Many roads lead to oncogene-induced senescence.

Oncogene-induced senescence is a mechanism of tumor suppression that restricts the progression of benign tumors. Important advances have been made toward elucidating the mechanisms that regulate this response; however, there is presently no unified model that integrates all current findings. DNA damage, replicative stress, reactive oxygen species, heterochromatin formation and negative feedback signaling networks have all been proposed to play an integral role in promoting senescence in response to various oncogenic insults. In all cases, these signals have been shown to function through Rb and p53, but utilize different intermediaries. Thus, it appears that senescence is not triggered by a single, linear series of events, but instead is regulated by a complex signaling network. Accordingly, multiple proteins may cooperate to establish a senescence response, but the limiting signal(s) may be dictated by the initiating genetic alteration and/or tissue type. This review will focus on integrating current models and will highlight data that provide new insight into the signals that function to suppress human tumor development.

Mouse models of tumor development in neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a prevalent familial cancer syndrome resulting from germ line mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. Hallmark features of the disease are the development of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (neurofibromas), which can progress to malignancy. Unlike humans, mice that are heterozygous for a mutation in Nf1 do not develop neurofibromas. However, as described here, chimeric mice composed in part of Nf1-/- cells do, which demonstrates that loss of the wild-type Nf1 allele is rate-limiting in tumor formation. In addition, mice that carry linked germ line mutations in Nf1 and p53 develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), which supports a cooperative and causal role for p53 mutations in MPNST development. These two mouse models provide the means to address fundamental aspects of disease development and to test therapeutic strategies.

PAR1 activation initiates integrin engagement and outside-in signalling in megakaryoblastic CHRF-288 cells.

To better understand the means by which cells such as human platelets regulate the binding of the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 to fibrinogen, we have examined agonist-initiated inside-out and outside-in signalling in CHRF-288 cells, a megakaryoblastic cell line that expresses alphaIIbbeta3 and the human thrombin receptor, PAR1. The results show several notable similarities and differences. (1) Activation of PAR1 caused CHRF-288 cells to adhere and spread on immobilized fibrinogen in an alphaIIbbeta3-dependent manner, but did not support the binding of soluble fibrinogen or PAC-1, an antibody specific for activated alphaIIbbeta3. (2) Direct activation of protein kinase C with PMA or disruption of the actin cytoskeleton with low concentrations of cytochalasin D also caused CHRF-288 cells to adhere to fibrinogen. (3) Despite the failure to bind soluble fibrinogen, activation of PAR1 in CHRF-288 cells caused phosphoinositide hydrolysis, arachidonate mobilization and the phosphorylation of p42MAPK, phospholipase A2 and the Rac exchange protein, Vav, all of which occur in platelets. PAR1 activation also caused an increase in cytosolic Ca2+, which, when prevented, blocked adhesion to fibrinogen. (4) Finally, as in platelets, adhesion of CHRF-288 cells to fibrinogen was followed by a burst of integrin-dependent ('outside-in') signalling, marked by FAK phosphorylation and a more prolonged phosphorylation of p42MAPK. However, in contrast to platelets, adhesion to fibrinogen had no effect on Vav phosphorylation. Collectively, these observations show that signalling initiated through PAR1 in CHRF-288 cells can support alphaIIbbeta3 binding to immobilized ligand, but not the full integrin activation needed to bind soluble ligand. This would suggest that there has been an increase in integrin avidity without an accompanying increase in affinity. Such increases in avidity are thought to be due to integrin clustering, which would also explain the results obtained with cytochalasin D. The failure of alphaIIbbeta3 to achieve the high affinity state in CHRF-288 cells was not due to the failure of PAR1 activation to initiate a number of signalling events that normally accompany platelet activation nor did it prevent at least some forms of outside-in signalling. However, at least one marker of outside-in signalling, the augmentation of Vav phosphorylation seen during platelet aggregation, did not occur in CHRF-288 cells.

