Direct interaction of the Golgi membrane with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane caused by nordihydroguaiaretic acid

A lysophospholipid acyltransferase antagonist, CI-976, creates novel membrane tubules marked by intracellular phospholipase A1 KIAA0725p

CI-976 is a lysophospholipid acyltransferase antagonist that is known to affect secretory and endocytic membrane-trafficking pathways likely by increasing the lysophospholipid content in membranes. Our previous study suggested that lysophospholipids formed through the action of an intracellular phospholipase A(1), KIAA0725p (also known as DDHD2 and iPLA(1)γ), may be important for the association of this enzyme with membranes. In this study, we examined the effect of CI-976 on the membrane association of KIAA0725p. While in HeLa cells KIAA0725p is localized in the Golgi and cytosol, in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), it was found to be principally localized in the cytosol with some on post-endoplasmic reticulum compartments including the cis-Golgi. Treatment of MEFs with CI-976 induced the redistribution of KIAA0725p to membrane tubules, which were in vicinity to fragmented mitochondria. These tubules were not decorated with canonical organelle markers including Golgi proteins. A human KIAA0725p mutant, which exhibits decreased membrane-binding ability, was also redistributed to membrane structures upon CI-976 treatment. Our data suggest that the association of KIAA0725p with membranes is regulated by lipid metabolism, and that CI-976 may create unique membrane structures that can be marked by KIAA0725p.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits an activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 mutant and blocks downstream signaling in multiple myeloma cells

Activating mutations within fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), a receptor tyrosine kinase, are responsible for human skeletal dysplasias including achondroplasia and the neonatal lethal syndromes, Thanatophoric Dysplasia (TD) type I and II. Several of these same FGFR3 mutations have also been identified somatically in human cancers, including multiple myeloma, bladder carcinoma, and cervical cancer. Based on reports that strongly activated mutants of FGFR3 such as the TDII (K650E) mutant signal preferentially from within the secretory pathway, the inhibitory properties of nordihydroguaiartic acid (NDGA), which blocks protein transport through the Golgi, were investigated. NDGA was able to inhibit FGFR3 autophosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, signaling molecules downstream of FGFR3 activation such as signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)1, STAT3, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were inhibited by NDGA treatment. Using HEK293 cells expressing activated FGFR3-TDII, together with several multiple myeloma cell lines expressing activated forms of FGFR3, NDGA generally resulted in a decrease in MAPK activation by 1 hour, and resulted in increased apoptosis over 24 hours. The effects of NDGA on activated FGFR3 derivatives targeted either to the plasma membrane or the cytoplasm were also examined. These results suggest that inhibitory small molecules such as NDGA that target a specific subcellular compartment may be beneficial in the inhibition of activated receptors such as FGFR3 that signal from the same compartment.

New nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivatives as anti-HIV agents

Reaction of nordihydroguaiaretic acid with various alkyl chloride, 1-piperidinecarbonyl chloride, methyl chloroformate, or 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole under alkaline conditions produced the corresponding phenol ethers, carbamates and carbonates, respectively, in 67-83% yields. Among these derivatives, the nitrogen-containing compounds were converted to the corresponding hydrochloride salts. Having good solubility, these NDGA derivatives were found stable in aqueous solution. These new compounds exerted appealing activity against HIV Tat-regulated transactivation in human epithelial cells. The most potent compound meso-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-bis(3,4-[2-(piperdino)ethoxyphenyl])butane tetrakishydrochloride salt (5b) showed IC(50) value of 0.88 microM.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid affects multiple dynein-dynactin functions in interphase and mitotic cells

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a well known lipoxygenase inhibitor, actually has pleiotropic effects on cells, which include cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and chemotaxis. We and others have shown previously that this compound causes Golgi disassembly by an unknown mechanism. In this study, we show that, in parallel with Golgi disassembly, NDGA induces the accumulation of the microtubule minus-end-directed motor dynein-dynactin complex at the centrosome, where microtubules minus-ends lie. Concomitant with this accumulation, dynein-dynactin-interacting proteins, such as ZW10 and EB1, were also redistributed to the centrosomal region. In cells where microtubules were depolymerized by nocodazole, NDGA promoted the formation of filaments consisting of dynein-dynactin and its interacting proteins, suggesting that it stimulates the association of these proteins in an ordered, not random, manner. Loss of dynactin function abolished not only NDGA-induced redistribution in intact cells but also filament formation in nocodazole-treated cells. The latter finding implies that dynactin is a key molecule for the association between dynein-dynactin and its interacting proteins. In mitotic cells, NDGA induced robust accumulation of dyneindynactin and its interacting proteins at the spindle poles. These results taken together suggest that NDGA perturbs membrane traffic by affecting the function of the microtubule motor dynein-dynactin complex and its auxiliary proteins. To our knowledge, NDGA is the first case of a reagent that can modulate dynein-dynactin-related processes.

