Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 mediates cell cycle arrest by FcgammaRIIB.

We previously found that low affinity receptors for the Fc portion of IgG, FcgammaRIIB, which are widely expressed by hematopoietic cells, can negatively regulate receptor tyrosine kinase-dependent cell proliferation. We investigated here the mechanisms of this inhibition. We used as experimental models wild-type mast cells, which constitutively express the stem cell factor receptor Kit and FcgammaRIIB, FcgammaRIIB-deficient mast cells reconstituted with wild-type or mutated FcgammaRIIB, and Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1)-deficient mast cells. We found that, upon coaggregation with Kit, FcgammaRIIB are tyrosyl-phosphorylated, recruit SHIP1, but not SHIP2, SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 or -2, abrogate Akt phosphorylation, shorten the duration of the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases of the Ras and Rac pathways, abrogate cyclin induction, prevent cells from entering the cell cycle, and block thymidine incorporation. FcgammaRIIB-mediated inhibition of Kit-dependent cell proliferation was reduced in SHIP1-deficient mast cells, whereas inhibition of IgE-induced responses was abrogated. Cell proliferation was, however, inhibited by coaggregating Kit with FcgammaRIIB whose intracytoplasmic domain was replaced with the catalytic domain of SHIP1. These results demonstrate that FcgammaRIIB use SHIP1 to inhibit pathways shared by receptor tyrosine kinases and immunoreceptors to trigger cell proliferation and cell activation, respectively, but that, in the absence of SHIP1, FcgammaRIIB can use other effectors that specifically inhibit cell proliferation.

Thapsigargin-induced degranulation of mast cells is dependent on transient activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase.

Thapsigargin, which elevates cytosolic calcium levels by inhibiting the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-dependent ATPase, was tested for its ability to degranulate bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from src homology 2-containing inositol phosphatase +/+ (SHIP+/+) and SHIP-/- mice. As was found previously with steel factor, thapsigargin stimulated far more degranulation in SHIP-/- than in SHIP+/+ BMMCs, and this was blocked with the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin. In contrast to steel factor, however, this heightened degranulation of SHIP-/- BMMCs was not due to a greater calcium influx into these cells, nor was the thapsigargin-induced calcium influx inhibited by LY294002, suggesting that the heightened thapsigargin-induced degranulation of SHIP-/- BMMCs was due to a PI-3 kinase-regulated step distinct from that regulating calcium entry. An investigation of thapsigargin-stimulated pathways in both cell types revealed that MAPK was heavily but equally phosphorylated. Interestingly, the protein kinase C inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide (compound 3), totally blocked thapsigargin-induced degranulation in both SHIP+/+ and SHIP-/- BMMCs. As well, thapsigargin stimulated a PI-3 kinase-dependent, transient activation of protein kinase B, and this activation was far greater in SHIP-/- than in SHIP+/+ BMMCs. Consistent with this, thapsigargin was found to be a potent survival factor, following cytokine withdrawal, for both cell types and was more potent with SHIP-/- cells. These studies have both identified an additional PI-3 kinase-dependent step within the mast cell degranulation process, possibly involving 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 and a diacylglycerol-independent protein kinase C isoform, and shown that the tumor-promoting activity of thapsigargin may be due to its activation of protein kinase B and subsequent promotion of cell survival.

Coexpression of c-kit and stem cell factor in breast cancer results in enhanced sensitivity to members of the EGF family of growth factors.

Kit, a tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor, and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), are commonly coexpressed in breast cancer. We have previously shown that MCF7 cells (that naturally express SCF) transfected with a c-kit expression vector exhibit enhanced growth in serum-free medium supplemented with IGF-1. Consequently, we wished to examine the interaction of Kit/SCF with additional growth factors important in the biology of breast cancer. MCF7 transfectants expressing Kit, cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with EGF, displayed more than twice the growth of controls at identical EGF concentrations. Similar responses were seen in the presence of heregulin alpha. The specificity of the Kit-mediated response was illustrated by a reduction in heregulin-stimulated growth in the presence of a monoclonal antibody directed against the Kit receptor. In addition, EGF- and heregulin-stimulated growth of the ZR75-1 cell line that naturally coexpresses Kit and SCF was also inhibited by the Kit blocking antibody. Preliminary investigations into the signal transduction pathways activated by these growth factors revealed that SCF activated both the Ras-MAP kinase and phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) pathway. Both EGF and heregulin activated MAPK but to a lesser degree than SCF, and combination of SCF with these growth factors resulted in enhanced MAPK activation. Assessment of PI3K pathway activation using antiphospho-Akt antibodies revealed that EGF was a poor activator of Akt; activation of this pathway was markedly enhanced by the addition of SCF. Heregulin activated Akt and addition of SCF provided no further activation. Taken together these results suggest that coexpression of SCF and Kit may enhance responsiveness to erbB ligands by enhancing activation of the MAPK and PI3K pathways.

