Structure-function analysis of RAMP1-RAMP3 chimeras.

The role of receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) in forming receptors with the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and the calcitonin receptor (CTR) was examined by producing chimeras between RAMP1 and RAMP3. RAMPs have three extracellular helices. Exchange of helix 1 of the RAMPs or residues 62-69 in helix 2 greatly reduced CLR trafficking (a marker for CLR association). Modeling suggests that these exchanges alter the CLR recognition site on RAMP1, which is more exposed than on RAMP3. Exchange of residues 86-89 of RAMP1 had no effect on the trafficking of CLR but reduced the potency of human (h) alphaCGRP and adrenomedullin. However, these alterations to RAMP1 had no effect on the potency of hbetaCGRP. These residues of RAMP1 lie at the junction of helix 3 and its connecting loop with helix 2. Modeling suggests that the loop is more exposed in RAMP1 than RAMP3; it may play an important role in peptide binding, either directly or indirectly. Exchange of residues 90-94 of RAMP1 caused a modest reduction in CLR expression and a 15-fold decrease in CGRP potency. It is unlikely that the decrease in expression is enough to explain the reduction in potency, and so these may have dual roles in recognizing CLR and CGRP. For CTR, only 6 out of 26 chimeras covering the extracellular part of RAMP1 did not reduce agonist potency. Thus the association of CTR with RAMP1 seems more sensitive to changes in RAMP1 structure induced by the chimeras than is CLR.

Structure-function analysis of RAMP1 by alanine mutagenesis.

Receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) is an integral component of several receptors including the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. It forms a complex with the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and is required for receptor trafficking and ligand binding. The N-terminus of RAMP1 comprises three helices. The current study investigated regions of RAMP1 important for CGRP or CLR interactions by alanine mutagenesis. Modeling suggested the second and third helices were important in protein-protein interactions. Most of the conserved residues in the N-terminus (M48, W56, Y66, P85, N66, H97, F101, D113, P114, P115), together with a further 13 residues spread throughout three helices of RAMP1, were mutated to alanine and coexpressed with CLR in Cos 7 cells. None of the mutations significantly reduced RAMP expression. Of the nine mutants from helix 1, only M48A had any effect, producing a modest reduction in trafficking of CLR to the cell surface. In helix 2 Y66A almost completely abolished CLR trafficking; L69A and T73A reduced the potency of CGRP to produce cAMP. In helix 3, H97A abolished CLR trafficking; P85A, N86A, and F101A had caused modest reductions in CLR trafficking and also reduced the potency of CGRP on cAMP production. F93A caused a modest reduction in CLR trafficking alone and L94A increased cAMP production. The data are consistent with a CLR recognition site particularly involving Y66 and H97, with lesser roles for adjacent residues in helix 3. L69 and T73 may contribute to a CGRP recognition site in helix 2 also involving nearby residues.

Novel peptide antagonists of adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors: identification, pharmacological characterization, and interactions with position 74 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1/3.

Human adrenomedullin (AM) is a 52-amino acid peptide belonging to the calcitonin peptide family, which also includes calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and AM2. The two AM receptors, AM(1) and AM(2), are calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL)/receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) (RAMP2 and RAMP3, respectively) heterodimers. CGRP receptors comprise CL/RAMP1. The only human AM receptor antagonist (AM(22-52)) is a truncated form of AM; it has low affinity and is only weakly selective for AM(1) over AM(2) receptors. To develop novel AM receptor antagonists, we explored the importance of different regions of AM in interactions with AM(1), AM(2), and CGRP receptors. AM(22-52) was the framework for generating further AM fragments (AM(26-52) and AM(30-52)), novel AM/alphaCGRP chimeras (C1-C5 and C9), and AM/AM(2) chimeras (C6-C8). cAMP assays were used to screen the antagonists at all receptors to determine their affinity and selectivity. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to investigate the secondary structures of AM and its related peptides. The data indicate that the structures of AM, AM2, and alphaCGRP differ from one another. Our chimeric approach enabled the identification of two nonselective high-affinity antagonists of AM(1), AM(2), and CGRP receptors (C2 and C6), one high-affinity antagonist of AM(2) receptors (C7), and a weak antagonist selective for the CGRP receptor (C5). By use of receptor mutagenesis, we also determined that the C-terminal nine amino acids of AM seem to be responsible for its interaction with Glu74 of RAMP3. We provide new information on the structure-activity relationship of AM, alphaCGRP, and AM2 and how AM interacts with CGRP and AM(2) receptors.

