by Shan Sze Wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-166). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Title --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.v / Acknowledgements --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.viii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv / List of Figures --- p.xvii / List of Tables --- p.xx / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- What are the general functions of cytokines? --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- What is TNP-α? --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Actions of TNF-α --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- General functions of TNF-α in astrocytes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- TNF-α receptors (TNF-Rs) --- p.8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Second messengers induced by TNP-α --- p.10 / Chapter 1.7 --- Glial Cells --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Oligodendroglia --- p.12 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Brain Macrophages (Microglia) --- p.12 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- Astrocytes --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7.3.1 --- Functions of astrocytes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.8 --- "Brain injury, astrogliosis and scar formation" --- p.20 / Chapter 1.9 --- β-Adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.9.1 --- The active functional unit: the receptor complex --- p.22 / Chapter 1.9.2 --- General functions and distribution of β-ARs --- p.22 / Chapter 1.10 --- Functions of β-ARs in astrocytes --- p.24 / Chapter 1.10.1 --- Regulations of astrogliosis by β-ARs --- p.24 / Chapter 1.10.1.1 --- β-ARs are expressed in normal optic nerves and up-regulated after nerve crush --- p.24 / Chapter 1.10.1.2 --- Injury-induced alterations in endogenous catecholamine leads to enhanced β-AR activation --- p.25 / Chapter 1.10.1.3 --- β-AR blockade suppresses glial scar formation --- p.25 / Chapter 1.10.1.4 --- β-AR agonists affect the proliferation of astrocytes in normal brain --- p.26 / Chapter 1.11 --- Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) --- p.27 / Chapter 1.11.1 --- MnSOD is the target gene of NF-kB --- p.29 / Chapter 1.11.2 --- Induction of MnSOD by proinflammatory cytokines in rat primary astrocytes --- p.29 / Chapter 1.11.3 --- SMase and ceramides induce MnSOD in various cell types --- p.30 / Chapter 1.12 --- Why do we use C6 glioma cells? --- p.31 / Chapter 1.13 --- Aims and Scopes of this project --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Cell Line --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Cell Culture Reagents --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Complete Dulbecco´ةs modified Eagle medium (CDMEM) --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Rosewell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Recombinant cytokines --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Chemicals for signal transduction study --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.4.1 --- Modulators of protein kinase C (PKC) --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.4.2 --- Modulator of protein kinase A (PKA) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.4.3 --- β-Adrenergic agonist and antagonist --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Antibodies --- p.40 / Chapter 2.1.5.1 --- Anti-TNF-receptor type 1 (TNF-R1) antibody --- p.40 / Chapter 2.1.5.2 --- Anti-TNF-receptor type 2 (TNF-R2) antibody --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.5.3 --- Anti-βi-adrenergic receptor (βl-AR) antibody --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.5.4 --- Anti-β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) antibody --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.5.5 --- Antibody conjugates --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Reagents for RNA isolation --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Reagents for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Reagents for electrophoresis --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- Reagents and buffers for Western blot --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.10 --- Other chemicals and reagents --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2 --- Maintenance of rat C6 glioma cell line --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3 --- RNA isolation --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Measurement of RNA yield --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4 --- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.50 / Chapter 2.5 --- Western blot analysis --- p.52 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Effect of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-receptors (TNFRs) in C6 glioma cells --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Effect of TNF-α on TNF-R1 and -R2 mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- The signaling systems mediating TNP-α-induced TNF-R2 expression in C6 cells --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- The involvement of PKC in TNF-α-induced TNF-R2 expression in C6 cells --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Effect of PMA on the TNF-R protein levels in C6 cells --- p.63 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- Effect of Ro31 on the TNF-α-induced TNF-R protein level in C6 cells --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.2.4 --- Effect of PKA activator on the level of TNF-R2 mRNA in C6 cells --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2 --- Effect of TNP-α on the expression of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors (β1- and β2-ARs) in C6 glioma cells --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effect of TNF-α on β1- and β2-ARs mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- The signaling systems mediating TNF-α-induced β1- and β2-AR expression in C6 cells --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- The involvement of PKC mechanism between TNF-α and β-ARs in C6 cells --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Effect of PMA on the β1- and β2-ARs protein level in C6 cells --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Effect of Ro31 on the TNF-α-induced β1- and β2-AR protein levels in C6 cells --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Effect of dbcAMP on the levels of βl- and β2-ARs mRNA in C6 cells --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3 --- Relationship between TN1F-R2 and β-adrenergic mechanism in C6 cells --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effects of isproterenol and propranolol on endogenous TNF-α mRNA levels in C6 cells --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Effects of isoproterenol and propranolol on TNF-R2 mRNA levels in C6 cells --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effects of β1-agonist and antagonist on endogenous TNF-α mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.87 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effects of β1-agonist and antagonist on TNF-R2 mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Effects of β2-agonist and antagonist on endogenous TNF-α mRNA in C6 cells --- p.93 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Effects of β2-agonist and antagonist on TNF-R2 mRNA in C6 cells --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4 --- Effect ofTNF-α on the expression of a transcriptional factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) in C6 glioma cells --- p.102 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Effect ofTNF-α on NF-kB (p50) mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.106 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effect of β-agonist and antagonist on NF-kB (p50) mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.108 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Effect of PMA and Ro31 on the levels of NF-kB mRNA in C6 cells --- p.109 / Chapter 3.5 --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in C6 glioma cells --- p.111 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Effects of TNF-α on MnSOD and Cu-ZnSOD mRNAs expression in C6 cells --- p.114 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Effects of β-agonist and β-antagonist on MnSOD mRNA expression in C6 cells --- p.115 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Effects of PKC activator and inhibitor on the levels of MnSOD mRNA in C6 cells --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of TNF-receptors (TNFRs) in C6 glioma cells --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2 --- Effects of TNF-a on the expression of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors (β1 and β2-ARs) in C6 glioma cells --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3 --- Relationship between TNF-α and β-adrenergic mechanism in C6 cells --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4 --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of a transcriptional factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) in C6 glioma cells --- p.131 / Chapter 4.5 --- Effects of TNF-α on the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in C6 glioma cells --- p.133 / Chapter 4.6 --- Possible sources of β-agonists --- p.136 / Chapter 4.7 --- Conclusions --- p.137 / Appendix A --- p.143 / References --- p.145

by Wong Kin Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 348-373). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / 撮要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xviii / List of Tables --- p.xxi / List of Figures --- p.xxii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1. --- Events happened in brain injury --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- An alternate approach based on neuronal regeneration --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3. --- Fate of astrocytes after brain injury --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- General information of astrocytes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Functions of astrocytes --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4. --- Factors relate to astrocytes proliferation --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- TNF-α --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- β adrenergic mechanism and astrocyte proliferation --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5. --- Cell cycle-related proteins --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Maturation promoting factor (MPF) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Early G1 phase --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Retinoblastoma protein (pRb) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.4. --- Cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activating kinase (Cak) --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.5. --- "Cyclin, cdks, cki" --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.5.1. --- Cyclins --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.5.1.1. --- Cyclin D --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5.5.1.2. --- Cyclin E --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5.5.1.3. --- Cyclin A --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.5.1.4. --- Cyclin B --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.5.2. --- Cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.5.3. --- Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (cki) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.5.3.1. --- INK4 proteins (inhibitors of cdk-4 and cdk-6) --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.5.3.2. --- p21 family proteins --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.5.3.2.1. --- p21 --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.5.3.2.2. --- p27 --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6. --- Apoptosis related proteins --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- bcl-2 family --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.1.1. --- bcl-2 --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.1.2. --- bcl-x --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1.3. --- bcl-xα --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1.4. --- bcl-w --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6.1.5. --- Myeloid cell leukemia factor 1 (Mcl-1) --- p.28 / Chapter 1.7. --- C6 glioma cell line --- p.28 / Chapter 1.8. --- Aim of this project --- p.30 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- MATERIALS & METHODS / Chapter 2.1. --- Materials / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Rat C6 glioma cell line --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Cell culture materials preparation / Chapter 2.1.2.1. --- Complete Dulbecco's Modified Medium (cDMEM) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.2.2. --- Serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Medium (sDMEM) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.2.3. --- Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Drug preparation / Chapter 2.1.3.1. --- Recombinant cytokines --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.3.2. --- Antibodies / Chapter 2.1.3.2.1. --- Antibodies used in expression analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Antibodies used in Western blotting --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.5. --- Reagents for RNA isolation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.6. --- Reagents for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.7. --- Reagents for Electrophoresis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.8. --- Reagents and buffers for Western blotting --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.9. --- Other chemicals and reagents --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2. --- Methods / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Maintenance of C6 cells --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Preparation of cells for assays --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Drugs preparation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Determination of RNA expression by RT-PCR analysis / Chapter 2.2.4.1. --- RNA extraction --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.4.2. --- Spectrophotometric Quantitation of DNA and RNA --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.3. --- RNA gel electrophoresis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.4. --- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.5. --- Separation of PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4.6. --- Quantification of band density --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.4.7. --- Restriction enzyme (RE) digestion --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Determination of protein expression by Western blotting / Chapter 2.2.5.1. --- Total protein extraction --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.5.2. --- Western blotting analysis --- p.46 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on cell cycle related genes and proteins expression --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cyclin D1 gene and protein expression --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Effect of TNF-α on the time course of cyclin D2 gene expression --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cyclin D3 gene and protein expression --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.4. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cdk-4 gene and protein expression --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.5. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cyclin E gene and protein expression --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.6. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cdk-2 gene and protein expression --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1.7. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of p15 gene and protein expression --- p.61 / Chapter 3.1.8. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of p27 gene and protein expression --- p.61 / Chapter 3.1.9. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of p21 gene and protein expression --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.10. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of p130 gene and protein expression --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.11. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of Cak gene and protein expression --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.12. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cyclin H gene and protein expression --- p.68 / Chapter 3.1.13. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of cyclin B gene and protein expression- --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.14. --- Effect of TNF-α on the time course of bcl-2 protein expression --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.15. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of bcl-XL gene and protein expression --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.16. --- Effect of TNF-α on the time course of bcl-xα gene expression --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.17. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of bcl-w gene and protein expression --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1.18. --- Effects of TNF-α on the time courses of Mcl-1 gene expression --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2. --- Effects of TNF-R1 and -R2 on cell cycle related genes and proteins expression --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cyclin D1 gene and protein expression --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Effect of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time course of cyclin D2 gene expression --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cyclin D3 gene and protein expression --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.4. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cdk-4 gene and protein expression --- p.90 / Chapter 3.2.5. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cyclin E gene and protein expression --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.6. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cdk-2 gene and protein expression --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.7. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of p15 gene and protein expression --- p.96 / Chapter 3.2.8. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of p27 gene and protein expression --- p.99 / Chapter 3.2.9. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of p21 gene and protein expression --- p.103 / Chapter 3.2.10. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of pl30 gene and protein expression --- p.106 / Chapter 3.2.11. --- Effect of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time course of Cak gene expression --- p.110 / Chapter 3.2.12. --- Effects of blocking TNP-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cyclin H gene and protein expression --- p.110 / Chapter 3.2.13. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of cyclin B gene and protein expression --- p.112 / Chapter 3.2.14. --- Effect of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time course of bcl-2 protein expression --- p.116 / Chapter 3.2.15. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of bcl-xL gene and protein expression --- p.119 / Chapter 3.2.16. --- Effect of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time course of bcl-xα gene expression --- p.122 / Chapter 3.2.17. --- Effects of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time courses of bcl-w gene and protein expression --- p.124 / Chapter 3.2.18. --- Effect of blocking TNF-R1/ -R2 on the time course of Mcl-1 gene expression --- p.124 / Chapter 3.3. --- "Effects of other cytokines (IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lβ, IFγ) on cell cycle related genes and proteins expression" --- p.129 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lβ, IFγ on cyclin D1 gene and protein expression" --- p.129 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- "Effects of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lβ, IFγ on cyclin D2 gene and protein expression" --- p.132 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on cyclin D3 gene and protein expression" --- p.136 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on cdk-4 gene and protein expression" --- p.140 / Chapter 3.3.5. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on cyclin E gene and protein expression" --- p.144 / Chapter 3.3.6. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on cdk-2 gene and protein expression" --- p.148 / Chapter 3.3.7. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on pl5 gene and protein expression" --- p.152 / Chapter 3.3.8. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on p27 gene and protein expression" --- p.152 / Chapter 3.3.9. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-ip, IFγ on p21 gene and protein expression" --- p.159 / Chapter 3.3.10. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lβ, IFγ on pl30 gene and protein expression" --- p.162 / Chapter 3.3.11. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lp, IFγ on Cak gene expression" --- p.166 / Chapter 3.3.12. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFy on cyclin H gene and protein expression -" --- p.170 / Chapter 3.3.13. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on cyclin B gene and protein expression" --- p.174 / Chapter 3.3.14. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on bcl-2 gene and protein expression" --- p.178 / Chapter 3.3.15. --- "Effects of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on bcl-xL gene and protein expression" --- p.178 / Chapter 3.3.16. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on bcl-xα gene expression" --- p.184 / Chapter 3.3.17. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-lβ, IFγ on bcl-w gene and protein expression" --- p.187 / Chapter 3.3.18. --- "Effects of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-lα, IL-1β, IFγ on Mcl-1 gene expression" --- p.191 / Chapter 3.4. --- Effects of P-ARs on cell cycle related genes expression --- p.194 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin D1 gene expression --- p.195 / Chapter 3.4.2. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin D2 gene expression --- p.198 / Chapter 3.4.3. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin D3 gene expression --- p.201 / Chapter 3.4.4. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cdk-4 gene expression --- p.204 / Chapter 3.4.5. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin E gene expression --- p.207 / Chapter 3.4.6. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cdk-2 gene expression - --- p.210 / Chapter 3.4.7. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on p15 gene expression --- p.213 / Chapter 3.4.8. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on p27 gene expression --- p.216 / Chapter 3.4.9. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on p21 gene expression --- p.219 / Chapter 3.4.10. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on p130 gene expression --- p.222 / Chapter 3.4.11. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on Cak gene expression --- p.225 / Chapter 3.4.12. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin H gene expression --- p.228 / Chapter 3.4.13. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on cyclin B gene expression --- p.231 / Chapter 3.4.14. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on bcl-XL gene expression --- p.233 / Chapter 3.4.15. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on bcl-xα gene expression --- p.236 / Chapter 3.4.16. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on bcl-w gene expression --- p.239 / Chapter 3.4.17. --- Effects of β-AR agonists and antagonists on Mcl-1 gene expression --- p.243 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION --- p.247 / Chapter 4.1. --- Effects of TNF-α on the induction of cell cycle regulatory genes/proteins expression --- p.248 / Chapter 4.2. --- Effects of TNF-α on bcl-2 family apoptotic inhibitor genes expression --- p.250 / Chapter 4.3. --- The TNF-R subtype(s) responsible for the TNF-a-induced cell cycle regulatory genes and proteins expression --- p.251 / Chapter 4.4. --- Is the TNF-α-induced cell cycle regulatory genes and proteins expression cytokine specific? --- p.253 / Chapter 4.5. --- The relationship between TNF-α and β-adrenergic mechanism in C6 cell proliferation --- p.254 / Chapter 4.6. --- General Discussion --- p.256 / Chapter 4.7. --- Possible treatments for brain injury --- p.258 / APPENDIX --- p.259 / REFERENCES --- p.348

