Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0596263 (carcinogenesis)
 64,820 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effect of the carcinogen 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MDAB) on the gene expression of rat liver was studied. Hybridization analysis with enriched neoplastic liver specific cDNA demonstrated a noticeable change in gene expression during liver carcinogenesis. The effect of 3'-MDAB on liver specific gene expression was also studied with albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) genes as models. Serum AFP levels increased dramatically during hepatocarcinogenesis. Amounts of AFP mRNA present in polysomal poly(A)mRNA were determined by translation and hybridization experiments. AFP mRNA increased in carcinogen-treated liver as the serum level of AFP increased. Increase of AFP mRNA in liver cytoplasmic RNAs can be detected as early as 18 days after feeding rats 3'-MDAB and reached peaks at 30-40 and 185 days of treatment. AFP serum level and AFP mRNA in liver cytosol decreased dramatically between these peaks, with a small amount of AFP mRNA and serum AFP detectable in rats treated with 3'-MDAB for 100 days. The increase in amount of AFP mRNA was due to an increase in transcription of the AFP gene in livers of rats treated with carcinogen. Only a slight change in serum albumin concentration and albumin mRNA in livers of rats treated with 3'-MDAB was noticed.
 ...
PMID:The alteration of gene expression in rat liver during chemical carcinogenesis. 683 26

Autoradiographic analysis of liver sections from rats fed the hepatocarcinogen N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA) in a choline devoid (CD) diet suggests that proliferating small "oval" cells arise from a few small portally-situated cells, and spread rapidly across the entire liver lobule. Small cells with detectable grains are first located where liver plates meet the portal areas. This cell type gradually increases in number over a 10-12 day period, then proliferates rapidly. After 28 days, microscopic nodules consisting of heavily labeled large eosinophilic cells appear, whereas residual hepatocytes are not labeled. Combined immunofluorescent and autoradiographic labeling studies reveal that many of the small cells contain AFP; approximately half of the alpha-fetoprotein-containing cells are labeled with [3H]thymidine (dT). Feeding CD-FAA diets to rats with hepatocytes prelabeled with [3H]dT after 70% hepatectomy 7 weeks earlier provides data which suggest that small "oval" cells do not arise from prelabeled hepatocytes but, instead, infiltrate the prelabeled hepatocytes during the diet induced proliferative phase. We conclude that "oval" cells arise from a small number of portal cells, not from hepatocytes. Exact identification of the oval cell precursor is not possible, but it could be a "stem" cell. Although hepatocyte-like properties are found in small cells (e.g., albumin staining), there is no evidence that they differentiate into normally functioning hepatocytes.
Carcinogenesis 1981
PMID:Autoradiography of "oval cells" appearing rapidly in the livers of rats fed N-2-fluorenylacetamide in a choline devoid diet. 727 92

The promoter of the rat alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene, which makes the expression of the developmentally regulated AFP gene specific to the liver, is a putative target for transcription factors of the CAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP), hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) and nuclear factor-1 (NF-1) families. We have evaluated the influence of these factors on the activity of the AFP promoter by transfection of HepG2 hepatoma cells with the appropriate expression vector plus a CAT plasmid under the control of the AFP promoter. A similar plasmid bearing the rat albumin promoter was used as a control. C/EBP alpha, C/EBP beta and D-binding protein (DBP) acted as trans-activators on the AFP promoter, whereas liver inhibitory protein (LIP), a truncated form of C/EBP beta, was a potent negative regulator of the promoter. C/EBP alpha also bound to and stimulated the activity of the AFP enhancer at -2.5 kb. Interestingly, HNF-1 beta was found to be more potent than HNF-1 alpha in activating the AFP promoter. This effect was specific, as it did not occur with the rat albumin promoter. HNF-1 beta, which is produced earlier than HNF-1 alpha during liver development, would thus have the greater influence on the AFP promoter in early development. Both HNF-1s allowed expression of the AFP promoter in cells of nonhepatic origin. Overexpression of NF-1 induced a specific decrease in the activity of the AFP promoter. This strongly suggests that competition between NF-1 and HNF-1 for binding to their overlapping binding sites on the AFP promoter is critical for modulating its activity. Thus changing combinations of these trans-acting factors may tightly modulate the AFP promoter activity in the course of liver development and carcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Members of the CAAT/enhancer-binding protein, hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 and nuclear factor-1 families can differentially modulate the activities of the rat alpha-fetoprotein promoter and enhancer. 751 71

The oval cells of the liver have been identified as target cells of chemical carcinogens during rat hepatocarcinogenesis and are believed to act as liver stem cells. In this study mice (strains C3H/EJ (C3H), C57/BL6J (C57) and hybrid B6C3F1 (F1)) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 7 days after administration of a single dose of the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and histopathological studies of oval cells were evaluated using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Picro-Mallory (P-M), alpha-fetoprotein (A-FP) and glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-pi) staining techniques and electron microscopy (EM). Increased oval cell proliferation was observed as soon as one day following exposure of the mice to DEN, in a manner consistent with C3H and C57 mice exhibiting high and low susceptibility to DEN respectively, with hybrid F1 mice being intermediate in DEN sensitivity. This analysis indicates that, in mice, oval cells are target cells at very early stages of liver carcinogenesis and supports the notion that oval cells are potential liver stem cells.
 ...
PMID:Short-term diethylnitrosamine-induced oval cell responses in three strains of mice. 752 17

