The effects of bile acids on phospholipase C activity in extracts of normal human colon mucosa and primary colon tumors

Control of nuclear receptor activities in metabolism by post-translational modifications

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are molecular transducers of endocrine and dietary signals allowing tissues to adapt their transcriptional responses to endogenous or exogenous cues. These signals act in many cases as specific ligands, converting of NRs into transcriptionally active molecules. This on-off mechanism needs, however, to be finely tuned with respect to the tissue environment and adjusted to the organism needs. These subtle adjustments of NR transcriptional activity are brought about by post-translational modifications (PTMs), which can be, in the case of orphan NRs, the sole regulatory mechanism. The role of PTMs, with a more specific focus on phosphorylation, affecting the functions of NR controlling metabolic events is described in this review.

Predictors of colorectal cancer after negative colonoscopy: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

A higher proportion of colorectal neoplasia among women occurs in the proximal colon, which might be more frequently missed by colonoscopy. There are no data on predictors of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) after a negative colonoscopy in usual clinical practice. We evaluated gender differences and predictors of CRC occurring after a negative colonoscopy.

METHODS

All individuals 40 years or older with negative colonoscopy were identified from Manitoba's provincial physicians' billing claims database. Individuals with less than 5 years of coverage by the provincial health plan, earlier CRC, inflammatory bowel disease, resective colorectal surgery, or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were excluded. CRC risk after negative colonoscopy was compared to that in the general population by standardized incidence ratios. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors of CRC occurring after negative colonoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 45,985 individuals (18,606 men; 27,379 women) were followed up for 229,090 person-years. After a negative colonoscopy, men had a 40-50% lower risk of CRC diagnosis through most of the follow-up time. Risk among women was similar to that of women in the general population in the first 3 years and then was 40-50% lower. Older subject age and performance of index colonoscopy by non-gastroenterologists were independent predictors for early/missed CRC (cancers occurring within 3 years of negative colonoscopy).

CONCLUSIONS

Women may have a higher rate of missed/early CRCs after negative colonoscopy. Predictors of missed/early CRCs after negative colonoscopy include older age and performance of index colonoscopy by a non-gastroenterologist.

Incidence of right-sided colorectal cancer after breast cancer: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Estrogen levels, which are involved in the development of breast cancer, may also be responsible for a higher incidence of right-sided colorectal neoplasia in women. Our objective was to determine the incidence of right-sided colorectal cancer (CRC) after the diagnosis of breast cancer.

METHODS

All cases of breast cancers diagnosed between 1956 and 2006 were identified from the Manitoba Cancer Registry (MCR) and followed up until the diagnosis of any invasive cancer, death, migration out of the province, or 31 December 2006. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for all CRC and right-sided CRC (cecum, ascending colon, and hepatic flexure) were calculated to compare the observed CRC incidence with that expected in the general population. Stratified analysis was performed to determine the risk at different follow-up time intervals, age at breast cancer diagnosis, and for tamoxifen use.

RESULTS

There were 23,377 cases of breast cancer diagnosed between 1956 and 2006 with a total follow-up of 221,364 patient-years. The SIR for all CRC was 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-1.06) and for right-sided CRC it was 1.02 (95% CI 0.87-1.20). The SIRs remained close to unity at different time intervals, for different age groups, and in analysis restricted to more recent years (1985-2006). Tamoxifen use did not alter the risk of all CRC (SIR 1.22; 95% CI 0.92-1.62) or right-sided CRC (SIR 0.90; 95% CI 0.48-1.54).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no increase in the overall risk for CRC or for right-sided CRC after the diagnosis of breast cancer. CRC screening strategy for breast cancer survivors should be similar to that for the general population.

