Reactivation of heat-inactivated Ku proteins by heat shock cognate protein HSC73

Purpose: Mouse double-stranded DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity is heat sensitive. Recovery of heat-inactivated DNA repair activity is a problem after combination therapy with radiation and heat. We investigated the mechanism of recovery of heat-inactivated DNA-PK activity.

Methods: Hybrid cells containing a fragment of human chromosome 8 in scid cells (RD13B2) were used. DNA-PK activity was measured by an in vitro assay. Immunoprecipitation of the nuclear extract was performed with an anti-Ku80 antibody. Proteins co-precipitated with Ku80 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by Western blotting using anti-heat shock protein (HSP)72 and anti-heat shock cognate protein (HSC)73 antibodies. HSC73 was overexpressed with the pcDNA3.1 vector. Short hairpin (sh)RNA was used to downregulate HSC73 and HSP72.

Results: The activity of heat-inactivated DNA-PK recovered to about 50% of control during an additional incubation at 37?°C after heat treatment at 44?°C for 15?min in the presence of cycloheximide (which inhibits de novo protein synthesis). Maximal recovery was observed within 3?h of incubation at 37?°C after heat treatment. Constitutively expressed HSC73, which folds newly synthesized proteins, reached maximal levels 3?h after heat treatment using a co-immunoprecipitation assay with the Ku80 protein. Inhibiting HSC73, but not HSP72, expression with shRNA decreased the recovery of DNA-PK activity after heat treatment.

Conclusions: These results suggest that de novo protein synthesis is unnecessary for recovery of some heat-inactivated DNA-PK. Rather, it might be reactivated by the molecular chaperone activity of HSC73, but not HSP72.     

Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine: Pooled analysis of two large randomised phase 3 trials

Background

The ZOE-50 (NCT01165177) and ZOE-70 (NCT01165229) phase 3 clinical trials showed that the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was ≥90% efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in adults. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the safety data from these studies.

Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal carcinoma

Among the numerous signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis, PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR is a key one that regulates diverse cellular functions. However, its prognostic value in esophageal carcinoma remains unclear. In our study, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of phosphorylated (p‐) AKT, mTOR, p70S6K and 4E‐BP1 along with the mutational status of PIK3CA and AKT1 genes by High Resolution Melting Analysis and Pyrosequencing in 44 esophageal carcinomas. The results were correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients in an effort to define their possible prognostic significance. Total p‐mTOR cytoplasmic expression, assessed in 10 random areas, was positively correlated with tumor stage (Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, I/II vs III/IV, p = 0.0500). Μoreover, maximum p‐mTOR cytoplasmic immunoexpression, estimated in hot spot areas, was positively associated with tumor grade (Mann–Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0565). Interestingly, p‐4E‐BP1 immunoreactivity was negatively correlated with tumor histological grade (Mann–Whitney U test, I/II vs III, p = 0.0427). No mutation was observed in exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA gene and in exon 4 of AKT1 gene. In conclusion, our findings depict the presence of activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in esophageal cancer bringing forward p‐mTOR and p‐4E‐BP1 for their potential role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Additional studies are warranted to validate our findings.     

局部脑缺血预处理对大鼠脑梗死的影响和HSP70的表达及mRNA的变化

目的建立局灶性可重复性大鼠脑缺血动物模型,研究短暂性局部脑缺血后再灌注不同时间对大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)的影响。方法应用改进的Longa's法,建立阻断左侧中动脉的局部脑缺血预处理模型。各组大鼠均经两次处理预处理(PC)组大鼠20min短暂脑缺血,分别在再灌注12h、1d、3d、5d、7d、14d后,造成MCAO;脑梗死组大鼠只在第二次处理造成大脑中动脉闭塞;短暂缺血组只在第一次处理时缺血20min,各组大鼠均在第二次处理后24h断头处死,检测以下指标神经功能缺失评分;TTC染色测量梗死范围HE染色观察组织结构变化;免疫印迹(原位杂交)和免疫组织化学染色观察HSP70的表达。结果PC后1d、2d、3d、5d、7d组与脑梗死组相比较,脑梗死范围,梗死周边区脑组织的缺血性损伤明显减轻了;短暂性脑缺血引起了轻微的神经细胞结构的改变并使缺血区HSP70的表达增加,MCAO后24hHSP70蛋白在缺血周边区出现了广泛表达。结论短暂局部缺血预处理可以诱导脑梗死后脑组织产生缺血耐受性,其保护作用出现再灌注后l~7d;缺血预处理引起HSP70的变化与缺血耐受的产生有一定联系。     

Immunohistochemical expression of C-myc oncogene,heat shock protein 70 and HLA-DR molecules in malignant cutaneous melanoma

