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Biomedical subjects

M Rieber

Publications and source records attributed to M Rieber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Decrease in actin gene expression in melanoma cells compared to melanocytes is partly counteracted by BrdU-induced cell adhesion and antagonized by L-tyrosine induction of terminal differentiation.

Malignant transformation is frequently accompanied by changes in the cytoarchitecture of adherent cells, which may be influenced by fluctuations in actin gene expression. We now show that normal melanocytes express a 5 fold higher level of actin mRNA than their melanoma counterparts. Induction of terminal melanogenesis did not increase actin in melanoma cells. However, culture with the thymidine analog, Bromodeoxyuridine, increased actin expression in undifferentiated but not in differentiating melanoma. Cell detachment assays and cell shape comparisons revealed a direct correlation of actin mRNA with increased melanoma cell adhesion rather than with differentiation-mediated suppression of tumor growth.

Actins

Suppression of cyclin D1 but not cdk4 or cyclin A with induction of melanoma terminal differentiation.

To identify cyclins specifically associated with control of melanoma cell proliferation, we now compared expression of cyclin A, reported to be a marker for hematological malignancies, with that of cyclin D and its cdk4 kinase partner. All these proteins were expressed in proliferating B16 melanoma. However, L-tyrosine which induces melanoma terminal differentiation, selectively decreased cyclin D with no comparable effect on cdk4 or cyclin A. A 2-hour exposure of the cells to the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium vanadate, further decreased cyclin D from differentiated cells, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation regulates cyclin D turnover. Addition of serum to starved cells also revealed that tyrosine did not block the early cyclin D increase associated with serum stimulation, but accelerated its subsequent loss. Our data suggest that cyclin D decrease with melanoma terminal differentiation could be an alternative mode of growth arrest even in cells harbouring a mutant or transcriptionally silent cdk4 inhibitor tumor suppressor p16ink4 gene. These results also imply that cyclin D may be useful as a target and as a prognostic marker in melanoma therapy.

Animals

UV radiation induces DNA fragmentation and cell death in B16 melanoma sensitized by bromodeoxyuridine: impaired c-jun induction and defective tyrosine phosphorylation signalling.

The relevance of tyrosine phosphorylation and c-jun protooncogene expression to radiation sensitization was investigated in B16 melanoma. These cells are sensitized by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analog, showing extensive DNA fragmentation reminiscent of apoptosis, after UV radiation. UV-irradiated unsensitized cells did not reveal DNA fragmentation but showed increased expression of c-jun and greater protein tyrosine phosphorylation in response to sodium vanadate, an inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases. However, these responses were inhibited in UV-irradiated BrdU-treated cells. Our data suggest that the bromodeoxyuridine-induced sensitization to radiation can lead to DNA fragmentation and cell death, partly because of a defective tyrosine kinase signalling and an impaired c-jun expression, both of which appear important for cell survival in response to UV radiation.

Animals

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin A interaction with E2F are targets for tyrosine induction of B16 melanoma terminal differentiation.

L-Tyrosine promotes a dramatic increase in melanogenesis and an apparent replicative senescence in B16 melanoma (M. Strasberg-Rieber and M. Rieber, Cancer Res., 53:2469-2471, 1993). Since cyclins are implicated in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation, we have now investigated their relationship to melanocytic growth arrest and pigmentation. In B16 melanoma cells enriched in G1 by serum starvation or synchronized in late G1/early S phase by exposure to hydroxyurea, L-tyrosine overrides mitogenic signals and induces terminal differentiation without cytotoxicity. This correlates with a decrease in cyclin A and cyclin E-dependent kinase 2 activity and with an altered interaction of cyclin A with the transcription factor E2F. This activity involves a lower level of the catalytic cdK2 kinase protein without a concomitant decrease in cyclin A or cyclin E. Upon addition of serum or removal of hydroxyurea, cells resume cell cycle progression and the ability to form tumors in vivo, but these properties are irreversibly inhibited in tyrosine-treated cells. Our data suggest that targeted inactivation of cdK2 with specific inducers of differentiation favors reacquisition of tumor growth control.

Animals

Specific tyrosinases associated with melanoma replicative senescence and melanogenesis.

Replicative senescence occurs in normal cells, in contrast to their malignant counterparts which are generally immortal in vitro. We now show that induction of melanogenesis in subconfluent B16 melanoma cells deprived of growth factors can lead to irreversible growth arrest but continued cell viability, concurrent with the expression of specific glycosylated high molecular weight tyrosinases. These tyrosinase activities identify withdrawal from the cell cycle since they were not detected in reversibly arrested quiescent melanocytes, serum-deprived melanoma, or apoptotic melanoma. Our data suggest that different tyrosinases can distinguish cycling and noncycling cells of melanocytic origin and also imply that replicative senescence can be restored in some tumor cells when induced to terminal differentiation in the absence of growth-promoting agents.

