Imaging epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation in human colorectal cancer cells and human tissues

In tumor cells, high phosphorylation levels of receptor tyrosine kinases may occur in the absence of exogenous ligands due to autocrine signaling or enhanced tyrosine kinase activity. Here we show that the phosphorylation state of the endogenous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can be quantitatively imaged in tumor cells and tissues by detecting fluorescence resonance energy transfer between fluorophores conjugated to antibodies against the receptor and phosphotyrosine, respectively. Five different human colorectal cell lines were analyzed for activity and expression of EGFR. All cell lines exhibited basal EGFR phosphorylation under serum starvation conditions. Phosphorylation levels increased after stimulation with EGF or pervanadate, dependent on the level of basal EGFR phosphorylation in the respective cell lines. This basal activity correlated inversely with receptor expression. Using the acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging approach, a significantly higher phosphorylation state of EGFR was also found in resected human colorectal tumor samples as compared with adjacent healthy tissue. Imaging of EGFR phosphorylation may thus serve as a valuable tool to investigate the role of receptor tyrosine kinase activity in malignant cell growth.     

Myogenesis of striated muscle in vitro: Hormone and serum requirements for the development of glycogen synthetase in myotubes

The fusion in vitro of embryonic myoblasts to form multinucleated myotubes requires the addition of serum to a basal nutrient medium. The serum requirement for fusion can be satisfied by insulin with somatotropin potentiating its effect. Myotubes formed under these conditions fail to differentiate to cross-striated, spontaneously contractile muscle fibers. This arrest of development is reversible if serum is restored to the medium. Development of the enzyme glycogen synthetase was studied as an additional indicator of muscle differentiation. In cultures developing in the presence of serum, this enzyme was demonstrated by autoradiography to be highly concentrated in myotubes as compared to mononuclear cells. The activity of the enzyme remains low in (1) cultures formed in response to insulin and somatotropin in the absence of serum, as well as (2) in cultures formed in unsupplemented basal medium which are virtually lacking in myotubes. The addition of serum to (1) restores the development of this enzyme. Serum which has been extensively digested with the proteolytic preparation, pronase, and subjected to boiling temperature, when combined with insulin and somatotropin is also capable of promoting the development of glycogen synthetase to a specific activity which exceeds the control. The serum factor is not lost on exhaustive dialysis, nor can enzyme promoting activity be liberated by heat denaturation of serum proteins.     

Prior serum- and AICAR-induced AMPK activation in primary human myocytes does not lead to subsequent increase in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake

Exposing isolated rat skeletal muscle to 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside [AICAR, a pharmacological activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)] plus serum leads to a subsequent increase in insulin-stimulated glucose transport (Fisher JS, Gao J, Han DH, Holloszy JO, and Nolte LA. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 282: E18-E23, 2002). Our goal was to determine whether preincubation of primary human skeletal muscle cells with human serum and AICAR (Serum+AICAR) would also induce a subsequent elevation in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Cells were preincubated for 1 h under 4 conditions: 1) without AICAR or serum (Control), 2) with serum, 3) with AICAR, or 4) with Serum+AICAR. Some cells were then collected for immunoblot analysis to assess phosphorylation of AMPK (pAMPK) and its substrate acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Other cells were incubated for an additional 4 h without AICAR or serum and then used to measure basal or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake. Level of pAMPK was increased (P < 0.01) for myotubes exposed to Serum+AICAR vs. all other groups. Phosphorylated ACC (pACC) levels were higher for both Serum+AICAR (P < 0.05) and AICAR (P < 0.05) vs. Control and Serum groups. Basal (P < 0.05) and 1.2 nM insulin-stimulated (P < 0.005) 2-DG uptake was higher for Serum vs. all other preincubation conditions at equal insulin concentration. Regardless of insulin concentration (0, 1.2, or 18 nM), 2-DG was unaltered in cells preincubated with Serum+AICAR vs. Control cells. In contrast to results with isolated rat skeletal muscle, increasing the pAMPK and pACC in human myocytes via preincubation with Serum+AICAR was insufficient to lead to a subsequent enhancement in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.     

