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T A Brasitus

Publications and source records attributed to T A Brasitus.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A human antibody binds to alpha-galactose receptors and mimics the effects of Clostridium difficile toxin A in rat colon.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nearly all human sera contain an immunoglobulin G antibody (antigalactose) that binds the trisaccharide Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc expressed on cells from most mammals but not humans. Because the Clostridium difficile toxin A receptor in rodents contains this trisaccharide, the aim of this study was to examine whether antigalactose could mimic the enterotoxic effects of toxin A and bind to receptors containing this trisaccharide. METHODS: Fluid secretion, [3H]-mannitol permeability, and release of rat mast cell protease II and prostaglandin E2 were measured after luminal exposure of rat colon to either purified human anti-galactose, control immunoglobulin G, toxin A, or buffer. RESULTS: Toxin A (5 micrograms) and antigalactose (250 micrograms) but not control immunoglobulin (250 micrograms) stimulated colonic fluid secretion and caused increased mannitol permeability and rat mast cell protease II release. Antigalactose and toxin A and, to a lesser degree, control immunoglobulin G also stimulated release of prostaglandin E2, but only toxin A produced acute inflammation of rat colonic mucosa. Antigalactose and toxin A bound specifically to a single class of colonic brush border receptors with dissociation constants of 10(-6) mol/L and 5.4 x 10(-8) mol/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid secretion, increased permeability, and mast cell activation occur in rat colon when toxin A or human antigalactose immunoglobulin G bind to receptors bearing the trisaccharide Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc.

Animals↗

Protein kinase C isoforms in the chemopreventive effects of a novel vitamin D3 analogue in rat colonic tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We recently showed that dietary supplementation with an analogue of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-26,27 F6-vitamin D3 (RO24-5531), reduced the incidence of colonic tumors in rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM). The aim of this study was to determine whether alterations in specific isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in this phenomenon. METHODS: Protein abundance and subcellular distribution of several PKC isoforms were examined and compared in AOM-induced tumors of rats fed control and RO24-5531-supplemented diets. RESULTS: In both AOM-induced colonic adenomas and carcinomas, a significant down-regulation of PKC-alpha, -delta, and -zeta and an up-regulation of PKC-beta11 were found compared with control colonocytes. Dietary RO24-5531 preserved the expression of PKC-zeta and increased the abundance of PKC-epsilon in carcinogen-induced adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Because identical changes in specific isoforms of PKC were found in AOM-induced adenomas and carcinomas, these alterations may be involved in the early stage(s) of colonic malignant transformation. Moreover, the ability of RO24-5531 to block the changes in PKC-zeta induced by AOM, as well as to up-regulate PKC-epsilon, may underlie its ability to prevent adenomas from progressing to carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Shrinkage activates a nonselective conductance: involvement of a Walker-motif protein and PKC.

The ability of all cells to maintain their volume during an osmotic challenge is dependent on the regulated movement of salt and water across the plasma membrane. We demonstrate the phosphorylation-dependent gating of a nonselective conductance in Caco-2 cells during cellular shrinkage. Intracellular application of exogenous purified rat brain protein kinase C (PKC) resulted in the activation of a current similar to that activated during shrinkage with a Na(+)-to-Cl- permeability ratio of approximately 1.7:1. To prevent possible PKC- and/or shrinkage-dependent activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), which is expressed at high levels in Caco-2 cells, a functional anti-peptide antibody, anti-CFTR505-511, was introduced into the cells via the patch pipette. Anti-CFTR505-511, which is directed against the Walker motif in the first nucleotide binding fold of CFTR, prevented the PKC/shrink-age current activation. The peptide CFTR505-511 also induced current inhibition, suggesting the possible involvement of a regulatory element in close proximity to the channel that shares sequence homology with the first nucleotide binding fold of CFTR and whose binding to the channel is required for channel gating.

Animals↗

Transport of n-butyrate into human colonic luminal membrane vesicles.

