Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033036 (APC)
 10,214 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

During the past decade, much has been learned about the pathophysiology of ACH--yet much remains to be determined. Although LC, IL-1, IL-2, IFN-gamma, and the T effector circuits have been extensively studied, it is still not clear whether it is LC- or keratinocyte-derived IL-1 that is crucial in ACH, whether IL-1 acts primarily on T-cells or the APC, whether other cytokines are involved in the circuit (TNF, KTGF?), the exact relationships between T effector, T memory, and other T helper cells, what the functions of mast cells and basophils are in the allergic reaction, and how the regulatory circuits (including prostaglandins and eicosanoids) affect the outcome of ACH. The mechanism of suppression remains even less well understood despite the potential application of this knowledge to the treatment of diseases caused by Type IV hypersensitivity. A better understanding of the ACH mechanism will lead not only to more sophisticated ACH treatment, but also to a better understanding of the cell-mediated events of cutaneous viral replication, organ transplantation, and tumor growth.
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PMID:The pathophysiology of allergic contact hypersensitivity. 269 Oct 41

The antitumor effects of human recombinant TNF (PAC-4D) were examined on three human gynecological carcinomas transplanted into CD-1 nude mice (uterine cervical carcinoma: UZ-1-N; ovarian carcinoma: OCl-1-N and OS-4-N). PAC-4D was administered intratumorally at a dose of 1,000 U, 3,000 U or 10,000 U/head from day 0 to day 4. Tumor size, body weight and peripheral WBC were measured on days 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 and histological studies were made on day 6. The results were as follows: With UZ-1-N, intratumoral administration of PAC-4D at doses of 3,000 U and 10,000 U/head caused a marked inhibition of the tumor growth. Similarly, antitumor activity of PAC-4D against OCl-1-N was remarkable at a dose of 10,000 U/head. The administration of PAC-4D at doses of 3,000 U and 10,000 U/head was not effective against OS-4-N. The histological changes of grade II A-B by Ohboshi-Shimosato criteria of response were observed in the tumor of the effective groups against PAC-4D. There were no influences on the body weight and WBC after administration of PAC-4D. Although tumor cells possessed different sensitivities to PAC-4D, PAC-4D is strongly recommended for the treatment of gynecological malignancies.
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PMID:[Antitumor effects of the tumor necrosis factor (PAC-4D) against human gynecological carcinoma transplanted into nude mice]. 360 53

In this paper we have attempted to define the role of suppressor T cells in many well-defined murine tumor systems. We have knowingly omitted a blocking antibodies, suppressor B cells as mediators of tumor immunosuppression in various murine tumor systems; these have been well reviewed elsewhere. Also, we have focused on the importance of two different types of antigen-presenting cells in the induction and suppression of cell-mediated immunity and on some of the different modalities employed to inhibit Ts function. Finally, we have discussed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the possible role of a defective helper pathway and enhanced suppressor pathway in its pathogenesis. We and others believe that the suppressor pathway is preferentially activated by tumor antigen(s) in the cases of many immunogenic murine tumors--possibly due to the release of tumor antigen(s) from tumor cells, their subsequent trafficking to specific areas of the spleen and other organs, and, ultimately, their presentation by certain APC to Ts. Ts may then act directly upon helper Lyt 1+2- T cells as these cells interact with tumor antigen(s) on I-A+ APC. Alternatively, if the effector pathway were somehow impaired--e.g., by ultraviolet radiation or a virus--then the suppressor pathway may be activated in an unregulated manner, often to the detriment of the host. Biochemical characterization of the tumor antigens that stimulate Ts generation and, presumably, tumor growth and definitive documentation of a role of APC in the processing and presentation of these tumor antigens to Ts need to be done. Then selective stimulation of the effector immune response, along with inhibition of the suppressor response, to tumor antigens with drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and soluble mediators or their analogues may be possible in the near future.
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PMID:Suppressor T cells and the immune response to tumors. 623 15

