TMPRSS4 is a novel type II transmembrane serine protease found at the cell surface that is highly expressed in pancreatic, colon and gastric cancer tissues. However, the biological functions of TMPRSS4 in cancer are unknown. Here we show, using reverse transcription-PCR, that TMPRSS4 is highly elevated in lung cancer tissues compared with normal tissues and is also broadly expressed in a variety of human cancer cell lines. Knockdown of TMPRSS4 by small interfering RNA treatment in lung and colon cancer cell lines was associated with reduction of cell invasion and cell-matrix adhesion as well as modulation of cell proliferation. Conversely, the invasiveness, motility and adhesiveness of SW480 colon carcinoma cells were significantly enhanced by TMPRSS4 overexpression. Furthermore, overexpression of TMPRSS4 induced loss of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion, concomitant with the induction of SIP1/ZEB2, an Ecadherin transcriptional repressor, and led to epithelialmesenchymal transition events, including morphological changes, actin reorganization and upregulation of mesenchymal markers. TMPRSS4-overexpressing cells also displayed markedly increased metastasis to the liver in nude mice upon intrasplenic injection. Taken together, these studies suggest that TMPRSS4 controls the invasive and metastatic potential of human cancer cells by facilitating an epithelial-mesenchymal transition; TMPRSS4 may be a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

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Engraftment syndrome (ES) and pre-engraftment syndrome (pre-ES) are both inflammatory conditions that occur after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) and are characterized by non-infectious fever and skin rash. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood, both syndromes are similar, and could be defined as a new clinical syndrome, named as peri-engraftment syndrome (peri-ES). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records in 176 pediatric patients, following allogeneic HSCT. We utilized the definition of ES by Spitzer as the diagnostic criteria, excluding 'within 96 h of engraftment' criteria. Thirty cases developed peri-ES with a cumulative incidence of 17.0%. High cumulative incidence (50%) was seen in patients who underwent a double-unit cord blood transplantation (DUCBT; Po0.01). Clinical findings of peri-ES are similar, regardless of the onset day, and encephalopathy was the most severe complication. In the DUCBT cohort, the use of TBI and early complete chimerism (pday 21) were identified as risk factors that predispose the development of peri-ES. We determined that both, ES and pre-ES, might have similar causes, which could be included in peri-ES. Particularly, it occurred more in DUCBT patients, which means that not only neutrophil engraftment but also immune reactions within the two units might contribute to peri-ES.

Cytoprotective effects of liquiritigenin (LQ) against liver injuries have been reported, but its pharmacokinetics has not been studied in acute hepatitis. Thus, pharmacokinetics of LQ and its two conjugated glucuronide metabolites: 4'-O-glucuronide (M1) and 7-O-glucuronide (M2), in rats with acute hepatitis induced by d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS) rats or carbon tetrachloride-treated (CCl(4)-treated) rats were evaluated. LQ was administered intravenously (20 mg kg(-1)) and orally (50 mg kg(-1)) to control GalN/LPS and CCl(4)-treated rats. Expression of uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferases 1A (UGT1A) and in vitro metabolism of LQ in hepatic and intestinal microsomes were also measured. After intravenous administration of LQ, area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of LQ in GalN/LPS rats was significantly smaller than that in controls due to faster non-renal clearance, as a result of its greater free fraction in plasma and faster hepatic blood flow rate than the controls. In CCl(4)-treated rats, the AUC(M1, 0-8 h)/AUC(LQ) and AUC(M2, 0-8 h)/AUC(LQ) ratios were significantly greater than the controls due to decrease in biliary excretion of M1 and M2. However, no significant pharmacokinetic changes were observed in both acute hepatitis rats after oral administration due to comparable intestinal metabolism of LQ. Modification of oral dosage regimen of LQ may not be necessary in patients with acute hepatitis; but human studies are required.

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