Atypical Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Nephritis: A Case Series From the French Nephropathology Group.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Atypical anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis is characterized by a bright linear immunoglobulin staining along the GBM by immunofluorescence without a diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis nor serum anti-GBM antibodies by conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We characterized a series of patients with atypical anti-GBM disease. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients identified by the French Nephropathology Group as having atypical anti-GBM nephritis between 2003 and 2022. FINDINGS: Among 38 potential cases, 25 were included, of whom 14 (56%) were female and 23 (92%) had hematuria. The median serum creatinine at diagnosis was 150 (IQR, 102-203) µmol/L and median urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) was 2.4 (IQR, 1.3-5.2) g/g. Nine patients (36%) had endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), 4 (16%) had mesangial proliferative GN, 4 (16%) had membranoproliferative GN, 2 (8%) had pure and focal crescentic GN, 1 (4%) had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and 5 had glomeruli that were unremarkable on histopathology. Nine patients (36%) had crescents, involving a median of 9% of glomeruli. Bright linear staining for IgG was seen in 22 cases (88%) and for IgA in 3 cases (12%). The 9 patients (38%) who had a monotypic staining pattern tended to be older with less proteinuria and rarely had crescents. Kidney survival rate at 1 year was 83% and did not appear to be associated with the light chain restriction. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective case series with a limited number of biopsies including electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with typical anti-GBM disease, atypical anti-GBM nephritis frequently presents with an endocapillary or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis pattern and appears to have a slower disease progression. Further studies are needed to fully characterize its pathophysiology and associated clinical outcomes. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Atypical anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis is characterized histologically by bright linear immunoglobulin staining along the GBM without diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis or circulating anti-GBM antibodies. We report a case series of 25 atypical cases of anti-GBM nephritis in collaboration with the French Nephropathology Group. Compared with typical anti-GBM disease, we observed a slower disease progression. Patients frequently presented with heavy proteinuria and commonly had evidence of endocapillary or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. About half of the patients displayed a monotypic immune staining pattern; they tended to be older, with less proteinuria, and commonly without glomerular crescents in biopsy specimens. No concomitant circulating monoclonal gammopathy was detected. Further studies are needed to fully characterize its pathophysiology and associated clinical outcomes.

Ultrarare heterozygous pathogenic variants of genes causing dominant forms of early-onset deafness underlie severe presbycusis.

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss (ARHL), is a major public health issue. About half the phenotypic variance has been attributed to genetic factors. Here, we assessed the contribution to presbycusis of ultrarare pathogenic variants, considered indicative of Mendelian forms. We focused on severe presbycusis without environmental or comorbidity risk factors and studied multiplex family age-related hearing loss (mARHL) and simplex/sporadic age-related hearing loss (sARHL) cases and controls with normal hearing by whole-exome sequencing. Ultrarare variants (allele frequency [AF] < 0.0001) of 35 genes responsible for autosomal dominant early-onset forms of deafness, predicted to be pathogenic, were detected in 25.7% of mARHL and 22.7% of sARHL cases vs. 7.5% of controls (P = 0.001); half were previously unknown (AF < 0.000002). MYO6, MYO7A, PTPRQ, and TECTA variants were present in 8.9% of ARHL cases but less than 1% of controls. Evidence for a causal role of variants in presbycusis was provided by pathogenicity prediction programs, documented haploinsufficiency, three-dimensional structure/function analyses, cell biology experiments, and reported early effects. We also established Tmc1N321I/+ mice, carrying the TMC1:p.(Asn327Ile) variant detected in an mARHL case, as a mouse model for a monogenic form of presbycusis. Deafness gene variants can thus result in a continuum of auditory phenotypes. Our findings demonstrate that the genetics of presbycusis is shaped by not only well-studied polygenic risk factors of small effect size revealed by common variants but also, ultrarare variants likely resulting in monogenic forms, thereby paving the way for treatment with emerging inner ear gene therapy.

Challenging foreign body surgery: residual needlefish jaws.

We report a case of a needlefish jaws retained near the C5-C6 joint that was associated with chronic pain and inflammation and seen confirmed by FDG-PET scan. Two unsuccessful surgeries using an anterior approach were complicated by vascular and nerve injuries. We used image-guided surgery with a posterior approach.

