Analysis of binding site for the novel small-molecule TLR4 signal transduction inhibitor TAK-242 and its therapeutic effect on mouse sepsis model

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

TAK-242, a novel synthetic small-molecule, suppresses production of multiple cytokines by inhibiting Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 signalling. In this study, we investigated the target molecule of TAK-242 and examined its therapeutic effect in a mouse sepsis model.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Binding assay with [(3)H]-TAK-242 and nuclear factor-kappaB reporter assay were used to identify the target molecule and binding site of TAK-242. Bacillus calmette guerin (BCG)-primed mouse sepsis model using live Escherichia coli was used to estimate the efficacy of TAK-242 in sepsis.

KEY RESULTS

TAK-242 strongly bound to TLR4, but binding to TLR2, 3, 5, 9, TLR-related adaptor molecules and MD-2 was either not observed or marginal. Mutational analysis using TLR4 mutants indicated that TAK-242 inhibits TLR4 signalling by binding to Cys747 in the intracellular domain of TLR4. TAK-242 inhibited MyD88-independent pathway as well as MyD88-dependent pathway and its inhibitory effect was largely unaffected by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration and types of TLR4 ligands. TAK-242 had no effect on the LPS-induced conformational change of TLR4-MD-2 and TLR4 homodimerization. In mouse sepsis model, although TAK-242 alone did not affect bacterial counts in blood, if co-administered with ceftazidime it inhibited the increases in serum cytokine levels and improved survival of mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

TAK-242 suppressed TLR4 signalling by binding directly to a specific amino acid Cys747 in the intracellular domain of TLR4. When co-administered with antibiotics, TAK-242 showed potent therapeutic effects in an E. coli-induced sepsis model using BCG-primed mice. Thus, TAK-242 may be a promising therapeutic agent for sepsis.

Age-related changes in manganese superoxide dismutase activity in the cerebral cortex of senescence-accelerated prone and resistant mouse

In this paper, we showed that the oxidative stress in brain of senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 (SAMP8) at earlier stages was increased compared with that of senescence-accelerated resistant mouse 1 (SAMR1) irrespective of the breeding conditions. Furthermore, we found that manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity in the cerebral cortex of 10-week-old SAMP8 was decreased by about 50% compared with that in age-matched SAMR1. These results indicate that the decrease of Mn-SOD activity may be involved in the increased oxidative stress in the brain of SAMP8 at younger stages. However, there was no difference in the expression of this protein between the two strains at 10 weeks of age, suggesting that Mn-SOD protein in SAMP8 was post-translationally modified to reduce its enzymatic activity.

Participation of a MEK-independent pathway in MAP kinase activation and modulation of cell growth in mouse hepatoma cell lines

The mechanism of cell growth was investigated in GIT medium-supplemented in vitro assay using high and low metastatic mouse hepatoma cell sublines, G-5 and G-1, respectively. G-5 cells exhibited high growth rate compared to G-1 cells. The PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and P70 S6 kinase inhibitor rapamycin partially blocked both G-1 and G-5 cell growth, suggesting that these two kinases are involved in hepatoma cell growth. In contrast, the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 partially blocked G-5 cell growth but not G-1 cell growth. MAP kinases (MAPK) in both G-1 and G-5 cells were indistinguishably phosphorylated, yet MEK-dependent MAPK activation was observed only in G-5 cells. In G-1 cells, MAPK was phosphorylated in a manner not connected to MEK activation. Thus, the low degree of cell growth in G-1 cells was attributable to disruption of the MEK-dependent MAPK cascade. However, the molecular mechanism whereby MAPK phosphorylation does not parallel MAPK activation in G-1 cells remains unknown. Here, we suggest that there may be an as yet unidentified MAPK phosphorylation pathway in malignantly transformed cells, which may affect in vivo cell growth and metastatic capacities of cancers.

Role of Syk in Fc gamma receptor-coupled tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl in a manner susceptible to inhibition by protein kinase C

Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR) of guinea pig neutrophils were ligated and anti-Cbl immunoprecipitates prepared therefrom were assayed for the associated protein tyrosine kinase activity, which increased upon ligation of FcgammaR. The increases were overcome upon activation of cellular protein kinase C by simultaneous addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to the ligated cells. Syk proved to be the most important tyrosine kinase bound to Cbl that served as the major substrate; essentially no tyrosine phosphorylation occurred in the anti-Cbl immunoprecipitates prepared from the cell lysate that had been depleted of Syk by prior immunoprecipitation with anti-Syk antibodies. Exposure of the (32)P-labeled cells to PMA resulted in phosphorylation of cellular Cbl on serine residues. Thus, protein kinase C-induced serine phosphorylation of Cbl suppressed its tyrosine phosphorylation by Syk as a result of tyrosine kinase inhibition by unknown mechanisms, leading to inhibition of Cbl-mediated signaling such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation.

Enhancement by adenosine of insulin-induced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase B in rat adipocytes

The role of adenosine receptor in regulation of insulin-induced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and protein kinase B was studied in isolated rat adipocytes. Rat adipocytes are known to spontaneously release adenosine, which in turn binds and stimulates the adenosine A1 receptors on the cells. In the present study, we observed that degradation of this adenosine by adenosine deaminase attenuated markedly the insulin-induced accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3), a product of PI 3-kinase. p-Aminophenylacetyl xanthine amine congener (PAPA-XAC), an inhibitor of the adenosine A1 receptor, also inhibited the insulin-induced PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 accumulation. When extracellular adenosine was inactivated by adenosine deaminase, phenylisopropyladenosine, an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, potentiated the insulin-induced accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. Insulin-induced activation of protein kinase B, the activity of which is controlled by the lipid products of PI 3-kinase, was also potentiated by adenosine. Prostaglandin E2, another activator of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in these cells, potentiated the insulin actions. Thus, the receptors coupling to the GTP-binding protein were found to positively regulate the production of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, a putative second messenger for insulin actions, in physiological target cells of insulin.

