Keiko Kawamoto

Purified Group X Secretory Phospholipase A2 Induced Prominent Release of Arachidonic Acid from Human Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Group X secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-X) possesses several structural features characteristic of both group IB and IIA sPLA2s (sPLA2-IB and -IIA) and is postulated to be involved in inflammatory responses owing to its restricted expression in the spleen and thymus. Here, we report the purification of human recombinant COOH-terminal His-tagged sPLA2-X, the preparation of its antibody, and the purification of native sPLA2-X. The affinity-purified sPLA2-X protein migrated as various molecular species of 13–18 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, andN-glycosidase F treatment caused shifts to the 13- and 14-kDa bands. NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing analysis revealed that the 13-kDa form is a putative mature sPLA2-X and the 14-kDa protein possesses a propeptide of 11 amino acid residues attached at the NH2 termini of the mature protein. Separation with reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed that N-linked carbohydrates are not required for the enzymatic activity and pro-sPLA2-X has a relatively weak potency compared with the mature protein. The mature sPLA2-X induced the release of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine more efficiently than other human sPLA2groups (IB, IIA, IID, and V) and elicited a prompt and marked release of arachidonic acid from human monocytic THP-1 cells compared with sPLA2-IB and -IIA with concomitant production of prostaglandin E2. A prominent release of arachidonic acid was also observed in sPLA2-X-treated human U937 and HL60 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of human lung preparations revealed its expression in alveolar epithelial cells. These results indicate that human sPLA2-X is a unique N-glycosylated sPLA2 that releases arachidonic acid from human myeloid leukemia cells more efficiently than sPLA2-IB and -IIA.

Cloning and Characterization of Novel Mouse and Human Secretory Phospholipase A2s

Mammalian secretory phospholipase A2s (sPLA2s) are classified into several groups according to molecular structure and the localization of intramolecular disulfide bridges. Among them, group IIA sPLA2 has been thought to be one of the key enzymes in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases owing to its augmented expression under various inflammatory conditions. However, in a number of inbred mouse strains, the group IIA sPLA2 gene is naturally disrupted by a frameshift mutation. Here, we report the cloning of a cDNA encoding a novel sPLA2 expressed in the spleen of group IIA sPLA2-deficient mouse. We also cloned its human homolog and mapped its gene location on chromosome 1p36.12 near the loci of group IIA and V sPLA2 genes. The human mature sPLA2 protein consists of 125 amino acids (M r = 14,500) preceded by a 20-residue prepeptide and is most similar to group IIA sPLA2 with respect to the number and positions of cysteine residues as well as overall identity (48%). Based on these structural properties, the novel sPLA2 should be categorized into group II, called group IID to follow the already identified IIA to IIC sPLA2s. When the cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells, PLA2 activity preferentially accumulated in the culture medium. It is maximally active at neutral to alkaline pH and with 2 mm Ca2+. In assays with individual substrates,l-α-1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine was more efficiently hydrolyzed than the other phospholipids examined. An RNA blot hybridized with the cDNA exhibited two transcripts (2.0 and 1.0 kb) in human spleen, thymus, and colon. The expression of a novel sPLA2 mRNA was elevated in the thymus after treatment with endotoxin in rats as well as in group IIA sPLA2-deficient mice, suggesting its functional role in the progression of the inflammatory process.

Prevention of growth arrest-induced cell death of vascular smooth muscle cells by a product of growth arrest-specific gene, gas6

We have purified Gas6 as a growth‐potentiating factor for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) [Nakano, T. et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 5702‐57051. However, specific production of Gas6 in growth‐arrested cells raises an intriguing question as to the physiological function of Gas6. In this study, we found that serum‐starved VSMCs secreted some survival factors and depletion of the factors induced cell death of VSMCs. Finally, we demonstrated that cell death was prevented by the addition of Gas6, suggesting that one of the major biological activity of Gas6 is protection of growth‐arrested VSMCs from death.

Design, synthesis, and binding mode prediction of 2-pyridone-based selective CB2 receptor agonists.

Selective CB2 agonists have the potential for treating pain without central CB1-mediated adverse effects. Screening efforts identified 1,2-dihydro-3-isoquinolone 1; however, this compound has the drawbacks of being difficult to synthesize with two asymmetric carbons on an isoquinolone scaffold and of having a highly lipophilic physicochemical property. To address these two major problems, we designed the 2-pyridone-based lead 15a, which showed moderate affinity for CB2. Optimization of 15a led to identification of 39f with high affinity for CB2 and selectivity over CB1. Prediction of the binding mode of 39f in complex with an active-state CB2 homology model provided structural insights into its high affinity for CB2.

Selective CB2 agonists with anti-pruritic activity: Discovery of potent and orally available bicyclic 2-pyridones

The CB2 receptor has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of pruritus as well as pain without CB1-mediated side effects. We previously identified 2-pyridone derivatives 1 and 2 as potent CB2 agonists; however, this series of compounds was found to have unacceptable pharmacokinetic profiles with no significant effect in vivo. To improve these profiles, we performed further structural optimization of 1 and 2, which led to the discovery of bicyclic 2-pyridone 18e with improved CB2 affinity and selectivity over CB1. In a mouse pruritus model, 18e inhibited compound 48/80 induced scratching behavior at a dose of 100 mg/kg. In addition, the docking model of 18e with an active-state CB2 homology model indicated the structural basis of its high affinity and selectivity over CB1.

An androgen-dependent subclone derived from a mouse mammary tumor, Shionogi carcinoma 115, secretes a heparin-binding growth factor having an apparent molecular weight of 31 000 in response to androgen

An androgen-dependent cell line denoted SC2G is a clone of an androgen-dependent mouse mammary tumor, Shionogi Carcinoma 115. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) are stimulatory for the growth of SC2G cells in the absence of androgen. This clone was found to secrete an androgen-induced growth factor mostly eluting at 1.8 M NaCl on a heparin-Sepharose column. This factor was partially purified by chromatography on two consecutive heparin-Sepharose columns followed by cation-exchanging chromatography on an S-Sepharose column from the chemically defined serum-free medium conditioned by SC2G cells in the presence of androgen. The factor was a heat- and acid-labile cationic protein that was inactivated by reduction with dithiothreitol. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, most of the growth-promoting activity of this factor was found at approx. 31 kDa under non-reduced conditions. Neither neutralizing antibody against basic-FGF nor that against EGF inhibited the growth-promoting activity of this factor in cell culture, suggesting the factor was distinct from basic FGF or EGF. However, the possibility that the factor was another FGF- or EGF-like growth factor was not excluded.