Oncogenes, Inositol Lipids and Cellular Proliferation

Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by the calcium antagonist clentiazem: role of protein kinase C

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated as a causative factor in atherogenesis. Calcium channel blockers have been shown to retard the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate the mechanism by which these drugs mediate such actions, we studied the effects of a new calcium antagonist, clentiazem, on the in vitro proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. PDGF-induced prolifertion of these cells is markedly inhibited by clentiazem. The probable involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in this cellular response is suggested. Clentiazem appear to cause inhibition of PKC translocation that is induced by phorbol esters and PDGF-BB and the phosphorylation of the 80 kDa protein substrate of PKC in vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, treatment with clentiazem leads to a marked decrease in the number of specific phorbol ester binding sites. Analysis of the membrane bound isoenzymes of protein kinase C revealed that the inhibition was specific to delta enzymes. Arterial cholesterol ester hydrolysis is not significantly altered by clentiazem. Our results suggest that clentiazem may inhibit cell proliferation by regulating cytosolic PKC and preventing its membrane translocation and activation.

Mechanism of the impaired T-cell proliferation in adult rats exposed to alcohol in utero

Although attempts have been made to assess the effect of ethanol on the immune responses in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome, there is no consensus as to the effect of ethanol on the immune system. Evidence that fetal alcohol-exposed (FAE) humans and animals have diminished proliferative response of T-cells to mitogenic lectins is well established. However, little is known about the mechanism of a toxic effect of ethanol on T-cell growth. Thus, a rat model was used to delineate the mode of ethanol action on T-cell proliferation. We found that the diminished T-cell proliferation in young adult FAE rats was due to a decreased responsiveness to interleukin 2 (IL2), but not to an impaired production of IL2 and expression of IL2 receptors (IL2R). Furthermore, the decreased proliferative response did not result from the presence of an excessive suppressor T-cell activity. Measurements of [Ca+2]i and T-cell proliferation were concurrently performed in batches of cells from the same animals. It was demonstrated that an increase in [Ca+2]i induced by Concanavalin A (Con A) in T-cells from FAE rats was not impaired, although the T-cell proliferation induced by Con A was significantly diminished. The results of the IL2-binding study showed that the Kd values and the number of both high- and low-affinity IL2R binding sites on the T-cells of FAE rats were comparable to those of pair-, or chow-fed rats. Finally, the results of the kinetics and rate of the internalization of IL2 showed that (1) the amount of the internalized IL2 was significantly reduced in T-cells from FAE rats, and (2) the half-time (t1/2) for dissociation of IL2 from the receptors in the T-cells from FAE rats was also greater than that of the control rats. These results taken together indicate that ethanol suppresses T-cell proliferation by interfering with events following the IL2-IL2R interaction.

Chapter 26: Regulation of transendothelial transport in the cerebral microvessels: the role of second messengers-generating systems

Different elements of the intracellular signaling messenger systems have been detected in the course of our studies in the cerebral endothelial cells. It has been shown that the synthesizing enzymes of and substrate proteins for the second messenger molecules are present in the cerebral endothelial cells, and their activity and/or amount can change in pathological circumstances, i.e., during the formation of brain oedema. Pharmacological treatments interfering with the second messenger systems proved to be effective in the prevention of brain oedema formation.

Autocrine motility factor stimulates a three-fold increase in inositol trisphosphate in human melanoma cells

The biochemical pathways through which tumor cell locomotion is mediated are poorly understood. Autocrine motility factor (AMF), which is produced by and stimulates motility in A2058 human melanoma cells, was used to characterize phosphoinositide (PtdIns) metabolism activated in association with tumor cell motility. AMF stimulated up to a 400% increase in de novo incorporation of 3H-myo-inositol into cellular lipids beginning 40 minutes after exposure. In cells prelabeled with 3H-myo-inositol, AMF stimulated a 200% increase in total inositol phosphates (inositol monophosphate, InsP1; inositol bisphosphate, InsP2; inositol trisphosphate, InsP3) after 90 minutes of exposure, with a 300% maximal increase in InsP3 at 120 minutes. InsP1 and InsP2 were maximally increased 130% of control values. Treatment with AMF stimulated a parallel dose-dependent increase in both motility and PtdIns levels. We have shown previously that the A2058 motile response to AMF is inhibited markedly by cell pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PT). Inositol phosphate production was inhibited by a 2-hour pretreatment of cells with PT (0.5 microgram/ml). PT treatment of A2058 membranes was associated with ADP-ribosylation of a 40-kDa protein consistent with the presence of an alpha subunit of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein). These data indicate that AMF elicits increases in cell motility and phosphoinositide metabolism via a PT-sensitive G protein signal transduction pathway.