Synergistic activation of a family of phosphoinositide 3-kinase via G-protein coupled and tyrosine kinase-related receptors

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is a key signaling enzyme implicated in a variety of receptor-stimulated cell responses. Stimulation of receptors possessing (or coupling to) protein-tyrosine kinase activates heterodimeric PI 3-kinases, which consist of an 85-kDa regulatory subunit (p85) containing Src-homology 2 (SH2) domains and a 110-kDa catalytic subunit (p110 alpha or p110 beta). Thus, this form of PI 3-kinases could be activated in vitro by a phosphotyrosyl peptide containing a YMXM motif that binds to the SH2 domains of p85. Receptors coupling to alpha beta gamma-trimeric G proteins also stimulate the lipid kinase activity of a novel p110 gamma isoform, which is not associated with p85, and thereby is not activated by tyrosine kinase receptors. The activation of p110 gamma PI 3-kinase appears to be mediated through the beta gamma subunits of the G protein (G beta gamma). In addition, rat liver heterodimeric PI 3-kinases containing the p110 beta catalytic subunit are synergistically activated by the phosphotyrosyl peptide plus G beta gamma. Such enzymatic properties were also observed with a recombinant p110 beta/p85 alpha expressed in COS-7 cells. In contrast, another heterodimeric PI 3-kinase consisting of p110 alpha and p85 in the same rat liver, together with a recombinant p110 alpha/p85 alpha, was not activated by G beta gamma, though their activities were stimulated by the phosphotyrosyl peptide. Synergistic activation of PI 3-kinase by the stimulation of the two major receptor types was indeed observed in intact cells, such as chemotactic peptide (N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe) plus insulin (or Fc gamma II) receptors in differentiated THP-1 and CHO cells and adenosine (A1) plus insulin receptors in rat adipocytes. Thus, PI 3-kinase isoforms consisting of p110 beta catalytic and SH2-containing (p85 or its related) regulatory subunits appeared to function as a 'cross-talk' enzyme between the two signal transduction pathways mediated through tyrosine kinase and G protein-coupled receptors.

Enhancement of chemotactic peptide-induced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its relation to the cytokine-mediated priming of neutrophil superoxide-anion production

Incubation of human neutrophils with a chemotactic peptide [N-formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP)] gave rise to an increase in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity, phosphorylation of p47phox and superoxide-anion (O2(-)) generation in the same fMLP-concentration-dependent manner. These responses to fMLP were markedly enhanced when the cells had been incubated for 10 min before the addition of fMLP with increasing concentrations of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) that were only slightly effective themselves. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3K, suppressed all of these fMLP actions in the same concentration-dependent manner in either GM-CSF-primed or non-primed cells. Sustained activation of protein kinase C by the addition of PMA caused marked phosphorylation of p47phox and respiratory burst itself without activation of PI3K. This strong action of PMA was not primed by GM-CSF. The chemotactic peptide was without effect in pertussis-toxin-treated cells, indicating that its actions are mediated by betagamma-subunits liberated from toxin-susceptible heterotrimeric Gi proteins (Gbetagamma). Thus one of the mechanisms of GM-CSF-mediated priming of fMLP-induced respiratory burst is synergistic activation of wortmannin-sensitive PI3K by Gbetagamma in the presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in GM-CSF-treated cells, as recently indicated in a cell-free system [Kurosu, Maehama, Okada, Yamamoto, Hoshino, Fukui, Ui, Hazeki and Katada (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24252-24256]. GM-CSF primed fMLP-induced MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase activation enormously as well. The MAP kinase activation was primed even in the presence of wortmannin, indicating that PI3K was not the sole site where tyrosine kinase-related and Gbetagamma-mediated intracellular signals converge to elicit the priming. The GM-CSF priming of fMLP-induced PI3K activation and O2(-) generation was much smaller in magnitude in neutrophils in which cAMP accumulated upon incubation with prostaglandin E1 than in the cells without the nucleotide accumulation. Thus the GM-CSF priming site, in addition to PI3K, might be just the target of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A in fMLP-initiated signalling cascades or could be localized immediately downstream thereof.

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by lysophosphatidic acid in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. This activation reached the maximum at 20 min and required a high concentration of LPA with an EC50 value of approximately 3 microg/ml. LPA-induced activation of JNK was not suppressed by prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin, whereas it was completely blocked by suramin, a non-selective inhibitor of ligand-receptor interactions. The kinetics and concentration-dependency of LPA-induced JNK activation were in sharp contrast with those of LPA-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, which reached the maximum within 3 min and occurred with an EC50 of 0.1 microg/ml. The ERK activation was susceptible to pertussis toxin, whereas it was not inhibited by suramin. These results indicate that the signal transduction pathways of LPA-induced JNK and ERK activations are distinct. Thus, this is the first report showing that LPA induces not only ERK activation but also JNK activation, which may be responsible for the induction of DNA synthesis in LPA-stimulated Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase in regulation of adhesive activity of highly metastatic hepatoma cells

We have established hepatoma clones from benzopyrene-treated liver cells, one of which (G-5) shows extensive metastasis to the lung when injected subcutaneously into mice [Tanigaki, Y. et al. (1995) Invasion Metastasis 15, 70-80]. In the present study, we performed in vitro assays suitable for examination of the adhesive and invasive properties of the highly metastatic cells. G-5 cells efficiently entered the pores of fibronectin-coated filters. Treatment of the cells with an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), wortmannin, significantly impaired the invasive activity. A structurally unrelated inhibitor, 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002) also prevented invasion. Both inhibitors suppressed cell adhesion to fibronectin-coated dishes. G-5 cells were next transfected with a mutant regulatory subunit (Deltap85) of PI 3-kinase, which was expected to impair the function of PI 3-kinase. The transfectants showed suppressed adhesion to the dishes and did not efficiently migrate into the filters. The lower adhesive ability of the transfected cells was not further affected by inhibitors of PI 3-kinase. Thus, PI 3-kinase activity contributes significantly to the adhesive and invasive properties of G-5 cells.

