Tianxiang Pang

Kinetic Dissection of Two Distinct Proton Binding Sites in Na+/H+ Exchangers by Measurement of Reverse Mode Reaction

We examined the effect of intracellular acidification on the reverse mode of Na+/H+ exchange by measuring 22Na+ efflux from 22Na+-loaded PS120 cells expressing the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) isoforms NHE1, NHE2, and NHE3. The 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA)- or amiloride-sensitive fraction of 22Na+ efflux was dramatically accelerated by cytosolic acidification as opposed to thermodynamic prediction, supporting the concept that these NHE isoforms are activated by protonation of an internal binding site(s) distinct from the H+ transport site. Intracellular pH (pHi) dependence of 22 Na+ efflux roughly exhibited a bell-shaped profile; mild acidification from pHi 7.5 to 7 dramatically accelerated 22Na+ efflux, whereas acidification from pHi 6.6 gradually decreased it. Alkalinization above pHi 7.5 completely suppressed EIPA-sensitive 22Na+ efflux. Cell ATP depletion and mutation of NHE1 at Arg440 (R440D) caused a large acidic shift of the pHi profile for 22Na+ efflux, whereas mutation at Gly455 (G455Q) caused a significant alkaline shift. Because these mutations and ATP depletion cause correspondingly similar effects on the forward mode of Na+/H+ exchange, it is most likely that they alter exchange activity by modulating affinity of the internal modifier site for protons. The data provide substantial evidence that a proton modifier site(s) distinct from the transport site controls activities of at least three NHE isoforms through cooperative interaction with multiple protons.

Mutations of Arg440 and Gly455/Gly456 Oppositely Change pH Sensing of Na+/H+ Exchanger 1

To identify important amino acid residues involved in intracellular pH (pH i ) sensing of Na+/H+ exchanger 1, we produced single-residue substitution mutants in the region of the exchanger encompassing the putative 11th transmembrane segment (TM11) and its adjacent intracellular (intracellular loop (IL) 5) and extracellular loops (extracellular loop 6). Substitution of Arg440 in IL5 with other residues except positively charged Lys caused a large shift in pH i dependence of22Na+ uptake to an acidic side, whereas substitution of Gly455 or Gly456 within the highly conserved glycine-rich sequence of TM11 shifted pH i dependence to an alkaline side. The observed alkaline shift was larger with substitution of Gly455 with residues with increasing sizes, suggesting the involvement of the steric effect. Interestingly, mutation of Arg440 (R440D) abolished the ATP depletion-induced acidic shift in pH i dependence of22Na+ uptake as well as the cytoplasmic alkalinization induced by various extracellular stimuli, whereas with that of Gly455 (G455Q) these functions were preserved. These mutant exchangers did not alter apparent affinities for extracellular transport substrates Na+ and H+and the inhibitor 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride. These results suggest that positive charge at Arg440 is required for normal pH i sensing, whereas mutation-induced perturbation of the TM11 structure may be involved in the effects of Gly mutations. Thus, both Arg440 in IL5 and Gly residues in the conserved segment of TM11 appear to constitute important elements for proper functioning of the putative “pH i sensor” of Na+/H+ exchanger 1.

NHE1 mediates MDA-MB-231 cells invasion through the regulation of MT1-MMP

Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 1 (NHE1), an important regulator of intracellular pH (pH(i)) and extracellular pH (pH(e)), has been shown to play a key role in breast cancer metastasis. However, the exact mechanism by which NHE1 mediates breast cancer metastasis is not yet well known. We showed here that inhibition of NHE1 activity, with specific inhibitor Cariporide, could suppress MDA-MB-231 cells invasion as well as the activity and expression of MT1-MMP. Overexpression of MT1-MMP resulted in a distinguished increase in MDA-MB-231 cells invasiveness, but treatment with Cariporide reversed the MT1-MMP-mediated enhanced invasiveness. To explore the role of MAPK signaling pathways in NHE1-mediated breast cancer metastasis, we compared the difference of constitutively phosphorylated ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK in non-invasive MCF-7 cells and invasive MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, we found that the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in MDA-MB-231 cells were higher than in MCF-7 cells, but both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells expressed similar constitutively phosphorylated JNK. Treating MDA-MB-231 cells with Cariporide led to decreased phosphorylation level of both p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in a time-dependent manner, but JNK activity was not influenced. Supplementation with MAPK inhibitor (MEK inhibitor PD98059, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and JNK inhibitor SP600125) or Cariporide all exhibited significant depression of MDA-MB-231 cells invasion and MT1-MMP expression. Furthermore, we co-treated MDA-MB-231 cells with MAPK inhibitor and Cariporide. The result showed that Cariporide synergistically suppressed invasion and MT1-MMP expression with MEK inhibitor and p38 MAPK inhibitor, but not be synergistic with the JNK inhibitor. These findings suggest that NHE1 mediates MDA-MB-231 cells invasion partly through regulating MT1-MMP in ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways dependent manner.

