Eric Holle

Cardiac-specific overexpression of AT1 receptor mutant lacking Gαq/Gαi coupling causes hypertrophy and bradycardia in transgenic mice

Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptors activate both conventional heterotrimeric G protein-dependent and unconventional G protein-independent mechanisms. We investigated how these different mechanisms activated by AT1 receptors affect growth and death of cardiac myocytes in vivo. Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of WT AT1 receptor (AT1-WT; Tg-WT mice) or an AT1 receptor second intracellular loop mutant (AT1-i2m; Tg-i2m mice) selectively activating G(alpha)q/G(alpha)i-independent mechanisms were studied. Tg-i2m mice developed more severe cardiac hypertrophy and bradycardia coupled with lower cardiac function than Tg-WT mice. In contrast, Tg-WT mice exhibited more severe fibrosis and apoptosis than Tg-i2m mice. Chronic Ang II infusion induced greater cardiac hypertrophy in Tg-i2m compared with Tg-WT mice whereas acute Ang II administration caused an increase in heart rate in Tg-WT but not in Tg-i2m mice. Membrane translocation of PKCepsilon, cytoplasmic translocation of G(alpha)q, and nuclear localization of phospho-ERKs were observed only in Tg-WT mice while activation of Src and cytoplasmic accumulation of phospho-ERKs were greater in Tg-i2m mice, consistent with the notion that G(alpha)q/G(alpha)i-independent mechanisms are activated in Tg-i2m mice. Cultured myocytes expressing AT1-i2m exhibited a left and upward shift of the Ang II dose-response curve of hypertrophy compared with those expressing AT1-WT. Thus, the AT1 receptor mediates downstream signaling mechanisms through G(alpha)q/G(alpha)i-dependent and -independent mechanisms, which induce hypertrophy with a distinct phenotype.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3α Reduces Cardiac Growth and Pressure Overload-induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Inhibition of Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinases

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine kinase having multiple functions and consisting of two isoforms, GSK-3α and GSK-3β. Pressure overload increases expression of GSK-3α but not GSK-3β. Despite our wealth of knowledge about GSK-3β, the function of GSK-3α in the heart is not well understood. To address this issue, we made cardiac-specific GSK-3α transgenic mice (Tg). Left ventricular weight and cardiac myocyte size were significantly smaller in Tg than in non-Tg (NTg) mice, indicating that GSK-3α inhibits cardiac growth. After 4 weeks of aortic banding (transverse aortic constriction (TAC)), increases in left ventricular weight and myocyte size were significantly smaller in Tg than in NTg, indicating that GSK-3α inhibits cardiac hypertrophy. More severe cardiac dysfunction developed in Tg after TAC. Increases in fibrosis and apoptosis were greater in Tg than in NTg after TAC. Among signaling molecules screened, ERK phosphorylation was decreased in Tg. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of GSK-3α, but not GSK-3β, inhibited ERK in cultured cardiac myocytes. Knockdown of GSK-3α increased ERK phosphorylation, an effect that was inhibited by PD98059, rottlerin, and protein kinase Cϵ (PKCϵ) inhibitor peptide, suggesting that GSK-3α inhibits ERK through PKC-MEK-dependent mechanisms. Knockdown of GSK-3α increased protein content and reduced apoptosis, effects that were abolished by PD98059, indicating that inhibition of ERK plays a major role in the modulation of cardiac growth and apoptosis by GSK-3α. In conclusion, up-regulation of GSK-3α inhibits cardiac growth and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy but increases fibrosis and apoptosis in the heart. The anti-hypertrophic and pro-apoptotic effect of GSK-3α is mediated through inhibition of ERK.

In vivo targeted killing of prostate tumor cells by a synthetic amoebapore helix 3 peptide modified with two γ-linked glutamate residues at the COOH terminus

We previously designed a pro-cytolytic peptide to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive prostate tumor cells. The backbone of the peptide was derived from the cell lytic amoebapore H-3 domain, which becomes completely inactive upon modification by two glutamate residues linked to the ε-amide group of the COOH-terminal lysine through γ-linkages (H-3Glu2). This modified H-3 domain regains its lytic activity against PSMA-positive cells (LNCaP) after the γ-linked glutamate residues are cleaved by PSMA. Our previous in vitro results demonstrate that the modified amoebapore peptide has strong cytolytic activity towards PSMA-positive cells and very little activity towards PSMA-negative cells. In the present study, the in vivo efficacy of this modified peptide was examined in human LNCaP prostate tumor xenografts in nude mice. The results showed significantly decreased tumor size and PSA levels in treated mice as compared to control mice. As well, 5/12 of the treated mice were tumor-free. Peptide distribution studies showed that peptide levels in the prostate tumors maintained a steady concentration for approximately 6 hours. Single-dose toxicity studies showed no toxic effects of the peptide when administered intraperitoneally or intravenously at a dose of 30 mg/kg.

Immunological tolerance and tumor rejection in embryo-aggregated chimeric mice – Lessons for tumor immunity

BackgroundRejection of transplanted tumors by the immune system is a rare event in syngeneic hosts, and is considered to be dependent on the local interaction of defensive immune reactions and tumor tolerance mechanisms. Here, we have enlisted the aid of a unique set of embryo-aggregated lineage chimeric mice derived from C57/BL6 and FVB donors to study the interplay between local and systemic tumor immunity and tolerance in rejection of mouse B16 melanoma cells, syngeneic to the C57/BL6 donor strain.MethodsTwo variants of embryo-aggregated chimeric mice with either variable or no contribution of C57-derived cells to their skin were generated by the fusion of different ratios of morula stage blastomers. Chimeric mice were analyzed for s.c. growth of B16 tumors in comparison to their respective donor strains as well as normal F1 hybrids, and the relative frequencies of cellular components of the immune system by FACS analysis of peripheral blood or lymph node cells.ResultsB16 tumors grew significantly faster in mice with full chimerism in their skin as compared to syngeneic C57 or semi-syngeneic C57 × FVB F1 hosts. In contrast, s.c. tumor growth was either absent or significantly reduced in chimeric mice lacking C57-derived cells in their skin, but tolerant to C57 tissue in other organs. Comparison of the relative frequencies of various immune cells in the periphery via FACS-analysis did not reveal any significant differences between the two types of chimeric mice with respect to their donor strains.ConclusionOur data suggest a complex interplay between mechanisms of local peripheral tolerance and innate antitumor mechanisms possibly involving NK cell allorecognition as a basis for the differential growth or rejection of B16 tumors in these unique chimeric mice, which we suggest to constitute a valuable new model system for the study of immune-mediated tumor rejection.