Yohko Nakamura

Expression of antisense RNA to S100A4 gene encoding an S100-related calcium-binding protein suppresses metastatic potential of high-metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells

S100A4 (also known as pEL98/mts1/p9Ka/18A2/42A/calvasculin/FSP1/CAPL), a member of S100-related calcium-binding proteins, has been implicated to play a role in metastasis. In the present study, we examined the effect of antisense S100A4 RNA on metastatic potential of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. High-metastatic A11 cells were transfected with the expression vector containing S100A4 cDNA in an inverted (antisense) orientation under the transcriptional control of the mouse metallothionein promoter. Treatment of a stably transfected clone (AS10 cells) with Zn2+ resulted in the suppression of the experimental metastatic ability, which was accompanied with the expression of antisense S100A4 RNA and the suppression of the S100A4 expression at both the mRNA and the protein levels. To further confirm the effect of antisense S100A4 RNA, we established several clones after retroviral transduction with an antisense S100A4 construct. Notably, reduced metastatic potential was also evident in these clones. In the antisense S100A4 RNA-expressing cells, cell motility and in vitro invasiveness were found to be suppressed.

Involvement of Sl00–related Calcium–binding Protein pEL98 (or mts1) in Cell Motility and Tumor Cell Invasion

We examined the relationship between cell motility and the expressions of pEL9S (mtsl) mRNA and protein in various imirine normal and transformed cells. The expression of pEL98 (mtsl) in v–Ha–ras–transformed NIH3T3 cells and in normal rat kidney cells transformed by either v–Ha–ras or v–src was increased over that in the corresponding parental cells at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression in normal rat fibroblasts (3Y1) transformed by v–Ha–ras was also increased compared with that in 3Y1 cells. However, the expression of pEL98 (mtsl) in 3Y1 cells transformed by v–src was increased in one clone (src 3Y1–K), but decreased in another clone (src 3Y1–H). The expression level of pEL98 (mtsl) correlated well with cell motility, which was examined by measuring cell tracks by phagokinesis. In order to test direct involvement of the pEL98 (mtsl) protein in cell motility, src 3Y1–H cells that showed low cell motility were transfected with pEL98 cDNA. The transfectants expressing large amounts of the pEL98 protein showed significantly higher cell motility than src 3Y1–H cells. The expression of pEL98 (mtsl) was also found to be correlated with motile and invasive abilities in various clones derived from Lewis lung carcinoma. These results suggest that the pEL98 (mtsl) protein plays a role in regulating cell motility and tumor cell invasiveness.

Identification and characterization of a 500-kb homozygously deleted region at 1p36.2-p36.3 in a neuroblastoma cell line

Loss of heterozygosity of the distal region of chromosome 1p where tumor suppressor gene(s) might harbor is frequently observed in many human cancers including neuroblastoma (NBL) with MYCN amplification and poor prognosis. We have identified for the first time a homozygously deleted region at the marker D1S244 within the smallest region of overlap at 1p36.2-p36.3 in two NBL cell lines, NB-1 and NB-C201 (MASS-NB-SCH1), although our genotyping has suggested the possibility that both lines are derived from the same origin. The 800-kb PAC contig covering the entire region of homozygous deletion was made and partially sequenced (about 60%). The estimated length of the deleted region was 500 kb. We have, thus far, identified six genes within the region which include three known genes (DFF45, PGD, and CORT) as well as three other genes which have been reported during processing our present project for the last 3½ years (HDNB1/UFD2, KIAA0591F/KIF1B-β, and PEX14). They include the genes related to apoptosis, glucose metabolism, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, a neuronal microtubule-associated motor molecule and biogenesis of peroxisome. At least three genes (HDNB1/UFD2, KIAA0591F/KIF1B-β, and PEX14) were differentially expressed at high levels in favorable and at low levels in unfavorable subsets of primary neuroblastoma. Since the 1p distal region is reported to be imprinted, those differentially expressed genes could be the new members of the candidate NBL suppressor, although RT-PCR-SSCP analysis has demonstrated infrequent mutation of the genes so far identified. Full-sequencing and gene prediction for the region of homozygous deletion would elucidate more detailed structure of this region and might lead to discovery of additional candidate genes.

