Ligand-dependent G protein coupling function of amyloid transmembrane precursor

Amyloid precursor protein (APP), a transmembrane precursor of beta-amyloid, possesses a function whereby it associates with G(o) through its cytoplasmic His657-Lys676. Here we demonstrate that APP has a receptor function. In phospholipid vesicles consisting of baculovirally made APP695 and brain trimeric G(o), 22C11, a monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of APP, increased GTP gamma S binding and the turnover number of GTPase of G(o) without affecting its intrinsic GTPase activity. This effect of 22C11 was specific among various antibodies and was observed neither in G(o) vesicles nor in APP695/Gi2 vesicles. In APP695/G(o) vesicles, synthetic APP66-81, the epitope of 22C11, competitively antagonized the action of 22C11. Monoclonal antibody against APP657-676, the G(o) binding domain of APP695, specifically blocked 22C11-dependent activation of G(o). Therefore, APP has a potential receptor function whereby it specifically activates G(o) in a ligand-dependent and ligand-specific manner.

New cancer strategy - apoptosis based therapy by growth-factors (review)

Both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor type-beta1 (TGF-beta1) have positive and negative growth effects on cell growth. In this review, signal transduction of EGF and TGF-beta1 from their receptor to cell cycle or apoptosis is reviewed and discussed. New evidence that high concentration of EGF induces apoptosis in breast and esophageal cancer in vivo is reported. p53 and RB gene is emphasized as a key gene in induction of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. This review indicates that apoptosis based therapy by EGF and TGF-beta1 is a useful cancer strategy.

Expression of the hepatocyte growth factor gene during chick limb development

It has been shown that mirror-image duplications of the zeugopodia and digits are formed when MRC-5 fibroblasts producing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are applied to the anterior region of the chick limb bud (Yonei et al. [1993] Dev. Biol. 160:246-253). To evaluate the role of HGF in limb development, we observed the expression pattern of the HGF gene using in situ hybridization. The HGF gene was expressed in the mesoderm of the limb bud and in the central core region of mandibular arch and maxillary processes at stages 17 to 24. When both wing and leg buds begin to extend distally, the HGF gene is expressed in the mesenchymal cells, but not in the ectodermal cells and somites. Concomitant with establishment of the apical ectodermal ridge, distal mesenchymal cells of the limb bud express the HGF gene intensely with a gradient higher in the distal region. The HGF expression is later confined to the ventral and subapical mesenchyme of the limb bud, although no signal is detectable in the apical and non-ridge ectoderm. However, signal for the c-met proto-oncogene encoding the HGF receptor is not detectable in the limb bud at stages 17 to 24. These results suggest that HGF produced in the limb mesoderm may be involved in initial induction and maintenance of the apical ectoderm during limb development.

Bidirectional regulation of c-fos promoter by an oncogenic gip2 mutant of G alpha i2. A novel implication of retinoblastoma gene product

G alpha i2 is a tissue-specific proto-oncogene product, whose activated mutant gip2 induces transformation through less defined downstream pathways. We found that c-fos promoter is a target of gip2 in multiple kinds of cells. Serum response element was shown to be the positive enhancer element that mediates gip2-induced c-fos expression. We further demonstrated that gip2 stimulates the negative silencer activity of the retinoblastoma (Rb) control element (RCE) and inhibits the c-fos promoter activity through RCE located in the c-fos promoter region. The effect of gip2 on RCE was shown to be mediated by the Rb gene product (pRb). Furthermore, gip2 augmented underphosphorylated active form of pRb by promoting pRb expression and by affecting the phosphorylation state of pRb. gip2 therefore propagates both positive and negative signals to the c-fos promoter through two different elements, and pRb mediates the negative signal of gip2. We conclude that gip2 has bifunctional roles in transformation which pRb critically regulates. Given that Rat-1 cells, which gip2 can transform, lack the sensitivity to the gip2/pRb-mediated negative pathway, this study provides a novel insight into oncogenesis by gip2 and its tissue specificity.

