Understanding how alterations in growth control pathways are translated into changes in the cell cycle regulatory machinery is a major challenge for understanding the development of human cancers. The ability of both tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and BRCA1, to induce the expression of p21 WAF1/Cip1 in combination with the inhibitory activity of p21 WAF1/Cip1 against cyclindependent kinases suggests that the regulation of p21 WAF1/Cip1 expression is an important aspect of mammalian cell cycle growth control. To elucidate the role of serine/threonine protein phosphatase type 5 (PP5) in processes regulating cell cycle progression, we developed antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted against PP5 (e.g. ISIS 15534) that specifically inhibit PP5 gene expression. Employing ISIS 15534, we demonstrate that the specific inhibition of PP5 gene expression has a marked antiproliferative effect on cells, characterized by induction of p21 WAF1/Cip1 and the subsequent arrest of cell growth. Investigations into the mechanisms leading to growth arrest reveal that, in the absence of PP5, the expression of p21 WAF1/Cip1 is induced in p53-competent A549 cells but not in p53 protein-deficient T-24 cells. Employing a stable cell line derived from p53-deficient human fibroblast that contains tetracycline-regulated transactivator and operator plasmids to control the expression of wild-type p53 (TR9-7 cells), we then show that the induction of p21 WAF1/Cip1 , which occurs in response to the inhibition of PP5 expression, requires the p53 protein. Additional studies indicate that PP5 acts upstream of p53, influencing both the phosphorylation state and the ability of p53 to bind DNA, without causing an increase in p53 gene transcription. Together these studies suggest that PP5 is a regulatory component of a signaling pathway that affords replicating cells G 1 checkpoint growth control and that it is the regulation of PP5 that, in turn, controls p53-mediated expression of p21 WAF1/Cip1 and growth arrest in this pathway. In addition, since the inhibition of PP5 gene expression has marked antiproliferative activity and the overexpression of p21 WAF1/Cip1 blocks the growth of tumor cells, these studies suggest that compounds that inhibit of PP5 gene expression may be useful in the treatment of human cancers.The reversible phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues on proteins is a mechanism utilized by eukaryotic cells to regulate the biological activity of many enzymes, and phosphorylation influences cellular events as diverse as metabolism, signal transduction, and cell cycle progression. Although the kinases involved in these processes are well recognized, the critical contribution of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPases) 1 has only been appreciated more recently (1, 2). Traditionally, mammalian PPases have been grouped into four subtypes (PP1, PP2A, PP2B, and PP2C) based on 1) their biochemical characteristics, 2) their sensitivities to specific inhibitors, and 3) a limited amount of substrate specificity that can be demonst...

Ligand-induced glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation has recently been linked to the inhibition of cell proliferation via the transcriptional induction of p21(WAF1/Cip1), which functions as a universal inhibitor of cyclin-dependent protein kinases. Herein, we identify a Ser/Thr protein phosphatase (PP5) that promotes cellular proliferation by inhibiting both glucocorticoid and p53-mediated signaling pathways leading to p21(WAF1/Cip1)-mediated growth arrest. The suppression of PP5 expression (1) markedly increases the association of GR with its cognate DNA-binding sequence, (2) induces GR transcriptional activity without the addition of hormone, and (3) increases dexamethasone-mediated induction of GR reporter activity to a level that is approximately 10 times greater than the maximal response obtainable in the presence of PP5. PP5 has no apparent effect on the binding of hormone to the GR, and dexamethasone-mediated growth arrest correlates with an increase in p53 phosphorylation. Comparative studies in p53-wild-type, p53-defective, and p53-deficient cell lines indicate that either (1) p53 participates in GR-mediated induction of p21(WAF1/Cip1), with the hyperphosphorylation of basal p53 induced by glucocorticoids sufficient for the propagation of an antiproliferative response when PP5 expression is inhibited, or (2) PP5 acts where p53-mediated and GR-induced signaling networks converge to regulate the transcriptional induction of p21(WAF1/Cip1). Thus, aberrant PP5 expression may have an additive effect on the development of human cancers by promoting cell proliferation via the inhibition of a GR-induced antiproliferative signaling cascade, and facilitating neoplastic transformation via the inhibition of a growth-arresting p53-mediated response that guards against genomic instability.

