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Short-term estrogen augments both nitric oxide-mediated and non-nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent forearm vasodilation in postmenopausal women.

Estrogen is known to improve in the short term the impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilating responses in postmenopausal women, which may account in part for the beneficial cardiovascular effects of the female hormone. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is achieved by combined effects of endothelium-derived prostacyclin, nitric oxide (NO), and hyperpolarizing factor. In this study, we investigated our hypothesis that short-term estrogen improves both NO-mediated and non-NO-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in postmenopausal women. The study included 12 postmenopausal women (aged 64 +/- 3 years). The forearm blood flow was measured by strain-gauge plethysmography. The forearm vascular responses to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators, acetylcholine and substance P, were examined before and after intravenous administration of conjugated estrogen and subsequently after intraarterial infusion of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NO synthesis. Short-term estrogen augmented the forearm vasodilating responses to both acetylcholine and substance P. The treatment with L-NMMA almost abolished the augmented response to acetylcholine but did not affect that to substance P. The forearm vascular response to sodium nitroprusside was unchanged by the estrogen administration. These results indicate that estrogen augments (in the short-term) both NO-mediated and non-NO-mediated endothelium-dependent forearm vasodilation in postmenopausal women. Thus the beneficial effect of estrogen on endothelial vasodilator function appears to extend to non-NO-dependent mechanism(s).

Aged↗

Nitric oxide-mediated expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl and protection from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis in porcine endothelial cells after exposure to low concentrations of xenoreactive natural antibody.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac and renal allo- and xenografts can acquire a natural resistance to vascular rejection. This "accommodation" involves endothelial cell (EC) expression of "survival genes" such as Bcl family members and hemoxygenase 1. Understanding what initiates this protective process would have profound implications; our hypothesis is that low concentrations of antigraft antibodies may mediate these changes. METHODS: In vitro cultured primary and immortalized porcine EC were incubated with polyclonal human IgG for 6 days and then examined for phenotype changes. RESULTS: The cells acquired resistance to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis (50-100% reduction at 6 hr) and up-regulated expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl; sustained expression was accompanied by inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression and by enhanced production of NO by EC. Two observations suggested that NO was actively involved in the process of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl induction. First, (z)-1-2-[2-aminoethyl)-N- (2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, an NO donor, was able to induce similar changes in porcine EC to those induced by anti-pig antibodies. Second, an NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine.monoacetate was able to specifically inhibit the anti-pig antibody-mediated expression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xl. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly support the hypothesis that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expression and protection from apoptosis in EC may result from antibody-mediated NO production through the neoexpression of inducible NO synthase.

Animals↗

The Role of Mast Cells and Their Mediators in IgG-Antigen Complex-Mediated Inflammation.

The strategic localization of mast cells near blood vessels led us to investigate the involvement of these cells in IgG-antigen complex-mediated inflammation, using mast-cell-deficient mice and their congenic controls. Mast cells were extensively degranulated and contributed to neutrophil influx, plasma exudation, fibrin deposition, edema formation, and tissue damage. Leukotrienes and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from mast cells participated in neutrophil elicitation, and histamine and leukotrienes in plasma exudation, fibrin deposition, and edema formation. Reconstituting the deficient mice with mast cells restored the responses, confirming the role of mast cells and their mediators. Studies with decomplemented and C5-deficient mice indicate that mast cells were stimulated by complement early in the reaction and later by an unknown mechanism. The findings show that mast cells and their mediators, such as leukotrienes, histamine, and TNF, play an important role in the initiation of IgG-antigen complex-mediated inflammation.

Journal Article↗

Cutaneous IgE-mediated inflammatory lesion size is inhibited by an H1 antagonist (terfenadine) while mediator release is unaffected in vivo and in vitro.

