Effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on glycerolipid metabolism in cultured myoblasts.

We recently reported that treatment of differentiated chick embryo myoblasts in culture with the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) caused a 2-fold increase in the level of 1,2-diacylglycerol in the plasma membrane fraction within 15-30 min (Grove, R.I. and Schimmel, S.D. (1981) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 102, 158-164). This system has been characterized further and the metabolic origin and fate of the stimulated diacylglycerol have been investigated. The stimulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol was insensitive to alterations of Ca2+ concentration in the medium and to the presence of inhibitors of Ca2+ flux, protein synthesis and prostaglandin synthesis. The fatty acid composition of the newly formed diacylglycerol was similar to that of phosphatidylcholine. In addition, the glycerol moiety of the diacylglycerol was shown to be derived from a lipid with metabolic turnover similar to that of phosphatidylcholine. The tumor promoter was also found to stimulate rapidly synthesis of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. A possible model is proposed, therefore, in which the tumor promoter stimulates a membrane-associated phospholipase C which generates 1,2-diacylglycerol via the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. The newly formed diacylglycerol is then metabolized back to phosphatidylcholine or to phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alters phosphatidylcholine metabolism in elicited peritoneal macrophages.

We investigated the effects of LPS on mouse peritoneal macrophage phospholipids using radiolabeled precursors. LPS (200 ng/ml) stimulated incorporation of [32P] into all classes of phospholipids within 0.5 hr, and after 2 hr the increase was 60% greater than controls. Separation of the phospholipid classes by thin-layer chromatography revealed a selective increase in incorporation of label into phosphatidylcholine (PC) (90% increase compared to approximately 50% in the other phospholipids). In macrophages labeled with [3H]-choline, LPS stimulated both the incorporation of label into PC and the release of incorporated label into the medium. The time dependencies of stimulated [3H] release and [32P] incorporation were similar. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that LPS activates macrophages via a PC-specific phospholipase-dependent mechanism.

Estrogen stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism in mouse uterine tissue.

The effect of estrogens on incorporation of labeled precursor into inositol-containing phospholipids (PI) from ovariectomized mouse uterus was investigated. The results indicate that diethylstilbestrol (DES) a potent mitogen, stimulated incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into uterine PI in 1-3 h, with maximal incorporation occurring at 6 h. This activity followed a dose-dependent increase, with a maximal effect at 5 micrograms/kg. Incorporation of radiolabeled phosphorous into the polyphosphoinositides was also increased in estrogen-stimulated uterine tissue. Studies using a weak uterotropic DES derivative, Z,Z-dienestrol, produced an early stimulation of the PI response comparable to DES. This activity was increased by Z,Z-dienestrol, with minimal estrogen receptor occupancy, and did not result in stimulation of DNA synthesis. These findings would suggest that uterine PI stimulation may not occur via an estrogen receptor-mediated mechanism related to tissue proliferation induced by estrogens.

Inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme decrease early atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic hamsters. Fosinopril reduces plasma cholesterol and captopril inhibits macrophage-foam cell accumulation independently of blood pressure and plasma lipids.

