Angiotensin II-induced delayed stimulation of phospholipase C gamma1 requires activation of both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase gamma and tyrosine kinase in vascular myocytes

In vascular smooth muscles, angiotensin II (AII) has been reported to activate phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We investigated the time-dependent effects of AII on both phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdInsP3) and inositol phosphates (InsPs) accumulation in permeabilized microsomes from rat portal vein smooth muscle in comparison with those of noradrenaline (NA). AII stimulated an early production of PtdInsP3 (within 30 s) followed by a delayed production of InsPs (within 3-5 min), in contrast to NA which activated only a fast production of InsPs. The use of pharmacological inhibitors and antibodies raised against the PI3K and PLC isoforms expressed in portal vein smooth muscle showed that AII specifically activated PI3Kgamma and that this isoform was involved in the AII-induced stimulation of InsPs accumulation. NA-induced InsPs accumulation depended on PLCbeta1 activation whereas AII-induced InsPs accumulation depended on PLCgamma1 activation. AII-induced PLCgamma1 activation required both tyrosine kinase and PI3Kgamma since genistein and tyrphostin B48 (inhibitors of tyrosine kinase), LY294002 and wortmannin (inhibitors of PI3K) and anti-PI3Kgamma antibody abolished AII-induced stimulation of InsPs accumulation. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma1 was only detected for long-lasting applications of AII and was suppressed by genistein. These data indicate that activation of both PI3Kgamma and tyrosine kinase is a prerequisite for AII-induced stimulation of PLCgamma1 in vascular smooth muscle and suggest that the sequential activation of the three enzymes may be responsible for the slow and long-lasting contraction induced by AII.     

Localization and environment of tryptophans in soluble and membrane-bound states of a pore-forming toxin from Staphylococcus aureus

The location and environment of tryptophans in the soluble and membrane-bound forms of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin were monitored using intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Fluorescence quenching of the toxin monomer in solution indicated varying degrees of tryptophan burial within the protein interior. N-Bromosuccinimide readily abolished 80% of the fluorescence in solution. The residual fluorescence of the modified toxin showed a blue-shifted emission maximum, a longer fluorescence lifetime as compared to the unmodified and membrane-bound alpha-toxin, and a 5- to 6-nm red edge excitation shift, all indicating a restricted tryptophan environment and deeply buried tryptophans. In the membrane-bound form, the fluorescence of alpha-toxin was quenched by iodide, indicating a conformational change leading to exposure of some tryptophans. A shorter average lifetime of tryptophans in the membrane-bound alpha-toxin as compared to the native toxin supported the conclusions based on iodide quenching of the membrane-bound toxin. Fluorescence quenching of membrane-bound alpha-toxin using brominated and spin-labeled fatty acids showed no quenching of fluorescence using brominated lipids. However, significant quenching was observed using 5- and 12-doxyl stearic acids. An average depth calculation using the parallax method indicated that the doxyl-quenchable tryptophans are located at an average depth of 10 A from the center of the bilayer close to the membrane interface. This was found to be in striking agreement with the recently described structure of the membrane-bound form of alpha-toxin.     

Role of prostaglandin E2 receptors in migration of murine and human breast cancer cells

Aberrant upregulation of COX-2 enzyme resulting in accumulation of PGE2 in a cancer cell environment is a marker for progression of many cancers, including breast cancer. Four subtypes of cell surface receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), which are coupled with different G-proteins, mediate PGE2 actions. Since migration is an essential step in invasion and metastasis, in the present study we defined the expression of EP receptors and their roles in migratory function of breast cancer cells of murine (C3L5) and human (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) origin. Highly metastatic C3L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells, found to be highly migratory in a Transwell migration assay, were shown to accumulate much higher levels of PGE2 in culture media in comparison with nonmetastatic and poorly migrating MCF-7 cells; the levels of PGF2alpha and 6-keto-PGF1alpha were low in all cases. The elevated PGE2 production by metastatic cancer cells was due to COX-2 activity since dual COX-1/2 inhibitor indomethacin and selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 equally suppressed both basal and inducible (by IFN-gamma/LPS or Ca2+-ionophores) PGE2 accumulation. RT-PCR analysis revealed that murine C3L5 cells expressed mRNA of EP1, EP3, and EP4 but not EP2 receptors. On the other hand, human MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells expressed all the above receptors. High levels of expression of functional EP4 receptors coupled with Gs-protein was confirmed in C3L5 cells by biochemical assay showing a dose-dependent increase of intracellular cAMP synthesis in response to PGE2. EP receptor antagonists SC-19220, AH-6809, and AH-23848B, having highest affinity for EP1, EP1/EP2/DP, and EP4 receptors, respectively, variably inhibited migration of metastatic breast cancer cells. An autocrine PGE2-mediated migratory activity of these cells appeared to be associated predominantly with EP4 receptor-mediated signaling pathway, which uses cAMP as a second messenger. This conclusion is based on several observations: (1) selective EP4 antagonist AH-23848B effectively inhibited migration of both C3L5 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner; (2) exogenous PGE2 and EP4 agonist PGE1 alcohol increased migration of C3L5 cells; (3) forskolin, a potent activator of adenylate cyclase, as well as membrane-permeable analogues of cAMP (8-bromo-cAMP, dibutyryl-cAMP) stimulated migration of C3L5 cells; and (4) Rp-cAMPS, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor, reduced migration of C3L5 cells. Migration of poorly migratory MCF-7 cells remained unaffected with either PGE2 or EP4 antagonist. These findings are relevant for designing therapeutic strategies against breast cancer metastasis.     

