Oestrogen-mediated suppression of tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells: subversion of Bcl-2 by anti-oestrogens.

In oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cells, 17beta-oestradiol suppresses a dose-dependent induction of cell death by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF). The ability of oestrogens to promote cell survival in ER-positive breast carcinoma cells is linked to a coordinate increase in Bcl-2 expression, an effect that is blocked with the pure anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780. The role of Bcl-2 in MCF-7 cell survival was confirmed by stable overexpression of Bcl-2 which resulted in suppression of apoptosis induced by doxorubicin (DOX), paclitaxel (TAX) and TNF as compared to vector-control cells. The pure anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780 in combination with TNF, DOX or TAX potentiated apoptosis in vector-transfected cells. Interestingly, pre-treatment with ICI 182,780 markedly enhanced chemotherapeutic drug- or TNF-induced apoptosis in Bcl-2 expressing cells, an effect that was correlated with ICI 182,780 induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Our results suggest that the effects of oestrogens/anti-oestrogens on the regulation of apoptosis may involve coordinate activation of signalling events and Bcl-2 expression.

NF-kappa B-mediated chemoresistance in breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a known survival pathway, and it may explain differential sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and chemotherapeutic-induced apoptosis in apoptotically sensitive (APO+) and apoptotically resistant (APO-) Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 breast cancer cells. METHODS: Crystal violet viability and luciferase reporter gene assays were used to determine the inhibitory concentration of viability at 50% (IC(50)) and the inhibitory concentration of activity at 50% (EC(50)) values in APO- and APO+ cells with the selective NF-kappa B inhibitor, BAY 11-7082 (BAY). The apoptotic reporter assay was used to determine the effects of the transfection of the inhibitory kappa B-dominant negative (I kappa B-DN) construct in conjunction with TNF, paclitaxel, or doxorubicin treatments in these cells. RESULTS: The concentrations at which 50% of cell viability is inhibited (IC(50)) and at which 50% of NF-kappa B activity is inhibited (EC(50)) for BAY in APO- and APO+ cells were 95.24 micromol/L and 1.53 micromol/L, respectively, and 7.62 micromol/L and 2.64 micromol/L, respectively. The IC(50) and the EC(50) values were equivalent for the APO+ cells (P =.665), but not for the APO- cells (P =.025). I kappa B-DN--transfection alone, or with TNF, doxorubicin, or paclitaxel treatments resulted in cell death of both APO- and APO+ cells as compared with vector-control; however, greater cytotoxicity was seen in the APO+ cells. Direct comparison of the APO+ cells versus the APO- cells revealed that these differences were significant (P =.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic or molecular inhibition of the NF-kappa B pathway blocked cell survival in MCF-7 APO+ cells, while only molecular inhibition induced cytotoxicity in the APO- cells. Selective manipulation of the NF-kappa B pathway in combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents may lead to an increased potency and efficacy of these agents.

Gene microarray analysis reveals a novel hypoxia signal transduction pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The molecular details of hypoxia-induced cellular responses have been difficult to identify since there is as yet no known oxygen receptor. We used cDNA microarray technology to extend our studies pertaining to these molecular details in human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells that produce erythropoietin (Epo) in response to hypoxia. Of approximately 1200 genes in the array, those associated with integrin-linked kinase (ILK), fibronectin precursor and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) were markedly stimulated after exposure of Hep3B cells to low oxygen (1%) for 6 h. Epo, HIF-1, and von Hippel-Lindau cDNAs were measured in parallel as markers of low oxygen responses in Hep3B cells. ILK is a serine, threonine protein kinase that interacts with the cytoplasmic domains of integrin beta1 and beta3. This interaction localizes ILK to focal adhesion plaques. ILK is stimulated by cell-fibronectin interaction as well as insulin. It is regulated in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent manner and can phosphorylate protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and GSK-3beta. As a result of these and other activities ILK has been shown to affect anchorage-independent cell survival, cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis in nude mice. ILK has also been implicated in the Wnt pathway and as a critical target in PTEN-dependent tumor therapies. To our knowledge this is the first report implicating the ILK pathway in low oxygen responses. Other genes identified as a result of the microarray analysis not previously known to change as a result of low oxygen treatment were elongation factor-1alpha, glycyl-tRNA synthetase, and laminin receptor protein-1. These findings were all corroborated by RT-PCR assays and in some instances Western blot analysis.