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is a polypeptide closely associated with hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and in vitro. In order to investigate the mechanisms by which TGF-alpha contributes to hepatocyte replication and transformation, we isolated hepatocytes from mice bearing a human TGF-alpha transgene and examined their growth properties and gene expression in defined, serum-free culture. The transgenic hepatocytes continued to overexpress human TGF-alpha mRNA and peptide, and were able to proliferate without exogenous growth factors in primary culture, in contrast to nontransgenic mouse hepatocytes. In short-term culture the transgenic hepatocytes underwent 1 wave of DNA replication at 72-96 h in culture before senescing, similar to nontransgenic hepatocytes supplemented with epidermal growth factor. Constitutive expression of TGF-alpha rendered the transgenic hepatocytes unresponsive to further growth stimulation by exogenous TGF-alpha, as well as other mitogens such as epidermal growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor. However, it did not alter their sensitivity to growth inhibition by TGF beta 1, 2 and 3. The addition of nicotinamide to the culture medium enabled both transgenic and epidermal growth factor-supplemented normal hepatocytes to replicate repeatedly and survive for > or = 2 months in primary culture while maintaining differentiated traits. From these long-term primary cultures of transgenic and nontransgenic hepatocytes, we established immortalized cell lines (designated TAMH and NMH lines, respectively). Both lines continued to express differentiated adult hepatocytic markers such as albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, transferrin, and connexin 26 and 32 mRNAs, but also expressed mRNAs for the oncofetal markers alpha-fetoprotein and insulin-like growth factor II. Unlike the near-diploid NMH hepatocyte line, the transgenic TAMH hepatocyte line was quasi-tetraploid, strongly expressed human TGF-alpha mRNA, and was highly tumorigenic in nude mice. Well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas developed in nude mice given injections of the TAMH line, and these appeared similar to the primary liver tumors seen in TGF-alpha transgenic mice with regard to histology and strong expression of mouse and human TGF-alpha, insulin-like growth factor II, and alpha-fetoprotein mRNAs. Our data show that TGF-alpha overexpression causes autonomous hepatocyte proliferation and contributes to neoplasia but that additional cellular alterations must occur for carcinogenesis. Inappropriate expression of insulin-like growth factor II may constitute one of these steps. The TGF-alpha transgenic mouse hepatocyte line TAMH appears to undergo transformation in a similar manner to that of hepatocytes overexpressing TGF-alpha in vivo, and should serve as an ideal system in which to study hepatocarcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Autonomous growth in serum-free medium and production of hepatocellular carcinomas by differentiated hepatocyte lines that overexpress transforming growth factor alpha 1. 752 51

The effects of a phorbol ester (TPA) and of members of the Jun and Fos oncoprotein family on the activity of the rat alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter were checked by using transient expression experiments in HepG2 hepatoma cells. TPA blocked the activity of the rat AFP promoter in a dose-dependent manner. Overexpression of c-Jun specifically repressed the rat AFP promoter but not the albumin promoter. JunB and JunD were poorer inhibitors. c-Fos expression did not potentiate the negative effect of Jun. The Jun-induced repression does not require binding of c-Jun to the AFP promoter. DNase 1 footprinting experiments did not display any high affinity binding site for Jun on the AFP promoter. Integrity of the c-Jun DNA binding domain is not required for the c-Jun protein to block the AFP promoter. The N-terminal part of Jun, which contains the activating domain, is responsible for the repression as shown by using Jun-Gal4 chimera. Jun likely exerts its negative control on the AFP promoter via protein-protein interactions with a not yet identified trans-activating factor within the -134 to +6 region or with a component of the general machinery of transcription. Jun proteins can thus be key intermediates in regulatory cascades which result in the differential modulation of the AFP and albumin gene expression in the course of liver development and carcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:The c-jun proto-oncogene down-regulates the rat alpha-fetoprotein promoter in HepG2 hepatoma cells without binding to DNA. 753 66

