Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits the expression of early growth-response genes and arrests fibroblasts at quiescence

We have previously shown that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment of mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) at the early hours of mitogenic stimuli resulted in the inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis; delayed treatment of serum-stimulated cells with DMSO had little effect on the synthesis of these macromolecules. Here, we demonstrate the specific inhibition of expression of early growth response genes by DMSO in serum-stimulated MEF. The expression of interleukin 6, and of oncogenes c-myc and c-fos were inhibited when the cells were treated with 2% DMSO from the beginning of serum-stimulated growth but not after 3 h of mitogenic stimuli. Although the actin gene is an early serum-response gene, its expression was not affected by DMSO. The synthesis of another serum-induced protein, the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was blocked during concurrent and delayed (after 3 h of stimulation) treatment of serum-stimulated fibroblasts with DMSO. The expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene was not affected by DMSO. These results indicate that the expression of non-growth-related genes are either not affected or affected nonspecifically both at early and late stages of serum-induced growth of mouse embryo fibroblasts. The serum-induced expression of c-fos gene was abolished by DMSO treatment of MEF while the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced expression of fos gene was not, indicating that the PMA signaling pathway was refractory to DMSO. Treatment of cells with medium containing 2% DMSO for 24-48 h prevents them from progression into cell cycle by preventing the expression of genes involved in G0-G1 transition of quiescent cells.     

Translocation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 during serum stimulated growth of mouse embryo fibroblasts

Serum-stimulated mouse embryo fibroblasts specifically secrete two proteins of molecular weights 48,000 and 26,000. The 48 kDa protein showed affinity to concanavalin A and was precipitated by antibody to plasminogen activator inhibitor. Immunoflowcytometry using anti plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 serum indicate the presence of the 48 kDa protein in quiescent cells; this protein was virtually absent in serum-stimulated cells. The presence of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 related protein in quiescent cells and its absence in serum-stimulated cells in combination with the observation on the absence of this protein, in the medium of quiescent cells and its presence in the medium of stimulated cells indicate that the 48 kDa protein was transferred from the cells into the medium upon serum-stimulation. The serum-mediated transfer of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 from the cells into the medium was inhibited by actinomycin-D suggesting that the transfer process required actinomycin-D sensitive events. Treatment of pre-labelled quiescent cells with medium containing 20% fetal calf serum resulted in the gradual transfer of the labelled 48 kDa protein to the extra cellular matrix. These studies indicate that exposure of quiescent cells to fetal calf serum results in the transfer of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 from the cells to the growth mediumvia extracellular matrix. The translocation of the protease inhibitor from the cells to the matrix and medium may enable the cellular and possibly the membrane proteases to act on growth factors or their receptors thereby initiating the mitogenic response.     

Interactions of dimethyl sulfoxide and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the cell cycle kinetics and phosphoproteins of G1-enriched HL-60 cells: evidence of early effects on lamin B phosphorylation

We have found that GM-CSF and DMSO have antagonistic effects on the proliferation but not maturation of asynchronously growing HL-60 cells such that growth in the presence of both more closely resembles normal hematopoiesis (Brennan et al., J. Cell Physiol. 132:246, 1987). Studies were undertaken to determine whether or not the agents affected the same mitogenic pathway and locus in the cell cycle. HL-60 populations containing at least 90% G1 cells were obtained by centrifugal elutriation, exposed to 100 u/ml recombinant human GM-CSF and/or 0-1.25% DMSO, and phosphoprotein changes quantified on autoradiograms of [32P]-orthophosphate-labeled cell proteins separated by giant 2-D gel electrophoresis. Results were correlated with 1) intracellular pH, determined by measurement of BCECF fluorescence; 2) [32P]-orthophosphate uptake; 3) cell cycle progression, determined by flow quantitation of DNA content in mithramycin or propidium iodide-stained cells; and 4) growth, determined by cell volume and concentration. GM-CSF stimulated and DMSO inhibited the GM-CSF-stimulated phosphorylation of 1 protein (approximately 65 kDa, p.i. 5.6) within 2 min of exposure. These effects were sustained through G1, not associated with changes in intracellular pH, and preceded similar antagonistic effects on phosphate uptake (15-30 minutes), cell volume change (16-24 hr), and cell concentration increase (28-32 hr). GM-CSF accelerated and DMSO inhibited G1 to S transit with the most marked antagonism observed in the second cycle following synchronization (28 to 40 hrs). Cell maturation (morphology, NBT reduction) was dominated by DMSO and not antagonized by GM-CSF. We have identified p65 as the nuclear intermediate filament protein, lamin B, on the basis of its locus on gels and its binding of a monoclonal antibody to intermediate filaments and antiserum to human lamin B on immunoblots. These studies suggest that at least part of the GM-CSF-DMSO antagonism is exerted through the same mitogenic pathway, that a major locus of cytokinetic effect is on G1 to S transit, and that nuclear envelope protein phosphorylation is an important early event.     

