Intermediate filament dynamics.

The view of intermediate filaments as static cytoskeletal elements is changing. Studies of exogenous intermediate filament proteins, either microinjected or expressed from transfected genes, have demonstrated that a continuous incorporation of subunits into the polymerized filaments is taking place. This incorporation appears to be required for maintaining normal cytoplasmic networks of intermediate filaments. At the post-translational level, phosphorylation is an important factor in regulating dynamic aspects of intermediate filament organization and structure.

Nanoparticles carrying fingolimod and methotrexate enables targeted induction of apoptosis and immobilization of invasive thyroid cancer.

Metastatic tumors are the main cause of cancer-related death, as the invading cancer cells disrupt normal functions of distant organs and are nearly impossible to eradicate by traditional cancer therapeutics. This is of special concern when the cancer has created multiple metastases and extensive surgery would be too dangerous to execute. Therefore, combination chemotherapy is often the selected treatment form. However, drug cocktails often have severe adverse effects on healthy cells, whereby the development of targeted drug delivery could minimize side-effects of drugs and increase the efficacy of the combination therapy. In this study, we utilized the folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX) as targeting ligand conjugated onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for selective eradication of folate receptor-expressing invasive thyroid cancer cells. The MSNs was subsequently loaded with the drug fingolimod (FTY720), which has previously been shown to efficiently inhibit proliferation and invasion of aggressive thyroid cancer cells. To assess the efficiency of our carrier system, comprehensive in vitro methods were employed; including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, viability assays, invasion assay, and label-free imaging techniques. The in vitro results show that MTX-conjugated and FTY720-loaded MSNs potently attenuated both the proliferation and invasion of the cancerous thyroid cells while keeping the off-target effects in normal thyroid cells reasonably low. For a more physiologically relevant in vivo approach we utilized the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, showing decreased invasive behavior of the thyroid derived xenografts and an increased necrotic phenotype compared to tumors that received the free drug cocktail. Thus, the developed multidrug-loaded MSNs effectively induced apoptosis and immobilization of invasive thyroid cancer cells, and could potentially be used as a carrier system for targeted drug delivery for the treatment of diverse forms of aggressive cancers that expresses folate receptors.

A low-cost paper-based platform for fast and reliable screening of cellular interactions with materials.

A paper-based platform was developed and tested for studies on basic cell culture, material biocompatibility, and activity of pharmaceuticals in order to provide a reliable, robust and low-cost cell study platform. It is based upon a paper or paperboard support, with a nanostructured latex coating to provide an enhanced cell growth and sufficient barrier properties. Wetting is limited to regions of interest using a flexographically printed hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane layer with circular non-print areas. The nanostructured coating can be substituted for another coating of interest, or the regions of interest functionalized with a material to be studied. The platform is fully up-scalable, being produced with roll-to-roll rod coating, flexographic and inkjet printing methods. Results show that the platform efficiency is comparable to multi-well plates in colorimetric assays in three separate studies: a cell culture study, a biocompatibility study, and a drug screening study. The color intensity is quantified by using a common office scanner or an imaging device and the data is analyzed by a custom computer software without the need for expensive screening or analysis equipment.

Inhibition of mitogen-activated kinase signaling sensitizes HeLa cells to Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis.

The Fas receptor (FasR) is an important physiological mediator of apoptosis in various tissues and cells. However, there are also many FasR-expressing cell types that are normally resistant to apoptotic signaling through this receptor. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade has, apart from being a growth-stimulating factor, lately received attention as an inhibitory factor in apoptosis. In this study, we examined whether MAPK signaling could be involved in protecting FasR-insensitive cells. To this end, we used different approaches to inhibit MAPK signaling in HeLa cells, including treatment with the MAPK kinase inhibitor PD 98059, serum withdrawal, and expression of dominant-interfering MAPK kinase mutant protein. All of these treatments were effective in sensitizing the cells to FasR-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that MAPK indeed is involved in the control of FasR responses. The MAPK-mediated control seemed to occur at or upstream of caspase 8, the initiator caspase in apoptotic FasR responses. Transfection with the constitutively active MAPK kinase abrogated FasR-induced apoptosis also in the presence of cycloheximide, indicating that the MAPK-generated suppression of FasR-mediated apoptotic signaling is protein synthesis independent. In cells insensitive to FasR-induced apoptosis, stimulation of the FasR with an agonistic antibody resulted in significant MAPK activation, which was inhibited by PD 98059. When different cell types were compared, the FasR-mediated MAPK activation seemed proportional to the degree of FasR insensitivity. These results suggest that the FasR insensitivity is likely to be a consequence of FasR-induced MAPK activation, which in turn interferes with caspase activation.

