Maria Antonietta Medici

Pro-apoptotic effect of fluvastatin on human smooth muscle cells.

The antiatherosclerotic effect of statins has been attributed to their hypocholesterolemic action. We therefore evaluated the effect, in vitro, of the addition of the serum of patients taking fluvastatin on human smooth muscle cells in order to ascertain the effect of the drug on cell proliferation and apoptosis. We found that the addition of serum from patients treated with fluvastatin for 6 days caused a significant reduction in cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis and reduced the B cell leukemia-2 (bcl-2) concentration. It is concluded that the induction of apoptosis by statins could be a supplementary mechanism in the prevention of atherosclerotic lesions in humans.

Herpes simplex virus 2 causes apoptotic infection in monocytoid cells

Increasing evidence indicates that apoptosis can be associated with several viral infections. Here we demonstrate, that infection of monocytoid cells by Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) resulted, in time- and dose-dependent induction of apoptosis as an exclusive cytopathic effect. The phenomenon was confirmed using four different techniques. Conversely, apoptosis was not observed in the Vero cell line. Virus yield in monocytoid cells was delayed and reduced, although well detectable, in comparison with that observed in Vero cells. Nevertheless, released virions exhibited full infecting capability. Apoptosis induced by HSV-2 was not inhibited by cycloheximide and only partially by an UV-treatment which completely abrogated infectivity. Virus-induced apoptosis was partly inhibited by indomethacin and was associated with a down-regulation of Bcl-2. A similar, but less pronounced, apoptosis-inducing effect in monocytoid cells was also observed with HSV-1 infection. Depending on the target cells, therefore, HSV could complete a cycle of infection which is characterized by apoptosis of infected cells.

Replication-competent herpes simplex virus 1 isolates selected from cells transfected with a bacterial artificial chromosome DNA lacking only the UL49 gene vary with respect to the defect in the UL41 gene encoding host shutoff RNase.

ABSTRACT To generate a null UL49 gene mutant of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), we deleted from the viral DNA, encoded as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), the UL49 open reading frame and, in a second step, restored it. Upon transfection into Vero cells, the BAC-ΔUL49 DNA yielded foci of degenerated cells that could not be expanded and a few replication-competent clones. The replication-competent viral clones derived from independent transfections yielded viruses that expressed genes with some delay, produced smaller plaques, and gave lower yields than wild-type virus. A key finding is that the independently derived replication-competent viruses lacked the virion host shutoff (vhs) activity expressed by the RNase encoded by the UL41 gene. One mutant virus expressed no vhs protein, whereas two others, derived from independent transfections, produced truncated vhs proteins consistent with the spontaneous in-frame deletion. In contrast, cells infected with the virus recovered upon transfection of the BAC-UL49R DNA (R-UL49) accumulated a full-length vhs protein, indicating that in the parental BAC-ΔUL49 DNA, the UL41 gene was intact. We conclude that expression of the vhs protein in the absence of UL49 protein is lethal, a conclusion bolstered by the evidence reported elsewhere that in transfected cells vhs requires both VP16 and VP22, the product of UL49, to be neutralized.

Involvement of HVEM receptor in activation of nuclear factor κB by herpes simplex virus 1 glycoprotein D

The UV‐inactivated herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV‐1) and glycoprotein D (gD) of HSV‐1 have been shown to activate nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) in U937 cells, but mechanisms involved in this activation have not been elucidated. Here we report that: (i) UV‐inactivated HSV‐1 induced an increased NF‐κB activation in cells expressing human HVEM (for herpesvirus entry mediator) at surface level, naturally or following stable transfection, but not in cells in which this receptor was not detected by flow cytometry analysis, (ii) treatment with soluble gD induced a dose‐dependent NF‐κB activation in THP‐1 cells naturally expressing HVEM, and a monoclonal antibody that prevents binding of gD to HVEM significantly reduced NF‐κB activation by soluble gD in the same cells, (iii) coculture with transfectants expressing wild‐type gD on their surface induced an approximately twofold increase in NF‐κB activation in cells naturally expressing HVEM, while coculture with transfectants expressing a mutated form of gD, lacking its capability to bind HVEM, did not induce a similar effect and (iv) treatment with soluble gD induced a dose‐dependent NF‐κB activation in CHO transfectants expressing HVEM, but not in control CHO transfectants lacking any functional gD receptor. Overall, these results establish that HVEM is involved in NF‐κB activation by HSV‐1 gD.

