Association between imaging response and survival following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between the imaging response (structural or metabolic) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) before colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and survival is unclear.

METHOD

A total of 201 patients underwent their first CRLM resection. A total of 94 (47%) patients were treated with neoCT. A multivariable, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to compare overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between response groups.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression analysis of the CT/MRI (n = 94) group showed no difference in survival (OS and PFS) in patients who had stable disease/partial response (SD/PR) or complete response (CR) versus patients who had progressive disease (PD) (OS: HR, 0.36 (95% CI: 0.11-1.19) p = .094, HR, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.13-4.50) p = .780, respectively), (PFS: HR, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.36-1.35) p = .284, HR, 0.51 (0.18-1.45) p = .203, respectively). In the FDG-PET group (n = 60) there was no difference in the hazard of death for patients with SD/PR or CR versus patients with PD for OS or PFS except for the PFS in the small CR subgroup (OS: HR, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.11-4.88) p = .759, HR, 1.21 (95% CI: 0.15-9.43) p = .857), (PFS: HR, 0.34% (95% CI: 0.09-1.22), p = .097, HR, 0.17 (95% CI: 0.04-0.62) p = .008, respectively).

CONCLUSION

There was no convincing evidence of association between imaging response to neoCT and survival following CRLM resection.

Volatile anaesthesia and peri-operative outcomes related to cancer: a feasibility and pilot study for a large randomised control trial

Published data suggest that the type of general anaesthesia used during surgical resection for cancer may impact on patient long-term outcome. However, robust prospective clinical evidence is essential to guide a change in clinical practice. We explored the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial to investigate the impact of total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol vs. inhalational volatile anaesthesia on postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing major cancer surgery. We undertook a randomised, double-blind feasibility and pilot study of propofol total intravenous anaesthesia or volatile-based maintenance anaesthesia during cancer resection surgery at three tertiary hospitals in Australia and the USA. Patients were randomly allocated to receive propofol total intravenous anaesthesia or volatile-based maintenance anaesthesia. Primary outcomes for this study were successful recruitment to the study and successful delivery of the assigned anaesthetic treatment as per randomisation arm. Of the 217 eligible patients approached, 146 were recruited, a recruitment rate of 67.3% (95%CI 60.6-73.5%). One hundred and forty-five patients adhered to the randomised treatment arm, 99.3% (95%CI 96.2-100%). Intra-operative patient characteristics and postoperative complications were comparable between the two intervention groups. This feasibility and pilot study supports the viability of the protocol for a large, randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of anaesthesia technique on postoperative cancer outcomes. The volatile anaesthesia and peri-operative outcomes related to cancer (VAPOR-C) study that is planned to follow this feasibility study is an international, multicentre trial with the aim of providing evidence-based guidelines for the anaesthetic management of patients undergoing major cancer surgery.

Progastrin production transitions from Bmi1+/Prox1+ to Lgr5high cells during early intestinal tumorigenesis

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Secretion of progastrin is a signature event of early malignant transformation in the colon.

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In the healthy epithelium, progastrin is produced by a subset of enteroendocrine cells expressing both Bmi1 and Prox1.

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LGR5-high intestinal stem cells are a primary source of progastrin production in early mouse and human intestinal adenomas.

Progastrin is an unprocessed soluble peptide precursor with a well-described tumor-promoting role in colorectal cancer. It is expressed at small levels in the healthy intestinal mucosa, and its expression is enhanced at early stages of intestinal tumor development, with high levels of this peptide in hyperplastic intestinal polyps being associated with poor neoplasm-free survival in patients. Yet, the precise type of progastrin-producing cells in the healthy intestinal mucosa and in early adenomas remains unclear. Here, we used a combination of immunostaining, RNAscope labelling and retrospective analysis of single cell RNAseq results to demonstrate that progastrin is produced within intestinal crypts by a subset of Bmi1⁺/Prox1⁺/LGR5^low endocrine cells, previously shown to act as replacement stem cells in case of mucosal injury. In contrast, our findings indicate that intestinal stem cells, specified by expression of the Wnt signaling target LGR5, become the main source of progastrin production in early mouse and human intestinal adenomas. Collectively our results suggest that the previously identified feed-forward mechanisms between progastrin and Wnt signaling is a hallmark of early neoplastic transformation in mouse and human colonic adenomas.

