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PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta from rabbit bone marrow.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta were partially purified and characterized from rabbit bone marrow. Rabbit DNA polymerase delta sediments at 8.2 S upon glycerol density gradient centrifugation. Similar to calf thymus PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta, a 125-123-kDa doublet and 48-kDa polypeptides correlate with DNA polymerase activity. Western blotting of rabbit DNA polymerase delta with polyclonal antibody to calf thymus PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta gives the same results as calf thymus delta; the 125-123-kDa doublet is recognized. PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta is resistant to inhibition by dideoxynucleotides and is relatively insensitive to inhibition by N2-[p-(n-butyl)phenyl]dGTP. A 3'-->5' exonuclease copurifies with the DNA polymerase. The processivity of DNA polymerase delta alone is very low but greatly increases with the addition of PCNA from rabbit bone marrow or calf thymus. Comparative studies of the original DNA polymerase delta from rabbit bone marrow demonstrate a lack of recognition by antibodies to calf thymus delta and a high degree of processivity in the absence of PCNA. Additionally, the originally described DNA polymerase delta is a single polypeptide of 122 kDa. These features would recategorize the original delta to the epsilon category by recently proposed convention. PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta is a relatively minor component of rabbit bone marrow compared to DNA polymerase alpha and PCNA-independent DNA polymerase delta (epsilon), the relative proportions being alpha, 60%; delta, 7%; and epsilon, 30%.

Animals↗

A functional analysis of PCNA-binding peptides derived from protein sequence, interaction screening and rational design.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has no intrinsic enzymatic function, but functions as a sliding platform to mediate protein interactions with the DNA strand. Many proteins interact with PCNA through a small conserved motif with consensus QxxLxxFF. This work uses Schizosaccharomyces pombe and human cells to analyse the function of PCNA-binding peptides. Interacting peptides were identified using two-hybrid screening; one (pep102) binds directly to a physiologically relevant site on PCNA. The EGFP-pep102 overexpression phenotype is consistent with competitive blocking of PCNA-protein interactions. Various PCNA-binding peptides were all shown to inhibit PCNA function by competitive binding in both human and S. pombe cells as EGFP fusion proteins. The action of a p21(WAF1/Cip1)-derived peptide was complicated by the presence of additional functional domains and possible post-translational modification. The activity of pep102 was hampered by low expression in both model systems. The peptide derived from rational design (con1) was stable, highly active in inhibiting PCNA function both S. pombe and human cells and showed a high affinity for PCNA both in vitro and in vivo. These results validate the use of functional screening in yeast to identify peptide aptamers that are functional in mammalian cells; such aptamers provide excellent leads for small molecule antiproliferative therapies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clamp loading, unloading and intrinsic stability of the PCNA, beta and gp45 sliding clamps of human, E. coli and T4 replicases.

BACKGROUND: The high speed and processivity of replicative DNA polymerases reside in a processivity factor which has been shown to be a ring-shaped protein. This protein ("sliding clamp') encircles DNA and tethers the catalytic unit to the template. Although in eukaryotic, prokaryotic and bacteriophage-T4 systems, the processivity factors are ring-shaped, they assume different oligomeric states. The Escherichia coli clamp (the beta subunit) is active as a dimer while the eukaryotic and T4 phage clamps (PCNA and gp45, respectively) are active as trimers. The clamp can not assemble itself on DNA. Instead, a protein complex known as a clamp loader utilizes ATP to assemble the ring around the primer-template. This study compares properties of the human PCNA clamp with those of E. coli and T4 phage. RESULTS: The PCNA ring is a stable trimer down to a concentration below 100 nM (Kd approximately 21 nM). On DNA, the PCNA clamp slides freely and dissociates from DNA slowly (t1/2 approximately 24 min). beta is more stable in solution (Kd < 60 PM) and on DNA (t1/2 approximately 1 h) than PCNA which may be explained by its simpler oligomeric state. The T4 gp45 clamp is a much less stable trimer than PCNA (Kd approximately 250 nM) and requires association with the polymerase to stabilize it on DNA as observed previously. The consequence of this cooperation between clamp and polymerase is that upon finishing a template and dissociation of the polymerase from DNA, the gp45 clamp spontaneously dissociates from DNA without assistance. However, the greater stability of the PCNA and beta clamps on DNA necessitates an active process for their removal. The clamp loaders (RFC and gamma complex) were also capable of unloading their respective clamps from DNA in the presence of ATP. CONCLUSIONS: The stability of the different clamps in solution correlates with their stability on DNA. Thus, the low stability of the T4 clamp explains the inability to isolate gp45 on DNA. The stability of the PCNA and beta clamps predicts they will require an unloading factor to recycle them on and off DNA during replication. The clamp loaders of PCNA and beta double as clamp unloaders presumably for the purpose of clamp recycling.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Functional sites of human PCNA which interact with p21 (Cip1/Waf1), DNA polymerase delta and replication factor C.

