Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Targeting The Mtor Pathway For The Prevention Of Er-Negative Breast Cancer, Abhijit Mazumdar, William M Tahaney, Jamal L Hill, Yun Zhang, Sumankalai Ramachandran, Jitesh Kawedia, Jing Qian, Alejandro Contreras, Michelle I Savage, Lana A Vornik, Shizuko Sei, Altaf Mohammed, Powel H Brown

Student and Faculty Publications

Our results show that everolimus delays mammary tumor formation in multiple mouse models, suggesting that mTOR inhibitors will be useful for the prevention of ER-negative and triple-negative breast cancer in humans. See related Spotlight, p. 787.

Implantation Failure In Female Kiss1-/- Mice Is Independent Of Their Hypogonadic State And Can Be Partially Rescued By Leukemia Inhibitory Factor., Michele Calder, Yee-Ming Chan, Renju Raj, Macarena Pampillo, Adrienne Elbert, Michelle Noonan, Carolina Gillio-Meina, Claudia Caligioni, Nathalie G Bérubé, Moshmi Bhattacharya, Andrew J Watson, Stephanie B Seminara, Andy V Babwah

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

The hypothalamic kisspeptin signaling system is a major positive regulator of the reproductive neuroendocrine axis, and loss of Kiss1 in the mouse results in infertility, a condition generally attributed to its hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. We demonstrate that in Kiss1(-/-) female mice, acute replacement of gonadotropins and estradiol restores ovulation, mating, and fertilization; however, these mice are still unable to achieve pregnancy because embryos fail to implant. Progesterone treatment did not overcome this defect. Kiss1(+/-) embryos transferred to a wild-type female mouse can successfully implant, demonstrating the defect is due to maternal factors. Kisspeptin and its receptor are expressed in the mouse …

A Common Human Beta Globin Splicing Mutation Modeled In Mice., J. Lewis, Baoli Yang, R. Kim, H. Sierakowska, R. Kole, O. Smithies, N. Maeda

Baoli Yang

The betaIVS-2-654 C-->T mutation accounts for approximately 20% of beta thalassemia mutations in southern China; it causes aberrant RNA splicing and leads to beta0 thalassemia. To provide an animal model for testing therapies for correcting splicing defects, we have used the "plug and socket" method of gene targeting in murine embryonic stem cells to replace the two (cis) murine adult beta globin genes with a single copy of the human betaIVS-2-654 gene. No homozygous mice survive postnatally. Heterozygous mice carrying this mutant gene produce reduced amounts of the mouse beta globin chains and no human beta globin, and have …

A Mouse Model For Beta 0-Thalassemia., Baoli Yang, S. Kirby, J. Lewis, P. Detloff, N. Maeda, O. Smithies

Baoli Yang

We have used a "plug and socket" targeting technique to generate a mouse model of beta 0-thalassemia in which both the b1 and b2 adult globin genes have been deleted. Mice homozygous for this deletion (Hbbth-3/Hbbth-3) die perinatally, similar to the most severe form of Cooley anemia in humans. Mice heterozygous for the deletion appear normal, but their hematologic indices show characteristics typical of severe thalassemia, including dramatically decreased hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell counts, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, as well as dramatically increased reticulocyte counts, serum bilirubin concentrations, and red cell distribution …

Effects Of Bevacizumab In Mouse Model Of Endometrial Cancer: Defining The Molecular Basis For Resistance, S. Davies, Donghai Dai, G. Pickett, K. Thiel, V. Korovkina, Kimberly Leslie

Donghai Dai

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent gynecologic cancer in women. Long-term outcomes for patients with advanced stage or recurrent disease are poor. Targeted molecular therapy against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors constitute a new therapeutic option for these patients. The goal of our study was to assess the potential effectiveness of inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR signaling in a xenograft model of endometrial cancer using bevacizumab (Avastin, a humanized antibody against VEGFA). We also aimed to identify molecular markers of sensitivity or resistance to this agent. We show that bevacizumab retards tumor growth in athymic mice by inhibiting …

Mrna Expression In Rabbit Experimental Aneurysms: A Study Using Gene Chip Microarrays, W. Mangrum, F. Farassati, R. Kadirvel, C. Kolbert, S. Raghavakaimal, Donghai Dai, Y. Ding, D. Grill, V. Khurana, D. Kallmes

