CLA reduces breast cancer cell growth and invasion through ERalpha and PI3K/Akt pathways.

We previously reported that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid, inhibits the growth of ERalpha(+) MCF-7 and ERalpha(-) MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells by negative modulation of the ERK/MAPK pathway and apoptosis induction. Here we show that in these cell lines CLA also down-regulates the PI3K/Akt cascade. In MCF-7 cells CLA also triggers ERalpha/PP2A complex formation reducing the phosphorylation state and transcriptional activity of Eralpha whereas in MDA-MB-231 cells CLA does not induce PP2A activation. Moreover, CLA induces the expression of proteins involved in cell adhesion and inhibits cell migration and MMP-2 activity. These findings suggest that CLA may induce the down-regulation of ERalpha signalling and the reduction of cell invasion through the modulation of balancing between phosphatases and kinases.

Agmatine transport in brain mitochondria: a different mechanism from that in liver mitochondria.

The diamine agmatine (AGM), exhibiting two positive charges at physiological pH, is transported into rat brain mitochondria (RBM) by an electrophoretic mechanism, requiring high membrane potential values and exhibiting a marked non-ohmic force-flux relationship. The mechanism of this transport apparently resembles that observed in rat liver mitochondria (RLM), but there are several characteristics that strongly suggest the presence of a different transporter of agmatine in RBM. In this type of mitochondria, the extent of initial binding and total accumulation is higher and lower, respectively, than that in liver; saturation kinetics and the flux-voltage relationship also exhibit different trends, whereas idazoxan and putrescine, ineffective in RLM, act as inhibitors. The characteristics of agmatine uptake in RBM lead to the conclusion that its transporter is a channel with two asymmetric energy barriers, showing some characteristics similar to those of the imidazoline receptor I(2) and the sharing with the polyamine transporter.

Transport of amino acids through the placenta and their role.

Amino acids are transported across the human placenta mediated by transporter proteins that differ in structure, mechanism and substrate specificity. Some of them are Na+-dependent systems, whereas others are Na+-independent. Among these there are transporters composed of a heavy chain, a glycoprotein, and a light chain. Moreover, they can be differently distributed in the two membranes forming the syncytiotrophoblast. The transport mechanisms involved and their regulation are only partially known. In the placenta itself, part of the amino acids is metabolized to form other compounds important for the fetus. This occurs for instance for arginine, which gives rise to polyamines and to NO. Interconversion occurs among few other amino acids Transport is altered in pregnancy complications, such as restricted fetal growth.

Human mesenchymal stem cells as a two-edged sword in hepatic regenerative medicine: engraftment and hepatocyte differentiation versus profibrogenic potential.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow (MSCs) may have the potential to differentiate in vitro and in vivo into hepatocytes. We investigated whether transplanted human MSCs (hMSCs) may engraft the liver of non-obese diabetic severe combined immuno-deficient (NOD/SCID) mice and differentiate into cells of hepatic lineage. METHODS: Ex vivo expanded, highly purified and functionally active hMSCs from bone marrow were transplanted (caudal vein) in sublethally irradiated NOD/SCID mice that were either exposed or not to acute liver injury or submitted to a protocol of chronic injury (single or chronic intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4), respectively). Chimeric livers were analysed for expression of human transcripts and antigens. RESULTS: Liver engraftment of cells of human origin was very low in normal and acutely injured NOD/SCID mice with significantly higher numbers found in chronically injured livers. However, hepatocellular differentiation was relatively rare, limited to a low number of cells (ranging from less than 0.1% to 0.23%) as confirmed by very low or not detectable levels of human transcripts for alpha-fetoprotein, CK18, CK19 and albumin in either normal or injured livers. Finally, a significant number of cells of human origin exhibited a myofibroblast-like morphology. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanted hMSCs have the potential to migrate into normal and injured liver parenchyma, particularly under conditions of chronic injury, but differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells is a rare event and pro-fibrogenic potential of hMSC transplant should be not under-evaluated.

S-adenosylmethionine and its products.