We are interested in understanding the pathogenesis of the cutaneous IgE-mediated late phase reaction. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study with 10 subjects of the effect of the non-sedating antihistamine, terfenadine (Selddane), on the cutaneous reaction to antigen (ragweed or mixed grass) administered intradermally and over denuded blister bases was performed. The activity of terfenadine on anti-IgE-induced mediator release from the skin mast cell, lung mast cell and basophil was also examined in vitro. Terfenadine significantly inhibited the size of the cutaneous reaction at every hour between hours 1 and 9 (hr 9, control 2250 +/- 500 mm2 vs drug 1250 +/- 250 mm2, P < 0.01, n = 10) and showed some inhibitory effect at hours 10-12. While terfenadine blocks histamine release after nasal antigen challenge the release of mediators at skin blister sites was unaffected. The infiltration of leucocytes into the blister supernatant was unaffected by terfenadine although previous studies have shown significant inhibition with another antihistamine, cetirizine. In vitro, terfenadine, like other antihistamines, was found to have inhibitory activity on anti-IgE-induced mediator release at concentrations of 10(-4)-10(-5) M in lung and skin mast cells and basophils. We conclude that the effects of the newer antihistamines on cellular movement into the skin may be diverse, that terfenadine may show organ specificity in vivo and that terfenadine significantly decreases both the early and late gross inflammatory response of the skin to antigen. We cannot, as yet, explain the mechanism(s) by which this occurs.

Basophils↗

The immunosuppressive effect of methimazole on cell-mediated immunity is mediated by its capacity to inhibit peroxidase and to scavenge free oxygen radicals.

We have investigated the effect of methimazole (MMI) on cell-mediated immunity and ascertained the mechanisms of immunosuppression produced by the drug. Methimazole (greater than or equal to 10(-5) M) produced a dose-dependent inhibition in 'active' (early) rosette formation with sheep red cells and in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation. A concentration of 10(-4) M MMI inhibited the immediate rise in intracellular cAMP triggered by PHA and the subsequent time dependent decrement over 24 h. The drug (10(-3) M) also exerted a significant inhibitory effect on antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) over six-fold difference in target/effector cell ratios. At a concentration of 10(-5) M, MMI inhibited zymosan-induced respiratory burst (determined by change in the chemiluminescence of oxidized luminol) in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cell preparations. Ninety-five per cent of the chemiluminescence in the latter preparation was due to monocytes. At concentrations between 10(-7) and 10(-6) M, MMI significantly inhibited (in cell-free systems) horseradish peroxidase-dependent generation of chemiluminescence as well as the oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide. Methimazole exerts its inhibitory effects on measures of cell-mediated immunity by at least two mechanisms: inhibition of peroxidase and scavenging free oxygen radicals. Insensitivity of the test systems or poor access of MMI to leucocytes may account for the need for greater than or equal to 10(-5) M MMI to inhibit cell-mediated immunity significantly.

Animals↗

NADPH oxidation catalyzed by the peroxidase/H2O2 system. Guaiacol-mediated and scopoletin-mediated oxidation of NADPH to NADPH+.

We have examined the respective roles played by guaiacol and scopoletin in NADPH oxidation catalyzed by the peroxidase/H2O2 system. It was shown that NADPH was not oxidized by either the horseradish or lactoperoxidase/H2O2 systems alone; oxidation occurred immediately after the addition of guaiacol or scopoletin. In both cases, the oxidation product was enzymatically active NADP+. Differences were observed in the NADPH oxidation mechanism depending on whether guaiacol or scopoletin was the mediator molecule. In guaiacol-mediated NADPH oxidation, the stoichiometry between H2O2 and oxidized NADPH was about 1; superoxide dismutase did not affect the oxidation rate. In scopoletin-mediated oxidation, the stoichiometry was much higher (1:14 in the present experiments); superoxide dismutase considerably increased the oxidation rate. It is concluded that catalysis of NADPH oxidation by the horse radish peroxidase/H2O2 system requires the presence of a mediator molecule. The NADPH oxidation mechanism depends on the intermediary oxidation state of this molecule.

Catalysis↗

Beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of mediator release from human peripheral blood-derived mast cells.