Inhibition of K562 leukemia angiogenesis and growth by selective Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor cariporide through down-regulation of pro-angiogenesis factor VEGF.

To investigate the effect of inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform1 (NHE1) on K562 leukemia-driven angiogenesis, the selective NHE1 inhibitor cariporide was used. Cariporide treatment of K562 resulted in a decrease in pHi and down-regulation of VEGF secretion. The proliferation, migration and in vitro tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was decreased in cariporide treated K562 condition medium (CM) while VEGF supplement could partially restore the inhibitory effect. Subcutaneous injection of nude mice with cariporide inhibited K562 tumor growth with a reduction of the density of microvessels compared to the control group.

CD44 targets Wnt/β-catenin pathway to mediate the proliferation of K562 cells.

BackgroundChronic myeloid leukemia is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder disease in which BCR/ABL plays an important role as an oncoprotein and molecular target. Despite the success of targeted therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors, CML remains largely incurable, most likely due to the treatment resistance after firstly chemical therapy. So know well the unique molecular pathway of CML is very important.MethodsThe expressions of CD44 in different leukemia patients and cell lines were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting. The effects of CD44 on proliferation of K562 cells were determined using the MTT and colony formation assays, and even in a nude mouse transplantation model. Then, the cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometric analysis and the early apoptosis of cells was detected by the annexin V/propidium iodide double-staining assay. The expressions of the cycles and apoptosis-related proteins p21, Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 were analyzed by western blot and real-time PCR assay. Finally, the decreased nuclear accumulation of β-catenin was detected by western blotting and immunefluorescence.ResultsFirstly, we showed that CD44 expression was increased in several kinds of leukemia patients and K562 cells. By contrast, the down-regulation of CD44 resulted in decreased proliferation with a G0/G1 arrest of cell cycle in K562 cells according to the MTT assay and the flow cytometric analysis. And no significant induction of both the early and late phases of apoptosis was shown by the annexin V-FITC and PI staining. During this process, p21 and cyclin D1 are the major causes for cell cycle arrest. In addition, we found CD44 down-regulation decreased the expression of β-catenin and increased the expression of phosphorylated β-catenin. The instability of Wnt/β-catenin pathway induced by increased expression of p-β-catenin resulted in a decreased nuclear accumulation in CD44 silenced K562 cells. In the nude mouse transplantation model, we also found the same results.ConclusionsThese results show that K562 cells depend to a greater extent on CD44 for proliferation, and CD44 down-regulation may induce a cell cycle arrest through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. CD44 blockade may be beneficial in therapy of CML.

Na+/H+ exchanger 1 inhibition contributes to K562 leukaemic cell differentiation.

The effect of hypoxia on the differentiation of chronic myeloid leukaemic K562 cells were studied, as was the role of the NHE1 (Na+/H+ exchanger 1). Hypoxia induced differentiation of K562 cells as seen by modifications in their morphological features, up‐regulation of C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein α), and marked IL‐8 (interleukin‐8) release. Inhibition of NHE1 under hypoxia additionally enhanced the level of C/EBPα and further promoted leukaemic cells differentiation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK (mitogen‐activated protein kinase) also significantly suppressed C/EBPα expression under hypoxia conditions after NHE1 inhibition. These results indicate the enhancement of hypoxia‐induced K562 differentiation by NHE1 inhibition, which may be due to up‐regulation of C/EBPα via p38 MAPK signalling pathway, which suggests a possible therapeutic target of NHE1 under hypoxia microenvironment in the treatment of leukaemic diseases.

