Expression of a testis-specific hsp70 gene-related RNA in defined stages of rat seminiferous epithelium.

Changes in the level of a testis-specific hsp70 gene-related transcript (hst70 RNA) and its cellular localization during the cycle of rat seminiferous epithelium have been investigated. Segments of seminiferous tubules at defined stages of the cycle were isolated in living condition by transillumination-assisted microdissection and the exact stages identified by phase-contrast microscopy of live cell squashes. The levels of the hst70 RNA were determined by Northern and slot blotting of whole cell lysates. High levels were found in stages XII-XIV and I to early VII of the cycle, and low levels were found in other stages, i.e., late VII (VIId) through VIII-XI of the cycle. The in situ hybridization revealed that the hst70 gene was activated in late pachytene primary spermatocytes during stage XII of the cycle, and that mRNA was then present in cells during differentiation through diakinesis, meiotic divisions, and early spermiogenesis (steps 1 through early 7). The activation of the gene coding for hst70 RNA shortly before meiotic divisions may indicate that the gene product is needed either during differentiation of late spermatocytes into spermatids or later during spermiogenesis, and that the mRNA may be stored in early spermatids.

HSP27 diagnostic utility in the fine needle aspirate of breast. Correlation with progesterone and estrogen receptors.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is routine diagnostic tool in breast tumors assessment. In some cases, however, limitations of this method do not permit an unequivocal diagnosis. In these, suspected, cases immunocytochemical evaluation of selected biological markers may be of help. The aim of the study was assessment of HSP27 value in diagnosis and discrimination of benign and malignant breast lesions. HSP27 expression was examined by immunocytochemistry in fine needle aspiration smears assessed to C2-C5 categories. In C5 subgroup HSP27 expression was correlated with ER, PR content. Statistically significant differences in HSP27 expression between subsets C2/C5 and C3/C5 were found (p=0.028 and p=0,04, respectively); the differences between C3/C4 categories were not significant. Expression of HSP27 protein in FNA smears can be additional factor, which helps to differentiate benign, and malignant breast lesions, however it is not useful for discrimination of cytological, suspicious lesions.

Spermatocyte-specific expression of constitutively active heat shock factor 1 induces HSP70i-resistant apoptosis in male germ cells.

Spermatocytes, the most sensitive male germ cells to heat-induced apoptosis, do not respond to hyperthermia by inducing heat shock proteins (HSPs), including HSP70i, which has been previously shown to confer resistance to apoptosis in somatic cells. To dissect the mechanism of heat-induced apoptosis and to determine if we could protect spermatocytes by expressing HSP70i, we engineered transgenic mice that express in spermatocytes constitutively active heat shock transcription factor (HSF)1. Such HSF1 expression did not lead to transcription of inducible Hsp70 genes, but instead induced caspase-dependent apoptosis that mimicked heat shock-induced death of spermatogenic cells. Both mitochondria-dependent and death receptor-dependent pathways appear to be involved in such HSF1-induced apoptosis: the levels of Bcl-2 family proteins became increased, p53 protein accumulated and expression levels of caspase-8 and death-receptor-interacting proteins (including Fas-associated death domain protein and TNF receptor associated death domain protein) became elevated. Surprisingly, the constitutive spermatocyte-specific expression of HSP70i in double-transgenic males did not protect against such HSF1-induced apoptosis.

Influx of macrophages into livers of rats treated with hepatotoxicants (thioacetamide, allyl alcohol, D-galactosamine) induces expression of HSP25.

Treatment of rats with a single dose of thioacetamide (TAA) provokes centrilobular inflammation and a significant expression of heat shock protein HSP25 in hepatocytes surrounding the area of inflammation. The HSP25 accumulation in hepatocytes adjacent to inflammatory regions was confirmed by identification of positive hepatocytes concentrated at periportal areas after treatment of rats with allyl alcohol (AA) or distributed diffusely throughout liver lobule after treatment with D-galactosamine (D-gal). In our model of TAA-treated rats the use of the anti-inflammatory drug-indomethacin, and the redox-regulating drug-N-acetylcysteine (NAC), significantly attenuated TAA-induced HSP25 expression and evoked morphological changes of recruited ED1+ macrophages. Treatment of rats with gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)) decreased considerably the number of Kupffer cells (ED2+ macrophages) without affecting significantly the number and morphology of ED1+ macrophages as well as the expression pattern of TAA-induced HSP25. Our data shows for the first time that ED1+ macrophages recruited into the liver by treatment with TAA play a significant role in HSP25 induction in hepatocytes.

