Search

We studied 2780 adults in Hong Kong who received CoronaVac inactivated virus vaccine (Sinovac) and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine ("Comirnaty", BioNTech/Fosun Pharma). We compared rates of antibody waning over time using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for spike receptor binding domain and a surrogate virus neutralization test. We found stronger and more durable antibody responses to two doses of the mRNA vaccine, and slightly stronger initial antibody responses to each vaccine in younger adults and women. The weaker and less durable responses following CoronaVac support earlier provision of third doses to persons who previously received two doses of this vaccine.

We identified seasonal human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses in exhaled breath and coughs of children and adults with acute respiratory illness. Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets. Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.

The propensity for breast cancers to elicit immune responses in patients is well established. The accumulation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes within the primary breast tumor has been linked to better prognosis and better response to therapy. The prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) is a 15 kD protein that is expressed under physiological conditions of the breast and is regarded as a marker of mammary differentiation. While highly expressed under pathological conditions of the mammary gland, including breast cancers, PIP is expressed in very few other cancers. Although the function of PIP is not well elucidated, numerous studies suggest that its primary role may be related to host defense and immune modulation. However, evidence to show a direct link between PIP and the immune response has been lacking. In this review, we discuss our recent work with Pip-deficient mice, linking PIP not only to a role in innate immunity but for the first time, providing evidence for a role in cell-mediated immunity. These functional studies in Pip null mice lend new insight into the role of PIP in immunity and suggest that PIP may play a similar immune-regulatory role in breast cancer.

Although the primary response to Adriamycin (doxorubicin) in p53 mutant MDA-MB231 and p53 null MCF-7/E6 breast tumor cells is apoptotic cell death, the residual surviving population appears to be in a state of senescence, based on cell morphology, beta galactosidase staining, induction of p21(waf1/cip1) and down regulation of cdc2/cdk1. Suppression of apoptosis in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7/E6 cells treated with Adriamycin using the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor, zvad-Fmk, results in substantial induction of autophagy. Overall sensitivity to Adriamycin, measured by clonogenic survival, is not altered in the cells undergoing autophagy, consistent with autophagy contributing to cell death in response to Adriamycin. The free radical scavengers, glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine attenuate the accelerated senescence response to Adriamycin in MCF-7 cells as well as in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7/E6 cells, but protect primarily the MCF-7 cells, indicating that reactive oxygen is unlikely to be directly responsible for Adriamycin toxicity in breast tumor cells. Expression of caspase 3 or induced expression of c-myc in MCF-7 cells fails to abrogate accelerated senescence induced by Adriamycin. Taken together, these studies suggest that accelerated senescence induced by Adriamycin is similar in cells with wild type p53 and in cells lacking functional p53 with regard to the upregulation of p21(waf1/cip1), down regulation of cdc2 and the involvement of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, accelerated senescence, autophagy and apoptosis all appear to be effective in suppressing self-renewal capacity in breast tumor cells exposed to Adriamycin.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the public's knowledge and attitudes about cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Hong Kong. DESIGN Cross-sectional telephone survey. SETTING Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Hong Kong residents aged 15 to 64 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The knowledge and attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation. RESULTS Among the 1013 respondents, only 214 (21%) reported that they had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The majority (72%) of these trained respondents had had their latest training more than 2 years earlier. The main reasons for not being involved in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training included lack of time or interest, and "not necessary". People with full-time jobs and higher levels of education were more likely to have such training. Respondents stating they had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation training were more willing to try it if needed at home (odds ratio=3.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-4.6; P

Protein kinase C (PKC) delta is dramatically upregulated in the corpus luteum in the second half of pregnancy in the rat. To gain insight into the hormonal regulation of PKC delta expression, studies were undertaken to analyze the regulation of PKC delta expression in a luteinized rat granulosa cell model. PKC delta protein expression was evaluated in luteinized granulosa cells, isolated from human (h)CG-treated immature female rats 7 h after the injection of an ovulatory dose of hCG and cultured up to 12 days. Cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme expression was observed throughout the culture period, and a majority of the cells expressed steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and responded to rat placental lactogen (rPL)-1 by exhibiting hypertrophy, consistent with maintenance of the luteal phenotype. Both PKC delta protein and mRNA expression increased 3.5-4-fold with time of culture, and PKC delta mRNA expression could be eliminated by treatment of cells with the PKC inhibitor GF109203X. E(2) caused a specific dose- and time-dependent increase in expression of PKC delta protein of twofold, whereas PKC delta mRNA was unaffected by E(2) over a 12-day culture period. Treatment of cells with 500 ng/ml rPL-1 for the final 4 days of a 12-day culture in the absence of E(2) had no effect on PKC delta protein or mRNA expression, while treatment with 500 or 3000 ng/ml rPL-1 in the presence of E(2) significantly enhanced both PKC delta protein and mRNA expression (up to threefold). These results show that two of the major regulators of luteal function in the second half of pregnancy in the rat, E(2) and rPL-1, cooperate to regulate PKC delta expression in luteinized granulosa cells.