Identification of N-terminal receptor activity-modifying protein residues important for calcitonin gene-related peptide, adrenomedullin, and amylin receptor function.

Calcitonin-family receptors comprise calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL) or calcitonin receptor and receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) pairings. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors are CL/RAMP1, whereas adrenomedullin (AM) receptors are CL/RAMP2 (AM1 receptor) or CL/RAMP3 (AM2 receptor). Amylin (Amy) receptors are RAMP hetero-oligomers with the calcitonin receptor (AMY1, AMY2, and AMY3, respectively). How RAMPs change G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology is not fully understood. We exploited sequence differences between RAMP1 and RAMP3 to identify individual residues capable of altering receptor pharmacology. Alignment of human RAMPs revealed eight residues that are conserved in RAMP2 and RAMP3 but are different in RAMP1. We hypothesized that residues in RAMP2 and RAMP3, but not RAMP1, are responsible for making CL/RAMP2 and CL/RAMP3 AM receptors. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we introduced individual RAMP3 residues into RAMP1 and vice versa in these eight positions. Mutant or wild-type RAMPs were transfected into Cos7 cells with CL or the insert-negative form of the calcitonin receptor [CT(a)]. Agonist-stimulated cAMP production and cell-surface expression of constructs were measured. Position 74 in RAMP1 and RAMP3 was critical for determining AM potency and affinity, and Phe93 in RAMP1 was an important contributor to alphaCGRP potency at CGRP receptors. Mutant RAMP/CT(a) receptor complexes displayed different phenotypes. It is noteworthy that RAMP1 S103N and W74E mutations led to enhanced rAmy potency, probably related to increased cell-surface expression of these complexes. This differs from the effect on CL-based receptors where expression was unchanged. Targeted substitution has emphasized the importance of position 74 in RAMP1/RAMP3 as a key determinant of AM pharmacology.

Pharmacology of the human CGRP1 receptor in Cos 7 cells.

Only limited pharmacological characterization of the CGRP1 receptor, a heterodimer of the calcitonin (CT) receptor-like receptor (CL) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 has been performed in cells that do not endogenously express RAMP2. We characterized the receptor in RAMP-deficient Cos 7 cells by measuring cAMP responses following agonist treatment in the absence or presence of antagonists. Potent cAMP responses to human alpha-and beta-CGRP (Cys(Et)2,7)halphaCGRP and human adrenomedullin (AM) were observed. Adrenomedullin15-52 was also an effective agonist of the CGRP1 receptor but human and salmon calcitonin and rat amylin were only weak agonists. As expected, BIBN4096BS and CGRP(8-37) were effective antagonists of the CGRP1 receptor. (Cys(Acm)2,7)halphaCGRP also antagonized CGRP responses. Antagonists of related receptors were only weakly able to inhibit CGRP responses.

Biological and prognostic significance of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization detection of chromosome 13 abnormalities (delta13) in multiple myeloma: an eastern cooperative oncology group study.

Chromosome 13 abnormalities (Delta13) have been associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The significance of this has been unresolved because of diverse methods of detection and heterogeneous groups of patients. We conducted a study of Delta13 in patients entered into the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial E9486/E9487. Patients with newly diagnosed MM (median follow-up of survivors >100 months) were studied for Delta13, using bone marrow samples obtained at study enrollment. We used interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization with the probes LSI13 (Rb)/D13S319 with simultaneous immunofluorescence detection of bone marrow plasma cells (PCs). We detected Delta13 in 176 of 325 (54%) evaluable patients. Patients with Delta13 were more likely to have a serum monoclonal protein at a concentration < or =1 g/dl (22 versus 13%; P = 0.04), light-chain-only MM (19.3 versus 10.8%; P = 0.04), gamma light chain (42 versus 28%; P = 0.027), stage III (56 versus 42%; P = 0.014), and be female (60 versus 50%; P = 0.087). The PC labeling index and Delta13 correlated (P = 0.03). Patients with Delta13 were less likely to respond to treatment (74 versus 63%; P = 0.041) and had a significantly shorter median overall survival (34.9 versus 51 months; P = 0.021). The association of Delta13 and survival remained an independent prognostic variable in a regression model. Among patients with Delta13, those receiving IFN had a worse overall survival that those not receiving the medication (P = 0.03). The presence of Delta13 is an important and independent adverse prognostic factor in newly diagnosed MM and is associated with specific biological features.