Epidermal growth factor responsiveness in smooth muscle cells from hypertensive and normotensive rats

Aortic smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit inappropriate proliferation characteristics in culture that suggest a modified response to serum mitogens or growth factors. The present study compares vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with respect to their proliferative and functional response to growth factors. Specific attention was focused on the interaction of these vascular smooth muscle cells with epidermal growth factor. An increased growth rate of vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR (vs. WKY rats) was observed when cells were cultured in the presence of serum (10% and 0.5%), but not under serum-free conditions. The additional presence of low serum concentrations (0.5%) was required for epidermal growth factor to elicit a proliferative response, whereupon smooth muscle cells from SHR displayed an increased (vs. WKY rats) growth rate. Saturation binding of [125I]epidermal growth factor to intact smooth muscle cells indicated a twofold increase in receptor density in SHR-derived cells (p less than 0.001 vs. WKY rats) without an alteration in affinity for the growth factor. Cells derived from SHR also exhibited greater functional responsiveness to epidermal growth factor when compared with smooth muscle cells from WKY rats as evidenced by amplifications of both S6 kinase activation, phosphoinositide catabolism, elevation of intracellular pH, and DNA synthesis (nuclear labeling). We conclude that increased responsiveness of SHR-derived smooth muscle cells to epidermal growth factor could contribute to alterations in vascular smooth muscle growth and tone that may be fundamental to the pathogenesis of hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Acute effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha on inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in the large and small cells of the bovine corpus luteum

The present studies were conducted to determine whether the large or small bovine luteal cell was the site for the stimulatory effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) on phospholipase C-catalyzed inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. Corpora lutea were removed from heifers during the luteal phase of the normal estrous cycle. Small luteal cells were isolated by unit-gravity sedimentation and large luteal cells were isolated by flow cytometry using a Becton Dickson FACS 440 cell sorter. PGF provoked rapid (5-30 s) and sustained (up to 30 min) increases in the levels of inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates (IP, IP2, IP3, respectively) in small luteal cells. IP3 was formed more rapidly than IP2 or IP following PGF treatment. The PGF-stimulated increase in IP3 was accompanied by a transient reduction in the levels of 3H-labeled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. LiCl (10 mM) enhanced inositol phosphate accumulation in response to PGF. Maximal increases in inositol phosphate accumulation were observed with 1-10 microM PGF and half-maximal increases were observed with 60 nM PGF. PGF (1-10 microM) had no effect on cAMP levels but stimulated small increases in progesterone accumulation in 30 min incubations of small luteal cells. PGF also increased the accumulation of inositol phosphates in large luteal cells. The increases were apparent within 5 min of incubation (the earliest time examined) and further increases were observed in incubations lasting 30 min. PGF had no significant effect on cAMP or progesterone in 30 min incubations of large cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetics of protein phosphorylation in microvessels isolated from rat brain: modulation by second messengers

The role of second messengers in the regulation of protein phosphorylation was studied in microvessels isolated from rat cerebral cortex. The phosphoproteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the kinetics of 32P incorporation into specific protein substrates were evaluated by computer-aided x-ray film densitometry. With the use of this method, Ca2+-calmodulin (CAM)-, Ca2+/phospholipid (PK C)-, cyclic GMP (cGMP)-, and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinases were detected. CAM-dependent protein kinase proved to be the major phosphorylating enzyme in the microvascular fraction of the rat cerebral cortex; the activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase was much higher than that of the cAMP-dependent one. Autophosphorylation of both the alpha- and beta-subunits of CAM-dependent protein kinase and the proteolytic fragment of the PK C enzyme was also detected. The kinetics of phosphorylation of the individual polypeptides indicate the presence in the cerebral endothelium of phosphoprotein phosphatases. The phosphorylation of proteins in the cerebral capillaries was more or less reversible; the addition of second messengers initiated a very rapid increase in 32P incorporation, followed by a slow decrease. Because the intracellular signal transducers like Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides are frequently regulated by different vasoactive substances in the endothelial cells, the modified phosphorylation evoked by these second messengers may be related in vivo to certain changes in the transport processes of the blood-brain barrier.

