We investigated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Q Q (PPARQ Q) and the role of PPARQ Q in cell growth in human gastric cancer cells. Reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction, Northern blot and Western blot analyses showed that a human gastric cancer cell line, MKN45, expressed PPARQ Q mRNA and protein. Luciferase assay in MKN45 cells showed that troglitazone, a selective ligand for PPARQ Q, transactivated the transcription of a peroxisome proliferator response element-driven promoter. Troglitazone or pioglitazone, selective ligands for PPARQ Q, inhibited the growth of MKN45 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Co-incubation of MKN45 cells with troglitazone induced DNA ladder formation. These results suggest that human gastric cancer cells express PPARQ Q and that activation of PPARQ Q inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

We identified a novel member of the Ikaros gene family, which has critical roles in the development of lymphoid lineages. This gene, which we named Eos, was expressed predominantly in the developing central and peripheral nervous system. Eos protein could interact with itself and Ikaros protein through its C-terminal portion in the yeast two hybrid assay. These findings suggested that Eos may have important roles in neural development similarly to the Ikaros family in the development of hemolymphoid tissue.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10)/ uteroglobin (UG) is a nonglycoprotein with a molecular mass of 16 kilodaltons, which is produced by mucosal epithelial cells in the lung (Clara cells), uterus and prostate. Like other low molecular weigh proteins it is catabolized in renal proximal tubules. Structurally it is a homodimer of subunits of 70 amino acids covalently bound in an antiparallel manner. It belongs to secretogobin (SCGB) family and is assigned as subgroup 1A1. The function of the protein so far elucidated is immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory in innate immunity. The knockout mouse of UG gene resulted in aggravation of inflammation by allergic and hyperoxic stimuli. It also showed very similar pathological features with human IgA nephropathy. The value is changed in the lung fluid and serum of various inflammatory and allergic lung diseases. Several kinds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human CC10/UG gene were recently discovered; Adenine allele accumulation in G38A SNP has possible association with asthma and IgA nephropathy, being paralleled with disease severity of IgA nephropathy. Its expression is enhanced by some transcriptional factors induced by cytokines such as interferon-gamma. For cancer cells, the protein functions as an antagonist of neoplastic phenotype. CC10/UG forms one of intra- and intercellular regulators involved in inflammation and malignant transformation in the respiratory and urogenital fields.

Clara cell 10-kD protein (CC10) exhibits potent antiinflammatory properties. G38A polymorphism was found in the CC10 gene. We investigated the genetic influence of the allele on the development of sarcoidosis using case control analysis in a Japanese population (265 sarcoidosis cases and 258 control subjects). The A allele frequency in sarcoidosis cases (45.1%) was significantly higher than healthy control subjects (34.9%, p = 0.0002). According to outcomes, we divided 223 patients with follow-up periods of 3 years or more into two subgroups (55 progressive and 168 regressive disease). The A allele frequency in patients with progressive disease was significantly higher than control subjects (odds ratio = 4.55; 95% confidence interval, 2.97-6.97; p < 0.0001), whereas that of regressive disease was not. The A/A genotypes had significantly lower bronchoalveolar lavage fluid CC10 levels than the G/G (nonsmokers, p = 0.0054, and smokers, p = 0.0045) and G/A genotypes (nonsmokers, p = 0.0022, and smokers, p = 0.0402). The reporter gene assay showed significantly lower reporter activities in the presence of interferon-gamma for the 38A construct than the 38G construct (p = 0.0177). The G38A polymorphism in the CC10 gene may influence protein expression and be associated with the development of progressive sarcoidosis.

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