Apolipoprotein J/clusterin is induced in vascular smooth muscle cells after vascular injury

BACKGROUND

Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of restenosis after PTCA may help us to develop a new strategy for the treatment of restenosis after PTCA. The purpose of this study was to identify the genes involved in vascular restenosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Applying a differential hybridization method to a model of the balloon-injured rabbit aorta, we identified 6 cDNA clones that were upregulated after injury. Northern blot showed that 5 genes, but not apolipoprotein J (apoJ)/clusterin, were constitutively expressed in noninjured aorta and upregulated after balloon injury. ApoJ mRNA was not detectable in noninjured aorta (control), began to be expressed at 6 hours after injury, showed a peak level at 24 hours (a 48-fold increase), gradually declined, and returned to the control level at 24 weeks. Western blot and immunohistochemistry demonstrated no expression of apoJ protein in noninjured aorta, an expression of apoJ at 2 days after balloon injury, and a peak level (a 55-fold increase) at 2 to 8 weeks. The expression of apoJ protein continued until 24 weeks after injury. In situ hybridization revealed that apoJ mRNA was expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of media at 2 days after injury and in SMCs of media and neointima at 2 weeks. To analyze the function of apoJ, stably transfected rabbit SMCs were created. The expression of apoJ stimulated proliferation and migration of SMCs.

CONCLUSIONS

ApoJ is dramatically induced in media and neointima after vascular injury, suggesting that apoJ contributes to restenosis after angioplasty.

Long-term results of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer: biochemical and pathological effects

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term biochemical and pathological effects induced by neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) in patients with clinically localized disease. Between March 1993 and May 1997, 24 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer received NHT for 3 to 11 months (median: 5 months) using luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue prior to radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The clinical stage was T1 in 1 patient, T2 in 17 and T3 in 6, the pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was < or = 10 ng/ml in 5 patients, 10 to 20 ng/ml in 4 and > 20 ng/ml in 15 (mean: 34.7 micrograms/l), and the Gleason score was < or = 4 in 9 patients, 5 to 7 in 11 and > 8 in 3. The mean prostate specific antigen (PSA) value 3 months after NHT had reduced below 2 ng/ml in 18 of the 24 patients (67%), and finally decreased by an average of 95% (i.e., 1.9 ng/ml) prior to surgery. The pathological stage was pT0 in 2 patients, pT2 in 10 and pT3 in 12. The incidence of organ-confined disease (OCD) was significantly higher in patients with clinical stage T1 or T2a than with T2b or T3, with pretreatment PSA values < or = 10 ng/ml than with PSA values > 10 ng/ml, and with PSA values < or = 2 than with PSA values > 2 at 3 months after NHT; in contrast, the Gleason score had no significant impact on the rate of OCD. After a median follow-up of 49 months (range 34 to 85 months), 6 patients (25%) had a recurrence evidenced by rising PSA, and the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 79%. These results suggest that NHT appears not to be of significant additional benefit to patients who have a higher clinical T stage, higher pretreatment PSA values and/or in patients whose PSA values do not normalize early in the treatment process.

Value of the serum prostate-specific antigen-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin complex and its density as a predictor for the extent of prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether serum levels of the prostate-specific antigen-alpha1-antichymotrypsin complex (PSA-ACT) and its density (ACTD) in patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer can predict organ-confined vs extraprostatic disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from 62 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer before they underwent radical prostatectomy. PSA and PSA-ACT were measured using immunofluorometric techniques with different monoclonal antibodies against PSA and ACT, respectively. Furthermore, the PSA and PSA-ACT densities of the whole prostate (PSAD and ACTD, respectively) were calculated. The relationships of serum PSA, PSA-ACT, PSAD, ACTD and the pathological stage of the prostatectomy specimens were analysed.

