Expression profiling in squamous carcinoma cells reveals pleiotropic effects of vitamin D3 analog EB1089 signaling on cell proliferation, differentiation, and immune system regulation

Large-scale in silico and microarray-based identification of direct 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 target genes

1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] regulates calcium homeostasis and controls cellular differentiation and proliferation. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a ligand-regulated transcription factor that recognizes cognate vitamin D response elements (VDREs) formed by direct or everted repeats of PuG(G/T)TCA motifs separated by 3 or 6 bp (DR3 or ER6). Here, we have identified direct 1,25(OH)2D3 target genes by combining 35,000+ gene microarrays and genome-wide screens for consensus DR3 and ER6 elements, and DR3 elements containing single nucleotide substitutions. We find that the effect of a nucleotide substitution on VDR binding in vitro does not predict VDRE function in vivo, because substitutions that disrupted binding in vitro were found in several functional elements. Hu133A microarray analyses, performed with RNA from human SCC25 cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 and protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, identified more than 900 regulated genes. VDREs lying within -10 to +5 kb of 5'-ends were assigned to 65% of these genes, and VDR binding was confirmed to several elements in vivo. A screen of the mouse genome identified more than 3000 conserved VDREs, and 158 human genes containing conserved elements were 1,25(OH2)D3-regulated on Hu133A microarrays. These experiments also revealed 16 VDREs in 11 of 12 genes induced more than 10-fold in our previous microarray study, five elements in the human gene encoding the epithelial calcium channel TRPV6, as well as novel 1,25(OH2)D3 target genes implicated in regulation of cell cycle progression. The combined approaches used here thus provide numerous insights into the direct target genes underlying the broad physiological actions of 1,25(OH)2D3.

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits prostate cancer cell invasion via modulation of selective proteases

Inhibition of invasion and metastasis has become a new approach for treatment of advanced prostate cancer in which secondary hormone therapy has failed. Accumulating evidence indicates that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VD) suppresses prostate cancer progression by inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying these effects remain to be determined. Here, we used the in vitro cell invasion assay to demonstrate that 1,25-VD inhibits the invasive ability of human prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3 and DU 145. Three major groups of proteases, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), the plasminogen activators (PAs) and the cathepsins (CPs), that are involved in tumor invasion were then examined for changes in activity and expression after 1,25-VD treatment. We found that 1,25-VD decreased MMP-9 and CPs, but not PAs activities, while it increased the activity of their counterparts, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and cathepsin inhibitors. Mechanistic studies showed that 1,25-VD did not suppress MMP-9 expression at the transcriptional level, but reduced its mRNA stability. In addition, 1,25-VD increased AP-1 complexes binding to TIMP-1 promoter, which contributed to the enhancement of TIMP-1 activity, and thus resulted in inhibition of MMP activity and tumor invasion. These findings support the idea that vitamin D-based therapies might be beneficial in the management of advanced prostate cancer, especially among patients who have higher MMP-9 and CPs activities.

Transcriptional profiling of keratinocytes reveals a vitamin D-regulated epidermal differentiation network

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] regulates mineral homeostasis and exhibits potent anti-proliferative, prodifferentiative, and immunomodulatory activities. It mediates these effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which belongs to the superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptors. As a result of keratinocyte differentiation and anti-proliferation activities, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and its synthetic analogs are therapeutically effective in psoriasis and show promise for the treatment of actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma. To elucidate the VDR signaling pathway in keratinocytes, we examined the gene expression profile with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) treatment using oligonucleotide microarrays. Out of the 12,600 genes investigated, 82 were upregulated and 16 were downregulated and many of these were involved in differentiation, proliferation, and immune response. We have identified three vitamin D-responsive chromosomal loci (1p36, 19q13, and 6p25) and show the induction of various class II tumor suppressor/growth-regulatory genes in response to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Finally, quantitative differences in gene expression revealed a vitamin D-regulated differentiation network and identified peptidylarginine deiminases, kallikreins, serine proteinase inhibitor family members, Kruppel-like factor 4, and c-fos as vitamin D-responsive genes, whose protein products may play an important role in epidermal differentiation in normal and diseased state.

Variants in the vitamin D receptor gene and asthma

BACKGROUND

Early lifetime exposure to dietary or supplementary vitamin D has been predicted to be a risk factor for later allergy. Twin studies suggest that response to vitamin D exposure might be influenced by genetic factors. As these effects are primarily mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), single base variants in this gene may be risk factors for asthma or allergy.

RESULTS

951 individuals from 224 pedigrees with at least 2 asthmatic children were analyzed for 13 SNPs in the VDR. There was no preferential transmission to children with asthma. In their unaffected sibs, however, one allele in the 5' region was 0.5-fold undertransmitted (p = 0.049), while two other alleles in the 3' terminal region were 2-fold over-transmitted (p = 0.013 and 0.018). An association was also seen with bronchial hyperreactivity against methacholine and with specific immunoglobulin E serum levels.

