ABSTRACT
We have analyzed the regulation and expression of ASPP members, genes implicated in the regulation of the apoptotic function of the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Expression of ASPP1 was significantly reduced in ALL and was dependent on hypermethylation of the ASPP1 gene promoter. Abnormal ASPP1 expression was associated with normal function of the tumor-suppressor gene TP53 in ALL. The analyses of 180 patients with ALL at diagnosis showed that the ASPP1 promoter was hypermethylated in 25% of cases with decreased mRNA expression. Methylation was significantly higher in adult ALL vs childhood ALL (32 vs 17%, P = 0.03) and T-ALL vs B-ALL (50 vs 9%, P = 0.001). Relapse rate (62 vs 44%, P = 0.05) and mortality (59 vs 43%, P = 0.05) were significantly higher in patients with methylated ASPP1. DFS and OS were 32.8 and 33.7% for patients with unmethylated ASPP1 and 6.1 and 9.9% for methylated patients (P < 0.001 y P < 0.02, respectively). On the multivariate analysis, methylation of the ASPP1 gene promoter was an independent poor prognosis factor in ALL patients. Our results demonstrate that decreased expression of ASPP1 in patients with ALL is due to an abnormal methylation of its promoter and is associated with a poor prognosis.
Subject(s)
Carrier Proteins/biosynthesis , Carrier Proteins/genetics , DNA Methylation , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Gene Expression Profiling , Genes, p53 , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/physiopathology , Prognosis , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Recurrence , SurvivalABSTRACT
The role of members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated down-regulation of col1a1 gene was studied. TNF-alpha increased extracellular-regulated kinase and Jun-N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, but these effects were not related to its inhibitory effect on alpha1(I) procollagen (col1a1) mRNA levels. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was decreased in response to TNF-alpha, and the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 mimicked the effect of TNF-alpha on col1a1 mRNA levels. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation and SB203580 prevented the induction of col1a1 mRNA levels by TGF-beta. These results suggest that p38 MAPK plays an important role in regulating the expression of col1a1 in hepatic stellate cells in response to cytokines.
Subject(s)
Collagen Type I/genetics , Hepatocytes/drug effects , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Base Sequence , Cell Line , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Hepatocytes/cytology , Imidazoles/pharmacology , JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Phosphorylation , Pyridines/pharmacology , Rats , Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase/metabolism , Up-Regulation/drug effects , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein KinasesABSTRACT
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA ("Ecstasy"), has been previously shown to produce cell necrosis and fibrosis in the liver. Our aim was to study the effect of MDMA on the type I collagen production by a cell line of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the cell type mainly responsible for collagen synthesis in the liver. We demonstrated that MDMA increases alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA levels and that this increase correlates with glutathione depletion and enhanced hydrogen peroxide production by HSC. Pre-treatment with either glutathione monoethyl ester or deferoxamine prevents the MDMA-induced alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA expression, indicating oxidative stress to be a mediator of this effect. Lipid peroxidation was not detected in MDMA-treated cells and therefore does not seem to be involved in the pro-fibrogenic action of MDMA on HSC.