Dysphagia after head trauma: the effect of cognitive-communicative impairments on functional outcomes.

This article discusses the impact of cognitive-communicative and behavior problems on oral intake. Data on the swallowing outcomes of a group of patients in an acute rehabilitation facility are presented. These data illustrate the relationships among severity of dysphagia, admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, admission and discharge cognitive FIM scores and length of stay. Two case studies that describe the effect of cognitive-communicative disorders on dysphagia are provided.

K-ras is an essential gene in the mouse with partial functional overlap with N-ras.

Mammalian ras genes are thought to be critical in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation and are mutated in approximately 30% of all human tumors. However, N-ras and H-ras are nonessential for mouse development. To characterize the normal role of K-ras in growth and development, we have mutated it by gene targeting in the mouse. On an inbred genetic background, embryos homozygous for this mutation die between 12 and 14 days of gestation, with fetal liver defects and evidence of anemia. Thus, K-ras is the only member of the ras gene family essential for mouse embryogenesis. We have also investigated the effect of multiple mutations within the ras gene family. Most animals lacking N-ras function and heterozygous for the K-ras mutation exhibit abnormal hematopoietic development and die between days 10 and 12 of embryogenesis. Thus, partial functional overlap appears to occur within the ras gene family, but K-ras provides a unique and essential function.

Signaling through G proteins in platelets: to the integrins and beyond.

Many of the agonists that cause platelet activation are thought to do so by interacting with G protein-coupled receptors on the platelet surface. By activating heterotrimeric G proteins, these receptors evoke shape change, granule secretion and platelet aggregation. This review provides a brief overview of these events, summarizes current information about the role of pleckstrin in events downstream from G protein-coupled receptors, and briefly considers the signaling pathways that couple G protein activation to the low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins which control cytoskeletal reorganization and fibrinogen receptor exposure during platelet activation.

Nf1 gene targeting: toward models and mechanisms.

Patients with neurofibromatosis type I develop multiple benign nerve sheath tumors and are predisposed to a number of malignancies. Since loss-of-function mutations in the NF1 gene appear to be responsible for the disease, NF1 has been classified as a tumor suppressor. Several strategies involving the targeted disruption of the murine homologue have been used in an attempt to establish an animal model for the disease and four types of animals have been generated: (1) Nf1 +/- animals, (2) NF1 -/- embryos, (3) Nf1 -/- chimeras, and (4) mice transplanted with Nf1 -/- hematopoietic stem cells. In addition to yielding mice which mimic various aspects of the human disease, each of these approaches has contributed to a better understanding of the normal function of Nf1.

Thrombin receptor activation and integrin engagement stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the proto-oncogene product, p95vav, in platelets.

The vav proto-oncogene product, p95vav or Vav, is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and has been shown to be a substrate for tyrosine kinases. Although its function is unknown, Vav shares a region of homology with DBL, an exchange factor for the Rho family of GTP-binding proteins. The presence of this domain and the observation that cells transformed with Vav display prominent stress fibers and focal adhesions similar to those that are observed in RhoA transformed cells suggests that Vav may play a role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. We have, therefore, examined Vav phosphorylation in platelets, which undergo dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization in response to agonists. Two potent platelet agonists, thrombin (via its G protein-coupled receptor) and collagen (via its interaction with the alpha2beta1 integrin), caused Vav to become phosphorylated on tyrosine. Weaker platelet agonists, including ADP, epinephrine and the thromboxane A2 analog, U46619, did not. The phosphorylation of Vav in response to thrombin was maximal within 15 s and was unaffected by aspirin, inhibitors of aggregation, or the presence of the ADP scavenger, apyrase. Vav phosphorylation was also observed when platelets became adherent to immobilized collagen (via integrin alpha2beta1), fibronectin (via integrin alpha5beta1), and fibrinogen (via integrin alphaIIbbeta3). These results show that Vav phosphorylation by tyrosine kinases 1) occurs during platelet activation by potent agonists, 2) also occurs when platelets adhere to biologically relevant matrix proteins, 3) requires neither platelet aggregation nor the release of secondary agonists such as ADP and TxA2, and 4) can be initiated by at least some members of two additional classes of receptors, G protein-coupled receptors and integrins, providing further evidence that both of these can couple to tyrosine kinases.