by Lam Kai Yi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-165). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter One: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Cancer Treatment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Historical Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Mechanisms of Action --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Production of Reactive oxidative Species / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Increase of Intracellular Free Calcium Concentration / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Activation of Ca2+/Mg2+-dependent Endonuclease / Chapter 1.1.2.4 --- Decrease of glucose uptake and Protein Synthesis / Chapter 1.1.2.5 --- Formation of Ion-permeable Channel / Chapter 1.1.2.6 --- Activation of Phospholipase / Chapter 1.1.2.7 --- Increase of S-phase Cells / Chapter 1.1.2.8 --- Immunomodulatory Effects / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Resistance of Cells to TNF-α --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Clinical Studies --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Side Effects --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2 --- Hyperthermia and Cancer Treatment --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Hyperthermic Agents --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Intrinsic Heat Sensitivity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Mechanisms of Action --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Depolarization of Membrane Potential / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- "Reduction of glucose transport and DNA, mRNA and Protein Synthesis" / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Decrease of Intracellular pH / Chapter 1.2.3.4 --- Calcium Imbalance / Chapter 1.2.3.5 --- Effect on Nucleolar Protein / Chapter 1.2.3.6 --- Apoptosis / Chapter 1.2.3.7 --- Induction of Autologous Tumor Killing / Chapter 1.2.3.8 --- "Blood Flow, Tumor Oxygenation and Vascular Damage" / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Clinical Studies --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3 --- Combined Treatment --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Combined Treatment with TNF-α and Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Combined Treatment with TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- In Vivo Study --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Sequence of Treatment --- p.24 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Proposed Mechanism of Synergism --- p.24 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objective of Study --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Sequence of Treatments --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Comparison of Treatments' Effectiveness --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Effect on Normal Cell --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Effect on Distribution of Cells in Cell Cycle Phases --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- In Vivo Study --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- Materials and Methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1. --- Materials --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- For Cell Culture --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- In vitro Treatments --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- DNA Electrophoresis --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Flow Cytometry --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2. --- Reagent Preparation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Culture Media --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Human Recombinant Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (rhTNF-α) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Lysis Buffer --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- TE Buffer --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Proteinase K and Ribonuclease A (RNase A) --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- 100 Base-Pair DNA Marker --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Propidium Iodide (PI) --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3 --- Methods --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Cell Culture --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Ehrlich Ascitic Tumor (EAT) and Human Leukemia (HL-60) / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAEC) / Chapter 2.3.2 --- In vitro Experiments --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor Treatment --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Hyperthermia Treatments --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Cell Counting --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.5.1 --- Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay / Chapter 2.3.5.2 --- Neutral Red Assay / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Determination of Additive or Synergistic Effect --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- DNA Electrophoresis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Flow Cytometry --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.7.1 --- Preparation of Samples / Chapter 2.3.7.2 --- Flow Cytometry Acquisition / Chapter 2.3.7.3 --- Analysis / Chapter 2.3.9 --- In vivo Experiments --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.8.1 --- Animal Strain / Chapter 2.3.8.2 --- Cell Line / Chapter 2.3.8.3 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor Treatment / Chapter 2.3.8.4 --- Hyperthermia Treatments / Chapter 2.3.8.5 --- Test of Body Temperature / Chapter 2.3.8.6 --- Cell Harvesting / Chapter Chapter Three: --- Result --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1 --- Optimal Sequence of Treatments --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Optimal Sequence of Treatments on Murine Ehrlich Ascitic Tumor (EAT) cells --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- TNF + Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia2 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia3 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Optimal Sequence of Treatments on Human Leukemia cells HL-60 --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- TNF + Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- TNF + Step-Down Hyperthermia2 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- TNF + Step-Down Hyperthermia3 / Chapter 3.2 --- Comparison of Effectiveness of Treatments --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effectiveness of Various treatments on EAT cells --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Synergistic Effect between rhTNF-α and Hyperthermia on EAT cells --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Decrease of Relative Growth and Viability of EAT with Time --- p.79 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- TNF + Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia2 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia3 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Comparison of Effectiveness of Various Treatments on HL-60 cells --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Synergistic Effect between rhTNF-α and Hyperthermia on HL-60 cells --- p.87 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Change of Relative Growth and Viability of HL-60 with Time --- p.90 / Chapter 3.2.6.1 --- TNF + Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia / Chapter 3.2.6.2 --- TNF + Step-down Hyperthermia2 / Chapter 3.2.6.3 --- TNF + Step-down hyperthermia3 / Chapter 3.3 --- Cell Death Pathway --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Experiments on Ehrlich Ascitic Tumor (EAT) Cells --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Experiments on Human Leukemia (HL-60) Cells --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4 --- Experiment on Normal Cell --- p.104 / Chapter 3.5 --- Effect of TNF + Fixed-temperature Hyperthermia on the Cell Cycle Progression --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Different Times of TNF Administration and Distribution of EAT cells in Cell cycle --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Different Times of TNF Administration and Distribution of HL-60 cells in Cell Cycle --- p.114 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Shift of Cells Cycle after TNF Treatment --- p.120 / Chapter 3.5.3.1 --- Response of Ehrlich Ascitic Tumor Cells / Chapter 3.5.3.2 --- Response of Human leukemia Cells / Chapter 3.6 --- Effectiveness of Treatments in vivo: --- p.129 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Dose-dependent Response --- p.129 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Change of Body Temperature During Hyperthermia --- p.131 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Comparison of Effectiveness of Various Treatments in vivo --- p.133 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Synergistic Effect Between rhTNF-α and Hyperthermia in vivo --- p.135 / Chapter Chapter Four: --- Discussion --- p.138 / Chapter 4.1 --- Optimal Sequence of Treatments --- p.139 / Chapter 4.2 --- Comparison of Various Treatments --- p.143 / Chapter 4.3 --- Distribution of Cells in Cell Cycle Phases --- p.149 / Chapter 4.4 --- In vivo Study --- p.153 / Chapter Chapter Five: --- References --- p.156

Base teórica: o tratamento do carcinoma endometrial é feito através do estadiamento cirúrgico, que envolve histerectomia com salpingo-oforectomia bilateral e linfadenectomia pélvica e para-aórtica. Questiona-se o benefício da linfadenectomia sistemática em todos os pacientes, já que o risco de disseminação linfática em tumores de baixo risco é pequeno e não há evidências de benefício terapêutico em sua realização. Desse modo, tentam-se encontrar modos de determinar, na avaliação pré-operatória, quais são os pacientes que poderão se beneficiar da linfadenectomia e aqueles que podem prescindir do procedimento. Objetivos: avaliar a concordância da avaliação anatomopatológica entre a amostra endometrial pré-operatória e a peça cirúrgica das pacientes submetidas a tratamento cirúrgico primário do carcinoma de endométrio, correlacionando com características das pacientes e das amostras da patologia. Métodos: foram incluídos pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico para carcinoma de endométrio que tinham diagnóstico pré-operatório através de amostragem endometrial. Os prontuários foram revisados e as amostras disponíveis na instituição foram procuradas para posterior releitura por dois patologistas cegados para as demais informações anatomopatológicas. Resultados: foram incluídos 166 pacientes, com uma idade média de 64,6 anos. Das biópsias, 118 eram tumores endometrioides, 38 não-endometrioides e as demais, hiperplasia. As taxas de concordância foram de 93,2% para tumores endometrioides e 68,9% para não-endometrioides, com um índice kappa (k) de 0,73 para o tipo histológico. O grau tumoral distribui-se na amostra como G1 em 37,1%, G2 em 35,7% e G3 em 27,1%, com uma taxa de concordância de 61,5%, 56% e 78,9%, respectivamente, e k=0,46. Dos tumores G1, somente 1,9% teve upgrade para G3, em comparação com 16% das lesões G2. Não houve diferença estatística na taxa de concordância do tipo histológico e grau tumoral em função do local de execução da biópsia, método de amostragem e intervalo biópsia-cirurgia. Biópsias com pés > 3g tiveram uma concordância do grau tumoral significativamente melhor (p=0,040). Amostras de 105 pacientes estavam disponíveis no HCPA e foram reavaliadas por dois patologistas, com uma taxa de concordância interobservador geral de 73,3% (k=0,58) para o tipo histológico e 57,9% (k=0,54) para o grau tumoral. Conclusão: a acurácia da biópsia pré-operatória em predizer as características da peça cirúrgica não é ideal. Deve-se ter cuidado ao utilizar essa informação para determinar a extensão da cirurgia a ser realizada, sob risco de ser realizado subestadiamento. Estas baixas taxas de concordância correlacionam-se também com as baixas taxas de concordância interobservador. Novos sistemas de graduação e equipes de especialistas são possibilidades para melhorar esta questão. / Background: endometrial carcinoma treatment is based on surgical staging, including hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic and paraortic lymphadenectomy. The benefits of systematic lymphadenectomy in all patients have been questioned, since the risk of dissemination in low risk tumors is small and there is no evidence of benefits in its execution. Thereby, researches are looking for ways to determine, by preoperative evaluation, which patient will benefit from full staging and those who can do without the procedure. Objectives: evaluate the agreement between the preoperative endometrial samples and the surgical specimens in endometrial carcinoma, correlating it with characteristics of the samples and patients included, and evaluate the interobserver agreement of the preoperative biopsy. Methods: patients submitted to surgery as primary treatment for endometrial carcinoma at HCPA with a preoperative endometrial sampling were included. Their medical charts were reviewed. The available samples of the preoperative biopsies were recollected for reanalyzes by two pathologists. Inadequate transcriptions of the biopsy report were excluded. Results: we included 166 patients, with a mean age of 64.6 years. Of the biopsies, 118 were endometrioid, 38 were non-endometrioid and the remaining, hyperplasia. The agreement rates were 93.2% for endometrioid tumors and 68.9% for non-endometrioid, with a kappa index of 0.73 for the tumor cell type. The tumor FIGO grade distributed as G1 in 37.1%, G2 in 35.7% and G3 in 27.1%, with an agreement rate of 61.5%, 56% and 78.9%, respectively. The general kappa index for FIGO grading was 0.46. Of the G1 tumors, only 1.9% upgraded to G3, while 16% of the G2 lesions upgraded. There was no statistical difference in the agreement rates of tumor cell type and FIGO grading in function of place of biopsy execution, method of endometrial sampling and biopsy-surgery interval. Biopsies weighing more than 3g had a significantly better agreement in FIGO grading (p=0.040). Samples of 105 were available at HCPA and were reevaluated by 2 pathologists, with a general interobserver agreement 73.3/% (k=0.58) for tumor cell type and 57.9% (k=0.54) for grading. Conclusion: the accuracy of the preoperative biopsy in predicting the definite surgical characteristics it is not ideal. Caution must be taken when using this information to determine the surgical extension, due to the risk of under staging. These low rates of agreement are correlated with the low interobserver agreement. New grading systems and specialists teams are possible ways of improving this issue.

