the Philippines.