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[Functional-morphological changes in the lungs in bronchial asthma].

Histological and immunohistochemical studies of 57 bioptic specimens of the mucosa of the main bronchi taken during an attack of bronchial asthma, and those of the lungs of 27 patients who had died on the attack, showed that in the course of the attack of bronchial asthma serous-desquamous allergic inflammation, which proceeded according to the type of hypersensitivity, of the immediate type, developed along the full length of the broncho-vascular barrier. It occurred under the effect of biologically active substances liberated in the reaction of the antigen with IgE. Immunochemically, there was detected luminescence of IgE on the basal membranes of the mucous glands, on the basal membranes of the mucosa, as well as in lymphoid, plasmic, and mast cells infiltrating the mucosa. In allergic inflammation in the bronchi there were noted drastic delatation and increased permeability of vessels of the microcirculatory bed, odema, migration of eosinophils, the mast-cell reaction with degranulation of mast cells, spasm of musculature, elevated permeability of the basal membrane, impregnation of the latter with plasmic protein with fibrin, hypersecretion and desquamation of the epithelium, hypersecretion of mucous glands. As a result of the inflammatory changes in the bronchial system disorders of the drainage function of the bronchi with obstruction of their lumens which were most pronounced in small bronchi and bronchioles, developed.

Adult↗

[Stomach ache and fever after consumption of watercress in Turkey: fascioliasis].

A 52-year-old woman presented several months after returning from a visit to Turkey with stomach-ache and fever. Laboratory results showed leucocytosis with marked eosinophilia. Furthermore, serum liver enzyme activities were slightly elevated. A CT scan of the abdomen showed several spots which, on a later scan, had migrated. Serologic tests confirmed the clinical diagnosis of fascioliasis. The patient was successfully treated with triclabendazole. Infection presumably occurred after eating watercress which the patient had bought on a market in Turkey.

Abdominal Pain↗

A comparative study on serum lipids and atherosclerotic plaque formation in diet-induced and familial hypercholesterolemia in rabbits, and the effect of partial ileal bypass.

Aim of the present study was to compare an alimentary and a hereditary rabbit model for hypercholesterolemia. Serum lipids, serum lipoproteins and distribution and prevention of atherosclerotic plaque formation were studied in (1%) cholesterol-fed NZW rabbits and both heterozygous and homozygous WHHL rabbits. Cholesterol-fed NZW rabbits showed a hypercholesterolemia without hypertriglyceridemia, caused by accumulation of a spectrum of cholesterol ester-rich beta-migrating lipoproteins with a relatively low density. The WHHL rabbits displayed both a hypercholesterolemia with an elevation of LDL, and a hypertriglyceridemia. The hypertriglyceridemia in the WHHL homozygotes was due to accumulation of VLDL remnants and in the heterozygotes to a slight rise in normal pre-beta VLDL. Despite the pronounced quantitative and qualitative differences in lipoproteins, the location and extent of atherosclerotic plaques which had developed after 13 weeks cholesterol-rich diet in NZW rabbits and in 10 months old homozygous WHHL rabbits, was quite similar. Partial ileal bypass surgery lowered serum cholesterol in all three groups and also prevented atherogenesis.

Animals↗

The CC chemokine RANTES in breast carcinoma progression: regulation of expression and potential mechanisms of promalignant activity.

Breast cancer progression may be affected by various cellular components expressed by the tumor cells and/or by microenvironmental factors. Many studies report the correlation between breast cancer progression and monocyte infiltration into the tumor site. We have identified recently the CC chemokine regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), a major monocyte chemoattractant expressed by breast tumor cells, as a potential contributor to breast cancer progression. In the present study, analysis of the regulation of RANTES expression demonstrates that the expression of RANTES in breast tumor cells is elevated significantly and in a synergistic manner by IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Identification of the mechanisms by which RANTES may contribute to breast cancer progression included the analysis of the potential ability of RANTES to act in paracrine and indirect mechanisms, as well as directly on the tumor cells, to promote disease progression. Our results suggest that breast tumor cell-derived RANTES may promote breast cancer progression by its partial contribution to monocyte migration into breast tumor sites. Moreover, RANTES promotes the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 by THP-1 monocytic cells and elevates vascularity in chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a major monocyte-derived cytokine, was found to promote the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 by MCF-7 and T47D breast adenocarcinoma cells, respectively, and to induce the de novo expression of an additional proteolytic enzyme by T47D cells, presumably MMP9. The possibility that RANTES may act directly on breast tumor cells was supported by detection of the expression of the CCR5 RANTES receptor in biopsy sections of breast cancer patients and by the ability of RANTES to promote the expression of MMP9 by MCF-7 cells. In all, our study suggests that the expression of RANTES by breast tumor cells results not only in monocyte migration to the tumor site but also in protumorigenic activities of RANTES and of proinflammatory cytokines that may facilitate metastasis formation and contribute to disease progression.

