Involvement of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in the growth of canine melanoma cells.

The rate of glucose uptake dramatically increases in cancer cells even in the presence of oxygen and fully functioning mitochondria. Cancer cells produce ATP by glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation under aerobic conditions, a process termed as the "Warburg effect." In the present study, we treated canine melanoma cells with the glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and investigated its effect on cell growth. 2-DG attenuated cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell growth was also inhibited following treatment with the glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitor WZB-117. The treatment of 2-DG and WZB-117 attenuated the glucose consumption, lactate secretion and glucose uptake of the cells. The mRNA expression of the subtypes of GLUT was examined and GLUT1 and GLUT3 were found to be expressed in melanoma cells. The growth, glucose consumption and lactate secretion of melanoma cells transfected with siRNAs of specific for GLUT1 and GLUT3 was suppressed. These findings suggest that glucose uptake via GLUT1 and GLUT3 plays a crucial role for the growth of canine melanoma cells.

Non-Transcriptional and Translational Function of Canonical NF-κB Signaling in Activating ERK1/2 in IL-1ß-Induced COX-2 Expression in Synovial Fibroblasts.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) induces the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 by upregulating cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the synovial tissue of individuals with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-1ß-mediated stimulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling is important for the pathogenesis of RA; however, crosstalk(s) between NF-κB and MAPK signaling remains to be understood. In this study, we established a model for IL-1ß-induced synovitis and investigated the role of NF-κB and MAPK signaling in synovitis. We observed an increase in the mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 release in cells treated with IL-1ß. NF-κB and ERK1/2 inhibitors significantly reduced IL-1ß-induced COX-2 expression. IL-1ß induced the phosphorylation of canonical NF-κB complex (p65 and p105) and degradation of IκBα. IL-1ß also induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but did not affect the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and JNK. IL-1ß failed to induce COX-2 expression in cells transfected with siRNA for p65, p105, ERK1, or ERK2. Notably, NF-κB inhibitors reduced IL-1ß-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation; however, the ERK1/2 inhibitor had no effect on the phosphorylation of the canonical NF-κB complex. Although transcription and translation inhibitors had no effect on IL-1ß-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, the silencing of canonical NF-κB complex in siRNA-transfected fibroblasts prevented IL-1ß-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Taken together, our data indicate the importance of the non-transcriptional/translational activity of canonical NF-κB in the activation of ERK1/2 signaling involved in the IL-1ß-induced development of autoimmune diseases affecting the synovial tissue, such as RA.

ERK1/ATF-2 signaling axis contributes to interleukin-1ß-induced MMP-3 expression in dermal fibroblasts.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in tissue remodeling by degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM) components. This mechanism is implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological cellular processes including wound healing. One of the key proteins involved in this process is the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß, which induces the expression of MMP-3 mRNA and the secretion of MMP-3 protein by dermal fibroblasts. In this study, we first investigated the contribution of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2) to IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 expression in dermal fibroblasts. Our results showed that in cells transfected with ATF-2 siRNA or treated with the ATF-2 inhibitor SBI-0087702, IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 mRNA expression was reduced. We also demonstrated that IL-1ß stimulates the phosphorylation of ATF-2. These observations suggest that ATF-2 plays an important role in IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 expression. Next, we investigated the role of MAPK signaling in ATF-2 activation. In cells treated with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor FR180240, as well as in cells transfected with ERK1 and ERK2 siRNAs, IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 mRNA expression was reduced. In addition, we showed that IL-1ß induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. These observations suggest that ERK1 and ERK2 are involved in IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 expression. However, ERK1 and ERK2 do seem to play different roles. While the ERK inhibitor FR180204 inhibited IL-1ß-induced ATF-2 phosphorylation, only in cells transfected with ERK1 siRNA, but not ERK2 siRNA, IL-1ß-induced ATF-2 phosphorylation was reduced. These findings suggest that the ERK1/ATF-2 signaling axis contributes to IL-1ß-induced MMP-3 expression in dermal fibroblasts.

