The caspase 6 derived N-terminal fragment of DJ-1 promotes apoptosis via increased ROS production.

In pathological conditions, the amount of DJ-1 determines whether a cell can survive or engage a cell death program. This is exemplified in epithelial cancers, in which DJ-1 expression is increased, while autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson's disease mutations of DJ-1 generally lead to decreased stability and expression of the protein. We have shown previously that DJ-1 is cleaved by caspase-6 during induction of apoptosis. We demonstrate here that the N-terminal cleaved fragment of DJ-1 (DJ-1 Nt) is specifically expressed in the nucleus and promotes apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines. In addition, overexpression of DJ-1 Nt in different cell lines leads to a loss of clonogenic potential and sensitizes to staurosporin and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-mediated caspase activation and apoptosis. Importantly, inhibition of endogenous DJ-1 expression with sh-RNA or DJ-1 deficiency mimics the effect of DJ-1 Nt on cell growth and apoptosis. Moreover, overexpression of DJ-1 Nt increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and sensitizes to MPP+-mediated apoptosis and DJ-1 oxidation. Finally, specific exclusion of DJ-1 Nt from the nucleus abrogates its pro-apoptotic effect. Taken together, our findings identify an original pathway by which generation of a nuclear fragment of DJ-1 through caspase 6-mediated cleavage induces ROS-dependent amplification of apoptosis.

Apoptosis and erythroid differentiation triggered by Bcr-Abl inhibitors in CML cell lines are fully distinguishable processes that exhibit different sensitivity to caspase inhibition.

Imatinib targets the Bcr-Abl oncogene that causes chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in humans. Recently, we demonstrated that besides triggering apoptosis in K562 cells, imatinib also mediated their erythroid differentiation. Although both events appear to proceed concomitantly, it is not known at present whether or not imatinib-induced apoptosis and differentiation are interdependent processes. Hence, we investigated the requirements for Bcr-Abl inhibitor-mediated apoptosis and erythroid differentiation in several established and engineered CML cell lines. Imatinib triggered apoptosis and erythroid differentiation of different CML cell lines, but only apoptosis exhibited sensitivity to ZVAD-fmk inhibition. Conversely, the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, SB202190, significantly slowed down erythroid differentiation without affecting caspase activation. Furthermore, imatinib and PD166326, another Bcr-Abl inhibitory molecule, triggered erythroid differentiation of K562 cell clones, nevertheless resistant to Bcr-Abl inhibitor-induced apoptosis. Finally, short hairpin RNA inhibitor (shRNAi) silencing of caspase 3 efficiently inhibited caspase activity but had no effect on erythroid differentiation, whereas silencing of Bcr-Abl mimicked imatinib or PD166326 treatment, leading to increased apoptosis and erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. Taken together, our findings not only demonstrate that Bcr-Abl inhibitor-mediated apoptosis and differentiation are fully distinguishable events, but also that caspases are dispensable for erythroid differentiation of established CML cell lines.

A survey of the signaling pathways involved in megakaryocytic differentiation of the human K562 leukemia cell line by molecular and c-DNA array analysis.

The K562 cell line serves as a model to study the molecular mechanisms associated with leukemia differentiation. We show here that cotreatment of K562 cells with PMA and low doses of SB202190 (SB), an inhibitor of the p38 MAPK pathway, induced a majority of cells to differentiate towards the megakaryocytic lineage. Electronic microscopy analysis showed that K562 cells treated with PMA+SB exhibited characteristic features of physiological megakaryocytic differentiation including the presence of vacuoles and demarcation membranes. Differentiation was also accompanied by a net increase in megakaryocytic markers and a reduction of erythroid markers, especially when both effectors were present. PMA effect was selectively mediated by new PKC isoforms. Differentiation of K562 cells by the combination of PMA and SB required Erk1/2 activation, a threshold of JNK activation and p38 MAPK inhibition. Interestingly, higher concentrations of SB, which drastically activated JNK, blocked megakaryocytic differentiation, and considerably increased cell death in the presence of PMA. c-DNA microarray membranes and PCR analysis allow us to identify a set of genes modulated during PMA-induced K562 cell differentiation. Several gene families identified in our screening, including ephrins receptors and some angiogenic factors, had never been reported so far to be regulated during megakaryocytic differentiation.

Differential requirements for ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK activation by thrombin in T cells. Role of P59Fyn and PKCepsilon.

