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Tamoxifen induces deregulation of [Ca2+] in human breast cancer cells.

Tamoxifen is a clinically useful estrogen antagonist at or below 10(-6) M concentration. However, above this concentration tamoxifen exerts non-ER mediated cytotoxicity. Such cytotoxic effects are lethal or sublethal. The lethal effects lead to cell death while the sublethal effects may lead to cellular transformation and response modification participating in the process of tumor resistance or even tumor stimulation. Deregulation of intracellular ionized calcium ([Ca2+]i) could lead to genomic instability and deregulation of oncogene expression which might participate in the process of carcinogenesis and/or tumor promotion. Tamoxifen may cause tumor stimulation due to deregulation of [Ca2+]i or its consequences such as activity of protein kinase C, calmodulin and related protein kinases. Precise understanding of such mechanism is important for avoiding tamoxifen induced tumor resistance or tumor stimulation. The deregulation of [Ca2+]i was studied on fluo-3/AM loaded MCF-7 human breast cancer cells following acute and chronic treatment of tamoxifen and calcium ionophore ionomycin. The elevation of [Ca2+]i preceded the death of MCF-7 cells following treatment with ionomycin as previously reported on other cells. Tamoxifen above 10(-6) M also caused an increase in [Ca2+]i preceding the death of MCF-7 cells. However, below this concentration, tamoxifen caused a decrease in [Ca2+]i without any signs of cytotoxicity. The present data clearly demonstrate a tamoxifen-induced increase in [Ca2+]i and cell death only at the concentration-range in which non-E R mediated cytotoxicity is reported.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Heterologous desensitization of the rat tail artery contraction and inositol phosphate accumulation after in vitro exposure to phenylephrine is mediated by decreased levels of Galphaq and Galphai.

Desensitization of alpha-1 adrenoceptor (alpha1AR)-mediated responses in aortic smooth muscle after exposure to catecholamines or alpha1AR agonists has been widely demonstrated. To determine whether exposure to an alpha1AR agonist results in desensitization of alpha1AR-mediated responses in a resistance artery, rat tail artery rings were exposed to 7.5 or 75 microM phenylephrine (PE) for 22 hr in vitro. Norepinephrine-stimulated contraction was significantly reduced in PE-exposed tail artery rings. Contractions mediated by the alpha2AR agonists, clonidine and UK 14,304, and by serotonin were also reduced in PE-treated tail artery rings. However, the contractile responses to KCl and ionomycin remained unchanged. Norepinephrine-, PE-, endothelin- and serotonin-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulations were reduced in PE-exposed tail artery rings, whereas KCl- and ionomycin-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation remained unchanged. The density of membrane alpha1ARs, measured by specific [125I]2-([beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]aminomethyl)-1-etralone binding was not changed in PE-desensitized tail arteries. Further studies were performed to examine if alterations in receptor/G protein interaction accompanies arterial desensitization. In these studies receptor-stimulated increases in [35S]GTPgammaS binding to G proteins was assessed in membranes obtained from vehicle (control) and PE-treated tail arteries. In control membranes alpha1AR stimulation increased [35S]GTPgammaS binding to Galphaq and Galphai proteins, whereas the alpha2AR agonist UK14,304 activated [35S]GTPgammaS binding to Galphai exclusively. Both PE- and UK14, 304-induced responses were reduced in membranes from tail arteries that were exposed to either 7.5 or 75 microM PE for 22 hr. Western blot analyses of G protein alpha and beta subunits demonstrated that Galphaq and Galphai protein levels were decreased in PE-exposed tail artery membranes. These data show that the reduced transmembrane signaling for the alpha1AR in tail artery after in vitro PE exposure is associated with decreases in Galphaq and Galphai protein levels. The reduction in these Galpha proteins also appears to mediate the loss of function of alpha2AR and perhaps of other G protein-coupled receptors.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

T cell receptor-mediated signaling is defective in T cells obtained from patients with primary intracranial tumors.

