Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.27.5 (RNase)
17,967 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Osteoblastic metastases are common in lethal prostate cancer. Effective therapy for bone metastases is lacking. Thus, developing an appropriate in vitro screening system is critical to prioritize which of the newly developed agents should undergo additional expensive and time-consuming in vivo evaluation in bone metastases animal models. In the past, such in vitro screening evaluated the response of prostate cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents in monoculture without the presence of osteoblasts. In such monoculture, prostate cancer cells have a high (i.e., >90%) proliferative growth fraction. In contrast, the growth fraction (i.e., mean: 7.1 +/- 0.8%; median: 3.1%) in 117 metastatic sites of prostate cancer obtained from 11 androgen ablation failing patients at "warm" autopsy was found to be >10-fold lower. To better mimic the lower growth fraction observed clinically, LNCaP human prostate cancer cells were cocultured with membrane-separated hFOB human osteoblasts. Such coculturing significantly lowered the growth fraction of the LNCaP cells (i.e., from >90 to <30%) without enhancing their low rate (i.e., <5%) of apoptosis. This lowering of the growth fraction was documented using flow cytometry, Ki-67 immunohistochemistry, and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. Using RNase protection assays, it was documented that coculture with osteoblasts causes enhanced p53, p27, and p21 expression leading to a decrease in the number of LNCaP cells entering the cell cycle (i.e., enhanced number of LNCaP cells in G(0)-G(1) and a decrease in S and G(2)-M and thus the growth fraction). This osteoblast-induced enhanced G(0)-G(1) checkpoint control affected the chemosensitivity of LNCaP cells. This was documented by coculturing LNCaP cells with hFOB cells to condition the medium for 3 days to lower the growth fraction to <30% before exposing the LNCaP cells for 48 h to various concentrations of Taxol, doxorubicin, or thapsigargin (TG). In standard high (i.e., >90%) growth fraction cultures (i.e., cultures in the absence of osteoblast-conditioned medium), there was a dose-dependent and significant (P < 0.05) increase in apoptosis of LNCaP cells exposed to Taxol or doxorubicin. In contrast, even the highest dose of Taxol (1 microM) did not enhance apoptosis of lower growth fraction LNCaP cells cultured in osteoblast-conditioned medium. Similarly, only the highest concentration of doxorubicin (1 microM) enhanced apoptosis in lower growth fraction cells. In contrast, 100 nM TG induced high levels of apoptosis in both lower and high-growth fraction LNCaP cultures. These results demonstrate that the osteoblast/LNCaP coculture system is a better in vitro screen than monoculture to identify proliferation-independent agents for the treatment of prostate cancer bone metastases, and TG is such an agent.
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PMID:Therapeutic implications of enhanced G(0)/G(1) checkpoint control induced by coculture of prostate cancer cells with osteoblasts. 1152 28

Despite many efforts to alter the relentlessly aggressive progression of tumors of neural origin, individuals bearing these tumors exhibit poor prognosis for long-term survival. In an attempt to find an effective treatment, we examined the efficacy of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, to suppress the growth of tumor cell lines derived from medulloblastoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Results from cell proliferation assays have revealed that flurbiprofen effectively inhibits the growth of various tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner and causes a noticeable change in the progression of cells through cell cycle stages. Treatment of tumor cells with flurbiprofen reduced the number of cells in G1 and G2, and significantly increased their numbers in S phase, suggesting that, flurbiprofen accelerates G1/S entry, and/or delays cell exit from S to G2/M stages. Results from RNase protection assay and Western blot analysis showed that while treatment of cells with flurbiprofen causes a minor change in the RNA level of different cyclins, there is a significant decrease in the level of cyclin B protein upon flurbiprofen treatment. Examination of tumor suppressors by RNase protection technique showed a subtle increase in the levels of several tumor suppressors upon flurbiprofen treatment. Interestingly, at the protein level, p53 tumor suppressor was substantially increased upon flurbiprofen treatment, yet the level of p21, a downstream target for p53 remained unchanged. Curiously, treatment of the cells with flurbiprofen enhanced the level of COX-2 expression. Results from co-immunoprecipitation showed association of COX-2 with p53 in tumor cells. These observations suggest that the interaction of COX-2 with p53 may cause p21-independent suppression of tumor cell growth upon flurbiprofen treatment.
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PMID:Inhibition of human brain tumor cell growth by the anti-inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen. 1168 65

