The use of p53 as a tool for human cancer therapy

The p53 tumor suppressor is a central component of a system that reinforces genetic stability of somatic cells in animals and humans. Inactivation of this gene occurs virtually in every cancer case, which eliminates results in further rapid accumulation of additional mutations leading to progression of a cancer cell toward more malignant phenotype. The mechanisms of p53 inhibition in cancer include point mutations leading to accumulation of inactive protein, deletion of the whole gene, or its portion, alteration in the genes involved in regulation of activity of p53, and defects in the genes controlled by p53. In addition, oncogenic viruses encode specialized proteins that are entitled to modify p53 functions in order to provide optimal condition for replication of viral genome. These viral proteins play central role in viral carcinogenesis, including 95% of cases of cervical carcinoma in women. The approacheas to restoration of p53 activity depend on particular type of alteration within the p53 pathway. In some cases an effective mean would be introduction of exogenous p53, particularly with the use of adenoviral vectors. There are also approaches in development that target reactivation of mutant proteins, or suppress natural inhibitors of p53. The review summarizes various schemes for therapy and prevention of cancer that are based on our knowledge of the p53 gene functions. Potential usefulness of the approaches for practical applications is discussed.     

Effect of estrone on formation of the focus of heterotopic hematopoiesis

The effect of estrone injections on the heterotopic bone marrow organ formation was studied in (C57Bl X CBA)F1 mice by bone marrow shaft transplantation under the kidney capsule. Estrone injections resulted in femur marrow fibrosis, the increase in the weight of femur and heterotopic organ ossicle, drastic reduction in heterotopic organ cellularity. Depression of hemopoiesis in ectopic organ cannot be attributed to mechanical displacement of hemopoietic cells because a newly formed bone cavity under the kidney capsule was not closed. Thus, estrone had a detrimental effect on the creation of microenvironment in the heterotopic organ.     

The action of dipyridamole on megakaryocytopoiesis in regenerating and stationary bone marrow cell populations]

The effect of dipyridamole on megakaryocytopoiesis in regenerating and stationary populations of mouse bone marrow cells has been studied by heterotopic transplantation of the bone marrow using histological, electron microscopic and biochemical techniques. It is shown that drug administration induced destruction of megakaryocytes. In megakaryocytic cytoplasm giant lipid granules were found whose growth and number increase resulted in megakaryocytes kill. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to evaluate the effect of dipyridamole on distribution of lipid fatty acids of the stationary and regenerating populations of the bone marrow cells. A marked increase of the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid was found in lipids of the stationary population. Chronic dipyridamole administration caused an increase of percentage of myristic, palmitic oleic acids, and decrease of percentage of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in lipids of regenerating bone marrow cells population.     

A model of enzymatic decarboxylation of glutamic acid

Interaction of glutamate decarboxylase with its adequate substrate and some quasi-substrates was studied by spectrokinetic, quantum-chemical and some other approaches. It was shown that in the course of decarboxylation an abortive transamination of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate leading to the enzyme inactivation does occur. Identification of intermediate coenzyme-substrate complexes allowed to formulate a model of enzymatic decarboxylation taking into account both the main and abortive reactions. The analysis of electronic structure of the intermediates revealed some of the factors determining the functional specificity of the reaction under study.     

Effect of taurine on Ca, Mg-ATPase activity in human platelets and on their aggregation

Effect of taurine (25 mM) on calcium metabolism in human platelets was studied. Ca, Mg-ATPase activity is significantly increased upon addition of 25 mM of taurine to the incubation medium. The activation is absent or reduced in the presence of trifluoroperazine and beta-alanine and after preincubation of platelets with colchicine and verapamil. The rate of ADP (3.5 X 10(-6) M)-induced platelet aggregation is reduced by half upon taurine addition to platelet-rich plasma. The possible role of taurine in intracellular calcium translocation and the following alteration of platelet activity is suggested.