Beta 1-6 branching of Asn-linked oligosaccharides is directly associated with metastasis

Neoplastic transformation has been associated with a variety of structural changes in cell surface carbohydrates, most notably increased sialylation and beta 1-6-linked branching of complex-type asparagine (Asn)-linked oligosaccharides (that is, -GlcNAc beta 1-6Man alpha 1-6Man beta 1-). However, little is known about the relevant glycoproteins or how these transformation-related changes in oligosaccharide biosynthesis may affect the malignant phenotype. Here it is reported that a cell surface glycoprotein, gp 130, is a major target of increased beta 1-6-linked branching and that the expression of these oligosaccharide structures is directly related to the metastatic potential of the cells. Glycosylation mutants of a metastatic tumor cell line were selected that are deficient in both beta 1-6 GlcNAc transferase V activity and metastatic potential in situ. Moreover, induction of increased beta 1-6 branching in clones of a nonmetastatic murine mammary carcinoma correlated strongly with acquisition of metastatic potential. The results indicate that increased beta 1-6-linked branching of complex-type oligosaccharides on gp 130 may be an important feature of tumor progression related to increased metastatic potential.     

Facile detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations in tumors and bodily fluids

Examination of human bladder, head and neck, and lung primary tumors revealed a high frequency of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. The majority of these somatic mutations were homoplasmic in nature, indicating that the mutant mtDNA became dominant in tumor cells. The mutated mtDNA was readily detectable in paired bodily fluids from each type of cancer and was 19 to 220 times as abundant as mutated nuclear p53 DNA. By virtue of their clonal nature and high copy number, mitochondrial mutations may provide a powerful molecular marker for noninvasive detection of cancer.     

Mouse models of tumor development in neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a prevalent familial cancer syndrome resulting from germ line mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Hallmark features of the disease are the development of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (neurofibromas), which can progress to malignancy. Unlike humans, mice that are heterozygous for a mutation in Nf1 do not develop neurofibromas. However, as described here, chimeric mice composed in part of Nf1-/- cells do, which demonstrates that loss of the wild-type Nf1 allele is rate-limiting in tumor formation. In addition, mice that carry linked germ line mutations in Nf1 and p53 develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), which supports a cooperative and causal role for p53 mutations in MPNST development. These two mouse models provide the means to address fundamental aspects of disease development and to test therapeutic strategies.     

A mouse model of mitochondrial disease reveals germline selection against severe mtDNA mutations

The majority of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that cause human disease are mild to moderately deleterious, yet many random mtDNA mutations would be expected to be severe. To determine the fate of the more severe mtDNA mutations, we introduced mtDNAs containing two mutations that affect oxidative phosphorylation into the female mouse germ line. The severe ND6 mutation was selectively eliminated during oogenesis within four generations, whereas the milder COI mutation was retained throughout multiple generations even though the offspring consistently developed mitochondrial myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Thus, severe mtDNA mutations appear to be selectively eliminated from the female germ line, thereby minimizing their impact on population fitness.     

Specific mutations induced by triplex-forming oligonucleotides in mice

Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) recognize and bind to specific duplex DNA sequences and have been used extensively to modify gene function in cells. Although germ line mutations can be incorporated by means of embryonic stem cell technology, little progress has been made toward introducing mutations in somatic cells of living organisms. Here we demonstrate that TFOs can induce mutations at specific genomic sites in somatic cells of adult mice. Mutation detection was facilitated by the use of transgenic mice bearing chromosomal copies of the supF and cII reporter genes. Mice treated with a supF-targeted TFO displayed about fivefold greater mutation frequencies in the supF gene compared with mice treated with a scrambled sequence control oligomer. No mutagenesis was detected in the control gene (cII) with either oligonucleotide. These results demonstrate that site-specific, TFO-directed genome modification can be accomplished in intact animals.     

