Sinead M. Walsh

Hypoxia increases normal prostate epithelial cell resistance to receptor-mediated apoptosis via AKT activation.

The aging prostate is associated with changes in its vascular structure, which could lead to changes in oxygen levels. Hypoxia is an important environmental change that leads to the progression of many cancers mediated through a number of cellular changes, which included resistance to apoptosis. The role of hypoxia in initiating tumour development has not been previously investigated. We demonstrate that normal prostate epithelial cells develop a resistance to receptor‐mediated apoptosis following 24 hr of 1% hypoxia. This effect is associated with the altered expression of a number of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins, which leads to inhibition of Cytochrome c release and downstream caspase activation. This is mediated via decreased Bax translocation and upstream Caspase 8 activity. Despite increased expression of cIAP‐2, small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown does not restore susceptibility to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Gene expression analysis indicated potential changes in AKT activation, which was confirmed by increased phosphorylation of AKT. Inhibition of this phosphorylation reversed the resistance to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. AKT activation is emerging as a key survival signal in prostate cancer. This study demonstrates that short exposure to low oxygen can increase resistance to immune surveillance mechanisms and might confer a survival advantage onto normal prostate epithelial cells so that they can survive subsequent genomic instability and other carcinogenetic insults leading to the early development of prostate cancer.

Binding of protons and zinc ions to transition states for tautomerization of α-heterocyclic ketones: implications for enzymatic reactions

The description of catalysis in terms of binding of a catalyst to the transition state propoposed by Kurz is applied to tautomerization of the α-heterocyclic ketones phenacylpyridine, phenacylpyrazine, phenacylphenanthroline and phenylacetylpyridine catalysed by protons and zinc ions. Binding constants for protonated and zinc-coordinated transition states, KB≠ are reported and Bronsted coefficients are calculated from comparison of KB≠ with binding constants for the keto reactant and enolate anion intermediate. The formal equivalence of the binding formalism to a conventional Bronsted analysis is emphasized, and the results are compared with those from a ‘generalised’ Bronsted plot of rate constants against equilibrium constants for reactions of uncomplexed, protonated and zinc ion-coordinated ketones. This plot confirms that intrinsic reactivities of metal-coordinated and protonated substrates are similar even where differences exist between substrates. Application of a comparable Kurz–Bronsted treatment to enzymatic reactions depends in principle upon (a) dissecting binding contributions to catalysis from approximation of covalently reacting groups and (b) separating binding at the reaction site of the substrate, to which Kurzs treatment applies, from ‘remote’ binding, which, to a first approximation, is unchanged between Michaelis complex and transition state. The Bronsted relationship highlights stabilization of reactive intermediates as a thermodynamic driving force for binding catalysis at the reaction site. A formal expression which describes this stabilization, and also accommodates stabilization by remote binding of the substrate and intermediate by the enzyme, is proposed. Its relationship to the usual expression for application of the Kurz approach to enzyme catalysis, (kcat/k0)/Km = KB≠, is discussed and the usefulness of the Bronsted and Marcus relationships for interpreting KB≠ is emphasized.

Altered Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Accessory Proteins in Murine and Human Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive fibrotic disease with a poor prognosis. The balance between transforming growth factor β1 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling plays an important role in tissue homeostasis, and alterations can result in pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesized that multiple BMP accessory proteins may be responsible for maintaining this balance in the lung. Using the bleomycin mouse model for fibrosis, we examined an array of BMP accessory proteins for changes in mRNA expression. We report significant increases in mRNA expression of gremlin 1, noggin, follistatin, and follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1), and significant decreases in mRNA expression of chordin, kielin/chordin-like protein, nephroblastoma overexpressed gene, and BMP and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI). Protein expression studies demonstrated increased levels of noggin, BAMBI, and FSTL1 in the lungs of bleomycin-treated mice and in the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that transforming growth factor β stimulation resulted in increased expression of noggin, BAMBI, and FSTL1 in human small airway epithelial cells. These results provide the first evidence that multiple BMP accessory proteins are altered in fibrosis and may play a role in promoting fibrotic injury.

CXCL9 Regulates TGF-β1–Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Epithelial to mesenchymal cell transition (EMT), whereby fully differentiated epithelial cells transition to a mesenchymal phenotype, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). CXCR3 and its ligands are recognized to play a protective role in pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the presence and extent of EMT and CXCR3 expression in human IPF surgical lung biopsies and assessed whether CXCR3 and its ligand CXCL9 modulate EMT in alveolar epithelial cells. Coexpression of the epithelial marker thyroid transcription factor-1 and the mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin and CXCR3 expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining of IPF surgical lung biopsies. Epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression was examined by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence in human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells treated with TGF-β1 and CXCL9, with Smad2, Smad3, and Smad7 expression and cellular localization examined by Western blotting. We found that significantly more cells were undergoing EMT in fibrotic versus normal areas of lung in IPF surgical lung biopsy samples. CXCR3 was expressed by type II pneumocytes and fibroblasts in fibrotic areas in close proximity to cells undergoing EMT. In vitro, CXCL9 abrogated TGF-β1–induced EMT. A decrease in TGF-β1–induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 occurred with CXCL9 treatment. This was associated with increased shuttling of Smad7 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where it inhibits Smad phosphorylation. This suggests a role for EMT in the pathogenesis of IPF and provides a novel mechanism for the inhibitory effects of CXCL9 on TGF-β1–induced EMT.