Human colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) absorption is associated with increased luminal pH and HCO3- and enhanced Na+ absorption. Therefore, the mechanism of colonic SCFA transport, its dependence on Na+ and HCO3- and interactions with Cl-/HCO3- and Na+/H+ exchangers were characterized. Luminal membrane vesicles (LMV) isolated by divalent cation precipitation from organ donor colons were used for n-butyrate transport. Uptake of n-butyrate into the human colonic LMV was minimal even in the presence of an inward pH gradient, but an outward HCO3- gradient significantly increased uptake rates. HCO3(-)-stimulated butyrate uptake was saturable with an apparent Michaelis constant of 1.5 +/- 0.2 mM and maximal velocity of 105 +/- 3 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1. Intravesicular butyrate resulted in trans-stimulation of n-[1-14C]butyrate uptake. Butyrate uptake was inhibited approximately 25-40% by C2-C5 SCFAs and approximately 40% by niflumic acid. Butyrate uptake was not affected by extravesicular Na+, and 22Na uptake was unaltered by extravesicular butyrate. Butyrate uptake was independent of extra- or intravesicular CI-, and butyrate loading produced no changes in 36Cl uptake. We conclude that the predominant mechanism of n-butyrate transport across the human colonic luminal membrane appears to be via a HCO3-/SCFA antiport system independent of Cl-/HCO3- exchange and Na+ transport.

Biological Transport↗

Mechanism of action of chemoprotective ursodeoxycholate in the azoxymethane model of rat colonic carcinogenesis: potential roles of protein kinase C-alpha, -beta II, and -zeta.

Several lines of evidence from our laboratory and others indicate that epigenetic alterations in protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in colonic carcinogenesis in both man and experimental animals. Furthermore, bile salts, known activators of PKC, have also been implicated in colonic tumor development. Recently, however, our laboratory has demonstrated that, whereas dietary cholic acid increased the occurrence of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rat colonic tumors, ursodeoxycholic acid was associated with a significant protective effect. In the present studies, we therefore examined changes in PKC isoforms that accompanied AOM-induced tumor formation and investigated whether the chemopromotional and/or chemopreventional actions of these supplemental dietary bile salts involved changes in specific isoforms of PKC. Rats treated with vehicle (saline) or AOM and maintained on bile salt unsupplemented or supplemented diets were used to isolate control colonocytes and carcinogen-induced tumors, which were then subjected to subcellular fractionation. The homogenates and subcellular fractions were then probed for individual PKC isoforms by quantitative Western blotting using isoform-specific antibodies. Normal rat colonocytes expressed PKC-alpha, -beta II, -delta, -epilson, and -zeta. AOM, in unsupplemented or cholate-supplemented groups, caused significant down-regulation of PKC-alpha, -delta and -zeta and up-regulation of PKC-beta II, while increasing particulate PKC-alpha, -beta II, and -zeta in carcinogen-induced tumors compared to normal colonocytes. Dietary supplementation with ursodeoxycholic acid, in marked contrast to these groups, prevented the changes in the subcellular distributions of PKC-alpha, -beta II, and -zeta, and preserved the expression of PKC-zeta in AOM-induced tumors. These studies suggest that changes in specific isoforms of PKC (particularly, PKC-alpha, -beta II, -delta, and/or -zeta) are involved in colonic malignant transformation in the AOM model but do not account for the chemopromotional actions of cholic acid in this model. Furthermore, the ability of ursodeoxycholic acid to block AOM-induced increases in particulate PKC-alpha, -beta II, and -zeta, and/or inhibit down-regulation of PKC-zeta, may contribute to the chemopreventive effects of this bile acid.

Animals↗

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-26,27-hexafluorocholecalciferol, a noncalcemic analogue of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, inhibits azoxymethane-induced colonic tumorigenesis.