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a well documented mechanism for the G-protein-coupled receptors. Here, we have analysed the requirements for ERKs and p38 MAPK activation by thrombin in Jurkat T cells. We show that thrombin-mediated ERKs activation requires both PTK and PKC activities, whereas p38 MAPK activation is dependent only on PTKs. Thrombin-induced ERK and p38 MAPK activation was more pronounced in p56Lck deficient cells indicating that this PTK exerts a negative control on MAPK activity. Accordingly, overexpression of p50 Csk a kinase that inactivates p56Lck induced constitutive activation of ERKs. Requirement for a Src kinase was evidenced by expression of a constitutively active form of p59Fyn in Jurkat cells. Besides its effect on tyrosine phosphorylation events, thrombin also triggered a rapid and robust redistribution of PKCepsilon and delta from the cytosol to the membrane. Expression of constitutively active and dominant negative PKCepsilon demonstrates the pivotal role of this PKC isoform in ERKs activation by thrombin. These data are consistent with a model where thrombin induces ERK activation via both PKC-dependent and independent pathways, whereas p38 MAPK activation requires only PTKs. The PKC-independent pathway requires Src kinases other than p56Lck more likely p59Fyn, while the PKC-dependent mechanism depends on PKCepsilon

Differential expression of the Kell blood group and CD10 antigens: two related membrane metallopeptidases during differentiation of K562 cells by phorbol ester and hemin.

The erythroleukemic cell line K562 can undergo further differentiation in erythroid or megakaryocytic lineage depending on the nature of the stimulus. Phorbol ester (PMA) stimulates megakaryocytic development whereas hemin promotes erythroid differentiation of these cells. We have examined the effect of PMA and hemin on the expression of the Kell blood group and CD10 antigens, two related proteins that belong to a family of membrane-bound neutral metalloendopeptidases. We show here that differentiation of K562 cells by PMA in the megakaryocytic lineage results in abolishment of Kell mRNA accumulation and protein expression and, in parallel, the induction of CD10 mRNA accumulation, protein expression, and enzymatic activity. Conversely, differentiation of these cells by hemin in the erythroid lineage is accompanied by an up-regulation of Kell mRNA and protein expression, with no changes in CD10 mRNA and protein expression. Thus, CD10 and Kell can be regarded as specific markers of the differentiation of K562 cells in the megakaryocytic and erythroid lineages, respectively.

CD10 is expressed on human thymic epithelial cell lines and modulates thymopentin-induced cell proliferation.

Thymic hormones such as thymopoietin (TP) have been shown to regulate thymocyte differentiation and lymphocyte activation. However, it is not known whether thymopoietin affects thymic epithelial cell (TEC) functions. In this study we have examined the effect of a five amino acid active peptide (TP5), corresponding to amino acids 32-36 of TP, on the proliferation of nontransformed clones of human TEC. Our results indicate that TP5 induced reinitiation of DNA synthesis and potentiated fetal calf serum (FCS)-induced cell growth in postnatal and fetal-derived human TEC. We also found that TEC lines express high levels of endopeptidase 24.11, a cell-surface metallopeptidase also known as the CD10 antigen. We show that TP5 is cleaved by CD10 at the surface of TEC lines, indicating that this endopeptidase may regulate TP5-induced TEC proliferation. Phosphoramidon, a specific endopeptidase 24.11 inhibitor, consistently acts in synergy with TP5 to enhance FCS-induced TEC growth. Hence, we conclude that 1) TP5 alone or in combination with FCS supports the growth of TEC lines, and 2) TEC lines express high levels of CD10, which regulates TP5-induced TEC proliferation by acting as a thymic peptide degrading enzyme.

Endopeptidase 24.11 (CD10/NEP) is required for phorbol ester-induced growth arrest in Jurkat T cells.

Jurkat T cells express a functional endopeptidase 24.11 that is involved in the regulation of T cell activation. We have analyzed the effect of ectopic CD10 expression in mutant Jurkat cell clones that fail to express CD10 and, unlike wild-type cells, are resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of the protein kinase C activator, PMA. No differences in the expression of the mRNA encoding the alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta isoforms of PKC were found in parental vs. PMA-resistant Jurkat cells, ruling out the possibility that the defect could be accounted for by an altered expression of one of these isoforms. Phorbol ester-induced growth arrest was not due to apoptosis since PMA failed to trigger DNA fragmentation in parental and mutant Jurkat T cells. CD10 mRNA expression and activity were abrogated in four independent PMA-resistant Jurkat T cell clones compared to parental cells, whereas the activities of several other peptidases were unaffected. Transfection of one mutant clone with a functional endopeptidase 24.11 restored in a significant manner PMA-induced growth arrest in all the clones selected and tested, whereas transfection of an inactive form of endopeptidase 24.11 had no effect, demonstrating that the enzymatic activity of CD10 is critical in the mediation of the PMA growth arrest. The data presented here demonstrate that a functional CD10 is required for PMA-induced growth arrest in Jurkat cells and provide further evidence for a role of endopeptidase 24.11 in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation.