Cobalt induces heme oxygenase-1 expression by a hypoxia-inducible factor-independent mechanism in Chinese hamster ovary cells: regulation by Nrf2 and MafG transcription factors.

We have shown previously that activation of the heme oxygenase-1 (ho-1) gene by hypoxia in aortic smooth muscle cells is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). In mutant (Ka13) Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking HIF activity, accumulation of ho-1 mRNA in response to hypoxia and the hypoxia-mimetic CoCl(2) was similar to that observed in wild type (K1) cells. These results support the existence of HIF-dependent and HIF-independent mechanisms for ho-1 gene activation by hypoxia and CoCl(2). In Ka13 cells, CoCl(2) stimulated expression of a luciferase reporter gene under the control of a 15-kilobase pair mouse ho-1 promoter (pHO15luc). Mutation analyses identified the cobalt-responsive sequences as the stress-response elements (StREs). In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, two specific StRE-protein complexes were observed using extracts from Ka13 cells. In response to cobalt, the level of the slower migrating complex X increased, whereas that of complex Y decreased, in a time-dependent manner. Members of the AP-1 superfamily of basic-leucine zipper factors bind to the StRE. Antibody supershift electrophoretic mobility shift assays did not detect Jun, Fos, or ATF/CREB proteins but identified Nrf2 and the small Maf protein, MafG, as components of complex X. Furthermore, dominant-negative mutants of Nrf2 and small Maf, but not of other bZIP factors, attenuated cobalt-mediated gene activation. Additional experiments demonstrated that induction by cobalt does not result from increased expression of MafG or regulated nuclear translocation of Nrf2 but is dependent on cellular oxidative stress. Unlike cobalt, hypoxia did not stimulate pHO15luc expression and did not increase StRE binding activity, indicating distinct mechanisms for ho-1 gene activation by cobalt and hypoxia in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Differences in protein kinase C and estrogen receptor alpha, beta expression and signaling correlate with apoptotic sensitivity of MCF-7 breast cancer cell variants.

Widespread use of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells as a model system for breast cancer has lead to variations in these cells between different laboratories. Although several reports have addressed these differences in terms of proliferation and estrogenic response, differences in sensitivity to apoptosis have just begun to be described. Based on the possible differences in apoptotic sensitivity that may arise due to the existence of MCF-7 cell variants, we determined the relative sensitivity of MCF-7 cell variants from three established laboratories (designated M, L and N) to known inducers of apoptosis. Consistent with our previous studies we demonstrate that differences exist among these variants in regards to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-induced cell death and inhibition of proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To establish if the difference in apoptotic susceptibility was specific to TNF, the three MCF-7 cell variants were tested for their response to other known inducers of apoptosis: okadaic acid, staurosporine and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Viability and DNA fragmentation analysis revealed a similar pattern of resistance to apoptosis by all agents in the MCF-7 M variant. The MCF-7 L variant was resistant to okadaic acid and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen but not staurosporine. In contrast, MCF-7 N cells were sensitive to induction of apoptosis by all agents. The role of both protein kinase C (PKC) and estrogen signaling in the regulation of cell survival prompted investigation of these pathways as a mechanism for differential sensitivity of MCF-7 cell variants to apoptosis. While both estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and ERbeta were expressed in MCF-7 M and N cells, the absence of ERbeta in MCF-7 L cells correlated with decreased estrogen responsiveness of the L variant. Variations in estrogenic responsiveness and PKC isoform expression may account for the enhanced susceptibility of both the L and N variants to staurosporine.

PI3-K/AKT regulation of NF-kappaB signaling events in suppression of TNF-induced apoptosis.