Repurposing the selective estrogen receptor modulator bazedoxifene to suppress gastrointestinal cancer growth

Excessive signaling through gp130, the shared receptor for the interleukin (IL)6 family of cytokines, is a common hallmark in solid malignancies and promotes their progression. Here, we established the in vivo utility of bazedoxifene, a steroid analog clinically approved for the treatment of osteoporosis, to suppress gp130‐dependent tumor growth of the gastrointestinal epithelium. Bazedoxifene administration reduced gastric tumor burden in gp130^Y757F mice, where tumors arise exclusively through excessive gp130/STAT3 signaling in response to the IL6 family cytokine IL11. Likewise, in mouse models of sporadic colon and intestinal cancers, which arise from oncogenic mutations in the tumor suppressor gene Apc and the associated β‐catenin/canonical WNT pathway, bazedoxifene treatment reduces tumor burden. Consistent with the proposed orthogonal tumor‐promoting activity of IL11‐dependent gp130/STAT3 signaling, tumors of bazedoxifene‐treated Apc‐mutant mice retain excessive nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin and aberrant WNT pathway activation. Likewise, bazedoxifene treatment of human colon cancer cells harboring mutant APC did not reduce aberrant canonical WNT signaling, but suppressed IL11‐dependent STAT3 signaling. Our findings provide compelling proof of concept to support the repurposing of bazedoxifene for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers in which IL11 plays a tumor‐promoting role.

Curriculum design for research-led teaching: Molecule to Malady

Modern medicine is increasingly characterised by a personalised approach to treatment through producing therapies that target specific biological processes. When planning the new Bachelor of Biomedicine (BBiomed) degree, one of two completely new undergraduate courses crafted as part of the ‘Melbourne Curriculum’ introduced by The University of Melbourne in 2008, the paradigm that medical interventions should be evidence-based and driven by a molecular understanding of the cause of disease was a key design parameter. Our intention in developing the curriculum for Biomedicine: Molecule to Malady (M2M), a third-year compulsory capstone subject of this new BBiomed degree, was to enhance the ability of students to apply their core cross-disciplinary knowledge to unfamiliar problems in translational medicine by having expert clinicians/researchers explain the scientific reasoning applied to the development of disease interventions in their specialist areas.

Glycoprotein A33 deficiency: a new mouse model of impaired intestinal epithelial barrier function and inflammatory disease

The cells of the intestinal epithelium provide a selectively permeable barrier between the external environment and internal tissues. The integrity of this barrier is maintained by tight junctions, specialised cell-cell contacts that permit the absorption of water and nutrients while excluding microbes, toxins and dietary antigens. Impairment of intestinal barrier function contributes to multiple gastrointestinal disorders, including food hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Glycoprotein A33 (GPA33) is an intestinal epithelium-specific cell surface marker and member of the CTX group of transmembrane proteins. Roles in cell-cell adhesion have been demonstrated for multiple CTX family members, suggesting a similar function for GPA33 within the gastrointestinal tract. To test a potential requirement for GPA33 in intestinal barrier function, we generated Gpa33^−/− mice and subjected them to experimental regimens designed to produce food hypersensitivity, colitis and CAC. Gpa33^−/− mice exhibited impaired intestinal barrier function. This was shown by elevated steady-state immunosurveillance in the colonic mucosa and leakiness to oral TRITC-labelled dextran after short-term exposure to dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) to injure the intestinal epithelium. Gpa33^−/− mice also exhibited rapid onset and reduced resolution of DSS-induced colitis, and a striking increase in the number of colitis-associated tumours produced by treatment with the colon-specific mutagen azoxymethane (AOM) followed by two cycles of DSS. In contrast, Gpa33^−/− mice treated with AOM alone showed no increase in sporadic tumour formation, indicating that their increased tumour susceptibility is dependent on inflammatory stimuli. Finally, Gpa33^−/− mice displayed hypersensitivity to food allergens, a common co-morbidity in humans with IBD. We propose that Gpa33^−/− mice provide a valuable model to study the mechanisms linking intestinal permeability and multiple inflammatory pathologies. Moreover, this model could facilitate preclinical studies aimed at identifying drugs that restore barrier function.

