A short-term in vivo model for giant cell tumor of bone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because of the lack of suitable <it>in vivo </it>models of giant cell tumor of bone (GCT), little is known about its underlying fundamental pro-tumoral events, such as tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. There is no existing cell line that contains all the cell and tissue tumor components of GCT and thus <it>in vitro </it>testing of anti-tumor agents on GCT is not possible. In this study we have characterized a new method of growing a GCT tumor on a chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) for this purpose.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fresh tumor tissue was obtained from 10 patients and homogenized. The suspension was grafted onto the CAM at day 10 of development. The growth process was monitored by daily observation and photo documentation using <it>in vivo </it>biomicroscopy. After 6 days, samples were fixed and further analyzed using standard histology (hematoxylin and eosin stains), Ki67 staining and fluorescence <it>in situ </it>hybridization (FISH).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The suspension of all 10 patients formed solid tumors when grafted on the CAM. <it>In vivo </it>microscopy and standard histology revealed a rich vascularization of the tumors. The tumors were composed of the typical components of GCT, including (CD51+/CD68+) multinucleated giant cells whichwere generally less numerous and contained fewer nuclei than in the original tumors. Ki67 staining revealed a very low proliferation rate. The FISH demonstrated that the tumors were composed of human cells interspersed with chick-derived capillaries.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A reliable protocol for grafting of human GCT onto the chick chorio-allantoic membrane is established. This is the first <it>in vivo </it>model for giant cell tumors of bone which opens new perspectives to study this disease and to test new therapeutical agents.</p

REPAIR OF UV-INDUCED PYRIMIDINE(6-4)PYRIMIDONE PHOTOPRODUCTS IS SELECTIVELY INHIBITED IN TRANSCRIPTIONALLY ACTIVE GENES AFTER HEAT-TREATMENT OF HUMAN FIBROBLASTS

In normal human fibroblasts, repair of(6-4)PP in the active adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene occurs with similar rate in the transcribed and non-transcribed strand of the ADA gene, and removal of (6-4)PP from the active ADA gene is faster than from the inactive X-chromosomal 754 locus. Heat shock decreased the rate of repair of the active ADA gene down to the level of inactive genes, whereas the rate of repair of the inactive 754 locus was not affected

SELECTIVE-INHIBITION OF REPAIR OF ACTIVE GENES BY HYPERTHERMIA IS DUE TO INHIBITION OF GLOBAL AND TRANSCRIPTION COUPLED REPAIR PATHWAYS

Hyperthermia specifically inhibits the repair of UV-induced DNA photolesions in transcriptionally active genes, To define more precisely which mechanisms underlie the heat-induced inhibition of repair of active genes, removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) was studied in human fibroblasts with different repair capacities and different transcriptional status of the adenosine deaminase gene, i.e. normal human cells, human cells carrying an inactive copy of the adenosine deaminase gene and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C fibroblasts, The results indicate that repair of active genes is impaired by inhibition of two repair pathways: (i) a global repair system involved in the repair of CPDs in potentially active genes; and (ii) the transcription-coupled repair pathway responsible for the accelerated repair of the transcribed strand. Since X-ray-induced DNA damage is also preferentially removed from the transcribed strand of active genes, selective inhibition of repair of radiation-induced DNA damage in active genes may play a key role in radiosensitization due to hyperthermia

Altered association of transcriptionally active DNA with the nuclear-matrix after heat shock

Purpose: Exposure of human cells to heat leads to denaturation and aggregation of proteins. Within the nucleus, it has been suggested that protein aggregation is linked to the: selective inhibition by hyperthermia of nucleotide excision repair in transcriptionally active genes. Tn this study it was investigated in detail whether and how the inhibition of repair of transcriptionally active genes might be related to alterations in their association with the nuclear-matrix. Material and methods: Different protocols for nuclear-matrix isolation thigh salt and lithium 3',5'-diiodosalycilate [LTS] extraction of nuclei) were used to compare DNA loop organization and positioning of transcriptionally active genes in both heated and non-heated cells. Results: DNaseI digestion of total genomic DNA in Cu2+ stabilized LIS-extracted nuclei revealed that heat shock perturbed the formation of nuclear-matrix attachment sites. Specific labelling of active genes indicated that the number of nuclear-matrix attachment sites in transcriptionally active DNA was increased due to the heat shock. At the level of individual genes, heat treatment led to stabilization of the 5' matrix attachment site (MAR) in the transcriptionally active adenosine deaminase (ADA) housekeeping gene. Moreover, heat shock resulted in the formation of an additional MAR at the 3' end of the ADA gene. The inactive 754 locus was unassociated, irrespective of a heat shock. Conclusions: The reported changes in chromatin structure might underlie the selective inhibition of repair in transcriptionally active genes and consequently may be mechanistically linked to the sensitization of heated cells to ionizing radiation