Identification of serum microRNA profiles in colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: microRNAs (miRNAs) exist in blood in an apparently stable form. We have explored whether serum miRNAs can be used as non-invasive early biomarkers of colon cancer. METHODS: Serum samples from 30 patients with colon cancer stage IV and 10 healthy controls were examined for the expression of 375 cancer-relevant miRNAs. Based on the miRNA profile in this study, 34 selected miRNAs were measured in serum from 40 patients with stage I-II colon cancer and from 10 additional controls. RESULTS: Twenty miRNAs were differentially expressed in serum from stage IV patients compared with controls (P<0.01). Unsupervised clustering revealed four subgroups; one corresponding mostly to the control group and the three others to the patient groups. Of the 34 miRNAs measured in the follow-up study of stage I-II patients, 21 showed concordant expression between stage IV and stage I-II patient. Based on the profiles of these 21 miRNAs, a supervised linear regression analysis (Partial Least Squares Regression) was performed. Using this model we correctly assigned stage I-II colon cancer patients based on miRNA profiles of stage IV patients. CONCLUSION: Serum miRNA expression profiling may be utilised in early detection of colon cancer.

Identification of novel neuroendocrine-specific tumour genes.

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) comprise a heterogenous group of malignancies with an often unpredictable course, and with limited treatment options. Thus, new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers are needed. To shed new lights into the biology of NETs, we have by cDNA transcript profiling, sought to identify genes that are either up- or downregulated in NE as compared with non-NE tumour cells. A panel of six NET and four non-NET cell lines were examined, and out of 12 743 genes examined, we studied in detail the 200 most significantly differentially expressed genes in the comparison. In addition to potential new diagnostic markers (NEFM, CLDN4, PEROX2), the results point to genes that may be involved in the tumorigenesis (BEX1, TMEPAI, FOSL1, RAB32), and in the processes of invasion, progression and metastasis (MME, STAT3, DCBLD2) of NETs. Verification by real time qRT-PCR showed a high degree of consistency to the microarray results. Furthermore, the protein expression of some of the genes were examined. The results of our study has opened a window to new areas of research, by uncovering new candidate genes and proteins to be further investigated in the search for new prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic markers in NETs.

RNA and protein clean-up from the same specimen. Comparison between the Qiagen and Ambion protocols.

Study of gene and protein expression patterns is considered desirable for gaining new insight into cellular molecular mechanisms. The purpose of the present study was to compare the RNeasy (Qiagen) and PARIS (Ambion) protocols for protein and RNA clean-up. We found that the RNeasy protocol resulted in a significantly higher yield of both RNA and protein compared to the PARIS protocol. Western blot analysis of proteins isolated with these two methods, and with use of three different antibodies (PKB/Akt, c-fos and CREM), indicated that these methods were equal in regard to protein patterns, despite the protein precipitation step that is included in the RNeasy protocol. In some cases, Western blot performed on unprecipitated flow-through (Qiagen) may be satisfactory for Western blot analysis, but the amount of protein is probably decisive for detection.

Serotonin and fluoxetine modulate bone cell function in vitro.

Recent studies have proposed a role for serotonin and its transporter in regulation of bone cell function. In the present study, we examined the in vitro effects of serotonin and the serotonin transporter inhibitor fluoxetine "Prozac" on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Human mononuclear cells were differentiated into osteoclasts in the presence of serotonin or fluoxetine. Both compounds affected the total number of differentiated osteoclasts as well as bone resorption in a bell-shaped manner. RT-PCR on the human osteoclasts demonstrated several serotonin receptors, the serotonin transporter, and the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1). Tph1 expression was also found in murine osteoblasts and osteoclasts, indicating an ability to produce serotonin. In murine pre-osteoclasts (RAW264.7), serotonin as well as fluoxetine affected proliferation and NFkappaB activity in a biphasic manner. Proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and primary osteoblasts (NHO), and 5-HT2A receptor expression was enhanced by serotonin. Fluoxetine stimulated proliferation of MSC and murine preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) in nM concentrations, microM concentrations were inhibitory. The effect of fluoxetine seemed direct, probably through 5-HT2 receptors. Serotonin-induced proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor (GF109203) and was also markedly reduced when antagonists of the serotonin receptors 5-HT2B/C or 5-HT2A/C were added. Serotonin increased osteoprotegerin (OPG) and decreased receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) secretion from osteoblasts, suggesting a role in osteoblast-induced inhibition of osteoclast differentiation, whereas fluoxetine had the opposite effect. This study further describes possible mechanisms by which serotonin and the serotonin transporter can affect bone cell function.