The v-Crk oncogene enhances cell survival and induces activation of protein kinase B/Akt

The v-Crk oncogene encodes an adaptor protein containing an SH2 domain and an SH3 domain. v-Crk-transformed fibroblast cells display enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation levels, and the v-Crk protein localizes in focal adhesions, suggesting that transformation may be due to enhanced focal complex signaling. Here we investigated the mechanism of transformation and found that v-Crk-transformed NIH 3T3 cells display growth rates and serum requirements similar to control cells. However, v-Crk enhanced survival in conditions of serum starvation. Both an intact SH2 and SH3 domain are required; moreover, SH2 mutants displayed dominant interfering properties, enhancing cell death. Using other cell death-inducing stimuli, it appeared that v-Crk in general inhibits apoptosis and enhances cell survival. In search of the signaling pathways involved, we found that v-Crk-transformed cells show constitutively higher levels of phospho-protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt and PKB/Akt activity, especially in conditions of serum starvation. These data strongly suggest involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/PKB survival pathway in the v-Crk-induced protection against apoptosis. In accordance, inhibition of this pathway by wortmannin or LY924002 reduced protection against starvation-induced apoptosis. In addition to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/PKB pathway, a MEK-dependent pathway and an unknown additional pathway are also implicated in resistance against apoptosis. Activation of survival pathways may be the most important function of v-Crk in its oncogenic properties.     

Protein kinase Cdelta mediates insulin-induced glucose transport in primary cultures of rat skeletal muscle

Insulin activates certain protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms that are involved in insulin-induced glucose transport. In this study, we investigated the possibility that activation of PKCdelta by insulin participates in the mediation of insulin effects on glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Studies were performed on primary cultures of rat skeletal myotubes. The role of PKCdelta in insulin-induced glucose uptake was evaluated both by selective pharmacological blockade and by over-expression of wild-type and point-mutated inactive PKCdelta isoforms in skeletal myotubes. We found that insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation and translocation of PKCdelta to the plasma membrane and increases the activity of this isoform. Insulin-induced effects on translocation and phosphorylation of PKCdelta were blocked by a low concentration of rottlerin, whereas the effects of insulin on other PKC isoforms were not. This selective blockade of PKCdelta by rottlerin also inhibited insulin-induced translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), but not glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), and significantly reduced the stimulation of glucose uptake by insulin. When overexpressed in skeletal muscle, PKCdelta and PKCdelta were both active. Overexpression of PKCdelta induced the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and increased basal glucose uptake to levels attained by insulin. Moreover, insulin did not increase glucose uptake further in cells overexpressing PKCdelta. Overexpression of PKCdelta did not affect basal glucose uptake or GLUT4 location. Stimulation of glucose uptake by insulin in cells overexpressing PKCdelta was similar to that in untransfected cells. Transfection of skeletal myotubes with dominant negative mutant PKCdelta did not alter basal glucose uptake but blocked insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport. These results demonstrate that insulin activates PKCdelta and that activated PKCdelta is a major signaling molecule in insulin-induced glucose transport.     

Reduced growth rate accompanied by aberrant epidermal growth factor signaling in drug resistant human breast cancer cells

We examined transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) expression and signaling in three drug resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer sublines and asked whether these pathways contribute to the drug resistance phenotype. In the resistant sublines, upregulation of both TGFalpha and EGFR mRNA was observed. In an apparent contrast with upregulated growth factor and receptor gene expression, the drug resistant sublines displayed a reduced growth rate. Defects in the EGFR signaling pathway cascade were found in all examined drug resistant sublines, including altered EGF-induced Shc, Raf-1, or mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. Induction of c-fos mRNA expression by EGF was impaired in the sublines compared to parental MCF-7 cells. In contrast, the induction of the stress-activated protein kinase activity was similar in both parental and drug resistant cells. Evaluating the link between the reduced growth rate and drug resistance, serum starvation experiments were performed. These studies demonstrated that a reduced proliferative activity resulted in a marked reduction in sensitivity to cytotoxic agents in the parental MCF-7 cells. We propose that the altered EGFR levels frequently observed in drug resistant breast cancer cells are associated with perturbations in the signaling pathway that mediate a reduced proliferative rate and thereby contribute to drug resistance.     

