Frequent altered expression of fragile histidine triad protein in human colorectal adenomas

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is involved in deletions on the short arm of chromosome 3 in various human cancers. We found that 47% of colorectal adenomas, which is a higher frequency than that of K-ras, showed altered expression of the Fhit protein by Western blot analysis. The amount of Fhit protein was inversely correlated with the degree of dysplasia. Importantly, 27% of low-grade dysplastic adenomas showed altered expression of Fhit protein. Additionally, expression of human Fhit protein in human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 exhibited a marked inhibition of growth and rendered SW480 cells highly susceptible to undergo apoptosis compared with control cells. These findings suggest that altered expression of the FHIT gene is a quite early aberration in the development of colorectal tumors and that Fhit protein may act as a tumor suppressor.     

Arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis through oxidative stress in cells of colon cancer cell lines

Exposure of three colon cancer cell lines, SW480, DLD-1, and COLO201, to arsenic trioxide in the medium induced a marked concentration-dependent suppression of cell growth. The intracellular contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) in these cell lines tended to be inversely correlated with the sensitivity of the cells to arsenic trioxide. Among the cell lines, SW480 cells underwent apoptosis at the low arsenic trioxide concentration of 2 microM, which was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with N-acetylcysteine and was enhanced by buthionine sulfoximine. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates which were examined by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA), increased with time after treatment with arsenic trioxide. The apoptosis was executed by the activation of caspase 3, which was shown by Western blot, enzymatic activity, and apoptosis inhibition assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential of adherent apoptotic SW480 cells and the cells from intermediate layer separated by density gradient centrifugation, both of which showed the active form of caspase 3 by Western blot analysis, was not lost. The overexpression of Bcl-2 protein in SW480 cells could not prevent the apoptosis induced by the treatment with arsenic trioxide. All these findings indicate that arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis in SW480 cells is executed by the activation of caspase 3 without mediating by mitochondria under the overproduction of reactive oxygen species.     

转染GFP对结肠直肠癌细胞遗传物质稳定性的影响

为探究绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)对结肠直肠癌细胞遗传物质稳定性是否存在影响,选取3种常用的结肠直肠癌细胞系HCT116,SW480,DLD-1;采用脂质体转染法把GFP转入细胞,统计几种细胞系微核、核芽的比例;分别比较各种细胞系自发微核、核芽和GFP组的差异.结果发现,HCT116细胞中对照组与GFP组的微核细胞率分别为3...     

Integrin alpha5/beta1 mediates fibronectin-dependent epithelial cell proliferation through epidermal growth factor receptor activation

Human integrin alpha5 was transfected into the integrin alpha5/beta1-negative intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 to study EGF receptor (EGFR) and integrin alpha5/beta1 signaling interactions involved in epithelial cell proliferation. On uncoated or fibronectin-coated plastic, the integrin alpha5 and control (vector only) transfectants grew at similar rates. In the presence of the EGFR antagonistic mAb 225, the integrin alpha5 transfectants and controls were significantly growth inhibited on plastic. However, when cultured on fibronectin, the integrin alpha5 transfectants were not growth inhibited by mAb 225. The reversal of mAb 225-mediated growth inhibition on fibronectin for the integrin alpha5 transfectants correlated with activation of the EGFR, activation of MAPK, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. EGFR kinase activity was necessary for both MAPK activation and integrin alpha5/beta1-mediated cell proliferation. Although EGFR activation occurred when either the integrin alpha5-transfected or control cells were cultured on fibronectin, coprecipitation of the EGFR with SHC could be demonstrated only in the integrin alpha5-transfected cells. These results suggest that integrin alpha5/beta1 mediates fibronectin-induced epithelial cell proliferation through activation of the EGFR.     

Endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide activates NF-kappa B and enhances tumor cell adhesion and invasion through a beta 1 integrin-dependent mechanism

Beta(1) integrins play a crucial role in supporting tumor cell attachment to and invasion into the extracellular matrix. Endotoxin/LPS introduced by surgery has been shown to enhance tumor metastasis in a murine model. Here we show the direct effect of LPS on tumor cell adhesion and invasion in extracellular matrix proteins through a beta(1) integrin-dependent pathway. The human colorectal tumor cell lines SW480 and SW620 constitutively expressed high levels of the beta(1) subunit, whereas various low levels of alpha(1), alpha(2), alpha(4), and alpha(6) expression were detected. SW480 and SW620 did not express membrane-bound CD14; however, LPS in the presence of soluble CD14 (sCD14) significantly up-regulated beta(1) integrin expression; enhanced tumor cell attachment to fibronectin, collagen I, and laminin; and strongly promoted tumor cell invasion through the Matrigel. Anti-beta(1) blocking mAbs (4B4 and 6S6) abrogated LPS- plus sCD14-induced tumor cell adhesion and invasion. Furthermore, LPS, when combined with sCD14, resulted in NF-kappaB activation in both SW480 and SW620 cells. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway significantly attenuated LPS-induced up-regulation of beta(1) integrin expression and prevented tumor cell adhesion and invasion. These results provide direct evidence that although SW480 and SW620 cells do not express membrane-bound CD14, LPS in the presence of sCD14 can activate NF-kappaB, up-regulate beta(1) integrin expression, and subsequently promote tumor cell adhesion and invasion. Moreover, LPS-induced tumor cell attachment to and invasion through extracellular matrix proteins is beta(1) subunit-dependent.     

Induction of apoptosis by tumor suppressor FHIT via death receptor signaling pathway in human lung cancer cells

FHIT is a novel tumor suppressor gene located at human chromosome 3p14.2. Restoration of wild-type FHIT in 3p14.2-deficient human lung cancer cells inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis. In this study, we analyzed potential upstream/downstream molecular targets of the FHIT protein and found that FHIT specifically targeted and regulated death receptor (DR) genes in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Exogenous expression of FHIT by a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad)-mediated gene transfer upregulated expression of DR genes. Treatment with a recombinant TRAIL protein, a DR-specific ligand, in Ad-FHIT-transduced NSCLC cells considerably enhanced FHIT-induced apoptosis, further demonstrating the involvement of DRs in FHIT-induced apoptosis. Moreover, we also found that FHIT targeted downstream of the DR-mediated signaling pathway. FHIT overexpression disrupted mitochondrial membrane integrity and activated multiple pro-apoptotic proteins in NSCLC cell. These results suggest that FHIT induces apoptosis through a sequential activation of DR-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling pathways in human NSCLC cells.     

A diterpenoid derivative 15-oxospiramilactone inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and colon cancer cell tumorigenesis

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a highly conserved pathway in organism evolution and regulates many biological processes. Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is closely related to tumorigenesis. In order to identify potent small molecules to treat the over-activated Wnt signaling-mediated cancer, such as colon cancer, we established a mammalian cell line-based reporter gene screening system. The screen revealed a diterpenoid derivative, 15-oxospiramilactone (NC043) that inhibits Wnt3a or LiCl-stimulated Top-flash reporter activity in HEK293T cells and growth of colon cancer cells, SW480 and Caco-2. Treatment of SW480 cells with NC043 led to decreases in the mRNA and/or protein expression of Wnt target genes Axin2, Cyclin D1 and Survivin , as well as decreases in the protein levels of Cdc25c and Cdc2. NC043 did not affect the cytosol-nuclear distribution and protein level of soluble β-catenin, but decreased β-catenin/TCF4 association in SW480 cells. Moreover, NC043 inhibited anchorage-independent growth and xenograft tumorigenesis of SW480 cells. Collectively these results demonstrate that NC043 is a novel small molecule that inhibits canonical Wnt signaling downstream of β-catenin stability and may be a potential compound for treating colorectal cancer.     

