Biomedical subjects

I Pastan

Publications and source records attributed to I Pastan.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Activity of the multidrug transporter results in alkalinization of the cytosol: measurement of cytosolic pH by microinjection of a pH-sensitive dye.

Multidrug-resistant cells contain a plasma membrane efflux pump, the multidrug transporter, which actively expels certain hydrophobic drugs from the cytosol to the cell exterior. These drugs are usually positively charged at physiological pH. Because one might predict that this efflux of positively charged molecules might deplete the cytosol of protons, raising the cytosolic pH, we examined the cytosolic pH of multidrug-resistant cells directly using a pH-sensitive dye coupled to a membrane-impermeable molecule. The dye (SNARF), covalently coupled to 10,000 MW dextran, was mechanically microinjected into the cytosol of cultured multidrug-resistant mouse NIH3T3 cells which express the human multidrug transporter. The fluorescence emission of the dye in living cells was measured using epifluorescence microscopy at different wavelengths to provide a measure of the pH of the cytosolic environment. Multidrug-resistant cells had a higher cytosolic pH than drug-sensitive normal parental cells. As the pH of the culture medium was increased, normal cells maintained their cytosolic pH below 7.0, whereas the cytosolic pH of multidrug resistant cells rose. The difference in cytosolic pH between the two cell types was more than 0.2 pH units at an external culture medium pH of 8.2. Treatment with agents that inhibit multidrug transporter-mediated efflux, such as verapamil and vinblastine, essentially eliminated the elevation of cytosolic pH, presumably because they are good substrates for the pump which overwhelm its capacity to pump other materials. These results suggest that the multidrug transporter is indirectly a proton pump, and that cells may contain an endogenous substrate or substrates for this transporter in the absence of added drugs.

Alkalies↗

PubMed1990

Expression of the multidrug resistance, MDR1, gene in neuroblastomas.

Metastatic neuroblastoma is a childhood malignancy that is frequently responsive to chemotherapy with doxorubicin, vincristine, and teniposide (VM26), among other drugs, but in the majority of treated patients, the tumor recurs during or after chemotherapy. In this work, we have examined the hypothesis that the development of resistance to chemotherapy in neuroblastoma might be related to the expression of the human MDR1 gene, which encodes a multidrug transporter that functions as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump. RNA samples from 49 neuroblastomas were analyzed, including 31 from untreated and 18 from treated patients. MDR1 RNA was detectable in the majority of treated and untreated tumors using a sensitive, semiquantitative slot blot assay. Of the samples from treated patients, five of 18 were found to have high MDR1 RNA levels, whereas only three of 31 from untreated patients had high MDR1 levels, a statistically significant difference (P less than .01). These results show that high levels of MDR1 RNA are often associated with resistance to chemotherapy in neuroblastoma and suggest that they may contribute to this resistance. Many of the neuroblastoma samples were also evaluated for N-myc amplification but there was no correlation between N-myc copy number and the level of MDR1 mRNA expression.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1990

Regulation of mdr RNA levels in response to cytotoxic drugs in rodent cells.

The mdr gene, which encodes an energy-dependent multidrug efflux pump termed P-glycoprotein, is expressed in some normal human and rodent tissues, including the adrenal gland, kidney, liver, colon, small intestine, and brain and testis capillary endothelial cells. Because of the important role played by the multidrug transporter in determining sensitivity of normal tissues and resistance of cancers to chemotherapeutic drugs, we and others have been determining the environmental factors which regulate expression of the mdr gene. In previous studies, expression of the human MDR1 gene has been shown to be regulated by heat shock, arsenite, and cadmium in a kidney carcinoma cell line, and mdr RNA is dramatically elevated in rat liver after partial hepatectomy or treatment of the animals with cytotoxic agents. We have now investigated the genetic response of the mdr gene to acute cytotoxic insults in rodent and human tissue culture cells. Following exposure to several drugs, most of which are known to be substrates for the multidrug transporter, mdr RNA levels were found to increase substantially in the rodent cells, but not the human cells. Furthermore, RNA levels for topoisomerase II, an intracellular target for these drugs, decreased in the rodent cells. These results suggest a complex pattern of regulation of mdr RNA levels, depending on animal species and cell type, and possible coordinate regulation with topoisomerase II RNA levels.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Regulation of the multidrug resistance gene in regenerating rat liver.

