Biomedical subjects

Owen N Witte

Publications and source records attributed to Owen N Witte.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Isolation and functional characterization of murine prostate stem cells.

The ability to isolate prostate stem cells is essential to explore their role in prostate development and disease. In vitro prostate colony- and sphere-forming assays were used to quantitatively measure murine prostate stem/progenitor cell enrichment and self-renewal. Cell surface markers were screened for their ability to positively or negatively enrich for cells with enhanced growth potential in these assays. Immunohistochemical and FACS analyses demonstrate that specific cell surface markers can be used to discriminate prostate stromal (CD34(+)), luminal epithelial (CD24(+)CD49f(-)), basal epithelial (CD24(+)CD49f(+)), hematopoietic (CD45(+), Ter119(+)), and endothelial (CD31(+)) lineages. Sorting for cells with a CD45(-)CD31(-)Ter119(-)Sca-1(+)CD49f(+) antigenic profile results in a 60-fold enrichment for colony- and sphere-forming cells. These cells can self-renew and expand to form spheres for many generations and can differentiate to produce prostatic tubule structures containing both basal and luminal cells in vivo. These cells also localize to the basal cell layer within the region of the gland that is proximal to the urethra, which has been identified as the prostate stem cell niche. Prostate stem cells can be isolated to a purity of up to 1 in 35 by using this antigenic profile. The remarkable similarity in cell surface profile between prostate and mammary gland stem cells suggests these markers may be conserved among epithelial stem cell populations.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Vascular abnormalities in mice deficient for the G protein-coupled receptor GPR4 that functions as a pH sensor.

GPR4 is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the vasculature, lung, kidney, and other tissues. In vitro ectopic overexpression studies implicated GPR4 in sensing extracellular pH changes leading to cyclic AMP (cAMP) production. To investigate its biological roles in vivo, we generated GPR4-deficient mice by homologous recombination. Whereas GPR4-null adult mice appeared phenotypically normal, neonates showed a higher frequency of perinatal mortality. The average litter size from GPR4(-/-) intercrosses was approximately 30% smaller than that from GPR4(+/+) intercrosses on N3 and N5 C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. A fraction of knockout embryos and neonates had spontaneous hemorrhages, dilated and tortuous subcutaneous blood vessels, and defective vascular smooth muscle cell coverage. Mesangial cells in kidney glomeruli were also significantly reduced in GPR4-null neonates. Some neonates exhibited respiratory distress with airway lining cell metaplasia. To examine whether GPR4 is functionally involved in vascular pH sensing, an ex vivo aortic ring assay was used under defined pH conditions. Compared to wild-type aortas, microvessel outgrowth from GPR4-null aortas was less inhibited by acidic extracellular pH. Treatment with an analog of cAMP, a downstream effector of GPR4, abolished microvessel outgrowth bypassing the GPR4-knockout phenotype. These results suggest that GPR4 deficiency leads to partially penetrant vascular abnormalities during development and that this receptor functions in blood vessel pH sensing.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Progression of prostate cancer by synergy of AKT with genotropic and nongenotropic actions of the androgen receptor.

Classic work by Huggins and Hodges demonstrated that human prostate cancer regresses dramatically during antihormonal therapy but recurs frequently with androgen independence. Perturbations in the androgen receptor (AR) and PTEN-AKT signaling axes are significantly correlated with the progression of prostate cancer. Genetic alterations of the AR cause receptor hypersensitivity, promiscuity, and androgen-independent receptor transactivation. Prostate cancers maintain an elevated AKT activity through the loss of PTEN function or the establishment of autocrine signaling by growth factors and cytokines. We used an in vivo prostate regeneration system to investigate the biological potency of the potential crosstalk between these two signal transduction pathways. We demonstrate a direct synergy between AKT and AR signaling that is sufficient to initiate and progress naïve adult murine prostatic epithelium to frank carcinoma and override the effect of androgen ablation. Both genotropic and nongenotropic signals mediated by AR are essential for this synergistic effect. However, phosphorylation of AR by AKT at Ser-213 and Ser-791 is not critical for this synergy. These results suggest that more efficient therapeutics for advanced prostate cancer may need to target simultaneously AR signaling and AKT or the growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases that activate AKT.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Pten deletion leads to the expansion of a prostatic stem/progenitor cell subpopulation and tumor initiation.

