Productive infection and replication of herpesviruses usually occurs in growth-arrested cells, but there has been no direct evidence in the case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), since an efficient lytic replication system without external stimuli does not exist for the virus. Expression of the EBV lytic-switch transactivator BZLF1 protein in EBV-negative epithelial tumor cell lines, however, is kno...

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are associated with cervical carcinogenesis. This is possibly achieved through an interaction between HPV oncogenic proteins and some cell cycle regulatory genes. However, the exact pathogenetic mechanisms are not well defined yet. METHODS We investigated 110 subjects (43 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC), 38 CIN III, 11 CIN II, 18 C...

OBJECTIVES Whether the ultra-highly-diluted remedies used in homeopathy can effectively bring about modulations of gene expressions through acetylation/deacetylation of histones has not been explored. Therefore, in this study, we pointedly checked if the homeopathically-diluted anti-cancer remedy Condurango 30C (ethanolic extract of Gonolobus condurango diluted 10(-60) times) was capable of arr...

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 are associated with cervical carcinogenesis through an interaction between HPV oncogenic proteins and cell cycle regulatory genes. However, the exact pathogenetic mechanisms are not determined yet. METHODS We investigated 43 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC), 38 CIN III, 11 CINII and 18 CINI for cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK4, p53, mdm-2, p21(w...

We demonstrated previously that loss of in vitro transformation and in vivo tumorigenicity in two independent revertant clones of HeLa cells (designated HA and HF) resulted from dominant-acting genetic changes. Analysis of the p53 tumor suppressor gene revealed stabilization and at least partial restoration of wild-type p53 transactivation properties pathways in both revertants of HPV-induced c...

The Deepwater Horizon blowout resulted in the release of millions of barrels of crude oil. As part of the Trustees' Natural Resource Damage Assessment, a testing program was implemented to evaluate the toxicity of Deepwater Horizon oil and oil/dispersant mixtures to aquatic organisms from the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the variety of exposures that likely occurred, the program included 4 Deepwa...

Alteration of the FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene occurs as an early and frequent event in lung carcinogenesis. FHIT gene transfer into lung cancer cell line H460 lacking Fhit protein expression resulted in reversion of tumorigenicity. To gain insight into the biological function of FHIT, we compared the H460 cell line with its Fhit transfectants (H460/FHIT). A significant inhibition of cel...

Bronchial epithelial cells exposed to allergens typically secrete chemokines to recruit eosinophils. Persistent inflammation and repair responses result in airway remodeling and irreversible airflow limitation. House dust mite (HDM) is a common allergen causing allergic disorders. Thioredoxin (TRX) is a redox protein that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study was to elucidate how ...

A number of studies have shown that tamoxifen increases the sensitivity of several types of solid tumours to cisplatin without increasing the associated side effects. The cellular mechanisms responsible for this increased sensitivity are currently unknown. In this study we have investigated whether tamoxifen alone or in combination with cisplatin could induce apoptosis in head and neck squamous...