Highlighted Article: We show that GPA33, an intestine-specific cell surface protein, plays a role in the maintenance of intestinal barrier function and the prevention of intestinal pathologies such as food hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated cancer.

The p53 isoform Δ133p53β promotes cancer stem cell potential

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are responsible for cancer chemoresistance and metastasis formation. Here we report that Δ133p53β, a TP53 splice variant, enhanced cancer cell stemness in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while its depletion reduced it. Δ133p53β stimulated the expression of the key pluripotency factors SOX2, OCT3/4, and NANOG. Similarly, in highly metastatic breast cancer cells, aggressiveness was coupled with enhanced CSC potential and Δ133p53β expression. Like in MCF-7 cells, SOX2, OCT3/4, and NANOG expression were positively regulated by Δ133p53β in these cells. Finally, treatment of MCF-7 cells with etoposide, a cytotoxic anti-cancer drug, increased CSC formation and SOX2, OCT3/4, and NANOG expression via Δ133p53, thus potentially increasing the risk of cancer recurrence. Our findings show that Δ133p53β supports CSC potential. Moreover, they indicate that the TP53 gene, which is considered a major tumor suppressor gene, also acts as an oncogene via the Δ133p53β isoform.

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The Δ133p53β isoform promotes stemness of breast cancer cells

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The Δ133p53β isoform regulates SOX2, OCT3/4, and NANOG expression, but not C-MYC

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Etoposide promotes cancer cell stemness through Δ133p53β induction

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Δ133p53β expression, like p53 mutations, promotes cancer cell stemness

Hedgehog signaling regulates E-cadherin expression for the maintenance of the actin cytoskeleton and tight junctions

In the stomach, strictly regulated cell adherens junctions are crucial in determining epithelial cell differentiation. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) regulates epithelial cell differentiation in the adult stomach. We sought to identify whether Shh plays a role in regulating adherens junction protein E-cadherin as a mechanism for epithelial cell differentiation. Mouse nontumorigenic gastric epithelial (IMGE-5) cells treated with Hedgehog signaling inhibitor cyclopamine and anti-Shh 5E1 antibody or transduced with short hairpin RNA against Skinny Hedgehog (IMGE-5(Ski)) were cultured. A mouse model expressing a parietal cell-specific deletion of Shh (HKCre/Shh(KO)) was used to identify further changes in adherens and tight junctions. Inhibition of Hedgehog signaling in IMGE-5 cells caused loss of E-cadherin expression accompanied by disruption of F-actin cortical expression and relocalization of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). Loss of E-cadherin was also associated with increased proliferation in IMGE-5(Ski) cells and increased expression of the mucous neck cell lineage marker MUC6. Compared with membrane-expressed E-cadherin and ZO-1 protein in controls, dissociation of E-cadherin/β-catenin and ZO-1/occludin protein complexes was observed in HKCre/Shh(KO) mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate that Hedgehog signaling regulates E-cadherin expression that is required for the maintenance of F-actin cortical expression and stability of tight junction protein ZO-1.

Loss of parietal cell expression of Sonic hedgehog induces hypergastrinemia and hyperproliferation of surface mucous cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in the adult stomach, but its role as a gastric morphogen is unclear. We sought to identify mechanisms by which Shh might regulate gastric epithelial cell function and differentiation.

METHODS

Mice with a parietal cell-specific deletion of Shh (HKCre/Shh(KO)) were created. Gastric morphology and function were studied in control and HKCre/Shh(KO) mice between 1 and 8 months of age.

