Purification and characterization of a novel inhibitor of the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells

An inhibitor of the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) was purified from rat liver by a combination of gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The molecular mass of this non-arginase growth inhibitory factor (NAGIF) was determined to be 38 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The proliferation of HSC was inhibited by NAGIF with a 50% inhibitory dose of 5 nmol/liter. The inhibitory activity of NAGIF was not limited to HSC but also affected the growth of bovine endothelial cells and 3T6 fibroblasts. However, the growth of B16 mouse melanoma was not inhibited by NAGIF. The NH(2)-terminal sequence of NAGIF, AEPVEPWS, is identical to an internal sequence of rat Zn-alpha(2)-glycoprotein. Although the action mode of this inhibitor remains to be investigated, it seems very likely that NAGIF is involved in the negative control mechanism of HSC growth.     

Spontaneous immortalisation of Schwann cells in culture: short-term cultured Schwann cells secrete growth inhibitory activity.

In the developing peripheral nerve, Schwann cells proliferate rapidly and then become quiescent, an essential step in control of Schwann cell differentiation. Cell proliferation is controlled by growth factors that can exert positive or inhibitory influences on DNA synthesis. It has been well established that neonatal Schwann cells divide very slowly in culture when separated from neurons but here we show that when culture was continued for several months some cells began to proliferate rapidly and non-clonal lines of immortalised Schwann cells were established which could be passaged for over two years. These cells had a similar molecular phenotype to short-term cultured Schwann cells, except that they expressed intracellular and cell surface fibronectin. The difference in proliferation rates between short- and long-term cultured Schwann cells appeared to be due in part to the secretion by short-term cultured Schwann cells of growth inhibitory activity since DNA synthesis of long-term, immortalised Schwann cells was inhibited by conditioned medium from short-term cultures. This conditioned medium also inhibited DNA synthesis in short-term Schwann cells stimulated to divide by glial growth factor or elevation of intracellular cAMP. The growth inhibitory activity was not detected in the medium of long-term immortalised Schwann cells, epineurial fibroblasts, a Schwannoma (33B), astrocytes or a fibroblast-like cell-line (3T3) and it did not inhibit serum-induced DNA synthesis in epineurial fibroblasts, 33B cells or 3T3 cells. The activity was apparently distinct from transforming growth factor-beta, activin, IL6, epidermal growth factor, atrial natriuretic peptide and gamma-interferon and was heat and acid stable, resistant to collagenase and destroyed by trypsin treatment. We raise the possibility that loss of an inhibitory autocrine loop may contribute to the rapid proliferation of long-term cultured Schwann cells and that an autocrine growth inhibitor may have a role in the cessation of Schwann cell division that precedes differentiation in peripheral nerve development.     

Heterogeneity of the Na(+)-H+ antiport systems in renal cells.

This study analyzes the differential characteristics of the Na(+)-H+ antiport systems observed in several epithelial and non-epithelial renal cell lines. Confluent monolayers of LLC-PK1A cells have a Na(+)-H+ antiport system located in the apical membrane of the cell. This system, however, is not expressed during cell proliferation or after incubation in the presence of different mitogenic agents. In contrast, confluent monolayers of MDCK4 express minimal Na(+)-H+ antiport activity in the confluent monolayer state but reach maximal antiport activity during cell proliferation or after activation of the cells by different mitogenic agents. Similar results were obtained with the renal fibroblastic cell line BHK. The system present in MDCK4 cells is localized in the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cell. In LLC-PK1A cells, an increase in the extracellular Na+ concentration produces a hyperbolic increase in the activity of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter. In MDCK4 and BHK cells, however, an increase in external Na+ produces a sigmoid activation of the system. Maximal activation of the system occur at a pHo 7.5 in LLC-PK1A cells and pHo 7.0 in MDCK4 cells. The Na(+)-H+ antiporter of LLC-PK1A cells is more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of amiloride (Ki 1.8 x 10(-7) M) than is the antiporter of MDCK4 cells (Ki 7.0 x 10(-6) M). Moreover, 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride is the most effective inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange in LLC-PK1A cells, but the least effective inhibitor in MDCK4 cells. Conversely, the analog, 5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride, is the most effective inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange in MDCK4 cells, but is the least effective inhibitor in LLC-PK1A cells. These results support the hypothesis that Na(+)-H+ exchange observed in LLC-PK1A and other cell lines may represent the activity of different Na(+)-H+ antiporters.     

