Molecular Characterization of Schistosomal Egg Antigen-induced Nucleotide Sequences in Uroepithelial Cells

Abstract

Carcinoma of the bladder, the most common malignant disease in Egypt, has strongly been related to infection with Schistosoma haematobitun. Evidence has shown that schistosoma! egg antigen (SEA) has a significant and specific proliferative effect on htunan urothelial cells. Using differential display reverse transcription analysis (DDRT) of urothelial mRNA, three patterns were noted in response to SEA exposure. The first eDNA pattern showed persistent expression in all SEA concentrations and throughout all time periods. The second revealed downregulation after supplementation of culture with 50 ng/ mi SEA for 96 h, while the third pattern showed upregulation. Two transcript signals that showed prominent and persistent change after exposure to 50 ng/ ml were excised, cloned and sequenced. Sequence data were aligned on gene bank using BLASTN version 2.0.11. The sequence of one transcript had 74 score bits and 86% identity to two delta 2-isopentenyl pyrophosphate transferase gene from E.coli and Shigella flexneri indicating that SEA induced proliferation may entail alterations in mevalonate pathways. The other transcript sequence had 36 score bits and I 00%. identity to ornithine carbamyl transferase sequence. The overall outcome of this study may have the potential to design chemopreventive and! or antittunor agents using the information gained from the biosynthetic imbalance of these two biochemical pathways.