Tomohiko Urano

Association of a single-nucleotide polymorphism in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene with bone mineral density.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) is an important regulator of osteoblast growth and differentiation, affecting peak bone mass in vertebrates. Here, we analyzed whether the LRP5 gene was involved in the etiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis, using association analysis between bone mineral density (BMD) and an LRP5 gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Association of an SNP in the LRP5 gene at IVS17-1677C > A (intron 17) with BMD was examined in 308 postmenopausal Japanese women (65.2 ± 9.6 years; mean ± SD). The subjects bearing at least one variant A allele (CA + AA; n = 142) had significantly lower Z scores for total body and lumbar BMD than the subjects with no A allele (CC; n = 166) (total body, 0.08 ± 1.09 versus 0.50 ± 1.03; P = 0.0022; lumbar spine, −0.42 ± 1.43 versus −0.02 ± 1.42; P = 0.013). These findings suggest that the LRP5 gene is a candidate for the genetic determinants of BMD in postmenopausal women, and this SNP could be useful as a genetic marker for predicting the risk of osteoporosis.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the lipoxygenase ALOX15 5-flanking region (5229G/A) with bone mineral density

The 12/15-lipoxygenase gene Alox15 has been identified as a susceptibility gene for bone mineral density (BMD) in mice through combined genetic and genomic analyses. Here we studied the association between bone mineral density and an ALOX15 gene single nucleotide polymorphism to assess the potential involvement of the human ALOX15 gene in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Specifically, we examined the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism at −5299G/A in the ALOX15 5′-flanking region with BMD in 319 postmenopausal Japanese women (66.7 ± 8.9 years, mean ± SD). We found that subjects bearing at least one variant A allele (GA + AA; n = 273) had significantly lower Z scores for lumbar spine and total body bone mineral density than did subjects with no A allele (GG; n = 46) (lumbar spine, −0.25 ± 1.34 versus 0.48 ± 1.70; P = 0.0014; total body, 0.25 ± 1.01 vs 0.62 ± 1.11; P = 0.048). These findings suggest that the ALOX15 gene is one of the genetic determinants of BMD in postmenopausal women. Accordingly, this polymorphism could be useful as a genetic marker for predicting the risk of osteoporosis.

Estrogen-Responsive Finger Protein as a New Potential Biomarker for Breast Cancer

Purpose: Estrogen-responsive finger protein (Efp) is a member of RING finger-B box-Coiled Coil family and is also a downstream target of estrogen receptor α. Previously, Efp was shown to mediate estrogen-induced cell growth, which suggests possible involvement in the development of human breast carcinomas. In this study, we examined expression of Efp in breast carcinoma tissues and correlated these findings with various clinicopathologic variables. Experimental Design: Thirty frozen specimens of breast carcinomas were used for immunohistochemistry and laser capture microdissection/real-time PCR of Efp. Immunohistochemistry for Efp was also done in 151 breast carcinoma specimens fixed with formalin and embedded in paraffin wax. Results: Efp immunoreactivity was detected in breast carcinoma cells and was significantly associated with the mRNA level (n = 30). Efp immunoreactivity was positively associated with lymph node status or estrogen receptor α status and negatively correlated with histologic grade or 14-3-3σ immunoreactivity (n = 151). Moreover, Efp immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients, and multivariate analyses of disease-free survival and overall survival for 151 breast cancer patients showed that Efp immunoreactivity was the independent marker. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Efp immunoreactivity is a significant prognostic factor in breast cancer patients. These findings may account for an oncogenic role of Efp in the tumor progression of breast carcinoma.

EBAG9/RCAS1 expression and its prognostic significance in prostatic cancer

Estrogen receptor‐binding fragment‐associated gene 9 (EBAG9) has been identified as a primary estrogen‐responsive gene from MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells (Watanabe T, et al., Mol Cell Biol 1998;18:442–9). EBAG9 is identical with RCAS1 (receptor‐binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells), which has been reported as a cancer cell surface antigen implicated in immune escape ( Nakashima M, et al., Nat Med 1999;5:938–42). In our present study, we examined EBAG9 expression in human prostatic tissues and investigated its prognostic significance in patients with prostatic cancer. EBAG9 expression in normal prostatic epithelial cells and PC‐3, DU145 and LNCaP cancer cells was determined by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemic analysis was performed in 21 benign and 81 malignant prostatic specimens, and patients charts were reviewed for clinical, pathologic and survival data. EBAG9 was abundantly expressed in the prostate cancer cells compared to the normal epithelial cells. Strong and diffuse immunostaining in the cytoplasm of EBAG9 was found in 44 of 81 (54%) cancerous tissue samples. EBAG9 expression significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stages and high Gleason score (p = 0.0305 and < 0.0001, respectively). EBAG9 was more frequently expressed at sites of capsular penetration (79%) and lymph node metastasis (100%) compared to intracapsular primary tumors (54%) (p = 0.0264 and 0.0048, respectively). Positive EBAG9 immunoreactivity significantly correlated with poor PSA failure‐free survival (p = 0.0059). EBAG9/RCAS1 may play a significant role in cancer progression via an immune escape system. Immunodetection of EBAG9/RCAS1 expression can be a negative prognostic indicator for patients with prostatic cancer.

