Cell surface complex of cathepsin B/annexin II tetramer in malignant progression

Mutant K-ras regulates cathepsin B localization on the surface of human colorectal carcinoma cells

Cathepsin B protein and activity are known to localize to the basal plasma membrane of colon carcinoma cells following the appearance of K-ras mutations. Using immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation techniques and two human colon carcinoma cell lines - one with a mutated K-ras allele (HCT 116) and a daughter line in which the mutated allele has been disrupted (HKh-2)-we demonstrate that the localization of cathepsin B to caveolae on the surface of these carcinoma cells is regulated by mutant K-ras. In HCT 116 cells, a greater percentage of cathepsin B was distributed to the caveolae, and the secretion of cathepsin B and pericellular (membrane-associated and secreted) cathepsin B activity were greater than observed in HKh-2 cells. Previous studies established the light chain of annexin II tetramer, p11, as a binding site for cathepsin B on the surface of tumor cells. The deletion of active K-ras in HKh-2 cells reduced the steady-state levels of p11 and caveolin-1 and the distribution of p11 to caveolae. Based upon these results, we speculate that cathepsin B, a protease implicated in tumor progression, plays a functional role in initiating proteolytic cascades in caveolae as downstream components of this cascade (e.g., urokinase plasminogen activator and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) are also present in HCT 116 caveolae.

Cystatin C Antagonizes Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling in Normal and Cancer Cells

Cystatin C (CystC) is a secreted cysteine protease inhibitor that regulates bone resorption, neutrophil chemotaxis, and tissue inflammation, as well as resistance to bacterial and viral infections. CystC is ubiquitously expressed and present in most bodily fluids where it inhibits the activities of cathepsins, a family of cysteine proteases that can promote cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine endowed with both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting activities. We show herein that TGF-β treatment up-regulated CystC transcript and protein in murine 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. Moreover, CystC mRNA expression was down-regulated in ∼50% of human malignancies, particularly cancers of the stomach, uterus, colon, and kidney. Overexpression of CystC in human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells antagonized their invasion through synthetic basement membranes in part via a cathepsin-dependent pathway. Independent of effects on cathepsin activity, CystC also reduced HT1080 cell gene expression stimulated by TGF-β. Invasion of 3T3-L1 cells occurred through both cathepsin- and TGF-β-dependent pathways. Both pathways were blocked by CystC, but only the TGF-β-dependent pathway was blocked by a CystC mutant (i.e., Δ14CystC) that is impaired in its ability to inhibit cathepsin activity. Moreover, CystC and Δ14CystC both inhibited 3T3-L1 cell gene expression stimulated by TGF-β. We further show that CystC antagonized TGF-β binding to its cell surface receptors, doing so by interacting physically with the TGF-β type II receptor and antagonizing its binding of TGF-β. Collectively, our findings have identified CystC as a novel TGF-β receptor antagonist, as well as a novel CystC-mediated feedback loop that inhibits TGF-β signaling.

The role of annexin 2 in osteoblastic mineralization

While the basic cellular contributions to bone differentiation and mineralization are widely accepted, the regulation of these processes at the intracellular level remains inadequately understood. Our laboratory recently identified annexin 2 as a protein involved in osteoblastic mineralization. Annexin 2 was overexpressed twofold in SaOSLM2 osteoblastic cells as a fusion protein with green fluorescent protein. The overexpression of annexin 2 led to an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity as well as an increase in mineralization. Our data suggest that the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity does not result from increased alkaline phosphatase transcript or protein levels; therefore we evaluated mechanism of action. We determined that both annexin 2 and alkaline phosphatase activity were localized to membrane microdomains called lipid rafts in osteoblastic cells. Annexin 2 overexpression resulted in an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity that was associated with lipid microdomains in a cholesterol-dependent manner. Furthermore, disruption of lipid rafts with a cholesterol sequestering agent or reduction of annexin 2 expression by specific antisense oligonucleotides each resulted in diminished mineralization. Therefore, intact lipid rafts containing annexin 2 appear to be important for alkaline phosphatase activity and may facilitate the osteoblastic mineralization process.

