CK2 signaling in androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer

Protein serine/threonine kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a key player in cell growth and proliferation but is also a potent suppressor of apoptosis. CK2 has been found to be dysregulated in all the cancers that have been examined, including prostate cancer. Investigations of CK2 signaling in the prostate were originally initiated in this laboratory, and these studies have identified significant functional activities of CK2 in relation to normal prostate growth and to the pathobiology of androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer. We present a brief overview of these developments in the context of prostate biology. An important outcome of these studies is the emerging concept that CK2 can be effectively targeted for cancer therapy.     

Expression of protective antigen in transgenic plants: a step towards edible vaccine against anthrax

Protective antigen (PA) is the most potent molecule for vaccination against anthrax. In the present study, we have successfully integrated protective antigen gene in nuclear genome of tobacco plants by Agrobacterium mediated leaf-disc transformation method. Expression of protective antigen gene was detected by immunoblot analysis using antisera raised against purified PA. A distinct band of approximately 83kDa lighted up in the protein extracted from transformed plants while there was no such band in untransformed plants. The plant expressed PA showed biological activity just like native PA, which was demonstrated by cytolytic assay on macrophage like cell lines with lethal factor. This study establishes for the first time expression of PA gene in a plant system and thus marks the first milestone towards developing edible vaccine against anthrax.     

A Probasin‐MerCreMer BAC allows inducible recombination in the mouse prostate

Tissue‐specific transgene expression in the prostate epithelium has previously been achieved using short prostate‐specific promoters, rendering transgenic mouse lines susceptible to integration site‐dependent effects. Here we demonstrate the applicability of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology to transgene expression in the prostate epithelium. We present mouse lines expressing an inducible Cre protein (MerCreMer) under the control of regulatory elements of the probasin gene on a BAC. These mouse lines show high organ specificity, high transgene expression in anterior, dorsal and lateral prostate lobes, no background Cre recombination using a reporter strain and adjustable amounts of Cre‐induced recombination upon tamoxifen induction. Together with two recently reported transgenic lines expressing the Cre‐ERT2 protein from small prostate‐specific promoters, these mouse lines will be useful in research focused on prostate‐specific disorders such as benign hyperplasia or cancer. genesis 47:757–764, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Fluid shear stress stimulates breast cancer cells to display invasive and chemoresistant phenotypes while upregulating PLAU in a 3D bioreactor

Breast cancer cells experience a range of shear stresses in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However most current in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models fail to systematically probe the effects of this biophysical stimuli on cancer cell metastasis, proliferation, and chemoresistance. To investigate the roles of shear stress within the mammary and lung pleural effusion TME, a bioreactor capable of applying shear stress to cells within a 3D extracellular matrix was designed and characterized. Breast cancer cells were encapsulated within an interpenetrating network hydrogel and subjected to shear stress of 5.4 dynes cm⁻² for 72 hr. Finite element modeling assessed shear stress profiles within the bioreactor. Cells exposed to shear stress had significantly higher cellular area and significantly lower circularity, indicating a motile phenotype. Stimulated cells were more proliferative than static controls and showed higher rates of chemoresistance to the anti-neoplastic drug paclitaxel. Fluid shear stress-induced significant upregulation of the PLAU gene and elevated urokinase activity was confirmed through zymography and activity assay. Overall, these results indicate that pulsatile shear stress promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, invasive potential, chemoresistance, and PLAU signaling.     

抗IFITM1 单克隆抗体的制备及检测

目的：制备抗干扰素诱导的跨膜蛋白-1(interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1, IFITM1)的单克隆抗体,为检测IFITM1 及进一步研究其在结肠肿瘤发生过程中的作用提供实验基础。方法：以结肠癌患者的癌组织为材料,提取总RNA,以RT-PCR扩 增得到IFITM1 cDNA 序列,经ECoRⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切后,克隆入pGEX-4T-3 进行原核表达并纯化得IFITM1-GST;以该融合蛋 白免疫BALB/c 小鼠,淋巴细胞杂交瘤法制备单克隆抗体;采用ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法以制备的抗体检测结肠癌 患者结肠癌组织中的IFITM1。结果：成功构建了IFITM1 原核表达载体,获得了IFITM1-GST 重组蛋白;制备得到了1 株抗 IFITM1 单克隆抗体,腹水ELISA 效价为1:30000,抗体亚类为IgG1,可用于ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法检测结肠癌患 者结肠癌组织中的IFITM1。结论：获得了1 株可用于ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法的抗IFITM1 单克隆抗体2F-1,为进 一步研究IFITM1在结肠肿瘤发生过程中的作用提供了实验基础。