The clinical course of malignant melanomas is frequently unpredictable, although a number of prognostically useful variables can be identified. There is a need for additional markers of prognostic value. In a series of 60 malignant cutaneous melanomas, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of c-myc proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and HLA-DR molecules in order to investigate their prognostic significance. C-myc, HSP70 and HLA-DR were expressed in 43.3%, 56.6% and 38.3% of all melanoma cases, respectively. Advanced Clark levels (Clark III–V) were significantly associated with c-myc expression rate (P<0.05), HSP70 detection (P<0.01) and HLA-DR positivity (P<0.01). Increased Breslow thickness (>1.5 mm) was related to HLA-DR expression (P<0.05). High mitotic rate was closely associated with c-myc positivity (P<0.05), while HSP70 and HLA-DR expression separately correlated to clinical stage of the disease (P<0.05). The evaluation of these variables may be of immunological and prognostic significance. They were found to be associated with melanocyte subpopulations of the vertical growth phase which are arguably characterized by an increased invasive potential.     

Molecular oncogene markers and their significance in cutaneous malignant melanoma

Background: Oncogenes and other molecular tumor markers that predict tumor aggressiveness may allow individualization and optimization of surgical therapy of intermediate-thickness malignant melanoma. We examined the expression of selected markers, including the HLA-DR antigen, the heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), and the c-myc oncogene in primary melanoma and regional nodes and related these findings to metastatic potential and survival. Methods: Forty patients with primary melanoma (1.5–4.0 mm) were studied, all of whom had prophylactic lymph node dissection and were followed for 18 months to 7 years. The primary tissue and nodes were examined using immunohistochemical techniques for the presence of HLA-DR antigen and HSP-70 protein and the expression of the c-myc oncogene. Results: Of 40 patients, there were 23 with lesions 1 to 2.9 mm thick and 17 with lesions 3 to 4 mm thick. Nodal metastases were present in 25 of the 40 patients who had elective node dissection. HLA-DR antibody stained the primary tumor in 10 patients (25%), but there was no correlation with survival in this group. HLA-DR antibody stained the stroma and cellular infiltrates surrounding the primary tumor in 28 of 40 patients; in this group there was a correlation of HLA-DR staining of the peritumoral stroma with improved survival overall. HLA-DR staining of the peritumoral stroma also influenced survival when patients were stratified by tumor thickness groups 1 to 2.9 mm and 3 to 4 mm and presence of nodal metastases. HSP-70 was demonstrated in the primary tumor in 25% of patients, who were also shown to have significantly improved survival when compared with those whose primary tumor did not stain with HSP-70. C-myc was expressed in the primary tumor in 25%, but showed no correlation with survival. None of these proteins correlated with or predicted the presence of nodal metastases. Conclusion: We conclude that the use of specific molecular-oncogene markers in intermediate-thickness primary melanoma may identify patients at high risk for conventional treatment failure and reduced survival who may profit from more aggressive surgery, adjuvant therapy, or both.Presented at the 48th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, March 23–26, 1995.     

膜表达热休克蛋白70真核表达载体的构建及其对肿瘤细胞的转染

目的构建普遍适合性的膜表达热休克蛋白70(HSP70)的真核表达载体,修饰并建立HSP 70表达并结合在细胞膜表面的肿瘤细胞.方法RT-PCR法从人胚肾中获取HSP 70的cDNA,扩增成带酶切位点的目的基因.选择载体pDisplay,将目的基因插入载体多克隆酶位点中.DNA测序证实后,以脂质体转染的方法,将载体转染到黑色素瘤细胞.用G418抗性筛选获得阳性克隆.结果酶切电泳和DNA测序证实载体构建正确;目的基因的上游带信号肽序列,下游带跨膜序列.RT-PCR产物电泳、Westem Blotting、激光共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞术证实大量HSP 70表达并结合在转染的黑色素瘤细胞膜表面.结论成功地构建了膜表达HSP 70的真核表达载体;转染到黑色素瘤细胞后,细胞膜表面表达丰富的HSP70.转染细胞可以进一步制备新型瘤苗.     

Inhibitory Effect of Angiogenesis Inhibitor TNP—470 on Human ACHN Renal Cell Carcinoma

Angiogenesis,the formation of new bloodvessels,is necessary for the growth of tumors andtheir metastasis.TNP- 470 is a synthetic analogueof fumagillin and has stronger antiangiogenic　 ac-tivity and less side- effects than fumagillin.Thiscompound has been reported to suppress the prolif-eration and metastasis of various kinds of tu-mors[1] . Using nude mice xenografts of ACHN hu-man renal cell carcinoma ( RCC) ,the presentstudyattempted to examine the action of TNP- 470 ongrowth,metastasi…