Hepatic stem-like phenotype and interplay of Wnt/beta-catenin and Myc signaling in aggressive childhood liver cancer.

Hepatoblastoma, the most common pediatric liver cancer, is tightly linked to excessive Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Here, we used microarray analysis to identify two tumor subclasses resembling distinct phases of liver development and a discriminating 16-gene signature. beta-catenin activated different transcriptional programs in the two tumor types, with distinctive expression of hepatic stem/progenitor markers in immature tumors. This highly proliferating subclass was typified by gains of chromosomes 8q and 2p and upregulated Myc signaling. Myc-induced hepatoblastoma-like tumors in mice strikingly resembled the human immature subtype, and Myc downregulation in hepatoblastoma cells impaired tumorigenesis in vivo. Remarkably, the 16-gene signature discriminated invasive and metastatic hepatoblastomas and predicted prognosis with high accuracy.

Differential expression of genes related to HFE and iron status in mouse duodenal epithelium.

Iron absorption, distribution, use, and storage are thought to be tightly regulated since altered iron stores may lead to cellular damage and disease. HFE, the hereditary hemochromatosis gene product, is expressed in the crypts of the duodenum, but the molecular mechanism by which it contributes to the inhibition of iron absorption is still unknown. In this study we aimed to identify transcriptional profiles in the duodenal epithelium of Hfe(-/-) mice. We used dedicated microarrays to compare gene expression among the duodenum of Hfe(-/-) mice, induced iron overload mice, and control mice. We found 151 differentially expressed genes and unknown sequences between Hfe(-/-) mice and normal littermates. Gene profiling revealed a gene subset more specific for Hfe inactivation. The functional annotation of upregulated genes highlighted that mucus production and cell maintenance may account for the influence of Hfe on epithelium integrity and luminal iron uptake.

[Antenatal solitary intestinal fibromatosis]. / Fibromatose intestinale solitaire congénitale.

Solitary intestinal fibromatosis (SIF) is rare. Only 16 cases have been described in the new-born and infancy. We describe a new case of SIF with an unusual presentation including abnormal antenatal echographic findings. SIF was diagnosed at 2 months age when the child developed an intestinal obstruction. Differential diagnosis and review of literature are discussed. This lesion has an excellent prognosis when it is completely excised.

Cellular mesoblastic nephroma: morphologic, cytogenetic and molecular links with congenital fibrosarcoma.

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) is a rare renal tumor of early infancy with a favorable outcome after complete surgical removal. CMN consists of a heterogeneous group of spindle cell tumors subdivided into "classical", "cellular or atypical" and "mixed" forms based on histologic features. We describe a new case of cellular CMN diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonography with complete remission five years after nephrectomy. Cytogenetic study evidenced a trisomy 11, and real time RT-PCR, but not conventional karyotype, allowed for the detection of the Tel-ETV6/TrkC-NTRK3 fusion transcript as a consequence of a cryptic t(12-15)(p13;q25). As in congenital fibrosarcoma (CFS), two Tel-ETV6/ TrkC-NTRK3 fusion transcripts different by a 42 bp insert in the TrkC kinase domain were expressed. Our observations outline the close links between cellular CMN and CFS. Both tumors have the clinical presentation and histologic features as well as identical cytogenetic and molecular markers in common. Therefore, they are likely to represent the same neoplasm, but occurring at different locations.

Iron overload in mice expressing HFE exclusively in the intestinal villi provides evidence that HFE regulates a functional cross-talk between crypt and villi enterocytes.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a common autosomal recessive disorder due to a mutation in HFE, which encodes an atypical MHC class I glycoprotein, is characterized by excessive absorption of dietary iron. Little is known however of the apparently complex pathophysiology of HFE involvement in the process of iron influx. Here, in order to tackle the issue in vivo, we decided to target HFE expression exclusively to the relevant tissue, intestinal epithelium. This was achieved by putting HFE under transcriptional control of the rat fatty acid binding protein (Fabpi) promoter. Quite unexpectedly, Fabpi-HFE mice had significantly elevated serum transferrin saturation levels in comparison to those of normal littermates. By a careful, layer by layer analysis of transgene expression along the crypt-villus axis, we were able to affirm that the ectopic expression of transgenic HFE in the differentiated villi enterocytes was responsible for ferric hyperabsorption, a phenomenon exacerbated in the absence of endogenous HFE expression, which we assessed by crossing the transgene onto an HFE(-/-) (knockout) background. This forced dichotomy between the absence of HFE in the crypt and expression in the villi provides experimental support that HFE functions as a "gatekeeper," regulating the cross-talk between the crypt and villi enterocytes and thereby modulating the avidity of mature enterocytes for dietary iron.