Genetic and epigenetic alterations of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas

The PTEN/MMAC1 ( PTEN ) gene was identified as a tumor suppressor gene encoding a cytoplasmic protein that controls cellular processes. To investigate the potential role and the alteration of the PTEN gene in soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), we searched for homozygous deletion and promoter hypermethylation in a series of 48 STSs that was composed of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, including 2 cases with a mutation that we previously reported; differential polymerase chain reaction and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively, were used for the analyses. Furthermore, to determine whether PTEN gene alterations are involved in the down-regulation of PTEN expression, we examined the expression of PTEN protein in 38 cases in which paraffin-embedded tissues were available for immunohistochemical analysis. In addition to our previous results showing that 2 (4%) of 51 cases had a PTEN mutation, promoter methylation was recognized in 6 (13%) of 48 cases, and homozygous deletion was detected in 1 (2%) of 48 cases in the current study. Of 6 cases with promoter methylation of PTEN gene, 5 were malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Decreased expression of PTEN protein was recognized in 11 (29%) of 38 STS cases. Of 9 cases with PTEN alterations (6 cases with promoter methylation, 2 with mutation, and 1 with homozygous deletion), 3 (33%) showed decreased expression of PTEN protein. Furthermore, decreased expression of the PTEN gene showed a statistically significant correlation with high MIB-1 labeling index in 38 STS cases examined ( P = .0441). In conclusion, promoter methylation and homozygous deletion of the PTEN gene were found to be relatively rare events in cases of STS, as is mutation of the gene. Of 9 cases with a PTEN alteration, 3 (33%) showed a decrease in PTEN expression, indicating that PTEN gene alterations seem to play a minor role in the inactivation of PTEN in these tumors. Furthermore, although a further detailed analysis of a larger number of cases is still necessary, the present results suggest that PTEN expression may be a useful indicator of cell proliferation in patients with STS.     

Skeletal manifestations in Fryns syndrome

We report on a female baby with Fryns syndrome who died soon after birth. The patient had short limbs, coarse face, hypoplastic lungs, diaphragmatic hernia, and acral hypoplasia. Literature review disclosed varying degrees of skeletal manifestations in Fryns syndrome; short limbs may be a component of Fryns syndrome. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Abnormal distribution of cathepsins in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded hippocampal sections of brains with early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease were studied immunohistochemically with antisera against cathepsin D and cathepsin B. In addition to the staining of neuronal perikarya, some of the senile plaques visualized by Bielshowsky silver staining and some of reactive astrocytes were positively stained with the antisera against cathepsin D and cathepsin B in brains with Alzheimer's disease. Abnormal localization of cathepsin D and cathepsin B immunoreactivity in neuronal perikarya was observed in brains with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. These findings demonstrate that the distribution of lysosomal proteases was altered in brains with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the primary and/or secondary involvement of the lysosomal proteases in the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease.     

Myoglobinuria due to enzyme abnormalities in glycolytic pathway--especially lactate dehydrogenase M subunit deficiency]

Glycolysis is an important energy productive system. Enzyme abnormalities the in glycolytic pathway, which cause myoglobinuria, are deficiencies of phosphofructokinase, phosphoglycerate kinase, phosphoglycerate mutase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Common symptoms of these enzyme abnormalities are muscle cramp, muscle pain, and rhabdomyolysis after strenuous exercise. Acute renal failure owing to myoglobinuria is the most noteworthy symptom. In daily life, symptoms are rarely observed and prognosis is usually good. Correct and fast diagnosis of such latent symptomatic disorders is important to prevent a turn for the worse of these symptoms. LDH M subunit deficiency was first discovered by urinary discoloration and a discrepancy of laboratory data. Since then, only four cases have been reported in the Japanese population. The response to ischemic forearm work is characteristic (an increase of venous lactate concentration after ischemic work is not observed and a marked increase of venous pyruvate is found). The increase of pyruvate concentration is specific in LDH-M subunit deficiency, and is not observed in other abnormalities of the glycolytic pathway. Glycolysis was markedly retarded in the patient's muscle in the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GA3PD) step, possibly due to the impaired reoxidation of NADH produced by GA3PD activity. Then, the excess NADH is reoxidized by alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and triose phosphates are drained to alpha-glycerophosphate and glycerol. Therefore ATP production is significantly impaired and muscle tissue is damaged. A genetical study revealed a deletion of 20 base-pairs in exon 6 in LDH-M subunit deficiency. This mutation results in a frame-shift translation and premature termination.     

Treatment with cathepsin L inhibitor potentiates Th2-type immune response in Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice

Prior to the activation of CD4 (+) T cells, exogenous proteins must be digested by endo/lysosomal enzymes in antigen-presenting cells (APC) to produce antigenic peptides that are able to be presented on class II molecules of the MHC. Studies described here inspect the functional significance of cathepsin L inhibition for antigen processing and T (h) 1/T (h) 2 differentiation in experimental leishmaniasis. We first demonstrated using in vitro systems that cathepsin L is one of the candidate endo/lysosomal enzymes in processing of soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) and that its specific inhibitor, CLIK148, modulated the processing of SLA. BALB/c mice are known to be susceptible to infection with Leishmania major. Interestingly, treatment of BALB/c mice with CLIK148 exacerbated the infection by enhancing the development of SLA-specific T (h) 2-type response such as production of IL-4 and generation of T (h) 2-dependent specific IgE/IgG1 antibodies. Moreover, addition of CLIK148 in incubation of a SLA-specific CD4 (+) T cell line with APC up-regulated the production of IL-4. However, CLIK148 did not exert any direct influence on the function of T cells themselves. Taken together, these findings suggest that treatment of host mice with CLIK148 affects the processing of SLA in APC, resulting in the potentiation of T (h) 2-type immune responses and thus leading to exacerbation of the infection. Furthermore, endo/lysosomal cathepsin L was found to be functionally distinct from previously described cathepsins B and D.