Characterization of hereditary inclusion body myopathy myoblasts: possible primary impairment of apoptotic events

Hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM) is a unique muscular disorder caused by mutations in the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) gene. GNE encodes a bi-functional enzyme acting in the biosynthetic pathway of sialic acid. Since the underlying myopathological mechanism leading to the disease phenotype is poorly understood, we have established human myoblasts cultures, derived from HIBM satellite cells carrying the homozygous M712T mutation, and identified cellular and molecular characteristics of these cells. HIBM and control myoblasts showed similar heterogeneous patterns of proliferation and differentiation. Upon apoptosis induction, phosphatidylserine externalization was similar in HIBM and controls. In contrast, the active forms of caspase-3 and -9 were strongly enhanced in most HIBM cultures compared to controls, while pAkt, downregulated in controls, remained high in HIBM cells. These results could indicate impaired apoptotic signaling in HIBM cells. Since satellite cells enable partial regeneration of the post-mitotic muscle tissue, these altered processes could contribute to the muscle mass loss seen in patients. The identification of survival defects in HIBM affected muscle cells could disclose new functions for GNE in muscle cells.

Growth inhibition of psoriatic keratinocytes by quinazoline tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Psoriasis is characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes associated with an inflammatory infiltrate in the epidermis. Among factors which may be related to hyperplasia of psoriatic keratinocytes is the persistent autocrine stimulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by transforming growth factor-alpha. Owing to the pivotal role of the EGFR in driving the growth of human psoriatic keratinocytes, we examined two selective inhibitors of EGFR kinase activity: 4-(3-bromophenylamino)-6, 7-dimethoxyquinazoline (AG1517/SU5271) and 4-(3-chlorophenylamino)-6, 7-dimethoxyquinazoline (AG1478) on psoriatic keratinocytes. SU5271 potently inhibits ligand-induced autophosphorylation of EGFR, and downstream signal transduction events, including DNA replication and cell cycle progression. SU5271, at micromolar concentrations, inhibited the proliferation of keratinocytes isolated from psoriatic lesions in excellent correlation with its EGFR kinase inhibitory activity in these cells. Biologically active concentrations of SU5271 penetrated human cadaver skin, suggesting that this compound is a strong candidate as an antipsoriatic agent.

Tyrphostins that suppress the growth of human papilloma virus 16-immortalized human keratinocytes

Human papilloma virus 16 (HPV16) is considered to be the causative agent for cervical cancer, which ranks second to breast cancer in women's malignancies. In an attempt to develop drugs that inhibit the malignant transformation of HPV16-immortalized epithelial cells, we examined the effect of tyrphostins on such cells. We examined the effect of tyrphostins from four different families on the growth of HPV16-immortalized human keratinocytes (HF-1) cells. We found that they alter their cell cycle distribution, their morphology, and induce cell death by apoptosis. The effects of tyrphostins on HF-1 cells are different from their effects on normal keratinocytes. Growth suppression by AG555 and AG1478 is accompanied by 30% apoptosis in HF-1 cells, but this is not observed in normal keratinocytes. Tyrphostin treatment produces distinctive morphological changes in HF-1 cells and in normal keratinocytes; however, the culture organization of normal keratinocytes is less disrupted. These differential effects of the tyrphostins on HPV16-immortalized keratinocytes compared with their effects on normal keratinocytes suggests that these compounds are suitable candidates for the treatment of papilloma. Previous and present results indicate that group 1 tyrphostins, which inhibit Cdk2 activation, and group 2 tyrphostins, represented by AG1478, a potent epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor, induce cell cycle arrest; and, in the case of HF-1 cells, apoptosis and differentiation. Cells accumulate in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle at the expense of S and G(2) + M. These compounds block the growth of normal keratinocytes without inducing apoptosis or differentiation, causing them to accumulate in G(1). AG17, which belongs to group 4, exerts its antiproliferative effect mainly by increasing the fractions of cells in G(1) with a concomitant decrease in the fraction of cells in S and G(2) + M.