应用抑制消减杂交技术克隆鼻咽癌转移调控基因

目的：分离并鉴定高低转移表型不同的人鼻咽癌细胞株差异表达cDNA序列,了解鼻咽癌转移抑制基因或具有抑制活性的核苷酸序列。方法：以具有高低转移潜能不同的人鼻咽癌细胞株为研究对象,应用抑制消减杂交技术（suppression subtractive hybridization,SSH）和T／A克隆法构建差异表达cDNA消减文库,对差异表达的cDNA进行测序和生物信息学分析。结果：成功构建人鼻咽癌细胞克隆株差异表达cDNA消减文库,从随机测序10个克隆中获得6个在低转移鼻咽癌细胞株中高表达cDNA序列,它们都与已知的人类基因片段具有高度同源性。结论：应用抑制消减杂交技术,从一对具有高低转移表型差异的鼻咽癌细胞株中获得6条可能与肿瘤转移抑制相关的cDNA序列,它们可能在维持肿瘤细胞的稳定和抑制肿瘤转移中起重要作用。     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in mammalian aging

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulate in tissues of mammalian species and have been hypothesized to contribute to aging. We show that mice expressing a proofreading-deficient version of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase g (POLG) accumulate mtDNA mutations and display features of accelerated aging. Accumulation of mtDNA mutations was not associated with increased markers of oxidative stress or a defect in cellular proliferation, but was correlated with the induction of apoptotic markers, particularly in tissues characterized by rapid cellular turnover. The levels of apoptotic markers were also found to increase during aging in normal mice. Thus, accumulation of mtDNA mutations that promote apoptosis may be a central mechanism driving mammalian aging.     

Inhibition of pyruvate kinase M2 by reactive oxygen species contributes to cellular antioxidant responses

Control of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations is critical for cancer cell survival. We show that, in human lung cancer cells, acute increases in intracellular concentrations of ROS caused inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) through oxidation of Cys(358). This inhibition of PKM2 is required to divert glucose flux into the pentose phosphate pathway and thereby generate sufficient reducing potential for detoxification of ROS. Lung cancer cells in which endogenous PKM2 was replaced with the Cys(358) to Ser(358) oxidation-resistant mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and impaired tumor formation in a xenograft model. Besides promoting metabolic changes required for proliferation, the regulatory properties of PKM2 may confer an additional advantage to cancer cells by allowing them to withstand oxidative stress.     

Transformation by oncogenes encoding protein kinases induces the metastatic phenotype

Oncogenes encoding serine/threonine or tyrosine kinases were introduced into the established rodent fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3 and tested for tumorigenic and metastatic behavior in T cell-deficient nude mice. Transforming oncogenes of the ras family were capable of converting fibroblast cell lines to fully metastatic tumors. Cell lines transformed by the kinase oncogenes mos, raf, src, fes, and fms formed experimental metastases and (in some cases) these genes were more efficient at metastatic conversion than a mutant ras gene. In contrast, cells transformed by either of two nuclear oncogenes, myc or p53, were tumorigenic when injected subcutaneously but were virtually nonmetastatic after intravenous injection. These data demonstrate that, in addition to ras, a structurally divergent group of kinase oncogenes can induce the metastatic phenotype.     

mtDNA A3243G 点突变小鼠模型的建立及其致病机制探讨

    利用显微注射线粒体技术建立转人线粒体小鼠模型,研究外源突变mtDNA在不同组织的分布及遗传规律,探讨mtDNA A3243G点突变对线粒体功能的影响.从健康成人及2型糖尿病患者(携带mtDNA 3243A-G突变)血液标本中分离有活性的线粒体,将其显微注射至小鼠受精卵,胚胎移植,产出仔鼠后利用分子生物学方法检测人mtDNA及mtDNA A3243G点突变.获得嵌合体小鼠后,对其空腹血糖和全血乳酸进行测定,并使用荧光法和比色法分析A3243G点突变小鼠重要脏器组织细胞活性氧生成量(ROS)、线粒体复合酶Ⅰ和Ⅳ活力及线粒体ATP合成活力的变化.研究结果显示:在1只雌性(转健康人线粒体)和2只雄性小鼠(转患者线粒体)中检测到人mtDNA,其中2只雄性小鼠携带mtDNA 3243A-G突变;将嵌和体雌鼠与野生型C57BL/6J 雄鼠交配后,在1只后代仔鼠中检测到人mtDNA;人mtDNA仅在嵌合小鼠的部分组织中表达.在含有mtDNA A3243G突变的组织中发现,线粒体复合酶Ⅰ、Ⅳ活力降低,ATP合成速率下降,ROS水平升高,说明A3243G点突变能损伤线粒体正常功能从而导致疾病的发生.综上所述,本研究利用显微注射法成功建立了嵌和小鼠,引入了致病性的点突变,为线粒体疾病的研究提供了良好的思路.     