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a potent tumor suppressor gene frequently mutated in human prostate cancers. Deletion of Pten in a murine model of prostate cancer recapitulates the disease progression seen in humans. Using defined cell lineage markers, we demonstrate that PTEN negatively regulates p63-positive prostatic basal cell proliferation without blocking differentiation. Concomitant with basal cell proliferation is the expansion of a prostate stem/progenitor-like subpopulation as evidenced by the progressive increase of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1)- and BCL-2-positive cells. This observation provides strong evidence that basal cell proliferation can be an initiating event for precancerous lesions. Sca-1(+) and BCL-2(+) progenitors may serve as cancer-initiating cells in this model.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

NKX3.1 stabilizes p53, inhibits AKT activation, and blocks prostate cancer initiation caused by PTEN loss.

We demonstrate that PTEN loss causes reduced NKX3.1 expression in both murine and human prostate cancers. Restoration of Nkx3.1 expression in vivo in Pten null epithelium leads to decreased cell proliferation, increased cell death, and prevention of tumor initiation. Whereas androgen receptor (AR) positively regulates NKX3.1 expression, NKX3.1 negatively modulates AR transcription and consequently the AR-associated signaling events. Consistent with its tumor suppressor functions, NKX3.1 engages cell cycle and cell death machinery via association with HDAC1, leading to increased p53 acetylation and half-life through MDM2-dependent mechanisms. Importantly, overexpression of Nkx3.1 has little effect on Pten wild-type epithelium, suggesting that PTEN plays a predominant role in PTEN-NKX3.1 interplay. Manipulating NKX3.1 expression may serve as a therapeutic strategy for treating PTEN-deficient prostate cancers.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2006

Induction of in vivo antipolysaccharide immunoglobulin responses to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae is more heavily dependent on Btk-mediated B-cell receptor signaling than antiprotein responses.

The relative role of Btk-dependent B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling in the induction of antipolysaccharide (anti-PS) and antiprotein immunoglobulin (Ig) responses to an intact extracellular bacterium in vivo is unknown. Btklow mice exhibit reduced BCR signaling but largely restore B-cell development. Btklow mice immunized with intact Streptococcus pneumoniae elicit reduced anti-PS but normal antiprotein Ig responses. Immunization of Btklow mice with PS-protein conjugate in saline results in an even more profound defect in the anti-PS but not antiprotein response, which is largely restored by use of a CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide as an adjuvant. These data demonstrate a greater dependence on Btk-mediated BCR signaling for physiologic anti-PS relative to antiprotein responses, as well as the existence of a compensatory Toll-like-receptor-mediated signaling pathway naturally triggered in response to intact bacterial pathogens.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗

PubMed2006

Normal immune development and glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis in mice deficient for the T-cell death-associated gene 8 receptor.

T-cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8) is a G-protein-coupled receptor transcriptionally upregulated by glucocorticoids (GCs) and implicated by overexpression studies in psychosine-mediated inhibition of cytokinesis and in GC-induced apoptosis. To examine the physiological function of TDAG8, we generated knockout (KO) mice by homologous recombination. An enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter was knocked into the disrupted tdag8 locus to allow the analysis of TDAG8 expression in living cells. Interestingly, we found that during thymocyte development, TDAG8 expression resembled the dynamic regulation described for known modulators of GC-induced apoptosis, including Bcl-2, Notch1, and GC receptor. TDAG8 was expressed in double-negative cells, was downregulated at the double-positive transition, and was upregulated in single-positive thymocytes. However, despite this striking expression pattern, maturation and selection of thymocytes, as well as major immune functions, were not affected in TDAG8 KO mice. In contrast to previous overexpression results, TDAG8 was dispensable for psychosine-induced formation of multinucleated cells. Furthermore, TDAG8 KO thymocytes showed normal apoptosis following in vivo and in vitro GC treatment. These results, while establishing a useful reporter strain to study T-lymphocyte maturation, argue against a critical role for TDAG8 in immune development, psychosine-mediated inhibition of cytokinesis, and GC-induced cell death.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Multistep synthesis of a radiolabeled imaging probe using integrated microfluidics.