Vitamin D3 and its metabolites, particularly 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3), have received increasing attention as potential anticarcinogens in the prevention of cancers in a number of organs, including the colon. These agents, however, have the potential to induce hypercalcemia, thus limiting their practical use for these purposes. In the present studies it was, therefore, of interest to determine whether dietary supplementation with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-26,27-hexafluorocholecalcifero l (RO24-5531), a recently synthesized apparently noncalcemic analogue of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, inhibited colon cancer induced by azoxymethane (AOM). Rats were placed on a standard diet or fed this diet with supplemental RO24-5531 (2.5 nmol/kg feed) before and during (initiation arm), or after AOM or vehicle administration (postinitiation arm). After 34 weeks of study, animals in each group were sacrificed, and their colons were removed and examined macroscopically and microscopically for the presence of tumors. At the time of sacrifice, the animals' serum calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 levels were also analyzed. The results of these studies demonstrated that dietary RO24-5531 supplementation during the initiation arm of these experiments significantly reduced (by 70%) the incidence of AOM-induced colonic tumors compared to rats on the standard diet without RO24-5531. Moreover, this dietary regimen abolished the development of adenocarcinomas in this model. Although there was also a trend for dietary RO24-5531 supplementation during the postinitiation arm of this study to reduce the incidence of colon tumors, this did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). In addition, neither dietary RO24-5531 supplementation regimen significantly influenced the animals' rates of growth or their serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. These studies, therefore, demonstrate for the first time that supplemental dietary RO24-5531 is a chemopreventive agent in the AOM model of experimental colonic carcinogenesis. They also suggest that this agent may ultimately prove useful in clinical colon cancer chemopreventive trials.

Animals↗

Selective preservation of protein kinase C-zeta in the chemoprevention of azoxymethane-induced colonic tumors by piroxicam.

While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to exert preventive effects against the development of colonic tumors in humans and in chemically-induced tumors in animal models, the mechanism(s) involved in this phenomenon is unclear. We have recently demonstrated that one such agent, piroxicam, when supplemented (75 ppm) in the diets of rats administered azoxymethane, reduced the incidence of rats bearing tumors. To date, the effects of piroxicam on protein kinase C, a family of serine/threonine kinases which may be intimately involved in the colonic malignant transformation process, have not been examined. It was, therefore, of interest to determine whether piroxicam altered the expression of one or more isoforms of this kinase in these tumors. The present studies demonstrate that dietary piroxicam selectively preserved the expression of protein kinase C-zeta in azoxymethane-induced tumors; suggesting that this is at least one mechanism involved in this agent's chemopreventive actions in this organ.

Administration, Oral↗

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates the phosphorylation of two acidic membrane proteins of 42,000 and 48,000 daltons in rat colonocytes: an effect modulated by vitamin D status.

Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(1,25(OH)2D3) rapidly stimulated membrane polyphosphoinositide breakdown and increased intracellular calcium, as well as activated protein kinase C (PKC) in vitamin D-sufficient rat colonocytes. These effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 were, however, lost in vitamin D-insufficient rats and restored by the in vivo repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3. In the present studies we have examined the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to stimulate the phosphorylation of colonic membrane proteins in intact D-sufficient cells. In addition, we investigated the effects of vitamin D status on the phosphorylation of these membrane proteins in broken cell preparations. These studies demonstrated that 1,25(OH)2D3 increased the phosphorylation of at least two colonic membrane proteins with apparent molecular weights of 42,000 (pp42) and 48,000 (pp48) in intact cells of vitamin D-sufficient rats. Moreover, in vitamin D-sufficient rats, treatment of colonocytes with 1,25(OH)2D3 or 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a known activator of PKC, significantly increased the phosphorylation of pp42 and pp48 in broken cell preparations. The kinetics of these phosphorylations in response to 1,25(OH)2D3 were both rapid and transient. In addition, PKC19-36, a specific PKC inhibitor, decreased the phosphorylation of pp42 and pp48, whereas okadaic acid (OA), a type 1 and 2A protein phosphatase inhibitor, further augmented their phosphorylation in response to 1,25(OH)2D3. The isoelectric points of pp42 and pp48 were 5.79 and 5.97, respectively, and both were predominantly phosphorylated on threonine residues. In contrast to our findings in colonocytes from vitamin D-sufficient animals, basal phosphorylation of pp42 and pp48 were increased in membranes prepared from vitamin D-insufficient rats. Moreover, these phosphorylations failed to change in response to 1,25(OH)2D3-treatment of colonocytes from vitamin D-insufficient rats. The basal phosphorylation of each of these proteins was restored to control levels, as was their ability to respond to the direct addition of 1,25(OH)2D3 following the in vivo repletion of vitamin D-insufficient rats with this secosteroid. In summary, we have identified two acidic membrane proteins from rat colonocytes that are phosphorylated in both intact and broken cell preparations in response to 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, an event modulated by vitamin D status and mediated, at least in part, by PKC.

