Die Regulation der Synthese des translationell kontrollierten Tumorproteins (TCTP)

Das translationell kontrollierte Tumorprotein (TCTP) ist ein hochkonserviertes, ubiquitär in Eukaryonten vorkommendes Protein. Seine Bezeichnung geht auf die erstmalige Beschreibung in Tumorzellen zurück und weist zugleich auf seine besondere translationelle Regulation hin. Das zugehörige Gen wird als TPT1 bezeichnet und befindet sich beim Menschen auf dem langen Arm des Chromosom 13. Eine pathophysiologische Bedeutung für TCTP wurde bei Tumorerkrankungen, Erkrankungen des allergischen Formenkreises sowie bei Infektionen durch Parasiten beschrieben. Für diese Arbeit wurde zur Untersuchung grundlegender Regulationsphänomene die TCTP-mRNA des Kaninchens als geeignetes Modell ausgewählt. Es wurden die volllangen TCTP-mRNA1 und 2, die sich in der Länge ihrer 3'UTR unterscheiden, sowie Deletionsvarianten, denen die UTR-Abschnitte fehlen, kloniert. In Proteinbindungsstudien (Electromobility Shift Assays, UV-Crosslinking-Experimente, RNA-Affinitätschromatographie) wurden potentielle Bindungsfaktoren der TCTP-UTRs analysiert. Die an der mRNA des Kaninchens erarbeiteten Ergebnisse wurden durch Untersuchungen an humanen Melanomzellen ergänzt. In in vitro Translationsexperimenten wurde gezeigt, dass die Regulation der TCTP-mRNA durch ihre 5'UTR und 3'UTR2 vermittelt wird. In RNA-Bindungsstudien konnte eine Reihe potentieller Bindungsfaktoren der UTRs charakterisiert werden. Bei Verwendung von Extrakten aus verschiedenen Kaninchengeweben zeigten sich deutliche gewebsspezifische Unterschiede. Frühere Untersuchungen hatten gezeigt, dass es in der Melanomzelllinie MeWo bei der Ausbildung einer Chemoresistenz zu einer Expressionssteigerung des TCTP kommt. In einem ersten Schritt wurde der Beitrag von Transkription und Translation in vergleichenden Northern und Western Blot Analysen untersucht. Auf mRNA-Niveau findet man in den resistenten Zellen eine deutliche Steigerung der Expression im Vergleich zu den sensiblen Zellen. Der mRNA-Menge in den chemosensiblen Zellen steht eine vergleichsweise geringe Menge an Protein gegenüber. Folglich liegt die mRNA in diesen Zellen in einem inaktiven Zustand vor. Es konnten drei Cytoskelettproteine gamma-Actin, beta-Tubulin und alpha-Actinin als Bindungspartner der TCTP-3'UTR in den Melanomzellen identifiziert werden. Eine Bedeutung von TCTP für die Entstehung der Chemoresistenz lässt sich aufgrund seiner anti-apoptotischen Wirkung vermuten. Die Regulation der TCTP-Translation stellt bei durch Cytostatika hervorgerufener Hemmung der Transkription einen wichtigen Pathomechanismus in chemoresistenten Melanomzellen dar.The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a highly conserved protein expressed in all eukaryotic organisms. It was first described in tumor cells showing a special regulation of translation. The chromosomal localisation of the respective human gene TPT1 has been determined (13q14). TCTP has been implicated in cellular processes such as cell growth and apoptosis. Its medical importance has been shown in malignant transformation, allergic reactions and immunity against parasitic organisms. In order to investigate basic mechanisms of translational regulation the rabbit TCTP-mRNA was chosen due to its high homology to its human counterpart. The TPT1 gene is transcribed into two TCTP-mRNAs differing in the length of their 3'untranslated regions. These two mRNAs and variants missing the untranslated regions were cloned into expression vectors. In Electro mobility shift assays, UV-crosslinking assays and RNA affinity purification several TCTP-mRNA binding factors were characterised. Furthermore, the role of TCTP in human chemoresistant melanoma cells was investigated. In cell-free translation assays the importance of the 5'UTR and 3'UTR2 was shown. However, in wheat germ extracts the regulation of the TCTP-mRNA mediated by its 5'UTR is less important. In Electro mobility shift assays and UV-crosslinking assays with radiolabelled transcripts of the untranslated regions great variations in tissue-specific protein binding were found. Recently, TCTP had been implicated in the development of chemoresistance in the human melanoma cell line MeWo. As a first step, the contribution of transcriptional and translational regulation was analysed by comparing TCTP-expression in Northern and Western blot assays. Transcription of the TPT1 gene is increased in chemoresistant melanoma cells whereas translation is inhibited in those cells susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents. Three proteins, gamma-actin, beta-tubulin and alpha-actinin, were identified as factors binding to the TCTP-3'UTR in melanoma cells. For the interaction of these cytoskeleton components their ability to bind intracellular calcium ions could be of great importance. The role of TCTP in the development of chemoresistance can be explained by its anti-apoptotic function. In conclusion, the regulation of TCTP-translation when transcription is blocked by inhibitors of DNA-function is an important mechanism to overcome the effect of these anti-proliferative agents

