Early pregnancy loss in 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase knockout (15-HPGD-/-) mice due to requirement for embryo 15-HPGD activity.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have critical signaling functions in a variety of processes including the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, and the initiation of labor. Most PGs are non-enzymatically degraded, however, the two PGs most prominently implicated in the termination of pregnancy, including the initiation of labor, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), are enzymatically degraded by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-HPGD). The role of PG metabolism by 15-HPGD in the maintenance of pregnancy remains largely unknown, as direct functional studies are lacking. To test the hypothesis that 15-PGDH-mediated PG metabolism is essential for pregnancy maintenance and normal labor timing, we generated and analyzed pregnancy in 15-HPGD knockout mice (Hpgd-/-). We report here that pregnancies resulting from matings between 15-HPGD KO mice (Hpgd-/- X Hpgd-/-KO mating) are terminated at mid gestation due to a requirement for embryo derived 15-HPGD. Aside from altered implantation site spacing, pregnancies from KO matings look grossly and histologically normal at days post coitum (dpc) 6.5 and 7.5 of pregnancy. However, virtually all of these pregnancies are resorbed by dpc 8.5. This resorption is preceded by elevation of PGF2∝ but is not preceded by a decrease in circulating progesterone, suggesting that pregnancy loss is a local inflammatory phenomenon rather than a centrally mediated phenomena. This pregnancy loss can be temporarily deferred by indomethacin treatment, but treated pregnancies are not maintained to term and indomethacin treatment increases maternal mortality. We conclude that PG metabolism to inactive products by embryo derived 15-HPGD is essential for pregnancy maintenance in mice, and may serve a similar function during human pregnancy.

TISSUE REGENERATION. Inhibition of the prostaglandin-degrading enzyme 15-PGDH potentiates tissue regeneration.

Agents that promote tissue regeneration could be beneficial in a variety of clinical settings, such as stimulating recovery of the hematopoietic system after bone marrow transplantation. Prostaglandin PGE2, a lipid signaling molecule that supports expansion of several types of tissue stem cells, is a candidate therapeutic target for promoting tissue regeneration in vivo. Here, we show that inhibition of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a prostaglandin-degrading enzyme, potentiates tissue regeneration in multiple organs in mice. In a chemical screen, we identify a small-molecule inhibitor of 15-PGDH (SW033291) that increases prostaglandin PGE2 levels in bone marrow and other tissues. SW033291 accelerates hematopoietic recovery in mice receiving a bone marrow transplant. The same compound also promotes tissue regeneration in mouse models of colon and liver injury. Tissues from 15-PGDH knockout mice demonstrate similar increased regenerative capacity. Thus, 15-PGDH inhibition may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for tissue regeneration in diverse clinical contexts.

Thromboxane A2 receptor-mediated release of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) induces expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by activation of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, CCL2) are known to be upregulated in many tumors. Their roles in tumor invasion and metastasis are being uncovered. How they are related to each other and involved in tumor progression remains to be determined. Earlier it was reported that I-BOP-initiated activation of thromboxane A2 receptor (TP) induced the release of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 from lung cancer A549 cells overexpressing TPα (A549-TPα). Herein it was found that MMP-1, but not MMP-3 or MMP-9, induced the expression of MCP-1 in A549 cells. Conditioned medium (CM) from I-BOP activated, MMP-1 siRNA pretreated A549-TPα cells induced greatly attenuated expression of MCP-1 in A549 cells indicating that MMP-1 in the CM contributed significantly to the expression of MCP-1. MMP-1 was shown to activate protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) instead of commonly assumed PAR1 to increase the expression of MCP-1 in A549 cells. This conclusion was reached from the following findings: (1) expression of MCP-1 induced by trypsin, a PAR2 agonist, and also PAR2 agonist peptide, was inhibited by a PAR2 antagonist; (2) expression of MCP-1 induced by MMP-1 and by CM from I-BOP activated A549-TPα cells was blocked by a PAR2 antagonist but not by other PAR antagonists; (3) expression of MCP-1 induced by MMP-1 and by CM from I-BOP activated A549-TPα cells was attenuated significantly by pretreatment of cells with PAR2-siRNA. These results suggest that PAR2 is a novel MMP-1 target mediating MMP-1-induced signals in A549 lung cancer cells.

