Citations

Most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a single codon deletion (ΔF508) in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that impairs assembly of the multidomain glycoprotein. The mutant protein escapes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control at low temperature, but is rapidly cleared from the distal secretory pathway and degraded in lysosomes. CF cells accumulate free cholesterol similar to Niemann-Pick disease type C cells. We show that this lipid alteration is caused by the presence of misassembled mutant CFTR proteins, including ΔF508, in the distal secretory pathway rather than the absence of functional CFTR. By contrast, cholesterol distribution is not changed by either D572N CFTR, which does not mature even at low temperature, or G551D, which is processed normally but is inactive. On expression of the ΔF508 mutant, cholesterol and glycosphingolipids accumulate in punctate endosomal structures and cholesterol esters are reduced, indicating a block in the translocation of cholesterol to the ER for esterification. This is overcome by Rab9 overexpression, resulting in clearance of accumulating intracellular cholesterol. Similar but less pronounced alterations in intracellular cholesterol distribution are observed on expression of a temperature-rescued mutant variant of the related ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1). Thus, on escape from ER quality control, misassembled mutants of CFTR and MRP1 impair lipid homeostasis in endocytic compartments.

Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the key mediators of gut motility, secretion and sensation. Most 5-HT is localized in the gastrointestinal tract. Particularly important for gut function and regulation are the 5-HT1P, 5-HT3and 5-HT4receptors. These receptors have been the focus of research evaluating the pathophysiologic mechanisms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as targets for the development of novel agents to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Alosetron is one of three 5-HT3antagonists currently available. The other two, ondansetron and granisetron, are primarily used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Alosetron, which slows gut transit, has been approved for the treatment of severe diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) in women. This review will examine the common, yet therapeutically challenging, disorder IBS, as well as the role of alosetron in the treatment of IBS-D.

AbstractPhosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase or LCAT; EC 2.3.1.43) activity was found to be present in pig ovarian follicular fluid (POFF), in addition to pig serum (PS). The cholesterol esterification rate in both POFF and PS is linear with incubation time up to 2 hr. The mean absolute rate of POFF‐cholesterol esterification was 8.1±0.4 nmoles per ml per hr approximately one‐fourth of that in PS. However, the fractional rate (percent of labeled cholesterol esterified per hr) of POFF‐cholesterol esterification was similar to that observed in PS. There was little variation of absolute rate of cholesterol esterification in the fluid obtained from different sizes of follicles. Fatty acid or triacylglycerol did not participate in the reaction of cholesterol esterification in POFF. No appreciable change in enzymatic activity was found from storing POFF at 4 C for periods of time up to 24 hr or at −70 C up to 2 months, but activity was lost thereafter. On the other hand, PS showed a much longer period of stability (5 days at 4 C and 9 months at −70 C). A discrepancy between the fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters formed by the LCAT reaction and the fatty acid composition at the C‐2 position of phosphatidylcholine led us to propose a two‐step mechanism for the LCAT reaction. It is concluded that the LCAT of POFF, as well as that of plasma, is specific for individual fatty acids rather than for the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine. The fatty acid concentration of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased during prolonged incubation times (6 to 21 hr) suggesting that the increased lysophosphatidylcholine formed as a product of the LCAT reaction may be reused as substrate for the LCAT reaction or for hydrolysis by lysophosphatidylcholine hydrolase.

AbstractB-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand superfamily. Although BLyS costimulates adaptive immune cells, the ability of BLyS to stimulate innate immune cells has not been described. Here, we show that BLyS strongly induces human monocyte survival, and activation as measured by proinflammatory cytokine secretion and up-regulation of costimulatory molecule expression. In addition, monocytes cultured with BLyS differentiated into macrophage-like cells. Regarding BLyS receptor(s) expression, freshly isolated monocytes bound low levels of exogenous BLyS and expressed primarily intracellular TACI, and cell surface TACI levels increased following monocyte activation. Of interest, bone marrow monocytes from some multiple myeloma patients expressed significant levels of cell surface TACI at isolation. Our findings indicate that BLyS plays a role in activating innate immune cells. Moreover, this study may explain more clearly why high BLyS production is often correlated with certain inflammatory autoimmune diseases and B-lymphocyte malignancies.

MRP1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) couples ATP binding/hydrolysis at its two non-equivalent NBDs (nucleotide-binding domains) with solute transport. Some of the NBD1 mutants, such as W653C, decreased affinity for ATP at the mutated site, but increased the rate of ATP-dependent solute transport. In contrast, other NBD1 mutants, such as K684L, had decreased ATP binding and rate of solute transport. We now report that mutations of the Walker A lysine residue, K684L and K1333L, significantly alter the tertiary structure of the protein. Due to elimination of the positively charged group and conformational alterations, the K684L mutation greatly decreases the affinity for ATP at the mutated NBD1 and affects ATP binding at the unmutated NBD2. Although K684L-mutated NBD1 can bind ATP at higher concentrations, the bound nucleotide at that site is not efficiently hydrolysed. All these alterations result in decreased ATP-dependent solute transport to approx. 40% of the wild-type. In contrast, the K1333L mutation affects ATP binding and hydrolysis at the mutated NBD2 only, leading to decreased ATP-dependent solute transport to approx. 11% of the wild-type. Consistent with their relative transport activities, the amount of vincristine accumulated in cells is in the order of K1333L≥CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator)>K684L⋙wild-type MRP1. Although these mutants retain partial solute transport activities, the cells expressing them are not multidrug-resistant owing to inefficient export of the anticancer drugs by these mutants. This indicates that even partial inhibition of transport activity of MRP1 can reverse the multidrug resistance caused by this drug transporter.

