Jaroslav Mares

Allele loss in Wilms tumors of chromosome arms 11q, 16q, and 22q correlates with clinicopathological parameters

An extended analysis for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on eight chromosomes was conducted in a series of 82 Wilms tumors. Observed rates of allele loss were: 9.5% (1p), 5% (4q), 6% (6p), 3% (7p), 9.8% (11q), 28% (11p15), 13.4% (16q), 8.8% (18p), and 13.8% (22q). Known regions of frequent allele loss on chromosome arms 1p, 11p15, and 16q were analyzed with a series of markers, but their size could not be narrowed down to smaller intervals, making any positional cloning effort difficult. In contrast to most previous studies, several tumors exhibited allele loss for multiple chromosomes, suggesting an important role for genome instability in a subset of tumors. Comparison with clinical data revealed a possible prognostic significance, especially for LOH on chromosome arms 11q and 22q with high frequencies of anaplastic tumors, tumor recurrence, and fatal outcome. Similarly, LOH 16q was associated with anaplastic and recurrent tumors. These markers may be helpful in the future for selecting high‐risk tumors for modified therapeutic regimens. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 22:287–294, 1998.

Role of Cytochromes P450 1A1/2 in Detoxication and Activation of Carcinogenic Aristolochic Acid I: Studies with the Hepatic NADPH:Cytochrome P450 Reductase Null (HRN) Mouse Model

Aristolochic acid (AA) causes aristolochic acid nephropathy, Balkan endemic nephropathy, and their urothelial malignancies. To identify enzymes involved in the metabolism of aristolochic acid I (AAI), the major toxic component of AA we used HRN (hepatic cytochrome P450 [Cyp] reductase null) mice, in which NADPH:Cyp oxidoreductase (Por) is deleted in hepatocytes. AAI was demethylated by hepatic Cyps in vitro to 8-hydroxy-aristolochic acid I (AAIa), indicating that less AAI is distributed to extrahepatic organs in wild-type (WT) mice. Indeed, AAI-DNA-adduct levels were significantly higher in organs of HRN mice, having low hepatic AAI demethylation capacity, than in WT mice. Absence of AAI demethylation in HRN mouse liver was confirmed in vitro; hepatic microsomes from WT, but not from HRN mice, oxidized AAI to AAIa. To define the role of hepatic Cyps in AAI demethylation, modulation of AAIa formation by CYP inducers was investigated. We conclude that AAI demethylation is attributable mainly to Cyp1a1/2. The higher AAI-DNA adduct levels in HRN than WT mice were the result of the lack of hepatic AAI demethylation concomitant with a higher activity of cytosolic NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (Nqo1), which activates AAI. Mouse hepatic Cyp1a1/2 also activated AAI to DNA adducts under hypoxic conditions in vitro, but in renal microsomes, Por and Cyp3a are more important than Cyp1a for AAI-DNA adduct formation. We propose that AAI activation and detoxication in mice are dictated mainly by AAI binding affinity to Cyp1a1/2 or Nqo1, by their turnover, and by the balance between oxidation and reduction of AAI by Cyp1a.

Dysfunctional Microvasculature as a Consequence of Shb Gene Inactivation Causes Impaired Tumor Growth

Shb (Src homology 2 protein B) is an adapter protein downstream of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Previous experiments have suggested a role for Shb in endothelial cell function. Recently, the Shb gene was inactivated and Shb null mice were obtained on a mixed genetic background, but not on C57Bl6 mice. The present study was performed to address endothelial function in the Shb knockout mouse and its relevance for tumor angiogenesis. Tumor growth was retarded in Shb mutant mice, and this correlated with decreased angiogenesis both in tumors and in Matrigel plugs. Shb null mice display an abnormal endothelial ultrastructure in liver sinusoids and heart capillaries with cytoplasmic extensions projecting toward the lumen. Shb null heart VE-cadherin staining was less distinct than that of control heart, exhibiting in the former case a wavy and punctuate pattern. Experiments on isolated endothelial cells suggest that these changes could partly reflect cytoskeletal abnormalities. Vascular permeability was increased in Shb null mice in heart, kidney, and skin, whereas VEGF-stimulated vascular permeability was reduced in Shb null mice. It is concluded that Shb plays an important role in maintaining a functional vasculature in adult mice, and that interference with Shb signaling may provide novel means to regulate tumor angiogenesis.