Butachlor is cytotoxic and clastogenic and induces apoptosis in mammalian cells

The ability of butachlor to induce cytotoxicity, clastogenicity and DNA damage was assessed using Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), Swiss mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. A dose and time dependent loss of viability was evident upon treatment of CHO cells with butachlor. Cell killing to an extent of 50% was observed when cells were treated with 16.2 micrograms/ml of butachlor for 24 hr or with 11.5 micrograms/ml for 48 hr. The herbicide induced micronuclei significantly in cultured lymphocytes at 24 and 48 hr of treatment suggesting that it is clastogenic. To understand the mechanism of cell death caused by butachlor, its effect on DNA strand breaks was studied in MEF. A concomitant decrease in cell viability was observed with increase in DNA strand breaks. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from herbicide treated CHO cells and cytochemical staining indicate the induction of apoptosis by butachlor.     

Subtractive Protein Profiling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella typhimurium</Emphasis> Biofilm Treated with DMSO

Salmonella typhimurium is an important biofilm-forming bacteria. It is known to be resistant to a wide range of antimicrobials. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) against S. typhimurium biofilm and investigate whole-cell protein expression by biofilm cells following treatment with DMSO. Antibiofilm activities were assessed using pellicle assay, crystal violet assay, colony-forming unit counting and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix assay whilst differential protein expression was investigated using a combination of one dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Treatment with 32% DMSO inhibited pellicle formation, biofilm viability, biofilm biomass and several important components of EPS matrix. Subtractive protein profiling identified two unique protein bands (25.4 and 51.2 kDa) which were present only in control biofilm and not in 32% DMSO-treated biofilm. In turn, 29 and 46 proteins were successfully identified from the protein bands of 25.4 and 51.2 kDa respectively. Protein interaction network analysis identified several biological pathways to be affected, including glycolysis, PhoP–PhoQ phosphorelay signalling and flagellar biosynthesis. The present study suggests that DMSO may inhibit multiple biological pathways to control biofilm formation.     

Cellular phenotype-dependent and -independent effects of vitamin C on the renewal and gene expression of mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Vitamin C has been shown to delay the cellular senescence and was considered a candidate for chemoprevention and cancer therapy. To understand the reported contrasting roles of vitamin C: growth-promoting in the primary cells and growth-inhibiting in cancer cells, primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) and their isogenic spontaneously immortalized fibroblasts with unlimited cell division potential were used as the model pair. We used microarray gene expression profiling to show that the immortalized MEF possess human cancer gene expression fingerprints including a pattern of up-regulation of inflammatory response-related genes. Using the MEF model, we found that a physiological treatment level of vitamin C (10(-5) M), but not other unrelated antioxidants, enhanced cell growth. The growth-promoting effect was associated with a pattern of enhanced expression of cell cycle- and cell division-related genes in both primary and immortalized cells. In the immortalized MEF, physiological treatment levels of vitamin C also enhanced the expression of immortalization-associated genes including a down-regulation of genes in the extracellular matrix functional category. In contrast, confocal immunofluorescence imaging of the primary MEF suggested an increase in collagen IV protein upon vitamin C treatment. Similar to the cancer cells, the growth-inhibitory effect of the redox-active form of vitamin C was preferentially observed in immortalized MEF. All effects of vitamin C required its intracellular presence since the transporter-deficient SVCT2-/- MEF did not respond to vitamin C. SVCT2-/- MEF divided and became immortalized readily indicating little dependence on vitamin C for the cell division. Immortalized SVCT2-/- MEF required higher concentration of vitamin C for the growth inhibition compared to the immortalized wildtype MEF suggesting an intracellular vitamin C toxicity. The relevance of our observation in aging and human cancer prevention was discussed.     