S-adenosylmethionine is involved in many processes, mainly methylation, polyamine synthesis and radical-based catalysis. It is synthesised through the catalysis of differently regulated enzyme forms. When it is used, the compounds formed are reutilized in different ways: in case of methylation, its end product is homocysteine, which can be remethylated to methionine, give rise to cysteine in the so-called transsulphuration pathway, or be released; in the case of polyamine synthesis, the methylthioadenosine formed is cleaved and gives rise to compounds which can be reutilized; during radical-based catalysis, 5-deoxyadenosine is formed and this, too, is cleaved and reutilized.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs): involvement in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are formed from the so-called Amadori products by rearrangement followed by other reactions giving rise to compounds bound irreversibly. The structure of some of them is shown and the mechanism of formation is described. Several AGE binding molecules (Receptors for AGE, RAGE) are known and it is thought that many of the effects caused by AGEs are mediated by RAGE. Some of these were shown to be toxic, and called TAGE. The mechanism of detoxification of glyoxal and methylglyoxal by the glyoxalase system is described and also the possibility to eliminate glycated proteins by deglycation enzymes. Compounds able to inhibit AGEs formation are also taken into consideration.

Inhibition of agmatine transport in liver mitochondria by new charge-deficient agmatine analogues.

The charge of the agmatine analogues AO-Agm [N-(3-aminooxypropyl)guanidine], GAPA [N-(3-aminopropoxy)guanidine] and NGPG [N-(3-guanidinopropoxy)guanidine] is deficient as compared with that of agmatine and they are thus able to inhibit agmatine transport in liver mitochondria. The presence of the guanidine group is essential for an optimal effect, since AO-Agm and NGPG display competitive inhibition, whereas that of GAPA is non-competitive. NGPG is the most effective inhibitor (K(i)=0.86 mM). The sequence in the inhibitory efficacy is not directly dependent on the degree of protonation of the molecules; in fact NGPG has almost the same charge as GAPA. When the importance of the guanidine group for agmatine uptake is taken into account, this observation suggests that the agmatine transporter is a single-binding, centre-gated pore rather than a channel.

Potassium channel blockers quinidine and caesium halt cell proliferation in C6 glioma cells via a polyamine-dependent mechanism.

Potassium channels are ubiquitous in cells and serve essential functions in physiology and pathophysiology. Potassium channel blockers have been shown to block tumour growth by arresting cells at the G(0)/G(1) checkpoint of the cell cycle. We investigated the effect of quinidine and caesium (Cs(+)) on cell proliferation, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) release, free internal calcium, membrane potential, polyamine concentration, ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) activity and polyamine uptake in C6 glioma cells. The EC(50) for reducing cell proliferation was 112 microM for quinidine, whereas Cs(+) was less effective with an EC(50) of 4.75 mM. KCl or sucrose did not affect proliferation. LDH release was augmented by quinidine. Quinidine caused a transient increase in free internal calcium but decreased calcium after a 48 h incubation period. Further 300 microM quinidine depolarized the cell membrane in a similar range as did 30 mM KCl. Quinidine decreased cellular putrescine beyond detection levels while spermidine and spermine remained unaffected. ODC activity was reduced. Addition of putrescine could not override the antiproliferative effect owing to a reduced activity of the polyamine transporter. Our study indicates that the antiproliferative effect of quinidine is not due to a simple membrane depolarization but is caused by a block of ODC activity.

Different behavior of agmatine in liver mitochondria: inducer of oxidative stress or scavenger of reactive oxygen species?

Agmatine, at concentrations of 10 microM or 100 microM, is able to induce oxidative stress in rat liver mitochondria (RLM), as evidenced by increased oxygen uptake, H(2)O(2) generation, and oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and glutathione. One proposal for the production of H(2)O(2) and, most probably, other reactive oxygen species (ROS), is that they are the reaction products of agmatine oxidation by an unknown mitochondrial amine oxidase. Alternatively, by interacting with an iron-sulfur center of the respiratory chain, agmatine can produce an imino radical and subsequently the superoxide anion and other ROS. The observed oxidative stress causes a drop in ATP synthesis and amplification of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induced by Ca(2+). Instead, 1 mM agmatine generates larger amounts of H(2)O(2) than the lower concentrations, but does not affect RLM respiration or redox levels of thiols and glutathione. Indeed, it maintains the normal level of ATP synthesis and prevents Ca(2+)-induced MPT in the presence of phosphate. The self-scavenging effect against ROS production by agmatine at higher concentrations is also proposed.

S-adenosylmethionine and radical-based catalysis.

S-adenosylmethionine is the major methyl donor in all living organisms, but it is also involved in many other reactions occurring through radical-based catalysis. The structure and function of some of these enzymes, including those involved in the synthesis of the molybdenum cofactors, biotin, lipoate, will be discussed.

