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Biomedical subjects

Michinari Hamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Michinari Hamaguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

SHP-2-Erk signaling regulates concanavalin A-dependent production of TIMP-2.

To search for the signaling critical for the production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), we investigated the role of SHP-2 in TIMP-2 production with Concanavalin A (Con A)-treated cells. In wild-type fibroblasts, Con A-treatment dramatically activated TIMP-2 production. In contrast, production of TIMP-2 in response to Con A-treatment was severely impaired in cells expressing mutant SHP-2 whose 65 amino acids in the SH2-N domain were deleted. Con A-treatment activated dual signaling pathways, Erk and p38, in a SHP-2-dependent manner. Pretreatment of wild-type cells with U0126, a potent inhibitor of MEK1, significantly inhibited the production of TIMP-2, whereas SB203580, a specific inhibitor for p38, could not. Finally, expression of exogenous wild-type SHP-2 in SHP-2 mutant cells clearly rescued Erk activation and TIMP-2 production in response to Con A-treatment. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that SHP-2 plays a critical role as a positive modulator for the production of TIMP-2 via MEK1-Erk signaling in fibroblasts.

Cells, Cultured↗

A role for focal adhesion kinase signaling in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-dependent matrix metalloproteinase-9 production in a cholangiocarcinoma cell line, CCKS1.

We have previously reported that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation of CCKS1, a cell line established from cholangiocarcinoma with i.p. dissemination, dramatically increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) production and tumor invasion. We investigated the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in TNF-alpha-dependent production of MMP-9 in CCKS1 and FAK-null mouse fibroblast cells. TNF-alpha stimulation of CCKS1 or wild-type fibroblasts substantially activated FAK phosphorylation and increased MMP-9 production. In contrast, FAK-null fibroblasts could not respond well to TNF-alpha stimulation. Conditional expression of wild-type FAK in FAK-null cells restored the TNF-alpha-dependent production of MMP-9. TNF-alpha treatment activated the kinase activity of FAK and its phosphorylation especially at Y397 and Y925. Phosphorylated FAK accumulated at focal adhesions and formed a complex with growth factor receptor binding protein 2 and SOS. In contrast, Y397F FAK and Y925F FAK, whose Y397 and Y925 were replaced with phenylalanine, respectively, as well as KD FAK, whose kinase was inactivated, could not restore the MMP-9 production. In addition, small interfering RNA against FAK drastically suppressed the TNF-alpha-dependent production of MMP-9 and inhibited the TNF-alpha-dependent invasion of CCKS1. Taken together, our results suggest the pivotal role of FAK in TNF-alpha-dependent production of MMP-9 and subsequent activation of tumor invasion.

Animals↗

SHAP potentiates the CD44-mediated leukocyte adhesion to the hyaluronan substratum.

CD44-hyaluronan (HA) interaction is involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Regulation of interacting avidity is well studied on CD44 but rarely on HA. We discovered a unique covalent modification of HA with a protein, SHAP, that corresponds to the heavy chains of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family molecules circulating in blood. Formation of the SHAP.HA complex is often associated with inflammation, a well known process involving the CD44-HA interaction. We therefore examined the effect of SHAP on the CD44-HA interaction-mediated lymphocyte adhesion. Under both static and flowing conditions, Hut78 cells (CD44-positive) and CD44-transfected Jurkat cells (originally CD44-negative) adhered preferentially to the immobilized SHAP.HA complex than to HA. The enhanced adhesion is exclusively mediated by the CD44-HA interaction, because it was inhibited by HA, but not IalphaI, and was completely abolished by pretreating the cells with anti-CD44 antibodies. SHAP appears to potentiate the interaction by increasing the avidity of HA to CD44 and altering their distribution on cell surfaces. Large amounts of the SHAP.HA complex accumulate in the hyperplastic synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Leukocytes infiltrated to the synovium were strongly positive for HA, SHAP, and CD44 on their surfaces, suggesting a role for the adhesion-enhancing effect of SHAP in pathogenesis.

