Masaru Ido

A Pivotal Role of Rho GTPase in the Regulation of Morphology and Function of Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cell (DC) is the most potent activator of CD4+ T cells and has unique dendrites and veils. To explore the function of Rho in DC, exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum was used as a specific inhibitor of Rho. Treatment of DC with C3 (DC/C3) resulted in profound morphological changes by losing dendrites and emerging of shrunk membrane processes that were in parallel with marked reduction of polymerized actin in the marginal area. Inactivation of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing kinase (p160ROCK) by a specific ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 also led to disappearance of dendrites of DC with retaining large membrane expansions. In scanning electron microscopy, untreated DCs interacted with CD4+ T cells more efficiently than DC/C3. Conjugate formation assay showed that the number of DCs associated with CD4+ T cells was 2-fold higher in untreated DCs than that of DC/C3. Alloantigen-presenting capacity of DC/C3 was significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. Because C3 treatment did not affect the surface expression of HLA, costimulatory, and adhesion molecules of DC, we examined cytokine production of DC and naive CD4+ T cells to further elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of MLR. Unexpectedly, DC/C3 increased IL-12 production after LPS stimulation. Naive CD4+ T cells cocultured with DC/C3 produced the increased percentage of IFN-γ-producing cells, whereas the percentage of IL-2-producing T cells was decreased. These results demonstrate that Rho GTPase in DC controls both characteristic shape and immunogenic capacity.

An inhibitor of protein kinase C, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine(H-7) inhibits TPA-induced reduction of vincristine uptake from P388 murine leukemic cell.

The effects of protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine) on tumor-promoting phorbol ester induced inhibition of vincristine uptake in P388 murine leukemic cells were investigated with the objective of assessing the possible role of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in vincristine uptake. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a potent inhibitor at concentrations above 1 nM. Other phorbol esters also inhibited vincristine uptake in approximate proportion to their activity in competing for [20-3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutrate binding. TPA enhanced the Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of histone III-S by a soluble protein fraction of cells. Phosphorylation of various cell lysate proteins (p18, p21, p29, p34 and p45) were also stimulated by TPA. These TPA-induced stimulations were also inhibited dose-dependently by H-7. It is tentatively concluded that the phosphorylation of cell lysate protein substrates by protein kinase C may be an important mechanism linked to the regulation of vincristine uptake in leukemic cell.

Regulation of carcinoma cell invasion by protein C inhibitor whose expression is decreased in renal cell carcinoma

Protein C inhibitor (PCI), a member of the serine protease inhibitor family, is produced in various human tissues, including the liver, kidney and testis. In addition to inhibiting the anticoagulant protein C pathway, PCI also inhibits urinary plasminogen activator (uPA), which is a well‐known mediator of tumor cell invasion. In the present study, to clarify the biologic significance of PCI in the kidney, we compared the expression of PCI between human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissue and nontumor kidney tissue. The PCI antigen level in RCC tissue was found to be significantly lower than in nontumor kidney tissue, and expression of PCI mRNA was detected in normal renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC), but not in RCC or in an RCC cell line (Caki‐1 cells). No differences were detected between the nucleotide sequence of the major cis‐elements in the promoter region of the PCI gene from nontumor kidney and RCC tissues, RPTEC and Caki‐1 cells, an RPTEC‐derived RCC cell line. The in vitro invasiveness of Caki‐1 cells transfected with a PCI expression vector was significantly decreased compared to mock‐transfected Caki‐1 cells, and it was blocked in the presence of anti‐PCI antibody. Since PCI itself did not affect the proliferation rate of Caki‐1 cells or cell expression of uPA in vitro, the effect of uPA, PCI, heat‐inactivated PCI and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐1 on the invasive potential of cultured RCC cells was evaluated. The in vitro invasiveness of Caki‐1 cells, which express uPA, was significantly enhanced by the addition of uPA, and it was inhibited by anti‐uPA antibody, PCI and PAI‐1, but not by heat‐inactivated PCI. In addition, uPA activity was significantly decreased and uPA‐PCI complex level was significantly increased in the culture medium of PCI expression vector‐transfected Caki‐1 cells as compared to mock‐transfected Caki‐1 cells. These findings strongly suggest that PCI regulates the invasive potential of RCC cells by inhibiting uPA secreted by these cells. The results of our study suggest that PCI might be a potential therapeutic agent for inhibiting renal tumor invasion.

Clonal and non-clonal karyotypically abnormal cells in haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

We studied chromosomes in bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood cells of nine patients with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH); three of them had a family history of HLH and four others underwent concurrent Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection. In addition to a large population of normal mitotic cells, karyotypically abnormal clonal cells were found in two patients, abnormal clonal cells and a nonclonal (single) abnormal cell in one, and nonclonal abnormal cells in three. All the six patients with chromosome abnormalities died of progressive disease; one of them also had EBV infection and EBV‐associated clonal proliferation. Two of three patients with EBV infection and only normal mitotic cells in BM completely recovered from the disease.