We found that in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells, PI3K and Akt suppressed a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). PI3K and Akt stimulated NF-kappaB activation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a common link between these two pathways. TNF has been shown to activate both an apoptotic cascade, as well as a cell survival signal through NF-kappaB. PI3K and AKT cell survival signaling were correlated with increased TNF-stimulated NF-kappaB activity in MCF-7 cells. We demonstrate that while both TNFR1 and NIK are partially involved in Akt-induced NF-kappaB stimulation, a dominant negative IkappaBalpha completely blocked Akt-NF-kappaB cross-talk. PI3K-Akt signaling activated NF-kappaB through both TNFR signaling-dependent and -independent mechanisms, potentially representing a mechanism by which Akt functions to suppress apoptosis in cancer.

Cross-talk between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and sphingomyelinase pathways as a mechanism for cell survival/death decisions.

Peptide hormones act to regulate apoptosis through activation of multiple pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling cascades of which lipid signaling events represent an important facet of the cellular rheostat that determines survival and death decisions. Activation of sphingomyelinase, which generates ceramide, is an intermediate in cellular stress responses and induction of apoptosis in many systems. Conversely, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a critical signaling molecule involved in regulating cell survival and proliferation pathways. In the present study, we investigate cross-talk between the PI3K and sphingomyelinase pathways as a mechanism for regulation of cell survival/death decisions. We show that phorbol ester, insulin-like growth factor 1, and a constitutively active PI3K suppress both tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis and ceramide generation. Conversely, inhibition of the PI3K pathway with expression of a kinase-dead PI3K both prevented survival signaling and enhanced tumor necrosis factor-induced ceramide generation. The ability of exogenous sphingomyelinase to induce ceramide generation was partially suppressed by expression of constitutively active PI3K and enhanced by inhibition of PI3K suggesting that cross-talk between PI3K and ceramide generation within cells is regulated subsequent to activation of sphingomyelinase.

PH20: a novel tumor marker for laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether levels of PH-20, a hyaluronidase similar to that found in human sperm, are elevated in laryngeal cancer tissue. DESIGN: In this case-control study. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure levels of PH-20 messenger RNA in tissue taken from laryngectomy specimens. SETTING: A university medical center. PATIENTS: We compared tissue samples taken from 11 patients with laryngeal cancer, and from 2 metastatic lymph nodes, with samples of normal, healthy laryngeal tissue and prostate cancer tissue (positive control). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: PH-20 complementary DNA expression as quantified by densitometric analysis. RESULTS: Expression of PH-20 was significantly higher in nonirradiated laryngeal cancer specimens than in normal laryngeal tissue (P<.01). Metastatic lymph nodes also had higher levels of PH-20 expression than did primary laryngeal cancer tissue (P = .11) and normal laryngeal tissue (P<.01). Irradiated laryngeal cancer specimens had PH-20 levels comparable to normal. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first data on PH-20 expression in laryngeal cancer tissue. PH-20 expression is significantly elevated in primary laryngeal cancer tissue and seems to be even higher in metastatic lesions compared with normal laryngeal tissue. PH-20 may be a useful tumor marker and prognostic tool for laryngeal cancer.

Effects of environmental estrogens on tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.

Environmental estrogens represent a class of compounds which have been shown to mimic the effects or activity of the naturally occurring ovarian hormone 17beta-estradiol. Given the role of 17beta-estradiol in cell survival in a number of systems, we wished to determine if environmental estrogens protect MCF-7 cells from apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that the organochlorine pesticides o, p' DDT and alachlor, like 17beta-estradiol, have the ability to suppress tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-induced apoptosis in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. These compounds, however, did not affect TNF-induced apoptosis of the ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line. The ability of these compounds to suppress apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was correlated with an ER-dependent increase in Bcl-2 expression. Taken together these results demonstrate that estrogenic organochlorine pesticides like o, p' DDT and alachlor may partially mimic the primary endogenous estrogen, 17beta-estradiol, and function to suppress apoptosis in ER-responsive cells.

Protein kinase C alpha protein expression is necessary for sustained erythropoietin production in human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cells exposed to hypoxia.