1. Mast cells cultured from human peripheral blood have been used as a cell model for functional studies of human mast cells, particularly human lung mast cells. However, the beta-adrenoceptor subtype expressed by these cultured cells has not been identified. The aim of the present study was to characterize pharmacologically the beta-adrenoceptors involved in the suppression of IgE-mediated release of mediators, including histamine, prostaglandin (PG) D2 and leukotriene (LT) C4 from cultured mast cells. 2. Mast cells were cultured from mast cell progenitors isolated from peripheral blood in the presence of 200 ng/mL stem cell factor and 50 ng/mL interleukin-6. Mast cells were sensitized with human myeloma IgE, treated with beta-adrenoceptor agonists or antagonist and then challenged with anti-human IgE. The release of histamine, PGD2 and LTC4 from mast cells was determined. 3. Both isoprenaline and salbutamol inhibited anti-IgE-induced release of histamine, PGD2 and LTC4 from cultured mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Isoprenaline was a more potent inhibitor than salbutamol. The pD2 values for the inhibition of the release of histamine, PGD2 and LTC4 were 7.37 +/- 0.12, 8.38 +/- 0.23, 8.85 +/- 0.23, respectively, for isoprenaline and 6.96 +/- 0.12, 7.65 +/- 0.36, 7.91 +/- 0.64, respectively, for salbutamol. The selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonist BRL-37344 failed to affect anti-IgE-induced histamine release from cultured mast cells. 4. The selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118 551 (108 mol/L) strongly reversed the concentration-dependent suppression of histamine release by isoprenaline and salbutamol; however, the selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol (106 mol/L) did not have any effect. 5. These results indicate that both isoprenaline and salbutamol act at beta2-adrenoceptors to suppress IgE-mediated mediator release from cultured human mast cells.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Defective non-insulin-mediated and insulin-mediated glucose transport and metabolism in adipocytes from obese and lean patients with untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Insulin binding, glucose transport, and glucose metabolism were investigated in isolated adipocytes from 11 lean and 13 obese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Insulin binding at 15 degrees C was reduced by 35% (p less than 0.01) in both lean and obese diabetic patients, whereas insulin binding (or uptake) at 37 degrees C was similar in diabetic patients and healthy controls. In lean diabetic patients both non-insulin-mediated (basal) and maximally insulin-stimulated glucose transport and metabolism were significantly reduced (all p less than 0.01). The percentage responses to insulin were also markedly reduced (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.02). In obese diabetic patients basal glucose transport was reduced (p less than 0.01) but basal glucose metabolism was not. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport and metabolism were significantly reduced (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05). The percentage responses were reduced compared to healthy controls (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05) but higher than in lean diabetic patients (p less than 0.05). We conclude that adipocytes isolated from both lean and obese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are characterized by severely depressed non-insulin-mediated and insulin-mediated glucose transport and depressed insulin-mediated glucose metabolism. The major defect seems to be a reduced maximal effect of insulin on glucose metabolism, suggesting post-binding and post-transport abnormalities.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evidence that inhibition of nicotine-mediated catecholamine secretion from adrenal chromaffin cells by enkephalin, beta-endorphin, dynorphin (1-13), and opiates is not mediated via specific opiate receptors.

The opioid peptides Met- and Leu-enkephalin, dynorphin (1-13), and beta-endorphin and the narcotic analgesics, morphine, levorphanol, and dextrorphan all produced a dose-dependent inhibition of nicotine (5 x 10(-6) M)-mediated release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture. None of these agents affected [3H]NE release induced by high K+ (56 mM). Although the above results suggest that the opioid peptides and narcotic analgesics inhibit catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells in culture, we suggest that these effects are not mediated by specific opiate binding sites, since (1) the inhibition was only produced with high concentrations of the agents--the threshold concentrations were 10(-7) to 10(-5)M and higher; (2) the inhibition produced by the narcotic analgesics did not display stereospecificity, because the d-isomer, dextrorphan, was slightly more active than the l-isomer, levorphanol; (3) the narcotic antagonists naloxone, naltrexone, and levallorphan did not reverse the inhibition produced by either the narcotic analgesics (e.g., morphine) or the opioid peptides (e.g., dynorphin). These three antagonists themselves inhibited the nicotine-mediated release of [3H]NE from the adrenal chromaffin cells in culture. Finally (4), the I2-Tyr1 substituted analogues of beta-endorphin and dynorphin that are biologically less active than the parent compounds produced an inhibition of the nicotine-mediated [3H]NE release similar to that of their parent compounds. These results do not support the idea that high-affinity stereospecific opiate binding sites are involved in the inhibitory modulation of nicotinic evoked catecholamine release from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture.

