Dietary fibers are fermented by the gut flora to yield short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which inhibit the growth of tumor cells, induce glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and protect cells from the genotoxic activity of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Here, we investigated effects of wheat bran-derived arabinoxylans and fermentation products on these parameters of chemoprevention. Newly isolated water extractable (WeAx) and alkali extractable arabinoxylans (AeAx) were fermented under anaerobic conditions with human feces. Resulting fermentation supernatants (FSs) were analyzed for SCFAs and used to treat HT29 colon cancer cells. Cell growth, cytotoxicity, antigenotoxicity against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or HNE, and GST activity were determined. Nonfermented WeAx decreased H2O2-induced DNA damage by 64%, thus demonstrating chemoprotective properties by this nonfermented wheat bran fiber. The fermentation of WeAx and AeAx resulted in 3-fold increases of SCFA, but all FSs (including the control without arabinoxylans) inhibited the growth of the HT29 cells, reduced the genotoxicity of HNE, and enhanced the activity of GSTs (FS WeAx, 2-fold; FS AeAx, 1.7-fold; and control FS, 1.4-fold), which detoxify HNE. Thus, increases in SCFAs were not reflected by enhanced functional effects. The conclusion is that fermentation mixtures contain modulatory compounds that arise from the feces and might add to the effectiveness of SCFAs.

Loss of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) has been found in various human cancers. Underlying mechanisms, however, are still poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the function of hypoxia, a ubiquitous phenomenon in carcinomas, in CAR regulation. In our approach, hypoxia and treatment with cobalt-(II)-chloride (CoCl 2 ) induced a downregulation of CAR protein and mRNA expression, as well as a suppression of CAR gene promoter activity in AGS (gastric), SW480 (colon) and PC3 (prostate) cancer cells. In line with these findings we noted a decreased adenoviral uptake under hypoxic conditions. Aiming to further elucidate the molecular basis of this observation, a full-length hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) cDNA was ectopically overexpressed in the AGS cell line diminishing CAR expression and CAR gene promoter activity. In line with these findings, exposure of HIF-1a-deficient AGS cells to hypoxia did not alter CAR mRNA expression level. On the basis of these data, it may be suggested that loss of CAR in human cancer cell lines under hypoxic conditions occurs in an HIF-1a-dependent manner.

Cell surface presence of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is considered a crucial prerequisite for the uptake of attenuated adenovirus. In cancers, however, a frequent loss of CAR has been noted potentially hampering the success of adenovirus-based therapy. In esophageal Barrett's carcinomas and its precursor lesions CAR presence has not been systematically determined yet. Immunohistochemical assessment in tissue specimens of 111 patients revealed CAR-positivity in all cases of Barrett's esophagus, including various degrees of intraepithelial neoplasia. In contrast, no considerable CAR presence was seen in squamous esophageal epithelium. Among Barrett's carcinomas, 93% displayed CAR presence, whereas CAR-negativity was observed preferentially in advanced cancers. Aiming to evaluate whether this loss of CAR impacts tumor-biologic properties of esophageal adenocarcinomas we studied cell lines OE19 and OE33 and observed an increased proliferation, migration and invasion upon siRNA-mediated functional CAR knock down. In conclusion, our results indicate that CAR may provide a valuable target for adenovirus-based therapy of Barrett's carcinomas and its precursor lesions. These data do also suggest that CAR does not contribute substantially to carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus, however, it may be speculated that loss of CAR promotes tumor progression in advanced stages of Barrett's carcinomas.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI), e.g., sodium butyrate (NaB), have been suggested to upregulate the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR). Its impact on CAR in colon carcinomas, however, is poorly understood. NaB treatment of colon cancer cells increased CAR expression preferentially in cell lines with low basic CAR levels. These findings suggest that downregulation of CAR gene expression is mediated by transcriptional regulation and that activation of the CAR gene promoter is modulated by histone acetylation. The employment of HDACI may, therefore, represent a promising approach for improving adenovirus-based therapies of colon cancers with low CAR expression levels.

The structural change of East German agriculture after unification is heavily influenced by the agrarian policy of the EU. But its outcome is not only a product of a rational adaptation to new economic conditions, it also depends on social moments, especially the specific forms of cooperatives in the GDR. So economic considerations, insisting on the advantages of great farms have to be complemented by sociological analysis.