The clinical implications of abnormal cervical cytology during pregnancy are unclear. Therefore, we performed the present study to determine the role of cervical cytologic screening during pregnancy in association with placental abnormalities and preterm birth. A review of 2,480 cases during 11 years revealed significant correlation of reactive, infectious, atypical, and dysplastic cytologic changes during pregnancy with abnormal placental findings. Also, all but dysplastic cytologic changes were significantly associated with preterm birth. Furthermore, we observed significant association of the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA with preterm birth and placental abnormalities. These findings indicate that cervical infection of HPV is a risk factor for preterm birth and that cervical cytology is an effective tool for screening women for infection and inflammation during pregnancy and predicting pregnancy outcome.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is uncommon in the United States. We report 73 patients with ENKTL, including 49 men and 24 women (median age, 46 y). Sixty-three patients had nasal/upper aerodigestive tract disease; 10 had extranasal disease involving skin, small intestine, epiglottis, testis, adrenal glands, kidney, and breast. Complete staging data were available for 68 patients: 44 stage I/II and 24 stage IV. Fifteen of 69 (22%) had lymphadenopathy and 10/63 had bone marrow involvement. Histologically, 67/73 (92%) showed necrosis, and 48/70 (69%) had an angiocentric/angiodestructive growth pattern. The neoplastic cells showed a wide spectrum: medium sized (n=34), mixed small and large (n=21), large (n=13), and small (n=5). In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA was positive in every case. Immunohistochemical studies showed expression of cytotoxic markers (100%), T-bet (96%), CD2 (96%), CD3 (93%), CD56 (90%), and ETS-1 (64%). Ki-67 was ≥60% in 46% cases. Therapy was known for 64 patients; 14 received only chemotherapy, 8 radiation alone, and 42 received combined radiation and chemotherapy. Median survival was 4.2 years, and 5-year overall survival was 46% (median follow-up, 3.8 y). Extranasal disease, high International Prognostic Index score, and high proliferation rate correlated with poorer prognosis. We conclude that ENKTL cases in the United States are similar to those reported in Asia and other countries. Absence of the angiocentric/angiodestructive pattern and presence of lymphadenopathy, features underemphasized in the literature, occurred in appreciable subsets of patients. The International Prognostic Index score, anatomic site of disease, and proliferation rate had prognostic value in this patient cohort.

Diffuse Large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are the most prevalent of the non-Hodgkin lymphomas and are currently initially treated fairly successfully, but frequently relapse as refractory disease, resulting in poor salvage therapy options and short survival. The greatest challenge in improving survival of DLBCL patients is overcoming chemo-resistance, whose basis is poorly understood. Among the potential mediators of DLBCL chemo-resistance is the thioredxoin (Trx) family, primarily because Trx family members play critical roles in the regulation of cellular redox homeostasis, and recent studies have indicated that dysregulated redox homeostasis also plays a key role in chemoresistance. In this study, we showed that most of the DLBCL-derived cell lines and primary DLBCL cells express higher basal levels of Trx-1 than normal B cells and that Trx-1 expression level is associated with decreased patients survival. Our functional studies showed that inhibition of Trx-1 by small interfering RNA or a Trx-1 inhibitor (PX-12) inhibited DLBCL cell growth, clonogenicity, and also sensitized DLBCL cells to doxorubicin-induced cell growth inhibition in vitro. These results indicate that Trx-1 plays a key role in cell growth and survival, as well as chemoresistance, and is a potential target to overcome drug resistance in relapsed/refractory DLBCL.