Integrin alphaVbeta3 contains a receptor site for resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol, which causes apoptosis in cultured cancer cells. We describe a cell surface resveratrol receptor on the extracellular domain of hetero-dimeric alphaVbeta3 integrin in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. This receptor is linked to induction by resveratrol of extracellular-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)- and serine-15-p53-dependent phosphorylation leading to apoptosis. The integrin receptor is near the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) recognition site on the integrin; an integrin-binding RGD peptide inhibits induction by resveratrol of ERK1/2- and p53-dependent apoptosis. Antibody (Ab) to integrin alphaVbeta3, but not to alphaVbeta5, inhibits activation by resveratrol of ERK1/2 and p53 and consequent apoptosis in estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) positive MCF-7, and ERalpha-negative MDA-MB231 cells. Resveratrol is displaced from the purified integrin by an RGD, but not RGE, peptide, and by alphaVbeta3 integrin-specific Ab. Resveratrol action is blocked by siRNAbeta3, but not by siRNAalphaV. [14C]-Resveratrol binds to commercially purified integrin alphaVbeta3 and to alphaVbeta3 prepared from MCF-7 cells; binding of [14C]-resveratrol to the beta3, but not to the alphaV monomer, is displaced by unlabeled resveratrol. In conclusion, binding of resveratrol to integrin alphaVbeta3, principally to the beta3 monomer, is essential for transduction of the stilbene signal into p53-dependent apoptosis of breast cancer cells.

Integrin alphaVbeta3 contains a cell surface receptor site for thyroid hormone that is linked to activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and induction of angiogenesis.

Integrin alpha(V)beta(3) is a heterodimeric plasma membrane protein whose several extracellular matrix protein ligands contain an RGD recognition sequence. This study identifies integrin alpha(V)beta(3) as a cell surface receptor for thyroid hormone [L-T(4) (T(4))] and as the initiation site for T(4)-induced activation of intracellular signaling cascades. Integrin alpha(V)beta(3) dissociably binds radiolabeled T(4) with high affinity, and this binding is displaced by tetraiodothyroacetic acid, alpha(V)beta(3) antibodies, and an integrin RGD recognition site peptide. CV-1 cells lack nuclear thyroid hormone receptor, but express plasma membrane alpha(V)beta(3); treatment of these cells with physiological concentrations of T(4) activates the MAPK pathway, an effect inhibited by tetraiodothyroacetic acid, RGD peptide, and alpha(V)beta(3) antibodies. Inhibitors of T(4) binding to the integrin also block the MAPK-mediated proangiogenic action of T(4). T(4)-induced phosphorylation of MAPK is inhibited by small interfering RNA knockdown of alpha(V) and beta(3). These findings suggest that T(4) binds to alpha(V)beta(3) near the RGD recognition site and show that hormone-binding to alpha(V)beta(3) has physiological consequences.

Osteoprotegerin expression and secretion are regulated by calcium influx through the L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel.

Our previous studies showed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] modulates the activity of the Ca(V1.2) alpha-subunit of the L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) by two temporally distinct mechanisms. First, 1,25(OH)2D3 rapidly modulates local Ca2+ permeability in the plasma membrane of the proliferating osteoblast. Second, treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 reduces biosynthesis of Ca(V1.2) such that transcript levels are half of original levels after 24 h. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) provide important regulatory mechanisms for controlling osteoclastogenesis and Ca2+ homeostasis. Because they often control Ca2+-activated secretion, we investigated the possibility that L-type VSCCs might regulate basal OPG and RANKL secretion in osteoblasts. We also studied 1,25(OH)2D3 effects on OPG and RANKL expression. To address this, we measured changes in expression and secretion of OPG and RANKL in MC3T3-E1 cells and calvarial organ cultures after treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3, VSCC inhibitors, and inhibitors of Ca2+-regulated signaling. RANKL production was increased in calvarial cultures by 1,25(OH)2D3 but was essentially undetectable in the medium of MC3T3-E1 cells. In contrast, OPG secretion in both systems was significantly reduced after 24 h treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3, by inhibitors of L-type VSCCs and calmodulin-sensitive protein kinases but not by inhibitors of protein kinase A, MAPKs, or other families of VSCCs. OPG secretion was abrogated by transfection with decoy cAMP response element binding sites. Our results suggest that OPG secretion is regulated through calmodulin-sensitive protein kinase signaling that depends on the activity of the L-type VSCC and is mediated through the cAMP response element-binding protein.

Rational design of vitamin D3 analogues which selectively restore activity to a vitamin D receptor mutant associated with rickets.