Phosphorylation of farnesoid X receptor by protein kinase C promotes its transcriptional activity

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily and is activated by bile acids such as chenodeoxycholic acid, or synthetic ligands such as GW4064. FXR is implicated in the regulation of bile acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. Posttranslational modifications regulating its activity have not been investigated yet. Here, we demonstrate that calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition impairs ligand-mediated regulation of FXR target genes. Moreover, in a transactivation assay, we show that FXR transcriptional activity is modulated by PKC. Furthermore, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate , a PKC activator, induces the phosphorylation of endogenous FXR in HepG2 cells and PKCalpha phosphorylates in vitro FXR in its DNA-binding domain on S135 and S154. Mutation of S135 and S154 to alanine residues reduces in cell FXR phosphorylation. In contrast to wild-type FXR, mutant FXRS135AS154A displays an impaired PKCalpha-induced transactivation and a decreased ligand-dependent FXR transactivation. Finally, phosphorylation of FXR by PKC promotes the recruitment of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha. In conclusion, these findings show that the phosphorylation of FXR induced by PKCalpha directly modulates the ability of agonists to activate FXR.

Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits translocation of protein kinase C in human colonic cancer cell lines

Deoxycholic acid (DCA) has been implicated in colonic carcinogenesis through effects mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation. By contrast, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is reported to reduce colon cancer incidence in ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UDCA modulated DCA-induced PKC isoenzyme translocation to its site of activity. HCT116 cells were treated with DCA, UDCA alone or pre-treated with UDCA followed by DCA. Analysis of translocation of endogenous and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) constructs of PKC isoenzymes was performed. Both DCA and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) but not UDCA caused translocation of endogenous PKC alpha, epsilon and delta and transfected PKC beta1-, epsilon- and delta-EGFP from cytosol to plasma membrane, reflecting isoenzyme activation. Furthermore, UDCA inhibited DCA-induced translocation of PKC isoenzymes. Inhibition of DCA-induced PKC translocation may be a mechanism for UDCA-mediated chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis.

Microbial species involved in production of 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol and effects of phosphatidylcholine on human fecal microbiota

1,2-sn-Diacylglycerols (DAGs) are activators of protein kinase C (PKC), which is involved in the regulation of colonic mucosal proliferation. Extracellular DAG has been shown to stimulate the growth of cancer cell lines in vitro and may therefore play an important role in tumor promotion. DAG has been detected in human fecal extracts and is thought to be of microbial origin. Hitherto, no attempts have been made to identify the predominant fecal bacterial species involved in its production. We therefore used anaerobic batch culture systems to determine whether fecal bacteria could utilize phosphatidylcholine (0.5% [wt/vol]) to produce DAG. Production was found to be dependent upon the presence of the substrate and was enhanced in the presence of high concentrations of deoxycholate (5 and 10 mM) in the growth medium. Moreover, its production increased with the pH, and large inter- and intraindividual variations were observed between cultures seeded with inocula from different individuals. Clostridia and Escherichia coli multiplied in the fermentation systems, indicating their involvement in phosphatidylcholine metabolism. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the number of Bifidobacterium spp. in the presence of phosphatidylcholine. Pure-culture experiments showed that 10 of the 12 strains yielding the highest DAG levels (>50 nmol/ml) were isolated from batch culture enrichments run at pH 8.5. We found that the strains capable of producing large amounts of DAG were predominantly Clostridium bifermentans (8 of 12), followed by Escherichia coli (2 of 12). Interestingly, one DAG-producing strain was Bifidobacterium infantis, which is often considered a beneficial gut microorganism. Our results have provided further evidence that fecal bacteria can produce DAG and that specific bacterial groups are involved in this process. Future strategies to reduce DAG formation in the gut should target these species.

The role of bile acids in carcinogenesis

Bile acids play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis as evidenced by epidemiological and experimental studies. Some bile acids stimulate growth of normal colonic and adenoma cells, but not of colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, bile acids stimulate invasion of colorectal cancer cells, at least in vitro. One possible mechanism of action is bile acid-induced DNA binding and transactivation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) by co-operate activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and PKC signaling. In the present paper, we review the mechanisms by which bile acids influence carcinogenesis.