BACKGROUND: PCNA, an eukaryotic DNA sliding clamp interacts with replication factors and the cell cycle protein, p21(Cip1/Waf1) and functions as a molecular switch for DNA elongation. To understand how DNA replication is regulated through PCNA, elucidation of the precise mechanisms of these protein interactions is necessary. RESULTS: Loop-region mutants in which human PCNA sequences were substituted with the corresponding Saccharomyces cerevisiae PCNA regions were prepared. Analysis of their functions, along with previously prepared alanine scanning mutants, demonstrated that some loops interact with DNA polymerase delta (pol delta) and replication factor C (RFC). The p21 binding sites of PCNA, mapped by affinity measurement of the mutant forms, found to be located within a distinct structure of the PCNA monomer, overlap with RFC- and pol delta-interaction sites. Competition between p21 and pol delta or RFC for binding to PCNA results in efficient inhibition of its stimulation of pol delta DNA synthesis and RFC ATPase but not of PCNA loading on DNA by RFC. CONCLUSIONS: Semi-saturated amounts of p21 selectively block formation of the active pol delta complex but not the RFC-PCNA complex at 3'-ends of DNA primers. This differential effect may explain the specific inhibition of DNA replication by p21.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Ki67 antigen and PCNA proliferation markers predict survival in anorectal malignant melanoma.

AIMS: To find a possible correlation of Ki67 antigen and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) with prognosis in anorectal malignant melanoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients with anorectal malignant melanoma were studied. The percentage of tumour cells stained for Ki67 and PCNA in paraffin sections was assessed. Mode of treatment (local excision or abdominoperineal resection), depth of tumour invasion, attempt at cure as defined by complete tumour excision and absence of distant metastases at presentation, tumour blood vessel invasion, and tumour necrosis, as well as Ki67 and PCNA, were all correlated with survival. By univariate analysis, PCNA, Ki67, attempt at cure, local excision (and not abdominoperineal resection), and depth of invasion were all significantly associated with longer survival. By multivariate analysis, only PCNA was significantly associated with survival, while Ki67 showed a significant positive correlation with PCNA. With a cut-off point of 40%, patients with lower Ki67 scores showed survival advantage over those with higher Ki67 scores (P=0.0004). With a cut-off point of 80%, patients with lower PCNA scores showed survival advantage over those with higher PCNA scores (P=0.0001). The staining for proliferation markers was also associated with depth of tumour invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Ki67 and PCNA immunostaining in paraffin sections may be useful for the prediction of survival in patients with anorectal malignant melanoma. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.

Aged↗

The Pol32 subunit of DNA polymerase delta contains separable domains for processive replication and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) binding.

