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Biomedical subjects

I B Weinstein

Publications and source records attributed to I B Weinstein.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Phenotypic effects of overexpression of PKC beta 1 in rat liver epithelial cells.

We have used a previously described retroviral expression vector pMV7-PKC beta 1 to develop derivatives of two rat liver epithelial cell lines, K16 and K22, that stably express about tenfold-higher PKC activity than control cells. Despite these high levels of PKC, these cells did not exhibit gross morphologic changes, anchorage-independent growth, or tumorigenicity. K16PKC-4 and K22PKC-2, two lines with the highest PKC enzyme activity, were studied further in terms of several responses to the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA. When treated with 100 ng/ml of TPA, the control K16MV7 and K22MV7 cells displayed a slight change in morphology, whereas the K16PKC-4 and K22PKC-2 cells displayed a marked change in morphology. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that TPA induced increased levels of fos, myc, phorbin, and ODC RNAs in control K16MV7 and K22MV7 cells, with maximum induction occurring at about 0.5, 1, 8, and 8 h, respectively. In K16PKC-4 and K22PKC-2 cells, TPA induction of phorbin and ODC RNAs was markedly enhanced, but this was not the case for myc and fos RNAs. In addition, the levels of myc RNA were constitutively higher in both K16PKC-4 and K22PKC-2 cells than in the control cells. Taken together, these results provide direct evidence that PKC plays a critical role in modulating the expression of myc, phorbin, and ODC RNAs. On the other hand, overexpression of PKC beta 1 is not itself sufficient to cause cell transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of various chemical agents on the transformation of rat fibroblasts by an activated c-Ha-ras oncogene.

We have previously reported that the potent tumor-promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and a factor from fetal calf serum (FCS) markedly enhance the transformation of mouse C3H 10T1/2 and Rat 6 fibroblasts, when added to cultures following transfection with plasmid pT24 DNA that contains an activated c-Ha-ras oncogene. In the present study, we examined possible enhancing or inhibiting effects of various chemicals on the transformation of Rat 6 fibroblasts by T24 DNA when tested in the presence of calf serum, calf serum plus TPA or FCS. We found that, like TPA, the chemicals mezerein, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, and phospholipase C increased the yield of T24-induced foci, thus further implicating protein kinase C as a critical constituent in this process. Low concentrations (10(-6)-10(-7)M) of retinoic acid (both trans and 13-cis) also stimulated cell transformation. Several compounds inhibited T24-induced transformation. These included nontoxic concentrations of the calcium ionophore A23187, indomethacin, and epsilon-amino-n-caproic acid. Compounds that failed to exert a significant reproducible effect included vasopressin, vitamin D3, selenium, antipain, Bowman-Birk inhibitor, vitamin B12, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, insulin, and transferrin. These findings suggest that this simple in vitro system might be useful for detecting enhancers and inhibitors of ras oncogene-induced cell transformation and also elucidating their mechanisms of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Codon 61 mutations in the c-Harvey-ras gene in mouse skin tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene plus okadaic acid class tumor promoters.

Three okadaic acid class tumor promoters, okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-1, and calyculin A, have potent tumor-promoting activity in two-stage carcinogenesis experiments on mouse skin. DNA isolated from tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and each of these tumor promoters revealed the same mutation at the second nucleotide of codon 61 (CAA----CTA) in the c-Ha-ras gene, determined by the polymerase chain reaction procedure and DNA sequencing. Three potent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoters, TPA, teleocidin, and aplysiatoxin, showed the same effects. These results provide strong evidence that this mutation in the c-Ha-ras gene is due to a direct effect of DMBA rather than a selective effect of specific tumor promoters.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1989

Identification of an intracellular protein that specifically interacts with photoaffinity-labeled oncogenic p21 protein.

An oncogenic 21-kDa (p21) protein (Harvey RAS protein with Val-12) has been covalently modified with a functional reagent that contains a photoactivatable aromatic azide group. This modified p21 protein has been introduced quantitatively into NIH 3T3 cells using an erythrocyte-mediated fusion technique. The introduced p21 protein was capable of inducing enhanced pinocytosis and DNA synthesis in the recipient cells. To identify the putative intracellular protein(s) that specifically interact with the modified p21 protein, the cells were pulsed with [35S]methionine at selected times after fusion and then UV-irradiated to activate the azide group. The resulting nitrene covalently binds to amino acid residues in adjacent proteins, thus linking the p21 protein to these proteins. The cells were then lysed, and the lysate was immunoprecipitated with the anti-p21 monoclonal antibody Y13-259. The immunoprecipitate was analyzed by SDS/PAGE to identify p21-protein complexes. By using this technique, we found that three protein complexes of 51, 64, and 82 kDa were labeled specifically and reproducibly. The most prominent band is the 64-kDa protein complex that shows a time-dependent rise and fall, peaking within a 5-hr period after introduction of the p21 protein into the cells. These studies provide evidence that in vitro the p21 protein becomes associated with a protein whose mass is about 43 kDa. We suggest that the formation of this complex may play a role in mediating early events involved with cell transformation induced by RAS oncogenes.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1989

Effect of polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution on intestinal microflora.