Expression, subcellular localization and phosphorylation status of annexins 1 and 5 in human pituitary adenomas and a growth hormone-secreting carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Annexin 1 (ANXA1), a 37-kDa protein, plays an important role as a mediator of glucocorticoid action in the anterior pituitary gland and has been implicated in the processes of tumorigenesis in a number of other tissues. As a prelude to examining the potential role of ANXA1 in the pathophysiology of pituitary tumours, this study examined the expression, phosphorylation status and distribution of ANXA1 and the closely related protein, annexin 5 (ANXA5), in a series of pituitary adenomas and in two carcinomas.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN

Forty-two human pituitary adenomas were examined. Parallel studies were performed on normal pituitary tissue, obtained postmortem, a GH-secreting carcinoma and a grade 4 astrocytoma.

MEASUREMENTS

The tissue was processed for analysis of ANXA1 mRNA and protein expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis and immunogold electron-microscopic histochemistry. Parallel measures of ANXA5 mRNA and protein were also made.

RESULTS

ANXA1 mRNA and protein were detected in all but three adenomas studied; the protein was localized mainly, but not exclusively, to nonendocrine cells. ANXA5 expression was more variable and was contained within both endocrine and nonendocrine cells of these tumours. In comparison with the adenomas, the GH-secreting carcinoma showed abundant expression of both ANXA1 and ANXA5, with intense ANXA1 staining in some but not all tumour/endocrine cells. A serine-phosphorylated species of ANXA1 was detected in all pituitary tumours studied; by contrast, tyrosine-phosphorylated ANXA1 was detected in only four adenomas and in the GH carcinoma. ANXA1 and ANXA5 were also expressed in abundance in the astrocytoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate expression of both ANXA1 and ANXA5 in human pituitary tumours and thus raise the possibility that these proteins influence the growth and/or functional activity of the tumours.

Biosynthesis and alternate targeting of the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin L

Upregulation of cathepsin L expression, whether during development or cell transformation, or mediated by ectopic expression from a plasmid, alters the targeting of the protease and thus its physiological function. Upregulated procathepsin L is targeted to small dense core vesicles and to the dense cores of multivesicular bodies, as well as to lysosomes and to the plasma membrane for selective secretion. The multivesicular vesicles resemble secretory lysosomes characterized in specialized cell types in that they are endosomes that stably store an upregulated protein and they possess the tetraspanin CD63. Morphologically the multivesicular endosomes also resemble late endosomes, but they store procathepsin L, not the active protease, and they are not the major site for LAMP-1 accumulation. Distinction between the lysosomal proenzyme and active protease thus identifies two populations of multivesicular endosomes in fibroblasts, one a storage compartment and one an enzymatically active compartment. A distinctive targeting pathway using aggregation is utilized to enrich the storage endosomes with a particular lysosomal protease that can potentially activate and be secreted.

CEACAM1, a Cell-Cell Adhesion Molecule, Directly Associates with Annexin II in a Three-dimensional Model of Mammary Morphogenesis

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule CEACAM1 (carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule-1) is down-regulated in colon, prostate, breast, and liver cancer. Here we show that CEACAM1-4S, a splice form with four Ig-like ectodomains and a short cytoplasmic domain (14 amino acids), directly associates with annexin II, a lipid raft-associated molecule, which is also down-regulated in many cancers. Annexin II was identified using a glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay in which the cytoplasmic domain of CEACAM-4S was fused to glutathione S-transferase, the fusion protein was incubated with cell lysates, and isolated proteins were sequenced by mass spectrometry. The interaction was confirmed first by reciprocal immunoprecipitations using anti-CEACAM1 and anti-annexin II antibodies and second by confocal laser microscopy showing co-localization of CEACAM1 with annexin II in mammary epithelial cells grown in Matrigel. In addition, CEACAM1 co-localized with p11, a component of the tetrameric AIIt complex at the plasma membrane, and with annexin II in secretory vesicles. Immobilized, oriented peptides from the cytoplasmic domain of CEACAM1-4S were shown to directly associate with bovine AIIt, which is 98% homologous to human AIIt, with average KD values of about 30 nM using surface plasmon resonance, demonstrating direct binding of functionally relevant AIIt to the cytoplasmic domain of CEACAM1-4S.