Structure and function of the human platelet thrombin receptor. Studies using monoclonal antibodies directed against a defined domain within the receptor N terminus.

Based upon its recently cloned nucleotide sequence, the human platelet thrombin receptor is thought to be formed by a single polypeptide chain with seven transmembrane domains and an extracellular N terminus that can be cleaved by thrombin. As yet, however, little is known from studies of the receptor protein itself. To obtain such information, we have prepared monoclonal antibodies against a peptide corresponding to receptor residues Ser42 through Phe55, the domain immediately distal to the site of cleavage by thrombin. By flow cytometry, all of the antibodies reacted with the thrombin-responsive megakaryoblastic CHRF-288 and HEL cell lines, but not with the T-lymphoid Sup-T1 cell line. Functionally, the antibodies inhibited platelet responses to alpha-thrombin, gamma-thrombin, and trypsin, but had no effect on platelet activation by ADP, epinephrine, or the thromboxane analog U46619. Radioiodinated antibody bound to approximately 1,800 sites/platelet, a value similar to the reported number of moderate affinity thrombin binding sites per platelet. On Western blots, the antibodies recognized a 66-kDa protein in platelet, HEL, and CHRF-288 membranes. The discrepancy between this apparent size and the predicted mass of the receptor suggests that, as with other G protein-coupled receptors, one or more of the potential sites for N-linked glycosylation have been utilized. Therefore, these results suggest that: 1) the cloned thrombin receptor is involved in a broad range of platelet responses to thrombin, as well as gamma-thrombin and trypsin; 2) as predicted, the N terminus of the receptor is accessible on the platelet surface; 3) the moderate affinity thrombin binding site noted in earlier studies may be the receptor; 4) potentially as much as one third of the mass of the receptor is carbohydrate.

Structure-function relationships in the activation of platelet thrombin receptors by receptor-derived peptides.

According to present models, thrombin activates platelets by cleaving its receptors after Arg41, creating a new N terminus which acts as a tethered ligand. In support of this model, a peptide (SFLLRNPNDKYEPF or TRP42/55) corresponding to residues 42-55 has been shown to activate the receptor. In the present studies, the structural basis for thrombin receptor activation was examined using fragments of this peptide, as well as variants of the peptide with selected amino acid substitutions. The results show that the features of SFLLRNPNDKYEPF required to mimic the effects of thrombin reside within the first 6 residues, SFLLRN. A hexapeptide comprised of these residues was approximately 5 times more potent than the parent peptide in assays of platelet aggregation and, in addition, caused tyrosine phosphorylation, inhibition of cAMP formation, and an increase in cytosolic Ca2+. Omission of either the Ser residue or the Arg and Asn residues greatly diminished peptide activity, as did the substitution of Ala for Phe or Arg. Substitution of Ala for Ser or the initial Leu, on the other hand, had little adverse effect. The inactive peptides SALLRN and NPNDKYEPF had no effect on platelet activation initiated by SFLLRN, but FLLRN inhibited platelet aggregation in response to both SFLLRN and thrombin. These results suggest that within SFLLRN the Phe and Arg residues are particularly important and that Phe must be preceded by another amino acid, the identity of which is not tightly constrained. This observation and comparisons with the homologous domains of proteins whose tertiary structure is known were used to predict the conformation of the SFLLR sequence. The model which emerged suggests that the SFLLR domain may be part of an extended beta structure in the intact receptor and that cleavage by thrombin causes it to contract and assume a modified helical configuration. In this predicted conformation the side chains of Phe and Arg point in the same direction, potentially into a pocket formed by the remainder of the receptor.

p21rasGAP association with Fyn, Lyn, and Yes in thrombin-activated platelets.