Overexpression of Bcl-2 by activated human hepatic stellate cells: resistance to apoptosis as a mechanism of progressive hepatic fibrogenesis in humans.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Myofibroblast-like cells, originating from activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC/MFs), play a key role in liver fibrosis, a potentially reversible process that may rely on induction of HSC/MFs apoptosis. While this possibility has been shown in cultured rat HSC, very limited data are currently available for human HSC/MFs. METHODS: Cultured human HSC/MFs were exposed to several proapoptotic stimuli, including those known to induce apoptosis in rat HSC/MFs, and induction of cell death and related mechanisms were investigated using morphology, molecular biology, and biochemical techniques. RESULTS: In this study we report that fully activated human HSC/MFs did not undergo spontaneous apoptosis and survived to prolonged serum deprivation, Fas activation, or exposure to nerve growth factor, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), oxidative stress mediators, doxorubicin, and etoposide. Induction of caspase dependent, mitochondria driven apoptosis in HSC/MFs was observed only when protein synthesis or transcription were inhibited. Importantly, the process of HSC activation was accompanied by changes in expression of a set of genes involved in apoptosis control. In particular, activated human HSC/MFs in culture overexpressed Bcl-2. The role of Bcl-2 was crucial as Bcl-2 silenced cells became susceptible to TNF-alpha induced apoptosis. Finally, Bcl-2 was markedly expressed in HSC/MFs present in liver tissue obtained from patients with hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Human activated HSC/MFs are resistant to most proapoptotic stimuli due to Bcl-2 overexpression and this feature may play a key role in the progression of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases.

Dose dependent and divergent effects of superoxide anion on cell death, proliferation, and migration of activated human hepatic stellate cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Activated myofibroblast-like cells, originating from hepatic stellate cells (HSC/MFs) or other cellular sources, play a key profibrogenic role in chronic liver diseases (CLDs) that, as suggested by studies in animal models or rat HSC/MFs, may be modulated by reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). In this study, human HSC/MFs, exposed to different levels of superoxide anion (O(2)(.-)) and, for comparison, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), were analysed in terms of cytotoxicity, proliferative response, and migration. METHODS: Cultured human HSC/MFs were exposed to controlled O(2)(.-) generation by hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase systems or to a range of H(2)O(2) concentrations. Induction of cell death, proliferation, and migration were investigated using morphology, molecular biology, and biochemical techniques. RESULTS: Human HSC/MFs were shown to be extremely resistant to induction of cell death by O(2)(.-) and only high rates of O(2)(.-) generation induced either necrotic or apoptotic cell death. Non-cytotoxic low levels of O(2)(.-), able to upregulate procollagen type I expression (but not tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and 2), stimulated migration of human HSC/MFs in a Ras/extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) dependent, antioxidant sensitive way, without affecting basal or platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated cell proliferation. Non-cytotoxic levels of H(2)O(2) did not affect Ras/ERK or proliferative response. A high rate of O(2)(.-) generation or elevated levels of H(2)O(2 )induced cytoskeletal alterations, block in motility, and inhibition of PDGF dependent DNA synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Low non-cytotoxic levels of extracellularly generated O(2)(.-) may stimulate selected profibrogenic responses in human HSC/MFs without affecting proliferation.

S-adenosylmethionine and protein methylation.

The enzymes responsible for protein methylation by S-adenosylmethionine, both at the carboxyl groups and at the nitrogen groups, are reviewed. The possibility that the reactions involved may be reversible is also considered.

Arginine revisited: minireview article.

Arginine is a precursor of proteins and employed in urea synthesis. It is also the precursor of many other compounds, such as creatine, nitric oxide, polyamines, agmatine, proline. In this review, its transport and that of other basic amino acids are examined, along with its transformation into nitric oxide, agmatine and proline, and the mutual regulation of the individual pathways.

Metabolism and function in animal tissues of agmatine, a biogenic amine formed from arginine.

Recently agmatine, decarboxylated arginine, has been shown to be an important biological compound in several animal tissues. This paper summarizes the known information regarding the transport of arginine, its decarboxylation and the effects of the agmatine formed mainly on NO and polyamine synthesis.

The ability of cystamine to bind DNA.

