• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.87-95
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• 2022

Receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit, a marker found on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), is expressed in Leydig cells, which are testicular interstitial cells. The expression of other ICC markers has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the expression of c-Kit and anoctamin 1 (ANO1), another ICC marker, in mouse testes. In addition, the relationship between c-Kit and ANO1 expression and Leydig cell function was investigated. We observed that c-Kit and ANO1 were predominantly expressed in mouse Leydig cells. The mRNA and protein of c-Kit and ANO1 were expressed in TM3, a mouse Leydig cell line. LH induced an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, membrane depolarization, and testosterone secretion, whereas these signals were inhibited in the presence of c-Kit and ANO1 inhibitors. These results show that c-Kit and ANO1 are expressed in Leydig cells and are involved in testosterone secretion. Our findings suggest that Leydig cells may act as ICCs in testosterone secretion.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.319-324
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• 2019

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are major promising targets in anticancer therapy in human and veterinary medicine. Using immunohistochemistry method, we evaluated the expressionof five types RTK (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β, VEGFR 2, c-Kit and Abl) in the six canine brain tumor samples (2 meningioma, 2 astrocytoma, 1 ependymoma and 1 choroid plexus papilloma). A total of five samples expressed PDGFR-β (5/6), one sample, the choroid plexus papilloma, expressed c-Kit (1/6), and a total of two samples expressed Abl (2/6). None of the samples showed expression of PDGFR-α and VEGFR 2. We demonstrate that a significant portion of canine brain tumors express tyrosine receptors for growth factors and show that these receptors generally localize to tumor cell membranes and the cytoplasm. Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression for the RTKs PDGFR-β, c-Kit, and Alb in canine brain samples reveals an interesting potential for molecular targeting by TKIs in therapeutic studies of canine brain tumors, and more studies will be needed to assess the interactions and efficacy of these RTKs and TKIs. Based on these results, we have some evidence for novel chemotherapeutic trials using TKIs for canine nervous tumors.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.71-75
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• 2007

저자들은 2년 전부터 식사 후에 주로 나타나는 간헐적인 상복부 복통이 있어오다가 한 차례 흑혈변을 보여인근 병원에서 시행한 혈액검사에서 빈혈을 보여 전원된 10세 여아에서 소아에서는 발생이 드물다고 알려진 위에서 발생한 GIST 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고한다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.359-369
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• 2023

Dependence receptors are a group of receptor proteins with shared characteristics of transducing two different signals within cells. They can transduce a positive signal of survival and differentiation in the presence of ligands. On the other hand, dependence receptors can transduce an apoptosis signal in the absence of ligands. The function of these receptors depends on the availability of their ligands. Several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been reported as dependence receptors. When cells undergo apoptosis by dependence receptors, the intracellular domain of some RTKs is cleaved by the caspases. Among the RTKs that belong to dependence receptors, we focused on eight RTKs (RET, HER2, MET, ALK, TrkC, EphA4, EphB3, and c-KIT) that are cleaved by caspases. In this review, we describe the features of the receptors, their cleavage sites, and the fate of the cleaved products, as well as recent implications on them being used as potential therapeutics for cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.15-20
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• 2013

Urinary bladder squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), one of the most common neoplasms in Egypt, is attributed to chronic urinary infection with Schistosoma haematobium (Schistosomiasis). The proto-oncogene c-KIT, encoding a tyrosine kinase receptor and implicated in the development of a number of human malignancies, has not been studied so far in schistosomal urinary bladder SCCs. We therefore determined immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of c-KIT in paraffin sections from 120 radical cystectomies of SCCs originally obtained from the Pathology Department of Suez Canal University (Ismailia, Egypt). Each slide was evaluated for staining intensity where the staining extent of >10% of cells was considered positive. c-KIT overexpression was detected in 78.3% (94/120) of the patients, the staining extents in the tumor cells were 11-50% and >50% in 40 (42.6%) and 54 (57.4%) respectively. The positive cases had 14.9%, 63.8%, 21.3% as weak, moderate and strong intensity respectively. Patients with positive bilharzial ova had significantly higher c-KIT expression than patients without (95.2% vs. 38.9%, P=0.000). Mutation analysis of exons 9-13 was negative in thirty KIT positive cases. The high rate of positivity in SBSCC was one of the striking findings; However, CD117 may be a potential target for site specific immunotherapy to improve the outcome of this tumor.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권11호
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• pp.971-978
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• 2018

