The major vault protein mediates resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in human hepatoma cells.

To better understand the response of HCC to EGFR inhibition, we analyzed factors connected to the resistance of HCC cells against gefitinib. Sensitive HCC3 cells co-expressed EGFR and ErbB3 but lacked kinase-domain mutations in EGFR. Interestingly, expression of MVP was restricted to resistant cell lines, whereas ABCB1 and ABCC1 showed no association with gefitinib resistance.

Effects assessment: boron compounds in the aquatic environment.

In previous studies, boron compounds were considered to be of comparatively low toxicity in the aquatic environment, with predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) values ranging around 1 mg B/L (expressed as boron equivalent). In the present study, we describe an evaluation of toxicity data for boron available for the aquatic environment by different methods. For substances with rich datasets, it is often possible to perform a species sensitivity distribution (SSD).

Indications for cell stress in response to adenoviral and baculoviral gene transfer observed by proteome profiling of human cancer cells.

Gene transfer to cultured cells is an important tool for functional studies in many areas of biomedical research and vector systems derived from adenoviruses and baculoviruses are frequently used for this purpose. In order to characterize how viral gene transfer vectors affect the functional state of transduced cells, we applied 2-D PAGE allowing quantitative determination of protein amounts and synthesis rates of metabolically labeled cells and shotgun proteomics. Using HepG2 human hepatoma cells we show that both vector types can achieve efficient expression of green fluorescent protein, which accounted for about 0.

Microscopic analysis of adenoviral decontamination using GFP adenovirus with comparable sensitivity to flow cytometry.

Expression of transgenes from adenovirus vectors has become an extremely important and widely used tool in experimental cancer research and many other areas in the life sciences. It needs to be kept in mind, however, that adenoviruses are human pathogens and avoiding exposure of laboratory personnel to infectious viral particles is therefore an important concern. This issue seems even more important when the transgenes expressed for experimental purposes include oncogenic sequences.

HB-EGF is a paracrine growth stimulator for early tumor prestages in inflammation-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background/aims: We studied the impact of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) on inflammation-driven hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: HB-EGF expression was determined by qRT-PCR and immunodetection in hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma and in mesenchymal (MC) and parenchymal liver cells obtained from different models of inflammation. The functions of HB-EGF in early hepatocarcinogenesis were assessed in co-cultures of unaltered and initiated/premalignant hepatocytes.

The activin axis in liver biology and disease.

Activins are a closely related subgroup within the TGFbeta superfamily of growth and differentiation factors. They consist of two disulfide-linked beta subunits. Four mammalian activin beta subunits termed beta(A), beta(B), beta(C), and beta(E), respectively, have been identified.

Deregulation of the activin/follistatin system in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background/aims: Activins A and E negatively regulate hepatic cell number by inhibiting cell replication and inducing apoptosis. Follistatin and follistatin-like 3 bind activins and antagonise their biological activities. Aim of our study was to investigate, whether activins and follistatins may play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Gallic acid inhibits ribonucleotide reductase and cyclooxygenases in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Gallic acid (GA) is a naturally occurring polyhydroxyphenolic compound and an excellent free radical scavenger. In this study, we examined its cytotoxic and biochemical effects on the human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line. GA caused a significant imbalance of deoxynucleosidetriphosphate (dNTP) pool sizes, indicating ribonucleotide reductase inhibition.

Immunologic and biochemical effects of the fermented wheat germ extract Avemar.

Avemar (MSC) is a nontoxic fermented wheat germ extract demonstrated to have antitumor effects. Avemar has the potential to significantly improve the survival rate in patients suffering from malignant colon tumors. We studied its effects in the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line.