Expression of biomarkers modulating prostate cancer angiogenesis: differential expression of annexin II in prostate carcinomas from India and USA

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidences vary with genetic, geographical and ethnic dietary background of patients while angiogenesis is modulated through exquisite interplay of tumor-stromal interactions of biological macromolecules. We hypothesized that comprehensive analysis of four biomarkers modulating angiogenesis in PCa progression in two diverse populations might explain the variance in the incidence rates.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analysis of 42 PCa biopsies reveals that though Anx-II expression is lost in both the Indian and American population with Gleason scores (GS) ranging between 6 and 10, up to 25 % of cells in the entire high grade (GS > 8) PD PCa samples from US show intense focal membrane staining for Anx-II unlike similarly graded specimens from India. Consistent with this observation, the prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, DU-145 and MDA PCa 2A, but not LNCaP-R, LNCAP-UR or MDA PCa 2B cell lines, express Anx-II. Transcriptional reactivation of Anx-II gene with Aza-dC could not entirely account for loss of Anx-II protein in primary PCa. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was moderately expressed in most of high grade PIN and some MD PCa and surrounding stroma. COX-2 was not expressed in PD PCa (GS approximately 7-10), while adjacent smooth muscles cells stained weakly positive. Decorin expression was observed only in high grade PIN but not in any of the prostate cancers, atrophy or BPH while stromal areas of BPH stained intensively for DCN and decreased with advancing stages of PCa. Versican expression was weak in most of the MD PCa, moderate in all of BPH, moderately focal in PD PC, weak and focal in PIN, atrophy and adjacent stroma.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic modulators changes with stage of PCa but correlates with angiogenic status. Focal membrane staining of Anx-II reappears in high grade PCa specimens only from US indicating differential expression of Anx-II. COX-2 stained stronger in American specimens compared to Indian specimens. The sequential expression of DCN and VCN in progressive stages was similar in specimens from India and USA indicating no population-based differences. The mechanistic and regulatory role of Anx-II in PCa progression warrants further investigation.

Thrombin induces endothelial cell-surface exposure of the plasminogen receptor annexin 2

Cell-surface annexin 2 (A2) and its ligand p11 have been implicated in fibrinolysis because of their ability to accelerate tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-mediated activation of plasminogen to plasmin. Because thrombin is a potent cell modulator obligately produced at the site of clot formation, we hypothesized that the amount of cell-surface A2 and p11 might be altered by thrombin with consequent effects on plasmin generation. In support of this hypothesis, immunofluorescence microscopy and hydrophilic biotinylation experiments showed that both A2 and p11 were significantly increased on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with thrombin (0.8-8 nM) for 5 minutes followed by 1 hour at 37 degrees C. Intracellular immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblot analyses of whole cell extracts revealed increased p11 but unchanged A2 in response to thrombin, suggesting that transbilayer trafficking of A2 might be controlled by p11. The thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) similarly affected cells, demonstrating that cell signaling at least involved the type-1 protease activated receptor (PAR-1). An effect on the fibrinolysis pathway after treatment of HUVECs with thrombin was shown by increased fluorescein-labeled plasminogen binding to cells, which was inhibited by an antibody specific for p11. This was confirmed by observing that thrombin pretreatment of HUVECs increased biotin-modified plasminogen binding. Utilizing a chromogenic assay, pretreatment of HUVECs by thrombin further enhanced activation of the Glu and Lys forms of plasminogen by tPA. These data suggest a novel mechanism that links the coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways by thrombin-mediated feedback.

The intestinal protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica contains 20 cysteine protease genes, of which only a small subset is expressed during in vitro cultivation

Cysteine proteases are known to be important pathogenicity factors of the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. So far, a total of eight genes coding for cysteine proteases have been identified in E. histolytica, two of which are absent in the closely related nonpathogenic species E. dispar. However, present knowledge is restricted to enzymes expressed during in vitro cultivation of the parasite, which might represent only a subset of the entire repertoire. Taking advantage of the current E. histolytica genome-sequencing efforts, we analyzed databases containing more than 99% of all ameba gene sequences for the presence of cysteine protease genes. A total of 20 full-length genes was identified (including all eight genes previously reported), which show 10 to 86% sequence identity. The various genes obviously originated from two separate ancestors since they form two distinct clades. Despite cathepsin B-like substrate specificities, all of the ameba polypeptides are structurally related to cathepsin L-like enzymes. None of the previously described enzymes but 7 of the 12 newly identified proteins are unique compared to cathepsins of higher eukaryotes in that they are predicted to have transmembrane or glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment domains. Southern blot analysis revealed that orthologous sequences for all of the newly identified proteases are present in E. dispar. Interestingly, the majority of the various cysteine protease genes are not expressed in E. histolytica or E. dispar trophozoites during in vitro cultivation. Therefore, it is likely that at least some of these enzymes are required for infection of the human host and/or for completion of the parasite life cycle.

