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Biomedical subjects

L C Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to L C Murphy.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mechanisms of growth inhibition by antiestrogens and progestins in human breast and endometrial cancer cells.

Marked changes in both growth factor and proto-oncogene expression occur due to treatment of hormonally-responsive human cancers with progestins and antiestrogens. In human endometrial cancer cell lines the antiproliferative effects of progestins and antiestrogens in a particular cell line appear to be associated with similar effects on growth factor and/or proto-oncogene expression. This suggests that although these compounds initially interact with different steroid hormone receptors, the molecular mechanisms of their growth inhibition may be essentially similar. In the case of human breast cancer cell lines, however, the effects of progestins and antiestrogens on gene regulation are often different, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms of progestin and antiestrogen growth inhibition may be essentially dissimilar.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Effects of transforming growth factors and regulation of their mRNA levels in two human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines.

The effects of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the growth of cells from 2 endometrial cancer lines, Ishikawa and HEC-50 were evaluated by measuring rates of DNA synthesis and changes in cell numbers during culture. EGF at 17 and 1.7 nM concentrations consistently enhanced HEC-50 cell proliferation. TGF-beta 1 inhibited Ishikawa cell proliferation but, unexpectedly for epithelium-derived cells, stimulated HEC-50 cell growth. This effect is of interest as it indicates that endometrial cells can acquire an altered responsiveness to a growth inhibitor during the process of malignant transformation. Northern blot analyses showed expression of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 1 and EGF receptors mRNA in both cell lines. Neither estradiol (E2) nor 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHTam) affected mRNA levels for either TGF-alpha or TGF-beta in HEC-50 cells, a line unresponsive to E2 for proliferation. In Ishikawa cells, previously shown to respond to both E2 and OHTam by increasing proliferation rates, E2 increased TGF-alpha mRNA and reduced TGF-beta mRNA levels. OHTam lowered the levels of both mRNA species, although the effect was greater on TGF-beta than TGF-alpha mRNA. These data are consistent with, but do not prove, the existence of a possible autocrine regulation by TGF-alpha and TGF-beta of human cancer cell proliferation, which might be under E2 influence in Ishikawa cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of transforming growth factor gene expression in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

We have examined the effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM) on the cell proliferation and the expression of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta genes in Ishikawa cells and HEC-50 human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. The effects of exogenous TGF-alpha, TGF-beta and anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody on cell proliferation were also determined. Antisense oligonucleotides were used to determine the effects of endogenous expression of TGF-alpha and TGF-beta. In both cell lines, MPA resulted in a time and dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation whereas OH-TAM had no effect on HEC-50 cell proliferation. The relative abundance of TGF-alpha mRNA was significantly reduced by MPA in Ishikawa cells but not in HEC-50 cells. In Ishikawa cells, a reduction in TGF-alpha mRNA abundance was observed with OH-TAM under conditions where both inhibition and stimulation of cell proliferation were demonstrated. Anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody inhibited Ishikawa cell growth but had little effect on HEC-50 cell proliferation. Exogenous TGF-alpha stimulated proliferation of both cell lines whereas exogenous TGF-beta inhibited proliferation of Ishikawa cells but stimulated proliferation of HEC-50 cells. Antisense oligonucleotides to TGF-beta inhibited proliferation of HEC-50 cells. From these data we conclude that the antiproliferative effects of progestins and OH-TAM on endometrial cancer cells appear to be mediated by different mechanisms.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Evidence for a ras gene mutation in azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypts in Sprague-Dawley rats: earliest recognizable precursor lesions of experimental colon cancer.

The main objective of the present investigation was to understand the molecular events involved in the genesis of aberrant crypt foci. Aberrant crypt foci were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with a single injection of azoxymethane. Aberrant crypts have been identified topographically in the colon and are hypothesized to represent preneoplastic lesions. In order to understand the molecular events involved in the early stages of colon cancer, PCR-amplified DNA from aberrant crypts was hybridized with oligonucleotide probes specific for the detection of point mutations in codon 12 of K-ras. The mutation identified was a G to A transition resulting in the substitution of the amino acid aspartic acid (asp) for glycine (gly). This mutation was present in 6/19 (32%) of aberrant crypts examined. The identical mutation was also identified in adenomacarcinoma tissue while no mutation could be detected in normal intestinal mucosa. For further confirmation of these results, the presence of the mutated ras protein (rasAsp-12) was detected in aberrant crypts by immunohistochemistry. This investigation provides the first identification of a ras point mutation in aberrant crypt foci.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Phorbol esters differentially regulate the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in endometrial carcinoma cells.