The effect of two angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on the development of atherosclerosis was determined in hyperlipidemic hamsters. Preliminary studies indicated that only fosinopril (50 mg/kg) temporarily decreased mean arterial pressure, while after chronic dosing fosinopril and captopril (50 mg/kg) were ineffective. The same dose of fosinopril and captopril inhibited the angiotensin I pressor response, indicating these agents suppressed ACE activity in vivo. In the 3 week atherosclerosis experiment, all hamsters were fed chow supplemented with 0.05% cholesterol and 10% coconut oil. Control hamsters were compared with those receiving either 50 mg/kg per day of fosinopril or 50 mg/kg per day of captopril. After 3 weeks, fosinopril reduced plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) plus very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and total triglycerides by 17%, 27% and 45%, respectively. Captopril only reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 20%. Neither fosinopril or captopril altered blood pressure at 3 weeks. Atherosclerosis was quantified from en face preparations of the lesion-prone aortic arch that were stained with oil red O (for cholesteryl ester and triglycerides). In control hamsters, oil red O labeled numerous subendothelial macrophage-foam cells located along the inner curvature of the aortic arch. Compared with controls, fosinopril reduced the number of intimal macrophage-foam cells/mm2, foam cell size and the fatty streak area by 85%, 38% and 90%, respectively. Captopril decreased these parameters by 44%, 16% and 53%. Thus captopril decreased early atherosclerosis without affecting plasma LDL cholesterol or blood pressure, which suggested that inhibiting ACE (or kininase II) directly impeded the accumulation and formation of macrophage-foam cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Proton radiation therapy for medium and large choroidal melanoma: preservation of the eye and its functionality.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of proton radiation therapy (PRT) for medium- and large-size choroidal melanoma with focus on preservation of the eye and its function. METHODS: Retrospective review of 78 patients with 60 medium and 18 large-size choroidal melanomas at a median follow-up of 34 months. RESULTS: The 5-year data for local control, metastases-free survival, and disease-specific survival were estimated to be 90.5 +/- 3.7%, 76.2 +/- 6.7%, and 75.6 +/- 7.6%, respectively. Eye preservation was achieved in 75.3% of patients, with useful (better than 20/200) visual acuity (VA) in 49.1% of surviving patients. Both local failure and complications led to enucleation. Prognosticators were tumor close to the optic disc (p = 0.003), large tumors involving the ciliary body (p = 0.041), and local failure (p < 0.001). Prognostic factors for VA following PRT were initial VA (p = 0.001), doses to optic disc (p = 0.001) and fovea (p = 0.022) higher than 35 CGE (Cobalt Gray equivalent), tumor close to the optic disc (p = 0.034), and retinal detachment (p < 0.001). Tumor basis diameter was significantly related to metastases free survival (p = 0.02), overall survival (p = 0.033), and disease specific survival (p = 0.017), but did not impair local tumor control, rate of enucleation, and VA. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that PRT is an effective and safe treatment for medium and large size choroidal melanoma. PRT can preserve the eye and its function in a reasonable percentage of patients. Further evaluation in controlled clinical trials comparing PRT to plaque radiotherapy and enucleation is required.

Binding of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate to cultured myoblasts.

The tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) binds in a rapid (maximal at 30 min), reversible, and non-saturable manner to cultured embryonic chick myoblasts. Serum was not required for binding although it promoted the release of PMA from the cells. This appears to be due to PMA binding to serum proteins. At any concentration tested, approx. 10% of the total PMA was bound at 5 min and 30% was bound at 30 min. It is estimated that a PMA concentration in the cell membrane of only 1 molecule of PMA/5000 molecules of membrane lipid elicits maximal biological responses in these cells.

Proton radiation therapy for chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base.

OBJECT: Local tumor control, patient survival, and treatment failure outcomes were analyzed to assess treatment efficacy in 58 patients in whom fractionated proton radiation therapy (RT) was administered for skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. METHODS: Between March 1992 and January 1998, a total of 58 patients who could be evaluated were treated for skull base tumors, 33 for chordoma and 25 for chondrosarcoma. Following various surgical procedures, residual tumor was detected in 91% of patients; 59% demonstrated brainstem involvement. Target dosages ranged from 64.8 and 79.2 (mean 70.7) Co Gy equivalent. The range of follow up was 7 to 75 months (mean 33 months). In 10 patients (17%) the treatment failed locally, resulting in local control rates of 92% (23 of 25 patients) for chondrosarcomas and 76% (25 of 33 patients) for chordomas. Tumor volume and brainstem involvement influenced control rates. All tumors with volumes of 25 ml or less remained locally controlled, compared with 56% of tumors larger than 25 ml (p = 0.02); 94% of patients without brainstem involvement did not experience recurrence; in patients with brainstem involvement (and dose reduction because of brainstem tolerance constraints) the authors achieved a tumor control rate of 53% (p = 0.04). Three patients died of their disease, and one died of intercurrent disease. Actuarial 5-year survival rates were 100% for patients with chondrosarcoma and 79% for patients with chordoma. Grade 3 and 4 late toxicities were observed in four patients (7%) and were symptomatic in three (5%). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose proton RT offers excellent chances of lasting tumor control and survival, with acceptable risks. In this series all small- and medium-sized tumors with no demonstrable brainstem involvement have been controlled; all such patients are alive. Surgical debulking enhanced delivery of full tumoricidal doses, but even patients with large tumors and disease abutting crucial normal structures benefited.