RESULTS

The disease was organ-confined or extraprostatic in 30 and 32 men, respectively. In men with organ-confined cancer, the mean PSA and PSA-ACT levels were significantly lower than in those with extraprostatic disease. Furthermore, there were significantly higher mean PSAD and ACTD levels in men with extraprostatic than with organ-confined disease. There were also significant differences in PSA, PSA-ACT, PSAD and ACTD levels at each pathological stage, whereas there was no significant association between these variables and the Gleason score. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for detecting organ-confined disease showed that PSA-ACT and ACTD had a larger area under the curve than PSA and PSAD, respectively, but these differences were not significant. Furthermore, PSA-ACT and ACTD provided significantly better sensitivity for detecting organ-confined disease than PSA and PSAD, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Measuring PSA-ACT and ACTD may improve the preoperative evaluation of patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy, because these factors better differentiate extraprostatic from organ-confined disease than PSA and PSAD.

Comparisons of sleep patterns between mothers in post-partum from 9 to 12 weeks and non-pregnant women

In order to evaluate two patterns of interrupted and non-interrupted sleep for the post-partum mothers from 9 to 12 weeks after delivery, we compared them with sleep patterns of non-pregnant women. Subjects were 10 primipara and 12 non-pregnant women. Their polysomnographic recordings were made using a Medilog recorder at home. In interrupted sleep, low sleep efficiency, decreased total sleep time, and a decreased percentage of stage 2 were significantly observed compared with non-pregnant women. Sleep parameters of non-interrupted sleep, except for increased percentage of stage 4, did not show any significant differences from non-pregnant women. Mothers' sleep fluctuated between interrupted sleep similar to the early post-partum sleep from 1 to 6 weeks and non-interrupted sleep with increased stage 4.

VLCD-induced weight loss improves heart rate variability in moderately obese Japanese

To evaluate the effects of weight reduction on the autonomic nervous system in obese patients, we investigated heart rate variability (HRV) based on 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings before and after weight reduction. To aim for weight reduction, 16 obese patients were treated with the very-low-calorie conventional Japanese diet (VLCD-CJ) therapy combined with behavior therapy. Percent weight reduction was 17.8% +/- 1.5% (means +/- SEM), but mean blood pressure did not change significantly after VLCD-CJ therapy. The mean normal R-R interval (mNN) of the 24-hr ECG and all other five time-domain indices increased after weight reduction. Spectral analysis revealed that weight reduction increased the high frequency (HF) component, but decreased the ratio of low to high (LF/HF) components. Rate of change in mNN or HF correlated positively with reduction rate of body mass index, but not that in LF/HF. Analysis of daily fluctuations in each HRV parameter showed that significant improvement after weight loss occurred mainly during the nocturnal period, but an HF component was improved throughout the day and night periods. These findings indicate that functional impairment of the autonomic nervous system in obese subjects, particularly in the nocturnal period, is improved by effective weight reduction after VLCD-CJ therapy.

Tissue printing for myrosinase activity in roots of turnip and Japanese radish and horseradish: a technique for localizing myrosinases

A method for analyzing the tissue distribution of myrosinase activity in Brassicaceous plants was developed. This technique is based on 'tissue printing' to visualize enzyme activity. The freshly-cut surface (transverse direction) of the root of three species, Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus), turnip (Brassica campestris) and Japanese horseradish (wasabi, Wasabia japonica), was pressed onto a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) filter to immobilize the proteins onto the membrane. The sites of myrosinase activity on the membranes were visualized by the sinigrin-glucose oxidase-peroxidase system. Signals for myrosinase activity were observed in both the epidermis and vascular cambium of the root of the Japanese radish, turnip and wasabi. Measurement of myrosinase activity in protein extracts indicated that the level of myrosinase activity in the peeling, which consisted of the epidermis, cortex and vascular cambium, was much higher than that in the peeled root of the three species. These results support the image that myrosinase activity, obtained in tissue printing, corresponded well with the tissue distribution of myrosinase activity.

New antifungal 1,2,4-triazoles with difluoro(substituted sulfonyl)methyl moiety

New 1,2,4-triazoles (2) having a difluoro(substituted sulfonyl)methyl moiety were designed and synthesized via alpha,alpha-difluoro-alpha-(substituted thio)acetophenones (3). Compounds (2) showed potent antifungal activities against C. albicans, C. krusei, A. flavus and A. fumigatus in vitro and against C. albicans in vivo for oral and i.v. administrations. Especially, (-)-2a, (-)-2b and (-)-2d showed potent antifungal activities.