The prolactin-inducible protein (PIP/GCPD15) is believed to originate from a limited set of tissues, including breast and salivary glands, and has been applied as a clinical marker for the diagnosis of metastatic tumours of unknown origin. We have investigated the potential role of PIP mRNA as a marker of human breast cancer metastasis. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Southern or dot blot analysis, PIP mRNA was detected in 4/6 breast cell lines, independent of oestrogen receptor (ER) status. In breast primary tumours (n = 97), analysed from histologically characterized sections, PIP mRNA was detected in most cases. Higher PIP mRNA levels correlated with ER+ (P = 0.0004), progesterone receptor positive (PR+) (P = 0.0167), low-grade (P = 0.0195) tumours, and also PIP protein levels assessed by immunohistochemistry (n = 19, P = 0.0319). PIP mRNA expression was also detectable in 11/16 (69%) of axillary node metastases. PIP mRNA expression, however, was also detected in normal breast duct epithelium, skin, salivary gland and peripheral blood leucocyte samples from normal individuals. We conclude that PIP mRNA is frequently expressed in both primary human breast tumours and nodal metastases. However, the presence of PIP expression in skin creates a potential source of contamination in venepuncture samples that should be considered in its application as a marker for breast tumour micrometastases. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

To clarify the roles of the rat placental lactogens in embryogenesis and fetal development, we measured the concentrations of rat placental lactogen-II (rPL-II) in fetal rat serum and examined the distribution and expression of rPL-I- and rPL-II-binding sites in rat uteroplacental and fetal tissues. The concentration of rPL-II in fetal rat serum on day 20 of gestation was 28.3 +/- 0.8 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM; n = 6), approximately 1/14th its concentration in maternal serum (398.3 +/- 45.3 ng/ml; n = 6). In the midgestational uterus and placenta, rat PL-I bound specifically to mesometrial decidua and to a capsular layer of stroma overlying the antimesometrial decidua. The binding of radiolabeled rPL-I to these tissues was inhibited by unlabeled rat PRL and human (h) GH, but not by rat GH, suggesting that the rPL-I-binding sites are lactogenic in nature. In the late gestational fetus, rat PL-II bound specifically to fetal adrenal, kidney, small intestine, liver, and pancreas; its binding, like that of rPL-I, was inhibited by rPRL, but not by rGH. rPL-II-binding sites in fetal adrenal were detected as early as day 16, whereas rPL-II-binding sites in fetal kidney and small intestine were not demonstrable until day 18. Lactogenic binding sites in fetal liver and pancreas did not appear until days 19-20. The relative amounts of specific binding of rPL-II to fetal tissues correlated positively with tissue levels of expression of the 4.2- and 1.8-kilobase PRL receptor mRNA transcripts. Radiolabeled hGH, which interacts with somatogenic receptors as well as lactogenic receptors, bound specifically to mesometrial decidua, fetal adrenal, kidney, small intestine, liver, and pancreas. In addition, radiolabeled hGH bound specifically, but with low intensity, to fetal brain. In mesometrial decidua and fetal adrenal, kidney, and small intestine, the binding of hGH was blocked by rPL-II and rPRL, but not by rGH or ovine GH, suggesting the predominance of lactogenic receptors. In contrast, in fetal brain, the binding of hGH was inhibited by rGH, but not by rPL-II, suggesting that the fetal brain contains somatogenic receptors. The presence of rPL-I-binding sites in maternal decidua suggests a paracrine role for the hormone in decidual function at midgestation. The presence of rPL-II in fetal serum and the widespread distribution of rPL-II-binding sites in fetal tissues indicate a role for rPL-II in fetal development.

BACKGROUND Amplification of the c-myc gene (also known as MYC) occurs in up to 20%-30% of breast cancers and has been associated with poor prognosis. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to define the relationship between c-myc amplification and breast cancer progression in order to better understand the biological significance of c-myc amplification. METHODS We identified invasive tumors with grossly detectable c-myc amplification by using Southern blot analysis to examine frozen tissue from 135 breast carcinomas and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to examine archival paraffin-embedded tissue from an additional 19 invasive tumors. These 19 tumors were selected on the basis of histologically identifiable in situ and invasive components within the primary tumor and associated lymph node metastases. Amplification of c-myc in these areas was then assessed by quantitative PCR assay. RESULTS We detected gross c-myc amplification in 10 of the tumors examined--eight of the 135 frozen tissue specimens and two of the 19 archival specimens. We selected five of these 10 invasive tumors for further regional analysis. In all four cases where an in situ component was present, amplification of c-myc was present in both the in situ and the invasive components. However, c-myc amplification was present in the corresponding nodal metastases in only two of the four cases where this could be examined. CONCLUSION These results suggest that c-myc amplification can occur at an early stage in tumor progression and that amplification does not always persist in the nodal metastasis.

Elevated production of proprotein convertases (PCs), proteolytic enzymes that posttranslationally modify the biological activities of diverse groups of cellular proteins, is a common occurrence in human breast carcinomas. A transgenic mouse model was developed to gain insight into the significance of PC production in breast development and neoplasia. Mammary epithelium-specific and early expression of PC1 was targeted by the use of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer. Whole-mount examinations revealed that the mammary glands of 83-day-old virgin PC1 transgenic mice exhibited an accelerated lobuloalveolar development compared with that of age-matched wild-type mice (p0.001). This phenotypic change was accompanied by extensive alterations in gene expression assessed by gene expression microarray analyses. Pathway analysis of PC1-induced alterations in gene expression has revealed possible mechanism of action of PC1 in the mammary gland. PC1 expression alone, however, did not promote spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis in the transgenic mice. PC1 transgene expression resulted in a significantly higher incidence (p = 0.008) and accelerated growth (p = 0.023) of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary adenocarcinomas. The present study therefore shows that PC1 expression can promote normal and neoplastic mammary development and growth and suggests that proprotein convertases may be important etiological factors in human breast neoplasia.