RESULTS

In contrast to control mice, HKCre/Shh(KO) mice developed gastric hypochlorhydria, hypergastrinemia, and a phenotype that resembled foveolar hyperplasia. The fundic mucosa of HKCre/Shh(KO) mice had an expanded surface pit cell lineage that was documented by increased incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine and was attributed to the hypergastrinemia. Compared with controls, numbers of total mucous neck and zymogen cells were significantly decreased in stomachs of HKCre/Shh(KO) mice. In addition, zymogen and neck cell markers were coexpressed in the same cell populations, indicating disrupted differentiation of the zymogen cell lineage from the mucous neck cells in the stomachs of HKCre/Shh(KO) mice. Laser capture microdissection of the surface epithelium, followed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, revealed a significant increase in expression of Indian Hedgehog, glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1, Wnt, and cyclin D1. Laser capture microdissection analysis also showed a significant increase in Snail with a concomitant decrease in E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONS

In the stomachs of adult mice, loss of Shh from parietal cells results in hypochlorhydria and hypergastrinemia. Hypergastrinemia might subsequently induce increased Hedgehog and Wnt signaling in the surface pit epithelium, resulting in hyperproliferation.

Ferric ions are essential for the biological activity of the hormone glycine-extended gastrin

Amidated and nonamidated gastrins elicit different biological effects via distinct receptors in different tissues. Amidated gastrin 17 stimulates gastric acid secretion and the development of gastric carcinoids, whereas glycine-extended gastrin 17 stimulates proliferation of the colonic mucosa and the development of colorectal cancers. Because glycine-extended gastrin 17 binds two ferric ions with high affinity (Baldwin, G. S., Curtain, C. C., and Sawyer, W. H. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 10741-10746), we have investigated the identity of the iron ligands and the role of ferric ions in biological activity. Here we report the solution structure of glycine-extended gastrin 17, determined by NMR spectroscopy. The spectral changes observed upon the addition of ferric ions revealed that Glu(7) acted as a ligand at the first ferric binding site, and that Glu(8) and Glu(9) acted as ligands at the second ferric ion binding site. Fluorescence quenching experiments confirmed that a GglyE7A mutant bound only one ferric ion. The inability of this mutant to stimulate proliferation or migration in the IMGE-5 cell line and the observation that the iron chelator desferrioxamine selectively blocked the effects of glycine-extended gastrin 17 indicated that binding of a ferric ion to Glu(7) was essential for biological activity. This is the first report of an essential role for a metal ion in the action of a hormone.

Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases in glycine-extended gastrin-induced dissociation and migration of gastric epithelial cells

The various molecular forms of gastrin can act as promoters of proliferation and differentiation in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a novel stimulatory effect of glycine-extended gastrin(17) only on cell/cell dissociation and cell migration in a non-tumorigenic mouse gastric epithelial cell line (IMGE-5). In contrast, both amidated and glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulated proliferation of IMGE-5 cells via distinct receptors. Glycine-extended gastrin(17)-induced dissociation preceded migration and was blocked by selective inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) but did not require mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. Furthermore, glycine-extended gastrin(17) induced a PI3-kinase-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the adherens junction protein beta-catenin, partial dissociation of the complex between beta-catenin and the transmembrane protein E-cadherin, and delocalization of beta-catenin into the cytoplasm. Long lasting activation of MAP kinases by glycine-extended gastrin(17) was specifically required for the migratory response, in contrast to the involvement of a rapid and transient MAP kinase activation in the proliferative response to both amidated and glycine-extended gastrin(17). Therefore, the time course of MAP kinase activation appears to be a critical determinant of the biological effects mediated by this pathway. Together with the involvement of PI3-kinase in the dissociation of adherens junctions, long term activation of MAP kinases seems responsible for the selectivity of this novel effect of G(17)-Gly on the adhesion and migration of gastric epithelial cells.

HGF regulates tight junctions in new nontumorigenic gastric epithelial cell line

The regulation of intercellular adhesion by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was examined on a novel nontumorigenic gastric epithelial cell line (IMGE-5) derived from H-2Kb-tsA58 transgenic mice. IMGE-5 cells constitutively expressed cytokeratin 18 and HGF receptors. Under permissive conditions (33 degrees C + interferon-gamma), IMGE-5 cells proliferated rapidly but did not display membrane expression of adherens and tight junction proteins. Under nonpermissive conditions, their proliferation was decreased and they displayed a strong, localized membrane expression of E-cadherin/beta-catenin and occludin/ZO-1. HGF treatment largely prevented the targeting of ZO-1 to the tight junction and induced a significant decrease of the transepithelial resistance measured across a confluent IMGE-5 cell monolayer. HGF rapidly increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of ZO-1 and decreased its association with occludin in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase)-dependent manner. PI 3-kinase was also involved in HGF-induced migration of IMGE-5 cells. Our results demonstrate that 1) HGF prevents the appearance of ZO-1 in the membrane during epithelial cell differentiation; 2) HGF causes partial relocalization of ZO-1 to the cytoplasm and nucleus and concomitantly stimulates cell dissociation and migration; and 3) IMGE-5 cells offer a useful model for the study of gastric epithelial cell differentiation.