Alpha-Globulins↗

FAK signaling in neoplastic disorders: a linkage between inflammation and cancer.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase, is frequently overexpressed in various tumors and its expression shows good correlation with the progression of tumor. FAK is involved in a diverse range of critical cellular events including spreading, proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition to these cellular functions, we found that FAK signaling played a critical role in the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) such as MMP-2 and MMP-9 and subsequently activated tumor invasion. Moreover, we found that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a proinflammatory cytokine that acts as an endogenous tumor promoter, activated FAK signaling and enhanced tumor invasion. Since the tumor microenvironment that is largely orchestrated by cytokines is a critical component of tumor progression, these results suggest the importance of FAK as a signaling molecule involved in tumorigenesis. Here, we review the general structure and binding partners of FAK, its regulatory mechanism, and expression in tumors. By summarizing our recent studies, we focus on the critical role of FAK that links cancer with inflammation.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha promotes invasiveness of cholangiocarcinoma cells via its receptor, TNFR2.

We studied the effect of TNF-alpha stimulation on a cholangiocarcinoma cell line, CCKS1. CCKS1 expressed only one type TNF receptor, TNFR2. Treatment of CCKS1 with TNF-alpha substantially activated NFkappaB, MAPK and Akt signalings which in turn activated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion and in vitro invasiveness of CCKS1. Pretreatment of cells with anti-TNFR2 neutralizing antibody inhibited the TNF-alpha-dependent signaling and MMP-9 secretion and subsequently blocked invasion in vitro. Moreover, an inhibitor for matrix metalloproteinase, Galardin, suppressed the invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of signaling clearly suppressed the TNF-alpha dependent MMP-9 secretion. These results strongly suggest that TNF-alpha-TNFR2 signaling plays an important role to convert the cholangiocarcinoma cells to be more aggressive one.

Cholangiocarcinoma↗

Cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of chronic low-dose-rate irradiation on TERT-immortalized human cells.

To analyze the genetic effects of low-dose-rate radiation on human cells, we used human telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT)-immortalized fibroblast cells obtained from normal individuals. We studied the effect of low-dose-rate (0.3 mGy/ min) and high-dose-rate (2 Gy/min) radiation on cells in a confluent state. Survival and micronucleus induction frequency showed higher resistance after irradiation at low dose rate than at high dose rate. The survival after 5 Gy of high-dose-rate radiation was 0.01 compared to 0.3 after low-dose-rate irradiation at the same dose. In accordance with this, the level of HPRT mutation induction by low-dose-rate radiation decreased to approximately one-eighth that for high-dose-rate radiation. We then characterized the mutants by multiplex PCR analysis, which showed that the fraction of deletion mutations was lower in the mutant cells induced at low dose rate than at high dose rate. Furthermore, the size of the deletions in mutant cells induced by low-dose-rate radiation appeared to be smaller than those in mutant cells irradiated at high dose rate. Only a few exons were deleted in the former mutants while all exons were deleted in most of the latter mutants. The present study indicates that the genetic effects of low-dose-rate radiation on nonproliferating normal human cells are quantitatively and qualitatively less severe than the effect of high-dose-rate radiation.

Cell Survival↗

Functional analysis of the effect of forced activation of STAT3 on M1 mouse leukemia cells.

M1 mouse myeloid leukemia cells exhibit growth arrest and differentiation to monocytes/macrophages in response to leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) stimulation. Although recent studies have demonstrated that STAT3 plays a central role in this process, it is unknown whether STAT3 activation alone is sufficient. To address this issue, we have established M1/STAT3ER cells, where STAT3 is selectively activated by 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT). 4HT stimulation did not have any effect on growth and morphology of M1/ STAT3ER cells, and did not induce the down-regulation of mRNA of c-myc and c-myb, which is necessary for M1 cell differentiation. On the other hand, mRNA of jun-B, IRF1 and p19 was increased by 4HT. DNA precipitation assay indicated that both stimulation of LIF and 4HT similarly activated STAT3ER. Introduction of a constitutive active MAP kinase kinase (MEK1) into M1/STAT3ER cells did not induce differentiation either. Together, our present data suggest that signaling other than the activation of STAT3 and MEK1 may be necessary for M1 cell-growth arrest and differentiation, while a set of early genes of LIF are induced by only STAT3 activation.

Animals↗

A role for PI3K-Akt signaling in pulmonary metastatic nodule formation of the osteosarcoma cell line, LM8.