Although protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated as an effector of erythropoietin (EPO) production, its exact role is still uncertain. Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were used for this study and were depleted of PKC in three different ways: long-term treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), selective inhibition with calphostin C, and treatment with PKCalpha antisense oligonucleotides. When EPO-producing Hep3B cells were incubated in 1% O2 (hypoxia) for 24 h, PMA treatment resulted in significant decreases in medium levels of EPO in Hep3B cell cultures at concentrations higher than 10 nM. The specific PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, significantly inhibited medium levels of EPO and EPO mRNA levels in Hep3B cells exposed to 1% O2. Western blot analysis revealed that Hep3B cells express the classical PKCalpha and gamma isoforms, as well as novel PKCepsilon and delta and the atypical zeta isoform. Preincubation with PMA for 6 h specifically down-regulated PKCalpha protein expression. Phosphorothioate modified antisense oligonucleotides specific for PKCalpha also decreased EPO production in Hep3B cells exposed to hypoxia for 20 h when compared to PKCalpha sense treatment. The translocation of PKCalpha from the soluble to particulate fractions was increased in Hep3B cells incubated under hypoxia compared with normoxia (21% O2) controls. These results suggest that the PKCalpha isoform plays an important role in sustaining hypoxia-regulated EPO production.

Protein kinase calpha is an effector of hexamethylene bisacetamide-induced differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells.

The program of biochemical and molecular events necessary for commitment to erythroid cell differentiation is particularly well characterized in murine Friend erythroleukemia cell lines. Commitment to hemoglobin synthesis in response to a variety of chemical inducers, including hexamethylene bisacetamide and dimethyl sulfoxide is completed by 24 h and proceeds to terminal differentiation by 96 h. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a classical tumor promoter phorbol ester that binds to protein kinase C, blocks differentiation in a reversible manner, suggesting an important role for protein kinase C signaling pathways. The classical protein kinase C isoforms alpha, betaI, and betaII, play distinct roles in the transduction of proliferative and differentiative signals in human, as well as in murine, erythroleukemia cells. Protein kinase Calpha has been implicated in differentiation of human erythroleukemia cells although its translocation to the nucleus has not been observed. Taking advantage of the ability of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to block differentiation in Friend erythroleukemia cells, we determined the localization of the predominant protein kinase C isoforms alpha and betaI during differentiation and in response to their blockade. The ability of phorbol myristate acetate to preferentially diminish protein kinase Calpha-protein localization to the nucleus by 24 h and thereby block differentiation induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide was paralleled by the ability of protein kinase Calpha antisense transfection to block differentiation. In addition, beta-globin transcription, assessed by polymerase chain reaction, was significantly decreased in protein kinase Calpha antisense-transfected cells compared to that seen in vector transfected ones. Taken together, these data suggest an important temporal role for nuclear protein kinase Calpha localization in Friend erythroleukemia cell differentiation.

Differences in susceptibility to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis among MCF-7 breast cancer cell variants.

Widespread use of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells as a model system for breast cancer has led to variations in these cells between different laboratories. Although several reports have addressed these differences in terms of proliferation and estrogenic response, variations in sensitivity to apoptosis have not yet been described. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been shown to both induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in MCF-7 cells. We observed that TNF-alpha inhibited proliferation in MCF-7 cell variants from three different laboratories (designated M, L, and N). MCF-7 M cells were resistant to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, whereas MCF-7 L cells were moderately resistant to the effect of TNF-alpha. A third variant, MCF-7 N, underwent apoptosis when exposed to TNF-alpha. Analysis of the p55 TNF-alpha receptor (TNFR) 1 expression revealed the greatest expression in MCF-7 N cells, whereas the MCF-7 L and M cells expressed 89 and 67% of MCF-7 N cell TNFR1 levels, respectively. Ceramide generation occurred in all three variants in response to TNF-alpha treatment, with MCF-7 N cells expressing the greatest increase. Cleavage of the CPP32/caspase 3 substrate poly(ADP-ribose) was observed in MCF-7 N and L cells as early as 3 and 6 h, respectively, but poly(ADP-ribose) cleavage was not observed in MCF-7 M cells. The delayed protease activation in the L variant may represent the mechanism by which these cells display delayed sensitivity to TNF-a-induced apoptosis. Expression of the Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-X, Bax, and Bak proteins was analyzed to determine whether the differences in MCF-7 cell sensitivity to apoptosis could be correlated to the differential expression of these proteins. Whereas Bak, Bcl-X, and Mcl-1 levels were identical between variants, the levels of Bcl-2 were 3.5-3.8-fold higher and the levels of Bax were 1.5-1.7-fold lower in the resistant variants (M and L) as compared with those of the sensitive variant (N). Taken together, these results suggest that differences in susceptibility to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis among MCF-7 breast cancer cell variants may be explained by differences in TNFR expression, ceramide generation, differential expression of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, and protease activation.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor rescues TF-1 leukemia cells from ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis through a pathway mediated by protein kinase Calpha.

