PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J O'Kelly

Publications and source records attributed to J O'Kelly.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Antiproliferative activity of RAD001 (everolimus) as a single agent and combined with other agents in mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive form of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with a mean survival of only 3-5 years and suboptimal therapeutic options. MCL is characterized by a balanced translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32), resulting in overexpression of cyclin D1, a G(1) cyclin regulated by the PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. As improved therapy for MCL is required and the mTOR pathway may be involved in its pathophysiology, the antiproliferative effects of RAD001 (everolimus), an mTOR inhibitor, against three MCL cell lines were investigated. As a single agent, RAD001 inhibited proliferation in MCL cell lines (Jeko1, SP49 and NCEB1) approximately 40-65% compared to diluent control cells. This was associated with G(1) cell-cycle arrest and reduced phosphorylation of the mTOR downstream target, 4E-BP1. Furthermore, combination drug studies revealed predominantly synergistic cytotoxicity with RAD001 and several secondary agents, including doxorubicin, vincristine or rituximab (components of the standard MCL regimen), as well as paclitaxel, vorinostat and bortezomib. These data indicate that single agent RAD001 is effective in inhibiting growth of MCL cells in vitro and combination studies with secondary agents further demonstrate synergistic cytotoxicity. Thus, these findings support future clinical studies of RAD001 in the treatment of MCL.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

BRCA1 and FOXA1 proteins coregulate the expression of the cell cycle-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1).

We have previously shown that the breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, can transcriptionally activate the p27(Kip1) promoter. The BRCA1-responsive element was defined as a 35 bp region from position -545 to -511. We next determined that within this region is also a potential binding site for the transcription factor Forkhead box (FOX)A1. RNA and protein analysis as well as immunohistochemistry showed that expression of FOXA1 correlated with the expression of the estrogen receptor in a panel of breast cancer cell lines and tissues. In transient transfection reporter assays, FOXA1 could activate the p27(Kip1) promoter. Cotransfection of BRCA1 and FOXA1 resulted in a synergistic activation of the p27(Kip1) promoter. Mutation of the FOXA1 DNA-binding site in the p27(Kip1) promoter-luciferase construct significantly diminished the activity of FOXA1 alone or in combination with BRCA1. Cotransfection of FOXA1 and BRCA1 resulted in a greater amount of each protein compared to transfection of each expression vector alone. The half-life of FOXA1 was increased when coexpressed with BRCA1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis demonstrated that FOXA1 could bind to a wild-type oligonucleotide containing the FOXA1 binding site in the p27(Kip1) promoter, but this binding was lost upon mutation of this FOXA1 binding site. The protein-DNA binding complex could be supershifted with an antibody directed against FOXA1. The activity of the p27(Kip1) promoter as well as FOXA1 expression was reduced in cells treated with BRCA1 siRNA, thus silencing the expression of BRCA1 protein. In summary, we identified a FOXA1 binding site within the BRCA1-responsive element of the p27(Kip1) promoter and showed that FOXA1 activated the promoter alone and in conjunction with BRCA1. Furthermore, we identified high expression of FOXA1 in breast cancer cell lines and tissues, discovered a role for BRCA1 in the regulation of p27(Kip1) transcription and a possible interaction with BRCA1.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Cyr61, a member of CCN family, is a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cysteine-rich protein 61 (Cyr61) is a member of a family of growth factor-inducible immediate-early genes. It regulates cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation and is involved in tumor growth. In our experiments, the role of Cyr61 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was examined. Expression of Cyr61 mRNA was decreased markedly in four of five human lung tumor samples compared with their normal matched lung samples. NSCLC cell lines NCI-H520 and H460, which have no endogenous Cyr61, formed 60-90% fewer colonies after being transfected with a Cyr61 cDNA expression vector than cells transfected with the same amount of empty vector. After stable transfection of a Cyr61 cDNA expression vector, proliferation of both H520-Cyr61 and H460-Cyr61 sublines decreased remarkably compared with the cells stably transfected with empty vector. The addition of antibody against Cyr61 partially rescued the growth suppression of both H520-Cyr61 and H460-Cyr61 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that both H520-Cyr61 and H460-Cyr61 cells developed G(1) arrest, prominently up-regulated expression of p53 and p21(WAF1), and had decreased activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2. The increase of pocket protein pRB2/p130 was also detected in these cells. Notably, both of the Cyr61-stably transfected lung cancer cell lines developed smaller tumors than those formed by the wild-type cells in nude mice. Taken together, we conclude that Cyr61 may play a role as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC.