It has been well established that patients with malignant glioblastomas exhibit T cell anergy. In this report, we further investigate the nature of this T cell anergy. The results demonstrate that tumor size but not location correlates with decreased mitogen or anti-CD3 mAb responsiveness of T cells obtained from patients. Stimulation of the TCR/CD3 complex on these patients' T cells revealed defects in early transmembrane signaling. Both PHA and anti-CD3 mAb activated PBL and T cells obtained from patients exhibited a marked decrease in the tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins. In particular, decreased phosphorylation of pp100 and phospholipase Cgamma1 (PLCgamma1) was observed. In addition, PLCgamma1 and p56(lck) protein levels were dramatically reduced in T cells obtained from patients harboring a glioma. In contrast, the protein levels of p59(fyn) were normal or only slightly reduced in T cells obtained from patients with gliomas. Quantitation of free intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) after mitogen (PHA) stimulation or ionomycin treatment of T cells obtained from patients revealed that they mobilize less calcium than do T cells obtained from normal subjects. Stimulation of T cells obtained from patients with PMA and ionomycin, which should bypass the requirement for PLCgamma1 activation as well as directly activate the p21(ras) signaling pathway, did not restore the proliferative capacity of these T cells to normal levels. These results indicate that the anergy observed in T cells obtained from these patients is a consequence of one or more defects in the early transmembrane signaling events associated with TCR/CD3 stimulation.

Brain Neoplasms↗

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is required for human neutrophil function triggered by TNF-alpha or FMLP stimulation.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-mediated signal-transduction pathways convert extracellular stimulation into a variety of cellular functions. However, the roles of MAP kinases in neutrophils are not well understood yet. Protein phosphorylation analysis of cellular MAP kinases indicates that exposure of human neutrophils to chemotactic factor FMLP as well as granulocyte-macrophage CSF, PMA, or ionomycin rapidly induced the activation of p38 and p44/42 MAP kinases, but stimulation with inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha triggered the activation of p38 MAP kinase only. To study the cellular functions of these MAP kinases, the inhibitor SB20358, which specifically inhibited enzymatic activity of cellular p38 MAP kinase, and the inhibitor PD98059, which specifically blocked the induced protein phosphorylation and activation of p44/42 MAP kinase in intact neutrophils, were utilized. Inhibition of the cellular p38 MAP kinase activation almost completely abolished the TNF-alpha-stimulated IL-8 production and superoxide generation of human neutrophils. In addition, the FMLP-induced neutrophil chemotaxis as well as superoxide generation were suppressed markedly by inhibiting the activation of cellular p38 MAP kinase, but not p44/42 MAP kinase. Moreover, RIA indicates that the activation of cellular p38 MAP kinase was required for the neutrophil IL-8 production stimulated by granulocyte-macrophage CSF or LPS as well as TNF-alpha, but not for that induced by PMA or ionomycin. These results demonstrate that the activation of cellular p38 MAP kinase is indispensable for the TNF-alpha- or FMLP-mediated cellular functions in human neutrophils, and suggest that p38 MAP kinase may play a different role in response to distinct stimulation.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Positive and negative regulation of human T cell activation mediated by the CTLA-4/CD28 ligand CD80.

CD28 and CTLA-4 are related receptors that differentially regulate T cell activation. Despite the fact that they bind the same ligands, CD28 is a classical costimulator enhancing proliferation whereas CTLA-4 appears to perform negative regulatory functions. In this study, we have utilized the natural ligand for CD28 and CTLA-4 (CD80) to determine under what circumstances positive and negative effects are operative. We show here that the stimulation of purified human T cells with phorbol ester and ionomycin is inhibited in the presence of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing CD80. This inhibition is reversed by blocking with both anti-CD80 or Fab fragments of anti-CTLA-4 but also requires CD28 engagement. Furthermore, we show that the inhibitory function of CD80 requires elevated intracellular calcium since inhibition was observed only in the presence of ionomycin. In the absence of intracellular calcium elevation, CTLA-4 was not expressed at the cell surface, and CD80 acted positively as a costimulator of T cells, via CD28. These results demonstrate that the natural ligand CD80 can either costimulate or inhibit T cell responses depending on the conditions of T cell stimulation.

Abatacept↗

Mildly oxidized low-density lipoproteins decrease early production of interleukin 2 and nuclear factor kappaB binding to DNA in activated T-lymphocytes.