Deletions of 17p13.1 and 13q14 are uncommon in Waldenström macroglobulinemia clonal cells and mostly seen at the time of disease progression.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by a monoclonal IgM paraproteinemia. Deletions of 17p13.1 and 13q14 are associated with tumor progression and worsened outcome in multiple myeloma (MM), and we thus investigated WM patients for their presence. Patients (n = 40) were required to have a > or = 1.5 g/dl serum IgM paraproteinemia and a monoclonal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. We used interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes that localized to 17p13.1(LSI p53/CEP 17) and 13q14 (D13S319 and LSI 13 Rb). Of 40 successfully studied patients for 17p13.1(p53) deletions, 6 were abnormal, consistent with hemizygous deletion (15%). Of 37 cases successfully studied for the 13q14 deletions, 6 were also abnormal with one pair of signals deleted (16%). Patients with deletions were more likely to be later in the course of the disease. No obvious clinical associations were noted with the exception that patients with 17p13.1(p53) deletions had a higher percent involvement of clonal cells in the bone marrow. Deletions of these two regions are uncommon in WM, being more common in the late stages of the disease, thus unlikely playing a role in primary disease pathogenesis.

A key role for tryptophan 84 in receptor activity-modifying protein 1 in the amylin 1 receptor.

Amylin (Amy) receptors are complexes of the calcitonin receptor with receptor activity-modifying proteins. RAMP1 with the calcitonin receptor forms the AMY(1) receptor; the insert negative isoform of the calcitonin receptor in this complex makes the AMY(1(a)) receptor. This receptor has high affinity for Amy and the related peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Amy is a peptide that has a role in lowering blood glucose levels and therefore its receptors represent potential drug targets for the treatment of diabetes. It has been suggested that the peptides bind in a pocket formed between the long N-termini of the calcitonin receptor and RAMP1, although very few residues in either component have been assigned specific roles. Based on the crystal structure of the RAMP1 N-terminus, the RAMP1 residues Arg67, Asp71, Glu78, Trp74 and Trp84 were identified as potentially having a role in peptide binding. Here, Arg67, Asp71, Glu78 and Trp84 were individually mutated to alanine and the function of mutant AMY(1(a)) receptors was determined using a cAMP assay. ELISA was used to measure cell surface expression and western blotting for total expression. Mutation of Arg67, Asp71 and Glu78 had no significant effect on Amy or CGRP potency, cell surface or total expression. Trp84Ala, however, resulted in a significant reduction in agonist potency and cell surface expression. Interestingly, a Trp84Phe substitution was able to restore some of this function, without restoring cell surface expression, suggesting that the residue may be important for peptide interactions. The data reveal the importance of Trp84 in the AMY(1(a)) receptor.

Functional characterization of two human receptor activity-modifying protein 3 variants.

Adrenomedullin (AM) and amylin are involved in angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis and glucose homeostasis/food intake, respectively. They activate receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP)/G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) complexes. RAMP3 with the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) forms the AM(2) receptor, whereas when paired with the calcitonin receptor AMY(3) receptors are formed. RAMP3 interacts with other GPCRs although the consequences of these interactions are poorly understood. Therefore, variations in the RAMP3 sequence, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms or mutations could be relevant to human health. Variants of RAMP3 have been identified. In particular, analysis of AK222469 (Homo sapiens mRNA for receptor (calcitonin) activity-modifying protein 3 precursor variant) revealed several nucleotide differences, three of which encoded amino acid changes (Cys40Trp, Phe100Ser, Leu147Pro). Trp56Arg RAMP3 is a polymorphic variant of human RAMP3 at a conserved amino acid position. To determine their function we used wild-type (WT) human RAMP3 as a template for introducing amino acid mutations. Mutant or WT RAMP3 function was determined in Cos-7 cells with CLR or the calcitonin receptor (CT((a))). Cys40Trp/Phe100Ser/Leu147Pro RAMP3 was functionally compromised, with reduced AM and amylin potency at the respective AM(2) and AMY(3(a)) receptor complexes. Cys40Trp and Phe100Ser mutations contributed to this phenotype, unlike Leu147Pro. Reduced cell-surface expression of mutant receptor complexes probably explains the functional data. In contrast, Trp56Arg RAMP3 was WT in phenotype. This study provides insight into the role of these residues in RAMP3. The existence of AK222469 in the human population has implications for the function of RAMP3/GPCR complexes, particularly AM and amylin receptors.