Animals↗

Novel vitamin D(3) analog, 21-(3-methyl-3-hydroxy-butyl)-19-nor D(3), that modulates cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and induction of PTEN in leukemic cells.

The active form of vitamin D(3), 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of a variety of malignant cells. A new class of vitamin D(3) analogs, having 2 identical side chains attached to carbon-20, was synthesized and the anticancer effects evaluated. Four analogs were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of myeloid leukemia (NB4, HL-60), breast (MCF-7), and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cells. All 4 analogs inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner. Most effective was 21-(3-methyl-3-hydroxy-butyl)-19-nor D(3) (Gemini-19-nor), which has 2 side chains and removal of the C-19. Gemini-19-nor was approximately 40 625-, 70-, 23-, and 380-fold more potent than 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in inhibiting 50% clonal growth (ED(50)) of NB4, HL-60, MCF-7, and LNCaP cells, respectively. Gemini-19-nor (10(-8) M) strongly induced expression of CD11b and CD14 on HL-60 cells (90%); in contrast, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (10(-8) M) stimulated only 50% expression. Annexin V assay showed that Gemini-19-nor and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion. Gemini-19-nor (10(-8) M, 4 days) caused apoptosis in approximately 20% of cells, whereas 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) at the same concentration did not induce apoptosis. Gemini-19-nor increased in HL-60 both the proportion of cells in the G(1)/G(0) phase and expression level of p27(kip1). Moreover, Gemini-19-nor stimulated expression of the potential tumor suppressor, PTEN. Furthermore, other inducers of differentiation, all-trans-retinoic acid and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, increased PTEN expression in HL-60. In summary, Gemini-19-nor strongly inhibited clonal proliferation in various types of cancer cells, especially NB4 cells, suggesting that further studies to explore its anticancer potential are warranted. In addition, PTEN expression appears to parallel terminal differentiation of myeloid cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Breast cancer. Cyr61 is overexpressed, estrogen-inducible, and associated with more advanced disease.

To identify genes involved in breast cancer, polymerase chain reaction-selected cDNA subtraction was utilized to construct a breast cancer-subtracted library. Differential screening of the library isolated the growth factor-inducible immediate-early gene Cyr61, a secreted, cysteine-rich, heparin binding protein that promotes endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and neovascularization. Northern analysis revealed that Cyr61 was expressed highly in the invasive breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, T47D, and MDA-MB-157; very low levels were found in the less tumorigenic MCF-7 and BT-20 breast cancer cells and barely detectable amounts were expressed in the normal breast cells, MCF-12A. Univariate analysis showed a significant or borderline significant association between Cyr61 expression and stage, tumor size, lymph node positivity, age, and estrogen receptor levels. Interestingly, expression of Cyr61 mRNA increased 8- to 12-fold in MCF-12A and 3- to 5-fold in MCF-7 cells after 24- and 48-h exposure to estrogen, respectively. Induction of Cyr61 mRNA was blocked by tamoxifen and ICI182,780, inhibitors of the estrogen receptor. Stable expression of Cyr61 cDNA under the regulation of a constitutive promoter in MCF-7 cells enhanced anchorage-independent cell growth in soft agar and significantly increased tumorigenicity and vascularization of these tumors in nude mice. Moreover, overexpression of Cyr61 in MCF-12A normal breast cells induced their tumor formation and vascularization in nude mice. In summary, these results suggest that Cyr61 may play a role in the progression of breast cancer and may be involved in estrogen-mediated tumor development.

Adult↗

Predicting patient benefit from a group-oriented, evening treatment program.