Repeated Thermal Therapy Upregulates Arterial Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Syrian Golden Hamsters

It has been previously reported that sauna therapy, a thermal therapy, improves the hemodynamics and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure and also improves endothelial function, which is impaired in such patients. The present study investigated whether the improvements observed with sauna therapy are through modulation of arterial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. Eight male Syrian golden hamsters underwent sauna therapy, using an experimental far infrared-ray dry sauna system, at 39 degrees C for 15 min followed by 30 degrees C for 20 min daily for 4 weeks. Control group hamsters were placed in the sauna system switched off at room temperature of 24 degrees C for 35 min. Immunohistochemistry found greater amounts of the immunoreactive products of eNOS in the endothelial cells of the aorta and carotid, femoral and coronary arteries in the sauna group than in the control group. Western blot analysis also revealed that 4-week sauna therapy significantly increased eNOS expression in aortas by 50% in 4 series of independent experiments with an identical protocol (p<0.01). In reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, the eNOS mRNA in aortas was greater in the sauna group than in controls, with a peak at 1-week of sauna therapy (approximately 40-fold increase). In conclusion, repeated thermal therapy upregulates eNOS expression in arterial endothelium.

Mapping and regulation of the tumor-associated epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody RS-11

We have previously described a rat monoclonal antibody, RS-11, which recognizes a tumor-associated antigen common to several species. In the present study, we have cloned and characterized the antigen recognized by RS-11. We screened a phage expression library prepared from HeLa cDNA and identified a clone that reacts with RS-11. DNA sequence analysis revealed that this clone contains sequences of keratin 18 (nucleotides 568-1196). We constructed several glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and synthetic peptides based on this DNA sequence analysis and examined their reactivity with RS-11 to accurately map the RS-11 epitope. We determined that the epitope resides within a region of seven amino acids on the alpha-helix 2B domain of keratin 18 in which two amino acids (Leu(366) and Lys(370)) are completely conserved among intermediate filaments as well as other keratin members that are immunoreactive with RS-11. These two residues are sequentially discontinuous but spatially adjacent. The RS-11 epitope is constitutively present in human primary cultured hepatocytes; however, its immunoreactivity with RS-11 is up-regulated by malignant transformation or stimulation with either epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor alpha.

alpha,alpha-gem-Difluorination of alpha-(alkylthio)acetophenone derivatives with N-fluoropyridinium salts

The alpha,alpha-gem-difluorination of 2',4'-difluoro-alpha-(methylthio)acetophenone (1a) with N-fluoropyridinium salts gave 2',4',alpha,alpha-tetrafluoro-alpha-(methylthio)acetophenone (3a). This reaction was accelerated by the addition of zinc chloride, zinc bromide or anhydrous iron(III) chloride, and higher yields than the reaction without additives were obtained. The gem-difluorination reaction using FP-T300 in the presence of zinc bromide was applicable to other alpha-(alkylthio)acetophenone derivatives (1).

Late onset hyalinosis cutis et mucosae

Two cases of non-familial, late onset (50 and 62-years-old) hyalinosis cutis et mucosae were studied and compared with classical early onset cases. Late onset cases showed essentially the same histological and ultrastructural features described for early onset cases. The late onset variety should be distinguished from other diseases; they resemble systemic amyloidosis and sometimes the adult form of colloid milium.

New antifungal 1,2,4-triazoles with difluoro(heteroaryl)methyl moiety

New 1,2,4-triazoles (1) having a difluoro(heteroaryl)methyl moiety were designed and synthesized via 1-aryl-2,2-difluoro-2-(heteroaryl)ethanones (2), which were prepared by two routes starting from the reaction of ethyl 2,2-difluoro(heteroaryl)acetate with phenyllithiums (Route A) and from the reaction of chlorodifluoro(heteroaryl)methane with benzaldehydes (Route B). The compounds 1 except for 1g show antifungal activities against yeasts and filamentous fungi in vitro, especially (+)-1f have equal or superior activities compared to those of itraconazole.