Protein C inhibitor inhibits breast cancer cell growth, metastasis and angiogenesis independently of its protease inhibitory activity

Protein C inhibitor (PCI) regulates the anticoagulant protein C pathway and also inhibits urinary plasminogen activator (uPA), a mediator of tumor cell invasion. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of human PCI and its inactive derivatives on tumor growth and metastasis of human breast cancer (MDA‐231) cells, and on angiogenesis in vivo. The invasiveness of MDA‐231 cells was inhibited by recombinant intact PCI, but not by reactive site‐modified PCI (R354APCI) or by the N‐terminal fragment of protease‐cleaved PCI (NTPCI). The in vitro invasiveness of MDA‐231 cells expressing intact PCI (MDA‐PCI) was significantly decreased as compared to MDA‐231 cells expressing R354APCI (MDA‐R354APCI) or NTPCI (MDA‐NTPCI). Further, in vivo growth and metastatic potential of MDA‐PCI, MDA‐R354APCI and MDA‐NTPCI cells in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were significantly decreased as compared to MDA‐Mock cells. Angiogenesis was also significantly decreased in Matrigel implant containing MDA‐PCI, MDA‐R354APCI or MDA‐NTPCI cells as compared to that containing MDA‐Mock cells. In vivo angiogenesis in rat cornea and in vitro tube formation were also inhibited by recombinant intact PCI, R354APCI and NTPCI. Furthermore, the anti‐angiogenic activity of PCI was strong as cleaved antithrombin (AT), and slightly stronger than that of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐1 and pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF). Overall, this study showed that, in addition to a reactive site‐dependent mechanism, PCI may also regulate tumor growth and metastasis independently of its protease inhibitory activity by inhibiting angiogenesis.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide decreases thrombomodulin expression in the sinusoidal endothelial cells of rats – a possible mechanism of intrasinusoidal microthrombus formation and liver dysfunction

BACKGROUND/AIMS To elucidate the mechanism of liver dysfunction occurring in patients with sepsis, we evaluated the effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of thrombomodulin (TM) in rat sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) and the therapeutic efficacy of exogenous recombinant TM. METHODS We induced endotoxemia in rats by bolus intraperitoneal injection of LPS. TM antigen levels within tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry. We measured TM in cultured SECs by enzyme immunoassay, functional analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS TM antigen and activity levels were significantly decreased in SECs isolated from LPS-treated rats after 3 and 6 h treatment, and recovered after 12 h treatment, correlating with immunohistochemical observations. In contrast, TM messenger RNA was decreased after 6 and 12 h treatment, and slightly recovered after 24 h treatment. TM expression in cultured SECs isolated from normal rats was also reduced after treatment with LPS and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in vitro. The increased levels of serum fibrin degradation products (FDP), fibrin deposition within liver sinusoids, injury of SECs and liver dysfunction induced by LPS in our rat model was improved by recombinant TM treatment. CONCLUSIONS Decreased TM expression in SECs of LPS-treated rats may result in intrasinusoidal microthrombus formation and subsequent liver dysfunction during sepsis.

Characterization of a novel human protein C inhibitor (PCI) gene transgenic mouse useful for studying the role of PCI in physiological and pathological conditions.

Summary.  In humans, protein C inhibitor (PCI) is expressed in various tissues and present in many body fluids including plasma and seminal fluid. In rodents, PCI is expressed in reproductive organs only and is absent in plasma. In this study, we characterized the tissue expression and physiological role of PCI in novel human PCI gene transgenic (TG) mice. Northern blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that human PCI is expressed in liver hepatocytes, renal epithelial cells as well as heart, brain and reproductive organs of the TG mice. This PCI tissue distribution is similar to that found in humans. PCI in plasma of TG mice showed the same immunological and functional properties as human plasma PCI. Next, we evaluated the effect of PCI on coagulation, inflammation and tissue damage in lipopolysaccharide‐treated TG mice. The results suggested that PCI efficiently inhibits not only the anticoagulant and anti‐inflammatory activities of exogenously injected human activated protein C (APC) but also that of endogenously produced APC in mice with endotoxemia. These findings suggest that PCI exerts a procoagulant and proinflammatory effect by inhibiting APC. We believe our results also show how useful these TG mice may be for assessing the therapeutic effect of human APC in vivo and for evaluating the role of PCI in human physiological and pathological conditions.