Reconstitution of insulin signaling pathways in rat 3Y1 cells lacking insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1. Evidence that activation of Akt is insufficient for insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis or glucose uptake in rat 3Y1 cells

Rat 3Y1 cells have endogenous insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2, but lack both insulin receptor (IR) and IRS-1. To investigate the role of IR and IRS-1 in effects of insulin, we transfected IR and IRS-1 expression plasmids into cells and reconstituted the insulin signaling pathways. 3Y1 cells stably expressing the c-myc epitope-tagged glucose transporter type 4 (3Y1-GLUT4myc) exhibit no effects of insulin, at physiological concentrations. The 3Y1-GLUT4myc-IR cells expressing GLUT4myc and IR responded to phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate (PI-3,4,5-P3) accumulation, Akt activation, the stimulation of DNA synthesis, and membrane ruffling but not to glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake, or GLUT4myc translocation. The further expression of IRS-1 in 3Y1-GLUT4myc-IR cells led to stimulation of glycogen synthesis but not to glucose uptake or GLUT4myc translocation in response to insulin, although NaF or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did trigger GLUT4myc translocation in the cells. These results suggest that, in rat 3Y1 cells, (i) IRS-1 is essential for insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis but not for DNA synthesis, PI-3,4,5-P3 accumulation, Akt phosphorylation, or membrane ruffling, and (ii) the accumulation of PI-3,4,5-P3 and activation of Akt are insufficient for glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake or for GLUT4 translocation.

Activation of PI 3-kinase by G protein betagamma subunits

We have reported that fMLP-induced activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins in THP-1 cells potentiates the insulin-induced accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, a product of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (T. Okada et al., Biochem. J. 317, 475-480, 1996). The synergism in PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 accumulation was observed in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing both insulin and fMLP receptors. In rat adipocytes, which represent the physiological target cells of insulin, receptor-mediated activation of GTP-binding protein by adenosine and prostaglandin E2 potentiated the insulin-induced PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 accumulation. In cell-free systems, the activity of the p85/p110beta subtype of phosphoinositide 3-kinase was, while that of p85/p110alpha was not, stimulated by the betagamma subunits of the GTP-binding proteins. We propose here a hypothesis that the p85/p110beta subtype is under the control of both the insulin receptors and the GTP-binding protein-coupled receptors in intact cell systems.

Protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by IgG1 subclass CD38 monoclonal antibodies is mediated through stimulation of the FcgammaII receptors in human myeloid cell lines

The human surface Ag CD38 is a 46-kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein, and its expression is dependent on the cell differentiation and activation of lymphocytes. Our previous work in human myeloid cells showed that ligation of CD38 with mAbs (HB-7 and T-16; IgG1 subclass) not only induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation but also potentiated superoxide generation stimulated by G protein-coupled receptors. In the present study we analyzed the mechanisms of action of the agonistic mAbs. HB-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation could be still observed in human myeloid cells expressing CD38 mutants, of which cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains had been deleted or replaced by those of another type II glycoprotein (PC-1). Moreover, N-linked glycosylation on the cell surface CD38 was not required for the HB-7-induced cell signaling. The profile of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins by HB-7 was exactly the same as that induced by cross-linking of FcgammaII receptors (FcgammaRII/CD32), and FcgammaRII itself was tyrosine phosphorylated in the two stimulated cells. The HB-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was completely abolished after masking of FcgammaRII with its mAb. Finally, F(ab')2 of HB-7 failed to mimic the actions of the whole form of mAb. These results indicate that anti-CD38 mAb-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and its associated cell response are entirely mediated through the FcgammaRII-induced signaling pathway, possibly resulting from stimulation of the cell surface human FcgammaRII with the mouse Fc region (IgG1 subclass) of CD38-ligated mAbs.

Protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by IgG1 subclass CD38 monoclonal antibodies is mediated through stimulation of the FcgammaII receptors in human myeloid cell lines

The human surface Ag CD38 is a 46-kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein, and its expression is dependent on the cell differentiation and activation of lymphocytes. Our previous work in human myeloid cells showed that ligation of CD38 with mAbs (HB-7 and T-16; IgG1 subclass) not only induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation but also potentiated superoxide generation stimulated by G protein-coupled receptors. In the present study we analyzed the mechanisms of action of the agonistic mAbs. HB-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation could be still observed in human myeloid cells expressing CD38 mutants, of which cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains had been deleted or replaced by those of another type II glycoprotein (PC-1). Moreover, N-linked glycosylation on the cell surface CD38 was not required for the HB-7-induced cell signaling. The profile of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins by HB-7 was exactly the same as that induced by cross-linking of FcgammaII receptors (FcgammaRII/CD32), and FcgammaRII itself was tyrosine phosphorylated in the two stimulated cells. The HB-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was completely abolished after masking of FcgammaRII with its mAb. Finally, F(ab')2 of HB-7 failed to mimic the actions of the whole form of mAb. These results indicate that anti-CD38 mAb-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and its associated cell response are entirely mediated through the FcgammaRII-induced signaling pathway, possibly resulting from stimulation of the cell surface human FcgammaRII with the mouse Fc region (IgG1 subclass) of CD38-ligated mAbs.

Redox behavior of cytochrome oxidase in the rat brain measured by near-infrared spectroscopy

Using near-infrared spectroscopy, we developed a new approach for measuring the redox state of cytochrome oxidase in the brain under normal blood-circulation conditions. Our algorithm does not require the absorption coefficient of cytochrome oxidase, which differs from study to study. We employed this method for evaluation of effects of changes in oxygen delivery on cerebral oxygenation in rats. When fractional inspired oxygen was decreased in a stepwise manner from 100 to <10%, at which point the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin ([HbO2]) decreased by approximately 60%, cytochrome oxidase started to be reduced. Increases in arterial PO2 under hyperoxic conditions caused an increase in [HbO2], whereas further oxidation of cytochrome oxidase was not observed. The dissociation of the responses of hemogloblin and cytochrome oxidase was also clearly observed after the injection of epinephrine under severely hypoxic conditions; that is, cytochrome oxidase was reoxidized with increasing blood pressure, whereas hemoglobin oxygenation was not changed. These data indicated that oxygen-dependent redox changes in cytochrome oxidase occur only when oxygen delivery is extremely impaired. This is consistent with the in vitro data of our previous study.

