Epidermal growth factor receptor controls glycogen phosphorylase in T cells through small GTPases of the RAS family.

We recently uncovered a regulatory pathway of the muscle isoform of glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) that plays an important role in regulating immune function in T cells. Here, using various enzymatic, pulldown, and immunoprecipitation assays, we describe signaling cross-talk between the small GTPases RAS and RAP1A, member of RAS oncogene family (RAP1) in human Kit 225 lymphoid cells, which, in turn, is regulated by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We found that this communication bridge is essential for glycogen phosphorylase (PYG) activation through the canonical pathway because this enzyme is inactive in the absence of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (ADCY6). PYG activation required stimulation of both exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2 (EPAC2) and RAP1 via RAS and ADCY6 phosphorylation, with the latter being mediated by Raf-1 proto-oncogene, Ser/Thr kinase (RAF1). Consistent with this model, PYG activation was EGFR-dependent and may be initiated by the constitutively active form of RAS. Consequently, PYG activation in Kit 225 T cells could be blocked with specific inhibitors of RAS, EPAC, RAP1, RAF1, ADCY6, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Our results establish a new paradigm for the mechanism of PYG activation, which depends on the type of receptor involved.

McArdle Disease: New Insights into Its Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

McArdle disease, also known as glycogen storage disease type V (GSDV), is characterized by exercise intolerance, the second wind phenomenon, and high serum creatine kinase activity. Here, we recapitulate PYGM mutations in the population responsible for this disease. Traditionally, McArdle disease has been considered a metabolic myopathy caused by the lack of expression of the muscle isoform of the glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM). However, recent findings challenge this view, since it has been shown that PYGM is present in other tissues than the skeletal muscle. We review the latest studies about the molecular mechanism involved in glycogen phosphorylase activity regulation. Further, we summarize the expression and functional significance of PYGM in other tissues than skeletal muscle both in health and McArdle disease. Furthermore, we examine the different animal models that have served as the knowledge base for better understanding of McArdle disease. Finally, we give an overview of the latest state-of-the-art clinical trials currently being carried out and present an updated view of the current therapies.

Guanine nucleotide exchange factor αPIX leads to activation of the Rac 1 GTPase/glycogen phosphorylase pathway in interleukin (IL)-2-stimulated T cells.

Recently, we have reported that the active form of Rac 1 GTPase binds to the glycogen phosphorylase muscle isoform (PYGM) and modulates its enzymatic activity leading to T cell proliferation. In the lymphoid system, Rac 1 and in general other small GTPases of the Rho family participate in the signaling cascades that are activated after engagement of the T cell antigen receptor. However, little is known about the IL-2-dependent Rac 1 activator molecules. For the first time, a signaling pathway leading to the activation of Rac 1/PYGM in response to IL-2-stimulated T cell proliferation is described. More specifically, αPIX, a known guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPases of the Rho family, preferentially Rac 1, mediates PYGM activation in Kit 225 T cells stimulated with IL-2. Using directed mutagenesis, phosphorylation of αPIX Rho-GEF serines 225 and 488 is required for activation of the Rac 1/PYGM pathway. IL-2-stimulated serine phosphorylation was corroborated in Kit 225 T cells cultures. A parallel pharmacological and genetic approach identified PKCθ as the serine/threonine kinase responsible for αPIX serine phosphorylation. The phosphorylated state of αPIX was required to activate first Rac 1 and subsequently PYGM. These results demonstrate that the IL-2 receptor activation, among other early events, leads to activation of PKCθ. To activate Rac 1 and consequently PYGM, PKCθ phosphorylates αPIX in T cells. The biological significance of this PKCθ/αPIX/Rac 1 GTPase/PYGM signaling pathway seems to be the control of different cellular responses such as migration and proliferation.

Expression of the DYRK1A gene correlates with its 3D positioning in the interphase nucleus of Down syndrome cells.