Prostaglandin E2 inhibits interleukin-6 release but not its transcription in human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Inflammatory mediators produced by human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) have been implicated in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to examine whether prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is produced in abundance from HGF after stimulation with interleukin (IL)-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), could regulate IL-6 production by HGF. HGF stimulated with either IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha showed a rapid and dose-dependent increase in IL-6 mRNA accumulation and IL-6 secretion, as demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and bioassay. IL-6 secretion from either IL-1 beta- or TNF-alpha-stimulated HGF was enhanced by the inhibition of PGE2 synthesis with indomethacin. Furthermore, the addition of PGE2 inhibited IL-6 secretion from these cells. In contrast, indomethacin or PGE2 did not affect the accumulation of IL-6 mRNA in IL-1 beta-stimulated HGF. These data indicate that IL-6 production by HGF is up-regulated by specific cytokines, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, and suggest that this production may be partially down-regulated by endogenous and exogenous PGE2 at the post-transcriptional level.

High-concentration of epidermal growth-factor induces apoptosis in breast and esophageal cancer-cells transplanted into nude-mice

We found that p53 tumor suppressor gene is the key gene that is involved in the signal transduction of the epidermal growth factor (EGF). In this study, we investigated apoptosis induced by high concentration of EGF and modulation of cell cycle progression by high concentration of EGF in breast and esophageal cancer cells transplanted into nude mice. In situ apoptosis detection was performed using Apop Tag(TM) in situ apoptosis detection kit peroxidase. DNA fragmentation analysis was also performed to detect apoptosis. Modulation of cell cycle progression was detected through PCNA immunostaining. Two mu g of EGF induced apoptosis in ES-4 esophageal cancer cells and MX-1 breast cancer cells after increased accumulation of p53 induced by 2 mu g of EGF. At the same time, there was negative PCNA immunostaining in these cells. On the other hand, using UM-1 breast cancer cells, we inhibited p53 expression by 2 mu g of TGF-beta 1 and detected apoptosis and PCNA immunostaining. We detected no apoptosis, however, strong positive PCNA immunostaining was detected in these cells. The evidence demonstrates that high concentration of EGF induces apoptosis in MX-1 human breast cancer and ES-4 human esophageal cancer transplanted into nude mice and indicates that there is a signal pathway of EGF that induces apoptosis.

Cytokine-dependent synergistic regulation of interleukin-8 production from human gingival fibroblasts

Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGF) may have an important role in the orchestration of immuno-participant cells infiltrating the gingiva in response to continuously recurring bacterial infection. To examine the cytokine network regulating HGF-derived interleukin (IL)-8, a potent neutrophil chemotactic cytokine, we analyzed the effects of inflammatory cytokines alone and in combination on IL-8 production by HGF. IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-6, and IL-8 were used as stimulants. HGF secreted IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner after stimulation with either IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha, but not with IFN-gamma or IL-6. Furthermore, IL-8 itself did not affect IL-8 mRNA accumulation in HGF in an autocrine manner. The combination of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha synergistically enhanced the secretion of IL-8, whereas IFN-gamma suppressed IL-8 secretion by IL-1 beta- or TNF-alpha-stimulated HGF. These effects were also observed at each level of IL-8 mRNA expression in HGF. IL-8 secretion by cytokine-stimulated HGF was not influenced by the inhibition of PGE2 synthesis with indomethacin, indicating that endogenous PGE2 was not involved in IL-8 production by HGF. These results indicate that IL-8 production by HGF is synergistically stimulated by specific cytokines, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, and suggest that these stimulatory effects are down-regulated by IFN-gamma at the transcriptional level through PGE2-independent pathways. Thus, neutrophil-mediated processes in periodontal disease may be regulated in part by HGF in the cytokine network of immuno-participant cells.