Animals↗

Aspirin inhibits highly invasive prostate cancer cells.

Cell adhesion, proteolytic degradation and cell migration are interrelated processes responsible for the invasion and metastasis of cancer. One of the crucial molecules involved in cancer metastasis is urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). An elevated concentration of uPA is a strong indicator of poor prognosis. In addition to the proteolytic activity of uPA, which degrades the extracellular matrix, uPA also binds to its receptor (uPAR) and controls cell adhesion and migration through the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton. We have recently demonstrated that constitutively active nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is responsible for the increased secretion of uPA and that inhibition of NF-kappaB suppresses secretion of uPA and cell migration of highly invasive cancer cells. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been recently shown to have a chemopreventive effect in colon and pancreatic cancers. Here we show that aspirin inhibits NF-kappaB, resulting in the suppression of uPA secretion from the highly invasive human prostate cancer cells PC-3. Furthermore, aspirin inhibited migration of PC-3 cells, suggesting an effect on the uPA-uPAR signaling complex. Finally, aspirin suppressed adhesion of PC-3 cells to fibronectin (FN), which binds to an alpha3beta1 integrin receptor, and to vitronectin (VN), which binds to alphavbeta3 integrin receptor. Altogether, our data suggests that aspirin inhibits the formation of uPA-uPAR-FN-alpha3beta1 and uPA-uPAR-VN-alphavbeta3 complexes, resulting in the suppression of cell adhesion and cell motility of the highly invasive prostate cancer cells PC-3. These results indicate that aspirin may contribute directly to reducing invasion and metastasis of prostate cancers by inhibiting cell migration and invasion.

Actins↗

Csk defines the ability of integrin-mediated cell adhesion and migration in human colon cancer cells: implication for a potential role in cancer metastasis.

Progression of human colon cancer is often associated with elevated expression and activity of the Src family tyrosine kinase (SFK). SFK is ordinarily in equilibrium between inactive and primed states by a balance of negative regulatory kinase Csk and its counteracting tyrosine phosphatase(s), both of which act on the regulatory C-terminal tyrosine of SFK. To evaluate the contribution of the regulatory system of SFK in cancer progression, we here modulated the equilibrium status of SFK by introducing wild-type or dominant-negative Csk in human epithelial colon cancer cells, HCT15 and HT29. Overexpression of wild-type Csk induced decreased SFK activation, increased cell-cell contacts mediated by E-cadherin, decreased the number of focal contacts and decreased cell adhesion/migration and in vitro invasiveness. Conversely, expression of a dominant-negative Csk resulted in elevated SFK activation, enhanced phosphorylation of FAK and paxilllin, enhanced cell scattering, an increased number of focal contacts, dramatic rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and increased cell adhesion/migration and in vitro invasiveness. In these scattered cells, however, localization, expression and phosphorylation of either E-cadherin or beta-catenin were not significantly affected, suggesting that the E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact is indirectly regulated by SFK. Furthermore, all these events occurred absolutely dependent on integrin-mediated cell adhesion. These findings demonstrate that Csk defines the ability of integrin-SFK-mediated cell adhesion signaling that influences the metastatic potential of cancer cells.