Effect of Ca++ on triphosphoinositide extraction in fusing myoblasts.

Ca++-dependent degradation of triphosphoinositide has been postulated to regulate levels of membrane-bound Ca++ and to generate a 1,2-diacylglycerol fusogen in cell fusion. Triphosphoinositide metabolism was therefore studied during Ca++-induced fusion of cultured chick embryo myoblasts. Using a frequently cited extraction procedure, it was found that apparent Ca++-dependent triphosphoinositide degradation was actually due to inhibition of extraction. A new procedure using the ion-pairing reagent tetrabutylammonium sulfate was developed which was unaffected by Ca++ and gave 2- to 20-fold greater extraction of triphosphoinositide than existing procedures. With this procedure, no changes in triphosphoinositide metabolism were found during myoblast fusion.

Intracoronary photodynamic therapy reduces neointimal growth without suppressing re-endothelialisation in a porcine model.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of intracoronary PhotoPoint photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a new photosensitiser, MV0611, in the overstretch balloon and stent porcine models of restenosis. METHODS: 28 pigs were injected with 3 mg/kg of MV0611 systemically 4 h before the procedure. Animals were divided into either the balloon overstretch injury (BI) group (n = 19) or the stented group (n = 9). After BI, a centred delivery catheter was positioned in the artery to cover the injured area, and light (532 nm, 125 J/cm(2)) was applied to activate the drug (n = 10). Control arteries (n = 9) were not activated by light. In the stented group, the drug was light activated before stent deployment. Serial sections of vessels were processed 14 days after treatment in the BI group and 30 days after treatment in the stented group for histomorphometric or immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Intracoronary PDT significantly reduced intimal thickness in both BI and stented arteries (about 65%: 0.22 (SEM 0.05) mm v 0.62 (0.05) mm, p < 0.01; and about 26%: 0.40 (0.04) mm v 0.54 (0.04) mm, p < 0.01, respectively). PDT increased luminal area by

Growth and differentiation of embryonic mouse palatal epithelial cells in primary culture.

The study of both normal and abnormal mammalian palatal development would be greatly enhanced by the advent of a cell culture system for the palatal epithelium in the absence of its mesenchyme. We have developed such a method for the primary culture of the secondary palatal epithelium from the embryonic mouse which allows for both epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation into the three cell types normally found in vivo. These include the terminally differentiated medial epithelial cells and the appearance of the nasal epithelial cell phenotype (ciliated pseudostratified), as well as the oral epithelial cell phenotype (stratified squamous). The most successful culture medium tested consisted of a 1:1 mixture of DMEM/F-12 basal medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Epithelial cell attachment, DNA synthesis and differentiation are greatly stimulated by the presence of EGF and by an extracellular matrix (ECM) substratum. Our results have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of culturing embryonic palatal epithelial cells in primary culture in the absence of any mesenchymal tissue.

Influence of epidermal growth factor and cyclic AMP on growth and differentiation of palatal epithelial cells in culture.