Activated T-lymphocytes are found early in atherosclerosis lesions, but little is known about their role. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of the lesions, and we have previously demonstrated that oxLDLs inhibit not only interleukin (IL)-2-receptor expression on the surface of in vitro-activated T-lymphocytes but also their proliferation. We have now investigated the effect of oxLDLs on blast differentiation, on IL-2 synthesis and on the activation of the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) system in activated lymphocytes. Mildly oxLDLs (50 and 100 microgram/ml) decreased the number of lymphoblasts and the level of IL-2 concentration in the culture supernatants after activation of lymphocytes by phytohaemagglutinin and PMA+ionomycin. The inhibition of IL-2 production was observed in the CD3(+) T-lymphocyte cytoplasm as early as 4 h after activation by PMA+ionomycin. The study of NF-kappaB showed that oxLDLs led to a decrease of activation-induced p65/p50 NF-kappaB heterodimer binding to DNA, whereas the presence of the constitutive nuclear form of p50 dimer was unchanged. This was correlated with an unchanged level of the active form of the cytosolic inhibitor protein IkappaB-alpha. Taken together, these observations suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of oxLDLs might operate via a dysregulation of the T-lymphocyte activation mechanisms.

Arteriosclerosis↗

IL-13 production by NK cells: IL-13-producing NK and T cells are present in vivo in the absence of IFN-gamma.

In this study, we demonstrate that human NK cells, human NK clones, the human NK cell line (NK3.3), and a population of murine NK cells can produce the type 2 cytokine IL-13 in response to IL-2 or phorbol myristate acetate plus ionomycin. IL-2 rapidly induced new IL-13 mRNA and protein synthesis in the NK3.3 cell line. Six of 12 human NK clones tested produced IL-13 protein in response to IL-2 or phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. Intracellular analysis revealed that approximately 2% of human peripheral NK cells produced IL-13 protein in response to IL-2. Isolated NK cells from SCID and RAG-2 knockout (-/-) mice that lack T and B cells as well as normal mice also can produce IL-13 mRNA and protein in response to IL-2. We hypothesized that in the absence of IFN-gamma, IL-13-producing NK cells may predominate in vivo. Utilizing IFN-gamma knockout (-/-) mice as a model system, IL-2-activated liver NK and T cells expressed 10-fold more IL-13 and IL-5 mRNA and protein than normal controls following IL-2 treatment in vitro. These results suggest that in the absence of IFN-gamma, an IL-13- and IL-5-producing NK and T cells predominate in vivo. The existence of this cell type has important implications in innate immunity given that the balance between IFN-gamma and IL-13/IL-5-producing NK cells may influence the early development of a cell-mediated or humoral immune response.

Animals↗

Coaxial flow mixer for real-time monitoring of cellular responses in flow injection cytometry.

Improved time resolution of kinetic cellular events in flow cytometry is demonstrated by using a coaxial flow-mixing device integrated within a flow-injection (FI) system. The instrument is used in combination with a Becton Dickinson FACS Analyzer for on-line reagent addition, rapid sample mixing, and temperature control of cell suspensions. The coaxial flow device can instantaneously (< 60 ms) mix reagent and sample streams, allowing cytometric analysis of subsecond events to be performed. Kinetic measurements can be performed on the FACS analyzer in a variable time range of from 100 ms to 3 min. The system also allows the collection of unlimited cellular events at a specific incubation time point. Because the system operates continuously and no boost in core flow is required, disturbances of flow conditions are avoided. The capabilities of the flow injection cytometer have been demonstrated by the determination of internal [Ca2+]i mobilization in Jurkat T lymphocytes perfused internally with INDO-1 and stimulated by ionomycin.

Flow Cytometry↗

Mitochondrial membrane potential measurement in rat cerebellar neurons by flow cytometry.

Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in dissociated rat cerebellar neurons was measured using rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) as fluorescent dye, and flow cytometry. Dye distribution was studied by confocal scanning microscopy. Propidium iodide (PI)-marked cells (dead cells) were not stained by Rh 123, while the green fluorescence of living cells was restricted to mitochondria. Incubation of cells with different ionophores resulted in a maximal inhibition of Rh 123 fluorescence of 27.0 +/- 5.9% (valinomycin), 55.6 +/- 7.2% (ionomycin), and 37.3 +/- 5.1% (gramicidin). Ionophores decreased cell viability at high concentrations, measured as the number of propidium iodide-marked cells. Exposure of cell suspensions to the mitochondrial specific uncoupling agent CCCP caused a decrease in Rh 123 fluorescence (40 +/- 6.1%). Conversely, oxidative stress induced by H2O2 did not affect Rh 123 fluorescence. Impairment of glucose bioavailability reduced Rh 123 fluorescence. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose decreased the MMP with a maximal inhibition of 24.0 +/- 4.4%. Lack of glucose in the incubation medium also resulted in a decrease in MMP. Moreover, application of L-glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) (the excitatory amino acids) decreased Rh 123 uptake in a dose-dependent manner, which suggests that the measurement of MMP in dissociated cerebellar neurons by flow cytometry is a suitable method to detect the activity of drugs acting on glutamate receptors.