Improved fold width and increased acid secretion after eradication of the organism in Helicobacter pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis

This study examined the effects of eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on gastric mucosal morphology and acid secretion. Sixteen H pylori positive patients with enlarged gastric body folds were divided into two groups: (a) patients with moderate enlargement (fold width: 6 to 10 mm, n = 8) and (b) patients with severe enlargement (> 10 mm, n = 8). After successful treatment, gastric body fold width was reduced in both groups (p < 0.01) with an associated decrease in inflammatory infiltrates in the body mucosa (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Basal acid output and tetragastrin stimulated maximal acid output (mean (SEM)) in all 16 patients significantly increased from 1.1 (0.5) to 2.9 (0.9) mmol/h (p < 0.05) and from 5.4 (1.3) to 18.7 (2.3) mmol/h (p < 0.01), respectively, with a significant decrease in fasting serum gastrin concentrations, from 127.1 (16.1) to 59.6 (3.8) pg/ml (p < 0.01). The increase in acid secretion after eradication of H pylori was more noticeable in the severe group, who had shown lower acid secretion and higher serum gastrin concentrations (p < 0.05) before eradication, than the increase seen in the moderate group. The decreases in ammonia nitrogen content seen after eradication were significant in basal (from 0.91 (0.17) to 0.37 (0.08) mmol/h, p < 0.05) and stimulated gastric secretions (from 1.57 (0.19) to 0.37 (0.13) mmol/h, p < 0.01), although these changes were too small to explain the increases in basal acid output and maximal acid output. These results suggest that inflammation of the gastric body mucosa caused by H pylori infection is associated with enlarged gastric body folds and inhibition of acid secretion in H pylori positive patients with enlarged gastric body folds.

Molecular basis of leukocyte adhesion molecules in early-onset periodontitis patients with decreased CD11/CD18 expression on leukocytes

We analyzed the cell-cell adherence related to CD11/CD18 and CD18 mRNA in individuals with decreased CD11/CD18 expression on their neutrophil surface. Epstein Barr virus-transformed B cell lines were developed from one localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patient with decreased CD11/CD18 in the peripheral blood neutrophils and without systemic diseases; two siblings with generalized prepubertal periodontitis (GPP) caused by leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD); another LJP patient; one localized prepubertal periodontitis (LPP) patient; and two healthy subjects. Adhesion of leukocytes to each other was measured as cluster formation by aggregation assay. The length and the amount of CD18 mRNA expressed in the cell lines were analyzed by Northern blotting using the 32P-labeled CD18 cDNA. The coding region of the mRNA was analyzed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Base-mismatches between CD18 mRNA and the 32P-labeled RNA probe synthesized from CD18 cDNA were analyzed by RNase protection assay. In the adherence assay, cells from the LJP patients with decreased CD11/CD18 formed more clusters of smaller size and fewer cells than those of the other subjects. The cells from GPP and LAD patients did not aggregate and did not form clusters either in the absence or presence of PMA. There were no differences in the length and the amount of mRNA between the LJP patients and the other subjects, while GPP-LAD patients expressed a small amount of long mRNA. The whole coding region (2,313 base pairs) of all subjects was amplified except for the GPP-LAD patients, and the 5'-region (1,119 base pairs) was amplified from all subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heat shock protein 60 (GroEL) from Porphyromonas gingivalis: molecular cloning and sequence analysis of its gene and purification of the recombinant protein

Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with human periodontal disease. We cloned and sequenced the gene for heat shock protein 60 (GroEL, HSP60) from P. gingivalis FDC381. The identified clone carried a 2.6 kb DNA fragment which contained two open reading frames (ORFs) encoding a 9.6- and a 58.4-kDa protein. The translated amino acid sequence of these ORFs showed a high degree of homology with known sequences for GroES and GroEL from several bacterial species and humans. Escherichia coli carrying this clone expressed a 65-kDa protein which was recognized by anti-Mycobacterium leprae HSP60 monoclonal antibody. We purified the 65-kDa protein by DEAE-sepharose chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography. This protein was immunogenic and was recognized by sera from a number of patients with periodontal disease. This immunological reactivity and the existence of molecular mimicry between the P. gingivalis GroEL and other HSP homologs may indicate an important role for this molecule in periodontal lesion.