Down syndrome is a common birth defect caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. Chromosomes occupy distinct territories in interphase nuclei, and their distribution within the nuclear space is nonrandom. In humans with Down syndrome, two chromosomes 21 frequently localize proximal to one another and distant from the third chromosome. Here, we investigated the nuclear organization of DYRK1A and SOD1, two genes mapping to chromosome 21 that greatly contribute to the pathology. We found that DYRK1A conserves its central positioning between normal and trisomic cells, whereas SOD1 adopts more peripheral distribution in trisomic cells. We also found that the relative position of these genes with respect to each other varies among the different copies of chromosome territories 21 within a cell, and that this distinct distribution is associated with differences in their expression levels. All together, our results may explain, at least in part, the difference in the expression level of these two genes implicated in the pathogenesis of Down syndrome.

Spatial proximity of translocation-prone gene loci in human lymphomas.

Cancer cells frequently have disease-specific chromosome rearrangements. It is poorly understood why translocations between chromosomes recur at specific breakpoints in the genome. Here we provide evidence that higher-order spatial genome organization is a contributing factor in the formation of recurrent translocations. We show that MYC, BCL and immunoglobulin loci, which are recurrently translocated in various B-cell lymphomas, are preferentially positioned in close spatial proximity relative to each other in normal B cells. Loci in spatial proximity are non-randomly positioned towards the nuclear interior in normal B cells. This locus proximity is the consequence of higher-order genome structure rather than a property of individual genes. Our results suggest that the formation of specific translocations in human lymphomas, and perhaps other tissues, is determined in part by higher-order spatial organization of the genome.

Polymorphism-specific PCR enhances the diagnostic performance of American tegumentary leishmaniasis and allows the rapid identification of Leishmania species from Argentina.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of the leishmaniases poses enormous challenges in Argentina. The Polymorphism-Specific PCR (PS-PCR) designed and validated in our laboratories has been proven effective for typifying the Leishmania genus from cultured material. Here we evaluated the performance of this method in the diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and the rapid identification of Leishmania spp. directly from clinical specimens. METHODS: A total of 63 patients from northwestern Argentina, with cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesions, underwent an ATL diagnosis protocol which included clinical examination, Leishmanin skin test, and microscopic examination of dermal smears. In addition, we performed PS-PCR on DNA directly extracted from the specimens scraped from the lesions. RESULTS: Out of the 63 patients, 44 were classified as ATL cases and 19 as non-ATL cases. The diagnostic sensitivity of the microscopic analysis of dermal smears and PS-PCR individually were 70.5% and 81%, respectively. When performing both tests in parallel, this parameter increased significantly to 97.6% (p = 0.0018). The specificities, on the other hand, were 100%, 84.2%, and 83.3% for the combination, respectively (p > 0.05). Using the PS-PCR analysis we successfully identified the Leishmania spp. in 31 out of the 44 ATL cases. Twenty-eight (90.3%) cases were caused by L. (V.) braziliensis, two (6.5%) by L. (V.) guyanensis, and one (3.2%) by L. (V.) panamensis. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of the ATL diagnosis was significantly improved by combining the dermal smear examination with a PS-PCR analysis. Our strategy allowed us to reach the diagnosis of ATL with high accuracy regarding the species of the etiological agent in 70.5% of the cases. Moreover, we diagnosed two cases of the disseminated cutaneous form caused by L. (V.) braziliensis and a cutaneous case due to L. (V.) panamensis infection, both findings reported for the first time in Argentina.