Differences in Ca(2+) signaling underlie age-specific effects of secretagogues on colonic Cl(-) transport

Taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC) stimulates Cl(-) transport in adult (AD), but not weanling (WN) and newborn (NB), rabbit colonic epithelial cells (colonocytes). The present study demonstrates that stimuli like neurotensin (NT) are also age specific and identifies the age-dependent signaling step. Bile acid actions are segment and bile acid specific. Thus although TDC and taurochenodeoxycholate stimulate Cl(-) transport in AD distal but not proximal colon, taurocholate has no effect in either segment. TDC increases intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in AD, but not in WN and NB, colonocytes. In AD cells, TDC (5 min) action on Cl(-) transport needs intra- but not extracellular Ca(2+). NT, histamine, and bethanechol increase Cl(-) transport and [Ca(2+)](i) in AD, but not WN, distal colonocytes. However, A-23187 increased [Ca(2+)](i) and Cl(-) transport in all age groups, suggesting that Ca(2+)-sensitive Cl(-) transport is present from birth. Study of the proximal steps in Ca(2+) signaling revealed that NT, but not TDC, activates a GTP-binding protein, Galpha(q), in AD and WN cells. In addition, although WN and AD colonocytes had similar levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, NT and TDC increased 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate content only in AD cells. Nonresponsiveness of WN cells to Ca(2+)-dependent stimuli, therefore, is due to the absence of measurable phospholipase C activity. Thus delays in Ca(2+) signaling afford a crucial protective mechanism to meet the changing demands of the developing colon.

Effect of bile acids on fibroblast proliferation and viability

PURPOSE

To examine the in vitro effects of bile acids and salts on the viability, growth and morphology of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts.

METHODS

Human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts were grown from explants in culture and used between passages 3 and 5. Fibroblasts (n = 3) were treated in triplicate with deoxycholic acid (DA), sodium deoxycholate (NaD) and cholic acid (CA) at concentrations between 50 microM and 1 mM. Cell viability and growth were assessed with trypan blue staining and haemocytometer counting, and a colorimetric (MTT) assay. Morphology was assessed with light microscopy and cresyl violet staining.

RESULTS

A dose-dependent decrease in viability was observed following bile acid treatment (24 and 48 h) where the effects of DA > NaD > CA. The LD50 values at 48 h for DA, NaD and CA were 300 microM, 400 microM and 720 microM respectively. Cell growth following bile acid treatment was reduced compared with controls. Fibroblasts treated with bile acids displayed a loss of normal spindle-shaped morphology and multiple processes, some with varicosities, extended from many cells. These changes were dose-dependent, and at higher concentrations cells became detached and were non-viable (trypan-blue-positive). Extensive cell death was observed in cultures treated with DA 400 microM, NaD 500 microM and CA 800 microM.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower doses of bile acids and salts reduced in vitro fibroblast growth associated with morphological changes; higher doses induced fibroblast cytotoxicity. These observations suggest that bile acids and salts, in particular DA, may be useful in regulating wound fibrosis following trabeculectomy surgery.

Growth inhibition, enhancement of intercellular adhesion, and increased expression of carcinoembryonic antigen by overexpression of phosphoinositides-specific phospholipase C beta 1 in LS174T human colon adenocarcinoma cell line