Mothers' wakefulness at night in the post-partum period is related to their infants' circadian sleep-wake rhythm

The relationship between a post-partum mother's wakefulness at night and her infant's circadian sleep-wake rhythm was examined. The subjects were seven primipara and their infants. Actigraphic recordings for the mothers and their infants were made over three to five continuous days during Weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. A 24-h peak of autocorrelograms of the infants' movements appeared in two cases at Week 6, in six cases at Week 9, and in seven cases at Week 12. The mothers' night-time movements significantly decreased from Week 3 to Week 12. Mothers' wakefulness during night sleep in the post-partum period is related to their infants' obtaining circadian sleep-wake rhythm.

CD44s expression in human colon carcinomas influences growth of liver metastases

CD44 is a family of cell-surface adhesion molecules which exist in several isoforms arising from mRNA alternative. Malignant transformation of colonic mucosa is associated with alterations in CD44 expression, which result in up-regulation of high-molecular-weight CD44 isoforms and down-regulation of CD44s. We have demonstrated that stable transfection of CD44s into colon-carcinoma cell lines reduces their tumorigenicity. To understand the influence of CD44s expression on the metastatic potential of human colon carcinomas, we measured the ability of several different CD44s-transfected colon carcinomas to establish experimental liver metastases following splenic inoculation in mice. We observed that introduction of CD44s into 2 different human colon carcinoma cell lines, HT29 and KM12C6, resulted in reduced growth of liver metastases by as much as 75%. To explore the relationship between hyaluronate adhesion and metastasis, we transfected HT29 cells with cDNA encoding a mutant CD44s that does not bind to hyaluronate. HT29 transfectants expressing this mutant CD44s demonstrate an 84% reduction in growth of liver metastases, despite minimal binding to hyaluronate by the mutant CD44s. In concert, these results indicate that CD44s down-regulation, which occurs with malignant transformation of colonic mucosa, is associated with enhanced growth of experimental liver metastases. Consequently, the functional consequences of CD44s down-regulation in colon carcinomas may be just as significant as the consequences of up-regulation of other CD44 isoforms.

Mouse endostatin inhibits the formation of lung and liver metastases

Angiogenesis is required for tumor formation. Several studies have demonstrated that tumor angiogenesis is regulated by a balance between proangiogenesis and antiangiogenesis factors and that this balance varies in different organ environments. To investigate whether expression of an angiogenesis inhibitor by cancer cells could alter this balance and prevent tumor formation in different organ environments, we engineered stable transfectants from RenCa mouse renal carcinoma cells and SW620 human colon carcinoma cells to constitutively secrete a mouse endostatin protein with c-myc and polyhistidine (His) tags. Production and secretion of the endostatin-c-myc-His fusion protein by endostatin-transfected cells were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. The endostatin transfectants and control transfectants, stably transfected with a control plasmid, had similar in vitro growth rates compared with their parental cell lines. Conditioned medium from endostatin-transfected cells inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation by 36-51% compared with conditioned medium from control cells. After inoculation into mice, flank tumors from endostatin-transfected cells were 73-91% smaller than flank tumors from control cells after 3 weeks. Inoculation of a cell mixture containing 25% endostatin-transfected cells and 75% control cells resulted in inhibition of flank tumor formation as effective as after inoculation of 100% endostatin-transfected cells. Formation of lung metastases by RenCa endostatin-transfected cells and formation of liver metastases by SW620 endostatin-transfected cells were dramatically inhibited compared with formation of metastases by control cells. These findings demonstrate that endostatin can inhibit tumor formation in different organ environments and that gene delivery of endostatin into even a minority of tumor cells may be an effective strategy to prevent progression of micrometastases to macroscopic disease.

[Development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody which recognizes a new prostate-organ specific antigen]

PURPOSE

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies which recognizes a new prostate-organ specific antigen.