Annexin II expression is reduced or lost in prostate cancer cells and its re-expression inhibits prostate cancer cell migration

While studying Bim, a BH3-only proapoptotic protein, we identified an approximately 36 kDa protein, which was abundantly expressed in all five strains of primary normal human prostate (NHP) epithelial cells but significantly reduced or lost in seven prostate cancer cell lines. The approximately 36 kDa protein was subsequently identified as annexin II by proteomic approach and confirmed by Western blotting using an annexin II-specific antibody. Conventional and 2D SDS-PAGE, together with Western blotting, also revealed reduced or lost expression of annexin I in prostate cancer cells. Subcellular localization studies revealed that in NHP cells, annexin II was distributed both in the cytosol and underneath the plasma membrane, but not on the cell surface. Prostate cancer cells showed reduced levels as well as altered expression patterns of annexin II. Since annexins play important roles in maintaining Ca(2+) homeostasis and regulating the cytoskeleton and cell motility, we hypothesized that the reduced or lost expression of annexin I/II might promote certain aggressive phenotypes of prostate cancer cells. In subsequent experiments, we indeed observed that restoration of annexin II expression inhibited the migration of the transfected prostate cancer cells without affecting cell proliferation or apoptosis. Hence, our results suggest that annexin II, and, likely, annexin I, may be endogenous suppressors of prostate cancer cell migration and their reduced or lost expression may contribute to prostate cancer development and progression.

Secretion of Annexin II via activation of insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor

Annexin II is secreted into the extracellular environment, where, via interactions with specific proteases and extracellular matrix proteins, it participates in plasminogen activation, cell adhesion, and tumor metastasis and invasion. However, mechanisms regulating annexin II transport across the cellular membrane are unknown. In this study, we used coimmunoprecipitation to show that Annexin-II was bound to insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors in PC12 cells and NIH-3T3 cells overexpressing insulin (NIH-3T3(IR)) or IGF-1 receptor (NIH-3T3(IGF-1R)). Stimulation of insulin and IGF-1 receptors by insulin caused a temporary dissociation of annexin II from these receptors, which was accompanied by an increased amount of extracellular annexin II detected in the media of PC12, NIH-3T3(IR), and NIH-3T3(IGF-1R) cells but not in that of untransfected NIH-3T3 cells. Activation of a different growth factor receptor, the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, did not produce such results. Tyrphostin AG1024, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of insulin and IGF-1 receptor, was shown to inhibit annexin II secretion along with reduced receptor phosphorylation. Inhibitors of a few downstream signaling enzymes including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, pp60c-Src, and protein kinase C had no effect on insulin-induced annexin II secretion, suggesting a possible direct link between receptor activation and annexin II secretion. Immunocytochemistry revealed that insulin also induced transport of the membrane-bound form of annexin II to the outside layer of the cell membrane and appeared to promote cell aggregation. These results suggest that the insulin receptor and its signaling pathways may participate in molecular mechanisms mediating annexin II secretion.

p11 regulates extracellular plasmin production and invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells

The defining characteristic of a tumor cell is its ability to escape the constraints imposed by neighboring cells, invade the surrounding tissue, and metastasize to distant sites. This invasive property of tumor cells is dependent on activation of proteases at the cell surface. Most cancer cells secrete the urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which converts cell-bound plasminogen to plasmin. Here we address the issue of whether the plasminogen binding protein, p11, plays a significant role in this process. Transfection of human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells with the human p11 gene in the antisense orientation resulted in a loss of p11 protein from the cell surface and concomitant decreases in cellular plasmin production, ECM degradation, and cellular invasiveness. The transfected cells demonstrated reduced development of lung metastatic foci in SCID mice. In contrast, HT1080 cells transfected with the p11 gene in the sense orientation displayed increased cell surface p11 protein and concomitant increases in cellular plasmin production, as well as enhanced ECM degradation and enhanced cellular invasiveness. The p11 overexpressing cells showed enhanced development of lung metastatic foci. These data establish that changes in the extracellular expression of the plasminogen receptor protein, p11, dramatically affect tumor cell-mediated pericellular proteolysis.

