scholarly journals Targeting proliferating tumor cells via the transcriptional control of therapeutic genes

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
I A W Ho ◽  
K M Hui ◽  
P Y P Lam
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Therapeutic Genes

scholarly journals Transcriptionally Targeted Retroviral Vector for Combined Suicide and Immunomodulating Gene Therapy of Thyroid Cancer

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 5304-5311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Barzon ◽  
Roberta Bonaguro ◽  
Ignazio Castagliuolo ◽  
Marco Chilosi ◽  
Elisa Gnatta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Thyroid Carcinoma ◽  
Long Terminal Repeat ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Transgene Expression ◽  
Retroviral Vector ◽  
Terminal Repeat ◽  
Complete Regression ◽  
Thyroid Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Genes

Abstract Gene therapy may be an effective approach to thyroid carcinoma refractory to conventional treatment. A transcriptionally targeted retroviral vector for gene therapy of thyroid carcinomas was generated replacing the viral enhancer with the enhancer sequence of the human thyroglobulin (TG) gene, yielding a chimeric long-terminal repeat. The TG enhancer was used to drive the expression of either a reporter gene (β-galactosidase) or two therapeutic genes, i.e. the prodrug-activating enzyme thymidine kinase of herpes simplex virus (HSV-TK) and human IL-2, separated by an internal ribosome entry site. The corresponding vector having an unmodified long-terminal repeat was used as control. The targeted vector allowed selective transgene expression and cell killing in differentiated thyroid tumor cells but not in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells and nonthyroid cells, as demonstrated by quantitative RT-PCR and cytotoxicity assays. Nude mice injected with tumor cells underwent near complete or complete regression of tumors transduced with the control vector after ganciclovir treatment. On the other hand, infection with the thyroid-specific vector led to regression only of TG-expressing tumors. In addition, tumors expressing human IL-2 showed significant growth retardation, compared with nontransduced tumors while exhibiting signs of necrosis and presence of an inflammatory infiltrate. However, HSV-TK/IL-2 plus ganciclovir was significantly more efficient than HSV-TK/IL-2 alone in eradicating tumor masses. Our results indicate that replacement of viral enhancer with TG enhancer confers selectivity of transgene expression in thyroid cells. Thus, the combined thyroid-specific expression of two therapeutic genes (cytokine and suicide genes), although a safe tumor-targeted treatment, would allow an increased anticancer effect.

scholarly journals High frequency of myelomonocytic tumors in aging E mu L-myc transgenic mice.

1992 ◽  
Vol 175 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Möröy ◽  
P E Fisher ◽  
G Lee ◽  
P Achacoso ◽  
F Wiener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain ◽  
Autocrine Loop ◽  
T Cell Lymphomas ◽  
Mesenchymal Neoplasm

Transgenic mice that contain constructs of the L-myc gene under the transcriptional control of the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer (E mu) develop thymic hyperplasia and are predisposed to T cell lymphomas. Here we describe a second form of malignancy that occurs in aging E mu L-myc transgenic mice. The mean latency period for the development of this malignancy is longer compared with the E mu L-myc T cell lymphomas but the overall incidence is increased threefold. The histopathological morphology is that of a highly malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that closely resembles human fibrous histiocytoma. The tumor cells were classified as myelomonocytic on the basis of several lineage-specific markers and the lack of rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain and the T cell receptor beta loci. Cultured tumor cells produce macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) protein and express the M-CSF receptor, suggesting the involvement of an autocrine loop in this malignancy. Similar to the E mu L-myc T cell lymphomas, these tumors show high-level transgene expression but no detectable levels of endogenous c-myc mRNA, directly implicating the deregulated expression of L-myc in the generation of this malignancy. E mu L-myc myelomonocytic tumors show consistent trisomy of chromosome 16, implicating this as a secondary event in the development of this tumor. In the light of recent findings that L-myc is expressed in human myeloid leukemias and in several human myeloid tumor cell lines, the results described here might implicate L-myc in the development of naturally occurring myeloid neoplasias.

Membranous alterations in the cytoplasm and nucleus in a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the brain

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 628-629
Author(s):  
C. N. Sun ◽  
C. Araoz ◽  
H. J. White
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Neuroectodermal Tumor ◽  
Annulate Lamellae ◽  
Lead Citrate ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
The Brain

The ultrastructure of a cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor has been reported previously. In the present case, we will present some unusual previously unreported membranous structures and alterations in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the tumor cells.Specimens were cut into small pieces about 1 mm3 and immediately fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer for two hours, then post-fixed in 1% buffered osmium tetroxide for one hour. After dehydration, tissues were embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.In the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, we found paired cisternae (Fig. 1) and annulate lamellae (Fig. 2) noting that the annulate lamellae were sometimes associated with the outer nuclear envelope (Fig. 3). These membranous structures have been reported in other tumor cells. In our case, mitochondrial to nuclear envelope fusions were often noted (Fig. 4). Although this phenomenon was reported in an oncocytoma, their frequency in the present study is quite striking.

