Jimmy Chow

TGF-β mediates PTEN suppression and cell motility through calcium-dependent PKC-α activation in pancreatic cancer cells

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) suppresses growth via the TGF-beta-SMAD pathway but promotes growth in cancer cells with disrupted SMAD signaling and corresponds to an invasive phenotype. TGF-beta also downregulates the tumor suppressor PTEN that is rarely mutated in sporadic pancreatic cancer; this downregulation may mediate cell proliferation and invasiveness, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we examined whether TGF-beta modulation of PTEN was mediated by protein kinase C (PKC). We have previously demonstrated that SMAD4-null BxPc-3 pancreatic cancer cells treated with TGF-beta1 (10 ng/ml) suppressed PTEN expression and increased cell proliferation. TGF-beta-treated cells were examined for PKC activation and its coupling to PTEN expression, utilizing pharmacological and knockdown methods. Calcium mobilization and cell migration were also examined. In BxPc-3 cells, only two PKC isoforms were activated by TGF-beta, and PTEN downregulation by TGF-beta was specifically mediated by PKC-alpha. In parallel, TGF-beta rapidly induced an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium from intracellular stores, consistent with subsequent PKC-alpha activation. The TGF-beta-induced increase in cell migration was blocked by knockdown of PKC-alpha. Thus calcium-dependent PKC-alpha mediates TGF-beta-induced transcriptional downregulation of PTEN, and this pathway promotes cell migration in a SMAD4-null environment. The TGF-beta-PKC-alpha-PTEN cascade may be a key pathway for pancreatic cancer cells to proliferate and metastasize.

Calcium sensing receptor modulates extracellular Ca2+ entry via TRPC-encoded receptor-operated channels in human aortic smooth muscle cells

Ca-sensing receptor (CaSR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, regulates the synthesis of parathyroid hormone in response to changes in serum Ca(2+) concentrations. The functions of CaSR in human vascular smooth muscle cells are largely unknown. Here we sought to study CaSR activation and the underlying molecular mechanisms in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC). Extracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](o)) dose-dependently increased free cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) in HASMC, with a half-maximal response (EC(50)) of 0.52 mM and a Hill coefficient of 5.50. CaSR was expressed in HASMC, and the [Ca(2+)](o)-induced [Ca(2+)](cyt) rise was abolished by dominant negative mutants of CaSR. The CaSR-mediated increase in [Ca(2+)](cyt) was also significantly inhibited by pertussis toxin, the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122, or the general protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine, but not by the conventional PKC inhibitor, Gö6976. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by pretreatment with methyl-β-cyclodextrin markedly decreased CaSR-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](cyt). Blockade of TRPC channels with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, SKF-96365, or La(3) significantly inhibited [Ca(2+)](o) entry, whereas activation of TRPC6 channels with flufenamic acid potentiated [Ca(2+)](o) entry. Neither cyclopiazonic acid nor caffeine or ionomycin had any effect on [Ca(2+)](cyt) in [Ca(2+)](o)-free solutions. TRPC6 and PKCε mRNA and proteins were detected in HASMC, and [Ca(2+)](o) induced PKCε phosphorylation, which could be prevented by chelerythrine. Our data suggest that CaSR activation mediates [Ca(2+)](o) entry, likely through TRPC6-encoded receptor-operated channels that are regulated by a PLC/PKCε cascade. Our study therefore provides evidence not only for functional expression of CaSR, but also for a novel pathway whereby it regulates [Ca(2+)](o) entry in HASMC.

AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL FOR STUDYING PASSIVE CIGARETTE SMOKING EFFECTS ON GASTRIC ULCERATION

Cigarette smoking is associated with gastric mucosal damage in humans. For this study, a smoke chamber was designed to investigate the effects of passive smoking on gastric ulceration. Different concentrations of cigarette smoke (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) were perfused into a chamber for one hr in which conscious rats were placed. This one-hr smoke exposure potentiated ethanol (70%, v/v, p.o.)-induced gastric mucosal damage and increased serum nicotine levels; however, it did not affect the blood pH, pCO2, pO2, and HCO3 concentrations, or the systemic blood pressure and heart rate. Under these experimental conditions, exposure to cigarette smoke produced no significant changes in the blood acid/base balance and stress in the animals but significantly potentiated ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. The present experimental model is suitable for studying the adverse interactions between passive smoking and alcohol drinking in gastric ulcer formation in rats.

