Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent and -independent associations of protein kinase C-delta with Src family kinases in the RBL-2H3 mast cell line: regulation of Src family kinase activity by protein kinase C-delta

Src kinases and protein kinase C (PKC) have been well studied for their role in oncogenic and normal cellular processes. Herein we report on a novel regulatory pathway mediated by the interaction of PKC-delta with p53/56Lsy (Lyn) and with p60Src (Src) that results in the phosphorylation and increased activity of Lyn and Src. In the RBL-2H3 mast cell line, the interaction of PKC-delta with Lyn required the activation of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FcsigmaRI) while the interaction with Src was constitutive. Increased complex formation of PKC-delta with Lyn or Src led to increased serine phosphorylation and activity of the Src family kinases. Conversely, Lyn was found to phosphorylate Lyn-associated and recombinant PKC-delta in vitro and the tyrosine 52 phosphorylated PKC-delta was recruited to associate with the Lyn SH2 domain. The constitutive association of PKC-delta with Src did not result in the tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC-delta prior to or after FsigmaRI engagement. However in cells over-expressing PKC-delta, FsigmaRI engagement resulted in the dramatic inhibition of Src activity and some inhibition of Lyn activity. Thus, the interaction and cross-talk of PKC-delta with Src family kinases suggests a novel and inter-dependent mechanism for regulation of enzymatic activity that may serve an important role in cellular responses.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel bladder cancer cell line: inhibition by epidermal growth factor

A novel continuous cell line, designated BC3c, was established from a surgical biopsy of an invasive solid transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder derived from an 82-yr-old Caucasian female. BC3c cells were near-triploid bearing multiple structural and numerical chromosome anomalies. The epithelial origin of the cancer cells was indicated by the expression of cytokeratins 8 and 19 as well as by the absence of mesenchymal markers. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment length polymorphisms and single-strand conformation polymorphism mutation detection assays did not reveal any mutations in H-ras codon 12 and K-ras codons 12 and 13. In addition, no mutation in specific hot-spot codons of the p53 gene and no accumulation of the p53 protein were observed. BC3c cells grew rapidly in vitro, even in the absence of exogenous growth factors, because they were found to stimulate their growth in an autocrine manner. BC3c cells were found to express the epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-r) abundantly, but in contrast to other established bladder cancer cell lines, human recombinant epidermal growth factor inhibited the cells' proliferation in vitro. These features render the newly established bladder cancer cell line BC3c a useful tool for further experimentation.     

Identification of the Src family kinases, Lck and Fgr in platelets. Their tyrosine phosphorylation status and subcellular distribution compared with other Src family members

We have identified the Src family members, Lck and Fgr in resting human and rodent platelets and compared their subcellular distributions and tyrosine phosphorylation status to those of the other Src family kinases to gain insights into the signal transduction pathways active in maintaining platelets in the circulation. Like Fyn, Lyn, and Yes, most of Fgr and Lck was detergent-insoluble in human and rat platelets. In comparison, Src showed higher detergent solubility than the Src-related kinases. Most all human platelet Src was detergent-soluble, while that of rodent platelets was present in all detergent fractions. We also compared the tyrosine-phosphorylation status of Lck and Fgr to other Src family members in resting platelets using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. All of these Src family members except Fgr exhibited substantial phosphotyrosine antibody labeling. The partitioning of these kinases, with the exception of Src, with the detergent-insoluble fraction, their tyrosine-phosphorylation status, and co-localization with endocytotic vesicles lead us to hypothesize that the Src family kinases are involved in signaling events that drive cytoskeletal reorganization and active endocytosis of plasma proteins by circulating platelets.     

TSG101 is not mutated in lung cancer but a shortened transcript is frequently expressed in small cell lung cancer

Adrenocortical autoantibodies (ACA), present in 60-80% of patients with idiopathic Addison's disease, are conventionally detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on frozen sections of adrenal glands. The large-scale use of IIF is limited in part by the need for a fluorescence microscope and the fact that histological sections cannot be stored for long periods of time. To circumvent these restrictions we developed a novel peroxidase-labelled protein A (PLPA) technique for the detection of ACA in patients with Addison's disease and compared the results with those obtained with the classical IIF assay. We studied serum samples from 90 healthy control subjects and 22 patients with Addison's disease, who had been clinically classified into two groups: idiopathic (N = 13) and granulomatous (N = 9). ACA-PLPA were detected in 10/22 (45%) patients: 9/13 (69%) with the idiopathic form and 1/9 (11%) with the granulomatous form, whereas ACA-IIF were detected in 11/22 patients (50%): 10/13 (77%) with the idiopathic form and 1/9 (11%) with the granulomatous form. Twelve of the 13 idiopathic addisonians (92%) were positive for either ACA-PLPA or ACA-IIF, but only 7 were positive by both methods. In contrast, none of 90 healthy subjects was found to be positive for ACA. Thus, our study shows that the PLPA-based technique is useful, has technical advantages over the IIF method (by not requiring the use of a fluorescence microscope and by permitting section storage for long periods of time). However, since it is only 60% concordant with the ACA-IIF method, it should be considered complementary instead of an alternative method to IIF for the detection of ACA in human sera.     