Heterodimeric phosphoinositide 3-kinase consisting of p85 and p110beta is synergistically activated by the betagamma subunits of G proteins and phosphotyrosyl peptide

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is a key signaling enzyme implicated in variety of receptor-stimulated cell responses. Receptors with intrinsic or associated tyrosine kinase activity recruit heterodimeric PI 3-kinases consisting of a 110-kDa catalytic subunit (p110) and an 85-kDa regulatory subunit (p85). We separated a PI 3-kinase that could be stimulated by the betagamma subunits of G protein (Gbetagamma) from rat liver. The Gbetagamma-sensitive PI 3-kinase appeared to be a heterodimer consisting of p110beta and p85 (or their related subunits). The stimulation by Gbetagamma was inhibited by the GDP-bound alpha subunit of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein. Moreover, the stimulatory action of Gbetagamma was markedly enhanced by the simultaneous addition of a phosphotyrosyl peptide synthesized according to the amino acid sequence of the insulin receptor substrate-1. Such enzymic properties could be observed with a recombinant p110beta/p85alpha expressed in COS-7 cells with their cDNAs. In contrast, another heterodimeric PI 3-kinase consisting of p110alpha and p85 in the same rat liver, together with a recombinant p110alpha/p85alpha, was not activated by Gbetagamma, although their activities were stimulated by the phosphotyrosyl peptide. These results indicate that p110beta/p85 PI 3-kinase may be regulated in a cooperative manner by two different types of membrane receptors, one possessing tyrosine kinase activity and the other activating GTP-binding proteins.

Relationship between time-resolved and non-time-resolved Beer-Lambert law in turbid media

The time-resolved Beer-Lambert law proposed for oxygen monitoring using pulsed light was extended to the non-time-resolved case in a scattered medium such as living tissues with continuous illumination. The time-resolved Beer-Lambert law was valid for the phantom model and living tissues in the visible and near-infrared regions. The absolute concentration and oxygen saturation of haemoglobin in rat brain and thigh muscle could be determined. The temporal profile of rat brain was reproduced by Monte Carlo simulation. When the temporal profiles of rat brain under different oxygenation states were integrated with time, the absorbance difference was linearly related to changes in the absorption coefficient. When the simulated profiles were integrated, there was a linear relationship within the absorption coefficient which was predicted for fractional inspiratory oxygen concentration from 10 to 100% and, in the case beyond the range of the absorption coefficient, the deviation from linearity was slight. We concluded that an optical pathlength which is independent of changes in the absorption coefficient is a good approximation for near-infrared oxygen monitoring.

Potentiation of chemotactic peptide-induced superoxide generation by CD38 ligation in human myeloid cell lines

CD38 is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein possessing an NAD+ glycohydrolase activity in its extracellular domain. We previously reported that the ligation of CD38 by a monoclonal antibody (mAb), HB-7, induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins including p120(c-cbl) in differentiated human myeloid cell lines and that the phosphorylated p120(c-cbl) is capable of binding to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. In the present study, we found that the agonistic anti-CD38 mAb markedly potentiates superoxide generation stimulated by chemotactic formyl-Met-Leu-Phe receptors in the CD38-producing cells. HB-7 neither generated superoxide by itself nor enhanced the cell response induced by phorbol 12-myristate acetate, indicating that the potentiating action of the anti-CD38 mAb is specific for the stimulation by the GTP-binding protein (G1)-coupled membrane receptors. The potentiation by HB-7 was abolished by prior treatment of the cells with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pertussis toxin, or a potent PI 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. HB-7 also enhanced the product formation of PI 3-kinase in response to the chemotactic receptor stimulation, without significant changes in the receptor-stimulated accumulations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, arachidonate release, and intracellular Ca2+. These results indicate that the CD38-induced tyrosine phosphorylation has a cross-talk with the chemotactic receptor/G1-mediated signal transduction pathway resulting in the enhancement of superoxide generation, probably through the activation of PI 3-kinase.

Signal transduction via the CD38/NAD+ glycohydrolase

The human cell surface CD38 molecule is a 46-kDa type-II transmembrane glycoprotein with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and a long Cys-rich C-terminal extracellular one. We previously demonstrated that an ecto-form NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) activity induced by all-trans retinoic acid in HL-60 cells is due to the extracellular domain of CD38. In the present study, we investigated a possible signal transduction mediated through CD38 in the retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The addition of selected anti-CD38 mAbs to the cells induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the cellular proteins with the molecular weights of 120,000, 87,000 and 77,000; the phosphorylated 120-kDa protein was identified as the c-cbl proto-oncogene product, p120c-cbl. Furthermore, the phosphorylated p 120c-cbl associated with the 85-kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. To determine the relationship between the amino acid sequence responsible for the NADase activity and epitopes recognized by the stimulatory mAbs, we produced its carboxy-terminal deletion mutants in COS-7 cells. The mutants with less than 15 amino acids deleted from the carboxyl terminus of the 300-amino acid wild-type molecule still maintained NADase activity, but those with more than 27 amino acids deleted did not. Introduction of site-directed mutation of a cysteine residue (Cys275), located in the 273-285 sequence, completely abolished the NADase activity. These CD38 mutants were also used for an epitope mapping of anti-CD38 mAbs. All the epitopes recognized by the mAbs inducing the tyrosine phosphorylation were mapped on the same Cys275-containing sequence of 273-285. Thus, the discrete carboxy-terminal sequence not only plays a key role in its ecto-NADase activity, but also contains the epitopes of the agonistic anti-CD38 mAbs for the transmembrane signaling. We also found that the agonistic mAbs markedly potentiate superoxide generation induced by the stimulation of G protein-coupled chemotactic receptors. Our results suggested that the stimulation of CD38 might generate an accessory signal(s) to enhance the G protein-mediated signaling, probably though the protein-tyrosine phosphorylation.

