新城疫病毒HN基因诱导肝癌细胞SMMC7721凋亡的作用机制

目的 探索含新城疫病毒(NDV)HN基因的质粒pVHN诱导人肝癌细胞SMMC7721凋亡的作用及其机制。方法 以脂质体介导方法在体外转染pVHN于SMMC7721细胞24h后,通过MTT方法检测细胞活性状态;采用流式细胞仪(FCM)检测法,通过碘化丙啶(PI)染色测定细胞死亡率;以罗丹明123染色测定线粒体跨膜电位(△ψ)的改变;提取细胞基因组DNA进行电泳,检测DNA有无断裂;用底物颜色反应检测Caspase-3活性。结果 细胞SMMC7721在体外转染pVHN后,死亡率达50．0％(转染空载体质粒对照组为5．2％);细胞基因组DNA呈梯状谱带;线粒体△ψ下降,Caspase-3活性明显升高。结论 新城疫病毒HN基因在体外转染细胞SMMC7721,能明显诱导细胞SMMC7721凋亡,其发生机制可能是由于HN基因的导入引起线粒体△ψ下降,进而激活Caspase-3使细胞凋亡。     

联合应用新城疫病毒及其 HN基因对小鼠黑色素瘤抑制效应的研究

背景与目的:尽管新城疫病毒( Newcastle disease virus, NDV)对多种肿瘤具有抑制作用 ,但其抑瘤机制尚不完全清楚.以前的研究结果表明,该病毒的血凝素神经氨酸酶( hemagglutinin-neuraminidase,HN)基因在该病毒的抗肿瘤作用上发挥重要作用且 HN蛋白表达后能够定位于肿瘤细胞膜上,以 HN蛋白作为肿瘤细胞的外源抗原来研究其抑瘤作用尚未见报道.本研究拟探讨 HN蛋白作为外源抗原在新城疫病毒抗肿瘤的作用以及二者联合应用对小鼠黑色素瘤的抑制效应.方法:在 C57BL/6小鼠右后肢皮下接种 B16黑色素瘤细胞 2× 105个.荷瘤第 2天,左后肢肌肉注射含新城疫病毒 HN基因的重组质粒,荷瘤第 7天,瘤内注射新城疫病毒 2× 109pfu;同时设单独 HN基因或 NDV治疗组及注射 PBS的对照组.通过抑瘤率观察动物体内的抑瘤效果;通过特异性细胞毒 T淋巴细胞( cytotoxic T lymphocyte,CTL)实验, ICAM Ⅰ、 CD48及新城疫病毒 HN蛋白在肿瘤细胞表面表达检测,探讨 HN蛋白所介导的抑瘤作用.结果:联合应用新城疫病毒及该病毒 HN基因对肿瘤的抑制效果明显好于单独 HN基因及新城疫病毒,抑瘤率达 82.8%,特异性 CTL反应增强,对靶细胞的杀伤率为 18.4%;单独 HN基因及新城疫病毒治疗组的抑瘤率分别为 56.6%、 41.0%,特异性 CTL活性分别为 4.4%、 10.1%;瘤内注射 NDV的肿瘤细胞表面检测到 HN分子的表达, ICAM Ⅰ、 CD48分子表达上调.结论:定位于肿瘤细胞表面的 HN蛋白介导机体对肿瘤细胞的特异性杀伤,联合应用新城疫病毒及该病毒 HN基因显著增强了机体对肿瘤细胞的杀伤效应.     

Newcastle disease virus mediates pancreatic tumor rejection via NK cell activation and prevents cancer relapse by prompting adaptive immunity

