Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
 685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present study aimed at investigating whether previously reported interstrain differences of mice in testicular susceptibility to cadmium toxicity can be attributed to different metallothionein expression in the testes and other organs. Furthermore, purified Leydig cell systems were employed to identify a testicular compartment capable to respond specifically to exogenous cadmium by increased metallothionein expression. It was shown that species differences in testicular damage after cadmium administration can not be explained by differences in cadmium-induced stimulation of hepatic and renal metallothionein. In contrast to these organs, no metallothionein response to cadmium was observed in testicular homogenates. However, both freshly isolated and purified rat Leydig cells and a murine tumor Leydig cell line are not only able to synthesize metallothionein under basal conditions, but also respond to exogenous cadmium by increased synthesis of metallothionein (35S-cysteine incorporation) and an increased Mt-mRNA content. Extracts from freshly isolated and purified rat Leydig cells contained a cadmium-binding component which eluted in gel chromatography with the same properties as metallothionein. It was concluded that the use of purified cell systems is a valuable tool to investigate possible targets of cadmium toxicity.
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PMID:Comparative study on metallothionein induction in whole testicular tissue and isolated Leydig cells. 205 49

Several lysosomal proteinases including the cysteine proteinase cathepsin B have been implicated in malignant progression of tumors. Many investigators have demonstrated correlations between increased activity of cathepsin B and increased metastatic capability of animal tumors or malignancy of human tumors. Such increases in cathepsin B activity in malignant tumors may reflect alterations in synthesis, in activation and processing, and/or in intracellular trafficking and delivery as well as in the endogenous inhibitors of cathepsin B. Increases in mRNA transcripts for cathepsin B have been observed in both murine and human tumors and multiple transcripts for cathepsin B have been identified, but an association of multiple transcripts with malignancy has not been confirmed. Cathepsin B precursors found in human malignant ascites fluid do not possess mannose-rich carbohydrates suggesting that a defect in the post translational processing of carbohydrate moieties on tumor cathepsin B may be responsible for the release of cathepsin B observed in many tumor systems. However, the intracellular trafficking of cathepsin B responsible for its association with plasma membrane/endosomal systems and for its release will require further study as both latent, precursor forms of cathepsin B and native forms of cathepsin B are involved. We speculate that malignant tumor cells adherent to basement membrane are capable of forming a digestive microenvironment in which lysosomal proteinases such as cathepsin B function optimally, a microenvironment similar to that formed between adherent osteoclasts and bone. One of the endogenous cysteine proteinase inhibitors, stefin A, also is affected by malignancy. Reduced expression (mRNA and protein) of stefin A is found as well as a reduction in its inhibitory capacity against cysteine proteinases. The data to date at both the molecular and protein levels supporting a functional role(s) for cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitors in cancer progression are only correlative. Experimental approaches utilizing well-defined model systems in conjunction with genetic manipulation of cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitors are needed to provide convincing evidence that cathepsin B has an important role in cancer.
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PMID:Cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitors: the role in tumor malignancy. 209 84

As an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy, we had succeeded in creating the methionine depletion in vivo, using the technique of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) by infusing an amino acid solution devoid of methionine and cysteine, as sole nitrogen source (Met-deplet. TPN). In Experiment 1, we demonstrated that the marked depletion of thiol was induced both in the liver and tumor tissues by Met-deplet. TPN in Sato lung carcinoma (SLC)-bearing rats. Then in Experiment 2, we also confirmed the presence of the enhancing effect on nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) in Met-deplet. TPN to SLC. The tumor proliferation was inhibited significantly by Met-deplet. TPN even in conjunction with a small dose of ACNU, which showed no anti-tumor effect on the rats treated with methionine-containing amino acid solution, without apparent increase of the side effects in comparison with those in the control groups. On the other hand, to determine the carcinostatic effect on tumor-bearing animals, not only the size of the tumor but also its components, especially the percentage of necrotic tumor tissue (necrotic index), were considered to be important.
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PMID:Thiol depletion and chemosensitization on nimustine hydrochloride by methionine-depleting total parenteral nutrition. 212 63

The constant region of the human gamma 1 chain was mutated either by deleting the second domain (CH2) or by mutating the two hinge region cysteine residues, normally involved in the inter-heavy chain disulfide bond formation, to serines. The effects of these mutations on chain assembly, antigen binding, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were measured after expressing the human constant regions together with mouse variable regions encoding anti-tumor cell specificities. The CH2-deleted chimeric antibody was found to have increased antigen binding activity and little (ADCC) or no (CDC) biological activity. The cysteine to serine hinge region mutant antibody had normal or slightly reduced antigen binding activity, greatly reduced ADCC activity, and a reduced, but still significant, ability to mediate CDC. These results reflect the complexity of the interactions between the immunoglobulin domains and their role in balancing the antigen binding and effector functions of antibodies. They suggest further that such antibodies may be useful in applications, such as the in vivo imaging of tumors, where the loss of effector function (e.g., Fc receptor binding) is desired.
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PMID:Antigen binding and biological activities of engineered mutant chimeric antibodies with human tumor specificities. 212 19

