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Biomedical subjects

M Lleonart

Publications and source records attributed to M Lleonart.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Disruption of Trrap causes early embryonic lethality and defects in cell cycle progression.

The transactivation/transformation-domain associated protein (TRRAP) belongs to the Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) super-family and has been identified as a cofactor for c-MYC-mediated oncogenic transformation. TRRAP and its yeast homolog (Tra1p) are components of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes, SAGA (refs. 2,4,5), PCAF (ref. 3) and NuA4 (ref. 6), which are important for the regulation of transcription and cell cycle progression and also have a role in cell viability. Yet the biological function of this molecule and how it controls proliferation are still unclear. Here we show that null mutation of Trrap in mice results in peri-implantation lethality due to a blocked proliferation of blastocysts. We use an inducible Cre-loxP system to show that loss of Trrap blocks cell proliferation because of aberrant mitotic exit accompanied by cytokinesis failure and endoreduplication. Trrap-deficient cells fail to sustain mitotic arrest despite chromosome missegregation and disrupted spindles, and display compromised cdk1 activity. Trrap is therefore essential for early development and required for the mitotic checkpoint and normal cell cycle progression.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1999

In vivo radiosensitizing effect of the adenovirus E1A gene in murine and human malignant tumors.

The adenovirus E1A gene is a potent inducer of chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity through p53-dependent and independent mechanisms. We have studied the sensitivity of murine (MSC11A5, a sarcomatoid epidermoid carcinoma) and human (HeLa, human cervix carcinoma) E1A-expressing tumors, in vivo, after treatment with cisplatin or gamma-irradiation. In athymic mice, half-body irradiation was performed in an AECL Cobalt unit, at an SSD of 80 cm. Daily fractions of 300 cGy over 3 days, up to a total dose of 9 Gy. Cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 9 mg per kg of body weight. After gamma-irradiation or intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin, about 30% of the E1A-expressing tumors regressed completely or were associated with a marked decrease in tumorigenicity over the following weeks. We conclude that malignant tumors, when expressing adenovirus E1A, are very sensitive to treatment with DNA-damaging agents, in vivo, regardless of the p53 status of the tumors.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Loss of heterozygosity in the region including the BRCA1 gene on 17q in colon cancer.

Colon cancer has been proved to be an excellent model to identify and to study the different genetic alterations taking part in its development. BRCA1, a susceptibility gene for breast cancer, has been identified. Evidence of a significant risk for colon cancer in BRCA1-linked families has been reported. We undertook the present study to investigate the possible relation of BRCA1 and other genes on chromosome 17q21 to colon cancer. Eighty-five tumors were examined for loss of heterozygosity at seven microsatellite loci spanning the 17q21 region. Loss of heterozygosity was present in 39 (49%) of the 79 informative cases, with at least one marker. Two loci, D17S855 and D17S579, showed higher rates of allelic loss (16% and 22%, respectively) than the remaining markers. Tumors on the right side of the colon exhibited allelic loss more frequently than those on the left side. Our data suggest that BRCA1 and other genes in the 17q21 region may play an important role in the development of colon cancer.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Perspectives in gene therapy.

Gene therapy is understood to be both the restitution of genetic alterations caused by mutation or deletion and the control of overexpressed genes. The concept of gene therapy can also encompass molecular strategies to induce cell death in tumor cell by either the so-called "suicided genes" or by certain viral genes that induce a more selective cell death among the transformed cells. The prospect for the clinical application of gene therapy are enormous and, at least theoretically, its utilization can be extended to a number of diseases known to have a genetic basis, and to neoplastic processes. This review summarizes some of the projects that are currently underway involving neoplastic diseases, liver diseases, hematopoietic cells and respiratory tract cells. The results of most of the ongoing protocols are not yet conclusive, and presumibly, their clinical application is still some years away. One of the major limitations is the method of introducing the genetic sequences into the cells and achieving their constitutive expression by the cells. For ethical reasons, this approach should not be done in germ cells, but at the level of the tissue or cells most closely involved in the development of each gene-based disease. The methods employed in gene therapy are discussed, focusing on those mediated by the application of viral vectors, as well as those requiring the use of liposomes and others.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Lack of correlation between p53 protein level and sensitivity of DNA-damaging agents in keratinocytes carrying adenovirus E1a mutants.

