Regulation of parathyroid hormone-stimulated phospholipase D in UMR-106 cells by calcium, MAP kinase, and small G proteins

The Neuroprotective Activities of the Novel Multi-Target Iron-Chelators in Models of Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Aging

The concept of chelation therapy as a valuable therapeutic approach in neurological disorders led us to develop multi-target, non-toxic, lipophilic, brain-permeable compounds with iron chelation and anti-apoptotic properties for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), age-related dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Herein, we reviewed our two most effective such compounds, M30 and HLA20, based on a multimodal drug design paradigm. The compounds have been tested for their mechanisms of action using animal and cellular models such as APP/PS1 AD transgenic (Tg) mice, G93A-SOD1 mutant ALS Tg mice, C57BL/6 mice, Neuroblastoma × Spinal Cord-34 (NSC-34) hybrid cells, a battery of behavior tests, and various immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques. These novel iron chelators exhibit neuroprotective activities by attenuating relevant neurodegenerative pathology, promoting positive behavior changes, and up-regulating neuroprotective signaling pathways. Taken together, these results suggest that our multifunctional iron-chelating compounds can upregulate several neuroprotective-adaptive mechanisms and pro-survival signaling pathways in the brain and might function as ideal drugs for neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD, AD, ALS, and aging-related cognitive decline, in which oxidative stress and iron-mediated toxicity and dysregulation of iron homeostasis have been implicated.

Proteolytic Regulation of Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein: Functional Implications for Skeletal Malignancy

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), with isoforms ranging from 139 to 173 amino acids, has long been implicated in the development and regulation of multiple tissues, including that of the skeleton, via paracrine and autocrine signaling. PTHrP is also known as a potent mediator of cancer-induced bone disease, contributing to a vicious cycle between tumor cells and the bone microenvironment that drives the formation and progression of metastatic lesions. The abundance of roles ascribed to PTHrP have largely been attributed to the N-terminal 1-36 amino acid region, however, activities for mid-region and C-terminal products as well as additional shorter N-terminal species have also been described. Studies of the protein sequence have indicated that PTHrP is susceptible to post-translational proteolytic cleavage by multiple classes of proteases with emerging evidence pointing to novel functional roles for these PTHrP products in regulating cell behavior in homeostatic and pathological contexts. As a consequence, PTHrP products are also being explored as potential biomarkers of disease. Taken together, our enhanced understanding of the post-translational regulation of PTHrP bioactivity could assist in developing new therapeutic approaches that can effectively treat skeletal malignancies.

Heterotrimeric G proteins in the control of parathyroid hormone actions

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a key regulator of skeletal physiology and calcium and phosphate homeostasis. It acts on bone and kidney to stimulate bone turnover, increase the circulating levels of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium and inhibit the reabsorption of phosphate from the glomerular filtrate. Dysregulated PTH actions contribute to or are the cause of several endocrine disorders. This calciotropic hormone exerts its actions via binding to the PTH/PTH-related peptide receptor (PTH1R), which couples to multiple heterotrimeric G proteins, including G_s and G_q/11 Genetic mutations affecting the activity or expression of the alpha-subunit of G_s, encoded by the GNAS complex locus, are responsible for several human diseases for which the clinical findings result, at least partly, from aberrant PTH signaling. Here, we review the bone and renal actions of PTH with respect to the different signaling pathways downstream of these G proteins, as well as the disorders caused by GNAS mutations.

Breast cancer cell invasion mediated by Gα12 signaling involves expression of interleukins-6 and -8, and matrix metalloproteinase-2

Background

Recent studies on the involvement of the G12 family of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gα12 and Gα13, the products of the GNA12 and GNA13 genes, respectively) in oncogenic pathways have uncovered a link between G12 signaling and cancer progression. However, despite a well characterized role of Rho GTPases, the potential role of secreted factors in the capacity of G12 signaling to promote invasion of cancer cells is just beginning to be addressed.

Methods

MDA-MB-231 and MCF10A breast cancer cell lines were employed as a model system to explore the involvement of secreted factors in G12-stimulated cell invasion. Factors secreted by cells expressing dominant-active Gα12 were identified by protein array, and their involvement in breast cancer cell invasion was assessed through both RNAi-mediated knockdown and antibody neutralization approaches. Bioinformatics analysis of the promoter elements of the identified factors suggested NF-κB elements played a role in their enhanced expression, which was tested by chromatin immunoprecipitation.

Results

We found that signaling through the Gα12 in MDA-MB-231 and MCF10A breast cancer cell lines enhances expression of interleukins (IL)-6 and −8, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and that these secreted factors play a role in G12-stimulated cell invasion. Furthermore, the enhanced expression of these secreted factors was found to be facilitated by the activation of their corresponding promoters, where NF-κB seems to be one of the major regulators. Inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8, or MMP-2 activity significantly decreased Gα12-mediated cell invasion.

Conclusions

These studies confirm and extend findings that secreted factors contribute to the oncogenic potential of G12 signaling, and suggest potential therapeutic targets to control this process.