We have examined the effects of protein kinase-C (PKC) activation on expression of the six known insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) by human endometrial carcinoma cells. Each of six known IGFBPs was expressed in one or more of the three cell lines examined. The addition of 10(-7) M 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to HEC-50 and HEC-1B cells resulted in changes in cell morphology, growth inhibition, activation of PKC, and an increase in expression of IGFBP-1. PMA had no effect on these parameters in the Ishikawa cell line, which did not express IGFBP-1. In HEC-50 cells, the effect of PMA was blocked by the concomitant addition of the PKC inhibitor staurosporin and the simultaneous addition of cycloheximide. PMA also resulted in an increase in IGFBP-3 in HEC-50 cells and an increase in IGFBP-6 expression in HEC-1B cells. In contrast, IGFBP-3 expression was down-regulated by PMA in HEC-1B and Ishikawa cells. The abundance of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 mRNAs was also reduced in HEC-1B and Ishikawa cells, respectively. IGFBP-4 was expressed only in HEC-50 cells and was not affected by PMA treatment. These data establish a role for the PKC pathway in regulation of expression of IGFBP-1, -2, -3, and -5 in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells and illustrate the complexity of cell type-specific expression of the IGFBPs.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of c-jun and jun-B by progestins in T-47D human breast cancer cells.

To investigate further the molecular mechanisms of progestin regulation of human breast cancer cell growth, we studied the effect of progestins on expression of the protooncogene c-jun and other members of the jun family, jun-B and jun-D, in T-47D human breast cancer cells. The progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increased c-jun mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Maximal effects were seen after 3 h of treatment with 10-100 nM MPA. Under these conditions, the c-jun mRNA was increased 5.4-fold above the control level. Although the c-jun mRNA level was increased by cycloheximide alone, a further 2.4-fold increase was seen when the cells were treated with MPA in the presence of cycloheximide. The p39 c-jun protein was also increased 3.8-fold by this treatment. Maximum levels of p39 c-jun protein were achieved 9 h after treatment, and this level was maintained for at least 24 h. Dexamethasone and dihydrotestosterone did not increase the p39 c-jun protein level under these conditions. However, MPA treatment of T-47D cells resulted in a 55% decrease in overall AP-1 activity, as measured by transient transfection of an AP-1-regulated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. These effects were all reversible by cotreatment with a 10-fold higher concentration of the antiprogestin RU 486. MPA decreased jun-B mRNA levels 50% 1 h after treatment in T-47D cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of estrogen receptor variant mRNAs from human breast cancers.

The cDNAs for variant estrogen receptor (ER) mRNAs previously identified in human breast cancer biopsy samples have been cloned and characterized. Some of these cDNAs are unique to a tumor sample (e.g. clones 24 and 5), while others are present in multiple breast tumor samples (e.g. clone 4). The 5' ends of the variant cDNAs are essentially identical to sequences present in exons 1, 2, and 3 of the normal ER mRNA. However, at points which mark either the exon 2/intron or exon 3/intron boundaries, the variant cDNA sequences diverge and are unrelated to the normal ER mRNA. The unique sequences of clones 24 and 5 are unknown, and the unique sequence of clone 4 is related to the long interspersed repetitive LINE-1 sequences. The variant mRNAs contain open reading frames which could encode proteins containing known functional domains of the normal ER but missing others. In particular, the hormone binding domain of the normal ER is always missing. Furthermore, some of the variant transcripts may encode other unique proteins. In transient expression assays the proteins encoded by the variant ER mRNAs are unable to activate transcription of an estrogen-responsive reporter gene; neither are they able to modulate the ability of normal ER proteins to activate transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Differential effects of phorbol esters on proliferation and calcyclin expression in human endometrial carcinoma cells.