Involvement of gD/HVEM interaction in NF-kB-dependent inhibition of apoptosis by HSV-1 gD.

In the present paper, we aimed to verify whether the interaction of the glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) with the HSV-1 receptor HVEM is involved in NF-kappaB-dependent protection against apoptosis by gD. To this purpose, first we utilized MAbs that interfere with gD/HVEM interaction and U937 cells that naturally express human HVEM on their surface. Pre-incubation with these MAbs, but not with a control antibody, partially reverted the protection of infectious HSV-1 towards anti-Fas induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Similarly, pre-incubation of UV-inactivated HSV-1 (UV-HSV-1) or recombinant gD with the same MAbs, significantly reduced the inhibition of Fas-mediated apoptosis by UV-HSV-1 or gD, respectively, in U937 cells. Moreover, coculture with stable transfectants expressing at surface level wild type gD protected U937 cells against Fas-induced apoptosis, while coculture with transfectants expressing a mutated form of gD, incapable to bind HVEM, did not protect. Finally, UV-HSV-1 protected against staurosporine-induced apoptosis in U937 cells as well as in the CHO transfectants expressing human HVEM on their surface, but not in the control CHO transfectants, which did not express HVEM. These results suggest that signaling triggered by binding of gD to HVEM could represent an additional mechanism of evasion from premature apoptotic death exerted by HSV-1-gD in HVEM-expressing cells, disclosing new opportunities of cell death manipulation by using gD preparations.

Aquaretic inhibits renal cancer proliferation: Role of vasopressin receptor-2 (V2-R)

Vasopressin (AVP) is a hormone with antidiuretic properties that is also involved in cellular proliferation of breast, pulmonary, and pancreatic neoplasias, attributable to the interaction with specific receptors, among which is the V2-R. Using a culture model of CAKI-2 and A498 cancer cells, our study aimed to verify if renal carcinoma cells also express V2-R and whether receptor activation modulates their proliferation. Immunofluorescence and RT-PCR showed that both CAKI-2 and A498 cells effectively synthesize and express the V2-R. Administration of the vasopressin analogue DDAVP induced an evident growth in both CAKI-2 and A498 cell lines. However, this proliferative effect was completely avoided by the preventive addition of the V2-R antagonist SR121463B (satavaptan). Our study shows for the first time that renal cancer may effectively synthesize and express the V2-R. Furthermore, AVP exerts in vitro a proliferative effect by acting on this receptor, as the selective V2-R blockage is able to completely prevent the cellular growth. A validation of these findings with in vivo models is required to ascertain if the eventual presence of V2-R could influence the aggressiveness of human renal neoplasias. From this point of view, a new, interesting therapeutical application of V2-R antagonists in the treatment of renal cancer could also be proposed, similar to that successfully described in the treatment of autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Does Captopril Have a Direct Pro-Apoptotic Effect?

The beneficial effect of ACE inhibitors on cardiovascular remodelling from hypertension and ischemic disease may be due to the effect of these drugs on the proliferation/cell death balance. We therefore investigated the effect of the addition of captopril in vitro, on the onset of apoptosis in human vascular myocytes, by using a propidium iodide fluorescence analysis and a morphological analysis using the acridine orange technique. Captopril (0.23 mM) caused an increase in apoptotic phenomena that was more than 3.5-fold than in controls both at the 24th (7.7 vs. 2%) and the 48th h (10.1 vs. 3.8%). The addition of propranolol strengthened the effect on apoptosis. The induction of apoptotic phenomena may be a mechanism by which ACE inhibitors affect cardiovascular remodelling and it might also explain the favorable effect these drugs have on diseases such as IgA nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy.

HSV-1-induced activation of NF-κB protects U937 monocytic cells against both virus replication and apoptosis.