Overexpression of regucalcin suppresses cell response for tumor necrosis factor-alpha or transforming growth factor-beta1 in cloned normal rat kidney proximal tubular epithelial NRK52E cells

The regulatory role of regucalcin on cell responses for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was investigated using the cloned normal rat kidney proximal tubular epithelial NRK52E cells overexpressing regucalcin. NRK52E cells (wild type) and stable regucalcin (RC)/pCXN2-transfected cells (transfectant) were cultured for 72 h in a medium containing 5% bovine serum (BS) to obtain subconfluent monolayers. After culture, cells were further cultured for 24-72 h in medium without BS containing either vehicle, TNF-alpha (0.1 or 1.0 ng/ml of medium), or TGF-beta1 (1.0 or 5.0 ng/ml). Culture with TNF-alpha or TGF-beta1 caused a significant decrease in the number of wild-type cells. This decrease was significantly prevented in transfectants overexpressing regucalcin. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed the presence of low-molecular-weight deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments of adherent wild-type cells cultured with TNF-alpha (1.0 ng/ml) or TGF-beta1 (5.0 ng/ml). This DNA fragmentation was significantly suppressed in transfectants. TNF-alpha- or TGF-beta1-induced cell death was significantly prevented in culture with caspase-3 inhibitor (10(-8) M). Nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in wild-type cells was significantly increased by addition of calcium chloride (10 microM) and calmodulin (5 microg/ml) into the enzyme reaction mixture. This increase was significantly suppressed in transfectants. Culture with TNF-alpha caused a significant increase in NO synthase activity in wild-type cells. The effect of TNF-alpha was not seen in transfectants. Culture with TGF-beta1 did not cause a significant increase in NO synthase activity in wild-type cells and transfectants. Culture with TNF-alpha or TGF-beta1 caused a remarkable increase in alpha-smooth muscle actin in wild-type cells. This increase was significantly prevented in transfectants. The expression of Smad 2 or NF-kappaB mRNAs was significantly increased in transfectants as compared with that of wild-type cells. Smad 3 or glyceroaldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) mRNA expression was not significantly changed in transfectants. NF-kappaB mRNA expression in wild-type cells was significantly increased with culture of TNF-alpha. Smad 2 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in wild-type cells cultured with TGF-beta1. These effects of TNF-alpha or TGF-beta1 were not significantly enhanced in transfectants. This study demonstrates that overexpression of regucalcin has suppressive effects on cell responses which are mediated through intracellular signaling pathways of TNF-alpha or TGF-beta1 in kidney NRK52E cells.     

Fhit Expression Protects Against HER2-Driven Breast tumor Development: Unraveling the Molecular Interconnections

The tumor suppressor gene FHIT is inactivated by genetic and epigenetic changes, i.e., loss of heterozygosity or promoter hypermethylation, in common human cancers. We recently showed that Fhit protein levels can be regulated by Fhit proteasome degradation mediated by EGF-dependent activation of EGFR family members, including HER2, whose overexpression is linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer. Analysis of a series of 384 human primary breast carcinomas revealed low/absent Fhit protein levels more frequently in HER2-overexpressing tumors. To test for a possible complementation of the FHIT and HER2 genes, tumor incidence was assessed in mice carrying one inactivated Fhit allele (Fhit+/-) crossed with FVB/N mice carrying the rat HER2/neu proto-oncogene driven by the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. All Fhit heterozygous mice developed mammary tumors, whereas when both Fhit alleles (Fhit+/+) were present, tumor incidence was reduced in 27% of the mice, which remained tumor-free at 20 months. These findings suggest a protective role for FHIT in HER2-driven mammary tumors. Together, these data argue for the cooperation between Fhit and HER2 in breast carcinogenesis.     

