Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase/murine protein serine-threonine kinase 38 is a promising therapeutic target for multiple cancers.

To identify genes that could serve as targets for novel cancer therapeutics, we used a bioinformatic analysis of microarray data comparing gene expression between normal and tumor-derived primary human tissues. From this approach, we have found that maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (Melk), a member of the AMP serine/threonine kinase family, exhibits multiple features consistent with the potential utility of this gene as an anticancer target. An oligonucleotide microarray analysis of multiple human tumor samples and cell lines suggests that Melk expression is frequently elevated in cancer relative to normal tissues, a pattern confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting of selected primary tumor samples.

Interleukin 17 induced nitric oxide suppresses matrix synthesis and protects cartilage from matrix breakdown.

Objective: To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in basal and cytokine induced cartilage matrix breakdown and synthesis across different species and in chondrocytes cultured as isolated cells or as tissue explants.

Methods: Articular cartilage from bovine, porcine, or human joints was cultured as explants in serum-free media. Explants or monolayer cultures of primary chondrocytes were treated with cytokines in the absence or presence of inhibitors [antibodies to leukemia inhibitory factor (anti-LIF) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha, dexamethasone, or inhibitors of aggrecanase or NO synthase].