O carcinoma espinocelular de boca (CEB) é a neoplasia maligna mais comum da cavidade oral, correspondendo à aproximadamente 94% dos casos dessa região. Apesar dos diversos estudos moleculares e celulares do CEB, a taxa de sobrevida dos pacientes é de aproximadamente 50%, devido principalmente ao tamanho do tumor, metástase em linfonodos regionais, grau de diferenciação das células e sítio anatômico. O microambiente tumoral do CEB, é extremamente complexo e diversificado, tendo como característica principal um estado inflamatório crônico imunossupressivo. Este microambiente é sustentado pela liberação de diferentes citocinas inflamatórias, como IL-6, TNF- - atividades exercidas tanto pelas células tumorais quanto pelas estromais. Dentre essas atividades, tem sido relatado na literatura que as citocinas inflamatórias são capazes de aumentar a migração e a capacidade de invasão das células tumorais. Entre as células estromais, os macrófagos são as mais abundantes e participam da manutenção do microambiente tumoral. De acordo com o estímulo, podem ser polarizados M1, com papel pró-inflamatório e antitumoral, e M2, com papel anti-inflamatório e pró-tumoral. O objetivo desta tese foi compreender o papel dos macrófagos no prognóstico de CEB e das citocinas inflamatórias IL-6, TNF- - linhagens celulares de CEB. Para verificar o papel dos macrófagos no prognóstico, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática na qual foram incluídos apenas os estudos que utilizavam amostra de pacientes com CEB e avaliavam o prognóstico com marcadores para macrófagos. Foi observado que maiores concentrações de macrófagos CD68+ e CD163+ estavam relacionados com pior prognóstico de pacientes com CEB, embora não tenha sido possível concluir qual região tumoral a presença destas células seja mais importante 7 para o desfecho. Para analisar o papel das citocinas inflamatórias IL-6, TNFILensaios in vitro utilizando duas linhagens celulares, SCC25 e Cal27, em condições promotoras de migração sob a influência dessas citocinas. Foi observado que a citocina IL-6 foi capaz de aumentar a velocidade de migração e a direcionalidade tanto da SCC25 quanto da Cal 27 e que esta melhora na capacidade migratória ocorreu através de um crosstalk entre a via de sinalização relacionada a IL6 (STAT3) e a via reguladora de migração celular, Rho GTPase Rac1. Estes dados reforçam o papel do microambiente tumoral no processo de progressão tumoral e sugerem potenciais alvos terapêuticos como a modulação do perfil da população de macrófagos e o papel de interleucinas no controle de invasão tecidual e metástase. / Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity, corresponding to approximately 94% of the cases in this region. Despite the diverse molecular and cellular studies of OSCC, the patient survival rate is approximately 50%, mainly due to tumor size, regional lymph node metastasis, cell differentiation and anatomic site. The OSCC tumor microenvironment is extremely complex and diverse, with the main characteristic being an immunosuppressive chronic inflammatory state. This microenvironment is supported by the release of different inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF- - and enhance the activities of both tumor and stromal cells. Among these activities, it has been reported in the literature that inflammatory cytokines are capable of increasing migration and invasiveness of tumor cells. Among stromal cells, macrophages are the most abundant and participate in the maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. According to the stimulus, macrophages can be polarized in M1, with pro-inflammatory and anti-tumoral role, and M2, with antiinflammatory and pro-tumoral role. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to evaluate the role of macrophages in the prognosis of OSCC and the influence of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF- - OSCC cell lines. To assess the role of macrophages in the prognosis, a systematic review was conducted in which only studies using a sample of OSCC patients were evaluated and the prognosis was evaluated with macrophage markers. It was observed that higher concentrations of CD68 + and CD163 + macrophages were related to worse prognosis in patients with OSCC, although it was not possible to conclude which tumor region the presence of these cells is more important for the outcome. In order to analyze the role of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF- - atory 9 behavior of OSCC cells, in vitro assays using two cell lines, SCC25 and Cal27, were performed in migration-promoting conditions under the influence of these cytokines. It was observed that IL-6 was able to increase the speed migration and directionality of both SCC25 and Cal 27 and that this improvement in migratory capacity occurred through a crosstalk between the IL6-related signaling pathway (STAT3) and cell migration-related pathway, RhoGTPase Rac1. These data reinforce the role of the tumor microenvironment in the tumor progression process and suggest potential therapeutic targets such as the modulation of the profile of the macrophages population and the role of interleukins in the control of tissue invasion and metastasis.

O tumor glômico é uma neoplasia benigna de células glômicas, de ocorrência incomum, observado como lesão solitária na falange distal dos quirodáctilos, representando de 1% a 4,5% das neoplasias das mãos. Foram estudados 20 casos de tumor glômico ocorridos no período de 1991 a 2003, nos ambulatórios de Dermatologia do Hospital das Clínicas e do Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo. Analisaram-se os prontuários, avaliando-se os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e exames complementares, dando ênfase ao exame histopatológico e métodos de imagem. Os achados epidemiológicos deste estudo não diferiram significativamente do levantamento bibliográfico pesquisado, confirmando tratar-se de um tumor raro e pouco conhecido. A tríade clássica do tumor glômico \"dor paroxística, sensibilidade local e hipersensibilidade à alteração de temperatura\" esteve presente em 15 dos 20 casos examinados. Confirmou-se, na casuística analisada, a preferência pelos quirodáctilos e maior acometimento do sexo feminino. Histologicamente, os dados obtidos foram similares aos existentes na literatura, houve predominância do padrão arquitetural celular e a presença de cápsula tumoral, foi encontrada em apenas três casos. Os métodos de imagem não foram utilizados de maneira sistemática como auxiliares diagnóstico do tumor glômico, embora sejam de grande auxílio na confirmação e delimitação do tumor, especialmente a ressonância magnética que nesse estudo foi realizada em quatro dos 20 casos estudados, mostrando lesão evidente e não deixando dúvidas quanto ao diagnóstico. As recidivas, consideradas raras, ocorreram em 15% dos casos, por isso há a necessidade de um acompanhamento cirúrgico prolongado / The glomus tumor is a benign neoplasia of glomus cells, of uncommon occurrence, observed as a solitary lesion on distal phalanx of the chirodactyls, representing from 1% to 4,5% of the hand neoplasias. 20 cases of glomus tumor, occurred from 1991 to 2003, have been studied in the ambulatories of Dermatology of Hospital das Clínicas and of Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal of São Paulo. The medical registers had been analyzed and the epidemiologic and clinical aspects and complementary examination such as histopathologic examination and methods of images had been evaluated. The epidemiologic findings of this study did not differ significantly from the bibliographic research realized, confirming that it is an unfrequent and poorly studied tumor. The classical triad of glomus tumor symptoms: \"paroxysmal pain, local sensitivity and hypersensitivity to the fluctuation of temperature\" was present in 15 of the 20 studied cases. In the analyzed casuistry, the preference for chirodactyls and the greater number of manifestation on female sex had been confirmed. Histologically, the achieved data were similar to the ones presented in the literature, there was prevalence of the cellular architectural pattern and the presence of tumorous capsule was found in just 3 cases. The image methods were not used in a systematic way as a glomus tumor diagnosis aid, although they were a great help on the confirmation and delimitation of the tumor, especially the magnetic resonance imaging. The reincidences were considered sporadic and occurred in 15% of the studied cases, for this reason there is necessity of an extended surgical attendance

全球人類健康的頭號殺手--腫瘤目前仍是難以攻克的醫學難題。腫瘤的發生是一個復雜的過程，主要由促癌基因的異常增多或激活及抑癌基因（TSG）的缺失或功能喪失的累積效果導致。近年來基於非基因序列改變所致基因表達水平變化的表觀遺傳學的研究進展表明，啟動子區CpG島甲基化所致的表觀遺傳沉默是抑癌基因轉錄失活的重要機制。Ras和Wnt信號轉導通路在癌病的發生和發展過程中均起到重要的作用，因此針對該兩種信號通路的拮抗因子的表觀遺傳調控及功能學研究將為我們提供有研究及應用前景的候選抑癌基因。 / 作為一種重要的原癌基因，Ras家族基因具有致癌活性的點突變及其導致的過度激活的Ras信號通路被發現廣泛存在於大約30%的人類腫瘤中。然而在一些缺乏Ras基因突變的腫瘤類型中，持續激活的Ras信號通路仍然普遍存在並具有重要作用，昭示著除了Ras基因點突變以外的信號轉導異常激活的機制。與GTP的結合可激活Ras，而RasGAP家族蛋白可通過水解GTP達到使Ras失活的作用。通過采用微陣列比較基因組雜交(aCGH)的實驗手段我們發現6p21.3染色體區具有半接合子缺失， 並於此區域發現了候選抑癌基因RASA5。在以往的研究報道中，RASA5被命名為SynGAP且其功能研究僅限於神經系統。我們的研究發現不同於RasGAP家族的其它基因RASA2-4，RASA5廣泛表達於人類正常器官組織中，並特異性地在腫瘤細胞，特別是鼻咽癌(NPC)，食管鱗狀上皮細胞癌(ESCC)和乳腺癌這些具有野生型Ras基因但Ras信號通路仍被過度激活的細胞中被表觀遺傳沉默。RASA5的異位表達可有效促進腫瘤細胞的雕亡，抑制腫瘤細胞的生長、遷移及“幹性（stemness）“。同時，使用siRNA敲除內源性RASA5可以激發細胞的克隆形成及上皮-間質(EMT)轉化。RASA5的抑癌功能是通過調低Ras-GTP水平並進而抑制其下遊信號通路的活性實現的。過量表達具有致癌活性的點突變的Ras或RasGAP結構域缺失均可部分逆轉這種抑癌作用。此項研究首次證明了RASA5的抑癌功能。 / Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin信號轉導通路在人類腫瘤中存在廣泛的異常激活。我們發現DACT (Dpr/Frodo)家族成員TUSC-T2的表觀遺傳沉默是一種普遍存在於人類腫瘤中的現象。TUSC-T2編碼一種胞質蛋白，外源性表達TUSC-T2可促進腫瘤細胞雕亡並導致腫瘤細胞的克隆形成能力下降。TUSC-T2可與Dvl蛋白結合並下調其活化水平，從而保護GSK-3β蛋白不被Dvl蛋白抑制。GSK-3β可與Axin及APC蛋白形成蛋白質復合物，該復合物可捕捉並降解細胞內信號分子β-catenin。TUSC-T2的過量表達可以抑制β-catenin的激活及其向細胞核內的富集，並進一步阻止β-catenin在細胞核內與Lef/Tcf轉錄因子家族的作用及下遊特定原癌基因，例如c-Myc, CCND1及Fibronectin的表達。因此TUSC-T2具有抑制腫瘤細胞增殖、遷移及上皮-間質(EMT)轉化的作用。 / 綜上所述，我們的研究結果表明RASA5及TUSC-T2是具有抑癌功能的Ras或Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin信號轉導通路抑制因子，其表觀遺傳沉默導致的轉錄失活對於腫瘤的發生發展具有重要意義。同時，針對這兩種抑癌基因的進一步研究將為我們提供富有應用前景的腫瘤標記物。值得註意的是，RASA5課題的研究開創性地闡明了Ras信號通路的拮抗因子的表觀遺傳沉默是一種Ras信號轉導通路於腫瘤細胞中異常激活的新機制。 / Cancer is the top killer of the world, as well as the medical problem difficult to overcome. The conversion of a normal cell to a cancer cell is usually caused by upregulation of oncogenes and downregulation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Epigenetic silencing has been proved to be important in TSGs inactivation, often through methylation of CpG-rich promoter regions. Ras and Wnt signaling pathways are both important for the tumorigenesis, epigenetic and functional studies of antagonists to Ras and Wnt signaling would provide us with candidate TSGs. / Ras is a well-known oncogene. Aberrant mutations of Ras genes occur in approximately 30% of human tumors, causing constitutively activated Ras signaling. However, in certain types of tumors with wild type Ras genes, abnormally activated Ras signaling is still a common and critical event, suggesting alternative mechanisms for Ras signaling hyperactivation. Ras is active when it is bound to GTP, while the hydrolysis of bound GTP and inactivation of Ras is catalyzed by Ras GTPase activating proteins (RasGAPs). Using 1-Mb array CGH (aCGH), we refined a small hemizygous deletion at the 6p21.3 chromosome region that contains a RasGAP family member gene RASA5, which used to be named as SynGAP and studied only in the neuron systems. We demonstrated that RASA5, rather than other RasGAP family members RASA2-4, is broadly expressed in human normal tissues while frequently epigenetically silenced in multiple tumors, especially in certain tumor types such as nasopharyngeal (NPC), esophageal (ESCC) and breast carcinomas (BrCa) with wild-type Ras while Ras cascade is still constitutively active. Ectopic expression of RASA5 led to apoptosis, growth and migration inhibition, as well as ‘stemness’ repression of tumor cells. Meanwhile, knockdown of RASA5 by siRNA promoted the tumor cell colony formation as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The tumor-suppressive function of RASA5 was exerted through downregulating Ras-GTP level and further inactivating Ras signaling. Such an inhibitory effect could be partially abrogated in the presence of mutated, activated Ras or by deletion of the RasGAP domain. For the first time, our study refined the role of RASA5 as a tumor suppressor. / Wnt/DVL/β-catenin signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in a wide range of human cancers. We identified a DACT (Dpr/Frodo) family member TUSC-T2 as an epigenetically downregulated gene in human tumors. TUSC-T2 encodes a punctate cytoplasmic protein. Ectopic expression of TUSC-T2 dramatically inhibited tumor cell colony formation in silenced tumor cell lines, mainly through inducing apoptosis. TUSC-T2 interacts and downregulates Dishevelled (Dvl) protein, thus protecting glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) from inactivation by Wnt/Dvl and allowing GSK-3β to form a complex with Axin and APC to promote the phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. Overexpression of TUSC-T2 disrupted β-catenin activation and accumulation in nuclei, thus preventing its binding to transcription factors of the Lef/Tcf family. This caused the downregulation of β-catenin target oncogenes such as c-Myc, CCND1 and Fibronectin as well as the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and migration. We also observed that TUSC-T2 could inhibit tumor cell EMT. / Taken together, our data demonstrate that RASA5 and TUSC-T2 are functional tumor suppressors epigenetically silenced in multiple tumors through acting as negative regulators of the Ras or Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin cancer pathways, and could be developed as promising biomarkers for human tumors. Of note, our study reveals that epigenetic silencing of the Ras antagonist represents a new mechanism responsible for Ras aberrant activation in cancers with wild-type Ras. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Fan, Yichao. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 184-216). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / List of abbreviations --- p.ii-iii / List of tables --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.v-vii / List of Publications --- p.viii-ix / Abstract in English --- p.x-xii / Abstract in Chinese --- p.xiii-xiv / Table of Contents --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction and Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Cancer epigenetics --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Epigenetic modifications --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.1.1 --- DNA Methylation --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.1.2 --- Histone modifications --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.1.3 --- RNA interference --- p.14 / Chapter 1.1.1.4 --- Nucleosome positioning --- p.15 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Epigenetic alteration induced Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) silencing during carcinogenesis --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2 --- Epigenetic alterations in cancer pathways --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Brief introduction of cancer pathways --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Ras pathway --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Ras pathway and carcinogenesis --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Epigenetic regulation of RasGAP proteins in carcinogenesis --- p.28 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Epigenetic silencing of other negative regulators of Ras signaling --- p.30 / RAS association domain family (RASSF) proteins --- p.30 / PTEN --- p.32 / Sprouty (SPRY) proteins --- p.33 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Hypomethylation induced Ras oncogenes activation --- p.35 / Chapter 1.2.2.5 --- Ras mediates epigenetic regulation through feedback loop --- p.36 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Wnt pathway --- p.43 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Wnt signaling pathway and carcinogenesis --- p.43 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Epigenetic silencing of negative regulators of Wnt signaling --- p.45 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- DACT family proteins and carcinogenesis --- p.48 / Chapter 1.3 --- Application of tumor specific epigenetic alterations as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets --- p.49 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- The potential and advantage of tumor specific epigenetic alterations used as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets --- p.49 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Epigenetic-disrupted regulators of Ras signaling as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets --- p.50 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Epigenetic-disrupted regulators of Wnt signaling as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets --- p.52 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Aims of this study --- p.54 / Chapter 2.1 --- To identify epigenetically silenced candidate TSGs as antagonists to Ras or Wnt signaling --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2 --- To elucidate the functional of candidate TSGs --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1 --- Cell lines, tumor samples and routine cell line maintenance --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2 --- Drug and stress treatments --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3 --- DNA and RNA extraction --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4 --- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Real time PCR --- p.60 / Chapter 3.5 --- Direct sequencing of PCR products --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6 --- CpG island analysis --- p.67 / Chapter 3.7 --- Bisulfite treatment --- p.67 / Chapter 3.8 --- Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite genomic sequencing --- p.68 / Chapter 3.9 --- Plasmid extraction --- p.69 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Bacteria culture --- p.69 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Mini-scale preparation of plasmid DNA --- p.70 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Large-scale endotoxin-free plasmids extraction --- p.71 / Chapter 3.10 --- Construction of expression plasmids --- p.71 / Chapter 3.10.1 --- Gene cloning and plasmids construction of RASA5 --- p.71 / Chapter 3.10.2 --- Gene cloning and plasmids construction of TUSC-T2 --- p.74 / Chapter 3.11 --- Immunofluorescence Staining --- p.74 / Chapter 3.12 --- Colony formation assay --- p.76 / Chapter 3.13 --- Apoptosis assay --- p.77 / Chapter 3.14 --- Luciferase reporter assay --- p.78 / Chapter 3.15 --- Protein preparation and Western blot --- p.79 / Chapter 3.16 --- Ras Activity Assay --- p.80 / Chapter 3.17 --- Wound healing assay --- p.81 / Chapter 3.18 --- Matrigel invasion assay --- p.81 / Chapter 3.19 --- RNA Interference --- p.81 / Chapter 3.20 --- Statistical analysis --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Epigenetic disruption of Ras signaling through silencing of a Ras GTPase-activating protein RASA5 in human cancers --- p.83 / Chapter 4.1 --- Identification of RASA5 as a downregulated gene residing in the 6p21.3 deletion region --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2 --- RASA5 is widely expressed in human normal tissues but downregulated in tumor cell lines --- p.91 / Chapter 4.3 --- The tumor-specific downregulation pattern of RASA5 is unique in the RASA family genes --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4 --- RASA5 promoter CpG methylation resulted in its transcription inactivation --- p.96 / Chapter 4.5 --- Frequent methylation of RASA5 promoter in multiple primary tumors --- p.101 / Chapter 4.6 --- Cloning and characterization of human RASA5 --- p.104 / Chapter 4.7 --- RASA5 inhibits tumor cell clonogenicity through inducing apoptosis --- p.108 / Chapter 4.8 --- RasGAP domain is required for the tumor suppressive function of RASA5 --- p.111 / Chapter 4.9 --- Certain cancer types harbor wild type Ras but active Ras signaling, with RASA5 epigenetically silenced --- p.114 / Chapter 4.10 --- RASA5 antagonizes Ras signaling pathway --- p.117 / Chapter 4.10.1 --- RASA5 represses Ras signaling through downregulating Ras-GTP level --- p.117 / Chapter 4.10.2 --- Oncogenic mutant form of Ras abrogated colony formation inhibitory effect of RASA5 on tumor cells --- p.120 / Chapter 4.10.3 --- Knockdown of RASA5 promoted the tumor cell colony formation and Ras signaling activation --- p.122 / Chapter 4.10.4 --- RASA5 inhibits ERK1/2 nuclei translocation and activation --- p.123 / Chapter 4.10.5 --- RASA5 negatively regulates Ras target gene expression --- p.125 / Chapter 4.11 --- RASA5 inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion through the Ras/Rac/cofilin signaling --- p.127 / Chapter 4.12 --- RASA5 suppresses tumor cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness --- p.133 / Chapter 4.13 --- RASA5 appears in the cellcell interaction region nanotubes --- p.139 / Chapter 4.14 --- Discussion --- p.141 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- The Wnt/Dvl signaling antagonist TUSC-T2 is a pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor epigenetically silenced in tumors and inhibits tumor cell proliferation and migration --- p.150 / Chapter 5.1 --- Expression of TUSC-T2 is downregulated in human tumors --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2 --- TUSC-T2 promoter methylation results in its transcriptional inactivation --- p.151 / Chapter 5.3 --- Cloning and characterization of TUSC-T2 --- p.155 / Chapter 5.4 --- TUSC-T2 inhibits tumor cell clonogenicity through inducing apoptosis --- p.157 / Chapter 5.5 --- TUSC-T2 inhibits Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin pathway --- p.161 / Chapter 5.6 --- TUSC-T2 suppresses cell migration and EMT through upregulating E-cadherin --- p.165 / Chapter 5.7 --- Discussion --- p.171 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusions --- p.176 / Chapter 6.1. --- RasGAP family member RASA5 is epigenetically silenced in human cancers, acting as a tumor suppressor through negatively regulating Ras signaling --- p.177 / Chapter 6.2. --- DACT family member TUSC-T2 functions as a candidate TSG silenced by promoter methylation and inhibits Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin pathway --- p.178 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Future Studies --- p.181 / Chapter 7.1. --- Further functional study of RASA5 and TUSC-T2 --- p.181 / Chapter 7.2. --- Clinical application of epigenetic silenced candidate TSGs --- p.182 / Chapter 7.3. --- Further screening of candidate TSGs as antagonists to cancer pathways --- p.183 / Reference list --- p.184