p53 tumor suppressor protein is required for efficient execution of apoptosis after DNA-damage in many cell systems. Since the oncogene E1a confers susceptibility to DNA-damaging agents and stabilizes p53 protein, we investigate whether the sensitivity to anticancer drugs of E1a-expressing cells was mediated by binding to a specific set of cellular proteins (p60, p105, p107 and p300) and related to the induction of apoptosis and the level of p53 protein. We studied the effect of cisplatin (CDDP), doxorubicin (DOX) and ionizing radiation (RX) on murine keratinocytes (PAM 212) transfected by the wild type E1a oncogene or several E1a mutants which bind to different subsets of cellular proteins. Keratinocytes transfected with the mutant d1787N (which binds to p60, p105, p107 and p300) showed a lethality in response to CDDP (10 micrograms ml-1) fourfold higher than controls and threefold higher in response to DOX and radiation (5 grays). The sensitivity of keratinocytes carrying the mutant NTd1598 (binding to p105, p107 and p60) to DNA-damaging agents was similar to that of control keratinocytes, while mutant d1922/947 (binding only to p300) were resistant to CDDP and RX but sensitive to DOX. Apoptosis (after 24 h) studied by DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry was only observed in cells carrying the wild type E1a or the mutant d1787N. After treatment with DNA-damaging agents, p53 protein expression increased in all the cell lines and no rE1ation to sensitivity to anticancer agents or induction of apoptosis was observed. From these results, we conclude that cell sensitivity to cisplatin and ionizing radiation induced by the E1a oncogene requires binding to p105, p107 and p300 cellular proteins, while sensitivity to Doxorubicin requires binding only to p300. Interestingly, p53 protein levels were related to the binding to the p300 protein. The high levels of p53 after CDDP and DOX in the mutant d1922/947, which are only sensitive to DOX, suggest that E1a oncogene products may induce sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents by p53-related and unrelated pathways.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adenovirus lacking the 19-kDa and 55-kDa E1B genes exerts a marked cytotoxic effect in human malignant cells.

UNLABELLED: The adenovirus (Ad) E1A gene exerts an antitumor effect and can induce sensitivity to treatment with DNA-damaging agents. In contrast, the Ad 19-kDa E1B protein inhibits E1A-mediated apoptosis and the 55-kDa E1B inactivates the p53 protein. In this paper, we study the in vitro and in vivo effects of a 19-kDa and 55-kDa E1B-defective Ad in several malignant human tumor cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nontumorigenic human fibroblasts (CCD-45SK and Hs67), peripheral blood lymphocytes, and several human tumor cell lines derived from cervix, colon, and breast carcinomas, epidermoid carcinoma, and osteosarcoma (HeLa, HT29, MCF7, Saos-2, and A431 cell lines) were studied. Wild-type (wt) Ad type 5 and H5 dL118 Ad, a mutant with the deleted E1B region, were employed. The cells were infected at 20 plaque-forming units, and cell viability was evaluated by the crystal violet method. In the in vivo experiments, 2 x 10(6) cells from the carcinoma cell lines HeLa, A431 and HT29 were injected into nude mice. The tumorigenicity of previously infected cells and after an intratumoral injection of Ad was analyzed. The mice received whole-body gamma-irradiation. RESULTS: The H5 dL118 mutant produced a marked cytopathic effect in all of the malignant cells, surpassing that of the wt Ad; viability at 72 hours ranged from 11% to 20% for H5 dL118 Ad and from 70% to 93% for the wt Ad with respect to uninfected controls. In the in vivo experiments, a total inhibition of tumorigenicity was detected when cells were infected prior to injection and a partial and transitory decrease in tumorigenicity was detected when the mutant H5 dL118 was injected intratumorally. gamma-irradiation enhanced the in vivo antitumor effects. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that infection with completely E1B-deficient Ads induced a marked cytopathic effect on malignant cells that was higher than that seen for wt Ads; in addition, infection with such Ads exerts a tumor suppressor effect in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo antitumor effect of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of the adenovirus E1a gene.

The adenovirus E1a gene has been shown to be associated with high sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and a decrease in the tumorigenicity of some human malignant cell lines. We have analyzed the tumorigenicity of the murine epidermoid carcinoma cell lines MSC11A5 and HaCa4, which have constitutive E1a expression, after the concomitant injection of retrovirus E1a producer cells with the carcinoma cells and even after the intratumoral injection of the E1a producer cells. The level of E1a expression was studied by Western blotting. Tumors induced by carcinoma cell lines expressing E1a showed greater latencies and less tumorigenicity. In the spindle cell carcinomas MSC11A5, E1a gene expression partially blocked tumorigenicity. Similar results were obtained after the concomitant injection of the carcinoma cells and the retrovirus E1a producer cells. Intratumoral injection of retrovirus E1a producer cells was associated with a significant delay of tumorigenicity. By transfection with different E1a mutants Ntd1598, d1922/947, and d1787N, we observed that only the mutant that has complete CR2 domains is associated with the decrease in tumorigenicity. According to these results, we conclude that, at least in these carcinoma cell lines, E1a expression exerts a significant antitumor effect in vivo that is mediated by the CR2 region of E1a gene. We propose that injection of retrovirus E1a producer cells may be a novel therapeutic approach in cancer.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