Association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with the proto-oncogene product Cbl upon CD38 ligation by a specific monoclonal antibody in THP-1 cells

We reported that ecto-NAD+ glycohydrolase activity induced upon differentiation of HL-60 cells with retinoic acid is localized on the extracellular domain of CD38 and that CD38 ligation by a specific monoclonal antibody, HB-7, is followed by rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins including a proto-oncogene product, Cbl. In the present study, we investigated intracellular signaling linked to the HB-7-induced Cbl phosphorylation in dibutyryl cAMP-treated THP-1 cells. The 85-kDa regulatory subunit (p85) of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase was immunoprecipitated with anti-Cbl antibody in a manner dependent on the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. PI 3-kinase activity was also observed in the immunoprecipitated fractions containing tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl. The phosphorylated form of Cbl, which had been separated from the CD38-stimulated cells, was capable of directly binding to a recombinant p85 fused to glutathione S-transferase. Thus, the direct association of tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl with PI 3-kinase, possibly leading to the kinase activation, appeared to be involved in intracellular signaling caused by the CD38 ligation.

Involvement of the beta gamma subunits of inhibitory GTP-binding protein in chemoattractant receptor-mediated potentiation of cyclic AMP formation in guinea pig neutrophils

Cellular cyclic AMP formation in response to prostaglandin (PG) E1 was markedly potentiated by the chemoattractant formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) in guinea pig neutrophils. This potentiation by fMLP was abolished by prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin, but not by the prevention of an fMLP-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase in the cells, indicating the direct involvement of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gj), but not Ca2+, in the fMLP-induced potentiation of cyclic AMP formation. Cyclic AMP formation in the neutrophils was also unique in response to forskolin; the diterpene inhibited cyclic AMP formation stimulated by PGE1 plus fMLP at low concentrations, but it slightly stimulated the basal and fMLP-induced cyclic AMP formation at high concentrations. Such a forskolin-induced inhibition was also observed in the adenylyl cyclase of the cell membranes and detergent extract therefrom only when the cyclase was activated by GTP or its nonhydrolyzable analogue (GTP gamma S). The forskolin-inhibitable activity could be affinity-purified from the GTP gamma S-treated cell membranes with a forskolin-agarose column. The cyclase appeared to be purified as a complex with the GTP gamma S-bound alpha subunit of the stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs alpha), but not with the beta gamma subunits, as judged from immunoblot analysis with specific antisera. The GTP gamma S-bound Gs alpha-stimulated cyclase activity was further enhanced by beta gamma, and this enhancement was again inhibited by forskolin. These results suggest that the GTP-bound Gs alpha produced by PGE1 receptor stimulation and the beta gamma subunits released from Gj by fMLP receptor stimulation were acting synergistically in the cyclic AMP formation of intact neutrophils.

Synergistic activation of PtdIns 3-kinase by tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide and beta gamma-subunits of GTP-binding proteins

Stimulation of differentiated THP-1 cells by insulin led to rapid accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, a product of PtdIns 3-kinase. Stimulation of the GTP-binding-protein-linked receptor by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) also induced the accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 in the cells. The effect of insulin was, while that of fMLP was not, accompanied by increased PtdIns 3-kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immuno-precipitate. The combination of insulin and fMLP induced more PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 production than the sum of the individual effects. The insulin-induced recruitment of PtdIns 3-kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitate was unaffected by the combined treatment with fMLP. To investigate the mechanism underlying the synergistic accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, we separated the cytosolic proteins of THP-1 cells on a Mono Q column. PtdIns 3-kinase activities were eluted in two peaks, and one of the peaks markedly increased on the addition of beta gamma-subunits of GTP-binding proteins (G beta gamma). The other peak was affected only slightly by G beta gamma, but was synergistically increased by G beta gamma and a tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide which was synthesized accordingly to the amino acid sequence of insulin receptor substrate-1. The activity in the latter fraction was completely immunoprecipitated by an antibody against the regulatory subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase (p85). These results suggest that the conventional PtdIns 3-kinase (p85/p110), which has been implicated in insulin-induced cellular events, or a closely related isoenzyme is controlled by a combination of a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein and a GTP-binding protein in intact cells.

Focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK) and paxillin are substrates for sphingomyelinase-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

We examined the effect of sphingomyelinase on tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins in mouse Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Incubation of the cells with bacterial sphingomyelinase resulted in the elevation of tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins of 190, 130, 120, 97 and 70 kDa within minutes. The 120 and 70 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides were identified as p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK) and paxillin respectively by the use of specific antibodies against the proteins. Tyrosine kinase activity associated with anti-p125FAK immunoprecipitate was stimulated by incubation of cells with sphingomyelinase. Cytochalasin D, which selectively disrupts the network of actin filaments, inhibited sphingomyelinase-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK and elevation of tyrosine kinase activity in the anti-p125FAK immunoprecipitates. Sphingomyelinase-induced phosphorylation of p125FAK was not inhibited by wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. This was in sharp contrast with a wortmannin-sensitive phosphorylation of p125FAK observed in platelet-derived growth factor (PGDF)-stimulated cells. Thus hydrolysis of sphingomyelin is considered to regulate the tyrosine kinase cascade including p125FAK and paxillin by a mechanism distinct from PDGF.

Activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by concanavalin A through dual signaling pathways, G-protein-coupled and phosphotyrosine-related, and an essential role of the G-protein-coupled signals for the lectin-induced respiratory burst in human monocytic THP-1 cells