The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial player of the antiviral innate response. Intriguingly, however, NF-κB activation is assumed to favour herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection rather than restrict it. Apoptosis, a form of innate response to viruses, is completely inhibited by HSV in fully permissive cells, but not in cells incapable to fully sustain HSV replication, such as immunocompetent cells. To resolve the intricate interplay among NF-κB signalling, apoptosis and permissiveness to HSV-1 in monocytic cells, we utilized U937 monocytic cells in which NF-κB activation was inhibited by expressing a dominant-negative IκBα. Surprisingly, viral production was increased in monocytic cells in which NF-κB was inhibited. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB led to increased apoptosis following HSV-1 infection, associated with lysosomal membrane permeabilization. High expression of late viral proteins and induction of apoptosis occurred in distinct cells. Transcriptional analysis of known innate response genes by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR excluded a contribution of the assayed genes to the observed phenomena. Thus, in monocytic cells NF-κB activation simultaneously serves as an innate process to restrict viral replication as well as a mechanism to limit the damage of an excessive apoptotic response to HSV-1 infection. This finding may clarify mechanisms controlling HSV-1 infection in monocytic cells.

Aquaretic-induced apoptosis : a cure or a curse?

Sir, Modern pharmacology is discovering selective vasopressin receptor-2 antagonists (the so called ‘aquaretic agents’) as one of the most promising drug classes for the treatment of refractory hyponatremia associated with disorders like heart failure and cirrhosis. However, recent findings regarding the biological involvement of V2 receptors (V2-R) have opened new interesting horizons in the therapeutic use of these molecules such as, for example, the treatment of Autosomal Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a hereditary condition causing progressive renal failure for which as yet no specific cure is available [1]. In this case, by blocking a specific V2-R mediated intracellular pathway, aquaretic agents impressively reduce cellular growth and thus, cyst enlargement, slowing down the progression of disease [2]. This interesting effect suggests that V2-R antagonists may also directly influence cell biology and even proliferation. For this reason we aimed to assess the effect of increasing doses (0·25, 0·5, 1 and 2 μM) of the selective V2-R antagonist Satavaptan (Sanofi Research, Toulouse, France) on cell apoptosis in a culture model including the V2-R renal tubular line LLC-PK1 and the V2-R ovarian CHO line. As illustrated in Fig. 1, CHO cells did not manifest significant variations in apoptosis rate. On the contrary, the LLC-PK1 line showed significantly increased apoptosis percentages at all times and at every dose of Satavaptan added, compared to CHO cells. Furthermore, a significant trend in apoptosis rate was noticed among increasing doses of Satavaptan. As CHO cells seemed insensitive to Satavaptan-induced apoptosis, it could be presumed that this effect, observed on LLC-PK1 cells, may somehow be related to a specific interaction with V2-R. This consideration opens at least two points for discussion. First, as it has already been demonstrated that several types of tumour (such as breast, lung and pancreas) notably express normal and even anomalous forms of V2-R [3], it could be interesting to explore the possibility of another new therapeutic application of aquaretic agents as anti tumoural drugs as it has already been successfully reported for the treatment of ADPKD (a condition sharing several features with cancer) [4]. On the other hand, it is known that, physiologically, not only the renal tubule but also several other extra renal cells, such as the endothelium, express V2-R. As the use of V2-R antagonists is going to become

Auxin induces cell proliferation in an experimental model of mammalian renal tubular epithelial cells

Abstract Indole-3-acetic acid is the main auxin produced by plants and plays a key role in the plant growth and development. This hormone is also present in humans where it is considered as a uremic toxin deriving from tryptophan metabolism. However, beyond this peculiar aspect, the involvement of auxin in human pathophysiology has not been further investigated. Since it is a growth hormone, we evaluated its proliferative properties in an in vitro model of mammalian renal tubular epithelial cells. We employed an experimental model of renal tubular epithelial cells belonging to the LLC-PK1 cell line that is derived from the kidney of healthy male pig. Growth effects of auxin against LLC-PK1 cell lines were determined by a rapid colorimetric assay. Increasing concentrations of auxin (to give a final concentration from 1 to 1000 ng/mL) were added and microplates were incubated for 72 h. Each auxin concentration was assayed in four wells and repeated four times. Cell proliferation significantly increased, compared to control cells, 72 h after addition of auxin to cultured LLC-PK1 cells. Statistically significant values were observed when 100 ng/mL (p < 0.01) and 1000 ng/mL (p < 0.05) were used. In conclusion, auxin influences cell growth not only in plants, where its role is well documented, but also in mammalian cell lines. This observation opens new scenarios in the field of tissue regeneration and may stimulate a novel line of research aiming at investigating whether this hormone really influences human physiology and pathophysiology and in particular, kidney regeneration.