The DNA-binding properties of cystamine compared with natural occurring polyamines have been studied in vitro by means of ethidium bromide displacement assays, studies of DNA thermal stability and analyses of DNA-B/DNA-A transition. While the first two methods did not put in evidence any peculiar property in the binding capability of cystamine, CD studies showed the interesting ability of cystamine to shift the equilibrium B/A-DNA towards the B-form. In the same experimental conditions spermine and spermidine induced the A form of DNA, instead putrescine and cadaverine did not show any particular activity. The ability of cystamine to bind DNA, as shown also by its DNA radioprotective capability, might be important in chromatin condensation and stabilization, and might be a cause of the antiviral activity observed by some authors.

Agmatine induces apoptosis in rat hepatocyte cultures.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Agmatine, the compound formed by decarboxylation of arginine, is believed to be an endogenous neurotransmitter through interaction with the imidazoline receptors. However, it also appears to regulate rat hepatocyte polyamines by modifying both their synthesis and their catabolism. As the decrease in polyamine content has been correlated with apoptosis, we examined the possibility that agmatine has an effect on this phenomenon. METHODS: Apoptotic cells were detected by visualizing nuclear shrinkage/fragmentation in hepatocytes cultured at 21 and 5% oxygen tension. Caspase-3 activity, cleavage of PARP, release of cytochrome c and mitochondrial swelling were therefore measured in the two conditions and in the presence or not of agmatine. RESULTS: In rat hepatocytes agmatine promoted apoptosis, procaspase 3 processing and increase of caspase-3 like activity. This occurred through mitochondria swelling and release of cytochrome c. Cyclosporin A and catalase blocked the swelling. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments show that agmatine, besides all the known biological effects, has also part, at least in hepatocytes, in the modulation of programmed cell death.

Radiochemical nitric oxide synthase activity determination in rat brain with fast and accurate HPLC analysis.

In the central nervous system, NOS activity is involved in several physiological events, such as refinement of afferent connections in development, or linking cerebral blood flow to neural activity in adulthood, and also in many pathological events, such as cell death in brain ischemia and regulation of vasospasm in hemorrhage. Therefore, we studied NOS activity in the CNS. We describe a fast and accurate method in which we use HPLC analysis to identify and quantify citrulline eluted by ion-exchange chromatography, thus implementing the current method to evaluate NOS activity. This technique could be readily applied for NOS activity determination not only in brain, but also in all other tissues.

Transport and metabolism of agmatine in rat hepatocyte cultures.

Rat hepatocytes in culture take up [14C]-agmatine by both a high-affinity transport system [KM = 0.03 mM; Vmax = 30 pmol x min x (mg protein)-1] and a low-affinity system. The high-affinity system also transports putrescine, but not cationic amino acids such as arginine, and the polyamines spermidine and spermine. The rate of agmatine uptake is increased in cells deprived of polyamines with difluoromethylornithine. Of the agmatine taken up, 10% is transformed into polyamines and 50% is transformed into 4-guanidinobutyrate, as demonstrated by HPLC and MS. Inhibition by aminoguanidine and pargyline shows that this is due to diamine oxidase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase. 14C-4-aminobutyrate is also accumulated in the presence of an inhibitor of 4-aminobutyrate transaminase.

Oxygen regulation of rat hepatocyte iNOS gene expression.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The human iNOS promoter contains a consensus sequence for binding the hypoxia inducible factor. The aim of this study was to see whether iNOS gene expression is triggered by oxygen tension in rat hepatocytes exposed in vivo to high (periportal) and low (perivenous) oxygen tension. METHODS: Hepatocytes transfected or not with a plasmid containing rat iNOS promoter linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase were cultured at 21% and 5% oxygen tension. In normal hepatocytes, iNOS protein, mRNA and activity were detected. In transfected cells, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was measured. RESULTS: In cells cultured in a hypoxic environment, both iNOS protein and mRNA increased, whereas the nitrite level in the medium decreased. However, electron paramagnetic resonance analysis and in vitro iNOS activity indicated that iNOS was active. Transfection experiments showed that the expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase driven by iNOS promoter was increased in cells maintained at low oxygen tension. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments show that in rat hepatocytes: 1) iNOS is induced by low oxygen tension; 2) the modification occurs at the transcriptional level; 3) the enzyme at 5% oxygen is able to catalyze the synthesis of NO, although no nitrites are accumulated in the medium. These findings could have physiopathological relevance, e.g. in determining the resistance of perivenous hepatocytes to ischemia injury.