PDGF-B released from colon tumor cells regulated tumor growth in athymic mice in a paracrine manner by inducing blood vessel formation. A positive correlation was found between expression of PDGF B-chain in cells grown in vitro and the number of factor VIII-positive blood vessels in tumors induced by three classes of colon carcinoma cell lines. Elevated expression of PDGF-B was also correlated with tumor size. Each cell line had the same mutations in the colon cancer genes APC, DCC, and p53 and had wild type c-K-ras genes (Huang et al. [1994] Oncogene, 9:3701-3706.) eliminating the possibility that any differences in tumor blood vessel formation were due to mutations and/or deletions in these genes. Colon carcinoma cells released biologically active PDGF capable of stimulating the growth of NIH3T3 cells, which was inhibited by neutralizing antisera to PDGF-AB chains. An inverse correlation was found between induction of factor VIII-positive blood vessels and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while no correlation was seen with expression of either TGF alpha or k-FGF. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) expression was not detected in these tumor cells. TGF beta 1 was capable of inducing PDGF-B expression in the undifferentiated U9 colon carcinoma cell line, but this sensitivity was not seen in differentiated cells. In contrast, TGF beta 1 inhibited VEGF expression in both undifferentiated cells and differentiated colon cancer cells. Thus, TGF beta 1 has two roles in the growth of undifferentiated U9 colon carcinoma cells in vivo: direct stimulation of cell proliferation as we have showed in earlier studies, and an increase in angiogenesis by inducing PDGF-B.
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PMID:Platelet-derived growth factor-B increases colon cancer cell growth in vivo by a paracrine effect. 759 1

Molecular alterations play a key role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. In the present paper we describe relevant molecular alterations in human pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Overexpression of growth factor receptors (EGF receptor, c-erbB2, c-erbB3, TGF beta receptor I-III), growth factors (EGF, TGF alpha, TGF beta-1-3, aFGF, bFGF), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, ELAM-1) and gene mutations (p53, K-ras, DCC, APC) are present in a significant number of these tumors. These changes stimulate tumor growth and enhance the metastatic behavior of pancreatic cancer cells and thereby may contribute to shorter postoperative survival following tumor resection.
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PMID:Pancreatic cancer: the potential clinical relevance of alterations in growth factors and their receptors. 883 68

It is clear by now that cell-to-cell interactions involving a variety of signals are required for effective immune response. The data reviewed here suggest that CD40-CD40L interactions are critical for development of CD4 T-cell-dependent effector functions. Lack of this important interaction results in greatly reduced activation of CD4 T cells, while successful interaction of these molecules results in full activation of these T cells. Consequently, the absence of CD40-CD40L interactions leads to impairment of T-cell effector such as help for B-cell differentiation and class switch, activation of monocytes and macrophages to produce cytokines and to kill intracellular pathogens, and activation of autoreactive T cells to mount an autoimmune response. The effector functions of T cells controlled by CD40-CD40L interactions in a successful immune response are given in Table I. Data presented so far suggest that CD40-CD40L interactions play a role in early signalling events, where interactions of this kind are required to induce expression of costimulatory molecules on APC. One possible sequence of events in that APC, like DC, take up antigens at the site of injury or infection and migrate to lymph nodes, where they present antigens complexed with MHC class II molecules to naive T cells. This results in expression of CD40L on T cells. Coupling of this newly expressed CD40L on T cells with CD40 on APC results in expression of the costimulatory activity of the APC. At this time the costimulatory signal provided by the APC is received by the T cells via CD28/CTLA-4, which drives the cell to enter into cell cycle and complete T cell activation. T cells thereby activated can now enter into secondary cognate CD40-CD40L-dependent effector recognition with B cells to switch Ig class, macrophages to produce cytokines and new DC carrying the same antigen to up-regulate costimulatory activity. A tight regulation of expression of CD40L on T cells and costimulatory activity on APC would prevent activation of unwanted bystander T cells. The coupling of activation of the APC primed with the cognate antigen to the activation of the T-cell specific for that antigen in this model provides an additional regulatory step in the initiation of the immune response. This also suggests that a limited number of T cells/APC will be activated, both of which will be specific in nature. This additional step may be important for safeguarding against an autoimmune response. In addition, the fact that CD40L uniquely seems to play this role suggests that selective immunotherapies to treat autoimmune disease and prevent graft rejection can be targeted on this molecule. On the other hand, CD40-directed approaches to up-regulate costimulatory activity on APC could be developed to fight tumor growth, contain infections and treat immunodeficiencies.
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PMID:The role of CD40 ligand in costimulation and T-cell activation. 901 Jul 20