Activation of platelets by thrombin and other physiological agonists leads to a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins (Ferrell, J. E., and Martin, G. S. (1988) Mol. Cell. Biol. 8, 3606-3610; Golden, A., and Brugge, J. S. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 901-905; Nakamura, S., and Yamamura, H. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 7089-7091). To date, none of the tyrosine kinases that are involved in platelet activation, nor the substrates that are phosphorylated in response to agonists, have been identified. A "kinase trapping" strategy, designed to take advantage of the stability of known tyrosine kinase-substrate interactions, was employed to address both issues. p21rasGAP antibodies were used to examine the phosphorylated state of GAP in agonist-treated platelets and to isolate potential GAP-kinase complexes. We show that GAP and two proteins of 59 and 68 kDa are phosphorylated on tyrosine after thrombin stimulation and that three Src-related protein tyrosine kinases, Fyn, Lyn and Yes, are associated with GAP in complexes, detectable only after agonist stimulation. The thrombin-dependent detection of these kinases in GAP immunoprecipitates suggests that thrombin may either induce the formation of these complexes or activate kinases that are associated with GAP prior to, or following, agonist stimulation. This approach of "trapping" kinases bound to their substrates will be useful in identifying non-receptor tyrosine kinases involved in signaling pathways. Furthermore, although GAP phosphorylation has been previously implicated in growth factor signaling pathways, this is the first example of its involvement downstream from a G-protein-coupled receptor.

Increased assembly of clathrin occurs in response to mitogenic activation of murine lymphocytes.

The unassembled (soluble) and assembled (particulate) pools of clathrin in murine lymphocytes have been separated by centrifugation, and specifically quantified by immunoblotting of cellular extracts with an anticlathrin heavy chain monoclonal antibody. In resting spleen lymphocytes only 25-30% of the total cellular clathrin was found to be present in an assembled form. Upon activation of lymphocytes with B or T cell mitogens (lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A), the levels of assembled clathrin increased to 60% of the total. These changes in the levels of assembled clathrin were not due to an increase in total cellular clathrin concentration following lymphocyte activation, but rather to changes in the steady state ratio of assembled to unassembled clathrin. The increase in assembled clathrin preceded the expression of transferrin receptors, as measured by the cell surface binding of an antitransferrin receptor monoclonal antibody, and maximal DNA synthesis, indicating that clathrin assembly occurs early after lymphocyte activation and precedes cell division. Immunofluorescence analysis of activated lymphocytes with an anti-clathrin heavy chain monoclonal antibody revealed a punctuate staining pattern characteristic of coated pits and vesicles. Activated B lymphocytes displayed particularly prominent staining in the perinuclear region compared to T cells, suggesting that clathrin assembly may be important for B cell functions such as immunoglobulin synthesis or secretion. These results suggest that in lymphocytes, clathrin assembly is a dynamic process that is triggered by mitogenic stimuli.

Multivariate analysis of improvement and outcome following stroke rehabilitation.

This study documented the status of 432 patients and characteristics of functional improvements and outcomes achieved by 163 patients who participated in comprehensive stroke rehabilitation. Scores on the 100-point Activities of Daily Living Index improved from hospital admission to discharge and declined slightly at follow-up. An average Activities of Daily Living Index point gain of 0.6 per day was found that was unrelated to age, sex, side of hemiparesis, or admission functional status. Seventy-nine percent of the patients were discharged home; 85% were home at follow-up. Eleven percent of the patients were working at follow-up. Patients traveled outside their homes an average of 24.6 days during the three months immediately following discharge. A significant number of patients achieved favorable functional housing, employment, and social outcomes. This study supported referral for rehabilitation services regardless of age, side of hemiparesis, or degree of impairment.