A Novel Glial Growth Inhibitory Factor, Gliostatin, Derived from Neurofibroma

Neurofibroma tissue was investigated for the presence of glial growth modulators that would suppress the proliferation of glial cells. A novel endogenous polypeptide inhibitor of proliferation and DNA synthesis in glial cells, gliostatin, was purified from the extracts of neurofibroma by a procedure comprising dye and anion-exchange column chromatography, and HPLC. A monoclonal antibody raised against partially purified gliostatin showed no cross-reactivity with known cytokines, but adsorbed the growth inhibitory activity of gliostatin and immunochemically visualized the putative gliostatin bands on western blot analyses. Although the product showed an apparent M(r) of 100,000 accompanied by an inhibitory activity on gel filtration column chromatography, it migrated at a lower apparent M(r) of 50,000 under the reducing conditions on western blotting, indicating that a homodimeric structure of native gliostatin consisted of 50-kDa subcomponents. Gliostatin was a potent growth inhibitor acting at nanomolar concentrations against all glial tumor cells and glia maturation factor-stimulated astroblasts, but not neuronal cells.     

Hepatocyte growth factor is a paracrine factor for renal epithelial cells: stimulation of DNA synthesis and NA,K-ATPase activity.

The expressions of mRNAs of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor (c-met) and its effects were examined in cultured renal epithelial cell lines (OK, LLCPK1, and MDCK cells) and rat mesangial cells in primary culture. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of HGF mRNA in mesangial cells, but not in epithelial cells. c-met mRNA was detected in epithelial cells, but not in mesangial cells. HGF stimulated [3H]-thymidine incorporation (DNA synthesis) dose-dependently in OK and LLCPK1 cells, but not in MDCK and mesangial cells. Ouabaine sensitive rubidium uptake (Na,K-ATPase activity) was stimulated by 63% with HGF (10 ng/ml) treatment for 16hr in MDCK cells. The results suggest that HGF is produced in the kidney, at least in mesangial cells and works on epithelial cells to stimulate the proliferation and/or to modify cell functions in a paracrine manner.     

Chemical and biological characterization of low-molecular-weight human skeletal growth factor

Skeletal growth factor (SGF) activity was extracted from human bone matrix by demineralization and purified under dissociative conditions using hydroxyapatite, HPLC gel-filtration and HPLC reverse-phase chromatography. Human SGF thus purified was characterized chemically and biologically. Purified human SGF stimulated chick embryo bone cell proliferation at picomolar concentrations (half maximum at 2-3 ng/ml) and had little or no activity on other cell types tested (mouse 3T3 and normal rat kidney fibroblasts, embryonic chick intestinal and human placental cells). Human SGF did not displace 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor binding to normal rat kidney cells and did not stimulate normal rat kidney cell colony formation in soft agar. Human SGF activity was sensitive to trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, dithiothreitol and performic acid but was resistant to heat (upto 70 degrees C), pH (3-10), cyanogen bromide, alkaline phosphatase and neuraminidase and did not bind jack bean concanavalin A or kidney bean lectin. From our chemical and biological studies it appears that human SGF is different from other known polypeptide growth factors: epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor.     

A lymphocyte blastogenesis inhibitory factor (LBIF) reversibly arrests a human melanoma cell line, A375, at G1 and G2 phases of cell cycle

A lymphocyte blastogenesis inhibitory factor, LBIF, has been found in the culture supernatant of a human macrophage-like cell line, U937. The factor has been purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. Partial amino acid sequencing analysis showed that LBIF was a novel immunoregulatory factor. Recent study has demonstrated that LBIF possesses a remarkable tumor growth inhibitory activity. In this study, the cell growth inhibitory activity of LBIF was characterized on the proliferation of a human melanoma cell line A375 in vitro. LBIF strongly inhibits the proliferation of A375 cells. The inhibitory activity was cytostatic and reversible by Day 5 although the lethal effect became apparent at Day 7. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that LBIF arrested A375 cells at both G1 and G2/M phases. Mitotic index analysis indicated that A375 cells were arrested in G1 and G2 phases. LBIF function was not attributed to the elevation of intracytoplasmic cyclic-AMP levels. Thus, these results suggest that LBIF plays an important role in controlling cell cycle and there is a similarity between the mechanisms of G1 and G2 arrests in eukaryotic cell proliferation. LBIF-induced reversible cell-cycle arrest of A375 cells can be a useful system to analyze the signal transduction for cell proliferation and cell-cycle arrest.     