Actins↗

Amylin inhibits gastric cancer progression by targeting CCN1 and affecting the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

METHODS: This study used a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate the role of amylin in the progression of GC. The expression of amylin in GC and its clinical correlation were evaluated using 38 pairs of GC and healthy human clinical samples. In vitro studies, human GC cell lines were treated with amylin to evaluate the effects of amylin on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of GC cells. In in vivo studies, xenograft mouse models were established by subcutaneous injection of GC cells into nude mice, followed by treatment with amylin to assess tumor growth. Finally, Next-Generation Sequencing Technology (RNA-seq) was used to explore the potential mechanism of amylin on GC. RESULTS: We found that amylin expression was reduced in GC compared to adjacent normal gastric tissues and that elevated amylin expression was negatively correlated with adverse pathological factors (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Additionally, we demonstrated that amylin impeded the growth, invasion, migration, and colony formation of GC cells and suppressed the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation of these cells (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Tumour xenograft model experiments confirmed the tumour-suppressive effect of amylin in subcutaneous tumours in nude mice (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that amylin significantly down-regulated CCN1 gene expression in GC cells (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Further intervention targeting CCN1 verified its significance as a target of amylin's anti-carcinogenic function in GC. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that amylin exerted its oncogenic effects by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that amylin plays a crucial role in suppressing gastric cancer progression by targeting CCN1 and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. These results suggest that amylin could serve as a potential therapeutic agent for GC treatment.

Humans↗

32/67-kD laminin receptor expression in human colonic neoplasia: elevated transcript levels correlate with the degree of epithelial dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The 32/67-kD laminin receptor is thought to be involved in tumor cell migration and metastasis formation, and enhanced expression was observed in human colorectal carcinoma. Our objective was to investigate further the expression of the 32/67-kD laminin receptor RNA in human colonic carcinogenesis. METHODS: We obtained sections of human colonic tissues in various stages of malignant transformation and analyzed them by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Normal colonic mucosa displayed a gradient between crypt base and surface epithelium with lowest receptor RNA levels in superficial epithelial cells. Increased laminin receptor RNA expression was observed in epithelial cells of adenomas with positive correlation between transcript levels and the degree of epithelial dysplasia. At variance with published results, we did not observe significant differences in 32/67-kD laminin receptor transcripts between adenomas with high-grade dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma. However, adenocarcinoma metastases displayed significantly higher laminin receptor RNA levels than high-grade adenomas and primary carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a two-step mechanism which controls first, upregulation of laminin receptor RNA before the acquisition of an invasive phenotype in dysplastic epithelial cells, and second, a further upregulation in metastatic cells during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of the colon.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Haplotype variation in a mitochondrial tandem repeat of Norway spruce (Picea abies) populations suggests a serious founder effect during postglacial re-colonization of the western Alps.

Populations from 13 elevational transects of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] across the Alpine range were sampled to elucidate the geographical pattern of genetic variation in relation to postglacial re-colonization and to study elevational effects on haplotypic diversity. We assessed fragment length variation in a tandem repeat region of the mitochondrial (mt) nad1 intron 2. This maternally inherited genetic marker is suited to infer migration as it is dispersed by seed only. A total of 10 haplotypes was found, most of which were due to repeat copy number variation. An analysis of molecular variance (amova) showed that overall population differentiation was high (F(ST)=0.41), and it revealed a significant differentiation between monomorphic western and moderately to highly variable eastern Alpine populations. This phylogeographic pattern may be explained by a founder effect during postglacial re-colonization. An early arriving haplotype, assumed to originate from a western Carpathian refugium, could expand into suitable habitats, reducing the chances for establishment of subsequently arriving haplotypes. On the other hand, the high variation in populations within an Italian transect of the south-eastern Alps may be the consequence of merging migration pathways from and close distance to putative glacial refugia, most likely those assumed in the Carpathian mountains and on the Balkan peninsula or possibly in the central plains of Italy. An effect of elevation on haplotypic diversity was not evident, though a low, but significant, partition of total genetic variation was attributed to among-population variation in one Italian transect. Various factors, such as vertical seed dispersal and forest management, may account for blurring an otherwise established pattern of genetic variation on a small geographical scale.

Analysis of Variance↗

Loss of dendritic cell migration and impaired resistance to Leishmania donovani infection in mice deficient in CCL19 and CCL21.

The encounter between APC and T cells is crucial for initiating immune responses to infectious microorganisms. In the spleen, interaction between dendritic cells (DC) and T cells occurs in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS) into which DC and T cells migrate from the marginal zone (MZ) along chemokine gradients. However, the importance of DC migration from the MZ into the PALS for immune responses and host resistance to microbial infection has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we report that following Leishmania donovani infection of mice, the migration of splenic DC is regulated by the CCR7 ligands CCL19/CCL21. DC in plt/plt mutant mice that lack these chemokines are less activated and produce less IL-12, compared with those in wild-type mice. Similar findings are seen when mice are treated with pertussis toxin, which blocks chemokine signaling in vivo. plt/plt mice had increased susceptibility to L. donovani infection compared with wild-type mice, as determined by spleen and liver parasite burden. Analysis of splenic cytokine profiles at day 14 postinfection demonstrated that IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA accumulation was comparable in wild-type and plt/plt mice. In contrast, accumulation of mRNA for IL-10 was elevated in plt/plt mice. In addition, plt/plt mice mounted a delayed hepatic granulomatous response and fewer effector T cells migrated into the liver. Taken together, we conclude that DC migration from the MZ to the PALS is necessary for full activation of DC and the optimal induction of protective immunity against L. donovani.