Role of AMP-activated protein kinase on steroid hormone biosynthesis in adrenal NCI-H295R cells

Regulation of human androgen biosynthesis is poorly understood. However, detailed knowledge is needed to eventually solve disorders with androgen dysbalance. We showed that starvation growth conditions shift steroidogenesis of human adrenal NCI-H295R cells towards androgen production attributable to decreased HSD3B2 expression and activity and increased CYP17A1 phosphorylation and 17,20-lyase activity. Generally, starvation induces stress and energy deprivation that need to be counteracted to maintain proper cell functions. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master energy sensor that regulates cellular energy balance. AMPK regulates steroidogenesis in the gonad. Therefore, we investigated whether AMPK is also a regulator of adrenal steroidogenesis. We hypothesized that starvation uses AMPK signaling to enhance androgen production in NCI-H295R cells. We found that AMPK subunits are expressed in NCI-H295 cells, normal adrenal tissue and human as well as pig ovary cells. Starvation growth conditions decreased phosphorylation, but not activity of AMPK in NCI-H295 cells. In contrast, the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICAR) increased AMPKα phosphorylation and increased CYP17A1-17,20 lyase activity. Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), directly inhibited CYP17A1 activities and can therefore not be used for AMPK signaling studies in steroidogenesis. HSD3B2 activity was neither altered by AICAR nor compound C. Starvation did not affect mitochondrial respiratory chain function in NCI-H295R cells suggesting that there is no indirect energy effect on AMPK through this avenue. In summary, starvation-mediated increase of androgen production in NCI-H295 cells does not seem to be mediated by AMPK signaling. But AMPK activation can enhance androgen production through a specific increase in CYP17A1-17,20 lyase activity.     

Bax signaling regulates palmitate-mediated apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes

Insulin resistance is a primary characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Several lines of evidence suggest that accumulation of free fatty acids in skeletal muscle may at least in part contribute to insulin resistance and may be linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to apoptosis. Palmitate treatment of several cell lines in vitro results in apoptosis and inhibits protein kinase B (Akt) activity in response to insulin. However, the role of Bax and Bcl-2 in regulating palmitate-induced apoptosis has not been well studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether palmitate-induced apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes is dependent on Bax to Bcl-2 binding. An additional purpose of this study was to determine whether the changes in Bax to Bcl-2 binding corresponded to decreases in Akt signaling in palmitate-treated myoblasts. Apoptotic signaling proteins were examined in C(2)C(12) myotubes treated overnight with palmitate. Bax to Bcl-2 binding was determined through a coimmunoprecipitation assay that was performed in myotubes after 2 h of serum starvation, followed by 10 min of serum reintroduction. This experiment evaluated whether temporal Akt activity coincided with Bax to Bcl-2 binding. Last, the contribution of Bax to palmitate-induced apoptosis was determined by treatment with Bax siRNA. Palmitate treatment increased apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes as shown by a twofold increase in DNA fragmentation, an approximately fivefold increase in caspase-3 activity, and a 2.5-fold increase in caspase-9 activity. Palmitate treatment significantly reduced Akt protein expression and Akt activity. In addition, there was a fourfold reduction in Bax to Bcl-2 binding with palmitate treatment, which mirrored the reduction in Akt(Ser473) phosphorylation. Furthermore, treatment of the C(2)C(12) myotubes with Bax siRNA attenuated the apoptotic effects of palmitate treatment. These data show that palmitate induces Bax-mediated apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes and that this effect corresponds to reductions in Akt(Ser473) phosphorylation.     