Adrenal Glands↗

Evidence for a functional alpha 1A- (alpha 1C-) adrenoceptor mediating contraction of the rat epididymal vas deferens and an alpha 1B-adrenoceptor mediating contraction of the rat spleen.

1. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype mediating contraction of the rat epididymal vas deferens and rat spleen has been investigated by use of alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists that have shown selectivity between the different cloned receptor subtypes. 2. In the rat epididymal vas deferens the potency of noradrenaline and phenylephrine was increased in the presence of neuronal and extra-neuronal uptake blockers, cocaine and beta-oestradiol, but these did not alter that of methoxamine. The order of potency of the agonists in the presence or absence of uptake blockade was noradrenaline > phenylephrine > methoxamine. In the rat spleen the potency of these agonists was not altered in the presence of cocaine and beta-oestradiol, and their order of potency was the same as in the vas deferens. 3. The non subtype selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (up to 1 x 10(-7) M) was found to antagonize contractions to noradrenaline in the vas deferens competitively (pA2 9.2), but only in a non competitive manner in the spleen. Contractions to phenylephrine in the spleen however were competitively antagonized by prazosin (up to 1 x 10(-7) M) with a pA2 of 9.2. This suggests that there is an alpha 1- and a non alpha 1-adrenoceptor response to noradrenaline in the rat spleen. 4. Pretreatment with chlorethylclonidine (10(-4) M for 30 min) did not alter the noradrenaline contractions in the vas deferens, but contractions to noradrenaline and phenylephrine in the spleen were shifted 30 and 300 fold to the right of the control curve, respectively. This suggests that only the contractions in the spleen were mediated by alpha 1B-adrenoceptors. 5. The noradrenaline contractions in the vas deferens were competitively antagonized by WB 4101 (pA29.6), 5-methyl-urapidil (pA2 8.7), phentolamine (pA2 8.3), benoxathian (pA2 9.4), spiperone (pA2 7.5),indoramin (pA2 8.4) and BMY 7378 (pA2 6.7), consistent with the affinities of these antagonists in binding studies on tissue alpha 1A-adrenoceptors. These values correlated best with their published affinities on the expressed alpha 1c-adrenoceptor clone and poorly with those at either the expressed alpha lb- or alpha 1d adrenoceptor clones. Therefore the classical alpha 1A-adrenoceptor appears to be the same as the expressed alpha lc-adrenoceptor clone.6. The phenylephrine contractions in the spleen were competitively antagonized by WB 4101 (pA2 8.1),5-methyl-urapidil (pA2 7.1), phentolamine (pA2 7.3), benoxathian (pA2 7.4), spiperone (pA2 7.9),indoramin (pA2 7.5) and BMY 7378 (pA2 7.4), consistent with the affinities of these antagonists in binding studies on tissue alB-adrenoceptors. The pA2 values correlated best with the published affinities of these compounds on the expressed alb-adrenoceptor clone and poorly with those at either the expressed alpha ld- or alpha lc-adrenoceptor clones. Therefore the alpha lB-adrenoceptor appears to be the same as the expressed alpha lb-adrenoceptor clone.7. The results provide pharmacological evidence that the alpha1-adrenoceptor mediating noradrenaline contractions in the epididymal portion of the rat vas deferens is the alpha 1A-(alpha lC) subtype and that contractions to phenylephrine in the rat spleen are mediated by the alpha 1B-subtype.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Propentofylline and a hydroxy metabolite augment A2-receptor mediated cyclic AMP accumulation and attenuate A1-receptor mediated inhibition of acetylcholine release in the rat hippocampus.

In contrast to the adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline, the xanthine derivative propentofylline (HWA 285) is reported to protect against ischaemic cell damage. We examined the effect of propentofylline on two adenosine actions in the rat hippocampus; the A2-mediated stimulation of 3H-cAMP accumulation and the A1-mediated inhibition of 3H-ACh release. Propentofylline (0.5-1 mM) increased the adenosine (3 and 30 microM) -induced 3H-cAMP accumulation. This effect was shared by its metabolite A 72 0287. The mechanism may be a decreased inactivation of adenosine, since the effect of the stable adenosine derivative NECA was not altered. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of adenosine on evoked 3H-ACh release was inhibited by propentofylline and by its metabolite A 72 0287, but enhanced by the uptake inhibitor dipyridamole. The effect of the stable, A1-receptor selective analogue R-PIA (1 microM) was also blocked by propentofylline and by A 72 0287. In addition, propentofylline (0.5 mM) blocked the presynaptic inhibitory effect of carbachol (1 and 50 microM). Thus, propentofylline and one of its metabolites inhibits adenosine A1-receptor mediated presynaptic inhibition while it enhances adenosine A2-mediated cAMP accumulation in the rat hippocampus differently. This selectivity in action can only partly be explained by receptor subtype selectivity, and effects at sites other than the adenosine receptor are of major importance.