Establishment of Master Cell Stock and Working Cell Bank of MDCK Lines and Selection and Evaluation of the Lines as Candidate Viral Substrates for Approval Production of Combinational Canine Attenuated-live Virus Vaccines

Under the prerequisite that the incidence of cancer or tumor in negative-control nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with primary feline or canine kidney cell cultures purified in vitro at passage 3 was 0(0/22) and 0 (0/10), respectively. The incidence of the progressively-growing malignant tumor(MT) in positive-control nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with Hela cell cultures of KB, X, or NM20/X strain was 10/10, 25/25 and 5/51, respectively. The results showed that the incidence of tumor in nude mice with di-and hyperploid YB strain of MDCK cell during 17 - 23 passages, with hyper- and hypoploid KA strain of MDCK cell during 6 - 8 passages, with hypoploid WB strain of MDCK cell on passage 6, with hyper-and hypopioid H strain of MDCK cell during 8 - 24 passages was 2/24, 6/10, 5/10 and 10/15, respectively. The chromosomal analysis results showed that the ratio of difference in the rate of modal chromosome number between high(mcs + n) and lowest (mcs)passages was not more than 5- 15% and the structure aberrations was generally 0-3%. These results proved that the genetic characteristics of chromosomal number of cell lines determines their tumorigenicity, but it is species-specific. MDCK line has tumorigenicity no matter what its chromosome karyotype is, at least it has very low tumorigenicity even when its modal chromosome number is hypoploid. It is thus evident that MDCK cell of WB or H strain can be approved as substrate for the preparation of attenuated viral vaccines, but MDCK cell of YB or KA strain can not be approved as substrate for the preparation of attenuated viral vaccines.     

Primary rat embryo cells transformed by one or two oncogenes show different metastatic potentials

Second-passage rat embryo cells were transfected with a neomycin resistance gene and the activated form of the c-Ha-ras I gene, or with these two genes plus the adenovirus type 2 E1a gene. Foci of morphologically transformed cells were observed in both cases; however, the frequency of transformation was at least ten times higher with two oncogenes than with the ras gene alone. All the transformed cell lines gave rise to rapidly growing tumors when injected subcutaneously into nude mice. All but one of the cell lines transformed by the ras oncogene alone formed metastatic nodules in the lungs of animals that had been injected subcutaneously with transformed cells. When transformed cells were injected intravenously, all the ras single-gene transformants gave rise to many metastatic lung nodules. In contrast, cell lines transformed with ras and E1a did not generate metastases after subcutaneous injection and gave rise to very few metastatic lung nodules after intravenous injection. These data demonstrate that a fully malignant cell with metastatic potential, as measured in an immunodeficient animal, can be obtained from early passage embryo cells by the transfection of the ras oncogene alone.     

Frequent mutation of BAP1 in metastasizing uveal melanomas

Metastasis is a defining feature of malignant tumors and is the most common cause of cancer-related death, yet the genetics of metastasis are poorly understood. We used exome capture coupled with massively parallel sequencing to search for metastasis-related mutations in highly metastatic uveal melanomas of the eye. Inactivating somatic mutations were identified in the gene encoding BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) on chromosome 3p21.1 in 26 of 31 (84%) metastasizing tumors, including 15 mutations causing premature protein termination and 5 affecting its ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase domain. One tumor harbored a frameshift mutation that was germline in origin, thus representing a susceptibility allele. These findings implicate loss of BAP1 in uveal melanoma metastasis and suggest that the BAP1 pathway may be a valuable therapeutic target.     