Premature senescence of human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) induced by exposure to H2O2 at subcytotoxic concentration is characterized by many biomarkers of normal senescence such as irreversible growth arrest. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CdKI) p21(Waf-1) is overexpressed in H2O2- and tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced premature senescence, likely explaining in part the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. p21(Waf-1) is known to inhibit the kinase activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CdK) 4 and 6 cyclin complexes. In this work, we investigated whether the kinase activity of the CdK4 and 6 cyclin complexes can be modulated by CdKI p16(Ink-4a), by changes in the protein level of CdKs and cyclins, or by changes in kinase activity of these CdKs not directly involving CdKIs. RNase protection assay, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot and kinase assay showed that the mRNA level, protein and kinase activity of CdK2 are decreased at 72h after H2O2 stress. These results suggest that the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein is mediated in part by a decrease of the kinase activity of CdK2 not directly involving CdKIs. This CdK2-mediated effect should be considered in addition to the inhibition of cyclin D-CdK4 and 6 complexes by CdKI p21(Waf-1).
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PMID:Down-regulation and decreased activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in H2O2-induced premature senescence. 1247 75

p21 (Waf1/Cip1) is a downstream target of p53. We evaluated the association between p21 polymorphism (codon 31), p53 polymorphism (codon 72) and their corresponding in vivo mRNA expression. In this study, p21 and p53 genetic polymorphisms (using standard PCR-RFLP techniques) and p21 and p53 gene expressions (using a radiolabelled ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) technique) were evaluated in the peripheral leukocytes of 84 individuals (63 with lung cancer). Log-transformed values of mRNA expression by RPA, which approximated a normal distribution, were analyzed. p53 genotypes did not correlate with p53 mRNA log-expression (P>0.05 for all comparisons), but the Pro allele variants of p53 were associated with a significant decrease in mRNA log-expression of its downstream target, p21. The variant Arg allele of p21 was also associated with a significant decrease in p21 mRNA log-expression. When individuals with at least one variant allele of both p53 and p21 (double-variants) were compared with all other genotype groups, these double-variants had significantly lower log-expression of p21 (P<0.005 by both t-tests (crude) and linear regression analyses (adjusted)). This is translated into an approximate 48% reduction in the geometric mean of the mRNA expression of the double-variants, when compared with all other groups. Results were consistent in both patients with lung cancer (n=63) and in normal controls (n=21). In conclusion, the presence of a p53 Pro allele and/or p21 Arg allele is associated with lower downstream target gene expression of p21.
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PMID:P53 (codon 72) and P21 (codon 31) polymorphisms alter in vivo mRNA expression of p21. 1278 24