Stimulation of monocytic THP-1 cells by a lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), resulted in protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and association of some of the thus phosphorylated proteins with the 85 kDa regulatory subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Both actions of Con A were not inhibited by wortmannin, a PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitor, or by prior exposure of cells to pertussis toxin which uncouples certain G-proteins from receptors. The binding of PtdIns 3-kinase to the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins increased upon Con A stimulation; there was a marked increase in the enzymic activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immuno-precipitates from Con A-treated cells. The increase was abolished by wortmannin but not affected by pertussis toxin. The incorporation of 32P into PtdInsP3 also increased during incubation of [32P]P(i)-prelabelled cells with Con A, reflecting activation of whole-cell PtdIns 3-kinase which could not be accounted for solely by the increase in the phosphotyrosine-bound enzyme activity from the following aspects: (1) different concentration dependencies for Con A; and (2) almost total susceptibility of the incorporation to pertussis toxin. This notion appears to be supported by different time courses between increases in PtdInsP3 production and the phosphotyrosine-bound activity. The susceptibility to the toxin may reflect involvement of the toxin-sensitive G-proteins. In contrast, insulin-induced increases in PtdInsP3 production, as well as increases in phosphotyrosine-bound PtdIns 3-kinase activity, were blocked by wortmannin, but never affected by prior exposure of cells to pertussis toxin, excluding a possible involvement of G-proteins in the insulin-induced activation. Con-A-induced O2- production was almost inhibited by either pertussis toxin or wortmannin. These results suggest that oligomerization of cell-surface glycoproteins with Con A gives rise to activation of G-protein(s) and certain tyrosine kinase(s), both of which were responsible for PtdIns 3-kinase activation; the G-protein-mediated activation led to the respiratory burst.

Specific association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with the protooncogene product Cbl in Fc gamma receptor signaling

A tyrosine-phosphorylated protein with a molecular mass of 115 kDa was reported to be tightly associated with the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, when the enzyme was essentially activated upon ligand engagement of Fc gamma receptors (Fc gamma R) leading to engulfment of IgG-coated erythrocytes by phagocytes [Ninomiya et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 22732-22737]. Here, the 115-kDa protein is identified as the product of human c-cbl protooncogene. Cross-linking of Fc gamma RII on the surface of THP-1 cells triggered (a) prominent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl, (b) activation of PI 3-kinase that was immunoprecipitated with the anti-Cbl or the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, and (c) specific association of Cbl with p85. Thus, Cbl functions in phagocytes as a result of its association with PI 3-kinase in response to Fc gamma R ligation.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the c-cbl proto-oncogene product mediated by cell surface antigen CD38 in HL-60 cells

The human cell surface antigen CD38 is a 46-kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and a long Cys-rich C-terminal extracellular one. We demonstrated previously that the extracellular domain of CD38 has NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase) activity and that the ecto-form NADase activity induced in HL-60 cells during cell differentiation by retinoic acid is due to CD38. In the present study, we investigated the intracellular signaling mediated by CD38 in retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells with an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. The addition of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody to the cells induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the cellular proteins with molecular weights of 120,000, 87,000, and 77,000. An increase in tyrosine kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates of the cells was also observed after the addition of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Moreover, one of the prominent tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins stimulated by the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody was identified as the c-cbl proto-oncogene product, p120c-cbl. These results indicated that tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, including p120c-cbl, is possibly involved in transmembrane signaling mediated by CD38.

Radiolabeling of catalytic subunits of PI 3-kinases with 17 beta-hydroxy-16 alpha(-)[125I]iodowortmannin: identification of the G beta gamma-sensitive isoform as a complex composed of 46-kDa and 100-kDa subunits

A fungal metabolite, wortmannin, is a potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinases. In the present study, we prepared a radiolabeled derivative of wortmannin, 17 beta-hydroxy-16 alpha(-)[125I]iodowortmannin. The compound bound tightly to a 110-kDa subunit in the previously identified isoform of PI 3-kinase (p85/p110), and also to a 100-kDa peptide in a partially purified preparation of another isoform of PI 3-kinase whose activity was markedly stimulated by the beta gamma subunits of GTP-binding proteins (G beta gamma). The binding to both peptides was inhibited by non-radiolabeled wortmannin and also by LY294002, another inhibitor of PI 3-kinases. An antibody against p85 recognized a 46-kDa peptide in the G beta gamma-sensitive isozyme and precipitated the 100-kDa peptide specifically labeled with 17 beta-hydroxy-16 alpha(-)[125I]iodowortmannin. These results suggested that the newly found isozyme was a complex composed of 46-kDa and 100-kDa peptides.

Permissive effect of ceramide on growth factor-induced cell proliferation

Addition of bacterial sphingomyelinase to quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells effectively potentiated the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated cell proliferation, though the enzyme by itself had little effect on the cell proliferation. Such potentiation of the cell growth could also be observed by the addition of ceramide, a product of the sphingomyelinase-catalysed reaction. In contrast, phosphocholine, another product of the enzyme reaction, had no synergistic effect on the action of PDGF. Treatment of the cells with sphingomyelinase or ceramide increased the cellular activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases), which have been implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation. However, the synergistic effect of sphingomyelinase on the PDGF-induced cell growth could still be observed even when the cellular MAP kinase activity was fully activated by the growth factor alone. These results indicate that a ceramide-mediated cellular event(s) other than the MAP kinase activation is potentially involved in the regulation of cell growth.

Cyclic AMP-increasing agents interfere with chemoattractant-induced respiratory burst in neutrophils as a result of the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase rather than receptor-operated Ca2+ influx

Superoxide anion and arachidonic acid were produced in guinea pig neutrophils in response to a chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Both responses were markedly, but the former response to a phorbol ester was not at all, inhibited when the cellular cAMP level was raised by prostaglandin E1 combined with a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Increasing cAMP was also inhibitory to fMLP-induced activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and Ca2+ influx without any effect on the cation mobilization from intracellular stores. The fMLP-induced respiratory burst was abolished when PI 3-kinase was inhibited by wortmannin or LY294002, but was not affected when Ca2+ influx was inhibited. On the contrary, fMLP released arachidonic acid from the cells treated with the PI 3-kinase inhibitors as well as from non-treated cells, but it did not so when cellular Ca2+ uptake was prevented. The chemotactic peptide activated PI 3-kinase even in cells in which the receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and respiratory burst were both abolished by exposure of the cells to a permeable Ca(2+)-chelating agent. Thus, stimulation of fMLP receptors gave rise to dual effects, activation of PI 3-kinase and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization; both effects were necessary for the fMLP-induced respiratory burst. Increasing cellular cAMP inhibited the respiratory burst and arachidonic acid release as a result of the inhibitions of PI 3-kinase and Ca2+ influx, respectively, in fMLP-treated neutrophils.

