15-Deoxy-Δ12,14 -prostaglandin J2 Induces Epithelial-tomesenchymal Transition in Human Breast Cancer Cells and Promotes Fibroblast Activation

In inflammation-associated carcinogenesis, COX-2 is markedly overexpressed, resulting in accumulation of various prostaglandins. 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ2 ) is one of the terminal products of COX-2-catalyzed arachidonic acid catabolism with oncogenic potential. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial cells lose their polarity and adhesiveness, and thereby gain migratory and invasive properties. Treatment of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells with 15d-PGJ2 induced EMT as evidenced by increased expression of Snail and ZEB1, with concurrent down-regulation of E-cadherin. Nuclear extract from 15d-PGJ2 -treated MCF-7 cells showed the binding of Snail and ZEB1 to E-box sequences present in the E-cadherin promoter, which accounts for repression of E-catherin expression. Unlike 15d-PGJ2 , its non-electrophilic analogue 9,10-dihydro-15d-PGJ2 failed to induce EMT, suggesting that the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group located in the cyclopentenone ring of 15d-PGJ2 is essential for its oncogenic function. Notably, the mRNA level of interleukin-8 (IL-8)/CXCL8 was highly elevated in 15d-PGJ 2 -stimulated MCF-7 cells. 15d-PGJ2 -induced up-regulation of IL-8/CXCL8 expression was abrogated by silencing of Snail short interfering RNA. Treatment of normal fibroblast with conditioned medium obtained from cultures of MCF-7 cells undergoingEMT induced the expression of activated fibroblast marker proteins, α-smooth muscle actin and fibroblasts activation protein-α.Co-culture of normal fibroblasts with 15d-PGJ2 -stimulated MCF-7 cells also activated normal fibroblast cells to cancer associated fibroblasts. Taken together, above findings suggest that 15d-PGJ2 induces EMT through up-regulation of Snail expression and subsequent production of CXCL8 as a putative activator of fibroblasts, which may contribute to tumor-stroma interaction in inflammatory breast cancer microenvironment.

Effect of Intravenous Infusion of G-CSF-Mobilized Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells on Upper Extremity Function in Cerebral Palsy Children

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intravenous infusion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mPBMC) mobilized by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on upper extremity function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Fifty-seven children with CP were enrolled. Ten patients were excluded due to follow-up loss. In total, 47 patients (30 males and 17 females) were analyzed. All patients' parents provided signed consent before the start of the study. After administration of G-CSF for 5 days, mPBMC was collected and cryopreserved. Patients were randomized into two groups 1 month later. Twenty-two patients were administered mPBMC and 25 patients received normal saline as placebo. Six months later, the two groups were switched, and administered mPBMC and placebo, respectively. Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) were used to evaluate upper motor function. RESULTS: All subdomain and total scores of QUEST were significantly improved after mPBMC and placebo infusion, without significant differences between mPBMC and placebo groups. A month after G-CSF, all subdomain and total scores of QUEST were improved. The level of MACS remained unchanged in both mPBMC and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, intravenously infused mPBMC showed no significant effect on upper extremity function in children with CP, as compared to placebo. The effect of mPBMC was likely masked by the effect of G-CSF, which was used in both groups and/or G-CSF itself might have other neurotrophic potentials in children with CP.

Differences in Mobilization Efficiency between Small Children and Adults with Healthy Marrows / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: We compared the yields of mobilized PBSCs from single day of normal volume leukapheresis (NVL) in children and adults, and factors affecting the yields, to understand differences in mobilization efficiency between adults and small children with healthy marrows. METHODS: This study involved 18 adult volunteer donors and 47 small children weighing less than 20 kg who participated in a clinical trial of cell therapy in children with cerebral palsy. Donor factors analyzed to identify predictors of the yield of apheresis included age, gender, weight and complete blood cell count (CBC) with differential counts as well as equipment parameters. RESULTS: The yields of total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34⁺cells in the apheresis products of the children were significantly lower than in those from healthy adults. However, the efficiency of recovery of PBSCs (total CD34⁺ cell counts/TNCs) was significantly higher in small children (0.48±0.30%) than in adults (0.10±0.05%) (P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis of adult donor factors showed that the processed volume and flow rate of apheresis were significantly associated with the yield of TNCs (P < 0.05, for both), but not of CD34⁺cells. However, in multivariable analysis of child donor factors, body weight and circulating WBC count on the day of apheresis were significantly associated with the yield of TNCs (P < 0.05, for both) and of CD34⁺cells (P < 0.05, for both). CONCLUSION: The predictors of PBSC yields from a single day of NVL in adults and small children are different. Also mobilization is more effective in small children than in adults.