Cloning and characterization of human SHIP, the 145-kD inositol 5-phosphatase that associates with SHC after cytokine stimulation.

We recently cloned and sequenced a cDNA encoding a 145-kD protein from the murine hematopoietic cell line B6SUtA, that becomes tyrosine phosphorylated and associated with Shc after cytokine stimulation. Based on its domains and enzymatic activity, we named this protein SHIP for SH2-containing inositol phosphatase (Damen et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:1689, 1996). We describe here the cloning of the human homologue of murine SHIP (mSHIP) from a human megakaryocytic cell line (MO7e) lambda gt11 cDNA library using two nonoverlapping mSHIP cDNA fragments as probes. Northern blot analysis suggests that human SHIP (hSHIP) is expressed as a 5.3-kb mRNA in human bone marrow and a wide variety of other tissues. Sequence analysis of this cDNA predicts a protein of 1188 amino acids exhibiting 87.2% overall sequence identity with mSHIP. Contained within the defined open reading frame is an N-terminal, group l src homology 2 (SH2) domain; three NXXY motifs that, if phosphorylated, could be bound by phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains; a C-terminal proline-rich region; and two centrally located inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase motifs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, using the full-length hSHIP cDNA as a probe, mapped hSHIP to the long arm of chromosome 2 at the border between 2q36 and 2q37.

The 145-kDa protein induced to associate with Shc by multiple cytokines is an inositol tetraphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate 5-phosphatase.

A 145-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that becomes associated with Shc in response to multiple cytokines has been purified from the murine hemopoietic cell line B6SUtA1. Amino acid sequence data were used to clone the cDNA encoding this protein from a B6SUtA1 library. The predicted amino acid sequence encodes a unique protein containing an N-terminal src homology 2 domain, two consensus sequences that are targets for phosphotyrosine binding domains, a proline-rich region, and two motifs highly conserved among inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases. Cell lysates immunoprecipitated with antiserum to this protein exhibited both phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate polyphosphate 5-phosphatase activity. This novel signal transduction intermediate may serve to modulate both Ras and inositol signaling pathways. Based on its properties, we suggest the 145-kDa protein be called SHIP for SH2-containing inositol phosphatase.

Isolation and characterization of complementary DNA for N-cym, a gene encoded by the DNA strand opposite to N-myc.

The N-myc oncogene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of human tumors, including childhood neuroblastoma and adult small cell lung cancer. We have isolated and characterized complementary DNA clones derived from a transcription unit, N-cym, located on the opposite DNA strand to N-myc, with extensive overlap existing between the 5' ends of the two transcription units. The N-cym gene, which can encode a 109-amino acid protein, is expressed during fetal development, as well as in tumor cell lines containing amplified N-myc loci, where it is expressed at very high levels. Although other examples of overlapping, opposite-strand eukaryotic genes exist, N-myc and N-cym are unique in that they appear to be coregulated in tumor cell lines under basal growth conditions and in response to the differentiating agent retinoic acid. This coregulation suggests that their protein products may be functionally interrelated during normal development and oncogenesis.

Stimulation of DNA synthesis by ascorbate in cultures of articular chondrocytes.

The addition of 0.2 mM Na L-ascorbate increased the incorporation of 3H-thymidine by rabbit articular chondrocytes in cell and organ culture. The stimulatory response of explants to ascorbate was potentiated by pretreatment of the cartilage with 0.2% clostridial collagenase (type 1) or trypsin for 15-30 minutes. In explants there was a latent period of 3 to 4 days before increased labeling of the nuclei could be detected. The effect was transient and declined after 8 days of culture. It was more evident in organ cultures of immature (3-month-old) than 2- to 3-year-old rabbits. Age differences were not detected in cell cultures. Explants of adult human articular cartilage were stimulated by ascorbate when the medium was supplemented with 10% fresh human serum but not by fetal bovine serum. The findings indicated that synthesis of DNA by articular chondrocytes in situ is regulated by responsiveness of the cells proper to compounds such as vitamin C, by properties of the extracellular matrix, and by factors in the serum. Ascorbate was cytotoxic at concentrations greater than 0.2 mM in the presence of certain batches of serum.