Quantitative CT analysis using functional imaging is superior in describing disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared to forced vital capacity.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is chronic fibrosing pneumonia with an unpredictable natural disease history. Functional respiratory imaging (FRI) has potential to better characterize this disease. The aim of this study was to identify FRI parameters, which predict FVC decline in patients with IPF. METHODS: An IPF-cohort (treated with pamrevlumab for 48 weeks) was retrospectively studied using FRI. Serial CT's were compared from 66 subjects. Post-hoc analysis was performed using FRI, FVC and mixed effects models. RESULTS: Lung volumes, determined by FRI, correlated with FVC (lower lung volumes with lower FVC) (R2 = 0.61, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between specific image based airway radius (siRADaw) at total lung capacity (TLC) and FVC (R2 = 0.18, p < 0.001). Changes in FVC correlated significantly with changes in lung volumes (R2 = 0.18, p < 0.001) and siRADaw (R2 = 0.15, p = 0.002) at week 24 and 48, with siRADaw being more sensitive to change than FVC. Loss in lobe volumes (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.001), increasing fibrotic tissue (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.001) and airway radius (R2 = 0.28, p < 0.001) at TLC correlated with changes in FVC but these changes already occur in the lower lobes when FVC is still considered normal. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that FRI is a superior tool than FVC in capturing of early and clinically relevant, disease progression in a regional manner.

Connective tissue growth factor promotes fibrosis downstream of TGFbeta and IL-6 in chronic cardiac allograft rejection.

Cardiac transplantation is an effective treatment for multiple types of heart failure refractive to therapy. Although immunosuppressive therapeutics have increased survival rates within the first year posttransplant, chronic rejection (CR) remains a significant barrier to long-term graft survival. Indicators of CR include patchy interstitial fibrosis, vascular occlusion and progressive loss of graft function. Multiple factors have been implicated in the onset and progression of CR, including TGFbeta, IL-6 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). While associated with CR, the role of CTGF in CR and the factors necessary for CTGF induction in vivo are not understood. To this end, we utilized forced expression and neutralizing antibody approaches. Transduction of allografts with CTGF significantly increased fibrotic tissue development, though not to levels observed with TGFbeta transduction. Further, intragraft CTGF expression was inhibited by IL-6 neutralization whereas TGFbeta expression remained unchanged, indicating that IL-6 effects may potentiate TGFbeta-mediated induction of CTGF. Finally, neutralizing CTGF significantly reduced graft fibrosis without reducing TGFbeta and IL-6 expression levels. These findings indicate that CTGF functions as a downstream mediator of fibrosis in CR, and that CTGF neutralization may ameliorate fibrosis and hypertrophy associated with CR.

Role of the promoter in the regulation of the thymidine kinase gene.

To identify the regulatory elements of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene, we have established stable cell lines carrying different chimeric constructs of the TK gene. Our results can be summarized as follows. (i) When the TK coding sequence is under the control of the calcyclin promoter (a promoter that is activated when G0 cells are stimulated by growth factors), TK mRNA levels are higher in G1-arrested cells than in proliferating cells; (ii) when the TK coding sequence is under the control of the promoter of heat shock protein HSP70, steady-state levels of TK mRNA are highest after heat shock, regardless of the position of the cells in the cell cycle; (iii) the bacterial CAT gene under the control of the human TK promoter is maximally expressed in the S phase; (iv) the TK cDNA driven by the simian virus 40 promoter is also maximally expressed in the S phase; and (v) TK enzyme activity is always at a maximum in the S phase, even when the levels of TK mRNA are highest in nonproliferating cells. We conclude that although the TK coding sequence may also play some role, the TK promoter has an important role in the cell cycle regulation of TK mRNA levels.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen gene.

The steady-state mRNA levels of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene are growth regulated. In a previous paper (L. Ottavio, C.-D. Chang, M. G. Rizzo, S. Travali, C. Casadevall, and R. Baserga, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:303-309, 1990), we reported that introns (especially intron 4) participate in growth regulation of the PCNA gene. We have now investigated the role of the 5'-flanking sequence of the human PCNA gene stably transfected into BALB/c 3T3 cells. Promoters of different lengths (from -2856 to -45 upstream of the cap site) were tested. All promoters except the AatII promoter (-45), including a short HpaII promoter (-210), were sufficient for a response to serum, platelet-derived growth factor, and to a lesser extent epidermal growth factor. No construct responded to insulin or platelet-poor plasma. The AatII promoter had little detectable activity. Transcriptional activity was also determined in BALB/c 3T3 cells carrying various constructs of the human PCNA gene by two methods: run-on transcription and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (the latter measuring the heterogeneous nuclear RNA [hnRNA] steady-state levels). There was very little difference in the rate of transcription of the PCNA gene between G0 cells and serum-stimulated cells, although the levels of hnRNA were much higher after stimulation. In G0 cells carrying a human PCNA gene without introns 4 and 5, both transcription rate and hnRNA levels were high. Together with data on the mRNA half-life, these results suggest a posttranscriptional component in the regulation of PCNA mRNA levels after serum stimulation but a transcriptional regulation by intron 4.