CONCLUSION

The transmission disequilibrium in unaffected sibs of otherwise multiple-affected families seem to be a powerful statistical test. A preferential transmission of vitamin D receptor variants to children with asthma could not be confirmed but raises the possibility of a protective effect for unaffected children.

Limiting effects of RIP140 in estrogen signaling: potential mediation of anti-estrogenic effects of retinoic acid

The receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140) belongs to a unique subclass of nuclear receptor coregulators with the ability to bind and repress the action of a number of agonist-bound hormone receptors. We have previously demonstrated that all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) induction of RIP140 constitutes a rate-limiting step in the regulation of retinoid receptor signaling. Here we demonstrate that RIP140 is also a limiting regulator of estrogen receptor signaling. Overexpression of RIP140 dose dependently inhibits estrogen-dependent reporter activity in human breast cancer cells. Furthermore, small interfering RNA to RIP140 enhances estrogen-dependent signaling. Our previous studies indicate that RIP140 is a direct target of RA. We report here that RA can abrogate estrogen-mediated cell cycle re-entry. In addition, RA treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells opposes estrogen receptor-dependent reporter activity, implying that a proportion of RA effects are anti-estrogenic. We provide evidence for a role for RIP140 in mediating anti-estrogenic effects of RA. RIP140 small interfering RNA blocks RA-mediated repression of estrogen receptor activity and provides a growth advantage to estrogen-dependent cells. Together these data implicate a regulatory role for RIP140 in mediating anti-estrogenic effects of RA in estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells and suggest that acute regulation of coregulator expression may be a general mechanism to integrate diverse hormone signals.

Genomic and proteomic approaches for probing the role of vitamin D in health

Although we have learned a great deal about vitamin D metabolism and function since it first became apparent that this factor was required for bone health, there are still many gaps in our understanding, at both the basic science (eg, the molecular actions and targets of vitamin D) and applied (eg, what "adequate" vitamin D status means) levels. For example, although the identification of extrarenal 1alpha-hydroxylase activity suggests that autocrine/paracrine actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complement the classic endocrine actions of the hormone, the practical implications of this finding are only now being explored. In addition, studies showed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D rapidly activates signal transduction pathways in addition to the classic transcriptional activation pathways that require the vitamin D receptor. These new modes of vitamin D action may be crucial to our understanding of both the traditional calcium-regulating actions of vitamin D and the anticancer actions of this essential mediator. Recent developments in genomics and proteomics have provided new opportunities for us to identify molecular targets of vitamin D action. Cancer researchers have demonstrated that these methods have utility for identifying useful biomarkers of disease states. Can these approaches be used to help clarify what constitutes optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D? I present an overview of how proteomic and genomic evaluations of cells, animals, and human subjects have been and can be used to improve our understanding of vitamin D biological processes and the role of vitamin D in health.

The pleiotropic actions of vitamin D

General knowledge of the role of vitamin D3 in human physiology has been shaped by its discovery as a preventive agent of nutritional rickets, a defect in bone development due to inadequate uptake of dietary calcium. Studies on the function of the hormonal form of vitamin D3, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, have been greatly accelerated by the molecular cloning and structural analysis of the vitamin D3 receptor, which is a ligand-activated regulator of gene transcription. Molecular genetic techniques including genomics have helped reveal that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can control more than calcium homeostasis. It has widespread effects on cellular differentiation and proliferation, and can modulate immune responsiveness, and central nervous system function. Moreover, accumulating epidemiological and molecular evidence suggests that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts as a chemopreventive agent against several malignancies including cancers of the prostate and colon. Here, we survey the most-recent findings and discuss their implications for the potential therapeutic uses of vitamin D analogues.

Cystatin M suppresses the malignant phenotype of human MDA-MB-435S cells

Proteases are involved in many aspects of tumor progression, including cell survival and proliferation, escape from immune surveillance, cell adhesion and migration, remodeling and invasion of the extracellular matrix. Several lysosomal cysteine proteases have been cloned and shown to be overexpressed in cancer; yet, despite the great potential for development of novel therapeutics, we still know little about the regulation of their proteolytic activity. Cystatins such as cystatin M are potent endogenous protein inhibitors of lysosomal cysteine proteases. Cystatin M is expressed in normal and premalignant human epithelial cells, but not in many cancer cell lines. Here, we examined the effects of cystatin M expression on malignant properties of human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435S cells. Cystatin M was found to significantly reduce in vitro: cell proliferation, migration, Matrigel invasion, and adhesion to endothelial cells. Reduction of cell proliferation and adhesion to an endothelial cell monolayer were both independent of the inhibition of lysosomal cysteine proteases. In contrast, cell migration and matrix invasion seemed to rely on lysosomal cysteine proteases, as both recombinant cystatin M and E64 were able to block these processes. This study provides the first evidence that cystatin M may play important roles in safeguarding against human breast cancer.

