Osteoprotegerin production by breast cancer cells is suppressed by dexamethasone and confers resistance against TRAIL‐induced apoptosis

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) and TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL). While RANKL is essential for osteoclastogenesis and facilitates breast cancer migration into bone, TRAIL promotes breast cancer apoptosis. We analyzed the expression of OPG and TRAIL and its modulation in estrogen receptor‐positive MCF‐7 cells and receptor‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells. In both cells, OPG mRNA levels and protein secretion were dose‐ and time‐dependently enhanced by interleukin (IL)‐1β and suppressed by dexamethasone. In contrast to MCF‐7 cells, MDA‐MB‐231 abundantly expressed TRAIL mRNA, which was enhanced by IL‐1β and inhibited by dexamethasone. TRAIL activated pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3, ‐7, and poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase and decreased cell numbers of MDA‐MB‐231, but had no effect on MCF‐7 cells. Gene silencing siRNA directed against OPG resulted in a 31% higher apoptotic rate compared to non‐target siRNA‐treated MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Furthermore, TRAIL induced significantly less apoptosis in cells cultured in conditioned media (containing OPG) compared to cells exposed to TRAIL in fresh medium lacking OPG (P < 0.01) and these protective effects were reversed by blocking OPG with its specific ligand RANKL (P < 0.05). The association between cancer cell survival and OPG production by MDA‐MB‐231 cells was further supported by the finding, that modulation of OPG secretion using IL‐1β or dexamethasone prior to TRAIL exposure resulted in decreased and increased rate of apoptosis, respectively (P < 0.05). Thus, OPG secretion by breast cancer cells is modulated by cytokines and dexamethasone, and may represent a critical resistance mechanism that protects against TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 106–116, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Chitinase-mediated inhibitory activity of Brassica transgenic on growth of Alternaria brassicae

Chitinase, capable of degrading the cell walls of invading phytopathogenic fungi, plays an important role in plant defense response, particularly when this enzyme is overexpressed through genetic engineering. In the present study, Brassica plant (Brassica juncea L.) was transformed with chitinase gene tagged with an overexpressing promoter 35 S CaMV. The putative transgenics were assayed for their inhibitory activity against Alternaria brassicae, the inducer of Alternaria leaf spot of Brassica both in vitro and under polyhouse conditions. In in vitro fungal growth inhibition assays, chitinase inhibited the fungal colony size by 12-56% over the non-trangenic control. The bioassay under artificial epiphytotic conditions revealed the delay in the onset of disease as well as reduced lesion number and size in 35S-chitinase Brassica as compared to the untransformed control plants.     

A catalytically inactive form of protein kinase C-associated kinase/receptor interacting protein 4, a protein kinase C beta-associated kinase that mediates NF-kappa B activation,interferes with early B cell development

Protein kinase C-associated kinase (PKK)/receptor interacting protein 4 (RIP4) is a protein kinase C (PKC) beta-associated kinase that links PKC to NF-kappaB activation. The kinase domain of PKK is similar to that of RIP, RIP2, and RIP3. We show in this study that PKK is expressed early during lymphocyte development and can be detected in common lymphoid progenitor cells. Targeting of a catalytically inactive version of PKK to lymphoid cells resulted in a marked impairment in pro-B cell generation in the bone marrow. Although peripheral B cell numbers were markedly reduced, differentiation into follicular and marginal zone B cells was not defective in these mice. B-1a and B-1b B cells could not be detected in these mice, but this might be a reflection of the overall defect in B cell production observed in these animals. In keeping with a possible link to PKCbeta, peripheral B cells in these mice exhibit a defect in anti-IgM-mediated proliferation. These studies suggest that PKK may be required early in B cell development and for BCR-mediated B cell proliferation.     

Utility of thiol-cross-linked fluorescent dye labeled terminators for DNA sequencing

Dipivaloyl-5-carboxyfluorescein N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester 1 and 5-propargylamino-2',3'-dideoxyuridine triphosphate 5 were modified with maleimide, haloacetamide, and sulfhydryl reactive functional groups to participate in cross-conjugation reactions via sulfide bonds to generate fluorescently labeled, thioether cross-conjugated terminators 10 and 11. Their DNA sequencing potential was compared with an amide cross-conjugated terminator 13, synthesized by directly coupling 5-carboxyfluorescein NHS ester with 18-ddUTP 9. These terminators (10, 11, and 13) in combination with the Thermo Sequenase II DNA polymerase, in thermal cycle sequencing experiments, revealed that the thioether cross-conjugated terminator 10 and amide cross-conjugated terminator 13 served as good terminating substrates, generating satisfactory single-color gel images and electropherograms, while the other thioether cross-conjugated and maleimide derived one 11 underwent unexpected pH and temperature induced decomposition without showing fluorescent signatures for incorporation.     

A human novel gene DERPC on 16q22.1 inhibits prostate tumor cell growth and its expression is decreased in prostate and renal tumors

BACKGROUND: Deletion of chromosome 16q is frequently associated with diverse tumors. Numerous studies strongly suggest the presence of one or more tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 16q22 to 16qter including the widely studied cadherin gene family. However, the specific tumor suppressor genes residing in this region need better definition and characterization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Standard molecular biology approaches have been used to clone and characterize the DERPC cDNA and its protein product on chromosome 16q22.1. Northern blotting was used to define the expression pattern in a multiple human tissue blots. DERPC expression was examined in multi-tumor array (Clontech, CA, USA) dot blot as well as in laser capture microdissection (LCM) derived prostate cancer (CaP) specimens by quantitative RT-PCR. Western blot analysis and a fluorescent microscopy were used to characterize the molecular size and the cellular location of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged DERPC fusion proteins. A colony formation assay was conducted to determine the effects of DERPC expression on tumor cell growth. RESULTS: A novel gene DERPC (Decreased Expression in Renal and Prostate Cancer) was identified and characterized. DERPC encoded a strong basic, proline- and glycine-rich nuclear protein. DERPC was ubiquitously expressed, with abundant expression in kidney, skeletal muscle, testis, liver, ovary, and heart and moderate expression in prostate. DERPC expression was reduced in renal (67%) and prostate tumors (33%). Expression of DERPC has inhibitory potential on CaP cell growth. Further, overexpression of DERPC in LNCaP cells caused alterations of nuclear morphology. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that decreased expression of DERPC may be implicated in tumorigenesis of renal and CaPs.     

Synthesis and energy transfer efficiency of FRET terminators derived from different linkers

A number of different energy transfer dye labeled-cassettes were synthesized using aminoacid based trifunctional linkers and coupled to the propargylamino-substituted dideoxynucleoside-5'-triphosphates (ddNTPs). These terminators were evaluated for their energy transfer efficiency and DNA sequencing potential using thermostable DNA polymerase.     

Effect of aerosolized acetylcholine on bronchial blood flow

We studiedthe effects of aerosolized as well as intravenous infusion ofacetylcholine on bronchial blood flow in six anesthetized sheep.Intravenous infusion of acetylcholine, at a dose of 2 µg/kg, increased bronchial blood flow from 45 ± 15 (SE) to 74 ± 30 ml/min, and vascular conductance increased by 76 ± 22%. In contrast, aerosolized acetylcholine at doses of 2 and 20 µg/kg decreased bronchial vascular conductance by ~10%. At anaerosolized dose of 200 µg/kg, the bronchial vascular conductanceincreased by ~15%, and there was no further increase in conductancewhen the aerosolized dose was increased to 2,000 µg/kg. Pretreatmentof animals with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor,N-nitro-L-argininemethyl ester hydrochloride, partially blocked the vasodilatory effectsof intravenous acetylcholine and completely blocked the vasodilatoryeffects of high-dose aerosolized acetylcholine. These data suggest thataerosolized acetylcholine does not readily penetrate the vascular wallof bronchial circulatory system and, therefore, has minimalvasodilatory effects on the bronchial vasculature.

     

Entry of bovine viral diarrhea virus into ovine cells occurs through clathrin-dependent endocytosis and low pH-dependent fusion

Although mechanisms of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) entry into bovine cells have been elucidated, little is known concerning pestivirus entry and receptor usage in ovine cells. In this study, we determined the entry mechanisms of BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 in sheep fetal thymus cells. Both BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 infections were inhibited completely by chlorpromazine, β-methyl cyclodextrin, sucrose, bafilomycin A1, chloroquine, and ammonium chloride. Simultaneous presence of reducing agent and low pH resulted in marked loss of BVDV infectivity. Moreover, BVDV was unable to fuse with ovine cell membrane by the presence of reducing agent or low pH alone, while combination of both led to fusion at low efficiency. Furthermore, sheep fetal thymus cells acutely infected with BVDV-1 or BVDV-2 were found protected from heterologous BVDV infection. Taken together, our results showed for the first time that entry of both BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 into ovine cells occurred through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, endosomal acidification, and low pH-dependent fusion following an activation step, besides suggesting the involvement of a common ovine cellular receptor during attachment and entry.