Prognostic role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 in non-small cell lung cancer

Despite its potential role as a tumor suppressor, p27 gene, a member of the Cip/Kip family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes, has never been found mutated in human tumors. We investigated p27 protein expression in a series of 108 non-small cell lung cancers (57.4% stage 1, 16.7% stage 2, and 25.9% stage 3) to determine whether the lack or altered expression of this protein correlates with neoplastic transformation and/or progression. We performed immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of each specimen. We found that tumors expressing low to undetectable levels of p27 contained high p27 degradation activity. When we evaluated the outcome of the patients in relationship to p27 expression, we found p27 to be a prognostic factor correlating with the overall survival times (P = 0.0012). The possibility of a simple assay, such as the immunohistochemical analysis of p27 expression on routinely formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens, has considerable value for the prognosis of patients who undergo surgical resection. In addition, confirmation of the involvement of the proteasome-mediated proteolysis in p27 degradation should stimulate new strategies of nonsurgical treatments of non-small cell lung cancer.     

Kit signaling through PI 3-kinase and Src kinase pathways: an essential role for Rac1 and JNK activation in mast cell proliferation

The receptor tyrosine kinase Kit plays critical roles in hematopoiesis, gametogenesis and melanogenesis. In mast cells, Kit receptor activation mediates several cellular responses including cell proliferation and suppression of apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation and gamma-irradiation. Kit receptor functions are mediated by kinase activation, receptor autophosphorylation and association with various signaling molecules. We have investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and Src kinases in Kit-mediated cell proliferation and suppression of apoptosis induced both by factor deprivation and irradiation in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Analysis of Kit-/- BMMC expressing mutant Kit receptors and the use of pharmacological inhibitors revealed that both signaling pathways contribute to these Kit-mediated responses and that elimination of both pathways abolishes them. We demonstrate that the PI 3-kinase and Src kinase signaling pathways converge to activate Rac1 and JNK. Analysis of BMMC expressing wild-type and dominant-negative mutant forms of Rac1 and JNK revealed that the Rac1/JNK pathway is critical for Kit ligand (KL)-induced proliferation of mast cells but not for suppression of apoptosis. In addition, KL was shown to inhibit sustained activation of JNK induced by gamma-irradiation and concomitant irradiation-induced apoptosis.     

IFNgamma inhibition of cell growth in glioblastomas correlates with increased levels of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer characterized by uncontrolled cell growth resulting from a loss of cell cycle regulation. In this study we determined the antiproliferative effects of interferon gamma (IFNgamma) on the glioblastoma cell lines T98G, SNB-19 and U-373, focusing on the ability of IFNgamma to increase levels of p21WAF1/CIP1, an important negative regulator of cell cycle events. IFNgamma was found to inhibit the growth of all cell lines, with inhibition ranging from 82.2% to 45.4%. Flow cytometry analysis showed that IFNgamma treatment caused a cell cycle delay in the G1 or S phases. The strength of this delay varied, correlating with the degree by which IFNgamma inhibited proliferation of each cell line. IFNgamma treatment increased the production of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p21WAF1/ CIP1 in all cell lines, the level and kinetics of production of which correlated with the degree and stage of inhibition of cellular proliferation. Further, immunoprecipitation of p21WAF1/CIP1 in complexes of p21WAF1/CIP1/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2)/cyclin showed that the amount of p21WAF1/CIP1 in the complexes and the inhibition of cdk2-cyclin kinase activity correlated with the level of p21WAF1/CIP1 produced in the cells by IFNgamma. These results show that IFNgamma has significant antiproliferative effects on the glioblastoma cell lines and suggest that p21WAF1/CIP1 plays a role in mediating these effects.     