INVOLVEMENT OF FREE RADICALS AND HISTAMINE IN THE POTENTIATING ACTION OF CIGARETTE SMOKE EXPOSURE ON ETHANOL-INDUCED GASTRIC MUCOSAL DAMAGE IN RATS

Cigarette smoking has been associated with peptic ulcer diseases. We studied the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage and its relationship with vascular integrity and the possible role of free radicals and histamine. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to cigarette smoke followed by ethanol administration (70% v/v). Smoke exposure alone dose-dependently reduced basal blood flow and increased xanthine oxidase (XO) activity but superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity remained unaffected in gastric mucosa. Cigarette smoking followed by ethanol administration significantly potentiated mucosal lesion formation along with augmentation of the mucosal blood flow, vascular permeability and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The potentiating effect of smoking on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion and MPO activity was abolished by pretreatment with allopurinol, terfenadine or ranitidine. Terfenadine and ranitidine also reduced the increased mucosal blood flow and vascular permeability induced by smoking and ethanol combined. These findings suggested that cigarette smoke adversely affected the defense mechanisms of the gastric mucosa by reducing the mucosal blood flow which in turn led to ischemia and increased XO activity. Activation of XO together with histamine H1 and H2 receptors stimulation could lead to neutrophil aggregation and vascular damage. However, the potentiating action of cigarette smoke on ethanol ulceration is unlikely through reduction of SOD activity in gastric mucosa.

Cigarette smoke increases apoptosis in the gastric mucosa: role of epidermal growth factor.

Background/Aims: Apoptosis is a common mechanism for the regulation of cell loss. It is associated with both tissue atrophy and metaplasia. Cigarette smoking has tremendous adverse effects on the stomach and also increases the risk of gastric cancer. This action may be through the change in apoptosis in the stomach. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cigarette smoking on apoptosis in the gastric mucosa and the possible role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in this action. Methods: Gastric blood flow was assessed by the laser Doppler technique. Serum and gastric mucosal EGF levels were measured by RIA. Gastric mucosal apoptosis was determined using TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results: Cigarette smoke exposure decreased serum EGF which was accompanied by a reduction in gastric blood flow. Meanwhile, gastric mucosal cell apoptosis was increased. Administration of EGF (20 μg/kg i.v.) before each cigarette smoke exposure reversed these actions. Removal of salivary glands induced similar effects on the gastric blood flow, apoptosis, and serum EGF level as with cigarette smoke exposure. Conclusion: A reduction in serum EGF was involved in the decrease in gastric blood flow and increase in gastric mucosal apoptosis caused by cigarette smoking.

Effect of cigarette smoke on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions: the role of nitric oxide and neutrophils.

The roles of neutrophil aggregation, inducible nitric oxide synthase activation and chemoattractant, leukotriene B4, in potentiation of the cigarette smoke effect on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage were studied. Smoke exposure markedly increased gastric lesion formation following ethanol administration and this was accompanied by substantial increase in gastric mucosal leukotriene B4 concentration, myeloperoxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase activities. Antineutrophil serum or aminoguanidine pretreatment significantly attenuated both gastric mucosal lesion formation and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity. The increased myeloperoxidase activity was abolished by antineutrophil serum but not by aminoguanidine. These data indicated that both neutrophil mobilization and inducible nitric oxide synthase activation in the gastric mucosa play an important role in the potentiating action of cigarette smoke on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion formation. Increased synthesis of nitric oxide from inducible nitric oxide synthase during gastric damage may be secondary to neutrophil infiltration in the gastric mucosa. Chemoattractant leukotriene B4 could also contribute to neutrophil recruitment in the tissue.

Role of capsaicin sensory nerves and EGF in the healing of gastric ulcer in rats.

