Elevated expression of RIT1 correlates with poor prognosis in endometrial cancer

RIT1, (Ras-like without CAAX1), the founding member of a novel branch of the Ras subfamily, mediates a wide variety of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, and it may play crucial oncogenic role in human cancer. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the expression pattern of RIT1 and assess the clinical significance of RIT1 expression in endometrial cancer patients. The mRNA and protein expression of RIT1 was significantly overexpressed in 7 endometrial cancer cell lines by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. In addition, RIT1 mRNA expression was elevated in 36 freshly frozen endometrial cancer tissues compared to 21 non-cancerous endometrial tissue samples. Similar results were observed by analyzing GEO datasets. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the protein expression of RIT1 in two tissue microarrays containing 257 cases of tumor and 31 non-tumor tissues, which showed that elevated expression of RIT1 was significantly correlated with pathological type, clinical stage, grade and vascular invasion. Importantly, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that RIT1 expression was associated with overall survival of endometrial cancer patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that RIT1 expression was one of the independent prognostic factors for endometrial cancer patients. Furthermore, RIT1 combined with other clinicopathological risk factors was a more significant model in ROC curve comparison. In conclusion, elevated expression of RIT1 may contribute to the progression of endometrial cancer and thus may serve as a novel prognostic marker and a promising molecular target for the treatment of endometrial cancer.     

置铜宫内节育器子宫内膜VEGF受体KDR及VEGF mRNA的表达

目的探讨置CuIUD引起的子宫出血是否与VEGF蛋白、VEGF受体KDR、VEGF mRNA表达的相关性。方法收集要求取CuIUD者60例分为3组,TCuIUD出血组、OCuIUD出血组、无出血组各20例,与未置器组10例对照,诊刮术采取子宫内膜,用免疫组化法检测子宫内膜中VEGF蛋白、VEGF受体KDR的表达,用免疫杂交法检测VEGF mRNA的表达。结果置TCuIUD出血组和OCuIUD出血组与无出血组比较,VEGF蛋白表达增加,分别为0.469±0.183,0.396±0.098,高于0.213±0.079,差异有显著性(P<0.05=;置TCuIUD出血组和OCuIUD出血组与无出血组对比,VEGF受体KDR的表达明显增加,分别为0.329±0.063,0.337±0.108,高于0.192±0.053,差异有显著性(P<0.05=。置TCuIUD出血组与OCuIUD出血组比较,VEGFmRNA的表达升高,TCuIUD出血组和OCuIUD组分别为0.694±0.238,0.377±0.169,差异有显著性(P<0.05=。结论VEGF、VEGF受体KDR的表达参与了置CuIUD引起的子宫出血,CuI-UD对子宫内膜的压迫、损伤作用可能与VEGFmRNA的表达间存在量化关系。     

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha relates to the recruitment of inflammatory cells in myosin-induced autoimmune myocarditis in rats.

In experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) there is a characteristic initial focal inflammatory response in the myocardium, induced mainly by CD4(+) T cells and macrophages, which leads to massive myocardial damage. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) induces chemotaxis in lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and macrophages. We assessed the potential role of MIP-1alpha in the pathogenesis of EAM in rats immunized with porcine myosin. Following immunization, the levels of MIP-1alpha mRNA in EAM showed an increase on Day 11 and peaked on Day 17. MIP-1alpha-positive cells were predominantly immunoreactive to OX6 antibody (dendritic cells) and ED2 antibody (resident macrophages) by Day 14. Marked cellular infiltration was seen on Day 17 with the major population of MIP-1alpha-positive cells also positive for ED1 (inflammatory macrophages). We then examined the association of MIP-1alpha with the development of myocardial inflammation. Rats were divided into three groups: Group A consisted of EAM rats (n = 10); Group B consisted of EAM rats treated with anti-MIP-1alpha (1 mg/kg) on Days 11, 13, and 15, before the onset of initial inflammation (n = 5); and Group C consisted of EAM rats treated with anti-MIP-1alpha from the start of the initial inflammation on Days 14, 16, and 18 (n = 5). Rats were euthanized on Day 21 and three transverse sections of the heart were prepared to determine the percentage of the area affected by inflammatory lesions. This area of inflammation was significantly smaller in Group B (27 +/- 4%) than in Groups A (51 +/- 6%) or C (50 +/- 6%) (p < 0.01), indicating that the administration of antibody before the initiation of inflammation, in part, will inhibit myocardial inflammation. These data suggest that MIP-1alpha may play an important role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the early stages of EAM.     