Microarray analysis of uterine gene expression in mouse and human pregnancy

Improved care of infants born prematurely has increased their survival. However, the incidence of preterm labor has not changed. To understand the processes involved in preterm labor, we used oligonucleotide microarrays to study gene expression in murine and human uterus during pregnancy. The induction of enzymes for prostaglandin synthesis was used as a marker for important changes during pregnancy because prostaglandins strongly contribute to both human and murine labor. We identified 504 genes that changed at least 2-fold between d 13.5 and 19.0 in the gravid mouse uterus. In the pregnant human myometrium, we found 478 genes that changed at least 2-fold in either term or preterm labor compared with preterm nonlabor specimens and 77 genes that significantly varied in both preterm and term labor. Patterns of gene regulation within functional groups comparing human preterm and term labor were similar, although the magnitude of change often varied. Surprisingly, few genes that changed significantly throughout pregnancy were the same in the mouse and human. These data suggest that functional progesterone withdrawal in human myometrium may not be the primary mechanism for labor induction, may implicate similar mechanisms for idiopathic preterm and term labor in humans, and may identify novel targets for further study.

Vitamin D growth inhibition of breast cancer cells: gene expression patterns assessed by cDNA microarray

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the active metabolite of vitamin D, is a potent inhibitor of breast cancer cell growth. Although it is evident that 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits growth of both estrogen receptor alpha-positive [ER alpha(+)] and -negative [ER alpha(-)] breast cancer cells, the cellular pathways contributing to these effects remain unclear. We studied the gene expression patterns in ER alpha(+) MCF-7 and ER alpha(-) MDA MB 231 human breast cancer cells following 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, using cDNA expression arrays. Both cell lines showed a significant induction of the 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent 24-hydroxylase gene, a marker for the actions of 1,25(OH)2D3. In MCF-7 cells, 51 genes were up-regulated and 19 genes were down-regulated. The up-regulated genes encoded cell adhesion molecules, growth factors/modulators, steroid receptors/co-activators, cytokines, kinases and transcription factors. Of the up-regulated genes, 40% were implicated in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis and included cyclin G1 and cyclin I, p21-activated kinase-1 (PAK-1), p53, retinoblastoma like-2 [Rb2 (p130)], insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP5) and caspases. Among the down-regulated genes were ER alpha, growth factors, cytokines and several kinases. Some of these results were confirmed by real-time PCR. In MDA MB 231 cells, 20 genes were up-regulated and 13 genes were down-regulated. Very few genes directly implicated in cell cycle regulation were up-regulated. The matrix metalloproteinases formed a major class of genes that were down-regulated in the MDA MB 231 cells. Seven genes were commonly up-regulated in both cell lines and these included transforming growth factor (TGFbeta2) and Rb2 (p130). In conclusion, the gene expression profiles of the two cell lines studied were different with a few overlapping genes suggesting that different cellular pathways might be regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 to exert its growth inhibitory effects in ER alpha(+) and ER alpha(-) cells.

Inhibition of F-Box protein p45(SKP2) expression and stabilization of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(KIP1) in vitamin D analog-treated cancer cells

Treatment of cancer cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] or its analogs induces growth arrest and expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(KIP1). Although 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) transiently enhances p27(kip1) gene transcription in some cells, its effects on p27(KIP1) protein levels are generally more gradual and sustained. This suggests that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) treatment may be stabilizing p27(KIP1) protein, which is sensitive to modification by the SCF(SKP2) protein ubiquitin ligase and proteosomal degradation. Here, we show that treatment of AT-84 head and neck squamous carcinoma cells with the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analog EB1089 increases p27(KIP1) protein levels without significantly affecting expression of its mRNA. EB1089 treatment repressed expression of mRNAs encoding the F-box protein p45(SKP2), a marker of poor head and neck cancer prognosis, and the cyclin kinase subunit CKS1, which is essential for targeting p45(SKP2) to p27(KIP1). This coincided with a reduction of total p45(SKP2) protein, and p45(SKP2) associated with p27(KIP1). Consistent with these findings, turnover of p27(KIP1) protein was strongly inhibited in the presence of EB1089. A similar reduction in p45(SKP2) expression and stabilization of p27(KIP1) protein was observed in 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-sensitive UF-1 promyelocytic leukemia cells, which also respond by transiently increasing p27(kip1) gene transcription. Our results reveal that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analogs increase levels of p27(KIP1) in different cell types by inhibiting expression of SCF(SKP2) subunits and reducing turnover of p27(KIP1) protein.