epidermal-growth-factor and Intestinal-Neoplasms

The cells populating the intestinal crypts are part of a dynamic tissue system which involves the self-renewal of stem cells, a commitment to proliferation, lineage-specific differentiation, movement and cell death. Our knowledge of these processes is limited, but even now there are important clues to the nature of the regulatory systems, and these clues are leading to a better understanding of intestinal cancers. Few intestinal-specific markers have been described; however, homeobox genes such as cdx-2 appear to be important for morphogenic events in the intestine. There are several intestinal cell surface proteins such as the A33 antigen which have been used as targets for immunotherapy. Many regulatory cytokines (lymphokines or growth factors) influence intestinal development: enteroglucagon, IL-2, FGF, EGF family members. In conjunction with cell-cell contact and/or ECM, these cytokines lead to specific differentiation signals. Although the tissue distribution of mitogens such as EGF, TGF alpha, amphiregulin, betacellulin, HB-EGF and cripto have been studied in detail, the physiological roles of these proteins have been difficult to determine. Clearly, these mitogens and the corresponding receptors are involved in the maintenance and progression of the tumorigenic state. The interactions between mitogenic, tumour suppressor and oncogenic systems are complex, but the tumorigenic effects of multiple lesions in intestinal carcinomas involve synergistic actions from lesions in these different systems. Together, the truncation of apc and activation of the ras oncogene are sufficient to induce colon tumorigenesis. If we are to improve cancer therapy, it is imperative that we discover the biological significance of these interactions, in particular the effects on cell division, movement and survival.

Topics: Animals; Cell Division; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Epidermal Growth Factor; Genes, APC; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Lymphokines; Mice; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Although mucoactive proteins, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), could improve clinical outcomes of intestinal ulcerative diseases, their gastrointestinal application is limited because of their proteolytic digestion or concerns about tumor promotion. In the present study, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-linked secretion of human EGF from probiotic Escherichia coli (EGF-EcN) was created to promote beneficial actions of the EGF receptor, which is notably attenuated in patients with intestinal ulcerative injuries. Preventive and postinjury treatment with EGF-EcN alleviated intestinal ulcers and other readouts of disease severity in murine intestinal ulcer models. EGF-EcN administration promoted the restitutive recovery of damaged epithelial layers, particularly via upward expansion of highly proliferating progenitor cells from the lower crypts. Along with the epithelial barrier benefit, EGF-EcN improved goblet cell-associated mucosal integrity, which controls the access of luminal microbiota to the underlying host tissues. Despite concern about the oncogenic action of EGF, EGF-EcN did not aggravate colitis-associated colon cancer; instead, it alleviated protumorigenic activities and improved barrier integrity in the lesions. All findings indicate that probiotic bacteria-based precision delivery of human EGF is a promising mucosal intervention against gastrointestinal ulcers and malignant distress through crypt-derived barrier restoration.

Topics: Animals; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Delivery Systems; Epidermal Growth Factor; Escherichia coli; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Probiotics; Ulcer

Ligand-dependent activation of Notch signaling is required to maintain the stem-cell niche of normal intestinal epithelium. However, the precise role of Notch signaling in the maintenance of the intestinal tumor stem cell niche and the importance of the RBPJ-independent non-canonical pathway in intestinal tumors remains unknown. Here we show that Notch signaling was activated in LGR5

Topics: Adenoma; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; Animals; Cell Proliferation; Epidermal Growth Factor; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Silencing; Intestinal Neoplasms; Jagged-1 Protein; Ligands; Mice; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Notch; Signal Transduction; Stem Cells

To investigate the role that the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which includes sonic hedgehog (Shh), Patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo) and Gli-1, plays in human gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).. Surgically resected specimens from patients with GISTs, leiomyomas and schwannomas were examined by immunohistochemical staining for aberrant expression of hedgehog signaling components, Shh, Ptc, Smo and Gli-1, respectively.. In GISTs, 58.1% (18 of 31), 77.4% (24 of 31), 80.6% (25 of 31) and 58.1% (18 of 31) of the specimens stained positive for Shh, Ptc, Smo and Gli-1, respectively. In leiomyomas, 92.3% (12 of 13), 92.3% (12 of 13), 69.2% (9 of 13) and 92.3% (12 of 13) stained positive for Shh, Ptc, Smo and Gli-1, respectively. In schwannomas, 83.3% (5 of 6), 83.3% (5 of 6), 83.3% (5 of 6) and 100% (6 of 6) stained positive for Shh, Ptc, Smo and Gli-1, respectively. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expressions of Shh and Gli-1 were significantly higher in leiomyomas than in GISTs (P < 0.05, respectively). Shh expression strongly correlated with the grade of tumor risk category and with tumor size (P < 0.05, respectively). However, the expressions of Ptc and Smo did not correlate with histopathological differentiation.. These results suggest that the Hh signaling pathway may play an important role in myogenic differentiation and the malignant potential of human intestinal stromal tumors.

