RESUMO
The human kallikrein 12 (KLK12) gene is a new member of the KLK gene family, some members of which are implicated in the initiation and progression of cancer. In this study, we examined 50 non-cancerous tissues from Japanese patients with primary gastric cancer to determine the presence of genetic polymorphisms in the KLK12 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing. Four different types of genetic polymorphisms were identified: one at a splice-donor site of intron 4 (c.457+2T>C), two in exon 6 (c.618_619delTG:p.Cys206fsX72 and c.735G>A:p.Met245Ile), and one in intron 3. The c.457+2T>C polymorphism was observed at a high frequency (allele frequency:0.63), compared to the frequencies of the two polymorphisms in exon 6 (allele frequency:0.01). Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed that the c.457+2T>C polymorphism was associated with a splicing abnormality and that the expression of the human KLK12 protein (hK12), corresponding to the putative serine protease, was absent in individuals with a c.457+2C/C genotype but not in individuals with the T/T or T/C genotypes. We also found that recombinant His6-tagged hK12 has activity that cleaves chromogenic substrate (H-D-Pro-L-Phe-L-Arg-p-nitroaniline dihydrochloride), that is, serine protease activity. These results indicate that individuals with the c.457+2C/C genotype have no substantial expression of hK12 serine protease.
Assuntos
Calicreínas/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Sítios de Splice de RNA/genética , Carcinoma/enzimologia , Carcinoma/epidemiologia , Carcinoma/genética , Linhagem Celular , Compostos Cromogênicos/metabolismo , Indução Enzimática , Éxons/genética , Mutação da Fase de Leitura , Mucosa Gástrica/enzimologia , Genótipo , Humanos , Íntrons/genética , Japão/epidemiologia , Calicreínas/biossíntese , Calicreínas/deficiência , Desequilíbrio de Ligação , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo Conformacional de Fita Simples , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Neoplasias Gástricas/enzimologia , Neoplasias Gástricas/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Gástricas/genética , TransfecçãoRESUMO
PURPOSE: The EphA2 receptor protein tyrosine kinase gene has been shown to be over-expressed or functionally altered in a number of human tumors, including colon cancer, but little is known about the regulation of this new oncoprotein. In order to explore the mechanism of EphA2 up-regulation in cancer cells, we examined the change of expression of EphA2 gene induced by deoxycholic acid (DCA) and elucidated its possible pathways in human colon cancer cells. METHODS: Western blot and RT-PCR were used to assess the protein expression and messenger RNA in several colon cancer cell lines, which harbor various p53 status. The inhibition study to interfere the MAPK pathway was performed by using various chemicals and by transfecting dominant negative mutant plasmids. RESULTS: Up-regulation of EphA2 induced by DCA was observed in a dose- and time-dependent fashion both in mRNA and protein levels. This regulation is constant regardless of p53 status including wild, mutant or knocked out in the colon cell lines used. This induction was in part blocked by either erk1/2 inhibitors or dominant negative mutants erk1/2 plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that DCA induced up-regulation of EphA2 in colon cancer cells is due to activation of erk1/2 cascade, and is p53-independent. Taken together with the roles of EphA2 and DCA in tumorigenesis, which have been independently reported, our observation will provide a new mechanistic basis of DCA commitment in carcinogenesis.