Animals

Early inhibition of protein phosphatases preferentially blocks phorbol ester-stimulated mitogenic signalling in melanocytes: increase in specific tyrosine phosphoproteins.

Inhibition of protein phosphatases has been suggested as an alternative mechanism of tumor promotion (H. Fujiki, Mol. Carcinog. 5:91, 1992). We have now used early melanocyte passages dependent on phorbol esters and serum for growth and later passages with partial phorbol ester independence, to investigate the role of protein phosphatases on melanocyte DNA synthesis. Neither okadaic acid, an inhibitor of ser/thr protein phosphatases, nor vanadate, an inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases, can stimulate basal or serum-stimulated mitogenesis in contrast to phorbol esters. Moreover, both phosphatase inhibitors are able to suppress serum and phorbol ester-stimulated mitogenesis, if added within 4 hours of growth activation. Inhibition of mitogenesis by either inhibitor correlated with an early increase in a common set of tyrosine phosphoproteins, which included a major 33 Kd species. Our data suggest that protein phosphatase inhibitors are growth suppressors and antagonize phorbol ester effects in cells of melanocytic origin, implying an early requirement for protein phosphatase activity during mitogenic signalling in these cells.

Animals

Accessibility to DNA in carcinoma chromatin is promoted by nanomolar okadaic acid: effect on AT-rich DNA binding proteins.

Differential accessibility to DNA in tumor cell chromatin is important to growth, differentiation apoptosis, and the targeting of DNA modifying drugs. We now show that endonuclease accessibility to DNA in the nuclei of A431 human carcinoma cells is increased within 90 min by nontoxic nanomolar levels of okadaic acid, known to inhibit protein phosphatase 2A. This genomic hypersensitivity was partly enhanced by joint treatment with epidermal growth factor and okadaic acid but did not appear without the latter. Nuclei with greater DNA susceptibility showed a decrease in M(r) 80,000 DNA binding protein doublet specific for dAT-rich sequences concurrent with the "apparent" hyperphosphorylation of a M(r) 70,000 nuclear matrix protein. We propose that some of the tumor-promoting effects of okadaic acid may be partly associated with its ability to promote genomic susceptibility.

Adenine

Extracellular RGD-binding proteins modulate cell adhesion.

Cell/fibronectin adhesion in extracellular matrices is partly mediated by integrin receptor recognition of RGD domains in fibronectin. Since blood contains significant levels of soluble fibronectin we have now investigated the occurrence of extracellular RGD-binding proteins. Attachment assays indicate that extracellular RGD-binding proteins prevent cell adhesion, suggesting their potential as novel secreted modulators of blood-borne cell adhesive interactions. These extracellular RGD-binding proteins also showed electrophoretic changes with reducing agents, suggestive of intrachain disulphide bonds, like those found in RGD-binding integrins. However, they differed from the latter in their electrophoretic profile, which was greatly dependent on the presence of protease inhibitors. Plasma from tumor-bearing mice showed a greater proportion of fast-migrating RGD-binding species under reducing condition compared to similarly treated normal plasma, suggesting that tumor development is associated with a partial degradation of extracellular RGD-binding proteins.

Animals

Differential genomic susceptibility in malignancy correlates with changes in ATATAT DNA-binding proteins.

Accesibility to DNA in the nucleus is important for the regulation of gene expression and for the effect of DNA-modifying drugs. We have now studied differential genome susceptibility in normal melanocytes and the corresponding malignant melanoma. DNA hypersensitivity assays revealed a markedly lesser degradation in melanoma nuclei compared to that in melanocytes. Cross-linking of DNA to nuclear proteins by ultraviolet light showed a cell-type dependent inverse correlation of genomic susceptibility with binding of (dA.dT) (dA.dT) sequences, compared to that shown with (dG.dC) (dG.dC), regardless of methylation in cytosines. Exposure to cholera toxin partly reversed genomic susceptibility and increased DNA/protein cross-linking in melanocytes. In contrast, melanoma cells showed decreased DNA/protein interactions and greater genome susceptibility after exposure to cholera toxin or okadaic acid. Our data suggest that a molecular mechanism for differential genome exposure in cancer cells involves a modified expression of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins.

Animals

Cell adhesion regulates melanoma specific differentiation and interactions with the 3' region of the tyrosinase gene.

