g. the ERVW-1 envelope gene Syncytin-1, essential for placentogenesis, but also deregulated in human tumors. Data concerning ERV expression in the AH and related endocrine tumors are missing. Syncytin-1 protein was analysed in normal AH (n=15) and compared to five PA subtypes (n=117) by immunohistochemistry.

Absolute gene expression of 20 ERV functional envelope genes and ERVW-5 gag was measured. PA tissues were examined for Syncytin-1 and the cAMP signaling marker phospho-CREB-Ser133 using immunohistochemistry. Isolated primary human PA cells were treated with different hormones. Murine embryonic and adult pituitary gland ERV expressions were compared PF-01367338 ic50 to human AH. Syncytin-1 protein co-localised with corticotropic cells of AH. In contrast, all PA demonstrated significant Syncytin-1 protein

overexpression, supporting deregulation. All other ERV genes showed significant up-regulations in different PA subtypes. Phospho-CREB-Ser133 and Syncytin-1 co-localized in PA cells. Cultivated primary PA cells with ACTH or CRH induced their respective receptors and ERV genes. Syncytin-A/-B, murine orthologs to human Syncytin-1/-2, localized to embryonic and adult pituitary glands demonstrating functional mammalian conservation. Deregulated ERV genes may contribute to PA development via cAMP signalling. “
“Autophagy has multiple physiological functions, including protein degradation, organelle KU57788 turnover and the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Because autophagy is implicated in a number of diseases, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of autophagy is needed for therapeutic purposes, including rational design of drugs. Autophagy is a process that occurs in several steps as follows: formation of phagophores, formation of mature autophagosomes, targeting

and trafficking of autophagosomes to lysosomes, formation of autolysosomes by fusion between second autophagosomes and lysosomes, and finally, degradation of the autophagic bodies within the lysosomes. It has been suggested that autophagosome formation is driven by molecular motor machineries, and, once formed, autophagosomes need to reach lysosomes, enriched perinuclearly around the microtubule-organizing centre. While it is recognized that all these steps require the cytoskeletal network, little is known about the mechanisms involved. Here we assessed the role of cytoplasmic dynein in the autophagic process of human glioma cells to determine the part played by dynein in autophagy. We observed that chemical interference with dynein function led to an accumulation of autophagosomes, suggesting impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion. In contrast, we found that overexpression of dynamitin, which disrupts the dynein complex, reduced the number of autophagosomes, suggesting the requirement of the dynein-dynactin interaction in the early membrane trafficking step in autophagosome formation.