Quantification of Rac1 and Rac1b in serum of non small cell lung cancer by label free real time assay.

BACKGROUND: Rac proteins play a major role in tumorogenesis. We quantified Rac1 and Rac1b in serum of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: The blood of 77 NSCLC patients and 52 healthy controls were collected and quantified the concentration of Rac1 and Rac1b mainly by surface plasmon resonance and it was verify by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Rac1 and Rac1b were found to be significantly over expressed in serum of NSCLC patients compare to healthy controls. The level of Rac proteins were found to be increased in all stages of cancer. Despite the low survival rate, we managed to collect serum sample of the 18 follow up patients after the therapy, where 11 patients' of CR+PR group showed down regulation of the Rac protein after chemotherapy and unfortunately 80% patients died during the study period. CONCLUSION: The high specificity and sensitivity obtained from ROC analysis for Rac1 and Rac1b envisaged it to be used as a serum diagnostic marker in the early stage of cancer.

Rho GTPases in platelet function.

The Rho family of GTP binding proteins, also commonly referred to as the Rho GTPases, are master regulators of the platelet cytoskeleton and platelet function. These low-molecular-weight or 'small' GTPases act as signaling switches in the spatial and temporal transduction, and amplification of signals from platelet cell surface receptors to the intracellular signaling pathways that drive platelet function. The Rho GTPase family members RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac1 have emerged as key regulators in the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton in platelets and play key roles in platelet aggregation, secretion, spreading and thrombus formation. Rho GTPase regulators, including GEFs and GAPs and downstream effectors, such as the WASPs, formins and PAKs, may also regulate platelet activation and function. In this review, we provide an overview of Rho GTPase signaling in platelet physiology. Previous studies of Rho GTPases and platelets have had a shared history, as platelets have served as an ideal, non-transformed cellular model to characterize Rho function. Likewise, recent studies of the cell biology of Rho GTPase family members have helped to build an understanding of the molecular regulation of platelet function and will continue to do so through the further characterization of Rho GTPases as well as Rho GAPs, GEFs, RhoGDIs and Rho effectors in actin reorganization and other Rho-driven cellular processes.

Enhanced levels of soluble CD40 ligand exacerbate platelet aggregation and thrombus formation through a CD40-dependent tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-2/Rac1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: CD40 ligand is a thromboinflammatory molecule that predicts cardiovascular events. Platelets constitute the major source of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), which has been shown to influence platelet activation, although its exact functional impact on platelets and the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. We aimed to determine the impact and the signaling mechanisms of sCD40L on platelets. METHODS AND RESULTS: sCD40L strongly enhances platelet activation and aggregation. Human platelets treated with a mutated form of sCD40L that does not bind CD40, and CD40(-/-) mouse platelets failed to elicit such responses. Furthermore, sCD40L stimulation induces the association of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-2 with platelet CD40. Notably, sCD40L primes platelets through activation of the small GTPase Rac1 and its downstream target p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which leads to platelet shape change and actin polymerization. Moreover, sCD40L exacerbates thrombus formation and leukocyte infiltration in wild-type mice but not in CD40(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: sCD40L enhances agonist-induced platelet activation and aggregation through a CD40-dependent tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-2/Rac1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Thus, sCD40L is an important platelet primer predisposing platelets to enhanced thrombus formation in response to vascular injury. This may explain the link between circulating levels of sCD40L and cardiovascular diseases.

Rac1 and Rac2 GTPases are necessary for early erythropoietic expansion in the bone marrow but not in the spleen.