Isolation and nucleotide sequence analysis of the rat testis-specific major heat-shock protein (HSP70)-related gene.

The isolation of a rat hsp 70-related gene which is specifically and highly expressed in testis is described together with the complete nucleotide sequence of the transcription unit (2947 bp), 5' flanking (about 1 kbp) and 3' flanking (about 0.3 kbp) regions. The sequence analysis and nuclease S1 mapping revealed that the isolated gene (referred to as the hst70 gene) represents a novel, distinct member of the hsp70 multigene family. Its transcription unit lacks introns and a single open reading frame encodes a protein of 69.5 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence of this protein is highly similar (only four out of 633 amino acids are different) to that encoded by the mouse testis-specific hsp70.2 gene (Zakeri, Z.F., Wolgemuth, D.J. and Hunt, C.R. (1988) Mol. Cell. Biol. 8, 2925-2932). The functional significance of multiple potentially regulatory sequences (e.g. TATA-boxes, heat-shock element and estrogen receptor binding site) present in the 5' flanking region of the rat hst70 gene is discussed.

A 252 bp upstream region of the rat spermatocyte-specific hst70 gene is sufficient to promote expression of the hst70-CAT hybrid gene in testis and brain of transgenic mice.

The rat hst70 gene belongs to a heat shock hsp70 multigene family and its expression has been detected so far solely in spermatocytes. To investigate the cis-elements responsible for testis-specific expression of the hst70 gene we produced several lines of transgenic mice carrying fragments of the 5'-flanking regions of the hst70 gene fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Hybrid genes of series B were constructed such that, besides the 780 bp, 343 bp and 163 bp 5'-flanking region these plasmids contained no other sequences of the hst70 gene. In hybrid genes of series D the CAT gene was ligated to 343 bp and 252 bp 5'-flanking regions together with the 57 bp of the 5'-end nontranslated (leader) sequences of the hst70 gene. We found that in 780/B, 343/B, 343/D and 252/D adult mice the transgene was specifically and highly expressed in testes. In developing testes the high CAT activity appeared in transgenic mice aged 3 weeks and older. None of the three 163/B transgenic lines exhibited CAT activity in any tissue analyzed. In all CAT expressing lines a weak but significant CAT activity (up to 5% of that in testis) was detected also in the brain. RNase protection assay confirmed that the endogenous hst70 gene transcripts are present in testis as well as in brain of nontransgenic rats and mice. Our data show that the cis-regulatory sequences responsible for testis-specific and developmentally regulated expression of the hst70 gene are localized within the 252 bp region 5' to the gene and neither the 5'-end nor 3'-end nontranslated sequences of the gene are important for this specificity.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence and expression of rat heat inducible hsp70 gene.

In rat cells hyperthermia induces two hsp70 transcripts of 2.5 kb and 2.7 kb. We have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of a gene (named hsp70.1) encoding the 2.5 kb transcript as shown by Northern blot analysis using the 5' end and 3' end specific hybridization probes. It contains an uninterrupted open reading frame of 1926 bp, it encodes a protein of approx. 70,100 Da and the predicted amino acid sequence of its product shows 98% similarity to the mouse hsp70.1 protein. The transcription start site was localized 224 bp upstream the ATG codon by RNase protection and primer extension mapping. Upstream the transcription initiation site several potential regulatory motifs including a TATA box, two Sp1 binding sites, one inverted and one direct CCAAT box and three HSEs (heat shock elements) were found. Transfection experiments with constructs in which the CAT reporter gene was fused to fragments of the 5' end flanking sequences of the isolated gene confirmed that the promoter of the rat hsp70.1 gene is functional and heat inducible.

Activation of the glucose-regulated gene (grp78) in regenerating rat liver is nonspecific and is related to acute phase response.

