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Biomedical subjects

S Zucker

Publications and source records attributed to S Zucker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Furin inhibition results in absent or decreased invasiveness and tumorigenicity of human cancer cells.

Pro-protein convertases such as furin are expressed in many human tumor lines and primary tumors. Furin processes stromelysin-3, membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) involved in tumor cell invasiveness, as well as growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta1. Evaluation of furin expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells exhibiting different invasive ability showed that furin overexpression correlated with their respective invasiveness. The use of a selective furin inhibitor, alpha 1-PDX (PDX) was studied in three furin-expressing invasive HNSCC cell lines. The effects of PDX transfection were evaluated in vivo and in vitro to determine changes in the malignant phenotype. Transfection of HNSCC cell lines with PDX resulted in significant decrease or absence of tumorigenicity after s.c. inoculation into severe combined immunodeficient mice. Likewise, in vitro invasiveness was reduced approximately 50%. The in vivo invasion assay using tracheal xenotransplants showed even more drastic reductions of the invasive ability of PDX-transfected cells (up to an 80% decrease). PDX-transfected cells did not invade or penetrated less into the tracheal wall tissues than their vector alone-transfected counterparts. In addition, the former cells showed a remarkable decrease in MMP-2 processing and activity. After PDX transfection the cells were less efficient in processing the tumor progression-associated furin substrates transforming growth factor beta1 and pro-membrane type 1-MMP. These findings indicate that furin inhibition is a feasible approach to attenuate and even abolish certain critical attributes of the advanced malignant phenotype. Thus, furin should be considered as a promising target for cancer therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Matrix metalloproteinases in cancer invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteinases that play an important role in cancer as well as in numerous other diseases. In this article, we summarize the current views on the role of MMPs in cancer with respect to invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. A positive correlation between tumor progression and the expression of multiple MMP family members in tumor tissues has been demonstrated in numerous human and animal studies. It has been assumed that cancer cells are responsible for producing the MMPs in human tumors. However, recent evidence suggests that tumor cells have docking sites that bind stromal-cell-secreted MMPs. Furthermore, the role of MMPs produced by endothelial cells, especially MMP-2 and MT1-MMP, appear to be crucial for tumor angiogenesis, which is a requirement for cancer growth and dissemination.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Tumorigenic potential of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), a glycoprotein present on the cancer cell plasma membrane, enhances fibroblast synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The demonstration that peritumoral fibroblasts synthesize most of the MMPs in human tumors rather than the cancer cells themselves has ignited interest in the role of EMMPRIN in tumor dissemination. In this report we have demonstrated a role for EMMPRIN in cancer progression. Human MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells, which are tumorigenic but slow growing in vivo, were transfected with EMMPRIN cDNA and injected orthotopically into mammary tissue of female NCr nu/nu mice. Green fluorescent protein was used to visualize metastases. In three experiments, breast cancer cell clones transfected with EMMPRIN cDNA were considerably more tumorigenic and invasive than plasmid-transfected cancer cells. Increased gelatinase A and gelatinase B expression (demonstrated by in situ hybridization and gelatin substrate zymography) was demonstrated in EMMPRIN-enhanced tumors. In contrast to de novo breast cancers in humans, human tumors transplanted into mice elicited minimal stromal or inflammatory cell reactions. Based on these experimental studies and our previous demonstration that EMMPRIN is prominently displayed in human cancer tissue, we propose that EMMPRIN plays an important role in cancer progression by increasing synthesis of MMPs.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Ventilator-induced lung injury upregulates and activates gelatinases and EMMPRIN: attenuation by the synthetic matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, Prinomastat (AG3340).

Mechanical ventilation has become an indispensable therapeutic modality for patients with respiratory failure. However, a serious potential complication of MV is the newly recognized ventilator-induced acute lung injury. There is strong evidence suggesting that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the development of acute lung injury. Another factor to be considered is extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN). EMMPRIN is responsible for inducing fibroblasts to produce/secrete MMPs. In this report we sought to determine: (1) the role played by MMPs and EMMPRIN in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in an in vivo rat model of high volume ventilation; and (2) whether the synthetic MMP inhibitor Prinomastat (AG3340) could prevent this type of lung injury. We have demonstrated that high volume ventilation caused acute lung injury. This was accompanied by an upregulation of gelatinase A, gelatinase B, MT1-MMP, and EMMPRIN mRNA demonstrated by in situ hybridization. Pretreatment with the MMP inhibitor Prinomastat attenuated the lung injury caused by high volume ventilation. Our results suggest that MMPs play an important role in the development of VILI in rat lungs and that the MMP-inhibitor Prinomastat is effective in attenuating this type of lung injury.

ADAM Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Standardized patients' perceptions about their own health care.