We have carried out a domain analysis of POL32, the third subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerase delta (Pol delta). Interactions with POL31, the second subunit of Pol delta, are specified by the amino-terminal 92 amino acids, whereas interactions with the replication clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, POL30) reside at the extreme carboxyl-terminal region. Pol32 binding, in vivo and in vitro, to the large subunit of DNA polymerase alpha, POL1, requires the carboxyl-proximal region of Pol32. The amino-terminal region of Pol32 is essential for damage-induced mutagenesis. However, the presence of its carboxyl-terminal PCNA-binding domain enhances the efficiency of mutagenesis, particularly at high loads of DNA damage. In vitro, in the absence of effector DNA, the PCNA-binding domain of Pol32 is essential for PCNA-Pol delta interactions. However, this domain has minimal importance for processive DNA synthesis by the ternary DNA-PCNA-Pol delta complex. Rather, processivity is determined by PCNA-binding domains located in the Pol3 and/or Pol31 subunits. Using diagnostic PCNA mutants, we show that during DNA synthesis the carboxyl-terminal domain of Pol32 interacts with the carboxyl-terminal region of PCNA, whereas interactions of the other subunit(s) of Pol delta localize largely to a hydrophobic pocket at the interdomain connector loop region of PCNA.

Alleles↗

Involvement of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in DNA repair induced by alkylating agents and oxidative damage in human fibroblasts.

The involvement of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the process of DNA repair induced by alkylating agents or by oxidative damage was investigated in human quiescent fibroblasts by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Transition from soluble to the DNA-bound form of PCNA, was taken as the parameter to determine its involvement in repair DNA synthesis. Treatment with the alkylating agents methylmethane sulfonate and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine resulted in the rapid and dose-dependent increase in the nuclear binding of PCNA. Similar results were obtained with compounds such as hydrogen peroxide or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, which are known to induce oxidative DNA damage. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide may also generate malondialdehyde through a reaction of lipid peroxidation. This mutagenic and carcinogenic product has been previously shown to form adducts with DNA. Therefore, the possibility that tert-butyl hydroperoxide could induce DNA damage through this pathway was investigated by incubating cells directly in the presence of malondialdehyde. Such treatment resulted in an increase in immunofluorescence associated with nuclear-bound PCNA. The ability of oxidative and alkylating agents to induce the nuclear binding of PCNA was also assessed in proliferating cells. In these conditions, treatment with hydrogen peroxide or methylmethane sulfonate, resulted in an increase in nuclear-bound PCNA in the G1 and in the G2 + M compartments, but not in S phase. At longer times after treatment, PCNA immunostaining was reduced to basal levels, while an increase in nuclear binding of p21(waf1/cip1) protein was found in concomitance with cell-cycle arrest. These results indicate that agents inducing DNA base alterations in vivo, promote the nuclear binding of PCNA. These lines of evidence support the role of a PCNA-dependent reaction in the base excision repair system.

Alkylating Agents↗

Dominant mutations in three different subunits of replication factor C suppress replication defects in yeast PCNA mutants.

To identify proteins that interact with the yeast proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), we used a genetic approach to isolate mutations that compensate for the defects in cold-sensitive (Cs(-)) mutants of yeast PCNA (POL30). Because the cocrystal structure of human PCNA and a p21(WAF1/CIP1) peptide shows that the interdomain region of PCNA is a site of p21 interaction, we specifically looked for new mutations that suppress mutations in the equivalent region of yeast PCNA. In independent screens using three different Cs(-) mutants, we identified spontaneously arising dominant suppressor mutations in the RFC3 gene. In addition, dominant suppressor mutations were identified in the RFC1 and RFC2 genes using a single pol30 mutant. An intimate association between PCNA and RFC1p, RFC2p, and RFC3p is suggested by the allele-restricted suppression of 10 different pol30 alleles by the RFC suppressors. RFC1, RFC2, and RFC3 encode three of the five subunits of the replication factor C complex, which is required to load PCNA onto DNA in reconstituted DNA replication reactions. Genomic sequencing reveals a common region in RFC1p, RFC2p, and RFC3p that is important for the functional interaction with PCNA. Biochemical analysis of the wild type and mutant PCNA and RFC3 proteins shows that mutant RFC3p enhances the production of long DNA products in pol delta-dependent DNA synthesis, which is consistent with an increase in processivity.

