Reduced dynamic loads due to hip dislocation induce acetabular cartilage degeneration by IL-6 and MMP3 via the STAT3/periostin/NF-κB axis.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is characterized by anatomical abnormalities of the hip joint, ranging from mild acetabular dysplasia to hip subluxation and eventually dislocation. The mechanism underlying the cartilage degeneration of the hip joints exposed to reduced dynamic loads due to hip dislocation remains unknown. We established a rodent hip dislocation (disarticulation; DA) model of DDH (DA-DDH rats and mice) by swaddling. Expression levels of periostin (Postn) and catabolic factors, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (Mmp3), increased and those of chondrogenic markers decreased in the acetabular cartilage of the DA-DDH models. Postn induced IL-6 and Mmp3 expression in chondrocytes through integrin αVß3, focal adhesion kinase, Src, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. The microgravity environment created by a random positioning machine induced Postn expression in chondrocytes through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. IL-6 stimulated Postn expression via STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, cartilage degeneration was suppressed in the acetabulum of Postn-/- DA-DDH mice compared with that in the acetabulum of wild type DA-DDH mice. In summary, reduced dynamic loads due to hip dislocation induced acetabular cartilage degeneration via IL-6 and MMP3 through STAT3/periostin/NF-κB signaling in the rodent DA-DDH models.

Synthetic siRNA targeting the breakpoint of EWS/Fli-1 inhibits growth of Ewing sarcoma xenografts in a mouse model.

The EWS/Fli-1 fusion gene, a product of the translocation t(11;22, q24;q12), is detected in 85% of Ewing sarcomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors. It is thought to be a transcriptional activator that plays a significant role in tumorigenesis. In this study, we developed a novel EWS/Fli-1 blockade system using RNA interference and tested its application for inhibiting the proliferation of Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and the treatment of mouse tumor xenografts in vivo. We designed and synthesized a small interfering RNA (siRNA) possessing an aromatic compound at the 3'-end targeting the breakpoint of EWS/Fli-1. As this sequence is present only in tumor cells, it is a potentially relevant target. We found that the siRNA targeting EWS/Fli-1 significantly suppressed the expression of EWS/Fli-1 protein sequence specifically and also reduced the expression of c-Myc protein in Ewing sarcoma cells. We further demonstrated that inhibition of EWS/Fli-1 expression efficiently inhibited the proliferation of the transfected cells but did not induce apoptotic cell death. In addition, the siRNA possessing the aromatic compound at the 3'-end was more resistant to nucleolytic degradation than the unmodified siRNA. Administration of the siRNA with atelocollagen significantly inhibited the tumor growth of TC-135, a Ewing sarcoma cell line, which had been subcutaneously xenografted into mice. Moreover, modification of the 3'-end with an aromatic compound improved its efficiency in vivo. Our data suggest that specific downregulation of EWS/Fli-1 by RNA interference is a possible approach for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma.

EWS/Fli-1 chimeric fusion gene upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor-A.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A plays an important role in the pathological angiogenesis that occurs in soft-tissue sarcoma and in about half of Ewing's sarcoma cases, where it is highly overexpressed. EWS/Fli-1 is considered to be a transcriptional activator and to play a significant role in tumorigenesis of Ewing's sarcoma. However, the relationship between EWS/Fli-1 and VEGF-A is still unclear. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between EWS/Fli-1 and VEGF-A, and to determine whether small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting of VEGF-A can be developed as a novel treatment for Ewing's sarcoma. Knockdown of EWS/Fli-1 using siRNA on a Ewing's sarcoma cell line (A673) suppressed VEGF-A expression, and transfection of EWS/Fli-1 into a human osteosarcoma cell line increased VEGF-A expression. To inhibit VEGF-A secretion from Ewing's sarcoma, we developed a chemically synthesized siRNA that targets VEGF-A. Transfection of the VEGF siRNA into the Ewing's sarcoma cell line significantly suppressed VEGF-A secretion by up to 98% in vitro, compared with a control. In vivo, we established Ewing's sarcoma xenograft models and performed intratumoral injection of the siRNA mixed with atelocollagen. We observed that the inhibition of tumor growth occurs in a dose-dependent manner. Histological examination revealed decreased microvessel density and morphological change around microvessels in the Ewing's sarcoma xenografts treated with the siRNA. It is considered that a combination of chemically synthesized siRNA that targets VEGF-A and atelocollagen might be a novel and effective option for treating Ewing's sarcoma that secretes VEGF-A.

Simultaneous inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways augment the sensitivity to actinomycin D in Ewing sarcoma.

PURPOSE: Ewing sarcoma cells, of which over 85% retain chimeric fusion gene EWS/Fli-1, are by and large more resistant to chemotherapeutics compared to nonneoplastic cells. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of EWS/Fli-1 fusion and its downstream targets regarding the cells' resistance against actinomycin D (ActD), which is one of the most commonly used antitumor agents in combination chemotherapy of Ewing sarcomas. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was measured by WST-8 assay. Caspase-dependent and -independent cell death was examined by fluorescence microscope. Protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. Caspase activity was determined by Caspase-Glo assay. RESULTS: ActD-induced caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death to Ewing sarcoma TC-135 cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Knockdown of EWS/Fli-1 fusion by siRNA resulted in enhancement of ActD-induced apoptosis. ActD treatment activated both mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways although in a distinctive manner. Combined administration of U0126 (MEK inhibitor) and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) significantly enhanced ActD-induced apoptosis in vitro and suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated for the first time that combination of U0126 and LY294002 can augment the cytotoxicity of ActD against Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that further study on combination of conventional chemotherapies with MEK and PI3K inhibitors may be considered for innovative treatments of Ewing sarcoma patients.

Spinal arachnoid cysts associated with syringomyelia: report of two cases and a review of the literature.

We describe two cases of spinal arachnoid cyst associated with syringomyelia and report the clinical results after surgical treatment using excision of the cyst without a shunt operation for the syringomyelia. Case 1 is a 73-year-old woman who presented with a spastic gait and numbness of her bilateral lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the presence of a spinal arachnoid cyst extending from T3 to T8 and syringomyelia from T8 to T10. The cyst had compressed the spinal cord anteriorly. We excised the cyst without applying a shunt tube for the syringomyelia. Case 2 is a 68-year-old woman who presented with gait disturbance and numbness of her left lower extremity. MRI indicated that the spinal cord had been compressed anteriorly by a spinal arachnoid cyst extending from T10 to T11. Syringomyelia existed just caudal to the cyst at T11. In our surgical treatment, we excised only the cyst. In both cases, neurologic examination after the operation showed amelioration of the condition. Postoperative MRI indicated that the spinal cord had moved to the center, its original position, and the syringomyelia had decreased in size. Conclusively, spinal arachnoid cyst associated with syringomyelia can be treated by simple excision of the cyst without shunting the syrinx if the decompression effect resulting from removal of the cyst is sufficient.