Animals↗

Kinetics of intracytoplasmic Th1 and Th2 cytokine production assessed by flow cytometry following in vitro activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

BACKGROUND: Standard cytokine detection methods are unable to determine which cells are the producing cells. We report on the extent and under which conditions the multilabeling capability of flow cytometry (FCM) can bring new advances into the field. METHODS: Five different cytokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2), -4, -5, -10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were assessed simultaneously under five ex vivo stimulation conditions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five healthy volunteers in a 5-day kinetic study. A second group of 35 volunteers was assessed for IFN-gamma and IL-2 production. RESULTS: This study showed that (a) intracytoplasmic cytokines were almost undetectable within unstimulated cells, (b) intracytoplasmic cytokines were detected only in CD69(+) T lymphocytes, and (c) intracytoplasmic IL-2 and IFN-gamma were dramatically upregulated after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-ionomycin in a biphasic response or with PMA-phytohemagglutinin (one major peak only at 18 h) but to a lesser extent with other stimuli such as monoclonal antibodies. Th2 cytokines were detected at a later time point and at lower levels. PMA/ionomycin stimulation after 4 h and 18 h of culture in 35 other volunteers individualized several subgroups according to the frequency of IFN-gamma- or IL-2-producing cells--IFN-gamma delayed producers (n = 10/35), IFN-gamma low producers (n = 8/35), and IL-2 delayed producers (n = 16/35)--as opposed to IFN-gamma or IL-2 normal producers. CONCLUSIONS: FCM appears to be a good tool to examine cell cytokine status in pathology (allergy, autoimmune disease, etc.) provided that optimal stimulation conditions and multiple time-point cultures are used. It also seems to be a relevant method to define new Th subsets further.

Antigens, CD↗

Protein synthesis in presynaptic endings from squid brain: modulation by calcium ions.

Previous biochemical, autoradiographic, and ultrastructural data have shown that, in the synaptosomal fraction of the squid optic lobe, protein synthesis is largely due to the presynaptic terminals of the retinal photoreceptor neurons (Crispino et al. [1993a] Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 4:366-374; Crispino et al. [1993b] J. Neurochem. 61:1144-1146; Crispino et al. [1997] J. Neurosci. 17:7694-7702). We now report that this process is close to its maximum at the basal concentration of cytosolic Ca++, and is markedly inhibited when the concentration of this ion is either decreased or increased. This conclusion is supported by the results of experiments with: 1) compounds known to increase the level of cytosolic Ca++, such as A23187, ionomycin, thapsigargin, and caffeine; 2) compounds sequestering cytosolic calcium ions such as BAPTA-AM; and 3) agents that block the role of Ca++ as second messenger, such as TFP and W7, which inhibit calmodulin, and calphostin, which inhibits protein kinase C. We conclude that variations in the level of cytosolic Ca++ induced in presynaptic terminals by neuronal activity may contribute to the modulation of the local synthesis of protein.

Animals↗

Filamin translocation is an early endothelial cell inflammatory response to bradykinin: regulation by calcium, protein kinases, and protein phosphatases.