Both B and T lymphocytes may be clonally involved in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

A combination of magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques was used to detect clonal cytogenetic markers in different myeloid and lymphoid cell types of the peripheral blood from 4 patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) that was associated with either a 13q- or a 20q- karyotypic abnormality. Interphase cytogenetics studies demonstrated abnormal clonal FISH signal patterns in neutrophil, myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocyte, and B- and T-cell preparations in 3 of the 4 patients. In one patient, FISH results were within normal limits in T cells and slightly abnormal in B cells. In general, the percentage of abnormal nuclei was variable in both lymphocyte populations but always higher in B lymphocytes compared with T lymphocytes. The current study provides direct evidence for the clonal involvement of both B and T lymphocytes in MMM. A larger study is needed to clarify the relevance of the observed interpatient heterogeneity in clonal constitution.

Clinical and biologic implications of recurrent genomic aberrations in myeloma.

Nonrandom recurrent chromosomal abnormalities are ubiquitous in multiple myeloma (MM) and include, among others, translocations of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IgH). IgH translocations in MM result in the up-regulation of oncogenes, and include more commonly t(11;14)(q13;q32), t(4;14)(p16;q32), and t(14;16)(q32;q23). Based on the recurrent nature of these translocations and their finding since the early stages of the plasma cell (PC) disorders, we hypothesized that they would confer biologic and clinical variability. In addition, deletions of 13q14 and 17p13 have also been associated with a shortened survival. We used cytoplasmic Ig-enhanced interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect deletions (13q14 and 17p13.1), and translocations involving IgH in 351 patients treated with conventional chemotherapy entered into the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group clinical trial E9486/9487. Translocations were frequently unbalanced with loss of one of the derivative chromosomes. The presence of t(4; 14)(p16;q32) (n = 42; 26 vs 45 months, P <.001), t(14;16)(q32;q23) (n = 15; 16 vs 41 months, P =.003), - 17p13 (n = 37; 23 vs 44 months, P =.005), and - 13q14 (n = 176; 35 vs 51 months, P =.028) were associated with shorter survival. A stratification of patients into 3 distinct categories allowed for prognostication: poor prognosis group (t(4;14)(p16;q32), t(14; 16)(q32;q23), and - 17p13), intermediate prognosis (- 13q14), and good prognosis group (all others), with median survivals of 24.7, 42.3, and 50.5 months, respectively (P <.001). This molecular cytogenetic classification identifies patients into poor, intermediate, and good risk categories. More importantly it provides further compelling evidence that MM is composed of subgroups of patients categorized according to their underlying genomic aberrations.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia neoplastic cells lack immunoglobulin heavy chain locus translocations but have frequent 6q deletions.