Animals↗

Relationship between metastasis-associated phenotypes and N-glycan structure of surface glycoproteins in human hepatocarcinoma cells.

PURPOSE: To study the relation of N-glycan structure on cell surface glycoproteins to the metastatic phenotypes. METHODS: Two human hepatocarcinoma 7721 cell lines transfected with sense or antisense cDNA of GnT-V, named GnT-V/7721 and GnT-V-AS/7721, respectively, were adopted, because GnT-V can change the antennary number and the content of the beta 1,6 GlcNAc branch in N-glycans. The effects of over- and under-expression of GnT-V on the metastasis-associated phenotype of the transfected cells were investigated and compared with the cells mock-transfected with the plasmid vector. RESULTS: In GnT-V/7721 cells, GnT-V activity was increased by 92% compared with the mock cells. HRP-labeled lectin staining of transfected cells showed elevated intensity with HRP-L-PHA and reduced intensity with HRP-ConA, suggesting the increased antennary number and content of the beta 1,6 GlcNAc branch in N-glycans. Analysis of the N-glycan structure of [3H]-labeled glycopeptides prepared from cell-surface [3H] glycoproteins using DSA-affinity chromatography also revealed the above change of the N-glycan structure in a more quantitative manner. GnT-V/7721 cells showed a suppressed cell attachment to fibronectin (Fn) or laminin (Ln), and increased cell migration and invasion through matrigel. In contrast, GnT-V-AS/7721 cells showed reduction of both GnT-V activity and content of the beta 1,6 branch in N-linked glycans, elevation of cell attachment to Fn or Ln, and decline of cell migration and invasion through matrigel. These changes were just the opposite to those in GnT-V/7721 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of N-glycan structure in surface glycoproteins resulting from the activity change of GnT-V contributes to the alterations in metastasis-associated phenotypes. The product of GnT-V, the beta 1,6 GlcNAc branch in N-linked glycans, is a structural factor of adhesion inhibition and invasion promotion. GnT-V is, therefore, closely related to cancer metastasis and its over-expression is an important molecular mechanism of metastasis.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Evaluation of the classical methods for the diagnosis of type III hyperlipoproteinemia.

Familial type III hyperlipoproteinemia is characterized by the presence of elevated plasma levels of very low density lopoproteins (VLDL) which contain an increased amount of cholesterol and by the presence of a significant amount of lipoproteins with an intermediate density between that of VLDL and low density lipoproteins (LDL); the intermediate density lopoproteins, designated IDL or Lp III, have a slower electrophoretic migration rate than VLDL, and are found in the ultracentrifugal top fraction as a contaminant. Classically, the diagnosis of type III is based on the demonstration of beta-migrating lipoproteins in the ultracentrifugal top fraction (density less than 1.006), thus "floating beta-lipoprotein". More recently, it has been proposed that an elevated VLDL-cholesterol to triglyceride ratio is diagnostic of the disorder. In the present report, we have compared the two methods for their diagnostic value and have concluded that the chemical index definition is the more reliable method for the diagnosis of type III hyperlipoproteinemia.

Electrophoresis, Paper↗

Thermotolerance protects against endotoxin-mediated microvascular injury.

