Inactivation of Dnmt3b in mouse embryonic fibroblasts results in DNA hypomethylation, chromosomal instability, and spontaneous immortalization

DNA hypomethylation is a hallmark of many types of solid tumors. However, it remains elusive how DNA hypomethylation may contribute to tumorigenesis. In this study, we have investigated how targeted disruption of the DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b affects the growth of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Our studies led to the following observations. 1) Constitutive or conditional deletion of Dnmt3b, but not Dnmt3a, resulted in partial loss of DNA methylation throughout the genome, suggesting that Dnmt3b, in addition to the major maintenance methyltransferase Dnmt1, is required for maintaining DNA methylation in MEF cells. 2) Dnmt3b-deficient MEF cells showed aneuploidy and polyploidy, chromosomal breaks, and fusions. 3) Inactivation of Dnmt3b resulted in either premature senescence or spontaneous immortalization of MEF cells. 4) The G(1) to S-phase checkpoint was intact in primary and spontaneously immortalized Dnmt3b-deficient MEFs because the p53 protein was inducible by DNA damage. Interestingly, protein levels of the cyclindependent kinase inhibitor p21 were increased in immortalized Dnmt3b-deficient MEFs even in the absence of p53 induction. These results suggest that DNA hypomethylation may induce genomic instability, which in turn leads to spontaneous immortalization or premature senescence of Dnmt3b-deficient MEFs via a p53-independent mechanism.     

Rho-kinase mediates spinal nitric oxide formation by prostaglandin E2 via EP3 subtype

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the principal pro-inflammatory prostanoid, is known to play versatile roles in pain transmission via four PGE receptor subtypes, EP1-EP4. We recently demonstrated that continuous production of nitric oxide (NO) by neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) following phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) and NMDA receptor NR2B subunits is essential for neuropathic pain. These phosphorylation and nNOS activity visualized by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry were blocked by indomethacin, a PG synthesis inhibitor. To clarify the interaction between cyclooxygenase and nNOS pathways in the spinal cord, we examined the effect of EP subtype-selective agonists on NO production. NO formation was stimulated in the spinal superficial layer by EP1, EP3, and EP4 agonists. While the EP1- and the EP4-stimulated NO formation was markedly blocked by MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, the EP3-stimulated one was completely inhibited by H-1152, a Rho-kinase inhibitor. Phosphorylation of MARCKS and NADPH-diaphorase activity stimulated by the EP3 agonist were also blocked by H-1152. These results suggest that PGE2 stimulates NO formation by Rho-kinase via EP3, a mechanism(s) different from EP1 and EP4.     

Transcriptional induction of Smurf2 ubiquitin ligase by TGF-beta

Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2), a ubiquitin ligase for Smads, plays critical roles in the regulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-Smad signaling via ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Smad2 and Smad7. We found that TGF-beta stimulates Smurf2 expression. TGF-beta activated the Smurf2 promoter in a TGF-beta responsive cell lines, whereas IL-1alpha, PDGF and epidermal growth factor did not. TGF-beta-mediated Smurf2 promoter activation was inhibited by Smad7 or an activin receptor-like kinase 5 inhibitor but not by dominant negative Smad or disruption of Smad-binding elements in the promoter. Moreover, inhibition of the phosphatidil inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway suppressed TGF-beta-mediated Smurf2 induction. These results suggest that TGF-beta stimulates Smurf2 expression by Smad-independent pathway such as PI3K/Akt pathway via TGF-beta receptor.     

A novel membrane protein capable of binding the Na+/H+ antiporter (Nha1p) enhances the salinity-resistant cell growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Na+/H+ antiporter Nha1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays an important role in maintaining intracellular pH and Na+ homeostasis. Nha1p has a two-domain structure composed of integral membrane and hydrophilic tail regions. Overexpression of a peptide of approximately 40 residues (C1+C2 domains) that is localized in the juxtamembrane area of its cytoplasmic tail caused cell growth retardation in highly saline conditions, possibly by decreasing Na+/H+ antiporter activity. A multicopy suppressor gene of this growth retardation was identified from a yeast genome library. The clone encodes a novel membrane protein denoted as COS3 in the genome data base. Overexpression or deletion of COS3 increases or decreases salinity-resistant cell growth, respectively. However, in nha1Delta cells, overexpression of COS3 alone did not suppress the growth retardation. Cos3p and a hydrophilic portion of Cos3p interact with the C1+C2 peptide in vitro, and Cos3p is co-precipitated with Nha1p from yeast cell extracts. Cos3p-GFP mainly resides at the vacuole, but overexpression of Nha1p caused a portion of the Cos3p-GFP proteins to shift to the cytoplasmic membrane. These observations suggest that Cos3p is a novel membrane protein that can enhance salinity-resistant cell growth by interacting with the C1+C2 domain of Nha1p and thereby possibly activating the antiporter activity of this protein.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is involved in alpha2(I) collagen gene expression in normal and scleroderma fibroblasts

TGF-beta is implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrotic disorders. It has been shown that Smad3 promotes the human alpha2(I) collagen (COL1A2) gene expression by TGF-beta1 in human dermal fibroblasts. Here, we investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the COL1A2 gene expression in normal and scleroderma fibroblasts. In normal fibroblasts, the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, significantly decreased the basal and the TGF-beta1-induced increased stability of COL1A2 mRNA. The TGF-beta1-induced COL1A2 promoter activity, but not the basal activity, was significantly attenuated by LY294002 or the dominant negative mutant of p85 subunit of PI3K, while the constitutive active mutant of p110 subunit of PI3K did not affect the basal or the TGF-beta1-induced COL1A2 promoter activity. LY294002 significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Smad3 induced by TGF-beta1. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of 2xFYVE, which induces the mislocalization of FYVE domain proteins, decreased the TGF-beta1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation to a similar extent to LY294002. In scleroderma fibroblasts, the blockade of PI3K significantly decreased the mRNA stability and the promoter activity of the COL1A2 gene. Furthermore, LY294002 and the transient overexpression of 2xFYVE completely diminished the constitutive phosphorylation of Smad3. These results indicate that 1) the basal activity of PI3K is necessary for the COL1A2 mRNA stabilization in normal and scleroderma fibroblasts, 2) there is an unidentified FYVE domain protein specifically interacting with Smad3, and 3) the basal activity of PI3K and the FYVE domain protein are indispensable for the efficient TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling in normal fibroblasts and for the establishment of the constitutive activation of TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling in scleroderma fibroblasts.