BACKGROUND: There have been detailed descriptions on standardized patients (SP) programs' effects on students, curricula, and faculty, yet little attention has been paid to the consequences of participating on the SP's. PURPOSE: This study explored the perceptions of SPs toward their own health care in the context of having served as SPs. METHOD: All 180 SPs participating in Department of Medicine programs at 5 medical schools were surveyed. They completed the survey during SP activities, or it was mailed to them. SPs indicated their level of agreement or disagreement with 11 attitude statements related to their own health care after serving as an SP using a Likert scale, with 1 reflecting the most positive attitude and 5 the least positive. RESULTS: Responses to the attitudinal questions were obtained from 164 SPs (91%). SPs perceived that because of their participation as SPs they had a better understanding about medical history taking and physical examinations (1.9 +/- 0.9), communicated more effectively with their health care provider (1.8 +/- 0.9), and were more comfortable with both health care visits and physical examinations (2.2 +/- 0.9). There were no significant differences in results based on gender, age, race, or school. CONCLUSIONS: As a consequence of their participation, the SPs indicated a change in attitudes about their personal health care. They perceived improved understanding and ability to communicate and comfort with their own health care. Participation in SP programs seems to influence SPs by improving perceptions about their own health care interactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

CMT-3, a non-antimicrobial tetracycline (TC), inhibits MT1-MMP activity: relevance to cancer.

Tetracyclines (TCs) and their non-antimicrobial analogs (CMTs) have therapeutic potential to inhibit tissue destructive disease processes, such as cancer invasion and metastasis, by inhibiting certain matrix metalloproteinases. Enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2; gelatinase A) activity has been correlated to cancer invasiveness, and membrane type MMP (MT1-MMP) expressed by tumor cells is involved in localizing and activating pro-MMP-2, a pathway believed to mediate cancer induced tissue breakdown. CMT-3 (6-demethyl, 6-deoxy, 4-dedimethylamino TC) has been shown to experimentally suppress prostate cancer, colon adenocarcinoma and melanoma invasiveness in cell culture and to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in vivo and was used in the current in vitro study. Confluent MT1-MMP transfected COS-1 cells were harvested, washed thoroughly, subjected to N(2) cavitation and cell membrane enriched fractions were isolated by sequential centrifugations. This MT1-MMP preparation exhibited (i) pro-MMP-2 activating activity as shown by molecular weight shift of this gelatinase from 72 kDa to 62 kDa using gelatin zymography, and (ii) the ability to degrade both [(3)H-methyl] gelatin and casein at 37 degrees C. Adding CMT-3 at final concentrations of 5--20microM inhibited MT1-MMP gelatinolytic and caseinolytic activity, blocked MT1-MMP activation of pro-MMP-2, and decreased invasiveness (using the Matrigel system) of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. The inhibition of MT1-MMP by CMT-3 may partially explain the inhibition of cancer cell -mediated tissue breakdown and invasiveness by this non-antimicrobial tetracycline analog.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Critical appraisal of the use of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors in cancer treatment.

Experimental studies performed prior to 1990 led to the widely held belief that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) produced by cancer cells are of critical importance in tumor invasion and metastasis. Based on this evidence, the pharmaceutical industry produced several well tolerated, orally active MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) which demonstrated efficacy in mouse cancer models. Phase III clinical trials initiated in 1997-98 using marimastat, prinomastat (AG3340), and BAY 12-9566 alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancers (lung, prostate, pancreas, brain, GI tract) have recently been reported; no clinical efficacy was demonstrated. Bayer and Agouron have discontinued their ongoing Phase III drug trials of MMPIs in advanced cancer. In retrospect, the failure of MMPIs to alter disease progression in metastatic cancer might have been anticipated since MMPs appear to be important in early aspects of cancer progression (local invasion and micrometastasis) and may no longer be required once metastases have been established. Our understanding of MMP pathophysiology in cancer has expanded considerably in the past 10 years. Current views indicate that: (1) most MMPs in tumors are made by stromal cells, not carcinoma cells; (2) cancer cells induce stromal cells to synthesize MMPs using extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and cytokine stimulatory mechanisms; and (3) MMPs promote cell migration and the release of growth factors sequestered in the extracellular matrix. MMPs have a dual function in tumor angiogenesis: MMP-2 and MT1-MMP are required in breaking down basement membrane barriers in the early stage of angiogenesis, while other MMPs are involved in the generation of an angiogenic inhibitor, angiostatin. In spite of considerable recent progress in identifying multiple roles of MMPs in disease, our understanding of MMP function in cancer is far from complete (see Table 1). Based on accumulated data, it is recommended that future MMPI trials focus on: (1) patients with early stage cancer; (2) the use of MMPIs along with chemotherapy; (3) the measurement of MMPs in tumor tissue and blood as a means of identifying patients who are more likely to respond to MMPI therapy; and (4) identification of biomarkers that reflect activation or inhibition of MMPs in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The propeptide domain of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase acts as an intramolecular chaperone when expressed in trans with the mature sequence in COS-1 cells.