Endothelial cell (EC) cytoskeletal proteins are one of the earliest primary targets of second messenger cascades generated in response to inflammatory agonists. Actin binding proteins, by modulating actin gelation-solation state and membrane-cytoskeleton interactions, in part regulate cell motility and cell-cell apposition. This in turn can also modulate interendothelial junctional diameter and permeability. Nonmuscle filamin (ABP-280), a dimeric actin-crosslinking protein, promotes orthogonal branching of F-actin and links microfilaments to membrane glycoproteins. In the present study, immunoblot analysis demonstrates that filamin protein levels are low in sparse EC cultures, increase once cell-cell contact is initiated and then decrease slightly at post-confluency. Both bradykinin and ionomycin cause filamin redistribution from the peripheral cell border to the cytosol of confluent EC. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, blocks filamin translocation. Bradykinin activation of EC is not accompanied by significant proteolytic cleavage of filamin. Instead, intact filamin is recycled back to the membrane within 5-10 min of bradykinin stimulation. Inhibitors of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase (KT-5926 and KN-62) attenuate bradykinin-induced filamin translocation. H-89, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, causes translocation of filamin in unstimulated cells. Calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases, also causes translocation of filamin in the absence of an inflammatory agent. ML-7, an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase and phorbol myristate acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, do not cause filamin movement into the cytosol, indicating that these pathways do not modulate the translocation. Pharmacological data suggest that filamin translocation is initiated by the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase whereas the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway prevents translocation. Inflammatory agents therefore may increase vascular junctional permeability by increasing cytoplasmic calcium, which disassembles the microfilament dense peripheral band by releasing filamin from F-actin.

Animals↗

Shear stress induction of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is calcium-dependent but not calcium-activated.

Arterial levels of shear stress (25 dynes/cm2) can elevate constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression in cultured endothelial cells (Ranjan et al., 1995). By PhosphorImaging of Northern blots, we report that the eNOS/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) messenger RNA (mRNA) ratio in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) increased by 4.8- and 7.95-fold after 6-hr shear stress exposure of 4 and 25 dynes/cm2, respectively. Incubation of BAEC with dexamethasone (1 microM) had no effect on shear stress induction of eNOS mRNA. Buffering of intracellular calcium in BAEC with bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetra(acetoxymethyl)-ester (BAPTA/AM) reduced shear stress induction of eNOS mRNA by 70%. Yet, stimulation of BAEC with ionomycin (0.1-1.0 microM) for 6-24 hr to elevate intracellular calcium had no effect on eNOS mRNA. These studies indicated that the shear stress induction of eNOS mRNA was a calcium-dependent, but not calcium-activated, process. Shear stress was a very potent and rapid inducer of the eNOS mRNA, which could not be mimicked with phorbol myristrate acetate or endotoxin. Inhibition of tyrosine kinases with genistein (10 microM) or tyrphostin B46 (10 microM) or inhibition of G-protein signaling with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-betaS) (600 microM, 6-hr preincubation) did not block the shear stress elevation of eNOS mRNA.

Animals↗

Functional uncoupling between intracellular calcium dynamics and secretion in the alphaT3-1 gonadotropic cell line.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates both transcription and secretion of the alpha subunit of the gonadotropins in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. In this study, we examined the role of Ca2+ as the signal coupling agonist occupancy of GnRH receptors to hormone secretion using the gonadotropic cell line alphaT3-1. Treatment of alphaT3-1 cells for 60 min with GnRH (0.1-100 nM), veratridine (50 microM) or high K+ (56 mM) was completely ineffective in stimulating secretion. The lack of effect occurred in spite of a robust, specific, and dose-dependent biphasic [Ca2+]i response consisting of a rapid peak sensitive to thapsigargin (200 nM) followed by a smaller plateau sensitive to the extracellular application of EGTA (5 mM). On the other hand, treatment of alphaT3-1 cells with the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin resulted in a significant dose-dependent stimulation of secretion and [Ca2+]i responses comparable to those elicited by GnRH. Binding assays revealed the presence of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors (Kd = 3.2 nM, Bmax = 50.5 fmol/mg protein) but not ryanodine receptors in alphaT3-1 cell membranes. Together, these results show a functional uncoupling between the [Ca2+]i response and secretion in this cell line, suggesting that the increase in [Ca2+]i triggered by GnRH and depolarization may be necessary but not sufficient to stimulate exocytosis.

Calcium↗

Calcium-dependent secretion in human neutrophils: a proteomic approach.