The expression pattern of the hsp70 gene family during regeneration or rat liver has been investigated. Northern blots were prepared from total RNA isolated from livers at 0 h (control), 12 h (end of prereplication phase), 24 h (maximum of DNA synthesis) and 36 h (postmitotic phase) after partial hepatectomy. Blots were hybridized with probes specific for the hsp70 (heat-inducible), hsc70 (constitutively expressed), hst70 (testis-specific) and grp78 (glucose-regulated) gene. No hsp70 and hst70 gene transcripts have been detected at any time point investigated, and only a low increase of the hsc70 mRNA level has been observed 24 h after surgery. In contrast, a significant accumulation of the transcript coded by the grp78 gene has been detected in liver remnant 12 and 24 h after partial hepatectomy. However, we observed a comparable activation of this gene in livers of sham-operated rats or in rats injected with turpentine to cause sterile inflammation. Our results indicate that the activation of the grp78 gene in liver of wounded rats (partial hepatectomy or sham operation) is presumably a part of acute-phase response.

Estimation of risk of inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma in apparent sporadic patients.

PURPOSE: The study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) among patients with apparent sporadic disease. A stepwise algorithm was used depending on clinical indices and the age of patient at MTC diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred sixteen patients with MTC verified by postoperative pathologic examination were subjected to genetic analysis of RET exons 10, 11, 13, 14, and 16 by means of polymerase chain reaction, restriction endonuclease digestion, and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Among 116 apparent sporadic MTC patients, we identified eleven (9.5%) RET germline mutation carriers. Seven of these (6.0%) were found by routine analysis (exons 10 and 11). The frequency of inherited disease among patients younger than 45 years at diagnosis was 10.2% by analysis of typical mutations in exons 10 and 11. Extended genetic analysis (sequencing of exons 11, 13, 14, and 16) yielded 6.1% additional diagnoses, giving a risk of 16.3% in this age group. One previously unreported mutation in exon 11 affected codon 649 (TCG>TTG, Ser>Leu). In the true sporadic MTC patients younger than 30 years at diagnosis, frequencies of 36% and 4.5% in polymorphic variants L769L and S836S, respectively, were observed. The frequency for L769L was higher than in older patients (P <.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of inherited disease among apparent sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma patients is close to 10% in the Polish population of MTC patients. The extended analysis of all known RET proto-oncogene mutation sites is obligatory in patients younger than 45 years at diagnosis, but we also see the need to analyze the impact of rarer mutations in older patients.

Regulation of function of the murine luteinizing hormone receptor promoter by cis- and trans-acting elements in mouse Leydig tumor cells.

The transcriptional activity of various lengths of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the murine LH receptor (R) gene were studied using the luciferase reporter gene in transiently transfected mouse Leydig tumor cells (mLTC-1). Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) and HeLa cells were used as controls. The basal transcriptional promoter activity in mLTC-1 cells resided within the first 173 base pairs (bp) of the 5'-UTR. Placing an LHR promoter fragment (bases -715/ -56) in front of the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) minimal promoter resulted in a 7-fold increase in luciferase activity. Deletion of bases -56 to -173 of the above construct totally abolished the increased luciferase activity, brought about by the LHR promoter sequences. Basically similar results on LHR promoter function were observed using CHO cells. In contrast, no LHR promoter activity was detected in HeLa cells, indicating a cell specific nature of its function. The first 173 bp promoter domain is GC-rich, with several SP-1 binding domains, and it bound specifically nuclear proteins isolated from mLTC-1 and HeLa cells. RNAse protection assays reconfirmed the presence of several transcription initiation sites within the first 310 bp of the 5'-UTR, also in the absence of the cognate LHR coding sequences. The most distal site at bp -310 did not function in the absence of the first 173 bp of the 5'-UTR. Other transcription initiation sites were identified closer to the translation initiation site. hCG (50 micrograms/l), 8-bromo (Br)-cAMP (100 mumol/l) and cholera toxin (100 microgram/l) displayed qualitatively similar negative effects on the LHR promoter activity in the transfected mLTC-1 cells when the constructs containing at least the first 565 bp of the LHR 5'-UTR were used, but the inhibitory effects were greatly decreased in constructs containing < or = 304 bp of the promoter region. Hence, the hCG/cAMP associated inhibitory effects interact with region(s) located mainly between bp -565 and -305 of the LHR promoter. The inhibitory role of cAMP on LHR gene expression was also confirmed at the level of hCO-binding and hCG stimulated cAMP production of mLTC-1 cells. In conclusion, the current results elucidate the cis- and trans-acting elements in the regulation of expression of the murine LHR gene in cultured mouse Leydig cells. The minimal basal promoter activity is within the first 173 nucleotides of the 5'-UTR and the structural elements of the negative LHR regulation by the cognate hormone and elevated cAMP levels are mainly located within nucleotides -305 to -565 of the 5'-UTR. The function of the murine LHR promoter is similar to, though not identical with that of the rat, but at variance with that of the human LHR gene.

Inhibition of RNA polymerase B activity in normal and regenerating rat liver after administration of 9-aminoacridine.

Ledakrin, 1-nitro-9-[3'-(N,N'-dimethyl)aminopropyl]aminoacridine administered intraperitoneally at a dose up to 20 mg/kg into sham operated and partially hepatectomized rats inhibited RNA polymerase B activity in the isolated liver nuclei. The average chain length of the in vitro transcript was reduced while the number of elongating RNA polymerase B molecules was not changed after Ledakrin treatment. The drug inhibited RNA polymerase B activity in 18 hour regenerating liver to a much greater extent than in control liver. However, one molecule of tritium-labelled Ledakrin was bound with the same number of base pairs of DNA both in normal and regenerating liver. About 60 to 70% of the label was found to form labile complexes with DNA and could be liberated on thermal, alkaline or acidic denaturation of DNA. The remaining label seems to be covalently bound to DNA. The drug induced "cross-links" between the two strands of rat liver DNA in vivo. DNA from the liver nuclei unable to synthesize RNA due to Ledakrin treatment, retained the template activity against E. coli RNA polymerase. The presented results point to a limited preference of Ledakrin to bind to the transcriptionally active regions of chromatin.

Changes in cellular concentration of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases A and B during regeneration of rat liver.

1. DNA-dependent RNA polymerases A and B were solubilized from rat liver nuclei at different intervals after partial hepatectomy, and chromatographed on DEAE-Sephadex A-25. Activity of the solubilized RNA polymerases remained unchanged till 6 h after hepatectomy, then started to increase reaching a maximum (350% and 150% of control for the A and B enzyme, respectively) at the 18th hour of regeneration, and was still high at the 36th hour of regeneration. 2. RNA polymerases A and B were extracted and extensively purified from the nuclei of normal and regenerating rat liver. No marked differences in the specific activities between the analogous purified enzymes from normal and regenerating liver were observed, thus the increase in RNA polymerase activities (especially marked in the case of enzyme A) observed after partial hepatectomy is probably due to a real increase in the quantities of enzymes. 3. Concentration of RNA polymerase A in hepatocyte increases from 1.3 x 10(4) (normal liver) to 7.5 x 10(4) (18 h after hepatectomy) molecules per haploid genome. The concentration of polymerase B increases from 3.4 x 10(4) to 5.5 x 10(4) molecules per haploid genome, respectively.

Isolation of a gene coding for a major heat shock protein HSP71 in rat.

A rat gene closely related to a human heat-inducible/cell cycle-dependent hsx70 gene was cloned from a rat genomic library. Northern blot analysis showed that it encodes a 2.5 kb transcript, one of the two heat-inducible mRNAs (2.5 and 2.7 kb) detected in rat tissues. Comparison of the known expression pattern of rat major heat shock proteins and mRNAs suggests that the isolated rat gene most probably codes for HSP71 protein.

Construction of cDNA library from liver RNA of heat shocked rats and DNA sequence analysis of the clone containing the 3'-end untranslated region (3'UTR) of the heat inducible gene hsp70.2.

cDNA library constructed from liver RNA of rats subjected to hyperthermia was used to isolate divergent 3' end untranslated regions (3'UTR) of heat inducible hsp70.1 and hsp70.2 genes. As a result of a double selection procedure with the use of DNA-DNA hybridization and PCR analysis 9 clones containing cDNA sequences derived from the 3'UTR of the hsp70.2 gene were selected. Nucleotide sequence of the cloned inserts was established and the Northern blot analysis was performed to identify the heat inducible transcript encoded by the hsp70.2 gene.

A rat testis-specific hsp70 gene-related transcript is coded by a novel gene from the hsp70 multigene family.

To establish the identity of testis-specific hsp70 gene-related transcript, the expression pattern of the hsp70 gene family in testis and liver of rats subjected to whole body hyperthermia was investigated. In control liver two hsp70 gene-related transcripts of about 2.2 and 2.5 kb were detected. Increased body temperature resulted in high accumulation of 2.5 kb RNA and in the appearance of abundant amounts of another heat-induced transcript of approx. 2.7 kb. In testis of control rats only one hsp70 gene-related transcript has been identified and hyperthermia did not affect its level. This transcript migrated in 1% agarose-formaldehyde gel slightly faster than the 2.5 kb heat-induced RNA detected in liver and epididymis. The uniqueness of the testicular hsp70 gene-related transcript has been confirmed by its hybridization properties. At stringent conditions this transcript did not hybridize with a human hsp70 gene-related probe in contrast to the 2.5 and 2.7 kb heat-induced RNA species.

Identification of a microsatellite region composed of a long homopurine/homopyrimidine tract surrounded by AT-rich sequences upstream of the rat stress-inducible hsp 70.1 gene.

A DNA region containing several repetitive motifs has been detected about 1.9 kbp upstream of the transcription unit of the rat stress-inducible hsp 70.1 gene. The most interesting element of this area is a microsatellite sequence (GA)6CAG(TC)24 that consists of an inverted repeat partially overlapping with the long homopurine/homopyrimidine tract (Pu/Py). DNA molecule within the described sequence can theoretically adopt alternate, non-B structures (H-DNA or cruciform) containing single-stranded regions. This microsatellite region is flanked by AT-rich sequences containing several poly(A) tracts. The longest of them with a possible potential to destabilized a double-stranded DNA helix is localized around 160 bp downstream the (GA)6CAG(TC)24. The DNA fragment containing sequences described above was subcloned into the pUC19 vector and the resulting plasmid was subjected to the standard S1 susceptibility assay. Preliminary mapping of the S1 cleavage site indicates for the formation of the non-B-DNA structure within the Pu/Py tract. This is to our knowledge a first report on the existence of a complex microsatellite region on upstream the 5'-end of the hsp 70 gene in mammals.

Expression of heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP27 in primary non-small cell lung carcinomas. An immunohistochemical study.

The present study was undertaken to determine the expression pattern of the hsp70 and the hsp27 genes in 106 cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). We have shown that in the majority of cases (95/106) the HSP70 immunoreactivity was localized both in the cytoplasm and the nuclei. We also observed an enhanced nuclear immunoreaction for HSP70 in dysplastic lesions and in stage I tumors. In the case of the HSP27 we found a positive cytoplasmic immunostaining in 70% of cases, with the highest score in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We noted a positive correlation between the expression level of HSP27 and HSP70. There was a correlation between Ki-67 proliferation index and nuclear HSP70 staining, but not for HSP27. No association between the HSPs and the expression of pRb p16 and p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 was found as studied previously. An interesting and statistically significant relationship was found between the expression of cyclin D1 and high intensity of HSP27 and HSP70 immunostaining. The relation of our results concerning the expression pattern of the HSP70 and HSP27 in NSCLC to those obtained by others for different types of primary tumors is discussed.

Uptake of main fractions of labelled bleomycin by solid Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice.

Concentrations were studied of 58Co in the solid Ehrlich ascites tumour, blood, muscle and bone of male Swiss mice administered as complexed with total bleomycin commercially available and its isolated fractions A2, B2, demethyl A2, A1, A5, B4 and bleomycinic acid. The tumour/non-tumour ratios were determined 24 hrs after injection of the complexes. The ratios for fraction A2, B2 and total bleomycin were very close to each other. The remaining fractions showed lower values of the ratios. These results suggest that it is unlikely that any of the fractions studied are superior to total labelled bleomycin with respect to tumour scintigraphy.

Activity of chromatin-bound protease in histone fractions from rat liver and Morris hepatoma.

Activity of chromatin-bound protease of rat liver and Morris hepatoma 7777 was studied. Proteolytic enzyme was copurified with histones during extraction of chromatin with 0.25 M HCl. Total histone was fractionated by Oliver's et al. method. Histone fractions were incubated in 0.01 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.6) at 37 degrees C within different periods of time. The behavior of these fractions in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as the amounts of peptides soluble in 5% TCA released during incubation indicated that enzyme was coextracted with histone H2B only. It was shown that the activity of protease coextracted selectively with histone H2B was higher in tumor tissue than in normal liver.

Early postoperative bleedings after prostatectomy in the light of statistical figures.

A statistical analysis of intraoperative and early postoperative bleedings in cases of surgery for prostatic adenoma is presented, consideration being given to the surgical technique and to lethality. It has emerged that all patients having had intraoperative or early postoperative bleedings had been operated on by the Hryntschak method and all were over 60 years of age (average age 68 years). Age-matched patients operated on by the Freyer method had no major bleedings.