Cell selective cytotoxicity of a peptide toxin from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa.

The effects of a cyclic peptide toxin, isolated from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, on cell morphology and ion transport in human erythrocytes, isolated rat hepatocytes and mouse fibroblasts (3T3) were studied. Neither in erythrocytes nor in fibroblasts did the toxin cause morphological alterations. In hepatocytes the toxin induced marked morphological alterations at a concentration of about 50 nM. In erythrocytes and fibroblasts no effects on ion transport were observed. In hepatocytes the toxin induced a significant increase in both phosphate and potassium efflux at concentrations far below the concentration causing morphological alterations (0.1 and 1 nM, respectively). It is suggested that the cytotoxicity of the toxin is not due to a non-specific interaction with the plasma membrane and that the effects of the toxin in hepatocytes are probably due to an interaction of the toxin with cytoskeletal elements.

Hepatocellular uptake of 3H-dihydromicrocystin-LR, a cyclic peptide toxin.

The cellular uptake of microcystin-LR, a cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxin from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, was studied by means of a radiolabelled derivative of the toxin. 3H-dihydromicrocystin-LR. The uptake of 3H-dihydromicrocystin-LR was shown to be specific for freshly isolated rat hepatocytes whereas the uptake in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line Hep G2 as well as the mouse fibroblast cell line NIH-3T3, and the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, was negligible. By means of a surface barostat technique it was shown that the membrane penetrating capacity (surface activity) of microcystin-LR was low, indicating that the toxin requires an active uptake mechanism. The hepatocellular uptake of microcystin-LR could be inhibited in the presence of bile acid transport inhibitors such as antamanide (5 microM), sulfobromophthalein (50 microM) and rifampicin (30 microM). The uptake was also reduced in a concentration dependent manner when the hepatocytes were incubated in the presence the bile salts cholate and taurocholate. A complete inhibition of the hepatocellular uptake was achieved by 100 microM of either bile salt. The overall results indicate that the uptake of microcystin-LR is through the multispecific transport system for bile acids. This mechanism of cell entry would explain the previously observed cell specificity and organotropism of microcystin-LR.

Heat stress downregulates FLIP and sensitizes cells to Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis.

The heat shock response and death receptor-mediated apoptosis are both key physiological determinants of cell survival. We found that exposure to a mild heat stress rapidly sensitized Jurkat and HeLa cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. We further demonstrate that Hsp70 and the mitogen-activated protein kinases, critical molecules involved in both stress-associated and apoptotic responses, are not responsible for the sensitization. Instead, heat stress on its own induced downregulation of FLIP and promoted caspase-8 cleavage without triggering cell death, which might be the cause of the observed sensitization. Since caspase-9 and -3 were not cleaved after heat shock, caspase-8 seemed to be the initial caspase activated in the process. These findings could help understanding the regulation of death receptor signaling during stress, fever, or inflammation.

Regulation of death receptors--relevance in cancer therapies.

Apoptosis is an essential non-inflammatory mechanism for cell removal, which occurs during both physiological and pathological conditions. Apoptosis is characteristically executed by cysteine proteases, termed caspases. The most specific way to activate the caspases machinery is through death receptors (DRs), such as the tumor necrosis factor (TNFR), Fas receptor (FasR), and TRAIL (TRAIL-R). The apoptotic signaling is tightly regulated by the balance of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins and an imbalance between cell death and proliferation may cause numerous diseases, including cancers. The intensive research during the past decade has delineated the basic mechanisms of apoptosis and outlined many important molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of apoptosis. There is also a better understanding of how the regulation of apoptosis can be disturbed in human cancer cells. The interplay between DRs signaling and anticancer drugs has offered new concepts for the development of highly specific therapeutical agents. Here we review the current understanding of the different molecular mechanisms that regulate DR-mediated apoptosis and the defects in apoptotic signaling discovered in cancer cells. In light of this knowledge, new promising target-based agents for future cancer therapies have been developed.

Human inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin participates in regulation of chromosome segregation and mitotic exit.

