Transcriptional inactivation of c-myc and the transferrin receptor in dibutyryl cyclic AMP-treated HL-60 cells

Role of phosphodiesterase 2 in growth and invasion of human malignant melanoma cells

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate the intracellular concentrations and effects of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). The role of PDEs in malignant tumor cells is still uncertain. The role of PDEs, especially PDE2, in human malignant melanoma PMP cell line was examined in this study. In PMP cells, 8-bromo-cAMP, a cAMP analog, inhibited cell growth and invasion. However, 8-bromo-cGMP, a cGMP analog, had little or no effect. PDE2 and PDE4, but not PDE3, were expressed in PMP cells. Growth and invasion of PMP cells were inhibited by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA), a specific PDE2 inhibitor, but not by rolipram, a specific PDE4 inhibitor. Moreover, cell growth and invasion were inhibited by transfection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for PDE2A and a catalytically-dead mutant of PDE2A. After treating cells with EHNA or rolipram, intracellular cAMP concentrations were increased. Growth and invasion were stimulated by PKA14-22, a PKA inhibitor, and inhibited by N(6)-benzoyl-c AMP, a PKA specific cAMP analog, whereas 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2'-O-methyl-cAMP, an Epac specific cAMP analog, did not. Invasion, but not growth, was stimulated by A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP) St-Ht31 inhibitory peptide. Based on these results, PDE2 appears to play an important role in growth and invasion of the human malignant melanoma PMP cell line. Selectively suppressing PDE2 might possibly inhibit growth and invasion of other malignant tumor cell lines.

Functional cross-talk between the cyclic AMP and Jak/STAT signaling pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II), the primary effector of the renin-angiotensin system, is a multifunctional hormone that plays an important role in vascular function. In addition to its classical vasoconstrictor action, more recent studies demonstrated that Ang II stimulates the growth of a number of cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) (reviewed in [1-3]). In vivo studies have shown that chronic infusion of Ang II leads to the development of vascular hypertrophy in rats, whereas administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or Ang II receptor antagonists prevents or regresses vascular hypertrophy in models of genetic and experimental hypertension [4]. Consistent with in vivo data, several laboratories have shown that Ang II stimulates protein synthesis and induces cellular hypertrophy, but not cell proliferation, in cultured aortic SMC [5-9]. Ang II also induces directed migration (chemotaxis) of vascular SMC [10, 11], although its effect is less prominent than that of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The cellular mechanisms underlying these diverse actions of Ang II are not clearly understood but are likely to involve the activation of distinct signaling pathways.

The biphasic induction of p21 and p27 in breast cancer cells by modulators of cAMP is posttranscriptionally regulated and independent of the PKA pathway

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevation affects growth arrest and differentiation in a wide variety of breast cell lines; however, the mechanisms associated with this process are poorly understood. Previous studies linked cAMP-mediated growth arrest in breast tumor cells to increased levels of cyclin kinase inhibitor (CKI), p21. In the present study we examined the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) on p21 and p27 induction in the breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-157. The induction of the CKIs by modulators of cAMP such as cholera toxin (CT) + 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine (IBMX) and lovastatin fluctuates with biphasic kinetics (although the kinetics of CKI induction with CT + IBMX treatment are different from that of lovastatin) and is depicted by the periodic accumulation of lower molecular weight forms of p21 and p27 which also correlate with fluctuations in CDK2 activity. Using three different approaches we show that the cAMP-mediated induction of CKIs is independent of PKA activity. In the first approach we treated MDA-MB-157 cells with a variety of cAMP modulators such as CT + IBMX, and forskolin in the presence or absence of H-89, a potent PKA inhibitor. This analysis revealed that the cAMP activators were capable of inducing p21 even though PKA activity was completely eliminated. In the second approach PKA dominant negative stable clones of MDA-MB-157 treated with CT + IBMX or forskolin also resulted in p21 induction, in the absence of any PKA activity. Last, treatment of MDA-MB-157 cells with lovastatin, another known cAMP modulator which also causes growth arrest, resulted in the induction of p21 and p27 without any increase in PKA activity. Collectively, the above results suggest that the induction of p21 by cAMP is through a novel pathway, independent of PKA activity.

