ABSTRACT
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of hereditary skin disorders. Although each subtype is caused by mutations in genes encoding differentially located components of the skin, the resulting phenotype is similar. In this study, we investigated similarities in the gene expression profiles of each subtype on mRNA level. Type XVI collagen (COL16A1), G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2), fibronectin (FN1), ribosomal protein S27A (RPS27A) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) were shown to exhibit corresponding changes in gene expression in all three EB subtypes. While COL16A1, G0S2 and FN1 are up-regulated, LDLR and RPS27A mRNA levels are decreased. These data indicate that EB cells seem to take measures increasing their mechanical stability. Apoptosis is likely to be exacerbated, and migratory potential appears to be elevated. Protein degradation is hampered, and the release of fatty acids and glycerol is restricted, probably to save energy. These commonalities might benefit existing EB treatment strategies or could help to reveal new starting points for the treatment of EB in the future.
Subject(s)
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica/genetics , Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex/genetics , Epidermolysis Bullosa, Junctional/genetics , Gene Expression , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Cells, Cultured , Collagen/genetics , Down-Regulation , Fibronectins/genetics , Humans , Keratinocytes , Muscular Dystrophies/genetics , Mutation , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Receptors, LDL/genetics , Ribosomal Proteins/genetics , Up-RegulationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: A major obstacle for permanent cancer eradication is the persistence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood, which often escape radio- or chemotherapy. Currently no efficient strategy to remove CTCs from peripheral blood in order to lower the risk of metastases or tumor recurrence exists. Photodynamic treatment (PDT) using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) induced protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) as photosensitizer offers an innovative approach to overcome this problem. This study aims at providing basic evidence towards fluorescence detection and photodynamic depletion of scattered cancer cells from blood preparations. METHODS: The breast cancer cell line T47D, endothelial GP8 cells, red blood cells (RBCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) have been tested for ALA-induced formation kinetics of PPIX by flow cytometry and microplate fluorescence analysis. The influence of the presence of RBCs on the PPIX-accumulation in cancer cells was evaluated by flow cytometry; the efficacy of PDT on cancer cells and MNCs has been tested by resazurin assay. Mixtures of T47D and GP8 cells and MNCs spiked with cancer cells were tested to determine the limit of fluorescence detection by flow cytometry and antibody co-staining. RESULTS: T47D cells accumulated significantly higher PPIX-amounts after ALA-incubation than any other cell type tested. The presence of RBCs had no impact on PPIX-formation in T47D cells. Experiments towards the fluorescence detection of cancer cells in blood revealed that the sensitivity of this method is yet limited. Viability testing after PDT showed that cancer cells where almost completely eradicated after illumination whereas MNCs were almost spared. CONCLUSION: We clearly demonstrate in vitro tumor cell selectivity of PPIX-accumulation over endothelial cells, MNCs and RBCs. Breast cancer cells are efficiently killed by PDT with minor depletion of MNCs. Our findings provide a basis for the PDT of blood samples for a future depletion of CTCs.
Subject(s)
Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacology , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/drug effects , Photochemotherapy , Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Protoporphyrins/pharmacology , Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy , Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacokinetics , Aminolevulinic Acid/therapeutic use , Animals , Cell Line , Cell Line, Tumor , Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/metabolism , Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacokinetics , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Protoporphyrins/pharmacokinetics , Protoporphyrins/therapeutic use , RatsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a hereditary skin disorder characterized by mechanical fragility of the skin, resulting in blistering and chronic wounds. The causative mutations lie in the COL7A1 gene. Patients suffering from RDEB have a high risk to develop aggressive, rapidly metastasizing squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Cutaneous RDEB SCCs develop preferentially in long-term skin wounds or cutaneous scars. Albeit being well differentiated, they show a more aggressive behavior than UV-induced SCCs. These findings suggest other contributing factors in SCC tumorigenesis in RDEB. OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors contributing to RDEB tumorigenesis, we conducted a comprehensive gene expression study comparing a non-malignant RDEB (RDEB-CL) to a RDEB SCC cell line (SCCRDEB4) to achieve an overview on the changes of the gene expression levels in RDEB related skin cancer. METHODS: We applied cDNA arrays comprising 9738 human expressed sequence tags (EST) with various functions. Selected results were verified by Real-time RT PCR. RESULTS: Large-scale gene expression analysis revealed changes in the expression level of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) and several genes under the control of TGFß for RDEB and SCCRDEB4 cell lines. Even untransformed RDEB keratinocytes show elevated levels of TGFß1. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a prominent role of TGFß-signaling in RDEB-related skin cancer. Once activated, TGFß signaling either in response to wounding or in order to influence type VII collagen expression levels could facilitate cancer development and progression. Moreover, TGFß signaling might also represent a potentially useful therapeutic target in this disease.
