ABSTRACT
The inhibitor of growth (ING) genes (ING1-4) probably descend from tumour suppressor genes. ING1 was the first to be identified and later isolated using an approach to detect genes whose expression is suppressed in cancer. The others were isolated through homology and similarity searches in human and mouse databases. All members contain a plant homeodomain involved in macromolecule recognition. Apart from the extensively studied ING1, little is known about the number of transcripts encoded by the other members or their gene structure. ING1 encodes several differentially spliced mRNAs, which may produce a family of proteins. The most widely expressed protein isoform is p33(INGb1), which is involved in restriction of cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, tumour anchorage independent growth, cellular senescence, maintenance of genomic stability, and modulation of cell cycle checkpoints. ING1 gene mutation is uncommon in cancer, although the subcellular localisation of p33(INGb1) may have an effect on its function. The p33(INGb1) cellular compartmental shift from the nucleus to the cytoplasm may cause loss of normal cellular function, and may play a central role in the pathogenesis of several cancers.
Subject(s)
Genes, Tumor Suppressor , Neoplasms/genetics , Proteins/genetics , Apoptosis/genetics , Cell Cycle Proteins , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Chromatin , Cytoplasm/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genes, p53 , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1 , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Melanoma/genetics , Mutation , Neoplasms/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins , Proteins/metabolism , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Tumor Suppressor Proteins , Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The inhibitor of growth gene 1 (ING1) is a modulator of cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and cellular senescence. The most widely expressed ING1 isoform is p33(ING1b), which can modulate p53, a molecule that is frequently altered in breast cancer. Reduced ING1 mRNA expression has been observed in primary breast cancer expressing wild-type p53. METHODS: p33(ING1b), p53, oestrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PgR) expression was studied in 86 primary invasive breast cancers using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Reduced nuclear expression of p33(ING1b) was found in cancer cells, both in intensity and the proportion of cells staining. This was associated with enhanced cytoplasmic p33(ING1b) expression in a proportion of cases. Analysis of several known biological factors indicated that high grade tumours were of larger size and more often negative for ER and PgR expression. However, larger tumours were more frequently p53 negative. These results provide evidence that p33(ING1b) alterations are associated with more poorly differentiated tumours. Positive correlations were found between nuclear p33(ING1b) expression and both ER and PgR expression. CONCLUSIONS: Optimum function of p53 is dependent on p33(ING1b) so that a reduction of nuclear p33(ING1b) expression, as seen in this series, would be predicted to compromise p53 function. This study showed that p33(ING1b) alterations were associated with more poorly differentiated tumours. Therefore, p33(ING1b) expression could be used as a marker of differentiation in invasive breast cancer. These results support the view that loss of p33(ING1b) may be an important molecular event in the differentiation and pathogenesis of invasive breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/chemistry , Carcinoma/chemistry , Cell Nucleus/chemistry , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Proteins/analysis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma/pathology , Cell Cycle Proteins , DNA-Binding Proteins , Female , Genes, Tumor Suppressor , Humans , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1 , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Nuclear Proteins , Receptors, Estrogen/analysis , Receptors, Progesterone/analysis , Tumor Suppressor ProteinsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: p33(ING1b) is a tumour suppressor protein involved in growth control and apoptosis. Suppression of p33(ING1b) expression is associated with the loss of cellular growth control and immortalisation, whereas its overexpression causes cell cycle arrest. Moreover, normal p33(ING1b) expression is essential for optimal function of p53. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy of childhood, accounting for one third of all childhood malignancies. A variety of cytogenetic abnormalities have been described but there is no single abnormality common to all cases. Deregulation of the TP53 pathway is a common genetic abnormality in human malignancies. However, TP53 mutations are uncommon in ALL. It is possible that alternative mechanisms of regulation of the TP53 apoptosis pathway, such as modulation of p33(ING1b) expression, may be important in ALL. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of p33(ING1b) in childhood ALL. METHODS: One hundred and forty five patients with childhood ALL were investigated in this immunohistochemical study of the expression of p33(ING1b). RESULTS: Loss of nuclear expression of p33(ING1b) was seen in 78% of cases. This was associated with increased cytoplasmic expression of the protein. Kaplan Meier survival analysis demonstrated a trend towards a better prognosis for patients with tumours that had lost nuclear p33(ING1b). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the loss of nuclear p33(ING1b) expression may be an important molecular event in the pathogenesis of childhood ALL.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism , Proteins/metabolism , Adolescent , Cell Cycle Proteins , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Child , Child, Preschool , Cytoplasm/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Genes, Tumor Suppressor , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1 , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Male , Nuclear Proteins , Prognosis , Survival Rate , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor ProteinsABSTRACT
AIMS: Cutaneous malignant melanoma is an unpredictable neoplasm. Studies of cell cycle and proliferation-associated proteins may help in the understanding of the genesis of melanomas. The tumour suppressor gene TP53 has been shown to be involved in melanomas. However, the incidence of TP53 malfunction in cutaneous melanoma is unclear, and other regulators of cell cycle control are likely to be involved in both the development and progression of melanocytic neoplasia. A candidate is the ING1 gene, which co-operates with TP53 in growth suppression and apoptosis. Thus loss of ING1 function may have similar consequences to loss of TP53 function and may contribute to tumorigenesis. Therefore we have studied the expression of p33ING1b protein in cutaneous melanocytic neoplasia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-seven melanocytic lesions were studied by immunohistochemistry for the expression of p33ING1b. In our series there was loss of nuclear p33ING1b expression in invasive malignant melanoma compared with normal cutaneous melanocytes or the melanocytes of benign melanocytic naevi. This was associated with an enhancement of cytoplasmic p33ING1b expression which was particularly prominent in invasive malignant melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoplasmic immunostaining for p33ING1b using MAb GN2 is strongly associated with 'activated' melanocytic lesions; therefore it is possible that this MAb could be of value in diagnostic practice. Furthermore, the reduction in p33ING1b expression and perhaps translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm may play a central role in the development and progression of melanomas.