By using a retrovirus-derived system we generated derivatives of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line LS174T (ATCC CL 188) that stably overexpress a full-length cDNA encoding the beta 1 isoform of bovine phosphoinositides-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). This was confirmed by the elevated levels of catalytic activity to release phosphoinositides from phosphatidylinositol (PI-PLC) or phosphatidylinositol-bis-phosphate (PIP2-PLC), and the enhanced expressions of messenger RNA and protein. PI-PLC beta 1 overexpresser clones grew to form cell clumps floating in liquid medium, whereas the pMV7-introduced control clones displayed morphologic characteristics that were very similar to those of the parent LS174T cell line. Three individual PI-PLC beta 1 overexpresser cell lines displayed increased doubling time (18.0 h, 21.5 h, and 23.8 h) when compared with 4 individual pMV7-introduced control cell lines (13.1 h, 10.7 h, 12.9 h, and 9.3 h). Anchorage-independent growth ability in soft agar medium was dramatically suppressed by overexpression of PLC beta 1, and the ability of PLC-overproducer clones to form aggregates when cultured in liquid medium was dramatically enhanced when compared with that of pMV7-introduced control clones. Tumorigenicity of PLC beta 1-overproducers was much weaker than that of vector-transduced control clones. The spontaneous release of carcinoembryonic antigen from PLC beta 1-overproducer clones was much higher than that from pMV7 control clones. The ability of PLC beta 1-overproducer clones to form aggregates during suspension culture was much stronger than that of the control clones. These results provide the first evidence that elevated levels of endogenous PI-PLC beta 1 suppress tumor cell growth, but enhance the ability to form cell aggregates and to release carcinoembryonic antigen, an intercellular adhesion molecule.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid protects in vitro models of human colonic cancer cells from cytotoxic effects of hydrophobic bile acids

Bile acids have been implicated as tumor promoters that enhance epithelial proliferation and the development of colonic tumors. This study investigated the effects of bile acids on the growth of in vitro models of human colonic epithelial cells. Cell lines with varying degrees of differentiation (Caco2, HT29, LS174T, and Lovo) were studied. Cell viability and number were measured by a tetrazolium (MTT) spectrophotometric assay. Enhanced cell growth was not observed with any bile acid over the range 10 nmol/L to 2.5 mmol/L. Cytotoxicity was consistently observed at concentrations of unconjugated bile acids greater than 0.1 mmol/L. The bile acid concentration at which 50% growth inhibition occurred was similar for all cell lines and increased in the following order: deoxycholic acid = chenodeoxycholic acid < taurodeoxycholic acid < ursodeoxycholic acid < taurochenodeoxycholic acid < cholic acid < tauroursodeoxycholic acid. Coincubation of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDC) with taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC) or taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TDCD) reversed the short-term (30-minute) cytotoxicity and release of glycoprotein induced by TDC or TCDC regardless of differentiation status. In contrast, TUDC did not reverse the cytotoxicity of deoxycholic acid. Unconjugated ursodeoxycholic acid did not alter short-term cytotoxicity of any bile acid. These data indicate that bile acids do not stimulate cell growth in undifferentiated or differentiated colon cancer cell lines, in contrast to normal colonic epithelium in vivo. Bile acid cytotoxicity correlates with the relative hydrophobicity of the bile acid. Because tauroursodeoxycholic acid alters the cytotoxicity of hydrophobic bile acids in vitro, further understanding of bile acid interactions in the colon may have important implications in altering tumor promotion.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and mitogenic signaling

The importance of PLC activation in cell proliferation is evident from the fact that the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 is one of the early events that follow the interaction of many growth factors and mitogens with their respective receptors. However, the importance of PLC activation is not restricted to proliferation; it is one of the most common transmembrane signaling events elicited by receptors that regulate many other cellular processes, including differentiation, metabolism, secretion, contraction, and sensory perception. It is also clear that cell proliferation signaling does not always require PLC, as indicated by the fact that growth factors such as insulin and CSF-1 do not appear to elicit the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2, even though the intracellular domains of their receptors carry a PTK domain and the receptors show topologies very similar to those of the PLC-activating growth factors PDGF, EGF, and FGF. The growth factor-dependent activation of PLC is initiated by the formation of a complex between the receptor PTK and PLC-gamma; the formation of this complex is mediated by a specific interaction between a tyrosine phosphate residue on the intracellular domain of PTK and the SH2 domain of PLC-gamma. The receptor PTK subsequently phosphorylates PLC-gamma, of which two distinct isozymes, PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2, have been identified. Proliferation of T cells and B cells in response to the aggregation of their respective cell surface receptors is also accompanied by the activation of PLC-gamma isozymes at an early stage. Unlike growth factor receptors, the T cell and B cell receptors lack intrinsic PTK activity but associate with several non-receptor PTKs of the Src and Syk families. Although the specific kinases are not known, one or more of these enzymes phosphorylate and activate PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2. Transduction of growth signals by G protein-coupled receptors such as those for thrombin or bombesin also requires PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis, which, in this instance, is mediated by PLC-beta isozymes. The PLC-beta subfamily consists of four distinct members: PLC-beta 1, PLC-beta 2, PLC-beta 3, and PLC-beta 4. Agonist interaction with specific G protein-coupled receptors causes the dissociation of Gq proteins into G alpha and G beta gamma subunits and the exchange of GDP bound to G alpha for GTP. The resulting GTP-bound G alpha subunit then activates PLC-beta isoforms by binding to the carboxyl-terminal region of the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of apoptosis in biology and pathology: resistance to apoptosis in colon carcinogenesis