CD10 plays a specific role in early thymic development.

Development of T lymphocyte is a complex process that depends on both thymocytestromal cell interactions and the production of soluble factors such as cytokines, peptides, and hormones. In many tissues, the concentration of active biological peptides is regulated locally by a specialized family of enzymes: the ectopeptidases. We show here that treatment of fetal thymic organ cultures (FTOC) with the specific CD10 (endopeptidase 24.11) inhibitors SCH 32615: (N-[L-(1-carboxy-2-phenyl)ethyl]-L-phenylalanyl-beta-alanine), RB25: (N-(3-[(hydroaxyamino)carbonyl]-2-benzylidene-1-oxopropyl]-N-glyci ne), and thymopentin (TP5) results in the inhibition of thymocyte differentiation. Each agent induces a significant decrease in the number of double positive (CD4+CD8+) cells in favor of the TN (TcR alpha beta-CD4-CD8-) population. RB25 also blocks T lymphocyte differentiation in FTOC when preinjected into pregnant mice. Finally, RB25 and TP5 were also shown to reduce the number of CD44+CD25- and CD44-CD25- thymocytes both in vitro and after preinjection in vivo in day 2 FTOC. Thus, agents that affect endopeptidase 24.11 activity impair T cell development both in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that the CD10 molecule plays a specific role in promoting early T cell development.

CD10 (endopeptidase 24.11) is a thymic peptide-degrading enzyme possibly involved in the regulation of thymocyte functions.

Human immature thymocytes express significant levels of the CD10 (endopeptidase 24.11) cell surface antigen. We report here that IOB5, an anti-CD10 mAb, as well as the phorbol ester PMA down-regulate CD10 activity at the surface of human thymocytes. The kinetics of CD10 modulation were drastically different for both effectors, indicating different regulatory mechanisms. We also demonstrated that intact human thymocytes hydrolyze thymopentin and that CD10 significantly participates in this process. Finally, we found that thymopentin and to a lesser extent phosphoramidon, a specific endopeptidase 24.11 inhibitor, induced up-regulation of CD4 and CD8 molecules at the thymocyte cell surface. In view of these results, we suggest that down-regulation of endopeptidase 24.11 at the thymocyte cell surface might reduce its activity toward thymic factors possibly involved in the regulation of thymocyte functions.

Thrombin and trypsin-induced Ca(2+) mobilization in human T cell lines through interaction with different protease-activated receptors.

This study was conducted to determine whether serine proteinases may induce [Ca(2+)]i mobilization in different hematopoietic cell lines and to analyze their mechanisms of action. We show that in addition to thrombin and thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRP, SFLLRN), trypsin induced [Ca(2+)]i mobilization in a highly thrombin-sensitive Jurkat T cell clone. Thrombin, TRP, and trypsin were found to induce [Ca(2+)]i release in three different Jurkat T cell clones differing in the level of T cell receptor expression. Similar results were obtained with a prothymocytic leukemic cell line, HPB.ALL, although these cells were much more responsive to trypsin than to thrombin and TRP. Other cell types such as THP1, a myelomonocytic cell line, or CEM, a CD4(+) positive leukemic cell line, were unresponsive to thrombin, TRP, and trypsin. The effect of trypsin was mimicked by SLIGRL, a peptide corresponding to the cleaved amino-terminal sequence of the recently characterized murine trypsin-activated receptor (PAR2). At suboptimal concentrations, the effects of SFLLRN and SLIGRL were additive, whereas saturating doses of peptides did not further increase [Ca(2+)]i mobilization in Jurkat T cells, indicating that both peptides were able to mobilize the same pool of calcium. Northern blot analysis of mRNAs from different leukemic cell lines indicated a remarkable correlation between PAR2 expression in different cell lines and SLIGRL or trypsin responses in the same cells. The expression of the "trypsin receptor" was also confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Moreover, a 24 h treatment of Jurkat cells by an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, a condition known to down-regulate thrombin receptor expression, induced loss of thrombin and TRP responses but only partially affected trypsin stimulation of [Ca(2+)]i release. Finally, after a first stimulation with either thrombin or trypsin, Jurkat cells were still able to respond to trypsin or thrombin, respectively, demonstrating that thrombin and trypsin essentially activated their own receptors. Our data provided evidence that 1) the human T leukemic cell line Jurkat and other T cell lines express at least two different functional protease-activated receptors, the thrombin receptor and a highly sensitive trypsin receptor, likely the human counterpart of the murine PAR2, and 2) at variance with the commonly accepted model, trypsin exerts most of its effect in T leukemic cell lines by thrombin receptor-independent mechanisms.