The oncodevelopmentally regulated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene offers a very good model system to better understand the molecular mechanisms which dictate the specificity of gene expression in liver and control its tight modulation in the course of development and carcinogenesis. Transcription factors of the CCAAT/enhance-binding protein (C/EBP), hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1), and nuclear factor-1 (NF-1) families can bind in vitro to the promoter of the rat AFP gene, which makes the expression of the AFP gene specific to the liver. We have evaluated the influence of some of these factors on the activity of the AFP promoter by transfection of HepG2 hepatoma cells with the appropriate expression vector plus a CAT plasmid under the control of the AFP promoter. A similar plasmid bearing the rat albumin promoter was used as a control. C/EBP alpha, and C/EBP beta acted as transactivators on the AFP promoter, while LIP, a truncated form of C/EBP beta, was a potent negative regulator of the promoter. Interestingly, HNF-1 beta was found to be more potent than HNF-1 alpha in activating the AFP promoter in the HepG2 cells. This effect was highly promoter and cell specific since it did not occur with the rat albumin promoter or in Chinese hamster ovary cells. HNF-1 beta, which is produced earlier than HNF-1 alpha during liver development, would thus have the greater influence on the AFP promoter in early development. Our results pointed to a key role that NF1 might play in the functioning of the AFP promoter. Indeed, overexpression of NF1 induced a specific decrease in the activity of the AFP promoter. Competition between NF1 and HNF-1 for binding to their overlapping binding sites on the AFP promoter would be critical for modulating its activity.
 ...
PMID:[Several transcription factors participate in the functioning of the alpha-fetoprotein gene promoter]. 754 16

Patients with chronic active hepatitis C and cirrhosis often develop hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon (IFN) seems to be effective in some patients but whether it prevents carcinogenesis is unknown. In a prospective randomised controlled trial, we evaluated the effects of IFN-alpha in cirrhotic patients with HCV infection because of their high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. 90 patients with compensated chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis were randomly allocated to receive IFN-alpha (6 MU three times weekly for 12-24 weeks) (45 patients) or symptomatic treatment (45 controls), and were followed up for 2-7 years. In nine controls, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased to less than 80 IU/L but did not stay in the normal range. In 19 patients given IFN-alpha, ALT decreased to less than 80 IU/L (in seven patients, it became and stayed normal; p = 0.011, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). However, the mean change in ALT was not significantly different between the two groups. The mean change in peak alpha-fetoprotein values was smaller in patients given IFN-alpha than in controls (p = 0.021). The mean change in the serum albumin level was higher in the IFN-alpha group (p < 0.001). The histological activity index in the 12 IFN-alpha patients undergoing a second biopsy after therapy was improved (p = 0.031). Hepatitis C viral RNA disappeared in seven (16%) of the 45 IFN-alpha patients (95% CI, 7-29%) and in none of the 45 controls (0-8%; p = 0.018). Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in two (4%, 1-15%) IFN-alpha patients and 17 (38%, 24-54%) controls (p = 0.002, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The risk ratio of IFN-alpha treatment versus symptomatic treatment was 0.067 (0.009-0.530; p = 0.010 Cox's proportional hazards). IFN-alpha improved liver function in chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis, and its use was associated with a decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma.
 ...
PMID:Randomised trial of effects of interferon-alpha on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis. 854 66

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Epidemiologic studies shows a striking correlation between areas where this tumor is prevalent and where hepatitis virus B and C are endemic, contaminations of food with mycotoxin aflatoxin B1, excessive alcohol intake, prolonged cigarette smoking, sexual hormones. Combination of chemical, physical, and genetic insults to individual hepatocytes involve changes in the genome transformed or neoplastic cell, depending to both the activation of oncogenes (e.g., ras) and the inactivation of tumor supressor genes (e.g., p53). Advances in radiologic techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, angiography and dosages of tumor markers like alpha-fetoprotein offers still the best for diagnosis and screening for hepatocellular carcinoma. Then the diagnosis has become possible during the early stages, characterized to be a very well-differentiated tumour that has returned its preexisting liver structure, with a certain proportion have a multicentric origin. Hepatocellular carcinoma carries an extremely poor prognosis, with a median survival between 2-4 weeks, for those without treatment. Surgical resection are the only curative modality for this disease. In these patients two main patterns of intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy are defined, and depends on the growth of residual satellite tumours or synchronous and metachronous multicentric carcinogenesis. This evolution is estimated to be nearly 50%, with 5-year survival rate of nearly 30%. The presence of cirrhosis, satellite nodules, venous invasion, the absence of capsule formation and positive surgical margin (< or = 5 mm) were associated with higher intrahepatic recurrence rates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:[Small hepatocellular carcinoma. New concepts on intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy in orthotopic liver transplantation]. 757 79

Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in coke oven workers were estimated in order to detect early biological effects of carcinogenesis. CEA, AFP and HCG concentrations were measured in 30 coke oven workers (group I) occupationally exposed to very high concentrations of BaP and tar substances. One of the control groups (group II) consisted of 64 inhabitants of a highly industrialized city whereas the second one comprised 35 persons living in a relatively unpolluted region (group III). Mean serum levels of CEA and AFP in group I were significantly higher than in the control groups. Furthermore, mean CEA level was significantly higher in group II than in group III. HCG concentrations only in a few cases exceeded the threshold of detectability. The effect of tobacco smoking was revealed only in the control groups. No correlation was found between the exposure time and the examined tumour marker levels. It is supposed that the obtained results were the consequence of enhanced expression of genes responsible for the markers synthesis, initiation of early stage of oncogenesis and were due to long-term exposure to carcinogenic PAHs.
 ...
PMID:[Concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein and beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in serum of workers employed directly in the production of coke]. 768 10


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>