ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism for deleting cells from the body for development and homeostasis. Exogenous cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) are known to modulate apoptosis, thus can provide a new therapeutic modality for various malignancies. We studied whether TNFalpha or TGFbeta can induce apoptosis or exert antiproliferative effect on human gastric cancer cell line (AGS) and which genes are involved in the cytokine-induced apoptotic pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To examine the effect of TNFalpha or TGF beta on AGS cell line (human gastric adenocarcimoma), we performed following tests; MTT test, trypan blue dye exclusion assay and colony forming efficiency. Total DNA was extracted from the TNFalpha-treated AGS cells and DNA ladder was detected as the hallmark of apoptosis, and flow cytometry analysis was performed for another apoptotic index. The effects of TNFalpha on c-myc expression was observed using RT-PCR. RESULTS: TNFalpha suppressed AGS cell growth, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but TGFbeta had no effect on AGS cell growth. Electrophoretic analysis of total cellular DNA revealed the pattern of internucleosomal DNA cleavage, which is specific for apoptosis and the effect was observed from 24 to 72 hrs after 50 ng/ml TNFalpha treatment. Time-dependent increse of apoptotic cells by TNFalpha was detected by flow cytometry analysis. Morphological changes such as cell to cell contacts and extension of cell processes were observed in TNFalpha-treated AGS cells. RT-PCR using c-myc primers showed thatthe mRNA levels were increased 6 hrs after TNFalpha treatment and persisted for 72 hrs. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that TNFalpha, but not TGF beta, functions as an important inducer of apoptosis in AGS cell line, and c-myc may function as a critical endogenous activator of the pathway leading to cell death of AGS cells.
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Cell Death , Cell Line , Cytokines , DNA , DNA Cleavage , Flow Cytometry , Homeostasis , RNA, Messenger , Stomach Neoplasms , Stomach , Transforming Growth Factor beta , Trypan Blue , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
Neurofibromatosis also referred to as von Recklinghausen`s disease, is an autosomal dominant disease, which is characterized by cutaneous neurofibromas, cafe-au-lait spot, and axillary freckles. Although neruofibromatosis is a congenital disorder, the pulmonary manifestation become evident in adulthood. Approximately 15percent of patients with cutaneous lesions have intrathoracic neurofibromas. In some patients with neurofibromatosis, the lungs are the seat of interstitial fibrosis, leiomyoma, and bullous lesion, meningocele or less commonly lung cancer. The association of neurofibromatosis and lung cancer is rare, A 47-year-old man, who was a heavy smoker, was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis. Since cafe-au-lait sopts, diffuse pigmentation and multiple neurofibromatosis were observed on the skin, he was considered to have von Recklinghausen`s disease. Chest X-ray film showd extensive hazy density affecting all of his lung field, and minimal peribronchial infiltratin in his left lower lung field. Chest CT showed that near total consolidative lesions were present of right middle lobe. Also, some patchy infiltration were present in his right lower lobe and some of left lower lobe. Histoathological examination of the percutaneous lung biopsy specimen demonstrated that he had undifferentiated large cell carcinoma. The Authors have experienced a case of neurofibromatosis combined with undifferntiated large cell carcinoma. A brief review of related literature was conducted.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Biopsy , Blister , Cafe-au-Lait Spots , Carcinoma, Large Cell , Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities , Fibrosis , Hemoptysis , Leiomyoma , Lung Neoplasms , Lung , Melanosis , Meningocele , Neurofibroma , Neurofibromatoses , Pigmentation , Skin , Thorax , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , X-Ray FilmABSTRACT
A 20 years old male patient was transferred to the operating room for mandibulo-maxillary reconstruction. We planned general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation. Reinforced endotracheal tube was inserted through right nasal os and progressed to the epiglottic region. But the first trial was not successful because of the profuse bleeding from the nasal cavity. After suctioning, the second trial through the same route was successful. But at the time of skin incision, we found the lips of the patient were becoming pale, the SpO2 was falling down to lower than 70%. We found the patients left chest wall was motionless. The chest A-P film showed total atelectasis of the left lung. When a large blood clot was removed by the flexible bronchoscopy, the chest wall started to move well and the SpO2 came up to 99%. The following chest A-P film confirmed the resolution of the atelectasis.