Ulcerogenic Tumors of the Pancreas

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 186-187
Author(s):  
J. C. Garancis ◽  
J. F. Kuzma ◽  
S. D. Wilson ◽  
E. H. Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Islet Cell ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Central Core ◽  
Islet Cell Tumors ◽  
Opaque Zone ◽  
Granular Form ◽  
Zollinger Ellison Syndrome

It has been proposed that a gastrin-like hormone elaborated by non-beta islet tumors of the pancreas may be responsible for a fulminating ulcer diathesis. Subsequently, a potent gastric secretagogue was isolated from ulcerogenic tumors of the pancreas. This disease process is known now as “Zollinger-Ellison syndrome”.In our studies of two cases of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, pancreatic lesions were identified as alpha islet cell tumors (Fig. 1). Tumor cells were fairly uniform. The sizes of the alpha granules were not significantly different, but their number and distribution varied greatly from one cell to another. Each granule consisted of a round, highly dense central core, separated from the limiting membrane by an opaque zone. The granular form of the endoplasmic reticulum was particularly prominent. Numerous mitochondria, round or elongated, were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Individual or clusters of lysosomes were observed in the majority of cells.

Glucose metabolism in cancer cells: immunogold localization of hexokinase to the outer mitochondrial membrane

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 1044-1045
Author(s):  
Krishan K. Arora ◽  
Glenn L. Decker ◽  
Peter L. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Mitochondrial Fraction ◽  
Immunogold Labeling ◽  
Outer Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Immunogold Localization ◽  
Hexokinase Activity ◽  
Normal Tissues

Hexokinase (ATP: D-hexose 6-phophotransferase EC 2.7.1.1) is the first enzyme of the glycolytic pathway which commits glucose to catabolism by catalyzing the phosphorylation of glucose with ATP. Previous studies have shown diat hexokinase activity is markedly elevated in rapidly growing tumor cells exhibiting high glucose catabolic rates. A large fraction (50-80%) of this enzyme activity is bound to the mitochondrial fraction (1,2) where it has preferred access to ATP (3). In contrast,the hexokinase activity of normal tissues is quite low, with one exception being brain which is a glucose-utilizing tissue (4). Biochemical evidence involving rigorous subfractionation studies have revealed striking differences between the subcellular distribution of hexokinase in normal and tumor cells [See review by Arora et al (4)].In the present report, we have utilized immunogold labeling techniques to evaluate die subcellular localization of hexokinase in highly glycolytic AS-30D hepatoma cells and in the tissue of its origin, i.e., rat liver.

Sequential detection of mRNA for the chemokine IL-8 and macrophages (F4/80) in human melanoma

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 1008-1009
Author(s):  
C.D. Bucana ◽  
R. Sanchez ◽  
R. Singh ◽  
I.J. Fidler
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Nude Mice ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Metastatic Potential ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Human Melanoma ◽  
Angiogenic Factor ◽  
Infiltrating Cells ◽  
Immunoperoxidase Assay ◽  
Multifunctional Cytokine

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate by ISH the presence of IL-8 mRNA, and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) the presence of the chemokine IL-8 and the distribution of infiltrating macrophages in subcutaneous melanomas in the same tumor. IL-8 is a multifunctional cytokine produced by melanoma cells, activated macrophages and monocytes and it has been shown to be a growth and angiogenic factor for tumor cells. More recently it was shown that constitutive expression of IL-8 correlated directly with metastatic potential of human melanoma cells in nude mice. IL-8 content of a solid tumor as determined by Western blot analysis does not take into account the contribution of macrophages. Previous studies showed that murine tumors contain many infiltrating cells interspersed among tumor cells whereas human tumors growing in nude mice exhibit macrophages at the periphery or between tumor islands. In this study we demonstrate the expression of IL-8 and the distribution of macrophages by immunoperoxidase assay and IL-8 mRNA by ISH.

Temporal and spatial interrelationships of confronting cisternae to nuclear envelope

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 930-931
Author(s):  
John R. Palisano
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Microscopic Investigation ◽  
Electron Microscopic Investigation ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Fetal Rat ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Although confronting cistemae (CC) have been observed in a variety of tumor cells and normal fetal rat, mouse, and human epithelial tissues, little is known about their origin or role in mitotic cells. While several investigators have suggested that CC arise from nuclear envelope (NE) folding back on itself during prophase, others have suggested that CC arise when fragments of NE pair with endoplasmic reticulum. An electron microscopic investigation of 0.25 um thick serial sections was undertaken to examine the origin of CC in HeLa cells.

Nutrient-regulated gene expression in eukaryotes

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Reece ◽  
Laila Beynon ◽  
Stacey Holden ◽  
Amanda D. Hughes ◽  
Karine Rébora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
A Cell ◽  
One Step ◽  
Higher Eukaryotes ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression

The recognition of changes in environmental conditions, and the ability to adapt to these changes, is essential for the viability of cells. There are numerous well characterized systems by which the presence or absence of an individual metabolite may be recognized by a cell. However, the recognition of a metabolite is just one step in a process that often results in changes in the expression of whole sets of genes required to respond to that metabolite. In higher eukaryotes, the signalling pathway between metabolite recognition and transcriptional control can be complex. Recent evidence from the relatively simple eukaryote yeast suggests that complex signalling pathways may be circumvented through the direct interaction between individual metabolites and regulators of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Biochemical and structural analyses are beginning to unravel these elegant genetic control elements.

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