Src protein and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein profiles in marrow stroma during osteogenic stimulation

Src protein is essential for the regulation of bone turnover primarily via bone resorption because it is required in osteoclast differentiation and function. We followed temporal changes of Src protein abundance in marrow stromal cells induced to mineralize by dexamethasone (DEX), growth in cold temperature, or both. Given the tyrosine kinase function of Src and its numerous substrates, profiles of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins were followed as well. On day 11 of stimulation, specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity at 30 degrees C decreased under DEX relative to 37 degrees C cultures, in accord with increased cell counts. Mineralization per well under DEX increased by 25% at 37 degrees C, whereas at 30 degrees C it increased by more than threefold regardless of the DEX stimulation. At 30 degrees C, on a per cell basis mineralization increased 2.5 and 3 times with and without DEX, respectively. Cultures at 37 degrees C showed a general drop per cell of many phosphotyrosine-containing proteins on day 3 relative to days 1 and 2 in both DEX-stimulated and nonstimulated cultures; several proteins did recover (recuperate) thereafter. On days 1 and 2, the phosphotyrosine signal was higher in several proteins under DEX stimulation; this trend became inverted after day 3. The changes in abundance per cell of Src protein (pp60src) followed a similar trend, and in addition a truncated Src molecule, p54/52src, was detected as a putative cleavage product presumably representing its carboxy terminus. The pp60src was most abundant, relative to its truncated product, in day 7 nonstimulated cultures, whereas under DEX stimulation the truncated species pp54/52src showed the highest relative abundance on days 7. At 30 degrees C, DEX stimulation accentuated the increase in Src protein on day 3, showed no change on day 7, and returned to increase Src protein on day 10. Potassium ionophorvalinomycin, considered to select against mineralizing osteoprogenitors at 30 degrees C, showed on day 10 in the absence of DEX a relative increase in truncated Src protein compared to both DEX-stimulated and nonstimulated cultures in the absence of valinomycin. On day 7 of DEX stimulation, the presence of valinomycin resulted in low p54/52src. Among phosphotyrosine-containing proteins, a 32-34 kDa band, as yet unidentified, showed the most concordant changes with mineralization induction. P32-34 decreased by DEX on days 2 and 8 and increased by low temperature alone or combined with DEX on day 3. On day 7, p32-34 did not change under DEX, but valinomycin selected cells with less phoshpotyrosine-containing p32-34. Taken together, high Src abundance at the start of osteogenic induction followed by a decrease 1 week later is probably related to energy metabolism-dependent induction of mineralization. This is in temporal accord with the increase in Src truncation and fluctuation in mitochondrial membrane potential (which affects mineralization). The reported binding of amino-terminal Src oligopeptide to p32 ADP/ATP carrier in the mitochondrial inner membrane raises the question of its possible involvement in mitochondria-regulated mineralization.

Inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor kinase and of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activation induce growth arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis of human papilloma virus 16-immortalized human keratinocytes

Human papilloma virus 16 (HPV 16) is associated with cervical cancer and is therefore considered a major health risk for women. Immortalization of keratinocytes induced by HPV infection is largely due to the binding of p53 and Rb by the the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, respectively, and is driven to a large extent by a transforming growth factor alpha/amphiregulin epidermal growth factor receptor autocrine loop. In this study, we show that the growth of HPV 16-immortalized human keratinocytes can be blocked by a selective epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor, AG 1478, and by AG 555, a blocker of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) activation. AG 1478 induces a massive increase in the Cdk2 protein inhibitors p27 and p21, whereas AG 555 appears to have a different mechanism of action, inhibiting the activation of Cdk2. Growth arrest induced by AG 1478 and AG 555 is accompanied by up to 20% of cells undergoing apoptosis. Following AG 1478 treatment but not AG 555 treatment, up to 50% of cells undergo terminal keratinocyte differentiation as determined by filaggrin expression and by the decline in the expression of cytokeratin 14. The growth-arresting properties of AG 1478 and AG 555 identifies them as possible lead antipapilloma agents.

Frameshift and splice-junction mutations in the sterol 27-hydroxylase gene cause cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis in Jews or Moroccan origin

The sterol 27-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.15) catalyzes steps in the oxidation of sterol intermediates that form bile acids. Mutations in this gene give rise to the autosomal recessive disease cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX). CTX is characterized by tendon xanthomas, cataracts, a multitude of neurological manifestations, and premature atherosclerosis. A relatively high prevalence of the disease has been noted in Jews originating from Morocco. The major objectives of the present investigation were to determine the gene structure and characterize the common mutant alleles that cause CTX in Moroccan Jews. The gene contains nine exons and eight introns and encompasses at least 18.6 kb of DNA. The putative promoter region is rich in guanidine and cytosine residues and contains potential binding sites for the transcription factor Sp1 and the liver transcription factor, LF-B1. Blotting analysis revealed that the mutant alleles do not produce any detectable sterol 27-hydroxylase mRNA. No major gene rearrangements were found and single-strand conformational polymorphism followed by sequence analysis identified two underlying mutations: deletion of thymidine in exon 4 and a guanosine to adenosine substitution at the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 4 of the gene. The molecular characterization of CTX in Jews of Moroccan origin provides a definitive diagnosis of this treatable disease.