Cell-cycle-related metabolic and enzymatic events in proliferating rat thymocytes

Cell-cycle progression of rat thymocytes stimulated with concanavalin A and interleukin 2 was monitored at 12-h intervals by pulse labeling aliquots of the cell culture with [3H]thymidine, by measuring cellular DNA and protein content and by counting the number of cells in the cultures. The cell cycle was completed after 96 h of culture with the S phase peaking at 48 h. Early events in thymocyte activation were enhanced phosphatidylinositol turnover and the induction of ornithine decarboxylase. Concomitant changes were observed in the rates of DNA synthesis and glycolysis accompanied by a 20-fold increase in glucose uptake 48 h after stimulation. However, the maximal increment in the glycolytic rate preceded that of DNA synthesis by 12 h. Apart from the quantitative changes which occurred during the cell-cycle progression, there was also a change from partial aerobic glucose degradation to CO2 (26%) to almost complete anaerobic conversion of glucose to lactate (85%) and less than 3% to CO2. Glycolytic enzyme levels increased fourfold to tenfold and reached their maxima 48 h after mitogenic stimulation. Maximal increments of glycolytic enzyme activities preceded or coincided with the maximal increments of the glycolytic rate. Actinomycin D (1.5 ng/ml) completely inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis but did not show any inhibitory effect either on glycolytic enzyme induction or on enhanced glycolysis. During mitosis and return of the cells to the non-proliferative state, all of the enhanced metabolic rates returned to their initial levels and the elevated enzyme activities were decreased also. The marked changes of metabolic rates and enzyme activities observed at the various phases of the cell cycle suggest that these biochemical events may also serve as suitable parameters for evaluating the response of lymphocytes towards mitogens and lymphokines.

Epidermal growth factor binding in intracranial neoplasms: preliminary biochemical and clinicopathological findings

The binding capacity for epidermal growth factor (EGF) was determined in 34 intracranial neoplasms (14 glioblastoma, seven low-grade gliomas, six meningiomas, and seven others) and four specimens of normal brain by using [I125]EGF. EGF binding and binding affinity of the sites in the tumour and brain samples were compared to placenta and rat liver. All specimens of normal brain were negative. Ten of 14 glioblastoma specimens contained EGF binding (level range 10-39,660 fmol/mg protein), however, ligand binding affinity was high in only three tumours. Only one of nine low-grade gliomas contained EGF binding activity. Five of six meningiomas contained EGF binding sites (level range 49-776 fmol/mg protein) and binding affinity was high in two. When present EGF binding activity was found in all cellular fractions except the cytosol. There were no clinical or histopathological features within major tumour groups that were predictive of either high or specific EGF binding activity. These preliminary studies have confirmed that EGF receptor-like activity is present in the particulate fractions of intracranial neoplasms of both mesenchymal and neuroctodermal origin. In a large proportion of these tumours the EGF binding affinity is low, suggesting either a less specific or truncated EGF binding site.

Response of human B cells to different anti-immunoglobulin isotypes: absence of a correlation between early activation events and cell proliferation

Cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin (sIg) by antibodies against IgM, IgG and IgD activates B cells and in some circumstances can induce cell proliferation. We studied the potential link between anti-Ig-induced changes in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), inositol phosphate production and the ability to induce cell proliferation in the presence or absence of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Anti-IgM, but not anti-IgD or anti-IgG, induced cell proliferation in the presence but not the absence of TPA. Each of the antibodies induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i which appeared to be due to release of Ca2+ from internal stores. This was followed by a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i, apparently due to Ca2+ uptake from the extracellular medium. Anti-IgD induced the greatest increase in [Ca2+]i, anti-IgM induced intermediate changes and anti-IgG the lowest change. Since inositol 1,3,5-trisphosphate (IP3) can release Ca2+ from internal stores, we tested the ability of each anti-Ig isotype to increase concentrations of IP3. In contrast to the change in [Ca2+]i and proliferation, anti-IgG induced the most significant increase in IP3 concentrations. Taken together these data indicate that changes in [Ca2+]i, inositol phosphate production and anti-Ig-induced human B cell proliferation are not directly linked. They also demonstrate that changes in [Ca2+]i, inositol phosphate production and activation of protein kinase C are not sufficient to induce proliferation of human B cells. It appears that anti-IgM induces an additional Ca2+-independent, inositol phosphate-independent and protein kinase C-independent activation signal which can collaborate with TPA to induce B cell proliferation. The molecular events involved in this signal remain to be identified.