Activity and regulation of calcium-, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in differentiating chick myogenic cells

The activity of calcium-, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKc) was measured in (a) total extracts, (b) crude membrane, and (c) cytosolic fractions of chick embryo myogenic cells differentiating in culture. Total PKc activity slowly declines during the course of terminal myogenesis in contrast to the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which was also measured in the same cells. Myogenic cells at day 1 of culture possess high particulate and low soluble PKc activity. A dramatic decline of particulate PKc activity occurs during myogenic cell differentiation and is accompanied, through day 4, by a striking rise of the soluble activity. The difference in the subcellular distribution of PKc between replicating myoblasts and myotubes is confirmed by phosphorylation studies conducted in intact cells. These studies demonstrate that four polypeptides whose phosphorylation is stimulated by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate in myotubes, are spontaneously phosphorylated in control myoblasts. Phosphoinositide turnover under basal conditions in [3H]inositol-labeled cells is faster in myoblasts than in myotubes, a finding that may in part explain the different distribution of PKc observed during the course of myogenic differentiation.     

The differentiation of skeletal muscle cells involves a protein-tyrosine phosphatase-alpha-mediated C-Src signaling pathway

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase-alpha (PTPalpha) plays an important role in various cellular signaling events, including proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we established L6 cell lines either underexpressing or overexpressing PTPalpha by stable transfection of cells with antisense PTPalpha or with full-length wild-type human or mouse or double catalytic site Cys --> Ala mutant (DM8) PTPalpha cDNA. Expression of PTPalpha in these cell lines was determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Cells harboring antisense PTPalpha exhibited a significantly reduced growth rate and thymidine incorporation when compared with the wild-type L6 cells. In contrast, cells overexpressing PTPalpha showed more rapid (2-fold) proliferation. Myoblasts with diminished PTPalpha failed to undergo fusion and did not form myotubes in reduced serum whereas overexpression of PTPalpha promoted myogenesis 2 days earlier than wild-type L6 cells. Overexpression of phosphatase-inactive mutant PTPalpha recapitulated the phenotype of the antisense cells. The different myogenic activities of these cell lines were correlated with the expression of myogenin and creatine kinase activity. Consistent with previous reports, PTPalpha positively regulated the activity of the protein-tyrosine kinase Src. Treatment of L6 cells with PP2 or SU6656, specific inhibitors of Src family kinases, and transient transfection of dominant-inhibitory Src inhibited the formation of myotubes and expression of myogenin. Moreover, enhanced expression of PTPalpha and activation of Src was detected during myogenesis. Together, these data indicate that PTPalpha is involved in the regulation of L6 myoblast growth and skeletal muscle cell differentiation via an Src-mediated signaling pathway.     

Clonal derivation of a rat muscle cell strain that forms contraction-competent myotubes

Summary A muscle cell strain capable of forming contracting myotubes was isolated from an established rat embryo cell line. The myogenic cells, termed rat myoblast omega or RMo cells, have a diploid complement of chromosomes (n=42). In the presence of mitogen-containing growth medium, RMo cells proliferated with a cell generation time of about 12 hours. In mitogen-depleted medium, RMo cells withdrew from the cell cycle and formed myotubes that spontaneously contracted. Differentiated RMo cells produced creatine kinase isozymes in a ratio characteristic of skeletal muscle cells. RMo cells were easy to cultivate. Cells proliferated and differentiated equally well on gelatin-coated or noncoated culture dishes, at clonal or mass culture densities, and in all basal media tested. In most experiments, growth medium consisted of horse serum-containing medium supplemented with either chicken embryo extract or FGF activity; cells proliferated equally well in medium containing unsupplemented calf serum. RMo cells differentiated if growth medium was not replenished regularly. Alternatively, differentiation was induceable by incubation in mitogen-depleted medium consisting of basal medium supplemented either with 10⁻⁶ M insulin, 0.5% serum, or 50% conditioned growth medium. RMo cells were competently transformed with cloned exogenous genes. Because it forms functional myofibrils, the RMo cell line constitutes a useful model system for studying the cell biology and biochemistry of proteins involved in contractile apparatus assembly and muscle disease. This work was supported by NIH research grant GM34432 and Research Career Development Award AG00334. Editor's Statement This report documents the characterization of a differentiating rat cell line that does not show the karyotypic shift toward polyploidy usually observed in rodent cell lines. Investigators already are finding this line valuable in studies of regulation of growth and differentiation.     