Alleles↗

Analysis of repair and PCNA complex formation induced by ionizing radiation in human fibroblast cell lines.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), an auxiliary factor for DNA polymerase delta and epsilon, is involved in both DNA replication and repair. Previous studies in vitro have demonstrated the requirement of PCNA in the resynthesis step of nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER). Using a native chromatin template isolated under near physiological conditions, we have analysed the involvement of PCNA in the BER pathway in different NER defective human cell lines. The repair sites and PCNA were visualized by indirect immunolabelling followed by fluorescence microscopy. The results indicate that exposure to X-rays triggers the induction of PCNA in all the three human fibroblast cell lines studied, namely normal, xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XP-A) and Cockayne syndrome group B (CS-B). In all the cell lines, induction of PCNA and repair patches occurred in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Induction of repair patches in NER-deficient XP-A cells suggests that the X-ray-induced lesions are largely repaired via the BER pathway involving PCNA as one of the key components of this pathway. X-ray-induced repair synthesis was greatly inhibited by treatment of cells with DNA polymerase inhibitors aphidicolin and cytosine arabinoside. Interestingly, inhibition of repair resynthesis did not affect the intensity of PCNA staining in X-irradiated cells indicating that the PCNA may be required for the BER pathway at a step preceding the resynthesis step.

Cell Line↗

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

A positive correlation between PCNA and the most important histoprognostic factors of cutaneous melanoma has been demonstrated. The aim of our work was to evaluate the efficacy of PCNA in predicting melanoma recurrence and to compare it with that of Breslow thickness. One-hundred and fifteen patients (75 women, 40 men; mean age 50 years) with primary cutaneous melanoma were retrieved. pTNM stages were as follows: stage I, 54 patients; stage II, 31 patients; stage III, 26 patients; and stage IV, four patients. The mean follow-up period was 55 months (range 2-260). Six patients developed lymph node metastases and 28 developed distant metastases; 27 patients died within 2-202 months from diagnosis. Tumour thickness was re-evaluated for each case. PCNA immunostaining was performed using the avidin-biotin complex method and the percentage of PCNA-positive tumour cells was indicated as the PCNA index. In order to evaluate and compare the PCNA index and Breslow thickness as predictors of recurrence, the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve method, based on true-positive and false-positive rates was used. The PCNA index showed the highest true-positive rates and the lowest false-positive rates in the 5-30 interval. The PCNA index optimal cut-off is 20, characterized by 70% sensitivity and 80% specificity; Breslow thickness optimal cut-off is 3.5 mm, with 40% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Our results indicate that the PCNA index has a higher efficacy in predicting locoregional and distant recurrences in patients presenting primary cutaneous melanoma.

Adult↗

Correlation between PCNA and AgNOR scores in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas using sequential staining technique.

AIMS: To investigate the relation between the numbers of interphase silver stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) and immunolabelling with the monoclonal antibody PC10, which demonstrates proliferating nuclei by reacting with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). METHODS: The established sequential technique for the demonstration of interphase AgNORs and of antigens in paraffin wax sections was applied to a small series of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) of both low and high grade type, together with specimens of palatine tonsil. The numbers of PCNA positive cells were counted in all specimens; in the tonsils the cells were counted in both follicle centres and in the interfollicular areas. The numbers of AgNORs in both PCNA positive and PCNA negative nuclei were then counted. RESULTS: Lower numbers of PCNA positive cells were found in the low grade than the high grade NHL (18-28.4% and 34.2-51.3%, respectively). This was reflected in the two areas of the palatine tonsils, the counts being higher in the follicle centre nuclei than in those in the interfollicular compartments. In general, the numbers of AgNORs were higher in the PCNA positive nuclei than in those lacking the antigen; however, a consistent finding was that relatively high AgNOR scores were observed in PCNA negative nuclei, especially in the high grade lymphomas. In the tonsils, however, the AgNOR counts were much lower in the nuclei lacking PCNA than in those containing it. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the lymphomas were rather unexpected as, in general, previous studies have shown a close direct or indirect relation between AgNOR scores and proliferating cell counts. An explanation for these findings may be that the argyrophil proteins associated with proliferating cells remain in the nucleus in detectable form longer than the PCNA antigen, at least in neoplastic tissue.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

MIB-1, Ki67, and PCNA scores and DNA flow cytometry in intermediate grade malignant lymphomas.