Acquired resistance to cisplatin and doxorubicin in a small cell lung cancer cell line is correlated to elevated expression of glutathione-linked detoxification enzymes

A human small cell lung cancer cell line, U-1906, developed altered functional properties upon continuous in vitro cultivation. Cells obtained at late (U-1906 L) and early (U-1906 E) passages of cultivation differ in drug resistance to the cytostatic therapeutic agents cisplatin and doxorubicin. The U-1906 L cells are 1.6-fold and 1.3-fold more resistant to cisplatin and doxorubicin respectively, than are the U-1906 E cells. In the more resistant U-1906 L cells, the total glutathione (GSH plus GSSG) level is 40% lower, whereas the activities of GSH-linked enzymes such as GSH peroxidase and GSH transferases are significantly higher. Quantitative analysis with isoenzyme-specific ELISAs demonstrated increased concentrations of all three of the measurable GSTs, M1-1, M3-3 and P1-1, in the more resistant cells. The intracellular protein expression patterns of the U-1906 E and the U-1906 L cells are very similar as revealed by two-dimensional denaturing electrophoresis, but show significant alterations in the concentrations of some components. Two 35 kDa proteins of different pI values, the concentrations of which are increased in the U-1906 L cells, were both identified as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, either by N-terminal or by internal amino acid sequence analysis. The present study demonstrates that the increased resistance of the U-1906 L cells may involve multiple detoxification mechanisms and that the contribution of the GSH-linked detoxification can be ascribed to the elevation of cytosolic GST isoenzymes, GSH peroxidase and glutathione reductase, rather than to the intracellular GSH concentrations.     

E-Cadherin-dependent growth suppression is mediated by the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(KIP1)

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of E-cadherin, a homophilic cell-cell adhesion molecule, in contact inhibition of growth of normal epithelial cells. Many tumor cells also maintain strong intercellular adhesion, and are growth-inhibited by cell- cell contact, especially when grown in three-dimensional culture. To determine if E-cadherin could mediate contact-dependent growth inhibition of nonadherent EMT/6 mouse mammary carcinoma cells that lack E-cadherin, we transfected these cells with an exogenous E-cadherin expression vector. E-cadherin expression in EMT/6 cells resulted in tighter adhesion of multicellular spheroids and a reduced proliferative fraction in three-dimensional culture. In addition to increased cell-cell adhesion, E-cadherin expression also resulted in dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, an increase in the level of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) and a late reduction in cyclin D1 protein. Tightly adherent spheroids also showed increased levels of p27 bound to the cyclin E-cdk2 complex, and a reduction in cyclin E-cdk2 activity. Exposure to E-cadherin-neutralizing antibodies in three-dimensional culture simultaneously prevented adhesion and stimulated proliferation of E-cadherin transfectants as well as a panel of human colon, breast, and lung carcinoma cell lines that express functional E-cadherin. To test the importance of p27 in E-cadherin-dependent growth inhibition, we engineered E-cadherin-positive cells to express inducible p27. By forcing expression of p27 levels similar to those observed in aggregated cells, the stimulatory effect of E-cadherin-neutralizing antibodies on proliferation could be inhibited. This study demonstrates that E-cadherin, classically described as an invasion suppressor, is also a major growth suppressor, and its ability to inhibit proliferation involves upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27.     

Protein kinase C-epsilon associates with the Raf-1 kinase and induces the production of growth factors that stimulate Raf-1 activity

Several observations indicate that the Raf-1 kinase is a downstream effector of protein kinase C-epsilon (PKC epsilon). We recently have shown that Raf-1 is constitutively activated in PKC epsilon transformed Rat6 fibroblasts, and transformation can be reverted by expression of a dominant negative Raf-1, but not a dominant negative Ras mutant (Cacace et al., 1996). Cai et al. (1997) demonstrated that PKC epsilon induced proliferation of NIH3T3 cells is independent of Ras or Src, but depends on Raf-1. These authors further suggested that PKC epsilon activates Raf-1 by direct phosphorylation. Here we have investigated the functional interaction between PKC epsilon and Raf-1. PKC epsilon, but not PKC alpha, was found to bind to the Raf-1 kinase domain. The association appeared to be direct, as it could be reconstituted in vitro with purified proteins. Raf-1 and PKC epsilon could be co-precipitated from Sf-9 insect cells and PKC epsilon transformed NIH313 cells (NIH/epsilon). The association was negatively regulated by ATP in vitro and by TPA treatment in NIH/epsilon cells, but not in Sf-9 insect cells. Raf-1 was constitutively activated in NIH/epsilon cells. However, using coexpression experiments in Sf-9 cells and transiently transfected A293 cells we did not obtain any evidence for a direct activation of Raf-1 by PKC epsilon. PKC epsilon did not induce translocation of Raf-1 to the membrane. Furthermore, PKC epsilon did not activate Raf-1 nor enhance the kinase activity of Raf-1 that had been pre-activated by coexpression of Ras or the Lck tyrosine kinase. In contrast, conditioned media from PKC epsilon transformed cells induced a robust activation of Raf-1. This activation could be partially reproduced by recombinant TGFbeta, a growth factors secreted by PKC epsilon transformed Rat6 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that PKC epsilon stimulates Raf-1 indirectly by inducing the production of autocrine growth factors.     