Epidermal growth factor and its receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds with high affinity and specificity to a single site on the external domain of its transmembrane receptor to activate the tyrosine protein kinase activity of its cytoplasmic portion. The EGF receptor gene is amplified and over-expressed in several human tumors, suggesting that increased concentrations of the proto-oncogene leads to constitutive activity similar to that seen with oncogene erb B. Synthesis and degradation of the EGF receptor are regulated, in addition, covalent modification by phosphorylation regulates activity of the receptor protein. Intramolecular self-phosphorylation of Tyr1173 removes a competitive inhibitory constraint to enhance phosphorylation of substrates. Phosphorylation of Thr654 by protein kinase C decreases high affinity EGF binding and EGF-stimulated tyrosine protein kinase activity, providing a mechanism for heterologous regulation of the EGF receptor by tumor promoters and other ligand X receptor complexes. Extensive regulation contributes to normal growth control, abrogation of regulatory controls contributes to uncontrolled growth as seen with erb B transformation and EGF receptor gene amplification in human tumors.

Early events in human B cell activation: metabolic pathways vary according to the first signal used

The effects of the calcium channel blocking drug Verapamil and of palmitoyl-carnitine (PTC), an inhibitor of protein-kinase C activity, on human B cell activation were measured. Both Verapamil and PTC inhibited the B cell proliferation induced by costimulation with anti-mu antibody and with 3 different growth factors: interleukin 2, 20-kDa B cell growth factor and 50-kDa B cell growth factor. Both uridine and thymidine incorporation induced by costimulation with ionomycin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were inhibited by Verapamil and PTC. In contrast, B cell proliferation was resistant to Verapamil (while being still inhibited by PTC) in two situations: when B cells were costimulated with PMA and growth factors and when B cells previously activated in vitro (by anti-mu antibody or PMA) were stimulated with growth factors. These results confirm that the late stage (G1----S transition) of B cell activation is independent of Ca2+ entry. More importantly, they show that the initial events induced by anti-mu antibody and by PMA are based on different biochemical pathways: PMA would act on a subpopulation of B cells which has already received an early signal of activation in vivo. This emphasizes the functional and biochemical heterogeneity of the G0 stage among circulating B cells.

Loss of mouse fibroblast cell response to phorbol esters restored by microinjected protein kinase C

The phorbol esters in addition to being among the most potent mouse skin tumour promoters profoundly affect many different biological systems. It is postulated that they act through activation of protein kinase C, but substantial heterogeneity in their pharmacological and binding behaviour in some systems has caused concern about whether this is their only target. Evidence linking protein kinase C activation with biological responses to the phorbol esters includes similarity in structure-activity relations for binding and response; in vitro phosphorylation of specific proteins by protein kinase C at the same sites at which phorbol ester treatment induces phosphorylation in intact cells; and correlation in certain cell types between down regulation of protein kinase C on chronic phorbol ester treatment and loss of cellular responsiveness to the phorbol ester. Here we report that microinjection of purified protein kinase C into Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts pretreated with the phorbol ester phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) restores the mitogenic response of the cells to PDBu, directly establishing the involvement of protein kinase C in this response.