Purification of a fibrolast-inhibitory factor from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4

Abstract A factor showing inhibitory activity against human gingival fibrolasts was extracted from the cytosol fraction of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4. The activity markedly inhibited the proliferation of human gingival fibrolasts, but had no effect on cell viability or gross morphology. No such activity was found in cytosol fractions from either Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 or Escherichia coli HB101. The extract from A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 was then purified by anion-exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography to give a single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular mass of 65 kDa. The purification ratio was 183-fold with a recovery rate of 5% compared with the crude extract (starting material) when the activity was assessed by direct cell counts.     

Identification of an endothelial cell growth-inhibitory activity produced by human monocytes

The control of endothelial cell proliferation is important in a variety of processes including wound healing and tumor-induced angiogenesis. We have observed that normal unstimulated human monocytes isolated from the blood can inhibit human endothelial cell proliferation. Monocyte-conditioned medium was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography, yielding a 175-fold enrichment of a growth inhibitory activity, designated monocyte-derived endothelial cell inhibitory factor (MECIF). MECIF was found to be protease sensitive, resistant to acid treatment, and heat labile. When conditioned medium was subjected to HPLC gel filtration, the inhibitory activity was eluted as a single peak with a molecular weight of 50-70 kDa. Several characteristics distinguish MECIF from previously described monocyte/macrophage-derived inhibitory factors. Unlike TGF-beta, MECIF is heat labile and does not induce a mitogenic response in growth-arrested normal rat kidney cells. In addition, polyclonal antibodies specific for TGF-beta or INF-gamma do not inhibit MECIF activity. MECIF preparations show low levels of TNF-alpha, insufficient to promote the observed growth inhibitory effect. MECIF activity on human endothelial cells was found to be dose dependent and reversible. MECIF also appeared to be target cell selective in that it did not significantly alter the growth of human smooth muscle cells or skin fibroblasts. These data suggest that monocyte-derived factors may play a key role in inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation.     

Regulation of cell proliferation inhibitory and stimulatory factors diffused by 3T3 cultured cells

The growth rate of normal cells multiplied in vitro decreases as the cell density of the culture increases. Previous results suggested that this density-dependent inhibition of growth in nontransformed cells was due to the diffusion of growth inhibitory substances in the medium of dense cultures. In this paper, we demonstrate that dense cultures of 3T3 cells secrete inhibitory and stimulatory factors. Macromolecules of conditioned medium were fractionated on Biogel P150 and the different fractions were tested on quiescent cultures of 3T3 cells stimulated or not to proliferate by addition of alpha globulin. When target cells were not stimulated to proliferate by addition of exocrine growth factors, we observed the inhibitory activity of a large molecular weight inhibitor (IDF45) and the stimulatory activity of autocrine growth factors (fraction about 35 and 10 K molecular weight), on the incorporation of 14C inosine into nucleotide pool and RNA. However, DNA synthesis was significantly stimulated with fraction 10 K only. This discrepancy between the stimulation of RNA and DNA synthesis may be explained by the presence, simultaneously, of inhibitory and stimulatory factors in fraction 35 and 10 K molecular weight. The presence of inhibitory factor was demonstrated when the fractions were tested on target cells stimulated to proliferate by alpha globulin addition and labeled with 14C thymidine. In these conditions, the stimulatory activity of autocrine growth factors was not observable, and only the inhibitory activity on DNA synthesis of fractions 35 and 10 K appeared. It is tempting to assume that the regulation of in vitro cell proliferation is determined by the balance between these antagonist stimulatory and inhibitory autocrine growth factors.     