[formula: see text] Vitamin D3-resistant rickets (VDRR) is associated with mutations to the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) which effect ligand-dependent transactivation. Some VDRR associated mutants directly disrupt ligand binding. Using the reported VDR-1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) cocrystal structure, three 1,25(OH)2D3 analogues were designed to uniquely complement the rickets associated mutant VDR(Arg274-->Leu). The three analogues were 17 to 286 times more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 with the mutant in cell-based assays and did not substantially activate cellular calcium influx.

Integrating rapid responses to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with transcriptional changes in osteoblasts: Ca2+ regulated pathways to the nucleus.

It is well established that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) treatment of target cells including osteoblasts activates both membrane-initiated rapid Ca2+ responses linked to influx through voltage sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCCs) and longer term nuclear receptor-mediated changes in gene expression. We recently reported use of a cDNA microarray strategy to identify transcriptional changes after 3 and 24h of treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 and with an analog of 1,25(OH)2D3 (25(OH)-16ene-23yne-D3 [AT]) that activates Ca2+ influx without binding to the nuclear receptor. Among 5000 different clones on the array filters, we identified families of genes in osteoblasts that were altered two-fold or greater following treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 or analog AT for 3h. Cluster analysis further revealed complex patterns of changes in gene expression, indicative of multiple pathways to the nucleus. Evidenced by changes in target gene expression, activation of a Ca2+/CaMK/CREB/CRE pathway clearly occurs and modulates expression of a variety of genes associated with changes in protein secretion including those involved in paracrine regulation of bone resorption, RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG). The changes in gene expression can be inhibited by L-type VSCC channel blockers, confirming the role of Ca2+ entry in pathway activation. These findings provide clear evidence of rapid changes in gene expression associated with Ca2+ influx after treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3, and open the door to novel nuclear receptor-independent signaling pathways that affect gene transcription.

Tetraiodothyroacetic acid, a small molecule integrin ligand, blocks angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.

Thyroid hormone has been recently shown to induce tumor growth and angiogenesis via a plasma-membrane hormone receptor on integrin alphaVbeta3. The receptor is at or near the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) recognition site on the integrin that is important to extracellular matrix (ECM) protein and vascular growth factor interactions with the integrin. In the present study, we examined the possibility that tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac), a deaminated, non-agonist thyroid hormone analog that binds to the integrin receptor, may modulate vascular growth factor-induced angiogenesis in the absence of thyroid hormone. Angiogenesis models were studied in which VEGF or FGF2 (1-2 microg/ml) induced tube formation in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC), stimulated new blood vessel branch formation in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and induced angiogenesis in the mouse matrigel model. In all models, tetrac (1-10 microM) and at 10 microg in mouse matrigel inhibited the pro-angiogenesis activity of VEGF and FGF2 by more than 50%. RT-PCR revealed that tetrac (1-3 microM) decreased abundance of angiopoietin-2 mRNA, but not angiopoietin-1 mRNA, in VEGF-exposed endothelial cells, suggesting that specific angiogenic pathways are targeted by tetrac. Tetrac is a novel, inexpensive small molecule whose anti-angiogenic activity in the present studies is proposed to reflect inhibition, via the integrin RGD recognition/thyroid hormone receptor site, of crosstalk between plasma-membrane vascular growth factor receptors and integrin alphaVbeta3.

Osteoblast Ca(2+) permeability and voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel expression is temporally regulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).

The cardiac subtype of the L-type voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel (VSCC) Cav1.2 (alpha(1C)) is the primary voltage-sensitive channel responsible for Ca(2+) influx into actively proliferating osteoblasts. This channel also serves as the major transducer of Ca(2+) signals in growth-phase osteoblasts in response to hormone treatment. In this study, we have demonstrated that 24-h treatment of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], a coupling factor for bone resorption, coordinately downregulates Cav1.2 (alpha(1C)) and uniquely upregulates T-type channel Cav3.2 (alpha(1H)). No other voltage-sensitive channel alpha-subunit of the 10 that were surveyed was upregulated by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). The shift from predominantly L-type to T-type channel expression has been demonstrated to occur at both mRNA and protein levels detected using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry with antibodies specific for each channel type. Functional and pharmacological studies using specific inhibitors have revealed that treatment with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) also alters the Ca(2+) permeability properties of the osteoblast membrane from a state of primarily L-current sensitivity to T-current sensitivity. We conclude that the L-type channel is likely to support proliferation of osteoblast cells, whereas T-type channels are more likely to be involved in supporting differentiated functions after 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-mediated reversal of remodeling has occurred. This latter observation is consistent with the unique expression of the T-type VSCC Cav3.2 (alpha(1H)) in terminally differentiated osteocytes as we recently reported.

