Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Germ-line alterations of BRCA1 are responsible for about 50% of familial breast cancers. Although its biological function(s) has not yet been fully determined, it has been suggested that it may act as a tumor suppressor gene in breast and ovarian cancers. In sporadic breast cancers alterations of BRCA1 have not been detected and in vitro experiments have indicated that BRCA1 negatively regulates cellular proliferation. The present study was designed to identify and quantify, the BRCA1 mRNA levels, in normal and neoplasic human breast tissue. BRCA1 mRNA molecules were quantified using competitive reverse transcriptase PCR assays. DNA methylation patterns of this gene have been analysed by Southern blot experiments using methylation sensitive restriction enzymes. We found that BRCA1 mRNA levels were significantly lower in sporadic breast cancers (37 cases analysed, 24 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas not otherwise specified (NOS), two lobular carcinomas in situ two medullary carcinomas, four invasive lobular carcinomas, two invasive mucinous carcinomas and three invasive ductal carcinomas with predominantly in situ component) compared with normal breast tissues (P=0.0003). This down-regulation of BRCA1 is observed in all histologic types analysed. In invasive ductal carcinomas NOS, this down-regulation does not correlate with any of the prognostic factors studied (tumor size, node status, histologic grade, hormone receptor status). In the samples analysed, alterations of DNA methylation patterns were not dectected in the vicinity of the major transcription start site. These data suggest the involvement of BRCA1 in the carcinogenesis of these histologic types.
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PMID:Down-regulation of BRCA1 in human sporadic breast cancer; analysis of DNA methylation patterns of the putative promoter region. 987 32

Molecular epidemiological studies of populations at high risk for liver cancer have shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 exposures are two major risk factors for this disease. Oltipraz is currently being considered for clinical trial to protect against aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis based on its proven protective effect in many different animal models. In addition, oltipraz inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. The inactivation of reverse transcriptase of HIV appears to be the antiviral mechanism. It has been demonstrated that a number of compounds that inhibit HIV replication also inhibit HBV replication in vitro. Therefore, we tested the possibility of oltipraz blocking HBV replication in 2.2.15 cells (clonal cells derived from HepG2 cells that were transfected with a plasmid containing HBV DNA) in vitro. Results of the experiments indicate that oltipraz has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HBV replication and specifically blocks HBV transcription in 2.2.15 cells. In addition, oltipraz induces endogenous wild-type p53 protein in a dose- and time-course-dependent manner. Taken together, we speculate that the effects of oltipraz against replication of HBV and specific blocking of HBV transcription may be through the induction of p53-mediated pathway in 2.2.15 cells. In addition to its known chemopreventive action on aflatoxin B1 hepatocarcinogenesis, oltipraz was shown here to inhibit HBV replication. These dual effects put oltipraz as the excellent candidate for the chemopreventive agent of human hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinogenesis 1998 Dec
PMID:Oltipraz, a novel inhibitor of hepatitis B virus transcription through elevation of p53 protein. 988 68

This study investigated whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) administration was capable of modifying salivary gland carcinogenesis. Two groups of mice were given 1 mg of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) into the left submandibular gland, and then Group 1 mice received 2 microg of EGF and Group 2 mice received vehicle subcutaneously for 8 weeks. Mice in two other groups, 3 and 4, received either EGF or vehicle alone. Twelve weeks after the start of the experiment, the incidences of submandibular gland carcinomas in Groups 1 and 2 were 39% and 58%, respectively, although this difference was not statistically significant. Duct- and cyst-like structures and carcinomas in the left submandibular glands were weakly stained by anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibody. Immunoblot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses revealed the expression of EGFR in the submandibular glands and carcinomas. However, EGFR was undetectable in YT cells that were derived from a submandibular gland undifferentiated carcinoma of a Group 2 mouse. These findings indicate that EGF does not promote tumor induction in mouse salivary gland carcinogenesis. This may be ascribed in part to the low expression level of EGFR in tumor cells.
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PMID:Effect of epidermal growth factor administration on the development of mouse salivary gland carcinomas. 989 Apr 55

To explore the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein in liver carcinogenesis, independently from its role in viral replication, we have analyzed X gene structure and expression in tumorous and non-tumorous tissues obtained from 9 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative, HBV DNA-positive patients. HBV replication was undetectable in tumorous tissues. HBV X gene was truncated at its 3' end in 5 of 9 tumorous tissues and 1 of 8 non-tumorous livers. Sequence analysis performed on uninterrupted X genes from 3 tumors and 3 surrounding non-tumorous tissues showed a high rate of mutations, selectively in the tumorous livers. In 1 of the 3 tumors, a frameshift mutation induced a new stop at codon 129. HBV RNAs were tested by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with surface (S), core (C) and X specific primers. X, but not S and C, RNA expression was found in 6 of 8 tumors and in 6 of 7 non-tumorous tissues. This finding was consistent with immunohistochemical detection of X, but not S and C, antigens in all tumors also expressing X RNA. Our results provide evidence for selective expression of HBV X, but not S and C, RNA and protein in the tumorous and non-tumorous tissue of HBsAg-negative, HBV DNA-positive patients. It also shows that the structure of the X gene is modified (interrupted or highly mutated) in the majority of tumorous livers. Taken together, our findings are consistent with a potential role of mutated X proteins in HBV-related liver oncogenesis.
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PMID:Expression of mutated hepatitis B virus X genes in human hepatocellular carcinomas. 993 47