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity has a recognized role in mediating apoptosis. However, the role of individual PKC isoforms in apoptosis is poorly defined. Therefore, we investigated the translocation of individual PKC isoforms during radiation-induced apoptosis with and without rescue from apoptosis by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the human erythroleukemia cell line TF-1. PKCalpha was translocated from the particulate to cytosolic fraction of TF-1 cells within 5 minutes of treatment with apoptosis-inducing levels of ionizing radiation. However, this postirradiation translocation did not occur when cells were rescued from apoptosis by GM-CSF. Furthermore, treatment of cells with Gö 6976, an inhibitor of classical PKC isoforms, abrogated the rescue effect of GM-CSF. The calcium-independent novel PKC isoform, PKCalpha appeared to be degraded in both the particulate and cytosolic fractions of TF-1 cells after treatment with apoptosis-inducing levels of ionizing radiation in either the presence or absence of GM-CSF rescue. Levels of ceramide, a lipid mediator of apoptosis, were measured at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 60 minutes after treatment with ionizing radiation and were substantially reduced in TF-1 cells rescued from apoptosis by GM-CSF compared with apoptotic TF-1 cells. The largest decrease in ceramide production seen was at 4 minutes postirradiation, with a 46% reduction in ceramide levels in TF-1 cells rescued from apoptosis by GM-CSF compared with those in apoptotic TF-1 cells. Because ceramide has been shown to affect PKCalpha subcellular distribution, these data implicate a role for ceramide in mediating the rapid postirradiation translocation and inhibition of PKCalpha in TF-1 cells not rescued from apoptosis by GM-CSF. Expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 doubled in TF-1 cells rescued from apoptosis by GM-CSF, but did not increase in unrescued cells. Our findings suggest that activated PKCalpha and increased expression of Bcl-2 after gamma irradiation determine survival in TF-1 cells rescued from apoptosis with GM-CSF and that PKCalpha plays a role in mediating signals involved in sensing cellular damage and/or regulation of cell damage repair.

Common proteins bind mRNAs encoding erythropoietin, tyrosine hydroxylase, and vascular endothelial growth factor.

The hypoxia-inducible genes erythropoietin (Epo), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are regulated post-transcriptionally by proteins binding to specific regions located in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of their mRNAs. To determine whether trans-factors binding to this region in all three of these RNAs are similar, we generated riboprobes containing the 3' UTR of erythropoietin, tyrosine hydroxylase, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and assayed them by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and UV cross-linking experiments. Each riboprobe formed similar shifted protein complexes using human hepatoma cell (Hep3B) cytoplasmic lysates in the EMSA. Hep3B proteins bound to each probe could be cross-competed by the specific unlabeled Epo, TH, or VEGF riboprobes. By contrast, a non-specific 3' UTR riboprobe did not compete for binding with the Epo, TH, or VEGF RNA shifted protein complexes. UV cross-linking studies revealed proteins of similar molecular weights for the Epo, TH, and VEGF RNA shifted protein complexes. Taken together, these results suggest a common posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism for hypoxia-inducible genes.

Post-transcriptional regulation of erythropoietin mRNA stability by erythropoietin mRNA-binding protein.

