Publications by authors named "Megumu Tsujino"

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which is a bioactive phospholipid, interacts with specific G protein-coupled transmembrane receptors. Recently, alterations of LPA receptor genes have been reported in some tumor cells. In this study, we examined the expression profiles and DNA methylation status of LPA receptor 1-5 (LPA1-5) genes in human colon cancer cells and also looked for the mutations.

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Objective: Germ line mutations of the LKB1 gene cause the autosomal dominant Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), and PJS has also been associated with an increased risk of developing cancers, suggesting LKB1 may act as a tumor suppressor in PJS. By contrast, LKB1 mutations are rare events in most sporadic tumors in non-PJS patients, except for lung cancers. To better understand the involvement of LKB1 gene alterations during lung carcinogenesis, we investigated the LKB1 gene mutations and expressions in lung adenocarcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) in rats.

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Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid that stimulates cell proliferation and migration, and protects cells from apoptosis. It interacts with specific G protein-coupled transmembrane receptors. Recently, frequent mutations of the LPA receptor-1 (LPA1) gene were detected in rat lung adenocarcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP).

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To evaluate an involvement of LKB1 gene alteration during pancreatic carcinogenesis, mutations in the LKB1 gene in hamster pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas (PDAs) induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) were investigated. Female Syrian golden hamsters received 30 mg/kg of BOP followed by repeated exposure to an augmentation pressure regimen consisting of a choline-deficient diet combined with DL-ethionine then L-methionine and a further administration of 20 mg/kg BOP. A total of 10 PDAs obtained 10 weeks after beginning the experiment were examined for mutations using reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.

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