Identification of novel growth factor-responsive genes in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumour cells.

Targeting growth-regulatory pathways is a promising approach in cancer treatment. A prerequisite to the development of such therapies is characterisation of tumour growth regulation in the particular tumour cell type of interest. In order to gain insight into molecular mechanisms underlying proliferative responses in neuroendocrine (NE) gastrointestinal (GI) tumours, we investigated gene expression in human carcinoid BON cells after exposure to gastrin, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide or epidermal growth factor. We particularly focused on gastrin- and HGF-induced gene expression, and identified 95 gastrin- and 101 HGF-responsive genes. The majority of these genes are known mediators of processes central in tumour biology, and a number of them have been associated with poor prognosis and metastasis in cancer patients. Furthermore, we identified 12 genes that were regulated by all four factors, indicating that they may be universally regulated during NE GI tumour cell proliferation. Our findings provide useful hypotheses for further studies aimed to search for new therapeutic targets as well as tumour markers in NE GI tumours.

Molecular mechanisms involved in gastrin-mediated regulation of cAMP-responsive promoter elements.

In the present study, we explore the role of cAMP-responsive (CRE) promoter elements in gastrin-mediated gene activation. By using the minimal CRE promoter reporter plasmid, pCRELuc, we show that gastrin can activate CRE. This activation is blocked by H-89 and GF 109203x, which inhibit protein kinases A and C, respectively. Moreover, Ca(2+)-activated pathways seem to be involved, because the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 reduced gastrin-mediated activation of pCRELuc. Deletion of CRE from the c-fos promoter rendered this promoter completely unresponsive to gastrin, indicating that CRE plays a central role in c-fos transactivation. Interestingly, gastrin-induced expression of the inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), a gene that is known to be regulated by CRE promoter elements, was not reduced by H-89, W-7, or GF 109203x. Furthermore, bandshift analyses indicated that the region of the ICER promoter containing the CRE-like elements CARE 3-4 binds transcription factors that are not members of the CRE-binding protein-CRE modulator protein-activating transcription factor, or CREB/CREM/ATF-1, family. Our results underline the significance of the CRE promoter element in gastrin-mediated gene regulation and indicate that a variety of signaling mechanisms are involved, depending on the CRE promoter context.

Regulation of inducible cAMP early repressor expression by gastrin and cholecystokinin in the pancreatic cell line AR42J.

The CREM gene encodes both activators and repressors of cAMP-induced transcription. Inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) isoforms are generated upon activation of an alternative, intronic promoter within the CREM gene. ICER is proposed to down-regulate both its own expression and the expression of other genes that contain cAMP-responsive elements such as a number of growth factors. Thus, ICER has been postulated to play a role in proliferation and differentiation. Here we show that ICER gene expression is induced by gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and epidermal growth factor in AR42J cells. The time course of gastrin- and CCK-mediated ICER induction is rapid and transient, similar to forskolin- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced ICER expression. The specific CCK-B receptor antagonist L740,093 blocks the gastrin but not the CCK response, indicating that both the CCK-B and the CCK-A receptor can mediate ICER gene activation. Noteworthy, CREB is constitutively phosphorylated at Ser-133 in AR42J cells, and ICER induction proceeds in the absence of increased CREB Ser(P)-133. Gastrin-mediated ICER induction was not reduced in the presence of the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89, indicating a protein kinase A-independent mechanism. This is the first report on ICER inducibility via G(q)/G(11) protein-coupled receptors.

Gender aspects of liver slice incubations with N,N,N-triethylene-thiophosphamide (Thio-TEPA) in rats and mice.