The androgen and prolactin responsive prolactin-inducible protein (PIP)/gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15) is expressed in benign and malignant human breast tumors and in such normal exocrine organs as sweat, salivary and lacrimal glands. In this paper we report the cloning and structure of the human gene, and describe potential mechanisms involved in its regulation by hormones. The entire PIP gene, 7 kb long, was found in a single recombinant phage clone. The gene has 4 exons ranging from 106 bp to 223 bp in length. Nuclear run-on experiments utilizing PIP genomic fragments to detect nascent PIP transcripts revealed that both androgen and prolactin increased transcription of the PIP gene. Neither hormone had any effect on the stability of PIP precursor RNA or mature mRNA. Therefore the PIP gene is an excellent model by which to study the molecular events associated with the actions of prolactin and androgen in the regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells.

Mammary gland involution represents one of the most dramatic examples of programmed cell death/apoptosis and tissue regression during development, yet large gaps still exist in the understanding of the mechanisms involved, and the key factors that trigger involution, are not yet identified. With the focus on identifying "novel" genes associated with mammary gland regression, we used microarray analysis to examine differentially expressed genes during early mammary gland involution in the mouse. We then examined the relevance of candidate genes to human tumorigenesis and identified a number of genes not previously implicated or not well characterized in human breast cancer. The expression levels of these genes in human breast cancer were confirmed in breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor tissues. This pilot study demonstrates proof of principle that through the analysis of gene expression during mammary gland involution, it may be possible to identify "novel" genes relevant human breast cancer.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D3 analogues, such as EB 1089, potentiate the response to ionizing radiation in breast tumor cells. The current studies address the basis for this interaction by evaluating DNA damage and repair, the effect of interference with reactive oxygen generation, the involvement of p53 and caspase-3, signaling through c-myc, as well as the induction of senescence and multiple modes of cell death. EB 1089 failed to increase the extent of radiation-induced DNA damage or to attenuate the rate of DNA repair. The reactive oxygen scavengers N-acetyl-l-cysteine and reduced glutathione failed to protect the cells from the promotion of cell death by EB 1089 and radiation. Whereas MCF-7 cells expressing caspase-3 showed significant apoptosis with radiation alone as well as with EB 1089 followed by radiation, EB 1089 maintained its ability to confer susceptibility to radiation-induced cell killing, in large part by interference with proliferative recovery. In contrast, in breast tumor cells lacking p53, where radiation promoted extensive apoptosis and the cells failed to recover after radiation treatment, EB 1089 failed to influence the effect of radiation. EB 1089 treatment interfered with radiation-induced suppression of c-myc; however, induction of c-myc did not prevent senescence by radiation alone or radiation-induced cell death promoted by EB 1089. EB 1089 did not increase the extent of micronucleation, indicative of mitotic catastrophe, induced by radiation alone. However, EB 1089 did promote extensive autophagic cell death in the irradiated cells. Taken together, these studies suggest that the effect of EB 1089 treatment on the radiation response is related in part to enhanced promotion of autophagic cell death and in part to interference with the proliferative recovery that occurs with radiation alone in p53 wild-type breast tumor cells. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(11):2786–97]

We have previously observed a paradoxical relationship of the psoriasin/S100A7 gene with estrogen response in-vitro in ERalpha positive cells but its association with ERalpha negative status in-vivo raising the possibility that S100A7 might be regulated by ERbeta in breast cancer. Using doxycycline-inducible ERbeta and ERalpha expressing MCF-7 cells the hypothesis that psoriasin/S100A7 is ERbeta regulated was investigated To explore the relationship between psoriasin/S100A7 and ERbeta expression in-vivo, we also assessed a cohort of 233 ERalpha negative breast tumors using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry. Psoriasin/S100A7 was increased by 17beta-estradiol (E2) following ERbeta induction, in several clones of ERbeta over-expressing but not in the original MCF-7 cells, nor clones over-expressing ERalpha. The effect of E2 on psoriasin/S100A7 was inhibited by 4-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 182780 but not with a selective ERalpha antagonist. An ERbeta selective-agonist but not an ERalpha selective-agonist, induced psoriasin/S100A7. This induction still occurred after stable down-regulation of ERalpha using siRNA in ERbeta inducible cells. E2 increased psoriasin/S100A7 mRNA but cycloheximide treatment inhibited this effect. A relationship between ERbeta and psoriasin/S100A7 was observed in the p53 immunohistochemically negative subset of invasive breast tumors in-vivo (r = 0.225, p = 0.046, n = 79). In conclusion we demonstrate that E2 induction of psoriasin/S100A7 can be specifically regulated through ERbeta in-vitro and associated with ERbeta in-vivo. These data support the hypothesis that psoriasin/S100A7 is specifically regulated by ERbeta activity and could be useful to guide future therapies targeting ERbeta in certain phenotypic subsets of breast cancers in-vivo.