Acetylcholine↗

IP3-mediated Ca2+ increases do not involve the ryanodine receptor, but ryanodine receptor antagonists reduce IP3-mediated Ca2+ increases in guinea-pig colonic smooth muscle cells.

Smooth muscle responds to IP3-generating (sarcolemma acting) neurotransmitters and hormones by releasing Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via IP3 receptors (IP3Rs). This release may propagate as Ca2+ waves. The Ca2+ signal emanating from IP3 generation may be amplified by its activating further Ca2+ release from ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the process of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). Evidence for this proposal has relied largely on the use of blocking drugs such as ryanodine, tetracaine and dantrolene, reportedly specific inhibitors of RyRs. Here we have examined whether or not Ca2+ released via IP3Rs subsequently activates RyRs. In addition, the specificity of the blocking agents has been assessed by determining the extent of their ability to block IP3-mediated Ca2+ release under conditions in which RyRs were not activated. IP3-evoked Ca2+ release and Ca2+ waves did not require or activate RyRs. However, the RyR blocking drugs inhibited IP3-mediated Ca2+ signals at concentrations thought to be selective for RyRs. In single colonic smooth muscle cells, voltage clamped in the whole cell configuration, carbachol (CCh) evoked propagating Ca2+ waves which were not inhibited by ryanodine when the sarcolemma potential was -70 mV. At -20 mV, at which potential the SR Ca2+ content was increased and RyRs activated, ryanodine inhibited the Ca2+ waves. Photolysed caged IP3 increased [Ca2+]c; ryanodine, by itself, did not reduce the IP3-evoked [Ca2+]c increase when the sarcolemma potential was maintained at -70 mV. However, after activation of RyRs by caffeine, in the continued presence of ryanodine, the IP3-evoked [Ca2+]c increase was inhibited. In other experiments, RyRs were activated (as evidenced by the occurrence of spontaneous transient outward currents) by depolarizing the sarcolemma to -20 mV and again ryanodine was effective in inhibiting IP3-evoked Ca2+ increase. Thus while ineffective by itself, ryanodine inhibited IP3-evoked Ca2+ increases, presumably by causing persistent opening of the channel and depleting the SR of Ca2+, after RyRs were activated. These experiments establish that IP3-evoked Ca2+ release and Ca2+ waves do not activate RyRs; had they done so ryanodine would have inhibited the Ca2+ increase. However, under conditions where ryanodine was ineffective against the IP3-evoked Ca2+ transient (i.e. when RyRs were not activated, e.g. at a membrane potential of -70 mV) tetracaine and dantrolene each blocked IP3-evoked Ca2+ increases. The results show that although IP3-mediated Ca2+ release does not activate RyRs, RyR blockers can inhibit IP3-mediated Ca2+ signals.

Animals↗

Gemfibrozil and its glucuronide inhibit the organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2/OATP1B1:SLC21A6)-mediated hepatic uptake and CYP2C8-mediated metabolism of cerivastatin: analysis of the mechanism of the clinically relevant drug-drug interaction between cerivastatin and gemfibrozil.