Preparation and in vivo characterization of a cocaine hydrolase engineered from human butyrylcholinesterase for metabolizing cocaine.

Cocaine is a widely abused drug without an FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved medication. It has been recognized that an ideal anti-cocaine medication would accelerate cocaine metabolism producing biologically inactive metabolites via a route similar to the primary cocaine-metabolizing pathway, i.e. human BChE (butyrylcholinesterase)-catalysed hydrolysis. However, the native human BChE has a low catalytic activity against cocaine. We recently designed and discovered a BChE mutant (A199S/F227A/S287G/A328W/Y332G) with a high catalytic activity (kcat=5700 min-1, Km=3.1 µM) specifically for cocaine, and the mutant was proven effective in protecting mice from acute cocaine toxicity of a lethal dose of cocaine (180 mg/kg of body weight, LD100). Further characterization in animal models requires establishment of a high-efficiency stable cell line for the BChE mutant production at a relatively larger scale. It has been extremely challenging to develop a high-efficiency stable cell line expressing BChE or its mutant. In the present study, we successfully developed a stable cell line efficiently expressing the BChE mutant by using a lentivirus-based repeated-transduction method. The scaled-up protein production enabled us to determine for the first time the in vivo catalytic activity and the biological half-life of this high-activity mutant of human BChE in accelerating cocaine clearance. In particular, it has been demonstrated that the BChE mutant (administered to mice 1 min prior to cocaine) can quickly metabolize cocaine and completely eliminate cocaine-induced hyperactivity in rodents, implying that the BChE mutant may be developed as a promising therapeutic agent for cocaine abuse treatment.

Activation of thromboxane A2 receptor (TP) increases the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein -1 (MCP-1)/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and recruits macrophages to promote invasion of lung cancer cells.

Thromboxane synthase (TXAS) and thromboxane A(2) receptor (TP), two critical components for thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) signaling, have been suggested to be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanisms by which TXA(2) promotes these processes are still unclear. Here we show that TXA(2) mimetic, I-BOP, induced monocyte chemoattractant protein -1(MCP-1)/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) expression at both mRNA and protein levels in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells stably over-expressing TP receptor α isoform (A549-TPα). The induction of MCP-1 was also found in other lung cancer cells H157 and H460 that express relatively high levels of endogenous TP. Using specific inhibitors of several signaling molecules and promoter/luciferase assay, we identified that transcription factor SP1 mediates I-BOP-induced MCP-1 expression. Furthermore, supernatants from I-BOP-treated A549-TPα cells enhanced MCP-1-dependent migration of RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, co-culture of A549 cells with RAW 264.7 macrophages induced expression of MMPs, VEGF and MCP-1 genes, and increased the invasive potential in A549 cells. These findings suggest that TXA(2) may stimulate invasion of cancer cells through MCP-1-mediated macrophage recruitment.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases mediates thromboxane A2-induced invasion in lung cancer cells.

Thromboxane A(2) receptor (TP) has been shown to play an important role in multiple aspects of cancer development including regulation of tumor growth, survival and metastasis. Here we report that TP mediates cancer cell invasion by inducing expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). TP agonist, I-BOP, significantly elevated MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-10 mRNA levels in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells overexpressing TPα or TPß. The secretion of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in conditioned media was determined using Western blot analysis and zymographic assay. Signaling pathways of I-BOP-induced MMP-1 expression were examined in further detail as a model system for MMPs induction. Signaling molecules involved in I-BOP-induced MMP-1 expression were identified by using specific inhibitors including small interfering (si)-RNAs of signaling molecules and promoter reporter assay. The results indicate that I-BOP-induced MMP-1 expression is mediated by protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-activator protein-1(AP-1) and ERK-CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ß (C/EBPß) pathways. I-BOP-induced cellular invasiveness of A549 cells expressing TPα or TPß was determined by invasion assay. GM6001, a general inhibitor of MMPs, decreased basal and I-BOP-induced cell invasion. Knockdown of MMP-1 and MMP-9 by their respective siRNA partially reduced I-BOP-stimulated cell invasion suggesting that other MMPs induced by I-BOP were also involved. Our studies establish the relationship between TP and MMPs in cancer cell invasion and suggest that the thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2))-TP signaling is a potential therapeutic target for cancer invasion and metastasis.