To search for the intracellular signaling pathway critical for the pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma, we examined two osteosarcoma cell lines with different metastatic capability, Dunn and LM8. While parental Dunn is poorly metastatic to lung, LM8, derived from Dunn by in vivo selection through pulmonary metastasis, displays clear capability of pulmonary metastasis. We found that LM8 had higher levels of Akt phosphorylation and Ezrin expression than Dunn. In contrast, no clear difference was observed between Dunn and LM8 in other signaling mediators, including MAPK, SAPK and Stat3. In contrast to Dunn, LM8 secreted higher levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9, showed higher levels of invasiveness and cell motility, and displayed strong pulmonary metastasis. Inhibition of PI3K-Akt signaling in LM8 by a PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, or by a dominant negative form of Akt, resulted in suppression of MMP secretion, in vitro invasiveness, cell locomotion and in vivo pulmonary metastasis. In contrast, expression of an active form of Akt in Dunn substantially activated its MMP secretion, in vitro invasiveness, cell locomotion and in vivo pulmonary metastasis. Taken together, our results demonstrate, for the first time, an important role of Akt signaling in pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Requirement for Arf6 in breast cancer invasive activities.

In most human breast cancer cell lines, there is a direct correlation between their in vivo invasive phenotypes and in vitro invasion activities. Here, we found that ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is localized at the invadopodia of the cultured breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231, and its suppression by a small-interfering RNA duplex effectively blocks the invasive activities of the cells, such as invadopodia formation, localized matrix degradation and Matrigel transmigration but not the cell-adhesion activity. We also found that the GTP hydrolysis-defective mutant Arf6(Q67L) and the GTP-binding defective mutant Arf6(T27N) both blocked these invasive activities but not cell adhesion, suggesting the necessity of continued activation and cycling of the Arf6 GTPase cycle in invasion. Among the different human breast cancer cell lines that we examined, cell lines with high invasive activities expressed higher amounts of Arf6 protein than those in weakly invasive and noninvasive cell lines, although no notable correlation was found between Arf6 mRNA expression levels and invasive activities. Moreover, Matrigel-transmigration activity of all of these invasive cells was blocked effectively by an Arf6 small-interfering RNA duplex. Hence, Arf6 appears to be an integral component of breast cancer invasive activities, and we propose that Arf6 and the intracellular machinery regulating Arf6 during invasion should be considered as therapeutic targets for the prevention of breast cancer invasion.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6↗

Stat3-dependent induction of interleukin-3 receptor expression in leukemia inhibitory factor-stimulated M1 mouse leukemia cells.

M1 mouse leukemia cells differentiate to macrophages/monocytes by the stimulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6)/leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). To identify new LIF-induced genes, we have performed representational difference analysis using M1 cells and cloned mouse interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor beta subunit gene. The mRNA expression of both IL-3 receptor (IL-3R) alpha and beta subunits is upregulated after 1 h stimulation of LIF and remains to be elevated along the differentiation of M1 cells. This induction is almost completely suppressed in M1 cells expressing a dominant negative form of Stat3. Furthermore, we show that IL-3-induced Stat5 phosphorylation increases in LIF-stimulated M1 cells. These results suggest that Stat3 may play a role in the differentiation of myeloid cells by regulating IL-3R expression.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Selective expression and functional characteristics of three mammalian hyaluronan synthases in oncogenic malignant transformation.

Malignant transformation of fibroblasts and epithelial cells is often accompanied by increased hyaluronan production and accumulation. Despite recent progress in the study of hyaluronan biosynthesis, the mechanisms underlying the transformation-induced overproduction of hyaluronan have not been elucidated. Here we report that activity and transcriptional levels of hyaluronan synthase (HAS) significantly increased after oncogenic malignant transformation of a rat 3Y1 fibroblast cell line. Of three HAS isoforms (HAS1, HAS2, and HAS3), only HAS2 gene expression was increased in the v-Ha-ras transformed 3Y1 cells, which show less malignancy. In contrast, both HAS1 and HAS2 expressions were elevated in the highly malignant cells transformed with v-src and/or v-fos. To assess the contribution of HAS expression to the oncogenic malignant transformation, we established stable cell transfectants expressing sense and antisense HAS genes. Antisense suppression of the HAS2 expression significantly decreased hyaluronan production in the cells transformed by the oncogenic v-Ha-ras and eventually led to a reduction in tumorigenicity in the rat peritoneum. The introduction of the HAS1 and HAS2 genes promoted the growth of subcutaneous tumors in a manner dependent on the levels of hyaluronan synthesis. Significant growth promotion was observed within a wide range of HAS1 expression. In contrast, the growth stimulation was only seen within a narrow range of HAS2 expression, and high levels of HAS2 expression even inhibited tumor growth. These results suggest that proper regulation of the expression of each HAS isoform is required for optimal malignant transformation and tumor growth.

