Ca2+- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent nitric oxide generation in lung endothelial cells in situ with ischemia

Endothelial cells generate nitric oxide (NO) in response to agonist stimulation or increased shear stress. In this study, we evaluated the effects of abrupt cessation of shear stress on pulmonary endothelial NO generation and its relationship to changes in intracellular Ca(2+). In situ endothelial generation of NO and changes in intracellular Ca(2+) in isolated, intact rat lungs were evaluated using fluorescence microscopy with diaminofluorescein diacetate, an NO probe, and Fluo-3, a Ca(2+) probe. The onset of increased NO generation in endothelial cells of subpleural microvessels in situ occurred between 30 and 90 s after onset of ischemia and was preceded by an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) due to both influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and release from intracellular stores. Flow cessation-induced NO generation in endothelial cells in situ was Ca(2+)-, calmodulin-, and PI3-kinase-dependent. The similarity of endothelial cell response (increased NO generation) to either increased flow or cessation of flow suggests that cells respond to an imposed alteration from a state of adaptation. This response to flow cessation may constitute a compensatory vasodilatatory mechanism and may play a role in signaling for cell proliferation and vascular remodeling.     

Raft-dependent endocytosis of autocrine motility factor is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent in breast carcinoma cells

Autocrine motility factor (AMF) is internalized via a receptor-mediated, dynamin-dependent, cholesterol-sensitive raft pathway to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum that is negatively regulated by caveolin-1. Expression of AMF and its receptor (AMFR) is associated with tumor progression and malignancy; however, the extent to which the raft-dependent uptake of AMF is tumor cell-specific has yet to be addressed. By Western blot and cell surface fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, AMFR expression is increased in tumorigenic MCF7 and metastatic MDA-231 and MDA-435 breast cancer cell lines relative to dysplastic MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. AMF uptake, determined by FACS measurement of protease-insensitive internalized fluorescein-conjugated AMF, was increased in MCF7 and MDA-435 cells relative to MCF-10A and caveolin-1-expressing MDA-231 cells. Uptake of fluorescein-conjugated AMF was dynamin-dependent, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin- and genistein-sensitive, reduced upon overexpression of caveolin-1 in MDA-435 cells, and increased upon short hairpin RNA reduction of caveolin-1 in MDA-231 cells. Tissue microarray analysis of invasive primary human breast carcinomas showed that AMFR expression had no impact on survival but did correlate significantly with expression of phospho-Akt. Phospho-Akt expression was increased in AMF-internalizing MCF7 and MDA-435 breast carcinoma cells. AMF uptake in these cells was reduced by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition but not by regulators of macropinocytosis such as amiloride, phorbol ester, or actin cytoskeleton disruption by cytochalasin D. The raft-dependent endocytosis of AMF therefore follows a distinct phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway that is up-regulated in more aggressive tumor cells.     

The N-glycan processing in HT-29 cells is a function of their state of enterocytic differentiation. Evidence for an atypical traffic associated with change in polypeptide stability in undifferentiated HT-29 cells.

When the human colon cancer cells HT-29 undergo enterocytic differentiation, they correctly process their N-glycans, whereas their undifferentiated counterpart are unable to process Man9-8-GlcNAc2 species, the natural substrate of alpha-mannosidase I. As this enzyme is fully active in both HT-29 cell populations, we hypothesize that N-glycoproteins are unable to reach the cis Golgi, the site where alpha-mannosidase I has been localized. We have demonstrated this point by using 1-deoxymannojirimycin, leupeptin, and monensin. In the presence of 1-deoxymannojirimycin, a specific inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase I, differentiated HT-29 cells, as expected, accumulate Man9-8-GlcNAc2 species, whereas in undifferentiated HT-29 cells these compounds continue to be rapidly degraded. In contrast, the use of leupeptin, a specific inhibitor of thiol and serine proteases, leads to the accumulation of these oligosaccharides in undifferentiated HT-29 cells. Monensin, a carboxylic ionophore that perturbs distal Golgi functions, is unable to stabilize these compounds. Therefore, we conclude that N-linked glycoproteins in undifferentiated HT-29 cells rapidly egress from the exocytic pathway to a leupeptin-sensitive degradative compartment without entering a monensin-sensitive compartment. These results favor the hypothesis that a direct pathway should exist between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and a leupeptin-sensitive degradative compartment in undifferentiated HT-29 cells. The emergence of this new pathway could explain why protein stability and N-glycan processing may vary as a function of the state of cell differentiation.     

