Biomedical subjects

Sarah O'Connor

Publications and source records attributed to Sarah O'Connor.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Modulation of tumor-host interactions, angiogenesis, and tumor growth by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 via a novel mechanism.

Solid tumors depend on angiogenesis for sustained growth. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) is an angiogenesis inhibitor initially characterized for its ability to block matrix metalloproteinases; however, recent data suggest that the antiangiogenic action of TIMP-2 may rely on matrix metalloproteinase-independent mechanisms. The aim of this study was to identify molecular pathways involved in the effects of TIMP-2 on processes dependent on tumor-host interactions such as angiogenesis. Using in vitro cell culture and a syngeneic murine tumor model, we compared the effects of TIMP-2 overexpression on gene expression profiles in vitro to those observed in vivo. Validating these findings by real-time quantitative PCR and layered protein scanning, we identified up-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 as an effector of the antiangiogenic function of TIMP-2. Up-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 in tumors overexpressing TIMP-2 leads to dephosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Phosphatase activity appears important in regulating tumor angiogenesis, offering a promising direction for the identification of novel molecular targets and antiangiogenic compounds for the treatment of cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A novel technique for quantifying changes in vascular density, endothelial cell proliferation and protein expression in response to modulators of angiogenesis using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.

Reliable quantitative evaluation of molecular pathways is critical for both drug discovery and treatment monitoring. We have modified the CAM assay to quantitatively measure vascular density, endothelial proliferation, and changes in protein expression in response to anti-angiogenic and pro-angiogenic agents. This improved CAM assay can correlate changes in vascular density with changes seen on a molecular level. We expect that these described modifications will result in a single in vivo assay system, which will improve the ability to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying the angiogenic response.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Aureolic acids: similar antibiotics with different biosynthetic gene clusters.

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Méndez and colleagues describe the sequence and organization of the chromomycin gene cluster. Unexpectedly, the arrangement is starkly different from the mithramycin biosynthetic cluster, despite similarity in the individual genes and the near identical structures of the two antibiotic aureolic acids.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2003

Parathyroid gland-specific deletion of the mouse Men1 gene results in parathyroid neoplasia and hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism.

The inactivation of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene in patients leads to a constellation of changes in endocrine tissues, including parathyroid neoplasia, pituitary adenomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and carcinoids. To study the pathophysiological consequences of the deletion of the MEN1 gene, we set out to create a mouse model of hyperparathyroidism resulting from the deletion of the Men1 gene in parathyroid tissue. We introduced a Men1 gene flanked by loxP sites into the mouse germ line and then used a parathyroid cell-specific promoter to drive the expression of Cre recombinase, resulting in the deletion of the Men1 gene. Here, we show that loss of Men1 gene function in the parathyroid glands of mice results in histological changes consistent with parathyroid neoplasia as well as systemic hypercalcemia. This model provides a means for dissecting the molecular basis of this familial cancer syndrome and may allow for the development of new strategies to treat related forms of hypercalcemia.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of noninvasive fluorescent and bioluminescent small animal optical imaging.

Optical imaging is a modality that is cost-effective, rapid, easy to use, and can be readily applied to studying disease processes and biology in vivo. For this study, we used a green fluorescent protein (GFP)- and luciferase-expressing mouse tumor model to compare and contrast the quantitative and qualitative capabilities of a fluorescent reporter gene (GFP) and a bioluminescent reporter gene (luciferase). We describe the relationship between tumor volume, tumor mass, and bioluminescent/fluorescent intensity for both GFP and luciferase. Bioluminescent luciferase imaging was shown to be more sensitive than fluorescent GFP imaging. Luciferase-expressing tumors were detected as early as 1 day after tumor cell inoculation, whereas GFP-expressing tumors were not detected until 7 days later. Both bioluminescent and fluorescent intensity correlated significantly and linearly with tumor volume and tumor weight, as measured by caliper. Compared to bioluminescent imaging, fluorescent imaging does not require the injection of a substrate and may be appropriate for applications where sensitivity is not as critical. Knowing the relative strengths of each imaging modality will be important in guiding the decision to use fluorescence or bioluminescence.

Animals↗