Microreactor technology has shown potential for optimizing synthetic efficiency, particularly in preparing sensitive compounds. We achieved the synthesis of an [(18)F]fluoride-radiolabeled molecular imaging probe, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG), in an integrated microfluidic device. Five sequential processes-[18F]fluoride concentration, water evaporation, radiofluorination, solvent exchange, and hydrolytic deprotection-proceeded with high radio-chemical yield and purity and with shorter synthesis time relative to conventional automated synthesis. Multiple doses of [18F]FDG for positron emission tomography imaging studies in mice were prepared. These results, which constitute a proof of principle for automated multistep syntheses at the nanogram to microgram scale, could be generalized to a range of radiolabeled substrates.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Visualization of a primary anti-tumor immune response by positron emission tomography.

Current methodologies that monitor immune responses rely on invasive techniques that sample tissues at a given point in time. New technologies are needed to elucidate the temporal patterns of immune responses and the spatial distribution of immune cells on a whole-body scale. We describe a noninvasive, quantitative, and tomographic approach to visualize a primary anti-tumor immune response by using positron emission tomography (PET). Bone marrow chimeric mice were generated by engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells transduced with a trifusion reporter gene encoding synthetic Renilla luciferase (hRluc), EGFP, and Herpes virus thymidine kinase (sr39TK). Mice were challenged with the Moloney murine sarcoma and leukemia virus complex (M-MSV/M-MuLV), and the induced immune response was monitored by using PET. Hematopoietic cells were visualized by using 9-[4-[(18)F]fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine ([(18)F]FHBG), a radioactive substrate specific for the sr39TK PET reporter protein. Immune cell localization and expansion were seen at the tumor and draining lymph nodes (DLNs). 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([(18)F]FDG), which is sequestered in metabolically active cells, was used to follow tumor growth and regression. Elevated glucose metabolism was also seen in activated lymphocytes in the DLNs by using the [(18)F]FDG probe. When M-MSV/M-MuLV-challenged mice were treated with the immunosuppressive drug dexamethasone, activation and expansion of immune cell populations in the DLNs could no longer be detected with PET imaging. The method we describe can be used to kinetically measure the induction and therapeutic modulations of cell-mediated immune responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Mutational analysis of the SH2-kinase linker region of Bruton's tyrosine kinase defines alternative modes of regulation for cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase families.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) plays critical roles in B cell development and activation. Mutations of Btk cause X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency in mice. An Src homology domain 2-kinase linker region exists in all Src, Abl, ZAP70/Syk and Btk/Tec non-receptor tyrosine kinase families. Missense mutations in the Btk linker region can cause XLA, supporting an essential role for this protein segment. We investigated the regulatory role of the linker region in Btk function by mutational analysis. XLA-causing mutations L369F and R372G abolished Btk-mediated calcium response without affecting Btk protein stability and kinase activity significantly. Although mutation of a well-conserved tryptophan (W260A) in the linker region of the Src family kinase Hck has been shown to cause a hyperactive kinase, an analogous mutation in Btk (W395A) dramatically decreased Btk kinase activity. Tyrosine phosphorylation in the linker region was previously shown to regulate the function of Abl and ZAP70/Syk kinases. Even though tyrosine phosphorylation was detected on tyrosine 375 in the Btk linker region, no significant alteration was observed in Btk-signaling activity and biological function when this tyrosine was mutated in DT-40 cells or in Y375F knock-in mice. Our data and previous studies suggest that each cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase family has evolved a unique strategy to utilize the linker region to regulate the function of the enzyme.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗

PubMed2005

The Sca-1 cell surface marker enriches for a prostate-regenerating cell subpopulation that can initiate prostate tumorigenesis.