Animals↗

Urinary N1-acetylspermidine and N8-acetylspermidine excretion in normal humans and in patients with colorectal cancer.

Urinary N1-acetylspermidine (N1SPD) and N8-acetylspermidine (N8SPD) were measured in 24-hr urine specimens from 42 patients with colon adenocarcinoma and 29 healthy controls to assess their use as markers for colon cancer screening. Serial spot urines in four controls demonstrated significant fluctuations in these polyamine levels throughout the day without a distinct circadian pattern and therefore all subsequent analyses were performed on 24-hr collections. Both N1SPD and N8SPD were significantly increased in colon cancer patients compared to controls. Neither test correlated with tumor stage or location, but N8SPD was elevated in patients with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma when compared to moderate or well-differentiated tumors. Using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, N1SPD had a higher information content than N8SPD, N1SPD + N8SPD, or the ratio of N1SPD/N8SPD and at a normal cut-off value of 4.0 nmol/mg creatinine, yielded a 95% specificity and 50% sensitivity for colon cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate cause differential activation of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of protein kinase C in rat colonocytes.

Considerable evidence that alterations in protein kinase C (PKC) are intimately involved in important physiologic and pathologic processes in many cells, including colonic epithelial cells, has accumulated. In this regard, phorbol esters, a class of potent PKC activators, have been found to induce a number of cellular events in normal or transformed colonocytes. In addition, our laboratory has demonstrated that the major active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, also rapidly (seconds-minutes) activated PKC and increased intracellular calcium in isolated rat colonocytes. These acute responses, however, were lost in vitamin D deficiency and partially restored with the in vivo repletion of 1,25(OH)2D3. The Ca(2+)-independent or novel isoforms of PKC expressed in the rat colon and the isoform-specific responses of PKC to acute treatment with phorbol esters or 1,25(OH)2D3 have not been previously characterized. Moreover, the effects of vitamin D status on PKC isoform expression, distribution, and response to agonists are also unknown. In the present experiments, in addition to PKC-alpha, rat colonocytes were found to express the novel isoforms delta, epsilon, and zeta by Western blotting using isoform-specific PKC antibodies. The tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, caused time- and concentration-dependent translocations of all these isoforms except PKC-zeta. In vitamin D deficiency, there were no alterations in colonic PKC isoform expression but significant changes in the subcellular distribution of PKC-alpha, -delta, and -zeta. Acute treatment of colonocytes from D-sufficient, but not D-deficient, rats with 1,25(OH)2D3 caused a rapid transient redistribution of only PKC-alpha from the soluble to the particulate fraction. The alterations in PKC isoform distribution and PKC-alpha responsiveness to 1,25(OH)2D3 in vitamin D deficiency were partially, but significantly, restored with 5-7 d in vivo repletion of this secosteroid. Both 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate and 1,25(OH)2D3 activated endogenous PKC, as assessed by inhibition of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate back-phosphorylation by exogenous PKC. These studies indicate that PKC-alpha, -delta, and/or -epsilon likely mediate important phorbol ester-stimulated events described in the rat colon. In contrast, PKC-alpha is implicated in the rapid (s-min) PKC-dependent events initiated by 1,25(OH)2D3 in rat colonocytes.

Animals↗

Relationship of P-glycoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen expression in human colon carcinoma to local invasion, DNA ploidy, and disease relapse.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of expression of the MDR1 gene product P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in relation to the intrinsic drug resistance and progression of human colon cancer is largely unknown. To elucidate the role of P-gp in these cancers further, the frequency and intensity of P-gp and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunostaining were measured at the single-cell level and correlated with known prognostic indices (i.e., DNA ploidy, vessel/lymphatic microinvasion, histologic grade, and disease relapse). METHODS: Fifty-two untreated Dukes' Stage B2 colon cancers were immunostained with the anti-P-gp monoclonal antibodies JSB-1 and HYB-241, and anti-CEA. DNA content and cell proliferation were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: JSB-1 and HYB-241 detected P-gp in 44 and 42 of 52 carcinomas, respectively, and CEA was found in 50 of the 52 tumors. The level of P-gp expression was not associated with DNA ploidy, indices of local invasiveness, or histologic grade. In a multivariate analysis, however, a high level of P-gp expression (as assessed by JSB-1), DNA aneuploidy, microinvasion, and single carcinoma cell invasion individually predicted disease relapse (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that diffuse P-gp immunostaining is present in the majority of Stage B2 human colon cancers and therefore may be an important contributor to their intrinsic drug resistance. The association between a high level of P-gp expression and disease relapse suggests that P-gp can be of prognostic value in Stage B2 colon cancers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Chemoprevention of azoxymethane-induced colonic carcinogenesis by supplemental dietary ursodeoxycholic acid.