AIMS: To verify the correlation between MIB-1, Ki67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA-PC10) scores and S-phase fraction in intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (Working Formulation F); and their reliability in differently processed tissues. METHODS: Forty one non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were classified as (F) intermediate grade malignant lymphomas according to the Working Formulation; mitotic counts and percentage of large cells were assessed for each case. Sections from formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissues were stained with anti MIB-1 monoclonal antibody, after microwave oven processing, and anti-PCNA (PC10) monoclonal antibody using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase (ABC) method. One thousand cells from 10 representative fields were scored. Frozen sections from surgical specimens were stained with Ki67 monoclonal antibody using the ABC method; the fraction of Ki67 positive cells was calculated scoring 1000 cells. Flow cytometry analysis (FCM) was performed on cell suspensions from fresh tissues. Correlations between data were estimated using linear regression. RESULTS: A linear correlation was found between MIB-1 and Ki67 scores (r = 0.92; p < 0.00001); between MIB-1 and PCNA scores (r = 0.79; p < 0.00001); and between MIB-1 score and S-phase fraction (r = 0.51; p = 0.0006). A linear correlation was also found between Ki67 and PCNA scores (r = 0.85; p < 0.00001); between Ki67 score and S-phase fraction (r = 0.6; p = 0.0002); and between PCNA score and S-phase fraction (r = 0.74; p < 0.00001). A correlation was found between mitotic counts and MIB-1 (r = 0.56; p = 0.0001), PCNA (r = 0.51; p = 0.0007), or Ki67 scores (r = 0.47; p = 0.002); between the percentage of large cells and MIB-1 (r = 0.49; p = 0.0009), PCNA (r = 0.6; p = 0.00003), and Ki67 scores (r = 0.53; p = 0.0003) and S-phase fraction (r = 0.55; p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: MIB-1, Ki67, and PCNA (PC10) scores and S-phase fraction are highly correlated and equally well represent the proliferative activity of intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in differently processed material. MIB-1 and PCNA stains can be applied even on small biopsy specimens. MIB-1 produces homogenous staining without background; it also strongly stains mitotic figures. It can be performed on routinely processed tissues, permitting the simultaneous evaluation of the morphology and tumour cell kinetics. The wide standard deviations of the proliferative indices found for intermediate grade NHL suggest that this category probably includes various degrees of malignancy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Alterations of p53 and PCNA in cancer and adjacent tissues from concurrent carcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia in the same patient in Linzhou, a high incidence area for esophageal cancer in northern China.