Cell-surface receptor for thyroid hormone and tumor cell proliferation.

Integrin αVß3 is a structural protein of the plasma membrane that transduces signals from extracellular matrix proteins and has recently been shown to contain a novel receptor for thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone signals are converted by αVß3 into mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (ERK1/2) activation and downstream intracellular events in the cell nucleus. The latter include post-translational modification of the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor (TRß1) and complex cellular or tissue responses, such as hormone-induced angiogenesis via basic fibroblast growth factor release. The integrin receptor for thyroid hormone has been shown to mediate proliferative effects of the hormone on certain tumor cell lines, including murine glioma/glioblastoma cells and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. More than one mechanism may account for this hormonal action, but in vitro studies indicate a direct hormonal action on cellular proliferation. Other possible mechanisms involve indirect actions via the release of tumor growth factors and effects on cell migration. In the intact organism, support of tumor growth by thyroid hormone is postulated to include angiogenesis. Crosstalk between the integrin thyroid hormone receptor and the epidermal growth factor receptor on the plasma membrane may be another mechanism by which thyroid hormone may modify tumor cell growth. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) is an iodothyronine analog that has no agonist activity at the integrin receptor, but inhibits binding of l-thyroxine and 3,5,3´-triiodo-l-thyronine to the receptor, preventing MAPK activation and consequent actions downstream of MAPK. In vitro studies and a preliminary in vivo experiment indicate that tetrac blocks the action of thyroid hormone on tumor cell proliferation. Both unmodified tetrac and tetrac reformulated as a nanoparticle that does not gain access to the cell interior are under investigation in animal models as anticancer agents. Also under study is the susceptibility of other human cancer cell lines to induction of proliferation by physiological concentrations of thyroid hormone.

The proangiogenic action of thyroid hormone analogue GC-1 is initiated at an integrin.

Our early reported investigations have demonstrated potent proangiogenic effects of L-thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) blocks T4 binding to plasma membranes and its pro-angiogenic effect. T4/T3 stimulates expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in endothelial cells. Thyroid hormone (T4/T3) is principally responsible for transcriptional activation mediated by nuclear thyroid hormone receptors TRbeta and TRalpha. In contrast, the hormone analogue GC-1 also stimulates transcriptional activation via TRbeta1. In the present study, we have defined the effect of GC-1, compared with T4 and T4-agarose, on angiogenesis in the CAM assay. GC-1 demonstrated a proangiogenic effect similar to that of T4 and T4-agarose. Tetrac inhibited GC-1- and T4-induced angiogenesis, indicating dependence on T4 and GC-1 binding to plasma membranes. The effects of GC-1, T4-agarose, and FGF2 were blocked by PD 98059, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitor. Additionally, the alphavbeta3 integrin antagonist XT199 inhibited angiogenesis induced by T4-agarose, GC-1, or FGF2. Thus, the proangiogenic effects of GC-1 and T4 are initiated at the plasma membrane, require interaction with alphavbeta3 integrin receptor, and are dependent on MAPK activation.

Structure-based design of selective agonists for a rickets-associated mutant of the vitamin d receptor.

The nuclear and steroid hormone receptors function as ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators of diverse sets of genes associated with development and homeostasis. Mutations to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear and steroid hormone receptor family, have been linked to human vitamin D-resistant rickets (hVDRR) and result in high serum 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) concentrations and severe bone underdevelopment. Several hVDRR-associated mutants have been localized to the ligand binding domain of VDR and cause a reduction in or loss of ligand binding and ligand-dependent transactivation function. The missense mutation Arg274 --> Leu causes a >1000-fold reduction in 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) responsiveness and is, therefore, no longer regulated by physiological concentrations of the hormone. In this study, computer-aided molecular design was used to generate a focused library of nonsteroidal analogues of the VDR agonist LG190155 that were uniquely designed to complement the Arg274 --> Leu associated with hVDRR. Half of the designed analogues exhibit substantial activity in the hVDRR-associated mutant, whereas none of the structurally similar control compounds exhibited significant activity. The seven most active designed analogues were more than 16 to 526 times more potent than 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in the mutant receptor (EC(50) = 3.3-121 nM). Significantly, the analogues are selective for the nuclear VDR and did not stimulate cellular calcium influx, which is associated with activation of the membrane-associated vitamin D receptor.