To investigate the effect of altered oestrogen receptor (ER)alpha and ERbeta expression on oestrogen and anti-oestrogen action in breast cancer, we have stably expressed an inducible ERbeta1 in MCF7 breast cancer cells. Stably expressing clones were isolated and over-expression of ERbeta1 correlated with increased levels of specific radiolabelled oestradiol (E2) binding. Increased ERbeta1 did not affect endogenous levels of ERalpha but increased progesterone receptor (PR) levels. Over-expression of ERbeta1 reduced growth responses to E2 in contrast to little if any effect of over-expression of ERalpha. In oestrogen-replete conditions, over-expression of ERbeta1 but not ERalpha reduced proliferation. Over-expression of ERbeta1 did not result in anti-oestrogen resistance but was associated with increased sensitivity to 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Our results suggested that over-expression of ERbeta1 in the presence of an endogenously expressed ERalpha was associated with tamoxifen sensitivity but may negatively modulate ERalpha-mediated growth. However, not all ERalpha activities were inhibited since endogenous PR expression was increased by both ERalpha and ERbeta1 over-expression. These data paralleled those seen in some in vivo studies showing a relationship between PR and ERbeta expression as well as ERbeta expression and tamoxifen sensitivity of ER-positive breast cancer patients. These models are relevant and will be useful for dissecting the role of ERbeta1 expression in ER-positive breast cancer.

Background The human psoriasin (S100A7) gene has been implicated in inflammation and tumor progression. Implementation of a mouse model would facilitate further investigation of its function, however little is known of the murine psoriasin gene. In this study we have cloned the cDNA and characterized the expression of the potential murine ortholog of human S100A7/psoriasin in skin inflammation and mammary tumorigenesis. Methods On the basis of chromosomal location, phylogenetic analysis, amino acid sequence similarity, conservation of a putative Jab1-binding motif, and similarities of the patterns of mouse S100A7/psoriasin gene expression (measured by RT-PCR and in-situ hybridization) with those of human S100A7/psoriasin, we propose that mouse S100A7/psoriasin is the murine ortholog of human psoriasin/S100A7. Results Although mouse S100A7/psoriasin is poorly conserved relative to other S100 family members, its pattern of expression parallels that of the human psoriasin gene. In murine skin S100A7/psoriasin was significantly upregulated in relation to inflammation. In murine mammary gland expression is also upregulated in mammary tumors, where it is localized to areas of squamous differentiation. This mirrors the context of expression in human tumor types where both squamous and glandular differentiation occur, including cervical and lung carcinomas. Additionally, mouse S100A7/psoriasin possesses a putative Jab1 binding motif that mediates many downstream functions of the human S100A7 gene. Conclusion These observations and results support the hypothesis that the mouse S100A7 gene is structurally and functionally similar to human S100A7 and may offer a relevant model system for studying its normal biological function and putative role in tumor progression.

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) is expressed in many cell types and is critical for normal growth and development. In the healthy mammary gland, the role of IGF-IR is not fully elucidated. However, IGF-IR, which is primarily expressed in the mammary epithelial cells, is known to play an obligatory role in cellular transformation, facilitating the progression to breast cancer. We have utilized the tetracycline regulatory (tet-on) system to generate an in vitro model system to allow us to further investigate IGF-I/IGF-IR function in mammary epithelial cells. A plasmid construct containing a mutant IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR-DN) fused to the tetracycline operator (tetOPh(CMV)-IGF-IR-DN) was stably transfected into MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The conditional regulation of the IGF-IR-DN gene expression was studied in four independent clonal lines. The translated IGF-IR-DN protein was detected only in the stably transfected doxycycline- induced cells, and its expression was up-regulated (three- to sixfold) following induction. IGF-I stimulated cell proliferation diminished (twofold) in doxycycline- induced cells compared to uninduced cells, demonstrating that the transgene construct was functional and ruling out any pleiotropic effect that may be attributed to doxycycline. Interestingly, autophosphorylation of the IGF-IR and phosphorylation of the downstream substrate, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), was not inhibited in doxycycline/IGF-I treated cells, suggesting the possibility that activation of downstream substrates other than the IRS-1 may be critical for optimal cell proliferation. This novel in vitro model should allow us to more directly examine the role of IGF-I/IGF-IR signaling and function in mammary epithelial cells.