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are expressed in a tissue-specific fashion in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues [Strassburg, Manns and Tukey (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 8719-8726]. Previous work suggests that these enzymes play a protective role in chemical carcinogenesis [Strassburg, Manns and Tukey (1997) Cancer Res. 57, 2979-2985]. In this study, UGT1 and UGT2 gene expression was investigated in human oesophageal epithelium and squamous-cell carcinoma in addition to the characterization of individual UGT isoforms using recombinant protein. UGT mRNA expression was characterized by duplex reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis and revealed the expression of UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 mRNAs. UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A5 and UGT1A6 transcripts were not detected. UGT2 expression included UGT2B7, UGT2B10 and UGT2B15, but UGT2B4 mRNA was absent. UGT2 mRNA was present at significantly lower levels than UGT1 transcripts. This observation was in agreement with the analysis of catalytic activities in oesophageal microsomal protein, which was characterized by high glucuronidation rates for phenolic xenobiotics, all of which are classical UGT1 substrates. Whereas UGT1A9 was not regulated, differential regulation of UGT1A7 and UGT1A10 mRNA was observed between normal oesophageal epithelium and squamous-cell carcinoma. Expression and analysis in vitro of recombinant UGT1A7, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, UGT2B7 and UGT2B15 demonstrated that UGT1A7, UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 catalysed the glucuronidation of 7-hydroxybenzo(alpha)pyrene, as well as other environmental carcinogens, such as 2-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo-(4, 5-beta)-pyridine. Although UGT1A9 was not regulated in the carcinoma tissue, the five-fold reduction in 7-hydroxybenzo(alpha)pyrene glucuronidation could be attributed to regulation of UGT1A7 and UGT1A10. These data elucidate an individual regulation of human UGT1A and UGT2B genes in human oesophagus and provide evidence for specific catalytic activities of individual human UGT isoforms towards environmental carcinogens that have been implicated in cellular carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Regulation and function of family 1 and family 2 UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genes (UGT1A, UGT2B) in human oesophagus. 1002 27

To investigate involvement of an aberrant expression of the FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene in the process of carcinogenesis and progression in cervical carcinoma, we examined its expression by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cDNA sequence method in 32 cervical invasive carcinomas (25 squamous cell carcinomas and seven adeno- or adenosquamous carcinomas) and 18 of its precursor lesions [four low-grade and 14 high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs)]. We also examined a link between the occurrence of the aberrant expression and human papillomavirus (HPV). We detected the aberrant FHIT transcripts in 11 of 25 (44%) cervical invasive squamous cell carcinomas and in 5 of 14 (36%) high-grade CINs (CIN 2 or 3), whereas they were not found in seven non-squamous type and four low-grade CINs (CIN 1). The alteration patterns of the FHIT gene expression in high-grade CINs were virtually similar to those found in invasive carcinomas, such that the exons 5-7 were consistently deleted associated or unassociated with loss of the exon 4 and/or 8. The incidence of the aberrant expression was not related to the presence of HPV and its type. These data indicate that the aberrant expression of the FHIT gene is observed in precursor lesions of cervical carcinoma as well as invasive carcinomas, with its incidence not increasing with advance of clinical stage. Given the squamous cell type dominant expression, the aberrant expression may play a critical role in the generation of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, but not the consequence of the progression of the cancer.
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PMID:A possible involvement of aberrant expression of the FHIT gene in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. 1002 35

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in inflammation and also in multiple stages of carcinogenesis. We investigated the effects of various tea polyphenols, including theaflavin, a mixture of theaflavin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3'-gallate, theaflavin-3,3'-digallate, thearubigin, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the induction of NO synthase in lipopolysaccharide-activated murine macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells. Theaflavin-3,3'-digallate was found to be stronger than (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in inhibiting NO generation and inducible NO synthase protein in activated macrophages, while theaflavin, a mixture of theaflavin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3'-gallate and thearubigin were less effective. Inhibition of NO production was observed when cells were cotreated with theaflavin-3,3'-digallate and lipopolysaccharide. Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses demonstrated that significantly reduced 130-kDa protein and mRNA levels of inducible NO synthase were expressed in lipopolysacchride-activated macrophages with theaflavin-3,3'-digallate, compared to those without theaflavin-3,3'-digallate. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) indicated that theaflavin-3,3'-digallate blocked the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor necessary for inducible NO synthase induction. Theaflavin-3,3'-digallate also blocked phosphorylation of IkappaB from cytosolic fraction and reduced lipopolysacchride-induced nuclear accumulation of transcription factor NF-kappaB p65 and p50 subunits. These results suggest that theaflavin-3,3'-digallate decreases the protein levels of inducible NO synthase by reducing the expression of inducible NO synthase mRNA, and the reduction could be via preventing the activation of NF-kappaB, thereby inhibiting the induction of inducible NO synthase transcription. It was also demonstrated that the gallic acid moiety of theaflavin-3,3'-digallate is essential for their potent anti-inflammation activity.
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PMID:Theaflavin-3,3'-digallate from black tea blocks the nitric oxide synthase by down-regulating the activation of NF-kappaB in macrophages. 1007 14