A serious pharmacokinetic interaction between cerivastatin (CER) and gemfibrozil (GEM) has been reported. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of GEM and its metabolites, M3 and gemfibrozil 1-O-beta-glucuronide (GEM-1-O-glu), on the uptake of CER by human organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2)-expressing cells and its metabolism in cytochrome P450 expression systems. Uptake studies showed that GEM and GEM-1-O-glu significantly inhibited the OATP2-mediated uptake of CER with IC(50) values of 72 and 24 microM, respectively. They also inhibited the CYP2C8-mediated metabolism of CER with IC(50) values of 28 and 4 microM, respectively, whereas M3 had no effects. GEM and GEM-1-O-glu minimally inhibited the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of CER. The IC(50) values of GEM and GEM-1-O-glu for the uptake and the metabolism of CER obtained in the present study were lower than their total, and not unbound, plasma concentrations. However, considering the possibly concentrated high unbound concentrations of GEM-1-O-glu in the liver and its relatively larger plasma unbound fraction compared with GEM itself, the glucuronide inhibition of the CYP2C8-mediated metabolism of CER appears to be the main mechanism for the clinically relevant drug-drug interaction. Previously reported clinical drug interaction studies showing that coadministration of GEM with pravastatin or pitavastatin, both of which are known to be cleared from the plasma by the uptake transporters in the liver, only minimally (less than 2-fold) increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of these statins, also supported our present conclusion.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Inflammatory lymphocyte in cell-mediated antibacterial immunity: factors governing the accumulation of mediator T cells in peritoneal exudates.

The lymphocytes which mediate immunity to infection with Listeria monocytogenes in the mouse accumulated in casein-induced peritoneal exudates. They were T cells, as evidenced by their susceptibility to anti-theta serum, but some were also destroyed by anti-immunoglobulin serum. For a given number of cells, exudate cells were at least six times more efficient than spleen cells in protecting normal recipients against lethal challenge. The extent to which mediator cells accumulated in exudates was found to be governed by the level of their production in responding lymphoid tissue and by the time available for them to migrate into an exudate. An intraperitoneal injection of casein at any stage of infection resulted in a progressive accumulation of mediator cells that continued for 3 days. The accumulation was not caused by continuous entry of cells during the whole of this period, but resulted from division of a limited number of cells that entered during the first 24 h. Accumulation of mediator cells in an exudate was associated with the conversion of a population of dividing cells into a population of nondividing T cells with a relatively short life-span.

Animals↗

Cytokines inhibit p53-mediated apoptosis but not p53-mediated G1 arrest.

Murine erythroleukemia cells that lack endogenous p53 expression were transfected with a temperature-sensitive p53 allele. The temperature-sensitive p53 protein behaves as a mutant polypeptide at 37 degrees C and as a wild-type polypeptide at 32 degrees C. Three independent clones expressing the temperature-sensitive p53 protein were characterized with respect to p53-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Clone ts5.203 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Apoptosis was seen in cells representative of all phases of the cell cycle and was not restricted to cells arrested in G1. The addition of a cytokine (erythropoietin, c-kit ligand, or interleukin-3) to the culture medium of ts5.203 cells blocked p53-mediated apoptosis and differentiation but not p53-mediated G1 arrest. These observations indicate that apoptosis and G1 arrest can be effectively uncoupled through the action of cytokines acting as survival factors and are consistent with the idea that apoptosis and G1 arrest represent separate functions of p53. Clones ts15.15 and tsCB3.4 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest but not apoptosis. We demonstrate that tsCB3.4 secretes a factor with erythropoietin-like activity and that ts15.15 secretes a factor with interleukin-3 activity and suggest that autocrine secretion of these cytokines blocks p53-mediated apoptosis. These data provide a framework in which to understand the variable responses of cells to p53 overexpression.

Animals↗

The role of DOC-2/DAB2 in modulating androgen receptor-mediated cell growth via the nongenomic c-Src-mediated pathway in normal prostatic epithelium and cancer.

Prostate cancer is initially responsive to androgen ablation, but prostate cancer tumors invariably progress to an androgen-independent state that is ultimately lethal. The onset of the androgen-independent prostate cancer is often associated with up-regulation of the androgen receptor that can cause antagonists to exhibit agonistic activity, which could lead to the failure of androgen ablation therapy. We describe a unique protein-DOC-2/DAB2 (differentially expressed in ovarian cancer-2/disabled 2)-that antagonizes androgen receptor-mediated cell growth in prostate cancer cells via interaction with c-Src protein. This interaction causes inactivation of Erk and Akt proteins critical for proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells. However, DOC-2/DAB2 does not change the capacity of androgen receptor to regulate the transcription of androgen-responsive reporter genes, indicating that DOC-2/DAB2 selectively inhibits androgen receptor-mediated cell growth in androgen-independent prostate cancer by disrupting the androgen receptor/c-Src complex. In normal prostatic epithelia, DOC-2/DAB2 protein levels are more abundant than androgen receptor protein levels and reduced endogenous DOC-2/DAB2 protein levels in these cells by DOC-2/DAB2 RNA interference result in enhancing androgen receptor-mediated cell growth. We conclude that DOC-2/DAB2 can modulate androgen receptor-mediated cell growth in both normal and malignant prostatic epithelial cells and the outcome of this study could evolve into a new therapeutic strategy of prostate cancer.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