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is characterized by t(9;14)(p13;q32) in 50% of patients who lack paraproteinemia. Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), which has an immunoglobulin M (IgM) paraproteinemia, is classified as an LPL. Rare reports have suggested that WM sometimes is associated with 14q23 translocations, deletions of 6q, and t(11;18)(q21;q21). We tested for these abnormalities in the clonal cells of WM patients. We selected patients with clinicopathologic diagnosis of WM (all had IgM levels greater than 1.5 g/dL). Southern blot assay was used to detect legitimate and illegitimate IgH switch rearrangements. In addition to conventional cytogenetic (CC) and multicolor metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) analyses, we used interphase FISH to screen for t(9;14)(p13;q32) and other IgH translocations, t(11;18)(q21;q21), and 6q21 deletions. Genomic stability was also assessed using chromosome enumeration probes for chromosomes 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, and 17 in 15 patients. There was no evidence of either legitimate or illegitimate IgH rearrangements by Southern blot assay (n = 12). CC (n = 37), M-FISH (n = 5), and interphase FISH (n = 42) failed to identify IgH or t(11;18) translocations. Although tumor cells from most patients were diploid for the chromosomes studied, deletions of 6q21 were observed in 42% of patients. In contrast to LPL tumors that are not associated with paraproteinemia and that have frequent t(9;14)(p13;q32) translocations, IgH translocations are not found in WM, a form of LPL tumor distinguished by IgM paraproteinemia. However, WM tumor cells, which appear to be diploid or near diploid, often have deletions of 6q21.

Genomic abnormalities in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

Translocations involving immunoglobulin (Ig) loci and chromosome 13 monosomy (Delta 13) are frequent cytogenetic findings in multiple myeloma (MM). Similar chromosomal aberrations have been identified in the monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), but their prevalence and significance remain uncertain. Bone marrow from 72 patients with MGUS (n = 62) and smoldering MM (n = 10) was evaluated for translocations between the Ig heavy chain (IgH) and chromosomes 4, 11, and 16, translocations involving Ig light chain-lambda (IgL-lambda, and Delta 13. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was done on clonal plasma cells (PCs) detected by immunofluorescence (cIg-FISH) of the cytoplasmic light chain. We also studied cells for cyclin D1 and FGFR3 up-regulation by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, respectively. Twenty-seven (46%) of 59 patients had IgH translocations, and 4 (11%) of 37 had an IgL-lambda translocation. A t(11;14)(q13;q32) was found in 15 (25%) of 59 patients, a t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) in 9% of patients, and a t(14;16)(q32;q23) in 5% of patients. All patients with t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) tested (n = 3) had intense cytoplasmic fluorescence with an anti-FGFR3 antibody. PC nuclear staining of cyclin D1 was only observed in patients with t(11;14)(q13;q32); Delta 13 was detected in the clonal PCs in 50% of patients. The percentage of abnormal PCs varied with any given abnormality. No obvious clinical or biologic correlations were associated with these chromosome abnormalities. Similar translocations are found in both MGUS and MM, including t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) and t(14;16)(q32;q23). Moreover, Delta 13 is common in MGUS and unlikely to play a predominant role in the evolution of MGUS to MM.

Myeloma and the t(11;14)(q13;q32); evidence for a biologically defined unique subset of patients.

The t(11;14)(q13;q32) results in up-regulation of cyclin D1 and is the most common translocation detected in multiple myeloma, where it is also associated with a lymphoplasmacytic morphology. We performed an interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) study to determine the clinical and biologic significance of the abnormality when testing a large cohort of myeloma patients. Bone marrow slides from multiple myeloma patients entered into the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group phase III clinical trial E9486 and associated laboratory correlative study E9487 were analyzed using interphase FISH combined with immune-fluorescent (cytoplasmic immunoglobulin-FISH) detection of clonal plasma cells. We used FISH probes that hybridize to the 14q32 and 11q13 chromosomal loci. The t(11;14)(q13;q32) was correlated with known biologic and prognostic factors. Of 336 evaluable patients, 53 (16%) had abnormal FISH patterns compatible with the t(11;14)(q13;q32). These patients appeared to be more likely to have a serum monoclonal protein of less than 10 g/L (1 g/dL) (28% vs 15%, P =.029) and a lower plasma cell labeling index (P =.09). More strikingly, patients were less likely to be hyperdiploid by DNA content analysis (n = 251, 14% vs 62%, P <.001). Patients with the t(11;14)(q13;q32) appeared to have better survival and response to treatment, although this did not reach statistical significance. Multiple myeloma with the t(11;14)(q13;q32) is a unique subset of patients, not only characterized by cyclin D1 up-regulation and a lymphoplasmacytic morphology, but is also more frequently associated with small serum monoclonal proteins and is much less likely to be hyperdiploid. These patients do not have a worsened prognosis as previously thought.