Dynamic assembly of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator signaling receptor complex determines the mitogenic activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) receptor (uPAR) functions in concert with co-receptors, including integrins, FPR-like receptor-1/lipoxin A4 receptor, and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), to initiate cell signaling. uPAR co-receptors may be dynamically organized into a multiprotein signaling receptor complex. In Chinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cells, uPA-binding to uPAR activates ERK/MAP kinase, even though these cells do not express the EGFR; however, when CHO-K1 cells are transfected to express the EGFR, ERK activation becomes EGFR-dependent. In this study, we demonstrate that ERK activation in response to uPA follows equivalent biphasic kinetics in EGFR-expressing and -deficient CHO-K1 cells. In both cell types, the response is pertussis toxin-sensitive; however, uPA promotes cell proliferation exclusively in the EGFR-expressing cells. uPA-induced mitogenic activity requires activation of both STAT5b and ERK. STAT5b was tyrosine-phosphorylated, in response to uPA, only in EGFR-expressing cells. uPA-induced cell proliferation was blocked by dominant-negative MEK1, dominant-negative STAT5b, and by expression of an EGFR that is mutated at Tyr-845, which is essential for STAT5b activation. In two cell culture models of uPA-stimulated breast cancer growth, MDA-MB 468 cells treated with uPA and MCF-7 cells treated with uPA-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex, proliferation was completely inhibited when EGFR expression or activity was blocked. We conclude that expression and assembly of uPAR co-receptors in a specific cell type determines the response to uPA. The EGFR selectively cooperates with uPAR to mediate mitogenesis.     

Structure of beta-glucan oligomer from laminarin and its effect on human monocytes to inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells

We analyzed the human monocyte-stimulating ability of laminarin from Eisenia bicyclis, lichenan from Cetraria islandica, and their oligomers depolymerized with endo-1,3-beta-glucanase from Arthrobacter sp. The respective beta-glucan oligomers with different degrees of polymerization (DP) were fractionated from hydrolytic products of laminarin and lichenan using gel-filtration chromatography. The monocyte-conditioned medium pre-cultured in the presence of a fraction of beta-glucan oligomer (DP>/=8) from laminarin exhibited inhibitory activity against the proliferation of human myeloid leukemia U937 cells, while those pre-cultured with other beta-glucan oligomers and the original laminarin and lichenan showed little or no activity. NMR analysis indicated that the beta-glucan oligomer (DP>/=8) has an average DP value of 13, and its ratio of beta-1,3- to beta-1,6-linkages in glucopyranose units was estimated to be 1.3:1. These results indicate that the beta-1,3-glucan oligomer with a higher content of beta-1,6-linkage stimulates monocytes to inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells.     

Partial purification and characterisation of an inhibitor of hepatocyte proliferation derived from nonparenchymal cells after partial hepatectomy.

We have investigated the influences that nonparenchymal cells from regenerating rat liver exert on hepatocyte proliferation. When primary adult rat hepatocytes isolated from resting liver were co-cultured with nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) from resting liver of a different syngeneic animal, the proliferative response of hepatocytes to epidermal growth factor (EGF) was unaffected by the presence of NPCs. In the presence of NPCs taken from livers that had undergone partial hepatectomy 24 hours before (regen-NPCs), the response of hepatocytes from resting liver to EGF, TGF-alpha, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was markedly inhibited. Inhibitory activity was not dependent on cell-to-cell contact, and conditioned-medium from regen-NPCs, but not normal NPCs, inhibited EGF-induced hepatocyte DNA synthesis by approximately 50%. After concentration by gel chromatography and lyophilisation, inhibition was 98%. The inhibitory activity migrated on SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 14 to 17 kDa and was trypsin-sensitive but relatively heat-stable. The effects of blocking antibodies established that it was not TGF-beta 1, IL1-beta, or IL6. Investigations of regen-NPCs taken at different time points demonstrated that inhibitory activity was released into conditioned medium of cells harvested at 24 and 48 hours after partial hepatectomy, but not 10 or 72 hours. This powerful inhibitor of hepatocyte response to proliferogens is released by cultures of NPCs with a time course suggesting that it may be involved in terminating the surge of hepatocyte replication induced by partial hepatectomy.     