Biologically active recombinant human progastrin(6-80) contains a tightly bound calcium ion

Evidence is accumulating that gastrin precursors may act as growth factors for the colonic mucosa in vivo. The aims of this study were to prepare recombinant human progastrin(6-80) and to investigate its structure and biological activities in vitro. Human progastrin(6-80) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. After thrombin cleavage progastrin(6-80) was purified by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography and characterized by radioimmunoassay, amino acid sequencing, and mass spectrometry. Assays for metal ions by atomic emission spectroscopy revealed the presence of a single tightly bound calcium ion. Progastrin(6-80) at concentrations in the pm to nm range stimulated proliferation of the conditionally transformed mouse colon cell line YAMC. The observations that progastrin(6-80) did not bind to either the cholecystokinin (CCK)-A or the gastrin/CCK-B receptor expressed in COS cells and that antagonists selective for either receptor did not reverse the proliferative effects of progastrin(6-80) suggested that progastrin(6-80) stimulated proliferation independently of either the CCK-A or the gastrin/CCK-B receptor. We conclude that recombinant human progastrin(6-80) is biologically active and contains a single calcium ion. With the exception of the well known zinc-dependent polymerization of insulin and proinsulin, this is the first report of selective, high affinity binding of metal ions to a prohormone.

Blockade of long chain fatty acid oxidation by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may contribute to inhibition of proliferation of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the growth of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cell lines. Although the mechanism appears to be independent of cyclooxygenases, the inhibitory target has not previously been defined. We now report for the first time that NSAIDs inhibit oxidation of the long chain fatty acid palmitate in human CRC cell lines with potencies which are in good agreement with the potencies of NSAIDs as inhibitors of cell proliferation. The absence of inhibition of acetate oxidation rules out an effect on mitochondrial functions. We conclude that the long chain fatty acid oxidation pathway may be a novel target for some of the inhibitory effects of NSAIDs on the growth of CRC cell lines.

Expression of progastrin-derived peptides and gastrin receptors in a panel of gastrointestinal carcinoma cell lines

To assess the potential of gastrin receptor antagonists in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, the presence of an autocrine loop involving progastrin-derived peptides has been investigated in two colorectal and one gastric carcinoma cell lines. Progastrin, glycine-extended gastrin and amidated gastrin were detected in cell extracts or conditioned media by radio-immunoassay. Low-affinity binding sites for glycine-extended gastrin and amidated gastrin were present, but high-affinity binding sites were not detected with the appropriate iodinated ligands. In addition, neither glycine-extended gastrin nor amidated gastrin in the concentration range 10pmol/L-10nmol/L stimulated cell proliferation. We conclude that it is unlikely that the carcinoma cell lines LIM 1215, LIM 1839 and LIM 1899 use either amidated or glycine-extended gastrins as extracellular autocrine growth factors.

Glycine-extended gastrin acts as an autocrine growth factor in a nontransformed colon cell line

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The hypothesis that progastrin-derived peptides act as autocrine growth factors for colorectal carcinomas has generated considerable interest. However, the influence of autocrine gastrins on nontumorigenic colonic cells has not been investigated. This study tested the above hypothesis in the nontumorigenic, conditionally immortalized mouse colon cell line YAMC.

METHODS

The effects of expression of antisense or sense gastrin messenger RNA, treatment with antibodies against progastrin-derived peptides, or treatment with gastrin receptor antagonists on YAMC cell proliferation were measured.