The transferrin receptor: role in health and disease

The transferrin receptor is a membrane glycoprotein whose only clearly defined function is to mediate cellular uptake of iron from a plasma glycoprotein, transferrin. Iron uptake from transferrin involves the binding of transferrin to the transferrin receptor, internalization of transferrin within an endocytic vesicle by receptor-mediated endocytosis and the release of iron from the protein by a decrease in endosomal pH. With the exception of highly differentiated cells, transferrin receptors are probably expressed on all cells but their levels vary greatly. Transferrin receptors are highly expressed on immature erythroid cells, placental tissue, and rapidly dividing cells, both normal and malignant. In proliferating nonerythroid cells the expression of transferrin receptors is negatively regulated post-transcriptionally by intracellular iron through iron responsive elements (IREs) in the 3' untranslated region of transferrin receptor mRNA. IREs are recognized by specific cytoplasmic proteins (IRPs; iron regulatory proteins) that, in the absence of iron in the labile pool, bind to the IREs of transferrin receptor mRNA, preventing its degradation. On the other hand, the expansion of the labile iron pool leads to a rapid degradation of transferrin receptor mRNA that is not protected since IRPs are not bound to it. However, some cells and tissues with specific requirements for iron probably evolved mechanisms that can override the IRE/IRP-dependent control of transferrin receptor expression. Erythroid cells, which are the most avid consumers of iron in the organism, use a transcriptional mechanism to maintain very high transferrin receptor levels. Transcriptional regulation is also involved in the receptor expression during T and B lymphocyte activation. Macrophages are another example of a cell type that shows 'unorthodox' responses in terms of IRE/IRP paradigm since in these cells elevated iron levels increase (rather than decrease) transferrin receptor mRNA and protein levels. Erythroid cells contain the highest mass of the total organismal transferrin receptors which are released from reticulocytes during their maturation to erythrocytes. Hence, plasma contains small amounts of transferrin receptors which represent a soluble fragment of the extracellular receptor domain. Measurements of serum transferrin receptor concentrations are clinically useful since their levels correlate with the total mass of immature erythroid cells.

The effect of papaverine on morphologic differentiation, proliferation and invasive potential of human prostatic cancer LNCaP cells

BACKGROUND

Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) level changes are thought to play an important role in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing differentiation in several types of cells. It has been reported that cyclic AMP analogs induce terminal differentiation in human prostate cancer cells. Consequently, phosphodiesterase inhibitors may be useful in delineating the role of cyclic AMP in the differentiation of these cells. Therefore, the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on morphologic differentiation, proliferation and invasive potential of human prostate cancer cells was investigated.

METHODS

Three human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, DU145 and LNCaP were treated with one of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors, papaverine, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) or theophylline, for 6 days. Morphologic changes of these cells induced by phosphodiesterase inhibitors were observed by microscopy. Intracellular cyclic AMP levels in LNCaP cells were measured by radioimmunoassay using a cyclic AMP assay kit. The effect of papaverine on the proliferation and invasive potential of LNCaP cells were measured by cell counting and the Matrigel invasion chamber assay.

RESULTS

Of the three agents, examined papaverine (10(-5) mol/L) is the most effective inducer of morphologic change and also raised intracellular cyclic AMP levels in LNCaP cells. However, unlike LNCaP cells, PC-3 and DU145 cells treated with phosphodiesterase inhibitors, including papaverine, showed little change in morphology. Additionally, proliferation and invasive potential of LNCaP cells were significantly inhibited by papaverine.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that papaverine induces terminal differentiation in LNCaP cells, which is correlated with an intracellular cyclic AMP-mediated pathway.

Cyclic AMP induces inhibition of cyclin A expression and growth arrest in human hepatoma cells

Classical cytotoxic therapy has been minimally useful in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In an effort to develop a new approach to the treatment of this neoplasm, we have investigated the signal transduction pathways regulating the growth of human hepatoma cells. In the data reported here, cyclic AMP (cAMP), a negative growth regulator for many cells of epithelial origin, induced G1 synchronization and apoptosis in the HepG2 human hepatoma cell line. The effects of cAMP on the components of the G1/S transition were analyzed. There was no detectable effect of two different cAMP analogs, 8-bromo cAMP or dibutyryl cAMP on the level of the D-type cyclins, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, p53, or the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 or p27. In contrast, the cAMP analogs induced a dramatic downregulation of cyclin A protein, cyclin A messenger RNA, and cyclin A-dependent kinase activity. Cyclin A-dependent kinase has been shown to be required for the G1-S transition. Furthermore, cyclin A deregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The data reported here suggest a novel signal transduction-based approach to hepatoma therapy.

