Significant Downregulation (significant + downregulation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Suppression of the TIG3 tumor suppressor gene in human ovarian carcinomas is mediated via mitogen-activated kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2005
Kristina Lotz
Abstract The TIG3 gene is a retinoic acid inducible class II tumor suppressor gene downregulated in several human tumors and malignant cell lines. Diminished TIG3 expression correlates with decreased differentiation whereas forced expression of TIG3 suppresses oncogenic signaling pathways and subsequently induces differentiation or apoptosis in tumor cells. Analysis of TIG3 mRNA expression in a large set of cDNA pools derived from matched tumor and normal human tissues showed a significant downregulation of TIG3 in 29% of the cDNA samples obtained from ovarian carcinomas. Using in situ hybridization, we demonstrated expression of TIG3 in the epithelial lining of 7 normal ovaries but loss of TIG3 expression in 15/19 of human ovarian carcinoma tissues. In SKOV-3, CAOV-3 and ES-2 ovarian carcinoma cell lines, downregulation of TIG3 mRNA was reversible and dependent on an activated MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Re-expression of TIG3 mRNA in these cells upon specific interference with the MEK-pathway was correlated with growth inhibition of the cells. In OVCAR-3 and A27/80 ovarian carcinoma cells, TIG3 suppression is MEK-ERK independent, but expression could be reconstituted upon interferon gamma (IFN,) induction. Overexpression of TIG3 in A27/80 ovarian carcinoma cells significantly impaired cell growth and despite increased mRNA levels, TIG3 protein was hardly detectable. These results suggest that TIG3 is negatively regulated by an activated MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Further mechanisms must interfere with TIG3 expression that are independent of MEK and partially include interferon-responsive components. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with 17-AAG on glioma cell growth,

MOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS, Issue 5 2006
Daniel R. Premkumar
Abstract ZD1839 ("Iressa") is an orally active, selective epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. We evaluated the antitumor activity of ZD1839 in combination with HSP90 antagonist, 17-AAG in malignant human glioma cell lines. ZD1839 independently produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation in glioma cells grown in culture with time- and dose-dependent accumulation of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle on flow cytometric analysis, although the concentrations required for optimal efficacy were at or above the limits of clinically achievable levels. Because the heat shock protein (HSP) is involved in the conformational maturation of a number of signaling proteins critical to the proliferation of malignant glioma cells, we hypothesized that the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG would potentiate ZD 1839-mediated glioma cytotoxicity by decreasing the activation status of EGF receptor, as well as downregulating the levels of other relevant signaling effectors. We, therefore, examined the effects of ZD1839 and 17-AAG, alone and in combination, on signal transduction and apoptosis in a series of malignant glioma cell lines. Simultaneous exposure to these inhibitors significantly induced cell death and quantitative analysis revealed that interaction between ZD1839 and 17-AAG-induced cytotoxicity was synergistic, leading to a pronounced increase in active caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. No significant growth inhibition or caspase activation was seen in control cells. The enhanced cytotoxicity of this combination was associated with diminished Akt activation and a significant downregulation of EGFR receptor, Raf-1 and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Cells exposed to 17-AAG and ZD1839 displayed a significant reduction in cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as CDK4 and CDK6. Taken together, these findings suggest that ZD1839, an EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, plays a critical role in regulating the apoptotic response to 17-AAG and that multi-site targeting of growth signaling and cell survival pathways could provide a potent strategy to treat patients with malignant gliomas. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Gene expression changes following androgen receptor elimination in LNCaP prostate cancer cells

MOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS, Issue 4 2003
Iris E. Eder
Abstract We have shown recently that inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) expression with an antisense AR oligonucleotide (ODN) inhibits LNCaP prostate tumor cells in vitro as well as in vivo. In this study, we investigated gene expression changes that occur after AR signaling blockade, either through AR elimination by antisense treatment or through complete androgen receptor inhibition by androgen deprivation combined with the antiandrogen bicalutamide, in order to search for genes that are directly or indirectly regulated through the AR. Gene expression changes were investigated with cDNA NIH 10K gene microarrays in response to treatment over 48 h. Expression of selected genes was further analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blotting, and radioimmunoassay. A comparison of antisense-treated and androgen-deprived cells revealed several concordances such as significant downregulation of prostate-specific genes, cell-cycle regulatory genes, genes of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, and several cytoskeletal genes. However, there were also several genes that were differentially regulated. Among the genes that were exclusively changed by treatment with the antisense AR ODN were the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and the phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type I alpha (PIP5KIA). On the other hand, complete androgen receptor blockade induced changes in the expression of the prostate overexpressed gene 1 and the S100 calcium binding protein P. In summary, we identified a cohort of interesting genes whose expression was highly affected by elimination of the AR in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Further investigations are warranted to clarify their role in the AR signaling pathway and their susceptibility as a target for the treatment of prostate cancer. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Downregulation of oxytocin and natriuretic peptides in diabetes: possible implications in cardiomyopathy

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 19 2009
Jolanta Gutkowska
Regular physical activity is beneficial in preventing the risk of cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Recent studies showed a cardioprotective role of oxytocin (OT) to induce natriuretic peptides (NPs) and nitric oxide (NO) release. It is not known if the diabetic state is associated with a reduced OT,NPs,NO system and if exercise training improves this system. To address this, we investigated the effects of treadmill running using the db/db mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Eight-week-old db/db mice were subjected to running 5 days per week for a period of 8 weeks. The lean db/+ littermates were used as controls. Sedentary db/db mice were obese and hyperglycaemic, and exercise training was not effective in reducing body weight and the hyperglycaemic state. Compared to control mice, db/db mice had lower heart weight and heart-to-body weight ratios. In these mice, this was associated with augmented cardiac apoptosis, cardiomyocyte enlargement and collagen deposits. In addition, db/db mice displayed significant downregulation in gene expression of OT (76%), OT receptors (65%), atrial NP (ANP; 43%), brain NP (BNP; 87%) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (54%) in the heart (P < 0.05). Exercise training had no effect on expression of these genes which were stimulated in control mice. In response to exercise training, the significant increment of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression was observed only in control mice (P < 0.05). In conclusion, downregulation of the OT,NPs,NO system occurs in the heart of the young db/db mouse. Exercise training was not effective in reversing the defect, suggesting impairment of this cardiac protective system in diabetes. [source]


Docetaxel,ST1481 sequence exerts a potent cytotoxic activity on hormone-resistant prostate cancer cells by reducing drug resistance-related gene expression

THE PROSTATE, Issue 2 2010
Francesco Fabbri
Abstract BACKGROUND The efficacy of current therapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer is still unsatisfactory and new agents and therapeutic modalities are needed. The aims of the present work were to examine the in vitro activity and mechanisms of action of different antitumor drug combinations in hormone-resistant prostate cancer (HRPC) cell lines. METHODS The activity of docetaxel (Doc), cisplatin (Cis), oxaliplatin (Oxa), SN-38 and ST1481, singly or in combination, was assessed in different HRPC cell lines (PC3, parental DU145 and taxane-resistant DU145-R) by SRB test. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL and ANN-V assays. Extrusion pump activity was studied by Hoechst 33342 assay, while gene expression related to drug efflux mechanisms and DNA damage repair was analyzed by RT-PCR. RESULTS Doc induced a high cytocidal effect in the HRPC cells, whereas Cis, Oxa, SN-38 and ST1481 exerted prevalently cytostatic activity. Doc followed by ST1481 proved to be the most effective drug sequence among those investigated, producing an important synergistic effect (R.I. from 2.0 to 5.2) in all the tested cell lines. Moreover, this sequence induced a significant downregulation of xenobiotic extrusion pump and DNA damage repair gene expression. ST1481 synergistically increased the cytocidal effect of Doc, probably through a downregulation of extrusion pump activity and DNA damage repair-related genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the Doc,,,ST1481 sequence effectively reduces the cancer cell population and restores Doc activity in taxane-resistant HRPC, indicating its potential usefulness as first- or second-line treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Prostate 70: 219,227, 2010. ©2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Unique Early Gene Expression Patterns in Human Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Grafts Compared to Deceased Donor Grafts

