Mutations in K-Ras linked to levels of osteoprotegerin and sensitivity to TRAIL-induced cell death in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble receptor expressed in the serum of patients with diabetes, arthritis and pancreatic cancer. While OPG has been considered a tumor survival factor for bone metastasizing breast and prostate cancers, the role of OPG in pancreatic cancer, which itself rarely metastasizes to bone, is not known. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines were found to secrete OPG and the level of OPG production correlated with sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Silencing OPG sensitized cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, a positive correlation was noted between OPG production level and K-Ras mutation status. Earlier studies implicated K-Ras in conferring resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cells and this study demonstrates that K-Ras mediated TRAIL resistance in pancreatic cancer cells occurs due to increased OPG production. Silencing K-Ras in pancreatic cancer cells decreased OPG levels and increased sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These observations indicate that OPG can play a role in both cell survival and in PDAC cell sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, which may contribute to metastasis. Targeted inhibition of OPG binding to TRAIL may represent a therapeutic approach in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Viable herpes simplex virus type 1 and varicella‐zoster virus in the trigeminal ganglia of human cadavers

Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) and varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) were isolated in the bilateral trigeminal ganglia of 12 human cadavers with no history of herpes‐related symptoms within 1–5 days of death. Sixteen trigeminal ganglia were subjected to explant culture by using Vero cells, but no cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were observed. However, when another eight trigeminal ganglia were placed in a cell strainer and kept from direct contact with Vero cells during culture, CPE were clearly apparent in all cultures. The amount of DNA in the culture supernatants of 16 trigeminal ganglia decreased over time; 12 and 9 of these samples were PCR‐positive for HSV‐1 and VZV, respectively. In new Vero cells inoculated with supernatants collected 2 days after culture initiation, immunofluorescence staining revealed HSV‐1 and VZV in 6 and 5 of 8 trigeminal ganglia, respectively. HSV‐1 and VZV DNA was detected in supernatants collected 3 and 7 days after culture initiation and in Vero cells collected after culture completion, but real‐time PCR revealed the DNA amounts decreased over time. There was less VZV DNA than HSV‐1 DNA. These results demonstrate that infective HSV‐1 and VZV can be isolated in culture, and confirm that viable HSV‐1 and VZV persist in human trigeminal ganglia for some time after death. J. Med. Virol. 85:833–838, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A significant imbalance in mitosis versus apoptosis accelerates the growth rate of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps

Sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps) of the colon are thought to be precursors of sporadic carcinomas. Although it is suggested that SSA/P may grow rapidly from the early stage, its cell kinetics remains obscure. To solve this problem, we analyzed the mitotic and apoptotic activity of normal crypts, microvesicular hyperplastic polyps (MVHPs), and tubular adenomas (TAs), using phospho-histone H3 and cleaved caspase 3 immunohistochemistry. The mitotic index for SSA/Ps (mean, 5.63) and TAs (6.98) was significantly higher than those for normal crypts (2.72) and MVHPs (2.86). Of all tested lesions, the apoptotic index was lowest for SSA/Ps (0.96; normal, 2.71; MVHPs, 2.62; TAs, 6.01) with statistically significant differences. The net growth ratio was close to 1.0 in normal crypts (1.07) while remaining low in MVHPs (1.06) and TAs (1.38), but was markedly elevated in SSA/Ps (7.32, P?<?0.01) due to the large imbalance between mitosis and apoptosis. As to apoptosis regulatory proteins, expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was significantly reduced or undetectable in MVHPs and SSA/Ps, while TAs showed stronger staining than normal crypts. Expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and its activators, Bim and Bad, was significantly reduced in MVHPs and SSA/Ps. We suggest that other complex mechanisms may act synergistically with Bax, Bim, or Bad deficiency to regulate apoptosis suppression in SSA/Ps.     

Well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma,possibly giving rise to diffuse malignant mesothelioma: A case report

Well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a distinct subtype of mesothelial tumor from diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM), with an uncertain malignant potential. The relationship between WDPM and DMM, with regard to the ability of the former to develop into the latter, is also unknown. A 58‐year‐old woman, diagnosed with a rectal carcinoid tumor, underwent removal of the lymph nodes via the abdomen in 2004. A large number of white miliary nodules were identified on the mesentery and peritoneum, which were histologically diagnosed as WDPM. No further therapy was administered, but the patient was followed‐up using imaging methods. Seven years later, an abdominal wall mass was discovered using positron emission tomography‐computed tomography, and a laparotomy biopsy was performed. DMM was diagnosed, because mesothelioma with extended invasion had been histologically identified. Mesothelioma similar to papillary proliferation was present on the outer layer of the peritoneum, and an infiltrating lesion with continuous restiform or solid‐like structures was noted. WDPM was believed to have undergone malignant transformation. Compared to DMM, WDPM has a good prognosis and is considered a benign or borderline neoplasm. Our findings suggest that WDPM does have malignant potential, however, because histological findings indicated a malignant transformation of WDPM to DMM.     

Characteristics of Japanese subjects who progress from normal to impaired glucose tolerance. Longitudinal study excluding changes in body weight

In this retrospective longitudinal study, we focused on the clinical characteristics of Japanese individuals with recent onset impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) who have been followed up for insulin secretory function and 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for more than 3 years annually before they progressed from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to IGT. Subjects whose body weight did not show significant change for the period were selected and labeled as either NGT (no change in OGTT over 3 years) or IGT (progressors from NGT to IGT) groups (n = 24, each). We compared the basal biochemical data and response of plasma glucose and serum insulin after OGTT of the two groups. In the IGT progressors, significant increase of plasma glucose at 30 to 120 minutes during OGTT and significant decrease of HDL-cholesterol were observed since 3 years before onset of IGT. In addition to increase of serum glucose and decrease of HDL-cholesterol, serum insulin at 120 minutes during OGTT were significantly and remarkably high at onset and 3 years before onset of IGT. Plasma glucose at 30-120 minutes and serum insulin level at 120 minutes after glucose load are potentially significant predictors of progression from NGT to IGT even in subjects who do not show increase of body weight.     

Suppression of the renin-angiotensin system induced by streptozotocin treatment in neonatal spontaneously hypertensive rats

We studied whether or not neonatal streptozotocin (STZ) treatment would alter mean arterial pressure (MAP) and blood pressure regulating factors in conscious and unrestrained spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Neonatal STZ administration to SHR resulted in type 2 diabetes mellitus with reduced MAP and heart rate. Plasma glucose was markedly increased in these diabetic animals and was inversely correlated with MAP. In the diabetic SHR, the hypotensive responses to captopril (SQ) or enalapril, administered intravenously, were diminished, regardless of preceding administrations of vasopressin V1-antagonist (AVPA) or hexamethonium (C6), when compared to findings in control rats. In contrast, the C6-induced hypotension was similar in rats with diabetes and control animals. AVPA led to no decrease in MAP in either group. Hypotensive responses to SQ following AVPA and C6 inversely correlated with the plasma levels of glucose in the diabetic group. The combined blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), sympathetic nervous system and vasoconstrictive action of vasopressin (AVP) abolished the differences in MAP between the groups. Pressor and bradycardic responses to intravenous noradrenaline, angiotensin II and AVP were practically identical in the diabetic and control SHR. Urinary aldosterone excretion rate was not altered by neonatal STZ treatment. In conclusion, a decrease in MAP in SHR with neonatal STZ treatment may be attributed to the suppressed pressor activity of RAS.