Wortmannin as a unique probe for an intracellular signalling protein, phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Wortmannin is a fungal metabolite that so far has been shown to act as a selective inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. It can therefore be used to investigate the convergence between two major cellular signalling systems: those involving G-protein-coupled receptors and those involving receptor tyrosine kinases. Importantly, wortmannin can enter intact cells, making whole-cell studies of the above signalling pathways possible.

Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in Fc gamma receptor signaling

Wortmannin, a potent and selective inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase (Okada, T., Sakuma, L., Fukui, Y., Hazeki, O., and Ui, M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 3563-3567), prevented Fc receptor for IgG (Fc gamma R)-dependent phagocytosis of the human monocytic cell line U937 or guinea pig neutrophils. Cross-linking of Fc gamma R on the surface of U937 cells increased PI 3-kinase activity that was immunoprecipitated with antibody against phosphotyrosine or antibody against the 85-kDa regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase. Specific cross-linking of Fc gamma R subclass Fc gamma RI or Fc gamma RII, using monoclonal antibodies against each receptor subclass and the F(ab')2 fragment of goat antibody against mouse IgG, increased anti-phosphotyrosine-precipitable PI 3-kinase activity. Treatment of cells with anti-Fc gamma RIII antibody plus the same F(ab')2 did not affect the activity, reflecting the lack of Fc gamma RIII in U937 cells. Fcy gamma R stimulation triggered prominent tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, among which the 115-kDa peptide showed strong association with PI 3-kinase. Thus, Fc gamma R appears to be coupled functionally, via a tyrosine kinase, to PI 3-kinase, which may regulate the phagocytotic activity of the cells.

Pertussis toxin inhibits induction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in infected monocytes

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) activate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in U1 cells that are latently infected with HIV-1 to produce viral particles. Pertussis toxin, which inactivates several members of the G protein family of signaling components, including Gi, Go, and transducin, was found to inhibit either TPA or TNF-alpha induction of HIV-1 in U1 cells at the concentration of 1-10 ng/ml. Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay revealed that pertussis toxin could inhibit HIV-1 gene expression. B-oligomer, the mitogenic and non-ADP-ribosylating component of pertussis toxin, did not show any effect on HIV-1 replication alone or in combination with TNF in the same concentration range. It was of particular interest to note that a single protein (Gi) with a molecular weight of 40 kDa was dose-dependently ADP-ribosylated after treatment with pertussis toxin in U1 cells. The degree of ADP ribosylation of Gi corresponded well to that of inhibition of HIV-1 upon treatment with pertussis toxin. These results strongly support the contention that TPA and TNF-alpha induction of HIV-1 is mediated by a Gi-like receptor-effector coupling protein in the membrane of U1 cells. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model for signal transduction of HIV-1 expression through c-kinase-dependent (TPA) and c-kinase-independent (TNF-alpha) pathways in the U1 cell to determine the point at which Gi-like protein is involved.

Involvement of the pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in regulation of expression and function of granulocyte complement receptor type 1 and type 3

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) express receptors for complement (C) C3b and C3bi termed CR1 and CR3, respectively. The addition of PMA or fMLP to PMN enhances the capacity of these receptors to promote binding of C3b- and C3bi-coated erythrocytes. fMLP-dependent increase of the binding of these ligand-coated erythrocytes was completely abolished by prior exposure of the PMN to pertussis toxin (IAP). GTP-binding protein (Gi alpha) was ADP-ribosylated and dysfunctional by this treatment. On the other hand, PMA-dependent binding of these ligands, as well as control binding, was inhibited only slightly, if at all, by the IAP treatment. The levels of C receptor expression on cell surface were determined by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibody against CR1 and those against the alpha and beta chains of CR3 (CR3 is composed of alpha and beta chain). Upon exposure of PMN to the chemotactic factor or PMA, or upon incubation of the cells at 37 degrees C, the surface expression of CR1 and CR3 alpha was increased. IAP also blocked an fMLP-induced increase of CR1 and CR3 alpha, but did not block the temperature- or PMA-dependent increase of these receptors. Opsonized zymosan (SOZ), another ligand for CR3, also led to an increase of both CR1 and CR3 alpha. Neither PMA nor SOZ brought about an increase of the surface expression of CR3 beta, but fMLP caused a slight increase of CR3 beta in an IAP-sensitive manner. Based on the IAP-sensitivity of the receptor expression, therefore, it appears that at least two separate mechanisms are operative in the control of C receptors. In addition, the alpha and beta chains of CR3 are regulated independently. The present data offer evidence suggesting that C receptor functions are in part regulated through a GTP-binding protein via modulation of their surface expression.

Essential role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in insulin-induced glucose transport and antilipolysis in rat adipocytes. Studies with a selective inhibitor wortmannin

Significant activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) was detected in the membrane fractions, or in the immunoprecipitates prepared with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, from rat adipocytes that had been incubated with insulin for 20 min. The PI 3-kinase activity in these preparations as well as in the whole cell lysates of adipocytes not treated with insulin was inhibited by the addition of wortmannin, a fungal metabolite, to the enzyme assay mixture. The inhibition was dependent on the inhibitor concentration with IC50 being less than 10 nM and perfect inhibition at 100 nM. The effect of insulin to induce membrane PI 3-kinase activity was mostly abolished, but its effects to tyrosine-phosphorylate the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor or other cellular substrate proteins including insulin-receptor-substrate-1 were not at all antagonized, by wortmannin added to the cell incubation medium. Insulin stimulation of cellular 2-deoxyglucose uptake and inhibition of isoproterenol-induced lipolysis observable in adipocytes under the same conditions were also antagonized by wortmannin added in the same concentration range as used for the inhibition of insulin-susceptible PI 3-kinase. It is concluded, therefore, that activation of wortmannin-sensitive PI 3-kinase plays a pivotal role in the intracellular signaling pathways arising from the insulin receptor autophosphorylation and leading to certain metabolic responses.