Evaluation of the transforming growth factor beta1 codon 25 (Arg-->Pro) polymorphism in alcoholic liver disease

INTRODUCTION: Liver cirrhosis develops only in a minority of heavy drinkers. Genetic factors may account for some variation in the progression of fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta1) is a key profibrogenic cytokine in fibrosis and its gene contains several polymorphic sites. A single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 25 has been suggested to affect fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, fatty liver disease, and hereditary hemochromatosis. Its contribution to the progression of ALD has not been investigated sufficiently so far. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundred-and-fifty-one heavy drinkers without apparent ALD, 149 individuals with alcoholic cirrhosis, and 220 alcoholic cirrhotics who underwent liver transplantation (LTX) were genotyped for TGFbeta1 codon 25 variants. RESULTS: Univariate analysis suggested that genotypes Arg/Pro or Pro/Pro are associated with decompensated liver cirrhosis requiring LTX. However, after adjusting for patients' age these genotypes did not confer a significant risk for cirrhosis requiring LTX. CONCLUSION: TGFbeta1 codon 25 genotypes Arg/Pro or Pro/Pro are not associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Our study emphasizes the need for adequate statistical methods and accurate study design when evaluating the contribution of genetic variants to the course of chronic liver diseases

No role of matrixmetalloproteinase-3 genetic promoter polymorphism 1171 as a risk factor for cirrhosis in alcoholic liver disease

BACKGROUND: As only a minority of alcoholics develop cirrhosis, polymorphic genes, whose products are involved in fibrosis development were suggested to confer individual susceptibility. We tested whether a functional promoter polymorphism in the gene encoding matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3; 1171 5A/6A) was associated liver cirrhosis in alcoholics. METHODS: Independent cohorts from the UK and Germany were studied. (i) UK cohort: 320 alcoholic cirrhotics and 183 heavy drinkers without liver damage and (ii) German cohort: 149 alcoholic cirrhotics, 220 alcoholic cirrhotics who underwent liver transplantation and 151 alcoholics without liver disease. Patients were genotyped for MMP-3 variants by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single strand confirmation polymorphism, and direct sequencing. In addition, MMP-3 transcript levels were correlated with MMP-3 genotype in normal liver tissues. RESULTS: Matrix metalloproteinase-3 genotype and allele distribution in all 1023 alcoholic patients were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant differences in MMP-3 genotype and allele frequencies were observed either between alcoholics with or without cirrhosis. There were no differences in hepatic mRNA transcription levels according to MMP-3 genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Matrix metalloproteinase-3 1171 promoter polymorphism plays no role in the genetic predisposition for liver cirrhosis in alcoholics. Stringently designed candidate gene association studies are required to exclude chance observations

Low-density lipoprotein receptor variants are associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced recovery from hepatitis C virus infection

Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is involved in the entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in host cells. We investigated whether three single-nucleotide alterations within LDLR might be associated with the course of hepatitis C infection and response to antiviral therapy. We enrolled 651 individuals with chronic HCV infection who had received interferon-based combination therapy, 174 individuals with self-limited HCV infection, and 516 healthy controls. LDLR c.1171G > A, c.1413G > A, and c.*52G > A genotyping was performed by real-time PCR-based assays. HCV genotype 1-infected individuals who were homozygous for 3′UTR c.*52G were at increased risk for virologic non-response to antiviral therapy compared to virologic responders (66.3% vs. 51.0%, p = 0.001). Furthermore, compared to healthy controls, self-limited HCV genotype 1 infection was significantly associated with c.1171A (15.1% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.006) and negatively associated with c.1413G > A heterozygosity (33.0% vs. 46.1%, p = 0.023). The data indicate that LDLR alterations are correlated with response to interferon-based combination therapy and with self-limitation of HCV 1 infection

A degradation-sensitive anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) variant protects against chronic pancreatitis.

Contains fulltext : 51133.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Chronic pancreatitis is a common inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Mutations in the genes encoding cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) and the pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (SPINK1) are associated with chronic pancreatitis. Because increased proteolytic activity owing to mutated PRSS1 enhances the risk for chronic pancreatitis, mutations in the gene encoding anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) may also predispose to disease. Here we analyzed PRSS2 in individuals with chronic pancreatitis and controls and found, to our surprise, that a variant of codon 191 (G191R) is overrepresented in control subjects: G191R was present in 220/6,459 (3.4%) controls but in only 32/2,466 (1.3%) affected individuals (odds ratio 0.37; P = 1.1 x 10(-8)). Upon activation by enterokinase or trypsin, purified recombinant G191R protein showed a complete loss of trypsin activity owing to the introduction of a new tryptic cleavage site that renders the enzyme hypersensitive to autocatalytic proteolysis. In conclusion, the G191R variant of PRSS2 mitigates intrapancreatic trypsin activity and thereby protects against chronic pancreatitis