Pancreatic cancer is the 8th most common cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide and the tumor with the poorest prognosis of all solid malignancies. In 1957, it was discovered that Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has oncolytic properties on tumor cells. To study the oncolytic properties of NDV in pancreatic cancer a single dose was administered intravenously in a syngeneic orthotopic tumor model using two different murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (DT6606PDA, Panc02). Tumor growth was monitored and immune response was analyzed. A single treatment with NDV inhibited DT6606PDA tumor growth in mice and prevented recurrence for a period of three months. Tumor infiltration and systemic activation of NK cells, cytotoxic and helper T‐cells was enhanced. NDV‐induced melting of Panc02 tumors until d7 pi, but they recurred displaying unrestricted tumor growth, low immunogenicity and inhibition of tumor‐specific immune response. Arrest of DT6606PDA tumor growth and rejection was mediated by activation of NK cells and a specific antitumor immune response via T‐cells. Panc02 tumors rapidly decreased until d7 pi, but henceforth tumors characterized by the ability to perform immune‐regulatory functions reappeared. Our results demonstrated that NDV‐activated immune cells are able to reject tumors provided that an adaptive antitumor immune response can be initiated. However, activated NK cells that are abundant in Panc02 tumors lead to outgrowth of nonimmunogenic tumor cells with inhibitory properties. Our study emphasizes the importance of an adaptive immune response, which is initiated by NDV to mediate long‐term tumor surveillance in addition to direct oncolysis.     

Evaluation of Newcastle disease virus mediated dendritic cell activation and cross-priming tumor-specific immune responses ex vivo

We have developed an oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that has potent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activities and attenuated pathogenicity in chickens. In this ex vivo study using the same recombinant NDV backbone with GFP transgene (NDV-GFP, designated as rNDV), we found that rNDV induces maturation of monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells (iDCs) by both direct and indirect mechanisms, which promote development of antigen-specific T cell responses. Addition of rNDV directly to iDCs culture induced DC maturation, as demonstrated by the increased expression of costimulatory and antigen-presenting molecules as well as the production of type I interferons (IFNs). rNDV infection of the HER-2 positive human breast cancer cell line (SKBR3) resulted in apoptotic cell death, release of proinflammatory cytokines, and danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) including high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Addition of rNDV-infected SKBR3 cells to iDC culture resulted in greatly enhanced upregulation of the maturation markers and release of type I IFNs by DCs than rNDV-infected DCs only. When co-cultured with autologous T cells, DCs pre-treated with rNDV-infected SKBR3 cells cross-primed T cells in an antigen-specific manner. Altogether, our data strongly support the potential of oncolytic NDV as efficient therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.     

Turnover of high-molecular-weight cell surface proteins during growth and expression of malignant transformation.

The turnover of cell surface proteins in normal rat kidney cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive Rous sarcoma virus has been studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography using cell monolayers prelabeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination. Labeling of serum-starved cells under conditions that are nonpermissive for the expression of transformation reveals most of the radioactivity in the 250,000 molecular weight region. Parallel labeling of cells simultaneously exposed to serum limitation, under conditions that are permissive for the expression of transformation, reveals some radioactivity in the same slow-migrating region, but most of the label appears in the two faster migrating regions. The relative turnover of such external proteins has been investigated by examining the relative alterations in iodinated proteins after addition of normal levels of serum to a medium of serum-starved cells. There is a greater relative turnover of the high-molecular-weight external component under conditions in which ther transformation phenotype is expressed, as compared with conditions that limit the expression of transformation.     

WNT5A 与小细胞肺癌临床特征的相关性研究及其对 细胞迁移作用的影响

  目的  检测 WNT5A 在小细胞肺癌(small cell lung cancer,SCLC) 中的表达及其促细胞迁移作用的机制。  方法  采用免疫组化的方法检测 79 例 SCLC 和 25 例正常肺组织中 WNT5A 的表达量。通过细胞划痕和 Transwell 小室检测 WNT5A 及 JNK 对 SCLC 细胞系 DMS153 迁移能力的作用,应用 Western blot 检测干扰 WNT5A 后磷酸化 JNK 含量的变化。  结果  WNT5A 在 SCLC 中表达高于正常肺组织,并且与肿瘤的临床分期、淋巴转移及远处转移相关,WNT5A 的表达与神经元特性烯醇化酶(NSE) 、胃泌素释放肽前体(Pro-GRP) 也有明显相关性。干扰 WNT5A 导致 DMS153 迁移能力下降,应用 JNK 抑制剂 SP600125 能够阻止 WNT5A 造成的细胞迁移增加。  结论  WNT5A 在 SCLC 中高表达,并且与肿瘤的转移相关,WNT5A 通过磷酸化 JNK 促进 SCLC 细胞迁移,并且可以作为 SCLC 的预测指标和治疗靶点。       

Anti-leukemic activity of Newcastle disease virus strains AF2240 and V4-UPM in murine myelomonocytic leukemia in vivo