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2009
J. De Jonge
Because of inherent differences between deceased donor (DD) and living donor (LD) liver grafts, we hypothesize that the molecular signatures will be unique, correlating with specific biologic pathways and clinical patterns. Microarray profiles of 63 biopsies in 13 DD and 8 LD liver grafts done at serial time points (procurement, backbench and postreperfusion) were compared between groups using class comparisons, network and biological function analyses. Specific genes were validated by quantitative PCR and immunopathology. Clinical findings were also compared. Following reperfusion, 579 genes in DD grafts and 1324 genes in LDs were differentially expressed (p < 0.005). Many upregulated LD genes were related to regeneration, biosynthesis and cell cycle, and a large number of downregulated genes were linked to hepatic metabolism and energy pathways correlating with posttransplant clinical laboratory findings. There was significant upregulation of inflammatory/immune genes in both DD and LD, each with a distinct pattern. Gene expression patterns of select genes associated with inflammation and regeneration in LD and DD grafts correlated with protein expression. Unique patterns of early gene expression are seen in LD and DD liver grafts, correlating with protein expression and clinical results, demonstrating distinct inflammatory profiles and significant downregulation of metabolic pathways in LD grafts. [source]


Inhibition of Akt induces significant downregulation of survivin and cytotoxicity in human multiple myeloma cells

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Teru Hideshima
Summary Akt mediates growth and drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM) cells in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. We have shown that a novel Akt inhibitor Perifosine induces significant cytotoxicity in MM cells in the BM milieu. This study further delineated molecular mechanisms whereby Perifosine triggered cytotoxicity in MM cells. Neither the intensity of Jun NH2 -terminal kinase phosphorylation nor caspase/poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage correlated with Perifosine-induced cytotoxicity in MM.1S, INA6, OPM1 and OPM2 MM cells. However, survivin, which regulates caspase-3 activity, was markedly downregulated by Perifosine treatment, without changes in other anti-apoptotic proteins. Downregulation of survivin by siRNA significantly inhibited OPM1 MM cell growth, confirming that survivin mediates MM cell survival. Perifosine significantly downregulated both function and protein expression of ,-catenin. Co-culture with BM stromal cells (BMSCs) upregulated both ,-catenin and survivin expression in MM cells, which was blocked by Perifosine. Importantly, Perifosine treatment also downregulated survivin expression in human MM cells grown in vivo in a severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft model. Finally, Perifosine inhibited bortezomib-induced upregulation of survivin, associated with enhanced cytotoxicity of combined bortezomib and Perifosine treatment. These preclinical studies provide the framework for clinical trials of bortezomib with Perifosine to improve patient outcome in MM. [source]


Downregulation of Tie2 gene by a novel antitumor sulfolipid, 3,-sulfoquinovosyl-1,-monoacylglycerol, targeting angiogenesis

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008
Yoko Mori
We previously reported that 3,-sulfoquinovosyl-1,-monoacylglycerol (SQMG) was effective in suppressing the growth of solid tumors due to hemorrhagic necrosis in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the antiangiogenic effect of SQMG. In vivo assessment of antitumor assays showed that some tumor cell lines, but not others, were sensitive to SQMG. Microscopic study suggested that in SQMG-sensitive tumors, but not SQMG-resistant tumors, angiogenesis was reduced. We next investigated gene expression relating to angiogenesis in tumor tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Consequently, although vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression was not detected with significant differences among the cases, significant downregulation of Tie2 gene expression was observed in all SQMG-sensitive tumors as compared with controls, but not in SQMG-resistant tumors. These data suggested that the antitumor effects of SQMG could be attributed to antiangiogenic effects, possibly via the downregulation of Tie2 gene expression in SQMG-sensitive tumors. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1063,1070) [source]