Development and validation of a novel cell-based assay for potency determination of human parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the primary regulator of serum calcium homeostasis and plays a major role in bone metabolism. Its actions are mediated via the PTH1 receptor (PTH1R) resulting in adenylate cyclase activation and consequently production of cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate (cAMP). The latter stimulates cellular metabolic pathways. This study describes the development, validation and applications of a novel cell-based potency assay for PTH using HEK293 cells over-expressing PTH1R. PTH concentration-dependent cAMP formation in these cells was quantitatively analyzed employing time-resolved fluorescence technology (TR-FRET). The optimized assay was precise, reproducible and exhibited a high sensitivity to PTH with a limit of quantification in the low picogram range. The potencies of differently manufactured PTH1-34 peptides, as well as a full-length variant (PTH1-84), were all accurately measured. Since PTH activity is inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against PTH, the assay was adapted to detect and measure neutralizing antibodies in human serum. Thus, applications of this novel cell-based PTH potency assay were extended to immunogenicity testing of PTH preparations in non-clinical and clinical settings.

Antagonist minigenes identify genes regulated by parathyroid hormone through G protein-selective and G protein co-regulated mechanisms in osteoblastic cells

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major hormone regulating bone remodeling. Binding of PTH to the PTH1 receptor (PTH1R), a heterotrimeric G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), can potentially trigger multiple signal transduction pathways mediated through several different G proteins. In this study, we employed G protein antagonist minigenes inhibiting Gα(s), Gα(q) or Gα₁₂ to selectively dissect out which of these G proteins were responsible for effects of PTH(1-34) in targeted signaling and osteogenesis arrays consisting of 159 genes. Among the 32 genes significantly regulated by 24h PTH treatment in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells, 9 genes were exclusively regulated through G(s), 6 genes were solely mediated through G(q), and 3 genes were only controlled through G₁₂. Such findings support the concept that there is some absolute specificity in downstream responses initiated at the G protein level following binding of PTH to the PTH1R. On the other hand, 6 PTH-regulated genes were regulated by both G(s) and G(q), 3 genes were regulated by both G(s) and G₁₂, and 3 genes were controlled by G(s), G(q) and G₁₂. These findings indicate potential overlapping or sequential interactions among different G protein-mediated pathways. In addition, two PTH-regulated genes were not regulated through any of the G proteins examined, suggesting that additional signaling mechanisms may be involved. Selectivity was largely maintained over a 2-48-hour time period. The minigene effects were mimicked by downstream inhibitors. The dissection of the differential effects of multiple G protein pathways on gene regulation provides a more complete understanding of PTH signaling in osteoblastic cells.

Neuroprotective and neuritogenic activities of novel multimodal iron-chelating drugs in motor-neuron-like NSC-34 cells and transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders comprise drug candidates designed specifically to act on multiple central nervous system targets. We have recently synthesized multifunctional, nontoxic, brain-permeable iron-chelating drugs, M30 and HLA20, possessing the N-propargylamine neuroprotective moiety of rasagiline (Azilect) and the iron-chelating moiety of VK28. The present study demonstrates that M30 and HLA20 possess a wide range of pharmacological activities in mouse NSC-34 motor neuron cells, including neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide- and 3-morpholinosydnonimine-induced neurotoxicity, induction of differentiation, and up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and HIF-target genes (enolase1 and vascular endothelial growth factor). Both compounds induced NSC-34 neuritogenesis, accompanied by a marked increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and growth-associated protein-43, which was inhibited by PD98059 and GF109203X, indicating the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C pathways. A major finding was the ability of M30 to significantly extend the survival of G93A-SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice and delay the onset of the disease. These properties of the novel multimodal iron-chelating drugs possessing neuroprotective/neuritogenic activities may offer future therapeutic possibilities for motor neurodegenerative diseases.

Parathyroid hormone stimulates phosphatidylethanolamine hydrolysis by phospholipase D in osteoblastic cells

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) stimulate phospholipase D (PLD) activity and PC hydrolysis in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells {Singh, A.T., Kunnel, J.G., Strieleman, P.J., and Stern, P.H. (1999) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)-(1-34), [Nle8,18,Tyr34]PTH-(3-34) Amide, PTH-(1-31) Amide, and PTH-Related Peptide-(1-34) Stimulate Phosphatidylcholine Hydrolysis in UMR-106 Osteoblastic Cells: Comparison with Effects of Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate, Endocrinology 140, 131-137}. The current studies were designed to determine whether ethanolamine-containing phospholipids, and specifically PE, could also be substrates. In cells labeled with 14C-ethanolamine, PTH and PDBu treatment decreased 14C-PE. In cells co-labeled with 3H-choline and 14C-ethanolamine, PTH and PDBu treatment increased both 3H-choline and 14C-ethanolamine release from the cells. Choline and ethanolamine phospholipid hydrolysis was increased within 5 min, and responses were sustained for at least 60 min. Maximal effects were obtained with 10 nM PTH and 50 nM PDBu. Dominant negative PLD1 and PLD2 constructs inhibited the effects of PTH on the phospholipid hydrolysis. The results suggest that both PC and PE are substrates for phospholipase D in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells and could therefore be sources of phospholipid hydrolysis products for downstream signaling in osteoblasts.