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae that has caused severe economic losses in poultry industry worldwide. Several strains of NDV were reported to induce cytolysis to cancerous cell lines. It has prompted much interest as anticancer agent because it can replicate up to 10,000 times better in human cancer cells than in most normal cells. In this study, two NDV strains, viserotropic-velogenic strain AF2240 and lentogenic strain V4-UPM, showed cytolytic activity and apoptosis induction against Mouse myelomoncytic leukemia (WEHI 3B). The cytolytic effects of NDV strains were determined using microtetrazolium (MTT) assay. The cytolytic dose - fifty percent (CD(50)) were 2 and 8HAU for AF2240 and V4-UPM strains, respectively. Cells treated with NDV strains showed apoptotic features compared to the untreated cells under fluorescence microscope. NDV induced activation of caspase-3 and DNA laddering in agarose gel electrophoresis which confirmed the apoptosis. The anti-leukemic activity of both strains was evaluated on myelomoncytic leukemia BALB/c mice. The results indicated that both NDV strains significantly decreased liver and spleen weights. It also decreased blasts cell percentage in blood, bone marrow and spleen smears of treated mice (p<0.05). Histopathological studies for spleen and liver confirmed the hematological results of blood and bone marrow. From the results obtained, the exposure to both NDV stains AF2240 and V4-UPM showed similar results for Ara-c. In conclusion NDV strains AF2240 and V4-UPM can affect WEHI 3B leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo.     

Photodynamic therapy-induced cell surface expression and release of heat shock proteins: relevance for tumor response

Almost instantaneously after the treatment of mouse SCCVII tumor cells with Photofrin-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), a fraction (15-25%) of total cellular heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) became exposed at the cell surface. The level of this surface-expressed HSP70 then remained unchanged for the next 6 hours and persisted at lower levels even at 18 hours after PDT. A similar induction of surface HSP70 expression was found with PDT-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The same analysis for several other HSPs revealed the induced surface expression of HSP60 and GRP94, but not GRP78, on PDT-treated SCCVII cells. A fraction of total HSP70 existing in SCCVII cells at the time of PDT treatment was promptly (within 1 hour) released from cells after high treatment doses, whereas even lower PDT doses induced a substantial HSP70 release at later time intervals. Macrophages coincubated with PDT-treated SCCVII cells displayed elevated levels of both HSP70 and GRP94 on their surface and were stimulated to produce tumor necrosis factor alpha, whose production was inhibited by the presence of antibodies against either HSP70, Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, or specific NF-kappaB inhibitor in the coincubation medium. The induction of cell surface expression and release of HSPs by PDT may represent an important event in the response of tumors to this treatment modality with a critical role in the induced inflammatory and immune responses that contribute to the therapeutic outcome.     

新城疫病毒HBNU/LSRC/F3株与Mukteswar、LaSota株抗肿瘤效果的比较

目的： 研究新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）弱毒力株HBNU/LSRC/F3对人食管癌ECA109细胞凋亡的影响,并与其他两株NDV（弱毒力株LaSota株、中等毒力Mukteswar株）的抗肿瘤作用进行比较。 方法： 体外培养ECA109细胞,不同NDV经扩增后分别感染ECA109细胞,CCK-8法检测各NDV对ECA109细胞增殖的抑制作用,激光共聚焦显微镜观察经各NDV感染后ECA109细胞的凋亡情况,流式细胞术检测其早期细胞凋亡,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测其晚期凋亡情况。 结果： HBNU/LSRC/F3株NDV能抑制ECA109细胞的增殖,且强于LaSota株,但稍弱于Mukteswar株（P<0.05）。ECA109细胞感染5×10-4Hu/ml NDV时,HBNU/LSRC/F3株、Mukteswar株、LaSota株对ECA109细胞的增殖抑制率分别为（31.43±157）%、（39.87±1.99）%和（19.89±0.99）%。流式细胞仪检测结果显示,HBNU/LSRC/F3株感染后ECA109细胞的早期凋亡率为（21.32±0.44）%,而Mukteswar株和LaSota株的早期凋亡率为（22.27±0.23）%和（14.32±0.61）%;激光扫描共聚焦显微镜和DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测结果显示,Mukteswar株以诱导晚期凋亡为主,HBNU/LSRC/F3株以诱导ECA109细胞早期凋亡为主,且较LaSota株明显。 结论： 弱毒力HBNU/LSRC/F3株可有效抑制ECA109细胞增殖,诱导ECA109细胞早期凋亡,虽略低于中等毒力Mukteswar株,但远高于弱毒力LaSota株,因此HBNU/LSRC/F3株可能具有更高的抗肿瘤临床应用价值。     

Hypoxia facilitates tumour cell detachment by reducing expression of surface adhesion molecules and adhesion to extracellular matrices without loss of cell viability.