Dab2 is pivotal for endothelial cell migration by mediating VEGF expression in cancer cells

Although angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis, the molecular mechanisms controlling this process are not clearly understood. Here, we explore the role of Dab2 in tumor angiogenesis. We found that Dab2 is expressed in several cancer cells, including A549 lung cancer cells, but it is hardly detectable in SW480 colon cancer cells. Migration and Erk phosphorylation were enhanced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with the conditioned medium obtained from Dab2-overexpressing SW480 stable cells. In addition, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein was strongly detected in conditioned medium derived from Dab2-overexpressing SW480 cells, and Erk phosphorylation enhanced by Dab2(+) CM was restored by VEGF inhibition. Moreover, Dab2 depletion in A549 cells led to a decrease in HUVEC migration and Erk phosphorylation. Furthermore, we show that Dab2 is required for the TGFβ-induced gene expression of angiogenic factors such as VEGF and FGF2. Taken together, these results suggest that Dab2, which is expressed in cancer cells, is pivotal for endothelial cell migration by affecting VEGF expression.     

Mitochondrial DNA from colorectal cancer cells promotes the malignant phenotype of NIH3T3 cells

We investigated the potential role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in colorectal carcinogenesis by constructing a eukaryotic expression vector of the mitochondrial D-loop gene from colorectal cancer cell SW480 and transfected NIH3T3 cells. The NIH3T3/SW480 cells exhibited a significantly increased growth rate and colony formation rate, and also had a decreased apoptotic rate. Polyploidy and aberrant chromosomes were detected in the NIH3T3/SW480 cells by chromosome karyotype analysis. Our results suggested that mtDNA from colorectal cancer cells promotes the malignant phenotype of NIH3T3 cells. Further study of the biological functions of NIH3T3/SW480 cells might be helpful in understanding the role of mtDNA in colorectal carcinogenesis.     

Nogo-B (Reticulon-4B) functions as a negative regulator of the apoptotic pathway through the interaction with c-FLIP in colorectal cancer cells

Nogo-B is a member of the Nogo/Reticulon-4 family and has been reported to be an inducer of apoptosis in certain types of cancer cells. However, the role of Nogo-B in human cancer remains less understood. Here, we demonstrated the functions of Nogo-B in colorectal cancer cells. In clinical colorectal cancer specimens, Nogo-B was obviously overexpressed, as determined by immunohistochemistry; and Western blot analysis showed its expression level to be significantly up-regulated. Furthermore, knockdown of Nogo-B in two colorectal cancer cell lines, SW480 and DLD-1, by transfection with si-RNA (siR) resulted in significantly reduced cell viability and a dramatic increase in apoptosis with insistent overexpression of cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved PARP. The transfection with Nogo-B plasmid cancelled that apoptosis induced by siRNogoB in SW480 cells. Besides, combinatory treatment with siR-Nogo-B/staurosporine (STS) or siR-Nogo-B/Fas ligand (FasL) synergistically reduced cell viability and increased the expression of apoptotic signaling proteins in colorectal cancer cells. These results strongly support our contention that Nogo-B most likely played an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer cells, mainly by negatively regulating the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in them. Finally, we revealed that suppression of Nogo-B caused down-regulation of c-FLIP, known as a major anti-apoptotic protein, and activation of caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway. Interaction between Nogo-B and c-FLIP was shown by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies.In conclusion, Nogo-B was shown to play an important negative role in apoptotic signaling through its interaction with c-FLIP in colorectal cancer cells, and may thus become a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.     