Donghai Dai

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The molecular characteristics of intracranial aneurysms are still poorly documented. A rabbit elastase aneurysm model has been helpful in the evaluation of devices and strategies involved in endovascular treatment of aneurysms. The goal of this project was to document the molecular changes, assessed by gene chip microarrays, associated with the creation of aneurysms in this model compared with the contralateral carotid artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A microarray of rabbit genes of interest was constructed using rabbit nucleotide sequences from GenBank. Elastase-induced saccular aneurysms were created at the origin of the right common carotid artery in 4 rabbits. …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist In A Rabbit Model Of Ascending Infection In Pregnancy., R. Mcduffie, J. Davies, Kimberly Leslie, S. Lee, M. Sherman, R. Gibbs

Kimberly K. Leslie

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1-ra) would affect amniotic fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and prostaglandins or clinical or microbiological outcomes in a model of ascending bacterial infection in pregnancy. METHODS: Timed pregnant New Zealand white rabbits at 70% of gestation underwent endoscopic inoculation of the cervices with 10(6) - 10(7) cfu Escherichia coli. Animals were randomly assigned in a blinded manner to a 5-h intravenous infusion of human IL1-ra (10 mg/kg) or placebo beginning 1-2 h after inoculation. Blood was drawn from the does for assay of serum IL1-ra concentration before inoculation, …

Effects Of Bevacizumab In Mouse Model Of Endometrial Cancer: Defining The Molecular Basis For Resistance, S. Davies, Donghai Dai, G. Pickett, K. Thiel, V. Korovkina, Kimberly Leslie

Kimberly K. Leslie

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent gynecologic cancer in women. Long-term outcomes for patients with advanced stage or recurrent disease are poor. Targeted molecular therapy against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors constitute a new therapeutic option for these patients. The goal of our study was to assess the potential effectiveness of inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR signaling in a xenograft model of endometrial cancer using bevacizumab (Avastin, a humanized antibody against VEGFA). We also aimed to identify molecular markers of sensitivity or resistance to this agent. We show that bevacizumab retards tumor growth in athymic mice by inhibiting …

25(Oh)D3 And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Female Nonhuman Primates., Matthew J Jorgensen, Lawrence L Rudel, Matthew Nudy, Jay R Kaplan, Thomas B Clarkson, Nicholas M Pajewski, Peter F Schnatz

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

OBJECTIVE: To determine if interindividual differences in plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) have pathophysiologic significance, we evaluated a cohort of female monkeys, seeking to identify associations with clinically relevant cardiovascular risk factors, including age, abdominal obesity (waist circumference), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

METHODS: One hundred fifty-five female vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) aged 3-25 years consumed a typical western diet for 7-8 weeks that provided a woman's equivalent of approximately 1000 IU/day of vitamin D(3). Measurements of vitamin D(3) and HDL-C concentrations, as well as waist circumference, were obtained.

RESULTS: Among young monkeys (aged 3-5 years), compared to …

Enhanced Estrogen-Induced Proliferation In Obese Rat Endometrium, Qian Zhang, Qi Shen, Joseph Celestino, Michael R Milam, Shannon N Westin, Robin A Lacour, Larissa A Meyer, Gregory L Shipley, Peter J A Davies, Lei Deng, Adrienne S Mccampbell, Russell R Broaddus, Karen H Lu

Faculty and Staff Publications

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that the proliferative estrogen effect on the endometrium is enhanced in obese vs lean animals.

STUDY DESIGN: Using Zucker fa/fa obese rats and lean control, we examined endometrial cell proliferation and the expression patterns of certain estrogen-regulated proproliferative and antiproliferative genes after short-term treatment with estradiol.

RESULTS: No significant morphologic/histologic difference was seen between the obese rats and the lean rats. Estrogen-induced proproliferative genes cyclin A and c-Myc messenger RNA expression were significantly higher in the endometrium of obese rats compared with those of the lean control. Expression of the antiproliferative gene p27Kip1 was suppressed …

Preimplantation Embryo Programming: Transcription, Epigenetics, And Culture Environment., Veronique Duranthon, Andrew J Watson, Patrick Lonergan

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

Preimplantation development directs the formation of an implantation- or attachment-competent embryo so that metabolic interactions with the uterus can occur, pregnancy can be initiated, and fetal development can be sustained. The preimplantation embryo exhibits a form of autonomous development fueled by products provided by the oocyte and also from activation of the embryo's genome. Despite this autonomy, the preimplantation embryo is highly influenced by factors in the external environment and in extreme situations, such as those presented by embryo culture or nuclear transfer, the ability of the embryo to adapt to the changing environmental conditions or chromatin to become reprogrammed …