Polyethylene glycol induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells: potential mechanism for chemoprevention of colon cancer

Recent experimental evidence suggests that polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a highly effective chemopreventive agent against colon cancer; however, the mechanism(s) remain largely unexplored. To further elucidate this issue, we evaluated the effect of PEG on two human colon cancer cell lines. PEG treatment resulted in a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell number without alteration in markers of cell proliferation. However, there was a dramatic and specific, concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis, with 50 mM PEG rendering approximately half the cells apoptotic. This corresponded with a 17-fold induction in the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, prostate apoptosis response-4. Our data suggest that induction of apoptosis may be responsible, at least in part, for the ability of PEG to prevent experimental colon cancer.     

Docosahexaenoic acid is a potent inducer of apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells

Some studies have shown that dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 series may have inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor cells both in vivo and in vitro. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which n-3 fatty acids reduce the growth of tumor cells remain poorly understood. In the present studies, we compared the potency of a variety of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in modulating the apoptotic cell death in HT-29 colon cancer cells. Of all fatty acids examined, we found that docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, is ineffective in blocking the apoptosis induced by DHA, suggesting that DHA-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells is not mediated through the cyclooxygenase pathway. In contrast, the DHA-induced apoptosis is partially reversed by a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene, indicating that lipid peroxidation may be involved in apoptotic signaling pathway induced by DHA. DHA treatment decreased bcl-2 levels in association with apoptosis, whereas bax levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that decreased expression of bcl-2 by DHA might increase the sensitivity of cells to lipid peroxidation and to programmed cell death.     

Induction of apoptosis by nitric oxide in macrophages is independent of apoptotic volume decrease

Apoptosis occurs through a sequence of specific biochemical and morphological alterations that define the progress of cell death. The changes of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) and the activation of caspases have been measured in RAW 264.7, HeLa and Jurkat T cells incubated with molecules that induce apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Our data show that NO, staurosporine, etoposide and camptothecin increased DeltaPsi(m) in macrophages but not in HeLa and Jurkat cells, that exhibited a DeltaPsi(m) decrease. Moreover, the apoptosis induced by NO in macrophages, but not that promoted by staurosporine, might occur in the absence of AVD. Analysis of the sequence of apoptotic manifestations shows that DeltaPsi(m) precedes AVD and caspase activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibition of AVD abrogates apoptosis in HeLa and Jurkat T cells regardless of the stimuli used. These data suggest that the changes of DeltaPsi(m) are cell-type dependent and that AVD is dispensable for apoptosis in macrophages.     

Distinct classes of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinases are involved in signaling pathways that control macroautophagy in HT-29 cells

3-Methyladenine which stops macroautophagy at the sequestration step in mammalian cells also inhibits the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity raising the possibility that PI3K signaling controls the macroautophagic pathway (Blommaart, E. F. C., Krause, U., Schellens, J. P. M., Vreeling-Sindelárová, H., and Meijer, A. J. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 243, 240-246). The aim of this study was to identify PI3Ks involved in the control of macroautophagic sequestration in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. An increase of class I PI3K products (phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate) caused by either feeding cells with synthetic lipids (dipalmitoyl phosphatidylinositol 3, 4-bisphosphate and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-triphosphate) or by stimulating the enzymatic activity by interleukin-13 reduced macroautophagy. In contrast, an increase in the class III PI3K product (phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate), either by feeding cells with a synthetic lipid or by overexpressing the p150 adaptor, stimulates macroautophagy. Transfection of a specific class III PI3K antisense oligonucleotide greatly inhibited the rate of macroautophagy. In accordance with a role of class III PI3K, wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3Ks) inhibits macroautophagic sequestration and protein degradation in the low nanomolar range (IC(50) 5-15 nM). Further in vitro enzymatic assay showed that 3-methyladenine inhibits the class III PI3K activity. Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate supplementation or p150 overexpression rescued the macroautophagic pathway in HT-29 cells overexpressing a GTPase-deficient mutant of the Galpha(i3) protein suggesting that both class III PI3K and trimeric G(i3) protein signaling are required in the control macroautophagy in HT-29 cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that distinct classes of PI3K control the macroautophagic pathway in opposite directions. The roles of PI3Ks in macroautophagy are discussed in the context of membrane recycling.     