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) differentially regulates beta-catenin phosphorylation and ubiquitination in colon cancer cells

Most colorectal cancers have mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene or the beta-catenin gene that stabilize beta-catenin and activate beta-catenin target genes, leading ultimately to cancer. The molecular mechanisms of APC function in beta-catenin degradation are not completely known. APC binds beta-catenin and is involved in the Axin complex, suggesting that APC regulates beta-catenin phosphorylation. Some evidence also suggests that APC regulates beta-catenin nuclear export. Here, we examine the effects of APC mutations on beta-catenin phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation in the colon cancer cell lines SW480, DLD-1, and HT29, each of which contains a different APC truncation. Although the current models suggest that beta-catenin phosphorylation should be inhibited by APC mutations, we detected significant beta-catenin phosphorylation in these cells. However, beta-catenin ubiquitination and degradation were inhibited in SW480 but not in DLD-1 and HT29 cells. The ubiquitination ofbeta-catenin in SW480 cells can be rescued by exogenous expression of APC. The APC domains required for beta-catenin ubiquitination were analyzed. Our results suggest that APC regulates beta-catenin phosphorylation and ubiquitination by distinct domains and by separate molecular mechanisms.     

Epibrassinolide activates AKT to trigger autophagy with polyamine metabolism in SW480 and DLD-1 colon cancer cell lines

Epibrassinolide (EBR), a plant-derived polyhydroxylated derivative of 5α-cholestane, structurally shows similarities to animal steroid hormones. According to the present study, EBR treatment triggered a significant stress response via activating ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis in cancer cells. EBR could also increase Akt phosphorylation in vitro. While the activation of Akt resulted in cellular metabolic activation in normal cells to proceed with cell survival, a rapid stress response was induced in cancer cells to reduce survival. Therefore, Akt as a mediator of cellular survival and death decision pathways is a crucial target in cancer cells. In this study, we determined that EBR induces stress responses through activating Akt, which reduced the mTOR complex I (mTORC1) activation in SW480 and DLD-1 colon cancer cells. As a consequence, EBR triggered macroautophagy and led to lipidation of LC3 most efficiently in SW480 cells. The cotreatment of spermidine (Spd) with EBR increased lipidation of LC3 synergistically in both cell lines. We also found that EBR promoted polyamine catabolism in SW480 cells. The retention of polyamine biosynthesis was remarkable following EBR treatment. We suggested that EBR-mediated Akt activation might determine the downstream cellular stress responses to induce autophagy related to polyamines.     

A Fhit-ing Role in the DNA Damage Checkpoint Response

The FHIT gene encompasses the most active common fragile site of the human genome and is thus exquisitely sensitive to intragenic alterations by DNA damaging agents, alterations that can lead to FHIT allele loss very early in the preneoplastic phase of cancer development, before or coincident with activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. Fhit protein expression is lost or reduced in many preneoplastic lesions and in >50% of cancers, Fhit knockout mice are highly susceptible to carcinogen induction of tumors and Fhit replacement in these mice by gene therapy induces apoptosis and significantly reduces tumor burden. But learning how Fhit induces apoptosis and suppresses tumors has been a challenge because interacting proteins, effectors of Fhit signals, have not been discovered.Nevertheless, the study of Fhit deficient mouse and human tissue-derived and cancer-derived cells in vitro has led to several important conclusions: repair protein-deficient cancers are more likely to be Fhit-deficient; Fhit-deficient cells show enhanced resistance to UVC, mitomycin C, camptothecin and ionizing radiation-induced cell killing, possibly due to strong activation of the ATR pathway following DNA damage; Fhit-deficient cells show higher efficiency of homologous recombination repair, a double-strand break repair pathway in mammalian cells; Fhit protein indirectly affects S-phase checkpoint and DNA repair. Finally, results of a recent study have suggested that the DNA damage-susceptible FRA3B/FHIT chromosome fragile region, paradoxically, encodes a protein, Fhit, that is necessary for protecting cells from accumulation of DNA damage, through modulation of checkpoint proteins Hus1 and phosphoChk1. Thus, inactivation of Fhit contributes to accumulation of abnormal checkpoint phenotypes in cancer development. It will be very important to determine mechanisms employed by Fhit in modulating checkpoint pathways, and to define consequences of Fhit loss in specific preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues, to provide rationales for effective replacement or reactivation of endogenous Fhit pathways in novel therapeutic or preventive approaches.