Epigenetic control of the ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase 1 in renal cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) gene involved in the regulation of cellular ubiquitin levels plays an important role in different cellular processes including cell growth and differentiation. Aberrant expression of UCHL1 has been found in a number of human solid tumors including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In RCC, UCHL1 overexpression is associated with tumor progression and an altered von Hippel Lindau gene expression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To determine the underlying mechanisms for the heterogeneous UCHL1 expression pattern in RCC the UCHL1 promoter DNA methylation status was determined in 17 RCC cell lines as well as in 32 RCC lesions and corresponding tumor adjacent kidney epithelium using combined bisulfite restriction analysis as well as bisulfite DNA sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>UCHL1 expression was found in all 32 tumor adjacent kidney epithelium samples. However, the lack of or reduced UCHL1 mRNA and/or protein expression was detected in 13/32 RCC biopsies and 7/17 RCC cell lines and due to either a total or partial methylation of the UCHL1 promoter DNA. Upon 2'-deoxy-5-azacytidine treatment an induction of UCHL1 mRNA and protein expression was found in 9/17 RCC cell lines, which was linked to the demethylation degree of the UCHL1 promoter DNA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Promoter hypermethylation represents a mechanism for the silencing of the UCHL1 gene expression in RCC and supports the concept of an epigenetic control for the expression of UCHL1 during disease progression.</p

Vampires in the village Žrnovo on the island of Korčula: following an archival document from the 18th century

Središnja tema rada usmjerena je na raščlambu spisa pohranjenog u Državnom arhivu u Mlecima (fond: Capi del Consiglio de’ Dieci: Lettere di Rettori e di altre cariche) koji se odnosi na događaj iz 1748. godine u korčulanskom selu Žrnovo, kada su mještani – vjerujući da su se pojavili vampiri – oskvrnuli nekoliko mjesnih grobova. U radu se podrobno iznose osnovni podaci iz spisa te rečeni događaj analizira u širem društvenom kontekstu i prate se lokalna vjerovanja.The main interest of this essay is the analysis of the document from the State Archive in Venice (file: Capi del Consiglio de’ Dieci: Lettere di Rettori e di altre cariche) which is connected with the episode from 1748 when the inhabitants of the village Žrnove on the island of Korčula in Croatia opened tombs on the local cemetery in the fear of the vampires treating. This essay try to show some social circumstances connected with this event as well as a local vernacular tradition concerning superstitions

Opportunities for intensification of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis through reduced formation of methane over cobalt catalysts in microreactors

Due to the global growth in production of synthetic fuels via the Gas-to-Liquid (GTL), Coal-To-Liquid (CTL) and Biomass-To-Liquid (BTL) processes, academic and industrial interest in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) research has increased during the past decade. The undesired product of FTS is methane and it is formed in amounts higher than expected according to the current understanding of the FTS mechanism. Therefore, it is important to gain better understanding of methane formation in order to optimize the FTS process. In this review we discuss the reasons responsible for higher than expected methane selectivity under FTS conditions over cobalt-based FTS catalysts and describe novel microreactors for use in FTS. These novel reactors could help improve reaction selectivity and yield, as well as offer significant economic benefits. Recommendations are given for intensification of FTS in terms of product selectivity by improved selection of catalysts, process conditions and reactor configurations

Functional role of human leukocyte antigen-G up-regulation in renal cell carcinoma.

The nonclassical HLA-G molecule exhibits a limited tissue distribution and exerts multiple immune regulatory functions. Recent studies indicate that HLA-G expression plays a key role in the induction of immune tolerance and may represent a novel immune escape mechanism of tumor cells. Despite a high frequency of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) lesions, outgrowth of tumor cells occurs that might be attributable to abrogation-efficient antitumor responses. To delineate the potential role of HLA-G in RCC immunology, the HLA-G expression pattern and its functional consequences on immune responses were analyzed in cell lines and lesions derived from primary RCC lesions. A heterogeneous constitutive and IFN-gamma-inducible HLA-G mRNA and protein expression was found in 12.5% of RCC cell lines but not in autologous normal kidney cells. Western blot analysis of 37 primary RCC lesions revealed HLA-G protein expression in 27% of RCC lesions. Functional studies performed with alloreactive natural and lymphokine-activated killer cells as well as antigen-specific CD8(+) T-cell populations demonstrated that HLA-G expression inhibits lysis of RCC cells by these different immune effector cells, whereas HLA-G(-) normal kidney cells were recognized. Furthermore, the HLA-G-mediated counteraction of immune response could be restored by antibody blocking experiments. Thus, aberrant HLA-G expression is found at a relatively high frequency in RCC and might participate in evasion of these tumor cells from immunosurveillance

TF-FVIIa PAR2-β-arrestin in mouse signaling sustains organ dysfunction in coxsackievirus B3 infection

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence implicates the activation of G-protein-coupled PARs (protease-activated receptors) by coagulation proteases in the regulation of innate immune responses. METHODS: Using mouse models with genetic alterations of the PAR2 signaling platform, we have explored contributions of PAR2 signaling to infection with coxsackievirus B3, a single-stranded RNA virus provoking multiorgan tissue damage, including the heart. RESULTS: We show that PAR2 activation sustains correlates of severe morbidity-hemodynamic compromise, aggravated hypothermia, and hypoglycemia-despite intact control of the virus. Following acute viral liver injury, canonical PAR2 signaling impairs the restoration process associated with exaggerated type I IFN (interferon) signatures in response to viral RNA recognition. Metabolic profiling in combination with proteomics of liver tissue shows PAR2-dependent reprogramming of liver metabolism, increased lipid droplet storage, and gluconeogenesis. PAR2-sustained hypodynamic compromise, reprograming of liver metabolism, as well as imbalanced IFN responses are prevented in β-arrestin coupling-deficient PAR2 C-terminal phosphorylation mutant mice. Thus, wiring between upstream proteases and immune-metabolic responses results from biased PAR2 signaling mediated by intracellular recruitment of β-arrestin. Importantly, blockade of the TF (tissue factor)-FVIIa (coagulation factor VIIa) complex capable of PAR2 proteolysis with the NAPc2 (nematode anticoagulant protein c2) mitigated virus-triggered pathology, recapitulating effects seen in protease cleavage-resistant PAR2 mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide insights into a TF-FVIIa signaling axis through PAR2-β-arrestin coupling that is a regulator of inflammation-triggered tissue repair and hemodynamic compromise in coxsackievirus B3 infection and can potentially be targeted with selective coagulation inhibitors