An early event in endotoxin-induced tissue injury is adhesion and migration of leukocytes through the endothelium. This is a three-stage process, initially low-grade selectin-mediated adhesion, seen as a decrease in rolling velocity, followed by integrin-mediated adhesion and transmigration. Thermotolerance has been shown to reduce tissue injury and mortality induced by endotoxin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thermotolerance on leukocyte-endothelial interactions. Intravital video microscopy was used to examine hemodynamic parameters, leukocyte rolling, adhesion, and migration in rat mesenteric postcapillary venules. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and thermotolerance + LPS groups. Thermotolerance was induced 18 h prior to administration of LPS by elevating core body temperature to 41 + 0.5 degrees C for 15 min. LPS (055:B5 15 mg/kg) was administered via the jugular vein after baseline recording. Leukocyte rolling velocity and the number of adherent and migrated leukocytes were measured by intravital microscopy at baseline 0 min and 10, 30, 60, and 90 min after LPS administration. Heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) expression in tissues was determined by Western immunoblotting. The results indicated that LPS administration significantly decreased leukocyte rolling velocity during endotoxemia and increased leukocyte adhesion (10.3 +/- 1.67, 13.2 +/- 1.40, and 10.0 +/- 1.57/100 microm) and migration (5.7 +/- 1.02 and 8.3 +/- 1.76/field) at 30, 60, and 90 min after LPS injection (P < 0.01 vs baseline and control group). Thermotolerance maintained leukocyte rolling velocity and significantly reduced leukocyte adhesion (5.7 +/- 0.88 and 4.0 +/- 0.68/100 microm) and migration (2.8 +/- 0.32 and 3.0 +/- 0.68/field) at 30 and 60 min after LPS administration (P < 0.01 and 0.05 vs LPS group). Expression of HSP72 was induced in mesentery, gut, and lung by thermotolerance. This study indicates that thermotolerance attenuated LPS-induced microvascular injury by decreasing leukocyte-endothelial adhesion and migration.

Animals↗

CD207+ Langerhans cells constitute a minor population of skin-derived antigen-presenting cells in the draining lymph node following exposure to Schistosoma mansoni.

Infectious cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni gain entry to the mammalian host through the skin where they induce a transient inflammatory influx of mononuclear cells. Some of these cells have antigen-presenting cell function (MHCII+) and have been reported to migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes (sdLN) where they have the potential to prime CD4+ cells of the acquired immune response. Here, in mice exposed to vaccinating radiation-attenuated schistosome larvae, which induce high levels of protective immunity to challenge infection, we describe the parasite-induced migration of Langerhans cells (LCs) from the epidermal site of immunisation to the sdLN using a specific monoclonal antibody that recognises langerin (CD207). CD207+ cells with dendritic morphology were abundant in the epidermis at all times and their migration into the dermis was detected soon after vaccination. All CD207+ LCs were MHCII+ but not all MHCII+ cells in the skin were CD207+. LCs migrated from the dermis in enhanced numbers after vaccination, as detected in dermal exudate populations recovered after in vitro culture of skin biopsies. Elevated numbers of CD207+ LCs were also detected in the sdLN from 24h to 4 days after vaccination. However, compared with other dermal-derived antigen-presenting cells that were CD207-MHCII+ or CD207-CD11c+, the relative numbers of CD207+ cells in the dermal exudate population and in the sdLN were very small. Furthermore, the migration of CD207+ cells after exposure to 'protective' radiation-attenuated, compared with 'non-protective' normal cercariae, was similar in terms of numbers and kinetics. Together, these studies suggest that CD207+ LCs are only a minor component of the antigen-presenting cell population that migrates from the epidermis and they are unlikely to be important in the priming of protective CD4+ cells in the sdLN.

Animals↗

Detection of soluble E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and L-selectin in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to explore whether the levels of soluble adhesion molecules were elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This association was suggested by the known inflammatory response in vasospasm and the role of vascular adhesion molecules in regulating leukocytic adhesion to, and migration across, vascular endothelium. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on CSF samples obtained in 17 patients who had suffered a recent aneurysmal SAH and in 16 control patients by using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and L-selectin. Levels of soluble forms of E-selectin (p=0.0013), ICAM-1 (p=0.0001), and VCAM-1 (p=0.048) were found to be elevated in the CSF of patients after SAH compared with levels in the CSF of norminal controls, patients with unruptured aneurysms, and patients tested months after SAH occurred. In addition, individual patients tested at the time of their initial ictus demonstrated a fall in adhesion molecule levels over time. Levels of E-selectin (p=0.044) were highest in patients who later developed moderate or severe vasospasm. CONCLUSIONS: Adhesion molecules are known to be involved in white cell adherence to the endothelium and subsequent diapedesis and migration in which a role in initiation of tissue damage is postulated. The authors have demonstrated the elevation of three adhesion molecules, with severely elevated levels of E-selectin seen in patients who later develop vasospasm. A correlation with a role of vascular adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm is suggested.