RESULTS

YAMC clones expressing antisense gastrin messenger RNA had reduced levels of immunoreactive progastrin-derived peptides and a reduced rate of proliferation, relative to vector only-transfected cells. Glycine-extended gastrin17, but not amidated gastrin17, reversed the antisense-induced inhibition of proliferation and stimulated the proliferation of sense- or vector only-transfected cells. YAMC cells bound 125I-glycine-extended gastrin17 (Kd, 0.36 nmol/L, 1810 sites/cell), but not 125I-amidated gastrin17, and binding was unaffected by gastrin receptor antagonists including benzotript. Proliferation of all YAMC clones was partially inhibited either by an antibody selective for glycine-extended gastrin or by preincubation with benzotript, and the inhibitory effects were additive.

CONCLUSIONS

YAMC cells use nonamidated progastrin-derived peptides as autocrine growth factors, partly through binding to an extracellular receptor selective for glycine-extended gastrin, and partly through an intracellular mechanism.

Short-term inhibitory effect of somatostatin on gastric histamine synthesis

In this study we investigated the short-term effect of somatostatin on histamine synthesis in a cell population isolated from rabbit gastric mucosa and enriched in enterochromaffin-like cells. Somatostatin inhibited basal and gastrin-stimulated histamine synthesis through a dual mechanism involving a decrease in the affinity of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) for its substrate (L-histidine) and a reduction in the number of functional HDC molecules. H-89 (an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase) mimicked somatostatin-induced reduction of HDC affinity, which, on the contrary, was selectively reversed by pertussis toxin (PTX). Furthermore, forskolin was shown to reverse the inhibitory effect of H-89 and to prevent the somatostatin-induced reduction in HDC affinity for L-histidine. Thus, the somatostatin-induced reduction in affinity seems to involve a PTX-sensitive G protein and an inhibition of the cAMP-dependent pathway. On the other hand, the somatostatin-induced decrease in the number of functional HDC molecules seems to be PTX insensitive and independent from a modulation of the cAMP pathway, and does not seem to involve a significant change in HDC messenger RNA expression or a regulation of protein kinase C. The exact nature of this second mechanism will need further studies to be elucidated.

Gastrin stimulation of histamine synthesis in enterochromaffin-like cells from rabbit fundic mucosa

This work aimed to investigate the molecular role of gastrin in histamine synthesis in isolated rabbit fundic mucosal cells enriched in enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells (37%). Gastrin stimulated histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity by increasing the maximal velocity (Vmax) from 0.240 +/- 0.017 (basal value) to 0.332 +/- 0.012 pmol/mg protein/h and by decreasing the Michaelis-Menten constant value -Km; 73.90 +/- 2.2 vs. 93.42 +/- 4.32 microM (basal value)]. Pertussis toxin (PTX) (200 ng/ml) reduced the stimulation of HDC induced by 10 nM gastrin from 41.8 to 15.9%, whereas cholera toxin (CTX) (100 ng/ml) was without effect. Staurosporine and polymyxin B inhibited in a dose dependent manner the HDC activity stimulated by 10 nM gastrin. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 100 nM) decreased Vmax (0.558 +/- 0.021 pmol/ mg protein/h) but did not change the Km. Furthermore, cycloheximide (0.1-10 microM) inhibited the gastrin-induced stimulation of HDC activity, whereas actinomycin D (up to 10 microM) was without effect. Finally, incubation of cells with gastrin (10 microM) left the expression of HDC mRNA unchanged. We concluded that gastrin, acting through "gastrin/CCK-B type" receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive G protein, exerts a short-term regulation of histamine synthesis in gastric ECL cells by increasing both the affinity of HDC for L-histidine and the number of active enzyme molecules. This last event, related to protein kinase C activation, could be due to a translational or posttranslational mechanism.

Comparative effects of GLP-1-(7-36) amide, oxyntomodulin and glucagon on rabbit gastric parietal cell function