Sca-1 (stem cell antigen-1) enriches for murine prostate cells capable of regenerating tubular structures containing basal and luminal cell lineages in a dissociated cell prostate regeneration system. Sca-1(+) fractions are enriched for cells at the G(0) stage of the cell cycle, and Sca-1(+) cells cluster in the proximal region of prostatic tubules where replication-quiescent cells have been localized. Castration-induced enrichment for androgen-independent cells results in a concomitant enrichment for Sca-1(+) cells. Genetic perturbations of PTEN/AKT signaling in prostate-regenerating cells leads to the initiation of tumorigenesis, and cancer progression is associated with a dramatic increase in Sca-1(+) cells. Sca-1-enriched prostate-regenerating cells possess multiple stem/progenitor cell properties and can serve as targets for cancer initiation.

Actins↗

PubMed2005

Unraveling kinase signaling pathways with chemical genetic and chemical proteomic approaches.

Protein kinases are involved in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. Small kinase inhibitor molecules are frequently used to dissect signaling pathways or to counteract oncogenic events. However, in many cases the precise role of a given inhibitor is not well understood. Besides a known primary target, potential secondary targets might be involved in the biological response to the drug. We describe recent advances in chemical genetics and chemical proteomics that allow a new comprehensive analysis of kinase signaling pathways. One approach consists of engineering the kinase pocket to design inhibitor sensitive and resistant alleles. A second strategy is to modify the kinase pocket to specifically accept radio-labeled ATP analogs, allowing the identification of direct downstream substrates after transphosphorylation. The third method takes advantage of recently improved inhibitor affinity chromatography to identify inhibitor targets by mass spectrometry. Ultimately, these new technologies will help define the actions of kinase inhibitors useful for human disease treatment.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2005

Lysophosphatidylcholine-induced surface redistribution regulates signaling of the murine G protein-coupled receptor G2A.

Intracellular trafficking and spatial dynamics of membrane receptors critically regulate receptor function. Using microscopic and subcellular fractionation analysis, we studied the localization of the murine G protein-coupled receptor G2A (muG2A). Evaluating green fluorescent protein-tagged, exogenously expressed as well as the endogenous muG2A, we observed that this receptor was spontaneously internalized and accumulated in endosomal compartments, whereas its surface expression was enhanced and stabilized by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) treatment. Monensin, a general inhibitor of recycling pathways, blocked LPC-regulated surface localization of muG2A as well as muG2A-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and cell migration induced by LPC treatment. Mutation of the conserved DRY motif (R-->A) enhanced the surface expression of muG2A, resulting in its resistance to monensin inhibition of ERK activation. Our data suggest that intracellular sequestration and surface expression regulated by LPC, rather than direct agonistic activity control the signaling responses of murine G2A toward LPC.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Differential proton sensitivity of related G protein-coupled receptors T cell death-associated gene 8 and G2A expressed in immune cells.

G2A, T cell death-associated gene 8 (TDAG8), ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1), and G protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4) form a group of structurally related G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) originally proposed to bind proinflammatory lipids. More recent studies have challenged the identification of lipid agonists for these GPCRs and have suggested that they function primarily as proton sensors. We compared the ability of these four receptors to modulate pH-dependent responses by using transiently transfected cell lines. In accordance with previously published reports, OGR1 was found to evoke strong pH-dependent responses as measured by inositol phosphate accumulation. We also confirmed the pH-dependent cAMP production by GPR4 and TDAG8. However, we found the activity of the human G2A receptor and its mouse homolog to be significantly less sensitive to pH fluctuations as measured by inositol phosphate and cAMP accumulation. Sequence homology analysis indicated that, with one exception, the histidine residues that were previously shown to be important for pH sensing by OGR1, GPR4, and TDAG8 were not conserved in the G2A receptor. We further addressed the pH-sensing properties of G2A and TDAG8 in a cellular context where these receptors are coexpressed. In thymocytes and splenocytes explanted from receptor-deficient mice, TDAG8 was found to be critical for pH-dependent cAMP production. In contrast, G2A was found to be dispensable for this process. We conclude that members of this GPCR group exhibit differential sensitivity to extracellular protons, and that expression of TDAG8 by immune cells may regulate responses in acidic microenvironments.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed2005

Retraction.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Retraction Notice↗

PubMed2004

Gi-independent macrophage chemotaxis to lysophosphatidylcholine via the immunoregulatory GPCR G2A.