Cell proliferation and apoptosis are controlled by tightly orchestrated signaling pathways that culminate in transcriptional activation/repression of multiple proteins. Dysregulation of cell cycle and/or apoptosis control may lead to genomic instability, neoplastic transformation and tumor progression. Under certain conditions, some hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] compounds are toxic and carcinogenic in the human respiratory tract, and we have shown that they induce apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest in a p53-dependent fashion. There is increasing evidence linking extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation with the DNA damage response, by both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Here, the aim was to study the effect of Cr(VI) transcriptional regulation of key cell cycle inhibitors and pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, as well as the role of ERK activation in the Cr(VI) genotoxic response. Diploid human lung fibroblasts were incubated with 3-9 uM Na2CrO4, and RNA was isolated at 4, 8, and 24 h, as well as 24 h after Cr(VI) exposure was terminated (recovery). mRNA expression was quantitated by RNase protection assay with a 32P-labeled multi-transcript probe containing gene sequences for the cdk inhibitors, p21waf1/cip1, p27kip1, p16INK4a, p15INK4b; the pro-apoptotic proteins bcl-XS and bax; the anti-apoptotic proteins bcl-W, bcl-XL, and bcl2, GADD45, and cyclin A. In general, bcl-W and bcl-XL expression were both downregulated after Cr exposure, to around 50% at 24 h, which was more pronounced after the recovery period. At Cr(VI) concentrations < or = 6 uM, bcl2 expression was upregulated. Of particular interest is that bax expression was reduced, in a dose and time-dependent fashion, however that of bcl-XS was elevated by nearly 3-fold after 8 h, and declined to control levels at the end of the recovery period. Expression of GADD45 and p21 were both upregulated by 2-fold at 8 h, but declined to control levels during recovery. Neither the expression of p27 nor that of p16 were apparently affected by Cr(VI) exposure, however the expression of p15 was markedly increased after exposure to all concentrations of Cr(VI). Finally, the expression of cyclin A was decreased after 24 h Cr(VI) exposure. Cr(VI) induced a transient burst of ERK activity (2-6-fold over control) around 0.5-3 h after exposure. However, inhibition of ERK activation with PD98059 had no effect on the Cr-induced alterations in gene expression. Moreover, Cr(VI)-induced clonogenic lethality, as assessed after 24 h exposure to 1 and 2 uM Cr(VI), was also not affected by ERK inhibition. These data suggest that both p53-dependent and -independent apoptotic and growth-inhibitory pathways are markedly affected by Cr(VI) exposure. However, the ability of Cr(VI) to affect key apoptotic and growth arresting genes, and thus clonogenic lethality, appears to be independent of ERK. Continued investigation into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Cr(VI)-induced cell cycle and apoptosis control should further the understanding of Cr(VI)-associated carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Induction of pro-apoptotic and cell cycle-inhibiting genes in chromium (VI)-treated human lung fibroblasts: lack of effect of ERK. 1497 55

To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the increased vulnerability of the aged brain to traumatic brain injury (TBI), we compared the expression of several age-related genes in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus subfields of the young and aged rat hippocampus before and after lateral fluid percussion TBI. Using laser capture microdissection (LCM), we obtained hippocampal neurons and glia from the neuropil adjacent to the pyramidal and granule cell layers. Subsequently, we linearly amplified and analyzed the antisense mRNA using Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assays (RPA). Our procedures, which have not been previously applied to quantitative analysis of LCM mRNA from neural tissue, included a modified reverse transcription step to enhance full-length cDNA synthesis, thus enhancing the yield of larger components of in vitro-transcribed mRNA for downstream analysis. Northern analysis showed greater expression of two aging-associated genes, p21 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the aged hippocampus. The age-related differences in p21 and BDNF expression were particularly prominent after TBI. By quantitative RPA analysis, we found that the expression of p21, known to be induced in senescent cells, was significantly greater in the CA3 region of aged rats, an area that is selectively vulnerable to TBI. However, expression of genes associated with regenerative and repair functions was significantly decreased in aged hippocampus. Our RPA results indicate that substantial age-dependent differences in the transcriptional profile of distinct regions of the hippocampal formation may account, in part, for their differential susceptibility to brain injury.
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PMID:Laser capture microdissection and analysis of amplified antisense RNA from distinct cell populations of the young and aged rat brain: effect of traumatic brain injury on hippocampal gene expression. 1499 15

After experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI), widespread neuronal loss is progressive and continues in selectively vulnerable brain regions, such as the hippocampus, for months to years after the initial insult. To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying secondary or delayed cell death in hippocampal neurons after TBI, we compared long-term changes in gene expression in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) subfields of the rat hippocampus at 24 h and 3, 6, and 12 months after TBI with changes in gene expression in sham-operated rats. We used laser capture microdissection to collect several hundred hippocampal neurons from the CA1, CA3, and DG subfields and linearly amplified the nanogram samples of neuronal RNA with T7 RNA polymerase. Subsequent quantitative analysis of gene expression using ribonuclease protection assay revealed that mRNA expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, and the chaperone heat shock protein 70 was significantly downregulated at 3, 6 (Bcl-2 only), and 12 months after TBI. Interestingly, the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes caspase-3 and caspase-9 was also significantly decreased at 3, 6 (caspase-9 only), and 12 months after TBI, suggesting that long-term neuronal loss after TBI is not mediated by increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes. The expression of two aging-related genes, p21 and integrin beta3 (ITbeta3), transiently increased 24 h after TBI, returned to baseline levels at 3 months and significantly decreased below sham levels at 12 months (ITbeta3 only). Expression of the gene for the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase-1 also significantly increased 6 months after TBI. These results suggest that decreased levels of neuroprotective genes may contribute to long-term neurodegeneration in animals and human patients after TBI. Conversely, long-term increases in antioxidant gene expression after TBI may be an endogenous neuroprotective response that compensates for the decrease in expression of other neuroprotective genes.
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PMID:Analysis of long-term gene expression in neurons of the hippocampal subfields following traumatic brain injury in rats. 1568 Jun 94

Human monocytic THP-1 cells can be induced to differentiate to macrophages when treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). It is understood that before initiating cell differentiation, PMA treatment must first induce an inhibition of cell growth. Since the initial biochemical and molecular events that are associated with this growth inhibition have not been characterized, the present study was carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the PMA-induced growth arrest of THP-1 cells. Our results indicate that PMA inhibits THP-1 cells at G1-phase of the cell cycle, via a complex mechanism associated with the modulation of the expression of several cell cycle regulators, initiated by the cellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both p21WAF1/CIP1 mRNA and protein were upregulated 24 h post PMA treatment as demonstrated by ribonuclease protection assay and Western blotting, respectively. Because these cells lack functional p53, this effect was independent of p53 activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the PMA-induced activation of the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter was driven by the specific protein 1 (Sp1) transcription factor through Sp1-binding sites. Additionally, our study demonstrates that PMA-induces the upregulation of p21 through a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated ROS-dependent signaling mechanism involving MAP kinase activation.
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PMID:Signal transduction of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced growth inhibition of human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells is reactive oxygen dependent. 1597 37

Latent infection of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of several human tumor types. The restricted expression of the latent EBV antigens is critical for EBV-associated tumors to escape from immune surveillance. EBV lytic replication can be triggered by various treatments and the induced lytic genes cause strong cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Histone acetylation or deacetylation is associated with chromatin remodeling and regulates gene expression. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors affect cell cycle progression as well as gene expression in a wide variety of transformed cells. We examined whether an HDAC inhibitor, TSA, can affect cell cycle progression and induce EBV lytic replication in EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). TSA caused cell cycle arrest at low concentrations and induced apoptosis at higher (>300 nM) concentrations in the LCLs and EBV negative BJAB cells. To clarify the underlying mechanism of TSA-induced cell cycle arrest, expression of cell cycle regulatory factors was examined by RNase protection assay and Western blot analysis. Following TSA treatment, a reduced expression of cyclin D2 and an induction of p21 may have played an essential role for G1 arrest in LCLs, while p21 induction might have arrested BJAB cells in G1 phase. A Cdk inhibitor, p57, was increased by 300 nM TSA in both LCLs and BJAB cells, indicating its role in apoptosis. Moreover, immunofluorescene assay and Western blotting showed that TSA induced EBV lytic replication in LCL cells. These results suggest that TSA may exert an enhanced anti-tumor effect for EBV-associated tumors not only by inducing a cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, but also by triggering an EBV lytic cycle.
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PMID:Cell cycle arrest and lytic induction of EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cells by a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A. 1809 80

Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) is a positive strand RNA virus that infects mainly Cruciferae plants. In this study, the TYMV genome was modified by inserting an extra subgenomic RNA promoter and a multiple cloning site. This modified TYMV was introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana using a Agrobacterium-mediated T-DNA transfer system (agroinfiltration). When a gene encoding beta-glucuronidase or green fluorescent protein was expressed using this modified TYMV as a vector, replication of the recombinant viruses, especially the virus containing beta-glucuronidase gene, was severely inhibited. The suppression of replication was reduced by co-expression of viral silencing suppressor genes, such as tombusviral p19, closteroviral p21 or potyviral HC-Pro. As expected, two subgenomic RNAs were produced from the recombinant TYMV, where the larger one contained the foreign gene. An RNase protection assay revealed that the recombinant subgenomic RNA was encapsidated as efficiently as the genuine subgenomic RNA.
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PMID:Replication and encapsidation of recombinant Turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA. 1895 22


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