Investigatory and analytical approaches to differential gene expression profiling in mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell lineage. The blastoid variant of MCL, characterized by high mitotic rate, is clinically more aggressive than common MCL. We used the cDNA array technology to examine the gene expression profiles of both blastoid variant and common MCL. The data was analysed by regression analysis, principal component analysis and the naive Bayes' classifier. Eight genes were identified as differentially deregulated between the two groups. Oncogenes CMYC, BCL2 and PIM1 were upregulated more frequently in the blastoid variant than in common MCL. This implied that the gp130-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling pathway was involved in the blastoid variant transformation of MCL. Other differentially deregulated genes were TOP1, CD23, CD45, CD70 and NFATC. By using the eight differentially deregulated genes, we created a classifier to distinguish the blastoid variant from common MCL with high accuracy. We also identified 18 genes that were deregulated in both groups. Among them, BCL1, CALLA/CD10 and GRN were suggested to be oncogenes. The products of RGS1, RGS2, ANX2 and CD44H were suggested to promote tumour metastasis. CD66D was suggested to be a tumour suppressor gene.

Degradation of extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C by cathepsin B: an interaction involved in the progression of gliomas

Degradation of extracellular matrix proteins by proteases such as the cysteine protease cathepsin B is critical to malignant progression. We have established that procathepsin B presents on the surface of tumor cells through its interaction with the annexin II tetramer [Mai et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275 (2000),12806-12812]. Cathepsin B activity can also be detected on the tumor cell surface and in their culture medium. Interestingly, the annexin II tetramer also interacts with extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen I, fibrin and tenascin-C. Both cathepsin B and tenascin-C are expressed at high levels in malignant tumors, especially at the invasive edges of tumors, and are implicated in tumor angiogenesis. In this study, we report that tenascin-C can be degraded by cathepsin B in vitro. We demonstrate by immunohistochemistry that both cathepsin B and tenascin-C are expressed highly in malignant anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas as compared to normal brain tissues. Interestingly, cathepsin B and tenascin-C were also detected in association with tumor neovessels. We suggest that interactions between cathepsin B and tenascin-C are involved in the progression of gliomas including the angiogenesis that is a hallmark of anaplastic astrocytomas.

Surface cathepsin B protects cytotoxic lymphocytes from self-destruction after degranulation

The granule exocytosis cytotoxicity pathway is the major molecular mechanism for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity, but the question of how these cytotoxic lymphocytes avoid self-destruction after secreting perforin has remained unresolved. We show that CTL and NK cells die within a few hours if they are triggered to degranulate in the presence of nontoxic thiol cathepsin protease inhibitors. The potent activity of the impermeant, highly cathepsin B-specific membrane inhibitors CA074 and NS-196 strongly implicates extracellular cathepsin B. CTL suicide in the presence of cathepsin inhibitors requires the granule exocytosis cytotoxicity pathway, as it is normal with CTLs from gld mice, but does not occur in CTLs from perforin knockout mice. Flow cytometry shows that CTLs express low to undetectable levels of cathepsin B on their surface before degranulation, with a substantial rapid increase after T cell receptor triggering. Surface cathepsin B eluted from live CTL after degranulation by calcium chelation is the single chain processed form of active cathepsin B. Degranulated CTLs are surface biotinylated by the cathepsin B-specific affinity reagent NS-196, which exclusively labels immunoreactive cathepsin B. These experiments support a model in which granule-derived surface cathepsin B provides self-protection for degranulating cytotoxic lymphocytes.

pH Dependence of inhibitors targeting the occluding loop of cathepsin B

Potent and selective cathepsin B inhibitors have previously been synthesized based upon the natural product cysteine protease inhibitor E-64. X-ray crystal data indicates that these compounds interact through their free carboxylate with the positively charged histidine residues located on the prime-side of the active site within the occluding loop of cathepsin B. Herein, we examine the pH dependence of two prime-side-binding compounds. In each case there is a dramatic decrease in k(inact)/K(I) as the pH is raised from 4 to 7.8 corresponding to a single ionization of pK(a) 4.4. These results suggest that targeting of the occluding loop of cathepsin B may be a poor inhibitor design strategy if the enzyme environment has a pH greater than 5.5. However, this type of inhibitor may be a useful tool to help elucidate the role and the environment of cathepsin B in invading tumors.