The stem cell factor (SCF)/c-KIT axis plays an important role in the hematopoietic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), but its regulatory mechanisms involving microRNAs (miRs) are not fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that supplementation with SCF increases the hematopoietic differentiation of hPSCs via the interaction with its receptor tyrosine kinase c-KIT, which is modulated by miR-221 and miR-222. c-KIT is comparably expressed in undifferentiated human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. The inhibition of SCF signaling via treatment with a c-KIT antagonist (imatinib) during hPSC-derived hematopoiesis resulted in reductions in the yield and multi-lineage potential of hematopoietic progenitors. We found that the transcript levels of miR-221 and miR-222 targeting c-KIT were significantly lower in the pluripotent state than they were in terminally differentiated somatic cells. Furthermore, suppression of miR-221 and miR-222 in undifferentiated hPSC cultures induced more hematopoiesis by increasing c-KIT expression. Collectively, our data implied that the modulation of c-KIT by miRs may provide further potential strategies to expedite the generation of functional blood cells for therapeutic approaches and the study of the cellular machinery related to hematologic malignant diseases such as leukemia.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2003

Objectives: The c-kit gene encodes a transmembrane receptor-type tyrosine kinase, which is known to have a significant role in the normal migration and development of germ cells and melanocytes. In the previous studies of c-kit gene, c-kit expressions showed only in adenoid cystic carcinomas, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas and myoepithelial carcinomas, but not in others and mutation was not found in any types of salivary carcinoma. We investigate the c-kit expression which may be useful to differentiating adenoid cystic carcinomas from others, and mutation of the gene which may not be exist nor the mechanism of c-kit activation in salivary carcinomas. Material and Methods: The archival tissue samples from 42 salivary carcinomas of major and minor salivary glands were studied for c-kit expression by immunohistochemistry and gene mutation by polymerase chain reaction amplification and single strand conformational polymorphism. Results: The c-kit expressions were noted in 22/24 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 7/9 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 2/3 acinic cell carcinomas, 3/4 malignant mixed tumors, and one undifferentiated carcinoma. The mutation of c-kit gene was found in 3/24 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 3/8 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, one acinic cell carcinoma, and 2/4 malignant mixed tumors. Conclusion: c-kit protein overexpression is seen in a variety of salivary gland carcinomas, and the mutation of the gene may be the mechanism of c-kit activation in these neoplasms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2015

Background: c-Kit is a proto-oncogene that encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor (CD117). Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a useful marker for demonstrating thrombocyte function. We aimed to investigate whether c-kit is expressed in benign, preneoplastic and neoplastic endometrial tissues and whether MPV has a relation with c-kit expression and its intensity. Materials and Methods: c-Kit expression was investigated immunohistochemically in 10 samples of normal endometrium (n=10), simple endometrial hyperplasia (5 cases with atypia and 10 cases without atypia), complex endometrial hyperplasia (10 cases with atypia and 10 cases without atypia) and endometrial cancer (EC) (10 cases grade I and 10 cases grade II) and MPV of all cases was checked. Results: c-Kit expression was observed at very low rates in cases with normal endometrial tissues (NE) and in hyperplasia without atypia. c-Kit expression and immunostaining were strong in endometrial atypia and EC. MPV levels of complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia (CAEH) (p:0.002), EC grade I (ECG I) (p<0.001) and EC grade II (ECG II) (p<0.001) were significantly elevated when compared with the NE group. Both c-kit expression and intensity of immunostaining had a positive correlation with MPV level. Conclusions: While c-kit expression and intensity of immunostaining were mildly positive in NE and hyperplasia without atypia, they were clearly observed in EC and hyperplasia with atypia. As c-kit expression is related to the mutagenesis a long-term followup may be needed in these cases. A high MPV level may be a good test for demonstrating c-kit expression and intensity of immunostaining.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.37-41
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• 2011

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) evoke pacemaker activities in many tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interstitial cell and pacemaker activity in the human ureter through the recording of spontaneous contractions. Spontaneous contractions of eight circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips of the human ureter to acetylcholine (ACh) and/or norepinephrine (NE) were observed. Human ureteral strips were divided into proximal and distal groups, and each group was subdivided into circular and longitudinal groups. The proximal group showed spontaneous activities of 3~4 times within 5 minutes in the longitudinal group. ACh ($10^{-4}\;M$) augmented the frequency of the spontaneous contractions. The cumulative application of NE also augmented the frequency in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of NE application were inhibited by concomitant application of $10^{-5}\;M$ glibenclamide. Receptor tyrosine kinase (c-kit) staining revealed abundant ICCs only in proximal tissues. Therefore, spontaneous contractions of the human ureter might be modulated by ICC in the proximal region, and the actions might be related with the activation of cholinergic and/or adrenergic system mediated by a glibenclamide-sensitive pathway.