C-myc is implicated in the initiation, progression and estrogen response of breast cancer. To further investigate the role of c-myc in breast cancer, we have developed clonal MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines harboring a stably-transfected human c-myc gene, whose expression was stringently controlled by the bacterial reverse tetracycline transcription activator protein. The expression of the endogenous genomic c-myc gene in MCF-7 cells was abolished by the potent pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780. Functional c-Myc protein was identified by both Western immunoblotting and by its ability to transactivate a chimeric plasmid consisting of E-box sequences upstream of the luciferase reporter gene. One MCF-7 clone, 35im, was chosen for further characterization. C-myc induction by doxycycline was rapid and dose dependent; c-myc mRNA appeared as early as 30 min after doxycycline addition and stimulation of c-myc expression required as little as 50 ng/ml doxycycline, with c-myc mRNA levels reaching a plateau at 2.5 microg/ml doxycycline. ICI 182,780 or doxycycline (a tetracycline analog) treatment did not alter the mRNA levels of Max, the c-myc binding partner. As in wildtype MCF-7 cells, the growth of clone 35im was inhibited by 1 microM or less of ICI 182,780 and stimulated by 10 nM to 1 microM 17beta-estradiol. When maintained in a complete medium containing 5% normal fetal bovine serum (FBS) and ICI 182,780, doxycycline induced cell growth by 400% in an 8-day assay. A similar level of growth was achieved with doxycycline treatment in cells that were arrested by the use of charcoal-stripped FBS. Doxycycline had no effect on the growth of a control MCF-7 clone (18c). Apoptosis, assessed by caspase-dependent cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, was unchanged in clone 35im cells after treatments with doxycycline or ICI 182,780. The present study demonstrates that c-myc alone is sufficient to confer antiestrogen resistance in human breast cancer. Our novel c-myc-inducible MCF-7 cell model offers a unique opportunity to study the diverse actions of the c-myc proto-oncogene in human breast cancer.

Two proprotein convertase cDNAs, PC1 and furin, were stably transfected into the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The PC1 or furin over-expressing cells possessed an altered morphology. When grown in vitro in a serum-free medium, the population doubling time of the convertase-transfected cells was twice that of wild-type (WT) cells. High concentrations of estradiol stimulated the growth of all three cell types to a similar extent; however, at low concentrations of estradiol, the convertase-transfected cells grew more slowly than WT cells. In athymic nude mice implanted with 5 mg estradiol pellets, the growth of tumors of convertase-transfected MCF-7 cells was stimulated to a degree similar to that of WT MCF-7 tumors. However, in mice implanted with lower-dose (1.5 mg) estradiol pellets, the tumors of PC1- or furin-transfected MCF-7 cells grew approximately five times slower than those of WT MCF-7 cells. In mice implanted with tamoxifen pellets, tumors of PC1- or furin-transfected MCF-7 cells regressed approximately five times slower than the WT tumors. This study shows that the over-expression of proprotein convertases confers a greater estrogen dependency and anti-estrogen resistance on human breast cancer cells.

Glucocorticoid and androgen receptors have been shown to function through the same palindromic glucocorticoid response element (GRE) and yet have differential effects on gene transcription. In this study, we examined the functional and structural relationship of the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors with the androgen responsive region (ARR) of the probasin (PB) gene containing two androgen receptor binding sites, ARBS-1 and ARBS-2. Transfection studies indicated that one copy of each cis-acting DNA element was essential for maximal androgen-induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity and that androgen selectivity was maintained when multiple copies of the minimal wild type (wt) androgen responsive region containing both ARBS-1 and ARBS-2 (-244 to -96) were subcloned in front of the thymidine kinase promoter. Furthermore, replacing the androgen response region with 1, 2 or 3 copies of either ARBS-1 or ARBS-2 restored less than 4% of the biological activity seen with the wt PB ARR. Multiple copies of either ARBS-1 or ARBS-2 did not result in glucocorticoid-induced CAT gene activity. By comparison, 1 or 2 copies of the tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) GRE, as well as the mouse mammary tumour virus GRE, were strong inducers of CAT activity in response to both androgen and glucocorticoid treatment. In addition, band shift assays demonstrated that although the synthetic glucocorticoid receptor, GR-DNA binding domain (GR-DBD), and the synthetic androgen receptor, AR2, could interact with the TAT GRE (dissociation constants Kd of 63.9 and 14.1 respectively), only AR2 but not GR-DBD binding could be detected on ARBS-1 and ARBS-2. Our findings provide further evidence that androgen-induced regulation of gene transcription can occur through androgen-specific DNA binding sites that are distinct from the common GRE.

Rat placental lactogen-I (rPL-I), the first prolactin-like hormone expressed in the placenta during pregnancy in the rat, is known to influence maternal functions. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of rPL-I on the growth and development of cultured whole rat embryos. Rat embryos, with or without ectoplacental cone (EPC) attached, were explanted at day 9 of gestation. After 48 h of culture, the embryos, enclosed by the yolk sacs, were assessed by the presence of visible heart contractions ('heart beats'), crown-rump length (CRL) and yolk sac diameter (YSD). When intact embryos with EPC were cultured, the concentrations of rPL-I and rPL-II (products of EPC) in the medium were 850+/-841 and 92+/-181 ng/ml respectively (means+/-s.e.m.). In embryo cultures with the EPC removed, rPL-I levels decreased to

The human PRL-inducible protein (PIP)/gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 is expressed in pathological conditions of the mammary gland and in several exocrine tissues, such as the lacrimal, salivary, and sweat glands. In human breast cancer cells, the expression of PIP/gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 is stimulated by androgen and PRL, and inhibited by estrogen. However, it is not known whether the expression of PIP in other tissues is under similar hormonal regulation. In the present study we employed reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction followed by rapid amplification of complementary DNA (cDNA) ends to amplify the PIP cDNA homolog, the submaxillary gland protein (SMGP) in the mouse. The mouse PIP/SMGP cDNA encodes a putative secreted peptide of 144 amino acids with a 51% identity with human PIP. Using the mouse PIP/SMGP cDNA as a probe, we examined the tissue- and cell-specific expression of PIP/SMGP messenger RNA by in situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis of mouse and rat tissues. Hormonal regulation was also studied in the rat. PIP/SMGP messenger RNA expression was only detected in the lacrimal and submaxillary glands of the rodents. In the rat submaxillary gland, PIP/SMGP gene expression was confined to the acinar cells. In the male rat lacrimal gland, castration resulted in an increase in expression, and in both male and female rats, androgen replacement abolished PIP/SMGP gene expression. This pattern of regulation was not observed in the submaxillary gland and was actually reversed in human breast cancer cells. PRL had no effect on the regulation of PIP/SMGP in either salivary or lacrimal glands. Our study indicates that tissue-specific factors are important in determining the hormone responsiveness of the PIP/SMGP gene. Regulation of the PIP/SMGP gene in vivo may provide a useful model system to study the mechanism of down-regulation of expression by androgen in a tissue-specific manner.

Antisense oligonucleotides have been widely used to achieve specific inhibition of targeted gene expression. However, the mechanism of action is not well understood and in many systems sequence-independent effects occur. We have recently shown that chronic administration of an antisense c-myc phosphorothioate oligonucleotide can specifically inhibit expression of the c-myc protein and growth in human breast cancer cells. We now identify an additional effect of the same oligonucleotide on cell adhesion. Transient delivery through electroporation of 2.5 microM antisense-myc oligonucleotide to MCF-7 cells results in 85% inhibition of adhesion to plastic substratum within 24 h. Both the onset of this effect and the subsequent recovery occur without a change in cell viability, growth, or alteration of adhesion to Matrigel, collagen IV, laminin, or fibronectin. However, no parallel changes in c-myc mRNA or protein expression are detectable, suggesting that in this instance inhibition of adhesion caused by antisense-myc oligonucleotide may involve a mechanism independent of the target sequence.

SUMMARY The Kell blood group locus (KEL) is tightly linked to the prolactin-inducible protein locus (PIP) with z=9.12 at o= 0.00 for combined paternal and maternal meioses. In view of the regional localization of PIP to 7q32-q36 (Myal et al. 1989a), a similar assignment for KEL is favoured.

NPC is unique among head and neck cancers, in that it is radiocurable and moderately chemosensitive. Modern diagnostic techniques have facilitated tumor definition, with consequent improvement in staging accuracy and radiotherapy planning. Our standard radiotherapy technique incorporates routine prophylactic neck irradiation of early tumors. Special techniques for more advanced tumors are described. Neoadjuvant cis-platinum-containing chemotherapy has proved useful in controlling regional and distant metastatic disease.

The hormonally responsive prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) gene is expressed in benign and malignant breast tumor tissues and in such normal exocrine organs as sweat, salivary, and lacrimal glands. In this communication we report the regional chromosome localization of the PIP gene locus to chromosome 7 by Southern hybridization to DNA from human-hamster somatic cell hybrids, and to 7q32-36 by in situ hybridization.

Normal growth, differentiation, and function of the mammary gland are under the influence of hormones-insulin, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormone as well as growth hormone, prolactin (PRL), and placental lacto· gens. While some of these hormones may affect primarily growth and development of the mammary gland, others, such as PRL, are of major importance in stimulating mammary gland function. A comprehensive treatment of endocrine influences on the mammary gland may be found in (12). Here we highlight progress in understanding the mechanism of action of PRL on mammary gland function. Since large gaps in this understanding remain, we indicate areas where research may be fruitful. The role played by PRL on mammary gland function varies from one species to another. For example, lactational changes in the mammary gland can be induced in rabbits by administering PRL alone, while in rats other hormones are required. In the cow the peripartum increase in serum PRL is crucial for successful lactation; but if PRL secretion is inhibited at later periods postpartum, milk secretion is hardly affected. In women, however, inhibition of PRL secretion by similar pharmacological means at any time postpartum causes prompt cessation of lactation. Generalizations and ex· trapolations from one species to another must thus be made with consider· able caution. The possible role of PRL in the etiology of breast cancer, which is not covered here, has been reviewed extensively (29, 33, 7 1).

Receptors for human, simian, ovine, bovine and murine prolactin, human growth hormone and human placental lactogen have been identified in plasma-membrane-containing subcellular particles isolated from rabbit mammary glands. The association and dissociation of (125)I-labelled prolactin are time- and temperature-dependent processes, both being maximal at 37 degrees C. (125)I-labelled prolactin prepared by the enzymic iodination procedure with lactoperoxidase binds better to receptors than does the preparation obtained by using chloramine-t as the oxidizing agent. The binding of (125)I-labelled prolactin to receptors is strongly influenced by pH and ionic composition but not by many low-molecular-weight compounds tested, e.g. steroids, nucleotides and several drugs. Receptor activity is sensitive to trypsin and phospholipase C digestion, suggesting that protein and phospholipid moieties are essential for the binding of (125)I-labelled prolactin. The binding of (125)I-labelled prolactin to receptors is a saturable and reversible process. Scatchard and Lineweaver-Burk analyses suggest that (125)I-labelled prolactin has a high affinity for its receptor. Binding of (125)I-labelled prolactin to receptors does not result in the destruction of the hormone. Considerable prolactin-binding activity is also observed in subcellular fractions isolated from the adrenal gland, liver, ovary and kidney of the pregnant rabbit, a finding that is consistent with other reported actions of prolactin in these organs.