The present studies were conducted at the Universities of Chicago and Arizona to examine and compare the effects of supplemental dietary ursodeoxycholic acid to cholic acid, a known tumor promoter, and to piroxicam, a known chemopreventive agent, in the azoxymethane (AOM) model of experimental colonic carcinogenesis. Male Fischer 344 rats were utilized in these experiments. All animals were fed a basal diet (AIN-76) supplemented with 0.2% or 0.4% cholic acid, 0.2% or 0.4% ursodeoxycholic acid, 0.2% ursodeoxycholic acid plus 0.2% cholic acid, or 75 ppm piroxicam. Rats were given s.c. injections once a week for 2 weeks with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt/week) or vehicle (saline) after being fed their respective diets for 2 weeks. The rats in each group were then maintained on their respective diets for approximately 28 weeks; after sacrifice, their colons were removed and examined macroscopically and microscopically for the presence of tumors. The results of these studies demonstrated that none of the control rats fed the various diets injected with AOM-vehicle developed tumors. In groups receiving AOM, the addition of cholic acid (0.4%) caused a significant increase in the incidence of tumors. In contrast, the addition of 0.2% ursodeoxycholic acid did not promote AOM-induced colonic tumors, and when it was added to a promoting dose of cholic acid (0.2%), 0.2% ursodeoxycholic acid prevented enhancement of tumor promotion. At higher doses (0.4%), supplemental dietary ursodeoxycholic acid significantly reduced the incidence of colon tumors and cancers. Moreover, the tumor suppressive effects of 0.4% ursodeoxycholic acid exceeded that of dietary piroxicam. Our results further emphasize the important role of bile salts in modulating colonic tumor development. These studies also demonstrate for the first time that supplemental dietary ursodeoxycholic acid is a chemopreventive agent in the AOM model of experimental colonic carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Guanylin activates rat colonic particulate guanylate cyclase.

The polypeptide guanylin is an endogenous activator of small intestinal guanylate cyclase. In rat, guanylin mRNA is found predominantly in intestinal tissues, with its highest abundance in the colon. To date, the effect of guanylin on rat colonic particulate guanylate cyclase, however, has not been examined. It was, therefore, of interest to determine whether the addition of guanylin to intact rat colonocytes, or directly to isolated crude colonic membranes, stimulated guanylate cyclase activity. These studies demonstrated that: 1) rat guanylin, in a concentration-dependent manner, rapidly (within min), but transiently, stimulated particulate guanylate cyclase activity when added to intact colonocytes; 2) guanylin also stimulated guanylate cyclase activity when added directly to isolated colonic membranes; and 3) this latter effect of guanylin on guanylate cyclase activity was increased by ATP or ADP and markedly accentuated by ATP gamma S. Taken together, these results demonstrate that guanylin rapidly stimulates rat colonic particulate guanylate cyclase activity and, moreover, that this effect can be modulated by adenine nucleotides.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Mechanisms of Na+ transport in human distal colonic apical membrane vesicles.