Prostaglandin catabolic enzymes as tumor suppressors.

15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) is a key prostaglandin catabolic enzyme catalyzing the oxidation and inactivation of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesized from the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. Accumulating evidence indicates that 15-PGDH may function as a tumor suppressor antagonizing the action of COX-2 oncogene. 15-PGDH has been found to be down-regulated contributing to elevated levels of PGE(2) in most tumors. The expression of 15-PGDH and COX-2 appears to be regulated reciprocally in cancer cells. Down-regulation of 15-PGDH in tumors is due, in part, to transcriptional repression and epigenetic silencing. Numerous agents have been found to up-regulate 15-PGDH by down-regulation of transcriptional repressors and by attenuation of the turnover of the enzyme. Up-regulation of 15-PGDH may provide a viable approach to cancer chemoprevention. Further catabolism of 15-keto-prostaglandin E(2) is catalyzed by 15-keto-prostaglandin-∆(13)-reductase (13-PGR), which also exhibits LTB(4)-12-hydroxydehydrogenase (LTB(4)-12-DH) activity. 13-PGR/LTB(4)-12-DH behaves as a tumor suppressor as well. This review summarizes current knowledge of the expression and function of 15-PGDH and 13-PGR/LTB(4)-12-DH in lung and other tissues during tumor progression. Future directions of research on these prostaglandin catabolic enzymes as tumor suppressors are also discussed.

Novel human mPGES-1 inhibitors identified through structure-based virtual screening.

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an inducible prostaglandin E synthase after exposure to pro-inflammatory stimuli and, therefore, represents a novel target for therapeutic treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. It is essential to identify mPGES-1 inhibitors with novel scaffolds as new leads or hits for the purpose of drug design and discovery that aim to develop the next-generation anti-inflammatory drugs. Herein we report novel mPGES-1 inhibitors identified through a combination of large-scale structure-based virtual screening, flexible docking, molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculations, and in vitro assays on the actual inhibitory activity of the computationally selected compounds. The computational studies are based on our recently developed three-dimensional (3D) structural model of mPGES-1 in its open state. The combined computational and experimental studies have led to identification of new mPGES-1 inhibitors with new scaffolds. In particular, (Z)-5-benzylidene-2-iminothiazolidin-4-one is a promising novel scaffold for the further rational design and discovery of new mPGES-1 inhibitors. To our best knowledge, this is the first time a 3D structural model of the open state mPGES-1 is used in structure-based virtual screening of a large library of available compounds for the mPGES-1 inhibitor identification. The positive experimental results suggest that our recently modeled trimeric structure of mPGES-1 in its open state is ready for the structure-based drug design and discovery.