A genetic screen in Drosophila for metastatic behavior

A genetic screen was designed in Drosophila to interrogate its genome for mutations sufficient to cause noninvasive tumors of the eye disc to invade neighboring or distant tissues. We found that cooperation between oncogenic RasV12 expression and inactivation of any one of a number of genes affecting cell polarity leads to metastatic behavior, including basement membrane degradation, loss of E-cadherin expression, migration, invasion, and secondary tumor formation. Inactivation of these cell polarity genes cannot drive metastatic behavior alone or in combination with other tumor-initiating alterations. These findings suggest that the oncogenic background of tissues makes a distinct contribution toward metastatic development.     

Effects of purifying and adaptive selection on regional variation in human mtDNA

A phylogenetic analysis of 1125 global human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences permitted positioning of all nucleotide substitutions according to their order of occurrence. The relative frequency and amino acid conservation of internal branch replacement mutations was found to increase from tropical Africa to temperate Europe and arctic northeastern Siberia. Particularly highly conserved amino acid substitutions were found at the roots of multiple mtDNA lineages from higher latitudes. These same lineages correlate with increased propensity for energy deficiency diseases as well as longevity. Thus, specific mtDNA replacement mutations permitted our ancestors to adapt to more northern climates, and these same variants are influencing our health today.     

Introduction of a normal human chromosome 11 into a Wilms' tumor cell line controls its tumorigenic expression

The development of Wilms' tumor, a pediatric nephroblastoma, has been associated with a deletion in the p13 region of chromosome 11. The structure and function or functions of this deleted genetic material are unknown. The role of this deletion in the process of malignant transformation was investigated by introducing a normal human chromosome 11 into a Wilms' tumor cell line by means of the microcell transfer technique. These variant cells, derived by microcell hybridization, expressed similar transformed traits in culture as the parental cell line. Furthermore, expression of several proto-oncogenes by the parental cells was unaffected by the introduction of this chromosome. However, the ability of these cells to form tumors in nude mice was completely suppressed. Transfer of other chromosomes, namely X and 13, had no effect on the tumorigenicity of the Wilms' tumor cells. These studies provide support for the existence of genetic information on chromosome 11 which can control the malignant expression of Wilms' tumor cells.     

Murine lymphoma-induced immunosuppression: requirement for direct tumour cell contact

The FBL-3 lymphoma cell line caused impaired antibody formation in vivo when injected into mice intraperitoneally, and in vitro when added to normal syngeneic spleen cells immunized in vitro with sheep erythrocytes. Immunosuppression occurred only when intact viable tumor cells were cocultivated with the normal spleen cells. As few as 10(5) FBL-3 cells, when added to 5 X 10(6) normal cells, impaired antibody formation. However, cell-free extracts of filtrates from even much larger numbers of tumor cells did not affect antibody formation, either in vitro or in vivo. Heating the tumor cells at 56 degrees C or irradiation with as little as 1000 rads completely abolished immunosuppressive activity, both in vitro and in vivo. Separation of viable tumor cells from target antibody-forming cells by cell-impermeable membranes prevented immunosuppression, showing that direct cell-to-cell contact is required for immunosuppression.     

Role of adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in mtDNA maintenance

Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a rare human disease that shows a Mendelian inheritance pattern, but is characterized by large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. We have identified two heterozygous missense mutations in the nuclear gene encoding the heart/skeletal muscle isoform of the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT1) in five families and one sporadic patient. The familial mutation substitutes a proline for a highly conserved alanine at position 114 in the ANT1 protein. The analogous mutation in yeast caused a respiratory defect. These results indicate that ANT has a role in mtDNA maintenance and that a mitochondrial disease can be caused by a dominant mechanism.     