BACKGROUND: The small Rho GTPases Rac1 and Rac2 have both overlapping and distinct roles in actin organization, cell survival, and proliferation in various hematopoietic cell lineages. The role of these Rac GTPases in erythropoiesis has not yet been fully elucidated. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cre-recombinase-induced deletion of Rac1 genomic sequence was accomplished on a Rac2-null genetic background, in mouse hematopoietic cells in vivo. The erythroid progenitors and precursors in the bone marrow and spleen of these genetically engineered animals were evaluated by colony assays and flow cytometry. Apoptosis and proliferation of the different stages of erythroid progenitors and precursors were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Erythropoiesis in Rac1(-/-);Rac2(-/-) mice is characterized by abnormal burst-forming unit-erythroid colony morphology and decreased numbers of megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors, erythroid colony-forming units, and erythroblasts in the bone marrow. In contrast, splenic erythropoiesis is increased. Combined Rac1 and Rac2 deficiency compromises proliferation of the megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitor population in the bone marrow, while it allows increased survival and proliferation of megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors in the spleen. Conclusions These data suggest that Rac1 and Rac2 GTPases are essential for normal bone marrow erythropoiesis but that they are dispensable for erythropoiesis in the spleen, implying different signaling pathways for homeostatic and stress erythropoiesis.

Statins have beneficial effects on platelet free radical activity and intracellular distribution of GTPases in hyperlipidaemia.

In addition to lowering cholesterol, statins may alter endothelial release of the vasodilator NO and harmful superoxide free radicals. Statins also reduce cholesterol intermediates including isoprenoids. These are important for post-translational modification of substances including the GTPases Rho and Rac. By altering the membrane association of these molecules, statins affect intracellular positioning and hence activity of a multitude of substances. These include eNOS(endothelial NO synthase), which produces NO (inhibited by Rho), and NADPH oxidase, which produces superoxide (dependent on Rac). Statins may improve endothelial function by enhancing production of NO while decreasing superoxide production. A total of 40 hypercholesterolaemic patients were randomized to treatment with either atorvastatin or placebo; 20 normolipidaemic patients were also studied. Platelet nitrite, NO and superoxide were examined as was the cellular distribution of the GTPases Rho and Rac at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment.Following atorvastatin therapy, platelet NO was increased (3.2 pmol/10(8) platelets) and superoxide output was attenuated [-3.4 pmol min(-1) (10(8) platelets)(-1)] when compared with placebo. The detection of both Rho and Rac was significantly reduced in the membranes of platelets, implying reduced activity. In conclusion, the results of the present study show altered NO/superoxide production following statin therapy. A potential mechanism for this is the change in the distribution of intracellular GTPases, which was considered to be secondary to decreases in isoprenoid intermediates, suggesting that the activity of the former had been affected by atorvastatin.

Increased Rac2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood during human corneal graft rejection.

PURPOSE: Allograft rejection is the main cause of graft failure in human corneal transplantation, for which underlying pathomechanism is not yet clear. We compared gene expression in the peripheral blood of patients who after undergoing corneal transplantation experienced graft rejection with those patients who accepted grafts. METHODS: Sixty-six patients who underwent corneal transplantation were studied including 18 patients who suffered subsequent graft rejection. cDNA array technology was used to survey and quantify transcript expression. A semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to confirm the gene expression pattern measured by a cDNA array of selected genes. RESULTS: Among 265 genes present on the array, eight genes were found to be differentially expressed. Four genes (Rac 2, RhoA, paxillin, and CD18) were further analysed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, and significant differences in mRNA expression levels in the rejection group were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the expression of Rac2 mRNA was upregulated in the peripheral blood of patients experiencing corneal transplantation rejection compared to those patients who had no rejection episodes. In addition, three genes, RhoA, paxillin, and CD18, showed decreased expression in rejecting patients. cDNA array technology provides a potentially useful approach to identify novel genes that might participate in pathogenic pathways during corneal graft rejection.

Rac2 concentrations in umbilical cord neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Human newborn infants display a variety of immunodeficiencies of immaturity, including diminished neutrophil adhesion, chemotaxis, and migration. Rac2, a guanosine triphosphate-binding protein, is an essential regulator of human neutrophil migration and chemotaxis. Since human subjects and mice deficient in Rac2 display deficiencies in neutrophil functions similar to newborn infants, we postulated that newborn neutrophils may be deficient in Rac2. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to measure Rac1 and Rac2 concentrations in neutrophils from umbilical cord blood. METHODS: Neutrophils from cord and adult blood were isolated, total cell lysates extracted, and Rac protein concentrations determined using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Rac2 concentrations were significantly lower in the neutrophil protein lysates isolated from cord blood compared to adult blood despite similar levels of Rac1. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished Rac2 expression in cord blood neutrophils may contribute to the defects observed in cord blood neutrophil function.