A signaling cascade termed the "spindle checkpoint" monitors interactions between the kinetochores of chromosomes and spindle microtubules to prevent precocious separation of sister chromatids. We have investigated the role of human inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) surviving in regulation of cell division. We demonstrate that HeLa and PtK1 cells transfected or microinjected with surviving anti-sense oligonucleotides produce significantly more polyploid and micronucleated progeny cells and show abortive mitosis when treated with spindle poisons. Furthermore, perturbation of surviving function in HeLa and PtK1 cells with anti-surviving antibodies at the beginning of mitosis affects the normal timing of separation of sister chromatids and disturbs the 3F3/2 phosphoepitope-recognized tension sensing mechanism of the spindle checkpoint. This leads to premature separation of sister chromatids, which results in an uneven distribution of chromosomes between the newly formed progeny cells-an event associated with tumor formation in many cell types. Finally, cells injected with anti-surviving antibody exit mitotic block induced with microtubule drugs. Our data suggest that surviving protein may function within the spindle checkpoint pathway.

Phosphorylation-Based signaling in Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis.

Apoptosis or programmed cell death plays an essential role during development of the immune system, in immune responses, and in the control of tissue homeostasis in the adult. An important physiological mediator of apoptosis is the Fas/APO-1/CD95 receptor (FasR), a surface receptor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. Apoptosis consists of a series of characteristic features that occur following activation of caspases, a collective term for apoptosis-specific proteases. The focus in FasR research has been on determining the mechanisms resulting in caspase activation. However, the role of phosphorylation-based signaling has received increasing attention both as an outcome of FasR activation and as a factor regulating FasR responses. Tyrosine-directed phosphorylation has been implicated to be induced and required during FasR stimulation. The FasR also activates all major signaling pathways that belong to the family of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, by either caspase-independent or -dependent mechanisms. Furthermore, phosphorylation-based signaling serves as a potent modifier of FasR responses. In this respect, especially the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathways have been established as important regulators. This type of control seems to be directly phosphorylation-mediated without the requirement of newly synthesized proteins. Signaling through phosphorylation also regulates the expression of the Fas ligand (FasL), the FasR, as well as various other proteins that affect the outcome of receptor stimulation. While the involvement of phosphorylation has been established in FasR responses, the targets, molecular mechanisms, and biological significance of this aspect of the FasR signaling machinery still require further elucidation.

The expression of intermediate filament protein nestin as related to vimentin and desmin in regenerating skeletal muscle.

Intermediate filament (IF) proteins show specific spatial and temporal expression during development of skeletal muscle. Nestin, the least known muscle IF, has an important role in neuronal regeneration. Therefore, we analyzed the expression pattern of nestin as related to that of vimentin and desmin during skeletal muscle regeneration. Nestin and vimentin appear at 6 h post-injury in myoblasts, with maximum expression around day 3-5 post-injury. Thereafter, vimentin expression ceases completely, whereas that of nestin is downregulated to remain only in the sarcoplasm next to neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions. Desmin appears at 6-12 h post-injury and becomes the predominant IF in myofibers simultaneously with the appearance of cross-striations. The expression pattern and colocalization of nestin and vimentin, known to form heteropolymers, suggests that they are essential during the early dynamic phase of the myofiber regeneration when migration, fusion, and structural modeling of myogenic cells occurs, whereas desmin is responsible for keeping myofibrils in register in mature myofibers. In conclusion, the expression of nestin is dynamically orchestrated with that of vimentin and desmin during skeletal muscle regeneration and recapitulates that seen during myogenesis, i.e. these IFs have key functional roles in the construction and restoration of skeletal myofibers.

Enhancement of fibroblast collagenase-1 (MMP-1) gene expression by tumor promoter okadaic acid is mediated by stress-activated protein kinases Jun N-terminal kinase and p38.