Defects in the APC gene are inarguably linked to the progression of colon cancers that arise both sporadically and through the transmission of germline mutations. Genetic evidence from humans and mouse models suggest that APC is a classic tumor suppressor in that both alleles likely require inactivation for tumor growth to ensue. Nearly all of the mutations, germline and somatic, result in premature termination of the single polypeptide chain, normally consisting of 2843 amino acids. Several definable motifs have now been mapped to the linear amino acid sequence of the APC polypeptide. These include an oligomerization domain, armadillo repeats, binding sites for beta-catenin, the human discs large protein, microtubules, and other proteins of unknown function. Inactivation of APC in cancer is likely due to loss of function(s) normally associated with the deleted protein structure.
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PMID:The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor. 919 22

Germline mutations of the PTEN/MMAC1/TEP and LKB1 genes cause hamartomas to develop in the gastrointestinal tracts of patients with Cowden syndrome and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, respectively. PTEN mutations may also be responsible for some cases of juvenile polyposis. Histologically, hamartomas appear benign, but there is good evidence that in these syndromes, the hamartomas can progress to colorectal carcinoma. It remains unknown whether or not cancers that develop from hamartomas acquire a spectrum of mutations similar to those in sporadic colon cancers. PTEN and LKB1 are candidate genes for mutations in sporadic colon cancers, either as initiating events in tumorigenesis or providing a selective advantage during tumor growth. Using single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, we have screened a set of sporadic colon cancers for somatic mutations in PTEN and LKB1. No variants predicted to alter protein function were detected in LKB1, but 1 of 72 cancers showed a somatic mutation in PTEN, together with allele loss. This cancer did not have a detectable APC mutation or allele loss at APC. It remains possible that PTEN and LKB1 are inactivated in other sporadic colon cancers by means such as deletion or promoter methylation. Like BRCA1 and BRCA2, however, it appears that PTEN and LKB1 mutations can cause cancers when present in the germline, but occur rarely in the soma.
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PMID:Genetic pathways of colorectal carcinogenesis rarely involve the PTEN and LKB1 genes outside the inherited hamartoma syndromes. 970 96

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common malignant tumor in liver; however, the carcinogenic mechanism of ICC is poorly understood. To analyze the molecular carcinogenesis of ICC, we examined the alterations of the p53, APC, and K-ras genes in 40 surgically resected ICC cases. The single-strand conformation polymorphism/sequencing revealed a p53 mutation in 12 cases (30%). An immunohistochemical overexpression of the p53 gene was detected in 10 cases (25%). The PCR/RFLP showed loss of heterozygosity of APC in 4 of 17 informative cases (23.5%). And the PCR/RFLP assay of K-ras codon 12 revealed the mutation in nine cases (22.5%). Twenty-one cases (52.5%) showed an alteration of at least one of the examined genes, and six (15%) carried an abnormality in more than two genes. The analysis of the clinicopathologic findings disclosed a significant relationship between the genetic alteration and gross type of the tumor: the p53 mutation was prominent in the ICC of mass-forming type, and K-ras mutation occurred more frequently in the ICC of periductal extension type (p < 0.05). These data suggest that each of the examined genes is involved in the development of ICC and that the p53 and K-ras mutation may play a role in the tumor growth pattern.
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PMID:Mutation of p53 and K-ras, and loss of heterozygosity of APC in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. 1021

We have found previously that human lung cancers potently induce T lymphocyte IL-10 production in vitro. To assess the impact of enhanced T cell-derived IL-10 on antitumor immunity in vivo, we utilized transgenic mice expressing IL-10 under the control of the IL-2 promoter. We have shown previously that Lewis lung carcinoma cells (3LL) have more aggressive growth potential in IL-10 transgenic mice compared with control littermates. In this study, we show that transfer of T cells from IL-10 transgenic mice to control littermates transferred the IL-10 immunosuppressive effect and led to enhanced 3LL tumor growth. In addition to changes in T cell-mediated immunity, professional APC from IL-10 transgenic mice were found to have significantly suppressed capacity to induce MHC alloreactivity, CTL responses, and IL-12 production. Tumor Ag-pulsed dendritic cells from IL-10 transgenic mice also failed to generate antitumor reactivity. These results suggest that increased levels of T cell-derived IL-10 severely impair antitumor immunity in vivo, due to defects in both T cell and APC function.
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PMID:T cell-derived IL-10 promotes lung cancer growth by suppressing both T cell and APC function. 1052 7


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