Weekly dosing with the platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU9518 significantly inhibits arterial stenosis.

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligands and their receptors have been implicated as critical regulators of the formation of arterial lesions after tissue injury. SU9518 (3[5-(5-bromo-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindol-3-ylidenemethyl)-2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]propionic acid) is a novel synthetic indolinone that potently and selectively inhibits the cellular PDGF receptor kinase and PDGF receptor-induced cell proliferation. Inhibition of PDGF receptor phosphorylation in cell-based assays occurs within 5 minutes after drug exposure and persists for >6 hours after drug removal. The pharmacokinetics indicate plasma levels that exceeded the effective concentration required to inhibit the PDGF receptor in cells for up to 8 hours or 7 days after a single oral or subcutaneous administration, respectively. In the rat balloon arterial injury-induced stenosis model, once-daily oral or once-weekly subcutaneous administration of SU9518 reduced intimal thickening of the carotid artery (ratio of neointimal to medial area, 1.94+/-0.38 versus 1.03+/-0.29 [P<0.01] 2.21+/-0.32 versus 1.34+/-0.45 [P<0.01], respectively). These studies provide the rationale to evaluate PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including inhibitors related to the indolinone, SU9518, for the treatment of arterial restenosis.

Indolinone tyrosine kinase inhibitors block Kit activation and growth of small cell lung cancer cells.

Six indolinone tyrosine kinase inhibitors were characterized for their ability to inhibit Kit kinase and for their effects on the growth of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. All of the six compounds were potent inhibitors of Kit kinase in a biochemical assay. A homology model of compound binding to the ATP binding site could account for the increased potency observed with the addition of a propionate moiety to the indolinone core but not the increase observed with addition of a chloride moiety. Although all of the compounds tested were potent in the biochemical assay, several exhibited significantly less potency in cellular kinase assays. Their effects on stem cell factor (SCF)-dependent Kit autophosphorylation and SCLC cell growth were also examined. Inhibition of SCF-stimulated Kit activation and cell growth in the H526 cell line was dose-dependent. At concentrations that inhibited SCF-stimulated H526 cell growth, there was little effect on insulin-like growth factor-1-stimulated growth, suggesting that these compounds exhibit reasonable selectivity for inhibition of Kit-mediated proliferation. Higher doses of the compounds were needed to inhibit serum-stimulated growth. Of the six compounds examined, SU5416 and SU6597 demonstrated the best cellular potency and, therefore, their effect on the growth of multiple SCLC cell lines in serum-containing media was examined. In addition to inhibiting proliferation, these compounds also induced significant cell death of several SCLC cell lines, but not of normal human diploid fibroblasts, in complete media. These observations suggest that Kit kinase inhibitors such as these may offer a new approach for inhibiting Kit-mediated proliferation of tumors such as SCLC, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, seminomas, and leukemias.

A novel cdk2-selective inhibitor, SU9516, induces apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells.

Recent studies have indicated that the development of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)2 inhibitors that deregulate E2F are a plausible pharmacological strategy for novel antineoplastic agents. We show here that 3-[1-(3H-Imidazol-4-yl)-meth-(Z)-ylidene]-5-methoxy-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one (SU9516), a novel 3-substituted indolinone compound, binds to and selectively inhibits the activity of cdk2. This inhibition results in a time-dependent decrease (4-64%) in the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein pRb, an increase in caspase-3 activation (5-84%), and alterations in cell cycle resulting in either a G(0)-G(1) or a G(2)-M block. We also report here cell line differences in the cdk-dependent phosphorylation of pRb. These findings demonstrate that SU9516 is a selective cdk2 inhibitor and support the theory that compounds that inhibit cdk2 are viable resources in the development of new antineoplastic agents.

Carboxy-substituted cinnamides: a novel series of potent, orally active LTB4 receptor antagonists.