The expression of midkine (MK) in lung tumors induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) in rats was examined. The animals were administered 2000 p.p.m. of BHP in their drinking water for 12 weeks, then maintained without further treatment until being killed 20-28 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. MK mRNA expression of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas assessed by means of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analysis was significantly higher than in rat embryonic tissues (positive controls) and contrasted strongly with the lack in normal lungs. MK protein was detected immunohistochemically in 58.3% of alveolar hyperplasias, 92.3% of adenomas and 100% of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The extent of staining significantly increased along with malignant progression in adenomatous (pre-)neoplastic lesions and tended to become more pronounced with malignant progression in squamous lesions. The results suggest that MK may play some essential roles in the development and progression of lung tumors induced by BHP in rats.
Carcinogenesis 1999 Mar
PMID:Overexpression of midkine in lung tumors induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine in rats and its increase with progression. 1019 May 63

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 is a member of the GST mu family of cytosolic enzymes that have been hypothesized to catalyze the conjugation of glutathione to a large number of hydrophobic substances, including carcinogens such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons present in tobacco smoke, leading to their excretion. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggests that the risk of cervical cancer is related to both human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cigarette smoking. We compared the enzymatic activities and mRNA levels of GSTs in GSTM1-positive human cervical keratinocytes (HCKs) that had been transfected with HPV16 with those in the parental cells. The GSTM1 activity toward the substrate trans-stilbene oxide was 5- to 7-fold lower than in the parental cells. The relative mRNA level in HCK transfected with HPV16 E6/E7, as quantified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with normalization against endogenous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression, was 6% that of the parental cells. It was 16 and 82%, respectively, in cells that were transfected with HPV16 E6 alone or HPV16 E7 alone. When quantified by competitive RT-PCR using an exogenous nuclease-resistant synthetic cyclophilin RNA transcript as control, the mRNA level in HCK transfected with HPV16 E6 was approximately 10-fold lower that that in the parental cells. It was approximately 5- to 7-fold lower in the HPV16 E7 or HPV16 E6/E7 cells. Our results suggest that viral infections, through the modulation of cellular xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, may play a role in the ability of cells to handle environmental carcinogens.
Carcinogenesis 1999 Apr
PMID:Decreased expression of glutathione S-transferase M1 in HPV16-transfected human cervical keratinocytes in culture. 1022 2

N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine (NBzMA) must be metabolically activated to exert its carcinogenic potential and is a potent inducer of tumors in the rat esophagus. The activation is believed to occur in the esophagus. Although the pathways of NBzMA metabolism are well studied, the principal cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) (P450) responsible for catalyzing its activation is unknown. Several preliminary studies have suggested that this enzyme may belong to the P450 2A family. We report here that P450 2A3 expressed in a baculovirus system metabolizes NBzMA, predominantly by methylene hydroxylation. To determine whether or not P450 2A3 is present in the rat esophagus, the relative level of P450 2A3 mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNA levels of P450 2A3 were compared with the levels of P450 2A1 and 2A2 mRNA in the esophagus, liver, lung and nasal mucosa. P450 2A3 mRNA was detected in rat nasal mucosa, lung and esophagus, but not in liver, whereas P450 2A1 and 2A2 mRNAs were detected only in the liver. To determine the relative expression of P450 2A3 in each tissue, quantitative RT-PCR with PCR-MIMICS used as internal standards was performed. The expression level in the nasal mucosa was by far the greatest. The expression in the lung and esophagus was 60- and 1600-fold less, respectively. Using antibodies to P450 2A4/5 and P450 2A10/11 a 50 kDa immunoreactive protein was detected in all three tissues by western blot analysis. This is consistent with the expression of P450 2A3 in these tissues. However, the amount of protein detected in the nasal mucosa was much greater than that in the esophagus or lung. The expression of P450 2A protein was similar in the lung and esophagus. The rate of coumarin 7-hydroxylation in cultured rat esophagus was very low. This is a reaction efficiently catalyzed by P450 2A5, 2A6 and 2A10. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate the presence of P450 2A3 protein and mRNA in the esophagus, but the amounts are low and may not be sufficient to account for NBzMA activation in this tissue.
Carcinogenesis 1999 May
PMID:Expression of cytochrome P450 2A3 in rat esophagus: relevance to N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine. 1033 7


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