Bactericidal, proteolytic and signal proteins released by activated neutrophils play a major role in infection fighting and inflammatory processes. These proteins are mainly stored in organelles called granules until induction of their controlled exocytosis. The present work deals with the characterization of the proteins which are secreted upon activation of human neutrophils by ionomycin and calcium. Proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Almost all the previously described soluble components of neutrophil granules could be identified. Moreover, several additional proteins were shown to be secreted by activated neutrophils, namely calgranulins, human cartilage glycoprotein of 39 kDa (HC gp-39), chitotriosidase, and annexin XI. Their subcellular localization and possible functions are discussed.

Blood Proteins↗

Analysis of type T1 and T2 cytokines in patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that a dysregulation in the balance between type T1 (IL-2, IFN-gamma) and type T2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines may be implicated in the development of cancer. METHODS: We determined the expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma in CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes by flow cytometry in 12 patients with prostate cancer and in 7 healthy subjects. In addition to the basal expression of these cytokines, their expression was also determined, following stimulation of lymphocytes with PMA (phorbol 12-mystirate 13 acetate) and ionomycin. RESULTS: The basal expression of cytokines was scarce, while following stimulation this increased markedly. On the other hand, there was a dysregulation in the balance between T1 and T2 lymphocytes in patients with prostate cancer. To this effect, in relation to healthy subjects, we observed an increase in IL-10 expression and a decrease in IL-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The disequilibrium observed in the balance between type T1 and type T2 cytokines may be implicated in the evolution of neoplastic disease.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

Epidermal growth factor regulates the transition from basal sodium absorption to anion secretion in cultured endometrial epithelial cells.

The objective of this study was to investigate acute and long-term effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) on basal ion transport activity of glandular endometrial epithelial cells in primary culture. The effects of EGF on insulin-dependent regulation of Na+ transport across this epithelium was also investigated. Addition of 1.6 nM EGF or 2 nM TGFalpha to the basolateral, but not the apical, solution inhibited both basal and insulin-stimulated Na+ transport with a maximum response within 45-60 min. This effect was mimicked by the calcium ionophore ionomycin. Incubation with EGF for 4 days inhibited insulin-stimulated Na absorption in a concentration-dependent fashion with an IC(50) value of 0.3 nM. Experiments using amphotericin B-permeabilized monolayers demonstrated that EGF inhibited Na transport by decreasing apical membrane Na conductance without affecting insulin-dependent stimulation of the Na+-K+ ATPase. Addition of EGF or TGFalpha for 24 h resulted in increased basal Cl- secretion in addition to inhibition of Na absorption. The EGF-induced increase in Cl- secretion was inhibited in part by indomethacin, suggesting that long-term regulation by EGF involves stimulation of arachidonic acid synthesis and prostaglandin release. The EGF-induced increase in indomethacin-insensitive Cl- secretion was prevented by the protein synthesis inhibitor cyclohexamide, and by the DNA transcription inhibitor actinomycin D indicating that EGF-stimulated anion secretion required DNA transcription and protein synthesis. The results of these studies demonstrated that the basal transport properties of endometrial epithelial cells are differentially regulated by EGF, TGFalpha, and insulin.

Amiloride↗

The nuclear receptor PPAR gamma is expressed by mouse T lymphocytes and PPAR gamma agonists induce apoptosis.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma is a nuclear hormone receptor that serves as a trans factor to regulate lipid metabolism. Intense interest is focused on PPAR-gamma and its ligands owing to its putative role in adipocyte differentiation. Little is known, however, about the functions of PPAR-gamma in the immune system, especially in T lymphocytes. We demonstrate that both naive and activated ovalbumin-specific T cells from DO11.10-transgenic mice express PPAR-gamma mRNA and protein. In order to determine the function of PPAR-gamma, T cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin or antigen and antigen-presenting cells. Simultaneous exposure to PPAR-gamma ligands (e. g. 15-deoxy-Delta(12, 14)-prostaglandin J(2), troglitazone) showed drastic inhibition of proliferation and significant decreases in cell viability. The decrease in cell viability was due to apoptosis of the T lymphocytes, and occurred only when cells were treated with PPAR-gamma, and not PPAR-alpha agonists, revealing specificity of this response for PPAR-gamma. These observations suggest that PPAR-gamma agonists play an important role in regulating T cell-mediated immune responses by inducing apoptosis. T cell death via PPAR-gamma ligation may act as a potent anti-inflammatory signal in the immune system, and ligands could possibly be used to control disorders in which excessive inflammation occurs.

Animals↗