The bacterial flora of colonic aspirates taken after oral administration of a polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution to patients undergoing colonoscopy was analyzed by standard bacteriological methods and DNA hybridization techniques. The data were compared with those for normal feces collected from the same patients the day before treatment. The results indicate that the bacterial composition of feces differs from individual to individual but is not altered by the oral intake of a polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution. This pilot study demonstrates that routine colonoscopy aspirates taken after standard colonoscopy preparation accurately reflect the microflora of feces and therefore may be used in large-scale epidemiological studies.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1989

Oligonucleotide probe for detection and identification of Campylobacter pylori.

We have developed a novel and practical DNA-RNA hybridization assay for the detection and identification of Campylobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa. This technique utilizes a [32P]ddATP-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probe complementary to a nucleotide sequence present in C. pylori 16S rRNA. This probe is very sensitive and reacted with all 23 strains of C. pylori tested. It is also highly specific, since there was no cross-reactivity with the heterologous organisms Campylobacter coli, C. fetus subsp. fetus, C. jejuni, and C. laridis or with Escherichia coli. Hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe with C. pylori RNA was completely inhibited by treatment of the membrane filters with RNase but not DNase. Although a gastric mucosa tissue homogenate slightly inhibited the hybridization, as few as 10(4) C. pylori cells could be detected even in the presence of 5 mg of gastric mucosa. Gastric biopsy specimens obtained from patients referred for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were tested for C. pylori infection by direct oligonucleotide hybridization, and the results were compared with those of bacteriological cultures, the urease test, and histological observations. A comparison of the urease test and the oligonucleotide hybridization results showed an excellent correlation between the two methods. The clinical usefulness of this oligonucleotide-RNA hybridization method is discussed.

Campylobacter↗
PubMed1989

Enhancement of major histocompatibility class I protein synthesis by DNA damage in cultured human fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Exposure of primary human fibroblasts or simian virus 40-transformed human keratinocytes to several different classes of DNA damage, including UV light C (254 nm), resulted in a rapid increase in the expression of human major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) proteins. MHC-I induction was also detected after exposure to low doses of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, suggesting that MHC-I induction by DNA damage may be a component in a derepressible cellular SOS pathway.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗
PubMed1989

Cells that overproduce protein kinase C are more susceptible to transformation by an activated H-ras oncogene.

We recently developed rat fibroblast cell lines that stably overproduce high levels of the beta 1 form of protein kinase C (PKC). These cells display several disorders in growth control and form small microscopic colonies in agar. In the present study we demonstrate that one of these cell lines, R6-PKC3, is extremely susceptible to transformation by an activated human bladder cancer c-H-ras oncogene (T24). Compared with control cell line R6-C1, T24-transfected R6-PKC3 cells yielded a 10-fold increase in the formation of large colonies in agar. Cell lines established from these colonies displayed a highly transformed morphology, expressed the T24-encoded p21 ras protein, continued to express high levels of PKC, and were highly tumorigenic in nude mice. These results provide genetic evidence that PKC mediates some of the effects of the c-H-ras oncogene on cell transformation. Data are also presented suggesting that optimum synergistic effects between c-H-ras and PKC require critical levels of their respective activities. These findings may be relevant to the process of multistage carcinogenesis in tissues containing cells with an activated c-H-ras oncogene.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Rapid detection of ras oncogenes in human tumors: applications to colon, esophageal, and gastric cancer.

We have developed a rapid, nonradioactive large scale method for the detection of ras oncogenes in human tumors. DNA is amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then digested with specific restriction enzymes to detect either endogenous or primer-mediated Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs). We report here that three of 15 colon tumors tested contain K-ras codon 12 aspartic acid mutations and one, along with the HCT 116 colon carcinoma cell line, contains a K-ras codon 13 aspartic acid mutation. On the other hand, we did not detect H- or K-ras codon 12 mutations or the K-ras codon 13 aspartic acid mutation in 25 esophageal and 27 gastric cardia tumors isolated from patients in Lin-xing County, China. By incorporating nucleotide substitutions in PCR primers, this method can be applied towards the rapid, non-radioactive screening of virtually any genetic disease caused by known point mutations.

Codon↗
PubMed1989

Synergistic interactions between chemical carcinogens, tumor promoters, and viruses and their relevance to human liver cancer.

This paper reviews evidence from experimental animal model systems and tissue culture systems in which viruses or virus-encoded genes interact synergistically with specific environmental chemicals to cause malignant cell transformations. These synergistic interactions include both DNA and RNA viruses and chemicals that have genotoxic (DNA-damaging) activity or are nongenotoxic tumor promoters. They also include both fibroblast and epithelial and both rodent and human cell systems. In many cases, the precise mechanisms are not known but examples are described in which specific virus-encoded genes interact with the products of cellular oncogenes, a tumor suppressor gene, or cellular signal transduction pathways. Recent evidence that DNA damage by chemical agents and irradiation can induce trans-acting factors that enhance viral DNA synthesis is also described. Finally, the relevance of these chemical-viral synergistic interactions to the causation of liver cancer and other forms of cancer in humans is discussed. Such synergistic interactions could be directly relevant to new strategies for cancer prevention.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Disturbances in growth control and gene expression in a C3H/10T1/2 cell line that stably overproduces protein kinase C.

We have utilized a retroviral expression vector to construct a series of C3H/10T1/2 murine fibroblast cell lines that stably overexpress a full length cDNA encoding rat protein kinase C beta 1 (PKC). These cell lines contain 3-11 fold greater PKC enzyme activity than parental cells or control cells that carry an integrated vector lacking the cDNA insert. 10T1/2-PKC-4, a line with an 11-fold increase in PKC activity, is morphologically altered, grows to 4-fold higher saturation density, and has decreased adhesiveness when compared to control cells. These cells also show constitutive and inducible alterations in the levels of two PKC-regulated genes, phorbin and TPA-R1. However, 10T1/2-PKC-4 cells do not have a transformed morphology, are incapable of growth in soft agar, and are non-tumorigenic in nude mice. When 10T1/2-PKC-4 cells are cultured in 2.5% calf serum and 100 ng ml-1 TPA, numerous large, dense foci appear 2-3 weeks after the cells reach confluence. TPA is required for focus formation, and control cells do not form foci under the same conditions. However, when such foci are isolated and grown in the absence of TPA, the cells closely resemble later passage 10T1/2-PKC-4 cells. Therefore, the events leading to focus formation appear to be reversible. The 10T1/2-PKC-4 cell line should be valuable for more precisely defining molecular events relevant to tumor promotion and multistage carcinogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet light A on EGF receptor (HER-1) expression.

Activation of psoralens by ultraviolet light irradiation at 308-400 nm (UVA) is used in the photochemical treatment of psoriasis. While the major effect of this activation is the formation of DNA adducts, it was recently demonstrated that psoralens can also bind to specific saturable high affinity cellular receptors, and that this is associated with inhibition of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor binding. In view of these findings, we have examined whether 8-methoxy-psoralen (8-MOP) itself, or in combination with UVA, influences expression of the human EGF-receptor gene ("HER-1") in a human keratinocyte cell line. We have found that 8 MOP alone, and to a lesser extent UVA, induce a striking increase in cellular levels of HER-1 RNA. The combination of 8-MOP with UVA produces less induction of HER-1 RNA than that obtained with 8-MOP alone. We suggest, therefore, that this effect of 8-MOP is not due to DNA damage, but may reflect a separate effect of this compound on receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1988

Amplification of the EGF receptor and c-myc genes in human esophageal cancers.

The incidence of esophageal cancer is extremely high in Linxian County and certain other regions of the People's Republic of China. Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that N-nitroso carcinogens and other environmental factors play a causative role. In the present study, employing over 100 DNA samples obtained from Lin-xian patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer, we have found a significant frequency of amplification of either the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-I) gene or the c-myc oncogene. These changes were found not only in tumor specimens, but also in adjacent non-tumor (grossly normal) tissue specimens obtained from patients with esophageal cancer. RNA samples were also obtained from over 30 tissue samples. These revealed considerable variation in the abundance of HER-I and c-myc transcripts in both the tumor and adjacent non-tumor specimens. A few samples revealed extremely high levels of these transcripts. Thus, changes in gene copy number or level of expression of HER-I or c-myc DNA sequences may play an important role in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer in this high-risk region.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1988

Activation of rat brain protein kinase C by lipid oxidation products.

The unsaturated fatty acid components of membrane lipids are susceptible to oxidation in vitro and in vivo. The initial oxidation products are hydroperoxy fatty acids that are converted spontaneously or enzymatically to a variety of products. Hydroperoxy derivatives of oleic, linoleic, or arachidonic acids stimulate the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) purified from rat brain. The hydroperoxy acids satisfy the requirement of PKC for phospholipid (e.g., phosphatidylserine). Activation is observed in the presence or absence of 1 mM Ca2+. Reduction of the hydroperoxides to alcohols or dehydration of the hydroperoxides to ketones increases the Ka for activation three- to fourfold but does not significantly reduce the maximal extent of PKC activation. The Ka's for activation by hydroperoxy acids are approximately half the values exhibited by the unoxidized fatty acids. Since oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids to hydroperoxides is the first event in lipid peroxidation, activation of PKC by hydroperoxy fatty acids may be an early cellular response to oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The origins of human cancer: molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and their implications for cancer prevention and treatment--twenty-seventh G.H.A. Clowes memorial award lecture.

Epidemiological studies provide evidence that environmental factors (external agents such as chemicals, radiation, and viruses) play a major role in the causation of the majority of human tumors. This is a highly optimistic message, since it implies that cancer is largely a preventable disease. To meet this challenge we must, however, understand the mechanisms of cancer causation at the cellular and molecular levels and, in a parallel effort, develop new laboratory methods that can be used to identify specific causative agents in humans. The approach must be comprehensive since it is likely that human cancers are due to complex interactions between multiple factors, including the combined actions of chemical and viral agents. This paper reviews recent studies from our laboratory and studies by other investigators related to these themes. A major principle in studies on mechanisms of carcinogenesis is that the process proceeds through multiple discernible stages, including initiation, promotion, and progression. It is likely that the transition between these stages is driven by different environmental and endogenous factors and involves different biochemical mechanisms and genetic elements. Several types of chemicals initiate the carcinogenic process by yielding highly reactive species that bind covalently to cellular DNA. Our group has elucidated the details of this process with two groups of compounds, aromatic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, emphasizing how these agents distort the conformation of DNA and its functions during DNA replication and transcription. The implications of these findings with respect to oncogene activation, DNA amplification, gene transposition, and chromosome translocations are discussed. Our studies on tumor promotion have concentrated on the mechanisms of action of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Studies from several laboratories indicate that this agent and related compounds produce their effects by activating a specific cellular enzyme, protein kinase C (PKC). This produces a cascade of events which include alterations in the function of membrane-associated ion channels and receptors, alterations in gene expression and, ultimately, changes in cellular differentiation and proliferation. Recent studies on the isolation and stable overexpression of a cloned DNA sequence that encodes PKC are described. The results obtained provide direct evidence that PKC plays a critical role in growth control. The possible role of PKC, and other mediators of signal transduction pathways, in the origin of certain human cancers is also discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1988

Changes in expression of oncogenes and endogenous retroviral-like sequences during colon carcinogenesis.

The possible roles in experimental colon carcinogenesis of two protooncogenes (c-myc and c-H-ras), two endogenous retrovirus-related DNA sequences [rat leukemia virus (RaLV) and the 30S sequence], and two cell cycle related genes (beta-actin and ornithine decarboxylase) were studied by analyzing the levels of their corresponding RNAs during the course of azoxymethane induced and high fat promoted colon carcinogenesis. F-344 male rats received three s.c. injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg) or normal saline and were then subdivided into high or low fat diet groups. During subsequent serial sacrifices normal colon mucosa, adenomas, and carcinomas were harvested for histology and RNA extraction. Seventy-one RNA samples were analyzed by the Northern blot hybridization procedure using the appropriate 32P-labeled DNA probes. A marked increase in the abundance of c-myc, RaLV, and 30S RNAs were seen in all of the colon tumors, including adenomas and invasive carcinomas. No or a very low level of expression of RaLV and c-myc RNA was found in the flat grossly normal mucosa adjacent to the tumors and in the mucosa of the control rats. Some of the colon tumors also displayed increased levels of c-H-ras, ornithine decarboxylase and beta-actin RNAs but these findings were less striking and more variable than those seen with c-myc, RaLV, and 30S RNAs. These results suggest that increased expression of the c-myc protooncogene and of the endogenous retrovirus-like sequences (RaLV) and 30S are hallmarks of colon carcinogenesis in this model system.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Specific and direct binding of protein kinase C to an immobilized tamoxifen analogue.

We have previously demonstrated that tamoxifen and related triphenylethylene compounds are potent inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC). The present study demonstrates that PKC binds specifically and reversibly to the antiestrogen N-didesmethyltamoxifen when the drug is coupled to CNBr-activated agarose through its primary amine, in the absence of lipid and other cofactors of the enzyme. PKC did not bind to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which had been immobilized on epoxy-activated Sepharose through its hydroxyl moiety. This shows that the binding of PKC to immobilized N-didesmethyltamoxifen was not merely due to hydrophobic interactions, since N-didesmethyltamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen have nearly identical hydrophobicities. These results demonstrate that PKC has specific triphenylethylene-binding sites, which may mediate the inhibition of PKC activity by these antiestrogens.

Affinity Labels↗