Background: Hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrinopathy characterised by the formation of parathyroid tumours. In this study, we determine the role of the recently identified gene, HRPT2, in parathyroid tumorigenesis. Methods: Mutation analysis of HRPT2 was undertaken in 60 parathyroid tumours: five HPT-JT, three FIHP, three MEN 1, one MEN 2A, 25 sporadic adenomas, 17 hyperplastic glands, two lithium associated tumours, and four sporadic carcinomas. Loss of heterozygosity at 1q24-32 was performed on a subset of these tumours. Results: HRPT2 somatic mutations were detected in four of four sporadic parathyroid carcinoma samples, and germline mutations were found in five of five HPT-JT parathyroid tumours (two families) and two parathyroid tumours from one FIHP family. One HPT-JT tumour with germline mutation also harboured a somatic mutation. In total, seven novel and one previously reported mutation were identified. ''Two-hits'' (double mutations or one mutation and loss of heterozygosity at 1q24-32) affecting HRPT2 were found in two sporadic carcinomas, two HPT-JT-related and two FIHP related tumours. Conclusions:The results in this study support the role of HRPT2 as a tumour suppressor gene in sporadic parathyroid carcinoma, and provide further evidence for HRPT2 as the causative gene in HPT-JT, and a subset of FIHP. In light of the strong association between mutations of HRPT2 and sporadic parathyroid carcinoma demonstrated in this study, it is hypothesised that HRPT2 mutation is an early event that may lead to parathyroid malignancy and suggest intragenic mutation of HRPT2 as a marker of malignant potential in both familial and sporadic parathyroid tumours.

Retinoic acid (RA) acts as an anti-proliferative and redifferentiation agent in the therapy of thyroid carcinoma. Our previous studies demonstrated that pretreatment of follicular thyroid carcinoma cell lines FTC-133 and FTC-238 resulted in decreased in vitro proliferation rates and reduced tumor cell growth of xenotransplants. In addition to the previous results, we found that RA led to decreased vitality and invasiveness of FTC-133 and FTC-238 cells as they reacted with reduction of intracellular ATP levels and number of migrated cells respectively. However, the molecular mechanisms by which RA mediates these effects are not well understood. Two-dimensional (2D) screening of the proteins related to ATP metabolism and western blot analysis revealed a-enolase (ENO1) to be down-regulated in FTC-133 and FTC-238 cells after RA treatment. 2D gel detection and mass spectrometric analysis revealed that ENO1 existed as three separate protein spots of distinct pIs (ENO1-A1-A3). Comparative 2D difference gel electrophoresis analysis of fluorescently labeled protein samples of RA-treated and untreated FTC-133 demonstrated a selective down-regulation of ENO1-A1 which we identified as a phosphoprotein. RA caused the dephosphorylation of ENO1-A1. Both, RA-mediated and specific knock-down of ENO1/MBP-1 resulted in the reduction of MYC oncoprotein, and simultaneously decreased proliferation rates of FTC-133 and FTC-238 cell lines. In summary, the RA-mediated down-regulation of the ENO1 gene products and MYC oncoprotein provides a novel molecular mechanism facilitating the anti-proliferative effect of RA in human thyroid carcinoma cells and suggests new pathways for supportive RA therapies.

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) constitute important cells of the pancreatic microenvironment and their close interaction with cancer cells is important in pancreatic cancer. It is currently not known whether PSCs accumulate genetic alterations that contribute to tumor biology. Our aim was to analyze genetic alterations in cancer associated PSCs. PSC DNA was matched to DNA isolated from pancreatic cancer patients’ blood (n = 5) and analyzed by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Bioinformatic analysis was performed using the GATK software and pathogenicity prediction scores. Sanger sequencing was carried out to verify specific genetic alterations in a larger panel of PSCs (n = 50). NGS and GATK analysis identified on average 26 single nucleotide variants in PSC DNA as compared to the matched blood DNA that could be visualized with the Integrative Genomics Viewer. The absence of PDAC driver mutations (KRAS, p53, p16/INK4a, SMAD4) confirmed that PSC isolations were not contaminated with cancer cells. After filtering the variants, using different pathogenicity scores, ten genes were identified (SERPINB2, CNTNAP4, DENND4B, DPP4, FGFBP2, MIGA2, POLE, SNRNP40, TOP2B, and ZDHHC18) in single samples and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. As a proof of concept, functional analysis using control and SERPINB2 knock-out fibroblasts revealed functional effects on growth, migration, and collagen contraction. In conclusion, PSC DNA exhibit a substantial amount of single nucleotide variants that might have functional effects potentially contributing to tumor aggressiveness.

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Background: To generate an in vitro system of the dermal epithelial-mesenchymal interaction we co-cultured HaCaT (keratinocytes) and HEPM (embryonic mesenchyme). This model allowed a local disjunction with preserved cell-cell communication. Methods: For the analysis of different protein expression patterns between co-and pure-cultured HaCaTs we performed 2D-electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Afterwards the mass spectromertically identified protein 14-3-3σ was silenced by siRNA in HaCaT cells. Results: We analyzed 28 spots and found 17 different expressed mainly metabolic and cytoskeletal proteins. Interestingly, stratifin (14-3-3σ), maspin and Profilin-1 (PFN1) were up-regulated, whereas Peroxiredoxin-5 (PRDX5), PDZ-and-LIM-domain-protein-1 (CLIM1) and Annexin A1 (ANXA1) were decreased in co-cultured HaCaTs. The specific knock-down of 14-3-3σ resulted in a down-regulation of RhoA, Rac1/2/3, LIMK1 and phosphorylated cofilin, which are involved in cytoskeleton dynamics. Furthermore, reduction of 14-3-3σ coincided with significantly decreased proliferation rates and levels of Ki67. Conclusions: We concluded that the interaction with mesenchymal cells may initiate the alternation of epidermal precursor cells to differentiated keratinocytes, what was confirmed by the up-regulation of different keratins. Furthermore, 14-3-3σ may influence the proliferation-rate of keratinocytes via Rho GTPases.