Role of phosphodiesterase 2 in growth and invasion of human malignant melanoma cells.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate the intracellular concentrations and effects of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). The role of PDEs in malignant tumor cells is still uncertain. The role of PDEs, especially PDE2, in human malignant melanoma PMP cell line was examined in this study.

A case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in the buccal mucosa: review of the literature.

We present a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma on the right buccal mucosa in a 52-year-old Japanese woman. Based on the histopathology, the excised tumor was the non-invasive type, but the majority of the tumor consisted of poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. We performed proton radiation after the surgery.

A Case of Old Calcifying Epithelioma Processed Symptomless over 40 Years.

Calcifying epithelioma, a benign tumor derived from the hair apparatus and consisted of hair matrix cells, is relatively prevalent in females. We report a case of right preauricular calcifying epithelioma that was incidentally detected at the examination of multiple facial fractures and became an old lesion without symptoms for 40 years. The patient who was a 42-year-old male visited our department for the first time in October 2011 with a chief complaint of multiple facial fractures.

Characterization of phosphodiesterase 2A in human malignant melanoma PMP cells.

The prognosis for malignant melanoma is poor; therefore, new diagnostic methods and treatment strategies are urgently needed. Phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) is one of 21 phosphodiesterases, which are divided into 11 families (PDE1-PDE11). PDE2 hydrolyzes cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP), and its binding to cGMP enhances the hydrolysis of cAMP.

Phosphodiesterase 4 regulates the migration of B16-F10 melanoma cells.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are important regulators of signal transduction processes. Eleven PDE gene families (PDE1-11) have been identified and several PDE isoforms are selectively expressed in various cell types. PDE4 family members specifically hydrolyze cyclic AMP (cAMP).

Bax mRNA therapy using cationic liposomes for human malignant melanoma.

Background: Bax is a pro-apoptotic molecule that functions as a tumor suppressor and Bax gene therapy has been examined for various cancers. Gene transfer by mRNA lipofection is more efficient than plasmid DNA lipofection and, in the present study, we examined the anti-tumor effects in human malignant melanoma cells (HMGs) using Bax mRNA lipofection.

Methods: Bax protein expression, cell growth inhibition, caspase-3 activity and apoptosis were examined in vitro.

A case of submandibular gland mucocele.

Submandibular Gland Mucocele:The mucocele occuring in the submandibular region is rare, most cases originate in the sublingual gland. Here, we report a rare case of mucocele originating in the submandibular gland. In this report, we present such a case in a 7-year-old boy, who was treated by an extirpation of cyst with submandibular and sublingual gland

Bax gene therapy for human osteosarcoma using cationic liposomes in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of human osteosarcoma (HOSM-1) tumor xenografts in nude mice via transfer of the Bax gene using cationic liposomes. The HOSM-1 tumors transplanted into nude mice grew to 5-6 mm in diameter. Following growth of the tumor to this size, liposomes with the Bax plasmid were applied locally to the peripheral tumor (day 0) and were applied 3 times per week for 2 weeks (6 times in total).

Relationship between magnetic resonance imaging and histopathologic findings in thrombosis in the oral and maxillofacial region: a case report.

Histopathologic changes are observed during the clinical course of thrombosis, and the evaluation of such changes by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might enhance the accuracy of qualitative diagnosis of the disease. The relationship between histopathologic and MRI findings in the chronic phase of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that developed in the masseter muscle of a 50-year-old Japanese female patient is described. Two regions with different MRI signal intensities were identified, and a 3-layer structure was observed by microscopy.

G3139 induces cell death by caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis on human melanoma cell lines.

G3139 is an 18-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) which has been targeted on the initiation codon region of the bcl-2 gene. Currently, clinical trials on G3139 for diverse tumors are underway in phase II and phase III. However, basic investigations of bcl-2 antisense ODN (G3139) and reverse ODN (G3622) have not been fully examined.

mHFE7A, a newly identified monoclonal antibody to Fas, induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells in vitro and delays the growth of melanoma xenotransplants.

The Fas receptor is a potentially valuable therapeutic target in cancer treatment. However, the clinical application of antibodies directed to this target is hindered by their serious side effects in vivo, including liver toxicity. One murine monoclonal antibody, mHFE7A, binds both to human Fas and murine Fas, without inducing any obvious side effects.