The Ca(2+)- and calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is inhibited by the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A in the presence of cyclophilin A or B. Of the two isoforms, cyclophilin B is more potent by a factor of 2-5 when either the phosphoprotein [32P]casein or the [32P]phosphoserine [Ser(32P)] form of the 19-residue bovine cardiac cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit peptide RII, [Ser(32P)15]RII, is used as substrate. With [Ser(32P15]RII as substrate, the concentrations of the cyclosporin A.cyclophilin A and cyclosporin A.cyclophilin B complexes, which cause 50% inhibition of calcineurin activity, are 120 and 50 nM, respectively. Lowering the concentration of calcineurin 80% with [32P]casein as substrate lowered the apparent inhibition constant for each complex even further; 50% inhibition of calcineurin was observed at 40 nM for cyclosporin A.cyclophilin A, whereas it was less than 10 nM for cyclosporin A.cyclophilin B. In all inhibition assays with [32P]casein or [Ser(32P)15]RII, the concentration of calcineurin required for measurable phosphatase activity is such that these complexes behave as tight-binding inhibitors of calcineurin, and steady-state kinetics cannot be used to assess inhibition patterns or Ki values. Limited trypsinization of calcineurin produces a fragment that is still inhibited, indicating that the interaction of cyclosporin.cyclophilin with calcineurin does not require either calmodulin or Ca2+.

Abstract Purpose: YKL-40 is a secreted protein that has been reported to be overexpressed in epithelial cancers and gliomas, although its function is unknown. Previous data in a smaller sample set suggested that YKL-40 was a marker associated with a poorer clinical outcome and a genetically defined subgroup of glioblastoma. Here we test these findings in a larger series of patients with glioblastoma, and in particular, determine if tumor YKL-40 expression is associated with radiation response. Experimental Design: Patients (n = 147) with subtotal resections were studied for imaging-assessed changes in tumor size in serial studies following radiation therapy. An additional set (n = 140) of glioblastoma patients who underwent a gross-total resection was tested to validate the survival association and extend them to patients with minimal residual disease. Results: In the subtotal resection group, higher YKL-40 expression was significantly associated with poorer radiation response, shorter time to progression and shorter overall survival. The association of higher YKL-40 expression with poorer survival was validated in the gross-total resection group. In multivariate analysis with both groups combined (n = 287), YKL-40 was an independent predictor of survival after adjusting for patient age, performance status, and extent of resection. YKL-40 expression was also compared with genetically defined subsets of glioblastoma by assessing epidermal growth factor receptor amplification and loss at chromosome 10q, two of the common recurring aberrations in these tumors, using fluorescent in situ hybridization. YKL-40 was significantly associated with 10q loss. Conclusions: The findings implicate YKL-40 as an important marker of therapeutic response and genetic subtype in glioblastomas and suggest that it may play an oncogenic role in these tumors.

Abstract This study demonstrates that verapamil and a newly synthesized verapamil derivative, NMeOHI2, behave as apoptogens in multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1)-expressing cells. When treated with either verapamil or NMeOHI2, surprisingly, baby hamster kidney-21 (BHK) cells transfected with human MRP1 were killed. Because parental BHK cells were not, as well as cells expressing an inactive (K1333L) MRP1 mutant, this indicated that cell death involved functional MRP1 transporter. Cell death was identified as apoptosis by using annexin V-fluorescein labeling and was no longer observed in the presence of the caspase inhibitor Z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-CH2F (Z-VAD-FMK). In vitro, both verapamil and its derivative inhibited leukotriene C4 transport by MRP1-enriched membrane vesicles in a competitive manner, with a Ki of 48.6 μm for verapamil and 5.5 μm for NMeOHI2, and stimulated reduced glutathione (GSH) transport 3-fold and 9-fold, respectively. Treatment of MRP1-expressing cells with either verapamil or the derivative quickly depleted intracellular GSH content with a strong decrease occurring in the first hour of treatment, which preceded cell death beginning at 8–16 h. Furthermore, addition of GSH to the media efficiently prevented cell death. Therefore, verapamil and its derivative trigger apoptosis through stimulation of GSH extrusion mediated by MRP1. This new information on the mechanism of induced apoptosis of MDR cells may represent a novel approach in the selective treatment of MRP1-positive tumors.