Blockage of chemotactic peptide-induced stimulation of neutrophils by wortmannin as a result of selective inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Wortmannin, a fungal metabolite, inhibited 32P labeling of phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate, a product of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), selectively in formyl peptide-stimulated 32P-loaded guinea pig neutrophils. The inhibition was of the same concentration dependence (with the half-maximal inhibition around 50 nM) as was observed for the simultaneous inhibition of formyl peptide-induced superoxide anion production. Wortmannin inhibited all three of the PI 3-kinase activities found in the cytosol fraction of guinea pig neutrophils, with a similar dose dependence (the half-maximal effects at 5 nM). Wortmannin was also effective on an immunologically purified preparation of the enzyme. The inhibition was of a noncompetitive type with regard to ATP and was observed consistently when PI, PI monophosphate, or PI bisphosphate was used as substrate. PI 4-kinase activity was not affected. It is concluded, therefore, that wortmannin abolished the formyl peptide-induced stimulation of neutrophils as a result of the inhibition of PI 3-kinase. An essential role of PI 3-kinase in receptor-mediated signaling in neutrophils thus evidenced with the use of wortmannin will be expanded to other cellular signaling systems.

Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation is relevant to the phosphorylation of IRS-1 and the activity of PI3-kinase

We examined the role of 185-kDa insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in the signaling pathway of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. We had already developed a novel cell line to detect GLUT4 on the cell surface, directly and sensitively (Kanai, F., Nishioka, Y., Hayashi, H., Kamohara, S., Todaka, M., and Ebina, Y. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 14523-14526). We stably expressed a mutant insulin receptor in which Tyr972 was replaced with phenylalanine. Insulin-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of IRS-1 and GLUT4 translocation were decreased in cells expressing the mutant receptor, as compared to findings in cells expressing the normal receptor. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3-kinase, inhibits the insulin-stimulated PI3-kinase activity and GLUT4 translocation at 50 nM, but not the NaF-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. These results suggest that the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and activation of PI3-kinase may be involved in the signaling pathway of the insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation.

cAMP stimulates human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) from latently infected cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage: synergism with TNF-alpha

The present experiments were designed to study whether GTP binding protein activation and the resulting cAMP plays any role in HIV replication. The results showed that cholera toxin (CT) enhanced HIV replication dose dependently in myelo-monocytic cell lines latently infected with HIV-1, U1 and J22HL-60. Three- to 4-fold enhancement of virus production was observed in U1 cells and 4- to 11-fold enhancement in J22HL-60 cells 4 days after treatment with 100 ng/ml of CT. The increment of intracellular cAMP accumulation was parallel with HIV augmentation by CT in both cells. Even at the low concentration 0.1 ng/ml, TNF enhanced virus production to about an 80-fold higher level than the untreated U1 control cells as described previously (11). However, a synergistic effect (80- to 238-fold enhancement) was observed, when TNF-alpha and CT were added together to U1 cells. Similar synergism was seen in J22HL-60 cells. HIV antigen positive cells and gp120 expression were also increased to a similar degree. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX had no effect on HIV production alone, but potentiated HIV induction by CT and TNF. Adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (FK), at 100 microM also significantly augmented HIV production (> 4-fold) and potentiated TNF induction in J22HL-60 and U1 cells. On the other hand, CT did not show any effect on HIV replication as well as TNF induction in HIV-1-infected T cell line. Northern blot experiment confirmed that this enhancement was mediated through the activation of HIV transcription. These data suggest that cAMP augments HIV replication and potentiates TNF induction in a particular monocyte-macrophage system.

Oxygen dependence of redox state of copper in cytochrome oxidase in vitro

To obtain quantitative information about tissue oxygenation from near-infrared signals, the oxygen dependencies of the redox states of both heme a+a3 and copper in cytochrome oxidase of isolated mitochondria were determined at low oxygen concentrations (10(-6)-10(-9) M) using leghemoglobin as an oxygen indicator. The maximum absorbance changes caused by the aerobic-anaerobic transition measured at 830-760 nm of copper in state 3, state 4, and the uncoupled state were 10, 17, and 5% of those at 605-620 nm of heme a+a3, respectively. Thus the relative absorbance ratio of copper to heme a+a3 could be used as a sensitive indicator for the mitochondrial energy state. The oxygen concentrations required for the half-maximal reduction of heme a+a3 varied with the energy state and the respiratory rate and were 7.8 x 10(-8) and 1.6 x 10(-7) M in state 4 and state 3, respectively. In contrast, that of copper was 7.5 x 10(-8) M and was independent of both the energy state and the respiratory rate. The relationship between the percent oxidation of heme a+a3 and copper in the aerobic-anaerobic transition did not show a straight-line relationship. This was referred to as the difference in oxygen affinity between these two chromophores. The deviation from the straight line was larger in state 3 than in state 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Suppression by wortmannin of platelet responses to stimuli due to inhibition of pleckstrin phosphorylation

Studies were made of inhibition by wortmannin, a fungal metabolite, of human platelet responses to various stimuli. Wortmannin at concentrations as low as 1-100 nM inhibited several receptor-agonist-induced 5-hydroxytryptamine release from platelets, without affecting agonist-induced increases in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an active tumour promoter, caused 5-hydroxytryptamine release when combined with a low concentration of ionomycin, and platelet aggregation by itself; these effects of the phorbol ester were also inhibited by wortmannin as well as by staurosporine, a potent, although non-specific, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, in a similar molar concentration range. The platelet responses to the receptor agonists or PMA were accompanied by increased incorporation of [32P]Pi into pleckstrin, a protein selectively expressed in platelets and other blood cells arising from haematopoietic stem cells, as a result of PKC activation in the intact cells. The pleckstrin phosphorylation was inhibited by wortmannin in ways mostly similar to those in which it inhibited the 5-hydroxytryptamine-release responses. Nevertheless, wortmannin failed to inhibit PKC activity measurable in a cell-free assay system which is highly susceptible to staurosporine. Nor did it inhibit the translocation of cytosolic PKC to membranes induced by addition of PMA to platelet cells. Thus wortmannin, which is not a direct inhibitor of PKC, could interfere with the kinase-dependent phosphorylation of pleckstrin, which may play an important role in the cellular responses to receptor stimulation.