Identification and validation of metastasis-associated proteins in head and neck cancer cell lines by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Despite improvements in treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) over the last two decades, the survival rate of these patients has not increased significantly. One of the major factors in the poor outcome of the disease is regional metastasis. To better understand the mechanisms of this process at the protein level, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry using SELDI ProteinChip technology to identify proteins differentially expressed in two HNSCC cell lines, UMSCC10A and UMSCC10B, from the same patient. UMSCC10A was derived from the primary tumor and UMSCC10B from a metastatic lymph node. The differentially expressed proteins were excised from the gels. Following in-gel digestion by trypsin, mass profiles of the peptides were generated. Proteins were identified by submitting the peptide mass profiles to a public available NCBInr databases (www.proteometrics.com). Two membrane-associated proteins, annexin I and annexin II and glycolytic protein enolase-alpha were found to be upregulated, and calumenin precursor down-regulated, in metastatic cell line UMSCC10B. The identity of these proteins was confirmed by analyzing additional peptide mass fingerprints obtained by endoproteinase lysine-C digestion. The results were also validated by Western blotting analysis. Our results showed that enolase-alpha, annexin-I and annexin-II might be important molecules in head and neck cancer invasion and metastasis. The results also suggest an important complementary role for proteomics in identification of molecular abnormalities important in cancer development and progression.

Detection of cathepsin B up-regulation in neoplastic thyroid tissues by proteomic analysis

Nodular or multinodular goiter is the most common non-neoplastic thyroid disease and may be difficult to distinguish from true neoplastic thyroid diseases using microscopic criteria. We have used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to study the protein patterns of thyroid tissues including normal thyroid, multinodular goiter, diffuse hyperplasia, follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. Specific proteins, in the region of molecular mass 15-30 kDa and isoelectric point 4.5-6.5, were identified by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and protein sequencing. The most distinctive protein found is cathepsin B, which could be detected as four spots, with differential expression in different thyroid diseases. In particular, two of these cathepsin B spots CB2 and CB3 are strongly up-regulated in neoplastic diseases, compared to non-neoplastic diseases. In addition, overexpression of ATP synthase D chain and prohibitin were observed in papillary carcinoma, which should allow it to be differentiated from follicular carcinoma. Changes in expression of other proteins were also observed in disease states compared to normal tissues, namely translationally controlled tumor protein, thioredoxin peroxidase 1, glutathione-S-transferase P, DJ-1 protein, superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn), and heat shock protein 27, but these changes are less characteristic, so they do not allow the differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues. Thus, the proteomic approach is a useful diagnostic tool for studying diseases involving the thyroid nodule.

Identification of annexin II heterotetramer as a plasmin reductase

Annexin II heterotetramer (AIIt) is a Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-binding protein that consists of two copies of a p36 and p11 subunit. AIIt regulates the production and autoproteolysis of plasmin at the cell surface. In addition to its role as a key cellular protease, plasmin also plays a role in angiogenesis as the precursor for antiangiogenic proteins. Recently we demonstrated that the primary antiangiogenic plasmin fragment, called A(61) (Lys(78)-Lys(468)) was released from cultured cells. In the present study we report for the first time that AIIt possesses an intrinsic plasmin reductase activity. AIIt stimulated the reduction of the plasmin Cys(462)-Cys(541) bond in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, which resulted in the release of A(61) from plasmin. Mutagenesis of p36 C334S and either p11 C61S or p11 C82S inactivated the plasmin reductase activity of the isolated subunits, suggesting that specific cysteinyl residues participated in the plasmin reductase activity of each subunit. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the loss of AIIt from the cell surface of HT1080 cells transduced with a retroviral vector encoding p11 antisense dramatically reduced the cellular production of A(61) from plasminogen. This is the first demonstration that AIIt regulates the cellular production of the antiangiogenic plasminogen fragment, A(61).