METHOD

For development of monoclonal antibodies, hybrid cells were prepared by fusion of spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the homogenates of surgically resected prostatic tissue and P 3 x Ag 8 U 1 (P 3 U 1) murine myeloma cells. Supernatants of hybrid clones were primarily screened using an ELISA on human prostatic cancer cell line PC-3 and human bladder cancer cell line T-24. In the secondary screening, they were tested on normal tissues by immunohistochemical staining. To characterize the antigens, biochemical analyses were performed using seminal plasma as an antigen by western blotting and gel filtration, and the reactivity of antibodies were compared with that of antibodies against prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-Sm).

RESULTS

A monoclonal antibody termed KP-9 was obtained and it only reacted with PC-3 and prostate tissues, but did not react with other cell lines and normal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of prostate tissue revealed that KP-9 stained grandular epithelium and grandular exudate of normal and malignant prostatic tissues, and especially, strongly stained the apical site of grandular epithelium. Western blotting and gel filtration of seminal plasma suggested that the molecular weight of the KP-9 antigen was more than 300,000 and was different from PAP, PSA and gamma-Sm.

CONCLUSION

We have developed a monoclonal antibody, KP-9 which specifically reacts with prostatic cancer as well as benign prostatic tissues. The antigen recognized by KP-9 appeared to be a new prostate-organ specific antigen and may be a useful marker for prostatic cancer such as PAP, PSA and gamma-Sm.

Type I interferons (IFNs) regulate tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression on human T cells: A novel mechanism for the antitumor effects of type I IFNs

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a proapoptotic member of the TNF family of type II membrane proteins, which constitutes one component of T cell cytotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of TRAIL in human peripheral blood T (PBT) cells. Although freshly isolated PBT cells did not express a detectable level of TRAIL on their surface, a remarkable TRAIL expression was rapidly induced on the surface of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) PBT cells upon stimulation with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and type I interferons (IFNs). This enhancement of TRAIL expression was a unique feature of type I IFNs (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta), and neither type II IFN (IFN-gamma) nor various other cytokines enhanced TRAIL expression on anti-CD3-stimulated PBT cells. Type I IFNs have been used for clinical treatment of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), and we found that most RCC cell lines were susceptible to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Type I IFNs substantially augmented cytotoxic activity of anti-CD3-stimulated PBT cells against RCC cell lines in a TRAIL-dependent manner. These results indicate a unique feature of type I IFNs to regulate TRAIL-mediated T cell cytotoxicity, which may be involved in the antitumor effects of type I IFNs against various tumors.

Involvement of CD44 in matrix metalloproteinase-2 regulation in human melanoma cells

CD44 is a family of cell-surface-adhesion proteins that are thought to play an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. However, the specific mechanisms by which CD44 expression modulates invasion or metastasis are not well understood. In the current study, we have demonstrated that treatment of human melanoma cells with a CD44 MAb, F10-44-2, induces up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein and mRNA. Moreover, treatment of melanoma cells with MAb F10-44-2 enhances their migration through gelatin-coated membranes and invasion through reconstituted basement membranes. Treatment of melanoma cells with several known CD44 ligands, including hyaluronate, extracellular-matrix proteins, and osteopontin, did not induce MMP-2 production. CD44 binding by F10-44-2 MAb results in induction of MMP-2 expression, which is associated with enhanced cell migration and invasion. These findings have several implications for investigations into tumor metastasis, development, and lymphocyte function.

Multifocal renal cell carcinoma in Japanese patients with tumors with maximal diameters of 50 mm. or less

PURPOSE

We determined the risk of local recurrence in 64 Japanese patients a median of 69 years old with renal cell carcinoma who were possible candidates for nephron sparing surgery and who underwent radical nephrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 64 kidneys in which tumors 50 mm. or less were resected were prospectively examined pathologically in 3 mm. sections. The incidence of satellite tumors and the relationship between the pathological findings of the primary and satellite tumors were evaluated.