Effects of low level pulsed radio frequency fields on induced osteoporosis in rat bone

Effect of modulated pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs; carrier frequency, 14 MHz. modulated at 16 Hz of amplitude 10 V peak to peak) on sciatic neurectomy induced osteoporosis in rat femur and tibia resulted in statistically significant increase in bone mineral density, and deceleration in bone resorption process and consequently further osteoporosis in rat bone. These results suggest that such an effective window of pulsed radio frequency fields may be used therapeutically for the treatment of osteoporosis.     

Delivery in vivo of 14-deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide, an antileishmanial agent, by different drug carriers

An antileishmanial compound, 14-deoxy-11-oxo-andrographolide, a derivative of andrographlide, isolated from the Indian medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata was evaluated for efficacy in free form and in different vesicular delivery modes on hamster model of Leishmaniasis. The subcutaneous injection of free drug reduced the spleen parasite load by 39%, whereas for drug incorporated in liposomes, niosomes and microspheres, reductions in the parasite load were 78%, 91% and 59%, respectively. Moreover, the drug in various delivery modes, particularly in liposomal and niosomal forms, showed no apparent immediate toxicity. Although an inverse linear relationship between the size of carriers and per cent efficacy in reduction of spleen parasite load was established, involvement of other factors such as drug release profiles or rates remains an open question. Because of greater efficacy and lesser toxicity, liposomal, niosomal and possibly microsphere-incorporated 14-deoxy-11-oxo-andrographolide might have clinical application to combat visceral Leishmaniasis.     

Non-covalent thrombin inhibitors featuring P3-heterocycles with P1-bicyclic arginine surrogates

Novel, potent, and highly selective classes of thrombin inhibitors were identified, which resulted from judicious combination of P4-aromatics and P2-P3-heterocyclic dipeptide surrogates with weakly basic (calcd pKa approximately non-basic-8.6) bicyclic P1-arginine mimics. The design, synthesis, and biological activity of achiral, non-covalent, orally bioavailable inhibitors NC1-NC44 featuring P1-indazoles, benzimidazoles, indoles, benzotriazoles, and aminobenzisoxazoles is disclosed.     

Human placental trophoblast as an in vitro model for tumor progression

The human placenta is a highly invasive tumor-like structure in which a subpopulation of placental trophoblast cells known as the "extravillous trophoblast" (EVT) invades the uterine decidua and its vasculature to establish adequate fetal-maternal exchange of molecules. By utilizing in vitro-propagated short-lived EVT cell lines we found that molecular mechanisms responsible for their invasiveness are identical to those of cancer cells; however, unlike cancer cells, their proliferation, migration, and invasiveness in situ are stringently controlled by decidua-derived transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. By SV40T antigen transfection of normal EVT cells followed by a forced crisis regimen in culture we produced an immortalized premalignant derivative that is hyperproliferative, hyperinvasive, and deficient in gap-junctional intercellular communication. Both premalignant and malignant EVT (JAR and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma) cell lines were found to be TGF-beta-resistant. Using these cell lines, we investigated genetic changes responsible for transition of the normal EVT cells to premalignant and malignant phenotype. Hyperinvasiveness in both cases resulted from a downregulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease (TIMP)-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 genes. In contrast to normal EVT cells, both cell types failed to upregulate these genes in response to TGF-beta. Loss of TGF-beta response in malignant EVT cells was explained by the loss of expression of Smad3 gene. Differential mRNA display of normal and premalignant EVT cells identified up- and down-regulation of numerous known or novel genes in premalignant EVT cells, with potential oncogenic and (or) tumor-suppressor functions, e.g., loss of fibronectin and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-5). Premalignant EVT cells also lost IGF receptor type 2 (IGFR-II). IGFBP-5 was shown to be a negative regulator of IGF-1-induced proliferation of premalignant EVT cells, so that loss of IGFBP-5 as well as IGFR-II permitted their unrestricted proliferation in an IGF-I-rich microenvironment of the fetal-maternal interface. The present model may be a good prototype for identifying genetic changes underlying epithelial tumor progression.     

Role of nitric oxide in tumour progression with special reference to a murine breast cancer model

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent bioactive molecule produced in the presence of NO synthase (NOS) enzymes, which mediates numerous physiological functions under constitutive conditions. Sustained overproduction of NO (and NO-reaction products), typically under inductive conditions, can lead to cell cycle arrest and cellular apoptosis. Furthermore, carcinogenesis may result from mutational events following NO-mediated DNA damage and hindrance to DNA repair (e.g., mutation of tumour-suppressor gene p53). In a majority of human and experimental tumours, tumour-derived NO appears to stimulate tumour progression; however, for a minority of tumours, the opposite has been reported. This apparent discrepancy may be explained by differential susceptibility of tumour cells to NO-mediated cytostasis or apoptosis, and the emergence of NO-resistant and NO-dependent clones. NO-resistance may be mediated by p53 inactivation, and upregulation of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). In a murine mammary tumour model, tumour-derived NO promoted tumour growth and metastasis by enhancing invasive, angiogenic, and migratory capacities of tumour cells. Invasion stimulation followed the altered balance of matrix metalloproteases and their inhibitors; migration stimulation followed activation of guanylate cyclase and MAP kinase pathways. Selective NOS inhibitors may have a therapeutic role in certain cancers.