The HIF-2alpha/VEGF pathway activation in cutaneous capillary haemangiomas

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of capillary haemangiomas, a common form of vascular malformation. METHODS: Twenty-five cutaneous capillary haemangiomas, excised from patients under 14 years of age, were studied immunohistochemically for endothelial cells, the angiogenic factors thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the proliferation index Ki-67, and the hypoxia inducible factors-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and -2alpha (HIF-2alpha). RESULTS: Endothelial-lined channels reacted strongly with CD31 in all cases, clearly definining capillary spaces. Between 5 and 20% of the endothelial cells were Ki-67 positive, indicating an intense proliferative activity; more importantly, they consistently expressed VEGF and HIF-2alpha, and in many cases TP, but failed to react with HIF-1alpha. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the activation of the HIF-2alpha pathway and the consequent overexpression of VEGF by the endothelial cells are involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous capillary haemangiomas.     

黏液瘤病毒作用PI3K/AKT通路诱导子宫内膜癌细胞凋亡

目的 探讨黏液瘤病毒（MV）对子宫内膜癌HEC-IB细胞凋亡和增殖的作用.方法 通过荧光染色等观察细胞核固缩和染色体碎片等形态学变化,MTT法测定MV对HEC-IB细胞的生长抑制作用,采用流式细胞仪和免疫印迹实验检测HEC-IB细胞的生长凋亡情况及其相关蛋白的表达变化.结果 MV对子宫内膜癌HEC-IB细胞具有明显的生长抑制作用,并能诱导细胞发生凋亡,随着作用时间的延长,细胞的生长抑制率及细胞凋亡率均明显升高.MV抑制细胞生长及诱导细胞发生凋亡的过程中,细胞磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶（PI3K）、蛋白激酶B（AKT）、糖原合酶激酶3（GSK3）表达水平及活性显著降低.结论 MV能够通过多条信号途径促进人子宫内膜癌HEC-IB细胞发生凋亡,通过抑制PI3K/AKT的活性是其体外诱导人子宫内膜癌HEC-IB细胞发生凋亡和抑制增值的重要作用机制.     

Increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha in type I and type II endometrial carcinomas.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a nuclear protein that is upregulated in many tumors and triggers biologic events intimately associated with aggressive tumor behavior. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of HIF-1alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki-67 and p53 in type I and type II endometrial adenocarcinoma. In total, 149 patients diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma in our institute from 1995 to 2001 were included in this study, of which 108 were type I and 41 were type II endometrial adenocarcinoma. Patient demographics, clinical and pathological data were reviewed. Tissue microarrays were prepared from the paraffin blocks and immunohistochemistry was performed for antibodies against HIF-1alpha, VEGF, Ki-67 and p53. High expression of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, Ki-67 and p53 were significantly more frequent in type II than type I endometrial adenocarcinoma (P<0.001). HIF-1alpha expression was highly correlated with VEGF expression in the tumor cells (P=0.001). In type I endometrial adenocarcinoma, high expression of HIF-1alpha showed a significant correlation with higher grade of the tumor, depth of myometrial invasion, adnexal invasion and clinical stage. A similar correlation was not observed in type II endometrial adenocarcinoma. Surgical stage was the only independent prognostic marker for survival. In conclusion, high expression of HIF-1alpha is more frequent in type II than in type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. In type I endometrial adenocarcinoma, HIF-1alpha expression correlates with morphologic features of aggressiveness. In type II endometrial adenocarcinoma, there is no correlation between HIF-1alpha expression and these features. Thus, HIF-1alpha may play an important role in endometrial adenocarcinoma progression, particularly in type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. Additional investigations of HIF-1alpha as a biomarker of aggressive potential and as a novel target for therapeutics in endometrial adenocarcinoma are warranted.     