Cyclic AMP-mediated inhibition of angiotensin II-induced protein synthesis is associated with suppression of tyrosine phosphorylation signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

In the present study, we have examined the effect of increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels on the stimulatory action of angiotensin II (Ang II) on protein synthesis. Treatment with cAMP-elevating agents potently inhibited Ang II-induced protein synthesis in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and in rat fibroblasts expressing the human AT1 receptor. The inhibition was dose-dependent and was observed at all concentrations of the peptide. To explore the mechanism of cAMP action, we have analyzed the effects of forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine on various receptor-mediated responses. Elevation of cAMP did not alter the binding properties of the AT1 receptor and did not interfere with the activation of phospholipase C or the induction of early growth response genes by Ang II. Likewise, Ang II-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/ERK2 and p70 S6 kinase was unaffected by cAMP. In contrast, we found that increased concentration of cAMP strongly inhibited the stimulatory effect of Ang II on protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Specifically, cAMP abolished Ang II-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion-associated protein paxillin and of the tyrosine kinase Tyk2. These results identify a novel mechanism by which the cAMP signaling system may exert growth-inhibitory effects in specific cell types.

Cloning and functional analysis of the hematopoietic cell-specific phospholipase C(gamma)2 promoter

Phospholipase C(gamma)2 (PLCgamma2) is a phospholipid-converting enzyme which, upon receptor stimulation, is activated within membrane-bound signalling complexes. In contrast to the highly ubiquitous PLCgamma1, PLCgamma2 is expressed predominantly in B-lymphocytes. Associated with antigen-coupling receptors it is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation after the triggering of B-cell surface immunoglobulin. We have cloned and sequenced the human PLCgamma2 promoter. Primer extension analysis reveals the existence of a major transcriptional start site. The TATA-less promoter contains G+C-rich stretches with a cluster of contiguous SP1 consensus sites, an NF1, and an AP2 site between bp -220 to -70. A construct containing the region from -189 to +78 confers full promoter activity, as shown by fusion to a luciferase reporter gene construct. The distal part of the promoter between bp -662 to -293 containing an SRE, EBF and CACCC box contributed negatively to promoter activity in the B-cell line Raji but not in three adherent cell lines. In Raji cells, PLCgamma2 mRNA is expressed at low levels with a half life greater than 4 h. After treatment with serum, TPA, retinoic acid, or with 5-azacytidine increased levels of PLCgamma2 mRNA were induced in B-cells.

c-Myc expression is controlled by the mitogenic cAMP-cascade in thyrocytes

In dog thyroid epithelial cells in primary culture, thyrotropin (TSH), acting through cAMP, induces proliferation and differentiation expression, whereas epidermal growth factor (EGF) and phorbol esters induce proliferation and dedifferentiation. In these cells, we have detailed the regulation by cAMP of the c-myc protooncogene mRNA and protein. The cAMP signaling pathway induces a biphasic increase of c-myc mRNA and protein. c-Myc protein accumulation follows the abundance and kinetics of its mRNA expression. Using in vitro elongation of nascent transcripts to measure transcription and actinomycin D (AcD) chase experiments to study mRNA stability, we have shown that in the first phase cAMP releases a transcriptional elongation block. No modification of transcriptional initiation was observed. After 30 min of treatment with TSH, c-myc mRNA was also stabilized. During the second phase, cAMP stabilization of the mRNA disappears and transcription is again shut off. Thus, in a tissue in which it stimulates proliferation and specific gene expression, cAMP regulates biphasically c-myc expression by mechanisms operating at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.