Decreased attachment to substratum has now been found to increase melanosome formation and cell-cell interaction in B16 melanoma. Since melanosome formation involves tyrosinase gene expression, we assayed for differential RNA expression by hybridization with probes from the distal ends of this gene, detecting unequal reactivity only with the 3' end probe. The same DNA showed binding of 2 nuclear proteins of 50 and 60 kd in unanchored cells, in contrast with a decreased binding of the 60 kd species, in nuclear extracts from attached cells. No comparable differences were detected with a gamma-actin DNA of identical length, suggesting that the changes observed are sequence-specific. Our studies suggest that the adhesion-mediated modulation of pigmentation in B16 melanoma correlates with differential macromolecular interactions with the 3' end of the tyrosinase gene.

Animals

Tumor hypersensitive DNA is enriched in c-myc sequences and reacts differentially with normal and malignant genomic DNA.

We now show that exposure of B16 melanoma cells to bromodeoxyuridine increases cell-substratum interactions concurrent with an increase in genome susceptibility to nucleases. Hypersensitive DNA was isolated after mild nicking of nuclei with DNase I followed by repair with DNA polymerase I in the presence of biotin-19-SS-dUTP and affinity chromatography on streptavidin-agarose. Dot blot studies showed that the hypersensitive DNA is enriched in c-myc sequences compared to total tumor genomic DNA, and hybridizes preferentially to the latter, compared to normal genomic DNA, particularly when prepared from BrdU-treated cells. Since hypersensitive DNA can hybridize with multiple Alu sequences in the genome, we postulate that one of the mechanisms for its differential reactivity may be by recognition of an unequal number of Alu repeats in normal and tumor genomic DNA.

Animals

Differential response of adherent and unanchored melanoma cells to bromodeoxyuridine evidenced by specific lectin-binding protein changes.

The possible differential response of adherent and nonadherent cells of the same tumor type to pyrimidine analogues has been investigated. We show that bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) increases interactions of attached cells with their substrate without markedly affecting the cell adhesion properties of the same cells when these are not anchored. However, evidence for an adhesion-independent response of both cell types to BUdR has been obtained with lectin binding assays using 125I-labelled Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA). This revealed a greatly increased binding of LCA to a large glycoconjugate in all cultures exposed to the halogenated pyrimidine. Attachment-dependent effects of BUdR were manifested in flattened cells by a greater LCA-binding to a 240-kDa protein and by increased interaction of 125I-labelled wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) with a 200-kDa protein and a large glycoconjugate sharply defined in electrophoresis. Although both tumor cell aggregates and anchored cells exhibit detectable responses to pyrimidine analogues such as BUdR, the corresponding effects are thus manifested unequally in cells with different adhesion properties.

Animals

DNA on membrane receptors: a target for monoclonal anti-DNA antibody induced by a nucleoprotein shed in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Antibodies to double stranded (ds) DNA correlate with clinical evolution in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) although little is known about the immunogen and target for these antibodies, since ds DNA is poorly immunogenic. We now show that monoclonal anti DNA antibodies similar to those detected in human SLE can be produced by immunization of genetically non-autoimmune mice with a human circulating DNA-protein complex increased in the circulation of SLE patients. One such monoclonal antibody showed antinuclear reactivity, interacting with a 74 kd DNA-binding membrane protein, in reactions prevented by absorption with ds DNA cellulose. Our data suggests that anti ds DNA antibody reactions in SLE may be triggered by circulating nucleoproteins and directed toward membrane receptors capable of interacting with extracellular DNA.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

Changes in cytoskeleton-associated molecules in cells with different degrees of proliferation and metastatic ability.

An antiserum prepared against the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of in vivo grown B16 melanoma tumor has been used to analyze the differential expression of cytoskeleton-associated molecules in cells with different degrees of proliferation and metastatic ability. This antiserum identified a major 97 kd molecule associated with the cytoskeletal fraction in B16 melanoma tumors, mouse embryo and in proliferating lymphocytes, with no reactivity with the 97 kd species in non proliferating lymphocytes. The antiserum revealed immune reactivity with a 180 kd Triton-insoluble species in normal adult mouse liver and kidney. A comparison of tumor cells with differing metastatic ability also showed a minor 180 kd component in poorly metastatic cells which appeared decreased and partly degraded in its more invasive counterpart. The differential recognition of a 97 kd species in resting and proliferating lymphocytes, as well as the different cleavage of a 180 kd species in tumor cells of differing metastatic ability, implies a role for these molecules in cell proliferation. The fact that these differences can be detected with an antiserum to tumor cell cytoskeleton suggests that this Triton-insoluble fraction may be a good source of molecules involved in growth control.