Shb null allele is inherited with a transmission ratio distortion and causes reduced viability in utero

SHB is an Src homology 2 domain‐containing adapter protein that has been found to be involved in numerous cellular responses. We have generated an Shb knockout mouse. No Shb−/− pups or embryos were obtained on the C57Bl6 background, indicating an early defect as a consequence of Shb‐ gene inactivation on this genetic background. Breeding heterozygotes for Shb gene inactivation (Shb+/−) on a mixed genetic background (FVB/C57Bl6/129Sv) reveals a distorted transmission ratio of the null allele with reduced numbers of Shb+/+ and Shb−/− animals, but increased number of Shb+/− animals. The Shb− allele is associated with various forms of malformations, explaining the relative reduction in the number of Shb−/− offspring. Shb−/− animals that were born were viable, fertile, and showed no obvious defects. However, Shb+/− female mice ovulated preferentially Shb− oocytes explaining the reduced frequency of Shb+/+ mice. Our study suggests a role of SHB during reproduction and development. Developmental Dynamics 236:2485–2492, 2007.

Prediction of recurrence in Ta urothelial cell carcinoma by real-time quantitative PCR analysis: A microarray validation study

Accurate prediction of tumor recurrence in patients with superficial urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) might result in a significant reduction of invasive follow‐up cystoscopies. A recent study identified a panel of 26 genes from a large cDNA microarray analysis of bladder tumors that discriminated between early‐ and late‐recurring patients with superficial Ta tumors (Dyrskjøt et al., Nat Genet 2003;33:90–6). We aimed to validate this panel of genes in 44 primary Ta UCCs (23 and 21 tumors from patients with short or prolonged recurrence‐free periods, respectively), by real‐time quantitative PCR. Statistical analysis showed marginal significant different mRNA expression levels between the 2 patient groups. To evaluate a supplementary effect of genes for the identification of patients with short or prolonged recurrence‐free intervals, forward logistic regression analysis was applied. This revealed that a combination of the expression profiles of the genes HNRPK, LTB4DH and ANP32B resulted in the best performance, although the combination only marginally increased the predictive value of HNRPK alone. Comparing the receiver‐operating‐characteristic curves for HNRPK expression among patients with short or prolonged recurrence‐free periods, revealed an area under the curve of 0.696 (95% CI, 0.537–0.855). Using the median HNRPK expression level as cut‐off, a sensitivity of 69.6% and a specificity of 71.4% were obtained for the identification of patients with short or prolonged recurrence‐free periods, respectively. In conclusion, we were not able to confirm the microarray gene expression pattern of the 26 genes shown by Dyrskjøt et al. The discovery of accurate recurrence predictive markers, therefore, remains a challenge.

The SHB adapter protein is required for efficient multilineage differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

The SH2 domain-containing adapter protein SHB transmits signals from receptor tyrosine kinases regulating diverse processes such as apoptosis and differentiation. To elucidate a role for SHB in cell differentiation, wild-type and R522K (inactive SH2 domain-mutant) SHB were transfected and expressed in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Microarray analysis using Affymetrix U74A chips on undifferentiated ES cells and expression of selected differentiation markers after generation of embryoid bodies were subsequently assessed. Wild-type SHB altered the expression of 16 genes in undifferentiated ES cells, many of which have been found to relate to neural cell function. R522K-SHB altered the expression of 128 genes in undifferentiated ES cells, the majority of which were decreased, including several transcription factors related to development. When grown as embryoid bodies, after 4 days R522K-SHB ES cells were already found to display a different morphological appearance, with an impaired cavity formation that occurred in the absence of altered OCT4 expression. This impairment was reversed by exogenous addition of Matrigel. In addition, R522K-SHB embryoid bodies displayed reduced mRNA contents of the liver protein albumin, the pancreatic proteins amylase, glucagon and insulin after 20 days of differentiation. Matrigel did not restore the impaired expression of albumin in the R522K-SHB cells. Expression of the mesodermal marker cardiac actin and the neural marker neurofilament heavy chain alpha was not affected by wild-type or R522K-SHB overexpression. It is concluded that SHB is required for efficient differentiation of ES cells into embryoid bodies with normal cavities and cells belonging to endodermal lineages.

The expression of PAX5, p53 immunohistochemistry and p53 mutation analysis in superficial bladder carcinoma tissue. Correlation with pathological findings and clinical outcome.