Demonstration of interleukin-1 (IL-1) as an autocrine growth inhibitor in renal cancer cell line, TC-1

In this report, we demonstrated that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production could be induced by stimulating renal cell carcinoma cell lines, namely ACHN, Caki-1 and TC-1 cells with Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). IL-1 beta had no effects on cell proliferation in ACHN cells. However, IL-1 beta could suppress cell proliferation in Caki-1 and TC-1 cells. Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis by double staining method with propidium iodide and Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) disclosed IL-1 beta caused cell accumulation at G1 phase. Fine granules were visualized in perinuclear area of TC-1 cells treated with IL-1 beta under microscopy. High electron density granules and spherically dilated rough endoplasmic reticula were observed by electron microscopic examinations. In TC-1 cell culture, IL-1 beta excretion into the supernatant was demonstrated by bioassay and ELISA. These results suggest that IL-1 beta functions as an "autocrine growth inhibitor" against TC-1 cells. Half-maximal inhibition of IL-1 beta and IFN-alpha was 6.5 pg/ml, and 720 U/ml, respectively for TC-1 proliferation and combination of these cytokines showed enhanced activity in cell growth inhibition.     

A homozygous deletion in a small cell lung cancer cell line involving a 3p21 region with a marked instability in yeast artificial chromosomes

All types of lung carcinoma are characterized by a high frequency of loss of sequences from the short arm of chromosome 3, the smallest region of overlap containing D3F15S2 in band p21. Here we characterize a 440-kilobase segment from this region, which we found homozygously deleted in one of our small cell lung cancer-derived cell lines. The homozygous deletion maps between UBE1L and ZnF16, just centromeric to D3F15S2. Yeast artificial chromosomes with inserts originating from the deleted region are very unstable and readily lose parts of their insert.     

Induction of apoptosis by a short-chain neuropeptide analog in small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells express a variety of neuropeptides which act as autocrine growth factors. Although several neuropeptide analogs have been reported to antagonize SCLC proliferation, the development of these compounds has been limited by their low potency and the cytostatic nature of their effects. In the present study we evaluated the cytotoxic activity of four short-chain substance P analogs (NY3460, NY3238[-pHOPA], NY3238[Phe1], NY3238[Lys5]) against a panel of five SCLC cell lines. NY3460 was the most potent compound in all five SCLC cell lines (IC50 = 2.8-3.7 microM) as assessed by a MTT growth inhibitory assay. NY3238[Phe1] was also relatively active in all cell lines (IC50 = 3.5-11.2 microM), while NY3238[Lys5] and NY3238[-pHOPA] were substantially less active. NY3460 was the only agent to induce an increase in the percentage of cells with subdiploid DNA content suggestive of apoptosis by flow cytometric DNA content analysis. The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy in NCI-H69, NCI-H82, NCI-H446, and NCI-H510 cells after exposure to 5.0 microM NY3460 for 48 h. These findings suggest that NY3460 is a relatively potent cytotoxic inhibitor of SCLC growth, and that short-chain neuropeptide analogs deserve further evaluation as anti-SCLC agents.     

A novel antitumor antibiotic, KW-2189 is activated by carboxyl esterase and induces DNA strand breaks in human small cell lung cancer cells

KW-2189 has been selected as a lead compound for clinical trial among duocarmycin derivatives with structural similarity to CC-1065, a cyclopropylpyrroloindole. The purpose of this study was to examine the DNA-binding potency and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of KW-2189. In order to analyze DNA-binding activity of KW-2189, plasmid pBR322 was treated with KW-2189 with or without pretreatment with carboxyl esterase, which we demonstrated to be an activating enzyme, and the products were examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis. Cytotoxic activity was examined by exposing a human small cell lung cancer cell line, NCI-H69 to KW-2189 with or without carboxyl esterase. Alkaline elution was performed to examine whether KW-2189 induces DNA strand breaks. DNA treated with KW-2189 and carboxyl esterase migrated faster than KW-2189-treated DNA, which migrated at the same rate as untreated DNA. In addition DNA treated with esterase-activated KW-2189 was protected from digestion by some restriction enzymes. KW-2189 showed concentration- and time-dependent growth inhibitory effect with IC50 values (drug concentration required for 50% growth inhibition) of 58 nM (96 h) to 1900 nM (1 h) in H69 cells. The IC50 values of 4-h exposure of H69 to KW-2189 with 0, 26, 130, 650 mU/ml carboxyl esterase were 460, 120, 30, and 7 nM, respectively. Time-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity by carboxyl esterase was also observed. KW-2189 induced DNA strand breaks in H69 cells in a concentration-dependent manner around the IC50 value. We conclude that 1) KW-2189 is activated by carboxyl esterase to its active form(s), 2) activated KW-2189 has a stronger DNA-binding activity and cytotoxicity than KW-2189, 3) DNA cleavage is one of the major mechanisms of KW-2189-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Intramolecular regulatory interactions in the Src family kinase Hck probed by mutagenesis of a conserved tryptophan residue

Intramolecular interactions between the Src homology domains (SH2 and SH3) and the catalytic domains of Src family kinases result in repression of catalytic activity. The crystal structure of the Src family kinase Hck, with its regulatory domains intact, has been solved. It predicts that a conserved residue, Trp260, at the end of the linker between the SH2 and the catalytic domains plays an important role in regulation by the SH3 and SH2 domains. We have mutated this residue and compared the activities of C-terminally phosphorylated wild type Hck and W260A Hck. The W260A mutant has a higher specific activity than wild type Hck. The W260A mutant requires autophosphorylation at Tyr416 for full activity, but it is not activated by ligand binding to the SH3 or SH2 domains. This mutation also changes the accessibility of the SH2 and SH3 domains to their cognate peptide ligands. Our results indicate that Trp260 plays a critical role in the coupling of the regulatory domains to the catalytic domain, as well as in positioning the ligand binding surfaces.     

The chemosensitizing potential of GF120918 is independent of the magnitude of P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents in a small cell lung cancer line

GF120918, at 250 ng/ml, increased the sensitivity of a P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistant (MDR) small cell lung cancer cell line (H69/LX4) to the P-gp substrates, paclitaxel, taxotere, vinblastine, vinorelbine, daunorubicin and etoposide to levels which were either greater (in the case of etoposide) or close to that of the parent cell line (H69/P). This was achieved in spite of the great variation in the levels of resistance of the MDR cell line for the various anti-cancer drugs tested. These data suggest that GF120918 is a potent antagonist of P-gp mediated multidrug resistance, even in the case of high levels of resistance, as was the case with paclitaxel and taxotere (2560 and 2215 fold more than the sensitive parent cell line respectively).     

Satellite cell myogenesis is highly stimulated by the kinase inhibitor iso-H7: comparison with HA1004 and staurosporine effects

Differentiation of rat satellite cells, measured by cell fusion into myotubes and isozymic conversion of creatine kinase and phosphoglycerate mutase, was shown to be highly increased in the presence of 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-3-methylpiperazine (iso-H7). This substance inhibited both protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activities with similar IC50 between 22 and 34 microM. Iso-H7, as well as the PKA inhibitor HA1004 increased myogenic differentiation without altering the proliferation of satellite cells, whereas the proliferation and the differentiation of these cells were inhibited by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. Our results suggest a predominant negative control of PKA on satellite cell myogenesis.     

AKT2, a member of the protein kinase B family, is activated by growth factors, v-Ha-ras, and v-src through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in human ovarian epithelial cancer cells

Three members have been identified in the protein kinase B (PKB) family, i.e., Akt/PKB alpha, AKT2/PKB beta, and AKT3/PKB gamma. Previous studies have demonstrated that only AKT2 is predominantly involved in human malignancies and has oncogenic activity. However, the mechanism of transforming activity of AKT2 is still not well understood. Here, we demonstrate the activation of AKT2 with several growth factors, including epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor II, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and insulin, in human ovarian epithelial cancer cells. The kinase activity and the phosphorylation of AKT2 were induced by the growth factors and blocked by the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, and dominant-negative Ras (N17Ras). Moreover, the activated Ras and v-Src, two proteins that transduce growth factor-generated signals, also activated AKT2, and this activation was not significantly enhanced by growth factor stimulation but was abrogated by wortmannin. These results indicate that AKT2 is a downstream target of PI 3-kinase and that Ras and Src function upstream of PI 3-kinase and mediate the activation of AKT2 by growth factors. The findings also provide further evidence that AKT2, in cooperation with Ras and Src, is important in the development of some human malignancies.