Effects of protein kinase modulators on transferrin receptor expression in human leukaemic HL-60 cells

The mRNA of transferrin receptor (TfR) is constitutively expressed in proliferating human leukaemic HL-60 cells. Treatment of HL-60 cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, or dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), a protein kinase A (PKA) activator, resulted in a 90% decrease in the level of TfR mRNA. Inhibition of TfR mRNA expression induced by 10 nM PMA and 100 microM dbcAMP was abolished by prior incubation of cells with 0.1-1.0 microM GF109203X, a PKC-specific inhibitor, and 1-10 microM H-89, a PKA-specific inhibitor, respectively. The blocking effects of GF109203X and H-89 were dose-dependent and complete at the highest concentrations of the inhibitors used. Although treatment of cells with GF109203X or H-89 alone did not alter the constitutive expression of TfR mRNA, incubation of cells with 30-100 nM staurosporine, a wide-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor, resulted in suppression of the constitutive expression of TfR mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that (i) the down-regulation of TfR mRNA expression during the differentiation of HL-60 cells can be mediated by activation of either PKC or PKA; (ii) the constitutive expression of TfR mRNA in proliferating HL-60 cells is staurosporine-sensitive and is probably maintained by protein kinase(s) other than PKC and PKA.

Cyclic AMP downregulates c-myc expression by inhibition of transcript initiation in human B-precursor Reh cells

In the human pre-B cell line Reh, activation of the cyclic AMP signal transduction pathway induces a rapid, transient 10-fold down-regulation of steady-state c-myc mRNA. We have investigated the mechanisms involved in this cAMP-mediated regulation of c-myc expression. Forskolin did not alter c-myc mRNA stability. Initiation of c-myc transcripts was strongly inhibited after 1 h of forskolin treatment, as measured by nuclear run-on assays. Reinitiation of c-myc transcription was apparent after 3-4 h, and full transcriptional elongation was detected after 8 h of forskolin treatment. These data suggest that cyclic AMP downregulates c-myc expression by inhibition of transcriptional initiation.

Cyclic AMP inhibits c-Ha-ras protooncogene expression and DNA synthesis in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Fetal bovine serum (10%) markedly increased ras transcript levels in growth-arrested (G0-synchronized) smooth muscle cells by 8 h. This elevation was maintained for up to 18 h and returned to pre-stimulation levels within 24 h. Challenge of quiescent cells with serum in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1-100 microM, a growth inhibitor for smooth muscle cells, attenuated serum-induced elevation of c-Ha-ras in a dose dependent fashion and prevented progression of the cells into S phase. These results demonstrate that expression of c-Ha-ras in rat aortic smooth muscle cells is cell-cycle dependent and that cAMP prevents the induction of this protooncogene by serum.

Plasma membrane and intracellular pools of transferrin receptors decline during in vitro cultivation of U937 cells

Transferrin receptor expression in the monocyte-like cell line U937 was investigated during in vitro cultivation. U937 cells expressed a single class of high affinity surface transferrin receptors (KD approximately 4 nM), with apparent subunit Mr of 90-95,000 Da as determined by SDS-reducing PAGE. [125I]-transferrin binding studies on detergent-solubilized cells revealed that half to two-thirds of the total functional binding sites were located intracellularly. Radioligand binding, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies were performed on intact, detergent-solubilized, or saponin-permeabilized cells, using either transferrin or the anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody OKT9 IgG. These studies demonstrated that functional and antigenic transferrin receptor levels were maximal on cells 24 h after subculture at low density and declined during the culture period. Scatchard analysis of radioligand binding data suggested that the decline in functional transferrin binding sites resulted from a decline in the number of available receptors. These results demonstrate that in U937 cells there is a density-dependent regulation of transferrin receptor expression, resulting in a loss of functional and antigenic receptors from both plasma membrane and intracellular locations.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulates renal epithelial cell properties

Previous studies have implicated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in regulation of both growth and expression of differentiated function in the pig renal epithelial cell, LLC-PK1. To investigate this possible regulatory mechanism, we compared growth behavior, morphology, and appearance of two differentiated functions, Na-hexose symport (SYMP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), in the LLC-PK1 line and two PKA-deficient mutants (FIB4 and FIB6). Compared with the wild-type cell line, the mutant lines continued to proliferate at higher population densities and exhibited altered cell morphology, poorer formation of the brush-border structure, and decreased or lack of expression of SYMP and gamma-GT activities. Wild-type and mutant cells exhibit an identical logarithmic growth rate. Both lines form cell-cell junctions and exhibit identical kinetic properties of expressed SYMP activity. These results strongly support the hypothesis that PKA modulates a defined subset of cellular processes, including aspects of growth control and expression of the differentiated phenotype, in this renal epithelial cell line.