AIM: To characterize the alteration and significance of p53 and PCNA in cancer and adjacent tissues of concurrent cancers from the esophagus and gastric cardia in the same patient. METHODS: P53 and PCNA protein accumulation in 25 patients with concurrent cancers from the esophagus and gastric cardia (CC, concurrent carcinomas of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma) were detected by immunohistochemical method (ABC). RESULTS: In CC patients, both esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) tissues showed different positive immunostaining extent of p53 and PCNA protein (P>0.05). The positive immunostaining rates for p53 and PCNA were 60 % (15/25) and 92 % (23/25), respectively in SCC; and 40 % (10/25) and 88 % (22/25), respectively in GCA. "Diffuse" immunostaining pattern was frequently observed in both p53 and PCNA. High coincidence rates for p53 and PCNA positive staining were observed in SCC and GCA from the same patients, and accounted for 56 % and 96 %. In SCC patients, with the lesions progressed from normal esophageal epithelium (NOR) to basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) to dysplasia (DYS) to carcinoma in situ (CIS) to SCC, the positive rates for p53 were 27 %, 50 %, 50 %, 29 % and 72 %, and 55 %, 70 %,75 %, 71 % and 93 % for PCNA, respectively. In GCA, with the lesions progressed from normal gastric cardia epithelium to DYS to CIS to GCA, the positive rates of p53 expression were 44 %, 27 %, 22 % and 36 % respectively, the difference was not significant; the positive rates of PCNA protein expression were 67 %, 64 %, 67 % and 86 %, respectively. The chi(2) test, Fisher's Exact Test, Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) Test and Kappa Test were used for the statistics. CONCLUSION: The high coincident alterations for P53 and PCNA in SCC and GCA from the same patient indicate the possibility of similar molecular basis, which provides important molecular basis and etiological clue for similar geographic distribution and risk factors in SCC and GCA.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Comparative studies on the biological significance of the marker for proliferation Ki-67-Antigen and PCNA in primary ovarian carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: It was shown in experimental and clinical investigations, that the biological behavior of malignant tumors is reflected by their proliferative activity. PCNA and Ki-67-Antigen are two nuclear antigens and considered to represent important markers of proliferation. We investigated their proliferation index in primary ovarian carcinomas and correlated the results with tumor stage, grading, histological type and survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression of PCNA and Ki-67-Antigen was immunohistochemically evaluated using the monoclonal antibodies MIB-1 and PC 10 on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of 49 patients. Statistical data were calculated by means of Fisher's Exact Test and Pearson's Chi 2 Test, survival was estimated by Kaplan Meier Curves. RESULTS: PCNA-expression was shown in all ovarian carcinomas and Ki-67-Antigen-expression was detected with one exception (98%) in all tumors, too. No correlation could be found between Ki-67-Antigen-expression and the prognostic factors mentioned above, whereas a high PCNA-expression was significantly correlated with the tumor grading (G3), (p < 0.05). Patients with ovarian carcinomas with high PCNA proliferation index showed the tendency of a shorter overall survival. DISCUSSION: Ki-67-Antigen and PCNA-expression could be detected in almost all primary ovarian carcinomas. PCNA compared to Ki-67-Antigen is considered to be more useful for the determination of the proliferative activity of ovarian carcinomas, although there was shown just a tendency of overall survival dependent on PCNA-expression, and there was a significant correlation only between PCNA-proliferation index and tumor grading.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of p53, p21waf1, and PCNA in the diagnosis on lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of p53, p21waf1 and PCNA on diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen lung cancer patients and 89 cases with benign pulmonary diseases were studied on the expression of p53, p21waf1 and PCNA by immunohistochemical staining. The differences of p53, p21waf1 and PCNA expression status between these two groups were compared and the diagnostic value of these three markers was evaluated. RESULTS: (1) The positive rates of p53, p21waf1 and PCNA expression in lung cancer were 47.37%, 75.44% and 80.70%, all significantly higher than that in benign pulmonary diseases (P < 0.001), with odds ratio 39.15, 5.75, 6.76 respectively. (2) The positive likelihood ratio of p53 was 21.08, higher than that of p21waf1 and PCNA. Specificity and Youden index were also higher than those of p21waf1 and PCNA, but the sensitivity of p53 was low. (3) The sensitivity and specificity of p53 and PCNA parallel test were 89.47% and 60.67% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The expression of p53, p21waf1 and PCNA in lung cancer cases were all upregulated. These three markers all seemed to have strong links with lung cancer. (2) p53 was shown a good marker for lung cancer diagnosis. (3) The diagnostic value of p53 and PCNA parallel test was rather high.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Immunohistochemical localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the pig ovary.

The aim of the study was to determine the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein (PCNA) in the pig ovary. The localization of PCNA was demonstrated in paraffin sections of pig ovarian tissue using primary mouse monoclonal anti-PCNA antibody. In primordial follicles, no remarkable staining for PCNA either in granulosa cells or in the oocytes was observed. In primary to secondary follicles, positive staining in oocytes and in some granulosa cells was detected. The advanced preantral and particularly actively growing small to large antral follicles showed extensive PCNA labeling in the layers of granulosa and theca cells and in the cumulus cells encircling the oocyte. PCNA labeling was expressed in nuclei of oocytes in preantral and small antral follicles. In atretic follicles, the level of PCNA protein expression was dependent on the stage of atresia. Follicles demonstrating advanced atresia showed only limited or no PCNA labeled granulosa and theca cells. The results of the study demonstrate that follicular growth and development in pig ovary may be effectively monitored by determining the granulosa cell expression of PCNA.

