Exclusion of Treacher Collins Franceschetti syndrome in a subject with tetralogy of Fallot and cryptorchidism

Genotyping with flanking DNA markers was used to ascertain Treacher Collins Franceschetti syndrome (TCOF1) in a subject affected by tetralogy of Fallot and cryptorchidism. The proband's family consisted of a father and sister who were affected by the disease, and a healthy mother. Since cardiac malformation and cryptorchidism have been associated with the TCOF1 syndrome, the proband was suspected to be a carrier of the mutated gene. Microsatellite markers D5S527, SPARC and D5S519, which previously mapped the TCOF1 gene within a 2.1-cM interval on chromosome 5 (5q32–33.1), were used to follow the transmission of the TCOf 1 mutated locus. Flanking markers D5S519 and D5S527 were informative and enabled us to exclude inheritance of a TCOF1 mutation to the proband, while showing that cardiac malformation and cryptorchidism were unrelated in mis patient.     

喉鳞癌组织中SPARC基因的差异表达

 目的 探讨富含半胱氨酸的酸性蛋白（SPARC）在喉鳞癌的增殖、侵润和转移中的作用及指导意义。方法 用半定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分析SPARC在不同的喉鳞癌组织和其相邻的正常粘膜组织的差异表达量。利用免疫组化技术研究SPARC在喉鳞癌组织和其相邻的正常粘膜组织的表达差异,同时对蛋白表达进行定位。结果 RT-PCR分析SPARC在20对配对标本中的表达,在其中16对喉鳞癌组织中的表达明显高于其相应的正常粘膜组织,在4对中差异表达不明显,R=80.0%（有差异的例数/总例数）。免疫组化技术分析了30对配对喉鳞癌手术标本的石蜡切片（肿瘤组织和正常粘膜组织）,其中25对SPARC蛋白在癌巢细胞中的表达高于相邻的正常粘膜组织,5例在癌巢细胞中和相邻的正常粘膜组织内表达不明显,R=83.3%。同时对SPARC蛋白在不同分化程度的喉癌组织中的表达进行分析,发现SPARC在中低分化喉癌中的表达与高分化喉癌无显著差异（P〉0.05）。而在有淋巴结转移的喉癌的表达比无淋巴结转移的高（P=0.036）。细胞核和细胞浆均有表达。结论 通过mRNA和蛋白水平分析得出,SPARC和喉鳞癌的发生密切相关,喉鳞癌淋巴结转移时SPARC表达升高。     

Effect of hyperthermia on the transport of mRNA encoding the extracellular matrix glycoprotein SC1 into Bergmann glial cell processes

SC1 is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is related to the multifunctional protein SPARC. These matricellular members play regulatory roles in modulating cellular interactions. SC1 expression is enriched in the central nervous system during embryonic and postnatal development as well as in the adult brain. In the rat cerebellum, SC1 is expressed at high levels in Bergmann glial cells and their radial fibers which project into the synaptic-rich molecular layer. At specific stages of development and in the adult, SC1 mRNA is selectively transported into cellular processes of these cells. In the present study, we have examined the effect of whole-body hyperthermia on the transport of SC1 mRNA in Bergmann glial cells of the rat cerebellum. Our results show that SC1 mRNA transport is diminished at 10 and 15 h post-hyperthermia, but returns to control levels by 24 h after heat shock. One of the characteristics of a heat shock on cells grown in tissue culture is a collapse of the cytoskeletal network. Intact components of the cytoskeleton are necessary for the transport of mRNA into peripheral processes of cells. However, in vivo hyperthermia does not appear to affect the morphology of the intermediate filament proteins GFAP, vimentin, or the beta-tubulin component of microtubules in Bergmann glial cell processes. During the hyperthermic time course, levels of vimentin protein increase, which is reflected by immunoreactivity of activated astrocytes and microvasculature in cerebellar white matter.     

胰腺癌细胞株SPARC基因启动子区甲基化状况的研究

目的检测6种胰腺癌细胞株中SPARC基因启动子区5’CpG岛甲基化状况。方法以ASPC、BX-PC3、CFPAC、PANC1、SW 1990、PaTu8988等胰腺癌细胞株及正常人胚肾细胞AD293标本为研究对象,采用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法检测细胞株SPARC基因启动子区5’CpG岛甲基化状况。结果6例胰腺癌细胞株中3例(ASPC、CFPAC-1、BxPC3)细胞株发生完全甲基化;3例(PANC-1、Patu8988、SW 1990)发生部分甲基化,正常人胚肾上皮细胞AD293未发生甲基化。结论SPARC基因启动子区5’CpG岛甲基化改变是胰腺癌SPARC基因的一种重要失活方式,SPARC基因启动子区的高甲基化是胰腺癌细胞区别于正常细胞的分子事件之一,可能在胰腺癌的发生、发展中起重要作用。检测SPARC基因高甲基化可能会成为一种新的诊断胰腺癌的肿瘤标志物。     

Effect of copper on extracellular levels of key pro-inflammatory molecules in hypothalamic GN11 and primary neurons

Copper dyshomeostasis is responsible for the neurological symptoms observed in the genetically inherited copper-dependent disorders (e.g., Menkes’ and Wilson's diseases), but it has been also shown to have an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, prion diseases, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is widely accepted that increased extracellular copper levels contribute to neuronal pathogenic process by increasing the production of dangerous radical oxygen species, but the existence of other molecular mechanisms explaining copper neurotoxicity has not been investigated yet. By using a cellular model based on hypothalamic GN11 cultured neurons exposed to copper supplementation and by analysing the cell conditioned media, we try here to identify new molecular events explaining the association between extracellular copper accumulation and neuronal damages. We show here that increased extracellular copper levels produce a wide complex of alterations in the neuronal extracellular environment. In particular, copper affects the secretion of molecules involved in the protection of neurons against oxidative stress, such as cyclophilin A (CypA), or of molecules capable of shifting neuronal cells towards a pro-inflammatory state, such as IL-1α, IL-12, Rantes, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC). Copper pro-inflammatory properties have been confirmed by using primary neurons.     

The astrocytic response towards invasive meningiomas

meningiomas disrupt the pial-glial basement membrane. This membrane is closely attached to the subpial glial endfeet forming the glia limitans. The fate of subpial astrocytes during the course of brain invasion by meningiomas is not known. In the present study we immunolabelled sections of 35 brain-invasive meningiomas (14 meningothelial meningiomas WHO grade I, 11 atypical WHO grade II and 10 anaplastic WHO grade III) using anti-collagen IV to label basement membrane material, and antibodies against astrocytic markers CD44, SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Astrocytes were present at the tumour-brain interface of 14/14 WHO grade I meningiomas, 9/11 WHO grade II tumours and 9/10 WHO grade III tumours. The presence of astrocytes was associated with an intact basement membrane in 11/14 WHO grade I meningiomas (P < 0.01), 6/9 WHO grade II tumours, and 6/9 WHO grade III tumours. However, tumour embedded in deep brain parenchyma lacked both an astrocytic reaction and basement membrane material. In conclusion, astrocytes eventually disappear from the tumour-brain interface during the course of meningioma infiltration. This observation might indicate that the survival of subpial astrocytes is dependent on an intact pial-glial basement membrane.