Regulation of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

NSAIDs are known to be inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) accounting for their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. However, the anti-tumor activity cannot be totally attributed to their COX-2 inhibitory activity as these drugs can also inhibit the growth and tumor formation of COX-2-null cell lines. Several potential targets aside from COX-2 for NSAIDs have been proposed. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a key prostaglandin catabolic enzyme, was recently shown to be a tumor suppressor. Effects of NSAIDs on 15-PGDH expression were therefore studied. Flurbiprofen, indomethacin and other NSAIDs stimulated 15-PGDH activity in colon cancer HT29 cells as well as in lung cancer A549 cells and glioblastoma T98G cells. (R)-flurbiprofen and sulindac sulfone, COX-2 inactive analogs, also stimulated 15-PGDH activity indicating induction of 15-PGDH is independent of COX-2 inhibition. Stimulation of 15-PGDH expression and activity by NSAIDs was examined in detail in colon cancer HT29 cells using flurbiprofen as a stimulant. Flurbiprofen stimulated 15-PGDH expression and activity by increasing transcription and translation and by decreasing the turnover of 15-PGDH. Mechanism of stimulation of 15-PGDH expression is not clear. Protease(s) involved in the turnover of 15-PGDH remains to be identified. However, flurbiprofen down-regulated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) which was shown to degrade 15-PGDH, but up-regulated tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), an inhibitor of MMP-9 contributing further to a slower turnover of 15-PGDH. Taken together, NSAIDs may up-regulate 15-PGDH by increasing the protein expression as well as decreasing the turnover of 15-PGDH in cancer cells.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel thiazolidinedione analogues as 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Novel thiazolidinedione analogues as 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) inhibitors were synthesized. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 exhibited IC(50) of 25, 8, and 19 nM, respectively. They also significantly increased levels of PGE(2) in A549 cells. To assess the influence of 15-PGDH inhibitor on cochlear blood flow (CBF), 2 was applied intravenously to guinea pigs. It increased their CBFs. Scratch wounds were also analyzed in confluent monolayers of HaCaT cells. Cells exposed to 4 showed significantly improved wound healing with respect to a control.

Design, preparation, and characterization of high-activity mutants of human butyrylcholinesterase specific for detoxification of cocaine.

Cocaine is a widely abused drug without a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medication. There is a recognized, promising anticocaine medication to accelerate cocaine metabolism, producing biologically inactive metabolites via a route similar to the primary cocaine-metabolizing pathway [i.e., cocaine hydrolysis catalyzed by butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in plasma]. An ideal, therapeutically valuable mutant of human BChE should have not only a significantly improved catalytic activity against (-)-cocaine but also certain selectivity for (-)-cocaine over neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), such that one would not expect systemic administration of the BChE mutant to interrupt cholinergic transmission. The present study accounting for the mutation-caused changes of the catalytic activities of BChE against both (-)-cocaine and ACh by means of molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis has led to identification of three BChE mutants that have not only a considerably improved catalytic efficiency against (-)-cocaine but also the desirable selectivity for (-)-cocaine over ACh. Two representative BChE mutants have been confirmed to be potent in actual protection of mice from acute toxicity (convulsion and lethality) of a lethal dose of cocaine (180 mg/kg). Pretreatment with the BChE mutant (i.e., 1 min before cocaine administration) dose-dependently protected mice against cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality. In particular, all mice pretreated with the mutant (e.g., 0.02 mg or more of A199S/F227A/S287G/A328W/E441D BChE) survived. The in vivo data reveal the primary factor (i.e., the relative catalytic efficiency), determining the efficacy in practical protection of mice from the acute cocaine toxicity and future direction for further improving the efficacy of the enzyme in the cocaine overdose treatment.

Interleukin-4 up-regulates 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) in human lung cancer cells.

IL-4, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was found to stimulate 15-PGDH activity in A549 and other lung cancer cells. Increase in 15-PGDH activity was due to increased transcription and decreased protein turnover of 15-PGDH. MMP-9 was shown to result in decreased levels of 15-PGDH in A549 cells. IL-4 induced down-regulation of MMP-9 mRNA and up-regulation of TIMP-1, an inhibitor of MMP-9. These data suggest that IL-4-induced down-regulation of MMP-9 activity may contribute to up-regulation of 15-PGDH in A549 cells. The role of JAK-STAT6 in IL-4-induced 15-PGDH expression was examined by using inhibitors. Inhibitors of JAKs, kaempferol and JAK inhibitor I, attenuated IL-4-stimulated STAT6 phosphorylation and 15-PGDH activity in a comparable concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, JAK inhibitor I blocked IL-4-induced down-regulation of MMP-9 mRNA and up-regulation of TIMP-1 but not IL-4-stimulated up-regulation of 15-PGDH mRNA. These results indicate that JAK-STAT6 participated in IL-4-induced up-regulation of 15-PGDH through inhibition of MMP-9-mediated degradation. The roles of other signaling kinases in IL-4-induced 15-PGDH expression were also examined by using various inhibitors. Inhibitors of various MAPKs, PI-3K and PKC attenuated significantly IL-4-stimulated 15-PGDH activity indicating that MAPKs, PI-3K/Akt and PKC pathways participated in IL-4-induced up-regulation of 15-PGDH. Our results indicate that IL-4 up-regulates 15-PGDH by increased gene transcription and decreased protein turnover and the up-regulation can be mediated by JAK-STAT6 as well as MAPKs, PI-3K/Akt and PKC pathways.