Effects of serum,cycloheximide and actinomycin D on protein secretion by quiescent mouse embryo fibroblasts

Quiescent secondary cultures of Swiss mouse embryo fibroblasts secrete several proteins in response to the addition of 20% fetal calf serum (FCS). Of these proteins, a polypeptide of molecular weigth (Mr) 48 000 (48 K) was identified in the medium within an hour of mitogenic stimuli. In the next hour an additional protein of Mr 26000 (26 K) appeared in the medium. These two proteins were absent in the conditioned medium of quiescent cells. A third protein of molecular weight 45,000 (45 K) was found in small quantities in the conditioned medium of quiescent cells but a 2–3 fold increase in the level of this protein was observed in the medium of stimulated cells. The level of the serum-induced 45 K protein was much higher in the medium of cells that were treated with cycloheximide (CH) and FCS than that found in the medium of cells treated with FCS alone. A 40000 dalton protein was found to be a quiescence specific protein which was observed in large amounts in the medium of quiescent cells; the level of this protein gradually declined in the conditioned medium as the cells entered into the proliferative phase. Actinomycin D specifically inhibited the level of the 45 K secreted protein and a 29 K intracellular protein when added along with CH. In contrast to the inhibition of the synthesis of mitogen induced proteins, actinomycin D super-induced the intracellular and extracellular levels of the matrix proteins fibronectin and procollagens.     

The role of beta-arrestins in the formyl peptide receptor-like 1 internalization and signaling

The N-formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that transmits intracellular signals in response to a variety of agonists, many of them being clearly implicated in human pathology. beta-arrestins are adaptor proteins that uncouple GPCRs from G protein and regulate receptor internalization. They can also function as signal transducers through the scaffolding of signaling molecules, such as components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. We investigated the role of beta-arrestins in ligand-induced FPRL1 internalization and signaling. In HEK293 cells expressing FPRL1, fluorescence microscopy revealed that agonist-stimulated FPRL1 remained co-localized with beta-arrestins during endocytosis. Internalization of FPRL1, expressed in a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line lacking endogenous beta-arrestins, was highly compromised. This distinguishes FPRL1 from the prototypical formyl peptide receptor FPR that is efficiently internalized in the absence of beta-arrestins. In both HEK293 and MEF cells, FPRL1-mediated ERK1/2 activation was a rapid and transient event. The kinetics and extent of ERK1/2 activation were not significantly modified by beta-arrestin overexpression. The pattern of FPRL1-mediated ERK1/2 activation was similar whether cells express or not beta-arrestins. Furthermore, treatment of the FPRL1 expressing cells with pertussis toxin inhibited ERK1/2 activation in MEF and in HEK293 cells. These results led us to conclude that activation of ERK1/2 mediated by FPRL1 occurs primarily through G protein signaling. Since beta-arrestin-mediated signaling has been observed essentially for receptors coupled to G proteins other than G(i), this may be a characteristic of G(i) protein-coupled chemoattractant receptors.     

Detection of intracellular forms of secretory aspartic proteinase in Candida albicans.

The extracellular proteinase (EPR) of Candida albicans was induced in a medium containing bovine serum albumin as sole nitrogen source. There were two intracellular forms in cells induced to produce EPR, a 43 kDa protein (EPR) and a 45 kDa protein (cross-reacting material of EPR; CRM-EPR); these were detected by immunoblotting using anti-EPR antiserum. The 43 kDa protein (EPR) may be the same as the extracellular form judging by molecular mass, and the 45 kDa protein (CRM-EPR) may be a precursor form of EPR. Many dense granules were observed by electron microscopy near the plasma membrane of the mother cells in EPR-producing cells. Both the 43 and 45 kDa proteins were recovered in a membrane fraction and were solubilized by Triton X-100. When the membrane fraction was further fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, the 43 and 45 kDa proteins were differentially fractionated. This suggests that they were located in different membrane-bound structures and is consistent with an assumption that the 45 kDa protein is a precursor for EPR.     