The effects of acute hypoxia on integrin expression and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins were investigated in two human melanoma cell lines, HMB-2 and DX3, and a human adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29. Exposure to hypoxia caused a significant down-regulation of cell surface integrins and an associated decrease in cell adhesion. Loss of cell adhesion and integrin expression were transient and levels returned to normal within 24 h of reoxygenation. Other cell adhesion molecules, such as CD44 and N-CAM, were also down-regulated after exposure of cells to hypoxia. Acute exposure to hypoxia of cells at confluence caused rapid cell detachment. Cell detachment preceded loss of viability. Detached HMB-2 and DX3 cells completely recovered upon reoxygenation, and floating cells re-attached and continued to grow irrespective of whether they were left in the original glass dishes or transferred to new culture vessels, while detached HT29 cells partly recovered upon reoxygenation. Cell detachment after decreased adhesion appears to be a stress response, which may be a factor enabling malignant cells to escape hypoxia in vivo, with the potential to form new foci of tumour growth.     

凋亡相关蛋白的表达及Caspase-3活性改变与人卵巢癌细胞顺铂耐药的关系

背景与目的:以顺铂为基础的化疗是卵巢癌治疗的重要组成部分,对顺铂的耐药是卵巢癌治疗失败的原因之一。本研究探讨人卵巢癌顺铂耐药细胞株中凋亡相关蛋白表达及caspase-3活性与人卵巢癌细胞顺铂耐药的关系。方法:采用Westernblot法分析人卵巢癌顺铂敏感细胞株COC1和顺铂耐药株COC1/DDP中凋亡相关蛋白bcl-2、bcl-xL、bax、bcl-xS的表达,caspase-3活性和其底物多聚ADP核糖聚合酶(PARP)的变化,并应用流式细胞仪检查不同浓度顺铂作用COC1和COC1/DDP细胞后的细胞凋亡率。结果:在COC1/DDP细胞中,bcl-2和bcl-xL的表达明显高于COC1细胞,bax的表达无明显改变,bcl-xS在COC1和COC1/DDP细胞中均无表达。用顺铂处理后,COC1/DDP细胞中caspase-3活性、PARP裂解片段和凋亡率较COC1细胞均明显降低(P<0.05),且呈浓度依赖性。结论:人卵巢癌细胞对顺铂产生耐药可能与肿瘤细胞内凋亡抑制蛋白过度表达、caspase-3活性下降有关,而与凋亡诱导蛋白的表达无关。     

Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 initiates cell proliferation and apoptosis inhibition via regulating expression of Survivin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Pathways controling cell proliferation and cell survival require flexible adaptation to environmental stress. Our previous studies showed that latent membrane protein1 (LMP1) encoded by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could trigger the expression of Survivin, an apoptosis inhibitor and essential regulator of mitosis. The aim of the work was to analyze the role of Survivin signal pathway in mediating effects triggered by LMP1. METHODS: Tet-on LMP1 HNE2, a tetracycline-regulated LMP1-expression nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line, was used as cell model. The subcellular location of Survivin was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and Western-blotting assay. Using Ab-knock-out and gene transfection, we introduced anti-sense PS-ODN-Survivin and anti-body to Survivin into the Tet-on LMP1 HNE2, and then the apoptosis and the proliferation of cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, cell colony formation and detection of caspase-3. The results show that upon induction of LMP1 expression, the expression of Survivin in nucleus, level of phosphorylated retinoblastoma gene (Rb), the number of cells in S stage of cell cycle, and the cell colony formation rate were higher than those without LMP1 induction; if the expression of Survivin and the nucleus translocation of Survivin were knocked by introduction of anti-sense PS-ODN-Survivin and anti-Survivin-antibodies respectively, apoptosis rates and the activity of caspase-3 increased. CONCLUSION: LMP1 could trigger the nucleus translocation of Survivin, which led to the shift of S stage and cell proliferation. LMP1 may promote cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via Survivin signal pathway.     