RESULTS

Satellite tumors were identified in 10 of the 64 kidneys (15.6%), a rate similar to that reported in the United States. The correlation of histological findings between primary and satellite tumors was 70% for tumor grade. Satellite tumor grade was less than that of the primary lesion in 3 cases. In 60% of the specimens with multifocal renal cancer satellite tumors were within 10 mm. of the margin of the primary tumor. At this distance, if partial nephrectomy had been performed, the satellite lesions would have been missed in 4 of these 10 patients (40%). Of the 10 kidneys with satellite renal tumors 8 (80%) had vascular invasion of the primary tumor. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that vascular invasion was a significant predictor of multifocality of renal cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that vascular invasion is a risk factor for multifocality in Japanese patients with renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, careful and long-term followup is necessary in patients with renal cell carcinoma who have undergone nephron sparing surgery, especially those with vascular invasion of the primary tumor.

Recurrent annular erythema in a case of seronegative Sjögren's syndrome

We describe a case of Sjögren's syndrome who repeatedly developed annular erythema on her extremities. Her anti-nuclear antibody, anti-SSA/Ro antibody, and anti-SSB/La antibody were all negative. Characteristics of the annular erythema included a tendency to appear on the extremities especially in summer, spontaneous regression after 1-2 weeks, and residual slight pigmentation. The histological findings revealed dermal perivascular lymphocytic infiltration admixed with some neutrophils. Slight exsudative changes were found in the upper dermis. There were no epidermal changes. This case suggests the existence of annular erythema which may not be related to the anti-SSA/Ro or anti-SSB/La antibody. Unknown factors other than those antibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of the annular erythema.

Overexpression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells inhibits apoptosis induced by cisplatin and adenoviral-mediated p53 gene transfer

To investigate the effects of the expression of Bcl-2 protein in bladder cancer on the apoptosis induced by cisplatin or adenoviral-mediated p53 gene (Ad5CMV-p53) transfer, we transfected the bcl-2 gene into KoTCC-1, a human bladder cancer cell line that does not express the Bcl-2 protein. The Bcl-2-transfected KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/B) exhibited significantly higher resistance to both cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 transfer than did either the parental KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/P) or the vector-only transfected cell line (KoTCC-1/C). The flow cytometric analysis of the propidium iodide-stained nuclei and DNA fragmentation analysis after cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53 treatment revealed DNA degradation in both KoTCC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C, whereas KoTCC1/B showed a marked inhibition of DNA degradation. Following the treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53, the accumulation of p53 protein was highly detectable for a long period in KoTCC-1/B compared to that in KoTTC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C. Furthermore, the cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 treatments each reduced the volume of the subcutaneous tumors established in nude mice formed by KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C; in contrast, their reductive effects on the tumors formed by KoTCC-1/B were significantly suppressed. The intraperitoneal tumor cell implantation model revealed that the prognoses of mice injected with KoTCC-1/B were significantly inferior to those of the mice injected with either KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C after treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53. These findings suggest that the expression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells interferes with the therapeutic effects of cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 through the inhibition of the apoptotic pathway.

Basic fibroblast growth factor regulates matrix metalloproteinases production and in vitro invasiveness in human bladder cancer cell lines

PURPOSE

This study was designed to investigate the effect of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production and in vitro invasive potential of human bladder cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The human bladder cancer cell lines, HT1376 and KoTCC-1, were used in this study. The mRNA for FGF receptor has been shown to be expressed in both cell lines; the mRNA for FGF-2 is expressed in only KoTCC-1. The effects of FGF-2 expression on HT1376 by gene transfection and those of FGF-2 antisense oligonucleotides treatment on KoTCC-1 were analyzed by zymography and in vitro tumor cell invasion assay.

RESULTS

The introduction of human FGF-2 gene into HT1376 cells markedly enhanced both the MMP-2 and MMP-9 production, and the in vitro invasive potential was also increased. In contrast, the exposure of KoTCC-1 cells to FGF-2 specific antisense oligonucleotides decreased the MMP-2 production and in vitro invasive potential, but the exposure to FGF-2 sense oligonucleotides did not.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that FGF-2 plays an important role in the invasive process of human bladder cancer in part through the regulation of MMPs production.