No description available.

No description available.

The unspliced 9kb HIV-1 RNA (encoding Gag and GagPol) can undergo multiple splicing events to produce members of the 4kb (encoding Env, Vif, Vpr, and Vpu) or 2kb (encoding Tat, Rev and Nef), respectively. The incompletely spliced 9 and 4kb viral RNAs are exported by HIV-1 Rev which interacts with the RRE (Rev responsive element) in these RNAs as well as the nuclear export receptor Crm1. Several proteins can modulate Rev function and/or HIV-1 gene expression, including the nuclear phosphorprotein Sam68. We have found that overexpression of Sam68 stimulates HIV-1 structural gene expression and increases the proportion of unspliced, 3’ end processed viral RNA. This activity requires the RNA binding activity of Sam68. Surprisingly, Sam68 overexpression does not increase the proportion of unspliced, cleaved RNA found in the cytoplasm, suggesting that Sam68 alters the viral RNP to increase its translation. The Sam68 related proteins Slm1 and Slm2 also stimulate 3’ end cleavage and expression of unspliced HIV-1 RNAs. Sam68 and Slm2 were expressed in Hela cells, whereas Slm1 was not. Therefore, we reduced Sam68 expression alone or in combination with Slm2 to determine if these proteins were required for HIV-1 RNA processing or expression. Knockdown of Sam68 and/or Slm2 had little to no effect on viral RNA cleavage or structural gene expression from transiently transfected reporters. Furthermore, depletion of Sam68 only slightly reduced Gag expression from a stably expressed proviral reporter. These results suggest that additional redundant proteins may be present that functionally replace Sam68 and Slm2. We defined a region encompassing the N-terminal GSG (GRP33, Sam68, Gld1) and KH RNA binding motif as the minimal region of Sam68 required to stimulate HIV-1 gene expression in 293 and 293T cells. The minimal mutant enhanced unspliced RNA cleavage in 293T, but not in 293 cells suggesting that Sam68 may act at other stage of the viral lifecycle to increase gene expression.

The unspliced 9kb HIV-1 RNA (encoding Gag and GagPol) can undergo multiple splicing events to produce members of the 4kb (encoding Env, Vif, Vpr, and Vpu) or 2kb (encoding Tat, Rev and Nef), respectively. The incompletely spliced 9 and 4kb viral RNAs are exported by HIV-1 Rev which interacts with the RRE (Rev responsive element) in these RNAs as well as the nuclear export receptor Crm1. Several proteins can modulate Rev function and/or HIV-1 gene expression, including the nuclear phosphorprotein Sam68. We have found that overexpression of Sam68 stimulates HIV-1 structural gene expression and increases the proportion of unspliced, 3’ end processed viral RNA. This activity requires the RNA binding activity of Sam68. Surprisingly, Sam68 overexpression does not increase the proportion of unspliced, cleaved RNA found in the cytoplasm, suggesting that Sam68 alters the viral RNP to increase its translation. The Sam68 related proteins Slm1 and Slm2 also stimulate 3’ end cleavage and expression of unspliced HIV-1 RNAs. Sam68 and Slm2 were expressed in Hela cells, whereas Slm1 was not. Therefore, we reduced Sam68 expression alone or in combination with Slm2 to determine if these proteins were required for HIV-1 RNA processing or expression. Knockdown of Sam68 and/or Slm2 had little to no effect on viral RNA cleavage or structural gene expression from transiently transfected reporters. Furthermore, depletion of Sam68 only slightly reduced Gag expression from a stably expressed proviral reporter. These results suggest that additional redundant proteins may be present that functionally replace Sam68 and Slm2. We defined a region encompassing the N-terminal GSG (GRP33, Sam68, Gld1) and KH RNA binding motif as the minimal region of Sam68 required to stimulate HIV-1 gene expression in 293 and 293T cells. The minimal mutant enhanced unspliced RNA cleavage in 293T, but not in 293 cells suggesting that Sam68 may act at other stage of the viral lifecycle to increase gene expression.