Apical membrane vesicles purified from mucosal scrapings obtained from distal segments of organ donor colons and a 22Na-uptake technique were used to characterize the mechanism(s) of Na+ transport into these vesicles. An outwardly directed H+ gradient (pH 5.5in/7.5out) markedly increased uptake of 22Na into these vesicles. Osmolarity studies demonstrated that 22Na was taken up into the intravesicular space with minimal binding observed to the surface of the vesicles. Voltage clamping in the presence of K+/valinomycin reduced the H+ gradient-dependent 22Na uptake into these vesicles by approximately 45% and generation of an inside negative membrane potential significantly increased 22Na uptake. Under non voltage clamped conditions, H+ gradient-dependent 22Na uptake into these vesicles was significantly inhibited by specific inhibitors of Na(+)-H+ exchange (DMA, HMA and EIPA) as well as by inhibitor of epithelial Na+ channels (phenamil). Under voltage clamped conditions, H+ gradient-dependent 22Na uptake, however, was unaffected by phenamil (20 microM), but was almost completely inhibited by DMA, HMA and EIPA (20 microM each). The mechanism of amiloride inhibition of electroneutral Na(+)-H+ exchange was noncompetitive with a Ki for amiloride of 340 microM. Electroneutral 22Na uptake exhibited saturation kinetics with an apparent Km for Na+ of 8.7 +/- 1.7 mM and a Vmax of 2.02 +/- 0.45 nmol/mg per 5 s. The Na(+)-H+ exchange demonstrated cation specificity similar to the Na(+)-H+ exchangers described in other epithelia. These studies demonstrate for the first time that Na+ transport across the apical membranes of human distal colon involves both conductive Na+ uptake and an electroneutral Na(+)-H+ exchange process.

Amiloride↗

TPA causes divergent responses of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of PKC in the nuclei of Caco-2 cells.

The present studies were undertaken to examine the expression of PKC isoforms within the nucleus of Caco-2 cells, a cell line widely used to investigate intestinal cell growth and differentiation, in order to begin to explore their roles in modulating gene expression. Purified nuclei were, therefore, prepared from Caco-2 cells and found to contain PKC-zeta, but not -alpha. The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) caused an acute redistribution of PKC-alpha to the nucleus, but did not change the distribution of PKC-zeta. Chronic treatment with TPA down-regulated total PKC-alpha, but not -zeta. Moreover, in contrast to acute TPA treatment, after chronic treatment, nuclear PKC-alpha was no longer detectable, whereas nuclear PKC-zeta was unchanged. These studies demonstrate for the first time the constitutive expression and divergent responses to TPA of the Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of PKC in the nuclei of Caco-2 cells and suggest that these specific isoforms may be involved in modulating gene expression.

Calcium↗

Vitamin D status modulates rat colonic M3 muscarinic receptor characteristics and coupling to guanylate cyclase.

The present studies were conducted to determine whether [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding in rat colonic membranes and/or carbachol-mediated stimulation of particulate guanylate cyclase were altered by changes in vitamin D status. EC50 values for the stimulation of colonic guanylate cyclase by carbachol were found to be significantly greater in vitamin D-deficient rats compared to their D-sufficient counterparts. Concomitantly, the density of receptors (Bmax) were significantly lower, and dissociation constants (Kd) were significantly higher in D-deficient colonic membranes. In vitamin D-repleted animals, moreover, all of these aforementioned alterations were at least partially corrected.

Animals↗

Activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator by cGMP in the human colonic cancer cell line, Caco-2.

Intestinal chloride (Cl-) secretion can be induced by the heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) from Escherichia coli via generation of cGMP. We investigated the regulatory pathway responsible for cGMP-mediated Cl- secretion in the human colonic carcinoma cell line Caco-2 using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques. Cyclic GMP or cAMP induced a 5-fold increase in Cl- conductance (gCl) in the presence of intracellular ATP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Current activation by cGMP persisted in the presence of the type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor, KT5823, but was inhibited by the specific peptide inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), PKI5-24. The stimulatory effects of cGMP and cAMP on gCl were not additive. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a Cl- channel that is regulated by intracellular ATP and by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. In order to determine whether CFTR was involved in the cGMP-dependent increase in gCl, we tested the effect of intracellularly injected anti-CFTR505-511 antibodies previously shown to inhibit CFTR function. Antibodies introduced into individual cells via the patch pipette completely inhibited cGMP-dependent current activation. Cyclic GMP also failed to activate gCl in cystic fibrosis cells. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that activation of the CFTR via PKA-dependent phosphorylation accounts for the cGMP-mediated increase in Cl- secretion in Caco-2 cells.

Chloride Channels↗