We have investigated in vitro, the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide (GLP-1-(7-36) amide), oxyntomodulin and glucagon on two rabbit parietal cell-enriched fractions (F3, F3n), with parietal cell contents of 60% and 88%, respectively. Histamine (10(-5) M) stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation to an amount of 850% in excess of the basal level, whereas GLP-1-(7-36) amide (10(-7) M) and oxyntomodulin (10(-6) M) induced increases of 50% and 30%, respectively. With a histamine concentration of 10(-6) M, [14C]aminopyrine accumulation was stimulated to 498% in excess of the basal level; GLP-1-(7-36) amide (10(-7) M) and oxyntomodulin (10(-7) M) induced increases of 18% and 15%, respectively. With these parameters, oxyntomodulin[19-37] and glucagon were without effect. Specific binding of [125I]GLP-1-(7-36) amide to parietal cell plasma membranes was inhibited dose-dependently by GLP-1-(7-36) amide, oxyntomodulin and glucagon with inhibitory concentrations of 0.25 nM, 65 nM and 800 nM, respectively. No specific binding of [125I]oxyntomodulin or [125I]glucagon was detectable. GLP-1-(7-36) amide receptor mRNA was only detected in parietal cell-enriched fractions. GLP-1-(7-36) amide, oxyntomodulin and glucagon stimulated parietal cell cAMP production to similar maximal levels with median values close to 0.28 nM, 10.5 nM and 331.7 nM, whereas oxyntomodulin[19-37] had no effect. The maximal cAMP production induced by GLP-1-(7-36) amide, oxyntomodulin or glucagon was additive to that induced by histamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neurohormonal regulation of histamine synthesis in isolated rabbit fundic mucosal cells

In a population of rabbit fundic mucosal cells enriched in mucous and endocrine cells, gastrin and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) were shown to increase dose-dependently histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity with the same efficacy and high potencies [50% effective concentration (EC50) 0.389 +/- 0.041 and 0.275 +/- 0.011 nM, respectively], whereas pentagastrin was less potent (EC50 2.90 +/- 0.13 nM). L-365,260 and PD-135,666 inhibited gastrin- and CCK-8-stimulated HDC activity with a high potency [50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) 1.00 +/- 0.08 and 4.2 +/- 0.7 nM for gastrin-stimulated and 1.95 +/- 0.21 and 1.78 +/- 0.12 nM for CCK-8-stimulated HDC activity, respectively], whereas L-364,718 was 50 to 100 times less potent (EC50 100 +/- 2.5 and 91.2 +/- 3.1 nM, respectively on gastrin- and CCK-8-stimulated HDC activity). Carbachol also dose-dependently increased HDC activity (EC50 7.08 +/- 0.32 nM), and its effect was reversed by selective muscarinic-receptor antagonists with the following order of potency: pirenzepine (IC50 15.1 +/- 1.2 nM) > para-fluoro-hexahydro-siladifenidol (IC50 0.316 +/- 0.02 microM) > 11-2[(2-[(diethyl-amino)-methyl]-1-piperidinyl)acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H- pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one (IC50 28.5 +/- 1.1 microM). Moreover, gastrin and carbachol were able to modify slightly but significantly both the Michaelis constant (Km) and the maximal velocity (Vmax) of HDC in the same way (18-20% reduction of the Km and 25-30% increase of the Vmax).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoregulation of histamine synthesis through H3 receptors in isolated fundic mucosal cells

Histamine plays an important role in the control of gastric acid secretion by activating H2 receptors located on parietal cells. In gastric mucosa, histamine is stored both in mast cells and in enterochromaffin-like cells, especially in rodents. It has been proposed that histamine may regulate its own synthesis and/or release through receptors pharmacologically distinct from H1- and H2-receptor subtypes. In this article, we studied the regulation by histamine of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity (enzyme responsible for the formation of histamine by decarboxylation of L-histidine) in a fraction of isolated rabbit gastric mucosal cells enriched in mucous and endocrine cells. Histamine and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (H3 receptor agonist) dose dependently inhibited HDC activity with the same potency (mean effective concn: 32.2 +/- 0.7 and 50.5 +/- 3.1 pM, respectively) and efficacy (35 and 36% inhibition, respectively). In contrast, the H2 agonist dimaprit was devoid of effect. The H3 antagonist thioperamide was found to decrease the histamine- or (R)-alpha-methylhistamine-induced inhibition of HDC activity (mean ineffective concn = 28.3 +/- 1.8 and 9.87 +/- 0.8 nM, respectively), whereas H1 (promethazine) and H2 (ranitidine) antagonists were unable to affect HDC activity. Moreover, high concentrations of thioperamide (1-10 microns) increased histamine release from these cells. All these results allowed us to conclude that, in gastric mucosa, histamine downregulates its own synthesis (and perhaps release) through the stimulation of autoreceptors with pharmacological characteristics of H3 receptors. However, the relationship between histamine synthesis and release remains unclear and needs further investigation.

