Background: PTTG1 is an oncogene with its expression levels correlating with tumor development and metastasis. Results: Modulation of PTTG1 expression levels revealed that PTTG1 promotes invasive and migratory properties and expansion of CD44 high CD24 low cell population via AKT activation in breast cancer cells. Conclusion: PTTG1 induces EMT and promotes cancer stem cells via activation of AKT. Significance: PTTG1 represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention against the spread of breast cancer.
Growth of multiple myeloma cells is controlled by various factors derived from host bone marrow microenvironments. Interaction between multiple myeloma cells and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) plays an important role in the expression of adhesive molecules and secretion of growth factors involved in multiple myeloma (MM) cell growth, survival, and resistance to anticancer drugs. Recently, the possibility of developing novel anti‐cancer therapeutic strategies targeting both MM cells and MM cell–BMSC interactions has been discussed. Here we present data showing that curcumin, a major constituent of turmeric compounds extracted from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, effectively reduced the growth of MM cells and BMSCs. Upon treatment with curcumin, IL‐6/sIL‐6R‐induced STAT3 and Erk phosphorylation was dramatically reduced in the co‐cultured cells. In addition, curcumin inhibited the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and VEGF, factors that are associated with the progression of multiple myeloma, from both MM cells and BMSCs. In a combination treatment with curcumin and bortezomib, IL‐6/sIL‐6R‐induced STAT3 and Erk phosphorylation was effectively inhibited. Moreover, this combination treatment synergistically inhibited the growth of MM cells co‐cultured with BMSCs as compared to controls. Taken together, these results indicate that curcumin potentiates the therapeutic efficacy of bortezomib in MM suggesting this combination therapy to be of value in the clinical management of MM.
Human amniotic epithelial cells (h-AECs), which have various merits as a cell source for cell therapy, are known to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro. However, the ability of h-AECs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo and their cell transplantation effects on myocardial infarction are still unknown. In this study, we assessed whether h-AECs could differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo and whether h-AECs transplantation can decrease infarct size and improve cardiac function, in comparison to transplantation of cord bloodderived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or adipose tissue-derived MSCs. For our study, we injected h-AECs, cord blood-derived MSCs, adipose tissue-derived MSCs, and saline into areas of myocardial infarction in athymic nude rats. After 4 weeks, 3% of the surviving h-AECs expressed myosin heavy chain, a marker specific to the myocardium. Compared with the saline group, all cell-implanted groups showed a higher ejection fraction, lower infarct area by positron emission tomography and histology, and more abundant myocardial gene and protein expression in the infarct area. We showed that h-AECs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells, decrease infarct size, and improve cardiac function in vivo. The beneficial effects of h-AECs were comparable to those of cord blood and adipose tissue-derived MSCs. These results support the need for further studies of h-AECs as a cell source for myocardial regeneration due to their plentiful availability, low immunity, and lack of ethical issues related to their use.
The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a member of the polycomb group of proteins, plays an important role in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation. EZH2 is overexpressed in aggressive forms of prostate, breast, bladder, and endometrial cancers. However, the role of EZH2 expression in gastric cancer has not been fully determined. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between EZH2 and cell cycle-related molecules, and the clinical value of EZH2 expression in gastric cancer. We analyzed EZH2 expression using Western blotting in AGS, MKN-28, SNU-16, SNU-484, SNU-601, and SNU-638 gastric cancer cell lines. After transfection of EZH2 siRNA into MKN-28 cells, the change in cell cycle-related molecules was assessed by Western blot analysis. Expression of EZH2, Ki-67, and p53 was determined by immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays from specimens of 137 cases of resected gastric cancer. We found high expressions of EZH2 in all of the tested gastric cancer cell lines. RNA interference of EZH2 induced upregulation of p53 and HDAC1 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin E. High EZH2 expression was observed in 60.6% of gastric cancers and in 6.7% of non-neoplastic gastric tissues (p < 0.01); 40.1% were positive for p53 in gastric cancers. High EZH2 expression was correlated with Ki-67 and p53 expressions and was significantly associated with distant metastases and non-signet ring cells. Our results suggest that high EZH2 expression is associated with tumor cell proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer.
The clinical significance of ADAMTS13 activity for response to treatment, mortality rate, recurrence, and prognosis is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics of severe ADAMTS13 deficiency and evaluated its prognostic features in Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The Korean TTP Registry includes 66 patients from 13 teaching hospitals in Korea who received the diagnosis of TTP from January 2005 to December 2008. Blood samples obtained upon admission were sent for ADAMTS13 analysis (multimer analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis) to a central laboratory along with patient clinical information. Patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency had lower serum creatinine levels (P = 0.001) than patients with non-severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. Although severe ADAMTS13 deficiency was associated with better response rate (75 vs. 53%, P = 0.145), remission rate (81 vs. 61%, P = 0.209), and mortality rate (19 vs. 31%, P = 0.508) than non-severe ADAMTS13 deficiency, treatment outcomes did not differ significantly between groups. After adjusting for clinical and laboratory features, multivariate analysis did not reveal any independent risk factors for TTP-associated mortality. Patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency had lower serum creatinine levels at presentation, but severe ADAMTS13 activity deficiency at TTP diagnosis does not appear to have prognostic significance.
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