Understanding microscopic binding of human microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) trimer with substrate PGH2 and cofactor GSH: insights from computational alanine scanning and site-directed mutagenesis.

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an essential enzyme involved in a variety of diseases and is the most promising target for the design of next-generation anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to establish a solid structural base, we recently developed a model of mPGES-1 trimer structure by using available crystal structures of both microsomal glutathione transferase-1 (MGST1) and ba3-cytochrome c oxidase as templates. The mPGES-1 trimer model has been used in the present study to examine the detailed binding of mPGES-1 trimer with substrate PGH(2) and cofactor GSH. Results obtained from the computational alanine scanning reveal the contribution of each residue at the protein-ligand interaction interface to the binding affinity, and the computational predictions are supported by the data obtained from the corresponding wet experimental tests. We have also compared our mPGES-1 trimer model with other available 3D models, including an alternative homology model and a low-resolution crystal structure, and found that our mPGES-1 trimer model based on the crystal structures of both MGST1 and ba3-cytochrome c oxidase is more reasonable than the other homology model of mPGES-1 trimer constructed by simply using a low-resolution crystal structure of MGST1 trimer alone as a template. The available low-resolution crystal structure of mPGES-1 trimer represents a closed conformation of the enzyme and thus is not suitable for studying mPGES-1 binding with ligands. Our mPGES-1 trimer model represents a reasonable open conformation of the enzyme and is therefore promising for studying mPGES-1 binding with ligands in future structure-based drug design targeting mPGES-1.

Synthesis and SAR of thiazolidinedione derivatives as 15-PGDH inhibitors.

Prostaglandins have a short life in vivo because they are metabolized rapidly by oxidation to 15-ketoprostaglandins catalyzed by a cytosolic enzyme known as NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). Previously, CT-8, a thiazolidinedione analogue, was found to be a potent inhibitor of 15-PGDH. Structure-activity analysis indicated that the N-methylation of thiazolidine-2,4-dione, CT-8, abolished the inhibitory activity, whereas the introduction of an ethyl hydroxyl group at amine in CT-8 still had a good inhibitory effect. Based on the structures of the thiazolidinediones analogues and inhibitory activity, a range of benzylidene thiazolidinedione derivatives were synthesized with different substituents on the phenyl ring and their inhibitory activity was evaluated. Replacement of the cyclohexylethyl group of CT-8 with the hetero five-member ring increased the inhibitory potency. However, replacement of the cyclohexylethyl group with a hetero six-member ring decreased the inhibitory potency significantly. It was found that compound 2 (5-(4-(2-(thiophen-2-yl)ethoxy)benzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione) was the most potent inhibitor that was effective in the nanomolar range.

Thromboxane receptor alpha mediates tumor growth and angiogenesis via induction of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human lung cancer cells.

The role of thromboxane receptor alpha (TPalpha) in tumor growth and angiogenesis was investigated in a nude mice model and in cell culture. Stable human lung cancer A549 cells over-expressing TPalpha (A549-TPalpha) was generated and used to inoculate athymic nude mice. A549-TPalpha cells induced greater tumor growth and increased vascularization in tumors than in the control A549 cells. Increased angiogenesis was further verified by studying the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in A549-TPalpha cells. I-BOP, an agonist of TP, stimulated the expression of VEGF in this cell line as well as in another human lung cancer H157 cells in a time and dose dependent manner. The expression of VEGF was determined at both the mRNA and protein levels. The signaling pathways that are involved in I-BOP-induced VEGF expression were further examined by the use of inhibitors. Inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation blocked the induction almost completely indicating that ERK activation was an essential step in the induction. Each of the three upstream kinases, protein kinase A, EGFR kinase and Src kinase, contributed partially to the overall induction. However, PI 3-kinase and protein kinase C had minimal contribution. These results indicate that activation of the TPalpha induces the expression of VEGF through multiple signaling pathways.