In vitro cell-mediated cytotoxicity in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. Dysfunction of spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The in vitro cytotoxic function and target cell specificity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from selected patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis B surface antigen-negative chronic hepatitis were investigated using 51Cr-labeled human Chang and EL-4 mouse sarcoma cell targets in assays of spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity (SCMC) and mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity (MICC). In addition, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against Chang cells was assessed. At an effector-to-target cell ration of 100:1, the mean SCMC against Chang cells was much less in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis than that in either the controls (P less than 0.001) or the patients with chronic hepatitis (P less than 0.005) whereas the value for patients with chronic hepatitis did not differ significantly from that of the controls. The mean SCMC against EL-4 mouse sarcoma cells was also less in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis than in controls (P less than 0.005) whereas the value for chronic hepatitis was not significantly different from that of the controls or patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. In contrast, MICC against both targets and ADCC against Chang cells were similar for each group. Comparison of SCMC and MICC against both target cells, measured simultaneously, showed similar cytotoxic potenital against both target cells for each group. Effector cells capable of mediating cytotoxicity in each assay were defined by testing the cytotoxic function of lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from two representative patients with each disease using techniques of immunoabsorbent affinity chromatography and Fc receptor binding to antigen-antibody complexes. In both primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis SCMC and ADCC were mediated by a subpopulation of lymphocytes which lack surface immunoglobulin (sIg-) and bear Fc receptors (Fc+). In contrast, MICC was mediated by sIg- cells which lack Fc receptors. Lymphocytes bearing sIg- were not cytotoxic in any assay. These results establish a difference in cytotoxic function in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis by defining the presence of a defect in spontaneous cytotoxic function of sIg-, Fc+ lymphocytes against Chang cells in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult↗

Chemotaxis and transendothelial migration of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by the inflammatory mediator leukotriene D4 are mediated by the 7-transmembrane receptor CysLT1.

Recent studies suggest that bone marrow (BM)-derived chemotactic mediators such as chemokines play key roles in hematopoietic stem cell trafficking. Lipid mediators, particularly leukotrienes, are involved in leukocyte chemotaxis during inflammation but have also been detected in the normal BM. Therefore, the effects of leukotrienes on hematopoietic progenitor cells were analyzed. Cysteinyl leukotrienes, particularly leukotriene D4 (LTD4), induced strong intracellular calcium fluxes and actin polymerization in mobilized and BM CD34(+) progenitors. Chemotaxis and in vitro transendothelial migration of CD34(+) and more primitive CD34(+)/CD38(-) cells were 2-fold increased by LTD4 at an optimum concentration of 25 to 50 nM. Accordingly, CD34(+) cells expressed the 7-transmembrane LTD4 receptor CysLT1 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Effects of LTD4 were suppressed by the CysLT1 receptor antagonist MK-571 and reduced by pertussis toxin. In contrast, LTB4 induced strong responses only in mature granulocytes. LTD4-induced calcium fluxes were also observed in granulocytes but were not reduced by MK-571, suggesting that these effects were mediated by other receptors (eg, CysLT2) rather than by CysLT1. In addition, expression of 5-lipoxygenase, the key enzyme of leukotriene biosynthesis, was detected in both hematopoietic progenitor cells and mature leukocytes. The study concludes that the functionally active LTD4 receptor CysLT1 is preferentially expressed in immature hematopoietic progenitor cells. LTD4 released in the BM might regulate progenitor cell trafficking and could also act as an autocrine mediator of hematopoiesis. This would be a first physiologic effect of cysteinyl leukotrienes apart from the many known pathophysiologic actions related to allergy and inflammation. (Blood. 2001;97:3433-3440)

Antigens, CD34↗