Antisera against a partially purified prolactin-receptor preparation derived from pregnant-rabbit mammary glands were generated in guinea pigs. On double immuno-diffusion, each antiserum produced a single precipitin line with the prolactin receptors. The anti-receptor sera also specifically inhibited the binding of 125I-labelled sheep prolactin to membrane particles as well as to highly purified prolactin receptors derived from the rabbit mammary glands. The same antisera, however, had no effect on the binding of 125I-labelled insulin to the same membranes. These antisera did not bind or destroy prolactin. Moreover, the binding of 125I-LABELLED PROLACTIN TO MEMBRANE PARTICLES DErived from different tissues from a number of species was also inhibited by the antisera, thus suggesting that the immunological determinants of the prolactin receptors are similar in various tissues derived from different species. The factors in the antisera that were responsible for inhibiting the binding of 125I-labelled prolactin to its receptors were found to be associated with the gamma-globulin fraction. In addition, 131I-labelled gamma-globulins derived from one antiserum were shown to bind to membrane particles derived from mammary glands, and an increase in binding of gamma-globulin was accompanied by a decrease in binding of prolactin. Kinetic analyses of inhibition of 125I-labelled prolactin binding by antisera by using the methods of Lineweaver & Burk [J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1934) 56, 658-666] and Dixon [Biochem. J. (1953) 55, 170-171], revealed that the mechanism is a hyperbolic competitive inhibition. The demonstration of hormone-receptor-antibody complexes further favours this mechanism. The availability of anti-receptor sera should facilitate studies on the functional role as well as other biochemical, immunological and physiological properties of the prolactin receptors.

T UMORS in the sellar region may produce bone erosion4 or displacement of the carotid siphons to give some indication of the direction of growth. On occasion the changes may be inconclusive, or even misleading. Opacification of the cavernous sinuses offers the opportunity to obtain detailed information concerning the pituitary gland.2 Cavernous sinus venography will indicate the true extent of that portion of the intrasellar (pituitary) tumor that has not as yet extended into the cerebral subarachnoid space.

The replication of Nb 2 Node rat lymphoma cells in suspension culture is specifically stimulated by lactogenic hormones. Human (hPRL), ovine, bovine, and rat PRLs stimulated replication in a dose-dependent manner in the concentration range of 10 pg/ml to 1 ng/ml. Human, ovine, and bovine placental lactogens were similarly active. In addition, cell replication was stimulated by human GH (hGH), which is known to have lactogenic activity. Other hormones and growth factors examined were inactive. The growth stimulatory effects of hPRL and hGH were completely inhibited when excess anti-hPRL and anti-hGH, respectively, were added to the medium. A bioassay based on the response of the Nb 2 Node lymphoma cells to lactogenic hormones has been developed. Human serum stimulated cell replication. The effect was completely abolished if excess antibodies to both hPRL and hGH were present. The stimulation obtained with a number of human serum samples correlated very well with the sum of the hPRL and hGH concentrations in the sera, as determined by RIA (r = 0.95; P < 0.001). The concentrations of either hPRL or hGH in human serum could be individually determined by specifically blocking the growth stimulatory effect of the other hormone by adding excess anti-hGH or anti-hPRl. The sensitivity of this bioassay for PRL and hGH in serum exceeds that of RIAs.

Incubation of T-47D human breast cancer cells with the synthetic progestin, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), resulted in a time and dose-dependent increase in epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R) mRNA. Concentrations of MPA as low as 1 nM resulted in a greater than five fold increase in EGF-R mRNA. A significant increase (2-3 fold) in EGF-R mRNA was apparent 12 hr after exposure to MPA and a further increase was seen 12-48 hr after addition of MPA to the cultures. From these studies it is concluded that the increased EGF binding in progestin-treated T-47D cells results at least in part from increased EGF-R gene expression. We believe this is the first report of a steroid hormone modulating expression of this growth factor receptor gene.

Collagen, a major component of the extracellular matrix, is important in maintaining the in vivo characteristics of epidermal cells in vitro. In the present study, the morphological and proliferative characteristics of two human mammary epithelial cell lines (T-47D and MCF-7) cultured in cowhide collagen (Vitrogen 100) were studied. When grown in collagen, the tumor cells displayed a spherical shape and formed multilayered, tumorlike aggregates; desmosomes were observed between cells. In contrast, both cell lines grew as monolayers on plastic substratum; cells were characteristically flat and polygonal. When grown in collagen matrix, the human breast cancer cells became more dependent on serum for growth: cells proliferated in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) but failed to grow in 1% serum. On the other hand, these cells proliferated rapidly in 1% serum when they were grown on plastic. Even in 10% serum the doubling time of cells cultured in collagen was longer than that of cells maintained on plastic. In addition, cells cultured in collagen proliferated rapidly in a serum-free medium containing insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), estrogen, and transferrin. The collagen gel system may be useful for characterizing physiologically important trophic factors that regulate the proliferation and other functions of human breast tumor cells.

Although polyamines are important in regulating proliferation of mammalian cells, their role in hormone induction of cell growth has not been delineated. In the estradiol-responsive human breast cancer cell line, T-47D clone 11, estradiol (10 −10 M) was able to stimulate cell proliferation and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. α-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of ODC, blocked the estradiol-induced cell proliferation and ODC activity. Exogenous addition of putrescine, the natural product of ODC, rescued the inhibitory effect of DFMO. In addition, DFMO abolished the estradiol-induced growth of several other estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cell lines but did not affect the growth of hormoneindependent cell lines. Further, a serum factor was found to be required for estradiol to exert its effect. To gain insight into the nature of this and possibly other extrinsic factors involved, the effect of estradiol on the proliferation of T-47D cells transplanted into athymic nude mouse was evaluated. In this in vivo system, estradiol alone produced only moderate growth of the human breast tumor. The simultaneous transplantation of a prolactin (PRL)- and growth hormone (GH)-secreting rat pituitary tumor or normal rat pituitary glands at a different site dramatically potentiated the effect of estradiol on the growth of the breast tumor xenograft. Purified PRL or GH were without effect, indicating that the active pituitary factor is neither PRL nor GH. Further, conditioned medium from rat pituitary tumor cells potentiated the mitogenic effect of estradiol on T-47D and several other estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cell lines in vitro under serum-free condition. In conclusion, we have identified both intrinsic (polyamines) and extrinsic (pituitary/serum) factors that are importance for estrogen to exert its mitogenic action. The next goal will be to elucidate the mechanisms of action of these molecules in the modulation of estrogen action.

The kinetics of lymphocyte migration in 12 pre-treatment patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and three cancer controls in remission were studied with Indium III oxine-labelled autologous lymphocytes. The migratory patterns of the labelled lymphocytes were defined by serial gamma imaging and blood clearance of Indium over 72 h. Once in the systemic circulation the labelled lymphocytes migrated immediately to the liver and spleen. In all the subjects studied the lymphocytes began to migrate out of the liver at 0.5 h, only to return to the organ gradually between 2 and 72 h. In the control subjects the lymphocytes migrated out of the spleen from about 4 h. This coincided with a hump in the peripheral blood clearance curve after about 4 h signifying re-entry of the lymphocytes into the vascular space from the spleen. In the 'early' NPC subjects (Stage I-III) the rate at which the lymphocytes entered the spleen was much reduced from about 4 to 72 h, suggesting a prolonged transit time of the lymphocyte through the organ. However, there were still prominent humps in the blood clearance curves, suggesting significant re-entry of lymphocytes into the vascular space. In the 'late' NPC subjects (Stage IV-V), the activity of the spleen was low between 4 and 72 h and there was continuous sequestration of lymphocytes in the organ. Consequently the humps in the blood clearance curves were much reduced or absent. The activities of the metastatic lymph nodes were intense between 2 and 48 h, suggesting marked sequestration of lymphocytes in the diseased lymph nodes. Migration of lymphocytes in the metastatic area of the liver was notably absent and presented as cold areas on gamma scanning. The sequestration of lymphocytes in the spleen and metastatic lymph nodes in 'early' and 'late' NPC could lead to a contraction of intravascular lymphocyte pool and could explain the stage-dependent lymphopenia reported in NPC.

Mitogenic stimulation of Nb2 lymphoma cells by lactogenic hormones (prolactin, human growth hormone) caused a dramatic early increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity that achieved a maximal level by 6–8 h. A marked increase in ODC activity was also generated when cells which had reached a growth plateau were transferred to fresh medium that did not stimulate growth. Furthermore, low concentrations of human growth hormone (20 pg/mL) elicited a proliferative response, but did not cause a detectable early increase in ODC activity. The early peak of ODC activity thus appeared not to be directly involved in mediating lactogen-stimulated growth nor was it required to support the mitogenic response. However, prolonged suppression of ODC activity by DL-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) (200 μM) attenuated the growth of Nb2 cells (50–60% inhibition), indicating that normal cell growth was dependent on ODC and polyamine biosynthesis. Under these conditions, putrescine, the enzyme product, or the polyamines spermidine and spermine restored normal cell growth when added at a concentration of 1 μM or greater. Nb2-SP cells, variants which proliferate in the absence of prolactin, were about two times more resistant to the growth suppressive effects of DFMO than prolactin-responsive Nb2 cells.

A radioreceptor assay with a sensitivity of 5 nanograms per milliliter has been developed for mammalian and avian pituitary prolactin, placental lactogenic hormones, and humnan growth hormone, using a membrane receptor preparation isolated from rabbit mammary glands. Prolactin preparations inhibited the binding of [(125)I]prolactin to receptors in direct proportion to the biological potency of these preparations. Thus, the radioreceptor assay provides a convenient and simnple assay for hormones which have lactogenic activity.

Excerpt Dr. Leo G. Rigler: This case conference will concern itself with one of the most fascinating chapters in medical history, the development of the use of artificial contrast in roentgen diagn...