Restoration of leukotriene B(4)-12-hydroxydehydrogenase/15- oxo-prostaglandin 13-reductase (LTBDH/PGR) expression inhibits lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo.

Leukotriene B(4)-12-hydroxydehydrogenase/15-oxo-prostaglandin 13-reductase (LTBDH/PGR) is a bifunctional enzyme capable of inactivating leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and 15-oxo-prostaglandins (15-PGs). Its role in growth suppressive functions in lung cancer was studied in in vitro and in vivo systems. The LTBDH/PGR gene was expressed in lung cancer cell lines through recombinant adenovirus infection, and through a tetracycline-inducible expression system. After restoration of LTBDH/PGR expression in LTBDH/PGR-negative (H1299) or -low (A549) lung cancer cell lines, the restored enzyme induced apoptosis and growth inhibition in vitro. Ectopic expression of LTBDH/PGR caused also suppression of tumorigenicity of A549 cells in nude mice. In contrast, LTBDH/PGR over-expression in LTBDH/PGR-positive (H157) lung cancer cell line induced little apoptosis and growth inhibition. This study indicates that restoration of LTBDH/PGR expression is effective in preventing lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo.

Bile acids inhibit NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase transcription in colonocytes.

Multiple lines of evidence have suggested a role for both bile acids and prostaglandins (PG) in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Levels of PGE(2) are determined by both synthesis and catabolism. Previously, bile acid-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was found to stimulate PGE(2) synthesis. NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), the key enzyme responsible for the catabolism of PGE(2), has been linked to colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we determined whether bile acids altered the expression of 15-PGDH in human colon cancer cell lines. Treatment with unconjugated bile acids (chenodeoxycholate and deoxycholate) suppressed the transcription of 15-PGDH, resulting in reduced amounts of 15-PGDH mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity. Conjugated bile acids were less potent suppressors of 15-PGDH expression than unconjugated bile acids. Treatment with chenodeoxycholate activated protein kinase C (PKC), leading in turn to increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activity. Small molecules that inhibited bile acid-mediated activation of PKC and ERK1/2 also blocked the downregulation of 15-PGDH. Bile acids induced early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) and Snail, a repressive transcription factor that bound to the 15-PGDH promoter. Silencing Egr-1 or Snail blocked chenodeoxycholate-mediated downregulation of 15-PGDH. Together, these data indicate that bile acids activate the signal transduction pathway PKC --> ERK1/2 --> Egr-1 --> Snail and thereby suppress 15-PGDH transcription. Bile acids appear to increase the release of PGs from cells by downregulating catabolism in addition to stimulating synthesis. These results provide new mechanistic insights into the link between bile acids and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis.

Activation of thromboxane A(2) receptors induces orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 expression and stimulates cell proliferation in human lung cancer cells.

Previous studies implicate that activation of thromboxane A(2) receptor (TP) induced cell proliferation and transformation in several cell lines. We report here that the activation of TP by its agonist, [1S-[1alpha, 2alpha (Z), 3beta (1E, 3S*), 4alpha]]-7-[3-[3-hydroxy-4-(4-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl]-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2-yl]-5-heptenoic acid (I-BOP), induced Nurr1 expression and stimulated proliferation of human lung cancer cells. Nurr1, an orphan nuclear receptor in the nuclear receptor subfamily 4A subfamily, has been implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. I-BOP markedly induced Nurr1 messenger RNA and protein levels as compared with other subfamily members, Nur77 and Nor-1. The signaling pathways of I-BOP-induced Nurr1 expression were examined by using various inhibitors of signaling molecules. The induction of Nurr1 expression by I-BOP appeared to be mediated through protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element binding (CREB), protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways and not related to epidermal growth factor receptor and prostaglandin E(2) pathways. Transcriptional activation of Nurr1 gene by I-BOP was further investigated at the promoter level in H157 cells. 5'-Deletion analysis, site-directed mutagenesis and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that Nurr1 expression was induced by I-BOP in a PKA/CREB-dependent manner. Further studies have revealed that Nurr1 may mediate cyclin D1 expression and I-BOP-induced cell proliferation in H157 cells since small interfering RNA of Nurr1 blocked I-BOP-induced cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation and also decreased cell growth rate. These results provide strong evidence that Nurr1 plays a significant role in cell proliferation and may mediate TP agonist-induced proliferation in lung cancer cells.