Animals↗

STAT3 and MAPK in human lung cancer tissues and suppression of oncogenic growth by JAB and dominant negative STAT3.

To search for the signaling events in lung carcinoma relevant to its tumorigenesis, we investigated the phosphorylation of MAPK and STAT3 in human lung carcinoma tissues and their paired normal tissues. Although relative amounts of MAPK levels differed among the cases examined, no clear difference in MAPK levels was observed between tumor tissues and their paired normal tissues. Of 79 cases examined, only 7 cases (8.9%) showed tumor-specific phosphorylation of MAPK, whereas 41 cases (52%) showed more than 2-fold lower levels of MAPK phosphorylation in tumor tissues. In contrast to MAPK, 42 cases (53%) showed tumor-specific increase in STAT3 expression. In addition, 15 cases (19%) showed tumor-specific increase of STAT3 phosphorylation and 51 cases (65%) had STAT3 phosphorylation proportional to its expression. Moreover, exogenous expression of either JAB or dominant negative STAT3 in lung carcinoma cell lines led to the suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation and the drastic reduction of anchorage- independent growth of the cells. Taken together, our results suggest that JAK-STAT3 signaling has a pivotal role for oncogenic growth of lung carcinoma cells.

Carrier Proteins↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation of NOS3 in a breast cancer cell line and Src-transformed cells.

We investigated the tyrosine phosphorylation of NOS3 by active Src. In a cell line derived from human breast cancer, BT474, we found activation of c-Src and tyrosine phosphorylation of NOS3. Phosphorylation of NOS3 was suppressed by treatment of BT474 with PP1, an Src kinase inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that phosphorylation of NOS3 is catalyzed by active c-Src. Phosphorylation of NOS3 was further examined by a series of Src mutants. In cells expressing v-Src, substantial phosphorylation of NOS3 was observed, whereas NOS3 phosphorylation was not evident in cells expressing c-Src. Similarly, NOS1 was also phosphorylated in cells expressing v-Src. Consistently, in cells expressing a temperature-sensitive mutant of v-Src, NOS3 phosphorylation was temperature-dependent. Moreover, transforming mutant of c-Src, Y527Fc-Src, could activate NOS3 phosphorylation. In contrast, non-myristoylated form of v-Src, G2Av-Src and a kinase-inactive mutant of v-Src, K295Mv-Src, could not activate NOS3 phosphorylation. Taken together, our results suggest that active, membrane-bound form of Src can induce constitutive phosphorylation of NOS3.

Animals↗

SH2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 regulates concanavalin A-dependent secretion and activation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 pathways.

We investigated the role of SH2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP) 2 in Concanavalin A (Con A) -dependent signaling that leads to the augmented secretion and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2. In cells expressing mutant SHP-2 in which 65 amino acids in the SH2-N domain were deleted, we found that production, secretion, and proteolytic activation of MMP-2 in response to Con A treatment was severely impaired. Under Con A stimulation, complex formation of SHP-2 with SOS-1 and Grb-2 together with the activation of Ras signaling was clearly observed in wild-type cells, but not in SHP-2 mutant cells. In wild-type cells, Con A-treatment activated dual signaling pathways, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and p38, in a Ras-dependent manner, whereas Con A-dependent activation of these signaling pathways was absent in SHP-2 mutant cells. In addition, pretreatment of wild-type cells with U0126, a potent inhibitor for mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase 1, or with SB203580, a specific inhibitor for p38, significantly inhibited the Con A-dependent secretion and activation of MMP-2. However, overexpression of active mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase 1 in SHP-2 mutant cells could not induce clear activation of MMP-2 secretion, although these cells responded well to the Con A treatment in a p38-dependent manner. Finally, reintroduction of wild-type SHP-2 into SHP-2 mutant cells rescued Erk and p38 activation, and also MMP-2 secretion, whereas dominant-negative SHP-2 could block the Con A-dependent activation of Erk and p38. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that SHP-2 plays a critical role as a positive mediator for Con A-dependent activation of MMP-2 secretion via Ras-Erk and Ras-p38 signalings.

