Identification of 30 kDa protein for Ca(2+) releasing action of myotoxin a with a mechanism common to DIDS in skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The molecular mechanism of Ca(2+) release by myotoxin a (MTYX), a polypeptide toxin isolated from the venom of prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis), was investigated in the heavy fraction of sarcoplasmic reticulum (HSR) of rabbit skeletal muscles. [(125)I]MYTX bound to four HSR proteins (106, 74, 53 and 30 kDa) on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. DIDS, 4, 4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, bound predominantly to 30 kDa protein on the PVDF membrane, the molecular weight of which was similar to one of the MYTX binding proteins. The maximum (45)Ca(2+) release induced by caffeine (30 mM) was further increased in the presence of MYTX (10 microM) or DIDS (30 microM), whereas that induced by DIDS (30 microM) was not affected by MYTX (10 microM). MYTX inhibited [(3)H]DIDS binding to HSR in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, [(125)I]MYTX binding to 30 kDa protein was inhibited by DIDS in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that MYTX and DIDS release Ca(2+) from HSR in a common mechanism. The 30 kDa protein may be a target protein for the Ca(2+) releasing action of MYTX and DIDS.     

Formation of mast cell colonies in methylcellulose by mouse peritoneal cells and differentiation of these cloned cells in both the skin and the gastric mucosa of W/Wv mice: evidence that a common precursor can give rise to both "connective tissue-type" and "mucosal" mast cells

We investigated the issue of mast cell heterogeneity by cloning mast cell colonies from peritoneal cells in methylcellulose, injecting the cloned cells into the skin and stomach of mast cell-deficient (WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv (WBB6F1-W/Wv) mice, and staining the mast cells that developed in these sites with Berberine sulfate, a fluorescent dye that identifies heparin-containing mast cells. When peritoneal cells of nontreated WBB6F1-+/+ mice were plated in methylcellulose containing pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell conditioned medium, pure mast cell colonies developed. In contrast, the peritoneal cavity of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice lacked the progenitor cells that made mast-cell colonies. The clonal nature of the mast cell colonies was determined by using the giant granules of C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ mice as a marker: even when mixture of peritoneal cells of C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ mice and C57BL/6-+/+ mice were plated, all of the resulting colonies consisted of either bgJ/bgJ-type mast cells alone or +/+-type mast cells alone. Individual mast c 11 colonies of WBB6F1-+/+ mouse origin were divided into two parts; one part was directly injected into the wall of the glandular stomach of a WBB6F1-W/Wv mouse, and another part was injected into the skin of the same W/Wv mouse. Injections of 14 of 46 such colonies resulted in development of mast cells in both the "connective tissues" (skin or stomach muscle or both) and the stomach mucosa. Mast cells in the connective tissues were stained with Berberine-sulfate, indicating that they contained heparin, whereas mast cells in the stomach mucosa were not. These results suggest that a single precursor cell can give rise to both "connective tissue-type" and "mucosal" mast cells.     

Involvement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in thromboxane A2-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in astrocytoma cells

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor-mediated signal transduction was investigated in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. 9,11-Epithio-11,12-methano-TXA2 (STA2), a TXA2 receptor agonist, induced Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. These responses were inhibited by treatment with U73122, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, or by culturing in 0.5% fetal calf serum containing 0.5 mM dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP) for 2 days. However, the dbcAMP treatment augmented the TXA2 receptor-mediated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). These results were confirmed by a functional MAPK assay measuring the incorporation of 32P into the MAPK substrate peptide. The TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation was inhibited by SQ29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, and GF109203X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Although U73122 did not inhibit or only slightly inhibited the activation of MAPK, D-609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, potently attenuated the activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, STA2 accelerated the release of [3H]choline metabolites from the cells prelabeled with [3H]choline chloride. This release was inhibited by treatment with D-609. These results suggest that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and protein kinase C, but not phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, are involved in TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.     

Action of Bauhinia bauhinioides synthetic peptides on serine proteinases

The kallikrein inhibitor found in Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds (BbKI) differs from classical Kunitz plant inhibitors in the lack of disulfide bridges in its structure [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1477 (2000) 64-74]. In this study, we examined whether structural properties may be involved in inhibitory specificity and, if so, whether those properties might be useful tools in designing compounds that interfere with enzyme activity. Peptides structurally related to the BbKI (RPGLPVRFESPLRINIIKE-NH(2)) reactive site were synthesized by solid-phase method and assayed for serine proteinase activity. The peptides RPGLPVRFESPLRINIIKE-NH(2), RPGLPVRFESPL-NH(2), and GLPVRFES-NH(2) were efficient tissue kallikrein inhibitors, with I(50) values of 0.54 microM, 0.87 microM, and 0.5mM, respectively. The lasting inhibitory effect was observed in incubation periods of up to 120 min. None of the studied peptides interfere with the activity of thrombin, factor Xa or trypsin, although the native protein BbKI is a potent trypsin inhibitor.     

Thromboxane A2 stimulates mitogen activated protein kinase and arachidonic acid liberation in rabbit platelets

U46619, a thromboxane A₂ mimetic, caused tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in rabbit platelets. Among them, 42 kDa protein was identified as a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). U46619 activated MAPK in a concentration-dependent manner, measured by incorporation of ³²P to a specific substrate for MAPK. U46619 also liberated [³H)arachidonic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. The U46619-induced MAPK activation and [³H]arachidonic acid liberation were inhibited by SQ29548 and by the removal of external Ca²⁺ ions. This is a first demonstration that TXA₂ activates MAPK accompanied with arachidonic acid liberation in rabbit platelets.     