Expression profiling and characterization of 4200 genes cloned from primary neuroblastomas : identification of 305 genes differentially expressed between favorable and unfavorable subsets

Neuroblastoma (NBL), one of the most common childhood solid tumors, has a distinct nature in different prognostic subgroups: NBL in patients under 1 year of age usually regresses spontaneously, whereas that in patients over 1 year of age often grows aggressively and eventually kills the patient. To understand the molecular mechanism of biology and tumorigenesis of NBL, we decided to perform a comprehensive approach to unveil the gene expression profiles among the NBL subsets. We constructed the subset-specific oligo-capping cDNA libraries from the primary NBL tissues with favorable (F: stage 1, high expression of TrkA and a single copy of MYCN) and unfavorable (UF: stage 3 or 4, decreased expression of TrkA and MYCN amplification) characteristics and randomly cloned 4654 cDNAs. Among 4243 cDNAs sequenced successfully, 1799 (42.4%) were the genes with unknown function. Excluding the housekeeping genes, an expression profile of each subset was extremely different. To determine the genes expressed differentially between F and UF subsets, we performed semiquantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)–PCR for each of the 1842 independent genes using RNA obtained from 16 F and 16 UF NBLs as template. This revealed that 278 genes were highly expressed in the F subset as compared to the UF one, while, surprisingly, only 27 genes were expressed at higher levels in the UF rather than the F subset. These differentially expressed genes included 194 genes with unknown function. Many of the genes expressed at high levels in the F subset were related to catecholamine biosynthesis, small GTPases, synapse formation, synaptic vesicle transport, and transcription factors regulating differentiation of the neural crest-derived cells. On the other hand, the genes expressed at high levels in the UF subset included transcription factors and/or receptors that might regulate neuronal growth and differentiation. The chromosomal mapping of those genes showed some clusters. Thus, our mass-identification and characterization of the differentially expressed genes between the subsets may become a powerful tool for finding the important genes of NBL as well as developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against aggressive NBL.

Correlation of elevated level of blood midkine with poor prognostic factors of human neuroblastomas.

The heparin-binding growth factor midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid-responsive gene, and is implicated in neuronal survival and differentiation, and carcinogenesis. We previously reported that MK mRNA expression is elevated in neuroblastoma specimens at all stages, whereas pleiotrophin, the other member of the MK family, is expressed at high levels in favourable neuroblastomas. As MK is a secretory protein, it can be detected in the blood. Here, we show a significant correlation of the plasma MK level with prognostic factors of neuroblastomas. The plasma MK level was determined in 220 patients with neuroblastomas, and compared with that in children without malignant tumors (n=17, <500 pg ml−1). The plasma MK level became significantly elevated with advancing stages (stage 1: 445 pg ml−1 (median), n=73; stage 2: 589, n=39; stage 3: 864, n=40; stage 4: 1445, n=56; and stage 4S: 2439, n=12). More importantly, a higher MK level was strongly correlated with poor prognostic factors: over 1 year of age (P=0.0299), MYCN amplification (P<0.0001), low TrkA expression (P=0.0005), nonmass screening, sporadic neuroblastomas (P<0.0001), and diploidy/tetraploidy (P=0.0007). Thus, these results demonstrate that the plasma MK level is a good marker for evaluating the progression of neuroblastomas. Moreover, considering the ability of antisense MK oligodeoxyribonucleotide to suppress tumour growth of colorectal carcinoma cells in nude mice, as recently reported, the present study suggests that MK is a possible candidate molecular target for therapy for neuroblastomas.

LOW EXPRESSION OF HUMAN TUBULIN TYROSINE LIGASE AND SUPPRESSED TUBULIN TYROSINATION/DETYROSINATION CYCLE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION IN NEUROBLASTOMAS WITH POOR PROGNOSIS

Neuroblastoma (NBL), one of the most common childhood solid tumors, has a distinct nature in different prognostic subgroups. However, the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains largely unknown. To understand the molecular and genetic bases of neuroblastoma, we have generated its cDNA libraries and identified a human ortholog of tubulin tyrosine ligase gene (hTTL/Nbla0660) as a differentially expressed gene at high levels in a favorable subset of the tumor. Tubulin is subjected to several types of evolutionarily conserved posttranslational modification, including tyrosination and detyrosination. Tubulin tyrosine ligase catalyzes ligation of the tyrosine residue to the COOH terminus of the detyrosinated form of α‐tubulin. The measurement of hTTL mRNA expression in 74 primary neuroblastomas by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR revealed that its high expression was significantly associated with favorable stages (1, 2 and 4s; p = 0.0069), high TrkA expression (p = 0.002), a single copy of MYCN (p < 0.00005), tumors found by mass screening (p = 0.0042), nonadrenal origin (p = 0.0042) and good prognosis (p = 0.023). The log‐rank test showed that high expression of hTTL was an indicator of favorable prognosis (p = 0.026). Immunohistochemical analysis using specific antibodies generated by us demonstrated that tyrosinated tubulin (Tyr‐tubulin), detyrosinated tubulin (Glu‐tubulin) and hTTL as well as Δ2‐tubulin were positive in favorable tumors, whereas only Δ2‐tubulin was positive in the tumors with MYCN amplification. In an RTBM1 neuroblastoma cell line, hTTL was increased after treating the cells with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) or all‐trans retinoic acid (RA), which induced neuronal differentiation. These results suggest that the deregulated tubulin tyrosination/detyrosination cycle caused by decreased expression of hTTL is associated with inhibition of neuronal differentiation and enhancement of cell growth in the primary neuroblastomas with poor outcome.

