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Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) bearing phenotypes related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been identified in breast cancer; however, their clinical significance is not clear. In the current study, we investigated the prognostic relevance of single CSC þ /partial-EMT þ CTCs in patients with metastatic breast cancer and the effect of first-line chemotherapy on their incidence. For this purpose, triple immunofluorescence against cytokeratin, ALDH1, and TWIST1 was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytospins from 130 patients before and after first-line chemotherapy. CSC þ / partial-EMT þ CTCs were characterized as cells co-expressing cytokeratin, high levels of ALDH1, and nuclear TWIST1. CSC þ /partial-EMT þ CTCs were evident in 27.7% of patients at baseline and were correlated to lung metastases (P ¼ 0.010) and decreased progression-free survival [PFS; median 10.2 (8.9-11.6) vs. 13.5 (11.3-15.7) months; P ¼ 0.024].Their detection was an independent factor predicting for increased risk of relapse [multivariate analysis; HR (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.785 (1.171-2.720); P ¼ 0.007]. In HER-2-negative patients, CSC þ /partial-EMT þ CTCs were additionally associated with reduced overall survival (OS) [median 39 (26.2-51.9) vs. 51 (15.7-86.4) months; P ¼ 0.020] and increased risk of death [multivariate analysis; HR (95% CI): 2.228 (1.066-4.655); P ¼ 0.033]. Chemotherapy resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of CSC þ /partial-EMT þ CTCs (mean CTC% per patient: 59.4% post vs. 39.5% pre; P ¼ 0.018), which was subsequently confirmed only in HER2-negative patients (P ¼ 0.040) and in non-responders at the end of treatment (P ¼ 0.020). In conclusion, CSC þ /partial-EMT þ CTCs represent a chemoresistant subpopulation, which independently predicts for unfavorable outcome in metastatic breast cancer. Efficient targeting of these CTCs could potentially increase patient survival.

We have recently shown that heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) interacts with the nuclear envelope in an acetylationdependent manner. Using purified components and in vitro assays, we now demonstrate that HP1 forms a quaternary complex with the inner nuclear membrane protein LBR and a sub-set of core histones. This complex involves histone H3/H4 oligomers, which mediate binding of LBR to HP1 and crosslink these two proteins that do not interact directly with each other. Consistent with previous observations, HP1 and LBR binding to core histones is strongly inhibited when H3/H4 are modified by recombinant CREB-binding protein, revealing a new mechanism for anchoring domains of under-acetylated chromatin to the inner nuclear membrane.

Estrogens are known modulators of monocyte/macrophage functions; however, the underlying mechanism has not been clearly defined. Recently, a number of estrogen receptor molecules and splice variants were identified that exert different and sometimes opposing actions. We assessed the expression of estrogen receptors and explored their role in mediating estrogenic anti-inflammatory effects on human primary monocytes. We report that the only estrogen receptors expressed are estrogen receptor-α 36-kDa splice variant and G-protein coupled receptor 30/G-protein estrogen receptor 1, in a sex-independent manner. 17-β-Estradiol inhibits the LPS-induced IL-6 inflammatory response, resulting in inhibition of NF-κB transcriptional activity. This is achieved via a direct physical interaction of ligand-activated estrogen receptor-α 36-kDa splice variant with the p65 component of NF-κB in the nucleus. G-protein coupled receptor 30/G-protein estrogen receptor 1, which also physically interacts with estrogen receptor-α 36-kDa splice variant, acts a coregulator in this process, because its inhibition blocks the effect of estrogens on IL-6 expression. However, its activation does not mimic the effect of estrogens, on neither IL-6 nor NF-κB activity. Finally, we show that the estrogen receptor profile observed in monocytes is not modified during their differentiation to macrophages or dendritic cells in vitro and is shared in vivo by macrophages present in atherosclerotic plaques. These results position estrogen receptor-α 36-kDa splice variant and G-protein coupled receptor 30 as important players and potential therapeutic targets in monocyte/macrophage-dependent inflammatory processes.

Nongenomic androgen actions imply mechanisms different from the classical intracellular androgen receptor (iAR) activation. We have recently reported the identification of a membrane androgen receptor (mAR) on LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, mediating testosterone signal transduction within minutes. In the present study we provide evidence that activation of mAR by nonpermeable, BSA-coupled testosterone results in 1) inhibition of LNCaP cell growth (with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 5.08 nM, similar to the affinity of testosterone for membrane sites); 2) induction in LNCaP cells of both apoptosis and the proapoptotic Fas protein; and 3) a significant decrease in migration, adhesion, and invasion of iAR-negative DU145 human prostate cancer cells. These actions persisted in the presence of antiandrogen flutamide or after decreasing the content of iAR in LNCaP cells by iAR antisense oligonucleotides. Testosterone-BSA was also effective in inducing apoptosis of DU145 human prostate cancer cells, negative for iAR, but expressing mAR sites. In LNCaP cell-inoculated nude mice, treatment with testosterone-BSA (4.8 mg/kg body weight) for 1 month resulted in a 60% reduction of tumor size compared with that in control animals receiving only BSA, an effect that was not affected by the antiandrogen flutamide. Our findings suggest that activators of mAR may represent a new class of antitumoral agents of prostate cancer.