Analysis of a truncated form of cathepsin H in human prostate tumor cells

Increased expression of proteases has been correlated with the malignant progression of a variety of tumors. We found a significant increase in cathepsin H expression in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma of the prostate. Two forms of cathepsin H, the full-length form (CTSH) and a truncated form with a 12-amino acid deletion in its signal peptide region (CTSHDelta10-21), were identified by cDNA sequence analysis. This deletion occurred not at the genomic level but likely at the RNA processing level. Both forms are expressed in prostate tissues as well as LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines. The deletion within the signal peptide region affected the trafficking of cathepsin H. Fluorescence microscopy, subcellular fractionation, and activity data indicated that the truncated form was perinuclear and secreted and had a reduced lysosomal association as compared with the full-length cathepsin H. Furthermore, the truncated cathepsin H was enzymatically active. Therefore, an increase in overall cathepsin H expression, particularly in the truncated form with a high secretion propensity, may affect cell biological behaviors such as those associated with tumor progression.

Molecular markers and determinants of prostate cancer metastasis

Although intensely studied, the molecular and biochemical determinants of prostate cancer development and progression remain ill-defined. Moreover, current markers and methodologies cannot distinguish between a tumor that will remain indolent and not impinge on patient survival, versus a tumor with aggressive traits culminating in metastatic spread and death. Once prostate cancer is confirmed the most significant threat to a patient's survival and quality of life involves tumor metastasis. Radical surgery notwithstanding, prostate cancer accounts for 10% of all cancer-related deaths primarily arising through development of metastasis. Metastasis markers demonstrating an acceptable level of reliability are an obvious necessity if disproportionate and costly treatment is to be avoided and a reasonably accurate determination of clinical prognosis and measure of successful response to treatment is to be made. Therapeutic strategies that specifically inhibit metastatic spread are not presently possible and may not become available in the immediate future. This is because, while localized tumorigenesis has been relatively amenable to detection, analysis and treatment, metastasis remains a relatively undefined, complex and underexplored area of prostate cancer research. New findings in the field such subclasses of genes called metastasis suppressors and cancer progression suppressors, have opened up exciting avenues of investigation. We review current methodological approaches, model experimental systems and genes presently known or having potential involvement in human prostate cancer metastasis.

Regulation of plasmin-dependent fibrin clot lysis by annexin II heterotetramer

In a previous report we showed that plasmin-dependent lysis of a fibrin polymer, produced from purified components, was totally blocked if annexin II heterotetramer (AIIt) was present during fibrin polymer formation. Here, we show that AIIt inhibits fibrin clot lysis by stimulation of plasmin autodegradation, which results in a loss of plasmin activity. Furthermore, the C-terminal lysine residues of its p11 subunit play an essential role in the inhibition of fibrin clot lysis by AIIt. We also found that AIIt binds to fibrin with a K(d) of 436 nm and a stoichiometry of about 0.28 mol of AIIt/mol of fibrin monomer. The binding of AIIt to fibrin was not dependent on the C-terminal lysines of the p11 subunit. Furthermore, in the presence of plasminogen, the binding of AIIt to fibrin was increased to about 1.3 mol of AIIt/mol of fibrin monomer, suggesting that AIIt and plasminogen do not compete for identical sites on fibrin. Immunohistochemical identification of p36 and p11 subunits of AIIt in a pathological clot provides important evidence for its role as a physiological fibrinolytic regulator. These results suggest that AIIt may play a key role in the regulation of plasmin activity on the fibrin clot surface.

Cathepsin B acts as a dominant execution protease in tumor cell apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor

Death receptors can trigger cell demise dependent or independent of caspases. In WEHI-S fibrosarcoma cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced an increase in cytosolic cathepsin B activity followed by death with apoptotic features. Surprisingly, this process was enhanced by low, but effectively inhibiting, concentrations of pan-caspase inhibitors. Contrary to caspase inhibitors, a panel of pharmacological cathepsin B inhibitors, the endogenous cathepsin inhibitor cystatin A as well as antisense-mediated depletion of cathepsin B rescued WEHI-S cells from apoptosis triggered by TNF or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. Thus, cathepsin B can take over the role of the dominant execution protease in death receptor-induced apoptosis. The conservation of this alternative execution pathway was further examined in other tumor cell lines. Here, cathepsin B acted as an essential downstream mediator of TNF-triggered and caspase-initiated apoptosis cascade, whereas apoptosis of primary cells was only minimally dependent on cathepsin B. These data imply that cathepsin B, which is commonly overexpressed in human primary tumors, may have two opposing roles in malignancy, reducing it by its proapoptotic features and enhancing it by its known facilitation of invasion.