Evidence against a role for a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in Ca2+ mobilization in rat parotid acinar cells

Hormone-induced Ca2+ mobilization in rat parotid acinar cells is reportedly mediated via an as yet uncharacterized G protein. We have studied the sensitivity to pertussis toxin (PTx) of this signal transduction mechanism. When rats were treated with Ptx (1.3-1.5 micrograms per animal) for 72 h, a 41 kDa membrane protein was ADP-ribosylated. This PTx treatment regimen, also, resulted in a more than 80% block of the ability of the muscarinic agonist carbachol to inhibit beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated parotid adenylyl cyclase activity. However, cytosolic Ca2+ levels, in response to either carbachol or AIF-4, were comparable in cells prepared from both untreated or PTx-treated rats, when incubated either in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+. Further, both the sensitivity of the Ca2+ response to carbachol and the ability of the agonist-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores to be refilled by extracellular Ca2+ were unaffected by PTx treatment. Parotid membranes also contained three low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins (25, 22 and 18 kDa) which were unaffected by PTx. These results show that there is only one detectable substrate in parotid membranes for a PTx-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation and that hormone-induced Ca2+ mobilization events in parotid acinar cells are not mediated via PTx-sensitive components.     

An Electrophoretic Analysis of the Seed Protein Body Proteins from Pinus Nigra

Protein bodies (PBs) of European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) were isolated from mature seeds. Extracted soluble matrix proteins and crystalloid proteins PBs proteins were investigated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in presence and absence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The proteins of molecular masses 16, 17, 18, 61 and 65 kDa were presented only in crystalloid protein samples. Only 15 kDa protein was present in soluble matrix proteins and not in crystalloid proteins. Another protein bands were present in both soluble matrix and crystalloid proteins. 20, 37, 38, 39 and 48 kDa proteins were strongly visible among crystalloid proteins. Bands of 23 and 32 kDa were more visible in soluble matrix protein samples. Different composition in crystalloid proteins was found in absence of 2-mercaptoethanol: no proteins with molecular mass 71 kDa and more proteins in soluble matrix. In case of crystalloid proteins we detected 7 protein bands in interval from 71 to 212 kDa.     

Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans from human vascular endothelial cells. Core protein characterization and antithrombin III binding properties.

Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were labeled with 35SO(4)2- for 48 h. The membrane-associated proteoglycans were solubilized from these monolayers with detergent and purified by ion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q, incorporation in liposomes, and gel filtration. The liposome-intercalated proteoglycans were 125I-iodinated and treated with heparitinase before SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Radio-labeled proteins with apparent molecular masses of 130, 60, 46, 35, and 30 kDa (HAEC) and 180, 130, 62, 43, and 35 kDa (HUVEC) were detected by autoradiography. Further characterization by affinity chromatography on immobilized monoclonal antibodies and by Northern blot analysis provided evidence for the expression of syndecan, glypican, and fibroglycan in human endothelial cells. Most of the heparan sulfate which accumulated in the subendothelial matrix was implanted on a 400-kDa core protein. This protein was immunologically related to perlecan and bound to fibronectin. Binding studies on immobilized antithrombin III suggested that all membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan forms had the capacity to bind to antithrombin III but that high affinity binding was more typical for glypican. Most of the proteoglycans isolated from the extracellular matrix also bound only with low affinity to antithrombin III. These results imply that glypican may specifically contribute to the antithrombotic properties of the vascular wall.     

MK: a pluripotential embryonic stem-cell-derived neuroregulatory factor.

MK is a gene encoding a secreted heparin-binding polypeptide originally isolated by differential screening for genes induced by retinoic acid (RA) in HM-1 embryonal carcinoma cells. Here we report that MK is expressed at high levels in both embryonal carcinoma and pluripotential embryonic stem cells and their differentiated derivatives. MK expression in these cell types is unaffected by the presence or absence of RA. Recombinant MK protein (rMK) was produced by transient expression in COS cells and purified by heparin affinity chromatography. rMK is a weak mitogen for 10T1/2 fibroblast cells but inactive as a mitogen for Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. rMK is a potent mitogen for neurectodermal precursor cell types generated by treatment of 1009 EC cells with RA but has no mitogenic or neurotrophic effects on more mature 1009-derived neuronal cell types. rMK is active as an in vitro neurotrophic factor for E12 chick sympathetic neurons and its activity is markedly potentiated by binding the factor to tissue-culture plastic in the presence of heparin. Stable 10T1/2 cells lines have been established which express MK. These cells do not exhibit any overt evidence of cell transformation but extracellular matrix preparations derived from these cells are a potent source of MK biological activity. It is concluded that MK is a multifunctional neuroregulatory molecule whose biological activity depends upon association with components of the extracellular matrix.     