Collagenase-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1, MMP-1) is expressed by several types of cells, including fibroblasts, and apparently plays an important role in the remodeling of collagenous extracellular matrix in various physiologic and pathologic situations. Here, we have examined the molecular mechanisms of the activation of fibroblast MMP-1 gene expression by a naturally occurring non-phorbol ester type tumor promoter okadaic acid (OA), a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A. We show that in fibroblasts OA activates three distinct subgroups of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase1,2 (ERK1,2), c-Jun N-terminal-kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38. Activation of MMP-1 promoter by OA is entirely blocked by overexpression of dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase CL100. In addition, expression of kinase-deficient forms of ERK1,2, SAPKbeta, p38, or JNK/SAPK kinase SEK1 strongly inhibited OA-elicited activation of MMP-1 promoter. OA-elicited enhancement of MMP-1 mRNA abundance was also strongly prevented by two chemical MAPK inhibitors: PD 98059, a specific inhibitor of the activation of ERK1,2 kinases MEK1,2; and SB 203580, a selective inhibitor of p38 activity. Results of this study show that MMP-1 gene expression in fibroblasts is coordinately regulated by ERK1,2, JNK/SAPK, and p38 MAPKs and suggest an important role for the stress-activated MAPKs JNK/SAPK and p38 in the activation of MMP-1 gene expression. Based on these observations, it is conceivable that specific inhibition of stress-activated MAPK pathways may serve as a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting degradation of collagenous extracellular matrix.

Identification of protein phosphatase 2A as the primary target for microcystin-LR in rat liver homogenates.

The liver-specific toxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a potent inhibitor of type 1 (PP1) and type 2A (PP2A) protein phosphatases. A tritiated form of the toxin, [3H]dihydromicrocystin-LR ([3H]DMC-LR), was used to identify target proteins in cellular fractions prepared from rat liver homogenates. About 80% of the [3H]DMC-LR bound to proteins was in the cytosolic fraction, which contained essentially all of the PP2A. In contrast, much of the PP1 was found in particulate fractions, each with only a few percent of the total protein-bound [3]HDMC-LR. Protein-bound [3H]DMC-LR in the cytosol co-eluted with PP2A, but not with PP-1 from a DEAE-Sepharose column. Native forms of liver cytoplasmic PP2A and PP1 separated by aminohexyl-Sepharose adsorption showed similar sensitivity to inhibition by MC-LR, and bound [3H]DMC-LR proportional to the amount of phosphatase activity. The results indicate that [3H]DMC-LR can bind both PP2A and PP1 in the liver which must be important for microcystin-induced toxicity, but is recovered mainly bound to PP2A in the cytosol.

Protein synthesis is required for stabilization of hsp70 mRNA upon exposure to both hydrostatic pressurization and elevated temperature.

We have recently described that in chondrocytic cells high hydrostatic pressure (HP) causes a heat shock response via mRNA stabilization without a transcriptional activation of the hsp70 gene. In this study, we investigated whether this exceptional regulatory mechanism occurs more generally in different types of cells. Indeed, hsp70 mRNA and protein accumulated in HeLa, HaCat and MG-63 cells under 30 MPa HP, without DNA-binding of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) to the heat shock element of the hsp70 gene or formation of nuclear HSF1 granules, revealing a lack of transcriptional activation. Moreover, we observed that protein synthesis is needed for mRNA stabilization. Thus, high HP offers a model to study the mechanisms of hsp70 mRNA stabilization without HSF1-mediated induction of the heat shock gene response.

Involvement of multiple proteases during Fas-mediated apoptosis in T lymphocytes.

The mechanism of Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis is at present unclear. We show here that the 100,000 x g supernatant from cell lysates prepared from anti-Fas-stimulated JUR-KAT T cells, induces chromatin fragmentation in isolated nuclei with concomitant morphological changes typically seen in apoptosis. The formation of this apoptotic nuclei promoting activity (ANPA) in JURKAT T cells after Fas antigen ligation was blocked by the serine protease inhibitors, TPCK and DCI, and by the interleukin 1-beta-converting enzyme inhibitor, VAD-FMK. In addition, chromatin degradation and morphological changes mediated by the ANPA in isolated nuclei were inhibited by TPCK, but not by DCI or VAD-FMK. These results suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis in T cells involves the activation of a cascade of proteases.

Activation of the MKK4-JNK pathway during erythroid differentiation of K562 cells is inhibited by the heat shock factor 2-beta isoform.

In this study we report the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in human K562 erythroleukemia cells undergoing hemin-mediated erythroid differentiation, which occurs concomitantly with activation of heat shock factor 2 (HSF2) and leads to a simultaneous in vivo phosphorylation of c-Jun. The activation of JNK occurs through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 4 and not by activation of MKK7 or inhibition of JNK-directed phosphatases. We have previously shown that overexpression of the HSF2-beta isoform inhibits the activation of HSF2 upon hemin-induced erythroid differentiation. Here we demonstrate that HSF2-beta overexpression blocks the hemin-induced activation of the MKK4-JNK pathway, suggesting an erythroid lineage-specific JNK activation likely to be regulated by HSF2.

