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Loss of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor [p27.sup.Kip1] leads to an overall increase in animal growth, pituitary tumors, and hyperplasia of hematopoietic organs, yet it is unknown whether all cells function autonomously in response to [p27.sup.Kip1] activity or whether certain cells take cues from their neighbors. In addition, there is currently no genetic evidence that tumor suppression by [p27.sup.Kip1] is cell-autonomous because biallelic gene inactivation is absent from tumors arising in [p27.sup.Kip1] hemizygous mice. We have addressed these questions with tissue-specific targeted mouse mutants and radiation chimeras. Our results indicate that the suppression of pars intermedia pituitary tumors by [p27.sup.Kip1] is cell-autonomous and does not contribute to overgrowth or infertility phenotypes. In contrast, suppression of spleen growth and hematopoietic progenitor expansion is a consequence of [p27.sup.Kip1] function external to the hematopoietic compartment. Likewise, [p27.sup.Kip1] suppresses thymocyte hyperplasia through a cell-nonautonomous mechanism. The interaction of [p27.sup.Kip1] loss with epithelial cell-specific cyclindependent kinase 4 overexpression identifies the thymic epithelium as a relevant site of [p27.sup.Kip1] activity for the regulation of thymus growth. cell cycle | cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor | growth genetics | pituitary tumor | thymus development

The renin-angiotensin system, through its type 1 and type 2 angiotensin receptors (AT1R and AT2R, respectively) may have a role in prostate cancer. The objective of this pilot study was to explore that potential role by determining whether the AT1R blocker, losartan, would reduce the growth of LAPC-4 prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. We also evaluated the tumor growth effects of using angiotensin II to activate both AT1R and AT2R simultaneously. Our data showed that losartan decreased tumor volumes by 56% versus control. This decrease reached statistical significance at day 54 (p = 0.0014). By day 54, Ki67 was also reduced in the losartan group, though not significantly so (p = 0.077). Losartan had no significant effect on AT1R or AT2R expression. Despite significant increases in both AT1R and AT2R at day 29 (p = 0.043 and 0.038, respectively), the administration of angiotensin II did not result in any significant differences in tumor volumes or ki67 at any time point. These data suggest that selective activation and induction of AT2R coupled with blockade of AT1R may slow prostate cancer growth. Future larger studies are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 leads to an overall increase in animal growth, pituitary tumors, and hyperplasia of hematopoietic organs, yet it is unknown whether all cells function autonomously in response to p27Kip1 activity or whether certain cells take cues from their neighbors. In addition, there is currently no genetic evidence that tumor suppression by p27Kip1 is cell-autonomous because biallelic gene inactivation is absent from tumors arising in p27Kip1 hemizygous mice. We have addressed these questions with tissue-specific targeted mouse mutants and radiation chimeras. Our results indicate that the suppression of pars intermedia pituitary tumors by p27Kip1 is cell-autonomous and does not contribute to overgrowth or infertility phenotypes. In contrast, suppression of spleen growth and hematopoietic progenitor expansion is a consequence of p27Kip1 function external to the hematopoietic compartment. Likewise, p27Kip1 suppresses thymocyte hyperplasia through a cell-nonautonomous mechanism. The interaction of p27Kip1 loss with epithelial cell-specific cyclin-dependent kinase 4 overexpression identifies the thymic epithelium as a relevant site of p27Kip1 activity for the regulation of thymus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proto-oncogene c-myc encodes a transcription factor that is implicated in the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis and that has also been found to be deregulated in several forms of human and experimental tumors. We have shown that forced expression of c-myc in epithelial tissues of transgenic mice (K5-Myc) resulted in keratinocyte hyperproliferation and the development of spontaneous tumors in the skin and oral cavity. Although a number of genes involved in cancer development are regulated by c-myc, the actual mechanisms leading to Myc-induced neoplasia are not known. Among the genes regulated by Myc is the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) gene. Interestingly, previous studies from our laboratory showed that the overexpression of CDK4 led to keratinocyte hyperproliferation, although no spontaneous tumor development was observed. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that CDK4 may be one of the critical downstream genes involved in Myc carcinogenesis. Our results showed that CDK4 inhibition in K5-Myc transgenic mice resulted in the complete inhibition of tumor development, suggesting that CDK4 is a critical mediator of tumor formation induced by deregulated Myc. Furthermore, a lack of CDK4 expression resulted in marked decreases in epidermal thickness and keratinocyte proliferation compared to the results obtained for K5-Myc littermates. Biochemical analysis of the K5-Myc epidermis showed that CDK4 mediates the proliferative activities of Myc by sequestering p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 and thereby indirectly activating CDK2 kinase activity. These results show that CDK4 mediates the proliferative and oncogenic activities of Myc in vivo through a mechanism that involves the sequestration of specific CDK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study, we reported that overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase-4 (CDK4) in mouse epidermis results in epidermal hyperplasia, hypertrophy and severe dermal fibrosis. In this study, we have investigated the susceptibility to skin tumor formation by forced expression of CDK4. Skin tumors from transgenic mice showed a dramatic increase in the rate of malignant progression to squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in an initiation-promotion protocol. Histopathological analysis of papillomas from transgenic mice showed an elevated number of premalignant lesions characterized by dysplasia and marked atypia. Interestingly, transgenic mice also developed tumors in initiated but not promoted skin, demonstrating that CDK4 replaced the action of tumor promoters. These results suggest that expression of cyclin D1 upon ras activation synergizes with CDK4 overexpression. However, cyclin D1 transgenic mice and double transgenic mice for cyclin D1 and CDK4 did not show increased malignant progression in comparison to CDK4 transgenic mice. Biochemical analysis of tumors showed that CDK4 sequesters the CDK2 inhibitors p27Kip1 and p21Cip1, suggesting that indirect activation of CDK2 plays an important role in tumor development. These results indicate that, contrary to the general assumption, the catalytic subunit, CDK4, has higher oncogenic activity than cyclin D1, revealing a potential use of CDK4 as therapeutic target.Oncogene (2004) 23, 1863-1873. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207309 Published online 1 December 2003 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 leads to an overall increase in animal growth, pituitary tumors, and hyperplasia of hematopoietic organs, yet it is unknown whether all cells function autonomously in response to p27Kip1 activity or whether certain cells take cues from their neighbors. In addition, there is currently no genetic evidence that tumor suppression by p27Kip1 is cell-autonomous because biallelic gene inactivation is absent from tumors arising in p27Kip1 hemizygous mice. We have addressed these questions with tissue-specific targeted mouse mutants and radiation chimeras. Our results indicate that the suppression of pars intermedia pituitary tumors by p27Kip1 is cell-autonomous and does not contribute to overgrowth or infertility phenotypes. In contrast, suppression of spleen growth and hematopoietic progenitor expansion is a consequence of p27Kip1 function external to the hematopoietic compartment. Likewise, p27Kip1 suppresses thymocyte hyperplasia through a cell-nonautonomous mechanism. The interaction of p27Kip1 loss with epithelial cell-specific cyclin-dependent kinase 4 overexpression identifies the thymic epithelium as a relevant site of p27Kip1 activity for the regulation of thymus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The renin-angiotensin system, through its type 1 and type 2 angiotensin receptors (AT1R and AT2R, respectively) may have a role in prostate cancer. The objective of this pilot study was to explore that potential role by determining whether the AT1R blocker, losartan, would reduce the growth of LAPC-4 prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. We also evaluated the tumor growth effects of using angiotensin II to activate both AT1R and AT2R simultaneously. Our data showed that losartan decreased tumor volumes by 56% versus control. This decrease reached statistical significance at day 54 (p = 0.0014). By day 54, Ki67 was also reduced in the losartan group, though not significantly so (p = 0.077). Losartan had no significant effect on AT1R or AT2R expression. Despite significant increases in both AT1R and AT2R at day 29 (p = 0.043 and 0.038, respectively), the administration of angiotensin II did not result in any significant differences in tumor volumes or ki67 at any time point. These data suggest that selective activation and induction of AT2R coupled with blockade of AT1R may slow prostate cancer growth. Future larger studies are needed to confirm these results.

The Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is an endangered species that has been poorly studied. There are no reports on their population status, habitat condition, and the species distribution area is still unknown. This study analyzes the seasonal and spatial variations of their habitat and the presence/absence of D. mawii in three rivers within the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve (Tabasco, Mexico). For habitat characterization, natural segmentation of rivers was used and three sites per segment were identified, 9 in each rivers (Grijalva and Usumacinta) and 6 in Tabasquillo. Additionally, the evaluation of 11 environmental variables such as water hydrological, physicochemical characteristics and riparian and hydrophytic vegetation were carried out during two different seasons (dry and rainy). The presence/absence of species was assessed with eight fike nets that were set per segment, with a capture effort of 384 hours per trap. The capture per unit effort (CPUE) was used as an indicator of relative abundance. The results indicated spatio-temporal variations in habitat characteristics and the presence of environmental gradients. The principal components analysis (PCA) applied allowed us to determine that the first three components explained 67.8% of the environmental variability. The species presence was confirmed in all rivers, however significant differences exists in their relative abundance: the highest was registered in the Tabasquillo River where the species was present in both seasons and in all segments. Of the 11 environmental variables analyzed, the gradient, shelter and depth were the most indicative of species presence. The obtained results evidenced the importance of riparian vegetation as habitat for Dermatemys. This represents the first approach towards an action plan for a species and its habitat protection within the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve.

Activation of c-Met signaling and beta-catenin mutations are frequent genetic events observed in liver cancer development. Recently, we demonstrated that activated beta-catenin can cooperate with c-Met to induce liver cancer formation in a mouse model. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is an important cell cycle regulator that is considered to be a downstream target of beta-catenin. To determine the importance of CCND1 as a mediator of c-Met- and beta-catenin-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, we investigated the genetic interactions between CCND1, beta-catenin, and c-Met in liver cancer development using mouse models. We coexpressed CCND1 with c-Met in mice and found CCND1 to cooperate with c-Met to promote liver cancer formation. Tumors induced by CCND1/c-Met had a longer latency period, formed at a lower frequency, and seemed to be more benign compared with those induced by beta-catenin/c-Met. In addition, when activated beta-catenin and c-Met were coinjected into CCND1-null mice, liver tumors developed despite the absence of CCND1. Intriguingly, we observed a moderate accelerated tumor growth and increased tumor malignancy in these CCND1-null mice. Molecular analysis showed an up-regulation of cyclin D2 (CCND2) expression in CCND1-null tumor samples, indicating that CCND2 may replace CCND1 in hepatic tumorigenesis. Together, our results suggest that CCND1 functions as a mediator of beta-catenin during HCC pathogenesis, although other molecules may be required to fully propagate beta-catenin signaling. Moreover, our data suggest that CCND1 expression is not essential for liver tumor development induced by c-Met and beta-catenin.