Germano Baj

p130Cas interacts with estrogen receptor alpha and modulates non-genomic estrogen signaling in breast cancer cells.

Steroid hormones bind to their receptors and trans-activate target genes. Rapid non-genomic action of steroid hormones has been proposed in addition to the one at the genomic level. Estrogen has been described to activate c-Src kinase and this activation has been shown to be responsible for estrogen-dependent mitogenicity. A major substrate of c-Src kinase activity is the cytoskeletal protein p130Cas, originally identified in v-Src-transformed cells. We show that in the human breast carcinoma T47D cells, upon estrogen treatment, p130Cas rapidly and transiently associates with the estrogen receptor α in a multi-molecular complex containing the c-Src kinase and the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase. Association of p130Cas with the estrogen receptor α occurs within 3 minutes of estrogen treatment and is dependent on c-Src kinase activation. Transient overexpression of p130Cas in T47D cells increases estrogen-dependent Src kinase and Erk1/2 MAPKs activities and accelerates their kinetics of stimulation. A similar effect was detected on estrogen-dependent cyclin D1 expression, suggesting a role for p130Cas in regulating estrogen-dependent cell cycle progression. Double-stranded small RNA interference (siRNA) by silencing endogenous p130Cas protein, was sufficient to inhibit estrogen-dependent Erk1/2 MAPKs activity and cyclin D1 induction, demonstrating the requirement of p130Cas in such events. Therefore, our data show that the adaptor protein p130Cas associates with the estrogen receptor transducing complex, regulating estrogen-dependent activation of c-Src kinase and downstream signaling pathways.

Evidence of an immunologic mechanism behind the therapeutical effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on myeloma cells

Exposure of RPMI 8226, Karpas 707 and U266 human myeloma-like lines to low doses of As(2)O(3) was followed by a marked increase in lymphokine activated killers (LAK)-mediated killing and up- modulation of CD38 and CD54, two molecules involved in cell-cell interactions. Moreover, simultaneous exposure of effectors and targets to As(2)O(3) yielded the most effective condition for lysis. The expression of CD31 (CD38 ligand) and CD11a (CD54 ligand) was also up-regulated by LAK, suggesting that increased adhesion was responsible for the improved killing. Similar results were obtained using freshly isolated myeloma cells. These findings indicate that As(2)O(3) may be useful to boost the immune system against myelomas.

Arsenic Trioxide and Breast Cancer: Analysis of the Apoptotic, Differentiative and Immunomodulatory Effects

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is used clinically to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia and has activity in vitro against several solid tumour cell lines, where induction of differentiation and apoptosis are the prime effects. To investigate the potential therapeutic application of As2O3 to breast cancer, we analysed the effects of As2O3 on the growth of four human breast cancer cell lines: MCF7, MDA-MB-231, T-47D and BT-20. Cells were cultured in 0.5, 2 and 5 μM As2O3, a range of pharmacologically achievable concentrations of As2O3. At ≥2 μM, As2O3 rapidly induced cell death by apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 while T-47D and BT-20 were partially resistant. At 0.5 μM, As2O3 was subapoptotic but induced features of differentiation consisting in upregulation of ICAM-1 (CD54), a marker of mammary epithelial differentiation, and cell cultures appeared morphologically more orga-nized. Furthermore, we demonstrate by standard cytotoxicity assays that As2O3 treatment can augment breast cancer cell lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells and demonstrate an important role of the ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction in this process. This additional activity of As2O3 could translate into improved antitumour immunosurveillance in vivo. In conclusion, As2O3 induced varying degrees of differentiation, apoptosis and lysis in these model cell lines, and may be a promising adjuvant to current treatments of breast cancer by virtue of its triple apoptotic, differentiative and immunomodulatory effects.

Human CD38 and its ligand CD31 define a unique lamina propria T lymphocyte signaling pathway

CD38, a nonlineage‐restricted surface glycoprotein, is an ecto‐enzyme (ADP ribosyl cyclase/cADPR hydrolase/EC 3.2.2.6) that regulates cytoplasmic Ca2+ and cell–cell interactions. The molecule also delivers trans‐membrane signals, despite a structural ineptitude to the scope. To reconcile these issues in a unitarian model, we compared the effects of CD38 signaling in circulating and residential T lymphocytes, the latter represented by those colonizing the intestinal lamina propria. Results are as follows: 1) LP T cells express an enzymatically active form of CD38, characterized by a modified ratio between cyclase and hydrolase functions; 2) LP T cells do not mobilize Ca2+ upon CD38 ligation, as seen in PB T cells (this condition is due to a lack in activation of PLC‐γ, constantly observed in PB T lymphocytes); 3) The early steps of CD38 signaling involve activation of lck, syk, and LAT; 4) Late events include synthesis and release of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, IFN‐γ and GM‐CSF; 5) The uniqueness of the CD38 pathway in LP T cells is not caused by impaired interactions with the CD31 ligand. The differences observed concern the signaling machinery that CD38 exploits for its own use and not the interplay with its ligand.

Synthesis of Modified Ingenol Esters

Synthetic protocols for the manipulation of the polyhydroxylated southern region of ingenol (1a) were developed, and a series of isosteres of the anticancer compound ingenol 3,20-dibenzoate (1b) was prepared. The biological evaluation of these compounds showed that cytotoxicity was relatively tolerant to changes at C-20, while PKC activation was markedly affected by these modifications. These data suggest that chemical manipulation can effectively dissect cytotoxicity and tumour-promoting activity (or potential) of ingenoids, affording more optimal candidates for development, like 20-deoxy-20-fluoroingenol 3,20-dibenzoate (5b). In mild acidic medium, an unexpected vinylogous retro-pinacol rearrangement of ingenol to a tigliane derivative was observed.