The overview of apoptosis presented here emphasizes cell deletion in the immune system, with particular reference to T- and B-lymphocyte development, and the in vivo and in vitro senescence of human neutrophils. Some biochemical criteria that are used to identify apoptotic cells are described. Pitfalls in using agarose gel electrophoresis as the sole method for the identification of apoptotic cells are discussed. There are multiple modes of cell death that can be identified at the morphologic level. Thus the central role of microscopic methods, and in particular, electron microscopy, as an important tool in the study of cell death mechanisms, is presented. Apoptosis has a protective role against disease and could, a priori, have an important role in either the initiation or progression of cancer. Two paradoxes concerning the relationship of tumor aggressiveness at the clinical level to mitotic activity have been explained by an evaluation of apoptotic index. In the first case, basal cell carcinomas grow slowly but show a high rate of mitosis. Here, the apoptotic rate is quite high, but just below the mitotic rate, thereby accounting for the slow rate of growth. A second instance is follicular lymphoma, which has a low rate of mitosis that is less than that described for reactive germinal centers. However, apoptosis is markedly reduced in follicular lymphomas compared with that seen in reactive germinal centers, thus providing an explanation for the progressive growth of the follicle. We present a brief description of recent work from our laboratory that indicates that apoptosis may play an important role in colon carcinogenesis. We have shown that sodium deoxycholate, the particular bile salt present in highest concentration in the colon, induces apoptosis in the goblet cells of the human colonic mucosa in an in vitro assay. The intriguing finding is that cells of the normal-appearing mucosa of colon cancer patients are resistant to bile salt-induced apoptosis. This suggests a novel hypothesis about the etiologic role of bile salts in colon cancer. The chronic presence of bile salts that accompany a high-fat diet could select for apoptosis-resistant epithelial cells in the colon over time. Thus, a resistance-to-apoptosis bioassay may prove useful as an intermediate biomarker for determining which individuals are at high risk for colon cancer.

Expression of phospholipases gamma 1, beta 1, and delta 1 in primary human colon carcinomas and colon carcinoma cell lines

The levels of expression of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cs (PLCs) were examined in a series of primary human colon carcinomas and in eight colon carcinoma cell lines by using monoclonal antibodies and cDNA probes for PLC gamma 1, PLC beta 1, and PLC delta 1. Western and northern blot analyses of PLC gamma 1 revealed elevated expression of this isozyme at both the protein and mRNA levels in most tumors when compared with paired adjacent normal mucosa samples (in 11 of 13 pairs in the western blots and 8 of 9 pairs in the northern blots). On the other hand, decreased levels of the PLC delta 1 protein were seen in most colon carcinomas (12 of 13 paired samples). The levels of PLC beta 1 protein were too low to detect possible differences between the carcinoma and normal mucosa samples. Relatively high expression of PLC gamma 1 was found in almost all of the eight human colon carcinoma cell lines at both the protein and mRNA levels. Only weak expression of PLC beta 1 was detected in these cell lines, by both western and northern blot analyses, and PLC delta 1 protein was not detected in any of the carcinoma cell lines. These findings provide evidence that colon carcinomas display altered expression of individual isoforms of PLCs and suggest that increased expression of PLC gamma 1 may play an important role in colon carcinogenesis.