Mithramycin selectively inhibits the transcriptional activity of a transfected human c-myc gene

The G-C specific DNA binding drug mithramycin selectively inhibits expression of the c-myc gene in a number of cell types. We have tested the ability of this agent to inhibit the expression of a transfected human c-myc gene in a murine fibroblast cell line. Expression of c-myc is inhibited in the first 24 hours of mithramycin exposure (in contrast to actin gene expression, which is unaffected). Nuclear runon transcription of c-myc by nuclei isolated from mithramycin treated cells is decreased, indicating inhibition of transcription initiation. However, treatment of isolated nuclei with mithramycin also results in decreased c-myc transcription. Thus, inhibition of c-myc expression by mithramycin in these cells appears to occur at the transcriptional level and is most likely mediated at both the transcription initiation and elongation level. This suggests that mithramycin selectively interacts with the G-C rich c-myc promoter, preventing formation of the c-myc transcription initiation complex.

The induction of vimentin gene expression by sodium butyrate in human promonocytic leukemia U937 cells

The administration of 1 mM sodium butyrate induced the phenotypic differentiation of human promonocytic leukemia U937 cells, as judged by the expression of cD11b and cD11c antigens, two differentiation-specific surface markers. At the same time, butyrate greatly induced the expression at the mRNA level of the vimentin gene. The increase in the level of this RNA started at 6 h of treatment and reached the maximum at Hour 24. Such an increase was caused at least in part by a stimulation in the rate of gene transcription, as suggested by transcription assays in isolated nuclei. Experiments in the presence of cycloheximide suggested that vimentin induction is probably a direct response to the action of butyrate, not mediated by the prior induction of other gene products. Unlike the case of vimentin, the levels of other RNAs, namely beta-actin, ornithine decarboxylase, and c-myc, were not enhanced, but they decreased at different times of treatment with butyrate. Finally, we observed that butyrate induced also the differentiation of HL60 cells, another human myeloid cell type. Nevertheless, the drug failed to stimulate the expression of vimentin in this cell line.

Relationships between the cell cycle and the expression of c-myc and transferrin receptor genes during induced myeloid differentiation

We examined the relationship of cellular oncogene c-myc and transferrin receptor (TfR) gene expression to cell proliferation and cell cycle progression during myeloid differentiation in the HL-60 myeloid leukemia cell line. In order to determine levels of mRNA for these genes in HL-60 cells induced to differentiate along the myeloid pathway, RNA was isolated from HL-60 cells incubated with retinoic acid for 24 h and Northern blots were probed with labeled cDNAs for c-myc and TfR. c-myc mRNA decreased within 3 h of retinoic acid addition, and TfR mRNA decreased after 9 h; both mRNAs continued to decrease over 24 h. RNA was also isolated from HL-60 cells separated by centrifugal elutriation into cell cycle phases. TfR and c-myc cDNA probes hybridized equally to RNA from uninduced cells in all phases of the cell cycle. However, after 24 h incubation with the differentiation inducer retinoic acid, TfR mRNA was expressed substantially less in the G1 stage, whereas c-myc mRNA was still expressed equally in all cell cycle phases. These data indicate that, although TfR and c-myc expression are both associated with cell proliferation in the HL-60 line, TfR is down-regulated specifically in G1 upon induction of terminal differentiation whereas c-myc expression is disassociated from cell cycle control in these cells.

S-phase inhibitors induce vimentin expression in human promonocytic U-937 cells

The administration of hydroxyurea (3 x 10(-4) M) and cytosine arabinoside (10(-7) M) greatly induces the expression of the vimentin gene in human promonocytic leukemia U-937 cells. The induction takes place at both the mRNA and protein levels, as demonstrated by Northern blot, immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays. On the contrary, the drugs inhibit the expression of c-myc and ornithine decarboxylase, and do not modify significantly the expression of beta-actin. Since hydroxyurea and cytosine arabinoside trigger the phenotypic differentiation of U-937 cells, as demonstrated by the induction of the differentiation-specific CD11b and CD11c antigens, it is concluded that vimentin expression might be implicated in the maturation of these cells.