Rac1 is essential for platelet lamellipodia formation and aggregate stability under flow.

The role of Rac family proteins in platelet spreading on matrix proteins under static and flow conditions has been investigated by using Rac-deficient platelets. Murine platelets form filopodia and undergo limited spreading on fibrinogen independent of Rac1 and Rac2. In the presence of thrombin, marked lamellipodia formation is observed on fibrinogen, which is abrogated in the absence of Rac1. However, Rac1 is not required for thrombin-induced aggregation or elevation of F-actin levels. Formation of lamellipodia on collagen and laminin is also Rac1-dependent. Analysis of platelet adhesion dynamics on collagen under flow conditions in vitro revealed that Rac1 is required for platelet aggregate stability at arterial rates of shear, as evidenced by a dramatic increase in platelet embolization. Furthermore, studies employing intravital microscopy demonstrated that Rac1 plays a critical role in the development of stable thrombi at sites of vascular injury in vivo. Thus, our data demonstrated that Rac1 is essential for lamellipodia formation in platelets and indicated that Rac1 is required for aggregate integrity leading to thrombus formation under physiologically relevant levels of shear both in vitro and in vivo.

Divergence of mechanisms regulating respiratory burst in blood and sputum eosinophils and neutrophils from atopic subjects.

Eosinophil respiratory burst is an important event in asthma and related inflammatory disorders. However, little is known concerning activation of the respiratory burst NADPH oxidase in human eosinophils. Conversely, neutrophils are known to assemble NADPH oxidase in intracellular and plasma membranes. We hypothesized that eosinophils and neutrophils translocate NADPH oxidase to distinct intracellular locations, consistent with their respective functions in O(2)(-)-mediated cytotoxicity. PMA-induced O(2)(-) release assayed by cytochrome c was 3.4-fold higher in atopic human eosinophils than in neutrophils, although membrane-permeable dihydrorhodamine-123 showed similar amounts of release. Eosinophil O(2)(-) release was dependent on Rac, in that it was 54% inhibited by Clostridium difficile toxin B (400-800 ng/ml). In eosinophils stimulated with PMA, a pronounced shift of cytosolic Rac to p22(phox)-positive plasma membrane was observed by confocal microscopy, whereas neutrophils directed Rac2 mainly to intracellular sites coexpressing p22(phox). Similarly, ex vivo sputum eosinophils from asthmatic subjects exhibited predominantly plasma membrane-associated immunoreactivity for Rac, whereas sputum neutrophils exhibited cytoplasmic Rac2 staining. Thus, activated sputum eosinophils, rather than neutrophils, may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of asthma by extracellular release of tissue-damaging O(2)(-). Our findings suggest that the differential modes of NADPH oxidase assembly in these cells may have important implications for oxidant-mediated tissue injury.

Spatial and temporal analysis of Rac activation during live neutrophil chemotaxis.

The ability of cells to recognize and respond with directed motility to chemoattractant agents is critical to normal physiological function. Neutrophils represent the prototypic chemotactic cell in that they respond to signals initiated through the binding of bacterial peptides and other chemokines to G protein-coupled receptors with speeds of up to 30 microm/min. It has been hypothesized that localized regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics by Rho GTPases is critical to orchestrating cell movement. Using a FRET-based biosensor approach, we investigated the dynamics of Rac GTPase activation during chemotaxis of live primary human neutrophils. Rac has been implicated in establishing and maintaining the leading edge of motile cells, and we show that Rac is dynamically activated at specific locations in the extending leading edge. However, we also demonstrate activated Rac in the retracting tail of motile neutrophils. Rac activation is both stimulus and adhesion dependent. Expression of a dominant-negative Rac mutant confirms that Rac is functionally required both for tail retraction and for formation of the leading edge during chemotaxis. These data establish that Rac GTPase is spatially and temporally regulated to coordinate leading-edge extension and tail retraction during a complex motile response, the chemotaxis of human neutrophils.