Cell surface phenotypes and expression of viral antigens of various human cell lines carrying human T-cell leukemia virus

Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV)-carrying cells from various origins were characterized by cell surface markers and expression of HTLV antigens. Eight cell lines named TCL were obtained by transformation of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of healthy donors or HTLV carriers in cocultures with HTLV-producer MT-2 cells. Nine cell lines named ILT were interleukin 2 (IL2)-dependent cell lines cloned from PBL of ATL patients and healthy HTLV-carriers. Tc-Kan9 cell line was also an IL2-dependent cell line clonally established from PBL culture stimulated with autologous TCLcells. Five cell lines named TL were established in vitro directly from PBL of an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patient and from ILT cells of an ATL patient and three HTLV-carriers, respectively, to grow autonomously without IL2. All the TCLs, ILTs, TLs and Tc-Kan9 possessed Leu-I antigen, a pan-T-cell marker. Leu3a antigen, a helper/inducer T-cell marker, was expressed on five of eight TCLs and all of the ILTs and TLs. Leu-2a, a cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell marker, was detected only on Tc-Kan9 but not others. Fresh ATL leukemic cells of patients had a helper/inducer T-cell marker. Ia, OKT9 and Tac antigens, markers for activated and differentiated T cells, were strongly expressed on all of the cell lines tested and fresh ATL leukemic cells were weakly positive for these antigens. Expression of HTLV antigens detected by mouse monoclonal antibodies and an ATL-patient serum varied among these cell lines. One TL, two ILTs and most of the fresh ATL leukemic cells did not express HTLV antigens on the cell surface. The other cell lines were all positive for the surface viral antigens. However, molecular species of antigens defined by radioimmunoprecipitation with an ATL-patient serum were not always identical among the cell lines. Molecular weights of polypeptides detectable in most of the cell lines were 62K, 46K, 40K, 24K, 21K and 19K which could never be detected in several control T-cell lines. 68K and 28K polypeptides were frequently detected in MT-2 and TCLs. GINI4, a mouse monoclonal antibody against HTLV core protein (p19) detected not only p19 in various cell lines but also p28, p29, p31 or p40 in certain cell lines tested. B-cell lines named LCL were established and cloned from PBL of two HTLV-carriers by EB-virus-induced transformation and they also expressed HTLV antigens, la, OKT9 and Tac antigens. Expression of Tac and HTLV antigens of fresh ATL leukemic cells were induced or enhanced after in vitro short-term cell cultivation with crude IL2.     

Correlation between high susceptibility to AIDS virus and surface expression of OKT-4 antigen in HTLV-I-positive cell lines

Most human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-carrying cell lines possess high susceptibility to AIDS retrovirus. This high permissiveness was clearly correlated with the amount of OKT-4 molecules, the possible receptor for AIDS retrovirus, expressed on the cell surface of HTLV-I-bearing cell lines. However, no correlation was noted in HTLV-I-negative cell lines.     

Pentoxifylline modulates cell surface integrin expression and integrin mediated adhesion of B16F10 cells to extracellular matrix components

Our previous studies demonstrated that Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could inhibit the lung homing of B16-F10 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice. In this study we have looked at the effect of PTX on cell surface integrin expression and integrin mediated adhesion of B16-F10 melanoma cells. B16-F10 cells treated with PTX when injected through the tail vein of mice showed a 75% reduction in pulmonary nodules as compared to control untreated cells. PTX brought about a significant reduction in the integrin mediated adhesion of F10 cells to Fibronectin and Vitronectin (58.75% +/- 3.4 S.E and 60% +/- 1.7 S.E respectively if control was considered as 100%). This inhibition in adhesion was evident up to four hours only and treatment for 24 hours brought about an increase in adhesion (135.5% +/- 0.5 S.E). Flow cytometric analysis showed higher surface expressions of alphav, alpha5 and alphaIIb integrin subunits in B16-F10 as compared to the low metastatic cell line B16-F1 suggesting a role for these integrins in determining the metastatic potential. PTX brought about a significant decrease in the cell surface expression of alpha5, alphaIIb and beta1 integrin subunits but not that of the alphav subunit on B16-F10 cells. PTX also brought about a reduction in the total cellular protein levels of beta1 and alphav integrin subunits. Various isoforms of Protein Kinase C (PKC) has been shown to regulate integrin expression, localization and activity. Hence we looked at the effect of PTX on total cellular PKC activity. PTX brought about a significant reduction in total cellular PKC activity (82.66 +/- 0.593). Collectively our results indicate that the antimetastatic action of PTX is mediated, at least in part through its effects on adhesion and the surface expression of specific integrin receptors.     