Requirement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway and Src for Gas6-Axl mitogenic and survival activities in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

Gas6 is a secreted protein previously identified as the ligand of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase. We have shown that Gas6 is able to induce cell cycle reentry of serum-starved NIH 3T3 cells and to efficiently prevent apoptosis after complete growth factor removal, a survival effect uncoupled from Gas6-induced mitogenesis. Here we report that the mitogenic effect of Gas6 requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity since it is abrogated both by the specific inhibitor wortmannin and by overexpression of the dominant negative P13K p85 subunit. Consistently, Gas6 activates the P13K downstream targets S6K and Akt, whose activation is abrogated by addition of wortmannin. Moreover, rapamycin treatment blocks Gas6-induced entry into the S phase of serum-starved NIH 3T3 cells. We also demonstrate the requirement of Src tyrosine kinase for Gas6 signalling since stable or transient expression of a catalytically inactive form of Src significantly inhibited Gas6-stimulated entry into the S phase. Accordingly, Gas6 addition to serum-starved NIH 3T3 cells causes activation of the intrinsic Src kinase activity. When specifically analyzed in a survival assay, these elements were found to be required for the survival effect of Gas6. Taken together, the evidence presented here identifies elements involved in the Gas6 transduction pathway that are responsible for its antiapoptotic effect and suggests that Src is involved in the events regulating cell survival.     

Alternative pathways of nitric oxide formation in Lactobacilli: Evidence for nitric oxide synthase activity by EPR

The study of the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum 8P-A3 to synthesize nitric oxide (NO) showed that this strain lacks nitrite reductase. However, analysis by the EPR method revealed the presence of nitric oxide synthase activity in this strain. Like mammalian nitric oxide synthase, lactobacillar NO synthase is involved in the formation of nitric oxide from L-arginine. L. plantarum 8P-A3 does not produce NO in the denitrification process. The regulatory role of NO in symbiotic bacteria is emphasixed.     

Inhibition of oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells by nitric oxide. Peroxyl radical scavenging as an antiapoptotic mechanism

Proatherogenic oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induces endothelial apoptosis. We investigated the anti-apoptotic effects of intracellular and extracellular nitric oxide (*NO) donors, iron chelators, cell-permeable superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase mimetics, and nitrone spin traps. Peroxynitrite (ONOO-)-modified oxLDL induced endothelial apoptosis was measured by DNA fragmentation, TUNEL assay, and caspase-3 activation. Results indicated the following: (i) the lipid fraction of oxLDL was primarily responsible for endothelial apoptosis. (ii) Endothelial apoptosis was potently inhibited by *NO donors and lipophilic phenolic antioxidants. OxLDL severely depleted Bcl-2 levels in endothelial cells and *NO donors restored Bcl-2 protein in oxLDL-treated cells. (iii) The pretreatment of a lipid fraction derived from oxLDL with sodium borohydride or potassium iodide completely abrogated apoptosis in endothelial cells, suggesting that lipid hydroperoxides induce apoptosis. (iv) Metalloporphyrins dramatically inhibited oxLDL-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. Neither S-nitrosation of caspase-3 nor induction of Hsp70 appeared to play a significant role in the antiapoptotic mechanism of *NO in oxLDL-induced endothelial apoptosis. We propose that cellular lipid peroxyl radicals or lipid hydroperoxides induce an apoptotic signaling cascade in endothelial cells exposed to oxLDL, and that *NO inhibits apoptosis by scavenging cellular lipid peroxyl radicals.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathways oppose Fas-induced apoptosis and limit chloride secretion in human intestinal epithelial cells. Implications for inflammatory diarrheal states

The epithelial lining of the intestine serves as a barrier to lumenal bacteria and can be compromised by pathologic Fas-mediated epithelial apoptosis. Phosphatidylinositol (PI)3-kinase signaling has been described to limit apoptosis in other systems. We hypothesized that PI3-kinase-dependent pathways regulate Fas-mediated apoptosis and barrier function in intestiynal epithelial cells (IEC). IEC lines (HT-29 and T84) were exposed to agonist anti-Fas antibody in the presence or absence of chemical inhibitors of PI3-kinase (LY294002 and wortmannin). Apoptosis, barrier function, changes in short circuit current (DeltaI(sc)), and expression of adhesion molecules were assessed. Inhibition of PI3-kinase strongly sensitized IEC to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Expression of constitutively active Akt, a principal downstream effector of the PI3-kinase pathway, protected against Fas-mediated apoptosis to an extent that was comparable with expression of a genetic caspase inhibitor, p35. PI3-kinase inhibition sensitized to apoptosis by increasing and accelerating Fas-mediated caspase activation. Inhibition of PI3-kinase combined with cross-linking Fas was associated with increased permeability to molecules that were <400 Da but not those that were >3,000 Da. Inhibition of PI3-kinase resulted in chloride secretion that was augmented by cross-linking Fas. Confocal analyses revealed polymerization of actin and maintenance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule-mediated interactions in monolayers exposed to anti-Fas antibody in the context of PI3-kinase inhibition. PI3-kinase-dependent pathways, especially Akt, protect IEC against Fas-mediated apoptosis. Inhibition of PI3-kinase in the context of Fas signaling results in increased chloride secretion and barrier dysfunction. These findings suggest that agonists of PI3-kinase such as growth factors may have a dual effect on intestinal inflammation by protecting epithelial cells against immune-mediated apoptosis and limiting chloride secretory diarrhea.     