Rac, a small guanosine triphosphate-binding protein, and p21-activated kinase are activated during platelet spreading on collagen-coated surfaces: roles of integrin alpha(2)beta(1).

In this study, the receptors and signals involved in collagen-induced platelet spreading were examined. It was found that platelet spreading on collagen (presenting a polygon shape with a number of filopodialike projections) was inhibited by the anti-integrin alpha(2) antibody, suggesting the involvement of integrin alpha(2)beta(1) in this process. Studies with a glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein that binds specifically to activated Rac and in vitro p21-activated kinase (PAK) kinase assays revealed that Rac and PAK were activated during this collagen-activated process. Platelet spreading on collagen-coated surfaces was inhibited strongly by PP1 (a Src family kinase inhibitor) or weakly by wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3-kinase] inhibitor) but not at all by Y-27632 (a Rho kinase inhibitor). The surfaces coated with anti-integrin alpha(2)beta(1) antibodies also induced platelet spreading (presenting an almost complete round shape) and activation of Rac and PAK, although more slowly than collagen-coated surfaces. The antibody-induced responses were strongly inhibited by PP1 or wortmannin but not by Y-27632. The same concentration of Y-27632 inhibited collagen-induced shape change of platelets in suspension. These findings suggest that Rac and/or PAK activation, but not Rho, may play certain roles in platelet spreading via integrin alpha(2)beta(1) and that Src family kinases and PI3-kinase participate in these processes. Furthermore, the difference between spreading on collagen and the anti-integrin antibody suggests the involvement of other receptor(s) (in addition to the integrin alpha(2)beta(1)) for collagen-induced spreading, the most likely candidate being glycoprotein VI.

Differential expression and regulation of GTPases (RhoA and Rac2) and GDIs (LyGDI and RhoGDI) in neutrophils from patients with severe congenital neutropenia.

Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) or Kostmann syndrome is a disorder of myelopoiesis characterized by a maturation arrest at the stage of promyelocytes or myelocytes in bone marrow and absolute neutrophil counts less than 200/microL in peripheral blood. Treatment of these patients with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) leads to a significant increase in circulating neutrophils and a reduction in infection-related events in more than 95% of the patients. To date, little is known regarding the underlying pathomechanism of SCN. G-CSF-induced neutrophils of patients with SCN are functionally defective (eg, chemotaxis, superoxide anion generation, Ca(++ )mobilization). Two guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), Rac2 and RhoA, were described to be involved in many neutrophil functions. The expression of these GTPases and their regulation in patients' neutrophils were of interest. This study determined that the guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-dissociation inhibitor RhoGDI is overexpressed at the protein level in patients' neutrophils and that overexpression is a result of G-CSF treatment. RhoA and LyGDI are expressed at similar levels, whereas Rac2 shows a decreased expression. In addition, association of Rac2 and RhoGDI or LyGDI is abrogated or not detectable based on the low Rac2 expression in patients' neutrophils. (Blood. 2000;95:2947-2953)

Human neutrophil immunodeficiency syndrome is associated with an inhibitory Rac2 mutation.

A 5-week-old male infant presented with severe bacterial infections and poor wound healing, suggesting a neutrophil defect. Neutrophils from this patient exhibited decreased chemotaxis, polarization, azurophilic granule secretion, and superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) production but had normal expression and up-regulation of CD11b. Rac2, which constitutes >96% of the Rac in neutrophils, is a member of the Rho family of GTPases that regulates the actin cytoskeleton and O(2)(-) production. Western blot analysis of lysates from patient neutrophils demonstrated decreased levels of Rac2 protein. Addition of recombinant Rac to extracts of the patient neutrophils reconstituted O(2)(-) production in an in vitro assay system. Molecular analysis identified a point mutation in one allele of the Rac2 gene resulting in the substitution of Asp57 by an Asn (Rac2(D57N)). Asp57 is invariant in all defined GTP-binding proteins. Rac2(D57N) binds GDP but not GTP and inhibits oxidase activation and O(2)(-) production in vitro. These data represent the description of an inhibitory mutation in a member of the Rho family of GTPases associated with a human immunodeficiency syndrome.