Identification of a secretory protein c19orf10 activated in hepatocellular carcinoma

The identification of genes involved in tumor growth is crucial for the development of inventive anticancer treatments. Here, we have cloned a 17-kDa secretory protein encoded by c19orf10 from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) serial analysis of gene expression libraries. Gene expression analysis indicated that c19orf10 was overexpressed in approximately two-thirds of HCC tissues compared to the adjacent noncancerous liver tissues, and its expression was significantly positively correlated with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Overexpression of c19orf10 enhanced cell proliferation of AFP-negative HLE cells, whereas knockdown of c19orf10 inhibited cell proliferation of AFP-positive Hep3B and HuH7 cells along with G1 cell cycle arrest. Supplementation of recombinant c19orf10 protein in culture media enhanced cell proliferation in HLE cells, and this effect was abolished by the addition of antibodies developed against c19orf10. Intriguingly, c19orf10 could regulate cell proliferation through the activation of Akt/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Taken together, these data suggest that c19orf10 might be one of the growth factors and potential molecular targets activated in HCC. Copyright © 2010 UICC

Dynamics of rheumatoid joint

In the present communication the recent works done by the Rheumatism Research Group of Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University, are described. The principal findings may briefly be summarized as follows. 1. Pathohistological pictures of the synovial membrane are classified into six types. Among them, Fibrinoid type and Follicular-Fibrosis type are the representative ones of chronic rheumatoid arthritis. 2. For the evaluation of the systemic as well as the local activities in rheumatoid arthritis and for judging the therapeutic effect, some indices have been established. 3. Injection of steroid hormones into the local joints fails to give satisfactory results in advanced, chronic rheumatoid arthritis. In such instances the flushing of the joint with physiological saline solution is effective. 4. In the case of chronic rheumatoid arthritis where the inflammation of hand and phalangeal joints is marked, RA-test gives rapid and more intense reaction, and most of such cases are of Follicular-Fibrosis type. 5. When lymph follicles appearing in the synovial membrane are stained when methyl green pyronine, the arrangement of lymphoid cells and plasma cells becomes distinctly clear. By micro-autoradiographic observations it can be seen that ³H-thymindine injected into the joint cavity is mostly ingested by the lymphoid cells in lymph follicles. 6. In the observation by the fluorescent antibody method multinuclear leucocytes found in the joint fluid and in the peripheral blood react with 19S and 7S-gamma-globulins. 7. When the serum and the joint fluid of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis are fractionated, they separate into three peaks at 19S, 7S, and 4S. Both S. S. C. A.-test and L. F. T. tests reveal the peak at 19S. The serum of chronic hepatitis positive to RA-test and the serum of rheumatoid arthritis are found to react immunologically the same to anti-&#946;2 M globulin sheep serum. 8. When the reticulo-endothelial system of rat is blocked by 900,000 molecules of poly-vinyl-pyrroridon, the ability of antibody production is diminished. 9. Chemical synovectomy of injecting osmic acid is effective to FibrinoidCoating type. Its action mechanism lies in the complete cleaning of the surface of synovial membrane. 10. By radiating synovectomy with 193Au a fairly good result can be expected. 198Au is ingested by those cells in the surface layer of the synovial membrane and also by histiocytes in the synovial membrane. When 5 mc of 198Au are injected into the knee joint, a marked necrosis of the synovial membrane occurs. When 198Au is added to the ascites cells of rabbit during the tissue culture, in the concentration of over 14 &#956;C degeneration of these cells can be recognized. 11. From the examination results of prognosis on those 25 cases with 41 rheumatoid knee joints after surgical synovectomy, it is considered that this method is indicated for Follicular-Fibrosis type. Ones with rheumatoid knee joint of Fibrinoid-Coating type gold sol treatment should be resorted to. In the cases of hand joints, surgical synovectemy is to be recommended at a relatively early stage.</p

Reactive peripheral blood plasmacytosis in a patient with acute hepatitis A

金沢大学附属病院小児科Reactive plasmacytosis is a transient expansion of plasma cell progenitors and precursors. This rare condition has been reported to occur mainly in infections and tumors. We describe a case of acute hepatitis A presenting with marked peripheral blood plasmacytosis. Plasma cells made up 27.5% of the mononuclear cells and had the immunophenotype CD10-CD19 +CD20-CD21-CD23-CD34 -CD38++HLA-DR+. Although the level of interleukin 6 was not increased, the presence of activated T-cells with an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio and high levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor and neopterin indicated a marked immune response to acute hepatitis A. The patient\u27s plasma cells had almost disappeared from the blood by hospital day 16. This report may represent the first described case of reactive peripheral blood plasmacytosis in acute hepatitis A. © 2007 The Japanese Society of Hematology