The influence of oral tumor cell proliferation activity and membrane potential on the transfection efficiency of a cationic liposome.

The transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes varies according to cell type, but the specific cellular characteristics that affect transfection efficiency have not yet been defined. We investigated whether the transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes correlates with cell proliferation activity or cell membrane potential in oral malignant melanoma (HMG) and oral osteosarcoma cell lines (HOSM-1 and HOSM-2). The cell membrane potential was assessed by uptake of a cationic probe.

Experimental therapy using interferon-gamma and anti-Fas antibody against oral malignant melanoma cells.

The Fas/FasL signalling system plays an important role in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in several different cell types. After interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) treatment, we have previously reported a significant increase in Fas expression in oral malignant melanoma cell lines (MMN9, PMP, MAA, HMG) in vitro, and combination therapy using IFN-gamma and anti-Fas antibody (CH-11) has shown a synergistic anti-proliferative effect in MMN9 cells. There have been several in-vitro studies using CH-11, but there are few reports of its anti-tumour effect in vivo.

Antitumor activity of cationic liposome-mediated Bax gene transfer in osteosarcoma cells: induction of apoptosis and caspase-independent cell death.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of osteosarcoma (HOSM-1) cells via transfer of the Bax gene using a cationic liposome. We evaluated the levels of Bax, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and cytochrome c expression by Western blot analysis, and caspase-9 and -3 activities were determined in a colorimetric assay. Apoptosis was detected using a TUNEL assay, and cell growth inhibition was determined in an MTT assay.

p53 gene therapy of human osteosarcoma using a transferrin-modified cationic liposome.

Gene delivery via transferrin receptors, which are highly expressed by cancer cells, can be used to enhance the effectiveness of gene therapy for cancer. In this study, we examined the efficacy of p53 gene therapy in human osteosarcoma (HOSM-1) cells derived from the oral cavity using a cationic liposome supplemented with transferrin. HOSM-1 cells were exposed to transferrin-liposome-p53 in vitro, and the growth inhibition rate, expression of p53 and bax, and induction of apoptosis were measured 48 hours later.

Characterization of the human mandibular osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line HOSM-2 after long-term culture.

We have been subculturing a human mandible-derived osteosarcoma cell line (HOSM-2) for approximately 15 years, and have compared the characters of early generations, which did not exhibit tumorigenicity, to those in the later generations. The shape and doubling time of the cells did not change during long-term culture. The number of chromosomes, however, changed from 59-81 in the 6th generation (modal number: 70) to 54-59 (modal number: 56 and 57), and the chromosomal structure also changed.

Magnetic resonance imaging of synovial proliferation in temporomandibular disorders with pain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical significance of synovial proliferation in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders based on magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Methods: The current study was conducted in 100 joints of 100 patients with unilateral painful temporomandibular disorders. One hundred joints on the contralateral side of patients with unilateral disease were used as nonpain group.

Effect of UV screens and preservatives on vitellogenin and choriogenin production in male medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Ultra violet (UV) screens and preservatives are widely and increasingly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In the present study, we examined the estrogenicity of 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), and propyl paraben (n-propyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate; PP), among UV screens and preservatives, using male medaka (Oryzias latipes), in regard to production of vitellogenin (VTG) and choriogenin (CHG) which are known to be estrogen-responsive gene products. First, using a VTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system, we determined the increase in VTG plasma concentration in medaka due to exposure to 4-MBC, OMC, and PP, and compared this concentration to the non-treated control.

Interferon-gamma and anti-Fas antibody-induced apoptosis in human melanoma cell lines and its relationship to bcl-2 cleavage and bak expression.

Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) has been shown to induce apoptosis through the induction of the Fas antigen in certain cell lines. In this study, we used four melanoma cell lines (MMN9, PMP, MAA and HMG) to study the antiproliferative effect of exogenous IFNgamma treatment, the expression of IFNgamma-induced Fas antigen, and the combined effect of IFNgamma and anti-Fas antibody (CH-11). We also investigated the relationship between Fas-mediated apoptosis and the expression of the bcl-2 family, measured using Western blotting.