Accumulating evidence indicates that capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers play a pivotal role not only in gastroprotection but also in ulcer healing. Denervation of capsaicin sensitive afferent fibers exerts an adverse action on these effects. However, whether such an action is mediated through a depression on epidermal growth factor (EGF) is undefined. In this study, the effects of denervation of sensory neurons with capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.) on acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers and their relationship with the EGF expression in salivary glands, serum and gastric mucosa were investigated. Capsaicin significantly increased ulcer size, decreased gastric mucosal cell proliferation at the ulcer margin, angiogenesis in the granulation tissue and also gastric mucus content. Ulcer induction by itself dramatically elevated EGF levels in salivary glands and serum on day 1 and 4, and also in the gastric mucosa on day 4. However, capsaicin completely abolished these effects. It is concluded that stimulation of EGF expression in salivary glands and serum may be one of the mechanisms by which capsaicin sensitive nerves contribute to the gastroprotective and ulcer healing actions in the stomach.

Mechanistic study of adverse actions of cigarette smoke exposure on acetic acid-induced gastric ulceration in rats.

Cigarette smoking is associated with peptic ulceration in humans. A mechanistic study of the potentiating effects of cigarette smoking on acetic acid-induced gastric ulceration in rats was hence performed. Rats were exposed to 0, 2 or 4% of cigarette smoke for three 1-hr periods during the 24 hr starvation before ulcer induction. Cigarette smoke exposure potentiated ulcer formation which was accompanied by a reduction of gastric blood flow at the ulcer base and ulcer margin. Further studies showed that cigarette smoke exposure alone did not cause any macroscopic injury in the stomach but significantly decreased the basal gastric blood flow in a concentration-dependent manner, which was coupled with an increase in mucosal xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. Pretreatment with allopurinol (Allo, 5 mg/kg, i.v.), a XO inhibitor, partially prevented the potentiating effect of cigarette smoke exposure on ulcer formation and also significantly improved the gastric blood flow. Ulcer induction itself dramatically increased constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) activity and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level in the gastric mucosa. However, the increment of cNOS activity but not PGE2 level was markedly attenuated by cigarette smoke exposure. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 25 or 50 microg/kg, i.v.), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, completely abolished the potentiating effect of cigarette smoke exposure on ulcer formation and also reversed the adverse effect on gastric blood flow. Thus, XO activation and cNOS reduction in the gastric mucosa are closely associated with the potentiating action of cigarette smoke exposure on ulcer formation in rats.

CIGARETTE SMOKE AND ITS EXTRACT DELAYS ULCER HEALING AND REDUCES NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE ACTIVITY AND ANGIOGENESIS IN RAT STOMACH

1. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether cigarette smoke and its extract could affect ulcer healing, angiogenesis and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the gastric mucosa.

The Correlation of the Weakening Effect on Gastric Mucosal Integrity by 5-HT With Neutrophil Activation

The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage and on epithelial and vascular integrity were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with 5-HT (5 or 10 mg/kg, IP) 30 min prior to the challenge with ethanol (40% v/v, 10 ml/kg, PO). 5-HT dose dependently aggravated ethanol-induced injury in the gastric mucosa. Both xanthine oxidase (XO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities in the mucosa were significantly increased with the high dose of 5-HT, which also potentiated the elevation of these enzyme activities by ethanol. However, the mucosal superoxide dismutase activity was left unaltered. In neutropenic (antineutrophil serum-treated) animals, the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury was significantly ameliorated, with or without the pretreatment of 5-HT (10 mg/kg). In addition, the effect of 5-HT on the activity of MPO, but not of XO, was also attenuated in these animals. In the ex vivo gastric chamber study on pentobarbital-anesthetized animals, volume of gastric secretion was significantly decreased in the 5-HT-treated groups, with further reduction after ethanol incubation. Transmucosal potential difference (PD) was significantly reduced in 5-HT-treated rats, which also potentiated the ethanol-induced drop in PD. Nevertheless, 5-HT dose dependently increased mucosal vascular permeability and further enhanced during ethanol incubation. These findings suggest that 5-HT adversely affects the defense mechanisms of the gastric mucosa by reducing the secretory function of the mucosal cells and to weaken the epithelial and vascular integrity. Neutrophil activation appears to be responsible for the detrimental effects of 5-HT partly through the elevation in MPO activity. The increase in mucosal XO activity by 5-HT may induce free radical production and possibly modulate the ulcerogenic processes.