Data on SVCT2 transporter expression and localization in cancer cell lines and tissues.

The data presented in this article are related to the research paper entitled "Increased expression of mitochondrial sodium-coupled ascorbic acid transporter-2 (mitSVCT2) as a central feature in breast cancer", available in Free Radical Biology and Medicine Journal [1]. In this article, we examined the SVCT2 transporter expression in various breast cancer cell lines using RT-PCR and Western blot assays. In addition, we analyzed the subcellular localization of SVCT2 by immunofluorescence colocalization assays and cellular fractionation experiments. Finally, an analysis of different cancer tissue microarrays immunostained for SVCT2 and imaged by The Human Protein Atlas (https://www.proteinatlas.org) is presented.

Increased expression of mitochondrial sodium-coupled ascorbic acid transporter-2 (mitSVCT2) as a central feature in breast cancer.

The potential role of vitamin C in cancer prevention and treatment remains controversial. While normal human cells obtain vitamin C as ascorbic acid, the prevalent form of vitamin C in vivo, the uptake mechanisms by which cancer cells acquire vitamin C has remained unclear. The aim of this study is to characterize how breast cancer cells acquire vitamin C. For this, we determined the expression of vitamin C transporters in normal and breast cancer tissue samples, and in ZR-75, MCF-7, MDA-231 and MDA-468 breast cancer cell lines. At the same time, reduced (AA) and oxidized (DHA) forms of vitamin C uptake experiments were performed in all cell lines. We show here that human breast cancer tissues differentially express a form of SVCT2 transporter, that is systematically absent in normal breast tissues and it is increased in breast tumors. In fact, estrogen receptor negative breast cancer tissue, exhibit the most elevated SVCT2 expression levels. Despite this, our analysis in breast cancer cell lines showed that these cells are not able to uptake ascorbic acid and depend on glucose transporter for the acquisition of vitamin C by a bystander effect. This is consistent with our observations that this form of SVCT2 is completely absent from the plasma membrane and is overexpressed in mitochondria of breast cancer cells, where it mediates ascorbic acid transport. This work shows that breast cancer cells acquire vitamin C in its oxidized form and are capable of accumulated high concentrations of the reduced form. Augmented expression of an SVCT2 mitochondrial form appears to be a common hallmark across all human cancers and might have implications in cancer cells survival capacity against pro-oxidant environments.

[Cushing's disease treatment with transsphenoidal surgery during pregnancy]. / Cirugía transesfenoidal en enfermedad de Cushing durante gestación.

We report a 26 year old female with Cushing's disease who became pregnant during the course of her disease. She was treated by transsphenoidal surgery during the second trimester of pregnancy, achieving resolution of hypercortisolism. She had a normal delivery at term, her offspring was healthy, and she had a normal lactation. Currently, five years after surgery, she is asymptomatic. According to our literature review, this patient is the fifth reported case of pituitary adenomectomy during gestation.

Profilaxia del asma bronquial / Prophylaxis of bronchial asthma

El asma es un padecimiento multifactorial, caracterizado por una hiperreactividad bronquial genéticamente determinada y en la que intervienen factores inmunológicos, infecciosos, endócrinos, bioquímicos o neuro vegetativos y que cada día es más frecuente, sobre todo, en las zonas urbanas, favorecido por la contaminación ambiental, que se ha triplicado la admisión a los hospitales en nuestro país y en Estados Unidos en un Hospital de Buffalo es la causa principal de ingreso a urgencias. Por lo tanto es necesario conocer la población con alto riesgo y una vez identificado el paciente, indicar las medidas profilácticas, las que se pueden implementar desde el recién nacido y aún en el periodo de gestación. Las medidas profilácticas serán: las restricciones dietéticas, mejoría de factores ambientales y del hogar, protección específica con inmunoterapia, uso adecuado e medicamentos profilácticos y manejo adecuado psicológico. El objetivo final será el reducir el número o la severidad de los ataques y la eliminación de las restricciones de las actividades diarias, permitiendo que el niño lleve una vida normal. Para cumplir esta meta es necesario la ayuda de las autoridades gubernamentales y que el médico general, el maestro y la trabajadora social conozcan las medidas terapéuticas y las profilácticas para tener la cooperación del paciente para su automanejo