We have previously identified a sequence in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of erythropoietin (Epo) mRNA which binds a protein(s), erythropoietin mRNA-binding protein (ERBP). A mutant lacking the ERBP binding site (EpoM) was generated. Hep3B cells were stably transfected with a wild-type Epo (EpoWT) cDNA or EpoM cDNA construct located downstream of a promoter of cytomegalovirus. Following inhibition of transcription, the half-lives of EpoWT and EpoM mRNAs were 7 h and 2.5 h in normoxia, respectively. The EpoM mRNA half-life remained unchanged in hypoxia. EpoWT mRNA half-life increased approximately 40% in response to a 6-h hypoxic pre-exposure and an additional approximately 50% when pre-exposed to 12 h hypoxia. The steady-state level of EpoWT mRNA was 4-fold that of EpoM mRNA reflecting the difference in mRNA decay rates in normoxia. The Epo protein level expressed from exogenous EpoM was unchanged in both normoxia and hypoxia. In contrast, the Epo protein level expressed from exogenous EpoWT increased 50% in hypoxia when compared with normoxia. These observations were further supported by chimeric chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and Epo-3'-UTR constructs. We have demonstrated that Epo mRNA stability was modulated in normoxia and further by hypoxia, therefore, providing evidence that Epo is regulated at the post-transcriptional level through ERBP complex formation.

Interaction of erythropoietin RNA binding protein with erythropoietin RNA requires an association with heat shock protein 70.

Synthesis of erythropoietin (Epo), the glycoprotein hormone that regulates red blood cell formation, is induced in response to low oxygen stress (hypoxia), and is regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. We have previously described an Epo RNA binding protein (ERBP) which specifically binds to the 3'-untranslated region of Epo mRNA and is likely involved in the regulation of Epo mRNA stability. Since heat shock proteins (hsps) are induced in response to a variety of stresses, including hypoxia, we tested the possibility that hsps are involved in ERBP-Epo RNA complex formation. When human anti-hsp70 antibody was added to ERBP-containing human hepatoma cell (Hep3B) lysates, the ERBP-Epo RNA complex was inhibited in an electrophoretic mobility band shift assay. In addition, the anti-hsp70 antibody-inhibited complex could be rescued if lysates were pretreated with purified inducible hsp70, but not with bovine serum albumin (BSA). In vivo studies using quercetin to inhibit hsp70 induction support the notion that hsp70 is involved in ERBP-Epo RNA complex formation. Taken together, these findings suggest involvement of hsp70 in ERBP-Epo mRNA complex formation, and our model suggests a novel role for hsps in the regulation of EPO mRNA stability.

Erythropoietin stimulates nuclear localization of diacylglycerol and protein kinase C beta II in B6SUt.EP cells.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone, as well as a hematopoietic growth factor, that specifically regulates the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Although the membrane-bound receptor for EPO has no intrinsic kinase activity, it triggers the activation of protein kinases via phospholipases A2, C, and D. A cascade of serine and threonine kinases, including Raf-1, MAP kinase and protein kinase C (PKC) is activated following tyrosine phosphorylation. In this study, we have examined whether changes in nuclear PKC and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) are induced following EPO treatment of the murine target cell line, B6SUt.EP. Western blot analysis using isoform-specific antibodies demonstrated the presence of PKC beta II, but not PKC alpha, beta I, gamma, epsilon, delta, eta, or zeta in the nuclei of cells stimulated with EPO. The increase in nuclear beta II levels was accompanied by an immediate rise in DAG mass levels with both of the increases peaking by 1 min. These rapid increases in nuclear DAG and PKC beta II expression suggest a mechanism for EPO-induced changes in gene expression necessary for cell proliferation.

Identification of environmental chemicals with estrogenic activity using a combination of in vitro assays.

Environmental chemicals that function as estrogens have been suggested to be associated with an increase in disease and dysfunctions in animals and humans. To characterize chemicals that may act as estrogens in humans, we have compared three in vitro assays which measure aspects of human estrogen receptor (hER)-mediated estrogenicity. Chemicals were first tested for estrogen-associated transcriptional activity in the yeast estrogen screen (YES). This was created by expressing hER and two estrogen response elements linked to the lacZ gene in yeast. Second, chemicals that were tested in YES were then assayed for direct interaction with hER in a competition binding assay. Third, chemicals were tested in the estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line transiently transfected with a plasmid containing two estrogen response elements linked to the luciferase gene. Together, these assays have identified two metabolites of DDT, o,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDD, that have estrogenic activity. Interestingly, previous studies had reported that the DDD metabolites were nonestrogenic in whole animal models. Alachlor, the most frequently used herbicide in the United States, cis-nonachlor, and trans-nonachlor displayed weak estrogenic activity in the combined assays. The antifungal agent benomyl had no estrogenic activity. We propose that a combination of in vitro assays can be used in conjunction with whole animal models for a more complete characterization of chemicals with estrogenic activity.