An intrinsic guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor in Gi2 alpha. Significance of G-protein self-suppression which antagonizes receptor signal

The alpha subunit of Gi2 (Gi2 alpha) is a member of the heterotrimeric G protein family, which transduces receptor signals as a proto-oncogene product. We have found a novel self-suppressive region in Gi2 alpha near its C terminus. A polypeptide consisting of residues 338-352 of Gi2 alpha (Gi2 alpha-339-352) antagonizes receptor- and receptor peptide-stimulated Gi2 alpha activation, without affecting basal activity. Antagonism by Gi2 alpha-338-352 is attributable to an interaction with activated Gi2 alpha, which is not competitive with receptor polypeptides. Combined with the reports suggesting the presence of self-suppressive domains in a juxta-C-terminal portion of Gi2 alpha and G(o) alpha, this study supports the hypothesis that Gi2 alpha-338-352 constitutes an intrinsic guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor, which in turn antagonizes receptor stimulation, suggesting that G proteins are activated by receptors through relaxation of a self-suppressive conformation.

Unique intronic variations of HLA-DQ beta gene in early-onset periodontitis

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II beta chain plays an important role in the recognition of foreign antigens in immune reactions. Different forms of immune reaction may be concerned with initiation and progression of infectious diseases such as periodontitis. In this study we examined the frequency of HLA class II serotype and the variation of HLA class II beta gene in periodontitis patients. HLA serotypic frequencies in 70 Japanese patients with periodontitis and 26 individuals with periodontal health were examined. No HLA serotype specific to any type of periodontitis was observed. In order to detect differences among some HLA serotypes, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was undertaken with cDNA probes for HLA-DR beta and HLA-DQ beta genes in 20 subjects (15 patients and 5 healthy individuals). Atypical BamHI and EcoRI restriction sites were found in the HLA-DQ beta gene from 3 patients with early-onset periodontitis. In addition to these 20 subjects, an additional 80 subjects (40 patients and 40 healthy individuals) were screened for the atypical BamHI restriction site using the polymerase chain reaction method. It was detected in 7 patients with early-onset periodontitis, 1 patient with adult periodontitis, and 3 healthy subjects. No clinical differences except age were found between patients with this gene variation and other patients. Interestingly, all 3 healthy subjects with this gene variation were from subjects whose family members developed early-onset periodontitis with the gene variation. Atypical BamHI and EcoRI restriction sites and 41-nt repeated sequence were found in the intron before the third exon of HLA-DQB gene. These results suggest that these intronic gene variations may be useful as gene markers for a subpopulation of early-onset periodontitis and might affect immune reactions such as antigen recognition.

The inhibition of interferon-gamma-induced upregulation of HLA-DR expression on cultured human gingival fibroblasts by interleukin-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of inflammatory cytokines on IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression on cultured human gingival fibroblasts by flow cytometry. Natural human IFN-gamma, recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta), and rh tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) were used. IFN-gamma-induced upregulation of HLA-DR expression was inhibited by simultaneously adding rhIL-1 beta or rhTNF-alpha (65.9% and 31.4% inhibition, respectively). Both rhIL-1 beta and rhTNF-alpha induced endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from gingival fibroblasts, while IFN-gamma did not. The inhibitory effect of rhIL-1 beta or rhTNF-alpha on IFN-gamma-induced upregulation of HLA-DR expression was partially abated in the presence of indomethacin (reductions of 65.9% and 41.7%, respectively). Both rhIL-1 beta- and rhTNF-alpha-induced endogenous PGE2 synthesis were completely inhibited by adding indomethacin (P < 0.001). The addition of exogenous PGE2 inhibited the IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression (P < 0.001). These observations suggest that the MCH class II expression on human gingival fibroblasts are influenced by the cytokine network and indirectly by the cytokine-mediated fibroblast PGE2.