Os carcinomas de cabeça e pescoço (CECPs) compreendem um grupo de tumores que atingem vários sítios do trato aerodigestivo superior, incluindo cavidade oral, orofaringe, hipofaringe e laringe. Esses carcinomas são clinicamente heterogeneous e resultam de modificações cumulativas em genes que regulam proliferação, migração celular e apoptose. São estimados aproximadamente 500.000 novos casos de CECP anualmente no mundo. No Brasil, cerca de 14.000 novos casos são esperados em 2010, somente para cavidade oral. As taxas de morbidade e mortalidade e as limitações das estratégias terapêuticas enfatizam a necessidade de um melhor entendimento dos padrões moleculares envolvidos na iniciação e na progressão desses tumores, e de abordagens preventivas e terapêuticas efetivas. Infelizmente, apesar da intensa pesquisa nessa área, poucos marcadores moleculares são conhecidos que exibam sensibilidade e especificidade para diagnóstico e prognóstico de CECP. Em um estudo prévio, nós avaliamos dados de três bibliotecas SAGE de carcinoma de laringe com a finalidade de identificar eventos associados ao desenvolvimento e à agressividade de CECP. Utilizando abordagens estatísticas e de Bioinformática, nós identificamos 60 genes com expressão elevada ou reduzida em tumores metastáticos versus não-metastáticos e em ambos os grupos versus tecidos normais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a expressão de quatro genes desta lista, os das queratinas 6A (KRT6A) e 19 (KRT19), da mesotelina (MSLN) e da calicreína 8 (KLK8), em um conjunto de 63 carcinomas primários de cabeça e pescoço e suas margens cirúrgicas e em quarto linhagens celulares (Hep-2, FaDu, SCC9 e UM-SSC-38) por RT-PCR em tempo real. Como amostra de referência para as linhagens, foram utilizados queratinócitos orais humanos normais, cultivados sobre uma camada de sustentação de fibroblastos irradiados. Todos os genes exibiram níveis de transcritos reduzidos ou ausentes nas linhagens celulares, exceto MSLN, que mostrou um padrão irregular de expressão. Em tumores primários, os genes KRT19 e MSLN apresentaram expressão diminuída em laringe, o mesmo sendo observado para o gene KLK8 em tumores de língua metastático. Além disso, foi detectada expressão elevada de MSLN e KLK8 em tumores não metastáticos de soalho de boca e expressão reduzida de KRT19 em tumores de soalho de boca e língua metastáticos. Os resultados levantam questões sobre o papel desses genes em processos biológicos associados com a tumorigênese de cabeça e pescoço e sobre sua participação no fenótipo neoplásico. / Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) encompass a group of tumors that affect a variety of sites in the upper aero-digestive tract, including oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. These carcinomas are clinically heterogeneous and result from cumulative changes in genes that regulate cell proliferation, migration and death. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 new cases of HNSCC are diagnosed worldwide each year. In Brazil, about 14,000 new cases are expected in the year 2010, only in oral cavity. The morbidity and mortality rates and the limitations of therapeutic strategies emphasize the need for a better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the initiation and progression of these tumors and for effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, despite intense research, few molecular markers are known to exhibit sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis or prognosis of HNSCC. In a previous study, we evaluated data from three SAGE libraries of larynx carcinoma in order to identify events associated with the development and aggressiveness of HNSCCs. Using statistical and bioinformatic tools, we identified sixty top-up and 60 top-downregulated genes in metastatic versus non-metastatic tumors and in both these tumors versus normal tissues. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression of four genes from this list, keratin 6A (KRT6A), keratin 19 (KRT19), mesothelin (MSLN) and kallikrein 8 (KLK8), in a set of 63 primary carcinomas of head and neck and their surgical margins and in four cell lines (Hep-2, FaDu, SCC9 and UM-SSC-38) by real time RT-PCR. As a reference sample for cell lines, we used normal human oral keratinocytes grown on irradiated fibroblast feeder layer. All genes exhibited no or decreased levels of transcripts in the cell lines, except MSLN, which displayed an irregular pattern of expression. In primary tumors, KRT19 and MSLN genes were downregulated in larynx, and KLK8 in metastatic tongue tumors. In addition, MSLN and KLK8 were upregulated in non-metastatic floor of the mouth tumors and KRT19 was down regulated in metastatic floor of the mouth and tongue tumors. The results open questions about the role of these genes on biological processes related to head and neck tumorigenesis and on neoplastic phenotype.