Erythropoietin stimulates G-protein-coupled phospholipase D in haematopoietic target cells.

A murine haematopoietic stem-cell line, B6SUt.EP, responsive to erythropoietin (EPO), has been found to exhibit both early and late changes in diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidic acid (PA) as measured by HPLC and TLC. DAG levels peaked at 5 s with a 28.1% increase compared with control levels (from 17.3 to 22.2 pmol/10(6) cells) with a later peak at 30 min (84.2% increase from 17.3 to 31.9 pmol). These changes were concentration-dependent from 0.025 to 10 units/ml EPO (5 s, EC50=0.82 unit/ml; 30 min, EC50 = 0.10 unit/ml). In addition, PA levels increased 752.3% compared with control levels (from 8.6 to 64.7 micrograms/10(6) cells) with an early peak at 20 s, as measured by both HPLC and TLC (5 s, EC(50)=0.07 unit/ml). G-protein regulation was investigated by studying the effects of the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) on PA synthesis. The addition of GTP[S] (10 microM) in permeabilized cells increased PA content from 6.3 micrograms to 48.6 micrograms per 10(6) cells. In the presence of EPO and GTP[S], PA levels increased to 64.8 micrograms. An antagonist of G-proteins, guanosine 5'[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]), had no effect on control levels of PA (5.9 micrograms/10(6) cells) but blocked the effect of EPO on PA (30.6 micrograms/10(6) cells). Thus, EPO stimulated both lipid second messengers, DAG and PA. Our results demonstrate DAG kinetics to be biphasic, as observed with a high concentration of EPO, or monophasic, as observed with low concentrations of EPO. The PA accumulation preceding that of DAG in the slower and sustaining phase suggests that PA was not derived from DAG. This was confirmed by the stimulation of PA (without ATP) by GTP[S], effectively excluding phosphorylation of DAG by DAG kinase in the formation of PA. In addition, phospholipase D (PLD) activation was demonstrated with a maximal increase in phosphatidylethanol at 5 min, suggesting the EPO increases PA via a guanine nucleotide-binding protein coupled to PLD. The temporal relationship of the evolution of PA and DAG is further strengthened by experiments with ethanol and propranolol as inhibitors of the DAG/PA phosphohydrolase reaction and R59022 as an inhibitor of the DAG kinase reaction.

Molecular species of phospholipids in a murine stem-cell line responsive to erythropoietin.

The generation of the lipid signalling molecules, diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidic acid (PA), has been implicated in the transduction events essential for proliferation of murine B6SUt.EP stem cells responsive to erythropoietin (EPO). Some of the responses were rapid and transient while others were slower and sustained. In an attempt to better understand the biphasic nature of DAG and PA appearance in response to EPO, an analysis of the molecular species of DAG, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and PA in control and EPO-treated B6SUt.EP cells was made by HPLC and TLC. Fifteen to eighteen species were identified, which were increased non-uniformly by 0.2 unit/ml EPO. Greater increases (x6) were observed in 16:0,20:4 and 18:0,20:4 DAGs than in other species. The molecular species profiles of the stimulated DAGs were compared with the profiles of molecular species contained in the phospholipids. Comparison of the increase in DAG species caused by EPO with the molecular species present in PC and PI showed both PI and PC as the source of the fast DAG accumulation and only PC as the source of the slow DAG accumulation. PE was involved in both phases. We found a consistent formation of ethanolamine over time, in larger amounts than choline, providing strong evidence that, in addition to PC, PE is a major substrate. In addition, changes in molecular species of PA in response to EPO suggest that PI cannot account for the mass of PA formed during the first 30 s incubation with EPO, nor for PA formed during 30 min with EPO. It is concluded that the majority of PA was formed by a direct action of phospholipase D on PC.