Role of 5-lipoxygenase pathway in the regulation of RAW 264.7 macrophage proliferation

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites control cell proliferation, among other physiologic functions. RAW 264.7 macrophages can metabolise AA through the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways. We aimed to study the role of AA-metabolites derived from 5-LOX in the control of RAW 264.7 macrophage growth. Our results show that zileuton, a specific 5-LOX inhibitor, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a non-specific LOX inhibitor, inhibit cell proliferation and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Growth inhibition induced by NDGA can be explained by an apoptotic process, while zileuton does not seem to induce apoptosis. Moreover, these treatments delay the cell cycle, as analysed by flow cytometry. On the other hand, the leukotriene (LT) B(4) receptor antagonist U-75302, the LTD(4) receptor antagonists LY-171883 and MK-571, and the cysteinyl-LT receptor antagonist REV-5901 also inhibit cell proliferation and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation in a concentration-dependent manner, and delay the RAW 264.7 cell cycle. However, these antagonists did not induce annexin V staining, caspase activation or DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that exogenous addition of LTB(4) or LTD(4) revert the cell growth inhibition induced by zileuton or the leukotriene receptor antagonists mentioned above. Finally, we observed that LTB(4) and LTD(4), in the absence of growth factors, have pro-proliferative effects on macrophages, and we obtained preliminary evidences that this effect could be through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. In conclusion, our results show that the interaction between LTB(4) and LTD(4) with its respective receptor is involved in the control of RAW 264.7 macrophage growth.

Multinucleated giant cell formation exhibits features of phagocytosis with participation of the endoplasmic reticulum

Macrophage fusion leading to formation of multinucleated giant cells during chronic inflammation is poorly understood in mechanism and physiological significance. To address this, we developed a system of human macrophage fusion that utilizes IL-4, IL-13, or alpha-tocopherol to generate large foreign body-type giant cells (FBGC). Extending our previously demonstrated requirements for F-actin and mannose receptor (MR) activity, we find that macrophage fusion exhibits further features of a phagocytic process. Pharmacological inhibition of IL-4-induced FBGC formation indicates critical roles for vacuolar-type ATPase, microtubules, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)), but not calcium-dependent PLA(2) (cPLA(2)), secretory PLA(2) (sPLA(2)), cyclooxygenase, or lipoxygenase. Immunocytochemistry confirms iPLA(2) expression and absence of cPLA(2) or sPLA(2) expression in macrophages/FBGC. As markers of ER-mediated phagocytosis, calnexin and calregulin are detectable on non-permeabilized fusing macrophages and also concentrated at fusion interfaces where they co-localize with actin in permeabilized macrophages/FBGC. Furthermore, ER markers co-localize with concanavalin A reactivity on non-permeabilized fusing macrophages, suggesting that the ER may present MR ligand during fusion events. These data demonstrate for the first time that the mechanism of macrophage fusion leading to formation of multinucleated giant cells exhibits multiple features of phagocytosis with potential participation of the ER.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid-induced Ca2+ handling and cytotoxicity in human prostate cancer cells

The effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a compound commonly used as a lipoxygenases inhibitor, on intracellular free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) in PC3 human prostate cancer cells was investigated. [Ca2+]i was measured by using the Ca2+ -sensitive dye fura-2. NDGA increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 30 microM. The Ca2+ signal comprised a gradual and sustained increase. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ partly decreased the NDGA-induced [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that the Ca2+ signal was due to both extracellular Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release. NDGA-induced Ca2+ influx was independently confirmed by measuring NDGA-induced Mn2+ -coupled quench of fura-2 fluorescence. The NDGA-induced Ca2+ influx was not affected by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers. In Ca2+ -free medium, the NDGA-induced [Ca2+]i increase was abolished by pretreatment with 1 microM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor), and conversely, pretreatment with NDGA abolished thapsigargin-induced [Ca2+]i increase. NDGA-induced intracellular Ca2+ release was not altered by inhibition of phospholipase C. Overnight treatment with 20-50 microM NDGA inhibited cell proliferation rate in a concentration-dependent manner. Several other lipoxygenases inhibitors did not alter [Ca2+]i. Collectively, this study shows that in prostate cells, NDGA induced a [Ca2+]i increase via releasing stored Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum in a manner independent of phospholipase C activity, and by causing Ca2+ influx. NDGA also caused cytotoxicity at higher concentrations.