Inhibition of macrophage activation by calcium channel blockers and calmodulin antagonists

The biochemical mechanisms by which macrophages become activated to the tumoricidal state are poorly understood. To investigate the role of calcium in this process, the effect of calcium channel blockers and calmodulin antagonists on the acquisition of tumoricidal properties by macrophages activated by a number of different agents was examined. Activation of thioglycollate-stimulated C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages by macrophage activation factor (MAF) plus LPS, IFN-gamma plus LPS or the calcium ionophore, A23187, was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by the calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil. These agents blocked the influx of 45Ca into macrophages activated by MAF plus LPS. Macrophage activation was also inhibited by chlorpromazine, W-7, and calmidazolium at concentrations known to perturb calmodulin function. The data suggest that activation of macrophages to the tumoricidal state is a calcium-dependent process involving the participation of calcium-regulated biochemical reactions whose activities can be modulated by pharmacological agents that frustrate transmembrane calcium fluxes and/or inhibit calmodulin function.

Modulation of the activity of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor by phorbol myristate acetate

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) weakly activates Na+/H+ exchange in NR-6 cells. Simultaneously, PMA blocks the activation of Na+/H+ exchange by platelet-derived growth factor or by serum. Phorbol esters that do not activate protein kinase C do not show this metabolic response. We conclude that activation of Na+/H+ exchange by platelet-derived growth factor or serum does not require the intermediate activation of protein kinase C. We postulate from this and previous observations that a major role of protein kinase C is to act as an inhibitor of the activity of cell surface receptors, in particular mitogen receptors.

Serine kinase activity associated with Maloney murine sarcoma virus-124-encoded p37mos

An antiserum directed against amino acid residues 37-55 [anti-mos (37-55) serum] of the predicted v-mos sequence was used to precipitate p37mos from Moloney murine sarcoma virus-124 (Mo-MuSV-124) acutely infected 3T3 cells. Proteins with sizes ranging from p37mos to 43 kDa (p43) were found to be phosphorylated when anti-mos (37-55) immune complexes containing p37mos were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mn2+. The phosphorylation of p37mos and p43 could be specifically blocked when the anti-mos (37-55) serum was incubated with 37-55 cyclic mos peptide prior to immunoprecipitation, but not if the serum was preincubated with an unrelated peptide representing amino acids of the myc protein sequence. Anti-mos (37-55) immune complexes from uninfected 3T3 cells did not produce any phosphorylated proteins the size of p37mos or p43. However, a 50-kDa protein (p50) was phosphorylated in both unblocked and mos peptide-blocked anti-mos (37-55) immune complexes from infected 3T3 cells, and in immune complexes from uninfected cells. Quercetin, an inhibitor of some protein kinases, inhibited the kinase phosphorylating p50 but not the kinase phosphorylating p37mos and p43. Preabsorption of the cell extract prior to immunoprecipitation with an excess of formalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus, complexed with preimmune normal rabbit serum IgG, specifically removed the kinase phosphorylating p50. The amount of in vitro phosphorylated p37mos and p43 in the immune-complex kinase assay reached a maximum in extracts of 3T3 cells 2-3 days postinfection with Mo-MuSV 124 but decreased to trace levels after 5 days. Metabolically and in vitro phosphorylated p37mos generated an identical pattern of phosphopeptides upon partial V8 protease digestion. Based on peptide mapping and a kinetic analysis of the in vitro phosphorylation reaction, p37mos appears to be a precursor to the p43 phosphorylated species. Phosphoamino acid analyses revealed only phosphoserine in in vitro phosphorylated p37mos and p43mos. It was concluded that p37mos is closely associated with a serine kinase activity and that the in vitro phosphorylation of p37mos may lead to formation of a highly modified mos protein (p43) by way of superphosphorylation.

Identification of two of the major phosphorylated polypeptides of the bovine lens utilizing a lens cAMP-dependent protein kinase system

Two of the major in vitro phosphorylated polypeptides of the bovine lens have been identified. Analysis by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (IEF) has demonstrated that the lens phosphorylated 57,000 and 43,000 dalton polypeptides correspond in mobility to purified phosphorylated bovine lens vimentin and chicken gizzard actin, respectively. Purified actin and vimentin were phosphorylated by a partially purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase isolated from the outer cortex water soluble fraction. All detectable bovine lens vimentin isoelectric variants were phosphorylated. In both the lens fiber cell and chicken gizzard actin preparations, the phosphorylated actin isoelectric variants did not correspond in mobility to the major actin isoelectric variant, but were more acidic. Phosphorylation in all preparations occurred at serine residues.