Animals↗

Cysteine residues in the C-terminal lobe of Src: their role in the suppression of the Src kinase.

To evaluate the function of cysteine residues of the Src kinase, we constructed a series of Src mutants in which some of cysteines were replaced to alanines. With these mutants, we studied the effect of SH-alkylating agents, N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl] maleimide (BIPM) and N-(9-acridinyl) maleimide (NAM), on their kinase activity. Of 10 cysteine residues scattered over v-Src, either a single mutation at Cys520 or multiple mutations at the four clustered cyteines, Cys483, Cys487, Cys496 and Cys498, yielded clear resistance to the treatment with 10 microM BIPM or 1 microM NAM. In contrast, other cysteines including those in the SH2 domain and those in the catalytic cleft of the kinase domain were dispensable for the inactivation by BIPM and NAM. Similarly, deletion of SH2 and SH3 did not confer the resistance to v-Src, suggesting the inactivation by the SH-alkylating agents is SH2/SH3-independent. Although Cys520-mutated v-Src was resistant to 1 microM NAM, it was inactivated by 5 microM NAM. However, combined mutation including all of Cys483, Cys487, Cys496, Cys498 and Cys520 yielded clear resistance to 5 microM NAM. Among these mutants, those with double mutations in the four clustered cysteines yielded a temperature sensitive phenotype in the transfected cells, whereas Cys520 did not, suggesting that Cys520 has, at least in part, a discrete function. In contrast to v-Src, c-Src, which lacks cysteine at position 520, was resistant to 1 microM NAM but sensitive to 5 microM NAM. While replacement of Phe520 of c-Src to cysteine made it sensitive to 1 microM NAM, double mutation in clustered cysteines again yielded resistance to 5 microM NAM. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the multiple cysteine residues clustered at the end of the C-terminal lobe are critical for the inhibition by the SH-alkylating agents and, thereby, have an allosteric repressor effect on the catalytic activity of Src in a SH2-phosphoTyr527 independent manner.

Alkylating Agents↗

Secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 by the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1beta: a role for the dual signalling pathways, Akt and Erk.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases including MMP-9 mediate matrix destruction during chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and atherosclerosis. MMP-9 up-regulation by inflammatory cytokines involve interactions between several transcription factors including activator protein-1 and NFkappaB. The upstream regulatory pathways are less well understood. RESULTS: To search for the mechanism of tissue destruction in the process of inflammatory disorders, we investigated the signalling pathway critical for the activation of MMP-9 expression and secretion by IL-1beta. Treatment of Balb 3T3 cells with IL-1beta activated MMP-9 transcription and subsequent secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, IL-1beta treatment of cells activated phosphorylation of Akt, Erk and p38. Treatment of cells with either LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, or expression of a dominant negative form of Akt drastically suppressed the IL-1beta-dependent secretion of MMP-9. Pretreatment of cells with a MEK1 inhibitor, U0126, also strongly inhibited IL-1beta-dependent secretion of MMP-9. In contrast, pre-treatment with a specific p38 kinase inhibitor, SB203580, had no effect on IL-1beta-dependent secretion of MMP-9. In addition, cells expressing constitutively active form of Akt or MEK1 showed no clear activation of MMP-9 secretion, whereas these cells responded well to IL-1beta treatment. However, co-transfection of cells with both active Akt and MEK1 was sufficient to induce MMP-9 secretion without stimulation with IL-1beta. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results suggest that IL-1beta stimulation of cells activates MMP-9 secretion by the activation of the dual signalling pathways, the PI3K-Akt and MEK1-Erk and constitutive activation of these pathways were sufficient to induce MMP-9 secretion.

Animals↗

Profiling of gene expression associated with hepatolithiasis by complementary DNA expression array.

By use of cDNA expression array method, we compared the expression profiles of genes in hepatolithiasis tissues with those of paired normal tissues. Expression of 1176 cancer related genes that include 33 tumor suppressor genes, 100 proto-oncogenes and 37 DNA damage repair genes were examined in this study. We found that expression of tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes was systemically activated in hepatholithiasis tissues, suggesting that expression of genes controlling cell growth becomes unstable in liver lobe of hepatolithiasis. In contrast, expression of DNA damage repair genes were not activated but rather remained unchanged in hepatholithiasis tissues, suggesting that repair process is not strongly activated but rather impaired in hepatholithiasis tissues.

Calculi↗