High expression of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V in favorable neuroblastomas: Involvement of its effect on apoptosis

Neuroblastoma (NBL), derived from the sympathetic precursor cells, is one of the most common pediatric solid tumors. The expression of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase V and IX (GnT‐V and GnT‐IX) mRNA in 126 primary NBLs were quantitatively analyzed and higher expression levels of GnT‐V were found to be associated with favorable stages (1, 2 and 4s). Conversely, the downregulation of GnT‐V expression by small interfering RNA resulted in a decrease in the susceptibility to cell apoptosis induced by retinoic acid in NBL cells accompanied by morphological change. These results suggest that GnT‐V is associated with prognosis by modulating the sensitivity of NBLs to apoptosis.

A newly identified dependence receptor UNC5H4 is induced during DNA damage-mediated apoptosis and transcriptional target of tumor suppressor p53

UNC5H4 is a netrin-1 receptor UNC5H family member. In this study, we found that UNC5H4 is a direct transcriptional target of p53. During adriamycin (ADR)-mediated apoptosis, UNC5H4 was significantly induced in p53-proficient U2OS cells but not in p53-deficient H1299 cells. Enforced expression of p53 induced UNC5H4. Consistent with these results, siRNA-mediated knockdown of p53 in U2OS cells attenuated ADR-dependent induction of UNC5H4. Indeed, we found four putative p53-responsive elements within intron 1 of UNC5H4 gene. Luciferase reporter assay and ChIP analysis demonstrated that, among them, two tandem elements respond to exogenous p53 which is efficiently recruited onto them. Furthermore, enforced expression of UNC5H4 remarkably reduced number of drug-resistant colonies in p53-proficient cells but not in p53-deficient cells, suggesting that UNC5H4-induced apoptosis is dependent on p53 status. siRNA-mediated knockdown of UNC5H4 rendered U2OS cells resistant to ADR. Collectively, our present results suggest that UNC5H4 amplifies p53-dependent apoptotic response.

LMO3 interacts with p53 and inhibits its transcriptional activity

High expression of LMO3 contributes to the development and aggressiveness of neuroblastoma. LMO3 belongs to the LIM-only protein family, in which de-regulation of its members is implicated in human carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism of LMO3 activity in oncogenesis remained poorly characterized. We found that LMO3 is a direct interacting partner of p53 both in vitro and in vivo. The DNA-binding domain of p53 is required for this interaction. Furthermore, expression of LMO3 repressed p53-dependent mRNA expression of its target genes by suppressing promoter activation. Interestingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that LMO3 facilitated p53 binding to its response elements. This suggests that LMO3 acts as a co-repressor of p53, suppressing p53-dependent transcriptional regulation without inhibition of its DNA-binding activity.

Oncogenic LMO3 Collaborates with HEN2 to Enhance Neuroblastoma Cell Growth through Transactivation of Mash1

Expression of Mash1 is dysregulated in human neuroblastoma. We have also reported that LMO3 (LIM-only protein 3) has an oncogenic potential in collaboration with neuronal transcription factor HEN2 in neuroblastoma. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of its transcriptional regulation remain elusive. Here we found that LMO3 forms a complex with HEN2 and acts as an upstream mediator for transcription of Mash1 in neuroblastoma. The high levels of LMO3 or Mash1 mRNA expression were significantly associated with poor prognosis in 100 primary neuroblastomas. The up-regulation of Mash1 remarkably accelerated the proliferation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, while siRNA-mediated knockdown of LMO3 induced inhibition of growth of SH-SY5Y cells in association with a significant down-regulation of Mash1. Additionally, overexpression of both LMO3 and HEN2 induced expression of Mash1, suggesting that they might function as a transcriptional activator for Mash1. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that the co-expression of LMO3 and HEN2 attenuates HES1 (a negative regulator for Mash1)-dependent reduction of luciferase activity driven by the Mash1 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that LMO3 and HEN2 reduce the amount of HES1 recruited onto putative HES1-binding sites and E-box within the Mash1 promoter. Furthermore, both LMO3 and HEN2 are physically associated with HES1 by immunoprecipitation assay. Thus, our present results suggest that a transcriptional complex of LMO3 and HEN2 may contribute to the genesis and malignant phenotype of neuroblastoma by inhibiting HES1 which suppresses the transactivation of Mash1.