Modulation of pulmonary fibrosis by IL-13Rα2

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and fatal disease that involves the remodeling of the distal airspace and the lung parenchyma, which results in compromised gas exchange. The median survival time once diagnosed is less than three years. Interleukin (IL)-13 has been shown to play a role in a number of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. IL-13 modulates its effector functions via a complex receptor system that includes the IL-4 receptor (R) α, IL-13Rα1, and the IL-13Rα2. IL-13Rα1 binds IL-13 with low affinity, yet, when it forms a complex with IL-4α, it binds with much higher affinity, inducing the effector functions of IL-13. IL-13Rα2 binds IL-13 with high affinity but has a short cytoplasmic tail and has been shown to act as a nonsignaling decoy receptor. Transfection of fibroblasts and epithelial cells with IL-13Rα2 inhibited the IL-13 induction of soluble collagen, TGF-β, and CCL17. Adenoviral overexpression of IL-13Rα2 in the lung reduced bleomycin-induced fibrosis. Our work shows that overexpression of IL-13Rα2 inhibits the IL-13 induction of fibrotic markers in vitro and inhibits bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In summary our study highlights the antifibrotic nature of IL-13Ra2.

Postmastectomy radiotherapy: indications and implications.

BACKGROUND Although breast conservation surgery, when combined with radiotherapy, has been shown to provide excellent locoregional control for breast cancer, approximately one third of women with breast cancer require mastectomy. Many of these women are offered immediate reconstruction. Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is indicated in some cases, but is associated with side-effects, including its impact on the reconstructed breast. OBJECTIVE To review the pertinent issues surrounding PMRT, including patient selection for radiotherapy and the effect of radiotherapy on reconstructive decisions. METHODS A literature review was performed using the Medline database. CONCLUSIONS PMRT is indicated in patients who are deemed to have a high risk of loco-regional recurrence. Although PMRT is strongly recommended for patients with four or more positive lymphnodes, other indications for PMRT remain controversial. Immediate reconstruction post mastectomy has been shown to have favorable outcomes. However, PMRT may increase the need for revision surgery post immediate reconstruction. There are few randomized trials looking at these key issues, and the evidence is largely derived from observational retrospective studies. Patients should be carefully counseled before a decision is made to proceed with immediate reconstruction, where there is a high chance that PMRT may be indicated.

Study of the enol–enaminone tautomerism of α-heterocyclic ketones by deuterium effects on 13C chemical shifts

Deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts have been measured for the enol and enaminone tautomers of a series of α-heterocyclic ketones. Partial deuteration of the exchangeable hydrogen bound to the oxygen atom of the enol or the nitrogen atom of the enaminone leads to deuterium induced shifts of the 13C frequencies (2DIS) which are distinctive for the two types of structures. Thus, 9-methyl-2-phenacyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2-pyridylacyl- and 2-phenacyl-quinazolines and 2-pyridylacyl- and 2-phenacyl-quinolines, which are known from independent evidence to exist in the enaminone structures, display large and variable negative 4DIS values, –240, –93, –126, –437 and –375, respectively, at the carbon bearing the oxygen atom. By contrast, 2-pyridylacyl- and 2-phenacyl-pyrazines, which are known to exist in the enol form, show large positive 2DIS values, 527 and 479, respectively, for the oxygen bound carbon atom.

Alterations in the expression of inhibitors of apoptosis during differentiation of prostate epithelial cells

To investigate alterations in the apoptotic phenotype, specifically the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family, in prostate epithelial cells after differentiation from an apoptotic‐resistant basal cell to an apoptotic‐susceptible secretory cell.

Novel Differences in Gene Expression and Functional Capabilities of Myofibroblast Populations in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic progressive interstitial pneumonia, is characterized by excessive fibroproliferation. Key effector cells in IPF are myofibroblasts that are recruited from three potential sources: resident fibroblasts, fibrocytes, and epithelial cells. We hypothesized that IPF myofibroblasts from different sources display unique gene expression differences and distinct functional characteristics. Primary human pulmonary fibroblasts (normal and IPF), fibrocytes, and epithelial cells were activated using the profibrotic factors TGF-β and TNF-α. The resulting myofibroblasts were characterized using cell proliferation, soluble collagen, and contractility assays, ELISA, and human fibrosis PCR arrays. Genes of significance in human whole lung were validated by immunohistochemistry on human lung sections. Fibroblast-derived myofibroblasts exhibited the greatest increase in expression of profibrotic genes and genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and signal transduction. Functional studies demonstrated that myofibroblasts derived from fibrocytes expressed mostly soluble collagen and chemokine (C-C) motif ligand (CCL) 18 but were the least proliferative of the myofibroblast progeny. Activated IPF fibroblasts displayed the highest levels of contractility and CCL2 production. This study identified novel differences in gene expression and functional characteristics of different myofibroblast populations. Further investigation into the myofibroblast phenotype may lead to potential therapeutic targets in future IPF research.

The lady with the dragon tattoo

BackgroundThough the skin is affected in sarcoidosis in about one-third of cases, granulomatous tattoo reactions are an unusual manifestation of the disease. It is important phenomenon to recognize, as it frequently leads to the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis.Case presentationA 35-year-old Caucasian female with multiple tattoos presented with a 5-week history of tenderness of the black dye in a tattoo depicting a dragon. She also described a 15-month history of fatigue, polyarthralgia, and mild dyspnea. Skin biopsy demonstrated multiple dermal non-caseating granulomata with associated tattoo ink. Further investigation revealed the presence of systemic sarcoidosis. Her symptoms and skin changes improved with conservative management.ConclusionSarcoidal tattoo reactions in those without systemic sarcoidosis are a rare occurrence, and their presence should prompt a search for systemic involvement. The accurate identification of skin involvement in sarcoidosis is important, as it tends to occur early in the course of disease, and the skin is a readily accessible site for biopsy, allowing for prompt diagnosis.