15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase is down-regulated in gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: We have investigated the expression and regulation of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) in gastric cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Clinical gastric adenocarcinoma samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR for protein and mRNA expression of 15-PGDH and for methylation status of 15-PGDH promoter. The effects of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and epigenetic mechanisms on 15-PGDH regulation were assessed in gastric cancer cell lines. RESULTS: In a gastric cancer cell line with a very low 15-PGDH expression (TMK-1), the 15-PGDH promoter was methylated and treatment with a demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored 15-PGDH expression. In a cell line with a relatively high basal level of 15-PGDH (MKN-28), IL-1beta repressed expression of 15-PGDH mRNA and protein. This effect of IL-1beta was at least in part attributed to inhibition of 15-PGDH promoter activity. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of 15-PGDH resulted in strong increase of prostaglandin E(2) production in MKN-28 cells and increased cell growth of these cells by 31% in anchorage-independent conditions. In clinical gastric adenocarcinoma specimens, 15-PGDH mRNA levels were 5-fold lower in gastric cancer samples when compared with paired nonneoplastic tissues (n = 26) and 15-PGDH protein was lost in 65% of gastric adenocarcinomas (n = 210). CONCLUSIONS: 15-PGDH is down-regulated in gastric cancer, which could potentially lead to accelerated tumor progression. Importantly, our data indicate that a proinflammatory cytokine linked to gastric carcinogenesis, IL-1beta, suppresses 15-PGDH expression at least partially by inhibiting promoter activity of the 15-PGDH gene.

15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) is up-regulated by flurbiprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in human colon cancer HT29 cells.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to inhibit prostaglandin synthetic enzyme, cyclooxygenases (COXs), as well as to exhibit anti-tumor activity although at much higher concentrations. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehyrogenase (15-PGDH), a key prostaglandin catabolic enzyme, was recently shown to be a tumor suppressor. Effects of NSAIDs on 15-PGDH expression were therefore examined. Flurbiprofen and several other NSAIDs were found to induce 15-PGDH expression in human colon cancer HT29 cells. Flurbiprofen, the most active one, was also shown to induce 15-PGDH expression in other types of cancer cells. Induction of 15-PGDH expression appeared to occur at the stage of mRNA as levels of 15-PGDH mRNA were increased by flurbiprofen in HT29 cells. Levels of 15-PGDH were also found to be regulated at the stage of protein turnover. MEK inhibitors, PD98059 and U-0126, which inhibited ERK phosphorylation were shown to elevate 15-PGDH levels very significantly. These inhibitors did not appear to alter 15-PGDH mRNA levels but down-regulate matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). This protease was shown to degrade and inactivate 15-PGDH suggesting that elevation of 15-PGDH levels could be due to inhibition of MMP-9 expression by these inhibitors. Similarly, flurbiprofen was also demonstrated to inhibit ERK activation and to down-regulate MMP-9 expression. Furthermore, flurbiprofen was shown to induce the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), an inhibitor of MMP-9. The turnover of 15-PGDH was found to prolong in the presence of flurbiprofen as compared to that in the absence of this drug. Taken together, these results indicate that flurbiprofen up-regulates 15-PGDH by increasing the expression and decreasing the degradation of 15-PGDH in HT29 cells.