Co-inoculation of human and murine carcinoma cells induces reciprocal suppression of metastasis by both cell lines

The interactions of two cell lines having different metastatic properties, and the subsequent effects on dissemination were investigated using the chicken embryo metastasis assay. The highly aggressive human epidermoid cell line HEp-3 was tested alone or mixed with the mouse colon carcinoma cell line CL26 in this assay. When inoculated individually, each cell line forms experimental metastases in the chicken embryo, but only the HEp-3 cells give rise to spontaneous metastases. In embryos co-inoculated with both cell lines there was an overall reduction in metastatic burden in both the spontaneous and experimental metastasis assays. Furthers studies revealed that CL26 cells, when co-inoculated with HEp-3 cells did not acquire the ability to spontaneously metastasize. However, in the presence of CL26 cells, spontaneous HEp-3 metastasis was reduced. Intravenous co-inoculation of HEp-3 and CL26 cells also resulted in a reciprocal suppression of experimental metastasis by both cell lines. These studies demonstrate that the interactions of adjacent, phenotypically different tumor cells can have a suppressive effect on dissemination of one or both cell types.

Eukaryotic expression cloning with an antimetastatic monoclonal antibody identifies a tetraspanin (PETA-3/CD151) as an effector of human tumor cell migration and metastasis

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), 50-6, generated by subtractive immunization, was found to specifically inhibit in vivo metastasis of a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line, HEp-3. The cDNA of the cognate antigen of mAb 50-6 was isolated by a modified eukaryotic expression cloning protocol from a HEp-3 library. Sequence analysis identified the antigen as PETA-3/CD151, a recently described member of the tetraspanin family of proteins. The cloned antigen was also recognized by a previously described antimetastatic antibody, mAb 1A5. Inhibition of HEp-3 metastasis by the mAbs could not be attributed to any effect of the antibodies on tumor cell growth in vitro or in vivo. Rather, the antibodies appeared to inhibit an early step in the formation of metastatic foci. In a chemotaxis assay, HEp-3 migration was blocked by both antibodies. HeLa cells transfected with and overexpressing PETA-3/CD151 were more migratory than control transfectants expressing little CD151. The increase in HeLa migration was inhibitable by both mAb 50-6 and mAb 1A5. PETA-3 appears not to be involved in cell attachment because adhesion did not correlate with levels of PETA-3 expression and was unaffected by mAb 50-6 or mAb 1A5. The ability of PETA-3 to mediate cell migration suggests a mechanism by which this protein may influence metastasis. These data identify PETA-3/CD151 as the first member of the tetraspanin family to be linked as a positive effector of metastasis.

Introduction of an RRHR motif into chicken urokinase-type plasminogen activator (ch-uPA) confers sensitivity to plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and PAI-2 and allows ch-uPA-mediated extracellular matrix degradation to be controlled by PAI-1

Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the chicken and human urokinase-type plasminogen activators (uPAs) revealed that the putative PAI-binding site found in the variable region 1 (VR1) loop of mammalian PAs is absent in the homologous region of ch-uPA. ch-uPA, unlike mammalian PAs, also appears to be refractory to inhibition by human PAIs and as a naturally occurring PAI-resistant variant, constitutes a unique model system for assessing the functional relevance of the PAI-binding site. Therefore, we molecularly constructed a ch-uPA, ch-uPA(RRHR), which contains the putative PAI-binding motif RRHR (residues 192-195) in its VR1 loop. As a result of this substitution, the second-order rate constant of inhibition of PAI-1 increased approximately 700-fold from 4.50 x 10(4) M(-1) x s(-1) for wild-type ch-uPA to 3.02 x 10(7) M(-1) x s(-1) for ch-uPA(RRHR), and the ability to form SDS-stable, uPA-PAI-1 complexes increased approximately 1000-fold. Furthermore, the interaction of ch-uPA(RRHR) with PAI-2 was also substantially enhanced, while the interaction with other members of the serine proteinase inhibitor superfamily, protein nexin 1, alpha1-PI, and C1-inhibitor, was unaffected indicating that the RRHR motif is not a general serine proteinase inhibitor binding site. Finally, we show that extracellular matrix degradation by cells expressing ch-uPA(RRHR) is inhibited by PAI-1 in a dose-dependent manner, while matrix breakdown by cells expressing wild-type ch-uPA is unaffected by PAI-1. Thus acquisition of sensitivity to PAI-1 through a structural motif that enhances the specificity of the protease-inhibitor interaction confers to ch-uPA an added level of regulation in the context of the degradative cellular phenotype.

Borrelia burgdorferi binds plasminogen, resulting in enhanced penetration of endothelial monolayers

Several strains of Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia hermsii can bind human Lys-plasminogen specifically. Affinity blots using 125I-labeled plasminogen showed that numerous polypeptides of all the strains and species tested could bind via lysine residues to the plasminogen molecule since binding could be completely inhibited by the lysine analog epsilon-aminocaproic acid. Binding analysis using 125I-labeled plasminogen on live intact organisms showed that the organisms possess two binding sites for plasminogen: a high-affinity site with a Kd of 24 +/- 12 pM and 106 +/- 14 binding sites per spirochete and a low-affinity site with a Kd of 20 +/- 4 nM and 2,683 +/- 36 binding sites per spirochete. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy showed a generalized but punctate pattern of plasminogen binding to the spirochete surface. Exogenously provided urokinase-type plasminogen activator converted B. burgdorferi surface-bound plasminogen to enzymatically active plasmin as demonstrated by the breakdown of the chromogenic plasmin substrate S2251. Plasmin-coated organisms showed an enhanced ability to penetrate endothelial cell monolayers grown on connective tissue substrates compared to untreated controls (P < 0.001). This functional assay demonstrated that enzymatically active plasmin on the surface of spirochetes can lead to greater invasion of tissues.