G2A is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in immune regulation. Previous studies have shown that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a bioactive lipid associated with atherosclerosis and autoimmunity, acts through G2A to induce diverse biologic effects. Production of LPC during cell apoptosis serves as a chemotactic signal for macrophage recruitment. Here we demonstrate that macrophage chemotaxis to LPC is dependent on G2A function. Wild-type but not G2A-deficient mouse peritoneal macrophages migrated toward LPC. RNAi-mediated knockdown of G2A in J774A.1 macrophages abolished LPC-induced chemotaxis, whereas overexpression of G2A significantly enhanced this process. Mutation of the conserved DRY motif of G2A resulted in loss of chemotaxis to LPC, suggesting a requirement for G-protein signaling. Unlike most GPCRs, including the chemokine receptors, coupling to G(i) is not required for LPC/G2A-mediated chemotaxis, but coupling to G(q/11) and G(12/13) is necessary as judged by inhibition with dominant negative forms of these alpha subunits or with regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) constructs. Collectively, these data establish that pertussis toxin-insensitive G2A signaling regulates macrophage chemotaxis to LPC. Defects in this signaling pathway may be related to the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A phosphorylation site in Bruton's tyrosine kinase selectively regulates B cell calcium signaling efficiency by altering phospholipase C-gamma activation.

Loss of function of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) causes X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency in mice (xid). By using MS analysis and phosphopeptide-specific antibodies, we identified a tyrosine phosphorylation site (Y617) near the carboxyl terminus of the Btk domain from Btk expressed in 293T as well as DT-40 cells. Y617 is conserved in all Tec family kinases except murine Tec. Replacement of Y617 with a negatively charged glutamic acid (E) suppressed Btk-mediated phospholipase Cgamma2 activation and calcium response in DT-40 cells, whereas Akt activation was not affected. The Btk Y617E mutant could partially restore conventional B cell development and proliferation in Btk(-)/Tec(-) mice but failed to rescue CD5(+) B-1 cell development and the TI-II immune response to 2,4,6,-trinitrophenyl-Ficoll. These data suggest that Y617 phosphorylation or a negative charge at this site may down-regulate the function of Btk by selectively suppressing the B cell calcium signaling pathway.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗

PubMed2004

Sustained correction of B-cell development and function in a murine model of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) using retroviral-mediated gene transfer.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a human immunodeficiency caused by mutations in Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) and characterized by an arrest in early B-cell development, near absence of serum immunoglobulin, and recurrent bacterial infections. Using Btk- and Tec-deficient mice (BtkTec(-/-)) as a model for XLA, we determined if Btk gene therapy could correct this disorder. Bone marrow (BM) from 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-treated BtkTec(-/-) mice was transduced with a retroviral vector expressing human Btk and transplanted into BtkTec(-/-) recipients. Mice engrafted with transduced hematopoietic cells exhibited rescue of both primary and peripheral B-lineage development, recovery of peritoneal B1 B cells, and correction of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG(3) levels. Gene transfer also restored T-independent type II immune responses, and B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) proliferative responses. B-cell progenitors derived from Btk-transduced stem cells exhibited higher levels of Btk expression than non-B cells; and marking studies demonstrated a selective advantage for Btk-transduced B-lineage cells. BM derived from primary recipients also rescued Btk-dependent function in secondary hosts that had received a transplant. Together, these data demonstrate that gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells can reconstitute Btk-dependent B-cell development and function in vivo, and strongly support the feasibility of pursuing Btk gene transfer for XLA.

Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase↗