Klaus-Dieter Krüger

Akt Modulates STAT3-mediated Gene Expression through a FKHR (FOXO1a)-dependent Mechanism

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway plays an important role in the signaling of insulin and other growth factors, which reportedly attenuate the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-mediated stimulation of acute phase plasma protein genes. We investigated the effect of the protein kinase Akt on IL-6-mediated transcriptional activation. The transient expression of constitutively active Akt inhibited the IL-6-dependent activity of the α2-macroglobulin promoter in HepG2 cells, whereas expression of an inactive mutant of phosphatidylinositol-dependent kinase 1 had the opposite effect. Since Akt is known to regulate gene expression through inactivation of the transcription factor FKHR (forkhead in rhabdomyosarcoma), we examined the effect of FKHR on STAT3-mediated transcriptional regulation. Indeed, the overexpression of FKHR specifically enhanced the activity of STAT3-dependent promoters but not that of a STAT5-responsive promoter. The effect of FKHR required the presence of functional STAT3 and was abrogated by the expression of dominant negative STAT3 mutants. Furthermore, FKHR and STAT3 were shown to coimmunoprecipitate and to colocalize in the nuclear regions of IL-6-treated HepG2 cells. Our results indicate that FKHR can modulate the IL-6-induced transcriptional activity by acting as a coactivator of STAT3.

Regulation of the forkhead transcription factor FKHR (FOXO1a) by glucose starvation and AICAR, an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase.

Expression of the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) has recently been shown to be transactivated by the transcription factor FKHR. Insulin and conditions of energy depletion are known repressors of the G6Pase gene. Whereas insulin is known to inhibit G6Pase expression by phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of FKHR, the mechanism of repression of G6Pase by energy depletion is unknown. Here, we have studied the effect of glucose starvation and AICAR, an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on G6Pase expression and the expressional level of FKHR-protein in hepatic cells. Using a H4-hepatoma cell line stably overexpressing FKHR, we found that both glucose starvation and treatment of cells with AICAR strongly repressed G6Pase expression and led to an almost complete disappearance of the FKHR protein, whereas the levels of control proteins and FKHR mRNA were not affected. Our data suggest that AICAR and glucose starvation inhibit G6Pase expression by a reduction of the cellular level of FKHR, presumably mediated by specific degradation of the protein.

Monitoring of olanzapine in serum by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract A selective assay of olanzapine with liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC–APCI–MS, positive ions) is described. The drug and internal standard (ethyl derivative of olanzapine) were isolated from serum using a solid-phase extraction procedure (C 18 cartridges). The separation was performed on ODS column in acetonitrile–50 m M ammonium formate buffer, pH 3.0 (25:75). After analysis of mass spectra taken in full scan mode, a selected-ion monitoring detection (SIM) was applied with the following ions: m/z 313 and 256 for olanzapine and m/z 327 and 270 for the internal standard for quantitation. The limit of quantitation was 1 μg/l, the absolute recovery was above 80% at concentration level of 10 to 100 μg/l. The method tested linear in the range from 1 to 1000 μg/l and was applied for therapeutic monitoring of olanzapine in the serum of patients receiving (Zyprexa™) and in one case of olanzapine overdose. Olanzapine in frozen serum samples and in frozen extracts was stable over at least four weeks. The examinations of urine extracts from patients receiving olanzapine revealed peaks of postulated metabolites (glucuronide and N -desmethylolanzapine).

Determination of flunitrazepam and its metabolites in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A selective assay of flunitrazepam (F) and its metabolites 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-AF), N-desmethylflunitrazepam (N-DF) and 3-hydroxyflunitrazepam (3-OHF) with liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS, positive ions) is described. The drugs were isolated from serum, blood or urine using a solid-phase extraction procedure previously applied to various drugs of abuse. F-d3 and 7-AF-d3 were used as internal standards. The drugs were separated on ODS column in acetonitrile-50 mM ammonium formate buffer, pH 3.0 (45:55, v/v). After analysis of mass spectra taken in full scan mode, a selected-ion monitoring detection was applied with following ions: m/z 284 (7-AF and F), 287 (7-AF-d3 and F-d3), 314 (F), 300 (N-DF and 3-OHF), 317 (F-d3), 330 (3-OHF). The limits of detection were: 0.2 microg/l for F and 7-AF, 1 microg/l for N-DF and 3-OHF. The method was linear in the range 1-500 microg/l, the recoveries ranged from 92 to 99%. The method was applied for determination of F and metabolites in clinical and forensic samples. LC-APCI-MS seems to be a method of choice for these compounds.

Cellular models for the analysis of signaling by protein kinase B and the forkhead transcription factor FKHR (Foxo1a).

The transcription factor FKHR (FOXO1a) is regulated by protein kinase B (PKB) and insulin controls the expression of hepatic genes like glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) at least in part via these proteins. However, insulin is known to activate several pathways and it is therefore difficult to establish which effects of the hormone are attributed to PKB and FKHR signaling. The aim of the present study was the generation of cellular models which allow the specific analysis of molecular events controlled by PKB and FKHR, respectively. We generated two H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cell lines stably expressing either a hydroxytamoxifen-regulatable form of PKB (myristoylated PKB estrogen receptor chimera; MER-PKB) or FKHR (FKHR estrogen receptor chimera; FKHR-ER) by retroviral infection and determined the regulation of the G6Pase transcript by Northern blotting and enzyme assays. Activation of the regulatable PKB fusion protein almost completely reduced the dexamethasone/cAMP-stimulated G6Pase mRNA levels comparable to the effect of insulin. In contrast, stimulation of FKHR-ER with tamoxifen increased the expression of the dexamethasone/cAMP-induced G6Pase mRNA and the G6Pase enzymatic activity about 2.5- to 3-fold. The present data demonstrate that activation of PKB is sufficient to mimic the effect of insulin on the expression of G6Pase and that FKHR acts as an activator of the G6Pase gene indicating that the established cellular models are suitable for the specific analysis of downstream targets of these signaling molecules. Therefore, these cell systems might serve as useful tools for the development of anti-diabetic drugs.