Proliferation of muscle satellite cells on intact myofibers in culture

Muscle satellite cells are quiescent myogenic stem cells situated between the basal lamina and plasmalemma of mature skeletal muscle fibers. Injury to the fiber triggers the activation and proliferation of satellite cells whose progeny subsequently fuse to form new myotubes during regeneration. In this paper we report the proliferation of satellite cells on single muscle fibers isolated from adult rats and placed in culture. Viable fibers were liberated from muscle with collagenase and purified from non-muscle cells. The fibers were covered with a basal lamina and retained normal morphological characteristics. Each fiber contained two to three satellite cells per 100 myonuclei. Satellite cells showed little proliferative activity in medium with 10% serum but could be induced to enter the cell cycle by chick embryo extract or fibroblast growth factor. Other polypeptide mitogens such as epidermal growth factor, multiplication stimulating activity, and platelet-derived growth factor were ineffective. Mitogen-stimulated satellite cells fused to form new myotubes after 4-5 days in culture. These results imply that satellite cells are under positive growth control since they proliferate in contact with viable mature fibers when stimulated with mitogen. The mature fibers remained viable in culture but did not give rise to mononucleated cells. After several days, however, the fibers began to extend sarcoplasmic sprouts and underwent dedifferentiative changes that led to the formation of multinucleated cells resembling myotubes. These cells reexpressed embryonic isozymes of creatine kinase not made by the mature fibers.     

Starvation-induced autophagy is regulated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species leading to AMPK activation

Starvation is the most extensively studied condition that induces autophagy. Previous studies have demonstrated that starvation-induced autophagy is regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide (O₂^?) but the source for ROS under starvation conditions and the downstream signaling pathways regulating autophagy are unclear. In this study, a cervical cancer HeLa cell line was generated that was deficient in mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) (HeLa ρ° cells). This resulted in endogenous levels of O₂^? being significantly reduced and failed to be induced under starvation of glucose, L-glutamine, pyruvate, and serum (GP) or of amino acids and serum (AA) compared to wild type (wt) HeLa cells. In contrast, H₂O₂ production failed to increase under GP starvation in both wild type and ρ° cells whereas it increased in wt cells but not in ρ° cells under AA starvation. GP or AA starvation induced autophagy was blocked in ρ° cells as determined by the amount of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Autophagy is regulated by 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and AMPK is activated under starvation conditions. We demonstrate that ρ° cells and HeLa cells over expressing manganese-superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) cells fail to activate AMPK activation following starvation. This indicates that mitochondrial ROS might regulate AMPK activation. In addition, inhibiting AMPK activation either by siRNA or compound C resulted in reduced autophagy during starvation. Using a ROS scavenger NAC, AMPK activation is reduced under starvation condition and mTOR signaling is increased. Taken together, mitochondria-generated ROS induces autophagy mediated by the AMPK pathway under starvation conditions.     