Modulation of ornithine decarboxylase gene transcript levels by differentiation inducers in human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells

We have analyzed the changes in the steady-state levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA during differentiation of HL60 cells, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Induction of differentiation with either retinoic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dibutyryl cAMP or dihydroxy-vitamin D3 resulted in a decrease of the cellular content of ODC RNA. Such a decrease occurred late after induction and coincided with the slowing of cell growth activity and with the expression of a cell surface differentiation marker (CD11b antigen). In contrast, the inducers provoked a rapid reduction of c-myc RNA levels, which preceded both the slowing of cell growth and the expression of the differentiation marker. When the cells were treated with a phorbol ester (TPA), the down-regulation of ODC was preceded by a transient increase in the steady-state levels of this RNA. However, such an increase was not observed with other inducers. The possible significance of these results in relation to the control of HL60 cell differentiation is discussed.

Mitogenic activity of phorbol esters and insulin-like growth factor 1 in chemically transformed mouse fibroblasts BP-A31: independent effects and differential sensitivity to inhibition by 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine

Mitogenic effects of agents activating either the protein kinase C (PDGF; phorbol esters) or the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)-receptor pathway were studied in quiescent chemically transformed mouse fibroblasts (BP-A31), by evaluating the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation. Each of these pathways alone was found to be sufficient to sustain progression through the entire cell division cycle. The mitogenic activity of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) but not that of insulin was blocked by staurosporine (an inhibitor of protein kinase C), in support of the notion that protein kinase C activation was required for the PMA-induced cell cycle progression. The mitogenic effects of PMA were potentiated by cycloheximide pretreatment, and they were abolished by 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (IBMX; a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor). PDGF (known to activate the phospholipase C-protein kinase C pathway) also displayed mitogenic activity in the cycloheximide-pretreated BP-A31 cells, and its effects were prevented by IBMX. In contrast, the mitogenic effects of insulin (at concentrations where it activates the IGF1 receptor) or of IGF1 neither were notably influenced by cycloheximide pretreatment nor were inhibited by IBMX (in the presence of IBMX, the onset of S-phase was delayed by several hours). The expression of the c-fos gene was absent at quiescence; its induction by growth factors was not proportional to their mitogenic potency. Thus, c-fos expression was strongly induced by PMA but only weakly by insulin. IBMX was a powerful inducer of c-fos gene expression but caused a decrease in the level of c-myc mRNA.

A cluster of phosphorylation sites on the cyclic AMP-regulated nuclear factor CREB predicted by its sequence

Cyclic AMP regulates the expression of a number of genes through a conserved promoter element, the CRE1. Moreover, transcriptional induction by cAMP requires the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A). We have previously characterized the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in PC12 cells and brain tissue as a nuclear factor, of relative molecular mass 43,000, whose transcriptional efficacy is regulated by protein kinase A phosphorylation. CREB stimulates transcription on binding to the CRE as a dimer. Experiments suggesting that the dimerization and transcriptional efficacy of CREB are each stimulated by phosphorylation at distinct sites prompted us to suggest that CREB is regulated by multiple kinases in vivo. We now report the isolation of a cDNA clone for rat CREB using amino-acid sequence information from purified CREB protein. Sequence analysis of this CREB cDNA predicts a cluster of protein kinase A, protein kinase C and casein kinase II consensus recognition sites near the N terminus of the protein. The proximity of these potential phosphorylation sites to one another indicates that they may interact either positively or negatively to regulate CREB bioactivity.