High levels of functional endopeptidase 24.11 (CD10) activity on human thymocytes: preferential expression on immature subsets.

Although it is now well established that cells of the immune system express most of the exopeptidases described so far, little information is available concerning the identification and the characterization of the peptidases associated with the surface of human thymocytes. In the present study we have focused on CD10 expression on thymocytes using both FACS and enzymatic analysis. Unfractionated intact human thymocytes were shown to express significant levels of CD10-specific enzymatic activity, as assessed by the hydrolysis of the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) substrate Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-pNA and of D-Ala2-Leu-enkephalin, a typical NEP substrate. CD10 activity was abolished by specific NEP inhibitors, including thiorphan, retrothiorphan and phosphoramidon. Moreover, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that intact thymocytes and purified NEP hydrolysed thymopentin, a thymic factor known to induce the maturation of prothymocytes into thymocytes. Finally, CD 10/NEP was preferentially associated with CD3- CD3low and immature CD4- CD8- thymocytes. The data demonstrate for the first time that human thymocytes express functional NEP and suggest a role for this enzyme in the maturation of human thymocytes.

Thrombin and thrombin receptor agonist peptide induce early events of T cell activation and synergize with TCR cross-linking for CD69 expression and interleukin 2 production.

Thrombin stimulation of the T leukemic cell line Jurkat induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. Proteolytic activity of the enzyme was required for this effect since diisopropyl fluorophosphate-thrombin failed to increase [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, hirudin and anti-thrombin III inhibited the thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i rise in Jurkat T cells. A synthetic thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRP) of 7 residues (SFLLRNP) was found to be as effective as thrombin for [Ca2+]i mobilization, and both agonists induced Ca2+ release exclusively from internal stores. Thrombin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins of molecular mass 40, 42, 70, 120, and 130 kDa. There was a good correlation between thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the latter three proteins and Ca2+ mobilization. Thrombin and TRP also caused translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. As a likely consequence of these events, thrombin activated the nuclear factor NF-kB. Several cell lines of hematopoietic origin including the leukemic T cell line HPB.ALL and the erythroleukemic cell line K562 were responsive to thrombin, whereas others such as THP1, a myelomonocytic cell line, and BL2, a Burkitt lymphoma were refractory to thrombin or TRP stimulation. The magnitude of the thrombin response in the different cell types paralleled the expression of the thrombin receptor mRNA. We found that activation of Jurkat T cells by a combination of phytohemagglutinin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate led to a dramatic inhibition of thrombin receptor mRNA expression and to a concomitant loss of the thrombin response. Finally, we demonstrate that thrombin and TRP enhanced CD69 expression and interleukin 2 production induced by T cell receptor cross-linking in both Jurkat T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. These findings highlight the role of thrombin as a potential regulator of T lymphocyte activation.

Characterization and purification of T lymphocyte aminopeptidase B: a putative marker of T cell activation.

We have previously described that human T lymphocytes express membrane-associated peptidase activities (Mari et al., EMBO J., 1992, 11:3875). We show in this report that intact Jurkat T cells readily cleaved H-Arg-paranitroanilide, an aminopeptidase B (AP-B) substrate. The identification of the hydrolyzing activity as AP-B was confirmed by its sensitivity to both arphamenine B and bestatin in the nanomolar range. Significant AP-B activity was released in the supernatant upon incubation of intact T lymphocytes at 37 degrees C. However, AP-B activity was found mainly in the cytosolic fraction of Jurkat T cells. Cytosolic T cell AP-B was purified to homogeneity and exhibited a molecular mass of 72 kDa. Purified AP-B cleaved N-terminal basic amino acid-containing peptides such as thymopentin (H-Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr-OH), indicating that it might play a role in the regulation of the concentration of important soluble mediators of T cell activation. A rabbit polyclonal antibody was shown to recognize AP-B as assessed by both immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments. Finally, we found that AP-B was up-regulated during activation of normal and leukemic T lymphocytes.