Laminin production by human endometrial stromal cells relates to the cyclic and pathologic state of the endometrium.

The cyclic changes in the presence of the basement membrane glycoprotein laminin in endometrial stromal cells was studied by immunohistochemistry. The interstitial matrix around the stromal cells of the proliferative phase of the normal menstrual cycle was unreactive with antibodies to laminin. However, commencing with the secretory phase, stromal cells accumulated distinct cytoplasmic and pericellular laminin-immunoreactive material. The maximal amount of stromal cell-associated laminin was observed in predecidual cells of the late secretory phase. Thus, laminin immunostaining discriminates stromal cells of the proliferative phase (being "negative") from those in the secretory phase (being "positive"). Sixty-six cases of endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas were also stained with antibodies to laminin. Sixty-nine percent of biopsies of cystic hyperplasia and 30% of adenomatous hyperplasia contained laminin-positive stromal cells. Ultrastructural examination of stromal cells in cystic hyperplasia revealed the presence of pericellular basement membrane-like material, focally arranged into typical lamina rara and lamina densa. In contrast, stromal cells in the atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas did not react with antibody to laminin. The expression of laminin receptor in the stromal cells codistributed with laminin. Basement membranes of the surface epithelium, the glandular epithelium, and the vessels stained strongly with antibodies to laminin. In preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues, laminin immunostaining revealed discontinuous and defective basement membranes. In poorly differentiated carcinomas only sparse amounts of laminin-positive basement membrane were observed; these tumors, in contrast, exhibited cytoplasmic laminin and also significant immunoreaction with antibodies to laminin receptor.     

Correlation between VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Understanding the development and progression of oral cancer is critical in the quest for successful therapeutic intervention. The hypoxic microenvironment present in human oral tumor in vivo may actively influence tumor growth and neovascularization. This study correlates expression of both VEGF and HIF-1alpha in normal keratinocytes and oral cancer cell lines and determine whether hypoxia played a role in VEGF and HIF-1alpha regulation. Three human oral cancer cell lines and three normal keratinocytes were exposed to both normoxia and hypoxia culture conditions. Northern and Western blot analysis were used to assess VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression in the different culture conditions. ELISA assays were performed to measure VEGF production in the different cell lines tested. Hypoxia upregulated VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression on both normal and oral cancer cell lines, with a statistically significant difference between normal and oral cancer cell lines. Pattern of hypoxia-induced VEGF mRNA level tightly followed the HIF-1alpha mRNA expression in the cell lines tested. These results suggest that hypoxia regulates both VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression in head and neck carcinoma cell lines, thus establishing a biochemical pathway between tumor hypoxia and neoangiogenesis in these aggressive neoplasms.     

VEGF/VEGFR在膀胱癌中表达的研究

目的：探讨血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）和血管内皮细胞生长因子受体（VEGFR）KDR在膀胱移行细胞癌（TCC）患者的组织标本及正常膀胱黏膜组织中的定位及表达情况.方法：分别采用免疫组化SABC法和TUNEL法检测60例膀胱癌组织,并以40例正常膀胱黏膜组织作为对照,比较两种不同组织中VEGF及KDR的阳性表达率和表达强度的差异.结果：在60例膀胱TCC中,VEGF和KDR分别有53例和51例呈阳性表达,平均表达率分别为88%和85%,随肿瘤病理分期和细胞分级的增高其表达水平上调.但在40例正常对照组中无一例表达.两者分别比较,差异均极显著（P＜0.01）.结论：VEGF可能通过膀胱移行细胞上的相应受体而发挥一定的生物学作用.膀胱TCC患者的肿瘤组织中KDR的表达可能直接诱发了肿瘤血管的形成.