Expression of angiotensin I converting enzyme mRNA in rabbit gastric epithelial cells

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase synthesized by endothelial cells from many vascular beds as well as by extravascular tissues. Two forms of ACE have been characterized, a pulmonary form and a testicular form. Previously, in the gastrointestinal tract, we localized ACE in the rabbit gastric fundic tissue. In the present study, Northern blot analysis demonstrated the expression of a 5 kb ACE mRNA in fundic mucosa, identical in size to pulmonary ACE mRNA. In order to confirm the epithelial origin of this ACE, we have purified fundic epithelial cells by a flow cytometry technique by which endothelial cells were excluded and the population was enriched in intermediate and chief cells. Using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction with specific oligonucleotides, we have amplified from the enriched fundic epithelial cell RNA a 874 bp fragment, the restriction map of which is identical to that of rabbit lung. These findings demonstrate that in gastric mucosa ACE is expressed in fundic epithelial cells and seems to be similar to the pulmonary form.

Neurohormonal regulation of histamine release from isolated rabbit fundic mucosal cells

Histamine-containing cells isolated from rabbit fundic mucosa were found in a small cell elutriation fraction (cells with diameter about 9-12 microns) enriched in mucus and endocrine cells and containing less than 1% mast cells (F1 cells). Gastrin (HG-17), pentagastrin and CCK-8 (C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin) dose-dependently stimulated histamine release (EC50, respectively, 0.126 +/- 0.03, 0.92 +/- 0.15 and 0.211 +/- 0.025 nM) and somatostatin inhibited this release. PGE1, PGE2 and PGD2 alone were unable to enhance histamine release even at high concentrations but, when used in combination with gastrin of CCK-8, the release of histamine caused by these peptides was potentiated (about 1.5- to 2-fold). Carbachol also enhanced the liberation of histamine but with a weaker potency and efficacy than the gastrointestinal peptides (EC50: 1.50 +/- 0.06 microM). The use of specific muscarinic antagonists for M1-, M2- and M3-type receptors led us to conclude that an M1 receptor might be involved in the muscarinic-induced stimulation of histamine release. Activators of protein kinase C, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and 1-oleyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) as well as the calcium ionophore, A23187, induced histamine release, whereas agents which increased intracellular cAMP content were devoid of effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A prepro-TRH connecting peptide (prepro-TRH 160-169) potentiates TRH-induced TSH release from rat perifused pituitaries by stimulating dihydropyridine- and omega-conotoxin-sensitive Ca2+ channels

The stimulation of TSH secretion by TRH involves the phosphatidylinositol second messenger pathway via activation of phospholipase C. This effect is mediated by a GTP-binding protein and leads to a mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores and an activation of protein kinase C. However, TRH stimulation also results in an influx of extracellular Ca2+. Since we have previously demonstrated that a non-TRH fragment of the prepro-TRH molecule, the connecting peptide PS4 (prepro-TRH 160-169), was able to potentiate the TRH-induced TSH release in a dose-dependent manner, we attempted to determine whether this potentiation might be due to a Ca(2+)-dependent phenomenon and whether a specific class of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, the L type Ca2+ channels, might be involved in the effect of PS4. This was studied by perifusing normal pituitary fragments with medium containing either the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, and Co2+ ions, or organic compounds well known to block L-type Ca2+ channels, and by measuring the TSH response to a pulse of TRH (10 nM) in the presence or absence of PS4 (100 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Soluble and particulate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatases show common antigenic determinants

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase catalyses the dephosphorylation of the phosphate in the 5-position from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. One particulate and two soluble enzymes were previously described in bovine brain. In this study, we have obtained a precipitating antiserum against soluble type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase. The particulate, but not the soluble type II enzyme, was immunoprecipitated by the serum. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase activity from crude extracts of rat brain, human platelets and rat liver were immunoprecipitated by the same antibodies, suggesting the existence of common antigenic determinant among inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatases of diverse sources.