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Os carcinomas de cabeça e pescoço (CECPs) compreendem um grupo de tumores que atingem vários sítios do trato aerodigestivo superior, incluindo cavidade oral, orofaringe, hipofaringe e laringe. Esses carcinomas são clinicamente heterogeneous e resultam de modificações cumulativas em genes que regulam proliferação, migração celular e apoptose. São estimados aproximadamente 500.000 novos casos de CECP anualmente no mundo. No Brasil, cerca de 14.000 novos casos são esperados em 2010, somente para cavidade oral. As taxas de morbidade e mortalidade e as limitações das estratégias terapêuticas enfatizam a necessidade de um melhor entendimento dos padrões moleculares envolvidos na iniciação e na progressão desses tumores, e de abordagens preventivas e terapêuticas efetivas. Infelizmente, apesar da intensa pesquisa nessa área, poucos marcadores moleculares são conhecidos que exibam sensibilidade e especificidade para diagnóstico e prognóstico de CECP. Em um estudo prévio, nós avaliamos dados de três bibliotecas SAGE de carcinoma de laringe com a finalidade de identificar eventos associados ao desenvolvimento e à agressividade de CECP. Utilizando abordagens estatísticas e de Bioinformática, nós identificamos 60 genes com expressão elevada ou reduzida em tumores metastáticos versus não-metastáticos e em ambos os grupos versus tecidos normais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a expressão de quatro genes desta lista, os das queratinas 6A (KRT6A) e 19 (KRT19), da mesotelina (MSLN) e da calicreína 8 (KLK8), em um conjunto de 63 carcinomas primários de cabeça e pescoço e suas margens cirúrgicas e em quarto linhagens celulares (Hep-2, FaDu, SCC9 e UM-SSC-38) por RT-PCR em tempo real. Como amostra de referência para as linhagens, foram utilizados queratinócitos orais humanos normais, cultivados sobre uma camada de sustentação de fibroblastos irradiados. Todos os genes exibiram níveis de transcritos reduzidos ou ausentes nas linhagens celulares, exceto MSLN, que mostrou um padrão irregular de expressão. Em tumores primários, os genes KRT19 e MSLN apresentaram expressão diminuída em laringe, o mesmo sendo observado para o gene KLK8 em tumores de língua metastático. Além disso, foi detectada expressão elevada de MSLN e KLK8 em tumores não metastáticos de soalho de boca e expressão reduzida de KRT19 em tumores de soalho de boca e língua metastáticos. Os resultados levantam questões sobre o papel desses genes em processos biológicos associados com a tumorigênese de cabeça e pescoço e sobre sua participação no fenótipo neoplásico. / Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) encompass a group of tumors that affect a variety of sites in the upper aero-digestive tract, including oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. These carcinomas are clinically heterogeneous and result from cumulative changes in genes that regulate cell proliferation, migration and death. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 new cases of HNSCC are diagnosed worldwide each year. In Brazil, about 14,000 new cases are expected in the year 2010, only in oral cavity. The morbidity and mortality rates and the limitations of therapeutic strategies emphasize the need for a better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the initiation and progression of these tumors and for effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, despite intense research, few molecular markers are known to exhibit sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis or prognosis of HNSCC. In a previous study, we evaluated data from three SAGE libraries of larynx carcinoma in order to identify events associated with the development and aggressiveness of HNSCCs. Using statistical and bioinformatic tools, we identified sixty top-up and 60 top-downregulated genes in metastatic versus non-metastatic tumors and in both these tumors versus normal tissues. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression of four genes from this list, keratin 6A (KRT6A), keratin 19 (KRT19), mesothelin (MSLN) and kallikrein 8 (KLK8), in a set of 63 primary carcinomas of head and neck and their surgical margins and in four cell lines (Hep-2, FaDu, SCC9 and UM-SSC-38) by real time RT-PCR. As a reference sample for cell lines, we used normal human oral keratinocytes grown on irradiated fibroblast feeder layer. All genes exhibited no or decreased levels of transcripts in the cell lines, except MSLN, which displayed an irregular pattern of expression. In primary tumors, KRT19 and MSLN genes were downregulated in larynx, and KLK8 in metastatic tongue tumors. In addition, MSLN and KLK8 were upregulated in non-metastatic floor of the mouth tumors and KRT19 was down regulated in metastatic floor of the mouth and tongue tumors. The results open questions about the role of these genes on biological processes related to head and neck tumorigenesis and on neoplastic phenotype.