A series of carboxy-substituted cinnamides were investigated as antagonists of the human cell surface leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor. Binding was determined through measurement of [3H]LTB4 displacement from human neutrophils. Receptor antagonism was confirmed through a functional assay, which measures inhibition of Ca2+ release in human neutrophils. Potent antagonists were discovered through optimization of a random screening hit, a p-(alpha-methylbenzyloxy)cinnamide, having low-micromolar activity. Substantial improvement of in vitro potency was realized by the attachment of a carboxylic acid moiety to the cinnamide phenyl ring through a flexible tether, leading to identification of compounds with low-nanomolar potency. Modification of the benzyloxy substituent, either through ortho-substitution on the benzyloxy phenyl group or through replacement of the ether oxygen with a methylene or sulfur atom, produced achiral antagonists of equal or greater potency. The most potent compounds in vitro were assayed for oral activity using the arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema model of inflammation. Several compounds in this series were found to significantly inhibit edema formation and myeloperoxidase activity in this model up to 17 h after oral administration. Representatives of this series have been shown to be potent and long-acting orally active inhibitors of the LTB4 receptor.

Hepatocyte growth factor expression in human cancer and therapy with specific inhibitors.

Hepatocyte growth factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF) mediated stimulation of the Met receptor tyrosine kinase results in pleiotropic cellular effects including proliferation, morphogenesis, motility and invasion. In vivo, HGF/SF-Met activation has been shown to participate in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Coupled with accumulating evidence that aberrant HGF/SF-Met expression is frequently observed in a variety of human tumors, often in association with progressive disease, these data present HGF/SF-Met as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in human cancer. In this review, we will present the most compelling evidence suggesting a key role for HGF/SF-Met signaling in tumorigenesis, and discuss several possible therapeutic strategies.

Sequence analysis of the human thymidine kinase gene promoter: comparison with the human PCNA promoter.

We report the sequence of 4264 nucleotides of 5' flanking sequence of the human thymidine kinase gene, a gene that is maximally expressed at the G1/S boundary of the cell cycle. The position of nucleotide sequences which can act as binding sites for trans-acting factors, Sp-1, AP-1/jun, AP-2, OTF-1 and CAAT box factors as well as other potential cis-acting sequences have been mapped. The organization of these cis-acting sequences in the promoter of the human PCNA gene (another gene that is maximally expressed at the G1/S boundary) are shown for comparison. The potential role that these sequences may play in the transcriptional regulation of these genes is discussed.

Transcriptional activity of the human thymidine kinase gene determined by a method using the polymerase chain reaction and an intron-specific probe.

We have used the technique of reverse transcription coupled to the polymerase chain reaction to detect mRNA precursors [heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA)] transcribed from the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of human diploid fibroblasts. With this method, the amplification products of both hnRNA (containing the introns) and mature mRNA can be detected on Southern blots with appropriate hybridization probes. With the experimental conditions used, the sensitivity of the technique is such that TK mRNA can be detected in as few as 20 S-phase cells. TK hnRNA is maximally expressed early in the S phase of the cell cycle after quiescent human fibroblasts are stimulated to proliferate. At this point, the ratio of TK hnRNA to TK mRNA is 1:155. A small amount of TK hnRNA can be detected in populations of cells that appear to be quiescent. However, the presence of the precursor in these populations correlates with the number of cells still cycling. No TK hnRNA can be detected in truly quiescent human diploid fibroblasts, suggesting that in these cells, the TK gene is not transcribed in G0.

Structure and proteolysis of the growth hormone receptor on rat hepatocytes.

125I-Labeled human growth hormone is isolated in high molecular weight (Mr) (300,000, 220,000, and 130,000) and low molecular weight complexes on rat hepatocytes after affinity labeling. The time-dependent formation of low molecular weight complexes occurred at the expense of the higher molecular weight species and was inhibited by low temperature or inhibitors of serine proteinases. Exposure to reducing conditions induced loss of Mr 300,000 and 220,000 species and augmented the amount of Mr 130,000 complexes. The molecular weight of growth hormone (22,000) suggests that binding had occurred with species of Mr 280,000, 200,000, and 100,000. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the 100,000-dalton receptor subunit is contained in both the 280,000- and 200,000-dalton species. Reduction of interchain disulfide bonds in the growth hormone receptor did not alter its elution from gel filtration columns, but intact, high molecular weight receptor constituents were separated from lower molecular weight degradation products. Digestion of affinity-labeled growth hormone-receptor complexes with neuraminidase increased the mobility of receptor constituents on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These observations show that the growth hormone receptor is degraded by hepatic serine proteinases to low molecular weight degradation products which can be separated from intact receptor by gel filtration. Intact hormone-receptor complexes are aggregates of 100,000-dalton sialoglycoprotein subunits held together by interchain disulfide bonds and by noncovalent forces.