小细胞肺癌2F7单抗ScFv的高效表达及复性研究

目的 在大肠杆菌中高效表达小细胞肺癌单抗2F7的单链抗体（ScFv)，并获得具有生物学活性的ScFv。方法 利用PCR方法将2F7单抗重链可变区（VH）和轻链可变区（VL）通过一人工设计的柔性连接肽（Linker)连接，再将单链抗体基因重组到原核表达载体pQE31中，构建单链抗体高效表达载体pQE-2F7-ScFv。将pQE-2F7-ScFv质粒转化大肠杆菌M15后诱导表达，并对表达产物进行纯化和稀释复性。结果 获得了2F7单链抗体的高效表达，表达蛋白大小约27.4kD，以包涵体形式存在。包涵体蛋白在经过变性、纯化和稀释复性后，获得了有功能的单链抗体。结论 成功地构建和表达了小细胞肺癌单抗F27的单链抗体，并对其进行了纯化和复性，将进一步促进2F7单抗小分子抗体的应用。     

Culture of human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) on fibronectin-coated surface induces pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and activity

Interaction between cell surface integrin receptors with extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in cell survival, proliferation, and migration including tumor development and invasion. Binding of ECM to integrins initiates intracellular signaling cascades, modulating expression and activity of different matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which is important in ECM degradation. The present study investigates fibronectin–integrin-mediated signaling and thereby modulation of MMPs expression and activity in human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Culture of MDA-MB-231 cells on fibronectin (FN) induced expression and activity of pro-matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Appreciable reduction of FN-induced pro-MMP-9 activity was observed in anti-α5 antibody treated cells. Inhibitor studies revealed that inhibitors of phosphatidyl inositiol-3-kinase (PI-3K), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibited FN-induced pro-MMP-9 activity. FN increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), integrin linked kinase (ILK), and PI-3K in MDA-MB-231 cells. FN-induced the transactivation of MMP-9 promoter by enhancing DNA binding activity of NF-κB and Sp1. Wound healing assay showed faster migration of MDA-MB-231cells grown on fibronectin-coated as surface as compared to control. Our findings indicated that culture of MDA-MB-231 on fibronectin perhaps send signals via fibronectin–integrin-mediated signaling pathways recruiting FAK, PI-3K, ILK, NF-κB, and modulate expression and activation of pro-MMP-9. These observations may enrich fundamental aspects of cancer biology especially role of α5β1 integrin in regulation of MMPs expression and activity.     

Quantitative PCR detection of NPM/ALK fusion gene and CD30 gene expression in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma--residual disease monitoring and a correlation with the disease status

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) represents a heterogeneous group of malignant lymphoproliferative diseases with a consistent expression of the cytokine receptor CD30. ALCL is frequently associated with a NPM/ALK fusion gene which is found in up to 75% of pediatric ALCLs. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RQ-RT-PCR) of NPM/ALK and CD30 gene expression was employed to analyze minimal residual disease (MRD) in 10 patients with NPM/ALK positive ALCL in 79 follow-up bone marrow (BM) and/or peripheral blood (PB) samples. In all BM samples from relapses and/or closely before a relapse, BM samples revealed NPM/ALK and CD30 positivity in at least one of the iliac BM trephines. Five out of nine relapses were preceded or were accompanied by minimally half log increased NPM/ALK levels in the BM. We found that RQ-RT-PCR of the CD30 expression is not suitable for MRD detection--only two relapses were accompanied by an increase of the CD30 level above a level which was detected in BM/PB samples from healthy individuals. RQ-RT-PCR of NPM/ALK expression is a promising and rapid approach for monitoring MRD.