Loss of the metastatic phenotype by a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line, HEp-3, is accompanied by increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2

The human epidermoid carcinoma cell line HEp-3 gives rise to spontaneous metastases in nude mice and in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay system. Cells passaged continuously on the CAM retain their ability to form metastases, while cells carried in vitro lose metastatic potential with time. A HEp-3 cell line derived from a highly metastatic CAM tumor was grown continuously in vitro for 16 weeks. At 2-week intervals the cells were tested on the CAM for metastatic ability and assayed for expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the M(r) 92,000 and M(r) 72,000 gelatinase/type IV collagenases, enzymes the expression of which has previously been shown to correlate with tumor cell dissemination. Expression of proteins which modulate the degradative potential of these enzymes, plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2 (PAI-1, PAI-2), uPA receptor, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), were also assayed. As previously reported the metastatic ability of these cells decreased with time in culture and was almost completely lost by 8 weeks in vitro. Secreted uPA activity remained essentially unchanged, even though uPA mRNA levels decreased with time. There was also a decrease in PAI-1 and PAI-2 mRNA. However, PAI-1 protein concentration in conditioned medium remained relatively constant, and only trace amounts of PAI-2 protein could be detected in cell lysates. Steady-state levels of uPA receptor were lowest at 2 weeks then increased sharply at 4 weeks and remained relatively constant thereafter. A decrease in secreted M(r) 92,000 and M(r) 72,000 gelatinase activities and their corresponding mRNAs was observed well after the loss of the metastatic phenotype. During the 16 weeks in culture TIMP-1 mRNA levels changed slightly, while TIMP-2 mRNA increased more than 2-fold. These data suggest that a metalloproteinase other than the gelatinase/type IV collagenases may be involved in HEp-3 metastasis.

The role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in aggressive tumor cell behavior

The correlation between urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression and tumor cell invasion and metastasis has been well documented. Urokinase converts the zymogen plasminogen to plasmin, a trypsin-like enzyme with broad substrate specificities. Net uPA activity is determined not only by the amount of the enzyme itself, but also by its state of activation and the amount of specific plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) present. Both uPA and its substrate, plasminogen, can bind to cells via specific membrane-associated receptors. Expression of uPA, uPA receptor (uPAR), and PAIs is regulated by growth factors, oncogenes, and other effector molecules. In the present review we discuss the interactions of uPA with its receptor, inhibitors, and substrate and how these interactions influence malignant behavior. We also review recent reports in which investigators have used anti-catalytic antibodies and/or gene transfection to demonstrate that uPA is directly involved in tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator biosynthesis is induced by the EJ-Ha-ras oncogene in CL26 mouse colon carcinoma cells

CL26 murine colon carcinoma cells express urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) mRNA and activity after transfection with the activated c-Ha-ras-I (EJ-ras) oncogene cloned from the EJ bladder carcinoma. PA activity and mRNA in control cells transfected with the non-mutated c-Ha-ras-I (CO-ras) gene remained negative. Ras mRNA was detected in EJ-ras- and CO-ras-transfected cells, but not in untransfected or pSV2-neo-transfected cells. These results indicate that u-PA biosynthesis can be modulated by EJ-Ha-ras-dependent pathways of signal transduction.

Molecular mechanisms involved in T cell activation. III. The role of extracellular calcium in antigen-induced lymphokine production and interleukin 2-induced proliferation of cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The role that extracellular calcium plays in activating resting cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to proliferate and to produce lymphokines was examined. In these cells, stimulation with interleukin 2 (IL-2) induced a proliferative response without a concomitant production of macrophage-activating factor (MAF), whereas stimulation with antigen or lectin (in the absence of IL-2) induced MAF production but not proliferation. In the case of IL-2-induced proliferation, extracellular calcium was required to initiate proliferation as well as to prevent cellular arrest later in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. In MAF production extracellular calcium was required both to activate the phosphatidylinositol signal-transducing mechanism and to mobilize intracellular calcium in antigen- or lectin-stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Further, extracellular calcium was required for only 8 of the 18 hr of stimulation time which was needed to achieve maximal MAF production, indicating that both calcium-dependent and -independent events exist in the signal pathway. Additional experiments with calcium ionophores and activators of protein kinase C indicated that although both intracellular calcium mobilization and de novo protein phosphorylation are involved in MAF production, an optimal increase in the level of intracellular calcium by itself is insufficient to induce the production of this lymphokine.

Molecular mechanisms involved in T cell activation. III. The role of extracellular calcium in antigen-induced lymphokine production and interleukin 2-induced proliferation of cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The role that extracellular calcium plays in activating resting cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to proliferate and to produce lymphokines was examined. In these cells, stimulation with interleukin 2 (IL-2) induced a proliferative response without a concomitant production of macrophage-activating factor (MAF), whereas stimulation with antigen or lectin (in the absence of IL-2) induced MAF production but not proliferation. In the case of IL-2-induced proliferation, extracellular calcium was required to initiate proliferation as well as to prevent cellular arrest later in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. In MAF production extracellular calcium was required both to activate the phosphatidylinositol signal-transducing mechanism and to mobilize intracellular calcium in antigen- or lectin-stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Further, extracellular calcium was required for only 8 of the 18 hr of stimulation time which was needed to achieve maximal MAF production, indicating that both calcium-dependent and -independent events exist in the signal pathway. Additional experiments with calcium ionophores and activators of protein kinase C indicated that although both intracellular calcium mobilization and de novo protein phosphorylation are involved in MAF production, an optimal increase in the level of intracellular calcium by itself is insufficient to induce the production of this lymphokine.