Transcriptional alterations in glioma result primarily from DNA methylation-independent mechanisms.

In cancer cells, aberrant DNA methylation is commonly associated with transcriptional alterations, including silencing of tumor suppressor genes. However, multiple epigenetic mechanisms, including polycomb repressive marks, contribute to gene deregulation in cancer. To dissect the relative contribution of DNA methylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms to transcriptional alterations at CpG island/promoter-associated genes in cancer, we studied 70 samples of adult glioma, a widespread type of brain tumor, classified according to their isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) mutation status. We found that most transcriptional alterations in tumor samples were DNA methylation-independent. Instead, altered histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) was the predominant molecular defect at deregulated genes. Our results also suggest that the presence of a bivalent chromatin signature at CpG island promoters in stem cells predisposes not only to hypermethylation, as widely documented, but more generally to all types of transcriptional alterations in transformed cells. In addition, the gene expression strength in healthy brain cells influences the choice between DNA methylation- and H3K27me3-associated silencing in glioma. Highly expressed genes were more likely to be repressed by H3K27me3 than by DNA methylation. Our findings support a model in which altered H3K27me3 dynamics, more specifically defects in the interplay between polycomb protein complexes and the brain-specific transcriptional machinery, is the main cause of transcriptional alteration in glioma cells. Our study provides the first comprehensive description of epigenetic changes in glioma and their relative contribution to transcriptional changes. It may be useful for the design of drugs targeting cancer-related epigenetic defects.

Membranous Nephropathy and Intrarenal Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a Patient With Myelofibrosis.

Kidney disease in the setting of a hematologic malignancy is common, with the frequency and type of kidney disease varying depending on the specific malignancy. Various glomerular diseases and tumor infiltration of the kidneys have been reported in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Descriptions of kidney involvement in myeloproliferative disorders have been much rarer. We report a case of membranous nephropathy accompanied by kidney injury in a patient with primary myelofibrosis with additional features considered related to the patient's myeloproliferative disorder. A 63-year-old patient with primary myelofibrosis underwent kidney biopsy to investigate nephrotic-range proteinuria and reduced kidney function. Histologic analysis revealed mesangial sclerosis and hypercellularity, changes indicative of membranous nephropathy, and infiltration of hematopoietic cells into the renal interstitium, peritubular capillaries, and perirenal tissue consistent with extramedullary hematopoiesis. He was treated with renin-angiotensin blockade and a Janus kinase inhibitor, resulting in improvement in kidney function and proteinuria.

Bile Cast Nephropathy Caused by Obstructive Cholestasis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major complication in patients with liver disease. Although hepatorenal syndrome is frequently involved, bile cast nephropathy, characterized by tubular bile cast formation, has been scarcely described in the setting of severe liver failure. Few renal histology studies are available in these patients. We describe a case of bile cast nephropathy in a patient with obstructive cholestasis caused by stones in the common bile duct. The kidney biopsy confirmed this diagnosis, with several green casts in tubular lumens, tubular injury, and bilirubin composition of the tubular casts with Hall stain. The patient had no confounding cause of kidney failure, and complete kidney recovery followed removal of the bile duct obstruction. This case shows that severe cholestasis is sufficient to cause AKI, and that AKI can be reversible after treatment of the biliary obstruction.

Global analysis of H3K27me3 as an epigenetic marker in prostate cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: H3K27me3 histone marks shape the inhibition of gene transcription. In prostate cancer, the deregulation of H3K27me3 marks might play a role in prostate tumor progression. METHODS: We investigated genome-wide H3K27me3 histone methylation profile using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and 2X400K promoter microarrays to identify differentially-enriched regions in biopsy samples from prostate cancer patients. H3K27me3 marks were assessed in 34 prostate tumors: 11 with Gleason score > 7 (GS > 7), 10 with Gleason score ≤ 7 (GS ≤ 7), and 13 morphologically normal prostate samples. RESULTS: Here, H3K27me3 profiling identified an average of 386 enriched-genes on promoter regions in healthy control group versus 545 genes in GS ≤ 7 and 748 genes in GS > 7 group. We then ran a factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) and compared the enriched genes in prostate-tumor biopsies and normal biopsies using ANOVA to identify significantly differentially-enriched genes. The analysis identified ALG5, EXOSC8, CBX1, GRID2, GRIN3B, ING3, MYO1D, NPHP3-AS1, MSH6, FBXO11, SND1, SPATS2, TENM4 and TRA2A genes. These genes are possibly associated with prostate cancer. Notably, the H3K27me3 histone mark emerged as a novel regulatory mechanism in poor-prognosis prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings point to epigenetic mark H3K27me3 as an important event in prostate carcinogenesis and progression. The results reported here provide new molecular insights into the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