Glutathione depletion is necessary for apoptosis in lymphoid cells independent of reactive oxygen species formation

Changes in the intracellular redox environment of cells have been reported to be critical for the activation of apoptotic enzymes and the progression of programmed cell death. Glutathione (GSH) depletion is an early hallmark observed in apoptosis, and we have demonstrated that GSH efflux during death receptor-mediated apoptosis occurs via a GSH transporter. We now evaluate the relationship between GSH depletion, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the progression of apoptosis. Simultaneous single cell analysis of changes in GSH content and ROS formation by multiparametric FACS revealed that loss of intracellular GSH was paralleled by the generation of different ROS including hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxides. However, inhibition of ROS formation by a variety of antioxidants showed that GSH loss was independent from the generation of ROS. Furthermore, GSH depletion was observed to be necessary for ROS generation. Interestingly, high extracellular thiol concentration (GSH and N-acetyl-cysteine) inhibited apoptosis, whereas, inhibition of ROS generation by other non-thiol antioxidants was ineffective in preventing cell death. Finally, GSH depletion was shown to be a necessary for the progression of apoptosis activated by both extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways. These results document a necessary and critical role for GSH loss in apoptosis and clearly uncouple for the first time GSH depletion from ROS formation.     

Agonist-induced desensitization of cholinergically stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown is independent of endogenously activated protein kinase C in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells.

Activation of M3 muscarinic receptors in HT-29 cells by carbachol rapidly increases polyphosphoinositide breakdown. Pretreatment of these cells with carbachol (0.1 mM) for 5 h completely inhibits the subsequent ability of carbachol to increase [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]InsP) accumulation, paralleled by a total loss of muscarinic binding sites. In contrast, protein kinase C (PK-C)-mediated desensitization by incubation with phorbol esters [PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)], leading to a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of cholinergically stimulated InsP release (95% inhibition after 4 h with 0.1 microM-PMA), is accompanied by only a 40% decrease in muscarinic receptor binding, which suggests an additional mechanism of negative-feedback control. Neither carbachol nor PMA pretreatment had any effect on receptor affinity. Incubation with carbachol for 15 min caused a small increase of membrane-associated PK-C activity (15% increase, P less than 0.05) as compared with the potency of phorbol esters (PMA) (3-4-fold increase, P less than 0.01). Long-term incubation (4-24 h) with PMA resulted in a complete down-regulation of cytosolic and particulate PK-C activity. Stimulation of InsP release by NaF (20 mM) was not affected after a pretreatment with phorbol esters or carbachol, demonstrating an intact function of G-protein and phospholipase-C (PL-C) at the effector side. Determination of PL-C activity in a liposomal system with [3H]PtdInsP2 as substrate, showed no change in PL-C activity after carbachol (13 h) and short-term PMA (2.5 h) pretreatment, whereas long-term preincubation with phorbol esters (13 h) caused a small but significant decrease in PL-C activity (19%, P less than 0.05). Our results indicate that agonist-induced desensitization of phosphoinositide turnover occurs predominantly at the receptor level, with a rapid loss of muscarinic receptors. Exogenous activation of PK-C by phorbol esters seems to dissociate the interaction between receptor and G-protein/PL-C, without major effects on total cellular PL-C activity.     

Ceramide generated by acidic sphingomyelinase contributes to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis in human colon HT-29 cells through glycosphingolipids formation. Possible role of ganglioside GD3

In the present study we assessed the contribution of acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase), a ceramide generating enzyme, in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated apoptosis in human colon HT-29 cells. TNF induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Downregulation of the active endogenous ASMase form prevented TNF-stimulated ASMase activity and apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase, which blunted TNF-stimulated GD3 levels, abolished TNF-mediated cell death. Immunocytochemical staining revealed the co-localization of GD3 with mitochondria induced by TNF. The knockdown of targeted GD3 synthase by antisense expression vector protected HT-29 cells against TNF-induced cell death. Thus, ASMase plays a key role in TNF-induced cell death in human colon epithelial cells possibly through GD3 generation.     