Using heterochromatin-enriched fractions, we have detected specific binding of mononucleosomes to the N-terminal domain of the inner nuclear membrane protein lamin B receptor. Mass spectrometric analysis reveals that LBR-associated particles contain complex patterns of methylated/acetylated histones and are devoid of "euchromatic" epigenetic marks. LBR binds heterochromatin as a higher oligomer and forms distinct nuclear envelope microdomains in vivo. The organization of these membrane assemblies is affected significantly in heterozygous ic (ichthyosis) mutants, resulting in a variety of structural abnormalities and nuclear defects.A significant proportion of heterochromatin is localized in the periphery of the cell nucleus and maintains a close spatial association with the inner nuclear membrane (1-5). This spatial association reflects a multiplicity of interactions between chromatin components and integral or peripheral proteins of the nuclear envelope (NE) 1 (6, 7).Because chromatin is extensively and differentially modified (8, 9), it is tempting to think that certain epigenetic marks or factors associated with histone modifying enzymes provide binding sites for NE proteins. However, it is equally possible that transcriptionally active, noncondensed chromatin is subjected to silencing and "heterochromatinization" upon contact to the NE. Both of these hypotheses receive experimental support: chromatin that is silenced through binding to SIRs can tether itself to the NE (10), whereas targeting of marker genes to the inner nuclear membrane suppresses their expression (11).One of the factors that have been implicated in chromatin anchorage to the NE is the lamin B receptor (12). LBR is a polytopic inner nuclear membrane protein consisting of a long, N-terminal domain, seven or eight hydrophobic transmembrane regions, and a C-terminal tail (13). The N-terminal part of the molecule protrudes to the nucleoplasm and contains multiple serine-arginine motifs that are phosphorylated by the SRPK1 and the cdc2 kinases (14, 15); the hydrophobic region represents, instead, a (functional) form of sterol reductase and is involved in cholesterol metabolism (16).Immunodepletion of LBR from detergent-solubilized NE vesicles results in proteoliposomes with a diminished ability to bind chromatin. Furthermore, direct binding of electrophoretically purified LBR to metaphase chromosomes can be demonstrated by in vitro assays (17). Corroborating these observations, anti-LBR antibodies block nuclear assembly in sea urchin egg extracts (18), whereas direct (19) and indirect (20) interactions with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) have been claimed in the literature.Two critical parameters in LBR-chromatin interactions are the physical state of LBR and the molecular features of LBRassociated chromatin. To address these issues, we have isolated fragments of peripheral heterochromatin attached to the inner nuclear membrane. These subcellular fractions were utilized to affinity select mononucleosomes that associate with LBR and investigate L...

Nuclear envelope-peripheral heterochromatin fractions contain multiple histone kinase activities. In vitro assays and amino-terminal sequencing show that one of these activities co-isolates with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and phosphorylates histone H3 at threonine 3. Antibodies recognizing this post-translational modification reveal that in vivo phosphorylation at threonine 3 commences at early prophase in the vicinity of the nuclear envelope, spreads to pericentromeric chromatin during prometaphase and is fully reversed by late anaphase. This spatio-temporal pattern is distinct from H3 phosphorylation at serine 10, which also occurs during cell division, suggesting segregation of differentially phosphorylated chromatin to different regions of mitotic chromosomes.

Adipose tissue represents a rich source of multipotent stem cells. Mesenchymal cells, isolated from this source, can differentiate to other cell types in vitro and therefore can be used for a number of regenerative therapies. Our view of adipose tissue has recently changed, establishing adipocytes as new members of the immune system, as they produce a number of proinflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNFα and chemokines, in addition to adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) and molecules associated with the innate immune system. In this paper, we report the differential expression of TNF-superfamily members B cell activating factor of the TNF Family (BAFF), a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL), and TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in immature-appearing and mature adipocytes and in benign and malignant adipose tissue-derived tumors. These ligands act through their cognitive receptors, BAFF receptor, transmembrane activator and calcium signal-modulating cyclophilic ligand (TACI), B cell maturation Ag (BCMA), and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), which are also expressed in these cells. We further report the existence of functional BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 receptors and their ligands BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK on adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells, their interaction modifying the rate of adipogenesis. Our data integrate BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK and their receptors BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 as novel potential mediators of adipogenesis, in addition to their specific role in immunity, and define immature and mature adipocytes as source of immune mediators.