It has been shown that RT-PCR is a powerful tool to detect CEA mRNA in the lymph nodes or the peripheral blood. This is potentially very useful to determine high-risk patients for metastasis. Serial analysis is warranted to assess the long-term significance of this method and its therapeutic and prognostic implications.

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ObjectiveThe human genes MAGE-1 and -3 encode tumor-specific peptide antigens, which are recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The antigens coded by those genes may be useful for cancer immunotherapy. There is, however, little information on the expression of these genes in human colorectal carcinomas. MethodThe expression of MAGE-1, -2, and -3 genes in 54 pairs of tumor and corresponding normal tissue specimens of the colorectum was determined by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The induction of MAGE-1, -2, -3, and -4 gene expression in eight colorectal carcinoma cell lines also was examined by use of a demethylating agent, 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC). ResultsThe expression of MAGE genes was not recognized in normal colorectal tissues at all. In tumor tissue specimens, the expression of MAGE-1, -2, and -3 was recognized in 16 (30%), 15 (28%), and 11 (20%) patients, respectively. The expression was seen frequently in patients with liver metastasis (p < 0.01). Although MAGE-1 or -3 genes were not induced by DAC, MAGE-2 or -4 genes were induced in three of four MAGE-2 negative cell lines or three of seven MAGE-4 negative cell lines, respectively. ConclusionsThe MAGE genes were expressed exclusively in tumor tissues of one third of patients with colorectal carcinoma. The identification of such tumor rejection antigens is considered to uncover a new possibility for the specific immunotherapy of colorectal carcinoma. The demethylating agent may increase the number of patients who might be candidates for MAGE-specific immunotherapy.183

Osterix is a recently identified zinc-finger-containing transcription factor, which is required for skeletogenesis as no bone formation was observed in osterix-deficient mice. Osterix was first cloned as a gene whose expression was enhanced by BMP in C2C12 cells. As BMP induces ectopic bone formation in vivo via a pathway reminiscent to endochondral bone formation, BMP may also regulate osterix gene expression in chondrocytes. However, no information was available regarding the BMP actions on osterix gene expression in chondrocytes. We therefore examined the effects of BMP-2 on osterix gene expression in chondrocytes in culture. RT-PCR analysis indicated that osterix mRNA was expressed in the primary cultures of chondrocytes derived from mouse rib cartilage. The treatment with BMP-2 enhanced the levels of osterix transcripts within 24 h and the enhancement was still observed at 48 h based on RT-PCR analysis. This BMP effect was specific to this cytokine, as TGF-beta did not alter osterix gene expression. BMP effects on the osterix mRNA levels were also confirmed by Northern blot analysis. The enhancing effect of BMP on osterix gene expression was observed in a dose-dependent manner starting at 200 ng/ml. The BMP enhancement of the osterix gene expression in chondrocytes was blocked in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, while it was still observed in the presence of 5,6-dichloro-1-beta D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazol (DRB) suggesting the involvement of post-transcriptional events, which require new protein synthesis. These results indicated that osterix gene is expressed in the primary cultures of chondrocytes and its expression is under the control of BMP-2.

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Based on the successful result of fast heating of a shell target with a cone for heating beam injection at Osaka University in 2002 using the PW laser (Kodama et al 2002 Nature 418 933), the FIREX-1 project was started in 2004. Its goal is to demonstrate fuel heating up to 5 keV using an upgraded heating laser beam. For this purpose, the LFEX laser, which can deliver an energy up to10 kJ in a 0.5-20 ps pulse at its full spec, has been constructed in addition to the Gekko-XII laser system at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University. It has been activated and became operational since 2009. Following the previous experiment with the PW laser, upgraded integrated experiments of fast ignition have been started using the LFEX laser with an energy up to 1 kJ in 2009 and 2 kJ in 2010 in a 1-5 ps 1.053 µm pulse. Experimental results including implosion of the shell target by Gekko-XII, heating of the imploded fuel core by LFEX laser injection, and increase of the neutron yield due to fast heating compared with no heating have been achieved. Results in the 2009 experiment indicated that the heating efficiency was 3-5%, much lower than the 20-30% expected from the previous 2002 data. It was attributed to the very hot electrons generated in a long scale length plasma in the cone preformed with a

Core-binding factor A1 (Cbfa1), also called Pebp2 A/ AML3, is a transcription factor that belongs to the runtdomain gene family. Cbfa1-deficient mice are completely incapable of both endochondral and intramembranous bone formation, indicating that Cbfa1 is indispensable for osteogenesis. Maturation of chondrocytes in these mice is also disorganized, suggesting that Cbfa1 may also play a role in chondrogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of Pebp2 A/ AML3/Cbfa1 expression in the chondrocyte-like cell line, TC6. Northern blot analysis indicated that Cbfa1 mRNA was constitutively expressed as a 6·3 kb message in TC6 cells and the level of Cbfa1 expression was enhanced by treatment with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) in a time-and dose-dependent manner. This effect was blocked by an RNA polymerase inhibitor, 5,6-dichloro-1---ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, but not by a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Western blot analysis of the cell lysates using polyclonal antibody raised against Cbfa1 indicated that BMP2 treatment increased the Cbfa1 protein level in TC6 cells. In TC6 cells, BMP2 treatment enhanced expression of alkaline phosphatase and type I collagen mRNAs but suppressed that of type II collagen mRNA. In addition to TC6 cells, Cbfa1 mRNA was also expressed in primary cultures of chondrocytes and BMP2 treatment enhanced Cbfa1 mRNA expression in these cells similarly to its effect on TC6 cells. These data indicate that the Pebp2 A/AML3/Cbfa1 gene is expressed in a chondrocyte-like cell line, TC6, and its expression is enhanced by treatment with BMP.