Radioprotectors are not currently used clinically due to concerns regarding toxicity and uncertainties regarding tumor protection. Topical radioprotection of skin might find clinical applications with protectors such as WR-2721, but laboratory studies in which protectors have been applied in water have not been promising. We have studied the absorption of 14C-WR-2721 and [14C]cysteine dissolved in skin permeation-enhancing vehicles through the skin of hairless mice and compared the absorption to that in water. Skin concentration of WR-2721 was increased most by dimethylformamide (DMF), but only propylene glycol increased absorption as far as the dermis, as measured by plasma concentration. Skin concentration of cysteine was improved by DMF, 2-pyrrolidone (2-P), and methyl-2-pyrrolidone (M-2-P); only dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in increased plasma levels of the protector. Pretreating skin with DMSO before application of WR-2721, irrespective of the vehicle, improved its concentration within the skin. Plasma levels were improved (10 and 12 times) only with 2-P and DMF. Therefore, by choosing the appropriate vehicle, it is possible to breach the barrier of the stratum corneum and enhance the presence of the protector in all layers of the skin.
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PMID:Transdermal absorption of radioprotectors using permeation-enhancing vehicles. 215 35

A new human gene encoding a receptor-type tyrosine kinase was isolated by a weak cross-hybridization with v-ros oncogene. A cDNA of about 7.7 kb carried a 4.2 kb open reading frame, and the predicted amino acid sequence of 1338 residues contained extracellular, transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains. Although its extracellular domain is approximately 220 amino acids longer than those of the products of the fms family, i.e. c-fms, c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor genes, the overall structure including cysteine motifs in its extracellular domain and a long peptide insertion in its tyrosine kinase domain indicates that this new gene is closely related to the fms family. Consequently, the gene was designated as flt (fms-like tyrosine kinase) gene. The expression of the flt gene was strongly suppressed in most of the tumor cell lines examined so far, whereas this mRNA was expressed in a variety of normal tissues of adult rat.
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PMID:Nucleotide sequence and expression of a novel human receptor-type tyrosine kinase gene (flt) closely related to the fms family. 215 38

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta) bind surface receptors on a variety of cell types to mediate a wide range of immunological responses, inflammatory reactions, and anti-tumor effects. A cDNA clone encoding an integral membrane protein of 461 amino acids was isolated from a human lung fibroblast library by direct expression screening with radiolabeled TNF-alpha. The encoded receptor was also able to bind TNF-beta. The predicted cysteine-rich extracellular domain has extensive sequence similarity with five proteins, including nerve growth factor receptor and a transcriptionally active open reading frame from Shope fibroma virus, and thus defines a family of receptors.
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PMID:A receptor for tumor necrosis factor defines an unusual family of cellular and viral proteins. 216 Jul 31

We have previously identified a small-cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H209) that expresses an aberrant, underphosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein RB1. Molecular analysis of RB1 mRNA from this cell line revealed a single point mutation within exon 21 that resulted in a nonconservative amino acid substitution (cysteine to phenylalanine) at codon 706. Stable expression of this mutant RB1 cDNA in a human cell line lacking endogenous RB1 demonstrated that this amino acid change was sufficient to inhibit phosphorylation. In addition, this cysteine-to-phenylalanine substitution also resulted in loss of RB1 binding to the simian virus 40 large tumor and adenovirus E1A transforming proteins. These results confirm the importance of exon 21 coding sequences and suggest that the cysteine residue at codon 706 may play a role in achieving a specific protein conformation essential for protein-protein interactions.
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PMID:A single amino acid substitution results in a retinoblastoma protein defective in phosphorylation and oncoprotein binding. 216 63

The occurrence of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia (AML) following cytotoxic therapy for neoplastic disease is well recognised. RAS mutations are common in patients with MDS and AML. To determine whether these lesions are found as early markers of secondary disease, we have studied the incidence of RAS mutations in the peripheral blood of 70 patients in complete remission from lymphoma. Patients were treated by standard chemotherapy regimes and/or localised radiotherapy. Treatment had been given 6 months to 14 1/2 years previously and no patient showed any sign of residual disease. Genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was amplified in vitro at target codons of N, K and H RAS genes, and mutations detected by hybridisation with oligonucleotide probes. RAS mutations were detected in 9 subjects. One patient with an N12 valine (Val) substitution had been in complete remission from Hodgkin's disease (HD) for 9 years. DNA from this patient registered in a nude mouse tumorigenicity assay (NMT). The N12 Val mutation was not detected in the original tumour tissue from the same patient. A second patient in remission from HD showed evidence of co-existent N12 cysteine (Cys) and N13 valine (Val) substitutions which were not detected in presentation material or unaffected tissues. All patients are currently haematologically normal, indicating that clones of mutant RAS bearing cells may be detected prior to any overt sign of disease.
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PMID:RAS mutations in patients following cytotoxic therapy for lymphoma. 217 19

The in vitro interaction of mercury, copper (II) and cadmium with human glutathione transferase (GST) pi was studied using reduced glutathione (GSH) and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate. Tumor specific human GST pi was isolated from the human hepatoma derived PLC/PRF/5 cell line. The inhibition of the GST pi activity was dose dependent. Kinetic studies never revealed competitive inhibition. A parabolic inhibition was found with GSH as the variable substrate. The heavy metals are spontaneously conjugated with GSH and cysteine, but interact with GST pi by direct binding to this protein. This binding could have a protective function against heavy metals.
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PMID:In vitro interaction of mercury, copper (II) and cadmium with human glutathione transferase pi. 221 73


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