Calcyclin is a member of the S-100 family of calcium-binding proteins, whose expression is enhanced when quiescent cells are exposed to mitogenic signals. The function of calcyclin is unknown, but it is thought to be involved in modulating the intracellular calcium concentration following mitogenic stimuli. Since activation of protein kinase C (PKC) also occurs following stimulation of quiescent cells by a variety of mitogens, we have investigated the relationship between calcyclin expression and PKC activation in three human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines. The addition of 10(-7) M 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to HEC-50 and HEC-1B cell cultures resulted in a change in cell morphology, an inhibition of proliferation, an increase in calcyclin transcription rate, and an increase in calcyclin mRNA and calcyclin protein levels. In contrast, PMA had no effect on cell morphology or cell proliferation in the Ishikawa adenocarcinoma cell line but enhanced calcyclin expression. Another bioactive phorbol ester had the same effect, whereas the calcium ionophore A23187 and the non-phorbol-ester-type tumor promoter thapsigargin had no effect on calcyclin expression. The effect of PMA on calcyclin expression was blocked by the simultaneous addition of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine and by protein synthesis inhibition with cycloheximide. RNase protection assays and primer extension analysis demonstrated that PMA enhanced transcription from all three of the previously identified transcription start sites in the calcyclin gene. These data clearly demonstrate a dissociation between calcyclin expression and cellular proliferation and suggest that the enhanced calcyclin expression which is seen in quiescent cells following mitogenic stimuli may result from activation of the PKC system.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Antigenic reactivity of ribosomal protein S6 and the calcium-binding ATPase inhibitor protein of mammalian mitochondria.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 of mammals precedes activation of cell growth in numerous biological systems. We have cloned a cDNA for ribosomal protein S6 from T-47D human breast cancer cells by immunoscreening a lambda gt11 expression library with antibody raised against the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-binding ATPase inhibitor protein (CaBI) of bovine heart mitochondria (Yamada & Huzel: J Biol Chem 263: 11498-11503, 1988). Similar clones were obtained by the immunoscreening of a rat heart expression library. In agreement with others, the open reading frames of the cDNAs from the two species coded for the same amino acid sequence. No difference in S6 of the human neoplastic cells compared to that of non-neoplastic cells was found. However, common antigenic determinants in S6 and CaBI were indicated. Accordingly, S6 was purified from rat liver ribosomes and antiserum prepared. Immuno-dot blot and Western blot analyses showed high specific reactivity between S6, the cloned chimeric beta-galactosidase fusion protein from a cDNA clone, and CaBI with anti-S6 and anti-CaBI antibodies. The antibodies also showed a high degree of discrimination for S6 and CaBI. Neither interacted with the other ribosomal proteins nor with another ATPase inhibitor protein from bovine heart mitochondria. Neither interacted with the Ca(2+)-binding proteins, calmodulin, oncomodulin, Protein C, or Factor X. Prothrombin was weakly reactive with anti-CaBI but not with anti-S6. Thus, the results fulfill the specific criteria for the concept and operational definition of common protein epitopes in S6 and CaBI. However, neither prothrombin nor S6 fusion protein inhibited mitochondrial ATPase activity even at 20 times the concentrations at which CaBI gave 97% inhibition.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1991

Transforming growth factor gene expression in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells: regulation by progestins.

In an attempt to understand the antiproliferative effects of progestins in endometrial cancer, we have examined the effects of the potent progestin, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), on the cell proliferation and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha and beta genes in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines. The two cell lines used were Ishikawa, var 1, and HEC-50. In addition, the effects of exogenous TGF-alpha and anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor monoclonal antibody on cell proliferation were determined. Incubation of both cell lines with MPA resulted in a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. Half-maximal growth inhibition was observed at 0.6 nM. In Ishikawa cells, the relative abundance of TGF-alpha was significantly reduced by MPA. A significant decrease in TGF-alpha mRNA was apparent 6 h after exposure to MPA and a further decrease was seen 12-24 h after addition of the progestin. The concentration of TGF-alpha immunoreactivity in conditioned medium of MPA-treated cells was also significantly reduced compared to control cultures. MPA had no effect on TGF-alpha expression by HEC-50 cells. EGF mRNA was not detected by Northern blot analysis in either cell type. MPA had no significant effect on EGF receptor mRNA abundance but resulted in a small increase in EGF receptor number in Ishikawa cells. Anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody (0.6-6 nM) inhibited Ishikawa cell growth but had no effect on HEC-50 cell proliferation. Exogenous TGF-alpha stimulated proliferation of both cell lines, but Ishikawa cells were significantly more sensitive to exogenous TGF-alpha than HEC-50 cells. Furthermore, TGF-alpha could reverse the growth inhibitory effects of MPA on Ishikawa cells. A decrease in TGF-beta mRNA abundance was also observed in MPA-treated Ishikawa and HEC-50 cells. This effect was of small magnitude, variable, and only observed after prolonged exposure to MPA. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the antiproliferative effects of progestins on Ishikawa cells are mediated by decreased expression and autocrine action of TGF-alpha. Since similar growth inhibition is also seen in the HEC-50 cells in which progestins have no effect on TGF-alpha expression, additional mechanisms are likely to be involved in the antiproliferative effects of progestins in human endometrial cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1991

Mechanisms involved in the evolution of progestin resistance in human breast cancer cells.