Dab2是一個細胞內接頭蛋白和腫瘤抑制因子。在小鼠胚胎中，應用免疫熒光染色技術，從E8.5-E11.0 Dab2發現表達於肌節的生皮肌節中。從E8.5 E9.5，Dab2表達於生皮肌節的中部。在E10.5，Dab2表達於生皮肌節的腹外側唇部，與肌肉發育的早期標誌基因Pax3和 Myf5共定位。從E11.5-E14.5，Dab2表達於四肢與軀體的肌肉中,Dab2在出生後小鼠肌肉中的表達逐漸減弱。此外，因為肌肉正常發育需要很多細胞信號的調節並且Dab2已經發現調節MAPK, TGF-β和 Wnt信號轉導通路。這些發現預示了Dab2在肌肉發育和分化中可能具有重要作用。 / 為了進一步研究它在肌肉發育中的作用，非洲爪蟾的胚胎和C2C12 肌原細胞在此研究中分別被用作體內和體外的研究模型。原位雜交結果揭示非洲爪蟾的Dab2基因表達於其胚胎的肌節中，並與肌肉發育的標誌基因XPax3, XMyoD, XMef2c和 XMyos共定位於此。用morpholino敲低XDab2 在非洲爪蟾胚胎中的表達，下調了許多肌肉發育標誌基因的表達，例如：XPax3, XMyf5, XMef2c, XMyoS 和XAC100。與此同時，免疫熒光技術也檢測到MHC(MF20)和12/101在肌節中的表達下調。 / 來源於小鼠肌肉衛星細胞的C2C12肌原細胞系被用作體外模型來檢測Dab2基因在骨骼肌發育和分化中的作用。在C2C12肌原細胞被誘導分化形成肌管的過程中，Dab2基因在RNA和蛋白水平的表達被誘導性的升高。Dab2基因超表達能夠加速肌原細胞的融合，從而增加肌小管的形成。利用miRNA敲低Dab2基因的表達能夠減緩肌原細胞的融合，從而減少肌小管的形成。利用慢病毒shRNA技術我們得到了2個Dab2穩定敲低細胞系，命名為克隆5-2和克隆5-7。這兩個克隆具有減少或抑制減少或抑制肌小管形成的特點。蛋白免疫印跡實驗表明，磷酸化p38 MAPK的表達在這兩個克隆中被抑制。在克隆5-2中超表達Dab2基因能夠恢復肌小管的形成。這個研究表明Dab2基因在肌小管的形成過程中具有至關重要的作用。 / 利用Affymetrix微陣列技術，我們檢測並分析了在克隆5-2和對照細胞中差異表達的基因。235個探針（155個基因）的顯示出超過2倍的差異表達。在這155個基因中，127個基因下調表達，28個基因上調表達。熒光定量PCR結果顯示出與微陣列結果相一致的結果。這些差異表達基因的功能發現與肌肉系統的發育和功能具有顯著地聯系。它影響了與肌肉收縮，橫紋肌的收縮，肌前體細胞的分化和肌肉發育相關功能的基因。基因網絡分析結果揭示，在克隆5-2中Mef2c基因的下調表達可能是一個導致肌細胞分化抑制的原因。 Mef2c基因在克隆5-2中超表達能夠拯救肌細胞的分化。 / 總括來說，體內和體外實驗共同表明Dab2基因是一個肌肉發育和分化的正調控基因。 / Dab2 is an intracellular adaptor protein and a tumor suppressor. In mouse embryos, Dab2 was found to be expressed in the dermomyotome of somites from E8.5 to E11.0 using immunofluorescence staining, with expression first detected in the medial aspect of the dermomyotome at E8.5 and then co-localized with the early muscle markers Pax3 and Myf5 at the ventrolateral lip of the dermomyotome at E10.5. From E11.5 to E14.5, Dab2 was expressed in muscle masses of limb buds and the trunk. Dab2 expression in skeletal muscles was gradually decreased after birth. These observations suggested potential roles of Dab2 in the skeletal muscle myogenesis. In addition, since the normal development of skeletal muscles requires proper signal transduction, and Dab2 has been known to be involved in the MAPK, TGF-β and Wnt signaling pathways, Dab2 may therefore be important for the muscle development. / To determine the role of Dab2 in the skeletal muscle development, Xenopus laevis embryos and C2C12 myoblasts were employed as in vivo and in vitro models, respectively. In situ hybridization results showed that XDab2 was expressed in somites of Xenopus embryos and co-localized with the muscle markers XPax3, XMyoD, XMef2c and XMyos. Knockdown of XDab2 expression with antisense morpholinos down regulated the expression of several muscle markers in somites including XPax3, XMyf5, XMef2c, XMyoS and XAC100. Down-regulation of MHC and 12/101 were also observed in whole mount preparations and transverse sections of XDab2 morpholino-injected embryos after immunohistochemical staining. / The C2C12 cell line derived from mouse muscle satellite cells was then employed as an in vitro model to determine the role of Dab2 during early muscle development. When C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate into myotubes, Dab2 expression was simultaneously increased at RNA and protein levels. Dab2 over-expression after transfection with Dab2 plasmids resulted in enhanced myoblast fusion and increased numbers of myotubes. Conversely, suppression of Dab2 expression with miRNAs resulted in reduced myoblast fusion and decreased numbers of myotubes. Lentiviral shRNA-mediated Dab2 stable knockdown reduced myotube formation in 2 representative stable clones, clone 5-2 and clone 5-7. Western blot analysis showed that expression of phospho-p38 MAPK was down-regulated in clone 5-2 and 5-7. Dab2 re-expression through plasmid-mediated transient transfection in clone 5-2 could partially restore the myotube formation. These observations therefore suggested that Dab2 plays essential roles in the formation of myotubes. / Comprehensive profiling of differentially expressed genes was performed with the Affymetrix microarray analysis between the Dab2-knockdown clone 5-2 and the C2C12 parental cell line. As compared to the parental cells, the clone 5-2 showed significant changes in the expression of 235 probe sets representing 155 genes (p<0.05) with 2 folds or greater changes. Among the 155 genes, 127 were down-regulated, while 28 up-regulated. qRT-PCR results were found to be consistent with the microarray results. Functions of the differentially expressed genes were found to be significantly associated with the development and functions of the muscular system. Knockdown of Dab2 affected the genes involved in muscle contraction, the contraction of striated muscle, differentiation of muscle precursor cells, and the development of skeletal muscle fibers. A network analysis and a gene expression study revealed that Mef2c down-regulation was related to the inhibition of myogenic differentiation in the clone 5-2. Furthermore, forced expression of Mef2c in the clone 5-2 could rescue the myogenic differentiation. / In conclusion, these results indicated that Dab2 is positive regulator of the skeletal muscle development and differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Shang, Na. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-227). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.vii / Abbreviation --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Characterizations of the Dab2 gene --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The role of Dab2 in Wnt/ beta-catenin signaling --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- The role of Dab2 in TGF beta signaling --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- The role of Dab2 in Ras-MAPK signaling --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- The role of Dab2 in protein trafficking and endocytosis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.6 --- Dab2 expression and its functions. --- p.7 / Chapter 1.7 --- Somite and skeletal muscle development --- p.8 / Chapter 1.8 --- The formation of the somite and its structure --- p.9 / Chapter 1.9 --- The formation of dermomyotome and its function --- p.10 / Chapter 1.10 --- The formation of myotome and its function --- p.11 / Chapter 1.11 --- The formation of muscle fibers and musculatures --- p.12 / Chapter 1.12 --- The formation of satellite cells and its function in skeletal muscle differentiation --- p.12 / Chapter 1.13 --- The gene expression during skeletal muscle development and differentiation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.14 --- Dab2 genetically modified mice --- p.16 / Chapter 1.15 --- Objectives of this research --- p.17 / Chapter Figures and legends --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Expression of Dab2 in the mouse somites and skeletal muscles --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Mouse embryos and tissue isolation --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Histological preparation of embryos and tissues --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Immunostaining using Tyramide signal amplification kits --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Dab2 expression in somites of the mouse embryos --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Dab2 expression in skeletal muscles of embryonic and postnatal mice --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Co-localization of Dab2 and Pax3 immunoreactivities with double immunofluorescence staining --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Co-localization of Dab2 and Myf5 immunoreactivities with double immunofluorescence staining --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Co-localization of Dab2 and Myogenin immunoreactivities with double immunofluorescence staining --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.40 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter Table 2.1 --- p.44 / Chapter Figures and Legends --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Dab2 is a positive regulator of skeletal muscle development in Xenopus embryos --- p.58 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- RNA extraction --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Gene cloning and sequencing analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Transformation --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Plasmid mini and midi-preparation --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Frogs and embryos handling --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Synthesis of mRNA for microinjection --- p.64 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Microinjection --- p.64 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Synthesis of DIG-labeled anti-sense RNA probe --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Whole mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) and whole mount immunohistochemical localization --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Cloning of Xenopus Dab2 long isoform and the sequence analysis --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Phylogenetic analysis --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- RT-PCR analysis of Xenopus Dab2 (XDab2) expression --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Xenopus Dab2 spatial and temporal expression examined by WMISH analysis --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Dab2 expression in somites and its colocalization with myogenic transcription factors --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- XDab2 knockdown led to down-regulation of myogenic transcription factors and muscle markers at the RNA level --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- XDab2 knockdown led to down-regulation of muscle markers at the protein level --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- XDab2 overexpression led to up-regulation of XPax3, XMyf5 and XMyoS --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.72 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.77 / Chapter Table 3.1 --- p.78 / Chapter Figures and Legends --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Potential roles of Dab2 in C2C12 myoblast differentiation --- p.99 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Cell culture and differentiation in vitro --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cell sample preparation --- p.102 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Real-time PCR --- p.102 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- SDS-PAGE --- p.103 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Western blotting and immunodetection --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Plasmids