Cell surface proteolysis and down-regulation of the hepatic insulin receptor. Evidence for selective sorting of intact and degraded receptors after internalization.

Insulin binding to rat liver plasma membranes promotes proteolysis of the Mr 135,000 alpha subunit of the insulin receptor to a fragment of Mr 120,000 (Lipson, K. E., Yamada, K., Kolhatkar, A. A., and Donner, D. B. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10833-10838). The enzyme that catalyzes this degradation copurifies with plasma membranes and cannot be identified in any other cellular organelle or in cytosol. The proteinase has optimal activity above pH 7 and is an integral protein based upon its resistance to extraction with 2 M NaCl. After affinity labeling, degraded insulin receptors were identified in plasma membranes isolated from a liver perfused with 1 nM 125I-insulin for 10 min at 37 degrees C, indicating that proteolysis occurs in the hepatocyte cell membrane under physiological conditions. Microsomes do not contain the receptor degrading activity or a detectable amount of degraded receptors under basal conditions. After perfusion of a liver with 125I-insulin, Mr 135,000 and Mr 120,000 complexes were detected in microsomes, suggesting that both intact and degraded receptors can be internalized. The initial absence of degraded receptors in plasma membranes suggests that, following internalization, such sites do not recycle. Thus, hormone-induced proteolysis of the insulin receptor begins at the surface of the rat hepatocyte and can lead to loss of receptors from the plasma membrane.

Effect of angiogenesis inhibitors on oestrogen-mediated endometrial endothelial cell proliferation in the ovariectomized mouse.

It has been suggested that endometrial angiogenesis in response to the sex steroids oestrogen and progesterone is mediated at a local level via compounds such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), acting through their respective tyrosine kinase receptors. The aim of the present study was to use SUGEN tyrosine kinase receptor angiogenic inhibitor compounds SU5416, SU5402, SU11652 and SU11685, to determine whether VEGF, FGF or PDGF play a role in mediating endometrial endothelial cell proliferation after administration of oestrogen and progesterone. Endometrial endothelial cell proliferation was induced in adult ovariectomized mice by either oestrogen alone for 24 h (E1), or a regimen using oestrogen alone, then progesterone with low dose oestrogen, followed by progesterone with high-dose oestrogen (PE) over a total of 7 days. Each angiogenesis inhibitor compound was injected daily for 4 days (100 mg kg(-1) day(-1), s.c.) before endometrial tissue collection at either the E1 or PE stage. This study also evaluated the effect of VEGF antiserum (0.2 ml, i.p.) on endothelial cell proliferation at the E1 stage. All four angiogenic inhibitor compounds significantly reduced endothelial cell proliferation activity at the E1 and PE stages. The greatest reduction in the endothelial cell proliferative index was at the E1 stage in the group treated with the VEGF receptor inhibitor SU5416 (2.5 +/- 0.7% versus 27.9 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.001), with a reduction of similar magnitude in the group treated with anti-VEGF antibody. At the PE stage, all four inhibitors significantly reduced endothelial cell proliferation to a similar extent, indicating that VEGF, FGF and PDGF are all involved. These results demonstrate that endometrial angiogenesis after acute oestrogen treatment is primarily mediated by VEGF, but that under the influence of combined oestrogen and progesterone, FGF and PDGF are also probably involved.

Unusual DNA binding characteristics of an in vitro translation product of the CCAAT binding protein mYB-1.

We have isolated a cDNA that encodes the murine CCAAT-binding protein mYB-1. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 95% identity with its presumed human homologue (hYB-1A) which was originally isolated as a protein that binds to the Y box of MHC class II genes. In vitro translated mYB-1 binds to CCAAT boxes of the MHCIIE alpha, HSVTK and mouse PCNA promoters but not to alpha-globin or human thymidine kinase CCAAT boxes. Interestingly, complexes formed between the in vitro translated protein and the various CCAAT boxes display the property of being competed more efficiently with self competitor DNA, regardless of the CCAAT box initially used as a probe. A similar phenomenon was observed in a cell extract of Con-A stimulated murine splenocytes when the same competition assays were performed. These results may reflect the generation of multiple forms of a particular CCAAT-binding protein, such as mYB-1, that display distinct, yet overlapping, DNA binding specificities.

Insulin stimulates proteolysis of the alpha-subunit, but not the beta-subunit, of its receptor at the cell surface in rat liver.