Identification of hepatic niche harboring human acute lymphoblastic leukemic cells via the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, the bone marrow niche is widely known to be an important element of treatment response and relapse. Furthermore, a characteristic liver pathology observed in ALL patients implies that the hepatic microenvironment provides an extramedullary niche for leukemic cells. However, it remains unclear whether the liver actually provides a specific niche. The mechanism underlying this pathology is also poorly understood. Here, to answer these questions, we reconstituted the histopathology of leukemic liver by using patients-derived primary ALL cells into NOD/SCID/Yc (null) mice. The liver pathology in this model was similar to that observed in the patients. By using this model, we clearly demonstrated that bile duct epithelial cells form a hepatic niche that supports infiltration and proliferation of ALL cells in the liver. Furthermore, we showed that functions of the niche are maintained by the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis, proposing a novel therapeutic approach targeting the extramedullary niche by inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the liver dissemination of leukemia is not due to nonselective infiltration, but rather systematic invasion and proliferation of leukemic cells in hepatic niche. Although the contribution of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis is reported in some cancer cells or leukemic niches such as bone marrow, we demonstrated that this axis works even in the extramedullary niche of leukemic cells. Our findings form the basis for therapeutic approaches that target the extramedullary niche by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.     

Genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice as a tool for studies of differentiation and function of mast cells

Genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice are useful for the analysis of mast cell biology, especially as recipients of bone marrow cells and skin pieces. Inasmuch as suspension and clonal cultures of mast cells have been developed, we combined these in vivo and in vitro systems. Suspension-cultured mast cells had morphological and biochemical characteristics similar to those of mucosal mast cells (MMC). However, i.p. injection of such cultured mast cells gave rise to development of cells with characteristics similar to those of connective tissue mast cells (CTMC). When peritoneal cells of normal +/+ mice were cultured in methylcellulose, pure mast cell colonies appeared. Cells from individual mast cell colonies were divided and injected into the skin and stomach wall of W/Wv mice; CTMC developed in the skin and MMC in the stomach mucosa. This indicates the presence of a common precursor for CTMC and MMC. Morphology of such bipotent mast cell precursors was studied by using micromanipulation. About 4% of morphologically identifiable peritoneal mast cells may function as the bipotent precursors. Although W/Wv mice showed a defect in resistance against ixodid ticks, injection of suspension-cultured mast cells normalized the defect. The four examples mentioned above indicate that combinations of in vivo and in vitro systems increase the usefulness of W/Wv mice.     

Synergistic action of phorbol ester and IL-3 in the induction of "connective tissue-type" mast cell proliferation

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, induced the proliferation of connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC) synergistically with IL-3 in a methylcellulose culture, as well as with IL-4. The culture of single CTMC and the serum-free culture of CTMC fractionated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation showed that this synergistic action of IL-3 and TPA required no effects of accessory cells or other humoral factors. Although the populations of CTMC acted on by TPA and IL-4 seemed to be close to each other, the velocity of colony growth induced by the simultaneous stimulation of the combination of TPA and IL-4 was faster than that induced by either TPA or IL-4 in the presence of IL-3. In addition, the addition of anti-IL-4 antibody did not neutralize the effect of TPA on the proliferation of CTMC. These results suggest that TPA and IL-4 act on the proliferation of CTMC synergistically with IL-3 via a different pathway. Beside TPA, other phorbol derivatives capable of activating protein kinase C (PKC) induced the proliferation of CTMC synergistically with IL-3, but phorbol derivatives which were unable to activate PKC did not. These results indicate that the activation of PKC is involved in the process of TPA action on the proliferation of CTMC. Furthermore, the facts that 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, which activated membrane PKC transiently, and staurosporine, which has been reported to inhibit PKC, did not induce the proliferation of CTMC in the presence of IL-3 and that the effect of TPA was exhibited by the sustained stimulation suggest that the action of TPA on the proliferation of CTMC requires at least two steps. The first one is the primary activation of membrane PKC and the second one is the disappearance of PKC from the cells, "down-regulation."     

PTH/PTH-related protein receptor interacts directly with Tctex-1 through its COOH terminus

COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domains of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to carry determinants that control their cell surface localization, internalization, and recycling. In attempts to seek cellular proteins that mediate these processes of PTH/PTH-related protein receptor (PTHR), one of the class B GPCRs, we have found that Tctex-1, a 14kDa light chain of cytoplasmic dynein motor complex, interacts with the COOH-terminal tail of the receptor. A 34-amino-acid stretch of the receptor responsible for binding to Tctex-1 has a bipartite structure consisting of a motif previously implicated in binding of some proteins to Tctex-1 and a putative new consensus sequence. Site-directed mutations or a 20-amino-acid deletion in the bipartite consensus binding sequence abolished the association of the PTHR COOH terminus with Tctex-1 in vitro. A GFP-fused mutant PTHR impaired in binding to Tctex-1 expressed in MDCK cells showed a decreased rate of internalization in response to PTH compared to that of the wild type.