Multinuclear giant cell formation is enhanced by down-regulation of Wnt signaling in gastric cancer cell line, AGS

AGS cells, which were derived from malignant gastric adenocarcinoma tissue, lack E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion but have a high level of nuclear beta-catenin, which suggests altered Wnt signal. In addition, approximately 5% of AGS cells form multinuclear giant cells in the routine culture conditions, while taxol treatment causes most AGS cells to become giant cells. The observation of reduced nuclear beta-catenin levels in giant cells induced by taxol treatment prompted us to investigate the relationship between Wnt signaling and giant cell formation. After overnight serum starvation, the shape of AGS cells became flattened, and this morphological change was accompanied by decrease in Myc expression and an increase in the giant cell population. Lithium chloride treatment, which inhibits GSK3beta activity, reversed these serum starvation effects, which suggests an inverse relationship between Wnt signaling and giant cell formation. Furthermore, the down-regulation of Wnt signaling caused by the over-expression of ICAT, E-cadherin, and Axin enhanced giant cell formation. Therefore, down-regulation of Wnt signaling may be related to giant cell formation, which is considered to be a survival mechanism against induced cell death.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of cancer cell behavior under nutrient deprivation

Cancer cells are confronted with nutrient deprivation because of high proliferation rate, especially at the early stage of their development. There is a frequent assumption that nutrient deprivation decreases the basal activity of cancer cells. Contrarily, there are recent evidence suggesting that cancer cells are able to modulate signaling pathways to adapt with new condition and continue their survival. This property of cancer cells is believed to be one of the prerequisites for cancer progression and chemoresistance. Moreover, recent experiments show that serum starvation in vitro as a mimic situation of nutrient deprivation in vivo triggers different signaling pathways leading to changes in cancer cell behavior, which may interfere with experimental results. Considering these facts, a better understanding of the effect of nutrient deprivation on cancer cell behavior will help us to give more accurate conclusions regarding results of in vitro studies and also to develop new strategies to treat different cancers in vivo.     

Modulation of Src Homology 3 Proteins by the Proline-Rich Adaptor Protein Shb

In the present study we have investigated a possible role for the proline-rich SH2 domain protein Shb as a regulator of expression or activity of certain SH3 domain proteins and MAP kinase. The expression of the Shb binding proteins Eps8, Src, and p85 PI3-kinase, PI3-kinase activity, and MAP kinase activation were assessed in wild-type NIH3T3 cells and in NIH3T3 cells overexpressing the Shb cDNA. In addition, the expression of the SH3 domain STAT1 proteins was assessed in wild-type and Shb overexpressing cells. The Eps8 protein content and Eps8 mRNA steady-state levels were downregulated, whereas the protein contents of Src and p85 PI3-kinase were unaffected by Shb overexpression. There was, however, an increased basal PI3-kinase activity in Shb transfected cells after a 3-h serum starvation. Increased steady-state levels of STAT1 mRNA were accompanied by an increased STAT1 protein content in Shb overexpressing cells. Shb overexpression was not associated with an altered activation of p44 or p42 MAP kinases in response to PDGF stimulation. The data presented in this study suggest novel functions for the adaptor protein Shb regulating the expression of certain signal-transducing SH3 domain proteins and modulating PI3-kinase activity.     

Human myotube differentiation in vitro in different culture conditions

Human muscle cells derived from satellite cells, maintained in standard tissue culture conditions, do not differentiate as rapidly or as completely as myoblasts from other species (chicken, rat, mouse). In an attempt to improve myogenesis, we studied the effects of modifying the culture media and of coculturing muscle with nerve cells, using myoblasts grown in standard culture media as the basis for comparison. Myogenesis was measured by fusion index, creatine kinase (CK) activity; acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (total and molecular forms); and the number of acetylcholine receptors (AChR). Modification of culture media accelerated fusion of myoblasts, but the cell density decreased and myotubes were unable to survive for long periods. In contrast, coculturing muscle with nerve cells increased both cell density and the number of myotubes. CK, AChE and AChR increased in the presence of defined media. In the nerve-muscle cocultures the increase was less marked. Manipulating culture conditions modified the molecular forms of AChE. Only a (4 + 6.5) S peak was present in control cultures, but a 10S peak appeared in defined media. The 16S form was detected only in nerve-muscle cocultures. This study shows that fusion of human myoblasts and differentiation of myotubes in tissue culture can be accelerated by removal of serum macromolecules. Further differentiation of myotubes was achieved only in the nerve-muscle cocultures.     