The emergence of resistant cells reduces the efficacy of many forms of drug therapy in human breast cancer. In order to understand some of the possible mechanisms by which hormonally dependent human breast cancers develop resistance to progestin therapy we have developed a human breast cancer cell line (5-RP) which is resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of progestins in culture. These cells routinely grow in 10 microM medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). The cell line was developed from T-47D-5 human breast cancer cells by stepwise selection in increasing concentrations of MPA. The progestin-resistant phenotype was relatively stable as assessed by the removal of MPA from the medium for varying periods of time. 5-RP cells passaged in the absence of MPA were still essentially insensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of MPA for at least 22 passages. Even at 53 passages out of the drug the 5-RP line was still less sensitive than the original T-47D-5 parent line. Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor mRNA were both increased in the 5-RP line compared to the T-47D-5. Consistent with increased TGF-alpha expression, the EGF receptor measured by ligand binding was decreased. When the cells were removed from MPA, TGF-alpha expression declined gradually, but EGF-receptor mRNA levels increased, as did EGF-binding activity. These cells remained estrogen and progesterone receptor positive. Although progestins did not downregulate estrogen receptor expression, they did downregulate progesterone receptor expression in the 5-RP line. The progesterone receptor level of the 5-RP line, in the absence of MPA, was approximately 58% of that found in T-47D-5 cells, even after MPA had been removed for long periods of time. This decrease in receptor level was reflected in decreased ability to respond to progestins as assessed by the decreased ability of MPA to activate expression of both an endogenous gene (EGF receptor) as well as a transiently transfected progestin-responsive gene (MMTV-TK-CAT). Progestin resistance in the 5-RP cell line appears to be multifactorial, involving both increased growth factor expression and decreased receptor levels. It is likely, however, that these two aspects do not account entirely for the progestin-resistant phenotype and as yet other unidentified mechanisms may also be involved.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1991

Differential regulation of c-myc by progestins and antiestrogens in T-47D human breast cancer cells.

In order to investigate further the mechanisms associated with growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells by progestins and nonsteroidal antiestrogens, their effect on c-myc gene expression in T-47D-5 and T-47D cells has been investigated. The c-myc mRNA levels were differentially regulated by the synthetic progestin, medroxyprogesterone acetate and the nonsteroidal antiestrogen, monohydroxytamoxifen, in both cell lines. Antiestrogen treatment caused a persistent decrease in c-myc mRNA levels while the progestin caused a more complex response. Initially c-myc mRNA levels increased approx. 2-fold, this was followed by a decrease and then partial recovery. The end result, however, of each of these treatments is decreased cell number.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Epidermal growth factor gene expression in human breast cancer biopsy samples: relationship to estrogen and progesterone receptor gene expression.

This paper addresses the expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene by human breast tumor biopsy samples. Northern analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of an approximately 5-kilobase mRNA which specifically hybridized with radiolabeled human EGF complementary DNA in some human breast tumor biopsy samples. Quantitation of EGF mRNA in 60 human breast tumor biopsies using the RNase protection assay revealed that 83% of tumors contained detectable EGF mRNA. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) mRNAs were similarly quantitated in the same samples. It was found that 89.4% of the ER mRNA-positive breast tumor biopsies had detectable EGF mRNA, whereas only 58.3% of the ER mRNA-negative tumors had detectable EGF mRNA. Furthermore, whereas 90.5% of the PgR mRNA-positive tumors contained EGF mRNA, only 60% of the PgR mRNA-negative tumors contained EGF mRNA. chi 2 analysis indicated that the increased percentage of tumors expressing EGF in the receptor-positive groups was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). It was also found that the mean relative level of EGF mRNA in those tumors which were ER and PgR negative [9.8 +/- 5.6 (SEM) relative units] was significantly lower than those tumors which were ER and PgR positive (40.5 +/- 6.4 relative units, P less than 0.05) or ER positive and PgR negative (68.4 +/- 19.9 relative units, P less than 0.005). These observations suggest that the EGF-expressing tumors probably arose originally from hormonally responsive cell types and that EGF expression in a large proportion of human breast tumors in vivo may also be hormonally responsive.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1990

Level of ubiquitinated histone H2B in chromatin is coupled to ongoing transcription.

