an-unbiased-approach-of-sampling-tem-sections-in-neuroscience

An Unbiased Approach of Sampling TEM Sections in Neuroscience

Investigations of the ultrastructural features of neurons and their synapses are only possible with electron microscopy. Especially for comparative ...

Medical University of Graz

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Dysregulation of protein synthesis plays a major role in carcinogenesis, a process regulated at multiple levels, including translation of mRNA into proteins. Ribosome assembly requires correct association of ribosome subunits, which is ensured by eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). eIFs have become targets in cancer therapy studies, and promising data on eIF6 in various cancer entities have been reported. Therefore, we hypothesised that eIF6 represents a crossroad for pulmonary carcinogenesis. High levels of eIF6 are associated with shorter patient overall survival in adenocarcinoma (ADC), but not in squamous cell carcinoma (SQC) of the lung. We demonstrate significantly higher protein expression of eIF6 in ADC and SQC than in healthy lung tissue based on immunohistochemical data from tissue microarrays (TMAs) and on fresh frozen lung tissue. Depletion of eIF6 in ADC and SQC lung cancer cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Knockdown of eIF6 led to pre-rRNA processing and ribosomal 60S maturation defects. Our data indicate that eIF6 is upregulated in NSCLC, suggesting an important contribution of eIF6 to the development and progression of NSCLC and a potential for new treatment strategies against NSCLC.

Influence of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 on non-small cell lung cancer development and progression.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) represents a malignant tumor of the biliary tract including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and the carcinoma of the gallbladder (GBC) with a 5-year survival rate between 5 and 18% due to late diagnosis and rapid disease progression. Chronic inflammation is one of the main risk factors for CCA and GBC in particular. IL-6, as a mediator of inflammation, can act through a membrane-bound receptor alpha-chain (mIL-6R, "IL-6 classic signaling") or via soluble forms (sIL-6R, "IL-6 trans-signaling"). However, little is known about the impact on cellular responses of IL-6 trans-signaling on BTC. We analyzed primary tumors as whole sections and as tissue microarrays, and also searched The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Compared to non-neoplastic, non-inflamed gallbladder tissue, IL-6Rα was downregulated in GBC, and this correlated with the patients' overall survival. Furthermore, different CCA cell lines and compounds for activation (IL-6 and Hyper-IL-6) or inhibition (Tocilizumab and sgp130Fc) of IL-6 classic signaling and trans-signaling were used to determine their effects on cellular processes between the two modes of IL-6 signaling. Inhibition of IL-6 trans-signaling by sgp130Fc reduced CCA cell line viability and apoptosis, whereas migration and proliferation were increased. We conclude that IL-6Rα expression is a good prognostic marker for GBC, and that the blocking of IL-6 trans-signaling and activation of IL-6 classic signaling have tumor promoting activity. These findings warrant the exclusion of patients with GBC or other malignancies associated with bile metabolism from IL-6R inhibitor therapy.

Pharmacologic IL-6Rα inhibition in cholangiocarcinoma promotes cancer cell growth and survival.

R-DIM-P-LF11-322 and DIM-LF11-318, derived from the cationic human host defense peptide lactoferricin show antitumor activity against human melanoma. While R-DIM-P-LF11-322 interacts specifically with cancer cells, the non-specific DIM-LF11-318 exhibits as well activity against non-neoplastic cells. Recently we have shown that cancer cells expose the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, while non-cancer cells just expose zwitterionic or neutral lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) or cholesterol. Calorimetric and zeta potential studies with R-DIM-P-LF11-322 and cancer-mimetic liposomes composed of PS, PC and cholesterol indicate that the cancer-specific peptide interacts specifically with PS. Cholesterol, however, reduces the effectiveness of the peptide. The non-specific DIM-LF11-318 interacts with PC and PS. Cholesterol does not affect its interaction. The dependence of activity of R-DIM-P-LF11-322 on the presence of exposed PS was also confirmed in vitro upon PS depletion of the outer leaflet of cancer cells by the enzyme PS-decarboxylase. Further corresponding to model studies, cholesterol depleted melanoma plasma membranes showed increased sensitivity to R-DIM-P-LF11-322, whereas activity of DIM-LF11-318 was unaffected. Microscopic studies using giant unilamellar vesicles and melanoma cells revealed strong changes in lateral distribution and domain formation of lipids upon addition of both peptides. Whereas R-DIM-P-LF11-322 enters the cancer cell specifically via PS and reaches an intracellular organelle, the Golgi, inducing mitochondrial swelling and apoptosis, DIM-LF11-318 kills rapidly and non-specifically by lysis of the plasma membrane. In conclusion, the specific interaction of R-DIM-P-LF11-322 with PS and sensitivity to cholesterol seem to modulate its specificity for cancer membranes.

Christina Wodlej

Institute of Pathology

Medical University of Graz

An Unbiased Approach of Sampling TEM Sections in Neuroscience

Christina Wodlej

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Institute of Pathology

Medical University of Graz

An Unbiased Approach of Sampling TEM Sections in Neuroscience

Institute of Pathology