This study was conducted to investigate if biotransformation of N,N,N-triethylene-thiophosphoramide (thio-TEPA) by liver slice incubations reflects the established gender pattern for rat and mouse. Liver slices from rat and mice of both genders were incubated with start concentrations of thio-TEPA of 5.2, 26, 52 and 104 microM for up to 240 min. Male rat liver slices eliminated thio-TEPA faster and formed more TEPA than female liver slices at any concentration. No gender difference was found for the elimination of thio-TEPA in mice, however, the female liver slices formed less TEPA than the male ones. Apparently female rat liver slices formed less TEPA than female mice liver slices. It is concluded that the liver slice incubation system in a robust manner reflects gender differences in rat drug biotransformation with special reference to thio-TEPA. It is also confirmed that these aspects of gender are less pronounced in the examined mouse species than in rats.

Selective inhibitors of cytosolic or secretory phospholipase A2 block TNF-induced activation of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B and expression of ICAM-1.

TNF signaling mechanisms involved in activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB were studied in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. We show that TNF-induced activation of NF-kappaB was inhibited by the well-known selective inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2): the trifluoromethyl ketone analogue of arachidonic acid (AACOCF3) and methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphate. The trifluoromethyl ketone analogue of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPACOCF3) also suppressed TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation and inhibited in vitro cPLA2 enzyme activity with a similar potency as AACOCF3. The arachidonyl methyl ketone analogue (AACOCH3) and the eicosapentanoyl analogue (EPACHOHCF3), which both failed to inhibit cPLA2 enzyme activity in vitro, had no effect on TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation. TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation was also strongly reduced in cells stimulated in the presence of the secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) inhibitors 12-epi-scalaradial and LY311727. Addition of excess arachidonic acid suppressed the inhibitory effect of 12-epi-scalaradial and LY311727. Moreover, both methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphate and 12-epi-scalaradial blocked TNF-mediated enhancement of expression of ICAM-1. Activation of NF-kappaB by IL-1beta was markedly less sensitive to both cPLA2 and sPLA2 inhibitors. The results indicate that both cPLA2 and sPLA2 may be involved in the TNF signal transduction pathway leading to nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and to NF-kappaB-activated gene expression in HaCaT cells.

Tumor necrosis factor induces lipopolysaccharide tolerance in a human adenocarcinoma cell line mainly through the TNF p55 receptor.

This study demonstrates that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediates induction of transcription factor NF kappa B and activation of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-enhancer in the SW480 cell line. These cells do not express a functional membrane CD14. The LPS response in SW480 cells was weaker and markedly slower than the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) response. Pretreatment with TNF for 72 h inhibited both TNF, tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) p55, TNFR p75, and LPS-mediated activation of nuclear factor -kappa B (NF kappa B), whereas pretreatment with LPS only inhibited the LPS response. TNFR p55 antibody pretreatment resulted in marked inhibition of the LPS response, while pretreatment with TNFR p75 antiserum only had a weak inhibitory effect. Flowcytometric analysis showed that LPS binding as well as expression of TNFR p55 and TNFR p75 were not affected by LPS or TNF pretreatment, indicating that the observed inhibition is not due to reduction of specific binding sites at the cell surface. The results suggest that LPS signaling in SW480 cells involves intracellular components which may be depleted or inactivated via TNFR p55, indicating that the LPS and TNFR p55 pathways overlap. We propose that TNFR p55 can mediate activation of NF kappa B and cytomegalovirus promoter-enhancer in SW480 cells via two distinct mechanisms, one which is activated only via TNFR p55 and leads to rapid activation of NF kappa B, and another which is overlapping with the LPS pathway.

Hepatic elimination of diazepam: interactions with albumin, desflurane and sevoflurane.

We have studied the effect of sevoflurane and desflurane on the hepatic elimination of diazepam, by incubating slices of rat livers in a closed system. Protein free and protein containing (albumin 10 g litre-1) buffers were used to examine the effect of the anaesthetics on enzyme activity and diazepam binding to albumin. Both anaesthetics (in concentrations of 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol litre-1) reduced the elimination of diazepam slightly in the absence of albumin, while the presence of the protein increased elimination to a maximum of 30% at the greatest concentration of the anaesthetics. These data support previous observations that volatile anaesthetics may interact pharmacokinetically with both liver enzyme activity and drug binding to albumin.