NHE1 mediates migration and invasion of HeLa cells via regulating the expression and localization of MT1-MMP

Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1), acting as an important regulator of intracellular pH (pHi) and extracellular pH (pHe), has been known to play a key role in the metastasis of many solid tumours. However, the exact mechanism underlying these processes, especially in cervical cancer, is still poorly understood. In the current study, we first showed that the inhibition of NHE1 activity by the specific inhibitor cariporide could suppress migration and invasion of HeLa cells in vitro. Moreover, cariporide also reversed the enhanced migration and invasion in HeLa cells by overexpressed membrane‐type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP). Subsequently, our results showed that NHE1 regulated the expression of MT1‐MMP at both messenger RNA and protein levels as well as its localization. Meanwhile, we observed slight modification in the morphology of HeLa cell after treating with cariporide. The present work indicates that NHE1 mediates HeLa cell metastasis via regulating the expression and localization of MT1‐MMP and provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting cervical cancer. Copyright

Second mutations rescue point mutant of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHE1 showing defective surface expression.

We studied the effect of point mutation within the putative 11th transmembrane domain (TM11) of the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE1 on the plasma membrane expression. Of the 19 mutants tested, two mutants (Tyr454 or Arg458 replaced by Cys) were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Interestingly, Y454C was expressed on the cell surface when one of the endogenous cysteine residues at position 8, 133, 421, or 477 was substituted with alanine. Random mutagenesis at Cys8 and its surrounding residues in the cytosolic N‐tail revealed that replacement of Cys8 with Ala was the only identified single residue mutation that rescued Y454C. These results suggest that the abnormal conformation of the region of TM11 containing the Y454C mutation is compensated by the second mutation within other domains such as the N‐tail. This approach may provide evidence for the interdomain interaction in NHE1.

Nuclear accumulation of Calcineurin B Homologous Protein 2 (CHP2) results in enhanced proliferation of tumor cells

The interaction between calcineurin B homologous protein 2 (CHP2) and Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1), two membrane proteins, is essential for protecting cells from serum deprivation–induced death. Although four putative EF‐hands in CHP2 had been predicted for years, Ca2+‐binding activities of these motifs have not been tested yet, their role in this process remain poorly understood. To identify Ca2+‐binding motifs required for the stable formation of CHP2/NHE1 complexes, we developed a mutagenesis‐based assay in PS120 cells. We found that 45Ca2+ bond to two EF‐hand motifs (EF3 and 4) of CHP2 proteins with high affinity. Complex formation between CHP2 and the CHP2 binding domain of NHE1 resulted in a marked increase in the Ca2+‐binding affinity of CHP2. Co‐immunoprecipitation and distribution of GFP‐tagged CHP2‐EF3m/4m also indicated that Ca2+ affected the membrane location of CHP2 to interact with NHE1. The C‐terminal region of CHP2 contains a nuclear export sequence (NES). When the six leucines of NES were mutated to alanines, the resulting CHP2 protein was predominantly localized to the nucleus. Furthermore, mutation of the NES resulted in enhanced proliferation and oncogenic potential of HeLa cells. Together, these results show that calcium and NES control the subcellular distribution of CHP2 and then distinctively regulate cell proliferation.

Reversal of Imatinib resistance in BCR-ABL-positive leukemia after inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger

The present study was undertaken to estimate the therapeutic benefit to down-regulate the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1) for reversing chemoresistance of BCR-ABL-positive leukemia patient cells and cell lines. As a result, after treatment with specific NHE1 inhibitor Cariporide or high K(+) buffer to decrease intracellular pH (pH(i)), cells from relapsed patients exhibited decreased Pgp level, enhanced Rhodamine123 and drug accumulation, decreased colony-forming ability and the modulations of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activities. Furthermore, we used BCR-ABL-positive cell line K562 and its resistant counterparts K562/DOX and K562/G01 cell lines for further study. Together, these findings suggest that Pgp may be associated with the reversal of drug resistance in BCR-ABL-positive leukemia patients and cell lines by the inhibition of NHE1 though MAPK pathways.