Heparan sulfate degradation: relation to tumor invasive and metastatic properties of mouse B16 melanoma sublines

After transport in the blood and implantation in the microcirculation, metastatic tumor cells must invade the vascular endothelium and underlying basal lamina. Mouse B16 melanoma sublines were used to determine the relation between metastatic properties and the ability of the sublines to degrade enzymatically the sulfated glycosaminoglycans present in the extracellular matrix of cultured vascular endothelial cells. Highly invasive and metastatic B16 sublines degraded matrix glycosaminoglycans faster than did sublines of lower metastatic potential. The main products of this matrix degradation were heparan sulfate fragments. Intact B16 cells (or their cell-free homogenates) with a high potential for lung colonization degraded purified heparan sulfate from bovine lung at higher rates than did B16 cells with a poor potential for lung colonization. Analysis of the degradation fragments indicated that B16 cells have a heparan sulfate endoglycosidase. Thus the abilities of B16 melanoma cells to extravasate and successfully colonize the lung may be related to their capacities to degrade heparan sulfate in the walls of pulmonary blood vessels.     

Experimental Researches on Carcinogenesis or Tumorigenicity of MDCK Canine Kidney Cell(CKC) Lines and Analysis of Their Chromosome Karyotypes

The chromosomal number variations & structural aberrations of the MDCK cell line, primary feline or canine kidney cell(FKC or CKC) and Hela cell line were investigated and their karyotypes of conventional chromosome bands were analyzed. The carcinogenesis or tumorigenicity testing of these cell lines in about 232 nude mice and for colony formation in soft agarose and for haemagglutination under different concentration of plant lectins of these cells were carried out. Under the prerequisite that the incidence of cancer or tumor in negative-control nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with primary feline or canine kidney cell cultures purified in vitro at passage 3 was 0 (0/22) and 0 (0/10), respectively. The incidence of the progressively-growing malignant tumor(MT) in positive-control nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with Hela cell cultures of KB, X, or NM20/X strain was 10/10, 25/25 and 5/51, respectively. The results showed that the incidence of tumor in nude mice with tetrapioid YA strain of MDCK cell during 20 - 45 passages, with hypodiploid JB strain of MDCK cell on passage 25, with di-and hypoploid JC strain of MDCK cell during 2 - 15passages or with hypoploid M strain of MDCK cell during 9 - 27 passages was 28/58, 1/5, 4/18 and 0/31,respectively. The chromosomal analysis results showed that the ratio of difference in the rate of modal chromosome number between high (mcs + n) and lowest (mcs)passages was not more than 5 % - 15 % and the structure aberrations was generally 0 - 3%. These results proved that the genetic characteristics of chromosomal number of cell lines determines their tumorigenicity, but it is species-specific. MDCK line has tumorigenicity no matter what its chromosome karyotype is, at least it has very low tumorigenicity even when its modal chromosome number is hypoploid. The repeatedly frozen, thawed and split controls of tumorigenicity-positive cell lines(X strain of Hela, M strain of BHK-21, JA strain of Vero, YA strain of MDCK) have much lower tumorigenicity or are even non-carcinogenesis, and the repeatedly frozen, thawed and split controls of very low tumorigenicity cell lines (M or JC strain of MDCK) are certainly non-carcinogenic and never have increased tumorigenicity.It is thus evident that MDCK cell of M, JB or JC strain can be approved as substrate for the preparation of attenuated viral vaccines, but MDCK cell of YA strain can not be approved as substrate for the preparation of comattenuated viral vaccines. In summary, all strains of MDCK cell line have tunorigenicity, at least have low tumorigencity, never have non-cancinogenic MDCK, but very low tumorigenicity MDCK cell strains can certainly be used for the approval production of canine viral vaccines if the DNA content in viral cell cultures was remarkably decreased through conventional means in manufacturing process. Therefore, the master cell stock and working cell bank of MDCK line used for vaccine manufacture were established in China, which are free of infectious agents, and described with respect to cytogenetic characteristics and tumorigenicity. Tests showed that there were correlations among cell line chromosome number variations, anchorage independence in soft agarose, haemagglutination under plant lectins, and tumor-forming ability in nude mice, thus all the in vitro tests are economic, simple and reliable means for monitoring the tumor-forming ability of MDCK line in nude mice.