Animals↗

PCNA immunopositivity index as a substitute to 3H-thymidine pulse-labeling index (TLI) in methanol-fixed human lymphocytes.

PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes or myelogenous leukemia cells (strain K-562) were pulse labeled with 3H-thymidine and submitted to various fixation-permeabilization procedures. They were then immunostained with the 19A2, 19F4 or PC10 monoclonal antibody against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The preparations were finally scored for the proportion of unlabeled, double-labeled and single PCNA or 3H-thymidine-labeled nuclei. Unstimulated lymphocytes were immunonegative in all the conditions tested, as also were stimulated lymphocytes checked with an isotype of the primary antibody. A specificity (Sp) and a sensitivity (Se) score was calculated to evaluate the recognition by PCNA staining of the S-phase cells, as defined by the 3H-labeling. The data show that in most instances the three antibodies recognized the 3H-labeled cells with high sensitivity, ie with few false negative, but with low specificity, ie with PCNA positivity extending to variable proportions of non-S-phase cells. By contrast, methanol fixation followed by a brief treatment with the detergent Triton X-100 and immunostaining with either 19F4 or PC10 (but not with 19A2) combined a high sensitivity and specificity scores of the recognition of the 3H-thymidine-labeled cells: PC10 gave a more intense and, hence, more readable reaction. PHA-stimulated lymphocytes that had been preserved at -20 degrees C as cytocentrifuged smears failed to show any immunopositivity for PCNA if not submitted to further fixation prior to the immunocytochemical assay. When methanol-Triton was used for this step, only PC10 gave positive immunoreaction, yet with a lower specificity score (Sp = 76%) than in cells submitted to this fixation-permeabilization procedure without prior cryopreservation (Sp = 91.7%). The PCNA index was measured in cryopreserved, methanol-fixed smears of lymphocytes from patients with various hematological diseases and was compared to the Ki-67 index established independently on a serial sample. A good correlation was found between the two indices (r = 0.79; P < 0.0001) with the PCNA index generally lower than or close to the Ki-67 index. This warrants a note of caution about the use of total (ie stable and labile) PCNA immunostaining to measure the growth fraction (GF), classically defined as the proportion of proliferating cells in a population. However, in the absence of an absolute reference marker for G0 cells, there is no reason to assume that the PCNA index would necessarily be a worse estimate of GF than the Ki-67 index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Autoradiography↗

[A study of changes in distribution pattern of proliferating cells associated with progression of human colorectal benign and malignant tumor using PCNA immunohistochemistry].

We studied cell kinetics of colo-rectal neoplasms using PCNA (the auxiliary protein of DNA polymerase-delta) immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the distribution pattern of PCNA positive cells on normal colon mucosa, adenoma (6 cases) and cancer (early: 33 cases, advanced: 6 cases). PCNA positive index (PI) was calculated as the percentage of PCNA positive tumor cells in relation to the total number (about 1000) of the tumor cells. PCNA positive indices were 30% in normal colon mucosa, 49% in adenoma and 72% in cancer, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between three mean values (p < 0.01). In normal colon mucosa PCNA positive cells are localized at the lower part of mucosa, but, in adenoma, they are found at the more upper part of mucosa too. In cancer, PCNA positive cells were localized diffusely and their immunoreactivity is higher than those of the normal mucosa and adenoma. In conclusion, our results suggests that the ratio of PCNA positive cells almost equivalents to growth fraction, and is correlated with the histological grading of colo-rectal tumor, but not correlated with depth of carcinoma. It is presumed that carcinoma has a higher ratio of PCNA positive cells than adenoma, and therefore carcinoma has higher proliferating cell density than adenoma.

Adenoma↗