Animals

Decrease in tumor-cell attachment and in a 140-kDa fibronectin receptor correlate with greater expression of multiple 34-kDa surface proteins and cytoplasmic 54-kDa components.

B16 melanoma cells attach to matrix-bound fibronectin but fail to adhere to albumin-coated surfaces supplemented with soluble fibronectin. Attachment to substratum is also decreased in the presence of an adhesion-disrupting antibody, or when cells are seeded on substrates poorly adhesive for these cells, such as collagen gels. We have now investigated some of the more general adhesion-related alterations that occur between flattened and poorly attached cells. Immune blots of octylglucoside extracts with the adhesion-disrupting IgG revealed a 140-kDa component in flattened cells, in contrast to the increased detection of a 54-kDa species in a comparable assay with rounded cells. Surface iodination also showed a decreased external exposure of a 140-kDa fibronectin binding species and an increased labelling in multiple 34-kDa protein species, in cells with decreased attachment to substratum. Analysis of 35S-methionine-labelled cell aggregates cultured on collagen gels also revealed a decrease in the 140-kDa region and a greater labelling of multiple 54-kDa components, compared to the same cells flattened on fibronectin. A change in 54- and 34-kDa species was also seen in matrix-associated components of rounded cells that failed to attach with soluble fibronectin. Since the 34-kDa species increase in poorly adherent cells is mainly detected by iodination, and the 54-kDa species increase in the same cells is partly associated with the corresponding detergent-insoluble matrices, we propose that these 2 novel proteins may relate to cell rounding, through a transmembrane modulation involving both surface membrane and cytoskeletal structures.

Animals

Human repetitive and unique sequences coexist in a large circulating DNA species found in cryoprecipitates from SLE patients.

Cryoprecipitates from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with high levels of anti DNA antibodies show a sharply migrating large circulating DNA species of about 17-20 kb (M. Rieber et al., Clin. exp. Immunol. (1986) 66, 61). We have now used Southern blot analysis of circulating DNA from different individuals to analyse the relative cross-hybridization of circulating DNA from different individuals, as well as their homology with genomic DNA from different species. Molecular hybridization showed significant homology of the various circulating DNA examined, only with human genomic DNA, but limited cross-reactivity among circulating DNA from different individuals. This suggests that the circulating DNA is composed of sequences repeated in human genomic DNA and by specific sequences unique to circulating DNA from some individuals. Our data suggests the possibility of using probes derived from the specific sequences now reported in the circulating DNA, in gene typing and in the analysis of susceptibility to disease.

Base Sequence

Relationship of a Mr 140 fibronectin receptor and other adhesion-related glycoproteins to tumor cell-cell interaction.

Primary melanocytes attach poorly to collagen type IV and laminin, in contrast to their firm attachment to collagen type I/III and fibronectin [Gilchrest et al., In vitro (Rockville), 21: 114-120, 1985]. We have now found that metastatic B16 melanoma cells attach well to collagen type IV, laminin, vitronectin, and fibronectin but show a selective defect in attachment and cell aggregation on native collagen type I. Both flattened and aggregated melanoma cells revealed the presence of a Mr 120,000 surface-iodinated species with affinity for a matrix containing the hexapeptide (glycylarginylglycylaspartylserylproline) which includes the fibronectin cell attachment sequence, but only flattened cells showed significant exposure of a Mr 140,000 iodinated component with affinity for a large cell attachment-promoting fibronectin polypeptide. Decrease of the Mr 140,000 fibronectin-binding external protein in the collagen-cultured melanoma cells was also associated with an inability to respond to the cell attachment activity of fibronectin, laminin, or vitronectin added to the collagen gels. Metabolic labeling with [3H]glucosamine and electrophoretic analysis showed that lack of attachment and cell aggregation was associated with an increase in high molecular weight wheat germ agglutinin-binding glycoconjugates and an increase in Mr 55,000 concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein species. Our data suggest that: (a) melanoma cell attachment requires the expression of the Mr 140,000 fibronectin receptor which appears to be down regulated in cells exposed to poorly adhesive substrates; (b) expression of the Mr 120,000 iodinated species with affinity for the fibronectin attachment sequence (arginylglycylaspartic acid) may be necessary but not sufficient for firm cell-substratum interactions; (c) increased tumor cell-cell interaction may involve a decreased attachment to substrate and the expression of different glycoproteins which may modulate cell-cell association.

Amino Acid Sequence