Activation of LKB1-Akt pathway independent of phosphoinositide 3-kinase plays a critical role in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

UNLABELLED: LKB1, originally considered a tumor suppressor, plays an important role in hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration. Mice lacking the methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) gene MAT1A exhibit a chronic reduction in hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) levels, basal activation of LKB1, and spontaneous development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These results are relevant for human health because patients with liver cirrhosis, who are at risk to develop HCC, have a marked reduction in hepatic MAT1A expression and SAMe synthesis. In this study, we isolated a cell line (SAMe-deficient [SAMe-D]) from MAT1A knockout (MAT1A-KO) mouse HCC to examine the role of LKB1 in the development of liver tumors derived from metabolic disorders. We found that LKB1 is required for cell survival in SAMe-D cells. LKB1 regulates Akt-mediated survival independent of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, adenosine monophosphate protein-activated kinase (AMPK), and mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC2). In addition, LKB1 controls the apoptotic response through phosphorylation and retention of p53 in the cytoplasm and the regulation of herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP) and Hu antigen R (HuR) nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. We identified HAUSP as a target of HuR. Finally, we observed cytoplasmic staining of p53 and p-LKB1(Ser428) in a NASH-HCC animal model (from MAT1A-KO mice) and in liver biopsies obtained from human HCC derived from both alcoholic steatohepatitis and NASH. CONCLUSION: The SAMe-D cell line is a relevant model of HCC derived from NASH disease in which LKB1 is the principal conductor of a new regulatory mechanism and could be a practical tool for uncovering new therapeutic strategies.

[Isolation of fetal liver oval cells in physiologic conditions form their natural niche]. / Aislamiento de células ovales de hígado fetal en condiciones fisiológicas a partir de su nicho natural.

The liver is characterized by a remarkable ability to proliferate and self-renew. In the situation of mild or moderate liver damage, hepatocytes carry out regeneration. Nevertheless, when liver damage is far too much extensive and the number of residual mature hepatocytes is not enough to accomplish regeneration, or likewise when mature hepatocyte proliferation is inhibited, hepatic regeneration depends on the activation of liver stem cells that give rise to oval cells. The population of liver stem cells is scant in normal liver. It is considered that in fetal liver this population is just over 1% of the cells. For this reason, it is necessary to isolate and enrich them for their study. With this goal several models of hepatic damage that permit the isolation of oval cells af ter the induction of massive hepatic injure have been developed. Here we present a simple methodology that allows the isolation of oval cells from rat fetal liver without prior induction of liver damage. The use of oval cell 2 (OC2) and oval cell 3 (OC3) antigens as molecular markers allowed the highly precise characterization of this cell population. Furthermore, the in vitro culture in presence of HGF yielded a substantial enrichment of the oval cell population.

Functional blockade of α5ß1 integrin induces scattering and genomic landscape remodeling of hepatic progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND: Cell scattering is a physiological process executed by stem and progenitor cells during embryonic liver development and postnatal organ regeneration. Here, we investigated the genomic events occurring during this process induced by functional blockade of α5ß1 integrin in liver progenitor cells. RESULTS: Cells treated with a specific antibody against α5ß1 integrin exhibited cell spreading and scattering, over-expression of liver stem/progenitor cell markers and activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs signaling cascades, in a similar manner to the process triggered by HGF/SF1 stimulation. Gene expression profiling revealed marked transcriptional changes of genes involved in cell adhesion and migration, as well as genes encoding chromatin remodeling factors. These responses were accompanied by conspicuous spatial reorganization of centromeres, while integrin genes conserved their spatial positioning in the interphase nucleus. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results demonstrate that α5ß1 integrin functional blockade induces cell migration of hepatic progenitor cells, and that this involves a dramatic remodeling of the nuclear landscape.

Spatial link between nucleoli and expression of the Zac1 gene.