A serum-free, hormonally defined medium was developed which supports growth and differentiation in primary culture of epithelial cells from prefusion embryonic mouse palatal shelves. Using this culture system, medial epithelial programmed cell death was investigated. In the absence of EGF, medial epithelial cells undergo cell death and detach from the substratum by 24 hr of culture. The addition of EGF alone or in combination with various agents which increase intracellular cyclic AMP levels prevented medial epithelial cell death in both cell and organ culture. EGF appeared to exert its most dramatic effect in cell culture on growth and differentiation of the squamous oral epithelial cells. In addition, EGF and agents such as 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or cholera toxin synergistically stimulated the appearance of a long-lived, rapidly proliferating cell type by Day 4 of culture. Our results suggest that both EGF and cyclic AMP together may be important in regulating proliferation of embryonic palatal epithelial cells.

Induction of Egr-1 by oncostatin M precedes up-regulation of low density lipoprotein receptors in HepG2 cells.

Oncostatin M (OM), a 28 kilodalton glycoprotein cytokine, is structurally and functionally related to interleukin 6 and leukemia-inhibitory factor. We reported previously that OM strongly up-regulated low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in human liver cells by a tyrosine kinase-mediated mechanism. Now, we demonstrate that the transcription factor Egr-1 is induced by OM. The induction of Egr-1 was time and concentration dependent; maximal inductions of 10-fold occurred by 30 min at concentrations of 10-25 ng/ml and higher. This concentration dependency was identical to those for OM-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and LDL receptor up-regulation. The Egr-1, tyrosine kinase, and LDL receptor responses were inhibited at similar concentrations of genistein, suggesting that induction of Egr-1 and up-regulation of LDL receptors depended on activation of tyrosine kinase by OM. In contrast, depletion of protein kinase C by preincubation with 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13 alpha-acetate did not affect OM-mediated induction of Egr-1 or up-regulation of LDL receptors, indicating that protein kinase C is not required for the OM action. Other similar cytokines were investigated, and, of these, only interleukin 1 could increase both Egr-1 and LDL receptor activity. The correlation among tyrosine kinase phosphorylation, Egr-1 induction, and LDL receptor regulation suggests that Egr-1 may be a nuclear signal transducer utilized by OM to induce transcription of the LDL receptor gene. In support of this possibility is the discovery of an Egr-1 consensus sequence (GAGGGGGCG) at approximately 330 base pairs upstream from the transcription initiation site of the LDL receptor promoter region.

Efficacy of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb 60.3) in reducing myocardial injury resulting from ischemia/reperfusion in the ferret.

The myocardial salvage efficacy of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb 60.3) directed at the CDw 18 membrane antigen complex essential for normal neutrophil function was evaluated in a ferret occlusion/reperfusion model. When infused i.v. over a 10-min interval beginning at the 45th minute of a 90-min occlusion at a fixed dose of 2 mg/kg, the antibody afforded 33 and 45% reductions in infarct size following reperfusion intervals of 6 and 24 h, respectively. Administration of that same dose via the left atrium over 1 h beginning at the 75th minute of occlusion and continuing until the 45th minute of reflow resulted in only a 14% reduction in infarct size. If MoAb 60.3 administration was withheld until the 5th-15th minute of reperfusion, the mean levels of salvage were 19 and 8%, respectively, following 6- and 24-h periods of reflow. Time-course hemodynamic data indicated that the monoclonal antibody caused no alterations in oxygen utilization that might be responsible for the levels of salvage observed.

Prescreening for environmental teratogens using cultured mesenchymal cells from the human embryonic palate.

Mesenchymal cells from the prefusion human embryonic palate have been established in culture and can be grown in either a serum-free hormone-supplemented medium or a serum-containing medium. The growth of these cells is quite rapid in culture and inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by most teratogens thus far tested, such as dexamethasone. These cells are highly sensitive to a variety of DNA synthetic and mitotic inhibitors. The responses of these cells are complementary to the ovarian tumor cell attachment assay of Braun et al [1, and in this volume]. When used in conjunction with the tumor cells, the overall reliability is greater than 90% with only one false-negative, allopurinol.

Studies on phosphatidylinositol metabolism and dexamethasone inhibition of proliferation of human palatal mesenchyme cells.