Topics: Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Epidermal Growth Factor; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Hedgehog Proteins; Humans; Intestinal Neoplasms; Leiomyoma; Neurilemmoma; Patched Receptors; Prognosis; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Signal Transduction; Smoothened Receptor; Transcription Factors; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

ADAM9 is a membrane-anchored metalloprotease that is markedly up-regulated in several human carcinomas. Here, we show that ADAM9 is similarly up-regulated in mouse models for prostate, breast, and intestinal carcinoma. To assess whether ADAM9 is critical for the pathogenesis of prostate carcinoma, one of the most common cancers in men, we evaluated how loss of ADAM9 affects tumorigenesis in W(10) mice, a mouse model for this disease. In the absence of ADAM9, most tumors in 50-week-old W(10) mice were well differentiated, whereas littermate controls expressing wild-type ADAM9 had predominantly poorly differentiated, and in some cases significantly larger, tumors. Moreover, gain-of-function experiments in which ADAM9 was overexpressed in mouse prostate epithelium resulted in significant abnormalities, including epithelial hyperplasia at 4 to 6 months of age, and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia after 1 year. A potential underlying mechanism for the role of ADAM9 in prostate cancer emerged from cell-based assays: ADAM9 can cleave and release epidermal growth factor and FGFR2iiib from cells, both of which have pivotal functions in the pathogenesis of this disease. Taken together, these results suggest that ADAM9 contributes to the pathogenesis of prostate cancer and potentially also other carcinomas, raising the possibility that ADAM9 might be a good target for antitumor drugs.

Topics: ADAM Proteins; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; In Situ Hybridization; Intestinal Neoplasms; Male; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Prostatic Neoplasms; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; RNA, Messenger; Up-Regulation

Epiregulin, an epidermal growth factor family member, acts as a local signal mediator and shows dual biological activity, stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts, hepatocytes, smooth muscle cells, and keratinocytes while inhibiting the growth of several tumor-derived epithelial cell lines. The epiregulin gene (Ereg) is located on mouse chromosome 5 adjacent to three other epidermal growth factor family members, epigen, amphiregulin, and betacellulin. Gene targeting was used to insert a lacZ reporter into the mouse Ereg locus and to ablate its function. Although epiregulin is broadly expressed and regulated both spatially and temporally, Ereg null mice show no overt developmental defects, reproductive abnormalities, or altered liver regeneration. Additionally, in contrast to previous hypotheses, Ereg deficiency does not alter intestinal cancer susceptibility, as assayed in the ApcMin model, despite showing robust expression in developing tumors. However, Ereg null mice are highly susceptible to cancer-predisposing intestinal damage caused by oral administration of dextran sulfate sodium.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cell Line; Colon; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epiregulin; Epithelial Cells; Gene Targeting; Genes, Reporter; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Liver Regeneration; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Tissue Distribution

The BAH genomic locus encodes three distinct proteins: junctin, humbug, and BAH. All three proteins share common exons, but differ significantly based upon the use of alternative terminal exons. The biological roles of BAH and humbug and their functional relationship to junctin remain unclear. To evaluate the role of BAH in vivo, the catalytic domain of BAH was specifically targeted such that the coding regions of junctin and humbug remained undisturbed. BAH null mice lack measurable BAH protein in several tissues, lack aspartyl beta-hydroxylase activity in liver preparations, and exhibit no hydroxylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain of clotting Factor X. In addition to reduced fertility in females, BAH null mice display several developmental defects including syndactyly, facial dysmorphology, and a mild defect in hard palate formation. The developmental defects present in BAH null mice are similar to defects observed in knock-outs and hypomorphs of the Notch ligand Serrate-2. In this work, beta-hydroxylation of Asp residues in EGF domains is demonstrated for a soluble form of a Notch ligand, human Jagged-1. These results along with recent reports that another post-translational modification of EGF domains in Notch gene family members (glycosylation by Fringe) alters Notch pathway signaling, lends credence to the suggestion that aspartyl beta-hydroxylation may represent another post-translational modification of EGF domains that can modulate Notch pathway signaling. Previous work has demonstrated increased levels of BAH in certain tumor tissues and a role for BAH in tumorigenesis has been proposed. The role of hydroxylase in tumor formation was tested directly by crossing BAH KO mice with an intestinal tumor model, APCmin mice. Surprisingly, BAH null/APCmin mice show a statistically significant increase in both intestinal polyp size and number when compared with BAH wild-type/APCmin controls. These results suggest that, in contrast to expectations, loss of BAH catalytic activity may promote tumor formation.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Catalytic Domain; Epidermal Growth Factor; Exons; Female; Hydroxylation; Incidence; Intestinal Neoplasms; Male; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Receptors, Notch