Eukaryotic genomes are highly organized within the cell nucleus. Genome organization not only implies the preferential positioning of genetic elements in the interphase nucleus but also the topographic distribution of biological processes. We have investigated the relationship between spatial organization and genome function in single cells. Myc, c-Met, Igf2r, Asb4, and Zac1 genes have the same radial distribution, but they are not positioned in close proximity with respect to each other. Three-dimensional mapping of their transcription sites uncovered a gene-specific pattern of relative positioning with respect to the nucleolus. We found that the Zac1 gene transcription preferentially occurs juxtaposed to the nucleolus, and that its mRNA accumulates at this site of transcription. Nucleoli isolation followed by qRT-PCR provided evidence for a physical interaction between Zac1 mRNA and the nucleolus. Actinomycin-D treatment induced disassembly of the nucleolus, loss of the RNA-FISH signal, and dramatic increase of the ZAC protein level. However, inhibition of RNA polymerase II had no effect over the Zac1 FISH signal and the protein expression. Induction of cell cycle arrest, which involves participation of the ZAC protein, provoked mRNA release from its retention site and protein synthesis. Our data demonstrate that Zac1 mRNA preferentially accumulates in close proximity to nucleoli within the cell nucleus. In addition, our results suggest a functional link between such spatial distribution and protein expression.

An uncertainty principle in chromosome positioning.

Chromosomes are non-randomly positioned in the mammalian interphase nucleus. It is not known how patterns of chromosome positions are established or to what degree spatial arrangements of chromosomes change during the cell cycle, especially during mitosis. Two reports have applied in vivo microscopy to track chromosomes in space and time. The results highlight the inherently imperfect and probabilistic nature of chromosome positioning in the cell nucleus.

PLAGL1 gene function during hepatoma cells proliferation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma develops as a multistep process, in which cell cycle deregulation is a central feature, resulting in unscheduled proliferation. The PLAGL1 gene encodes a homonym zinc finger protein that is involved in cell-proliferation control. We determined the genomic profile and the transcription and expression level of PLAGL1, simultaneously with that of its molecular partners p53, PPARγ and p21, in cell-lines derived from patients with liver cancer, during in vitro cell growth. Our investigations revealed that genomic and epigenetic changes of PLAGL1 are also present in hepatoma cell-lines. Transcription of PLAGL1 in tumor cells is significantly lower than in normal fibroblasts, but no significant differences in terms of protein expression were detected between these two cell-types, indicating that there is not a direct relationship between the gene transcriptional activity and protein expression. RT-PCR analyses on normal fibroblasts, used as control, also showed that PLAGL1 and p53 genes transcription occurs as an apparent orchestrated process during normal cells proliferation, which gets disturbed in cancer cells. Furthermore, abnormal trafficking of the PLAGL1 protein may occur in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Conservation of relative chromosome positioning in normal and cancer cells.

Chromosomes exist in the interphase nucleus as individual chromosome territories. It is unclear to what extent chromosome territories occupy particular positions with respect to each other and how structural rearrangements, such as translocations, affect chromosome organization within the cell nucleus. Here we analyze the relative interphase positioning of chromosomes in mouse lymphoma cells compared to normal splenocytes. We show that in a lymphoma cell line derived from an ATM(-/-) mouse, two translocated chromosomes are preferentially positioned in close proximity to each other. The relative position of the chromosomes involved in these translocations is conserved in normal splenocytes. Relative positioning of chromosomes in normal splenocytes is not due to their random distribution in the interphase nucleus and persists during mitosis. These observations demonstrate that the relative arrangement of chromosomes in the interphase nucleus can be conserved between normal and cancer cells and our data support the notion that physical proximity facilitates rearrangements between chromosomes.

Gallbladder cancer: South American experience.

Large differences in terms of incidence and mortality due to gallbladder cancer (GBC) have been reported worldwide. Moreover, it seems that GBC has unique characteristics in South America. We surveyed the literature looking for information about the epidemiology, basic and translational research, and clinical trials performed in South America in order to critically analyze the magnitude of this health problem in the region. Compared to other geographic areas, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for GBC in women are very high, particularly in many western areas of South America. Genetic, as well as dietary and environmental factors likely contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease in the area. Compared to other regions the profile of abnormalities of key genes such as KRAS and TP53 in GBC seems to slightly differ in South America, while the clinical behavior appears to be similar with a median overall survival (OS) of 6.5 to 8 months in advanced GBC. In contrast to Europe and USA, prophylactic cholecystectomy is a common practice in western areas of South America. GBC particularly affects women in South America, and represents a significant public health problem. It appears to have peculiarities that pose an urgent need for additional research aimed to discover risk factors, molecular events associated with its development and new treatment options for this lethal disease.