Q89r Polymorphism in the Ldl Receptor-related Protein 5 Gene Is Associated With Spinal Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Japanese Women

Study Design. An association study investigating the genetic etiology for spinal osteoarthritis. Objective. To determine the association of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing an amino-acid change (Q89R) in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) coding region with spinal osteoarthritis. Summary of Background Data. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates bone density through a Wnt coreceptor LRP5. This pathway is also involved in cartilage development and homeostasis, suggesting that genetic variation in LRP5 gene may affect the pathogenesis of cartilage-related diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Methods. We evaluated the presence of osteophytes, endplate sclerosis, and narrowing of disc spaces in 357 Japanese postmenopausal women. Missense coding SNP for Q89R of LRP5 gene was determined using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results. We found that subjects without the R allele (QQ; n = 321) had a significantly lower osteophyte formation score than did subjects bearing at least one R allele (QR + RR; n = 36) (7.80 vs. 10.89, P = 0.0019 by analysis of covariance). Conclusions. We suggest that a genetic variation at the LRP5 gene locus is associated with spinal osteoarthritis, in line with the involvement of the LRP5 gene in the bone and cartilage metabolism.

EBAG9/RCAS1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with tumour dedifferentiation and proliferation

Abstract The oestrogen-responsive gene, EBAG9 , whose product is identical to the cancer cell surface antigen RCAS1, is reported to be associated with tumour progression and invasiveness in various carcinomas. In this study, we examined the expression of EBAG9/RCAS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with special reference to its relationship with the stepwise evolution of HCC. Expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis in 143 HCCs, as well as in non-cancerous liver tissues. After which, the association between enhanced EBAG9/RCAS1 expression and various clinicopathological parameters including Ki-67 labelling index (LI), a marker of proliferative activity, was evaluated. There was a constant low level of EBAG9/RCAS1 expression in non-cancerous liver tissues, with a regular cytoplasmic distribution. Positive immunoreactivity for EBAG9/RCAS1 was detected on the surface and in the cytoplasm of 84 HCC tumours, with an irregular staining pattern. Enhanced EBAG9/RCAS1 expression was correlated with a lower degree of differentiation and Ki-67 LI. Interestingly, expression was enhanced specifically in the less differentiated lesions within ‘nodule-in-nodule tumours. In conclusion, EBAG9/RCAS1 was associated with HCC tumour dedifferentiation and increased proliferative activity. Its exact functional role remains to be established.

Estrogen Receptor-Binding Fragment-Associated Antigen 9 Is a Tumor-Promoting and Prognostic Factor for Renal Cell Carcinoma

The estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated antigen 9 (EBAG9) has been identified as a primary estrogen-responsive gene in human breast cancer MCF7 cells. A high expression of EBAG9 has been observed in invasive breast cancer and advanced prostate cancer, suggesting a tumor-promoting role of the protein in malignancies. Here we show that intratumoral (i.t.) administration of small interfering RNA against EBAG9 exerted overt regression of tumors following s.c. implantation of murine renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Renca cells. Overexpression of EBAG9 did not promote the proliferation of culture Renca cells; however, the inoculated Renca cells harboring EBAG9 (Renca-EBAG9) in BALB/c mice grew faster and developed larger tumors compared with Renca cells expressing vector alone (Renca-vector). After renal subcapsular implantation, Renca-EBAG9 tumors significantly enlarged compared with Renca-vector tumors in BALB/c mice, whereas both Renca-EBAG9 and Renca-vector tumors were developed with similar volumes in BALB/c nude mice. No apparent difference was observed in specific cytotoxic T-cell responses against Renca-EBAG9 and Renca-vector cells; nonetheless, the number of infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes was decreased in Renca-EBAG9 subcapsular tumors. Furthermore, immunohistochemical study of EBAG9 in 78 human RCC specimens showed that intense and diffuse cytoplasmic immunostaining was observed in 87% of the cases and positive EBAG9 immunoreactivity was closely correlated with poor prognosis of the patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that high EBAG9 expression was an independent prognostic predictor for disease-specific survival (P = 0.0485). Our results suggest that EBAG9 is a crucial regulator of tumor progression and a potential prognostic marker for RCC.

Estrogen-responsive RING finger protein controls breast cancer growth.

Most of the breast cancers initially respond to endocrine therapy that reduces the levels of estrogens or competes with estrogen for binding to its receptor. Most of the patients, however, acquire resistance to endocrine therapy with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors later. We assumed that identification of estrogen-responsive genes those regulate the growth of breast cancer is indispensable to develop new strategies targeting the genes and overcome the resistance to current endocrine therapy. Estrogen-responsive finger protein (Efp) is one of the estrogen receptor (ER)-target genes we have cloned using genomic binding site cloning. Efp features a structure of the RING-finger B-box coiled-coil (RBCC) motif. We postulated that Efp is a critical factor in proliferation of breast tumors. In a model system using MCF7 cells grown in xenografts, we showed that inhibition of Efp expression by antisense oligonucleotide reduced the tumor growth. MCF7 cells overexpressing Efp formed tumors in xenografts even in estrogen deprivation environment. By yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified that Efp interacts with 14-3-3sigma, which is known as a cell cycle brake that causes G2 arrest and expressed in normal mammary glands. In vitro studies have revealed that Efp functions as a ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3) that targets 14-3-3sigma. These data suggest that Efp controls breast cancer growth through ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of 14-3-3sigma. Future studies may provide a new therapy to block breast tumor proliferation by targeting Efp.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) gene with bone mineral density

Background:u2003 Wnt‐β‐catenin signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). Secreted frizzled‐related protein (sFRP) 4 that antagonize Wnt signals may modulate Wnt‐β‐catenin signaling pathway in the bone. Therefore, we analyzed expression of sFRP4 mRNA in primary osteoblasts and the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the sFRP4 gene with BMD.

Efp as a new molecular target for breast cancer therapy.

Research Center for Genomic Medicine, Saitama Medical School, Hidaka-shi, Saitama, Japan and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Correspondence to S. Inoue, Research Center for Genomic Medicine, Saitama Medical School, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka-shi, Saitama 350-1241, Japan. Tel: þ81 429 85 7206; fax: þ81 429 85 7209; e-mail: INOUE-GER@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp