High expression of the novel endothelin-converting enzyme genes, Nbla03145/ECEL1alpha and beta, is associated with favorable prognosis in human neuroblastomas.

The clinicobiological feature of neuroblastoma is enigmatic because spontaneous regression often occurs in early stages of tumors of the patients under 1 year of age, while rapid growth usually occurs in the tumors of the patients over 1 year of age. Such difference in the clinical behavior may be caused by the difference in the pattern of gene expression among the subsets of neuroblastoma. To understand the molecular basis of neuroblastoma biology, we decided to identify the novel genes expressed differentially between favorable and unfavorable neuroblastomas. The oligo-capping cDNA libraries were constructed from different subsets of neuroblastomas. After random selection and DNA sequencing, the differentially expressed genes between favorable and unfavorable neuroblastomas were screened by reverse transcriptase-PCR. The clinical significance of gene expression was evaluated based on the results of Northern blot analysis. We have identified a novel gene Nbla03145 (alpha), also cloned and termed by another group as ECEL1, which encodes a new member of putative zinc-binding metalloendopeptidase (endothelin-converting enzyme) with unknown substrate. We also cloned a COOH-terminally truncated Nbla03145/ECEL1beta which is expressed only in thymus. In primary NBLs, the alpha isoform is more preferentially expressed than the beta isoform. High levels of Nbla03145/ECEL1 expression were significantly correlated with a younger age (p=0.0005), lower stages (p=0.0019), high level of TrkA expression (p

Structure of human holocarboxylase synthetase gene and mutation spectrum of holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency.

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the incorporation of biotin into apo-carboxylases, and its deficiency causes biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency. The reported sequences of cDNA for human HLCS from liver, lymphocyte, and KG-1 myeloid cell lines differ at their 5' regions. To elucidate variations of the human HLCS mRNA and longer 5' cDNA ends, we performed screening of the human liver cDNA library and rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (RACE). Our results suggest the existence of three types of HLCS mRNA that start at different exons. The first type starts at exon 1, and the second type starts at exon 3, and both are found in various human tissues. The third type, corresponding to the cDNA from the KG-1 cell, starts at exon 2 of the HLCS gene. Various splicing patterns from exons 3-6 were also observed. None of the variations of cDNA found created a new initiation codon. Mutation screening from exons 6-14, therefore, was sufficient to detect amino acid changes in HLCS in patients. Our direct sequencing strategy for screening mutations in the HLCS gene revealed mutations in five Japanese patients and seven non-Japanese patients. Our analyses involving 12 Japanese and 13 non-Japanese patients and studies by others indicate that (1) there is no panethnically prevalent mutation; (2) the Arg508Trp, Gly581Ser, and Val550Met mutations are found in both Japanese and non-Japanese populations; (3) the IVS10+5G-->A mutation is predominant and probably a founder mutation in European patients; (4) the 655-656insA, Leu237Pro, and 780delG mutations are unique in Japanese patients; (5) the spectrum of the mutations in the HLCS gene may vary substantially among different ethnic groups.

Contribution of angiogenesis to the progression of colon cancer: possible inhibitory effect of angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 on tumor growth and hepatic metastasis.

The contribution of angiogenesis to tumor growth and hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer was investigated by means of immunohistochemical study and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Colorectal cancer specimens from 30 patients with hepatic metastasis and 39 patients without hepatic metastasis were studied by staining with antibodies against factor VIII-related antigen. Microvessel count in patients with liver metastasis was significantly higher than in those without liver metastasis (p<0.005). The effect of TNP-470 was evaluated with in vitro and in vivo experiments using human colon cancer cell line, LM and the highly hepatic metastasis cell line, LM-H5. The effect of TNP-470 on the proliferation of the cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was examined. TNP-470 inhibited more sensitively the proliferation of HUVECs than cancer cells in vitro. IC50 was approximately 3 pg/ml in HUVECs and approximately 2 microg/ml in cancer cells. The effect of TNP-470 on the growth of xenografts and liver metastases by LM-H5 in nude mice was examined. TNP-470 (30 mg/kg) was administered by subcutaneous injection every third day for 4 weeks. TNP-470 inhibited both the growth of xenograft and the hepatic metastasis. The number of metastatic foci in the liver was 78.2+/-30.1 in the control group and 20.6+/-16.5 in the treated group. These results suggest that TNP-470 is a potent agent to inhibit tumor growth and hepatic metastasis of colon cancer.

Structure, expression profile and chromosomal location of an isolog of DNA-PKcs interacting protein (KIP) gene.

A novel DNA-PKcs interacting protein, KIP (kinase interacting protein), was recently isolated using a two-hybrid analysis which showed a significant homology to calcineurin B. We found other ESTs showing significant similarity to KIP gene in the dbEST database and isolated a cDNA clone which encodes a 187 amino acid polypeptide from a human fetal brain cDNA library. This protein (termed KIP2 for kinase interacting protein 2) has sequence homology to KIP (46% identical and 64% similarity). RT-PCR analysis showed that the messenger RNA was ubiquitously expressed in various human tissues. Based on PCR-based analysis with a radiation hybrid cell panel and fluorescence in situ hybridization, the gene was localized to the q24 region of chromosome 15.

Physiological and psychological assessment of sound.

The psycho-physiological effects of several sound stimulations were investigated to evaluate the relationship between a psychological parameter, such as subjective perception, and a physiological parameter, such as the heart rate variability (HRV). Eight female students aged 21-22 years old were tested. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and the movement of the chest-wall for estimating respiratory rate were recorded during three different sound stimulations; (1) music provided by a synethesizer (condition A); (2) birds twitters (condition B); and (3) mechanical sounds (condition C). The percentage power of the low-frequency (LF; 0.05 < or = 0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15 < or = 0.40 Hz) components in the HRV (LF%, HF%) were assessed by a frequency analysis of time-series data for 5 min obtained from R-R intervals in the ECG. Quantitative assessment of subjective perception was also described by a visual analog scale (VAS). The HF% and VAS value for comfort in C were significantly lower than in either A and/or B. The respiratory rate and VAS value for awakening in C were significantly higher than in A and/or B. There was a significant correlation between the HF% and the value of the VAS, and between the respiratory rate and the value of the VAS. These results indicate that mechanical sounds similar to C inhibit the para-sympathetic nervous system and promote a feeling that is unpleasant but alert, also suggesting that the HRV reflects subjective perception.

Prediction of the coding sequences of unidentified human genes. VIII. 78 new cDNA clones from brain which code for large proteins in vitro.

As a part of our project for accumulating sequence information of the coding regions of unidentified human genes, we herein report the sequence features of 78 new cDNA clones isolated from human brain cDNA libraries as those which may code for large proteins. The sequence data showed that the average size of the cDNA inserts and their open reading frames was 6.0 kb and 2.8 kb (925 amino acid residues), respectively, and these clones produced the corresponding sizes of protein products in an in vitro transcription/translation system. Homology search against the public databases indicated that the predicted coding sequences of 68 genes contained sequences similar to known genes, 69% of which (47 genes) were related to cell signaling/communication, nucleic acid management, and cell structure/motility. The expression profiles of these genes in 14 different tissues have been analyzed by the reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction method, and 8 genes were found to be predominantly expressed in the brain.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation in children with advanced neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Encouraging results have been reported with high dose chemotherapy and total body radiation followed by bone marrow autotransplantation in children with advanced neuroblastoma; however, relapse remains a significant problem. METHODS: The authors treated 22 children with advanced neuroblastoma with high dose chemotherapy, surgery, intraoperative radiation, and a bone marrow autotransplant (treated in vitro to remove tumor cells) followed by 13-cis-retinoic acid. RESULTS: The 3-year relapse rate was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6-44%). The 3-year disease free survival rate was 72% (95% CI, 52-92%). Toxicities included hemolytic uremic syndrome, herpes infection, and hepatic venoocclusive disease. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that this treatment strategy offers an increased rate of 3-year disease free survival. The nonrandomized nature of this study and its use of multiple modalities precludes the analysis of the specific contribution of each treatment component and comparison with conventional therapy.