Disruption of IGF-1R signaling increases TRAIL-induced apoptosis: A new potential therapy for the treatment of melanoma

Resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis is dependent on a balance of multiple genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, which up-regulate efficacy of the surviving growth factor-receptor signaling pathways and suppress death-receptor signaling pathways. The Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-1R) signaling pathway is highly active in metastatic melanoma cells by mediating downstream activation of PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways and controlling general cell survival and proliferation. In the present study, we used human melanoma lines with established genotypes that represented different phases of cancer development: radial-growth-phase WM35, vertical-growth-phase WM793, metastatic LU1205 and WM9 [1]. All these lines have normal NRAS. WM35, WM793, LU1205 and WM9 cells have mutated BRAF (V600E). WM35 and WM9 cells express normal PTEN, while in WM793 cells PTEN expression is down-regulated; finally, in LU1205 cells PTEN is inactivated by mutation. Cyclolignan picropodophyllin (PPP), a specific inhibitor of IGF-1R kinase activity, strongly down-regulated the basal levels of AKT activity in WM9 and in WM793 cells, modestly does so in LU1205, but has no effect on AKT activity in the early stage WM35 cells that are deficient in IGF-1R. In addition, PPP partially down-regulated the basal levels of active ERK1/2 in all lines used, highlighting the role of an alternative, non-BRAF pathway in MAPK activation. The final result of PPP treatment was an induction of apoptosis in WM793, WM9 and LU1205 melanoma cells. On the other hand, dose-dependent inhibition of IGF-1R kinase activity by PPP at a relatively narrow dose range (near 500 nM) has different effects on melanoma cells versus normal cells, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells and G2/M arrest of fibroblasts. To further enhance the pro-apoptotic effects of PPP on melanoma cells, we used a combined treatment of TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) and PPP. This combination substantially increased death by apoptosis for WM793 and WM9 cells, but did so only modestly for LU1205 cells with very high basal activity of AKT. The ultimate goal of this direction of research is the discovery of a new treatment method for highly resistant human metastatic melanomas. Our findings provide the rationale for further preclinical evaluation of this novel treatment.     

Intestinal Cell Kinase Is a Novel Participant in Intestinal Cell Signaling Responses to Protein Malnutrition

Nutritional deficiency and stress can severely impair intestinal architecture, integrity and host immune defense, leading to increased susceptibility to infection and cancer. Although the intestine has an inherent capability to adapt to environmental stress, the molecular mechanisms by which the intestine senses and responds to malnutrition are not completely understood. We hereby report that intestinal cell kinase (ICK), a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase, is a novel component of the adaptive cell signaling responses to protein malnutrition in murine small intestine. Using an experimental mouse model, we demonstrated that intestinal ICK protein level was markedly and transiently elevated upon protein deprivation, concomitant with activation of prominent pro-proliferation and pro-survival pathways of Wnt/β-catenin, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) as well as increased expression of intestinal stem cell markers. Using the human ileocecal epithelial cell line HCT-8 as an in vitro model, we further demonstrated that serum starvation was able to induce up-regulation of ICK protein in intestinal epithelial cells in a reversible manner, and that serum albumin partially contributed to this effect. Knockdown of ICK expression in HCT-8 cells significantly impaired cell proliferation and down-regulated active β-catenin signal. Furthermore, reduced ICK expression in HCT-8 cells induced apoptosis through a caspase-dependent mechanism. Taken together, our findings suggest that increased ICK expression/activity in response to protein deprivation likely provides a novel protective mechanism to limit apoptosis and support compensatory mucosal growth under nutritional stress.