The MDR1 gene encodes an Mr 170,000 energy-dependent drug efflux pump (P-glycoprotein) which transports hydrophobic agents such as Adriamycin, colchicine, the Vinca alkaloids, and actinomycin D out of cells. Increased expression of the mdr gene has been observed in preneoplastic and neoplastic carcinogen-induced rat liver nodules as well as in regenerating rat liver, suggesting that the mdr gene is regulated in response to liver injury. To determine whether the increased levels of mdr mRNA seen in regenerating liver are the result of an increased rate of transcription or a posttranscriptional event, nuclear run-on assays were performed on nuclei isolated from regenerating rat livers 4-72 h after partial hepatectomy. Whereas Northern blot analysis of regenerating rat liver demonstrated a greater than 20-fold increase in mdr mRNA levels, there was little or no increase in mdr gene transcription as measured by nuclear run-on analyses. beta-Actin and metallothionein gene transcription levels, known to increase transiently in regenerating liver, both showed increased nuclear run-on activity 4 h posthepatectomy, indicating that the nuclei were functional. Failure to demonstrate a substantial increase in mdr gene transcription suggests that the observed increase in mdr mRNA levels may result from a posttranscriptional event such as message stabilization. The sequence of the 3' noncoding region of the MDR1 gene shares strong homology with other unstable mRNAs, suggesting that RNA stabilization could account for the rise of mdr mRNA after partial hepatectomy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1990

Selective killing of tumor cells using EGF or TGF alpha-Pseudomonas exotoxin chimeric molecules.

Many types of cancer cells display aberrantly high numbers of EGF receptors on their surface. We have targeted these cells for elimination by combining the cell binding ability of either epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor type alpha with the potent cell killing activity of Pseudomonas exotoxin. These chimeric molecules are formed either by chemical conjugation of the two proteins or by expression of a gene fusion into a product containing both proteins. In this review, we show that these chimeric toxins are extremely cytotoxic to a variety of cancer cell lines.

Cell Survival↗

PubMed1990

A reversible multi-well chamber for incubation of cultured cells with small volumes: application to screening of hybridoma fusions using immunofluorescence microscopy.

Immunofluorescence microscopy is a powerful technique for detecting the location of surface and intracellular antigens in individual cells. However, using standard methods, processing large numbers of samples for immunofluorescence is cumbersome and difficult. To simplify greatly this process, we have developed a chamber that reversibly creates multiple small wells in a large (150 mm) tissue culture dish. This device allows the rapid and convenient processing of hundreds of samples each of 100 microliters volume. Each sample is examined using a short working distance, high numerical aperture immersion objective for maximum sensitivity and resolution. This apparatus makes immunofluorescence a practical method for the primary screening of hybridoma clones.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1989

A new vector using the human multidrug resistance gene as a selectable marker enables overexpression of foreign genes in eukaryotic cells.

A new vector, pSK1.MDR, has been constructed for expressing nonselectable genes in eukaryotic cells. The vector uses the human multidrug resistance gene, MDR1, as a dominant selectable marker and contains an additional transcription unit plus a unique SalI cloning site for inserting nucleotide sequences to be expressed. To test this expression system, a cDNA (IL2R) for the 55-kDa interleukin-2 receptor was inserted into the SalI site, and the resulting plasmid was transfected into NIH3T3 cells. Cells which acquired the MDR1 gene were selected with colchicine, and cells with high levels of MDR1 expression were selected by growth in increasing concentrations of the drug. Drug resistant cells also expressed the cotransferred, nonselected IL2R gene, and its expression was increased to 740,000 receptors per cell by growing cells in high concentrations of colchicine. The MDR1 system represents a very efficient method for synthesizing large amounts of protein in a wide variety of eukaryotic cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1989

Molecular cloning and characterization of a human DNA binding factor that represses transcription.

Several transcription factors interact with GC-rich sequences and positively regulate both housekeeping genes and cellular oncogenes. We have cloned a human cDNA that encodes a factor that binds to the GC-rich sequences present in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), beta-actin, and calcium-dependent protease (CANP) promoters. This cDNA encodes a 91 kd protein with an extremely basic region at its amino terminus. Deletion analyses with bacterially expressed proteins containing fragments of this factor indicate that this basic region of the protein functions as the DNA binding domain. Expression of this factor in CV1 cells shows that it represses expression originating from both the EGFR and beta-actin promoters as well as chimeric promoters containing the CANP gene. It also represses transcription in cell-free extracts. These results suggest that positive and negative factors may interact with the same control element to account for the diversity of transcriptional regulation.

Actins↗

PubMed1989

Selective immunosuppression of activated T cells with the chimeric toxin IL-2-PE40. Inhibition of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.

A characteristic of activated T lymphocytes is the expression of high affinity IL-2R. We studied a new method of selective immunosuppression directed against activated T cells by using a chimeric recombinant protein (IL-2-PE40) composed of IL-2 fused to a modified Pseudomonas exotoxin lacking its cell recognition domain. As a model of T cell-mediated disease, we used experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) produced in Lewis rats by active immunization with the retinal S-Ag. The treatment protocol consisted of i.p. injection of IL-2-PE40 at 0.25 micrograms/g every 12 h. Controls were PBS, PE40, or IL-2-PE40asp553 a mutant form of the molecule with reduced activity. Treatment with IL-2-PE40 resulted in a significant reduction of the incidence and severity of EAU over controls. The analysis of the effect of i.p. injection of IL-2-PE40 on the popliteal draining lymph nodes of immunized animals showed a marked reduction in the lymphocytes content. Transfer experiments demonstrated that IL-2-PE40 prevented the development of EAU effector T cells. Interestingly, although activated B cells were reported to express IL-2R, there was no significant reduction of antibody production against the immunizing Ag under IL-2-PE40 treatment, suggesting sparing of the B cells.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

PubMed1989

Targeted toxin therapy for the treatment of cancer.

Protein toxins such as Pseudomonas exotoxin, diphtheria toxin, and ricin may be useful in cancer therapy because they are among the most potent cell-killing agents. One molecule of a toxin delivered to the cytoplasm of a cancer cell will be lethal for that cell. However, to be therapeutically useful, these toxins need to be targeted to specific sites on the surface of cancer cells, then be internalized and ultimately reach the cell cytoplasm. This process is accomplished by eliminating binding to toxin receptors and redirecting the cell-killing activity of the toxin to receptors or antigens present on cancer cells. Typically, toxins are conjugated to cell-binding proteins such as monoclonal antibodies or growth factors. These conjugates bind and kill cancer cells selectively while normal cells, which don't bind the conjugates, are spared. Because the genes for many protein toxins have been cloned, it is possible to make genetic modifications to their structure. By deleting the DNA that codes for the toxin binding region and replacing it with various complementary DNA encoding other cell-binding proteins, it has been possible to make chimeric toxins that kill cells on the basis of the newly acquired binding activity. The ability to make these chimeras may be useful in designing future toxin-based anticancer therapies.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Domain II mutants of Pseudomonas exotoxin deficient in translocation.

Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) kills mammalian cells in a complex process that involves cell surface binding, internalization by endocytosis, translocation to the cytosol, and ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2. PE is a three-domain protein in which domain I binds to the cell surface, domain II promotes translocation into the cytosol, and domain III carries out ADP-ribosylation. To determine how translocation occurs, we have mutated all the arginine residues in domain II and found that mutations at positions 276 and 279 greatly diminished the cytotoxicity of PE and mutations 330 and 337 substantially reduced cytotoxicity. Biochemical studies indicate that after internalization into an endocytic compartment, the PE molecule undergoes a specific and saturable intracellular interaction, and this interaction is deficient in an Arg276----Gly mutant. Our data suggest that the translocation process of PE involves a specific interaction of Arg276 (and possibly Arg279, Arg330, and Arg337) with components of an intracellular compartment.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

PubMed1989

Two different regions of P-glycoprotein [corrected] are photoaffinity-labeled by azidopine.

Cells that express P-glycoprotein are resistant to many unrelated anticancer drugs. All evidence suggests that P-glycoprotein is a plasma membrane protein that confers multidrug resistance by actively transporting these cytotoxic drugs out of cells. The objective of our work is to locate drug binding sites on P-glycoprotein. Azidopine is a photoaffinity drug analog that specifically labels P-glycoprotein. To determine the region of P-glycoprotein that binds azidopine, we labeled P-glycoprotein with azidopine and digested the labeled protein into fragments. We then identified the labeled fragments with specific antibodies. We have determined that azidopine labels two different regions of P-glycoprotein: one region is in the amino half of P-glycoprotein, and the other is in the carboxyl half of the protein. Our results suggest that P-glycoprotein contains either two binding sites for azidopine or a single site formed by the two homologous halves of the protein.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1989

Pseudomonas exotoxin: chimeric toxins.

Pseudomonas exotoxin binds to and enters cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Within the cell it requires exposure to low pH to enable it to translocate to the cell cytoplasm where it inhibits protein synthesis by ADP-ribosylating elongation factor 2. The toxin has three main structural domains whose functions are: Ia, cell binding; II, translocation; and III, ADP-ribosylation. Key amino acids have been identified within each domain that are required for the function of the toxin. Chimeric toxins were made originally by using chemical cross-linking reagents to couple Pseudomonas exotoxin (or other toxins) to cell-binding proteins. More recently, a variety of Pseudomonas exotoxin-related chimeric toxins have been made by gene fusion technology. These chimeric toxins may be useful clinically for treating various diseases and experimentally for understanding receptor function.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

PubMed1989

Expression of a human multidrug resistance gene in ovarian carcinomas.

Expression of the human MDR1 gene has been shown to confer the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype to sensitive cells. To investigate the possible contribution of the MDR phenotype to chemoresistance in ovarian carcinoma, we have analyzed MDR1 gene expression in fresh carcinoma specimens from 50 patients. Fifteen received chemotherapy before surgery and were judged as poor responders. Thirty-five patients did not receive any drug before surgery. Control tissues were lymphocytes from 7 patients. Total RNAs were analyzed by Northern and slot blot hybridization techniques using human MDR1 complementary DNA and human gamma-actin complementary DNA probes sequentially as qualitative and quantitative controls. MDR1 transcripts (4.5 kilobases) were observed in the RNA preparations obtained from 3 of 10 patients who were treated with doxorubicin or vincristine, 2 drugs known to select the MDR phenotype in vitro. In 40 other RNA preparations obtained from 35 untreated patients and 5 patients treated exclusively with cyclophosphamide and cis-platinum, no transcript could be detected. Using the exact Fisher test, the difference between the 2 groups was found to be significant (P less than 0.01). The three tumors with elevated MDR1 expression did not show MDR1 DNA amplification. Our study suggests that, in spite of the weak occurrence of the MDR process in patients with ovarian cancers, MDR1 expression can be related to previous treatment with doxorubicin or vincristine. These results favor the expression of the MDR1 gene as one of the determinants involved in the acquired chemoresistance of ovarian cancers.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1989

Nuclear factor ETF specifically stimulates transcription from promoters without a TATA box.

Transcription factor ETF stimulates the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene which does not have a TATA box in the promoter region. Here, we show that ETF recognizes various GC-rich sequences including stretches of deoxycytidine or deoxyguanosine residues and GC boxes with similar affinities. ETF also binds to TATA boxes but with a lower affinity. ETF stimulated in vitro transcription from several promoters without TATA boxes but had little or no effect on TATA box-containing promoters even though they had strong ETF-binding sites. These inactive ETF-binding sites became functional when placed upstream of the EGFR promoter whose own ETF-binding sites were removed. Furthermore, when a TATA box was introduced into the EGFR promoter, the responsiveness to ETF was abolished. These results indicate that ETF is a specific transcription factor for promoters which do not contain TATA elements.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Transepithelial transport of drugs by the multidrug transporter in cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney cell epithelia.

We studied transepithelial transport of 3H-labeled hydrophobic cationic drugs in epithelia formed by wild-type and by drug-resistant Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCk) cells that had been infected with a retrovirus carrying the multidrug-resistance (MDR1) cDNA which encodes the P-glycoprotein. P-glycoprotein is an ATP consuming plasma membrane multidrug transporter responsible for the efflux of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs from resistant cancer cells. Wild-type MDCK cells have small amounts of P-glycoprotein detected by immunoprecipitation. Net transepithelial transport across wild-type MDCK epithelia was demonstrated. Basal to apical flux of 100 nM vinblastine was about six times higher than apical to basal flux. Addition of unlabeled vinblastine reduced basal to apical flux of tracer and increased apical to basal flux of tracer, a pattern expected if there is a saturable pump that extrudes vinblastine at the apical plasma membrane. Daunomycin, vincristine, and actinomycin D were also actively transported and at 20 microM these agents inhibited transport of vinblastine, suggesting that wild-type MDCK cells have a common transporter for all these drugs. Vinblastine transport was also inhibited by 20 microM verapamil, which inhibits the multidrug transporter and reverses multidrug-resistance in non-polarized cells. Net transepithelial transport of all these cytotoxic drugs and of verapamil was much higher in epithelia formed by MDCK cells infected with a human MDR1 virus (MDR-MDCK) which is expressed on the apical surface of MDR-MDCK monolayers. Because the transport of these cytotoxic drugs and verapamil is increased in MDR-MDCK epithelia compared to wild-type MDCK epithelia, transport in both these cell populations can be attributed to P-glycoprotein. These results are consistent with a role for P-glycoprotein in multidrug secretory transport across the epithelium of the proximal tubule since P-glycoprotein is normally expressed on the apical membrane of proximal tubule cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1989

Enhancement of the activity of immunotoxins by analogues of verapamil.

Verapamil has been shown to enhance immunotoxin activity but only at concentrations that are too high for in vivo use. Therefore, four structural analogues of verapamil (D792, D595, D528, and Sz45) were evaluated for their ability to enhance the in vitro activity of immunotoxins made with either ricin A chain or Pseudomonas exotoxin. The following immunotoxins were used: HB21-PE and 454A12-rRTA which recognize the human transferrin receptor; and 260F9-rRTA which reacts with human ovarian carcinoma and breast carcinoma cells. The activities of the immunotoxins were determined in ovarian carcinoma cells and in KB cells using inhibition of either protein synthesis or colony formation as a measure for the cytotoxicity of the immunotoxins. Each of the four analogues enhanced the activity of ricin A-immunotoxins in a dose-dependent manner. D792 and D595 also increased the activity of IIB21-PE. Low concentrations of either Sz45 or D528 enhanced the activity of HB21-PE, but high concentrations of these two analogues either had less enhancing potency than low concentrations or even decreased the activity of HB21-PE. Specificity of enhancement by the analogues was shown by competition of the activity of the immunotoxins by the corresponding antibody and by inactivity of an irrelevant immunotoxin. The amount of enhancement ranged from 2-fold to greater than 60-fold and was dependent on the cell line and on the experimental conditions. The enhancing ability of the drugs did not correlate with their calcium-antagonistic activity. When compared with verapamil, D792 and D595 had greater enhancing potency with regard to both ricin A-immunotoxins and Pseudomonas exotoxin-immunotoxins. Greater enhancing potency and less in vivo toxicity makes D792 a candidate for use in the enhancement of immunotoxins in vivo.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

PubMed1989

Functional analysis of domains II, Ib, and III of Pseudomonas exotoxin.

Pseudomonas exotoxin is composed of three structural domains that are responsible for cell recognition, membrane translocation, and ADP-ribosylation. The substitution of the cell recognition domain (domain Ia) with a growth factor such as transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), creates a cell-specific cytotoxic agent, TGF alpha-PE40, which kills cells bearing epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. We have used TGF alpha-PE40 to define the role of sequences in domains II, Ib, and III. Various mutations were made in these domains and mutant forms of TGF alpha-PE40 expressed in Escherichia coli. Mutant proteins were then tested for their ADP-ribosylation, EGF receptor-binding, and cell-killing activities. Additionally, the amino boundary of domain III, which contains the ADP-ribosylation activity, was determined by deletion analysis. Data indicate that (i) the functional amino terminus of domain III is near amino acid 400; (ii) deletion of various regions in domain II or conversion of cysteines 265 and 268 to serines results in a loss of cytotoxicity which ranged from 10-fold to more than 150-fold, indicating that domain II is essential for full expression of cytotoxicity; (iii) deletion of the amino terminus of domain Ib results in a molecule with somewhat increased cytotoxic activity, indicating that domain Ib is not essential for the cytotoxic effect of TGF alpha-PE40; and (iv) TGF alpha-PE40, produced by denaturing and refolding of insoluble material from inclusion bodies, binds better to EGF receptors and is about 10-fold more cytotoxic to cells bearing EGF receptors than is the secreted form of soluble TGF alpha-PE40.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