Lamin and beta-tubulin fragmentation precede chromatin degradation in glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis.

During ischaemic brain injury, glutamate accumulation with overstimulation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors and intracellular Ca2+ overload lead to neuronal death. We have shown previously that delayed neuronal death in cultures of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) exposed to glutamate occurs by apoptosis. Here, we report that lamin cleavage and dissolution of the microtubule network precede chromatin fragmentation in glutamate-induced CGC apoptosis. Like other events that characterize excitotoxic cell death, degradation of lamins, beta-tubulin and disruption of microtubule architecture is inhibited by the NMDA-receptor antagonist MK-801. Our findings suggest that cleavage of key cytoskeletal elements is an important step in glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Microcystin-LR toxicodynamics, induced pathology, and immunohistochemical localization in livers of blue-green algae exposed rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss).

With this retrospective study, we investigated the temporal pattern of toxin exposure and pathology, as well as the topical relationship between hepatotoxic injury and localization of microcystin-LR, a potent hepatotoxin, tumor promoter, and inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 and -2A (PP), in livers of MC-gavaged rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) yearlings, using an immunohistochemical detection method and MC-specific antibodies. H&E stains of liver sections were used to determine pathological changes. Nuclear morphology of hepatocytes and ISEL analysis were employed as endpoints to detect the advent of apoptotic cell death in hepatocytes. Trout had been gavaged with lyophilized cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa, strain PCC 7806) at acutely toxic doses of 5700 microg microcystin (MC) per kg of body weight (bw), as described previously (Tencalla and Dietrich, 1997). Briefly, 3 control and 3 test animal were killed 1, 3, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after bolus dosing, and livers were fixed and paraffin embedded for histological analysis and later retrospective histochemical analyses. The results of the immunohistochemistry reported here revealed a time dependent, discernible increase in MC-positive staining intensity throughout the liver, clearly not concurring with the kinetics of hepatic PP inhibition observed in the same fish and reported in an earlier publication by Tencalla and Dietrich (1997). After 3 h, marked and increasing MC-immunopositivity was observed in the cytoplasm, as well as the nuclei of hepatocytes. Apoptotic cell death could be detected after 48 h, at the very earliest. These data suggest that accumulation of MC and subsequent changes in cellular morphology, PP inhibition, and hepatocyte necrosis represent the primary events in microcystin induced hepatotoxicity and appear to be associated with the reversible interaction of MC with the PP. In contrast, apoptotic cell death, as demonstrated here, seems to be of only secondary nature and presumably results from the covalent interaction of MC with cellular and nuclear PP as well as other thiol containing cellular proteins.

Synthesis, organotropism and hepatocellular uptake of two tritium-labeled epimers of dihydromicrocystin-LR, a cyanobacterial peptide toxin analog.

Two tritium-labeled epimers of dihydromicrocystin-LR, a derivative of the cyanobacterial peptide hepatotoxin microcystin-LR, were synthesized by reduction with sodium boro[3H]hydride and purified with reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The epimers were hepatotoxic in mice; the i.p. LD50 was 120-135 micrograms/kg. They were concentrated in the liver and to some extent in the intestine and the kidney after an i.v. injection. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes showed a rapid uptake of both epimers. The cellular uptake of the epimers was almost complete within 5 min at concentrations 1 microM (0.5 microM dihydromicrocystin-LR + 0.5 microM microcystin-LR) and 4 microM (0.5 microM + 3.5 microM). The uptake of the earlier eluting epimer was about three times higher than that of the later eluting epimer.

Preliminary characterization of a toxin isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena.

A peptide toxin was isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The i.p. LD50 of the toxin was 50 micrograms/kg mouse with death within 1-3 hr. The major effects of the toxin were seen in the liver in the form of extensive haemorrhages. Amino acid analysis showed the presence of equimolar amounts of glutamic acid, beta-methyl-aspartic acid, and arginine. The toxicological and some of the chemical properties of the isolated toxin were similar to those reported for hepatotoxins isolated from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa.