Prostaglandin E2 and vasoactive intestinal peptide increase vascular endothelial cell growth factor mRNAs in lung cancer cells.

The effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) mRNAs were investigated using lung cancer cells. By RT-PCR, VEGF(121), VEGF(165), and VEGF(189), but not VEGF(206) isoforms were detected in all lung cancer cell lines and biopsy specimens examined. By Northern blot, VEGF mRNA was detected in all small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-SCLC (NSCLC) cell lines examined. PGE2, VIP and forskolin caused increased VEGF expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner using NSCLC cell line NCI-H157. Approximately 1 microM PGE2, 0.1 microM VIP and 50 microM forskolin caused cAMP elevation, 64-, 33- and 128-fold, respectively, using NCI-H157 cells after 5 min. The increase in cAMP caused by PGE(2) and VIP was reversed by somatostatin (SST). Also 1 microM PGE2, 0.1 microM VIP and 50 microM forskolin increased the VEGF mRNA 2.0-, 1.5- and 2.3-fold, respectively, after 4 h. The increase in VEGF mRNA caused by PGE2, VIP and forskolin was inhibited by H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. A VIP receptor antagonist, VIPhybrid, inhibited the increase in cAMP and VEGF mRNA caused by VIP. By ELISA, VEGF was detected in the conditioned media exposed to the lung cancer cell lines. These results suggest that VEGF synthesis in and secretion from lung cancer cells can be regulated by agents, which cause adenylyl cyclase activation.

Non-small cell lung cancer cycloxygenase activity and proliferation are inhibited by non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

The effects of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were investigated. Arachidonic acid (AA) was metabolized to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in NSCLC cells. NSAIDs such as aspirin or indomethacin reduced PGE2 levels in NCI-H157 and H1264 cells, and the decrease caused by PGE2 was reversed by epidermal growth factor (EGF). By RT-PCR, both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 mRNAs are detected in NCI-H157 and H1264 cells. By Northern analysis, COX-2 mRNA was induced by EGF and phorbol ester. By immunocytochemistry, COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes were localized to NSCLC tumors. Aspirin, indomethacin and ibuprofen decreased NSCLC growth in vitro. Aspirin and indomethacin inhibited proliferation of NSCLC xenografts in nude mice. These data suggest that COX enzymes may be important regulatory components of NSCLC.

Dissociation of basal turnover and cytokine-induced transcript stabilization of the human cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA by mutagenesis of the 3'-untranslated region.

The immediate early gene cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which encodes the inducible prostaglandin synthase enzyme, is regulated at the level of post-transcriptional mRNA turnover. In this study, the functional role of the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the human Cox-2 gene was characterized. Deletion of the distal region of the 3'-UTR strongly inhibited basal mRNA turnover, suggesting that this region contains mRNA instability determinants. However, deletion of the proximal highly-conserved region (CR1: 6082-6198) resulted in increased basal turnover, indicating that it determines mRNA stability. All of the 3'-UTR constructs conferred IL-1-induced stabilization but not dexamethasone-induced down-regulation. Thus, distinct regions of the 3'-UTR of the Cox-2 transcript are involved in the regulation of basal and cytokine-induced mRNA metabolism.

Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in synovial fibroblasts by prostaglandin E and interleukin-1: a potential mechanism for inflammatory angiogenesis.

Inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) induce angiogenesis by yet undefined mechanisms. We demonstrate that PGE2 and IL-1 induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a selective angiogenic factor by rheumatoid synovial fibroblast cells. Transcripts for the EP1 and EP2 subtypes of PGE receptors are expressed in synovial fibroblasts. Activators of protein kinase A pathway stimulated the expression of VEGF whereas down-regulation of protein kinase C did not influence the PGE effect, suggesting that signalling from the EP2 receptor via the protein kinase A pathway is important. The induction of VEGF expression by PGE2 and interleukin-1 alpha may be an important mechanism in inflammatory angiogenesis.

Phospholipase D-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine: role in cell signalling.