Detection of the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway in malignant gliomas for improved molecular diagnosis.

Human malignant gliomas exhibit acquisition of either one of two telomere maintenance mechanisms, resulting from either reactivation of telomerase expression or activation of an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. In the present study, we analyzed 63 human malignant gliomas for the presence of ALT-specific extrachromosomal circles of telomeric DNA (C-circles) and measured telomerase expression, telomeric DNA content (Telo/Alu method), and telomeric repeat-containing RNAs (TERRA) levels. We also assessed histomolecular markers routinely used in clinical practice. The presence of C-circles significantly correlated with IDH1/2 mutation, MGMT exon 1 methylation, low Ki-67 immunostaining, increased telomeric DNA content, absence of functional ATRX protein and level of HTERT gene expression. In multivariate analysis, we observed a trend to a correlation between elevated TERRA levels and increased survival. Interestingly, the C-circles assay allowed to detect ALT activation in glioblastomas exhibiting wild-type IDH1/2 and ATRX expression. These results suggest that, after the correlations uncovered here have been confirmed on larger numbers of tumors, telomeric markers might be useful in improving diagnosis. They also point out to the utility of using the specific, sensitive and quantitative C-circle and Telo/Alu assays that can work with as few as 30 ng of tumor DNA.

Immunotactoid glomerulopathy leading to the discovery of POEMS syndrome
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Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) can manifest in many different ways depending on the nature of the immunoglobulin and its physicochemical properties. MGRS can lead to the discovery of a hematological malignancy. We report the case of a 32-year-old female patient who underwent renal biopsy on account of an impure nephrotic syndrome associated with immunoglobulin (Ig)G κ monoclonal gammopathy. Histological analysis revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with IgG, IgM, κ, λ, and C3 deposits. Due to an unfavorable progression, a second renal biopsy was performed. Electron microscopy analysis revealed an immunotactoid glomerulopathy. At the same time, a POEMS syndrome diagnosis (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin abnormalities) was confirmed in light of the following: 1) IgG κ monoclonal gammopathy, 2) axonal neuropathy, 3) osteosclerosis, 4) melanoderma, 5) hepatosplenomegaly and adenopathies, 6) Castleman disease, and 7) edema. Our observation is the first case of immunotactoid glomerulopathy leading to the discovery of a POEMS syndrome. Renal involvement in POEMS syndrome typically exhibits a thrombotic microangiopathy-like membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis appearance associated with endothelial lesions stigmata. However, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disorder should be considered in the event of an atypical case. In this indication, electron microscopy is the examination of choice for assessing immunoglobulin deposition nephropathy.
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The tumoral A genotype of the MGMT rs34180180 single-nucleotide polymorphism in aggressive gliomas is associated with shorter patients' survival.

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Grade III and IV gliomas harboring wild-type IDH1/2 are the most aggressive. In addition to surgery and radiotherapy, concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) significantly improves overall survival (OS). The methylation status of the O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter is predictive of TMZ response and a prognostic marker of cancer outcome. However, the promoter regions the methylation of which correlates best with survival in aggressive glioma and whether the promoter methylation status predictive value could be refined or improved by other MGMT-associated molecular markers are not precisely known. In a cohort of 87 malignant gliomas treated with radiotherapy and TMZ-based chemotherapy, we retrospectively determined the MGMT promoter methylation status, genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region and quantified MGMT mRNA expression level. Each of these variables was correlated with each other and with the patients' OS. We found that methylation of the CpG sites within MGMT exon 1 best correlated with OS and MGMT expression levels, and confirmed MGMT methylation as a stronger independent prognostic factor compared to MGMT transcription levels. Our main finding is that the presence of only the A allele at the rs34180180 SNP in the tumor was significantly associated with shorter OS, independently of the MGMT methylation status. In conclusion, in the clinic, rs34180180 SNP genotyping could improve the prognostic value of the MGMT promoter methylation assay in patients with aggressive glioma treated with TMZ.

Substitutions at residue 211 in the prion protein drive a switch between CJD and GSS syndrome, a new mechanism governing inherited neurodegenerative disorders.

Human prion diseases are a heterogeneous group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the deposition of the partially protease-resistant prion protein (PrP(res)), astrocytosis, neuronal loss and spongiform change in the brain. Among inherited forms that represent 15% of patients, different phenotypes have been described depending on the variations detected at different positions within the prion protein gene. Here, we report a new mechanism governing the phenotypic variability of inherited prion diseases. First, we observed that the substitution at residue 211 with either Gln or Asp leads to distinct disorders at the clinical, neuropathological and biochemical levels (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome with abundant amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillar pathology). Then, using molecular dynamics simulations and biophysical characterization of mutant proteins and an in vitro model of PrP conversion, we found evidence that each substitution impacts differently the stability of PrP and its propensity to produce different protease resistant fragments that may contribute to the phenotypical switch. Thus, subtle differences in the PrP primary structure and stability are sufficient to control amyloid plaques formation and tau abnormal phosphorylation and fibrillation. This mechanism is unique among neurodegenerative disorders and is consistent with the prion hypothesis that proposes a conformational change as the key pathological event in prion disorders.

The association between histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and prostate cancer: relationship with clinicopathological parameters.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that genetic and epigenetic alterations are common events in prostate cancer, which may lead to aberrant expression of critical genes. The importance of epigenetic mechanisms in prostate cancer carcinogenesis is increasingly evident. In this study, the focus will be on histone modifications and the primary objectives are to map H3K27me3 marks and quantify RAR beta 2, ER alpha, SRC3, RGMA, PGR, and EZH2 gene expressions in prostate cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. In addition, a data analysis was made in connection with the clinicopathological parameters. METHODS: 71 normal specimens and 66 cancer prostate tissues were randomly selected in order to assess the proportion of the repressive H3K27me3 mark and gene expression. H3K27me3 level was evaluated by ChIP-qPCR and mRNA expression using RT-qPCR between prostate cancer and normal tissues. Subsequently, western-blotting was performed for protein detection. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, and Tukey's test was used to correct for multiple comparisons (p-value threshold of 0.05). The principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factorial analysis (DFA) were used to explore the association between H3K27me3 level and clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that H3K27me3 level was significantly enriched at the RAR beta 2, ER alpha, PGR, and RGMA promoter regions in prostate cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. After stratification by clinicopathological parameters, the H3K27me3 level was positively correlated with Gleason score, PSA levels and clinical stages for RAR beta 2, ER alpha, PGR, and RGMA. High H3K27me3 mark was significantly associated with decreased RAR beta 2, ER alpha, PGR and RGMA gene expressions in prostate cancer sample compared to the normal one. Moreover, the results showed that mRNA level of EZH2, AR and SRC3 are upregulated in prostate cancer compared to normal prostate tissues and this correlates positively with Gleason score, PSA levels and clinical stages. Obviously, these observations were confirmed by protein level using western-blot. CONCLUSIONS: This data clearly demonstrated that H3K27me3 level correlated with aggressive tumor features. Also this study revealed that reverse correlation of RAR beta 2, ER alpha, PGR, and RGMA expressions with EZH2, SRC3, and AR expressions in prostate cancer tissues suggests that these genes are the target of EZH2. Therefore, all therapeutic strategies leading to histone demethylation with epigenetic drugs such as histone methyltransferase inhibitor may be relevant treatments against prostate cancer.

Aggressive silent GH pituitary tumor resistant to multiple treatments, including temozolomide.

