Effect of ionomycin on interaction of calnexin with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is cell type-specific.

Ionomycin is a calcium ionophore that induces release of calcium ions (Ca(2+)) from cellular storage to cytoplasm and Ca(2+) influx from the outside of the cell. We investigated the effect of ionomycin on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi transport in the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) system. Ionomycin inhibited transport of VSV-G in a concentration-dependent manner in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells and HeLa cells. Half-maximum inhibition was observed at 5 µM. The inhibitory effect of ionomycin was not dependent on the cytoplasmic portion. Chelation of Ca(2+) in culture medium did not affect transport efficiency, but co-incubation with ionomycin completely shut off transport. These findings highlight the importance of Ca(2+) release from cellular storage. Because the inhibitory effect of ionomycin was expected to be dependent on mutual interaction of VSV-G and the ER chaperone calnexin, we further investigated interaction kinetics. In HeLa cells but not BHK cells the interaction of VSV-G and calnexin was prolonged in the presence of ionomycin. Taken together, the present results indicate that, by releasing Ca(2+) from cellular storage, ionomycin inhibits ER-Golgi transport by interfering with the release of VSV-G from calnexin in HeLa cells. A mechanism of cell type-dependent ER-Golgi transport regulation was revealed.

Sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, regulates Lymphangiogenic factors in oral cancer cell line HSC-3.

AIM: Tumor angiogenesis is a focus of molecularly-targeted therapies. This study investigated the effect of sodium butyrate (SB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the synthesis of antiangiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Gene alterations in HSC-3 cells were assessed using cDNA microarrays before and after treatment with SB. The mRNA and protein expression of lymphangiogenic factors were also assessed by quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Microarray analysis revealed that treatment with SB led to altered expression of angiogenesis-related gene expression. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that platelet-derived growth factor-B, angiopoietin-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, and VEGFD were down-regulated. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry confirmed reduced protein synthesis of VEGFC. CONCLUSION: SB inhibits expression of lymphangiogenic factors in HSC-3 cells. Within the limitations of the present study, SB may have potential as an anti-metastatic pro-drug for oral cancer.

Pigmented oral carcinoma in situ: a case report and literature review.

Oral melanotic lesions, including melanin pigmentation, melanocytic nevus, and malignant melanoma, are well-recognized pathologic entities. However, melanocytic proliferation within malignant oral mucosal lesions is not well documented. We report the unusual case of a 53-year-old Japanese man who developed oral carcinoma in situ (CIS) with melanocytic proliferation and melanin pigmentation in the epithelial layer. The patient, a nonsmoker and an opportunistic drinker, presented with a brown tongue lesion. Initial examination found a large brown pigmented area and multiple small white patchy areas on the right tongue border. The pigmentation had an ill-defined border with uneven color distribution. Physical examination found no abnormalities. Ultrasonography did not find a deeply infiltrating lesion. Oral mucosal malignant melanoma in situ was diagnosed, and partial tongue resection was performed. Histopathologic examination found oral pigmented CIS. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third reported case of oral pigmented CIS.

Epiregulin is critical for the acinar cell regeneration of the submandibular gland in a mouse duct ligation model.

Acinar cell regeneration from tubular structures has been reported to occur in duct-deligated salivary glands. However, the detailed process of acinar cell regeneration has not been clarified. We have developed a mouse duct ligation model to clarify the mechanisms underlying acinar cell regeneration, and we analyzed the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligands using the model. We studied these ligands expressions in the course of acinar cell regeneration using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods. In the duct-ligated portion of the submandibular gland (SMG) that underwent atrophy, newly formed acinar cells were observed arising from the tubular structures after the release of the duct obstruction. The constitutive expression of EGFR was observed by immunohistochemistry in both the duct-ligated and duct-deligated animals as well as in normal controls. The EGFR phosphorylation detected on the tubular structures after duct ligation paralleled the acinar cell regeneration. RT-PCR showed an increase in the epiregulin and heparin-binding EGF levels from day 0 to day 3 after the release of the duct obstruction. The EGF level was increased only after day 7. In vitro, cultured cells isolated from ligated SMGs proliferated and produced EGF ligands following the addition of epiregulin to the culture medium. These findings suggest that the tubular structures localized in an atrophic gland are the source of acinar cell regeneration of the salivary gland. The induction of EGF ligands, in particular epiregulin, may play an important role in acinar cell regeneration in this model.

An assessment of mast cells and myofibroblasts in denture-induced fibrous hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of denture-induced fibrous hyperplasias has not been examined in detail to explain how tissue injury results in fibrous hyperplasia of the oral mucosa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the presence of mast cells and myofibroblasts in 33 denture-induced fibrous hyperplasias (DIFH) compared with 10 healthy gingival tissues. The parameters examined included mast cell numbers, tissue distribution, degranulation, and cell subtypes using immunohistochemistry. The presence of myofibroblasts and their likely origin was also examined by double immunofluorescense staining. Furthermore, we investigated the synthesis of osteopontin and TGF-ß, considered to be involved in the transformation of a fibroblast to a myofibroblast. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the mast cell numbers are significantly increased in the DIFH compared with non-disease controls. The mast cell localization in lesions was higher in the superficial areas with inflammatory cell infiltration compared with the deep fibrotic area (P < 0.01). The number of tryptase-positive mast cells was significantly higher compared with chymase-positive ones. The TGF-ß- or osteopontin-positive cell infiltration into the lesion was found in high numbers. The presence of myofibroblasts was identified in 14 of 33 cases (42%), and some of these cells showed apoptosis when assessed by the TUNEL assay. On the survey of the origin of myofibroblasts, results showed αSMA and vimentin positivity indicating these transformed from fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: These results are the first to show that mast cells and myofibroblasts can be detected in DIFH, indicating important roles of these cells in the pathogenesis of this lesion.