Studies carried out in many laboratories have demonstrated the activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by a variety of receptor agonists and in many cell types. The signal-dependent formation of phosphatidic acid (PA), by PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), may represent a novel and ubiquitous signal transduction pathway in mammalian cells. The mode(s) of coupling between agonist receptors and PLD activation are not well understood. Studies utilizing NIH-3T3 fibroblasts indicated that PLD activation by different mitogens involves distinct mechanisms. Protein kinase C (PKC) seems to play a role both as a mediator and as a modulator of PLD activation. The role of PKC was further examined in Swiss/3T3-derived fibroblasts which stably overexpress PKC-alpha. In these cells, both basal and agonist-stimulated PLD activity are higher than in control cells. In vitro analysis of PLD activity in detergent-solubilized cell membranes, utilizing exogenous C6-NBD-PC as fluorescent substrate, showed nearly 2-fold higher activity in membranes from cells that overexpress PKC-alpha. These results suggest that PKC-alpha may play a role in regulating PLD expression. The PLD product PA was identified as a precursor of 'late phase' diacylglycerol which, at least in some cases, was temporally correlated and causally related to the sustained activation of PKC. However, PA may itself act as an intracellular messenger in its own right, although immediate targets for its action have not yet been identified. Activation of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C, PLD and phospholipase A2 seems to comprise a signaling cascade which is typically utilized by most (if not all) Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists.

Distinct mechanisms of phospholipase D activation and attenuation utilized by different mitogens in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts.

The activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), prostaglandin F2 alpha and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was studied in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. PLD activation was determined by measuring the production of both [3H]phosphatidic acid and [3H]phosphatidylpropanol (products of the PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis and transphosphatidylation reactions, respectively), in cells that were metabolically pre-labeled with [3H]oleic acid. All mitogens caused a rapid (within 2 min) activation of PLD. Activation of PLD by prostaglandin F2 alpha and PDGF was transient and declined to near basal levels by 15 min and 55 min, respectively. In contrast, TPA-induced activation of PLD was sustained for at least 60 min of incubation. A combination of maximally effective concentrations of PDGF and TPA stimulated PLD activity in a non-additive manner, while the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha was additional to that of either PDGF or TPA. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine inhibited PLD activation by PDGF or TPA with almost identical dose/response curves. In contrast, staurosporine potentiated prostaglandin-F2 alpha-induced PLD activation. The specific protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X (a bisindolylmaleimide) inhibited PLD activation by prostaglandin F2 alpha and PDGF at concentrations higher than those required for inhibition of PLD activation induced by TPA. Depletion of cellular protein kinase C abolished PLD activation by all three mitogens without affecting in vitro activity of membrane-bound PLD. The distinct kinetics of PLD activation and its differential susceptibility to protein kinase inhibitors suggest the existence of agonist-specific activation and/or inactivation mechanisms. The results indicate also that protein kinase C participates in the mechanism of PLD activation via PDGF, while the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha involves a pathway independent of protein kinase C.

Up-regulation of phospholipase D activity induced by overexpression of protein kinase C-alpha. Studies in intact Swiss/3T3 cells and in detergent-solubilized membranes in vitro.

The role of protein kinase C in the mechanism of phospholipase D activation by platelet-derived growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate was studied in Swiss/3T3 fibroblasts that overexpress protein kinase C-alpha. Production of [3H]phosphatidylpropanol (specific product of the phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation reaction) was determined in cells which were prelabeled with [3H]oleic acid. Accumulation of [3H]phosphatidylpropanol in response to platelet-derived growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate was 2-3-fold greater in protein kinase C-alpha-overexpressing SF1.4 cells compared with the vector control cells, SC1. Basal [3H] phosphatidylpropanol production also was 2-fold higher in SF1.4 cells than in SC1 cells. Hence, -fold stimulation of basal phospholipase D activity by platelet-derived growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate was comparable in the two cell lines and was not significantly altered by the overexpression of protein kinase C-alpha. Similarly, overexpression of protein kinase C-alpha did not affect either the kinetics of phospholipase D activation nor its dependence on platelet-derived growth factor or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate concentration. In vitro assay of phospholipase D activity in membranes isolated from the cells, utilizing exogenous [3H]phosphatidylcholine as a substrate, revealed nearly 2-fold higher phospholipase D activity in SF1.4 cell membranes. Kinetic analysis of detergent-solubilized phospholipase D activity indicated that the apparent Vmax and Km of phospholipase D derived from SF1.4 and SF3.2 (protein kinase C-alpha-overexpressing) cells are significantly higher than those of phospholipase D from control cells. These results indicate that in Swiss/3T3 cells overexpression of protein kinase C-alpha elevates basal and agonist-stimulated phospholipase D activity in intact cells as well as phospholipase D activity in vitro. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that overexpression of protein kinase C-alpha up-regulates phospholipase D, leading to a constitutive higher level of enzyme activity. Thus, protein kinase C-alpha may play a role in regulating phospholipase D expression.

Phospholipase D activation by the mitogens platelet-derived growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in NIH-3T3 cells.

The effect of mitogens on phospholipase D activity was investigated in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts by measuring the accumulation of phosphatidylpropanol, produced by phospholipase D phosphatidyl transferase activity when 1-propanol acts as the phosphatidyl group acceptor. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) stimulated phosphatidylpropanol production by the cells. The dose-response relationships for activation of phospholipase D and stimulation of thymidine incorporation by PDGF and TPA were comparable. The possibility that activation of phospholipase D is utilized by mitogens as a trans-membrane pathway for signalling cell growth is discussed.

Tumor necrosis factor as a mediator of Mycoplasma orale-induced tumor cell lysis by macrophages.

We and other investigators have previously demonstrated that mycoplasmas induce macrophage-mediated lysis of tumor cells, but the mechanism responsible for this process had, thus far, not been clarified. We now report that addition of either viable or heat-killed Mycoplasma orale to murine macrophages induces a cytolytic activity which, due to its neutralization by a specific antiserum against murine cloned recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF), was identified as TNF-mediated. Both thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages and the normal macrophages cloned from our JBM phi 1.1 bone-marrow-derived cell line effectively produced TNF at levels similar to, or higher than, those obtained in the presence of high concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Four other mycoplasma species demonstrated a varied capacity to induce TNF production by macrophages. Elevated TNF levels were also observed during macrophage-mediated cytolysis of murine A9 fibrosarcoma cells in the presence of either M. orale or LPS. Addition of the specific antiserum against rTNF at a concentration which neutralized all TNF activity in the co-cultures partially inhibited concomitant A9 cell killing. We can, therefore, conclude that M. orale induces TNF production which is, at least partially, responsible for subsequent tumor cell killing.

Induction of acrosomal reaction and calcium uptake in ram spermatozoa by ionophores.

Ram spermatozoa incubated in the presence of Ca2+ and the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 undergo a process which is known as the acrosome reaction. This reaction is characterized by fusion of the outer acrosomal membrane and the overlying plasma membrane to form mixed vesicles which can be seen in the electron microscope. As a result, the trypsin-like acrosin is released from the cells to the medium. The occurrence of the acrosome reaction was determined by following acrosin activity in the medium. After 2 h of incubation of the cells in the presence of ionophore and Ca2+, the released acrosin activity is related to the ionophores according to the sequence: A23187 greater than monensin greater than valinomycin greater than FCCP = without ionophore. The study of Ca2+ uptake by the cells revealed that Ca2+ enters the cell prior to the release of acrosin. Monensin can induce Ca2+ uptake and acrosin release only when Na+ is present in the incubation medium. There is no increase in Ca2+ uptake with carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). We suggest that the Na+/H+ exchange induced by monensin causes an increase in intracellular Na which is the driving force for the Ca2+ entry via a Ca2+/Na+ antiporter. Since monensin can induce an increase in Ca2+ uptake only in the presence of Na+, FCCP enhances Ca2+ uptake in the presence of valinomycin, and A23187 is a Ca2+/2H+ exchanger, we suggest that alkalization of the intracellular space is involved in the acrosome reaction. Calcium uptake in the presence of monensin is not affected by the uncoupler FCCP, a result which indicates that Ca2+ is not accumulated in the mitochondria. Incubation of cells for 3 h in the absence of Ca2+ or ionophore caused a 3-fold increase in the rate of acrosin release when monensin and Ca2+ were added together. There was no change in this rate when A23187 was used. We suggest that during the preincubation time (known as capacitation) the permeability of the plasma membrane to Ca2+ is enhanced. This study shows that acrosin release and Ca2+ uptake can be used as a quantitative asay for the determination of the acrosome reaction.