Oncolytic H-1 parvovirus binds to sialic acid on laminins for cell attachment and entry.

H-1 parvovirus (H-1PV) is a promising anticancer therapy. However, in-depth understanding of its life cycle, including the host cell factors needed for infectivity and oncolysis, is lacking. This understanding may guide the rational design of combination strategies, aid development of more effective viruses, and help identify biomarkers of susceptibility to H-1PV treatment.

SHOX triggers the lysosomal pathway of apoptosis via oxidative stress.

The SHOX gene encodes for a transcription factor important for normal bone development. Mutations in the gene are associated with idiopathic short stature and are responsible for the growth failure and skeletal defects found in the majority of patients with Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) and Langer mesomelic dysplasia. SHOX is expressed in growth plate chondrocytes where it is supposed to modulate the proliferation, differentiation and cell death of these cells.

Synergistic combination of valproic acid and oncolytic parvovirus H-1PV as a potential therapy against cervical and pancreatic carcinomas.

The rat parvovirus H-1PV has oncolytic and tumour-suppressive properties potentially exploitable in cancer therapy. This possibility is being explored and results are encouraging, but it is necessary to improve the oncotoxicity of the virus. Here we show that this can be achieved by co-treating cancer cells with H-1PV and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) such as valproic acid (VPA).

Retargeting of rat parvovirus H-1PV to cancer cells through genetic engineering of the viral capsid.

The rat parvovirus H-1PV is a promising anticancer agent given its oncosuppressive properties and the absence of known side effects in humans. H-1PV replicates preferentially in transformed cells, but the virus can enter both normal and cancer cells. Uptake by normal cells sequesters a significant portion of the administered viral dose away from the tumor target.

BNP is a transcriptional target of the short stature homeobox gene SHOX.

Short stature due to SHOX deficiency represents a common congenital form of growth failure and is involved in the aetiology of 'idiopathic' short stature and the growth deficits and skeletal anomalies in Leri-Weill, Langer and Turner syndromes. Although much is known on the clinical and molecular aspects of SHOX haploinsufficiency, the integration of SHOX in the signalling pathways regulating bone growth is currently not defined. Here we identify NPPB encoding the natriuretic peptide, BNP, a well-known cardiac and natriuretic peptide hormone, as a transcriptional target of SHOX.

Phosphorylation on Ser106 modulates the cellular functions of the SHOX homeodomain protein.

Mutations within the homeobox SHOX gene have been associated with short stature and the skeletal deformities found in Léri-Weill, Turner and Langer syndromes implying an involvement of SHOX in growth and bone formation. Despite its clinical significance, the precise role of SHOX and the mechanisms that modulate its functions remain unknown. We reported previously that SHOX is a nuclear protein that specifically binds DNA and acts as a transcriptional activator.

Alteration of DNA binding, dimerization, and nuclear translocation of SHOX homeodomain mutations identified in idiopathic short stature and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis.

Haploinsufficiency of the short stature homeobox gene SHOX has been found in patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD). In addition to complete gene deletions and nonsense mutations, several missense mutations have been identified in both patient groups, leading to amino acid substitutions in the SHOX protein. The majority of missense mutations were found to accumulate in the region encoding the highly conserved homeodomain of the paired-like type.

The short stature homeodomain protein SHOX induces cellular growth arrest and apoptosis and is expressed in human growth plate chondrocytes.

Mutations in the homeobox gene SHOX cause growth retardation and the skeletal abnormalities associated with Léri-Weill, Langer, and Turner syndromes. Little is known about the mechanism underlying these SHOX-related inherited disorders of bone formation. Here we demonstrate that SHOX expression in osteogenic stable cell lines, primary oral fibroblasts, and primary chondrocytes leads to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.