used for transient over-expression --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Generation of miRNAs targeting at Dab2 --- p.105 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- C2C12 differentiation after transfection --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Immunohistochemical staining for myotubes --- p.106 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Lentiviral shRNA mediated Dab2 stable knockdown --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.10.1 --- shRNA Lentiviral Transduction Particles and sequence information --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.10.2 --- Optimization of puromycin treatment on C2C12 myoblasts --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2.10.3 --- Determination of the optimal MOI for C2C12 --- p.108 / Chapter 4.2.10.4 --- Lentivirus transduction method --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.10.5 --- Stable cell line generation --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Rescue experiments --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2.12 --- Serum starvation and FGF treatment --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.13 --- Microarray and data analysis --- p.110 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Expression of Dab2 during myogenesis --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Generation of miRNAs targeting at Dab2 --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Improvement of the transfection efficiency --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Knockdown efficiencies of the 4 miRNAs --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Down-regulation of Dab2 expression by transient transfection inhibited C2C12 differentiation --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Up-regulation of Dab2 expression by transient transfection enhanced myogenic differentiation --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Lentivirus-mediated Dab2 stable knockdown inhibited myotube formation --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Re-expression of Dab2 partially restored myogenic differentiation in the clone 5-2 --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Dab2 knockdown affected the MAPK signaling pathway --- p.122 / Chapter 4.3.10 --- Transcriptome and network analysis revealed changes of gene expression patterns in the C2C12 cell line after Dab2 knockdown --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.11 --- Mef2c down-regulation was related to the inhibition of the myotube formation in the clone 5-2 --- p.126 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Dab2 expression was found to be induced upon differentiation and down-regulated after myotube formation --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Dab2 was found to be a positive regulator of C2C12 differentiation --- p.129 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Dab2 knockdown affected the MAPK signaling pathway --- p.131 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Potential roles of Dab2 in myogenic differentiation revealed by transcriptome and network analysis --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Mef2c down-regulation may be involved in the inhibition of myogenic differentiation after Dab2 knockdown --- p.135 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary --- p.138 / Chapter Table 4.1 --- p.141 / Chapter Table 4.2 --- p.142 / Chapter Table 4.3 --- p.143 / Chapter Table 4.4 --- p.144 / Chapter Table 4.5 --- p.147 / Chapter Table 4.6 --- p.148 / Chapter Table 4.7 --- p.149 / Chapter Figures and Legends --- p.150 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and discussion --- p.192 / Chapter 5.1 --- Dab2 expression in somites and skeletal muscles of mouse embryos --- p.192 / Chapter 5.1 --- Dab2 as a positive regulator for skeletal muscle development in Xenopus embryos in vivo --- p.194 / Chapter 5.3 --- Dab2 as a positive regulator of skeletal muscle development in vitro --- p.196 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Dab2 was found to be a positive regulator of C2C12 differentiation --- p.196 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Dab2 knockdown affected the MAPK signaling pathway --- p.198 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Potential functions of Dab2 revealed by transcriptomeand network analysis --- p.200 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Mef2c down-regulation was closely related to the inhibition of myogenic differentiation upon Dab2 knockdown --- p.202 / Appendix I --- p.204 / Appendix II --- p.205 / References --- p.211

有證據顯示基質細胞在腫瘤的發生發展中可以發揮重要的作用，基質細胞可以提供適宜腫瘤細胞增殖的腫瘤微環境。腫瘤相關成纖維細胞是一種特殊的與腫瘤生成高度相關的基質細胞。而通过我们的论证，小鼠胚胎成纖維細胞可以作為一種腫瘤相關成纖維細胞的細胞模型。 / 腫瘤誘導因子（TIF）是本實驗室在成瘤實驗中發現的一種新的倉鼠CXC 趨化因子。基于蛋白質序列的分析，TIF 属于Gro CXC 趨化因子家族。這個家族主要通過激活其受體CXCR2 來發揮作用。為了研究TIF 在腫瘤發生中的作用，我們在CHO-K1 細胞中建立了過表達TIF 的穩定細胞株。 / 我們發現共同注射的永生化MEF 與過表達TIF 的D12 細胞導致了腫瘤生長的抑制。為了研究這種現象，重組TIF 蛋白在大腸桿菌中表達，并且用鎳柱進行了提純。純化的蛋白被用于處理CHO-K1 細胞與永生化MEF。我們發現高水平的TIF 可以導致CXCR2 下游的Erk 磷酸化水平下降。其可能的機制為CXCR2 在高水平的TIF 作用下的脫敏作用。同時高水平TIF 可以導致永生化MEF 中CD133 水平的下降。因此，CXCR2 脫敏為TIF 導致腫瘤抑制的可能機制。 / Lines of evidence indicate that stromal cell is one of the determinants in tumor formation by providing a favorable microenvironment for the growth of cancer cells. Cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) is a special form of stromal cells which are shown to be derived from bone marrow. Upon reaching the tumor, the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into CAF, which secrets various growth factors and cytokines to promote cancer growth. Furthermore, genetic study shows that CAF displays p53 mutations and other genetic changes. / Tumor induced factor (TIF) is a CXC chemokine that is originally identified from a xenograft tumor. Sequence analysis suggests TIF is a family member of the Gro CXC chemokines, and exerts its cellular function via activating CXCR2 receptors. In order to investigate the functional roles of TIF, a stable cell line over-expressing TIF in hamster CHO-K1 was established. / To explore the cancer-stromal interactions in xenograft, mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) were used as a study model for CAF. MEF was sub-cultured by a conventional protocol that was used for developing the NIH3T3 cells. Based on the growth patterns and expressions of cell markers, growth of MEF can be divided into three stages: the early stage, the senescent stage and the immortalized stage. Our results suggested that MEF might mirror the various developmental stages of CAF. / To examine the contributions of MEF in tumorigenesis, CHO-K1 cells and MEF were co-injected into nude mice. Intriguingly, MEF that in senescent and immortalized stages, rather than in early stage, promoted tumor formation. A possibility arose that the contribution of senescent and immortalized MEF in promoted tumorigenesis may due to CD133 and CXCL1, as the expression of CD133 and CXCL1 in senescent and immortalized MEF were higher than that of MEF in early stage. Moreover, as MEF could gradually develop into a fibroblast promoted tumor formation, MEF could be used as a crucial model to illustrate the origination and development of CAF. / Surprisingly, in nude mice co-injected with immortalized MEF with TIF-overexpressing D12 cells, suppression instead of promotion of tumor growth was found. In order to explore the underlined mechanism of tumor suppression, recombinant TIF protein was purified based on a bacterial expression system. Using purified TIF protein to treat CHO-K1 cells and MEF, it was found that low concentration of TIF promoted Erk phosphorylation but high concentration of TIF suppressed it, which might resulted from desensitization of CXCR2 receptors. Reduction of Erk phosphorylation resulted in decreased proliferation in CHO-K1 cells and alleviated expression of CD133 in MEF, which could be the mechanisms for TIF-induced tumor suppression in nude mice. / Taken together, a CAF model was established to examine the function of TIF in tumor-fibroblast interactions. Mechanistic studies indicated that TIF-induced tumor suppression in nude mice was mediated via desensitization of CXCR2 receptors by high concentration of TIF in the tumor microenvironment. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Qi, Wei. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-206). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Tumorigenesis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Virus transformation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Proto-oncogene and oncogene --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Tumor suppressor gene --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Epigenetic alteration --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Cancer stem cell --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Tumor microenvironment --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2 --- Cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Markers for CAF --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- CAF and normal fibroblast --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- CAF, a important player in tumor growth --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- CAF and angiogenesis --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- CAF and tumor invasion --- p.25 / Chapter 1.3 --- Chemokine --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Structure of chemokine --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Chemokine and cell Recruitment --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Chemokine and tumor microenvironment --- p.30 / Chapter 1.4 --- Tumor Induced Factor and its induced tumor suppression --- p.38 / Chapter 1.5 --- The aims of the project --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Purification of Tumor Induced Factor / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Chemical --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Enzyme --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Antibody --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3 --- Method --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Overview of protein expression system --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Purification of Trx-His₆-S-TIF protein --- p.54 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- BCA assay --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- SDS-PAGE --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Western blotting --- p.61 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Preparation of pET28/His₆-Sumo-TIF bacterial expression vector --- p.62 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Optimization of culture condition for BL21 expressed His₆-Sumo-TIF protein --- p.67 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Purification of His₆-Sumo-TIF protein --- p.68 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- Homology model of TIF --- p.68 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Purification of Trx-His₆-S-TIF --- p.70 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Optimization of purification protocol of His₆-Sumo-TIF --- p.71 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Large scale purification of mature TIF --- p.75 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Homology modeling of TIF --- p.80 / Chapter 2.5 --- Discussion --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Three Stages Hypothesis / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.86 / Chapter 3.2 --- Material --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Chemical --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Enzyme --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Animal --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Antibody --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3 --- Methods --- p.95 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Isolate MEF from 13.5 days mouse embryo --- p.95 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Culture of MEF following 3T3 protocol --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- X gal staining --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Analysis of MEF cell size and complexity by flow cytometry --- p.98 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- MTT assay --- p.98 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Analysis of CD133 by flow cytometry --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- ROS detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Double staining of cancer stem cell marker and ROS fluorescent probe --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.9 --- Reverse transcription --- p.101 / Chapter 3.3.10 --- Analysis CXCL1 mRNA expression level by PCR --- p.102 / Chapter 3.3.11 --- Gelatin zymography --- p.103 / Chapter 3.3.12 --- In-vivo tumorigenicity assay --- p.104 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results --- p.106 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Three Stages of MEF --- p.106 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- X gal staining --- p.106 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Flow cytometric analysis of cell diameter and cellular complexity of MEF --- p.109 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- MTT assay --- p.109 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- CD 133 expression of MEF detected by flow cytometry --- p.110 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Reactive oxygen species of MEF detected by flow cytometry --- p.118 / Chapter 3.4.7 --- The level of ROS and CD133 of MEF detected by flow cytometry stimultaneously --- p.121 / Chapter 3.4.8 --- TIF treatment reduces the small CSC subpopulation in senescent stage MEF --- p.124 / Chapter 3.4.9 --- Increased CXCL1 expression in senescent stage and immortalized stage MEF --- p.125 / Chapter 3.4.10 --- Matrix metalloproteinase 2 activities in different stages of MEF . --- p.129 / Chapter 3.4.11 --- In vivo tumorigenicity assay --- p.130 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.133 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Biphasic Effect of TIF in Cancer-Fibroblasts Interaction / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.140 / Chapter 4.2 --- Material --- p.143 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Chemical --- p.144 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Kit and Instrument --- p.144 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Antibody --- p.144 / Chapter 4.3 --- Method --- p.145 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Purification of TIF-His₆-Flag --- p.145 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Western blotting to detect purified TIF-His₆-Flag --- p.145 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- Measurement of cell proliferation by cell counting --- p.145 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- MTT assay --- p.146 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Western blotting to detect pErk and total Erk --- p.146 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Soft agar assay --- p.148 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Gelatinase detection --- p.148 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Wound healing assay --- p.149 / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Colony formation assay --- p.149 / Chapter 4.3.10 --- Detection of CD133 by flow cytometry --- p.150 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.151 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Purification of TIF-His₆-Flag --- p.151 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Reduced cell proliferation of D12 in long time culture --- p.153 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Reduced metabolic activities of D12 cells in time culture --- p.155 / Chapter 4.4.4. --- TIF-CXCR2-pErk signal axis in CHO cells --- p.155 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Bigger colonies formed by D12 cells in soft agar assay --- p.161 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- TIF-CXCR2-pErk-MMP9 signal pathway in D12 cells --- p.162 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Reduced migration of D12 cells --- p.164 / Chapter 4.4.8 --- Reduced cell invasion of D12 cells --- p.165 / Chapter 4.4.9 --- Reduced colony number of D12 cells in colony formation assay --- p.168 / Chapter 4.4.10 --- Bi-phasic “bell shape“ bi-phasic response on Erk activation of TIF in CHO-K1 cells --- p.169 / Chapter 4.4.11 --- Bi-phasic “bell shape“ effect of TIF to pErk in immortalized MEFs --- p.172 / Chapter 4.4.12 --- Reduced CD133 in immortalized MEF by high concentration of TIF --- p.173 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.177 / Chapter Chapter Five --- General Discussion / Chapter 5.1 --- Project Summary --- p.183 / Chapter 5.2 --- Significances of the project --- p.185 / Chapter 5.3 --- Future work --- p.188

Aim. In this study, we attempted to identify HCC-specific serum glycoproteins by using glycoproteomic technologies. We targeted at finding glycoforms with aberrant alpha-2,6-sialylation and alpha-1,6-fucosylation in sera of HCC patients. These glycoforms may have potentials to be used as tumor marker(s) in the diagnosis of HCC. / Among the validated differential glycoproteins, Hp was the only glycoprotein, glycoforms of which were found to be significantly up-regulated in the HCC group when examining both the sialylated glycoprotein profiles and the fucosylated glycoprotein profiles. This glycoprotein was selected for further investigation. In the independent validation group, increased serum levels of Hp (total), alpha-2,6 sialylated Hp and alpha-1,6 fucosylated Hp was observed in the HCC patients. A unique pattern of Hp glycoforms comprising both hypersialylated fucosylated and hyposialytated fucosylated species was found in the HCC patients. Serum concentrations of these glycoforms were significantly higher in the HCC patients with advanced tumor, suggesting their tumor-specific nature. Besides, we have performed quantitative profiling of N-glycans of serum Hp in the HCC patients, CLD patients and normal subjects, and have attempted to identify HCC-associated N-glycans for HCC diagnosis. Combined used of serum alpha-fetoprotein, serum Hp and its N-glycans, we could achieve 84% sensitivity at 100% and 93% specificities when distinguishing the HCC patients from the CLD patients and from the normal subjects, respectively. / Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often arises in patients with coexisting chronic liver disease (CLD). Since alpha-fetoprotein, a conventional biomarker, may also be raised in patients with uncomplicated CLD, the use of alpha-fetoprotein in early detection of HCC is limited. Identification of additional biomarkers may improve early detection. Previous studies have shown that levels of alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase and alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase change in liver cancer, leading to aberrant glycosylations on some serum proteins. / Conclusion. By undertaking glycoproteomic approach, we have identified a panel of potential biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC. These biomarkers were useful for classifying among normal healthy subjects, CLD patients, patients with early HCC and patients with advanced HCC. Some of them were validated with the independent cases. Finally, we have identified a unique pattern of Hp glycoforms comprising both hypersialylated fucosylated and hyposialylated fucosylated species in the HCC patients. Serum Hp and its N-glycans have been shown to have potential values for aiding the diagnosis of HCC. / Methodology. There are four parts in this study. The first part is "method development". A method for obtaining quantitative profiles of serum glycoproteins with alpha-2,6-sialylation or alpha-1,6-fucosylation was developed by combined use of lectin affinity chromatography, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme-linked lectin assay. The second part is "biomarker discovery". The quantitative profiles of the serum glycoproteins from 20 HCC patients and 10 CLD patients (control) were compared by bioinformatic approaches to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis of HCC. The protein identities of the potential targets were obtained by using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The third part is "validation". An independent set of serum samples from 40 HCC patients, 30 CLD patients and 20 normal subjects was used to evaluate the diagnostic values of the potential biomarkers. The last part of this study was aimed to identify HCC-associated N-glycans on one of potential biomarkers found, and examine their values in diagnosis of HCC. / Result. When analyzing alpha-2,6-sialylated glycoproteins, 53 glycoprotein spots were significantly different between the HCC and CLD groups, of which 44 spots belonged to 13 glycoproteins. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that these differential sialoglycoprotein profiles contained valuable information for differentiating the HCC patients from CLD patients, and classifying between early HCC and advanced HCC patients. When analyzing alpha-1,6-fucosylated proteins, 11 glycoprotein spots were significant different between the two study groups, of which 8 spots belonged to 1 glycoprotein. Majority of the protein identities were successfully obtained by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Among the differential glycoproteins, we have identified a subgroup with a unique pattern of glycosylation. These glycoproteins were characterized by the presence of hypersialylated and fucosylated glycoforms. The differential patterns and the diagnostic values of some of these serum glycoproteins were confirmed in the independent validation group by measuring their serum levels with immunoassays. The results of the logistic regression analyses suggest that complement factor B and haptoglobin (Hp) can be used in combination with alpha-fetoprotein to improve the diagnosis of HCC. / Ang, Ling. / Adviser: Tereng Chuen Wai Poon. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0947. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-238). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / School code: 1307.