G alpha12/G alpha13 subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins mediate parathyroid hormone activation of phospholipase D in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells

PTH, a major regulator of bone remodeling and a therapeutically effective bone anabolic agent, stimulates several signaling pathways in osteoblastic cells. Our recent studies have revealed that PTH activates phospholipase D (PLD) -mediated phospholipid hydrolysis through a RhoA-dependent mechanism in osteoblastic cells, raising the question of the upstream link to the PTH receptor. In the current study, we investigated the role of heterotrimeric G proteins in mediating PTH-stimulated PLD activity in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells. Transfection with antagonist minigenes coding for small peptide antagonists to G alpha 12 and G alpha13 subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins prevented PTH-stimulated activation of PLD, whereas an antagonist minigene to G alphas failed to produce this effect. Effects of pharmacological inhibitors (protein kinase inhibitor, Clostridium botulinum exoenzyme C3) were consistent with a role of Rho small G proteins, but not of cAMP, in the effect of PTH on PLD. Expression of constitutively active G alpha12 and G alpha13 activated PLD, an effect that was inhibited by dominant-negative RhoA. The results identify G alpha12 and G alpha13 as upstream transducers of PTH effects on PLD, mediated through RhoA in osteoblastic cells.

Rho and Rho kinase are involved in parathyroid hormone-stimulated protein kinase C alpha translocation and IL-6 promoter activity in osteoblastic cells

The role of small G-proteins in PTH-stimulated PKC translocation and IL-6 promoter expression in UMR-106 cells was determined. The effects of PTH(1-34) and PTH(3-34) in stimulating PKCalpha translocation and IL-6 were inhibited by agents that interfere with the activity of small G-proteins of the Rho family and with the downstream kinase Rho kinase.

INTRODUCTION

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a signaling mechanism by which parathyroid hormone (PTH) modulates interleukin-6 (IL-6) in osteoblasts, leading to osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. PKCalpha and PKCbetaI are translocated after treatment with PTH in UMR-106 osteoblastic cells; however, the pathway leading to PKC isozyme translocation is not established. Diacylglycerol (DAG) generation from phospholipase D (PLD) is one pathway of PKC activation, and PTH-mediated PLD activity is dependent on small G-proteins of the Rho family. This study investigated whether Rho proteins modulate the PKCalpha translocation and IL-6 promoter activity stimulated by PTH in UMR-106 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UMR-106 cells were treated with PTH(1-34) or PTH(3-34). PKC translocation was determined by immunofluorescence, Rho A activation by Rhotekin assay and by translocation assessed by Western blotting in membrane and cytosol fractions, and IL-6 promoter expression by luciferase assay.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of Rho proteins with Clostridium difficile toxin B or inhibition of Rho prenylation with GGTI attenuated PTH(1-34)- and PTH(3-34)-stimulated translocation of endogenous PKCalpha and IL-6 promoter activity. Expression of a constitutively active RhoA (RhoA63L) mimicked the effect of PTH(1-34) or PTH(3-34) to promote membrane localization of PKCalpha, whereas cells expressing a dominant negative RhoA (RhoA19N) did not respond to PTH(1-34) or PTH(3-34). The Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 attenuated PTH(1-34)- and PTH(3-34)-stimulated PKCalpha translocation and IL-6 promoter activation. Rho seemed to be acting at a step before production of diacylglycerol (DAG), because the stimulation of PKCalpha translocation by the DAG mimetic phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu) was unaffected by C. difficile toxin B or Y27632. These results indicate that Rho proteins are an important component of PTH signaling in osteoblastic cells and provide further demonstration of convergence between PKC and small G-protein signaling pathways.

Thapsigargin-stimulated MAP kinase phosphorylation via CRAC channels and PLD activation: inhibitory action of docosahexaenoic acid

This study was conducted on human Jurkat T-cells to investigate the role of depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores in the phosphorylation of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e. extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and ERK2, and their modulation by a polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We observed that thapsigargin (TG) stimulated MAPK activation by store-operated calcium (SOC) influx via opening of calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels as tyrphostin-A9, a CRAC channel blocker, and two SOC influx inhibitors, econazole and SKF-96365, diminished the action of the former. TG-stimulated ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation was also diminished in buffer containing EGTA, a calcium chelator, further suggesting the implication of calcium influx in MAPK activation in these cells. Moreover, TG stimulated the production of diacylglycerol (DAG) by activating phospholipase D (PLD) as propranolol (PROP) (a PLD inhibitor), but not U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), inhibited TG-evoked DAG production in these cells. DAG production and protein kinase C (PKC) activation were involved upstream of MAPK activation as PROP and GF109203X, a PKC inhibitor, abolished the action of TG on ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, DHA seems to act by inhibiting PKC activation as this fatty acid diminished TG- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation in these cells. Together these results suggest that Ca(2+) influx via CRAC channels is implicated in PLD/PKC/MAPK activation which may be a target of physiological agents such as DHA.