Insulin receptors in rat liver plasma membranes contain two alpha- and two beta-subunits held together by interchain disulphide bonds ([alpha beta]2 receptors). Affinity-labelled receptors were digested with chymotrypsin or elastase and then exposed to dithiothreitol before solubilization from membranes and SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. This resulted in partial reduction and isolation of Mr-225,000 alpha beta, Mr-200,000 alpha 1 beta, Mr-165,000 alpha beta 1 and Mr-145,000 alpha 1 beta 1 receptor halves containing intact (alpha, beta) or degraded (alpha 1, beta 1) subunits. The ability to identify half-receptor complexes containing intact or degraded subunits made it possible to assay each subunit simultaneously for insulin-induced proteolysis in isolated plasma membranes or during perfusion of rat liver in situ with insulin. In liver membranes, insulin binding increased the fraction of receptors containing degraded alpha-subunits to about one-third of the total population during 2 h of incubation at 23 degrees C. beta-Subunit proteolysis increased only minimally during this time. Plasma membranes isolated from livers perfused with insulin at 37 degrees C contained degraded alpha-subunits but only intact beta-subunits, showing that insulin induced cell-surface proteolysis of the binding, but not the kinase, domain of its receptor. Since previous observations [Lipson, Kolhatkar & Donner (1988) J. Biol. Chem 263, 10495-10501] have shown that receptors containing degraded alpha-subunits are internalized but do not recycle, it is possible that cell-surface degradation may play a role in the regulation of insulin-receptor number in hepatic tissue. Proteolysis of the beta-subunit is not a likely mechanism by which receptor-kinase activity may be attenuated under physiological conditions.

Alkylation, reduction, solubilization and enrichment of binding activity do not impair the ability of insulin receptors to convert from a rapid- into a slow-dissociating state.

Hormone binding promotes conversion of rat hepatic insulin receptors from a rapid-dissociating into a slow-dissociating affinity state. Solubilization into detergent does not impair the ability of receptors to convert into a slow-dissociating state, and this property is retained as receptor-binding activity is enriched 11,000-13,000-fold during purification. Hormone binding also induces two conformational changes (alterations of tryptic lability) in the insulin receptor. The first change is rapid and exposes parts of the receptor to tryptic degradation. The second, slower, change occurs with the same time course, and probably mediates the conversion into the slower-dissociating binding state. Reduction of disulphide bonds with dithiothreitol does not prevent conversion of binding sites into a slower-dissociating state, and reduced receptors retain the ability to undergo conformational changes in response to hormone binding. Alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide also does not affect the insulin-induced conversion into a slow-dissociating state. These observations suggest that the conversion into a slow-dissociating state is an intrinsic property of the insulin receptor. Free thiol groups in the insulin receptor and disulphide bonds between the alpha-subunits are not essential to this process.

Two zinc-dependent steps during G1 to S phase transition.

The influence of zinc (Zn) availability on thymidine kinase mRNA concentration has been investigated in cells in which production of the mRNA was regulated by either truncated thymidine kinase promoters or by the SV40 early promoter. Thymidine kinase mRNA concentrations were decreased by low Zn availability even when the promoter was truncated to 80 bp but not when it was replaced by the SV40 promoter. However, thymidine incorporation by the SV40 cells was still sensitive to lack of Zn, suggesting a second Zn-sensitive process involved in commitment to S phase. The increase in histone H3 mRNA production prior to S phase was not inhibited by lack of Zn leading to a preferential increase in this mRNA in exponentially growing cells deprived of Zn.

Effect of growth hormone on protein phosphorylation in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes from male rats were incubated with [32P]Pi for 40 min at 37 degrees C, thereby equilibrating the cellular ATP pool with 32P. Subsequent exposure to bovine growth hormone for 10 additional min did not change the specific activity of cellular [gamma-32P]ATP. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or chromatofocusing followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to fractionate phosphoproteins solubilized from control or hormone-stimulated cells. Stimulation of hepatocytes with 5 nM growth hormone for 10 min at 37 degrees C affected the phosphorylation of a number of proteins including an Mr 46,000 species of pI 4.7 whose phosphorylation was augmented (2.65 +/- 0.50)-fold. A significant fraction of the maximal effect of growth hormone on phosphorylation of the Mr 46,000 species was elicited by 1-5% receptor occupancy. Bovine growth hormone, which binds to somatogenic receptors with great specificity, or recombinant human growth hormone, which is not contaminated with other hormones, affected phosphorylation of hepatic proteins similarly. The Mr 46,000 phosphoprotein was isolated in a fraction enriched in cytosol after centrifugation of cellular homogenates. Phosphorylation of the Mr 46,000 phosphoprotein was also increased (1.75 +/- 0.35)-fold and (2.15 +/- 0.50)-fold by insulin and glucagon, respectively. These observations are consistent with the possibility that selective changes in the phosphorylation state of cellular proteins may mediate growth hormone actions in cells.