C-terminal region of GADD34 regulates eIF2α dephosphorylation and cell proliferation in CHO-K1 cells

GADD34 is a member of a growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD)-inducible gene family. Here, we established a novel Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1-derived cell line, CHO-K1-G34M, which carries a nonsense mutation (termed the Q525X mutation) in the GADD34 gene. The Q525X mutant protein lacks the C-terminal 66 amino acids required for GADD34 to bind to and activate protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). We investigated the effects of GADD34 with or without the Q525X mutation on the phosphorylation status of PP1 target proteins, including the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). CHO-K1-G34M cells had higher levels of eIF2α phosphorylation compared to the control CHO-K1-normal cells both in the presence and absence of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Overexpression of the wild-type GADD34 protein in CHO-K1-normal cells largely reduced eIF2α phosphorylation, while overexpression of the Q525X mutant did not produce similar reductions. Meanwhile, neither wild type nor Q525X mutation of GADD34 affected the GSK3β phosphorylation status. GADD34 also did not affect the canonical Wnt signaling pathway downstream of GSK3β. Cell proliferation rates were higher, while expression levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 were lower in CHO-K1-G34M cells compared to the CHO-K1-normal cells. The GADD34 Q525X mutant had a reduced ability to inhibit cell proliferation and enhance p21 expression of the CHO-K1-normal cells compared to the wild-type GADD34 protein. These results suggest that the GADD34 protein C-terminal plays important roles in regulating not only eIF2α dephosphorylation but also cell proliferation in CHO-K1 cells.     

Comparative study of the influence of renal endogenic factors on the proliferation activity of epithelial cells

The proliferation activity of monolayer culture of Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDSK) cells is suppressed by a thermostable protein factor of renal tissue of white rats and of humans. Under the influence of renal factors (RF), a decrease in cell number, and suppression of DNA synthesis and mitotic activity in MDCK cells occur. The inhibition of proliferative activity of cultured cells under the influence of RF was substantiated also by MTT assay. It was established that the inhibitory influence of RF is stipulated by suppression of RNA synthesis. It follows that RF may inhibit division of MDCK cells via suppression of gene expression in G1-phase. Similar factors were obtained from renal cells of different systematic groups of organisms (snail, frog, fish, pigeon, guinea pig, swine).     

Secretion and partial degradation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) of mouse L-P3 cells

Secretion of a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was accomplished by L-P3 cells in culture with a serum-free medium. Cell proliferation per se was not requisite for the production of GM-CSF; the cells continued secreting GM-CSF even after their growth had been suspended. The amount of GM-CSF accumulated in the conditioned medium was reasonably accounted by the daily rate of production, and the addition of a proteinase inhibitor such as leupeptin and pepstatin did not result in greater accumulation of GM-CSF in the culture. It is thus postulated that there is no significant proteolytic inactivation of the secreted GM-CSF in the culture. However, when partially purified GM-CSF preparation was chromatographed on a gel-filtration column in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100, a derivative of the GM-CSF was yielded which had been diminished in the molecular weight and altered in the isoelectric point. On the other hand, when leupeptin was included in the solution during production and isolation of the factor, the yielded GM-CSF did not manifest such a detergent-induced transformation and maintained its isoelectric point at pH 3.5. It is thus assumed that, in the presence of the detergent, GM-CSF suffers deterioration by an endogenous proteinase and releases a sialoglycopeptide fragment without loosing its colony-stimulating activity.     

Growth factor and somatic cell regulation of mouse gonocyte-derived colony formation in vitro

At birth, the mouse gonocyte does not resume mitotic activity for several days in vivo but, in an in vitro clonogenic system, cell division commences soon after culture. Somatic testis cell underlays had potent inhibitory activity on gonocyte-derived colony formation (23 +/- 15% compared with 84 +/- 1% in controls; P = 0.0001) when added to cultures of gonocytes in vitro. A Sertoli cell line, TM4B, had an even more pronounced effect on gonocyte clonogenic capacity, with 1 +/- 1% compared with 72 +/- 17% colony formation in controls (P = 0.0003). Testis cells appeared to have a direct inhibitory effect since testis-conditioned medium did not show a significant reduction in the number of colonies. The observed reduction in colony formation with the testis cell underlay was not accounted for by decreased attachment of gonocytes as simultaneous addition of a single cell suspension of testis cells was still effective in significantly reducing colony number when compared with controls (P = 0.01). Therefore, the observed inhibition exerted by testis cells appears to be a consequence of decreased proliferation of gonocytes. Growth factors belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily which are known to be expressed in testis, such as transforming growth factor beta and epidermal growth factor, did not exert any inhibitory action on gonocyte-derived colony formation when added together or alone. However, a shift to a smaller colony size occurred in the presence of transforming growth factor beta and transforming growth factor beta plus epidermal growth factor, indicating a reduction in colony cell proliferation. Evidence for the expression of the Müllerian inhibiting substance receptor on newborn gonocytes using in situ hybridization was inconclusive. This finding was in agreement with the lack of a direct action of Müllerian inhibiting substance on the formation of gonocyte-derived colonies in vitro. Leukaemia inhibitory factor, alone or in combination with forskolin, had neither an inhibitory nor an enhancing effect on gonocyte-derived colony formation. An in vitro clonogenic method to assay for the proliferation of gonocytes in the presence of specific growth factors, cell lines, testis cell underlays and cell suspensions was used to identify a somatic cell-mediated inhibitor which may be responsible for the inhibitory action on gonocyte proliferation in vivo shortly after birth.     