Differences in Mobilization Efficiency between Small Children and Adults with Healthy Marrows / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: We compared the yields of mobilized PBSCs from single day of normal volume leukapheresis (NVL) in children and adults, and factors affecting the yields, to understand differences in mobilization efficiency between adults and small children with healthy marrows.METHODS: This study involved 18 adult volunteer donors and 47 small children weighing less than 20 kg who participated in a clinical trial of cell therapy in children with cerebral palsy. Donor factors analyzed to identify predictors of the yield of apheresis included age, gender, weight and complete blood cell count (CBC) with differential counts as well as equipment parameters.RESULTS: The yields of total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34⁺cells in the apheresis products of the children were significantly lower than in those from healthy adults. However, the efficiency of recovery of PBSCs (total CD34⁺ cell counts/TNCs) was significantly higher in small children (0.48±0.30%) than in adults (0.10±0.05%) (P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis of adult donor factors showed that the processed volume and flow rate of apheresis were significantly associated with the yield of TNCs (P < 0.05, for both), but not of CD34⁺cells. However, in multivariable analysis of child donor factors, body weight and circulating WBC count on the day of apheresis were significantly associated with the yield of TNCs (P < 0.05, for both) and of CD34⁺cells (P < 0.05, for both).CONCLUSION: The predictors of PBSC yields from a single day of NVL in adults and small children are different. Also mobilization is more effective in small children than in adults.

Clinical Applicability of Newly Developed Image-based Cell Counter for Counting CD34+ Cells: Comparison with Flow Cytometric Analysis / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometric analysis is the standard method for enumerating CD34+ stem cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, it has some limitations such as expensive instrumentation, high reagent costs, and discrepancies between technicians and laboratories. We compared counts of total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34+ cells counts obtained from a flow cytometer with a newly-developed image-based microscopic cell counter (ADAM II) to evaluate the possibility of clinical application of the ADAM II. METHODS: We used 18 samples of circulating peripheral blood (PB) and waste tube fractions of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) harvested by apheresis after G-CSF mobilization from adult volunteer donors. We assessed the reproducibility and linearity of the new procedure and compared the numbers of TNCs and viable CD34+ cells determined with the ADAM II and two different flow cytometers (FACSCalibur, FACSCanto II). RESULTS: Numbers of viable CD34+ cells determined with the ADAM II were accurate over the expected range; the intra-assay coefficient of variation was ≤19.8%. Linearity was also satisfactory (R²=0.99). TNC counts obtained with the ADAM II were highly correlated with those obtained with the FACSCalibur (R²>0.9841, P0.9620, P0.9911, P0.9791, P<0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSION: The newly developed image-based microscopic cell counter (ADAM II) appears to be suitable for enumerating TNCs and viable CD34+ cells.

Clinical Applicability of Newly Developed Image-based Cell Counter for Counting CD34+ Cells: Comparison with Flow Cytometric Analysis / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometric analysis is the standard method for enumerating CD34+ stem cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, it has some limitations such as expensive instrumentation, high reagent costs, and discrepancies between technicians and laboratories. We compared counts of total nucleated cells (TNCs) and CD34+ cells counts obtained from a flow cytometer with a newly-developed image-based microscopic cell counter (ADAM II) to evaluate the possibility of clinical application of the ADAM II.METHODS: We used 18 samples of circulating peripheral blood (PB) and waste tube fractions of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) harvested by apheresis after G-CSF mobilization from adult volunteer donors. We assessed the reproducibility and linearity of the new procedure and compared the numbers of TNCs and viable CD34+ cells determined with the ADAM II and two different flow cytometers (FACSCalibur, FACSCanto II).RESULTS: Numbers of viable CD34+ cells determined with the ADAM II were accurate over the expected range; the intra-assay coefficient of variation was ≤19.8%. Linearity was also satisfactory (R²=0.99). TNC counts obtained with the ADAM II were highly correlated with those obtained with the FACSCalibur (R²>0.9841, P<0.0001) and FACSCanto II (R²>0.9620, P<0.0001), as were the numbers of viable CD34+ cells obtained with the ADAM II and the FACSCalibur and FACSCanto II (R²>0.9911, P<0.0001 and R²>0.9791, P<0.0001), respectively.CONCLUSION: The newly developed image-based microscopic cell counter (ADAM II) appears to be suitable for enumerating TNCs and viable CD34+ cells.