Patients with coexisting mood and personality disorders are a challenge to service care providers who offer treatment. The response of 190 patients with one or both disorders to an intensive group-oriented evening treatment program was investigated. Benefit was assessed using factors derived from pre-post outcome measures and from general impressions of program usefulness. A predictive model consisting of patient levels of psychological mindedness and psychodynamic work was applied. Results indicated that psychological mindedness was significantly related to psychodynamic work in the program, and work was related to general impressions of program usefulness. These results cross-validated findings from a previous study of a day-treatment program. Restricted range may have prevented finding significant results for the pre-post outcome factors. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Cognition↗

Human erythrocyte choline uptake in uraemia: the role of intracellular substrate and an investigation into the effects of haemodialysis.

1. Erythrocyte choline transport was studied in 10 haemodialysis patients immediately before and after a haemodialysis session and in 10 control subjects. Choline uptake was measured in erythrocytes from normal and uraemic patients after washing in vitro and subsequent incubation in autologous plasma. Amines present in uraemic plasma were examined for their effect on choline transport in normal erythrocytes. 2. NMR spectroscopy was used to measure choline, trimethylamine and dimethylamine in erythrocyte extracts from nine control subjects, 32 subjects with renal impairment and nine samples from haemodialysis patients. 3. The increased choline influx in uraemic erythrocytes is significantly decreased by prior haemodialysis (mean Vmax pre-dialysis 146 +/- 20 mumol h-1 l-1, post-dialysis 113 +/- 13 mumol h-1 l-1 (P < 0.005). After in vitro washing there is a fall in Vmax, and no longer any significant difference between pre- and post-dialysis samples. There remains a significant difference in the erythrocyte choline Vmax between samples from patients with chronic renal failure and from normal subjects (P < 0.005). 4. Human plasma was found to contain factors capable of increasing choline uptake. Trimethylamine and dimethylamine were found to inhibit choline uptake. Trimethylamine and trimethylamine-N-oxide trans-stimulated choline efflux, but the major transport substrate present in erythrocyte extracts from all groups was choline, which was higher in those with renal impairment (71 +/- 10 mumol/l) than in haemodialysis patients (47 +/- 10 mumol/l) and control subjects with normal renal function (40 +/- 9 mumol/l). 5. Our data suggest that erythrocyte choline transport is increased in uraemia as a consequence of increased transporter number or activity, rather than the presence of intracellular substrate.

Choline↗

Thiol group control of sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics in uraemia: evidence of a membrane abnormality affected by haemodialysis.

Uraemia affects erythrocyte metabolism and membrane function but no consistent effect on Na/Li countertransport (CT) has been reported. We report only small differences in Na/Li CT at 150 mmol/l Na over haemodialysis, but major differences in other properties of Na/Li CT. The Km for external sodium and Vmax both increased during haemodialysis but the Vmax/Km ratio, which was greater than normal, was not affected. The thiol reagent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which causes a decrease in Km and Vmax in normal subjects, had no effect on Km in the predialysis erythrocytes. After haemodialysis, the sensitivity of Na/Li CT to NEM was improved. The changes in Na/Li CT kinetics were not related to changes in membrane lipid fluidity or plasma lipids. These observations suggest that uraemia affects a thiol group that controls Na/Li CT kinetics and that haemodialysis temporarily improves this aspect of membrane function.

Aged↗

Korotnevella hemistylolepis n. sp. and Korotnevella monacantholepis n. sp. (Paramoebidae), two new scale-covered mesohaline amoebae.

Two new species of Korotnevella Goodkov, 1988, Korotnevella hemistylolepis n. sp. and Korotnevella monacantholepis n. sp., are described from mesohaline ecosystems. The amoebae are characterized on the basis of light and electron microscopy with special emphasis on the structure of the basket scales, which have species-specific architecture. The two new species are the second and third ones recovered from environments other than freshwater. In terms of scale morphology they most closely resemble a freshwater species, Korotnevella bulla (Schaeffer, 1926) Goodkov, 1988. Two genus names, Dactylamoeba Korotnev, 1880 and Korotnevella Goodkov, 1988, are in current use. The latter name is preferred, pending rediscovery and characterization of Dactylamoeba elongata Korotnev, 1880, the type species of the genus. Korotnevella species can be divided into three groups on the basis of scale morphology, suggesting that the genus may not be monophyletic. A key to species is provided.

Amoebida↗