The relationship between dexamethasone (DEX)-induced phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and inhibition of cell proliferation was investigated in human embryonic palatal mesenchyme (HEPM) cells in culture. Evidence based on studies with the partial glucocorticoid agonist cortexolone suggests both the PI response and the inhibition of proliferation are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. The role of PI turnover in the mechanism of DEX-inhibited HEPM cell proliferation was investigated using two agents that stimulated PI turnover (serum and platelet-derived growth factor) and one that did not stimulate PI turnover (epidermal growth factor). DEX partially inhibited both serum-induced and platelet-derived growth factor-induced proliferation of HEPM but not epidermal growth factor-induced proliferation. These results suggest that DEX-induced alteration of PI metabolism may be involved in the mechanism by which DEX inhibits proliferation of cultured HEPM cells and results in cleft palate formation in rodents.

Oncostatin M activates low density lipoprotein receptor gene transcription in sterol-repressed liver cells.

Oncostatin M (OM), a cytokine produced by macrophages and activated T cells, has been shown to be a potent inducer of liver low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) activity by increasing LDL uptake and cell surface LDLR number in HepG2 cells. To investigate whether OM regulates the transcription of the LDLR gene and if the effect is independent of the sterol pathway, we examined the effects of OM on the promoter activity of the LDLR gene and the expression of LDLR mRNA. HepG2 cells were transfected with hybrid genes containing three different lengths of DNA fragments from the 5' flanking region of the LDLR gene that were fused to the coding region of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. OM induced an approximately 3-fold increase in CAT activities in pLDLR-CAT vector-transfected cells that were incubated in lipoprotein-depleted medium and a 6-fold increase in CAT activities when the transfected cells were treated with sterols. OM stimulated similar increases in CAT activities in HepG2 cells transfected with pLDLR-CAT 234, pLDLR-CAT 1563, and pLDLR-CAT 6500, suggesting that the essential cis-acting element that mediates the OM effect is located within the 177 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site of the LDLR gene. Examination of the regulation of the endogenous LDLR mRNA expression by OM gave results similar to those in transfected cells. OM increased the levels of mRNA of LDLR, regardless of the presence or absence of lipoprotein and sterols. These data suggest that the up-regulation of the LDLR by OM is at the transcriptional level through a nonsterol mediated mechanism.

Inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism is not involved in dexamethasone-induced growth inhibition in embryonic palatal development.

Previous studies have shown that glucocorticoids induce cleft palate in susceptible strains of mice and inhibit proliferation of palatal mesenchyme cells in vivo and in culture. The present study shows that the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), inhibits serum-stimulated arachidonic acid release in cultured mouse palatal mesenchyme cells. Arachidonic acid could neither prevent the DEX effect on cell proliferation when added in culture nor prevent glucocorticoid-induced cleft palate when administered in vivo. Furthermore, the time course for DEX-induced inhibition of arachidonic acid release (maximal by 5h) is markedly different from the time courses for both inhibition of cell proliferation in culture and cleft palate induction in vivo (3 to 4 days). These results suggest that both DEX-induced cleft palate formation and inhibition of palatal cell proliferation arise from some mechanism other than a DEX-induced inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism.

Dexamethasone affects phosphatidylinositol synthesis and degradation in cultured human embryonic cells.

Dexamethasone (DEX), a glucocorticoid which induces cleft palate, causes marked alterations in the synthesis and degradation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) but not phosphatidylcholine in an established fibroblastic cell line derived from a human embryonic palate. Incorporation of radiolabeled inositol into phosphatidylinositol as well as degradation of prelabeled phosphatidylinositol is stimulated by DEX. The dose-response curves for the DEX-induced effect on PI synthesis and DEX-induced inhibition of cell proliferation are nearly identical, with the maximal responses occurring at 10(-8)M DEX. Our results suggest that DEX-induced inhibition of human embryonic palatal mesenchyme cell proliferation and alterations in synthesis and degradation of phosphatidylinositol are related.