CD26 regulates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation of integrin beta1, adhesion to extracellular matrix, and tumorigenicity of T-anaplastic large cell lymphoma Karpas 299.

CD26 is an antigen with key role in T-cell biology and is expressed on selected subsets of aggressive T-cell malignancies. To elucidate the role of CD26 in tumor behavior, we examine the effect of CD26 depletion by small interfering RNA transfection of T-anaplastic large cell lymphoma Karpas 299. We show that the resultant CD26-depleted clones lose the ability to adhere to fibronectin and collagen I. Because anti-integrin beta1 blocking antibodies also prevent binding of Karpas 299 to fibronectin and collagen I, we then evaluate the CD26-integrin beta1 association. CD26 depletion does not decrease integrin beta1 expression but leads to dephosphorylation of both integrin beta1 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Moreover, our data showing that the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 dephosphorylates integrin beta1 and that binding of the anti-CD26 antibody 202.36 dephosphorylates both p38MAPK and integrin beta1 on Karpas 299, leading to loss of cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, indicate that CD26 mediates cell adhesion through p38MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of integrin beta1. Finally, in vivo experiments show that depletion of CD26 is associated with loss of tumorigenicity and greater survival. Our findings hence suggest that CD26 plays an important role in tumor development and may be a novel therapeutic target for selected neoplasms.

Regulation of p38 phosphorylation and topoisomerase IIalpha expression in the B-cell lymphoma line Jiyoye by CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV is associated with enhanced in vitro and in vivo sensitivity to doxorubicin.

CD26 is a Mr 110,000 surface-bound glycoprotein with diverse functional properties, including having a key role in normal T-cell physiology and the development of certain cancers. In this article, we show that surface expression of CD26, especially its intrinsic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) enzyme activity, results in enhanced topoisomerase IIalpha level in the B-cell line Jiyoye and subsequent in vitro sensitivity to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. In addition, we show that expression of CD26/DPPIV is associated with increased phosphorylation of p38 and its upstream regulators mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3/6 and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 and that p38 signaling pathway plays a role in the regulation of topoisomerase IIalpha expression. Besides demonstrating that CD26 effect on topoisomerase IIalpha and doxorubicin sensitivity is applicable to cell lines of both B-cell and T-cell lineages, the potential clinical implication of our work lies with the fact that we now show for the first time that our in vitro results can be extended to a severe combined immunodeficient mouse model. Our findings that CD26 expression can be an in vivo marker of tumor sensitivity to doxorubicin treatment may lead to future treatment strategies targeting CD26/DPPIV for selected human cancers in the clinical setting. Our article thus characterizes the biochemical linkage among CD26, p38, and topoisomerase IIalpha while providing evidence that CD26-associated topoisomerase IIalpha expression results in greater in vitro and in vivo tumor sensitivity to the antineoplastic agent doxorubicin.

CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV: a regulator of immune function and a potential molecular target for therapy.

CD26 is a 110 kDa surface-bound ectopeptidase with intrinsic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activity, which has multiple biological functions. In this review, we will focus specifically on work demonstrating that CD26 has a key role in immune function as a T cell activation molecule and a regulator of the functional effect of selected biological factors through its DPP IV enzyme activity. As further evidence of the important role played by this multifaceted molecule in immune regulation, we will also discuss experimental attempts from our laboratory and others to influence immune-mediated conditions through CD26 monoclonal antibodies and DPP IV activity with various agents, including anti-CD26 monoclonal antibodies and DPP IV chemical inhibitors. Of special significance from a clinical perspective is also CD26 effect on glucose metabolism through its DPP IV activity and its potential role as a therapeutic target in diabetes. In addition, we will review recent studies that describe the physical and functional interaction of CD26 with other essential cellular structures and the biological consequences of their association. In particular, we will present recent data from our laboratory that demonstrates the correlation between CD26, especially its DPP IV activity, and the key nuclear protein topoisomerase II alpha, an interaction that has important clinical implications. In summary, we will examine the biology of the multifaceted CD26/DPP IV molecule, focusing particularly on its function in immune regulation and its potential role as a molecular target for novel treatment modalities for a number of disease states, ranging from autoimmune diseases, diabetes to malignancies.

T-large granular lymphocyte lymphoproliferative disorder: expression of CD26 as a marker of clinically aggressive disease and characterization of marrow inhibition.

T-large granular lymphocyte lymphoproliferative disorder (T-LGL LPD) is an indolent disease characterized by prolonged cytopenia and the presence of circulating large granular lymphocytes in the patient's peripheral blood. Although the disease is commonly thought of as indolent, most patients eventually require therapy because of recurrent infections secondary to neutropenia as well as a need for frequent blood product transfusions. CD26 is a 110-kDa surface glycoprotein with an essential role in T-cell function, including being a marker of T-cell activation and a mediator of T-cell activating signals. In this study, we evaluated CD26 expression in T-LGL patients and correlate CD26 expression with clinical behaviour. In addition, we examined the potential mechanism of cytopenia that is associated with this disorder. Our findings suggest that CD26 is a marker of aggressive T-LGL LPD and that CD26-related signalling may be aberrant in T-LGL LPD. Furthermore, inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units may be mediated by CD8+ cells of T-LGL LPD patients and is major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted.