Small molecule inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha: a viable therapeutic approach?
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
Kenneth D Tew
Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth D Tew.
Increased myeloproliferation in glutathione S-transferase pi-deficient mice is associated with a deregulation of JNK and Janus kinase/STAT pathways.
It has been shown that glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi) interacts with and suppresses the activity of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). GST-deficient mice (GSTpi(-/-)) have higher levels of circulating white blood cells, with similar proportions of lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. Interestingly, a selective expansion of splenic B lymphocytes was observed in GSTpi(-/-) animals but no change in T lymphocytes or natural killer cells. A peptidomimetic inhibitor of GSTpi that disrupts the interaction between GSTpi and JNK mimics in wild type mice the increased myeloproliferation observed in GSTpi(-/-) animals. Until now, the molecular basis for this effect has not been defined. In an in vitro hematopoiesis assay, interleukin-3, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor were more effective at stimulating proliferation of hematopoietic cells in GSTpi(-/-) mice than in wild type. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 which caused little inhibition of cytokine-induced myeloproliferation in wild type mice, decreased the number of colonies in GSTpi(-/-) animals. A more sustained phosphorylation of the STAT family of proteins was also observed in GSTpi(-/-) bone marrow-derived mast cells exposed to interleukin-3. This was associated with an increased proliferation and a down-regulation of expression of negative regulators of the Janus kinase-STAT pathway SHP, Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 and -2. The increased activation of JNK and STATs in GSTpi-deficient mice provides a viable mechanism for the increased myeloproliferation in these animals. These data also confirm the important role that GSTpi plays in the regulation of cell signaling pathways in a myeloproliferative setting.
Animals↗
The role of glutathione-S-transferase in anti-cancer drug resistance.
Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of Phase II detoxification enzymes that catalyse the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTs are divided into two distinct super-family members: the membrane-bound microsomal and cytosolic family members. Microsomal GSTs are structurally distinct from the cytosolic in that they homo- and heterotrimerize rather than dimerize to form a single active site. Microsomal GSTs play a key role in the endogenous metabolism of leukotrienes and prostaglandins. Human cytosolic GSTs are highly polymorphic and can be divided into six classes: alpha, mu, omega, pi, theta, and zeta. The pi and mu classes of GSTs play a regulatory role in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway that participates in cellular survival and death signals via protein : protein interactions with c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase). JNK and ASK1 are activated in response to cellular stress. GSTs have been implicated in the development of resistance toward chemotherapy agents. It is plausible that GSTs serve two distinct roles in the development of drug resistance via direct detoxification as well as acting as an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway. The link between GSTs and the MAP kinase pathway provides a rationale as to why in many cases the drugs used to select for resistance are neither subject to conjugation with GSH, nor substrates for GSTs. GSTs have emerged as a promising therapeutic target because specific isozymes are overexpressed in a wide variety of tumors and may play a role in the etiology of other diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, and asthma. Some of the therapeutic strategies so far employed are described in this review.
Antineoplastic Agents↗
Sensitivity and fidelity of DNA microarray improved with integration of Amplified Differential Gene Expression (ADGE).
BACKGROUND: The ADGE technique is a method designed to magnify the ratios of gene expression before detection. It improves the detection sensitivity to small change of gene expression and requires small amount of starting material. However, the throughput of ADGE is low. We integrated ADGE with DNA microarray (ADGE microarray) and compared it with regular microarray. RESULTS: When ADGE was integrated with DNA microarray, a quantitative relationship of a power function between detected and input ratios was found. Because of ratio magnification, ADGE microarray was better able to detect small changes in gene expression in a drug resistant model cell line system. The PCR amplification of templates and efficient labeling reduced the requirement of starting material to as little as 125 ng of total RNA for one slide hybridization and enhanced the signal intensity. Integration of ratio magnification, template amplification and efficient labeling in ADGE microarray reduced artifacts in microarray data and improved detection fidelity. The results of ADGE microarray were less variable and more reproducible than those of regular microarray. A gene expression profile generated with ADGE microarray characterized the drug resistant phenotype, particularly with reference to glutathione, proliferation and kinase pathways. CONCLUSION: ADGE microarray magnified the ratios of differential gene expression in a power function, improved the detection sensitivity and fidelity and reduced the requirement for starting material while maintaining high throughput. ADGE microarray generated a more informative expression pattern than regular microarray.
Cell Division↗
Resistance to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced cell growth arrest in an HL60 cell line chronically exposed to a glutathione S-transferase pi inhibitor.
Glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi; EC 2.5.1.18) has been shown recently to be a regulator of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). We have developed, by chronic exposure of HL60 cells to increasing concentrations of a peptidomimetic GSTpi inhibitor TLK199, a 10-fold resistant cell line (HL60/TLK199). Among the cellular adaptations observed in this cell line was an increase in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity without modification of basal expression levels. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced monocyte/macrophage cytodifferentiation in both HL60 wild-type (WT) and HL60/TLK199 cells. In contrast, PMA induced a pronounced cell growth inhibition and G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest in HL60 WT cells, while this differentiating agent had only a mild effect on cell growth without G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest in HL60/TLK199. This effect was associated with a rapid and sustained activation of ERK (up to 6hr) in HL60 WT cells but only a transient induction of these kinases (between 30 and 60min) in HL60/TLK199. Furthermore, treatment of both cell lines with PMA in combination with the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors sodium orthovanadate (OV) or 3,4-dephostatin (DPN) circumvented the resistance to cell growth arrest and potentiated differentiation in HL60/TLK199 but had no effect on HL60 WT cells. The circumvention of the resistance to PMA was associated with a sustained activation of ERK. These data suggest that chronic exposure of HL60 cells to TLK199 alters cellular ERK activation by PMA, which may contribute to the differential response of the WT and resistant cells to PMA.
CD11b Antigen↗
Reciprocal regulation of expression of the human adenosine 5'-triphosphate binding cassette, sub-family A, transporter 2 (ABCA2) promoter by the early growth response-1 (EGR-1) and Sp-family transcription factors.
The human ABCA2 transporter gene encodes a member of a large family of ATP-binding proteins that transport a variety of macromolecules across biological membranes. We have performed luciferase reporter gene assays with promoter constructs comprising the 5'-flanking region to identify cis-regulatory DNA elements and have mapped the minimal promoter region to 321 bp upstream of the translation start site. We have discovered a functional role for two GC-boxes located in the proximal promoter of the ABCA2 gene that contain overlapping sites for the EGR-1 and Sp1 transcription factors. We observed that oligonucleotides containing overlapping EGR-1/Sp1 sites bind the Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 transcription factors. When BE(2)-M17 cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, we observed inducible expression and binding of the EGR-1 transcription factor to the two GC-boxes. Transfection of Sp1, Sp3 or Sp4 expression constructs into Drosophila S2 induced a dose-dependent increase in transcriptional activation of the ABCA2 promoter, but transfection of EGR-1 alone failed to activate transcription. When increasing amounts of EGR-1 were transfected into the BE(2)-M17 neuroblastoma cells we observed a dose-dependent decrease in expression of the ABCA2 promoter, although expression of the endogenous ABCA2 gene increased following transfection of EGR-1.
5' Flanking Region↗
Trace elements in human physiology and pathology: zinc and metallothioneins.
Zinc is one of the most abundant nutritionally essential elements in the human body. It is found in all body tissues with 85% of the whole body zinc in muscle and bone, 11% in the skin and the liver and the remaining in all the other tissues. In multicellular organisms, virtually all zinc is intracellular, 30-40% is located in the nucleus, 50% in the cytoplasm, organelles and specialized vesicles (for digestive enzymes or hormone storage) and the remainder in the cell membrane. Zinc intake ranges from 107 to 231 micromol/d depending on the source, and human zinc requirement is estimated at 15 mg/d. Zinc has been shown to be essential to the structure and function of a large number of macromolecules and for over 300 enzymic reactions. It has both catalytic and structural roles in enzymes, while in zinc finger motifs, it provides a scaffold that organizes protein sub-domains for the interaction with either DNA or other proteins. It is critical for the function of a number of metalloproteins, inducing members of oxido-reductase, hydrolase ligase, lyase family and has co-activating functions with copper in superoxide dismutase or phospholipase C. The zinc ion (Zn(++)) does not participate in redox reactions, which makes it a stable ion in a biological medium whose potential is in constant flux. Zinc ions are hydrophilic and do not cross cell membranes by passive diffusion. In general, transport has been described as having both saturable and non-saturable components, depending on the Zn(II) concentrations involved. Zinc ions exist primarily in the form of complexes with proteins and nucleic acids and participate in all aspects of intermediary metabolism, transmission and regulation of the expression of genetic information, storage, synthesis and action of peptide hormones and structural maintenance of chromatin and biomembranes.
Animals↗
Molecular modes of action of artesunate in tumor cell lines.
A profound cytotoxic action of the antimalarial, artesunate (ART), was identified against 55 cancer cell lines of the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). The 50% inhibition concentrations (IC50 values) for ART correlated significantly to the cell doubling times (P = 0.00132) and the portion of cells in the G0/G1 (P = 0.02244) or S cell cycle phases (P = 0.03567). We selected mRNA expression data of 465 genes obtained by microarray hybridization from the NCI data base. These genes belong to different biological categories (drug resistance genes, DNA damage response and repair genes, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, apoptosis-regulating genes, proliferation-associated genes, and cytokines and cytokine-associated genes). The constitutive expression of 54 of 465 (=12%) genes correlated significantly to the IC50 values for ART. Hierarchical cluster analysis of these 12 genes allowed the differentiation of clusters with ART-sensitive or ART-resistant cell lines (P = 0.00017). For exemplary validation, cell lines transduced with 3 of the 12 genes were used to prove a causative relationship. The cDNAs for a deletion-mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and for gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase increased resistance to ART. The conditional expression of the CDC25A gene using a tetracycline repressor expression vector increased sensitivity toward ART. Multidrug-resistant cells differentially expressing the MDR1, MRP1, or BCRP genes were not cross-resistant to ART. ART acts via p53-dependent and- independent pathways in isogenic p53+/+ p21WAF1/CIP1+/+, p53-/- p21WAF1/CIP1+/+, and p53+/+ p21WAF1/CIP1-/- colon carcinoma cells.
Animals↗
Integration of amplified differential gene expression (ADGE) and DNA microarray.
Amplified Differential Gene Expression (ADGE) provides a new concept that the ratios of differentially expressed genes are magnified before detection in order to improve both sensitivity and accuracy. This technology is now implemented with integration of DNA reassociation and PCR. The ADGE technique can be used either as a stand-alone method or in series with DNA microarray. ADGE is used in sample preprocessing and DNA microarray is used as a displaying system in the series combination. These two techniques are mutually synergistic: the quadratic magnification of ratios of differential gene expression achieved by ADGE improves the detection sensitivity and accuracy; the PCR amplification of templates enhances the signal intensity and reduces the requirement for large amounts of starting material; the high throughput for DNA microarray is maintained.
Algorithms↗
Protein interaction-targeted drug discovery: evaluating critical issues.
Employment of the decision strategies outlined in this general discussion should help to pinpoint mode of activity in drug development and validation. Overall, as a paradigm for drug development, a search for small molecules that can interfere with PPIs would seem to have significant long term potential. At present, the level of structural knowledge in databases is not sufficient to predict in toto the protein binding properties of a modeled drug, but as databases improve, this may become generally feasible. A major point that remains to be determined is how much specificity of protein binding can be incorporated into molecules of generally less than 500 Da. Finally, integration of PPI-targeting strategies with other approaches towards drug design will enhance the number of signaling pathways that can effectively be targeted. These points will be particularly pertinent as technologies permit a systematic identification of encoded protein interactions that govern the proteornic complement of cells.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗
Efficacy of a glutathione S-transferase pi-activated prodrug in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells.
Human ovarian carcinoma cells (C70 and C200) made resistant to cisplatin from A2780 cells demonstrated an approximately 20-fold resistance to the drug. These same cell lines showed no collateral resistance (as compared with the wild-type) to a novel glutathione S-transferase pi-activated prodrug [gamma-glutamyl-alpha-amino-beta[2-ethyl-N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-chloroethyl) phosphorodiamidate]-sulfonyl-propionyl-(R)-(-) phenylglycine; TLK286]. Previous results have shown a direct correlation between levels of GST pi expression and cytotoxicity for TLK286 (L. A. Rosario et al., Mol. Pharmacol., 58: 167-174, 2000.). However, protein levels of the isozyme were identical in wild-type C70 and C200 cell lines. In analyzing the DNA repair capacity of C70 and C200, an altered expression of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex (catalytic subunit DNA-PKcs, and the heterodimers Ku70 and Ku80) was found. In C70 and C200 cells, DNA-PKcs was overexpressed at both the transcript and protein levels, whereas amounts of Ku70 and Ku80 were higher only at the level of protein expression. TLK286 in either its parent or activated form inhibited the catalytic kinase activity of purified DNA-PK with an IC50 value of approximately 1 microM. Coimmunoprecipitation of Ku70 after TLK286 treatment of purified DNA-PK and C70 cells showed a drug-induced destabilization of the protein-protein interaction between the catalytic subunit and the Ku heterodimer. Overall, these results implicate inhibition of DNA-PK as a component of TLK286 cytotoxicity and provide a rationale for its use in the clinical management of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.
Antigens, Nuclear↗
Glutathione S-transferases as emerging therapeutic targets.
Glutathione S-transferases (GST) represent a large family of Phase II detoxification enzymes widely expressed in animals and plants. These enzymes catalyse the conjugation of glutathione with some endogenous molecules and a broad range of exogenous substrates including various anticancer drugs. Due to high expression of GSTs in tumours when compared to normal tissues and their high level in plasma from cancer patients, these enzymes are considered to be cancer markers. Their involvement in resistance to anticancer drugs and an inverse correlation between expression and prognosis in many tumours provided a rationale for the design of inhibitors and prodrugs to enhance therapeutic index. The first generation of GST inhibitors included ethacrynic acid and showed promising potentiating activity in vitro but lack of isoenzyme specificity and diuretic side effects restricted clinical use. Novel GST inhibitors include glutathione analogues and demonstrate better specificities with fewer limiting toxicities. One lead compound is a potent inhibitor of the GSTP1-1 isoform in both cell lines and animal models. A GSTP1-1 activated prodrug has also been developed. Testing of the preclinical and clinical efficacy of these agents is presently in progress. Their rational design provides a promising new approach to targeting tumour-specific characteristics in a manner consistent with improving therapeutic index.
Journal Article↗
The importance of glutathione in human disease.
Reduced glutathione (GSH) is the most prevalent non-protein thiol in animal cells. Its de novo and salvage synthesis serves to maintain a reduced cellular environment and the tripeptide is a co-factor for many cytoplasmic enzymes and may also act as an important post-translational modification in a number of cellular proteins. The cysteine thiol acts as a nucleophile in reactions with both exogenous and endogenous electrophilic species. As a consequence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are frequently targeted by GSH in both spontaneous and catalytic reactions. Since ROS have defined roles in cell signaling events as well as in human disease pathologies, an imbalance in expression of GSH and associated enzymes has been implicated in a variety of circumstances. Cause and effect links between GSH metabolism and diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cystic fibrosis (CF), HIV, and aging have been shown. Polymorphic expression of enzymes involved in GSH homeostasis influences susceptibility and progression of these conditions. This review provides an overview of the biological importance of GSH at the level of the cell and organism.
Aging↗
Characterization of the ATPase activity of human ATP-binding cassette transporter-2 (ABCA2).
BACKGROUND: ABCA2 is a member of the ATP binding cassette transporter family with functional roles in cholesterol homeostasis and drug resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to characterize its ATPase activity, we transfected HEK293 cells with an ABCA2 mammalian expression system and isolated ABCA2-enriched membranes. RESULTS: We found no measurable ATPase activity of ABCA2 in isolated membranes, except in the presence of the methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. However, competitive binding of a pseudo-substrate, 8-azido-[alpha-32P]-ATP, was demonstrated. CHO cells transfected with ABCA2 did not have a higher rate of endogenous ATP hydrolysis when compared to the mock-transfected cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, we conclude that, while ABCA2 may have low levels of ATPase activity that can be substrate-stimulated, it is more likely to have a regulatory role in cell physiology.
3T3 Cells↗