Rac1/p21-activated kinase pathway controls retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation and E2F transcription factor activation in B lymphocytes.

Small GTPases of the Ras superfamily are capable of activating E2F-dependent transcription leading to cell proliferation, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, using immortalized chicken DT40 B cell lines to investigate the role of the Vav/Rac signalling cascade on B cell proliferation, it is shown that the proliferative response triggered by B cell receptor activation is dramatically reduced in the absence of Vav3 expression. Analysis of this proliferative defect shows that in the absence of Vav3 expression, retinoblastoma protein (RB) phosphorylation and the subsequent E2F activation do not take place. By combining pharmacological and genetic approaches, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) were identified as the key regulatory signalling molecules upstream of the Vav3/Rac pathway leading to RB phosphorylation and E2F transcription factor activation. Additionally, vav3(-/-) and plcγ2(-/-) DT40 B cells were not able to activate the RB-E2F complex wild-type phenotype when these genetically modified cells were transfected with constitutively active forms of RhoA or Cdc42. However, when these knockout cells were transfected with different constitutively active versions of PLCγ, Vav or Rac1, not only activation of the RB-E2F complex wild-type phenotype was recovered but also the cellular proliferation. Furthermore, by evaluating the effect of two known effector mutants of Rac1 (Rac1(Q61L/F37A) and Rac1(Q61L/Y40C) ), the RB-E2F complex activation dependency on p21-activated kinase (PAK) and protein kinase Cε (PKCε) activities was established, being independent of both actin cytoskeleton reorganization and Ras activity. These results suggest that PAK1 and PKCε may be potential therapeutic targets to stop uncontrolled B cell proliferation mediated by the Vav/Rac pathway.

Lck/PLCγ control migration and proliferation of interleukin (IL)-2-stimulated T cells via the Rac1 GTPase/glycogen phosphorylase pathway.

Recently, we have reported that the IL-2-stimulated T cells activate PKCθ in order to phosphorylate the serine residues of αPIX-RhoGEF, and to switch on the Rac1/PYGM pathway resulting in T cell migration and proliferation. However, the molecular mechanism connecting the activated IL-2-R with the PKCθ/αPIX/Rac1/PYGM pathway is still unknown. In this study, the use of a combined pharmacological and genetic approach identified Lck, a Src family member, as the tyrosine kinase phosphorylating PLCγ leading to Rac1 and PYGM activation in the IL-2-stimulated Kit 225 T cells via the PKCθ/αPIX pathway. The PLCγ tyrosine phosphorylation was required to activate first PKCθ, and then αPIX and Rac1/PYGM. The results presented here delineate a novel signalling pathway ranking equally in importance to the three major pathways controlled by the IL-2-R, i.e. PI3K, Ras/MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways. The overall evidence strongly indicates that the central biological role of the novel IL-2-R/Lck/PLCγ/PKCθ/αPIX/Rac1/PYGM signalling pathway is directly related to the control of fundamental cellular processes such as T cell migration and proliferation.

Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic Is Associated with Increased Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Longer Telomere Length in Peripheral Blood.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through drinking water causes cancer. Alterations in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and telomere length in blood have been associated with cancer risk. We elucidated if arsenic exposure alters mtDNAcn and telomere length in individuals with different arsenic metabolizing capacity. METHODS: We studied two groups in the Salta province, Argentina, one in the Puna area of the Andes (N = 264, 89% females) and one in Chaco (N = 169, 75% females). We assessed arsenic exposure as the sum of arsenic metabolites [iAs, methylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)] in urine (U-As) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hydride generation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Efficiency of arsenic metabolism was expressed as percentage of urinary metabolites. MtDNAcn and telomere length were determined in blood by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Median U-As was 196 (5-95 percentile: 21-537) µg/L in Andes and 80 (5-95 percentile: 15-1637) µg/L in Chaco. The latter study group had less-efficient metabolism, with higher %iAs and %MMA in urine compared with the Andean group. U-As was significantly associated with increased mtDNAcn (log2 transformed to improve linearity) in Chaco (ß = 0.027 per 100 µg/L, p = 0.0085; adjusted for age and sex), but not in Andes (ß = 0.025, p = 0.24). U-As was also associated with longer telomere length in Chaco (ß = 0.016, p = 0.0066) and Andes (ß = 0.0075, p = 0.029). In both populations, individuals with above median %iAs showed significantly higher mtDNAcn and telomere length compared with individuals with below median %iAs. CONCLUSIONS: Arsenic was associated with increased mtDNAcn and telomere length, particularly in individuals with less-efficient arsenic metabolism, a group who may have increased risk for arsenic-related cancer.

Cytogenetic abnormalities in a hemangiopericytoma of the spleen.

To date, only 16 cytogenetically abnormal hemangiopericytomas (HP) have been reported. Despite this low number, some characteristic karyotypic features have already emerged: most HP are near-diploid and breakpoints in 12q13, 12q24, and 19q13 seem to be common, with t(12;19)(q13;q13) being a recurrent translocation. Here, we report the first case of a probably benign splenic HP with chromosomal abnormalities. The abnormal karyotype was 47,XX,t(5;22;11)(q31;q11;q13),+10. None of these abnormalities have previously been reported in HP, suggesting that the karyotypic pattern of splenic HP may differ from soft tissue HP.

Methylation of the nonhomologous end joining repair pathway genes does not explain the increase of translocations with aging.

Chromosome translocations are especially frequent in human lymphomas and leukemias but are insufficient to drive carcinogenesis. Indeed, several of the so-called tumor specific translocations have been detected in peripheral blood of healthy individuals, finding a higher frequency of some of them with aging. The inappropriate repair of DNA double strand breaks by the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway is one of the reasons for a translocation to occur. Moreover, fidelity of this pathway has been shown to decline with age. Although the mechanism underlying this inefficacy is unknown, other repair pathways are inactivated by methylation with aging. In this study, we analyzed the implication of NHEJ genes methylation in the increase of translocations with the age. To this aim, we determined the relationship between translocations and aging in 565 Spanish healthy individuals and correlated these data with the methylation status of 11 NHEJ genes. We found higher frequency of BCL2-JH and BCR-ABL (major) translocations with aging. In addition, we detected that two NHEJ genes (LIG4 and XRCC6) presented age-dependent promoter methylation changes. However, we did not observe a correlation between the increase of translocations and methylation, indicating that other molecular mechanisms are involved in the loss of NHEJ fidelity with aging.

In vivo antileishmanial efficacy of miltefosine against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis.

Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus, constitutes a significant health and social problem in many countries and is increasing worldwide. The conventional treatment, meglumine antimoniate (MA), presents numerous disadvantages, including invasiveness, toxicity, and frequent therapeutic failure, justifying the attempts at finding alternatives to the first-line therapy. We have studied the comparative long-term efficacy of MA against miltefosine (MF) in Leishmania infection in experimental mice. The criteria for efficacy evaluation were footpad lesion size, anti-Leishmania antibodies level, histopathology of the site of inoculation (right footpad, RFP), splenic index (SI), and the presence of parasites in RFP, spleen, and liver, determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Swiss mice, infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis were treated, at different time points (5 and 40 days after infection) with either MA or MF. The efficacy of MF was better than that of MA for inhibiting lesions and for reducing tissue damage and presence/load of amastigotes in spleen and liver. Moreover, early administration of MF produced a clear reduction in splenomegaly and was equal in reducing antibody titles in comparison with MA. Our results demonstrated that MF is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative for leishmaniasis by L. (L.) amazonensis and is more efficacious than MA.