We investigated whether a relationship exists in terms of growth pattern and hormone sensitivity in 18 gastrointestinal neoplastic cell lines. Hormones studied included gastrin, epidermal growth factor, estradiol and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.. The growth patterns were assessed by means of computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei combined with the mathematical Delaunay triangulation and Voronoi paving techniques. This methodology enabled four variables characterizing the cell colony patterns to be computed. The information contributed by these variables was analyzed by means of discriminant analysis and the decision tree technique.. Each phenotype (sensitivity level) exhibited distinct growth pattern (or cell colony) characteristics in the case of each hormone and/or growth factor under study. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the gastrointestinal cell lines to a given hormone (or growth factor) appeared to be peculiar to the hormone (or growth factor).. A direct relationship seems to exist between growth pattern and hormone sensitivity levels in gastrointestinal cancers, particularly colorectal.

Topics: Cell Count; Cell Division; Decision Trees; Discriminant Analysis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Estradiol; Gastrins; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Intestinal Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured

It has been established for the first time that in extracts of the regenerating and preneoplastic (4 months after the beginning of carcinogen introduction) intestine as well as in the peritumor tissue the content of EPR-similar polypeptides and insulin raises, whereas in tumours it remains not high. Proteins with molecular weight greater than 120 kD able to compete with 125I-EPR for the binding with the receptors of EPR and being, evidently, the precursors of EPP are found in case of carcinogenesis. Besides, the content of insulin receptors rises, this process being most typical of the large intestine.

Topics: Animals; Chromatography, Gel; Electrophoresis; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Insulin; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Male; Precancerous Conditions; Protein Precursors; Rats; Receptor, Insulin; Regeneration

The production of EGF and EGF-like polypeptides in the normal intestinal mucosa and during 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced carcinogenesis and postresection regeneration was studied in albino rats using chromatographic separation of acid-ethanol extracts. Fractions after gel filtration on Biogel P-60 with subsequent reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in acetonitrile gradient were tested in radioreceptor assay for competition with EGF. It has been established that intestinal tumours induced by DMH and regenerating intestinal mucosa have amplified production of EGF--alpha-TGF and related proteins of high molecular weight (approx. 30; 45-55; 120 kD) with the EGF-competitive activity. It is supposed that the high molecular weight EGF-competitive material represents nonprocessed forms of EGF and/or alpha-TGF which are accumulated in rapidly proliferating low-differentiated cells due to the intensified expression of their genes.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Animals; Carcinogens; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dimethylhydrazines; Epidermal Growth Factor; Hyperplasia; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Intestine, Small; Male; Methylhydrazines; Molecular Weight; Peptide Biosynthesis; Peptides; Rats; Regeneration; Time Factors

The radioimmunological and radioreceptor methods have been used to show that sialadenectomy leads to the stable decrease of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in saliva and blood serum. The mean number of colon tumours per rat was significantly lower among the rats which had been sialadenectomized before injections of the carcinogen, than in the control. But a sharp stimulation of carcinogenesis in the duodenal mucosa was observed after sialadenectomy. The production of the alpha-transforming growth factor with the EGF-competing activity for the EGF-receptors was found in the chemically-induced rat colon tumours.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Dimethylhydrazines; Epidermal Growth Factor; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Neoplasms; Male; Peptides; Rats; Submandibular Gland; Transforming Growth Factors

Using the Scatchard analysis of 125J-EGF binding it was shown that plasma membranes of gastric and small intestinal epithelial cells contain approximately 20 times less EGF-receptors (EGF-R) than liver cells. Investigation of the phosphorylation activity of EGF-R-kinase was performed in vitro on plasma membranes from intestine, intestinal tumours and liver cells. The main protein phosphorylated at tyrosine in the tumours was p34 but the intensity of EGF-R autophosphorylation and its total protein-tyrosine kinase activity were reduced (as compared with small-intestinal and liver cell membranes). In the tumours of the colon induced by DMH an increased binding of 125J-EGF has been observed as compared with normal colonic enterocytes and increased number of EGF-R was clearly demonstrated. Phosphorylation of p34 in the intestinal membranes proceeds much more intensively than that of EGF-R.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Animals; Carcinogens; Cell Membrane; Digestive System; Dimethylhydrazines; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium; ErbB Receptors; Intestinal Neoplasms; Liver; Male; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinases; Rats