Modulation of protein phosphorylation and stress protein expression by okadaic acid on heat shock cells

We have demonstrated that pretreatment but not post-treatment with okadaic acid (OA) can aggravate cytotoxicity as well as alter the kinetics of stress protein expression and protein phosphorylation in heat shocked cells. Compared to heat shock, cells recovering from 1 hr pretreatment of OA at 200 nM and cotreated with heat shock at 45°C for the last 15 min of incubation (OA→HS treatment) exhibited enhanced induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs) 70 and 110. In addition to enhanced expression, the attenuation of HSC70 and HSP90 after the induction peaks was also delayed in OA→HS-treated cells. The above treatment also resulted in the rapid induction of the 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), which expression remained constant in cells recovering from treatment with 200 nM OA for 1 hr, heat shocked at 45°C for 15 min, or in combined treatment in reversed order (HS→OA treatment). Enhanced phosphorylation of vimentin and proteins with molecular weights of 65, 40, and 33 kDa and decreased phosphorylation of a protein with a molecular weight of 29 kDa were also observed in cells recovering from OA→HS treatment. Again, protein phosphorylation in cells recovering from HS→OA treatment did not differ from those in cells treated only with heat shock. Since the alteration in the kinetics of stress protein expression and protein phosphorylation was tightly correlated, we concluded that there is a critical link between induction of the stress proteins and phosphorylation of specific proteins. Furthermore, the rapid induction of GRP78 under the experimental condition offered a novel avenue for studying the regulation of its expression. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Smooth muscle alpha-actin expression and myofibroblast differentiation by TGFbeta are dependent upon MK2

Fibroblasts play a major role in processes such as wound repair, scarring, and fibrosis. Differentiation into myofibroblasts, characterized by upregulation of smooth muscle alpha-actin (smalpha) in response to profibrotic agents such as TGFbeta is believed to be an important step in fibrosis. Therefore, elucidating mechanisms of myofibroblast differentiation might reveal novel targets in treating diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). MK2 is a kinase substrate of p38 MAP kinase that mediates some effects of p38 activation on the actin cytoskeleton. Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) from MK2 knockout (MK2(-/-)) mice, we demonstrate that disrupting expression of MK2 expression reduces filamentous actin and stress fibers. It also causes MK2(-/-) MEF to express less smalpha than their corresponding wild-type (WT) MEF at baseline and in response to TGFbeta. Furthermore, TGFbeta causes downregulation of smalpha in MK2(-/-) MEF, instead of upregulation observed in WT MEF. Expression of other fibroblast markers, such as collagen, is not altered in MK2(-/-) MEF. Our results further suggest that downregulation of smalpha in MK2(-/-) MEF is not due to lack of activation of serum responsive promoter elements, but probably due to reduced smalpha message stability in these cells. These results indicate that MK2 plays a key role in regulation of smalpha expression, and that targeting MK2 might present a therapeutic approach in managing conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis.     

The nucleoli matrix proteins with molecular masses 40 and 27 kDa are transported as peripheral chromosomal material

Using immunofluoresence method, sera M-311 and K-30 obtained from patients with autoimmune disease were shown to stain interphase nuclei and the periphery of chromosomes. Western blotting revealed a polypeptide with mol. mass 27 kDa in serum K-30. Both proteins were localized in the karyoplasm. One of them (27 kDa) has a diffuse form and contains small granules, while the other (40 kDa) is in the form of small clearly outlined granules. Both proteins are also revealed around the nucleolar periphery, making a continental ring, while the main part of the nucleolus remains unstained. During pro- and metaphase, these proteins were associated with the chromosomal periphery: 27 kDa protein formed separate groups, and 40 kDa protein was seen over the whole chromosomal periphery. After nuclear and chromosomal decondensation, induced by hypotonic treatment (15% of culture medium solution), both antibodies stain diffusively interphase nuclei, but in mitotic cells they stained the surface of the swollen chromosomes. After chromatin recondensation in isotonic medium these proteins were localized similarly as in normal cells. Thus, both proteins maintained their association with the periphery of chromosomes. To reveal the nuclear protein matrix, cells were treated with 2M NaCl, DNAase and RNAase A. After this procedure, the antibodies stained only the nucleolar periphery, and no fluorescence in the karyoplasm was seen. It shows that of all the components of the nuclear protein matrix (lamina, internuclear network, residual nucleoli) only 27 and 40 kDa proteins are contained in the nucleolar rim. The data allow to suggest that the nucleolar matrix proteins may be transported to new cell nuclei as part of the peripheral chromosomal material likely as other nucleolar (fibrillarin, B-23, and others) or some non-nuclear components of the nuclear protein matrix are transported.