Abstract 3248: Over-expression of 1-ACBP, B-ACBP and PBR genes in mast cells infiltrating oesophageal squamous cell tumors

Abstract

Abstract Oesophageal cancer ranks as the sixth most common malignancy in the world, and recent evidence has shown that its incidence is increasing. ACBPs (Acyl-coA binding proteins) act as intracellular carrier-proteins for medium to long chain acyl-coA, mediating fatty acid transport to the mitochondrion for ß-oxidation. ACBPs are also believed to be putative ligands of PBR (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor), and bound to this receptor facilitate mitochondrial membrane permeabilization giving the notion that favours apoptosis. The main aim of the study was to establish the expression patterns of 1-ACBP, B-ACBP, and PBR in oesophageal cancer, and to link their roles with the disease. Probes specific to the genes encoding 1-ACBP, B-ACBP, and PBR were PCR amplified and cloned into pGEM-T easy vectors using gene specific primers. The cloned products were sequenced and screened against the GENBANK database (NCBI) to verify the identity and orientation of cloned products within the vector. Antisense and sense probes were then generated using T7 or SP6 RNA polymerase after digestion with either Pst1 or Apa1, respectively. In situ hybridization and quantitative real-time PCR methods were performed to determine localization and the expression levels of the three genes in oesophageal cancer. All three genes illustrated substantial up-regulation within the malignant tissue sections as compared to normal oesophageal sections, all three transcripts localized specifically to plasma cells and lymphocytes in diseased and normal tissue section. In the diseased tissue B-ACBP and 1-ACBP mRNA localized to endothelial cells of blood vessels in the submucosa. B-ACBP also localized to the nucleus of squamous epithelial cells. PBR localization was indicated in tumour islands of invasive tissue sections. Quantitative RT-PCR also indicated that the expression levels of PBR were higher as compared to the ACBP genes expression in tumours. These results show that 1-ACBP, B-ACBP and PBR play a role in the pathogenesis of oesophageal tumours and also suggest the interaction between these genes with the immune system and that was also confirmed using bioinformatics analysis. Citation Format: Zodwa Dlamini. Over-expression of 1-ACBP, B-ACBP and PBR genes in mast cells infiltrating oesophageal squamous cell tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3248.