The relationship between transcription and ubiquitination of the histones was investigated. Previous studies have shown that ubiquitinated (u) histone H2B and, to a lesser extent, mono- and polyubiquitinated histone H2A are enriched in transcriptionally active gene-enriched chromatin fractions. Here, we show that treatment of T-47D-5 human breast cancer cells with actinomycin D (10 micrograms/mL) or 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, inhibitors of heterogeneous nuclear RNA synthesis, selectively reduced the level of uH2B, but not uH2A, uH2A.Z, or polyubiquitinated H2A, in chromatin. Treatment of the cells with low levels (0.04 micrograms/mL) of actinomycin D slightly reduced the level of uH2B, suggesting that inhibition of ribosomal RNA synthesis does not have a profound effect on the level of uH2B in chromatin. The level of the ubiquitinated histones was not affected by treating the cells with inhibitors of DNA synthesis (sodium butyrate or aphidicolin), but heat-shock treatment resulted in the loss of all the monoubiquitinated histone species. These results demonstrate that maintenance of the levels of uH2B in chromatin is dependent upon ongoing transcription, particularly the synthesis of hnRNA. Thus, histone H2B would be ubiquitinated when the nucleosome was opened during transcription. Ubiquitination of histone H2B may impede nucleosome refolding, facilitating subsequent rounds of transcription.

Chromatin↗
PubMed1990

Epidermal growth factor: receptor and ligand expression in human breast cancer.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene is expressed by most human breast cancer cell lines as well as 83% of human breast cancers in vivo. Furthermore, EGF mRNA is detectable in normal human breast tissue. These data suggest that EGF may have a functional role in both normal and neoplastic human breast tissue. Expression of EGF was generally highest in steroid receptor positive human breast tumor biopsies and cell lines. EGF expression was increased by progestins in T-47D and ZR 75 human breast cancer cells. Furthermore, progestins specifically increased the level of TGF-alpha and EGF-receptor mRNA in T-47D cells. Under these same conditions progestins inhibit growth of the cells. Regulation of expression of EGF, TGF-alpha and the EGF-receptor is unlikely to be directly related to the mechanism of progestin induced growth inhibition in T47-D cells. T-47D-5 cells are more sensitive than T-47D cells to progestin and antiestrogen induced growth inhibition. T-47D-5 cells do not express EGF and contain very low levels of TGF-alpha mRNA. The higher level of EGF and TGF-alpha expression in T-47D cells may be one mechanism by which these cells decrease their sensitivity to growth inhibition by progestins and antiestrogens.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Identification of a serum-inducible messenger RNA (5B10) as the mouse homologue of calcyclin: tissue distribution and expression in metastatic, ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells.

A mouse mRNA, provisionally designated 5B10, has been cloned based on its inducibility by serum in quiescent murine fibroblasts. Here we report the full-length complementary DNA sequence and a partial characterization. There are about five copies of the gene in the mouse genome. Sequence analysis of the 5B10 coding region reveals 94 and 97% amino acid identity to human and rat calcyclin, respectively. Although the coding region has been highly conserved during evolution of the rodent and human genomes, the untranslated flanking sequences differ significantly. A protein of Mr about 8000 was produced by in vitro translation of the mRNA transcribed in vitro from 5B10 complementary DNA in a riboprobe vector. An antiserum raised against a portion of the predicted human calcyclin protein cross-reacted with this mouse protein. 5B10 mRNA was found in greatest amount in organs containing proliferating cells, e.g., epidermis, skin, stomach, uterus of pregnant mouse, placenta, and decidua. Brain, liver, mature thymus, and skeletal muscle had little or no detectable 5B10 mRNA. 5B10 mRNA levels were higher in cells treated with 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate than in their normal counterparts, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis. In addition, high 5B10 mRNA levels were associated with metastatic ability in a series of ras-transformed cells, in proportion to levels of ras p21 expressed by the cells, implicating 5B10 even more deeply in carcinogenesis.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