It has been assumed that cleavage of the N-terminal propeptide domain of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is required for enzyme function. We recently demonstrated that the propeptide domain of MT1-MMP is not cleaved and actually is required for function of the membrane-bound enzyme in transfected COS-1 cells (Cao, J., Drews, M., Lee, H. M., Conner, C., Bahou, W. F., and Zucker, S. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 34745-34752). In this report, we have inserted the cDNA encoding the signal and propeptide sequences of MT1-MMP (MT(1-109)) and the cDNA encoding propeptide-deleted mature MT1-MMP (MT delta pro) in expression vectors that were then transfected into matrix metalloproteinase-deficient COS-1 cells. Co-expression of both the mature sequence and the prosequence of MT1-MMP as independent polypeptides (in trans) in COS-1 cells resulted in reconstitution of MT1-MMP function in terms of facilitating (125)I-labeled tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 binding to transfected cells and subsequent activation of progelatinase A. Transfection of cells with either cDNA alone resulted in non-functional cells. These results are consistent with the propeptide sequence of MT1-MMP functioning as an intramolecular chaperone involved in protein folding and trafficking to the cell surface.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

The Spectroscopic Orbit of the Planetary Companion Transiting HD 209458.

We report a spectroscopic orbit with period P=3.52433+/-0.00027 days for the planetary companion that transits the solar-type star HD 209458. For the metallicity, mass, and radius of the star, we derive [Fe/H&sqbr0;=0.00+/-0.02, M*=1.1+/-0.1 M middle dot in circle, and R*=1.2+/-0.1 R middle dot in circle. This is based on a new analysis of the iron lines in our HIRES template spectrum and also on the absolute magnitude, effective temperature, and color of the star, and it uses isochrones from four different sets of stellar evolution models. Using these values for the stellar parameters, we reanalyze the transit data and derive an orbital inclination of i=86&fdg;1+/-1&fdg;6. For the planet, we derive a mass of Mp=0.69+/-0.05 MJup, a radius of Rp=1.40+/-0.17 RJup, and a density of rho=0.31+/-0.07 g cm-3.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of the Hipparcos Measurements of HD 10697: A Mass Determination of a Brown Dwarf Secondary.

HD 10697 is a nearby main-sequence star around which a planet candidate has recently been discovered by means of radial velocity measurements (Vogt et al.). The stellar orbit has a period of about 3 yr, the secondary minimum mass is 6.35 Jupiter masses (MJ), and the minimum semimajor axis is 0.36 mas. Using the Hipparcos data of HD 10697 together with the spectroscopic elements of Vogt et al., we found a semimajor axis of 2.1+/-0.7 mas, implying a mass of 38+/-13 MJ for the unseen companion. We therefore suggest that the secondary of HD 10697 is probably a brown dwarf, orbiting around its parent star at a distance of 2 AU.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

EMMPRIN (CD147), an inducer of matrix metalloproteinase synthesis, also binds interstitial collagenase to the tumor cell surface.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), also known as basigin or CD147, is a glycoprotein that is enriched on the surface of tumor cells and stimulates production of several matrix metalloproteinases by adjacent stromal cells. In this study, we have found that EMMPRIN not only stimulates the production of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) but also forms a complex with MMP-1 at the tumor cell surface. Complex formation was demonstrated by phage display, affinity chromatography, and immunocytochemistry. Presentation of MMP-1 complexed to EMMPRIN at the tumor cell surface may be important in modifying the tumor cell pericellular matrix to promote invasion.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Measurement of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in blood and tissues. Clinical and experimental applications.

The balance between production and activation of MMPs and their inhibition by TIMPs is a crucial aspect of cancer invasion and metastasis. On the basis of the concept that MMPs synthesized in tissues seep into the bloodstream, we have examined MMP levels in the plasma of patients with cancer. In colorectal, breast, prostate, and bladder cancer, most patients with aggressive disease have increased plasma levels of gelatinase B. In patients with advanced colorectal cancer, high levels of either gelatinase B or TIMP complex were associated with shortened survival. We propose that these assays may be clinically useful in characterizing metastatic potential in selected kinds of cancer. In rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), serum and plasma levels of stromelysin-1 were approximately 3-5-fold increased. Fluctuating serum stromelysin-1 levels in SLE did not correspond with change in disease activity. In SLE, stromelysin-1 may be a component of the chronic tissue repair process rather than being responsible for inciting tissue damage. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that measurement of plasma/serum MMP and TIMP levels may provide important data for selecting and following patients considered for treatment with drugs that interfere with MMP activity.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Mast cell tryptase does not alter matrix metalloproteinase expression in human dermal fibroblasts: further evidence that proteolytically-active tryptase is a potent fibrogenic factor.

There is compelling in vitro and in vivo evidence to implicate mast cells in the development of fibrosis. However, an important question remains as to the mechanisms by which mast cells mediate fibrosis. Recent evidence from our laboratory (Gruber et al., 1997, J. Immunol. , 158:2310-2317) has revealed that tryptase, the unique and abundant serine protease of human mast cells, is capable of activating fibroblasts by stimulating chemotaxis, proliferation, and procollagen mRNA synthesis. Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression is another key step in connective tissue remodeling. Therefore, the effect of tryptase on fibroblast MMP expression was investigated. Proteolytically active tryptase did not alter the cellular mRNA levels for fibroblast MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 as detected by RNase protection assays. Moreover, tryptase did not alter the basal levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, or the tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) in fibroblast conditioned media as detected by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These results indicate that tryptase does not increase MMP expression in normal dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, these data strengthen the potential role of this unique serine protease as a potent fibrogenic factor.

Adult↗