Interleukin-1ß promotes interleulin-6 expression via ERK1/2 signaling pathway in canine dermal fibroblasts.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the regulation of the immune response and inflammation. In this study, we investigated effect of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) on IL-6 expression in canine dermal fibroblasts. IL-1ß induced IL-6 mRNA expression and protein release in a time- and dose-dependent manner. When cells were treated with inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor FR180240 inhibited IL-1ß-induced IL-6 mRNA expression, but not SP600125 or SKF86002, which are c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK inhibitors, respectively. In cells treated with U0126, an inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), which activates ERK, IL-1ß-induced IL-6 mRNA expression was also inhibited. IL-1ß stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In cells transfected with ERK1 and ERK2 isoform siRNAs, IL-1ß-induced IL-6 mRNA expression was reduced. These observations suggest that IL-1ß induces IL-6 expression via ERK1/2 signaling pathway in canine dermal fibroblasts.

NF-κB p65 and p105 implicate in interleukin 1ß-mediated COX-2 expression in melanoma cells.

Inflammatory and microenvironmental factors produced by cancer cells are thought to directly or indirectly promote cancer cell growth. Prostaglandins, including prostaglandin E2, have key roles as a microenvironment factor in influencing the development of tumors, and are produced by the rate limiting enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). In this study, we used canine melanoma cells treated with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and investigated the transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling in IL-1ß-induced COX-2 expression. IL-1ß induced prostaglandin E2 release and COX-2 mRNA expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In the cells treated with the NF-κB inhibitors BAY11-7082 and TPC-1, IL-1ß-mediated prostaglandin E2 release and COX-2 mRNA expression were inhibited. IL-1ß also provoked phosphorylation of p65/RelA and p105/NF-κB1, which are members of the NF-κB families. The IL-1ß-induced phosphorylation of p65 and p105 was attenuated in the presence of both NF-κB inhibitors. In melanoma cells transfected with siRNA of p65 or p105, IL-1ß-mediated COX-2 mRNA expression was inhibited. These findings suggest that canonical activation of NF-κB signaling plays a crucial role for inflammatory states in melanoma cells.

Expression and Function of Interleukin-1ß-Induced Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Renal Tubular Cells.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden loss of renal function. Early recognition of AKI, especially in critically ill patients, is essential for adequate therapy. Currently, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is considered to be an effective biomarker of AKI; however, the regulation of its expression and function in renal tubular cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulation of the expression and function of NGAL in IL-1ß-treated Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells as a model of renal tubular cells. IL-1ß induced a disturbance in the localization of E-cadherin and zonaoccludin-1 (ZO-1). The transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) also decreased 5 days after IL-1ß treatment. IL-1ß induced NGAL mRNA expression and protein secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which occurred faster than the decrease in TER. In the presence of ERK1/2 and p38 inhibitors, IL-1ß-induced NGAL mRNA expression and protein secretion were significantly attenuated. In the presence of recombinant NGAL, IL-1ß-induced disturbance in the localization of E-cadherin and ZO-1 was attenuated, and the decrease in TER was partially maintained. These results suggest that NGAL can be used as a biomarker for AKI and that it functions as a protector from AKI.

Activation of MEK/ERK pathways through NF-κB activation is involved in interleukin-1ß-induced cyclooxygenease-2 expression in canine dermal fibroblasts.

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) induced cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and lipid mediator prostaglandin E2 release and in a time- and dose-dependent manner in canine dermal fibroblasts. The MEK inhibitor U0126 and the ERK inhibitor FR180204 clearly inhibited IL-1ß-induced prostaglandin E2 release and COX-2 mRNA expression. IL-1ß enhanced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was attenuated by inhibitors of MEK and ERK. The NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 also suppressed IL-1ß-induced prostaglandin E2 release and COX-2 mRNA expression. Treatment of fibroblasts with IL-1ß led to the phosphorylation of p65 and degradation of IκBα occurred, indicating that IL-1ß treatment activated NF-κB. MEK and ERK1/2 inhibitors had no effect on the phosphorylation of p65 subunit induced by IL-1ß, whereas the NF-κB inhibitor completely blocked IL-1ß-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. We also observed that IκBα-knockdown enhanced the phosphorylation of p65 and ERK1/2. These findings suggest that stimulation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway by NF-κB activation regulates IL-1ß-induced COX-2 expression and subsequent prostaglandin E2 release in canine dermal fibroblasts.