Different growth responses to agents which elevate cAMP in human melanoma cell lines of high and low experimental metastatic capacity

Human melanoma variants of low and high experimental metastatic activity, which had been derived from the same parental line, showed markedly different growth responses to agents which elevated intracellular cAMP. The high metastatic line had a significant decrease in in vitro proliferation following treatment with cholera toxin (10(-9) M) and forskolin (100 microM), with both agents causing virtual cessation of cell growth after 3-5 days incubation. Pre-treatment with 10(-9) M cholera toxin reduced colony forming ability to 11-15 per cent of control values, saturation densities were decreased to 10-25 per cent of controls and these cytostatic responses were accompanied by changes in cellular morphology. Lung colonising capacity of this cell line after i.v. injection into athymic mice was reduced significantly by prior exposure to cholera toxin (a median of 2 lung nodules versus 26 lung nodules for untreated, control cells). In contrast, low metastatic cell lines showed no significant growth inhibition in the presence of these agents. Cholera toxin (10(-9) M) reduced colony forming ability of these cells to only 74 per cent of control values and there were no significant decreases in growth rate nor any morphological changes in response to either cholera toxin or forskolin. The variable response obtained in the cell lines appeared neither to be a consequence of variation in induced levels of intracellular cAMP nor in differences between the cell lines in response to the same agent; forskolin (100 microM) induced a maximal 25-fold elevation and cholera toxin (10(-9) M) a 2.5-fold elevation increase in cAMP. These data show that highly metastatic variants of a human melanoma cell line differ from their less metastatic counterparts in the way they respond to agents which elevate the second messenger molecule cAMP.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogs as new biological tools in growth control, differentiation, and proto-oncogene regulation

The physiologic role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the growth control of a spectrum of human cancer lines, including leukemic lines, and v-rasH oncogene-transformed NIH/3T3 cells is demonstrated by the use of site-selective cAMP analogs. These cAMP analogs, which can select either of the two known cAMP binding sites of the cAMP receptor protein, induce potent growth inhibition, phenotypic change, and differentiation (leukemic cells) of cancer cells at micromolar concentrations with no sign of cytotoxicity. The growth inhibition parallels selective modulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes, type I versus type II, and suppression of cellular proto-oncogene expression. Site-selective cAMP analogs thus provide new biological tools for investigating cell proliferation and differentiation and also for the improved management of human cancers.

Stimulation by tumor necrosis factor of HL-60 thymidine salvage pathway metabolism dissociated from proliferation

The effect of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on early-passage HL-60 cells was studied. A transient phase of increased [3H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation was noted at 20-24 hr of exposure to TNF. This increase was disproportionate to the much slighter stimulation of the percentage of S-phase cells, which was measured by flow cytometry. Evidence for increased metabolic trapping of [3H]TdR following TNF treatment was apparent from whole cell uptake experiments. The salvage pathway enzyme TdR kinase was therefore measured and was found to be elevated comparably to [3H]TdR uptake. The mechanism of TNF regulation of TdR kinase was further investigated by a series of combination treatment experiments using other biologic factors and pharmacologic inhibitors of various intracellular steps. The response to TNF was not potentiated or reproduced by IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, G-CSF, M-CSF, GM-CSF or alpha- or gamma-interferon. Blockers of early signal transduction steps, including H7, W7, sphingosine, and pertussis toxin, failed to inhibit TNF stimulation of [3H]TdR incorporation. mRNA synthesis inhibition with alpha-amanitin blocked this TNF effect, as did cAMP but not cGMP analogues. A sensitizing effect was noted with amiloride or cytochalasin B, characterized by greater relative increases of [3H]TdR incorporation and TdR kinase activity in response to TNF. In the presence of cytochalasin B, TNF treatment resulted in no change or slight decreases in the percentage of S-phase cells. Regulation of TdR kinase could thereby be dissociated from the usual cell cycle control. This study thus documents a unique example of stimulation of thymidine salvage pathway metabolism by a biologic factor, dissociable from overall cell cycle regulation.

c-myc protein in normal tissue. Effects of fixation on its apparent subcellular distribution

The c-myc protein is thought to be a DNA-associated nuclear protein. However, immunohistochemical studies on normal or tumor tissues have shown conflicting findings on its subcellular distribution. By using various fixation procedures on cytospin preparations of HL60 cells, the authors found the subcellular distribution of the c-myc protein to be dependent on the method of fixation. When studying mouse tissues in frozen sections using a biotinylated monoclonal antibody against the c-myc protein, they found the protein to be widely distributed in various normal adult mouse tissues, in most cases localized to the nucleus. However, when these tissues were studied after formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, a loss of nuclear staining was observed concurrent with the appearance of c-myc protein immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm. It is concluded that immunohistochemical studies on the expression of this oncogene should take into consideration the effects of fixation when its subcellular distribution is being examined.