Adult↗

Elevated placental soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 inhibits angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is an inflammatory disorder in which serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its soluble receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1, also known as sFlt-1) are elevated. We hypothesize that VEGF and placenta growth factor (PlGF) are dysregulated in preeclampsia due to high levels of sVEGFR-1, which leads to impaired placental angiogenesis. Analysis of supernatants taken from preeclamptic placental villous explants showed a four-fold increase in sVEGFR-1 than normal pregnancies, suggesting that villous explants in vitro retain a hypoxia memory reflecting long-term fetal programming. The relative ratios of VEGF to sVEGFR-1 and PlGF to sVEGFR-1 released from explants decreased by 53% and 70%, respectively, in preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancies. Exposure of normal villous explants to hypoxia increased sVEGFR-1 release compared with tissue normoxia (P<0.001), as did stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P<0.01). Conditioned medium (CM) from normal villous explants induced endothelial cell migration and in vitro tube formation, which were both attenuated by pre-incubation with exogenous sVEGFR-1 (P<0.001). In contrast, endothelial cells treated with preeclamptic CM showed substantially reduced angiogenesis compared with normal CM (P<0.001), which was not further decreased by the addition of exogenous sVEGFR-1, indicating a saturation of the soluble receptor. Removal of sVEGFR-1 by immunoprecipitation from preeclamptic CM significantly restored migration (P<0.001) and tube formation (P<0.001) to levels comparable to that induced by normal CM, demonstrating that elevated levels of sVEGFR-1 in preeclampsia are responsible for inhibiting angiogenesis. Our finding demonstrates the dysregulation of the VEGF/PlGF axis in preeclampsia and offers an entirely new therapeutic approach to its treatment.

Alternative Splicing↗

Role of prostaglandin E2 receptors in migration of murine and human breast cancer cells.

Aberrant upregulation of COX-2 enzyme resulting in accumulation of PGE2 in a cancer cell environment is a marker for progression of many cancers, including breast cancer. Four subtypes of cell surface receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), which are coupled with different G-proteins, mediate PGE2 actions. Since migration is an essential step in invasion and metastasis, in the present study we defined the expression of EP receptors and their roles in migratory function of breast cancer cells of murine (C3L5) and human (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) origin. Highly metastatic C3L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells, found to be highly migratory in a Transwell migration assay, were shown to accumulate much higher levels of PGE2 in culture media in comparison with nonmetastatic and poorly migrating MCF-7 cells; the levels of PGF2alpha and 6-keto-PGF1alpha were low in all cases. The elevated PGE2 production by metastatic cancer cells was due to COX-2 activity since dual COX-1/2 inhibitor indomethacin and selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 equally suppressed both basal and inducible (by IFN-gamma/LPS or Ca2+-ionophores) PGE2 accumulation. RT-PCR analysis revealed that murine C3L5 cells expressed mRNA of EP1, EP3, and EP4 but not EP2 receptors. On the other hand, human MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells expressed all the above receptors. High levels of expression of functional EP4 receptors coupled with Gs-protein was confirmed in C3L5 cells by biochemical assay showing a dose-dependent increase of intracellular cAMP synthesis in response to PGE2. EP receptor antagonists SC-19220, AH-6809, and AH-23848B, having highest affinity for EP1, EP1/EP2/DP, and EP4 receptors, respectively, variably inhibited migration of metastatic breast cancer cells. An autocrine PGE2-mediated migratory activity of these cells appeared to be associated predominantly with EP4 receptor-mediated signaling pathway, which uses cAMP as a second messenger. This conclusion is based on several observations: (1) selective EP4 antagonist AH-23848B effectively inhibited migration of both C3L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner; (2) exogenous PGE2 and EP4 agonist PGE1 alcohol increased migration of C3L5 cells; (3) forskolin, a potent activator of adenylate cyclase, as well as membrane-permeable analogues of cAMP (8-bromo-cAMP, dibutyryl-cAMP) stimulated migration of C3L5 cells; and (4) Rp-cAMPS, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor, reduced migration of C3L5 cells. Migration of poorly migratory MCF-7 cells remained unaffected with either PGE2 or EP4 antagonist. These findings are relevant for designing therapeutic strategies against breast cancer metastasis.

Alprostadil↗