Determinants for the drug release from T-0128, camptothecin analogue-carboxymethyl dextran conjugate

To improve pharmacological profiles of camptothecins (CPTs), a new macromolecular prodrug, denoted T-0128, was synthesized. This prodrug comprises a novel CPT analog (T-2513: 7-ethyl-10-aminopropyloxy-CPT) bound to carboxymethyl (CM) dextran through a Gly-Gly-Gly linker, with a molecular weight of 130 kDa. The present study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms that promote the release of linked T-2513. First, we compared the abilities of a rat liver homogenate, a cocktail of its lysosomal enzymes, and different types of pure enzymes, to liberate T-2513 from the conjugate. The releasing rate in the homogenate was very slow, but was accelerated with the lysosomes. Lysosomal cysteine proteinases, such as cathepsin B, were responsible, coupled with the results of in vitro and in vivo inhibition studies using proteinase inhibitors. The pH optimum for the cathepsin B-mediated drug release was approximately 4. This corresponds to the pH in lysosomes, suggesting lysosomotropic release. Second, to assess the effect of the length and composition of the peptidyl linker, we synthesized the conjugates with a different linker and compared the drug-releasing rates. We found that the insertion of Phe into Gly-Gly-Gly allowed various kinds of enzymes to produce a rapid cleavage, and the Gly-chain lengthening enhanced the lysosome-mediated drug release. The released T-2513 levels in the liver and tumor of the tumor-bearing rats dosed with each conjugate increased with the length of Gly linker, suggesting a good in vitro to in vivo relationship. Comparative efficacy studies of the conjugates with a different linker demonstrated that T-0128 showed the maximum efficacy against MX-1 human mammary xenograft tumors. Thus the Gly-Gly-Gly linker exploits lysosomal cathepsin B to liberate T-2513 slowly and steadily, resulting in improved therapeutic efficacy.

Rac1-induced endocytosis is associated with intracellular proteolysis during migration through a three-dimensional matrix

Transfection of Rat1 fibroblasts with an activated form of rac1 (V12rac1) stimulated cell migration in vitro compared to transfection of Rat1 fibroblasts with vector only or with dominant negative rac1 (N17rac1). To investigate the involvement of proteases in this migration, we used a novel confocal assay to evaluate the ability of the Rat1 transfectants to degrade a quenched fluorescent protein substrate (DQ-green bovine serum albumin) embedded in a three-dimensional gelatin matrix. Cleavage of the substrate results in fluorescence, thus enabling one to image extracellular and intracellular proteolysis by living cells. The Rat1 transfectants accumulated degraded substrate intracellularly. V12rac1 increased accumulation of the fluorescent product in vesicles that also labeled with the lysosomal marker LysoTracker. Treatment of the V12rac1-transfected cells with membrane-permeable inhibitors of lysosomal cysteine proteases and a membrane-permeable selective inhibitor of the cysteine protease cathepsin B significantly reduced intracellular accumulation of degraded substrate, indicating that degradation occurred intracellularly. V12rac1 stimulated uptake of dextran 70 (a marker of macropinocytosis) and polystyrene beads (markers of phagocytosis) into vesicles that also labeled for cathepsin B. Thus, stimulation of the endocytic pathways of macropinocytosis and phagocytosis by activated Rac1 may be responsible for the increased internalization and subsequent degradation of extracellular proteins.

Epoxysuccinyl peptide-derived affinity labels for cathepsin B

Extracellular cysteine proteases, in particular cathepsin B, have been implicated in a variety of pathological processes. Selectively targeting labels of this enzyme are important tools to gain more detailed understanding of its specific roles. Starting from our recently developed irreversible epoxysuccinyl-based inhibitor (R-Gly-Gly-Leu-(2S,3S)-tEps-Leu-Pro-OH, R=OMe), we have synthesized two affinity labels, R=NH-(CH(2))(6)-NH-rhodamine B and R=NH-(CH(2))(6)-NH-biotin. Using MCF-7 cells, the labeled inhibitors were shown to be virtually non-cell-permeant. Moreover, affinity blot analysis with the biotinylated inhibitor allowed a highly sensitive and selective non-radioactive detection of active cathepsin B.