北陸地区におけるスクリーニング上部消化管内視鏡検査での咽頭観察の現状

[背景・目的] 現在, スクリーニング上部消化管内視鏡検査における咽頭領域の観察が十分に浸透しているとはいい難い状況である. 北陸地区における上部消化管内視鏡での咽頭観察の現状について調査した. [方法] 日本消化器内視鏡学会専門医114名にアンケートを送付し, 回答のあった73名を対象とし調査した. [結果] 咽頭観察を全例に行っている医師は79.5%, スクリーニングに画像強調観察(image-enhanced endoscopy:IEE)を用いた(I群)のは61.6%であった. 観察時間はI群が白色光(W群)と比べ有意に長く(p<0.001), 1年以内の癌の発見率はI群がW群と比べ有意に高かった(p=0.007). 問題点として, 観察の困難さ, 苦痛増強の可能性などの意見が多かった. [結論] スクリーニングにおける咽頭観察において, 癌の発見にはIEEにて時間をかけて観察することが重要である可能性が示唆された. 今後, さらなる咽頭観察の啓蒙活動が重要と考えられる.出版者照会後に全文公

Serum cytokine profiles predict survival benefits in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib: A retrospective cohort study

金沢大学先進予防医学研究科Background: Sorafenib is a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor known to prolong overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Predicting this drug\u27s survival benefits is challenging because clinical responses are rarely measurable during treatment. In this study, we hypothesized that serum cytokines levels could predict the survival of advanced HCC patients, as sorafenib targets signaling pathways activated in the tumor stromal microenvironment and potentially affects serum cytokine profiles. Methods: Of 143 patients with advanced-stage HCC, 104 who were recruited between 2003 and 2007 received hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) that mainly targets tumor epithelial cells at S-phase (cohort 1); additionally, 39 recruited between 2010 and 2012 received sorafenib, which primarily targets the stromal vascular endothelial cells. Serum samples were collected and aliquoted prior to the treatment. Serum EGF, bFGF, HGF, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MIG, PDGF-BB, SCF, SDF1, TGF-β, TGF-α, TNF-α, and VEGF-A were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors were used to assess tumor responses. Results: The median survival time of HCC patients in cohorts 1 (HAIC-treated) and 2 (sorafenib-treated) were 12.0 and 12.4 months, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant survival differences between the 2 groups. Patients who survived more than 2 years after sorafenib treatment exhibited higher serum levels of IL-10, IL-12, TNF-a, IL-8, SDF-1, EGF, PDGF-BB, SCF, and TGF-α. Furthermore, cohort 2 patients with higher serum IL-5 (>12 pg/mL), IL-8 (>10 pg/mL), PDGF-BB (>300 pg/mL), and VEGF-A (>50 pg/mL) levels achieved longer survival; cohort 1 patients did not. Hierarchical cluster analysis of 6 cytokines robustly enriched for comparison analysis between cohorts 1 and 2 (IL-5, IL-8, TGF-α, PDGF-BB, CXCL9, and VEGF-A) revealed that elevation of these cytokines correlated with better survival when treated with sorafenib but not with HAIC. Conclusions: Patients who exhibited survival benefits owing to sorafenib treatment tended to present higher serum cytokines levels, potentially reflecting the activation of stromal signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Our study thus introduces novel biomarkers that may identify advanced HCC patients who may experience survival benefits with sorafenib treatment. © 2017 The Author(s)

dUTPaseとwntシグナルを標的とした肝細胞癌新規治療薬の開発

dUTPase抑制効果を有する薬剤として、インターフェロンおよびbeta-HIVSを同定した。beta-HIVSの類似化合物を作成し、肝癌細胞増殖抑制効果を確認した。EpCAMと dUTPaseの発現の正の相関をあきらかにした。Wntシグナルを活性化でdUTPaseの強発現を、beta-cateninの発現抑制で、dUTpaseプロモーターの活性の低下を認め、dUTPaseの発現はWntシグナルで調節されている可能性を発見した。dUTPaseとWnt/beta-cateninシグナルおよびEpCAMの相関を明らかとし、dUTPase抑制薬として、beta-HIVS類似化合物を同定・作成した。Examples of drugs having dUTPase inhibitory effect was identified as a component of the Chinese herb Lithospermum a beta-HIVS. Create a similar compound of HIVS, it was confirmed liver cancer cell growth inhibitory effect. I have revealed a positive correlation of expression of dUTPase and EpCAM. In suppression of the expression of beta-catenin, the observed decrease in activity dUTpase promoter, expression of dUTPase found the possibility of being regulated in Wnt signaling, a strong expression of dUTPase activation of Wnt signaling.The apparent correlation of EpCAM and Wnt / beta-catenin signaling and dUTPase, dUTPase as inhibitors, were identified, create a beta-HIVS similar compounds.研究課題/領域番号:24701024, 研究期間(年度):2012-04-01 - 2014-03-3