Prevention of cytokine-induced apoptosis by insulin-like growth factor-I is independent of cell adhesion molecules in HT29-D4 colon carcinoma cells-evidence for a NF-kappaB-dependent survival mechanism

We have previously established that insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, -II and insulin exert a strong protective effect against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced apoptosis in interferon-gamma (IFN)-sensitized HT29-D4 human colon carcinoma cells. In this study, we report that this effect was still operative when cells were cultured in the absence of integrin- and E-cadherin-mediated cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. In this model, IGF-I did not activate the focal adhesion kinase, whereas it induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 and activation of the extracellular signal-related kinase 1 and 2, p38, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase and protein kinase B/Akt. However, the use of specific inhibitors indicated that these pathways did not play a role in the adhesion-independent IGF-I anti-apoptotic signal. In contrast, inhibition of the NF-kappaB activation induced a complete reversal of the IGF-I anchorage-independent protective effect. Correspondingly, IGF-I markedly enhanced the TNF- and IFN/TNF-induced NF-kappaB-dependent interleukin-8 production. Our results provide evidence that IGF-I induces resistance against cytokine-induced cell death even in the absence of cell adhesion-mediated signaling. NF-kappaB appears to be a key mediator of this anti-apoptotic effect that should contribute to the resistance of colon cancer cells to immune-destruction during metastasis.     

Induction of apoptosis in Caco-2 and HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cells by enterohemolysin produced by classic enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

AIMS: Detect the cytotoxic effects of the Enterohemolysin from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli C3888 (O 26: H-) on Caco 2 and HT-29-human epithelial intestinal cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Caco 2 and HT-29 cells, which were treated with Enterohemolysin (EHly) within 10-15 min, became round, lost attachment to substrate, showed extensive surface blebbing, nucleus shrank, and the chromatin became more compact. After 10 min of exposure to the EHly, the cells showed lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and reduction of mitochondrial activity. The cells showed disorganization of the actin fibers at 15 min. The death of these human epithelial intestinal cells by apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V. CONCLUSIONS: Enterohemolysin induced apoptosis on human epithelial intestinal cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The finding of EHly cytotoxic activity suggests the involvement of this hemolysin in the (Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) EPEC infection mechanism and may facilitate the understanding of the diarrhea caused by EPEC.     

Specific protein targets of 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO) and export of the 13-OXO-glutathione conjugate in HT-29 cells.

The linoleic acid metabolite, 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO), is reactive with cellular thiols. In the present report, incubations of HT-29 or CaCo-2 homogenates with 13-OXO and GSH indicate that HT-29 cell homogenates produce a 13-OXO-GSH conjugate. The conjugate formed was likely of enzymatic origin as chiral-phase HPLC showed the major product consisted of only one of two possible diastereomers. The glutathione transferase activity (GST), using chlorodinitrobenzene, was found to be 126 nmol/mg/min in HT-29 cells and 21 nmol/mg/min in CaCo-2 cells. These levels of activity are consistent with the relative ability of the two cell lines to conjugate GSH to 13-OXO. Incubation of intact HT-29 cells with either 13-OXO, or the metabolic precursor 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), showed detectable 13-OXO-GSH conjugate in the media, but none in the cells. The stereochemistry of the extracellular conjugate suggested an enzymatic origin. In additional experiments, the labeling of cellular protein by 13-HODE was much more specific than the labeling of protein by 13-OXO suggesting that in situ generation of 13-OXO from 13-HODE confers selectivity on the reactions between cellular thiols and 13-OXO. These results demonstrate that in HT-29 cells, 13-HODE is converted to 13-OXO which then either reacts with cellular protein or is conjugated to GSH by GST. The 13-OXO-GSH conjugate is then exported from the cell.     

TSC2 epigenetic defect in primary LAM cells. Evidence of an anchorage‐independent survival

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) can be sporadic or associated with TSC and is characterized by widespread pulmonary proliferation of abnormal α‐smooth muscle (ASM)‐like cells. We investigated the features of ASM cells isolated from chylous thorax of a patient affected by LAM associated with TSC, named LAM/TSC cells, bearing a germline TSC2 mutation and an epigenetic defect causing the absence of tuberin. Proliferation of LAM/TSC cells is epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐dependent and blockade of EGF receptor causes cell death as we previously showed in cells lacking tuberin. LAM/TSC cells spontaneously detach probably for the inactivation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Akt/mTOR pathway and display the ability to survive independently from adhesion. Non‐adherent LAM/TSC cells show an extremely low proliferation rate consistent with tumour stem‐cell characteristics. Moreover, LAM/TSC cells bear characteristics of stemness and secrete high amount of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8. Anti‐EGF receptor antibodies and rapamycin affect proliferation and viability of non‐adherent cells. In conclusion, the understanding of LAM/TSC cell features is important in the assessment of cell invasiveness in LAM and TSC and should provide a useful model to test therapeutic approaches aimed at controlling their migratory ability.