Objectives: The expression pattern of PAX5 in thetissue of superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), itsprognostic value and its correlation with p53immunohistochemistry and p53 mutation analysis were evaluated.Methods: Study comprised 61 patients with histologicallyconfirmed superficial bladder TCC. Expression level of PAX5mRNA was investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chainreaction (RT-PCR) and determined semiquantitatively. The presence ofp53 mutations was determined by SSCP and confirmed by directsequencing. The p53 immunohistochemistry was performed with DO1antibody and semiquantitatively evaluated using HSCORE (HS) method. Asthe control group for the evaluation of the PAX5 expressionserved 8 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results:PAX5 expression was found in 50 patients with bladder TCC butin no patient from the control group. Its quantity however correlatedneither with the stage nor with the grade of the tumor. P53mutation was confirmed only in 1 patient with pTaG2 tumor in exon 5(deletion of proline 128). On the contrary, positive immunohistochemicalstaining of p53 was detected in most patients. Using the cutoffvalue of HS 200, 56.9% of patients showed p53overexpression. Quantity of p53 immunochistochemical positivitydid not correlate with the quantity of PAX5 expression. Usingthe cutoff values of HS 200 for p53 and of 0.2 forPAX5, 7 of 8 patients with future progression had p53and 4 had PAX5 overexpression respectively.Conclusion: The expression of gene PAX5 is a frequentevent in superficial TCC of the bladder.

The SHB Adapter Protein Is Required for Normal Maturation of Mesoderm during in Vitro Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells

Definitive mesoderm arises from a bipotent mesendodermal population, and to study processes controlling its development at this stage, embryonic stem (ES) cells can be employed. SHB (Src homology 2 protein in β-cells) is an adapter protein previously found to be involved in ES cell differentiation to mesoderm. To further study the role of SHB in this context, we have established ES cell lines deficient for one (SHB+/-) or both SHB alleles (SHB-/-). Differentiating embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from these ES cell lines were used for gene expression analysis. Alternatively, EBs were stained for the blood vessel marker CD31. For hematopoietic differentiation, EBs were differentiated in methylcellulose. SHB-/- EBs exhibited delayed down-regulation of the early mesodermal marker Brachyury. Later mesodermal markers relatively specific for the hematopoietic, vascular, and cardiac lineages were expressed at lower levels on day 6 or 8 of differentiation in EBs lacking SHB. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 was also reduced in SHB-/- EBs. SHB-/- EBs demonstrated impaired blood vessel formation after vascular endothelial growth factor stimulation. In addition, the SHB-/- ES cells formed fewer blood cell colonies than SHB+/+ ES cells. It is concluded that SHB is required for appropriate hematopoietic and vascular differentiation and that delayed down-regulation of Brachyury expression may play a role in this context.

Urinary Cell-Free DNA Quantification as Non-Invasive Biomarker in Patients with Bladder Cancer

Introduction: Concentration of urinary cell-free DNA (ucfDNA) belongs to potential bladder cancer markers, but the reported results are inconsistent due to the use of various non-standardised methodologies. The aim of the study was to standardise the methodology for ucfDNA quantification as a potential non-invasive tumour biomarker. Material and Methods: In total, 66 patients and 34 controls were enrolled into the study. Volumes of each urine portion (V) were recorded and ucfDNA concentrations (c) were measured using real-time PCR. Total amounts (TA) of ucfDNA were calculated and compared between patients and controls. Diagnostic accuracy of the TA of ucfDNA was determined. Results: The calculation of TA of ucfDNA in the second urine portion was the most appropriate approach to ucfDNA quantification, as there was logarithmic dependence between the volume and the concentration of a urine portion (p = 0.0001). Using this methodology, we were able to discriminate between bladder cancer patients and subjects without bladder tumours (p = 0.0002) with area under the ROC curve of 0.725. Positive and negative predictive value of the test was 90 and 45%, respectively. Conclusion: Quantification of ucf DNA according to our modified method could provide a potential non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of patients with bladder cancer.

Control of SHB gene expression by protein phosphorylation

To increase our understanding of the role of the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein Shb in the mitogenic signal transduction, Shb mRNA contents were determined in the fibroblast-like NIH3T3 cells and the insulin producing beta TC-1 cells under various conditions. In NIH3T3 cells, the serine/ threonine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein increased Shb mRNA contents, the protein kinase C activating phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl 13-acetate (TPA) decreased the Shb mRNA content, whereas the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin 25 and the mitogen platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) had no effect. In beta TC-1 cells, okadaic acid and genistein increased the Shb mRNA content, whereas tyrphostin 25 and serum were without effect. Okadaic acid and genistein decreased the rates of beta TC-1 cell DNA synthesis. It is concluded that expression of the SHB gene is under a complex mode of regulation involving at least three different protein kinases. As a consequence of this, it is likely that SHB gene expression is significantly modulated by conditions of specific activation of certain pathways, whereas its expression appears little influenced by serum and a mitogen.