Temozolomide (TMZ) has been proposed as a therapeutic option in aggressive pituitary tumors. Among the published cases, GH expressing tumors were rare. We describe a patient with initially benign silent GH adenoma that transformed into an aggressive GH secreting tumor resistant to usual therapy. MGMT expression was high and the MGMT promoter was unmethylated. Before this aggressive course, patient received three cycles of TMZ; no response was observed. Four cases of GH aggressive tumor treated by TMZ have been reported. Response to TMZ was observed in one of these four patients. Predictive factors of failure of TMZ remain unclear.

Is an association of acro-osteolysis, bone fragility, and enchondromatosis a newfound disease caused by an amplification of PTHLH? A case report.

BACKGROUND: Acro-osteolysis (AO) refers to resorption of the distal finger and toe phalanges. It displays two patterns: (i) diffuse AO and (ii) transverse or bandlike AO. AO can be a sign of local distress (e.g. of toxic origin), but is very often a sign of a constitutional or systemic acquired disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: A 15-year-old girl was referred to a paediatric rheumatologist for recurrent pain in her fingertips. She presented a particular cross-sectional AO associated with the presence of intraosseous cysts and bone fragility with atypical fractures. Initial laboratory tests and radiological examination did not allow an etiological diagnosis. Genetic studies revealed a 12p11.22-p11.23 microduplication of 900 kb including the PTHLH (parathyroid hormone-like hormone) gene, which encodes for a hormone involved in the regulation of endochondral ossification and differentiation of chondrocytes, via its PTHLH receptor. CONCLUSIONS: To date, 12p11.22-p11.23 duplications have been reported in five families with skeletal abnormalities, and in particular AO and enchondromatosis associated with bone fragility. This new observation, added to the other reported cases, suggests a close relationship between the presence of this microduplication and the skeletal abnormalities found in the patient. We suggest the descriptive name ABES (acro-osteolysis, bone fragility and enchondromatosis syndrome) to designate this disorder.

Anti-inflammatory Streptococcus thermophilus CNRZ160 limits sarcopenia induced by low-grade inflammation in older adult rats.

Background and aims: Aging is characterized, at the systemic level, by the development of low-grade inflammation, which has been identified as determining sarcopenia by blunting postprandial muscle anabolism. The causes of this "inflammageing" is still not clearly defined. An increased intestinal permeability, a microbiota dysbiosis and subsequent generation of intestinal then generalized inflammation have been hypothesized. The objective of this study was to test in vivo during aging if (1) a chronic low-grade intestinal inflammation can lead to anabolic resistance and muscle loss and (2) if a bacterial strain presenting anti-inflammatory properties could prevent these adverse effects. Methods: Young adult (6 m) and elderly rats (18 m) received Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) for 28 days to generate low-grade intestinal inflammation, and received (PB1 or PB2 groups) or not (DSS group) one of the two S. Thermophilus strains (5 × 109 CFU/day) previously shown to present an anti-inflammatory potential in vitro. They were compared to pair fed control (PF). Muscle and colon weights and protein synthesis (using 13C Valine) were measured at slaughter. Muscle proteolysis, gut permeability and inflammatory markers were assessed only in old animals by RT-PCR or proteins quantifications (ELISA). Results: In both adult and old rats, DSS reduced absolute protein synthesis (ASR) in gastrocnemius muscle [-12.4% (PB1) and -9.5% (PB2) vs. PF, P < 0.05] and increased ASR in colon (+86% and +30.5%, respectively vs. PF, P < 0.05). PB1 (CNRZ160 strain) but not PB2 resulted in a higher muscle ASR as compared to DSS in adults (+18%, P < 0.05), a trend also observed for PB1 in old animals (+12%, P = 0.10). This was associated with a blunted increase in colon ASR. In old rats, PB1 also significantly decreased expression of markers of autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways vs. DSS groups and improved gut permeability (assessed by Occludin, Zonula Occludens 1 and Claudin 1 expression, P < 0.05) and alleviated systemic inflammation (A2M: -48% vs. DSS, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The loss of muscle anabolism associated with low-grade intestinal inflammation can be prevented by supplementation with anti-inflammatory CNRZ160 strain. We propose that the moderated gut inflammation by CNRZ160 may result in curtailed amino acids (AA) utilization by the gut, and subsequent restored AA systemic availability to support muscle protein accretion. Therefore, CNRZ160 could be considered as an efficient probiotic to modulate muscle mass loss and limit sarcopenia during aging.

The sympathetic nervous system is involved in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Prion epizoonoses spread from animals consumed by humans raise the question of which pathways lead to prion neuroinvasion after oral exposure of humans. Here we show that neurons of sympathetic ganglia of patients with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) accumulate the abnormal isoform of the protein prion. This observation shows the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in the pathogenesis of vCJD and suggests a role for GUT-associated sympathetic neurons in prion propagation in humans after oral contamination.

Hemolysis in a patient with alkaptonuria and chronic kidney failure.

In alkaptonuria, the absence of homogentisic acid oxidase results in the accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA) in the body. Fatal disease cases are infrequent, and death often results from kidney or cardiac complications. We report a 24-year-old alkaptonuric man with severe decreased kidney function who developed fatal metabolic acidosis and intravascular hemolysis. Hemolysis may have been caused by rapid and extensive accumulation of HGA and subsequent accumulation of plasma soluble melanins. Toxic effects of plasma soluble melanins, their intermediates, and reactive oxygen side products are increased when antioxidant mechanisms are overwhelmed. A decrease in serum antioxidative activity has been reported in patients with chronic decreased kidney function. However, despite administration of large doses of an antioxidant agent and ascorbic acid and intensive kidney support, hemolysis and acidosis could not be brought under control and hemolysis led to the death of the patient.

Increased expression of the oncogenic KLF6-SV1 transcript in human glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas constitute the vast majority of primary central nervous system tumors in adults. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of these primary brain tumors. There is a need to define diagnostic and prognostic markers that may help to distinguish GBM from non-GBM tumors. The Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) gene has recently emerged as a promising candidate. The goal of our study was to determine if there is a link between KLF6 splice variants expression and different grades of gliomas. METHODS: Fifty-three primary gliomas tumor samples were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR for the total KLF6, wild-type and alternatively spliced (SV1) KLF6 mRNA. RESULTS: Compared to the non-GBM group, the GBM group had a 2.2-fold increase in the mean level of total KLF6 mRNA expression. GBM showed a 2.1-fold increase in the KLF6 splicing ratio. In addition, KLF6-SV1 mRNA expression levels were also 2.2-fold higher in the GBM group, suggesting that the increase in the KLF6 splicing ratio was due to increased expression of the KLF6-SV1 oncogenic splice variant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that quantification of total and spliced forms of KLF6 may provide a new and useful supplementary molecular tool for grading glioma.

Methylation analysis of BRCA1, RASSF1, GSTP1 and EPHB2 promoters in prostate biopsies according to different degrees of malignancy.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. CpG island methylation causes gene silencing and could be decisive in prostate carcinogenesis and progression. Its role was investigated at multiple gene sites during prostate carcinogenesis. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) was used to analyze 4 interest gene promoter status in 12 patients with adenocarcinoma, 7 patients with prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, 3 patients with peritumor tissues and 15 healthy patients, so a total of 37 prostate biopsy samples constituted the cohort of the study. Despite the biopsy histology, the results have confirmed that BRCA1, RASSF1, GSTP1 and EPHB2 promoter methylation was found in each sample, except two.

Immunohistochemical staining of mucin 1 in prostate tissues.

UNLABELLED: Prostate cancer is a major public health problem in the world. Molecular studies are necessary for the development of prognostic markers in prostate cancer. There is a great interest in mucin studies in treatment development of human malignancies, including prostate cancer. Nevertheless, their expressions in prostate cancer need further investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mucin 1 (MUC1) expression was examined in 100 prostate biopsies and were compared with prostate carcinoma cell lines (DU-145, PC-3, LNCaP) by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Biopsies were healthy, tumor, peritumor or presented an intraepithelial neoplasia. Staining of MUC1 was exihibited in PC-3 cells, was higher in DU-145, and was not expressed by LNCaP. Tumor sections presented more positive expression of MUC1 than non-tumor sections. CONCLUSION: MUC1 expression is correlated with the histological degree of malignancy.