Impairment of IL-12-Dependent STAT4 Nuclear Translocation in a Patient with Recurrent Mycobacterium avium Infection

We examined the immunological abnormality in a patient with recurrent Mycobacterium avium infection. T cells from the patient showed decreased ability both to produce IFN-γ and to proliferate in response to IL-12. Despite decreased expression of IL-12R β1 and β2 chains in the patient’s PHA-activated T cells, there was no difference in IL-12-induced tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of STAT4 in PHA-activated T cells between the patient and healthy subjects, suggesting that IL-12R signals are transmitted to STAT4 in the patient’s PHA-activated T cells. Using EMSA, confocal laser microscopy, and Western blotting, we demonstrated that the nuclear translocation of STAT4 in response to IL-12 is reduced in PHA-activated T cells from the patient when compared with those from healthy subjects. Leptomycin B was used to examine whether nuclear export of STAT4 is increased in the patient’s T cells. However, leptomycin B treatment did not reverse impaired IL-12-induced nuclear accumulation of STAT4. Although the exact mechanism responsible for the impaired STAT4 nuclear translocation in this patient remains unclear, the absence of mutation in the IL-12Rβ1, IL-12Rβ2, STAT4, and STAT4-binding sequence of the IFN-γ gene and preservation of STAT4 tyrosine and serine phosphorylation suggest the existence of a defective STAT4 nuclear translocation. This defect is likely responsible for the impaired STAT4 nuclear translocation in IL-12-stimulated T cells, leading to impairment of both IFN-γ production and cell proliferation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with atypical mycobacterial infection associated with impairment of STAT4 nuclear translocation.

Lipopolysaccharide‐induced decreased protein S expression in liver cells is mediated by MEK/ERK signaling and NFκB activation: involvement of membrane‐bound CD14 and toll‐like receptor‐4

Summary.  Background: The vitamin K‐dependent protein S (PS), mainly synthesized in hepatocytes and endothelial cells, plays a critical role in the anticoagulant activity of plasma. The decreased plasma level of PS in sepsis is associated with thrombotic tendency, but the mechanism is unclear. Objectives: In the present study, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on PS expression in vivo in rat liver, and in vitro in isolated hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) from normal rats. Results: LPS induced a progressive decrease of plasma PS antigen level up to 12 h with a slight recovery at 24 h, and a transient decrease of liver PS mRNA level at 4–8 h with a complete recovery at 24 h. In the in vitro studies, LPS decreased PS antigen and mRNA levels in both hepatocytes and SECs. After LPS treatment, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) transiently increased in plasma. IL‐6 increased the protein expression of PS from hepatocytes, while TNF‐α decreased it from SECs. LPS increased CD14 in hepatocytes and decreased it in SECs, but did not affect toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR‐4) expression in both cells. Antirat CD14 and antirat TLR‐4 antibodies inhibited LPS‐induced NFκB activation, and a NFκB inhibitor suppressed LPS‐induced decreased PS expression in both cells. Furthermore, MEK inhibitor blocked LPS‐induced decreased PS expression in both cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that LPS‐induced decreased PS expression in hepatocytes and SECs is mediated by MEK/ERK signaling and NFκB activation and that membrane‐bound CD14 and TLR‐4 are involved in this mechanism. These findings may explain in part the decreased level of plasma PS and thrombotic tendency in sepsis.

Protein tyrosine kinase activation provides an early and obligatory signal in anti-FRP-1/CD98/4F2 monoclonal antibody induced cell fusion mediated by HIV gp160.

Abstract The mechanism by which anti-fusion regulatory protein-1 (FRP-1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) induced cell fusion was investigated using U2ME-7 cells that are CD4+U937 cells transfected with the HIV gp160 gene. Protein kinase inhibitors (H-7, H-89, herbimycin A and genistein) suppressed cell fusion of Cd+U2ME-7 cells induced by anti-FRP-1 mAb. H-7 and H-89 also inhibited the cell aggregation, but herbimycin A and genistein did not. Intriguingly, only when herbimycin A was added either before or simultaneously with addition of anti-FRP-1 mAb, was cell fusion suppressed, suggesting that tyrosine kinase is related with the initial step of polykaryocyte formation. Anti-FRP-1 mAb induced the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins. These effects occurred within 1 min and returned to near baseline by 60 min. The rapid tyrosine phosphorylation was suppressed by herbimycin A and genistein. Although it remains to be determined which protein tyrosine kinase(s) is involved in this response, pp130 tyrosine phosphorylation appears to be a specific and early signal transmitted after the interaction of FRP-1 with a specific antibody. pp130 was present in the cytosol fraction and was distinct from pp125FAK, p130CAS, vinculin, and β1-integrin. Thus, our study may present evidence for a novel pathway of protein tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate specific, still unknown protein substrates during polykaryocyte formation.