Inhibition of influenza-virus-induced cytopathy by sialylglycoconjugates

The anti-viral activity of gangliosides such as SPG (sialylparagloboside), GD1a, GM3, and GM4 was assessed by inhibition of the cytopathy of MDCK cells due to infection with the influenza virus A/PR/8/34. The inhibitory effect was in the following sequence: SPG>GD1a>GM3>GM4. The IC50 of SPG and GD1a was 7 and 70 microM, respectively, indicating that they are more effective than the representative inhibitor amantadine. Although 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) and 3'-sialyllactosamine (3'-SLN), which are identical to the terminal trisaccharides of GM3 and SPG, respectively, did not show any inhibitory effect, introduction of an amino group to the reducing end of 3'-SL following amidation with lauroyl chloride gave the inhibitory potency, which was comparable to that of GM3. These results suggest that the viral hemagglutinin recognizes exogenous sialyloligosaccharides rather than inherent sialyloligosaccharides expressed on MDCK cells, since introduction of the hydrophobic moiety to oligosaccharides might cause micelle formation.     

A lymphocyte blastogenesis inhibitory factor (LBIF) reversibly arrests a human melanoma cell line, A375, at G1 and G2 phases of cell cycle

A lymphocyte blastogenesis inhibitory factor, LBIF, has been found in the culture supernatant of a human macrophage-like cell line, U937. The factor has been purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. Partial amino acid sequencing analysis showed that LBIF was a novel immunoregulatory factor. Recent study has demonstrated that LBIF possesses a remarkable tumor growth inhibitory activity. In this study, the cell growth inhibitory activity of LBIF was characterized on the proliferation of a human melanoma cell line A375 in vitro. LBIF strongly inhibits the proliferation of A375 cells. The inhibitory activity was cytostatic and reversible by Day 5 although the lethal effect became apparent at Day 7. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that LBIF arrested A375 cells at both G₁ and G₂/M phases. Mitotic index analysis indicated that A375 cells were arrested in G₁ and G₂ phases. LBIF function was not attributed to the elevation of intracytoplasmic cyclic-AMP levels. Thus, these results suggest that LBIF plays an important role in controlling cell cycle and there is a similarity between the mechanisms of G₁ and G₂ arrests in eukaryotic cell proliferation. LBIF-induced reversible cell-cycle arrest of A375 cells can be a useful system to analyze the signal transduction for cell proliferation and cell-cycle arrest.     

Vitamin D binding protein-macrophage activating factor directly inhibits proliferation, migration, and uPAR expression of prostate cancer cells

Background

Vitamin D binding protein-macrophage activating factor (DBP-maf) is a potent inhibitor of tumor growth. Its activity, however, has been attributed to indirect mechanisms such as boosting the immune response by activating macrophages and inhibiting the blood vessel growth necessary for the growth of tumors.

Methods and Findings

In this study we show for the first time that DBP-maf exhibits a direct and potent effect on prostate tumor cells in the absence of macrophages. DBP-maf demonstrated inhibitory activity in proliferation studies of both LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines as well as metastatic clones of these cells. Flow cytometry studies with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that this inhibitory activity is not due to apoptosis or cell death. DBP-maf also had the ability to inhibit migration of prostate cancer cells in vitro. Finally, DBP-maf was shown to cause a reduction in urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in prostate tumor cells. There is evidence that activation of this receptor correlates with tumor metastasis.

Conclusions

These studies show strong inhibitory activity of DBP-maf on prostate tumor cells independent of its macrophage activation.